i like airports. there's a fair bit of waiting, but armed with a laptop and headphones i'm a happy chappy. with a myriad of destinations announced at close frequency, it feels like people are going places. and, well, they probably are. i like being in a constant flux, if that makes sense.
i like watching the little buggys zoom around the tarmac, loosely adhering to their own road rules and markings. my friend, once a baggage handler, was utterly busted by his boss for doing a burnout in a baggage buggy (possibly with luggage in tow); not at all due to the ridiculous turnaround time expected for baggage (un)loading - the figure of 7 minutes per flight comes to mind.
there's a guy sitting near me at the boarding gate who reminds me very much of a phd friend. he's ambiguously asian, and oozes collected cool. it nearly makes me miss my friends.
i must be bored: i'm talking crap.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
time warp
i'm house-sitting for a friend, and it feels as though i've adopted someone else's life for a week. the 9-5 routine is an easy one to fall into, but i suspect it has the potential to suck time into voids, never to be seen again.
should i continue down this path, i have a feeling that i might wake up 30 years later, doing the same things as i am now, making the small incremental differences and wondering how i managed to achieve fuck all. that doesn't at all appeal, and it seems... mind-stiflingly boring?
should i continue down this path, i have a feeling that i might wake up 30 years later, doing the same things as i am now, making the small incremental differences and wondering how i managed to achieve fuck all. that doesn't at all appeal, and it seems... mind-stiflingly boring?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
there is hope
i've just met with a really interesting guy here, sort of like an older version of me! it turns out you can go on phd nerd exchange, and organisations do support such placements despite the complete disinterest shown to me by my parent institution. he's been trying to encourage students, undergrad and postgrad, to travel and take academic and volunteer opportunities, but no fish are biting! i cannot believe nor understand this; if i was a student here i would have jumped before the starter pistol fired.
exchange is far too late for me now, but what i can do is just get up and go, take my cv, and hit the ground running with it. there's work abounds and without attachment to a parent organisation, which means more flexibility and less bureaucracy. and he knows people. i need no second invitation.
oh why didn't i meet this guy a few years ago?!
exchange is far too late for me now, but what i can do is just get up and go, take my cv, and hit the ground running with it. there's work abounds and without attachment to a parent organisation, which means more flexibility and less bureaucracy. and he knows people. i need no second invitation.
oh why didn't i meet this guy a few years ago?!
unimpresssed espresso
it's 10 to 9, and i am drinking the supposedly best espresso in this town; but i'm not convinced. it's tasty and gives me the hit that i need, but it's nothing special. although famed for being a cafe-culture town, i'm much more enamoured with the ridiculously nice hot chocolates. sitting in the middle of one of the many inner-city alleys with cafes bursting on the street, i watch people rush to get to wherever it is they need to be. they're mainly suits, with some student-types thrown in for some variety. trains evidently arrive every five minutes or so as the flux of people oscillates this frequently...
on the whole, people are well-dressed here. not necessarily dressed-up, but they evidently put some thought into attire and presentation. this has become a bit of a sore point for me recently as i have realised what bad fashion i have. but at the same time, i don't care enough to do anything about it.
i've made a list of the places i need to drink/eat at this week. inner-city convenience and relatively effective and cheap public transport is too tempting to not indulge in. so i only managed to con travel concession for three days, before the pigeons told me off but thankfully without financial repercussions.
i wonder how many hot chocolates i can consume in a week without making myself ill...
on the whole, people are well-dressed here. not necessarily dressed-up, but they evidently put some thought into attire and presentation. this has become a bit of a sore point for me recently as i have realised what bad fashion i have. but at the same time, i don't care enough to do anything about it.
i've made a list of the places i need to drink/eat at this week. inner-city convenience and relatively effective and cheap public transport is too tempting to not indulge in. so i only managed to con travel concession for three days, before the pigeons told me off but thankfully without financial repercussions.
i wonder how many hot chocolates i can consume in a week without making myself ill...
Thursday, October 16, 2008
url bandit
someone is toying with me. i made a typo trying to get to this blog, and look what happened: http://dereverb.blogpsot.com/
yech.
yech.
home bitter home
such a rude welcome home: hopping onto the airport train into town (note: i didn't call it downtown!), with a 15kg backpack on my back, a daypack on my front, and carrying a laptop, no one remotely budged to offer me a seat on the rush hour train. this happened on the train to the north shore too, not just on the airport line. i was slouching near a lady using a walking cane, who was also forced to stand by the neatly pressed suits with eyes down, clearly avoiding eye contact. at what point did simple courtesy or even basic manners escape the common commuter? the lady from aqis who confiscated my beef and turkey jerky was more friendly and humane than the knobs on the train.
it always strikes me when i come back from overseas, especially when returning from highly cultured and vibrant places in europe and asia, how stagnant it can be here. how and when did the daily grind get to people's spirits too? i'm not talking about the religious spirit (because there isn't one dammit) but just one's energy for life, to want to be alive and enjoy being on this planet. is this what life is really about, scowling on the morning train commute avoiding eye contact, or is this just what happens when life gets too comfortable with a nice medicare system and government pension awaiting you?
screw this. i'm heading south to the international arts festival for some vibes. i hear there's a production of shakespeare's romeo+juliet set in pizzerias, performed in lithuanian. food and the bard? yes please.
it always strikes me when i come back from overseas, especially when returning from highly cultured and vibrant places in europe and asia, how stagnant it can be here. how and when did the daily grind get to people's spirits too? i'm not talking about the religious spirit (because there isn't one dammit) but just one's energy for life, to want to be alive and enjoy being on this planet. is this what life is really about, scowling on the morning train commute avoiding eye contact, or is this just what happens when life gets too comfortable with a nice medicare system and government pension awaiting you?
screw this. i'm heading south to the international arts festival for some vibes. i hear there's a production of shakespeare's romeo+juliet set in pizzerias, performed in lithuanian. food and the bard? yes please.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
leaving las vegas
i really hate casinos, particularly so when the most stupid people in america (the world?) seem to congregate there. vegas is a seedy place, and what's worse is that it's proud to be. money talks, and that's about all that the town runs on. the casinos subsidise more than one can think of, including state income tax (or lack thereof)! dirty money?
there's a much better vegas in miniland, legoland. the same buildings (just slightly smaller), without the seedy factor although also minus the carbon-puffing flashy lights. all of miniland, though entirely us-focused, captured my attention, particularly mini-chinatown in san francisco...
there's a much better vegas in miniland, legoland. the same buildings (just slightly smaller), without the seedy factor although also minus the carbon-puffing flashy lights. all of miniland, though entirely us-focused, captured my attention, particularly mini-chinatown in san francisco...
Thursday, October 9, 2008
la di da
being in LA is akin to being in a really bad movie that i can't press the stop (or even pause) button on.
the LAPD really are an over-zealous lot: i've been here a day and a half and have seen two bomb squads, a truck fleet, multiple cars, helicopters, motorcycles, and bikes. i'm recalling that quite a few of the reality cop shows feature edgy LAPD officers, probably because they instigate enough action, even on the time-poor/lazy jaywalker, for a weekly half hour TV slot. i have yet to see SWAT and riot police (on horseback) though, but there is still the rest of the week to go.
hollywood is literally around the corner from the not-so-affluent mexican area. as soon as you turn into hollywood boulevard, it is instantly a different world of shiny lights, hints of the oscars, celebrity stars and foot/handprints, gawking tourists, and street performers (out of work actors?) posing as marilyn monroe, captain jack sparrow, charlie chaplin, and even spiderman. i don't know how people can live in such (ethnic) segregation; the boundaries between neighbourhoods are invisible but extremely clearly defined.
parts of downtown are interesting though, due to the mexican influence. it's got a bit of life to it, rather than the (materialistic) glamour and image that seems to plague other parts of the county. i'm impressed with the food and friendly locals, and i love the mexican gear that fills the (touristy) market. i don't even know what i ate and drank but damn it was good. and after hand signalling with a shop assistant who spoke to me only in spanish, i have learnt about the mexican version of bingo.
santa monica is overrated. sure, forrest gump may have made it there, but in reality it houses a touristy pier and beaches full of locals exercising madly or hooning by in their expensive cars blaring bad music. there's also an interestingly high percentage of mentally-odd characters. but, and this shows my age and bad taste, the lifeguard gear in baywatch looked remarkably like those on the beaches i saw today. a friend did say that the america featured on tv is mostly in LA, and i'm finding this to be an alarmingly true statement: baywatch, hollywood, LAPD (highway patrol!), and the original beverly hills (90210). i'm not going to orange county to see how accurate the OC is, i've seen enough affluent caucasian neighbourhoods.
i'm being dragged kicking and screaming to vegas tomorrow. it's the bribe (and supposed stopover) for the grand canyon, which is what i do want to see. i'm going to cause trouble in vegas, or run around in the desert and chase tumbleweeds, just to get away from rampant money spinning.
but, LA is not all completely rotten with spaghetti freeways and one-person cars: the bus driver to santa monica (on the number 10 from downtown), was the best driver i have ever come across. not for his motoring skills, but for his character and personality: saying hello and goodbye to every passenger, greeting regulars like one would greet a long lost friend (hugs and all), and politely defusing a sticky situation between a crazy man and a stubborn young lady. his cheery demeanour made the long trip to the coast worthwhile...
the LAPD really are an over-zealous lot: i've been here a day and a half and have seen two bomb squads, a truck fleet, multiple cars, helicopters, motorcycles, and bikes. i'm recalling that quite a few of the reality cop shows feature edgy LAPD officers, probably because they instigate enough action, even on the time-poor/lazy jaywalker, for a weekly half hour TV slot. i have yet to see SWAT and riot police (on horseback) though, but there is still the rest of the week to go.
hollywood is literally around the corner from the not-so-affluent mexican area. as soon as you turn into hollywood boulevard, it is instantly a different world of shiny lights, hints of the oscars, celebrity stars and foot/handprints, gawking tourists, and street performers (out of work actors?) posing as marilyn monroe, captain jack sparrow, charlie chaplin, and even spiderman. i don't know how people can live in such (ethnic) segregation; the boundaries between neighbourhoods are invisible but extremely clearly defined.
parts of downtown are interesting though, due to the mexican influence. it's got a bit of life to it, rather than the (materialistic) glamour and image that seems to plague other parts of the county. i'm impressed with the food and friendly locals, and i love the mexican gear that fills the (touristy) market. i don't even know what i ate and drank but damn it was good. and after hand signalling with a shop assistant who spoke to me only in spanish, i have learnt about the mexican version of bingo.
santa monica is overrated. sure, forrest gump may have made it there, but in reality it houses a touristy pier and beaches full of locals exercising madly or hooning by in their expensive cars blaring bad music. there's also an interestingly high percentage of mentally-odd characters. but, and this shows my age and bad taste, the lifeguard gear in baywatch looked remarkably like those on the beaches i saw today. a friend did say that the america featured on tv is mostly in LA, and i'm finding this to be an alarmingly true statement: baywatch, hollywood, LAPD (highway patrol!), and the original beverly hills (90210). i'm not going to orange county to see how accurate the OC is, i've seen enough affluent caucasian neighbourhoods.
i'm being dragged kicking and screaming to vegas tomorrow. it's the bribe (and supposed stopover) for the grand canyon, which is what i do want to see. i'm going to cause trouble in vegas, or run around in the desert and chase tumbleweeds, just to get away from rampant money spinning.
but, LA is not all completely rotten with spaghetti freeways and one-person cars: the bus driver to santa monica (on the number 10 from downtown), was the best driver i have ever come across. not for his motoring skills, but for his character and personality: saying hello and goodbye to every passenger, greeting regulars like one would greet a long lost friend (hugs and all), and politely defusing a sticky situation between a crazy man and a stubborn young lady. his cheery demeanour made the long trip to the coast worthwhile...
Sunday, October 5, 2008
cowboys
denver is weird. the people really love obama. in the past four hours of wandering around downtown i have been approached by at least five people asking if i have registered to vote. one guy at the university of colorado, even upon learning that i was australian and thus unable to exercise my democratic actions on his soil, insisted that i take obama posters with me back home. whilst continuing my tertiary education tour of the country, i ran into a celtic dancing competition (for kids?) at uc; quite odd indeed.
obama fanatics aside, there are a lot of homeless people here, idling lonely on the numerous park benches littered about town. people seem to like to sit around and chat, watch other people, or simply loiter. it's a little weird sometimes.
and there are cowboys! i wasn't actually expecting any, but there was one at the airport, in a cowboy hat with a horse saddle in tow. and, there are metro-cowboys scattered around town, especially in the cowboy store i found in 'lodo'. and, if you've subjected yourself to the movie 'coyote ugly', it's actually a real bar in downtown denver. yikes.
there aren't many asians here. lots of mexicans, caucasian americans, africans, and african-americans. some people gave me odd looks. but maybe that was because i was wearing a nerdy shirt. is open solaris not cool?
obama fanatics aside, there are a lot of homeless people here, idling lonely on the numerous park benches littered about town. people seem to like to sit around and chat, watch other people, or simply loiter. it's a little weird sometimes.
and there are cowboys! i wasn't actually expecting any, but there was one at the airport, in a cowboy hat with a horse saddle in tow. and, there are metro-cowboys scattered around town, especially in the cowboy store i found in 'lodo'. and, if you've subjected yourself to the movie 'coyote ugly', it's actually a real bar in downtown denver. yikes.
there aren't many asians here. lots of mexicans, caucasian americans, africans, and african-americans. some people gave me odd looks. but maybe that was because i was wearing a nerdy shirt. is open solaris not cool?
Friday, October 3, 2008
vice pres
as a visitor to the states that are united, i could not say no to watching the vice presidental debate live with a group of locals. and here's the live blog for it...
both parties don't support same-sex marriage, but have variable views on civil rights?! palin, you talk but your words are ridiculous. now i'm getting cranky over your tirade on iraq and fighting (supposed) insurgents. please learn to be succinct!!
so the locals think palin is doing better than they thought (or hoped!); damn she must have previously sounded like a true fool... i'm personally impressed with biden: composed, calm, and delivers a sound, at times crushing, argument against the verbose palin.
nuclear arms and pakistan. now you're on about iraq, iran, and israel as well. oh now north korea and the castro brothers?! palin! stop dropping proper nouns and answer the stupid question.
two-state solution? ally with israel? second holocaust?! are you just sensationalising? oh so you both love israel. awwwww. nice, tight and strong response from biden though: indeed there isn't a clear deviation from bush's current policies. nice one. palin, why are you back onto north korea?
i have to say palin is talking very well, so long as you don't actually listen to nor think about what she's saying. she looks like she knows what she's talking about. good eye contact with the camera, biden at times lacks.
ooooo... labeling as an interventionist... interesting distinction by biden on action in sudan versus intervention. so you both somewhat agree, with the matter of alaskan oil funds thrown in. interesting response. we're back on bin laden. again.
how did we get onto wall st corruption and the working class family? from bin laden and varying opinions in each administration? palin, what planet are you on? ooooo... killing jobs and the economy. scary.
doggone it? smooth, palin. and now she's personalising education. clever unless you can see through it. there's some groaning and head smacking in the lounge room right now.
energy independence? families with special needs children? focus, palin, focus!
oooo... heartland of america?! working mother? working families? very rudd-esque. sweet response from biden, even personalised just like plain likes to. palin, would you please stop saying maverick?? oh biden don't take on palin's maverick addiction, please.
oh you're going to fight for the average american family. i'm touched. fight for your freedom: economic and national security. that's a lot of fighting. and you mean literally as well as metaphorically.
i think i like the mediator best.
both parties don't support same-sex marriage, but have variable views on civil rights?! palin, you talk but your words are ridiculous. now i'm getting cranky over your tirade on iraq and fighting (supposed) insurgents. please learn to be succinct!!
so the locals think palin is doing better than they thought (or hoped!); damn she must have previously sounded like a true fool... i'm personally impressed with biden: composed, calm, and delivers a sound, at times crushing, argument against the verbose palin.
nuclear arms and pakistan. now you're on about iraq, iran, and israel as well. oh now north korea and the castro brothers?! palin! stop dropping proper nouns and answer the stupid question.
two-state solution? ally with israel? second holocaust?! are you just sensationalising? oh so you both love israel. awwwww. nice, tight and strong response from biden though: indeed there isn't a clear deviation from bush's current policies. nice one. palin, why are you back onto north korea?
i have to say palin is talking very well, so long as you don't actually listen to nor think about what she's saying. she looks like she knows what she's talking about. good eye contact with the camera, biden at times lacks.
ooooo... labeling as an interventionist... interesting distinction by biden on action in sudan versus intervention. so you both somewhat agree, with the matter of alaskan oil funds thrown in. interesting response. we're back on bin laden. again.
how did we get onto wall st corruption and the working class family? from bin laden and varying opinions in each administration? palin, what planet are you on? ooooo... killing jobs and the economy. scary.
doggone it? smooth, palin. and now she's personalising education. clever unless you can see through it. there's some groaning and head smacking in the lounge room right now.
energy independence? families with special needs children? focus, palin, focus!
oooo... heartland of america?! working mother? working families? very rudd-esque. sweet response from biden, even personalised just like plain likes to. palin, would you please stop saying maverick?? oh biden don't take on palin's maverick addiction, please.
oh you're going to fight for the average american family. i'm touched. fight for your freedom: economic and national security. that's a lot of fighting. and you mean literally as well as metaphorically.
i think i like the mediator best.
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