Muppets Triumphant Return

What a wonderful day watching an awesome movie.

The return of the Muppets on the big screen was a fantastic walk down memory lane for me and a chance for discovery for my children.

So many of the images, characters and even the storyline resonated with me.

Life Meets Art

The storyline was truly life meeting art. With I’m sure the producers of the show asking similar questions – will the significant investment in the revival of Jim Henson’s Muppets meet a success or will it have aged? Will puppets be to simple in this age of animation, 3D and special effects.

Well all I can say is session after session at our local cinema was sold out. Which hopefully proves there’s value to some wholesome entertainment and the retro revival of the Muppets.

No Moopets

The storyline follows the demise of the once household brand and traces it’s reignition. In true modern style it blended children’s themes with more complex plots and at times had me in tears remembering this once great show.

For me it was a fitting tribute to its founder proving that puppetry is alive and well.

Great effort guys, it was extraordinary achievement and I truly hope the box office figures generate a revival in the Muppet show.

Bring back The Muppet Show!

The Muppets

For the first time in close to a year I’m trekking off to the movies!

Not just any old block buster or box office hit – no today, with kids in tow, it’s The Muppet Domination.

Dare I confess that the choice was made much simpler having enjoyed the Muppets as a kid, and Labyrinth.

Jim Henson’s Genius

What a whizz Jim Henson was – his contribution to puppetry and to technology was as great as Steve Jobs.

Seriously, the whole concept of puppetry was taken to a whole new level with the Muppets. No animated sequences and Walt Disney cartoons – but a huge cast and crew bringing to life Kermit, Miss Piggy and Animal! Sorry Fozzy, can’t forget about you.

So, I’ll drag myself to the movies, sit through a long boring G rated film … And love every minute of it!

Go the Muppets resurgence! Back to the Muppets Domination!

The Father and His Pack

The story begins like an Aesop fable, like the hare and the tortoise. A this and that title.
Dr Zeuss may have been a better style, a flatpack have you seen, but can you read instructions? Almost Yoda-ish really!
Well we recently purchased a guinea pig enclosure off a leading auction site. It was the simple, the easy solution, delivered straight to our door … in a flatpack.
Now some may not experience the terror, the dread, of a box that arrives as a flatpack. Some might even relish the opportunity to open a box of parts and assemble them conforming to the extensive instructions.

The Curse of Ikea

We have the Swedes to blame for this phenomenon, for this test of human endurance. Though credit where credit is due – the Swedes are kind enough to provide relatively detailed and easy to follow instructions.
But they have provided the inspiration to other countries, like China! Who have decided that instructions are overrated – after all men never read the instructions anyway.

And so having unpacked the numerous parts and worked out which side is up and which is down, counted the numerous bags of screws, joins, brackets and dowels – I go in search for the extensive instructions.
Thinking I’ll be getting a multi-page tutorial I find a single page sheet where step 1 alone uses virtually half the panels and accessories and all I can see is a few arrows. At this point I admit concern for completing the task in a timely manner and for that matter resembling anything like the picture.


Yet being male could I let this get the better of me? No, I tell you!!
I soldiered on, I grasped the bull by the horns and persevered with the hour long job.
By time I’d hit 3 hours. Ok, I confess the odd evil thought crossed my mind … Who needs guinea pigs anyway, sure the kids wouldn’t notice, bet the next door’s cat would have fun.
Oh, be gone! No, I will continue!

The Pack Comes to Life

I think the kids must have realised I was close when in my Frankenstein moment I exclaimed it’s alive!
Having spent the majority of the morning, the noon and now afternoon creating this house for the beloved guinea pigs finally I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The pessimist would exclaim it’s a train – but not I, no here was the finish of a day’s work – the culmination of toil, the fruits of my labour … Here was the palatial abode for the guinea pigs. Hope they blooming appreciate it!

Not More Cricket

Ok, I’m sorry I am writing again on cricket – but it is Aussie summer, we are in cricket season and Australia are annihilating the Indians.

The WACA test started today and, based on a quick glance at close of play, it may as well be over.

I am sure like many Aussies, we’d expected a tough dual, maybe even questioned if our team could compete – but we’re talking trouncing.

This isn’t even a game – it’s practice! More bowling in a 50 over one dayer. Well not quite, it took Australia 60 overs.

I’m sure the Indians are rueing the day they left home soil – as for the supporters I’m actually starting to feel for them. If this keeps up the Aussies will start supporting the Indians due to being such underdogs.

Is Test Cricket Ruined?

I’m sure others are wondering the same – if India can’t last day 1 on a pitch where Warner came out and slogged 70 (scratch that 95 … Just too impatient -make that a ton) then what’s the future of the five day game?

With the demands of TV, declining attention spans and an inability for teams to adapt across styles surely test cricket has to evolve.

I love a close test – I love the to and fro and strategy – but Day 1 all out and a likely overwhelming declaration early day 3. The WACA test is as one sided as Sydney.

The only question worth adking is whose hands up for the triple century in this one?

Oh 2012 Already

Has anyone else suddenly woke up to see it’s nigh on half way through January?

For that matter have I missed the boat? Happy new year …

2012 has started off at such a pace I can almost feel Easter!

I hope to write a blog or two a week – but damn this year is moving fast.

Is it just me or are others watching the Fridays arrive at a speed that is scarily fast?

The Law of Supply

It’s funny when you have an abundance of something how you squander it so quickly. For Christmas I received some after shave – the former bottle barely lasting with drops extended for weeks – yet

now a new bottle – well I’m a walking perfumery! Splashing here and there as if it were infinite.

Time appears like this too – when I was in my teens, my twenties, gees staying in bed till afternoon seemed reasonable enough. Now I couldn’t possibly squander that many hours.

Increasingly days are treasured, moments and events held onto.

The Year of the Dragon

In the Chinese calendar we’re about to enter the year of the dragon … Not sure of the significance of this, but for me it’s year of the dog.

As of new year we’re now owners of a rescued dog – beagle cross boxer.

As you can imagine kids love it and for me it forces exercise every night!

And so I’ve returned to the blogosphere, albeit not triumphantly with profound words of wisdom but still it’s a start. So happy new year readers and hope to chat more in 2012.

The Aussie Summer

While much of the Northern hemisphere rugs up for their Christmas feast, here in Australia it’s summer – sun, beach and cricket.

Our Christmas day was spent with the air con on! Following an unusually wet December Christmas day was hot and sunny and a great day spent in the backyard.

But it’s boxing day that is a favourite for many Aussies, not always the Aussie wives though! On boxing day begins the Melbourne cricket test.

Cricket 101

The game aptly named test cricket.

I’m not sure how well you know the sport of cricket but a test can go for up to 5 days and still produce no result … and the fans love it!

With 11 players on each side, cricket is played on a large oval. One team bats while the other bowls and fields.

A small baseball sized hard leather ball is hurtled down a pitch at up to 160 km per hour (100 miles) and tries to hit three small wooden pegs (wickets). In a 8 whole day it’s quite feasible not to hit the wickets once.

The batters, one at each end of the pitch, aim to hit the ball to score runs and if it makes it to the boundary it’s 4 runs or 6 if it’s over on the full.

A little like baseball, there are 4 innings. The team bats until 10 batters are out and then changes to bowling. Then once they get there opponents out swap for another turn.

As said, this process can go on for up to 5 days.

Like many sports, it’s the stats that keep it interesting … batting averages, strike rates, fastest, highest, longest, most.

The Boxing Day Test

The boxing day test in Melbourne is one of the pinnacles of Australia’s sporting calendar – coinciding with another major event, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Literally thousands of families throughout Australia are glued to their TV’s for hours watching on boxing day.

This year it’s Australia against India – and it’s been riveting! An on field rivalry between nations has added to the spectacle plus the anticipation of Tendulkar scoring his 100th ton. That’s 100 runs 100 times – a feat never before achieved and he’s one off.

For many the thing that truly makes a test is the commentary – with a choice of TV or radio – and I have to admit the ABC Grandstand commentary is my choice – with Jim Maxwell, Kerry O’Keeffe and many more entertaining us for hours.

With the test kicking off in minutes, I just recommend you check it out – skill, tactics, strategy, patience – a test is aptly named for it tests the endurance of bowlers, the patience of batters, and, of course, the viewers.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas – no more needs to be said!

The Depths of the Internet

I am constantly amazed at the depth and the breadth of the Internet.

Beyond the 80/20 Rule

Sure there’s the 80-20 rule, 80% of Internet traffic surfs 20% of sites … and the majors are now global brands like: Google, YouTube, eBay, Amazon, Facebook, and of course WordPress!

A Collage of Humanity

But the sheer diversity of the web is a cultural mash of modern society.

It’s how we entertain, learn, interact, celebrate, collaborate and share.

It caters to all ages, nationalities, economies, cultures, beliefs – it’s a global equaliser like never before seen.

I can easily outsource work to India, share photos with England, trade in the US, import from China and never move from my desk.

We have the technology to video conference while all writing on the same “whiteboard”.

The Facebook phenomena allows me to connect with family and friends throughout the world – sharing videos, photos, news and more.

Not to mention the growing group of budding journalists, social commentators and opinionated ravers that file the 1000′s of blogs … like me.

When All is Past

What will the archaeologists of future generations say when they view our mountains of consumables?

Our terrabytes of photos, videos, blogs?

Kids & Technology

Our kids navigate desktops before being able to read.

They form social networks in Club Penguin, beginning their virtual journey of interaction.

Click on iPhones and DSi’s as if they are no different to using pen and paper.

Schools increasingly are becoming tech savvy – and the resources available to children are mind blowing.

The Great Divide

Louie Armstrong’s song, What a Wonderful World resonates – they’ll know much more than I’ll ever know … and I think to myself how the heck do I keep up?

The pace of change is overwhelming – MySpace is almost extinct – yet it was one of the major global brands not 5 years ago.

The rise and fall of Groupon – one minute Google offering billions of dollars, then wiped off investment lists in seemingly minutes.

Would anyone confidently back any tech brand being prevalent in 10 years time? Google? Facebook? I’m not sure I would.

Move Over Mt Everest

To consider the volume of content available on the web is staggering – from daily posts like this, to the millions of hours of video, photos, and status updates.

The constant release of apps and increasing availability of information on any topic that takes your fancy.

I’m seriously blown away by the size, speed and impact the web is having on society – and to a large extent now uncontrollable.

2012 The Year of

As we wrap up 2011 and hear all the things about the year that was, I’m pondering the next, what 2012 will bring.

What new starts, renewed hopes, challenges? Are you moving into the next year with giddy anticipation or a sense of dread? Excitement or expecting the same old same old?

I think I might be easily excited but I’m moving forward with a sense of great anticipation. That 2012 will be the best year yet.

The End of the World?

While some claim it’s the end of the world based on predictions using the Mayan calendar. Others forecasting economic depression throughout the Western world. Still others are too busy training for the XXX London Olympics. I’m filled with hope, joy and an excitement of what another year on this planet holds.

Half Empty or Half Full

I’m sure many know the analogy of the cup of water – whether it’s half empty or half full. Well it’s probably no surprise I tend to be in the half full category.

I recently came across Milaap, an organisation based in India that provide high risk “loans” to communities who are simply after running water, sewerage or education. It truly reminded me of the abundance I have.

So how about others? What is 2012 holding in store? Is the outlook positive? Or are there some dark clouds looming?

As you read this are you thinking half empty or half full? Year of potential or just another day, another dollar.

What is 2012 the year of for you?

A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol

Yesterday went to the amazing Christmas performance that Hillsong put on each year.

Last year somebody stole the star, well this year they modernised the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol.

What an amazing performance and display of extraordinary generosity of people’s time and skills. After all the mega production is free.

Guessing it’s too late for tickets this year, but highly recommend any Sydney siders to get there.