I’m no legal expert, nor am I a psychologist.
But I am a writer and by virtue of that, a student of the human condition — an obsessive observer who mentally hoovers up the goings-on of our world so these can be synthesised and repackaged into some semblance of information for consumption, discussion or otherwise.
And yes, I have worked for the (not-always-really-that) evil MSM which, contrary to the opinions of some, does not mean I’m some brainwashed regurgitator of the ideology of this side or that.
Having watched the train wreck that was the USA since the catastrophic 2016 US presidential election, something I’ve said over and over again is that Trump was the president America needed and deserved. …
Today, January 6, 2021, there was an attempted coup in the United States of America.
Watching from Australia, it was stranger than fiction to see images of the nation’s lawmaking building taken over by an angry, raging terrorist mob determined to overthrow the natural process of the democratic transfer of power.
House of Cards, Handmaid’s Tale and Veep couldn’t have written a better (or, rather, worse) script.
Oddly, it made me think of the 1989 Tian An Men Square protests in Beijing, China.
Wait, how can fighters for freedom and democracy battling a totalitarian regime being mowed down by tanks with many hundreds killed be compared to terrorist fighters of a failing, flailing right-wing totalitarian leader storming the bastion of the nation’s democratic principles? …
Over the past ten years or so, Port Douglas in Far North Queensland, Australia, has been a fixture in my annual travel schedule.
Most who have been up north will understand why — while Port is undeniably a tourist mecca, it still has about it the sleepy, languid, comfy feel of a country seaside town.
After having to set aside an opportunity to work for a media company in Shanghai (thanks COVID-19, no, really, thanks so much), I decided that I would do the counter-opposite. …
I’m a fairly rabid consumer of information.
In fact, I am an out and out information junkie, constantly feeding stuff into my brain so that it is bursting with all the info things.
This mostly comes from the kind of work I do (loads of writing and editing stuff, mostly in digital marketing and journalism) but also because I am fairly curious about the world and have a bit of FOMO when it comes to knowing what’s going on.
I’m also a bit of a smartarse, so I like to be able to talk to people about whatever it is they want to chat about and at least have some vague understanding of the topic (but am not too proud to ask about it if I don’t!) …
It’s par for the course at the moment for political media pundits to observe of America that an attempted political coup is underway.
Why would you not?
What’s happening in the wake of the 2020 US presidential election has all the hallmarks of a run-of-the-mill coup, right?
But…the reality is, there is — and will be — no coup.
Sure, it hot, sexy, “like/thumbs-up emoji” language to throw around to keep the public glued to TV or their smart device screens as media organisations do all in their power for fear of a massive drop-off in viewers or readership now the election is over. …
I am deliriously in love…with myself.
Yes, that’s right. I love myself.
Well, not always, but a lot of the time.
That sounds way more arrogant than it’s meant to — what I really mean is that I am in love with being single.
And no, I’m not a “sologamist” (someone who marries themselves, yes it’s a thing, apparently) or a born-again single who raves about how good it is to be free in the same way reformed smokers become completely anti-smoking when they kick the habit while sometimes secretly hanging to go back to their old ways.
No, I am the authentic long-term single dude. …
Everyone is talking so much about COVID-19 fatigue as it relates to how the pandemic has changed our world for now, and maybe forever, but particularly in areas where lockdowns have made living a normal life impossible.
However, anyone working from home right now is probably also suffering from something far worse — what our French friends might call #FatigueLeZoom.
Now, we are definitely NOT putting Zoom down. Oh no. We love it. …
I’d warrant many have heard about the Netflix doco The Social Dilemma.
If not, here is the trailer.
Take a look.
A few friends had recommend it to me and I had added it to my watch-list, but it wasn’t really pushing its way into my current must watches, which included Hannibal (yes I’m wayyyy behind there but loving it), My Octopus Teacher, Umbrella Academy Season 2 and Ratched (Hitchcock lovers — this is a must-watch!), amongst others.
And then on the night before I had a dinner planned with a close mate, he texted me asking if I’d watched The Social Dilemma yet because he really wanted to discuss it, so it barged its way up my watchlist to my “watch now” list. …
It’s been a difficult year for Australian Rules footy fans, but particularly for those in the heartland of footy, and rolling lockdowns, Victoria.
For non-Aussies reading this, watch this hilarious old-school film about footy!
COVID-19, and the difficulty of prolonged lockdowns, have meant the absence of the ability to worship our game in the flesh, except for the lucky South Australians, Western Australians and most-lucky-of-all Queenslanders who have had a literal festival of footy, the likes of which they will never see again, and culminating in an historic first-ever Grand Final away from the ‘G and at night time.
Despite this footy hardship so many have faced, I remain incredibly invested in the game, maybe even more. …
I’ve been feeling guilty lately.
Not for eating too much chocolate…or being unable to get to gym due to COVID-19 lockdowns…or bingeing on Netflix when I should be…well, writing.
No.
The guilt has come from enjoying being alone at a time when we are constantly being told (or are actually hearing from friends around us) that so many are struggling with enforced isolation and the associated loneliness “epidemic”.
Even prior to COVID-19, high “community transmission” of the loneliness epidemic has been much discussed as social networks break down, leading to a variety of both mental and physical health problems for those who feel increasingly isolated or dislocated. …
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