RE: Isn
Hi Jabberwocky
This particular string seems to be about to self-destruct, but here goes anyway. (And sorry about the formatting of what follows...too tired to "fix" it.)
With reference to the various international meanings of what the term "pissed" means...
Australians get “pissed” too - there are various degrees, of course: "pissed as a fart" is a state which borders on being terminally inebriated, often accompanied by things like "technicolour yawns". “Munchies” usually refers to very light snacks (like "nibbles")...although eating anything by the time one is "pissed" is a rare phenomenon (unless you're Russian, perhaps).
You wrote:
"I enjoyed reading about your idea about an observatory. I bought a simple telescope and have shipped it to Bali already. Here, where I live in the UK the light pollution is terrible. I am going to join your telescope club."
Depending upon where one lives in Bali, light pollution is not exactly unknown here either. However, there are still many areas around the island where the "seeing" is extremely good (like 8-9/10). By the time you get here, there's a strong chance that I'll have something up-and-running either observatory-wise or at least a very reasonable and highly portable telescope at my disposal.
A while ago I subscribed to an Astronomy Group based in Jakarta. They send me e-mails notifying me of meetings in Jakarta. Can you imagine the light pollution there? I've yet to go to one of their meetings - it's a rather daunting and expensive exercise to get there from Bali. Having said that, many years ago I had some limited access to Sydney Observatory which is physically located right next to the Sydney Harbour Bridge! I also had unlimited access for a year at the observatory at the University of Melbourne, (on top of the Physics Building - less than a kilometre from the centre of Melbourne city proper). Still managed to have lots of fun. (Even managed to do some "observational work", mainly related to sun-spots.)
Recently, I've been looking into the possibilty of getting a planetarium built in Bali. The trouble with them is that they're quite expensive (even small ones). As far as I know, there are three already in all of Indonesia: Jakarta, Surabaya and, wait for it, one in East Kalimantan! That last one blows my mind...the nearest airport is 110 minutes from Jakarta...once you get to Kalimantan, it takes another 3-4 hours to drive there, or maybe 5 hours by boat! Who, in their right mind, would build something like that there in the first place? Beats me. So, there's hope yet for Bali.
I've received a whole bunch of stuff from Carl Zeiss (in Germany), makers of exemplarly planetariums, and as I said above, they cost a lot. I haven't checked Japanese ones yet but given the rather large percentage of Japanese tourists who make up tourist arrivals here, maybe they could be persuaded to donate one. Many angles and "leads" to follow-up still. Wish me luck.
"As a matter of interest what heritage do you have? I understand you are Australian but you appear to be British to me in your personality (not Southern UK)."
I got a BIG chuckle out of that. But since you asked, here goes:
My parents are Lithuanian - I was born near Hamburg, Germany, after WWII - spent nearly five years there and we all moved to Australia as "displaced persons". I was dragged up in Oz and after numerous adventures in Bali (since 1973), have been living here for about 9 years. One of the major ironies of my life is that I've never set foot in "my own country". It was under the control of the USSR for many years and I simply couldn't stomach the thought of going there then since the Soviets required one to stay in extremely expensive (and unbelievably drab) hotels. Relatives had to get "permission" to visit (not always forthcoming). Since independence, I just haven't had enough time/money to go there. Actually, it's not only that. At times I think that the memory of "my country" as portrayed by my parents when I was a child is more important to hold on to than going there and seeing my dreams shattered. I still speak the language and sometimes I fantasize about opening a warung in Vilnius. Or something like that.
I'm not familiar with Classic Risk Question so cannot profer and opinion on it. And as for your Amsterdam Coffee Shop Music CD, there are numerous additions I can think of:
The Cream - White Room
The Doors - Love Me Two Times
Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues
The Who - Behind Blue Eyes
The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone
Too many, really. Tell you what - I'll whip one up for you, when I have enough time and let you know when it's finished. Maybe you should do the same for me. Duelling Compilations. I like the sound of that.[/quote]
Have to go now and find my manual dealing with "replicator switches". Are you sure that's what they're called? No problem - time to hit the "post switch".
:shock: