Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Looking ahead ...
With little kids parents are always looking ahead ... it must be great to hear Hugo singing in this
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Seeking paths ...
I have been seeking clear paths but it seems there are none. I have to invent my own and it is a struggle.
Can we expect that the path will show itself or do we have to keep walking in the dark bumping into things?
My friends So Young and JP have been seeking Thousand Paths to NOW' around the world visited and sat on an in interesting places. Their seeking is documented on their project website http://sites.google.com/site/athousandpathstonow/
Can we expect that the path will show itself or do we have to keep walking in the dark bumping into things?
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Coffee... the best in Melbourne
have tried perhaps up to 100 coffee shops around Melbourne. I drink Cafe Latte and like it on the stronger side which determines what kind of coffee shops I rank the best. It gives me a slow kick and makes life more bearable. But what makes life and coffee good ? I think it is passion and love of what we are doing. Here are only a couple of places where people love their coffees and its tastes like it:
1. Crue Coffee Lounge in South Yarra
I was their first customer and even though I moved I still go there. Their latte is strong, sweet, hot, with enough flavor but never bitter. Plust they have different types every week. The guys are so friendly and there is upbeat but not posh atmosphere. Here is it. The froth is not so perfect but the coffee itself is great. I am sure if you drink Rissoretto it will be even better.
2. Barista in Prahran
This coffee shop is hidden in a side street but became so popular that it is hard to find seat most of the time. But when you come in late afternoon and sit behind the large table you will get sweet, hot, strong, nutty, brew with perfect froth. The place has fast and friendly staff and mostly relaxing atmosphere. The only problem is it has became too posh and the littler pretentious South Yarra folk has flocked in to show off.
3. Brunetti City Square - City
I know that there are better coffeeshops in City but I have tried this once more than any other. Brunetti is long established Vittoria coffee establishment with very fast professional baristas who make make reasonable froth, it is hot, but most importantly it preserves the Vittoria flavor. It is strong and gives you the right kick without any bad aftertaste. I cold not find latte
4. Jasper Coffee - Prahran Market
I nearly forgot about the strongest and fairest latte you can get. It is in Prahran Market at Jasper Coffee stall. So one you have free sausages in the meat section sit and watch the busy spot and enjoy this strong, dark and hot fair trade brew. They use organic milk and make it really strong and tasty.
Long Black or else.
I don't drink long black or black coffee but we have found one real good one in Brunswick. It is called Sahara Pizza and they serve great long black. I think they are Egyptians so the place is full of middle aged middle eastern men smoking cigars and talking for ages. It is great atmosphere and the pizza is not bad. Find it on 627 Sydney Road, BRUNSWICK 3056
If you are not from Melbourne this is the best compact street directory with brief guide too ... enjoy
I was their first customer and even though I moved I still go there. Their latte is strong, sweet, hot, with enough flavor but never bitter. Plust they have different types every week. The guys are so friendly and there is upbeat but not posh atmosphere. Here is it. The froth is not so perfect but the coffee itself is great. I am sure if you drink Rissoretto it will be even better.
2. Barista in Prahran
This coffee shop is hidden in a side street but became so popular that it is hard to find seat most of the time. But when you come in late afternoon and sit behind the large table you will get sweet, hot, strong, nutty, brew with perfect froth. The place has fast and friendly staff and mostly relaxing atmosphere. The only problem is it has became too posh and the littler pretentious South Yarra folk has flocked in to show off.
3. Brunetti City Square - City
I know that there are better coffeeshops in City but I have tried this once more than any other. Brunetti is long established Vittoria coffee establishment with very fast professional baristas who make make reasonable froth, it is hot, but most importantly it preserves the Vittoria flavor. It is strong and gives you the right kick without any bad aftertaste. I cold not find latte
4. Jasper Coffee - Prahran Market
I nearly forgot about the strongest and fairest latte you can get. It is in Prahran Market at Jasper Coffee stall. So one you have free sausages in the meat section sit and watch the busy spot and enjoy this strong, dark and hot fair trade brew. They use organic milk and make it really strong and tasty.
Long Black or else.
I don't drink long black or black coffee but we have found one real good one in Brunswick. It is called Sahara Pizza and they serve great long black. I think they are Egyptians so the place is full of middle aged middle eastern men smoking cigars and talking for ages. It is great atmosphere and the pizza is not bad. Find it on 627 Sydney Road, BRUNSWICK 3056
If you are not from Melbourne this is the best compact street directory with brief guide too ... enjoyWednesday, March 10, 2010
New age language
Have you heard of HTML5. If not you will soon because this is going to replace all those plugins such as Adobe Flash which are so annoying.
Apple and Google are doing it then we are bound to do it. See : How to Ditch Flash and Stream Video with HTML5 or DIVE INTO HTML5 book which is written in amazing font. Like to watch YouTube in new language visit this link http://www.youtube.com/html5
We are going to further loose ourselves in computers
and our phones
Here is reference
Apple and Google are doing it then we are bound to do it. See : How to Ditch Flash and Stream Video with HTML5 or DIVE INTO HTML5 book which is written in amazing font. Like to watch YouTube in new language visit this link http://www.youtube.com/html5
We are going to further loose ourselves in computers
and our phonesHere is reference
Monday, March 8, 2010
Mental health and the weather
Melbourne has just experienced one of the strongest thunderstorms in the past few decades with hail, rain and wind pounding the streets 
and people.
Often storms outside are reflected with storms inside and I have been hearing a lot about that lately.
"One in five Australians are likely to experience some kind of mental health issue during their lifetime. Mental health issues can affect anyone - old or young, rich or poor." says Youth Central one of many mental health institutions in Melbourne.
and people.Often storms outside are reflected with storms inside and I have been hearing a lot about that lately.
"One in five Australians are likely to experience some kind of mental health issue during their lifetime. Mental health issues can affect anyone - old or young, rich or poor." says Youth Central one of many mental health institutions in Melbourne.
One of the strongest supporters of mental storm prevention is Prof McGorry who just became the Australian of the Year. He says: "Failure to invest in early psychosis reform will result in another lost generation of young Australians consigned to unnecessary disability as well as premature death from suicide and cardiovascular disease"
Here is his book 
. I really do think that we have to rethink how we address mental health otherwise we end up having stroms in our heads all the time.
. I really do think that we have to rethink how we address mental health otherwise we end up having stroms in our heads all the time. Friday, March 5, 2010
Australia should embrace nuclear power ??? White males decide ...
One of the most interesting mainstream debating forums is IQ² or Intelligence squared 
.
http://www.iq2oz.com/
It is an annual series of 'provocative and informative' live debates on the 'hot-button concerns' of the day such as Euthanasia, Nuclear Power, Internet Censorship or Freedom of expression. You can watch them all on their website. BUT THINK AGAIN.
The problem with these forums is that they are dominated by white males with token representation of white women and almost nonexistent non Anglo debaters. If Australia is multicultural society where are those Asian, Lebanese or Indians who have something to say.
Are those Indian engineers busy buidling these Nuclear Power plants or those Asian computer scientists administering Internet censorship if those white males decide that that needs to be done ????
Here is a research paper from Korea from AsianPerspective.Org to put some of these white views in slightly different perspective and a book by a women 
who sounds qualified enough to talk about it.
.http://www.iq2oz.com/
It is an annual series of 'provocative and informative' live debates on the 'hot-button concerns' of the day such as Euthanasia, Nuclear Power, Internet Censorship or Freedom of expression. You can watch them all on their website. BUT THINK AGAIN.
The problem with these forums is that they are dominated by white males with token representation of white women and almost nonexistent non Anglo debaters. If Australia is multicultural society where are those Asian, Lebanese or Indians who have something to say.
Are those Indian engineers busy buidling these Nuclear Power plants or those Asian computer scientists administering Internet censorship if those white males decide that that needs to be done ????
Here is a research paper from Korea from AsianPerspective.Org to put some of these white views in slightly different perspective and a book by a women who sounds qualified enough to talk about it.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Whaling ... why get so emotional?
Whaling is extremely emotional issue in Australia. Everyone is against it as if it was same as killing Norwegians. They are both white and there is not many of them.
No one gets too upset when Koreans eat dogs to get warmer or Afghani people get killed by robots on daily basis. There is plenty of dogs and Afgani's dont look white.
But whales are supposed to be intelligent mammals and it is murder to kill them. I am not sure if it is simply about Japan bashing and being emotional about cute large animals. It is funny that Australian media when reporting on Japan only talk about the wierd and wonderful and don't really describe Japanese as fellow citizens.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
God Is Bullshit
Thats once of the topics at the Atheist Convention ... little fundametalistic but really engaging topic. 
She has a book too
and I cannot say how good.
She has a book too
and I cannot say how good.
Atheism is the new religion
Melbourne will be soon hosting Richard Dawkins the the Global Atheist Convention. Prof Dawkins is really smart man and many speakers at the convention are top intellectuals who I really respect such as Peter Singer
Dawkins is on the way to Australia he is being interviewed a lot. Oh, my God - atheist convention sells out - The Age or Atheism's true believers gather or Faith basher relies very much on faith in Herald Sun
Dawkins is on the way to Australia he is being interviewed a lot. Oh, my God - atheist convention sells out - The Age or Atheism's true believers gather or Faith basher relies very much on faith in Herald Sun
He did release a new book 
which I am told is quite good.
which I am told is quite good.The interesting thing is that while is anti religion some of the speakers such as Russel Blackford at also spoke at the Parliament of the World's Religions and I worked with Russel and his colleagues to make sure Atheism in represented among the many religions at the 2009 Parliament. I enjoyed coordinating their sessions and wanted to attend it but I did not have time. I had too many people complaining the Parliament was too expensive. Guess what the Atheist convention is more expensive but it is sold out at $530 at ticket now on eBay.
Here am I with the Dalai Lama at the Parlliament
The role of Government
As I am redesigning my CV to comply with requirements of the Victorian Government bureaucracy (see Tips for Applying on http://www.careers.vic.gov.au ). I wonder to what extend we can ectually expect that Government will actually take care of us. But anarchist have it this way:
(Anarchists) believe that governments all over the world create violence, oppression, exploitation, and chaos everywhere they are formed. This, according to Anarchists, is achieved through wars, taxes, suppression of personal freedoms, suppression of economic freedoms, and many other immoral acts of the state.
http://www.rottingnation.com/2008/12/18/why-anarchists-hate-the-state/
But many people do rely on the Government and expect that it will help them. Example is "A WOMAN who claimed to have been abandoned by the government after becoming entangled in a Mideast assassination was contacted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on Friday night." reported in Herald Sun
So do we rely on ourselves or try to find the middle way? I do need to study it further
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Can you predict earthquakes? Buddhist view
I cannot predict earthquakes but I think someone I know can. She was dreaming about a large earthquake this morning and there are two large ones happening on the same day in Japan and Chile:
This is the Buddhist view: "Buddhism is not concerned with explaining why this is so, it simply makes the common sense assertion that the universe is dukkha - sometimes at odds with our dreams, our wishes and our desires."
GOD, BUDDHISM AND THE TSUNAMI by S. Dhammika
This is the Buddhist view: "Buddhism is not concerned with explaining why this is so, it simply makes the common sense assertion that the universe is dukkha - sometimes at odds with our dreams, our wishes and our desires."
GOD, BUDDHISM AND THE TSUNAMI by S. Dhammika
Jobs Jobs Jobs
So I finally got my first interview with a local council. It is a job of 'Social Policy and Projects Officer' which sounds fancy and complex but it is quite basic role plus it is only part time.
Just wondering if I should apply for ASIO job as a surveillance officer. They must have a lot of fun now with the Spy Affair. Israel is getting a lot of bad press and their PR people are not managing it very well.
Just wondering if I should apply for ASIO job as a surveillance officer. They must have a lot of fun now with the Spy Affair. Israel is getting a lot of bad press and their PR people are not managing it very well.
ASIO in Israel spy probe
ASIO investigating at least three dual Australian-Israeli citizens it suspects of using Australian cover to spy for Israel.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Best basic use software on the net
On practical note I have been setting up my new computer HP ProBook 5310m with new software:
Browser:
Google Chrome ... the fastest most intuitive browser. Did you know you can goolge just by inputing your query directly into the address line. This saves so much hassle going to google. Download it here
Photo organizer
Editor and organiser Picasa 3. Best and fastest.
Free from the Picasa Website
Video Converter
I found the best video converter on the net. It works flawlessly and it is really fast. It is called Ojosoft and you can download trial version which converts the first 2 minutes
Microsoft Office for Free
Download the Office 2010 Beta and use it for free till October 2010.
\
Microsoft Office 2010 Beta Download
Antivirus
Web Conferencing Software
Just discovered and are still testing DimDim which is web conferencing software which allows groups to convene and work collaboratively in meetings. I hope it support multiple videoconferencing. I am still looking for best solution.
Browser:
Google Chrome ... the fastest most intuitive browser. Did you know you can goolge just by inputing your query directly into the address line. This saves so much hassle going to google. Download it here Photo organizer
Editor and organiser Picasa 3. Best and fastest.Free from the Picasa Website
Video Converter
I found the best video converter on the net. It works flawlessly and it is really fast. It is called Ojosoft and you can download trial version which converts the first 2 minutes
Microsoft Office for Free
Download the Office 2010 Beta and use it for free till October 2010.
\Microsoft Office 2010 Beta Download
Antivirus
Avast Free Edition. Light and easy to maintain.
Web Conferencing Software
Just discovered and are still testing DimDim which is web conferencing software which allows groups to convene and work collaboratively in meetings. I hope it support multiple videoconferencing. I am still looking for best solution.
Dalai Lama Now Knows Who Tiger Woods Is .... or Can Philosophy Save Us?
February 22, 2010, 5:35 PM
Dalai Lama Now Knows Who Tiger Woods Is
By ROBERT MACKEY
The Dalai Lama said he did not who Tiger Woods was
Buddhism is not newsworthy subject until is becomes connected to controversy, sports, celebrity or sex. In most recent weeks Buddhism was discussed in relation to Tiger Woods and HH the Dalai Lama and thus generated very large media interest. The sad thing is that Wood's Thai Buddhist heritage and the associated mediation and philosophy will soon drop of the media radar and Wood's scandal will remain. How can Buddhists make themselves heard in a serious way?
Related issue that I am really interested in is explored in this Guardian Weekly article:
Can philosophy save us? | Darragh McManus | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/...
Our culture – the media and the broader populace – is obsessed with the economy. And since Lehman Brothers went kablooey in September 2008, our fascination has gone to a deeper level. Googling the word "business" gets a scarcely feasible 1.6 billion hits. ...
In this article the author suggest that we should ensure that western style of rational philosophical discussion in the media and at schools can in fact save our lives in some weird way. He is against including narratives and religious philosophy and instead thinks that philosophy makes us ask questions such as "who am I?". This is very important questions but if asked in isolation from culture is meaningless and only leads to nihilism. If asked in complete oppression of culture leads to obsessions. So we need to strike a balance and raise philosophical questions in relation to their practical cultural context. Good example is the fact that Tiger Woods is wanting to apply his Buddhist heritage to his current situation. If this is discussed in greater depth and in relation to the Christian heritage of the US society it becomes useful ....
This was a great book 
and i think still is
and i think still is Royal Womens
We are visiting the best women's hospital in Australia ...apparently the healthcare in Melbourne in best in australia so if you are down under check this out 
Monday, February 22, 2010
Living and thriving in Melbourne
Melbourne has really well developed social support services. While neighbors just worry about themselves and don's really talk to each other the social support infrastructure is excellent. We have had Maternal and child Health Nurse visits on weekly basis, social workers call and drop in, we drop by doctors which is just around the corner and if worts comes to worst we can access residential program for mothers with babies. And the best thing is that this is all for free.
The one issue is that there is severe lack of kindergarten places. Melbourne university has waiting list with 800 parents waiting for over 2 years for a place. Local kindy is no better as there are only several places available for each age group. So lets hope that this news that the Government is promoting actually filters down to us:
The one issue is that there is severe lack of kindergarten places. Melbourne university has waiting list with 800 parents waiting for over 2 years for a place. Local kindy is no better as there are only several places available for each age group. So lets hope that this news that the Government is promoting actually filters down to us:
Kinder teachers returned to work with new pay deal
News bulletin: 16 February 2010
More than 5000 kindergarten teachers across Victoria started the kinder year with better pay and conditions thanks to several new enterprise agreements that started this year.
Nuclear or not
Been applying for job all around ... but in the mean time following news ... one of the most interesting debates raging in Australia is Nuclear or not .... i would really like to go to this debate: Intelligence Squared:
Buy tickets
Discuss this topic
Australia should embrace nuclear power
4 March 2010 - Melbourne
In the wake of grave scientific warnings about the role of carbon emissions in climate change, prominent environmental scientists like James Lovelock have called for the world to employ nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels.
Yet, Lovelock’s call has divided the environmental movement – and sections of the wider community – where there remain deep-seated fears about nuclear hazards (disposal, pollution, accident, weaponisation and proliferation).
But are such fears misguided or irrelevant when compared to the unfolding reality of adverse climate change?
Given our vast reserves of uranium, our stable political economy and isolation – does Australia have an obligation to embrace nuclear power?
The godfather of the climate change debate, Dr James Hansen, is coming from the United States to debate this vital issue of the use of nuclear energy as an alternative to the use of fossil fuels.
Joining him, for the affirmative, will be Dr Ziggy Switkowski, outspoken advocate of nuclear power and Dr Erica Smyth.
The negative will consist of Molly Harriss Olson, former Presidential advisor to President Clinton on energy, Dr Mark Diesendorf, world renowned writer on climate change and Dr Jim Green, nuclear campaigner for Friends of the Earth.
Speakers
For:
- Dr James Hansen
- Dr Erica Smyth
- Dr Ziggy Switkowski
Against:
- Dr Mark Diesendorf
- Molly Harriss Olson
- Dr Jim Green
Speaker details to come. Please check back.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Jobs
So I am still working on my job applications currently waiting for response from 9 of them ... here is something worthwhile
Monday, February 15, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sundays are holy ..
It was beautiful morning so we went to
Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne71 Orrong Rd Elsternwick VIC 3185 (03) 9523 8407 Get directions - Is this accurate? Write a review More information » |
Friday, February 5, 2010
Violence and Religion
Here are some interesting thoughts from Anwar Ibrahim and some proper local action ...
Vindaloo Against Violence
rotest racially motivated violence in Melbourne by dining at your local Indian restaurant on Wednesday 24 February 2010.
I wanted to find a way to show support for the Indian community and signal that I will not turn a blind eye to violence in our city.
This violence threatens all Melburnians' sense of safety and pride in their home. I want the Melbourne Indian community -and all immigrant communities - to know that they are welcome and entitled to feel safe here.
How cool would it be if Melbourne displayed a show of force by all going out and eating Indian on a certain night, to embrace and show solidarity with our local Indian community?
Let's do it!
Register your attendance and get more details at http://vindalooagainstviolence.wordpress.com/
Follow us on Twitter - http://twitter.com/VagainstV
I wanted to find a way to show support for the Indian community and signal that I will not turn a blind eye to violence in our city.
This violence threatens all Melburnians' sense of safety and pride in their home. I want the Melbourne Indian community -and all immigrant communities - to know that they are welcome and entitled to feel safe here.
How cool would it be if Melbourne displayed a show of force by all going out and eating Indian on a certain night, to embrace and show solidarity with our local Indian community?
Let's do it!
Register your attendance and get more details at http://vindalooagainstviolence.wordpress.com/
Follow us on Twitter - http://twitter.com/VagainstV
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Famili ....
Its raining ....
It started raining and the head is cooling and my mum is leaving for home. Here are some of her latest impressions.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Gettin hot ...
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Weekend wrapup
The week has been busy one.
Norman, Akiko's friend came around because he is buying investment property in Melbourne so we took him around and had lunch out ... the housing market in Melbourne is going strong and new apartments are going up like mushrooms ... how about imagining living here ... at 850 k it could be yours to move in in two years:
http://www.voguesouthyarra.com.au/apartments.aspx
Norman, Akiko's friend came around because he is buying investment property in Melbourne so we took him around and had lunch out ... the housing market in Melbourne is going strong and new apartments are going up like mushrooms ... how about imagining living here ... at 850 k it could be yours to move in in two years:
http://www.voguesouthyarra.com.au/apartments.aspx
Friday, January 29, 2010
Kinglake and else
Today me my mum and Daniel are going to Kinglake to visit the Seon Centre. It is nearly a year after the terrible bushfires so we will see how it has changed.
If you have not noticed and i doubt anyone did apple religion has release their new testament .. the iPad ... it sounds so good and they present it as if it will change humanity forever ... anyway it looks good
If you have not noticed and i doubt anyone did apple religion has release their new testament .. the iPad ... it sounds so good and they present it as if it will change humanity forever ... anyway it looks good
Apple iPad Reviews: The Critics Weigh In
Brennon Slattery
Jan 29, 2010 6:09 am
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The new day
It was early morning wakeupcall from Hugo ... we have number of things to do this morning and one of them to to eat breakfast ... the other is to visit auntie Laura ..
My mum was up early too walking around with Hugo who has been complaining ... it is quite normal now ... has was so goo yesterday.
Saw AVATAR .. amazing film and historic milestone in filmmaking ... it is so urgent for us to see this reality and try to come closer to nature
My mum was up early too walking around with Hugo who has been complaining ... it is quite normal now ... has was so goo yesterday.
Saw AVATAR .. amazing film and historic milestone in filmmaking ... it is so urgent for us to see this reality and try to come closer to nature
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
