The Engineer also Muses

Muchas Grassy Ass Amigo!

The World Avoidance, Moving In, and Glee June 13, 2010

Filed under: on Student Politics,on literature,on living out of home,on me,on the daily grind — Janek @ 21:45

So, I hear the World Cup is on at the moment. I say hear because I am doing my utmost to avoid all news, viewings, soundbites, anything… ANYTHING at all to do with Football. It’s not that I begrudge people who enjoy it… please, watch away. It’s not that I plan to sleep through it, given that I’ve had horrendous sleeping patterns lately and am awake most of the night. No, no, it’s quite simple: I don’t give a fuck, and would rather spend my time doing something useful. This said, though, I am humorously trying extra hard to avoid the news just to see how long I can go for. Given I will be seeing my parents’ tomorrow, I will be updated then and know it won’t go for as long as I like, but it’s still quite good, especially given that I didn’t know it started. I know it’s started, thanks to tweets regarding the all-nighter or the early night with the plan to rise early.

I have officially moved in to my new place! Well, to be fair, I moved in a month ago, but I have now *finished* moving in, with all my stuff here and everything. I put the bookcase up, filled it with books and DVDs, sorted out stuff to go to Vinnies, did 9 loads of washing, ironed things, and now just to tidy the last few things and I can really begin to settle in. I have one housemate, he’s an aspiring artist, with an aspiring artist as a girlfriend, and we keep to ourselves mostly. Living in a hotel for 7 weeks has left me… broke. But I have all the essentials and all of my stuff and am beginning to decorate. It is so wonderful to have my own space! And a housemate I can trust to not burn down the house when I walk out the door. I shall have a housewarming as soon as there are more than three chairs in the house, as seating at the moment is at a bit of a premium. I am also most annoyed that they closed my local Go Lo just before I moved in, as I did get a lot of stuff from there to fill my house previously. Cooking and cleaning stuff mostly, of course…

The other thing I wanted to blog about at the moment was a couple of TV shows. First off, Glee, which finished season 1 during the week. Now, I was a huge fan of the series, and I loved the way Ryan Murphy has run several of the later episodes. But, that brings up an argument a friend and I had regarding Glee. I said that I liked it due to the human element and the irony in the title. No one is really happy, they sing happy songs and put on happy faces, but they are ultimately all sad, depressed, alone, downtrodden, unaccepted, misguided, and tragically human. He said he liked it because of the triumph over adversary and the underdog pulling forth to fight against those who put us down. Far too happy for me. Any thoughts?

On the subject of TV, I’ve been watching a brilliant miniseries from the UK called The House of Cards. A Machiavellian man pushes forth destroy those around him, regardless of whether they are journalists, fellow Members of Parliament, or, indeed, the King of England, as he pushes forth to become Prime Minister. Horrifying, and brilliant, definitely a must see for those who love political dramas. Goes over 12 1 hours episodes, and there were times when my blood ran cold at the things he was doing. I would never survive in politics. I finished West Wing the other week, and I liked that, though the earlier seasons were definitely better than the later. I also caught up with Doctor Who. The Hungry Earth and Cold Blood were poor – badly paced, lacklustre storyline, generally dull. Vincent and the Doctor was better, but I didn’t enjoy the episode, but Richard Curtis’ writing was tight and there was a good flow. I just saw The Lodger, which was really just a “we need an episode before the final”. Next week, though, looks to be great, explaining the whole story arc with the cracks. I’m enjoying Matt Smith at the Doctor, I think he’s so much better than Ecclestan, but isn’t quite as good as Tennant yet.

Also, I am now planning to suspend my thesis for a year. Wish me luck.

 

Wasteful February 6, 2010

Filed under: on the daily grind,on university,on work — Janek @ 00:53

And so it came to pass that on the 10th day of January, in the two thousand and tenth year of Our Lord, the University of Sydney completed the re-brand. Costing in excess of $5Million, the University has “refreshed” its logo, updated the website (and changed the url), made us change all of our emails and signatures, and erected some phallic objects at entrances that show we are a University.

Look at the new site, http://www.sydney.edu.au

Sporting Store or University website. You decide.

If that isn’t wankerific excess, with money that could have been better spent, I don’t know what is. So, I’m taking a poll on it:

 

New Year January 1, 2010

Filed under: on Dan,on me,on the daily grind — Janek @ 20:51

Here we sit, watching the the big balloon going up in the sky. Of course, in Sydney it looks more like this:

It’s been a funny year, 2009. I did so many things I’ve not done before, I’ve done other things that I do all the time, and some things I normally do but didn’t this year. It’s all very exciting.

I got my eyebrow pierced, I went to two student conferences, I got engaged, I continued my PhD, I became a councillor with SUPRA, I became Secretary of SUPRA, I became a councillor with CAPA, I became Queer Co-officer and National Secretary, I worked as an electoral official, I came out to a number of people. I did a hundred things I wanted to, and missed many things I wanted to.

Where does that leave me?

Well, it leaves me here, on NYE/D. We’ve been watching films. And so, in interests of swelling this post, i provide an overview of the films:

The Proposal
There was only one thing worth watching this film for:

Otherwise, it was a shallow waste of celluloid reminiscent of every film from Green Card to Pretty in Pink.

The Alphabet Murders
Eliza Dushku plays the part of an investigator in Rochester, NY investigating murders for children with double-letter initials and found in places which have the same letter (Like Kristina K. Keneally). It was dark and distrubing, though has Eliza somewhat typecast in the role she played in Tru Calling. It was, however, not all that well written or directed, and I thought it was really flat.

The International
Like a lobotomy with a pencil, this film was painful and made no sense.

 

Android Vs iPhone June 26, 2009

Filed under: Polls,on me,on the daily grind — Janek @ 12:32

So, I’m thinking of getting a new phone, and I’m tossing up between the iPhone and HTC Magic powered by Android.  Most people seem to be suggesting iPhones, but they’re kinda common, and I hate being common.  Someone compared Android to Zune.  I already have an iPod, so I’m not looking for large storage devices.  There are more apps for the iPhone though.  Oh, I’m so confused.  So, any comments?

 

Annoying June 7, 2009

Filed under: on the daily grind,on the government,on the interblahs,on tutoring,on university — Janek @ 11:45

There are many things which have annoyed me of late, and I’ve had this post as a draft, adding and removing things from it. Here are the top four:

  • The Final Frontier: Everything these days is being referred to as the final frontier. We all remember Star Trek, of course, with its “Space, the final frontier”, but now everything is the final frontier. Sustainability is the final frontier; something related to the computer is the final frontier; etc, etc. When will these people learn, the final frontier means that it is the last barrier to the knowledge of humanity. Consequently, it is not the FINAL frontier. It might be a frontier, an important one at that, but it’s not the final one.
  • Geosequestration: This is the idea of carbon capture from somewhere like a power plant, and pumping it into underground storage. I am all for reducing carbon emissions. I think things like biosequestration is a great idea. However, it is NOT going to work to pump the carbon dioxide under the ground for several reasons – there are insufficient areas in which to store the carbon dioxide, it needs to be monitored constantly and ground has a tendency to leak, plus it poisons the ground water and soil making them both highly acidic, which reduces plant life in the area and can cause acidification of large bodies of water on the surface. So stop talking about it and start using alternative fuels!!
  • “Sir”: I have a very liberal classroom when I tutor, consequently, I find it more than slightly humorous when students call me Sir. However, it’s been irritating me recently. I’m 23, guys. Don’t make me feel so old.
  • Plagiarists: Finally, I have managed to catch 26 students from the ~350 I had this semester with plagiarism. This annoys me for two reasons. First, the lecturer is pathetic, and doesn’t seem to care, leaving it to me to organise how to deal with it all. Second, because I keep calling meeting with the students, and they keep NOT COMING *angry face*. I’m taking my time to organise these things… the least you can do is humour me with your attendance!!
 

Lily goes viral, and IDAHO May 20, 2009

Filed under: on homophobia,on homosexuality,on the daily grind,on the government,on the interblahs — Janek @ 18:49

So, a week ago, a video began arching towards viral state. It was, of course, a film of Lily Allen’s hit song, “Fuck You”, from her most recent album. And so, with this is mind, here they are:

The American version…

and the French…

It all ties in nicely with last weekend, where the world remembers the time when homosexuality was removed as a mental illness… IDAHO. A beautiful compilation video was put together for that as well:

Support the gay rights movement, we only ask to be treated as equals

 

Run off my feet May 6, 2009

Filed under: on Dan,on living out of home,on me,on my thesis,on the daily grind,on the government,on tutoring,on university,on work — Janek @ 02:01

Somehow, I’ve ended up doing everyone else’s job, and not my own. Which has been why I’ve been so slack on the blogging. Sorry everyone…

Here’s a brief run-down of my life:

Im all wrapped up, I dont know my arms from my arse

I'm all wrapped up, I don't know my arms from my arse

  • I’m now heavily involved in the marketing committee for the Faculty I work in, which means I have been designing ways to lure unsuspecting Year 12 students in through Facebook and “information” days, both at schools at at uni. I get paid for most of this work, though, which is good!
  • I’ve also become the resident expert in CMS, it seems, which, I might add, is a HORRIBLE language I NEVER want to EVER see again. URGH!! It means I spend an hour or so a day updating the website, pro bono, and usually working with my “boss” (who should be doing it, and is very slow).
  • I’m kinda trying to train my parents atm, as one would a naughty child, by not rewarding them. Which means I’ve now not spoken to them for a week and a half. I feel kinda bad, but relieved at the same time. We need to talk, though, and I don’t want to cause a fight but it might just come to that.
  • Things with Dan are awesome :D 11 months today, feeling great!
  • Things with money are not awesome. I now know what it means to live from paycheque to paycheque, which usually involves having little or no money for the last few days. I am now getting a bonus from Mr Rudd, though, which is good, as it means it can go towards a proper double mattress for my bed and a new computer.
  • Talking of politicians, I’ve taken to writing to MPs at will. Kevin, Julia, Robert, Malcolm, Tanya, and my state member, Verity, all get semi-regular letters from me, and Verity actually replies herself! I like her :)
  • I’ve also ended up helping to run a whole lot of things at Uni with the Queer Collective, including going to group discussions, meetings, and generally spending time helping people. And now, also included in this, I’m running guided meditation sessions taken from a book Dr Muscly told me to get.
  • Finally, amongst all of this, I’m also tutoring first years. 375 of them, spread over 6 demonstration sessions (or about 62 per class). Some of them have been great, and some of them terrible. The last class I had were fairly dead… no laughter at my (admittedly bad) jokes, no whines, no whinges, no… anything. I have one more group still to meet, I hope they’re a good group :)

So, that’s a very brief overview on everything. Welcome to the present :)

 

A Letter March 13, 2009

Filed under: on living out of home,on the daily grind,on the government,on work — Janek @ 16:54

Dear Prime Minister,

As elements of your recent stimulus package come to light, it is increasingly apparent that the movements of the Labor party in Australia have varied from the traditional support of the working class towards the more conservative Liberal party.

I am a very low income earner, with an expected income of only $25,000 this year. $20,490 of this is on the Australian Postgraduate Award, a scholarship provided by the government to support the research for my PhD in Chemical Engineering. This works out to be $11.19 per hour, and whilst untaxed, is nearly $10 per hour less than the minimum federal wage set out by the Australian Fair Pay Commission. However, as it is untaxed, I do get to retain the full amount. Nonetheless, it does result in me having a taxable income substantially below that of a normal ”working person”, meaning that my tax is completely offset by the low income earners benefit.

How does this relate to my email? Well, because of the offset, I do not qualify for your benefit. As it is, I am surviving on minimal income, and now a benefit of ”$950 one-off payments for low and middle income households and individuals” excludes people like myself who can hardly make their rent payments and buy food, let alone be part of the ‘student life’ or stimulate the economy. Yet, your package allocates money to people who have hardly lived in the country or are deceased!

Mr Prime Minister, I am incensed at this package, because it is not accessing the people who really need the money, to pay off credit card debt and allow them to really help to stimulate the economy. I have never agreed with the Liberal party before, but I can only concur with them that this policy seems rushed and poorly thought out.

Yours Respectfully,

Janek

 

Fucking Government March 11, 2009

Filed under: on me,on the daily grind — Janek @ 21:42

I did the test on the ATO website just now and I don’t get the $900 bonus because A-O+G=0. What am I on about? Well…

For those people who didn’t know, KRudd announced that Australians earning under $100 000 would receive a bonus! Yay all of us. Students would also get it if they were on Centrelink benefits (not me, boo).

Anyway, I nipped over to the ATO page on the bonus. I went over to the calculator, entered my details, and because I had a very low taxable income (most of my income is a tax-free scholarship), the only tax I had was absorbed by the low income earners tax.

tax_bonus

Consequently, I get zip. Zero. Zilch. I do not get the now reduced $900. Funny thing is, I could do with $900…

 

Updates! February 25, 2009

Filed under: in pictures,on Dan,on homosexuality,on me,on my family,on religion,on the daily grind — Janek @ 01:08

It’s been a little while since I blogged due to EXTREME busy-ness. Before you think I’ve gone mad, no, I haven’t started doing work for my PhD… that would imply some path towards finishing, and we all know that can’t happen. No, it’s been more a case of things to be done, places to be, so here’s a quick run-down:

Valentine’s Day/The Feast of St Hallmark – less romantic than was originally envisioned, given to Dan’s cold at the time. We lay in bed watching films and stayed warm.

Fair Day rainy – but fun to see lots of people. Got a free petunia that now appears to be in dire straits, along with my quickly dying poinsettia from Christmas. Didn’t go for too long, but it was nice just wandering over when I liked and not needing to worry about parking.

Grandma goodness – I came out to my Grandma, Mum’s mum, on Thursday. It was an interesting situation, and I basically just said it when she asked if I had a girlfriend. It feels good to be out, and she took it really well. Yay! While I was over there, I helped her sort out a little problem she had with a delivery. She was expecting microfibre cloths, and, instead, received this:

Sara’s leaving :( - I’ve made a good friend in Sara over the past few months, and she’s now finished her course and is setting sail for NY. I’m really going to miss her, especially as she’s been somewhat of a “sex friend” for me. By which I mean she’s that person I seem to have no issues discussing my sex life with.

Trivia trivial, no one surprised - Acceptance held their annual trivia night on Saturday. Unsurprisingly, it was full of things no one knew, was too loud, and involved two drag queens who assumed they were funny. Nonetheless, I had a good time, especially as I drew the raffle with Miss Southern Comfort.

Tropfest dry, weather fine too - Tottered off to Tropfest Sunday night, it was quite good fun seeing so many people… we had a great spot with lots of room to lounge out in. There wasn’t a great showing of films… only one animated film, for example.