Too much time on my hands, not enough hands on my clock

2010-11-17T11:10:00.002+08:00

Mistake

2009-09-15T15:58:00.003+08:00

The realisation that you have made a mistake is one of stomach-clenching clarity. It is worse when you are the last one to realise it. It is far worse to still refuse to acknowledge that it was a mistake. And I do. I steadfastly refuse to admit that I am wrong. But sometimes, my opinion doesn't count. I lay out the argument intellectually, reduce it to it's basest elements and still I refuse to believe that, for all intents and purposes, I have been cast aside because I'm not economically viable.

I feel ill.

Missed again :-(

2009-08-12T07:15:00.004+08:00

Freedom From Choice

2009-08-04T07:37:00.004+08:00

In ancient Rome
There was a Poem
About a Dog
Who found two Bones
He picked at One
He licked the Other
He went in Circles
He dropped Dead
--Devo, Freedom of Choice

I've never really believed in absolutes. I always thought that some middle road could be found, some mutually beneficial path. To be confronted by a truly binary situation not of my own making, when I thought I had managed to get through some really tough situations, is difficult. While not as cut and dried as the aforementioned canine; the consequence of my decision (not my indecision) leads me to empathize with the pup's choices.

While it is easy to "overthink" many decisions, some cannot be decided on instinct alone and should be researched and considered carefully. Unfortunately, this may lead to conclusions that run counter to the hearts desire. Add to this the healthy dose of arrogance required to make decisions in other peoples "best interests" and you can see the hound's dilemma thickening until he either bolts out into the traffic or takes the passive option and curls up with his back turned.

Freedom of Choice
is What you Got
Freedom from Choice
is What you Want
--Devo, Freedom of Choice

Movember is here!

2008-11-06T10:44:00.003+09:00

Movember is here! A great reason to present a hairy face to the world, all in the name of a good cause. If I can help raise awareness or money, then why not? Plus who doesn't love a mo'?

Check out my progress here

More Lyrics

2008-09-05T09:29:00.004+08:00

I feel like I’m broken
Like I’ll never be whole
While the life inside of me
Leaks from the void in my soul

I’m broken. So broken

The blue sky mocks me
The sun laughs in my face
The birds take delight
In my falling from grace

I’m broken, so broken

I want the laughter made silent
I want the joy sent away
I want the music made muffled
And the colours made grey

I’m broken, so broken.

For the warmth of the sun
And the light of the day
That passed briefly over,
Have gone on their way

and left me broken

Religious Education

2008-04-30T15:31:00.002+08:00

It's been a while since I bothered typing here. A combination of being flat out at work, not being able to prise either of my sons away from a pc at night and reading the book "Blind Faith" by Ben Elton has conspired to keep me silent. However, something has been bugging me recently and I find that trying to articulate things that bug me often help me to resolve them, at least partially, in my mind.

My wife is a Catholic, and went to a Catholic school. It has always been her wish that our boys go to a Catholic school. As it turned out, they now go to the same high school as she did.

To be honest, I have never had a lot of faith in Religion (note the capital), but I I could see no harm in my boys being taught the values from the Bible. To me, the teachings attributed to Jesus in the New Testament are insightful and uplifting. However, the mistake I made was thinking that the religious section of the curriculum would be these teachings, when in fact, from what I have seen, it consists mainly of teaching the workings of the Church and its dogma. To me, this is where organised Religion falls down and has made itself increasingly less relevant. Everything it teaches is underpinned by because God says so. While this probably worked its arse off in the Dark Ages on the back of the Inquisition, it seems to me that we have enough information available to us now that no one is going to take that at face value.

It is better, surely, to educate our young to respect each other because it is the right thing to do, because we would like to be respected, to teach them empathy above blind obedience. I may burn in hell for asking it, but does anyone with a modicum of education believe the Bible is a factual historical account? I am not advocating the dismissal of the Bible, for as I said earlier, there is a plentiful supply of good advice for life. What I do advocate is that the Church make itself more relevant. Go back to its roots. "Jesus died for your sins" means nothing to me. "Judge not, lest you be judged" does. And, yes, I see the irony.

What the fuck?

2008-02-14T10:04:00.003+09:00

In the wake of yesterday's historical apology, the element that drove me to despair in this post are back and haunting me.

What worries me is this question. What does it say about my personality and my friends that I keep receiving these racist 'jokes' via email and text?

Why would anyone think I would find redneck propaganda, like the fake 'apology' that has been doing the rounds, even mildly amusing. Its not 1970 anymore.

You people shit me.

Sorry

2008-02-13T07:24:00.000+09:00

"Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment.

We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia."

Cricket again

2008-02-06T08:54:00.000+09:00

This story on baggygreen.com.au really got up my nose this morning.

Before I start ranting, I will point out that I am not one of "those Australians" that "doesn't see what all the fuss is about", as the general cricketing public has often been referred to since the Sydney Test. There is plenty of room for improvement of the behaviour of both cricketers and spectators in the recent past, but the smarmy condescension of Peter English in this article is beyond belief.

Mr English's use of the good behaviour (which I wholeheartedly applaud) of both teams and the crowd as an excuse to not-so-subtly attack their Australian counterparts is both odious and counter-productive. Surely any cricket writer worth his salt should be able to report on the harmonious atmosphere without sly and demeaning digs at an absent party? Anyone reading this article would think that it was Australia's recent history that included games being stopped due to rioting crowds, that Australia's board had threatened to cancel a tour if the ICC did not dance to it's tune or that an Australian captain had threatened to take his team from the field because he didn't agree with the no-balling of one of his bowlers. I'm sure that even the Indians and Sri Lankans would agree that there are incidents in their collective pasts that they would rather not have occurred, that reflect badly on their cricket, but apprently the fact that they are not Australian on this tour absolves them of any wrongdoing.

I am glad that the cricket watching public of Brisbane last night were well behaved during the half a game they got to watch, and I truly hope that it continues. Australian crowds can sometimes get rowdy and uncomfortable to be in, but as anyone who watched "An Aussie Goes Bolly" last week will agree, I know with whom I would rather be watching my cricket.

p.s.
Because I am a sucker for punishment, I also read this article by the aforementioned journalist about the fining of Rohit Sharma for dissent. It could be because I am sensitive but this sentence "The Sri Lankans were convinced Sharma had edged the ball to Kumar Sangakkara, but the replays showed Rudi Koertzen made a serious error." I found to be in stark contrast to the hammering Adam Gilchrist and the Australians copped during the Sydney Test for appealing when Rahul Dravid was "incorrectly" given out. To make matters worse, I found this on the Fox Sports web site.

"Murali initially failed to appeal but went up in support of Sangakkara, who later said he heard a noise."

Is this fair and balanced journalism?

Whiny Indians Go Home

2008-01-07T13:19:00.000+09:00

I'm sick if the Indian Cricket Team already. They talk a good story about the spirit of the game, then threaten to call off the tour when things don't go their way. I say let them go, we may as well play the Kiwis again, for all the good that India are. It is also really disappointing to me that all the news stories around I have read seem to be targetted at the Australians, accusing them of a lack of integrity for standing their ground until the umpire makes a decision. Michael Clarke's standing his ground when he nicked it to slip certainly was ridiculous, but at no stage it insulting or racially motivated. How can 90% of the cricket stories around be questioning the spirit of the Australian team when Harbhajan Singh gets a three Test suspension for calling Andrew Symonds a monkey?? Do not be fooled by the spurious Indian claims that monkey to them is not a racially offensive term. The fact that it is was made clear to them when Symonds was subjected to, not only the name calling, but to hooting from Indian crowds late last year when Australia toured. While the Australian team will undoubtedly be painted as the bad guys (again) after this Test, surely their behaviour is less offensive than racial vilification and their awful display of petulance by blaming the umpires for costing them the Test. Of course, the Asian dominated ICC will do nothing about their outburst and may even go so far as to censure the Australian team for the way they play.

If, or maybe I should say, when Singh's ban is overturned, rest assured, I will be in the outer of the WACA, hooting like a monkey for all my worth whenever he touches the ball.

Is there anything better than a beach house?

2008-01-01T22:24:00.000+09:00

Spent Thursday to Monday in Guilderton with just about the whole Schoie clan. Our nephew Shane invited us to stay at his wife's (Helen, above) mum's place in Guilderton. Only an hour out of town, it was fantastic. We were originally going to stay only 2 days but we were having so much fun we didn't leave until yesterday (NYE). 9 adults and 11 kids from 15 to under a year was a tight squeeze but a few tents and couches saw us right. No television reception made it feel like all the holidays I went on as a kid, with us playing pool or sitting around the table playing cards.
Interior view. Maddison, Jack and Shane-o
Azza in the back yard.

We spent Friday and Saturday in our newly acquired sunshade in "The Desert" on Moore River, kayaking, fishing and skurfing along behind the boat.
Jillie and Kim

It struck me while I was reminiscing that what was for us a weekend away hopefully lay the foundation for future reminiscing of childhood holidays for our kids.

p.s. Have you ever noticed that you suffer from hangovers less on holidays?? Four days of late nights and early mornings on holiday and no discernible discomfort. I'm back less than 24 hours and I've been almost comatose all day.

Or is it just me?

Part of me

2007-12-18T11:03:00.000+09:00

Just because I can't see you
Doesn't mean I'm blind
If I hear your voice when you're not around
It doesn't mean I've lost my mind
I reach so I can touch you
Even when I know that you're not there
I can feel you on my fingers
I can smell your hair

Because you're part of me

Sporting Achievement No. 2 overshadowed.

2007-12-17T11:39:00.000+09:00

It used to be that even though my older son has surpassed my highest score, I could boast of the best bowling figures, once having taken a Michelle (5-63). Sadly (for me, but happily for him) theses are no longer the best bowling figures in the family.

They are now:

O M W R
11 4 6 24

5 bowled and an LBW. Well done.

A thinking voter!

2007-12-17T11:34:00.000+09:00

This is reprinted from the blog of my friend's brother. I just wish a higher percentage of voters asked the same of their representatives.

November, 2007

To: Michael Keenan
Honourable Member for Stirling

Dear Sir,

You have been my voice in the federal parliament for 3 years. Now it is time to renew your contract and I would like to check some of your Key Performance indicators. By this, I mean, have you represented my interests at a federal level.

Therefore, I would like to ask you a few questions on which I can base my decision:

1. What have you done to make life in the city of Stirling ecologically sustainable? For example: subsidising renewable energy.

2. What have you done to reduce Western Australia’s contribution to global warming (and thus ensuring that the houses along the Mitchell Freeway don’t become water-front properties)?

3. What have you done to ensure the release of refugees from the “detention centres” in Western Australia? They are always welcome to stay at our place, if accommodation is an issue.

4. What are you doing towards creating a stable Middle-East, which the current administration helped to (further) destabilize?

5. What are you doing towards reconciling the interests of the Aboriginal Community with the rest of Australian Society? For example: perhaps moving to amend the constitution to recognize the indigenous people are the rightful custodians of the land might be a good start.

I did take the time to review you website/s in search of answers to these questions, but they seemed more concerned with crime and safety. This is not a major issue for me, having lived in the City of Stirling for 20 years, and never once been the victim of a serious crime. However, if this is a problem for the majority of residents my question is this:

What are you doing to address the causes of crime? For example: the economic factors, social environment and family structures.

If you could let me know as soon as possible it would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance.

Sincerely,

A

Unsurprisingly, he is yet to receive a reply.

Creative

2007-12-16T20:47:00.000+09:00

For those of you not bludging @ work or stuck on dial-up, this is one of my favourite songs and an extremely creative and, i'm sure, time consuming effort. Hope you like it as i do

Don't you love You Tube

Hadn't heard this

2007-12-13T09:29:00.000+09:00

Found @ song codes

Dear Australia (Redneck Wonderland)

2007-12-11T08:09:00.000+09:00

In case there are any of you left out there who actually wonder where we stand as a country, have quick read of the comments here regarding the Bali Nine. I will admit to this being a real thorn in my side, primarily because of the way the Federal Police let Scott Rush's parents down, but I am once again appalled by the callousness of supposedly fellow Australians.

There was a time in my life, not that long ago, when I believed that this country was on a spiritual upturn, that we had taken on board the message that love and positivety were the way forward. Now this message is limited to the annoying "send this to 10 friends" chain email variety, while in the "real world" people not only "look out for number one", they no longer have the decency to be even faintly embarrassed by it. This leads me to a moral dilemma. Do I avoid watching the news and current affairs and reading public opinion, thereby leaving me ignorant and content, or do I tilt at windmills and look in to the face of the Ignorance Beast thereby condemning myself to spend my time in despair at my increasing feelings of isolation from, what i used to think of, as humanity?

2 weeks in

2007-11-14T14:21:00.000+09:00

Just for you Natha!

Movember 12th

2007-11-13T11:02:00.000+09:00

PLEASE! Sponsor me!

You think I want to look like this??

Battlers

2007-11-13T10:25:00.000+09:00

When I was a child, there still existed the Australian icon, the battler. The battler worked hard for a wage, doing anything they could to avoid going on the “dole”, being a “bludger” and accepting a welfare hand out from the government. They weren’t always particularly well educated and maybe life hadn’t dealt them the best hand, but they had pride and they had hope and they knew that it was them and only them that could change their circumstances. The “battler” stood for pride and the indomitable Australian spirit.

Sadly, the word itself has been hijacked, by current affairs television and worse, by the bludgers themselves. Thanks to “Today Tonight”, “A Current Affair” and their ilk, every dole-bludging piece of white trash (to steal a term from the Yanks) in leggings or a flannel shirt thinks they get to call themselves battlers.

To be fair, I realise they can call themselves what they want, but it distresses me that only a generation ago, the true battler would be faintly embarrassed to be named so. Now it is bandied about like it is a Golden Ticket to Willie Wonka’s Welfare and Sympathy Factory.

For fuck’s sake, No, for your own sake, wake up to yourself, especially if you have kids. Maybe your life hasn’t been easy, maybe it wasn’t even your fault but let me tell you something. No one else is going to fix it. Very few of us even care, as harsh as that sounds. We’re all dealing with our own shit here and all you can realistically hope to get from us is our understanding and acceptance. If you want to better yourself financially, stop feeding your kids Happy Meals. Stop smoking, or smoke rollies. Stop drinking so much. (I am going to punch the next person that tells me that smoking and drinking are the only pleasures they have in life because they can’t afford anything else and the government is trying to tax it away from them). When you go grocery shopping, buy healthy food; it’s cheaper and better for you. Sure you may have to do a bit more work, like COOKING but if you’ve cut back your alcohol consumption, you should be sober enough to manage. One or two lifestyle changes can save you upwards of $100 a week. Who doesn’t want that! $5K a year in your hand! If not for yourself then think of your kids. Or mine. I don’t want them to have to share space with the next generation of no hopers dragging them down.

The Aussie Battler these days is more likely to have come from Kenya than Kalgoolie, disdained by the bludgers for “stealing their jobs”, when really, their work ethic and desire to better themselves under adverse conditions is one of the cornerstones of this country and part of the culture that we pay lip service to.

Day Seven

2007-11-07T11:11:00.000+09:00

This is bullshit! I should have started to grow this thing in August

Smee starts again

2007-11-06T07:31:00.000+09:00

Let's hope he remembers not to shave it off this time. Still, just looking, I think Woodie and I probably needed the head start :-)

Woodie - Day Five

2007-11-05T09:47:00.000+09:00

Won't be long before the hair on his face is longer than the rest of his head.

First shave of Movember

2007-11-05T08:51:00.000+09:00

Monday morning and my first shave of Movember. Nearly 96 hours of growth and not much to show other than a slight case of sunburn on the weekend. Speaking of the weekend pretty good results all round for the Rankin clan; 74 n.o. for me, 3 for 8 from 6 overs for my big boy and 15 n.o. in his first bat for Wanneroo for my little one.

If you can spare it, I'd love it if you'd sponsor me. The mo' is for fun, but the cause is serious. Our official Mo' Log is here

(Just looked at that photo again, who stole my chin?!!!)

Smee's on board

2007-11-01T16:32:00.000+09:00

Another sucker

Movember - Day One

2007-11-01T10:08:00.001+09:00

Woodie and I are growing Mo's(obviously in this picture we have just started)(and I'm hungover) for Movember. Check it out at www.movember.com.au

Can't believe your eyes

2007-09-04T07:14:00.000+08:00

Found this site following up an email G sent. Don't understand it but it's pretty cool. Up close, these 3 girls look unhappy, but move back 2 or 3 metres et voila! the outside two are smiling and the middle girl looks surprised. There are more of them here

Cnr St Geo's Tce and Mount Street looking East @ 7am Tuesday

2007-08-21T07:25:00.000+08:00

I am trying to balance this page out. When I posted the photo's of the low-lying rainbow yesterday, I noticed that the whole page had an angry tone and anyone reading this would think I was constantly unhappy. I decided to post the things that give me joy; Yes, even on my way to work! My phone camera does no justice to the light here, but my favourite saying has always been "It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness".
As cold as it is on my way to work in the mornings; at least it is light. I really like the look and feel of the city at around 7:00 am, before everyone arrives and starts rushing and there's still enough space for everyone.

Bob Brown

2007-08-20T12:43:00.000+08:00

Senator Bob Brown says a lot of things that get him in to trouble. He also makes a lot of sense.

"Four years ago Kevin Rudd got drunk and took himself into a strip club," Senator Brown said.

"Four years ago John Howard, sober, took Australia into the Iraq war.

"I think the electorate can judge which one did the more harm," Senator Brown told reporters in Melbourne.

River View

2007-08-20T11:19:00.000+08:00

Stood up to speak to Smee at around 11 o'clock this morning, peering over the cubicle wall that separates us and looked out the window to the right to see a spectacular rainbow spread across the river to the west of here. I actually stopped mid-sentence and exclaimed "Wow, look at that" (I must have been too shocked for profanity :-). I snapped a couple of photo's with my phone that come nowhere near to doing it justice, but I'll share them anyway

Blood on their hands

2007-08-15T08:43:00.000+08:00

The Australian Federal Police today came one step closer to being directly responsible for the death of at least one more Australian citizen. I've already made my feeling clear here, but the disgust and shame has reared its ugly head again with the news of the dismissal of the appeals of three of the nine.

Growing up, I was fiercely (maybe foolishly) patriotic, believing in the ideals of a "fair go" and "look after your own". Shit, when I was a kid, I thought it was a national custom never to "dob in your own". Over the last decade or so (coincidence?), I have gone from proud to disillusioned to embarrassed to downright ashamed to be an Australian. I know that it is usual to lose SOME of your ideals as you grow older, but to have them ripped from you and torn up in front of your face and danced on is surely more than we should have to bear? This is no longer the place I grew up in, nor the place I hoped my children would grow and prosper in. I can only hope that those that come after us will look back on this era as something to fight against, as a good "bad example".

I just pray that the deaths of these foolish young Australians is not part of that example.

Oh, how do you sleep?
Oh, how do you sleep at night?
-John Lennon 1971

Dispirited

2007-08-08T13:14:00.000+08:00

I was originally tempted to title this piece "People are cunts", but thought better of it.
I receive a newsletter from news.com.au each day. Sometimes I click on a link and have a read of some of the reader comments. This is a bitter-sweet experience for me, because as well as reminding me that I am somewhere near the top of the pile of humanity in this city, it also reminds me that that is not really that difficult.

Two stories have really stirred the vitriol of the yahoos. The death of a 16 year old girl in a car accident last week and the road rage attack on a young mother and her two children this week. I really can't bring myself to comment further, other than to say that some of the comments sicken me.

I try hard every day to have faith that humanity is ostensibly good, filled with love and the universal spirit. The days I don't read the comments section, it is easier.

Footy bash dad 'banned for life'

2007-08-07T13:29:00.000+08:00

This bloke or someone very like him is most likely at just about every junior sporting fixture around the country. Granted, most of them have enough restraint not to belt a child, but it is simmering there all the same. I will readily admit to a visceral desire to snot any little bastard I feel has dealt unfairly with one of my boys (Fatness, how did you live through your "sporting" years), but, what raises us above the lower animals is our ability to reason, not to immediately react as our instincts bid us.

But is it all one way traffic? A number of times this season I have been appalled to hear some foul-mouthed little turd has given a referee or a linesman a spray that even someone with my scatalogical vocabulary would be proud of, with no repercussions from coach or parent. I'm not going to start banging on about how "in my day" we respected adults (i.e. were too afraid of) too much to even dare answer back, let alone suggest they were in fact sight impaired female pudenda performing a primary procreational function, but todays parents do have a lot to answer for. Not only for the way they raise their own children, but for how they interact with other people's.

Jason Akermanis looks like a dick....

2007-08-06T13:12:00.000+08:00

....or at least he does now that Channel 7 decided to name Michael Braun as the player Akermanis says he suspected had taken performance enhancing drugs in this piece at the Herald Sun. With Braun's manager threatening to sue the pants of anyone within arms reach, Akermanis must be wishing that Seven had kept their mouth shut, at least until the AFL and/or ASADA had investigated the matter. Now he has no option but to either stand by his allegations and risk being sued, or back down from his story. If he does run the legal gauntlet, and it costs him money, he will look like a dick. If he backs down, he will look like a dick.

If it looks like a dick and quacks like a dick............

Read this book

2007-08-03T07:34:00.000+08:00

My 14 year old son has to do a book report for school. It can be on any book of his choice and he has chosen "Scar Tissue" by Anthony Kiedis with Larry Sloman. It is Kiedis' life story with apparently nothing held back. I was between books when it came home so I swooped on it Wednesday evening to flick through, maybe read on the toilet. It's now Friday morning and I am on page 350 of this 450 page book. I simply cannot put it down.

Kiedis frankly details his early life and friendships and is harrowingly frank about his drug use and abuse. It is one of the most honest portrayals of a drug addict that I have read, openly detailing the euphoria of the hunt and score (or 'cop') as well as the blackness and despair of being lost in the need. Amongst it all is his love of his music and drive to be different. It is a fascinating read.

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about Fred reading it though. The message I get from the book about drugs is not "don't do drugs, they're evil" but more like "drugs are great fun, but they fucked me up". That message translates well as a warning to someone with a little life experience, but to an invincible 14 year old boy who processes everything through his "it couldn't happen to me" filter, I'm not so sure. I guess I can only give him the benefit of my experience and trust in him. Raising a teenaged boy is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Raising is the wrong word, I guess, I think guiding is probably a better word.

But that's another thought and another post

Apathy?

2007-07-17T11:10:00.000+08:00

Recently I was informed that I was caustic and apathetic. Since then I have been wondering why this offended me, what chord deep down did it strike? As anybody who knows me can tell you, I have been called a lot worse. I have been gradually driving myself deeper into despair because it had a ring of truth. Was it the "caustic" comment that cut me? All my life I have been fairly quick on my feet, verbally, and found out early doors that the best way to deflect focus from your shortcomings is to point out the absurdities of someone else. As I've got older and more enlightened, I still make fun, but confess to the odd twinge of guilt when I do.
But surely that wasn't it? I've been aware of that for a long time and am doing my best, if not to moderate it, then at least come to terms with it. It was definitely the apathy thing. There are times when my eyes glaze over and the conversation sounds like "blah". Surely I should have a greater stake in the things being discussed? Not necessarily. Do you know why?

Because its not fucking interesting.

I am 43 years old and one of the most valuable lessons I have learnt in that time is that I don't have to put up with bullshit. I have too many tangible issues in my life to fake curiosity or concern for someone elses fabricated concerns.

I say fabricated because I know damn well that there is no likelihood of contributing anything worthwhile to the solution of the problem. Life has led me to observe what I call the "Who Cares Most" principle. It's really just a simple observation about how people react to stimuli and consequence. People provided with the right stimulus in the absence of overwhelming consequence will make a contribution. Consequences like losing your job because you quit to go protesting the plight of caged bears, in my case, would be a deterrent. Some people may possess a greater passion for these things and will follow their words with action.

Otherwise it's just all hot air, worthy of passing discussion, maybe, but certainly not my attention. Moral of the story, if you would like to engage my interest, talk about something interesting. Otherwise my caustic side may resurface and I'll tell you exactly why I'm not listening.

Monday, bloody Monday

2007-07-16T17:55:00.000+08:00

Just one of those days. My monkeysphere has shrunk to record low numbers. But why should you care?

Five of Swords

2007-07-10T14:50:00.000+08:00

From (and for) mi amica bella

"FIVE OF SWORDS: BE DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TODAY. OTHERS WILL ADJUST IN THEIR OWN TIME....

all i can say is it gets might lonely when you are always so far ahead of everyone else. why do i have to continually wait on others. let me tell you now, its just easier if things get done my way first time around and then i wont have to wait for others to adjust in their own time. its not just their time. its my time too..... why don't you just all stop dilly dallying around and hurry the FLICK up!!!
what have you got to blog about that ranxy????
that text killed my positive attitude."

So I thought I'd look up the Five of Swords.

acting in your own self-interest
setting aside the concerns of others
looking out for number one
thinking of your own needs
knowing you must concentrate on yourself
encountering selfishness
indulging in power plays
gloating
going for the win-lose result
experiencing discord
being in a hostile environment
feeling people are set against each other
choosing to battle
having an "us-against-them" mentality
creating ill will
experiencing conflict
witnessing open dishonor
losing your moral compass
letting ends justify means
sacrificing integrity
losing sight of what is right
achieving a dubious victory
knowing of criminal activity

Not a lot of positivity in any of those definitions, but read in the context of the accompanying email, the Five of Swords sounds like the right card. There is little point becoming impatient that the world will not adjust itself to suit your needs. It is difficult to affect the external stimuli in your life in a predictable way, all you can do is manage how you filter and react to them. If it is important to you that things be done your way (control freak) then your options are hope that people will do it your way or do it yourself. Saying that you are ahead of everyone else implies that you know where you are going and that "others" are going to follow you. Do they know where you are going? Or are you asking they trust blindly in your divine right to lead? Do they even know they are expected to follow? It's not just your time, it's their time too. It is just your journey, unless you include others in it, but once you do, it is never going to go 100% your way. That's the beauty of it, the unpredictablilty of it all. The travelling partners you pick up and leave behind when you find a different direction or that leave you behind as their priorities and goals change. You can encourage the ones you want to follow you, (which is more likely to happen if you display a positive attitude), or you can piss and moan that life is unfair because it isn't going the way you planned. I like to think I'm one of the former type of people that slips occasionally. I love nothing more than to rant and rave when I feel things are not going my way, but only in short bursts ;-)

Don't read the news.....

2007-06-21T08:44:00.000+08:00

....just the headlines

Every day I promise myself I'm not going to read the news, but I can't help myself.
If I did keep my promise, I would miss out on gems like these two. Oddly enough, they both come from the South of the USA.

In an endeavour to stop a man doused in petrol from setting himself alight, police shot him with a Taser. Really.

The next one is about a couple who fell to their deaths in flagrante delicto. A pretty sad story, but a headline writers dream.

Naked couple's sex death plunge

Lazy

2007-06-20T09:54:00.000+08:00

I have been extremely lazy in keeping this updated, but that's partly because I'm experimenting with different ways of expressing myself (poetry and song writing at the moment is a heap of fun) and partly because I spend what little free computer time I have reading other people's blogs. If you have a few minutes, visit Sweet Namasté. I read it a few months back and thought "meh", but since then she has moved on and is living with a family on the West Bank. Her pictures and stories humanise the Middle East without the heavy, depressing rhetoric of most of the stories I come across. It makes me aware that my time could be better spent without completely quashing my hope.

HBTM HBTM HBDM HBTM HHH HHH HHH*

2007-06-01T07:26:00.000+08:00

Woo hoo!! The Foundation Day long weekend once again coincides perfectly with my birthday. Unlike certain people (Norm, Woz, Jillie, I'm looking at you) I love making a big deal of my birthday. Not because it's my birthday, but purely because I'm more likely to get "Yes" when I invite people over. I just love to surround myself with friends and family and my birthday is the perfect excuse, a sort of mid year Christmas. So if the weather stays fine, Sunday will find me basking in the backyard drinking and making merry, while my friends come and worship at the altar of me. If it rains, I hope we fit in the shed.

Just hope no one brings any myrrh. :-)

*Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday dear me
Happy Birthday to me
Hip Hip Hooray
Hip Hip Hooray
Hip Hip Hooray

Jeff Buckley

2007-05-29T10:31:00.000+08:00

10 years ago Jeff Buckley went swimming and never came back. I always wonder, after the succcess of Grace, if he would have gone on to be known as a brilliant song writer or if he would have disappeared, leaving behind a trail broken songs. From the music he did manage to record before his death, it was obvious that he played music "outside the box", but to watch and listen to him sing was to see and hear real emotion and power. Every syllable, every emotion was squeezed out, kicking and screaming and laid bare before the audience.

RIP Jeff Buckley

Zimbabwe

2007-05-15T11:21:00.000+08:00

I have thought about the Australian Cricket tour to Zimbabwe since the Australian Government announced its ban and have come to the conclusion that they have it right. Sadly it is at the expense of my favourite sport (and Johnnie's), but something had to be done. It is patently obvious that the ICC (Ineffectual Cadre of Cretins) have no intention of doing ANYTHING, EVER. They seem to think that the World Cup is over they can sit back an rest until the next one. Then again, maybe their indolence is not such a bad thing when you consider the last actions they took was to sack Darrell Hair for upholding the rules of the game and, coincidentally, reinstate Zimbabwe as a Test playing nation (which way did Zimbabwe vote, I wonder?).

The problems in Zimbabwe go way beyound cricket, this may not even be a blip on the radar there. That any country in this day and age has an average life expectancy of 36 defies belief.

Just say ....sorry what was the question?

2007-05-11T11:56:00.000+08:00

This post over at The Age is one of the most reasonable arguments against marijuana use I have seen in a long time. The argument that pot is harmless, as put forth by the older smoker, is based on the misapprehension that the weed today is the same as back in the day. It's not. Its stronger and covered in pesticides and other harmful chemicals. (But what deterrent is that going to be to people who gladly ingest those chemicals in pill form?)

The best argument (and i say best because it has been one that has always haunted me) I have copied from the Age article.

"the truth is marijuana probably isn't gonna make you kill people, and it most likely isn't gonna fund terrorism, but well son, pot makes you feel fine with being bored -- and it's when you're bored that you should be learning some new skill or discovering some new science or being creative. If you smoke pot you may grow up to find out that you aren't good at anything."

Look here

2007-05-09T13:50:00.001+08:00

My older son is going to be playing indoor cricket for WA at the National Titles in Sydney next month and I'm going along as a sort of diarist/chronicler. I'll be keeping notes here.

Fascism

2007-05-09T13:50:00.000+08:00

This article from the Guardian web site by Naomi Wolf argues that there are 10 necessary steps that need to be taken to "destroy constitutional freedoms" and ... well, have a read. It just wears me out thinking about it.

Caption

2007-05-04T15:26:00.000+08:00

This site makes me question, and a lot of my bullshit is germinated from there, and I just noticed the catchphrase contest was still going, so I thought I'd chuck this in, because it sums it up for me.

I can kick your arse, or oughta, but I can't make you think.

I didn't say it was good, but it sums it up for me. Hell, I may use it.

Blogs are bad

2007-05-04T13:43:00.000+08:00

I remember, when I was younger and more idealistic, thinking that free and open speech was a wonderful idea, because, surely, if everyone knew everyone else's motivation and listened to the reasons behind their actions, this would help spread understanding and love through out the world.
'blogging and online forums have proven me wrong. Well, not completely wrong. Everyones still gets to have there say, but NO ONE LISTENS. There is no understanding, just opportunity to spew forth your opinion (fuck off, i see the irony) with none of the give and take, the listening and understanding that a normal conversation requires. Is it because of the anonymity afforded the writer by their pseudonym? Or that distance removes the physical threat when you behave badly? Or is it the "me" generation, like so many Lleyton Hewitts, growing up believing Mummy and\or Daddy's constant flattery and pandering in their misbegotten attempts to raise their "self esteem"? Am I wrong to blame the medium? Maybe it truly does reflect society and we are all a bunch of whiny, selfish babies.

False Idols

2007-05-01T08:14:00.000+08:00

Rant starts .....now.

My football team the West Coast Eagles has been in the news quite a lot recently for incidents unrelated to the game. I have tried very hard to avoid the subject but it is getting more and more difficult as the criticism is becoming more and more foolish. The frustrating thing is that the criticism is coming, not only from the "fans", but from the governing body as well. I am not going to pretend that my arguments are un-biased, but I will present them as cogently as possible.

Criticism from the fans

The primary criticism from non-AFL sources is that footballers have a responsibility as role models to children and that Ben Cousins' drug problem is adversely affecting younger fans. As a parent I have taken responsibility for who my sons see as "role models" (I am sick to death of that term). What most people do not seem to realise that success in one "role" does not automatically grant you "model" status across the many roles that we as human beings play. I am more than happy for my boys to aspire to Ben Cousins and Shane Warne's achievements as sportsmen, but would not be happy for them to emulate their personal lives.

Sadly, when I espouse this point of view, the most common argument I receive is that it's "too hard", that "the media" are at fault for sensationalising sportsmen's private lives. Boo Hoo! Who's fault is it that you allow your television to raise your children? Ben Cousins'?? No, it's YOURS and YOURS ALONE. I KNOW raising children can be difficult but so it should be, it the most precious responsibility you can be given and YOU chose to accept it. Football is meant to be entertainment, not footballers lives. That football players take drugs and drink and get into fights does not surprise me and I do not believe that is a very clever lifestyle but NEITHER DO MY CHILDREN. Why? Are they inherently smarter than other children? I don't know. I do know that they have been raised to recognise the difference between the achievements of sports people and their private lives. It is about time you started to teach your kids the same. Not only because I want better lives for your children, but so that my children don't have to put up with people that think like YOU when they grow up.

As you can probably guess, people don't speak to me for long at parties. Hearing that it is your fault when you are looking for someone else to blame makes people uncomfortable. Hopefully, if they are smart enough to listen, it also makes them better people.

Criticism from football

It seems to me that the AFL has accepted the woeful ICC model for adminstering it's sport. Essentially it boils down to "If you make a profit, it doesn't matter about the state of the game or the players". As long as you can convince the fans to show up on the weekend, then you are doing your job properly. Sadly, this is of little practical benefit to the product (i.e. the players) or the consumers (i.e. the fans).
Of course to keep the fans happy, you have to be seen to be doing the "right thing" whether you are or not. For example, require Adam Selwood (who was cleared of any wrongdoing in the incident with Des Headland) to undergo counselling for making derogatory comments about women, while allowing Des Headland (who, oddly was also found not guilty by way of provocation, though nobody was found to have provoked him) to escape unscathed after his violent outburst.

The Eagles finally had enough of Ben Cousins' behaviour. When it became apparent to them that the cause of the erratic behaviour may have been substance related, they did their best to see him rehabilitated. Their motivation may not have been completely altruistic, but they were attempting to address the problem. This week Jeff Farmer, currently serving a 6 week suspension for violent behaviour, was arrested and charged with assault. Fremantle's response was to suspend him immediately until round 13 and then summon him before the board. The news media is full of speculation about Farmer's future and some self-congratulatory back slapping by Club President, Rick Hart. Their actions may have been "swift and decisive" but will they go any way toward helping Jeff Farmer with his anger problems? I don't think so. Instead of trying to assist a player (product) who has brought thousands of fans (consumers) through their gates, Hart has donned his Pontius Pilate hat (wreath?) and washed his hands of Farmer.

Guess which of these scenarios was sanctioned by the AFL commission? Or how many Fremantle executives were called before Andrew Demetriou?

Sadly it appears that sport is mirroring society again in as much as the "rehabilation vs retribution" argument is swinging firmly toward retribution.

Taking gullibility to a new level

2007-04-27T12:59:00.000+08:00

"Journalists" fooled in "poodle" scam

I thought this story about Japanese pet owners being sold a sheep for $1600 AUD and told they were poodles was a little far fetched. My favourite part of the story is the Japanese movie star that was on a talk show and complained that her new pet wouldn't bark or eat dog food.

"She was crestfallen when told it was a sheep."

The story goes on to tell of another couple who "became suspicious when they took their 'dog' to have its claws trimmed and were told it had hooves."

A little more investigation shows the original story comes courtesy of "The Sun" newspaper in the UK, notorious for its sensational stories and minimalist approach to fact checking. It seems that the "news" editor at ninemsn takes a similar approach. Sapporo, in Japan, where the scam purportedly took place has a sheep farm and a hill called sheep hill.

ninemsn did print a semi-correction here (dare i say sheepishly), but surely a simple bit of fact checking (remember fact checking? apparently journalists used to do it) instead of regurgitating some tripe found on Google would have saved them the em-baa-rrassment

Short butts

2007-04-27T08:30:00.000+08:00

Stole this link from Stu over at yelpar. Please read it to remind yourself that not all Americans are psycho gun-wielding maniacs. Then read the comments and remind yourself why you should be scared of the ones that are.

Not my best look, I know...

2007-04-24T15:37:00.001+08:00

IMG_2943
Originally uploaded by IAmRanx.

.....but really, do I look that old?

At the Blues and Roots Festival late last month I was standing watching Missy Higgins, smoking a cigarette when this young lady (I have no idea, somewhere between 15 and 25 years old, I was a bit drunk)[Edit: "young lady"? I guess I just answered my own question] tapped me on the shoulder and said, politely "Can I have a light please.....Mister?". Poor girl I gave her the light and turned back and said "Did you just call me Mister?".

Oddly enough she moved away not long after that

My Hump

2007-04-23T21:38:00.001+08:00

Playing guitar, I always look for different ways to play songs (think "Mad World" from "Donnie Darko"). Alannis Morrisette obviously does the same. This is a cracking cover (parody?) of "My Hump" by the Black Eyed Peas.

Ouch

2007-04-23T14:01:00.000+08:00

Whiteside Primary School would be proud of us.

Friday night was a fantastic drinking fest. I had the best time. After the initial awkward question and answer about family...actually, I'm not entirely sure what we spoke about for the rest of the night, but I recall climbing in to bed at around 4 o'clock after watching the Aussies towel up the Kiwis in their last Super 8's match.

But I'm never drinking again.

Reunions

2007-04-20T08:25:00.000+08:00

My regular Friday night shed-fest will be interrupted this week. I got an email a few weeks back from an old school mate who'd tracked me down via a school reunion site and, after some shuffling, we have organised a small get together for 4-5 of us at my place tonight. Sadly, neither of my old schools exist any more. I've never really been big in to the whole reunion idea. Maybe that's because nearly half my close friends have been beside me for 20 years or so, there's never been the drive.The year we turned 40, a few of us caught up, I think as an obligatory nod to the mid-life crisis, but that's about it.
I have been viewing tonight with some trepidation. I am never good with awkward social situations, I am absolutely crap at making small talk and have almost completely (deliberately) forgotten most of my teenage years. I thought that I would have Puddin' there as my firewall (he went to school with us as well) but the inconsiderate swine is on his honeymoon until late tonight! This morning, however, I awoke with a sense of anticipation. The focus has changed from worrying about what they will think of me to wondering what they've been doing (for the last 30 years!).

For the record, I am third from the left on the lower row of boys in the black and white photo and top right in the colour photo (Nice Paisley, I know). Peo, who made contact, is second from right in the row below me in the colour photo. Norm is far left, row 2 in the colour photo and 2nd from right, 2nd row in the B&W. Graham far right, 2nd row in the B&W.

Conspiracy Theories

2007-04-18T09:50:00.000+08:00

I have to admit it, I am a huge fan of conspiracy theories. The lengths to which some people go to "prove" their theories fascinates me. Of course these are only fun if you accept the theorists accounts on face value.

The Virginia Tech shooting this week, while horrifying, started me wondering when the first conspiracy theories about it would start. It is my guess that there will be a web site blaming the American government in place in under 6 months.

That's just a guess of course. While you're waiting, here's on of the better researched conspiracy sites, written by a bloke who used to live in my home town

A sign of the times

2007-04-16T13:03:00.000+08:00

I couldn't help but overhear the conversation in front of me. Two women discussing back pain when one of them asked the other if she had been working too hard. The woman with the sore back replied that it was "from the baby" and was called pelvic something or other. Then woman one asked her, full of concern,

"Have you googled it?"

Not that there's anything wrong with that, Google is my memory's best friend, it just struck me as odd. Not "have you seen somebody about it?" but "Have you googled it?"

2007 and counting

War Movies

2007-04-04T09:28:00.000+08:00

Just in case you thought John Wayne and Audie Murphy were in Iraq. Watch and listen to this. Please.

In the minority again

2007-03-28T13:36:00.000+08:00

OK, to balance out this morning's "butterflies and unicorns" post, I thought I would once again peek into the David Hick's debacle. I wish I hadn't, I really do. I've seen his guilty plea reported on a number of websites, some of which allow comments from the public. These ones sadden me the most. The number of people who seem to have missed the point entirely scares me.
Comments like these:
"We need to bring back capital and corporal punishment. I don't know how anybody could turn against their own country like this guy. Shame shame shame."

Why will he be coming to Australia, he should be sent back to the country he was fighting for and that was Afghanistan. I'm surprised that there are not more comments from the do-gooders saying he has been coerced into pleading guilty.

He's no longer a terror suspect but a self confessed terrorist and will shortly be a convicted terorist. He's had his day in court which we've all been waiting for, so now it's time see what punishment this sloppy bit of dog s*it has agreed to.

and the worst of all
"Obviously we've had enormous concerns about the allegations that have been brought against David Hicks," he said.

"(But) I'm pleased for everybody's sake ... that this saga has come to a conclusion." Foreign Minister Alexander Downer

Reading back over these comments has convinced me that I have been wrong all along. The people of Australia have EXACTLY the sort of government the majority wants (and for that matter deserves). A Government that abrogates it's responsibility to a citizen who, while in a foreign country, is captured by an invading force and shipped to a third country, incarcerated away from the rule of law for 5 years until he pleads guilty to trumped up charges, then allows the invading force to then "graciously" hand responsibility for that person back when they've finished, but agree to lock him up at taxpayers expense until they say it's ok. That's the sort of Government we have. I don't care if David Hicks is guilty or innocent, and neither apparently do Howard and Downer. It's the difference of opinion about how he was treated that scares me.

Be the change......

2007-03-28T09:12:00.000+08:00

Click here and watch this video
Just when my cynicism reaches new highs after the handling of David Hicks, the murder of Bob Woolmer at the World Cup and a swimming coach being banned for fighting with his daughter pool side, something comes along to give me hope.

Motherhood ain't what it used to be

2007-03-16T14:38:00.000+09:00

Jordan named celebrity 'Mother of the Year'

Seriously, how hard would this have been for her to win. She was up against Jade Goody, Kate Moss and Heather Mills McCartney. Other contenders were Victoria Beckham, The Duchess of York and Davina McCall.
Andrea Yates is unlucky not to get a nomination.

This is wrong

2007-03-16T14:01:00.000+09:00

This story was just about the final straw for me today. I have almost completely lost faith in the human race. An old man who, apparently, acted as a "sperm donor" for a woman has had his estate claimed against his wishes by the "donor" children and not his two daughters. Bad enough, I know, but the last paragraph sickens me

"DNA testing proved they were Mr Willem's biological children after their solicitor plucked his eyebrow hair as he lay in Port Macquarie Base Hospital."

There was more to this post, but blogger seems to have joined the queue of entities hell bent on fucking my day up.

Victim 700

2007-03-09T09:29:00.000+09:00

Boxing Day

I've been meaning to post this for ages. Boxing Day at the MCG, Victim number 700 for Shane Warne. It was freezing cold, but my favourite live sporting moment.

p.s. Even if it hadn't bowled him, the stumping was on :-)

Post 101

2007-03-07T07:54:00.000+09:00

A bunch of random stuff today.

I thought the pictures on Preparation H web site were amusing. Roll your mouse over the pictures on the front page to see exactly what "anal discomfort" looks like.

I found a new blog I like Violent Acres. Freedom of speech at it's free-est

My musical tastes are expanding, thanks to my older son. Last 5 songs on my list were "Du Hast" by Rammstein (which i introduced him to), "Download this song" by MC Lars, he introduced me, I in turn introduced him to "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop. "Hey Now Now" by the Cloud Room, introduced to us both by Pepsi, "Vicinity of Obscenity" by System of a Down (me the band, him the song, both surprised to find we're fans) and "Mama" by My Chemical Romance. (Him the band, me the song).

My Chemical Romance. New Romantics without the style. What an odd band they are. As a product of the '80s (well my teenage years) I can understand the make-up thing (the Cure, Duran Duran) and the angst thing (the Smiths) but the combination of the two in My Chemical Romance freaks me out a little bit.

No, No, No, No, No

2007-03-06T11:58:00.000+09:00

One less reason to go to the gym

Not that I need encouragement to avoid going to the gym (I've been once) but if I did, this story is exactly the sort of thing that would do it.

Surely straddling the seat of an exercise bike with sweaty, NAKED arse cheeks is neither savoury or sanitary.

That's without even thinking about the bouncing bits on the treadmill.

Jesus Christ

2007-03-02T08:08:00.000+09:00

The man, the figurehead and the epithet

I've always had a real interest in Jesus as a historical figure (rather than a religious icon), so the news about the James Cameron documentary caught my eye this week. It seems an interesting story and one I would like to hear more about. Scott Adams (the Dilbert Guy) makes an interesting comment on the discovery over at his blog.

Of course, Christians around the world have either condemned or dismissed it out of hand, which got me to thinking about why the would do that. I have expressed my thoughts on religious fervour before but the thought keeps gnawing away at me, "Surely, these people can't be so different from me that they won't even entertain the idea?".

Apparently I was wrong. I ran across this entry by Stu over at yelpar. Apparently Wikipedia is "anti-christian" and "anti-American", so the neo-Cons have taken it upon themselves to create a strikingly similar looking web site and called it Conservapedia. This is where the epithet part comes in. Some of the things there are so far removed from what I think that it scares me. I thought Jesus Christ, what if these people are right? What if the world is really only a couple of thousand years old and carbon dating is fraudulent? What if I am one of the deluded? All this time, growing up, growing older, science has been lying to me?

Jesus Christ, I am in trouble.

By an Australian, for Australians, in search of our culture...

2007-02-22T14:42:00.000+09:00

I forgot how much I loved this album. Dave Warners- From the Suburbs

I love what the lyrics in this song say about Australia and Australians. That is, Australia and Australians as I remember us. None of this flag waving, chest thumping nationalism bullshit that you see nowadays. It's almost un-Australian to fly the Australian flag inside the country, outside of ceremonies etc. I have no problems proclaiming my Australianism overseas, but here, it seems unnecessary.

I think that's what the organisers of the Big Day Out were getting at.

CONVICT STREAK

Maybe it's because of our Convict Streak
We wanna fight everyone we meet
Anzac Day is our day of the year
We march our march, we drink our beer

We don't like Slopes, we don't like Yanks
I'd personally like to blow up
every Commie tank
We're only few but we fought in 'Nam
Packed our guns alongside Uncle Sam
Ask any of us, it were no sin
The only crime was that we didn't win

(chorus)
And ... The Poms are weak as piss
The French are queer
The Germans are wankers,
but they make good beer
Don't criticise what you don't understand
If you think I'm talking shit
you don't belong in this land

I'm Australian, we all are
We watch the telly and we drive our car
But don't you ever SAY WE'RE WEAK
Or you'll learn all about our Convict Streak

The world began with Adam and Eve
But Australia started at Gallipolli
Our fathers put the Desert into Desert Rats
Their uncles slipped the boot in,
up in Lambing Flats

Don't criticise what you don't understand
It's not that we're behind the times,
we're in a different land
We might be slobs but WE'RE NOT WEAK
Maybe it's because of our Convict Streak

(chorus)

I'm Australian, so are you
It doesn't matter if you're Ding or Jew
Just remember, while you're here
You march our march and you drink our beer

Lyrics Dave Warner

Old School Valentines Day

2007-02-14T14:47:00.000+09:00

I found this picture by accident and thought it appropriate for Valentine's Day. It really is beautiful. You can read the story of their discovery here or by clicking on the picture

The Happy Planet

2007-02-14T07:51:00.000+09:00

I thought this was interesting.I also thought it must be wrong until I read the way it is calculated. It's basically :

(Life Expectancy * Life Satisfaction)

_______________________

Ecological footprint

We do have a pretty big impact on the environment, but I still can't work out if the index is how happy we are on the planet or how happy the planet is with us. Maybe a combination of both. Still....90 places below Palestine??

Should have picked that

2007-02-13T13:14:00.000+09:00

I don't know why, but i keep running in to these "You are the...." tests recently.

Here's the latest

You are The Fool

The Fool is the card of infinite possibilities. The bag on the staff indicates that he has all he need to do or be anything he wants, he has only to stop and unpack. He is on his way to a brand new beginning. But the card carries a little bark of warning as well. Stop daydreaming and fantasising and watch your step, lest you fall and end up looking the fool.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Crash and Burn

2007-02-13T11:34:00.001+09:00

OOOOH! Found more scribblings

I see the train coming,
And I put my foot to the floor
I can feel my brain humming
But my body doesn’t know the score

The voice in my head and the fire in my heart
Scream at me to let them out
Grip the wheel tighter, push the pedal harder
Close my eyes and shout

Crash and Burn
Crash and Burn
Crash and Burn
Crash and Burn

The voice in my head puts a gun in my hand
Saying give the barrel a spin
You’ve just gotta jump and not care where you land
You can only lose if you win

Crash and Burn
Crash and Burn
Crash and Burn
(I'm gonna) Crash and Burn

Draft 1

2007-02-13T10:16:00.000+09:00

It's more than the parts that make the whole
Sometimes questions outweigh the answers
It's not always easy to discover your role
Amongst the myriad of dancers

When you think you're fighting a losing cause,
Or someone, to you, is lost
You cast about and clutch at straws
No matter what the cost

Be who you are, be what you are
Do all that you can do,
Anyone can be a star,
Only you can be you

With an open heart and open mind
Let song burst from your soul
Do not fear for the things you’ll find
Just let yourself be whole

Though many join us on this path
At the end we’ll be alone
Then say, looking at the aftermath
That life, it was my own.

I partially scribble song lyrics some times, and then lose them, so i thought this is as good a place as any to keep them. Who knows, i may actually get around to polishing and putting a tune to one. One day.

Pigs on the Wing

2007-02-13T07:38:00.000+09:00

I may never have seen Pink Floyd as a band, but after a nearly 19 year wait I can now say I have seen them all live.

The first half (or should that be three quarters) was as a callow 23-year old in February of 1988 at East Fremantle Oval. Extremely drunk and drugged up I saw the group in what was their first post Roger Waters world tour. I loved it but couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that he wasn't there. Fast forward to last Friday night when, fuelled by two mid-strength beers, I rounded out the quartet when I saw Roger Waters at Members Equity Stadium in Perth. And it was awesome, in the true definition of the word. The first part of the concert (which was my favourite part) was made up of songs from "The Wall", "Wish You Were Here", the (IMHO) under-rated "The Final Cut", "Amused To Death", "Animals" and the excellent "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" from "Saucerful of Secrets". Some reviews I had read leading up to the show criticized the strength of Rogers vocals, but we must have got him on a good day, because he just blew me away. The set finished with "Sheep" from "Animals" complete with inflatable pig. And yes (thank you bella) I was one of the sheep staring and taking poxy phone camera photos of it (see above).

After a 20 minute break (during which the full moon projected onto the screen behind the stage grew steadily larger) the band launched into the concert's title piece "Dark Side of the Moon". It was an excellent rendition. My only disappointment (again) was that it was not Pink Floyd the entity. Snowy White and Dave Kilmeister were superb on guitar, but couldn't quite carry off Dave Gilmour's vocal parts, which to me are a highlight of the album. Other than that I could have been sitting at home (in a really uncomfortable platic chair in the backyard crushed up againslt my mate Norm) listening to the album. Even P.P. Arnold's vocal on "The Great Gig in the Sky" was almost indistinguishable from the original.

After a rousing standing ovation, Waters then returned to introduce the band (interestingly, keyboard player Jon Carin toured in 1988 with Pink Floyd) and finish off with a collection of songs from "The Wall".

Members Equity Stadium may not have been the most comfortable place to see a concert and I'm never keen to sit through live music (no-one stood until the encore) but I'd gladly cough up $250 to do it all again.

Lazy, I know, but fun

2007-02-01T15:35:00.000+09:00

It definitely sounds like me

You're The Poisonwood Bible!

by Barbara Kingsolver

Deeply rooted in a religious background, you have since become both
isolated and schizophrenic. You were naively sure that your actions would help people,
but of course they were resistant to your message and ultimately disaster ensued. Since
you can see so many sides of the same issue, you are both wise beyond your years and
tied to worthless perspectives. If you were a type of waffle, it would be
Belgian.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Cos I'm in that sort of mood.

2007-01-25T10:41:00.000+09:00

A couple of things from which I draw inspiration.
The first is from "The Paradoxical Commandments of Leadership".

1.People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
2.If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
3.If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
4.The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
5.Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
6.The biggest men with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
7.People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8.What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
9.People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.
10.Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

It sort of reminds me to go with my instinct, live from my "higher" self as it were. This quote attributed to Mother Theresa sums it up.

"You see in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway "

Herschelle Gibbs

2007-01-19T07:54:00.000+09:00

Let me preface this post with 2 statements:

I am conscious of and try very hard not to be racist.

I am not a Herschelle Gibbs fan. In fact I have been known to decry him loudly as a cheat to anyone who will listen.

Having said that, I think Malcolm Speed and Chris Broad have made a big mistake in charging him and finding him guilty of category 3 racial abuse.
I saw some footage with the audio the other day and, unless there was more than they played, the whole thing is a crock of shit. He called the "supporters" (now there's an irony) "animals" and "fucking hyenas" that should go back to the zoo where they belong. The only thing that will hang him is right at the end, in an almost exasperated tone, he mutters "fucking pakistanis". I'm not going to run crying home to mummy if I get called a "fucking Australian" and I don't see how hyena or animal can be deemed racial epithets?
From memory, the last player banned for racial abuse was Darren Lehmann and Gibbs' comments come nowhere near his outburst.

At the risk of copping a ban myself I ask the question: Did the ICC come down hard in this case because it was Pakistan? Look at the most controversial events of the past few months in world cricket.

The first ever forfeit in Test cricket
The Pakistan team refuse to come back on to the field in a Test match because they don't like the umpires decision.
Result:The Pakistan captain is banned for four one day matches. One of the umpires in question is widely condemmned as a racist and removed from the panel of elite umpires.

Drugs in cricket
Two bowlers are banned after testing positive to a metabolite of nandrolone.
Result:Shoaib Akhtar (2 years) and Mohammad Asif (1 year) from Pakistan had there bans overturned after using the dazzlingly brilliant "we didn't know" defence.

And now Herschelle Gibbs is banned for a potential 10 playing days for complaining to his team mates about the behaviour of a section of the Pakistani crowd.

Anyone seeing a pattern here? Do Pakistan have too much influence in the ICC at the moment? I don't know,maybe I just selectively pulled these incidents from the headlines to make this entry seem more interesting than it really is. Or not.

Comet McNaught

2007-01-17T07:47:00.000+09:00

After the disappointment of Comets Haley and Kahoutek, I finally managed to see a comet with the naked eye last night down at the beach. Sweet.

2 of my favourite songs.

2006-12-12T09:48:00.000+09:00

Of course by that I mean 2 songs that make me want to sleep with the woman singing them just from the sound of their voices. (it's not complicated)

1. The Sundays Here's where the story ends

2. Angie Hart - Careless. A Paul Kelly cover from the album "The women at the well". Sadly I can't find a link to this one, so I've posted Angie's picture instead :-(

Both breathtakingly beautiful voices.

Aural aphrodisiacs

A Pro Wrestling Revelation

2006-12-11T13:45:00.000+09:00

I was watching the "Professional Wrestling" yesterday with the boys when I began to feel uneasy. I was listening to the contrived dialogue between the two protagonists, who were overblown stereotypes with no acting ability or redeeming features other than their bodies, all the while knowing that sooner or later they would be grappling, trying to show off as many different positions as possible, before one or both of them was laid flat out on their back.

Then it hit me.

Pro Wrestling is porn for people who prefer violence to sex.

Surely not, you say? Then consider this.

It follows the same formula (the setup, the tease, the action and then, finally, the climax), and surrounds itself with implausible story lines so people with ridiculously proportioned bodies can strip down and roll around together in the name of entertainment.

And, as I tightly gripped the remote, I realised I was watching it one-handed.

Scary

2006-11-29T09:21:00.000+08:00

I guess when you get to my age you would expect that health issues would not come as a surprise. In fact, I find the opposite is true. Maybe each day we get by unscathed just strengthens our sense of invulnerability.

That is, of course,until someone close to you has a health scare. A very good friend of mine recently suffered a severe asthma attack and had to be resuscitated and put into an induced coma last week. More than the threat to his physical health (that sense of invulnerability is very strong) I worried about his state of mind. This guy, growing up, was one of the most loving and giving people I knew. His family was an inspiration to me, and I believe that he and his family came in to my life to show me that side of myself, how to give and love unconditionally. Unfortunately, as they grew older, disillusionment and a little bitterness took hold. He still gave with his heart, unquestioningly, but I think he became frustrated when people did not reciprocate.

Skip forward to a month ago. A new job in a caring profession had a new spring in his step. Things were falling into place for him and a conversation I had with him 2 weeks ago had me singing the praises of his new outlook on life.

Then the health scare.

I visited him in hospital yesterday and he is, if possible, even more positive than the last time I saw him. It was like he had accepted that he is loved and cared for. That he has learned that love is not necessarily a "back and forth" thing, that the love he has been giving out has always come back to him, just not always from the direction he expected.

He told me that the doctor said to him that instead of his life beginning at 40, his had very nearly ended. After seeing him yesterday, I choose to believe that his new life has truly started.

Go with it, my brother, you'll never walk alone.

Is it worth it?

2006-11-27T08:57:00.000+08:00

"War grows out of the desire of the individual to gain advantage at the expense of his fellow man
Napoleon Hill

How can I explain to my sons the difference between strength and aggression? How can I explain to them the line between defending one's self and exploitation, when I'm not sure of it myself.

I sometimes wonder if my leftist, pacifist leanings lead to me being "taken advantage of", but when I consider the alternative, I hope so. How can you give freely of yourself, then complain when someone accepts? Conversely, why would you "take" from others something not offered? We can see where that leads in just about any newspaper on any day. If anyone reads this, try for this week to offer freely of yourself and to accept what is offered to you and nothing more.

All nighter

2006-11-24T08:03:00.000+08:00

It may be an off shoot of my white line fever, but part of the pleasure I gained from yesterday's start to the Ashes Series is the thought of English people missing out on sleep so they can watch their team disappoint them again. The pain of their 2005 taunts is beginning to fade.

Not that I'm bitter or anything ;-)

It definitely (finally) on

2006-11-23T09:54:00.000+08:00

The wait and the hype have been unbearable, but finally it is here. And things are going our way. After the first hour listening to the commentary from Smee's phone it sounds like the status quo has been restored. England opted to play Giles ahead of "the best finger spinner in the world" (Duncan Fletcher's words, not mine), we won the toss and batted and Steve Harmison was all over the shop. Was it an omen that the first ball in the series was an English wide? Langer batted like he was thinking "Phil who?". Captain Hercules bowled 2 no-balls in his first over. Once again, Hoggard looked like the only Pom that can bowl.

I love cricket. For the moment, anyway

Sing with me now

2006-11-16T12:08:00.000+08:00

(To the tune of Chirp a chirp a cheep cheep)

Where's Trescothick gone?

Where's Trescothick gone?

He's a whinging pom
He's a whinging pom

He's run away
He's run away

Damn Barmy Army

White line fever.

2006-11-14T13:39:00.000+08:00

This is a completely new entry to replace the whiny,self pitying piece of crap that was previously here.

I suffer from white line fever. Actually, if I indulge in any sort of competition, I am prepared to do anything short of kill someone (well, depending on whom it is) to win. I have almost no control over my temper when I think (and here is the vital piece of information) that someone is ENJOYING BEATING ME. For me, this is a completely unacceptable frame of mind for any of my opponents to have. I don't mind being beaten by people who don't enjoy it or I don't see as a threat, but god forbid they show any pleasure or even any desire to win when competing against me. A classic example from the weekend. I was playing cricket, bowling in fact, and the batsmen tapped the ball to short mid wicket and took off for a single. I took off after the ball and even though I knew there was no hope of running him I threw the ball. The ball went wide of the keeper and the batsmen ran three overthrows. The reason the ball went wide was because somewhere in my brain, one of the remaining sane synapses saw clearly my atavistic desire to hurl it in to the back of the scurrying batsman and decided to tell my right arm that it didn't want any part of it.

To make matters worse, shortly afterwards at Tea, all the batsman kept talking about was the additional 3 runs they'd scored and how they would contribute to their run chase.

Happy ending after all, within 2 overs of the resumption of play, the same guy spooned a little leading edge off my bowling. Normally I would have jogged on or two steps forward and watched with a wry smile as the ball bounced short of me. Not today. Not THIS batsman. I sprinted down the pitch and hurled my less than athletic frame lengthways down the carpet and concrete strip with no other thought than "Get this bastard out!" I managed to keep the ball from hitting the deck with two fingers and the thumb of my right hand, at the cost of some bruised and scraped ribs, but at the time it was worth it!!

Now I'm not so sure.

I really think this summer's Ashes tour is going to be a test for my tolerance and patience.

Update: This made me feel better though

The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanity: George Bernard Shaw

After listening to Woodie and Mils bang on...

2006-11-13T10:34:00.000+08:00

....I found this quote appropriate.

The feeling of patriotism - It is an immoral feeling because, instead of confessing himself a son of God . . . or even a free man guided by his own reason, each man under the influence of patriotism confesses himself the son of his fatherland and the slave of his government, and commits actions contrary to his reason and conscience." : Leo Tolstoy, Patriotism and Government

There ain't 'arf bin some clever bastards

2006-11-08T08:55:00.000+08:00

I mean really clever. Time has announced its inventions of the year. "YouTube", while not immediately world changing, has given us true freedom of information (this is not a comment on the veracity of that information) and made good the promise of the internet. For a while. Better get in quick, as Google has bought it.

Have a look through some of the other inventions. I was particularly impressed with the Tesla car and the bike riding robot. If you have a few minutes, have look and wonder at human ingenuity.

Melbourne Cup Day

2006-11-07T12:52:00.000+08:00

I have never been a fan of horse racing, not even the Melbourne Cup, though usually I do have the day off and get trashed at the local race track, but that has more to do with the company than the actual entertainment.

I was intrigued earlier this week by calls for Melbourne Cup day to become a public holiday in states other than Victoria.

Now, I like a bludge as much as the next person, but I believe this would be a mistake. For me, the beauty of having Cup day off is that there are still people all over the city working. It gives me a thrill of slightly illicit pleasure to think I am out carousing while government buildings, offices and schools through out the metropolitan area are filled with people crowded around radios and wheeling in televisions to watch the race. Or if I am at work myself, one of the huddlers, it gives me a sense of community with my co-workers to take the time to watch the race. Frankly, I think the sense of sharing is what makes it special for those still at work. Otherwise, it's just a horse race.

Who won?

Mondays

2006-11-06T16:10:00.000+08:00

I think "weekday" and "weekend" are not enough choices when it comes to days. Especially when your weekend consists of 2 nights drinking, 1 and a bit nights sleeping, an engagement party, 1/2 day playing cricket, 1/2 day umpiring/coaching and 2 x 1/2 days watching your children play cricket. Oh, and a couple of hours sleeping on the couch trying to stay awake to watch Australia play cricket.

Summer hasn't even started.

Carn 'straya

Vale Wally

2006-11-03T12:18:00.000+08:00

Wally Foreman, along with Dennis Cometti, was always one of my favourite commentators growing up, probably because they were Western Australians. I always thought Wally was passionate about his sport but not to the degree where he lost objectivity or even handed-ness. I only ever met him once, as an opposition coach in junior cricket, but even in that forum he impressed me with his attitude to the game. Sport in Western Australia and Australia for that matter will be sadly poorer for his passing.

Get on the green

2006-11-02T09:58:00.000+08:00

No, that's not what I mean at all! I was thinking something more along the lines of this:

Get on the Green is a drive by bowls clubs to attract people to bowls. My regular Wednesday nights have moved from the shed to the Innaloo Sportsmans Club for our annual foray into community bowls. Any sport that marks it's rinks with ashtrays at each end and has a beautiful young woman walking around with a wheeled esky selling cheap beer gets a big tick from me.

Oops....

2006-11-01T08:00:00.000+08:00

Methinks the Kazakhs do protest too much....

Equality in sport

2006-10-31T12:47:00.000+08:00

I found this interesting story while trawling the internet for cricket related news. It seems an "Old Boy" has taken offence at his school selecting a girl (Ian Healy's 16 yo niece) in their First XI.

Personally I cannot understand how someone could take offence at such a thing. How insecure would you have to be to wish the girl anything other than success? I have always sort of hoped that sport would be truly unisex (and not only so I don't have to watch women's sport). I love the fact that on the field, you are either one of the "goodies" or the "baddies". No in between, no shades of grey. I don't care where you were born, where you live or what you do for a job. And I see no difference between men and women (other than the good ones) on the sporting fields. Sport, more than most other avenues, offers the opportunity for equality. Everyone wears the same uniform and everyone gets the same chance.

If you're good enough.

Minimum Wage Rise

2006-10-27T07:25:00.000+08:00

Try as I might, I keep finding reasons NOT to like the current Liberal government. All politicians really. They (and apparently most of the voting Australians) have no idea what government is supposed to be about. This weeks decision by the Fair Pay commission to award a $27 a week wage rise to the minimum wage earners should have been a chance for the goverment to bask in the glow of a job well done. Instead, all I have is this image of John Howard and Kevin Andrews grinning smugly, not because the people they represent have more money in their pocket, but because they think that it will piss the unions off.

Andrews was quoted as saying "The only people disappointed about this decision are Kim Beazley, (Labor's IR spokesman) Stephen Smith and the ACTU who have been running around Australia saying this decision would reduce wages for Australians"

John Howard is no better "It must have been a very bad day for Mr Combet (ACTU secretary) today, a very bad day indeed"

To me, it lays bare the greed and desire to cling to power inherent in the personality of these men, that they would expect a man who's goal it is to represent workers to be disappointed that the Fair Pay commission grants Fair pay those very workers because it may somehow weaken his political standing. This is not a fucking game, people. To those workers, that $27 represents a lot more than a chance to thumb their nose at a political opponent.

If anyone out there does read this, please know that these people do not represent me.

Random meme

2006-10-25T12:41:00.000+08:00

1. List two things that are true of you that are not stereotypically true of members of some group that you belong to.
a) Married with children
b) My eyebrow is pierced

2. List two unusual talents that you have.
a) I remember phone numbers and birthdays
b) I have a knack for finding other peoples lost stuff

3. List two unusual weaknesses that you have.
a) Crap television (Neighbours, Australian Idol)
b) I hate going to sleep but I hate getting up (call me Mr Inertia)

4. List two unusual things that you aspire to.
a) Record and play my own music
b) Tall Children

5. List two words that you use more than most people do.
a) cunt
b) archetypal

6. List two foods that you dislike and most other people like.
a) all seafood
b) tomatoes

7. List two strange habits that you have.
a) blogging
b) filling out these questionnaires

Found it here

YAAAHHOOOOO!!!!!

2006-10-24T15:43:00.000+08:00

Beginning December 1st, Western Australia goes on to Daylight saving time. For three years!! Then of course all the nay-sayers will have their chance to screw up summer again. But for the next 3 years.........

Sweet.

Working with Witches

2006-09-13T14:35:00.000+08:00

After what was a pretty messed up weekend for me, with moments of mind blowing clarity interspersed with mind numbing (but ultimately affirming, thank you) lunacy, I have finally started to get my head back together.

Until late yesterday.

My current role requires me to present data from on of our systems in an on line report. I discovered a slight design imperfection in one of the reports that meant it reported some items as overdue that may not have been. As I am fairly new to this role and keen to impress (and my boss asked me to) I repaired it.

Mistake.

Instead of the majority of items reporting overdue, now only the ones that were actually overdue showed up.

My phone rings.

"What's wrong with the report!?" says The Wicked Witch of The East.

"Nothing, why?" say I, playing the innocent (actually I forgot I had made the change, inconsequential as it was).

"All the things that were overdue yesterday are not overdue anymore"

"Oh, yes, that's right, I noticed that anomaly yesterday and repaired it for you" (yay me)

"What does overdue mean?" asks TWWOTE

(This really freaked me out. My job entails taking pieces of data and applying rules to them, often with no idea what they mean. But I'm not about to admit that to her as she has a history of antipathy to my group. So I attempted to explain)

"Well, if this date is earlier than today and the item is not finalised then it appears as overdue. If however this other date is before today and this third date is blank, then that can also be overdue"

{silence}

"Umm, does that make sense" I ask, not without trepidation.

"Not a bit"

After three or four more attempts at explaining she adds,

"I shouldn't even be ringing you you know, we're supposed to loge every problem we have with you guys" (What problem? That the report WORKS!?)

"Yes I know that and getting this report fixed and delivered to you guys has been my raison d'etre for the past month", I plead.

"You should have been working on it for the last 6 months!!" as her voice and my hackles raise at about the same rate.

I've only been working here for 5 months. The conversation then chased itself in circles with me making placating noises and her raising complaint after complaint.

The upshot of it all was that I spent 15 minutes on a telephone call brought about by delivering a 100% correct report.

I've worked with people like the Wicked Witch before. Work is War. Everyone is out to get you. Make no more effort than is absolutely required, that way you can save your energy to whinge and complain and undermine those you perceive as a threat. To me that is an incredibly unhappy way to work, especially as we are all working for the same company. Now my work is unpleasant and further impeded by red tape.

But that's ok, it's Wednesday.

Music and Emotion

2006-09-01T11:03:00.000+08:00

Sitting at my desk with my headphones on I am amazed at the range of (and the rapidity of the change in) emotion I allow to be invoked by music. Not 5 minutes ago I was almost in tears listening to "Adam's Song" now I'm bopping along to "This Charming Man" by The Smiths, and dancing at my desk to "Wishing" by A Flock of Seagulls.

That's all.

Random musing

2006-08-30T07:39:00.000+08:00

Just a quick note this morning. I woke up from one of those vivid dreams that follow you in to the waking world. It was highly emotive and left me feeling a little bit down which usually leads to me over-thinking things. This was no exception. It raised the following question:

If, as the Bible states, "As a man thinks, so shall he be" and sins of the mind are as bad as sins of the flesh (e.g. the commandment "Thou shall not covet thy neighbour's wife"), do Catholics have to confess and do penance for their dreams?