Magic Number

Knowing mathematics can make you seem to have psychic powers.

1. Mind Reading

Materials Needed

Paper, pen, phone book, envelope.

Before doing this demonstration, you need to write the number 1089 onto a piece of paper. Then put it in the envelope and seal it.

The demonstration is done as follows:

1. Tell the audience some nonsense about you being able to predict the future or read their minds. Give someone the envelope. Ask them not to open it yet.
2. Ask for a three digit number, where all the digits are different. Write it down.
3. Write the number backwards.
4. Subtract the smaller from the larger. You will now have either a two or three digit number. It will have a 9 in the tens column.
5. Write this new number backwards. If it is a two digit number, you need to write a zero at the end. (e.g. 94 goes to 490).
6. Add these two numbers. You will get 1089.
7. Open the envelope to reveal the answer.

2. When Were You Born

With this trick you can tell someone their age the month that they were born in and the day they were born on. 

Now tell your friend to: 

1. Write down the number of the month they were born on.
2. Multiply by 100.
3. Add the day of the month they were born on. 
4. Multiply by 2. 
5. Add 9. 
6. Multiply by 5. 
7. Add 8. 
8. Multiply by 10. 
9. Subtract 419. 
10. Add his age. 
11. Subtract 111.

The 2 digits on the right is the person’s age. The 2 digits on the left from the person’s age is the day that they were born on. The numbers that are left are the month your friend was born in.

Here is an example: Pretend that the person’s age is 16 and was born on November 4th. 

1. He writes down 11 for November. 
2. He multiplies by 100:1100 
3. He adds the day of the month, 4:1104 
4. He multiplies by 2:2208 
5. He adds 9:2217 
6. He multiplies by 5:11085 
7. He adds 8: 11093 
8. He multiplies by 10:110930 
9. He subtracts 419:110511 
10. He adds his age: 110527 
11. Then he subtracts 111 and he gets 1110416.

The 2 numbers on the right tell you he is 16. The middle numbers tells you the day of the month he was born. The first 2 numbers tell you he was born in the 11th month, November

Photo: "Math Homework" by Kolchogo Tiko

Do You Remember?

A wonderful friend of mine, an older lady, is losing her memory - and it worries her.

She doesn't want to worry people but she confides in me because we see each other so often. Maybe she has confided in others too, but I don't know.

I certainly don't mind helping out, explaining bit and pieces, co-ordinating with agencies and the like for her. I don't feel obliged in any way, I am just happy to help out.

What does concern me is whether she has told others. Her family is overseas but she does have some friends locally. She is a bit frail and wobbly on her feet but that is manageable. Her memory is another thing - she needs additional support with finances and other sensitive issues. At some point soon (ish) she may need either someone to live in with her, or to move somewhere where she has that other additional support - where she will be safe. I don't know if she has any plans made in that regard.

We had a chat the other day about whether she should keep her car or not (coming from a financial perspective). I wondered if there would come a specific day when, because of her memory, she shouldn't drive or whether there would just be a grey area of "maybe" until something happens to make the decision. And if one is losing their memory, are they in a position to cognitively recognize that it may not be safe?

I am more than happy to help but I don't want to pry or intrude into private matters. Do I contact one of her local friends and discuss the matter with them? Should her family be told?

Hmmmm ....

Photo: "Remember" by ZanaSoul

I Believe I Can Fly

Philosophy of the day :-)

Choose Life

I have come to realize that all my trouble with living has come from fear and smallness within me.

Angela Wozniak

And now ... well look out world, here I come! - from me :-)

Photo: "speaking of joy" by marielliott

Consider This A Personal Invitation

From the Facebook Boobquake site:

"Many women who do not dress modestly ... lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes," Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi was quoted as saying by Iranian media. Sedighi is Tehran's acting Friday prayer leader.

I have a modest proposal.

Sedighi claims that not dressing modestly causes earthquakes. If so, we should be able to test this claim scientifically. You all remember the homeopathy overdose?

Time for a Boobqauke.

On Monday, April 26th, I will wear the most cleavage-showing shirt I own. Yes, the one usually reserved for a night on the town. I encourage other female skeptics to join me and embrace the supposed supernatural power of their breasts. Or short shorts, if that's your preferred form of immodesty. With the power of our scandalous bodies combined, we should surely produce an earthquake. If not, I'm sure Sedighi can come up with a rational explanation for why the ground didn't rumble. And if we really get through to him, maybe it'll be one involving plate tectonics.

So, who's with me? I may be a D cup, but that will probably only produce a slight tremor on its own. If you'll be joining me on twitter, use the tag #boobquake!

Hmm, an excuse to let the girls hand out and call it science (and a personal protest against fundamentalism in all its forms) .... well count me in rofl

Photo: "Cleavage" by Butchy

Patience is Not (My) Virtue

I don't pretend to be a patient person - I am getting better as the years go by but I can't pretend that I have got it right yet. I laugh (nicely) at the other impatient people in my life, but that is in sympathy and not because I am mocking them in any way.

Well "someone" has asked for my address so that this "someone" can send me something. They won't tell me what it is - AND IT IS DRIVING ME MAD! Could it be a postcard, or a million dollars - or something in between?  (which is far more likely)

This is not somebody who has sent me something before so I have no precedent to refer to. And it is from overseas so there is no chance I will get it on Monday.

Aaaaaargh! A hint - or even better - tell me what it is!

I know patience is a virtue BUT I AM NOT VIRTUOUS lol.

Okay I shall calm down now, and learn to breathe - and just pretend that I am grown up and mature and not pacing around the house in anticipation lol.

Photo: "Airmail" by RVArector

I'll Meet You There

I look to the future because that's where I am going to spend the rest of my life.

George Burns

Photo: "Happy Happy Joy Joy" by x-muse

A Morning for Dancing

What a fabulous day - and it is only half over.

I must admit I had a crap night's sleep - pain in my back and cramps in my legs meant I only had a very broken five hours but I was not going to let that get me down. I was meeting up with a friend for coffee and chat later but went down to my cafe hours too early- caught up with half a dozen other people - discussed home-grown philosophy, solved the world's problems and drank peppermint tea. I then spent good time with my friend and afterwards dropped in at a local gallery.

I feel like singing at the top of my voice and dancing wildly. Nothing specific has happened - I think I am just happy :-)

Photo: "some tea?" by blatera

So Very Zen

One of the highlights of my day is when Lisa posts her Zen comment - sometimes a little conversation ensures - I think we have been sprung lol

City as Characters

I have been reading a lot lately - none of it very literary but all of it fun. Primarily I have been on Agatha Christie, Jonathan Kellerman, Patricia Cornwell and today Peter Corris, although there is a few others thrown in as well.

What amazes me, and it probably shouldn't given the amount of English Lit I have done over my life, is how the city is an actual character in these books. Okay Cornwell obviously sets her books in Richmond, Virginia but it is more of a location than a character so lets set that aside.

Christie uses England with all of its class structure and mansions and protocols as a character more than the landscape. But is it a tool or a structure? I think there are arguments for both sides. Could her books be set anywhere else - say in in Australia with an Australian cast - no way - England and the English are intrinsic.

With Kellerman and Corris their cities - Los Angeles and Sydney respectively - are living, breathing characters as large as life as Alex Delaware and Cliff Hardy. You could drive the roads they drive, breathe the air they breathe, their books would be lesser if there were any other location.

I contemplate that in the context that as soon as I got to WA I felt like it was my land and I was a part of it. Will I feel the same about any other landscape if I spent 30 odd years there - I am not sure, it would influence me for sure but I am not sure it would "be" me in the same way at WA is. It has got nothing to do with moving back, that isn't going to happen, but WA is a part of my cellular being.

I think it is the same with Kellerman and Corris. Where is this heading? I haven't decided yet. Does it mean anything? I have no idea. I would like to follow the thought trough though.

All Men Are Created Equal?

Over the last few years in Australia, Melbourne specifically, there has been a bit of a gangland war going on. One of the main protagonists has charged and found guilty and received a long prison sentence in a maximum security prison.

This week he was killed. An fellow inmate has been charged. There is much controversy over how it happened being that he was meant to be supervised at all times and there are allegations that this wasn't the case for the crucial 25 minutes it took for him to be discovered, stories that the cctv footage of the said period has apparently gone missing and hints of the corruption of police and prison officers are being plastered over the front page of the papers. Three individual inquiries have been launched into the whole affair - plus there will be the trial of the man arrested for the crime.

There have also been calls for a royal inquiry-type commission to look into the issues raised by the attack. The Government has refused this - because it sees it as a waste of taxpayers money into a known serial killer. Now if they rejected the idea for reasons that the other inquiries would achieve the answers or a similar reason, well I wouldn't have a problem.

I do have a problem with the lack of a Commission for the official reason give. Yes the guy was a nasty piece of work and I can't imagine too many people grieving for his passing. But are we not all equal before the law? And is his murder of any less importance than those he committed? And is not the potential of corruption of members of the judicial system not of wider concern to the community as a whole?

It all makes me think ... and I am not really liking the results of these thoughts.

And So Let It Be

I am so beautiful, sometimes people weep when they see me. And it has nothing to do with what I look like really, it is just that I gave myself the power to say that I am beautiful, and if I could do that, maybe there is hope for them too. And the great divide between the beautiful and the ugly will cease to be. Because we are all what we choose.

Margaret Cho

Art: "Abundance" by Karin Turner

He Was A Gay Young Man

I have been feasting on the joys of Agatha Christie over this past week - I find every five or six years I forget enough about who-done-it to be able to re-read them all. Well I don't have all of them - about 30, but certainly not the entire collection.

It is interesting to read them in date order and to get glimpses of the changing world of England and English society from the role of the various wars in changing the population bases, privations, the effect on the mental and physical heath of returned soldiers through to the clothes, the role of modernity (in which ever era), the changing face of staff within the home and the development of the "traditional" English village.

What amuses me most is the change of the meanings of words. Yes there are lots of "gay" young folk in Agatha's world and I am quite sure that none of them are same-sex attracted; there are references to "making love" with none of the implication of actual sex and the one that was new to me "slutty" referring to someone who slumped as they sat. It strikes me as somewhat obvious that these changing meanings are all in reference to sex in one way or another. Is that coincidence or indicative of the changing nature of society?

Just my thought for the morning :-)

Curryfest

Well today is the day that I get to go to Curryfest - a celebration of all things Indian just north of Coffs Harbour - or is it?

The Curryfest is hosted by Woop's large Punjabi Sikh population and continues to grow each year - last year there was over 10,000 visitors - which is even more impressive when you appreciate that Woopi has a population of about 4,500.

I had great plans of leaving in 30 minutes to make sure I got a good park and then spend the day snapping photos left right and centre. Oh and there is the curry and the music and the dance and .... well everything.  But it has been raining all night - well heavy showers at least. Getting wet doesn't put me off but I am wondering about the quality of the light for taking photos .... hmmm bom tells me the forecast is only for a shower or two ... oh what the hell - I am going.

Hopefully I will come back this afternoon/evening with lots of photos to share :-)

Photo: "sunset sari" by voxnocturn

Life Changes

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and it isn't a bad one. In fact you might even think about smashing it out of the park it is so good. I have two such things happen in the last week or so.

I have been asked to be a Community Moderator (or Mod Bod as it is called to it) for my beloved Pool and their forums. Damn you could have knocked me down with a feather - until I started dancing wildly lol. I don't pretend to be qualified in the technical side of it but I guess that is the glory of a voluntary post. I am just so stoked to be asked - I wasn't sure I would ever have colleagues again - let alone Radio national colleagues :-)

The second is of a more personal nature and I am not sure I believe it is happening, let alone want to announce details here - yet. It will be dramatic change for me, again I never thought this might happen either. I am both terrified and excited lol Let's wait and see, I guess.

And if I could get the writers residency I am applying for well that would be three home runs lol. Okay the chance of this one is minute (gotta be in it to win it though) - but then I would have thought the other two events were just as unlikely lol. So back to the typing, drafting and redrafting lol.

Photo: "Skipiing" by squeekyjee

Family Search Update

There has been movement at the station - lots!

I have had letters and emails and it is all so very very exciting :-) I haven't heard from South Africa yet but I have certainly heard from my uncle (how strange to be saying that applied to someone new), my great aunt, a church and a history society. Pieces are coming together and I now am closer to getting more links (yippee).

My family is growing lol

Kewl Kids Sunday

I thought I was pretty good with geography but I just this week I found out about the Socotra islands so I thought it was only fair I share it in case it is new for others too!

It was their fascinating plants that were my doorway (so many photos to choose from but I narrowed it down to these two). The Socotra islands are in the Indian Ocean, off the horn of Africa and are a part of Yemen. If you check out the wiki article, you also get some great cave photos. I also found great info here.

Celebrate This ....

I have noticed over the years that I don't "do" conventional celebrations anymore - I don't do Christmas, or Easter, I don't do my birthday, I avoid all forms of footballs and their grand finals with a passion, I haven't even done my Thanksgiving (focusing on being thankful instead of pilgrims) dinner for years. Hey I am even over New Years lol.

Part of this is convenience (I don't have kids), part of this is apathy and part of this is an internal change within me but as I have whittled away this day and that season I realize I have nothing left on the calendar.

There are many lunches or dinners that I have with friends through the year to rejoice at various birthdays, or to toast the actual friendship, or to just get together and these are great but I need a celebration.

I know there is the big 4-0 and I have said I will do something for that but I am wavering on the party idea. But I do want to celebrate it somehow...

But aside from that I want to have a celebration day that I can put on the calendar year after year. If I can't grab an existing day then I want to make up my own. I want to feast with friends, I want joy and laughter, I want to celebrate - I don't want the baggage of the small 'p' politics that exist with so many of the traditional days.

Now to come up with a plan ....

Photo: "Celebration of Lights" by tt83x

Bucket List

I haven't updated mine for a few years.... in fact I can't even find the one I started when I was in my 20's .... yes it is here somewhere ... anyway I am starting a new one.

1. Go back to America
2. Cook in Italy
3. Paint in Mexico
4. Learn the piano
5. Get myself  published
10. Learn Spanish
11. Picnic at the lighthouse at Byron Bay
11. Attend two new "cultural" events each year
12. Celebrate friendship more
13. Send birthday cards - on time
14. Visit a large Monet exhibition
15. Have a feast once a year
16. Learn Spanish
15. Finish painting the portrait
16. Produce my "Dogwood" book so it looks perfect - and the start another one
17. Do the Bundagen walk again
18. Grow poppies
19. Take up a residency somewhere

Okay that is where I have got to at the moment .... :-)

Passion and Purpose

You sort of start thinking anything's possible if you've got enough nerve.

J K Rowling

Art: "Joy" by Keith Mallett

It's Out There

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It's That Time of the Year

In New South Wales this long weekend means chocolate, possibly church, way too much food and probably the Royal Easter Show. For non-Australian's this parallels a really large district show in England or a state fair in the US.

Now I haven't done the NSW one (I really don't want to go to Sydney more than absolutely necessary) but hearing the updated on the radio about the pigs and chickens and sheepdogs and ... well all of the agricultural aspects of the show I can't help but sigh and the memories of childhood come flooding through.

My grandparents (and then my uncle and aunt and now my cousins) have a stud sheep farm so not only was the Perth Royal Show an important fixture on the calendar, it was also an excellent opportunity to catch up with family and friends and those in the industry.

I was only asked to hold a sheep once - how old was I - maybe 7 or 8. I let the team down and chickened out - half way through the judging. Sorry Uncle Arthur, sorry Uncle Mark.

Otherwise there was the show bags, the rides (yes Uncle Mark had his revenge by putting me on the Wild Mouse - no he couldn't come with me "his legs were too long").

Anyway, over the years and I grew and I was there for Rural Youth more than the sheep (yes my lemon butter did get a first) and my interests expanded to the cooking and art and - may favorite of all, the District Displays. The District Displays are huge "scenes" made up of ONLY the produce of the region.

Photos are from the wiki link for the Sydney Royal Easter Show because I couldn't find any for the Perth Show..

Kewl Kids Sunday

Stereoscopic pics are those that make 2D into 3D. I am not sure if this pic has translated properly but you can check the real ones here at Cretique :-)

Wiki has (of course) everything you every wanted to know about them and more.

The Teddy Tour

I so wish sites like this weren't necessary but sometimes the world (or the people on it) sucks and you can't ignore it.

Mind you, this site is just beautiful - the design is gorgeous, the idea is so very special.

And if you would like to donate a bear just let them know.

Changing Seasons

Summer is gone and while winter isn't here yet I know it isn't too far away. One of the tell-tale signs happened just last night - one of the neighbors lit a fire. I don't know my woods well enough to identify exactly what they were burning but there was at least some eucalyptus in there.

Okay I know fireplaces are "wrong" on so many levels but I put the smell of the smoke on a par with fresh bread or hay or vanilla with smells that make me smile.

Kewl Kids Sunday

Just in keeping with the theme of the weekend - many thanks to Pita for the photos :-) Click to make it bigger :-)

Photo Updates

Just letting you know that in my absence from the blog I have been uploading some of my photos on Pool. Feel more than welcome to head over and have a look. You can leave comments without having to sign up.

I am working on a text piece for a project with the theme "Rivers" that, if accepted, could be on the radio in October/November. Any budding editors would be more than welcome to add their two cents to draft 2. It is also on Pool.

Stroopwafels Return

Back in history when this blog started on of the visitors on a friends site led us to the exotic idea of the stroopwafel. I spent hours and hours hunting down a stroopwafel iron eventually fining one on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland ... although one I got there they looked at me dumbly even though they had confirmed they had them in stock less than 30 minutes earlier.

Anyway, the moment passed and I become hooked on the idea of oven baked donuts (and yes I do have a pan for that).

Today while reading through my latest delicious. magazine I notice that the essential ingredients for one of their recipes is the stroopwafel - although they do suggest buying them from gourmet stores rather than make your own.

I know it is only one recipe in one magazine but could it be possible that this could become a new trend product - and I might finally get a stroopwafel iron?

PS, a stroppwafel is a caramel filled waffle from the Netherlands.

Real Milk

I was reflecting on a conversation I had a while ago with a group of folks about missing out on "real" milk and wondering how many young people (those under 20 or even 25) had even tasted it.

Immediately conversation moved to the benefits or otherwise of skim milk v regular, or other types of milk.

"But no", I said, "I meant real milk - from a cow".

There was a moment of silence as people contemplated this and then little memories of bottles with cream that floated to the top - who got it, how much cream there was, serving suggestions - were progressively shared.

And yes the younger members of the crowd were silent.

It would be a shame if real, unprocessed milk is something that becomes a memory only discussed by oldies in their rockers. The new trend towards home gardens give me hope that people won't accept the tasteless supermarket fruit and vegetables as being "normal" and that real food does make the tastebuds dance with delight. But the availability of real milk, well that is a more complex process.

Art: "2 per cent milk" by popoks

My Poor Blog

I have been so busy faffing over everything my poor blog has been ignored. Apologies little blog, you have served me well and I should take better care of you :-)