Me, Eurovision 2011, the final links and so long, farewell...(you can sing the rest)

Well it’s time to say goodbye. I have decided to call it a day...blogging wise that is. The poor attempt I have been making this year does not make a well written (or received) blog. And it was time to close off that (almost) 5 year chapter that simply has run its course. And it’s not that I do not want to write or share anymore. There was never a specific reason why I started to blog other than a creative outlet. It was always about things I liked and I thought it would evolve over time like an organic diary or collection of observations. And it did. And I was very proud of some of the entry’s I wrote. Especially (but not limited to) the History of OZ TV...documenting my year of cookery (and I suggest anyone who has ever burnt toast to give it a crack – you just need time to cook – not skills, you get that over time but alas I digress for the last time) all that CAMP shit that I think makes grey dull life pink and funny, oh and my reviews of the Eurovision – so much fun!

Ok so I decided not to do Eurovision posts this year as slowly the crazies, loons and all that European colour has faded away in recent times making it a duller song competition. But then of course there was Jedwood from Ireland ( I could bloody hit that Louie for fuelling that sad mental fire). But there was some great songs this year from Hungary, Serbia ( I can’t stop playing the 1960’s sounding Caroban – it’s just a happy uplifting song and yes the Serbian version), Austria and Switzerland. It didn’t surprise me that Dana International (Israel) didn’t move past the semi finals – I mean really Darling Ding a Dong was a song back in 1970’s from Holland. And crying out loud Europe if you are a small former soviet/eastern Bloc country only speaks your language just SING IN ENGLISH! Actually it didn’t work for Blue this year so ignore me. Baku next year (Christ).

Before going I have found 2 excellent sites to share:-

Rule knitannia - The well stitched in time knitting blog from my old mate, the very talented Eddie in London Town – cushions, crowns and (iced) confections ( to name a few knitted creations) What not to love!

http://ruleknitannia.blogspot.com/

Everything is Terrible – unlike its title this is one of the best collections of camp, bizarre shit and plain funny clips from the net – I so love it:-

http://www.everythingisterrible.com/

In closing, I still can’t believe I made it almost 5 years. I would have never seen that coming. Neither in that time Apple making essentially a mini handheld computer (that makes calls) that has become part of 21st life. Face book, twitter, four square, linked in (etc) are the new media and social interaction. Google is the new scary giant, so then is India and China. The Australian Dollar is worth more than the US Dollar (and the average house price in Australia is over half a million AUD in most capital cities) but our AUD buys less than before. America finally getting a black president. Australia getting a female Prime minister. Kate and Wills getting hitched (Oh didn’t she look beautiful and who thought of trees in the abbey – fabulous). Life is changing so fast and it’s sometimes it gets scary. But it’s also gets better. As I'm getting older and I'm appreciating the weekend and randomn days off much more, laughing with your mates, a well needed hug from your partner and a home cooked meal - for me it would never be superseded by what a corporation or technology can boast.

So that’s it. Thank you for all for reading and feedback (though I would have happily welcomed more!). So as I’m listing to Nina from Serbia singing Caroban again (it’s on repeat and Andy’s away on business so no complaints) it’s only right to say Do viđenja prijatelj (Goodbye friend).

X b aka the classic eccentric (Brett).

Book Review - A short history of nearly everything

[And yes it is!]

I really enjoy reading Bill Bryson travel novels. I think its his laid back but intelligent approach to his subject(s) and to life in general. The first novel I read of his was The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America - and loved the way he told of his travels in the USA, trying to find that fictional small town he grew up with when watching TV & movies in the 50's & 60's. Of course the hilarious thing is that the closest town he found that got to be looking and feeling like a real small town America was Provincetown! But I digress. A short history...continues his journey, but this time instead of travel its history [and what makes up everything in the universe] itself that is the journey dujour.

Mr Bryson goes back and forth in his novel trying to give an oversight of the universe that is older than anyone can say, bigger than anyone can think and more unknown than the...well unknown itself. From the creation of the planets and the mighty milky way to the tiniest of bacteria, from modern health sustaining life to nuclear bombs taking it, the Cro-Magnon man to the species that is modern man, let alone insects, dinosaurs and the stuff of life - the lot! Bill draws from papers, people and all sorts of paraphernalia to paint the picture of what is known, [and in most cases than we like to think so] unknown about virtually everything.

My love for this novel was the multiple subjects discussed and the way that we need to almost compact and change things so to suit circumstance rather than to accept that they just don't fit in a category. For example our solar system is always shown to suit text book page sizes so they fit all neatly, whereas the distance between the planets are so long that even reducing the earth to a pea on paper Jupiter is still 300 metres away...and you would need to standing in the next suburb to even get the chance to see Pluto! [Let alone if you make it real scale.] I also love the fact that when scientists and the so called 'people of knowledge' don't know, can't explain or find the missing links in history of life, they just make it up until someone knows, explains or find them [yes I'm not making that up either.]

Some of the subjects are not as interesting as others. While I found the solar system, universe and creation of the planets fascinating, I almost slept through the atom and elements chapter(s). However I am quick to point out it was only because it reminded me of high school chemistry lessons rather than the way Mr Bryson's places pen to the parchment [Mr Lee my chemistry teacher would be quite upset with me now] that sent me to sleepy by by's.

But saying this, the book is just a really great read about...well the title suggests everything. Mr Bryson did win the Descartes Prize and also Aventis Prize from the science world. Apparently some top scientist was supposed to say that the book is "annoyingly free of mistakes" - however a list of errors made by the book is online for those wanting to doubt him. It's a shame that scientists with all their brilliance get just as much fun disproving people and ideas rather than trying and finding new ones. Maybe they should focus more on endeavours to finding those bloody missing gaps rather than just making it up.

Regardless, you will be enlightened and enjoy this one.

Four big bangs of out five.