Location, location, location

Posted on 6 March, 2007 by JK

The jobIt’s been rather quiet on this front hey? Nope, didn’t think you’d notice.

Things have been crazy busy at work and this new year appears to have brought a few changes with it…

Here’s a quick round-up:
I’ve moved this domain to an international hosting provider since, like everything else, local hosting is too costly especially if everyone from Jo’burg is ending up on your site looking for Bushman’s Fire Sauce.

The job has also relocated. Nope, didn’t change employers. I now just go to a different building in Green Point to see the same people I used to see in the CBD. Though strangely enough, we have a new name, yet we’re still part of the same company. You following? This not only affects my head, but the amount of travelling I need to do since making the choice to use public transport.

I’ve made the effort to up the danger factor on my daily commute by adding a short, but effectively treacherous taxi trip. It’s necessary though if I need to be on time for work since the walk takes about 30 minutes at a leisurely pace. More on this in the following few weeks.

On a sadder note, my father-in-law passed away suddenly early in January which has affected RenĂ© and myself in a number of ways, but we’re getting on with it and things are looking better than they were just a month ago. Thanks to those who have shown their support, we really do appreciate it.

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Short notice

Posted on 25 January, 2007 by JK

Greetings and welcome to 2007… My year’s started off with a few surprises one of them is that my web hosting with my current provider has expired and now it’s time to move on… to a new host, of course.

I’ve managed to sort something out across “The pond” and will be transferring this site (along with my other domains) during the course of this and next week. Expect downtime.

Phil, thanks for looking after my stuff for the last year or so, your kindness is muchly appreciated.

——-
Update:
Ok, got most of the transfer stuff is done, now to get re-organised. Everything should be back to normal in a week or two.

Posted in Single servings | Leave a comment

Happy Yule tidings!

Posted on 25 December, 2006 by JK

Merry Christmas everyone, hope the day’s a good one filled with loads of Christmas cheer, great food (usually prepared by parents) and good company.

Keep it safe ;)

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The sound of your life going by

Posted on 14 December, 2006 by JK

SoundMusic has been around us for as long as we can remember. It was there to console us when we were rejected by that guy / girl we were trying to get with. It was there during the happy times, and the downright shit times.

Right now, Paolo, across my desk from me at work is swearing at his monitor, (more likely his dodgy code) while listening to Tiesto. Me, I’m listening to the sound of the aircon, it’s a constant sound that’s keeping me grounded in my thoughts, but that’s besides the point. Music has been pretty much a constant in most of our lives, made possible by the fact that your hearing is pretty much intact and lobes on the side of your head do a good job of propping up a set of headphones. The music we consumed in our childhood is the music that shapes us. We’ll always refer to “our” music as “classics”. Strange? Ask one of your parents which music they listened to while growing up…

If your life had a soundtrack consisting, say 14 tracks, songs important to you for whatever reason… what would those tracks be? Can you list them? Why not hit us up in the comments!

Here are my 14 tracks, in no particular order:

  1. Starship – We built this city
  2. Billy Joel – We didn’t start the fire
  3. Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson – The best things in life are free
  4. Simon Harris – Louder than a shotgun
  5. Neil Sedaka – Oh Carol
  6. Skeelo – I Wish
  7. House of Gypsies (aka Todd Terry) – Samba
  8. Basement Jaxx – Where’s your head at
  9. Jungle Brothers – I’ll house you
  10. Skunk Anasie – Secretly (Armand Van Helden’s remix)
  11. David Bowie – China girl
  12. DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince – Summertime
  13. LL Cool J – Momma said knock you out
  14. Mel and Kim – Respectable

* Streaming audio clips by cduniverse.com.

Posted in Music, Thoughts | 11 Comments

IP over power

Posted on 8 December, 2006 by JK

Looks like next year’s going to be an interesting one, as far as the telecommunications industry in this country is concerned. Below follows an excerpt from a press release by GTS, I thought was worth sharing:

As Goal Technology Solutions (GTS) is gearing up to take on South African telecommunications and broadcasting in 2007, consumers can expect a strong competitor to fixed-line operators and MultiChoice as well as a few brand new extras.

GTS uses PLC (power-line communication) to bring a triple play offering of broadband internet access, voice telephony and television programming directly into the home via an established electrical connection. “In essence this means that you can get all your telecommunications and broadcast packages from a single service provider that enters your home through a single plug point,” explains CEO Adrian Maguire.

Basically, GTS are going to provide broadband communication and pay-per-view television channels via a regular outlet in your home. They claim that their offering will run at up to 90Mb/s which is 22 times faster than Telkom’s broadband offering.

They hope to have their broadcast license well before the middle of next year and CEO, Adrian Maguire added, “Our business model has been developed to ensure job creation and sustainable skills transfer and above all, to provide all South Africans with a multifarious communications offering that they can afford.” Which sounds like a good plan to me. Hell, anything that’s better and cheaper than Telkom’s current offering will be welcomed with open arms.

Their ADSL ISP service pricing is pretty good too. More reading at goal.co.za

What do you think? Hit us up in the comments!

Posted in Tech | 3 Comments

Personal history

Posted on 1 December, 2006 by JK

Most of our personal history is inherited from our folks at some point, though mostly over dinners or lunches and other family gatherings. Some of the time it’s embarrassing, like when your folks bring out the pics of you with an afro as a kid or the buckteeth you rocked in Sub. A (Grade 1). Apart from these, there are other events in your life that can only be related to you by your parents, things you don’t know or were too young to remember.

At the office party the other day, a colleague mentioned that he was born on a farm in the Eastern Cape. He mentioned the name of the farm and it’s approximate location, relevant to other common landmarks and towns. Even though I don’t remember what they were right now, I do recall thinking about this and how it applied to me. What was my personal history?

Well, I was born in Medi-Park hospital (now, Medi-Clinic, located in the CBD), in Cape Town on a Tuesday at just after 6am in the morning on the 26th day of July in 1977. My parents were living in a suburb on the Cape Flats called Surrey Estate which is a small neighbourhood just outside Athlone along Klipfontein road…

Do you know where you were born? I’d like to know… Why not post it in the comments? Or send me an email.

Posted in Thoughts | 6 Comments

Politix

Posted on 1 November, 2006 by JK

I’m not one of these people, like my Dad, who can argue the front, back and side of a political view. I have no inclination nor interest in politics of any kind (which includes those associated with family gatherings and the like). Who needs that shit?

As a South African living in the 80′s I know enough about PW, to know that he was one of the last big sticklers for Apartheid, a stifler of democracy. But now that he’s gone, other politicians can’t react quick enough to get a good word in.

As the news of PW Botha’s death has filtered through the media, we hear more and more reports from politicians, opposing politicians at that, now jumping on the “What a great guy he was” -wagon. Everyone and their dog is making releases to the press expressing their sadness of his passing, yet just 10 years ago, couldn’t wait to “bust a cap in his ass”. Hypocrites.

Maybe it’s a testament to just how two-faced politicians are, regardless of their side of the fence.

Posted in Thoughts | 4 Comments

A few more things…

Posted on 13 October, 2006 by JK

I played at a 30th birthday in Milnerton last weekend. Here are few things I learnt from that experience…

  • Everyone has a favourite song
  • Everybody expects to hear their favourite song upon requesting it with the DJ
  • Everyone expects the DJ to have their favourite song and also find the time to play it during the course of the evening
  • Just because you’re chums with the person footing the DJ’s bill, doesn’t mean you can request shit…
  • There are a significant amount of people who still love Tina Turner’s music…. surprisingly.
  • If your boyfriend’s a crack-smoking loner musician without a day job, please don’t let him play (his guitar) at your party… despite his best intentions. His set will probably be depressing, sucking the juice right out of the party, and you’ll more than likely end up crying.
  • I get paid regardless of whether you have a good time or not, though it does make my job much more enjoyable if you do.
  • Belly-dancing is the shit!

Here are a few snaps from the evening:

Guests at Moroccan themed birthday party Belly dancing by the birthday girl

Posted in Music, Thoughts | 3 Comments

IT Survey

Posted on 29 September, 2006 by JK

Are you an IT professional? Yes? No? Who cares! We need your input. You see, the wife is slaving away at the studies again and one of her projects calls for a sampling of “real data”, so being the incredibly good husband I am… I created a little survey.

Here’s where you come in: If you are South African, and work in any IT-related field, try your hand at our survey by simply clicking here. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Posted in Misc | 2 Comments

Cellphone file sharing a reality with MXit 5

Posted on 22 September, 2006 by JK

This via the official press release:

“The latest version of MXit, version 5.0, is available for download from noon on Monday 25 September 2006 with the company expecting over 50 000 downloads of the software in the first day.”

Paedophiles around the country were intially excited about this prospect, though Herman Heunis, managing director of MXit, had the following to add.

“…files can only be shared between contacts. This means that users will only be able to send and receive files from people they have actively accepted as contacts and with whom they are willing to communicate.
Users will not be able to post files in open forum chat rooms due to security reasons.”

Well, there goes that passtime..

Related reading

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