I’ve been out of touch for a few weeks now, apart from the occasional commando run into the JU community. The reason for my lack of blogging is I’ve been on holidays. I hadn’t had a good break for 18 months or so and as the rest of this year is going to be very busy for me, I decided to take some time to recharge the batteries. It also gave me a chance to catch up on a few jobs around the house before winter starts. I spent time writing and recording some music with my new collaborato...
As this is the first online community I've ever been part of and as I am pretty slow on the uptake, I'd like some help from JU. I've noticed an increasingly large amount of abbreviations in use. Some I've worked out, others I have had to ask what they mean and yet more, I've no idea about. The abbreviations I'm referring to are such ones as IMO, IMHO etc. I'm sure there is probably a list somewhere but I'm asking JUsers to respond with abbreviations they know and use and ones they know...
Recently, I was watching telly with my wife. The show, Desperate Housewives, is an intriguing mix of soap opera and murder mystery. I don’t think it is as good as a lot of critics would have us believe, but we don’t mind watching it, but for vastly different reasons I think. I could watch it with the volume turned off as I have always thought Terri Hatcher was a bit of all right (okay, that was a big understatement). And the other woman (who is having an affair with her gardener) is also ...
“…Common sense is nothing more than the voices of the thousands and thousands of ghosts of our past.” I have paraphrased this from Robert Pirsig’s book ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’. If this is indeed the case, then it appears a lot of people either no longer believe in ghosts or have some how become deaf to these voices. Common sense, along with personal responsibility, good manners and even grace under pressure all appear to be rare and perhaps even endangered characteris...
I’ve not written anything on JU for a little while now. Sure, I’ve responded to other’s posts but actually putting something up myself has been a little difficult. This is because I’ve not had the time to sit and formulate anything, although I have a bunch of ideas I’d really like to put down, but because I’ve been too busy both at work and at home recently to even spend a hour just writing. And I miss it a lot. I am also feeling a little guilty for not having answered a number of email...
I still consider myself a newbie to the JU community but in my time here, I’ve made some great new friends. One of the biggest surprises I’ve found is how similar we all are in a lot of ways. To be honest, this was the last thing I expected. It has highlighted to me how particularly small the world really can be and has given me a greater sense of hope for our collective futures. I’d like to particularly thank the people on my favourites list for making my time here stimulating and rewa...
This is a note to all my JU friends and acquaintances. I won't be posting as much for a while as I have a large project I'm about to start at work. I'm looking forward to doing the job, but I'm not looking forward to not being able to keep up with everyone here. I've been here for only 3 odd months yet I've made friends I hope to have for the rest of my life. So, please don't be concerned if you don't see much of me for the next short while. I've no idea how long this project will last...
Nearly two years ago I turned 40 years old. It’s a milestone, similar to turning 18 or 21 or even 30. I’m not pointing this unchangeable fact out to be obvious, but to reiterate how I still feel like a kid inside. This doesn’t necessarily mean I’m naïve or I have license to act immaturely in public places. I simply recognise where my creativity stems from and allow myself to be indulgent when inspiration happens. Recently, though, a friend pointed out a behavioural problem he thought I...
The afternoon is a splendidly languid summer one, the sort that makes teenagers skip school in favour of being pummelled by surf and wrestling in the sand. I feel like skipping the afternoon drudgery myself. But such is life for an adult, particularly in the western world, that they have to give up these simple pleasures in favour of doing something very few of them honestly enjoy: work. So I go back into my overly air-conditioned office, shivering as I take my seat. The corner workstat...
What if Jesus Christ was living right next door to you? Would you recognise him? Would you feel his presence, understand his message and become a disciple? Would you respect his beliefs and opinions, without necessarily adopting his religion? Or would you want to crucify the bastard for having yet another rowdy party in his backyard, with all his hippy mates, drinking wine and passing around plates of smelly fish. What about if your son or daughter were recognised as an incarnation of Buddha?...
Why is it some people don’t like having their photo taken? The rationale I’ve heard used is basically they don’t think they look good enough. I’ve heard this said by some of the most beautiful people I’ve ever known. Take my wife, for instance (yeah, I know this sounds like the lead up to a corny vaudeville joke, but bear with me). She is absolutely gorgeous. Of course, I am completely biased, but she is, trust me. Anyway, she can’t stand her photo being taken. Whenever anyone points...
How is this for a premise: making an ass of yourself can put points on your wisdom scorecard if you make an ass of yourself and don’t even know you’re doing it. The getting of wisdom comes later when you realise and then go out of your way to eat humble pie and apologise for your behaviour. I don’t think this is being regretful either, because the getting of regrets is from doing something you KNOW to be wrong at the time. Making an ass of one’s self is usually done completely unselfconsci...
The following was originally published in a magazine called Argus. (Check the magazine out at www.argusonline.com.au). The theme of the magazine for the issue was ‘Decisive Moments’. While this article seems to portray something that is anything but decisive, it does actually resolve itself quite nicely. Suffice to say, my beautiful wife was pleasantly surprised when she read it, as I had never told her just how long I’d been a mess around her. I’m still a mess, but at least she loves me....
“The music business is a long shallow plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs… There is also a negative side.” - Hunter S Thompson “There is something sick about a person whose only interest is money. And the same can be said, I think for the Company whose sole goal is profit.” - Richard J. Haayen I can’t hold back any longer. I’ve held back from saying anything for ages but now I’ve had enough. I’ve had enough of manufactured Popstars and...
What is a success? Is success money or power? Is success fame? Is success freedom to choose what, how and when? We so often hear of people who seemingly have everything but are plagued by mental problems, addictions and obsessions or are just nasty and temperamental. Too often I hear folk lamenting the failures of their life or ranting about how others have got it so much better. They’re jealous of the hard work others do to gain success. They’re envious of material possessions, ar...