2007/06/29

One Last Shot

Mars Rover Opportunity


I know it's been a while.
Here's the latest on the Opportunity craft on Mars.


Opportunity, one of NASA's two robot rovers that have been exploring Mars for more than three years, is about to be driven inside a gaping hole, blasted out millions of years ago by a meteorite.

The ragged Victoria Crater, named after the ship Magellan took on his circumnavigation of the world, is 730 metres wide and 70 metres deep and surrounded on almost all sides by sheer cliffs.

Scientists believe rocks exposed at the bottom of the crater could reveal clues to what lies below the surface of the red planet, and possibly even find evidence of underground water.

NASA officials admit that even if the US$400 million rover can safely negotiate its way into the crater without toppling over, there is no guarantee it will be able to drive out again.

Only designed to last 90 days on the Martian surface, the six-wheeled Opportunity is showing signs of wear. Its sister rover, Spirit, on the opposite side of the
planet, has already lost the use of one wheel, which it now has to drag along.

"While we take seriously the uncertainty about whether Opportunity will climb back out, the potential value of investigations that appear possible inside the crater convinced me to authorise the team to move forward into Victoria Crater," Alan Stern, NASA's science chief and a member of the rover mission team, said.

"It is a calculated risk worth taking.We don't want this to be a one-way trip ... but if Opportunity becomes trapped there, it will be worth the knowledge gained."
Scientists plan to drive Opportunity into the crater at a spot they have dubbed Duck Bay, which has relatively gently slopes of 15 to 20 degrees and a surface covered in rock that should help the wheels grip the slippery slopes.


Well, we can only hope it works and survives to get out again.

2007/06/28

Fantasy League Update

Another Ugly Year In AFL Fantasy
Both my fantasy teams are headed to the dogs this year.
My AFL team is coming a solid 13th in a 16 team league. My team has won all of 2 games and is the 3rd most scored upon team; and yet I've managed to outscore my opponents in aggregate by a small margin.

One way of looking at it is that I've been very unlucky with the competition, that the true talent level of my team is closer to .500, but as it stands, I'm on 2 wins and 7(!) losses. Even if I were at 5-4, it would only put me at 9th which is not good enough to crack the post season.

Another way of looking at it is that the set-up of this league really sucks: There's not much I can do with the roster in that league so it's just the luck of the draw. Maybe I'm going to see easier competition the rest of the way.

Yet another way of looking at is that Team depth doesn't translate into anything special. I'm having to go back to Stars& Scrubs next year.
PS Barry Hall might be out for the rest of the season. *Gulp!*

Doldrums In The Middle of The Pack
I'm stuck in the middle with my team in the Jack Kerouac Memorial League. It's a tough league where nobody trades. That's not true; there have been 2 trades all year, however both of them were instigated by and inivolving me. Otherwise people's expectations of what a fair trade is, is pretty ridiculous.

I won't go into it in detail, but the last 3 trade offers I've made have only got scoffing rejections and not even a counter-offer. This isn't from a winning team, but another team in the middle of the pack. Everyboddy wants me to unload Jeter for a relief ace. I already HAVE relief aces. Why I should trade a .900OPS Shortstop for a Closer, no matter how good, escapes me. I should get a top 20 hitter.
I guess I'm going to scratch around the edges with the Free-Agent pool all year and finish 6th. How depressing. :(

2007/06/25

Funny Because It's So Wrong

My Song Of The Week

Keep It Dark

This is the Genesis cover I've been tinkerin' around with. Far from a man of my meager vocal talents to say this but I always felt Phil Collins just phoned in his vocal performances on this song when there was actually a lot more emotion to be played out.
This is my 'perverted' and'psychotic' (according to Brutus Colcagoon) take on the track.
There's also some additional info there as to why I wanted to cover this particular song.
Have fun and I'll try and have an original for you next week. :)

2007/06/22

White Australia Policy Lives On

Let's Not Kid Ourselves
It's really sad when you are made to reflect on your own country while abroad, and find it incredibly inadequate and wanting.
While I was over in New Zealand, I stayed at a hotel called the Grand Chancellor near Auckland airport. I arrived at midnight or sometime after. The concierge was Maori, as was the porter. In the morning, I found both the front desk women were Maoris, as was the restaurant maitre 'D as well as the cleaning ladies. To all intents and purposes it was an all-Maori outfit. They were all very pleasant and polite, so this is not about me griping about service or something.

What got me thinking was trying to imagine the equivalent in Sydney. That is, you go to the Mercure hotel near the airport and everybody working there is aborigine. For the life of me, I just couldn't see it. I could imagine all kinds of people working there but it was really hard to imagine an all-Aborigine outfit working the hotel.

Now, a knee-jerk Leftist response would be to decry that the Maoris were all getting bummed with the menial jobs. Yet, it was hard to argue with the fact that they actually had those jobs and had them for some time; and that they were having proper careers in the hospitality industry, like any regular person would - and why shouldn't they? This is the part that got me thinking, why is this the case?

The common answer that's given is that there aren't the population ratio of Aborigines left, unlike he portion of Maoris in New Zealand. I used to believe it, but having reflected on it, I'm beginning to seriously question this assumption. Let's face it, it's been a mere 40 years since the referendum that allowed Aborigines to have citizenship in their own country. For the last 10 years of that 40, we have had a Prime Minister who has steadfastly refused to apologise lest his apology put the Government in a legally compromising situation. ATSIC has been dismantled in the wake of gross mismanagement by the likes of Geoff Clarke, and the cause of the indigenous peoples of Australia has advanced about an inch in that time. One could not be more marginalised and alienated in one's own country than to be an Aborigine.

The issue of leadership inevitably comes up in all of this. One of the interesting things I heard while over in New Zealand is that the Maori casualties in World War II robbed the Maoris of a generation of social leaders, which in turn led to social turmoil in the 1960s and 1970s. If that were the case, I wondered, when was the last time the Aborigines had stable leadership to navigate them through White Australia and its legal mores. Perhaps generations upon generations of Aborigines have been denied of that leadership and that in turn has brought their population to its current state of extreme alienation and marginalisation.
In saying that, I'm not blaming them - the responsibility for the absence of Aborigine leadership rests upon our shoulders collectively for it is our side of the community that has robbed them of their leaders.

It's a sad sight to see Noel Pearson saying his fellow Aborigines ought not to get welfare unless they sign a covenant-contract to say they won't indulge in alcohol or wife-beating. It's sad that he has to be in a position to say those things. What has happened to us as a nation?
Furthermore it's actually really embarrassing when one finds oneself talking to a Maori about Australia's treatment of its indigenous people. Most days we treat it as a government problem or a social problem or a media-beat up, but the reality is, when we front for ourselves as Australian and wish to own the good bits of Australia, we'd better own up to the massive dark aspect of our history and society. I know that the Prime Minister sees this as "the black arm-band view of history" but clearly he is mistaken. He may not personally feel he has stolen from anybody to have his assets and wealth, but surely he inherited a society that was created by the those who did the stealing. And while I do believe that there is a statute of limitation on historic acts, there's an outstanding debt.

The problem of governments past is that they have tried in vain (and I cannot express how deeply in vain it has been) to solve it with money. The whole community sentiment of Australia revolves around do we give more money (Labor & Greens) or have we given them enough (Liberals) or too much (Nationals) or way too much (Pauline Hanson). What is painfully obvious from the distance from policy making is that we have given back nothing of symbolic importance except for the Mabo Decision by the judiciary. When the judiciary has to set the terms, then you can tell your executive branch of the government has been pretty slack. It's a deep mental illness on the part of the mainstream Australia that persists in thinking money should solve this historic problem. It's simply not going to go away until our hearts are behind our efforts to right these wrongs. And the wrongs are clearly wrongs.

In the mean time, public opinion is hostage to the media relentlessly talking about the alcohol abuse and rape and violence and pederasty and prostitution that goes on in the remote Aboriginal communities as if to say, "These people are not really normal. They are essentially screwed up beyond our suburban moral position."
Is this doing them any service?
How much dignity is an Aborigine allowed to have in his own country? Judging from the media, about zip. And the ironic thing is that all the while Australia proclaims White Australia is dead and buried - I just don't think this notion can be sustained in anyway given the reality of our society.

Here's how it really works: Australia is like a club where membership is tendered by being inducted into 'White'-ness.
Italian and Greek immigrants used to be 'Wogs' and 'New Australians'. Now they're accepted into the mainstream (read White Australia) because it turned out they were white Europeans after all. Well, my ancient history teacher could have told you that the West is the legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome. It would have been a bit rich to say they weren't Western enough. Me being Japanese? Well I'm honorary White, just as the South Africans would have designated me. Gradually the membership is expanding. One day the Chinese and Vietnamese may get full membership; The promise is there. Even the Lebanese may get in if history proves anything.
However the one people who are seemingly doomed forever to be alienated and marginalised are the very indigenous people who lived here before any of us got here: the Aborigines.
So tell me how this is all that different to apartheid?

I know some of you may disagree our society is like this. My contention is that the day you don't mind staffing your entire office with Aborigines, and you haven't even noticed that that has happened, is the day we have come to true reconciliation. Now, meditate on how far our greater society has to go before we get there. This is why we haven't come anywhere near far enough in reconciliation. Needless to say I was mightily embarrassed to call myself an Australian, and I don't wear a black arm-band for anybody.

2007/06/20

My Song Of The Week

Tempted

Sometimes you get a song into your head when you're 14 and it stays with you for a long time afterwards. In my case it's been over 25 years. Consequently, (or as a matter of due dilligence)
I've always wanted to pull this song apart and do a version.
Well, I've done it now and here it is.
I know, I know, it's a cover. But it's a good song!
Next week I'll be doing 'Keep It Dark' by Genesis.

2007/06/19

So You Know, The Yankees...

9-Game Winning Streak You Say?

Something like that can sure change the complexion on things.
While I was away, the Yankees decided to get going. Namely, A-Rod and Abreu found their stroke again and the pitching staff has been going great guns. So consequently, they've shaved off 6.5 or so games from the point they were 14.5 games out from Boston. Even though they lost to the Mets they've taken the series to be at least square with the Mutts this year. Taking 2 of 3 from the Bosox and 3 of 4 from the Chisox, before sweping the Diamondbacks and the Pirates made it all the more respectable. They are 9-1 in the last 10 games.

Boston in the mean time have come off the boil. They weren't going to play .700 ball all the way to the finish. Curt Schilling has now had 2 bad outings in a row. They're still 6-4 in the last 10 games. That 8 game difference still looms large, but it's not like the 14.5 at May 28-29 just as I was about to hit the road. More realisstically, the Wild Card table has the Yankees at 4 games behind the Detroit Tigers. Now that is surmountable.

If the Yankees can sneak into the play-offs by the backdoor and win it all? Well, I can sure live with that. Winning sure beats losing.

2007/06/18

Paul Potts Wins It

Well, Why Not?



After his video came out on the web and became the most watched video on youtube, it seemed like the most likely outcome for Paul Potts to win his comp and so he has.
After being declared the winner, Paul Potts was close to tears and said that performing for the Queen 'means absolutely everything'.

He added: "I cannot believe it at all, I'm like jelly. Thank-you for believing in me, it is absolutely bonkers."

Simon Cowell said: "I'm so proud of you. Next week you are going to be in a recording studio making your debut album."

Fellow judge Piers Morgan told him: "You deserve it I can't think of anybody better to represent this show."

Paul Potts regained his poise after the result of two million phone votes was revealed, and delivered a final rendition of Nessun Dorma for the TV cameras.

After his victory was announced Simon Cowell confirmed that Paul will be in a recording studio next week, recording his own album.

As well as receiving a cheque for £100,000 - which will cover £30,000 worth of debts he has amassed trying to achieve his dream of stardom - the tenor will now perform in front of the Queen at this year's Royal Variety Performance.

Success means that Potts, who currently works for the Carphone Warehouse, is likely to secure a lucrative record deal - and has already been lined up to appear in a series of shows and concerts.

Indeed, his first round audition - in which he left the judges speechless and Miss Holden crying - has already taken over as the number one most watched clip on internet website, YouTube.

Although the former supermarket shelf-stacker has not sung since a near fatal motorcycle accident in 2003, his victory is perhaps tinted after it was revealed that he has received professional voice training.

It has also emerged that Potts has, in fact, been struggling for 10 years on the fringes of the operatic world, and after winning £8,000 in a TV talent contest eight years ago, spent his earnings attending various training courses in Italy.

He has even performed at a master class in front of Luciano Pavarotti and Katia Ricciarelli - leading to accusations that he held an unfair advantage over the other five finalists.
I don't see why it's such a problem if he's had professional training. It's not like anybody can glom on to doing bel canto on their own in the bathroom. Hey, I know, because I know some people who have tried. And you certainly don't get to be Paul Potts good just because you get the professional training. I'm actually looking forward to the Paul Potts album. I may even buy it to remind me that talent eventually shines through.

2007/06/15

Paul Potts

You have to say a star is born. Check this out:



The reaction of the judges is priceless as the crowd surges.
Good on the fella!! Nobody sleeps tonight in Cardiff I bet.
Just for a comparison, here's Pavarotti doing it:

Back From The Road In NZ

My Schedule Looked Like This
1 June: Fly out o Sydney, Arrive Auckland at 23:29.
2 June: Pickup Van, 3 people from Tokyo, meet Location Scout Clayton Taiko, check in the 3, hit the road running.
3-4 June: Scout Auckland locations. On night of 4th, fly to New Plymouth/Taranaki
5 June: Scout Taranaki locations with Peter Avery.
6 June: Fly out to Wellington and start scouting with the help of Delia Shanly from Film Wellington.
7-8 June: Wellington Location scouting. Fly back to Auckland on the 8th to meet Art Director/Production Designer Mark Robins.
9 June: Pick up Director Yoichi Sai( a.k.a Yang-Il Choi) at the airport, show him the shortlist for the Auckland region
10 June: Fly to New Plymouth/Taranaki, show the director the shortlisted sites from the area.
11-12 June: Fly to Wellington in the morning. Show the director the short-listed sites in the Wellington area. Meet Line Producer Nicola Olsen.
13 June: Return visit to Stone Street Studios to discuss how they built a 40mx40m water tank using containers on the backlot, with Jaime Selkirk and Dan Henna. Also repeat tours o Park Road Post, WETA Workshop and WETA Digital. Fly out to Auckland.
14 June: Japanese crew fly back to Narita, I fly back to Sydney.

That's 8 plane-rides in 14 days. So here we are back in Sydney and my head is still spinning this morning.

'Planes Trains and Automobiles'? Make That 'Bookings Check-Ins And Boardings'
I would start at 8am in the morning and not stop being the fixer until 11pm each day. I kept meaning to call Geoff Murphy and never had a moment to myself. It was nuts. And the schedule above is only the final version of what actually happened. You wouldn't believe the number of modifications that were made to the original outline sent to me in late May. All my time in the hotel rooms were dedicated to modifying or chasing up confirmations on the bookings.

New Zealand to me is a blur of: booking websites, particularly Air NZ & Hertz; Hotel front desks, rooms, corridors and lifts; Airports; Planes; Toyota Previa vans; maps; Green hills with sheep and cows grazing; wind-swept beaches; long and winding roads through spectaular mountainsides and bushland; intermittent rain punctuated by sunshine and rainbows that look like story-book illustrations; a stream of LOTR type locales; conversations about how to build a set on these beaches and what permits need to be secured; seals on the rocks off Wellington; paranoia from the director being present.

2007/06/01

Getting To Be An Oldie But Still A Goodie

Just Before I Hit The Road...
I'd like to share this with you all:

Yup.

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