Picture Links:
Housewarming & Photos of the Flat
Bula Bula Fiji Rupal
Some text, if you are into that stuff:
As you can clearly see, Rupal and I have been apart all of 2 days and we have decided to spend the hours until we reunite uploading evidence that we have spent any time together in 2007. My last post includes two really fun videos - the first is our Bula Bula kayak trip. The 2nd is the flight from Taveuni to Nadi.
Where am I? I am in Seattle. I arrived last night after traveling for 30 hours, which was actually not as bad as it sounds. I ate terrible food though - somehow I ate 7 meals on the trip (I just counted) excluding the ice cream, the cucumber and cheese sandwiches, the numerous bags of pretzels and nuts, the coffee(s), the beers. I ate tacos, curries (2), peanut butter & jelly, lentil soup, pepper & cucumber salad, lasagna, eggs, sausages, sandwiches... Someone asked me today (my first day of work) how I felt - I said "It feels like my body is fighting a civil war" which makes sense the more I think about it.
A testament to how bad the music scene in Sydney is, or how good it is during the US summer- I am seeing Girl Talk, Sebastian, and Daft Punk this weekend, among others. For a middle size city Seattle either has the most ridiculous scene ever, or I landed on the electronica equivalent of Christmas.
I just came from going on a toiletry binge. I miss CVS, RiteAid, Walgreens, whatever. I spent like $50 (which seems like alot, but so worth it). Then I got a sandwich - there are sandwiches all over this city, and quality ones too. All I've had since I've landed is sandwiches (and sushi for our team lunch). Now I'm icing my leg and forcing myself to drink beers so I can sleep tonight :-)
Why are there sculptures of pigs everywhere in Seattle?
Why is this new Interpol album so bad?
-J
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Blackle: Google Thinking (Dark) Green
Whenever your PC/Mac screen is all white (as in a Word page for instance) the computer will consume about 74 watts. When black it uses an average of 59 watts.
Using this knowledge, some months ago, Mark Ontkush wrote an article about how much could be economized if a Google page used a black background instead of white.
Taking into account the enormous popularity of the site, according to Mark's calculations, about 750 megawatts/hour would be economized each year.
Using this data Google created an all dark version of his search engine calling it Blackle that works exactly as the original version but consumes less power.
http://www.blackle.com
Using this knowledge, some months ago, Mark Ontkush wrote an article about how much could be economized if a Google page used a black background instead of white.
Taking into account the enormous popularity of the site, according to Mark's calculations, about 750 megawatts/hour would be economized each year.
Using this data Google created an all dark version of his search engine calling it Blackle that works exactly as the original version but consumes less power.
http://www.blackle.com
Monday, July 23, 2007
Bula, Bula Fiji Rupal
This blog's namesake is the title and lyrics in full to a song written and composed by Josh Iselin. And the song has been in my head for four days now.
"Bula" comprises one fourth of everything that comes out of a Fijian's mouth. Fijians, specifically Taveunians, are pure honey.
On Tuesday night, we landed in Nadi and stayed at the Worst Hotel in Scotland. We immediately took a cab to town to get out of that shithole and got taken to an Indian restaurant, where we were only ones who were (ever) there but paid twice as much as our shithotel costed. We awoke at 5:30am to take a cold shower before taking our propeller plane to our actual destination: paradise.
The views on this hour long flight was in itself worth the cost of the flight. We traversed the length of Fiji's biggest island and passed a few more to an island called Taveuni, on of Fiji's 300+ islands.
Josh and I stayed at Makaira, a commune-like 'resort' (we were the only ones there until the last day), where our bure (bungalow) had a 20 yard backyard, with coconut trees, a hammock shack, flowers, an outdoor shower, chickens (and cockamamie roosters who cockadoodle-dooed starting at 2am), and dozens of frogs (that only came out after dusk). After this 20 backyard was a 25' cliff, a 2-lane road beneath, and then ocean and some ocean.
We filled our days with snorekling, beach-hopping (all of which we had to ourselves), kayaking, bike riding, reading, and trying desperately to get drunk (the latest we went to be was 11- the generator shut off at 10).
On Friday, one of the six or so Fijians that lived / worked at Makaira's son turned one and they invited us to the party, which was in the Bula Hula Hut in the back of Makaira. Excluding the Hawaiian couple that owned the place, we were the only non-Fijian there. Josh and I took one of the first seats for the Kava ceremony that lasted the entire party, only to get up to eat the best damn Fijian cooking on the island. Everyone mustered up the best english they could to make us feel truly welcomed. I, in turned, uttered 'naka' or 'bula' about 8,000 times.
Josh and I parted ways on Sunday- he to Seattle (and Portland, British Columbian outback, and NYC) and I back to Sydney. Please send comments so I don't get too lonely.
Bula!
Fiji Rupal
"Bula" comprises one fourth of everything that comes out of a Fijian's mouth. Fijians, specifically Taveunians, are pure honey.
On Tuesday night, we landed in Nadi and stayed at the Worst Hotel in Scotland. We immediately took a cab to town to get out of that shithole and got taken to an Indian restaurant, where we were only ones who were (ever) there but paid twice as much as our shithotel costed. We awoke at 5:30am to take a cold shower before taking our propeller plane to our actual destination: paradise.
The views on this hour long flight was in itself worth the cost of the flight. We traversed the length of Fiji's biggest island and passed a few more to an island called Taveuni, on of Fiji's 300+ islands.
Josh and I stayed at Makaira, a commune-like 'resort' (we were the only ones there until the last day), where our bure (bungalow) had a 20 yard backyard, with coconut trees, a hammock shack, flowers, an outdoor shower, chickens (and cockamamie roosters who cockadoodle-dooed starting at 2am), and dozens of frogs (that only came out after dusk). After this 20 backyard was a 25' cliff, a 2-lane road beneath, and then ocean and some ocean.
We filled our days with snorekling, beach-hopping (all of which we had to ourselves), kayaking, bike riding, reading, and trying desperately to get drunk (the latest we went to be was 11- the generator shut off at 10).
On Friday, one of the six or so Fijians that lived / worked at Makaira's son turned one and they invited us to the party, which was in the Bula Hula Hut in the back of Makaira. Excluding the Hawaiian couple that owned the place, we were the only non-Fijian there. Josh and I took one of the first seats for the Kava ceremony that lasted the entire party, only to get up to eat the best damn Fijian cooking on the island. Everyone mustered up the best english they could to make us feel truly welcomed. I, in turned, uttered 'naka' or 'bula' about 8,000 times.
Josh and I parted ways on Sunday- he to Seattle (and Portland, British Columbian outback, and NYC) and I back to Sydney. Please send comments so I don't get too lonely.
Bula!
Fiji Rupal
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Is this thing on?
There is an ancient Confucian proverb: With Internet Comes Good Fortune.
Since we were reconnected with the wonderful inter web, marvelous things have been in the making.
Somehow in the last 24 hours an exotic trip to Fiji has materialized, as has a venue for our wedding.
Some other big updates:
Some small updates:
Since we were reconnected with the wonderful inter web, marvelous things have been in the making.
Somehow in the last 24 hours an exotic trip to Fiji has materialized, as has a venue for our wedding.
Some other big updates:
- I'm employed by Atlas
- From Fiji, I am going directly to Seattle for 6 weeks of training
- Working on quick trips up to BC, down to Portland, and over to NY
- I return to SYD, and 2 weeks later leave for Japan, China, India, and Singapore
- Our flat has been fixed, painted, and fully decorated
- We are having a housewarming party 2 days before I leave :-(
- Rupal and I are going to have to be apart again :-( :-(
Some small updates:
- Sydney has ridiculous seafood which we eat every day
- A case of beer is $50 but custom framing is ridiculously cheap
- We just carried a huge TV down the block and up the stairs, and it doesn't work
- We have purple and blue furniture in our living room
- 2 cats visit our flat when we leave the balcony open, and we feed them milk
- When I put Turkish bread in our sandwich press I remember why Turkey is so important and great
Thursday, July 5, 2007
I love you internet
Dear Internet,
I love you so much! The bad people at Optus didn't want us to be together, but I knew that ultimately we would share this moment of wireless ecstasy.
For over a month we have been separated, secretly meeting in hushed cafes and back alleys for brief exchanges, unable to express ourselves due the poor connection and/or lack of credit.
However, it's so nice outside! You are just going to have to wait to have my full attention until the day is through. Isn't that our luck, that now we have been reunited when the weather has become clear, and I have no use for you?
I still love you though, internet. I'll be back.
*This post is dedicated to Trevor and Jay (they know why) and Al Gore for inventing the Internet
I love you so much! The bad people at Optus didn't want us to be together, but I knew that ultimately we would share this moment of wireless ecstasy.
For over a month we have been separated, secretly meeting in hushed cafes and back alleys for brief exchanges, unable to express ourselves due the poor connection and/or lack of credit.
However, it's so nice outside! You are just going to have to wait to have my full attention until the day is through. Isn't that our luck, that now we have been reunited when the weather has become clear, and I have no use for you?
I still love you though, internet. I'll be back.
*This post is dedicated to Trevor and Jay (they know why) and Al Gore for inventing the Internet
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Library Lounging
I'm in what was previously the "Sydney Customs House," what I'm guessing is the Australian equivalent to Ellis Island, where they have established a very fancy library with art exhibitions and all. Feels more like MOMA than WPPL, aside from the general slowness of the computers - I type and then the words appear several seconds later.
The libraries here have been remarkably open to having me as a part time resident - I've been to three. The first has a waiting list for Michael Chabon's new book "Yiddish Policeman's Union" which is probably longer than the book itself. The second doesn't lend books (but remarkably has somewhat fast wireless Internet for free). This third one doesn't have YPL, and it's been on order for about 50 days. "We don't have a very good system" the librarian admitted.
On the brighter side, the weather has improved - nope, wait, it hasn't. It's actually still raining, but this didn't stop Rupal and I from stripping the paint off some furniture we found, sanding it down, and painting it purple. That was not a typo, but it did appear to take longer to display on the screen, as if the computer actually hesitated to document the fact that we chose purple as the color we wanted to paint a piece of furniture which looked like the remains of a shipwreck to begin with. But alas, we needed something to match our bright blue couch. We are trying to give our flat a "Clockwork Orange" meets "2001 Space Odyssey" meets "The Pursuit of Happiness" motif.
The pictures I upload at some point will give this previous sentence some meaning, someday, when we actually move in fully - which is dependant on the painter coming, which is dependant on Aussies not working 4 day weeks from now until this completely fictional "drought" forces Sydneysiders to abandon the city (evidently this is eminent by 2009, so I was told). Here is the progression of my discussion with our painting professional, the lovable old James:
The libraries here have been remarkably open to having me as a part time resident - I've been to three. The first has a waiting list for Michael Chabon's new book "Yiddish Policeman's Union" which is probably longer than the book itself. The second doesn't lend books (but remarkably has somewhat fast wireless Internet for free). This third one doesn't have YPL, and it's been on order for about 50 days. "We don't have a very good system" the librarian admitted.
On the brighter side, the weather has improved - nope, wait, it hasn't. It's actually still raining, but this didn't stop Rupal and I from stripping the paint off some furniture we found, sanding it down, and painting it purple. That was not a typo, but it did appear to take longer to display on the screen, as if the computer actually hesitated to document the fact that we chose purple as the color we wanted to paint a piece of furniture which looked like the remains of a shipwreck to begin with. But alas, we needed something to match our bright blue couch. We are trying to give our flat a "Clockwork Orange" meets "2001 Space Odyssey" meets "The Pursuit of Happiness" motif.
The pictures I upload at some point will give this previous sentence some meaning, someday, when we actually move in fully - which is dependant on the painter coming, which is dependant on Aussies not working 4 day weeks from now until this completely fictional "drought" forces Sydneysiders to abandon the city (evidently this is eminent by 2009, so I was told). Here is the progression of my discussion with our painting professional, the lovable old James:
- Tuesday: Landlord sends James email requesting work, formally known as a Job Request
- Wednesday: James reads "Calvin and Hobbes" and eats Twinkies all day
- Thursday: Landlord calls James to follow up on email*
- Friday: Josh calls James to schedule a time for James to paint
- James is at a pub, but will sort out his schedule and call Josh back - but before saying anything he needs Job Request email from Landlord (see #1)
- Monday: Josh calls James to follow up
- James is at a job/pub, but will sort out his schedule and call Josh back. "Look mate, I need a job request before anything - but my email is broken. Plus I'm working a 4 day week."
- Josh's head explodes, painting the walls in a vivid red spat
*This could be fictional
Ta for now!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Brief apartment update, and some more visuals
Things are steadily moving along - our apartment is feeling like home little by little - baby steps. For example, on Monday I go to our leasing agent and ask him to have our blinds fixed. The next Monday two lads come by to take measurements. The following Monday our landlord receives an estimate. The next Monday, the blinds get fixed. And so on.
By the time we move out, I assume that all of my initial requests (ie new paint job) will be considered. Life has at least a 2 week lag here. Getting broadband internet in Sydney is a nightmare.
In accordance with the general mandate that everything in Australia be difficult, I had to carry all of these packages across the street and up the stairs with zero help from UPS guy
Our first homecooked meal!
I wanted to do an entire blog entry on why Ikea is the best store on the planet, until I realized that we actually bought these things to store ice.
Storm photo of the day
Laksa soup photo of the day
Rupal crossing ahead
You know repeating paterns sweatshirts are done when knockoffs appear at Paddy markets
By the time we move out, I assume that all of my initial requests (ie new paint job) will be considered. Life has at least a 2 week lag here. Getting broadband internet in Sydney is a nightmare.
In accordance with the general mandate that everything in Australia be difficult, I had to carry all of these packages across the street and up the stairs with zero help from UPS guy
Our first homecooked meal!
I wanted to do an entire blog entry on why Ikea is the best store on the planet, until I realized that we actually bought these things to store ice.
Storm photo of the day
Laksa soup photo of the day
Rupal crossing ahead
You know repeating paterns sweatshirts are done when knockoffs appear at Paddy markets
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