Colour?

These girls bring colour to my life. How much fun are these two London darlings. Hope they both come back for a visit soon enough, or I am fortunate enough to head over there and see them. Good friends are hard to find. Great friends even harder. These are two great friends. I miss them. Hello over in London hope all is well xxxxx

Study? What?

The more I study the more I know

The more I know, the more I forget

The more I forget the less I know

So, Why Study?


This saying completely annoys me. Always has, always will. However, today I can see logic in it.

Yes, I need some sleep and tomorrow this will take place at the Beach. Weather permitting.

Fisticuffs at the Walkely Awards

Equivocally Emma supplies you with links to this story, but decides to not provide commentary, criticism or comedy.

1.Crikey! Walkleys erupt in stage stoush

2.Milne sorry for 'shocking' behaviour

3.Crikey! News Limited journalist makes a night of it

4. Milne apologises for Walkley outburst

5.Milne shoves Mayne at Walkley awards

6. Crikey

Excitement Plus

The previous post made reference to something, other than new audience members to the blog, that excited me. I should actually qualify that and say I am very excited, lucky and incredibly grateful of the new addition to my life. No matter how hard I try, grammatically, that sentence will not work. I am probably so infactuated it is a long term relationship you are looking at here.

I was rather devastated a few weeks back, when my dearly adored Compaq computer, a rather elderly, yet cared for, laptop decided it couldn't deal with me anymore. While the relationship was good, it obviously wasn't going to stand the test of time.

It was heavy and I lagged it to uni. It was temperamental when I tried to connect to the wireless system. Introduced to the market at the time of broadband this was achievable. However, as you are aware old dogs and new tricks are seldom compatible. Nonetheless, the dear was loyal and faithful, until it had enough.

Despite it's weight, the fact it wasn't new and often looked antiquated next to some of the pocket rockets at Bond, I did care for it. Dear was incredibly useful, helpful and provided me with hours of frivolous entertainment (photos, newspapers, strawberrynet, journals, friends access to friends awake/asleep on the other side of the globe, emails, websites, shopping, downloadable post-it notes, stationary all at the click of a button.) It housed my many weeks of itunes data and the many photos I had collated over the last few years. Oh yes, and some rather useful, and important university work.

I was obviously too demanding of the dear. The signs were there, however, I turned 'a blind eye to it all.' When I couldn't put the computer on my lap, because of the heat radiating out of the bottom of it, I should have sensed something more (than the increase in temperature.) Yes, the fan had decided enough was enough. I was sad, and I must confess there were tears. These may have been shed because of the two years of law work possibly lost(haphazardly updated at random moments of frustration) and/or because of my vast music collection. Initially, it was the thought that my university work had gone, perhaps permanently, but then the realization that those musical masterpieces I had spent days, weeks and confusing and humiliated moments attempting to secure, had potentially vanished provided the catalyst for a hysterical phone call to my Mum.

The poor dear is being dealt with. Alas, our relationship is a thing of the past. I quickly recognised it was time to move on.

Now, the new MacBook has entered my life. Apparently waiting for this Mac edition was the correct thing to do. This is what my self-confessed "computer geek" friend, Lauren Ross, informed me. With the intel due core processor 2, I have the luxury of both worlds, on the one computer. I can move from my Mac to my PC (running windows) by pressing a few buttons. A whole new world is unfolding. And yes, I am doing plenty of work. After re-reading this post, perhaps too much work. I am very lucky, very appreciative, grateful and excited at this new addition to my life. Stay tuned for bigger, better and greater adventures, as I enter this new phase!

So excited

There are often very strange, weird and unusual reasons why I get excited. I'll tell you about last weeks exciting story later. In regards to that, let's just say, I can now play the piano on my computer keyboard!!! What I was excited about this evening, is actually a very similar reason to why I was excited last night. True, I do need to get out a little more, and some fresh air probably wouldn't go astray. Tonight two friends from the law school came up to talk to me about this blog. I didn't even know they knew it existed. I'm not as 'high profile' as other people around Bond, to me that's never been a problem. When these two lovelies told me this evening of their frequent readings of the blog, I yet again became nervous that it's just not up to scratch and I really need to do some more work. Hopefully, being in a similar predicament to me - exams very close and a lot of video stream to do between now and tomorrow - they may excuse my poor efforts. I was rather amused to find someone actually confessed to being obsessed with blogs, having to read them every night. In fact I think she said she was addicted. Oh dear. One of mine was one of those she read. Anyway hello to those girls, who might be slightly strange but definitely think I am far stranger. I do hope they are enjoying listening to week 5 land lectures. Only six more weeks to go (presuming there were no lectures in the week negotiations took place.) I hope you are looking after then chicken and the cow.

Lonely??

The book I am reading is the story of the magnificent people behind the name 'lonely planet.' Once While traveling: the lonely planet story, details the adventures of Tony and Maureen Wheeler. The book recalls their trials and tribulations in establishing, writing, editing, adventuring, trekking, researching and documenting their books - my favorite reference, when contemplating ventures to interesting and phenomenally fantastic destinations.

I haven't traveled a great deal, however, my sister is a weathered traveler. If she doesn't fall into that category yet, she is making an effort to ensure that in a few years she will. Her collection of lonely planet books is extensive. If she actually reads this blog, she will realise that the book I am reading is one of hers, I have 'borrowed.' I will then receive an abusive phone call. As Sarah frequently informs me, however, she is far too busy to read the blog. This book is more than an entertaining and informative autobiographical account of the efforts of the Wheeler's to start a small business which has expanded to the corporate form that it is today. It divulges stories, and enlightens the reader as to many of the characters the couple have crossed paths with in their travels. Moreover, it shows how two individuals met and made Melbourne their home. It also reveals how these two applied, and to still go to great lengths to practice and implement, a work ethic that someone like me appreciates!

Here are some of my favorite extracts (reproduced, under the fair dealing provisions of the Copyright Act - hopefully)

On silently observing the lonely planet's market infiltration:
"in late 1972 we had just twenty-seven cents between us. Now we had a business known all over the world, our books were on sale in almost every country we visited, and my informal aircraft surveys (walking down the aisle to see what people were reading) always turned up a few Lonely Planet guides. We may have been far smaller, but Qantas and Foster's were probably the only other Australian brand names which reached as many corners of the earth as we did."

On becoming Australian citizens, and the changing cultural dynamics of Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia:
"It was an indication of how Australia was changing that Maureen and I were the only Anglo-Saxons stepping forward that night at the Richmond town hall. A few years earlier in Richmond, the most Greek suburb of the 3rd largest Greek city on earth (only Athens and Thessaloniki have more Greeks than Melbourne), it would probably have been Greeks who predominated, but now they too were I the minority. Most of our fellow 'new Australians' were Vietnamese. "

Hotel wildlife (a new term)
"Cockroaches are, of course, the other renowned hotel wildlife. New York hotels of a certain style always have them, but Big Apple cockroaches are miserable specimens, flyweights compared to the Asian heavyweight contenders. There's a simple test to determine if a cockroach is the real thing; jump on it. If, after you've applied your full weight, concentrated on one foot and from at least a half-metre above floor level, the cockroach reels back slightly stunned, shakes three legs on one side and then three legs on the other, before continuing about its business, you know you've met a real cockroach. A messy brown carcass lying dead and squashed on the floor is just a bug."

An interesting perspective:
"In early 1990, just twelve months before the Kuwait version of the Gulf War, we made our first trip to the Middle East. It was a trip where preconceptions were knocked over even before we arrived at our destination. We flew from Singapore to Amman in Jordon with Royal Jordanina Airlines and as the DC10 leveled out over Malaysia the captain ame on the intercom to brief us on the flight ahead. It was a woman.
'So this is how it's going to be,' I thought. 'In the Arab world women can't drive cars, but they can fly wide-bodied jets.'


Another interesting perspective:
"That spell in Bali and Indonesia was overlaid by a great unease. In mid-January 1991, on a Kuta Beach bar television, I watched the first air strikes on Iraq - the Gulf War kicked-off. I remember being profoundly depressed by the whole miserable affair in the following weeks I scribbled notes about how I hate 'the gun-ho jingoism, the endless hype and cruise missiles flying straight through windows.' Surely Saddam was a lously, cruel, greedy mindless dictator, but we were defending Kuwait, a slack, fat, lazy, corrupt, boys' club where after it was all over, the slug -like Emir wouldn't even come back to his palace until the air-conditioning had been reconnected and the water was flowing properly.....We were also defending Saudi Arabia, a place where they're so ashamed of the nepotistic little Islamic paradise they've created that they keep the doors firmly shut to ensure nobody gets in to see what they've done.
Our won greed came into it as well. Would we have been rushing to defend everything that was right if right didn't hold the keys to the oil wells? I doubted it in 1991 and in 2003 I was even more doubtful.
In February, I walked the Overland Track from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Claire in Tasmania with four friends. Its a beautiful, wild and rugged walk, made even finer on that occasion by a week of flawlessly benign weather in a region famous for weather as ruggedly uncomfortable as the terrain. It was wonderful, but all the time Gulf War hovered in the background, creating a feeling of unease that would persist until the one-sided force ground to a halt. It would be ten years later, when two aircraft slammed into the World Trade Centre in New York, before I would feel so utterly disheartened again."


About half way through the book, so the extracts above are obviously from what I have read. What puzzles me is how they came up with the name lonely planet?' I haven't got to this part yet. The impression I have from the book, however, is that the world really isn't that lonely after all.

The lonely planet

Follow up, from yesterday...

Helsinki Complaints Choir

Posted properly, now. Thanks to Dear Drew.

A new medium to voice complaints

Leon Gettler a writer for the Age has a blog: Management Line.


His blog today made me laugh:

"Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Whingeing harmony of complaint

Frustrated with the way they pat you on the shoulder at work, then stab you in the back? Constantly irritated by ringtones? Worried about jobs going to China? Don't you hate the way Christmas starts earlier every year?

If the annoying things in life are getting to you, check out this Finnish ensemble, the Helsinki Complaints Choir, which has been putting in appearances back home and which is now being posted up on YouTube.


Great to hear all those beautiful voices griping about the stuff that gets to all of us.

Some of it very European, but mostly universal. Everything from the everyday and banal ("Bullshitters get on too well in life", "My dreams are boring" and "Reference numbers are too long") to the unsettling ("Old people are fed with tranquilizers so they won't complain", "You can't get rich by working. And love doesn't last forever") to humor ("Old forests are cut down and turned into toilet paper. And still all the toilets are always out of paper").

Yeah, isn't it reassuring to know you're not on your own?

I reckon this one is an absolute corker. What do you think? And are there any complaints you'd like to add? Any gripes with an Australian slant?"


I would agree with him. It is rather universal. I know a few people who could conjure up similar lyrics, however the score might be another story. I like to think there are many things we (that being the Australia I live in) have in common with Europe, rather than the US. It's probably while I managed to consume this book in a matter of weeks a few years back. It was very interesting take on the gradual shift of the philosophical underpinnings of contemporary politics.

This morning

There has been a sighting; http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/comet-seen-across-Victoria/2006/11/28/1164476144999.html.

On a somewhat scarier note, I am currently sitting in the library (for a change.) I am sitting in the 'discussion area,' I have a different name for it. Across from me are two, I would presume, younger students. They may have finished school last year. They are talking about 'global warming.' Presumably, they are writing a paper or presentation. Apparently, the male thinks 'global warming' is 'the world heating up and people getting sunburnt really easily.' Well yes, but No No No. The girl thinks 'global warming' is 'pish posh.' Translated; she doesn't believe in it, or alternatively that it exists, or is taking place. Well, of course it's quite normal for there to be icebergs sightings of the south coast of New Zealand. That's only the beginning.......Oh and the person who 'doesn't like hippies' just walked past. He also told me once I looked like a person who owned cats. I am putting my headphones in now. That's enough. Thank heaven for music. I am going back to some time in the 1800s. Lovely.

I am glad I have a friend in Melbourne who deals with Robert Manne on a regular basis. I also think this gladness extends to the friends that can provide a succinct definition of global warming. Hey, they might even (for bonus points) provide you with a definition of green house gases. Better still they may provide suggestions and stimulating discussion highlighting the ways that global warming should be dealt with by inaudible, members of society, governments, multinationals..... I also am happy that I have numerous friends who have a greater grip on reality that other individuals in this world. They believe the world is bigger and better than them, that people are entitled to have different opinions and they enjoy helping and doing things for other people. Sometimes I have to remind myself how lucky I am really am!

I have received a Healesville update. The dining room at the Healesville Hotel is what the critics say, plus more. I've been to the pub 'counter meal' section, that was sufficient. There is currently a residential revolt occurring at Dowd Road. There are 'unnecessary' road expansions, and then there is town planning and VCAT.

Currently, I am a little nervous. The readership of this blog is expanding. I think this is what I wanted? However, I take forever and a day to proof read. Unfortunately, I really am a Virgo, with all this entails. I am attempting to curb perfectionist tendencies. The problem, however, is I am posting blogs that I return to re-read and find numerous errors. I don't like this. The pressure is on. I don't like forcing this expanding audience to witness my poor spelling, grammar, and editing skills.


That picture above would be the Hideout.

Both sides

I am not the type of person to present a one sided story. I have been educated, I am not sure where, that it is always important to look at an arguement from a variety of angles. For me there is nothing worse than developing an established mindset that results in not being able to approach situations from different angles. I'm an outside the square person.

Accordingly, I feel it necessary to bring to your attention other accounts of life at Bond. Rather, than exposing you solely to mine, or the world labelled the 'Bond Bloggers.' The evidence to present, for your consideration include the following:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_University

Reading

My friend Kirsten gave me a copy of the New York Times, National Book Critics Circle, top 20 for the year. It can be accessed here. Kiersten's Mum (or Mom) is an attentive reader of this blog. In fact, she is probably one of the few individuals that have read it cover to cover. This is a big hello, all the way from the southern hemisphere, to Mrs Danielson. The list Kieresten has given me, along with Readings Summer Readings Guide has me literally 'booked up' for the Christmas break. Ha ha, I'm funny. I need to go home.

Life at Bond

Over the last week I have engaged in dialogue about Bond University with some of my friends. Bond was Australia's first private University. It is located on the Gold Coast. I was trying to illustrate the difference, or perhaps it that should be portray the complete absurdity, between my life at Bond and theirs. I have things in common with these friends, often we will voice. similar concerns (political, social, environmental, and ecological.) However, I also believe that we respect, value and enjoy learning, developing and acquiring knowledge and entertaining different opinions.

One friend commented that the best thing at Bond was the beaches. However, there are no beaches at Bond. It is located in a suburb called Robina. This suburb is landlocked. They also positied that the University is an architectural masterpiece (obviously studying architecture.) They then added "get the dam degree and get out of there..Keep your head down low and let the shit fly."

I have commented on life at Bond, previously. However, this 'list', or account, failed to truly describe my life at Bond. Today I had an idea - I don't have these very often - I would introduce you to the small community who declare themselves 'the Bond Bloggers.' If they don't it's a label I deem applicable. Sometimes I fall into this category, other times I don't. This could be attributed to the fact that I discuss 'private' matters on my blog, well that's what someone said. Yeah right.

The one person I would love to feature here has a blog site that is not advertised. They like to keep student politics separate from their blog. This isn't a bad idea. I respect this, alas I will not be able to link you to their site.

Next, is the 'anonymous' blogger at Bond. Apparently female, she chooses to comment on the world around her but likes the mystery that comes with anonymity. I am rather entertained by students attempting to discover her identity. 'Drew.'

30% of the law school at Bond University is Canadian. This is the blog of Gordon Prisco. He is one of these. 'One of these' being a Canadian. I was banned from Gordon's blog earlier this year. Apparently, I am "a baby" and "need to loosen up" and "have a drink." Last I knew people were free in this country to choose to partake in the consumption of alcohol. I also thought it was considered a friendly thing to offer someone a lift somewhere. Usually, the passenger(s) would say thanks to the driver. Rather, in North America, the custom must be to ridicule the driver. Despite numerous requests for this ban to be lifted the person who declared himself dictator of this blog continues to refuse. I stopped really caring about this ban, sometimes ago. So be it.

There is this person. This individual, who has adopted a highly inappropriate nickname, is often reprimanded by those in charge at the University. I don't really blame them. I do not endorse anything said, done or projected on that website. Take this as a warning if you choose to select the link.

I also like this Blog. Here, a student on exchange provides an enlightening account of studying at Bond, often in contrast to the law school she attends in Canada.

There is also Brendan Donoghue's blog. Brendan comes to Bond with a background in information technology. Being the President of the LSA, I call him a VIP.

Warning, while these individuals provide insight into life at Bond they should (under no circumstances) be taken to represent or stand for anyone, or anything, else except themselves.

Oh, and the library at Bond even has a Blog. However, since Homer has returned to the library, its profile has been low.