john jenkins: notes from down under

An Aussie Wedding

2012-03-02T11:11:00.000+11:00

Last Friday, our friends Jo and Marty got married atMaroubra Beach—our first Aussie wedding! It was a beautiful ceremony and theweather was absolutely amazing. It was a perfect day. Hopefully, some of thatperfection was captured in these photos.

Art Gallery of New South Wales in Black & White

2012-02-02T12:15:00.000+11:00

I took these a couple of weeks ago at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. While they have a broad collection of works from various cultures around the world, I enjoyed mostly looking at the European paintings from the fifteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. Although not a novel idea, it reminds me how much photography and cinema are indebted to this span of time and space.

Google Ron Paul

2012-01-30T14:29:00.000+11:00

On Saturday, we were with some friends in Newtown at the Bank Hotel sitting in the front window when this guy walked by flying an Australianflag at half-mast and carrying a sign that said on one side GOOGLE RON PAUL andon the other LOVE NOT BIG GOVERNMENT. Our friend, Simon called the guy over andasked him what this was all about. He said Ron Paul was going to be the nextPresident of the United States (really?) and that there was a revolution taking place inAmerica (really?) and Paul, after elected, was going to shut down all of the US militarybases around the world, return the country to the Gold Standard, and dramatically shrink the size of the federal government (really?). At this point, Iglanced over at David and I could tell that he was thinking the same thing Iwas, which was please don’t let anyone from our group tell this guywe are American. Simon made a comment back like, “Yea, I haven’t heard of RonPaul,” and the guy said, “It’s because the Australian news media won’t report on himbecause he’s anti big government.” I was thinking, no, the news media here isn’treporting on Ron Paul for the same reason the news media in the US isn't reporting on Bob Katter (Google Bob Katter), it’s because no one gives a crap about second or third level politicians from other countries. This guy was very convinced that Ron Paul was going to make all of our problems go away. I didn't have the energy to let him know that I thought he was being incredibly naive.

STOP SOPA & PIPA

2012-01-18T16:09:00.000+11:00

Sign the petition!

Eat Lamb on Australia Day

2012-01-11T08:15:00.000+11:00

I love lamb, but I'm not so sure about this video...

I Can Fly

2012-01-09T12:14:00.000+11:00

So, after years of stating that I would love to go skydiving, I finally did it. It's one of those things I had to prove to myself that I could do it. I've had friends over the years who have done it and all of them have stated that it was one of the most amazing experiences they have ever had. When we were still in San Francisco, I tried a couple time to organize a jump, but the stars never aligned, so I gave up and shelved the idea. I figured I would eventually get around to doing it before I turned 50.

One evening about a year and a half ago, we were at a couple's house we know, Shayne and Craig and I noticed a photograph of Shayne in skydiving equipment and I asked him if he had enjoyed it. He immediately bubbled over with enthusiasm and stated he had done it twice and would do it again in a heartbeat. I told him I had always wanted to jump, so we should make it happen before David and I leave Australia. After that night, just about every time I saw Shayne he would ask, "Are we doing this or not?" I would reply, "Yes, yes, yes," but in the back of my mind I was thinking that this attempt would probably fall apart too.

I guess it was about 3 months ago, Shayne called me and said that he was organizing a jump for our friend Gary's birthday and he asked, "Are you in?" I was like, shit, I really need to put my money where my mouth is. I've been contemplating skydiving for years, so if I don't do it now I'll probably never do it. I said, "Let me speak to David and I'll get back to you ASAP." David and I discussed and we kept going back and forth. We were thinking it's kind of expensive, so was it really worth 5 minutes of fun? We both hate planning things, so were thinking what if we got up the morning we had scheduled and didn't feel like jumping? Finally, after a day or two, we decided we were in. We got our date and it was the first week in December. So when the day rolled around, it was absolutely the worst weather and the skydiving company cancelled and we got moved to the first week in January. I was like, fine, I had psyched myself up and now I'm going to have to wait!

Finally, the day arrived this past Saturday. I have to say the experience was everything everyone said it would be and more. The sensation of free falling at 200 km/h (approx 125 m/h) is absolutely incredible. I was the last one out, so it was great watching everyone else go before me. They would lean out of the plane and disappear. The adrenaline rush was unlike anything I've ever experienced in my life. The wind against my face was so strong that it made it somewhat difficult to breath during the free fall (in the video below, I look like a fish out of water opening and closing my mouth to get air). I'm not sure if I ever want to do it again, not because of fear of falling or safety, but because I'm afraid that if I do it again I will be completely addicted and will never want to stop doing it.

I Survived the Holidays

2012-01-06T14:35:00.000+11:00

Well, Isurvived the holidays…barely, but I did survive. There’s something to be saidfor blowing it all out at the end of the year. Around mid-December, I sawsomeone post on Facebook (I paraphrase), “If you are not celebrating the birthof Christ, then you have no business celebrating at all.” I was like, WTF…andyes, this person was being serious. I’m not sure why I have people such as this in myFB friend’s list, perhaps it’s part of the strategy of keeping your friendsclose and your enemies closer…who knows? Whatever the reason, thesefolks certainly keep me entertained. Seems to me, all of the hoopla associatedwith the time of year has more to do with the conclusion of the GregorianCalendar cycle coupled with it being winter in the Northern Hemisphere―seriously,it gets cold, so what else are you going to do but have a fucking party? InAustralia, Christmas and summer are intertwined (yay, let’s have a fuckingparty!), so I think that’s why the winter season here feels twice as long tome. There are no public holidays, so it just drags on and on. Unsurprisingly, anumber of people here take their annual leave during the winter, heading northup the continent or to Asia, Europe, or North America.

Speaking ofNorth America, it will be

fun returning to the US in the latter part of the yearwhen the 2012 Presidential Election is in full throttle. Americans may saythey love baseball, but politics is our real pastime. The funny thing (or notso) is that Obama has basically fulfilled every single item on the GOP’s wishlist, yet they decry that this year’s election is a battle for the heart andsoul of America. Despite what one thinks about Obama politically, he’s going toturn mincemeat into whoever gets the nomination on the Republican side. When itcomes to campaigning, he’s a genius. Most likely, he will be going up againstRomney, but personally, I would love it if it were either Santorum or Gingrich―notthat I would get any satisfaction out of watching either ofthem being ripped to shreds by Barry.

In othernews, I’m currently working on a set of images for nfdu PROJECTS, sort of a ‘yearin a life’ type of thing with images ranging from informal portraits and self-portraits to fleetingmoments to documentation of events or their aftermath. I’m hoping to have the completed set postedwithin a couple of weeks on the website. In the meantime, here’s a taste:

An Offbeat Year

2011-12-15T10:09:00.002+11:00

I was looking over this year’s posts and I can’t believe2011 is almost over. It’s been an offbeat year for me and I’ve been in a funkthroughout most of it. On a number of occasions, I’ve sat down and tried to putmy feelings into words, but after getting a paragraph or two down, I would selectall of the text and delete it. I couldn’t help but think that if I posted thesethoughts on the blog, I would sound like one of those despairing individuals onFacebook. You know the kind of person I’m referring to, we all have at leastone in our FB Friend List, the person who posts incessantly about every misfortunethat happens in their life. That person you want to unfriend, but feel guiltyand don’t because you are convinced that unfriending them will simply be thelast thing that they can bear. In a nutshell, year three of living in Australiahas been like living in a makeshift Purgatory, wondering if the people I’veleft behind still care enough to let me back into their lives after I returnand wondering if the people in my life now care enough to remain vested afterI’m gone – a bit woesome and dramatic to say the least. In the end, I know what’sreally been eating at me: it’s the move in 2012. Barring the start of WWIII,natural disaster, or aliens landing (why do none of these sound improbable?) wewill be back in San Francisco sometime within the next eight months. As afriend of mine here says, “It’s time to wrap this cunt up.”

Rick Perry Remixed

2011-12-08T16:36:00.001+11:00

Sydney Independent Theatre Company

2011-12-07T17:12:00.001+11:00

I took these images at the Sydney Independent Theatre Company (SITCO) at their opening world premiere of The Complete Package by Robert Allan. If you live in Sydney, I highly recommend checking them out. The production I attended was smart and superb and the venue is absolutely ideal for intimate theater. If you don't live in Sydney, but you are planning to visit, then I would suggest putting this destination at the top of your top 10 things to do while you are here.

Vlog 4: Christmas + Melbourne + Debris

2011-12-07T07:59:00.001+11:00

Check out Debris Project here.

MELBOURNE: 45 Photographs

2011-11-29T10:50:00.001+11:00

My Real Self

2011-11-22T10:10:00.001+11:00

So, I finished up my job at the Faculty of Health Sciencesyesterday. Overall, it was a good experience, but I'm glad it is over. In theend it wasn't a big challenge, so boredom had set in - plus the commute wasstarting to take its toll on me (I know, I'm such a wuss. If I can't getsomewhere within 15 mins, then I'm not too interested in going there). Thepeople I worked with in the research unit made it great though. The immediategroup I interacted with included a Brit, a Kiwi, a Deutchlander, a Yank, aSpaniard, and last but not least, an Aussie. Almost all expats, who have been herefrom 2 years to 35+ years, with economics being the driving factor behind eachindividual's timeline. The Europeans of the cohort all agree that Europe isdefinitely not the place to be at the moment with the unemployment rate off thecharts in some areas. When I start thinking about things like this, it makes mewonder if I'm being incredibly naive about returning to the US. When I was lasthome (July?), I remember noticing how positive everyone seemed despite the crapin the news. After we returned from that trip, I went into depression. Ithit me like a ton of bricks and I've avoided writing about it until now. Thiswas beyond being homesick, though that was a major contributing factor. Thedownside to my expat experience is that I've never quite shaken the feeling thatI've been exiled from my real lifeand the one I'm leading now is a simulacrum of my former self. Do I haveregrets coming here? Simply, no. I would jump on the chance to do this againand I would actually like to do this where English isn't the primary language.Growing up, I was one of those kids who didn't have a lot of self-confidenceand I always felt out of place. Eventually, I learned to channel those feelingsinto something positive. The fact that I felt so out of place in the South isthe reason why I packed up and moved to the West Coast - the best thing I everdid in my life, and at the time, probably the scariest thing I had ever done.Looking back now, that move seems like a tiny drop in a giant bucket, andcertainly not that scary in retrospect. Speaking of scary, in a couple of weekswe are going to go skydiving with some friends at the beach in Wollongong,which is a little south of Sydney. I can’t help but wondering if my real self in San Francisco would dothis?

Milestone

2011-11-10T16:46:00.001+11:00

So, the blog reached 10,000 pages views (all time) today. I know, some blogs and websites get this many views in an hour, but hey, I think this is a cause for a celebration. I mean, I never thought that more than 20 people wound ever take a look at the damn thing.

Thank you and raise a (martini) glass!

An Australian Cultural Enigma

2011-11-08T10:46:00.003+11:00

I've often joked that the phrase "excuse me" doesn't exist in Australia. Nine times out of ten, when there are groups of people standing around in social settings (regardless of nationality), they become completely oblivious of the other people around them. If you encounter such a group in the US, you say, "excuse me" if you are trying to get by and then you do a little dance around one another. If you say, "excuse me" to a group of Australians, they will look at you like you are from outer space and there's no little dance, so trying to get past such a group becomes very awkward. I've tried to observe the verbal and visual cues taking place in this scenario to better understand what it is that I'm doing wrong. The best I can come up with is that if you are a man that is trying to get by a group and it is a women that is mainly blocking the way, then you grab her by the hips and move her past you while saying, "sorry, love" and if it is a man that is mainly blocking the way, then you grab him by the shoulders and move him around you while saying, "sorry, mate." If you are a women and walk up to such a group, then everyone parts like the Red Sea and you walk through without saying anything at all.

I'm too chicken to test this theory, so it will remain an Australian cultural enigma.

Flora x2: Photos of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney

2011-10-25T08:46:00.003+11:00

Please do not adjust your set...

2011-10-25T08:44:00.000+11:00

I'm fucking around with design templates, so will be a bit of a rollercoaster ride for a day or two...

Halloween season and it is 34C!

2011-10-24T17:35:00.001+11:00

It was bloody hot today. Summer is on the way and this is the best I could come up with to get in a festive Halloween mood...

#SarahPalin, #SteveJobs, and #OccupyWallStreet

2011-10-07T15:48:00.001+11:00

Opposites

2011-09-30T09:52:00.003+10:00

So, I'm working for the Faculty of Health Sciences at theUniversity of Sydney at the moment as an acting program manager for a researchgrant on aging (don’t ask). I thought it might be a gig that would land meanother contract, but looks like my visa duration is going to be an issue. Itexpires within less than a year, and they are looking for someone who can makea longer commitment. No bother, really, it's two and half days a week and lookslike they will keep me on until they find someone they want to hire, which willbe sometime within the next 3 or 4 weeks. The Director is American— he's beenhere since the 70s, so despite his accent he's kind of native. Well, he's beenhere long enough to know the culture inside and out. We joked about Americansand how we wear our emotions on our chests. You can strike up a conversation withany American and within the first 3 minutes you would not be shocked to learnfrom your conversationalist that his brother's wife used to be a hooker but gota job working at FOX NEWS and was recently fired for doing cocaine in thebathroom in between news sets, and now, she’s in rehab doing charity work for alocal Baptist church in lieu of jail time. Australians are the opposite, youhave to tease things out of them and it can take forever to learn anything goodand juicy, but that’s another story. The current work gig is in a section ofSydney called Lidcombe, which takes me about 40 minutes to an hour one way,train then bus. It’s been many years since I’ve had a commute that far fromwhere I live (and as commutes go, I know it could be worse). In the beginning,it was sort of an adventure. Now I’m like, if had to do this every day I would goinsane. The good thing is that while most people are traveling into the cityfor their work, I’m going in the opposite direction. There’s a huge cemetery calledRockwood Necropolis that's close by. I can’t decide if it’s funnyor creepy that the Faculty of Health Sciences is across the street from heapsof dead people.

Sydney Opera House in Black & White

2011-09-29T18:15:00.003+10:00

Later that day...

2011-09-12T08:19:00.000+10:00

I remember later that day David and I went to a bar in the Castro called The Cafe, which in retrospect is completely hysterical - I mean, it's like the last place on earth you would expect you would want to go after some traumatic event. We just wanted to be around other people, people we knew, and we knew would find them there. I remember we met these two flight attendants from United Airlines, both New Yorkers. They had arrived in SF the night before and had been scheduled to return the following afternoon. Luckily, the colleagues they had known weren't scheduled to fly that morning from the east coast, however they had been unable to reach some of their family members and friends who lived in Manhattan. I remember the phones not really working, because so many people were trying to make calls in and out of New York. I remember them saying how helpless they felt and that they both wanted to get back home as soon as possible. After some discussion with these two, David and I moved over and joined a crowd of friends. At some point, I don't remember how long afterwards, I noticed the flight attendant guys were in a heated discussion with another guy (who I only knew by sight - never knew his name but would see him out around the Castro all the time). He was blaming them for what happened; rather, he was blaming the flight attendants on those flights for allowing this to happen. I was dumbfounded. This guy was saying some really nasty things. I always thought he looked so sweet and innocent, but now he had morphed into something that was very disgusting to me. The guys from New York had had about all they could stand and it almost got physical. People jumped in and separated them and the two guys left - I never saw them again. However, I would run into the man who blamed them for years. I watched him age over that time. If I had to guess, I would say he was at least 10 years younger than me. I remember I saw him before we moved to Australia in 2008 and I recalled what had happened that day at The Cafe in September 2001 and I thought to myself, he really looks like shit.

Making Amends or 10 Things I Love About Living in Australia

2011-09-10T20:04:00.001+10:00

So after yesterday's (failed) attempt at humor in writing about the things I hate about living in Australia, I thought I should make amends by writing about 10 things I do love about living here.

Drum roll, please...

Aussie men have the best bums on the planet. Seriously, it's unnerving at times.
I love that Australians are apolitical (for the most part), which might seem ironic because I'm addicted to politics - but the truth of the matter is that I actually detest it. It's very nice to live in a place where every time I turn on the tele there's not some idiot politician trying to gain 15 mins of fame.
Speaking of tele, I love that when someone says 'fuck,' it isn't bleeped out.
I love that nudity is not an issue (see #1).
I love that religion doesn't dominate public life (or private life for that matter).
I love that Australians are not neurotic (in the way Americans are). There are many reasons, but mainly it comes down to a standard of 4 weeks of personal holiday coupled with universal access to health care.
Late afternoon summer sun is absolutely phenomenal.
The flora and fauna: it's like living in a zoo, but in a good way.
I love that it's an entire country of cheeky smart-asses.
Last, but not least...despite my disagreements with certain policies/methods of the current PM, it warms my special spot that she is an atheist and open about it. How long do you think it will be before the 'land of the free, home of the brave' elects an 'out of the closet' atheist for Pres?

Asshole American or 10 Things I Hate About Australia

2011-09-09T11:09:00.000+10:00

So, the other day on my way home from work, I tweeted:

I'm thinking I should devote the last year of 'notes down under' to all of the things I hate about Australia. #asshole #American.

Of course, this would feed into all of the stereotypes about Americans: never happy, complain constantly, and completely full of shit. They don't call us seppos for nothing. So, in the spirit of being an asshole, here's my top ten:

I hate that no one ever, and I mean ever, listens to anyone else.
I hate the way Aussie men treat women, but the women seem to enjoy it (mostly), so why should I give a fuck?
I hate that you can't get a decent sandwich here. Seriously, they want to put butter on it instead of mayonnaise, and they go bonkers when you want more than one vegetable item.
I hate when people bump into you and say 'sorry' when they don't mean it. They are really just trying to move you out of the way. Apparently, the phrase 'excuse me' doesn't exist here. Whenever I say 'excuse me' people jump out of there skins and look at me like I'm the one who has done something rude.
Don't get me started on women and their fucking hand bags.
The drivers are completely and utterly insane.
I hate it when I meet people for the first time and they try to impress me with how much they know about American culture - trust me, there's more to it than what you've seen on Oprah and Dr Phil.
I hate when Australians point out how racists Americans are. True, slavery will be a stain on the US for eternity, but check your own goddamn back yard, at least we are trying to work through it.
I don't know why they bother having lids on toilets, the men never lift them.
The PM is an atheist, but doesn't support same sex marriage because she believes in adhering to bible stories. Yea, no one I know understands that one either.

He thinks he's going to heaven!

2011-08-31T17:07:00.001+10:00

So, earlier I was scanning over Facebook posts and this one jumped out at me (cut and pasted as written):

I think it's amazing that the people who claim to be atheisthave so many books on their FB to try to disprove christianity! It really onlyneed ONE book... the BIBLE! Sounds to me like you're still searching, There isalways hope., I'll pray for you this night!

My first thought was to make a smart ass comment, like "My bad, I forgot to take those down!" or "I don't have any books on my FB book that are trying to disprove Christianity, but I'm still pretty certain there's no God. LOL!" Then, I was like fuck it, I don't want to get involved in an endless back and forth with the Christian god vs no Christian god thing, especially with someone I went to high school with. Plus, people are free to post whatever they like on their FB page, I do it all the time. However, I am curious about religious people's need to pray for other people - people in need, people who have died, people who are atheists, world peace, etc. I'm not really sure what they think is going to be accomplished by prayer? If prayer is the basis of someone's faith or an expression of it, then they must be pretty damn disappointed most of the time.

I'm reminded of these bits from Mark Twain's satirical masterpiece Letters From Earth:

This is a strange place, and extraordinary place, andinteresting. There is nothing resembling it at home. The people are all insane,the other animals are all insane, the earth is insane, Nature itself is insane.Man is a marvelous curiosity. When he is at his very very best he is a sort oflow grade nickel-plated angel; at is worst he is unspeakable, unimaginable; andfirst and last and all the time he is a sarcasm. Yet he blandly and in allsincerity calls himself the "noblest work of God." This is the truthI am telling you. And this is not a new idea with him, he has talked it throughall the ages, and believed it. Believed it, and found nobody among all his raceto laugh at it.

Moreover -- if I may put another strain upon you -- hethinks he is the Creator's pet. He believes the Creator is proud of him; heeven believes the Creator loves him; has a passion for him; sits up nights toadmire him; yes, and watch over him and keep him out of trouble. He prays toHim, and thinks He listens. Isn't it a quaint idea? Fills his prayers withcrude and bald and florid flatteries of Him, and thinks He sits and purrs overthese extravagancies and enjoys them. He prays for help, and favor, andprotection, every day; and does it with hopefulness and confidence, too,although no prayer of his has ever been answered. The daily affront, the dailydefeat, do not discourage him, he goes on praying just the same. There issomething almost fine about this perseverance. I must put one more strain uponyou: he thinks he is going to heaven!

Infinity

2011-08-30T14:31:00.000+10:00

So, I was reading through this particular post: Infinity Hurts Your Brain, Ctd - The Dish | By Andrew Sullivan - The Daily Beast and this man's thoughts struck a chord with me. Speaking of his 6 y/o:

Earlier this summer, after he had brought up the idea to me (regarding the stars and the size of the universe) and we discussed it as far as he might be able to understand, he became, over the following weeks increasingly withdrawn. Finally, one evening, out of the blue he told me that sometimes he "just wanted to die."

It reminded me of a conversation I had with my dad a few years before he died. He said that the enormity of the Universe terrified him, and that was why he ultimately believed in God. I thought it was probably the most frank and honest thing I had ever heard him say on the topic. He and I debated belief vs non-belief most of my adult life - we enjoyed those debates. We might have raised our voices and sounded angry, but it was never personal. While we both completely disagreed with each other, we had nothing but mutual respect for one another. Reading the words, "just wanted to die" made me remember the despair I saw on my father's face during that conversation, which more or less was about infinity. I remember telling him that my reaction was the complete opposite. The enormity of the Universe was why I could let go of the concept of God and be in awe of the state between being and nothingness. I think in that moment we came to an understanding of each other unlike before, and I'm almost certain we never debated the topic of God ever again.

A few weeks ago, I went to see the movie The Tree of Life. I think it is Terrance Malick's masterpiece, though I disagree with the movie's ultimate message; rather, what I interpret to be the that message. One thing I can say for certain, my dad would have loved that film. If he was still alive, we would be debating its meanings till the cows come home...

Sydney Architecture

2011-08-29T16:53:00.003+10:00

Why rugby is the best sport on the planet:

2011-08-27T11:52:00.003+10:00

I hate violence, especially stupid sports related violence. But, in this case, there's something really hot about seeing big beefy rugby guys beating the shit out of each other...

Hyde Park

2011-08-25T18:25:00.001+10:00

Official Google Blog: Panoramio Groups: Join a photo community to match your interests

2011-08-25T06:54:00.000+10:00

Official Google Blog: Panoramio Groups: Join a photo community to match your interests

Official Google Blog: Doing more with the +1 button, more than 4 billion times a day

2011-08-25T06:45:00.000+10:00

Official Google Blog: Doing more with the +1 button, more than 4 billion times a day

Third Year Anniversary

2011-08-22T10:58:00.001+10:00

So, today is our third year anniversary of being in

Australia

.I know this last year will fly by – the last year of anything always seems to. It’sbitter sweet. On the one hand I want to get this coming year over with as soon aspossible knowing we are going to be moving back to San Francisco, and on the other I want it tostretch out forever because there’s still so much I want to see and do. We’vedone almost no traveling around Australia,which is embarrassing. We had always thought we would wait until friends orfamily came to visit, but that window of opportunity is quickly closing and wecan no longer use them as an excuse. I think I need to start planning a trip…

Australian Collar Bomb Suspect Apprehended in KY: NFW

2011-08-16T11:08:00.002+10:00

For anyone who isn't familiar, there was a teenage girl in Sydney who was found in the middle of the street of her suburb with a bomb strapped around her neck on 3 August. The bomb ended up not being real. Authorities have been searching for the culprit. The story has been all over the news, with good reason of course. This morning it was announced they had caught a suspect in Louisville, KY. I was like, huh?!? I orginally misunderstood, I thought the suspect was American, but he is actually Australian. The story is already weird enough, this just happens to hurl it into the 'no fucking way' category.

Here's one of the earliest reports this morning from channel 7 in Sydney:

And a report from channel 11 in Louisville:

It's disgusting.

2011-08-14T12:44:00.002+10:00

I've felt like shit all week, I've had some type of cold/sinus infection thingy. But, it's finally on the wane. Wow, the London riots. I've intended to write some thoughts down, but keep coming back to this quote by Virginia Postrel on Google+:

I'm decidedly put off by the way people of every political persuasion seem to be positively relishing the riots in the U.K. and spinning them to advance their personal political agendas. It's disgusting.

Emphasis mine. When I read those words, a light went off - she had expressed exactly what I had been thinking, but for whatever reason had been unable to say. I've been flabbergasted by the way that so many people have taken an apologists approach to this thing. I've pretty much had to bite my tongue all week on social networking sites...

...and now this report on the topic from 10 NEWS in Australia:

Bears, Cowboys, Minotaurs, and Republicans

2011-08-13T11:57:00.001+10:00

A series that humorously explores certain aspects of gay culture and a select group of American conservative politicians. Check it out!

Context for Nine and Forty-Two

2011-08-03T10:36:00.005+10:00

I shot the above video this past weekend on our train ride to visit some friends. It's made with the iPhone 4 and edited with the apps CinemaFXV and ReelDirector. There are no scene changes, just one continuous tracking shot. After I converted the video to black and white and increased the exposure levels, I thought this needs a track by Philip Glass to complete it. I know, not very original. I mean, Glass's music set to motion is a no-brainer, but hey, it works every fucking time. So, I went into the iTunes store and starting searching. Between the years 1987 - 1997, I listened to Glass's music almost exclusively on a daily basis. I drove my friends either away or insane. Looking back, it's funny that had to go searching for a piece of music by him. I looked for tracks first by length, then by style (I wanted something playful, but with a full orchestra sound). I settled on a piece called Religion from the Naqoyqatsi soundtrack. I haven't seen the film, but have seen the other two movies in the trilogy. The length of the track is about 9 mins and 01 secs, but my original video was over 12 mins. So, I decided to cut the video instead of boring the viewer with another 3-4 mins of video in silence - and I didn't want to use a second track. Using a piece of music that focuses on rhythm really allows for some amazing fortuitous moments; rather, some very satisfying and unintentional match ups between the music and what is taking place on film. I've always thought my work functions best when the intentional elements are tempered by chance (I know, very art school speak). Twenty years ago I fantasied about collaborating with Philip Glass. And even though he has no idea, I guess I can check that one off of my list now.

Anders Behring Breivik and Homosexuality

2011-07-27T17:01:00.004+10:00

Like most people, I was horrified when I heard the news about the mass killings in Norway. Unlike many, I didn’t assume it was the work of Islamic fundamentalists. Perhaps it was because when I first received the news it was about the shootings and not the bombing of government buildings...I don’t know if I would have thought otherwise if I had gotten the news the other way around? My first reaction was that it was a deranged person driven by megalomania. Well, I guess that’s pretty much what we’ve ended up with, though there might be others involved. I decided to take a look at his manifesto and I read through the first 50 pages or so. When I find a spare 48 hours, I might revisit and attempt the other 1400+ pages. It reads (and is formatted) much like a doctoral dissertation, which is fitting since the ‘real enemy’ is cultural Marxist academic elites. In the part I read, homosexuality is mentioned quite often, which got me curious. I searched the remainder of the document for ‘homosexual’ and ‘gay’ and the resulting quotes are below. Apparently, Breivik used rumors of being gay as a cover for his antisocial behavior and to hide his actual activities (I think I'll have more to say about that at another time). While out of context, it’s pretty easy to understand each excerpt’s meaning. Note: most, but not all of the quotes are in the order in which they appear in the document.

But what happens today to Europeans who suggest that there are differences among ethnic groups, or that the traditional social roles of men and women reflect their different natures, or that homosexuality is morally wrong?

Most Europeans look back on the 1950s as a good time. Our homes were safe, to the point where many people did not bother to lock their doors. Public schools were generally excellent, and their problems were things like talking in class and running in the halls. Most men treated women like ladies, and most ladies devoted their time and effort to making good homes, rearing their children well and helping their communities through volunteer work. Children grew up in two–parent households, and the mother was there to meet the child when he came home from school. Entertainment was something the whole family could enjoy.

When the children came home in the afternoon and told them they had to go through a metal detector to get in the building, had been given some funny white powder by another kid and learned that homosexuality is normal and good, the parents would be uncomprehending.

Classical Marxism defines workers and peasants as virtuous and the bourgeoisie (the middle class) and other owners of capital as evil. Cultural Marxism defines all minorities, what they see as the victims; Muslims, Feminist women, homosexuals and some additional minority groups as virtuous and they view ethnic Christian European men as evil.

Deconstruction “proves” that any “text,” past or present, illustrates the oppression of Muslims, women, homosexuals, etc. by reading that meaning into words of the text (regardless of their actual meaning).

Rather, those who would defeat cultural Marxism must defy it. They must use words it forbids, and refuse to use the words it mandates; remember, sex is better than gender. They must shout from the housetops the realities it seeks to suppress, such as our opposition to Sharia on a national and local level, the Islamisation of our countries, the facts that violent crime is disproportionately committed by Muslims and that most cases of AIDS are voluntary, i.e., acquired from immoral sexual acts. They must refuse to turn their children over to public schools.

Above all, those who would defy Political Correctness must behave according to the old rules of our culture, not the new rules the cultural Marxists lay down. Ladies should be wives and homemakers, not cops or soldiers, and men should still hold doors open for ladies. Children should not be born out of wedlock. Glorification of homosexuality should be shunned. Jurors should not accept Islam as an excuse for murder.

To achieve this, the Critical Theorists of the Frankfurt School recognised that traditional beliefs and the existing social structure would have to be destroyed and then replaced. The patriarchal social structure would be replaced with matriarchy; the belief that men and women are different and properly have different roles would be replaced with androgyny; and the belief that heterosexuality is normal would be replaced with the belief that homosexuality is equally “normal.”

As a grand scheme intended to deny the intrinsic worth of native Christian European, heterosexual males, the Critical Theorists of the Frankfurt School opened the door to the racial and sexual antagonisms of the Trotskyites. Many believed that oppressed Muslims, non European minorities and others like Feminists and Homosexuals could be the vanguard of a communist revolution in Europe.

Indeed the feminisation of European culture is nearly completed. And the last bastion of male domination, the police force and the military, is under assault.

Critical Theory as applied mass psychology has led to the deconstruction of gender in the European culture. Following Critical Theory, the distinction between masculinity and femininity will disappear. The traditional roles of the mothers and fathers are to be dissolved so that patriarchy will be ended. Children are not to be raised according to their biological genders and gender roles according to their biological differences. This reflects the Frankfurt School rationale for the disintegration of the traditional family.

Furthermore, it is only because traditional understandings of marriage have already been severely undermined that homosexuals are now laying claim to it. Gays to do not want marriage in the traditional mold (1950 version marriage), only the watered-down version that exists today.

A couple of my friends have their suspicions though. However, I have managed to channel these suspicions far away from relating to my political convictions. Instead they suspect that I am playing WoW (and trying to hide it) and a couple of them believe that I have chosen semi-isolation because of some alleged homosexual relationship which they suspect I am trying to hide, LOL. Quite hilarious, as I am 100% hetero, but they may continue to believe what they want as it prevents them from asking more questions;))My goal is obviously to prevent my closest network from asking specific questions, and it has worked perfectly so far.

However, since I manifest their worst nightmare (systematical and organized executions of multiculturalist traitors), they will probably just give me the full propaganda rape package and propagate the following accusations: pedophile, engaged in incest activities, homosexual, psycho, ADHD, thief, non-educated, inbred, maniac, insane, monster etc. I will be labeled as the biggest (Nazi-) monster ever witnessed since WW2.

Massive and nationwide expropriations, slavery of conquered women, continued slaughter of non-Christians and Christians known for opinions opposed to Islam and of moderate Muslims who initially try to protect non-Muslims, murder of minorities’ e g gays. A Muslim dictatorship without democracy similar to religious dictatorships in the Middle East, is established.

The state-funded Islamic Council of Norway admit that they receive "guidance" from the Muslim Brotherhood's spiritual leader Yusuf al-Qaradawi and his Fatwa Council, who are debating whether or not gays should be killed, among other things. He has also supported suicide bombings and marriage to girls aged nine years old. Meanwhile, a Socialist named Lars Gule, who was once arrested traveling to the Jewish state of Israel with dynamite in his backpack with the intention of blowing up stuff, suggested on a major blog that the security services should have me under surveillance because I am a dangerous "right-wing extremist."

Say you think you are gay and are in the process of discovering your new self and that you don’t want to talk any more about this issue. Tell them that you are ashamed of it and you don’t want to talk any more about it. Make them swear to not tell anyone! (your ego is likely to take a dent unless you are secure in your own heterosexuality, because they will actually believe you are gay. However, it’s an extremely effective strategy for stopping questions and prevent people from digging in your life when you don’t want them to.

Category B traitors can also be individuals from various professional groups (but not limited to): journalists, editors, teachers, lecturers, university professors, various school/university board members, publicists, radio commentators, writers of fiction, cartoonists, and artists/celebrities etc. They can also be individuals from other professional groups such as: technicians, scientists, doctors and even Church leaders. In addition, individuals (investors etc) who have directly or indirectly funded related activities. It’s important to note that the stereotypical ”socialists”, collectivists, feminists, gay and disability activists, animal rights activists, environmentalists etc are to be considered on an individual basis only. Not everyone who are associated with one of these groups or movements is to be considered as a cultural Marxist/multiculturalist.

Use professional makeup artists and use make up on both female and male models. Yes, this sounds gay, but looking “attractive” will significantly benefit the impact of our message as it will act as a force multiplier.

The first assault was reforms which involved the forceful ordination of women as priests and bishops. As we all know, women’s emotionally unstable nature quickly lead to the propagation of gay marriage, the ordination of gay priests, ignoring chastity, ignoring peoples duties in relation to procreation, the support for mass-Muslim immigration and even the inter-religious dialogue with the Muslim community.

The multiculturalists WANT us to fit in their pre-defined stereotype. They want us to be racists, fascist, gay hating individuals because it would make their job so much easier in their effort to label us as the scum of the earth. The truth of the matter is that I personally know several gay individuals and have known several gay people during the years and I don’t have any reservations against them. Why would I care what they do behind closed doors? However, I personally do object to the “gay media hysteria” which has been going on in Western Europe the last two decades. In many cases “alleged victim groups” are subjected to positive discrimination within politics, media and certain sectors. In those specific contexts it has become standard policy to discriminate so called “heterosexual men”. Western European media, especially in the protestant countries are obsessed with cheering the gay community and other minorities they see as “preferred groups” in their so called “victim hierarchy”. The glorification of “preferred groups” in the EUSSR “victim hierarchy” have gone too far. It’s racist and fascist.

Online Traffic, Time, and Winter

2011-07-19T14:31:00.002+10:00

So, I've been getting an insane amount of online traffic to this post from back in January. I'm not complaining. I just think it's funny. One thing I've learned by regularly blogging over the past couple of years is that unless you are famous, people don't give a shit about your blog if it is focused on something personal. People really need a common interest to rally around - that, or their own egos stroked. I'm the same way. The only blog I read regularly is Andrew Sullivan's, and that is because I enjoy his take on social and political goings on. Since it focuses on major events, it kinda goes without saying it has mass appeal regardless of whether or not you agree with him. My intention in creating this blog was to have a living journal of my time here in Australia. So outside of family and friends, I never really expected for anyone else to have an interest in reading it. So, it is ironic that a large number of people I don't know have stumbled upon this blog through a post via third party, and to top it off, a post that has very little to do with what this blog is actually about! For whatever reason, this has made me think about the finality of this endeavor. This blog will end when we leave Australia, but blogging is something that I want to continue doing when I get back home to San Francisco. I think I know what I want to do, but need to let the idea simmer a bit (that got your attention, right?). I have plenty of time.

Speaking of time, I've had a bit of it on my hands lately having not been employed for the past three and a half weeks. Since I know you are curious, during that that time I've set up a Google+ account, did some work on the Debris project, and made other whacky shit like this, this, and this. Tough life, I know. But having free time has also made me realize how much I despise the month of July in Sydney. It reminds me of February back home - spring isn't too far away, but there are more winter days ahead than you think there are going to be. At least with February you get a short month. Something I've never really talked about on here (at least I don't think I have?) is the whole hemisphere mind fuck. It's easy to forget what month it is because of the season flip. It's not so bad for me now, but March, April, May and September, October, November were the hardest to keep straight. Are we in spring or autumn?!? Another thing I've found fascinating is experiencing the host of typical western holidays in the southern hemisphere. Since most (in one way or another) are based on agricultural cycles, there's a bit of a surreal thing that happens when you have things out of sync. For example, witnessing Easter being celebrated in the middle of Autumn makes you realize (even more) just how ridiculous Easter is, especially in a place like Australia, where the indigenous cultures never developed agriculture for the simple fact that most of the land here is devoid of topsoil and nutrients. A similar thing happens with Halloween, which never really caught on here anyway. It just doesn't make sense to be celebrating the harvest in the heart of spring. And don't get me started on having Christmas when it's +30c outside, complete with fake spray-on snow in the windows of businesses and giant decorated Christmas trees in the park! It just occurred to me that there are no public holidays here during the winter months, which I'm sure is what adds to the depressing nature of the whole time of year. There's a pub up the street from where we live that's having a Christmas in July party tomorrow afternoon/evening. I think I know what I'll be doing...

Live or Memorex?

2011-07-17T15:43:00.001+10:00

Tag

2011-07-12T18:36:00.001+10:00

The Anticipation Symphony

2011-07-12T17:38:00.005+10:00

I've been meaning to publish this composition forever. The music was created by using copyright-free samples edited in sound mixing software. There are three parts. The spoken 'robot' voices use text from personal lists as well as a year's worth of text messages, which can be heard in part two. The text messages were sent over the year leading up to the move to Australia. Actually, the whole piece is really about anticipating that move. I created this shortly after we arrived in Sydney. It was part of a project conceived and curated by Torreya Cummings called Songs from Radio Hell. Or was it Sounds from...? Anyway, I think it is kinda of nice to finally get this piece up and public as we head into our final year here - as the anticipation of another move spins towards the horizon.

Note, this composition is about 40 mins long and it demands quite a bit from the listener.

Google+

2011-07-10T17:50:00.001+10:00

So, I created a Google+ profile. Who knows if it will take off and give Facebook a run for its money? I do like the design a lot and it does seem like it will provide more options in the social networking realm. Interestingly, it might be a better platform for businesses and institutions, rather than individuals. The iPhone app is still in 'approval' phase, so that will definitely change the dynamic once it is launched - that, and opening up so anyone can sign up without an invite. I think most people will be reluctant to try it out for the obvious reasons. A friend of mine on Facebook said:

It appears Google+ decided to let me in last night and after about five minutes of playing around inside of it, I realized, I don't need another social network.

I think most people will initially think the same way, but as more and more people start using it there will be a gravitation towards it out of curiosity. From what I understand, the beauty of Google+ will be in its ability to exploit author tags in searches as well as creating and using them to tag your own content. Someone like myself who has various web personae, it will be nice to link these together, so when someone searches for me or nfdu PROJECTS they will get both (and more) in search results. It's not that Google+ will replace Facebook or any of the other networking sites, but it could act as a mother ship for all of them. It's probably too early to say, but I think my good friend just might end up eating his words.

Self-Portrait #1743

2011-07-09T16:18:00.001+10:00

Those Aussies...

2011-07-09T15:36:00.003+10:00

News of the World Unpacked

2011-07-08T09:48:00.000+10:00

2011 07 05

2011-07-05T09:20:00.000+10:00

Every Job, a Performance

2011-07-01T12:07:00.005+10:00

So, I’ve been writing this post in my head for about a month now. Yesterday was my last day at the Centre for Continuing Education. I got my foot in the door through the University’s temp office. I initially worked with the Support Team, booking venues for courses. At that point, I had been out of work for about 6 months so I was eager to do whatever. I approached the whole thing as a performance piece. I thought if I’m going to do a job that I’m overqualified to do, then I have to do something to keep it interesting. So, in my mind I thought I was doing some kind of grand performance art, where I would be documenting my tasks and experiences on a daily basis, so when it was all over I would exhibit the ephemera and people would think I was brilliant and blah, blah, blah. The problem was that after a week or so I forgot to document my ingenious creative endeavor and it simply became a job, where there was a lot of documenting but none of it was for art. When you book venues for a department like CCE, which runs over 1600 classes a year, you soon end up from your ass to your eyeballs in spreadsheets. Let me just say, I love spreadsheets. I don’t know if it’s the grid of cells or the organization of information or the merger of mathematics with aesthetics…or all of the above? The concept of the spreadsheet is simply the best thing ever invented. My performance piece evolved into a project in which I was going to use Excel to create visual delights that would be interactive via ‘if /then’ formatting. I would create this huge body of work I could exhibit. There would be computers for gallery visitors to engage with and the spreadsheets would be printed on really nice paper; they would be larger than life, hung on a wall, people would think I was brilliant and blah, blah, blah. A couple of weeks went by and I was like, that’s the dumbest fucking idea I’ve ever had. Nonetheless, I was making some kick ass spreadsheets. The Head of Programs at the time called me into his office and said, “John, what I like best about your spreadsheets is that not only do they have useful information that can be sorted, but they are also very nice to look at.” He went on to say, “Just because we work in sterile office environments doesn’t mean that the items we use on a daily basis have to be that way. I appreciate your efforts to add flair to the mundane. I know you are immensely over qualified to be doing the job you are doing, but I do think it is important for you to see how this place works at its base levels. If you are interested, there is certainly room for you to expand and grow.” A couple of weeks later, he offered me a position in the Programs Department. I accepted. In the 2 years since, I’ve put the creative part of my brain through some real tests. After some time and some mentoring, I was given the reins to shape the Arts and Humanities program. My Excel project evolved and I went from creator to curator. This wasn’t done alone. It was accomplished through the hard work of a group of dedicated people. Looking back today, I see a finished project (perhaps a work of art), complete with experience, documentation, and bits of myself inside of a program. I didn’t get a gallery show; I got something better.

.

I heart New York!

2011-06-26T11:01:00.001+10:00

This hits at the core. At the heart of this issue you come to realise as a gay person that your very existence threatens other people's notion of personhood. Homophobia is not so much a fear of gay people as it is viewing gay people as subhuman. When listening to Senator Grisanti, you see someone who has traveled to the other side and understands this. People can change. I've become so cynical that it's nice to remember that fact from time to time.

The One

2011-06-09T22:45:00.004+10:00

22 Photos

2011-05-28T11:48:00.001+10:00

The Unbearable Lightness of Place

2011-05-22T12:53:00.002+10:00

Well, our 2011 US Tour is over and we’re back in Oz. It was wonderful to spend time with very dear friends and family. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see all of the people we wanted to see (or spend as much time with all of those we did), but that is always the case with trips such as this. Prior to leaving, I was SO ready for time off. My expat angst had reached a peak and I was in dire need of my American fix. The US didn’t seem as peculiar to me this time as it had in the past with the other trips back. People were genuinely happy for a change. Despite the shit economy over the past few years, you could definitely see things were on the up and up. I witnessed this everywhere we went, from San Francisco to Knoxville to New York. This is not to overshadow the fact that there are friends and family who are worried about how they will make ends meet and what the future has in store for them—the living ‘paycheck-to-paycheck’ syndrome. I just felt the overall mood was more positive than before. Perhaps this had more to with my personal outlook than with theirs…whichever, it was nice. While by and large the trip was fantastic, there were some snags along the way. Every single flight from beginning to end was either cancelled, delayed, or rerouted. You really have to keep a sense of humor about these things, otherwise you’ll snap! The climax was the return flight home, which was supposed to be non-stop from San Francisco to Sydney (approximately 14 hours). We were about 30 minutes from landing when we were informed we had to be rerouted to Brisbane due to fog. Long story short, we made it back to Sydney 12 hours later. Another fine moment that stands out was after 7 hours of drinking margaritas with the famn damily, I turned into a complete jackass. Not one of my greatest moments, but at least I won the ‘Best Actor in a New Dramatic Series’ award. Bad travel karma wasn’t the only recurring theme, I found myself telling the same story over and over to everyone I spoke with that we were planning to move back to the US in a little over a year. Each time I retold the story it became shorter, and consequently each time I told it, I started doubting its truthfulness. What if in another year I didn’t want to leave Australia for America? It amazes me how you have to leave a place to understand how much it means to you, and ironically, the longer you are away from that place, the less tangible it becomes.

vlog2: Socially Awkward Moments

2011-04-27T20:20:00.001+10:00

Self Portrait #882

2011-04-19T19:28:00.002+10:00

The 'f' Word

2011-04-17T20:56:00.008+10:00

Yesterday, we went to a play called Popcorn. The lead role (played by a friend) was this crazy talking southern guy, who, along with his girlfriend, was going around LA killing people. It was sort of like Natural Born Killers meets Neil Simon. The theatre where we went to is located in an area of Sydney called Kings Cross, which reminds me of the Tenderloin in San Francisco - not as bad, but it is similar with its titty bars and junkies. When we first moved to Sydney, there was a series of ‘glassings’ in some of the pubs around Kings Cross - total jerk off straight guys, who once they got drunk would get into fights and shove a schooner glass into someone’s face. Lovely.

After the play, a group of us wandered down to a pub located on the main strip. One thing I still can’t get used to here is that the majority of the pubs are these giant corporate monstrosities. It’s like those hideous corporate food chains found all over the US. We were there for a bit when one of the guys we were with noticed that the group of mates across from us where doing poppers. There was probably 4 or 5 lads (all straight) passing it around. A couple of them noticed us watching and they fell out laughing. When I started going to bars, I used to do poppers on the dance floor. It wasn’t until many years later that I discovered that people also used them during sex…silly me. So, anyway, there was something (ironic?) funny about a group of gay guys watching a group of straight guys passing around amyl nitrite in a pub that looked liked T.G.I. Fridays! To add to the bizarreness, David had stepped out for a smoke and when he came back in he said that he had been called a faggot by two different guys while he was outside. This is funny because of all of the faggots I know, he is the least faggy.

Many hours later, as I walked down Oxford Street towards home, I passed a group of silly young queens. One of them said something like – I wouldn’t touch that faggot – he was looking at me. I burst out laughing and kept walking.

actors

2011-04-17T19:21:00.002+10:00

My Take-Aways from Ayn Rand

2011-04-14T19:40:00.008+10:00

Oh dear gawd, Ayn Rand is all up in pop culture again with the Atlas Shrugged movie opening in the US on tax day, which has sparked articles like this hence discussions like this. For me, Atlas Shrugged was a painful read. Pedantic didacticism can only entertain for so long. I found the The Fountainhead to be brilliant (I read it first). Brilliant in that I think Howard Roark's court speech to be much better than John Galt's radio address. Meanwhile, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul uses his time at the Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing to discuss the plot of another Ayn Rand novel, Anthem (funny, he's a big fan of hers and apparently was named after her, but he can't seem to pronounce her name correctly...hint, it rhymes with the word mine). I tried to read Anthem a few years after my obsession with AR had worn off....I made it through 40 odd pages and tossed it. There comes a point in your life when you realise you have to let go of mommy. In the end, all rationalist systems become totalitarian, every last bloody one of 'em, including hers.

My take-aways from Ayn Rand: moral systems CAN exist without god (many of her new fans seem to keep glossing over the fact that she was an atheist); everyone has the right to self determination, everyone; capitalism isn't the scariest thing on the planet (though a number capitalists are complete jackasses and/or criminals); humans are not rational beings, yes, not is the key word - I know, the irony.

Ayn Rand would find me despicable....what I wouldn't give to have a night out with that women...I'd certainly show her a thing or two.

Man in a Red Shirt

2011-04-10T11:58:00.001+10:00

Street Light

2011-04-10T11:57:00.001+10:00

Mondays, Holidays, Politics, and Homophobic PMs

2011-04-04T16:12:00.002+10:00

This Monday is painful. Could the hours go by any slower? It occurred to me earlier that it has been a while since I’m written anything of substance. I think the only thing I can think of these days is the upcoming holidays. I’m definitely ready for the time off, and I’m ready for my yearly dose of America. I’ve finally accepted that none of my friends or family is going to visit while we are here. And that’s okay. My best friend has lived in Germany for 10 years and I have never managed to go see her. We have promised once we return to the US, we will put the trip at the top of the ‘to do’ list. Travelling to Europe from Australia is about a 30 hour ordeal, which doesn’t sound like the most appealing of activities. I’m so ready to move back to San Francisco, but I try not to discuss it that much...especially, with my friends here in Sydney. I think there’s nothing worse than someone trashing ‘your town’ so I don’t want my eagerness to move back to be considered an indictment against Sydney or Australia in general. I’m sure most people don’t give a shit one way or the other, but it is something I’m sensitive to...perhaps it’s part of expat angst..? Honestly, if it wasn’t for my deep attachments to the Bay Area I wouldn’t want to leave here (something I dare not tell my family...oops, I guess I just did!). The US in general creeps me out now. The extreme rhetoric on the right coupled with the spinelessness on the left leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. I’m at that point in my life where I want to give up politics again (when Clinton signed the Defence of Marriage Act, I said I would never vote again in a Presidential election; when W ran for his second term, I broke that promise). Obama getting us involved in another war has been the last straw for me...very disappointing, certainly not the change I thought I was voting for. Speaking of being disappointed in leaders, Julia Gillard (PM of Australia) is an atheist. Interestingly, she has come out against same sex marriage as un-Australian:

I think for our culture, for our heritage, the Marriage Act and marriage being between a man and a woman has a special status … I know that people might look at me and think that’s something that they wouldn’t necessarily expect me to say but that is what I believe.

I’m on the record as saying things like I think it’s important that people understand their Bible stories. Not because I’m an advocate of religion — clearly I’m not — but once again, what comes from the Bible has formed such an important part of our culture.

This is truly a WTF moment. More info can be read here. Honestly, the arrogance of her statements is astounding to me. I mean I expect such bullshit from religious folks, but from a fellow atheist?

Can you say homophobe?

Bum Crack

2011-04-03T10:50:00.002+10:00

Self Portrait #468

2011-04-03T10:49:00.002+10:00

4 weeks, but I'm not counting....

2011-03-31T18:31:00.000+11:00

So, back in the bubble in 4 weeks. Yay! That's all for now...

On the Train

2011-03-28T21:33:00.002+11:00

street cleaner

2011-03-28T21:32:00.001+11:00

Hmmmm

2011-03-27T12:58:00.001+11:00

Self Portrait #698

2011-03-26T14:46:00.002+11:00

four abstract images

2011-03-26T12:04:00.003+11:00

Another War?

2011-03-19T10:45:00.000+11:00

So, we are going to war in Libya now? That's just fucking awesome. Well, we know where this is going to end up. As if I didn't need anything else to feed my expat angst...

Fire Below

2011-03-18T23:11:00.002+11:00

kaci's america

2011-03-17T19:43:00.000+11:00

Self Portrait #967

2011-03-14T07:09:00.004+11:00

7 weeks and counting

2011-03-13T11:36:00.001+11:00

So, in about seven weeks we’ll be back in the bubble for a visit. Our best mate is turning 40, so it will be good fun. We’ll also be heading to NYC to spend some days with very dear friends and in between we’ll get a dose of family (if any are reading this, I mean that most affectionately!). I’m really excited about the trip…April/May will be a perfect time to be in the US, especially traveling between the two coasts and in between. Mentally, I’ve started repatriating. I mean, I realise it is a little over a year away, but emotionally I need to begin the process now. It’s kind of bitter sweet. The longer I stay away from San Francisco, the more I miss it. I don’t miss much else, though. Americans scare me now, but not for the obvious reasons. It comes down to two words: entitlement and selfishness.

open 7 days

2011-03-12T21:52:00.002+11:00

self portrait #338

2011-03-10T21:19:00.002+11:00

3 figures

2011-03-06T11:36:00.001+11:00

Are you looking for a product?

2011-03-04T17:57:00.001+11:00

Backflip aka Best Photo Ever!

2011-03-02T19:32:00.003+11:00

This is one of those photo captures that makes me go, SNAP!

2 Cranes

2011-03-02T19:20:00.004+11:00

skyline

2011-03-02T19:13:00.003+11:00

Just Another Saturday Night...

2011-02-27T00:39:00.004+11:00

So, it's a little after midnight as I write this entry. I'm listening to Agnes' Release Me...I know, the gayest thing you've heard all day. Speaking of gay, I learned today that Britney is going perform on Castro Street. I'm all like, gag, but fuck, IT'S BRITNEY, BITCH. My dearest friend Kevie is about to pee all over himself. He lives above Castro Street where she'll be preforming, so he'll have a front row seat. Bitch better record that shit...just sayin...

My new fav iPhone app is Instagram...thanks, Teddy! Good gawd, what the hell did we do before smart phones? To hell with galleries and museums....don't go to the art, bring the art to you.

Now listening to George Michael's Flawless....in case you were wondering...and now Precious Box...c'mon, people, keep up!

Tomorrow we are going boating around the Harbour....sooooo looking forward to being on water.

Hate my life.

p.s. get off your lazy asses and dance.

p.s.s. Laurie Anderson's Another Day in America.

Fair Day

2011-02-21T14:37:00.006+11:00

So yesterday we went to Fair Day, which kicks off the Mardi Gras festivities that go on for the next two weeks. The highlight was getting our picture made with Matt Mitcham, the Aussie diver who took the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics. Everyone who got their picture made with him received the digital image via MMS and a printed copy. I got my printed copy but the MMS never came. Everyone else in our little group got theirs. Bitches. Later that day copious amounts of alcohol were consumed by all.

Surry Hills Library

2011-02-19T15:51:00.004+11:00

Art or Anger?

2011-02-19T12:13:00.002+11:00

Time Lapse: Year of the Rabbit Parade

2011-02-17T19:07:00.001+11:00

Princess

2011-02-13T18:37:00.001+11:00

How much?

2011-02-13T18:30:00.001+11:00

Midnight Juggernauts - Into The Galaxy

2011-02-12T20:46:00.002+11:00

Self Portrait #2067

2011-02-12T17:18:00.001+11:00

New South Wales or the South III?

2011-02-11T18:54:00.003+11:00

Drip

2011-02-10T21:41:00.001+11:00

Seriously, I can't get away from this woman.

2011-02-05T14:06:00.001+11:00

Last night I dreamed I was in Egypt lying on a giant bed.

2011-02-05T08:51:00.000+11:00

Last night I dreamed I was in Egypt lying on a giant bed. Hosni Mubarak was in the bed with me and he kept trying to kiss me. Every time he leaned over and opened his mouth, I would stick my finger in his right eye. This would make him laugh, and each time he mumbled something I couldn’t understand and then he would pop a date into my mouth. He told me if I had sex with him he would get the Israeli government to build me a pyramid―the biggest one in Egypt. There was a song playing, but I couldn’t quite hear what it was. In the middle of room there were three men, a Jew, a Christian, and a Muslim. I knew their religions, because each man had the Star of David, the Cross, and the Star and Crescent hanging from their necks respectively. They were naked and they were taking turns raping two atheists, a man and a woman. I don’t really know how I knew they were atheists, I just knew. The trio yelled obscenities, while they (literally) fucked the couple to death. Once they were finished, the three men embraced and locked tongues. They meshed together and became one man, who then melted into a blob of goo on the floor at the feet of the dead couple. Just behind this scene was a red curtain that opened up, revealing a dancing Buddha and a weeping Buddha. They were on a Lazy Susan type platform, spinning round very slowly. In front of them, there was a shiny silver sword. I jumped out of the bed and ran towards them. I picked up the sword and decapitated each Buddha. I looked up and to my left there was an archway. There were two figures standing, a man dressed as a woman and a woman dressed as a man. They smiled at me and faded away, like they became fog or mist. I looked back and Mubarak was motioning for me to come back to bed. I turned and walked through the archway. Then, I was in San Francisco and I was standing in the middle of the intersection between Market and Castro. David was with me and we were holding hands. He looked at me and smiled, then I realised our friends and family were all around us, forming a circle. David picked me up and the immediate group around us unfurled this giant American flag. He threw me on top of it and joined the group by grabbing an edge. They started tossing me up into the air, bouncing me up and down, each time going higher and higher. This seemed to go on for a long time, and the crowd kept laughing and cheering. They were singing, it was that same song from earlier in the dream. Again, I couldn’t quite make out what it was. Then they tossed me up higher than any of the other times, and at the crest I caught a glimpse of the pyramid building on Montgomery Street. I chuckled, because I was reminded that Mubarak had said that if I had sex with him, he would get the Israelis to build a pyramid for me. As I started falling back to the flag, I looked down. It was no longer an American flag; it was now an Australian one. As my body hit the material, I jerked awake. David was asleep beside me. We were back in Australia. I looked at the clock and I realised I was late for work. I jumped out of bed. I didn’t really understand why David was still sleeping, but I didn’t try to wake him. I got ready and caught the bus to work. When I reached my building, that song from my dream started playing on my iPod. But then I realised I was actually still dreaming―such an odd thing, to have a dream within a dream. I woke up for real and wrote this down before I forgot. Now, I have that damned song trapped in my head!

The Economy of Sharing

2011-01-30T11:53:00.000+11:00

Gay Bogans

2011-01-28T16:55:00.000+11:00

New South Wales or the South II?

2011-01-28T14:44:00.001+11:00

A mate at work just sent me this article from the Sydney Morning Herald with this lovely quote:

Soon we will reach the stage where we will all have to publicly apologise for being heterosexual.

Seriously.

New South Wales or the South?

2011-01-28T14:16:00.001+11:00

rain

2011-01-24T18:52:00.002+11:00

2 Aliens

2011-01-23T16:41:00.002+11:00

Town Hall Station

2011-01-23T13:46:00.003+11:00

Friday Night

2011-01-23T12:09:00.000+11:00