Tuesday, 31 July 2007

Memo to my boss

Get off my fucking back, and I'll get my fucking work done.
Warm regards
Dave

Monday, 30 July 2007

Ex-girlfriend update

So I'm working at my other restaurant job on the weekend and my ex-girlfriend (the one I blogged about when she texted me to 'catch up' and then never replied to my message) comes in to have dinner with a group of work friends.
It was fantastic.
She started by bumbling her way through an excuse as to why she didn't text back. I let her speak (read squirm), as she offered up a pathetic non-excuse somewhere along the lines of "hey, yeah I got that message from you, it was like two weeks ago or something, and i meant to text you back..."
Whatever.
And I had a bit of a chat with her about what we were both up to, blah blah blah, before she had to take her trailer trash friend home just after they'd received mains because she'd drunk too much and was spewing.
I felt vindicated.
Even though I went out with her more than seven years ago, it was good to find that although she had physically grown a little, her mental acuity was still somewhere down on the same level as a three-month-old Downs Syndrome baby. Ouch.
So the old adage, an ex is an ex for a reason, rings true here.
Coincidentally after she'd left, one of her co-workers asked me if there was still a spark there. I laughed heartily, looked her straight in the eye and said "not a chance."

Overheard in New York - language warning

You Are a Worthy Adversary, My Son!

Mom: So, you're gay, right?
Son: No, Mom, I'm not gay.
Mom: Yes, you are. I've seen your clothes.
Son: All the guys wear these.
Mom: All the gay ones, maybe.
Son: Go away.
Mom: If you were straight, you wouldn't have cried so much after you were pushed out of my vagina.
Son: Actually, I think that proves my straightness. No straight guy could look at your cunt and not cry.

From www.overheardinnewyork.com

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I love the Japanese people

From news.com.au

GPod vibrator hits high note with Japanese women
From correspondents in Tokyo
July 28, 2007 12:00am
Article from: Agence France-Presse

THE Japanese love technology so much that now even sex toys are on the cutting edge.
The “gPod”, a phallic-shaped vibrator, is designed to respond automatically to sounds picked up by an accompanying handset, which can plug into anything from a telephone to a music player to a television.
The ¥25,000 ($243) gPod was one of a number of toys that went on public view today at Japan's first-ever sex toy expo in suburban Tokyo.
“You can use it in many ways, for example hooking it up to your mobile phone,” said Ichiro Kameda, the machine's inventor.
“The dildo vibrates through the same waves as a voice.
"So one of the ideas is that you can use it here in Tokyo when your boyfriend in New York is talking to you on the phone.”
Kameda said he had spent four years trying to design a product when he hit upon the concept. He declined to say how the idea came to him.
Nearly 160 companies or groups are exhibiting products and services at the three-day Adult Treasure Expo 2007, including sex toys, sex machines, costumes and videos.

Soccer stars send a message

There is a lesson to be learnt in Iraq's 1 - 0 win over Saudi Arabia in the Asian Cup semi-final.
The team was made up of Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish players who came together (queue mournful opera music) at a time when their country was in turmoil, put aside their differences and conquered Asian soccer.
Good on them, I say.
But for those left fighting back in Iraq, take a long hard look at yourselves.
If these guys can work together WHY CAN'T YOU??
Sorry to be blunt but it had to be said.

More than meets the eye

I saw the Transformers movie yesterday and, despite Kate's cynicism about the movie, as a boy who grew up playing with little Transformer figrurines I enjoyed it immensely.
It was a rip-roaring ride down memory lane for me, and the graphics, particularly during thr transformer fighting scenes, were unbelievable.

However I do think Kate raised a few valid points in her criticism of the movie. The hot-chick-who-knows-cars character was pretty weak, and the one or two scenes that related to the romantic connection between the two characters were, quite frankly, awful.

Which got me thinking, why put corny romance scenes in films still? I know it's a Hollywood blockbuster, and we should all expect that sort of thing, but surely by now there are ways of making those sorts of scenes a little more moving and a little less revolting.

Perhaps film producers could start by canning the over the top opera music that queues up for such a scene. I reckon that would be enough to do it.

I also found the thinly-veiled "our troops in the Middle East are doing a good job" message a little sickening. But maybe that's just my political bias. Other than that, the film was a perfect Hollywood blockbuster. I even felt for the transformers when one of them died - how's that for character development...?

Friday, 27 July 2007

The Fratellis - Costello Music


What a fantastic album.
Another great Brit-pop (well, technically Scot-pop but it all sounds the same) release for 2007.
The Fratellis manage to combine that loveable Arctic Monkeys-style of new age rock along with some ballads and lyrical gems that make for what is essentially a happy album.
My favourite track - one that I have tried and failed to stop playing over and over again - is Whistle for the Choir.
A fantastic ballad about a girl who is "irresistable" despite obvious problems she has with her self-image and sanity: "So if you're crazy, I don't care you amaze me. You're a stupid girl, oh me, oh my, you talk, I die, you smile, you laugh, I cry and only a girl like you could be lonely." And the song even has a whistle solo - brilliant!
I absolutely love this album. It is an irresistably feel good first-time effort from a band who, by all accounts and purposes, have a cracking live show to go along with.
Four stars.

Thursday, 26 July 2007

The apathy of the voting public...

...always astounds me.
I was mucking around with one of my sales colleague's computers, as I tend to do every now and then, and decided to change the background to one of the many headshots we have on our computer database.
So I replaced the photo of her and a friend with that of WA Premier Alan Carpenter.
She saw the image, and was a little confused. You see, she didn't know who it was. Not a clue. "Is it a politician?" she asked.
I'm not altogether shocked, but seriously, people. The guy is in charge of the state you live in and you can't recognise a photo of him??

Wednesday, 25 July 2007

Grammar Terrorism alert

I received a press release today from Kwinana's press officer.
In it, it talks about an incentive system to get people to pay their rates on time.
The release reads: Anyone who pays their rates by 29 August 2007 will go into the drawer to win $500..."
I'm sorry, go into the drawer? Which drawer? The underwear drawer?
It's 'draw', you knob. Your job is communications officer - so communicate properly.

Today, I feel a teensy bit appreciated

I got a pay rise today! It's my first since joining this company 18 months ago, so it was long overdue but the fact that it came in the first few weeks after the new boss arrived has given me a tiny glimmer of hope that this new guy will actually put his money where his mouth is.
The flipside is I also feel more motivated to work, so everybody wins!

Tuesday, 24 July 2007

Open letter to the person I just tried to call

Dear Sir,

I just tried to call, but you didn't answer so I left a voicemail message asking you to call back.

In this situation, it is usually the norm to, once you have received the message, call me back.

So why bother going to the effort of sending me a text telling me why you couldn't answer my call and then ask me to try calling you again??

I called you. The ball is now in your court. Money obviously isn't an issue because you spent 25 cents asking me to call you back when, if you had just called back, this whole thing would have been sorted by now.

Sincerely
David.

Absolute media gold

The top story on News.com.au today - John Howard trips over as he walks into a Perth radio station.
Read the three line story and watch the video here.

Monday night viewing

With all the crap that's on TV, it's good to sit home on a Monday night and watch the ABC.
Having Today Tonight on while I cooked my dinner, as usual, made me wonder about the state of our society.
But then I flicked over to ABC and went through an emotional rollercoaster of television.
Starting off with an Australian Story episode on Belinda Emmett, I watched some heart-wrenching footage of interviews with Rove and Belinda's family. This was interspersed with segments of a video diary she had recorded during her battle with cancer.
Now I know Australian Story is designed to tug on the heartstrings but this episode really got me. It's good to remember that these people in the celebrity spotlight are just that - people.

After Australian Story I watched a show that always restores my faith in good journalism - Four Corners. The episode was a particularly heavy story on drug addicted or former drug addicted parents fighting to keep their children. The journalist who put that story together deserves an award.

And finally I watched Phil Jamieson, Grinspoon's lead singer, come completely clean on Andrew Denton's Enough Rope.
It was a candid interview, as it always is with Denton, and some of the responses given by Phil and his wife again hammered home that point - celebrities are just human beings. Flawed, imperfect, human beings.

I went to bed emotionally drained but at the same time a little richer and wiser for having watched the ABC rather than 1 vs 100...

This is what is wrong with today's society

So yesterday I'm standing outside waiting for the mobile coffee machine lady to sort out my caffeine fix for the afternoon (which, coincidentally, is the same company that services the Myaree office - except the lady who drives the van down here actually knows how to make coffee) and some of my senior (sales) co-workers are chatting.

Office manager: Hey, did anyone see the news last night?

*various responses*

Office manager: Did you see that article about that terrorist on the Gold Coast - you know, the doctor?

Me: He hasn't been convicted!!

Office manager: Yeah, but you know what I mean - last time I was in Queensland I stayed at that Q1 building he was planning on blowing up!

Me: He hasn't been convicted!! He hasn't even gone to trial!! Whatever happened to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty??

The office manager didn't have much to say in response to that - he walked inside the office with his coffee amid the kerfuffle.

Monday, 23 July 2007

So tell me, what did you think about the packed lunch you took to school today?

Further to Kate's posting about book critics who criticise JK Rowling for not being a literary genius (it's a book about a freakin' wizard, for crying out loud) I would like to have a whinge about media outlets that ask 12-year-olds what they thought of the book.

Maybe there is no common ground here, I don't know, but having a couple of pre-pubescent children on the Today Show this morning really seemed pointless.
I also note with interest the fact that the main kid had the same last name as the entertainment 'reporter' who works for the same show. And the same bad hairstyle also, which is a little too coincidental for my liking.

I know that having kids on a program or in the paper covers the whole 'cutesy' factor that so many papers and shows like to incorporate, but really, it's a bit of overkill.
My disclaimer is that all this whinging is coming from someone who has *whispers* never actually read any Harry Potter...
Now watch me duck and run for cover.

Friday, 20 July 2007

Bustin' a groove

This is what the kids get up to during school holidays at the Waikiki Family Community Centre. Caption suggestions welcome......

Thursday, 19 July 2007

Scott Adams knows best

Sick days and sick movies

So I had a sick day yesterday and as any sick person should, ventured out of the home long enough to stock up on juice, soup, vitamins and dvds.
About six months ago, I attempted to watch Saw 3 at the movies with a friend of mine. Now I m a big fan of horror movies - the gorier the better - but something was different this time when I went to see Saw 3.
The opening scene, which involves a man literally pummelling his foot into mush so he can escape from a leg chain, made me feel queasy. This queasy feeling took hold and I began to feel dizzy and nauseous. So I thought I'd leave the cinema for a breath of fresh air. Outside, I nearly passed out. It was a weird feeling, and one that I've only had once or twice in my life. I went to the bathroom, splashed my face with water, got some fresh air outside then started to feel better, so I went back into the cinema.
This time, however, it happened again. There was another gory scene involving a woman trying to reach into a jar of acid to unlock a cage around her ribs that would rip her torso open if she didn't unlock it in time.

So, for the first time in my life, I walked out of a movie. I was slightly embarrassed, but at least it proved that I was human.

So anyway yesterday, Saw 3 beckoned to me in the video store. It said to me "I've beaten you" and I felt compelled to prove it wrong.
So I hired it out, took it home and again, didn't get past the opening scene. Again.
I had been shamed twice by this movie but far be it from me to let it beat me.

So later yesterday, I attempted to watch it for the third time. And I did. The whole way through. There were moments when I asked myself whether it was worth it, but my stubborn determination won through.
And I have to say, despite myself, I'm glad I did. I won't be watching Saw 4 if and when it comes out though.

Tuesday, 17 July 2007

Ever get that feeling that you've snorted an entire bottle of Clag?

Coz i swear that's the only way my head could be feeling that way today.
I don't feel like I've got a cold - there was no sore throat or cough - just a blocked up face.
And we've got the reverse-cycle air conditioner on heating because apparently it's cold outside.
I wish I could detach my head from the rest of my body and place it somewhere safe while I get some work done.

You beauty!

The Socceroos put their starting worries behind them with a 4 - 0 thumping of host nation Thailand at the Asian Cup last night. Get excited people - this is big. For the first time they acted like a well-oiled machine, and are now preparing to take on Japan in the quarter finals. And we all remember the last big game we played against them.....

Monday, 16 July 2007

Overheard in my office

Editor: I wish the Government would hurry up with this broadband thing. We need broadband here in the office.
Journalist: Um... we do have broadband.
Editor: Really?

*David runs out the back to stifle the maniacal laughter*

Grammar Terrorism, sports style

I watched Fremantle's devastating loss to North Melbourne yesterday.
However it wasn't the fact that they came so close only to lose that got to me.
It was the awful grammar of one of the commentators.

Now I understand most footy commentators are ex-players and coaches, but as soon as you put a microphone or camera in front of them they are obliged to learn the English language.
So quotes such as "both teams have come out quite physical from the start" are unacceptable.
Physical is an adjective. You used it as an adverb. You can't just do that to the English language whenever you like.

Luckily for you, I didn't catch your name, so I won't add you to the list but be warned - next time, I will be watching....

Thursday, 12 July 2007

Razorlight - Razorlight


This sophomore release from British band Razorlight is, in a word, brilliant.
Their debut release, Up All Night, received critical acclaim but for me, it was a so-so album. There were a couple of good songs but the album as a whole seemed to miss the mark a little.
This release, however, is something different.
After putting it in my CD player for the first time, I was instantly hooked.
It's a brilliant Brit-pop effort and a great singalong album.
Razorlight dabbles in a range of genres, with shades of Modest Mouse and Doves as well as one song with vocals that sound distinctly reggae-based.
The lyrics are simple yet effective, with frontman Johhny Borrell espousing the pros and cons of having a big night out, trouble in the US as well as the usual diatribes on life and love.
My favourite line comes from Track Two, Who Needs Love, in which we see the protagonist throw his hands in the air in despair: "Ooh ooh darling, who needs love? Who needs a heaven up above? Who needs the disappointment of a telephone call? Not I."
I love it.
Four and a half stars.

Wednesday, 11 July 2007

I feel dirty. YouTube dirty.

So I'm browsing through YouTube as I am want to do occasionally and come across a video called "Guy tapes himself cheating on his girlfriend then gets caught."
My first thought was "what an idiot" but I thought I'd have a look anyway. I thought it would be a laugh.
So this guy sets up this webcam thing and starts making out with this girl. The pic's a bit fuzzy, but you get the gist. This goes on for about a minute until someone enters the room - the grilfriend - and proceeds to scream and shout at the boyfriend.
"Hold on a second," I'm thinking, "this isn't funny." The girlfriend then bursts into uncontrollabe tears and starts sobbing. So I turned it off. How can someone think something like that would be amusing? How can someone post something like that, on the internet, with no regard for what is essentially an extremely private and heartbreaking personal moment??
I know, I know I don't have much of a leg to stand on because I clicked view in the first place, but seriously, that's just the extreme end of voyeurism. No one wants to see that.

Would you believe it....

For once, people power has actually won the day! ALH has agreed to continue live music at the Hyde Park Hotel "for the time being."
To tell you the truth, I'm shocked. Working as a journo, it's not often you see big companies back down over things like this - notch that one up as one for common sense.

PS Just read your page 3 story Kate - nice one. And good to see Sheila McHale standing up to the bastards. I read an interview with her in Xpress once and thought she seemed like a decent politician. Turns out that is the case. Good to know.

A little more info

Further to my rant about Landmark this week (see a couple of blog entries down) a friend of mine has offered a bit of a clarification on what exactly Landmark does and how it works. Since I admittedly have no knowledge of it, I thought I'd publish his comments for your interest.

I've just been catching up on your blog and read the Landmark story.
First up, my position is that I would never do Landmark because it isn't for me so I won't defend them. However, I would like to clarify what I believe they do.

I know a couple of people, including my ex-housemate, who paid the fee and went along to their course. It is a facilitated self-help group that is all about getting to the root of a problem that is dragging someone down in life, very much like a psychologist finds and exposes childhood insecurities of a patient with a view to accepting them to move forward. For my housemate, she thought she was going along to get closure on how she felt about leaving her ex after seven years. After doing the course, it wasn't her break-up that was causing her grief, it was the way her mother never approved of her throughout her life.

Personally, I believe people can sort this stuff out for themselves but we all have different abilities and some people need external input to achieve some things in life. Oddly enough, it's like the opposite of Scientology's belief that psychology has destroyed the world. ;)

As I said, I've never been to a Landmark course and I don't feel I would ever need to go but the people I know said it helped them immensely. It took a lot out of them emotionally and physically, especially to go to sessions after your own work and come home late at night.

Separately, both of them said if I wanted to go that they would pay for me to do it with the hope that I would do the same for someone else in the future. So I wouldn't call it a cult. Scientology on the other hand...well...

...and what would this be without a disclaimer? I am in no way affiliated or related to anyone who works for Landmark. I only know a couple of people who have been as participants.

If that guy is still smoking, then maybe that wasn't what was really bothering him? He probably needs different input to achieve giving up; he just hasn't found it yet (if he even really wants to look).



So there ya go.
Dave

Tuesday, 10 July 2007

Sorry, I couldn't resist...

Inappropriate comments welcome...

Memo to my friend who just got back with his girlfriend after breaking up with her - for the fifth time.

Mate,
A couple of things. Firstly, breaking up with someone then getting back together with them is not unheard of. In fact, in certain circumstances it's totally okay. However there's a few points I'd like to raise with you.

1. If you've only been with someone for a year, five break-ups is over the top. Give it up.

2. Relationship counselling is for people who are married/with kids/in long, long term de facto relationships - not people who have been going out for a year and broken up five times. You're wasting your time and your money.

3. Stop blaming yourself for past relationship failures. You'll never move on otherwise.

4. She's not a nice person anyway. In the two social situations in which I have been around her, she has cried. Both times. Because she thought I was having a go. The truth is, I wasn't. Someone with that mcuch personal baggage and insecurity is not a good partner.

5. You told me the other night that if someone on the street had walked up to you and said the sort of things she says to you sometimes, that you would be justified in punching them. Think about that. I have never had a girlfriend that has said things like that to me. Think about it long and hard.

6. What happens when you break up for the sixth time? Gonna give it another go?

7. Have a bit of self-respect.

That's all. I'm only saying this because you're a friend of mine, and friends should be brutally honest. You're a nice guy and would have no problem finding yourself another girl who would treat you like a human being. Think about it.

More good news!

Turns out not only does wine prevent tooth decay and gum disease, but 'new research' shows alcohol doesn't actually kill off brain cells as previously thought!! It's alllll good people...

Monday, 9 July 2007

Apologies for the lack of titles, for some reason blogger is not allowing me to write them.

I just wanted to have a little rant about the death of live music in WA as a direct result of money-hungry corporations.

Having been to the Hyde Park Hotel on many occasions and having seen many good bands there (and some terrible bands, mind you), I was a little concerned when Woolworths (under the guise of Australian Liquor Hospitality) bought the Hydey. It's been a stalwart of the Perth local music scene for many years now, and there was some concern that the live music held there on a weekly basis may stop.

Turns out those concerns were completely justified.

ALH management released a statement this week saying live amplified music at the Hyde Park Hotel would stop soon, citing complaints from nearby residents.
Wow, now there's an original excuse to hide behind. Haven't heard that one before.

The worst part is, the cynical journo in me knows that no amount of community protests will stop this from happening. Look what happened to the Grosvenor...

People, if we are to encourage inner city, high density living we need to notify potential buyers if there is a live music venue nearby. People who buy property in such areas, move in and THEN complain about the hotels are destroying Perth's live music scene, one venue at a time. It's on your heads.
It's good news for all with the latest bit of pointless medical research: drinking wine prevents gum disease and tooth decay.
I know you've got to take this sort of info with a pinch of salt but I'm happy to jump on that bandwagon :)

Don't preach to me

So I'm at a going away party for my friend on Saturday night, and all is going well.

We've had speeches, present-giving and lots of drinking. Anyway, it gets to about 2am and everyone's sitting around and chatting, as you do.
There's one guy there who I know quite well from the circle of friends who attend such parties, and the discussion turns a little philosphical - you know, life and all its intricacies - and to my utter disbelief, he starts espousing the benefits of some cult/self-help group called Landmark.

Now, I haven't heard much about what Landmark is actually about. I have a friend who got involved in it once, and he got extremely sick and run down because they expected him to work long hours over a series of weeks without pay or breaks.
He quit because it was too much for him. Perhaps it's because I'm a cynical journo, but I can't shake the feeling that Landmark is one of those groups that target people who are unsure of themselves in life and vulnerable at the time.
Regardless of what it is, 2am on a Sunday morning at a party full of friends is no place to start preaching.
Seriously, what this guy said could have been written as a script for one of thhose self-help infomercials. He even gave the "I wasn't too sure about Landmark at first, but I found out it was completely different to what I expected" line! I could not believe it.
The funny thing was, he credited Landmark for helping him quit smoking. He was quite self-righteous about the fact that he had quit smoking..... only to have a cigarette in his hand at the end of the night.
Hmm.....

Friday, 6 July 2007

Sophattic spreads her wings



Next week, one of my dear friends leaves sleepy little Perth for corporate success in Sydney.

I met Soph about 18 months ago, in the midst of a hazy, post-break up time of my life. I wasn't in a great place. The thing was, I didn't realise it at the time. However this bright, bubbly young girl opened my eyes to a whole new life. Her friendship is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.
So here's to you, Soph. You've achieved your goal - you are now a high-flying corporate executive with a huge company and you will be in your element when you move to Sydney. I wish you the very best in everything you do, and I know one thing's for sure - Sydney won't know what hit it. :)

Thursday, 5 July 2007

I'm sorry, but you're wrong.

Nothing irks me more than people who make outlandish claims about the state of our society with little or no factual evidence or education in the area to back it up.
Worse still, some people like to back up said opinions with "I saw it on Today Tonight."

So I walk out the back into the kitchen at work today, where our part-time courier (read idiotic moron who knows fuck all but never listens to reason on the odd occasion you do choose to respond to one of his comments) tells me: "You know what chefs are doing these days? Spitting in food, urinating in it, you should never complain about food at a restaurant because if you do, that's what will happen to you." Sensing a blow up, I asked if he'd seen this on Today Tonight or A Current Affair. Bingo.

So I try to explain to him that you shouldn't represent something seen on one of those shows as fact, but he doesn't listen.

THEN he tells me the boom is going to end soon because - wait for it - in 10 to 15 years Africa will be developed and China and India will buy their resources from there instead of Australia.

Another argument he gives me is that, "you know, with MacQuarie and Fairfax buying up these media outlets, remember what happened when Alan Bond started buying up? Everything went bust." Now, I assume he's referring to the recession that we had to have, but try explaining to him that WA is a slightly (read extremely) different state to the one Bondie tried to conquer 20 years ago and he just doesn't listen.

AND FINALLY, he made some comment about capitalism. He said "You know what the main problem with capitalism is?" (picture me at this point rolling my eyes as hard as possible into the back of my head while I wait for the latest pearl of wisdom) "It only works as long as everyone's spending money. Once they stop, it'll all go ass-up."
I'm sorry, what??? Capitalism will go ass-up when people stop spending money?? When exactly is that going to happen??? And how??? It was at this point that I admitted defeat and just nodded to what he said. I can't be bothered arguing with someone who actually won't listen.

As a friend of mine said to me once, never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level then beat you with experience.

An open letter to all the people who contribute sport to my paper...

Firstly, thank you for your contributions - they are always handy in filling space and saving us the time of actually going to these community sporting events.
However I wish to offer you a few guidelines for dealing with the paper.

1. We are not a community bulletin board. Just because you send something in, please don't expect it to be printed without following it up.

2. If you send me in two awful pics of two different groups of kids from the same club, and I am good natured enough to lower the standards of the paper in order to print one of them, DON'T ring me up and ask why they weren't both printed.

3. The only people that care about your articles are those mentioned in them. Remember that.

4. Don't promise anyone that an article is going to appear in the paper. We don't. Particularly not if you haven't bothered to contact anyone at the paper to see if they actually received it.

5. I am doing you a favour. I don't sit around every week waiting for your pearls of wisdom about the local junior hockey club's 4-point loss to another equally unexciting club.

6. If you are going to nominate someone to write the sports report for your club, please make sure that person has a basic grasp of grammar. It makes my job easier and makes me more willing to put it in the paper. On that note, dot points and three different font styles in the one write-up do not a good article make.

Thank you. I look forward to working with you in the future.

Tuesday, 3 July 2007

Ray Wilson, you are a knob.

In today's West Australian, sports writer Ray Wilson writes a dull piece on Ben Cousin's return to training yesterday. It goes something like this - Ben went to training yesterday. Big frikkin whoop. But the stand-out comment in the article is his description of Cousins as "the messiah." The messiah?? Please, Ray, that's just beyond ridiculous. Go write for a real paper.

Monday, 2 July 2007

How's this for a conspiracy theory...?

My editor just got off the phone to a senior citizen who lives in nearby Calista.
He told her that his brother, who works for the Sun Telegraph over east, was working for the same paper when Harold Holt went missing all those years ago.

Apparently the Sun Telegraph had a photo showing the conning tower of a US submarine sticking out of the water at the same spot where Holt went swimming and never came back.
The journalist had written the story and the paper was about to go to print when the Australian Federal Police came into the office, seized the photo and all records of it, stopped the story from going to print and swore everyone involved to secrecy.

Looks like that last part didn't work too well, and of course none of this can be verified but it came from a guy who doesn't have a propensity for telling tall tales so you never know...

The Aftermath: Party Forensics and Bribery

Kate had a housewarming party on Friday night. It was a brilliant event, and fun was had by all.
I had more than a few drinks and enjoyed myself immensely.
I always love functions when co-workers get together.
And while I was certainly inebriated there was a point in the night (about 2am, I think) when I realised there were others there who were signifcantly more inebriated than I was.
It was about this time, when the drunken singalongs started (yes, for those of you who can't remember, there were drunken singalongs) that I had the inspiration for a brilliant piece of video footage.
Having just received my phone back from a trip to Vodafone HQ to get fixed (six months after I bought it, thank you very much...) I jumped at the opportunity to record a little piece of history.
Now, for the record, there is nothing incriminating in this little video clip, but man it is funny.
There's nothing like the sound of 8-9 people singing the Rolling Stones classic Ruby Tuesday at 1am on a Saturday morning.
When I get the opportunity, I will post it on my blog for you all to look at and listen to.
Until then, happy hangover!