I just discovered this mural-mosaic on a building in Collins Street, Melbourne. It seems to be a great example of an art deco design, but there is a bloody tree, and a tram line obscuring the view.

Triumph of the Illiterate

I was in Borders today for some Boxing Day shopping (despite Borders having very poor offers) when I came across, perhaps, the newest wonder of the modern world - a novel by an illiterate person (at least illiterate in my hyberbole).

Let me be among the chorus to say a big WTF!!! Nicole Richie, friend to Paris Hilton, can write, can string together more than one sentence of three one syllable words!!!??? When did hell freeze over. The Truth About Diamonds, the blurb informs me, is about some girl who gets adopted by a rock and/or roll star and his wife, and a fantasy life ensues. The blurb also refers to Richies' "talented voice".

Perhaps the greatest implication for everyday life is that the publishing industry is taking anyone, and that I could string a story together and expect it to be published.

So, it only cost $20: go out and buy it and see what it is like, and then come and tell me.

And happy Boxing Day!

Vitrual History

Recently I have been looking over various sites of libraries and archives with digital exhibitions.
One of the cooler things I have found is the Mitchell Library's website. William Bligh's logbook is on this site, and the technology is great fun; just turn the pages!

The Vatican Secret Archives is also in on the internet game, having digitised some great documents. This is the sheet of paper which excommunicated Martin Luther:

The British Library also has a nice online section of documents called "Turning the pages".

Enjoy Libraries! And a Merry Christmas to all!

Threshold

I have started watching this new show recently, Threshold. It is actually quite enjoyable, especially because Brent Spiner (aka, Star Trek's Data) is in it as a kind of disgruntled biologist.

What is also better is the memorable quote from one of the episodes. One of the characters states that if the Alien sound reaches the internet it could reach 33% of users, to which another character asks: "What model distribution are you using?" She replies pithily "I am using the Paris Hilton sex tape as my distribution model"