This will hurt me...

While I would never be so bold to suggest that Ezra is any ways reactionary, but one thing that I am happy to confirm is his tendencies to somnambulism...

Winter. The view north on the East Derwent Highway, Geilston Bay. June 2012. It's cold. Very cold. 90 North , Randall Jarrell At home, in my flannel gown, like a bear to its floe, I clambered to bed; up the globe's impossible sides I sailed all night—till at last, with my black beard, My furs and my dogs, I stood at the northern pole. There in the childish night my companions lay frozen, The stiff fur knocked at my starveling throat, And I gave my great sigh: the flakes came huddling, Were they really my end? In the darkness I turned to my rest. —Here, the flag snaps in the glare and silence Of the unbroken ice. I stand here, The dogs bark, my beard is black, and I stare At the North Pole . . . And now what? Why, go back. Turn as I please, my step is to the south. The world—my world spins on this final point Of cold and wretchedness: all lines, all winds End in this whirlpool I at last discover. And it is meaningless. In the child's bed After t...

How very apt...

The only way is up (baby). Alleyway off Criterion Street, Hobart CBD. May 2012. The premise and setting of Dalos György's The Circumcision had me expecting a wholly different book. Set in Budapest in early-1956 (that is, just before the Red Army crushed the nascent Hungarian revolution), one imagines that events will be woven into the novel. Instead, it remains a casual account of the life of a Jewish twelve year old in 1950s Hungary. You can't even say it is a coming of age tale, rather a slight series of set pieces with an interesting and some quirky characters. Mildly recommended.

I like to call this one Ezra avec la grenouille ...

Bigmouth strikes again. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, Brighton. May 2012. Theme Thursday already? Every now and again I think that it becomes clear that it is time for A NEW BEGINNING. ‘A NEW BEGINNING?’ you ask. ‘A NEW BEGINNING!’ I say. For me, this A NEW BEGINNING is at the same time breathtakingly simple yet utterly revolutionary. As of yesterday I have reconfigured my workstation to one in which standing has become the default option. That is, my computer set up has the monitor at standing eye level and the keyboard at around elbow height. I’ve got the desk configured in such a way that I have the opportunity to sit down if so desired. The fact that I am also working on a laptop makes it relatively easy to do computer work seated too. My typical workday starts at 8 am, after a walk to the bus stop, a bus into the city and then a twenty-minute walk into the office. I normally try to leave by 4:15 pm, but occasionally that time is pushed out. A fair whack of that tim...

We left him on that rock for fourteen hours to observe the tidal movements and gauge any shark activity in the area.

Art. Clarke Avenue, Battery Point. June 2012. Wordless Wednesday.

This is the tissue outside of the vascular cambium. It overlays the wood. This includes the dead tissue on the surface of the stems, along with parts of the innermost periderm and all the tissues on the outer side of the periderm. Some people like to call this the rhytidome. I'm not fussed either way.

Dead industry? Evans Street (at the back of Hunter Street). June 2012. Another day another Q and A, stolen again from Sunday Stealing. Yes, it is The Imaginary Meme, Part Two 21. Have you felt that life is like being on a roller coaster? My life would be a pretty boring rollercoaster if it were! If I had to compare it to something, it’d be more akin to the task of Sisyphus . 22. Favourite year so far? One of 2001, 2002 or 2003. They were extraordinarily easy years, in retrospect. One will never see their kind again, I fear... 23. Do you consider yourself religious? Not in the slightest. 24. How do you dress to impress? I might consent to having my shirt ironed. 25. Have you ever been to Connecticut? Alas, I have not. 26. Do you eat sushi? Yes I do. I like it very much, especially dipped in wasabi. 27. Would you smoke pot providing there was no risk or driving involved? I have no moral or ethical opposition to cannabis. 28. What do you think of Idol Winner Phi...

I confess that we DID get a bandicoot to take this photo for us. In retrospect, she did a better job than I could have possible hoped for.

The Internet is a wonderful place filled with the rich and varied treasures of the world holds (if you read this, can you let me know?) The following are some things that I've had a look at in the last week. I call this: a Compendium of Click-throughs for Monday Morning.. Busting a medical myth: shaved hair grows back faster and thicker . Bonus? It was written by Dr Michael Vagg ! A really interesting long interview with Terry Eagleton . This bit in particular caught my eye, "Most people I know in academia want to get out... The neo-managerial ethos has effectively brought to an end a 200-year-old tradition of the university as a centre of critique." Depressingly, I can't help but agree with him. On the development of A Unified Theory of Muppet Types. Who knew Bert and Ernie represent a perfect summation of the entire dynamic of human tendencies and interaction? You might want to read this outstanding essay on measuring happiness . It critiques the new ...

Wolves in the wood? Bears tucked under branches? Tigers in the trees? Actually, the most dangerous thing you'll find here are maybe a couple of rogue geese. The ducks are all talk.

FP 1.6. East Derwent Highway, Lindisfarne. June 2012. Sunday Top Five? As I am in a slightly misanthropic mood today, how about My Top Five Things That Used To Be Better Than They Are Now ? Music. It just was. Young people. They also had better hair. Memories. They were closer back then. Manners. My God they were! Football. Blokes used to get stretchered off because of concussion. Now it's torn ankle ligaments.