tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119787832024-03-04T21:55:36.238-08:00AthertonblabPop Culture is barely toleratedUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-23452033153891508782012-03-09T01:02:00.003-08:002012-03-09T01:24:49.320-08:00Password remembered<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Pf-exkor8zD-2NzRC6sRSHMgpi2XDaSlIQ8MVkVayfzy4MO3TkfrOMtz9YU11lzgPfFvOPBJkT2uiKfAj0uwEv43E1keih6sgfHtvY3ODpHnnM9XmZB8tkpL71a53vN-ezj_/s1600/Riley2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Pf-exkor8zD-2NzRC6sRSHMgpi2XDaSlIQ8MVkVayfzy4MO3TkfrOMtz9YU11lzgPfFvOPBJkT2uiKfAj0uwEv43E1keih6sgfHtvY3ODpHnnM9XmZB8tkpL71a53vN-ezj_/s320/Riley2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717825820672765586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcdvBOykSFjQYf8A_l8Rf_KKKhqJ15nks0xl3C6XdLLBnselNp-DrAoUPbnBHp6sNPQcOVGlcMqTKFdRFT3kD9O60x76mJhG8aAiGj8Fkp9GfDWOv3dqohWNHZgIkCG5-obN8/s1600/MOTORhyper+spread.jpg"><br /></a><br />It's amazing what a spring clean can do. Amongst the old photos, copies of Boney M LPs and Betamax videotapes, I found this dusty old blog. Let's see if I can remember how to use it, in this age of iPhones and Twitface.<br /><br />The last post was a lamentable tale of tragic loss. We still feel it a bit, that beautiful horse. But Omi now has a new steed, name of Riley. Almost a year to the day after Roxy died, Riley pulled a neat stunt of getting tangled in a wire fence, pulling a chunk of skin from his ankle right above the hoof. I've never seen so much blood, nor such a large vet bill. I've stayed in hotels less lavish than Riley's convalescence digs.<br /><br />Riley is recovering nicely, but one wonders whether we are meant to own horses.<br /><br />Some other stuff happened too. And here we are, in 2012.<br /><br />Despite leaving the world of motorsports, it keeps finding me. 1986 Aussie Formula Two champ Jon Crooke has been trying to get me into his new hybrid motorbike-powered micro race car, the <a href="http://www.hyperracer.com/">Hyper Pro Racer</a>. MOTOR magazine, with whom I have <a href="http://www.athertonblab.blogspot.com.au/2006/10/speaking-of-cars.html">had previous relations</a>, were doing a spread on the car during a test day at the magnificent Bryant Park hillclimb track at Moe, a track dubbed "little Bathurst". It was here I was promised a drive.<br /><br />But no- MOTOR's Dave Morley broke the test mule before I could drive. My consolation was to take my new XR6 around the track, at liberal speed. Jon had hired the track all to himself and you could do. whatever. you. wanted.<br /><br />Here's the MOTOR spread, featuring photos taken from a lunatic/artistic genius lying in the boot of my car while I drove sedately around, trying not to kill him...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcdvBOykSFjQYf8A_l8Rf_KKKhqJ15nks0xl3C6XdLLBnselNp-DrAoUPbnBHp6sNPQcOVGlcMqTKFdRFT3kD9O60x76mJhG8aAiGj8Fkp9GfDWOv3dqohWNHZgIkCG5-obN8/s1600/MOTORhyper+spread.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcdvBOykSFjQYf8A_l8Rf_KKKhqJ15nks0xl3C6XdLLBnselNp-DrAoUPbnBHp6sNPQcOVGlcMqTKFdRFT3kD9O60x76mJhG8aAiGj8Fkp9GfDWOv3dqohWNHZgIkCG5-obN8/s400/MOTORhyper+spread.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717825511051434914" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-87064506932133516812010-09-17T18:16:00.000-07:002010-09-17T18:29:57.387-07:00Roxy and Omi<a href="http://athertonblab.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-missy.html">I blogged about it, when we first got Roxy.</a>. I wrote about how I tried to play hardball, as the family breadwinner, that we could not buy this horse until we sold the other one. I tried to play the stern, clinical, purse-strings-clutching father saying "no". But I couldn't say no to this one. There was something about her that I knew I was not meant to resist. And even before all of the beautiful women in my life (wife, daughter, mother) lovingly convinced me it was the right thing to do, I had already decided. She was a beautiful animal. She was just perfect.<br /><br />Perhaps when the agony passes, I might understand. The agony that my precious daughter didn't get to say goodbye, because fate is so cruel. A holiday which was meant to free her from so much stress, to give her some relief, ended up depriving her of some final, brief precious moments with this dear animal. We had only just sent her off to what was meant to be a time and place of joy. Now it's been rudely invaded with more pain.<br /><br />When the vet said those dreadful words, all I could think about was this. It isn't fair. Any other time but this. Can my daughter take any more blows?<br /><br />Roxy was so beautiful, right to the last. She accepted it graciously, she didn't struggle. She lay down softly, looking up at us. But in her gaze she knew someone was missing. I hope she forgave us, if horses can do such a thing.<br /><br />Dear Roxy, you were only in our family for such a short time. Maybe one day I will understand, how it must be remembered as nothing other than a precious, wonderful time. I understand that death robs us so much. But it's cruel and unfair that my poor Naomi didn't have the chance to start her grieving and sadness, by the side of this irreplaceable companion.<br /><br />Goodbye Roxy. You were the best friend my daughter had. She was at her happiest sitting on your back. Right from the start, when I tried to play tough guy, you kept softening me up. You were just like all the other beautiful women in my life.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-EVcf9x5ysf-7FM-TMeKAoXhkVfa9VNRwa64CURVZHiEAWymR68WlNF5d649KO5V6PnbRnI5O1uGqvoIkSwo8WXFhmW-mnVk_k-YSnCCKbiEhBZuRBeOhvyr6zHBjDdU9ZDD/s1600/Mum's+camera+455.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-EVcf9x5ysf-7FM-TMeKAoXhkVfa9VNRwa64CURVZHiEAWymR68WlNF5d649KO5V6PnbRnI5O1uGqvoIkSwo8WXFhmW-mnVk_k-YSnCCKbiEhBZuRBeOhvyr6zHBjDdU9ZDD/s320/Mum's+camera+455.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518057815854458466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />For my precious daughter, I pray that void will be filled somehow, one day.<br /><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-2015045861038249302010-04-29T21:29:00.001-07:002010-04-29T21:36:49.934-07:00Why the media are stupid #2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJmlT-S6pEoCxrhKFh6QSbjJBxGXTrHooNYCsbPnVpNC_rDZUn0Gi8nqBlv9vZCJzHq7Ek7FpcMFJi-M4k9rGMHF_9eMbPOavARuN3inPMOs-EjVR8HECLCeCjpvt-o-FSJic/s1600/crime+to+be+illegal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJmlT-S6pEoCxrhKFh6QSbjJBxGXTrHooNYCsbPnVpNC_rDZUn0Gi8nqBlv9vZCJzHq7Ek7FpcMFJi-M4k9rGMHF_9eMbPOavARuN3inPMOs-EjVR8HECLCeCjpvt-o-FSJic/s320/crime+to+be+illegal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465783520837160562" border="0" /></a><br />Egads ! Since when were crimes considered illegal ??<br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-13652189405325106052010-04-21T21:53:00.000-07:002010-04-21T21:56:13.953-07:00PaddysaurusI've invented a new term and simply had to share it on the blog... (since nobody in the real world gets me)<br /><br />Here it is: "<span style="font-style: italic;">Passive anorexia</span>".<br /><br />It's what happens to you when you are dining with two or more nurses, and they are talking about their work.<br /><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-8870368438302162512010-03-29T23:21:00.000-07:002010-03-29T23:55:09.768-07:00And that was just on the way to the tram stop!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEIVzfgJ1JR0PHPajCT7KSKi0oI6l7ntdrNmjza8y5mIsej8TUkU9To-JywI_ns1gwzwVVk5L-U8ejT0zTAY2wx9neITO8jrcw-PegBsSqZxqwJKUGjSq0ZwwQi1YELUqDVIM/s1600/monpm2.jpg"><br /></a><br />People are actually more interesting than race cars..<br /><br />Just...<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbCT_TE6EdbR6iXnDlrx5KCuevra_zSpMHIoff-PeZSf2JChurruexwSYFpng7rwtJWwD2qcewDFtq6kvDeE8OKW5vCUht8TVkwSXftXte7hYmExrFUNWv9sUtOhqm1tmTKYw/s1600/sunpm2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbCT_TE6EdbR6iXnDlrx5KCuevra_zSpMHIoff-PeZSf2JChurruexwSYFpng7rwtJWwD2qcewDFtq6kvDeE8OKW5vCUht8TVkwSXftXte7hYmExrFUNWv9sUtOhqm1tmTKYw/s400/sunpm2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454308756169262242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Webber Snr. Had his chin up, all things considered...</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaVSIQU1K7IpsTv_DBFYhqBmYCjOM2AyWZYNyY-scA4gVZsAT6b9oX71Jigsn90gMHGUolqxcSXVxZq4F5VnyxuhSf3RUJdXfXwHir00l1H5fK_NpLU0QUAZCH7RL02aP6M2p/s1600/sunpm1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaVSIQU1K7IpsTv_DBFYhqBmYCjOM2AyWZYNyY-scA4gVZsAT6b9oX71Jigsn90gMHGUolqxcSXVxZq4F5VnyxuhSf3RUJdXfXwHir00l1H5fK_NpLU0QUAZCH7RL02aP6M2p/s400/sunpm1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454308746294432754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">"That's <span style="font-style: italic;">Sir</span> Jackie to you, laddie" </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(Just kidding. ....<br />He would never call me "laddie")</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsbLPNfxPCYJi1cppPd7TOO06ABIBcMlnZXOX4kFS9Zusk6NFyWU0wR0KMw_fJ7yO-nIagQsbUb7Gf1rSovDHaQYdrS5_DMaH_9c_2t3KOiOh-x_Da8Bd43Fgi0lTpoY27oVm/s1600/sunpm3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsbLPNfxPCYJi1cppPd7TOO06ABIBcMlnZXOX4kFS9Zusk6NFyWU0wR0KMw_fJ7yO-nIagQsbUb7Gf1rSovDHaQYdrS5_DMaH_9c_2t3KOiOh-x_Da8Bd43Fgi0lTpoY27oVm/s400/sunpm3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454312222978187922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Yep. He's large.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDC1kmCYQ_G3Mr1Hun1EyfEvkpKWZz6AA54LU6CWozY5366wveDY_w_k2HVRCJ2Oaygpc2wT38ehFzyp-hv2uZprZhD5JNJghFRcopxdYRIc-kkUOVVg4JsTwxl9x4GFAOUpia/s1600/sunpm4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDC1kmCYQ_G3Mr1Hun1EyfEvkpKWZz6AA54LU6CWozY5366wveDY_w_k2HVRCJ2Oaygpc2wT38ehFzyp-hv2uZprZhD5JNJghFRcopxdYRIc-kkUOVVg4JsTwxl9x4GFAOUpia/s400/sunpm4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454312217961703074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Stoddy. Wonder what budget airline he owns now?</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_aZduSMMm2OccSxvnEMV603oZbHb8F9MNkz_nvEMhuEB4w2GnW3QWysErnPzEOhU9JrhKNP4wO5IzoElquTvckvCsRUZfzxkDKGJCuwAKt7yzTIoJts5j0NJmDZ3LWYoJRXx/s1600/sunpm5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_aZduSMMm2OccSxvnEMV603oZbHb8F9MNkz_nvEMhuEB4w2GnW3QWysErnPzEOhU9JrhKNP4wO5IzoElquTvckvCsRUZfzxkDKGJCuwAKt7yzTIoJts5j0NJmDZ3LWYoJRXx/s400/sunpm5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454312211956156258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">So how is test driving working out for you Fisi? </span><br /></div><br /><br />Marcos, who unlike me was unburdened by the responsibility of having to go to work on Monday, did even more flesh-pressing at Crown.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEIVzfgJ1JR0PHPajCT7KSKi0oI6l7ntdrNmjza8y5mIsej8TUkU9To-JywI_ns1gwzwVVk5L-U8ejT0zTAY2wx9neITO8jrcw-PegBsSqZxqwJKUGjSq0ZwwQi1YELUqDVIM/s1600/monpm2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEIVzfgJ1JR0PHPajCT7KSKi0oI6l7ntdrNmjza8y5mIsej8TUkU9To-JywI_ns1gwzwVVk5L-U8ejT0zTAY2wx9neITO8jrcw-PegBsSqZxqwJKUGjSq0ZwwQi1YELUqDVIM/s400/monpm2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454313911377222194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">SURE it was a mechanical failure, Sebastian!<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-_Z_7UmOuZTYMIlCp1dz4B04g7nFXPrzfPjqnKAnLIZ1ayGj5c_JSAiTOG5eEgGgnzBzH_Cv9tda2iV6y0IIyUEMSXCztkPswTM606QSjUZyx-yZXvhAsCWMSQpn03_2p8qI/s1600/monpm3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-_Z_7UmOuZTYMIlCp1dz4B04g7nFXPrzfPjqnKAnLIZ1ayGj5c_JSAiTOG5eEgGgnzBzH_Cv9tda2iV6y0IIyUEMSXCztkPswTM606QSjUZyx-yZXvhAsCWMSQpn03_2p8qI/s400/monpm3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454313902904819266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Yes Lewis, it is a bloody nanny state. Four million Victorians will hardly disagree.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uIP57qbQpiZvhXo926mvK7xKr1lhfM6Ofb3Sw01HM_xPa4a9GZdg6irC3k8m2WXoeGf2P-mGhnt0tvBuYvwaKEJwvQou91e-hEeRcv2zXWZR3nvfrmp_OcepqfNM5RtmlMgN/s1600/monpm4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uIP57qbQpiZvhXo926mvK7xKr1lhfM6Ofb3Sw01HM_xPa4a9GZdg6irC3k8m2WXoeGf2P-mGhnt0tvBuYvwaKEJwvQou91e-hEeRcv2zXWZR3nvfrmp_OcepqfNM5RtmlMgN/s400/monpm4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454310469101484274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyY9ck_i0bk9sOxA2QSbWOU-aLzr3ALBmbaKWeH4Zh5jC4hfNiRpW217XnIlIEQm59PDtLt3zdzOrpw-xSSydBjuYjBl3ZAfklRBuLqKZk_I7icbPHAqNlbshWXWs0USWb8fD/s1600/monpm5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyY9ck_i0bk9sOxA2QSbWOU-aLzr3ALBmbaKWeH4Zh5jC4hfNiRpW217XnIlIEQm59PDtLt3zdzOrpw-xSSydBjuYjBl3ZAfklRBuLqKZk_I7icbPHAqNlbshWXWs0USWb8fD/s400/monpm5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454310465445722530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEYQclR5MwQSXubS0106pD6CaPx1Lw9HkXfbAIK_3hy9q7KO4KIKBuh8393UaoGDvmcxbbJ6g_Xr-K140ZgqmhJK-xOsh_XnyQYPKomMgFiD2mTR9K5Jv_w4N6E2n4z4psf0_/s1600/monpm1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEYQclR5MwQSXubS0106pD6CaPx1Lw9HkXfbAIK_3hy9q7KO4KIKBuh8393UaoGDvmcxbbJ6g_Xr-K140ZgqmhJK-xOsh_XnyQYPKomMgFiD2mTR9K5Jv_w4N6E2n4z4psf0_/s400/monpm1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454310454538974786" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJn4MlzgsooMddR5newuU_QDjZ5zmZ4ztIwnl_oO3Q0YVTMFld6dOjPuKyHSkAOrA_u_ECA0z-ZioQX5v0XPBDBx9RqgPAHG5ngHaOx2axoCE94_MGsUQRoCfflOEscWKXG-C/s1600/monpm6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJn4MlzgsooMddR5newuU_QDjZ5zmZ4ztIwnl_oO3Q0YVTMFld6dOjPuKyHSkAOrA_u_ECA0z-ZioQX5v0XPBDBx9RqgPAHG5ngHaOx2axoCE94_MGsUQRoCfflOEscWKXG-C/s400/monpm6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454310443481763906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Brazilian, you say? You got a sister??</span><br /><br /><br />.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-85206108779393649872010-03-28T05:09:00.000-07:002010-03-28T14:38:52.947-07:00Grand Prix gets slightly more interesting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVLw2Bx2EAd020Q-rBarMK3wcjRrCPQR73FdWfzNBbS4ufrdXskFBkAPcEULNGLR4MSfTsvmgj1t22h70nHbskCDiHvrMhi0TDI7af8ceiv5R1JK1AnMdPYvybdtlSdEWlqyu/s1600/rubinho.jpg"><br /></a>My marshalling post was about as exciting as watching Save Albert Park protesters complain. And that was <span style="font-style: italic;">with</span> the near-priceless Ascari having it's right rear corner ripped off by an equally near-priceless Porsche GT3 and another Porsche catching fire in front of us.<br /><br />And that was after I had to drive from Wartook in the morning to get there (check it on a map). I parked at the Exhibition Centre, found out the trams weren't stopping out the front, had to sprint up the road to Spencer St, stopping briefly to chat with Jenson Button's dad. He wished me a "quiet day". I wished him and his boy luck. I now wish I hadn't. I finally got to my post, already quite stuffed.<br /><br />But it did get more interesting after the race. Thanks to an old GP friend Marcos Linhares, a bubbly Brazilian and former accredited journalist who is used to getting into places, and still does, now without accreditation. The magic he can weave merely with my CAMS Guest pass is amazing. Every time Marcos is around, things always get interesting.<br /><br />Here's some pics to prove it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKKH6IxCIRg9NmVgs79ufo89niscm4jkHuMYVk0w0Mund_9S55Nag5w3O8Nt79oxJXf188Fudc9PwbAmsWcsNkkLdPiHiPLoFjkk13Ojir1p_rMxTruBOq26nib1eQ8YV6WXB/s1600/Marcos1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKKH6IxCIRg9NmVgs79ufo89niscm4jkHuMYVk0w0Mund_9S55Nag5w3O8Nt79oxJXf188Fudc9PwbAmsWcsNkkLdPiHiPLoFjkk13Ojir1p_rMxTruBOq26nib1eQ8YV6WXB/s400/Marcos1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453657808192352210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">That would be Marcos</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-GMawtg1v7Tebf3Y3GqDWE6n0jS8vyOVQ5AyJUESRl_Miv60gJ5p7g4q0V_GasEr_kI594twu8p6oKMDpAfeXu8rZKPczseb5Nvty_gllSZKplT0Y35PkvSfAfZJ9xrH7ZeT/s1600/Corinna.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-GMawtg1v7Tebf3Y3GqDWE6n0jS8vyOVQ5AyJUESRl_Miv60gJ5p7g4q0V_GasEr_kI594twu8p6oKMDpAfeXu8rZKPczseb5Nvty_gllSZKplT0Y35PkvSfAfZJ9xrH7ZeT/s400/Corinna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453657795433820754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Corinne Schumacher talks to hubby "Nein, leibster, don't come out yet...there are too many of ze fan people outside" (I seriously think that's what she was saying from what I overheard!)</span><br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM68Y_xM9KCUGSLe5J6d75WEy-ZLlh_35mN0VEIvzBFeGQZKZtTFUdGYoHuTgmoXAbnVdr8SDuOv6Kdh7h4Y5LPyOyT8nWSiCRVdIW8VvTCcZCgRiAeyBt2g5j-JbVGR8IcB52/s1600/Mallaya.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM68Y_xM9KCUGSLe5J6d75WEy-ZLlh_35mN0VEIvzBFeGQZKZtTFUdGYoHuTgmoXAbnVdr8SDuOv6Kdh7h4Y5LPyOyT8nWSiCRVdIW8VvTCcZCgRiAeyBt2g5j-JbVGR8IcB52/s400/Mallaya.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453657811247041090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Vijay Mallya, owner of the very handy if not slightly dorkily named Force India</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh278iHEmVWYYd2bYh-Fws84yIoe7s8fdWdIfKw9jp37RKML2nm6JefVFUPj91krSFLhyiVyTt8fs-OKAnHrRahTW8C4ioyCbs8Xz4f1uFsLgafmsJX8QuT97Zq2LZdLoqJ0fEm/s1600/eddiejordan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh278iHEmVWYYd2bYh-Fws84yIoe7s8fdWdIfKw9jp37RKML2nm6JefVFUPj91krSFLhyiVyTt8fs-OKAnHrRahTW8C4ioyCbs8Xz4f1uFsLgafmsJX8QuT97Zq2LZdLoqJ0fEm/s400/eddiejordan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453657799428857026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />A blurry and not at all well-looking Eddie Jordan, drummer and former team owner</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zpupFwGd_YI8xMAqH4HFGFiHBlsx7mwRwHeHfVUbPaMNBDIqtDyZGMSea6kBW5gLB1X45le3ErBySYyD3wxRwe_ywpRQw-2WVg9g44sYv9-zcYtVX8GzoGb4pPFWhWtTOX_u/s1600/vitantonio.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zpupFwGd_YI8xMAqH4HFGFiHBlsx7mwRwHeHfVUbPaMNBDIqtDyZGMSea6kBW5gLB1X45le3ErBySYyD3wxRwe_ywpRQw-2WVg9g44sYv9-zcYtVX8GzoGb4pPFWhWtTOX_u/s400/vitantonio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453660809840688722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Vitantantontonio Liuzzi</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTlYd7VGO3CRK2qpjWUpdKd2zFFDnQdUE2ZXXqZkuFNexC4PKGbmDPIrUojDz8tgP2KDS4c_f64U2iPFWFGU17MiWSqL1L2QD5GDSs9G1NQM3FKPQyOJ_sqet6gFMUkj4yCSa/s1600/meandvitaton.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTlYd7VGO3CRK2qpjWUpdKd2zFFDnQdUE2ZXXqZkuFNexC4PKGbmDPIrUojDz8tgP2KDS4c_f64U2iPFWFGU17MiWSqL1L2QD5GDSs9G1NQM3FKPQyOJ_sqet6gFMUkj4yCSa/s400/meandvitaton.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453660800964313250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">"It's only Vitantantontantonio Liuzzi, Marcos, let's find someone more interesting..."</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHgJm60FWqGGtp908bWtOGnA6ty5aG1KiOJu37Dr1DodG3Crzxu3w0enUZfrt37E7dm590VwrX1PGjxGLeVrIuNp0R-35dO3mbtu454LKNrG9ggKlbs6gePLXvktHRM3Vz9KH/s1600/NikiLauda.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHgJm60FWqGGtp908bWtOGnA6ty5aG1KiOJu37Dr1DodG3Crzxu3w0enUZfrt37E7dm590VwrX1PGjxGLeVrIuNp0R-35dO3mbtu454LKNrG9ggKlbs6gePLXvktHRM3Vz9KH/s400/NikiLauda.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453660797109910722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">"Lauda"!! No...."Lauda!! "...no...oh, you've heard that one before... a few million times...okay...</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7dlAJwPH_PcwTQy-1vIORWari5r8Y7YA0QvO_MBNPa82J8LwW5X0oWIRqOe50Xk2js3kh_U0VEooHb_add5ZOI5RK1y3c57_ga5C7Szn1oyPn70xGmXnpo-JQv7Pyef9LDl1/s1600/martinbrundle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7dlAJwPH_PcwTQy-1vIORWari5r8Y7YA0QvO_MBNPa82J8LwW5X0oWIRqOe50Xk2js3kh_U0VEooHb_add5ZOI5RK1y3c57_ga5C7Szn1oyPn70xGmXnpo-JQv7Pyef9LDl1/s400/martinbrundle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453657821717244306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Martin Brundle, the best driver to come out of the UK in the 80's and 90's, period.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4i1ieCF4LiWL0vhKljJeVuSYkxSezI6G7AhU43SU7sRCat3bh7O_PJ4S9xa9TtSyVPX-kpvKYEZPloUS0_yZbV7QDTCZcJyhH_oezbZQvDAgmyRQReJbcDg_HsVA7Vz9vsDb/s1600/martinmarcos.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4i1ieCF4LiWL0vhKljJeVuSYkxSezI6G7AhU43SU7sRCat3bh7O_PJ4S9xa9TtSyVPX-kpvKYEZPloUS0_yZbV7QDTCZcJyhH_oezbZQvDAgmyRQReJbcDg_HsVA7Vz9vsDb/s400/martinmarcos.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453660754535315138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">He is also an uber-gentleman. He remembered Marcos from having met the evening before and asked after some things they had talked about. </span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTXMiGAd46-hGbY2fIH3nq5tHLFeG0ugNp7Cl7SQ0KEmIQbqwViaaEY8vFj-JTZPortyAdQNgc2SqQZ0Us7AK51XPMXSM4IZVyPRmoGe7j_TS7bxOrbpDZezNbwZ0gk2xD9fD/s1600/Josef.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTXMiGAd46-hGbY2fIH3nq5tHLFeG0ugNp7Cl7SQ0KEmIQbqwViaaEY8vFj-JTZPortyAdQNgc2SqQZ0Us7AK51XPMXSM4IZVyPRmoGe7j_TS7bxOrbpDZezNbwZ0gk2xD9fD/s400/Josef.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453660744570616306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Josef Leberer was once Ayrton Senna's physical therapist, now working for Red Bull, and an extremely charming man.</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7dlAJwPH_PcwTQy-1vIORWari5r8Y7YA0QvO_MBNPa82J8LwW5X0oWIRqOe50Xk2js3kh_U0VEooHb_add5ZOI5RK1y3c57_ga5C7Szn1oyPn70xGmXnpo-JQv7Pyef9LDl1/s1600/martinbrundle.jpg"><br /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1x7ypapjrlb7VzqtQveh1B8gtag92NZd5cTvtlRKViMHRJ8xZ45LJaSe87C_OH1gGD6nFftYiMqMvpK6koR6NI5r2IopCQuxvG5wO_0HvD_kEHWlGmXmtL5Qedi-5ZfkQRGqY/s1600/Stoddart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1x7ypapjrlb7VzqtQveh1B8gtag92NZd5cTvtlRKViMHRJ8xZ45LJaSe87C_OH1gGD6nFftYiMqMvpK6koR6NI5r2IopCQuxvG5wO_0HvD_kEHWlGmXmtL5Qedi-5ZfkQRGqY/s400/Stoddart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453663077636008578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Paul Stodddart, the man who gave Webber a break, trying to hide the fact that he's holding a fa</span>g<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVLw2Bx2EAd020Q-rBarMK3wcjRrCPQR73FdWfzNBbS4ufrdXskFBkAPcEULNGLR4MSfTsvmgj1t22h70nHbskCDiHvrMhi0TDI7af8ceiv5R1JK1AnMdPYvybdtlSdEWlqyu/s1600/rubinho.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVLw2Bx2EAd020Q-rBarMK3wcjRrCPQR73FdWfzNBbS4ufrdXskFBkAPcEULNGLR4MSfTsvmgj1t22h70nHbskCDiHvrMhi0TDI7af8ceiv5R1JK1AnMdPYvybdtlSdEWlqyu/s400/rubinho.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453663084110554018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Our family fave, Rubinho, let me pretend to be his minder for a few paces. "Move aside folks, Rubes has a plane to catch". If I really want to be a hardball minder, perhaps I should stop grinning like a goof.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYN7Zepy8oxbsxqawkLYKxDde2s6zd-5Mgh5SwKfRAnX1hf-Q9qSXnQmfAhanHZD5rNuW27qv5AXmSB_vYCB2Vg5B2UOmH7-O8_llSLJ1evrutSq8-hzweaTOM10Eu-rl-40pT/s1600/timo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYN7Zepy8oxbsxqawkLYKxDde2s6zd-5Mgh5SwKfRAnX1hf-Q9qSXnQmfAhanHZD5rNuW27qv5AXmSB_vYCB2Vg5B2UOmH7-O8_llSLJ1evrutSq8-hzweaTOM10Eu-rl-40pT/s400/timo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453663079266878754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">German Timo Glock whose name in Irish is pronounced "Tim O'GLock". Driving for Richard Branson's new super team, which designed it's F1 car with a fuel tank too small. Fly Virgin, they're safe. No, really...</span><br /><br />Coming soon, pics of Jackie Stewart, Ian Thorpe and Mark Webber's Dad, Allan!<br /><br /><br /><br />.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zpupFwGd_YI8xMAqH4HFGFiHBlsx7mwRwHeHfVUbPaMNBDIqtDyZGMSea6kBW5gLB1X45le3ErBySYyD3wxRwe_ywpRQw-2WVg9g44sYv9-zcYtVX8GzoGb4pPFWhWtTOX_u/s1600/vitantonio.jpg"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-90403000858565141942010-03-26T04:45:00.000-07:002010-03-28T06:04:46.986-07:00Australian Grand Prix- now with extra wedding!To cut a long story short:<br /><br />A close friend who lives 3 hours drive from Melbourne decided to (finally) get married. This was good.<br /><br />She scheduled the wedding date the same weekend as the Grand Prix. That bit was bad. Because when I try to have my cake and etc.... things invariably become hyper complicated. To keep it simple, I am driving a great distance in a very short time, and for once I'm thankful Bernie Moneybags demanded that the GP starts at 5pm on Sunday. It means I have a chance of getting back in time for the race, and not displeasing the motorsport powers-what-be to the point of getting kicked out of the marshalling team.<br /><br />I've been conscripted into the communications team these days. That means I listen to the race control loop all day and occasionally call in with something really, really trivial just to remind them that I still exist. To top things off, I am posted on the the most boring section of track, ever.<br /><br />Still, things started swimmingly enough. Of all the boring of boringest posts on the track, Bruno Senna had to walk past mine, on Thursday morning. With my meagre Portuguese I gave him a hearty greeting, and he gave me a hearty response.<br /><br />That pretty much had my weekend made. Now here's some pics, hot off the press, of some people you probably don't know and shiny expensive things.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1vqeXelIsByPaIu8ENwxpNuoqNYcsZQ_-SdcXH70cJCHlt6heorrW_auvXUI532hpAt_BrA4-_OzfHdqWgyhnCeuYiGb_O_HTz-dDc71jTGBoj8XbiHwG0e7y1EuTWERG3dR/s1600/gp1008.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuBwA5hyRtAx7AM_9ifLny7UHaxskdBpiOlI5DHhArTZWDDjI52vJm7vUCFQTBoq8nPhnWv9xpyPKfi7sGL3A3r-1yczmILFyaHSqir2Uyri1DckIkEa4QO1LJ1yoVQlGJQss/s1600/gp1009.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCMmNz6bwafJr3-4qcEvZuzQq6o9PINNFGVNwRQ7B4eafCBFNZ6QW0OnLAo4eF3iBhMzWcSz85pkv9EFcQq2e3trJQHsmDMvN9lsX7G0rQlehnAFMw8XTxdEN8gPirCGZ2-18/s1600/gp1010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCMmNz6bwafJr3-4qcEvZuzQq6o9PINNFGVNwRQ7B4eafCBFNZ6QW0OnLAo4eF3iBhMzWcSz85pkv9EFcQq2e3trJQHsmDMvN9lsX7G0rQlehnAFMw8XTxdEN8gPirCGZ2-18/s400/gp1010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452914594475844434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAN-_dug3ySJlPWG9MnIQEBHS4O54si2AIqf_Kw58foDk5IUkkIK9jiQw6yM4OOhUVEJ5bti-a6a6ia8yBvdx2aeKDELC62bksPfzJSS5NsDduNe2v3fTB7M1i7KWg71qYbEpF/s1600/gp1003.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGICBGzz9DoTc6w8uQEVkRHLrnT7Re82NIlDwCjpQAs5GQGvxEp6Igj1Gyuek687NnOQFndQnv-wUff7DiLQpNgq15LQMaKcWa6VDA8WRBm9S0wrklpWT7QS-hU6u4nLzbvEb/s1600/gp1002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGICBGzz9DoTc6w8uQEVkRHLrnT7Re82NIlDwCjpQAs5GQGvxEp6Igj1Gyuek687NnOQFndQnv-wUff7DiLQpNgq15LQMaKcWa6VDA8WRBm9S0wrklpWT7QS-hU6u4nLzbvEb/s400/gp1002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452914579185269602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoHv5swUPAEVhOaN-6aluGX-8kQUoMqLk5RWKPM9J7Mjrm32Nw1Og04CvEIVYrJlyvTnNC97eNJqflandRp8SpMhHxi3oC69QcX5AgOXCjY9-F_w1zpvpVFYphOs3iDGcsAVj/s1600/gp1009.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoHv5swUPAEVhOaN-6aluGX-8kQUoMqLk5RWKPM9J7Mjrm32Nw1Og04CvEIVYrJlyvTnNC97eNJqflandRp8SpMhHxi3oC69QcX5AgOXCjY9-F_w1zpvpVFYphOs3iDGcsAVj/s400/gp1009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452914064338693666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAN-_dug3ySJlPWG9MnIQEBHS4O54si2AIqf_Kw58foDk5IUkkIK9jiQw6yM4OOhUVEJ5bti-a6a6ia8yBvdx2aeKDELC62bksPfzJSS5NsDduNe2v3fTB7M1i7KWg71qYbEpF/s1600/gp1003.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAN-_dug3ySJlPWG9MnIQEBHS4O54si2AIqf_Kw58foDk5IUkkIK9jiQw6yM4OOhUVEJ5bti-a6a6ia8yBvdx2aeKDELC62bksPfzJSS5NsDduNe2v3fTB7M1i7KWg71qYbEpF/s400/gp1003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452914584032831778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjluUy6UDDbLcl85Nq35RZhvZXqHn4SBiDnXmMpNG8fip9L3Q7QV3tyuYJt56x7JFtB5e2RdDepJE5rme6FN5CiMmAWgkbzpMOWz5etGyFIdoWZQvwERhftGSUxKtIDP3O2m9D/s1600/gp1007.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjluUy6UDDbLcl85Nq35RZhvZXqHn4SBiDnXmMpNG8fip9L3Q7QV3tyuYJt56x7JFtB5e2RdDepJE5rme6FN5CiMmAWgkbzpMOWz5etGyFIdoWZQvwERhftGSUxKtIDP3O2m9D/s400/gp1007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452914062280584802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizM6PFkkdxqJQT0piIgl512-kF4OU7oFYIHnrBTZpaSXdCs7sarDl0njH_hRjT5hG3NTXvV-mUy_4xsKGbECf473EkGOwcBCPweAbPB6ITpw34E9ul4e9buE9gPLHeCTqJGp17/s1600/gp1005.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizM6PFkkdxqJQT0piIgl512-kF4OU7oFYIHnrBTZpaSXdCs7sarDl0njH_hRjT5hG3NTXvV-mUy_4xsKGbECf473EkGOwcBCPweAbPB6ITpw34E9ul4e9buE9gPLHeCTqJGp17/s400/gp1005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452914053893059746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZ-OsVffHZjuJThyBqSwnrOzr80DczTu22XJqUv7AFFPrxbI5umNEsEVYoAMx0_0EhNZ-ZaUcMN91X2pklKI69_7WP9opPGQJ-UiiF0KtQH-Kr8ryA3ymEocnyae3x9GR-sbo/s1600/gp1004.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZ-OsVffHZjuJThyBqSwnrOzr80DczTu22XJqUv7AFFPrxbI5umNEsEVYoAMx0_0EhNZ-ZaUcMN91X2pklKI69_7WP9opPGQJ-UiiF0KtQH-Kr8ryA3ymEocnyae3x9GR-sbo/s400/gp1004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452914046403850610" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESfGSTR8UuSYiB1cnBGrRYOkebH6EPAS67aJWi-715ID_LULPNmCsIonaONxu1jGGGMtsS-xChGWD2j4UlbObZ9DD2O7TkHaZjbflU5xBt50K0yvEuR4Uo_VDlWHyGxz9LKfy/s1600/gp1001.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESfGSTR8UuSYiB1cnBGrRYOkebH6EPAS67aJWi-715ID_LULPNmCsIonaONxu1jGGGMtsS-xChGWD2j4UlbObZ9DD2O7TkHaZjbflU5xBt50K0yvEuR4Uo_VDlWHyGxz9LKfy/s400/gp1001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452914036913456962" border="0" /></a><br />Nick Heidfeld, who I mistook for Nico Rosberg, (who really<span style="font-style: italic;"> should</span> grow a beard as he is often mistaken for a woman) but I don't think he noticed. Don't mention the w....<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1vqeXelIsByPaIu8ENwxpNuoqNYcsZQ_-SdcXH70cJCHlt6heorrW_auvXUI532hpAt_BrA4-_OzfHdqWgyhnCeuYiGb_O_HTz-dDc71jTGBoj8XbiHwG0e7y1EuTWERG3dR/s1600/gp1008.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1vqeXelIsByPaIu8ENwxpNuoqNYcsZQ_-SdcXH70cJCHlt6heorrW_auvXUI532hpAt_BrA4-_OzfHdqWgyhnCeuYiGb_O_HTz-dDc71jTGBoj8XbiHwG0e7y1EuTWERG3dR/s400/gp1008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452914609211035762" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Goosebumps!!<br /></div><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-28842445123926850502010-03-12T05:05:00.000-08:002010-03-12T14:47:42.691-08:00Passover, Easter and the Grand PrixYep, it's a big time of year for religious festivals.<br /><br />Let's cast a little <a href="http://athertonblab.blogspot.com/2006/04/so-great-its-spooky.html">look back to the same time of year in 2006</a>.<br /><br />The reason for that particular nostalgia trip was because, at the end, I blogged about a young Brazilian up-and-comer. Name of Bruno.<br /><br />Bruno Senna. Nephew of a chap named Ayrton.<br /><br />I watched him drive a F3 car like his uncle did- decimate his opposition on cold tyres on lap 1, effectively ending the race for everyone. Senna first. Daylight second. And goosebumps from me.<br /><br />Well now the lad is in F1, driving for one of the dubious first-time teams of 2010. I had hoped, back then in 2006, that he wouldn't rush it. He hasn't, but the Hispania Race Team has no design or manufacturer background which fills me with confidence. They only tested the car a week before the opening race in Bahrain (this weekend). A rubbish car and team can be a real career killer, even if you have the talent of Senna and Schumacher combined.<br /><br />Mind you, back in in 1984 his uncle drove for the little known minions Toleman and almost won a race, before scoring multiple points.<br /><br />I hope I'm wrong, and I hope he can carry them. In the meantime, let's see how Bruno goes just having fun...<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lnmpIqFoYtg&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lnmpIqFoYtg&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-759868645118274172010-03-11T01:37:00.000-08:002010-03-11T01:40:59.852-08:00Remember the "Studio" ?Our renovation projects tend to pop up in four yearly cycles. They stay unfinished until the cycle returns.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTyKDRseJmkAqbv4OOcDiUEOPmkNqMV0sbiISmZS4LIkvBlA6H-SRKWT4nLXA-sGyeUjOWwCWCBzVMybWkesaAYTJprJNcIcLveUMjpQAJN0VXBf0R-LZiBihMyTKaqcOydWX/s1600-h/studio+before.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTyKDRseJmkAqbv4OOcDiUEOPmkNqMV0sbiISmZS4LIkvBlA6H-SRKWT4nLXA-sGyeUjOWwCWCBzVMybWkesaAYTJprJNcIcLveUMjpQAJN0VXBf0R-LZiBihMyTKaqcOydWX/s320/studio+before.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447308489198572098" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Don't look down. It's even more upsetting.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Well, the Studio is back on. I'll post some "during" pics. My utopia awaits.<br /><br /><br />.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-90274636483010346482010-02-24T17:31:00.000-08:002010-02-24T18:17:16.336-08:00New MissyI seem to recall this very thing happening some years ago with a little, fat, white pony.<br /><br />Barely nanoseconds after dragging ourselves out of a potential financial mess, we buy a horse.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcP_GIyTBZ0aT7qA5mGvZfhMmLTh9V6vLGmKhLxpmmD0rRtdJ1o-O3yI8U52-8-iGrhvhEpij3ne0kvHhoWok03F4BoTJV6NfY8asHT6zI3n6lqbsHL7kUBx3aWUaAdAjR62A4/s1600-h/Rox2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcP_GIyTBZ0aT7qA5mGvZfhMmLTh9V6vLGmKhLxpmmD0rRtdJ1o-O3yI8U52-8-iGrhvhEpij3ne0kvHhoWok03F4BoTJV6NfY8asHT6zI3n6lqbsHL7kUBx3aWUaAdAjR62A4/s200/Rox2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441988554891361410" border="0" /></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwj3KpXMSKOAweVpQKlZle0NYzycQwCqeraj8ygkWcnsMBu4J7yMk5G24iJWWpBCmM_YyP0VInM2SAfpDf3fdL8qwwTmVqJ4Ylu3OywuWSx2b6BCsVA4HRNv3iq_XiqE5kf09/s1600-h/Rox3.jpg"><br /></a>I did my level best to play grumpy head-of-the-house-breadwinner and said "NO" to this purchase for a whole three weeks, but there was one overwhelming reality which I could not shake, and that was:-<br /><br />I. Love. This. Animal.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibl0H7a6C2rB5TBZj6i4z1zQnYv33mOii3kDLwWYpeS_pqPNvfhXqm7mGTIC_X3LTpjYzHzadRU5IFQIVyvdQUJZMqyVinmAeT9rk63lxwmKyd66-gMRJ6OHQa9WVXX1rVziUI/s1600-h/Rox1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibl0H7a6C2rB5TBZj6i4z1zQnYv33mOii3kDLwWYpeS_pqPNvfhXqm7mGTIC_X3LTpjYzHzadRU5IFQIVyvdQUJZMqyVinmAeT9rk63lxwmKyd66-gMRJ6OHQa9WVXX1rVziUI/s200/Rox1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441988564572465698" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Firstly, not being a snooty little high-bred pony (yes you're beautiful Opal and we love you but you're a snob), she actually comes over to you when you jump into the paddock.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwj3KpXMSKOAweVpQKlZle0NYzycQwCqeraj8ygkWcnsMBu4J7yMk5G24iJWWpBCmM_YyP0VInM2SAfpDf3fdL8qwwTmVqJ4Ylu3OywuWSx2b6BCsVA4HRNv3iq_XiqE5kf09/s1600-h/Rox3.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwj3KpXMSKOAweVpQKlZle0NYzycQwCqeraj8ygkWcnsMBu4J7yMk5G24iJWWpBCmM_YyP0VInM2SAfpDf3fdL8qwwTmVqJ4Ylu3OywuWSx2b6BCsVA4HRNv3iq_XiqE5kf09/s1600-h/Rox3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwj3KpXMSKOAweVpQKlZle0NYzycQwCqeraj8ygkWcnsMBu4J7yMk5G24iJWWpBCmM_YyP0VInM2SAfpDf3fdL8qwwTmVqJ4Ylu3OywuWSx2b6BCsVA4HRNv3iq_XiqE5kf09/s200/Rox3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441988580539521106" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />She's part Arab (no jokes please, we will get along just fine. Besides, she hasn't said anything remotely antisemitic yet). A strapping lass, athletic, but without looking like an oversized greyhound. She solicited comments from impressed observers at Omi's first Pony Club ride, one day after we collected her, at how cooperative and responsive she was, even with her new unfamiliar rider.<br /><br />She takes bridles and saddles without the slightest fuss. There was nought but placid ambivalence from her while a farrier hammered away at her feet, which made me almost oblivious to his bill.<br /><br />Yep. I purchase cars, motorbikes, even houses, and they will break down or misbehave. And I'm supposed to know a thing or two about those thingies.<br /><br />But me, I can buy horsies good I can.<br /><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-76176149768859752562010-02-24T16:55:00.000-08:002010-02-24T17:04:27.282-08:00Kevin's favourite interviewHe's so articulate! He didn't even <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/rudd-announces-42-million-assistance-package-for-insulation-industry/story-e6frgczf-1225833921207">batt </a>an eyelid.<br /><br /><object width="345" height="280"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KHPij5Q9geQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KHPij5Q9geQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="345" height="280"></embed></object><br /><br />I see little difference between this and the ABC's default practice anyway. Time to sack Kerry O'Brien and Tony Jones. It might save some money.<br /><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-25372680174332183862010-01-11T18:54:00.000-08:002010-01-11T21:52:58.296-08:00Bruce Wayne had a garage saleI've been warned that I'm getting way too serious about my politics.<br /><br />It's true. So, I thought I'd try my hand at poetry.<br /><br />Ahem....<br /><br /><br /><br />Bruce Wayne had a garage sale<br />His toys they had to go<br />Alfred got the Batmobile<br />Catwoman, the Lambo<br /><br />His black and sleek marine machine<br />Went to an eco-clown<br />Bruce, ever the capitalist<br />He wished they'd all just drown<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vBkV0Hij74zvozCYBEXoBdKCfIDAtescFUSnKfuGvsL2pLrvyfWizESFD8lxF4dZ72g0YwhRRXgOpdZ9swtBlrFIdwdiXhS5DCpH-PALrhosna6dEVcFdTR43VtCnt32hSzb/s1600-h/ady_gil1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vBkV0Hij74zvozCYBEXoBdKCfIDAtescFUSnKfuGvsL2pLrvyfWizESFD8lxF4dZ72g0YwhRRXgOpdZ9swtBlrFIdwdiXhS5DCpH-PALrhosna6dEVcFdTR43VtCnt32hSzb/s200/ady_gil1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425681972026372402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The hippy moonbats hit the sea<br />Off to the whale’s defence<br />With hope, and hemp, and attitude,<br />But not a boat licence.<br /><br />They tangled with the Japanese<br />Set off an awful row<br />You’d think they’d learn some manners<br />from Obama (he would bow).<br /><br />Such courage from our eco-friends<br />At danger they would laugh<br />Until the big Shona Maru<br />Just cut them right in half<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM36_oc8GSmIuKhPQpCFCmKwkVDPGmlibn9VQAHfY13TYXdprKyzi_AwevlW5ovmAGLi0xW1cJs8O-hjTK2Uf3UxkMAjlhIOu0ZElG1ZUCL_R1nivd3f7n6og5pOL-5qnQgB-R/s1600-h/ady+gil2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM36_oc8GSmIuKhPQpCFCmKwkVDPGmlibn9VQAHfY13TYXdprKyzi_AwevlW5ovmAGLi0xW1cJs8O-hjTK2Uf3UxkMAjlhIOu0ZElG1ZUCL_R1nivd3f7n6og5pOL-5qnQgB-R/s200/ady+gil2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425681975022826322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />They shed tears to their lawyers<br />While floating in the blue<br />And there did Bruce Wayne’s wish<br />just about come true…<br /><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-37633552398095575172010-01-11T14:53:00.000-08:002010-01-11T15:07:44.092-08:00So where the *&$#*! are youz?In the fine tradition of crass Aussie tourism promotions, I want to reach out to all of my overseas friends, especially those who haven't already been here (and survived).<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eNEeq5qGh8I&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eNEeq5qGh8I&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-48424628813049356802010-01-04T04:27:00.000-08:002010-01-11T21:54:15.987-08:00Christmas ballsOur Christmas get-together was going great until Buzz Lightyear tried to hit on Bratz Cowgirl.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBExD_ZK4mfcV8mPExlJ3e18Ki1aAwphAgOsLCS2gUHgxRsdxVzV6jCdeLmA2azgfzrn-pYX3fpIGGLEnVRBYRTjKFj2pW9P1tF7odj_AWxo0HyBLFTdfQax8VZGk1QgOpVzgw/s1600-h/buzzbratz.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBExD_ZK4mfcV8mPExlJ3e18Ki1aAwphAgOsLCS2gUHgxRsdxVzV6jCdeLmA2azgfzrn-pYX3fpIGGLEnVRBYRTjKFj2pW9P1tF7odj_AWxo0HyBLFTdfQax8VZGk1QgOpVzgw/s320/buzzbratz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422861343023286130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-3224909699167871002009-12-16T20:07:00.000-08:002009-12-17T02:36:35.026-08:00Poor Santa. Poor, fat, unhealthy, evil Santa...From the same university which brought you bogus speed-kills road safety data and climate change alarmism, now <a href="http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/santa-global-ambassador-for-obesity/story-e6freuyi-1225811326362">this startling expose on Santa Claus.</a><br /><br />Monash uni boffin Nathan Grills is concerned that Santa encourages, among other things, obesity, smoking, alcoholism, sloth, lack of hygiene and drink driving. In other words, he is too politically incorrect and must change his ways, or go.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGqzq4-VU4MUCP1D77U-LY7xW65FfuBGxs_EoM1RHQ1yjXuduDlCvh67j-YKOFp_GQIIetczkwfKM3Pf2r9qojDLGK95nDVuZ_1Bofj8GuqNWDZG9WZSTosYRnnQHAD0KYXJZ/s1600-h/evilsanta.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGqzq4-VU4MUCP1D77U-LY7xW65FfuBGxs_EoM1RHQ1yjXuduDlCvh67j-YKOFp_GQIIetczkwfKM3Pf2r9qojDLGK95nDVuZ_1Bofj8GuqNWDZG9WZSTosYRnnQHAD0KYXJZ/s200/evilsanta.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416148507603002242" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />None of this bothers me much since, as a family, we don't do Santa Claus, so to speak.<br /><br />What is a little disturbing is that a publicly funded university pays a professor to analyse the vices of someone who doesn't exist.<br /><br />First Global Climate Warming Change alarmism, and now this. Do we need any more proof that research departments should stop receiving all that juicy taxpayer funding?<br /><br />If they <span style="font-style: italic;">must</span> harass Santa Claus, why can't scientists stop being such killjoys and spend more time coming up with <a href="http://www.trottermath.net/humor/santaguy.html">stuff like this</a>. I'm prepared to believe in a Santa who's arrival is accompanied by a thermonuclear explosion. BOOM! Merry Christmas, all.<br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-9596765804062397772009-12-06T19:40:00.000-08:002009-12-06T19:46:30.387-08:00So you think you can wear pink glovesWhen I first saw this slightly cheesy but cute dance-off, something struck me. <br /><br />Sure, it's important to raise awareness about breast cancer. But what I really love about this, is that it proves something I've always believed: Real people are so much more interesting and beautiful than celebrities.<br /><br /><br /><object width="380" height="228"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OEdVfyt-mLw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OEdVfyt-mLw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="228"></embed></object><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-44420322364984782592009-12-06T18:11:00.000-08:002009-12-06T19:38:49.753-08:00A warming poem<div class="blog-ee-comment"> <p>From the brilliant <a href="http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/timblair/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/history_of_warming/#commentsmore">Tim Blair<b>, </b>whose readers are possibly more brilliant</a><b>:<br /><br /></b></p><p><b>Lyle’s History of Global Warming:<br /><br /></b> </p> <p> Ah, looking back, I have to smile,<br />When I was but a little Lyle<br />In summer, and I used at play<br />In gentle Narragansett Bay.<br /><br /></p> <p> Then panic grabbed ahold of me<br />When suddenly I had to pee<br />And to my shame, I now admit,<br />I warmed the ocean, just a bit.<br /><br /></p> <p> That reckless moment, I suspect,<br />Set off a domino effect;<br />And here’s a fact I now must face:<br />I have destroyed the human race.<br /><br /></p> <p> And so I must apologize<br />As all life on this planet dies,<br />I’m sorry, I was only three<br />And really, really had to pee.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>.<br /></p><p><br /></p> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-83857767548744124442009-11-09T21:23:00.001-08:002009-11-09T22:00:54.077-08:00Wall bad. Don't forget it.Time to reminisce on two related thingies; the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the 4.1 year anniversary of <a href="http://germatherton.blogspot.com/2005/10/days-26-28-ich-bin-eine-jam-donut.html">our variety-packed trip to Germany</a>.<br /><br />Casting my mind back to 1989, I do vaguely recall nonchalantly trudging past the TV while Mum and Dad excitedly exclaimed "Look, the Berlin wall is coming down! I never thought we'd see the day!". I (probably) responded with a grunt and wheelspun noisily away in the Datsun 1600, more interested in what my equally fashion-challenged mates' thought of my new happy pants.<br /><br />I'm thankful that 16 years later, my nerd-ish curiosity forced me to bone up on my cold-war history in order to make the 2005 trip a little more interesting. And boy, did it...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSZZqmidwqJjF7xkBB8EzOJ4II2AmSVPVxwvGCZJNFVVAAaWirR4uS4b46ZZ7LhWiXZrO7bMGmJnKJNIc-7hTt6-MegMwOPnvP6nzvJqoQfiXqrrlXsxHxVUQwf5WH62DT3t9/s1600-h/berlinwall3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSZZqmidwqJjF7xkBB8EzOJ4II2AmSVPVxwvGCZJNFVVAAaWirR4uS4b46ZZ7LhWiXZrO7bMGmJnKJNIc-7hTt6-MegMwOPnvP6nzvJqoQfiXqrrlXsxHxVUQwf5WH62DT3t9/s320/berlinwall3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402345902777045842" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yet the world seems to have gone in the reverse direction to me. I'm (still) discovering the sheer weight, scope and relevance of "The Fall of The Wall". Others seem to think it almost a tragedy. We've been numbed to the significance of it. With <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/08/1989-berlin-wall">articles like this in the UK's Guardian </a>it's no wonder. It's called "creeping socialism", prevalent throughout our mainstream politics and media.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5KImaLeQ6FlDQdvNAtM00eeIHpQDQeWksLLAEdLjsoHHDAOqQ7oZR8l8eFpu-at7WQpYA1444HOdMcuks3E8oFFjJmUb7XgnRapDDRPI3_sSKCH0Wz2XNGbDDj_-0H-GqI-U/s1600-h/berlinwall2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5KImaLeQ6FlDQdvNAtM00eeIHpQDQeWksLLAEdLjsoHHDAOqQ7oZR8l8eFpu-at7WQpYA1444HOdMcuks3E8oFFjJmUb7XgnRapDDRPI3_sSKCH0Wz2XNGbDDj_-0H-GqI-U/s320/berlinwall2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402345889535943106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm bemused to see some influential members of the modern intelligentsia reflecting on the euphoria of the Berlin Wall's destruction, yet elsewhere champion the very things which put it up in the first place. It's one thing to have <span style="font-style: italic;">Ostalgie</span>- morbid fascination for the quirky things of the former east. Sharon and I sure did; the time-capsule chic, serial blandness, happy traffic light icons, and the wonderfully awful Trabant.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-Llh_obFqThZXbt8aIC_H-VuByzLb4B74-yjv0AQaQJdKxaM5wVEnEpgL1ccGZK3cJz7SFqEa60DgtMBJTHoGO78nUm-NzVyyXFY1MYNbx2BzS-X2qJs2ulUHO2-h4Eb5a_s/s1600-h/berlinwall4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-Llh_obFqThZXbt8aIC_H-VuByzLb4B74-yjv0AQaQJdKxaM5wVEnEpgL1ccGZK3cJz7SFqEa60DgtMBJTHoGO78nUm-NzVyyXFY1MYNbx2BzS-X2qJs2ulUHO2-h4Eb5a_s/s320/berlinwall4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402349527233328338" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> Happy little communist girl says WALK...<span style="font-style: italic;">or we'll lock you up in a small, steel cell and deprive you of sleep for ten days...</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUN9G6qkc8B99tQRcC24LJGouHH5VWszmWonrj-ADa4uPn_UoazgamtgLow0sZ_4TUEpOrITJZfyI5v4FYiXVTD52iyv99LXQYzLGByN882TykZnptx0FjWGG89D_LCRlbpdy/s1600-h/trabant.jpg"><br /><br /><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUN9G6qkc8B99tQRcC24LJGouHH5VWszmWonrj-ADa4uPn_UoazgamtgLow0sZ_4TUEpOrITJZfyI5v4FYiXVTD52iyv99LXQYzLGByN882TykZnptx0FjWGG89D_LCRlbpdy/s320/trabant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402345903842905474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But it's another thing to willfully ignore the arrests, tortures, imprisonments, and murders of those who simply had an opinion, the surveilance, the corruption, the gulags, the deprivation, the control.<br /><br />Let's break it down into two often-quoted expressions of socialist romanticism, which were said to me first hand, by some of my dearest German friends from the former east:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">There was no poverty in the GDR.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">There was no crime in the GDR (former East Germany)</span>.<br /><br />Indeed. Poverty is relative. There was no poverty in the GDR because everyone was poor. And of course there was no crime in the GDR- amongst the<span style="font-style: italic;"> citizens.</span> All the crime was being committed by the government.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL6-RyEuq-fKkmCw6z9cdlnmHjT8AMYZJXwp15QZttD-TOtflwpJchopHRSsQeUxiUuGLpbrOynz_v1mSViVhupt1wTpqvOgNXPDFQ1ezUqaLUq9hyphenhyphenaJ8YX_mCPBlRUMyEvqr/s1600-h/berlinwall.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL6-RyEuq-fKkmCw6z9cdlnmHjT8AMYZJXwp15QZttD-TOtflwpJchopHRSsQeUxiUuGLpbrOynz_v1mSViVhupt1wTpqvOgNXPDFQ1ezUqaLUq9hyphenhyphenaJ8YX_mCPBlRUMyEvqr/s320/berlinwall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402345892826539234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I was also told this: <span style="font-style: italic;">Secret State Police? Everyone has them! Australia has ASIO, no?</span><br /><br />Sure, except here our "secret" police protect us from terrorism. In the GDR, they protected the regime from criticism. Using whatever brutal means necessary.<br /><br />If you're like me and let the actual event pass you by, it's not too late to learn what it meant. And, let me spell it out for you, why it was a<span style="font-style: italic;"> fantastic day</span>. The wall didn't "fall". It was pushed. By very, very brave people. I hope that spirit doesn't remain in the past.<br /><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-26586493917653196502009-10-22T18:02:00.000-07:002009-10-22T18:58:06.516-07:00Aussie F1 ace Webber slams vertically challenged peopleYes this is petty but very effective example of why I hate most newsmedia.<br /><br />Here's a headline from the Sydney Morning Herald: <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/motorsport/casey-quick-to-criticise-circuit-after-slick-effort/2009/10/16/1255624734558.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Casey Stoner quick to criticise circuit after slick effort </span></a>, with an opening claim that Stoner took a "swipe at the condition of the track".<br /><br />Those not sophisticated enough to read past the sound-byte will think that this great Aussie World Champion comes to his home event and does nothing but whinge that the circuit is rubbish, the corners all go the wrong way, it's too far from anything, the flag marshalls are all ugly and the toilets aren't clean.<br /><br />Note to SMH journalist Martin Boulton: Either you learn your subject, such as how racing drivers or riders <span style="font-style: italic;">always</span> criticise a racetracks' early lack of grip, and this is perfectly normal... or stick to something that you're good at, like busting a footy player getting drunk, or something.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGy0suzMKuaWzfORHrMWo-WgxW_KRqFC6kq5iVRe9d08syQic1ywcRjEPGIuiFkVwkJw1anqdtyCxCPebkD2lhr0lllqmNkfTpgRqI-PnCg3UhxyqrdpQ5IbhXowfhWCHvC1-/s1600-h/stoner.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGy0suzMKuaWzfORHrMWo-WgxW_KRqFC6kq5iVRe9d08syQic1ywcRjEPGIuiFkVwkJw1anqdtyCxCPebkD2lhr0lllqmNkfTpgRqI-PnCg3UhxyqrdpQ5IbhXowfhWCHvC1-/s320/stoner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395600189730147042" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">And the stones in the sandtraps are too big and cause ouchies..</span><br /><br />So, congratulations to Casey Stoner and Mark Webber for breaking an Aussie drought in world motorsport, all in one weekend.<br /><br />Although I do hope the <span style="font-style: italic;">Sydney Morning Herald</span> don't catch wind of Webber's post-race press comments, when asked about his fuel strategy; <span style="font-style: italic;">"I knew that Barrichello ...was a bit shorter than me..."<br /><br /></span>Please, Mark. We know you're a lanky guy but go easy on the dwarfist comments. Rubens is shorter than just about everybody.<br /><br /><br />.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-73877270036569598182009-10-22T17:57:00.003-07:002009-10-22T18:02:07.580-07:00Birthday!!Happy Birthday to our beautiful daughter Omi. She's now a teenager. Although, unofficially, she has been for some time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2K8vuSYGid3gszl-TpbRurxt-Y3Szls3bs5cpsztf4cqBEvkYGKEauuL904vdLX2v78jfdEkBPD7cGcAGbHPiBZZ66ymdR8k_tcl3vrOmy3CgHId8o3wgu0-K3nAOFgCDC_EO/s1600-h/TwoOmis.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2K8vuSYGid3gszl-TpbRurxt-Y3Szls3bs5cpsztf4cqBEvkYGKEauuL904vdLX2v78jfdEkBPD7cGcAGbHPiBZZ66ymdR8k_tcl3vrOmy3CgHId8o3wgu0-K3nAOFgCDC_EO/s320/TwoOmis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395593947715800770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Archive footage. In fact I think the horse is dead now...</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">To herald this milestone she now has an iPod.<br /><br />.<br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-77805771213291819902009-10-13T01:17:00.000-07:002009-10-14T22:48:28.683-07:00Cliches accidentally merged creatively with other cliches #1<span style="font-size:100%;">"We'll burn that bridge when we come to it"<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">-somebody or other<br /><br /></span>I had to share that. In other news, the bride and I traveled to sunny Whyalla recently to investigate our "Spec home". For the uninitiated, we purchased a reddish coloured block of land in mining-boomtown Whyalla to build a new house, and rake in all the profits of capital gain, negative gearing and carbon trading* before the Gum-mint changes it all and steals our hard-earned money.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Unfortunately most of the builders who set up in blossoming Whyalla forgot to bring some semi-vital services, such as bricklayers, carpenters, roofing people, plumbers, electricians and telephone sanitisers. You know, the kind of people who come in handy when you want to build a house and can't do it yourself because you live too far away.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">So we headed up north to see if being in the same town as the builder for a few days might spur them into action. It kinda worked. We feared the boomtown had become a ghost town on the Monday, before remembering that rural South Aussies do take their time getting to work at the beginning of the week.<br /><br />Despite the house not being finished, beloved bride saw positives. Whilst hanging curtains she noted that the rudimentary state of the interior helped us become more detatched to the newness of the place, knowing that we would never live in it.<br /><br />She was right. It would have been even better if that state of detatchment could have produced an extra 5K to pay the massive mortgage whilst vacant. We still await the builder to finish, some public services to be connected, property management appraisals, and all the rest.<br /><br />But I guess we'll burn those bridges we we come to them.<br /><br /><br /></span>*I wish<br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfodD7L0s7cKiN5-taq_xxbdWw9aK7M7PIdkjie38rBkjTXiGtHnoJ0UG97iM8xX-BTcpl9mids0fr5Ts3ixbMcFaZHETKnHOs9ZKpAoXUGiI0WgbZoE_8ONve3fgdJUHECg78/s1600-h/IMG_7193.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfodD7L0s7cKiN5-taq_xxbdWw9aK7M7PIdkjie38rBkjTXiGtHnoJ0UG97iM8xX-BTcpl9mids0fr5Ts3ixbMcFaZHETKnHOs9ZKpAoXUGiI0WgbZoE_8ONve3fgdJUHECg78/s320/IMG_7193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392004961348891954" border="0" /></a><br />Before<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZriWbox23xIMojZxeA6egePUeDzBjBgE7U-jqH_axhxkudZF3nPKibJQcSIfof6ntHnbUiMsBj_Y34BXTGw84FPOfY_8L5yLjir6lOaL1H80DMZE2PPXirYOnUKlp_LDFeJ7k/s1600-h/IMG_7206.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZriWbox23xIMojZxeA6egePUeDzBjBgE7U-jqH_axhxkudZF3nPKibJQcSIfof6ntHnbUiMsBj_Y34BXTGw84FPOfY_8L5yLjir6lOaL1H80DMZE2PPXirYOnUKlp_LDFeJ7k/s320/IMG_7206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392004999271798018" border="0" /></a><br />...and after (spreading 400 sqm of mulch bark with nothing but a shovel. Never again. Ever.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthPpMJYEgDkHvELEvuM75O9lfyfuKJEq4jiTZQ9-LPR40QUTueIku5oDIvKJkeT2D3SaHw-d1VwrHG2Kk41n4W8eU0H-gC-5PN4cGb8CmdGLj_KhiO9k3_c-seDnPOHSSkpf4/s1600-h/IMG_7204.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthPpMJYEgDkHvELEvuM75O9lfyfuKJEq4jiTZQ9-LPR40QUTueIku5oDIvKJkeT2D3SaHw-d1VwrHG2Kk41n4W8eU0H-gC-5PN4cGb8CmdGLj_KhiO9k3_c-seDnPOHSSkpf4/s320/IMG_7204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392004981368206402" border="0" /></a><br />The reserve over the back fence is currently around 150,000 acres<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfxMjPfmoEnVAZ3B6JJuSkHD8w51V3voF-0-xzScU45O72xXgrmvA3UJc04fJaibrcuVytuFkasUQoIXZC0XAP0Lub577EVDfLp0TujHvLRR8I7rg_ejFUxJELc4FBRhf2NkJ/s1600-h/IMG_7195.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfxMjPfmoEnVAZ3B6JJuSkHD8w51V3voF-0-xzScU45O72xXgrmvA3UJc04fJaibrcuVytuFkasUQoIXZC0XAP0Lub577EVDfLp0TujHvLRR8I7rg_ejFUxJELc4FBRhf2NkJ/s320/IMG_7195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392004985113768818" border="0" /></a><br />A heavy roller would have been better, but less likely to get us home afterwards<br /><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-44522346704306498542009-09-09T19:46:00.000-07:002009-09-09T20:17:50.188-07:00Classifieds for the bored and lonely<a href="http://london.craigslist.co.uk/">Craigslist</a> is the classified advertising website for anarchists, so it has a reputation for producing the weirdest ads and personal notices. <a href="http://athertonblab.blogspot.com/2009/06/irritable-netball-syndrome.html">Scary washing machine guy</a> would have been right at home here, although probably wouldn't have found a buyer with actual <span style="font-style: italic;">money</span>...<br /><br />Here's a selection from their <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6157363/20-most-bizarre-Craigslist-adverts-of-all-time.html">current top twent</a>y.<br /><strong><br />Looking for Bridesmaids<br /></strong> ...my fiancee and I are getting married in June. He has 8 groomsmen lined up and I only have one bridesmaid. So, I need some girls who are attractive and around my age to stand up in my wedding. You can be single or taken. It doesn't matter....you just have to be hot. But, not hotter then me. ..<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have a small, incontinent dog?</span><br />Or perhaps you work for a small dog rescue of some sort. Either way, I have a package of small doggy diapers. I don't want to throw them out coz they are pretty expensive. (as someone with a small, incontnent dog would already know). Please don't try to put them on a cat. It won't work. Trust me. <br /><strong><br />Ferocious attack kitten<br /></strong> This destructive kitty has been trained as a proud warrior and will fiercely defend your house, even against you. Has a very soft and furry belly, like a teddy bear - however he will bite your face if you try to touch it. For the love of God, someone please take this thing out of my house<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Collectable Ralph Nader chair</span><br />Yes, that's right. Ralph Nader, perennial Green Party candidate for the U.S. presidency MAY have sat in this very chair! ... It has a nice red, commie upholstery and a sleek black plastic backing. The wheels don't function well, but that is a small price to pay for state control of the means of production.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You hit me with your Prius</span><br />Me - Bicyclist, heading to jury duty on 10th Street, Friday at 8:50am.<br />You - Prius driver, crossing over two lanes, hitting me with your car and speeding away.<br />I was hoping we could catch up for a cup of coffee, so I could get your views on the environment, and strangle you. <br /><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-79763842860560567912009-09-07T05:12:00.000-07:002009-09-07T05:35:39.923-07:00Promote Road Safety: Kill a Rally DriverKudos to NSW for saving Rally Australia. It would be a travesty if those WRC cars were lost to our fast, sweeping roads, and an army of Finnish maniacs were denied a decent excuse to visit Down Under.<br /><br />What do you get with an Australian major event? Well, you get world-class organisation, unrivalled Aussie hospitality, blossoming local economies, beautiful scenery, and of course, the most standard issue...PROTESTERS.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9793Ze0BG6MI1CtnHrL5Ix6rBAhyy7iI2kJ0fLhEqGjHySVvk6z01hchIVnJudubHzQgNISdeYlDzuczDMCRWnSB2njR_WFZBFAEVbcI5R-60dsRpwqTHGJSGrLh8FGQkYsDr/s1600-h/rally9.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9793Ze0BG6MI1CtnHrL5Ix6rBAhyy7iI2kJ0fLhEqGjHySVvk6z01hchIVnJudubHzQgNISdeYlDzuczDMCRWnSB2njR_WFZBFAEVbcI5R-60dsRpwqTHGJSGrLh8FGQkYsDr/s320/rally9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378701406766571186" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Can I grab a lift? Our Kombi Van collapsed under the weight of placards and hemp...</span><br /><br />I'm unsure as to whether they oppose the rally for environmental reasons, road safety reasons, or because there aren't <a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2727514720044512350fdmECN">more women drivers.</a><br /><br />I'm presuming it wasn't for road safety reasons, since they <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/05/2677430.htm?section=justin">threw rocks at Rally Drivers</a>. Because as we all know, death is nature's way of telling you to slow down.<br /><br />The delightfully sarcastic (my kinda guy) <a href="http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/timblair/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/anti_rally_rally/">Tim Blair has more</a>.<br /><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-61172244164234815342009-08-26T21:41:00.000-07:002009-08-27T01:56:27.381-07:00Spooky Ninja CatThe soundtrack helps make it that extra bit spooky <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/muLIPWjks_M&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/muLIPWjks_M&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />I know what many of you are thinking and the answer is this; the nice hardwood floors appear to be coated with a water based non-yellowing satin finish.<br /><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11978783.post-20046317964894041272009-08-23T17:36:00.000-07:002009-08-26T21:52:30.581-07:00Not that I'm discriminating against Vertically Challenged Jewish Catholic Formula One DriversThose of you unfortunate enough to know all of my little quirks know that I love giving everything a deep, mystical meaning.<br /><br />For example; I'm sitting at work idly wondering why it's so quiet. At that precise moment, three tradesman vans elbow their way into our carpark, both phone lines light up with two unrelated customers complaining of an identical problem, two competing sales reps make an unsolicited call, and my mobile lights up with Sharon telling me that the car has broken down again.<br /><br />I then contemplate whether this is some kind of universal Murphy-esque phenomenon, some kind of man-made (and baffingly well co-ordinated) conspiracy, or a message from God. And not in a <span style="font-style: italic;">Blues Brothers</span> way.<br /><br />Here's the latest: My interest in the Jewish people and the Hebrew roots of my faith, and my love for Formula One racing, with particular favour for Brazilian Catholic and all-round-nice-guy Rubens Barrichello, could not be more detached and unrelated.<br /><br />Until I saw something rather interesting on Rubens' helmet from an in-car shot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwbg9gB2htzp8NjmEDItnW0oxZUK99WfsRaC-UW93DSXgYAobAqlvXgrcICqUOvLHro9FkU9yYx7r2iu30HMAxNNWp_dRYemVJdki4Ojo1cVjD7KB5B_3fmtrwo98aQ9nRZaP/s1600-h/rubensmagendavid1a.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwbg9gB2htzp8NjmEDItnW0oxZUK99WfsRaC-UW93DSXgYAobAqlvXgrcICqUOvLHro9FkU9yYx7r2iu30HMAxNNWp_dRYemVJdki4Ojo1cVjD7KB5B_3fmtrwo98aQ9nRZaP/s320/rubensmagendavid1a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373327330101040274" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Freaky. Now let me contemplate this. And don't try any "perfectly logical explanation" claims, I won't hear of it!<br /><br />Well, I <span style="font-style: italic;">am</span> rational enough to avoid suggesting that it brought him the luck he needed to win the Euro GP last night. He won it because he just drove faster than everyone else...<br /><br /><br />.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0