Here is an interesting conversation I had with a bidrivals.com.au representative after looking into their service. Sorry about my typos, I'm hopeless (-:

Transcript of your chat [LTK145018054794X]

info: Please wait for a site operator to respond.
info: You are now chatting with 'Chris'
Chris: Hi!  Welcome to Bidrivals, how can I help you today?
Chris: Hi
Chris: how are you?
Scozza: Hi Chris, good thanks, how can I cancel my account?
Chris: may I know what is the reason why?
Scozza: I have discivered that if I move to other language sites there are different items for auction, with the same bidders biddign on them!!!
Chris: Okay we resepct your decision
Chris: respect*
Scozza: Which I believe under Australian law would be illegal for me to participate in.
Chris: may i have your username and email address please
Scozza: username: ######
Scozza: email: #####@######.com
Chris: thank you
Chris: One moment please....
info: Your Issue ID for this chat is LTK145018054794X
Chris: thank you for waiting
Scozza: no problem
Chris: I already escalated your cancellation and it will be cancelled shorty.
Chris: Is there anything else I may help you with today?
Scozza: Can you confirm that auctions are indeed for different items in different domiciles, with the bidders unaware that this is the case?
Chris: Currently all our auctions are global. We made the decision to offer high value products globally rather than lower value products locally.
Scozza: So the product you are bidding on could be a different product that is presented to another bidder "globally" who is also participating in the same auction.
Chris: Every site has a different products it depends upon the Manufacturers availability of there product.
Scozza: But eh actual auction process for a given item in combined, so I'm bidding on a 50" plasma TV here in Australia but I'm competing with a bidder in Belgium who is bidding on a 40" LCD TV, in the same auction?
Chris: no its its not. The same auction item still but for example if plasma TV 50" is not available therefore we will provide the same item but in different supplier
Scozza: I'm confused. If i chnage my domicile to Belgium I see a 40" LCD TV as the item with the exact same bids and bidders on the 50" plasma TV I'm bidding on in Australia, how can this be so?
Chris: then you need to vary in belgium website
Scozza: I'm sorry. Would I then need to log in to the Belgian website?
Chris: Yes. In order to get the item you want
Chris: But you can log in in belgium site if you registered in australian website
Scozza: OK. Just to confirm. The actual auction process for a given item is combined, so I'm bidding on a 50" plasma TV here in Australia but I'm competing with a bidder in Belgium who is bidding on a 40" LCD TV, in the same auction.
Chris: if you win then you will get 50 plasma TV since you are from AU.
Scozza: And if I was in Belgium I would win a 40" plasma TV.
Chris: Yes 40 LCD TV
Scozza: OK, thanks Chris. Can I just confirm that the Issue ID for this chat is LTK145018054794X
Chris: exactly
Chris: Is there anything else I may help you with today?
Scozza: No thanks Chris, have a great day.
Chris: Thank you for choosing Bidrivals. If you have any other questions, feel free to open a chat or e-mail us! We request that you take a moment to fill out a short survey that opens when you close this chat window by clicking on the 'close' button above.
Chris: Wish you luck at all times :)

Here goes another project (-;  I have just received my 2nd ioBridge modul from the USA and have successfully made it wireless with a tweaked access point.  No I just need my new TeensyDuino controller to arrive and we have a fairly smart wireless control solution .. woo hoo.  I'll be using the first build to control an 800 litre aquaponics setup.  Stay tuned as we hopefully make some progress!

I recently purchased a dead RPTV on eBay as I'm after a large Fresnel lens for some solar experiments.  I must admit that I was reasonably suprised to find some other useful compenents that could be easily recycled.  After dismantling the TV I ended up with a ery large Fresnel lens, two sets of 30 watt speakers with crossovers, some hefty rectifiers, a bounty of heatsinks, some handy dual focus lenses (with red, green and clear filters), some mounting brackets and a load of screws & fastners.  Given that cost of the lens alone would pay for the used telly it's well worth keeping an eye out for these as they reach the end of their useful lives (-:

Tracking down half decent open source software for windows can be a pain.  That's where the opendisc crew can help.  Their handy site consolidates all kinds of software into an easy to download image.  Be sure to check there before spending your hard earned dolleros on software!