Autumn.

The winds are picking up.

The insects are harvesting whatever bits left in preparation for the cold days ahead.

The nights are freezing, while the days are becoming cooler.

Autumn, has arrived.

At least, in a few days.

But bloody hell, with the cold winds the past 2 days, it feels like Autumn has arrived already. No more revealing clothes (Nuuuu), and almost everyone is wearing long pants.

Autumn.

Time to enjoy the cold.

---

An opportunity lost?

Or an opportunity gained?

A mess-up?

Or a chance hidden?

Whatever it maybe,

I'm not ready yet. -_-

GO FREEDOM.

(what's with me an poetry today? >_>)

Broadband Solution in Australia.

Now this is a cute topic. Anyone who has seen or heard my rants will know that the internet in down under is so bad, it isn't even funny. It's like living in a third world these days, no water, no half-decent internet.... etc etc.

So, I was pleasantly surprised when the leader of the opposition Federal party announced that they will introduce broadband to everyone if they are elected.

Presently, ADSL2+ are only available to the major (usually capital) cities, so anywhere further (like me, which is actually only 45 minutes from the city) are stuck with some copper wire crap ADSL1. 1500/256 connection is what we have. Ugh.

But I don't really mind the speed.

What I am very very annoyed with is the service provided. Somehow, the modem always loses sync with the exchange, resulting in frequent internet downtimes which is very frustrating at times, especially when you really need the internet.

However, should I be a small business operating over the internet, this issue will be even more annoying for me. How am I supposed to sell/buy my stuff on Ebay with such a terrible connection? How am I supposed to communicate with Clients over such a noisy pipe?

But, the only thing holding back will be the cost. It's going to be very expensive to lay optic fiber cables over such a large land space.

However, if optic fiber isn't possible, then, please, at least, do something about those damned price. $100+ a month for an unlimited 1500/256 connection gets me laughed at no matter who I talk to.

It's difficult enough getting a job as a foreigner here.

A shop in the nearby town center has placed up a sign for help during Saturdays and Public Holidays. As I am somewhere along the lines of "Super" and "Duper" free on either one of the criteria, I walked in and decided to apply for the job.

Only to find out that they are hiring "Junior Staff".

Which means, High school students.

Why?

"Because we Uni students have a minimum wage."

...

<_<

>_>

Meeh, they charge over $7 a meal, and they are unwilling to pay me $12+ an hour, which would just about cover my rent every week. $12 may seem a lot, but its actually quite low, given the high standard of living here. Meals can easily go over $10 if you are not careful ($8 is more realistic, but if you want something better, it will be over $10).

And hence, I am still unemployed.

I think I need to start hitting the newspapers. Just looking and waiting after submitting resumes are just too annoying, since they probably won't call back. Given that I've heard nothing from even Subway thus far, I can say that it's time to take more drastic measures.

An amazing confession.

"I R RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 9/11 ATTACKS. A TO Z!"

"I R RESPONSIBLE FOR GLOBAL WARMING TOO!"

So, while the world is still struck by the amazing confession, already, there are people who doubt it.

The Australian comment site

And I agree, at least, to what some of them are saying.

ie, that the US made a mistake, again.

LoL.

To have a guy who will confess to just about everything in a night will do nothing but sow question marks in everyone's minds. Khalid might have very well done all these horrible crimes, or at least, had a hand in them, but to have him confessing that he has planned them all will be seen by others as the White House's desperation to show US, and the world, that the terror war is being "won".

And no, it isn't the press who is going overboard, inventing things or "filling in the gaps". Having spent lunch time yesterday reading the entire transcript (blame boredom. XD) posted on CNN's website, they are all part of a confession writted by Khalid.

But what really surprised me was the "A to Z" part. While the rest of the confession does not use any extra words to add to their impact (For example, "4. I was responsible for the Shoe Bomber Operation to down two American Airplanes". So, if this guy has shown us what a wonderful vocabulary he has, why doesn't he flower every single one of his operations?

But how would the US have made his confession more believable? Allowing bits and pieces to come out would have had roughly the same effect if given too quickly, although, perhaps, not as huge as dumping a "bomb shell" in one night (NKF scandal. Bits and pieces everyday has worked to an extent.) What the White House should have done is to drop them once in a while, not too quickly to be seen as too eager, but enough to keep the public interested. It's pretty much media relations which the US has failed at. Yes, this is huge news, but given the credibility of US in the past few years, anything they say will be placed under the microscope. There are people who won't believe a word coming from the US, whether it was due to Iraq or it was due to the person's upbringing.

And the US has, once again, shot herself in the foot.

And by the way, I found something amusing in those comments.

"So, the head is caught. The war of terror is over."

XD

If only that were so.

A teaching Falcon, day 1.

So, it was the first day of my... uh... job.

The world is truly coming to an end. XD

I was teamed up with this guy called Martin, who is supposed to be very experienced in teaching these consultation sessions. These sessions are pretty much like tutorial classes, except it is taught by us students because we might have a few tips and we have done this course (and got a fairly decent result for it too).

Initially, Martin ran the introduction as I just stood in a corner. Since no one had any questions, we allowed them to work on a question prepared by the coordinator.

And immediately, my skills were called to the test.

One girl had no idea what to do, and despite us asking a few times if any one had any problems, she didn't say a thing. However, instead of the long winded crap which was given in the lecture for CVP, I just taught her how to use algebra to solve it.

And whoa, she's breezing through.

My first success!

Hurrah! \o/

The lesson, lasting only for an hour, came and went pretty quickly. The lesson ended pretty dryly, but it is only 9am in the morning, and everyone is still probably half-asleep... Or at least, I was. Besides, chapter 1 stuff are always piss boring, and it will be at least a few chapters before they venture into balance sheets where it will be truly fun.

However, it felt pretty weird teaching my housemates. While we did act professionally (no random squeals and giggles), I felt pretty weird teaching them, since my housemates are actually here before I was.

And here I am, teaching a bunch of people I'll meet during dinner.

Not to mention, they know where I stay too...

...

The world, is truly ending.

At least, for me.

Level 5 water restrictions

Level 5 water restrictions are going to hit this place very soon, probably in a few weeks or so.

Under the restrictions,

-We can't wash our car/boat, but one may bring it to a car wash. Washing of mirrors allowed.
-Can only water our gardens at specific times and only twice a week (Tuesday/Saturday or Wednesday/Sunday, between 4am to 8am).
-If we use too much water, we have to write a report stating as to why we are using so much water.
-Everyone are only allowed 4 minute showers (How they're going to enforce it, is beyond me).
-No more outdoor showers.
-Swimming pools are probably the heaviest hit because they must be filled using their own water, not the town's supply.

And so on. There are a few more, but I think these are the ones which look interesting. For one, swimming in recycled water would be fun, but otherwise, actually filling up the pool (Town supply is cheaper/free) with your own water is really going to hurt. Same goes for spas.

Also, gardens are pretty much screwed, due to a restriction on plants. Reports of nurseries closing down rapidly are pretty much in the news, but this will hit everyone hard.

And of course, the proposed 4 minute showers. XD

The government is doing their part by asking shows to educate the public on how to save water, with checklists in newspapers and rather detailed visual guides on things which can be done. Of course, some companies will try to cash in on this, for example, an ad says that Dishwashers are said to save water much more effectively than washing of dishes.

I wonder if that's true....

Anyhow, the water restrictions will come into effect soon. Thank god I don't have a car, or a garden.

---

Changed the banner to Momoko, from the series Sumomomo Momomo. Was doing some caps, and this curve turned out too well to be wasted. XD

A teaching Falcon....?

Mmm, got selected to teach a consultation course on basic accounting.

The world is coming to an end, I tell you. :D

---

Song of (whatever) changed to Persephone IPCC_3927 (: Battle) by Noriyasu Agematsu from the Wild Arms the Vth Vanguard Original Score Vol. 2.

Good stuff.

It's back to school!

It's a happy and heartful school life! - Happiness.

If only it was true. XD

I went through 6 pictures for front, but I settled on this one because the picture was pretty funny, and would make quite a lot of sense if I combined it with a class room picture.

Go Sia!

Go school!

Go me...