You Can't Coach That

Monday, March 12, 2007

For any keen photographers this is worth a look. Printable pdf files to create lens hoods for all the popular slr lenses.

Lenshoods

[via: photojojo newsletter

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Like many I find the concept of evolution a fascinating one. Lately I have been thinking about how evolution has changed the Human race and more specifically how things might turn out if certain technological advances had not been made.

I am short sighted. I have worn glasses or contact lenses for more than twenty years. I ask myself whether the instance of short sightedness has increased over time and whether it will increase into the future. (I could of course do some research to find out but why let facts get in the way of a story) Has the invention of corrective lenses in fact led to an increase in sight disorders and if so will this escalation continue? My reason for thinking about this is simple - without glasses/contact lenses I would be an absolute bumbling fool (even more so than I am now perhaps). As an absolute bumbling fool my prospects in matters of love and reproduction would have been grim indeed. It therefore follows that the gene pool would not have been polluted with my poor eyesight genes. There are millions of people out there who are short sighted and therefore rely on glasses. Without the assistance of corrective lenses perhaps many of them would, like me, be unlucky in love.

Then there is that wonderful invention; alcohol. Without alcohol would there be fewer shy people in the world? Same logic - no alcohol - not as many shy people getting lucky - fewer shy person genes being passed on - you get the idea.

Anyway, I’m off to find my glasses and have a few beers.

“You can’t coach that”

Saturday, March 10, 2007

A nutritionist in Australia has called for the meat pie to be banned at football matches. Apparently UK soccer clubs Arsenal and Glasgow Celtic have already replaced pies with healthier alternatives. For American readers banning the pie at footy games would be like banning hot dogs at baseball games (a pie in Australia is a hot meat and gravy filled pastry).

What a ridiculous notion. People cannot be protected from themselves no matter how hard we try. Banning something is seldom the answer to a problem.

Anyway, I’m off to have a pie and chips (french fries) for dinner.

“You can’t coach that”

For anyone with small children and a car these videos make you think. The author of the first is Australian and has approached the government about the fact that the approved standards here do not require young children to be restrained in a 5 point harness. The transport minister has indicated that his department will “look into it”. Let’s hope the this is done with some haste.

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

30,000 people blogging at the same time with the same subject title. It will be a huge undertaking to receive 30,000 emails and record all the details but could be amazing if it comes off. Here’s where you can read more about it.

bravehumans - 30,000 or

Quipspot - experiment

Monday, March 05, 2007

I spent quite a bit of the weekend watching the Australian round of the World Superbikes from Philip Island. Part of the ritual for the day was to fool myself into thinking that I was doing more than wasting time so I came up with the following observations about the similarities between life and motorcycle racing:

• Different people take different lines through corners but generally get where they need to go
• Bravery is generally a pre-requisite
• Sometimes you get caught in other people’s accidents
• Sitting in a fast rider’s slipstream can give you the help you need
• There is always someone younger and faster coming along but experience often tells in the long run
• Everyone gets similar but subtly different equipment - what you do with it matters
• Sometimes you just have to pick yourself up and get going again
• Sometimes you need the help of the marshals to pick yourself up
• Starting out too fast can hurt you in the long run

Aussies on the podium and no-one got hurt = a good day

“You can’t coach that”

Here’s a great story about one guy’s life with and then without a tapeworm for company:

Tapeworm story from fray.com

Sunday, March 04, 2007

It seems the more I hear people say this in conversation, and that’s a lot, the less I trust the person saying it.

If I had one of these I don’t think I would ever leave the TV room.

From Crave

Apparently, attraction to the opposite sex isn’t nearly as important as it used to be. That’s the only explanation we can fathom for the continuing trend of new Star Trek items on the market.

The latest date repellant is a $70 “Phaser Universal Remote Control,” which claims to feature sound effects from the original series provided by Paramount. Alas, Red Ferret notes that it’s already sold out. (What a surprise.)

“Date repellant” - what are they talking about? There must be thousands of female Trekkies out there who would be impressed by such a fine piece of engineering.

Available from Novelty Telephone

Saturday, March 03, 2007

This is an easy way to find useful details about a domain.

dnSnoop

Nothing much happening for the coach’s domain yet (only been here for less than a month) but apparently I can charge $5 per month for ads. I can hear Coke and Pepsi starting the bidding war already.

Oringinally seen at download squad

Listen to the audio.

Originally seen at 5pieces

“You can’t coach that”

Does the human mind have a natural tendency towards obsession - or is it just me?

I have been blogging for a while on a private basis to keep in touch with family and friends but have only recently decided to make an effort to do so in the public domain. Since that time I seem to have gone a little nuts. Everything I read, everything I see on the idiot box, things I see when I am driving, I am constantly thinking “is there a blog post there?” Oh how sad.

I seem to be noticing a trend here. When I got interested in photography, everything I looked at become a potential award winning photograph. I still seem to be framing things in my mind as if looking through a viewfinder. I ride mountain bikes. Everywhere I go I seem to wonder “what would it be like to ride down that”.

I am an ok mountain biker and a pretty ordinary photographer. I wonder what sort of blogger I will turn out to be.

Time will tell.

“You can’t coach that”

Friday, March 02, 2007

This guy really wants a hamburger

“You can’t coach that”

Before I start let me say that I have nothing against telemarketers and I know that are only trying to make a living, but.......

They bug the hell out of me.

Usually they ring at the wrong time (of course how are they to know what is the right time?) and often will not take no for an answer. I really don’t like being rude but will be if I have to. A better plan I think is to use one of the following (some work and some just make me feel better)

1. Put a small child on the phone who enjoys talking to people
2. Ask them to hold the line while you turn the oven off - return 1/2 hour later
3. When they ask for your name, ask for theirs
4. When they ask for your income, ask them for theirs
5. When they ask your age, ask them theirs ... you get the idea
6. When they offer financial advice tell them you have an MBA majoring in investment planning
7. When they ask for a donation, tell them that you would be glad to give them some money - it will of course mean that your children will not be able to eat this week
8. Ask them what they are wearing
9. Ask if they enjoy nude twister
10. When they ask if you own your own home tell them it is in the process of burning down and would they mind getting off the phone so that you ring the fire department
11. Take a survey - only if they will take your survey first
12. From Seinfeld - ask for their home number so you can ring them back later
13. When there is a pause at the beginning of the call indicating a computer is connecting someone at the call centre - press lots of buttons on your phone - it is supposed to confuse the system

“You can’t coach that”

Monday, February 19, 2007

Top Gear has to be one of the best shows on the box. Their challenges are legendary but usually involve drive fast across Europe or something similar. This one has to be their best.

Top Gear go to Alabama

“You can’t coach that”