tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144707212024-03-08T22:32:37.531+11:00emunctoryAn organ or duct that removes or carries waste from the body. From the Latin munctrius, to blow one's nose.
My excretory organ onto the web since 2005unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.comBlogger489125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-64111313335766567262023-07-12T12:54:00.001+10:002023-07-12T12:54:21.530+10:00I guess i'm not a blogger any more.There was something extraordinary about blogging and being part of a world-spanning conversation. I put real effort into being entertaining and informative and shared my ideas and learning from yours at a deeper level than any casual conversation. Then we all moved to Facebook, but its short format discouraged the deeper conversation we had enjoyed and encouraged short attention span wall/war scrolling.
Almost all of the 30 or so people who formed the community I was a part of have ceased blogging; I still know a few of you in person, a few are active on FB, some have sadly died, and others have faded into busy lives, the ven diagram of our acquaintance having drifted.
If anyone ever reads this and wants an update - my children have grown and are now adults: one seeks a future in aerospace, and the other in politics and international relations. My wife, to whom I am still enthusiastically and ecstatically married, has climbed the corporate ladder and sticks executive sutch and sutch in front of her title. And me - I'm still interested in bugs, rocks and flowers. The arthritis I was diagnosed with in my 20s has been held at bay for 30 years by various drugs. Still, it has continued to smoulder, and its effects are accelerating beyond what even modern medicine can keep in remission. I am no longer interested in the grind and pressure of IT management. Since my last post, we have travelled the world, lived in different cities, raised children, and enjoyed life unreported here. I founded an IT startup and became disenfranchised by the cost of success. I have dabbled with alcoholism and (attempted) to learn languages. The covid slowdown allowed me the opportunity in my 50s to reflect on my future and reframe my life. I have returned to uni and completed yet another master's - this time to become a teacher. I plan to spend my long retirement teaching maths and physics to little turds that don't care about their future. I still plan on finding interesting bugs, rocks and flowers.
Wish me luck.
Steve<div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-56121483340002712782012-03-02T08:36:00.002+11:002012-03-02T08:58:00.621+11:00An Uncle, againWell I'll be a monkey's uncle again; my sister in law has reproduced.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6923003707/" title="P2230099 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/6923003707_3d15ccb1c9_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="P2230099"></a><br /><br />I seem to have forgotten to post anything over the last year, well, perhaps once or twice. What would you want to know. <br /><br />Life is rolling along, The kids are growing up: <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6922995879/" title="P2180082 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6922995879_ef8b1ac3d7_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="P2180082"></a><br />Having birthdays:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6272262088/" title="IMG_9877 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6049/6272262088_a8480f57ec.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_9877"></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6272297056/" title="IMG_9919 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6120/6272297056_5f742f10d6_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="IMG_9919"></a><br /><br />My little man has had his first day of school:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6827960557/" title="P2030062 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7007/6827960557_965534f09f_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="P2030062"></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6827938859/" title="P2030052 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6827938859_0ca7f85387_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="P2030052"></a><br /><br />Mum's thinking of leaving this:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6733659257/" title="IMG_1596 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6733659257_d2bdb6fcd2_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_1596"></a><br />to come here:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6733658589/" title="IMG_1703 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7147/6733658589_5bee8a46e0_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_1703"></a><br /><br />The Arthritis has been a right pain in the arse, and spine, and ribs and and and.. I've just had a big enough round of x-rays to sun tan my innards and will be off for another MRI next week to try and understand what the fuck is going on. The last ones didn't show much except that I am possibly a hermaphrodite - who knew.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/1542713982/" title="section12 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2352/1542713982_0eb951bd75_m.jpg" width="240" height="213" alt="section12"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/1541853039/" title="section14 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2099/1541853039_8824cd3837_m.jpg" width="240" height="224" alt="section14"></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-50761080187101947272011-11-28T09:10:00.004+11:002011-11-28T10:38:31.978+11:0091km Bike Ride.Starting from Marsfield at 6:30 AM <br /><br />- Down to Browns Water Hole<br /><br />- Kissing Point Road<br /><br />- North Turramurra<br /><br />- Bobbin Head, a big gorge with a 4km climb out<br /><br />- Suburban roads to Galston<br /><br />- Gaslton Gorge, a big gorge with a steep 4km climb out<br /><br />- around the back of Dural<br /><br />- Down to Berowa Waters, my top speed on a bike ever down the hill, but as with all hills you ride down ...<br /><br />- Cross the river on the car ferry and then up up up out of the gorge.<br /><br />- Back to Bobbin Head (via Mt Kur-ring-gai and Mt Colah just for laughs)<br /><br />- Bobbin Head gorge again this time in the other direction.<br /><br />- Back through North Turramurra - Kissing Point Road<br /><br />Its the first big ride I have done in decades, and I did it on a mountain bike - with knobbly tires. Only the second time I have used cleats - the one other time was in the gym on a stationary bike. I ate like a horse about half way through, drank 4 liters of water and finished about 2kg lighter than when I started so I must have sweated 6L. Average speed was around 21 kph, 11 on the climbs. Total vertical was about 1km. The trip home from Turramurra was slow and my legs felt like wood. I was so exhausted I was swearing under my breath with every pedal stroke.<br /><br />I still had to mow the lawn and do the gardening when I got home. <br /><br />I slept well. <br /><br />Today my bum, or rather the inside of my upper thighs is a little sore, as are my hamstrings behind my knee. Other than that I feel like I could do it again. <br /><br /><br /><!-- Start MMF Embed Tool --><br /><iframe id="mmf_blog_map" src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=866132243386851820&u=e&t=ride" height="500px" width="400px" frameborder="0"><br /><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/59299042">A ride mapped on 11/27/2011</a><br/><br /><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/?location=NSW, Australia">Find more Cycling Routes / Bike Rides in NSW, Australia</a><br /></iframe><br /><!-- End MMF Embed Tool --><div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-17091512746805881552011-10-22T21:55:00.002+11:002011-10-22T22:00:10.414+11:00Suburban RecoveryI know I should be posting about the ski trip but I couldn't let my lovely wife's attempt to park the car in the garage go un-commented.<br /><br />Perhaps we should let the pictures tell the story:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6265495877/" title="IMG_9864 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6059/6265495877_4fa58c45be.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_9864"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6266025198/" title="IMG_9865 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6152/6266025198_338d69efd6.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="IMG_9865"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6266026912/" title="IMG_9869 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6052/6266026912_ae7c12dbc7.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="IMG_9869"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6266029046/" title="IMG_9874 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6166/6266029046_bdeabda466.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="IMG_9874"></a><br /><br />Ended up ripping a 10cm gash in the tire wall. These are armored tires mind.<div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-39250635402590948312011-09-30T19:34:00.001+10:002011-09-30T19:35:43.647+10:00Ten YearsIt's our tenth anniversary today.<br /><br />Where <span style="font-style:italic;">has</span> the time gone?<div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-87944031294009981662011-09-30T17:56:00.005+10:002011-09-30T18:50:02.773+10:00Long hollsWe've now returned from a fab trip to Fiji and then skiing in Australia.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Part 1, Fiji:</span><br /><a href="http://www.qamea.com/">Qamea</a> island is a little dot of land about an hours plane trip north east from Nandi - well to the nearest island with an airstrip at any rate - then you have to take the minivan to the opposite side of the island and then a boat trip across the straights and then finally to Qamea. Greeted with a bottle of bubbly - I knew I was going to like it. 10 days of intermittent diving and relaxing. We did our advanced open water course amidst the clownfish in some of the <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=Rainbow%20Reef%20Somosomo%20Strait&biw=1532&bih=951&tbm=isch">best diving in the world </a>. For the drift dive, or diving in a current component of our course we did the aptly named <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl-czu2DGJ0">"Swirling Coconuts"</a> dive in such a strong current that the dive master later told us he was going to call an end to the dive the moment we got to depth as he had never seen the current so strong - we got whipped around in an underwater maelstrom - but apparently we looked comfortable so he continued. On reflection the vigorous current that was sweeping us over the underwater features with such velocity was probably spinning the blood out of my face - thus accounting for the calm look. Saw my first trumpet fish at 10 knots. So many memorable moments that it's hard to pick what to write about - the manta ray cruising past, diving through caves in the reef at The Great White Wall in the Somosomo Straights (regarded as one of the absolute best dives in the world), being attacked by nemo - don't believe the movie, Nemo is a vicious little beast. <br />But it wasn't all two hour massages and piña coladas - there was some hard work to be done. We had to choose between reading our books in the hammock or on the beach lounge - nobody should ever have to make a decision that hard. <br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="225" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=5f6b39df6e&photo_id=6114198343"></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377"></param> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=5f6b39df6e&photo_id=6114198343" height="225" width="400"></embed></object><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6156764409/" title="P8260109 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6166/6156764409_fd38cc172f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P8260109"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6156741477/" title="P8250060 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6070/6156741477_112a6e63c3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P8250060"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6157282770/" title="P8250058 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6175/6157282770_398c53e4b4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P8250058"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6157297144/" title="P8260080 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/6157297144_301e9a8962.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P8260080"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/6156755841/" title="P8260081 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6171/6156755841_ea8e4fa0ae.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P8260081"></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-45195941087755419072011-08-22T11:59:00.003+10:002011-08-22T12:02:54.188+10:00Back in a monthMarried for 10 whole years so we are off on a long long holiday - Fiji without the kids and then Skiing with them (if there is any snow left).
<br />
<br />Don't do anything I wouldn't do whilst I'm gone. <div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-22528578802958356432011-07-25T09:58:00.003+10:002011-07-25T10:38:07.840+10:00SurfThe NSW coast has been hit by a series of <a href+"http://www.coastalwatch.com/news/article.aspx?articleId=9203">big swells</a><br />I got out in it for a few hours last weened and this Weekend just passed. <br />Sitting in a giant swell whist mountains of water crash past you is fucking exciting. I'm not that good a surfer. I'm a good swimmer, comfortable swimming around in it but only a weekend warrior when it comes to negotiating the surf with a 1.7m pointy fiberglass board with blades (three of them for good measure). I caught some good ones, got smashed and rag-dolled through the washing machine a few times. I judged that my bigger <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/4270260313/">'fun board</a>' was too big to duck dive easily in this swell and I needed to be sure I could get under the waves - the tradeoff is that as you select a smaller shorter board they are slower to paddle and when you try to catch a wave you have to be exactly in the right spot (you can't paddle in or out as fast to be in the right place) and you tend to end up higher on the face before you have the speed to 'pop' (i.e. stand). You do not want to be up high on the lip of a wave tied to a fiberglass block resplendent with points and blades as the wave breaks or it will <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRo48cRE-3c">throw you forward</a> and you will get to experience water in a whole new way. Shorter boards are also less forgiving about body position on take off and if you are too far forward they will nose dive, catapulting you forward into the abyss only to be met by the lip as is crashes down and aquatints you with the bottom before it surges you around a few times. But short boards move over the water more nimbly once you are up and running.<br />I did a bit of both but still managed a few long and exciting rides on some of the biggest waves I have ever played on - certainly the biggest I have been on in the last 10 years.<div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-40670288661855570542011-07-05T13:45:00.000+10:002011-07-05T13:46:14.262+10:00I fucking love volcanoes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/puyehue060611/s_p15_15268984.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 991px; height: 651px;" src="http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/puyehue060611/s_p15_15268984.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-25357065327332222912011-05-29T18:35:00.003+10:002011-05-29T18:38:48.694+10:00ChoresJust cleaning up again this weekend. Gardening, cleaning windows and bugs out of the outdoor lighting, replacing bulbs - that sort of thing. Entirely unremarkable.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5770482735/" title="P5280033 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5770482735_2d8c9cd13a_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="P5280033"></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-77515019460191912062011-05-15T23:02:00.003+10:002011-05-15T23:09:27.071+10:00BushwalkQuite the loveliest walk.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5722058536/" title="P5150041 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2564/5722058536_2913d579d8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P5150041"></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5722110304/" title="P5150086 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/5722110304_93aa3b6e58_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150086"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5721552995/" title="P5150087 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3408/5721552995_3c37d61abe_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150087"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5722122356/" title="P5150093 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2054/5722122356_7a6bfbd52c_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150093"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5722124646/" title="P5150095 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3489/5722124646_1f46682142_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150095"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5721484093/" title="P5150031 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/5721484093_52d2aa7b08_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150031"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5722044666/" title="P5150032 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/5722044666_87003f87e2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150032"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5722047418/" title="P5150034 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3616/5722047418_114264787e_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150034"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5721495281/" title="P5150038 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2607/5721495281_ac425431f2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150038"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5722065738/" title="P5150047 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3459/5722065738_a36fd7f6c2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150047"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5722074856/" title="P5150053 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3423/5722074856_c4b6025dff_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150053"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5722073830/" title="P5150052 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3014/5722073830_6c63fe2d05_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150052"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5721519575/" title="P5150056 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/5721519575_ab8cd7f671_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150056"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5722079998/" title="P5150057 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3483/5722079998_b09b3315d9_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150057"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5722081156/" title="P5150058 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/5722081156_0736685a40_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150058"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5721525465/" title="P5150061 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2151/5721525465_2a75de3319_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150061"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5722103416/" title="P5150080 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/5722103416_f1738f2eb2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150080"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5721545189/" title="P5150081 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2064/5721545189_78287fcba0_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P5150081"></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-24375540220100450822011-04-10T12:51:00.003+10:002011-04-10T13:09:51.058+10:00CampingWe got away for a bit of camping this month just gone.<br />The first was up to Stockton Beach, just north of New Castle for a weekend of driving with the Toyota club, the other was with friends a little way up north (at a nudist beach :-) The weather was not on it's best behavior. With enough rain to cause a decent flood in Sydney. The morning was made all the ore exciting with a little brown snake (v. deadly) sharing the camp ground with us.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5547780329/" title="P3200111 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5025/5547780329_6b7586d35b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P3200111"></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5548355130/" title="P3200103 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5139/5548355130_3bbd470107.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P3200103"></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5547830181/" title="P3200127 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5547830181_2d9cac11e8.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P3200127"></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5547767153/" title="P3190097 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5547767153_90336e09aa.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P3190097"></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5548342410/" title="P3190088 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5548342410_318aa85332.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P3190088"></a><br /><br />Stockton<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5505454056/" title="P3050075 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5505454056_cc9219579f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P3050075"></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5505453750/" title="P3050074 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/5505453750_870dd94106.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P3050074"></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5504855675/" title="P3050067 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/5504855675_b1cc6aaffb.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P3050067"></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5504854043/" title="P3050063 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5504854043_42df05ebd4.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P3050063"></a><br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="225" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=50f825d5eb&photo_id=5505414856"></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377"></param> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=50f825d5eb&photo_id=5505414856" height="225" width="400"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-57240794016914727292011-04-01T18:13:00.001+11:002011-04-01T18:17:20.079+11:00In the news<a href="http://www.watoday.com.au/world/obese-man-found-fused-to-chair-20110330-1cf35.html?from=smh_ft">This</a> and <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1371948/Joanne-Salley-left-distraught-topless-photos-emailed-pupils.html">This</a>.<br /><br />Buggered that I can't find picks of the later either.<div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-5284806879952117842011-03-24T15:33:00.002+11:002011-03-24T15:38:26.124+11:00In case of raptureIf you find yourself left behind you may find <a href="http://www.raptureready.com/lbl/left-behind.html">these</a> <a href="http://www.raptureready.com/rap49.html">resources</a> useful.<div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-68325468205153077492011-03-24T10:47:00.001+11:002011-03-24T10:50:32.996+11:00What - NZ Beats Us !*&%!#$<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5a_BwHo3HFg5vey3sIKlCkOxJDQswVaESqDDBbpvMA3AVUrZEAdw8Y-MZkuoocE5rj3fgZJbhtVMeydyk-a2L4ZnOk3G-qwsjj-IHe8HuB-osnJLLGkTGlbip7smDi3pkGBlHQ/s1600/640_penis_map-600x338.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5a_BwHo3HFg5vey3sIKlCkOxJDQswVaESqDDBbpvMA3AVUrZEAdw8Y-MZkuoocE5rj3fgZJbhtVMeydyk-a2L4ZnOk3G-qwsjj-IHe8HuB-osnJLLGkTGlbip7smDi3pkGBlHQ/s200/640_penis_map-600x338.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587426660909414546" /></a><br /><br />Beaten by NZ <a href="http://www.disinfo.com/2011/03/world-penis-size-map/">where it counts</a> - that hurts.<div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-12453086360073502112011-03-16T19:38:00.002+11:002011-03-16T19:43:23.585+11:00Accosted by the Christians ...Accosted by the Christians at uni and invited to a bible study class I was asked by a young lady what my favorite bible passage was.<br /><br />Ezekiel 23:20 I replied, giving her lovely flat chest a healthy amount of attention before I walked off.<div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-31377053652143290242011-03-15T09:15:00.001+11:002011-03-15T09:16:45.811+11:00Accents<iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CvqcFecSV50?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br />If the sound is out of sync blame youtube.<br />Ute <span style="font-style:italic;">et al</span> meamed me to do this.<div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-40124516886239529872011-02-02T15:43:00.002+11:002011-02-02T15:55:14.844+11:00Natural Disaster LevyThe poor cunts in Queensland: the paper today says <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/dont-panic-if-roof-lifts-off-authorities-20110202-1ad3w.html">don't panic if your roof blows off</a>. WTF? I think that you are entitled to a tincey tiny little panic if your fucking roof blows off. Keep a raincoat handy - It's a fucking cat 5 cyclone. You'll need something a little more prophylactic to keep the rain off than a rain coat. Hide in the toilet they say - sensible advise at least - you can bet that if I was in the path of cat 5 cyclone that was taking my roof off I'd need a visit to the loo.<br /><br />Now these pricks that are contesting Julia's Flood Levi should pull their right wing heads in. Me - I'd be happy to contribute to a permanent Natural Disaster Levy to help rebuild and recover from fire, flood etc - to buy rescue equipment and rebuild national infrastructure. Not to be used to insure against marginal or unsafe development and protect people from the stupid but to be used in ways that help all of us or a whole region.<div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-49853096611158173512011-02-01T17:27:00.004+11:002011-02-01T17:59:43.682+11:00Current temp: 40.7°CI know, I'm a soft city boy now, gone are the days of working as a geo out in the Western Desert where it was routinely 47 and occasionally it would touch 50 C yet you still put in a solid days work. But these days steeping out from the aircon into 40 something heat is stunning. It is an experience that is hard to describe - it's not like a sauna that you can get out of - everywhere you turn it is that same heat. <br />I'm looking at some photos a blog friend send me (thanks btw) of a backyard covered in snow that I want to fall into and spend all day making snow angels.<br /><br />I'm limping a little, damaged by a surf session on Sunday at <a href="http://www.google.com.au/images?hl=en&xhr=t&q=avalon+beach&cp=9&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=i9p&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1626&bih=969">Avalon</a>, where I got brutalised by the cyclone swell from the last storm that crosses the Qld coast. As I write this I'm playing my tongue across the chips in my teeth earned by being stupid enough not to close my mouth when I got barreled playing beyond my ability. <br /><br />Meanwhile <a href="http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/weather/evacuations-begin-amid-warnings-of-one-of-biggest-cyclones-20110131-1aahx.html">Yasi</a> is knocking on the Queensland doorstep. This bastard is bigger than NSW:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyMHX2Faj30RiqwGZ6BikWz9ZZYNrNs2eWjuaruGHFZXVpD5_sLj83rfwLYzRErMG-S7h7zoIAFpz5AHjtE91Y7fSuJW9nt0uARZO0WiyILvjnTMdCnVODZjRnzJOUOPlAsDfMg/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-01+at+5.29.29+PM.png"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyMHX2Faj30RiqwGZ6BikWz9ZZYNrNs2eWjuaruGHFZXVpD5_sLj83rfwLYzRErMG-S7h7zoIAFpz5AHjtE91Y7fSuJW9nt0uARZO0WiyILvjnTMdCnVODZjRnzJOUOPlAsDfMg/s200/Screen+shot+2011-02-01+at+5.29.29+PM.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568605044091443698" /></a><br />(clickety click) - from <a href="http://www.goes.noaa.gov/sohemi/sohemiloops/shirgmscol.html">here</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-75888055420243830912011-01-26T15:43:00.005+11:002011-01-26T15:54:53.490+11:00'Stralia Day<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5388919767/" title="P1260194 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/5388919767_5a0150f1f0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1260194" /></a><br />What could be more Aussie than getting blasted by a few bluies down the beach on 'Stralia Day?<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5388922595/" title="P1260198 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5388922595_0cea502337.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1260198" /></a><br />A misty but <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/sydneys-hottest-australia-day-in-20-years-20110126-1a51b.html">hot</a> Australia Day spend down at Freshwater Beach. Bit squishy in surf due to the carnival taking up most of the beach.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5388911717/" title="P1260184 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/5388911717_fbaac551e5_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1260184" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5388914221/" title="P1260187 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5388914221_6874d91cfa_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1260187" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5389529884/" title="P1260201 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5389529884_2e6a4ae5de_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1260201" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5388923151/" title="P1260199 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5388923151_81b186e7bf_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1260199" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5389527044/" title="P1260197 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5389527044_f4c3f4fae0_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1260197" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5388925931/" title="P1260203 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5218/5388925931_fee03cbd25_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1260203" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-29297030426580038172011-01-20T09:04:00.001+11:002011-01-20T09:33:37.620+11:00Fucking Floods.'Av a listen to what the Fat Aussie Bastard has to say about food prices in Queensland..<br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-VcLa76pUj8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-VcLa76pUj8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />This bloke has <a href="http://www.qt.com.au/story/2011/01/19/butchers-scary-shark-encounter-bull-steve-bateman/">a great story</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-49503194952755556052011-01-01T19:47:00.005+11:002011-01-02T11:31:14.138+11:00A bucket of prawns in the sun.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5313568453/" title="PC310090 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/5313568453_812c495067.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="PC310090" /></a><br />New Years Eve was spent with mum, Alex and the kids enjoying the tunes belted out by a local chick in the beer-garden under the country club. It has a casual beauty, sandwiched as it is between the bowling green and the golf club car-park it overlooks the ocean, dunes and lakes, kangaroos pause in a mob around the t-off just below the fence and a strong sea breeze brings a briny haze. A few locals are trying to make a go of a burger business, barbecuing up the scotch fillet stakes for filling the local fresh "still warm from the oven" focatcia style buns, the local market gardens providing the salad so fresh it still drips sap.<br /><br />Entree is a bucket of prawns, literally. Enjoyed with a chilled sav blank and a Coopers or three.<br /><br />It's a picturesque 3k walk back around the lake to mums house.<br /><br /><br />This is country.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5313549573/" title="PC310089 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5313549573_97dc898641_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC310089" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5314170024/" title="PC310092 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5042/5314170024_76fdf1485f_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC310092" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5313581041/" title="PC310094 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5313581041_ebda9ea348_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC310094" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5313598467/" title="PC310105 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5313598467_bdd6501559_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC310105" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5314188434/" title="PC310100 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5314188434_174792e277_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC310100" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5314203496/" title="PC310109 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5314203496_eb69177a11_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC310109" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5314209560/" title="PC310110 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5164/5314209560_71367f2526_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC310110" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5313647211/" title="PC310116 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5313647211_af8cdfaaaa_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC310116" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5311028531/" title="PC260039 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5049/5311028531_5b8297a2b4_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC260039" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5313645215/" title="PC310114 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5313645215_d4e2a41c38.jpg" width="500" height="130" alt="PC310114" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-31086242174633218162010-12-24T09:25:00.004+11:002010-12-24T09:45:49.323+11:00It's bark is worse in this lightEucalyptus <span style="font-style:italic;">saligna</span> forms a continuous hybrid with E. <span style="font-style:italic;">pilularis</span><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5276451459/" title="PC200078 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5127/5276451459_5768d6596d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="PC200078" /></a><br />The three 50m trees in our backyard are probably slightly towards the <span style="font-style:italic;">saligna</span> end of the spectrum as the branch forks are more open than the pronounced, upright V's of the blackbutts and the perminant bark just covers slightly more than a quarter of the main trunk. The rest of the smooth bark (an infra-red reflecting adaption to frequent fires) sheds annually.<br />Why the science lesson?:<br />Our backyard is covered in a substantial layer of bark.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5277061078/" title="PC200076 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5084/5277061078_ca090dca8e.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="PC200076" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/askclark/5277059520/" title="PC200074 by unique_stephen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5010/5277059520_a11b95c4f6.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="PC200074" /></a><br />These photos were taken the day after we mowed - less than 24 hrs.<br /><br />Off on holls down the coast - I'll take some photos for you so you know what you are missing out on. <br /><br />Any way, Merry Xmas, and a 'appy new one.<br /><br />Chat next year.<br /><br />Cheers<div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-20871913433969851382010-12-19T11:53:00.002+11:002010-12-19T12:13:01.850+11:00DilemmaMy daughter who does gymnastics at a fairly well regarded local gym school that has turned out several international (i.e. Olympic level) gymnasts is building its international level coaching and, a week ago invited my daughter to try out..<br /><br />She has been has been asked to train with their International Development Program.<br /><br />This is a big deal. The gym is, as I said, well regarded, families relocate cities to give their kids the opportunity to train in these programs with these international coaches. It just so happens that it is the most local gym to us. We only ever intended for gym to be something fun for our kids to do that would give them a good basic kinetics and help develop them physically. We've watched the elite kids training and said over and over to ourselves that we will never get involved in that - the tens of hours a week that those kids train, the injuries, the childhood lost. <br /><br />And now she has been asked to try out - and been asked to continue in the highest stream, we don't know what to do: <br /><br />On the one hand this could be a fab opportunity for her to develop her confidence and physicality, on the other hand it's an enormous ask of a 6 year old, the time commitment, the opportunity cost, the family focus and commitment required, all for what exactly? The chance to compete on the world stage and the minuscule chance that it would be rewarded .... do you deny your child a chance like this when offered?<br /><br />A dilemma<div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14470721.post-15630586449643061992010-12-10T14:39:00.002+11:002010-12-10T14:42:18.195+11:00Conversation with a 4 yearold4 year old: "Dad! I found a worm crawling outside."<br /><br />Me: "Hold on, I'll get a knife and fork for us."<br /><br />I get the knife and fork and run outside with him.<br /><br />4 year old, looking up at me, puzzled expression: "Why didn't you get two plates??"<div class="blogger-post-footer">-</div>unique_stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01137046158732977521noreply@blogger.com3