I just happened to have been looking at postcards from 1987, 20 years ago of Waikiki recently and I couldn't see a lot of difference.

Compare this photo from HawaiiPictures.com to the scan of the 1987 postcard below:

Hawaii's Waikiki 1987

 

I'll admit I can see a bit of a difference (the 1987 looks like it has more beach) but there wasn't a lot of beach there to begin with and the differences could be explained away from different tides at the times of the two photos. I'm also not sure the photo at HawaiiPictures.com is all that modern.

But I'm sure the article writers know what they're talking about.

I'd still like to see some good comparison photos though.

I bought a lot of second hand and older music this year and not a lot of new releases. The "top albums" lists in the local street press mostly contains bands I've never heard of.

I tend to find something to enjoy in most music I listen to. This generally means though that I'm rarely blown away anymore. This is a pity. Worse, I'm often blown away by music that is less than impressive after further listens.

I particularly enjoyed the following CDs this year (not necessarily released this year):

• Jump 2 Light Speed, "Spooky Fun" [review]
• Brian Tyler, "Bubba Ho-Tep" (soundtrack)
• Paul Anka, "Rock Swings"
• Serge Gainsbourg, "Initials S.G." (Best of) [note]
• Hedwig and the Angry Inch (cast recording)
• Look Who's Toxic, "Pleased To Eat You" (EP)
• Stemage, "Metroid Metal"
• xoc, "SMW"

Honourable mentions go to:

• System Of A Down, "Lonely Day" (EP)
• Sparks, "Hello Young Lovers" [dick around]
• Jonathan Coulton for "Code Monkey" [note]
• Dream Theater, "Octavarium"

Biggest '06 disappointments:

• Apocalyptica, "Apocalyptica"
• Jeff Martin, "Exile And The Kingdom"
• Peeping Tom, "Peeping Tom" [vs. the demo]
• The Whitlams, "Little Cloud"

It's not that they suck, they just didn't live up to half of my expectations.

Movies

I managed to see a few movies this year, mostly on DVD but a few at the cinema.

Movies which particularly impressed me this year:

• The Butterfly Effect [review]
• The Last Temptation Of Christ
• Princess Mononoke
• X-Men: The Last Stand [review]
• Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
• Human Nature
• Lilo & Stich
• Trainspotting
• Snakes On A Plane

Honourable mentions to:

• The Descent
• You Shoot, I Shoot
• Amores perros (Love's a Bitch)
• Brick
• The Libertine [review]
• The Devil's Rejects
• Primer

TV and live performances

I watched a lot of TV this year. We've been getting right into the latest season of West Wing, we finished watching Six Feet Under and have been watching many adult oriented cartoons including Metalocalypse, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Venture Brothers and Squidbillies. We catch Myth Busters when we remember and the occasional Black Books episode.

Random episodes of Aqua Teen and Squidbillies are good but it's far too variable to recommend.

The second season of Venture Brothers on the otherhand is excellent and highly recommended. Almost every episode of Metalocalypse is gold, however I'll admit no other show has been created more directly for me.

I don't feel qualified to write solidly about Six Feet Under, others have written whole books about it. I loved the constant portrayal of the challenges of relationships (both sexual and family) and the up front discussions of death. SFU constantly impressed me with one of the better (but still not perfect) portrayals of a gay relationship I've seen (outside of Buffy). I suppose it still isn't possible to show a gay relationship on TV without making an issue of it, but toward the end, SFU came close.

Books

I discovered Greg Egan this year and thoroughly enjoyed Quarantine and his short story collection Axiomatic but was disappointed with Luminous.

I finally finished reading Catch-22 which enjoyed, but I feel I got too it much too late [note].

I continued my unhealthy obsession with the Dune sequels. I can't help but feel Hunters could have been written by Frank Herbert and no amount of arguing or fan-boying will take that possibility away.

Kurt Vonnegut's "Hocus Pocus" struck a chord and is perhaps one reason why Catch-22 didn't. They're told in a similar matter and I found Kurt's subject matter a little more interesting.

Jules Verne's, "From the Earth to the Moon" was a lovely surprise from the public domain. I've still yet to read the sequel but I'm enjoying leaving the original end intact... [note]

Michael J. Fox's autobiography "Lucky Man" is a beautiful read and a fascinating insight into a young actor's life and fall from ego. The story of Michael's struggle with Parkinson's is only part of the story.

Gigs

I went to almost no gigs this year. The bands I think about seeing are too expensive or playing in terrible venues. Perhaps I'll get over that next year. Perhaps not.

We went and saw the Australian production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch which was fantastic.

I saw Pretext start their live music career and Look Who's Toxic release their excellent EP Pleased To Eat You.

We saw a few comedians at the Melbourne Comedy Festival including an excellent in-form Tripod.

And in the only "real" gig of the year, The Darkness blew our minds at The Palace.

Where the heck was Mike Patton?

Life

We holidayed in Apollo Bay. I discovered Autostitch. I ranted about the "four day week" [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] . I expanded my video capture hobby [1, 2]. I bought an MP3 player. Our house got new hot water and new pipes. I bought a digital camera. We lost Bonnie. I started scanning a heap of old family photos (still going!). I started an obsession with old Faith No More tour dates. Walken officially broke up. I uploaded some videos. Victoria had an election. This website got a new URL. We finally painted our fence thanks to my ever helpful parents.

And so much more!

Previously:
2005 in CDs
Best of 2004
Albums bought in 2002
Top this (2001)

I think I have caught a cold.

There is no one here. I had to turn the lights on on my side of the building. One other person in the IT team is expected but they usually arrive around 10am.

My job for this week is to "mark" résumés of potential web developers. The job description looks suspiciously like my job. In fact I might photocopy it for my résumé.

My contract here ends "around February" and I'll be heading back to the home office for the first time in three plus years. I like working here. I've worked in other projects and nothing has compared.

The work here is more challenging, better organised and the people are happier and friendlier than anywhere I've ever worked. I'm interested to see the rest of the development world but I'm dubious.

This year was the first time I felt 100% confident in my stated job title. That may be just my general improved state of well-being, or genuine skill and confidence improvement, I can't say. It doesn't matter.