Santa Considering Move to Linux: “Citing concerns about security and licensing costs, Santa Claus is considering migrating his computer systems from Microsoft Windows to Linux.”

Age: “Australia was handed virtual automatic qualificiation for the 2006 soccer World Cup after Oceania was given direct entry into the finals tournament yesterday.”
…
“The 11-member OFC was given full status by FIFA in 1998 but remained the only confederation not to have at least one automatic berth at the World Cup finals.”

Age: “Victoria’s privatised public transport system is in crisis after the biggest operator announced last night that it would abandon its train and tram services by next week.”
…
“the withdrawal of National Express showed that the former Kennett government’s privatisation process was a failure.”
Maybe politicians will finally learn that privatising public services is a bad thing. *cough* John Howard *cough* Telstra.

Age: “In the most recent census snapshot of Melbourne, more than one million workers, or 67 per cent, commuted by car – compared to 4.4 per cent by train, 2 per cent by tram, 1 per cent by bus, and 3.3 per cent by bike or foot – according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.”

Courtesy of Merryl, Age: “As Pauline Hanson was ordered yesterday to face a committal hearing on a charge that she stole $25,000 from her One Nation party, she has told members that she plans a new career in country and western music.”

The BBC on office Christmas parties. I’ve just had my office Christmas do – we spent the Friday paintballing in the woods before staying overnight in the depths of Kent. We ended up drinking till late back at the hotel after an unsuccessful attempt to go clubbing in town. I think I did ok, but I do remember telling my boss to stop being so David Brent. (Let’s hope he doesn’t remember).

BBC: “A survey conducted by search engine AltaVista found that male chauvinism is alive and well on the internet, with 80% of men claiming to be better surfers than their female partners.
Men are also far more likely to be backseat drivers, interfering while their partners surf the web. ”

I’m still learning new Dutch words, thanks to randomdutchword@yahoogroups.com. “Kroeg” is pub-crawl, apparently, and that’s what I’ll be doing when I visit Amsterdam over New Year’s.

BBC: “Researchers in the US are studying a relative of the starfish, known as a brittlestar, whose arms are covered with perfect lenses.
The lenses provide the brittlestar with all-round vision. Scientists say they are better than any optical devices developed in the lab.”

Age: Australia blasts back into space game
“The first Australian-built satellite in 35 years is due to be launched on Saturday as the nation re-enters the Space Age.”