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"

The Pope's Hunky Assistant

So, this is freaky. Supposedly Pope Benedict's personal assistant, Monsignor Georg Ganswein, is considered a bit of a hunk in Italy. So yeah, watch out ladies! This is him:The Guardian had an article (titled: Thou Shalt Not Drool) on him which states:

The Italian press compares him to George Clooney and Hugh Grant; his critics describe him as the 'Black Forest Adonis'.

"As he jumped on to the Popemobile for the first time," one German magazine remarked, "we women held our breath."

Gänswein's critics even accuse him of turning the Pope into a fashion victim. This summer, Ratzinger and his secretary went on holiday to the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, as well as to the Italian Alps at Valle D'Aosta. While both men were hiking in the hills, the Pope appeared in public wearing a Nike hat, designer Serengeti sunglasses and a Cartier watch. "This is Gänswein's style. It's his handwriting," one religious affairs writer said. "This is something I don't understand."

Supposedly, even the Italian President's wife, Franca, has the hots for him!

(I just got this awful picture in my head of an old crusty nun coming on to him.... ewwww!)

A Face staring at me!

So I look up at my booksheld yesterday and... OMG there is a face staring at me! Can you see it. Freaked me out, though it is disappearing a bit.

So, as I thought, a good centrist am I! You are a Social Liberal (61% permissive) and an... Economic Moderate (41% permissive) You are best described as a: Centrist Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid

Russian Presidential Perks

That lucky Vladimir Putin. First he becomes Russian Premier, then Russian President, and now I find out he has an Orchestra. Just one of the perks of being an iron-fisted ruling, I suppose!

Next he will be wanting an ice-castle like President Niyazov Turkmenbashi of Turkmenistan.

Man builds up 30,000 volts of static electricity

This is quite amazing!

Victorian authorities believe a man built up at least 30,000 volts of static electricity in his jacket simply by walking around the western Victorian city of Warrnambool yesterday.

Who Runs Your World BBC

This is quite fun, everyone have a go!

Which leading man are you?

I took this test. Who is William Powell?

William Powell You scored 9% Tough, 47% Roguish, 9% Friendly, and 33% Charming!

You are the classic rogue, a stylish rake with the devil of a wit and a flair for mischief, and you shake your martinis to waltz time. You are charming and debonair, but slightly untrustworthy, and women should be on their guard. If married, you are simply a bit of a flirt, even if it's just with your own wife...but if you're single, watch out. You usually rein yourself in to concentrate on one lovely beauty at a time, but with you, we never know. You're an inviting partner, but there's a playful devil behind your eyes, and those trying to get close to you should know they're playing with fire. You're stylish and fun, but you follow your own course, which may or may not include a steady gal. Co-stars include Myrna Loy and Carole Lombard, classy ladies with an adventurous streak. Find out what kind of classic dame you'd make by taking the Classic Dames Test.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 7% on Tough You scored higher than 98% on Roguish You scored higher than 7% on Friendly You scored higher than 63% on Charming

Link: The Classic Leading Man Test written by gidgetgoes on Ok Cupid

Royal Botanic Garden Melbourne

As part of my research for Environmental History I have been to the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and Cranbourne this week. It's been a long time since I went to the Melbourne Gardens, and it was my first trip to Cranbourne - who knew that there was a Botanic Gardens out there? I even got a special tour of the construction site of the Australian Garden at Cranbourne, due to be opened next year.


The central 'arid' section of the Australia Garden. A beautiful expanse of red sand, which will eventually be planted, intended to depict the non-existence of water in many parts of the Australian landscape.
The uber-coolest fountain/water feature ever! (And it is a call I am willing to make!) The water goes on and off from a roaring stream to a silent trickle. Intending to display the fickle and erratic nature of water in the Australian landscape.

A view across the Ornamental lake at RBG Melbourne. It was a beautiful day, the lake glistened, and the grass was beautifully green.

A look down to Alexandra Parade from the Temple of Winds.

Crackpot Leaders of TPLACs

Stories abound about how crazy some dictators and despots are. Idi Amin for example would have large scale meetings with a room of dead ministers, or would consult a severed head that he kept in a freezer.

However, former President Mobuto of Zaire, it seems, is a bit nutty himself. This BBC Report has some interested things in it.

This is the most interesting part:

In his last hours in the city, President Mobutu had the remains of an old friend disinterred from their grave at Camp Chachi and cremated so that he could take them into exile with him.

They were the remains of the late president of Rwanda, Juvenal Habyarimana, who was assassinated on 6 April, 1994.

His death immediately triggered the genocide in which up to a million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were murdered.

The genocidal regime lost the war and fled to eastern Zaire and the protection of Mobutu Sese Seko. It has come full circle.

Pres. Mobuto might not come to Idi Amin's level of schizophrenia, but hey, disintering a friend and cremating him so they can be close... that's just sweet

Wattle Day

So it turns out that today is Wattle Day. May I say, when did this become a day of national celebration?

Check out what the ABC says.

The Non-Glistening Lake that could

Who would have thought it: Lake Burley Griffin can actually pull off a glisten in the beautiful weather. Canberra was a balmy 20 degrees today, and the feeling was wonderful, nay, transcendent. What made the day even better was the operation of the Captain Cook Water Jet in all its phallaciousness *titter-titter*.

More of that golden oldie

After a beauftiful stroll in the Botanic Gardens, and a thoroughly enjoying Iced Chocolate, I thought I would share yet another picture of wattle. The wattle is currently coming into marvellous bloom, and this is a nice example with the sun shining through!

The American Front Porch

Thanks to Moleskinerie for this cool link:

The History of the American Front Porch

Sunrise, sunset - a comparitive analysis of flowers of a blossoming nature one in its season, one in its inverted season - aka flowers on my desk!

The cherry blossoms and the wattle are out in Canberra. It is a glorious day today in Canberra, and I am going to the Botanic Gardens to study.

Cool Art

Check out this cool cartoonist/artist: Jamie Wieck

Below are some pictures from our New Zealand tour. New Zealand is a great country, the people are great, it is damn clean, very tourist friendly [if not excessively so] and just an all round good egg. How could you not be, really, with that fox Helen Clark in charge?

So, here's the run down:
Canberra to Melbourne
Mebourne to Auckland
Auckland to Christchuch
Train to Greymouth
Greymouth to Nelson
Nelson to Picton
Picton to Wellington on the Ferry
Wellington to Napier
Napier to Rotorua
Rotorua to Auckland
Back home to good ol' Melbourne

There are details in there, but I am too lazy to write them.

Maybe I will attempt to update this more this semester.... no promises though.

And everyone should check out www.moleskinerie.com