Betting on the house

[smh] "Think house prices here are going to fall? Soon you'll be able to short-sell Sydney housing, by taking out a derivative contract based on indices compiled by Rismark/RPData and quoted daily on the sharemarket."

Now this is an interesting concept, a way to get some exposure to the property market (either on the long or the short side), without have to take on a massive mortgage.

Star Trek (2009)

J.J. Abrams reboots the Star Trek franchise. Impressive cinematography. Great new (young) cast playing the roles of Kirk, Spock, Sulu, Scotty, Uhura, and Chekov in a alternate Star Trek universe this is fun, well-conceived, and action paced.

9 / 10

Dinner at Scenic Hotel, Norton Summit (South Australia)

Dinner and drinks at Bodega Tapas Restaurant, Surry Hills

Dinner at Viva Goa, Pyrmont

"Summer" Holiday plans

After working almost non-stop since March 2008, I'm planning to take up to four months off from May to September this year, traveling around the USA, UK, and some parts of Europe.

It's a long enough holiday that I'm packing up and moving out of my Sydney apartment. I have a Tier 1 (General) visa that allows me to work in the UK for the next three years without an employer sponsor, so if I can line up some project or permanent work while I'm traveling, then I'll stay on. If I can't line anything up, or if I decide I don't want to work in the UK, then I'll return to Oz in time for the AFL Grand Final in September.

My final day at work in Sydney will be Friday May 22nd.

I fly out to San Francisco on Sunday May 24th, from where I'll be doing a road-trip around California and Nevada for a couple of weeks.

I then fly to London (arriving on Wednesday 10th June), which will be my base for the summer. Events that have been lined up for the first few weeks in the UK include walking in Scotland, Glastonbury Music Festival, and Latitude Festival in Suffolk.

Dinner at Alio, Surry Hills

Dinner at Cafe Bon Ton, Leura

Ruddnet is too good to be true

[The Australian] Malcolm Turnbull shares his opinion on the politics and economics of the National Broadband Network proposal.

Metro rail plan hits the buffer

[smh] Sydney's long-term public transport planning farce continues...