Email to UN about Alum Mountain

This morning I wrote an email to Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya, about the Bulahdelah bypass.

I haven't time to write anything more in depth this morning; but adding another voice to the discourse can't hurt. James' contact details are as follows:

OHCHR, United Nation
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland

Tel. + 41 - 22 917 96 47 fax + 41 - 22 917 60 10

Email: indigenous@ohchr.org

[Photo credits go to Wilderness Kev for both images]

There is a bunch of info about the situation if you don't know whats going on or just want to find out more.

Manning Times article on ICAC submissions

NBN Snipped about eviction of traditional owners

FB group: Bulahdelah bypass - The facts

And of course, Google for more info.

Prof. Anaya,

You have probably been contacted by others in relation to the current action by the Roads and Traffic Authority in NSW, Australia to decimate a number of sacred Aboriginal sites. They are planning a highway through the Bulahdelah (Alum) mountain, a landmark significant to local people, but most sacred to Aboriginal people. But it is not just the sacred ancient mountain itself that is under threat; the site also contains the Healing Tree, and the sacred Healing Stream, amongst others.

Our government has an appalling record on Indigenous issue: from the racial genocide upon which Australia was founded, to the dispossession, the stolen generation, race based restrictions on transport and rights, classification of Aboriginal people as fauna, and even the much more recent and continuing military 'intervention' in the Northern Territory, which is largely in contravention of the recommendations of the Little Children Are Sacred report upon which the intervention was allegedly founded.

This government has proven time and time again that it cannot be trusted on issues related to race. I hope that you will make contact with our government and let them know that what they are doing is wrong; they will not listen to us, but maybe they will listen to you.

Regards,
Michael Joseph Kelly

Mos Def, and...

I heard this song on Triple J the other day and tracked it down. It is called Auditorium, and was released by Mos Def, but features Slick Rick. He sings the verse, that made the song stand out to me (I've since tracked down some of his releases). Anyhow I went looking for lyrics to this track, and found none of integrity, so I decided to pen out my own; but it seemed less appropriate when written. You really need to check out the track to get it, because the words merely leave one thinking: 'Huh?'. The relevant section starts at around 2:30.

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Also, un-relatedly, coming up soon (where 'soon' means 'eventually'), what do these images:

Have in common with this one:

Find out about this, and about the effect of our current dual system schools on society, and maybe a little about how to build an atomic bomb; with the launch of some new content at some stage soon. Will be announced.

An odour came in the window thismorning, and has permeated my day. The house began to smell, and when I burst forth expecting fresh air out the back door, I began to dry wretch and the stench only intensified outside. I scampered to the train station, pausing only to cough and hack from the newly induced illness. It resurfaced briefly on the breeze at the platform, before disappearing; leaving only the lingering unpleasantness in my nostrils.

Alas, my freedom was not to last. When I got off the bus, I was again assulted by this smell. Just once, brief but intense, carried on the breeze. I went inside, up to level four, and found a couch. I was now bothered only by the sound of the wind in the eaves, the bright wooden light fixtures above me,and my own difficulty staying awake as I reclined on the expansive grey-brown leather couch.

Image: Entrance stairs to the library (Photocredit: Andreisky) bacause I couldn't find a shot of the couch itself.

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I have a number of significant assesments this week, including an essay and three exams, so it is unlikely that I will find time to express anythign else in the same detail as this. You'll have to make do.

Hope all is well, world.
m'

Delayed

This post has been waiting for some time to be posted, in order to get the promised photographs from vodafone. I still haven't got them, but cannot hold off on posting any further.

It’s Friday afternoon, I am sitting on a bus, and I think now is a perfect time to begin looking back on my week. A few interesting things have happened this week, including skydiving and performing at the opera house.

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Last week, Friday afternoon, I was en route to uni when I was approached by the vodaphone marketing team; they wanted me to ‘make the most of now’. This involved climbing a ladder and jumping onto a massive foam mat. I know, it sounds fun right? Well, it is.

Note that these photos remain unavailable due to an ongoing dispute with vodafone; I will post the images here once the issue is resolved.

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Quite a few weeks ago, I began learning an opera with an insane but brilliant conductor by the name of Karen. This consisted of two sessions maybe an hour each of trying to figure out what the words were, and having a brief look at the tune, and an even briefer look at the timing. That was about 15 weeks ago. Two weeks ago we had another rehearsal, involving the choir en masse, followed by a rehearsal with the orchestra. Days later, we were doing our final rehearsal at the opera house, ready for a major performance.

To cut an (extremely) long story short, the show went off without a hitch, although I was reading much of the words, tune and timing straight off the score.

For those of you who know about such things (I certainly don’t) the opera was Aida, by Verde; though I only did The Triumphal March. Also, for those interested, I was a bass two (The lower of the two bass parts).

My sister and I at the opera house after ther performance.

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In mildly annoying news, I secured a contract for work this past week and next. Unfortunately I had to take leave on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday for uni, and then when I found out about the opera house performance, Tuesday also. To add to this, next Monday is a public holiday. That makes a two week contract into a five day one. Today being the first day, I went in and got busy, only to find out halfway through the day that I had been hired by mistake; of course they let me work today, and thankfully also next Tuesday, but probably not the rest off the week. This is a shame for my bank account, but probably pretty good for my exams the week following. (Edit: I ended up working 12 hours on Tuesday, and working a full day also on Wednesday. I know this isn't very interesting to y'all, but I get so little work here that every bit makes a difference!)

In other, better news, I may have more work there later (with my own ‘office’, too).

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Out of date

As I write this, I am sitting on a train on my way to see Dylan Moran. I left only realised the time (I was yet to pack, clean the house, get changed, go to the station, buy a ticket etc.) about 10–15 minutes before the last train left. I managed it.



But now think I should write something about the incident currently occurring:

Firstly I’ll make reference to my previous post about north shore girls on trains (Oh. My. God. Like, so totally fall–out–boy). These people made me want to leave the north shore to avoid having to listen to them. I’m on the train now that goes to Newcastle, and experiencing some conversation from the local equivalent. Less American teeny bopper trash, more bogan trailer trash.

Anyhow; a few minutes ago a sulphurous smell began to permeate the carriage. The smell was not unusual for trains, but was stronger than the norm’, but nothing too unbearable. The smell hung for a few minutes before either of these girls noticed, but once they did: (Stops playing with belly button ring) “Oh fuck me, I’m gonna’ spew, and I ain’t kidding..” The conversation then began about the nature of the odour, and soon myself and the engineering student next to me began to discuss an even more concerning point: the carriage is slowly beginning to fill with smoke…

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It is Saturday, and today I have started my major essay for Education. It is due on Monday, and tonight I’m going to Newcastle, then tomorrow I have rehearsals for this opera house production. I think this time I may have procrastinated a little too much.

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Ok, quite some time has passed, and all of that is out of date. The story on the train finishes with no train explosion, but there is an interesting conclusion which would be drawn (if I could find the motivation to type it up) about a the return journey, and my spreading hatred of the north shore. Suffice to leave it with you reading aloud from the screen in the slowest and whiniest drawl you can possibly summon:

“Yaaa, so, like you Daaad. He would’ thort I was like a real intelligent girl and shit, like with lotsa oppurtunities and that hey. Then as soon as he found out we was like heroin addicts he just like didn’t want anything to do with me hay?”

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Coming soon:

Hopefully some photos of me skidiving on Friday, and some reflection on the interesting drama due to unfold at the opera house over the next few days.

In reverse chronological order

Firstly, a letter I just sent to the Australian Government Senate Inquiry on Climate Change:

We all know that PV (Photovoltaic) technology is being effectively utilised around the world, and that our great big slab of land is ideally placed to utilise this technology, right beneath a tropic.

Australia not only lies in the ideal position geographically to utilise the technology, but also has some of the worlds leading PV research facilities. Proper government funding should be pumped into both research (creating perfect green collar jobs) and implementation (note that unlike the ridiculous 'clean coal' phallacy, PV exists, and can actually be implemented now).

Even if the government refuses to make any realistic effort to help solar, they could at least stop actively hindering it by subsidising filthy fossil fuel powered generators, and redirect that money into our shameful health or education systems.

Seriously, it's a good idea.

Regards,
Michael Kelly


Photocredit: Clearly Ambiguous

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I have been intensely sick lately. Really, unable to get out of bed for many many hours of the day (and not due to just liking the warmth like normal). I am on God knows how many drugs, I have no idea what half of them do (or what they actually are...), but I guess it seems to be helping a little now (since I'm sitting at my desk typing, without dying).

Anyhow, last night on the train on my way home, at about a quater to nine, I was sitting reading the daily PT atocity (MX) with Monty (a guy from my maths course at uni), when the train came to an unusually abrupt halt. An extremely paniced female voice came over the announcement system, imploring that we immediately evacuate the train in a calm an orderly but immediate manner, byttravelling toward the read of the train until the doors no longer opened out onto tunnel walls.

Typically, such a situation would have been most exciting; but as I could barely breathe to begin with, ambling down a freezing breezy tunnel full of microparticulate filth contaminating my lungs held less appeal that it would otherwise have done.

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Monday morning on the bus:

I was sitting on the rail that only some busses have, surrounding the little baggage pit adjacent the rear door. I felt my left thigh begin to vibrate, looked down, and noticed the handbag of girl next to me resting on my leg. (I know what you're thinking, and you're not right.) I got her attention to let her know that her phone was ringing, but reaslised she was already on the phone. Of course, she couldn't possibly have two phones, right? That would just be wierd. Anyhow, turns out she did have two, but it wasn't her second phone vibrating. Turns out, I actually had two phones in my left pocket. Wierd huh? It makes me wonder, how many more phones are there than people in this country? I know I have at least half a dozen mobile phones. Why? Who knows. But with so many people having swish new phones, clearly their previous devices have been discarded (most likely into a drawer like all of mine). Anyhow, that's just what I was thinkin'. No point intended, but I guess I could say this: If YOU have an old phone, stick it on Crailist. Seriously; it's a good idea.

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Note that I have chosen to retract the following statement in it's entirity, and my decision was in no way influenced by the Amazon.com legal department.

In conclusion, not that it relates to anything else here, if you are purchasing music online (i.e.: Not pirating for a change) try Amazon's online music service. They didn't pay me to plug them (bastards), and also I have not used them... But, you already have an Amazon account (oh come on, everybody has bought something on Amazon at some stage), the prices are often better than iTunes (or at worst the difference is negligible), and most importantly, you get the music in MP3 format, which (while not the highest quality) is practically universal (though still technically propeitary). That is, you pay for the music, then you get to put it on your computer, your iPod, your non-apple branded MP3 player, a CD etc etc. (Rather than iTunes, where you pay for it, and can play it only through their own player, and only on their portable music device).

Let me know how you go,
All I've heard is good news.

But still, it's times like these that Minties don't help, and I wish html still considered strikethrough worthy of universal support.

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Well, that's it for another installment. I think I'm going to brave the cold and go get some noodles and cottage cheese. And maybe some salt flavour chips. I'll leave you with an announcement from the twit of the guy who writes this blog, letting us know that he:

invented a new smoothie flavour:
"Cherry Children's Tylenol, Tears, Gin and Mylanta".

Get well soon (just in case you, too, are sick)
M'

A few Conversational Snippets

Snippets of conversation can be bizarre.

The folks next to me appear to have just met, and in the time I've been sitting here, they have discovered that she has, at her 21st, hooked up with his cousin. And she sounds like a Queenslander.

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This morning, during the extremely long wait for the bus, I heard a discussion between two girls that went something like this:

"My arms get sore, after like, 4 hours of playing the drums.
Oh, do you play the drums?
Ya, I'm pretty good.
Oh wow, I only play guitar. How good are you on the drums?
Well, I can go really well, but only on easy.
Ya, I was going to play the guitar yesterday, but the batteries were dead. I had to plug it back into the console."

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Definitely the most annoying voice, and the one most commonly heard causing unpleasant train trips for all on the north shore and western line, is the heavily american influenced 'North Shore Girls" accent. The one I like to think of as almost always saying:
"Ohmygod, like totally, fallout boy. No way, really? Fallout boy? Oh. My. God. Fallout boy." etc
I simply cannot stand it. Often I simply leave the carriage is search of somewhere more peaceful; be it quiet, other general babble, or drunken shouting and abuse. Anything is better than that voice.

One particular quote I heard at NIDA the other night (when it was not lit up nicely like in the pic) was in that very voice:
"I know, it's like, I totally can't stand american accents. Like, British ones are just totally so hot, but oh-my-god, I can't stand like american accents; you know?"
I could barely stop myself from telling them. Luckily my politeness got the better of my urge to share the irony.

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Recently I heard about an hour of a conversation, right here, where I'm currently sitting, on this very couch on Level 10 of UNSW Library tower. The discussion, when I sat down, went something like this:
"So, your baby is 18 months old. He was breastfed for the first 6 months, then he went onto formula. He isn't on any medication and has been brought up in a non-smoking environment. He had a rash at around 12 months old, but it cleared up with medication from the hospital. Has he been to the hospital any other times?"
This conversation continued in a similar vein for about half an hour, and I thought perhaps they were adopting. At this point however, the roles changed, and the mother started asking her interrogator questions about her child. It took me some time to figure out: they were nursing students, doing role plays.
Sorry that story is anti climatic, I found it so as well, and wished to share my disappointment when I figured it out.

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Anyhow, I have things to do, and should probably stop procrastinating and get on with my work.

Take care,
M'

With some urgency

Please do sign the above petition. Hopefully I'll see you at the rally tommorow on the lawn of parliment house in the ACT.

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Today I forgot my iPod, so I'm on the train listening to music on my laptop (with headphones). It is for this reason that I've found time to post.

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An aside before I so even start; I recently joined the microblogging Twitter subculture.

I was in an educational psychology lecture; these are a very slow kind of lectrure that crawls along, turning slow circles such that over the course of an hour, nothing is really said, but unrealted examples are given. The lady sitting next to me distainfully pointed out one student who last lecture sat infront of her with his laptop charger plugged into the presenters concole, microblogging his way through the lecture on twitter.
At this point, I decided I should get a Twitter account, as I thought microblogging lectures was a great idea.
Due to a restriction on the number of characters, I couldn't get surroundsound5000 as my Twitter name, so I had to go with Surround5000.
Anyhow, Twittering is just like status updates on Facebook, but without the Facebook attatched. It seems to me a little silly to be randomly changing your status; to quote Adam Hills:
"Barry is at the Adam Hills show."
"Barry is laughing."
"Barry has stopped laughing."
"Noone likes barry."

It's a lot like that.

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Finally, I was in Chatswood today, and noticed they have expanded their parking restrictions, but this is one for the better. In Chatswood Westfield, along with the Disabled parking and the Prams priority parking, they now have Hybrid vehicle only parking. I think it's a fantastic idea. In application, it's probably fairly pointless (if hybrid owners park in the convenient locations, and drivers of inneficient vehicles have to drive to the top level and lap the parking lot looking for a spot), but the idea is definately sound.

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Also, if anyone has tips to improve my samosas, I'd appreciate them. Currently they're a little bland.

Peace,
M'

Backlog

It has been a very long time since I posted last. This is not because I have had nothing to post about. Far from it. My life has effectively started afesh. The reasons for my lack of posting are twofold: I have had an ideas backlog that became so large I simply couldn't think what to write first, (and couldn't put in day to day updates for the lack of chronology) and secondly I haven't had the time.

I have scribbled a few things down, and now is probably the time to get them out.

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From (I think) late last year (Written on my phone):

I have never liked Newcastle as a city.
It is only because everyone I speak to seems to think it is so nice that I even considered living here. Every time I come, I remember how sad town it is.

Today has been a typical newcastlo day. It is too hot, I an bored and hungry, I have wandered aimlessly for most of The day, and I cannot find out the info I came for.

I was sitting on some steps when I saw a sign fall over, and felt so dejected by the atmosphere of the town that I simply let it fall . I didn't move to pick it up until I saw someone else struggling. When I helped him, neither he nor I said a word to each other. I fear this seems to typify the town. In fact, I have been here for a few hours now, and not one person has said a single word. Now, I an beginning to wonder; is this really where I want to live?

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As a result of this boring day, I decided I'll be moving to Sydney. See you there.

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If you are searching for love: this is not the way.

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In the past few weeks, I have seen a few good bands, a few good comedians, and a few good movies.

The bands include Grinspoon, Old Man River and The Herd, amongst many others. I really need to get back into the habit of bringing my camera to gigs. This post is long and boring without photographic interjection.

One of the comedians was Wil Anderson, who gave a hopelessly underwhelming show. Another was Adam Hills, who'se show was one of the best I've seen. There were others who were generally either good or bad or good and then bad. I'd like to go into detail, but I'm too tired, so I'll leave it at that.

As for movies, I saw Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing" last on Monday (which left me desperately craving pizza), and last night saw two more films. One was "The International", which has one of the best action sequences of any film I've seen, and overall makes for reasonable mindless viewing. The other was NOTORIOUS, which was more interesting than I expected, but I didn't expect much.

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Also since moving to Sydney, I got a job doing odd jobs and helping out in an office (on a two day contract, which then became three weeks - egad I'm good), finished up there, and now have a part time job. I'm contractually bound in confidentiallity, so I best not post details on the interweb.

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Well that should get the ball rolling again.

I feel I just needed to get started and maybe now I'll be able to get posting more frequently.

Take care,

Carpe Diem (We all need that subtle reminder once in a while),

M'

Thought for the day

OK, here’s my thought for the day. I was at the new kebaberrie in town (they just got a new one of those tools they use for cutting "the finest cuts of chicken" from the big spinnin' stick) enjoying my vegetarian gozleme, when two law enforcement officers entered, just after a kebab and a salad. It interests me how everyone becomes uncomfortable around police. This is the question that arose:

Why is it necessary when one goes to purchase a kebab, to arm oneself with a firearm, a taser, handcuffs, a baton, a combat knife, a gas grenade, amongst other things? And why must this arsenal be strapped to oneself in a 5 inch think braided leather belt?

It seems that our police officers go to lunch dressed as if going to war. I think the tension this causes contributes negatively to their image in the community. How can they expect to maintain good public relations when they cause such unrest with their mere presence? It is no accident that they are perceived as such threatening members of society.

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Two posts in two days. Wow. How unlike me. Also: the gozleme was quite tasty. I've had better i probably will stick to the ones with spinach and avoid the less specific "veggies" from now on.

Over,
M'

Some things

When I saw Bush awarding Howard with the 'highest civilian honour' (interesting, that phrase is used in all the ceverage I've seen. I wonder what the medals title is..?) it occured to me, like an epiphany, our ex-pm and their ex-president should fuck off to the same nursing home together so they can sit about and congradulate each other on jobs well done. "Hey, without you, I never could have gone into that war. Just imagine how many 'mooslims' would still be alive?" "Gee, thanks for screwing the world economy by the way dubya. If you didn't, everyone would have realised that Australias artificially inflated economy was a short term soloution". "I started missing you John as soon as Kevin went and signed that Kyoto 'bill'." "By the way, what is the G20?"

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Funny story this:
There's a track I use along the back of the Northside beach to get down past the crowds over the silly season. The first half is 2WD driveable, the second half is fairly soft deep sand. This particular day, I just rode the first half, because I was only there for a quick peek at the surf (I'd just been to Southside, the surfing beach, and it was a bit average). Anyhow, I saw a kid catch a wave and thought it might make a nice shot, but I figured I'd watch another set before I got my camera out.

Along the beach folks were playing in the sun, having a hit of cricket, putting their skin cells in trauma, sitting under giant parasols or in those silly little pop tents. Right in front of my spot in the bushes were a few blond girls in bikinis sitting on their towels looking out to sea. This is the other reason I was reluctant to get my camera out. From my relatively 'discreet' location, it could have looked quite suspect.

Anyhow, all of a sudden, Kaleena turned around. Turns out she was out enjoying the beach, and just happened to be right in front of me. Anyhow, that was a nice chance to catch up, and I otherwise wouldn't have gone in. So that was nice.

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In the present though, I'm watching letterman and catching mosquitos, and soon (probably around 1:00 AM) I'm going to roll up and feed the horse. By the way, don't you hate when you open your hand to see if you got the mozzie, and then it just flies off? Very annoying.

Peace be with you,
M'

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P.S. This post is only here to get out of the constancy of people telling me to hurry it up; I started writing a post a week and a half ago, and it's on my phone still (I need to stick it on the computer to edit and write the rest.)

P.P.S. An American comedian just ripped off Wil Anderson's sketch complaining about losing Howard, and substituting Bush; he passed the whole sketch off as his own! What a tool! That is all.