Todd M

I love it. They mapped my street well, and my surrounding streets. Fun to just go around and view all different places, especially if you are travelling someone and want to check out some hot spots.

I have purchased a pair of Earphones (A sport type, so when running or jogging they lock into your ear) which are made by Sennheiser. Great sound quality, good for an on the go pair of headphones. However, part of it has come unglued and has moved some of the wires in it ruining the sound. Back to the shop for a replacement me thinks!

They are this pair http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/ho ... uct=500635

Qantas is just flavour of the month. It seems to go in a cycle, like look at when JetStar was having a minor mechanical problem with the A330's and it would be a two page speel about stranded passengers and such. Virgin have been the same, scrutinised for any minor problem when they have a minor incident. Qantas is flavour of the month again, and one thing the media does not seem to realise is that aircraft are machines. They will break down and the will have problems, they will never run perfectly no matter how well they are maintained. And this kind of stuff happens worldwide!

iTunes will not handle .avi files. It will handle MP4 and I believe MPEG/MPG files. When transferring aswell onto an iPod or iPhone there will be an option to convert the file for use on iPod/iPhone. When you do this, it seems to loose any sound that the fle has and will only play visual images. It happens on my friends aswell so I am stumped as to why iTunes during is conversion removes all the sound!

Go Edit, Preferences, Podcasts then down to Keep. That will give you a list of options, so select 'All Episodes'.

Cigarette vending machines with face-recognition technology approvedThe Ministry of Finance has approved cigarette vending machines that use face recognition technology to determine whether the purchaser is a minor or not.

The vending machines, which determine a person's approximate age from the size of their eyes and mouth and their bone structure, were developed by Kyoto Prefecture company Fujitaka Co., a major producer of vending machines.

 

Vending machines designed to prevent minors from purchasing cigarettes were rolled out across Japan in July, but the taspo cards that are used as age identification have yet to become widespread.

 

With face-recognition technology, users will be able to purchase cigarettes without a taspo card. There are already 5,000 such machines in operation across Japan.

Nagano governor goes goofy over Disney drop-ins

 

A Disney character hugs Nagano Gov. Jin Murai, right, on Thursday morning. (Photo courtesy of the Nagano Prefectural Government)

 

NAGANO -- Mickey Mouse and a host of other Disney characters visited Nagano Prefecture to greet its governor as part of their nationwide tour to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Tokyo Disneyland

 

Nagano Gov. Jin Murai looked delighted as one of the Disney characters hugged and kissed him during a courtesy call on Thursday. Murai was also presented with a magic key said to make wishes come true.

 

The prefecture has been suffering from a sluggish tourism industry, with the number of Nagano-bound skiers dropping to 40 percent of its peak figure, and Murai said his prefecture has a lot to learn from Disneyland.

 

"Disneyland is filled with repeaters. We, Nagano Prefecture, would like to learn from that," he said.

 

The Disney characters are visiting 29 cities across the nation on the tour commemorating the opening of Tokyo Disneyland in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, a quarter century ago.

Yes Glenn was the recipient of the Big Hug, and he is the one that has never been the same. And just to create one big awkward moment, here is a little picture I found on google

Well actually Glenn, I have not run off to Ted's to buy a spare. I should, but seeing I just spent $1600 on camera, bag, card and extended warranty, I can wait for a few weeks!!

Will probably head somewhere tomorrow, I have three days off so why the hell not!

I just purchased myself a Canon 450D! Whoot. It replaces the now aged 300D, and with 12MP I am quite happy. Can't wait to give her a whirl!

@Todd - Thanks for kick-starting the topic. We (as a species) tend to be rather unawed by news such as this. I think it is because we expected much more after the leaps that were taken in the 60's-70's. It is sad really. This is unique, daring, exciting, and is the baby-steps to the ultimate survival of our species. One day (and no, I do not mean in the near future) our sun will cease to exist, and with it goes Aristotle, Bach, Beethoven, Da Vinci, Charles E. Kingsford-Smith, all those who came before that make us who we are today, and who we will be in the future. Unless we take them and us to the stars. It demands our attention and is deserving of comment.

NASA Mars Lander Prepares to Move Arm05.27.08

 

The butterfly-like object in this picture is NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, as seen from above by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Calech/University of Arizona

 

Mission scientists are eager to move Phoenix's robotic arm, for that arm will deliver samples of icy terrain to their instruments made to study this unexplored Martian environment.

 

The team sent commands for moving the arm on Tuesday morning, May 27, to NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for relay to Phoenix. However, the orbiter did not relay those commands to the lander, so arm movement and other activities are now planned for Wednesday. The orbiter's communication-relay system is in a standby mode. NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter is available for relaying communications between Earth and Phoenix.

 

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter did send back spectacular first images of the landed Phoenix from orbit, views from the Phoenix lander of where it will work for the next three months, and a preliminary weather report.

 

A newly processed image from the high-resolution camera known as HiRISE on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows a full-resolution view of the Phoenix parachute and lander during its May 25 descent, with Heimdall crater in the background.

 

 

"Phoenix appears to be descending into the 10 kilometer, or 6-mile, crater, but is actually 20 kilometers, or about 12 miles, in front of the crater," said HiRISE principal investigator Alfred S. McEwen of the University of Arizona, Tucson. This is a view from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter of the Phoenix parachute and lander during its May 25 descent, with Heimdall crater in the background. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Calech/University of Arizona

 

HiRISE has taken a new color image of Phoenix on the ground about 22 hours after it landed. It shows the parachute attached to the back shell, the heat shield and the lander itself against red Mars. The parachute and lander are about 300 meters, roughly 1,000 feet, apart.

 

Commands to be sent to the lander Wednesday morning include taking more pictures of the surroundings and making the first movements of the mission's crucial robotic arm.

 

A covering that had shielded the arm from microbes during its last few months before launch had not fully retracted on landing day, May 25, but it moved farther from the arm during the following day.

 

"The biobarrier had relaxed more and allows more clearance, but it was not a major concern either way," said Fuk Li, manager of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

 

During the next three months, the arm will dig into soil near the lander and deliver samples of soil and ice to laboratory instruments on the lander deck. Following today's commands, its movements will begin with unlatching the wrist, then moving the arm upwards in a stair-step manner.

 

Phoenix principal investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona was delighted with new images of the workspace. "The workspace is ideal for us because it looks very diggable. We're very happy to see just a few rocks scattered in the digging area."

 

The Phoenix weather station, provided by the Canadian Space Agency, was activated within the first hour after landing on Mars, and measurements are now being recorded continuously. The data from the first 18 hours after landing have been transmitted back to the science team, and they have provided a weather report. The temperature ranged between a minimum of minus 80 degrees Celsius (minus 112 degrees Fahrenheit) in the early morning and a maximum of minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit) in the afternoon. The average pressure was 8.55 millibars, which is less than a hundredth of the sea level pressure on Earth. The wind speed was 20 kilometers per hour (13 miles per hour), out of the northeast. The skies were clear. More instruments will be activated over the coming days, and the weather report will expand to include measurements of humidity and visibility.

 

Smith presented a new Surface Stereo Imager view of the American flag and a mini-DVD on the Phoenix's deck, about three feet above the Martian surface. The mini-DVD from the Planetary Society contains a message to future Martian explorers, science fiction stories and art inspired by the Red Planet, and the names of more than a quarter million Earthlings.

 

The Phoenix mission is led by Smith at the University of Arizona with project management at JPL and development partnership at Lockheed Martin. International contributions come from the Canadian Space Agency; the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland; the universities of Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark; Max Planck Institute, Germany; and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. More Phoenix information is at http://www.nasa.gov/phoenix.

I am shocked this has not been posted about yet, but here is a General Discussion on the Mars Lander 'Phoenix'.

Basically, post news articles, information about the mission and anything you want that relates to Phoenix.

An overview and news centre can be found here at NASA's website, http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoen ... index.html

So I will kick it off!

NASA's Phoenix Spacecraft Lands at Martian Arctic Site05.25.08

 

Artist's concept of the Phoenix spacecraft on Mars. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Calech/University of Arizona PASADENA, Calif.

 

NASA's Phoenix spacecraft landed in the northern polar region of Mars today to begin three months of examining a site chosen for its likelihood of having frozen water within reach of the lander's robotic arm.

 

Radio signals received at 4:53:44 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53:44 p.m. Eastern Time) confirmed the Phoenix Mars Lander had survived its difficult final descent and touchdown 15 minutes earlier. The signals took that long to travel from Mars to Earth at the speed of light.

 

Mission team members at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.; Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver; and the University of Arizona, Tucson, cheered confirmation of the landing and eagerly awaited further information from Phoenix later tonight.

 

Among those in the JPL control room was NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, who noted this was the first successful Mars landing without airbags since Viking 2 in 1976.

 

"For the first time in 32 years, and only the third time in history, a JPL team has carried out a soft landing on Mars," Griffin said. "I couldn't be happier to be here to witness this incredible achievement."

 

 

Team members celebrate Phoenix landing on Mars.

 

During its 422-million-mile flight from Earth to Mars after launching on Aug. 4, 2007, Phoenix relied on electricity from solar panels during the spacecraft's cruise stage. The cruise stage was jettisoned seven minutes before the lander, encased in a protective shell, entered the Martian atmosphere. Batteries provide electricity until the lander's own pair of solar arrays spread open.

 

"We've passed the hardest part and we're breathing again, but we still need to see that Phoenix has opened its solar arrays and begun generating power," said JPL's Barry Goldstein, the Phoenix project manager. If all goes well, engineers will learn the status of the solar arrays between 7 and 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time (10 and 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time) from a Phoenix transmission relayed via NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter.

 

The team will also be watching for the Sunday night transmission to confirm that masts for the stereo camera and the weather station have swung to their vertical positions.

 

"What a thrilling landing! But the team is waiting impatiently for the next set of signals that will verify a healthy spacecraft," said Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, principal investigator for the Phoenix mission. "I can hardly contain my enthusiasm. The first landed images of the Martian polar terrain will set the stage for our mission."

 

Another critical deployment will be the first use of the 7.7-foot-long robotic arm on Phoenix, which will not be attempted for at least two days. Researchers will use the arm during future weeks to get samples of soil and ice into laboratory instruments on the lander deck.

 

The signal confirming that Phoenix had survived touchdown was relayed via Mars Odyssey and received on Earth at the Goldstone, Calif., antenna station of NASA's Deep Space Network.

 

Phoenix uses hardware from a spacecraft built for a 2001 launch that was canceled in response to the loss of a similar Mars spacecraft during a 1999 landing attempt. Researchers who proposed the Phoenix mission in 2002 saw the unused spacecraft as a resource for pursuing a new science opportunity. Earlier in 2002, Mars Odyssey discovered that plentiful water ice lies just beneath the surface throughout much of high-latitude Mars. NASA chose the Phoenix proposal over 24 other proposals to become the first endeavor in the Mars Scout program of competitively selected missions.

 

The Phoenix mission is led by Smith at the University of Arizona with project management at JPL and development partnership at Lockheed Martin, Denver. International contributions come from the Canadian Space Agency; the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland; the universities of Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark; Max Planck Institute, Germany; and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. For more about Phoenix, visit http://www.nasa.gov/phoenix .

NASA's Phoenix Spacecraft Reports Good Health After Mars Landing05.25.08

 

This is a false-color image taken by the Phoenix spacecraft on Mars.

 

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Calech/University of Arizona

 

Larger view PASADENA, Calif. -- A NASA spacecraft today sent pictures showing itself in good condition after making the first successful landing in a polar region of Mars.

 

The images from NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander also provided a glimpse of the flat valley floor expected to have water-rich permafrost within reach of the lander's robotic arm. The landing ends a 422-million-mile journey from Earth and begins a three-month mission that will use instruments to taste and sniff the northern polar site's soil and ice.

 

"We see the lack of rocks that we expected, we see the polygons that we saw from space, we don't see ice on the surface, but we think we will see it beneath the surface. It looks great to me," said Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson, principal investigator for the Phoenix mission.

 

Radio signals received at 4:53:44 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53:44 p.m. Eastern Time) confirmed that the Phoenix Mars Lander had survived its difficult final descent and touchdown 15 minutes earlier. In the intervening time, those signals crossed the distance from Mars to Earth at the speed of light. The confirmation ignited cheers by mission team members at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.; Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver; and the University of Arizona.

 

As planned, Phoenix stopped transmitting one minute after landing and focused its limited battery power on opening its solar arrays, and other critical activities. About two hours after touchdown, it sent more good news. The first pictures confirmed that the solar arrays needed for the mission's energy supply had unfolded properly, and masts for the stereo camera and weather station had swung into vertical position.

 

 

Phoenix Project Manager Barry Goldstein and Principal Investigator Peter Smith await data in JPL's mission control during the Phoenix landing on Mars. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Calech

 

Larger view "Seeing these images after a successful landing reaffirmed the thorough work over the past five years by a great team," said Phoenix Project Manager Barry Goldstein of JPL. A key milestone still ahead is the first use of the lander's 7.7-foot-long robotic arm, not planned before Tuesday.

 

"Only five of our planet's 11 previous attempts to land on the Red Planet have succeeded. In exploring the universe, we accept some risk in exchange for the potential of great scientific rewards," said Ed Weiler, NASA associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, Washington.

 

Phoenix carries science instruments to assess whether ice just below the surface ever thaws and whether some chemical ingredients of life are preserved in the icy soil. These are key questions in evaluating whether the environment has ever been favorable for microbial life. Phoenix will also study other aspects of the soil and atmosphere with instrument capabilities never before used on Mars. Canada supplied the lander's weather station.

 

Transmissions from Phoenix have reported results after a check of several components and systems on the spacecraft. "Phoenix is an amazing machine, and it was built and flown by an amazing team. Through the entire entry, descent and landing phase, it performed flawlessly," said Ed Sedivy, Phoenix program manager at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "The spacecraft stayed in contact with Earth during that critical period, and we received a lot of data about its health and performance. I'm happy to report it's in great shape."

 

Phoenix uses hardware from a spacecraft built for a 2001 launch that was canceled in response to the loss of a similar Mars spacecraft during a 1999 landing attempt. Researchers who proposed the Phoenix mission in 2002 saw the unused spacecraft as a resource for pursuing a new science opportunity. A few months earlier, NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter discovered that plentiful water ice lies just beneath the surface throughout much of high-latitude Mars. NASA chose the Phoenix proposal over 24 other proposals to become the first endeavor in the Mars Scout program of competitively selected missions.

 

The signal confirming that Phoenix had survived touchdown and the transmission of the first pictures were relayed via Mars Odyssey and received on Earth at the Goldstone, Calif., antenna station of NASA's Deep Space Network.

 

The Phoenix mission is led by Smith at the University of Arizona with project management at JPL and development partnership at Lockheed Martin. International contributions come from the Canadian Space Agency; the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland; the universities of Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark; Max Planck Institute, Germany; and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. For more about Phoenix, visit http://www.nasa.gov/phoenix.

Camera on Mars Orbiter Snaps Phoenix During Landing05.26.08

 

NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander can be seen parachuting down to Mars, in this image captured by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

 

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Calech/University of Arizona

 

PASADENA, Calif. -- A telescopic camera in orbit around Mars caught a view of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander suspended from its parachute during the lander's successful arrival at Mars Sunday evening, May 25.

 

The image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter marks the first time ever one spacecraft has photographed another one in the act of landing on Mars.

 

Meanwhile, scientists pored over initial images from Phoenix, the first ever taken from the surface of Mars' polar regions. Phoenix returned information that it was in good health after its first night on Mars, and the Phoenix team sent the spacecraft its to-do list for the day.

 

"We can see cracks in the troughs that make us think the ice is still modifying the surface," said Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson. "We see fresh cracks. Cracks can't be old. They would fill in."

 

Camera pointing for the image from HiRISE used navigational information about Phoenix updated on landing day. The camera team and Phoenix team would not know until the image was sent to Earth whether it had actually caught Phoenix.

 

"We saw a few other bright spots in the image first, but when we saw the parachute and the lander with the cords connecting them, there was no question," said HiRISE Principal Investigator Alfred McEwen, also of the University of Arizona.

 

 

This movie shows the vast plains of the northern polar region of Mars, as seen by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander shortly after touching down on the Red Planet. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Texas A&M

 

"I'm floored. I'm absolutely floored," said Phoenix Project Manager Barry Goldstein of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. A team analyzing what can be learned from the Phoenix descent through the Martian atmosphere will use the image to reconstruct events.

 

HiRISE usually points downward. For this image, the pointing was at 62 degrees, nearly two-thirds of the way from straight down to horizontal. To tilt the camera, the whole orbiter must tilt. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was already pointed toward the expected descent path of Phoenix to record radio transmissions from Phoenix.

 

McEwen said, "We've never taken an image at such an oblique angle before."

 

Monday's tasks for Phoenix include checkouts of some instruments and systems, plus additional imaging of the lander's surroundings.

 

The Phoenix mission is led by Smith at the University of Arizona with project management at JPL and development partnership at Lockheed Martin, Denver. International contributions come from the Canadian Space Agency; the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland; the universities of Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark; Max Planck Institute, Germany; and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. For more about Phoenix, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/phoenix .

 

JPL manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission for NASA. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, Colo., is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The University of Arizona operates the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera, which was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corp., Boulder, Colo.

Recently journeyed to Sydney for the hell of it, so I took Qantas both ways this time.

Canberra to Sydney

Date: 02/05/2008

Flight No: QF878

Reg: VH-TJH

Type: Boeing 737-400

Name: 'Falcon'

Seat: 12A

Seq. Number:

STD: 16:05

STA: 16:55

Gate: 12

Dep Rwy:

Arr Rwy:

A nice flight, I was lucky enough to get the Exit row with nobody next to me. Sat around the airport for a while, I had finished work, gone home and came back to the airport to sit down and talk to some of the fellow staff members when they were not busy with other stuff. Also got through a decent amount of pages of Harry Potter. The aircraft arrived, with it turning out to be VH-TJH 'Falcon'. Takeoff was nothing special, smoother than normally with not as much turbulence but very average. Service was started as soon as possible, and was able to partake in two Carman's snacks which come in a little pack. One was lightly seasoned chick peas and the other was a muesli bar. One thing I did notice is that they now have moved onto the new coloured cups and traymats. Looks nice when they are all different colours. The entertainment on this service was the usual Billboard On:Q. Coming into Sydney we tracked a fair way north before looping back around towards the airport. Had beautiful view of the city upon landing, with the Ship Pacific Dawn heading out to see and the afternoon sun glimmering of the harbour and buildings. Has to be the most beautiful approach in the world. My bags were the first out, and as always it was a short walk to my transport home, this time being the expensive train.

Sydney to Canberra

Date: 04/05/2008

Flight No: QF1479

Reg: VH-QOA

Type: Dash 8-Q400

Name: 'Gladstone'

Seat: 18C

Seq. Number:

STD: 12:55

STA: 13:40

Gate: 17 ('Canberra City flyer'

Dep Rwy:

Arr Rwy:

Was glad to have a sleep in following a late night out with some friends, but headed out to the airport after checking in on the internet in the morning. I pre-chose my seat being 18C, as on the Dash 8 it is either row one or Bust. So I like the rear 19CD seats when available. Today they were not so I went second best and chose 18C. Lined up in the incorrect line however, as the hosts were busy and I did not realise there was a seperate Web Check In line until I got to the head of the queue. I only had ten minutes to wait at the gate, however while waiting VH-OEB rolled past in its new livery. Flight boarded, and was uneventful through Takeoff and climb. Service today was once again quick due to the flight time, but was quite delicious. It seems that on QF Link flights they have started or now have only Pink 'Breast Cancer Foundation' Cupcakes which are given as the snack. They were yummy and 10 points to QantasLink for this little addition to their snack list. A Lemonade was also had while onboard. A Bumpy ride into Canberra, riding in over the mountains and quite a hard landing. However a smooth flight throughout!

Some photos from my time in Sydney.

A Malaysian 747-400, a Thai 777 in the new scheme and a Singapore A380-800 rest at their respective gates take from the Observation Deck

An Etihad and Qantas A340 and A330 respectively, rest at Sydney Airport

VH-OEB is passing T3 in its new livery. Doesn't look half bad on the 747

Have found some Ad's from Ansett, Australian and TAA Way back when.

[youtube:2f81hvlh]

Now with Content Warning!

Well these came right out at me when looking at the articles today, and made me laugh in a way. As these are a little raunchier, I will post the first few lines with a link to the Article. Well the first one anyway!

Porn filmed in Japanese McDonald's? I'm rubbin' it!Friday (5/2)McDonald's customers suspected something amiss when one guy pulled out his whopper. They knew for sure when he began partaking of fur burger. The upshot was four people trying to make an adult movie in a fast food outlet ended up getting arrested, says Friday (5/2).

 

Arrested in the case earlier this month for indecent exposure and obstruction of business were Kunikazu Ishii, 52, the director, Nahoko Shimada, 21, an actress and dental nurse, and actors Yuya Ochiai, 29, and Makoto Nishizumi.......

 

More at http://mdn.mainichi.jp/culture/waiwai/n ... 3000c.html

Shiga Prefecture's schoolgirls boast of skimpiest skirts in JapanSchoolgirl uniforms in Shiga are so short, they're less hem than ahem, according to Weekly Playboy (1/29).

The Japanese language Internet is awash with rumors that schoolgirls in the central Japan prefecture wear the skimpiest uniforms of anywhere in the country.

 

Local schoolboys seem to agree, saying one school in particular is known for its micromini uniforms.

 

"When the girls from the school all get off the train together in the mornings, it's a real sight to see," the schoolboy tells Weekly Playboy, adding that many people deliberately go to look. "We call it the Schoolgirl Rush Hour in these parts."

 

Shiga schoolgirls don't deny their reputation either.

 

"Shiga's the sticks, right? Well, long dresses might be popular in the cities, but it takes ages before the trend gets picked up around here. Besides, Shiga girls always wear minis," one schoolgirl from the prefecture says. "We look good in miniskirts. What's wrong with that?"

 

A downside to the propensity for flashing the flesh is that Shiga Prefecture apparently attracts a disproportionate number of perverts who travel from outside the prefecture to track down the short skirts said to be on display.

 

It's a trend noticeable in the statistics, where 10 arrests for upskirt photo shots were made of non-Shiga residents last year compared to just three in 2004. Police admit the short schoolgirl skirts are creating problems.

 

"We don't know whether the rumor on the Internet ahs anything to do with it, but there has been an increase in concealed camera-related arrests and it's a bother," Shigeru Morita, deputy chief of the Shiga Prefectural Police's Railroad Police Division, tells Weekly Playboy. "We've had cases where people have deliberately come all the way from other prefectures just to take secret snapshots in Shiga."

 

Shiga education officials are also aware that there are problems.

 

"We know there was a write-up on the Net about Shiga having the shortest schoolgirl skirts in Japan, but the prefecture hasn't done a survey on anything of that nature. We are fully aware that some of our students have very short skirts," a spokesman for the Shiga Prefectural Board of Education says. "We are teaching our students to be aware that there is a danger that people will film up their skirts if they keep the hems so short."

 

Shiga's schoolgirls, however, say that nothing's going to deprive them of their microminis.

 

"There's nothing wrong with wearing a short skirt," an irate Shiga schoolgirl tells Weekly Playboy. "What's wrong are those perverts who deliberately look at our panties. Why should we have to change our fashion just because of a bunch of perverted old men?" (By Ryann Connell)

 

（Mainichi Japan） January 18, 2007

The New 'Worlds most experienced airline' is up and running and the ad can be found here http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/abo ... rience.mpg

Have not seen it posted yet, nor even seen the ad on TV Myself!

The Ansett Yellow A, with Star with light blue and navy blue background is called the Starmark. The BA Tail is the 'Union Flag' and was originally part of the World Tail series, none of which remain but all of which can be found in photographs here http://www.lockonaviation.net/html/intspecial.html

The Korean Airlines Logo is a Red and Blue Taegeuk Symbol as found on the South Korean Flag.

Depending on when you are travelling is when you can change it. However, lower fares which are not Fully Flexible, Business, or First Class tickets will attract charges as with any airline who offers cheap fares. The Fare Rules for your particular fare can be found in the PDF File you would have been sent by Qantas. Below is the fare rules for a Red-E-Deal fare as taken from Qantas.com

Main points are Bolded and Italicised

Time and date changes can be made online at qantas.com/yourbooking. For any other changes call 13 13 13. Exception: For changes to combined Qantas and Jetstar bookings, and to multi-city bookings call 13 13 13.

Changes before the day of scheduled departure:

 

-Your original fare may be used as credit towards the payment of a new fare of equal or higher value, provided the new fare conditions are met.

 

At the time of making the change you must pay:

 

-the change fee applicable as at the date of the change

 

-for changes made over the phone, the service fee applicable as at the date of the change

 

-any difference between the fare for your new booking and the original fare

 

-once your booking is made the current change fee and service fee can be viewed anytime at qantas.com/your booking

 

-Your new booking must be for travel anywhere on the Qantas network within 12 months of the date that the original ticket was issued. However, you cannot re-book and travel on the same day.

 

Changes on the day of scheduled departure:

 

Not permitted. Loss of fare.

Basically it is 7 KG's no more. 7Kg's is AFAIK a CASA Regulation and is applicible on all Australian Domestic Carriers. The reason for 7kg, ridiculous as it may sound, is that if the overhead lockers open in turbulence, or when they are opened by passengers and have shifted they can cause great injury especially landing on someones head. 7kg is a fair limit. This regulation has been in operation for a while now.

I wouldnt no how heavy it would be.I want your help with this and work out if qantas at the front counter would ask me to get rid of the half waight or such.... unless of course im able to carry more then 7kilos since im not sure how that works... Since i heard the new law on waights update 2008.

 

What if it ends up been 10kilos or 20kilos what happens then? do i pay money for it or cant go anywhere unlesss i take things out of it.

Basically by the sounds of things you will have a bag that is too heavy to take on, and you will also be over the amount of items you can take on as hand luggage. Hand luggage is one piece normally not including a handbag or manbag. You are allowed up to 32kg of Checked Baggage, but it is limited to two pieces maximum unless you are a Qantas Club member, Silver, Gold or Platinum Frequent Flyer.

For more information, these following links will help you. these are from the Qantas Website

Checked Baggage Allowance

http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/be ... ageChecked

Carry On Baggage Allowance

http://www.qantas.com.au/content/dyn/in ... ageCarryOn

Excess Baggage Charges (Prices May be subject to change)

http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/be ... Collection

Date: 25/04/2008

Flight No: DJ906

Reg: VH-ZHA

Type: E170

Name: Belle-issimo Blue

Seat: 1F

Seq. Number: 1

STD: 07:45

STA: 08:32

Gate: 38

Dep Rwy:

Arr Rwy:

Woke up nice and early to travel, catching a cab instead of the train as it was too early for me to even think about walking up to the train station with a heavy bag. Check in was easy, as it was the priority line you just walk past all the other 'commoners' who were waiting to get their boarding pass, checked in and headed off to 'The Lounge'. The Lounge is nice, very well layed out, and they have some nice sourdough bread for brekky along with a soft drink machine (So I was happy, got me some post mix Lift). Using the WiFi I surfed the net through my iPod, and enjoyed the view of the line of DJ737's and an Aeropelican aircraft. My flight was called, and by the time I walked down to gate 38 the aircraft was on Final Call, and I was infact the last person to board. Not a full flight today, infact quite empty. The staff were friendly, and one or two seemed new as the Purser was informing them of hints (Stating 'I dont know why they tell you to do this as this way is actually easier!') to use when doing the demonstartion. The E170 is a lovely aircraft, it is a little pocket rocket and certainly flies down the runway. Up in the air we had a bump free flight until after service was dished out, which was basically the staff member walking along and taking orders without the torlley and pooling them all together. A Much easier way of doing it when no one is on the flight. I got myself a Hot Chocolate, they make a mean one on DJ. Coming into Canberra seemed like forever, I could see the airport from a long way off and coming in seemed to go so slow, but we made an un-eventful landing in Canberra which was alot drier than Sydney.

All in all it was a good journey, the Premium Economy is good however you should only use it if you really need to spend the money on a fully flex ticket. The Lounge access was good though, very nice facility.

To note I think that VH-ZHA is becoming the new VH-TJW as I have now had it three times, all my EMB Flights!

lol, Good one Glenn. I would fly with them, I mean wth the 747-8 Freight Version and a Sleeping Pilot, your in Good Hands!

Now for something very practical.

Honda, police to provide crime info via car navigation systemHonda Motor Co. is teaming up with the Metropolitan Police Department and police in 13 other prefectures to launch a service providing drivers with vehicle-related crime statistics through their car navigation systems, starting on Tuesday.

The service -- available to the 660,000 or so members of Honda's "Internavi Premium Club," -- displays information on crimes such as car thefts and break-ins, and flags high-risk areas near the driver's destination, throwing in audio and visual cues (such as a bomb icon) as the car approaches them.

 

In addition to the Metropolitan Police Department, police in Fukushima, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Gifu, Aichi, Mie, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama, Hiroshima, and Oita prefectures will provide information for the service.

 

Osaka Prefectural Police conducted a trial starting in December 2006, and concluded that there was a high rate of people using the system.

And People, Crox are EVIL :twisted: Those ugly things deserve to go, and now I have a reason why (Apart from the being ugly).

Soft resin material in sandals blamed for escalator accidentsA selection of resin sandals.An investigation into a spate of accidents in which foam resin sandals have got caught in escalators, injuring people's feet, has found problems with the soft material used in the sandals.

 

The survey, carried out by the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), an independent administrative institution, also singled out escalator maintenance issues, including the failure to use lubricants.

 

Based on the results of the investigation, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is set to ask manufacturers and importers of the sandals to improve the products to avoid further accidents.

 

NITE officials said that 66 accidents caused by people wearing the sandals on escalators had occurred since last summer. In many of the cases, the victims were children of elementary school age or younger.

 

In one case at JR Tokyo Station in August last year, a 5-year-old girl got her foot caught between one of the steps and the side of the escalator, and suffered a broken middle toe.

 

In its survey, NITE compared resin sandals produced by U.S. company Crocs and seven similar products with sports shoes and other sandals not made from resin. It found that only the resin sandals got caught.

 

Factors contributing to the accidents were that the sandals were soft and thin, did not slip easily, and stretched easily.

 

It also emerged that when lubricants were applied to the steps and side of the escalator, the same resin footwear did not get caught. The Japan Elevator Association has guidelines promoting the use of lubricants when maintenance work is carried out on escalators, but it has no binding power.

Thanks for the Report. Love the Reso'Cha Aircraft, have not seen that one for ages! Used to be a regular in Sydney.

The Previous Qantas roo was very noticable, The Red with Gold stripe had a sense of elegence. The new logo shows more simplicity and change within Qantas minusing the Gold Stripe and making the Kangaroo look younger. I like the new logo, on some aircraft only. It does not look right on the 767 or by itself in the Red Triangle (Which was designed for the previous logo). Personally the Previous logo and the Winged Kangaroo Logo are my Favourite Qantas logos.

I have had to purchase a flex ticket as I am unsure on what day I was coming home, so I thought I would spring out for Premium Economy on Virgin, as it was alot cheaper than Qantas Business Class. Anyone been in Premium Economy to tell me what it is like?