Grieger Counter

Anyone Seen The Clown Prints?

A broken Ronald McDonald statue brought home by a McDonald's assistant manager, repaired, and used to decorate her family's lawn in Stewartstown, Pennsylvania, for 20 years has vanished. ``It was a holiday today,'' Thomas Grieger II said. ``I think the kids came and got him.'' According to phillyburbs.com, state police were seeking information about the cement statue that Grieger estimated must weigh about 300 pounds (135 kilos for those who think metric). Hmmm, sounds like a lawn order situation to me!

Gizmo Machismo :)

Fashion Cents? There's A Familiar Ring To That

So you don’t want the new iPhone? Relax. There’s a new alternative that could be perfect for fashionistas. According to kirotv.com, South Korea's LG Electronics will launch a Prada-branded phone overseas next month, with a buttonless touch screen that resembles the iPhone. And yes, the Prada phone is being produced in partnership with the Italian fashion brand. It's set to go on sale first in late February for about $780 in Britain, France, Germany and Italy, and in Asia in March. The iPhone will not be available until June. It will cost $599 for a model with the same eight megabytes of internal memory as the LG model.

Trivia Pur$uit

All the moons of the solar system are named after characters from Greek and Roman mythology, except the moons of Uranus, which are named instead after Shakespearean characters. The five largest are Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon.

A Rim With A View

On A Bicycle Tilt For Two

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I was at the Farmers' Market in Quebec City when I spotted this place that sold cycles. What really caught my eye was the way the bikes were stacked. They were all placed with their rear wheels facing downwards and their front wheels in the air. I had to manoeuvre myself gingerly between a couple of bikes to get the best shot, with as many rims and wheels as I could get into a single frame.

wwweb Cite

Who's Yo Daddy?

A chimpanzee at a Louisiana sanctuary has given birth - despite the fact that every male chimp at the facility has had a vasectomy! According to phillyburbs.com, managers at Chimp Haven plan a paternity test for the seven males who lived with Teresa, a wild-born chimpanzee in her late 40s. Workers have started collecting hair samples from the chimps for testing. Once they identify the father, it's back to the operating room for him!

Starting today, this daily segment will feature a selection of the more memorable stories that are featured on Internet news sites.

You've Got M@il

``This is the second time I've tried to get your book - it's all sold out!! However, I have ordered a copy. They have just opened Landmark in Pune and this is the only place that has your book. I gather Chennai is where it is very popular. Looking forward to reading it.''
Email from Audrey Phillips, Pune, India

Trivia Pur$uit

After being arrested for possession of counterfeit money in 2005, a determined US fraudster tried to pay his $500 bail – using the same fake notes that were the cause of his arrest.

Gizmo Machismo :)

Officer, Could You Spare A Buck?

Spare a buck, hey? Two police officers in Oregon did – literally. Thinking outside the square, they used technology for the challenge. A blast from their Taser stun gun stunned a deer long enough for officers to free the animal's antlers from a rope swing. They weren't about to try to free the animal themselves. It weighed several hundred pounds and was thrashing wildly. But if they left it alone, the deputies feared it would die a slow death. At first, they thought they might have to kill it out of compassion. Then one of them thought of the stun guns they use to immobilize out-of-control prisoners. They zapped the deer, which stopped moving, according to wfmynews2.com. The officers then distangled the rope and freed the deer which took off "happy as a clam," as the sheriff's office put it.

Burger With The Plot

Who Really Created Fast-Food History?

A burger battle is brewing between a Texas state legislator and the owners of a Connecticut restaurant, Louis' Lunch, established in 1895, who claim the hamburger was invented there. With the new session of the Texas legislature now under way, Republican State Rep. Betty Brown has proposed a resolution declaring Athens, Texas, is the original home of the hamburger. But according to a report on wtopnews.com, Connecticut man Ken Lassen said it happened on his turf in 1900 when a man rushed into Louis' Lunch and asked for something he could eat on the run. At that point, it seems Louis Lassen, Ken's grandfather, grabbed a broiled beef patty and put it between two slices of bread.

Pop Goes The Easel

You Could Say I Was A Bit Deflated

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This shot is for all of you who like a visual puzzle - like my friends and fellow photographers Allan Cook, Nirmal Ghosh, Mike Bruce, Cecilia Mercado and Siddharth Khandelwal. They all enjoy a picture that makes you think. So, any idea what this depicts? Balloons tied to a pine fence post. As you can tell, I thrive on shooting everyday sights from uncommon angles. I walked up to this one, intrigued by three balloons of similar size - orange, yellow and red. As I raised my camera, the red balloon deflated, presumably on a pine splinter. It didn't pop, it just shrank rapidly. There was my challenge. I had to get the shot with just enough of the subject to tell you what was in the picture, yet make it an intriguing sight. Did I succeed? You tell me ....

Gizmo Machismo :)

Never Too Late To Delete An Email

How many times have you sent an email and immediately wished you could change something in it or take it back entirely - or worst of all, sent it to the wrong person? Everyone knows someone who has been in that sort of tricky situation, don't we! Well, hope is finally at hand. Adam Frucci of SciFi.com reveals that if you have BigString you can simply erase the email right from the recipient’s inbox. The facility, he says, ``allows you to edit and delete emails after you send them, allowing you to track if and where your emails are forwarded (if you allow them to be forwarded) as well.’’

Trivia Pur$uit

The command pilot for the Gemini 8 mission in 1966 was later the backup commander for Apollo 8. However, he later commanded one more mission, his second and final space flight. The astronaut was Neil Armstrong.

Mozart Festival Ends On A High Note

Jubilee Brought A Million Tourists To Austria

Mozart has a new record - and this one isn't pressed into vinyl, according to The International Herald Tribune. Organisers of last year's series of festivals, exhibitions, concerts and conferences to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's birth said today the jubilee drew 1.2 million tourists to Austria - a record for a single festival. Peter Marboe, chief organiser of Mozart Year, said the nearly 3000 events were also a commercial success, bringing in 15 million euros after expenses.

That’s Not Lavender, Just My New Tyres

I Love The Smell Of Bitumen In The Morning

The world’s first scented car tyre is on its way. Peter Pachal at SciFi.com reports the Ecsta DX, from Kumho Tyres, comes with a lavender scent, with orange and jasmine aromas to follow. He says, tongue-in-cheek: ``Personally, I’d like to see a KFC version’’. Keen to have the fragrant tyres? They’ll be at Discount Tire stores and on TireRack.com by spring. Consider this a tread alert.

Trivia Pur$uit

Winnie the Pooh, the fictional bear created by children's author A. A. Milne and one of several stuffed toys belonging to Christopher Robin, was actually named after the Canadian city of Winnipeg.

Ban On The Run

So, Wot Are We Actually Allowed To Do Here?

Photograph copyright: MIKE BRUCE

This unusual shot was taken by my colleague, Mike Bruce. This is the story behind the picture, in his own words. Žižkov, the Prague suburb where we lived for one year, can be neatly divided into two parts - a Paris end, and what I liked to call, a Bucharest end. Bucharest because it was far less salubrious than the other Paris end, and because it had a large gypsy population. Someone told us early on to be careful there: ``Lots of gypsies. Lot of them carry guns, too''. We didn't believe them of course. But signs around the suburb, from the supermarket to the post office to the local stationery shop confirmed there might just be some truth to their cautionary tone. I just loved the juxtapositional irony of these signs: ``No dogs, no cycles, no active mobile phones, no ice creams, no smoking .... no guns.'' In one year, we never saw a single gun. We did however see a lot of dogs ... and a lot of smokers.

Michelle Is A Sergeant-At-Arms (And Legs)

Air Force Woman Stands Up For Her Rights

A US Air Force staff sergeant who posed nude for Playboy magazine has been relieved of her duties while the military investigates. In February's issue, hitting newsstands this week, Michelle Manhart is photographed in uniform, holding weapons under the headline "Tough Love." According to The Denver Post, the photo spread shows her partially clothed, wearing her dog tags while working out, as well as completely nude. Manhart told Playboy that she considers herself as standing up for her rights. "Of what I did, nothing is wrong, so I didn't anticipate anything, of course," Manhart, 30, told The Associated Press. "I didn't do anything wrong, so I didn't think it would be a major issue." Manhart, who is married with two children, joined the Air Force in 1994, spending time in Kuwait in 2002. She trains airmen at Lackland.

You've Got M@il

``I've just come back from leave - wish I had clicked on your link before I left work for our Christmas break. It would have been a brilliant read over the last three weeks. It's a definite MUST READ and a MUST DO for 2007. Congratulations.''
Email from Avril Ayo, Sydney, Australia

Losing Something In The Translation

No Mistress For China Tea House

Chinese officials are ordering a Shanghai tea house to change its name. The name translates roughly as "Frog Keeps a Mistress." According to kirotv.com, officials said the moniker is a threat to public morality. But the manager tells local media the name isn't meant to be risque.

Clampfire Song

Forget Maths, There’s No Logger Rhythms Here

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

As the mercury climbs back towards 40 Celsius zone again, I just thought this would be an appropriate picture. I shot this simple image at Cardinia Reservoir’s Crystal Brook picnic area late yesterday afternoon. It’s a beautiful spot, with huge wooden shelters and a great playground set in native bush adjacent to the dam itself, where visitors can actually walk across the dam wall. We are exactly halfway through summer at the moment and this sign is a reminder of the total fire ban policy. That apart, I really like the contrasting colours of the timber pole and the cool green of the gum trees on either side.

Aye, Caramba, A Number Rhumba

Court Order Is Not A Ringing Endorsement

A court has ordered a Chinese television production company to pay $256 in damages to a man who received more than 3000 nuisance messages after his mobile phone number was used in a police TV drama that was also released on DVD. According to 9news.com, the man, Chen Bing, 39, said he started receiving a stream of text messages in July 2004, after an on-screen villain spoke the number slowly, to allow another character to write it down accurately. The company said it made up the number from a staff member's birthday and did not mean to cause trouble.

You've Got M@il

``Hope this year's novel will get the Booker Prize and the Lear jet will follow!''
Email from Zaheer Lalkaka, Mumbai, India

Rinse Cycle For The Holy Ganges River

Forget The Big Picture, This Is The Big Pitcher

What’s the only option when the sadhus complain their holy river is too polluted? You flush the river. BBC.com reports that the Ganges river at Allahabad has been flushed with fresh water from upstream to improve bathing conditions for the estimated five million devotees who have gathered to wash away their sins by bathing in the river during the Ardh Kumbh festival. Water from canals and dams upstream was released to clean the river to pacify the sadhus.

It Was All A Bit Hazy

Bushfire Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Mid-week, when the bushfire smoke hung over Melbourne like a grey shroud, I went up to a popular spot on Hallam North Road in Narre Warren, to see if I could get some shots of sunset. Instead, the smoke haze was so thick that the sun couldn't even be seen. The view just looked like a monochrome in shades of grey. I took a couple of shots frames looking down across the valley. I used my flash for this one, just so the council sign would stand out a bit. This area, incidentally, is adjacent to the range where the 2006 Commonwealth Games mountain bike event was held.

Lost Cause(s)

He Didn’t Have A Leg To Stand On

The lost and found section operated by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority is reopening after a $137,000 renovation, reports The Colorado Springs Gazette. Some of the more memorable cases include a woman who lost her mother's ashes; a man who lost his class assignment - a jaw bone - on a bus; and a man who couldn't find his prosthetic leg after removing it while he took a catnap on a bus.

You've Got M@il

``I liked your pictures on New Year's Day in Melbourne. Am going to buy your book soon. By the way, a friend of mine, Paul Sinclair, from NYC, said at the Tollygunge Club: `How is it that with one billion people, all Indians seem to know one another'?''
Email from Debashish Chakraborty, Calcutta, India

Liberty, A Quality For The Fraternity

Statuesque Figure In The Laneway

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Sometimes, even when you're in a hurry, you just have to stop and get the camera out. I was exploring Quebec City one evening when I saw this arresting right down one of the narrow streets in the vicinity of Notre Dame. Difficult light conditions, but hey, the image was too good to miss. Nice contrast of colours, too, with the green-grey of the statuette complemented by the creamy yellow rendering on the wall, the vivid red flowers and the lilac exterior of the nearby shopfront. I shot this on film, using my Canon EOS 3000. You can quibble with the exposure, but there were strong tones and shadows across every quadrant and I wanted to capture as much of the scene as possible, just to put it in the context of the surroundings.

Peter Pan And Bendy

Thumbs Up, To A Good Connection

Thanks, Adam Frucci at SciFi.com, for the great post (and a great image, too) on the concept design to connect Memory Infinite USB thumb drives. ``By sticking a female connector on one end and a male connector on the other,'' he writes, ``designer Vicky Wei has created an ingenious way to create expandable, portable storage. Need to add a gig or two to your thumb drive? Just connect another one. The design allows for infinite expansion in theory, but something tells me that no one would want to carry around 20 of these things chained together.'' There is also an interesting comment from SciFi member Astabon, who writes: ``Technically, you can only chain up to 127 USB devices together, provided you have enough power. But doubt you would do that with these. Cool idea though.''

You've Got M@il

``Mate, had a wonderful time with friends, on the `detox' from next week to get all healthy. Looking forward to reading `Vegemite Vindaloo' when I finito with the book I am on.''
Email from `Savo', Sydney, Australia

Your 15 Seconds Of Frame

CBS And YouTube Are Looking For You

There's prime time - and there's prime time. Would you like the television world to view a 15-second video message from you? Then this is for you. Last night I saw a story from Mike Shields on Mediaweek.com, about CBS kicking off a promotional campaign with YouTube . The campaign is called ``15 Seconds'' and the network is inviting Web users to post 15-second messages on the video-sharing site. To quote from Mike Shields: ``Several user-submitted clips will be aired on CBS during specified intervals, with the first to debut during CBS’s pre-game coverage of the Super Bowl. During the promotion, CBS will choose five noteworthy clips to post on CBS.com, and then judges will select the best clip among those five for its broadcast potential at least once per quarter.''

It's All Creek To Me

The Perfect Time For Reflection

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I was driving from Huntsville to Algonquin National Park in Ontario, Canada, in the pre-dawn darkness, stopping a number of times as the first streaks of daylight lit the sky. The highway was practically deserted and - keeping an eye out for moose - I pulled up here, at Smoke Creek. I was fortunate, as you can see. The most amazing colours appeared in front of me, not just in the sky but reflected in the still water as well.

Coronation Streep

Mamma Mia, It’s Meryl Singing Abba

She’s played an Australian, she’s done serious roles, she’s done comedy and now she’s moving on to musicals. According to CBC.ca.com, dual Oscar winner Meryl Streep, famous for her dramatic performances in films such as `Sophie's Choice' and her comic turn in `The Devil Wears Prada', is to star as Donna in the movie version of the ABBA musical `Mamma Mia’. ``She was always at the top of our wish list," said Judy Craymer, creator of `Mamma Mia!’ and the film's producer. Streep once wanted to be an opera singer and actually sang in the movie `Prairie Home Companion’.

You've Got M@il

``I really like the "You've-got-mail" feature. Certainly makes for a quick reference to your popularity. Keep it going.''
Email from Terry Fletcher, Lisbon, Portugal
(Terry is the webmaster of the popular Anglo-Indian Portal)

Think Global

(Or You Can Let Your GPS Think For You)

Wouldn’t you like your GPS to be able to tell you if there’s a traffic snarl up the highway? According to Ken Sander at SciFi.com, it’s on the cards. ``Okay, we all know about GPS,’’ he writes. ``but here’s a new twist - internet GPS. That’s right, all of Dash’s GPSes are connected to the Net, so if a car with a Dash GPS five miles ahead of you slows down, you know there might be a traffic problem ….. Another first is that it uses Yahoo Local, so Dash knows where you are and can tell you where the cheapest gas is, or all the movies that are playing in your neighbourhood.’’

The Mild Blue Yonder

In Ballarat, The Sky's The Limit

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This shot was taken in historic Ballarat, the old goldfields city in my home state, Victoria. It was a fairly clear summer sky, about nine o'clock in the morning when I took this. I was at Bakery Hill, near the famous McDonald's, when I walked out into the brick laneway. I saw this gazebo and noticed some scattered, light cloud in the vicinity of one of the support posts. The delicate colours looked like a painter's mix of pastels with blue, grey and a hint of pink. With the distinctive ironwork in the foreground, it was a shot I had to take.

Flake Tan

New Yorkers Seek Life In The Snow Lane

The Big Apple has finally had snow – but if you blinked, you missed it. The flakes lasted just a few minutes and barely left a trace on the ground, but NYC has seen its first winter snow - the latest of any winter in 129 years. National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Ciemnecki said it is the latest snowfall since records were kept in 1878. Snow did not fall in New York until January 4 that year. ConnecticutPost.com reports it is still unclear whether this winter could be the least snowy in history - there were just seven centimetres recorded in 1972-73.

You've Got M@il

``Looking back in future times I’ll get a special kick out of my book having been published in the same year as your `Vegemite Vindaloo'. Your good wishes have buoyed me up over many years now, mate. I hope 2007 brings you all the good things you so richly deserve.’’
Card from Ken Haley, Walkley Award-winning journalist and author of `Emails From The Edge: A Journey Through Troubled Times’, published by Transit Lounge

Over Exposed

It’s All Downhill From Here, For Nude Skier

What's the cardinal rule if you simply must ski in the nude? Make sure there are no photographers. Austrian skier Rainer Schoenfelder, 29, lost a bet with his physio and honoured the wager by skiing naked down the Lauberhorn in Switzerland. Wearing only yellow boots and an orange helmet and gloves, he was busted by the photographer. SlamSports.com reports that Schoenfelder responded by saying, ``The whole thing wasn't planned for the public.’’

Fan Club

This Is The Perfect Setting

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Any idea what the first picture shows? Something to do with the Sydney Harbour Bridge? Something related to the Opera House, perhaps? Something symbolic of the ochre Outback, maybe? Have a look at the second picture now and you'll see that the images simply show the shadow of a pedestal fan, reflected on a wall. I shot these and about a dozen other frames about half an hour ago, after I suddenly noticed the shadows cast by the setting sun. It's been a hot day here in Melbourne, just under 38 degrees Celsius, but as any photographer will tell you, the setting sun moves unbelievably quickly. Not only did the colour saturation change swiftly, the position of the shadow also shifted rapidly. The first frame you see here was the first image I shot in the series. The second frame you see was the last in the shadow sequence. Time elapsed? Less than three minutes. Let me know what you think.

Fear And Loading In Aspen

Plans To Ship Snow, Alas, Are Put On Ice

Know any lateral-thinking shippers? Chris Hansen needs one, to move a shipment of blizzard snow (yep, that's right) from the West Coast (read Colorado) to the East Coast (read Connecticut) but no shipper will guarantee that it'll actually arrive intact. It's been a mild winter so far in most of the East, so Hansen looked to the West to fulfill a Christmas wish for snow from his three daughters. He bid on three big bags of blizzard snow from a woman in Colorado and he won the auction on eBay. The $40 pricetag didn't bother Hansen, but getting the snow to Connecticut in its present form is the challenge. Hansen says the consignment will probably have to be packed in dry ice for the nearly 1700 mile trip (2700km, to us who think metric). Ironically, WCSH6.com reports the woman is selling the snow in order to buy a snowblower.

You've Got M@il

``Congratulations! Look forward to reading the Muskoka novel – what a wonderful spot.''
Email from Allison Brennan, Canadian Tourism Commission, Sydney

Elvis Robot Is Our Kith And King

Love Me Agenda

A company known for its robotic chimpanzee heads is now showcasing an Elvis robot at the annual International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It features the head, neck and shoulders of the King and comes complete with signature sideburns and big sunglasses. The robot also sings. The Milwaukee Channel.com reports that a back-loaded cartridge has eight songs and there is dialogue from Elvis as well. Plug in the microphone and you can sing like Elvis or with Elvis. If you have an iPod or CD player, the robot will interact with whatever music is playing. The Elvis robot from Wow Wee goes on sale in August for $349.

To view video footage of the Elvis robot, visit SciFi.com

You've Got M@il

``O, well done, you. Harb has ordered a copy of `Vegemite Vindaloo', btw, so we'll finally get to read it.''
Email from Alison Barclay, Melbourne, Australia

Storey Teller

It's The Steps, Not The Steppes

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This shot was taken in Old Montreal, when Celine, my guide for the day, noticed that I was fascinated with the graceful exterior steps outside a row of homes. She explained that when the first occupants of the houses moved in, the dwellings were single-storeyed. But when they had children and their respective families expanded, they obviously felt the need to enlarge their homes. So they solved the problem by adding another storey. However, to conserve the living space in what was now the downstairs of their (larger) homes, they added the exterior stairs that are such a hallmark of the area.

The Brew, Danube

Red Alert For Tea Lovers

Red tea? Yep, that's right, red tea. We’ve all heard of green tea, some of us have heard of white tea, many of us (not me, I hasten to add) drink black tea. But now there’s red tea, thanks to Snapple. Maybe it was my own Darjeeling background that drew me to this story, about the launch of Snapple Red Teas. According to American Digital Networks, it is a new line of naturally caffeine-free teas that contain protective antioxidants and Vitamin C. It is also the first ready-to-drink red tea to hit the mass market. Just another case of black and white and red all over.

You've Got M@il

``Outstanding. Brilliant news, David - you must be stoked. Looks like 2007 is going to be a great year for you. Very pleased.''
Email from Fran Atkinson, Melbourne, Australia

The Kiss Of Debt, Maybe

You Gotta Give The Old Rockers Credit

Kiss has given us the perfect new way to pay for all the merchandise that the band members endorse - the Kiss credit card. The group has teamed up with Chase for the Kiss Visa card. It has the faces of the four band members on the card, and users earn a point for every one dollar in eligible purchases to use towards rewards. Details can be found at KissOnline.com. No, it ain’t a matter of life and debt.

Slippery Customers? Not In Here, Mate

Sole Traders Say It's a Nice Plaice

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

If you're walking down Bower Road in the beachside suburb of Semaphore Park, Adelaide, you cannot help noticing this sign. It's painted on the entrance of a place that sells aquariums and a wide assortment of pet fish. It intrigued me not only because of the er, strict dress code, but because the glass door also reflects the houses on the opposite side of the street. And the instruction about children being supervised? Ah yes, I know the answer to that one. It's all so simple if you've read the Dr Seuss classic, `A Fish Out Of Water'.

You've Got M@il

``Well done on your achievements with your novel `Vegemite Vindaloo' (must get around to reading it). Always knew your experience on the old compositors' floor would teach you a thing or two about the English language ... especially working with fine people like some of the legendary comps at The Age.''
Email from Ian Beer, Melbourne, Australia

Not A Mummies Boy

Egypt Book Returned To Library After 47 Years

Michigan man Robert Nuranen handed his local librarian a book he'd checked out for a ninth-grade assignment - along with a cheque for 47 years' worth of late fees. According to WTOPnews.com Nuranen found it last week while looking through a box in the attic. ``I figured I'd better get it in before we waited another 10 years,'' he said after turning it in with the $171.32 cheque. The book, with its last due date stamped June 2, 1960, was part of Nuranen's fascination with Egypt. But he said he never did finish the book.

To Helm And Back

This Is Your Captain Peeking

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This is an unusual shot from my time aboard the Royal Mail Ship Segwun, one of Canada's top tourist attractions. The captain and crew very kindly gave me access to all areas aboard the historic steamship, even taking me into the boiler room and allowing me into the engine room as well. While I was on the bridge with Captain Randy Potts, I remarked on how shiny the brass was. I took some shots of the beautiful wooden wheel, the brass telegraph and general views of the skipper at the helm. Then I noticed that if I took a shot from one particular angle, I would get an unusual image of the captain and the wheel - reflected in the gleaming telegraph. If you would like to read the feature article about my Segwun trip, go to Old King Coal's Soul, while my good friend and fellow blogger Allan Cook also makes mention of his own experiences on the vessel at Captain's-Eye View.

You've Got M@il

``I'm seriously impressed! The news about `Vegemite Vindaloo' on the bestseller lists is outstanding - hope the new career as a writer gives you great financial and personal satisfaction. All the best for 2007.''
Email from Mike van Niekerk, Sydney, Australia

Recognise This Olympic View?

It's A Windows Operating System

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

I try and take photographs that are slightly offbeat, but this is not always possible. Last September, I was in Montreal and had taken about a dozen shots of the main stadium from the 1976 Olympics. It would have to be one of the more dominant (and recognisable) sights anywhere in the city, especially with its controversial roof. But all the shots I took were standard views from the street and the footpath. I kept looking around for an unusual aspect to capture when I turned and saw this reflection in the large rear window of a people-mover that was parked in just the right spot. It was just the view I wanted. I shot this frame to show the rear wiper and a hint of the manufacturer's logo, but I was just lucky with the cloud formation. And if you look carefully, you can see the headrests on the vehicle's rear seats. Sometimes, a photographer just needs a bit of luck.

You've Got M@il

``Never knew about your amazing photographic talents .... I always remembered you as a sports journo ....''
Email from Geeta Pandey, New Delhi, India

Tomb It May Concern

The Emperors' Old Clothes Go On View

Japan is allowing researchers to study 11 royal tombs, the graves of ancient emperors, sealed centuries ago, in a move that may shed light on the myth-shrouded origins of Japan's imperial family, according to HappyNews.Com today. The secretive Imperial Household Agency had previously refused to let the public, and even scholars, enter the old tombs, saying the spirits of past emperors should not be disturbed.

O, Danny Buoyed

The Pipes, The Pipes Are Calling

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This photograph was taken a few minutes after the picture of the vintage licence plates in the blogpost below, Better Plate Than Never. I was walking through the rain in Gravenhurst, Canada, from the antique shop to the wharf, to board the RMS Segwun. That's when I caught sight of a bagpiper in kilt and full Scottish regalia. I was a long way from home and as anyone who grew up in Calcutta will tell you, the sound of bagpipes evokes very deep emotions and memories of the Gurkhas who play the unique instrument. This piper, it turned out, was on hand to play at a wedding reception. In the top left quadrant of the frame you'll spot the Segwun, the oldest operating steamship in the world, with smoke curling lazily from her tall, stately funnel.

You've Got M@il

``By the way, that's an impressive blog you have, my friend.''
Email from Debashish Chakraborty, Calcutta, India

They Also Surf Who Only Stand And Wait

Sites For Sore Eyes

Just thought I'd post links to some of the more interesting sites around the www, all of which are on my own Favourites. In no particular order, they are: Al's Photo Blog, Lotus Reads, Travellin' Mama, Biz Stone (always a nice take on tech issues), Dance With The Sun, the Anglo-Indian Portal (not just because the webmaster posts a lot of my own writing, but because he likes to give the technology of presentation a nudge as well), NirmalGhosh.com for some great photographs, ravings, cravings, shavings & leavings... and, for movie buffs, there is Movies That Make You Think which is my school friend Jugu Abraham's thought-provoking blog. Happy surfing, folks.
(Postscript: if my post title sounds familiar, you're right, it's a twist on a line from John Milton's famous sonnet `On His Blindness'.)

Better Plate Than Never

They've Really Got Your Number

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Ditchburn House, for antiques, arts and crafts, is in Gravenhurst, Muskoka. I arrived early for a memorable trip on the RMS (Royal Mail Ship) `Segwun' and I had given myself enough time to wander around the little town with my cameras. The September weather had closed in and there was a steady drizzle beneath grey skies - yet I found plenty of beauty to capture on film. One of the shots I took was simply of raindrops on a street sign for Cherokee Lane, before I wandered into this shop and asked the owner's permission to shoot indoors. If memory serves me right, his name was Gary. He kindly gave me the go-ahead to use my cameras - and this was one of the sights that caught my eye. If ever you're looking for US or Canadian licence plates from specific decades, this is the place to go. I just wish each plate came with the stories of their respective owners. Amazing history, amazing tales.

You've Got M@il

``Enjoyed your blog this a.m. - your subjects are both interesting and elevating in the midst of sadness and sordid world events. You remind us that there is still beauty to behold and appreciate and much to be thankful for!''
Email from Carol Perrett-McFarlane, Idaho, USA

Abraham Linking

Museum Visitor Will Be One In A Million

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum says the latest attendance figures are under the microscope as the countdown to the millionth visitor continues. According to AbcChicago7.com, the number of visitors (until Sunday) who have toured the Museum since April, 2005 hit 997,410. The winner will receive two free passes to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, good for unlimited visits for one year, plus a $100 gift certificate to the Museum Store, compliments of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Foundation, the sponsor of the event. Take your place in the queue now. A rush? Methinks it might be a case of rush, more.

You've Got M@il

``You are doing so very well with your creative writing! Always thought D. McMahon would do very well in life. Good luck to you.''
Email from Laurie Jackson, `The Age', Melbourne

The Phase That Launched A Thousand Zips

So, Is This What They Call A Zip File?

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Any idea what this is? It looks like an abstract shot, but it is just the thick plastic fold-down weather shield on a Westfield courtesy cart, like a golf cart. It caught my eye because it reminded me of the dot pattern on those striking Aboriginal paintings - except that there are none of those rich ochre tones that are so characteristic of that art style. I deliberately framed this shot so that the heavy metal zip was a few millimetres out of the picture.

Cover Story

A Heart-Warming E-Review Of My Novel

I guess any novelist looks forward to great reviews in the print and electronic media and certainly I have been very lucky with the way my debut novel Vegemite Vindaloo has been received. But it's the unexpected blog-reviews that have blown me away. Montreal-based Phaseout Girl has taken the time to share her impressions of the book at Dance With The Sun.

You've Got M@il

``We're looking forward to buying some copies of `Vegemite Vindaloo' from the Oxford Book shop on Park Street later this month. Hope there are some left!''
Email from Jean Anderson, Perth, Western Australia

A Dome Away From Home

A Fine Sense Of Theatrical Timing

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This is the main dome above the State Theatre in Melbourne. It is an amazing landmark, with Eastern-style minarets on the sculpted roofline. I'm told that the interior is spectacular as well, but I've never been inside yet. I took this shot as I was walking down the street, when the soft floodlights caught my eye, as did the many miniature lights you can see on the dome itself. I was about 100 metres away when I took this shot, using my Sigma 18-125 lens to zoom in to the building's highest point. I didn't have a tripod with me, but I was pretty pleased with the result. If you'd like to see an interesting range of background information on the State Theatre, such as how the architectural drawings were completed in the unbelievable time of one month, go to an earlier post on this blog, Edifice Complex back in March last year.

You've Got M@il

``I really enjoyed the `Auld Lang's Design'. Your great photos and punderful sense of humour are a daily must!''
Email from Allan Cook, Muskoka, Canada

Auld Lang's Design

This Is The Abridged Version

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Like Paris, Melbourne is a city of many graceful bridges, each with its own distinctive design, each with its own distinctive lighting. Each bridge adds to the city's ambience and no two are the same. This was shot early today, when I was standing on the North Bank of the Yarra, near the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. The frame is looking upriver, towards the Melbourne Aquarium. The bridge you see is Princes Bridge, which basically connects St Kilda Road to the central business district. There was just a gentle breeze in the pre-dawn warmth - as you can see from the slight eddies around the reflection of the lights on the river's surface.

Revel Without A Pause

Melbourne Welcomes The New Year - 007

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

It's 3am, so I'll keep this brief. A very happy New Year to everybody - even though it's still New Year's Eve throughout most of the world. These shots were taken a few hours ago at Federation Square as Melbourne ushered in 2007. The fireworks display was so good it was staged twice, once at 9.15pm, when the first of these two shots was taken, and then on the stroke of midnight, when the second shot was taken. It was a beautiful night, no rain, temperature in the mid-20s and close to half a million people in the city. Believe me, Melbourne knows how to party.

You've Got M@il

``I enjoyed the report (about the writing of the novel `Vegemite Vindaloo') on the Oxford site. I must admit I was curious about who the beautiful mystery lady was and I liked the twist at the end. Ever thought of writing a crime novel?''
Email from Jack Timmins, Melbourne, Australia