Borders Discount Coupons

Christmas is nearly here and if you haven't gotten your gift sorted, check out this offer from Borders. Until Tuesday, Borders is offering big discounts on their books, CDs and DVDs. All you need to do is just print the coupon.

• Books: buy 3, get 30% and buy 4, get 40%
• CDs: 40% off
• DVDs: 40% off

Remember, discounts apply to the full price (the price at the back of the item normally), and not the 'great price' or 'sale price'.

Just a litte note, Borders now stock Blu-Ray and HD-DVD and the DVD coupon can be used for them as well. So if you are into high definition, go and check Borders out. I got myself a Transformer HD DVD last time.

Victoria's Secret

Everybody make sure you set your TV tonight to Channel 10. Get your recorder out, high definition TV ready because tonight, the Victoria's Secret annual fashion show will be on. It will be showing at 8.30pm.

It sure is an interesting one because Aussie model, Miranda Kerr is now joining the lovely ladies at Victoria's Secret.

If you don't know her, she was (or is) the model for Portmans (I think it's Portmans not Kookai or something else). Anyway, she appeared on prints and the TV commercial for them.

The Spice Girls also made a performance on the show. Rumour has it that they lip-sync on the show. It was completely denied, of course. I guess I'll have to check it myself tonight.

But, Victoria's Secret fashion show is always interesting to watch, I mean when else would you see half-naked ladies running around with wings. So, take this down Channel 10, Monday 10th December 2007, 8.30pm.

pictures from egossip.com, telegraph.co.uk

TV Shows : Strike Mode On

This season, Australian TV tried to be different with the US TV shows. Instead of waiting 6 months after they air in the States, they 'fast-tracked' it to 1 week. That's good for us but at the year when they started implementing this, the writers went on strike.

If you haven't heard, the writers association in the US is on strike refusing to write anymore scripts for any TV shows. They want fairer compensation on DVD sales or something like that. Anyway, it's been going on for weeks now and some TV shows are on halt, forcing them to end the season halfway or 10 episodes early.

Anyway, the strike is not going to stop soon and obviously you want to know what happens to your favourite TV show, what happens to the cheerleader, bionic woman, Jack Bauer and so on. Well, this guy in the US has compiled a fairly comprehensive list of what is happening to the shows. Check it out here. It will let you know what's happening with this season and how it impacts the shows. There are some shows that has no more episodes left (like Heroes), or some shows won't be aired at all (24). Some has a few episodes left up their sleeves but will finish up very soon as well.

Well, we all hope that this strike will be over soon because watching shows like this is definitely not funny at all. The link again, here.

Maroon 5 + One Republic Touring

Maroon 5 is coming back to Australia and they're taking One Republic with them as well. One Republic is a new comer but their single Apologize with Timbaland is currently number 1 in Australian charts. That single also made world record for being the most played song in a week over in UK (over than 10,000 times).

On top of the two acts, local musician will also support the concert (looks like a jam-packed concert). Both Brandi Carlile and Ry Cuming will also be supporting Maroon 5.

Here are the concert details:

• 28/03 - Perth
  
• 30/03 - Melbourne
• 31/04 - Adelaide
  
• 02/04 - Brisbane
  
• 04/04 - Sydney
  
• 06/06 - Auckland (NZ)

I still remember when I first attended their concert (when they were not 'so famous'), it was only at a small venue in Crown Casino. They then progressed to a bigger space in West Melbourne for their next show and now they're playing Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. How amazing.

Anyway, there is pre-sale happening for Frontier Member (the touring company) and it's at 3pm Tuesday, 4th of December until 3pm the next day. The catch is you need to register with Frontier Touring (which is not a big deal).

Further details for the concert and pre-sale on Frontier's website.

picture from www.frontiertouring.com.au

New Melbourne Public Transport Fares 2008

Another year, another increase in public transport price. Well, that's fine but WHERE IS THE BLOODY TRAIN ? Starting from next year, all tickets will have a new price even though the train service is really not reliable (at all). Anyway, the increase affects all and not just train so let us put our anger aside.

So back to the increase. Average increase will be 2.1% in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). V/Line fares will also increase by this much. As an example, in the new year a daily ticket (zone 1) will set you back $6.50 (increase by 20 cents).

However, there will be a new card being introduced next year in April. It's called 5 x Weekend Daily Metcard. This card allows you to run around on Saturday or Sunday. It is sort of like the Sunday Saver that we've got at the moment but you can use it on Saturday as well.

Unfortunately, there will be no Saturday Saver metcard (single ones) so you cannot buy them individually (must be in a pack of 5). A pack of 5 costs $14.50, which is a huge savings if you only use transport on weekends.

Sunday Saver will also be increased to $2.90, the first increase ever since the ticket was introduced back in 2004. For a full list of the increase, check the Metlink website here.

pictures from metlinkmelbourne.com.au
metcard logo is trademarked

Apple Sale

Apple Australia is holding its annual online sale this FRIDAY (30th Nov). So make sure you mark it down on your diary. The sale is only for ONE DAY only.

The sale follows Apple sale in the US last week during Thanksgiving, normally known as Black Friday. You could say it is the equivalent of Boxing Day here in Australia.

The discounts should be closely similar to the US sale. The US sale includes the following items:

• iMac, MacBook
• iPod classic, nano, shuffle
  
• Airport Extreme Base Station and Express Base Station
• Wireless Mighty Mouse
  
• LaCie mini Hard Drive & HUB 500GB
  
• M-Audio KeyStudio 49,M-Audio Studiophile AV20 Speakers
  
• Apple Bluetooth Headset
  
• iLife '08, iWork '08, Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 , Microsoft Office
  
• All items include free shipping.

Remember that this was the list for the US sale and not the Australian one. This list is provided as an indication only. Last year the sale follows the US sale very closely. Shop here.

Australia: You Have Decided

Well, congratulations to both Prime Minister Rudd which was elected on Saturday and Natalie Gauci which was voted to be the 2007 Australian Idol winner last night. In a weekend of voting, Australia decided whose face they want to see more on TV and whose voice they want to hear most.

Election 07
PM Rudd won the election fairly comfortably. He got plenty of seats and some say his win was historic. Well, it's kind of historic considering that there were a few seats that was taken over by his party from the Liberal.

The biggest loser on Saturday night was the Liberal party. John Howard not only lost the government, he also lost his seat. He wanted to create history by becoming the PM for the fourth time in a row but instead he made a history in another way (by losing his seat and his government). Peter Costello however, still retains his seat but made a statement to everybody that he will not be the leader of the Liberal party and now the party seems to be in a bit of mess.

Congratulations again PM Rudd, and we hope that you keep your promises and be a wise leader.

Australian Idol
On a lighter note, Natalie Gauci from Melbourne has won Australian Idol beating Matt Corby, the show favourite. She won just hours away from her birthday, making the win a sweet birthday present.

I think it's great that she won and not Matt Corby. Matt is a really really talented boy and it didn't matter whether he came second or first last night because I'm pretty sure he'll be around the (music) industry. But I do have something to say about the boy. He's been wearing the ugliest stuff throughout the competition. The outfit he wore on grand final (when he was performing) was a tight red pants and it sure made him look like Santa's elves but hey if he can pull it off, that's fine by me.

Natalie's winner single, Here I Am is on sale today. You can grab them here.

It can also be downloaded on Telstra Bigpond Music (other online retailers will get it on Monday). She will also be touring on the new year and tickets for that will be available on Monday. For more details, check the website australianidol.com.au

pictures from theage.com.au, heraldsun.com.au

Christmas = Shopping

Christmas is coming soon, less than 40 days as a matter of fact. What does that mean ? It means that you need to get your gifts sorted with all the upcoming Christmas parties. Well, not to worry cause if you get things early, you will be able to avoid the Christmas rush.

Retailers are already starting their Christmas sale and some even have special VIP night. Take advantage of this cause you won't find any other deal near Christmas time.

Anyway, here are the list of VIP/shopping nights that I know. Hope this helps with the gift-buying.

Myer - all stores
20th November
5.30pm - 10pm
Discounts throughout the stores (normal Myer discounts) including 20% off toys, 10% electronics, 40% books and so on.

Chadstone Shopping Centre
21st November
9am - midnight
15 hours of VIP shopping event with discounts up to 60% off. There are refreshments, hand massaged, hair styling, mini makeovers, and so on. For full list of offers, click here (or here on pdf).

Brand Smart Factory Outlet
22nd November
6.30pm - 9.30pm
Beach party VIP night with discounts up to 70% off and summer cocktails on arrival, lucky draw and plenty of entertainment throughout the night. No full discount list as yet. For location details, click here.

Voting Week

This week is BIG for Australia. It is voting week. It is the week where Australia decides its new prime minister and its new Australian Idol.

Federal Election
This is happening next Saturday, the 24th of November. Instructions have been sent out to household on the method to vote. Basically you'll get two papers, white and green, and there are different instructions on how to fill them.

And by the end of the day, Australia will know whether they will have a new prime minister or the same old one.

I think Australia need a new leader and Kevin Rudd is perfect for it. However, I'm just not pretty sure about his staff. I believe John Howard is old school but I think he has stronger staff. But the problem of voting John Howard is that in a couple of years, you'll get Peter Costello, which I don't think cut it to become a PM. He's a nice guy though but for some reason, I wouldn't want him to be the PM. I think it is still 50-50. There is still a chance for both parties to win.

One thing that I find impressive of Kevin Rudd is his willingness to appear at television and radio shows (FM not AM). This might be his strategy to reach young people votes and I think it's working. He showed up at Rove Live yesterday, this morning at 9am and Fox FM breakfast show. Even though he was still careful in answering all the questions, he was more relaxed and it's not really boring to listen or watch him. He did avoided Rove question on who would he turn gay for but I think he would have been in a big trouble if he did.

Australian Idol
After several weeks of Idol competition, it comes down to the final two, Matt Corby and Natalie Gauci. Their last performance was last night, and they previewed the winner's song as well. The announcement will be on Sunday night at the Opera House.

I would say that both singers are pretty good. I want Natalie to win though because I think she's got a great voice and her fashion sense is way better than Matt. I think the winner's song sounded nicer from her. Don't get me wrong, I think Matt is fantastic as well. He's 17 and multi talented. He can perform with a pyjama and the girls will still adore him.

Anyway, we'll know the result soon enough. In the betting market, Matt is tipped to win. If you missed out with their last performance, you can still check it out at the Idol website.

picture from theage.com.au, australianidol.com.au

Hamish to Beat Katie Holmes [UPDATED]

Hamish from Hamish and Andy said on the show last week that Katie Holmes record of 5-and-a-half hour on a marathon recently in New York was rubbish and believe that he can beat her time. Andy, being a good friend, offered Hamish to try it out (do the whole marathon - 42km) and prove it that he can be Katie Holmes. This is on TODAY (Monday).

At the moment, Hamish is running on the tracks in Albert Park with Andy following up the back in a golf cart. Their show will start at 4pm and by 5.20pm, they will know whether Hamish has indeed beat Katie Holmes. If you want, you can go there and cheer him on.

Anyway, to listen to their show last week, you can podcast them here and don't forget to tune into their show this afternoon to check the result. This will be fun.

UPDATE
Hamish has finished the marathon and beat Katie's record in the marathon. He has finished 5 minutes earlier than Katie's time. Congratulation Hamish. I really didn't think that you could do it but you did. Amazing.

iiNet Naked DSL Coming Soon

For most of us, to get a fast internet connection, we need to get ADSL. The first requirement to have an ADSL is a phone line. Getting a phone line means that we need to pay line rental every month. That obviously makes sense but nowadays there is not a lot of people that is still using home phones but they still want the internet connection.

This is going to change soon with the introduction of Naked DSL service, which basically means that you can connect your ADSL internet service without connecting your phone line. This basically saves you $30 a month.

iiNet is one of the internet service provider (ISP) that will do this. They have been trialling the service to a number of customers and it is going well. As a result, they will launch the naked DSL pretty soon. To get more info, iiNet has launched a website for this new product, http://www.gonaked.com.au/ or http://www.iinet.net.au/gonaked.

You can register your interest there and find out more about the naked DSL. I think it will launch end of November. I think it's a great product but customer need to realise that they will not have a home phone so any service that is associated with a phone (faxing, etc) will not work. Another downside is that you will not have a reliable line to call emergency (triple-0) if such a need arise.

24 Season 7

The TV drama hit series, 24, is coming back next year for another season. It will premiere on the 13th of January 2008 in the US. The trailer for the new season has been released and can be viewed here.

However, I'm not sure whether the recent protest by the writers in Hollywood will effect the show. I have read somewhere that 24 will be one of the show that will be affected. I guess we could only wait and see.

Halo Proposal

Keeping with the subject of love today, a guy has proposed to a girl through the popular Xbox360 game, Halo 3.

The guy (Moviesign) created a special map in the game and asked her (furtive penguin) to join in the battle with his mates. He then brought her to a spot to get a certain item (to power up or something). The item was not there but proposal was. He used weapons to create the Marry Me? sign.

She said yes by the way.

Love is a Beautiful Thing

Everybody in this world wants to be loved and love someone. This man, Patrick Moberg, from the US saw a girl of his dream when he was riding the subway. He couldn't gather enough courage to ask her there and then for her name and number but that didn't let him down or stop him entirely.

He went and created a website to search for this girl. The website is called www.nygirlofmydreams.com. On the website, he put this drawing:

Well, everyone helped him out, people passed the website around and even the media helped him out. In the end, his search was not in vain, the girl was found, her friend recognised her and texted him to confirm. She is a Melbourne girl which is doing an internship in New York.

Anyway, cut the long story short, the pair decided to meet up and the website has been closed. He put this as his parting message.
"Here's where it gets tricky. In our best interest, there will be no more updates to this website. Unlike all the romantic comedies and bad pop songs, you'll have to make up your own ending for this''

Here is an interview with the guy.

Horrible Mix Up

The love from parents to their child is an amazing thing. In the UK, a mom booked in a stripper to perform at the school on the son's 16th birthday.

First, the mom told the teacher that there will be a '"birthday surprise" that is going to walk in during class. On the actual day, the teacher told everybody in class that there will be a surprise and yes it was a real surprise.

A stripper (or adult performer) came in with a policewoman outfit and spanked the birthday boy 16 times (for the 16th birthday) for being naughty and not doing his homework. She then dance and strip to her underwear.

As if that is not embarrassing (or hilarious) enough, the "performer" took out a cream out of her bag and asked the birthday boy to rub it all over her. At this point, the teacher had enough and stopped the whole thing.

The birthday boy then ran outside the class after this little "incident".

This little "incident" happened in Nottingham. Don't believe me ? Well, read the actual news at The Times. Well, apparently a man in a gorilla costume is suppose to come and it is believed that the mom made a booking error.

I'd say that's the best birthday present a mom could ever get her 16 year old son.

Chopstick Bra ? What the ... ? [UPDATED]

I never doubt that Japanese are a bunch of innovative people. Well, their latest "invention" is a bra that can help the environment. How can a bra help the environment ? The simple answer is by reducing the use of disposable chopsticks.

That answer might prove to be the most puzzling statement ever so let us elaborate. Triumph Japan (the underwear company) made a bra that incorporate a small pouch to store comes with chopsticks. As you would know, everybody uses chopsticks in Japan and the most common chopsticks available if you are eating out is the disposable one (the wooden one).

Apparently, Japanese people realise that this is creating a lot of waste so there is a trend now to "carry your own" chopsticks in bags.

Anyway, this is what the bra looks like :

The pouch is on the side strap (if you are looking for it). The bra is decorated with a bowl of rice and a bowl of miso soup, the chopsticks are in between the bowl/cups and it's collapsible. We know that the pouch has a purpose but I have no idea why they put the fake rice and miso soup there.

I am not sure whether the pouch is on both straps although the picture sure indicates that way. If it is then the ladies can carry 2 pair of chopsticks, perhaps for reserve or for the partner.

But I believe this bra is flawed. There is no fashionable way to take out the chopsticks (from the bra) when you want to use it other than going inside the shirt/blouse/dress and pulling it out. A lot of problems can occur here, chopsticks might get stuck and not considering the hygiene issues.

Unfortunately (or fortunately ?), the bra is not available for sale (yet?) so at least for know we still need to carry our chopsticks in our bags or someplace else.

picture from heraldsun.com.au, gizmodo.com.au

Krispy Kreme Offer

There is an offer for you Krispy Kreme lover. On Melbourne Cup Day (this Tuesday by the way), if you purchase any one dozen doughnuts between 10am and 12pm you will get another dozen of Original Glazed™ FREE.

MacBook Upgrade [Updated]

Apple has quietly update their MacBook line. The MacBook now uses the Santa Rosa chipset (in English: newer model) which has a faster 800 MHz front side bus.

The video card uses the new Intel GMA X3100. Australian store has NOT been updated to reflect this upgrade (the US store has the new models) however the MacBook information page has been changed. So, I'm not sure whether the pricing point will change (considering the strong Aussie dollar).

The new models specifications are:

• White - 2.0GHz/1GB RAM/80GB/Combo/GMA X3100 - $1599
  
• White - 2.2GHz/1GB RAM/120GB/SD-DL/GMA X3100 - $1899
  
• Black - 2.2GHz/1GB RAM/160GB/SD-DL/GMA X3100 - $2199
  

Click here to go to Apple Store.

UPDATE
Apple Store Australia now has the new MacBook. Prices is added above.

Games Expo

There will be 2 games expo in the coming weeks for Melbourne. One is Game1 Expo and the other is eGames 07.

Game1 Expo
The expo will be held on the 10th and 11th of November at Melbourne Exhibition Centre in Southbank. It will run concurrently with the Auto Salon expo so buying one ticket allows you to go to the other event.

There will be PC LAN and Xbox360 tournament on the expo. Registration and details on the website. Entry is $22 per person (gives you entry to the Auto Salon as well).

More info at the website here. This expo will go to Sydney on December (final for the Auto Salon competition).

eGames 07
The following week from Game1, from the 16th to 18th of November, eGames 07 will be on. It is again on the same location (Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Southbank).

This expo will likely have more games content as suppose to the previous one just because this is an expo on its own whereas Game1 is more of a 'shared' expo with the Auto Salon.

The tickets are $16 for adults, $13 for child/concessions, $38 for family (2 adults and 2 child) and $22 for a 2-day pass. More info, go to the website here.

ARIA Awards 2007

Well they say it's the biggest music night in Australia and probably it was. Australia's biggest music stars assembled in Sydney on Sunday night. There were Missy Higgins, Silverchair, Powderfinger, Sneaky Sound System, Operator Please, John Butler Trio, Ricki Lee, Damien Leith, Shannon Noll, Keith Urban, Delta Goodrem, The Veronicas, Chaser's Boys and many more. Nicole Kidman was there as well accompanying husband, Keith Urban.

There were great performances on the show I must say. Sneaky Sound System delivered a great mix of their current hits and it was fantastic. I'm not a big fan of them but after their performance I am definitely buying their album. John Butler Trio also performed with Keith Urban but I didn't get a chance to see the performance so I can't comment on it.

Everybody actually look stunning last night. Anyway, I didn't realise that Megan Gale is really tall (really tall). She was presenting an award and the winner looks tiny compared to her.

Here are the winner's list:

• Album of the Year, Silverchair's Young Modern
• Single of the Year, Silverchair's 'Straight Lines'
• Best Group, Silverchair
• Best Female Artist, Missy Higgins
• Best Male Artist, Gotye
• Breakthrough Artist — Album, Sneaky Sound System's Sneaky Sound System
• Breakthrough Artist — Single, Operator Please's 'Just A Song About Ping Pong'
• Best Rock Release, Silverchair's Young Modern
• Best Pop Release, Sarah Blasko's What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have
• Best Urban Release, Hilltop Hoods' The Hard Road Restrung
• Best Independent Release, John Butler Trio's Grand National
• Best Adult Contemporary Album, Josh Pyke's Memories & Dust
• Best Blues and Roots Album, John Butler Trio's Grand National
• Best Children's Album, The Wiggles' Pop Go The Wiggles
• Best Comedy Release, Dave Hughes' Live
• Best Country Album, Keith Urban's Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing
• Best Dance Release, Sneaky Sound System's Sneaky Sound System
• Best Music DVD, You Am I's Who Are They, These Rock Stars Live At The Mint

images from theage.com.au, ninemsn.com.au

Loop Mall in Chadstone

Well, if you've been to Chadstone Shopping Centre lately, you probably saw a lot of construction works going. Yes, Chadstone is revamping, inside and out. Part of the revamp is to create a walkway from the Kmart section to the Toys R Us section and hence, create more stores for the centre.

This work has now been completed and it's opening on Monday. It is called the Loop Mall. The Loop Mall will have 44 new stores. For full listings of the new stores, click here.

Also, with there are some specials at the moment from the new stores at Loop Mall. Check it out here.

Celebrity Metcard

Well still on the subject of public transport. Metlink Melbourne has released celebrity metcards. What is it ? Well, it's a normal metcard but instead of the boring blue design you get the design of 10 celebrities. Some of the celebrities are Dannii Minogue, Michael Klim, Livinia Nixon and Lord Mayor John So (I don't know why the Mayor is here and why he's a celebrity but never mind).

Anyway, you can get them at the online store now and at retails outlets from the 4th of November. However, you've got to hurry because currently Kate Ceberano design has sold out.

Get more info here.

Here are the designs:

Free Travel for Early Bird

Remember when the Premier of Victoria promised free travel on trains before 7am, well the details have been finalised and it will start next Monday, 29th of October.

The two lines participating are Sydenham and Frankston lines.

There are 5 services on each line that qualify for the free travel. The tickets (10 x 2 hour free) are available now and it's free. It can be collected at premium stations on both lines and also City Loop stations.

For further details and timetable for each of the services, click here.

$10 off Game Coupon

If you've been holding out for a sale to buy that particular must-have game then wait no more. Toy's R Us is giving a $10 off for any game any platform (even computer) in-store.

How do you get it ? Simple, just go to this link, print it off and bring it into the store.

Conditions:

• One coupon per customer
• Ends Monday 29th October 2007
• Video Game or Computer Software must be more than $25
  

A Few Tech Update

Well, I haven't updated the blog in a couple of days and a lot of things has happened in the tech world. Here is some of the highlights.

JB Hi-Fi to sell HD-DVD
JB Hi-Fi didn't want to sell HD-DVD a few months back (9 months ago to be exact), pledging its support behind Blu-Ray. This changed recently. They will start stocking HD-DVD titles and players effective immediately. The Paramount decision to go HD-DVD exclusive was what persuade JB to stock both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.

I guess at the end of the day it's about sales. With Paramount decision to go HD-DVD means that titles like Transformers (HD-DVD) won't be stocked at JB and this will definitely hurt their sales. So I guess the battle between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD is still on.

Nokia N-Series to get Free Wi-Fi
If you own a Nokia N-series, here is some good news. Nokia has partnered with Azure Wireless here in Australia to enable N-series users to get free internet access. The agreement goes until January next year (1 October 2007 to 31 January 2008).

The phones that are able to take advantage of this offer is as follow: N73, N76, N80, N91 8GB, N93i and N95. Upcoming models, N81 and N95 8GB will also be supported.

For the hotspots, there are quite a lot. For a full list click here, it is mainly in serviced apartments, cafe, shopping centre, and so on.

iTunes Price Drop
Apple has put down the price of the DRM-less songs at the iTunes Music Store. Originally, you need to pay a premium to get a DRM-less track at $2.19 but now it is only $1.69. This makes the DRM-less track to have the same price with other tracks (with DRM and lower quality).

If this sounds like a lot of 'geek talk', I apologise but basically in English it means that all iTunes tracks will be $1.69, even the songs with higher quality and the capability of being played not only on an iPod but any other player (Creative Zen, Sony Walkman, your mobile phone and so on).

Sony PS3 40GB also in US
It was announced as well that the US will be getting the PS3 40GB version. The US will get it on the 2nd of November before the Japan (and Asia) release but after Europe (and Australia). The PS3 40GB version will retail at US$399 and comes with a Spiderman 3 Blu-Ray. The 80GB version will come down in price to US$499 (US$100 cheaper than before) and it comes with a game, Motorstorm. There is no mention whether the US will be getting the white coloured PS3.

The End for Ben Cousins

Today is the end of Ben Cousins' career. He has been sacked by his football club, West Coast Eagles, after his incident with the police yesterday. He was caught by the police with "possessing a prohibited drug and failing to comply with a requirement to undergo a driver assessment". He has since been released on bail and due to face Perth court soon.

I think this is such a shame. He was a wonderful and fantastic footy player but his drug addiction brought him to his fall. He was given more than a second chance but he couldn't care less. Even the rehab that he attended a few months back couldn't save him. He was a Brownlow medalist and a captain of West Coast and soon to be nobody courtesy of drugs.

picture from theage.com.au

Jetstar and VirginBlue Sale

Jetstar and Virgin Blue are having a domestic sale right now. Fares start from $36. Travel period is next year.

For Jetstar, the travel periods are from

• 15 January to 18 March 2008
  
• 29 March to 25 June 2008
• 22 July to 31 August 2008 (selected destinations)

Sale ends 22nd of October for Jetstar. More info click here.

Virgin Blue's travel periods are from

• 15 January to 15 March 2008
  
• 29 April to 26 June 2008.

Sale ends 25th of October for Virgin Blue. More info click here.

Note that Jetstar is also having an international sale as well.

Leopard Out 26 Oct

The major upgrade for your Mac is coming. It is Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. After being much delayed (because of the release of iPhone), it will now be available from October 26. Pre-order is accepted now at the Apple Store for a free delivery on the launch day.

Apple claims that this new OS have 300+ new features. Time machine (files restoration) and Bootcamp (run Windows on Mac) are an example of the completely new features in the new OS.

Here are the Australian pricing for the OS:

• Education version: $145
• Single user: $158
• Family pack: $249
  

Th HD War

The fight to claim position as the next big thing in media storage and high definition just got a lot hotter in Australia. The players for both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD has gotten a price reduction.

Blu-Ray is probably very excited with the new low price for Playstation 3. It dropped $400 so people can now get a next-gen gaming machine and a Blu-Ray player for $699.

The HD-DVD camp is seeing some price reduction as well. Toshiba just offered some cashback incentives for its players and also reduce its recommended retail price. The entry player for HD-DVD can be grabbed for $499.

This is new price list for Toshiba's HD-DVD players:

• HD-E1: $499 (after $100 cashback)
• HD-EP10: $699 (after $100 cashback)
• HD-XE1: $1,299

Election 07

Australia, the time has come. November 24 will be the day you decide whether you want the old Johny to stay or K-Rudd to take over. Yes, it is election time.

Australian MotoGP

Australian MotoGP is happening this weekend (12-14 October) at the usual place, Phillip Island and all eyes are on Casey Stoner, the world champion and also the favourite for the race. Today, he has dominated both practice sessions despite falling over his Ducati bike.

General admission to the event costs $40 for today, $60 for tomorrow and $80 for Sunday race. A 3-day pass costs $135. The weather outlook suggest that more showers are coming.

picture from theage.com.au

Apple Store in Sydney

Details are emerging for the Australian version of Apple Store from council documents. The store is based in Sydney, at corner of King St and George St. The store will have three levels. Based on the documents, the store will likely be unlikely to open until around mid-2008.

This will be the first official store for Apple in Australia. Currently, Apple sells its products from authorised reseller and online store.

The store itself is has a similar design to the New York store, with glass panels 'everywhere' and a suspended Apple logo in the middle.

Employment for the store has been advertised a couple of months back.

picture from theage.com.au

Chris Judd to go Carlton

After much anticipation and hype, Chris Judd finally is going for Carlton. He's getting a 5-year deal there.

Let's hope with Judd, Carlton will no longer be lingering near the bottom of the ladder. Go Blues.

More on 40GB PS3

After the announcement of the new PS3 40GB version by Sony Europe and Sony Australia, Sony Japan and Sony Asia have also followed the trend.

They have announced that the new PS3 40GB version will launch on the 11th of November 2007. Unlike Europe and Australia, Japan and Asia will receive 2 colours of the new PS3, clear black and ceramic white, sort of similar to the PSP. The pricing will also be a lot less with Australia, with the retail price just under $400.

(Yes, I know Japan is also Asia but for gaming purposes, they are 2 different regions.)

Also in Japan, they will also launch the new controller, DualShock 3 which basically adds the rumble/vibrate function to the existing controller. It will be sold separately though, retailing at 5500 yen.

Meanwhile in Australia, the boss of Sony Australia has confirmed that the 40GB version will be the ONLY version available in Australia. The current 60GB version will continue to be supplied until it runs out. Check out the interview here.

The new PS3 is a stripped down version of the old one. It has no backward compatibility with PS2/PS1 games, 2 USB ports instead of 4, no memory card reader and no SACD support.

picture from Playstation Japan

Go Green: Eat More Kangaroo ?

Everybody wants to be green these days, which is good by the way. Anything to help sustain the earth is a good thing.

One way to do this is to eat less meat, beef to be exact. A research in UNSW has found that by cutting beef production 20% is equivalent to reduce 15 million tonnes of methane. Therefore, lowering Australia's greenhouse emissions.

This can be achieved by consuming more kangaroo meat (instead of beef) or by switching to a low-meat diet. It is said that beef production is the biggest contributor to methane emissions which is livestock related.

So what will you eat tonight ?

Melbourne Airport

Well, it seems like Tullamarine (Melbourne Airport) has been having a few 'parties'. Today, the 'jumbo' plabe, Airbus-A380 landed in Melbourne as a part of a test flight. It arrived around 11am local time, 40 minutes ahead of schedule.

The plane was flying from Dubai. Anyway, the first (commercial) flight as you know will be done late this month by Singapore Airlines. It will be flying from Sydney to Singapore and back. The tickets are auctioned on eBay (by SIA themselves, not scalpers) to raise funds for charity. I am not sure whether there are still tickets. Check here.

More pictures of the A380 in Melbourne here.

Another special event at Melbourne Airport was the opening of its newest terminal, Terminal 4. This happened last Monday. The new terminal is for Tiger Airways, the newest airline to service the Australian domestic market.

As part of the launch, the airline (Tiger) made 15,000 seats available for an exclusive price ($10 to Launceston, $20 to Gold Coast, etc). The deal was snapped up pretty quick and have now sold out.

picture from theage.com.au

ASIMO on Tour

ASIMO, the Honda robot, will come and tour Australia. I'm not sure whether it will dance or sing or do a back-flip but it would be interesting to see because we always see it on TV and for once we can actually see it for real.

ASIMO's first appearance will be on Wednesday, the 17th of October 2007 at the Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne. It will be there for a few days and each days there are several show times. It will then be followed by tours to Bendigo, Adelaide, Newcastle, Sydney and Brisbane.

The entry is free and if you have a Honda car/motorcycle, you can get a reserved VIP seating. Just make sure you show them your car/bike keys.

Check out the website for further details at www.asimo.com.au.

New PS3 40GB

It has been confirmed. Sony will launch a new line in their Playstation 3 lineup. PS3 40GB version will be available in Australia from 11th October. The price $699.95, $300 less from the old price model of the 60GB.

The new model will have less features though. For a first, it will not have a backward compatibility with the PS2 titles. It will only have 2 USB ports (instead of the old 4) and no card reader.

To check it out, click here.

Free Jacket for WiiMote

Just announced. For all Nintendo Wii owners, Nintendo is giving out a free 'jacket' for the WiiMote. This is designed to enhance grip and provide additional security.

You can get the free Wii Remote Jacket from Nintendo Customer Service. They can be contacted at (03) 9730 9822, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (EST). You will need your Wii serial number.

Full details here.

picture from nintendo.com.au

$49 to Perth

The Age just reported that Jetstar will have a sale tonight only for flight to Perth. The sale is only happening from 6pm until midnight (or until sold out).

The fare will be $49 one way and valid for travel between 15th of November and 15th of December 2007.

Full article here.

OLED is Coming

As if the battle between LCD and plasma is not confusing enough, Sony is going to bring another technology in display, OLED. It stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode.

The benefit ? It doesn't use a backlight, consume less power and therefore, enables the screen to be super-thin (like really thin). It also has higher contrast than any of the current display.

But perfection does come at a price, a really high one. Sony displayed some of this OLED display earlier this year and the section for OLED is for "look only and strictly no touching". There was no pricing or release details available at that time.

However, things have changed and Sony has just announced that they will start making these little beauties. The release is going to be December this year, just in time for Christmas.

It will retail at 200,000 yen (around about US$1,700) for a 25.1 centimetres wide and 14.1 centimetres tall TV.

If you want to get one, don't worry, there's still a few more months to start saving up. Now, if only I could persuade Sony to send me a demo.

picture from cnet.com.au

Bad News for Headphone Users

As you might know, listening to headphones for long period of time is not good as it might damage your hearing. However, with the increasing use of MP3 players nowadays, there are more and more people being in danger of losing their hearing.

A research was conducted by Griffith University found that 70% of people under 30s are showing early signs of permanent hearing damage. So by 50, they would experience hearing problem of that a 70 years old.

This is all because they listen to their iPod or music players for too long and too loud. I, myself never turn on up to full volume. I always try to limit myself to around halfway. Not just because I don't want to go deaf but I think it is a good idea to be able to hear your surroundings as well. So, you're not totally 'blinded' from the world.

Here are some interesting sound level facts. Apple iPods, the most popular MP3 device, has a maximum decibel level of 115, gunshot is 120, a jet taking off is 130 and lastly, disco is 105 decibel.

Some experts are now calling for warning labels to be put on MP3 players to show the 'healthy' time to use the device. The research suggest that you shouldn't listen to your music player for too long, 20 minutes is quite long enough.

An interesting and funny comment from the research Professor about teenager: "They're (teenagers) normally designed to think they're invulnerable to things like falling off balconies and loud music."

Cheap Flights

Air Asia is having a sale for tomorrow and Sunday only. Fare to Kuala Lumpur from Gold Coast is only $99 one way. The travel period is between 2 Nov and 14 Nov 2007.

The flight is still subject to regulatory approval though. Further conditions about the flight can be found here.

This is probably the first route that is announced for Air Asia X, the first low-cost long-haul airline. Air Asia X will fly between South East Asia and Australia, China and Europe. For more info on Air Asia X, click here.

TV Shows

Well, this year the time we (Australia) watched US drama series will change. Instead of waiting until next year for the new season to start, we get the new episodes a week after it has been shown in the US.

All the US (fall) series has begun this week and we will get to watch them next week. OK, I lied. Not all shows that screened in the US will come back next week. For example, no Grey's Anatomy yet.

Here are some of the new and returning shows next week:

• Heroes - Ch 7 - Thu Oct 4 - 9:30pm
• Bionic Woman - Ch 7 - Thu Oct 4 - 8:30pm
• House - Ch 10 - Wed Oct 3 - 8.30pm
  

Not a lot but it's better than nothing and if you're still not up to date with the shows, get them on DVD here.

Water Restriction to Stay

Well, at least this is true for Melbourne. The current stage 3A water restriction will stay on at least until autumn next year. This is despite recent (and current) rain.

But I guess it's a good thing. Water restriction makes people water-wise, without it people will go crazy and continue to use it thinking that it's unlimited.

Bikini Troops

What do you get when you gather 1000 over girls wearing just bikini? The answer is a world record. Yesterday, 1010 girls gather at Bondi beach with just a bikini to break the world record for the largest swimsuit photo shoot ever.

The attempt was a success, they got a spot in the Guinness World Records. It will be included with the book next year.

The shoot itself was sponsored by Cosmopolitan magazine (and a razor company). At one point, the girls were asked to line up to make the letter C, O, S, M, O and be photographed from the sky.

The shoot will be reported in the January issue of Cosmo which sells around December.

I was just thinking, we should do it in Melbourne as well. I wonder if Melbourne can beat the record.

pictures from heraldsun.com.au, cosmopolitan.com.au

Foxtel Price Increase

Although I haven't actually got the news from Foxtel, I have seen reports that there will be an increase in the subscription price from 1st of December 2007.

The price increase for the channel groups:

• Get Started - $37.95
• My Sport - $17.95
• My Movies - $15.95 (no change)
• My Complete Movies - $28.95
• 1 of My Escape or My World or My Playtime - $16.95
• 2 of My Escape or My World or My Playtime - $22.95
• 3 of My Escape or My World or My Playtime - $25.95
• Platinum - $105.95

Individual channels:

• RAI - $19.95
• Antenna - $19.95
• Adults 1 - $24.95
• Adults 2 - $34.95
• Games World - $6.95

The price increase will see the Lifestyle channel be included in the Get Started package from December 1st.

There will also be a new channel called Showcase that will show Emmy award-winning dramas, feature documentaries and also Australian exclusive drama. The channel will be included with My Movies package for no extra cost.

Melbourne Cup Threatened

Melbourne Cup this year might not go ahead because of the recent cases of horse influenza. Australia has experienced a bad case of horse flu especially in the state of New South Wales and Queensland. The flu has cancelled many races all around the country devastating horses owners, jockeys, and so on.

Anyway, that is not my point. Yes, there is a possibility that Melbourne Cup might not go ahead (depending how bad the flu spread across Victoria) but the sad news is that the holiday might disappear as well. Victorian Premier, John Brumby, just mentioned that he cannot promise a holiday for the Melbourne Cup if the race does not go on.

This is bad. Australia has only so few holidays as it is. Removing one would be disastrous. So I'd say Mr. Brumby, let us have our holiday, our Melbourne Cup holiday. It's only one day for goodness sake.

Another JT Show

Justin Timberlake has just added another show in Melbourne for the 18th of November and tickets are on sale now. Go to Ticketek now. At the time of writing only the Sexyback Lounge has sold out.

Brownlow Winner 2007

The award for best and fairest player in footy, the Brownlow medal, has been awarded to Jimmy Bartel from the Geelong Cats. This is definitely good news for the Cats ahead of their grand final match this weekend.

Bartel won with 29 votes. Gary Ablett who was a fellow teammate and favourite for the medal had 20 points.

The other interesting thing about Brownlow (besides the medal) is the fashion of the player's girlfriend or partner. The night is as important for the partner and/or girlfriend as it is for the player. I guess it is always an interesting one to see what the women wear. The guys will always have a suit on and tie, pretty boring.

Rebecca Twigley made headlines a couple of years ago (2004) when she went to the Brownlow with that red dress dubbed the dress that stopped the nation (left). This year, she took a more conservative look (right).

Bree Hately had one of the most stunning dress for the night.

I would say that the overall fashion for the Brownlow was great. There was a few shocking ones but I think everybody played it safe last night.

Ok, enough of dresses, back to football. The Grand Final will be happening this Saturday 29th September 2007, 2.30pm between the Geelong and Port Adelaide at the MCG. So, stay tuned.

picture from theage.com.au, heraldsun.com.au

And it's Orange

Yes, Orange is the partner that will bring the iPhone to France. The announcement was made last week. The odd thing was that the announcement was not made by Steve Jobs unlike Germany and UK. It was Orange CEO that broke the news.

Details and pricing info are still fuzzy at this point but it will be for November release just like the other countries.

Geelong to Grand Final

Next week is the Grand Final, the one day in September that everyone has been waiting for. Geelong, tonight, is the first team to advance to the Grand Final. The second team will be decided tomorrow.

Geelong won by 5 points from Collingwood in front of 98,002 people in MCG.

picture from theage.com.au

Entertainment Update

Along with spring comes 'cleaning', an update in your life. Well, I think your entertainment collection would also need to be refreshed this spring. Here are some releases that are worth mentioning.

Music (Australia)
This spring it seems like all Aussie artists are releasing their new album and they all have excellent songs. Shannon Noll did his album in the US with the help of some famous musician, Richie Sambora to name one. Delta Goodrem is back and in the country with her new 'sexy' look. Veronicas, the twins, are releasing a totally different music from their 1st album. Rogue Traders will also release their new album next month.

• Delta Goodrem (single - out now) (album - 22 Oct)
  
• Shannon Noll (album - out now)
• Veronicas (single - 25 Sep) (album - 3 Nov)
  
• Vanessa Amorosi (single - out now) (album - 15 Oct)
• Ben Lee (album - out now)
• Ricki Lee (single - out now) (album - out now)
• Damien Leith (single - out now) (album - out now)
  

Music (International)
You can never get enough of international music talent. Here are some that is worth checking out.

• KT Tunstall
• Matchbox Twenty Greatest Hits (1 Oct)
• James Blunt
• Kanye West
• Britney Spears (single - 8 Oct)
  

DVD
There is just so many great releases on DVD, especially TV on DVD. The blockbuster Spiderman 3 is also out, so you can relive the adventure of Peter Parker and Mary Jane.

• 24 Season 6
• Prison Break Season 2
• House Season 3
• Heroes Season 1
• The Simpsons Season 10 (26 Sep)
  
• Spiderman 3
• Transformers (1 Nov)
  

Games
New release games that will keep you busy this school holiday (it will still keep you busy even if you don't have a holiday).

• Halo 3 (25 Sep) - XBOX360
  
• Bioshock - XBOX360
  

For more entertainment needs, go to BigWEntertainment.com.au.

iPhone in Germany

Steve Jobs (Apple's CEO) apparently is on a roll, bringing Christmas present early for the European countries. After the announcement for a UK iPhone, yesterday he announced the availability of a German iPhone.

The German partner/carrier is T-mobile and the phone will retail at €399. It will be available on November 9, the same time with the UK release.

The rumour is that tomorrow/today, Jobs will announce an iPhone in France. Stay tuned. Let's hope for a local (Australia) release soon.

picture from Apple Germany

More Justin Shows

All the fans of JT (Justin Timberlake) that missed out on the previous concerts, here is something just for you. JT is going to add a few more concerts at Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland (NZ).

Here are the new dates and location,

• Saturday 10 November - Perth - Burswood Dome
• Tuesday 13 November - Sydney - Acer Arena
• Saturday 17 November - Melbourne - Rod Laver Arena

Tickets will be sold through Ticketek and will start at Wednesday 26 September 9:00am. The normal restriction apply, you can only get a maximum of 2 Sexyback Lounge tickets or 4 Gold/Silver tickets in one transaction.

For Auckland, the dates have been changed and another show is added, for further details click here.

Further information can be obtained from Frontier touring.

So, this time make sure you start queuing up the day before, trust me. Because if this all went like the ones before, everything will be sold out in 15 minutes. Be prepared.

iPhone in the UK

Steve Jobs (Apple's CEO) has launched the first release of iPhone outside the US. At a special media event held yesterday in London, he announced that the iPhone will be available from November 9 in the UK.

The exclusive carrier this time is O2. The phone will be the same model as the one released in the US, 8GB (so no 3G). The price will be £269 (including VAT) for the phone.

From the carrier point of view, there are 3 plans (£35, £45, £55) all with unlimited data. The contract is 18 months. Apple and O2 has also made arrangement with The Cloud so that customers can use their free Wi-Fi spot (about 7500 locations).

For further details check Apple's website or O2's website.

In other news (but still relates to Apple), Microsoft has launched the website for the new and upcoming Office Mac 2008. Check it out at http://www.macoffice2008.com/

picture from O2 website

Free Train Ride in Melbourne

This is breaking news. From October (date to be determined), Victorians will be able to travel free on trains provided they do it before 7am. It will be first trialled at 2 (busiest) train lines, Sydenham and Frankston Line. If it is successful then it will be applied to whole of Melbourne next year.

To get the free ride, commuter must get a special 10 x 2-hour ticket which is only valid for mornings. Only trains that reach the city before 7am qualifies (apparently there are 5 services that qualifies).

Note though the free ride is only for mornings, so if you want to return in the evening after work with a train then you must get another card, possibly the 10 x 2-hour ticket.

More TV channels

The next big thing in digital free-to-air TV will be coming in a few months with the introduction of high definition TV channels by both Channel 7 and Ten.

If you don't already know, the analog TV (current one) will be switched off by the government sometime between 2010 and 2012. So if you have an old TV, you won't be able to watch anything unless you get a set-top box (or buy a new TV with an in-built digital tuner)

The channels are being planned to be released on December. Currently if you have a digital TV, you will get a few extra channels, ABC 2 and SBS News are the main ones. There is also digital radio broadcast from SBS and ABC. On top of that, you will also have the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) for all the commercial channel (7, 9 and Ten). This vary with regions, so to check which channels are available to you, click here.

The content of the new channels are still vague at the moment so I guess we will need to wait a little bit more. The channel from Ten will be called TEN HD.

Road Trip Mania

Ok, we all love a road trip once in a while. How about this, a road trip from London to Sydney ? Yes ? The trip will take 3 months to complete and costs more than AU$9000. The company OzBus is doing just that.

They are doing a tour from London to Sydney by bus, passing around 20 countries. These are the countries that they will be passing: ENGLAND - FRANCE - GERMANY - CZECH REPUBLIC - AUSTRIA - HUNGARY - ROMANIA - BULGARIA - TURKEY - IRAN - PAKISTAN - INDIA - NEPAL - CHINA - LAOS - THAILAND - MALAYSIA - INDONESIA - EAST TIMOR - AUSTRALIA

The first bus just depart yesterday and the next one is due later this month. Bus route is subject to change though depending of the countries threat level.

There is also a return trip (from Sydney to London).

To get more info about the itinerary or if you want to jump into the next bus, go to the website here.

Chadstone Spring Event

For Melbournians, Chadstone shopping centre is running their regular VIP shopping event this Wednesday, 19th of September 2007.

As usual, there will be specials from all the retailers there. The specials will be available from 9am to 11pm so it is really shop 'til you drop. For a full list of the offers, click here (pdf file).

Some of the events that is happening on the day (from Chadstone's website):

• Enjoy a glass of Yellowglen Jewel Sparkling wine or Perrier Water from 5.30pm
• Special exclusive retailer offers of up to 50% OFF
• Runway Show #1, 7pm outside David Jones: The A List - featuring the most revered local and international designers Spring /Summer collections
• Runway Show #2, 8pm outside David Jones: Youth - showcasing the hottest designs for summer and beyond
• Heat one of the Melbourne Racing Club 'Fashion Stakes'
• Chance to win "12 Months of Glamour" - sunglasses to the value of $4,800 thanks to OPSM
• Chadstone FREE Shuttle Bus

The shopping 'bonanza' is only happening on Wednesday but the Spring event actually last until end of the week, from 19th until the 23th of September. Daily attractions include:

• Free hair styling at the Joh Bailey Blow Dry Bar
• Free mini makeovers and giveaways by Max Factor
• Free millinery presentations with different presenters daily

For a full details of the event, refer to the event's website.

So get your shopping gear ready, don't forget your wallet (make sure it's got money in it) and get ready to 'attack'.

Lonely People Die Young

This is one alarming fact. Today, US researchers have found that being lonely might cost you your health and lessen your life. It has something to do with the gene going crazy.

Read the full article here.

This proves us, humans, as social creatures. I don't think anybody wants to be lonely no matter what. People who say they can live alone is hiding from the truth.