panic

 I've more than likely to have said this before but I am always mindful of the Pete and Dud sketch-

"so you've learnt from your mistakes?"

"very much so. So much so that I can repeat them exactly"

Western Australia and panic buying. I watched the news and the coverage at a supermarket. I just knew the first place they were going to was the empty toilet paper aisle. Why toilet paper? Surely some kind of food would be of greater importance. Look at the photo above. I can see lots of water and breakfast cereals. Part of me would like to see the reporters inspect the shopping trolley contents in depth, to get some insight as to how irrational people are.

because we are not a third world country. As much as I hate to agree with our prime minister, or the vast majority of politicians for that matter, we have a shitload of food. We are positively overwhelmed with the stuff.

part of me wonders about earlier bouts of panic buying in other areas. Do people still have a glut of certain goods that they still haven't used? Does it give them a pang and force them to ask, gee, what kind of an irrational moron was I? Even at the current rate, its going to take me months to get through all this stuff.

now here's something that you really don't do

 

this image is a preface to what happened all along Bourke Street Melbourne, 20 January 2017. This crazy person, speeding of his tree, was subsequently found guilty of six counts of murder and seriously injuring twenty seven others. Now today, a lame version of a potentially similar thing happened again today. Police attempted to pull over a green Toyota Corolla near 5pm at Bourke Street near Swanston Street, however the vehicle mounted a kerb and sped off. 

the vehicle was followed by the Victoria Police Air Wing and last sighted in the St Kilda area. Investigations into the incident remain ongoing and the vehicle remains outstanding. There have been no reports of any injuries connected to the incident. 

now the response has been amazing in that the powers that be have really learnt from the lessons on that fateful day in January 2017. I was there on that day and thankfully, I was early and down the Spencer Street end of Bourke Street. The subsequent horror and madness floored everyone. A few co workers actually witnessed some of the deaths. Others witnessed people running away begging people to get the hell out of the area.

In the history of incredibly stupid things not to do, or to remotely emulate for that matter, I can't even to begin to think of something that even remotely comes a close second.

morning shows

 so what's the deal with morning shows? Here it's the news from 5:30 till 9:00 in the morning. Forced zaniness and imposed opinions about what tired things they like. And the singing. Then the product placements. Can you please be quiet and just tell us the news? 

maybe we should have someone like Piers Morgan. I really don't give a shit about his opinion at the best of times, but at least they are news related. My ultimate goal is to see him perform on Britain's Got Talent. Let's see that talent where he got his toxic outlook from.

there is a paradox in the slogan of one news broadcaster here - The Full Story. If they actually had a duty of care to deliver the full story, a few news items would go for hours. Plus there is the Project - news delivered differently. Sorry, same lazy delivery with lame opinions and a couple of wacky retorts thrown in for good order. Then maybe a few token celebrities.

then there are the morning shows after the news. 3 1/2 hours! Who has the time to watch such an apex of broadcast television?

with the overall phenomenon resulting with broadcasting lazy variants of the same topic. Sometimes for days. Sometimes for weeks.

he's gone

 

I don't know if you've noticed but....he's gone. Now throw everything at him, including impeachment with the additional condition that he never sit for office again, but don't you think that there are other issues at hand to deal with? Part of me thinks that there will be other things for Trump to address, legally speaking. The City of New York wants to rip off his head and shit down his neck, to name a few.

meanwhile, Biden signs an order scrapping the Keystone XL pipeline and killing 11000 jobs. This is just one example of many. In a poetic piece of irony, the Bidens couldn't get into the white house after the inauguration and were locked out due to the fact that one of the senior staffers had been sacked.

now I've mentioned this earlier and I didn't think it would take such little time to come to light. The prime example here is implementing the clean future. You better put things into place at an incredibly fast pace because the existing infrastructure of oil and gas, you guessed it, employs a lot of people.

I get the feeling that its not that they're going to do nothing but they're going to implement the things they promised then not deal with the consequences of those actions. Starting with impeachment.

which day?

 so let me send you all an inter-departmental memo on this one. Today is not Australia Day, nor is it Invasion Day. Based on the fact that I don't give a fat rats ass about this day, this is not any day. I am not going to take time out to find out about your history or background if you don't extend the same courtesy to me. I'll give you a little hint in that as far as my relatives go - it involves immigrants and convicts. Not really preoccupied with invading  - more preoccupied with with surviving and fitting in.

it was interesting to see a victim given honors today, but with the added bonus that Malka Leifer is coming back to this country to face justice. I only hope that the whole legal procedure is handled with extreme care, otherwise it will be an even longer protracted mess than the long protracted mess that its already been.

now here's the part where I really feel I am going out on a limb. Margaret Court - go eat a bowl of fuck. Whatever makes you feel justified with your outlook, you just come across like a bully and a creep. I may not agree with a lot of people about many things, but that doesn't mean they don't have the right to exist the best way they can.

so I guess I'm screwed either way if I just ignore the whole mess of a day altogether. So my stance, so to speak, is not to change the date but not to acknowledge it - at all.

the weirdest thing is our leader hands out an award to a victim of abuse yet does nothing about his pedophile apologist mate from the hill song church

maybe I should celebrate this day as a day of relaxing and ignoring

at last

 

Malka Leifer. This has been exhausting. All those hearings for so many years.

pretending she was mentally impaired for so many years when all along she formed the intent to leave our country. Now all I want out of this is not only justice but the process of justice. With nothing to impede that process.

from the VoiCSA group advocating for this case, it is important to note what the complainants will be restricted about what they can say about the case. The first obvious question is why, but to expand upon this there needs to be a great deal of insight and information as to how this trial will be conducted. Forgive the irony, but procedure as god.

to my mind, the extradition was a great step ahead, but not without new risks. Then the one variable that could send the whole thing into a spin - she pleads guilty. After being obstructive for so long, how does one even begin to approach the magnitude of such a sentence?

there needs to be a great duty of care in relation to proceeding with this trial. Otherwise we may have to endure another eleven years. That may involve witnesses testifying and mistrials. Witnesses testifying and being mentally molested over and over again.

having said all that there is one person in all this who I have never physically met  but have communicated via social media. Manny Waks. A great person and an even greater advocate. Of justice.

Zambrero Brunswick revisited

so today was an amazing thing. I won't use the term confronted but today the staff at Zambrero Brunswick asked me the simple question - were you the guy that wrote about us?

I was - and am that guy. Lots of subsequent cheers and encouragement. The main thing was how happy all these workers were in relation to me praising their efforts. Efforts that involved not only communicating but sharing. Sharing laughter and happiness.

so here's the thing. Wander down a few doors to a certain clown based fast food chain. To give it away based on a contemporary descriptor, "the golden arches".  Lately I have made the observation that even before masks and shields I have never witnessed a staff member smile, laugh or even interact with me in an even remotely reasonable, or human, way. Even way back when the vegetarian menu was introduced all those years ago. The burgers weren't too bad but lately the whole thing has gone to shit. They look nothing like what is advertised and frankly, the burgers are better at... well you know where. Plus the burgers look like what is the menu.

my main point of focus is something that costs nothing beyond a duty of care. I have had some serious fun with these people. Laughed and interacted with too much fun. That didn't create a queue or obstruct service.

not only great people but great human people. Let me go out on a limb here - great pals. 

which makes me proffer a suggestion in relation to the ingredients of the secret BBQ sauce. I know I am wrong but diligence, happiness and care. More suggestions to come.

worst honeymoon

 

now here's not so much a classic image as a classic headline to go along with the image. Groom forgets bride at petrol station on the way home from honeymoon

I have mentioned this story before that Ricky Gervais tells Jerry Seinfeld that goes under the banner of Hitler jokes. Hitler married Eva Braun in the morning then in the afternoon poisoned her, shot himself in the head and arranged for his gardener to burn the bodies. That has to be the worst honeymoon ever.

but that got me thinking as to what actually are some of the worst honeymoons ever. Not so much the places, although they can contribute, but the experience. Here's a few I found online.

1.

When Stefan and Erika Svanstrom of Stockholm set out on their 4-month-long honeymoon with their baby girl on Dec. 6, 2010, they got more than they bargained for. Immediately, they were stranded in Munich, Germany due to one of Europe's worst snowstorms. However, that was just the beginning.

After that, Svanstrom said, they experienced the devastation of a cyclone in Cairns, Australia, the flooding in Brisbane, and they narrowly escaped the bush fires in Perth. "We escaped by the skin of our teeth," he said, recalling how they were evacuated in Cairns and were forced to spend 24 hours on a cement floor in a shopping center with 2,500 others. "Trees were being knocked over and big branches were scattered across the streets."

Just before they arrived in New Zealand a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch, and in Tokyo they felt Japan's largest tremor since records began, he said. "The trembling was horrible and we saw roof tiles fly off the buildings. It was like the buildings were swaying back and forth," said Svanstrom, who also said he survived the devastating tsunami that hit southeast Asia in 2004.

On March 29, the family returned to Stockholm after a much calmer visit to their last destination, China. Their story was first reported in Stockholm's Expressen newspaper. "I know marriages have to endure some trials, but I think we have been through most of them," Svanstrom said.

2.

Just ten days after getting married, British honeymooners Ian and Gemma Redmond were enjoying a tropical beach vacation in Seychelles when tragedy struck. Thirty-year-old Ian Redmond was snorkeling just twenty yards offshore while his new wife sunbathed on the beach. Redmond was attacked by a shark, which bit off one arm and destroyed one of his legs. It is thought that Redmond died instantly, though he was quickly pulled from the water into a boat and a doctor on the beach applied first aid until emergency medical crews arrived. Redmond's hysterical new wife was restrained by the crowds of people on the beach while workers attempted to save her husband.

3.

In May 2013, a 21-year-old man from Illinois was arrested for soliciting a prostitute... while on his honeymoon! Mohammed Ahmed, who was in Orlando, Florida with his new bride, was caught when he met an undercover detective posing as a prostitute after he answered her ad. Making matters worse was the fact that his wife had reported him missing after he never returned to their hotel, unaware that he was in police custody.

4. 

It's normal for couples to have in-law issues, but they generally don't begin on the honeymoon. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for an Italian woman named Marianna, whose husband brought his mother on their post-nuptial trip to France. The couple, from Rome, got married in a church ceremony last month after a 12-month romance. Apparently, the bride didn't know that her new mother-in-law planned to come along; she simply showed up at the Rome airport, queued for security, and boarded the flight with the unhappy couple.

The infuriated newlywed asked her husband to send his mom home, but the mama's boy refused, citing health reasons. The 36-year-old woman spent three weeks in France and then requested a divorce because her husband maintained an "excessive emotional attachment" to his mother. Marianna has since left the marital home for Naples.

5.

In 2012 a pair of newlyweds had a bumpy start to married life after the bridegroom was arrested at Birmingham Airport on the way to their honeymoon. Anthony Barns, from Tile Cross, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for theft when he and his wife, who was not named in court, tried to catch their honeymoon flight. The 24-year-old was wanted for stealing 6,000 cigarettes, worth £2,500, from Asda in Chelmsley Wood, England while he was working as a cleaner earlier that year between January and March. The defendant, who has no previous convictions, admitted removing cigarettes to feed his own habit, 600 at a time, and hiding them by the bin. "It is a difficult start to their marriage," said his lawyer.

6.

CNN Reporter Brent Larson and his bride, Ona, look like an ad for their Antigua resort, glowing, in love and sun-kissed in paradise. However, the real story behind it is quite different. It all started when the couple arrived at the hotel, which said they had no record of the couple's reservation for the honeymoon suite, leaving them half-asleep in the lobby until the middle of the night.

What about the private beach? It was not so private, with wandering drug dealers who didn't take kindly to the U.S. Naval Academy graduate and his wife declining their products. "I wish I had pics of the (possibly human) bone fragment (I found on the beach), the cop giving me a hard time when I reported it, the massive storm that flooded St. John's and stranded me there for three hours while my wife thought I'd been kidnapped for ransom, and on and on," said Ona.

7.

Printing company manager Adam, 31, and receptionist Sarah, 27, jetted off on their honeymoon in March after tying the knot in front of forty close friends and family. They'd spent £2,000 on the trip, which included flights, vaccinations, malaria tablets, and a honeymoon package at the Laico Atlantic Banjul Hotel in Gambia featuring fresh fruit and sparkling wine upon their arrival.

However, when they arrived they were devastated to discover that there was no five-star reception and their honeymoon suite had two single beds. Their disappointment grew as they looked around to discover dirty curtains, loose power outlets, a stained toilet seat, and a faulty air-conditioning unit that was held together with masking tape. A broken shower head meant that they had to stand in the corner of the bathroom to have any chance of getting under the water. When they left the room for the solace of the beach, they were hassled endlessly by staff members touting for business. "We were expecting rest and relaxation but at every turn someone was trying to hassle us for money - you had to hold on tight to your bags otherwise staff would carry them for you and then demand a cash tip," said Mr. Monk. "We were looking forwards to a lovely romantic break and I did not expect to be spending the first night of our honeymoon comforting my crying wife. It was a complete nightmare. After such a wonderful wedding day and looking forward to a great honeymoon for such a long time, all we were left with was bad memories which tainted the whole wedding experience. It was a very expensive holiday for us but it was so upsetting because what we got was far from what we were promised - it was certainly anything but relaxing."

Deciding that a change of room would not be enough to end their ordeal, they made the massive decision to book flights home after just one night, costing them an extra £600. They jetted out of Gambia the following day --meaning their honeymoon had lasted just two full days.

then there is a few honorable mentions in headline form - 

Our flight was booked to the wrong city.

We stayed in a beach house with his whole family.

She was allergic to the lubricant.

My wife almost cut off her finger.

The groom slept with the bride's best friend.

We took the wrong luggage.

Our cruise was anything but luxurious.

My husband had to leave me in Nepal for ten days.

My mother-in-law broke into our hotel room.

turns out there are hundreds of horror stories online. Still, I think it's hard to beat the Hitler honeymoon

the run

some habits die hard. Some habits represent a time honored tradition. So it was late the other night and I was at a certain convenience store in the area and the consumers displayed all the give away signs. The open flannel checked lumberjack shirt, metal t shirt and jeans - almost like a historic uniform. Then the products. A 2 litre bottle of coke, a packet of Tim Tams and a large bag of chips.

the late night stoner munchies run.

after bonging on through the evening, it gets to a stage about 11pm where the dedicated get the munchies. A friend of mine years ago used to work at a convenience store and was really popular. All the pot heads used to come from miles around because they were so stoned. They just dumped their money on the counter and he would count it for them. One night there was a horrible incident. There was no delivery of Tim Tams that afternoon and they were out of stock. No shortage of stressed out stoners that evening. Chocolate coated teddy bear biscuits just don't cut it.

the other night was a classic example of the munchies run. I was there barely fifteen minutes and saw so many people wearing the same clothes and buying the same food. It makes me wonder why dope is illegal at all - there certainly still is a huge market for it. Just go to your local convenience store after 11pm and see it in action.

vaccine - day sixteen

 so yesterday, Anthony Fauci, the chief medical advisor to the president, says that it is important to be completely transparent, open and honest in relation to the virus and to "let the science speak".

so the broken record in relation to all the vaccines. What's in them? What are their ingredients? Also, what side effects have occurred in relation to these vaccines? To what quantity? You may say that you will be diligent in all these areas of transparency, openness and honesty, but can the big pharmaceutical companies extend the same courtesy? It's not like we are giving these vaccines to a few people

it's not so much that I am a vaccine skeptic but I would dearly love to make an informed decision in relation to the vaccines. There may be plenty of discussion about efficacy, but are there any known risks? Would any person be disturbed to be injected by a vaccine that has questionable contents?

apparently, you are the chief medical advisor to the leader of the free world. How free is this world when it comes to making an informed decision? For any official have a duty of care to "let the science speak", without fear or favor?

this is getting kind of boring. Especially in relation to the news. A myriad of cult like misinformation, or just a lack of information altogether.

Hitler covered

now I know this is going to sound like a broken record but tonight they had a documentary about Hitler and cars. His association with Mercedes Benz in relation to not only cars but motorbikes. How he created propaganda in relation to German race car drivers. Specifically designed cars breaking world land speed records with Germans behind the wheel.

now I am not going out on a limb here and I've said it before, but in the history of one person, there is nothing we don't know about Hitler. Someone must have a record on that insane day in 1940 where Hitler had a cup of tea instead of coffee.

Therein lies the dilemma. We may have all the facts about Hitler but have we covered all the topics about him? Just thinking out loud, is there some conspiracy or intent in relation to his association with sausages? Wurst, to use the correct translation.

did he make Kosher sausages to weed out the Jewish population? Suspicions about members of the community who were adverse to bacon? I wouldn't put it past Hitler to be that bat shit crazy.

maybe people are rationing topics because those who make a living out of such material don't want to run out of it. Then there is the idea of Hitler no longer being the point of focus. Is the SS less of a cash cow? Surely there is safety in numbers.

plus one of them was named Kraft. Any association?

what's this then?

 

that's what is called a Wirtgen W220 fi. Think of it as a large industrial shovel. Think of it as a bloody huge industrial shovel. It takes a number of people to operate and scoops up soil then shoots it out the front on a conveyor belt into a truck. 

Now I'm in two minds because lately I have seen one in action on the site of the former Gandolfo Gardens, now the new Moreland station. Now I dearly miss the Gardens and what they did to the trees because the posse of kids on the bikes with no pedals are back again. They group on the corner of Jessie and Station street and stare in awe. At what machinery does best. Operating.

It really is amazing what this machine can do. Scoop up two truckloads of dirt in no time at all. Reminds me of when I was as young as those kids and used to gaze in wonder at industrial machinery.

there's no mail

so what's the theme here? All the spam from certain movements and organisations is now going to be useless because they now have nothing to talk about. There was an elephant and there was a room and his name was Trump. Now that he has been removed in so many ways than one they will have nothing to talk about. Or maybe they are going to complain about his term. Again and again.

here's one example from today

"to celebrate the inauguration of the new administration and Vice President Harris' historic achievement, we've just printed a big batch of "Madam Vice President" stickers, and we're giving them away for free while supplies last!"

"Vice President Harris was escorted to the inauguration by her alma mater Howard University's marching band, and she was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court."

"and because of the 50-50 split in the Senate, as Vice President Harris takes her oath today, she will become one of the most consequential vice presidents in recent history, responsible for casting the tie-breaking votes to pass legislation for coronavirus pandemic relief, address the climate crisis, expand health care, protect voting rights, and more."

"after four dark years, and in the shadow of the attempted right-wing coup perpetrated earlier this month, let today be a joyous reminder of the victories we can achieve as a multiracial, multi-generational movement for progress."

well as far as I can tell and I am not discounting her achievement, all she has done is make it through the door. Lots of pomp and ceremony but she hasn't done anything yet

I am really looking forward to actually seeing what the government is going to do, and what better way to celebrate than to get one of those "Madam Vice President" stickers. It really makes so much sense. Maybe they could go all out and really celebrate this historic moment with a "Madam Vice President" action figure.

maybe there's a code

so there has been some discussion about getting rid of masks. Once again, so many people were on the tram not wearing a mask, I am really getting to the stage as to why I bother. Then I thought of a badge system with a letter code as to why commuters are not wearing a mask.

M - the obvious one, medical reasons

V - vain

C - conceited

D - defiant

N - not bothered

part of me thinks there is no point using the F - forgot or the S - stupid code because they probably couldn't even remember to put on the badge. It could be interesting to see someone wear a combination of badges say, V C D.

the one consolation in all this is how few people in this country have lost their shit in defiance of wearing a mask and have it posted on social media

still, quality not quantity. The Bunnings episodes and the gormless couple outside K Mart are pure gold. Really set a standard.

a new approach

now at times I have had a mixed outlook in relation to people who beg. Most of the time I would prefer to give the beggar food like my favorite preference, the Mars bar. Why? Because a Mars a day helps you work rest and play. Besides, in the scheme of things it provides a small burst of energy. The last time I got a Mars bar for the guy outside of Aldi he was more than appreciative; it was two in the afternoon and that was the first thing he had to eat all day.

instead of the usual have you got any spare change routine, yesterday as I was waiting for my sons for lunch, this woman came up to me with a new approach that really threw me for a loop. It was just before two in the afternoon at the train station at Melbourne Central. She said - 

"I need four dollars and thirty cents"

I said I didn't have that amount but you really have to give her credit for requesting a figure so specific. Upon reflection, I thought I should have asked what the specific amount was actually for.

Bruz

 

Giovanni Domenic "John" Barilaro

you even do a search and Super Barilaro Bruz comes up. Gladys went on holidays recently to brush up her best librarian wardrobe and Bruz was in charge. In that time there were heaps of YouTube clips but strangely enough, all the comments were turned off. I don't know where I was on the internet but the comments weren't turned off. Now I know why. 80 percent of the comments mentioned Bruz, koalas or pork barreling, or combinations of all three. But always Bruz.

the weirdest thing is actually hearing him talk. I am so used to Jordan Shanks impression of him that when he gives a press conference, it doesn't sound right.

look up Bruz and an entry comes up in the urban dictionary - 

A common nickname for The dishonorable Giovanni Domenic "John" Barilaro

with a grammatical example - 

"How you doin bruz"

now that I've had more than my fair share of him, I find now that I can't get enough of him. It seems sad that Gladys is back in charge. Perhaps she could create another controversy like an affair with a corrupt official to keep things interesting. But I'm sure that Bruz and controversy mixed with a unique blend of incompetence won't be far away.

tennis

so here's something. Any other circumstance and the media would be in a panic. A bunch of people come to this country and bring the virus here but that's o.k. - they're here to play tennis. Then they go into a petulant frenzy and make demands about terms and conditions. I don't know if you've noticed this virus thing and also this concept called compliance? The locals are so sick and tired of complying and have been doing it for say, more than a few months with a number of variations to keep things even more oppressive, from curfews to banning face shields and other nonsense. I have complied; I've hated every moment of it, but I have still complied. As have many others. Some haven't and they annoy me to no end.

rather than submit your list of demands, maybe you should say thank you. Thank you for setting up a tournament and taking such a stupid risk in these uncertain times. Thank you for suppressing the usual epidemic of fear spewed out by the media for tennis players, those people who are so much more important than your average folk

instead we have to endure some tennis players' bogan girlfriend complain about getting her hair washed to her usual regimen. What the hell is she doing here anyway? How exactly is she important for tennis?

there's one thing you can do. If you don't like it, go away. Actually, please do.

this guy...he's the guy

now this is not so much a case of he got my vote, which he did but we got him. 

Dr Tim Read.

Now there has never been a case of me actually physically seeing an elected official in person as many times as this man here. Admittedly, our first encounter was the protest to stop the trees being felled in Gandolfo Gardens but the number of times he was there to do his best and to talk to anyone who was willing to talk. The next time was the Sydney Road festival and he introduced me to a local councilor and we had a great chat about local concerns. Now the final time has been a number of communications via social media, ending with an actual phone call to talk about the state of the construction site where the gardens used to be. Whenever I have approached him he has always gotten back to me with courtesy and respect, making me feel that whatever my concern, it is relevant and important

this guy is one serious hands on guy who actually gives a shit.

this guy...he's the guy 

here's a challenge; say the same for any other elected official.

good luck with that.  

she's back

 

yesterday the crazy woman who indiscriminately swings her cane at commuters was back on the tram again. This time I complied with the directions of public transport Victoria and approached the driver to get in touch with the authorities. He told me to sit down and not worry about it. I asked him was he going to call the police or should I. He got out of the drivers seat and finally approached her then she got off the tram.

the paradox here is even she got off the tram she had this look on her face like other commuters were at fault. Last time she swung the cane at a number of commuters really violently. Plus this time I forgot to take a picture of the mad old crow, dammit!

now before you pass judgement on me I rang the authorities to point out that I had done nothing to defend myself, which I feel more than justified in doing. But besides from being pissed off, I pointed out that I am not everybody and others would be less diplomatic in their reaction, especially a number of local ice addicts who catch the tram who would more than likely beat the crap out of her.

hopefully after following this up the authorities will finally close in and get her to pull her head in. I am at a loss as to what to do next. Taking the cane off her and to the police station is the only thought that comes to mind. Let her pick it up and explain her actions.

syphilis

 

here's an artists depiction of the varmint above. I had no desire to show you the effect that it causes because well, you might be eating. Looking at these images makes me want to throw up on an empty stomach.

there is not so much a famous person from history but his mother. The mother of Oscar Wilde had syphilis so long that she died from syphilitic madness - having the disease so long that it actually rots you brain. I once recorded a court case and one of the defendants had the madness. He smiled at me from the dock for 3 months. Didn't even acknowledge the guilty verdict - just kept smiling.

which brings me to now. Apparently after watching the news today there is an outbreak of syphilis in Australia. That begs the question, not only why now but also how now? Surely in this time of people keeping away from each other would negate the spread of such an illness. It's a sexually transmitted disease.

but even saying that I am in two minds. Part of me thinks that the only way to contract this would be by persistence and dedication. Then I think the only way to contract this is to positively abandon persistence and dedication. 

don't think about it - just do it. Looking around people behaving in a myriad of ways - its a metaphor for now. Some people are positively defiant about complying

good luck with that.

anyway, really. How did this happen? Especially now. I don't know if you've noticed but we kind of have this massive pesky disease going on right now.

hope

here's a thing. Take time out of your busy day and stand on the corner of Moreland Road and Station Street, Coburg and remember where this photo used to be. Where not only were there all the 100 year old trees but one clear area past the old bridge where parents and their children used to kick footballs and owners used to let their dogs of the leash to run around and go nuts.

so jump ahead now to the new Moreland Station, post construction. Not even a hint of the former Gandolfo Gardens. I have seen an artists depiction of what it will look like in the future, but that is not nearly enough.

they must do more to make the gardens resemble as much of its former self as possible as when they took the trees away it was nothing short of devastating. Not to forget the total asshole way they took them away and that no one wanted the station above ground in the first place, let alone on this side of the road. Living in the wrong electorate can be a curse sometimes.

if only to recall the times I used to lie down in the shade of all those amazing trees.

well, they've done it

well today, its official. A certain brand of cheese today has had its name changed. Now it will be known as Cheer. Now I can only think what the human rights commission will attempt to do with a certain regional cheese manufacturer.

part of me thought that with the lock downs and restrictions, all this nonsense relating to serial stupidity in the form of political correctness would have become some strange afterthought, but even the very idea of the end of humanity can't counter the power of woke culture.

It reminds me of the times certain words were in vogue that they were so overused they were almost removed from the general vocabulary altogether. However, this is different. Having this brand name removed by legislative force is an imposition and may empower the range of woke culture advocates to do their worst. My only hope is the collective attempt of many of these bodies suggest such a range of restrictive nonsense so bizarre that the general populous throw their arms up in disbelief and finally scream enough.

meanwhile, if there is any part of my vocabulary that you have the need to alter, and I have been using for quite some time now, can I kindly suggest you go away.

I'm just off to buy some cheese - now what was it they used to call it? You know the one - with no ill intent whatsoever because it is a derivation of a German name?

any other language you want to ban?

celebrity

 

 

2011. A perfect storm of an interview that could have gone two ways. Barbara Walters asks the one question after half a decade of the famous for being famous phenomenon.

"So what exactly is it that you do?" Didn't flinch for an instant. Like rote she called out so many elements of the Kim brand.

I have had some pause to think about the residue of this in relation to now and the latest local phenomenon - I'm a celebrity get me out of here. I surveyed the list of contestants and the people I actually knew were a soap opera star that I haven't heard about for two decades, two retired football players and a television presenter. All the rest were a complete mystery to me as I have never heard of them. So I did a little research and looked them up. The overall thought was that the very nature of the phenomenon of celebrity - has it run its course? News of a big dilemma from the marketing department. How do we promote these people, lacking in so many different attributes? Let's call them a celebrity! 

Then as an exercise I typed in top celebrities by year from 2020 backwards. Aside from not knowing the vast majority of them, it was amazing to see how short some of their tenures in the field of celebrity actually were, with some famous for reasons and actions so banal and tedious.

Socrates. Fame is the perfume of heroic deeds. I wonder when the transition of that quote descended into the realm of the meaningless. Or, dare I say it, beyond meaningless.

surely, let alone as a marketing tool but even as a descriptor, it must be dead soon.

my idea of normal - Bar Oussou

 yet another screening of my favorite local place in its prime. Bar Oussou.

now forgive my self interest and I am sure many others with have totally different ideas of their own personal ideal in regards to normal. For this bar to go back to a bar as opposed to the restaurant it is now would represent such a triumph for my comfortable routine. 

not only spoken word nights every second Monday of open mic every Tuesday and the diverse range of performers on both those nights, but a chance to catch up so many different people. Some of the bizarre conversations with audience members have transformed us into friends, so the very idea of the bar being reverted to its former glory and open would take the form of a joyous reunion, even if the place was filled to half the capacity of the image above.

prior to going here I went to other places that held open mic nights but I felt stifled; It was like they were controlling the music with their narrow and boring outlook and taste. The only prerequisite for Oussou was to ring up and ask for a slot. With that freedom a lot of serious fun happened on so many nights. Added to that and I can't put my finger on it but the place has a "feel", what ever the hell is going on.

so that's my barometer for normal; it would probably mean a whole range of normal would have to occur in the community in parallel, but that's the ideal I long for.

Zambrero Brunswick.

 

now I hope what I say doesn't take the form of a shameless plug; let's just hope that what I have to say can be seen as an expansion beyond such a shabby form of promotion.

the lock down and the one thing that kept me thinking about the very idea of normal was the routine of lunch. So I alternated between the Kebab Station Coburg and Zambrero Brunswick. For months.

the one thing that has been so comforting is that the Zambrero staff have almost committed my order to memory, as I get the same thing every time. But the experience has been so much more. Crazy discussions and listening to my even crazier stories, many from this blog, but the overall experience has been filled with laughter and subsequent joy.

now the only dilemma I have now concerns one of their sauces - secret BBQ. I asked one of the staff what's in it? The reply?

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you. It's a secret."

how we laughed.

try getting that kind of interaction from the clown a few doors down. Is it a prerequisite in order to get a job there you must have your soul removed?

Zambrero are friendly, human and great.

Joe time

let's start with the big picture. So across the board, no matter how they are perceived, whether they are good or bad, a lot of the policies Trump put in place created jobs. To what degree is Biden going to reverse those policies?

then there are the specific things that can be broken down into a few categories. Implementing the clean future. You better put things into place at an incredibly fast pace because the existing infrastructure of oil and gas, you guessed it, employs a lot of people.

will there be attempts to normalize trade not only relations but relations in general with China? However divisive you think it may have been, it did a lot of good for the United States.

also, to what degree is he going to carry on with some of the actions of his former boss? There were mistakes. Have the Democrats learnt from those mistakes? Pandering to movements that flushed the rules of evidence down the toilet would do the obvious thing, not only create but re-create division and paranoia. 

Is he going to try to spend his way out of all this? One example is the military industrial complex - they haven't had a look in for quite a while. Then there is spending in general. Instead of dealing with the specific, any problem and he just throws money at it?

now there is one outlook that may preoccupy Biden that is already happening now. He wants to get rid of Trump with days to go and is voicing the need to prosecute those who invaded the nations' capital to the full extent of the law. Not detracting from the horrible nature of the actions of these people but really? Now? Are you going to be relentless to the extent and at the expense of not doing other things? Two overriding factors that come to mind that need to be delicately balanced because they both are a mess; the pandemic and the economy.

there is a lot of specific multi-tasking to be performed on the road ahead. Let's just hope he is awake when he doing them.  

when it all changed

2007. You know meaning of the graphic above and unless you were hiding under a landslide you saw the video.  I wonder if anyone actually watched it until the end. I know I didn't. 30 seconds after the pivotal moment in the introduction I threw up.

video sharing was in its early days but was catapulted into a whole new world. Not only the actual video but the stream of reaction videos. Then more people watching and more reaction videos - and so on.

but what did it do and how does it relate to now? To my mind, it changed the mental DNA of the world. Not only as to what you can subject yourself to in the form of the horrible, disgusting and repugnant but set a model for novelty  transformed into a sick form of confrontation.

but think about it. Short of a video showing a person being brutally killed, this video set the bar to a whole new absolute low. Reflecting upon it today, one thought came to mind as to where the 2 girls are now. Did it create a wave or trend in regards to such a video being produced? I have a limited imagination; has anyone attempted to make something even more repulsive?

at that time I had heard rumors of the video and someone I used to know sent me down the path with the simple introduction of "have you seen it?" in front of his computer. I was reluctant as I knew nothing of the content but, needless to say, once I had seen it I had been transformed and not in a good way.

it makes me think about what are the standards set by this amorphous creature called big technology. Did they skip the meeting at some point when it came to discussing duty of care? They can ban leaders from social media while all kinds of crazy interest groups and organisations still have Twitter accounts and web pages?

But to the main point and with a certain amount of determination I am sure I could expose myself to the truly disgusting. I get uneasy thinking about the very nature of censorship, but what was the point of this video? What were they trying to achieve? To create the ultimate goal of a new low? 

just do it

 

after the last week and I know I am sounding like a broken record but Donald, shave it off. How long does it take to craft that ball of denial on top of your head every day? How much gel, pomade or hairspray? Who do you have on call to maintain it and what is their rate? Plus how much does that orange shit you put on your head go for?

if you shave it off, I'll go so far as buy a bottle of that orange shit you put on your head to "fill in the blanks", so to speak

think of all the time it will free up, especially when the wind blows. Maybe to convey a small amount of honesty for once in at least the last four years. But think, very soon you may be a little on the time poor side of things, legally speaking.

I have to give you credit for creative flair, what with you using 30 percent of your hair to cover 90 percent of your head, but maybe it's time to be a little more practical.

If you do it, I won't go so far as to reconcile any of your loony antics, but let's just say I would definitely hold you in some form of admiration. Using my best imagination and the photo above, you could give off a real Lex Luthor vibe. Just get rid of it. It looks stupid.

what's in the room?

so yesterday was a mild sunny day and I did my usual excursion for lunch at the local mall. There was a couple sitting nearby that were morbidly obese eating nearby and the first thing I noticed was the wheezing; it was really loud. Now the other thing that drove me crazy and I don't discriminate because people of all shapes and sizes do it was the eating with the mouth open. Like a cow eating chaff.

after a while there was something else, they were both sweating pretty heavily and then - the smell. The only way I can describe it was I assume that they were "making their own gravy", to coin a phrase. The sweat between their folds of fat had congealed and made some kind of smegma and a skin fold odor that absolutely stunk. It had to be them because they left and the smell went away. Now it wasn't just me as a number of people in the area noticed it.

there has been some discussion in recent times of fat acceptance. So what of this encounter am I meant to accept? The pair positively screamed poor health and their eating habits, the wheezing and the smell combined were repulsive.

now I find out that the February issue of Cosmopolitan has multiple covers featuring "plus sized" women with the title - "this is healthy!"

no its not. It is terrifying.

now what?

so our count from this side of the world, 12 days and he is gone. Now what? Does he become this embittered soul posting on Twitter if someone does anything that is in conflict with whatever issue is rattling through his brain at that very moment in time? At what point or for what reason does he become a victim of cancel culture? Does Twitter, the very medium that defines him transcend any barriers? Using such a tacky method of communication does it cancel everything out? This is the way I do things and I have done for years so you might as well be used to it by now.

what is the statute of limitations in regards to complaining about a rigged election?

then there is a new fact that has come to hand, Twitter has banned him permanently.

did you hear that? that was the sound of Trumps head exploding. What kind of law can you use against a platform that wants nothing to do with you anymore?

so what is this all about?

 there was something in my mind, the thing that actually inspired me to do this blog in the first place. The passport I found in a supermarket on a Saturday night and my quest to reunite it with its owner. Then there is the question - what would you do? This is a question I have asked on a number of occasions, from psychopaths that might cross the wrong person who aren't me on public transport and may run the risk of having the living shit kicked out of them to people who thanked me for the act of merely saying hello.

now I don't want to sound conceited but doing this blog has made me discover things about myself in these insane times. I think I have tried my best to display a duty of care about the common good. Not all the time but to the best of my ability. To be on public transport and make a family stressing out to not only smile but laugh. The homeless woman who is raped on a semi - regular basis who gave me so many smiles for the simple act of being nice. Losing count of the Mars bars I have gotten for the beggars outside of Aldi.

the main thing involves interaction that has come out; involving people who have been forgotten and have been deemed worthless or simply unimportant in these crazy times. But to be not only surprised but rewarded with some of the most amazing stories I have ever heard

there were questions surrounding things and nonsense that has pissed me off. Terror from my sometimes recent and distant past that confused the hell out of me. Documenting mass suffering from the England in the 1600's. Then just talking about things that were just surreal.

this is not a new years resolution but a new years reflection. That maybe its good to talk. I prefer talking in person and I feel that discussing a lot of this blog with people in person has been a lot of serious fun.

thinking about interacting with people has been a form of healing. For all parties concerned. Not only interacting but communicating and sharing. Something in a time where we are not only told what to do but how to behave.

here we go

standard caveat; don't take anything I say as embracing or dismissing any inherent bias or affiliation - that's your baggage and I don't give a shit.

so we have Chuck Schumer stating on the floor of the house that this day will go down in infamy. Yet we have Joe the walking corpse still standing in front of those office of the president elect signs screaming screw you I won.

Trump telling everyone to go home but still bleating about how he won a stolen election, yet doing nothing to stop the storming of the white house

Chuck Schumer may rue the day that he picked this particular day. This is merely the beginning and if you think otherwise, you are either arrogant or stupid or a combination of both.

plus there is the dilemma of how one measures time. As of the time I am writing this, in Washington, the day hasn't completely finished and frankly, the month and even the new year has only just begun

then there is what Trump could potentially do over the next fortnight, being the sociopath and all round self-interested creep that he is. Plus so many stupid factions fueled by the anger of their stupid agendas.

if it ain't a mess, it'll do until the mess gets here

vaccine - day fifteen

here's a great standard form from Facebook. Now all we need is a form for any vaccination person stating if there are any complications, short or long term, you are responsible. 

This letter has been posted by a parent regarding concerns about school children being vaccinated next year, at the return of school. I want to post this to help anyone that has children attending school and have no knowledge that without your consent schools can not administrate property without right. 

Here it is! I have made modifications regarding terminology of Law.

LETTER WRITTEN FOR A PARENT TO SEND TO THEIR CHILDRENS (PROPERTY) SCHOOL REGARDING CORONAVIRUS PROTOCOLS

Dear [names] (who sometimes acts as a principal of school [name of school] )

Re: coronavirus protocols 

I am writing to you regarding my (property) child, [name], who is due to return to year [number] next year 2021. [Name] has been very happy at [school name] and is looking forward to returning next year. Thanks to you and the other staff for everything you've done to making the journey there so far a happy one.

However, I have some concerns that we would like to address in writing before the school year commences. In the first instance and as you know, I do not consent to vaccines for [name], and now that they are approaching an age where they may be considered competent, it is important to underline that [name] does not consent to them either. We appreciate the risks and benefits of vaccinations, and do not consent to receive them. Affixed to this letter is a short written statement from [name] confirming this. I know that there can sometimes be confusion on vaccination days and children who have been opted out of vaccination nevertheless receive them, and that sometimes vaccination days happen without contract or consent, so we are making clear our position formally in writing before the school year begins. 

Leading on from this are the other protocols the school may be putting in place as a response to the coronavirus situation. Schools are not the place for medical processes, and I only give consent to trusted healthcare professionals to conduct medical procedures on my (property) child [name]. Therefore, I do not consent to my (property) child receiving any coronavirus testing at school. If they develop symptoms of illness, I will keep [name] at home as I would with any other illness, and arrange any necessary testing or treatment myself. 

I also do not consent to my (property) child using hand sanitiser. Hand sanitisers contain powerful chemicals that permeate the skin and enter the bloodstream, as well as being implicated in causing dermatitis and destroying vital beneficial bacteria on the skin - essential for maintaining a strong immune system. I do not consent to this product being used on my (property) child for any reason, and only consent to washing hands with conventional soap and water. 

If the school intends to temperature-check, I do not consent to my (property) child being tested at the forehead with an infrared thermometer gun. I am not comfortable with the psychological connotations of repeatedly having a gun pointed at the head, and there may also be short and long-term safety issues with aiming this instrument directly at a developing brain. Therefore, I only consent to [name] being temperature checked at the wrist.

I also do not give our consent to participating in the NHS track and trace scheme, and do not want our contact details passed over to the NHS or any other agency for the purposes of tracking and tracing.  Any agency having or using our data without our consent is trespassing and in breach of the GDPR and therefore unlawful. 

I do not know what the school's policy will be on mask-wearing, but I wish to make clear the lawful position on masks, which is that those suffering hidden disabilities are exempt, and under the Equalities Act 2010 and Disabilities Discrimination Act 1992, it is illegal to ask someone if they have a hidden disability or what it is. Therefore, were the school to mandate masks, it would be unlawful for them to ask any pupil why they were not wearing one. It would also be incumbent on the school to instruct all pupils and staff on the law regarding masks and exemptions, to ensure nobody without a mask is discriminated against, which is unlawful under the Equalities Act and could result in the man or women that discriminates against a student being summoned to court.  

Finally, I do not consent to any detainment of my (property) child on school premises or elsewhere for any reason. I expect them to return home or collected at the usual time every day unless I have given my consent otherwise.

Please reply to this letter as I require you acknowledging my concerns that my (property) child will not be subject to any measures I have not contracted or consented to. 

Thank you for your time.

Yours sincerely,

[name]

STATEMENT FROM [NAME]

I, [name], do not consent to receiving any vaccinations. I appreciate the risks and benefits of vaccinations and I do not consent to receiving any. If I am vaccinated without my parent present or consent, it will have been under duress, and therefore unlawful. 

Signed: _________________ Date: _______________

That's the end of the letter and anyone is more then welcome to copy this and paste it with your details. 

Please send and share this to others that you think it will help.

cancelled

there is an interesting quote that describes the nature of now; gossip has been elevated to a form of philosophy. Then there is the definition of cancel culture.

"Cancel culture (or call-out culture) is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles - either online on social media, in the real world, or both."

combine the two and now we have an interesting descriptor of cancel culture

"Cancel culture is the dark side of gossip as philosophy."

that is the essence of the way I feel now about all this nonsense. In my recent incarnation as a blogger I have been online since September last year. I am up to 176 posts. I have had no negative comments. Hell, I have had no comments. Plenty of views.

now recently I was confronted with cancel culture via a medium that should be the very essence of the opposite of cancel culture - Facebook. I made a sarcastic comment relating to the epidemic of fear that has gripped the world of late relating to contracting the virus from a local wave pool in the outer suburbs. I was hit with abuse and just wanted this particular pest to go away. 

so I told him to go eat a bowl of fuck and die. I got a warning from Facebook with all the usual standard dire consequences, stating my comments were hostile. 

now, kindly and clearly explain to me how can a person die from eating a bowl of fuck? What is a bowl of fuck? Maybe the fact checkers could look into it.

now this idiot who had no depth of irony who started the hostility lashes out,  I responded and I get threatened with being banned. With a response that is beyond surreal.

but then there is the overall dilemma; Facebook doesn't read posted blog entries. A friend of mine who has been reading and following since the beginning has wondered why I haven't been fact-checked and blocked into oblivion.

so, dear Facebook, if you want to get all totalitarian embracing cancel culture, can you not be so half-assed about it. 

the other thing that sent my head spinning was last night as I watched the Negotiator, a film with Kevin Spacey in it. Should I have watched it but not enjoyed it? Or should I have watched something else? Or should the movie not have been programmed at all?

maybe all of this is a cursory insight into something that needs to be investigated more.

A lot more

vaccine - day fourteen

now this is getting beyond exhausting. There have been some scant explanations as to what any of the vaccines aren't, but no insight revealing what the vaccines are. Apparently aborted fetal cells in the trials but none in the final vaccine. No explanation as to why the Pfizer vaccine has to be kept at such a low temperature.

so is something so complex that it can't be explained, especially when I am being asked to put it in my body? Do we have organisations that monitor standards and practices for vaccines?

so pretty please, with sugar on top. What is in all of the vaccines? Aside from a 20% return on Bill Gates investment?

there was this horrible restaurant I used to go to and an owner that really didn't care. He was beyond jaded and bitter. Jokingly, he once called a dish he offered the vegetarian surprise. What was the surprise? He said it's got meat in it.

but at least he revealed the contents.

terror - part three. critical mass

once again, terror - not terrorism.

now this has, to my mind, entered the territory of the insane.

another person I used to school with has moved to the area. Now I remember this person well because he used to be annoyed by one aspect of my personality and was never backward in coming forward about it.

laughing at my own jokes. Frankie Boyle must send him into a white, seething rage. Half an hour of Jimmy Carr and his head would explode.

now I never addressed the issue because of associations with mutual friends. Now that has long since passed the main thing going through my mind is addressing who the fuck actually died and made him president? There were plenty of annoying traits as far as his personality was concerned but I never had the slightest thought of bringing them up. No matter how blatant they were.

there is a strange double edged sword to this. Great, another person to avoid. Then there is the idea of actually addressing the issue so I can finally put the whole thing to rest and remove the thumb from his butt once and for all.

but why here? why now? I have already had more than enough troubles from the person I can't remember at all.