Joomla – Google maps, and directions

I was playing around with a side project of mine, a web site in Joomla, and I added some XSLT to allow users to get directions in the Google maps component of this particular Joomla site. Besides the fact that I’m enjoying playing around with this CMS, I am also learning new things.

One of them was the fact that I discovered you can now get driving directions for Australian addresses in google maps now! Check out this example of driving directions you may want to use if you find yourself in Sydney.

Health…

I went for a walk today, and it turned into a jog. Total distance about 4.59km (according to my GPS). I think this was the first time I have run for exercise in about 8 years, and the first time I have exercised in weeks. It feels good, and I think I will be doing this each day!

Web Standards

I thought people understood this simple premise. You write your code to the standard, not to the browser. The browsers then adhering to the standard display the code correctly, or lay it out based upon the chosen style.

Why in this day and age are Telstra/Bigpond NOT doing this?

I am a customer, and nearly all their web based products MANDATE the use of a single browser; i.e. they write their code to a platform.

• Bigpond TV. Internet Explorer only
• Bigpond Movies. Internet Explorer only (select topic 8, then system requirements)

And now the Bigpond home page. This is how their home page is rendering in Safari

The only reason I’m still using them is that they are the fastest broadband option available to me where I live. Otherwise I would drop this Microsoft Addicted ISP like a hot potato.

In flight etiquette with Virgin Blue

I was on a Virgin Blue flight today. Last month all my flights had been on Qantas. I have noticed a difference in the way the cabin crew act. The Virgin Blue staff behave less “professionally” than the Qantas staff.

On this particular flight, the things that occurred; some of which were funny, and some of which would have been embarrassing to the person affected; are:

• A cabin crew member asked a young lady to blow into a straw attached to a breathalyzer, before serving her wine she ordered. The machine was in fact their receipt printing machine with a straw stuck in it. I was thinking I should not order a wine at this stage.
• The same cabin crew member then told the same young lady that the breathalyzer was in case the pilot took ill, and she had to fly the plane (imagine if she had a fear of flying!)
• On approach the crew advised over the P.A. that to get a discount from the car hire place, all one had to do was show their “body parts”, which was then corrected with “i mean boarding pass”
• They advised to turn off all electronic devices on approach including, mobile phones, music players, fridges, dish washers and lawn mowers! This was more humorous than hassling

This was the main “jokes” I remember, but similar jokes were cracked on take off, during the safety brief, and throughout the flight. I am not sure why the staff were acting like this. Maybe it is the end of the work week (end of rotation/roster) for them?

Either way, I have NEVER seen Qantas cabin crew make these sort of jokes, some of which were in bad taste to the people concerned. I know with whom I would rather fly from now on, and not just because Qantas serve me meals!