On the whole this years Oscar's ceremony was mostly entertaining, mercifully short and mostly predictable. The only real upset, if one could call it that, was Micky Rourke loosing the best actor oscar to Sean Penn. Despite Rourke being the sentimental favourite, all reports are that Penn was outstanding in "Milk", and was a well deserved winner (it's next on my list of films to see after "The Reader").
Hugh Jackman was a pretty good host, the charming film and Broadway star making a few good gags ("Everything is being downsized because of the recession, next year, I'll be starring in a movie called New Zealand"), and doing well with the fun song and dance numbers. On the broadcast at least, he hardly seemed to be in it at all, most of the show being presented by the stars with various degrees of humour and awkwardness. Reportedly Steven Martin and Tina Fey were hilarious, but Australian's watching in prime time wouldn't know it, since they edited the broadcast from four to just over two and a half hours, apparently cutting the funniest presenters in the process. We did however see Jack Black's self-deprecation about his starring in Dreamworks animation when Pixar always wins the awards, which was amusing.
Both Sean Penn and Kate Winslet's speeches were quite listenable. Honest and heartfelt without being unwatchably gushing. It wasn't a great surprise that Slumdog Millionare won best film, and Danny Boyle has won himself a new fan (ie. me) from sounding pretty normal and interesting, not to mention having directed two other very good films (Sunshine and 28 Days Later).
/fanboy on
I also though it was cool that Spielberg presented Best Picture. Since you know, he's my hero.
/fanboy off
A.R Rahman won best score (and best song) for Slumdog, which given the Academy's track record for best score candidates recently is not that surprising. They always seem to go for the more commercial and popular scores (that often overlap with the Best Picture winner, funny that), rather than the best score in of itself. The other four nominees were great scores by the usual suspects (Elfman, Newton-Howard, Desplat and Thomas Newman's charming score for Wall-E), but much more in the traditional orchestral vein. Oh well. I enjoy the Slumdog soundtrack as much as anyone, and it is perfect - and very dominant - in the film, but it would be nice if once in a while the academy would acknowledge something a bit more subtle.
On the whole, the revamped ceremony was pretty entertaining and the new format - and host - a success.
Although it is a still a crime that The Dark Knight wasn't nominated for Best Picture.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
WorldJosh update
Instead of a miscellaneous musings about specific subjects, today I feel compelled to muse about random events which recently occurred in WorldJosh (tm).
I'm watching the Johnnie Walker Classic right this second, the join European, Australian and Asian tour event being held in Perth, which is at very least motivating me to get back out and play some golf. The biggest name I recognize is Colin Montgomerie, though there seems to be a lot of younger players who have appeared during my hiatus from following golf. I have to say I'm looking forward to playing again, and to watching the major events this year, especially the US Masters, since Augusta is just such a beautiful course.
Applying for jobs continues to be an ongoing, annoying, tiresome, painful, exciting and necessary process which I hope will be over sooner rather than later.
Today I bought some very tasty chocolates from David Jones in the CBD, though they are definitely not a shade on Haigh's and most of the other specialist chocolate makers. I did, however, discover these:
which, and I quote, is "the most awesomenest thing I've ever seen". Yes, they are penguins. Apparently they are made in a factor out in Burwood. Now they are definitely one step up from the usual suspects.
There has also been much gamage, in the form of Company of Heroes, Farcry 2, Fallout 3 and Tomb Raider Underworld. Farcry 2 is particularly impressive, the freeform FPS-RPG hybrid that redefines what can be done with first person shooters.
I have also, given my body is slowly becoming more cooperative, rediscovered the occasional impressiveness and seductiveness of dance and tango, specifically, a somewhat poetic video about Ezequiel Farfaro and Lucia Mazer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg9gDvmTeP8) and the following second part, which presents much more intelligent discussion and beautiful slow-mo sacadas than you usually see. It kind of reminded me why I was interested in the dance in the first place, and reminds me that it's important to keep moving and learning, and learning from those which you admire and wish to emulate. Unfortunately at this point in my tango career, that means moving to Buenos Aires, which I don't want to do, or at very least Europe, which is much more likely. Given it will take me at least six to twelve more months to reach full fitness, I am prepared to wait and discover it again when the time is right. Hopefully I will be able to find likeminded people who are excited about the artistic possibilities, and endless variation of the dance, an environment that feels largely absent from tango in Australia.
While I want to do all of these things, not to mention travel the world, write a symphony and have a nice car, right at this point, all of it feels more or less like procrastination from finding a new job. It isn't of course, but it feels like that. Unlike in the past I am doing everything I know of to move on and find a job that inspires me. Hopefully the fortunes on the career front will change soon, and the enjoyment of the other activities which I hold dear will increase along with it.
Meanwhile, I have one more chocolate left.
There's also gin, messy kitchens and o'week poker.
I'm watching the Johnnie Walker Classic right this second, the join European, Australian and Asian tour event being held in Perth, which is at very least motivating me to get back out and play some golf. The biggest name I recognize is Colin Montgomerie, though there seems to be a lot of younger players who have appeared during my hiatus from following golf. I have to say I'm looking forward to playing again, and to watching the major events this year, especially the US Masters, since Augusta is just such a beautiful course.
Applying for jobs continues to be an ongoing, annoying, tiresome, painful, exciting and necessary process which I hope will be over sooner rather than later.
Today I bought some very tasty chocolates from David Jones in the CBD, though they are definitely not a shade on Haigh's and most of the other specialist chocolate makers. I did, however, discover these:
which, and I quote, is "the most awesomenest thing I've ever seen". Yes, they are penguins. Apparently they are made in a factor out in Burwood. Now they are definitely one step up from the usual suspects.
There has also been much gamage, in the form of Company of Heroes, Farcry 2, Fallout 3 and Tomb Raider Underworld. Farcry 2 is particularly impressive, the freeform FPS-RPG hybrid that redefines what can be done with first person shooters.
I have also, given my body is slowly becoming more cooperative, rediscovered the occasional impressiveness and seductiveness of dance and tango, specifically, a somewhat poetic video about Ezequiel Farfaro and Lucia Mazer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg9gDvmTeP8) and the following second part, which presents much more intelligent discussion and beautiful slow-mo sacadas than you usually see. It kind of reminded me why I was interested in the dance in the first place, and reminds me that it's important to keep moving and learning, and learning from those which you admire and wish to emulate. Unfortunately at this point in my tango career, that means moving to Buenos Aires, which I don't want to do, or at very least Europe, which is much more likely. Given it will take me at least six to twelve more months to reach full fitness, I am prepared to wait and discover it again when the time is right. Hopefully I will be able to find likeminded people who are excited about the artistic possibilities, and endless variation of the dance, an environment that feels largely absent from tango in Australia.
While I want to do all of these things, not to mention travel the world, write a symphony and have a nice car, right at this point, all of it feels more or less like procrastination from finding a new job. It isn't of course, but it feels like that. Unlike in the past I am doing everything I know of to move on and find a job that inspires me. Hopefully the fortunes on the career front will change soon, and the enjoyment of the other activities which I hold dear will increase along with it.
Meanwhile, I have one more chocolate left.
There's also gin, messy kitchens and o'week poker.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Top Cock
There's a clip on You Tube of a press conference for the Top Gear Live show that is touring Australia the moment, starring Clarkson, Hammond and that guy from Top Gear Australia, Steve Pizzati (On another note thank god they god rid of Charlie Cox from TGA to be replaced by James Morrison next season. Hopefully that will make the show more palatable).
You can find the clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzAExC8iEFs
One may assume from Top Gear, as I did, that the amusing rapport of Clarkson, Hammond and May is heavily scripted and plays towards their established personalities, but if their banter here is anything to go by, maybe the show is more improvised that I previously thought. What the video reveals mostly though, is that Jeremy Clarkson is an utter cock. It's one thing to call Gordon Brown a "one-eyed Scottish idiot" and insult Australians, that's just expected, but when asked an honest question by a journalist regarding the future of the automotive industry, Clarkson blankly replied that "we don't care...as long as we have something to slide around in". I won't presume he is speaking for Hammond or May, two people who still retain some sort of integrity, but such apparent disregard for the industry upon which he has built his career just seems strange. Is Clarkson really that far removed from reality?
On the show you laugh at Clarkson's assertions that everyone should be driving Range Rovers to heat up the planet, and that the "inconvenient truth" is that global warming is a trick invented by environmentalists. It's funny, politically incorrect and entertaining. I mean, who really takes what Clarkson says seriously? A lot of people, at least publicly seem to, with the seemingly endless reactions against his frequently ridiculous rants and outbursts.
I suppose I had thought that underneath all the show and juvenile games, Clarkson might actually have something worthwhile to say, mainly about the joy of technology, engineering and progress, and that he was aware that most of his act is based upon insulting and upsetting people, especially tree-huggers and the "apes" in the Top Gear audience. Perhaps he was tired or jet-lagged in this clip, but in real life he seems much like he is on the show - irreverent, juvenile and outspoken, but far less funny, more bitter and without a hint of integrity.
Doesn't mean I'm going to stop watching the show though. Speaking of which...when's it back?
You can find the clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzAExC8iEFs
One may assume from Top Gear, as I did, that the amusing rapport of Clarkson, Hammond and May is heavily scripted and plays towards their established personalities, but if their banter here is anything to go by, maybe the show is more improvised that I previously thought. What the video reveals mostly though, is that Jeremy Clarkson is an utter cock. It's one thing to call Gordon Brown a "one-eyed Scottish idiot" and insult Australians, that's just expected, but when asked an honest question by a journalist regarding the future of the automotive industry, Clarkson blankly replied that "we don't care...as long as we have something to slide around in". I won't presume he is speaking for Hammond or May, two people who still retain some sort of integrity, but such apparent disregard for the industry upon which he has built his career just seems strange. Is Clarkson really that far removed from reality?
On the show you laugh at Clarkson's assertions that everyone should be driving Range Rovers to heat up the planet, and that the "inconvenient truth" is that global warming is a trick invented by environmentalists. It's funny, politically incorrect and entertaining. I mean, who really takes what Clarkson says seriously? A lot of people, at least publicly seem to, with the seemingly endless reactions against his frequently ridiculous rants and outbursts.
I suppose I had thought that underneath all the show and juvenile games, Clarkson might actually have something worthwhile to say, mainly about the joy of technology, engineering and progress, and that he was aware that most of his act is based upon insulting and upsetting people, especially tree-huggers and the "apes" in the Top Gear audience. Perhaps he was tired or jet-lagged in this clip, but in real life he seems much like he is on the show - irreverent, juvenile and outspoken, but far less funny, more bitter and without a hint of integrity.
Doesn't mean I'm going to stop watching the show though. Speaking of which...when's it back?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Random Flicks
I have seen a number of films recently and instead of individual reviews, I thought I'd just give a brief overview of my thoughts:
Revolutionary Road (2008)
Kate (Winslet) and Leo (-nardo DiCaprio) reunite for the first time since that small movie with a sinking ship, in a Douglas Sirkian critique of 1950s suburbia based upon Richard Yates' novel of the same name. They star as an unhappily married couple trying to escape the illusion of happiness created by normality of the white-picket fence and two children stereotype. Heartbreakingly brilliantly acted and tightly written, the movie is a depressing steam train headed for an inevitable crash. Its frequently hard to watch as these two characters and their mostly oblivious neighbours try to break free from the situation, being utterly nasty to each other and themselves in the process. Not always fun, but a fine film that is obvious award bait.
Directed by Winslet's hubby, Sam Mendes.
Valkyrie (2008)
Tom Cruise is not a bad actor, nor has he lost that star quality (let's face it, he is more or less always playing Tom Cruise), and he delivers a cold and efficient performance as Von Stauffenberg, the leader of the famous July-plot to assasdinate Hitler. With the outcome already known, it's surprising how much tension director Bryan Singer can wring out of the simple premise by focusing on the intricate details, mechanisms and pitfalls of the operation. The stellar cast of British actors (inc. Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy and Terence Stamp) do a fine job, if one is able to look past the mishmash of accents. It's also a treat that they always find appropriately slimy looking actors to play Joseph Goebbles, in this case Harvey Frigaiedman. John Ottman, as well as being editor, creates a tense score with one or two stand out elegiac cues. So ignore all the bad press, the stories of reshoots and the German government's upset at Tom Cruise's Scientology (untrue, according to Singer), and enjoy a tight, tense WWII thriller.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Brad Pitt is turning into quite the actor. Yes, he was always a star, but he has made very astute choices - from Fight Club, The Assassination of Jesse James, his hilarious turn in Burn After Reading, to David Fincher's new film. Button is a meticulous and sprawling biopic of sorts. The titular character, played by Pitt, ages backwards. The film hence starts with his birth as an old man and follows him through his reverse adolescence, his different jobs, and, especially, his relationship with Daisy (played by the extraordinary Cate Blanchett; yes, I have a crush). Daisy, like everyone else, ages normally, and this hence makes their relationship unique and equally sweet and bizarre. Morally, many of the choices made here are difficult, and especially in the second half when Button starts to get younger, it's often hard to make emotional sense of the characters. Written by Eric Roth, who also wrote the much derided (but popular) script for Forrest Gump, it shares similar traits to that film. It's more a sequence of vignettes that doesn't quite cohere into a story - maybe because there could never be one for this character. But so beautifully is it made, so stunning is the CGI-enhanced aging make-up, and so entertaining are these stories, especially his liaison with the fantastic Tilda Swinton, that one doesn't mind that is isn't quite more than the sum of its parts.
Zodiac (2007)
I actually saw David Fincher's film about the infamous San Francisco serial killer some weeks ago, and it's so effective it's still with me. Starring Robert Downey Jr, Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo, it follows them, respectively, as a reporter, cartoonist and police inspector, as they try to apprehend the killer. Spanning decades, Zodiac is long, intricate and utterly compelling. It also contains one of the most effective stuck-in-the-basement-with-someone-who-could-be-the-killer scenes I've ever seen. Not as flashy as the equally brilliant Se7en, but definitely worth seeking out. Not one that garnered a whole lot of press upon it's release.
Revolutionary Road (2008)
Kate (Winslet) and Leo (-nardo DiCaprio) reunite for the first time since that small movie with a sinking ship, in a Douglas Sirkian critique of 1950s suburbia based upon Richard Yates' novel of the same name. They star as an unhappily married couple trying to escape the illusion of happiness created by normality of the white-picket fence and two children stereotype. Heartbreakingly brilliantly acted and tightly written, the movie is a depressing steam train headed for an inevitable crash. Its frequently hard to watch as these two characters and their mostly oblivious neighbours try to break free from the situation, being utterly nasty to each other and themselves in the process. Not always fun, but a fine film that is obvious award bait.
Directed by Winslet's hubby, Sam Mendes.
Valkyrie (2008)
Tom Cruise is not a bad actor, nor has he lost that star quality (let's face it, he is more or less always playing Tom Cruise), and he delivers a cold and efficient performance as Von Stauffenberg, the leader of the famous July-plot to assasdinate Hitler. With the outcome already known, it's surprising how much tension director Bryan Singer can wring out of the simple premise by focusing on the intricate details, mechanisms and pitfalls of the operation. The stellar cast of British actors (inc. Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy and Terence Stamp) do a fine job, if one is able to look past the mishmash of accents. It's also a treat that they always find appropriately slimy looking actors to play Joseph Goebbles, in this case Harvey Frigaiedman. John Ottman, as well as being editor, creates a tense score with one or two stand out elegiac cues. So ignore all the bad press, the stories of reshoots and the German government's upset at Tom Cruise's Scientology (untrue, according to Singer), and enjoy a tight, tense WWII thriller.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Brad Pitt is turning into quite the actor. Yes, he was always a star, but he has made very astute choices - from Fight Club, The Assassination of Jesse James, his hilarious turn in Burn After Reading, to David Fincher's new film. Button is a meticulous and sprawling biopic of sorts. The titular character, played by Pitt, ages backwards. The film hence starts with his birth as an old man and follows him through his reverse adolescence, his different jobs, and, especially, his relationship with Daisy (played by the extraordinary Cate Blanchett; yes, I have a crush). Daisy, like everyone else, ages normally, and this hence makes their relationship unique and equally sweet and bizarre. Morally, many of the choices made here are difficult, and especially in the second half when Button starts to get younger, it's often hard to make emotional sense of the characters. Written by Eric Roth, who also wrote the much derided (but popular) script for Forrest Gump, it shares similar traits to that film. It's more a sequence of vignettes that doesn't quite cohere into a story - maybe because there could never be one for this character. But so beautifully is it made, so stunning is the CGI-enhanced aging make-up, and so entertaining are these stories, especially his liaison with the fantastic Tilda Swinton, that one doesn't mind that is isn't quite more than the sum of its parts.
Zodiac (2007)
I actually saw David Fincher's film about the infamous San Francisco serial killer some weeks ago, and it's so effective it's still with me. Starring Robert Downey Jr, Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo, it follows them, respectively, as a reporter, cartoonist and police inspector, as they try to apprehend the killer. Spanning decades, Zodiac is long, intricate and utterly compelling. It also contains one of the most effective stuck-in-the-basement-with-someone-who-could-be-the-killer scenes I've ever seen. Not as flashy as the equally brilliant Se7en, but definitely worth seeking out. Not one that garnered a whole lot of press upon it's release.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Supertalls
Recently I can across news about the construction of the Burj Dubai, a supertall skyscraper which will be by far the tallest in the world, topping out at at least 818m. The current record holder is the Tapei 101 which reaches a mere 509m, a beautiful green tinged monolith which towers over the more modest buildings of the rest of the city. Building a tower that tall in a unstable location prone to typhoons, stong winds and earthquakes provided huge challenges for the engineeers. To overcome the strong winds pummeling the top floors, the building is fitted with a 660 ton tuned mass damper which counteracts the force of the wind. The engineering challenges for the Burj Dubai are similarly massive - a big consideration being how to prevent occupants from getting motion sickness from the sway!
Clearly none of these buildings are build so tall because they need to be. They are built because we can build them so. Some say that the technology to build the proposed "mile-high tower" was always around by the 1960s, but that no such supertall buildings were constructed because of the huge financial burden. One may wonder in today's economic climate how one can justify just a phenomenal expenditure for such opulant expressions of power. But the spending sprees in Dubai, for instance, doesn't look like slowing. The Burj Dubai has a budget of about 4 billion US dollars, and billions more are being spent on the city which is one of the fastest growing in the world. There's even an arcipelego being build 4km of the shoreline called "The World" because it's in the shape of...the world.
The economic downturn is slowing the expansion, but it's still growing. It's kind of like China's rate of growth plummeting from 12.5% in 2007 to around 7% at the beginning of this year. 7% of growth is still 7% of growth, and there are a lot of countries who would be very satisfied with such a rate of expansion.
But now I'm getting off topic. My point is that these supertall skyscapers are engineering marvels, examples of humans doing what they do well - pushing the boundaries of what is possible. They're awe inspiring and create that sense of wonder. Yes, governments need to refous and get the world's economy back on track, yes more needs to be done to stabalise the Middle East, and more needs to be done to combat war crimes and facilitate humanitarian aid in the poorer regions of the world. But if that's going to stop us (humans, that is) from building these amazing buildings, or returning to Mars or limiting funding to advanced medical research then that would be a shame.
Though I suppose there would at least be fewer targets for wayward al-Qaeda-manned planes.
Clearly none of these buildings are build so tall because they need to be. They are built because we can build them so. Some say that the technology to build the proposed "mile-high tower" was always around by the 1960s, but that no such supertall buildings were constructed because of the huge financial burden. One may wonder in today's economic climate how one can justify just a phenomenal expenditure for such opulant expressions of power. But the spending sprees in Dubai, for instance, doesn't look like slowing. The Burj Dubai has a budget of about 4 billion US dollars, and billions more are being spent on the city which is one of the fastest growing in the world. There's even an arcipelego being build 4km of the shoreline called "The World" because it's in the shape of...the world.
The economic downturn is slowing the expansion, but it's still growing. It's kind of like China's rate of growth plummeting from 12.5% in 2007 to around 7% at the beginning of this year. 7% of growth is still 7% of growth, and there are a lot of countries who would be very satisfied with such a rate of expansion.
But now I'm getting off topic. My point is that these supertall skyscapers are engineering marvels, examples of humans doing what they do well - pushing the boundaries of what is possible. They're awe inspiring and create that sense of wonder. Yes, governments need to refous and get the world's economy back on track, yes more needs to be done to stabalise the Middle East, and more needs to be done to combat war crimes and facilitate humanitarian aid in the poorer regions of the world. But if that's going to stop us (humans, that is) from building these amazing buildings, or returning to Mars or limiting funding to advanced medical research then that would be a shame.
Though I suppose there would at least be fewer targets for wayward al-Qaeda-manned planes.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Rafa and The Fed
I've made it my mission to post as much as possible today until my laptop battery runs out, my stomach implodes from lack of food, or my car is ready.
The Australian Open final last night was epic. Nadal won over Federer in five tightly contested sets. I make no secret of the fact I was cheernig for Federer. "Best Ever" is a term bantied around way too much, but, regardless of his place in history, Federer is just a joy to watch. He has an all court game, not fixated or limited to a "big serve", "serve and volleyer" or some other classification. He excels everywhere and moves with a grace of a dancer.
The attitudes and personalities of each player are on display when they step out on the court. It such a mammoth physical and metal effort that they can't help but reveal themselves. Last night, it was evident from Federer's face that he was being emotionally influenced by the turn of events - who wouldn't be - but also that he has a sensible respect for Nadal's ability. Nadal's excellent record against him no doubt looms large whenever he steps up to face his great rival. Federer knows he's better than any player other than Nadal and hence he can play free, confident tennis against these opponents. He is also a more refined player than Nadal, more subtle and nuanced, but mentally he's lost the edge. Even in the situations where it looked like Nadal was on the rails, or during any number of break points against Nadal's serve that Federer failed to exploit, Nadal did not waver.
Missing a dozen break point opportunites has to be horrendous for your emotional state, and it put Federer into a bit of a spin. After being 2-0 in the fifth, only to have Nadal crawl his way back, Federer finally more or less resigned emotionally. He could have, and maybe should have won it, especially after Nadal's herculean effort to back up after the electrifying match against Verdasco on Friday night, somehow pushing his body to repeat the feat in the final.
But full credit to Nadal, strong, passionate and exciting to watch, and a very deserving winner.
Onwards to the French!
The Australian Open final last night was epic. Nadal won over Federer in five tightly contested sets. I make no secret of the fact I was cheernig for Federer. "Best Ever" is a term bantied around way too much, but, regardless of his place in history, Federer is just a joy to watch. He has an all court game, not fixated or limited to a "big serve", "serve and volleyer" or some other classification. He excels everywhere and moves with a grace of a dancer.
The attitudes and personalities of each player are on display when they step out on the court. It such a mammoth physical and metal effort that they can't help but reveal themselves. Last night, it was evident from Federer's face that he was being emotionally influenced by the turn of events - who wouldn't be - but also that he has a sensible respect for Nadal's ability. Nadal's excellent record against him no doubt looms large whenever he steps up to face his great rival. Federer knows he's better than any player other than Nadal and hence he can play free, confident tennis against these opponents. He is also a more refined player than Nadal, more subtle and nuanced, but mentally he's lost the edge. Even in the situations where it looked like Nadal was on the rails, or during any number of break points against Nadal's serve that Federer failed to exploit, Nadal did not waver.
Missing a dozen break point opportunites has to be horrendous for your emotional state, and it put Federer into a bit of a spin. After being 2-0 in the fifth, only to have Nadal crawl his way back, Federer finally more or less resigned emotionally. He could have, and maybe should have won it, especially after Nadal's herculean effort to back up after the electrifying match against Verdasco on Friday night, somehow pushing his body to repeat the feat in the final.
But full credit to Nadal, strong, passionate and exciting to watch, and a very deserving winner.
Onwards to the French!
But I digress
I'm sitting here at the University of Sydney campus in the shade with my laptop rapidly running out of battery power. I don't know why, but for some reason after continuously running the battery down to zero charge, the thing looses all of its zing. Now it barely lasts two hours.
I'm waiting for my newly acquried car - "Annabella" - to get her blue slip so that I can transfer the registration from the ACT to NSW in some ridiculously convoluted process. Things were so much simpler in South Australia where the authorities don't bother with such annoyances as "registration inspections" and having individual licences for automatic and manual drivers.
But I digress.
The real reason I'm writing today is that I am utterly, utterly bored. It's one thing to claim unemployment is wonderful becuase you have so much time to do whatever you please. But you have time to do whatever you please, while everyone else is out living their lives. On the weekends, sure, it's nice to have no ties. But during the week the drain of the job search process is tiresome, dull and repetitive. It's almost like I want some hard-ass but with-a-heart-of-gold motivating coach to pop in at convenient intervals. I just need Pai Mei to whip his beard over his shoulder one more time and I know I can put my fist through that piece of wood.
But somehow you do keep on going. You do fight the good fight. You get up in the morning and fight for what you want and what you believe in, even if what you believe in is arranging your house so that every speck of dust is in the correct place. Just don't give up or be stagnant. I think that's the trick. Fight the fight so you can move on to the next one. If it ends up in a stalemate or if you're on a perpetual retreat you'll eventually loose sight of the fight you were fighting and in the end, just give up.
And then you might be stuck in Canberra the rest of your life.
But I digress.
The real reason I'm writing today is because I feel like it, and it's a beautiful sunny day outside.
There's also water, rumbling tummies and kittens.
I'm waiting for my newly acquried car - "Annabella" - to get her blue slip so that I can transfer the registration from the ACT to NSW in some ridiculously convoluted process. Things were so much simpler in South Australia where the authorities don't bother with such annoyances as "registration inspections" and having individual licences for automatic and manual drivers.
But I digress.
The real reason I'm writing today is that I am utterly, utterly bored. It's one thing to claim unemployment is wonderful becuase you have so much time to do whatever you please. But you have time to do whatever you please, while everyone else is out living their lives. On the weekends, sure, it's nice to have no ties. But during the week the drain of the job search process is tiresome, dull and repetitive. It's almost like I want some hard-ass but with-a-heart-of-gold motivating coach to pop in at convenient intervals. I just need Pai Mei to whip his beard over his shoulder one more time and I know I can put my fist through that piece of wood.
But somehow you do keep on going. You do fight the good fight. You get up in the morning and fight for what you want and what you believe in, even if what you believe in is arranging your house so that every speck of dust is in the correct place. Just don't give up or be stagnant. I think that's the trick. Fight the fight so you can move on to the next one. If it ends up in a stalemate or if you're on a perpetual retreat you'll eventually loose sight of the fight you were fighting and in the end, just give up.
And then you might be stuck in Canberra the rest of your life.
But I digress.
The real reason I'm writing today is because I feel like it, and it's a beautiful sunny day outside.
There's also water, rumbling tummies and kittens.
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