Kevin 07

I think I am officially K.Rudd's #1 Fan.

Finally something for all school, developement and a focus on them. Our next generation, the future of our country and of the world is all dependant on the education they get from our schools.

Parents are also given money to help them through the textbooks, uniforms, supplies expense period.

The guy's a thinker, a do'er and someone I am proud of as my PM. I guess we're luckier than thoes in the US. We have Kev and they have to be satisfied with second best.

(photo from http://geoconger.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/kevin-rudd.jpg on 03/02/09)

CNY09

No it's not a number plate, I have seen the latest, soooo Sydney acronym.

Note to self, CNY09 = Chinese New Year 2009.

I love Chinese New Year, I love practicing what ever little Mando I know (saying 'Kung Hei Fat Choi', 'Sheshe' are the only 2 phrases I know), I look forward to the idea of Chinese New year, I want to buy all things red and even the envelopes (not that i practice the tradition or put money in it).

After reading the latest acronym, I felt that I had been living under a rock. How could I not know! I brought shame to my family.

Poor Little Guy

I really feel for the little kids who get yelled at by their parents in public. Today while sipping coffee and reading a book, I saw this cute little asian guy getting a yelling from his dad who was waving around one of those textbooks asian parents use to help your kids do better at school. Poor little guy!

He was just sitting outside all alone, I'm sure feeling like a complete loser, not knowing how to square root something or cross multiply something else. I just wanted to go up to him and hug him. Reassure him and tell him, this too shall pass.

I too was one who shed tears over not knowing the answer to a question in one of those books. I hated those books! Hated it ... at the time. I felt bad not knowing the answer, I felt embarressed that I was yelled at, I felt shame that I was disappointing my parents especially when you know they were both dux in school, graduated with x class honours etc.

I wish all kids out there would know the benefit of all those hours spent working out problems, missing tv shows or computer games. It does make a difference and I am a better person for going through it. Basic mathematical problems became easier to work out and comprehension helped me train for the HSC. Trust me kids, suck it up. I know its hard but its so worth it!

DIY Calendars

I really wanted to make my own 2009 calendar this year.
So being organised person that I am, I decided to prepare for it early not wanting the year to suddenly spring up on me.

October came along and I sought out what photos to include, found coulourful VIBGYOR pieces of paper and found a 2009 calendar that I could 'excel' my my own version. I then checked and re-cheked my version to make sure the days and the dates line up with the months of the upcoming year.

It was 1 week past the New Year's Day and I then suddenly realised, the calendar!! I mounted it on the wall and basked in the glory of my home-madedness abilities.

Today, I wanted to write something on my calendar and shock-horror, what do I find? The dates for January are all askew! Shiz. At least Feb's dates all look good .... so far.
I guess all you can do is laugh!

Forced to Party

Why is there so much pressure around what we do to celebrate the New Year coming in? Sometimes I feel compelled to party for the sake of it when really, it's just like any other Friday or Saturday night. You either have plans or you don't and you shouldn't panic if you don't.

The options you have in Sydney are quite limited. It's a choice of;
a) Fireworks
b) Attend the Opera at the Opera House and come out in time to see the Fireworks
c) Fireworks
d) Pay top $$ to get in somewhere where the music is so loud and doesn't include drinks
e) Fireworks with a picnic
f) Fireworks with a house party.
g) Going to sleep, I'm at Field Day tomorrow.

I dread being in Sydney every year ... what will you do for NYE? ... Fireworks. How much money do they spend on this? Its all taxpayer money. I don't want fireworks I want something different! I started a trend and not many people know about it. I stay at home!! I have the house to myself, I watch movies and call/receive calls/sms's. I know a few others who also do this, enjoy the evening at home with their families.

Last year I was in Vienna. They put on a show! They know what to do. The city caters for everyone in precincts. Different activities for different people. There were open air squares for waltzing, squares with retro music and squares with current top 30 hits. There were food stalls dotted all over the city complimented by beer and wine stalls. Huge chandeliers where hung up over the walkways or huge lit orbs or other lit up objects. There were also fireworks and firecrackers. Everyone is happy and enjoying themselves.

Transport runs all night efficiently and at 3am its all over red rover and the massive clean up begins. If all this can happen in a snow covered city we can make things much better here! No more sore necks from staring at the sky, no more waayyyy overcrowded trains at 12:20am, no doing nothing for hours on end relying on the radio someone brought along 100m away.

I guess it could be worse, we could be in NYC watching 1 random disco ball fall 20m and hope to be kissed by who ever is standing behind us.

Writing as therapy or to prevent anxiety?

I don't know why I keep having a need to write and document. I see one thing, a few thoughts then tumble out of my mind and then inevitbly a thought about compling a book or starting a new blog comes to mind.

For a number of years, if I have heard some good advice or read something interesting ... I HAVE to write it down. It seems that the world will collapse if I have not taken note of that advice and written it down. (Ok well that was a slight exaggeration!)

So .. I put my case forward.

1. Went to my friends Xmas party at her house. Instead of a normal Xmas tree, there was an interesting display or dried and faux sticks and twigs with all the ornaments hanging down. I thought it was a great idea and then immediately thought, someone (namley I) should come up with a coffee table book about the alternatives to the traditional Christmas Tree.

2. I'm going through yet another phase of reading as much of HBR (Harvard Business Review) Magazine. There is so much gold in there, i want to write down some of the great ideas and phrases that motivate me. Part of me is saying, yes, write it all down but then the other part is ... why? There is so much info there, are you really going to re-read all this?

3. I love ads and ever since my lecturer in uni made us watch and analyse ad after ad, I like to comment and remark on them. I was now thinking ... maybe i should start a new blog on what i like and dont like about ads. Yes, there are hudreds of them but there are key ones that move me, make me happy, outrage me etc. These are the ones I want to comment on.

4. I also love Sydney. I want to start another blog about what I like, don't like, what is 'So Sydney' etc.

Oh geez ... I need help!!

Ads - Nespresso

I'm a sucker for good marketing and especially when it outrages me and then I realise, hang-on, its done its job to a T!!

(Side note ... I love Sydney when there are great ads all over the bus stands and huge bill boards that make me happy. I will write again next time it happens but its generally the classy watch and perfume ads that do it to me.)

The joy was short lived when I was out and about in Sydney's CBD when I saw huge posters of George Clooney with his face half covered!!! Outrageous and its a crime against my retinas!! The new Nespresso ads put a cup of coffee right over 1/3'rd of his beautiful face, including 1 eye! That coffee better bloody be good!!

This shock and outrage had done its job. Kudos to the designers of the ad. I still like the brand of Nespresso and I still love George.

Ofcourse, if I had it my way, I would have put the coffee cup somewhere else on the page and keep his face looking whole. But, then again, would the ad be staying in my head driving me insane? Doubt it.