Jolyon Ansuz

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

2012-01-28T17:01:00.002+11:00

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It rained every day. It rained hard. By the time I left Armidale it was very gray. By the time I got to Gloucester, my boots were full. My wet weather gear failed. My gloves became waterlogged. My helmet interior was wet. This is the wettest run I've ever done.

I am very grateful to have such good friends, you're not forgotten.

It was very good to see old friends in Sydney at the ZOMGWFTBBQ Barbeque.

After returning home, my boots require replacing as well as my gloves and I reckon my wet weather oversuit has a leaky seam somewhere. Overall, it looks like this trip has proven that some of my gear just won't last another trip. Bugger.

Hopes & Dreams:
* Alpinestars' Tech Road Gore-Tex Glove
* Alpinestars' Scout WP Boot
* Rjay's Speed II Boots
* Dri Rider Hurricane Suit

Global Disarmament...

2012-01-21T17:48:00.000+11:00

I've been spouting conspiracy stories since I was at school.

I told you so.

United Nations Office For Disarmament Affairs...
http://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/SALW/

United Nation's Sixty-fifth session, Agenda item 97 (z) of the General Assembly...

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/65/64

Distribution: General
Date: 13 January 2011

Australia Customs, Knives...
REF: http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4369.asp#e1066

Parkes Elvis Festival...

2012-01-16T22:38:00.000+11:00

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It lightly rained all the way from Gladesville to Berowra. It then proceeded to torrent down almost the moment I pulled back onto the freeway and kept doing to until around Newcastle. I was completely soaked to the crotch. Thank goodness for woolen clothing which still kept me warm until I could dry my clothes on the go. there was still wetness when I was in Willow Tree for lunch.

I had lunch at http://www.grazewillowtree.com.au/ after DG recommended it and it was fantastic. I'm thinking of organising an evening out with friends down there, it was that good.

Oh, the Places You'll Go at Burning Man!

2012-01-10T16:34:00.003+11:00

Somewhere on two wheels...

2012-01-09T23:10:00.001+11:00

Mispronunciation Sketch...

2012-01-04T18:28:00.001+11:00

See, this is what I suffer from...

Quote...

2012-01-04T17:16:00.001+11:00

"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.", Stephen Hawking

What do you value?

2011-12-31T11:21:00.003+11:00

A friend showed me fifty rules to live by recently.

REF: http://allswagga.com/blog/2011/12/21/50-rules-to-live-your-life-by/

Back around March in 2009, I also picked up these rules.

REF: http://artofmanliness.com/2009/03/22/the-unclassified-laws-of-etiquette/

Now, for those who understand the White Wolf guidelines, rules aren't there to enforce, they are guidelines for common sense. We already have too many rules and laws around us, why constrict our own lives?

With this crash course, considering in life that simplification is important and that we are simple creatures, I looked at these fifty rules and sat down to reduce them to things I thought would be good guidelines. This isn't to say that some things aren't important, it's to say that some things are common sense and some things aren't applicable in my situation.

Medieval soldiers and warriors only held to a few ideals and they were core to their very lives.

Also, an important rule is number 22, "Know your top 5 values" as should you know thyself.

So, if I had to cut that list down to seven items that were important to me at this time in my life, this would be that list.

5. Understand that you can only control yourself
19. Take ownership don’t blame others for your situation
20. Let the little things go
28. Never be dissatisfied with what you have
30. Honor your commitments
46. Stop caring about mistakes, learn from them
49. Do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do

Manhood...

2011-12-17T09:06:00.003+11:00

A man's usefulness depends upon his living up to his ideals insofar as he can.

It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.

All daring and courage, all iron endurance of misfortune-make for a finer, nobler type of manhood.

Only those are fit to live who do not fear to die and none are fit to die who have shrunk from the joy of life and the duty of life.

-
Theodore Roosevelt

Change For A Dollar...

2011-12-05T21:52:00.001+11:00

My biggest fear is to be homeless, old and have no where to go. This film clip tears at me. Just watch it.

2011-11-22T12:19:00.001+11:00

Got to walk away
Should've walked away

Got to get away
From this town
Got to get away
It keeps dragging me down
When things got too much for me
I bury myself
When I didn't wanna see
Sedated myself

Insulated isolated
I should've walked away
I couldn't help myself
I should've walked away
I should've walked away

Why was it we who were burdened
With the duty to destroy everything?
Couldn't even find the strength
To give a friend a ring

Should've walked away
While I was intact
I should've walked away
Couldn't find the strength

Insulated, isolated
I couldn't help myself
I should've walked away
I should've walked away
I should've walked away

I should've walked away

I should've walked away
I should've walked away
I should've walked away
I should've walked away
I should've walked away
I should've walked away
I should've walked away
I couldn't walk away

On The Cards...

2011-11-20T11:56:00.001+11:00

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This looks to be a dirt ride...

Jolyon in October 2011

2011-11-01T19:45:00.001+11:00

I think that my brother took this photo of me whilst over breakfast. This is quite a realistic view and myself most exposed. I wasn't sure whether I'd put it up at all and decided to because that's what the blog is about, being open and communicating.

Birthday Cake...

2011-10-27T22:34:00.001+11:00

...tonight I had a cake for my birthday. I don't remember the last time I've had a birthday cake. Thank you C. Thank you very much, I like birthday cake.

LMA...

2011-10-24T22:58:00.001+11:00

Electric Worry...

2011-10-21T22:43:00.002+11:00

Quote...

2011-10-15T18:05:00.001+11:00

"He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. That ideas should freely spread from one to another over the globe, for the moral and mutual instruction of man, and improvement of his condition, seems to have been peculiarly and benevolently designed by nature, when she made them, like fire, expansible over all space, without lessening their density in any point, and like the air in which we breathe, move, and have our physical being, incapable of confinement or exclusive appropriation.", Thomas Jefferson

Any Given Wednesday

2011-10-12T19:43:00.002+11:00

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...and then home.

White's Ferry...

2011-09-20T22:39:00.001+10:00

Only the dirt I do believe
As memory vanishes among the leaves
Wizard of tickets is always glad to charge a pilgrim's fare
Jubilee's generally early, let's take the country air
Mistreating granite, limestone and clay, it's a shameful soil
But all grows well on the floodplain tract, if you can afford the toil
Cradled in ivy, we will allow the moss to prosper upon our brows
Boxer rebellion, the Holy Child, they all pay their rent
But none together can testify to rhythm of a road well bent
Saddles and zip codes, passports and gates, the Jones' keep
In August the water is trickling, in April it's furious deep
Wizard of tickets is always glad to charge a pilgrim's fare
Jubilee's generally early, let's take the country air
Mistreating granite, limestone, and clay, it's a shameful soil
But all grows well on the floodplain tract, if you can afford the toil
Only the dirt I do believe
Divinity vanishes among the leaves

Mindsets of a contractor...

2011-09-16T21:23:00.000+10:00

What's old is new again.

There's a concern at work where Management are looking to outsource quite a lot of the IT services and hardware. This has been going on for quite a while and staff are nervous in a complacent kind of way.

This has happened before in another department that was, at the time, run by the same person who is overseeing IT. Sadly they don't have an IT background and from historical examples, is quite attracted to, if not appealed by externalising internal services and products. Our current captain of the ship is new here and his HUMINT has been lacking in diversity and range. He makes a lot of people nervous. He makes me nervous. He will be the person making decisions and I, personally, don't know what he's basing these decisions on.

I'm not a strategic person in my current role. I'm not a political player. I am however, in the field and in the corridors and I speak with a lot of people. Secrets don't exist in this workplace whether by loose lips or obvious actions or for whatever other reasons.

So the writing is on the wall. The people of IT will become contract managers similar to Facilities Management Services. The people who aren't contract managers will most likely be walked. The networking infrastructure will be changed again at immense cost to the workplace so that it may be replaced with common networking infrastructure that can be maintenance and administration can be outsourced. The servers that reside here will become back end servers and the front end of the workplace's Internet presence and operations will become externally hosted. The in house development will be taken out of house.

Training packages have been offered for on line training, this is for people to get up to speed with their skill sets for applying for new positions out of their current roles. Personally, if I can find the time, I'd be all over this.

Currently, I'm in a specialised role. This cuts my own throat as business and industry move to commonly available platforms, whether that platform is the best solution for their needs or not. It's paying to have commonly available skill sets and experience. A very good example is if someone had MS Windows Server Administration, Citrix administration and VMWare infrastructure experience. That's some nice skills right there.

If this were war, I'd know what to do. If this were particular contractor work, I'd know what to do.

The part of this that makes me sad and makes me feel betrayed is that there are people here who have seen this before and are on board the train of change. Those people haven't given any heads up, notice, warning or support in this matter. They have left some of us hanging out to dry.

This is why civilians will never understand the military mindset. You don't fuck over the person standing beside you. You don't screw people over to get ahead because you'll never get the support of your peers ever again.

Lockdown...

2011-09-11T00:18:00.002+10:00

Blogger...

2011-08-29T22:56:00.001+10:00

I've installed Google's Blooger application for Android. I've no idea how effective it is hence this tentative post.

If all goes well, it will replace the posts that used to go to Twitter and allow me to post more effectively and often.

Gasoline and Caffeine Tour: The Jack Pine Build...

2011-08-23T22:06:00.002+10:00

Gasoline and Caffeine Tour: The Jack Pine Build from Hammarhead Industries on Vimeo.

Eyes On Fire (Zeds Dead Remix)...

2011-08-21T10:57:00.000+10:00

...such beautiful lyrics...

I think I get it....

2011-08-10T18:44:00.004+10:00

I think I realise why peple who do drugs, do drugs. I'm half charged on some single malt a-la Rik style and I think I get why people do drugs.

Of course that's obsfucatary bullshit. It's applicable though.

There's a simple detachment from what you think is important or what you think is in focus and what you're experiencing. The immediate effect is the now and the thoughts are just mild influencing aspects that take a tangent to the immediate view.

Thank fucking lordie O' lordie Bruce Dickenson the unholy that I'm in a good place right now, listening to some hardcore dance and very-the-fuck-energetic-don't-you-look-at-me-son-lest-I-fracking-shiv-you-where-you-stand-laughing music. I daren't consider the outcome if I were in my "usual place".

It's five eighth of frack all and I know it. It's very detached from my usual sociopathic view and self-constraint and you know what, I wouldn't be surprised if something burned alive tonight.

* You know how hard it is to write from the head and have to go correct it afterwards? I feel like Bum, the most beautiful man I know *grin* and him marking his class work.... ...fracking uneducated ludites.

Dead Letter Circus...

2011-07-25T18:27:00.003+10:00

This song is getting airplay around me at the moment. It's also describing where I'm at, at the moment and thats feeling pretty locked down and aimless, lost in other words. It's pretty shitty. I'm thinking of friends, far and away and thinking how much I hate (hate) Winter and the grey that just fucks with my head. It's the 25th of July (Happy Birthday Tiger!) and Winter just seems to want to go on forever.

I'm very much over this, taking stock and look at my options.

Dead Letter Circus...

2011-07-23T17:55:00.001+10:00

I'm looking forward to seeing these guys at the Bistro on the 17th August.

A Night Of Fine Samplings...

2011-07-16T11:24:00.006+10:00

I'd like to thank those who attended and made the evening very worthwhile and enjoyable.

~ Menued in no particular order ~

~ Whiskeys ~
* The Singleton 12yo SM SW of Glen Ord
* Glenfarclas 25yo Single Highland Malt SW
* Glenkinchie 12yo SM SW
* Dalmore 12yo Single Highland Malt SW
* Auchentoshan 12yo Single Malt SW
* The Balvenie Doublewood 12yo SM SW
* Bruichladdich 21yo Single Islay Malt SW
* Aberlour A'bunadh Batch 33
* Glenmorangie Extremely Rare 18yo Highland SM SW
* Macallan 18yo Fine Oak Triple Cask Matured Highland SM SW

~ Ports ~
* Seppeltsfield Para 21yo Port

~ Cigars ~
* Padron 1964 Anniversay Exclusivo Cigar (No. 973820)
* Padron 2000
* Padron 3000
* Padron 4000
* Padron 5000
* Punch Punch

~ Coffee ~
* Whole bean Indonesian Mandheling 'Kuda Mas' (9th July 2011) roasted by Altitude Coffee Roastery.

~ Presented with assorted sweet and savoury condiments ~

It's naught but a flesh wound...

2011-07-13T21:54:00.003+10:00

Sometimes the best of intentions go wayward and regardless of that, it won't stop me from helping others.

When someone says something snide or a person shoots off a sarcastic comment it's their failing. If they cannot understand that verbal jousting is a WOFTAM and it only demonstrates a lack of logic and consideration then that's their problem. It's too easy to shoot off something scathing and then feel justified and good about it and it's all delusional. Their Ego drives them, yes, on some level it's their Ego.

I personally learned this lesson in year four of primary school after being raised by quite intelligent yet callous family. It was quite the smack in the face, or it would have been had I not been pulled up by my peers and told I was way out of line, so I dealt with it, apologised extensively and re-evaluated my home life. That's tough for a ten year old.

A lot of people seem to be quite empathic or sympathetic and by their very helpful nature accept other people's words and burdens as their own. This leads them to lose focus on the strength of their words and what's important in their lives because they're too busy dealing with other's issues. Their ego literally surrenders under another's will and I don't understand it, I really don't.

There's a line to be drawn, don't be an arsehole and don't be a pussy. Nobody likes an arsehole and everybody pities a pussy. The trick is to be within the boundaries and still be able to tell someone that they're acting like an arsehole without destroying them and also to be able to tell a pussy to "man up" without shredding their confidence.

I doubt that their will be any arseholes reading this, I don't keep friends like that and if you're a pussy and you're reading this, there's hope for you. It's never too late to grow a pair or to man up. It's not easy to do and people will fight you all the way because it's in their nature (They're the arseholes!) and never give in. You may not have to fight hard for your personal assertiveness, confidence and place in the world but if you have to, they're naught but flesh wounds.

This was written because I'd recently seen people that have reminded me of others I've helped and supported. Most of those I've helped have just blossomed into wonderful, fantastic and quality human beings and a few sadly, have turned out to be right arseholes.

Power corrupts? The Ego certainly does.

"Does emotional music have quite an effect on you?"

2011-06-26T10:00:00.006+10:00

Some people listen to music because of the mood they are in and some people listen to music to put them into a mood. This is important to recognise.

I have found that music has an emotional effect on me so I'm careful to what I listen to. I'll try to explain it; music is basically a catalyst for emotional movements and I've been very careful to limit those movements from extreme and irrational to a preferred range of safe and controlled emotions. The recognition that music can throw me into dark and self destructive places came to me over a decade ago so I changed the music I listen to.

The reason I'm writing this is I've just heard The Whitlam's "Buy Now Pay Later (Charlie No. 2)" which came of their Eternal Nightcap album (1999) and it's absolutely floored me, not by the lyrics, by how Tim's voice manages to carry a sorrowful and regretful tone which just tears me up. I've no explanation.

I'll go and "walk it off" in my own way. That's dealing with it, not ignoring it or making excuses. It's just one other way I deal with my black dog.

1. Don't make a big deal out of everything.
2. Deal with everything.

(It's one of my moods, direct and deep. I don't have to explain it. It's a life lesson.)

-++-

Faith No More - Land Of Sunshine

You have a winning way, so keep it
Your future, your future, your future...

You are an angel heading for a land of sunshine
And fortune is smiling upon you!

Prepare for a series of a comfortable miracles
From fasting to feasting
And life to you is a dashing, bold adventure
So sing, and rejoice, sing, and rejoice

And look for the dream that keeps coming back
Your future, your future, your future...
Pat yourself on the back and give yourself a handshake
'cause everything is not yet lost...

Does life seem worthwhile to you?

Does life seem worthwhile to you?

HERE'S HOW TO ORDER!

Yes, hmm hmm, now for the next question

Does emotional music have quite an effect on you?

Do you feel sometimes like age is against you?
Sing and rejoice and sing and rejoice

Yes, hmm hmm, that's interesting.
But tell me, do you often sing or whistle just for fun?

Do you feel sometimes like age is against you?
I, I can help - I can help you - I can help you help yourself!

Does life seem worthwhile to you?

Does life seem worthwhile to you?

HERE'S HOW TO ORDER!

Varicose
Comatose
Senile

REF: Wikipedia

RSA Animate - Choice

2011-06-23T09:00:00.001+10:00

Slash vs Backslash...

2011-06-19T23:21:00.002+10:00

Ænema...

2011-06-19T23:01:00.001+10:00

I'm quite sorry that I haven't posted this before and seeing how I'm having quite the misanthropic moment, here it is.

I'd go nuts without my music.

Triumph Tiger 1050...

2011-06-18T14:47:00.001+10:00

...was struck today by a car as they pulled out from a parallel park. The bike's unridable. I'm OK. I'm off the road. Now it's up to insurance companies.

Thank goodness for military and martial arts training. The motorcycle training and experience came into play as well.

Such is life.

How to Mix a Don Draper: Whiskey with a Dash of Emotional Fortress...

2011-06-14T20:54:00.003+10:00

REF: Neatorama

Thanks to TheInkDarkMoon for pointing this out to me on Twitter. Brilliant.

5 Second view on 'Planking'...

2011-06-03T11:29:00.003+10:00

Quote...

2011-06-02T08:32:00.000+10:00

"After endless days of commuting on the freeway to an antiseptic, sealed window office, there is a great urge to backpack into the woods and build a fire.", Charles Krauthammer, Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist for The Washington Post

Kaizen...

2011-05-31T08:42:00.003+10:00

I was reminded last week of the adage, "That's just the way it's always been done...", which is something I have a problem with. In the business world or process analysis, it's the definition of laziness and a dull mind (IMHO).

There are generally better or smarter ways to do a task or a process, "Work smarter not harder..." is a common phrase yet it's not truly the encompassing definition of Kaizen.

To quote, "Kaizen (改善?), Japanese for 'improvement' or 'change for the better', refers to philosophy or practices that focus upon continuous improvement of processes in manufacturing, engineering, supporting business processes, and management."

I'd imagine that most of my friends are people who look at something and wonder, "How could I improve that? How could I make that better?". It's a good outlook to have and regardless of the people who say, "Why change it?", I continue to maintain the outlook of, "There must be a better way...".

REF: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaizen

When I come around...

2011-05-27T20:41:00.004+10:00

This song is one from a sore and angry past. Some of the things I've done, by circumstance and of my own choice, I've not proud of.

Some of the people I've hurt because I've had to do the right thing, they certainly haven't deserved it and this one band reminds me sorely of one girl, Leah, in particular and on a quiet note, there haven't been that many girls.

This is the shit I've just had to deal with and live with because if she had known it was her parents that made these decisions for her, well, it's probably better that I was and remain am the bad guy.

I've never forgotten those I've cared about and sometimes I'm reminded of the weight of my choices and the consequences of these actions that at the time, were the "right action". I can't forget. I won't forget. I deserve the burden and I'll carry it because it's mine.

It's shit like this that makes us who we are. Me? I still care deeply about those I call "mine". I'm also one of the hardest sons-of-a-bitch that I know.

"Cheers, to absent friends..."

By Demons Be Driven

2011-05-25T17:52:00.003+10:00

Serving the faith
Abduction the oath
In lie and wait for the offering

Religion is old
For drawing the young
Purity withers and dies
Never return to the ones that provided
Children draining parents of will
I hold out my hand to bloodless child
I'm taken by the one I was saving
From death

By demons be driven...

Beckon the call...

With decline in mind
End not far
We're left hanging alone here
He pulls us from nails
Shatters our bones
Leaving us crippled and strewn
Boiling my corpse in the blood of his children
Praying for his god to prevail
Burying us with loved ones
To sleep with shelled children of the sixth dimension

School's For Fools...

2011-05-23T18:21:00.002+10:00

(1994)

Good times, damned good times...

Shouts to the louts!

Friends...

2011-05-18T22:05:00.000+10:00

I miss my friends.

REF: http://www.warehousecomic.com/comic_664.php

Litany against fear...

2011-05-15T19:15:00.000+10:00

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain

Litany against fear by Bene Gesserit

Sheer Destruction...

2011-04-30T23:04:00.001+10:00

One for the IT people...

Step Down...

2011-04-28T07:02:00.001+10:00

In the underground, integrity lies within
in the underground, image doesn't mean a thing
when the substance lacks it's plain for all to see
if the deal is right then respect is where it should be.

For the fakes and frauds it's a fucking fashion show
total compromise will have them sell their soul.
all the negative all the useless influence
all the emptiness all the violent detriment
makes no sense...

Please have more to give than fashion and images
please have more to give than fashion and images

Caught up in a trap of media crap that's no way to live
Caught up in a trap of media crap so little to give
Caught up in a trap of media crap that's no way to live
Caught up in a trap of media crap so little to give

In the underground, integrity lies within
in the underground, image doesn't mean a thing
we can do away with this negativity
it's a golden day we can force them to stepdown

Floating Me...

2011-04-25T08:41:00.003+10:00

If you, like myself, abso-fucking-lutely miss Scarymother and had always wished that they would return, well you're in luck...

If your not aware this bands consists of Anderw Gillespie (vocals), Antony Brown (guitar) and Tobias Messiter (Keyboards) of Scarymother, Jon Stockman (bass) of Karnivool and of course Lucius Borich (Cog) on the Skins!

For any fan of progressive rock in this country, FLOATINGME is sure to excite with the lineage behind its line-up. Vocalist Andrew Gillespie, guitarist Antony Brown and keys-man Tobias Messiter all herald from ‘the’ rock band of the 90s, Scary Mother. Joining the trio is drummer, Lucius Borich of enormously influential hard-rock trio, COG, and Jon Stockman of Triple J favourites, Karnivool. Between them, these musicians alone boast a world of experience, including two #2 ARIA charting albums, tours with System of a Down, Rollins Band and Fear Factory, tracks in the Triple J Hottest 100 and extensive touring across Australia, the UK and USA

Floating Me

Crysis 2...

2011-04-22T18:17:00.002+10:00

Well at this point, I'm liking it...

...like a ninja...

...with power armour.

Get Back

2011-04-18T08:31:00.006+10:00

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The day's journey...

A clean run home, calm and collected, at peace...

Bulahdelah Cafe fountain.

There was a small house sparrow that jumped up onto the table edge I was eating at and calmly waited for me to cut off a piece of muffin for it. After carefully placing it slowly on the table, the bird chirped what I can only hope was thanks and then picked up the bread and flew off. It was one of those moments.

Oxley Highway looking up to the Northern Tablelands/Great Dividing Range (iPhone HDR)

I'd like to thank everyone who game me shelter and fed me whilst biking around the east coast of Australia to see friends I haven't seen in a very long time in some cases.

For these posts I have chosen to use songs from Paul van Dyk which is pretty much all I listened to whilst on this trip. There was supposed to be an extra four gigabytes of metal and when checked, there were only four songs which will teach me a lesson in messing around with iTunes. Nonetheless I had a fantastic soundtrack to ride with.

Thank you.

Let Go (Samuele Sartini Extended Mix)

2011-04-17T08:30:00.007+10:00

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The proposed journey...

(You can't always get what you want. Ed.)

Rather than this proposed ride plan, which is by the way, wonderful; the ride was a fairly straightforward freeway run.

We went out for some mexican dinner at a local place where the sangria flowed easily and the food was consumed with gusto.

You know it's a good night when Kermit's swinging off the fans...

...yes, intimidating, yes, well. Bel models the Arai XD3...

In Circles...

2011-04-14T08:29:00.003+10:00

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The day's journey...

A quick ride to Gladesville in peak hour traffic. It can be done!

Hamish meets Capt. Pants for the first time. Everyone looks like this the first time...

Beata and I head off for breakfast with li'l Hambo. The recommendation is Bitton's in Erskinville.

One Pan Bacon And Eggs With Wood Fired Bread, Roesti, Mushrooms.

The coffee was Grinder's blend, quite bitter and surprising. As a ristretto it was tough to take, as a flat white it was quite pleasant. Perhaps the Barista used a finer ground for the ristretto instead of a shorter pull.

Hamish practising to be able to put his foot in his mouth as well as his dad! (he said it himself!)

Puddles doing what jack russel terriers do best...

It was fantastic to spend some time with JPO, BPO and HBO...

...hmm. Yes well.

Hambo has a nice little kissing disease now as well as the coolest nightlight a kid could want.

Time Of Our Lives (Pop Radio Mix) (The Swiss-American Federation Remix)

2011-04-13T07:43:00.000+10:00

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The day's journey...

What an awesome day!

A slow ride up from Goulburn to the Robertson Pie Shop where I met Laurie, an older (76yo) rider on an Yamaha YZF-R6. We got to chatting and over a couple of cups of coffee and he offered to show me the Southern Highlands as he and I both had hours to kill.

The map is the best recollection I have of the ride and I just know that I didn't get all the roads we were on. There were some incredible photo opportunities and I swear at some point I will be going for a ride down there again (Selsby!) to get photos.

We stopped at Appin at the Appin Corner Cafe, Shop 1, 73 Appin Road, Appin, NSW 2560, Australia.

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They have the best pies I have ever tasted, no word of a doubt. Their best pie I tried was an Lamb Shank English Hand Pie.

I made my way to Goose's and Nat's place after wasting some time around Cronulla.

Their new baby Ruby is an absolute ball of smiles and giggles. They're both proud as punch and it was fantastic to see them all again, especially after it's been such a while.

Ejeculoutro...

2011-04-12T07:23:00.000+10:00

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The day's journey...

This was a rather disappointing leg because I had hoped to ride over to the coast and up the coast to see places I hadn't seen before. It was so cold on the bike, I just made straight for Goulburn and a hot meal and shower.

Between Albury and Goulburn on the Hume Highway

The photo can't describe the wind that was cutting through this area all the time I was on the bike. Even the truck parking bays and rest stops didn't block the wind.

I can now understand why one particular Ace can go to work in Armidale's winter in a pair of shorts, he's from Boorowa and here's it's weather.

The Other Side (Deep Dish's Other Than This Side Remix)...

2011-04-11T08:17:00.003+10:00

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The day's journey...

I tried to visit the Tiger Angel factory, when I arrived there were trucks and van's double parked all over the street so, sadly, I left. I had hoped they would have had some motorcycle or customer parking. I need a new leather motorcycle jacket.

I met and spoke with another solo traveller at a service station, drinking coffee in the warmth of a Hungry Jacks and greasy hash browns never tasted so good. It was cold and heading north was beginning to look like bad timing. The alpine passes were definately ruled out with the winds and rain on the horizon.

...and how it rained.

A long stop in Seymour to change pants into the dedicated wet weather gear and an opportunity for some back roads. (Victoria has some good roads, a lot of the ones I found were straight as a die).

Arrived at Jaime's and Jan's very wet and poor Jaime didn't get a hello hug. I was very wet.

These are two people who have their lives very downpat and grounded.

Jan and Jaime in the garden...

We ate some fantastic indian from Indian Chimney Restaurant at 662 Dean St, Albury. It was very, very good food. I recommend them quite highly.

I haven't been able to laugh, heckle and quote movies with good geek company and we did that night.

Many thanks to Jan and Jaime for your hospitality!

Forgot About An Angel...

2011-04-10T07:33:00.002+10:00

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The day's journey...

Another rainy day moving to see Con and Anna, I really mucked this simple journey up and considered how easier the trip would have been with a bike-friendly (they mount externally in all weather) GPS for when in areas that I'm not familiar with, a bit of a joke really because that's not that common and I certainly know how to read a map. (Perhaps it was justification to 'retail-therapy' something shiny? Ed.) The conclusion was to deal with it and accelerate up the process of picking up a tank bag where I can put the map in front of me rather than have to pull over every so often and check the directions.

Anna and Con are good people, wonderful conversationalists and caring individuals. Con would laugh at this, probably quite hard, he's a caring bloke who'd give you the shirt off his back, if you were one of his...

...and I suck at console games. Thanks Con for helping me realise that, sorry I couldn't have been more help in the mission(s).

This part of the trip was more books, more coffee (Oh, the coffee!) a wonderful roast dinner and the discussions of why I should be moving to Melbourne for it's martial arts and combat schools.

Touching on the subject, my shoulder is still giving me a touch of bother and by touch I mean 'a good kicking' and by bother I mean 'like Hades'. The bike is easier on the shoulder(s), a doctor's visit Should-Be(TM) on the cards.

PS. The iPhone takes crap photos, they come out quite grainy. I would have had more photos except they turned out badly.

Movement...

2011-04-08T21:44:00.004+10:00

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The day's journey...

...had to stop at Wagga Wagga to purchase a pair of Draggin' Jeans because the Dri-Rider pants where too how and didn't breath. They're brilliant for cold and/or wet. They are not designed for dry and/or warm at all.

Siphanh and Sandra with Jory and Serenity

It was very good to see Siphanh and family. It was very good to catch up with Shane and family as well.

We spoke, we drank, we played cards. All in all, a very worthwhile journey.

Siphanh's generosity and our appreciation...

*Names are abbreviated for a good reason.

Beautiful Place 2003...

2011-04-07T13:34:00.001+10:00

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The day's journey...

Oxley Highway, West of Gunnedah

Newell Highway Sunset (Between Parkes & Forbes)

Somewhere on two wheels...

2011-04-05T21:29:00.000+10:00

View Larger Map
Thanks to Lauren, Carmen, Sarah, Matt, Jeremy, Jeff, Doug and Anthony for making my visit to Brisbane most memorable. Good times, good things happening...

Big thanks to my hosts & hostesses. It is always greatly appreciated to have people who put themselves out to make sure I'm looked after and I'm working on minimising the overheads.

There was some great coffee, tea and riding in Brisbane, fantastic stuff.

The ride up was wet, not terrible, still rained the entire trip.

The ride down was on/off with the rain although once over 'The Gap', it started to cool remarkably until Tenterfield where I had to stop to add layers. Even then, the New England was very cold when I arrived home.

Lessons learned, prepare better weather responses and pack less. The two are not in conflict.

0300 - California Superbike School / Megara Circuit, Greece

2011-03-23T22:26:00.000+11:00

Why we need cops...

2011-03-21T19:13:00.003+11:00

A pal once told me a story about an incident recounted by a family friend who was a cop, and I think it gets the point across. A few teenagers were at the mall hanging out, outside a bookstore. They were goofing around and talking with some cops who were hanging around. The cop was a relatively big guy, not someone who you would want to mess around with. One of the kids told the cop that he didn’t see why society needed police.

The cop leaned over and said to the spindly kid, “do you have any doubt in your mind about whether or not I could break your arms and take that book away from you if I felt like it?”

The teenager, obviously shaken by the brutality of the statement, said, “No.”

“That’s why you need cops, kid.”

Jack Donovan

REF: http://tomsotis.com/?page_id=21

Any Given Sunday...

2011-02-13T14:37:00.003+11:00

REF: http://goo.gl/maps/EHrj

Breakfast at Inverell information Centre...

Wheels

2011-02-11T21:35:00.003+11:00

I'd like to thank CM very much for making it possible for me to pick up my new Triuph Tiger 1050.

I'm pretty chuffed and very, very grateful.

11022011

Tiger 1050 on the racetrack...

2011-02-05T20:00:00.003+11:00

Riding a bone-stock 07 Triumph Tiger 1050 at a track day at Pacific Raceways in Seattle WA. May 2007. Rider: Brett of 2-Fast.org, filmed by Galen of OnTrackVideo.com (riding a GSXR-1000).

Video

Fallout: Nuka Break - Fan Film

2011-02-02T20:12:00.000+11:00

20 Things I Learned...

2011-02-01T10:30:00.004+11:00

20 Things I learned about browsers and the web...

http://www.20thingsilearned.com/

Any Given Sunday...

2011-01-16T16:45:00.000+11:00

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Why I like playing EVE-Online...

2011-01-15T11:17:00.000+11:00

Fuck it...

2011-01-15T09:21:00.001+11:00

Bleed It Out...

2011-01-03T20:21:00.002+11:00

Get in a car with a friend, put in the CD, turn it up, sing along.

Good fuckin' times, cheers Tiger...

Still Counting...

2011-01-03T20:14:00.000+11:00

Kierkegaard...

2010-12-24T13:05:00.001+11:00

"There is nothing with which every man is so afraid as getting to know how enormously much he is capable of doing and becoming.", Soren Kierkegaard

XBoot...

2010-12-23T10:59:00.003+11:00

Now here's a good idea for the Windows users who aren't quite apt enough to create multiple OS-on-a-USB-stick via some *nix black magic.

XBoot: "Purpose of this software is to create multiboot USB/ISO from various ISO files.
Support for some ISO files have been added , support for some other ISO files will be added later on the request of users."

REF: http://reboot.pro/13246/

What if Obi-Wan had used Force Speed...

2010-12-08T11:01:00.000+11:00

Open Up...

2010-12-07T22:13:00.002+11:00

Rememmber Johnny Rotten? Leftfield's Version

Classic Police Squad...

2010-12-02T00:17:00.002+11:00

Dan Phillips: Creative houses from reclaimed stuff

2010-11-28T10:59:00.001+11:00

From whence we came...

2010-11-24T20:10:00.003+11:00

Nine Inch Nails: Head Like a Hole (Remastered) from Nine Inch Nails on Vimeo.

This is what we were into, this is what we're still into. The music scene of today, well I don't think there's anything new, exciting or interesting in it. There's certainly nothing with the energy of a Generation X "Fuck You" song.

Dark Energy...

2010-11-16T21:05:00.001+11:00

Something personal...

2010-11-06T09:31:00.003+11:00

Let me share with you the tarot card that has defined my life once I woke up to myself...

Basic Card Symbols

A man hanging by one foot from a Tau cross - sometimes from a bar or tree. His free leg is always bent to form a "4," his face is always peaceful, never suffering. Sometimes his hands are bound, sometimes they dangle. Sometimes coins fall out of his pockets or hands.

Basic Tarot Story

The Fool settles beneath a tree, intent on finding his spiritual self. There he stays for nine days, without eating, barely moving. People pass by him, animals, clouds, the wind, the rain, the stars, sun and moon. On the ninth day, with no conscious thought of why, he climbs a branch and dangles upside down like a child, giving up for a moment, all that he is, wants, knows or cares about. Coins fall from his pockets and as he gazes down on them - seeing them not as money but only as round bits of metal - everything suddenly changes perspective. It is as if he's hanging between the mundane world and the spiritual world, able to see both. It is a dazzling moment, dreamlike yet crystal clear. Connections he never understood before are made, mysteries are revealed.

But timeless as this moment of clarity seems, he realizes that it will not last. Very soon, he must right himself, and when he does, things will be different. He will have to act on what he's learned. For now, however, he just hangs, weightless as if underwater, observing, absorbing, seeing.

Basic Tarot Meaning

With Neptune (or Water) as its planet, the Hanged Man is perhaps the most fascinating card in the deck. It reflects the story of Odin who offered himself as a sacrifice in order to gain knowledge. Hanging from the world tree, wounded by a spear, given no bread or mead, he hung for nine days. On the last day, he saw on the ground runes that had fallen from the tree, understood their meaning, and, coming down, scooped them up for his own. All knowledge is to be found in these runes.

The Hanged Man, in similar fashion, is a card about suspension, not life or death. This is a time of trial or meditation, selflessness, sacrifice, prophecy. The Querent stops resisting; instead he makes himself vulnerable, sacrifices his position or opposition, and in doing so, gains illumination. Answers that eluded him become clear, solutions to problems are found. He sees the world differently, has almost mystical insights. This card can also imply a time when everything just stands still, a time of rest and reflection before moving on. Things will continue on in a moment, but for now, they float, timeless.

Thirteen's Observations

Neptune is spirituality, dreams, psychic abilities, and the Hanged Man is afloat in these. He is also 12, the opposite of the World card, 21. With the World card you go infinitely out. With the Hanged Man, you go infinitely in.

This card signifies a time of insight so deep that, for a moment, nothing but that insight exists. All Tarot readers have such moments when we see, with absolute clarity, the whole picture, the entire message offered by a spread. The Hanged Man symbolizes such moments of suspension between physical and mystical worlds. Such moments don't last, and they usually require some kind of sacrifice. Sacrifice of a belief or perspective, a wish, dream, hope, money, time or even selfhood. In order to gain, you must give. Sometimes you need to sacrifice cherished positions, open yourself to other truths, other perspectives in order to find solutions, in order to bring about change. One thing is certain, whether the insight is great or small, spiritual or mundane, once you have been the Hanged Man you never see things quite the same.

Easily read information taken (with apologies) from here, go there and learn differently...

From The Bowels Of My Mind...

2010-11-01T19:22:00.005+11:00

This verse described it...

I've decided to travel more often next year. There's too many people I haven't seen or spoken to in such a long time.

I originally wrote a blog, before they were called blogs, in an attempt to let people know what I was doing without having to create time that I didn't have and honestly, I wasn't prepared to make.

It was tough. It still is. The highs and lows of life are merely the fringes of the screams that are echoing my head that is the hollowness of my life.

I will be so very glad when the work stabilises and I can create some certainty. Until then, I crave inspiration and motivation and failing that, I can only hope the waters rise and washes away this whole fucking place.

(And then I read this)

Monday, 28 November 2005

2010-11-01T19:13:00.001+11:00

"Everyone wants results, but no one is willing to do what it takes to get them.", Dirty Harry

Run Like Hell...

2010-11-01T18:54:00.002+11:00

The Original...

Dogs Of War...

2010-11-01T18:48:00.002+11:00

Macrowikinomics Murmuration...

2010-10-31T11:03:00.001+11:00

A 14th Century Retort...

2010-10-27T11:30:00.002+11:00

From a fable by Jean de Condé, paraphrased from Barbara Tuchman's, A Distant Mirror.

Queen: Sir, have you fathered any children?
Knight: No my lady, I have not.
Queen: Indeed, you do not have the look of a man who could please his mistress when he held her in his arms, for your beard is little more than the kind of fuzz that ladies have in certain places. I do not doubt your word, for it is easy to judge from the state of the hay whether the pitchfork is any good.
Knight: Lady, answer me without deceit, is there any hair between your legs?
Queen: None at all.
Knight: Indeed I do believe you, for grass does not grow on a well-beaten path.

Defeating Big Brother by Dr. Alex Kilpatrick, ep 75

2010-10-26T16:49:00.001+11:00

Dolphins...

2010-10-19T21:33:00.000+11:00

For Shane...

2010-10-18T23:25:00.000+11:00

You little bitch...

2010-10-17T19:31:00.001+11:00

Corman...

2010-10-17T17:54:00.003+11:00

"Well, you see Willard... In this war, things get confused out there, power, ideals, the old morality, and practical military necessity. Out there with these natives it must be a temptation to be god. Because there's a conflict in every human heart between the rational and the irrational, between good and evil. The good does not always triumph. Sometimes the dark side overcomes what Lincoln called the better angels of our nature. Every man has got a breaking point. You and I have. Walter Kurtz has reached his. And very obviously, he has gone insane."

Roll Away Your Stone...

2010-10-17T14:40:00.002+11:00

"You told me that I would find a hole,
Within the fragile substance of my soul
And I have filled this void with things unreal,
And all the while my character it steals
The darkness is a harsh term don't you think?
And yet it dominates the things I see"

One Rode To Asa Bay...

2010-10-10T14:38:00.002+11:00

"Just outside the circle of the crowd
One old man did stand
He looked across the waters
And blotted the sun out of his eyes with one hand
And his old eyes could almost see
The dragon ships set sail
And his old ears could almost hear
Men of great numbers call out Oden's hail"

Smell Like A Monster...

2010-10-09T20:15:00.000+11:00

Whole Lotta Sabbath (Led Zeppelin vs Black Sabbath Mashup) by Wax Audio

2010-09-28T08:35:00.000+10:00

Get over it...

2010-09-22T13:25:00.001+10:00

The Modern Wimp’s Introduction to Stoicism

2010-09-18T20:50:00.001+10:00

Contrary to common perception, being stoic doesn’t mean being emotionless. The real quality of Stoicism is far more masculine than not caring about anything – it’s about knowing when to care, when to be upset, and how to accept the inescapable with your head held higher than you thought possible.

The first thing you need to know about Stoicism is that it isn’t exactly the same today as it was in ancient times—in fact, none of the first Stoic texts are known to exist, and all we know of it today we know from stuff written before Justinian I banned philosophy schools. The second thing you need to know is that Stoicism isn’t for mental or emotional wimps, if you think you’re tough, read on grasshopper.

REF: http://www.primermagazine.com/2010/live/introduction-to-stoicism

Stairway To Heaven

2010-09-16T08:36:00.002+10:00

Addendum: Movie Removal and why...

This is broken...

2010-09-13T13:16:00.001+10:00

Seth Godin at Gel 2006 from Gel Conference on Vimeo.

People don't think. We're getting stupider. We are becoming more selfish. We are becoming uncaring.

Now...

This is not to say that we're not thinking people. It's not to say that we are all stupid. There are so many altruistic and caring people in the world.

What the fuck happened? When did we start screwing over other people to get ahead, when did we start fucking over the person next to us?

I think we need to be mindful of the general guides that apply, not every law, rule, mandate and opinion (IMHO :)).

There's so much around this place, deteriorating and going to the dogs and it's all in the name of safety, security, comfort, fear and self image.

Why can't people just step and and deal with it and not turn away thinking that it doesn't affect them?

"They came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for me and by that time no one was left to speak up.", Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

This quote has been rehashed so many times, you get the idea.

"Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money.", Cree Indian Proverb

Now I'm a fairly stoic sort of person, a little sociopathic and emotionally devoid. but I'm not fucking stupid. This is why at times I am such a misanthopic individual because we're stupid, all of us and I think that we'll never wake up and realise.

We're broken.

Come Join Us...

2010-09-12T15:54:00.002+10:00

So you say you gotta know why the world goes 'round
And you can't find the truth in the things you've found
And you're scared shitless 'cuz evil abounds
Come join us

Well I heard you were looking for a place to fit in
Full of adherent people with the same objective
A family to cling to and call brethren
Come join us

All we want to do is change your mind
All you need to do is close your eyes

So come join us
Come join us
Come join us

Don't you see all the troubles that most people are in
And that they just want you for their own advantage
But I swear to you we're different from all of them
Come join us
I can tell you are lookin' for a way to live
Where truth is determined by consensus
Full of codified arbitrary directives
Come join us
All we want to have is your small mind
Turn it into one of our own kind
You can go through life adrift and alone
Desperate, desolate, on your own
But we're lookin' for a few more stalwart clones
So come join us
Come join us
Come join us

We've got spite and dedication as a vehement brew
The world hates us, well we hate them too
But you're exempted of course if you
Come join us
Independent, self-contented, revolutionary
Intellectual, brave, strong and scholarly
If you're not one of them, you're us already so
Come join us

---
Thanks Goose. You're a fucking legend.

I need a new hobby...

2010-09-08T21:09:00.002+10:00

Someone else does mine....

Mock The Week...

2010-09-05T09:10:00.001+10:00

Start here and enjoy...