April 26, 2006
JFK Airport
Clear and sunny(for a big city polluted airport)

We're sitting and waiting for our flight to LAX, and then to Sydney. It is the beginning of a 20-hour odyssey that will go not quite half way 'round the ball. Everything has been uneventful thus far. I really think that the hard part of the travel is over; getting through security at JFK is probably the most difficult part. Everything else is just waiting in the lines.
On the bus to JFK, we watched Remember the Titans. The actor who played Louie now plays the brother of Earl in the NBC sitcom "My Name is Earl." His part in Titans was a brilliant performance; he has a surprising comic range, playing a comic relief character that has some depth.

Many hours later ... we're about 4 1/2 hours out of Sydney airport, over the Pacific -- east of Noumea, just crossing the international dateline. our ground speed is about 900 km/hr, or 570 mph. Of course, we're not on the ground, but rather at 34000 feet. We're pretty comfortable, but the outside air temp is -47ºF. Of course, if you chase through the algebra, you'll note that this is the temperature range in which degrees Fahrenheit and degrees Celsius are about the same.
The flight has been largely uneventful. We have a hit a few pockets of turbulence here and there -- in fact, we're in one right now -- so we've had the seat belt light on once in awhile.
If my calculations are right, as I write this, it is noon on your part of the ball. Our progress board lists several bits of information; I'm sure you guessed that. Among the things to do to pass the time on the plane is to do some mental calculations about the time here and there.
And QANTAS does do its part to make sure that we have such pastimes. We have at least five different movies o choose from: Jarhead, Transamerica, The Producers, The Weatherman, Mrs. Henderson Presents, and The Chronicles of Narnia. I watched Good Night and Good Luck, the movie about Edward Murrow. George Clooney directed this one and I thought he did quite well. It's preachy, but it's that kind of story.
Every person on board has a 4" by 6" screen on the seat in front on which they can watch the movie or tv show of their choice, play video games, check out (old) news, or flight information. I haven't used it much this time, though I have in other flights.
I've mostly slept. This is the first time I've flown to Australia while not well. I have a rather heavy chest cold that's not going away as quickly as I'd like. My doctor recommended some various medicines, so I am hopeful it will go away once we're in Sydney.

Even more hours later ... I am sitting in the lobby of the Bernly Private Hotel after our busy first day. Our tour guide at the Hyde Parks Barracks was a bit of a sadist, concentrating on the punishments of the Convicts. On the other hand, perhaps he understood how our students felt after a 14-hour plane ride. The weather is very cooperative and bautiful today. Tomorrow, it's supposed to rain, but we'll see. The zoo is pretty cool even when it rains. And the Aquarium is inside, so no worries there.

I'm very tired, and I'm glad that the handheld transfers are working out. I am going to attempt to upload a phot and then call it a day.