So I often have ideas but then when I actually go to write it seems like I forgot all of them but for starters I need to basically add this on to the post from last time because for the first time in current Australian Football League (AFL) history (used to be called Victorian Football League until about 50-60 years ago) the Grand Final ended in a draw. In the event of a draw, be ready for one of the most unique sports rules of all time. The match is replayed the following week. I don't know that I've ever seen both teams in such distress and the interviews of the captains where they were literally speechless. They had no idea what they planned on telling their 'mates' back in the locker room. This was a huge money maker for AFL and the network covering it here but I have a feeling a modification of this rule might come in affect as 'footy' becomes the most popular sport in Australia.
So everyone assumes it's the summer here but the weather here is still like Spring and some days are 70s to 80s but some days are still in the low 60s. The days that are nice now are beautiful but I have a feeling that this is going to last briefly for like 2 months and then it's going to get unbearably hot at times. Last year there was one day that was 119F. The weather here fluctuates a lot so a heat wave apparently may come through for a couple days and then the temps will drop back down to reasonable levels.
Ps. I feel you get converted into a culture when you start reacting and thinking the way they do instead of converting from what you know. Here they use celsius like essentially nearly the rest of the world. I actually think in Celsius now and had to convert back and think what it'd be in Farenheit which I did the complete opposite when I first got here because I had no idea temperatures in Celsius. This has happened in all areas though because I now naturally look right first when crossing the road and walk on the left on sidewalks, etc...
For those that don't know I'm researching modeling the auditory pathways and actually started another blog to impart the knowledge obtained from doing the research process to others. This isn't on my research because that you publish but essentially the tools and process applicable to any researcher. I got the idea because people in my lab had questions about switching to Linux/Ubuntu and decided it was the best way to introduce people without answering the same question five times. So really not relevant to most reading this blog but check it out here if you desire: http://aresearchtoolbox.blogspot.com/. If anyone is particualarly interested in my research, I can send you some documents via e-mail or I may be able to post them on here soon.
I have no pictures right now because I spilled on my computer a couple days ago and am waiting until Monday when I get what I need to fix it :( so I plan on posting some soon. The last two weeks they had this festival here called the Fringe Festival which had a ton of up and comers in all areas of entertaining from comedy to plays to music and performances every night at venues across the city. I went to the Humpday Jam which featured musical comedians ranging from SNL type skits, Tenacious D esque, and Flight of the Conchords wannabes. The host was pretty good but my favorite performance had to be two guys singing about his sweet Margarita. How he loves it when he wakes up with her on his chest because he's always ready for some more. The pizza that is. Also saw a comedian one night thats performance was fear and laughing. It was so, so but introduced me to the absurd rule here that was just passed in Melbourne that gives police the right to stop anyone, anywhere in Victoria (State Melbourne is in) and search them on the spot. Although he did get some pretty good jokes off of this so maybe it has some good.
I have added my address and number on the left of this blog. The US number is a google number so it will ring through to me if I am logged into google or I get SMS or voice messages immediately via e-mail on my phone so you can give me a shout sometime :). Even if I'm not on hopefully I can give you a call right back but no gurantees.
