tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51218472011-04-22T09:30:31.886+10:00Let's Try That AgainNothing to see here - move along, move alongDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comBlogger951100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1142667103683372062006-03-18T18:31:00.000+11:002006-03-18T18:39:27.786+11:00Fire and LifeWent out to Namadgi for the first time in ages last week. Bone dry again, and still showing signs of the 2003 fires - the bare rocky bones of the hills showing through straggle regrowth. Beautiful, but dry country - give me wet tall eucalpypt or rainforest any day.You can view this one larger by clicking through to my flickr account.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1141130682938351632006-02-28T23:44:00.000+11:002006-02-28T23:46:56.390+11:00Searching for angelsSome days you just don't feel like landing.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1133442511820619142005-12-02T00:08:00.000+11:002005-12-02T01:05:34.856+11:00A candle for Van NguyenJust before daybreak tomorrow morning Friday 2 December, 25 year old Van Nguyen, an Australian citizen convicted of drug trafficking (heroin) will be hung in Singapore.I do not in any way condone the trafficking of drugs such as heroin. I cannot see the need or benefit for capital punishment in any part of the world today. I suggest that people should look to any government to collectively Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1132059230169152672005-11-15T23:53:00.000+11:002005-11-15T23:57:58.393+11:00MordorKEVIN ANDREWS: “Over the last couple of days we’ve seen a continuation of the hysterical overreaction by the union movement to the Government’s proposed workplace relations changes.”Actually I think the hysterical overreaction is more likely to be found within the legislation itself. It appears that the justification that this is necessary for economic growth doesn’t have much backing from Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1130639202779717962005-10-30T13:26:00.000+11:002005-10-30T13:29:00.006+11:00My Inverse TwinDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1130242475471678352005-10-25T22:14:00.000+10:002005-10-25T22:46:26.576+10:00Floriade 4Ho hum, this blog is going no-where fast. Fast though was our visit to Floriade this year. An end of the day thing, which turned out to be actually quite useful from a photography point of view - the low angle sunlight sweeping across the flowerbeds, bringing a glow to the blossoms.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1124551222725149312005-08-21T01:20:00.000+10:002005-08-21T01:24:07.606+10:00-----I was originally going to try to place the bloom in the barrel of the gun, but it seemed to me to have more meaning this way.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1122729895271936062005-07-30T23:24:00.000+10:002005-07-30T23:38:57.470+10:00Canberra - not all badWinter hasn't been too bad here this year, or perhaps I'm just getting used to it. Can't be such a bad place if views like this can be found a few minutes walk from the office. A fair bit of discussion at the moment about new city plans. I'm not convinced that we need to push constant growth here. Its never going to be like Sydney or Melbourne. One of the last proposals put up included a monorailDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1121170145703614302005-07-12T22:09:00.000+10:002005-07-12T22:13:01.423+10:00So far awayI took this photo while we were having breakfast on the balcony of a surf club. A few minutes later, someone started playing bagpipes just below the balcony. A group of people watched as a man bearing a small box was taken out beyond the breakers in a surf lifesaver's boat. There he scattered the ashes from the box.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1120308884020423702005-07-02T22:54:00.000+10:002005-07-02T23:08:31.913+10:00Troll (forensic)Where shopping trolleys go to die?Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1119446409010027372005-06-22T23:20:00.000+10:002005-06-22T23:24:09.686+10:00BisectI was processing these two photos, and wondered what they would look like together. Doesn't really go all that well with my blog colour scheme though. Click through the photo to view without the green borders.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1118757460711349572005-06-14T23:57:00.000+10:002005-06-15T00:06:28.813+10:00NoThis is the only photo of a whale I have available at the moment, and it is actually a still from a video I took down the coast last year, hence the pathetic quality. Every year humpback whales migrate along the east and west coasts of Australia and thousands of people watch them from the coastline or in boats. We like our whales alive and splashing please. This is your opportunity to take part Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1118492145835000482005-06-11T22:15:00.000+10:002005-06-11T22:18:27.816+10:00BarbedBring it down.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1115988495336925632005-05-13T22:48:00.000+10:002005-05-13T22:50:14.010+10:00Moon On LineDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1114956769326434712005-05-01T23:35:00.000+10:002005-05-02T00:12:49.326+10:00Saw Fred Smith at Tilleys last night, accompanied by Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentleman (doubling as Mr Smith's security contingent). Launch of his new cd - Independence Park. A fairly unique product that I wonder whether anywhere but Canberra could have produced. Currently living the life of a househusband in Washington DC (he said that over there househusbands are regarded with a level Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1114784996873022002005-04-30T00:29:00.000+10:002005-04-30T00:32:39.113+10:00RiptileDetail from a fountain to celebrate the Centenary of Women's Suffrage in Australia. Not quite so bold as the original sculpture that was chosen to celebrate the centenary, but then dropped for something tamer. Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1114784837524373802005-04-30T00:14:00.000+10:002005-04-30T00:27:17.523+10:00ABC on BlogsMedia report on ABC Radio National did a story on Blogging and its impact on the media a couple of days ago. Mentions Tim Blair (big game media scalp hunter) a few times, as well as John Quiggin etc. Fairly decent overview, though what's a "blog commentator"?Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1111975621146480502005-03-28T12:07:00.000+10:002005-03-28T12:07:01.146+10:00Back from the beach.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Gull1, originally uploaded by Lookfar. Travelled north for a wedding and spent a few days on the Gold Coast. I find it wonderful that there can still be so much beauty left in a place that has in many ways become so worn Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1110896023405389942005-03-16T00:54:00.000+11:002005-03-16T01:17:01.096+11:00You don't fix faithI’ve just finished watching an episode of “Firefly” an incomplete television series by Joss Whedon, which I don’t think was broadcast in Australia. There was a little scene in there that reminded me of other recent discussions over at Tim's which seem to be trying to pin quite a lot on religion (and I hope also ads a lowbrow perspective in contrast to the crusty old crusader Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1110467109402755202005-03-11T02:05:00.000+11:002005-03-17T00:17:13.173+11:00OnlyComingThroughInWavesBack now (if you noticed otherwise) - change of service provider. This is from a weekend camping at Bournda National Park on the coast. Apart from having our tarp blown down (twice) at one point, it was a good weekend showing four non campers the ropes, and pegs and ... BTW the goannas are huge at Bournda, and the water is still rather cool.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1109431147690816302005-02-27T02:19:00.000+11:002005-02-27T02:51:12.143+11:00Putting a face to the BlogMy first mass-in-real-life blogger assembly was quite enjoyable. Thanks to Zoe and TJ for organising. After a shaky start with the corked wine affair, we soon settled around the Lazy Jesus (thankyou for that bible story Dean - hope I'm attributing the correct person) and dedicated the next half hour to banquet ordering and further endearing ourselves to the restaurant staff. Post consumption Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1109161785377670902005-02-23T23:29:00.000+11:002005-03-17T00:22:04.563+11:00Heads upI've recast this post as an entry to the photofriday challenge - "faces". This is a photograph of a sculpture in the grounds of the National Gallery of Australia.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1108300213630906872005-02-13T23:58:00.000+11:002005-02-14T00:10:13.630+11:00Strange Device"Newsmap is an application that visually reflects the constantly changing landscape of the Google News news aggregator. A treemap visualization algorithm helps display the enormous amount of information gathered by the aggregator."And what a surprise that "Charles and Camilla attend church" was the biggest blob on the news map.Quite a few other cute devices on the Marumushi website.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1108132751091677032005-02-12T01:39:00.000+11:002005-02-12T02:01:37.203+11:00Blue StormLast Sunday I strolled up to the local patch of bush to have a play with the camera. I had just squatted down, bum up, to try and photograph some lichen, when I heard a voice call out "excuse me, hello?". I looked around to see a woman striding towards me. Wondering what I might have done wrong, I stood and tried to look harmless and hoped that she would be the same. Turned out not to be a Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1108126595265155642005-02-11T23:56:00.000+11:002005-02-12T00:06:46.380+11:00Day at the beachDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1107950209762230012005-02-09T22:15:00.000+11:002005-02-09T22:56:49.763+11:00Universal Bar Codes the Solution?
Howard appears to constantly reach out to the average Australian seeking to identify with their feelings, and responses. Yet here his government has been held up against what seems to be a fairly average family, and so far that family have demonstrated far more grace, understanding and tolerance than the government appears to be willing to demonstrate to date Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1107781779134120592005-02-08T00:09:00.000+11:002005-02-08T00:09:39.133+11:00Leaf Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1107779804178600812005-02-07T22:50:00.000+11:002005-02-07T23:36:44.176+11:00Non-Core Promise?
"Treasurer Peter Costello has increased pressure on the Federal Opposition and the state Labor premiers to support the Commonwealth's industrial relations agenda, warning interest rates could rise without the changes....
Mr Costello will not comment on whether he thinks interest rates will rise, but says low unemployment and labour shortages could lead to wage rises, which in Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1107612919657962962005-02-06T01:15:00.000+11:002005-02-06T01:18:08.153+11:00FishDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1107520905591619152005-02-04T23:21:00.000+11:002005-02-04T23:41:45.590+11:00Yes, He's Having Fun, Yet
From ABC
"Actually it's quite fun to fight them, you know. It's a hell of a hoot. It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up front with you, I like brawling," said Lt Gen Mattis.
"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil," Lt Gen Mattis said during a panel discussion.
"You know, guys like that ain't Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1107174706327559472005-01-31T23:12:00.000+11:002005-01-31T23:31:46.326+11:00Wipeout, or just paddling out for the next set?
Ok, I admit that I don't like it when Tim Dunlop gets all terse (eg. "Two points: Drop. Dead.".... "So get over it.") - its just not his best style, and I thought that he was generally a bit hard on the other Labor leadership noncontenders. I mean geez, they both had to fly home from overseas and sound out their parliamentary party colleagues and Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1107006940873024032005-01-30T01:55:00.000+11:002005-01-30T01:04:38.466+11:00Brushtail Possum
Brushtail She's a regular visitor to our garden where she browses upon the roses, hangs upside down to reach the bird feeder, trims the lime tree of young leaves, flowers and fruit, feasts with friends upon the tomatoes and passionfruit just before they are ready for picking, and once, even ate all the chillies. The old upper jaw injury doesn't seem to stop her - last year she was accompanied Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1106923533434737092005-01-29T01:15:00.000+11:002005-01-29T01:45:33.436+11:00The Bevan has togs in his port
"Word Map is mapping Australian regionalisms - words, phrases or expressions used by particular language groups. Add your regionalism or search to see what others have contributed. "
ABC project that attempts to map regional distribution of word use. Not sure how well it will work given that there often seems to be someone willing to declare that they live, for Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1106660667908569122005-01-26T01:44:00.000+11:002005-01-26T00:59:41.203+11:00Wendy
WendyWendy Rule has played in Canberra a couple of times this month - both on her way up, and down, the east coast. The second performance was organised by some kind people who booked a local hall where we were able to hear the music rather than just other patrons (as was the case in the first venue). Her strong, expressive and beautiful voice melds so well with her original, innovative music,Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1106056518623736132005-01-19T01:37:00.000+11:002005-01-19T01:22:50.620+11:00Latham
"Obviously I am disappointed with the press coverage over the last fortnight. Despite being on annual leave and recovering from illness, the media have been constantly camped outside our home." ......
"When I was hospitalised in August, for instance, the media frenzy was over the top, with photographers shooting through my hospital window. Accordingly, I have done everything I could to Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1106058100776754142005-01-19T01:21:00.000+11:002005-01-19T01:25:16.396+11:00Peace1web
Sign of the times.No water flows for peace in this lonely little patch of park on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin. Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1105716218267796162005-01-15T02:23:00.000+11:002005-01-15T02:27:19.336+11:00Lily
We have eighteen of these flowers blooming at the moment. Their perfume wafted indoors tonight on the warm evening air.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1105621085907559532005-01-13T23:36:00.000+11:002005-01-15T02:34:43.143+11:00Thanks to Gianna and Zoe for the recent links, and of course to the Hon Sedgwick, who has been linking for a while.
15/1/05 - and even more recently, Mick at To Blog or not To Blog
Also, I might mention that if you have ever wondered what the Canberra Summernats were all about, Zoe has prepared a comprehensive guide, for which, as someone who has never been, I'm very grateful.
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1105619770421188382005-01-13T23:26:00.000+11:002005-01-15T02:21:09.136+11:00If you have trouble with the locals
You can call the embassy
We’ll send a navy boat to fetch you
If you’re a solo yachty lost at sea
We’ll endeavour to evacuate our nationals
If there’s foreign strife
And we’ll help to fetch your loved one home
If in a disaster they lose their life
If they have you up on dodgy charges
We’ll make strong representations (most anywhere)
And if you did the crime, Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1105453259936466882005-01-12T01:20:00.000+11:002005-01-12T01:23:05.936+11:00Ha Long Bay
A better silhouette?Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1105344539667653072005-01-10T19:08:00.000+11:002005-01-14T00:05:22.236+11:00Dark Hills
Dark Hills - let your eyes adjust.Update: This is meant to be islands in Ha Long Bay at night. I put it up for the Photo Friday "Silhouette" challenge. On my LCD monitor at home it looks fine (well to me anyway) - black islands silhouetted ever so slightly against a slightly lighter moonlit sky (taken with a handheld camera 6 second exposure on top of a boat by the way). However I had a look at Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1105279849234047402005-01-10T01:37:00.000+11:002005-01-10T01:17:40.023+11:00Only Fleeting Glimpses Captured
Yesterday, ferreting around on Flickr, I noticed that someone had just uploaded a photo of Ha Long Bay, a beautiful place in Vietnam that I had spent a few days in last October. Checking out the other photos in the set, I came across a photo of a Hill Tribe woman, from one of the ethnic minorities that live up in the Northern Mountains of Vietnam. My self Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1105100736720942862005-01-07T23:19:00.000+11:002005-01-07T23:25:36.720+11:00Sharing in the Effort
From the ABC
“The Australian Shareholders Association has expressed disapproval at companies pledging money to the tsunami relief effort in Asia, saying they have no approval for their philanthropy.
Association spokesman Stephen Matthews says firms should not generally give without expecting something in return.
Mr Matthews says that in most circumstances, donations Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1102732820126665862004-12-11T13:40:00.000+11:002004-12-12T18:41:08.426+11:00Tan Son Nhat Airport
Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh city. My submission for the Photo Friday "abandoned" challenge. The reference being to the 1960's era structures in the background. An airport as a portal to history. Not a pretty (see below for one of those) or arty photo I know, but neither is it contrived - This is genuine abandonment on a grand scale.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1102728120057630462004-12-11T13:22:00.000+11:002004-12-11T12:41:40.130+11:00Petal
PetalDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1102599053099693252004-12-10T01:30:00.000+11:002004-12-10T00:36:22.886+11:00GangGang
Gang Gang The wattle trees are covered with seed pods at the moment, and the parrots are having a wonderful time. I love the Gang Gang's call - like a slow creaky door. They seem to be far more tolerant of intrusive photographers than the Rosellas and Sulphur Cresteds.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1102253472708310562004-12-06T01:31:00.000+11:002004-12-06T23:51:47.440+11:00Light and Lens
Reflection and Refraction. For Photo Friday 'Reflections' challenge. Looking into a lighthouse prism lens. The lamp inside is magnified, and there is another prism lens behind. The ocean is reflected in the front lens.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1102252142874487842004-12-06T01:02:00.000+11:002004-12-06T00:11:36.566+11:00Bah Humbug
From The Canberra Times
"A Canberra family whose 12-year-old disabled son was used by the Federal Government in a calendar promoting its disabled services now faces deportation precisely because of the boy's disability.
Rophin Morris, who suffers from autism, and his parents Jude and Daisy Morris, who have done social work locally for 11 years since arriving from India, will have to Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1102124105824025472004-12-04T13:29:00.000+11:002004-12-05T23:52:40.370+11:00Given the nod again
Torture is in.
"Evidence gained by torture can be used by the US military review panels deciding the fate of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, the US Government has conceded." ....
"Deputy associate Attorney-General, Brian Boyle, has told the District Court in Washington DC, that the Guantanamo review panels are allowing such evidence...."
"Lawyers acting for Australian Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1102117865912398612004-12-04T10:51:00.000+11:002004-12-04T12:43:13.180+11:00Eurekas advance on Parliament
Eurekas advance on Parliament.Eureka stockade flags are up to mark the 150th anniversary of the Eureka rebellion. This week they lined Commonwealth Avenue, but were not allowed to proceed further up to Parliament house itself thanks to bans by the the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate. One was to apparently be seen in the foyer of the Senate though. Debate Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1102116142685849562004-12-04T10:22:00.000+11:002004-12-04T10:22:22.686+11:00Eurekas! Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1098013074290482212004-10-17T20:29:00.000+10:002004-10-17T21:37:54.290+10:00Two elections in two weekends in Canberra ... in both cases the incumbent party returned. I probably liked the territory outcome more. John Stanhope seems to do a reasonable job, thinks about things like a bill of rights (I was randomly selected to go to the deliberative forum on the Bill of Rights a couple of years ago http://www.ida.org.au/billofrights.htm ). He seems lighter on self promotion,Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1098008548335150822004-10-17T20:22:00.000+10:002004-10-17T20:22:28.336+10:00More Weed Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1086009772175048122004-05-31T22:42:00.000+10:002004-05-31T23:24:01.610+10:00Cold Comfort
I undertook a dive course a few months ago, and recently thought I had best put some of those new skills into practice before the cold really sets in. I allowed myself to be talked in to the deeper wreck dives down near Eden rather than the more sedate dives up at Jervis Bay. Thus last weekend, with a gale blowing and 15 C water temperature I discovered the joys of changing in and Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1085146972185628092004-05-21T23:42:00.000+10:002004-05-21T23:42:52.186+10:00See the weed. Just trying out the Hello picture posting option. Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1085147984450096322004-05-21T23:27:00.000+10:002004-05-21T23:59:44.450+10:00Which Thousand Words?
Sitting watching the news the other night and was not paying much attention as there was coverage of yet another policy discussion paper released by some think tank or another. Then I noticed the cover of the report. I'm pretty sure that's George hopping off the jet fighter isn't it? This is for a cover of a report titled "Strategy", or the long title, "Beyond Baghdad: Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1084536452437344072004-05-14T22:04:00.000+10:002004-05-14T22:09:45.840+10:00Blogger gets Enough Rope
Speaking of Andrew Denton's show Enough Rope, I note that Salam Pax is scheduled to be on the show next Monday 17 May.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1084532898550798012004-05-14T20:45:00.000+10:002004-05-14T22:08:44.366+10:00Quiet Quiet Heart
I came across an interesting article in the back of the April 2004 edition of the Amnesty International newsletter - Human Rights Defender - It's written by William Schulz, the Executive Director of Amnesty International USA and is apparently an extract from a book he has written. Schulz (speaking for himself rather than Amnesty) writes about his views on how it is possible Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-10841952726120252004-05-10T23:18:00.000+10:002004-05-10T23:21:12.613+10:00Holey Ozone
An interesting feature article in the April 2004 edition of “Environment” journal – “ Abrupt Changes – The Achilles’ Heels of the Earth System” (Steffan, Andreae, Bolin et al). It discusses how it is generally assumed that global change (such as the predicted climate change), occurs as smooth and gradual changes. For example, with climate change, people generally assume that Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1084186366646498872004-05-10T20:45:00.000+10:002004-05-10T20:52:46.646+10:00Quicksilver
Rob Schaap at blogorrhoea mentioned his enjoyment of historical fiction a while ago (well, in January actually). I’ve just finished reading a book that may be considered to fit into this category, and in any case is one of the best reads I’ve had in ages. Neal Stephenson is better known for his science fiction, however his second last book, the Cryptonomicon, saw him venture back Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1083391668338071412004-05-01T16:07:00.000+10:002004-05-01T16:12:00.936+10:00From ABC News
“Photographs were aired on an American television network yesterday, showing prisoners stacked in a human pyramid and one detainee standing on a box with a hood over his head and wires attached to him.
The photos were taken at a prison near Baghdad where US Military Police are holding and interrogating hundreds of captured Iraqis.”
Oh, lovely. Doesn’t the last (and minor, and Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1082546187472997962004-04-21T21:16:00.000+10:002004-04-21T21:20:27.090+10:00Seeing someone else
We had a great trip down to Melbourne over Easter – a week of shopping, a gallery and a comedy festival show, and, a three day drive along the Great Ocean Road. Upon returning last week, I went through the messages on the answering machine. Two of them were from a police constable who apparently wanted to speak to me about an “incident” on the weekend.
It was about 5.30pm Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1076049503784208362004-02-06T17:38:00.000+11:002004-02-06T17:47:43.950+11:00Forlorn in the USA
Last November, at the end of a trip, I spent a few days on Oahu, Hawaii. The Oahu Visitors Bureau description:
More than you imagined, more than you knew, Oahu is a rich and rewarding destination. Beyond the turquoise waters, the pristine beaches, and the razor-edged mountains, there's a legacy of royalty, a delicious blend of Pacific influences
and the luxurious pace of Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1075342531573585752004-01-29T13:15:00.000+11:002004-01-29T13:31:55.890+11:00Looks like the old Klink Family comment system died a few days ago. Just testing the enetation system. Does this work? Third time lucky? Well, fourth time then.
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1075279707721644482004-01-28T19:48:00.000+11:002004-01-28T19:52:17.576+11:00Fruit Loop
Summer fruit is pretty good stuff. Some of it rivals the attraction of those other food groups such as chocolate, cakes, ice-cream etc (though a lot of it is even better with ice-cream). I particularly enjoy the summer fruit season when the stone fruits, mangoes, lychees and grapes turn up in the shops - so much more enjoyable than the lean autumn months when all you have are Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1075279399313424872004-01-28T19:43:00.000+11:002004-01-28T19:45:27.246+11:00Here’s one I prepared earlier. Now this is a bit of a rant, but its something that I have had cause to think about over the last ten months or so, having done two return trips Canberra to Brisbane, two Canberra to Sydney, coast trips and a little bit of o/s driving as well. I generally like to travel at the designated speed limit. In doing so you naturally encounter quite a lot of vehicles Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-1075278885076314812004-01-28T19:34:00.000+11:002004-01-28T19:36:53.123+11:00It has been a long time between posts. This may change in the next couple of months, but not much can be expected for now. Apart from lack of access (the bit that might change), I've also been rather busy with a bit of travel.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-958198712003-06-19T17:14:00.000+10:002003-06-19T17:14:13.796+10:00And finally. After returning to Brisbane for the umpteenth time and living here for my first 21 years. I took a river ferry for the first time today. The river is actually very pleasant. Much more treed than I would have expected. The last few year has seen a greater focus on it (apartments etc). But with all of that, it is still very brown and murky.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-958197992003-06-19T17:10:00.000+10:002003-06-19T17:10:50.000+10:00I suppose I shouldn't really post about this because I'm not going to make the relevant links. I have read with interest a few of the special articles that the Australian has been running about the modern working environment, interesting, if not sometimes rather obvious. Then last wekend I read with interest the editorial where they explaind again how they had gone thorugh this exploration, andDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-958196582003-06-19T17:02:00.000+10:002003-06-19T17:02:33.740+10:00Another admission for today. The fact that I have now spent 14 years in exile across the border to the south (south of Queensland that is) does show. Yes I have taken up visiting Qld in mid winter, exposing my pallid body to the sun and bathing in the surf at temperatures that most Queenslanders would never consider entering. Its really not all that cold, honest.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-958196032003-06-19T17:00:00.000+10:002003-06-19T17:00:05.076+10:00I have to admit, I have often sneered at those who frequent the high rise apartments on the beach front at Surfer's Paradise. However I did spend three nights at one last week and discovered there are some distinct and pleasurable advantages to being 15 floors up a lift journey away from the sand. The sound of the surf and the morning light refelcting from the ocean (particularly calm) were Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-958194232003-06-19T16:51:00.000+10:002003-06-19T16:51:20.750+10:00I dropped in to Byron Bay last week for the first time in about twenty years. It was a favoured location for May holidays with my family. Back then it was just a normal coastal town with the odd hippy leftover. Now it looks like Noosa, with the associated traffic jams. Palm Valley beach still looks delightful though, bringing back memories of catching long rides in the surf on the old Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-958193192003-06-19T16:46:00.000+10:002003-06-19T16:46:23.190+10:00Seen on the road: A street named "Short Cut". Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-955867882003-06-12T22:23:00.000+10:002003-06-12T22:28:45.000+10:00A combination of holidays and lack of access is likely to result in significant levels of inactivity for the foreseeable future....Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-941367672003-05-11T15:45:00.000+10:002003-05-11T15:45:05.780+10:00I've been wondering whether my objection to the plastination exhibit is valid. I started thinking about other exhibits that I have seen that might be comparable:
Egyptian mummies and the Lindow Man at the British Museum;
relics of various saints on display in churches, including a whole skeleton in a church in Prague;
the internal organs of the Hapsburgs stored in metal containers in the Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-939814082003-05-08T19:51:00.000+10:002003-06-12T22:45:39.000+10:00When I visited London back in 1997 I went and saw 'Sensation: Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection', The Royal Academy of Arts. The work of Damien Hirst - choice cuts of of animals preserved and presented in sealed, formaldehyde-filled, glass containers certainly made an impression. However I suspect that even he has been outdone on the erk scale. I saw this article about the Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-933270622003-04-27T14:13:00.000+10:002003-06-12T22:40:05.000+10:00One of the advantages of living in cold, dry Canberra is the rather picturesque central area of the capital, which is particulalrly attractive in Autumn when all those non endemic trees change the colour of their leaves. We took a drive on Friday, checking out various possibilities for the upcoming post ceremony photo-shoot. We noticed that the great barrow mound that is our parliament house Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-932023732003-04-25T07:58:00.000+10:002003-04-25T07:58:32.063+10:00Just back from attending the ANZAC day Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial. As usual, thousands of people attended on the lawns. Afterwards I lined up to pass by the tomb of the unknown soldier. To do so I walked past the lists of Australians who have died in service.
I've been doing a little family history research recently. While both my grandfathers served in WW2 (PNG, Borneo Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-930368852003-04-22T19:42:00.000+10:002003-06-19T17:16:12.000+10:00Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-927690862003-04-17T19:33:00.000+10:002003-04-17T19:33:18.826+10:00Cute cartoon at Crikey contrasting the general approval of those crowds pushing down the Saddam statues with the concern about the riots.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-926950732003-04-16T14:17:00.000+10:002003-04-16T14:17:38.373+10:00Australia getting involved in the coalition has made me wonder a bit about political thought in the USA. Discovering blogging has exposed me to an interesting range of viewpoints, most of which seem to emerge from the US.
I'm amused that despite the diversity of sites, and opinions, many of the sites have fallen into a rather simplistic stance of defining other sites as either right/Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-926939302003-04-16T13:56:00.000+10:002003-04-16T13:56:05.140+10:00Haven't been watching/ listening much the last few days. I was interested in an interview on JJJ yesterday (15/4/03) with a returned "human shield" who stayed in Baghdad for about the first 11 days of the bombing. As part of the interview I think the ex shield said that she understood that one of the first sites protected in Baghdad was the building of the ministry responsible for oil. Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-925203852003-04-13T16:50:00.000+10:002003-04-13T16:52:30.000+10:00I don't have cable, so my access to war footage is limited to normal news broadcasts. I suspect that the imagery that will stay with me the longest will be footage taken by an embedded journalist and cameraperson travelling though baghdad at night in a vehicle with a number of soldiers (I have not been able to find a link to this footage, although I'm pretty sure I saw it on ABC). Some of the Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-925195262003-04-13T16:23:00.000+10:002003-04-13T16:27:28.000+10:00From Yahoo
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The famed Iraq National Museum, home of extraordinary Babylonian, Sumerian and Assyrian collections and rare Islamic texts, sat empty Saturday — except for shattered glass display cases and cracked pottery bowls that littered the floor.
In an unchecked frenzy of cultural theft, looters who pillaged government buildings and businesses after the collapse of Saddam Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-916844762003-03-31T13:56:00.000+10:002003-03-31T14:04:11.000+10:00The natural environment is also a potential loser during a war. Oil spills, groundwater contamination, spent munitions, soil erosion and compaction, spills from damaged facilities can all contribute to ongoing environmental degradation. In the case of Iraq it may be that the country will be in no position to undertake an extensive clean-up after the war ends. The New Scientist says that one Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-914671462003-03-27T18:52:00.000+11:002003-03-27T18:53:14.000+11:00
Canberra Considers V8 Race Return. Oh, yes the event that results in one of the National capital's key national areas (the parliamentary triangle) being dominated by concrete crash barriers, wire fences and petrol heads. Perhaps any future loss can be subsidised from the foreshadowed introduction (by the very same NCA) of pay parking.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-914669172003-03-27T18:46:00.000+11:002003-03-27T18:46:02.356+11:00A little late, and unlikely to succeed (again from ABC):
The Democrats want laws changed so Australia's involvement in any military conflict in the future requires parliamentary consent.
The Democrats hope to introduce a bill to that affect in the Senate today.
The current war is the first time an Australian Government has committed troops without the majority support of the Parliament.
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-914667152003-03-27T18:39:00.000+11:002003-03-27T18:39:36.356+11:00From ABC Online
The United States has conceded its military coalition may have been responsible for the deaths of at least 14 civilians in a Baghdad marketplace by targeting an Iraqi missile launcher.
Mr Howard says he believes the US did not intend to cause the deaths.
"On the information in my possession I am satisfied the incident was not the result of deliberate targeting of civilians by the Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-913991092003-03-26T18:46:00.000+11:002003-03-26T18:46:18.186+11:00Does the modification of the the opposition leader's stance on return of our troops have anything to do with this? or is he just being practical? Once again, its getting hard to see the difference between either major party.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-913987062003-03-26T18:32:00.000+11:002003-03-26T18:32:45.090+11:00This is something I just don't know what to think about. It makes me rather ill that the scramble is already on, but it would be naive to think that such things can wait.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-913980302003-03-26T18:12:00.000+11:002003-03-26T18:12:43.450+11:00Debate about how well, or not so well the invasion of Iraq is proceeding is valid, but it should not be confused with the issue of whether we should be there in the first place. If it is wrong to do something, then the manner in which the act is carried out cannot change the fact that the act is wrong to begin with.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-913977332003-03-26T18:04:00.000+11:002003-03-26T18:06:59.000+11:00Last Sunday, 23 March I attended the Convergence on Parliament protest. As usual, my arrival was a little late, but I still heard several of the speakers before the protest headed off for a little march down Commonwealth Avenue, across Commonwealth Bridge, and back again. At one point, both segments of Commonwealth Bridge were covered by the protest. It was estimated that about 5000 people Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-911107332003-03-21T18:19:00.000+11:002003-03-21T18:19:10.450+11:00Margo Kingston with Judi Foster bring forth a piece from the last effort in the Gulf - Death and vomit: the real meaning of war, by Peter Smark.
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-911001262003-03-21T14:19:00.000+11:002003-03-21T18:02:15.000+11:00Yesterday was the first time I have really felt ashamed about my country's actions on the international stage (note that I was pretty young during the Vietnam war). Sure, there have been a few things that we have done in Australia that have reflected badly on our image (though how internal the Tampa issue was is questionable), but participation in the coalition of the willing's attack on Iraq isDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5121847.post-910443422003-03-20T17:53:00.000+11:002003-03-20T17:53:10.903+11:00Last Thursday the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, chose to speak at the National Press Club on the topic of Iraq. National Press Club speeches are usually held at the National Press Club, just down the hill from New Parliament House here in Canberra. However, a couple of days before the speech was to occur, it was decided that in this case, the presentation would occur in the Great HallDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07208589857813713931noreply@blogger.com