Earth the Ocean

"How inappropriate to call this planet Earth, when clearly it is Ocean." Arthur C. Clarke.

Makes sense, no?

The Table

Woke up this morning and found an amazing ad on the uni's online marketplace. Some household was having a clearance, literally giving away every possession of theirs away free. So, I had to go. With a housemate in tow, we walked away with a dressing-table type cupboard, I got myself a pair of adjustable weight dumb-bells (have been desiring one for the longest time), an ironing board, and this.



A perfect-sized coffee table that'll find many good uses for sure. Problem was as big as the car boot space was, this wouldn't go in. So...I carried this all the way home, all 4km of it, across a major intersection, and a few small roads, in the summer heat, saying hello to a few people on the way. Still feeling the sore, 12 hours later! Major workout.

Reality

Windsor, a mate beyond comprehension describes me as someone most likely to break the veil of reality.

I'm not entirely sure, if I can, or have ever, or will, but here's my current take on reality.

It's the moment that just passed.

In the papers

Here's one of the ads of mine that's been hitting the Melbourne papers. This one's taken from the Herald Sun, the Melbournian equivalent of the New Paper.


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In other news, was walking around Vic Mart and chanced upon this. I found this to be hilarious. Read the fine print! It says "Shit! It's raining" on the brolly. But what really got me was the whole closing down sale bit - "THE DROUGHT FINALLY GOT US." Maybe it's not meant to be funny, but very dry indeed, well. hmm, I can't decide, it's witty for sure.

From Brunswick

Spotted in a quaint little art shop on Brunswick, Melbourne's bohemia capital. This greets everyone who passes by.

"I have an infinite supply of means"

Phoah. Well said.

Results

First semester results are out - currently scoring an average of 81. So, am glad.

The holidays beckon!

Monty Python's Spamalot

Quite a dream come true to watch anything Monty Python-ish live in this lifetime. Well, so it was the musical and so it was ripped off from the movie, but it was close enough. Was more slapstick than witty, and my respect still goes out to the motion picture. Nevertheless, a good experience!

Philip Island

Didn't feel all too great the night before, but I had to rush down to the office to get some work done. Got a call from the guitarist and before I knew it, I was on the way, for the first time, to Philip Island to watch the Penguin Parade. Random-ness like this is the hallmark of a truly enjoyable life.

In the dark.

we'll need each other in the dark

I think that says it all, overheard on some random song on the radio. love the imagery.

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in other news, I've made my module selection for the next semester.

so, thus far...

First Semester that just passed -
Researching and Writing Australia
New Communications Media

Second Semester -
Issues in International Communications
Renationalising English: Language, Culture, and Communication

Renationalising English: Language, Culture, and Communication sounded too darned good to pass up!
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Synopsis:
This unit will provide students with the opportunity to explore the processes that have been involved in renationalisation of English throughout the world. Through a critical analysis of the published literature in the area, students will examine how hegemonic forces and power asymmetries that were originally associated with the spread of English, as an imperialistic language, have eventually been replaced by the reassignment of the "ownership" of English to many other speech communities around the world. This process of renationalisation of English has involved cultural, conceptual, ideological, and communicative restructurings, which are examined in detail in this unit.

Unit objectives:
Upon the successful completion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate: 1. knowledge of the literature regarding the spread of English around the globe, 2. advanced knowledge and understanding of how the process of renationalisation of English provides clues about the relationship between language, culture, conceptualisation, and communication, 3. critical appreciation of the relationship between language, power, and identity.

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Additionally, as I browsed through the evaluation reports of the subjects I took this semester, it felt great not be on the receiving end, as I have been for the last 4 odd years. Years of anticipating what the students felt about my teaching, the quality of my classroom management, et al.

Here're the evaluation reports of the subjects I took this sem! I wonder how my lecturers feel. =)

New Communciations Media
Researching and Writing Australia

The story of wes, ron and bob and ILF

So, ron's back and the trinity is complete. The week was spent full-timing at work, but we made it a point to spend as much time together as possible. We spent Friday jamming for a good whole day, working on the little bits that count, accenting right, filling up each other's gaps cleanly, and most important of all, we had our first meal together.



No, it was not some great big feast. We had instant Ramen, all two packets each with the slightest hint of health in the form of some bak choy.

Now, to find that house we need that'll double up as a studio and quasi-performance venue for friends and then we're set.

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In other news we created our very own acronym to combat the TTYL, BRB, ZOMG and what nots in the world. It's got attitude, it smacks of singlish yet you can't really fault it in terms of grammar and syntax.

We present to you -

ILF -- >>> Itchy like F***!

Someone please come up with an emoticon to back that up please!

So, go on. Use it. =) ILF!!!!

Magna 1, 2, 3

A pleasant surprise when I hit the Salvo's on Thursday. 3 brother cars parked side by side.

Then went on a drive out to Wilson's Prom, about 267km southeast away to find a good camping spot for the next weekend. Equipped with two djembes and a pretty decent soundsystem, we were a travelling loudspeaker.

Guitarist is back

Ron's back, and it summed up the whole weekend. Time for the musical journey to re-ignite.

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In other news, here's something that came to me on the road.

"If wheels had feelings, I wonder what emotions they will feel."

To which a friend A responded, "I wonder what steering wheels would feel, esp when we meet idiotic drivers."

Think about it! Wheels of all shapes and sizes, uses and abuses. Ouch?

Surfer Girl

Needed to share this. Am in a massive Beach Boys phase now, bought the Platinum CD collection, 3 discs, 60 songs. Fantastic. Found this on youtube, and it's great listening.

Shrek Update

He will never quite go away. That Shrek...movie's been over all of like four months. And he's still in stores.

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In other news, it's such a blessing to have a housemate who loves to cook.



Home-made wanton mee man. Beat that. With both fried and boiled wanton and soup.

the Beach Boys

Caught the Beach Boys on Friday with the Shoe at that Palais Theatre at St Kilda. It was virtually impossible finding someone to go to this one with, apparently no one I know liked the Beach Boys enough to want to go! Well, the ticket prices weren't the cheapest on the planet, but I knew I had to go, they're all well into their twilight years and if now wasn't the time, there would be no other time! So, thanks to Shoe for giving the band guilty of the Cadbury song a chance.

To complete the lineup were Christopher Cross (famed for Arthur's Theme and Sailing, you would know if you grew up in the 80s) and Daddy Cool. Christopher Cross was great. Still had that legendary smooth sailing voice that gracefully slid from note to note. And his band had great harmony going.

The Beach Boys (sans Brian Wilson, sob...) were true to form, highly entertaining and boy it was bliss listening to all those childhood favourites live. Kokomo, Good Vibrations, Surfer Girl, Wouldn't it be Nice. It was the full-blasting deal. Bliss!

1 little, 2 little, 3 little skylines

A few houses down from my place, I saw this. Man, that guy's got 3 skylines parked outside his house. What, and how!!!??? And why? All same make, same colour, save for one with the spoiler. They all sport the same rims too.

Men-at-work

In action at the State Library finishing up my final essay for the semester, hail to the surrounds that will contribute to all of its 5000 word glory.



And then a visit to Heritage Victoria to get some ancient documents for research. I swear the people there are the nicest. Had my own little office to browse through the documents, and best of all, free photocopying upon approval from the Executive Director re-copyright issues. They even send the documents to you via post, for free. Amazing.

Godzilla!!!

Wes and I have a new song, the first proper one we've written together since my return here. Written over the weekend when I really should have been working on my final essay for the semester, the weekend also involved about 200kms of travel, from the south-east where I'm at, to the North where Wes stays and then down to the south-west around Footscray for a house-warming party.

The song's central idea is the notion of getting addicted to wasted time, and how some of us choose to have an unusual relationship with it, and much more, if you read between the lines.

Here's an excerpt of the new track's words. The song's a semi-tribute to the metal bands, and one-up for the Japanese icon Godzilla too.

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Godzilla by Wesley Choo and Bob Tan

are we afraid that we came too far
admit to that first crime
have we grown addicted
to this wasted time

a mistake missing the first return
have we grown addicted
to the fire that we got burned
when innocence is wasted

are we too far gone?
timing the ultimate sin
admit to that first crime, that first time
All will be revealed.. Godzilla!!!!

I've got the 'demo' on mp3. mail me if you want a copy!

From the archives

"Growing older as they turn to grey
Lonely places in a faraway face"

From a song the band wrote in 2006 that was never quite completed.

Action Jackson

OK. anyone around my age will remember our cheesy-as lingo. Be there or be square, stay cool and funky...(pause for dramatic effect)...always, and one more that I never could quite figure out the origins.

Action Jackson. I think its prevailing permutation in my teenaged days sounded like Action Jacktion - a reference to people who were 'overtly action', loosely - show-off.
So anyway, that was like ten years ago, when it was still cool to call someone an Action Jackson. But little did we know where that came from.

And on a random day at the University's Matheson library, off a random shelf - I found this.



And in it, was this - I swear it was a random page flip.



Amazing. If you want its call number its 994 B413S. Action Jackson! It's a little hard to read but here's the tagline on the advert - "Do and Dare! He's everywhere! On land & sea and in the air!"

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In other news, an article I wrote about my favourite band the Verve breaking up and reforming got published in final edition (for this sem) of Lot's Wife, the uni paper.

Food glorious food

One more week till the rhythm guitarist returns to Melbourne. :) And then the band's reformation here will be complete.

And random thought of the day - good friends are those you can say no to, and that's the end of it. No questions asked as it's all good.

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Yes, some of you are wondering if Bob has Blobbed with all the food photos I've been posting up. This was lunch after my regular Saturday soccer game. Place is called Kotaraya on Blackburn road off the Princes Highway. Good authenic Hainanese Chicken Rice with dark sauce and power chilli action. Rice was fab and full of flavour though the soup wasn't quite up to scratch.
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Been having a sashimi of the salmon kind craving for eons. Finally got it satisfied at dinner. Met Shoe and what a recommendation at what a place with such a name. Samurai Sushi. Located on Glenferrie Road it offers excellent gourmet grub at student prices. $8 for sashimi platter, $2.50 for tempura vegetables, and $7.50 for mains. All in all, spent just $31.50 for a tummy destroying meal. Also ordered a strange concoction of beef with rice - some beef pate action with teriyaki sauce. Interesting but not worth a second order. And oh yes, their green tea milk shake is quite fab too. Must try.

I don't look like I have blobbed - or have I. Hmm.

Little great things

Great thing about being here is, you're always around people with a good wish to cook good food. Here're some snaps at a Shanghainese friend's birthday. She decided to do with minimal Asian - so it was the carbo-based works (with the exception of the dim-sims), tacos, pizza, pasta, all home-made. =)