Yesterday I was at work and talking about my (disatrous) trip to the casino the night before.
Someone piped up and remarked “But you’re vegan – you’re not supposed to gamble”.
I happily reminded them that my morals and my diet are two different things.

I was interested by the fact that they said that.
More and more I see how people reflect their own morals and values onto others, well particularly me as I’m the one they’re reflecting onto.

For example, I have an excellent relationship with my ex of seven years, we’re great mates.
I’ve heard, however, our relationship described as ‘odd’ or ‘abnormal’, in that ‘you shouldn’t be that close with someone you used to be with’.

It’s only odd or abnormal to someone who can’t concieve it.
It’s perfectly normal to us.

As I see it in others, I see it in myself.
It’s interesting how many times in a day I will place my own value judgement on a person or relationship, when I know nothing about the inner workings of such people or relationships, and not just intimate relationships, I’m talking friends, family, work mates etc..
I’m getting better at catching myself doing it, and when I do, I’m able to free myself of my pre-conceptions and take folks for who they are, which in the end isn’t how we’d all like to be percieved, right?

Tryin’ hard to do the right thing since 1997,
xx andrew

Ok, it’s Saturday so it’s dancing day.
Get your groove on to this, beeetches.
Breakestra, out of LA. Off the hooK!!

The other night, Karaoke World on Elizabeth St Sydney was torn a new one by Luke, Josh, myself and about twenty of our mates.
It was EPIC.

Two bottles of warm sake over the bar, ten glasses, and we all packed into the back room.
There were no punches pulled, as I fired a serious opening salvo with a sterling rendition of Michael Bolton’s “How can we be lovers if we can’t be friends.”
My opening move was quickly countered by Jozza with Whitesnake’s “Here I go Again”. Damn. He hit the high notes and everything.
It was all-out from here on in.
The Karaoke gold just kept on coming..
“When the giong gets tough” from Billy Ocean,
“La Is La Bonita” with the great dance moves and crappy Spanish pronunciation;
“Winds Of Change” – with all the whistly glory

and the killer,

“Islands in the Stream” with choreography, emotion and tears.

That was the nail in the coffin. I was defeated, and splendidly.
I took my humble lesson handed to me through the power of Kenny and Dolly reborn.

It was just bloody brilliant, and in the middle of destroying one particular song, I looked up to find some gawking strange bloke and three strange ladies standing in the corner of our room staring and pointing, mumbling something about “strayaanidalll”.
It seemed the most normal thing in the world for these people to walk straight into our private room, and take it upon themselves to invade our space to just kind of stare at what we were doing.
I realise that I have a job that makes me somewhat public property and I welcome that fact into my life gratefully.
This however, was something different.
They stood there for quite a while, until I’d had enough of feeling like a shop window to say something.
Once I reminded them that they can’t be in here, as this is me and my friends, some that I’ve not seen in years, enjoying some drunken time together and in fact it may be imposing on our privacy somewhat that they’re in there, the three girls suddenly and dramatically snapped out of gawking mode and into “Oh shit, this is the rudest thing in the universe to be doing” and started to make a hasty retreat. Gawky man kept pointing and mumbling something about “channnaaaavoiii”, and the girls tried to take him with them.
When he started to shake them off, “drunk guy getting ready for something” style, I do believe I sang to him, as I was after all mid song, and in the tune of ‘Born To Run’– ‘Guys like you, you just have to fuck-ing goooooo’.
Through the power of Karaoke I repelled a punisher from an otherwise tremendous night.
The people that I get to meet, and the ways in which I get to meet them through doing my job, will always interest me.

The moral of the story is that Karaoke is a gateway drug.
It leads to delusions of vocal glory,
excess sake consumption,
impoliteness,
and thinking that more shots at 3am is a very good idea.

I do still love it!

xx a

I like the internet.
I first used it with netscape 1.0 and a 28.8k modem.
So when I saw this, it took me back to the olden times of 1999 (or so).
Does it make me old that I find this funny?

Yes. Probably.

x

What happened to discussion to work out differences?
What happened to a humble retreat from the bigger man to avoid a confilct?
What happened to sorting something out, outside and fairly if it needed to be sorted?
What happened to gentlemanly machismo at dawn?

Obviously lots, because it exists no more..

This is just silly

Eight versus one?

Fifteen versus one?

What happened to being brave enough to sort things out on your own?

What happened to,
“Excuse me, that’s my girl”,
“Opps my mistake, let me buy you a drink while I step aside and you two enjoy your night”.

Urgh.

Be brave. Be a real man.
If you’re so cro-magnon that you’re going to get mad at someone for dancing with a girl (and why would you, you low self esteemed loser), instead of just talking it out, (and what’s her role in all of this, too?), at least have the balls do do it yourself.

On the other hand, here’s a big HURRAH to guys who are completely cool with their girls dancing with other guys, because it’s a sign that other fellas find your girl attractive, and a sign to her that you’re comfortable in her commitment to you.
Trust me, guys who don’t mind other blokes talking to their girl ALWAYS get laid more than guys who do the Chopper Reid “Look at me, or look at the Wall”.

If you’re a girl and in that kind of relationship, please, do everyone a favour and get out. There are plenty of men out there who will take care of you like the princess that you are.

x a a

Thanks to everyone who said hello as my sweaty, panting, air-guitaring self ran past you today.
Your waves made me feel really, really good.
I liked being a part of something that sixty-three thousand other people were a part of too.
It was nice.

At the finish line, they had music playing, songs like Billy Ocean’s ‘when the going gets tough’ and LRB with ‘Playing to win’.

I had the Oakleys blaring out a stellar soundtrack, and timed it so that ‘Highway to Hell’ from ACDC and ‘Too Drunk to Fuck’ from the Dead Kennedys helpfully blocked out the finish line music.

Song of the run, the turning point song, well songs actually, goes to Fishbone with ‘Sunless Saturday’ and ‘Everyday Sunshine’.
What a genius band.
They are hands down in the top ten greatest live bands ever to exist on earth.
The simply DO.NOT.fuck about.

Watch a video, then watch a live performance that will make you want to ‘Swim into the Mosh’.

I miss fishbone.
I want them to come back.
First vid was for ‘Sunless Satruday’ which is a genius, superpowered song that entranched Fishbone as everything that Living Colour was not.
Second vid is Fishbone live in Japan, circa 1992, performing their trademark showstopper ‘Everyday Sunshine’.

Thanks for getting me through Kilometer 12 and 13 lads!

Thanks to everyone who said hello as my sweaty, panting, air-guitaring self ran past you today.
Your waves made me feel really, really good.
I liked being a part of something that sixty-three thousand other people were a part of too.
It was nice.

At the finish line, they had music playing, songs like Billy Ocean’s ‘when the going gets tough’ and LRB with ‘Playing to win’.

I had the Oakleys blaring out a stellar soundtrack, and timed it so that ‘Highway to Hell’ from ACDC and ‘Too Drunk to Fuck’ from the Dead Kennedys helpfully blocked out the finish line music.

Song of the run, the turning point song, well songs actually goes to Fishbone with ‘Sunless Saturday’ and ‘Everyday Sunshine’.
What a genius band.
They are hands down in the top ten greatest live bands ever to exist on earth.
The simply DO.NOT.fuck about.

Watch a video, then watch a live performance that will make you want to ‘Swim into the Mosh’.

I miss fishbone.
I want them to come back.

Thanks for getting me through Kilometer 12 and 13 lads!

Well before fringe-rock bands whinged about parentals not understanding their pain, there was the might, majesty and pure anger of Suicidal Tendencies brilliant track ‘Institutionalized’.

Behold the video!

Bad-ass L.A. Gangs at Punk Shows!
Super Old-School skate moves!
Mike Muir Skinny!
Tom Araya from Slayer doing a cameo!

Next time you want to listen to your skinny, sleeve-tatt crooners sing about how bad life is, pop on some Suicidals.
Life will get better instantly…

x aa

I reckon three people who watch this will find it funny.
I laughed so hard I did a little wee in my pants.

He’s touring in November.
I AM a viking!!