Uncharacteristic for me (not being a petrol head) nor for Anna (definately) we wondered out to the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.
First being new to this, we forgot our ear plugs. That was soon fixed with the purchase of a Survival Kit - earplugs, sunscreen and tablets for headache. Well the day was overcast - so the sunscreen was redundant but yes the plugs were mandatory.
We settled on Turn 2 on the bank and were impressed with the power of these machines. As we walked around the track area we saw different cars being tuned and prepared. This is going to sound silly, but not being petrol-heads: what impressed us were that these were not made for any degree of comfort or safety -- it was all about speed !
With our man Mark Webber gunning for 'pole' the crowd revelled in his fast laps. Lewis Hamilton who had been arrested the prior night for 'hooning' in St Kilda was not impressive on the track and struggled. Despite this the crowd seemed to not give him a hard time; which of course made alot of sense when I realised that that would be for them make him more worthy of hero worship.
To cap off the day I even took a photograph with a Driver from the Mercedes Grand Prix team who I spotted in the public area. Not exactly sure who he was but he was wearing the Petrobras uniform that Schumacher Mercedes team wears - perhaps he is a backup driver?
(Footnote: we will be back for the Sunday session - not in our original plan, but hey this is great)
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Two Trobradours.....Two Friends.......Two Singer - Song Writers
After a period of 40 years Carole King and James Taylor were re-united on stage for a Trobadour Tour. This celebrates a gig they did together earlier in their careers, when you were just starting out.
It was clear early on that they were enjoying the concert as much as we were, we did not realise that this was their first concert of the global tour and the dialogue and jokes were also new to them. James Taylor's dry humour was evident and at times Carole King's reaction made it clear that this was unrehearsed.
Boy what a repetoire ! But the best moments came from the duets they sang together, often with James playing his with the distinctive sounds of his acoustic guitar. James as an artist has recorded many many songs from Carol and he is clearly a better singer, she is no slouch and can belt out a tune - at CD perfect level. She has an incredible song writing career and it is hard to believe that she is nearing 70 years old.
Effortlessly they sang songs that tugged at your heartstrings and the crowd, although older was the largest Karoke group in town. We had seen James in concert, just last year and for that event he was doing his Covers Album, but this concert was just so different. They were playing for each other and there was a deep friendship and respect for each other.
It seems cliched that "You're got a friend" is a signature song that they both recorded - they sang this together and you felt the love! So my 'hats off' to the Two Trobradours each of their songs sounded ageless and they took us on a journey as their friends !
It was clear early on that they were enjoying the concert as much as we were, we did not realise that this was their first concert of the global tour and the dialogue and jokes were also new to them. James Taylor's dry humour was evident and at times Carole King's reaction made it clear that this was unrehearsed.
Boy what a repetoire ! But the best moments came from the duets they sang together, often with James playing his with the distinctive sounds of his acoustic guitar. James as an artist has recorded many many songs from Carol and he is clearly a better singer, she is no slouch and can belt out a tune - at CD perfect level. She has an incredible song writing career and it is hard to believe that she is nearing 70 years old.
Effortlessly they sang songs that tugged at your heartstrings and the crowd, although older was the largest Karoke group in town. We had seen James in concert, just last year and for that event he was doing his Covers Album, but this concert was just so different. They were playing for each other and there was a deep friendship and respect for each other.
It seems cliched that "You're got a friend" is a signature song that they both recorded - they sang this together and you felt the love! So my 'hats off' to the Two Trobradours each of their songs sounded ageless and they took us on a journey as their friends !
Friday, March 19, 2010
Dr Craig Venter
It was my privilege to hear Dr Craig Venter speak this week. He is best known as the man you cracked the sequencing of the Genome. On reading more about him in wikipedia, Craig was a average guy who scored C and D's at school. His contribution to society is incredible: as he told his story about how they approached this task - he told his life's work in an hour. But below the blood, sweat and tears was both brillance and luck!
His work is a tricky combination of science and IT - his team does 1 million experiments each day using a
(in silica) approach which in layman's terms translates into: "on the computer".
Dr Venter also sequenced animals and moved onto sampling water from the core of the earth and has circumnavigated the world to sample water. He discovered millions of viruses and other bacteria - we have been accustomed to regard these as 'evil'. Indeed they perhaps provide the secret to our survival as a species.
The most staggering piece for me was when he discussed the engineered cell that takes carbon dioxide and converts this into methane. That discovery has incredible ramifications for all of us, if this can be commercialised and create a truly renewal energy source.
What an inspiring man........hearing him talk reminded me that we never really know what is possible!
Thanks Craig for restoring my belief in humanity.
His work is a tricky combination of science and IT - his team does 1 million experiments each day using a
(in silica) approach which in layman's terms translates into: "on the computer".
Dr Venter also sequenced animals and moved onto sampling water from the core of the earth and has circumnavigated the world to sample water. He discovered millions of viruses and other bacteria - we have been accustomed to regard these as 'evil'. Indeed they perhaps provide the secret to our survival as a species.
The most staggering piece for me was when he discussed the engineered cell that takes carbon dioxide and converts this into methane. That discovery has incredible ramifications for all of us, if this can be commercialised and create a truly renewal energy source.
What an inspiring man........hearing him talk reminded me that we never really know what is possible!
Thanks Craig for restoring my belief in humanity.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
George Michael
George was playing his last concert of a three year tour. As it would be Melbourne was the location of this event and we with VIP tickets were fortunate to be within a stone throw from George.
There was indeed little need for a seat as we and the entire ground danced and bopped during the duration of the show. George had last been in Australia 25 years ago .....so this was a rare performance. He sang his repetoire from Wham through to his contemporary pieces. Oh yes ...George can still move !!!
When George started this series of concerts his own career was not in good shape, and indeed George's life had been bathed in controversy of drugs and sex scandals. In the meantime the world has shifted and economies are generally in a unhealthy state. As George would sing: "These are the days of the open hands" (from Praying for Time), there is much that is wrong with the world and needs attention.
As George closed the evening with Careless Whispers.......the fact that he started an hour late, or that his voice is not as good as it once was - mattered.
There was indeed little need for a seat as we and the entire ground danced and bopped during the duration of the show. George had last been in Australia 25 years ago .....so this was a rare performance. He sang his repetoire from Wham through to his contemporary pieces. Oh yes ...George can still move !!!
When George started this series of concerts his own career was not in good shape, and indeed George's life had been bathed in controversy of drugs and sex scandals. In the meantime the world has shifted and economies are generally in a unhealthy state. As George would sing: "These are the days of the open hands" (from Praying for Time), there is much that is wrong with the world and needs attention.
As George closed the evening with Careless Whispers.......the fact that he started an hour late, or that his voice is not as good as it once was - mattered.
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