This is a story about children and letting them have dreams. Big dreams at that.
My little Maree (AKA Ree) has decided she wants to make a movie. I have no idea why exactly but i do know that she has been making animated shorts at school (THIS they teach in her 5/6 class...but apparently it doesn’t matter that she spells like a 2nd grader!). I have not seen the animated “thing” but she insists on telling me all about it. At great length. Even though i look and sound COMPLETLY uninterested.
I know parents/carers that always look interested in everything their little one does. I am not one of those people. I think children do to much talking these days....not enough listening. I know you have to ask questions so that you can learn things but i REALLY think that some listening first would not go astray. Seriously. They just don’t listen any more.
Back to this film business. I have no idea about anything to do with creative artistic endeavours. I FAILED drama at college. Really. I know some of you might find it hard to believe that i failed anything in my life but i did. I am not proud of it. I can’t help thinking that if i had turned up to the written exam i might have actually passed...but maybe not. I just don’t have it in me to act or write or direct etc. I may have been good at memorising all those lines but i am pretty sure my delivery left a lot to be desired.
I will tell you i quick story. At lower-primary i was in the school play. It was Aladdin. Every child got a part. I got to be the person in the shop who sold Aladdin a lamp. I wore all black and had no speaking lines at all. I did have the entire script memorised however so i was the prompt. That is always my lot in life – doing all the hard/important work and never getting to be out front in the pretty dress. *Sigh* But to be fair no one wants to see me in a dress...anymore than i want to wear one.
So i have no idea where Ree gets all this from. She is naturally bossy and talkative so this might be her thing. I myself see her as a future member of the federal police (a gun, in charge and a little bit intimidating). What i do know is that she is in “script development” and will be soon “story boarding”. I know. Crap. I have no idea where she got all this information from. I blame her school. One of those teachers must have told her about all this or gave her a book (bet they gave her a book, a long boring one that they thought she wouldn’t read).
Anyway i was not actually worried until breakfast the other morning when she asked if she could have stunt doubles. I replied that:
(a) She has no money for stunt doubles (or anything else for that matter) and
(b) That she was NOT going to be doing anything that required stunt doubles!!!!!
Needless to say this is probably going to be a long, tiresome process. But i am going to let her do it and will probably end up making all the costumes.
BTW the movie has time travel, war scenes and her brother gets to be the butler (which i am assured is a pivotal but non-speaking role, she really hates her brother THAT much).
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
I give your science content:
One of you WANTED science content?
So in answer to the aforementioned question i have randomly opened one of my old diaries and decided to write about the first thing i read.
This turned out to be about Sea Ice Deformation Features and Processes.
Sorry. Unless like me your LOVE talking about sea ice. Man i like have HOURS of tape of different sea ice conditions – from ship, helicopter etc. I am a bit weird about it i know.
So to start by giving you a little sea ice lessonology:
Sea ice is a complex material in itself - it is fresh water crystals interlaced with inclusions of brine, air and salt which have formed between the crystals and crystal plates (Weeks and Ackley, 1986).
Since component parts of sea ice are never in equilibrium the physical properties of sea ice are not constant. This manifests depending on the scale of the region of interest. What applies on a small scale does not apply on a large scale (and so is true the reverse of this statement). Near land the sea ice behave as an extension of the land. Offshore sea ice is continually moving. Twisting, turning, breaking and compacting. This occurs primarily from wind and ocean stress (though there are other forces and reasons).
I have been at sea and watched in the sea ice around us which up close seemed solid and level change as my eyes refocused to see the greater landscape – it was undulating slowly. It was like one of those magic eye pictures. You know the kind that it you stare at it long enough turns out to be about something else entirely.
Basic deformation comes in the forms:
· buckling ( folding deformation)
· rafting (one floe overriding another or more complex finger rafting)
· ridging (pressure causing accumulation of ice above and below ice floe proper)
· fracturing (breaking up or simply forming openings - not polynyas though)
I have many, many pictures
This picture shows ridging, rafting and fracturing!
So THAT ends the lesson. I am not sure if i will ever do this again as it is a little bit like actual work! Not as much fun to write about and something right off the top of my head. I have about 12 diaries. And that was just one page. They were the idea of my first supervisor and i have never not written down every thought, idea or bit of information since.
unless this is what you want to read about i might do something a little easier on my sanity next time!
So in answer to the aforementioned question i have randomly opened one of my old diaries and decided to write about the first thing i read.
This turned out to be about Sea Ice Deformation Features and Processes.
Sorry. Unless like me your LOVE talking about sea ice. Man i like have HOURS of tape of different sea ice conditions – from ship, helicopter etc. I am a bit weird about it i know.
So to start by giving you a little sea ice lessonology:
Sea ice is a complex material in itself - it is fresh water crystals interlaced with inclusions of brine, air and salt which have formed between the crystals and crystal plates (Weeks and Ackley, 1986).
Since component parts of sea ice are never in equilibrium the physical properties of sea ice are not constant. This manifests depending on the scale of the region of interest. What applies on a small scale does not apply on a large scale (and so is true the reverse of this statement). Near land the sea ice behave as an extension of the land. Offshore sea ice is continually moving. Twisting, turning, breaking and compacting. This occurs primarily from wind and ocean stress (though there are other forces and reasons).
I have been at sea and watched in the sea ice around us which up close seemed solid and level change as my eyes refocused to see the greater landscape – it was undulating slowly. It was like one of those magic eye pictures. You know the kind that it you stare at it long enough turns out to be about something else entirely.
Basic deformation comes in the forms:
· buckling ( folding deformation)
· rafting (one floe overriding another or more complex finger rafting)
· ridging (pressure causing accumulation of ice above and below ice floe proper)
· fracturing (breaking up or simply forming openings - not polynyas though)
I have many, many pictures
This picture shows ridging, rafting and fracturing!
So THAT ends the lesson. I am not sure if i will ever do this again as it is a little bit like actual work! Not as much fun to write about and something right off the top of my head. I have about 12 diaries. And that was just one page. They were the idea of my first supervisor and i have never not written down every thought, idea or bit of information since.
unless this is what you want to read about i might do something a little easier on my sanity next time!
Friday, October 16, 2009
This entry needs a title: h2g2 ??
first of all a link to a blog entry from Thorsten Markus (Icebridge and Antarctic sea ice) http://blogs.nasa.gov/cm/blog/icebridge.blog/posts/post_1255623781994.html
now on to the thing i wanted to talk about today...
I love reading. It is like my favourite thing. You may recall a previous blog to that effect. The other day i confirmed that i am the biggest nerd. Like ever. I was nearly finished my Unseen Academicals (Pratchett) when i popped into town to pick up my 5 season complete set of Andromeda. See. Nerd. Right there. I parked the car so i could walk through the book shop to get to the dvd store. I always do this because you just never know what books might be waiting to catch your eye.
As luck would have it (i say you have to make your own luck) i found a book called “And another thing” - the sixth (of three) Hitch Hikers Guide to The Galaxy book. When i first heard about this i was upset and vowed to never buy it (i also said i would never watch stargate atlantis when it came out...but i love it now...*sigh*....now i have to learn to love universe....)
I love the writing of Douglas Adams. I love the jokes. The comments. The pace. Everything. I own various copies of his works. I have the dvd’s and cd’s and also have the original radio series on vinyl. That’s right. ON VINYL. Sadly i threw away my record player (as i like to call ‘em) some years ago...when it really started to shit me off. This was a mistake because even though i KNOW that cd’s sound better and are easier to play in the car (which lets face i is virtually impossible with record players) we now have mp3 players which are even better. But i love listening to real records. My dad has a large collection of country music on vinyl when the local radio station chucked them out when they went digital...that is right...they just gave them to him. Lucky bastard.
Anyway i have started the book (rocky begining at the start and i still haven’t made up my mind). I will have to read a few more chapters before i decide....
I do love the way publishing will be in the future. The whole publish on demand (i.e. lulu.com ). I am going to buy Wil wheaton’s new book this way to see how it goes... http://stores.lulu.com/wilwheaton
I say this because of the difficulty of getting Richard Castle’s ( http://twitter.com/WriteRCastle) book called Heat Wave in australia (i KNOW i could just buy it online but i am trying to support local industry....which is why things like hulu are awesome).
Today i am going to start trawling so i can purchase a new record player....then i can listen to my original HHGTTG albums as a god intended...with purpose and difficulty....and without earphones of any kind.
Goodnight.
now on to the thing i wanted to talk about today...
I love reading. It is like my favourite thing. You may recall a previous blog to that effect. The other day i confirmed that i am the biggest nerd. Like ever. I was nearly finished my Unseen Academicals (Pratchett) when i popped into town to pick up my 5 season complete set of Andromeda. See. Nerd. Right there. I parked the car so i could walk through the book shop to get to the dvd store. I always do this because you just never know what books might be waiting to catch your eye.
As luck would have it (i say you have to make your own luck) i found a book called “And another thing” - the sixth (of three) Hitch Hikers Guide to The Galaxy book. When i first heard about this i was upset and vowed to never buy it (i also said i would never watch stargate atlantis when it came out...but i love it now...*sigh*....now i have to learn to love universe....)
I love the writing of Douglas Adams. I love the jokes. The comments. The pace. Everything. I own various copies of his works. I have the dvd’s and cd’s and also have the original radio series on vinyl. That’s right. ON VINYL. Sadly i threw away my record player (as i like to call ‘em) some years ago...when it really started to shit me off. This was a mistake because even though i KNOW that cd’s sound better and are easier to play in the car (which lets face i is virtually impossible with record players) we now have mp3 players which are even better. But i love listening to real records. My dad has a large collection of country music on vinyl when the local radio station chucked them out when they went digital...that is right...they just gave them to him. Lucky bastard.
Anyway i have started the book (rocky begining at the start and i still haven’t made up my mind). I will have to read a few more chapters before i decide....
I do love the way publishing will be in the future. The whole publish on demand (i.e. lulu.com ). I am going to buy Wil wheaton’s new book this way to see how it goes... http://stores.lulu.com/wilwheaton
I say this because of the difficulty of getting Richard Castle’s ( http://twitter.com/WriteRCastle) book called Heat Wave in australia (i KNOW i could just buy it online but i am trying to support local industry....which is why things like hulu are awesome).
Today i am going to start trawling so i can purchase a new record player....then i can listen to my original HHGTTG albums as a god intended...with purpose and difficulty....and without earphones of any kind.
Goodnight.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
I am not sure what Tarot is but it wasn’t what i expected
My mother gave me an unusual gift. It was a Tarot reading. I was not sure what this was, exactly. I had only the vaguest idea. I also was a little worried as i am a firm advocate in not enabling non-scientific pursuits. I am trying to put this so i don’t offend those who believe in such things or antagonise those who don’t. Not because i am a fence sitter but because i believe that people have the right to their own belief system. As long as they don’t harm others. Or burn books. I am pretty strong on both counts.
I don’t really understand the “lingo” of these things. So please excuse my poor analysis. I can only hear it the way i hear things and explain it with my own words and experiences. Apparently this is exactly that i am supposed to do (at such things). Talking to my mum and aunt after it seems that we all had very different experiences (and reactions). To me it goes like this:
Say you have something on your mind. The Tarot reading is like a waking dream. Where a dream is the processing of activities/worries/thoughts/feelings. Except this last a lot longer. And you’re awake. Then when the card reader tells you the story of the cards they speak to you in so much as you are talking to yourself.
The lady didn’t do that psychic thing of telling me about myself or my future. I think it was just a way for my unconscious thoughts to be expressed. The cards tell a story that i wanted to hear. I didn’t ask direct questions. She said she would try to answer me if i did. But i didn’t want to.
IT TOTALLY FREAKED ME OUT
Seriously . I cried. It was like i was being asked to express my greatest fears. Suddenly. To a stranger. When i should have been having afternoon tea. I hadn’t even realised that i had such deep seated worries! Especially when she said:
“Your perfectionism will destroy you. Much like a heroin addict you will crawl across broken glass, ignore other people and their needs and live only for that perfection until you get what you want.”
Seriously, this totally freaked me out. She wasn’t saying not to do the best i can. Rather she was reminding me that i shouldn’t harm myself or others in the process. There was a lot of stuff that was too personal for me to share with anyone (apparently that is also something i have to work on).
She did say i am in for a bit of romance though. I think this was mostly to cheer me up *grin*.
Anyway. I am pretty sure i will never do anything like that again. It was an experience though. I could do with a bit of romance though ...
I don’t really understand the “lingo” of these things. So please excuse my poor analysis. I can only hear it the way i hear things and explain it with my own words and experiences. Apparently this is exactly that i am supposed to do (at such things). Talking to my mum and aunt after it seems that we all had very different experiences (and reactions). To me it goes like this:
Say you have something on your mind. The Tarot reading is like a waking dream. Where a dream is the processing of activities/worries/thoughts/feelings. Except this last a lot longer. And you’re awake. Then when the card reader tells you the story of the cards they speak to you in so much as you are talking to yourself.
The lady didn’t do that psychic thing of telling me about myself or my future. I think it was just a way for my unconscious thoughts to be expressed. The cards tell a story that i wanted to hear. I didn’t ask direct questions. She said she would try to answer me if i did. But i didn’t want to.
IT TOTALLY FREAKED ME OUT
Seriously . I cried. It was like i was being asked to express my greatest fears. Suddenly. To a stranger. When i should have been having afternoon tea. I hadn’t even realised that i had such deep seated worries! Especially when she said:
“Your perfectionism will destroy you. Much like a heroin addict you will crawl across broken glass, ignore other people and their needs and live only for that perfection until you get what you want.”
Seriously, this totally freaked me out. She wasn’t saying not to do the best i can. Rather she was reminding me that i shouldn’t harm myself or others in the process. There was a lot of stuff that was too personal for me to share with anyone (apparently that is also something i have to work on).
She did say i am in for a bit of romance though. I think this was mostly to cheer me up *grin*.
Anyway. I am pretty sure i will never do anything like that again. It was an experience though. I could do with a bit of romance though ...
updated news item - global warming and penguins
Feds Will Face Lawsuit for Denying Penguins Endangered Species Protections
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/10/06-0
Not sure about this at all....but interesting
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/10/06-0
Not sure about this at all....but interesting
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Being a programmer is fun
I have been a programmer for a lot of years (a lot). I don’t know why i enjoy it so much. I think it is partly because i have a talent for it and partly because it means i get to solve problems. I like to solve problems. I do it all the time. I can sit for hours and work something. Just me and the computer. I always have music as well. I actually prefer to be in a busy office/room with head phones on working away.
The thing is that it is also like playing games. I use to do a lot of RPG stuff many years ago. I don’t anymore cause everyone else grew up and got a real life. I know i could again (now that they are divorced, or their kids grew up) but it is about finding people you’re comfortable with. I also play card games and boxed games. I don’t really like spending my time playing computer/playstation/xbox etc. Games. I LIKE being with people.
Having said i prefer people i sometimes prefer computer to people because they HURRAY UP AND HAVE THEIR TURN. Sorry about the shouting but that is the one thing that shits me right off about playing games with people. When they take time with their turn. Really gets to me. Not in a pleasant way at all. Just ask my sister about the monopoly games of the 80’s and 90’s. One of the reasons that no family member will play ANY games with me. Now that is not entirely true. On holiday i can usually get someone to play card games with me....because they are so bored out of their skull they forget to say no.
I think not everyone likes me when i am coding though. I can get mean if they try asking me really stupid questions like “would you like a cup of tea?”. The answer is of course yes. So you should just put one next to me just in case. Which i can then ignore. ..let go cold and then microwave half an hour later and then complain because it tastes terrible. And that i am hungry and why did no one call me down for dinner?
Anyway. I like programming. Sorry that other people don’t love me doing it too. I wish my PhD could be submitted as code and analysis without all the "words"!
The thing is that it is also like playing games. I use to do a lot of RPG stuff many years ago. I don’t anymore cause everyone else grew up and got a real life. I know i could again (now that they are divorced, or their kids grew up) but it is about finding people you’re comfortable with. I also play card games and boxed games. I don’t really like spending my time playing computer/playstation/xbox etc. Games. I LIKE being with people.
Having said i prefer people i sometimes prefer computer to people because they HURRAY UP AND HAVE THEIR TURN. Sorry about the shouting but that is the one thing that shits me right off about playing games with people. When they take time with their turn. Really gets to me. Not in a pleasant way at all. Just ask my sister about the monopoly games of the 80’s and 90’s. One of the reasons that no family member will play ANY games with me. Now that is not entirely true. On holiday i can usually get someone to play card games with me....because they are so bored out of their skull they forget to say no.
I think not everyone likes me when i am coding though. I can get mean if they try asking me really stupid questions like “would you like a cup of tea?”. The answer is of course yes. So you should just put one next to me just in case. Which i can then ignore. ..let go cold and then microwave half an hour later and then complain because it tastes terrible. And that i am hungry and why did no one call me down for dinner?
Anyway. I like programming. Sorry that other people don’t love me doing it too. I wish my PhD could be submitted as code and analysis without all the "words"!
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