Thats it for 2008

Well almost in a few days time it will be. Until then have a wonderful and most importantly a safe Christmas and a happy New Year.

What will 2009 hold for us? Bare in mind that we are now only 3 years away from 2012 the so called end, according to the Mayan calender. Will 2009 have any portents? What signs should we watch for?

• The CERN LHC has not yet destroyed the planet, nor the solar system. Probably helped by the fact that their network was hacked within minutes of its going live...
• There have not been any zombie attacks, anywhere, at all. Still we should all review our Zombie Plans as a precaution.
• While QANTAS aircraft have been dropping out of the sky and crashing on the run way a lot, I suggest this is a reflection of Fu%^tard greedhead corporate management. As opposed to a portent of doom.
• Obviously the economy is in the crapper, but if you didn't see that coming a year ago - there is very little I, education or evolution can do to help.
• Possibly the most obvious sign of the lord of misrule is that a capable, young, black man got elected over an old monied up, conservative, white man (personally I am very impressed with the voting public in America).

Well the future is at our doorstep and we have to but step out to discover it. Take every one I will see back here next year!!

Bike Paths in Melbourne

I've started to ride into work this week. Actually its part of a whole getting back on the fitness band wagon. Back in August I twisted my right knee while skiing and its kept me off the soccer field since then and off my bike for most of that time. So at long last I've joined a gym here in Melbourne (the local YMCA, there ARE lots of things for me to enjoy!! Swimming, Gyming. Actually thats probably about it...)
What I learned from the process of selecting a gym is to be discriminating. I checked out a few places, some where too small, some where just too expensive and not easy to get to and a small handful were just staffed by wankers. Getting fit has a lot to do with motivation and if you don't like the people at the gym thats less of a reason to go.
Well the guys and gals at my local YMCA are very friendly and the gym isn't too crowded when I go in the morning and I get access to the classes and the pool (for a very good price).
The big plus from all this great energy is the motivation to try riding into work. The distance is about 17kms each way and mostly flat (the odd hill). For the most part its off the main roads and through parks and nature reserves, which is a huge pleasure to ride. I'm glad to say that my fitness is picking back up and I can do the trip in about 50 minutes. My goal is to pair that back some and pick up my average speed.

But I must say the sight of some of the other cyclists does make me laugh. 40+ year old men with guts like a hippo, stuffed into Lance Armstrong professional cycling gear. Sad, funny, weird and wrong all at the same time. Which is some feat!!

A reason to LIVE

Spend every waking second of your life from now on at this site.

Xmas and Don Camillo

We are coming up on Jesus birthday and with that is the attendant struggle to get gifts as soon on. I must confess to being somewhat distracted this year (similar to last year from memory) as my present from heaven will be with me in May 09 - worth the wait.

I got me thinking about the way a behaviour can change if you believe somebody has an expectation upon you. Lets consider the role of Santa in the Nice and Naughty Lists. Leaving aside his mad omnipresent skills, under whose authority does Santa judge us? Let me elaborate, its Jesus' birthday so he uses his mafia connections to hire 'The Jolly Fatman' to dispense a consumer judgement on individuals. 'The Jolly Fatman', who has powerful influence over the Transport Workers Union, delivers said judgements to everybody in one evening and takes the rest of the year off (presumably).
The Christmas message is 'Peace on earth and Goodwill to all men', which in my opinion is a wonderful message and an excellent goal. Does the threat of getting a Naughty Present (Message to Santa, example please? with the coal futures going through the roof, the traditional lump of coal could be seen as a boon. Perhaps tickets to a Baz Lurhman film... Work on it and get back to me.) motivate people to behave?
I would suggest it does. Consider your boss at work (or even the one at home) if they are pissed at you do perform to the best of your ability to placate them? to earn their favour? I suggest you would, the reward is not having your superior breathing down your neck and the chance to earn their trust to perform.
Both Santa and his friend Jesus ask us to 'behave', to treat our fellow man with dignity and kindness. If we fail in this task there is no immediate judgement, perhaps a lump of coal (waiting on you Santa). But ultimately we are neither punished or inconvenienced and yet if we do show generosity and goodwill other people benefit.

In the title of this post I mentioned Don Camillo (I only care that you find out who he is) in his dialogues there is a wonderful exploration of the theme of virtue and our place in the community. This year consider your community, consider your family. Consider what you've done for other people.
I propose that Christmas can be a reflective period, not just about shopping and pavlova and beer. Perhaps that is what Santa is after as a return on his investment on shipping and logistics...

Yummy!!

Apparently this is an actual book.

How would you tell people where you got the recipes from...?
It like going over to your friends house to play with his wii.

He's Back!!

Spaceman Jack is back in Blog world!!
Check out his stuff HERE

Straya! The Movie

Australia has an almost universal lack of self criticism when it comes to the arts. Its something of a blind spot. Now I use the word criticism in its professional sense, people who are trained to make judgments about the merit of a work. Now I can say that if there was ever a skill that I have been trained professionally for it is literary criticism, one of my majors is English Lit. So while I rarely exercise the muscles of my critical faculty in the public space (my movie reviews are hardly exhaustive) I do have a feel for the value of calling a spade a good spade or a Baz Luhrmans film unwatchable shit.
I was prompted to examine the failure of arts criticism by (ironically) an English rock journo writing in the Australian edition of Rolling Stone. His observation was that there is NO criticism of useful construction in the Australian music scene. every so called critic must gush over the sacred cows, no one is allowed to say this band is actually mediocre or that band is quite shit. He sited the examples of Powderfinger and Silverchair the Triple J wunderkinds.
To criticise these bands negatively is to perpetuate the tall poppy syndrome. In fact to criticise any mainstream art in Australia is to be guilty of tall poppy or heaven forbid unAustralian!!!
It is worth noting that the three major media outlets in Australia News Corp, PBL and Fairfax control the publication of almost everything that is read, heard or watched. They have a vested interest in selling units, so negative publicity (in any form) is unacceptable.
This has a damming effect on the ability of the public to spot the naked emperor.

Baz Luhrmans new movie 'Australia' is out in cinemas at the moment. I won't be going to see it. I can say in all honesty that I'm not a Baz fan, I don't like his style of movie making and do not enjoy watching Nicole Kidman. The public have been feed several rumours about the movie, that its over budget, that the 'script' was written on the fly and that the final print was completed within hours of the premier. Perhaps some of these juicy rumours are true, perhaps all, perhaps none. But what is true is the gamble the Australian Tourism board is taking in promoting the movie 'Australia' to promote Australia the country.
Australia is secretly very ashamed that one of the most iconic of Australian films is 'Crocodile Dundee' and not 'Strictly Ballroom' or 'Two Hands' etc I'm not, I liked Croc Dundee and I enjoy Paul Hogan.

So you may hear a lot of gushing reviews for 'Australia' the movie. Please bear in mind the unstated vested interests of the media outlets to push and promote attendance in this film. It is estimated that 1/3 of all Australians will need to see it at least once for it to break even. To me that sounds like Baz is pushing for public investment in his vision. Tough break, if you wanted my money make a film about Hobbits or ninjas or god forbid Henry Lawson.

Just don't use Nicole Kidman.

Bondy!!

Saw 'Quantum of Solace' yesterday, the first film I've seen since moving down to Melby town and it was a cracker.
I have been somewhat let down by the previous studio brand movies that I've seen this year (in fact this is true for a large number of films full stop). This latest episode in the Bond franchise picks up just where the last one left off, literally.
So as is my usual way I will not bore you with the plot, go and see it for yourself.
What I will comment on and what impressed me was the acting and the nice little references to past Bond films. But I have to say that I was very impressed, very impressed indeed, by the continuity of the two films. This is given that there are two different directors at work. Have to say I was suspicious as to how well that would work from a visual perspective.
Would there be a change in style etc. Well as this film does have a separate theme to the previous (despite the continuity) the pace and pathos is different. But its different in a manner that befits the development of the Bond character. Which is really what these two films are doing, they are a prologue.

Other things that stuck out in my mind was the gradual revelations about the Quantum organisation (Mr White, Mr Greene (tres Reservior Dogs)). The 'asymmetrical' nature of it all. I think Quantum is a worthy interpretation of SMERSH and Spectre.

I give 'Quantum of Solace' and large number of ninja stars and bowler hats.
^^^^^**********

Meetings, old people and rules

Last night was the AGM for the radio station I'm volunteering at. I had some time up my sleeve so I thought I'd drop by and see the differences between ArtSound and 3MBS. The biggest difference that I could tell was the docility of the 3MBS AGM. At ArtSound you get foolish ex (or soon to be retired)public servants with too much time on their hands thinking their Rumpole of the Bailey talking FOR EVER ABOUT NOTHING.
Its the principle reason why I did not get involved in the 'back office' part of ArtSound. I would never have been able to work with the people who were treating the station as an emotional investment, that no one would ever truly 'get' and therefore remain outside of the true spirit of the station...
(Sounds a little melodramatic I know, but pretty bloody accurate. I sat in a meeting to discuss the Radiothon earlier this year, over 40 minutes was taken up by one person heaving and emoting that they did all the work last year, no one helped them and all the new ideas a stupid because the committee (there is always a committee for anything in Canberra) reported on all the stupid ideas you are thinking about right now. I made it to two meetings, realised the barrier to success was personality, weighed up the amount of free time and care I had and never went back to another meeting.)(also worth noting that the committee was comprised of the same people year in year out representing a somewhat limited world view for entertaining new ideas.)
3MBS was different at least in that respect. It was quieter for a start, no body grandstanded (except one retired accountant desperately starved for attention) and for the most part the station president did a very good job of steering the meeting.

Interesting comparison between the caliber of volunteers and both stations.

Global Money

A lot of talk is 'out there' at the moment about the current economic situation. Several countries have declared a recession, pundits are crying doom, gloom etc...

There has been some discussion about Greed Sickness amongst the stock market types and even amongst the Dumb Poor who get convinced they need larger tv's, better back yards and more DVD's (as opposed to books).

My corporate experience was early this year, my boss at the time (someone who just did not 'get' the market he was working with). We had a contract in place with our major customer that had a clause permitting a price increase in line with the Bureau of Statistics indicies. The issue was we had a monopoly market, the customer resented buying the product from us and wanted a whole raft of improvements. My boss's plan, push through the price increase - because we can, its in the contract.

Whenever I get information relating to the current woes and dramas I'm reminded of the conversations I had explaining why that was not a good idea. Problem is the customer couldn't go anywhere else, we had a monopoly. So in that sense there was no way the company could lose (in terms of units sold).
But there was a cost, in the terms of the big picture, a larger deal we had been chasing started to show signs of failing. Key stakeholders heard about what the company had done and began foiling the deal.

I left soon afterward for a whole raft of reasons. But I've kept this experience in mind. There was no need or value in pursuing the short term gains versus the long term effects on the relationship with the customer. It was an exercise in corporate greed.

Buddy Movie Idea

Here's a pitch its a buddy movie/road trip, add a dash of one or two musical numbers.
Elvis and Jesus.
It traces their rise from obscurity as a techno pop duo to the heights of fame in Las Vegas and then the inevitable decline...
(Jesus is the reclusive one)

Update

So after 10 years of living in Canberra I've moved to Melbourne.
I've loved living in Canberra and being part of the local community. I've loved knowing my way around it and having a group of people there who I know.
But the time has come for me to move on.
In ever situation in life there must usually be a compelling reason to perform an action. In my case the reason was a wonderful one and helped to resolve a lot of issues I'd been trying to deal with.

So I'll now be blogging about my goings on from a new city!!

Learning to live without...

I've spent the past 12 months without a television in my house. Which is not to say that I've been without DVD's (watch 'em on my laptop). But it is to say that I've avoided for the most part 12 months of free to air television.
Guess what I learned;
* TV rarely if ever has anything worth the time you invest in it to watch
* If you get rid of your TV it will enable you to have conversations
* You'll also get out the house and into your community more often

and most importantly
* I can honestly say that I did not miss out on a thing

I would encourage everybody to try a week without TV, trust me you won't miss it. By all means watch DVD's to your hearts content, but I suggest you plan doing stuff other than TV watching. Its easier than you think.

Frank Lloyd Wright called the TV 'an ugly piece of furniture' and I agree. Television has become so dumbed down, so pandering to the lowest intellectual percentile that it and I have nothing in common. TV in Australia is terrible, the shows are god awful and force truly mindless drivel in our faces. It reduces the daily syntax, it celebrates presenters of mediocre talent and ability (because they are typical of the audience watching them) and it offends me with its banality and irrelevance.
Further more TV is becoming less and less vital in a world dominated by the internet. With TV you have to watch what they want, when they want. With the internet I can browse, surf, explore and watch what I want, when I want. I can also check my emails, interact with people (to some extent) and more and more importantly I can do so from almost anywhere in the world.

I predict an end to TV as we know it. I predict an end to liner broadcasting. But with most things in life it will not be long before that lower intellectual percentile of the population is on line and then the whole process will be slowed down for them. It will be the final victory of the Bell Curve.

Until then I urge all of you who are smarter than TV to find higher ground before the idiots adopt the internet. That higher ground is in your community, its in your local arts, its in sharing food and conversation, perhaps its in playing a sport or reading a book or listening to the radio.
But it is not in the passive consumption of a medium whose intellectual value is becoming more and more diminished.

Good or Profitable

Today I had a lunch meeting with a sister station to ArtSound here in Melbourne (more on that later). As we talked what struck me was the theme of good versus profitable in the arts. A few years ago I read a very excellent article in the New York Review of Books by Norman Mailer. Norman (I call him that in private) was reviewing the latest Tom Wolfe novel (I forget which one) but he was doing so in the context of the elusive 'Great American Novel'. In this context he examined possible contenders for this title, not in the traditional sense of setting or content (ie 'The naked and the dead' may be discounted by some judges as the majority of action takes place outside of America)(while others would argue about the internal country that is taken with each of the characters) but instead the sense of success.

In doing so he admits in opening a Pandora's box of complexity and issues colouring the definition and recognition of success. Norman suggested there were two ways to measure success; either by the quality of the work or financial return from the work. So by way of illustration we could say JK Rowling is a successful author, in the sense that her books have made richer than the Queen of England. But does that mean her work will be held in high regard in a 100 years time? Are they actually held in high regard now? What if JK Rowling wrote something else how would that measure in terms of units sold to Harry Potter?

So in todays terms a successful writer is not necessarily a writer with an outstanding talent or ability, it may probably just be someone who can sell units.
Myself I don't agree completely with Mr Mailers assessment or his definitions. I think maybe there is room for both. In fact to the best of my knowledge the so called masters of English literature from previous centuries were all pro-capitalism and would have or did happily 'sell out'.

But the conversation I had at lunch was in terms of community radio and the quality of presenters on board. So in a way we were discussing improving the caliber of presenters, but doing so in order to gain more funding or sponsorship. So its an interesting question, if there is a balance to be found between commercial success and professional success - what are the ratios?

Reconstruction

Well Bubbas, its that time again - moving time!!
I'm currently boxing up my flat and getting ready to move down to Melbourne (from whence I came 10 years ago). I love Canberra, its been wonderful living here.

But I digress, this is not a sentimental look back at the past a 'montage/clip-show'. No this is about the phenomenon of drinking beer at one of those Belgium cafes. You'll have seen them around fo' sho'. They have that very 'clean' look that all the franchise pubs in the entire universe have.
Even the floor gets cleaned, once a day, every day even if it wants it or not. Thats the kind of clean we're talking. In fact while I'm thinking about it, I noticed the decline in ACTUAL PROPER PUBS in Melbourne. Time was I could stroll down my local, get a beer, burger and chips and sit in the sun smoking (in the days when I used to) and reading an awesome Len Deighton novel. All the while chatting away with the locals and maybe have time to fit a game of pool or two in. I judged pubs by the friendliness of the staff and clientele. I judged them by the simplicity of the pub food, when I order a burger and chips... THATS WHAT I F*&KING WANT. I do not want it sissied up with a f&*king salad. At any time, at all, ever.
For the love of Jebus, this is a pub, why the f*(K would I want a salad. AC/DC on the juke box? YES, a level pool table? YES 10 kinds of sport on the tv? YES. I do not want a F*&KING salad.
It pisses me off even more when they inflate to price of the meal to cover the cost of the salad...

So in brief, the culture of pubs is in decline and I blame dickheads and the corporate franchise system (ps east shit and die Starbucks. pps I believe the 'free' wireless internet at many of the former cess pit locations is still active - check it out for FREE internets!!)
So before I get carried away, re pubs in Melbourne let me finish what I began re the Belgium (TM) in Kingston (a comfortable staggering distance from my place)(well at least for the next few days). A buddy of mine is expecting his second chils this weekend - so we decided to focus on me and my leaving town.
When we got into the pub it was daylight and league grand final was on. At some point we left and it was dark. And I can't recall too much in between...
You see the beers at the Belgium pub have an average alcohol level of 9%. It's as if the law in Belgium decrees pubs can only be open between the hours of 5.30pm and 7.30pm. So while you can't drink as much, they'll make sure you get the same effect for only a few beers.
I don't think I felt perfectly well again until yesterday...

I'll miss many things about Canberra, but I am looking forward to Melbourne. Its the right time for me to move and I know I'm going in the right direction. Also I'm hoping that somewhere, hidden away from sight and wankers is an actual old timey pub. The kind of joint that will do a burger and chips just the way i like it.

Worth keeping in perspective

Headline

How about this for a titillating headline (I saw it on Yahoo news)
'Tomato hair explains human resistance'

I mean as an opening line to a sci fi story about aliens trying to conquer earth... brilliant. Or maybe there is a talking tomato with very well spoken hair...
Or maybe human resistance is the subject here, resistance to what? or whom? and why tomato's?!?!?!
Questions, Questions...

Wine, bikes and freaky country towns

I have a cold or maybe its hay fever, I can't tell EXACTLY which.
But that does not stop me from having fun.

On Friday I got into a car with some buddies of mine and headed off to sunny Rutherglen. It was all in a good cause, wine drinking and bicycling. In fact I recall doing something very similar about a year ago...

So anyway, I was suffering from a sore throat/cold combination thing but was dealing with it through the powers of modern medical science (I may have been sitting in a spa gargling whiskey until one in the morning...). I was feeling on top of my game!

So I slept for most of the 5 hour drive, pausing only to have a pitstop and somewhere called Tarcutta (swear to god, its about 30 people and goat)(and a pub) and somewhere else called Holbrook (its got a submarine parked in the middle of the town. It really has).

We got into town around 6pm or so (having left Canberra after lunch) and settled in. There was a get together with the rest of the participants at a pub, so after discovering I had left my toothbrush, saving kit and deodorant in Canberra; I figured I may as well have a beer.
Interesting fact, cold and flu tablets don't necessarily mix well with beer, gin and tonics and vodka lemon and limes.
I mention this combination because Evie was driving up from Melbourne and arrived to find me in a pub 'smelling of beer' (her words). My friends ofcourse were keen to point out that I had been fretting as to when she would arrive and had, in fact, been drinking to steady my nerves (she didn't buy it...).

The next day saw a strong and persistent headwind for all the cyclists. I myself was unaffected being driving about the country side from winery to winery. It was a grand day all in all. The chance to be out in the open in a new environment, seeing the sights and meeting the locals.

The next day after a sterling breakfast, Evie headed back to Melbourne and I headed back to Canberra. Which brings me to a brief message on the value of sticking to the main roads (they actually get you to where you are going). The Hume highway is undergoing roadworks to double the lanes from about Yass to the border, roughly 400kms odd of works in various stages. People who plan the driving trips may think to themselves; boy howdy - I'd best avoid the highway for fear of being delayed slightly. Whereas I think; ah, the highway, plenty of traffic and places to stop for petrol and lunch.
Some people may even be dumb enough to recommend alternate routes through the back woods and some people may be lured into thinking its a good plan to follow this path.
We did...

2 things to report on this trip, firstly the Hay plains are flat, they are vast and flat and sit on the edge of desert. They are not somewhere I would ever want to be stranded. Secondly, many inland country towns in NSW close on Sunday. I don't mean some of the shops, I mean the entire town CLOSES on a Sunday. We drive into one joint in the middle of nowhere (lets call it Bumblescum) and the entire joint is empty. Its like a scene from a horror movie, totally empty streets with no life moving anywhere. All except one crusty old dude, who is leaving town. This dude is kind enough to inform us that the nearest petrol station is either 50km West or 50km East. Well at least we have a choice.
Thankfully no one ran out of fuel, though it was a close run thing and a 5 hour drive did turn into a 7 hour drive. So what the bloody purpose of avoiding the roadworks was meant to have been = FAIL.

On a positive note, we did have an adventure and really, really great weekend!!

Funny

Every now and again I come across something that is just plain out original and funny. Its a new take or a great concept or its a completely new idea. While I can't say this is a completely new idea, it is still brilliant.
Have a look (LINK)...

Add a little Bruce Dickinson magic!!!

Find an mp3 that you like and go here to improve it.
(LINK)

Too much time

Earlier I blogged about a computer game stealing my valuable free time...

Well there are some people, with too much time on their hands (or maybe not enough?)

Check this out, LINK, the bible translated into LOL Cats speak. Srsly, kthx.

Public Service Announcement

Saw this on Boing Boing, something in it for us all.

Just one more...

I did something over the weekend I have not done for some time. I started playing a computer game.
In previous blogs I have posted about how stupid and repetitive a lot of games are (console and PC) but they do have the ability to draw me in. Well the game I'm playing at the moment is called 'Warhammer 40k, Dark Crusade' or some such. Any how, I got it because of sentimental reasons, this used to be a table top game and I liked collecting the wee army guys. From memory I've only every played a handful of the table top games and yet I've dragged these plastic and lead characters around with me from city to city (I think subconsciously I'm hoping to either a: leave to my future children or b: flog them when they become rare and expensive).

So I digress, this game then is a chance to play with my toys on a computer screen. If you want a summary of the game/game play... two words, Star Craft. I'm playing because I know the back story of the races so well and because of the sentimentality of it all. The little units are beautifully animated, my two favourites are the Basilisk self propelled gun and the Imperial Guard Heavy Weapons unit. Great little animations on the both of them.

But there is a catch, the game play is entirely repetitive: build up your base, defend choke points then tank rush. Although it should be said I am playing it on easy... The other catch is the amount of time its eating up, I didn't get to bed until midnight last night, playing this silly game.
Now I tired with things to do and when I close my eyes I see my heavy bolter squad shredding Chaos marines...

Knee

So now my knee hurts. I did 'something' to it while skiing the other week and it hasn't been quite right since. Sometimes it gets a bit cramped but otherwise its just a bit stiff. Mostly it points to the fact my knee is not in a good shape.

So its an end to soccer and a lot of my weekend, no yoga, no mountain biking. Will have to book in and see the physio next week.

Hope it can be fixed soon, I have a 50km and a 60km bike ride coming up in the next few weeks...

Snow Recap

Well bubbas in the past four weeks I have been skiing every weekend. In fact during this triumphant return to the snow I have been on the mountains more often this season than any time previous (helped by the fact that I have people who love skiing as much as I do around me).
I've been to Perisher twice, Mt Buller once and Mt Hotham. Its been the best season I know of for years. Mt Buller which is normally pretty ordinary is reported on Monday morning a dump of 11cm's overnight (on a base of 120cm)!!! The last time I skied Mt Buller, they were ecstatic with 10cm's across some of the resort.

I figured this weekend just gone was the last for the season. Usually the Spring rain kicks in and Summer begins to stir. Well maybe not, with an average snow base of 1m most of the resorts should be in good condition for a week or two yet. Its good news for the rivers and really good news for the fishing.

As for next year? Well I read this (LINK) and while it could be bad news for some, its good news for next Winter!

From one extreme to the other

Hope that doesn't sound too melodramatic!
I actually mean temperature wise, this evening I'm up in Brisbane and yesterday I was skiing on top of Mt Buller. Mt Buller was -2c and here in lovely Brissy it's 20c!!

Quite a difference indeed.
So I'm sitting here jotting down a few thoughts and enjoying a well earnt break from travel and work.
I've had a lot of late nights and early starts over the last week. So tonite its off to bed at the usual time a bit of a sleep in before kicking off again.
Back home tomorrow night.

Good Fortune from the Sky

As you know I have great friends who care about me and I am grateful to have people like that in my life.
So a bunch of these marvelous people went to snow on the weekend and I was 'encouraged' (read: hassled in a good way) to join them. due to other commitments I couldn't make it until Saturday evening, but Sunday was awesome.
It was my first time back on the snow in about 6 years or so. I have to tell you I was a little nervous (eg will I remember how to; turn, go down the mountain etc). The weather forecast was for blizzard conditions which added somewhat to my nerves.

As we drove up toward Perisher the snow started to drift in, fine and powdery. The sky was overcast and periodically the wind shifted and whited out the road ahead. By the time we reached the car park (did I mention I was driving?) I was happy to say the poor visibility would make it harder for people to see how bad I was...

Turns out I need not have worried. After an hour it was like I'd never been away. The first run was a little unsteady, but I found my balance soon enough and by the afternoon was totally owning the back country runs. I managed about 6 or so hours before the legs started to give out and my knees started to protest (wussy knees!).

But the weather!! The whole day was semi-blizzard conditions. It was dumping powder the whole time we were there. As an example after lunch, runs that were carved up had been smoothed over by the wind and the fresh snow. It was incredible!!
The only downside was freezing my arse off as we went up the chair lifts. Not fun having snow blasted into your face, especially when the lift stops.

It was a great confidence builder for the mammoth 3 days to come up at Mt Hotham!!
Thanks again to the Rebecca's for motivating my butt onto the snow!!

Is good, Yes?!?

I was not a fan of 'Buffy the vampire etc etc', can't say I've ever seen more than a couple of episodes. Never really got into it, never had the time.
Did like Firefly though.

Well I was reading in the news about a project Joss Whedon undertook during the recent Writers Guild strike. Entitled 'Dr Horribles Sing-a-long Blog' it features some very familiar faces.
I think its fun, good old fashioned fun at that (pity its such a good idea, otherwise it would make an excellent 48 Hour Film entry). Does get weird toward the end though...

Enjoy LINK

An odd thng happened on the way to the snow...

I'm off to Mt Hotham on the 15th for my first return to the snow in 6 years. So I needed to get some new ski pants, the last pair being a little snug around the waist as I recall.
So I wandered into a store and as per my policy of buying from people who are courteous, I bought a pair of pants. So I'm there trying them out and this old guy wanders into the store and starts paying out on the young guys there for not buying his honey. He goes to town on them, thick east European accent and all.
One of them relents and pays $5 for a jar of fresh honey.

I had a slight moment of indecision as to whether or not to change out of my pants... Anyway I have sitting next to be a jar of very delicious honey.
My other rule for shopping is to always buy from good salesmen, whatever it is they are selling...

Its good to score

Goals I mean, why what did you think?
At soccer this morning laid in 2 mighty shots to help us to a 5-1 VICTORY. I think its only the second game we've won this season!!
Its a great league, we just play for fun and the chance to be outside.
But I do have to say the first goal was a surprise, it was 5 minutes into the first half and I gave a half hearted tap toward to the goal. The ball wasn't going all that fast and the keeper just watched it roll toward him. Perhaps he thought, as I did, that I had missed. The ball rolled right past him and into the back of the net...

Then it seemed the goal gates just opened. We played with confidence and vigour, my next goal came of my left foot, so I'm even more awesome than before for that.
All in all, a good game.

Sighing of the waves of a retreating sea...

Fads come and go. There is a whole field of psychology devoted to the study of fads and popular movements. They spring up for the oddest reasons and burn bright (but not always clear) across the peoples consciousness.
But this is good news (LINK) I have never liked these stores for the simple reason that good coffee is plentiful and can be served with courtesy and charm, not plastic service and bored teenagers.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

New Batman Movie

Have to say it, didn't think it was that great.
Batman really looked like a total tool running about with his cape and 'put on' gravelly voice. Sure the Joker was well played by Heath. Personally I just thank goodness this will be the role he is remembered for, an evil clown with a make up fetish and not for touching another cowboys bottom.
The movie just seems to go on and on. If you've seen Heat and Dog Day Afternoon (and Lethal Weapon (any of them)), do yourself a big fat favour and spend your money on chocolate (seriously, the really good stuff). It'll be just as sugary and afterward you'll regret having eaten so much, but the good news - within 30 hours not a trace will be left and you'll be clean again.

Its not that the new Batman film wasn't 'competent' its just... well frankly I just didn't care about a single person in the film. Jim Gordon looked harrased and put upon the whole 3 hours (note to Greater Union, please play better trailers next time). The Harvey Dent charater, well he's like Two Face for 3 minutes, so whatever...
The others did not make an impression on me, except the reporter. At first I thought he was the kid from Silver Spoons, turns out he's the kid from 'Weird Science' - Awesome!! Also liked the bank manager, he does creepy guys REALLY well (ie the weird cop from GO!).

The movie did nothing for me and once again I feel jipped by a Hollywood blockbuster. Perhaps Quantum of Solace will restore my faith in overblown, unimaginative studio grind.

Batman: The Dark Knight
Rating - One Ninja Star and One question mark: *?

It has taken me a while

You must all go now to 'Funny or Die' (LINK) immediately.
I've been very remiss in posting a link to this site.

If you don't like it, well then sorry my friend I don't believe we can hang out anymore. as a test of our friendship watch this video and laugh, unless you hate kittens.

See more Will Ferrell videos at Funny or Die

Another Great Song

This is the last 'official' single from the Smashing Pumpkins. While they were undoubtedly an incredibly pretentious group, they did have a certain zeitergiest sound that captured the mid nineties very well.
I like this 'final/fairwell' single for the blend of acoustic and electric guitars along with the high whining solo at the end. There is also a wonderful sensation of leaving captured by this track. Have a listen and let me know what you think.

An interesting Interview

Found this short interview with Chuck Palahnuik (link).
What I found interesting (and why I am sharing it) is the description of the creative process. Chuck works with a writers group, reads aloud his works in progress and claims to spend time in hospital waiting rooms to work.

I would have to say a hospital waiting room does not leap out at me as the most obvious choice for inspiration. But I do agree that certain locations are more conducive to the writing process. For me, its airports. Doesn't seem to matter which airport, but I always make a point of traveling with a note pad, scribbling down thoughts and ideas. Perhaps it the because my phone is off and traveling for me (I'm usually on business and going solo) is a shuttle between office, hotel and airport. Usually the airport departure lounge is my only space where I'm not distracted, I don't have to be anywhere else and for a few minutes I'm 'off the grid' as the saying goes.
I can collect my thoughts and ideas.

So my question for the Bubba's out there, literary or otherwise, do you have a creative zone? Is a mind state or building or a time of year?

Props from radio land

Did the drive show yesterday, theres always a lot going on during this slot. 2 competitions, lots of phoning in etc etc.
There are things I like about the show and things that bug me, but I won't get distracted just yet.
The purpose of the Drive show is to guide people into the weekend, so as I do with my Friday World Vibe show my aim is to uplift spirits. To do this I aim for 'happy' or lighter pieces for the audience. As a rule I don't play a lot of 'classical' tracks, there's is enough of that genre on the airwaves (dedicated Classic FM on the ABC franchise, for example). Though some Rossini et al does make it through on occasion.

I focus on jazz (by which I mean good jazz), folk (ibid) funk, soul and a heavy serve of World Music. The result, well yesterday I got phone calls from first time listeners saying they loved the music and would become members of the station because of what they heard!!!
Thats why I love doing what I do and thats why stations that have the tag 'greater variety' really bug me for the lying snow job artists they are.

Global Funk

I tell you whut Bubbas, sometimes after a great radio show you feel... well you feel pretty bloody great!
Tonite I filled in for the World Vibe presenter (MIA with lurgie). It was all last minute, some accuse me of being unable to say NO to the station. But truth be told I just love being able to get behind the mic and spin the tunes I want. So its rarely an imposition.
Well it was all a bit last minute for tonites show, but I found a whole bunch of tracks I've been searching for ages for (Angelique Kidjo, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Geraldo Pino and the Heartbeats). The whole show just came together and an hour just seemed hardly enough time.
Perhaps I was enjoying myself too much :)

Sore legs

I've restarted my cardio exercise routines. This wintery weather has begun to make me a little doughy, must be the cooler temperatures. So my plan is to keep up the bike riding in the evenings and try and make it to as many of my 3 weekend soccer games as I can.

My start this week has been good, so far I've been riding about 15kms regularly and played yesterday and today (no goals so far!!).
Not feeling too sore so far...

Soulsville USA

'You'll never get what you want if you don't ask for it.'

I had the chance to see a free concert on Sunday. Deano rang me and told me about the Stax Music Academy (part of the Soulsville Foundation). A wonderful bunch of kids who are mentored by the venerable Stax Records people. The sound at the concert wasn't the best it could be, but the energy of the kids was fantastic!!

So the concert finishes and Deano and I are heading out to the car park. And I get this thought, why don't I go back stage and ask for an interview? Its one of thoughts that come with a 'you'll regret it if you don't' feeling.
So I went backstage, introduced myself to the CEO of the academy and got an interview!!

I'll post some of the interview in a later blog, but let me say it was a wonderful experience to talk with the CEO and some of the kids. I even got a free t-shirt for my efforts!!
But it reminded me that its not possible to get what you want out of life if you don't ask for it.

Some advice for farmers

A song heard on the radio yesterday;

"Ladies, save a horse - ride a cowboy"

Something there for all of us...

Driving

I tell you whut, there is nothing I like better than a long drive. Road trips are a real turn on for me. Packing the car, forgetting stuff, hot jams on the stereo, booking last minute accomodation - to me its all good.
And it helps that I live on one of the most sparsely populated continents in the world (Antarctica being the other).

For me its the thrill of the open road, its watching the country zoom by and most of all its doing it while other people are at work. Perhaps its a Gemini thing but give me a full tank of petrol and point in a compass direction and I am as happy as a pig in mud.
Take yesterday, drove to and from Sydney, now for me thats a 6 or 7 hour round trip (allowing for traffic at either end) and I know that road extremely well. In my mind I can replay each kilometer quite clearly. The changes in the light during the different times of the day and the different seasons. I know almost all of the little towns along the way. They each have their own character and charm, I love the little village atmospheres.
What I also enjoy is cruising through the radio channels for local stations. In one section (about 50 kms south of Mittagong up to about 20kms north of Bowral) is a community radio station with focus solely on Country music in 'all its genres'. Here was I thinking there are only 2.

The longest continual drive I've managed (to date) is 800kms in one day is the Barossa Valley SA to Canberra, 18 hours. I've driven all over the East Coast of Australia, from Melbourne to Cairns and I love it. I'd do it again and more if I had the time. Pack a tent, sleeping bag, some food and the fishing rods.

Conversation

Have a look at this LINK
Its an essay on the art of conversation with regards to middle aged men and women. For the most part to me it seems to fall on the side of women interesting, men boring. It does sight an example of the stimulating conversation one could expect - TOPIC: Lipstick, ref Colour.
You have to be kidding me...

In my opinion the art of conversation is the art of exploring the common interests or unique passions of another person. I love to hear about something that something, that one passion that fires someone up (exception, AFL). To me I am fascinated by getting a glimpse of what makes someone tick. You get to see a part of their inner self.
But to me conversation is also and act of harmony, there are people with which you'll just hit it off, there are people you need to work with and then there are those rare individuals for whom you have nothing in common.
its all about the variety of life and society. I for example can't stand that mock sport AFL. It does nothing for me. But to talk with someone who has a passion for it, well its courteous to listen - you might learn something for the trivia file (probably not, but ...). The trade off, again in my opinion, is that person gets to hear about my thoughts etc. Sometimes this digresses into a dick measuring contest, but usually it can be a great way to try another topic or direction.

I guess what bugs me the most about the perspective of the essay is the decision that somehow a conversation with a women is more stimulating than a conversation with a man. to my mind given the situations described in the essay it would be hard for guys to get a decent conversation. All the situations described are women meeting other women with men in tow. Its not for the benefit of the guy, he's been brought along on a 'play date' with other men.
Ofcourse he shuts up, given the choice between spending free time with your mates or going on a socially orchestrated play date, which would anybody choose?

Perhaps I'm being too cranky. But as someone who gets paid to meet strangers and establish relationships, conversation is an art. An art as important as courtesy and good manners.

Have a read of the essay and decide for yourself.

Thoughts after a game of Soccer

Just played my Sunday game of soccer (the Sat game is on hiatus while French class is on). To be honest while we lost 2 nil, I'm not happy because it was a bit of a dirty match. The guys on the other team were playing aggressively. Making hard tackles on the girls on our team (which is against the spirit of the league) and hard tackles on the boys.
Well they did until I responded by knocking over one of their guys as we both raced for the ball. Ref said it was boderline, but I knew it was deliberate - I knocked the guy off his legs and sent him 2 or 3 feet back. It calmed the match down (which was what I was hoping for and calmed the guys on our side, who were getting ready for a bit of biff).
But it was wrong and I feel bad for reacting.

A New Poll

Have been messing about with the survey/poll system that Blogger uses.
Its been a lot of fun.
But saw this on LOL cats. The ultimate poll question for any household...

Getting back on the Bike

I did two rides over the weekend and I learnt 2 things.
Firstly I learnt that I haven't on my bike for some time and secondly that riding regularly makes a difference.

The first ride was about 28kms and I was shagged by the end of it. I mean the real jelly knees scene and everything. It wasn't all that long ago I would have shrugged off such a ride but then again it wasn't all that long ago I stopped/forgot going for rides.
The good news is my fitness level will return with more practice. Which is going to come in handy for ski season.

A year in the Life

Movie Review; 'Sex and the City'

(featuring special guest star Heather Locklear)

I wish... (come back season 7 all is forgiven) Well this is one franchise that Aaron Spelling couldn't own nor insert his hideously deformed daughter into, you know the one with the deep down awfulness, the kind the doctors just can't get rid of.
Which of course begs the question why there wasn't a Melrose Place movie...

But there is a 'Sex and the City' movie and I think it only fair to insist that any assessment of the merits of the film must incorporate the TV series. Which in turn begs the question why an actual movie and not a telemovie? I don't know the answer, but its here now and we should deal with it.
Heralded as the ultimate chick flick it follows the lives of the 4 main characters, 5 years after the end of the TV series, across 12 months in New York. Truly a year in life movie, which would only work with strong characters. Thankfully a 10 year run on TV has helped to cement the ensemble cast.

So from a guys perspective what is there to like? There are no car chases, no ninjas, explosions, jet planes with rocking soundtracks or Samuel L Jackson. On paper then, this movie is behind the 8 ball (no pool halls either)(plenty of fashionable restaurants and gay chaps though).
But here is what it has a the plus side, really great characters. I like a good movie with strong character development. In this film we don't necessarily see character development per see, but we do see 4 people who the audience have gotten to know very well. I myself have only begun to watch the TV series (who knew?) and already I want to kick Big's arse for his gutless behaviour.
Giving all us handsome dudes everywhere a bad wrap... for shame!

In summary I did enjoy this film, it ended on a note of hope and harmony. I think the journey there was a mixture of strong story lines and perhaps some weaker ones. But you know what, thats okay.

I give Sex and the City 4 ninja stars; ****

ps Went to an early session with my beloved, when we got out of the theatre I was the only guy for about 30 metres past the queue waiting to get in!!!

An Article

Thought you might enjoy this one LINK
Its a rather clever paper looking at gaming in this modern age.
Can corroborate that the new GTA made more money than any 2 blockbusters this year.

Food for thought.

MOVIE Opinion

Saw the new Indiana Jones movie 'Indiana Jones dicks around for an hour and half'.

The long and the short of is, why did he bother to return the crystal skull??? I'll come back to that in a minute, so don't forget that thought.

Indiana Jones is a man who can sustain a lot of damage and keep going. He can be locked up in the trunk of car for hours (lets not forget he can hold his breath underwater for like forever while holding onto a U-Boat) he get smacked about by commies, shot at, fall through windscreens AND survive a nuclear blast.
This is one tough cookie. With an equally tough hat.

So I could go through a plot synopsis, but frankly thats what Wikipedia is for. I'd rather focus on one plot point that has been bugging me. Indiana is tough and resourceful for sure, he finds the crystal skull and some long dead dudes, when no one else can...
So he tries to return the crystal skull before the bad guys (commies) get their hands on it. But having returned the crystal skull, the aliens kill all the bad guys and Indiana (et co) are trapped above a lake in the middle of a hostile jungle filled with man killing ants.

Heres a thought Mr Jones, why not just give the bad guys the skull? They'll probably let you off at a hotel or nearby pub. Then all you'd have to do is wait for the mysterious lights/explosion/ electromagnetic event on the horizon to know nature has taken its course.
Less fist fights, fewer bullets and a much shorter walk back to civilisation.
I mean, just a thought.

So in conclusion, Mr Jones is certainly a good watch, but I think the sequels have never really captured the spirit of the first movie. Having said that I was glad to have spent the money to see it.

3 Ninja Stars; ***

My Spidey Senses are tingling!!!

Boy this month has been a total blur (thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday for last week!!).
I've been up and down the coast (Syd, Mel, Adl, Cnb) and have been super busy the whole time. But I think my body is starting to pack up on me, my stomach has been causing me no end of problems the last couple of days.
Not nausea so much a shit load of acid reflux. I'm calling it stress.

In fact as I write this I am reminded that I should be at French class, but I figure the last thing I need today is getting my arse handed to me again, in another language.
So thats my excuse.

Coming up next: Indiana Jones Movie Review

MOVIE REVIEW

Iron Man by that guy from Swingers (you know Monica's boyfriend from Friends)

Without knowing too much about the comic, I naturally assumed Iron Man was one of the Power Rangers.

Power Rangers wear power ranger outfits and fight unfeasibly large evil robots. Replace the words Power Rangers with Iron Man and I think I've just summerised the entire movie in one sentence.
What was captivating was the guy who played Tony Stark, a shinning light to all those brave, patriotic and handsome people who work in the Defence Industry. May I also say how disappointed I was Jeff 'The Dude' Bridges playing a villainous character who openly flaunted ITARs legislation, selling arms and equipment to badly dressed 'villains'. Shame on you Mr Dude. Bald people everywhere who work in the Defence Industry are hanging their beautiful heads in despair tonite.

But I'm calling like it is.
Iron Man was almost good, I for one would like to have seen more mighty morphing fighting of stuff. He blows up just one tank!! Only one. In the whole film. Why double VC winner Charles Upham did more then that with only a tommy gun and some number 8 fencing fire.
But the worst part was leaving before the credits had finished and missing out on Sam L Jacksons cameo. Roll on DVD I say.

So was it a good film? Yes, I was good. One for the family and dateless nerds alike. Personally I'm looking forward to the 'Sex and the City' movie so we'll see how they stack up against each other.

Iron Man rates 3 ninja Stars ***

Little Victories

Saw Iron Man on Friday, stay tuned for in depth movie review.

There are occasions we we get the chance to learn something new, such as blowing a bubble with chewing gum.
On Sunday, while driving back from the Blue Mountains, I had the great privilege of teach Evie this wonderful skill. All with the help of my favourite flavour of chewing gum, Hubba Bubba blueberry!!

How they Did It

Found this on The Onion, as long as we are on an Olympic Theme...

Flaming Passion

So today the Olympic torch is due to make its circuit around the capital. I'm planning to head over to watch the relay in about a couple of hours.
the last time I saw the flame in Canberra was for the Sydney olympics and I can tell you it is a very special sight. I had the great pleasure of watching the torch pass by my work. We all made an effort for the day (how many times in your life can you say you've seen the Olympic flame?) in the best of Aussie traditions, barbie and a couple of snag sangas with a beer or two.
I was cynical, I admit it. In my opinion the whole olympic movement was a facile joke. And then the torch came past, it was carried by a volunteer, a nobody. A person whose only claim to carrying the torch was that he asked for the privilege. He looked proud and why shouldn't he I thought. This is his moment, it isn't about anything else except an ordinary person been given the chance to have a go. Very Aussie.

Later that night I was in the pub after rock climbing and I saw one of the torch bearers in his kit. He was a special needs kiddie and he was enjoying a beer. Beside him was his torch baton. I wandered over, as you do, asked if I could shake his hand and tell this young chap I was impressed he had carried the olympic flame. The young chap, to his credit finished his beer first, shook my hand and his friend asked me if I'd like to hold the baton.
Did I what!!

In a few minutes we were all doing laps of the pub and cheering each other on. It was all a bit of fun, but also a bit of pride as well. We all got to hold the torch, nobody tired to ruin the moment for us. It wasn't about anything except the feeling of mateship and friendliness.
Fingers crossed all the runners gearing up for todays relay will have the chance to experience what I did in my own small way.

Fire in the Belly

Well in a good way at least. I met my good buddy Neil for our regular hotpot at an outstanding restaurant. Neil assures me that after his travels through China, this particular hotpot is as good as it gets.
So what is hotpot? Take ye cabbage, lettuce, spring onion and pork. Soak in chilli for for some time, heat up and serve to Jez and Neil.
Wait.

Now we wait, it won't be long before the train pulls out of the station, as they say...

I would walk a thousand steps...

There are a lot of things to be grateful for in ones life. Not the least of which is the opportunities I have to visit Melbourne on a regular basis.
Yesterday I had the challenge put up to me to tackle the fearsome 1000 Steps of the Dandenongs. Evie has spoken of this walk a number of times and it has always been a special place for her, so I of course took the challenge.
Firstly, I know that the people of Australia (this great wide brown land) have very few of what could charitably be called mountains. I my self grew up surrounded by mountains and the sea, they form a strong part of my early childhood memories. So I was a little trepidatious about trekking up a 100 steps in jeans, let alone a 1000.
The park is just outside Melbourne in a lovelly area just below the Dandenongs themselves. Very similar to the Blue Mountains, but a with a charming quality all their own. We set off about 10am up a beautiful walk between great gum trees and punga ferns (the 1000 steps kick off about half a klick from the carpark).
At the foot of the steps was a rest area, what I noticed immediately that deposited discreetly alongside the tracks were many full water bottles, waiting to refresh travellers who had gone up before us. What was I letting my self in for??

The path was also dedicated to the Kokoda trail and there were many sobering monuments to reflect upon on the walk up. The steps themselves were rock and concrete and we were warned of their potential slipperiness. The gully was closed over by old forest growth which had the effect of regulating the temperature and releaving me of the need to wear my hat. But there was no time for doubts about the ascent so off we went!

It was a very pleasant climb, and I confess I was just a little disappointed to learn there weren't actually a 1000 steps. Evie tells me that in the past erosion and track maintenance have shaved about a dozen steps off. Thankfully as you trekked uphill a thoughtful soul had marked a tally count of the steps every couple of meters.
It was I must say though a delightful walk made all the better for the company I was in and sentiment of the journey.

Afterward we had lunch I had the pleasure of combining two desserts, Devonshire Pancakes.
Worth the walk just for the pancakes!

Sore Tummy

Its self inflicted though I must say. This is what happens when you get home from work early and start absent mindedly eating gellato from the tub. You eat too much (but it tastes soo good).

I'll have to have something plain to take away the flavour, but not for a while. The last time I was this full was at Soul Mama's in St Kilda. But that at least was a good kind of full. Even though I couldn't move for hours.

Regretfully I've got to get up soon and get out of the house.
Rest easy my belly, soon...

Rock it

Always wished I had the body rythmn for this kind of dancing (can definately hits the drums as good as a fresh beat).
For the upcoming film that you WILL get your arse along to see...

Wondering where he got to...

A recent article from PJ O'Rouke. Glad to see he's still at it.
LINK

Golf Review

I didn't suck that much.
Actually managed some pretty good shots, drove the ball straight most of the time and wasn't the worst player on the team (ho-ho).
Canberra Royal is probably Australias best golf course and this time of year we were playing amongst trees in Autumn display, parrots and kangaroos.

But I tell you whut Bubbas, it is actually very tiring standing up for 5 hours. I would not have credited golf as being such a wearing experience. But to be fair a combination of sun, the odd beer and concentrating on hitting something can take its toll.

And I would have to agree a bad day of golf is far superior to being at a desk anytime.

Short Album Review

In Ghost Colours by Cut and Copy

I must confess that I do like a bit of the electronica, especially when its a new sound. Cut and Copy are an Aussie duo who appear to be following the footsteps of Air and Daft Punk. There is a positive French sound to their mixes, however they are not the next Avalanches.
The album was, apparently, recorded last year but held back from release until a global deal could be signed.
Personally I would have used that time to weed out the less useful tracks. The first half of the album is good, quite like it myself. But the guy who is doing the singing... Someone in his family is Smiths fan (possibly his dad...) I was not a Smiths fan because Morrisey voice gives me the shits. After 9 tracks it repeats the same formula, low fi funky riff, back beat, then Morrisey voice.
It kinda grates.

Well I recommend you check it out at least and I definitely recommend you check our Air and La Caution if this turns out to be your bag.

First Half; 3+ Ninja Stars ***+
Second Half; No Ninja Stars

Green, Golf and Gym

Yesterday morning I had the chance to join some mates on an early morning bike ride around Lake BG. Autumn in Canberra is just a breathtaking and beautiful time of the year (as you'll see for yourself Evie). The light is transitioning from Summer to that clear alpine high blue skies.
Riding around the lake is a great journey and first thing in the morning is the best time to catch some great sights. Trees aflame with colour, the kind of colour that would inspire Robert Frost, if you know what I mean.
Starting my day surrounded by beauty and welcoming the sun is how I like to roll. So I was delighted to get an invitation to hear Don Henry talk at the press club (another way to say this the Australian Conservation Council is a dead weight organisation who need people to fill tables for the press club address). I would not normally be interested in such an address if the Greens did not hold the balance of power in the Senate.
What struck me first of all about the crowd was the prevalence of unflattering facial hair on the men and bad haircuts for everybody. The address was the usual mix of great ideas to save the planet and ruin the economy. But I did get an invite to a golf day at Canberra Royal on Thursday.
The last time I played golf it was frankly an embarrassment to the whole world of golf. Hopefully I won't have to play and can get away hanging around the club house having a couple of beers.

Its all good!!

Something Funny

Maybe you've seen Armtsrong and Miller before, I haven't, but I just heard about them.
This is my favourite sketch...

Rugby, Beer, Pies

I love my life! There are so many things for which to be grateful for. Not the least of which is great friends. Yesterday lunch time (while I was up in Sydney finishing off a meeting) a buddy of mine rang with a ticket for the Super 14 game that evening!!

Its been a busy week, so I left Sydney early and drove back to Canberra full of excitement. Then I realised I also had a radio show to do.... (duh, duh, duuhhh) Thankfully I had a week weeks ago prerecorded an hour for just such an emergency. Horrah, all set for the Brumbies vs the Chiefs.

I was exhausted from a 3 hour drive and an intense week in three cities, but I was so glad to have friends who wanted to go to the rugby. The Brumbies were beaten (I saw the Hurricanes match and I was also a resounding thumping of the home team) soundly by the Chiefs. It was actually quite embarrassing to watch. Mid way through the second half a lot of people were leaving, in shame. Canberra stadium has a capacity upward of 20 thousand but last night was only about 14 thou. People are staying away.
Still there is in my opinion something great about watching the footy with your mates and a couple of beers and pie. Great times Eddie, Great times!

Final score Chiefs 42 Brumbies 28.

French class update

Trust my luck, the first evening in a month (have been doing the Saturday classes) and its 2 hours of tests!!
But you want to know the best part, I passed with flying colours. Felt a little rusty and I can see where I am behind. However I can definitely say I haven't forgotten too much.

My teacher did suggest I also pop into the Saturday class just to cover off the rest of the module.
Overall feeling tres bien!!

Better than me

Found this link to the Magnum Studio website.

I love a good photo, I think the camera has a magical quality.
Enjoy!

While you were out

This story would have to be an April Fools gag, if the print date wasn't from last month.
There is a game called Guitar Hero, they use a replica of a Gibson Les Paul as the 'guitar'. The game has been out for 3 years in various formats.

Gibson is now suing the game developer for copyright infringement.

Two things spring to mind, 1: Where the hell have Gibson been for the last 3 years (probably ROCKING IT UP at concerts and even more likely talking to girls at the same time), 2: Playing an actual Gibson Les Paul as opposed to Guitar Hero is a very different experience.

Check this out LINK

Guilt for Study

I've been a bad student of French lately.
I've missed my classes last week, so I'm a little behind (petite derierre ho-ho).

At the moment I'm trying to catch up with what I assume is the bits I've missed out on. Thankfully I don't seem to have forgotten too much.
It would seem though that the difference between the Saturday and Week classes are the difference between the slow and fast class. Saturday being for the nonstandard picnic allocation of sandwiches (cruel I know, but there you have it).

My plan is to be good enough with French to get about the Loire next year. Also the plan is to provide enough brain exercise to stop my mind from turning to porridge.
I'm committed to learning French.

Just means a wee bit of hard work catching up and I'm ready for that!

Blogging versus Facebook

I think they can work in parallel.
But to be honest I don't really understand how to use Facebook. Still working my way through it.
I prefer blogging. Easier to jot down thoughts and post photos etc.

New Job first impressions

There is a business expression, used to describe a market space that is ready for growth but empty of competition; Blue Ocean.

What they don't tell you is the total absence of any structure.
Well it will be an experience to build it up I guess.

Hanging Around

These guys were outside my place over the weekend, just hanging out!

Little Things

Its been something of week alright, lemme see now; started a new job, car broke down, got fixed, laptop crashed, friend passed away, went to a funeral yesterday and off to Melb on Monday to see a beautiful lady.

And right now I'm ready to do my 'Drive Show' on the radio. Currently I'm distracting myself with Motley Crue. I'm trying to get out of a reflective funk yesterday put me in.

I've also noticed that I'm a little out of condition exercise wise. I haven't been bike riding as much as usual. Did a 14km ride this morning legs were okay, but I could feel 14km is about as much as I could handle.

Still its good to be here and among such fine friends.

Here be the TikiGod

Behold TikiGod!!!



TikiGod Says, "My awesomness improves this car!"

TikiGod

Is the name of my new car.
He is a Blue '99 Honda CR-V, very handy for getting around in.
He gets the name TikiGod from an air freshener I bought for him last weekend. It is in the shape of an Hawaiian Fire God (or so it seems to me) and it gives off the smell of coconut.
Now I am not normally a fan of coconut, but this smell (like most synthetics) reminds me of the beach, of surf, sand, wet hair, sunblock and the icecream/gelato you have afterwards.
But most of all TikiGod does two things extra;
1: He offers sage advice while driving, "TikiGod says, this is nice day for drive" or "TikiGod says, you look ugly in those sunglasses - appease me!"
2: TikiGod's smell reminds of someone very special, and with that she is always in the car with me.

Where have I been

Boy I tell you whut Bubba's, these last two weeks have been a blur. In fact its felt like a lifetime has past.
With good reason (and that is all ye know and ye need to know, my dears).

Last week I spent my week in the company of a trained health proffesional relaxing on the beaches of Jervis Bay. Lazing around on the whitest sands in NSW, eating fine food and drinking fancy wine. This week just gone I have been in Melbourne, again under the close personnel care of a highly trained medic - ensuring my sanity and health and relaxation.
I feel great, fighting fit anf twice and dangerous.
Which is handy because I start my new job on Monday!!!

And I finally sold my car, I now have a '99 Honda CRV.
Its Blue.

Another Music Classic

One of my on going arguments/dialogues with Deano is the subject of covers.
In my humble opinion and cover should improve a song showing it in a new light. You can see these most clearly when a cover fails to do even basic respect to the original.
This video is a worthwhile reminder as to why The Beatles are probably the most innovative and influential bands of the last century. This is a complex peice with 2 time signatures, very moody harmonies and quite a high pitch and timbre on the vocals.
I mention it here because it has been successfully cover a number of times. New tones and colours have been found and enhanced.
So I hope you'll enjoy this very early recording of 'We can work it out'.
(its been something of an anthem for me this week).

Healing

Well as I write this I'm going through one the longest and most drawn out resignations from a job I've ever had to do.
It looks like tomorrow will definitely be my last day. Its been a wasteful period of my life and very stressful. I am emotionally and physically exhausted and every minute just reminds me why I have to leave.

To resign I first have to announce my decision, then my direct report/boss and I have to agree on a last day, then I complete a handover, then leave.
I resigned formally last Wednesday and have not spoken to my boss since then. Despite numerous emails and phone messages, he has avoided me. So today I gave him an ultimatum announcing that tomorrow will be my last day, full stop. He responded with another turn of the screw and said as I am apparently obliged to provide 30 days notice, my annual leave will be used to fill the balance of the notice period.

This is the professional working relationship I have with my direct report. This is why my work life has been an utter misery for the last few months. This is why I'm leaving.

Years ago I used to work for someone who is almost a carbon copy of this guy. Had a vindictive power/control abusive streak. The only thing you can do is weather it out, assume a stoic zen like quality. This too will pass.

I don't want revenge or payback, I want to leave on good terms. This is testing my patience.

*****

But there is an upside and its a great upside. I have recently started going out with a wonderful lady friend. She is nurse, caring, beautiful, wise and sexy. She lives in Melbourne but is coming up to spend next week with me. Its the light at the end of the tunnel that will make all of this worthwhile.

There is Jazz and then there is...

Last week (boy that seems like a lifetime ago) I got invited to see an experimental jazz trio called 'The Necks' (probably seemed like a good enough name at the time).

I say experimental and use the word Jazz here in a very lose, flippy floppy sense of the word. Before I go into a well researched and attentive review let me share with you my perspective of Jazz and Blues for that matter. Jazz is not a style, it is a discipline. Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Milt Jackson, Count Bassie, Dave Brubeck, Wynton Marsalis; these are all great names, great artists.
They worked hard on their craft, they honed it. Music was changed forever because of their spirit and ambition to create a new sound. A sound based on improvisation but also of structure. Coltrane would practice scales for hours every day, not just to improve his speed but to tune his ear.
So let me say that there is good Jazz and there is bad jazz. Bad jazz is what you'll usually hear out in the open at a bear garden or wedding or function. Its a couple of guys who do this gig in their spare time. They emulate. They copy. They repeat. They sometimes even hurt music. What they do not do is demonstrate true talent.

With Blues, in my opinion, it is the same. I see blues acts a lot that are just idiots who ape the musical style, either through theatrics or just blaise note for note copying. Or even worse through excessive use of the slide guitar. Let me explain this way, Eric Clapton plays the blues but Buddy Guy is MF The Blues.

Okay you still with me?

So this band called The Necks, they were weird. The theatre was packed, we were lucky to get tickets it seemed. The lights dim and 3 guys come out on stage (drums, double bass, piano). For a moment they fiddle around, tunning, adjusting a seat here, collecting drum sticks there.
Then, nothing. They pause eyes bowed and wait. Judging the moment someone starts a riff and slowly the others join in and the concert has begun. The music was of an atonal variety. Meaning there was no devotion to melody or harmony, but there was structure. The first hour was a freakish collection of sounds that evolved into a story. I found my self with eyes closed imagining a haunted house, with errie dripping taps and shutters banging on windows.
The piece or construction built and built, it was hard to tell where they were going with it. But it did end. Rapturous applause followed. It was a true sound scape indeed.
By the second half the gimmick had worn off some for me. I found the next hour to be tiresome, lots of disjointed bangs, squeaks and the occasional chord. You could get a half dozen drunken monkeys to do something similar, but it would take an awful lot of time to train them to be that annoying.
So the second half did not work for me at all.

But there is another review (HERE) please feel free to compare and contrast views.
So if I were to conclude and given my earlier statement on passion, discipline and commitment - where do I stand on The Necks? (sic).
Somewhere in between to be honest. To improvise the way they did requires an excellent knowledge of the other musicians as well as your instrument. But if it misses the mark, it does so widely in my book.

A good place to start.

I get people ask me all the time where I get my music for my World Music show. Well one of the best sources is the Putumayo record label.
They support a fantastic selection of musicians and in return we get a wonderful sampler of music we just wouldn't find otherwise.
This is my current favourite album from Putumayo




Lots of great funky tracks from North Africa. I hope one day to be able to follow the Paris to Dakar rally, and these tracks really put me in the mood!
Hope you try them out sometime.

Time management in French

Boy I tell you whut, I'm loving my French course. The people (there are about 8) are really cool and friendly, ages range from young un's to oldies.
But the class times are 6 - 8pm Tues, Thurs and its a pain in butt to try and get something to eat afterward that isn't crappy junk food...

Oh well something I'll need to work on.

Link to an on air blog

Okay Cats and Kittens, thanks to the power of the internets my on air partner in crime, Deano set up a blog site for our monthly Monday night radio duet.
Called Down in the Basement Laboratory, we've posted the track listings and will link more stuff over time.

But it is a chance to get a feel for the music we play.
In other radio news I've been offered a late, late night spot to do pretty much what ever the hell I want on Wednesday nights!!!
The only catch is that it is 10pm - 12pm. Still the opportunity for mischief is hard to turn down...

We took the name Down in the Basement Laboratory because we play a very funk heavy vibe in our set. DIB is traditionally a Jazz based show, so we invented the 'Funk Laboratory' (which happens to be next door to the Basement) to give us some latitude.
So I'm Prof JR and he's Dr Deano, and together in the Funk Laboratory we experiment with distilling the essence of Funk and or Groove!

A fun Space Blog

And no this is not a link to a nerdtastic sci-fi web site.

Its a link to the blog of the Sydney Observatory. I love astronomy and am very lucky that the night sky over Canberra suffers very little light pollution.

I've found this blog to be both fun and interesting with some great links to the local astronomy community. Well worth a look.

Kinda Superbowl

Today was Superbowl Monday (results here)
Patriots vs The Giants, I do enjoy Superbowl Monday, one of the pleasures of working for a US company was being able to take the day off to watch the game. This year I was able to sneak out to a club and catch half the match.
Superbowls are usually not cliff hangers historically, typically one team gets a lead by about the 2nd quarter and there is usually a wide spread.

This years game was a low scoring affair, both teams pretty evenly matched skill wise. But neither team was really firing either (just after half time the commentators announced banana's had been rushed to the players to boost their energy!!)(True story!).

Well that wraps up NFL season, soon Super 14 kicks off!!

Oh La La etc

Have seized the day and will begin to execute on one of New Years resolutions next week - Travel to Europe.
I've enrolled at the Alliance Francaise school so as to talk all Frenchy and stuff while I'm taking a cycling tour along the Loire river.

Have shit house French speaking skills, so the chance to improve quickly is one I'm looking forward to.
Alliance Francaise is a great organisation which promotes the language and culture of France. I'm really looking forward to being part of the experience. Here in Australia (pronounced Straya) we have a TV channel called SBS - the multi-cultural channel (as it is known). Blah blah exposition re SBS. At 6pm they have this top show called Global Village, its a series of imported documentaries about people from all over the world. One of their more popular series covers the rivers in France, taking a tour by barge, cycling about in the day. Eating great food and generally having an awesome time.
Its that show thats made me want to talk Frenchy, ride my bike, hang out on a barge and travel along the Loire.

And it all kicks off next week.

I can't wait for this one!

Clue from todays crossword;

'Season of Blackcock Display'

4 letters.

Pervert

At what point do you think to yourself, 'I've ridden my bike enough today'.
After 14kms, 24kms, 46kms?

I did 48kms yesterday and was almost going to do another 30 when I decided I might want to use my legs today.

Sometimes you have to have a self intervention.

Magazine Reading

I've never been a magazine reader (with one exception), since my days in direct marketing it became dog bollocks obvious to me that the purpose of any magazine is to get you to buy the next months issue.
Usually at the cost of content, which meant more adds or self promotion about the particular 'x-factorness' of the current well hid corporate sponsors product.

Ahem... But there are a couple of magazines whose online issues I do read most every week
The Economist and The New Yorker.
I used to read The New York Review of Books, so I could A) Feel clever and B) enjoy well written articles by literate people (the letters page are usually an interesting read in themselves). Have stopped because A) I can never find a copy when I want one and B) while the quality is always excellent the topics of late have been sophomoric.
As I'm also a bloke I read the Fred Gassit comic in Australian Motorcycle News and get the occasional fishing mag as well. The fishing mags however have succumbed to the 'big fish' photo and occult like claims for how to catch fish (whenever I have followed their advice I've wasted a good trip to the water).

Anyway I told that story to tell you this one, have a read of this link on how to read The New Yorker (LINK) .
I suggest it works just as well for The Spectator et al.

The End

I've had this recurring dream for some time now about the end of the world. Like most portentous dreams I have no recollection of the circumstances leading up to present. But its early morning, I've woken up among the ruins of a flooded city (its warm already, so it must be summer). I'm not panicked at all, but I get the feeling I'm trying to hide from something or someone in the sky.
And there is all pervasive feeling, like you get before Christmas, that I'm waiting for something final to happen...

Well I saw this link and thought it might be fun to look at some end of the world scenarios. Enjoy!
LINK

A nice restaurant

There comes a point in any experience when you become detached from the emotional investment.
Perhaps not a state of grace, perhaps more a stoic level of awareness (I did not want to use the word Zen as it seems regretfully to be locked up with desperately earnest young men or old smart arses)(Myself, I was young and foolish then, I'm old and foolish now).

So, I'm taking this in the direction of why I don't own a tv, seem quite relaxed about my life, enjoy bike riding and terrified of my boss.
Its an odd frame of mind.

I don't own a tv, haven't had one for 6 months and I don't miss it at all. I will watch DVD's on my laptop though, but I mostly (on the odd occasions I am home) listen to music and read a book. TV is a total thief of time, in my humble opinion, it would steal time I just do have to spare. Frank lloyd Wright called it 'an ugly peice of furniture' and I'm inclined to agree.

Why am I relaxed about my life? Should I be? Hell I don't know, I'm single enjoying not being with anyone but not plussed that there are no 'irons in the fire'. I have a well paying undemanding job (in comparison with my last one). I live in a nice place, friends are nearby, good food, good company. I'm healthy in mind, body and spirit - as far as I can tell.

Love bike riding! Especially going off road. Probably because my fitness level is up and I can handle most of the tracks around Canberra. Going down Mt Stromlo was absolutely terrifying, but I'm glad I can look at that hill I know that I did it (going back up next Sunday). I really enjoy having some mates who all love bike riding too, its great to be part of the Canberra Sunday Bike Hash (every second Sunday). But its that wonderful wind rushing past you feeling as you coast down hill I think that does it for me.

I am terrified of my boss, probably because we have a lot in common and I'm kind of in awe of him. But also because he reminds me of why I don't want to work in Sydney. In a weird kind of way I'm glad he is a hard arse about some things, every body likes to be motivated and terror seems to push me that extra yard. Probably because I'm bone lazy at heart and not good with managing my down time.

So anyway, I had lunch with a very dear friend yesterday, he's having work drama's as well. I mentioned the black dogs were bothering me and he said - 'lets go to India!'.
We should all be so lucky to have a friend like that, will book things next month and head off late May.

The restaurant was a Japanese joint (name escapes me) but very pretty, well laid out and the food was great. On the wall were some interesting pieces/reproductions of Japanese art, one of which was a calligraphic work of Zen mantras. The one thats stuck in my mind, 'harmony is all important'.
Or something like that.

Compare and Contrast

That was one of my favourite essay topics when I was studying English Lit at Uni (thats right Bubba's one of my majors in Eng Lit). It was an invitation to focus on the likeness or not of two or more works.
You could always find common themes or polar opposite views to play with.
So it is with much pleasure that I submit my 'Compare and Contrast' review of 'The Golden Compass' and 'No Country for Old Men'.
Both are adaptations of books although Hollywood decided that 'The Northern Lights' was (justifiably) less sexy than the 'Golden Compass' (a rare use of good judgement). No Country for Old Men is set in South West Texas in 1980 and The Golden Compass is set in a weird alternate universe where Coke doesn't exist but indentured servants do (the horror!).
Okay so first impressions as a book adaptation, The Golden Compass sacrifices a lot for the sake of the big screen and concerned illiterate Christian parents in America. Boy talk about the Galileo treatment huh? Hows that for irony! No Country for Old Men is described as a fairly faithful reproduction (no comment, I'm current working my way through Prisoner of Zenda, will schedule a read in later this month).

The plots are not equally complex, one its all about revenge while the other is an involved story ultimately about free will and the nature of the soul. Both draw upon the question of god (although 'Compass' can't too heavily) and both don't provide any depth 'No Country' is deliberately ambiguous though.

So which is the better picture, for me in every category it has to be 'No Country'. I did not enjoy 'Compass' I knew the plot and winced when ever the movie strayed. Some might call it a pretty film, but as an audience we would be let down if CGI based celluloid wasn't.
I wasn't displeased with 'No Country', but I'd have to say there weren't any surprises for me. The way it finished was really good, prompting me to coin (and you heard it here first) the phrase; Texas Noir

Enjoy.

PS I'd say 'No Country' also had it over 'Compass' in one very important respect, 'Compass' had zero, nada, zip, doughnut F-100 trucks. 'No Country' had over a billion, it was the best part of the film for me.

Fighting Fit...

...and twice as dangerous.

Well Almost.
A bit of a catch up then, for those that came late, of my gadabouting of the last two weeks. Spent a week up in Sydney for Niece #1 birthday, then Xmas then Dad's birthday. Flew to Wellington for New Years in the lovely little village of Martinborough. Currently in Sydney tonite and back home tomorrow.

Synopsis of first week, did all my xmas shopping at the last minute but I think my pressies were all well received (eg got bro a great vintage photo of Bon Scott cicra '76)nieces got Hi-5 DVD's and activity sets. In my opinion Katoomba is a great place to go for shopping for gifts. There are so many great little second hand trash and treasure joints up there (eg got dad a copy of Duke of Wellington biography from the 19th C). Had a great idea for the nieces when they get older, I'll get some dress up clothes for them from the second hand clothes stores. They got all sorts of great hats, shoes, dress, jackets and ties to choose from. I'll leave them at Mum and Dad's.
Should be a lot of fun for them.

Well Wellington was a lot of fun, despite 4 days of bad tummy. Seraph and Viv were wonderful hosts and it was lovely to see them and catch up with people. They only downer was the tummy bug that hit me on day 3 and kinda wiped me out energy wise. Viv commented she could tell I was crook as I wasn't at my usual operational tempo (I think her exact comment may have been along the lines of 'I was acting like a normal person' LOL :). But on reflection, if thats how normal people feel EVERYDAY, my god how do you people do it!?!)
Suffice to say, that now I'm back in Sydney and feeling almost 100%. Second day of solid food, energy level maybe around 60% but climbing all the time.

New Years was 2 and half days in a fantastic spot called Martinborough. Its one of my favourtie places in the world and despite feeling lousy I was really glad to be there. We went to dinner, vineyards, fishing, swimming in the river. Just fantastic fun and the weather was perfect.
If you are interesting in visiting Martinborough I thoroughly recommend staying at the Pinot Villas. The photos do not do them justice, just wonderful. Full marks to Viv for sorting that out!

Alas I was something of a wet blanket for the rest of my time. I was super kind of Viv and Seraph to put up with me mooching on their couch. Oh well there is always next year...

And to everyone out there I hope you've had a grand holiday break and I wish you a fantastic new year!! Lets get out there and make it a great one!!

New Years Resolutions

Well in comparison to my last lot of resolutions, I got at least one done.
That being a regular gig on the radio.

So this year, I want to go to Europe for a holiday (will require a language improvement) and do some community theatre.
Going to try for both if I can.