Foster and Partners' new library in Berlin

"The Philology Library, at the Free University in Berlin--one of the firm's greenest schemes to date--represents years of research into the use of active and passive technologies for more energy-efficient buildings..."

W: http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/story.php?artid=1745

Paddington Bear

The BBC website features an interview with Paddington Bear creator Michael Bond.

"Elevenses with Mr Paddington bear
Paddington, the marmalade-munching bear from Darkest Peru, may be nearly 50 but he's still popular, appearing on postage stamps and with a new adventure on the way. On his 80th birthday, creator Michael Bond reveals why the bear with the very hard stare has endured..."

W: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4608774.stm

Making a Million homepage

UK university student Alex Tew (21yrs) brainstormed how to make a million dollars to pay his overdraft and uni fees. He came up with the idea of creating a homepage and selling pixel space on that page with links to advertisers websites. He has made $999,000 from the page so far.

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4585026.stm

SMH: http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/making-a-million-dot-com/2005/12/30/1135915692410.html

W: http://www.milliondollarhomepage.com/

Keith and Sharon's travel blog

Keith is a travel contributor to CG. He and his wife Sharon are on the road, in the air again from 14 Dec 2005 to 8 Feb 2006. Their travel itinerary covers Hong Kong, Paris, London, Madrid, Rio, Motevideo, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Bolivia, Peru, Lima, LA, and then back to Sydney.

You can read about their travel adventures and see the photos they've taken at the travelpod website.

W: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/ksmc04/rtw-0506/tpod.html

Citrus

Went out for a bit of dessert tonight in Newtown. Citrus had this nut tiramisu on offer $6.50. The menu says it's only available Fri, Sat and Sun nights. It was really yummy with ice-cream (extra 50c).

Where: 227 King St Newtown, phone: (02) 9557 3582

Minus Five - ice bar in Sydney

There's an ice bar near the Opera House. The SMH says that it's $30 a drink and you're only allowed to stay in the bar for 30 minutes, otherwise you probably get too cold.

Where: Shop 18, 2 Opera Quays, Sydney, Phone (02) 9251 0311

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/bar-reviews/minus-five/2005/12/22/1135032119884.html

Pancake shop, Sussex St, Chinatown - Jan 5

Walking along Sussex St at 8pm and I see a new pancake shop open. There are two windows with the door in the middle. On the left side, they were cooking up profiterole type pancakes in the window, and on the right hand side, they were making savoury pancakes. They poured a thin layer of batter onto the metal bench, put shrimps/prawns mixture onto that and then waited for it to cook up before serving. People were waiting in the street, smoking, talking and waiting for their order to come through. Very theatrical.

Pitt St mall, Sydney - Jan 5

Went to town to have a look around. The sales are still on and there's lots of people checking them out. Some people are back at work as well. Saw some suits running around.

Pitt St mall still has the Christmas star decorations up. It was a much cooler, rainy day. Much prefer this weather to the extremely hot weather of New Year's Day.

Sydney Festival 2006 - Jan 7-26

The Sydney Festival includes theatre, music, dance, free outdoor events, vidual arts and more.

W: http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au

Flickerfest 2006 -Jan 6-15, Sydney

Flickerfest 15th International Short Film Festival 2006.
Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
6-15 January, touring nationally January- March.
Box office: 02 9365 6888

W: http://www.flickerfest.com.au

Wellington trip

Went to Wellington, NZ over the Christmas break. Caught up with family, friends, had lots to eat. It's a very community oriented place. Everyone supports one another and knows what others are up to. People tend to just drop in to someone's house for a visit and there's always freshly baked cakes and biscuits and a fresh pot of tea on offer.

Love the vibe and pace of Wellington. It's a more relaxed, slower pace and you don't have to drive very far to get anywhere - 5-10 minutes is the norm. Plus you drive along the road, and wind around the mountainous terrain, and you see houses set against the mountains with lots of trees in covering the landscape. It really is a pretty romantic, magical place.

I never seem to have enough time to really go into tourist mode and just visit lots of places and take heaps of photos. But I did manage to take some photos around town.

W: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chaosgeneration/sets/1747602/

Chubby checks out

"David Aaronovitch sweats his way throught the second and final instalment of his time at fat camp.

In yesterday's excerpt, David Aaronovitch checked his belly into a luxurious suite at the Pritikin Longevity Centre and Spa in an attempt to turn around his spiralling weight problem..."

Article in SMH outlining some of the principles of the Pritikin diet.

W: http://smh.com.au/articles/2005/12/20/1135032001130.html

Searing preview of greenhouse life

"Sydney can expect more of the searing temperatures that fanned fires, stopped trains, disrupted air travel and blacked out suburbs on New Year's Day, according to CSIRO global warming projections.

On average, Sydney experiences temperatures above 35 degrees three days a year. That could double by 2030 and rise to as many as 18 days by 2070..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/01/02/1136050394364.html

Sydney reached 45 degrees on New Year's Day. It was really, really hot!

Get councillors out of planning, watchdog urges

"The building approval process in NSW is so flawed it is open to abuse at almost every stage, the corruption watchdog has found in a damning paper that calls for the drastic reduction of councillors' involvement in the system..."

W: http://smh.com.au/news/national/get-councillors-out-of-planning-watchdog-urges/2005/12/22/1135032135668.html

The Great Escape 2006 - 14-16 April 06

Enjoy 3 days of music, arts, food, market stalls, and more at the Newington Armory, Homebush. Bands include: Silverchair, Something for Kate, Eskimo Joe, Paul Mac, and many other acts.

W: http://www.thegreatescape.net.au

The Vanguard

You can catch performances by Russell Crowe, Jenny Morris, Vince Jones and more at the Vanguard in Newtown during January 2006.

W: http://www.thevanguard.com.au

Technology fuels video weblog boom

"From the Internet counter-culture which spawned blogs and podcasts comes the newest thing in new media: vlogging.

In short video diaries and homemade reality shows, vloggers are using the power of cheap online technology to invite strangers into their lives..."

W: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200512/s1534470.htm

Space Furniture sale - till 5 Jan 2006

Space Furniture are having a sale - up to 50% off sale till 5 Jan 2006.
84 O'Riordan St, Alexandria NSW 2015. Ph: 02 8339 7588.

W: http://www.spacefurniture.com.au

Random Photography Exhibition 1 Nov - 31 Dec 05

"The exhibition features 29 Sydney-themed images by the 10 award-winning and internationally recognized photographers of Oculi. They are: Narelle Autio, Warren Clarke, Nick Cubbin, Tamara Dean, Glenn Hunt, Jesse Marlow, Nick Moir, Jeremy Piper, Dean Sewell, and Tamara Voninski.

Formed in 2001, this unique photography collective celebrates real lives and real stories that are overlooked by the mainstream media. There are no contrived photo-shoots or art-directed aesthetics, just honesty and an unflinching gaze with their subjects.

At the heart of their photographs, both commissioned projects and personal work, lies a central conviction - to reveal the beauty, wonder and struggle of everyday life; to show the extraordinary in the ordinary. Through the regularly updated website oculi.com.au, Oculi showcase their material to the world.

Selected on their ability to inform and inspire, the photographs in 'Random' showcase the Oculi photographers' ten different styles and perspectives together to offer a contemporary Sydney narrative."

"Presented by Oculi & Customs House

From Tuesday 1 November to Saturday 31 December 2005
Monday to Friday 8am-7pm
Saturday 10am-4pm
Sunday 12noon-4pm

W: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn/html/custom/2234-event-details.asp?EventID=10269

The Business of Color

Article in Steelcases' 360 ezine on the effects of colour on people.

W: http://www.360steelcase.com/e_article000498606.cfm?x=b6kwcmy,b2c5cFV7