Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Heat, glorious heat!

This one is about central heating. But it’s also about some facts which could help Moshe trying to unravel the mystery of his central heating fan!

Last year we spent a considerable amount of time renovating our upstairs area – our retreat, if you like – which is an extension to the house. When the house was extended by the previous owner, someone ran two central heating outlets off the main system; one in the bedroom and one in the landing/study area.

We found that those two outlets were actually affecting the efficiency of the system on the ground floor – not enough airflow. It was also pointless as there is only one thermostat in the house, downstairs. So the first floor was never heated properly anyway.

Then there is the dust factor: floor vents stay gaping open for a large part of the year; therefore fluff and dust tend to accumulate in them, which eventually get shot back in the room when the heating comes on.

Then there was the aesthetic factor: newly painted walls and skirts and a new carpet, why spoil it with holes in the floor?

But most of all was the noise… With the heating on, we used to hear an annoying continuous whistle as the air passed through the plastic grille. Not very pleasant at 6:00am.

We decided that we should opt for electric heating upstairs and, instantaneously, agreed for the Nobo brand. I knew of their excellent reputation and Lesley had them fitted in a previous house.

We bought one heater on Monday – rated at 2400W with a built-in timer. Very excited, we installed under our bedroom window last night after work. It took less than half an hour, most of which was spent on measuring and centering. Nobo have a smart and very reliable way of ensuring that the heater is correctly placed and at a specific distance above the floor.

Next was the power-up ceremony. Lesley was nervous about the window blind being close to the top of the heater. I was slightly concerned that our temporary extension cable is rated the same as the heater itself. I would have preferred a bit more tolerance.

These heaters are spectacular. Within half an hour, the room had turned from a pretty cold to very comfortable. The air was not dry, the heater was radiating a reassuring glow and you could feel the natural, gentle air circulation from the floor through the heater and upwards. I set the timer for the week and that was it.

Moshe’s problem came to mind as I started to fret about the next electricity bill, so I turned off the gas central heating, the dishwasher and a couple of other things and I headed for the electricity meter: One revolution in 3.5 seconds. The heater was running at its maximum 2400W.

It may sound a bit scary and potentially expensive. Over the next few days I’ll be watching a bit more closely, as the Nobo heaters are supposed to be consuming a lot less once the room has reached the desired temperature. If I was to think about a new central heating solution I’d probably choose between these heaters (because you can wire them to a control panel and create zones too) or a hydronic system.

But overall, we are happy with the choice. We slept really well and woke up to a warm room. It was just a little hard getting out of bed though!...

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Justice with criminal intent

It just happens that two blog entries in a row are about football referee injustice. Or shall I say stupidity. Or gross inadequacy. Same difference. Everyone who has kept an eye on World Cup 2006 would have by now worked out that there has been an issue with referees. I will not go into detail about the previous games in the tournament but rather focus on last night’s ItalyAustralia game.

And do not, even for one minute, think that I’m biased because Australia did not go through. I’ll come back to that.

Last night’s referee exceeded his English colleague’s inabilities by quite a long stretch. And he did that in one clean shot. In fact, that kind of action is almost criminal. I can picture the last few hours before he stepped on the pitch (or ‘the park’ as our SBS commentators call it… What park exactly??? It’s a field, a pitch! Nobody is walking their dog in it). Anyway, ref standing in front of the mirror, in his knee-high socks, admiring himself, hair gel dripping down his forehead, smirking, getting excited, clenching his little fists, thinking:

“Ha ha!... I’m gonna screw this game good! I’ll show that English guy what I can do! I’ll play cool, I’ll confuse them. Not too many yellow cards, I’ll get some of them right too. Yeah, that’s right… Maybe 2 or 3, maybe a red one. I so wish I could give out 9 – but no, I won’t. I’ll save it for the big one. Yeah… That English guy didn’t call a penalty when he should have – but I’ll do the opposite! I’ll make one up… Yeah… everyone will remember me for that!!!! Ha Ha Ha!!!”

This is what I reckon the referee was thinking about (well, except for the fact that he was thinking all that in Spanish). And boy, he stuck to his guns, didn’t he?...

So here’s what I really think of last night's drama:

  • Australia started the game very well. Their passing was excellent and methodical, based on a good plan (Hiddink’s plan).
  • They just could not execute a shot. They did not even want to take a risk or two and just shoot, for heaven’s sake, like the Italians. Luca Toni did that a few times and scared the hell out of us.
  • Italy started to lose it a bit once they got down to 10 players – but they were still giving the Ozzies a very good run. Their defence was excellent. But the numbers advantage seemed to lift the Australians’ courage.
  • Australia would have probably lost – but they did not deserve to lose like they did.
  • Without Schwarzer, Australia would have been buried 2-0 in the first half.
  • (Almost) everyone was blaming Hiddink today for not bringing Aloisi out earlier than he did. Well, the way the game was going and without the referee’s sniper shot, Aloisi came out at the right time – 10 minutes to warm him up and have him ready for the 30 minute extra time.
  • Viduka is not as hot as he’s talked up to be. And I think that as a captain he should have been a bit more ‘proud’ and dignified after the match. He’s supposed to carry the team, not join in the mourning – and not when the whole world is watching
  • Guus Hiddink will be really missed by the fans (even if half of Australia had no idea who he was until three months or so ago) and by the team. He'll be hard to replace.
  • FIFA should seriously reprimand some of this Cup’s referees. They buried the ambitions of some teams and they gave the sport a bad name; it is now easy to perceive that, no matter how good a team is and how hard they try, they’re at the mercy of this one man.

After the Croatia game, FIFA officials tried to raise our hopes by suggesting a rematch should Australia had lost the game. Well, what about last night’s game? Is FIFA thinking of cancelling the outcome and stage the 30-minute extra time and possible penalty shoot out?

FIFA must seriously look into what happened this year (and hopefully before the next few games). If football is to flourish in this side of the world, people need to see the serious and fair side of it which, right now, is rather comical and unfair at the same time.

Let’s hope that what happened last night will not put people off and that Australian youth continues to discover the magic and the passion – as well as the fact that it is the “real football”, because of a. the shape of the “ball” and b. the fact that generally one uses their “foot” and not their hand!...

As for these criminal whistle-blowing, card-issuing morons walking up and down football parks… Hasta la vista referees, you’re just no good!...

Friday, June 23, 2006

Ref off!

I didn't get much sleep last night, partly due to a bad cold I cought two days ago. I also wanted to get an early night so that I could get up early and watch "The Game" - Australia vs. Croatia.

I was awake by 3:30am, before the alarm. Feeling pretty banged up and misearble I popped a pill and headed for the TV. I quickly (4:05am ) realised that the game was not starting till 5:00. Oh well, I watched the ending of the Ghana match, then endured the painful pre-match commentary and predicions by the pitiful SBS commentators.

"The Game" kicked off at 5:00 and of course my heart sank after the Croatian goal - but Viduka should have known better. I think this was the first Australian players' error (Hiddink is still impeccable, even after taking Schwarzer out - he had to).

The Viduka Incident was out of this world too. But there were still more idiotic moments to come. There were three more incidents which annoyed me:
a. the "two yellow cards and still playing" moment - what the hell are the FIFA officials doing? OK, the ref was overwelmed with on-the-field action, but someone could have wispered something to his ear!
b. Kalac's brainless hand-throw minutes after the crucial equaliser straight to a Croat's feet. I have no words for that...
c. The end-of-match wistle and simultaneous red card to Simunic. Uh?

This was a dramatic match, more so because of the panic of both teams towards the last 15 minutes - but the referee's inadeqacies elevated it to soap opera status.

But Australia is through, for all it matters. And once again, hats off to Guus Hiddink. And all the best to Russia. I'll be watching out for them in the next World Cup.

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Dilemma

Do I wake up at 2:00am to watch Brazil vs. Australia? Something tells me I should, reasoning tells me that sleep will do me more good than a late night/early morning...

If Brazil wins, what are the Australian papers going to write about fron now on? Days before the match, even the more serious papers (except the AFR) started to dedicate spreads on 'the miracle' - that's right actually, because this is exactly what it will take.

However, if the native team was to win, this would be the most significant moment, as well as only chance, in the shaping of football in Australia. So for that reason alone, go Kewell, go Aloisi, go the Roos!

OH&S 'rules'

Since October 2005 I've been the (certified) head of my Company's OH&S Committee - of course in addition to my real job. Why, you may ask? Well, because someone had to do it... We're eam of 6 jolly H&S people, including the Chief Fire Warden and a First Aid Officer.

And as much as I love my day to day job (Systems Architecture, that is), there is something about OH&S that I really like and enjoy. Yes, I do love the fact that I am licensed to be anal, pedantic and strict about things that are really common sense. And sometimes you don't even have to have a smile on your face!...

Last week it came to our attention that our kitchen cleanliness (actually, lack of) has taken another turn. So to cut to the point, we have now installed handwashing apparatus to every kitchen at work. Exciting, you may say! However, we have given a few males the opportunity to wash their hands after they've been to the loo and just before they go to make lunch or a cuppa. Yuk, you may say! But true too. And the same goes to the boys and girls in the Mail Room (no, not the Male room...) handling all sorts of correspondance before they feel they've earned a break.

But it did not stop there! Someone came up with the idea to stick up hand-washing instructions (no, not me). So now we can all read not just why, but also how to wash our hands! In the interest of health and safety, I must welcome this - at the same time though, something tells me that this will offend someone. I guess we 'll have to wait and see.

The other associated achievement is that we finally got rid of tea towels and replaced them with disposable rolls of paper. This had always been a bugbear of mine, as one could never be sure as to where they've been, when and forhow long.

Two small steps in preventing 10% of a work force spreading germs around the place! I'm excited!!!

Friday, June 02, 2006

Investing in our children

Over the past couple of days Moshe and I exchanged a few opinions which were triggered from the Government's $300 cash for new school starters (you can have a look here). Moshe rightly pointed out that in Australia people complain that they're always worse off and struggling. The truth is that Australians would not know otherwise.

And, as far as spending on kids goes, it's all getting out of control too. And it's ultimately the parents who encourage it. Although I agree that having a mobile phone from the age of 13 is useful and almost necessary because kids commute to school for, dome times, an hour each way, I have a problem with this:
a. Kids will accept nothing without a colour screen and polyphonic ring tones. What the??? Because, if something happens, your parents will take you seriously if you send an MMS rather than a plain SMS? It's not a fashion accessory or a toy, it has a purpose. But, thanks to Optus and the likes, our kids can spend the whole night yapping on the phone for free. Or become recluses for free.
b. 27 years ago I entered high school and had to take 2 unreliable buses each way. I did not have a phone. A year later I was riding my bike to and from. Still no phone. I survived, millions others like me survived too.

The same "kids/money" subject somehow brings me to the next topic: On the way home last night on the train, a young woman (perhaps 18 to 24, hard to tell), very smart-casual dress (not cheap) and very presentable entered the carriage at Ringwood. She was sporting a fashionable handbag in one hand/shoulder and a MASSIVE Deal or No Deal cheque for $26,000... The funny thing is, nobody had any idea if it was real and if it was hers (and nobody, amongst the ones who cared, had the guts to ask her...). So she took a seat, clumsily positioned the cheque on the opposite seat proceeded in making a couple of phone calls. She was in possession of the latest Sony Ericsson walkman phone, in a fashionable leather pouch. A few calls later she grabbed the giant cheque and held it tight. She got off at the same station as me and waited for her lift.

While on the train, I was just trying to think (assuming the money was hers) how it would be spent. And, as much as we should not judge a book by its cover, I almost saw it all happening; clothes, car, iPod, this and the other.

The whole system is rigged: we're copping it from all sides. We are encouraged to spend more and want more. Game shows are screwed because they're all consumer-driven because of the revenue through advertising. Kids no longer ask for a TV in their bedroom (as if...), they want LCD. While choosing a new car, all the kids in my house want a DVD player rather than being interested in safety and comfort. A young guy in his mid-20s here at work is buying a huge plasma screen while he's still living at home. Another one just bought a new small car and is investing in accessorising it for looks.

In all those things, there is no forethought on resources, the environment or energy impacts and requirements.

It's really bad and proceeding very rapidly in getting even worse. It's gone so far that there is no magic bullet. Talking to kids about the value of money only makes you sound even more uncool, mean and old-school.

Looking back, the one thing I kept hassling my parents about was a motorbike at 16, mainly from peer pressure and the copycat factor. After six months of nothing happening, I gave up. There was no 'life or death requirement' for VCRs or video games. I was happy to be out socialising and meeting real people face to face.