Remember that Snoopy cartoon that showed him in various poses according to what day of the week it was? Remember the Friday pose that had him bouncing around like a fool, excited about the weekend coming?
Well, I’m still waiting for it to happen..
Just checking…
nope…
No sign of any “bounce” yet...
I have come to the conclusion that there is something very wrong when one is too exhausted after one’s working week to go out partying. Criminal, in fact. Should to be outlawed.
Friday night here is nearly always “movie night”. Logical Libran and his contented co-tenant (aka “He Who Shall Be Called Ars”) have a DVD projector and a 6 ft screen in their very comfy lounge. There is always an amazing range of DVDs (cough cough) to choose from, some more wholesome family entertainment than others, some arty, and some….well, some just downright strange. Suffice to say the lads have diverse tastes. But there is usually at least one we can agree on, even if straws have to be drawn as the decider or verbal blows exchanged.
So the Friday night drill is this…
Collect fish and chips for the group after work (three plus whoever); head over to the lads’ place; chow down over the news and 7.30 Report; and chill out over ‘Collectors’ before DVD insertion time. Invariably, within half an hour of said DVD insertion, the Logical Libran is snoring (usually not so delicately) and sometime after dessert (usually in a self-proclaimed interval around 9.30 am), he Who Shall Be Called Ars usually follows suit (if a tad more delicately..we do have class, after all).
Needless to say, one becomes adept at tuning out the unscripted stereophonic soundtrack.
Usually around 11 pm, one then tiptoes out (softly so as not to disturb the slumbering duo on the big couch), locks the door behind one, and makes one’s way home… pondering meanwhile either all the deep learnings from the arty farty or strange film….or the sad fact that there are more weirder movies produced than are beyond yours and my ken, Horatio…
Yep, thats my Friday night.
So...for all my fellow ragers...
BRING ON FRIDAY!!!!!!!
Thursday, November 30, 2006
When Injustice becomes Law…Defiance becomes Duty
Today saw workers rally in their thousands across Australia in continuing protest against the Federal Government’s ill-named ‘Work Choices” Bill, A Bill which has effectively removed rights and working conditions hard-won over decades.
Under this legislation, an employer with a workforce of less than 100 people can sack any worker for any reason at any time, and the worker has no access to Unfair Dismissal appeal.
Under this legislation, workers can be forced to sign Individual Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) that drastically cut their working conditions.
Under this legislation, a major retailer recently forced its workers to sign an AWAs which gave them an additional 2 cents an hour in pay whilst removing their overtime, leave loading, and sick leave.
Under this legislation, workers were sacked by a mining company for refusing to sign an AWA
requiring them to give 12 hours notice to their employer if they wished to have sick leave... and a failure to do so would result in a $200 fine taken from their pay.
Under this legislation, workers on a Western Australian railway line in 38 degree heat were told by a Union delegate to go home early for safety reasons, and the Union delegate consequently sacked. When his 107 fellow workers rallied behind him, the State Industrial Relations Commission overturned the sacking and the company was forced to reinstate him. Months later, every one of those 107 workers were individually served with writs by the Federal Government to appear in Court on charges under the ‘Work Choices’ legislation, because they had held an industrial meeting. Each worker has been fined $28,000. Most say they will go to jail before they will pay.
So where were YOU today?
Do you have a public service job and think you are secure?
Think again....
Any security at present is dependant on each state, with their labour governments, holding out against the pressure to introduce AWAs to workers. Despite this, workers rights are still being eroded by Federal Government pressure. Here in Queensland, the Beattie labour government were forced to introduce AWAs into TAFE Qld, at threat of the loss of millions of dollars in Federal Funding and the consequent loss of jobs and infrastructure.
Do you have a small business and are really positive about these changes because you can now hire and fire with impunity? One only hopes that your children will have a job in your company when they are older, lest they find themselves working for an employer less just than yourself who pays only the minimum wage with no penalites....the minimum legal requirement.
In Australia, we tend to only take action when something begins to affect us directly. We are an easy going people, few of us liking to “rock the boat”. Yet, how much is the future of our children worth? Standing up against this legislation is not about just acting because something has happened to us, it’s about acting to protect future generations of Australians. Its about supporting the more vulnerable in our community and upholding the Australian concept of “a fair go”.
ACTU Secretary Sharyn Burrows asked today "Will we be the first generation of Australians to leave the next generation worse off?" You and I are the only ones who can answer that question.
If we don't take a stand now, it may be too late.
Under this legislation, an employer with a workforce of less than 100 people can sack any worker for any reason at any time, and the worker has no access to Unfair Dismissal appeal.
Under this legislation, workers can be forced to sign Individual Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) that drastically cut their working conditions.
Under this legislation, a major retailer recently forced its workers to sign an AWAs which gave them an additional 2 cents an hour in pay whilst removing their overtime, leave loading, and sick leave.
Under this legislation, workers were sacked by a mining company for refusing to sign an AWA
requiring them to give 12 hours notice to their employer if they wished to have sick leave... and a failure to do so would result in a $200 fine taken from their pay.
Under this legislation, workers on a Western Australian railway line in 38 degree heat were told by a Union delegate to go home early for safety reasons, and the Union delegate consequently sacked. When his 107 fellow workers rallied behind him, the State Industrial Relations Commission overturned the sacking and the company was forced to reinstate him. Months later, every one of those 107 workers were individually served with writs by the Federal Government to appear in Court on charges under the ‘Work Choices’ legislation, because they had held an industrial meeting. Each worker has been fined $28,000. Most say they will go to jail before they will pay.
So where were YOU today?
Do you have a public service job and think you are secure?
Think again....
Any security at present is dependant on each state, with their labour governments, holding out against the pressure to introduce AWAs to workers. Despite this, workers rights are still being eroded by Federal Government pressure. Here in Queensland, the Beattie labour government were forced to introduce AWAs into TAFE Qld, at threat of the loss of millions of dollars in Federal Funding and the consequent loss of jobs and infrastructure.
Do you have a small business and are really positive about these changes because you can now hire and fire with impunity? One only hopes that your children will have a job in your company when they are older, lest they find themselves working for an employer less just than yourself who pays only the minimum wage with no penalites....the minimum legal requirement.
In Australia, we tend to only take action when something begins to affect us directly. We are an easy going people, few of us liking to “rock the boat”. Yet, how much is the future of our children worth? Standing up against this legislation is not about just acting because something has happened to us, it’s about acting to protect future generations of Australians. Its about supporting the more vulnerable in our community and upholding the Australian concept of “a fair go”.
ACTU Secretary Sharyn Burrows asked today "Will we be the first generation of Australians to leave the next generation worse off?" You and I are the only ones who can answer that question.
If we don't take a stand now, it may be too late.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Melbourne and the U2 Concert 19 November
Like every diehard fan, I was thrilled to hear that U2 were coming to Australia, only to be crushed like so many others when I couldn't get through on the phones the first day and missed out...only to watch ebay sellers flogging those coveted tickets off for up to 8 times the selling price. DIRTY RATS!!! Who else hates that??
THEN...a few weeks later, the band announced another sale of tickets for extra concerts in Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne. YAY!!!!!! But...hang on...where was Brisbane? Briefly miffed, I soon realised that this was an opportunity not to be missed. Ms Brilliant here rang the nearest TicketMaster office ( the Rugby League club) and asked if they were opening to sell U2 tickets on the morning of the sales. Told at first the usual time was 10 am, she grovelled and grovelled...and finally a Friendly Manager agreed to open 2 hours early so she could buy tickets at 8 am (9 am EAST). So there she was bright and early, not another person in sight...the Friendly Manager logged on..FRONT ROW A RESERVE!!!
Then, of course, the band postphoned the tour because of the illness of a family member. Waiting...waiting...waiting... Then new dates are announced...and hang on....I'm scheduled to present at a Conference in India the weekend before and aren't due to be back until the following week! Naturally, being the die-hard fan I am, I rearranged my travel plans so I was coming back early. Arrive back from India (20 hours of travel in 24 hours), 9 hours at home, head for Melbourne. A tad punishing, maybe, but what are bodily needs when the spirit is being nourished, I ask you?
In Melbourne awaited my longest term female friend, the Empress's Mother, who had graciously accepted the invitation to accompany me forthwith (as opposed to the response of the original invitee, the Irish Idget...It having declined to make the journey from Galway...how slack is that, I ask you??)
Needless to say, like the rest of Melbourne, the Empress's Mother was duly impressed with U2. Even jetlagged and not quite with it (courtesy of a Raging Headcold graciously bequeathed by my Indian roomie, Contagious Chris -aka The Logical Libran-), I was still able to appreciate my first serving of Live U2 in years. Bono's passion on the subject of Africa also further impacted on earlier discussions at the conference the weekend before. I will tell you more about the conference in another post, when I have figured out the photo thingy and the links here a bit better.
As for my trip to Melbourne, even though I slept most of the four days of my visit, I naturally still managed to leave my mark... particularly on Empress Mother's Second Ugly Child and The Empress's Mother's Loyal Partner... who have both now apparently both succumbed to the Indian Headcold in the wake of my lightning visit. (One can only hope that Second Ugly Child loses his voice... there has to be SOME compensations, right?)
As I said, one always likes to leave an impression...
THEN...a few weeks later, the band announced another sale of tickets for extra concerts in Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne. YAY!!!!!! But...hang on...where was Brisbane? Briefly miffed, I soon realised that this was an opportunity not to be missed. Ms Brilliant here rang the nearest TicketMaster office ( the Rugby League club) and asked if they were opening to sell U2 tickets on the morning of the sales. Told at first the usual time was 10 am, she grovelled and grovelled...and finally a Friendly Manager agreed to open 2 hours early so she could buy tickets at 8 am (9 am EAST). So there she was bright and early, not another person in sight...the Friendly Manager logged on..FRONT ROW A RESERVE!!!
Then, of course, the band postphoned the tour because of the illness of a family member. Waiting...waiting...waiting... Then new dates are announced...and hang on....I'm scheduled to present at a Conference in India the weekend before and aren't due to be back until the following week! Naturally, being the die-hard fan I am, I rearranged my travel plans so I was coming back early. Arrive back from India (20 hours of travel in 24 hours), 9 hours at home, head for Melbourne. A tad punishing, maybe, but what are bodily needs when the spirit is being nourished, I ask you?
In Melbourne awaited my longest term female friend, the Empress's Mother, who had graciously accepted the invitation to accompany me forthwith (as opposed to the response of the original invitee, the Irish Idget...It having declined to make the journey from Galway...how slack is that, I ask you??)
Needless to say, like the rest of Melbourne, the Empress's Mother was duly impressed with U2. Even jetlagged and not quite with it (courtesy of a Raging Headcold graciously bequeathed by my Indian roomie, Contagious Chris -aka The Logical Libran-), I was still able to appreciate my first serving of Live U2 in years. Bono's passion on the subject of Africa also further impacted on earlier discussions at the conference the weekend before. I will tell you more about the conference in another post, when I have figured out the photo thingy and the links here a bit better.
As for my trip to Melbourne, even though I slept most of the four days of my visit, I naturally still managed to leave my mark... particularly on Empress Mother's Second Ugly Child and The Empress's Mother's Loyal Partner... who have both now apparently both succumbed to the Indian Headcold in the wake of my lightning visit. (One can only hope that Second Ugly Child loses his voice... there has to be SOME compensations, right?)
As I said, one always likes to leave an impression...
On Damien Leith and being Australian
How many of us watched the series final of Australian Idol, and jumped to our feet as Damien Leith was announced the winner? Sour grapes aside, the comments about him "not being Australian" are grating more than a little on most. That lament could well apply to all of us who are not descended from the original inhabitants of this land, could it not? Damien in many ways exemplifies what modern multicultural Australia prides itself on being: a land of opportunity which welcomes all those who are willing to embrace the often articulated values of generousity, community, and "a fair go" for all. The decision to leave one's homeland and all that is familiar, marry someone from a different cultural background, and bring a child up among people who are essentially strangers is never lightly made, and it is also this sort of courage that Australians recognise when they embrace others from different cultures.
Furthermore, the process of applying for citizenship takes 2 years, and Damien Leith is due to become an Australian citizen in January next year: he therefore made a decision to embrace Australia as his new permanent home long before he chose to compete on Australian Idol. Many Australians would be shocked to know how many people of overseas origin who have lived here as permanent residents for - in some cases - decades, who never take the step he has taken to become an Australian citizen..would we also consider them to be less "Australian" for not doing so?? Perhaps...but this does not apply in Damien's case.
In the end though, the competition was not about who was the best Australian, it was about who Austalians most wanted to hear. The decision of the majority of the voting public was for Damien Leith, and I was no exception. Like many others I have spoken to (from all ages and backgrounds), I can't wait to hear whether this man can produce something that lives up to the promise shown throughout Australian Idol. There is hope that this will be the case, because he has not so far allowed himself to be dictated to, and has even has his share of subtle and gentle jabs back at the detractors....who could doubt that his song choice of RadioHeads "Creep" was directly aimed in response to comments he had recieved about being "butt ugly"? In his own way, he has had the last laugh.
It was quite clear from his response on the winner being announced that he did not believe he would win. One can only hope that this complete lack of ego continues to be one of his chief and most winning attributes.
Like so many, I wish him all the best... "onya, Mate!"
Furthermore, the process of applying for citizenship takes 2 years, and Damien Leith is due to become an Australian citizen in January next year: he therefore made a decision to embrace Australia as his new permanent home long before he chose to compete on Australian Idol. Many Australians would be shocked to know how many people of overseas origin who have lived here as permanent residents for - in some cases - decades, who never take the step he has taken to become an Australian citizen..would we also consider them to be less "Australian" for not doing so?? Perhaps...but this does not apply in Damien's case.
In the end though, the competition was not about who was the best Australian, it was about who Austalians most wanted to hear. The decision of the majority of the voting public was for Damien Leith, and I was no exception. Like many others I have spoken to (from all ages and backgrounds), I can't wait to hear whether this man can produce something that lives up to the promise shown throughout Australian Idol. There is hope that this will be the case, because he has not so far allowed himself to be dictated to, and has even has his share of subtle and gentle jabs back at the detractors....who could doubt that his song choice of RadioHeads "Creep" was directly aimed in response to comments he had recieved about being "butt ugly"? In his own way, he has had the last laugh.
It was quite clear from his response on the winner being announced that he did not believe he would win. One can only hope that this complete lack of ego continues to be one of his chief and most winning attributes.
Like so many, I wish him all the best... "onya, Mate!"
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