Saturday, September 17, 2005

Computin' Away in Margaritaville

Without television, we've been increasingly tethered to our laptops at all stages of the day. They've been our continual source of entertainment, news, personal communication and income. Email is checked constantly, web pages are refreshed every minute or two, limited video programming (such as Major League Baseball and Daily Show headlines) are streamed, giving us a pseudo-feel of still having that magic glowing box which comforted us, surrounded us, made us whole. Either one or both of our laptops are being typed on at any given hour. The need for information on Hurricane Katrina really began this trend and the habit has certainly continued over the past few weeks.

Keeping on the technological circuit, Google Earth (http://earth.google.com) has replaced the satellite photos of the Eastern Suburbs here in Sydney. Great detail on these new ones, it looks as if they've dusted the Hubble off nicely and really upgraded their imagery. Along the bottom, you can see our street as well as the adjacent beach and park. Even the ripples of the ocean swells are visible, giving you an idea of where the surf breaks on the point both left and right of the beach.

Not sure where all the people are in this picture, as it looks as if it were taken during the dead of summer when the beach is the most crowded. There are some shadow-like forms on the edges of the beach, maybe those are the locals. Or, conversely, they could have blocked off the beach and park for a few hours in order for the satellite to get an aesthetic view. If Peggy or I were laying out that day, you'd see this huge, bright, mirror-like reflection, our pale bodies obscuring the frame.

You can also see the little train-track oval on the right-hand side of the park. The squares on the grass there are the electric BBQs and surrounding gazebos. Using this, combined with the old post, has laid it all out before you, my oz-blogging friends.

So, picture yourself languidly getting up in the early arvo after an evening of juggling bubblies, slipping into your speedo (in order to effectively smuggle budgies) and heading down the road for a dip in the primordial soup we call the Pacific Ocean. Weather is heating up (although water is still cold) so it should be nice and temperate by the time you arrive.

posted by ncawthon at 12:42 PM