Trains

I like trains. I said that today as we caught one up to Sydney for an excursion, and one of my friends looked very strangely at me; said i was crazy. Now i'm interested as to whether i'm alone in this interest. Really, i have no idea why they appeal to me - things, often strange things - just do. Anyway, just a thought for the day.
I particularly like train riding by night.
Minus the scary people. Haha.

In the Words of . . . Someone, Meh

Okay so yeah, Kevin Rudd got elected. Prime Minister elect (that title really makes me laugh, simply because president elect sounds better, anyway) as he now is. So anyway, i don;t really care what you think, you won't change my opinion and it doesn't really matter anyway. I like what my minister had to say about it last night. He had three points.
One, we need to respect John Howard for his long service to the country, not just as Prime Minister, whatever our political views.
Two, we need to honour the incomign government and respect it, whatever our political views.
Three, we are belssed to have the opportunity to vote for our leader at all, and at that, either way our country will be pretty stable.
So, although i'm happy with the elected government (yes i do believ i may be a labour supporter! Shock horror), i do respect what John Howard and his government did for the country.
NOW we need to move on and get over the whole thing, me included!

So, what did you get up to on the weekend??

Election Satires

I love elections i really do. simply because they provide so much scope for satirical humour amongst everyone. The Chaser's, randoms. Oh and there's always good old fairfax media videos on youtube.
I really like one.

Politicians Make for Great Laugh Sessions

Today is election day. In Australia.
It's the day that holds the possiblity of change.
Change of government.
Which could change alot.
Who will win?
That's the question on everyone's lips.

Personally, i'm up for some election coverage-watching tonight.
Yes, straight away that defines me as a nerd, geek, consci.
Whatever you like.
But hey, whatever.
Why can't a 15-year old kid enjoy politics?

Rudd or Howard?
Which one is better?
Or really should i say, Rudd or Costello?
Either way, watch this, it's funny.

Claim it!

WARNING: Biblical themes follow, but i suggest you read them anyway. Especially the first, it is quite touching.
This is an excerpt from the minister's letter in my church bulletin last Sunday. It is sad! And i just wanted to share it. As a background to the story, it is about Dr. Criswell a pastor from America, and a well known theologian at the time (he is known simply as the theologian in the text). The two were seated together on a plane, and got talking and the theologian told Dr. Criswell that he had recently lost his son to meningitis.
I quote, '. . . The child was beyond medical help and was going to die. The loving parents did the only thing that could do, which was sit with their son in a vigil.
Less than a week later [after he had been diagnosed], in the middle of the day, the illness began to cause the little boy's vision to fade. He looked up at his daddy and said softly, "Daddy, it's getting dark isn't it?" The theologian repelied, "Yes, son, it is dark. It's very dark." And for the father it was. The little boy said, "I guess it's time for me to sleep, isn't it?" The father replied, "Yes son, it's time for you to sleep."
The theologian explained to Dr. Criswell how his son liked his pillow and blankets arranged just so because he liked to lay his head on his hands while he slept. So, he helped the child fix his pillow and his boy rested his head on his hands and said, "Good night Daddy, I'll see you in the morning." With that the little boy closed his eyes and fell asleep. A few minutes later his little chest rose and fell for the last time. His earthly life was over all too soon.
The theologian stopped talking and looked out the window of the plane for a good long while. Finally he turned to Criswell and, with his voice breaking and tears spilling onto his cheeks, he gasped, "I can hardly wait for morning to come!"'

I wish i could claim these parts of the poem following that i understand, but i can't. Much to great for me to claim to have written. No, i rightfully acknowledge this as th work of Emily Bronte - No Coward Soul is Mine.
"No coward soul is mine, No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere! I see Heaven's glories shine,And Faith shines equal, arming me from Fear.
O God within my breast, Almighty, ever-present Deity!Life, that in me has rest, As I, undying Life, have power in Thee!
. . .
There is not room for Death, Nor atom that his might could render void Since Thou art Being and Breath, And what Thou art may never be destroyed."

Yep, I'm a Bit of a Stickler

Well, well we meet again i see. What's on your mind today? I've many thoughts, but i either cannot express them clearly enough, i have already informed you of them, or i wish not to share them.

And i think we're all a little sick of poems at the moment.

Well, have you ever given much thought to punctuation? Yes, let us go there, let us delve into the rapidly declining world of dots and dashes. You see, punctuation is what lets language breath, take form and have meaning. And abuse of punctuation is becoming all too widely ignored or, worse, accepted. See you have your apostrophes, with quite clear rules for everyday use, and yet people blindly stick them in plural words! It's just an abomination. and, before i really get started, and before you say what does it matter, i think i shall give you an real example of where it matters a lot; as in the difference is one difference between two religious denominations. (Yes this is biblical, if you're atheistic turn away now)
Luke 23:43 'Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."' Okay so here's where things get icky. See that comma? ". . . truth, today. . ." Okay, so yes Jesus is saying that this criminal will be with him TODAY in heaven.
BUT is he? See, it's apparently hard on early manuscripts to tell if this IS a comma, or if it's in the right place. i.e. it could read "I tell you the truth today, you will be with me in paradise." Okay, so Catholics believe in this sort of limbo, and with the comma in that place, sure you could think that because it's like Jesus says, 'I tell you the truth toay," yes he tells him today, that he will eventually be in heaven. Do you get me? Totally different meaning.
So, we can see punctuation does matter? If you don't like that one example I've got more. Don't hesitate to ask. But i won't go on much more, this is just food for thought.
But i will leave you with this. Do most people know what colons and semicolons are today? YES you tell me (though I'm not convinced). BUT I'm sure most people wouldn't have the faintest idea how to use one.
They may just stick a semicolon (this ; one by the way) in when they don't know whether to start a new sentence or not.

Yet Another Poem . . .

Yes i seem to have taken a liking to them lately don't I? Well, in ten minutes, here's a poem:

Exams, yes exams
Oh what misery you bring
My mind cannot retain even one more thing
When i think i have seen your end
You throw one more just around the bend
And as take up more papers to study
I know i can learn no more of Jack Mundy
And I hope that this will be the last
When i know that this lot will but cast
Some more light on future Exams, yes exams

I hate you

I Wish I Had a Pensieve

I wish i had a pensieve
Like little old man Dumbledore
Really he's not all that tiny. . .
But i wish i had a pensieve
To put put all of my thoughts in
My memories and feelings and
My late at night ideas
I wish i had a pensieve
And an empty day or two
To sort through all my thoughts
And find that there IS something more

My Perculiar 'Nostalgia'

Have you ever felt like you wanted to lived in another time? Ever seen a movie, or read a book, and just wished you could travel back in time? I have. I like to call it my nostalgia-for-a-time-I've-never-experienced - "older than i could ever be." I realise that i just completely rewrote the definition of nostalgia, but who said a little bit of poetic licence wasn't in order here?
My point is to be, though, apart from longing to live then, i build up a fantastical little world centred on that period and it is perfect, whilst i never consider the downside of living then. When i do think these things though, my little fantasy world comes crashing down and the whole matter depresses me, so that i declare never to think of the bad things, but only the good. The fact that i can never live then anyway also procedes to destroy my lovely imagingnings until i am forced to create another entirely fantastical world revovling around my own time - which is not nearly as nice, so i abandon it and decide i am through with considering what could have been if i had lived in Canada at the turn of the century. . . Of course, i don't go quite as far as all that, but really, up until 'depresses me' it was all completely true - what came after was but a mix of truth and lies, excpet for the last line.
But of course, i suppose what i am trying to say is that, when perfect little, dare i say it, hopes are torn down, it can hurt an awful lot. And anybody with my problem, learn to live for today!
Because it is a bit of a strange one =) (or am i wrong?)

We must be careful of the reputation we build for ourselves, for it may prove difficult to pull down.

It's flat, damn flat

Yep, that's our accent for you. So flat, apparently, it lets us mimic other accents that just can't pull off ours. And you know what, it makes me proud.
The fact that there was an hour-long program last night dedicated to looking at the way our accent has developed over 200 years just fills me with good old Aussie pride. And i have to say how annoyed i was at everyone who used to think it was such a horrible accent to listen to; it's bloody beautiful, as some would say. Another programme we were mentioned on for, i dunno, 15 minutes, also made me go, yeah Aussie getting footage! See, anyone from a country that's not a major player globally (by which i mean America and Britain!) has to appreciate it when their country gets mentioned somewhere. (Specially a country lost halfway around the world) I mean, i don't reckon guys from, especially, America would understand, because their everywhere! But when i see an Aussie actor i go "yes! We are awesome, more awesome than Americans, prove it for us!" You might think I'm crazy, but there you go.
And, going back to accents, as much as i love hearing the occasional American word that just sounds . . . nice, i could not stand that accent all the time, sorry. Words like 'horizontal' and 'interview' pronounced by a Californian are cool, cos they miss the 't', and i can listen to a New Yorker (the two extreme accents, i.e. street drawl and Fran's mum speak) for a while and laugh at them, but the constant 'stupid' (which, pronounced by an American just epitomizes the whole word's meaning), 'news' and dare i say 'tuna' would just get on my nerves SO MUCH, because, it's not STOO-pid (which is what we Aussies say when we want to sound it), but STEW-pid. That's of my chest now.
But seriously, whenever Australia is mentioned in a foreign text (including TV & Movies) i just go yes, that's my country. We are the ones who are known as the relaxed country etc etc, and that just gets to me in a way i can't express with words (which isn't an uncommon phenomenon) Everyone should have some experience with an Aussie or Australia. Of course, i don't want to sound arrogant, but really, where the bloody hell are ya?

Where's my wit?

Where'd did all my old-time wit go to? Yes i will call it wit although that may at this time be the wrong word. Or at least, if i still possess it in cyber-land, why don't i ahev such good sporadic wit? I don't understand!! For example, last year i came up with (and yes i realise this is cyber):

Any comments? good or Bad i accept all exempting the bad. Those i spit upon with the foulest of my spit and then trapple on the spittled words that have come form your hand in the foulest of foul contempt. Hahaha. The good go up on my trophies shelf. They'll make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

-My website, sometime late last year . . .
Only the good die young . . . make of that what you will, i need sleep.

A Poem

I was going to write a poem
But what really rhymes with poem?
Well now it is screwed, my poem
So I guess I won't write a poem

Awesome Lyrics

I think it's time i shared some inspirational lyrics with you from great songs i know. so, without any further ado, i present:

Relient K - Yes relient k is spelt wrong, it's deliberate

More than Useless: Awesome lyrics when you feel useless! Not much more to say of this one.

Whats the purpose? It feels worthless So unwanted like I've lost all my value I can't find it, not in the least bit and I'm just scared, so scared that I'll fail you And sometimes I think that I'm not any good at all And sometimes I wonder why, why I'm even here at all But then you assure me I'm a little more than useless And when I think that I can't do this You promise me that I'll get through this And do something right Do something right for once

Very cool 'cos as you'll see i love lyrics that hit the nail on the head, like these ones.

Bite my tongue: Again lyrics which hit the nail on the head for someone like who has trouble thinking before they speak.

And sometimes I say things that I wish that I could take back The most crucial thing I lack is the thing called "tact"And if you're always so intently listening Then the smartest thing to say Is to tell myself not to say a thing Yeah I gotta keep quiet quiet Don't let it all come undone 'Cause if I dare open my mouth It'll just be to bite my tongue To bit my tongue

Life After Death and Taxes: Just a nice, heavenly message. For one of the faith, very reassuring.

Never forget there's life after death and taxes Forgiveness come and all of the rest is what passes away Death and decay can't touch us now

Also a Nice little bit of typical relient k humour even in a not so cheerful song with the whole 'and taxes' thing.

Apathetic Way To Be: You really need the whole picture to appreciate these lyrics i think, but they're just a little observation on human attitudes really. Plus i like the word apathetic

So take a wild guess It's like I just couldn't care less If all the things you find impressive Just blew up and made those messes That you'll frantically repair Like it's a life or death affair And all the while you're unaware For this, you really shouldn't care But it's so hard to see the reality That the end will be the end of things And our hearts are all we get to bring So let's go ahead and make them worth something

Paul Colman Trio

Move On: Spot on lyrics here. I love people who can make words sound nice but say something so well as well, don't you? Anyway, just like these lyrics, can't voice why, it's just all in my head with no output

Time it won't wait 'til we're ready to say surrender And there's no time like tonight to let it all go So take all your pain and let it go Do you want to know the truth? he said Or are you happy with the lies?'Cause I know a story sounds complete Until you hear the other side

Dear God: Ha again spot on lyrics. Plus it's its a pretty cool tune (all thee songs are, juts some are getting special mention :D ) I agree totally with this song, and the whole thing's going up here, because it's not too long

Dear God I don't understand What you're doing If you're real and you're in control You must see the path we're choosing And I don't understand but somehow I believe It's all in your hands Yeah but I don't believe in a God who gives More of his love to those who say they believe And I've read your book and I think (know) it says It's not what you say but it's how you live Dear God How your name's been used to justify treason And although it hurts me to say Sometimes the enemy's religion

Billy Joel

Vienna : Really just a cool tune, but there are some good lyrics. Really, just, i dunno why i like them, so anyway

Slow down you crazy child Take the phone off the hook And disappear for a while It's lright you can afford to lose a day or two When will you realize...Vienna waits for you

The Who

Baba O'Riley: One line i think is very cool from this song

. . . I don't need to fight To prove I'm right . . .

that's right we don't! End all violence and win with wit and intelligence, it's the best way.

DC Talk - Direct Christian Talk, in case you were wondering

What have we become: Wow, nearly is my art project in words . . . or the general idea, nearly. Still this is a fantastic song deploring the state of humanity. Just now I've come to think that while I'm sure we're not more corrupt than previous generations, maybe this song implies what we've become since the fall? Either way, great lyrics and music

What have we become? A self indulgent people What have we become? Tell me where are the righteous ones? What have we become? In a world degenerating What have we become? . . . What about love? What about God? What about holiness? What about mercy, compassion and selflessness?

Mind's eye: PERFECT lyrics about faith in an invisible God. There's the whole 'wind' thing running throughout, but because it's a great image. Anyway, i just love this song, i love songs which agree with me and my ideas

Can you catch the wind? See a breeze?I ts presence is revealed by The leaves on a tree An image of my faith in the unseen . . . In my mind's eye I see Your face You smile as you show me grace In my mind's eye You take my hand We walk through foreign lands The foreign lands of life

Origins

Know the phrase, wait for the other shoe to drop? Apparently there's an interesting story behind this particular phrase.
An inn dweller is dead tired when he returns to his room late at night. As he begins to undress, he removes a shoe and drops it on the floor. Realizing that the big thud must have woken up the fellow in the room below, he takes off the other shoe and puts it down gently. After a considerable time a voice screams from the room under him, "For God's sake, drop the other shoe! I want to go back to sleep!"
Thanks to Anu Garg and his AWAD email subscription! It's awesome.

Excellent!

It seems i hvae run out of my excellent topics for blogging for the moment. I have no more of the world to ponder. Well no that's a lie, because i have SO MUCH of the world to ponder i wish i could devote my time solely to it. But i have nothing i want to bore you with, because i've given you brief run down on most things i wish to share.
While i'm here though, aren't children excellent? So innocent and cute. 3-7 year olds are particularly sweet. Just an example . . . how would you draw blessing? I wouldn't have the faintest idea, but a little girl i know just drew a big heart. I thought that epitomized it so well. Well, that's my thought for today. Not very exciing, i'm working on something else though. . .you'll see. For the time being:

Move onwards and ever forwards my bodacious, Jim-dandy, Top-notch, Cracking, Spiffing, Buffo, Excellent Friends