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asymmetries that were originally associated with the spread of English, as an imperialistic language, have eventually been replaced by the reassignment of the "ownership" of English to many other speech communities around the world.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!