Oh Taiwan, you sure do know Aus Politics!
Posted on 21 August 2010 | 2 responses
Sure, this has already popped up about ten times in my Twitter feed today, but there’s a chance you haven’t seen it yet. And you must see it. Now. The last three years of Aus politics, animated.
Your instructions will be written on your friend
Posted on 19 August 2010 | No responses
… follow them or watch her die.
My t-shirt has arrived from the land of capitalism!
nomno… damn! nom… dang!
Posted on 18 August 2010 | No responses
It’s been real quiet on here. A little too quiet.
Self Loading Freight
Posted on 29 July 2010 | 2 responses
Sure, all the people travelling on the train each day are people, with problems, jobs, dreams, friends, enemies and occasionally umbrellas. However! On occasion I like to forget about the complexity of the whole collection of people and think merely about how much they weigh. Collectively.
In fact, let me lay it all out for you so that you too can ponder the sheer heaviness of the pile of bodies surrounding you on your morning commute. We’ll need a couple of ingredients:
- The average weight of an Australian: 76kg as of 2005
- How many people can fit on a train: 904 seated on a millenium train.
So let’s combine these facts with maths! I was on a particularly packed millenium train the other morning. I reckon there were about half again as many people crammed in standing as were seated. So let’s say on a fully packed train, we can fit about 1350 people.
76kg x 1350 = 102600kg
Yep, a well packed commuter train in Sydney has about 102 tonnes of people in it. 102 tonnes of problems, dreams, aspirations, fears … well basically 102 tonnes of meat and bone, really. About the same weight as two unloaded train carriages.
Neato.
Electric Butterfly!
Posted on 28 July 2010 | No responses
This is too cool to be a mere shared Google Reader link. This mechanical butterfly in a jar is like one of those magnetically actuated aquaria, but amazingly realistic. Gaze upon its fluttering glory!
(via Engadget)
Here, an interesting book on the tenets of Christianity
Posted on 19 July 2010 | No responses
Well, I suppose I’ve put a bit of my politics out there – I probably should throw some religion in too, to further my lack of manners.
When I was about 16, I read “Resurrection: Myth or Reality?” by John Shelby Spong, a former Anglican bishop. At the time, I still went to church, but was just beginning a proper examination of the whole business.
As someone who had always asked a lot of questions, I found the book to be a pretty novel and challenging way of looking at Christianity. Spong digs deep into the historical and cultural context within which the Easter myth exists. He takes quite a scholarly approach, and the exploration is certainly not for those who’d rather their literal interpretation of Easter (or indeed, Christianity) remain unchallenged.
Thanks to a little inspiration from Pharyngula – “Sunday Sacrilege: Metaphorical Acid“, it’s popped up in my mind again and I might have to give it another read. I’d be interested to see what over a decade and a large shift in perspective might bring to the re-reading. From what I remember, I’d recommend it if you’ve got any interest in the Easter mythology.
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random gallery photo