If you look up, you might miss it

Just a couple snaps of some random sidewalk art I saw on my way into town today.

The bottom photo shows the song title, 'Let It Be' surrounded by a half dozen copies of John Lennon's face. Even though 'Let It Be' is a McCartney song, Lennon has a more pop artsy look. So I guess I can somewhat see why he was used with the song. Sure they could have spray painted 'Give Peace a Chance' instead of 'Let It Be,' but it is a bit long to write out (and ridiculously overused).

And the gorilla with headphones? Well, I really have no explanation for that one.

I'm strangely devastated by this

Andrew Denton is cutting the cord on Enough Rope!

The politics of...Peanut Butter Perfection?

I've resisted mentioning anything about the U.S. presidential election because talking about politics always seems to get me in trouble. But this election is special to me--not only because I'm quite passionate about one of the candidates but also because I am witnessing this election essentially from the viewpoint of another country.

Australia, like much of the world, is deeply invested in this election. When I was at the Enough Rope taping a few weeks back, Andrew Denton mentioned how Australians are more familiar and concerned with the American election than their own domestic politics. It kind of reminded me of how John Lennon said the Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ. It seems like nonsense, but it's true.

Now if Aussies can develop highly-defined opinions about this election, then why can't some Americans? As the election hits the home stretch, the limelight has fallen on the undecided voters. Check out this article by the great David Sedaris. I think you'll find it a refreshing departure from most of the political writing out there at the moment.

While it's amazing to me that there are folks who can't make up their minds on the direction America should take, I'm jealous of them at the same time.

Getting involved in politics is like going to Cold Stone Creamery for the first time. You know you shouldn't, but you're curious. You might just want to give it a go, let's say for your birthday. But that's it. You just want to go once and never again. But before you know it you're back there every Saturday until the day you die. You know all the songs. You quickly side with the flavours you like and cut down anyone who chooses those you don't ("Anyone who eats toasted coconut or cashews in their ice cream belongs in the funny farm." or "Really, does anyone over age 7 eat Bubble Gum ice cream?). You alienate your non-butterfat-loving friends and begin viewing fit people as elitists. Pretty soon, your life revolves around Mud Pie Mojo and Cookie Doughn't You Want Some.

You following me?

Okay, maybe that analogy's stretching it a bit. But what I'm trying to get across is that nowadays, most people just can't seem to take politics in moderation. Even Australians, who have absolutely no say in who wins the U.S. election, have a compelling need to voice their opinions and take a side. And now we're starting to badger those who haven't made a decision yet. Is being undecided such an awful thing?

Yes, people who don't consider politics part of their identity are pretty damn lucky. Maybe they know something I don't. But it's really no use trying to figure that out. I am who I am, and it's not likely to change anytime soon. And I think if we all--Democrat, Republican and elusive Independent--had that understanding about one another, then we'd all be in a better place.

And who knows? Maybe that place is Cold Stone Creamery.

More from Paddington

Here are a couple more shots from my recent visit to Paddington Markets. The first photo is of a woman at one of the market's many fortune-telling tables. Jenny said she wouldn't take a million bucks to go to an Australian psychic, something having to do with the show, "Lost"....

Market pull

It's no Salamanca, but Paddington comes in at a close second.

I can't explain how much I love Australia's infatuation with outdoor markets. If I could bring back any figment of Australian culture and implement it back home, it would be that.

The Saturday markets in Paddington are very good--the booths are just a bit too crammed together. And on a beautiful Saturday, the markets draw heaps of people, so this becomes a bit of an issue. Moreover, the food vendors are all organised in a square pack in the heart of the markets. So it's somewhat hard to escape the wafting aroma of kebabs and sugary waffles. But hey, that might actually be a bonus for some.

This was my second trip to Paddington. And for the first time ever, I walked out of an outdoor market wihtout buying anything. Not a single thing. I hope I'm not giving the wrong impression of Paddington Markets, though. The quality and range of products are actually excellent. In fact, I had a serious moral dilemma at one of the vintage booths over a 1960s Qantas airline shoulder bag. It was insanely cool--red leather, clearly old but in great condition. In white writing it said something along the lines of "Qantas: Australia's Round-the-World Airline." But it was $55. And with the current economic situation, along with Qantas' recent safety concerns, I couldn't justify paying that much for it.

But as I write this, I'm gritting my teeth and cursing myself that I didn't buy it.

Maybe I'll go back on Saturday. Just to see if it's still around.

On second thought, it's probably best the outdoor markets stay in Oz.

QVC? Try QVB

It was an absolutely GORGEOUS day in Sydney on Saturday. Jenny and I were in town running a couple errands, but for the most part, the day was ours to do whatever we wanted. And I was dying to spend more time in the Queen Victoria Building.

As mentioned in the post below, the few minutes I spent there earlier in the week were enough to plant a few thousand seeds of intrigue. I'm just disappointed I never noticed this gorgeous building before. I've probably passed it dozens of times on the street and really never thought to go in. I guess I never imagined it was a shopping center, and I'm not entirely convinced it should be. I suspect this stunning building is suffering from an identity complex.

The stores are really out of my price range. And as much as I hate window shopping when I there's no hope of purchasing, I simply loved being there for the architecture. The huge hanging clocks, Anglican stained glass and imperial arches give the place not so much a modern upscale feel, but rather an almost imposing regality. I felt a bit out of place. But I also think the posh stores it houses aren't fit to be there, either. Though oddly enough, I'm perfectly fine with the exclusion.