Water damage: manufacturer's warranty void

Gosh, it has been a long time. With all the sleep deprivation of late (yes, I have kids) blogging hasn't really been a high priority. I was woken six times last night. So no long post today either, rather a dot-point summary of various recent goings-on.

• I think I saw Austen Tayshus in Adelaide Railway station yesterday morning. He appeared to have a slight limp.
• The Fringe is on, as is the Festival. I shall be attending no events. I've usually had a press pass for recent festivals but not so this time around. Strangely, I don't seem to care though; must be the sleep deprivation. Or the fact that I am immune to stand-up comedy, which seems to dominate the Fringe at least.
• I saw on the news last week that public interest in the impending Commonwealth is "lacklustre". Noooooo, really? People don't care? Quel surprise! And aren't those Prepare to Hug Strangers ads just the most embarrassing thing you've seen on TV?
• Speaking of embarrassing ads. The new Australian Tourism Commission ads have had a mixed reception overseas. The handwriting in the ad looks like a psychopath wrote it. What are they trying to say about the penmanship of most Australians? My handwriting isn't the best but it's better than that! And is Where the bloody hell are ya? really an accurate reflection of what most Australians say? I rather think Where the fuck are ya? is probably closer to what passes most Australians' lips. I hate the way this post-war, larrikin, drongo, Uncle Harry, carn-the-pies, g'day-mate, Waltzing Matilda, prosperity-on-the-sheep's-back, Croc Dundee version of Australia is still peddled overseas. Haven't we moved on from that? Then again, they still yell 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi, Oi, Oi,' at the cricket so I'm no judge of what goes for being a true Australian. I don't even barrack for the Australian Cricket Team. I'm sure if John Howard found out about this and my dual citizenship, he'd have me ported to Blighty for unaustralianness quicker than I could say 'but I was born in Bendigo'.
• I just bought a video capture card and a Firewire card for my PC (Birthday money). Now I can record from a DV camera, watch/record digital TV, and backup precious things from old analog Hi8 and VHS tapes. Now I can covert all my old D-Generation recordings to very bad quality DVDs
• My youngest recently gave my new Sony W800i a drink. Joy. I have the insurance forms on my desk.

That's about it. Now go and read something interesting, elsewhere.