More antepodean delight

In Australia (or ''Aussie-land''), they drive on the left, not on the right.

As mentioned before, light switches are flicked down for ''on,'' and up for ''off.''

And -- of the two major political parties, the Liberal Party is actually the more conservative of the two. (Labor is the more ''liberal.'')


--TG

Knocking down shrubberies

Yesterday (Thursday, 9/15/05) the bulldozer/scoop machine fellow that Gye Greene and The Lady hired came to the lot next door and took away much of the shrubbery that covers the lot where the house will eventually go. (GG says the fellow charged $85/hour -- which seems reasonable.) Below are some ''before'' and ''after'' shots that I took.

This is standing in the front ''pasture'' area, looking towardsd the road, but a little to the right.

This is a similar view, although I was standing a little bit forwards. You can somewhat see the road in this shot.

This is standing in front of the Old Homestead, looking at the front lawn of the house next door.

This is afterwards. Note that the other house is much more visible. Gye Greene and The Lady will eventually plant some trees along the fenceline.

Much of the dirt is from the bulldozer/scoopy machine's treads.

This is the ''before'' shot of the end of the Old Homestead -- the opposite end to the front door. My right shoulder is to the road, and the neighbor's house (from the above photo) is behind me.

This is the ''after'' shot. There used to be concrete troughs lying on the ground -- or rather, embedded in the ground -- lying in front. (Or actually, off to the side.)

This is the ''before'' shot of the Old Homestead. It is the side of the building, but it faces the road. The front door is on the end that is to the right.

And -- this is the ''after'' shot. The strange, catcus-like plant is still growing across the top, but the shrubbery across the front is gone.

It all looks a bit like a bomb blast. Of course, the grass that was chewed up by the tractor treads doesn't help the appearance. Eventually, the grass will grow back.

It's all rather shocking -- probably because it all happened in the space of a morning. I suppose I shall get used to it.

And eventually (new estimate: May 2006) there will be a house where the Old Homestead now sits.

--TG

Two good movies

One characteristic that Gye Greene and myself share is the tendency to enjoy movies for certain scenes. To this end, we will sometimes watch only segments of a movie, fast-forwarding to ''the good parts.'' The DVD format (rather than videotape) facilitates this mode of watching.

One movie I recommend is ''Jackie Chan's First Strike.'' An adequate plot, a good number of funny bits -- and family-friendly! And, naturally, the choreography of the fight scenes is excellent! Below is a snapshot of the famous ''ladder scene'' -- one of my (and GG's) all-time favorites!

''First Strike'' is an excellent introduction to Jackie Chan's series of films.

Gye Greene and I also have a soft spot for movies about bands -- as I believe I've mentioned before. Below is a snapshot of the scene from ''[This is] Spinal Tap'', near the end of the movie. Nigel and David have known each other since childhood, and are the key members of the band. However, they had a falling-out, and Nigel left the band. In this snapshot, Nigel is visiting the band backstage before a gig, to tell David that one of their singles is doing very well in Japan, and perhaps the band should re-form. At the end of this scene (the snapshot), Nigel tells David (despite David's frosty reception to his proposal), ''Hey -- do a good show, allright?''

And here is the scene shortly thereafter, up on stage, where David has gestured to Nigel to join them onstage (Nigel is standing in the wings), and Nigel is gesturing ''Me?''




Very touching. At least, if you've been in a band. ;)

--TG

Political photo: Hurricane Katrina

I am not usually ''political'' (I don't think!), but this photo amused me; I just recently received it by e-mail -- titled ''G.W. Bush, on Vacation'':



The relief efforts -- or lack thereof -- have been a consistent component of the nightly news here in Australia.


--TG

**Proper** weather

Today we are having proper weather. And by ''proper'', I mean ''Seattle-like.''

Marvelously overcast, with just a touch of drizzle now and again. A good ''sit by the window with a good book and a cup of tea'' weather.


Brisbane is a lovely place, but it's often a bit to glare-y for my taste. ;)


--TG

Violence

This quote is rather grim.

I think in some instances it is valid; however, I feel violence should be a last resort.


''After a decade of standing under nightclub neon and nearly losing my faith in human nature, I had the growing realisation [sic] that violence was not the answer. It is a cruel and ugly language, the parley of ignorant men, but a means of discourse none the less and when you are dealing with the hard-of-thinking, sometimes a quick punch in the eye is better understood than a lengthy negotion. Some people -- even despots and dictators on the world sage -- will listen to nothing less.''

(pg. 34, Dec 2004 issue of Blitz, an Australian martial arts magazine that GG checked out at the library for me; found quote 29 Jan, 2005)


--TG

Over-producing/over-writing a song

''Equating time spent and quality may in fact be empirically false. Painting teachers encourage students not to overpaint a picture, continuing to put paint on the canvas until an initially good idea is buried in a muddy mess.''

(Howard S. Becker, Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article, pg. 131; found Feb. 4, 2004)


--TG

Groucho Marx quote: Principles

''Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.''

(received by e-mail June 30, 2000)


--TG