Norwich

Norwich, UK - the town where medieval cathedrals are as thick as coffee shops in Seattle. If one's looking for untouched country, this is the wrong place. It's pretty hard to step anywhere without stumbling upon something from at least the 11th century. Claims to fame include the Norwich Market, the Norwich Castle, and of course Norwich Cathedral (that's the big one).

Despite being a relatively small nations, the UK can be a bit of a challenges to get around in. It took me the same amount of time to get from Heathrow to Norwich as it did to get from Washington, DC to Heathrow. Apparently, the folks at Paddington Station sent me to Kings Cross rather than Liverpool Street. Hence, I had to change trains in the less than quaint village of Peterborough and was forced to spend quite a bit of time hanging out there.

So, I'm here in Norwich for at total of four weeks, hanging out at the University of East Anglia as a "Visiting Fellow". In addition, I'm working out a couple of times a week with the Eastern Shotokan Association, and keeping up with the European Cup 2008. I've already traveled up to Newcastle to visit the University there and will be celebrating the Fourth of July in London next week.

I've enjoyed uncharacteristically pleasant weather - not like that Washington, DC place which was stinking hot. Sure, the rains roll in now and then, but I've managed to dodge the worst of it. The harder thing to dodge is the exceedingly large number of pensioners cruising around town in their little electric scooters. They're everywhere - the health service must subsidise them. Also, it's interesting to be in a town where the bicycle really is a core method of transport for everyone.

Back in the US

I managed to spend the first two weeks of June in Australia's official capital of Washington, DC, where I attended the American Meteorological Society's summer policy colloquium. This in an of itself was quite a treat - 10 rather intense days of digging into policy for science and science for policy, with access to some fairly senior members of the federal government. And subsequent to this, I had some free time which allowed me to pay a visit to my old stomping ground.

Meanwhile, I'd forgotten what a hot and sticky place the U.S. east coast can be. My first week there, temperatures soared up to the high 90s. Now that in an of itself is nothing by Australian standards, but throw in some God-awful humidity and being outside was rather unpleasant. Contrast this with the other thing I'd forgotten about the U.S. - the ever present chill of air conditioning. Not sure who decided 65 was a comfortable temperature. Other things I noticed about America:

1) they like plaid
2) but not as much as khaki
3) which is second only to baseball caps in terms of fashion significance
4) stuff is cheap (but they think they pay a lot for gasoline)
5) they love trucks (but not as much as they used to as a result of #4)
6) they like to talk to strangers (or yell random stuff at them)
7) the nation hasn't managed to sort out its health care woes in my absence
8) cable news has morphed into an unintelligible mess of rubbish
9) God hates the Midwest (or maybe he just likes testing its faith)

Of course, I managed to catch up with various friends and loved ones - the boys from W&M, the ATL ex-pats, former students, work colleagues, etc. Also worked out with the Washington DC Shotokan Karate Club, and even toured Mount Vernon (something I never did when I actually lived in the area).

Australia's Top 50

The Age recently conducted an exercise to attempt to compile a list of Australia's top 50 albums (of all time, of course). Some are predictable, some I'm vaguely aware of through having learned a bit about Australia music culture, others remain complete enigmas. The results:

THE TOP FIFTY
1 10-1 - Midnight Oil (1981)
2 Radios Appear - Radio Birdman (1977)
3 Living in the 70s - -Skyhooks (1974)
4 Hi Fi Way - You Am I (1995)
5 Stoneage Romeos - Hoodoo Gurus (1984)
6 Gossip - Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls (1986)
7 (I'm) Stranded - the Saints (1977)
8 Kick - INXS (1987)
9 Diesel and Dust - Midnight Oil (1987)
10 Back in Black - AC/DC (1980)
11 Magic Box - Loved Ones (1967)
12 Easy - the Easybeats (1965)
13 Born Sandy Devotional - the Triffids (1986)
14 Crowded House - Crowded House (1986)
15 Human Frailty - Hunters and Collectors (1986)
16 High Voltage - AC/DC (1976)
17 Sunnyboys - Sunnyboys (1981)
18 Wait Long By The River and the Bodies of Your Enemies will Float By - the Drones (2005)
19 16 Lovers Lane - Go-Betweens (1988)
20 Prehistoric Sounds - the Saints (1988)
21 Circus Animals - Cold Chisel (1980)
22 Hourly, Daily - You Am I (1996)
23 East - Cold Chisel (1980)
24 Doughboy Hollow Died Pretty (1991)
25 Goodbye Tiger Richard Clapton (1977)
26 Daddy Who - Daddy Cool (1971)
27 Prayers on Fire - the Birthday Party (1981)
28 Charcoal Lane - Archie Roach (1992)
29 Rose Tattoo - Rose Tattoo (1978)
30 Less is More - Even (1996)
31 Let There Be Rock - AC/DC (1977)
32 Since I Left You - the Avalanches (2001)
33 Icehouse - Flowers (1980)
34 Toward the Blues - Chain (1971)
35 Anthology - the Easybeats (2000)
36 The Good Son - Nick Cave (1990)
37 Highway to Hell - AC/DC (1979)
38 The Low Road - Beasts of Bourbon (1991)
39 The Swing - INXS (1984)
40 Lovetown - Stephen Cummings (1988)
41 Face to Face - the Angels (1978)
42 Post - Paul Kelly (1985)
43 Woodface - Crowded house (1991)
44 Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express - Go-Betweens (1986)
45 Tu Plang - Regurgitator (1996)
46 Eternal Nightcap - The Whitlams (1997)
47 Diorama - Silverchair (2002)
48 Starfish - The Church (1988)
49 A Toast to Panama - Red Masters' Apprentices (1972)
50 Get Born - Jet (2003)

Snow Anyone

As we head into the start of Australia's ski season, there appears to be just one problem. Notice anything missing? While last year was a big season which lifted the spirits of the nation's ski industry, this year is off to a slow start. Not only has there been little snow to speak of, it's even been too warm for snow making.

Heavyweight Champion of the World

Australia has finally made its international mark, with a new report declaring Australia the most obese nation in the world, thicker around the middle than even their American allies.