Project551 - Kallen and Ashlee

Project551 - Mae

Project551 - Pappy

Project551 - Irene

Project551 - Kaizza

project511, Jaylen, Ashlee, Kallen

Project551 - My Nanay

While watching National Geographic Channel saw this ad for Project551.

Had a look at their web site and found out that:

“The name is based on the fact that, last season the Government of Japan killed 551 whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.”

The project is an initiative of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to campaign and petition the Australian Government to actively support and do everything in its powers to stop the Government of Japan to kill more whales in the protective bounds of the sanctuary.

All you need to do to support this initiative is to pose with a whale tail and posting the photo to the Project551 website. As of today, there is still 67 days left before the organisers finalise the posters, ads and petition.

While I do not personally contravene the Japanese' right to their culture and traditions, they have to respect our rights as well to protect whales in our sanctuaries. They can hunt the whales in their territories as long as they want, but if the whales become "extinct" in their territorial waters they have to respect the views of other cultures: that whale hunting must be stopped and whales be protected.

By uploading a photo, either by yourself or a loved one, you will show support for these gentle giants of our seas. By the way, the photo is of my 89 year-old mom who is only too glad to pose for her camera crazy son.

More photos here.

Kirlianesque Plasma

Photo above reminded me of my fascination with Kirlian photography in my teen years. Not so much with the esoteric side of Kirlian photogram, but rather the vibrant colours produced by the objects photographed. What caught my attention was the series of electro photography of petals and leaves, the same subjects I am so fond of even today.

Kirlian photography was accidentally discovered by Russian inventor and researcher Semyon Kirlian in 1939. He discovered “that if an object on a photographic plate is connected to a source of high voltage, small corona discharges (created by the strong electric field at the edges of the object) create an image on the photographic plate.” The result is a smorgasbord of intense colours and images.

While the plasma ball above is more of a curiosity, much like the lava lamps of old. Most plasma ball sold today, while based on the works by previous scientists (especially by Nikola Tesla); was invented in 1970 by Bill Parker of MIT.

A practical application of this plasma ball is to demonstrate the complex fourth state of matter (plasma) to science students.

Louie's banana cake brekky

That's one of my favorite breakfast, with my cup of cappucino; a slice of "Louie's" banana cake.

Colours and Patterns of Spring

Kiwi fruit - originally called Chinese gooseberries and is a native to Southern China, that is until the New Zealanders farmers adopted it as their own and marketed it as Kiwi fruit.

New Zealanders are also endearingly called "Kiwis", after a flightless bird native to New Zealand and is a national symbol.

Cheap Thrills

"It has been said that the secret to success comes from the small things that hold it all together."

Brooksfield

Brooksfield is neither a poet nor a philosopher. It’s a brand name of business shirt.

As one gets older simple pleasures in life tend to be magnified, such as buying a business shirt.

With so many clothes cluttering our wardrobes that one could not tell where that favourite shirt or top is, I vowed not to buy anymore clothes. But like Imelda and shoes, I could not pass this well-made shirt. It is not expensive compared to the other shirts in the store, but the style, colour and attention to detail sold me.

As I was examining the shirt and admiring the fit, I saw this small tag in one of the buttons with the above blurb that says it all. That is money well spent; and what a simple pleasure that made shopping well worth it!

Happy Father's Day to me

Aiyee is eyeing my litre of Lowenbrau original! Toast to you on this day.

And to my Dad whom I texted as well (if you are reading this check your phone!)

I don't know about in your neck of the woods, but last Sunday (7 September) it was Father's Day here in Oz. The good thing: food, beer and presents, and of course family gathering.

Rea and Charles sharing the pork crackling. How sweet!

We (my son-in-law, Charles, his Dad, Erwin "Kungkung", his bro Ferdy and bro-in-law) were treated out to a German resto out in Parramatta called the "Bavarian Bier Cafe". It may not be totally "German" as such, whether it is Bavarian or regional German cuisine is close enough. They have beer by the litres and pork and sausages... just missing the big bosom ladies that serve in those Oktober festivals!

Above is my huge "crackling roast pork belly" with sauteed potatoes, Granny Smith apple compote (too little serving!) and what looks like red cabbage and sebago mash. It is huge that I could not finish the damn thing. I did not even bother to order starters... what is the point? But they do serve Bavarian pretzels while you wait.

I love you Mummy....

Can you buy me beer now?

As I was taking these pictures, I quipped to the bar staff, "Funny now but not when he turns 18!"

(I must be still groggy... this post should have been for my other blog "On the Way to Honey", am just too lazy to transfer it over. Anyway, enjoy!)

Sydney Sandstone Building

Picture Type: JPEG Image Dimensions: 2304 X 3072 pixels Size: 799KB Horizontal Resolution: 314 dpi Vertical Resolution: 314 dpi Bit Depth: 24 Frame Count: 1 Camera Model: FE220, X785 Equipment Make: Olympus Imaging Corp Color Representation: sRGB Flash Used: No Focal Length: 6.3 mm F-Number: F/4.6 Exposure Time: 1/1000 sec. Metering Module: Center Weighted Average Exposure Compensation: 0 step. Blahblahblah. Blahblahblah. Blahblahblah.



No cropping or color correction just rotated 90 degrees right side up. Original pixels size: 5.39MB

Colour of Spring

Nothing beats the sweet tasting, red and plump look of strawberries to usher spring (at least for us here in the southern hemisphere!).