Saturday, November 27, 2010

Tourette's Karaoke

Web Page

About Guy:

"I am married and have 3 kids. I read Tarot cards, do astrology, love fringe science, write poems/ditties/short songs, smoke, drink, etc.

I enjoy reading ... oh yes, I have Tourette's Syndrome.

The full blown kind. You know, swearing and aggressive jerking and all that.

Oh yeah, I also have Asperger's Syndrome.

I was diagnosed at age 31. I have tics that are triggered by sensory input or any changes to my routine and tics that are cycle based.

I deal with it in a number of ways. One of them is Karaoke."

Checkout this person's amazing blog and see life from his side.

Mr Deity (Season 3)


Lucy tries to tell Mr. Deity that Illusionists aren't magical beings.

ECOS Magazine - Towards A Sustainable Future

Townsville.....what's happening in Cairns?














Friday, November 19, 2010

Cairns Cultural Precinct

The Cairns Cultural Precinct project will breathe new life and vitality into the wharf precinct and CBD and act as a catalyst for a new round of investment in the city. Encompassing a Performing Arts Centre, Museum and Public Plaza, the Precinct delivers cultural, entertainment and recreational facilities that will attract a broad range of visitors, and a diversity and vibrancy that will support commercial outlets.

Write today to the Gang of 6 Cairns Councillors on our dysfunctional Cairns Regional Council trying to delay and stop the Cultural Precinct. Tell them you support the project.

Paul Gregory p.gregory@cairns.qld.gov.au
Nancy Lanskey n.lanskey@cairns.qld.gov.au
Alan Blake a.blake@cairns.qld.gov.au
Linda Cooper l.cooper@cairns.qld.gov.au
Margaret Cochrane m.cochrane@cairns.qld.gov.au
Sno Bonneau s.bonneau@cairns.qld.gov.au

Friday, November 12, 2010

From the 1940s to now













It is appropriate considering Remembrance Day was this week to post these amazing mashups by Sergey Larenkov showing European and Russian landmarks as they stand today with overlays of images of the same locations during World War Two.

We can only imagine.



Tuesday, November 9, 2010

In Honor of the Memory of Carl Sagan

This week marks the 76th anniversary of his birth (November 9, 1934) .Carl Sagan was a Professor of Astronomy and Space Science and Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell University. He served as an advisor and consultant to NASA, and played a major role in the establishment of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). He was a Pulitzer Prize winning author and most familiar to the public through his COSMOS series on PBS. In addition to numerous awards, recognitions and honorary degrees for his outstanding contributions, he is acknowledged as one of the most effective public faces of astronomy and space science throughout the world. Sagan died in December 1996.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Graduation night from Djarragun College



From Ludo Kuipers, a teacher at Djarragun, "Boys from Djarragun College, a school for indigenous students in Gordonvale near Cairns, Far North Queensland, perform dances from Murray Island in the Torres Strait during a performance in the hall of nearby Trinity College during the student graduation ceremonies. Among others the do the fast "Silent dance", only accompanied by drumming; girls in school blazers jump on the stage to sprinkle powder on the dancers as a sign of appreciation; one of them actually slips on a dancing stick and falls off the stage!"

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Blast from the Past

I'm turning into a bit of a local history buff and have been trolling through online archived news items about this part of the world (where would we be without the intertubes?).

I recently made a trip out to Chillagoe with a load of old typewriters which hopefully will soon be on display out there (another story).

On the way to Chillagoe you pass through the deserted 'town' of Lappa Junction

This is how it looks today:

The Lappa Junction Station













The old Lappa Pub (link to local ABC)









This is what it was like in 1901:

The Queenslander (Brisbane 1886-1939)

Saturday August 3 1901

THE LAPPA-MOUNT GARNET LINE.

The "Cairns Argus" of 16th Julysays:—In the course of an interview whicha representative of this journal had on

Saturday evening with Mr. A. Overend, of the firm of Messrs. Willcocks and Overend, contractors for the construction of theLappa Junction —Mount Garnet Railway, he learnt that good progress is being made with the work. About 250 men are employed on the line, this number not including a good many who are engaged in getting timber for the railway or as teamsters. The clearing gangs have got past the ten mile from Lappa Junction with their work, which will go on uninterruptedly until the whole line—thirty-three miles in length—is cleared. The earth-works are in hand for the first six miles of the line, and here about fifty horses and drays are employed, besides the men. There will be a good many cuttings on this part of the line, and the men areabout halfway through one big cutting near Lappa Junction. The main camp is now at this place, but will later on be re-moved to the ten-mile, which will form theterminus of the first section. Messrs.Willcocks and Overend have bought the saw-mills at the 74-Mlle on the Chlllagoe line from the Chillagoe Railway and Mines, and will start cutting sleepers there immediately. It is intended to utilise the saw-mills where they are now situated while the contractors are getting timber for a mill on their own line. It is hoped that the line will be finished in twelve months, or three months ahead of contract time. The contractors are pushing on with it as quickly as possible. Men are voluntarily coming up from the South by nearly every boat to work on it, and, in addition, all the local men who apply and are suitable for the work are put on. When the construction is more advanced, a good many more men than at present will be engaged—in fact, something like a thousand could be employed. Mr. Overend left Cairns for a visit to the South by Saturday night's boat. His partner, Mr. Willcocks, is remaining at the seat of operations to direct matters.