Can you feel it? It's here! The death of South African self-respect!

Yes. I believe so. At least, in my opinion, we've done enough to embarrass ourselves in the global eye.

For one, we've got our flag all the way upside down and it's being "shown off" all around the place! This is a disgrace, and it shows how ignorant a nation is of their own heritage and identity if we still can't tell how the nation's flag works, even if it's "only" SIXTEEN YEARS!

Some people's response to this is "who cares? it's not such a big deal" and they think this is an acceptable response. What drivel! What nonsense! In fact, this is precisely why we should be embarrassed! If we don't care enough to actually look after our nation's identity, then either we lack any patriotism and national pride, or we're just a bunch of idiots! If a nation's flag is not that important to the nation, then the nation may as well be annexed because that's what we're indicating by our lackluster protection of our heritage and national identity.

Another thing: the continent's bees have all migrated to South Africa for the period of the World Cup (and I pray not a minute longer). Everywhere you go, there's those annoying trumpets and horns "affectionately" known as vuvuzela's. Some people even try to defend them as our identity, suggesting that the vuvuzela is a symbol of being truly South African. I just don't get it. There's such a divide between sensible, intelligent thought, and ignorant, stupid excuses. If people are more prepared to sign up for a blaring trumpet that contributes to the most cacophonic noise known to man (it is louder than a chainsaw - imagine being in a room with fifteen chainsaws going at full blast... then double that and you have a vague idea of the cacophony of which I refer), which very closely sounds like a swarm of flies around a pile of dung or a bit of dead meat, then no wonder our nation's pride seems to be dead for some.

DISCLAIMER: Before anyone wants to rant and rave against my seemingly traitorous posings, let me clarify for the uninformed: I am PROUDLY South African! I am so PROUDLY South African that I have to write this post, simply because I want to defend our flag - I want to defend our heritage - I want to defend our national identity! I am proud of what we've pulled off with the FIFA WORLD CUP - it's a wonderful event and there are hundreds and thousands of people who are working their buns off to get this spectacle going off perfectly. I've been to Moses Mabhida (the most beautiful stadium in Africa IMHO), I've been approached by friendly support staff, and I've seen the guys going out every single night onto the streets to welcome people to our country and to offer shelter for the homeless and destitute. I am proud to be associated with that. I am NOT proud to be associated with idiots who are more adamant that they should defend the vuvuzela over the proper orientation of our nation's identity. If anyone cares to comment and share their views, you are most welcome to - this is, after all, a beautiful democracy :)

Windows Maximum Addressable Memory Reference

 

Windows Versions (and their maximum addressable physical memory/RAM (GB))	32-bit Editions	64-bit Editions
Windows 2000 Professional, Server	4	N/A
Windows 2000 Advanced Server	8	N/A
Windows 2000 Datacenter	32	N/A
Windows XP Starter	0.5	N/A
Windows XP Home & Media Center	4	N/A
Windows XP Professional	4	128
Windows Server 2003 Web	2	N/A
Windows Server 2003 Small Business, Home, Storage	4	N/A
Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Storage	8	N/A
Windows Server 2003 Standard (SP1/SP2/R2)	4	32
Windows Server 2003 Enterprise (SP2)	64	2048
Windows Server 2003 Datacenter (SP2)	128	2048
Windows Vista Starter	1	N/A
Windows Vista Home Basic	4	8
Windows Vista Home Premium	4	16
Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, Ultimate	4	128
Windows Server 2008 Standard, Web	4	32
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise, Datacenter	64	2048
Windows 7 Starter	2	N/A
Windows 7 Home Basic	4	8
Windows 7 Home Premium	4	16
Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate	4	192
Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation	N/A	8
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard	N/A	32
Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise, Datacenter, or Itanium	N/A	2048

Jill and Kevin's Big Day... and others

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0&feature=player_embedded#!
and check out http://www.jkweddingdance.com/.

Really funky - apparently made it onto lots of TV shows in the USA, but it still has nothing on Kat's and my wedding intro and exit :) (think Gladiator meets Star Wars)

OPT OUT OF DIRECT MARKETING!

[ UPDATE 2012-03-19: you can now also go to https://www.nationaloptout.co.za/ ]

Pertinent information:

• Direct Marketing opt out register is located here.
• If you want to, you can also SMS your information as per the website's instructions: "SMS DMA followed by your ID number (this is crucial) to 34385".
• If at some stage you find you're not getting reached by the people you would like to be reached by (e.g. a charity organisation), you can opt back in by de-registering: To de-register, contact the DMA on 0861 362 362.

Story follows:

Around half an hour ago I received a call that drove me to the brink of beating down on Cell C. I got this call from 0878051200 from an agent named Audrey. I told them they must have the wrong person because I don't have a contract with Cell C. She then repeated my FULL name (middle name too) and number, and I confirmed it was me but there must be some mistake. She then said I had been pre-selected to qualify for a free phone. Woohoo! Then it turned there was a catch: It's a contract. I told her no thank you, but that I am very concerned as to how Cell C obtained all of my personal information. She said it was pooled from a selection of 200 numbers from VODACOM, MTN, and such. I said this was an invasion of my privacy and I wanted to be opted out of this and also find out who gave my personal details out. She then cut me off.

Not one to go down without some sort of a fight when it comes to principles and personal rights, I then phoned her back. I got put onto the waiting queue for Cell C and eventually got through to - surprise surprise - CUSTOMER CARE. The agent that answered was a bit surprised, and then told me that I can get off these marketing lists if I phone METONYMY on 031-5666592. 

I got through to reception, and asked to speak to someone about removing me from marketing lists. I was told to "kindly phone" 031-5663352 and ask the lady who answers (Rachel) to put me through to Natalie. Damn that Bioshock "would you kindly"... anyway, I got through to Natalie, and she has been incredibly helpful. I asked her if she would kindly explain how my details are obtained, and she then explained the entire process to me.

Little Girl Stuffed Animal Dog Show FAIL

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1924938

FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 Calendar

To save you the trouble of reading all the rest, the GOOGLE CALENDAR link for FIFA 2010 is here.

Most people should know me as being a bit of a BLACKBERRY / GOOGLE fanatic, so whenever I get a chance to promote Google Calendar, or my Blackberry, or in rare occasions BOTH (such as now), I revel in it.
Obviously for anyone wanting to share in the celebration of a "local is lekker" World Cup, you'll need to keep track of when all the games are - and better yet, thanks to it being local - WHERE all the games are.

Below is my pick of the best calendars to use for this feature, with some even being importable into your GOOGLE CALENDAR (so you can get SMS reminders), your iPhone, Windows Vista Calendar, Outlook, and even printable PDF.

1. Probably the most helpful from a diversity and functionality perspective, check out http://www.markthisdate.com/calendar/World_Cup_Football_Complete_Match_Schedule_2010_South_Africa_10041/add-to-calendar.html to get a host of options to import to a host of applications, or even just a printable PDF calendar.
   
   
2. Probably the most colourful and impressively comprehensive calendar, which allows you to filter by national team, cities & stadiums, groups & stages, and a bit more, check out http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/mundial/sudafrica-2010/calendario-english.html but don't expect anything you can take off the site, because it seems quite web-reliant. (thanks to http://www.greenitweb.co.za/calendar.php for bringing this to my attention)
   
   
3. Finally, some football fanatics have generated their own calendars:
   http://modernamericansoccer.com/fifa-2010-world-cup-calendar
   http://blog.artesea.co.uk/2009/12/world-cup-2010-google-calendar.html

Even tourism brochures get it wrong!

I really just don't get it - even with the official logo (left) illustrating the correct orientation, the cover (right) is backwards. Why don't people just bother to find out?

I won! I won!

------ SMS ------
From: FIFA2010
Sent: Jun 12, 2010 12:29
Subject: This is to confirm your cell have...

This is to confirm your cell have won US$5.8M for FIFA 2010 International Award. To claim contact Mrs.A. Martins via: agnesm2010@yahoo.com.hk

Pick n Pay, SHAME ON YOU!

You should fire your marketing department!!

Face painting for FWC.

There are no more words. This is a sterling effort. Good job Lauren!!!

Flagging concerns for South Africa

By now you know how much I get annoyed by the flag being the wrong way around... well, here's the official information thanks to the Southern African Vexillological Association.

In a nutshell: read it like a book, top to bottom, and left to right. Always start with RED.

i.e. If it's flying normally, red is on top (top to bottom), and if it's rotated 90 degrees, red is on the left (left to right).


SOUTH AFRICAN FLAG GUIDE

The National Flag must at all times be treated with dignity and respect.

The do’s and don’ts of handling the Flag:


The flag must never:

• Be allowed to touch the ground or floor. 
• Be used as a table cloth, or draped in front of a platform. 
• Be used to cover a statue, plaque, corner stone etc. at unveiling or similar ceremonies. 
• Be used to start or finish any competition, race or similar event. 
• Be manufactured or used as underclothes, bath and floor mats or any similar demeaning application. 
• Be used for any commercial advertising in a manner that will distort or show disrespect to the flag. 

Get your very own WHAT player???

What's wrong with this shirt?

Stop it now! Stop it! Get our flag right!!

What's wrong with this picture?

Any patriotic South Africans out there? This shameful ignorance is becoming a deep-set rot in our country. I'm frustrated: 16+ years and some people still don't bother to get the flag right!!

How to activate VISTA, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008

I recently experienced some problems when activating Windows Server 2008 R2, with Windows reporting the following error (or thereabouts):

Activation fails with error code 0x8004FE33


After doing some digging here I discovered that there's a problem activating Windows when you're behind a PROXY and the PROXY authentication is BASIC. In order to bypass this, the simplest (and possibly quickest) solution is to just do activation via telephone. 


If you can't find the Windows Activation number, then go to START --> RUN --> "SLUI 04" [without the ""'s] and then OK. You'll be given an option of numbers to phone, and then Robert's your uncle (not in the furniture business, mind). 


Thanks to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921471/en-us.

South African flag woes

If you've been venturing out for the past few weeks and live in South Africa, you would no doubt have noticed the hundreds of cars racing about with South African flags sticking out of their windows, or adorning their side mirrors. Yes, "it is here" is quite heavily ingrained in our psyche now; the so-called "greatest thing to ever hit South Africa" is almost upon us, and to show our support for our country, everyone that's got money to waste is splashing it out on one, maybe two, maybe even three flags to stick in the car windows or on their side mirrors. This place is insane. I love it!!

The only major gripes I have about this SA Silliness is that (a) those window flags are awfully prone to snapping off on the freeway (as I've experienced myself while migrating into Mozambique for mission 2009), and I particularly don't know who to sue if / when one of those dastardly flags decides to smash into my car going at 120km/h; (b) those side mirror flags can actually obscure your vision if you don't fit them on properly, so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure they're on properly; and finally (c) some idiots still have no clue how the South African flag is supposed to be positioned! Some dolts still have the flags upside down, and I have no idea how or why people still think this is excusable or in some way not a big issue.

Come on people, the flag colours are simple!! I thought it may be interesting to see how many of you out there actually DO know how the colours in the flag go ... go on, think about it for a minute, write it down, and then click ahead to see if you've got them right...