Rado and Rod on the Reef

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Here are some pics taken on our second trip out on the Great Barrier Reef from our recent Queensland holiday. A big thanks to Paul and his girlfriend (whose name unfortunately escapes me), a lovely Scottish couple who took these shots for us and emailed them a few weeks ago.

Apart from some action shots of Rado in full aqualung gear – who proved to be very adept at scuba diving on the day thank you very much – the rest show the old tall ship we sailed out on, the “Falla”, as well as a gorgeous underwater shot.

Just before we boarded, a few of us managed to swim with a medium to large turtle right in under the boat. I was amazed at how quickly they can move underwater, a real contrast with how they are on land. They are speedy yet graceful - just one of many gorgeous sights in this most magical spot on Earth.

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Lovely slender female paratroopers anyone?

I was thinking the other day about why I loved the “Devil wears Prada”. I’ve come to the conclusion that its actually less about the film per se, and more about the sheer brilliance of Meryl’s performance. Although both Stanley Tucci and Emily Watson are great in it, they and everyone else just fade into ‘cerulean’ everytime Miranda Priestly is on screen. For instance;

The details of your incompetence do not interest me. Tell Simone I’m not going to approve that girl that she sent me for the Brazilian layout. I asked for clean, athletic, smiling; she sent me dirty, tired and paunchy. And RSVP yes to Michael Kors’ party, I want the driver to drop me off at 9:30 and pick me up at 9:45 sharp. Then call Natalie at Glorious Foods and tell her no, for the 40th time, no, I don’t want dacquoise, I want tortes filled with warm rhubarb compote. Then call my ex-husband and remind him that the parent/teacher conference at Dalton tonight. Then call my husband. Ask him to please meet me for dinner at that place I went to with Mossimo. Also, tell Richard I saw all the pictures that he sent for that feature on the female paratroopers and they’re all so deeply unattractive. Is it impossible to find a lovely, slender, female paratrooper? Am I reaching for the stars here? Not really. Also I need to see all the things that Nigel has pulled for Gwyneth’s second cover try. I wonder if she’s lost any of that weight yet.

And this;

This… ’stuff’? Oh… ok. I see, you think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select out, oh I don’t know, that lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue, it’s not turquoise, it’s not lapis, it’s actually cerulean. You’re also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar De La Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves St Laurent, wasn’t it, who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of 8 different designers. Then it filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic casual corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and so it’s sort of comical how you think that you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room. From a pile of stuff.

Brilliant stuff!

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He’s just not that into WHO?

Moving away from the tragic events of the past few days back to a more flippant normality – which unfortunately seems to have been the unintended theme of the cultural posts I’ve done to date – I dare you – I double dare you – to spot the rather obvious error above?

Spotted it yet?

He’s just NOT that into you?

or

He’s just not that into YOU?

Think of it people – where should the emphasis be? Of course it should be on the YOU - ie the girl/person/object – which presumably the whole point of this next big DCF (that’s DICK CHICK FLICK*) - which incidentally has not drawn that many positive reviews since its release.

Yes yes – I realise I’m probably being super pedantic. But hey, as one of my idols is fond of saying;

“Yes – I AM a high maintenace pendadist. But I think you gotta be”

Detail counts. Remember that.

* come on – there are GUYS in this as well!

Götterdämmerung- Red Dawn!

It’s difficult to remember, given the national tragedy of the last 48 hours, just how commonplace infernos such as the one in Victroria are to the Australian bush. To a large extent, they are part of the ‘pull and push’ aspect of natural ecosystems. They have happened before and they will happen again.

That sentiment however will not erase or lessen the momentus impact this disaster - currently being touted internationally as Australia’s worst – will have, both from loss of life and property. Like all tragedies of this magnitude, it brings out both the best and worse in us.

The best – total strangers giving of their all to protect, defend and safeguard the wellbeing to people they barely even know.

The worst – cruel opportunists who are nothing more than cold blooded murderers, whose sick need for a twisted thrill consumes not only precious resources, but lives , memories and futures.

The ash has barely settled but the repercussions from the last 48 hours will be with this nation for a long time to come.

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Blackfellas @ Boomalli

Stillblack Invite

This is the rather striking invite for the exhibition STILL BLACK that my friend’s partner DC is holding at Boomalli gallery as part of the Mardi Gras arts festival (he is the curator, a sort of Koori Charlotte York if that makes it easier for you). DC will have about 15 exhibits as part of this, and my friend Scooter is part of it, I am very looking forward to going, its Scooter’s first major exhibit. I don’t envy him though – all the pre opening night nerves, running around tending to the thousand details that would be constantly on your mind, wanting – nay demanding (and rightfully so) to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Just think mister – it will all be worth it very very soon. Fingers crossed, best of luck, Rado and I are very looking forward to being there on the night with you guys and all the other arts ‘luvvies’ (just had to work that term in there somehow).

Of course, if any of you are out there in cyber arty farty land are interested in coming along, get in contact with any of the guys via the above link or through the Boomalli site directly. I’m sure it will be a great exhibit.

There! My first “Art” post, hopefully the first of many, especially if my “Bennelong” project gets any legs. It’s a bit of a secret for now, more to come later!

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Cabin Crew Cross Check / Prepare for Crashing!

Here are some “shock and awe” photos doing the rounds of the net at the moment from what might be called  “Worlds Worst Airports”. They were from an article in Travel and Leisure Magazine. First up is Gibraltar (now I understand why they call it the Rock). Next is that infamous beach airport in the Caribbean which you’ve probably seen in countless photos and emails/videos. Last is an entry I included – which was the grand-daddy of them all for airport shockers – the old Kai Tak aiport in Honkers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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She wants the world to know..

Forget Ian Thorpe – the coming out news of the week belongs to former Splice Alien Girl Victoria Beckham. In a report to Vanity Fair which is likely to further arouse the desire of gay men around the globe for her orally sub expressive Adonis, Posh-alina states she feels that “inside of here there is a gay man” and that “with heterosexual men I have nothing in common - excluding my husband, brothers and father, you understand”

White Label Becks

White Label Becks

Hmmm! We so know what she means. However, no prizes for guessing honey that that gay man inside of you is itching to come out and be inside someone else close to you - given the latest hubba hubba shots for fashion icon and BFF Georgio Armani. Drool in 5.4.3.2.1

Black Label Becks

Black Label Becks

 

Grey Label Becks

Grey Label Becks

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Still calling the catwalk home!

Wet your lips - make love to the camera!

Wet your lips - make love to the camera!

Hot on the heels of a simply woeful service and safety performance over the past year, new Qantas CEO baby cheeks Alan Joyce recently opened the airlines brand spanking new training facility. To placate general customer outrage over that abysmal Qantas service experience, apparently all employees from the CEO will undergo training at the new digs.

The facility is so customised to the needs of its audience that it has been equipped with a specially designed  ’catwalk’ so each and every new Cart Tart (thanks Scooter) can practice her sashaying / mincing / prissing down the aisle in true houte couture style.

We look forward to similar training enhancements being extended to other area’s of the Flying High Club Kangaroo service offering.

Ill have the fish thanks!

I'll have the fish thanks!

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Country Music Cowboys

Australia Day weekend will be spent with the lovely Ms Coops (Kylee) and lovely Ms KOBster (Kristy) up at – wait for it – the Tamworth Country Music festival. Yeee Haaa!

Mine and Kylee’s first time, although I heartily suspect Kristy is NOT a country music festival virgin.

Seriously, I have only some idea what to expect – so it will be interesting to compare the fantasy to the reality. This is NOT the intent behind the two images you see here – these have been provided purely for the sake of my travelling and tent companions for the weekend.

One is what I think they would LIKE to see – the other is probably what we WILL end up seeing!

Happy Australia Day!

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A New Hope?

Echoing the post release title of the inaugural Star Wars film, Barack Obama was elected 44th President of the United States this morning, ushering in a new chapter in America’s manifest destiny together with a plea that the ideals of hope will and should supplant those of fear.

In an address designed to serve a global audience, the most telling subtext of the speech  for me was simply this: although America faces many threats and enemies abroad, perhaps its greatest foe is America itself. The rallying cry for the people of the United States to forget their selfish ways of the past and to unite behind a new era of collective and personal responsbility is the single unifying theme the Obama administration will bring to the US and the world, and it will one of the biggest yardsticks he will be measured on in four years time.

By all accounts, on the strength of the campaign over the last 18 months and on the goodwill and excitement of today’s events, he is off to a magnificent start.

Here are some of the more memorable images of this historic day from the New York Times:

How much has the world been looking forward to seeing the end of George W?

No one does POMP like the Americans!

OK – I’m going to say it – what is WITH the HAT?

The Capitol Building at dusk and a swarm of Washington humanity below

 

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