It's been quite some time since I posted here. That's because I've taken up a different blog and also twittering. Plese join me at Sufficiently Antique.
I'll continue to post in this blog from time to time, but I'm finding the blogging interface over at Tumblr a lot easier to use, and allow me to submit more content variety more easily. It also has a built in submission engine for Twitter.
See you soon!
Sunday, 30 August 2009
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Test Cricket
I've been watching the international cricket match between the Republic of South Africa and Australia. It's taking place in Durban, RSA. Yesterday's match took an interesting turn when one of the best RSA bowlers, Dale Steyn, took to bowling straight at one of the Aussie batter's head. He hit him twice, intentionally, and then had the audacity to trash talk him in front of the wicket. The batter fell to another bowler in the next over, and the Aussies were bowled out fairly soon after that.
When the Aussies began bowling, they made it very clear two could play that type of game. Throughout the rest of the day, they bowled directly at the RSA batters. Two batters were injured; one got a broken finger and the other was retired because some bowled it into his chin and opened up a nasty cut that required stitches. And it went on from there. Fast, nasty, taking it directly to the body.
In baseball terms, it was like a pitcher throwing one to the head. Not something you really want to get a reputation for, really. And to give you an idea, these guys are throwing balls at 90mph, so that is going to hurt really bad, either a baseball or a cricket ball.
This kind of play might be legal, but it's ugly, and hopefully the South Africans will think twice about doing that again. Or they may not...it will be interesting.
In any case, Australia at the end of the first innings is 214 up. And at the first over of the third day, the Aussies bowled out two wickets. So, we'll see how this plays out today.
When the Aussies began bowling, they made it very clear two could play that type of game. Throughout the rest of the day, they bowled directly at the RSA batters. Two batters were injured; one got a broken finger and the other was retired because some bowled it into his chin and opened up a nasty cut that required stitches. And it went on from there. Fast, nasty, taking it directly to the body.
In baseball terms, it was like a pitcher throwing one to the head. Not something you really want to get a reputation for, really. And to give you an idea, these guys are throwing balls at 90mph, so that is going to hurt really bad, either a baseball or a cricket ball.
This kind of play might be legal, but it's ugly, and hopefully the South Africans will think twice about doing that again. Or they may not...it will be interesting.
In any case, Australia at the end of the first innings is 214 up. And at the first over of the third day, the Aussies bowled out two wickets. So, we'll see how this plays out today.
Friday, 6 March 2009
Not So Social Networking
I've come to see the value in tweets, tumbles and scrobbles.
I'm having a lot of fun over at tumblr. You can visit my blog over there at Sufficiently Antique.
My tweets can be seen on the upper right of this blog, or you can visit here.
You can also see most of my public contents at my friend feed
I'm philosophically opposed to FaceBook and MySpace, mostly because they are the 800 pound gorilla, and I don't much like them anyway. Go the underdog!
I'm having a lot of fun over at tumblr. You can visit my blog over there at Sufficiently Antique.
My tweets can be seen on the upper right of this blog, or you can visit here.
You can also see most of my public contents at my friend feed
I'm philosophically opposed to FaceBook and MySpace, mostly because they are the 800 pound gorilla, and I don't much like them anyway. Go the underdog!
Saturday, 21 February 2009
It's the Economy, Stupid
Remember those words from the Clinton era? Is anyone even old enough to remember that line? It won Clinton the election.
The economy came to my workplace this weekend. And it's interesting how US labor laws differ from so many other places in the world. For example, as a US employee, I'm entitled to an automatic 5% pay cut starting in mid-March, no ifs, ands, or buts. In other places in the world, employees must agree to the pay cut. They are also cutting several other benefits, including, oddly, the value of my life insurance. This last because the value of my life insurance is tied to my salary, and if my salary goes down, so does my life insurance. The company is looking at mandatory vacation and a lot of other options. Good times.
The good news of course, is that I still have a job, as does everybody in my department. We seem to be a cash machine at the moment, so life goes on as best we're able.
The economy came to my workplace this weekend. And it's interesting how US labor laws differ from so many other places in the world. For example, as a US employee, I'm entitled to an automatic 5% pay cut starting in mid-March, no ifs, ands, or buts. In other places in the world, employees must agree to the pay cut. They are also cutting several other benefits, including, oddly, the value of my life insurance. This last because the value of my life insurance is tied to my salary, and if my salary goes down, so does my life insurance. The company is looking at mandatory vacation and a lot of other options. Good times.
The good news of course, is that I still have a job, as does everybody in my department. We seem to be a cash machine at the moment, so life goes on as best we're able.
Back-trip
After a lot of planning and thinking, I've decided to head back to the States in March and June. In March, I'll be taking care of some personal business. Especially, I'll be interviewing some painting contractors in order to have my house in San Francisco painted. Then in June, I'll oversee the painting, and head back to the East Coast to visit the family and take care of some family business.
I'm looking forward to visiting with my friends in San Francisco, and my family. It's been quite some time since I've seen everyone.
I'm looking forward to visiting with my friends in San Francisco, and my family. It's been quite some time since I've seen everyone.
Monday, 26 January 2009
Perth, seen from Kings Park
And here's an overview of the city, taken from King's Park. I just love the deep blue of the sky over Perth. You have to experience it yourself. It's an artist's light thing.
We Honour
From a memorial in Kings Park, Perth. The plaque is carved of river stone indigenous to the region. This is part of a memorial that overlooks the CBD and the Swan River basin. I especially enjoy the sentiment.
Harvey Internment Memorial Chapel
I was driving from Margaret River, which is an actual town, back north toward Perth. I took a side/back road rather than the main route north, namely, route 20. Along the way is a small-ish town called Harvey. Just a little way beyond the city, I saw a couple of stone buildings and a sign that said "Internment Camp Memorial." Mind you, I was driving around 80kph or so at the time. As soon as it was safe, I turned around and had a look. It was closed at the time, but here's what the net says:
"t the beginning of World War Two, Mussolini and Hitler joined forces and declared war on Great Britain and France. As a result all German and Italian migrants living in the allied countries were categorised as enemy aliens, and subsequently interned in camps. One of these camps was situated in Harvey with about 1,000 internees.
"One of the prisoners instigated the construction of an altar made of stone, depicting their Catholic faith. This shrine still stands today and was enclosed in a chapel in 1992. It is believed to be the only roadside shrine of its kind in Australia. Housed in the chapel are several sculptures and an "Australia Remembers" static display."
So it appears the Australians interned citizens during World War II. It's worth some more research to find out what happened to the internees afterward.
"t the beginning of World War Two, Mussolini and Hitler joined forces and declared war on Great Britain and France. As a result all German and Italian migrants living in the allied countries were categorised as enemy aliens, and subsequently interned in camps. One of these camps was situated in Harvey with about 1,000 internees.
"One of the prisoners instigated the construction of an altar made of stone, depicting their Catholic faith. This shrine still stands today and was enclosed in a chapel in 1992. It is believed to be the only roadside shrine of its kind in Australia. Housed in the chapel are several sculptures and an "Australia Remembers" static display."
So it appears the Australians interned citizens during World War II. It's worth some more research to find out what happened to the internees afterward.
Walk of Stars, Perth
Perth is so cool, it has a walk of stars on the main street, St. George's Terrace. It's so cool, in addition to celebrating senators and industrialists, they also celebrate musicians, like Eileen Joyce.
There's a lot to like about Perth
Sorry for leaving you all in the lurch with that last post. I'll return to that story in a little while.
But the latest update I have is the weekend I just spent in Perth, Western Australia. Perth is one of the capital cities, and is on the Indian Ocean. It's a fantastic city with so many great features. This is a photo of one of the distinctive pieces of architecture in the city. It's a bell tower, and it's right downtown on the water.
Perth is at the mouth of the Swan River. Swans are the symbol of the city, but I've also heard it called the Carillon City. The weather is warm, and there is a huge amount of money around. Lots of gold and aluminum, agriculture and shipping. Very beautiful, and they really like their parks and bikes.
More later, but I had a fantastic time, and I plan to go back. If you have a chance, stop by and spend a weekend or a week. And if you have time, do go to the Margaret River and visit the ridiculous number of wineries there.
But the latest update I have is the weekend I just spent in Perth, Western Australia. Perth is one of the capital cities, and is on the Indian Ocean. It's a fantastic city with so many great features. This is a photo of one of the distinctive pieces of architecture in the city. It's a bell tower, and it's right downtown on the water.
Perth is at the mouth of the Swan River. Swans are the symbol of the city, but I've also heard it called the Carillon City. The weather is warm, and there is a huge amount of money around. Lots of gold and aluminum, agriculture and shipping. Very beautiful, and they really like their parks and bikes.
More later, but I had a fantastic time, and I plan to go back. If you have a chance, stop by and spend a weekend or a week. And if you have time, do go to the Margaret River and visit the ridiculous number of wineries there.
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