1. Keeping up with the Joneses is futile. No matter how much I tell myself I know this, a part of my mind tries to convince myself it’s possible.
2. I’m seriously thinking that If I own anything over the value of $500, and I’m not using it, I should sell it. You might think that this is common sense. In the same vain as the point above, my mind would like to tell me otherwise. I’m going to set myself an ultimatum to make this happen!
3. A good kitchen knife is underrated. For the first time in my life, I cut an onion without crying. That’s what a good kitchen knife does for you.

What is it that you want in order to keep up with the Joneses?

I heard about Seth Godin’s book The Dip, and while it’s been out for a while, I thought it might make an interesting read.

Of course, being an 80 page book only, why not read it quickly on my computer? I figured I could save a few dollars by buying it in electronic format. How wrong was I! While I found prices as low as US$5 for a hardcover copy (unfortunately the shipping cost to NZ takes out that option), the cheapest price I could find for an e-book version was US$11.66 (about NZ$15)!

When I can buy books for NZ$2 from a secondhand store near my house, why would anyone pay 7 times that for an e-book with a fifth of the amount of content in it? (Unfortunately the said secondhand store is unlikely to carry the book in question at this time).

Have you ever purchased an e-book? When you consider the cost of distribution saved by purchasing an electronic copy, was it reasonably priced?

1. Garlic bread has to be one of the tastiest foods known to man. There are many different variations one can include (cheese, mixed herbs, etc). However you prefer it, it’s certainly one of those moreish foods.
2. I wish I had a personal assistant. That’s a sentiment I’ve shared with many of you before, but today I had a brainwave: If I had a personal assistant, I’d have to think about how I streamlined my workflow on different things, in order to make best use of having a PA in the first place (otherwise they’d sit around doing nothing all day). That led me to: If I just streamlined my workflow in this way, maybe I won’t need a PA because I’ll be more efficient? Now I just have to figure out how to do that streamlining…
3. Great thoughts don’t always come in groups of three, although that would be convenient.

If you could have a PA, what would they do for you?

I’ve decided to make good an idea that I’ve mentioned before: starting a food blog. Problem is, I need a name for it!

I had a couple of ideas, but nothing which I’ve settled on:

• Nothing Weird. I often see recipes on TV or in magazines and think “That’s Weird, who’d want to eat that?”. But then I do enjoy trying new things; inevitably I’ll end up posting a recipe that is a little weird. Probably not a good long-term name then.
• Messy Chef. You know, to describe my cooking style. Already taken though.
• food.digitalfishbowl.net. Functional, but a little boring.

Ideas?

Canon 24-105 F4L IS, with hood, pouch and filter (Marumi DHG). Filter on since day 1.

This is only 4 months old, was part of a kit. I have the original receipt (this is NZ new) and will provide a copy to the buyer. A few small marks on the lens hood (you probably know it’s very easy to mark the Canon lens hoods). The lens itself is in excellent condition, no scratches, fungus or mold. Selling because I decided to buy a different lens.

Date code is UX.

See photos taken by this lens.

Inspection welcome. Asking price is $1500!

Update: Sold!

1. In books and movies, it’s not uncommon to see people riding/driving/sailing off into the sunset at the end. But if you’ve ever driven facing the setting sun, you’ll know how annoying it is; you can’t see a thing! Perhaps they have really good sunglasses?
2. There are some things that can’t be very good when had from a vending machine. I’m willing to bet that pizza is one of them.
3. It’s time for me to get a haircut again. I often wish that I could ‘freeze’ my hair in place after I’ve had it cut, so that I didn’t need to get it cut again. On the upside, I do find getting a haircut somewhat relaxing.

1. Our pantry has a light that comes on when you open the door. I think whoever came up with the idea of a pantry light had the midnight-snack in mind. I often have a midnight-snack in mind.
2. The more time I spend driving in Auckland, the more impatient I find myself becoming. Or at least that’s my excuse.
3. Can anyone convince me to use twitter? I really don’t see how it would benefit me (I can see how it’s useful to some people). Here’s a funny-yet-semi-serious video about twitter.

Back to a world with an Internet connection again, after moving house recently. Took a while longer than I’d hoped, due to some complications with our phone line. Anyway, now you can expect some more content here in the near future.

I’m in the process of moving house at the moment, so Internet access is limited for a while. If you send me a message by email or some other electronic means, then please be patient for a response. Thanks!

Save a word from extinction! Or just have fun using strange words. Save The Words is a website which allows you to adopt a word, committing to use it whenever possible in order to help keep it in use… Unless of course you find that sort of thing total boreism.