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Why?
I don’t want to come across as insensitive. So first of all, I hope they still find missing Aussie backpacker Britt Lapthorne alive and well somewhere. But worst case scenario, that the body that was found turns out to be her. At least her family and friends will have some closure.
But here’s the thing. People go missing in Australia everyday. We don’t here a peep about them. No one demands immediate action and say not enough is being done. So why are we hearing so much about Britt’s case and not any of the others? Is it because she went missing overseas? Is it because the media thinks she is an interesting “story”? I know having the media exposure can actually raise awareness and assist in finding the person but I’m sure that’s not why the media are all over it.
This is like the case of Madeline McCann, the little English girl that went missing in Portugal. It was (and still is to a degree) a media circus. It got to a point where I didn’t relate to her as a missing person anymore but more like a mystery movie as if it wasn’t real.
At the time people were already questioning why so much attention on her when others go missing all the time. They compared it to another British girl that went missing of similar age and her case got hardly any mention. They questioned whether it was becuase Madeline was froma wealthy background and was cute and the other girl was Jo Average. I think she was eventually found.
Anyway, again I hope Britt is found.
Creature of the night
First bit of news is that I have become unemployed. Well, actually I quit my new job of 3 months. I finished a week and a half ago. I was doing a tech support job. It was a good experience and I learnt a lot in that time. The people were really nice as well. Without going into it too much it just didn’t work out. However, I would like to think that we left on good terms (Admittedly I didn’t give them any notice). I had a big chat with the boss on a Friday and that was that. I really should email them to apologise and see how everyone is.
So now I’m looking for work again. That job opened my eyes to the world of tech support and sys admin work. I am still interested in that area to a degree and I think I am capable. But there are so many other areas in IT like testing and training, which of course I was doing at my previous job at The Smith Family. Guess I’ll just apply for all jobs and see how I go.
Anyhoo, my leaving my last job coincided with the Tour De France. Actually it started I think a couple of days before I quit. As mentioned in my last post this is the first time I’ve gotten into the event properly, and boy do I love it!!!! Its everything I thought it would be…I’m watching it right now as I’m typing this. I might dedicate another post about the TdF later.
The plan after I quit was that I would do heaps of riding during the day (and job hunt of course) and then watch the tour at night. Unfortunately the weather hasn’t been so kind and I’ve somehow become a bit soft and not wanting to ride if there is ANY wetness at all. As a consequence I’d only ridden about 60km in the last fortnight. I was averaging around 120-160km a week previous to that.
To make matters worse I’ve been eating a lot more than normal as well. This is due to the down town I have “in between jobs” and of course staying up late watching the tour. So I’ve become a bit of a creature of the night. I even watch informercials for a little bit because I eat sugary junk food during the tour and I can’t sleep. Then I sleep in until after 8 every morning feeling lazy…blerh
So the lack of exercise and overeating has seen me put on 2.5kg in a fortnight. Pretty drastic for me. Not that I’m overweight. But I’m trying to keep fit and that weight makes a difference when I’m trying to ride up a hill.
Good news is there’s only a few more stages left so no more ultra late nights and shoving chips and tim tams in my mouth. And I hope to get a new job in the next couple of weeks. At least then I’ll be doing regular commute rides again.
End of an era
Last Monday was my last day of work at The Smith Family, where I’ve been there 3 years part time and nearly full time all last year. I have had such a wonderful time there and I’ll take away so many fond memories. I have so met so many wonderful people, both staff and the other people I’ve had contact with. I was mainly an IT trainer for disadvantaged people in the community. I ran a variety of classes and workshops for people of all ages, backgrounds and ability.
It was a truely rewarding experience and I would have been able to get that anywhere else. I really do believe in the organisation and what they do. The focus has gone from pure wellfare to education and change. There are many ways you can help The Smith Family, be it sponsoring a child, making a small donation, mentoring or volunteering. Every little bit helps. So please visit their website for more information.
Co-incidence
Just 2 days after buying Corinne Bailey Rae’s CD and DVD pack, I find this article in The Age online this morning that her husband Jason Rae has been found dead and that there was an arrest and something about drug supplying. Don’t know much about her or her husband. I first heard of her when I was browsing YouTube and found that a few people had covered a song called “Like a Star”. I loved it straight away and found that it was Corinne’s song. I’ve had a few listens to the album, which had been out for a while and finally bought it. Now this has happened. Will be interesting to see what unfolds.
Here is the song in question:
Heath Ledger found dead in his NY apartment!
He was found dead on his bed and there were pills on it. Hard to speculate at this stage if it was suicide or accidental OD
Sad day for Australian film industry, and the movie industry in general. He may not be the best actor on earth and certainly not the most popular with paparazzi but he had thousands of adoring fans. I quite liked him in Brokeback Mountain. He plays the Joker in the new Batman film which is in post production at the moment. Is going to be weird to see it.
Sad day indeed
So sad!
I read this article from The Age newspaper that said the Yangtze River Dolphin (or Baiji) has officially been announced to be extinct. It was a very unique animal because it was a fresh water dolphin and only found in the Yangtze river, China. Its demise was attributed to China’s rapid industrialisation, in particular the three gorges dam project. And it looks like the dolphin is not going to be the only victim.
I guess I have a particularly strong feeling about this because 1) Its the only animal I can think of that has become extinct in my lifetime (that I can recall) 2) Its a dolphin and they’re cool! 3) Not many people know, but I have some abstract dolphins tattooed on my arm (e.g. people know I’ve got a tatt but when they ask I just say its a random pattern).
This story really puts into perspective the impact humans are having on the earth. Who, knows how many more animals will become extinct in my lifetime. And lets not even go into the plundering of the earths forrests and other natural resources…
Bye bye flipper of the East!! ‘~’
Ch ch ch changes…
Its always fascinating and refreshing when a website has a major overhaul of its interface. Most of the time (for big websites) its for the better. I just surfed to The Age newspaper and got a bit of a shock to see it looks dramatically different. I’m guessing all the other associated Fairfax sites have had the same changes.
It looks neater and a more open feel about it, with more use of white space. I think I like it.
