Category: general

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general

it’s madness i tell you

Ummmm… for those of you who haven’t heard of Damir Dokic, he’s the vaguely crazed father of a girl who once played tennis for Australia, and has recently returned to play for Australia after having her father drag her around and play for a selection of Eastern European countries instead. Now he is accusing Croatia and the Vatican of brainwashing his daughter, threatening to drop a nuclear bomb on Australia, and maybe kidnap his daughter (although he’s apparently decided against killing an Australian in retaliation).

Damir said it was Australia, rather than him, that was mentally suspect.

“Australia is a spoiled nation,” Damir said.

“They can expect my revenge.

“I’m not crazy when I say this, they are the crazy ones who give you hot sausages before the match when it’s 40 degrees celsius outside.”

Yeah. Who eats sausages in Summer? Crazy country.

Categories
general

thesising

Getting into my thesis again:

As described above, two vertical layering definitions are used for regression-based prediction of convolved layer-to-space transmittances: levels of fixed pressure or levels of fixed absorber overburden.

and my brain is hurting… although I am fired with the nutritional value of the kangaroo balls I ate last night :)

Categories
climbing general trip reports

when will the screaming stop?!

Memorable climb of the weekend – Basalisk Direct (16). The first 35 metres involves some unassuming looking climbing, that’s actually quite nice. The next 20 metres involves a thrutch through a chimney in a roof, with a 40 metre drop off to the ground below. Standing at the belay just below the roof, with my back to the cliff, I could look down to the ground, out to views over the Grampians, and up to my climbing partner, apparently (and at times, actually) wedged horizontally in a crack in the roof above me.

Captured after our ascent, a pair of English guys on the same climb:

 
Note the leader avoiding the fun part by dangling below the roof instead of squirming through the chimney like a little horizontal caving snake.

(Oh, and the post title – there was a Lunar New Year celebration on the road around the corner – the whole street was blocked off and filled with people selling food, with carnival rides, and with exciting carnival games. And apparently screaming is obligatory).

Categories
general

let sleep

When I first opened my bedroom door this morning, there was a dog standing there. This came as a bit of a surprise to me, as there are no dogs living in my house. The dog followed me into the bathroom, and then downstairs, as I tried to determine the origin of said dog. Apparently he belongs to my soon to be ex-housemate, who collected him from the RSPCA. He is going to be living in her new house with her.

Meanwhile, Rocky the eclectus parrot got all exciteable this morning, and was going the route of screeching like a madman (instead of just amiable talking to himself, miaowing, and ringing like our telephone as he usually does).

And in completely unrelated news, a 7 foot pet boa constrictor just spent 8 days inside the dashboard of an old Subaru in Los Angeles, wrapped around the brake and clutch pedals so the owner couldn’t drive anywhere. Today they managed to dismantle the dash and free the snake. No photos please, we’re British.

Categories
bikes general

inflammatory

News to any arsonists – the Mt Buller fire spotting hut is not manned around sunset. Prime time to burn down more alpine forests (please don’t).

 
Also, I’d like to put in an order for lots of snow this year, and a really long snow season. Mountain biking around a hot and dusty Mt Buller was rather depressing. The ski lifts just looked so sad and pointless (except perhaps the one with mountain bikers coming up on it). My telemark skis are sitting in the corner of my room, also looking sad and pointless. Please bring snow, oh great Flying Spaghetti Monster.