- People who stand still on the escalators and block your way past - the escalator is a means to speed your way up a level, not a sideshow ride!!
- Shop assistants, when giving you your change, putting the coins ON TOP OF THE NOTES! Really, how hard is it to put the coins in your hand first, followed by the notes? Maybe I'm just unco, but I find the coins slip off our plastic note currency if placed on top, and have dropped them countless times.
- Drunks/teenagers breaking empty bottles of alcohol on the footpath. OK, I know they're drunk, but are they so disconnected from people who ride bikes and push prams that they don't realise they are creating a danger to young kids and pneumatic tyres?
- Girls like colours other than pink too! Do you hear that, department stores? And I don't just mean purple...
- LED down light sellers - do I really need to get an electrician to change over my high energy usage halogen down lights to an LED alternative, or can someone somewhere just tell us how to do it ourselves and which globes to buy?
- Those voice-overs the commercial TV networks do over their Drama promos. You know - they put on this creepy (yet ocker) voice, almost a whisper... "And in this weeks' episode of _____ Bill has his work cut out for him.... but you'll never guess what Nancy has planned next!". I want to know WHO DECIDED THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA? Why can't they talk normally?
- SATC II: am I the only female not getting a posse of my girlfriends together to see this movie? Yeah - power to them for covering topics supposedly of interest to and from the perspective of females, vacuous and superficial as they are... Am I the only female who's watched a few episodes of this show and decided it's not really that interesting? I'd rather watch "Anne of Green Gables". (Love me, don't judge me!)
Showing posts with label Soapbox. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soapbox. Show all posts
17 June 2010
Venting the little annoyances of life
You know your life is privileged when your list of life's little irritations cover such trivial issues in the big scheme of things. However, if we don't vent them from time to time, we risk going bonkers. Here's a list of things that drive me up the wall... how about you?
10 February 2009
Inferno
Along with everyone else, I have been horrified whilst following TV, internet and radio coverage of Victoria’s bushfires.
I was further horrified with people* writing drivel like this: “Our national character will emerge stronger from this disaster…” . I can’t really stand breakfast TV, but I did notice they sent the “big guns” (Kochie and Mel) down from Sydney to the Bushfire (as if Melbourne doesn’t have its own TV “personalities” to whom they could cross to, live…) Just like the media circus that went down to the sleepy Tasmanian town of Beaconsfield after the last National disaster we had. I don’t want to be insensitive so soon, but the only reason most of us will remember the date is that each year, the so called news networks will pull it up from their databases of anniversaries, and remind us that it happened a year, five, ten years ago, and they can pull up archive footage and use up a minute of the news bulletin instead of paying journalists to go out there and report on real news.
*Who are they?!! No explanation who this opinion piece was written by!
I am fortunate to have no loved ones or friends (that I know of) who are affected by these fires. I’ve met the odd person over the years who had properties burnt in SA’s Ash Wednesday fires.
But this whole experience has been bringing back memories for my Mother, who was just starting her nursing training when Hobart had devastating fires in 1967. She remembers the injuries and burns of the patients admitted to hospital, and parts of the city grinding to a halt… power cuts… the damaged electric tram lines never to run again and instead replaced by buses. My Nanna’s sister lived on the city’s outskirts on an orchard. At one stage she was literally running away from a fire with 2 little ones in tow, and her family lost their house and everything in it and their orchard. It took 3 days before my Nanna and Poppa could get down there to see if they were alive. They lived in a packing shed for 18 months while their town rebuilt. It took Mt Wellington a long time to look post-card pretty again.
I was further horrified with people* writing drivel like this: “Our national character will emerge stronger from this disaster…” . I can’t really stand breakfast TV, but I did notice they sent the “big guns” (Kochie and Mel) down from Sydney to the Bushfire (as if Melbourne doesn’t have its own TV “personalities” to whom they could cross to, live…) Just like the media circus that went down to the sleepy Tasmanian town of Beaconsfield after the last National disaster we had. I don’t want to be insensitive so soon, but the only reason most of us will remember the date is that each year, the so called news networks will pull it up from their databases of anniversaries, and remind us that it happened a year, five, ten years ago, and they can pull up archive footage and use up a minute of the news bulletin instead of paying journalists to go out there and report on real news.
*Who are they?!! No explanation who this opinion piece was written by!
I am fortunate to have no loved ones or friends (that I know of) who are affected by these fires. I’ve met the odd person over the years who had properties burnt in SA’s Ash Wednesday fires.
But this whole experience has been bringing back memories for my Mother, who was just starting her nursing training when Hobart had devastating fires in 1967. She remembers the injuries and burns of the patients admitted to hospital, and parts of the city grinding to a halt… power cuts… the damaged electric tram lines never to run again and instead replaced by buses. My Nanna’s sister lived on the city’s outskirts on an orchard. At one stage she was literally running away from a fire with 2 little ones in tow, and her family lost their house and everything in it and their orchard. It took 3 days before my Nanna and Poppa could get down there to see if they were alive. They lived in a packing shed for 18 months while their town rebuilt. It took Mt Wellington a long time to look post-card pretty again.
04 August 2007
Rant about unit design...
Apartment design is one of my pet whinging topics. It just gets me so AAAAANGRY when I see such poorly designed unlivable dwellings! Don't bring this up when I'm feeling a bit passionate and have had beer or two, as I probably won't shut up. No doubt designed by someone who never lives in an apartment, built by someone who never lives in an apartment, sold by someone who never lives in an apartment, and owned by someone who either never lives in an apartment, or lives in it for 6 months before moving back in with Mum and Dad once the 1st home owner's grant can be claimed. I know everyone involved is trying to eke out the biggest profit possible, but there has to be some point where places with solid walls that can actually be lived in get built and are affordable for people to buy.
I am just astounded at how badly places are designed. Bear in mind that for a 2 bedroom unit, many tennants will either be 2 housemates sharing, or parents with a kid, or a couple with the spare room as a guest room/study. For this to be liveable, the living area needs to be big enough for a dining table, lounge area. If the 2nd bedroom is occupied, the living area needs to be also big enough. Don't even get me started obout the lack of 3br units around. So here are my issues with just about every unit that I've seen that has been built in the past 10 years:
- No laundry cupboard. When I looked at one apartment to rent a few years back, I mentioned that there wouldn't be anywhere to put a vacuum cleaner. "Wardrobe?" was Real Estate agents' reply. "Well that would be full of our clothes, as it would barely fit 2 people's clothes," I said, thinking out loud. "Well," said RE Agent, showing how out of touch with reality she was, "most people have cleaners these days!". (Der - you still need a vacuum cleaner). Aside from the vacuum cleaner, you need somewhere to put a laundry basket, clothes airer, and those of us who iron (not me if possible!) need somewhere to put an ironing board and iron.
- No linen cupboard. Every household has sheets, towels, blankets, and often medicines, odds and ends, tablecloths. Therefore, why isn't it standard to have a general use cupboard built into the living area??
- Bedrooms too small or badly shaped. We have one massive bedroom but it can only be laid out one way. We could perhaps fit more stuff in our bedroom if we had a double bed instead of a queen, but we don't, and neither do many couples. The main bedroom has an ensuite (which we could easily do without - a pointless luxury as far as we're concerned), yet the 2nd bedroom is so puny it would barely have room for a single bed, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers.
- Bathrooms from mars. Apparently the plumbing in our main bathroom/laundry has an experimental plumbing set-up unknown to any trained or accredited plumber, which leaked into the kitchen below us. That's all fixed now, and the problem was all down to shoddy workmanship apparently. However, it's great to have a bath, enough room to air clothes inside on a tiled floor, and a place for a washing machine, as many units don't. In addition, check out this picture:
Our washing machine is medium sized, and is in the only place it can be - under the washing machine taps. Now look at the toilet. My not terribly large bum presses up against our washing machine every time I sit on it. And I often wonder why the toilet roll dispenser (which I might also add is cheap and frequently falls off the wall) needs so much room??
- small living room spaces with not enough walls to put your furniture along. Most furniture and audio visual equipment needs to go against a wall. Our living area isn't bad in this respect, as we can separate it into living, dining and computing. Many other places I've seen are small rectangles. When they are open for inspection, they only have the bare minimum furniture on display, to make it look roomier than it is.
- Common/outdoor areas that are useable. No echo-ey outdoor areas where people are tempted to drink late and keep everyone else awake. Our common area is not used as much as it could be as it's bright, tiled, unshaded, and half the units look down off their balconies onto you. Not very relaxing. Oh and it'd be wonderful to put my compostable waste somewhere other than the garbage bin...
- Somewhere to hang your washing outside where it won't get stolen. Some councils in Sydney have the most ridiculous and environmentally unfriendly LAW that if someone complains about your washing/bedding being aired from outside the building, you can get a warning, and a fine if you do it again. And the unit comes with a energy inefficient clothes dryer that you are supposed to use instead.
- No stairway option. Lifts are necessary in multistory apartment buildings for prams and wheelchairs. But able-bodied people should also have an option to use stairs. That's right, some of us like using our legs!! We have a fire escape that we can use to leave the building, but not to enter.
I am just astounded at how badly places are designed. Bear in mind that for a 2 bedroom unit, many tennants will either be 2 housemates sharing, or parents with a kid, or a couple with the spare room as a guest room/study. For this to be liveable, the living area needs to be big enough for a dining table, lounge area. If the 2nd bedroom is occupied, the living area needs to be also big enough. Don't even get me started obout the lack of 3br units around. So here are my issues with just about every unit that I've seen that has been built in the past 10 years:
- No laundry cupboard. When I looked at one apartment to rent a few years back, I mentioned that there wouldn't be anywhere to put a vacuum cleaner. "Wardrobe?" was Real Estate agents' reply. "Well that would be full of our clothes, as it would barely fit 2 people's clothes," I said, thinking out loud. "Well," said RE Agent, showing how out of touch with reality she was, "most people have cleaners these days!". (Der - you still need a vacuum cleaner). Aside from the vacuum cleaner, you need somewhere to put a laundry basket, clothes airer, and those of us who iron (not me if possible!) need somewhere to put an ironing board and iron.
- No linen cupboard. Every household has sheets, towels, blankets, and often medicines, odds and ends, tablecloths. Therefore, why isn't it standard to have a general use cupboard built into the living area??
- Bedrooms too small or badly shaped. We have one massive bedroom but it can only be laid out one way. We could perhaps fit more stuff in our bedroom if we had a double bed instead of a queen, but we don't, and neither do many couples. The main bedroom has an ensuite (which we could easily do without - a pointless luxury as far as we're concerned), yet the 2nd bedroom is so puny it would barely have room for a single bed, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers.
- Bathrooms from mars. Apparently the plumbing in our main bathroom/laundry has an experimental plumbing set-up unknown to any trained or accredited plumber, which leaked into the kitchen below us. That's all fixed now, and the problem was all down to shoddy workmanship apparently. However, it's great to have a bath, enough room to air clothes inside on a tiled floor, and a place for a washing machine, as many units don't. In addition, check out this picture:
Our washing machine is medium sized, and is in the only place it can be - under the washing machine taps. Now look at the toilet. My not terribly large bum presses up against our washing machine every time I sit on it. And I often wonder why the toilet roll dispenser (which I might also add is cheap and frequently falls off the wall) needs so much room??
- small living room spaces with not enough walls to put your furniture along. Most furniture and audio visual equipment needs to go against a wall. Our living area isn't bad in this respect, as we can separate it into living, dining and computing. Many other places I've seen are small rectangles. When they are open for inspection, they only have the bare minimum furniture on display, to make it look roomier than it is.
- Common/outdoor areas that are useable. No echo-ey outdoor areas where people are tempted to drink late and keep everyone else awake. Our common area is not used as much as it could be as it's bright, tiled, unshaded, and half the units look down off their balconies onto you. Not very relaxing. Oh and it'd be wonderful to put my compostable waste somewhere other than the garbage bin...
- Somewhere to hang your washing outside where it won't get stolen. Some councils in Sydney have the most ridiculous and environmentally unfriendly LAW that if someone complains about your washing/bedding being aired from outside the building, you can get a warning, and a fine if you do it again. And the unit comes with a energy inefficient clothes dryer that you are supposed to use instead.
- No stairway option. Lifts are necessary in multistory apartment buildings for prams and wheelchairs. But able-bodied people should also have an option to use stairs. That's right, some of us like using our legs!! We have a fire escape that we can use to leave the building, but not to enter.
23 July 2007
Plug for food additives intolerance lobby group
The Fed Up With Food Additives site is the only lobby group I know lobbying for food companies and regulators to reduce the amount of additives to food. When a food company changes the ingredients of their product so that it includes a nasty additive, they write to them and request a re-think. They help people by recommending an elimination diet to determine if you have food/additive intolerances: you remove all problematic food additives, and also certain natural foods from your diet for 3-6 weeks and have a diet from blandville. Then gradually, you test your system by adding things one at a time.
I can't say for sure that the science in their fact sheets is ridgey didge, but a lot of people have a wide range of symptoms, try everything over the years (regular doctors and pharmaceuticals, chinese medicine, naturopathy, aromatherapy, avoiding dairy etc etc), find they don't get better, but find this diet helps them. I also know for a fact that we eat a lot more processed food than we used to, AND on top of that, the powerful and rich food industry has managed to get a lot of preservatives/colours/flavour enhancers introduced via the food authorities in the past 50 years. That's just over a generation in our long evolution of bombarding our systems with things we didn't use to, just so things can last longer on the shelves, be brighter-coloured, or be morishly tastier so you want to go back for more. I also suspect that the food authorities, like many areas of science in this country, don't have much of a budget for independent research, so rely on food industry money - so you can guess at how independent research on food additives is.
So next time you are about to buy something with a use-by date of a year in the future, or a lime drink that uses blue and yellow food dye to achieve an unrealistic bright green colour, think twice about what is going into your body...
I can't say for sure that the science in their fact sheets is ridgey didge, but a lot of people have a wide range of symptoms, try everything over the years (regular doctors and pharmaceuticals, chinese medicine, naturopathy, aromatherapy, avoiding dairy etc etc), find they don't get better, but find this diet helps them. I also know for a fact that we eat a lot more processed food than we used to, AND on top of that, the powerful and rich food industry has managed to get a lot of preservatives/colours/flavour enhancers introduced via the food authorities in the past 50 years. That's just over a generation in our long evolution of bombarding our systems with things we didn't use to, just so things can last longer on the shelves, be brighter-coloured, or be morishly tastier so you want to go back for more. I also suspect that the food authorities, like many areas of science in this country, don't have much of a budget for independent research, so rely on food industry money - so you can guess at how independent research on food additives is.
So next time you are about to buy something with a use-by date of a year in the future, or a lime drink that uses blue and yellow food dye to achieve an unrealistic bright green colour, think twice about what is going into your body...
26 April 2007
Birthday bonanza
No, it's nowhere near my birthday, nor C-chan's. But E-chan is 10.5 months old, and some of his "mates" are turning One. So the inevitable "let's have a group birthday party" suggestions get floated, and we, inevitably not wanting to be party poopers, but thinking the idea is a tad on the ridiculous side, bumble along semi-enthusiastically. Please don't think of the three of us, sitting there in the corner with glum faces, making sarcastic comments all afternoon, while the rest went overboard with helium balloons, "happy birthday" banners, and Elmo cream cakes. (I think I avoided sarcasm, and only managed to utter one "they're only one years old! they won't remember this!" comment, at which point some of the other parents nodded heartily in agreement but decided it was wiser to remain silent).
It's always fun to catch up with other parents, and see how the babies are all so similar, yet so individual. 3 of the other babies are walking, and little E-chan sits there watching quietly, occasionally getting pushed, shoved, or climbed over, but bearing it like a trooper. He's such a gentle baby, and he's often content watching and interacting with adults because other babies rarely return his smiles. He'll probably just bypass crawling and go straight to walking, as I hear some babies do.
The group we caught up with yesterday are from our Antenatal class, who are an interesting bunch to stay in touch with. When we met them, we felt we had little in common. We had a reunion after the babies were born, and I kept an open mind about the whole thing. From a purely pragmatic point of view, there are 2 ladies and 1 man who work in Preschool/childcare industry, and another lady who is a Primary teacher. As I have no close friends or family in this area, inside knowledge is useful. Strangely, but as I half expected might happen, gross-out Dad (who always asked questions about epesiotomies in our antenatal class) and his partner are the ones we possibly have most in common with, and he's being a stay-at-home Dad, which is rare and very cool.
The whole birthday and christmas thing is so wierd for the under 2's. People are so impatient to make a fuss about it. But in reality, the kids play more with the wrapping paper than the presents. We felt it unnecessary to give E-chan chocolate at his first Easter, nor did we give him cake yesterday. We're waiting until he understands what it's all about. However, E-chan's actual birthday falls on a long weekend, and all the rellies are coming over from 'delaide. And we're not about to knock back visits from doting family because we want to keep his birthday low-key and not go overboard with buying stuff...
By the way, if the weather's fine, we might have a picnic on the Queens B'day long weekend (his birthday). Too late to catch Bsharp I understand :( but others are welcome if you want to come along and give him a birthday cuddle.
It's always fun to catch up with other parents, and see how the babies are all so similar, yet so individual. 3 of the other babies are walking, and little E-chan sits there watching quietly, occasionally getting pushed, shoved, or climbed over, but bearing it like a trooper. He's such a gentle baby, and he's often content watching and interacting with adults because other babies rarely return his smiles. He'll probably just bypass crawling and go straight to walking, as I hear some babies do.
The group we caught up with yesterday are from our Antenatal class, who are an interesting bunch to stay in touch with. When we met them, we felt we had little in common. We had a reunion after the babies were born, and I kept an open mind about the whole thing. From a purely pragmatic point of view, there are 2 ladies and 1 man who work in Preschool/childcare industry, and another lady who is a Primary teacher. As I have no close friends or family in this area, inside knowledge is useful. Strangely, but as I half expected might happen, gross-out Dad (who always asked questions about epesiotomies in our antenatal class) and his partner are the ones we possibly have most in common with, and he's being a stay-at-home Dad, which is rare and very cool.
The whole birthday and christmas thing is so wierd for the under 2's. People are so impatient to make a fuss about it. But in reality, the kids play more with the wrapping paper than the presents. We felt it unnecessary to give E-chan chocolate at his first Easter, nor did we give him cake yesterday. We're waiting until he understands what it's all about. However, E-chan's actual birthday falls on a long weekend, and all the rellies are coming over from 'delaide. And we're not about to knock back visits from doting family because we want to keep his birthday low-key and not go overboard with buying stuff...
By the way, if the weather's fine, we might have a picnic on the Queens B'day long weekend (his birthday). Too late to catch Bsharp I understand :( but others are welcome if you want to come along and give him a birthday cuddle.
23 November 2006
Thanks...
...to those who answered a few of my questions on vaccinations a week or so back! I put some comments and questions under the post just today. Some lively responses, which is rare on my blog. You can see why there are some "don't go there" topics amongst mums...
I know that Science doesn't have all the answers, but also worry that those with little scientific knowledge (some of the mums I know) can be easily whipped up into a frenzy by the latest book or trend, which may or may not have all the answers and has no stats to back up their claims. People are so willing to disregard 50 or 100 years of science that has been applied and most of the population of western countries has survived just fine (ie with true reductions of harmful disease and side-effects), which is a tad dangerous.
Gulf war syndrome from bulk vaccinations... that's an interesting and scary thing. But for things that have been done for decades and that we have survived just fine, I will go along with.
I know that Science doesn't have all the answers, but also worry that those with little scientific knowledge (some of the mums I know) can be easily whipped up into a frenzy by the latest book or trend, which may or may not have all the answers and has no stats to back up their claims. People are so willing to disregard 50 or 100 years of science that has been applied and most of the population of western countries has survived just fine (ie with true reductions of harmful disease and side-effects), which is a tad dangerous.
Gulf war syndrome from bulk vaccinations... that's an interesting and scary thing. But for things that have been done for decades and that we have survived just fine, I will go along with.
15 November 2006
Polio germs no returns sterilised!
The topic of immunisation came up yesterday when having my regular hang out with Mum's in the park. It's one of those controvertial areas where opinions can be varied and heated, therefore you don't often "go there". I thought I'd be a true coward and blog about it instead!
One mother has decided not to immunise her baby - she's one of those skeptics who believes that immunisation has more harmful side effects than beneficial ones. [She also believes that wheat is the evil grain that is the cause of everyone's allergies and that canned fruit has all sorts of additives that aren't mentioned on the can, so I take this opinion with a grain of salt. I fully expected her to pipe up about fluoride being added to the water to subdue the masses rather than help tooth decay, but apparently tap water is OK.]
I on the other hand, have not seen any convincing arguments that immunisation is unsafe, and believe in the importance of keeping disease prevalence down in the community. I kind of feel that non-immunisers are in a sense freeloading off the majority of the community who are immunising and reducing the risks of infection of mumps, measles, polio etc for all, and kind of have to bite my tongue rather than say this out loud. I'm admittedly swayed by my own family's experience - my father had measles at 9 months of age, and his mother noticed his eye started going funny soon after. He is pretty much blind in that eye, and as this was quite common when infants got measles, it's likely that the blindness was caused by the measles.
I did a bit of a web search on risks of immunisation, and found the usual government websites, designed to reassure the public that immunisation is worth it, and on the other extreme, alarmist websites - usually anonymous, citing one (scientific?) reference only, claiming all sorts of ill effects of immunisation and using graphs that apparently "prove" their points, but quite frankly, don't make sense to me. One even linked immunisation to the rise in diabetes as well as autoimmune diseases in children, without even mentioning lifestyle or diet as factors in the case of the former or improvements in diagnosis as factors in the latter.
I realise also that immune systems are complex things, as are auto-immune diseases, and doing cause-effect studies on humans is near impossible when you take into account lifestyle and genetics and time. Was wondering if anyone reading this has ever spent a bit of time looking into this issue and has some credible sources on the matter? Just for the record, I have started E-chan on his immunisation program, so am unlikely to change anyway.
It's funny - some people are so convinced and even aggressive about their opinions on these sorts of issues, and little old me feels slightly swayed by their conviction for a bit. Then I realise, hang on, I'm the one with the biology degree, and who's spent a considerable amount of my time getting tested for allergies and going on elimination diets for food intolerances and have discussed the issue in depth with allergists and dietitians and read up quite a lot on autoimmune diseases, and who's mother is a nurse and has also looked into these issues quite a lot over the past 30 years... That knowledge has got to count for something? I'm not just a sheep getting herded into government health programs that aren't in our better interests?
One mother has decided not to immunise her baby - she's one of those skeptics who believes that immunisation has more harmful side effects than beneficial ones. [She also believes that wheat is the evil grain that is the cause of everyone's allergies and that canned fruit has all sorts of additives that aren't mentioned on the can, so I take this opinion with a grain of salt. I fully expected her to pipe up about fluoride being added to the water to subdue the masses rather than help tooth decay, but apparently tap water is OK.]
I on the other hand, have not seen any convincing arguments that immunisation is unsafe, and believe in the importance of keeping disease prevalence down in the community. I kind of feel that non-immunisers are in a sense freeloading off the majority of the community who are immunising and reducing the risks of infection of mumps, measles, polio etc for all, and kind of have to bite my tongue rather than say this out loud. I'm admittedly swayed by my own family's experience - my father had measles at 9 months of age, and his mother noticed his eye started going funny soon after. He is pretty much blind in that eye, and as this was quite common when infants got measles, it's likely that the blindness was caused by the measles.
I did a bit of a web search on risks of immunisation, and found the usual government websites, designed to reassure the public that immunisation is worth it, and on the other extreme, alarmist websites - usually anonymous, citing one (scientific?) reference only, claiming all sorts of ill effects of immunisation and using graphs that apparently "prove" their points, but quite frankly, don't make sense to me. One even linked immunisation to the rise in diabetes as well as autoimmune diseases in children, without even mentioning lifestyle or diet as factors in the case of the former or improvements in diagnosis as factors in the latter.
I realise also that immune systems are complex things, as are auto-immune diseases, and doing cause-effect studies on humans is near impossible when you take into account lifestyle and genetics and time. Was wondering if anyone reading this has ever spent a bit of time looking into this issue and has some credible sources on the matter? Just for the record, I have started E-chan on his immunisation program, so am unlikely to change anyway.
It's funny - some people are so convinced and even aggressive about their opinions on these sorts of issues, and little old me feels slightly swayed by their conviction for a bit. Then I realise, hang on, I'm the one with the biology degree, and who's spent a considerable amount of my time getting tested for allergies and going on elimination diets for food intolerances and have discussed the issue in depth with allergists and dietitians and read up quite a lot on autoimmune diseases, and who's mother is a nurse and has also looked into these issues quite a lot over the past 30 years... That knowledge has got to count for something? I'm not just a sheep getting herded into government health programs that aren't in our better interests?
07 November 2006
National Enforced Gambling Day & Kris Kringle
.... two things I thought I would happily miss being on maternity leave. Or would have thought that, had my brain given these things one split second of attention in the past year. But I could quite happily go on each year, completely oblivious to the idea of Melbourne Cup sweeps and lunches, and Kris Kringles.
I consider both these things a complete waste of money. Firstly, I don't gamble, and I'm not into horses. Never wanted a pony. Ever. Not into the getting all tizzed up and wearing a hat thing, or even the giggly thrills of champagne at the office (well unless we are all given the afternoon off and can have a proper drink, but that never happens - it's always "back to work!!" the minute the winnings are divvied out to the "winners"). Annoys me to no end that you can't get out of entering a Melbourne Cup sweep with a simple "no thanks". That inevitably leads to a "Goo ooooooooon!! It's only $1". Too expensive in my eyes.
I usually end up being out of the office (what a shame) at the moment the so called big race is on, but I think I have felt forced into participating in about 3 Melbourne Cup lunches. I think once I tried to argue that I don't agree with gambling so won't enter, but felt like a complete fool for standing up for my principles. Funny that. You don't get this kind of pressure to attend protest rallies for Global Warming, stand up for your wrongly sacked co-worker or any other cause that is morally right.
Ditto Kris Kringles. This is a waste of time. I think last year I thought I was pleased with my gift - but looking back, I haven't really worn the earrings I was given (a bit of a safety hazzard with a baby now). You rarely get the gift for the other person right, even if you know who you are buying for. It's hard enough buying for those you know and love... most of us have enough stuff and don't need more. Certainly not the $10 or less kind of "stuff". Last year C-chan suggested that his work have an optional donation to a cause instead of a Kris Kringle, and instead they ended up keeping the kris Kringle, and adding the charity donation on top of it. So now he has to spend EVEN MORE!
So why am I whining? Today I have been invited to a Melbourne Cup lunch. Luckily, I have an appointment with my boss at 3:30, so sadly, E-chan and I will have to slip away early. What a shame. And one of the Mums from my Every Now and Then Mothers Group* has suggested a Kris Kringle for the kiddies at our Christmas get together. I'm half tempted to say "you know most of us are on single incomes now, surely it can wait until the kids actually understand what christmas is?". It might not be that bad so long as we get something practical like baby bodysuits for next winter. I suppose in this instance at least we all know what babies need so are unlikely to buy crap... I hope?
Why is it you can't disagree with these things without sounding like a complete party pooper? Why is it wrong to celebrate something worthy of celebration, not just something that happens every year?
*I have a regular weekly catch up with one cool group of Mums, and an every now and then catch up with a group of Mums I met at our antenatal classes.
I consider both these things a complete waste of money. Firstly, I don't gamble, and I'm not into horses. Never wanted a pony. Ever. Not into the getting all tizzed up and wearing a hat thing, or even the giggly thrills of champagne at the office (well unless we are all given the afternoon off and can have a proper drink, but that never happens - it's always "back to work!!" the minute the winnings are divvied out to the "winners"). Annoys me to no end that you can't get out of entering a Melbourne Cup sweep with a simple "no thanks". That inevitably leads to a "Goo ooooooooon!! It's only $1". Too expensive in my eyes.
I usually end up being out of the office (what a shame) at the moment the so called big race is on, but I think I have felt forced into participating in about 3 Melbourne Cup lunches. I think once I tried to argue that I don't agree with gambling so won't enter, but felt like a complete fool for standing up for my principles. Funny that. You don't get this kind of pressure to attend protest rallies for Global Warming, stand up for your wrongly sacked co-worker or any other cause that is morally right.
Ditto Kris Kringles. This is a waste of time. I think last year I thought I was pleased with my gift - but looking back, I haven't really worn the earrings I was given (a bit of a safety hazzard with a baby now). You rarely get the gift for the other person right, even if you know who you are buying for. It's hard enough buying for those you know and love... most of us have enough stuff and don't need more. Certainly not the $10 or less kind of "stuff". Last year C-chan suggested that his work have an optional donation to a cause instead of a Kris Kringle, and instead they ended up keeping the kris Kringle, and adding the charity donation on top of it. So now he has to spend EVEN MORE!
So why am I whining? Today I have been invited to a Melbourne Cup lunch. Luckily, I have an appointment with my boss at 3:30, so sadly, E-chan and I will have to slip away early. What a shame. And one of the Mums from my Every Now and Then Mothers Group* has suggested a Kris Kringle for the kiddies at our Christmas get together. I'm half tempted to say "you know most of us are on single incomes now, surely it can wait until the kids actually understand what christmas is?". It might not be that bad so long as we get something practical like baby bodysuits for next winter. I suppose in this instance at least we all know what babies need so are unlikely to buy crap... I hope?
Why is it you can't disagree with these things without sounding like a complete party pooper? Why is it wrong to celebrate something worthy of celebration, not just something that happens every year?
*I have a regular weekly catch up with one cool group of Mums, and an every now and then catch up with a group of Mums I met at our antenatal classes.
20 October 2006
Oh what a suprise!!
Suddenly Newscrap Inc are interested in buying a 7.5% stake in Fairfax! Poised to own 15% (pretty much a controlling interest) as soon as the new media laws take effect. Soon all of Australia will be like South Australia, where the daily National, regional and weekly local papers (perhaps with Rural Press being the exception) are all owned by Newscrap!
PLEASE* vote this government out next election - they are doing dodgy dodgy things now that they hold the balance of power (not like we didn't see this coming).
*I realise I am most probably pleading to the converted
PLEASE* vote this government out next election - they are doing dodgy dodgy things now that they hold the balance of power (not like we didn't see this coming).
*I realise I am most probably pleading to the converted
20 September 2006
Bitch with an itch
For those of you who haven't seen me, I must reveal that I am one to suffer from the eczema. At certain times of the year (such as now, the hayfever season...), my skin flares up on some obvious places... around my eyes and on my throat, and on my hands. And like any condition that is obvious, people think that gives them a licence to offer (extremely) unqualified advice... From people I know, this can be a bit torturous - I have to smile and nod and wait until the conversation reaches its natural end, all the while bearing in mind that they care and are only trying to help. However, complete strangers, who I can only think don't give a toss about me, still throw me their two bobs worth.
I have never resorted to saying point blank "I don't want to talk about it and don't want your amateur advice", but sometimes I get close after an extremely frustrating set of "suggestions". The conversation usually starts like this:
"Oooh! what's that rash on your (insert body part)?"
"Eczema"
"Oh!" (pause while they think.... here it comes, any second now....) "Have you tried (insert wonder cure-all that I just MUST try)?"
My answer is either "yes", "yes but it doesn't work for me" or "no, but that is for another skin condition such as soriasis which is a different disease altogether". And by now, my physical reaction to them broaching the topic is usually the equivalent to a cat having their back arched, hair on end, and claws clenched.
But sadly, the conversation rarely ends there! These people seem to always get me pinned where I can't get away... at a meeting where I'm temporarily standing away from the group doing something, when I'm changing E-chan's nappy, when I'm purchasing something from their shop... otherwise I'd just smile politely and go somewhere else.
"My sister in law's cousin tried blahdy-blah blah and it worked a treat" (good for her)
"Is it itchy?" (no I'm just scratching as a conversation starter)
"I hear these kinds of conditions are linked to stress" (you can piss right off right now and stop making judgements about my mental condition)
I have decided I need a change in approach to nip this conversation on the bud before it starts. I have tried everything over the years to get people to shut up about it, and I can honestly say noone giving this unasked-for advice ever has any experience with persistent adult eczema, nor has offered any advice that has helped. Lately I have taken to asking them what they know about the condition and lecturing them with the latest, and that there are three broad aspects to being eczema-free:-
- not being born with the genes that seem to make you vulnerable
- avoiding the cause (for me, mostly airborn allergens such as dustmites, ryegrass pollen, mould, and possibly some food chemicals found in processed AND natural foods, avoiding which is impossible to do without living in a bubble!)
- then giving your many layers of skin a chance to grow through undamaged by avoiding irritants (have you ever tried not using any detergents?), and constantly moisturising with unscented emolients which from trial and error you find don't make matters worse.
Strangely, perhaps realising that getting rid of eczema isn't straightforward, at this point they do tend to shut up...
I have never resorted to saying point blank "I don't want to talk about it and don't want your amateur advice", but sometimes I get close after an extremely frustrating set of "suggestions". The conversation usually starts like this:
"Oooh! what's that rash on your (insert body part)?"
"Eczema"
"Oh!" (pause while they think.... here it comes, any second now....) "Have you tried (insert wonder cure-all that I just MUST try)?"
My answer is either "yes", "yes but it doesn't work for me" or "no, but that is for another skin condition such as soriasis which is a different disease altogether". And by now, my physical reaction to them broaching the topic is usually the equivalent to a cat having their back arched, hair on end, and claws clenched.
But sadly, the conversation rarely ends there! These people seem to always get me pinned where I can't get away... at a meeting where I'm temporarily standing away from the group doing something, when I'm changing E-chan's nappy, when I'm purchasing something from their shop... otherwise I'd just smile politely and go somewhere else.
"My sister in law's cousin tried blahdy-blah blah and it worked a treat" (good for her)
"Is it itchy?" (no I'm just scratching as a conversation starter)
"I hear these kinds of conditions are linked to stress" (you can piss right off right now and stop making judgements about my mental condition)
I have decided I need a change in approach to nip this conversation on the bud before it starts. I have tried everything over the years to get people to shut up about it, and I can honestly say noone giving this unasked-for advice ever has any experience with persistent adult eczema, nor has offered any advice that has helped. Lately I have taken to asking them what they know about the condition and lecturing them with the latest, and that there are three broad aspects to being eczema-free:-
- not being born with the genes that seem to make you vulnerable
- avoiding the cause (for me, mostly airborn allergens such as dustmites, ryegrass pollen, mould, and possibly some food chemicals found in processed AND natural foods, avoiding which is impossible to do without living in a bubble!)
- then giving your many layers of skin a chance to grow through undamaged by avoiding irritants (have you ever tried not using any detergents?), and constantly moisturising with unscented emolients which from trial and error you find don't make matters worse.
Strangely, perhaps realising that getting rid of eczema isn't straightforward, at this point they do tend to shut up...
04 August 2006
ABC style self promotion; and freaky evangelicals
Here is an interesting article. What do we think of this, folks? Notice how everyone always skims over the small problem of nuclear waste? When someone starts talking seriously about dealing with the problem, I may listen to such champions. But noone ever seems to want to answer the hard questions (where to put the power plants, how to make them secure, and how to dispose of the waste so that many generations ahead will not get radioactive poisoning).
Someone once asked me can I imagine earth in 10,000 years time, humans stumbling across a yellow container buried under the ground with "Danger! Radioactive" written on it, but not having a frigging clue what it says because English as a language has long mutated into something else? That's right - English has changed very much in the last 1000 years despite people writing it down. It will most certainly be unintelligible in 10,000 years. We may not even have hard or electronic copy archives with the language recorded. Language may be then to todays script what today's script is to heiroglyphics. Interesting thought.
In addition, the SMH seems to be writing infomercials for it's weekend edition (go to end of article). Strange, huh? Haven't seen this before, but not at all suprising (call me cynical). I think it's only in the online edition, but still...
------------
Also was watching the midday news, and Evangelical Christians in the US are apparently drawing parallels between prophetic chapters of the Bible and the fighting in Lebanon and Israel. Freaks.
I shouldn't be so harsh though... once a certain 15 year old was freaking out in a similar manner when the Gulf War was happening in 1991. But then I was only 15, and only partially educated at the time, and didn't go on television stating my beliefs.*
*[That period in my life was right before I realised that Revelations wasn't describing word for word what was happening in Iraq at the time, followed rapidly by "not being sure at all that I believe in this religion stuff", and stopping going to church/youth group entirely. It was probably a 3 month process from go to woe].
Someone once asked me can I imagine earth in 10,000 years time, humans stumbling across a yellow container buried under the ground with "Danger! Radioactive" written on it, but not having a frigging clue what it says because English as a language has long mutated into something else? That's right - English has changed very much in the last 1000 years despite people writing it down. It will most certainly be unintelligible in 10,000 years. We may not even have hard or electronic copy archives with the language recorded. Language may be then to todays script what today's script is to heiroglyphics. Interesting thought.
In addition, the SMH seems to be writing infomercials for it's weekend edition (go to end of article). Strange, huh? Haven't seen this before, but not at all suprising (call me cynical). I think it's only in the online edition, but still...
------------
Also was watching the midday news, and Evangelical Christians in the US are apparently drawing parallels between prophetic chapters of the Bible and the fighting in Lebanon and Israel. Freaks.
I shouldn't be so harsh though... once a certain 15 year old was freaking out in a similar manner when the Gulf War was happening in 1991. But then I was only 15, and only partially educated at the time, and didn't go on television stating my beliefs.*
*[That period in my life was right before I realised that Revelations wasn't describing word for word what was happening in Iraq at the time, followed rapidly by "not being sure at all that I believe in this religion stuff", and stopping going to church/youth group entirely. It was probably a 3 month process from go to woe].
16 May 2006
amateur media watch...
I do it for you, honest... Had a bit of a telly fest yesterday, as wasn't feeling up to much.
It seems the latest use for Botox is for that troublesome area - the calves. Yes, having trouble fitting into those sexy knee-high leather boots because of your muscley, well toned calves? Well worry no more. For what I'm sure is only a little bit more money, you can have those boots, and get the Dr to botox your calf muscles to shrink them down a bit.
FREAKS!!
Also, last night on the national broadcaster, the following appeared:
- 4 corners - story on female naval officer blowing whistle on abuse and bullying in navy
- Enough Rope - interview with rescue expert who worked on Thredbo and Beaconsfield rescues
- Lateline (didn't watch but saw preview) - story about crime in Alice Springs featuring interview with Alice Springs District Prosecutor.
And what do you think showed up on the early Channel 7 News this morning? Bites from all three stories, presented as news. Talk about lazy journalism. Must be cheaper to pay ABC royalties and let your staff stay at home watching telly and taking notes. Is the ABC going to become the only media network that actually sends investigative journalists anywhere to find stories?
---------------------------------
Baby update
38 weeks and counting down. 2 more weeks and I'll be at my "due date". 3 more weeks and I'll be overdue and have to consider getting induced (a procedure that would have saved my own life as a baby - I was 10 days late and Mum was about to get induced but went into labour).
Basically, I say, any day now, as baby is fully developed at this stage. Not venturing too far from the house most days. Having Braxton Hicks contractions (ie practice contractions), and pains in lower abdomen daily. All good practice for the shock of the real thing, I hope. Learning to deal with the pain calmly until it washes over.
It seems the latest use for Botox is for that troublesome area - the calves. Yes, having trouble fitting into those sexy knee-high leather boots because of your muscley, well toned calves? Well worry no more. For what I'm sure is only a little bit more money, you can have those boots, and get the Dr to botox your calf muscles to shrink them down a bit.
FREAKS!!
Also, last night on the national broadcaster, the following appeared:
- 4 corners - story on female naval officer blowing whistle on abuse and bullying in navy
- Enough Rope - interview with rescue expert who worked on Thredbo and Beaconsfield rescues
- Lateline (didn't watch but saw preview) - story about crime in Alice Springs featuring interview with Alice Springs District Prosecutor.
And what do you think showed up on the early Channel 7 News this morning? Bites from all three stories, presented as news. Talk about lazy journalism. Must be cheaper to pay ABC royalties and let your staff stay at home watching telly and taking notes. Is the ABC going to become the only media network that actually sends investigative journalists anywhere to find stories?
---------------------------------
Baby update
38 weeks and counting down. 2 more weeks and I'll be at my "due date". 3 more weeks and I'll be overdue and have to consider getting induced (a procedure that would have saved my own life as a baby - I was 10 days late and Mum was about to get induced but went into labour).
Basically, I say, any day now, as baby is fully developed at this stage. Not venturing too far from the house most days. Having Braxton Hicks contractions (ie practice contractions), and pains in lower abdomen daily. All good practice for the shock of the real thing, I hope. Learning to deal with the pain calmly until it washes over.
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