Is This What They Call Progress??

After about 2 hours worth of downloading 14 or so megabytes (currently being on dialup), and a day of just simply forgetting that I'd downloaded it, I got around to installing Windows Live Messenger. So I figured that I would sit down and rant about it.

Now, before I started using MSN oh, about 2 and a half years ago, I didn't even have it installed. I installed it because some friends of mine from where I was volunteering at the time used it, and didn't have Yahoo! Messenger installed on their PC. (which I was then a devout user of, however due to circumstances which I'm not willing to explain, I no longer partake of it.) I installed it, and didn't really like it that much, but suffered through it because, well, I like to talk to friends!

Since then, MSN Messenger has had it's updates, and I wouldn't say that I *LOVE* it, but I am used to it, and find a few of the features cool and amusing, if not a little bit annoying. I found it even cooler when I started adding smileys/emoticons to it, and playing with the winks and other features such as the Handwriting, which lets you draw pretty pictures to the best of your mousing ability. A few of the features I found to be extremely annoying, such as the inability to send someone an offline message without sending them an email (sorry, but I don't have time to wait for Hotmail to load up on DIALUP when all i wanted to do was send someone a quick hello and to say I would be back later), and, if someone suddenly went offline, the annoying "your message could not be delivered" message, which caused me some grief even when my contacts WERE still displayed as online.

But anyway, I digress. I figured I would download the new messenger and give it a spin, figuring I could always just use the old one if it didn't meet up to my enjoyment. I've always believed that a piece of software should have an enjoyment factor in it, if it's not a pleasure to use, what's the bleeding point in it? If there's bits in it that irritate the user, then the user gets aggravated. Simple enough?

So after spending the 2 and a bit hours downloading Windows Live Messenger, I decided to install it. I thought to myself, I'll install it to a different directory, and then if I don't like it, I can uninstall it or just simply not use it. And that is where I hit a snag. The installer decided to OVERRIDE my previous installation without even giving me a choice of where I wanted to install it. Nice one, Redmond. One UN-point in your favour. Nice to see Microsoft still has it's BORGish attitude. "Where do you want to go today?" becomes "We'll install this here whether you like it or not". It takes about 5 minutes to install, making my poor laptop groan a bit, and making ME wonder what kind of crapware it is also installing.

Now it's installed and the program starts up. Being on dialup it takes about 2 minutes to sign in. Once it signs in, I sort of screw my nose up at it a bit. It looks a bit ugly, but that's probably because I'm using the classic theme on Windows XP for the laptop and not the blue bubbly shit. But hey, if Microsoft actually put a bit of customisation into the display settings and let you change the colour of the bubbly stuff, I'd still be using it. Blue, silver and that olive colour just doesn't cut it. There's also a massive advertisement at the bottom of the messenger window, which makes me hope and pray that StuffPlug hurries up and releases an update so I can get rid of it. I realise that advertising keeps programs such as Messenger free, however, it would be NICE if they gave you an option to not display these ads.

One good point is that Messenger now has Offline Messaging, something which has been in Yahoo! Messenger for at least the last 7 years. Nice to see that it's finally 'got with the times' on that front. Although I've just test sent a message and got the usual "The following message could not be delivered to all recipients". Boo, Hiss. And yes I sent it to someone who is also using the new Messenger. Another UN-point.

Another big annoyance is the inability to send MYSELF an online message. I realise that some of you might say "what's the point in sending yourself an IM message?" Well back in the Yahoo! days, I would send messages to myself to test out the smileys without annoying other people, as well as having myself on my own list, so that I could see when I was online or offline. Although that eventually became obsolete as I was invisible most of the time, anyway. I had hoped Microsoft would have fixed this, but no, I clicked on myself and got redirected yet again to an Explorer window so that I could send myself an email. Why should I have to piss other people off when I want to test things such as smileys to make sure I've set them up properly? That makes UN-point #3. GET WITH THE TIMES!

Other not-so-good points:

1: The display pics are missing in the contact window. All I've got is impersonal looking green and grey dudes. BORING!
2: When a contact changes their status to 'away' or 'out to lunch', it's not displayed as "(Away)", just as a time clock against the little green dude.
3: The fading of the window colour is kinda lame.

I'm giving it a tentative 2.5 out of 5 ... It's kinda sucky but I'm sure I will adapt :P

This Makes Me Sick

Charges Laid After Girl Killed in Perth Shopping Centre

What's it coming to, when you can't even let children use a public restroom? I really hope they throw the book at this guy. He needs more than the book thrown at him, and honestly, I hope he gets beaten up in prison. Or worse. Screw the "if you can't say anything nice..." BULLSHIT. A girl was RAPED and MURDERED. An EIGHT YEAR OLD GIRL. Right now she should be at school, playing with her friends and learning, not lying somewhere, cold and lifeless. She should get to grow up and be a woman, and experience all life should have to offer. But she won't. And that is the sad part of all this. Children shouldn't have to go through that, and it makes me sick that our justice system is such that this bastard won't hang from his neck until he is dead.

At most, though, he'll get free room and board for the rest of his life, at the taxpayer's expense. At least, he'll get a sympathetic judge and get a short sentence, and then he'll be released, able to live among us, so long as he has his name put on a list so people know what a sicko he is. Someone explain to me WHERE the fucking "justice" is in that? What happened to the punishment fitting the crime? What kind of message does that send to all the other sick fucks out there? "It's OK to do it, it's not like they're going to execute you for it!" It's time they thought seriously about bringing back the death penalty for crimes such as this. Crimes against children in particular are unacceptable, and should be treated as such.

Another Patented Frostilicus Rant

Ten Cuts BB Uncut

Channel Ten here in Australia has axed Big Brother: Adults Only, this year's incarnation of what was previously known as Big Brother: Uncut. Basically because, according to Ch 10, while the show has complied with the Television Industry Code Of Practice, questions "continue to be raised" as to whether the show should be on the air. Oh, and let's not forget this story about how politicians categorise the show as "smut" and state that it is "rotting children's brains".

Firstly, Big Brother, in general, shouldn't be watched by kids. It should, in no means whatsoever, be portrayed as an example to children about how they should act in adulthood. Having said that, yes, some kids (especially those weak minded, easily-led teenagers) are going to see it. Here's a BIG hint. If you're a parent and are upset or outraged by the fact that your darling little son or daughter has access to this kind of programming, GET OFF YOUR ASS AND DO SOME FUCKING PARENTING! Turn it off, do not let them watch it, or if they are THAT curious, sit down and watch it with them and point out that, honey, this is only a SMALL selection of people, and this is the way that they behave in a particular situation. TELL your children that everyone is an individual, and by all means, instill in them the values that you would like them to have as adults, and what you see fit as the "right" way to behave towards others.

Secondly, Big Brother: Adults Only. The show title said it enough. "Adults Only". It was shown at a later timeslot (9:40pm), when most kids under the age of...say... 15 may, or should be in bed. As the theme of the show is Adults Only, what do you REALLY expect to see on the show? You guessed it! All the risqué stuff they can't show you on the daily show without using those stupid bleeps or the boobie pixels. Krystal's p0rn star boobs. Jamie's cockblogging wednesday-worthy schlong. Oh and let's not forget the various discussions about Rob being an anal wh0re, how much David enjoys being fucked in the ass, Camilla's method for dining at the Y, conversations about p0rn in general, masturbation, seeing housemates actually shower naked, and let's not forget seeing Dino make Danielle moan ecstatically with an impressive finger job, and Katie's less-than-into-it moaning when Jamie gave her little man in the boat a saliva bath. (And check that his hair was still perfect after he came out from under the doona... can we hum "You're So Vain"??)

Now if you're offended by any of this, you obviously shouldn't be watching. The show itself was rated MA(15+) which means... that if you're under the age of 15, you shouldn't be watching, and if you ARE 15, you should watch with a parent or guardian. Ah, I hear the outrage already... "What kind of parent would let their teenager watch that?" Well, some parents might, they might be Big Brother fans themselves. If you know your teenager well enough, you should know what they may or may not like to watch, and if they want to watch it and you may be curious that it's not appropriate, tell them you are going to watch it with them, and if they have any questions or comments, feel free to make them. But don't get automatically narrow minded and outraged because "oh my god, my kid can see tits and bush on television!" This, my friends, is a knee-jerkish, illogical reaction. Chances are, your teenager has heard worse in the schooolyard or with their friends.

Thirdly, I can't believe that politicians are wasting their time complaining about a telvision show that airs for ONE HOUR on a Monday night for less than 2 months out of a year. Aren't there more important things to worry about? Let's see... the hospitals crisis, there's a starter. How about... skyrocketing petrol prices, there's another. The war in Iraq and how no one really wants to be involved in it... there's a third. Lots of things INFINITELY MORE IMPORTANT than a mere television show. Would these so-called representatives in our parliament DO THEIR FUCKING JOBS instead of complaining about something that probably rates at #5489763983 on a list of a gazillion problems?

Fourthly, it still manages to amaze me that there's a MASSIVE double standard where programming is concerned. Funny how people complain about a television show that is aimed at ADULTS, and how it warps the minds or children everywhere, because it's all smutty and stuff, and yet, you can turn on the 5 or 6 o'clock news and see a half hour show about murder, crime, death, war, violence, destruction, rape, paedophilia, corruption... and yet no one complains?? Someone explain to me why, if sex is a natural part of life, why is it "not appropriate" to talk about it, much less show it on television, yet we can see all forms of pain, human suffering and destruction at a time when kids will be watching?

It springs to mind that infamously, one night 2 years ago, anyone who was watching the 6 o'clock news on one particular channel here in Australia was lucky enough to be traumatised by the unedited footage of Nick Berg being beheaded, with the standard "we wish to advise that some scenes in this story may be distressing for some viewers" warning. I just shake my head and wonder how many parents had to explain to their children (of any age) what was happening to him. Or even if they could at all.

Suddenly a pair of tits and some smutty conversation on Big Brother: Adults Only doesn't seem so bad...

/end rant.

A Winter Recipe

This one is an original! (Well, I think so, anyway!) I couldn't be bothered with Easy Mac n Hotdogs tonight, nor tinned spaghetti (which was like gold when I was nursing my newly pierced tongue!), so I decided to get something out of mum's freezer (she said I could while she was away!) and I eventually thought... hmm... pork strips! But, what to do with them... I wasn't in the mood for the usual grilled/fried pork strips and rice job, so I thought... why not a stew? Read on!

Ingredient Things:
==============

4 Pork Strips, cut into 1 inch chunks
1 small onion
2 carrots
1/4 - 1/2 cup of Risoni pasta (the one that looks like oversized rice!)
8-10 Button mushrooms
1 tsp Marmite/Vegemite/Bovril or substitute*
2 chicken stock cubes
1 tsp minced garlic
Soy Sauce
Ginger Powder
2 tsp sesame oil (optional)
Olive Oil
2 cups water
1 tsp cornflour

* If you can't get this, I half pity you. Half due to the fact that I sometimes find *mite to be a bit revolting, because people spread it too damn thick on toast and it's VERY salty in large doses. But, it's handy for having in the cupboard for flavouring dishes from time to time, and if you just HAVE to have your *mite on toast fix (so long as it's spread thinly! But then everyone's taste is different).

Methody Thing
=============

1: Dice the onion into small pieces.
2: Peel the carrots and slice them into rings. Not too thin and not too thick. Be a bit "rustic" with it. It's not haute cuisine, it's a freakin' stew!
3: Chop the mushrooms into chunky pieces, similar in size to the carrots.
4: In a medium saucepan, pour a couple of splashes of Olive Oil, as well as the 2 tsp of sesame oil. This is entirely optional, as I was just using what was in the cupboard. Add the minced garlic and the ginger. (Ok, so the recipe started out slightly asian to begin with, but didn't end up that way.)
5: Once the garlic starts to fry, add the onion and carrots. Stir periodically until the onion goes translucent.
6: While the onion and carrots are cooking, dice up the pork strips into chunks. If you want to be picky and cut the rind and fat off them, go ahead, but the point of this recipe is winter comfort, not healthy eating. 2 of the pork strips had bones in them, so I separated the meat from the bones and tossed the bones into the saucepan to cook with the carrots and onion while I finished cutting the meat. By the way, if you've ever found raw meat to be a pain to cut up, do it when it's frozen. It's a lot less slippery, you can do it beforehand so the meat can defrost, and you may save yourself a band-aid in the process! :P
7: Once the bones are in the saucepan, splash in a bit of soy sauce and stir it through.
8: When the meat is all diced up, add to the mix and stir through. Allow the meat to start to brown a little.
9: Once the meat starts to brown, immediately add 2 cups of cold water.
10: Add 2 chicken stock cubes, crushed. Cover the saucepan and bring to the boil.
11: As the stew comes to the boil, add in 1 tsp of Marmite (or substitute).
12: Replace lid and reduce heat, then simmer for roughly 1/2 an hour.
13: Add in the 1/4 - 1/2 cup of Risoni. (I didn't actually measure this, I used what was left of a packet)
14: Let simmer for another rough 1/2 an hour until the pasta has cooked. This was done as an afterthought to partially soak up some of the liquid.
15: Taste test one of the pieces of pork... it should be nice and soft and tender!
16: Dissolve 1 tsp cornflour in roughly 4 tsp cold water and then add to the saucepan to thicken what's left of the sauce, and be sure to stir quickly!
17: Turn off the heat, and serve into a bowl. Will serve at least 2 hungry people!

Miscellany:
==========

There weren't any beef stock cubes in my mum's cupboard, hence why I used chicken. The sesame oil was originally thrown in because I was thinking of it being an asian-type recipe, but as I kept going, realised it wasn't except for the use of soy sauce and the sesame oil itself. I think of stew as being a fairly "rustic" dish (there's that word again), and you don't really need to take too much care with how things are sliced/diced. As I said, it's a freakin' STEW, not haute cuisine. It's not something you're going to be serving to snooty customers paying $500 a head for a nouvelle cuisine style "meal" served in a pathetic little heap with an anaemic looking garnish on a giant sized plate! This is tasty food for a cold winter's night, something that I am enduring many an instance of at the present time!

I hadn't eaten all day, so I will admit, I had 2 servings of it, but meh, I was cold and hungry... this house is like a freezer, and it's so unlike the house I grew up in... I miss the blue carpet!

Yours,

Frostilicus :P

Friday n Stuff...

I surfed on over to Waiter Rant this morning, having not read the blog for a while and was intrigued by this post. Thought it was worth a highlight.

Am working on yet another post about my trip, so bear with me!

Love and espresso,

~Frostilicus~