I have always had quite the thing for screen real estate, and because my household got a new baby MacBook late last year, I am all aware of the sort of peripherals it might need or want.
And they are so damn beautiful.
The 30" feels like gilding the lily, and I am concerned I might pull a neck muscle turning my head far enough to see all of it. Can you say IMAX screen. Also I feel that at AU$3,200 its not something I will prioritise anytime soon.
Hello and welcome to the Mental Health Hotline. If you obsessive-compulsive, press one repeatedly. If you are co-dependant, ask someone to press two for you. If you have multiple personalities, press 3, 4, 5 and 6. If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want - stay on the line and we'll trace your call. If you are delusional, press 7 and your call will be transferred to the mothership. If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a small voice will tell you which number to press. If you are depressive it doesn't matter which number you press as no-one will answer you. If you are dyslexic, press 69696969. If you have a nervous disorder, please fidget with the hash key and wait for the beep. After the beep, please wait for the beep. If you have a short-term memory loss, please try your call again later, and if you have low self-esteem, hang up as all our operators are too busy to talk to you
I am really ready to leave Melbourne. I am working on some opportunities and when the time is right I will be heading off, but int he meantime its nice to recognize that the place I have spent the third longest in my life has some wonderful parts to it.
The last few years have had more than their fair share of self doubt - somehow I kept everything moving forward but there were times I want not entirely sure how or why I was managing.
My life pretty much always has a sound track to it, usually its up beat and eclectic but the Songbook for 2005's is particularly and uncharacteristically sad - or possibly just self pitying, the difference is usually perspective and/or time. A big contributor to that song book was Australia's newest singing wonder - Missy Higgins with her debut album, The Sound of White.
There are songs on it that gave voice to the bad things I was feeling and crow bared in a little hope
Now its getting to the middle of 2007, and this years song book is well underway. Its much happier, with only the occasional touch of melancholy. Rob Thomas's - LIttle Wonders is a shoe in to make my end of year mix but now Missy has released her new album and I may have found the anthem track for the year - Steer.
So hold this feeling like a newborn Oh with freedom surging through your veins You have opened up a new door So bring on the wind, fire and the rain
But the search ends here Where the night is totally clear And your heart is fierce So now you finally know That you control where you go You can steer
My life is regaining the direction and drive that characterised the first 35 years, and again Miss Higgins is going to help provide me the sound track as I start on the next adventures I have planned for life - and life has planned for me.
Here is something kind of important you need to know about me - I love animation.
And I particularly love well made kids animations. I know they are cliched, corney and obvious, but there is a reason that cliches mean something to us.
So imagine my sadness at the last decade of lack lustre work from the Disney Studios. Once a shining light, they fell into a sad decine over the last few years, lost in a quagmire of technical geekery, desperate avoidance of digital, trite plots and uninspiring cameo voices. None of which is what I go to see an animation for.
I go to have my heart warmed.
At one time Disney ruled the animation roost and looked set to reinvent musical theatre on screen. And then in 1995, with the overly chesty Pocahontas, it all seemed to die leaving Pixar to struggle on to create beautiful stories. Stories that warmed the heart and lifted the spirit of the young at heart.
That seemed to be the thing that Disney forget - Its not about the technology, or the actors, or the effects or the marketing or the franchise - it is about the story. Nothing else REALLY matters.
Last night for me things changed.
My mate P and I went to see "Meet the Robinsons". My heart was warmed, my faith restored.
At last Disney seems to have recovered their way. I am not going to go into plot details here, they are pretty obvious to be honest, but it was thoroughly enjoyable - even the added geekery of the 3D glasses didnt dampen the films glowing smile. Disney even managed to recover some of their music cred with a great tracksoundtrack from Danny Elfman (of course) including a corker from Rob Thomas (see below).
There is even an interesting lesson in the films villain; look to the reasons WHY someone does the things they do and seek to help the cause, not punish the symptoms. A lesson that comes straight from Americas growing awareness that they need to share the planet with the rest of us.
All of this in a kids film.
If you are a child at heart, go see it. Trust me, speaking as the worlds largest 9 year old, you will love it. It wont expand your horizons, it wont challenge you, it wont provoke thought - but it will lift your spirits. Sometimes thats what we need.
If you havent read the fake "Steve Jobs" blog, then you should. Look into his eyes and you will believein shiny white products that are fun, entertaining and restore your child like faith in hope and beauty. And cost way more than anything else - but somehow seem worth it.
But where oh whee is my Leopard? Where is my iLife '07? I can't bring myself to cash out for an Apple TV just yet and I need my next fix of shiny new toys. October seems SOOOOOOOOO far away.
One of the biggest reasons I went was I have been promising my (straight) training partner a boogie for quite some time and have not come through. If I had not turned up this time I would have gotten my arse substantially kicked. And boy is he fun to disco with. My oh my.
Now its been a long, long time since I had a good time here in Melbourne. Lots of reasons; some of them mine, some of them to do with the place; but its not been a conducive environment.
Not surprisingly, now that I have made the decision to leave this place, things are starting to come good. I am not likely to change my mind on staying here, but it will be good to leave on good terms with Melbourne.
And where ever I go, David is going to be one of my favourite party pal, not to mention a good friend.
I have had a serious case of the coverts for the last week or so.
The last few years have had more than their fair share of self doubt - somehow I kept everything moving forward but there were times I want not entirely sure how or why I was managing.
Not a usual occurrence for me, but I went out this weekend just past, and much to my surprise had an EXCELLENT time. That 