Not quite the full song but in the spirit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRYlUu1nJm8&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Friday 31 December 2010
Happy happy happy E-Mart
Today we ventured out into the cold day to do some shopping at E-Mart. I was surprised at the amount of Australian produce on sale, particularly meat. Of special note Darling Downs Wagyu beef and even Aussie prawns.
Thursday 30 December 2010
The End of the Universe - Hong Kong
Our flight to Busan leaves from Gate 19; some thousands of metres from the area where we arrived. We travelled a long almost geodesic corridor and found ourselves at the End Of The Universe.
I wonder when the show begins…
The End of the Universe - Hong Kong
Our flight to Busan leaves from Gate 19; some thousands of metres from the area where we arrived. We travelled a long almost geodesic corridor and found ourselves at the End Of The Universe.
I wonder when the show begins…
The End of the Universe - Hong Kong
Our flight to Busan leaves from Gate 19; some thousands of metres from the area where we arrived. We travelled a long almost geodesic corridor and found ourselves at the End Of The Universe.
I wonder when the show begins…
Wednesday 29 December 2010
Ukulele pilgrimage site - Cairns
Cairns incredibly hot and humid. Walked along esplanade and saw crabs making art in the mudflats.
Visited the wonderful Music City - best uke shop I know. Armed with a new Ohana soprano we staggered through the dead air back to the airport. Waiting now to board.
Tuesday 21 December 2010
Stone curlew pair at Oonoonba
via youtube.com
There are stone curlews all over the grounds of the DPI station at Oonoonba where I work. The entire area is to be developed for medium density housing. I worry about the curlews. I hope they will survive.
Sunday 19 December 2010
This morning's roast - last coffee picture; I promise
This morning I pushed the beans further - well into second crack stage. The result was just perfect - dark and glistening Columbian beans. Made a perfect cup of coffee too.
Straight iPhone 4 photo, cropped square.
See larger here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/hojucandy/5273125809/Thursday 16 December 2010
Monday 13 December 2010
A big day for reptiles
Sunday 12 December 2010
Home roasted coffee - 3rd batch
Quite a bit darker after a 5 minute roast. This is a PNG organic and Columbian mix.
Taste is more bitter than yesterday's roast but still very good. Quite fruity. Pineapple even...
Taste is more bitter than yesterday's roast but still very good. Quite fruity. Pineapple even...
iPhone photo using Hipstamatic. Melodie lens, Pistil film.
Saturday 11 December 2010
Home roasted coffee success
My second try at roasting green coffee beans in a cheap K-mart popcorn maker was successful. This morning I roasted half a cup of PNG Organic beans to a medium roast and made a perfect ristretto.
The roast could have been a bit darker but at least this time I didn't burn it. I took the roaster outside as it blows the fine husk of the beans (paper) everywhere and puts out a lot of heat. Roasting time was very quick - only about 4 minutes. The result speaks for itself though. I think I'll go have another...
Tuesday 30 November 2010
iPhone day 7 - Neal
When I learnt that I would be living in Townsville I looked for a flickr group there and instantly noticed Neal's photography. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nealthorley/
We share a love of film and coffee. We met for a coffee today at Coffee Dominion, perhaps the best coffee shop in Townsville. I shot this image using the Hipstamatic App on my iPhone.Sunday 28 November 2010
iPhone - Day 5 : Pocket Light Meter App
via itunes.apple.com
I spent most of the day downloading wonderful Indian music from http://ragavibrations.blogspot.com/ and browsing the world of iPhone apps.
I am loving this one. It actually turns my iPhone into a lightmeter - a spotmeter no less. A few quick checks and it tallies with my Minolta spotmeter. Will have to give it a go in the field.
Saturday 27 November 2010
Friday 26 November 2010
iPhone day 3 - HDR at Oonoonba
The iPhone camera has an HDR setting, which I have used here for this image of the old yards at the Oonoonba DPI Station in Townsville, where I work. It's so good to get away from Sydney!
Wednesday 24 November 2010
iPhone day 1
Monday 1 November 2010
racks of bikes - nobody riding
I spent a couple of days in Brisbane last week. There is a scheme there to hire bikes in the city. One accesses the bike using a swipe card and use of the bike is free for up to 30 minutes. Seems like a great idea. But I saw rack after rack with not a single bike missing. I never saw a soul riding one. What's wrong? Is it the roads? I believe it is illegal to drive on the footpath - and though there are bike lanes on the roads they are very close to busses and heavy traffic.. I heard that one problem is that the law requires bike riders to wear a helmet yet health regulations prohibit the renting of a helmet with the bike. So anyone who wants to use the scheme must carry a bike helmet all day. A bad piece of planning...
Friday 17 September 2010
Bach Cello Suites, Casales, Rumi, madness...
When I started to learn Hindustani classical music my one of the first ragas I learnt was Yaman. I say one of the first because actually from memory I think he first was Khamaj. One of my teachers. Michael Junius, told me that Yaman was the raga one should start with. It was auspicious and would ensure that one's musical learning would progress well. Maybe that is why mine did not...
Another of my teachers, Nikhil Ghosh, once told me that Allauddin Khan used to say that he could have played Yaman all his long life and still "not plumbed its depths".
I think Bach is like this... One can listen to Bach again and a again and it is always new, always re-inventing itself somehow.
I've been listening to Bach cello suites all week. I have several recordings.
Yo Yo Ma's is my least favourite - his playing is lifeless to my ears. He lacks something and I can't say quite what... perhaps gravitas.
Maurice Gendron is marvellously strong and perfectly paced. Bach would have liked his playing I think.
Pablo Casales plays like a madman - his interpretations of Bach sound like Stravinsky at times... I think he is my favourite. I'm a big fan of madmen (and women)
Better to be ignorant of worldly concerns,
better to be mad and flee from self-interest,
better to drink poison and spill the water of life,
better to revile those who praise you,
and lend both the capital and the interest to
the poor, forgo safety and make a home in danger.
Sacrifice your reputation and become notorious.
I have tried caution and forethought;
from now on I will make myself mad.
-Rumi
Saturday 21 August 2010
Voting in Wulguru (Dawson)
Despite being a southern suburb of Townsville, Wulguru, where I live, is part of the Dawson electorate, which is centred on Mackay, some 400km south. I don't understand why we are not part of Herbert, which is centred on Townsville, the city to which we belong.
That said, I got up this morning and took the short walk down to the local school to vote. I took these photos as I wandered home.
See larger version fo photos on my flickr.
Sunday 11 July 2010
Glass plate negatives - 3
Apart from the obvious damage to these glass plates (they were stored for many years in sheds in humid subtropical conditions), the detail in these pictures is stunning. Go to the larger image on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/hojucandy/4781235371/ and look at the saddles hanging on a rail outside the saddler. Photography has not come far since the 19th Century...
Saturday 10 July 2010
Glass plate negatives - continued...
Finally I am starting to scan some of the glass plate negatives that Gary lent me last year. Explanation here - http://jayavant.posterous.com/glass-plate-negatives The pictures are very sharp and detailed, despite the poor condition of the negatives. Many are wrapped in paper as shown in the pictures. The paper appears to be a police document from "The Colony of Queensland". This would place them pre-federation - so in the 19th Century. This one seems to be taken in Clermont, Central Queensland. A larger version of the picture can be seen on my flickr site - http://www.flickr.com/photos/hojucandy/4779962328/
Sunday 13 June 2010
Not a soccer fan #worldcup 2002
In 2002 I lived in South Korea. That year Korea played host to the World Cup soccer matches and there was general hysteria in abundance. On the afternoon of June 22nd, Korea played a quarter-final match against Spain. I happened to be in Seoul that day and was treated to the eery experience of walking around largely empty streets - everyone was either indoors glued to a TV or at one of the large public squares where huge screens had been set up to watch the games. Being no soccer fan myself, I caught a train home. These trains are usually packed - standing room only. I never saw so few people on the Seoul subway.
When I got home I was invited to join some Korean men who were sitting out on the footpath with a TV watching the game and drinking. People were unusually friendly during the World Cup.
When I got home I was invited to join some Korean men who were sitting out on the footpath with a TV watching the game and drinking. People were unusually friendly during the World Cup.
The game ended in a draw - 0:0. That's one reason I don't like soccer.... nothing happens....
Monday 3 May 2010
When is a snake not a snake? When it's an excitable delma (Delma tincta)
via cms.jcu.edu.au
I walked from home to my office today, a distance of about 6km. No hills and fairly easy walk though it was fiercely hot for most of the way - no shade and reflective ground.But the wind was at my back and I feel good for the walk.
ON the way I saw what I thought was a small snake on the road. I picked it up so it would not be run over. It was certainly excitable - leaping around throwing its body into arches so only 2 or 3 points touched the ground at a time. I thought it was a golden crown snake or something similar - a harmless small elapid.
Examining it I noticed not only that its vent was about 1/4 of the way along its body, but also that it had tiny external ear-holes. It was not a snake at all - it was a legless lizard or pygopod. Unlike snakes they have an external ear aperture.
I found him a nice place under some bushes, with plenty of leaf litter and let him go.
Before I left home I debated whether to take a camera. I didn't. Bad decision. Got a phone camera shot of him but it's blurry.
On another note - I did take my iPod, but only listened to half a song. It was so nice walking and just listening to the sounds around me. I find I use my iPod very rarely these days...
Here is where I walked - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2406686#
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