Everything is relative

I've been a little out of it lately, a lot has happened I guess. I felt the need to remind myself of how much human society matters in life's scheme, so I decided to look at the Powers of Ten website.

"Powers of Ten explores the relative size of things from the microscopic to the cosmic. The 1977 film travels from an aerial view of a man in a Chicago park to the outer limits of the universe directly above him and back down into the microscopic world contained in the man's hand. Powers of Ten illustrates the universe as an arena of both continuity and change, of everyday picnics and cosmic mystery. The film also demonstrates the Eameses' ability to make science both fascinating and accessible."

The following YouTube videos further explain the Powers of Ten:

This first video is a short film by Charles and Ray Eames for IBM: 'dealing with the relative size of things in the universe, and the effect of adding another zero'.

This video is a clip from the Imax film "Cosmic Voyage" with commentary by Morgan Freeman. It's not very good on the small screen, but you'll get the idea. Also it repeats, yet I didn't mind watching it twice ;)

And lastly the Simpson's opening sequence, a homage to IBM's Powers of Ten.

An Amazing Magic Trick

I'm a sucker for a talented magician, so I thought I would share another amazing magic trick with you, by Kevin James:

An Unusual Show

My partner asked me to watch this amazing YouTube video. I wanted to share it with you also.

Raymond Crowe is an Australian contemporary magician/unusualist. He has an interesting style, and I'm amazed by his skill, a truly a magical experience.

For more information on Ray Crowe please visit his website: Raymond Crowe : : unusualist.

What a Wonderful World, Ray Crowe's shadow puppet show:

Simpson Pain

For about 3 days now, I've been plagued with my darling partner singing "Spider Pig" from the Simpson Movie.
Now he has found the video on YouTube, so I get to hear Homer sing it too, over and over and over...
The bloody thing gets in, I've caught myself singing it a number of times now.

I used to really like the Simpson's, well before I got Austar. Fox8 plays re-runs constantly, it's enough to give even the most avid Simpson's fan Simpson's hate!

So I thought that you all may like to join my pain, and have Spider Pig stuck in your head too, have fun:

Thank You for the Song of the Day

My song of the day's words really make me think, I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do:

Thank You
By: Alanis Morissette

How bout getting off of these antibiotics
How bout stopping eating when I'm full up
How bout them transparent dangling carrots
How bout that ever elusive kudo

Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence

How bout me not blaming you for everything
How bout me enjoying the moment for once
How bout how good it feels to finally forgive you
How bout grieving it all one at a time

Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence

The moment I let go of it was
The moment I got more than I could handle
The moment I jumped off of it was
The moment I touched down

How bout no longer being masochistic
How bout remembering your divinity
How bout unabashedly bawling your eyes out
How bout not equating death with stopping

Thank you India
Thank you providence
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you nothingness
Thank you clarity
Thank you thank you silence

yeah yeah
ahh ohhh
ahhh ho oh
ahhh ho ohhhhhh
yeaahhhh yeahh

Don't Forget The Sunscreen

Today's song of the day is one of my all time favourite pieces of music: Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen).

Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
By: Baz Luhrmann

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering
experience…I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and
recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you
imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that
never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you

Sing

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with
people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes
you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with
yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you
succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your
life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they
wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe
you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t
congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your
choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body,
use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people
think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever
own..

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for
good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you
should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and
lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live
in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will
philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize
that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were
noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one
might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will
look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who
supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the
ugly parts and recycling it for more than
it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

Something A little bit Different

When I was a child my favourite show was HR Pufnstuf. I also really enjoy listening to Mama Cass Elliot. Therefore the song of the day is sung by: Cass Elliot - Different

Different
By Cass Elliot

(Spoken)
Boss Witch: Just don't stand there you dum dums, let's get this show on the road, C'mon!
Heimrich: Ja wohl, I vill start de music!
Boss Witch: Play Heimrich!
Heimrich: Ja, groovy!

(Sung by Witch Hazel)
When I was smaller, and people were taller,
I realized that I was different,
I had a power that set me apart.

I learned to take it, to use it, to make it,
it's not so bad to be different -
to do your own thing
and do it with heart.

Different is hard,
different is lonely,
different is trouble, for you only.
Different is heartache,
different is pain,
but I'd rather be different than be the same!

At first I'd wonder, what hex I was under.
What did I do to be so different?
Then I discovered some others like me.

Wonder no longer, together we're stronger.
It's not so bad to be different,
be true to yourself -
that's what you must be!

Different is hard,
different is lonely,
different is trouble, for you only.
Different is heartache,
different is pain,
but I'd rather be different than be the same!

Singing 'till the "End Of The Line"

Today's song is by some incredibly talented musicians. Introducing George Harrison, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, and Jeff Lynne as the Traveling Wilburys.

The song; "End Of The Line", reminds me of the importance of living life your way. After all life is all about what you make it.
I hope you enjoying listening to the Traveling Wilburys - End Of The Line.

End Of The Line
By Traveling Wilburys

Well it's all right
Riding around in the breeze
Well it's all right
If you live the life you please
Well it's all right
Doing the best you can
Well it's all right
As long as you lend a hand

You can sit around and wait for the phone to ring
(at the end of the line)
Waiting for someone to tell you everything
(at the end of the line)
Sit around and wonder what tomorrow'll bring
(at the end of the line)
Maybe a diamond ring

Well it's all right
Even if they say you're wrong
Well it's all right
Sometimes you gotta be strong
Well it's all right
As long as you got someone to lay with
Well it's all right
Every day is judgment day

Maybe somewhere down the road a ways
(at the end of the line)
You'll think of me and wonder where i am these days
(at the end of the line)
Maybe somewhere down the road when somebody plays
(at the end of the line)
Purple Haze

Well it's all right
Even when push comes to shove
Well it's all right
If you got someone to love
Well it's all right
Everything will work out fine
Well it's all right
We're going to the end of the line

Don't have to be ashamed of the car I drive
(at the end of the line)
I'm just glad to be here happy to be alive
(at the end of the line)
And it don't matter if you're by my side
(at the end of the line)
I'm satisfied

Well it's all right
Even if you're old and gray
Well it's all right
You still got something to say
Well it's all right
Remember live and let live
Well it's all right
The best you can do is forgive
Well it's all right
Riding around on the breeze
Well it's all right
If you live the life you please
Well it's all right
Even if the sun don't shine
Well it's all right
We're going to the end of the line

How to Save a Life

My song of the day is an alternative rock song by The Fray. I love the message behind this song.

If you would like more information on it's origin and influences I encourage you to read this wikipedia article: How to Save a Life (song).
Introducing The Fray - How to save a life.

How to Save a Life
By The Fray

Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it’s just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
And you begin to wonder why you came

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defence
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you’ve told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
And I pray to God he heals you

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you’ve followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he’ll say he’s just not the same
And you’ll begin to wonder why you came

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

How to save a life
How to save a life

Where did I go wrong (where did I go wrong), I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up (I would of stayed up) with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

How to save a life
How to save a life
How to save a life

A "Good Excuse" to sing

As an Australian I thought it would be nice to bring you some Australian music. Presenting the John Butler Trio - Good Excuse.

Good Excuse
By: John Butler Trio

All around I see raining
Things don't seem to go my way
Got a dark cloud that's hanging
And it seems to follow me

Oh boy won't you just wake up
feel the humming
This good world is giving you
better start running
to catch up with your life, catch on up
Before the whole thing is through

Have you once? Have you twice?
Have you even conceived how
Really good boy you do got it
Go take another better look around

You are just another white boy
Thinking you're so hard
Go take step outside see what's shaking in the real world
Go take a step outside see what's shaking in the real world
Go take a step outside see what's shaking in the real world

But you don't know
how my heart laments
I really got a good excuse
to complain
My parents got divorced
Can't heal the pain

And now there is only cheap regrets
I guess thats just the way it be
Is it the world or how I see me

Boy now you are really, really bugging
Yes you are bugging me,
can you just shut right up
Your cup is overflowing, overflowing
And you think it is empty

You don't even know what side
you are fighting for
Boy won't you turn your game boy off
Stop pretending
it's you against the world
I am sick and I am tried of hearing
you always say

I really got a good excuse to complain
My parents got divorced
Can't heal the pain

Go take a step outside see what's shaking in the real world

Mondays Song of the day

Everyday would like to give you the words, and listening experience of some of my favourite music.

Today's song was my favourite as a child. I still really enjoy listening to this one. I hope you enjoy it too: Peter, Paul & Mary - Puff the Magic Dragon

Puff the Magic Dragon
By Peter, Paul & Mary
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,
Little jackie paper loved that rascal puff,
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff. oh

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee.

Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail
Jackie kept a lookout perched on puffs gigantic tail,
Noble kings and princes would bow wheneer they came,
Pirate ships would lower their flag when puff roared out his name. oh!

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee.

A dragon lives forever but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys.
One grey night it happened, jackie paper came no more
And puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.

His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain,
Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane.
Without his life-long friend, puff could not be brave,
So puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave. oh!

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee.

A Salute To Billy Thorpe

A salute to you Billy Thorpe, may you rest in peace. May your journey continue. My deepest condolences to the Thorpe family.

Australian rock icon Billy Thorpe has died after suffering a massive heart attack at his Sydney home in the early hours of this morning. SBS World News

His music touched the hearts and minds of so many, bringing a new style of music to Australians ears. He inspired me and many of his songs have influenced my own music for many years. He shall be very missed.

Thank you for all that you have brought to this life Billy!

Humans and the Universe

On the way driving home tonight, my partner and I were discussing a local law that we have here. I was thinking to myself how very small humans are when you look at the universe. And how unimportant all these social norms, laws, rules, and expectations really are in the scheme of things. It's a humbling thought, when you consider how tiny we think we are, and how tiny we possibly could be. Perhaps our entire universe is no more than a quantum particle, which makes up an atom on the back of a drake somewhere. And that drakes universe is another quantum bit and so on... Who knows? it is all speculation on our part. Even the calculations we currently have, our ours and ours alone!
All we have is the here and the now, all we have are our emotions, think about it they are us. Even logic, it just feels right, right? Well this is what I have been thinking anyway.

My favorite all time saying is from Monty Python's Meaning of Life, and is in the Galaxy song, which I managed to find on Youtube for your entertainment:

Have fun, and "Just remember when you feeling very small and insecure how amazingly unlikely is your birth, and pray that there is intelligent life somewhere up in space cos there is bugger all down here on earth."

So I guess all I have left to say is; have fun and enjoy life. There is nothing else, so "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life":