UFOs

Is it only me I wonder? Whenever I am out at night, usually walking San Nakji's pooch, I often look up into the sky. I live in a neighbourhood where the surrounding hills block out the light pollution from the city and so they sky and stars are quite bright. Sometimes I notice a bright moving light in the sky. For a few moments I hope that I am looking at a UFO. For those few moments the hope is there that I am lucky enough to be seeing something truly amazing. This hope lasts until I hear that familiar buzzing sound and see the blinking red lights. Yes, just another plane. Although I know that it is less than likely I am going to see a UFO in the sky, I never let that knowledge interfere with me imagining the aliens flying over Auckland and landing in my backyard. I would of course offer to cook them a BBQ, which would be the nice Kiwi thing to do. Hopefully they would then offer me a lift back to their planet so I could check that out. Ideally, this wouldn't be a one way trip, but I am sure we could negotiate.
When I was younger, I once convinced my mum (mom in American) to drive along the banks of the Loch Ness so that I could watch intently for the Monster. I convinced myself that I would be the one to find Nessie and probably tame her. Unfortunately childish dreams were not enough...
One thing I would never want to see is a ghost. They creep the hell out of me. When I was a kid I had three books in an Usborne Book series. There was the UFO book (awesome!), the Monster book (less believable) and then the ghost book. I looked at the ghost book once. There is a page in it where there is a grainy (why are there never any decent photos of the supernatural?) photo of a couple in a car. In the back there is someone else. The problem is that there was no on in the back of the car! After seeing this photo I closed the book and put it back on the bookshelf. I couldn't sleep that night as I was sure the ghost would come out of the book. I got the book and put it into storage far away from my room. I may still have it somewhere, but I will never again open it!
I don't have this problem with UFOs of course. I have faith that when aliens finally come here they will not be like those human eating Aliens. They will not be War of the Worlds aliens. They will almost certainly be ET like or maybe Vulcan like. The will be our friends and if there is a hot alien chick, then excuse me Mrs San Nakji, but this is for cross planetary friendship!

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Is the Moon Full Where You Are?

I always wonder that...

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Bumble Bee

I am quite proud of this photo. I have to say that insects make the best subjects!

Bumble Bees have always fascinated me. They are such placid creatures. If you aren't too squeemish, then I recommend trying to stroke one on the back. They don't seem to mind a bit!

In Aotearoa at the moment Bumble Bees have taken on a monumental task. The are trying to shoulder the job of the common honey bee. Wild bees in the North Island (Te Ika o Maui) of Aotearoa have been almost wiped out by a vicious critter called the veroa mite which invades hives and kills all the bees. It is so sad to be at the height of summer and yet hardly ever see a bee. Bumble Bees have had to get out there in their droves and make sure all the flowers are being attended to!

An interesting fact about Bumble Bees. Scientific studies have conluded that due to the sructure of the Bumble Bee's wings, it should be impossible for them to fly forward, yet the manage it. Weird huh?

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Weekly Animal Pic - Dung Beetle

I am a day out from my usual posting. Completely forgot about my weekly animal pic. How could I do that? I mean really...

Anyway. Bugs, insects, arachnids, whatever you want to call them, I reckon they are amazing. One of the most amazing is the Dung Beetle. They collect the refuse of other animals and make a huge ball out of it. This they travel with by pushing it along in front of them. You have to admire these creatures for their perserverance. There is a lesson there for us, but I am not quite sure what it is... Something about a big pile of sh*t perhaps?

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Desktop Challenge

Ashley, who wants to dance with Shah Rukh Khan, posted a photo of her work station and asked others if they would do also. It is kind of a tag I guess. Correct me if I am wrong Ashley, but is the idea that people try to figure out what I do by looking at my desk?

This is San Nakji's desk. Yes, San Nakji has two computers. What do you think I do? If you know, please tell me as I just spend my days blogging... There must be a reason my company keeps paying the bills!

I tag everyone. I would love to see where you work or live. If you have a digital camera, or dika in Korean (great new word, slip it in in conversation!), please post some shots on your blog!

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Note to Gasoline Hobo

Gasoline Hobo has tagged me in vengence for me tagging Space Nakji who tagged him... Yes, it is all very petty, but that is him ;o).
I am currently discussing answers with Paul Hogan and hope to post soon. GH, have patience, it may or may not be worth it!

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Photo Friday - Disguise

This week's theme is Disguise. The photo above is one I published earlier... I have 'disguised' it!

Hoping for an easier theme next week!

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San Nakji's Shop

In the spirit of Macro and Seoul Brother, San Nakji has opened his own shop. I am sure that you all want to own a piece of San Nakji memorabilia! Therefore I offer it almost at cost. All proceeds to go to charity!

www.cafepress.com/sannakji

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Yoda Needs a Shave!

**NOT SAN NAKJI'S POOCH!!!** Please don't hate! ;-)

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Go Go Fundis!

It's not often I am with the evangelicals, well never. But some of them have seemed to have snapped out of their fatalistic mind set and may actually want to sort out the world! Amazing...

A group of 86 evangelical Christians began a campaign Wednesday that links their faith with an attempt to fight global warming.

The leaders, who face opposition from some conservative evangelicals, want the U.S. government to pass legislation requiring the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.

The group said Christians, and the U.S. government, have a responsibility to cut emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other gases that trap heat in the atmosphere like a greenhouse. Many scientists believe these gases have intensified recent hurricanes, heat waves, disease outbreaks and droughts.

Evangelicals are an important part of the Republican Party, and while the group has begun talks with several Republican lawmakers, they say they have not discussed the matter with President Bush.

The president, who is strongly religious, opposes the Kyoto climate-change accord on the grounds it would damage the economy and does not require developing countries to also make cuts. The United States is responsible for a quarter of the world's greenhouse gases.

The group's call for political action will be backed by advertisements in The New York Times and other publications, and by television and radio commercials.

"We want to engage Americans," said Rev. Jim Ball, the publisher of Creation Care magazine. "We feel that as evangelical leaders our responsibility here is in the United States."

The Rev. Leith Anderson, a former president of the National Association of Evangelicals, said the group's effort marked an important change in the evangelical community, where many are realizing that some issues, such as global warming, AIDS and other humanitarian crises, need strong government involvement. That notion runs counter to the views of certain conservatives.

"We're acknowledging the fact that our government has to take action," Anderson said.

The group's efforts have sparked criticism by other evangelicals, some of whom question the scientific evidence on global warming.

During Wednesday's news conference, a reporter asked how the group planned to persuade those evangelicals who believe the earth is merely thousands of years old to believe scientists who say global warming is a real phenomenon and made worse by humans.

Paul de Vries of the New York Divinity School answered that, "However old a person may believe the Earth is, all of us believe that it was made and it was good. Therefore, whatever we have done with it has been messing up God's creation, and we have a responsibility."

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Without Reason

There is no reason for this photo. I just like the colour. No apologies offered!

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For Her Family

The last known photo of Ms Moz Quito who felt the need to suck the precious O- blood of Mr San Nakji. As to what happened to her after this photo was taken... Well, the only witness was Mr Right Handcrashingdown, and he's not talking...

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Too Damn Early

This morning I was making my way to the bus. Being as early as it was I was lucky (?) enough to see the sun rise... Here is my shot of Auckland city way off in the distance... That's where the bus would soon take me. Fun huh? Well, maybe not...

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Taggety Tag Tag Duh Tag

A tag from Friar Tuck. Haven't done this in a while...

Four Jobs I've Had:
1. University Tutor in Korean
2. Headhunter
3. Interpreter
4. My current secret job

Four Movies I Watch Over and Over Again:
1. Karate Kid 1 & 2
2. Love, Acutally
3. The Castle
4. The Princess Bride

Four Places I've Lived:
1. Nara, Japan
2. Rarotonga, Cook Islands
3. Seoul, Republic of Korea
4. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

Four TV Shows I Watch:
1. Lost
2. Extras
3. Survivor
4. CSI Las Vegas

Four Places I've Vacationed:
1. Greece
2. Vanuatu
3. United Kingdom
4. South Africa

Four Websites I visit daily:
1. My Blog Role - all of them!
2. BBC News
3. IMDB.com
4. google.co.nz


Four of My Favorite Foods:
1. Ice Cream
2. Caramel Popcorn
3. Samgyeobsal / Bacon
4. Crocodile

Four Places I'd like to be right now:
1. Nafplio, Greece
2. In Power
3. Aitutaki, Cook Islands
4. Seoul, Korea

Six Folks Now Tagged With This Meme (the last six commenters):
1. Ori
2. KS
3. Brotha Buck - If you do such things?
4. Fahd
5. Cool Buddha
6. Tim

It seems the limit is six. Friar made the rules, so I will stick to them. If you would like to be tagged also, please let me know and I will mention your name so you can be famous and be selected especially from the millions of San Nakji's World readers.

**Update!!** Space Nakji is now tagged!

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Back (and Front)

Yes, San Nakji is back from his short break. Yesterday (Monday) was New Zealand national day, called Waitangi Day, and so was a nice holiday. Beautiful weather meant that the San Nakji family went to the beach and San Nakji did not feel like looking at a computer. I did however watch the Superbowl. Was it just me or did Stevie Wonder sing "Shame Bush"? Maybe it was just me... Would have been funny though. Of course the wrong team one, but they were robbed! Offensive pass interference? You must be kidding! Touchdown run to the Steelers? He was tackled short... Oh well, maybe next year Seahawk fans, if you can get past the might of the San Diego Chargers, oh yes!
San Nakji has one piece of advice for you on this Tuesday morning. Don't see Memoirs of a Geisha. Apparently everyone in the world knew this except for me... It is definitely the worst movie of the year and the year hasn't yet started! Never have I been so bored by a film. Well, maybe not since XXX or Rollerball.

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Weekly Animal Pic - Siamang

This weeks pic is a Siamang. Siamang come from Sumatra and parts of Borneo. They are of course endangered, like everything else in that part of the world. There is a family of Siamang at our local zoo. They are great climbers and even greater howlers! Great to watch for hours.

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Photo Friday - Vanity

This week's theme for Photo Friday is 'Vanity'. I was struggling with this one as I don't like to post photos of people. It has just occurred to me that people who paint their names on walls all over the place must have certain sense of vanity. They think highly enough of themselves that they expect us all to know who AKA or whoever is...

I adjusted the colours a bit to make this photo stick out more. Not entirely happy with it, but have to do it for today!

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Our Local Hedgehog

Everyone should have one. A local hedgehog!

As I was posting my cicada skin photo, San Nakji's Pooch started barking outside. I went to see what he was up to and there was our local hedgehog come for a visit. He wasn't too pleased with the Pooch wasn't that keen for photos.

I love hedgehogs, but they aren't good for our native bird the Kiwi as they evict our Kiwis from their nests leaving them to be eaten by cats and ferrets. That's not cool!

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Cicada Continues

Further to my last post (not the sad army song, my actual post before this one), Ruby Slipper Lady mentioned how she had fun with the skins of the cicada grubs that you can find all over trees and fences in the summer. I found this one on my daily walk of San Nakji's Pooch. When I was a kid, all those years ago, I used to see how many I could collect. Thank goodness kids have Playstation now!

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Cicada

I am trying to push my crappy little Minolta to its' limits and yesterday I took a photo of a cicada that found its' way into San Nakji Manor. I have to come clean and say that I am not much of a wildlife photographer. I took five shots of this little guy and this was the only one that came out...
I really love cicadas. When they are around you know that summer is truly here and their continuous noise is somehow comforting. One interesting thing I learned recently about cicadas is that they don't come out of the ground every year, but after 3 years or seven years or 17 years. They have an infinity with prime numbers and somehow they have figured out this is the way to avoid predators. It seems to work well for them as we are never short of a ciacada or two!

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Happy New Year! 새해 복 많이 받으십시오!

Today is the first day of the Korean New Year. It is year of the Dog this year. I have no idea whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. It is surely a thing!

If I were in Korea right now I would be doing something interesting like jumping on a seesaw. (well maybe not, considering the last time I did it I was almost paraplegic San Nakji...) However since I am in Aotearoa, I called the family in Seoul and now am going to bed.

Another installment of the always amazing life of San Nakji. Stay tuned for more action!

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Weekly Animal Pic - Puffin

It's that time again, the post you have all been waiting for. This week it's a Puffin. Birds are pretty much all the same in the beak area. It's a boring area for birds. However Puffins break the mold here. They have great multi-coloured beaks which makes all the difference. That's about all I know about Puffins. I think they eat fish...

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World's Shortest Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl "Will you marry me?"

The girl said, "NO!"

And the guy lived happily ever after and went fishing, hunting and played golf a lot and drank beer and farted whenever he wanted.

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Here's Looking at You, Kid

Photo from AP

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Who's Your Daddy?

When someone puts in for Child Support, the proper thing to do is find out who the father is and see why he is not providing support. The following are all replies that women have written on Child Support Agency forms in the section for listing the father's details. Or putting it another way..... Who's your Daddy! These are genuine excerpts from the forms.

1. Regarding the identity of the father of my twins, child A was fathered by Jim Munson. I am unsure as to the identity of the father of child B, but I believe that he was conceived on the same night.

2. I am unsure as to the identity of the father of my child as I was being sick out of a window when taken unexpectedly from behind. I can provide you with a list of names of men that I think were at the party if this helps.

3. I do not know the name of the father of my little girl. She was conceived at a party at 36 Grand Avenue where I had unprotected sex with a man I met that night. I do remember that the sex was so good that I fainted. If you do manage to track down the father, can you send me his phone number? Thanks.

4. I don't know the identity of the father of my daughter. He drives a BMW that now has a hole made by my stiletto in one of the door panels. Perhaps you can contact BMW service stations in this area and see if he's had it replaced.

5. I have never had sex with a man. I am still a Virginian. I am awaiting a letter from the Pope confirming that my son's conception was immaculate and that he is Christ risen again.

6. I cannot tell you the name of child A's dad as he informs me that to do so would blow his cover and that would have cataclysmic implications for the economy. I am torn between doing right by you and right by the country. Please advise.

8. Peter Smith is the father of child A. If you do catch up with him, can you ask him what he did with my AC/DC CDs? Child B who was also borned at the same time....well I don't have a clue.

9. From the dates it seems that my daughter was conceived at Disney World; maybe it really is the Magic Kingdom.

10. So much about that night is a blur. The only thing that I remember for sure is Delia Smith did a programme about eggs earlier in the evening. If I'd have stayed in and watched more TV rather than going to the party at 146 Miller Drive, mine might have remained unfertilized.

11. I am unsure as to the identity of the father of my baby, after all when you eat a can of beans you can't be sure which one made you fart.

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A Joke

A bloke's wife went missing while holidaying on the Australian coast. He spent a terrible night wondering what could have happened to her. Next morning there was a knock at the door and he was confronted by a couple of pretty miserable policemen, the old Sarge and a younger Constable.

The Sarge said: "Mate, we have some news for you, unfortunately some really bad news, but, some good news and maybe some really good news."

"Well," says the bloke, "You'd better let me have it both barrels, what's the bad news?"

The Sarge said, "I'm really sorry pal, but your wife is dead. Young Bill here found her lying at about five fathoms in a little cleft in the reef. He got a line around her and we pulled her up, but she was dead."

The bloke was naturally pretty distressed to hear this and had a bit of a turn. After a few minutes he pulled himself together and asked what the good news was.

The sarge said, "Well when we got your wife up there were quite a few really good sized crays and a swag of edible crabs in and around her swimsuit, so we've brought you your share." A

nd he handed the bloke a bag with a couple of nice crays and four or five crabs in it.

"Gee thanks," said the man. "They're bloody beaut... I guess it's an ill wind and all that. Now, what's the really good news?"

"Well", the Sarge said, "Me and young Bill here get off duty at around 11 o'clock and we're gonna shoot over there and pull her up
again!...

You fancy comin' along?

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Snake & Hamster

Today's News

AP - Gohan and Aochan make strange bedfellows: one's a nine centimetre dwarf hamster, the other is a 1.2-metre rat snake.

Zookeepers at Tokyo's Mutsugoro Okoku zoo presented the hamster - whose name means meal in Japanese - to Aochan as a tasty morsel in October, after the snake refused to eat frozen mice. But instead of indulging, Aochan decided to make friends with the furry rodent, according to keeper Kazuya Yamamoto. The pair have shared a cage since.

"I've never seen anything like it. Gohan sometimes even climbs onto Aochan to take a nap on his back," Yamamoto said.

Aochan, a 2-year-old male Japanese rat snake, eventually developed an appetite for frozen rodents but has so far shown no signs of gobbling up Gohan - despite her name.

"We named her Gohan as a joke," Yamamoto chuckled. "But I don't think there's any danger. Aochan seems to enjoy Gohan's company very much."

The Tokyo zoo also keeps a range of mostly livestock animals, and promotes "cross-breed interaction," according to Yamamoto.

But Gohan and Aochan's case was "was a complete accident," Yamamoto said.

Tomorrow's News

Snake breaks fast, eats hamster. No one surprised.

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Weekly Animal Pic - Armadillo

I forgot to do this last week! Here is a cute Armadillo. I always wanted to see one....

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Photo Friday - Pink

This week's theme is 'Pink'. Here's a native New Zealand flower that decided just this week to bloom. That was nice of her!

Thanks KS for your help.

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Apocolypse Then

On Friday morning the moon was clearly visable in the sky. After tweaking the photo a bit (blue is so boring!), you can now see what will happen the day the Sun explodes. Advance information from San Nakji's World to you!

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San Nakji Branches Out

This blog has really taken on a life of its' own. Again I thank everyone for their support. I think that this blog has decided that it wishes to be a depository for my photos and light hearted discussion and information. I had originally planned two other things. One was my thoughts on Korea and everything to do with one of my favourite countries. I have therefore started, San Nakji's Korea. Nothing there yet, but that's where San Nakji's empire is going. The second blog will be witha more political slant. I realise I have people with a wide range of different views of the world coming here and I want you to keep on coming. However for my own sanity, I must express my opinion. To not offend some of you, these opinions will be found at San Nakji Sermons. That's all I have to say at the moment. Please continue with your day!

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Photo Friday -Success

As I had said previously, Photo Friday's theme this week is Success. Thank you to Fahd for this idea. The baby above is that of a friend of mine. When I look in his eyes I can see, to him, this is the height of success. To everyone, the fact that he is sleeping and not screaming is success too!

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Amazing Place

(Photo from the BBC)

This is Khiva in Uzbekistan. I would love to travel the old Silk Route. There are some facinating cities to be uncovered.

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Ewww!

Jail for US 'chilli finger' pair

A couple who planted a human finger in a bowl of chilli in the hope of gaining compensation from Wendy's fast food chain have been jailed in California. Anna Ayala, 39, was sentenced to nine years and her husband Jaime Placencia, 43, will serve 12 years, four months. Ayala's false allegation was said to have cost the third-largest US burger chain $2.5m (£1.4m) in lost sales. The woman had claimed she had bitten into the finger at a Wendy's restaurant in San Jose, California, in March 2005. Investigators later found the finger belonged to construction worker Brian Rossiter, who had lost it in an industrial accident and sold it to Mr Placencia for $100. Ayala gave a tearful apology to her friends and Wendy's employees before she and her husband were taken into custody by baliffs at the San Jose court.

"Greed and avarice overtook this couple," said Superior Court Judge Edward Davila, adding that the pair had "lost their moral compass".

The two pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to file a false insurance claim and attempted grand theft with damages exceeding $2.5m (£1.4m) Forensic tests showed that Ayala had not bitten the finger as she had claimed. And police documents revealed she had sued a number of corporations in the past, sometimes settling out of court in return for a payout. The fast food chain always insisted that the finger did not originate at one of its establishments as no staff had lost a digit and no suppliers had reported any accidents involving hands. It said it had to sack employees because of the loss in sales as a result of the negative publicity.

Story from BBC NEWS

There must be an appropriate proverb here. Anyone?

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Tingkel 팅클

I am addicted to these snacks. Melon flavoured crunchiness... Yum!



Well, that's the post.... (Sorry, I know it's getting worse!)

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Le's Dance, Put on Your Red Shoes...

I was heading home last night after a hard day at work and these guys were playing their music and dancing their dances. They are from the Cook Islands, which are a group of islands spread over a huge area in the Pacific. It was a great show, but this was the best photo I took... *gulp*

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Messing Around

I am sick of the view from my window. What if it were like this I wonder....

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Photo Friday Topic

By this Friday I need to have a photo of "Success". Just what that photo will be is beyond me. What would say success to you, my loyal readers?

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Scary

Are you scared? I know I am....

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Sheep and Dog

There is a place in the Waikato region of Aotearoa called Tirau. It probably best known as a place to pass through on your way to somewhere else. In order to promote themselves they built these two building out of corrogated iron.





I have no idea why...

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The Etched Beach

I am still trying out all kinds of tricks. I wonder if that is cheating in the photo world? Will they tear up my photographer's license? Anyway, I didn't like this picture when I took it, but with this effect, it doesn't look too bad.

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Monday - Ah, Monday!

I can't really think of anything to blog about. Just one of those days I guess. Mrs San Nakji and I went and saw King Kong (finally) yesterday. As a New Zealander we are obliged to see all Peter Jackson movies or our citizenship is revoked. This includes all his really early films. I have to recommend Braindead which is pretty damn funny.
Anyway, we went to King Kong and I think it was pretty good. The ending seemed a bit weak, but I think the original finished the same way. The island bit is by far the best part. The dinosaur stampede and the bug scene are hillarious! In New York, Kong is chained up in a theatre for everyone to see. Well, that theatre is located near where I live. I first saw Star Wars there many years ago... Ahh, memories! It looked wonderful in the movie!
The movie is a bit long, but I think you will enjoy it. Go out and have a look.

To finish, here's a picture of a vent,



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Weekly Animal Pic - Naked Mole Rat

Enough of the cute animals. Make way for Naked Mole Rat! This is one amazingly attractive animal don't you think? I know nothing about it. Anyone?

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Photo Friday - Panorama

This is the first attempt at photo friday. One major limit to my camera... No panorama setting. I am hoping for a challenge more my style next week!

Thanks to Kira's Slave for picking this one.

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America's Shame

Guantanamo bay has now been up and running for 4 years as a place where the US government puts terror suspects and violates basic human rights guaranteed under the Geneva convention. Nothing more undermines the 'war on terror' than this place. The whole idea that the west is so much more civilised than its' enemies does not quite sit right when the west's enemies are being treated like this. I urge you all to support Amnesty International in seeking for the closure of this facility. Of course there will still be the whole problem of Bush's definition of torture and the secret prisons in those countries not so big on 'liberty' or 'freedom'

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SN Pooch Checking You Out

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Berries - Yum

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Newspeak and the Fall of Language

I have just read an article in the Independent where the UN admits that Haitian civilians were murdered by UN 'peacekeepers' in a gunfight gone wrong last July. Only they don't admit to murder, they admit to 'collateral victims'. This kind of Newspeak is particularly prevalent in the military where it seems the idea is to dehumanise war and make it sound ok. These are the people who brought us 'Ethnic Cleansing' a particularly sickening phrase, as well as 'friendly fire' and 'collateral damage'. This kind of reinvention of English would be laughable had not the media picked it up and now we can see this everywhere. It seeps into our language like some kind of toxic waste. Well I say, no more! Since when do we let a sector of our society, which I am sorry to say is generally not the smartest bunch, dictate how we should speak, think or feel? Let's say what it really is. Murder of civilians, genocide, killing your own soldiers... this is what is really going on.

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San Nakji's World 2006

My dear readers, I hope that 2006 is treating you well so far. I can't complain too much, although we have had a little bit too much rain. Still, our best month, February, is still to come, so I am not entirely disappointed with our summer yet!
You will have noticed that the theme of my blog has changed a bit over the past month. This coincides with me getting a little digital camera as well as the advent of my mac computer. I had become rather addicted to digital photos. In fact, in the weekend at a wedding I attended I somehow managed to take in excess of 200 photos. I have received numerous comments that my arm is in pretty much every photo every one else took that day. Being close to the bride and groom, I am happy to say my photos were the best!
Anyway, I plan to put up more photos as I hopefully improve my skills. This will not detract from other features of this blog, namely insightful social comment and weekly animal pics, but will instead, hopefully, make this little world of ours just that bit more colourful!
My blog friend Crystal helpfully pointed out this website, photofriday.com, where participants post a photo, by Friday I reckon, based on the theme of the week. This week's theme is panorama. Not having a panoramic camera, I am not sure what I can do, but I can but try! Friday will now be the day for my weekly photo attempt as well as the weekly animal pic.
Ori asked me where I come up with the ideas for my photos. Well, I am a big fan of modern art. So with things like my art photo (my favourite photo) or my 'Person Through Wineglass' are examples of this influence. I just take photos of everyday things and try to manipulate them so that they look kind of funky! I also like a bit of nature and so this will reflect in my photos too. I am not a big people photo person, I like to protect the innocent... and guilty!
So there you have it, stand by for my first attempt at a 'panorama'.

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Person Through Wineglass

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SN Pooch is on the march!

"Now officially ranked as the cutest dog in 234 countries" - Kofi Annan

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A Mix

Of the Maori and European side of my city...



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Weekly Animal Pic - Chameleon

This is my new favourite animal pic. I don't really have a lot to say about chameleons, they are pretty well known. One thing that disappointed me when I first saw a chameleon at our local zoo was that he (or she...) didn't change colour constantly to blend in with his (or her) background. He (or she) just stayed more or less green. No polka dots or tartan shades. I think TV has ruined me for life...

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Not Too Bright!

Auckland police had an easy job tracking down a man who allegedly tried to hold up a community gym yesterday - he was recognised as a member. Police said the robber entered the Roskill Aqua Sport Centre in Mt Roskill yesterday morning armed with an air gun that resembled a pistol. The man had tried to disguise himself but was still recognised. When the receptionist refused to hand over any money the man fled to a waiting car - understood to be his own - and was driven home by his son. Members of the armed offenders squad were called and surrounded a local house. Two men surrendered without incident.

"There were very strong leads. Not a lot of planning went into this, I don't think," said Acting Detective Sergeant Steven Shaw.

A 41-year-old man and a 19-year-old have been jointly charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and assault with intent to rob.

They will appear in the Auckland District Court today.

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The Pooch Returns

In an arty heavily edited sort of way....



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Hajj

It is the month of the Hajj, the pilgrimage tasked to all true Muslims to complete at least once in their life. Whatever you think of Islam, it would be difficult to not be impressed by the sheer number of people in one place at one time. Ever wonder what 2 million people looked like? Just try the Hajj! Below is what a Muslim must do complete the pigrimage.

DAY 1: FIRST STEP

Pilgrims travel to Mina on 8 Dhul Hijjah (a date in the Islamic calendar) and remain there until dawn the next morning.

DAY 2: STANDING AT ARAFAT

Pilgrims then travel to the valley of Arafat and stand in the open praising Allah and meditating.

At the end of the day, pilgrims travel to Muzdalifa where they spend the night. Pilgrims gather up stones to use the next day.

DAY 3: STONING THE DEVIL

In the morning, pilgrims return to Mina and throw seven stones at pillars called Jamaraat. These represent the devil. The pillars stand at three spots where Satan is believed to have tempted the Prophet Abraham.

Pilgrims sacrifice an animal (usually a sheep or goat). This commemorates the incident related in the Old Testament when the Prophet Abraham was about to sacrifice his son and God accepted a sheep instead. Nowadays many pilgrims pay someone to slaughter the animal on their behalf.

Pilgrims shave their heads or cut some hair from it and return to the Great Mosque at Mecca for a further Tawaf, walking around the Kaaba. They then return to Mina, where they spend the night.

DAYS 4 & 5

Pilgrims spend time in Mina, stoning the pillars each day.

If a pilgrim has been unable to return to Mecca to walk around the Kaaba, he or she does so on the fourth or fifth day.

I would love to go to Mecca. Unfortunately not being a Muslim and not likely to be one anytime soon, I will have to be content with tv footage and amazing photos.



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Garageband

I may be the last person on earth to find out about garageband.com, but since finding out about it earlier today, you can't get me away from the site. All kinds of musical tastes are catered for and you can listen to A LOT of independent music from all around the world. It is great. Check it out (if you haven't already...)

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Football More Exciting?

(From the Beeb)

American football, basketball and baseball have millions of followers, but they can't match soccer for sheer excitement, says a team of scientists.

The reason is its element of surprise, claim researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, US. Football (soccer) is more likely to produce an unexpected result, such as a "giant killer" win in the FA Cup.Scientists analysed results from more than 300,000 games played over the past century.They reviewed five sports: ice hockey, football, baseball and basketball in the US, and English football.The team decided to make unpredictability - how often a leading team is overcome by an opponent with a worse record - the best measure of how exciting a league is.

"If there are no upsets, then every game is predictable and hence boring," co-author Eli Ben-Naim told New Scientist magazine.

The results of the analysis showed that the "upset frequency" was highest for soccer, followed by baseball, hockey, and basketball. American football came last on the list, and so was labelled the least exciting sport.But there was a twist in the tail.
When the scientists looked only at data from the past 10 years, English Premiership football and baseball swapped places.One interpretation of the finding might be that soccer has become more predictable in recent years.

Of course if rugby league had been included there would have been no contest, especially if it were New Zealand beating Australia. But that's scientists for you, just don't know the real sports.

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Tragedy

I was listening to a debate last night on nuclear power. A point was made that when compared to other power generating options, nuclear power compares well in the fatality stakes. My first thought, as I am sure yours will be, Chernobyl. How could he possibly say that when we have Chernobyl? However if you start to think about it, then there is sense there.

I was just reading my favourite news site, BBC News and I saw this article. No doubt this news will be in every newspaper by the time you read this... (for those who are too lazy to click I am talking about the 11 coal miners in US who died) When it comes down to it, coal power is the worst form of energy generation ever devised. There is the obvious cost to the environment and to health, but there is also the cost of getting the coal. These poor men are an example, but compared to what has happened to miners in Russia and especially China, these deaths are nothing. Mining is truly one of the most awful jobs in the world. The stress on the body from spending all that time in a dark hole breathing stale air must be enormous. I doubt you would meet many miners who had lived to a ripe old age. There seems to be a vicious cycle where people live in small isolated towns that survive due to mining and therefore to survive they must mine. As their fathers had done and probably their grandfathers too.

To be buried alive must be one of the worst ways to die. It really surprises me that in today's age of technology we need to send these poor men into pits so that we can light our houses. The sooner we do away with coal altogether the better I say.

Oh yes, I am not decided on nuclear power by the way... (we don't have it here yet..)

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Aotearoa's Christmas Tree

Every summer around Christmas the New Zealand Christmas Tree, known locally as the Pohutukawa, blooms. It is beautiful and with help from Project Crimson, where these trees are planted everywhere, we know summer has arrived by the brilliant red everywhere we look. Of course, I forgot to take any decent photos. The above photo is about as good as it will get until next Christmas. All the flowers have now gone away leaving the ground a nice red...

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Mt Nemrud

Mt Nemrud in Turkey is a place I would like to go. At the top of the 2150m (7056 Ft) extinct volcano lies the tomb of King Antiochus, who was king of Samosata way back in 69 - 38 BC. The tomb is surrounded by these huge statue heads. The statue of Zeus is the largest one in the world. Cool.

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What's Going On?

San Nakji's World is out of holiday mode and regular operation has commenced. We at San Nakji's World would like to welcome back our regular readers and would like to especially welcome new readers to the best blog named San Nakji's World on the Web!

This year San Nakji's World will aim to provide alternate news and views as well as entertainment and the odd Weekly Animal Pic. We are always happy to answer questions or take requests, so please drop us a line at the email provided.

Once again, welcome one and all.

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Beach

The weather is closing around us as we made our way to a regional park about 45 minutes from where we live. We managed to have a nice hot day and as we got in our car the rain came down... We need a spot of rain as it is bloody hot here! Still, shouldn't complain...

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This is what you get...

when you use the enhance function in iPhoto on a picture of my wall...




Weird...

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Year in Review Part 2

So yesterday's post was kind of serious where I talked about world events and personal events and the like. I was talking to Kira's Slave about top movies of the year and it was funny because we could barely remember what movies were on this year. It got me thinking about top movies, books, tv shows, music... So as the New Year is a time for lists, here is another one. Please remember this is my own opinion, and while my opinion is held in high regard here at San Nakji's World, it is still an opinion and not always (although usually) fact.

Top Movies of 2005

1 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Johnnie Depp (or however you spell it) is a brilliant actor. He never fails to impress me with the kinds of roles he chooses. He was creepy in this one. Creepily brilliant. The movie was faithful to the book and I loved it!

2 - Wallace and Gromit and the Curse of the Were Rabbit

Claymation amazes me. It takes a whole day to make less than a minute of footage. The effort involved means there are so few people willing to take it on. I am so glad someone still does as this is a great film. It is funny on so many different levels and that is what makes a truly enduring comedy

3 - Batman Begins

If you don't count the 60s TV show which is really how Batman should be, then this is the next best thing. In 2 hours they managed to explain everything about Batman and how he came into being and it was almost believable. The effects were great and Gotham looked amazing. My only problem was the Scarecrow was a little lame... (not in a can't walk kind of way!)

Television

1 - Extras

My favourite comedy of all time is The Office. Not the American one, but the original British one. Ricky Gervais really has a way about him which amuses me no end. I was sad when The Office finished after only 2 series and a special, but that's the way British comedy works. The old adage 'leave 'em wanting more' works here. Well here is more, Extras. Ricky stars as an extra on different film sets. He plays the same kind of loser character and every episode sees him working with a real life acting star, such as Samuel L Jackson, Ben Stiller or Kate Winslet. A Kate Winslet quote from the show is on the right under quotes... I really enjoyed this show.

2 - Family Guy

I love this show. It is so much more funny than the Simpsons, mainly I think because I love all the television references. I was sad when it was cancelled all those years ago, but thanks to DVD sales it has been revived and I am currently enjoying series 4.

3 - Rescue Me

This is how American drama should be. Due to the appearance of certain relative in-laws I have had to tape about a month of the show, but one day I will sit down and watch them I think Dennis Leary is great and this show is quirky in all the right places

Music

1 - The Gorillaz - Demon Days

Not normally my kind of music, but the new Gorillaz album is amazing. It is so catchy and just so damn good!

2 - Cold Play - X&Y

Their third album took a few listens before I got into it. However I now strongly believe it is their best. Well worth a listen!

Books

1 - Dining With Terrrorists - Phil Rees

I wrote about this in an earlier post. It is an interesting read as it gives an alternate point of view on 'terrorists', letting them talk for themselves. I recommend it to all.


2 - Pol Pot - Philip Short

It is often forgotten that over 1 million people died in Cambodia in 5 short years. This biography tells the life of Pol Pot and tries to explain what happened in those terrible days. A sobering read

Well, there's a few things there to start the year. Once again Happy New Year, especially to all my new readers, nice to see you there!

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