The CCNA Curse, Gaming, Films and SF, Timor Leste, Yogyakarta, Borneo

[tcpip]

I appeared to cursed in my CCNA 2 prac exam, I ran out of time for the unspecified "special problems" the tutor was supposed to apply at the end of the exam. Why? Because the preceeding lecture had run overtime. Still, the instructor must be pleased with my work. Not only did he simply say "We'll finish that next week", he's also invited me to do a CCNP course on Cisco security next semester (such as PIX firewalls) which is normally reserved for CCNA graduates.

Finished the Outbreak of Heresy game last Sunday with a new base mechanic and concluding the journey to the Sixth Circle of Hell (Dis, home for heretics). We will now have two groups playing four games on alternate Sundays; a retro AD&D game, GURPS Australian Noir, Middle Earth Role Playing, and a new game by yours truly "Cybernoia", a combination of Cyberpunk and Paranoia. How bad do you think Australia could be in 2090?

Of particular interest to gamer and science fiction fans is two films showing at the Astor Cinema this Sunday. Soylent Green and Westworld, both absolutely brilliant films. Film starts at 7.30pm, you'll probably want tickets in your hands by 7.15pm. So who's coming? On a related topic from way back in the memories of my childhood Alex Toth, producer of the The Herculoids, has died (hat-tip to greylock. That six-legged rhino that shot energy rocks from its horn was unforgettable.

Big international news this week from an Australian point of view was troubles in Timor Leste and troops being sent by Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Malaysia. I find claims that the key concern is that the army is without a purpose (hat-tip erudito) to be exaggerated. Of much greater human cost is earthquakes in central Java. To think that if I didn't take up the job with Naturelinks I'd probably be in Yogya at the moment. And is this a good place to put nuclear power plants?

Borneo? Well caseopaya, myself and ozraptor4 went to the zoo for a Murdoch alumni presentation by Dr. Stephen Van Mil, former Sydney vet owner, Today show regular and rescuer of white lions. He's off to Borneo in several weeks to visit some orang-utungs. Guess who might be going along?

EDIT: Other big social event of the past few days was catching up with the delightful mr_e_cat as he was visiting Melbourne. We meet at The Terminus Hotel in an a gathering that has been accurately described as an old acg (aus.culture.gothic) meet.

Comments

[caseopaya.livejournal.com]

Borneo? Well [info]caseopaya, myself and [info]ozraptor4 went to the zoo for a Murdoch alumni presentation by Dr. Stephen Van Mil, former Sydney vet owner, Today show regular and rescuer of white lions. He's off to Borneo in several weeks to visit some orang-utungs. Guess who might be going along?

ME!!!! I'm not letting you have all the fun all the time ;P

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Well let's see what the good doctor Van Mils says, shall we? ;-)

[caseopaya.livejournal.com]

He might say neither of us can go. Wouldn't be fair if tcpip gets to go to exotic places all the time and caseopay doesn't get to go along at least once! *humf*

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Hey, I'm always up for an overseas holiday to exotic places.

[caseopaya.livejournal.com]

If we don't get accepted to Borneo, perhaps a holiday post boat show?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Sounds good; what's on your desired list of places?

[severina-242.livejournal.com]

Guess who might be going along?
Pol Pot? Hitler? Jesus Christ?

It's you isn't it?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Well, it could be Pol Pot. After all, we only have hearsay from the Khmer Rogue that he actually died.

We're pretty sure it isn't Hitler by the dental records of the burnt corpse, even if SMERSH were involved (and therefore anything is possible). Besides, he'd be 107, and that's a bit old for running around in the jungles of Borneo.

Jesus Christ? Well... a second coming?

heh ... always wanted to see Borneo

[imajica-lj.livejournal.com]

Grandfather was stationed there.
Yes sigint.

Re: heh ... always wanted to see Borneo

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

SigInt? Why doesn't that surprise me.

Fascinating place in many regards and has seen more than it's share of conflicts in the last fifty years. Occupied by Japanese, place of much fighting between Malaysia and Indonesia in the early sixties, and hidey-hole for Malay and Indonesia commies. Armed conflicts were still going on in the 90s.

All that said, it's also one of has amazing biodiversity, genuine jungle and some of the world's rarest species.

Re: heh ... always wanted to see Borneo

[imajica-lj.livejournal.com]

> SigInt? Why doesn't that surprise me.

Indeed, from what I can gather it was nothing glamorous...collecting towrope I suspect. Still considering the location and era, that's pretty important towrope.
When I was very young we used to play games using call-signs, I thought he was making them up...I later leaned this was definitely not the case. I miss him more than I thought I would.

All hail the DSD.

[kremmen.livejournal.com]

Which part of Borneo? Sabah, Sarawak, or part of the Indonesian side?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I suspect it will be Indonesian side.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Actually just double-checked the PP presentation; it seems to straddle Malaysia, Indonesia and perhaps even Brunei.

[kremmen.livejournal.com]

I visited orang utans in Sabah about 15 years ago. Particularly amusing were the orang utans that had been rehabilitated and "released to the wild".

To many of them, "released to the wild" meant "climb around in the trees a bit each day, maybe, and then come back and lie on top of the cages at feeding time, cos these humans are really generous and it's really kinda comfy here".

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

It would appear that the orang utungs have "domesticated" the humans very well.

[monkeygirldiva.livejournal.com]

fingers are crossed for borneo... i'm a firm believer of traveling long distances to play with monkeys (yer, yer... the big orange ones are apes... still...). :)

lesson learned: subject-orangutangs: if you're wearing glasses, guard them carefully when you're with the orange apes.


... and soylent green and westworld as a double feature? inspired. :)

[monkeygirldiva.livejournal.com]

oh! and rescuer of white lions!? yay... kimba. :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

There were some amazingly cute pp slides and footage at the presentation.

Have you been to the kimba website? With all the old tunes?

Monkeys and Glasses

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I discovered that problem when I was in Ubud, in central Bali. Such a friendly monkey! Oh, but wait!...

I only retrieved the broken frames by tickling the monkey on the ribs...

Yeah, the movies are pretty inspired aren't they?

[curufea.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I didn't realise there was a web interface to the mailing list open to everyone. I may have to watch what I say now :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Well, there's web accessible archives... I could make them private but what's the point?

[curufea.livejournal.com]

Yeah - and it's not like I'm that rude :)

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

Thats Alex Toth. And yay the Herculoids.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Ammended, as appropriate. Herculoids were just exceptional. Rather fond of the dragon as well, ut thought the lasers from the end of its tail were a bit much.

[luciusmalfoy.livejournal.com]

Nuclear power pla...

I think I´m just gonig to sit here and shudder for a while.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

It's been an idea for quite some time... This is from 1993!

http://www.hamline.edu/apakabar/basisdata/1993/11/04/0002.html

Forgotten People.

[matthew06.livejournal.com]

Hi Lev...
I was born an Aussie in Malaysia but spent more time in Penang, far from Borneo! I would be interested to know if you're seeing any indigenous people there. I know in Eastern Malaysia the timber companies are sometimes blockaded by the Penan people, not sure though on the Indo side.
My mother helps a group called the "Forgotten Australians". She spent some of her early childhood in a Magdalene laundry in Tassie. I thought that might interest you when I read your profile! :0)

Re: Forgotten People.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Well seeming that the planned excursion will be in the "heart of Borneo" I would imagine there will be indigenous people a-plenty.

Re: Forgotten People.

[(Anonymous)]

That's interesting company then Lev. There was an activist from the Borneo project who went 'missing' a few years ago. Some say he was murdered. I only hope you don't go 'missing'!
U might be able to get some great artwork, you lucky guy...
Happy trip - really look forward to hearing more about it ;-)
cya, Matthew

Re: Forgotten People.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

People go 'missing' in the archipelago with alarming regularity and the more prone the area is to armed conflict the more likey the event.

In contemporary Indonesia, the Celebes, West Papua and probably Acheh are likely 'missing' places. Borneo is probably next on the list after that.

I reckon I'll be OK. I'm in good company.