My new friend

This here is Earl, or Rocko I haven't decided which yet.
Today is the day I get him out of the pound and tomorrow we go for a drive up to the Blue Mountains where Mum and Dad will look after him.

I found Earl/Rocko a week ago, he was a stray wandering around the business park where I work. It was a Thursday afternoon and I had just finished up at the gym. As I was walking back to the office I noticed this handsome young fella, walking this way and that and enjoying the mid-winter sun.
I stopped to have a chat and see if he had any collar (which he didn't). I figured he belonged to one of the builders nearby and kept on my way to the office.
Rocko had other ideas.
He followed me into the foyer and I realized he was lost. So I took up to work and begun ringing around to see if anyone had reported him missing.
The RSPCA said no. The Pound said no. The building site said no. No near by vet clinics had a dog fitting his description. All the while I was doing this Earl/Rocko was sitting under my desk quietly, with only the occasional sigh escaping.
My work colleague Pete (who is also a dog person) looked on-line at the lost dog websites, we couldn't find any sign Rocko was missed. We gave Rocko some water and a few biscuits, which he appreciated. I could tell from his temperament, he was a well socialised dog, who knew basic instructions. Someone had lost him.

Well that was effectively the end of my working day, I took Rocko home and walked him over to our local vet to check if he had a microchip. On the way to the vet I noticed some markings on his side, some mongrel bastard had branded the word 'Pill' on him!?! Go figure.
To my relief (at this stage) Rocko was not micro-chipped, I would have hated to have given him back to the kind of dickheads who brand dogs.

Rocko stayed with us over night and with great regret in my heart, I had to drop him off at the pound on Friday morning. By now, Karin and I had decided Rocko would be coming home to live with us (making the grand total 4x Dogs, 4x Cats).
At the pound I was advised Rocko would stay there for 7 days and if no one claimed him, he could come home with us. The photo above is from the ACT Domestic Animal Services website Link
Well a week has been and gone and this afternoon I can pick him up.
I told Mum about Rocko and she said I have too many dogs as it is, her and Dad will will take Rocko as a companion for their dog Polly.

He is off to a great home tomorrow, where he can look forward to a long life of being spoilt and well loved.
Turned out nice again!

Goal scoring machine!

Dude, played soccer again on Saturday and freaking won the match!!
Final score 2-1 Spitfires defeat Lightnings.
I plugged the second goal for the Spitfires!

Needless to say I received a hero's welcome - from my dogs, when I got home (Karin was out). I gave a blow by blow account of the game to TJ, who looked on with awe and wonder (Calvin got bored and fell asleep, while Bishy walked off somewhere.)

Well I was excited...

Late but Great!!

Look what I got!!!!!

An original Judge Dredd, inked and coloured for me, by an actual 2000AD Judge Dredd Artist!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robin Smith worked on 2000AD during the early days progs 200 - 600, smack bang encompasing my collection. This is freaking amazing!!!

It turns our Robin is the neighbour (in the UK) of my Brother in Law (Karin's older brother). His wife is over visiting and she gave us this picture as a belated wedding present. Their neighbour Robin was kind enough to whip this one up at their request, after they found out what a Judge Dredd maniac I am.

What a fantastic gift and I am one proud groom. I've been a Dredd fan for over 20 years and I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I would be given something like this...

Words - failing - urge - to - be - crazy - happy - and - thank - baby - Jesus - rising....

Music Hop-scotch

Hmmm Yeah!! Bubbajay is a happy boy!!
I've got an invite to help guest programme a Folk Music show.
Now I know what you are thinking, 'Dear Bubbajay, you do know don't you that Blood Duster, although they are local, aren't actually a local band..?'
Yes I know and neither is 'Killed by Death', 'Fuck I'm Dead' or 'Mayhem'. (ps Mayhem is still my number one all time best concert, Norwegian Death Metal is where IT IS AT for a live show!!!) (Swear to God).

But, dear reader, you forget I also love Bluegrass, amongst other things. So I have a mission to put together a 2 hour Bluegrass special. Bubbajay is a happy man!
I was figuring on starting with 'Big Rock Candy Mountain' and try to hop-scotch to 'Folsolm Prision'.
Shouldn't be too hard, its resisting the urge to drink moonshine on air while I smoke my corn cobb all 'at way down the hollar thar...
Git my car all souped up and that, so as I can slide over the hood an all.
Yeah.... that's be jes fine, Pogo, jes fine.

Soccer, On Air, Pirates!!

Well Saturday was fun packed and no mistake.
My buddy Ash invited me to a 'semi-serious' game of soccer in the morning. Twas the Spitfires (red) vs the Lightnings (Blue). I was on the Red team with Ash and we kicked arse 4-2. We played for about an hour with 3 rests in between. Just good fun to be running about a field in winter, kicking a ball about with your mates.
Did notice however that even I've going to gym a fair bit this year, I have no where near the energy reserves of the 12 year boy who used to play soccer in Lower Hutt. My legs are hurting this morning.

Still must say I'm looking forward to next week!
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I got on the radio and had 30 minutes of air time as well!! What a blast, it was fantastic fun and a lot easier than it looked. My very first on air track was 'When I was a Lad' from HMS Pinafore, thought that would be a suitable start. My host DJ was very gracious, I had brought along some tracks thinking I'd just be in the interview chair. But we had a talk and John offered to put me on from 1pm, so I took it!! Did a 30 minute spell and had a fantastic time!!
I'm very lucky to have had such a supportive mentor!
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Saw Pirates O.T.C Dead Mans Chest last night, a lot of money for what essentially was a whole lot of filler. Just got the feeling of the story being streched out to accomodated a third film. Not to say that it wasn't bad, but I think Peter Jackson has a lot to answer for. He made it look easy.
Good fun, but perhaps it will bear up better once the third film is out.

Other notes, in the trailers they showed "Beyond the Sea - The Bobby Darin Story", I have seen that one in the States and I thought it was great.

Some time to mingle ...

Had a lovely introduction to the people of Artsound FM this evening.
One of the long time presenters was retiring and me and the rest of my classmates were invited to attend the party.
It was great everyone was very friendly and really positive about me joining the team! What a wonderful introduction!!
First question everyone asked me, "So, what sort of music do you like?" Thats a great question and an even better ice breaker at a Radio station party!

I may even be on air for bit tomorrow lunch time.... How exciting!!

Get back to where you belong!

Check out this LINK!!!
Kick ass 80's vids, currently enjoying Bomb the Base.
Something for everyone!!!

All Comedy Should Be Like This

This is funny, very funny. Look if you dare...
It is my idea of funny, it is my idea of comedy gold, it is performed by my hero's,
I love it.

4th of July and Superman

Today is the FOURTH of JULY a big deal to my friends in the States.
On Local radio here in Canberra the fuckwit ABC was holding a phone poll to see who was the greatest American - people conspicuous by their abcense; Frederik Douglas, Henry David Thoreau, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincon, Ben Franklin (was mentioned, but none of the other founding fathers), Woodrow Wilson, Rosa Parkes, I could go on...
The Fourth of July is a celebration of the public reading of the Declaration of Independance, an interesting document in itself. All the people who signed this document, for I have seen a copy at the courthouse in Annapolis, were also signing their death warrant if they lost the war or were ever captured. To write this document and commit to this process and to publicly declare who you were (a traitor to the Crown) took balls. "Give me liberty or give me death" said Patrick Henry and he wasn't kidding - those were the choices.

So, I've spoken a bit about this twee poll conducted by ABC 666am (seriously, that is the freq of the station) who would I nominate? After some consideration I would nominate George Washington. Not for his qualities as a tactitian, he was competent not brilliant, but his qualities as a gentleman and as a hero for the people. When the Treaty of Paris has concluded the Continental Congress met to discuss the 'what next' question. Although the Bill of Rights had been drafted, this was a tenuous foundation for the Republic. Power could have abused outright and a dictatorship cum monarchy installed. George Washington was in a position to seize power, sweep away the Continental Congress and install himself as 'President for Life'. He was the Head of the Army, he had the troops, he would have won.
Instead he did something remarkable, he resigned his commission. He then went onto become the first and second president of the Republic and worked hard to consolidate the Republic. He was the citizen first and the solider second, a high minded ideal indeed.

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As it is the Fourth of July, I though I would also post my review of 'Superman Returns' . I liked it I have to say. I thought it worked very well, I enjoyed the nod to the previous films and I think the new guy did a good job as Superman/Clark Kent.
Couldn't help thinking of the speech from Kill Bill 2 though.