Anarchy Inside My Mind...

Friday Suicide

2012-01-28T02:45:00.003+11:00

I think if I'm ever going to kill myself, it will be on a Friday. It just seems so apt, really. I remember once in High School I was walking home from somewhere which was quite far from my house. It started to rain and I thought "oh how great". Everyone has this sense of upbeatness and elation about Friday before the weekend hits. I find it a strange event, like an expected anticlimax. I get bored and lonely on a Friday. It seems right to die on a day like that. I guess each to their own, right?

I'm exhausted from wrestling my personal demons here. I'm starting to act out, but I guess all seems right if it is all about a change of occupation. Haha, stakeouts in the dead of night! I've been lied to by everyone! When the hell did that happen? I'll get to the bottom of this, no matter what it takes. You're not there. Wouldn't be the first time all of you lied to me. Voices trailing off, lights left on with no car and late night messages. How interesting, I want to know what the truth is. Or perhaps my own paranoia has gotten the best of me and I've just gone batshit insane already. I need to get a hold of it before Feb rolls around, because I have some important stuff to do. But tomorrow is not February...

What I love about blogging lately is the unbridled honesty that I can say everything with. I think it's a bit closer to me. Or maybe a bit closer to what I want you to think of me.

Joaquin out...

David; Tom; Fernando

2012-01-25T23:35:00.003+11:00

Names that I despise. I hate everyone with these names, regardless of the sort of person they are. May I do so for the rest of my life.

I have my reasons. What is the meaning of the number 8? Somebody please tell me, because I am dying to know.

Choices have been made. Irreversible ones.

I have resolved to do the blog introspective again this year, as it has been far too long since my last attempt! I'm looking forward to it.

Joaquin out.

Please Remember This

2012-01-24T22:20:00.002+11:00

10:21pm, Tuesday 24th of January, 2012.

I have nothing to say. Did I really have anything of import to say, ever?

It does not matter if I die tomorrow.

Sometimes I really hope that I die in my sleep. The prospect of tomorrow is frightening.

Yes, I do think about death a lot. Why can't it be the middle ages? We live far too long these days.

Existence, as is life, is fleeting.

What does tomorrow bring for you?

Nobody has commented in a post in a long time! I wonder why this is. People, say stuff! I don't care what it is! I'll try to engage if I can. Haha it probably has to do with the lack of posts over the past year, but with this post we have overtaken last year's poor milestone.

Here's to many more posts.

Joaquin out.

Is This Really Happening To Me?

2012-01-23T23:02:00.001+11:00

I'm on the verge of collapse.

So utterly fucking exhausted.

I really am about to just pass the mcfuck out.

Speaking of - Joaquin out.

Chasing The Snow

2012-01-22T23:12:00.002+11:00

Caught up with the other today and it was absolutely great to see him again! It's been far too long. Great pad, great setup. Many a jam must be had and the old hood must be rediscovered.

It's strange - people who kill for no reason, but only to know what it feels like. Disturbing no doubt. But surely everyone feels that way? The only difference is that most people don't act on it! What a world we live in...

Do You Love Chun-Li More Than You Love Me?

2012-01-22T00:07:00.003+11:00

Have some pride. Fight when you need to.

Fight those who deserve to be beaten.

Do not be offended if there is something you can do about it.

Do not be weak.

Doing the wrong thing is justified if you are karma's tool.

How can you just stand there and let it happen? I'm so disappointed.

I don't want to be with such a weak willed, passive person. You should have let me handle it.

I don't want to be with anyone.

And all I feel is that insane rage. What I would give for a world without consequences...

Played some sports with some kids today and I think I pulled every muscle in my body! That's not a good sign of my fitness levels. It is indicative of getting older, though.

I need to cut shit friends out of my life. If you read this, think about all those people you know who are like cancers to your well-being. Cut them out. Plain and simple. You do not need them, and if you feel obligated, then don't whinge when things are not fine, because you have a choice.

Joaquin out.

Undressing You With My Eyes

2012-01-20T23:19:00.002+11:00

You know I'm doing it, and I don't care what you think. Why bother having lunch with me? I want to put my hands around your neck and squeeze for all I'm worth. How is that healthy? That I really want to hurt you?

How you play with my feelings. Stop making me feel bad. You shouldn't have done what you did. You should have apologised.

This subconscious teeth grinding from stress is causing me major headaches and serious jaw pain. I know what it's from, yet I can't stop it. I guess I might have to take preventative measures someday.

How you let this relationship die. How you let us die. You're so fucking adept at letting things die. Like your mother for a start. That's right, you should have stuck with her. You say all these things you plan to do, but I know you'll never do it. You're too scatterbrained. You need me in your life. I don't need you.

Joaquin out.

No, I Don't Have A Gun, But If I Did, I Wouldn't Waste A Bullet On You

2012-01-19T22:43:00.002+11:00

The wretched space between finding a saviour and then working out where you stand as 'friends'. It's all so cumbersome and artificial. Why bother keeping up such pretences after what we had. I hate that you meant so much to me. I have to cleave that part of me and refuse to acknowledge it and just cauterize it with denial of your existence.

It's such an antagonistic relationship. I wonder why you retreat into yourself and blame everything on me. You expected things to change, so they have changed, irreparably. That closeness will never exist again and I shall close myself off. Never again.

Yes I have been ignoring you. I don't see what there is to talk about. I don't talk about the things we talked about with other people. So if we're not that close, why bother? Skip the pleasantries and the facades.

All I need is to get over my hate and regret. Just to gentle apathy with you. That's what I'm looking forward to now.

You'll notice the recent weirdness of my posts. I'll keep my reasons for myself.

I'm sure in some previous post I've mentioned my absolute love of catching women checking out other women. It's never a positive thing. They look with such hate and scorn, I actually really get a kick out of seeing a woman's regular face just turn upside down and just absolutely hate on another woman because she is more attractive, or more scantily dressed. It happens quite often if you stop and observe. In fact, I'd say it's more prevalent than guys checking out girls. Weird don't you think? Ahh le sexual politique, how I love these games we play.

I'm aiming to push myself this year. Let's see where we end up.

Joaquin out.

Foreign Currencies Are Making Fun Of Me

2012-01-17T22:33:00.003+11:00

So maybe I gave you too much of me? I revealed it all far too willingly and readily for you, and I know I'll never get it in return. That's the part which is the worst. There was so much more beneath the surface, but you just wouldn't show me.

I will deny you and we won't even acknowledge that we ever knew each other at some stage, and all the words that you said will have been empty lies. Burned everything you ever gave me. I'll save my memories for something worthwhile.

Took the day off work today because I couldn't be bothered. It was nice to just sit around and do nothing.

Short week next week, too. I can't wait.

I need to get the hell out of here.

Joaquin out.

Signs That You've Failed

2012-01-16T21:46:00.002+11:00

You look at the birthdates of all the people who've accomplished something. Eventually the years start getting bigger until you realise that all these people are younger than you. Your life has just gone by and you have done nothing.

It looks like it's raining outside, yet I know it's just my eyes playing tricks on me.

A fleeting life, even for just a moment.

Jann Arden's Where No One Knows Me is such a great track. For some reason, it really makes me want to play guitar. It's a simple track, so I wonder why that is! Sometimes it's the easy things which give us joy.

There's a lot of good music out there if you are willing to just look for it or to keep your ears open!

What I love about reading a few old posts is that at one point I thought at one point that I was going to beat the previous year's posting total of 79, then I just totally petered out and only got 76! I was so convinced I could do it. Oh well, it's not about quantity, it's all about the quality!

I wonder why output for us was so big during University? Perhaps we were actually engaged with things where we could argue and debate and form opinions on things? When the mind is massaged in such a way, of course there will always be plenty to say. Now it's more of a "meh" mentality and we cannot be assed to do anything really. What a shame.

What's heartbreak? All these rambling thoughts. I should start writing again.

I want my words to hit you like a ton of bricks. Right on top of your fucking head.

Falling apart at the seams, I'm struggling to exist right now. If I could melt away into negative space, that's what I would be doing right now.

Then when I'm done, the idea won't be to hate you. Not to detest you or anything like that, but just simply forget you. Deny your place in who I am. Like you never mattered, never existed. Now that, that is appropriate punishment.

Apparently I am grinding my teeth and frowning in my sleep. Great, now I'm a raver in my subconscious mind. Fucking fantastic. I wonder what I'm so stressed about?

Joaquin out.

Gumboots Cannot Replace Real Shoes

2012-01-15T21:36:00.004+11:00

Unless they can adequately reflect your current mood.

Strange dream last night. I felt like someone had stolen my bike, yet I knew who did it, so I went around and tried to break into their place. For some reason, I did this metal gear solid snake style, all covert and stealthy, yet (and don't ask me why), I was completely naked the whole time. I then proceeded to kill one of the perpetrators with a screwdriver to the neck, and that seemed to scare them off and I got my bike back. How very, very strange!

In addition to my Modern Warfare 3 goodness, I am also enjoying Diablo 2. Funny, yes, since I'm on to the bandwagon basically 10 years late, but I need to know how it pans out! It's a very deep game, and I've only just finished the first act - which is bigger than the entirety of the first game!! I still have 3 acts to go, how am I supposed to do this?! I can't wait to play some more of that.

Funny how life turns out like this, don't you think? Used up and discarded, and then promptly ignored. I never thought I would be the one that would have to forget in order to move on, since I was the one who was forgotten in the past. But things change. Life changes. People fuck you over. What can you do really? In the words of the Rembrandts - "that's just the way it is baby". Indeed.

Anyway, that's enough for now.

Joaquin out.

Have You Ever Felt Like This?

2012-01-14T02:07:00.002+11:00

This was a question asked in the theme song to a well known children's show in Australia - Round The Twist.

The answer is, I don't know. I don't really recall feeling this empty before. When something similar had happened before, I thought I was going to be physically ill, but I recovered. But this has just drained all of my humanity and there's just a withered shell here before you.

Work has been incredibly busy lately, and I haven't had time to write any blog notes. But what's more, is that I really wanted to blog today, but yet here I am, and I got nothing to say. How anticlimactic.

Right now I just feel like lying down and destroying something. Maybe tomorrow.

Playing too much MW3. Why? It's escapism. I'm not really here, and I'm just sitting there shooting teenage social misfits. And they get pissed off when I do it. I should be enjoying it? But no. Shoot, reload. Next one. Shoot, reload. Die. Take revenge. Vicious circle really.

Joaquin out.

Listening To A Fat Woman Warble

2012-01-12T23:21:00.001+11:00

And it sounds an awful lot like the trumpeting of angels.

You, yes, you. I want to be better than you at everything. I want to be superior to you in all the things that you regard yourself as good at. I want to make you feel inferior in all the things that are special to you. I want to take away the things which give you meaning and a sense of self.

The other started his new job today, and I’m looking forward to finding out how it went from him.

I’m looking forward to a weekend of not much.

Got Modern Warfare 3, and I am already hooked, I think I might have to
play it now!

Wow, already halfway through to equalling last year's posts. It's doable! Just making time for my love. It's right here.

Joaquin out.

The Wind Chills Right To The Bone

2012-01-11T21:37:00.001+11:00

And the mothers weep for the children who will never come home.

I've really got to sing the praises of Soundhound. It's an app unlike Shazam for the Iphone, where you play a song and it will identify the song and the lyrics for you, as well as provide a link to the youtube video. You might be thinking that it's exactly the same as Shazam, but the key difference is that the indexing on the Soundhound is far superior. You can listen to a song on very low volume, from a large distance away from the source, and for a fraction of the usual time, and it will still tag the song that you need.

I've resumed my blognotes, and have opened them up after a long absence. Yes, I have a ridiculous number of additions to Joaquin's Rate List (JRL), available here: . I'll update the list when I have the time, and let you know.

Yeah, yeah! I've been meaning to talk about my car accident for a long time now. What happened was that I had taken my brother in my car to go and get some food. At the bottom of my street there is a T-intersection where I need to pull out right to get to where I needed to go. I stopped and noticed a car approaching from the left, which was driving incredibly slowly and randomly putting on its brakes. Instead of driving like I regularly do and pull out in front to beat this guy, I decided to do the responsible thing and wait and let it go first, since I had my brother in the car.

I let the car pass, and then I pulled out. Further up the road there is a slip lane to the left to turn onto a street going left. The car I was behind went around the corner, so I started to slow down and go around the bend as I looked right to make sure that the coast was clear. I heard my brother gasp, and I felt the impact and my legs hit the console of the car. We were travelling quite slow - probably
about 20km/h, which meant that the seatbelts didn't really engage. Apparently the other car had gone around the bend but had slowed down after the blind point, which I could not see. The angle of the impact barely gave his vehicle a dent, whereas my car was totalled. A real shit heap really, especially since I was a big fan of that car. We only have third party insurance, so the car was not recoverable. For a few months after the accident I had recurrent knee pain, but that was gradually faded away.

Lesson learned? Don't drive to please people! Drive how you feel comfortable! If I had avoided this guy from the start, I'd still have my car, as well as the cash I had to pay for the insurance premium!

Do you know why I enjoy blogging? Because this will always be here. It is a testament to me being here, and all my messed up thoughts. I can die and my body rot away, but this will always remain (barring the Internet disappearing). I take a certain joy from that.

Joaquin out.

And Then I Thought To Myself...

2012-01-10T23:37:00.001+11:00

I wonder how many of us are going to hell?

It is too many, quite frankly - especially from what I've been told. What I know.

Save us.

Joaquin out.

Well The Time Has Come

2012-01-09T22:05:00.001+11:00

A few days grace in memory of what it was.

Now commencing business as usual.

I thought that perhaps I had given too much of myself away, without receiving much in return, and I guess that's what hurts the most.

I have many things to say!

But not now, because I'm tired! Joaquin out.

Why Twitter Sucks

2012-01-05T22:30:00.001+11:00

Too many people I know are following me!
Ok, need to start lying my ass off on that, now.
It makes me uncomfortable.

That's why I love blogging!

Bloog; Blarg!

2012-01-05T21:20:00.003+11:00

This morning I caught the early bus into work. Holy fuck. I saw a woman who was just so ridiculously attractive that I was actually pissed off! Haha, have you ever seen someone who was just that attractive that you had no choice but to just hate the world? Not in admiration of beauty or anything poetic or noble like that, but just on a really superficial level. I've never seen her before. Damn, looks like I should catch the early morning bus more often! Haha, not like I want to start off my day in such a foul mood - yes I was seriously pissed off! Like fuck, how dare she be so attractive?

Here's a secret: I hate tradies (tradespeople). Motherfucking dirty scum!! Case in point? I tried to make an appointment to have my airconditioning fixed (which has never worked despite me living here for almost 2 years). I talked to the tradie yesterday, and he didn't get back to me. So I get into work early, and then the cuntfuck decides to call me and say he's coming around in half an hour. What the fuck? Thanks for the notice, you boguetastic douchebag! Then he comes, looks at the filter and gets ME to hose it off. What the hell are you being paid for?! I hosed it off anyway, and then he places it on and says "ok try it out and if it doesn't work, let me know" and then runs off! He didn't even test it! He just took off. It obviously didn't work and I called him in the afternoon. The stuntastic bitch had taken off on holidays and can't see me till next week. You dumb ass motherfucker, now I have to go the weekend without aircon when it's this hot! Irrational urge to kill rising!!

Yeah, I know it's a generalisation, but hey, it's our blog, so fuck you! :)

Last night I found a place inside my heart that I did not know existed. A place of such strength and determination. I will be ok. It was very Lester Burnham like! Hopefully the ending here is going to be different!

Joaquin out.

Half Considered Promises And Uncertainty

2012-01-03T21:11:00.003+11:00

Can I live like this?
And other such bad teenage poetry.

What are you thinking?
I would give up everything I have to have some sort of insight into you.

Just some sort of sign, a word or anything so I know you're fine.

And this is the hardest part - the 'unknowingness'.

Nothing gives me pleasure anymore. This simple sorrow permeates through me, as I take each breath with a progressively heavy heart.

What a fool I was, to think I felt this way before.

It's not like it is in the movies, is it? I hope you tell me that it is, and that it actually turns out to be the case.

I can't stop. I just won't.

Joaquin out.

Shut The Fuck Up, Death!

2012-01-02T23:25:00.001+11:00

I can hear you loud and clear!

It's dawned on me that jealousy is the only thing that will keep me alive in the long term.

What a scary thought.

I wonder why that's the backup position.

Anyhow, back to the grind tomorrow. At least the other will be back in the city.

To butcher Patrick Stump - "cause this city...is our city....and we loveeee it, yeah we love itttt".

Hahah!

Joaquin out.

The Things We Did

2012-01-02T01:43:00.002+11:00

God, the things you made me do.

Things I didn't even know I wanted, but you read me and gave me it all.

Things we didn't tell a soul.

Our secrets.

Stuck in a dream. Release me, because I don't ever want to come back to reality.

I'm talking to you. Yes, I'm talking about you.

Someday you will read this.

By then, it will either be too late, or everything fell into place as it should.

First one for the year

2012-01-01T19:17:00.002+11:00

It's good to see that the first post of the year is happening in good order!

After the shock of last year, I'm resolving to do a lot better. Not for your sake, but for my own, because I need to get a lot of things off my chest.

I just don't feel well. I'm just not feeling "it". I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to see this year out. What is ahead of me? I don't even know. Perish the thought if it's all the same.

Sitting here watching the rain in this summer heat and it feels amazing. I want to be outside walking in puddles.

Something is missing in my life. And I know exactly what it is. I know who it is. God this is all so difficult. There's an objective in sight, and I know what I have to do. And it's tearing me apart right at the seams, and every element that holds the particles that is me together is slowly dissolving and I'm melting away into nothingness.

She knows everything there is worth knowing about me.

Joaquin out.

Last post...for the year!

2011-12-31T20:03:00.002+11:00

Had you going for a minute there didn't I?

I'd never leave this blog, I love it too much.

So before 2012 hits here, I thought I should say happy new year and enjoy yourself.

Going from the size of overall readership, I think we have a good sample size in terms of the general population. Chances are, some of you reading this won't make it past next year. Others will have something horrible happen to them. Others will do something horrible to another person. So think, what sort of year will the next one be for you? Haha, let's just ignore the Mayan calendar for a second (note: I am still yet to see the film 2012), and just imagine that life goes on for a bit. But even then, what if you are one of those who die in the next year? How are you going to live your life? Because you never know, it could be you...

As noted in my previous post, the readership here is quite diverse, with the majority of readers coming from the US, and then Australia. I thought that was an interesting breakdown, but even more exciting were the referring keywords - being "Dana Kronenthal" and "Karen Tso boyfriend". Hahaha! I'm quite sure those are some worthy keywords!

What's even more crazy is that the majority of users access this site via Internet Explorer. What the hell?! The world has moved on! Stop living in the 90's! We've moved past Explorer. You don't need to use Chrome, but there are other things out there! Mozilla Firefox, Opera! Hell, even safari! But explorer?! Insane! The world has moved on to bigger, better (and faster) things! But I have to admit, I'll always hold a soft spot for Netscape Navigator. The last few builds of that were definitely way better than anything IE ever had.

Anyway, thought you'd enjoy those snippets of trivia! For now, I'm off to enjoy a quiet night in. Best wishes to the other, who will be joining me from 3 January onwards!

Some interesting posts due in the future. Joaquin out.

A year to contemplate?

2011-12-28T18:56:00.002+11:00

2011 hasn't been a great year for most people I know. I wonder why that is? Well here's hoping that 2012 is better around the dial for everyone.

What's married life like? I think it's a lot like single life, except that now there's another person in it! It may sound simple, but it is in actual fact very complicated. They say the first year is the hardest, and I'm inclined to agree. But if things don't get harder then this, then I say we have it relatively easy!

I've been looking at the new tabs in the blogger interface, and the stats tab is absolutely fantastic. We've got quite a diverse range of readership here, and it's all pretty much down to the other's idea (all those years ago now...) to start up a blog randomly, and since then all his design overhauls have resulted in the brilliance that is the current page.

Some more points to come later on. But for now I think it's movie time!

Joaquin out.

In Hindsight...

2011-12-22T19:14:00.000+11:00

It probably wasn't such a good idea to jokingly accuse that well loved actress of being racist on twitter. But at least we've both gotten over it.

After that debacle, I am looking forward to seeing the year out.

I don't know about the rest of you, but 2011 has just not been a good year. Would the other agree with that assessment?

In other news, the other is coming back to town to live and work in 2k12! I'm looking forward to catching up again and jamming like the good ol' days.

What I'm really amazed by is the sheer stillness of this day.

Nothing is moving, I'm not hearing anything.

Am I moving faster than light?

This has been an utterly fail year for the blog, and this time I'm actually quite sorry.

Sorry for me rather than you. I've had a lot to say, but I guess I've been internalising everything and have not made the time to blog. Not even to write shorthand notes so that I can blog about it later. I guess that's the problem with the late 20's - everything you think seems to not be important enough.

All we have to rely on are facts. You have a certain number of them and fill in everything in between with assumptions. And that's where we are lost.

Telling a ratpack full of lies.

I'm all jealous and depressed!

Anyway, that's it for today.

Here's hoping for another entry before the end of the year.

Joaquin out.

Just resting on the ground...

2011-12-21T23:38:00.000+11:00

fantasising about what my rotting corpse will look like.

I'm starting to lose the plot.

That assumes I had a grip on it in the first place.

It sticks around with you until the day you die

2011-11-19T23:30:00.002+11:00

It is times like this that I am reminded of Oasis' Where Did It All Go Wrong.

Classic song.

There Is A Suicide Note In My Workbook

2011-10-28T17:06:00.001+11:00

Don't ask me how it got there!

I'm being kept up at night with visions of my lonely, unspectacular death. Interesting, don't you think?

Oh well, in a way I guess we are all dying. What the hell is going on? Just stop! What the hell happened? I don't even know anymore.

This is my last refuge. Facebook and twitter have been overrun with friends and people I know.

I belong here. Where it began. Where it will end.

Gears turning. Tiny gears, always turning.

2011-09-20T19:03:00.002+10:00

You start to think really strange thoughts at a time like this.

Not so much concerned with the bigger picture per se, but more so practicalities of what there is to do, and hope everyone else can have it all together.

There's a lot to take care of. I've accumulated a lot of stuff! I should get rid of most of it, it's a shame we live such consumer based lives.

It's so cold today, which is a big turn from yesterday, which was quite warm. Welcome to this town!

Who would have guessed that words uttered so nonchalantly from someone elses mouth would be so profound to me? Maybe it was calculated, the way it was delivered.

But it looks like it's sealed my fate, justification for all I was.

Talking about myself in the past tense? Bad grammar, Joaquin!

Enough for now. Take care of yourselves, Joaquin out.

A lot to say...

2011-09-01T19:53:00.000+10:00

...but not right now.

Life at the dashboard

2011-08-25T10:42:00.001+10:00

You can't live your life by experiencing it through the dashboard.

That being said, the new interface for blogger+ on iPhone is pretty damn sweet!

Just wasting time at the airport since my flight is delayed. I'll probably miss my meeting and end up wasting money. At least it's not my money, it's yours!

Ok let's review some posts. More to come later.

June already??

2011-06-17T23:58:00.001+10:00

Oh my god!! Half the year gone by and I have had jack all to say! How pathetic. Well that's not the case. I've always had something to say. The problem these days is finding the time to explore my thoughts and to voice them on here.

The other introduced me to twitter, which I use semi regularly. I think the limit to 140 characters is what makes it so compelling and useful. Whereas here there are no constraints, there I can be as succinct and as mundane as I want to be with no worries. I wonder why that is?

This is going to be the worst year for the blog, and for that I am sorry. More for myself than for all of you.

Until next time, Joaquin out.

Hiding out

2011-05-21T20:39:00.001+10:00

This is definitely going to be the worst year of posts for this blog! How unfortunate. Even if I got my act together and posted more regularly it would be a miracle to get this year back on track.

Not just that, you all deserve a full catch up on all that has transpired.

But that's all for later! My phone battery is low and I have a long drive ahead and I need my music!

Take care, Joaquin out.

Are you experienced?

2011-05-21T16:42:00.001+10:00

I don't think so, because I don't know a damn thing.

Life has changed, oh it most certainly has changed. The other has moved cities to take up another job - hopefully more fulfilling than his last. I got married somewhere in there too.

What else? Umm promotions overseas travel and the standard monotony of life.

You know sometimes it doesn't turn out the way you think it will.

I must sing the praises of blogger+ because it allows me to blog from my iPhone. I don't get much computer time anymore. In fact I don't have time for anything anymore. Where did everything go? The other just started this blog the other day basically. We were just in uni. Now here we are.

Regrets regrets regrets. Oh well I guess all that is left is to run out the clock and await the inevitable now.

Joaquin out, take care of yourselves.

I'm sorry

2011-05-17T19:30:00.001+10:00

I don't know where my life went. And I guess it shows in this blog. God help me.

You Know

2011-05-06T22:19:00.002+10:00

Sometimes things don't turn out as you plan. The best you can do is try not to let it paralyse you. I shall try to heed my own words.

Joaquin out.

Where ever I shall go

2011-03-28T18:16:00.001+11:00

Blogging on the iPhone is quite handy. I am hoping to get a bit more involved in shorter blogging now, no matter where I am. There is a myriad of things to report on.

Hehe

2011-03-25T13:13:00.001+11:00

I'm posting from work, sneaky!

To love

2011-03-23T19:57:00.001+11:00

Is a challenge. Full update when I get the chance.

Let's rock and or roll

2011-03-21T16:55:00.001+11:00

Yeah let's see how we go!

Reboot.

I will learn to blog again!

2011-02-07T23:40:00.000+11:00

Yes, it has been too long. A massive gap in there somewhere for which I apologise.

A lot has happened.

Will get to it in time.

Ummm, at least I beat the record I was going for last year? Too bad it wasn't triple digits!

Joaquin out.

This Side Of The Brooklyn Bridge

2010-11-04T16:12:00.002+11:00

It was my birthday the other day. I'm almost 30! Can you believe that!! I sure as hell don't! Where does the time go? Life is certainly short. It may seem long sometimes, but I can assure you, it is over faster than you know it, in the grand scheme of things. I guess it's all a bit nuts, considering this blog started 6 years ago, when the other and I were about to turn 20.

I love kiwi fruit. I don't know when this started, but the stores now sell them with plastic knife/spoon contraptions to make them easier to eat. I have to say that I am absolutely loving them!! Except for the sticky fingers that is.

I know I used to rag on online content delivery systems such as Steam and the like before. I'm still a bit opposed to the idea that I've bought a licence to the game, and I don't actually 'own' it despite paying a significant sum of money to buy it. However, having played games such as Modern Warfare 2, and Starcraft 2, I am just happy about update patches, downloadable content and other goodies, which require an online system to work properly.

That's it for now folks. Joaquin out.

Before You're Aware It's November

2010-10-31T14:10:00.003+11:00

Yes, the entire month of October pretty much passed without a post. I have been insanely busy, but it looks like it's all about to ease off so I figured it's time for some blogging!

Yeah yeah, I know all of you want to know what happened with the Joaquin Rate List (JRL) - available from here. The numbers for the next update grew to an epic size, so I'm going to have to get to that some time in November.

As mentioned, the other and I have been getting in to Starcraft 2 in epic proportions, and goddamn, that game is addictive. It should be rated a class A drug. Haha yes, I will be playing some more tonight!

Work is just...I don't know. I think I'm at a crossroads. I was at my last job for a year and a half before I got bored, and I'm coming up to a year and a half on this job, and I am questioning my intentions. I guess what they said about Gen Y is true, we do have short attention spans. I guess I've just become disillusioned with the whole bureaucratic process, as well as other factors. I left my last job because I worked long hours for no recognition and pretty mediocre pay. When I left, I went to a job that paid a fair bit more than what I was getting before. I got promoted while in my new job and I'm earning substantially more than I was before. Then it came to my attention that all my former colleagues had been promoted. Going from what previous pay scales were, they would be earning a fair bit more than I am now. BUT that is all dependent on whether the pay rises were unfrozen. During the GFC they justified not giving people pay rises cause the firm was in dire straits. The typical order of things also meant that it wouldn't be possible to be promoted for at least 3 years. If they are being paid more, it would be a kick in the ass I tell you! Considering that I'm doing a lot more now than I was before, and doing so within a short staffed team. However, if I got another promotion, I'd outearn them, so I guess it's time to see what's out there!

I feel like I'm turning into a robot just doing the usual 9-5 thing, and it's drudgery, nothing but drudgery. It all seems like the same thing to me. Haha I guess before I was bored at work but stimulated, but now I'm not bored but definitely not stimulated. Guess I can't catch a break!

The thing about the public service is that it doesn't make sense, and it doesn't reward the right people. People who joined up straight out of college, with no tertiary qualifications are earning the same, if not more than me! I have a double tertiary degree with honours and a post-graduate qualification! What the fuck? You have to be kidding me, right?! Where's the justice in anything? Why the fuck did I waste my time with study?? Then I was reading in the paper the other day that folks on oil rigs can earn up to $2,000 a day, and people in mines are getting $200,000. Life, you are an unfair and interesting beast.

Daylight savings is killing me. When school was around it didn't seem to bother me so much, cause I had days that started early and others that started late, so I was able to re-adjust my sleeping pattern eventually. But it's really killing me now, because I have no time to adjust. When I get back from work I just pass out and 2 hours later I feel awful, and then I can't sleep at night and then up early in the morning for work. Abolish it I say! It serves no purpose.

Post-grad uni is so frustrating. With the specific course that I'm doing, a lot of it is team based. I have done a stack of work, while the others have not done very much, which is incredibly bad. This is due to me sacrificing a lot of stuff to meet my obligations. But that's the nature of group work, and it's dangerous to have an entire qualification revolve around that sort of dynamic. If group work is on offer, it should be in uni where you can see people face to face all the time, or just allow people to pick their own groups, because I know who I can work well with! Ahh uni now is just a pain in the ass. I knew I'd hate it, but not this much. I did learn a fair bit though. Then there's the personal stuff too! I'm sure that will come out in the future, but I guess life enters its next phase from here.

This talk of group work makes me recall this task from when I was attending graduate induction at my last job. We were trying to build a massive tower using these weird contraptions, and we were all split up into sub groups to work independently. We had strict rules about how we could interact and so on. However, my group was working really poorly, and I didn't know how we could make it through considering we were about to be humiliated. Then out of nowhere we won. We totally destroyed everyone else by at least half a metre, in a structure that was about 6 metres tall! Lesson learned? Sit back, relax, and it'll get done regardless. Not a good lesson to learn at all.

Joaquin out. Till next time folks!

And The Pawns Can Be Powerful

2010-10-04T22:38:00.001+11:00

Yes they can. And on and on they march...

It's always good to know both sides of the story.

2010-09-29T22:45:00.001+10:00

Game theory is a very interesting concept. John Nash (for the idiots among you) - the guy who Russel Crowe portrayed in A Beautiful Mind was a proponent of Game Theory. I've written a few posts regarding my thoughts on the Prisoner's Dilemma, which I found to be a very interesting game. However, I do think that it is impossible to rationalise human behaviour and motivations that presuppose the incentives that are being offered. Wow, I had a point that I was trying to make, and it's totally just gone over my head now.

As mentioned, the other has now made me an avid Starcraft 2 fan. It's a really tough game for me, given that my knowledge of tactical matters only extends to games in the Total War series. That relates particularly to micromanagement within a battle. However, when you try to mix macromanagement within an instantaneous setting with micromanagement, I tend to get flummoxed. I just want to concentrate on the battle!! It's thinking like that which makes me awesome at Total War, but pretty mediocre at Starcraft 2. What I am not a fan of is build orders. People tend to memorise a standard or optimal set of buildings for EVERY match. I see this as boring and pointless, and does't allow creative or thoughtful tactics to flourish. This extends to Chess, where a lot of people (including all Grandmasters) have typically memorised most opening combinations, and set their play accordingly. This drags the tactical component out of everything, and just replaces it with a 'who can remember the most' mentality. I think Blizzard should set up some games where you start off with a random set of buildings and you have to get going from there.

It's incredibly addictive. The other and I played a 2v2 match the other night against two AI players. It was ridiculously intense, where it looked like we were going to get steamrolled early. However the other came up with some great on the fly tactics of taking the sneak attacks, while I sat back and played defence, just pumping out units. I covered the entire Southern end of the map and we just mopped up everything else on there and it was beautiful!

I've been getting back into Arrested Development lately. Goddamn, what an awesome show. I had forgotten how great it was!! Honestly, the best comedy ever created. If you ever belonged to a family, you have to watch it.

Anyway, that's it for today folks. Joaquin out.

All The Chances That I've Blown

2010-09-28T23:12:00.001+10:00

I don't know why I have to keep beating my drum about this, as I'm sure I've blogged about this numerous times. In college (covering the ages of 17-18) here where me and the other live, you're required to sit something called the AST. It's basically a series of multiple choice questions, an essay (and one other component that I seem to have forgotten) that take up 2 and a bit days. You don't really get a chance to study for these, though you get to sit a mock exam a few months before. I didn't really know what to expect, the wikipedia page for the test states that it's an aptitute test, and not really a knowledge test. However, you are given a point ranking, so I'm not sure how that works - it has to be ranked based on knowledge. All questions are weighted the same, with no breakdown of aptitude, so english-preference students don't know if a high score relates to English or Maths and so on. Anyway, the test covers a whole range of things, from science, to maths, to english reasoning. There's several abstract questions in there, and it's sat in exam conditions (which is basically 600 students cramped into the College gym in excruciating silence. Anyway you tend to sit these exams in September and you don't find out your score till December (when you've actually graduated).

So after we've all received our certificates, we start comparing scores. People seemed to have scored about 160-190 (don't ask me how that works). I take a look at mine - 240 (or thereabouts). What the hell? How did I score so high? There were as many maths questions as there were English comprehension questions and general reasoning questions. As you might have guessed, maths is not my forte. This was against people who had aced through all their Super Advanced Maths and Physics classes, and had topped the school in terms of grades and their university admission index (uni entrance score). After some further checking, it became clear that only one person in the entire school beat me - the dux, who scored 260 (or thereabouts). What did this mean? I don't know. I just felt vindicated, cause I just wanted to grab that piece of paper and just smash it in everyone's faces. Beating everyone (almost), and by such a mammoth margin. It was a great moment - oh to see everyone's faces when they saw my score.

I wish there was a point to that story, but I guess it's a good allegory for my life.

Friendship - what the hell does that mean? I don't know. I am quite sure that the longest and most enduring friendship I've had is with the other (having first met in 1998 or so), which is fantastic. However, there was a massive gap of a few years somewhere in the middle, when the other was living and studying overseas, and I had no word from him. So when you average it all out, my longest friendships have been that long. I read an article a few weeks ago that you tend to change your close circle of friends every 7 years or so, with only 1-2 people generally surviving the cull. I don't know what's with that, but I guess people change. I remember my oldest friend from High School, who I was quite close to, and knew him all the way up to when I was infatuated with Les Femme Anomaly. Then he just stopped contacting me. True, I guess it's my fault for not really following through with my end of the friendship, but I remember reaching out to him on a few occasions and hearing nothing back. It's those ones that get to you, so painful that you can't even address it. I think my friendship with him and Les Femme Anomaly ended at the same time, and since it was uni and I was incredibly busy, I didn't really have the time to process it. But hey, it's just change, and it goes, like it goes - thank you Justin King. To the hidden recesses of my memories you have to go now (the old friends, not Justin King).

I am currently working on my taxes at the moment. When I did them last year, they were actually quite fun, but with work and post-grad uni on at the same time, it has become quite the arduous task. However, I must give credit to the Australian Tax Office for instigating it's electronic lodgement system, so you can do your return online.

I don't know if I've mentioned it, but on request of the other I finished Freakonomics (albeit a borrowed copy). I was so impressed at the ideas and the level of thinking involved that I bought my own copy today, and also bought the sequel, Superfreakonomics, which I am just ambling to read!

That's it for now folks. Have a nice day! Joaquin out.

It's September Already?!

2010-09-27T23:10:00.003+10:00

Wow, I have definitely been neglecting my blogging on here. However, I can blame the other for that - I have procured myself Starcraft 2 and Modern Warfare 2, and have just been multiplayering like there's no tomorrow. I really suck at SC2, but I am learning a lot more thanks to the other. I'm also working my way up the ladders in both games and looking forward to becoming adept, because they're both wonderful storylines, with some good depth.

Yes, I know I always say it, but I will update the Joaquin Rate List (JRL), as soon as I get a chance - since there's so many updates, I'll need to set aside some time to go through all the new names in detail. For those of you who don't know, the JRL is here.

The pin code for my voicemail at work here, and at my last job was 434926. I don't know why I chose that, since it's quite random, but for some reason, my fingers find it very easy to type out on a phone keypad. I also find it pretty easy to remember, and considering I have trouble with my memory, I find those set of numbers to be a godsend - too bad we can't choose numbers for other important things though!

I can't believe I was going to let a whole month slip by without blogging again. I remember the massive whole it has left in our archive when it's happened before. I at least try to put something in, just to mark time, even if there is nothing else going on. But it really is just work and post-grad study at the moment.

Anyway, it's late, and I need to be in bed so I'm well rested for work tomorrow. Two lots of 4 day weeks consecutively, I can get used to that!

Joaquin out. Have a nice day folks!

Another Day Around

2010-08-29T16:35:00.000+10:00

And I got nothing to say!

Till next time folks!

This One's For The Fans

2010-08-15T01:09:00.002+10:00

Yes, I know I would give specifics of my accident, but I will aim to do that soon! I also promised that I would update the Joaquin Rate List (JRL), but there has been no updates! I'll save that one for when I have nothing to say, and this is not one of those times.

Looking at dashboard after the sign-in, I have realised that I've picked up 2 followers. So hello to you folks!

So I finally received a reading of my HECS payments. For those not in the know, HECS is the higher education contribution scheme. Some idiot in the 80's got the idea that tertiary education should be on a 'user pays' loan like system. Prior to this, education was paid entirely by the Government. Therefore, you could either pay for your courses up-front or be riddled with a debt loan (before most of us even have jobs). I've written a post about this previously, so you can go back to read it. But anyway, I was reviewing my statement and I have about $20k to pay off! I guess that's better than could be expected, but then I reviewed it a bit more and found that interest accrues on the loan! Seriously, what the hell?! You can' t screw me over by denying me free education (which one would have thought would have been a fundamental right), but you have to make me pay more than I have to for it? Indexation on a loan that you first attained at the start of your university course is complete bullshit. Because there's going to be some time before you can actually pay it back, but by then you would have accrued the ENTIRE sum of the debt, so the indexation will hit you harder than it normally would. Talk about a flawed system. This stopped being about helping students a long time ago, it is just a profit making exercise, and the financial well being of our young people is at risk.

Last night was hell - I was studying till about 4am at my parent's house. I thought I was fine for an 11:30am wake up, and even woke up, but I kept snoozing my alarm. But then my dad walks into my room and asks me when I'm going to wake up. I look at my clock and see that it's 2:30pm! Shiteee! Haha, but that's ok, cause I was troubled by a dream I had (which I think happened between 11:30 and 2:30). In this dream I was back at my parents home and there was a function or dinner party on. I was upstairs and this girl who I've met once in my life (a friend of a friend) was there. She's very distinctive looking - red haired, pale skin. Anyway, I didn't find this girl attractive when I met her, but in my dream I was going nuts. So there we were with me flirting my ass off when all of a sudden she just attacks me and we're making out. Then things just keep progressing and clothes come off and she just goes "oh let's just have sex", and I don't know what the hell my brain was on, but somehow I thought this was a good idea. But just before that happened, I saw someone coming up the stairs, and I just grabbed my clothes and went to the bathroom. I saw the girl grab her clothes so we both didn't get busted. Then I woke up. What the hell was all that about???! The subconscious is a dangerous place to be.

I remember reading the Red Dwarf novel 'better than life'. In it, the main characters get trapped in a virtual reality game that taps into your subconscious and you get things that didn't even realise you wanted. In the novel you find out that it replaced a previous version of the game where you just wished for things and they appeared. Tapping into the subconscious made the game infinitely more addictive. What a world.

Joaquin out!

Sometimes Flats Are Involved

2010-08-08T00:45:00.000+10:00

It's not just what you play, it's how you play it.

Simple chords, stunning sound.

I'm very proud of it! Sent it to the other.

I will try to get my recording facilities up to scratch in the mean time.

Joaquin out.

You know you've got it the wrong way around, right?

2010-07-25T01:08:00.002+10:00

Yes, yes it has been far too long since I last posted. However, THE most legitimate excuse ever: full time work and full time study SUCKS! I literally have no time to do anything else anymore, and that is terrible. Hence it is 1am on Sunday morning, and I am blogging just to clear out some blog notes. Alas, it is late/early and I will have to fly through this, without giving due thought to everything I wanted to say.

Yes, I will talk more about my accident later, and I will put up the pictures and everything!

Haha, looking back on these blog notes, this is going to be a very sleazy and salacious post, so I apologise in advance - and you youngens, skip on through!

As mentioned in my last post, an annoying guy at work has this amazing girlfriend. She should be starting with us very very soon - I cannot wait!!!

Meetings or discussions on horseshoe arranged tables are terrible!! Of course the meeting is going to get boring, and you can see people opposite you. This killed me in a tax law tutorial when I was at university, as I posted about a girl who wore short short miniskirts and no stockings in summer, and used to sit low in the chair with her legs out, right opposite me. Then in a meeting the other week there was a girl in a miniskirt opposite me, and my mind wandered again, and ahh, sitting through a 90minute meeting with sex on your mind for the whole time is sheer brutality!!! Legs legs legs, gahh!

Then again, there was another meeting - on the bottom of my office there is a commercial cafe, where a LOT of waitresses work. The windows of this meeting room on the bottom floor are mostly frosted, when just a few unglazed bits, so your vision of the outside is pretty obscured. However, I looked up, and all I got was just a face full of cleavage for about 2 minutes! I could have died right there I tell you; this waitress did not move, she stood there, bent over in a low cut top and her breasts were just about to spill out of her top. Of course after the meeting I had to go out there and check her out - yessss, curvy, brunette, busty as hell, and exotic. All the boxes ticked there!

I don't know why, but I've been listening to a lot of Don Henley lately. The guy is a bloody great singer. But one song in particular, the boys of summer. Wow, what a song. It's a great melody, with great atmosphere, but I find it incredibly depressing because of the themes of moving on and shouldering responsibility. I guess this is tied in to my monster diatribe from my last post, but I'll let you read that and form your own conclusions.

Another thing from work - they handed out these flyers to 'lift our spirits' I guess, with statements about our corporate vision and so on. However, one of the pictures is of this ridiculously beautiful goddess - yes typical of me: eurasian, brunette, sophisticated and enter all my other cliches. She is just insanely flawless, and if I ever look at that flyer, I just stare for minutes on end, lost for speech, lost for thought. Needless to say, I have put that flyer next to my monitor, and I have not done a lot of work in the last week, haha!

The other day, I was back at home to see my parents. Since I'm car-less I needed a lift to go shopping and we went to our local shopping centre. So what did I see? 3 people I went to High School with - my morbidly obese year 10 English teacher, and two other guys I wasn't particularly fond of. The English teacher was still huge and in her gym clothes for some obscure reason, and the two idiots were wandering about aimlessly. I was very happy to be out of there and that I've made something of my life. I guess you can always rely on your brain. And stuff you English teacher, one of my degrees is in journalism - you LOSE! Haha, that'll show her to grade me poorly!

That's it for now folks. Joaquin out - God knows how long for...

The Investments That Failed To Return

2010-07-02T23:28:00.002+10:00

I had a less than productive Friday, which was most likely due to all my work being with other parties! I can’t help it if I have no work to do due to other people having to get things back to me! But that’s all good, because I just tended to errands all day, as well as listened to music and typed up the first part of this blog! So you should be happy.

However, one issue I have come across is the lack of remote blog notes! I keep them on my PC at home. I only ever need to access them from outside when I want to add to them. For this purpose I just e-mail myself with my additional blog notes and add them to the master list when I get home. But in the event I want them so I can actually type them up from a remote location, then I am stuffed. It’s times like this that I’m glad there’s things like Dropbox, alas, we cannot access that system from work.

I was reading some news reviews of Toy Story 3 – apparently it is a very emotional story, which has resulted in many grown men crying. I haven’t seen the film; in fact, I haven’t even seen any of them in their entirety, but I know the general premise and know the ending of this last film. I will probably end up watching them all, because I’ve only heard good things. There’s a spoiler coming up so please skip the following until you get to the paragraph starting with “stay with me on this point for a bit”.

So basically, the film ends as the owner of the toys (Andy, who was a kid in the first film) turns 17 and goes off to college. He then bids the toys an emotional farewell as he hands them off to a neighbour. This is supposedly the point where the big men start blubbering. I don’t think there’s anything soft about this; I actually think it’s probably the appropriate response.

Stay with me on this point for a bit. I don’t think males (as boys) are ever really prepared for “manhood” or adulthood and all the implied cultural responsibilities that it entails. I don’t know what this is like for females, so I apologise, and just bear with me for a little while. I remember how fun it was just being lost in my world playing with toys and just having such a great time in general. But at one particular point, you are basically forced to give them up and start being more responsible. Growing up mentally isn’t natural at this point, it’s all forced. There’s no more innocence, and you’re left thrust out into a cold uncaring world, but forced to grin and take it on the chin cause ‘you’re a man’. That right there is a traumatic event in itself, so it comes as no surprise to me that all these grown men with families are crying about that part of the film. Their toys are a link to the past, a symbol of that youth and carefree innocence that they were forced to give up well before they were ready. I’m being wildly anecdotal here, but girls aren’t really women till they’re in their early twenties. The shadow of their youth always trails them closely. Boys on the other hand are forced to believe they want to be men right from the get go. It’s always a rush to lose your childhood and immaturity, and general sense of wonder and amazement with the world. Boys as young as 8 are being told to be a man and not cry and so on – obviously a different case to the females.

I’ve been told many a time that women mature faster than men. This could be true, but I guess you can’t blame us for always wanting to recapture our youth. Before you go off on your rant and start labelling me a hypocrite and what else, I’ll admit that I still have my teddy bear from when I was a child. I love it very much, and treat it well. I remember I was young, and my sister told me that we were having the house cleaned and to put my stuff away in the garage so it didn’t get trashed. That night I could not sleep, as my teddy bear (who I’ve slept with every night except when on school trips, or sleepovers), was in the bag in the garage. So I went to the garage and took my bear. After I got back from school the next day, all my stuff was gone, except for my bear; my sister had given it all away. I was relieved. I didn’t care that all my awesome expensive toys had gone and I’d never see them or play with them again. I had my teddy bear and I would be able to hold it and it could go everywhere with me (as long as I was in the house)! If I had lost my bear that day, I cannot even describe how devastated I’d be. I still have the attachment to my bear and I still sleep with it every night tucked under my arm, and walk around the house with it from time to time. I almost treat it like it were real – if I drop it, no big deal, but if someone takes it, or makes fun of its ragged appearance, then I get aggressive. I sometimes wonder what will happen to it after I’m dead. It’s made out of material that will last a long time. Will it just be disposed of and left in some tip or at the back of some storage cupboard somewhere? Will someone else love it care for it like I do? I guess we’ll see what happens.

Principles always need to be expanded and greatly clarified. I don’t know why this is, as it greatly implies that there is no room for common sense in interpretation. Corporate governance, shop guidelines and so on all have principles that can be distilled to about 5 or 6 lines. However that isn’t enough, people are stupid and pedantic so that everything needs to be drilled down to its core components and expanded greatly. If that’s the point, why bother trying to summarise it? It’s already contained in the explanation. That’s something I’ll never understand. Why can’t people just understand them from the outset? People wouldn’t just say them if they meant something different!

There’s a guy at work who I don’t like. He’s got this air of smugness about him cause he’s a year or two older than I am, and he’s been promoted to managerial level. Well the promotion didn’t make him smug, cause he was smug before that, I assure you! He just goes around like he’s the king of the world with his good looks, toned biceps and skinny jeans and so on and so forth. Anyway, he has a ridiculously hot girlfriend (of course), who also works in the same Department, but in a different area. I’ve seen her around with him before while out walking during lunch and stuff. I got to meet her at our Christmas party last year (I think I might have mentioned her in a post around then). She’s obscenely attractive. Amazing body, eurasian, just sex on legs I tell you. She got majorly drunk at this party and I had the hilarious intention of openly flirting with her in front of him. I pulled this off to great effect and all the physical signs were there. I just recently found out that she is going to be starting a job in our area in the next few weeks. Of course I am going to pull the same thing again! I don’t like him! She’s very attractive! Don’t worry, I’m nasty, not a total bastard, it’s not like I’d do anything with her. I just like to make him squirm. It’ll also be good to finally have some hotness in the workplace again!! I can’t tell you how badly the effect of having no hotness has had on my psyche. Utterly damaging I tell you.

So yes, I know that the Joaquin Rate List (JRL) is still in need of updating! I haven’t had the chance, and there has just been a bevy of insanely beautiful women who seem to have just sprung up overnight. Therefore, it will take some time to do, but don’t fret, I will get to it very soon.

Uni starts up again on Monday – for 18 weeks! That is not good! But at least it’s my last subject. It also means that I am now full time, and I can finally have my student card reflect that. Hello benefits and discounts!!! It’s about bloody time, that’s all I can tell you. The price of basic amenities these days is a fucking joke at full price. Public transport, car parking, movies, it all is seriously bullshit. I cannot wait to save some money on these items. However, I am not looking forward to this hard slog that I have to get through over the coming months. At least it’s all group work, and I have a very good team.

I am an avid watcher of an Australian gaming show called Good Game. While the quality has dipped as of late, they do have a fantastic segment called Pile of Shame. Basically they interview designers and developers about games they’ve never finished. I figured I might as well put in my 2 cents here. This just includes games that I am no longer playing on a regular basis.

Driver 2 – Yes I never finished it and I feel humiliated! And it wasn’t just cause I never bothered, I really effing tried! That last mission is sheer brutality! I couldn’t do it. Perfect driving is required in order to make it to the last checkpoint, because you need to get out of the car and run, and that last run is what kills me. Ahhh this one is a heartbreaker I tell you. WAY harder than the last mission on Driver 1- which the other watched me defeat with no troubles. Though, that Supafly mission with the sports car was pretty tough. I remember trashing that car several times.

Urban Chaos – Absolute SHIT game on the Playstation. I can’t believe I paid full price for this one. Horribly designed, poorly executed, it was just bloody awful. I didn’t get too far due to the silly game mechanics, especially on the driving.

I will continue this as I remember what games I’ve played!

I know I mentioned that I would go into the specifics of my car accident, but I want to post some pics up in the form of diagrams to help you understand, but I haven’t done that yet, so I’ll get around to that fairly shortly too.

Facebook, what an interesting thing really. I’m quite fussy about the friends I add. I typically only accept people who I’ve met in person and am fairly familiar with. So when I’m faced with requests to join the group for my High School reunion, and friend requests from school bullies and other downright nasty people, I definitely ignore them. Time may forgive you, but I won’t! I love how people try to pretend the past never happened and they want to be friends with everyone. Not for me. But on a slight tangent, de-friending someone is becoming an interesting concept for me. I remember my peak amount of friends was about 190-something (before you cringe, no I don’t measure my self worth in the number of friends I have on facebook). However, that number has dwindled to about 180-something now. Some have just left facebook, but others have de-friended me. How do I know? I was trying to search for people in my friend list and they disappeared, but when I searched for them, they came up and we still had mutual friends and all, but the friend request button came up. What the hell? What did I ever do to you? That’s complete bullshit if you ask me.

Facebook is just a way to stay in contact with people, it’s not asking you to make a full on commitment to me and prove your friendship in ways that will push you to the limit of your being! I hate this quote, but I’m going to have to use it – “champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends”. My year 10 formal date de-friended me for no reason! We ran into each other several times a few months ago, and then BAM! I cop this! Another more sinister one was Les Femme Anomaly. From someone I thought I might have loved to being totally ignored and thrown out with the trash, I thought I deserved better. What a bitch, especially after all I had done for her. But I guess it probably had something to do with me no longer being friends with M-Biatch. Incidentally, M-Biatch is now a married woman. Like what the hell?! Where does the time go? I guess we’re all getting old…despite being in our mid 20’s.

So as I mentioned previously, the other and I jammed along on one of his tracks, and the result was sheer brilliance. We were using some of his recording software and hardware, and it was pure awesome. There was even a dual guitar solo in there (featuring both of us simultaneously)! It came off perfectly, with the other showing is freakishly uncanny gift for improvising counterpoint lines over my guitar lines.

The (former) Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was deposed the other day in a party room vote. This raised questions of the validity of the leadership process in a democratic country such as Australia. People were complaining that such a thing should not be able to happen to a leader, myself among their number. But I read an interesting article from a former Prime Minister, Bob Hawke (who was deposed in a similar fashion in the early 90’s) today. As he rightly pointed out, the people never choose the leader under our system. We only elect the officials who then agree to pick a leader. It’s still sad, but I guess it’s a fact of life in the world of politics.

I received a hilarious phone call the other day from Optus, who is a telecommunications service provider. I have my mobile phone with them, and previously had my internet and landline with them when I was in Sydney. They thanked me for my years of loyalty (I have just been too lazy to change carriers), and offered me a free netbook. I thought this was an awesome score, but figured there must be some sort of catch. Of course the guy said that it came with wireless internet that cost $30 a month which was automatically bundled with it, meaning that you couldn’t separate the two. So therefore, they were giving me something for “free” that I had to pay an ongoing cost for, for the rest of my life! One year? $360. No thank you! I already have the internet at home, and I have a wireless router, why the fuck would I spend more money on something like that? I told him I wasn’t interested and promptly hung up. Fuck you Optus, that is ridiculously misleading.

There is this girl I used to work in my area who is an absolute hoot to converse with over e-mail. She moved to another government department because she wanted to get involved with social policy. However, due to mismanagement on that end, she is being hilariously underutilised, and as a result she is reduced to sending us e-mail forwards, and other notable conversation points. This is good, because whenever I’m bored, I just send her an e-mail with a few words in it, and she’ll reply back with a huge essay, and some brilliant talking points to get into. We had a big discussion on positive body images for women, obesity, genetics, evolution and the internet the other day. It’s awesome, intellectually stimulating conversation.

Speaking of the Department, it’s a silly thing. The piece of legislation that we oversee contains a provision for the Minister to have unfettered discretion with their decision making. This is ridiculously pointless, as we are not allowed to consider political items in our briefs or recommendations, we only objective assess against the provisions of the Act. These recommendations are then promptly ignored when politics may look the Minister look bad, even if the decision is the ‘objectively correct’ one under the Act! What’s more, is that we’re not aware that the Minister has such inclinations on a subject matter until we receive the brief back all rejected, and the Minister’s Office rings up and abuses us for making such recommendations! What the hell? The Minister and their Office is so divorced from the daily grind of Government Departments that it is seriously a joke! We have no idea what they’re thinking, and they have no idea what we’re thinking. This has a major effect on the work we do, and leads to inefficiencies and much time being wasted.

That being said, NO piece of legislation should ever allow a Minister to have unfettered discretion in the decision making process. Such things are not conducive to the democratic process, or notions of fairness and objectivity.

Land and development planning via Government processes are silly. I don’t think the democratic process and medium-long term planning is compatible. Governments are typically only in for 3 years or so, so in the event they get voted out, planning projects get put on hold, revised, scrapped or go ahead with little to no support from the new Government. I think all planning should be done on a short term time frame, with a view to long term process in staggered stages.

Oh wow, that was a long post! Just over three thousand words! Is it the biggest post ever? I’m not sure, but it probably comes close. Very good, especially since I had a fair bit more to go, but I will get into that stuff tomorrow.

That’s it for now folks, have a nice day. Joaquin out.

So you think you can blog??

2010-06-27T22:19:00.002+10:00

Not me!

Cause I tried to remember to blog this weekend, and I totally failed!

EPIC! Haha, I will continue this after the shame has worn off.

Good Time Music

2010-06-21T14:03:00.002+10:00

Yes! Finally caught up with the other after far too long. Enter, the jam session! Worked on one idea of his which was scant previously, however we added some new dimensions to it, some drums, more guitars and bass and we have finished nearly 70% of the track! I even played bass! It was good times I tell you! Even a comical idea about playing two separate lead guitar parts (at the same time) paid off dividends, cause it's fantastic!

I've taken a day off just to re-set my sleeping times. Should all be good now. More posts to come shortly!

Joaquin out.

There are some dummies in this world & Karma? Go to hell!

2010-06-10T21:58:00.002+10:00

Interesting lunch today. While eating on a couch in the shopping centre, there was some guy reading one of those "books for dummies" just further down. Upon closer inspection (read: snooping), I discovered he was reading "Blogging for Dummies". Seriously. What the hell?! Why is there a book on blogging?! Why was it so thick?! Here's my tips (and they're for free):

Join blogging service
Type
Click "post" or "publish"

Done. I just saved you some money there! What is there to learn that common sense can't dictate?!

Karma, why ist thou a harsh mistress? That beautiful girl from a little while back. Facebook, oh, mutual friends? OH GOD! That girl from my last work place. It just had to happen didn't it? Even nearly a year later, I am being kicked in the head (metaphorically, of course). Of course all the beautiful girls know each other!!! Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Long weekend this weekend. I am going to relax and play some music, and hopefully meet up with the other.

That's it for now folks. Joaquin out!

Quicktime!

2010-06-07T23:05:00.002+10:00

A quick blog before bed, cause I wanna read a bit more before I sleep. That and I have to be up damn early to travel for work.

The other showed me some awesome stuff that the new Propellerheads Record program can do and damn, it is amazing. REAL sampled drums. The way it should be thank you.

I want to post a more in-depth analysis of my accident, which I will get to soon, cause I'm still annoyed damn it! I need a car!

My goal for this year is to have more posts than the next highest year, which was 75 posts for last year. Since we're already at 60 something, I think we're well on our way.

Interesting lunch today. Ate at some decent cafe that I go to every now and then. There's a waitress there who is just ridiculously beautiful. But something puzzled me about her. She looks white. But she could be eurasian. There's just something about her eyes that gives off the exotic look. This drove me absolutely crazy. Of course I could not just ask her such a loaded question like that. Then it dawned on me. Can I just not accept the fact that the girl was beautiful and leave it at that? Why did I need to label her? To make her easy to categorise? To compare her with other women of the same type? Pretty sad really.

Wrote one hell of a riff today. Hell yeah! Joaquin out folks!

Only Got 31 Minutes To Save The World!

2010-06-06T22:29:00.006+10:00

Well just until 30 Rock starts! Therefore, I must blog hard and I must blog fast! Therefore, apologies in advance for the myriad of typos that are no doubt going to appear in this blog fest.

Yes, I know this is late, but I have been busying myself with movies and games. For some odd reason I've been playing LOTS of Road Rash 3 on the Mega Drive emulator. Don't ask me why, but that game is DAMN fun. It's BLOODY hard, but fun, and after my millions of re-attempts, 2 hours can go by in a heartbeat. I've also been getting back into Assassin's Creed 2, after my self-imposed exile from the Xbox due to studies. Classes are over, so I'm just enjoying my time. I had an online exam, which was interesting, cause I'd never sat one before, but I have to say I loved the experience! Since it was open time (the exam was open for a week), I sat it at like midnight, and finished at 3am. These times are the best for me because that's when my mind is the sharpest, and I enjoyed every moment of it. I didn't rush, I didn't stress, it was wonderful. Haha, when marks are out tomorrow, I probably MIGHT not be singing the same tune.

The Joaquin Rate List (JRL) has grown out of control! Haha, there are SO many updates, that I just have to hold off so I can just add them, without the need to put in a concurrent blog entry. Oh well, next weekend is a long weekend, so I will get stuck into it then.

I had a classic moment the other day on the work intranet - they were offering a course for "resilience'. I mean what the hell? How can someone teach that?! Is it due to the high staff turnover? Haha I don't understand it, the work is easy and sometimes it can be fun, so I don't understand why people don't enjoy it and leave in high numbers.

Umm, going back over my blog notes, I have NO idea what the hell I was talking about anymore! Haha my extreme shorthand is only valid for 3-4 days tops, not 2-3 weeks! I have to really try to blog more often, but guitar comes first. I hadn't played in a while, but I forced myself it pick it up after buying some new strings (for cheap), and I am enjoying it. Came up with 2 new and decent riffs. I need to start a new movement with the other - the riff a day movement for 30 days. Basically the idea would be to come up with original, enjoyable and good riffs every day for 30 days. No more, no less. It would be an interesting experiment. I got the chance to catch up with the other for some electronic jamming, and it was bloody interesting to say the least! His setup is just ridiculous and I am absolutely loving it! More on those in another post, as there's a lot more work to come.

I read an interesting story at work the other day, it was about people's peeves with hotels. Having read through them, I have to add my agreement (and two cents worth)! Why are walls in hotels (even the high end ones) so paper thin?! You can hear EVERYTHING in the next room, and god help you if your neighbours in the block above or below you keep their bathroom door open, because you can hear them through the ventilation shafts! On top of that, there was a time when I was at a training camp for my previous job, and I traded rooms with some douchebags so I could stay with a friend. I thought I got a bum deal, but the next day they showed up to the workshops with bleary bloodshot eyes. They told me that their next door neighbours were having extremely loud sex, and the girl sounded like a seagull! HAHA, hilarious I gotta say. Why are the corridors so noisy?

Also, what is the deal with check in and check out times?! Hotels are law unto themselves. I will show up when I show up, and I will leave when I am good and ready! As long as it happens before midnight, I have not stayed an additional day! What sort of service is that? Getting up at 10am to check out, or to get there by 2pm is a pain in the ass. Another thing is bloody do not disturb signs! CLEANERS DO NOT READ THEM! THEY IGNORE THEM. THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO READ ENGLISH! Haha, every single time I've had one up, I've been ignored by a cleaner just bursting in and just cleaning. Seriously! What the fuck is the point? God help me if I'd been the sleazy type! One last thing is the breakfast times! They're like 6am-9am! What is the point in going on holiday if I have to get up fucking early to eat breakfast that I HAVE PAID FOR?! Silly silly silly.

Haha I am reminded of a funny story from several Fridays ago. I walked home from work, and I kinda got lost and had to come down a massive hill to get on to a footpath to get home. I have a regular gait for someone my height, but I can walk pretty quickly, and that's how I typically tend to walk. However, there were also 2 girls who were out for their exercises after work walking around the lake. I TRIED so hard to get ahead of them going down the hill, but they just found an extra gear and I landed like 4 metres or so behind them. So then I had to spend about 30 minutes right behind them since we were walking at the same speed and with the same gait and it was frustrating! I could understand they were getting quite uncomfortable - they probably thought I meant them harm cause I was walking so fast, but I didn't want to slow down (cause I wanted to watch the Simpsons), and I didn't want to run (as that would have freaked them out further). There was also only one route to take! Therefore I was pretty damned. At this point I was all sweaty in my coat, and my legs were going numb. However, I gained respite from my knowledge of physics and basic geometry. Going around a curve and they were on the outside, I took the inside, and even though we were walking at the same speed, I managed to get ahead of them, and I was happy! Yes, I beat them across the next major bridge and I was home free. Shame, cause they had nice asses, hahaha!

Anyhow, that's it for tonight folks. Have a good one. Joaquin out.

Yes!

2010-06-01T23:24:00.001+10:00

I know! I said I'd blog on the weekend but I have not had a chance to as of yet!

It was uncharacteristically busy. So I do have a legitimate excuse!

Anyway, one for June. Many more to come.

Anything About You?

2010-05-28T01:10:00.001+10:00

Yes, I am at home as I am to sit an exam tomorrow.

I am just studying it up and relaxing with some guitar and light reading.

All should be good. However, I did leave my blog notes at my actual home, so no updates till Saturday!

Sorry folks!

Electrical Changes Are Charging Up The Young

2010-05-23T01:04:00.002+10:00

In case my last post was too cryptic for some of you morons out there, yes I did have a car accident. No, it was not my fault. I finally found out the extent of my injury. Turns out I actually dislocated my knee, which had set during the impact, and I had torn a few ligaments in it. It still doesn't feel right, and I am taking some anti-inflammatories. If it hasn't healed by Monday, I'm in need of some more scans. How wonderful! Especially since it was a really low speed collision, and the impact on my knee was very small; I've been hit harder before.

The car, ahh my wonderful car! It still runs, but the radiator has died, and a fair bit of the engine block is messed up. It will cost a considerable amount to fix it. Even though I only drove it on the weekends, it was heavily relied upon! This whole ordeal is just bullshit really.

On to more lighter events. Should condoms be free? The question was posed to me recently, and I didn't know what the answer should be! Is sex such a fundamental part of human development that it should be free? Like water from a tap etc? But companies need to make a profit, so how can this be remedied? State made condoms?? Hahaha, perish the thought! But the choice isn't there is it? Well as far as I'm aware. Condoms can be bought from stores and chemists, but you can't obtain free ones outside of university (at least so I've been told). So what are non uni going people supposed to do? Haha, it's not my problem or concern anyway. The whole condom buying thing just totally weirds me out, and hell I don't even know how to put one on! I remember in High School some of the physical education classes got to try out on test tubes, but my class wasn't one of them, and now that's probably the reason why so many of my former High School alumni are parents!

The trouble with typing up my blognotes a few weeks ago is that I write them in shorthand, so with no context, I have NO idea what the hell I meant to say!

I finally got the router going, so we have Xbox Live goodness, and my friend has the net on his comp, but it's not like it matters since I do the most downloading anyway! Already done 15 gig for this month! I'm impressed, haha! A lot more where that came from though! Never again will I attempt to bridge a hardwired Modem into a wireless router! Next time I'm getting a combined modem/router!

Ahh weirdly enough I just got hit with a dose of tiredness. I'm gonna leave it there for now folks, but never fear, plenty more blognotes to come.

Joaquin out.

Accidents Happen

2010-05-16T01:12:00.003+10:00

And all you're left with are questions, and not much else.

What if I'd done things differently? Left a little later/earlier?

Now my confidence is shaken. My shroud of invincibility has been lifted.

My knee hurts but it's only my heart that's broken.

I'll never forget the noise and the instant realisation that this is REAL, and I wasn't imagining it.

I've never been in shock before, it was a bit of a rush.

As the shock wears off and the cold goes away, the extent of my injury will be apparent.

It was a nice car I had once...

Well hey, at least everyone else is fine.

Coronas And European Girls

2010-05-09T15:24:00.002+10:00

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but in this city there seems to be a lot of people who are leaving their 1/4 full Corona bottles around! And not just near pubs and clubs, you see them in random places. Who leaves a Corona bottle lying around, especially when it's 1/4 full?? What if it's the same bottle everywhere I keep seeing?? Haha now that's a thought!

So it strikes again, go to a restaurant, and yes, there are attractive women. Legs till next week, amazing bodies and dresses, it made it rather difficult to eat! But I got the thought that they were much younger than me. Noo, before you all start dialling 911 or triple zero, they were definitely legal. But still a lot younger than I was. I'm almost a full decade above the age of legality here. You see it now and then when someone in their mid 20's dates someone in their late teens. I don't really think that sort of thing is for me. I guess this is where the harsh reality of age and life set in. Well them's the breaks I say!

As stated, I have a ridiculous amount of updates to get into the Joaquin Rate List (JRL), and I think that may take me some time. As I am trying to type this one out as fast as possible, I'll have to wait till next time to get those up. I just want to be home and away from here. It's so much more peaceful and the atmosphere is just so much more conducive to actually getting work done, when I'm left to my own devices.

I finally visited the other after moving and we had a cracking good time! He showed me the wonders of a program called FL studio (the latest iteration of Frooty Loops), and goddamn, what a powerhouse of a program! Makes Adobe Audition look like a bloody pre-school Audacity like program! We were working on a song (interestingly enough, a dance song) for like 2 hours, and it was just brilliant; sitting there nodding our heads to the beat, it was fantastic! The other is getting a Midi controller for more control over the action, and depending on how it pans out for him, I may also get one. We also got into some jams, which were fantastic and they have gone up into dropbox for fine tuning. The other also procured himself an Epiphone SG copy and it looks fantastic! Plays well too. So congrats to him!

So it finally happened! After 20 years of Telstra being absolutely crap, my phone line is up and running! I have ordered the internet and that too is listed as being up and running, so all I need is a modem router and I am GOOD to go! Hell yes, here comes 50 gig and downloads till I cry!! In terms of internet and phone provisioning, it still makes me ill to think how far behind the rest of the world Australia is in terms of service. We pay an exorbitant amount for internet that is not all that fast, nor does it allow enough data allowance. This is supposed to be a first world country, and we're getting stiffed. The problem relates to Telstra's ridiculous monopoly on all the service infrastructure, they've shut everyone out. And since they had a huge market position before it was privatised, they can just destroy everyone else. This isn't right. Under the constitution there is allowance for telephony devices to be TOTALLY governed by the Federal Government. Handing control over to a private company should not be allowed right? Cause there is an implied right that all Australians should be able to access it, therefore charges such as line rentals or service charges cannot be levied, because the tax system should pick that up under a PUBLIC right. I hope this National Broadband Network will come good some time soon!

Haha, at work the other day, I was so in the zone and just ploughing through work I just felt REALLY relaxed. In fact, so relaxed I coulda just peed my pants right there and then! Ahh work, what a funny place! We have these poorly produced videos to teach us about the dangers of I/T security etc. Anyhow in these videos these people keep stealing data from Government employees. Of course they're actors, but what's gold is that the I/T hackers are all these ridiculously attractive females. I'm sorry, but that's just not believable. No attractive female works in I/T as a programmer. Graphic designer yes, tech support perhaps. But programming? Nope, not true! Sorry, nope, never!

I got pwned by a guy with an umbrella the other day. When I used to live in Sydney, if it was relatively overcast in the morning, or if someone walking down the street from my window was carrying an umbrella, I would carry one too. I have not followed this now that I'm back here. I saw a guy in the morning carrying one while I was on my way to work. It was a sunny day so I thought he'd just have a burden. But lo and behold, come home time, it was POURING and I got drenched! Haha he showed me!

I think I posted that story about that girl whose job I took over when I first joined the public service. The one who obviously did not like me, but unfortunately had a fantastic ass. This made it even funnier when I discovered that her surname is just another name for prostitute (I shan't repeat it here or it'll be easy to ID her). I saw her again the other day and she totally gave me the biggest death stare ever, haha fantastic!

Since the colder weather has started, I have started wearing a light t-shirt underneath my shirts and suit jackets. I am a huge fan of this, as it keeps me incredibly warm, and the plasticy smell from the packaging that they're in totally gets me off! It's so nice, I love it!

Anyhow, that's it for now folks. I'll try to blog from home if I get my stuff in order and get my router etc. Have a nice day! Joaquin out.

Back In May I Forgot My Thoughts

2010-05-01T15:15:00.003+10:00

Yes, I know I was meant to blog last week, but I never got around to it! Too much study to do, and I really could not be bothered. However, this is good for you because I now have a backlog of blog notes to get through.

Bloody Telstra! Epic fail! I'm meant to have my phone line and internet set up at my place already, but alas, they have failed me, so I still only have access to the internet on the weekends.

I don't know how it happened, but the Joaquin Rate List (JRL) is set to grow by a bloody substantial amount on my next update! I will hit that up at the next available opportunity. I want to get home quite soon, so I am just going to blog then get ready.

I will aim to get the other to blog ASAP. Further, I will try to get in a jam session with him. I've been getting a few more ideas in, and now that I've cut my nails, I am good to go with the guitar!

Do you ever get the feeling that people are laughing at you? After work I usually have to walk against the flow of general pedestrian traffic in order to get to my place. Therefore I am walking in an oncoming direction to most people. They all seem to look at me, laugh a bit then look away. What is up with that? Are they laughing at me? What's wrong with me? No doubt, this makes me extremely paranoid and self-conscious. I hope this isn't a sign of mental illness.

As mentioned above, I have been studying to get some assignments and such done. This opened up a new world of scary procrastination for me. I was doing EVERYTHING else except study. I used to be so motivated, and a lot of my work was done before the due date, but this time around, I am not loving it so much!

I don't know if I ever ragged on it before, but when I had Optus internet in Sydney, it really was quite a fantastic deal. Despite counting uploads AND downloads in my download limit, 20gig per month was definitely more than enough to get through. I only came close to limits because of my ridiculous downloading and streaming. But when you couple that with the fact I got free calls to all mobiles, landlines and so on, it was something I really enjoyed! I'll probably never see the likes of that any time soon. I was ringing like a man possessed!

I keep waking up with cuts on my fingers these days. Really small superficial ones, but how is it happening? Am I scratching myself in my sleep? Where did they come from? It can't be stress related, because I find that work is getting easier.

I have no idea why I keep going back to my Sydney days! If I'm always a grass is always greener on the other side person, I'll never be happy! But anyway, I remember that after my first year of work, we were forced to take extended leave over the Christmas break. This ended up being close to 3 weeks, whereas in the public service I only got 3 days off during this period. I had a bloody good time. Instead of going to the gym at 6:45 in the morning every day, I would get up at noon, casually eat breakfast then later work my way to the gym...where there would always be the same HOT MILF on the treadmill totally killing it and filling my head with various lustful thoughts, while she was watching Oprah and exercising. Then I would just play games and watch movies till about 3-4am and I bloody loved it. I will never get holidays like that ever again, where I am being paid to have a bloody fantastic time. By the time I get substantial leave (long service I suspect), I will probably be married with children and my life will be over!

I remember in college I had an acquaintance who liked some girl (this was quite common knowledge), but she kept dating losers. I asked him how he felt about it, and he said that he had this unrealistic expectation that whenever he met ANY girl he liked, he would picture their entire future together, of them being married and having children etc. At first I guess it could be written of as immature, but in reality, I honestly think that is every guy. Most girls don't realise that, and that's a shame, as we are typically characterised as unfeeling, unthoughtful brutes.

U.S. 80's/90's sitcoms had the best city settings. I remember Perfect Strangers and its wonderful introduction featuring many shots of Chicago. I also remember Driver 2, where I would spend countless hours driving around the city (in the 70's). What a great place to visit. Ditto for Full House and San Francisco (but Mythbusters also shows off the city in great detail). Speaking of Driver, I think that game made me a much better real life driver. It was one of the few games where a road car handled realistically, and not like Need For Speed Carbon, where a car can supposedly turn 90 degrees without braking, at well over 200km/h. Case in point? I tried to over take a guy when a one lane road split into two lanes, and then as I was next to him, I found that he had started to drift VERY far over both lanes, and almost sent me into a blood traffic island at 80km/h. If I had not been on the ball and had been watching him, which in turn enabled me to slam on the brakes and avoid him, I would have definitely had a pretty significant accident. Good ol' Driver!

Am I burnt out? I don't feel like I can work as hard as I used to anymore. Or am I just getting lazy?

The other day at work I forgot my headphones and had to suffer from lack of stimulation! I have a DVD of songs in my drive that I listen to occasionally when I need a pick up, or need to get into the zone to do some repetitive tasks.

There's a guy at work who has a ridiculously attractive girlfriend -who also happens to work there, but in a different area. I just mentioned this because he should be damned!!

I read on wikipedia the other day that in Wolfenstein 3D (that classic game), the bosses were drawn with 2D sprites, so that no matter what way you approached them, they would always see you! NO WONDER! They would always just start shooting at you and you'd always start on the back foot! It's not like current games where you can sometimes sneak up on bosses and take them out and make life easier for yourself! Those geniuses at ID software!

Haha, anyhow, that's it for this week folks. Have a nice day! Joaquin out.

Am I Living It Right?

2010-04-18T13:10:00.002+10:00

What is it with bands reforming without their original core members? I read the other day that Hole had reformed, but I looked at the band lineup. It's only Courtney Love who is back! I'm sorry, but that is not Hole! When it's only one person (granted, that person may be the most well known), I don't think that can count as having a band reform. Especially in that situation, as Courtney Love had just had a moderately successful solo career. Ditto for Guns 'N Roses! It's just Axl Rose!!! At least Izzy is in it from time to time. Yes, I know that Slash is everyone's fave, but Izzy was really the genius of the group, and I loved his guitar lines.

A scary realisation struck me the other day. As I've mentioned in a post several months ago, this city is having a lot of construction work done (in order to accommodate our ridiculously unneeded expansion). As a result, the majority of suits and so on that you typically see (from being the capital city) from public servants has given way to the bright fluoro green tops of construction workers and other laborers. I've been on the road at a lot of odd times while visiting friends, like 4am etc. You see these people all around the road flying to get to work while they're barely awake. Anyhow they're all my age or younger, driving around in expensive cars with arm candy when you see them about town. What the fuck?? Seriously, what the fuck?? These are guys who probably haven't finished college, who have just started working and have earning capacity greater than mine! What sort of reward is this? I finished college, I went to university for 5 years! I have a bloody honours degree in law! Where's the fucking fairness in that?? That got me questioning, am I living it right? I'm not sure, you may have to ask John Mayer. Thanks for rewarding me for following the "set path".

I am still yet to get the internet at home, so I am back at my folks to study and to get my weekly blog out of the way! However, that is all to be set up soon and I should be re-connected within the next 2 weeks. This is good, considering I have probably THE biggest update to the Joaquin Rate List (JRL) in the blog's history! I didn't think it was possible, but these hotties just keep coming out of nowhere!

I was shopping the other day at some store and I ran into one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen in my life. Tall, brunette, curvy, she was just wowza. That got me thinking. What is it about large girls I like? No, not fat girls, not chubby girls. I'm just talking about girls who are structurally built large. Let's not get into a heightist discussion, as the other covered it very well in a post near the start of this blog's history. I'm about average height for a guy, with a regular build, so I guess most of the girls I would see out and about would be smaller than me. So when you have a girl who is taller and "larger" than you, it's just weird. It's probably some sort of complex! Haha, probably for my ego!

It also got me thinking that I talk about girls too much on this blog! I should return to some of the grand intellectual discussions that featured throughly in the early stages of this blog. Studying is a bitch. I don't know why I'm doing it again! If work wasn't paying for this, I would not have continued. Having my free time swallowed up to do something I don't particularly enjoy is not really a good motivating factor here.

The other raised some excellent points regarding the proposed internet censorship filter in Australia. I believe he was spot on. This USED to be an open minded country. However, that dark period where the conservative party ruled (with an iron fist) for over a decade has just totally fucked with people's heads. Now as a result, even the liberal party (not THE Liberal party) is not as progressive as people thought. It's just spouting horrible Orwellian rhetoric in order to appease to the population and keep their grip on power. What's worse is that the only people who seem to oppose these moves (as well as our current backwards policy on refugees) are not politicians! I won't go into a full on spiel about what's wrong with the system, as the other has already gone into sufficient detail.

The other day I noticed that there may be an undercurrent of young power hungry go getters at work. They're not in my division or anything, but they did look very young. Maybe I outrank them??

I walked to work the other day from my new place. This was pretty substantial, as it's a 40 minute walk at a fairly brisk pace. For some reason, I constantly had "Mother fucker on a motorcycle" pulsating in my head. This was odd, considering I've never actually heard the song in my life. As a result, I spent the 40 minutes with a firm grin on my face. It was a bloody long stretch, especially before work. Was it life changing? No, it was nothing like my "death trek" from the Eastern Suburbs to the North Shore of Sydney that I undertook just a few years ago, in order to save some money. Now that walk was brilliant!

I have been tired a lot as of late, so I have started sleeping earlier, and it's been good. I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. In fact I got some good gameage and some movies in, around my studying.

Oh gosh, the other day at work I had to sit through this AWFUL presentation by some apparently famous and powerful fellow (who I don't remember the name of). The backbone of his presentation was a powerpoint talk. Failage x1000. I was FIGHTING the urge to just pass out from boredom and tiredness! Powerpoint is overused in the business (and academic) world. It adds nothing to your speech. I remember in first year uni (before I became jaded and cynical), one of my favourite lecturers said he was a complete hater of powerpoint (before I knew what it was), and not to use it, unless it adds something special to your speech. To date, I have not seen an example of PP adding something special to anyone's speech. Therefore, I agree with his thoughts! In fact I should do a powerpoint presentation on how shite these presentations are, just to revel in the irony! For a start, Visio is much better. However, I feel that these things are not needed if you're a good speaker and can engage well with an audience. What awesome famous speeches in history came accompanied with a bloody Powerpoint presentation? None! I'm sure the other will agree! Did Martin Luther King give his "I have a dream" speech with a projected image of some kid sleeping with a dream bubble over his head?? Did Henry V give his St. Crispin's Day Speech with with a projected image of the word "WIN OR DIE" in the background? I don't think so!

I had not played guitar in over a week, until last night, and I think I still have it! Chordal wise, maybe not so solo or technique wise. But I am taking some guitars with me to get back into it full steam! I have also been reviewing some guitarpro songs and now I am perplexed. What do you do when you've finished a song and you have a different version of the song which MAY have a superior melody in terms of chordal progression?? Ahh I'm stuck, cause it's one of the best songs I've composed!

Haha, I sent these blog notes on Wednesday from work. I feel like I'm in a time machine where I'm reviewing them now and trying to remember what I was talking about! Very trippy I gotta say!

The weather has been switching between warmth and bone chilling coldness. I don't know WHO the hell can stand that sort of weather? It's not natural, it has a bad effect on the body!! Some people are just nuts, especially those in less than warm clothing when it's cold! Teenage girls in short shorts outside won't be thinking they're so hot when they're hooked up to a breathing machine in the hospital with bloody pneumonia!

My life has become more complicated since moving back here. My problems were big before, but they did number lesser than the ones I currently encounter. I only hated work before, as well as not saving enough money. Now there's a myriad of things! I'm saving, but what am I saving for? Are these even things that I want? Just something to be considered I guess.

That's it for now folks! Till next week. Joaquin out. You've reached the end of the line!

Repercussionist

2010-04-11T19:47:00.002+10:00

I have really been enjoying my time on the Xbox 360! Much like the other's PS3, the Xbox 360 runs on these "sign-in" profiles. This is incredibly handy, as you can save games and player info directly to the hard drive, as opposed to old school memory blocks and so on, that took up a finite amount of resources, for just ONE player. I particularly enjoy this, as I have my own profile on the other's PS3, and my housemate's Xbox, which means I can play my own games on them, at my own pace whenever. I don't have to worry about wiping over their games, and I can just carry on while autosave carries out my brilliant bidding in the background!

So while I've been newsless, I've discovered that Powderfinger are breaking up! Well I think they've had a good run, and they've made some spectacular music. I think the other is not happy, but I can live with this. Motor Ace breaking up was all too much to drive me to extreme cynicism!

I still don't have the internet at my new place, but this is something I hope to remedy quite shortly. I'll just have to wait on the connection and then I'll be set (and hopefully in faster connection speed).

Ahh I have a few more blog notes to get through, but I'm pressed for time as I'd like to go home and study now. Anyhow, I'll be back to blog in a week or so. See you then folks!

Joaquin out.

Leading Questions; Zero Answers

2010-04-06T21:33:00.002+10:00

So back at uni for another week! At least it's only 4 days, as opposed to the 5 of the last time I was here. On top of that, I don't have to be at uni ever again after so I am waiting this out.

It's interesting, as it is an intensive class for criminal law. However, just like last time, people (despite being postgrads), are coming in to it with the undergrad mindset. It's not about technical knowledge of laws and rules, it's about operating with new principles to gain skills you didn't previously have. This does not stop smart asses from trying to stamp their authority all over the class with their supposed knowledge of things, but our teacher is a scary genius, and he will not hesitate to expose idiots for the morons that they are. This usually comes about in ritual abuse and humiliation in front of the entire class; a concept I am very down with! I don't understand the need to ask silly questions, questions that you KNOW are not relevant and are things that the teacher had just said NEVER to ask or act on!

Ah well, I can do it! It's just that the long days are getting to me, and I have to study at night again, so I will be tired tomorrow. But this time assessment is a lot more full on, in a shorter space of time. I'm prepped, my performance in the last class was stellar. I can do it again!

Today was good, I just got the strongest urge to blog while I was in class, so I just grabbed my pen and started scribbling on the back of my notes. It feels good to be inspired again!

One of the primary factors for this is the women! Goddamn, some new faces, and ones that I was very fond to see again. One girl was wearing a dancer's outfit, something you'd expect to see in a Lady Gaga clip. Bright fluro blue pants and a white low cut leotard top! What the hell? I didn't mind, cause she had a dancer's body and was sitting in front of me! However, it did get a tad grose when I was able to notice the bones in her back all moving around and just generally destroying the illusion of beauty that was going on there!

Then there's the other girl. Ahhh the other girl. I never thought I was a fan of the blondes (at least that I knew anyway), but damn, she came back with a vengeance. I remember in the negotiation assessment last fortnight, I delegated myself to go talk to her so I could get the 411. I didn't learn anything about her personal life, but I was able to convince her team to vote with us on a proposal that saw my team land the highest score of the day and trounce the opposition. Ahh it felt good! She is tall, blonde very pale, with amazing legs, and has a penchant for wearing little black dresses. This wouldn't have been a killer if she wasn't smart and well spoken, which she is. Me = sucker. However, then she said something in class that alluded to her being married! I don't know if this was a calculated ruse on her part in order to get out of class early, or not. Cause she and a friend both did it, but they don't wear rings on ANY hand. Isn't that odd? Anyway, it made me feel a bit angry, and I don't know why. I guess I was feeling what the other had stated before in a post from many years ago, regarding the best girls being taken early. I may have to get to the bottom of this before the week is over.

Another interesting fact is that all these people who I knew in university (when I was an undergrad) were also there! These are annoying people! Not people I liked or anything like that.

The general demographics of the class are interesting. We have a lot of jocks (the jockocracy) and a lot of stupid skanky bitches. Where did they come from? How did they get into law?? I renew my plight to have law schools conduct interviews to let people in! Ohhh but then again, we'd probably get more of their type in the door that way. Where did all these trendoids come from?

Ahh fuck, time running out, I have to type quicker to get back to my studies and learn stuff!

I don't know why some people don't take care of their cars. There's one girl I knew who kept getting into minor accidents with her car. So much so that I was paranoid about getting into it cause I was shitscared that it was going to fall apart while I was in the passenger seat! Then again I guess it is my issue since it's up to me whether I want to get into the car.

What is it with bad parents? There's some old bitch in our class who has a toddler (ahh the wonders of IVF). Anyway, I was eating lunch on the cafe porch, while she let her kid run around with no pants. That I'm ok with, it's just a toddler, there's nothing offensive about that. But then her kid starts screaming "Wee wee" and starts jumping around. Anyhow, the woman comes up, grabs the child and runs to the bathroom. Ok, so I am HOPING that the kid did not go on the balcony. But then after that she brings the kid back out, and does not put the pants back on OR a nappy. So of course, 5 mins later, the kid pulls the same thing again and the mother has to run and grab her. For fuck sake, what is with parents these days?? Jeez! I was trying to eat goddamn it!

I don't know about you, or whether I've mentioned this before, but I am a firm believer in bitchfacedness. You know what the fuck I'm on about. Girls who just have BITCHY faces. The skinny hooked noses, the sharp, glaring eyes, scowling lips etc. I know phrenology was dismissed as a pseudoscience a long time ago. BUT GIVE IT A TRY! Talk to a girl with a bitchface and you won't be disappointed. It will be bitchtown south central. This has to be one thing that can't be disputed!

Haha this has been a fun post. Till next time folks. Have a nice day! Joaquin out.

Your Dreams May Vary From Ours

2010-04-04T18:03:00.002+10:00

Ahhh feeling so tired today! I don't know why that is. I'm sleeping well and long hours. I guess I'm just overtired! I'll be alright though, uni starts up again next week and I'll be enjoying the insanity that is Criminal Law. One of my fave subjects. I am aiming to do well and show up other people!

I'm still enjoying my place, I have set up my computer in my room now. It's odd having it where I sleep, but since my room is much bigger now, it's pretty interesting. All I need is to have the internet and I'll be set! We'll have to see what comes of that though, as it has been complicated! I will blog on that matter another time.

I will be back here next week for uni so I will post more then. What I find strange is my new complex! Everyone is rich and old! It's hilarious! They probably think my housemate and I are gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that. My only gripe is with the car parking space, which is ridiculously narrow! I'm a decent driver, but damn parking in there (and getting out) is a true test of my skills! Coping with barely centimetres from hitting the walls, or someone else's car, it's gold. But as my dad said, if you're going slow enough, you can get away with anything as long as you're going slow enough.

Speaking of my car, it's an interesting thing. It used to be a fantastic car, but after several years of no use whatsoever, it has crossed the threshold into old car. It's like an odd F1 car. The grip is very low at low speeds. It's noisy as hell! The guy who fixed the car last said there was a problem with the alternator, which now results in it sounding ridiculously loud, like inside a rally car. On top of that it is very difficult to see out of the windscreen, and when the car is stationary, the temperature gauge starts heating up! If I'm ever in a traffic jam, the car will just fry itself! Haha, wonderful!

Well I better get my stuff good to go for tonight! You'll be hearing from me soon. Joaquin out.

Weird Musings In A Capitalist Haven

2010-04-03T18:46:00.002+11:00

I'm just weirded out over how comfortable my new bed is. I don't ever want to leave it in the morning (well the afternoon, since it's a break and I'm getting up past midday).

I've never had one so comfortable before! What a difference to your life it makes! I didn't like my old bed (the other's current bed) because it was so low to the ground, and I kept cutting my calves with the corners! It was brutal! But I did enjoy being in it.

The other brings up a good point. People who just buy into Apple products cause it's the "hip" thing, without really understanding the mechanics of anything, or shopping around for something that they might find easier to use, or more beneficial to their lifestyle, or cheaper and with more options! The other used the point of the iPad and I think it's quite apt. My housemate is of the same ilk, he'll buy it but only cause it's Apple. He doesn't really need one or anything like that. That's the problem, if people have the money, they'll spend it how they like.

Haha, the other's comments on my previous post were spot on. Those were some damn good days. We had the bottom of the house to ourselves and friends when needed. Or we would just be upstairs at one of the house so we wouldn't annoy the other's folks. Classic times! Playing cricket across 2 ends of the house - one game resulted in a smashed light fixture from T-Man's aggressive batting. Playing soccer on the grounds of the Lodge, waiting to be arrested by Security. Haha I even remember a week where we did not go to school, we just stayed up all night making Super Milo mixtures, and playing Syphon Filter. I remember the 2nd mission, in the park at night defusing chemical bombs. The other was phenomenal in guidance and in taking out those pesky bosses. Haha then there was the all night game sessions in the spare room, which I'm sure I've blogged about before and will not cover again.

I'd like to have those days back again please. The other was right, focusing too much on work, it's not good. You have to make time for others in order to enjoy your time with them!

Ahhh Final Fantasy, I'm glad the other is enjoying it. Square just know how to make bloody good games. This was in stark contrast to Uncharted (1 and 2). It was made by Naughty Dog! These are the same mofos who made Crash Bandicoot (fun but not really engrossing). I'm just amazed they were able to turn out such a fine piece of brilliance in Uncharted. FFs are an entirely wonderful experience. I remember putting in well over 100 hours for BOTH FF7 and FF8. Well worth it I say.

My housemate has an XBox 360, so I'm trying to get up in some of that gameage, as well as my original Xbox which I have setup. Ahh let's not forget the ridiculous amount of PC gaming I have to do too!

Easter, what an odd time. Shops closed yesterday. But today EXTREMELY busy. I really dislike the holiday atmosphere during these times. It's like people don't appreciate it - well that's odd reasoning coming from a Christian, and aimed at people who probably aren't religious. But it seems like capitalism strikes again. Sales all over the place, people spending money on things they don't really need.

Such is life I guess.

That's it for today folks!

Final that fantasy...

2010-04-02T23:04:00.003+11:00

As a teenager there seemed to be so many rules. Rules that we created and rules that were created for us by our friends. So eager to box ourselves to some form of definition. I like 'rock' music and anything else is just crap. So damn close minded just so we can find unity in diversity. Everyone thinks that they are "individuals" but they are just like everyone else in their little niche. I remember those days and hell I'm glad I'm not that close minded, at least not anymore. I figured that most people grow out of this sort of behavior when they get older. Unfortunately there are people who in their older age never get over their insecurities and feel the need to still clutch this idea of who they are. Completely defined by someone elses definition. Like a horse with blinkers, they can only see one thing. Its a shame, because they are not willing to let themselves enjoy a whole lot of other stimuli that is oh so good! Its sad, but this is usually very true with most gamers. They are not willing to try out anything that might be slightly different.

Final Fantasy XIII is probably one of the most beautiful games that is out there at the moment. It is visually stunning and the story line doesn't disappoint. Its a massive game and who know how long it will take to finish it, but I'm going to enjoy it for every hour that I play it. There were a whole bunch of people who told me that I shouldn't play it because it is so "linear." These gamers are not willing to give the game a shot because it doesn't fit their idea of what a Final Fantasy game should be like. To be honest they have made a fantastic game that works perfectly and doesn't have to be exactly like its predecessors. Its better than several of the more recent releases. I'm not going to do a game review here, mainly because I can't wait to get back to the game at the moment. So if you can be a little bit open minded, give the game a go, you'll probably have more fun than is legal.

On another note, there are some idiots that work at Sony. Yesterday they released an update for the ps3 firmware. All it does is remove the other os option in the older ps3s. I have one of those, and it really annoyed me today. Not that I ever use the other os option, I have tried it once. I have it there in case I ever bother to use it for something. So they took it out, that's fine (though their rational is as bad as the Qualcomm's April Fools Joke ( http://mashable.com/2010/04/01/butterfly-attack-2/ ) (for some reason people think its really good, I think its a horrible effort and people must be bloody gullible). So this firmware removes the Other Os option but it doesn't revert space allocated for the system back to the ps3 through the update, this has to be done manually. What this meant for me was to format a partition on my external hard drive in Fat32, back up the PS3, format the entire hard drive, restore the files and then update the firmware. So I just had to do a whole lot of work to LOSE functionality of my ps3. This is just sad and pathetic. Next time Sony decide to release a new firmware, it better have something good in it. At the moment I'm feeling a lot of anger for my ps3. Its a good thing that I'm playing Final Fantasy XIII on it, otherwise I might have just defenestrated my ps3. Man at Sony, pull your finger out and do something worthwhile!

Are you afraid yet?

2010-03-31T23:10:00.003+11:00

One thing I used to love about Australia was it's open mindedness. More and more, I think this is changing and the future freaks me out! At least the leaders of this country are more conservative than they need be. For example, we still don't have a 'R' ratings for games. So we can have 18+ movies, hell there are so many porn stores in this city, but we can't have 18+ games?? It really annoys me because of the number of times that a game has been refused classification and I just can't get my hands on it. Next is this ISP forced firewall that they want to enforce in Australia. Did I wake up in China somehow?? Sometime it feels like I am there judging by the people around me, but I'm still pretty sure that I'm not in China. That is one the one thing that freaks me out the most about this country. How can something like that be allowed to happen. We are hearing the fake sound of progress...

We are lead to believe that this is free democratic process and we actually have a say. But their propaganda is no different to a closed government. They are just smart enough to make you feel as though you are the ones that made the decision. Isn't that one of the first lessons people learn with their parents. If you really want to make something happen, make it so that they feel as though it was their idea in the first place. We are fed their cleverly guised propaganda in all forms of media that we consume on a regular basis. I consume enough of it, this is true; I'm not going to go back to the stoneage. But I am aware of what is happening around us. Its funny, we humans are all so power hungry, we like to get it in any way we can. We can't all possibly have the power - so lets call it power to the people - democracy - and then find a way to get what we want making them feel as though they wanted it. Kudos I say to them, truly genius. It saddens me.

And no, I don't have a better solution. Life everything else in this universe, everything ends. We will someday destroy this planet and that will be it. We are just working our way towards it. As they say in the Matrix, we are a disease, a cancer.

Fear is our greatest motivator. They have just found the perfect means of spreading the fear into everyones living room.

I'm afraid too... of oh so many damn things...

So Now It Has Come To This

2010-03-31T22:45:00.002+11:00

So due to some unpleasantness with the folks I will be moving out. I'll be moving my heavy stuff tomorrow, and gradually moving the other items over time. I will probably need to spend one more week here in order to catch up on some study before I decide to finally hoof it. But it'll be grand! Well at least I'm hoping. Going there today after work I sort of felt a "leaser's remorse". The place was not as wonderful as it looked on first inspection. There doesn't seem to be a garbage chute (despite us being on the top floor of a 3 level place). The car space (and area) is bloody tiny! I don't know how I am going to drive my car around in there! It almost killed me in a friend's small car today, let alone a big sedan! It also took me 20 minutes to close the door which was a bitch, especially with 3 bloody keys!! However, the area is nice, and it's in a semi walking distance to work, and it comes with a gym so hopefully I can get fit again. I'll cope, I'll do what's needed to get on with it.

My other issue now seems to be my anal retentive housemate. He has been sick the last few days, and I am hoping that is the key reason he has been acting like a weirdo, but we'll see. He's worrying too much about things he can't control. As the other will attest to, once you've been on your own, you realise that there are just some things you cannot control and you learn to accept that.

The other has been working on improving himself, and has started learning code by himself. I would like to do the same thing. There are TONS of things I'd like to learn how to do in the near future. Preferably before I got married and time seems to drift away. I'd like to learn how to rollerblade! I remember one time the other and I were trying to get to the local shops from his old house. I was on a bike and the other was skitchin' on a pair of rollerblades. I don't remember why we were going, I think it was to hire some movies. However, there was a bump in the footpath and I actually got some air. This was fine for me, not for the other, who went flying, then landed straight on his unprotected knees. The force was enough to rip his pants open at the knee and he received a brutal cut across both knees.

Despite that, we were more than halfway there, and as a result we had to keep going to the shops in order to get bandages and antiseptic. Nasty as hell. But it showed what we were made of as a young age.

I could do with more sleep and less stress you know!

I have a feeling that my boss at work doesn't like me. Oh well, what are you gonna do?

I think I'm a grass is always greener person. I should have never left Sydney. Yes I know they were getting paid less and I was working way harder. However, I felt more professional, and outside of work I didn't really have to put up with any shit. I've become lazy. But I know if I never left I'd be thinking about how much money I earn now and whether I'd be happier here.

Damn, sucks to be me! Joaquin out.

I'm that guy

2010-03-30T23:06:00.002+11:00

I quite a different person than I was a couple of years ago. Now if a stranger comes up to me all worried because his girlfriend was in a crash and needed some cash to get where she is, and he didn't have is wallet; I give them what I have on me. To his defense he did look like he was genuine, either way didn't really matter that much. I hope she's alright. So yes, now I am the guy who will help someone out when it is possible.

I've been thinking lately that Malaysia would be a perfect place to go and work. Guess what?? They don't give out working visas to foreigners very easily at all. What a shame, I think I would have really enjoyed working there. Hmm maybe I should hunt myself a Malaysian girl. No, I'm really someone who would do something like that. I am generally the soppy love story, and so I stay the hell away from love. Its more dangerous than drugs. I'm always attracted to women who are oh so wrong, so I'm going to wait for some day for one to come find me (will never happen you say? Well I'm quite happy on my own).

Man, its been a long day and my head isn't really working as well. I just got back from hour 2-3 hours ago, our server burnt up. Then for some reason I decided to park myself in a chair and then draw for the next 2 hours. Weird, but I'm drained. Time to watch some 24. Can't believe that its the last season of 24...

I just need an in

2010-03-29T22:24:00.004+11:00

Sometimes I wonder if everyone in the world feels the same way. Do we all feel as though we haven't accomplished enough? Or that there is this mountain that we are always trying to climb. There is so much to see, so much to do. Is there anyone who is purely satisfied? I hope that someday this feeling will become less dominant, maybe something can take its place that makes it alright that all this other stuff is missing...

Some people say they are happy doing what they are doing. Is this because they are truly happy, or is that their excuse for not trying to achieve more? Do we all learn to settle in life? Sure, life is not that bad, it could be a whole lot worse. But on the same note, it could be so much better. I could be doing something that I would live to get up and do everyday. Everyday wouldn't be a struggle but a step closer to where I would like to be tomorrow? I hope someday that will be possible.

Someone said "sure, everyone wishes they were someone famous and had all the money in the world." I think they missed my point. I wasn't hoping for any of that. I just want to do something that I truly want to do. Not just get things for free, I want to make it happen. I just need an in...

About a year ago, there was a brief period where I considered moving to a Mac instead of a PC. Then I saw Windows 7 and didn't rethink that motion. From that point onwards, I've really started to dislike Apple as a company and the things they produce. My phone is still an iPhone though, but that will change when my contract runs out. What makes the iPhone awesome are the apps that people have developed for their platform and not the phone itself. The slow Wi-Fi is a real pain in the ass. Apple have become what Microsoft used to be in the 90s, except they are probably more shamelessly closed.

I read on another blog today that caught my attention. The ridiculously high price that Apple charge for their already outdated hardware just goes to show that they think their consumers are idiots. Which I guess they are. I'm sure the iPad will be a great success and they will sell a millions of them. But I think a lot of you will be wishing that you waited a while before you bought one, because I'm so sure that we are going to a lot of tablets come out that can all do a lot more than the iPad can...

I know how to do a lot of things on a computer, a lot of which a normal user would not be able to do. A lot of this is because of the "issues" that windows have had over the years. It got me digging into things that a typical Mac user would never try to mess with. And with every little bit, I learned a whole lot of other bits. This all adds up over the years. Sometimes, I'm glad that I've had so many issues in the past. They have taught me some really good lessons...

Steamy

2010-03-29T22:10:00.003+11:00

HORRIBLE day! Going from uni to work was terrifying! I was ridiculously tired all day. The work I had to do, which shouldn't have taken more than 3-4 hours took me all damn day! It was brutal I tell you!

Why is GTA4 so hard now? My car handling is terrible, and I'm too paranoid to get on the bike now cause it's just ASKING to be hurt! I can't turn the thing, and traffic comes out of nowhere and takes you out!

On that note, it's time for some GTA4, haha!

A Hundred Pennies For Your Thoughts

2010-03-28T23:12:00.002+11:00

I remembered the point I was trying to make earlier about being tired. My playing just gets absolutely fantastic when I'm tired! I don't know why this is, since I am unable to concentrate. I guess I stop using scales and using my ear a bit more. This culminated in a 30 minute impromptu jam (is it still a jam if it's just one person playing), over some of the tracks the other and I have been laying down lately.

The other is not well, so I wish him a speedy recovery. However, he is getting up in the latest Final Fantasy saga, so good on him. I still remember the OLD days when an old friend left us his games, and one of them was the 1st disc of FF7. Having not played ever before, the other and I were sucked in to the wonderful, rich world of RPGs.

I need to play some guitar. Back to work tomorrow. Then back to uni next week, it's hectic! Also moving this week! Might be a while since I'll be back in touch with the electronic world. All the best till then folks! Joaquin out.

Bumbling

2010-03-28T01:36:00.003+11:00

Do guys get lonely? Yes, of course they do. But not like girls, I think it probably manifests in other ways, as a guy would never admit it.

I was going somewhere with this, but now I am tired and I forgot my point!

It took me 7 hours to do an assignment that the lecturer said would only take 20 mins!! That's how unmotivated I am! I was procrastinating at every corner!!

I'm too tired for this. Till next time!

"And I am high like a star that's flying; Cassiopeia"

2010-03-24T21:54:00.002+11:00

I have not been THE biggest fan of Third Eye Blind. I tend to like their songs, but I have not extended myself to full albums as of yet. But upon reflection (and upon word of the other) I have listened to some tracks from Ursa Major. What a wonderful, well-written album. Stephan Jenkins is surely one of the master songwriters of his generation. Granted, the dude is almost 50 now, but he engages well with people our age. Bonfire has to be one of the best songs I've heard in a long time, and the guitar line is very interesting. 3eb will probably never hit the heights of the days of "Semi-Charmed Life", which probably cemented their place in, as well as sealed their downfall from, the mainstream. However, I do believe that Jenkins was never comfortable with that whole scene. He tends to write for himself, any success, financial or critical just seems to be coincidental to his whole mentality. However, this means that their music will be enjoyed only by hardcore fans, as well as those that will go out to seek good music, not just "flavour of the moment" sort of people. I'm sure the other will agree with this, as 3eb has been his favourite band for well over a decade now.

I am glad that we have beaten the "low point" of 2007, with our measly 39 posts for the year! Things are certainly looking up.

I don't know what it is, but life seems more complicated now. Before I could just study and focus on that. But now it seems that I have to juggle so much. This makes studying so much harder. However, I feel like I am bringing my A game. So much so, that I've finished everything early, and now I am blogging and I am looking forward to getting up in some guitar shortly.

Lust is a dangerous thing. Love will make you do spontaneous, amazing things. Lust will make you do things that will most likely get you killed. Love never resulted in some idiot walking blindly across a street and getting flattened by a bus. Lust can do that to you though! My point for this - being back at uni. At work everyone is older and not so attractive. Therefore, no distractions, I just work my 8:30am-5:15pm day and go home. Lectures at uni on the other hand, goddamn I had forgotten the insanity of the girls!!! It's such a large group, several hundred, and the ratio is like 5 girls to every guy. This is the craziest ratio I've ever had since year 12 drama. This obviously means more girls, new girls. Girls I've never seen before. Sitting in lectures all doing things provocatively! Damn you! I need to concentrate on my studies, not on imaginary dalliances or illicit rendezvous on the nearby oval! If only you would stop being so sexy, for just 8 freakin hours. Is that too much trouble?? YOU in particular, hahaha! Curvy to the point of ecstacy. I've never seen a girl with her body type before. She's tall, slender but somehow curvy in all the right places. I didn't think it was possible.

Another interesting observation is the law school female syndrome. Girls on the whole are typically not nice to each other. A whole alpha female thing happens when girls get together in large groups. The most critical voices against females tend to be their own. Law school grads on the whole tend to be type A alpha personalities - ultra-competitive, critical of others and typically arrogant. I've kept my mouth shut for most classes, unless called upon to answer questions, or take free kicks. This enables me to watch others and how they interact. The way these girls just SNIPE each other down when a (admittedly) stupid question is asked, but then two seconds later, the snipers will be the ones asking the questions and being castigated by their peers. The looks they give each other when asking questions is utterly horrible. It's like they all openly hate on each other. Some fat girl was asking a question, and the girl diagonally behind her just looked her up and down and gave a full on :S look. I don't understand this, but them's the breaks I guess.

I think there are cross sections in all of society. Lawyers are perceived to be smart. There's a whole system set up so that people cannot easily get into this field. University admissions, costs, vigorous assessment, professional accreditations and so on. However, from just observing these post-graduate students, it seems that it's made up of all walks of life, all persuasions and so on. There are nerds, jocks, fashionable mofos, idiots, pretty dumb things and so on. It's interesting isn't it?

Anyhow, I have a hankering for some guitar! Later on folks! Joaquin out.

Blogger Song

2010-03-23T23:34:00.001+11:00

VERY pleased to see the other blogging again! Hopefully it won't be sporadic.

As mentioned, I am doing some intensive post-grad study at a different uni and I am busy as all hell. I've been there 9-5 each day, then studying till about 10-11 each night! Crazy times. This means no guitar, no movies, no tv, no exercise. It's strange! Especially since when I was actually at uni, I was never there for that long each day, so I had time to get other things done. Not this!

Oh well, tomorrow I'll be over the halfway point, it'll be grand.

That's it for now folks!

I am a learner...

2010-03-20T21:13:00.002+11:00

One things that annoys me is people lack of respect for my time. True, what I do in my time might not be important to them, but they need to understand that it is quite important to me. I'm also annoyed by people's superiority complexes. What gives them the right to think that their hobby/work is so much more relevant.

It's not like I woke up one morning and knew how to do all the things that I know how to do today. I have spent countless hours learning and improving what I know how to do. Yes, I get off at learning how to do something new. If we are not working towards making ourselves better, then we are wasting our time.

I now understand something my cousin used to say, which at the time sounded quite ridiculous. He used to say that sleeping seemed so wasteful, and so he would only sleep 2 hours a day. Well the practice was wrong, as it got him quite sick with years of abusing his body. I think this comes with age, you realize that there just isn't enough time to do all the things that you'd love to be doing. I'm feeling more and more like that everyday. Maybe its because I'm in the wrong job (it doesn't help working in a dying industry, where everyone think that their work is so damn important), not doing all the things that really get me interested. Or maybe I wished I had studied to become a full graphic designer or a web programmer. We make choices and we live with them. Doesn't mean I can't do it, I just have to invest more time into it.

What gets me more annoyed is that any chance people get to use my skills, they don't think twice and come straight to me. But then they disregard my time spent learning new things as 'nothing important'.

I've come to realize one thing. I need to blog more because I often have thoughts that I'm not expressing anymore. I don't socialize with people who share the same thoughts or interests often, so they don't get voiced. My head needs an outlet and this is the place.

I have been coding a lot lately, and learning some fantastic things. Who knows, we might see some radical changes to this blog one of these days...

Uncomfortable Scenes From A Hair Salon

2010-03-20T20:46:00.002+11:00

I was studying today in preparation for my intensive university post-graduate courses that begin next week. Now I remember what I hated about uni! The constant study in my own time! This also seems a LOT worse than undergrad stuff, a lot more stuff and a lot more assumed knowledge. This is bad as I cannot remember a goddamn thing. It sucks!! I have no motivation for this! That is why work is so good. It doesn't follow me home after 5:15 in the day!

I went to that Mexican food place "Zambreros" again on Friday. That girl the other raved to me about is truly alluring. No I'm not after her! The other has nothing to worry about. I admire his taste, she is just great to look at. But this is where things get difficult - she is very unique looking. She wouldn't fit traditional definitions of the word "beautiful". But I think that's what makes her so interesting, she seems like an enigma - not to mention she also is very kind with giving me my change, haha!

The other may not have been aware but R-Rated boy is getting married very soon. This was a major shock for some, as we had no idea. But that's life for you, sometimes people's priorities change, as do their friends.

There's a nice house near the end of the street - easily one of the best on the entire street. Because of the way it is situated (on the far side of a blind corner going uphill), it is incredibly difficult to spot in a car. You have to be moving slowly, or be actively LOOKING for it in order to catch a glimpse of it. It's also obscured by a wonderful hedge out the front. It's a really really classy looking house. Not something that fits within the middle of middle class suburbia. I wonder who lives there. Not many houses on my street are ever on sale as most are older people who have lived there for many decades. Except near the top of my street, which is all Government housing and poor folk.

I'm moving out very soon and I can't wait! Hopefully things should be back on track.

Joaquin out, peoples!

Quicktacular

2010-03-17T22:48:00.003+11:00

Quick one cause I wanna play some guitar!

I haven't played in a while and I'm worried it's going to appear all foreign again.

Just watched In Bruges. Bloody brilliant! Almost as good as Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Black comedies are the best.

I drew her to me. I knew reading those old e-mails was a mistake. She was in my mind. And then I saw her. She saw me. I'd never felt so sick before. I just wanted to run over and just yell at her for being treated so poorly. But that was it, not a word, no acknowledgement. Just a quick glance, and hopefully I'll never see her again in my entire life. Those who talk of "The Gift" may have been on to something.

Those of you may be wondering from several posts what the JRL is. This is the Joaquin Rate List. Some time in December 2004, I decided to embark on a definitive list of all the women I find attractive. It wasn't about a "conquering" list or what not. My idea of beauty just seems to be very different to everyone else's so I thought my list would be a good indicator. The list shall be updated shortly, with links.

Uni starting next week and I am incredibly nervous now. I just had a look at the outline, and there is a lot of pre-course work to do. I WILL GET IT DONE! I will be the best. Just watch me.

Joaquin out.

The Importance Of Being A Blogger

2010-03-15T22:40:00.003+11:00

Papercuts are annoying as it is. However, when they are bloodless, they are a royal pain in the ass. Without the blood, it's difficult for the wound to cauterise naturally, and it just stays split and painful for a while.

Cranberry juice = crantastic. 2nd best juice of all time. Of course, nothing will beat the classic; OJ.

What's funny about the public service is the need to change passwords all the time. I remember in my last job, I only changed it once. However, here it needs to be changed every quarter. This would not be an issue if I could keep changing between passwords. However, it won't let you use the same 5 passwords in the history. Therefore, you gotta keep thinking up new ones! It's impossible I tell you! I only use 2 passwords in my non working life, so to come up with all these is a bitch for the computer. Then there's the other stuff, credit card acquittals, travel etc, and it just becomes a riot.

There's a house for sale across the street. That house is for sale every few years! I wonder what the deal is with that? It was bad a few years ago (as I'm sure I've blogged), a rowdy young group was in there and they were partying almost every night and became a pain in the ass. Here's to some naive pensioners purchasing their dream home!

I am a big fan of our work intranet as it has a classifieds section in it. I am honestly amazed at the amount of shit that people can amass in a lifetime. This doesn't just mean people in the Department, it means everyone. I for one am sick to death of that shit, if it has no practical use to me for a very long time, I don't see the point in it. I would like to live my life as simple and as efficiently (and as cheaply as possible). How much money have these people wasted on these endeavours?

I saw on the news this morning that Queensland is thinking of reducing their blood alcohol limit to .02. On the face of it, it seems like a good idea - they have many road deaths. However, I think it is pointless. The .05 limit currently in place is a fair system, but the thing is, if people want to break the law, they will. They'll get drunk and they'll keep driving, it doesn't matter if the limit is .02 or .10, or even zero tolerance, there will still be tossers on the road killing people.

I just realised that I have not seen Desperate Housewives in years. How I have missed Eva Longoria! Oh well, I'll just download it.

I don't know why, but I believe I've been self-censoring myself on here. Enough of that bullshit. I'll say what I want. I don't care who you are.

The mornings are brutal. It is honestly just too cold for this shit. I don't mind getting out of bed, it's getting out of my toasty hot shower that is a pain in the ass. I'm tired too, which is strange, cause I get more sleep than I used to.

Despite all the hype, Formula 1 was quite lacklustre. However, it is good to have Schumacher back. He'll need a bit of time to get back on top of his game. We just need Kimi back and then all is well!

I am going back to University next week for Post-grad legal studies. This is going to be interesting. I'm sure everyone will look very young, and I'll look like a lecherous old bastard. Why the fuck am I doing this? I remember CLEARLY hating uni. Hopefully I can get my act together and start taking things in and just focusing!! I remember fighting the urge when I was bored at uni to just drift off. I had to force myself to concentrate and I understood things well. I was on top of my game damn it. Now I don't remember a damn thing!! Fuck it, I won't have any problems - I will succeed. Hey, I'm smarter than most people anyway!

Since this workplace is a lot more relaxed, I have not worn a tie in months. I only wear it when I have meetings. It's damn comfortable! I also feel like a CEO! Haha, but of course nobody else shares my sentiments, I just look like a young unkempt mofo!

Lately my mouth has been tasting like blood. What the hell is with that??

That's it, I resolve to get more sleep! No more post midnight days!! Only when 30 rock is on and Family Guy, shall I stay up. Lucky tonight is a 30 rock night right?

I remember many months ago blogging about a girl with the bluest eyes I've ever seen. I found her, I know who she is now. Goddamn, let's not mention her again!

Haha, I remember I used to have classic client meetings in my old job. Idiots, guys with hot wives. Hot clients. Taking notes. Getting asked random questions. Being put on the spot by Managers and Partners. Damn, those were the days! I don't get to talk to anyone anymore, which is kind of ok. It leaves me to my own devices. However, I keep my mouth shut for so long at work, it's difficult to talk when I have to or need to! Stumbelina!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Reading over these old e-mails is difficult. People, my friends. My good friends. My best friends. They trusted me with so much. I remember when I was just getting to know some of them, we just traded a few friendly e-mails here and there and then blam, out of nowhere, they would just bleed the contents of their private lives there for me. It was mutual. It was grand. These were the most sacred of secrets. I put this down to the frailty of youth, and striving to be accepted, and finding someone who was similar to you. That gets me thinking, was I ever like that? Was I emotionally fragile? Or was I always a thoughtless bastard?

Regardless, everyone grows up. You lose touch. Then you just stop giving a fuck about people once they stop giving a fuck about you.

Such is life.

That's it for today folks. Have a nice day! Joaquin out! I think we're closing in on the 2007 lowest post record! I can't wait to hit that baby out of the park (well in reality leave it where it is)!

These Are Broken Streets, Broken Dreams

2010-03-14T23:52:00.002+11:00

I keep seeing flashing shadows. Moving quickly, almost imperceptible. But always catch the end of it. Shades of shapes I can't discern. It's really quite worrying.

Oh man, SO MANY IDEAS! At least 120 different ideas. The other and I must have a jam as soon as possible!! Just killing it here.

A feeling of unease as just washed over me.

6 Strings, 21 frets, You Choose.

2010-03-14T00:12:00.000+11:00

I'm still so shocked! I haven't played guitar in about 3 days. I can't believe it. I cut my nails today and I'm getting into it but it feels totally new to me. However, I am clearing out my personal folder of other ideas to put in dropbox and I am happy! There are some damn brilliant ideas that I am synergising into others for some truly spectacular results.

Also still getting up into those movies. Death at a funeral = fantastic.

That's it for now folks, back to guitar for me!

How do I get myself back there??

2010-03-11T21:18:00.002+11:00

I've been feeling nostalgic as of late. I've been reading the old e-mails in my inbox and coming across some classics from old friends who are no longer friends. None of that had anything to do with me, they just decided to cut the chord I guess. Oh well. Still good to go back and have a read and a chuckle. Were we so petty before? Yes I guess I was.

I also managed to find heaps of old ideas from the other that I managed to get up into dropbox. You should have a look in your own stuff, you never know what you'll find!

I've been busy at work, and I'm loving it! The day just flies by so quickly! I want to work more! It's just brilliant.

Anyhow, that's it folks. Have a nice day. Joaquin out.

Swirly Things

2010-03-10T23:00:00.003+11:00

Sorry, it has been a while since I've blogged. Not that I've been lazy. I have been browsing my old music folder to go scrumping for ideas. I have uploaded most to dropbox, but there are still a number to go. I really am excited! There are at least 90 ideas in there! 90 solid ideas! I can't wait for the next jam session with the other. I have also been on a mad movie watching binge lately. A few gems and a few misses too (ahem, DOA anyone?) :|

Further, I will be moving out soon, and I will be very glad when this happens! Things should be grand.

I thought it wouldn't happen, but it did - the JRL has expanded! I will have to update that shortly.

That's it for now folks! Have a good one.

Compton State Of Mind

2010-03-07T23:53:00.000+11:00

More lyrical work? Yes.

Guitar work? Yes.

Let's do it.

Destroyed In A Volley Of Return-Fire

2010-03-05T23:31:00.002+11:00

Non-slip surfaces my ass!! It was pouring rain today, and I was wearing my sneakers and I almost slipped over 3 times on tiles! Why do businesses (including my own work) continue to use them? Especially on non flat foundations!! I only managed to survive due to my impeccable balance, as well as treading around like someone who had forgotten he wasn't on an ice skating rink!

I found a place to live! I'll be moving in with a friend towards the end of the month. It should be interesting. Will it be restrained freedom? Hopefully I can get more things done now. I might buy a new i-7 enabled comp to celebrate. It's very different, it's an older suburb, and very affluent and exclusive. It should be an interesting change of pace for me and my middle class ways.

Driving Tip #123024:

On humid days you may be tempted to use the heater when things get foggy inside the car. This is not what you want to do. Engage the rear demister, the front demister, blast the air on cold as high it will go, and turn on the AC! It should be gone within 60 seconds!

Enjoy folks. Have a nice day!

I Am Still Dreaming Of Your Face

2010-03-04T20:37:00.003+11:00

On the inspiration of the other's newfound outlook on life, I have taken to guitar en masse. I have been putting more ideas up in the dropbox and fiddling with some others. We have a massive jam session coming up and I am trying to learn my entire catalogue of songs or at least put them up so I need to make this entry quick damn it!

What's bad however, is that I swear I had finished some songs and put those ideas somewhere. Unfortunately it seems that I was very wrong. Now all those ideas are missing damn it! I'll probably never think of them again. Hopefully I can think of better things. It sucks cause you need to work backwards, cause you remember bits and pieces of songs and you need to try and fill in the gaps. It's happened with a song that the other and I had completed totally! I lost the piece of paper that we wrote everything on!! Now all I have is just lyrics and a solo!!!

Mobile phones. What weird things. I use mine to contact people if I need to in a rush or if I'm lost. I don't like being contacted on it however! I leave it off at work, so I don't get bothered. If only I could do the same thing with other things in my life!

You know what I find weird? People who go to the toilet and don't flush. You don't know if they're doing anything in there, but going to the toilet and not flushing is TRULY suspicious and disturbing behaviour! Flush even if you are doing drugs!! Just stop freaking me out, please!

Enough. Guitar time. My 6 strings are better than yours!

Feelings To Make Us Stronger

2010-02-28T00:40:00.002+11:00

So as many of you would know, I'm trying to get out of here. I've been looking at places, as well as their proximity to the city. Anyhow, I saw a street name I wasn't familiar with, so I google mapped it. A new feature on their maps is a listing of businesses near the place you're looking for. I was looking for the nearest road to this apartment when I came across this listing for some escort. I thought this was probably incorrect, as everyone in this city is well aware that those sorts of services are in the industrial areas, surely not in the middle of the residential/commercial haven of the city, right?? RIGHT??! The Government has mandated that these activities are to occur in those industrial areas, however, I think that may mean commercial brothels.

This piqued my interest, so I googled the name of the escort, and holy crap, yes there is a bloody escort operating right in the city. Not just that, she's in an apartment that I drive past every day to get home! I never would have guessed! Do her neighbours know?? Surely that's why there's so many cars outside that building, even when I'm driving home at like 1am after seeing the other? There were obscured pics of her on the website (obviously to protect her identity), but I swear I have seen this girl head into the apartment complex when I have been stuck at the intersection right out the front of the complex. Haha, I'll never look at anyone going into that building the same way again!

That brings me to prostitution in residential areas. Should it be allowed? Is there an inadvertent risk to others who occupy places near these places? What a crazy world!

Anyhow, had a brilliant jam session with the other! An idea fully fleshed out, and a few others worked on, it felt great! Time to get some more ideas into dropbox.

On that note, I'm out, have a nice day!

It's Hard For Me To Trust You When Your Pants Are On Fire

2010-02-26T23:11:00.002+11:00

I just can't believe how quickly technology can catch up these days. I remember a few years ago when portable mp3 players were new to the market. They were very expensive and had little memory capacity. The other day I saw a 4 gig model for just 40 dollars! That's insane!! I think this effect will only get crazier with time.

I've have been looking out for new ADSL2+ plans. This new one from AAPT with unlimited downloads and no shaping sounds brilliant! I think I might just have to get it.

New songs have been coming up from the other on dropbox and I am loving it! Hopefully there should be a jam this weekend and some ideas concreted down. I recently finished a piece that the other and I had been working on a while ago, which came from a warm up riff that the other used. I laid down a nice progression I had up the sleeve and it just went well together. So from there I have put some more half ideas I had into it and now it's looking very complete! Can't wait to show the other. This putting together the smatterings of ideas we have is turning out to yield some fantastic results!

I have been incredibly busy at work, hence no blog notes to think of throughout the day. I'm even busy after work with silly social things, so hence, no time to blog either! Some respite please!

I have been getting in on the winter olympics action! However, the coverage on the Nine network has been abysmal. I want more bobsleigh! I want to know what curling is about!! Johnny Weir is a champion though!

I have really been enjoying Fleetwood Mac as of late. I bought the Very Best of album a few days back and it's been making a regular rotation on my work computer. In addition to my Kid Sister album the other day and Michael Jackson Essential album a few months ago, it's the most amount of CD's I've bought in years!

Anyway, I need to be up early. Have a nice day folks!

Close my close my close my eyes.

Oh No No, You Can't Disguise

2010-02-21T01:03:00.002+11:00

Yes, I am trying my best to get out of the house. I've come to realise that this is not a pleasant place to be, and I was much much happier on my own. The sense of isolation and loneliness I felt before was definitely a precursor to get more organised and pursue my own interests and get more things done! Other initiators for this decision need not be discussed. All I know is that I need to get away from people who don't have my best interests at heart.

Hopefully it should be easy, as I make a crap load of money and have a University education, so my rental applications should make owners happy!

I knew this year would be tough, I said it before in a previous post. It's only February, and it's just killing me already! What the hell will the rest of the year be like?

Hot brunettes in training sessions should not wear low cut tops and sit opposite me! I learned nothing from that session, I can assure you.

The system is screwed. I was reading the other day about some med student in the US who had accrued a half a million dollar debt on student loans because of the way their student loan system is set up, as well as interest and admin fees. Student debt is a shitty thing. Tertiary education in Australia used to be free, and the beneficiaries of that system helped usher in a golden age of productivity here. However, now that we have moved to a HECS or HELP scheme, life has just become harder for students. To have it move with CPI adjustments is the icing on the cake, it is such a volatile system, and the rates are quite large! Not to mention the over inflated costs of education! My debt is probably $40,000-50,000. That is just ridiculous! I would have to pay off a lump sum in order to satisfy the debt within the next decade. Or else I'd just have to live with it and see the ridiculous amount of money that gets taken out of my pay in tax for this amount. I hate rich people for this reason. I heard of MANY students (former colleagues included) whose parents or grandparents paid off this debt for them. What the hell? This is not a struggle, you need to earn your stripes, and learn that the system is not there for the benefit of the people.

Back to my original point, student debt - how the fuck does this motivate people to want to enrol in higher education? You get a degree, accrue a large debt, then work in a field that probably isn't directly related to your degree and have to spend YEARS paying it back. Most kids (sadly) don't care about education these days. They don't care about learning, they just want a degree to help job prospects. Sort of a catch-22 if you will.

Another point, I think investment in property (for residences) should not be allowed. This leads to negative gearing, and prices for rent just inflate artificially. This tends to have some sort of effect on the buying market, and prices increase there. The net result? The rich get wealthier, while other people are left out in the cold, with no way to get a foothold in the market. I don't like the idea that one person can own more than one piece of property, you are only one person! This leads to other problems like over-development, when people are trying to maximise profits on smaller blocks, and quality of life for everyone in these places just suffers as a result. Investment is possible mostly through leveraging of equity in existing property. Since most properties are LONG term investments, where you usually don't break even for decades, the first property must be used as collateral to enter into loans for more places. The property market just gets choked up as a result.

Anyhow that's my rant for today! Joaquin out.

And That Stranger Seems To Listen To All My Relationship Problems

2010-02-17T23:39:00.003+11:00

With a book in hand.

I do find it strange that bad things always happen to people I'm not fond of.

Coincidence? I think so.

But I still find it interesting!

Staring Blankly At The Screen

2010-02-15T22:53:00.003+11:00

It has been raining like crazy here! I for one, am a massive fan of a big deluge. I don't even remember seeing this much rain before. Looks like London (from all the stereotypes that I've gathered anyway). I remember that in High School I never went to class if it was raining, I'd just stay in bed and sleep in. Ahh I miss those days. I wish I still had that policy in place!

My mouth burn has finally healed and I can eat crunchy good again, so I am uber happy! Yay!

Damn Mondays, killing me! But Tuesday is also the new Monday, so we'll see how that breaks down! I was so tired, I was struggling throughout the day.

I actually had work today, so I was happy for a change! I've been told that work tends to ebb and flow. Things are going to be busy for a while too, so woop! Haha this may also mean that I won't have as many blog notes to get through everyday.

There were girls doing some can-can like dance in the City today. I don't know why, but I could not look away. The outfits, the dancing, it was amazing. It was also ridiculously erotic. I just stared like a slack jawed yokel. Goddamn, it was like something out of Moulin Rouge! Suffice to say, female company was not impressed with my behaviour.

Is cache on the net, namely being able to track down old pages that have been updated/changed from the past a good thing? I don't know. I think if you're gonna put it up, you've already made a conscious decision to put yourself out there. Therefore, cache should not be a problem for you. If it's something you're going to regret later, don't put it up!

I am really disappointed by the failure of others! Especially when you were relying on them to get tasks done. I hate to keep falling back to it, but the only person you can trust is yourself.

With that, Joaquin out!

The Healing Fire

2010-02-14T21:41:00.003+11:00

Already at 22 posts for the year, which is pretty damn good! Especially when you compare it against 2007, which had only 39 for the entire year. I put this down to it being my honours and last year at uni, hence I was too stressed out for anything. But I don't know why!

Getting into GTA4, probably a bit too much though! It was a slack weekend, and I don't remember doing anything BUT playing the game. Not good! Haha, it's just too damn absorbing! In relation to Independence FM, I'm not a fan. By putting your own music in the game, you put yourself in the game, and you detract from the story telling and immersing yourself in Niko Bellic's world. If you want to put yourself in, it just loses its impact, as well as the atmosphere.

Winter Olympics are on and I'm very happy! I actually favour them over the summer version. I can just leave them on in the background and just pick things up when I'm ready to watch what I want to. It's also a good way to learn about sports you don't really hear much about, especially living on a dry continent.

It's crappy when you have plans but then they just amount to nil due to other people!! Blahh!

Joaquin out!

Intravenous Robbery

2010-02-13T00:32:00.002+11:00

The other is preparing something, and has told me to contact him when I wake up, so I am eagerly waiting to see what it is!

On my way to work each day, I have to pass by the State Department of Health. Out the front was a large sculpture which resembled two large crosses. Every once in a while you would see a bunch of people praying out the front of them. I thought this was typical religious stupidity, with people willing to pray in front of anything that even remotely resembles a cross. However, today traffic was a little backed up, so it took a while for the car to pass the front of that building. Then I noticed the sign next to them "Please pray for all those hurt by abortion". At first I felt angry - what the heck would these people (they were primarily old men) know about abortion?? Then the more I thought about it, I think my thoughts are similar to theirs. I do feel that it's a woman's right to choose. However, when abortion just becomes a knee jerk reaction, or a form of contraception, then that really just pisses me off. I think we're in danger of heading down that path. Abortion has to be a painful experience for everyone involved (I'm not including the baby/foetus in this discussion). Any girl/guy that can go through that and not feel anything is too cold.

I guess the sign was phrased in a way that you had to admit was well done. If it said "abortion is murder" I guess a fight would have started. But people do get hurt by abortion. They of course meant the baby/foetus, but even disregarding that, it has to be true. What a world.

I was reading up on Game Theory today. God, what an interesting field! I don't remember ever being excited by maths when I was younger, but having a thirst for knowledge, this is something I really enjoy. I particular enjoy the "Games". Thought problems such as the Prisoner's Dilemma and the Traveler's Dilemma etc. I was reading up on suggested answers, and goddamn! I guess I am a hyperrational person! I thought there were definite ways to answer these things, but I guess not! I didn't think about all the other ways of playing them, but I think I am probably too trusting or altruistic, and I'd probably lose in a real world situation!

Interesting don't you think? I reckon if you're interested, you should give it a read, they're quite simple concepts to understand, but the reasoning and thought behind these problems is incredibly exciting and thought provoking. That's it for now folks. Have a nice day!

Some Of Us Made Of Steel/Sleaze-O-Riffic

2010-02-11T21:59:00.002+11:00

I had an interesting dream last night. For some reason I was running along this path, parallel to a guy I knew in High School, who was running on another path. You're probably thinking that this isn't interesting. This guy was the fastest guy in school during Primary and still pretty damn quick in High School. So there I was, running damn hard, and for damn long. What's more, is that I was keeping up with this guy and getting ahead on some bits. We ran for ages, it must have been like a kilometre or so. It felt good, it was good. I ran hard when I needed to, I cut back when I needed to. It was great, cause I know I can't and never have been able to run that way.

What is risk? I find the concept interesting. It could potentially be anything and nothing at the same time. This makes risk management consultants and degrees in risk management so perplexing for me. I can't believe that things like these can be taught. To me it just seems to be a bunch of common sense - that nobody can really teach you. If everyone managed risk appropriately, no more risk would exist. That in itself is a risk for risk management consultants, have they thought of that??

I was reading on facebook the other day that some friend of mine became a fan of "curvy girls are more attractive than skinny girls". I have to agree, and my thoughts on this subject are placed somewhere in previous posts, so I will not re-state them here. But I found this strange coming from this guy, as his girlfriend (while attractive) is ultra skinny! Like what the hell?! Does she not possess any self knowledge?? She's not curvy? What if she knows she's skinny? What will she think of his fanboyness?? Haha! It's a strange world i say. I hate it when skinny girls like Jessica Alba etc get called curvy, it's not right!

Anyhow, that's it for tonight folks. Have a nice day. Joaquin out.

Who Loves You, Baby? 600th post!

2010-02-10T23:12:00.003+11:00

Yes it's true, according to Blogger, we have reached 600 posts! What a milestone! I hope you've enjoyed the reading so far, and all the reading to come for many years.

Before I go on any further, as promised I have updated the Joaquin Rate List (JRL). You probably thought it'd never happen, so screw you, I did it! I hope you enjoy the latest updates. They can be found here.

What strikes me is when people who you were never really close to somehow find you and contact you on social networking sites like Facebook or something, then have the gall to want to meet up with you! What's worse is that you look like a tosser if you say no! There's a reason why we weren't that close, it's probably cause I didn't like you, and I still don't! Why do you want to waste my time?? So of course I try to delay as much as possible and hope that they forget about it. Why the hell would people suggest to meet up?! It's even stranger when it's people you detested - and who in turn detested you!

A strange thought - fat people offering food. I mentioned the other day that I burned the crap out of my mouth (which still hasn't healed 100% thank you)! Well some chubby girl was the one handing out the meat pies that I burned myself with. I always feel sad if I refuse, and somehow feel guilted into taking the food. Like if you don't eat the food, they will and in turn will get fatter! It's sad don't you think??!

My new boss is a pain in the butt. First I didn't get acknowledgement for awesome work, which I thoroughly deserved mind you! Then they made me change stuff in things that had already been approved by the former boss! Not just that, the wording they changed meant EXACTLY the same as the way I had written it before, but now it was a lot chunkier and slightly confusing! Obviously one of those people who has to change SOMETHING/ANYTHING in order to validate their self worth, or their paycheck.

I learned a LOT about finance from my old job. I was surrounded by people who were genuinely interested in the subject, and it was the subject matter in some of the work I had to do. As such, I got to learn stacks about things that other people don't usually care for, or find too complex. As mentioned in the last post, I have substantial capital now. I'm no wondering whether I should put some effort into some concentrated, aggressive investing. Things like margin loans and foreign exchange gains. Yes margin loans are dangerously risky, but the chance for gains are ridiculously high if you apply it well.

With foreign exchange, I missed a grand opportunity previously. The AUD was at 90 US cents. My friend said that things will drop once interest rates become lower. They became lower, and the forex became something like 50 US cents to the AUD! Oh my god! If I had listened to him and transferred something small like 5,000 AUD to USD just for that amount of time, I would have doubled the investment! Now interest rates have risen and the dollars are almost back on parity! Will it happen again? I'm too chicken to try!

I don't have that much work on at the moment. As such, I have been researching financial topics like the ones mentioned above. It's true that you have to make your own work in the public service, but I don't see the point in that, it just wastes resources, and you make yourself inefficient when real work comes around.

Anyway, I have a hankering for some guitar, so let me hit that up before bedtime. Have a nice day folks. Joaquin out!

Sometimes You Just Have To.

2010-02-09T23:13:00.002+11:00

I'm in the money. I don't know if this has happened to any of you, but have you been in a situation where your expenses now equal zero? Therefore any money that comes in to you is all revenue? Each paycheck I receive adds to my bank account, and I love seeing that balance figure going up every fortnight, as well as at the start of the month with interest payments from my uber savings. It's a great feeling.

I'm sure I've explained this before, but I have 3 accounts. A credit card (with exorbitant credit) that I never use, unless it can't be avoided - restaurants, online purchases etc. Then I have my regular spending account which I keep at a standard $1,500 amount, no more. By doing this, I can never spend more than that particular amount over a fortnight period. It also stops me from buying heaps of little things, cause once you drop below the $1k mark, you start looking poor. Haha, it happened to me every fortnight when I was in Sydney with rent and groceries etc. It wasn't a great feeling.

Then I have my high interest internet based savings account. Everything above that $1,500 amount in the other account goes into here. At this point in my life, that number is rather substantial. I could buy a high performance sports car in straight cash if I wanted to. However, I am saving for a house or a nice holiday, so we'll see what happens. I remember being in Sydney and seeing my savings only regularly accrue in a low 3 figure amount. Now that I'm here and earning more, my savings are going up by 4 figures every pay check, which I am absolutely loving.

This particular change means that in the space of 8 months, the interest payments I derive at the end of each month are now 3 times as much as what they were previously. I cannot believe this!! I am amazed and oh so happy!

Here's to buying stuff and getting the hell out of here.

Thanks for bearing with me folks. I will update the JRL as my penance tomorrow. Have a nice day. Joaquin out.

The Land Of Opportunity

2010-02-08T23:19:00.002+11:00

Courtesy of the generosity of the friend who broke my guitar string, I have now got GTA4. Goddamn, it looks AMAZING! It plays awesomely and I have barely started the game!! I cannot believe it! I am freaking out, it looks REAL!! REAL! No cartoons here! I'm already forgetting about GTA SA! I can't believe it!

So what did I have to say? I was reminded of a funny random story the other day. I remember when I was a kid we were driving home and a police officer passed us by on a motorbike. I gave him a thumbs up to say "hey good job". I was not wearing a seatbelt. So of course we got busted and I think we got off with a warning. But hey, way to do a good job! Scare a kid that thinks he's done the most heinous crime imaginable and doesn't like police anymore! Haha, but the message got through, I always wear my seatbelt now.

I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but I will mention it again. At the request of the other I tried out a nice Mexican fast food joint called Zambreros. It was bloody amazing. So well made, tasty and fresh. Cheap too! Not just that, the other told me about a girl he liked there. Of course I figured the best looking one was the one he liked. Haha of course I was right! Good choice, we share the same tastes.

My friend and I had an insane session of COD4: MW 2 the other day. I arrived at 8pm and we finished at 3:30am! Co-Op spec ops missions are the best fun ever. We smashed the juggernaut related missions easily on Echo, we just need to finish the Breach mission and it's all done! We can get back to playing Gears Of War 2 Co-Op! I can't wait! Had some brilliant stories in there, I am a juggernaut killing machine! Haha I also remember on the explosives + knives mission that we were pretty much goners on the last juggernaut when I realised I still had my C4. So I was laying it down in a trap when it came around the corner and I knew we were screwed. I told my friend to move back cause I was about to just blow up all my C4 with the juggernaut on it...with me there to lure it! Sure enough, it worked! I hope I get a posthumous Victoria Cross medal for my exploits!

We have this road here called the Gungahlin Drive Extension. It was a novel concept. To link the northernmost suburbs with the main arterial road in Canberra. They had other avenues of getting there, however the lobby groups bitched and whinged and moaned and finally got their way; at the expense of the rest of us. Traffic around the road before the extension became a bloody nightmare! It's such a bad road, now that everyone on the North side takes the road and not the other roads, traffic is congested along that main arterial road. A trip that should take 12 mins (even in traffic) now takes 30 mins. It's ridiculous. What people don't understand is that roads are a network, and changes to one road will have an impact on other roads.

However, having said that, it's a handy road. I take it when I go to the North side now to visit friends. It was planned for some reason as a single lane two way road, which was absolutely stupid. What if a car breaks down? What if you're stuck behind a slow car? No overtakes possible I'm afraid! This is partially not the builder's fault. They ran out of funds when completing the road due to the number of legal challenges faced when environmentally relevant land was being cleared away. The road itself is not in the best shape, but it is now being upgraded and an extra lane is being added both ways which in THEORY should mean less traffic. However that arterial road has not been upgraded and it cannot handle the existing traffic, let alone increased traffic flows from an upgraded road. This city needs a ground transport plan!! A consolidated one to make everyone happy. Where did all these bloody people come from?!

Haha, that's it for now folks. Have a nice day. Joaquin out!