battlestar galactica in my closet

My very infrequent blogging might be excused with this post? Sipping my tea on a rainy day, cleaning out and reorganizing my closet, I found 4 "baseball" cards from the original battlestar galactica show. I loved that show though had no recollection that my obsession extended to collecting cards. But there you have it. Geek from a young age.

I have in very good condition the following cards:

#17: Blasted by the Cylon Warships! On the back, there is Character Profile #10 of 12: "The Imperious Leader" (uncredited). Vile. Malevolent. Unearthly. The horrifying head of the Cylon race. Determined to wipe out the human colonists and all who aid them. Resembling a boar's head flanked by medallions and royal attire, this nightmare intelligence is the single mind behind the Cylon war machine. It is a mind dedicated to unrestrained evil.

#27: The Colonial Battlestars.

#30: Fleet of Colonial Vipers.

#93: The Colonists' Counterattack!

Having just watched the final episodes of the final season of the new show, this was a nice find.

julie and julia inspired french cooking - first result is pear tarte tartin!

After seeing Julie and Julia with Mum, we have both been inspired to cook, all week and ala francais!

First, we both enjoyed the movie so much. Mum is an excellent cook and loves cooking. She regularly has two dishes on the go in the mornings before 8 am. She relishes feeding people and finding the ingredients they love.

So, seeing this particular movie with her was a delight. And seeing her laugh so hard she was crying was contagious.

Mum has cooked up some goodies this week, and purchased a cast iron french oven. She got a great price at Victoria's Basement. Her fist creation was from the north eastern region of France, with chicken, mushrooms, pale ale, cream and was light and lovely.

And, she helped me make a delicious Pear Tart Tartin, surprisingly easy. It was lovely warm and is good cold with a bit of yoghurt accompanied by French press coffee for breakfast.

Bespoke Press

Exploring the web for inspirational design, I happened upon Bespoke Press, located in Brisbane Australia. They have the most beautiful things and are true craftspeople.

They are having a Giveaway raffle and the winner will receive 10 amazing prints designed by young illustrators from around the world and printed on their 1857 letterpress.

irish accents have a melting moment effect

went to see a band called the script play at enmore theatre not too long ago. loved it. was definitely impressed. way better than their recorded stuff. and seemingly just having fun without massive posing or out of whack egos.

the truth hurts

my new favorite blog is Stuff White People Like. which makes me quite white.

this was shown to me by some canadians who live in new zealand and have just taken eight months to drive around australia filming a documentary.

the blog apparently lead to a book as well. called Stuff White People Like.

each post focuses on something that is a must have to fit into white culture.

like expensive camping equipment from REI. or molekine journals. and so on.

have a quick read and find yourself.

the mush of ideas

just one of many sources of info these days that has been inspiring me of late.

TEDxNSW had four speakers that were really different from each other - ranging from straight man, to Mr. Chips to Aussie Cowboy and Technogeek. All smart, engaging (yes, I used that word in my blog) and interesting. The common thread could maybe have been how to save the planet.

And I liked it.

Just read Time magazine - about social responsibility. Obamas interviewed. Top 20 companies, non-profits and individuals exemplifying social responsibility and innovation and doing good stuff profiled.

Vice-Chancellor at Macquarie University writing about ethics and morals and shaking things up.

And several blogs and news items and personal experiences....

Put the lid on and press pulse.

Presto....Anna idea mush.

Interesting South

A few weeks ago, I attended the Interesting South event. And loved it.

Very amiable crowd and really interesting ideas. This is the kind of networking I can do without cringing. Friend who I just met and who does market research kindly tipped me off to the whole thing. And that is kind of what the whole thing was like. Non pushy people who are all interested in the same kind of stuff - new ideas - participating together. I met a few folks and yes, am now twittering with them.

My favorite acts were

Remo Giuffré speaking on the Anatomy of cool – What’s cool? What’s daggy? Who decides? Remo learned something about the anatomy (and alchemy) of cool by observing a kid named Bob D’Angelo in a school playground circa 1973.

Miles Merrill says Perform your own stories – Who sits behind the screen typing away the stories that the DeNiros of the world speak for them? Why don’t writers speak? Speakers write. Why aren’t we telling our own stories?

Tim Baynes talked about the The Permanence of Temporary Things (and Vice Versa) - Monuments crumble and empires may fall but some of the things we perceive as temporary are the most enduring. Interesting? Yes. Possibly also important for saving the world.

And for passion - Steve Maxwell, Stand up! Be counted! - In these days of online media, political debates often take place behind the shelter of laptops. Some brave souls still have the courage to jump on a soapbox, look strangers in the eye and express their political ideas. Steve Maxwell, a Speakers’ Corner regular in The Domain, will share his passion from the stage.

Looking forward to TEDxNSW on September 15th. Also will be held at the Chauvel Theatre which is great because it is right around the corner from the "flat" of your truly.

well, so i haven't been writing. as is obvious. a little hibernation. also not creating space for writing in my day. but, the times are a'changing. i miss it. and i shall be back. refreshed and inspired by reading other blogs, attending some great conferences and daily happenings. more to come....

chuffed v pissed

for my friends in the states...

chuffed = feeling good about something in oz. feeling proud. pysched.

pissed = drunk.

A hotel can be a public house

Point of clarification - the Unicorn Hotel is not really a hotel. It is a pub.

A public house, defined by Wikipedia as "a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on or off the premises in countries and regions of British influence." Please forgive the slack research.

Quick bit of history. Australian pubs are often referred to as Hotels. Common lore (aka I am too lazy to research this) says that at some point, pubs were compelled to offer accomodation.

There are some famous old hotels in Sydney that have since been demolished to make way for new things. One of note is the "Hotel Australia, which formerly stood on the corner of Castlereagh St and Martin Place (demolished ca. 1970 to make way for the MLC Centre). Its marble bar was dismantled and reinstalled in a basement under the Sydney Hilton Hotel, which was built on the site of the Tattersall's Hotel in the early 1970s". (yup, wikipedia.) My mother used to go to Hotel Austalia - it was a place people from the country would stay when they came to Sydney. My mother's first husband was from the country and she remembers fond fun times there and she speaks with nostalgia of the marble bar that was moved.

Australia never experienced the Prohibition, though there was a movement. So, there was never the speakeasy and nothing remotely like the quintessential "dive bar" which are my favorite in the States. This is not to say that some pubs aren't derelict. But there isn't the mystery or allure. And it is rare to find a place to drink that is small and cozy. They are mainly, well, open to the public.

cheers to the unicorn!

bad news....roosters?

right, so sports land in oz is a wee bit different.

there is cricket. it is not like baseball.

there is football. which is soccer. i have overheard that our national team is doing well.

and there is rugby. this can be subdivided into rugby union ("posh") and rugby league ("not posh").

and i am slowly being converted, rather recruited, no sculpted into a rubgy league fan. but not a generalist. no, very specifically a rooster.

yes, there is a team called the sydney roosters. and apparently they are my home team. and i have not been given a choice by my dear friend.

attending my second game this past saturday night, i was witness to a miracle. they won.

cockadoodle doo?

bobbing for apples

sunday family drive to bilpin. what a lovely day. the sky was blue, the air crisp and clear. which rivaled the crispness of the champagne granny smith apples on offer, which are granny smith's that have gone through a few frosts, making them sweeter.

and as an aside, did y'all know that granny smith apples originated in australia? tis a true fact.




bilpin and surrounds are in the blue mountains, and its cooler climate and country life lends well to incredibly fresh produce (of which i bought a lot, think organic farmer's market) and leisurely lunches by a fireplace overlooking green rolling valleys below.

and for us, it was especially nice as our mother had her first outing in months and even a bit of an appetite to eat a bit of a delicious rump steak, bilpin grown at the apple bar.


it is only an hour's drive from sydney and along bells line of road, make sure to roll down your windows, turn off the music and listen for the totally unique sound of the bell bird.

king of my ipod

are the kings of leon.

this is only rivaling learning chess on my morning commute.

oz lotto

i didn't win the $106 million jackpot.

are you canadian?

is it strange that within less than ten months i can't immediately distinguish an australian accent from an american accent? walking down the street, i hear an aussie yabbering away and think nothing of the lilt. it is only upon hearing a yank blabbing that it dawns on me that the accent is out of place.

and it is any more strange that i am picked for a canadian? not the polite, "are you a canadian?" posed to anyone with a north american accent for fear of offending the u.s.a.'s northern neighbour's citizens. but genuine confusion.

this is way different than living in spain, where suddenly i began overnight thinking and dreaming in a foreign language. that was substantial. distinguishable. contextual. everything took on a different color.

but this is twilight zone. it is almost as if i am time travelling back to the same place, but evolution is farther or not as far along.

new tech

posting via email.

been a long time

oops. i have had the usual plethora of bits that i wanted to write about but alas, fingers never connected with keypad.

so, quick update. mum has been hospitalized three times in the last 4 months. she just had surgery and fingers crossed, that will do the trick and she will be in good health soon. poor woman is still laughing and doing her best to not let it get to her, but she is tiny and tired.

in the meanwhile, we have been able to do some fun things and have some adventures. i cooked a lamb roast for mother's day. my sister has cooked a potato bake. mum and i have been shopping and went for an excursion, driving style to the gunners barracks and old navy base near clifton gardens that has just been decommissioned. gorgeous place with some of the best views around sydney harbour. been out to see some live music with friends at the macquarie hotel.

random aside - this guy is a very good speaker and passionate about his work. interesting talk on ted about poverty. he uses colored bubbles for countries to chart their economic growth and health. he hosts a race between sweden, japan and the u.s. at one point that makes you feel like you are at a baseball game betting on a dot race!

refreshing to see friends from the States

caught up with my friends kacy and jack who are swinging through sydney. picked them up at their hotel and took them down to bondi for dinner by the beach.

refreshing to see them, reminders from home. conversation so easy. like minded views of the world and approach to living. interesting to hear how they are seeing things in america. positive views but realistic of obama and what he has been able to do in the first 100 days. jack offered that the 100 day marker was set with fdr and hard to replicate circumstances of that time and that man.

they have travelled extensively and confirmed that americans are more direct than most cultures. direct and open can be quite intimidating for other cultures. i am finding australians especially in business to be hard workers, pleasant, fun, jovial but more passive and less questioning. not a bad thing, but can sometimes bring complaining about a situation rather than doing something to solve it. kacy discussed running a business in the philippines, where people respect authority and in her experience has found that people work hard, wish to please and do not want to be confrontational. sometimes these intentions in business lead to lack of innovation or accurate reporting of status of a task/project.

respecting chain of command can lead a little to preservation of class and hierarchy in lieu of efficiency and innovation.

banana peeling methods

both boing boing and wiki how give great options, including my favorite monkey method. however, awards for ingenuity go to this creative soul.

debate!

http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/will-the-humanities-save-us/

back on the blog

after a class in blogging, am re-inspired.

Out loud musings on social networking

Social networking has been keeping me in touch after the move and getting me reconnected. For example, this blog has been a good means for me keeping people updated. Not sure who is reading it, but to those who are, hope the bits are amusing and interesting.

I am in better touch with friends and work colleagues in different countries since joining Facebook than before. I have been making use of LinkedIn as well. And i have reconnected with people from all parts of my life, which has been incredible, especially since I have moved around so much and don't get to do that in person as much as I would like. I have a greater sense of my community and enjoy the updates.

The recent debate about who owns the data on social networking sites prompted by an incident with Facebook has me thinking, and I am indulging in a tool that allows me to share those thoughts with those who want to read. For those who don't, stop reading here. After this point, disjointed musings with no organizational structure ensue.

It is a fact in our lives today that we are busy doing things, like living. Working, in relationships, raising children, staying healthy, exploring hobbies and careers. We are moved by our experiences, the things we read and touched by things we see. And we want to share our lives with others.

It is a fact that we often do not see our friends who live in the same city nor do we get a chance to have long telephone conversations. It is a fact that in days gone by, long-distance good friendships were maintained by infrequent visits where you would pick up where you left off, by long newsy letters that elicited great excitement upon arrival and a special time was set aside to savour. It is a fact that postcards were a fun quick update to join our friends on their travels. One friend even gave a map and itinerary of his travels to my mother that she could reference as a postcard from each stop arrived.

It is a fact that as humans, we are social beings, who need community, who need a sense of belonging.

Does social networking fill this need? One step farther, does social networking help us feel like we are part of something bigger than ourselves and our immediate lives? Perhaps part of a collective unconscious? Perhaps something more?

There are central places we go to in the real world. Restaurants, movies, bars. places where people, our community, congregates. Where do people congregate in the virtual world? Facebook seems to be taking the lead. Why?

I joined Facebook because it was easier to use than Myspace for me because I don't know how to speak in html. Low and behold, turns out, more of the people i know in the real world also seem to be going to Facebook. Like animals to a watering hole, Well-advertised, close convenient. Like Starbucks, it may not have the best product but it is super convenient and easy to use.

Technology, computers and the internet have become part of our daily lives. Technology has given us new tools we use now to do our work and learn and communicate. I began a career working in technology because I wanted to be a part of something that helped develop our world. I like to think of technology like fire for the cave man.

Technology has developed our world, at least for a segment of our world population. Though, I do have some friends who abstein from Facebook, like conscience observers, preferring their connections be in person. Some friends do not want their personal data to be exploited. I also have some friends and family who do not like computers, do not want to spend their time alone with an inanimate object, but prefer to be out and about. And undoubtedly, there is still a huge part of our world who do not have access to computers at all.

So, what role does technology play in helping those of us who have access be human? And how can technology possibly be a tool that enables us to fulfill our anthropological predilection for community? Enable us to don the zebra mantle to feel safe in groups while exercising our individuality? Will technology prove to be the equivalent of plate tectonics, where the continents split and the result was the different evolutionary path of plants, animals etc. I can certainly see the results in Australia of that split, with the kangaroos hopping around, the distant cousin of the deer/antelope. Will those who socially network develop longer fingers?

In more succint terms, the web is a microcosm of our world. We have rules in place in the real world for how to communicate in person, via letter, via email. We have laws in place that codify morality as defined by our society.

Relating to privacy and data, there are things we all want to keep private. We also as a race like to think we are in control of ourselves, our things. We like choice. We like transparency, aka honesty in our relationships. I do anyway.

Social networking allows us to go beyond communication, but to de facto live in the web. But the idea that Facebook is setting up the rules on what to do with my information seems a little like an autocracy. I tend to live in democracies that intend to have inklings of a representative goverment.

Now this leads us to, who governs the virtual world? Does it need governing the way that we have it set up according to history in the real world since real world governments don’t always seem to work out that well for us these days. But companies first on the scene are taking on some of those elements.

And then again, are they? Facebook has been somewhat responsive to a huge outcry about data concerns. So has twitter. And others.

Perhaps we are seeing evolution. Perhaps we are seeing the emergence of democracy without government?

That's all.

...at perry lane cafe

is where you will find me most mornings these days, sipping on a delicious latte made with Campos coffee, reading the paper and working. note - they have free wi-fi, which is handy.

But better than that, the cafe has this serene, creative, friendly environment.

It is not right on busy, noisy Oxford street. In fact, it is kind of hidden down a lane way just off Oxford Street, called none other than Perry Lane, Paddington.

Be guided in by the flowering bougainvilleas and the Campos coffee sign.

Once inside, there are lots of little sitting nooks to choose from in the light, airy open space.

The food is yummy. My favorites so far are the poached eggs, with spinach, chorizo, baked beans topped with a bit of parmesan for brekkie and their Caesar salad for lunch. They also serve a range of teas from T2.

Upstairs are more tables and this cool art space with rotating exhibits. Rumor has it that they will have live music, maybe a flamenco guitarrist.

Staff are friendly and helpful selecting from the menu. Only complaint is that after receiving food, staff are too polite and stay away for a tad too long.

Working from home, this place is my solace and my office away from my office.

Angels...in America

Just back from opening night of my friend's play "Angels in America." For American readers, yes, there was an HBO version of this directed by Mike Nichols. I saw it on stage in Parramatta at the Riverside Theatre and it was brilliant. Set design was compact, versatile and transcendent. Fast-paced, good cast (no bias) highlighted the intelligent writing of the play.

Strange to think that this all happened while I was alive. I remember the Reagan years and yet had forgotten this key piece of American culture - the denial of the existence and tragedy of AIDS. So much of Reagonomics has been discussed of late and Bush's emulation or attempted emulation of the Reagan values masked the very real, very fearful and very tragic isolation in which many homosexuals of the 1980's suffered and confronted against their wishes the disease which takes so many lives.

For those here in Australia, it is theatre worth the trek out West.

http://www.riversideparramatta.com.au/performance.asp?pID=847

bondi dawn chorus

a beautiful dreamy way to start a day. after watching the spaniards play incredible tennis at the australian open until 1:30 a.m., i rattled myself out of a deep sleep to go with friends to see the 4th and final performance of the sydney philharmonia chorus at bondi beach starting just before sunrise. that is right, i went to bed at 1:30 and woke at 4 to arrive at a beach at 5:30 a.m.

and it was so worth it.

it began with a surreal soft strum that bounced off the waves. it crescendoed with a rousing nigerian song called "o-re-mi".

the visual background morphed from darkness with a clear view of the australian southern cross constellation to soft blues to stunning pinks as the ball of fire muscled its way above the cliffs.












here's cheers to good friends for providing the motivation to partake in this experience.

The note system revealed

In my early days here in Sydney, I wrote about the note system of communication between my family about the goings on of the day.

Just recently, I received the most awesome package from friends that included pre-written notes on post-its that I can contribute to the family discourse.

I thought I would post an example of the system to show where those post-its will go.

Cricket is a whole new ball game

Australia versus South Africa. 3 matches in the series. South Africa had won the first two. The last match was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Signs for weeks in advance said to avoid driving around the area warning of traffic. My mother said she wouldn't come visit me. A lot of people I know began prepping me on the rules, all of which sounded unduly complex, especially compared to my infinite knowledge of baseball.

Apparently Michael Parkinson (a British tv journalist) spent an hour explaining the basics of cricket to the wife of the American ambassador at a dinner party after which she commented that it sounded terribly difficult, especially on horseback.

I thought, what is the big deal? Really. America has great sports and understanding the NFL requires a copious amount of beer. We have the World championships in everything too, so what if cricket is the national game of countries I have never even heard of.

But not one to miss out on a thing, off I toddled to my first cricket match in the member's seats no less. A kind friend took me with her and had the foresight to know that explaining cricket without seeing cricket would be like trying to point out the Australian Southern Cross Constellation on a foggy night.

My friend identified the parts of the field and of the stadium, including the original beautiful buildings where my grandmother and grandfather would have been seated (in separate buildings, mind you) in years past.

Then we looked at the scoreboard and saw the names of the batters from South Africa. My friend began explaining that we really needed to get Duminy out because he scores a lot of runs - like over 100 in the last inning. I had to ask her to repeat that bit. This, of course, is a five day game. Of course. Five day sporting event. Americans wouldn't have the patience. Then, there are two innings that can go on for days. And all this can wind up in a draw.

Then, my friend told me about the partnerships that batters form. One friend later described those particular batters as having formed a "beautiful partnership." This occurs when the same two batters are on the pitch (at bat) together for a long time - hours. They begin to figure out together a strategy to keep the runs coming in. And apparently this Duminy chap from South Africa had formed a 100-run partnership the day before.

So what we really needed then was for a LBW - that is a leg before wicket. The batters leg is in front of the wicket (three wooden stumps at both end of the pitch) and the ball hits the leg. YOU ARE OUT!

I relinquished my friend from duty and turned to the guy in the seat next to mine. This was his third day at the cricket. That was his lucky seat. He had his hat signed by almost all the players. At first, he wasn't very friendly as, after afternoon tea break, I had accidentally sat in his lucky seat. I scooted over though and began fielding questions, without getting much of a response.

I apologized, explaining that I am from America and this was my first Cricket match. His eyes opened wide, he turned his head away from the pitch and looked at me. Smiling, my 7-year old seat mate opened up and continued from where my friend stopped, narrating with extreme enthusiasm what was happening down below.


I am hooked.

Oh yeah, and BOO to the nasty security guards who deflate the floaty balls that land on the field! Yeah to Michael Clarke for throwing them back to the crowd.

Amazing Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks 2009

Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks 2008 (#309)
Originally uploaded by Christopher Chan

The city buzzed. Spontaneous smiles erupted. People jostled for position along the length of Sydney Harbour. In parks, around Circular Quay, on boats in the Harbour, in homes and in apartments.

That's where I was. In a flat with a view of the city and harbour. A friend took me to his friend's party, complete with endless sparkling wine and home made sausage rolls and great senses of humor.

We moved up to the 13th floor for the midnight fireworks, to another friend's place. From there, we brought in 2009. The entire Harbour is used for the show, with synchronized fireworks in four different places along the water, with the bridge as the centrepiece. Everywhere, there are people watching from all the other apartments and all the parks. Camera flashes contribute to the show.

I was stunned by beautiful Sydney and welcomed by the warmth and friendliness of the people around me. A new page turned in my adventure and for the first time since arriving, I felt steady with my Sydney legs on.

A great video of the Sydney fireworks at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7UbL4nfeJE

Merry Christmas Down Under Style

First, it is hot. Well, it turned out not to be that hot, but usually (according to my family) people eat later in the day to avoid the heat. Some still follow the typical English Christmas dinner menu of hot, heavy food. But a lot of Aussies opt for summer barbeque type food (think shrimp on the barbie), a lot of seafood and ham. And salads.

We had a couple of American friends join us and our menu was delicious thanks to my mother being an absolutely amazing cook. To start, sparkling wine, pate, olives and baby octopus on the barbie. Next salads - mango and snow pea, couscous with cold roasted veggies. Mains - quince glazed ham, red currant beef, chilli prawns on the barbie. And for desert - a buche de noel, a heavenly flourless chocolate cake rolled with chocolate whipped cream.

Christmas for my family isn't necessarily religious, though Mum does go to Mass. Rather, Christmas for me is about being with family, sharing food and home with friends and enjoying those simple yet special elements.