Week two held a bit of dread as the weekend drew to a close. University semesters, like life, are a marathon not a sprint. So i decided to ease into it by going to 2/3 classes and doing the minimal amount of homework. With the right timing, my preparation will be peaking at final examinations. I'm Usain Bolt with textbooks.
There is a commerce subject that brought back some very bad memories that i obviously have not had enough beer to forget about. It all started when i saw the word parabola. High school maths was a long time ago and it did not end as well as it should have. Redemption or further disappointment? I suppose the ball is in my court there.
The lecturer is one of those Baby Boomers who welcomes the technological revolution with absolute gusto and heartfelt enthusiasm. Middle age tech as well as middle age spread. No chalkboard in the room and she does not bring notes with her. However, this has opened the class up to IT issues. At least twice a lecture. Followed by quotes such as "oooooh i don't know why it did that" or "is anyone a tech wiz who can fix this?" I love the apportioning of blame to the computer. And the use of "wiz" ... no one says wiz anymore!
This is particularly frustrating in that the cost of units has increased this year. I worked out that i pay about $120 an hour for 9 hours a week, irrespective of whether or not i turn up. Thank goodness for the deferred payment program. IT issues have probably cost me $60-$80 and it is only week 2! The other expense which is, frankly, daylight robbery is textbooks. This subject requires TWO textbooks at $140 each. I am not naive enough to think that no one at the university is getting a kickback. Unfortunately educational institutions are right up there with Religious ones when it comes to greed, profits and inequality. Heck, international students aren't asked what their grades are but when they can pay. Programs can be accelerated at a higher price.. but i digress.
Met the tutor today who is of Indian heritage and for some reason believes no one can pronounce his name. Is there a word for this? Just don't say reverse racism (which is the bane of my very existence and only ever uttered by privileged white males). As a keen follower of cricket, of course i know how to say Guatam. The tutor was definitely an academic and definitely mathematically inclined. His life potentially revolves around mathematics. Which is probably less full on than having to drop your kids at soccer practice 3 nights a week. His comments about class bordered on life lessons and pearls of wisdom. "You must always try your best to remember this formula for quadratic equations... and in everything you do". He tried to make a few jokes though and really had the wrong crowd for a stand up act. Always respect someone willing to have a crack though. Shows some character. Making jokes in this class is akin to asking where the Halal menu is as at a Trump fundraiser dinner.
My classmates are made up of 90% overseas students who did this subject in their undergraduate degree and have a certain cockiness which is hard to understand. I don't care who you are, what you look like and what your extracurricular activities are. You can spend 3 hours a day in a gym, you can surf in the mornings, you can be from old money or you can DJ at a bush doof on weekends. But if you go to university, you are a bit of a nerd. We are all on the spectrum somewhere. The swagger, the faux importance (people who think they do interesting things love to speak loudest) and unfortunately, sometimes the disdain for those who are not tertiary educated.
This is a problem within my classes and always has been. And that is an incredibly embarrassing thing to have to say.
Tuesday, 8 March 2016
Tuesday, 1 March 2016
First Day of School
Laura was dead on. It has been a very, very long Summer break. From early November until March i have been predominantly working, drinking, eating and watching cricket (not necessarily in that order). There was some trepidation as the new semester approached but an odd calming nothingness as i boarded the 396 bus to campus. Been there. Done that.
Things started stereotypically. With an IT issue and an inability to get our lecture slides on the projector. The economics lecturer traipsed through the door with the air of Ben Folds. Not so much rocking the suburbs but maybe there's always someone cooler than you. His black shirt, seemingly carefree demeanor and laid back attitude were well received. Although, being an economics lecturer, there is always someone cooler than him.
The subject is based around Game Theory so, whenever the lecturer said we were going to do some games later on in the class, my ears pricked and excitement grew. Not a heads down, thumbs up proposition or even celebrity heads though. It was a trap. Not the kind of games that interest me. More strategic decision making in business decisions assuming rational players and full information. As a great mind said, players gonna play, haters gonna hate but I'm just gonna shake. Shake it off. Unfortunately the games were mandatory to our overall grades so i could not simply shake them off.
Interesting characters are an absolute given in any university classroom. A melting pot of cultures, ideas, hope, possibilities and perspectives. Truly a stimulating experience. At times. The hipsters help the international students feel better as they both seem to be wearing Western clothes from thirty years ago. Cliched over-effort facial hair, the usual YUPpies in suits with briefcase and a late coffee and mature age students needing the Masters for the promotion they have almost definitely worked hard enough for already. Some familiar faces for a change too, though. And it is nice to know people. Lovely people at that.
Every semester there are laughs to be had at the expense of others. One of my favourite people at university is the student who has willingly skulled their company's Kool-Aid. In fact, i think i even spotted an IV going into the person's veins this time. We were talking about strategy (game theory wise) and she managed to regale us all with CBA's Mission Statement before being cut off. This was a new world record. The same person seems to be the epicenter of my irritation and earned strikes through an unfound, sweeping political remark, questioning why the industry i work in exists because she only heard about it now and by being competitive in these games that are not games at all. I mean, come on, mate. Last year my nemesis was an American and i thought i could forgive his apparent shortcomings but this time she is perhaps, a little too Australian. Self-loathing does not look good on me.
And after what felt like an eternity i find myself walking to the bus stop, trudging that well worn path lined with student-debt, goon sacks and people who struggle to function in the real world.
Things started stereotypically. With an IT issue and an inability to get our lecture slides on the projector. The economics lecturer traipsed through the door with the air of Ben Folds. Not so much rocking the suburbs but maybe there's always someone cooler than you. His black shirt, seemingly carefree demeanor and laid back attitude were well received. Although, being an economics lecturer, there is always someone cooler than him.
The subject is based around Game Theory so, whenever the lecturer said we were going to do some games later on in the class, my ears pricked and excitement grew. Not a heads down, thumbs up proposition or even celebrity heads though. It was a trap. Not the kind of games that interest me. More strategic decision making in business decisions assuming rational players and full information. As a great mind said, players gonna play, haters gonna hate but I'm just gonna shake. Shake it off. Unfortunately the games were mandatory to our overall grades so i could not simply shake them off.
Interesting characters are an absolute given in any university classroom. A melting pot of cultures, ideas, hope, possibilities and perspectives. Truly a stimulating experience. At times. The hipsters help the international students feel better as they both seem to be wearing Western clothes from thirty years ago. Cliched over-effort facial hair, the usual YUPpies in suits with briefcase and a late coffee and mature age students needing the Masters for the promotion they have almost definitely worked hard enough for already. Some familiar faces for a change too, though. And it is nice to know people. Lovely people at that.
Every semester there are laughs to be had at the expense of others. One of my favourite people at university is the student who has willingly skulled their company's Kool-Aid. In fact, i think i even spotted an IV going into the person's veins this time. We were talking about strategy (game theory wise) and she managed to regale us all with CBA's Mission Statement before being cut off. This was a new world record. The same person seems to be the epicenter of my irritation and earned strikes through an unfound, sweeping political remark, questioning why the industry i work in exists because she only heard about it now and by being competitive in these games that are not games at all. I mean, come on, mate. Last year my nemesis was an American and i thought i could forgive his apparent shortcomings but this time she is perhaps, a little too Australian. Self-loathing does not look good on me.
And after what felt like an eternity i find myself walking to the bus stop, trudging that well worn path lined with student-debt, goon sacks and people who struggle to function in the real world.
Friday, 23 May 2014
Sorry Day
I was a late bloomer to driving. A very, very late bloomer. In fact, there is an infinite number of lifts that i owe to friends and parents of friends as a result of me going through almost my entire big drinking years without my license.
As a result of this, i was a man when i paid for driving lessons. A man who had an idea of what was right, what was wrong and what is decent in the world. I bought a ten pack of driving lessons and was probably about half way through with an eccentric, somewhat irritating instructor. I think you have to be a bit of crazy to be a driving instructor though so i gave him the benefit of the doubt. He told me more about his life than i needed to know and, on one informative lesson, he went so far as to use a metaphor which sat so terribly uncomfortably with me that i was numb with shock. I wish i had have stepped out of the car that day. Stuck my head through the window and said "Sorry, i don't want to spend time with a bigot." Perhaps i was too taken aback. Perhaps too naive and shy. Either way, he was telling me that no matter what happens when driving, if we are careful and say sorry, there will not be any problems because there is nothing wrong with saying sorry, Except, he said, "except when they told my kids that they had to say sorry to those *indigenous Australians*." He used a different, unnecessary, offensive term.
For me, this is just blinded bigotry, selfishness and a refusal to admit the atrocities of the past. An apology costs the least but means the most to a lot of these people. Our government apologised for a previous government who were wrong. it is simple as that.
Australia's treatment of their indigenous is something which is know throughout the world and something which, surprisingly, i have been interrogated about overseas. I appreciated this as it showed a knowledge of what had happened. And by facing this truth and history head on we are able to ensure that history does not repeat itself.
When Prime Minister Rudd apologised, unreservedly, to the Australian Indigenous in 2008, i swelled with pride. I was proud to be an Australian. I was proud to live in a country which recognised where wrong decisions had been made and was willing to cop this on the chin. It did not lead to law suits about ownership, about lost childhoods.... there was no increased economic downside. No negative social repercussions. But it recognised what had happened and helped (especially young) people to better understand the trials of the indigenous.
The fact that Sorry Day is still around today is something that buoys me a lot and something which i hope can become even more important in the future. This is a day when we recognise the wrongs of the past towards the indigenous and the mistreatment at the hands of people who believe they knew better. I guess this is it at a national level.
However, i can see the potential for Sorry Day to be an individual thing. something different for everyone but, at the same time, of great importance and relevance in a dynamic world. Something you may have done in the past that you regret, that you wish never happened. This is the day where you can recognise this, be aware of it, and make sure you do not do it again.
National Sorry Day is something Australians should be proud of. to finally stand up and say, as a nation, "we were wrong" was clearly difficult. Now that it has happened, we should try to improve and develop the relationship that everyone has with the indigenous population and help improve the mutual respect between these Australians. It was wrong, we were wrong, and we can never make it right. But if we stop pretending that it was okay because of prior beliefs, it may assist in moving forward at a greater rate and developing more trust and cohesion towards a group that continues to struggle in modern day Australia.
As a result of this, i was a man when i paid for driving lessons. A man who had an idea of what was right, what was wrong and what is decent in the world. I bought a ten pack of driving lessons and was probably about half way through with an eccentric, somewhat irritating instructor. I think you have to be a bit of crazy to be a driving instructor though so i gave him the benefit of the doubt. He told me more about his life than i needed to know and, on one informative lesson, he went so far as to use a metaphor which sat so terribly uncomfortably with me that i was numb with shock. I wish i had have stepped out of the car that day. Stuck my head through the window and said "Sorry, i don't want to spend time with a bigot." Perhaps i was too taken aback. Perhaps too naive and shy. Either way, he was telling me that no matter what happens when driving, if we are careful and say sorry, there will not be any problems because there is nothing wrong with saying sorry, Except, he said, "except when they told my kids that they had to say sorry to those *indigenous Australians*." He used a different, unnecessary, offensive term.
For me, this is just blinded bigotry, selfishness and a refusal to admit the atrocities of the past. An apology costs the least but means the most to a lot of these people. Our government apologised for a previous government who were wrong. it is simple as that.
Australia's treatment of their indigenous is something which is know throughout the world and something which, surprisingly, i have been interrogated about overseas. I appreciated this as it showed a knowledge of what had happened. And by facing this truth and history head on we are able to ensure that history does not repeat itself.
When Prime Minister Rudd apologised, unreservedly, to the Australian Indigenous in 2008, i swelled with pride. I was proud to be an Australian. I was proud to live in a country which recognised where wrong decisions had been made and was willing to cop this on the chin. It did not lead to law suits about ownership, about lost childhoods.... there was no increased economic downside. No negative social repercussions. But it recognised what had happened and helped (especially young) people to better understand the trials of the indigenous.
The fact that Sorry Day is still around today is something that buoys me a lot and something which i hope can become even more important in the future. This is a day when we recognise the wrongs of the past towards the indigenous and the mistreatment at the hands of people who believe they knew better. I guess this is it at a national level.
However, i can see the potential for Sorry Day to be an individual thing. something different for everyone but, at the same time, of great importance and relevance in a dynamic world. Something you may have done in the past that you regret, that you wish never happened. This is the day where you can recognise this, be aware of it, and make sure you do not do it again.
National Sorry Day is something Australians should be proud of. to finally stand up and say, as a nation, "we were wrong" was clearly difficult. Now that it has happened, we should try to improve and develop the relationship that everyone has with the indigenous population and help improve the mutual respect between these Australians. It was wrong, we were wrong, and we can never make it right. But if we stop pretending that it was okay because of prior beliefs, it may assist in moving forward at a greater rate and developing more trust and cohesion towards a group that continues to struggle in modern day Australia.
Monday, 5 May 2014
On the Darlinghurst Road 1 : Cocktail Challenge - The Hazy Rose
It is completely impossible to ignore the shopfronts and reviews of cocktail bars less than a stone's throw from our apartment. We cannot leave the house without passing enough restaurants and bars so that we would not have to leave our street and could have different experiences every night of the week.
Finally we decided enough was enough and we would just immerse ourselves in the martini glass of life on Stanley Street and make a concerted effort to get to as many of the Cocktail Bars as we could. Week one was a venue which we can almost see from our lounge room window, The Hazy Rose. Let me preface this before i get into our take on the Bar. We love a drink. We love something new and we love sharing this. We are not experts on alcohol, bar scene or service. We just know what we like. And we like most everything!
We had a twenty minute wait at Bar Reggio for our pizza dinner and decided to use this time efficiently and drop in on a cocktail bar which was very well regarded online. The reviews for an area so rich in diversity when it comes to bars were astounding and i was very excited to check it out. We walked upstairs, past the opera posters, and into the bar. It was a dark, agreeable atmosphere with candle lighting on mismatched tables, some lounges and booths and a haphazard bar area with more opera posters. We were welcomed by a most sweet server who sat us down with menus and gave us some time to soak in our surroundings. It is a very cool decor and the other people around looked like they were having a lot of fun. The menu had a reasonable wine and beer list but we were there for the cocktails!
We perused the options and asked the aforementioned sweet server her take. She gave two recommendations in the Duke Ellington and the Suffering Bastard. Laura went with the former and i went with something totally different in the Divinyl. The ingredients had intrigued me and I wanted to see the effect of the egg whites. We were excited as they were brought out and they looked the part, made with love. Laura's Duke Ellington was gin based with lime and orange and a prosecco finish. The prosecco was a bit dominant though and, for something which was recommended so strongly, the drink did not quite live up to the hype. On the other hand though, the Divinyl made me want to touch myself. It was vodka based with a very nice, subtle cucumber undertone and soft egg white froth on top which added an extra texture. The drink was superb and i cherished every drop. Laura definitely had order envy!
Far too quickly the time came to pick up our pizzas and we were forced to leave our haven. Our total mark was 14/20, broken up in the following way:
Ambience - 4/5. We would like to come here when there were more people and a bigger buzz. The potential for a cracking atmosphere is well and truly there.
Value - 3/5. It was quite expensive but we felt like we got value for money and the drinks were carefully put together.
Service - 4/5. We loved our server. It just took a little longer than we would have liked to get our drink and cheque. The service was warm, friendly and welcoming!
Drink - 3/5. This is split into a 2 for the Duke and 4 for the Divinyl.
Being the first place we gave a score to, we had to be careful not to be too nice but this was a seriously cool place and well worth checking out should you be around town. And if you plan on stopping in, make sure you give us a call so you we can join you!
LJR x
Finally we decided enough was enough and we would just immerse ourselves in the martini glass of life on Stanley Street and make a concerted effort to get to as many of the Cocktail Bars as we could. Week one was a venue which we can almost see from our lounge room window, The Hazy Rose. Let me preface this before i get into our take on the Bar. We love a drink. We love something new and we love sharing this. We are not experts on alcohol, bar scene or service. We just know what we like. And we like most everything!
We had a twenty minute wait at Bar Reggio for our pizza dinner and decided to use this time efficiently and drop in on a cocktail bar which was very well regarded online. The reviews for an area so rich in diversity when it comes to bars were astounding and i was very excited to check it out. We walked upstairs, past the opera posters, and into the bar. It was a dark, agreeable atmosphere with candle lighting on mismatched tables, some lounges and booths and a haphazard bar area with more opera posters. We were welcomed by a most sweet server who sat us down with menus and gave us some time to soak in our surroundings. It is a very cool decor and the other people around looked like they were having a lot of fun. The menu had a reasonable wine and beer list but we were there for the cocktails!
We perused the options and asked the aforementioned sweet server her take. She gave two recommendations in the Duke Ellington and the Suffering Bastard. Laura went with the former and i went with something totally different in the Divinyl. The ingredients had intrigued me and I wanted to see the effect of the egg whites. We were excited as they were brought out and they looked the part, made with love. Laura's Duke Ellington was gin based with lime and orange and a prosecco finish. The prosecco was a bit dominant though and, for something which was recommended so strongly, the drink did not quite live up to the hype. On the other hand though, the Divinyl made me want to touch myself. It was vodka based with a very nice, subtle cucumber undertone and soft egg white froth on top which added an extra texture. The drink was superb and i cherished every drop. Laura definitely had order envy!
Far too quickly the time came to pick up our pizzas and we were forced to leave our haven. Our total mark was 14/20, broken up in the following way:
Ambience - 4/5. We would like to come here when there were more people and a bigger buzz. The potential for a cracking atmosphere is well and truly there.
Value - 3/5. It was quite expensive but we felt like we got value for money and the drinks were carefully put together.
Service - 4/5. We loved our server. It just took a little longer than we would have liked to get our drink and cheque. The service was warm, friendly and welcoming!
Drink - 3/5. This is split into a 2 for the Duke and 4 for the Divinyl.
Being the first place we gave a score to, we had to be careful not to be too nice but this was a seriously cool place and well worth checking out should you be around town. And if you plan on stopping in, make sure you give us a call so you we can join you!
LJR x
Monday, 9 December 2013
Finding a bridge across my mind's divides
I really believe that my interest in politics, and especially Australian politics, has increased since i have moved overseas. At first i thought this was super strange and did not stack up but i think as you broaden your perspective a little bit more and you are able to see how things are done elsewhere, it is only normal to work out where you can improve your homeland and what can be done better.
Something else which has increased since i have moved here is my love of folky, hippy music. From exposure to more artists at Coachella, to the emergence of Nahko supporting Xavier Rudd, to my avid (almost fanatical) cycle of Fat Freddy's Drop's album, i have been exposed to their messages and ideas and embraced many of these.
Thee can be times where i think there is no real place for these two to intersect - especially with some of the more folky, alternative stuff i may listen to. Watched a Dustin Thomas gig last week and thought he made some excellent points regarding the need to unite the left and the right but then he lost me when he essentially said political opinions were for dummies. As much as i love the messages spread by these artists. Ones of love, acceptance, equality and tolerance. There is no way that what they preach is possible unless it is with the assistance of a political front.
It does not suck, it is just a fact of life. You need things to be organised and you need to know exactly what you want - from a long term perspective. Unfortunately, some of these people, although spreading love and happiness through their words and sounds, are also helping by spreading disillusionment towards politics and political parties. Living in a democracy, by not voting you really have no right to put your opinion to someone else. You missed that opportunity. From Australia's recent election, i saw many "joke" votes for neither party posted online and it really is disappointing. And is part of the problem. This disenfranchised mentality, an uninterested mind, means that what is best for the country, and for everyone, may not be getting through.
Generally speaking, ask a right wing voter what they think of Coachella or, to a greater extent, Burning Man and you are probably going to get some superior scoff and a mutter of "stupid hippies". In the same vein, ask a lefty what they think of a corporation or capitalism and they will mutter about men in suits. But something which i have found in common with both these sides is the word "revolution". And frankly, i do not get it. Every time i hear, overhear or read someone mentioning that they think a "revolution" is coming to the world, their country or their area i really feel as though i need clarification. What do they think a revolution entails, why now and what is going to be the result? Is it an uprising against the government, an overhaul of social progression or perhaps an alignment of the planets resulting in public panic?
A great mate of mine gave me a wonderful album because he did not need it any more. John Butler Trio live at Red Rocks. One of my favourite tracks is called Revolution and John Butler introduces it by saying something along the lines of. "I think some people are waiting for the revolution to come and i don't think it's ever going to start. And i don't think it is ever going to end. I think revolution is always taking place. It's like evolution, baby. What gives me faith is that you can't stop it, it's just painfully slow. But it's always there."
This is the idea i have. Either i am missing the memos or facebook invites to revolution brainstorming events or people are believing that other people are attending without them. Revolution is about the world finding it's feet, finding what works and what is best for the future. It may not always happen quickly and it may take mistakes to get to the right result. But, as painfully slow as that might be, it is still a revolution taking place. If anyone would like to have a mature, respectful conversation with me as to why they think revolution is going to be an event that is coming soon (to a theatre near you perhaps?) then i would only be too happy to have a listen and broaden my own mind. Until then though, for me it is about running through the fire, running though the flame, running through the hatred, running through the blame, running through the hopelessness and shame. Revolution already underway.
Something else which has increased since i have moved here is my love of folky, hippy music. From exposure to more artists at Coachella, to the emergence of Nahko supporting Xavier Rudd, to my avid (almost fanatical) cycle of Fat Freddy's Drop's album, i have been exposed to their messages and ideas and embraced many of these.
Thee can be times where i think there is no real place for these two to intersect - especially with some of the more folky, alternative stuff i may listen to. Watched a Dustin Thomas gig last week and thought he made some excellent points regarding the need to unite the left and the right but then he lost me when he essentially said political opinions were for dummies. As much as i love the messages spread by these artists. Ones of love, acceptance, equality and tolerance. There is no way that what they preach is possible unless it is with the assistance of a political front.
It does not suck, it is just a fact of life. You need things to be organised and you need to know exactly what you want - from a long term perspective. Unfortunately, some of these people, although spreading love and happiness through their words and sounds, are also helping by spreading disillusionment towards politics and political parties. Living in a democracy, by not voting you really have no right to put your opinion to someone else. You missed that opportunity. From Australia's recent election, i saw many "joke" votes for neither party posted online and it really is disappointing. And is part of the problem. This disenfranchised mentality, an uninterested mind, means that what is best for the country, and for everyone, may not be getting through.
Generally speaking, ask a right wing voter what they think of Coachella or, to a greater extent, Burning Man and you are probably going to get some superior scoff and a mutter of "stupid hippies". In the same vein, ask a lefty what they think of a corporation or capitalism and they will mutter about men in suits. But something which i have found in common with both these sides is the word "revolution". And frankly, i do not get it. Every time i hear, overhear or read someone mentioning that they think a "revolution" is coming to the world, their country or their area i really feel as though i need clarification. What do they think a revolution entails, why now and what is going to be the result? Is it an uprising against the government, an overhaul of social progression or perhaps an alignment of the planets resulting in public panic?
A great mate of mine gave me a wonderful album because he did not need it any more. John Butler Trio live at Red Rocks. One of my favourite tracks is called Revolution and John Butler introduces it by saying something along the lines of. "I think some people are waiting for the revolution to come and i don't think it's ever going to start. And i don't think it is ever going to end. I think revolution is always taking place. It's like evolution, baby. What gives me faith is that you can't stop it, it's just painfully slow. But it's always there."
This is the idea i have. Either i am missing the memos or facebook invites to revolution brainstorming events or people are believing that other people are attending without them. Revolution is about the world finding it's feet, finding what works and what is best for the future. It may not always happen quickly and it may take mistakes to get to the right result. But, as painfully slow as that might be, it is still a revolution taking place. If anyone would like to have a mature, respectful conversation with me as to why they think revolution is going to be an event that is coming soon (to a theatre near you perhaps?) then i would only be too happy to have a listen and broaden my own mind. Until then though, for me it is about running through the fire, running though the flame, running through the hatred, running through the blame, running through the hopelessness and shame. Revolution already underway.
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
So... what am I celebrating here?
Thanksgiving is perhaps the most American thing in the world. It is even more American than the "World" Series! People here are surprised that it is my first Thanksgiving and it is, again, one of those things that America seems to think is far reaching although it is not.
A massive interest of mine has been what Thanksgiving is all about in reality and what started it. There is a lot of confusion and supposed misconceptions about Thanksgiving and, I will admit, a lot of people i have spoken to are not 100% certain of what it is really about. It has lead to me asking more people and also doing a bit more searching on the internet as to what has caused this from becoming as big as Christmas. It sounds a bit crazy to say it is as big as Christmas but i have had several "new" Americans telling me that this is exactly how it is. And it is amazing. And according to the way the shopping centres have been acting, probably true.
The things i have seen on the internet are very interesting and seemingly subjective depending on what your views are on other things. Some say it began for Religious reasons as the Pilgrims on the Mayflower wrote a pact to allow freedom of religious beliefs (Christians only!) and that the first Thanksgiving was giving thanks to the Lord for producing a good harvest.
Perhaps it signifies the breaking of bread between the pilgrims and the Native Americans at Plymouth Rock (a relationship which seemed to diminish quickly) or, as other have said, to celebrate the colonialisation of the Native Americans.
Now this blog is not being written to stir up debate or solve an answer. In fact i think it is probably always going to be better if the real answer is never too clear.
In typical American, positive manner, they have made it a celebration of family. Perhaps the die-hard Christians think this is not appropriate but any Celebration which makes people sit around and think about how much they love and appreciate the people seated around them is the kind of thing which will lead to wildly positive things in almost every case. And the sort of thing i want to be a part of. I will not be so naive to ignore that this sort of thing can lead to as many family breakdowns as Monopoly has (how do those Hasbro Bros sleep at night?) but in almost every case it is only going to bring people closer together.
People get a week off work (just about), travel great distances to be with people they love, share delicious food, drinks and consider their own happiness and how blessed they are. Happy, good natured people will only find this to be a joyous event. I am very much looking forward to my first Thanksgiving and seeing all of the fuss and eating most of the stuffing (seasoning). Is it over the top and a bit ridiculous? Perhaps. But this sort of happy atmosphere appears intoxicating and i can not deny the fact that i have already given thought to how lucky i am and how wonderful my family have been to me.
A massive interest of mine has been what Thanksgiving is all about in reality and what started it. There is a lot of confusion and supposed misconceptions about Thanksgiving and, I will admit, a lot of people i have spoken to are not 100% certain of what it is really about. It has lead to me asking more people and also doing a bit more searching on the internet as to what has caused this from becoming as big as Christmas. It sounds a bit crazy to say it is as big as Christmas but i have had several "new" Americans telling me that this is exactly how it is. And it is amazing. And according to the way the shopping centres have been acting, probably true.
The things i have seen on the internet are very interesting and seemingly subjective depending on what your views are on other things. Some say it began for Religious reasons as the Pilgrims on the Mayflower wrote a pact to allow freedom of religious beliefs (Christians only!) and that the first Thanksgiving was giving thanks to the Lord for producing a good harvest.
Perhaps it signifies the breaking of bread between the pilgrims and the Native Americans at Plymouth Rock (a relationship which seemed to diminish quickly) or, as other have said, to celebrate the colonialisation of the Native Americans.
Now this blog is not being written to stir up debate or solve an answer. In fact i think it is probably always going to be better if the real answer is never too clear.
In typical American, positive manner, they have made it a celebration of family. Perhaps the die-hard Christians think this is not appropriate but any Celebration which makes people sit around and think about how much they love and appreciate the people seated around them is the kind of thing which will lead to wildly positive things in almost every case. And the sort of thing i want to be a part of. I will not be so naive to ignore that this sort of thing can lead to as many family breakdowns as Monopoly has (how do those Hasbro Bros sleep at night?) but in almost every case it is only going to bring people closer together.
People get a week off work (just about), travel great distances to be with people they love, share delicious food, drinks and consider their own happiness and how blessed they are. Happy, good natured people will only find this to be a joyous event. I am very much looking forward to my first Thanksgiving and seeing all of the fuss and eating most of the stuffing (seasoning). Is it over the top and a bit ridiculous? Perhaps. But this sort of happy atmosphere appears intoxicating and i can not deny the fact that i have already given thought to how lucky i am and how wonderful my family have been to me.
Monday, 25 November 2013
Listen, i don't even like Clarkey but...
It is a troubling situation when i am not a fan of the Australian cricket captain. It is not that i am hard to please or non-compliant but this guy... he is not Allan Border. He does not have that piss against the wind positivity or the Steve Waugh, fuck this huge West Indian guy i am winning the game or even the Ricky Ponting i am the prettiest guy to flick the ball to the leg side so do what i say.
Michael Clarke is a hard man to love but perhaps he has got it. If he wins this series history will be much kinder to him than he probably deserves. The passive aggressive captaincy matched with a fantastic innings. It is what we have missed and something that England may not be able to match us with. Alastair Cook is an accomplished man. From what i have heard he got a scholarship at school for about 16 different reasons. Intelligent, sporty, musically gifted and ferociously good looking (if i do say so myself) he still lacks that killer instinct captaincy which Clarke has. And uses, admirably.
I have no issue with the "you ready for a broken arm?" jibe. The papers have jumped to it... i blame the Abbott government... but in reality this is Clarke talking of what his fast bowler is capable of. And that kind of fear is something we need to instill in England if we expect, or want, to win the series. I was batting once, at Parker Street Oval and the man at point threatened to stab me. This was playing park cricket. In a fairly useless game where we were doing alright. That man was going to stab me. May i say i got 50 and we won it. And yet we are kicking up a fuss about Clarkey saying something along the along the line of .... "hey Anderson mate. Johnno is worked up and is sending down some firebolts. I would be careful, you get your set up wrong and you could hurt yourself."
Why does no one see what Clarkey said as a warning to what was ahead? I do not think he is a great captain but i am stoked to see him (finally) come to the fore and telling England that we are not going to be submissive any longer. Tremlett, Jones, Anderson and Flintoff were great aggressive bowlers but Australia refused to match it. Now we have the bowlers to top that... even our second stringers top that.. so it is no reason to be soft. In fact the opposite.
Clarke is in a position to salvage his reputation. For everyone to forget the mistakes he made (i.e Symonds and the wonderful Simon Katich) and revel in the fact that he won us back the Ashes.
It is not a hard recipe. Runs at the top of the order and support to the lightning flinging, crack hitting bowlers at Clarkey's disposal.. A great batsman and perhaps not a leader of men but, a leader against the motherland. Someone who can win back the Urn built simply and satisfy the fan appeal and the urgency of a million backyard barbecuers and blind (in the drunk sense) cover drivers.
Michael Clarke is a hard man to love but perhaps he has got it. If he wins this series history will be much kinder to him than he probably deserves. The passive aggressive captaincy matched with a fantastic innings. It is what we have missed and something that England may not be able to match us with. Alastair Cook is an accomplished man. From what i have heard he got a scholarship at school for about 16 different reasons. Intelligent, sporty, musically gifted and ferociously good looking (if i do say so myself) he still lacks that killer instinct captaincy which Clarke has. And uses, admirably.
I have no issue with the "you ready for a broken arm?" jibe. The papers have jumped to it... i blame the Abbott government... but in reality this is Clarke talking of what his fast bowler is capable of. And that kind of fear is something we need to instill in England if we expect, or want, to win the series. I was batting once, at Parker Street Oval and the man at point threatened to stab me. This was playing park cricket. In a fairly useless game where we were doing alright. That man was going to stab me. May i say i got 50 and we won it. And yet we are kicking up a fuss about Clarkey saying something along the along the line of .... "hey Anderson mate. Johnno is worked up and is sending down some firebolts. I would be careful, you get your set up wrong and you could hurt yourself."
Why does no one see what Clarkey said as a warning to what was ahead? I do not think he is a great captain but i am stoked to see him (finally) come to the fore and telling England that we are not going to be submissive any longer. Tremlett, Jones, Anderson and Flintoff were great aggressive bowlers but Australia refused to match it. Now we have the bowlers to top that... even our second stringers top that.. so it is no reason to be soft. In fact the opposite.
Clarke is in a position to salvage his reputation. For everyone to forget the mistakes he made (i.e Symonds and the wonderful Simon Katich) and revel in the fact that he won us back the Ashes.
It is not a hard recipe. Runs at the top of the order and support to the lightning flinging, crack hitting bowlers at Clarkey's disposal.. A great batsman and perhaps not a leader of men but, a leader against the motherland. Someone who can win back the Urn built simply and satisfy the fan appeal and the urgency of a million backyard barbecuers and blind (in the drunk sense) cover drivers.
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