Category Archives: Blog

Personal observations.

Some illuminating stats regarding solar panels

Posted on 7 February 2012 | Leave a comment

solar cells on a house roof
In October 2010, after much deliberating and number crunching, we installed solar panels on our roof. I’m glad we didn’t wait any longer. A few days later the then NSW Premier Kristina Keneally reduced the gross feed in tariff from 60 cents per kWh to 20 cents per kWh. Soon after the election 10 months ago, the scheme was shut down and there were plans to retrospectively wind back the scheme – fortunately for us and 110,000 other families that didn’t happen.

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Compare the pair

Posted on 15 January 2012 | Leave a comment

We had friends around for dinner tonight and one of them commented about some other friends of theirs who have set up a blog (or something similar) in which they dress up son number 2 and place him in the same position as a photo they had taken of son number 1 a few years earlier.

So here is our first edition of Noah vs Isaac. As you can see, both are extremely cute at 2.5 months. Please note, we haven’t mimicked the look … yet.

Baby Isaac smilingSmiling baby Noah

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Pass the Open Source please

Posted on 29 January 2011 | Leave a comment

A montage of some open source titlesLike most people I’m loath to shell out dollars for software, particularly when in the majority of cases it’s quite expensive. But as a writer, I know the value of copyright and therefore I avoid using pirated software. So in the end it’s a case of ‘if I can’t afford it, I go without’.

But over the past few years, there has been a growing stable of Open Source (OS) software titles and websites I come across. OS is essentially ‘free’ content, where the ‘labour’ of putting it together is been a community effort. As a result, everybody shares in the spoils.

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Credit where credit is due

Posted on 16 January 2011 | Leave a comment

Last Sunday I took my son to the museum to see the dinosaurs. He’s nearly three years old and, like most boys, loves dinosaurs (and cars).

Sydney’s public transport system comes in for its fair share of criticism and I’d be one of the first to complain – too many old trains, some without airconditioners, not enough tracks and underground city stations that are nothing short of death-traps should a fire or terrorist attack occur.

But one thing they do do well is Family Funday Sunday. For only $2.50 per person you can travel on any train, bus or ferry throughout Sunday. Compared to the entrance fee to the museum ($12), lunch ($17) and ice cream ($9), this is fantastic value.

Kudos to you NSW State Transit.

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Geocaching in Springwood

Posted on 21 August 2010 | Leave a comment

Isaac takes the leadOne of Darren’s favourite pastimes is geocaching. This outdoor activity involves using a GPS receiver to find hidden geocaches – or treasures as Isaac likes to call them. We search on the internet for geocaches at interesting locations and use the GPS receiver to guide us to the location.

We enjoy doing this as a family because it gives us an opportunity to spend time together, in the outdoors. It also presents Isaac with an opportunity to explore the world around him.

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