Growing up is optional

This weekend I managed to get Ubuntu Linux running on my PC, along side Windows XP. In the past I have tried to get away from MS products, but the hurdles have just been too high. There are still some hurdles with Ubuntu, but they’re not show stoppers for me. However, since my wife and kids use this PC, I can’t ditch Windows totally. This is a major source of Microsoft’s great power.

The two things that stop me ditching MS are office macros and kid’s games. Open Office is great, but there are still some issues between it and MS office. Our dependence on some spreadsheets means that we need to stick with Excel for a while. And the kids games are windows-only. I may be able to get them going with WINE, but haven’t tried yet.

I had my ear pierced by a friend when I was about 14. We just got a piercing stud and forced it through; crude, but effective. I haven’t worn an earing since I was about 17. I was playing a lot of rugby and it was forever putting it in and out. I’m not sure if I lost it, of just got sick of it, but whatever happenned, I stopped wearing one. The hole would close up I thought.

Last night, in a slightly alcohol-enhanced state of mind, I shoved on of my wife’s earing into the scar, just to see how deep it was. I can report, that after 15 years, earing holes do not close up.

Just went and saw the end of the Melbourne to Wellington leg of the Volvo Ocean Race (formerly the Whitbred Round the World). 1500 miles across the Tasman Sea and the difference between the boats was nine (9) seconds!

I will never buy another Brother printer again. Not long ago I got hold of a brother MFC 210C multifunction printer/scanner/fax. I know it’s not the best, but nor was it the cheapest. Where they really screw you over is the ink. If one of the colours runs out, it just stops printing. No gray-scale or black only, it just stops. So I shell out for yellow, even though nothing colour has been printed for 3 months, then, as if in a coordinated attempt to con more money out of you, the other colours run out too. I pull the cartridge out to find that it’s about quater full still. I put it back and the printer still says empty.

Imagine someone hands you an unpainted aluminium can. You’re told that it came out of the same factory that makes Coca-cola, using all of the same methods, all of the same equipment and all of the same ingedients to the same recipe, but it was put in an unpainted can. You can get hold of it for about 60% of the cost of Coca-cola branded cola.

1. Would you try it?
2. If it tastes the same, would you switch?
3. Would you encourage others to switch too?
4. Would you feel like a tight-ass for not buying branded cola?
5. Do you think you’d be seen as a tight-ass for not buying branded cola?
6. Can this anology be applied to blank vs. branded skateboard decks? (or computer equipment, iPods etc.)

Flipping this the other way around:

1. If you wouldn’t try it, why not?
2. If you wouldn’t switch, why not?
3. Do you feel better drinking branded cola?
4. Do you think others see you as better for buying branded cola?

Being a Kiwi, I had my language set to UK English on Gmail. One thing I found was that switching to US English made the chat archive and clips availble. Changing back to UK reverts back. Another thing I found is that in the US English setting, on the right side bar, just above the ads, is a link to the google map of the sender’s address. The Americans out there may not find this novel, but it’s interesting to see.

UPDATE: Chat in Gmail has now been turned on. Switching back to UK English turns it off.

This is my thinking behind what skate gear I bought. This is something I probably should have asked about before I bought stuff, but too late now. I’ll know next time.

Minilogo Deck 8″

Brand: I don’t really care about graphics, but I do care about quality. For those that don’t know, Minilogo is Powell’s attempt to compete with unbranded blank decks. They are effectively a blank deck, although coloured, but with a small Powell logo.

Size: simple, I’m big, with big feet. Strength is important. I’m not too concerned with the higher rotational mass of a bigger board; I’m not that good yet that the effect is significant.

Independent Trucks

I don’t know a lot about the truck market. It came down to a choice betwwen what I percieve as the big brands (Independent, Gring King and Gull Wing). They must be popular for a reason and the cost difference was negligible.

Bone Reds Bearings

I’m very pleased with my current Minilogo bearings. Bones Reds (another Powell brand) are the next step up.

Spitfire BlueTech Wheels (56mm)

Choosing wheels was my hardest decision. I think it may take a few more sets to really get to grips with what I like. They are a 97A durometer wheel; slightly softer than most modern wheels. I chose this because the New Zealand roads are a much larger chip than most others and the softer wheel gives slightly more grip and a less bone-jarring ride. For the same reason, I went for a wheel that’s slightly bigger than the normal 51-53mm.

I ordered my new shortboard from Skate America. Custom build as below:

• Minilogo Deck
• Independent trucks
• Spitfire Blue Tech wheels (56mm)
• Bones Reds bearings

Cost US$125 including freight to NZ (NZ$185). To buy this in NZ would cost about NZ$100 more.