I checked my email recently and received a mail from and decided to visit. As some of you may have noticed (all two who ever paid attention in the first place), I've been absent for some 18 months and I'll likely be away for a bit longer. However, when I arrived I found the usual messages (journal notifications, etc.) but surprisingly there were also notes even though I hadn't visited in over a year. Do people not check the little *last visited* thingy? So, I've decided to do a little update just so my front page has relevant information because people still visit it. Back in my day (when computers were still pedal powered - none of this "rechargable battery" shit), people would write emotive journals announcing their intention to leave and then watch to see who missed them (like an extra wussy teenager threat of suicide). That's not what this is at all. I don't own a computer anymore (I only get to use one at uni where I pay for bandwidth so graphics heavy sites like DA are out) but I did make some friends on DA to whom I'd like to say hi and I'd like to leave a message for visitors so they don't think I'm a rude arsehole.

So, my life recently has been consumed by study; I'm back at uni (well, I'm approaching 18 months here) doing a PhD in philosophy and, as any grad student (present or past) will attest, it just consumes your existence, there's always more to do. Being a student again I have little money (I'm on a government scholarship but below the *official* poverty line - do non-philosophers see the absurdity there?) and so live a fairly modest existence. I don't have much money but what I do have mostly goes on books, film and music (including concerts - I saw Sunn 0))) and Boris on the weekend, I don't get why people find Sunn 0))) torturous, it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever listened to). I don't have a computer or internet access which is basically the only reason I don't visit DA or make fractals anymore. c'est la vie! Mind you, one of my goals this year is to finally make my interest in photography an active one so I might end up putting photos on here eventually.

What else is there? Oh yeah, some of the old journals and deviations are a bit embarassing, e.g. the Nietzsche essay is so unsophisticated it makes me wince; however, the essay is pushing five years old and is the first time I tried to think about something properly 'philosophical' (being and becoming) so, cringe worthy though it is, it represents part of a past that doesn't make me cringe plus I hate historical revisionism so it can all stay. Other things, the Morbid Musings or whatever it was called, are weird to remember because my life is so different now (I'm much more at peace than I was when I wrote that). Actually, I'm kind of tempted to re-write some things (the Anasazi novella especially); however, I have a friend who's a producer in small film company so I'm thinking seriously about extending my interest in photography into independent film. I'm not interested in working with the company (I know them and they're all too business or socially minded for my tastes); however, I have a real love of and respect for independent filmmakers (the Quay Brothers especially but also Stan Brakhage) plus the novella and my stories tend to come from impressionistic images in my head so the idea of turning the ideas into images and short impressionistic films is more exciting than mutilating them into narratives. Plus, I'm not talented enough to pull a Finnigan's Wake out of my arse.

I think that's it so I'll conclude. If you've just found my page by accident or have added me to your favourites in the last 18 months, I'm sincerely grateful. It's nice to know that things I did a while ago and have mostly forgotten about still bring other people some pleasure. Frankly, this is the biggest thing I miss about DA. Getting positive comments was never as important as the peculiar feeling that came from discovering that people get pleasure from something I consider mediocre at best. So, even though it could be a while before I upload or visit again, it's nice to know that, occasionally, random people still find my gallery and enjoy it. As for the friends I made when I used to frequent DA, what can I say? I have fond memories of you all and I hope your lives and work are going well. The note and message system here is an inefficient way to contact me; however, my email address is bill_gates_is_dead@hotmail.com and you're all welcome to use it. Just bear in mind, I only have internet access at uni and I'm usually preoccupied when I'm online so replies will rarely be immediate. Anyone who lives in or is visiting Brisbane, feel free to email me about going out for a beer, I'm a philosopher and always have something to say (I'm not talkative but definately opinionated).

That's it for now, ciao



(I'd forgotten about the cute emoticons )