The day didn’t start off to well when I made that mad dash for the train, to realise I’m on a different schedule today, don’t go straight to the city, get to the coffee house first.

In some forgotten point during the age of cavemen clubbing each other on the head to make a point, some social nazi decided that it was critical for the organisation of the community that new members be introduced through stages of ‘conditioning’ into the norms of the society. In the 20th century, the induction process is variously called by the Greek Fraternities as “hazing.”

It may even be illegal in some quarters, but who is going to get in the way of social unity, and progress ?

Mr. Dave put me through Nullcube’s rigorous induction process, with the simple line.

How do you feel about walking into town?

Scum bag!!

We had our pow-wow session early Monday morning before heading into town for some real work (i.e. non-administration stuff.) “How do you feel about walking into town?” I shoulda clobbered him on the spot then.

Mr. Dave cut a quick march ‘clip’ for us from our Newtown HQ (ha ha ha, HQ is the fanciful term for where our base toilets are located 8-) and off we went. Ho K, he’s decided that we don’t need to grab a cab and then comes up with a fanciful reason for why getting a cab into town wasn’t a good idea today (the 2nd opportunity where I shoulda just clobbered him.)

He’s doing good, ‘cause he’s into this walking thing and makes the farcical attempt to get to the gymn every now and then. Mind you, I haven’t done a long walk like this for a long long time, like 1999!

The distance we’re walking here is probably akin to walking from Tofoa into town, which isn’t a bad walk, unless you have some hee bee jebee fitness fanatic pushing the pace, and you hit Broadway (less than half way to our destination) and everything’s on an incline (the wrong way.) Google Maps estimates the distance at 3 miles.

There is a great mythology amongst the Apple fanboys that Microsoft doesn’t understand, Linux isn’t up to standards and Apple products

Just work.

It must be the work of the delusional to always come across problems to the contrary and yet still tout your religion. So, a whole heap of people are having problems with all sorts of aspects with the Apple iPhone launch, but fanboys will propose that it’ll get fixed quickly, whereas if anyone else had that problem there would have been all sorts of noise about how crappy that platform is.

Fanboys unite in your delusions.

I still love that Air Con quote. Insanity is working for fifty years to find yourself in a nursing home where you can’t do a piss without having someone pull your daks down, or something to that tune.

Joel Spolsky reminds us of a business idea that comes other of the former Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC.) The discussion could be summarised as:

Administration is about keeping the lights on, not telling other people what they should do.

If you want to propose something, you own it, your tender it and get it out. Have the courage of your convictions, and take responsibility for your mouth.

Wouldn’t that be an ideal world?

Obviously, either the advice was not completely understood by DEC management, or it is not in itself sufficient for success (otherwise DEC the pioneer computer systems integrator, would not have been swallowed up by a PC box mover Compaq Computer Systems to be later swallowed again by HP.)

I’ve been playing around with a server at home, and of course the two simplest things to install, configure for testing are:

• a mail server
• a web server.

I didn’t know that these were blocked from the outside, and since I was only playing around it didn’t bother me much at the time that:

• my email messages to the server weren’t getting through, and
• I couldn’t connect to my fancy web pages from work

But, thanks to whirlpool, and a few hints from workmates, I am a much better informed consumer.

Blocked Ports

The following ports are blocked on OptusNet:
Inbound
• TCP 25 (SMTP)
• TCP 80 (HTTP)
• TCP/UDP 135 (RPC)
• TCP/UDP 137–139 (NetBIOS)
• TCP/UDP 161–162 (SNMP)
• TCP/UDP 445 (RPC)
• TCP 593 (DCOM)
• TCP 1080 (Socks)
Outbound
• TCP 25 (SMTP — can be disabled at https://memberservices.o...om.au/mailfilter)
Static IPs
This list of blocked ports only applies to Internet connections with a dynamic IP. This includes all cable connections, and all residential dial and DSL connections. If you are on a Small Business DSL or dial plan you can ring Small Business customer service to request a static IP. The ports will be unblocked once your connection has switched over to the new IP.
IPv6 Traffic
Since (currently) most IPv6 traffic travels over a standard IPv4 connection to a tunnel broker, ALL IPv6 ports are unfiltered and unblocked. This should be consistent with all ISPs, not just Optusnet specific.

The test servers turned off, but it would be extremely useful for me to have some services available from home.

All going together to making a decision about whether we need to continue this relationship (with Optusnet as the internet provider for the house.)

Every once in a while, being in the computer industry (and now more specifically in the “Security” business) you finally come across something that your family and friends can relate to.

I mean, how many people outside of IT really care much about IT, so long as their TV and toaster works (because the Internet might work, but for some reason there’s always problems with the home connection.) And, from here we know that even fewer people have any clue what IT Security people are about, or even care?

You really want to read the full story by Jennifer Jabbusch, a teaser is below but you want to read it from the beginning. Security is a real-life issue.

Grande Theft Auto …

He now has no car and no phone. So, ironically enough, he then had to approach a stranger and politely ask for the use of their cell to phone home and let the group know he was bamboozled. A few tears were shed, but his wife assured him it would be fine and he shouldn’t be scared. (No, I’m not making that up).

If you read the full article,

The moral of the story…  There are two. 1) Involve someone with a ‘security mindset’ and 2) Your security is only as strong as your people. A sweet damsel in distress… social engineering at it’s finest…

A wonderful (though said) example of real life ‘scams’ that can impact any of us (and how often do your parents, or kids open the door without a worry these days?)

But more importantly, be careful out there that something like this story doesn’t happen to you or your friends (not the hairdresser part of the story, the parking part, hoiiiii)

My train ride was on schedule this morning, but the ‘features’ offered by City Rail is beginning to scare me (since I may just not get to work at all one of these days.)

The ride I usually take when working in the city was delayed by 20 ~ 30 minutes, which basically means that the next ride would mean a big adrenaline rush through the system to get from the downtown train station to the workplace in time. Let alone having to go through the “tunnels” and the crush to get on the escalator (note single escalator service.)

Poor work warriors from further North of the city seem to be struggling with this scheduling ‘feature’ for quite some time. At least, they’re always on the news for not making it to work or being stuck somewhere in the Public Transport System for up to 4 hours.

Wow!!! I get to see my first MacBook Pro on the train today (or maybe it’s my 2nd but didn’t really notice the other one?)

Seems to be the latest thing to equip your staff with a notebook, and stick them with a “dongle” USB modem for keeping connected with work.

This we know, this MacBook gal doesn’t do too much of this stuff on this train ride. She’s sitting with the sun glaring at her and has to put her hand up to shade her eyes while she’s trying to do something on her laptop. True warriors already have the seating on the train that doesn’t have glaring sunlight.

Oh, and you have to move around. There’s no perfect spot as this ride winds around and thus the sun comes in differently depending on the part of the track your on.

POSH – Port Out Stubborn Home.

Reminds me of having learned sometime in the past the beginnings of the phrase / word POSH. Posh is often (at least where I was) used to refer to someone or a group of people with some real money.

When I get online, I’ll look it up again. (I’m not crazy enough to pay the rates to get 24/7 access from my laptop, but I know the Bro’ does.)

Another day, another Monday, another work-week.

Hope your’s is a good one.

Ma’ata Ngalo’afe wasn’t the first to get up this morning, I think she was the last, but she made sure everyone knew when she was up, and made sure to remind everyone

Dad, do you know what day it is?

I’m six years old today

We didn’t have anything too flash for her today, but O4 did get her a little cake so she can blow it out at home. We got her something just a little bit bigger and she blew it out at school (the teacher’s got the cake while the kids got little cup-cakes that was easier to manage for everyone.)

Happy Birthday dear, and may you continue to be your wonderful, effervescent, fakahela, self.

When I was at South Strathfield High School, there was one school I hated playing in the Rugby League pool we were in for one of those high school tournaments, Enmore High School.

Back in the day, the boys that they bred at Enmore (I think they were predominantly of Greek or Italian heritage) were just seriously rough. It wasn’t so much a fear of what they were doing to me, but my little bro’s on the team (including me) were just getting a hammering. 

If I recall correctly, we played against Enmore in one League game and another Union game. The boys were rough, and they could do the ‘dirty’ without flinching.

Saturday night and O4 made some salad for an eat that ended up being at the Enmore Catholic Parish(?) off Princess Highway. You don’t mess with the Tongans at Enmore Parish either.

Eating at Tonga events generally works in at least 3 sets. With Sunday’s context, the meal was a buffet so the 1st set was for the invited guests to get up and get some stuffing, the 2nd set is when those who were involved with preparing the food (including the boys outside) come to the table and get their feed. The 3rd set is supposed to be at the very end of the program when everyone has had their fill and the cleaning up process involves people taking food for their own consumption, on their own time, at their own homes.

Well, with Enmore there’s not the standard pause between Set 2 and Set 3, so if you’re new to the gathering, watch out or you might get trampled by the horde as they scramble for the table.

A great feast was had by all, who knows how many dishes were on the table but you can be assured there wasn’t anything left on the table after the 3rd Set was in motion.

Remember, beware the Enmore mob (and I thought Petersham was bad to the bone 8-)

Bankstown to Newtown via Strathfield Week-Days (PM)

Newtown to Bankstown via Townhall Week-Days (PM)

Newtown to Bankstown via Strathfield Week-Days (PM)

We made it to the game again, now we've really got to call 'Ofa a rabid NSW Waratah fan.

We were the noisy duo in row BB, right behind and in front of some rabid South African fans who were competing sadly against us, but losing it badly even before half time.

We got of to a loser of a start with the game, by standing at the wrong bus-stop ? What's with that ? After half-an-hour of seeing no bus around, 'Ofa had the smarts to get us to walk to another bus-stop to see the rest of the rabid fans queuing for the busses

Tonga-now, reborn TongaReview.com has an article on 'Eua's new water system.

m 'Eua Water System produces muddy water

25/03/2008 12:16:18 p.m.

It has only been a week since the launch of the ‘Eua water system by His Highness, Crown Prince Tupouto’a Lavaka, and already the public are complaining about the muddy and unclean water produced by the new water system.

I thought it looked like someone had a glass of Orange Juice in the sink.

We can sometimes get ahead of ourselves, as techno-geebs. The solutions people generally want rarely needs new flashing lights with special coolant, our priorities should be solving problems, not installing new technologies.

Re: [OT] Pursuing Management to adopt OpenBSD

Chris wrote:

> I been trying (rather unsuccessfully) to convince various clients and
> employers to adopt OpenBSD. Most people, I find, are resistant to
> change and would not use anything they are not familiar with. Others
> would say that if I leave the job, it would be hard to find people who
> can use (or even heard of) OpenBSD and in some places Management never
> heard of OpenBSD and have very little clue as to how good or bad it is
> compared to Linux/ Solaris and Windows thus they will just knock off
> the proposal in 2 seconds.
>
> Is there any way I could convince these people to make the move to
> OpenBSD? Suggestions, tips and tricks along with real life examples
> would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Sad but true, another opportunity to have our history recorded by a palangi (and in this case a history buff with real enthusiasm for the subject.)

I don't have any memories of the 1st MV 'Olovaha (or the national debt incurred for a sizeable benefit for everyone while we were incurring the debt?)

We left Tonga for Australia and 1974, and my memories of the water were of much smaller boats, and avoiding the large boats at Uafu Vuna while trying to get my 'line' onto a fish that was just waiting down there for me.

Dear all

I am writing to you in the hope that you can assist me with a piece of Tongan history.

Between 1971 and 1982, the first M/v OLOVAHA sailed the Tongan Islands acting as a ferry and cargo ship.  I actually served on this ship when she was in Australia under the name Queen of the Isles.  I know she sailed between Tongatapu and the outer islands of Haapai and Vavau.

I have set up a website tracing her history from being built and serving in UK, through Tonga (cargo and ferry), New Zealand (floating Casino), Australia (Cruise ship on the Barrier Reef) and finally her demise in the Solomon Islands.

www.queenoftheisles.com

All I had for the Tongan years was a postage stamp and a story about her sinking, but Matangi Tonga were kind enough to publish my request and I managed some great feedback!

I was hoping that someone there (or one of your readers) may be able to assist me in finding a little more about her times in the Friendly Isles!  Any advice would be much appreciated.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards
Andy Newland
Export Sales Manager
Elster Metering Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 1582 438056
Mob: +44 (0) 7793 442965

If you have some photos or a story, Andy's collection on the above site seems such a grand way of collecting them for later generations to enjoy.

What I remember of large ships (from the perspective of a 7/8 year old in Tonga) at the Uafu Vuna was dad telling me not to play around with the walkways to the vessel. Walkways are like in the old black and white movies with a step/plank over the side of the boat lowered to the wharf that moves sideways, up, down constantly with the movements of the vessel due to the sea.

Within a space of days of those sagely advice highlighted itself, one of the kids playing at the wharf decided that playing under the walkway was fun and was caught with the walkway dragged onto him as the boat rocked and the steps rolled onto him (obviously after a few screaming moments the adults finally got him free worse for wear.)

The 2nd advice was not to panic if I fall in the water but to try and breath by letting myself sink to the bottom kicking up. Hold your breath, do not panic, and someone will get to you before you get into trouble. Thankfully we didn't have to test that one.

Must have been a translation problem somewhere along the way.

TONGAN RUGBY UNION CHAIR ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION

The suspended CEO of the TRU Siosaia Fonua...says the Court is poised to bring in an administrator from the International Rugby Board for the next six months. (listen)

That was the suspended CEO of the TRU Saia Fonua.

But Sangstar Saulala says he's hoping his resignation will enable the Board to get on with business without any more involvement from the Court or the I R B.

He says Tonga's outstanding performance at the World Cup and in Sevens is a vindication of his policy to direct more funds to players. (listen)

Tell me again which of the players in which "he" invested were part of the Rugby World Cup Team? There sure was a lot of money disappearing (and under investigation) that supposedly went to local competitions, and we had so many of these players graduate to the World Cup Team? Or did Nili and 99% of our successful team all hail from overseas contracts?

Translation: The ride was fun while it lasted, but the rides derailed and its time to get off.

Maybe your election results will vindicate your position. The move to candidature in Tongatapu (as opposed to his last foray as a candidate for Vava'u) might be helpful (since this is where much of the Rugby money went) or not.

Ma'ata Ngalo'afe decided she was going to do some colouring/drawing and came up with this display.

She found some passport photos we had around the office and decided that it's rightful place was decorating her drawing.

Rather creative I thought.

But what is the deeper meaning of this photo?

Ma'ata's school held their Meet the Teacher Night today so we trotted off with 'Ofa to get a briefing on ... 'something.'

Wow, there's a lot of teachers taking care of Kindergarten at Chullora Public School.

Anyhow, nothing drastic is happening, they just wanted us to have an idea of what they are doing and how we can participate with our children's education (i.e. it's a partnership between school and home, not a one way thang)

We asked the teacher if she can give us a list of the music cd's they are using so we can get a copy for Ma'ata (not not the torrent versions, although ...) Apparently Ma'ata's teacher is using stuff mostly from the ABC Shop, so they're quite accessible.

Of course, Ma'ata Ngalo'afe is a little behind on her "Advance Australia Faire" but she pumps out some gusto words of her own during these and other songs (she just enjoys singing even if the words aren't quite right.)

Peanut / Nut Allergy can kill. I remember a couple years back, here in Australia, reading the news about a boy who died at a camp because although he was allergic to nuts the camp played a game where children were given different tasks. The boy volunteered to eat the peanut sandwich because no one else in his group would eat the peanuts, and for the remaining hours of his life the camp participants (staff and children) could only watch as he suffered and died (they did not have the training or the medication on hand to deal with the sudden death.)

Deaths from peanut allergy

Approximately 125 people die in the United States each year from food allergies.^[8][9] Peanut allergy is the most common cause of death from food allergies. ^[10]

The dangers of peanut allergy are real, even if sometimes misrepresented in the popular press.

Australian schools (at least here in Sydney anyway) seem to have become seriously aware of the issues, as a consequence both Ma'ata's school (Chullora Public School) and Sisitoutai's school (Bankstown Montessori Center) are "Nut Free Zones" to encourage awareness and prevent failure to save children's lives.

Unfortunately, some parents just choose not to understand the severity of this ailment.

Being from Tonga, we don't recall ever hearing of anyone with this kind of food allergy (the only food allergy common in Tonga is obesity, ha ha ha) but we've stopped buying peanut products for the kids as there are plenty of other foods for energy etc.

One mother at tonights meeting just had to argue that her kids don't eat anything else but Nutella (i.e. chocolate with peanuts.) Pray tell, what is she supposed to do? She can't argue with her kids about their food selection, God forbid?

Knock knock, anyone home ?

We would rather that our kids get peanut butter in their sandwiches for additional nutritional content, but I wouldn't wish the pain of an allergy attack on my kids let alone someone elses. Get a clue, educate yourself.

I used to look up to our wizened elders and wonder

"will I contribute to this life a shadow of the amount they've contributed?"

Taholo Kami just sent out an email of some musical recordings by his daughter Tae. To know just a little about what the family, and Tae have gone through in the past couple of years is to wonder at the contribution that they have made to this life.

1 March 2008 Update

Tae singing His Eyes are on the Sparrow  Click to hear/download song

Tae is still in hospital this morning. Tae was smiling by the time I got to hospital last night - the small session in surgery to drain the infection beside her nose seemed to have worked out well and Sina had called for me to pick up a hot chocolate and fish fillet burger from Mcdonalds for her to snack on. We hope all goes well from here on - her breathing has cleared up a little but we have to see what the doctors say today.

We had a long discussion yesterday while she lay on the bed and she says to me "Dad - I've accepted the situation - have you?"  She then proceeded to explain that she has been so richly blessed in her short life, she's had her miracle and she has overcome all her challenges, she is ready to go home  if God decides its time. The surgeon was stunned by her frankness on issues and spent more time discussing life and faith issues with her yesterday  then her condition...

The guys from the studio dropped off samples of her song yesterday. There is a version of Tae singing "His Eyes are on the Sparrow" and the song she wrote "Walk on, Walk Strong". The studio guys also did their own version of "Walk on, Walk Strong" which was quite stunning. I will upload it once I figure how to do it. We hope the song can be used to raise funds for a "Tae Kami Foundation" which can  assist with cases of Pacific Island kids who face a cancer challenge .  Check soon for a download.

Thank you all for your prayers and support - I will post an update from Tae later

Visit with the Kami's on Tae's website, or find her on Bebo. Definitely inspirational and sometimes quite devotional.

Have spent the past couple of weeks navigating the side roads taking and bringing the kids to work, and YEP, just don't mess with the mum's as they demand space moving that RAV or 4-wheel drive.

NSW/Australia have some cool regulations forcing drivers around schools to slow down to 40Km maximum during those hectic drop-off, pick-up periods. Unfortunately, you can't legislate against stupidity.

Visit your local primary school during the beginning and end of they school day and you can be amazed at what we're teaching kids (even at the behest and continued pleas of administrators.) Most recently, the worse things I've seen (having only been at this for a couple of weeks.)

Mum/Dad dragging their kid across the traffic when only 20 meters away.

Heaps of U-Turns right in front of oncoming traffic.

Heaps of cars pulling out into traffic with cars coming through.

Looks like we're making more headway into getting this up and running.

Hope to see everyone there, click on the timetable image to get a larger picture (possibly easier to read for those with ageing eyes, or artificially assisted eyes.)

Key Dates: Monday September 29th ~ Wednesday October 1st

Remember to bring your video camera, audio recording equipment etc. Best of all, make sure if you have a real job to get this booked on your calendar.