A Homecoming Observation

Greetings folks. I write this latest post not from the grounds of our broad acred Sunny Coast house but from my hometown of Brisbane. My in-laws study to be precise.

Yes, I'm back in town with the wife and son for a few days while the wife undertakes some vocational training for her job. The son and I thought we'd join her for the trip 'down' and allow for some time with the grandparents. We also managed to catch up with some good friends just this morning for a 'playdate' that has long been talked about and now finally realised.

Now this isn't meant to be a bagging or anything. Just an observation from our first trip 'back home'. Actually, we've been down twice before since we moved to the Sunny Coast but once was just for the day and the other a quick one-night visit for a farewell dinner.

My observation? Traffic. Or more precisely, traffic lights. Now I know I may sound like some country bumpkin or something, but life around the Noosa region means you rarely see a traffic light let alone have to stop for one. From memory, the only two we have any contact with are between Noosa Junction and Sunshine Beach and both are for school pedestrian traffic so are only used occasionally.

Yes, the preferred method of traffic management in the Noosa region appears to be roundabouts as there's definitely plenty of them. I have heard that Canberra is the capital of not just the country but of roundabouts as well but I reckon Noosa could easily give it a run for its money. The area around Noosaville when entering from Eumundi-Noosa Road stands out the most and that's before another couple are constructed for a new super Bunnings store coming soon.

Anyway, most of the driving that I do at the moment in getting from our hinterland property to the beach, to the pool (yes, the home one is still not working if you've read my last post), to the park and so on is on main roads or allows for continual movement. So a lot of it is up around 80-100km/h and of course involves mainly roundabouts except for occasionally getting stuck behind some dopey tourist or grey nomad caravan (being a local now, I can say that).

So it was quite a shock yesterday afternoon to be cruising into Brisbane and coming across our first traffic light at Carseldine. We'd arrived at the big city obviously but we moved off again pretty quickly to resume our journey. But what's this? Another traffic light. And another. In the next ten minutes we were stopped at another ten lights and that doesn't count the other ten we managed to drive through.

My driving was a little 'stop-start' as a result and had to brake suddenly on a number of occasions which caused the wife and son to lurch forward violently and promptly raise their eyebrows at me. And I think this was happening due to the fact I'm so used to gaining some momentum and speed and then being able to maintain that for quite some time before having to slow down or come to a stop. This whole 'just start to accelerate before having to decelerate quickly and stop in the space of 200m' thing was causing me all sorts.

"What did you expect EDM?", I can hear some of you saying. "Geez mate, it's only Brisbane. It's not like it's Sydney or London or Tokyo", I can hear the rest of you saying.

Well, I did mention that this post was merely an observation and not a complaint. And this was a small and probably very trivial observation that hit me upon arriving back in Brissy town for the first time in months. That I hadn't come across a traffic light in weeks, or maybe even longer, and that the humble roundabout has become such a large part of my life. All the big issues hey?

Yes, I know this post isn't particularly hardhitting or edgey and that some of you may well be asking for your five minutes back after reading this. But hey, this blog is about joting down some musings on all walks of my life and a light bulb moment regarding my driving habits and traffic lights will have to do for today.

So greetings once again from Brissy town and I'll be back with a Sunny Coast broadcast later in the week. And sorry again, but no, you can't have your five minutes back this time.

EDM.

My Kingdom For Some Rain

Where the bloody hell is this rain we were promised?

It's been a month since we had any rain here on the Sunny Coast and the forecast for yesterday (Wednesday) was 'thundery rain' followed by 3-4 days of similar conditions to provide nearly 100mm over the period. Alas, it's now Thursday afternoon and not a drop in sight despite plenty of clouds around.

Why do I care so much? Shouldn't I be happy for sunny and dry days for the beach and park runs with the son? Isn't a lack of rain a good thing when living near the beach?

Yes, it has been pretty nice weather of late and we've been taking full advantage of it by being at the beach or local pool everyday. But the lack of rain has been a curse as well as we've been unable to run the pool at the house as a result.

That's because 'life on the land' (always wanted to say that) means being reliant on tank water. We have two tanks going here at the property, one for the house and one for the garden. Now the house one has plenty of water in it as it fills up first but the garden one is empty.

It was pretty much empty when we moved in so it didn't take long to start having some issues with the pool after that. This being the first time we've had to manage a pool, we bought in the experts who eventually put it down to a lack of water from the tank.

The owners to their credit felt bad about leaving us with an empty tank so they were happy to 'truck in' some water so that we could get the pool running. 10,000 litres duly arrived one morning and we had a few days of bliss of using the pool to our hearts content.

This story has to go further though, so the next relevant fact is that the 10,000 litres were gone after only nine days. Whattha? So yes, we were back to not being able to use the pool and contacted the property agent to say there must be a leak somewhere.

It's been a few weeks since then and we've had both the pool man and water tank guy out to try and solve the mystery. They had guesses at best and said to try this and that but each time we enacted something another issue or mystery would pop up. And of course we still have no authoritative answer as to where the 10,000 litres went.

The latest is that a pool leak specialist came out this morning to do a check. And you know what he said? "Oh, I need there to be water in the tank before I can see any leaks". That does make sense I admit, but it just adds to the vicious circle we are on. We have no water due to a leak but we can't find the leak because we have no water.

Anyway, he has informed the agent that some more water needs to be trucked in but I would love the 100mm forecast for the next few days as that will go along way to solving some of these issues.

I now understand just a little what it must be like for farmers and their constant vigil towards the skies. Mine's just for the luxury of running a pool though. Not for the growing of crops and one's livelihood like them.

But still, some rain, some rain. My kingdom for some rain. We're paying for the pool in our rent so we should be able to use it. Especially with a two-year old who loves the water. Which in turn would also make my job as Daddy Day Care Provider a whole lot easier.

On another note, who'd have thought after the wet season we had last year that we'd be worried about a lack of rain already. It was a pretty dry winter but our winters are meant to be dry here in south east Queensland. A dry November is out of the ordinary though as we would usually get a storm rolling through every second or third day and dropping 15-30mm in just a short time.

Alas, this November is looking like it will be the driest on record apparently despite the fact they are still saying it will be a wet summer so there must be plenty still to come. Here's just hoping that it doesn't all come at once in just a few weeks like it did last year and all the damage and turmoil that was caused.

Anyway, please excuse me while I check on the BOM website once again for some rain and think about my tactics for the next phone call with the agent. Having to worry about water supply and watching the skies like a farmer is something very different for this city slicker.

But hey, life up here in the hinterland sure beats my old office cubicle and the daily 'drone' run on the train. That my friends, I can guarantee.

Til next time,

EDM.

Password Fatigue

Does anyone else have 'password fatigue'?

Modern life is pretty bloody complicated and a big chunk of that for mine is all the usernames and passwords you're expected to remember for this and for that and also for this and for that.

I recently joined Twitter as a means of making this blog a little more accessible and upon having to come up with another username and password, I was struck by the realisation that it's all getting a bit too much. Particularly as all the IT security nerds say you really need passwords for every occasion (like a wardrobe or something) and it's best not to reuse them for multiple applications.

So I sat down and decided to make a list of all the username/passwords I have. I've got no doubt that I've missed a few but I ended up with a list of 20 in only a few minutes. As I said, there's definitely some I've missed so I could possibly have over 30 username/passwords that I need to remember to conduct my life in these modern times.

Of course, some of them are the same password or versions of the same despite the tech heads recommendations. And some of them are probably not 'needed' as such but hey, things like an ebay account and AFL Supercoach go along way to making life a little more interesting for many, not just yours truly.

The bottom-line is, that I need to remember a multitude of information such as usernames and passwords just to access my info, access my money, access my correspondence and even to access this blog. I understand the need for privacy and appropriate safeguards, but jaysus, it is becoming quite a drain on my cerebral capacities.

The regular ones are easier to remember obviously, but the ones that only get used fortnightly or even later and I'm sitting there scratching my head trying to think of something. And then after a couple of goes of submitting one, having to revert to the 'forgotten your password' page and then waiting for an email to come in before I can access my stuff.

I realise this may be a particular problem for me and many of you are sitting there asking what's my problem. But I do know from my former work colleagues that this is a problem for many because just before I left to go on leave, an email went around saying that from now on mandatory changes of your password would occur every two weeks rather than six. The collective groan that went across the floor was audible and could probably be heard by the IT boffins on the ground floor.

The HR system was even worst with passwords needing to be reset every two weeks but you only went into it on a fortnightly basis to check that you got paid so it was a case of having to come up with a new password everytime you accessed the system.

I guess I don't have to worry about all that right now while I'm on extended leave, but I do live in fear of that first day back when I'm asked to remember a heap of passwords that I probably reset in the days before I left and haven't used for over six months. I might need some more leave after going through that I reckon.

So yes, I'm suffering a little from password fatigue at the moment and am pining for simplier times with simplier ways of living my life. It's not going to happen though is it. Our lives are only going to get even busier and more complicated and many more username/passwords will be needed to conduct ourselves and our lives.

A scary prospect that one me thinks. I think I need to focus on something else to take my mind off it all.

Now what is my itunes password again?

EDM.

Obamarama

In light of the current POTUS visit (President of the United States - too much West Wing me thinks) to our shores, thought I'd jot down some musings on our friends across the Pacific and thoughts on the relationship we both enjoy.

Now, I don't claim to be an expert on this, but I have had cause to think a little more deeply on this topic than most having had two stints living in the US and doing a Masters in International Relations nearly ten years ago.

That Masters was undertaken over a couple of years but began during the Clinton era of global engagement and 'just' interventions in humanitarian crises in places such as Kosovo and Somalia. Those interventions did not completely avoid controversy but at least the decision to go in could be seen as the right thing to do. In fact, I ended up doing my Masters thesis on US Foreign Policy during those humanitarian responses and the overall philosophy of democratic peace.

Conversely, the last year of my Masters coincided with the Sept 11 attacks and decision to go into Afghanistan and I'll always remember the fascinating tutes I attended where there was some quite heated discussions between American and Arab/Indonesian students.

Personally, I agreed wholeheartedly with the decision to go into Afghanistan to take on Al Qaeda with vivid memories of being at the World Trade Towers only a few months before the attacks and knowing friends in Rhode Island, where I'd lived, who'd lost friends on one of the flights.

However, I did not agree at all with the decision to go into Iraq and even hit the streets in protest along with millions of others around the globe. Iraq and Saddam Hussein had no link whatsoever to Al Qaeda and the arguments around 'weapons of mass destruction' were flimsy at best and outright lies at worst.

The invasion of Iraq was therefore unjust in my view but also pretty stupid as it merely inflamed relations with the Muslim world and hindered any attempts to sustain the goodwill towards the US that was engendered by the Sept 11 attacks.

As a result, you could say I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with US Foreign Policy over the years which probably mirrors my own political views and where I sit on the political spectrum. Leaning to the left a little, I've probably admired and respected US policies when Democratic Presidents have been in power (Clinton, Obama) while being massively disappointed at other times, but in particular the George W Bush years.

One element of the GWB years that angered and frustrated me the most, besides the actual decision-making that took place, was the hypocrisy evident in the justifications for pursuing a certain decision.

The invasion of Iraq was all about shoring up strategic assets in the Persian Gulf and ensuring the supply of oil. But no, we were told it was about 'freedom' and bringing 'democracy to the Arab world'. For once, I just wish they'd admitted their decisions were based purely on their own self-interest, which is OK - everyone does it, rather than feeding us a whole lot of 'saving the free world' rhetoric as though they were doing it all for someone else.

Enough on the US as a political/government entity though. A completely different side of things is the actual people. Before I lived in the US, I'd travelled extensively in Europe and must admit the ugly American tourist thing was in full swing. The fact the ugly Australian tourist thing was in full swing as well is another story.

And while you try not to stereotype and generalise, sometimes harsher impressions solidify more easily and particular people you meet can come to symbolise a whole nation. A very silly premise really, especially with a nation of 300 million people that has no single culture but is made up of thousands of cultures and connections.

So when I actually moved to the States and lived there, I found the people to be extremely generous and friendly and I made a number of lifelong friends amongst them. I had an absolute ball while there and would happily move back to Rhode Island or places like Boston and New York in a heartbeat. My so-called 'worldly view' of Americans had been dramatically corrected and of course I came to admire a lot of aspects of American life and the institutions and structures they hold dear.

Of course the Americans I got to know well were hugely patriotic and well versed in statements talking up the US as the best and brightest. Coming from Australia, where apathy and disinterest is a national trait, I both hated and loved this chest-beating and pronouncing.

On one hand, I loved playing devils advocate against the grand statements and felt the need to point out that a whole another world out there existed. But on another hand, I had to admire the pride in their nation and was inspired a little by their devotion and how much they cared. As I said, we do the apathy thing a bit too well here in Australia and I often wish we cared more about how the nation is being led and what can be done to make things better.

So there's a lot I admire and respect about the US and Americans as a whole while there is the odd point of difference as well. Much like the relationship between our two countries I would surmise. There's many more ties that bind than those that don't.

So here's clinking a cold Samuel Adams (my favourite American beer) to our friends across the Pacific and long may our special friendship continue. Especially if China keeps rising the way it is. Because let's face it, we'll be needing you guys in a friggin' hurry if that all turns to $hit.

Cheers!

EDM.

EDM's Belated Birthday

How does one forget their own birthday? I really don't know, but EDM himself has managed to achieve such a calamity.

Yes, Nah Seriously's first birthday has come and gone with no mention from anyone let alone a celebration or toast from yours truly. 22 October 2010 was the day of my very first post so I've even missed it by weeks rather than just a mere few days. Oh well, this sad predicament will quickly be remedied by this post.

And what a year it has been. Over 70 odd posts in a 12 month period is a little short on the frequency I was hoping for when I started this blog so I've certainly had my share of writer-guilt at times in not being more consistent in my output.

But I have realised I was a little naive back then to be expecting to churn out three a week given how busy the other elements of my life have been, especially the last few months and my role right now as primary care giver and house husband. That new role has also seen a real change of tack in relation to the topics I post about as my life as a working man and the issues that revolve around that are on temporary hiatus.

Alas, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and think the blog has achieved one of its purposes in seeing for myself if I have the commitment and drive to write on a regular basis and put myself out there in relation to my thoughts and arguments. It hasn't been short of controversy as a result but I've always welcomed comments from others disputing my take on things and providing alternative arguments.

On a personal front, the year has had a lot of ups and downs, some of which has made it on to Nah Seriously but some of which has not. I have actually written a number of posts over the 12 months that expressed my frustration or sorrow at something going on with ourselves or with friends/family but I haven't ended up publishing them in the interests of privacy and not wanting to potentially upset other people.

I said in my very first post that I wouldn't limit myself in subject matter and that I would post on anything as "I am interested in anything that is interesting". Well, I think I have succeeded on that front as the range of post topics is quite diverse.

From political discussions on the carbon tax and Campbell Newman's foray into State politics; to AFL season previews and reviews and some passionate takes on the ups/downs of my beloved Melbourne Demons; to rants and raves on social issues such as Brisbane's response to the January floods, the recent riots in London and the changing nature of Australia Day; and to storytelling and narratives on my own life, particularly around my family and of course the amusing antics of The Son.

So what will the next year bring? Hopefully some more readers and followers for a start but also a more regular timeslot for the publishing of posts. My aim at the moment is to post on particular days each week so that people know when to expect another one.

Haven't quite worked out when that will be but all will be revealed in due course as well as some lowgrade marketing initiatives (or shameless self-promotion as some might call it).

As to topics, who knows? It all comes down to the happenings of the world at large and my particular place in it and who on earth can predict any of that.

I am always thinking of my loyal readers, however, so below is some of my favourite and more interesting posts of Nah Seriously's first year for your reading enjoyment.

Some Of Life's Pleasures
Some Of Life's Displeasures
Some Of Life's Questions
Day In The Life Of A Political Staffer
Mind's Eye - Trip To The Pool
It's A Grand Old Flag

So thanks to all that have dropped in from time to time and especially those that have 'followed' me from the beginning and provided comments. Here's to me then and Nah Seriously's first birthday, but here's to all of you as well.

Til next time my friends,

EDM.

I Rest My Case

The Aussies bowled out for a meagre 47, the last 20 odd runs coming from the last wicket pair of Siddle and Lyon. Then the Saffers smash us around for an easy 8 wicket win.

I rest my case (regarding arguments and antics from my last post). Something is rotten in the state of Australian cricket.

Leather On Willow Again

It's on again. Apparently. A brand new cricket season. Wow. Don't all come back at me with such unbridled joy. Whoa back there. Take it easy.

I speak in sarcasm obviously as it certainly feels like there is a lot of apathy towards cricket at the moment. In Australia anyway. We're on season's eve and even the cricket journalists seem to be pretty ho-hum about it let alone the paying public who've been slowly losing interest over a number of years.

What a contrast. There was a time when I couldn't wait for it to all start and would be eagerly reading this and looking up that for the latest on the season to come. Some of my most favourite memories include a day at the cricket with a bunch of mates cheering on the Aussies against the latest enemy, preferably the English or the Saffers.

I raced to the Gabba after school many a time to catch the last session of a Test when the dog track was still there and remember whole days on the XXXX Hill during swatvac when I should have been studying for uni exams.

I toured the UK in 1999 watching the World Cup and had a day to the remember watching the final in a pub that was literally underneath one of the stands at Lords with hundreds of other Australians.

I took in many a New Years Day hangover on the 'Hill' at the SCG while also creating new hangovers at various one-dayers armed with vodka-filled watermelon and buckets of hot chips.

And I've watched numerous Boxing Day Tests sitting in freezing Melbourne weather and drinking nothing but coffee just to keep warm.

Yes, I think I'm fairly typical of the Australian cricket fan who, due to a number of factors, have slowly turned to viewing the cricket season as 'interesting' rather than as an 'obsession' like bygone days. A real shame.

So where did it all go wrong? I know for mine one of the reasons I stopped going to the cricket was the fun police. My last big session involving multiple days of the same test was the Ashes series in 2006-07. It was billed as being the series of the century and tickets sold out in hours rather than days/weeks. But in the end the actual viewing was very poor with the uproar about only plastic bags and no balls, etc and even the banning of the Barmy Army's trumpeter. The beginning of the end for mine.

The actual Australian team of the last few years may also be to blame. They just aren't as likeable as previously and there's certainly no rogue mavericks or loveable larrikins like a Warnie, Merv, Dougie or Boonie. It's all hair product and bling and model WAGs which most of the viewing public just can't relate to.

The so-called feud between Simon Katich and Michael Clarke over the incident at the SCG certainly points to the generational shift within the team and what the new breed deem important. Think that has also crossed over into the relationship between the Australian team and the Australian public.

But I reckon the biggest thing for me has been the cricket authorities all over the world pimping themselves out to the bastard that is 20-20. Corresponding with the rise of India as the centre of world cricket and its own Premier League, 20-20 has taken the focus away from the real stuff that is and should be Test Cricket.

The entire tour schedule is now set according to the IPL in particular but also any other 20-20 tournament the administers want to make money from. It's a truly sad state of affairs when its becoming the be-all and end-all rather than Test cricket with a lot of players now happy to give up the opportunity to wear the baggy green to make a few bucks in a tournament no-one remembers who won afterwards anyway.

My case in point is the soon-to-commence Test series between Australia and South Africa which has been reduced to a mere 2 tests. This is one of the most contested rivalries in the cricket calendar with both countries, teams and their supporters, not wanting to give an inch and to get one over the other. But what do the administrators do? Make it a farce by reducing the contest to only 2 games rather than the usual 3 and sometimes 5 to allow the IPL to take place unhindered.

And the Australian Cricket Board are wondering why cricket has lost it status as the country's number one sport. I don't know all the ins and outs of the recent Argus review/report but here's hoping the implementation of its recommendations go some way to restoring the faith the public had in the game and the Australian team itself.

Anyway, that's a quick rant on the state of play after realising the season is about to start and then thinking back to how it used to be. How I used to be excited and keen. How I used to already have my tickets sitting snugly in my wallet awaiting the first day. But now its a passing reference in the paper and just a check of the scores on the evening news. Something has gone wrong and I don't think I'm the only one. Geez, I hope I'm not the only one.

Actually, I know I'm not the only one so here's a link to a fine article by John Harms who puts it in better words than mine. It was written at the start of the year but is definitely applicable to this upcoming season as well.

Nonetheless, I'm interested in what the (other) masses have to say on this as well. Has cricket lost its mojo? Can it come back and return itself to status as our national game and national pastime?

EDM.

Promises, Promises and That One Race

Well, October was a bit sparse wasn't it. It was my first full month of daddy day care so those responsibilties do appear to be undermining my blogging consistency. Plenty of inspiration mind you, but just making it hard to sit down for an appropriate block of time and punch out a post. I am promising more this month though so a good thing it's only the first giving me amble opportunity for a productive November.

Yes, the daddy day care thing is pretty full-on. I know there are plenty of people who seem to think I'm on holidays up here on the coast so it just goes to show how little spare time you get when you're doing the bulk of the parenting duties. Although I did get some boys time most recently on the weekend so it hasn't been all nappies and park time. Very good weekend in fact which took most of Sunday and yesterday to get over.

The occasion? Our annual Noosa Triathlon weekend (I didn't have far to go) whereby we do the Eyeline 1000 ocean swim on the Friday before enjoying ourselves for the rest of the weekend while most of the event's attendees do their bit. It's quite a tradition for our group with it being the 11th year for the founding fathers and my 7th. The swim went pretty well actually considering I only trained for about four weeks so plenty of ammunition for the celebration that followed. Hence the hangover that only diminished yesterday.

And so it is the 1st of November and that means Melbourne Cup Day. I've missed nearly all the buildup and just managed to get some ill-informed bets in a few minutes ago. I'm currently at home on my lonesome while the wife works and the son is asleep so quite surreal to be honest. At the very least, I've always had a work function to go to with a few beers so strange to be sitting here watching it on the TV while punching out a post on the laptop.

My bets? Shizza, have forgotten already. Think it was a bit on Niwot and a bit on Drunken Sailor as well as a boxed trifecta for the big bucks. First one is one of the favourites but had to go with Drunken Sailor as well for its name.

(stepping away now to grab a waking son and to watch the big race)

And the winning horse is...Dundaden, by a hair. Meaning I'm not a winner which is par for the course as I'm still yet to have a win on a Melbourne Cup race. My awesome strike rate continues. Shizza once more. But a memorable experience nonetheless to watch it with the son on my lap. He did tell me to stop when I was cheering them on, however, so probably not the most authentic of horse racing experiences.

So there you have it. A promise to be more productive and consistent over the coming month with this blog and also a riveting narrative on my rather sad Melbourne Cup experience. Bet you lot can't wait for more after this. That's sarcasm by the way.

Anyways, best of luck to all with their bets and see you soon (hopefully).

EDM.

PS - And a Reserve Bank rate cut just announced. This mortgage slave reckons that's much better than a Melb Cup bet win.