The Art Of The Early Riser

For years, waking up late has been a chronic problem of mine. No matter what it was, school, uni, work, I would have issues getting there on time. Granted in those early days, I would be up late playing games, going out partying, or even using that nostalgic internet app ICQ, these days I still have those issues but without the partying!

Reading on a website, there was an article about a method to waking up early. So I decided to give it a go.

It's been a week and one day since I've started this attempt to wake up at 6:30am each day, even on Saturdays. I go for a walk around St Leonards, before coming home to do some reading or what not. Here's what I've found out:

1. It's much easier to get up if as soon as the alarm rings you get out of bed and have something to do i.e. brush your teeth immediately.
2. Have an activity whether it be gym or a walk around to get the fresh morning air. Now in summer is especially a good time since it's not too hot but there's plenty of sunshine.
3. I feel a lot more awake going to work at 8:30am, and feel more productive in the mornings.
4. I do drop off quite quickly at night, due to the body getting used to the routine.

So the process continues this week. What this is really about is achieving some mental discipline. It's a small private victory that is affirming every morning. Having the feeling that I can achieve the little things sets my mind up for bigger victories during the day.

Damn! nine cheap calls already:

From a first-hand viewpoint at knowing just how difficult it is for you to get out of bed on time, I'm impressed and inspired by your new found mental discipline. I'm also half afraid you'll break your neck the way you sprint off the bed when the alarm rings =) Keep up the super work!
beckster (link) - 18 December '05 - 04:50

i have developed a very annoying body alarm clock which wakes me up at 7.20am sharp! This also applies on weekends!! Fortunately and unfortunately, once im up, im up and its tricky for me to fall back asleep unless im very tired. And whats worse is that even with the 3 hour difference im experiencing in Perth, Im STILL waking up at 7.20am. ARGHHH
Its true though, The snooze button often doesnt work as it resets ur sleep clock and often makes you more tired than rested. And yes, once you roll out of bed and shower (thats my trick) or brush your teeth, it does make you more awake. Good luck in this tricky endeavour! I wonder if i can get ben to do it! HAHAHAHA
Addy - 18 December '05 - 07:50

i sense a balancing comment is needed. kev you wake up around the time jojo and I are leaving the bar!! an invitation for random phone calls if ever there was one... BAH!
Bjee - 20 December '05 - 19:09

Then call me biatch :) All I heard was silence when Mantwaan was over there!
JookBoy (link) - 21 December '05 - 02:00

ooooooooooooooooooooooo :P
addy - 21 December '05 - 15:12

one word... bizzzaaay!!
Bjee - 28 December '05 - 09:32

you can try the bart simpson approach, drink 12 glasses of water before going to bed. you're bound to wake up early in the morning to pee ^_^
reenie - 02 January '06 - 07:20

just don't drink too much water or you'll be waking up all night to pee...just like me after field day. damn that 44 degree day!
anton - 02 January '06 - 16:49

BJee: Hope MoS was the bomb.

reenie: What I did have the other day was the strangest dream where the dream told me to wake up when the alarm rang, and I got up at exactly 6:30am.

anton: I think I did that at Jervis...at least you didn't have to navigate past 6 bodies to get to the toilet!
JookBoy (link) - 03 January '06 - 01:31

Food Flavourings

Reading an article about why Macdonald's fries taste so good, it's amazing what food manufacturers do these days. That "natural flavour" at the bottom of the contents list really means a lot. I liked the metaphor that the flavourists are like the modern-day alchemist, mix a few ingredients, and poof! a new flavour appears.

As a beginner foodie, I am already impressed by the quality of some of the meals that I have tasted in the last few months. Places I used to deem pointlessly expensive have now moved into the "still expensive, but there's something worthwhile there."

I wonder if in the future we will just eat a slab of material (probably plasticy) and you can create any taste, any texture with the right chemicals. It would just be like Star Trek, where they can reform atoms into any meal that is required. What would become of the Tetsuya's, the Bennelong's, the Claudes's (I feel cool just knowing these names!) of Sydney? Will they disappear? Can a food flavourist ever get a Three-hat rating from Sydney Morning Herald?

Or will people place an even greater premium to the "wizards" who can create flavour not from chemicals, but from a mixture of natural foodstuffs? Theirs may the skill that will live on.

Damn! five cheap calls already:

I don't make no damn fries! If you said chicken nuggets I'd understand...
h0rnbag - 09 December '05 - 06:55

if you want a rant about maccas, read morgan spurlock's "don't eat this book". i'm sure you've seen supersize me. this is just more information that came out from making the movie. interestingly enough, maccas in europe have changed the oil they use to make fries. maccas in the US still refuse to do it.
reenie (email) - 11 December '05 - 05:23

I saw these in Time Magazine in the 2005 Best Inventions section. Flavor Spray is a collection of delectable flavor sprays that can be mixed with a variety of foods including poultry, seafood, beef, salads, vegetables, dairy and bread products.

The flavor sprays are designed to simulate the taste of dieters' favorite foods while eliminating the guilt of eating them -- each contains no fat, calories, carbohydrates or cholesterol. Each spray contains a liquid extract made up of water, salts, emulsifiers, and natural and artificial flavors, with Splenda used as a sweetener in the “dessert” sprays.

Hmmm. Now they've just gone too far.
http://www.flavorspraydiet.com/
milli - 12 December '05 - 06:25

geez, wheres the enjoyment in that.......
i like my food , like kev, only recently have i learnt not to be so damn picky and try different foods - in particular, sample fine cuisine. Im so glad i have. yumbo
addy - 12 December '05 - 16:30

So all I'm eating is water and salts. Are emulsifiers things that make other things gooey? Yum! :P
JookBoy (link) - 18 December '05 - 01:33

Throwing Away Knowledge

I decided to remove all the magazines that I had collected over the last 2.5years at Crows Nest and was going to archive them in a box upstairs. During this time, I came across a website that provided some advice on living a simpler life. It talked of reducing clutter in your house, and making sure things are in the right place.

So I decided to just throw the magazines away. However, as my flatmate succinctly put it, "I can throw away clothes and material things, but I have issues throwing away knowledge". It's the promise that there is some nugget of information that can be found be reading the articles again that will always haunt me.
I had a conflict. I knew that if I archived them, I was 95% sure that I would never read them again.
Luckily my Mandarin teacher wanted to read up on some investing magazines. So now they have a new happy home. I just have to work out what to do with The Economist, Time, Men's Health....

Why do we hold on to things that really have no value to us? Knowledge should reside in the brain, and if it's not there, then there's many other places to store it, is there?

Damn! two cheap calls already:

i'm sorry, but are you calling Men's Health knowledge? wow, that explains a lot :P instead of throwing out, give to charity. that's what i did when i moved, gave majority of my books to st vinnies.
reenie (email) - 29 November '05 - 03:51

Sounds like it's time to join eBay!

I understand the inclination to not throw out knowledge. Knowledge is valuable, but it is everywhere.

I doubt your old Time and Economist mags are going to give you any valid up to date information (knowledge). And you know that the 95% chance of you not reading them again is really 100%.

Perhaps if you had not read the mags yet it would be different. However, you did read them, took what you learned from them and moved on. Nothing wrong with that.

I hope your recycling bin is not full :)
taipan (link) - 01 December '05 - 05:02

The Perfect Organiser

Throughout my short career, I have had the issue of sychronising data from work to home and vice versa. Things events (sorry I double-booked this Sunday Reenie and Bei!), to-do lists and scribbles all lived separate lives within the work computer and the home computer. I was also looking at ways to capture my thoughts from day to day, even when I wasn't near a computer.

Over the last year or so I've been getting quite hooked into reading about productivity, and all the wonderful websites and software that geeky people like myself would toy with because:

• I like to tinker.
• I thought it would help.
• It was cool!

After a while, however, I would think that the system would not satisfy my needs, and move on to some new software. In reality it failed because I didn't take the time to work out what I really needed out of an organiser or PDA.

All this searching for the 'perfect PDA' is a useless exercise. There is no such thing. Quoting from another productivity website, the system should provide you with..."your absolute must-have requirements mixed in with the shortcomings you’re willing to tolerate will determine what’s right for you. (Coincidentally, this is true of jobs, relationships, locations, houses, and cars, too.)".

And so I'm back to square one. What I need from a PDA is:

1. The ability to jot down thoughts when I need to
2. Flexible entry style
3. Captures future events
4. Task oriented
5. Somewhere to hold things I collect during the day.

The new Franklin Covey organiser that I got on my training course is getting some workout, but I need to dedicate some more time to keeping it updated. The beauty is the weekly role piece of paper, which outlines what I have to do for the next week, according to the roles that I have. I think I can live without a lot of the other stuff. A learner and meaner organiser awaits!

Only one cheap call:

That thing looks similar to the Day Timer I use. Is it two pages to a day? Between that, and the month-to-a-view (good for organising social life and big work events, and updating with people's birthdays at the beginning of each month) it had everything I needed to keep relatively organised. And I put all my little projects in the tabbed section.

I think the only thing an electronic organiser wins in is the automatic meeting reminders. Apart from that, paper wins hands down every time.

Flame away, biatchez!!!!!

RC
randomcow - 20 November '05 - 07:13

Melbourne Review

In one word: fantastic. Whilst the "four seasons in one day" still rings true, this trip introduced a variety of sights and sounds, from The Great Ocean Rd, to the dark little lounge bars along Hardware Lane in Melbourne city. I like Melbourne for its structured-ness i.e. the trams, and the wide walkable streets in the city, not to mention the tourist-friendly assistance of the locals, both on the street and at the places we stayed.

Maybe it was Cup fever, but there were so many people out and about on the streets!

So the obligatory top ten (I swears there are some copycat sites out there :))
1. The craps table at Crown Casino. The buy in was only $5 per bet, so much cheaper than Star City!
2. Great Ocean Rd drive. I had forgotten how dramatic the scenery was off the Victorian coast, especially on a windy and rainy day.
3. Vintage clothing. I am officially a convert! Looking forward to more markets and vintage store shopping for my clothes.
4. Free trams. Well, no-one asked me for a ticket....
5. Sake at Kazen. So much drunkenness for only $8 each!
6. XR6 Falcon. Maaaate, she goez! Plus some quality rally driving from Bec :)
7. St Kilda. I like the casual laid back atmosphere of the place, plus the markets there were really good.
8. Albrect Dürer at the NGV. Really impressed with his drawings, I am a bit etchings fan myself. Was disappointed not to find some decent prints at the NGV, but will get some one day.
9. La La Land bar. Big tumblers, comfy couches all add up to plenty of entrepreneurial ideas for doing the same here in Sydney.
10. Deliberately losing our watches. Always helps slow down the pace of the trip, and makes everything relaxed, as a good holiday should be.

Looking at her list, we're almost the same! Goes to show that the highlights of a trip are always the ones where fun is had by everyone.

Good times, will post up some photos soon.

Only one cheap call:

Fantastic indeed. Looking at your list - who's calling who copycat??!! =p
beckster (link) - 02 November '05 - 02:55

Neurotic Imposture

Reading this symptom is Boss magazine, and the actual research paper, probably the best way to describe this symptom is with a story.

A bright young employee is promoted to a mor senior level within the company. He/she is very clever, but feared that they couldn't take on the new job's responsibilities. At the root of the dlemma was their suspicion that they are just not good enough, and they lived in dread that they would be exposed any minute. Whilst on the outside observer their achievements are great, annd that they are extrememly successful leaders, deep down inside they see themselves as frauds. It causes them to believe that they don't deserve their success at all.

Now the problem with this is that as you go higher up the corporate ladder, there will be a time where you will be in the number one position. This is where the person is expected to stand on his or her own. When this occurs, risk aversion sets in, and the organisation with a neurotic impostor as its CEO will fail to tackle entrepreneurial and high risk activities, stifling growth.

Something struck me in that article, it seemed to be quite similar to how I feel. Granted, I'm not top 5% of the INSEAD graduation class (as per the article) but I often tell others that I think the achievements I have made have been due to luck and right timing more than anything else. I look towards the future of my career and there is a fear that I will head up some business unit and I will just not have the right stuff.

But there can be a cure. Of course the first thing is self-identification of this issue. The other is to recognise that mistakes and failures can offer great opportunities for learning and personal growth, and that the fear of failure should not be debilitating. Constructive criticism should be welcomed, not a catastrophe.

Anyone out there a neurotic imposture?

Damn! seven cheap calls already:

as a 'professional services' professional, i think ppl pay waaay too much for my services. then again, i know other 'professional services' professionals who charge at almost twice my rate. i also feel that i'm over-paid, which probably explains the need for my exorbitant rates, but that doesn't stop me from wanting more money!!

impostor, i don't know, but definitely neurotic. bwahahahaha

btw, u were mighty stoned or drunk or your left pinky must've been hanging off your hand when u typed that post. check out all the typos!! :b
ken (link) - 19 October '05 - 09:50

Yeah, it was a bit of a rush post before dinner :) Not of the usual high standards.

Ah, the key to the exorbitant rates is known as "overhead" ie drunken corporate parties, karaoke nights, free birthday cakes, stationery etc etc
JookBoy (link) - 19 October '05 - 09:59

Dude, you're not an impostor. You've worked hard up until now. Give yourself some credit.

When the day comes for you to head up a business unit and you don't have the right stuff, you'll probably stuff it up. You wouldn't be the first.

Actually, as you know I started work out here in Hokkaido about three weeks ago. They've got me working as a Bell boy, so I greet the guests, take their luggage and show them to the front desk. Then when they have finished checking in I take them to their room, and explain the features of the room (air con, fridge, japanese YUKATA and slippers, the view, etc). Thing is, there's this whole seperate language for when you speak to customers/guests which I had read about but never actually used. Which could be the same as you - you can do stuff to prepare for the next big step, but there's nothing like actually doing it (there's no shortage of 'How to be a CEO' books out there).

So first couple of times I took guests to their rooms I stuffed up a lot. But by the end of the first week I was doing it like a pro. These days I have relaxed a lot more, and I joke with the guests in the elevator. At the same time I'm still trying to refine my language and do the best job I can.

RC
randomcow - 22 October '05 - 07:43

dude, sorry to hijack your blog, but I couldn't think of a more suitable place to put an update so that everyone could read it.

So this week I got kicked out of the place I was living. It was a shit place to begin with that the agent had found for me and this other guy working at the hotel for the same agent. 30 minutes walk from the station over a huge fucking hill (fun until winter comes along and it starts snowing. Like, this week). Asshole owners who don't let me use the kitchen, and are just dislikable people. strange smell. old. 200yen for a shower, or to use the washing machine. Cold. Expensive. Nothing open nearby after about 10pm. Well, the convenience store was open until 11:00pm. Kinda like a guest house except shit.

So me and the other guy living with me there had pretty much decided we were moving out, and had already started looking for a place in TEINE which is much closer to Sapporo. They have 24 hour stuff there, like a supermarket and bars that are open until late.

The thing is, there is a contract between the agent that we are working for and the owner of the shitty house. Please understand that the agent chose this place without looking at it. In fact, the agent that I'm working for has never been to Hokkaido. So of course when we let the agent know that we are thinking of leaving after just one month then he decides to try and get out of the one year contract as cheaply as possible. he ends up having an argument with the owner of the house, who says he wants us out THAT VERY DAY.

Luckily the guys in HR (HR people in Japan actually do stuff for their employees. So refreshing) managed to organise me and my mate to live with this manager who lives near by in his one bedroom place. Well, he lives there with three other guys who crash on the floor. So now there are six of us here in this one bedroom place.

But back to the day we got kicked out, I arranged with one of the guys from work who finished about the same time as me to drive me back in his van so we could pick up all our stuff. I was packing stuff into my bags like a madman. We apologised and left at about midnight, back to the hotel to drop of 95% of our stuff. I have been living out of a small backpack for about a week now. It's tough.

So we arrived at the manager's apartment at about 1am. The manager is asleep, but he wakes up at about 1:30 - "Ok, let's go to the spa!" We soak away our stress in the specially salted waters of this establishment for a couple of hours, go for gyudon and a beer, and end up in bed around 4:30am.

The rest of the week was crazy-busy. There was a public holiday last week (I think there is one almost every week here in Japan) and so between work, looking for a new place to live, and getting drunk every night with my new temporary sharemates I didn't have time to fully appreciate how crazy my Japan adventure is getting.

To top things off, yesterday the manager and I happened to have the same day off work. So after cracking open first beers at 11am, we went for japanese style gengis kahn (Sydney's is better), more drinking until he fell asleep at a beer hall at about 5pm for about an hour. I got bored and so I went and made some new friends. (^o^) Then the manager wakes up and we walk around the town looking for some action. We decide that there wasn't anything going on, so we catch a train to Sapporo!

First bar we went to was all-you-can-drink (that reminds me - when you guys are here, I found an all-you-can-drink for 290yen, that's about AU$3.20 these days, for 30 minutes. bar-style karaoke included). And you want to drink a lot, because each time the bar girl goes and pours your drink you can see her pussy. Oh, I forgot to mention that the hostesses were all pantyless, and walking around on our table reaching up to use the alcohol-pouring devices. and their breasts were out for all to see, too. Some busty girls too, expecially considering they're asian. You guys are probably not the best crowd to make that comment to now, but it's late and I'm drunk. I have my own private girl come sit on the table in front of me for a bit and hold my hand while we chat. She was dumb, but it's kinda cute. Lucky my time with her was up quickly. Nice tits, too. Smooth skin.

Anyway, after a short while the show starts. Basically many variations of the same theme, where the girls spend a few minutes doing an activity before moving around the circle. Oh yeah, it was a circular bar, with all seedy gyuys like me sitting around and getting drunk.

So what were these games? Well, there was one where everyone had pen-lights. The lights went out, and while the girl in front was rubbing her pussy you use the penlight to see as much as you can. Funny stuff.

Then there was the one where the girls would grind their ass against your crotch in tune with the music, and the one where you have about 30 seconds fondling time. And then the one where they rubbed you crotch.

But the best game was the paper scissors rock, where the prize for beating them was a nice look at their pussy. Of course, they show you what they're going to play before hand, so you can't lose! I felt like a king!

I touched the breasts of about 12 different women last night. Closest I'd ever have come to that in Sydney is a measly 3 or 4 in one night, and they were all wearing a bra.

Anyway, the homeless thing will sort itself out. Hope you're all well.

RC
randomcow (email) - 06 November '05 - 21:49

Wow nice post. I've got a few wild KTV experiences to tell you about - but over email instead hehe
Al (email) - 09 November '05 - 12:48

Let the record show that my all-you-can-drink experience in Shibuya was waaay different to that. It was much more expensive, for one! :)

No wonder I'm getting referred to by all these pr0n sites. RC, have you been referring me?
Sounds like a great trip mate. Is your blog up yet?
JookBoy (link) - 09 November '05 - 14:57

I've started posting work-related stuff here:

http://participate.jhip.org/?cat=2

I don't know if you can set up a RSS feed to only read the stuff I'm posting though, so if you subscribe you might get all the unrelated posts too.

RC
randomcow - 19 November '05 - 22:19

Is Chivalry Dead?

On the news the other day on CNBC (go the Foxtel at work!) they ran this acted scenario in one of the local parks (middle of the day) where a man was shouting and pushing his girlfriend around. Then they filmed passer-by's reactions to the scene, and what people would do. They found out, compared to men, double the number of women stopped to tell the boyfriend to back off.

This is ordinary! I would hope that as a male, I would be willing to step up in these situations.

I hate to admit it, but I did watch one guy get beaten up by three other guys outside a dance party once. In those cases, your body just freezes. And you think too much, like "what if the other guy was getting beaten up cause he was beating up someone prior?". And another thought that comes through, "I don't want to get caught up with this stuff". Looking back, I'm still not sure if I did the right thing.

I would say, though, with a degree of confidence, that I would come in to defend my friends and and females. Lucky my friends don't get in fights all the time!

Damn! three cheap calls already:

hey i saw that too. pretty freaky stuff
sadly, it was also emphasised that due to legal issues nowadays, people are more scared to intervene.
i hope that my friends would help me if a guy was hurting me. i hope that my friends would intervene if one of their friends was being hurt. No i dont condone fighting, but if someones getting hurt, you will soon know who your friends are..
addy - 03 October '05 - 14:18

Mate don't ever doubt the Doraemon incident mate, not good to step into that one. I'll back you :)
PeeDz - 03 October '05 - 20:22

legal issues, as well as the chance that you get your head smacked in. There is more chance of the guy turning on you if you're a guy, rather than a girl. No way I'm stepping in to protect a girl from her boyfriend. Why the fuck is she going out with an abusive boyfriend?

RC
randomcow - 09 October '05 - 05:33

Search Strings

I can't remember if I've written about this, but I checked my search logs (yes, it's quite entertaining :)), and I have found that all the searches that rate on my site are pr0n searches.

It turns out that I am on the first page for searches on "girls going down on each other" as well as "four girls kissing". Not to be outdone, I'm providing for the 'ghey' community with "best looking guy in the world" (though not on page 1 of the results). People actually put these things in for searches?? And people actually click through to my site? This site isn't even trying to be hardcore!

To all your pr0n readers out there. Welcome!
Edit 22 May 07: Those search strings aren't up to date anymore :(

Damn! two cheap calls already:

me too! for some reason my site always comes up for searches where the words wild girls, petite asian girls, strippers etc etc!! and for awhile search strings for "xbox vs the girlfriend" or "halo vs the girlfriend" was a very hot topic leading to my site...it made me feel a bit better that it wasn't just me out there!!
mushiejc (link) - 16 September '05 - 15:25

Someone say pr0n? :)

Ohyeah... its how I ended up here...

"azn boy love"
PeeDz - 16 September '05 - 20:02

Moving On

Today's my last day out at Ropes Crossing (or St Marys), and I'll be heading back to the big smoke for some IT project management work.
What have I learnt?
1. That on-site work is totally different to working at Head Office. Things like internet connectivity are good most the time, but shocking other times. There is a sense of disconnect with the main office (especially with the remoteness of this site), and also a sense of tribalness. The people here are wonderful, and quite willing to help out and lend assistance to each other. Interruptions happen a lot often, mostly because everyone knows everyone else.

2. DLL is a company at a cross-roads. It's finding its identity through a myriad of organisational structures, and there is no lockdown operational processes that you find at a more mature company, which leads to communication problems between the different "disciplines" of the project. It is still growing, but needs to organise that growth and get everyone aligned to the same goals to maximise its effectiveness and value.

3. I still like IT. Marketing is fun, and urban communities I have learnt all sorts of wonderful information from, but the sign-offs that marketing requires and the sometimes ambivalent nature of the urban communities job detract from the glamour. I see these experiences as additions to the core skill of project management, and when talking to business people, having had business experience provides that little bit more street cred.
What of sales? Sales was fun, and I liked talking to people. As above, an integration of sales into an IT role is something to think about. I think the hours or the sales staff (no weekends off for the whole year) and the location of the job are not really what I wanted.

So back to Crows Nest for me. At last I can stop living out of a bag!

Only one cheap call:

As long as you remember all your sales lines... life is sales :) They'll serve you well.

Now, about updating your crappy Honda... would you like to come in Saturday or Sunday? :P
PeeDz - 16 September '05 - 20:04

My Sassy Girl

I am many years too late for this movie, but I don't get out much.
The bottom line for this movie is that persistence pays off in the end. And that Korean guys get some major thumbing! :)

I really did enjoy the movie, from the "school uniform" dance outing, to the quasi-vomiting face of the guy, to the part where he tries to chat up the girl of his dreams ("'Hey baby...your English is so good!'"), the movie had lots of quality scenes, and tied up the ends quite well.
It was sappy, but in a feel good way, and that "I Believe" song is the bomb! Can someone sing that at our next Karaoke?

The only question is why did the aunt want to introduce to the girl a guy that looks like her dead boyfriend? I find that a bit strange. Wouldn't you want to get over it by at the very least meeting people that don't look the same??

Damn! seven cheap calls already:

geez, you ARE living in a time capsule :P
That movie is the reason im soo into korean flicks. Although im finding a very strange trend that korean gals are PSYCHO and super demanding. Makes us other gals look like angels :P ding! *halo lights up over addy's head*
other cool korean flicks - My tutor friend and the series Full House.
addy - 04 September '05 - 06:46

hey kc, i know how you feel about scary movies, but how do you feel about violence? *grin* watch "oldboy" - it'll leave you disturbed for awhile :P and stay away from "save the green planet"...
reenie - 04 September '05 - 09:15

Violence not too bad, but from what you are saying I assume those movies are of the excessive category?
JookBoy (link) - 05 September '05 - 05:13

"oldboy" is a tad on the violent side, a tad on the squeamish side, and deep into the disturbed side. watch it! but you might look at beck differently by the end of it :P "save the green planet" is just insane. not worth watching...
reenie - 05 September '05 - 22:15

i recently (and regrettably) stayed up to watch some korean movie on sbs (i did cop a bit of titty for my effort) which was about this couple who make a road trip and as a gesture of goodwill, give this hitchhiking dude a lift. the ungrateful hiker refuses to leave them alone and at one point breaks into their hotel room from memory. if u think that's bad enuff, by the end of it, he kidnaps the woman and when the husband hacks into him a thousand and twelve times, he's still alive. i seem to recall something about a cattle prod up where the sun don't shine, or maybe that was another sbs classic. just when it was REALLY time to sleep the pyscho is hospitalised and the couple decide to exercise one of their lives by visiting him, at which point he wakes up and it starts all over again. ultimately both mr. brain tumours and wife die and said husband becomes a nutter himself -- the final scene being him being discharged from a mental unit and hitchhiking with another unsuspecting korean couple.....

moral of the story? korean pron just ain't worth it.
ken p - 06 September '05 - 14:36

That is some weird shit....what does "exercise one of their lives" mean? Is that an option to bank in?
JookBoy (link) - 11 September '05 - 13:50

My Sassy Girl taught me a lot about how to get Korean girls. I remember this one date, I went in for the kiss TEN TIMES. Every time I was met with a wall of tightly-closed lip. Then finally on the tenth time her lips softened ever so slightly. That's when I knew she was mine. Bear in mind that this girl had told me throughout the date that she wasn't interested in me at all because I wasn't Korean, that she could only have feelings for Korean guys, that she was saving herself for her future husband (who was to be, you guessed it, Korean), and that she wasn't interested in me at all because I had a playboy aura,...

Though I wouldn't go so far as to say that persistence "pays off" when it comes to Korean girls. Rather that it's a necessary part of the dating process, to push yourself past what would normally be "confortable" by Western dating standards. So make sure the girl you are trying to get is worth it!

(and as a general rule which applies to all women, alcohol helps).

Anyway, most of you girls are getting on in years, so you're probably old enough to just on the Yon-sama wagon, part of the mythical Korean Boom in Japan at the moment. Read here for details:

http://www.occidentalism.org/?p=61

Anyway, I'm no specialist by any means. We need to get the full details from Richard S. :)

RC
randomcow (email) (link) - 26 September '05 - 08:25

Kev & Ben's Excellent Adventure

Finally! It's organised. Ben and I just take a while :) Here's an excerpt of the email...

All you have to do is print out the following ticket:

and bring it on the night for free entry; otherwise the man will charge you $10!

Location: Jackson's on George, Level 1, 176 George Street.
Date: Two months too late! Saturday 3rd September 2005
Time: 10:00pm start. Get there early to make sure you can get in.
Music: RnB and Hip-Hop with the 1996-99 Golden Years of RnB mixed in just
the way you like it. Hope to see you there!

Damn! four cheap calls already:

See you there mate !!
JT (link) - 01 September '05 - 06:18

i was thinking about this over the weekend. for those who don't have home printers (a la moi), what about getting with the digital age and allowing people who have a pix of the coupon on their mobiles or digicams the same privis? :)
reenie - 04 September '05 - 09:55

Sadly since my phone is the "brick-style" Nokia 3310, the only pictures I can get is the dirty pr0n ones where you press the up and down keys of the mobile.
I should have asked Jacksons. And anyways, where were you?
JookBoy (link) - 05 September '05 - 05:15

ah hah! i have a brilliant excuse for this one. i was at a friend's farewell party :) inability to clone myself and my charming personality only left me with one event choice for the nite :P since you're still in the country...
reenie - 05 September '05 - 22:17

Social Capital

My company organised a presentation by the Harvard profesor Robert Putnam on the workings of social capital. If you click on the link, the information that is summarised is heaps better than anything I can write. My review here addresses what I saw as memorable sections of the speech.

• It is the connections we make with each other (this social capital) that adds value and productivity to our lives.
• Being socially disconnected equates to the same mortality rate as that of smoking.
• Social capital has to be based on physical networking. However, the key with technology is to work out how to utilise this technology we have now to better those networks.
• There are two types of social capital; bonding and bridging. Bonding capital is all about commonalities i.e. I would have a natural bonding capital with other asian male professionals in their mid-twenties. Bridging capital is the networks with have with people of different backgrounds, cultures, genders, age etc. A community must have both types for it to grow and succeed.

Bridging capital is obviously the harder one to create. So there are ways to increase the chances of this with groups.

1. Have lower barriers of entry i.e. make it easy to get in and get out
2. Have a cellular structure in your organisation, so that members will belong to small groups. People will feel the value in their small groups, and the aim of the leaders is to make sure all the small groups are heading the right direction.
3. Use common and less verbal activites to increase bridging e.g. arts, sports

It was a great talk. It's always good to get new perspectives on things. I'm keen on getting involved in a play now :)

Damn! three cheap calls already:

A play? Any excuse to perform in spandex pants right?

The article in your link is very interesting reading. It answers many questions, but poses more. Do we really trust our public authorities less now than in the past - do we today have a free voice to express it across mass media in a way not possible for previous generations?

Regardless, the data he provides is thought provoking. The physiological effects that intellectual stimulation and more notably human interaction provide are truly amazing.

Thanks for that post mate.
Taipan - 21 August '05 - 19:15

Interesting topic! I touched on Putnam and Bourdieu on Social capital last semester and yeah I passed! So what happens when there is a breakdown on Social Capital? If we are better off these days because as Putnam puts it that social capital adds value and productivity to our lives, why are we still finding less time but more work and pressure these days? and finding us spending less time with family and love ones?
lemon - 08 September '05 - 21:32

I think Putnam believes that the days around the end of 1960s were the good ones, and this correlates to the period of greatest "social capital" in terms of community involvement.

Now might be great productively, but pretty bad from a social capital perspective.
JookBoy (link) - 11 September '05 - 13:48

Karaoke

What pushes us to become pop diva's at the instant the lights dim and the words flash out to you on the TV?
How does someone make "Total Eclipse of the Heart" a hard rock ballad?

Tricks and traps for young players:

1. Don't go out hard on the first 2 or 3 tracks of the night...you'll be ruined. Pace yourself with a Rick Astley classic like "Never Gonna Give You Up"
2. Be drunk.
3. Like, really drunk.
4. Memorise your fave song codes off by heart, no need to flick through the song books, and you'll be first in line.
5. Pick crowd-pleasing melodies eg "Catch My Disease" by Ben Lee, so that other people will join in, and you sound wonderful.
6. Split your group into "Fools" and "Serious Idols"...this usually ends up as guys and girls.
7. 2 hours is definitely not enough for the quality that is produced!

More comments and suggestions!

Damn! eight cheap calls already:

You gotta watch out for the closet boy band wannabes *cough* Bernie *cough* :P
PeeDz - 13 August '05 - 17:48

it was interesting to see the boys all groan and point fingers when Rick Ashley came on but then ALL started crooning out the song knowing ALL the lyrics!!! :P

Meanwhile Belinda Carlisle still Rocks!
addy - 14 August '05 - 07:06

All the reaaal signers know the harmony sections of songs...esp those boy band tracks.

Signature, crowd pleasing tracks are also important, e.g. Get Low by Simon Watt.

3 hours for a group our size should be mandatory. Two just leaves you wondering...what if?
ricegrains (link) - 14 August '05 - 14:28

yeah and we gotta keep that remote away from 'button-happy' peedz :P

Skeet skeet skeet......
Addy - 15 August '05 - 12:59

Oi, I even sacrifice my own "Never done before U2 not so famous hit" for the pleasure of my fellow singers :) No finger pointing over here!
PeeDz - 16 August '05 - 20:06

It's Bernie "Boy Band" Wai :)
Yes, Peedz, I was waiting for some U2 that night. Till next time...
JookBoy (link) - 21 August '05 - 07:58

Ok let me tell a karaoke story that I posted elsewhere recently.


* * * * *


Call me a n00b, but I didn't realise that karaoke boxes here on Japan are intended for having sex in. I'd heard vague references to this phenomenon, but I guess people just assume that everyone knows this.

To be honest, it's not possible in Sydney's karaoke boxes (well, a friend had one room in one particular karaoke box that he reckoned could be used for doing the deed). And this is coming from me, the guy who has managed to find places all over the Sydney CBD.

I spent a couple of days in Tokyo this week, meeting up with friends I had made in Sydney over the years. One of which was a korean girl who would never let me make love to her in Australia because of her boyfriend back in korea, so I had to settle for sucking her tits and receving oral sex.

It was just coincidence that we were both in Tokyo at the same time - we were both there for two nights, and one night happened to overlap. We met in Shibuya and went to a Japanese "izakaya" bar for a beer and some food.

At about 9pm we left the izakaya and headed over to the seedy half of Shibuya. I suggested karaoke and she was cool with that. Of course, when we got into the room there were no korean song books, and so I took the hint and said that there were no English songs either. Our drinks arrived, and after a sip of beer I put a POWER MOVE™ into action and the rest is history.

Oh yeah, some points about these places being made for sex (just in case there are other n00bs out there like me)

* there are tissues there
* the seats are all vinyl = easy to clean
* if you're not entering songs in, the karaoke machine is making plenty of noise to mask any sounds you or her might make
* when you turn the lights off, I doubt you can see a lot from outside. And even if someone were to come and have a look (and they don't) they would have to be coming specifically to look for that kind of thing. They don't do this. They just don't.
* no cameras in there. Unless they are really well hidden. And even if there are cameras, and we were being watched, the staff didn't say anything.
* after 50 minutes when the courtesy call comes, you just pick up the phone and say you'd like to extend for an hour, and go back to whatever you were doing. ***TIP*** the phone can be reached from most places (and postitions) in the karaoke box.
* there are all kinds of possibilities for positions and so forth in there. Table, sofa/bed,... ok, there isn't *that* much scope, but for creative people it can be like a poor-man's love hotel.

Anyway, I'm excited about this new discovery! Can't wait to get back to Tokyo and do it all again!

RC
randomcow (email) - 26 September '05 - 08:31

Haha, seems like you've become quite the veteran :)

However, I feel that everyone in Sydney karaoke bars looks into your room as they go past. Some of them even start singing the song you're singing!

Hope Japan is treating you well up in Otaru.
JookBoy (link) - 02 October '05 - 07:20

Working For Work's Sake

I heard recently that there is a family out there that makes $200,000 from government benefits. There are 6 in the family, and they are living it up (I'm assuming it's tax free?), chilling out at home and playing the XBox.

One of the major issues with unemployment is the lack of financial security. With "The Solid Facts: The Social Determinants of Health" paper from the World Health Organisation in Europe (it's amazing the stuff I read now for my work), the authors have stated that unemployment brings both mental and physical illnesses.
But what if that financial insecurity was removed, as is the case with this family. They are earning a decent buck.

Life is grand...or is it?

At much as we would like to be ladies and men of leisure, I think there is an urge in all of us to have a meaningful job. A job that we feel utilises our skills, encourages responsilibty and and promotes creativity and problem solving. There is a buzz from achieving, no matter what the task may be. We look forward to our reviews, not just to complain about a pay rise (which we all do!) but to see if the stuff we do is making a difference.

Do other people feel this is true, or am I off on the wrong path?
Would an extra 40 hours of relaxation make me a happier person?

Damn! six cheap calls already:

I think for most of us who want to achieve even a teeny microscopic amount of something/anything with their lives, a career of coach-potatoing will drive them certifiably insane. Particularly for our social clique, most of whom were raised in decent environments and privileged enough to receive a solid education. To squander it away is an injustice to all of that. A holiday is only a holiday if you have something to take a break from.

A job confirms your self-worth in a sense. Like you said, we all like to know that what we're doing is making a difference, that we're being constructive, not just taking up space. The politics, pain and endless biatching at work makes life interesting.
beckster (link) - 04 August '05 - 13:32

I've been off work for almost two months now. I don't really want to go back, to be honest. I couldn't really say I'm not adding to people's lives. I'm a funny guy, I make people laugh.

RC (the clown)
randomcow - 10 August '05 - 09:44

if you can keep yourself busy in your time off (e.g. travelling the world, surfing the net, house sitting or xbox) i don't think many people would not it back. Who's gonna knock back free-money? or who'd knock back a job with less work/responsibilities and more money? not me :)
Dessy (link) - 11 August '05 - 18:21

How much net surfing and XBox playing can one do?
As with all things, it's all a balance....although those all-nighter Halo events were fantastic!

I don't know though, having less responsibilities makes a job less interesting.
JookBoy (link) - 12 August '05 - 13:19

I think it comes down to your personal needs.

There are 6 basic needs we, as humans, all share -

1 Certainty
2 Uncertainty/Variety
3 Significance
4 Connection/Love
5 Growth
6 Contribution.

Addictions arise when people satisfy 3 or more of these needs by committing a various act eg smoking.

Needs 5 and 6 are what it sounds like people fear losing if they do not work or accept reduced workplace responsibilities. As most people reading this site are "achievers" the thought of not growing (#5) or not contributing beyond themself (#6) is unattractive.

People who don't like getting up for work every day and additionally don't like the thought of NOT working every day clearly value their need for Variety. It doesn't matter what they do, as long as some uncertainty about their day exists.

Surely there are alternate ways to meet these needs other than work, right?
Taipan (link) - 14 August '05 - 10:14

dude I haven't worked for more than three months now and I'm still not sick of it. I start work this Monday as a porter at the Hilton Hotel up in Otaru (near Sapporo) just in time for ski season :) I wouldn't say I'm not looking forward to it, but the time off has been great.

RC
randomcow - 26 September '05 - 08:34

Performance Review

Had my performance review the other day. Performance reviews are a strange thing, it's like a year of my life condensed into an hour meeting. Things that I don't even remember committing to pop up, and I'm at a loss to explain what actually happened.

I didn't do as well as I would have like, to be honest. Missed out on a few goals, but the realisation that came through from this session was that money plays a part at all levels of the company. I consider myself to still be a youngling (where do Star Wars script writers come up with these words??) at my company, so making money for the company is not something high in my priorities (I'm in an internal service area). Obviously you watch your costs, but the need to actively bring in money for IT is a new concept, and something to bring for the next year.

The other thing to bring for the next year is passion and enthusiasm. Much like that "Fish!" book (Yui, I think I still have your book!), it seems like I'm great when there's exciting things to do (and perform quite well), but mundane tasks make me want to procrastinate :)

So the answer is less surfing the web, batch checking of emails (you know that if you check your email once a minute, you will create 500 interruptions??), and just focussing on the tasks at hand. The other option is to just give me exciting projects and I'll be the bomb!

Did anyone have any fun reviews this year?

Only one cheap call:

mine was along the lines of... fantastic effort this past year... above and beyond... great feedback from all your managers and clients... unfortunately we can't afford to give you a raise... but keep up the good work
ding! (email) (link) - 31 July '05 - 15:01

The Best Looking Man In The World...

..is obviously not me :)

Normally, this would most likely be the end of this post.
However, as a friend sent me an e-mail and asked me to write about it, so I will.
With comments like "YUMMMMMMMMMMOOOOOOOOO" and "I can see why he won", I leave it to the female (and interested male) parts of the audience of this blog to make their own judgements.



Personally, here are the points that I note about this:

• Broad shoulders
• Symmetrical face
• Funky hair
• Chiselled jaw-line
• OK, I admit it...a great smile

So I would say he's quite good looking, but the "best in the world"?
Now, what makes him so special? Is it the combination of the above features? Is it the way he moves those hands? Is it the way he never quite looks at the camera?
Is it the promise of a fun time in those eyes? Am I becoming just a bit gay??

*cough* excuse me.

Anyways...enlighten me! :)

P.S. There is a guy offering 10 large for someone to find him a wife. Talk about a spotter's fee!

Damn! six cheap calls already:

someone save me from drowning in my own drool... im referring to the modern day adonis of course (not the 10k man)... :D
Bei (email) - 13 July '05 - 17:12

bei, i remember you mentioning to me last nite, that mr adonis was better looking than any guy you know. i'm just thinking... maybe all the guys you know are just ugly *insert cheshire cat grin here*
reenie (email) - 14 July '05 - 13:10

i said he was BETTER than any guy i knew... not that the guys i knew were ugly... if i say that conor was WORSE than the adonis, does that make him fugly? it's your call...
Bei (email) - 14 July '05 - 19:06

DAMN! he's hottttttttttttt
but ben's hotter .... of course *wink wink*

Anyone got his number??
addy - 15 July '05 - 05:07

I see a better man anytime I look in the mirror. *cough*. Yes really.
PeeDz - 16 July '05 - 16:51

He's hot - I'd give him one.

(and he looks like the kind of guy that would take one, too :P )
randomcow (email) - 17 July '05 - 05:45

27 Is A Good Year...

..or so I have heard from numerous colleagues. "It's about that time where you like who you are, you know a lot more about yourself, and in a sense you live for yourself." Wise words, I thought, as I move into the beginning of the "late-20s", where maturity settles in, and yet you haven't quite gotten to the stage of dreading the big 3-0, but you can see it in the horizon.

So do I like myself? Yes and no. I like the fact that I'm becoming better recognised at work, especially with this secondment out to the business. I had a great review, and am looking forward to putting some big runs on the board this year. I have a wonderful girlfriend, kept in touch with most of my close friends, and even bought a house :) I'm still active, taken up new sports, and am learning Mandarin (again!)

Yet I do not know if I'm striving in the right direction. Am I doing what is the best for me? I can't honestly say that I love waking up in the morning to go to work.

Reading 'Tuesdays with Morrie', and there are lessons in the book that we should all share.

"Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning".

I think the meaning sometimes slips away from me...it would be good to feel it more often. Volunteer work, anyone? :)

Damn! four cheap calls already:

ah smeggit - I forgot your b'day. Well, I remembered it a couple of days before and emailed you about it, if you remember *g*. Anyway, happy belated birthday.

I have heard that 27 is a great age for guys because the clock ticking inside all your female peers gets louder all of a sudden, and next thing you know you've got 4-5 girlfriends!

Of course, I'd never dream of "doing it" with any of the girls in my peer group.

RC
randomcow (email) - 06 July '05 - 10:39

But you might consider it if you were in Japan? :)
JookBoy (link) - 06 July '05 - 15:49

Devote yourself to a more meaningful cause. My feet need a rubbing :)

Wouldn't mind a bit of loving either...
PeeDz - 09 July '05 - 19:29

does that offer still stand?

RC
randomcow - 14 July '05 - 11:42

Gold Coast Weekend

If there's one thing about Gold Coast that is quality, it's the fact that the weather is nice all year round. We went up during the long weekend, and it's still 25 degrees up there. No wonder people want to retire in the Sunshine state.

The wedding (my brother in law's younger brother) was nice and sweet. Wonderful church (it had this glass pane looking out to the river), great food, and even had some fireworks! To be honest, you would think fireworks are a bit too much, but it actually works quite nicely, especially as a backdrop to your glamour photo shots.

The best thing about the trip was undoubtedly the fact that we as a family went up together. We haven't all travelled as a group for two years, and it's times like these that you can really bond with your family.

I was amazed and impressed to hear that one of my mum's ambitions is to work for Medicins Sans Frontieres, although the irony is her fear that because she actually is a doctor, they might send her somewhere dodgy, and she doesn't really want to travel. Still, I am sure they have training positions for people with her experience.

I had a good chat to my dad regarding my career and where it should take me. I think he's (finally!) worked out that I won't become an accountant :)

Also had some quality time with my sister before she leaves with her husband to go to Vancouver for a 18 month secondment (for his training).

It's trips like these that helps the family stay strong. I always wonder just how much different a person would be without their family influences...

Good times.

Damn! three cheap calls already:

oh darn it, i was actually looking for a good accountant to do my tax this year.

Poo.....
addy (link) - 19 June '05 - 15:48

I can recommend you my dodgey Asian accountant Addy, he's a whiz. Don't look in my direction!

Agree that families are truly the salt of the earth, nothing brings that fact home more than when they're not around fussing over you anymore. It's sad that families are strewn all around the world now, but hey, on the bright side there are free couches to bunk on all around the globe!!

Hopefully your two baby nieces stay super cute.
beckster (link) - 20 June '05 - 10:23

babe, gimme his name hahahaha actually i mite do my own again this year, but definitely next year i need an accountant.

kc, i miss my family :( im rather homesick actually. I like being fussed over! heheh doesnt everyone? But yeah, becks, its awesome knowing theres a free bed in other cities :)
addy (link) - 22 June '05 - 16:00

International Friends

There has been (and continues to be) a spate of friends making the journey overseas. Whilst the majority are heading to the UK for some European lovin', there are others who have taken the Asia route, working from places like Singapore and Beijing.

Am I envious? Of course, I think that any overseas experience is something eye-opening, both in the people you meet and the cultures you encounter.
It's character building and shows you just what you are capable of, when faced with problems that you cannot rely on friends and family to assist with.
It helps bring out the more extroverted/social side of you, as you're forced to meet new people in the search for friendships that used to come so easily.
It shows you places and sights that you would never see in Australia, places so seeped in history that Sydney feels like it was born yesterday.

Within the next few years, that trip will be made. However, I would like to think that going over will help in some way to advance the career. I feel that I am past that age where I can go over and just stuff around. The hardest thing is going overseas blind, without the security of another job lined up. Maybe I am too risk-adverse!

To those that are leaving or are currently overseas, take care of yourselves. I hope that our friendships do not dim due to the distance. I am sure that you'll have a wonderful time. Find what you're looking for, and remember to save a spot for me on your couch when I come visit!

Damn! eight cheap calls already:

you're welcome any time kev...when we get a place and couch that is!!
mushiejc (link) - 22 May '05 - 23:57

¶øÇÒ£¬ÔÚÖйúÄãÒ²¿ÉÒÔѧµ½Ò»ÃÅÓïÑÔ
al - 26 May '05 - 00:38

Sorry Al, your cheap Mandarin call just doesn't cut it on this english website :)
JookBoy (link) - 26 May '05 - 05:54

dude, if it's any consolation I'm shit-scared about this Japan trip. That's despite my language skills, research into the country (hehehe), contacts (I know about 50 people over there already, mostly Japanese), savings, etc. In fact, I don't think anyone has ever been more prepared for an overseas adventure than I am right now! And yet I'm still scared (and excited of course) of the unknown.

Do it, dude. If you come to Japan you can crash at mine for as long as you want.

RC
randomcow - 08 June '05 - 11:19

having been there done that, one day it'll be nice to say i'm doing it again :)
alvina - 15 June '05 - 11:00

RC, I'm sure you're going to have an awesome time. Can I subscribe to your mailing list of activitiez? :)
Thanks for the offer for Japan, it's one of the many places to have to revisit.

Alvina, do it again!
JookBoy (link) - 15 June '05 - 15:35

well, I own the domain name randomcow.com so I'll probably be putting a blog or something on there. It will probably be slightly different style to a lot of the travel blogs out there though, though not too different to yours, where you have well-thought-out articles. Actaully, there will be well-thought-out essays, pictures, and stories of wacky adventures. Just have to make sure I find time to update it :)

RC
randomcow (email) - 24 June '05 - 09:22

Greetings from Vancouver! It's been 3.5 months since my departure and even though I miss home, the best thing about being overseas is knowing that so many of my friends aren't in Sydney anymore, so I'm not alone in this journey of self discovery.

Do look me up if you're ever in the area!
Wendy - 28 June '05 - 05:11

For All The Bitter Souls Out There

Joelogon's Foolproof Guide to Making Any Woman Your Platonic Friend may just touch that nerve :)

Kudos to my good friend Peedz' remark: "Yeah well friends have sex too :P". Quality

Be sure to read the "Do's and Don'ts" page:
"DO create a web page that is vague enough to be relevant to the masses, yet specific enough so that the one, special platonic friend you've been carrying a torch for reads it, comes to her senses, and fulfills Fantasy #4"

Damn! three cheap calls already:

Well, that comment hasn't actually worked yet :(
PeeDz - 07 May '05 - 19:21

And here I was thinking the reason these girls call me at 1:00am sobbing about "that asshole" is because they *wanted* to have sex with me.

Oops.

RC
randomcow - 11 May '05 - 16:54

Is that what you did to this online forum to score the attention and affections of my wingwoman? Smooth man, smooth...
so - 21 June '05 - 16:38

A New Level Of Communication

"Thanks for reading the book Dad, it means a lot to me."

With those words, I believe a new chapter in a a father/son relationship has begun.I'm sure all of us out there would know about the parent to child conversations you have, where the mum or dad asks the 20 questions, and you (as the child) answer back in one word answers. Even at our age, you still get the same things.

Of course, all of us want to share with our families, and to seek advice form our parents...they have experience there that is helpful on our own journey. What's annoying is the fact that we get shot down as soon as we voice an opinion or dream that may not conform to their expectations.

Me: Oh, I was thinking of trying some sales job
Dad: What the...? Why are you throwing away your IT skills? How are you going to get those skills? Who will hire you? Blah blah blah...

So after another one of these quality communication exchanges, I thought it would be a bold step to give my dad some reading. 7 Habits :) But only one very small section about "seeking first to understand, then be understood".To be honest, I wasn't expecting much. Parents have that ace up the sleeve, namely the "I'm too old to change" call, that there is no counter for. However, after coming back from volleyball training, Dad sat me down and said,

"I photocopied the pages, cause I want Mum to read it as well. It makes a whole lot of sense. I realise what I've been doing before, and I'm going to make an effort to not judge so quickly."

Amazing!

Damn! four cheap calls already:

don't go into the car sales business - we already got kevkev for cheapie cars! I think u should work in designer womens wear...i do need to some new clothes!
mushiejc (link) - 24 April '05 - 12:53

wow! i'm surprised it worked for you.

i tried passing the same book, and another to my parents yonks ago, and i got the "i'm too old to change", "i know i'm right", line as well.

glad to hear ur dad is humble and open minded to your suggestions
alvina - 24 April '05 - 17:00

Damn, it really worked on your dad?! Good story, I can imagine the "don't waste it" line like I was there :)
PeeDz - 27 April '05 - 20:11

What the...??! Sales??! Next thing you're gonna start studying medicine or something?

RC
randomcow - 02 May '05 - 11:04

Relationships & Productivity

I've come to the conclusion that being in a relationship positively ruins your productivity.

You're relaxing at home for a while, and bam! the whole day is gone. How does this happen?
Maybe (here comes a mushy call) you're enjoying your time together too much to notice, or it could be that you need to have the combined will of two people to get both asses into gear.

We have a "things to do" list, comprising of all sorts fo fun activities ie art galleries, cultural things, cooking, trips away, learning new hobbies etc.
However, all that goes out the window, with late wake-ups in the morning, bumming around the house, DVD watching (and cuddling hehe)...the list goes on.

Not that I'm complaining. In the end, it's all quality time, right?

Damn! ten cheap calls already:

hee hee mushy call (that's me! :))

I agree QT is QT but QT outside the house is sometimes much needed after endless QT nights infront of the DVD! But then again you'll be 'complaining' about not enough in house DVD/snuggle QT nights when you're all activitied up!!
mushiejc (link) - 20 April '05 - 11:21

damn.
ue - 20 April '05 - 14:53

I'm pretty productive with my boyfriend, so who are you unproductive with JB??!!! =p
beckster (link) - 21 April '05 - 10:27

ah... but is the opposite.. ie, being too productive, any better??
bjee - 21 April '05 - 18:25

Bjee is right. What is productivity for the sake of productivity?

Btw, I'm loving single life atm :)
PeeDz - 23 April '05 - 19:28

agree with fellow commenters - no use being productive just for the sake of it.. cuddle time wins hands down over trying to achieve 101 things at once! But having said that, hafta give a shout out to my homie PeeDz... life on the singles cruiser is grand at the mo'!
lmm - 24 April '05 - 07:55

Maybe I always know that there is things to do. Relaxing for the sake of relaxing is not a strong point, although it should be addressed.

Yes, PeeDz, I know the single "XBox" life suits you to a tea :)
JookBoy (link) - 24 April '05 - 12:54

Yup, can't fight the chipping action.. finished Max Payne 2, nutting through GTA: Vice City atm :)
PeeDz - 27 April '05 - 20:10

Damn indeed.

What are you doing KC? If seems your gf has no issues with her levels of productivity. :)
ricegrains (link) - 29 April '05 - 14:34

I have the perfect strategy for making your day together more productive. All the chores that I should be doing all week (ironing, vacuuming, taking out garbage, etc) you postpone until she's at your place. Then all of a sudden it's "clean-up time". Together, of course.

My favourite is to say you're taking the garbage downstairs while she's ironing some shirts, and then duck off to the gym for an hour or so. 30 minutes on the bikes in front of V-channel and you'll be pumped full of testosterone, ready to rip her away from her ironing in a fit of passion.

The idea is to make it look like you're caring about her, while at the same time you're not letting her waste your time. So while she's vacuuming, call out something sweet, like "baby, you might have to take the end off when you clean behind the TV. It's hard to get to, you know." This shows you care, and you don't even have to look up from the computer screen.

Another thing that makes it look like you care is a little 1-minute massage for her when she's ironing. Because that's about how long it takes to get the syrup from the hotcakes (see below) off your fingers.

If you run out of things for her to do, you can always get her to make you some hotcakes with syrup! You've got the mix already in the cupboard, so she can't screw it up like she does the rest of her cooking. In the mean time you just continue looking up porn and calling out the occasional "careful, the pan gets hot you know" when you can hear she has just burnt herself.

RC

PS quick tip, is that when you're putting your case together to get her out of your house on Sunday morning, always *include* the hours that you spent asleep. Suddenly "we just spent 4 hours together" becomes "you know, i've already spent 12 hours with you baby. That's half a day. Imagine if I spent half a day everyday with you. That's half my life! I mean, it would be great and all baby and I love you and all that shit, but seriously, when would I have time to go to work? Yeah. Ok, so we'll do this again next week, right? You know where the bus stop is. Ok, bye."

RC
randomcow - 02 May '05 - 11:02

The Wonders Of Marketing

It's been a few weeks at the new job at St Marys, I'm starting to get a bit of a feel for it. The communities part of the job is not yet full steam ahead, so the expeereince is mostly on the marketing side.

I've been doing a lot of reading about marketing, and website usability, and demographics of the western Sydney region.
One particularly interesting reaserach I've been reading is about the art of marketing to females. Here is my quick analysis:

1. Emotive rapport building
- women process incoming messages on a far more emotive element than men
- men will recall facts and data, women recall much more emotional/human factors
- difference at different age groups
- the "emotional hit" is the issue

2. MSP (Multi-dimensional selling proposition)
- could be more important to USP (unique selling proposition)
- automatically relating the marketing message to different components of her life, whereas the male will evaluate on a single component. Hence need to appeal to all factors of her life.
- do not stereotype and pigeon-hole women

3. Community network
- the importance that women place on their network, feeling a sense of community
- provide mechanisms and the environment for women to connect to each other
- eg an online community
- tie yourself to an existing network or create its own network.
- "think constellation, not individual stars"

4. Open channels of feedback
- giving ownership of your brand to your female customers
- ie providing ideas, product dvelopment, suggestions
- the customers themselves become the promoters and networkers
- work on establishing a client advisory board
- utilise female collaboration as a story for further promotion

5. Referrals (Word-of-mouth)
- They can basically learn 100% of the product from their "inner circle" of female friends before they purchase.
- 73% of married women rate the relationships with their women of greater importance than their relationship with their husbands (talk about non-commitment! :P)
- Word-of-mouth becomes an exponential strategy
- Get them to refer by working out how to reward their referrals
- Reward the referral, rather than offering an up-front bribe ie surprise the female with the gift AFTER the referral has occurred, rather than before.

I wonder if this type of information can be integrated into how guys should approach relationships? It's all about marketing yourself, right?

Damn! five cheap calls already:

So...does that mean you have a "constellation" of "stars" that you "network" with, with the referral rewards paid in full? :P
ricegrains (link) - 11 April '05 - 09:06

I will now sell more Lexus'. Thanks :P
PeeDz - 12 April '05 - 17:25

Good point Diddyz...I hope none of your competitors read your blog KC :)

I will also now proceed flog more deodorant :)
ricegrains (link) - 14 April '05 - 06:05

Yeah, these all-body sprays are just dodgy, especially if they are not diluted :)
JookBoy (link) - 19 April '05 - 13:43

I guess sometimes your product's reputation is so good that you don't have to go out there and market it.

RC
randomcow - 02 May '05 - 10:47

I Wish I Could Write Better

Damn this guy is funny. It's been a while since I visited his site, but it's still quality :)

Go back a few months for some classic conversations.

Damn! three cheap calls already:

link doesn't work kev, you sure you got it right?
reenie (email) - 31 March '05 - 05:01

Yeah, I did have the correct link, but it seems like there's an issue. Oh well, will check again later
Jookboy (link) - 31 March '05 - 05:51

i love ernie's blog. have been a fan for a few years now, he is a cack. loved his blog projects (BDB, Suvivor Blog etc).
riss (link) - 31 March '05 - 12:16

Japan / Hong Kong Recap

Ahh, the top 10. I'll try to upload some more pics soon. I'm thinking that it might be the case that I only upload the ten best shots, so that everyone doesn't feel compelled to check them all out.

1. First and foremost, the knee deep (apparently thigh deep the day after I left) powder snow. Nothing like it in Australia, and definitely worth going to again. Night-skiing is a blast, and my succesful 180 degree spins off the jumps were sweet.
2. The funky fashions within Tokyo. Not to my taste, but it has to be seen to be believed.
3. The anime-inspired pigeon-toe walking style of a high percentage of chicks (in short skirts and knee high boots) in Japan.
4. The contrast of the hustle and bustle and tranquility between cities (Tokyo/Kyoto) and even within a city (Shinjuku/Meiji Gardens).
5. The hospitality of the Japanese folk lives up to its reputation. People are just sooo nice!
6. Sapporo Snow Festival. Worth a visit, the scupltures are massive and the lighting really good. It feels like Christmas without the Santa Claus decorations.
7. The all you can drink bar in Tokyo (Pure Shibuya) for $18. Anything you want, as much as you want. Brutal.....
8. Seeing everyone gather in a foreign city and having a ball in Honkers.
9. Seeing my grandma in such good health and spirit at the grand age of 87.
10. The power of the AUD, spurring me on to more and more purchases!

Mt. Fuji

Damn! ten cheap calls already:

more pics! more pics! :)
mushiejc (link) - 09 March '05 - 06:07

yeah, post more pics! make me have japan envy! *sigh* i want to go back and check out the ski slopes.

did you notice the girls in the little bo peep outfits? they were a bit disturbing.
riss (email) (link) - 09 March '05 - 08:50

kevvy, i feel kinda jibbed... need more photos please :)
addy (link) - 12 March '05 - 06:36

same - I want more photos! And for some reason I want a game of texas holdem poker. Can anyone help me out? :)
randomcow - 14 March '05 - 10:49

Bloody spamblocker's doing nothing! Had to clean them up myself.

OK, will try to put up more pics. The thing is, the pics start to get repetitive after a while :)
JookBoy (link) - 14 March '05 - 11:52

I can take all the school girls you can throw at me.

RC
randomcow - 15 March '05 - 04:42

Is that a real pic of Mt Fuji? Kind of looks like a pic of a pic to me...;P
ricegrains (link) - 16 March '05 - 07:33

Nah man, that's the real deal :) It was a brilliant day.
JookBoy (link) - 16 March '05 - 17:17

I can vouch for JB. If you've seen them, I surprised myself with my Fuji and Niseko/Sapporo pics too. Some things just have to be seen to be believed!
so - 20 March '05 - 15:55

Oh Shibuya, I'm still hurting. Nothing beats going back for more drinks after puking coz your a tightass :)
PeeDz - 02 April '05 - 17:34

Moving Back Home

It's a stange feeling, after 2 years, to move back to my parent's place. Due to a change in job, I'm located out at St Marys now, which is a good 45km west of the Sydney CBD. Having tried the drive from Crows Nest to there a few times, I decided I just couldn't be on the road for that amount of time. So the move back to West Pennant Hills was confirmed.

Living with your parents has its ups and downs. There is that almost immediate nagging (or caring, in their eyes). Questions like "are you going to wake up in time for work?" (which, for anyone that knows me, is always a no), and "what time are you getting home for dinner?" becomes quite routine.
On the up side, one does not realise how crappy their own cooking is until they had mum's (or in some cases, dad's) cooking once again!

A friend told me that his reason for staying home is that he wants to hang out with his family after being away for a while, and that is a very valid reason for me as well. Both my sisters have moved out, and the my parents have become empty nesters, and I'm sure that there are periods of loneliness when your kids aren't around.
If anything, my dad now has a dedicated IT support for his gadgets!

What I did noticed when I was away from home was that I was spoilt more due to my parents not seeing me that much. Does this change when I go back home?

Damn! five cheap calls already:

ah yes, being away from my parents makes them spoil me soo much more :P luvvvvv it :) So much so, they are sponsoring (almost) my trip to malaysia!! YAYYYYYy hehehehe well, considering our dollar kicks ass...its allllll gooddddddd! See you folks when i get back with MORE of a tan! YEEE HAR! Adios. Enjoy Halo nite!
Addy (link) - 26 March '05 - 05:34

Your cooking kicks ass babe! That atlantic salmon was nothing short of awesome. You can cook for me any day *smiles all around*.

Go the omnipresent IT support!
beckster (link) - 27 March '05 - 15:25

My entire family treats me (me! ha!) as IT support for anything that requires electricity even when I have no clue. Thank goodness for outsourcing :)
milli - 28 March '05 - 06:18

I ain't seen no cooking u slart!!! Only for the ladiezz :(
PeeDz - 02 April '05 - 17:36

I wonder if this is part of a trend. Up until recently we had about 20 people living on the lower north shore. Now we're slowly leaving.

RC (leaving in July)
randomcow - 04 April '05 - 12:02

Gearing Up For Some Powder Fun

As the day approaches, the excitement builds, slowly but surely. Here are some on the worthy considerations:

The slopes at Niseko
After reading So's email re the deep white stuff, I'm beginning to get concerned as to my ability to work these conditions. I think I might just have to chill out on the groomed slopes for the first day, just to get a feel for it. Niseko's slopes go for about 5.3km, which is about 2.0km longer than the longest Thredbo slope. I remember trying to do the whole Thredbo slope in one go last time we went....that is rough on the legs, to say the least. I'm hoping for a least two cafes in during this marathon journey.

The onsens
I'm keen on those onsens. There is one onsen in Niseko that overlooks the mountain. The snowflakes fall, but melt when the steam from the onsen rises up, creating a misty effect. A bit pricey, but well worth it! I just have to get used to seeing Peedz and Stuey with only those mini towels on *shiver*

Tokyo
Having had dinner with the crew going, and there seems to be a distinct lack of itinerary, especially around the Tokyo area. Ah well, as long as I get to the fable Tokyo fish market that mushiejc keeps telling me about, then it's all good! Tokyo seems like a city to be experienced, in the sense that you go there to soak up the atmosphere and the culture, as opposed to going to specific tourist sites. Bei wants to check out the punk looking characters, can't remember which are those guys are in. I've suggested to Stuey to dye his hair black....he ain't down for the gothic look!

Kyoto
Planning on making a quick trip to Kyoto and back before Bei and Peedz get to Tokyo. Looking forward to taking the Shinkansen past Mt Fuji to experience the cultural centre (ie temples and more temples :)) of Kyoto. It's a good place to relax and soak up the tranquility.

Hong Kong
Oh yeah, the party leg of this trip! As all these Qantas hoes are utilising their cheap airfares to come along, it will be a blast. And going to see Bec for the first time in 2 months will be extra special :) Get my shopping done here, love the fact that the Aussie battler is about 6 HK dollars!

Damn! 20 cheap calls already:

mmm...tsukiji sushi bars...mmm :) remember the "don't line in front of door" sushi bar was yummo!
mushiejc (link) - 03 February '05 - 07:19

definitely try and get to Kyoto - go and check out the water temple...amazing views there.
riss (email) (link) - 03 February '05 - 10:31

Mmmmm.... powder!!!!
*droooooolllll*

soooo jealous..
dude, with all the climbing u've been doing, i reckon u'd have been conditioning yourself!!
should be no sweat!!
besides, what do u need to work your legs for??
just go straight down man!

oh and that's what parabolics are for.. :P CARRRRVVVVINNNNNGGGGGGGG....!!!!

have a blast..
and dare i say...
Break a leg???
mockkie (email) (link) - 03 February '05 - 10:58

Only 20 more days until the 25th Feb!

*smiles all around*
beckster (link) - 05 February '05 - 00:51

Thanks for the advice guys, will keep them in mind.
Mockkie stop cursing me!

Defnitely smiles all round :)
Jookboy (link) - 05 February '05 - 16:32

Oh yeah, I almost forgot - you asked me a few weeks ago for the contact details of all my cute japanese female friends in Niseko. I'll email their contact details to you now.

What's the storage limit on your inbox again?

RC
randomcow - 06 February '05 - 09:38

I've got 1Gb of love for the ladies with my gmail account :)
JookBoy (link) - 06 February '05 - 15:29

If JB's 1 GB isn't enough there's almost 1GB in my inbox too. Feel free to use that as well =).
beckster (link) - 06 February '05 - 15:35

http://www.japan-guide.com/penfriend/loc..

Young, energetic j-girls in Hokkaido. Only 17 pages of them. For example:


Japan
Asahikawa
Age: 16

Japanese

Miku

Job: Student High
Hobby: Music Movies Dancing
Purpose: Learning Language, Talk about school, Friendship


Hello!!!I'm Miku.
I'm a Japanese high school student.
I lerning Engrish and I want to speak Engrish better.

I love hiphop music and I love dancing!I know very well about american hip hop music,so I want to talk about it.

I want to be firends with you.
Let's have fun our talking!




or this gem:




Japan
Sapporo
Age: 18

Japanese
English


hiroko


Job: Student
Hobby: Movies Shopping
Purpose: Fun, Friendship, Cultural exchange

Hi! I am looking for foreign boyfriend, especially Chinese guy. prease email me and we can meet and do cultural exchange and play!! *chu*
randomcow - 07 February '05 - 09:01

gong xi fa cai, one and all. HK is in fine form mate - look no further than dragon-i on a wednesday! will do my best to get up there and join you. i know dongers is looking fwds to his hk debut and ezzz is always good for a laugh or plenty!!
bjee - 08 February '05 - 10:53

Jookboy...that's a lot of j-girls wanting to learn english! Will you have enough time for movies, music, dancing, cultural exchanges, romance...what about skiing??? :)

Save up some energy for HKers. Jojo, Den, BJ and I will all be fresh off the plane...should be rocking!
anton - 09 February '05 - 17:28

Yes that's FOP for short. bahhh!
bjee - 10 February '05 - 12:18

Im totally jealous!!! I wanna go hongkersssss *whine whine whineeeeeee*
Bleah! Still got my tannnnnn ooooooo yeah!
Hopefully becks sexy tan will still be there when you hit HK kevvy! SHE WAS HOT! *ssssizzzzzle*
addy (link) - 10 February '05 - 13:28

This may be a little late, but the place to go to check out the freaks is Harajuku... have lotsa amusing pics to send round once I get back to sydney (which is unfortunately too soon)! dont worry JB day 1 of snowboarding always kills the legs but by day 2 its all good... and which is why I have stopped by in Singapore for some r and r and chilli crab.. and massages :) I am missing the snow and boarding sooo much already so carve it up in Niseko you lucky punks!!!! Nothing but POW :) And start planning that Thredbo experience will ya! :) have a safe one
so - 10 February '05 - 15:10

Don't worry So, I already told JB to go to Harajuku and check out the latest fashion craze - chicks dressed in stuffed animal gear apparently *shrug* no idea.

Addy you're such a pal *mwah*!!
beckster (link) - 10 February '05 - 15:42

I discovered in Niseko that breastroke was the best of the strokes to get out of powder which is more than waist deep. Just ask So.
giz (link) - 15 February '05 - 11:23

Actually, I body boarded out of the trees, its called "banana" or something.. off one of them blacks at Honozono. :) although breastroke does come in handy too!
Dont pike on the funbox like you did at Thredbo, you chicken :)
so - 16 February '05 - 12:53

It's been fantastic, to say the least....I can't believe the amount of powder there is at Niseko. We traversed the big mountain, and also went to Annapuri (for those taht have been there) to experience the untouched stuff. Definitely a place to go back to. They also have 100Yen udon noodles there. Sweet! No fun box for me, So, although I did pull of numerous 180 jumps off my skis. Sadly the 360 was a bit beyond me :)
RC, your friend Wakana ended up with the flu, so I didn't get to see her. I'm being barred already by the Jap chicks!

Soaking up the spas here in Kyoto, and then onwards to Tokyo for some crazy pictures.
I'm ready for Honkers boys and girls...five days to go!
JookBoy (link) - 19 February '05 - 18:34

yeah, poor girl, she was really upset about not being able to meet u guys. First the accident on the jump, and then the flu. I guess it was never meant to be...!

(personally, it sounds to me like someone made a voodoo doll of her and was working the back and chest).

Anyway, glad you're having a good time over there. No major injuries? I just started a new workout programme in preparation for next season. Five different types of squats!

RC
randomcow - 20 February '05 - 03:22

by the way - if you go to Shibuya, could you guys please just take about 200 photos each of the "scenery" there? Best time to go is about 4pm on a weekday, when school is finishing, or friday/saturday night, when the kogyaru are out in full force. Thanks.
randomcow - 20 February '05 - 03:23