Bird Trajectory Miscalculation

I personally believe that we as humans take many things in nature for granted, or we just totally ignore them. I have to say, I do not believe that many people consider how awesome birds are. But, they are not perfect. Have you ever wondered: do birds ever screw-up? Surely they must. They are not born bad-ass fliers. They have to learn. They are animal, as we are too. With that said, I am sure that even the most experienced of our avian friends mess-up their calculations on occasion. I am sure that it is not uncommon for an experienced bird to over-correct, or possibly approach a landing site too fast. Do their wings ever get cramped mid-flight and just stop functioning like a Boeing 777 down a man and running on one engine? Sure, they are animals, and subject to some kind of mean-time between failure. Well, as I was leaving uni today a bird just hit me in the head. It wasn't firm or painful, more like a bump. Maybe it was an accident? I should have contacted FAA. Anyways, my hair is a bit frazzled, but it doesn't really look like a nest. Now, it is common for magpies (and other birds) here to attack dogs and people (especially cyclists). In fact, the gov't maintains a "Swoop-off" website where you can download eye pictures to put on your cycling helmet. Often, you will see cyclists with zip-ties sticking out of their helmets for protection from the swoop. Well, I was walking, no helmet, and no eyes on my head. This little bird either decided to attack me, miscalculted one of the numerous variables required for safe and accurate flight, or got a cramp. Either way, I was humbled as nature ran into me.

-Matt

Goin' back to...

Just got back from the Mother Land. That's right peoples, I just traveled to the USA. I'm back here in Melbourne now. So, the trip was fast (left Oz last Monday the 21st around noon). The cool piece of this deal was that I left at noon that Monday, arrived in Cali-for-ni-a (the home of the Governator) the same day at 2PM. Like a super-crazy worm-hole. In-fact, many abductees claim the extraterrestrial abduction was responsible for their time shift. But, I am pretty sure, science can explain the loss in hours, I think it was probably do to flying against the international dateline. None-the-less, just a mere 2 hours after I left, I arrived in LA, but on a ~14 hour plane flight. Anyways, flying home that following Thursday, and just got back in today... Saturday... freaky. Anyways, California is mega-sweetness. I crossed over the Golden Gate Bridge.... but no jumpers.

-Matt

Queues are one way!

Just do it! Sometimes when you know you want to do something, but have the common worries, you just gotta do it. In this case, I just scored my ticket to Melbourne! Kinda reminds me of one of my friends, Harrison. He mentioned that when he was a page for Congress back in like 8th grade, that to get up early in the morning, he had a neat trick, he would stick a pencil under his butt and if he layed down, would impale himself. So, while no pencils were involved in the booking of the flight, I just basically freaked myself out and did it! Thanks Harry.

I have been really afraid about this whole move to Melbourne deal. Just worried about cash, and being physically separated from friends and family, and of course going to a place I have never been. Sure, I guess those are all common worries, and I know, going to a place I have never been before seems a little insane; but bleh it keeps things interesting.

One-way ticket. Yeah, thats kinda scary, and probably put me on some kind of watch list. But, possibly I'll make it a double-ended queue, dequeue, and come back to the US; possibly to pursue research!

So according to the ticket: July, 14th I leave, and according to the other piece of the ticket, I should arrive in Melbourne on Friday the 16th. So some quick stats:
Norfolk, VA to Charlotte, NC
Charlotte, NC to Los Angeles, CA
Los, Angeles CA to Sydney, Australia
Sydney, Australia to Melbourne, Australia

So I get 4 breaks to rest my legs. But the deal from LA to Sydney is ummmm 14 hours and 45 minutes. Not sure if that includes the dateline change or not. I'm guessing not.

If the ticket holds and I don't baby-out, I should leave on Wednesday the 14th at 3:40PM and arrive in Melbourne Friday at 9:15 AM

-Matt