Skype - Onwards and Upwards

It goes on.

Check out the current data here!!

When I started using Skype there was peak users of 635,120 and 28,267,164 downloads.

Google Arsenal

Talking about my Google arsenal; let's see now!

I use frequently (generally daily):

1. Search
2. Blogger
3. Analytics
4. Calendar
5. News
6. Personalized Home Page
7. Gmail
8. Reader
9. Talk
10.Earth
11.Picasa

And they are all free!!

And here's Googles full list and then some more.

Googles Picasa

I must admit I have become a Google fan over the years (as have millions of others).

The latest addition to my Google arsenal is Picasa. I've been a long term user of ACDSee and finally I have had enough.

All I want is a simple picture viewer and editor with a nice and easy full screen slideshow fucntion.

Free Hugs

Have you have seen this???

Get the original here.

Now check out what is behind it:

It started here and then here and then here and then here and I hope it goes on.

And if you think that it has not made an impression then Google It or check out the amount of views at Youtube (3,615,980 views in 4 weeks).

Just a nice story don't ya think? Gives you hope in humanity......

By the way, the music's not bad either from The Sick Puppies.

Skype, Firefox, Thunderbird

It's interesting you know. I don't read my own blog much but I went back to do a review of my current template and content a few things really hit me:::::

This blog is now 16 months old. My "About Stuff In A Blog!!!" profile has not changed one bit. I still love and only use Thunderbird, Firefox and Skype for their fantastic compatibility, usability and security in their specific fields. And for the most part they are free!!

If there are any Internet Explorer or Outlook Express users reading this then do yourself a favour and CHANGE!!! Don't take my word for it, Google it and see what they are all saying!! Firefox has 349,000,000 hits, Thunderbird has 39,000,000, Skype has 284,000,000.

The power is in the numbers.

Edit: I just did a Google search on Microsoft and it returned 2,000,000,000 hits. If we consider the amount of products that they have then their % is not so high when it comes to browsers. It goes to show that the exposure of these fantastic new products really are starting to eat into the Microsoft margins.

None for one and free for all!!!!!!!!!!

Wake Up USA!!

What the hell are you all doing there? You voted this absolutely dangerous idiot in for a second term and now you are really starting to pay.

Unfortunately your stupidity has a dramatic effect on the greater world; you know,,,,,,,,,,,,,, the one that exists outside the US of A.

You let him go to war in Iraq. A lovely situation now, hey?

You let him tap your telephone conversations. What will be the consequences?

You let him forget and neglect the economy and well being of US citizens. Again, what will be the consequences?

You let him .............................................

I see a very big similarity between GWB and the President in Fox's current series of 24. Both dangerous idiots shooting from the hip!!!!

Do we all have to put up with this for another 2 and a bit years? I guess so.

Think a little bit more carefully next time around, if not for your sake but for the good of the planet.

My Top 10 Things

1. Good food and drink. Thai is probably my favourite food but Chinese, a good Brazilian BBQ, Japanese (especially sushi and sashimi with loads of wasabi, soy and pickled ginger) and a simple Schnitzel (or milanesa) with lemon juice, mashed spuds and tinned peas are right up there also. Regards drinks well that's difficult. Here in Brazil we have a cocktail called Caipirinha that's pretty bloody good, a cold Corona with lemon is hard to beat, the first G&T sitting in Business Class is good too, cheap but good Argentinean reds are value for money, Swedish schnapps is a fun drink with friends during a mid-summer party (Akvavit, Aqvavit or Aquavit depending on where you come from, one of the most famous being Linie), etc..................

2. Staying in contact with friends and family. Need I say more?

3. Supermarkets. That's where most good food comes from.

4. Spending time in Brazil. Never a dull moment.

5. Spending time in Australia. Quite predictable but a beautiful country. It's a shame that most Aussies don't realize how good they've got it.

6. Working but not too much. And I am a little bit out of practise at the moment but I do enjoy it when I'm doing it.

7. Sport. I'm a true, all round sportsman; I can watch almost anything. Cricket, Australian rules, football, rugby, rugby league, tennis, sumo, formula 1, golf, snooker and pool just to name a few.

8. Computers and the Internet. Great time wasters.

9. Hot weather when I don't have to work in it.

10. Cold weather when I don't have to work in it.

Normally my wife would be at No.1 but we're in disagreement at the moment.

And by the way, how good is Wikipedia?

Sorry But It's Skype Again

Firstly, is blogging under the unfluence a crime?

I hope not!!!

Skype 2.5 Beta is out and it's yet another quantum leap into the future.

The most fantastic improvement of a most fantasitic product is the ability to SMS.

Enjoy!!!

American Media, What A Joke

If John Howard or Tony Blair had this humerous political attack against them then it would be world headlines. But who saw this in US TV or world wide for that matter?

It absolutely amazes me how much of the policies, statements and actions of the grand government of the USA does not reach the people. It also amazes me as to the lack of media that ....................... I could go on..............

I'm quite sure that we outsiders (or aliens as the US call us) have a better understanding as to what is going on in that grand land than the insiders, i.e. citizens.

Many things go on in government and public life that we don't ever hear a word of. And the following is something that, for sure, never made it to CNN or BBC.

So................ This is a little link to a George W Bush roasting that REALLY happened.

Video 1
Video 2
Video 3

I'm sure the organizer of this event got the sack but thank you Mr. Organizer.

American Media, What A Joke!!! Thanks Fox!!!

SkypeIn Australia

Today, or yesterday depending what part of the world you're in, SkypeIn Beta landed for Australia. That means that you can purchase a number in Austalia and even more specifically in area codes 02, 03, 07 and 08. The price is Euro10.00 for 3 months or Euro30.00 for a full year. And included in the price is Voicemail.

The service works like this; you give out your SkypeIn number to those that don't have a Skype account and they call you on that number. Skype then forwards that call to your computer if you are logged on. If you are not logged on then you can Call Forward it to a telephone number basically anywhere in the world.

Well done again Skype!!!!!

By the way, within the next 24 hours Skype will officially have 100 million registered user names. (edit: actually while I have been writing this the 100 M has been passed)

That doesn't convert into active users though. I have two user names but on actively use one. My step son has three but he only uses one. People that registered, tried it out and then never came back are also included in that number.

My guess is that there are something like 20 million active users. The daily peak usage generally occurs between 14-16 GMT at a bit over 6 million users online and growing.

Myself and a mate, Pete, started using this service back in Oct 2004 and on 19/10 there were 635,120 users online with a bit over 28 million downloads. There have now been in excess of 290 million downloads of the software.