FrankArr
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Thursday, 31 March 2005 |
Incredible Shrinking Frank
One of the 'leading indicators' for my health problems has been my weight. When I was admitted into hospital back in October 2004, I weighed in at 125kg (275 pounds/19.6 stones). The message was clear, drop some weight or things will get worse, a lot worse! So, I started a simple regime that consisted of some regular exercise (walk for 30 minutes each day), adjust what I eat (increase in fibre, more veggies, less crap), and give up some things (my beloved coffee). This change was for the good, and the weight came off. I was averaging a loss of 500g per week. My doctors were happy with the progress and I was feeling good. I made it through Christmas and New Year, but then was admitted to hospital again. This time, I weighed 115kg (253 pounds / 18 stone). Once I got out of hospital, I continued with the regime. I even went walking through the local national park with a work friend. By the time I went back to hospital for my minimally invasive endoscopic examination, I weighed in at 105kg (231 pounds / 16 stone). Last week I passed under the 100kg barrier and this morning I weighed in at 98kg (216 pounds / 15 stone). I cant remember the last time I was this weight. I think it was 10 years ago. I probably have another 10 kgs to shed in the next few months, especially with my upcoming surgery, but at least we've dealt with one of those pesky "leading indicators". [listening to: Woman - Wolfmother ]5:26:42 PM ![]() |
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Tuesday, 29 March 2005 |
@ home again, facing the inevitable
I find myself at home again today. I had a pretty crappy Easter – especially watching my kids devouring their chocolate eggs, bunnies and hot cross buns – while I was on a clear liquid diet. I’m heading back to hospital for a colon resection in the next few weeks. This is currently in the hands of the scheduling gods, but it is inevitable. I will be in hospital for up to 7 days, and then I head home for my recovery which could take up to 8 weeks. Lots of TV/DVd watching, blog reading, podcast listening, book reading for me. If you want to know more about my saga/exploits, don’t forget to follow it here on my personal blog. 1:07:16 PM ![]() |
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Monday, 28 March 2005 |
AFL 2005 Ladder on completion of Round 1
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Robots : The IMAX Experience
Since we were in the mood for an adventure we went into Darling Harbour to see this at the IMAX. We had seen Polar Express in 3D there and it was awesome, so we expected the same for this movie. We got there early, bought our tickets (at a premium over the 'normal' cinema, since we were seeing the "special IMAX edition"), and waited in line. By the time the doors opened, there was a huge queue formed behind us. In we went, to our seats, but we didnt get our 3D glasses. WTF? I could have sworn, the movie was going to be in 3D. I'm sure I read it somewhere. Anyways, the IMAX theatre is looking pretty shabby these days - seats missing, covers torn, headrests ripped - definitely not delivering on the promise of a premium theatre experience. The local cinemaplex at Hornsby is much cleaner, tider, comfortable etc, but I guess we are paying for the giant screen. Lets see what magic awaits....
I thought it was a movie with a bit of heart, a little brain, and not much courage. During the movie, I just want to know why these robots exisited. What were they meant to be doing? Why were they there? If you compare it to Monster's Inc, the monsters had a purpose - to scare people. But was the purpose of the robots? They just existed. Some worked. Some didn't. Okay, maybe it's time for the old suspension of disbelief to kick in. Bottom line - see it, but avoid the IMAX experience if you can unless you want to spend extra for very little extra value. Learn from our mistakes. [listening to: It's Too Late - Evermore ]1:51:04 PM ![]() |
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Sunday, 27 March 2005 |
80% already!
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Working Where The Sun Don't Shine
Surfing the TV on Saturday night we came across a show on the Comedy Channel that had this song. Quite appropriate me thinks! SONG: Working Where The Sun Don't Shine (The Colorectal Surgeon's Song)
We praise the colorectal surgeon www.bowserandblue.com 8:25:49 AM ![]() |
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Saturday, 26 March 2005 |
Easter Snaps
My kids love Easter. This afternoon they set the table with some gifts for the Easter Bunny. Here are some snaps of the table setting and the assorted ornaments, offerings, letters and gifts.
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Remote Control Blimp
My post about my adventures with the VSTO blimp has generated a few comments both on the blog and at work. So here's the story behind it. At TechEd 2004, BJ Holtgrewe from the VSTO Team brought a number of these remote control blimps. At the end of the event, he gave most of them away to attendees, and thanks to some friends on the inside, I managed to get a small blimp. Last weekend we launched it and the kids have had a lot of fun with it since. I don't know where BJ bought the blimps from, but I have found a great US site which sells them online in a whole range of sizes. Even their phone number is cool: 1-888-4-A-BLIMP. They are not cheap, but look really cool! [listening to: Somebody Told Me - The Killers ]4:34:25 PM ![]() |
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Friday, 25 March 2005 |
What Simpsons Character Are You
I can't believe I hadn't done this quiz before. Why am I not surprised with the result
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Thursday, 24 March 2005 |
Lions defeat Saints in Opening Round
Looks like the pundits got it wrong FULL TIME- BRISBANE LIONS 18-8- 116 to ST KILDA 13-15- 93 [listening to: Rock & Roll Music [Live] - Mental as Anything ]11:34:56 PM ![]() |
THE 2005 AFL SEASON IS AWAY : AFL Preview
For the past few years, I have subscribing to an email newletter that provides a preview of the upcoming AFL Round. This is one of hidden treasures out there and I am going to share it with my readers. I hope the author of the newsletter doesn't mind [listening to: The Movie Show #001 2005-03-21 - The Podcast Network ] 5:42:42 PM ![]() |
It kicks off tonight
I'm excited. The 2005 AFL season kicks off this evening and my team is playing in the opening round. Most of the pundits are predicting a Saints win, by 20 points, by 6 points, and another by 20 points. I'm just looking forward to the game. And I have lined up my FoxtelIQ to record the game too. [listening to: Ain't That a Kick in the Head - Robbie Williams ]11:19:12 AM ![]() |
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Monday, 21 March 2005 |
Curb Your Enthusiam : Series 3 on the telly
If you have a PDR or PVR or a plain old VCR, set it up for 2am Tuesday on Channel 9. Curb Your Enthusiam Season 3 is on and it's hilarious. [listening to: Black Betty - Spiderbait ] 8:58:33 PM ![]() |
Launching the VSTO Blimp
Over the weekend, my boys and I had a project. It just took 3 steps. Step 1. Find some helium for the blimp and fill it up. Step 2. Assemble the Blimp Step 3. Fly it around the house [listening to: You Don't Know Me - Michael Bublé ]3:15:05 PM ![]() |
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Saturday, 19 March 2005 |
Cool Flickr Toy
Spell with Flickr. Give it a try! [listening to: Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand ] 9:32:35 PM ![]() |
I pit myself againts Cam on Preople
I spotted this new blego thingy called Preople, and felt I should do a comparison
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Great Expectations for upcoming AFL Season
It is less than a week to the start of the AFL season. All the pundits are putting in their predictions and claiming it's the Saint's year. The experts are listing their top players and these lists are full of St.Kilda players - top 50 and top 25, with Nick Reiwoldt topping them all! And even the AFL Captains say the Saints are the one's to beat. Let's hope the boys can deliver on the promise. [listening to: American Life - Madonna ]11:30:59 AM ![]() |
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Friday, 18 March 2005 |
It seems I don't like Thursdays
I just noticed on my little calendar dohicky that the only days this month I haven't posted something has been Thursday. Weird. I wonder why? [listening to: The Joker - Fat Boy Slim ]4:45:51 PM ![]() |
New DVDs : Amazon continues to Amaze
I put in an order for some DVDs on Monday this week (The 14th of March). The Incredibles was being released this week and I wanted to get it. So, in goes the order. Well, yesterday (Thursday 17th of March) the DVDs arrived. How good it that!!! My kids got to watch The Incredibles again. I've said it before, and I will say it again - Amazon truly Rocks! If you are interested, these were the movies I ordered:
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Wednesday, 16 March 2005 |
Whovention.7 coming soon
All the talk about the leaked Doctor Who episode this week has hightened my awareness of all things Doctor Who. So when I spotted a flyer for the upcoming Whovention.7, I couldn't resist and picked it up. October just can't come soon enough [listening to: Slash Dot Dash - Fatboy Slim ]9:46:47 PM ![]() |
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Tuesday, 15 March 2005 |
Beware the Ides of March!
I guess I should have been more warey on this auspicious day and not ignored the warning. [listening to: Talking Bout My Baby - Fatboy Slim ] 9:30:00 PM ![]() |
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Monday, 14 March 2005 |
Which Desperate Housewife are you?
Another post, another quiz. This one I didn't do, rather I asked Moira to complete. We guessed which one would come up before hand and guess what, we were correct! Who would have thought! [listening to: I'm Outta Love - Anastacia ] 9:24:43 PM ![]() |
Which Napoleon Dynamite character are you?
The quizzes continues. I really did love this movie and am delighted with the result. Sweeeeet! [listening to: Can't get you out of my head - Kylie ] 4:52:43 PM ![]() |
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Sunday, 13 March 2005 |
Internet Addiction Quiz
Wow - I didn't get to 100% - LOL
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Aussies thrash Black Caps by nine wickets
It was wonderful to kick back on Saturday and watch Gilchrist & Katich turn the 1st Test around. Today we had a family picnic so I missed the final kill but I could sense it would be all over today. It is so good to see the Aussie cricket team beat those annoying Kiwis. [listening to: I Hate Everything About You - Three Days Grace ] 5:09:01 PM ![]() |
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Saturday, 12 March 2005 |
Which Polyhedral Are You?
Remarkably accurate. I'm such a sucker for these kinds of things. [listening to: Something - Shirley Bassey ] 1:37:29 PM ![]() |
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Friday, 11 March 2005 |
Australian ISP raided in BitTorrent crackdown
I spotted this on CNet News:
They're coming!!!! [listening to: Diamonds Are Forever - Shirley Bassey ]8:20:16 PM ![]() |
Antony's Halo 2 Stats
I'm so proud of my boy Antony - his Halo 2 stats are terrifiC
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Wednesday, 9 March 2005 |
It;s good to be a kid
My big boys (Antony & Billy) have had a special week this week. On Monday they got access to the new Foxtel iQ and they have been time shifting television for the past few days. Today, I got a Linksys Wireless Ethernet Bridge to hook up their Xbox to our Wi-Fi network so that they can play Halo 2 on Xbox Live in their bedroom, so that they others in the family can watch time-shifted TV in peace downstairs. Now, our problem will be how to get them out of the room. We may have to slide food in under the door to keep them fed. Ahhh, it's good to be a kid! [listening to: Look What You've Done - Jet ]8:14:30 PM ![]() |
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Tuesday, 8 March 2005 |
Freaky Image
Cam -- This image is give me a headache. It's freaking me out too. [listening to: A Song Called Everything - Powderfinger ]9:05:41 PM ![]() |
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Monday, 7 March 2005 |
Foxtel iQ Experiences
Well those shows I recorded have been watched and deleted. The kids took over the remote and added their own programs to the 'to record' list, including MythBusters and Star Trek Enterprise (a program that was not treated with respect by the free-to-air network that had it recently). It even get the thumbs-up from the boss, especially after I told her I was recording Media Watch & Enough Rope for her (she normally falls asleep when it is on and now she can watch it in the morning). The boys have really taken to it this evening. They setup a production line, watching programs they recorded earlier while recording current programs. And while they watched the program, they zoomed through the ads. It's great to see the next generation of consumers getting jiggy with it. The free-to-air guys have another 10 years and then BLAM! Generation NET (or as Cameron calls them Generation Right Click) will be the demographic holding the $$ that advertisers want but the old ways wont apply. Wired had a story about this phenomenon last year. Interesting times indeed. [listening to: Holiday - Green Day ]9:20:11 PM ![]() |
Foxtel iQ arrived
Today's the day. The Foxtel dude came and swapped out the old and installed the shiny new Foxtel iQ. I can't really say it's mine, as I don't own the box. But it's here and we can use it. I set it up to record Conan O'Brien and The Goodies on UKTV - my kids can have something to watch when they get home. And I setup a recurring record of The Simpsons. So begins the on-demand adventure in the Arrigo household. [listening to: Give Me Novacaine - Green Day ]2:18:16 PM ![]() |
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Sunday, 6 March 2005 |
Networks dampen Foxtel's iQ debut
Tomorrow I get my Foxtel iQ installed. The real disappointment is the fact that two of the free to air networks will be missing from the electronic program guide. I found the following article which discusses this issue - Networks dampen Foxtel's iQ debut. The article quotes spokespeople from the two networks and it shows how they *really* value their viewers.. [listening to: Jaded - Green Day ] 8:52:49 PM ![]() |
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Saturday, 5 March 2005 |
Just Testing my bandwidth
Test run on 5/3/2005@ 5:59 P.M. [listening to: Sexy - The Black Eyed Peas ] 6:03:17 PM ![]() |
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Friday, 4 March 2005 |
My Kids and The Goodies
I was watching my kids watching The Goodies on DVD this evening. They were laughing so much. It was such a delight. Amazingly these were episodes done 30 years ago!. I remember watching them as a kid. I was such a fan. I think this was the formative steps that developed my particular sense of humour. They are performing in Sydney at the moment, and there are tickets to the shows. I know it won't be like the TV show, but it's quite tempting to go see these guys. I have heard a few interviews they have done on different local radio stations and it would be fun. Now to convince the boss. [listening to: Whatsername - Green Day ]8:49:13 PM ![]() |
Chris Beaumont is the People's Choice
I got an email today from my wonderful talented chaming intelligent witty sister Rita, regarding an art award her hubby, Chris Beaumont, recently won. Well done Chris and good luck with the exhibit! I'm hope some of my Melbourne based readers get along to see the show. [listening to: St. Jimmy - Green Day ] 5:31:15 PM ![]() |
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Wednesday, 2 March 2005 |
American Splendor is a terrific movie
I got to finally watch American Splendor. What a fantastic movie. It is the story of Harvey Pekar, a morose gloomy guy who creates a comic book featuring himself. And it's a real true story. What was great about the movie is how it mixes the actor who plays Harvey (Paul Giamatti), Harvey himself and the cartoon images from the comic book. It has geeks, nerds, and celebrities scattered through the movie. It was a sad, yet funny experience. Highly recommended [listening to: Love Island - Fatboy Slim ]4:10:42 PM ![]() |