photos: a walk in manly (and little manly)

photos: the pelican feeding at the entrance

photos: bondi

public service announcement: sydney fringe festival NOW ON!

Late notice here, but better late than never, hey?  The Sydney Fringe Festival is on NOW!

photos: dee why

quicko: WALDO done properly!! (australians, take note!)

quicko: sydney v. darwin

An argument I hadn't heard before ... which do you think is more conservative?

photos: cremorne point to mosman bay walk

quicko: aussie slang

Here's some Aussie slang explained.

quicko: consume

Or, to Australians, conshume.

photos: from the harbour bridge

quicko: september 11th

Maybe I'm just a bit more sensitive having been in America at Ground Zero recently, but it just hit me again this year while writing the date on the board for my students that September 11th really is a date that will continue to live in infamy.  Even an "off" year that's not a particular anniversary is still an anniversary.  And even if I end up a bit sunburnt because airline security confiscated my sunscreen ... well, gosh, there are much worse things that can happen.  (Yes, I know that doesn't all flow logically.  Give me a break and one day for emotion.  If any day deserves it, this one does.)

quicko: attitudes towards unemployment

At the moment, I found that generally speaking most Americans are very sympathetic to the plight of being unemployed.  Lots have experienced it themselves or have friends or family members who were hit particularly in the GFC, and, as a result, are usually quite understanding.

quicko: overt christianity

Another Garry noticed a lot in America was the more overt Christianity -- particularly billboards, highway statues of Jesus (yep, that one on 1-75), etc.  One that really stood out was a sign targeting models and actors for Christ ... hmmm ...

quicko: flashing yellow

This was one of my favorites of Garry's questions while we were in America:  he wanted to know what that flashing yellow lights meant on the roads.  I explained they were just for caution; to warn drivers that there was a dangerous intersection.  He'd thought they were all broken.

quicko: garry's thoughts on food

We arrived back in Australia safe and sound after three weeks in America, and, what do you know, Garry had a few thoughts on American food.  You can check them out here.