2011 closes out as we usher in another year

So it's 2012 already. Didn't that year fly! But then again they all seem to these days.

So what amazing things happened in 2011? Well to save me a lot of typing you could look here http://timelines.com/2011 or here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011#January

Some things that stick in my mind

• The Japan Earthquake/Tsunami
• Christchurch Earthquakes
• Arab Spring

And of course we started the year with the ongoing remnants of the Queensland floods

What did we do for NYE you ask? Well we watched a double feature of this light hearted comedy, which was very funny - 

followed by this psycho hillbilly movie - which was great by the way

And that saw us through to the bewitching hour.

So i hope you all enjoy 2012. I intend to. This is my year of learning. What am I going to learn?

These things ->

*learn more about photography - have a Canon EOS 1000D, only a basic model but I want to learn more about using it's features and post production 

* learn more about video - same as above specially pp & editing (just bought a Panasonic HDC-TM900 for our Italy trip, and to make my fortune on You Tube!) 

* learn more about web site building/coding - don't want to be an expert but want to understand the underlying basics. so i have some "Dummies" guides, plus a gazillion links to sites my wife's son gave me. plus of course my wife's son who is back from UK and is a guru at this sort of stuff. 

As a start i also have been dabbling in this blog, and working on our travel one for the Italy trip using wordpress which i find quite good to use.

So that's it for now. Hope you enjoyed my ramblings. Remember to "like" me if you're facebooker and click on any advertising links to generate me some money!

Is it that hard to make a napkin dispenser?

Macca's - that purveyor of fine foods. please make a decent napkin dispenser. i mean, it is 2011 (nearly 2012), and they still have those 1970 napkin dispensers. and it's not like they actually dispense. you'd have more lucking getting a wild boar carcass out of a crocodiles mouth. all i want is one or two napkins, not asking much really. but do you think that's easy. No! i reckon i kill around 3 trees each attempt. what with tearing and ripping and the need to grab a small wad to actually get anything out. why are they always packed in so tight? so come on macca's - you've upgraded everything else and keep inventing new ways for me to put on weight. so how about an easy way for me to wipe my mouth. please!

The Art of the Handshake

is it just me or is the 'limp squid' the in thing for handshakes these days?

i recently went around work to wish various people a merry xmas and of about 7 men i got one firm grip.

you know the one i mean, forearms drawn back level with your side, line up the webbing between thumb and forefinger, then thrust forward and make contact. grip firmly and shake sincerely. sort of like the Mark Latham - John Howard handshake minus the pyschotic stare.

but no. mostly all i got were the squids. fingers barely reaching each others second nuckles and the light "please don't hurt me" squeeze, if it can be called a squeeze, more like the light pressure of a doctor checking my pulse.

come on men get those hand shakes back where they belong. own them. make them mean something. it's easy. all you have to remember is thrust and squeeze and shake it up and down.

this technique obviously can apply in other ares, but that's another blog!