Looks like I’ve managed all but number 2 (use green hosting) and half of number 7 (not sure I’m using energy-efficient power boards).

For the full list of his top 10 tips on going for green tech, www.sitepoint.com/article/ten-tips-greener-web-designer

If anyone has suggestions on a good green hosting provider or any other environmentally friendly tips, let us know ;-)

cheers,
Radzster

Join a tree planting group in your local area this Sunday, 27 July, and help plant more native trees in your beautiful country’s “backyard”.

You can find more information on the website at treeday.planetark.com or call the hotline on 1300 55 8000.

A hint when trying to use the website’s “find a site” feature: ignore the search form below the map! It’s completely useless. Just use the zoom-in / zoom-out controls on the Google maps mash-up thingie instead, to find a planting spot nearest to you.

I did a little post about “Elders” a while back which mentioned Olive Riley and Alan Wadell. I wonder how Alan’s doing these days?

I’ve been following Andrew Denton’s new series on ABC called “Elders”, and I must say, it’s one of the best programs I’ve seen on Australian television since I moved here in 2006…

So, I thought I’d just quickly share my enthusiasm for this “greater good” piece of kit.

Having experienced several Cognitive Masochist Systems over the past few years, this one is a real breath of fresh air… and, so far, it seems to be stable and consistently spits out standards compliant code. Way-hay!

Instead of wasting time going into a lengthy review, I suggest you check it out for yourself.

You might think this was during the 1800’s? Nope. In fact, the Tangalooma whaling station was run from 1952 through to 1962.

The pictures below illustrate some of the relics of the whaling industry days at Tangalooma (which is now a popular island resort, mainly due to it’s wild dolphin feeding sessions). To the credit of the resort’s management, they chose not to hide the island’s grim past, but instead reveal it to their guests with informative displays dotted throughout the property.

I found the bent harpoon particularly unsettling… Having enjoyed a close encounter with these magnificent giants of the open ocean, during a whale watching cruise off Sydney Heads last year, you realize what a truly remarkable, unforgettable and almost spiritual experience this can be (for those who don’t get seasick ;-) The humpback whales we saw that day, clearly demonstrated that whales are very intelligent and sensitive animals. So I also find it very upsetting that in recent years certain countries have increasingly been “exercising their right” to continue hunting whales, simply by exploiting various loopholes in international treaties. Their so-called “scientific”, “economic” or “cultural” reasons are absolute, bloody nonsense.

Australian blogger, Les Scammell (myradicalblogs.com), has started a “1000 blogs against whaling” campaign. Not sure what Les plans to do once he gets to that number, but he definitely has my vote! ;-)

The plaque reads:
This harpoon is a relic from the Tangalooma whaling days. The shaft of the harpoon was often bent over from the impact of the strike, and the struggle of the wounded animal.

The plaque reads:
Flensing Deck - The concrete structure before you is the remnants of the flensing deck of the Tangalooma whaling station. This was the processing area for the humpback whales (Megapetera Novaeangliae), captured for their by products such as oil. The Tangalooma whaling station operated between 1952 and 1962, where a total of 6277 humpbacks and one blue whale were caught for processing. Due to the dramatic reduction in the east coast humpback population, 68 of the 660 whale quota for the season 1962 were caught and for economic reasons the whaling station closed.

Get involved and help stop whaling.

Well, because this is a personal blog with no commercial intent whatsoever, and I happen to have a broad spectrum of interests, so I would have to create dozens of categories, which would not only take up too much space on the page, but which would ultimately also become less user friendly.

I do tag all the posts with meaningful keywords and phrases, so I figured, why not “gently nudge” readers to use the search feature instead? I thought I had a “KISS” excuse… Obviously not. Sorry folks. Not about to change this just yet (if ever).

I’m also still cleaning up the non-standards/non-semantic code of this free and beautifully designed WordPress theme (thank you Elena!), so bear with me.

Feel free to spout your venomous comments here.
I actually look forward to it. ;-)
Could prove very interesting…

From my, “ground level” perspective, I seemed to count more piers along the way than were visible on the “birds-eye view” Nokia Maps. And of course, to make things even more interesting, some missing street names and numbers, and… my GPS gizmo also seemed to think I was swimming towards my destination at times… it just all didn’t add up.

So, what to do if technology fails you? Ask a person for help!

Good thing I left early and was not late for my appointment. So, it did not turn into a frustrating wayfinding fiasco but rather a funny high-tech fumble.

Slight problem. I’m living in Australia, and no chance of just hopping on a plane to catch my Summer festival fix…

So, I’ll have to suffer my withdrawel symptoms in silence. Unless I tune into Studio Brussel’s coverage of the 4-day event,… crank up the volume (headphones darling), … get some proper “Belgian style” fritten with mayonnaise,… and a cold Belgian beer to keep me company.

Hey, that’s way better than nothing. ;-)

Navigating the site is a bit of a challenge though…

FFW >> 2 hours.
Ok, gmail set… But now I can’t find a way to delete these darn email headers that are going to clog up the “impressive” 8GB memory and the fancy but still “too tiny to be practical” screen realestate of my inbox… Aaaarch!

I read Nokia has acquired Symbian (previously held 52% shares) in an attempt to attract open source developers to the platform and compete with the Apple iPhone. I wonder if they realize they’ll need to start from scratch?

The Nokia N95 is referred to as a “smart phone”. Well, it sure knows how to make it’s owner feel “dumb”!

To be continued…

Ok, moodboards are not exactly as exciting as alien space craft,
but hey… don’t dis it till you’ve done it.

It’s mainly used as a design tool; to collect and arrange images, textures, colours… etc. to “visually kick-start the brain”.

But it’s also a fun tool for non-professional designers to figure out what sort of things you feel most comfortable around, especially when trying create a new sense of “home”.

If you had “carte blanche” to redecorate your home for instance, what would it ultimately say about you?
What is visually pleasing to you? Or perhaps that is not important to you. Could be. Perhaps you’re more into scents and textures? What makes you feel at home?

to be continued…

This is a recent one - Moreton Island
Just off the coast from Brisbane, Queensland - Australia
You can just make out the silhouettes of the Glasshouse Mountains.
Champagne and birthday wishes thrown in to memorize the event…
Gorgious!

This has to be my absolute, favourite compilation / movie soundtrack!
Just check out the track listing below…

It reminds me of hot Summer days… in Antwerp.
Ah,… good times.

The days of the Pacific Club…
Where everyone was welcome to enjoy great music and
“get down”.
Where you could stand so close to the stage,
you could stare up Sheryl Crow’s… nostrils
and feel Jeff Buckley’s sighing breath.
The time when deus gave birth to it’s first 4-track
CD, Zea…

Yeah,… that sure brings a smile to my face.

Check it out!
(Oh, and the movie is worth checking out too ;-)

Track listing:

1. Summer’s Here - (with Magnus)
2. Mysterious Blues - (with Charles Mingus)
3. My Red Hot Car - (with Squarepusher)
4. Suspicion - (with Toy)
5. Elegy For a Duck - (with Oliver Nelson)
6. Elle et Moi - (with Max Berlin)
7. In the Still of the Night - (with Charlie Parker)
8. Got More Rhymes - (with Young M.C.)
9. There Will Be No Next Time - (with The Kids)
10. Situation - (with Yazoo)
11. Acid Soul - (with Tiefschwarz)
12. Rhythm Is Deified - (with Magnus)
13. Next Level / 6 Space - (with ILS)
14. Magnolia - (with J.J. Cale)
15. Holy Spirit Come Home - (with Evil Superstars)
16. Anatonal - (with Stade)
17. Lava Flows - (with DJ Aphrodite)
18. Witness One Hope - (with Roots Manuva)
19. Curiosity - (with Herbie Hancock)

They’re the perfect day to be totally selfish.
Take the day off and indulge in what you love.
Whether it’s shopping, eating, sharing, daydreaming…
or cleaning.
It doesn’t matter.

It’s YOUR DAY!

Have your cake and eat it.

But,… this month has something special in store.
My little sis is hopping over for a working holiday down under,
and I can’t wait to see her again!

We take each other’s presence for granted.
We all live such busy lives… ya-da, ya-da.
But when someone you care about is no longer just a drive away,
but a 24-hour, expensive flight; you suddenly feel that great distance,
and realize how wonderful it is to have your family “around”.

I used to “granny sit” while I was at school. This meant I had to keep an elderly lady company in the evenings, prep her dinner, help her get around her apartment and to and from the bathroom (yes, that too), and sometimes stay over at night. Be on stand-by… just in case.
This little lady had led a fascinating life… She was on of the few people to have survived the holocaust of the second world war and had traveled extensively. I loved to hear her stories (even though she tended to repeat the same ones over and over ;-) But gosh, what a treasure she was. So many amazing experiences and wise words to share…

Have a look at this:

Olive Riley from Woy Woy is 108 years old,…
or should I say young?
She is the world’s oldest blogger.
She is still so full of life and so cheeky ;-)
Love it!
http://www.allaboutolive.com.au/
http://worldsoldestblogger.blogspot.com/

Alan Wadell, 93 years old - Walking Sydney’s Streets.
After his doctor advised him to exercise in 2002,
Allan decided to take up walking. He plans to walk all
the streets in Sydney… and he’s well on his way to
succeed!
I especially love the “Surprises” section.
Who said old folks are grumpy?
http://www.walksydneystreets.net/

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The Great Ocean Road (GOR) and the Twelve Apostles (or what’s left of them), in Victoria, Australia.

One of the most spectacular coastlines in the world.

This is a picture my hubby took at the very touristy Twelve Apostles stop (think buss-loads).

We were actually more impressed with the Bay of Islands area, further to the west. Definitely worth a visit.

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What an amazing experience! Right off the coast here in Sydney, the humpbacks make their annual journey between the warm waters south of Papua New Guinea and Antarctica.

They are so inquisitive… Incredible! They came towards the boat to have a closer look… and wave their dorsal fins, breaching (big splash - whole body out of the water), say- ing peek-a-boo (head stuck straight out of the water right next to the boat!).
If you are somewhere near the Australian east coast between May and October, I would definitely recommend it.
Not only do you get to see the whales, but you’ll probably also be able to enjoy the water acrobatics of Pacific dolphins and spot marine birds like the majestic albatross… The picture below is by my hubby JJ.

We joined the excellent crew of the “Bass & Flinders Cruises“. Genuinely friendly staff and great commentary too. Their boat stays out there the longest, so you have a much bigger chance to encounter these gentle giants (the other boats came into the area later than us… and all left earlier than us).

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So, for a change, here’s the kind of thing that puts a smile on my face:
Ever heard of “Crowd Farming”?
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/crowdfarm-0725.html
http://www.sustainabledanceclub.com

I’ve been reading “Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the way we make things.” by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, and it definitely has a much more positive look towards the future and ways of solving the environmental challenges we face today… In fact, it’s inspiring! And the “crowd farming” guys sure thought “outside the box” to offer another possible solution for one of the climate change issues.

Still being too serious huh? Ah, call me a rationalist.

Take care,
Radzster

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Here I am on the other side of the world,… unable to “attend” this year… Feeling a bit gloomy.

But hey! If I close my eyes and jack into the StuBru’s online coverage, I’m almost there… ;-)

“The way” and “de wei” of Rock Werchter.

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The style is so simple and inexpensive. Just flicking through it makes me feel calmer and relaxed… It oozes cosiness and cocooning. Most interiors are fresh and airy (lots of whites in ton-sur-ton), creating a soothing sense of harmony. Home-y rooms filled with no-fuss furniture and everyday items, combining “gentle on the eyes” colour nuances and natural textures for a sensuous experience… etc.

You’ve guessed it. My current abode is nothing like this sanctuary. ;-)
“Hoop doet leven”, as we say in Flemish (sort of like “hope keeps us alive”, but with a slightly more positive sentiment).

Ah… Someday…

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We are never more than an hour’s drive away from a decent speck of bush here. I’m always up for a healthy, brisk walk and a close encounter with nature…

Waterfalls are a nice surprise. You can hear them in the distance, and then all of a sudden - wham! Right in front of you… This particular one was not so much a surprise, but very much a tough climb to get to. Well worth it tough.

My friends in Europe always ask about the notorious creepy crawlies; you know, the fact that the world’s most venomous spiders and snakes are to be found here. No worries mate! You actually have to be quite lucky to see any.
Especially snakes… They can “feel” you coming, and slither off to safety.
Looking forward to the sunny weather again, so we can go bushwalking…

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How about… the movement of the water, the small and neatly organised space, the sense that you are not “tied down” somewhere, but could just float off to another place along the waters edge… Over romanticised? Probably ;-)

I just can’t shake the fact that this way of life intrigues me… Lures me…

In Belgium and Holland houseboats are quite common, but in Australia, it seems to be a rare sight. Too much red tape to cut through, it seems… I did come across one company called ArkiBoat from the Hawkesbury region, who make very modern, architect designed houseboats for residential “live-aboard” use, not just weekenders or rentals.

Apparently there are only 4 mooring licenses available for Sydney harbour (all taken of course), and no future plans to expand on this environmentally friendly, light footprint way of living. Such a shame.
The Broadwater area between Brisbane and the Gold Coast seems to offer some possibilities. Will need to investigate further.

To be continued…

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The event usually coincides with Australia Day, which would justify Australians wanting to celebrate all that is so great about their country by waving their flag about. But last year at the BDO, the racial Cronulla riots were still very fresh… A flag has two sides,… and apparently it showed it’s ugly face that day.

I am Belgian, and of course I have a Belgian flag, which I like to drape around and wave about on my sofa whenever fellow countrymen and woman are on the world stage (Vooruit Kim! Droogt’ z’af op de Australian Open! ;-).
And… I have an Australian flag… Which I’ve had since I was a little girl in fact. Since I was about 8 years old, I wanted to emigrate to Australia. I had seen some documentary on TV and just totally fell in love with the place, the natural beauty… the people. So I am here, because I truely love Australia, and hope to officially become an Australian in the near future…
I was even waving the Aussie flag about in Belgium last year during the World Cup whenever the Socceroos played, and also the flag of Trinidad & Tobago whenever the Soca Warriors played (my mum is from Trinibago). But in retrospect, I feel I should be more conscious of what a flag stands for.

It can definitely be used as a ‘gang colour’… Identifying ‘us’ against ‘them’… with clear nationalist and even racial undertones. Australians should also not forget that their precious flag does not represent all Australians… That there are certain Australians that are reminded of the atrocities inflected upon them… by bearers of this flag… and the Union Jack.
And the design of the Australian flag has been debated for some years now:
http://www.ausflag.com.au/ausflag/pfdc.html

I think I liked the Aussies better when they didn’t know the words to “Advance Australia Fair” and were not so overtly “patriotic” and “proud” to be Australian, that they feel they need to wave their flag about and show their “true blue” colours on every possible occasion…

And perhaps the media should focus more attention on the fact that The Big Day Out is going Carbon Neutral. A much more important issue…

You can read more about the issue here:
http://www.bigdayout.com/
http://www.news.com.au/
http://www.smh.com.au/
http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/media/gallery.cfm - an overview of the different Australian flags and symbols

Make no mistake… I love Australia… But it is not “blind” love…

Take care, and have a harmonious, warm and friendly Australia Day and The Big Day Out,
Radzster

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Drooling yet? No? Before I scoot off, I’ll tell you how to make it. It’s pucka tucka mate!
(Yeah, should reserve a blog spot for a Jamie Oliver rave too ;-)

1. slice a breadroll in half… be careful, mind your fingers there
2. spread some cream cheese on one side (full, light… whatever takes your fancy)
3. before you unwrap your Camembert, give it a little squeeze to feel if it is ripe enough - should feel a bit squichy and not bounce back into shape too quick (so NOT like a fresh chicken)
4. when ripe, cut off a couple of Camenbert slices (skin and all!), and spread them around your cream cheese sided breadroll
5. grab your pot of runny honey and drizzle some over your Camenbert
6. grate some cinnamon over the top, or sprinkle some cinnamon powder on it
7. close your breadroll or bun
8. put on a micro-waveable plate and heat for approx. 30 sec. on max (750 Watt or more)
9. TING! - the Camenbert should be oozing out of your bun… if not, pop in for another 30 sec.
10. sit down, relax and indulge…

Enjoy!!!

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“Oh Thursday, oh Thursday,
most beautiful day of days,
morning’s still a half a week,
and evening ’s but two days…”

I don’t know who the original poem is from, but I think it’s a little gem. It was written at the time when most people would be working 6 days a week. I just love it because it reminds me of my “Vava”… Every Thursday is his day!

Discover the wildlife, listen to the rustling of the leaves and the trickling sound of a forest stream…
UPM - Forest Life

Ah… bliss! And all of that natural beauty and goodness presented by a lumbering / forest management company!?
Why not? It’s a great example of how good forest management can help ensure a sustainable environment.

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Definitely worth watching!

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