I've started creating my own personal Flipboard magazine "Smirkonian". It's similar in a way to the old Tweetsheet posts I published on this blog last year. Primarily the Flipboard mag is a collection of articles, rss posts and tweets that I've read and had an interest in.
It requires the Flipboard app for iOS or Android. Download the app and search for Smirkonian.
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Based on Dr. Seuss's final book before his death, this is a story about life's ups and downs, told by the people of Burning Man.
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We've arrived in chilly Banff. The good news is the hotel room is cosy.
The day started around 8am when the bus departed Vernon and travelled along the Okanagan Valley towards the Rocky Mountains. Our first stop was at Craigellachie to view a monument marking the spot where the last spike was driven into place in 1885 linking Canada by rail from coast to coast.
We stopped for a nice walk through a giant cedars forest and in the afternoon we crossed Rogers Pass and the narrow Kicking Horse Canyon. We saw several bears on our travels today too. Didn't get a very good picture of them though. However Tony managed to shoot some awesome video of a bear pooping. Proof a bear really does that in the woods.
Just before we arrived in Banff we were taken to Emerald Lake. It's a very beautiful and tranquil lake. I remember visiting here in 1986. It's still breathtaking. It hasn't changed a bit.
The town of Banff has grown from last time I was here. It's now a bustling alpine town. Luckily we're here between the end of the ski season and the start of the peak summer tourist season.
Here's a quick selection from todays photo opportunities...
Giant Cedars walk
Giant Cedars walk
Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake
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A young family leaves their home on Kauai. It is time to return to the itinerant path from which all things in their uncommon lives come; beginning and ending on a remote dot in the Pacific. They nomadically trace continents to places where waves meet their edges, envoys of aloha. It is what they will learn, what they bring others, what they will pass on to their children in the hyper-expanded classroom, the lab of direct being; a legacy passed from a father to his family.
An adventure cannot be written before it happens so the film remains untitled until it unfolds. Together with a small film crew the Goodwins will document how they are changed by their travels, and the effect they have on their acquaintances, hosts, friends and ticket agents as they circumnavigate our planet, through 18 countries and four seasons. This is the story of their encounters with the world.
They step into the current faithfully, inquisitively, boldly and with good will.
Follow the Goodwins adventure.
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In the last 24 hours, the world population ticked over 7 billion . So that go me thinking. As a 51 year old, what would have been the population on my birth date. Here's what I found...
The Guardian says when I was born the world population was approximately 2,962,787,511.
Another indicator, or Worldometer, says I was the 3,045,349.202nd person alive on earth and the 76,702,605,147th person to have lived since history began.
So what does that mean? I'm small and insignificant. So are you, now get in line!
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Standout's on my Twitter feed today...
CyclingCentral
Broom Wagon blog: What, no hula hoops? http://ow.ly/6ql1T #cycling
- Great read, recapping the weeks event in Pro Cycling with a load of laughs.
NBC Nightly News
The @NBCNews account has been hacked. Working on it. Please don't retweet any misinformation.
NBC News PR
Statement by NBC News on @NBCNews Twitter account hacking: bit.ly/onTUJH
- A few hours later...
NBC News
Thank you for helping spread the word and not sharing bad information.
Joey Boots ✔
@NBCNews use a better password than Peacock.
- A fitting reply when the account came back online.
Team HTC-Highroad
HTC-Highroad Defends Title in Britain fb.me/1eHooK8Nu
Covert Affairs
Would you rather work for Arthur or Joan?
- Plucked eyebrows anytime!
Phil Liggett
memorable time in Calgary, now flying to Montreal. Sending this from 41kft up! The great Lakes are very blue.
Louis Virtel
One way to make yourself feel better is realizing there are adult skateboarders in the world.
Macworld
Uninstalling apps you bought at the Mac App Store? @tedlandau has tips in case you have some unexpected hassles: macw.us/njiMon
- For when the app turns out to be not what you thought it was.
Off Track Planet
10 Best Places to Get Drunk in Public - When pounding shots of Jack alone in your room isn't cutting it anymore ow.ly/1eCL8Y
- Not surprised by #4
Off Track Planet
"Best Summer Vacation Story Ever" thedailywh.at/2011/09/01/bes… via @TheDailyWhat
- It's one of those 'don't tell mum and dad i'm here' stories.
Matt
Happy #FollowFriday! If you want travel, then you better follow these folks: http://ht.ly/6ps9a #travel
- Nice list of travel blogs.
Christopher Gorham
#USATrivia Scenes from 2nights #Suits finale were filmed in the same bldg that played Langley in the #CovertAffairs pilot.
- Love Suits… the tv show, not the attire.
Nat Geo Traveler
Top 10 Walks & Hiking Tours on.natgeo.com/o8Whgf
AutoCorrects
Google it twitpic.com/6ik92u
Lonely Planet
Drinks and the city: how to hydrate around the world http://ow.ly/6pL0d #lp
- Here are my suggestions: Tsingtao in Hong Kong, Mythos in Mykonos, and Mango Lassi found in any Indian restaurant around the world.
Dylan Lowe
Pack this, not that blt.cc/ivud7i by @Ayngelina
- Every overseas trip I've done, I've always packed something I never needed. A few more trips required before this lesson learned.
Cameron Gray
I think I finally "get" tea
Andrew Shepherd
@parabola Keep this up you'll be reading them next. #tea
William Shatner
Have you heard my rendition of Iron Man from my upcoming album "Seeking Major Tom"? My best, Bill revolvermag.com/news/exclusive…
- $#*! My Dad Sings! Honestly, it's just aweful.
@SmirksTas - Following 153 - Followers 41
'Night eggheads
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Here's todays picks...
Peter Gallagher
RT @Chris_Gorham: Check out @petergallagher_ in SF on 10/22! bit.ly/pWwzeC I'll sing you a few songs and tell you some stories! Come!
Wesley Sulzberger
yfrog.com/kgqzkp Some people celebrate marriage others celebrate divorce. Out training Ventimiglia Italy.
Dwaine Scott
Behind the Scenes: control room 3A producing special weather coverage with @nbc & @weatherchannel teams in the field http://t.co/TkShepz
Dwaine Scott
Behind the scenes: a panoramic photo of the @msnbctv studios. twitpic.com/6cvt8s
- Once again, Dwayne delivers some NBC behind the scenes magic. I'm loving his tweets.
david koch
All Ords up 63pts. Aussie & NZ dollars march higher with stocks; Forestry Tasmania posts $12m loss. AUD up to $US1.06
- There's no money in forestry anymore. The market plateaued years ago and has been declining ever since (my opinion only).
Eamon Sullivan
Come and have a cocktail and a look my cook book, Eamons Kitchen, tomorrow night at Ariel book store on Oxford street @ 7pm!!
- Oh, …Oxford Street? ….?
Chris Rowbottom
I'd rather burn my toast than go and see that new Smurfs movie #evenneilpatrickharriscantsaveit
…in replay…
James Barwick
@chrisroww Imagine your balls the whole time your watching that movie. They would just be sitting there, just smacking.
Andrew Shepherd
How (not) to set up a travel blog ... Step 1 is essential. killingbatteries.com/2011/08/how-to…
Not tweets of interest from me today except for a retweet seen above.
@SmirksTas - Following 144 - Followers 39
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Who would have thought it would come to this. After many years of resisting what everyone else seems to be doing, I'm turning myself into a cyber stalker. Yes folks, you can now follow me on Twitter @SmirksTas
I'm very disappointed in myself.
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I received news from Mum about an hour ago that her sister had passed away.
Our family had been expecting this for several weeks.
Jan was a favourite aunt of mine and had fought with chronic arthritis most of her adult life.
This photo is the last one I ever took of Jan, taken just over three years ago in my brothers house at Beauty Point. His house is built on the location of my late Grandfathers shack that looks out over the Tamar River. It was here I had my fondest and most vivid memories of Jan when I was a child.
I'll going to miss you Aunty Jan.
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Four days after returning from my holiday in Macau, my department head informed me I was being made redundant and my services as a news editor were no longer required. Actually that's not quite correct, the services I do for the company are required, it's just that the work load is being redistributed among the remaining newsroom and production staff.
From: ***** ******
Sent: Thursday, 14 May 2009 15:36
To: TAS All Staff - Launceston
Subject: Sad Day
Hi everyone,
It is my sad duty to inform you that Andrew ‘Smirks’ Shepherd’s role as news ENG editor has been made redundant effective the 30th of June 2009.
It is especially sad given his exemplary record and commitment to the station, in particular the news department but also that this has had to occur in the year he achieved 25 years of service.
This redundancy is not related to the economic situation but rather the company’s requirement that our new non liner editing equipment has a pay back period and associated with the new efficiency of operation gained once implemented.
Should you have any questions or concerns please come and see me or discuss with your department head.
Regards
***** ******
The mysterious third paragraph has everyone dumb struck - well according everyone I've spoken to, particularly the words 'pay back period'. To me it sounds like someone made a monumental cock up when ordering the equipment.
Anyway, I'll curb anymore comment on this as I'm hoping to keep my foot in the door for future work.
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I spent a few days with Tony in Hobart. The mother of a close friend of ours had died so we decided to buy some flowers and a card. The flower shop is located in a back alley and I'm waiting outside for Tony. I notice the walls are strewn with graffiti and spot a word phrase I hadn't seen before. I mention this to Tony on the way back to the car.
Later on we're presenting our lovely bunch of flowers and sympathies to our friend. She gets a vase and thinks to fill it with water... or as Tony suggests "put them in root juice".
I'm shocked and horrified, as Tony clearly didn't pick up the euphemism I was referring to earlier.
So, girls and boys, I expect this one to be in the next edition of Macquarie Dictionary.
root juice noun (euphemistic) seminal fluid
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Don't you just hate it when one of your favourite consumer products is discontinued?
It happens to me quite often. This time it's my moisturiser. Yes folks, I use moisturiser (anyway it's not the first time I've admitted to it).
The people at Nivea For Men have ditched the best facial lotion on the market - "Moisturising Lotion SPF15" and now I have to choose between what I consider three inferior products - "Moisturiser Sensitive" or "Rehydrating Moisturiser Lotion SPF15" or "Active Firming Moisturiser"
My skin doesn't need rehydrating or firming so I might have to settle for the "sensitive".
What product will be next to vanish of the shopping shelves?
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To be aware of a single shortcoming within oneself is more useful than to be aware of a thousand in somebody else. Rather than speaking badly about people and in ways that will produce only friction and unrest in their lives, we should practice a purer perception of them, and when we speak of others, speak of their good qualities. If you find yourself slandering anybody, first imagine that your mouth is filled with excrement. It will break you of the habit quickly enough. The Dalai Lama, Insight from the Dalai Lama
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20 years ago, living on a Greek island was my mid-life crisis plan, in the event I needed an escape.
Well, here I am at mid-life (46), there's no crisis, I'm very happy. What went wrong?!?!?!?!?
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Today I'm 46... going on 16.
On Sunday I had lunch with the family a Rosevears Tavern. Tony made the trip from Hobart to be there as well, which was nice.
Then last night I had another meal with Mum and Dad at their new house. Mum had asked the old man to get a chocolate/creamed sponge cake for me. When he got to the shop they only had mud cake (which he thought would be too rich, so he didn't get it.) Grrrrr. What he eventually bought was a pecan pie, which for me is a little rich after a few mouth fulls. So, double grrrrr!
PIE IS NOT CAKE!!!
Anyway, my point being, after hinting all week I wanted a frigging birthday cake, I still haven't had any CAKE.
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This photo titled "Boys and Girls" by Frida Hedberg of Sweden came 3rd in Unicef's Photo of the Year Award for 2005. It's one of those impressionable photos that get you thinking about how some kids grow up faster than others.
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It's October 1st. A few things are happening today, and have happened in history.
I've read the Alexander Trilogy by Valerio Massimo Manfredi and been a fan of Alexander The Great since then (yeah i know, the movie sucked!)
Anyway, thanks to Wikipedia for jogging my memory... today in 331 BC, Alexander the Great of Macedon defeated Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela, and was subsequently crowned "King of Asia" in a ceremony in Arbela.
Now what's significant about this is, if Alexander had lost this battle and been subsequently killed, the world as we know it today would probably not exist. This is because the Greek society back then was the foundation of democracy.
As for today, it's my Mum and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary. So congratulations to my folks... i know it hasn't been easy, but you've both pulled through in flying colours. Have a great day.
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I'm not a spiritual person. That is, I'm not religious. Occasionally I'm asked "but what about your interest in Buddhism?"
Well it's all quite simple, much like Buddhism itself. I only study Buddhist philosophy. No complicated chanting, meditation or a desire to reach enlightenment. To me, Buddhism is not a religion but a system of knowledge. It's something I can do on my own.
The main difference is, a religion is where you follow a dictatory path laid down by the religion. You walk the same path as others. With Buddhism I tread my own path in life. It's that simple.
Why do people have to make their lives so complicated?
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Usually Good Friday is a low key affair but this year I invited Tony to Beauty Point to see the start of the Three Peaks Yacht Race. It was a rather colourful spinnaker start.
Saturday Tony ventured over to my place and brought over his PS2 to try out on my plasma screen. And it was freakin' wonderful! Played Gran Turismo 4 .... and spent most of the time over correcting the steering so we ended up more off the track than on it. So we set off for the nearest Harvey Norman store and bought ourselves a Logitech Wheel controller each. Then we were in PlayStation bliss.
Later we watched Bourne Supremacy. It's one of a few movies that deserves to have a sequel.
Sunday (today) is was back to work unfortunately. However, I do have 2 weeks off at the end of this week. I feel another Hobart trip coming on.
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Each day I receive emails from several subscribed mailing lists, including GBOF. I read the Daily Dharma posted by Albert Kaba regularly.
Here's a lovely quote from yesterday's GBOF:
Like a river, experience is never the same from one moment to the next. but we tend to ignore change and emphasize similarity. Insisting that the past has gone and the future has not yet come, we turn the present into something static: a fixed and rigid identity.
To counter this tendency, we can focus in our experience on how things change from moment to moment. Right now I think I am the same person that I was last year or five minutes ago, but in fact the mind, feelings and desires are constantly changing. Instead of insisting on sameness, can we simply appreciate the subtle differences?
--Milking the Painted Cow: The Creative Power of Mind & the Shape of Reality in Light of the Buddhist Tradition (Tarthang Tulku)
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Tony and I spent new years eve at his flat in Hobart. We spent the day at the Taste of Tasmania and had a meal at The Metz in Sandy Bay that evening. Usually the done thing to do is watch the new years fireworks down on the docks. But I was sound asleep by 11pm. The fireworks did wake me up though.
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Each week I look forward to a new strip of Adam and Andy by James Asal. I've just taken the 'Which Adam and Andy Character Are You?' quiz and discovered I'm not my name sake but an Adam!
You're Adam!
Which Adam & Andy Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
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Just started 3 weeks leave today. I have lots of things I'd like to do around the house. So far I've mowed the grass. It's a good start.
Sometime ago I purchased some Ken Duncan panographs and last month sent them in to get mounted in some nice wood stained frames. They rang me today to say they are ready so I'll head into town on Monday and pick them up.
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Yes it's my birthday. Forty four and smiling! Today I had lunch at a winery with my family and although they sat us next to the sunny window (which felt like a furnace after a while) we all had a great time. The food at Rosevears Estate was extremely tasty, I enjoyed it all... including their Unwooded Chardonnay.
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It seems someone had the time to go to University to study Homer... Homer Simpson that is!
Researchers at Rutgers University wanted to examine how Homer and other characters in the television show "The Simpsons" casually promote an unsafe diet, among other things.
The study concluded "We should hope that parents have a bigger effect on kids than the cartoons they are watching."
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I'm currently on a week off from work. Just normal annual leave. Catching up on a few things and doing those odd jobs I left for rainy days but didn't do on those rainy days (lazy slob!)
The new Mac is going well. I'm very pleased with it.
I've started reading a book called Separate Lives. It's partly set in the Greek Islands (wouldn't you know it). I've added it to the Typelist on the right. I found the book at the local book market reduced from $29.95 to $9.95. A bargain don't you think? I know, I know, it's one of those womens romance novels... but it's Greece peeps!
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Each year I try to grasp the concept of Valentines Day but never quite figure it out. Anyway, happy Val's day to all those people I secretly admire.... you know who you are!!!
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I haven't launched my RSS reader (NetNewsWire Lite, btw) for about a week, so no sooner had I creamed over the announcement of The Simpsons movie, I found heaps of other newsy bits that caught my eye.
- NASA officials adamantly defend the decision not to perform any more service missions to Hubble -- which means one of the greatest scientific instruments in history will die as early as 2007.
- Some months ago I was delighted to see a new tv mini-series remake of an old favourite show, Battlestar Galactica. Sci Fi Channel thought it so successful they're now going to make a 13 episode series based on the mini-series.
- Hey ya... Linus and Lucy lip-synching to OutKast? Hilarious! Watch the vid.
- I've been following closely the making of Oliver Stone's new epic film Alexander The Great. News just in... Colin Farrell (who plays Alexander) has injured his foot. Is he just getting into character or somethin'? Alexander had far worse injuries than that. :)
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The best thing about New Years is Australia goes first! (behind New Zealand)
Had a fun time at Tamar Cove, a little restaurant about 45 mins down the river with Tony's folks. It just happened to be the same resaurant my Mum and Dad where at too! Didn't over do the drinks, we had to drive back to Launceston. We rang our mate Michael in Sydney at midnight and watched a few "crackers" go off (nothing like the big show in Sydney though).
Today I'm off to work... just as soon as I have a 'wake-me-up' shower.
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I have new neighbours. They moved in last Thursday. We've said hello and done basic introductions, but are they in for a shock living next to me... Mr. Don't-talk-much. No, I'm not really a snob, but I do like keeping to myself.
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One of the mailing lists I subscribe to dishes out a Daily Dharma. So here's today's, and rather appropriate in the world's current state:
Meaningful to Behold
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
There is really no reason to kill our ordinary enemies; death will
come to them naturally in the future anyway. Despite this fact there
are some soldiers who engage in fearsome battles, willing to fight
even though their enemies have superior weapons. They ignore the
pains of battle and continue to fight until they are victorious. If
there are people who are willing to expend such great effort in
order to kill an ordinary enemy then why do we not strive unceasingly
to destroy the worst enemy of all: the delusion that is the cause of
all of our suffering? To overcome such a powerful foe we must
certainly expect to expreience great hardships but is there any need
to mention the absolute necessity of attacking this enemy diligently?
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A Canadian prison has cancelled a bulk order of fruit flavored condoms.
Was in just in bad taste or did they actually taste bad?
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Every sheila that drives a car should buy one of these... a car that can park itself!
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Active 102-year-old Italian looking for love and marriage... promises can still deliver the goods.
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Tony took this photo on our recent visit to the Canberra Zoo. It totally supports the Lindy Chamberlain theory: Dingo + Baby = Lunch!
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Santa Fe
Beirut: The Rip Tide
(****)
Waiting For Something
Nada Surf: The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy
New York indie rock band Nada Surf release their seventh album entitled The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy, it expands on the Matthew Caws-led group’s sparking indie-pop songwriting. Catchy, affable tracks that pair sunny melodies with propulsive guitar riffs that culminate in an infectious buoyancy. Good news: this style infuses the entire album. (*****)
Andrew McCarthy: The Longest Way Home
Award-winning travel writer and actor Andrew McCarthy takes us on a deeply personal journey played out amid some of the world’s most evocative locales. (****)
William Shatner: Shatner Rules: Your Guide to Understanding the Shatnerverse and the World at Large
I'm told this is quite a funny read.
Mark Cavendish: Boy Racer
Inspiring read on the early pro-cycling career of the guy known as the Manx Missile. (****)
Neil Pasricha: The Book of Awesome
This gem of a book reminds us that the best things in life are free. (*****)
