Australia haters - Go back to where you came from

Dear The Reader

I was googling random terms and I came to this forum about poms who hate Australia.

"itskaren" pretty much said that moving to Australia was the worst decision they ever made. They whinged about a few aspects of Australia and wished they could erase the last year.

At first I got pretty defensive. Then I started to think about why they would say these things. Turns out this is the same kind of talk the first settlers used when they came here. It's a backwards place with backwards people.

Actually "itskaren", you're wrong. Australia isn't backwards. It is perfect. We aren't like the Poms or Americans, we are our own people with our own history. If you don't like it here go back to where you came from.

Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

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Sexy music terms

Dear The Reader

Despite being a musician and a music teacher I have written next to no music lessons for this blog. Let's remedy that now.

Everybody knows musicians are the sexiest people in the world. Even ACDC are still sleeping with girls (which is a modern day miracle, those guys are dinosaurs). But there seem to be a lot of musicians out there. To get a leg up on the competition it helps to know some musical terms. Not only do they make you sound like a great musician, they're also in Italian, the sexiest language in the world.

Piano and forte - soft and loud. These are the easiest to remember. They describe the volume of the music. Say mezzopiano and mezzoforte for slightly soft or loud, and pianissimo and fortissimo for very soft or loud.

Adagio and allegro - slow and fast. These are words to indicate the tempo or speed of the song.

Ostinato - a piece of music that is repeated. For example, a guitar riff is an ostinato. It just sounds classier.

Motif - the main theme or character portrayed in the music. Obvious motifs are Christine and the Phantom's themes in the Phantom of the Opera for the girls, and Darth Vader's theme from Star Wars for the classless guys.

Libretto - very handy if you're taking your lady to the opera. This booklet contains the words so you can follow along. Because most operas are in Italian you can often find a translation online to print, if they don't have some at the opera house already.

Use these words and others will be so impressed you will never need another pick up line again.

Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

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Treat em mean, keep em keep...to drop you!

Dear The Reader

I have heard the phrase many times: treat them mean, keep them keen. This is a great motto for life, especially if you want to stay a bachelor/spinster all your life.

It's not hard to understand why being mean to the opposite sex is counterproductive. If you're mean to someone it usually pisses them off. This usually ends up in you getting rejected. The other person figures out people like you are worth avoiding, and the "sea of plentiful fish" becomes more like the "ocean of aggressive sharks". Not good for the mean business.




I honestly thought there was more to it than that, but it's so obvious. I've found great success in being a sweet, friendly guy who listens. I know a few other guys and girls who have used that strategy to their ultimate success too.

Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

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New blog and short story

Dear The Reader

This semester at uni requires me to have a blog. Which is great. Except it needs to be on Wordpress.com.

Now I'm not one to just feel like crap and wallow in self pity, so I got excited and thought of a great idea: instead of throwing every little thing I write on here, I'll make this my non-literary blog and post any writings and critiques on Wordpress.

So you can click here for my new blog. I've already posted some stuff, including a short story about Cyclone Yasi. I hope you enjoy.

Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Road rules

Dear The Reader

I have been telling people that I would write a post about indicators for a while now, so here it is.

The one thing that stresses me out more than anything else is the traffic. Sydney traffic to be precise. And other drivers. You see there are road rules. Very clear road rules. And there are obvious basic car functions.

Then there are people who don't know what they are.

The 3 main rules are indicating when changing lanes, stopping at stops signs, and common courtesy.

Because driving in Sydney often involves 20 or more other drivers we need to make sure others know what we are doing. The indicator is a fabulous piece of technology that let's people know exactly why you are slowing down, or coming into their lane. It let's others know they should drive around you because you are turning. In fact NSW traffic law states that you are obliged to indicate for at least 5 seconds before turning. Not indicating when merging and turning may cause some hot head to ram the back of your car, get out and proceed to crush your skull.

Stop signs are an essential part of Australian road safety. Failing to comply will eventually cause someone to TBone you and land you in hospital or the morgue. I think that one is pretty self explanatory.

Be courteous. Always give a courtesy wave and always give way to merging traffic. Who cares if someone moves in in front of you? It's not like they're going to make you any later than you already are.

As long as you follow these 3 rules you will be a much loved fellow driver.

Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The best part of the cyclone recovery

Dear The Reader

This week has had its ups and downs. My major down was just the constant feelings of inferiority; I am unable to fix the situations of the people. It's a fact I've had to deal with. No one but God can fix the situation.

But the best moment I had all week was when we visited a family who, since the cyclone, have found more freedom and joy than ever before. A part of the family was a young mum with a 2 month old boy. I asked if I could hold him, and after about 10 minutes he drifted off to sleep. In this moment I was at such peace.

I continued to speak to the mother. She and her partner were so grateful for their little one, and never stopped smiling, even when talking about the night of the cyclone. Easy birth and easy to care for. Perfect little boy.

Little things that some see as speed bumps others see as great joy. James 1:2-3 in the bible says all hardships and bumps in the road should be seen as good experiences because we grow stronger through them. I don't know exactly what these new parents will learn for the last year, but whatever it is they are learning with smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts.

Please let these guys inspire you to see life the same way.

Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Winter playlist: Part 6

Dear The Reader

Some people have been wondering what happened to my latest few posts. I have had to censor my Tully posts because of some silly people who shouldn't be reading this on work time. However, I have not met a person I didn't like up here. If it wasn't such a hassle to uproot myself from my life in Sydney I would move here in a heartbeat.

So this is my last winter playlist post! Exciting. Some of my favourite songs in this post.

16. More Than Fine - Switchfoot

This track is so beautiful. Starting out with a tick track, followed up by claps and acoustic guitar, the song uses sound bites (like the sound of people's thoughts), harmonica, electric guitar, drum machine, normal drums and bass riffs in brilliant collaboration. The subtle high pitched beat and the constant acoustic guitar makes a cold early morning just that bit more bearable. It makes the list.

17. Betty - Brooke Fraser

Brooke makes amazing pieces of music. Every little part has a specific purpose. This track makes the list simply for mentioning Toronto and Canada in the lyrics. The guitar riff throughout the song also feels a little white and snowy.

18. Faust, Midas and Myself - Switchfoot

I tried so hard not to put 2 songs by the same band close to each other but this just worked. In fact this and Betty were the first songs I added to this list. There is extensive use of strings under clean electric guitar, and strings always feel a little cold. Not in a bad way, just a feeling I've always had. Most operas I have seen have been set in a winter and the summer sets always felt wrong.

There you are. I had a 19th song called Everything That Makes Me Sick by The Almost, but I can't find a justification for it. Maybe you can.

I hope you enjoy these songs and they get you through the rest of winter.

Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Amazing stories from Tully

Dear The Reader

Well, technically we were in Mission Beach today.

Lyn Prince and I were on our way to see a client. We came over a crest and saw two cassowaries walking on the opposite side of the road. They may as well have been hand in hand. We later found out it was a father and baby. So we naïvely stopped the car and got out. We took many pics (which Lyn has and I can't get them from her yet) of the father checking us out. He was so close that we could have put our hand out and touched him.

After they moved on a local pulled up and said she was surprised he didn't attack. This huge bird (learn more here) was a protective father and wanted to make sure we weren't threats.

There have been so many stories here. An interesting difference between Tully and Mission Beach is that, even though they were both flattened by Yasi, the people of Tully seem really depressed but the people of Mission Beach have a hope in them. They still aren't great but at least the ones who aren't coping are admitting it and asking for counselling help.

This has really helped me to realise that God gives hope and joy to those who ask. Let's start asking for that for the people of Tully.

Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Winter playlist: Part 5

Dear The Reader

I'm in Tully. It's so busy. I haven't been able to find time to get this post out so I won't give links to the other parts, but you can find them on the side bar -->.

To give you an idea of what is going on up here here's some pics.













Beautiful piece of Australia. Destroyed by a beautiful storm. Assisted by beautiful people (my team).

Enough Tully stuff, more music.

13. You Found Me - The Fray

This is a very dark song. It is currently reminding me of some of the people here who ask "Where were you when we needed you 5 months ago?!?". It may be warm up here but people are going through a dry winter season in their lives. This song makes the list.

14. The Everglow - Mae

Mae have always felt very deliberate in their music, almost like it was manufactured in a factory of good, disposable songs. Riding on the heels of You Found Me, The Everglow has a very hopeful message. No matter what is happening, our hearts are always glowing.

15. Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol

Uh, duh. Snow Patrol. Kinda self explanatory. But if I had to make a music video for it I would have a road trip in the middle of a North American winter.

I'll write more about Tully tomorrow, so hang in there. One last picture for you, just for fun. Our last ditch effort to get into a coconut, 4WD style...




Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

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Cyclone recovery

Dear The Reader

A worst possible case scenario is what we call "disaster". Here in Tully people are still recovering from a natural disaster called Cyclone Yasi. It's been six months and there are still houses flattened, or boarded up, or just left alone.

A former two-storey house.

Cyclone Yasi hit Tully directly. The eye of the storm (the eerie calm bit in the middle of every cyclone) encompassed the entire community, surrounding it with high walls of lightning. One lady said the stars were brightly shining and a man was playing flute on his roof. Another story is that birds were seen flying in the eye as if trapped. Another woman said her house, though most of the windows and doors were boarded up, was filled an eerie light.

A house with no roof. The man now lives next door, not willing to leave just yet.

There have been many stories of survival from the people here. All consist of the night of the storm, all consist of the hardships faced since, and all end with "she'll be right, ay".

One man told us he cuts the cane and picks bananas for work. Now that his caravan had been destroyed, the cane harvest has been delayed and the bananas were blown away he has moved home with his mum and won't have work until at least September, and even then he doesn't have much hope.

Sugarcane waiting to be processed. This cane is being harvested late because of soft ground.

This whole town is tired. It's been six months of cleaning up, rebuilding, finding work, making ends meet, trying to sell, fighting insurance companies, coping with family, coping with life, etcetera. The whole of Tully is beyond desperate. They're almost ready to give up.

But these people are fighters.

And they won't go down just yet.

Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Winter playlist: Part 4

Dear The Reader

What a week I've had. Absolutely no time to offer my playlist update. If you've missed any previous posts Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 are here.

So, without anymore wasted time let get into it.

10. Me and Alone - The Almost

The Almost appears once again. This track uses a lot of space in the verses to emphasise the intensity of the song. The swirling dynamics make it feel like a winter storm, therefore qualifying its place on the playlist.

11. Carry Me - Audrey Assad

There's something about Audrey that feels very wintery. This song is about how God carries us through the hard times. Those times in our life are a bit like winter to a farmer. There is no harvest in winter, but it's on it's way.

12. Hanging On - Britt Nicole

Britt has put together a beautiful track. The mix of instruments is almost perfect. Starting with just acoustic guitar and minimal percussion the song introduces small bites of synth and harp, placed exactly where they need to be. The message of this song compliments Audrey's song, God is carrying us and we're not letting go.

I promise to get the next 3 songs out in the next 48 hours so keep checking in. I'll be posting to Twitter (the link is at the top) and for all my friends on Facebook.

Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Winter playlist: Part 3

Dear The Reader

Once again, sorry it's a little late. I had a long, good day. Taking it easy seems to be growing on me...nah, not really.

Here is Part 1 and Part 2.

Here we go, tracks 7, 8 and 9.

7. Stolen - Dashboard Confessional.

I first heard Dashboard in Winter 2006. I listened to a few of their songs on repeat for months. Stolen is the kind of song I could imagine being sung at a dance by the guy whose life is a musical. For some reason there would be snow outside.

8. Hand Grenade - The Almost

The Almost's "southern rock" style seems to just be an alternative style of country written by a guy who used to play in a hardcore band (for all the Underoath fans out there). Usually I wouldn't associate country with winter, but with the high swells on the slide guitar and the harmonica that sounded almost like an accordion, it could be argued that it gives a cold day a nice soundtrack.

9. Love Is Waiting - Brooke Fraser.

Yes, the opening line is "And the Autumn on the ground", but it has a swirling snow and leaf feel. It may end up on my Autumn playlist, but that's next year.

Interestingly, a lot of my winter songs are paced love songs. I guess a lot of my relationships started or got interesting during winter. Leah and I had our first date on the first day of winter 2009. Maybe I'll tell you all about that sometime...

Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

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Kids and the importance of self esteem

Dear The Reader

Today a friend and I took a couple of kids to the park while their mum moved house. A four year old boy and a seven year old girl. I got to talk to both, but my chat with the girl was most intriguing.

Turns out she's not a fan of school, but she's really smart. She knows most of her times tables and can spell some three and four syllable words. She's also very quiet and initially answers each question with "I don't know".

At first that worried me, but as I prompted her all her knowledge spilled out. At one point I said "You're beautiful" to which she looked away and didn't respond. So I asked if anyone had ever called her beautiful before and she said no.

Now, I don't know if she was telling the truth or just being modest, but I have drawn a lesson from this: all kids need praise for the things they try.

These kids come from a family with an absent father and some tough circumstances, but these two guys are glowing with positive light in the dark of uncertainty.

Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

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Winter Playlist: Part 2

Dear The Reader

So here is part 2 of my Winter playlist. This week I have been putting together a playlist to make my experience even more excellent. In case you haven't read it yet, part 1 is here.

I planned on putting this out by Wednesday, but health problems kind of made me re-prioritise. Her it is, and I'll have part 3 up in the next couple of days.

Let's jump into it...

4. Impossible - Anberlin

Opens and closes with a very quick, delayed guitar riff. It doesn't lose momentum the whole time. It's a love song for a girl who keeps turning him down, but he's desperate for her. This is a situation that I associate with winter for some reason. That's why it's here.

5. Must Have Done Something Right - Relient K

Piano, acoustic guitar and tambourine give this one the winter feel, though it's on the list for more than that. The video clip is set in the cold. The singer Matt sets out to retrieve his soon-to-be girlfriend's soccer ball and ends up having a big three minute city adventure. Maybe the boys from Anberlin should find a lost soccer ball for their elusive lady...

6. I Am Still Running - Jon Foreman

Now this nugget is from Switchfoot frontman's solo EP, Winter. Its vocal, guitar and snare feel gives the listener a feeling of that calm, cold day when all you do is sit inside, thanking God that you don't need to leave your house and risk frostbite.

I love all three of these artist. Each one have been a favourite of mine at one time or another. Please give them a listen and see what you think.

Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

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Heart problem

Dear The Reader

So I'm writing this from the waiting room of a blood collection place. Turns out I'm not as invincible as we all thought.

At 5:30pm on Wednesday I stood up and felt a pain in my chest. I found it hard to breathe. It got worse and I found it hard to sleep. Thursday morning I got myself to a doctor who put me through an ECG. She sent me to a heart specialist who also put me through an ECG.

The heart specialist thinks the fluid between my heart and lungs has dried up, causing friction, in turn causing the pain.

Yes, I'm scared. Not as scared as I was. And I'm smarter.

Starting today I won't be eating fast food (except Subway of course). I'll do it until the end of the year and see what happens.

Educate. Entertain. Inspire.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone