topicalhuman.com

I have returned from New Zealand.

Wow!

It is a spectacular place, and the people are good sorts. I am definitely keen to head back sometime soon for a more action packed holiday - skiing, diving, fishing, tramping, jet-boat riding fun awaits me next time.

But that is for another time. We arrived back in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon, and I’ve been flat out since then. And its going to get busier with the wedding to organise.

As a miscellaneous side note, I came across this World Clock - it tracks the earths population, how many people are dying from particular diseases, how much forest is being cleared etc etc. An interesting curiosity.

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Now playing: Bran Van 3000 - Astounded (Album Version)
via FoxyTunes

I’m all packed, and ready to roll out of bed in the morning, hit the shower, wriggle into my clothes and head to the airport via Jules place. I’m on holidays - booya!

New Zealand, here I come.

I’ll be back on the 17th September. Email or SMS me, or leave a comment below if you need to get my attention. I’ll check all three occasionally while I am over there.

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Now playing: Rollins Band - Up For It
via FoxyTunes

Australia’s best basketballer, Lauren Jackson, has won the Defensive Player Of The Year award in the WNBA.

Awesome interview with a bloke who explores urban underground structures, particularly stormwater systems.

Recipe for Hainan Chicken.

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Now playing: The Wailers - Simmer Down
via FoxyTunes

I’m off to New Zealand in a few days time, for about two and a half weeks. So I’m busy preparing for the trip, and may not be posting much between now and leaving. In fact, I probably won’t be posting much while I am there either, as I doubt I’ll have much internet access at all. Not an entirely bad thing anyway! I will also have limited access to my mobile while I am there (this is entirely deliberate…). Have fun without me!

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Now playing: Cat Stevens - Here Comes My Baby
via FoxyTunes

Just a test post here, checking if FoxyTunes/SignaTunes is working the way I want it to…

Looks okay so far…

[Update] Yes, it works, and was super easy to set up (at least it was with Wordpress).

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Now playing: Darren Hanlon - Falling Aeroplanes
via FoxyTunes

Podcasting Tips.

SellingPower.com

LifeHacker.com (and article on Bonsai).

dg asks who would play each of us if there was a movie about ourselves.

I’m still thinking about who would play me - I’m open to suggestions (here we go…).

When I was younger, I’d occasionally get a comparison to Jim Carrey, but I really don’t see it. Perhaps it had more to do with my expressions, rather than looks.

I think Edward Norton could play Ben. Maybe, Ed Norton’s and Steve Buscemi’s lovechild would be perfect for Ben! Not the exact looks, but it just seems right anyway.

So, what about you? Who do you look like? Who would play you in a movie about you? An exercise in vanity perhaps, but fun nonetheless.

When I was in my late teens, living in a sharehouse on the southside of the Brisbane, one of my house-mates used to make this untasteful, cider-like drink from tea. He would brew black tea, and put in in the cupboard in a sealed container. Apparently it was healthy for you, or something - I didn’t pay much notice.

Any, one of my other house-mates jumped on the bandwagon, and decided to make some of his own. But he decided to add sugar because he thought it would taste better. And than he forgot about it and left in the cupboard for about three or four weeks too long. When he cracked it open, it tasted better, and had in fact fermented, and was mildly, but noticeably alcoholic. Just what a couple of lads with not much money were looking for!

We drank it for a while, but soon tired of it, and just stopped making it.

Anyway, I noticed that BoingBoing has a post about this tea here (the ‘proper’ variety anyway - none of this alcoholic stuff!). Enjoy!

As noted below, I am engaged to be married. I am seriously considering wearing a kilt made of Hamilton tartan to my wedding. I found a free e-book that explains lots abot kilts and tartans. You can get it here, and it is worth a read if you’re interested in this sort of thing.

There is a joke I heard a while back that springs to mind:

Q: Why do Scotsmen wear Kilts?

A: The sheep can hear zippers!

[Extra] The bloke who wrote the e-book mentioned above also runs an online Kilt store, which is here.

[Update 11th August 2007] I have also had recommended to me the folk at Highland House, right here in Brisbane. I dropped in to see them, to discuss kilts etc, and they are very friendly folk.

Yes, it’s true - I am getting married. I asked Julia last night to marry me, and she said she would.

Wow. I’m so happy right now it is all a bit unbelievable.

This explains my sporadic posting here; I’ve really been far more concerned with sending time with Jules than writing here. That may change in the future, as living arrangements change etc, but the honest truth is that I neither really know or care what happens with this site right now. I think Jules is the most beautiful, warm-hearted woman in the world, and I am the happiest bloke in the world because she’s going to marry me!

Woo Hoo!