Paris, Pont Royal  © P J Croft 2008, 2014

In the photo above, there is significant chromatic aberration (CA) around the chimneys at upper left and the cupolas. It’s not so visible at this small size, but it’s not nice in the full size image.  Red and green fringing on high contrast edges.  It’s a defect of the lens.  In film days there was nothing you could do about it. Low CA was one of the hallmarks of a good lens, but it cost big dollars to make lenses free of CA.  This camera is a mid priced electronic marvel, but not free of defects.

Now it can be fixed digitally, automatically!

Before: 

After:

This was one click automatic, although it can be tweaked manually too.  An entire folder of images can be processed automatically.

This means digital cameras can be sold with less than perfect lenses now, and many have this defect plus very visible barrel and pincushion distortion.  But you don’t see it because it’s corrected in the camera for you.  That’s why we can have such extreme zoom ranges.  To have a range of 20mm – 1200mm was near impossible in the past, except at very high prices – see below. Now it can be done as routine, almost.

Interestingly,  TV camera zoom lenses had zoom ranges of up to 48x or even 60x in the 1970s to 1990s, way beyond still camera lenses.  But it was because the TV sensor was only about 25mm diagonally, the same as some of the small cameras today.  And the resolution of TV is actually very poor, so defects are not very noticeable.  The resolution of standard definition (640 x 480 – we don’t see it in Australia) is only 307,200 pixels.  So called HD (720 x 576) is only 414,720 pixels.  And even Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) is only 2,073,600 pixels. Yes, that’s right, Full HD is only 2Mp!  A reasonable pocket digital still camera now is 12Mp.

That’s why those old big camera lenses could be made – because they didn’t need to be very good.  They still cost around $60,000 though, on top of the $50,000 for the TV camera (lens extra).

Fujinon 55x

Fujinon 17x – a tiddler.

Note that the Sony camera in the upper picture cost around $65,000, lens extra, but these cameras had to be scrapped in the late 1990s.  Why? Because they used Plumbicon tubes, i.e. vacuum tubes as sensors, three per camera for R, G & B.

But all vacuum tubes wore out and needed replacement periodically.  At a cost of around $10,000 per Plumbicon, it became uneconomic to replace them. So the cameras were replaced by CCD sensor types at another cost of nearly $50,000 plus lens!  That’s what you’re seeing today. See the Skyworks on Monday night?  Modern CCD cameras with fantastic low light (night) performance and beautiful pictures.  No alignment, no warmup, and much more robust.

Btw, when cameras still used vacuum tube sensors (Vidicons, Plumbicons) one of our tests was to take one to the trots at Gloucester Park.  If the camera could perform OK in that night-time-under-lights situation, it was a contender.  Many failed because they left trails behind the horses, or even worse, coloured trails.  This was a defect of the tube quality of the 80s and needed years of development before it was overcome (anti-comet-tail tubes). No such problem with CCDs and CMOS sensors.  But we put out some pretty poor pictures in the 1980s!

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I’ve just sent Photobook number five off for printing – I should have the results in a week.  They’re printed in KL.

Sample pages.  It takes around three weeks of pretty solid sessions to produce each book – choosing images, making sure I’m using the best quality, reducing noise and grain, improving contrast and colour, arranging on the pages, and writing the captions etc etc.  And checking!  Proof reading over and over and over again. It’s amazing how small errors go unnoticed.

Two copies this time.  I got caught last week — my parcel arrived with only one copy when I thought I’d bought two.  Then I noticed the price I paid – $153 for one copy!

I realised I’d bought vouchers for two books, but they were image wrap cover types at $48 each, not the hard cover one I produced.  My mistake, and an expensive one. Check the fine print!

This time I got my revenge by rejoining their customer database and getting a two-for-the-price-of-one offer.  This one cost $133 so I saved $133 on an order for two. Free postage too.

This is immensely satisfying stuff.  After all those years of not being able to show my work, now I have books of it on the shelf.  People will look at a book where they won’t look at any other form of display. A book looks impressive even if it isn’t opened. The reproduction is pretty damn good too, if a bit darker than I see on this screen.  Must work on that.  I have a screen calibrator and I’m using it.

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I bought a small frozen yoghurt yesterday and asked for a chocolate one.

“What kind of chocolate?”

“Huh?  Chocolate. What other kind is there?”

“Well, there’s one with a Flake in it, and one with Smarties on it.”

Stunned, I hesitated.  “I just want the chocolate sauce!”  Oh.  $2 please.

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On the way home at 5pm the freeway was walking pace or less for the last 2Km, whereas being the end of the freeway, it’s usually clear even at 5pm.  Cause?  The right lane was closed off for the last 200m before the lights!  Was any work being done? Not that I could see.  This is unnecessary and infuriating – the work knocks off at 5pm but the cones stay. Grrr.  It might not be so bad if people would just let you merge easily, but drivers always want to force their way in front and prevent me from merging.  Double grrr!  I even had one guy come up the emergency lane from behind to get in front of me a few weeks ago. Amazing.

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I said I was going to have the drastic-gastric surgery done, but I can’t escape the feeling that there’ll be a breakthrough in weight reduction without surgery about a week after I’ve lost 90% of my stomach.

I think I’ll go for this 5:2 diet for a while.  Eat normally but sensibly, very carefully for 5 days of the week, but for two days, allow only 600 cals.  I reckon I can do that.  The Optifast was 400 cals per day every day.  I reckon I could buy the Optifast packs and use them for the two day “fasts”, adding fruit etc to add up to 600 cals and ease the pangs.  I’ve stopped the beer, so …  I’ll talk to the doc.  I have an appointment with the gastric guy on 12 Feb so I’ll check with him too.

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That appointment is at 9am at The Mount on a Wednesday.  I’m working out how to do it.  It’s 45 mins drive as long as there are no traffic problems, but on a workday I might have to set off at 7am (which is quite OK, actually).  I’m tempted to do bus/train/Cat bus, but it will take a long time.  I might have to test this.

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My Pioneer BluRay player seems to have failed!  It’s only about six weeks old.  Can’t get vision out of it, although audio comes through.  It should be a clear cut swap over replacement, a test for JB HiFi.  I have another BluRay player though. Heh heh.  I’ve got everything.

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Ha!  I’ve just heard the AFP Asst Commissioner talking about a Lebanese “desporia”.  He meant diaspora, dee-ass-porah, emphasis on ass, meaning an overseas ethnic population group. Must be Police Talk.

I’m antsy.  I’ve just spent over 90 mins selecting books and small photography items on Amazon.  I chose five books, all paperbacks, and five photo items etc, the most expensive of which was US$39 (Olympus’s full rrp $99 here!).

The total came to AU$112 but when I went to checkout, the shipping added $137! The total became AU$249.  I chose the cheapest shipping in every case.

So I went back and deleted all the hardware items, leaving only the books. Result: on a AU$58 order, the shipping was going to be AU$62.

I wasted my time. I’ve deleted it all. So much for Amazon.  I bought some items from HK last week and the shipping was included.  I’ll go back to that shop, and look for the books locally.

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Coincidences again.  I read a book in the last few weeks which talked about a guy called Bob Purefoy, a real guy in the US involved in missiles and nuclear matters.  I’ve never heard that surname before.

Then last night in Music of the Monarchs with David Starkey on SBS, there in the credits was William Purefoy in some role.  OK, maybe it’s a reasonably common name, but to never see it in 67 years, then have it crop up twice in two weeks is weird.

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Blood sugar is still too high and it is sapping my already limited strength and energy.  Lack of insulin means the sugar in the blood can’t get across into the muscles for energy.  The excess blood sugar goes through the kidneys and is excreted in urine, hence the funny smell.

I’m probably going to have to go onto insulin temporarily before I have the drastic gastric.  I feel terrible.  But insulin makes it very hard to lose weight (I’m told by a doctor) and the gastric guy is going to tell me I have to lose 5-10Kg before the operation, I reckon.  Hard.

The good part is that I feel bad when I drink beer, so I’ve stopped.  I am NOT an alcoholic!  Anyone who says I am is wrong.

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Still a few NSHS Reunion acceptances drifting in like snowflakes, but with a week to our deadline for replies, we’ve only had 37, out of over 160 emails sent out.  I’m discouraged.

The absentees include most of the people I know well, people I would fully expect to be coming!  I’m going to have to try to get them moving one by one.  I’m disappointed.

This morning I was driving behind one of these for quite a way.  I only had the rear view, of course, and it was a glossy black one, but phwoar!  The front? Not so much, but I love the overall shape, especially the rear.

The thing is, this is a 2000 model.  They went out of production in 2005 and this design came out in 2000.  I remember thinking at the time – Hmmm, bit outlandish, bit sharp, lost the Celica look, not so good.  Ahead of its time.  Nope.

But here we are 14 years later and in my opinion it still looks fantastic.  It grew on me.  I’d buy one.  About $12-$13K now.

That started me thinking about car designs.  I can’t abide boring, weird or downright ugly cars.  A car’s styling is all important to me. I won’t buy an ugly car. On the same drive this morning about 10mins later I saw what I think is high up in the list of Ugliest Cars of All Time, a Kia Soul:

Kia Soul  Ugh!  Ugh!  I would not be seen in one.

So that set me thinking about what car designs I think are great!  Fantastic.  Timeless.  I’d like to own one just for the styling.  Here goes.  These are not in any rank order, just as they come to mind, so the first ones are obviously my favourites.

BMW  8 series. Amazing!  Beautiful. Hardly any came to Australia. I’ve never seen one on the road.

Ford Probe  1994-97.  Timeless, in my view. About $4K now.

The back of the Ford Probe.  I want one! In bottle green or white only.

Notice the similarity? This is the Mazda MX6. This and the Probe are the same mechanicals, different body shell. Ford made the Probe for the US market and both models were imported to Australia between 1994-97 when production ceased.

That’s 17 years ago but they look as good as ever to me.  One of each please.

It’s Mazda again.  This the MX5 but it’s the 2000 model.  This is the only model of this car that I like. The first models were 1980s angular boxy crap, the first of this shape was bland, although we didn’t think so at the time, but this model hit the target. It’s identified by those “shoulders” on the back and the raised edge with the high mounted stop light on the boot lid.

I’m a rear end man, aren’t I?  This 2000 model had the best rear, imho, with the slight “shoulders” look and the small upkick of the boot.

I can’t find a pic of the British Racing Green model but there used to be one regularly at Karrinyup shops with a light tan soft top and tan leather seating. Wow!

It not only looks great, it’s great to drive as well. It will never go out of style.

But Mazda’s gone bad.  Obviously they had the styling mojo, but they’ve lost it. I don’t like the next models of the MX 5 with the flared wheel arches and extra go faster stuff. More examples down the page.

Wha …? A Corolla?  Well, in my opinion this was one of the prettiest car shapes ever. This is a 1991 model and now 23 years later, I still want one. As long as it’s white, like this. That back end shape is sheer genius in my opinion.

Mazda 323.  Another fairly mundane car, but very pretty.  This a 2008 model and still looks nice to me. But Mazda lost its way soon after. See below.

1997  Mitsubishi Nimbus.  If you have to have a small people mover, this took 8.  I always liked the side and back end styling and I still do even 17 years later.

Moving up market:

Mercedes 500SL coupe 1990! Good design lasts forever.

Mercedes 500SL coupe.  1990 design.  Just about affordable now s/h, but probably high maintenance.

Mercedes 300SE.  A very conservative design, but elegant.  Saw one here a few weeks ago.  Nice.

1990  –  I’d buy one.

Honda S2000  2005.  Almost the pinnacle of sports car design, to my eyes.

Honda S2000 rear.  As you can tell, I’m a rear view man.

It had (they went out of production 2009) only a 2 litre 4 cyl engine but produced around 180KW (240 bhp)!  I remember this engine being described as the highest specific power (KW per litre) output in the world, even higher than the Italian legends.

2009 VW Passat.  This will live forever, I feel.

I want one.

There are many other nice designs, but these are ones that come to my mind as timeless and still desirable even 20 years later.

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Now for the ones I don’t like.

As I said, I think Mazda has lost it.

2009 Mazda 323.  Ugh!

Boring!

2013 Mitsubishi Mirage.  Ugh!  Oww!

2013  Kia Ceed Sportswagon.. No, no, no.  So many gargoyles that will be out of date by next week.

Ditto.  Kia hasn’t found its style skill yet.

2013 Kia K9.  They’re trying, copying, but K9??? Who thought of that name?

This is taking too much of my time, but my theme is that less is more – conservative lines and curves last forever. “Look at me” geegaws don’t.

Now to look up prices for a second hand Honda S2000.

PS: found a nice one!  It’s a 2003 model in Adelaide, one lady owner, 97,000Km, asking $26,000. Hmmmm.

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I’ve noticed a fascinating thing: this photo …

This photo still has its EXIF digital camera info attached.  It shows that the photo was taken on 11/4/2013 at 3:20pm using an HTC camera phone, at ISO 100.

But more importantly, the EXIF info includes the exact latitude and longitude to 0.001 deg accuracy. Using Google Earth, that allows me to pinpoint the location of the car at the time the photo was taken, probably down to the street and house.  I’ll bet the owner in April 2013 wouldn’t like that information being known to anyone.  I’ve tried, but being in deg, min and seconds, and G.Earth requiring decimal degrees, it may be in Sweden or in Michigan, USA. If I pinpoint it, I won’t reveal it.

Update: as far as I can see, it’s the middle of a field in Jiawang, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.  Or in Sweden, or in Estonia, or in Michigan …  L  (that means laugh).

Further update: if I put a minus in front of the first figures, it goes to a small lake just outside Cranbrook and Kendenup in WA! Hah.

So be aware that digital photos posted on line have ALL the info exposed of where you were and at what time, using what camera, unless you remove it.

It’s getting hotter.  © P J Croft 2014

A couple of days ago I highlighted the wrongheadedness of Maurice Newman, head of the Business Council of Australia and advisor to our esteemed PM, Tony “Climate Change is Crap” Abbott, B.A. Oxon. Boxing.

Have a look at this: http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/01/14/climate_change_another_study_shows_they_don_t_publish_actual_papers.html

A recent survey has shown that of 2,258 papers published by 9,136 authors (scientists), only ONE paper refuted global warming.  Deniers don’t publish scientific papers, even though claiming to have science credentials, because they can’t prove their case and don’t like criticism.  They prefer to use channels like Fox News and The Australian newspaper, both owned by Rupert Murdoch, also a denier.

Mr Newman, with no scientific credentials, claims that it’s all a conspiracy and climate change is a hoax.  He takes the word of that one man against the 9,135 others. No wonder Australian businesses are so poorly run.  “His career spans forty years in stockbroking and investment banking, …” [Wikipedia]  Well, that qualifies him to speak about climate science, doesn’t it?

Well, as Phil Plait says, if it’s a giant hoax, where are the articles and investigations trying to prove its hoaxiness?  Surely there must be evidence?  It would make a HUGE story for a journalist:  CLIMATE CHANGE CONSPIRACY – We Show Thousands of Scientists Involved in Secret Pact to Scare the World.  Today Tonight, 60 Minutes, where are you?

The problem is, Mr Newman has big influence.  To me, he is a saboteur, bent on trashing the work of sincere researchers, preying on the gullible in society and advancing his own wealth and that of his business buddies at the expense of the children of the next generation.  Not just in Australia but mainly in places like Bangladesh, Burma, Vanuatu and other low lying countries.  Somewhat akin to tobacco companies boosting their flagging sales by increasing their marketing to children in third world countries with the explicit aim of getting them addicted.

Nice work Mr Newman.  Poisoning the well.

PS: I was worried that I was being too strong here. Take a look at this: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2014/jan/07/maurice-newman-climate-change-denial-tony-abbott-roy-spencer  He puts it far more strongly than I have.

Oooooh, it feels so good.  Water Dragon, Malaysia  © PJ Croft 1986, 2014

“For the first time in Australia, a team of scientists attempting to create a gene bank have successfully collected sperm from a goanna.”

“Researchers collected the sperm using a technique called electro ejaculation, which until now has only been performed on reptiles in the US.”

Sounds skinky!

Jindalee Beach 6:22am  Olympus E-PL3  ISO200,  28mm  (see below)

Did it, number 1  –  I mentioned I had a visit from an exercise physio last Monday (HBF Health Connect).  She tested my fitness (better than I realised, she said) and set me the task of improving my climbing of the beach stairs until I don’t need to stop for breath every few landings.

I tried it this morning at about 6.30am and did it! First time.  I was slow, and used my right arm to pull myself up on the rail, but I didn’t pause for breath.  I was breathing pretty hard at the top, but recovered in a couple of minutes.  So yes, I’m fitter than I think.

However, my blood sugar has gone out of whack and I’m really feeling the effects.  The transport of sugar to the muscles is restricted because the insulin can’t open the channels and I feel really fatigued all the time.  Just standing up feels tiring, let alone walking.  Which leads me to …

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Did it, number 2  –   I’ve made the move and asked for an appointment with the gastric surgeon to have the gastric sleeve or bypass done.  I can’t go on like this.  My muscles are weary all the time, my feet are aching like hell, my vision is a bit worse, I’m feeling thirstier, I’m just tired all the time.  I’m scared of the operation, but this is bad and getting worse.

The rise in my blood pressure and blood sugar has been caused by stress and anger. I was OK until September, but what was done to me by a family member that month was so bad as to be unforgivable.  Trying to help me?  Pah!!  GO AWAY!  You have done me actual physical harm with your damned unauthorised behind-my-back interference. Trying to help me? No you’re not, you’re trying to feed your need to feel “good”, to be needed.  Well, you’re doing more harm than good, that’s for sure.

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In 2012 I bought a small Fuji mono laser printer to try to reduce my inkjet ink costs.  It only cost about $34.95 and I knew a new toner cartridge was about $65, so it was always going to be a disposable printer.

The toner ran out yesterday, so I took the printer out to the garage ready to be dumped.  But just in case, I’ve just done a web search for the toner and sure enough, a Hong Kong (I think) shop is offering cartridges for AU$14.54.  So I’ve ordered two.  That should keep me going a while.  Up to three years I’d guess.

That shop is a treasure trove of small gadgets (www.dx.com) and I ordered a couple of lens adapters and a watch case opener set.  Postage included in the price.  Good stuff.

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My fourth Photobook has been sent off for printing and I’m working on volume 2 of my all-time favourites.  They offered a 15″ x 11″ hard cover, 40 pages special for $48 in December so I bought two coupons.  I’ve stuck to the 40 pages, so that covers this printing.  It’s a bit better than the Java book, same size but I kept adding pages up to 110p. The cost was $303 each, $606 for two.  Ouch.  But it’s worth it to me – the result is magnificent.

That makes three interactive CD-ROMs, two DVDs, two BluRays, (one 11min and one 32mins) and four Photobooks so far.  Plenty more ideas.

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Our NSHS reunion planning is proceeding strongly.  I’m in a committee of six and we’re having regular breakfast meetings on Saturday mornings.  We’ve got more than 150 names on our list, and after much discussion and checking with the others, I sent out a mass email to as many as we had email addresses for this week, 134 people.  I’m doing a letter to send to the 17 who don’t have email (how can you not? It’s become as ubiquitous as EFTPOS and handphones and credit cards).

We’ve settled on Saturday 11 October (fitting in with football grand finals etc) at the Tradewinds Hotel in E. Freo.  They are offering a two night room package for $137 per night. I think I’ll book a room on that deal and spend Sunday recovering and going into Freo, checking out on Monday morning.  The rooms are very nice and have two double beds and some a single too. I’ve got someone to share with me I think, so it will come down to half that price.

But will I be there?  If I can lose all this excess avoirdupois by September after the drastic gastric, I want to go overseas quick smart while I still have the chance.  September and October were perfect for Europe last time and I want to go then. August is still European holiday peak season – no thanks.  We’ll see.  Lots of bridges to cross first.  Including the old Fremantle traffic bridge and the Stirling Bridge.

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I know I shouldn’t do this, but it was a bargain!  I noticed an Olympus Pen E-PL3 camera with 14-42mm lens included being advertised (at Dick Smith, of all places) for $268.  I wanted the lens for my other OM-D E-M1 and when I checked prices, the best I could find for the lens was $311.  So Dicky was selling the lens with free camera attached for $43 less than the lens alone.  How do they do it?  I don’t care.

So I skedaddled down to Joondalup and now I have it.

E-PL3  6.29am ISO200  28mm

E-PL3 at 6.33am ISO200  84mm

With bushfires in the news, this amazing “artifact” was revealed by a fire in the Trigg bush near me in about 2002.  What is it? Who made it? They’ve gone to an awful lot of effort. It was previously covered by the bush scrub, and only became visible after the fire. Could it be a witches’ coven?

Since then I’ve been struck by the similarity to this:

It’s pure coincidence, of course.  (It’s the logo of DPReview, a great website  http://www.dpreview.com)

Speaking of bushfires … this was the Trigg bushland fire just around the corner from me in January 2002.

It looks fearsome but it was well confined.

This was the aftermath.

But in the picture of the grass tree stumps, they look like Roman Candles and they shot up again as if they were. The spears they put up were incredible – fast, tall and twisted in playful ways. I’ll always regret that I didn’t take shots because I was attributing sayings to them, like “No, not that way, this way”, or “Hi there, I’m just coming over to see you”.

The whole bush regenerated within a year, of course, more lush than it was before. Fire is good if you’re not in the way of it.

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The post title refers to an unusual experience this morning. I was sitting in the outer area of a coffee shop drinking my coffee and reading the paper (it’s a hard life), when out of the corner of my eye I saw a guy approaching me. At first I thought it might be someone who knew me, but no, when I looked up it was an old guy with a white beard and wearing a deer stalker hat. He came up, leant toward me, put his hands on the table and said, “You look like a very distinguished gentleman.”

Well, stap me. I smiled and said “Thank you” and he moved off. I called after him, “Like your hat. Found any deer lately?”  He smiled and moved on.  I’ve never had anything like that before. Nice.  Of course, it would have been a hell of a lot nicer if it was a beautiful lady. Even if she’d been wearing a deer stalker hat.

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Beautiful ladies … I’m in the committee for our 2014 50th NSHS Reunion this year. It’s two “girls” and four “boys”.  Our chats are ranging onto who were the most beautiful and desirable girls at school. Whooo hooo, we had a bumper crop in 63/64.  So many lookers!  It was a vintage year, 1964.

The best thing is, I’ve completely got over my shyness now. Dammit, I was so shy in those years.  But now I talk to them quite often and I even stayed with one in 2008.  I couldn’t have imagined doing that in the future back then.  It turns out some of those girls say they were incredibly shy too.

So now we boys are looking for the list of hot boys from the girls. Hey hey.

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I had a cardiologist appointment this morning at 9.30am. So I went to his office at Joondalup Medical Centre, where I saw him last June, climbed the stairs to the first floor and announced myself.

The receptionist sucked her pen and asked me my full name, asked me if I’m still at 118 Charles Riley (clue), sucked her pen some more and said, “Mr Croft, your appointment is at Duncraig, not here.”  Duh.  I hadn’t read the text message clearly. It said Duncraig.  So I had to drive there. It didn’t matter, it only took 20 mins and they’d phoned ahead.

The verdict was all clear. No problems. See him in six months.  But if I have the gastric bypass, they’ll need a scan of the heart to ensure it’s OK for the operation. Yeah, I guessed that.

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I reckon I’m being targeted for a burglary.  This happened in the Trigg house – I’ve had three phone calls recently with no-one on the other end. They phone to check if you’re out.

I’ve wondered how I can protect myself. If I go to the police, they’ll just say there’s not much they can do. They can’t patrol all the time. They can’t prevent it, only try to catch the burglars after the event.

All my doors and windows are locked and the house has an alarm, but no-one takes any notice of alarms. I don’t much unless it’s next door. Alarms are going off every day around here.  They’ll just smash a sliding door glass. It’s safety glass, it won’t make much noise. No-one will take any notice.

I could have a camera in the house linked by internet to a smart phone  –  I’ve seen a mate’s example. But am I going to check my phone every half hour? I doubt it.

So all I can do is ensure I’ve got serial numbers of everything valuable in an inventory (I have) and hide things, but it’s hard to hide everything.  I’m fully insured too, but there are some things I can’t easily replace. Such as —-

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Watching Foyle’s War the other night, there was a British Army officer with medal ribbons in full view.  He’d served in Malaya and I couldn’t help noticing that two of the ribbons were familiar.  They were these:

These were (still are) Uncle Bob Arnold’s medals.  He was in the RAAF and was killed early in the war in Singapore. I’ve had them for many years (I think since Mum died in ’96) and I made that little bit of wood and pinned them to it at Beverly back in the 1960s.

The one on the right is called the Pacific Star, I think. The left one’s name I don’t know. Probably easy to find on the web. Marvellous thing, the web!  I must pass these on to the next generation asap.

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Speaking of Singapore, one of my photos I like:

And Bangkok, much in the news today:

Speaking of bushfires, did you know we had a nuclear blast in the late 1970s?

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First, take a look at this!  http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/  Brilliant Flash animation.  Really gives you an idea of scale.

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Talking to friends (yes, I still have one or two) a few days ago about old Perth. Here are a few of my early pics:

Perth 1969.  A certain lack of tall buildings.  6x6cm Ektachrome

Jan 2005 The same view.

Early 1970s. A view never to be seen again as it’s half covered by a new building.  You can still see half of it from the square behind St George’s Cathedral.

Early 1970s. Palace Hotel, St George’s Tce before Bondy had his erection behind it.

Early 1970s. Perth Central railway station when Forrest Place was still drivable.

Early 1980s The Horseshoe Bridge, before it was obscured by the covered railway station.

Ooops, edit:  That’s not the Horseshoe, it’s the Barrack St Bridge. Sorry.

 December1968. The old Bairds store cnr Murray and William Sts.

Feb. 2004 The same corner.  There’s now a very ugly new building on this corner, above the underground train station.

Feb 1975  Lake Monger. Pre Bond tower and pre Citibank Tower.

Feb 1985 Perth skyline. Note – no Bondy erection.

1988 Perth.  Now you see the Bond (R&I) Tower

1975 The Mount area

Dec 2013 The same area today.

1975 Perth from South Perth

Dec 2013 The same skyline today.

Dec 2013  A wide view

Keep snapping, folks. It might seem mundane today, but in 20, 30, 50 years it’ll be interesting.

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I don’t know about you, but I find this offensive:

It’s in Coles, but it’s Kleenex paper towels.  Wipe your hands on I ♥ Australia.  Kleenex is a US company afaik.

They wouldn’t dare do this with the US flag in USA.  I only saw this on Saturday. I don’t usually get upset by this type of thing (actually, I do), so I sent it to the newspaper who are going to feature it to gauge reaction. I may complain to the manager of Coles.

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I just had a visit from the exercise physiologist from HBF Home Care, to assess my fitness. I was quite pleased to hear her say, “Actually, you’re fitter than you think you are.”  My number of “get up from chair” and repeat within 30s was pretty good, as was my arm strength with a dumb bell. The only thing I fell down on was balance (boom boom). That’s encouraging.  She’s set me a target for the beach stairs and will be back in two weeks to check. Uh oh.

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My cheap $49.95 capsule coffee maker from Woolworths a month ago has conked out. A week ago I switched it on to warm up, had a visitor arrive and left it on but not in use for an hour and since then all it will do is error beep at me. I’ve tried everything short of opening it up, so it looks like it’s got to go back. What a nuisance.