Lookie — my art and design reference collection is slowly but steadily growing… I finally made room on my bookshelves for more books. It’s packed to the brim on the shelf next to this one, next to the Harry Potter shrine (yes, I dare you to laugh at me). *sighs* I wouldn’t be surprised if the first floor collapses under the weight of all my books and stuff one day.
Why is iPhoto such a bitch to use? I mean, I can see how powerful its potential is, but I find it altogether quite difficult to operate, especially the fact that I can’t access the raw folder containing all the photos I upload onto the computer. I have to manually go to the Pictures > iPhoto Library, right click and select ‘Open Package Contents’. If anyone has a better solution, I would be so grateful to know what it is!
Meanwhile, I had an excellent walk after dinner with dad. Think we walked 5 km. Mum never joins us — bloody ‘ell; she can’t blame us if she gets sick again because she doesn’t keep fit. Will probably have to use physical force to drag her along with us, although she ends up dragging us behind because she can’t keep up with our pace. Anyway, said walk tonight was excellent because we trekked along the railway line all the way to the next two suburbs (I’m not sure if that’s legal, since someone tore through the barricaded fence, so obviously we weren’t the only people to venture by, but it was fun); it’s used mainly for cargo, and apparently V-line services, although I don’t believe dad’s testimony about the latter since I’ve never seen any passenger trains; imagine if this railway could join along the metropolitan lines, it would be so much more convenient. Logistically there might be a few issues in joining with an existing service, possibly the Sydenham line over the Broadmeadows Craigieburn, but honestly, it can be done! Our infrastructure is choking, and all that’s left is rhetoric.
While I’m on a ranting streak, I’ll continue. I am very frustrated about the wank re: Tibet. It’s sheer Western hypocrisy to propose such things as boycotting the Olympics and Chinese goods or what have you, and if you think that, you know nothing about what’s going on. Human rights, yeah right! Case in point, I was particularly perplexed and outraged by Bob Brown’s careless remark about China’s supposed ‘dictatorial’ conduct in its dealings with the Tibetan rioting. I only have to look at the numerous examples of similar, if not worse, conduct and persecution, and quite frankly, a lack of human rights, in Australian, British and American history, just to name a few countries that proudly promote democracy. Dictatorship was the likes of Hitler, Stalin, and Mao. Get it right: Mao is dead, Mao is gone, this is an entirely new and different China. In fact, Communism won’t last this century, but we don’t know when … and I digress.
The riots have actually been aimed at Han Chinese, who are entirely innocent of any political agenda (as such); in fact, they have done GOOD to Tibet in bringing the region good economy, tourism and trade, so of course, China must act in some way if they’re being brutally attacked by violent rioters. I’ve given up all hope of any UN intervention — Ban Ki Moon was not the best candidate for the role of Secretary-General — what power or influence can he exert over other national leaders, if he doesn’t give off a sense of strength and conviction? Super powers will just trample all over the organisation, or worse yet take advantage of its weakness. It’s the League of Nations all over again.
Ho hum.
I saw an interview with Zhang Yimou (of Hero and House of Flying Daggers fame) re: his direction of the Beijing Olympics opening and closing ceremonies — he’s very tight-lipped about the whole thing, and so he should be, but it would have been nice to know just a bit of what’s to be expected. I am so excited about this! But there was mention about a Chinese poll that asked the general public what they want to see — so expect some more flying daggers… xD
Full moon last night — no werewolves or vampires near my territory. *sighs* Gee whiz, suburban Melbourne is dull.
And why am I having verbal diarrhoea? I just want to test this Wordpress to Livejournal cross-posting plugin. LOLZ. I shall be blogging more at Eveninghour now methinks. It makes me sad to know that I’ve lost contact with most of my blogging friends back in the day (yeesh, it was only 7 years ago?).
Crikey, have I been blogging that long?
Anyhoo, John Simm ??? + Van Gogh ??? awaits!
