$US200 "Network Computer" available

I remember years ago (as far back as 1995 apparently) Larry Ellison touted the "Network Computer" as the way of the future. Well it seems to have arrived now albeit without Oracle's involvement in the form of the gPC (or "Green PC"), available through Walmart stores in the US (and currently sold out). Matt Cutts, a respected blogger from Google, describes the gPC in more detail here. It seems to be an incredibly cheap way to get online, runs an open-source operating system called gOS, and encourages the use of purely web-based applications from Google. Check out some of the press coverage here. I am not sure if it would work in Australia but I don't see why not. I am fascinated with Google's web-based applications, particularly Docs and Gmail, and have been using them for a while. For example, I recently put together a spreadsheet of a budget gaming computer (with thanks to Sharky Extreme's excellent guides) I am interesed in custom-building.

Sydney - a treasure trove of food options

Near my office is a bakery offering Vietnamese-style Chicken Rolls for $3.20 ! This is excellent value and reminded me how fantastic Sydney is for its food culture. A couple of years ago the SMH ran an article about some of the best options for food around Sydney - here it is here.

Did Facebook bring about legal and cultural change in Sydney this week?

In an earlier post I questioned the value of Facebook. Well it seems the social networking tool may have had a hand in changing the liquor laws in Sydney Apparently thousands of Facebook activists...bombarded politicians with "e-drinks" emails So there's an application of Facebook right there - rasing awareness of an issue and causing a change to the law. It's certainly a contentious issue as many are unhappy with the prospect of more venues serving alcohol as this response to an article from The Bulletin demonstrates. Oh, the original article is here.

The Sopranos is over

Just a brief note this week to recognise the end of The Sopranos Although the final episode aired in the USA back in June, I was pleased that I managed to avoid most spoilers. I try not to watch too much TV however this is the greatest show I have ever seen. Brilliant, intelligent writing, fine acting, high production values, great music. If you can relate to the feeling a really great drop of wine can bring, along with a really great meal, then that is how it feels to watch an episode of perhaps the greatest pop-culture masterpiece of its day credited for bringing a greater level of artistry to the television medium and paving the way for many successful drama series that followed.