Squirrel pack 'kills dog'

I was shocked when I read a story about a pack of squirrels killing a large stray dog!

But, what do you expect them to do when they have run out of pine cones?

Although some people do not beleive that this would happen, who would spend their free time developing a story involving a pack of tiny killers, and a canine victim. It has to have happened.

While such a death is tragic, it is also highly amusing, and I feel that the dog who also be laughing, up where ever dogs go when their time is up.

Categories: Misc, Humour, Events

The 21 Hour Blackout

As well as living in the city of Toowoomba, I also venture out to a property that my parents own. And several days ago a huge thunder storm blasted through, destroying crops and ripping out trees. It also wrecked havoc on some power equipment. So, at 8.00 on Thursday night, the electricity carked it, leaving us in the dark.

We had an early night, but found the power still off the following morning. This was a rare occurance. Undeterred we set up the generator we luckily had, to power our many fridges, and keep our meat smelling good. By that afternoon the novelty had left, and only our grumpy selves remained.

Then, thankfully, at 5.00 today the power returned, and I could also return to my beloved computer.

If such a thing had happened in a major city, like Brisbane, there would've been riots in the streets. Ergon Energy, you really need to pick up your game.

I am not impressed!

Categories: Life, Rants

Darkwatch - Game

I know that I am getting a bit repetitive in just reviewing some of the newer games out there, but they really are quite good, and make up a large part of my day. (I'm on holidays and do not do much at all). Darkwatch is a First Person Shooter (FPS), and is set in the Wild West. The thing it... you are a Vampire!

1. Gameplay
The game is very Halo-ish, with a regenerating shield, dyanamite instead of grenades, and an awesome melee attack. There are only a small number of guns, and you aquire most of them in the first few levels. My personal favourite is the shotgun - a devastating close range attack with a blistering blade attached to the bottem for melee.

There are several ingenius add-ons to Darkwatch that make it completely different. Your vampiric powers are very dangerous, as is some of the 'vehicles.' The Steam Wagon is, obviously, a wagon powered by steam, but the cool thing is that dual miniguns are randomly stuck on the top. Your undead horse is also a favourite for covering large distances quickly.
Overall the gameplay fun, fast and addictive.

2. Graphics
The graphics of Darkwatch were a bit of a let down. Although they were very good, with blood splater, shadows, and all kinds of textures, it simply does not compare to Call of Duty 2, or even Serious Sam 2. They did do what they were trying to achieve, a dark, mysterious land, full of evil and misery.

3. Overall
The entire game proved to be a fast shooter, with very enjoyable gameplay. While the graphics did pull the game down, Darkwatch remains a sure favourite. Highly recommended for a rainy weekend.

Categories: Games

Van Tuong Nguyen to be hung

Australian Van Tuong Nguyen is to be hung on December 2, 2005 for trafficing 400 grams of heroin into Singapore. The Australian Government has made repeated pleas for change in the death sentence, but it is too late.

It is time for these attrocities to stop. A man is being killed for taking a package to another destination. This package is dangerous and harmful, but killing him will do no good. Nguyen has broken the law, and therefore should be punished, but hanging him is a more than harsh, it is an extreme!

Australians are trying to defend one of their own from death, but tomorrow is the day of his death, and little seems possible. The support of the people, and the media has been overwhelming, but an article in The Australian astonished me.

A Singaporean newspaper claims that Australians have condemned Nguyen to his death, and have abandoned him to this tragic fate. This is simply not true. We will stand by one of our own, as it is right and appeals to the strongest Australian trait: Mateship. Mateship has been shown by Aussies since the beginning of this great nation, and it is not about to change now.

Van Tuong Nguyen, we are with you!

Categories: Events, Australia

Black and White 2 - Game

Black and White is a game made by Lionhead, where you are a god. Sounds pretty cool, but there's more. You have a creature who you can train and teach. They can be a giant, evil, warrior cow, or a peaceful, building wolf. There are hundreds of combinations, but finally, Black and White 2 has come out.

Black and White 2 leaves the micro manegement of the first game behind, and concentrates on the godlyness of the game. You can train armies to fight for you, there are many more buildings, people migrate, and your creature is much easier to teach. You can even change the time of day if you wish. I have been a long time Lionhead fan, but when this genius of a game arrived, I knew a new era had also been brought.

At the moment I have a destructive Wolf, who eats villages often, stomps on enemy soldiers, and poos everywhere and often. He is my kind of creature!

This game is highly addictive and entertaining. A quality game with awesome graphics. A definite rival to Call of Duty 2.

Categories: Technology, Games

Rejected!

A few weeks ago I applied for a job at the local service station/cafe, but unfortuantly I was rejected and did not get the job. I will not name the place for fear of advertising them. A number of my friends around my age also applied, and I believe that they too were bitterly disappointed.

The strange thing is that this place is always seeking employees, and being the lead-up to Christmas, and with lots of people passing through going camping in the School holidays, the need for people would be even greater. I don't suppose my chances for getting a job there were increased because of the fact that my Dad recently wrote a letter of complaint for poor quality products.

I also know that many other people have been let down after putting their hearts and souls, somewhat, on the line. Rather than make me angry at the system, however, it makes me feel a little better, knowing that I am not alone...

Categories: Life, Rants

The Lack of Objectivity in Journalism

As of late I have been noticing in the media, that a good story always beats the truth. And a good story is usually one of death, torture, severe injury, or anything that makes their audience feel sorry or angry at someone/thing. On the news the other day there was a story about a murder-suicide, but the facts didn't add up. The fact that it was a fire, and in Australia fires are quite common, was not analyzed at all. The greatest possibility was that the fire was an accident.

But the journalists didn't care about that, because they got a good story, and were probably well paid for it.

A few days/weeks ago I wrote a post about A Current Affair and Today Tonight, and how the stories they cover are of no importance to their audience. The very fact that these stories are still shown, displays a lack of knowledge about what the public wants and needs to be informed about.

That is what the media is supposed to be doing; informing us about what is going on in the world around us, that applies to us personally.

Categories: Australia, Rants, Media