Through the looking glass...

I remember the morning of September 11, 2001.

For me it was the moment, like Alice, that everything went from what I knew to a crazy place where nothing made sense anymore.

It was a typical morning going to work. It was my friend Clara's birthday and I sent her an e-mail as soon as I got in at 8am wishing her a fantastic day. Clara worked in Tower 6 of the World Trade Center complex. After composing and sending it off I was chatting with an admin, cup of coffee in one hand and a piece of bran muffin nabbed from a friend in the other, when someone rushed up with the news that the first plane had hit. Thinking he must be mistaken we grabbed a radio and tuned in.

My trip through the looking glass had begun.

What I realize is that I'm not the same person I was. Neither is the world. Simply too much has happened. Meaning the death of Osama bin Laden is not the shake I need - we need - to wake up. Because the other side of the looking glass, rather than a dream, is now the reality.

- Farmer Ted

Midsomer m*rders...

I had a chance to actually be at a village fete a few weeks ago that put me in mind of what you would see during a production of "Midsomer Murders". Although in this case it was a less a matter of finding a body in the car park and more guessing the value of "antiques" piled on several tables as judged by two professional appraisers. And while there were plenty of suspects for each item on display, it would have taken Inspector Barnaby to ferret out the truth of who's was what. Or maybe no one wanted to admit their culpability. But from looking at what was on offer and the pained look on the appraisers faces, I can tell at least they felt a crime was definitely being perpetrated.

- Farmer Ted

Weird science? Not for me...

Apparently it's tough to get students to consider going into science and engineering as a profession. Such was the testimony from Boeing to a US Congressional panel looking into the matter. "There's no shortage of scientists and engineers on TV and the movies, says Richard Stephens, senior vice-president of human resources and administration at Boeing. Many, however, are portrayed in an unsympathetic light. "In movies and on TV, 10 percent of characters are scientists and engineers," Stephens said. "Unfortunately, of those more than 70 percent kill others, are killed, or are overcome by lay people."

Uh, "lay people"?

Remember when it was considered uber-cool to be a scientist? When "Mr. Wizard" ruled the airwaves and the WGBH produced "Zoom" always included a segment doing a science experiment and I.G.Y. was more than just a Donald Fagen song. Even "McGyver" made the science behind the everyday accessible as he used a matchstick, a wad of chewing gum and a pickle to bring down a missile speeding to destroy Los Angeles...and do it remotely.

But it's been an uphill battle for a while, apparently, as I saw recently when I rented The Man in the White Suit on AppleTV. Produced in 1951 it was the era following WWII, the technology of the atom bomb and the rise of suburban US with all the devices the homes could want. In the movie, an out-of-work but utterly brilliant scientist invents a fabric that won't rip, stain or wear out. Rather than be welcomed as a hero, he is instead persecuted by the industrialist that fear it will put them out of business and the factory workers who fear it will put them out of a job. He winds up being laughed at, jeered at and hounded by mobs. As one washer woman with a pile of rags spits at him when he pleads for help, "Why can't you scientists leave things alone!"

For some reason, "Do you want fries with that?" looks like a more appreciated career choice.

- Farmer Ted

Fear on the fairground...

Tomorrow starts an annual event in Adelaide that's over 100 years old: The Royal Adelaide Show or as it's been named, The Big Show. Starting as more of a farm exposition it now features not only agriculture exhibits but rides, contests, midways and showbags. Think of a county fair in the US on steroids. It's so popular here that schools actually close so the student body can attend, I guess rather than have them cut class along with their parents.

Now, I have no problem with this at all; heck it sounds like fun! It's their advertising that gives me the shivers. I've never been comfortable with the concept of clowns in general and I have real anxiety about the Big Show choice of clown image in particular.
How these don't give kids nightmares is beyond me.

- Farmer Ted

As the seasons turn (winter)...

Some winter pics I've taken of places I've been in South Australia this year.

A local beach with a storm approaching. It can get pretty wild when they hit.
The River Torrens flooding. Most of the year this a veritable trickle. Winter is the rainy season in Australia and this August has been the rainiest in 18 years. Good, but it's still in drought around here overall.
See where the bench is? Yep, it's flooded. Unless you want your feet wet, that is.One of the Torrens catchments. The graffiti is evidence this is dry most of the time. I have learned the true meaning of "flash flood" from watching this go from empty to like this in mere minutes.
Remind me to reprise this in 6-month's time, ok?

- Farmer Ted

"What's the matter with kids..."

After having embraced the technology before today's Gen-Y'ers were even born, I find myself feeling curiously left behind sometimes. Like the whole thing with social networking sites, something about which I have discussed my scorn and well-placed mistrust of before.

But even your Farmer may have to get on the social network bus by necessity. Take this exchange I had on the phone recently:

Me: (to my 15yo niece) We should keep in touch, Natasha.
Natasha: Well, why don’t you friend me on Facebook?
Me: Sorry. I don’t have a Facebook account.
Natasha: (with audible scorn) Oh…
Me: Well, why don’t you send me an email?
Natasha: (sounding pained) Email? Well I guess…
Me: OK! What’s your email address?
Natasha: I got lots of them. Which one do you want?
Me: (puzzled) Uh. I don’t know. Which one do you check most?
Natasha: I dunno. Gmail?
Me: GREAT! What’s your email address there?
Natasha: I got lots of 'em. I don’t know, try this one (reciting a username that must mean something if you're under 17).
Me: Perfect. I’ll send something there when I go online. You will check it, right?
Natasha: I guess. (pause) But why don’t you just friend me on Facebook?

Why do I feel like Harry MacAfee (Paul Lynde) in the movie Bye Bye Birdie?



- Farmer Ted

It's Fang-tastic..!

I'm really hooked on HBO's "True Blood". I brought Season 1 of the show here with me on DVD and used it to glamour other unsuspecting viewers with it's rather salacious drama. I've downloaded Season 2 on iTunes and even though it's turned a bit more soap-ish and B-grade during the season, I love it just the same. And I am discriminating, finding vampire dramas like "Vampire Diaries" and the Twilight Saga just plain annoying; agreeing with True Blood creator Alan Ball when he said in Rolling Stone magazine that the idea of celibate vampires is ridiculous.

Butters does often wonder why I like the genre and even more puzzling why it doesn't give me nightmares. First off, I do realize there really are no such things as vampires; and, horror doesn't bother me - suspense does. So I sleep like a baby.

There is one thing about True Blood that does scare the bejeezus out of me every time I see it; and that's the still of the opossum during the opening credits. And given the cuddly look of what they call a possum in Australia, who can blame me?

So which would you rather meet in a dark attic?

- Farmer Ted