In an attempt to perfect the are of "show-offistry", I write this message a mere two and a half hours before check-in.

I leave for a holiday today, gallivanting across Europe for a month. I shall attempt to get in contact somewhere on my extravagant trip as the novelty of posting from abroad is appealing.

If not, see you all come the 3rd of March.

Thomas.

Well well well.

Ok, what is your opinion on the unequal distribution of G.S.T. revenue among the states, and what will be your individual approach (assuming that you won't have a collective approach as neither Labour or the Liberals will touch you with a ten-foot, twenty-foot, thirty-foot poll) to this issue?

Or exactly how are you going to tackle the issue of the problems at Auburn hospital? What sort of fiscal proposal will you submit or suggest to the Premier to alleviate these pressing troubles in your electorate?

And with these national terror laws you're attempting to abolish at the state level, what would you have in their place? Wait, that's right, you would have nothing and wait until we actually have an attack in Australia. Because only after the attack do we have terrorists, right? I mean we of course wouldn't have terrorists in our borders before an attack. It's common sense people!

Oh, and it's nice to see Mr. Habib rewriting the dictionary to include "no school, no study, people are staying in the streets looking for jobs" as a form of torture. I thought the Yanks saying waterboarding wasn't a form or torture was a bit far-fetched, but this is off the scale at the other end.

The end result is this: there's another whack out there thinking that he should go to some level of government so that everyone can hear his voice louder. His story should be listened to. His injustice is noteworthy. But government isn't a place for activism. Otherwise the Greens and the Socialist Alliance would have much more popularity. What people want are level-headed, commonsense, real-shit people. Not this guy.

I refrained from commenting on that idiot Mundine's supposed run for government, and then Sheik Retard's rumoured run, then his blessing or support or what ever of (expectedly) Muslim candidates. But this was too good to leave out. It had best be obvious and crystal clear to the people of Auburn that this guy has no political know-how or idea as to how things are run or what the hell he should do if he gets elected, because it's bloody clear to me!

Thomas.

Next time America decides to invade and take-over another country, they should forget about Iran or Syria and head straight for Britain. Fucking hell! There's got to be more terrorists there than the whole of the Middle East! This is, what?, the sixth terror plot to be "foiled" by the Bobbies in the past few years? And how many terror attacks did Saddam have in the works? Wait, that's right, none!

Wait, I think I'm onto something here. I mean, it's a hotbed for terrorists this Britain, it's been an aggressive international power for many, many years, had an "evil" empire for a while (it still does some would argue), has been responsible for genocide in the past, has been an ally and an enemy of the United States. If you didn't know better, you'd think I'd be talking about Iraq, wouldn't you?

Ok, so after thinking it over, I will submit the following proposal to the United States Embassy as soon as all the fine details are done. But, while in its rough and shell-stage, I'm prepared to let everyone have a little look at the next chapter in the War on Terror.

The War on Terror - Stage Three - Tea Party 2.0

- Using up-to-date satellite imaging, secure mappings of latest topography, landmarks and infrastructure of Britain. Done;
- Co-ordinate with the Chief-of-Staffs to formalize the most effective and least cost-of-life attack plans. Done;
- Secure allies in the attack. Suggestions include: Scotland (history of conflict, recent instability), Ireland (history of conflict, recent hotbed of activity), France (extensive history of conflict, recent international troubles), America (history of conflict), Australia (recent hotbed of activity), Germany (Arch-nemesis);
- Formulate specific and effective fall-out plan. Done;
- Ensure all sources, intelligence and information is accurate and up-to-date, i.e. use reputable sources like this, this, and this;
- Have a high-profile, political figure deliver any presentations so as to persuade all administrations that this is legit. Subsequently, this will be one of the many fall-guys with little blame;
- Kick ass! OOOO-RAAAH!!!

Thomas.

You know 24 is back on when Jack Bauer can be released from a Chinese prison camp, after two year of torture and concentration-camp treatment, step off of a non-stop China to L.A. international flight, bite out a terrorist's jugular, un-cuff both of his hands while cuffed, then jack a car using only a paint can.

And he just managed to neutralise an armed guard with a tree-branch.

Then a pair of choppers blew up a residential home.

This is why we love 24.

Thomas.

After posting that last post, I went through and had a look at all the posts that were uncompleted drafts, and saw that some just couldn't be completed or the moment had passed and were no longer applicable. So, I've decided to make a post out of the un-postable.

Here's what I was writing when the third Ashes Test was happening, just after the first day or two when, notably, Monty had finally been included in the team:

Is there a spare seat! I've been knocked to the ground by an actual cricket match!

Who did England get in the past few days to teach them the ropes of this sport? Who? This certainly can't be the same team that got flogged at the GABBA and then slaughtered at the SACA. But, then again, it ain't. Monty Panesar and Sajid Mahmood are in, Ashley Giles and James Anderson are out, and what a difference it's been!

While Mahmood's impact on the match, so far, has been low-key, having a new bowler in the line-up, one ready to prove himself and show that he can compete with the big-boys (of which hardly any other English cricketer has shown thus far on the tour) will sprick up a team with his individual enthusiasm I think.

And then there is Monty. Already turning the game around. Why the selectors didn't put him in, as has already been said a million times, is ridiculous for whatever reasons. Talking about it can't change the fact England is two to zip in the series thus far.

Like I said, some things just can't be completed. That because the test is long gone and because England lost, horribly again, and while Monty had a part to play, Mahmood was a bit of a disappointment, and continues to be. Whether that's the selector's fault, his fault, or the team's, it's hard to judge.

Here's the start of a post I would have finished if: a) I had saved the picture of the graph that you get when you do the Political Compass test, and b) If I could be stuffed going and doing the test again to try and get the same result to get the picture of the graph again. Anyway, here goes:

So here is the worrying truth. Over to the right there can e found a link to something called the Political Compass. By now everyone would have heard of it; it's very popular among bloggers and people who are interested in politics (of country and themself).

Now I take it twice a year, and have done so for about three years now. There has been a worrying trend as I do this that my little red dot has been moving lower and lefter since I took the test towards the end of last year in comparison to when I took the test the three times prior.

To my shock, awe and horror ... well, I'll let the picture tell you.

Left! I've hit the left! What has happened? In the beginning of the year some can imagine my surprise when I found the dot four spaces to the right and on the horizontal. While still on the right of the centre, it was a dramatic difference to my original testings on it when I was at the extreme right (I was probably off the graph) and a couple of spaces from the utmost top. And for three tests it hovered around there.

Now look where I am!

That was a worrying period. Worrying enough that I haven't gone and done the test again to scare the bajeezers out of me again. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

Another cricket post, and this one lasted for a couple of lines before I ran out of effort. I still think it would make for a good post, and certainly a talking point:

Is Kevin Pietersen the last great modern player?

Obviously batting, and cricket, is entering a new phase. This modern era doesn't exactly value technical finesse as much as it does 'flashy' play. Prime examples of that are Brett Lee, Fred Flintoff, Shoaib Akhtar, Adam Gilchrist (probably a rare example of holding abilities from both eras)

I was going on the basis that Pietersen is quite effective in his unorthodox, unique and non-textbook style, and anything further away from 'the textbook' would only begin to create bad batters.

This was the start of my post when the latest comments from everybody's favourite Sheik hit the waves:

The best thing about last straws is that no matter what their weight is, they break the camel's back. Whether it's light or heavy, the camel is fucked.

But my motto is if you're going down, you go down in a blaze of glory.

Just like this.

Seriously, this guy is so friggin' hilarious that I almost hope that there are no repercussions.

Then again, I think of all the poor people that this guy represents ... actually, no, they aren't poor people. Even though this guy represents a community of people who are already claiming persecution, racism etc., nothing is going to be done by the people he represents. Just like last time.

Now, don't put word's in my mouth. I'm certainly not saying that what Sheik Dropkick says is what all other Muslims believe, but with Joe Blow, out in the 'burbs, living his 'white' life, surrounded by other people living in exactly the same fashion, watching exactly the same news, reporting on exactly the same sources, something interesting happens.

See, supposedly (by Sheik 2x4's expectations), 'white' Australia and the media just needs to be given an inch and we'll take a mile. What does that mean? Apparently we're predisposed to hate Muslims.

That last post may come off as a little abrupt, but do note that I never finished, and never had a chance to explain my position or smooth over any abrasive parts.

So those are the drafts I'm talking about, and the drafts that will now remain drafts forever. I do have two movie and a politics posts that I can and will finish because they are already lengthy and a few lines from complete. Plus, I can motivate myself into finishing them because the topics are so good. So keep an eye out for them.

Thomas.

Ok, so lack of updates around here are coming to be more expected than updates. Apologies concerning this. I do have posts that are nearly ready to be posted, existing as drafts unpublished, however, after I get to a point in writing them, creative juices and self-motivation disappear as quickly as they came. I will, though, endeavor to get them up soon, even if it means I just end up posting what it is I had left as the draft.

But, at the moment, I have been occupied with one or two things. First, the recent influx of polls I'm seeing on blogs has inspired me to try my hand at them of my own. At least it will give those visitors something to do when they see, once again, no updates.

Second, the first poll it about something else I've seen a lot of. While I have, for a very long time, renounced the idea of creating a MySpace account for myself, after a few recent social functions, and being asked "Do you have a MySpace account?" to which I would reply "No, I have a blog." would would be followed by a collective groan of boredom, I think it might be time to bend to popular opinion once again.

Third, I've begun to upload videos to YouTube. Now, before you flock over, as I know you all will, to see if there is some sort of Thomas rant-esque video plaguing the Internet's tubes , I've only uploaded some videos of birds and a lizard that I've encountered. Soon I'll put up something of our pet bird, rather than wild, savage and crazed ones. After that, well, it could be followed by a video of an 18 Cup tournament, then who knows.

Fourth, and really the best thing I am working on at the moment, is an email/essay/flame-mail about a site called godhatesgoths.com I'm not about to link to the site, lest I give it even one piece of traffic through my site. However, suffice to say, it snagged my interest after being alerted to this site. I emailed another church/cult/persecution church not so long ago that I shall not link here lest my blog appear in a search for the site. Suffice to say, however, it was far worse and far more disgusting that the site I am currently examining.

I say I am writing an email/essay/flame-mail because that's exactly what this is going to turn out to be. It has the structure and style of a Sociology1002 essay, it's getting to them by email and, best of all, I was them to read it and get angry. I will be posting it here for all to read in it's glory, however, I do warn that you must really see the irony and satire in it before you think that I actually am calling your God a Nazi or a Goth. Because those are two conclusions I come to.

Fifth, and last, the blog will go on a hiatus between the 6th of February and the 3rd of March, plus any additional days it takes for me to recover from jet-lag. Yes, Thomas is going on a trip, and in an effort to not show off, I'll only list the countries I'm going to, rather than any real specifics: Singapore, U.K. Turkey, Poland, Italy, China. Suffice?

Thomas.

Here's something from my Year 12 days that might be of interest to English teachers and students alike. Our year, the graduating year of 2004, sucessfully argued that a game (for example, a P.C. game or a console game etc.) was not only a text type, but could be used in an assignment as a supplementary text. I think it could have been the crowning achievement for the Advanced Class there. While originally I was only along for the ride (the ride of debating with my favourite teacher), as of late, I have been wondering if this was a valid argument, and will we see more 'adstract' text types in the future? Perhaps.

But of special interest to someone, how long until we see blogs as a text type that are being studied and referenced in high school classrooms? I had to study a diary of someone, write three journals of my own and write 'opinion pieces'. Aren't some blogs one, if not all three, of these things? Sure, there exists the fabrication, 'seriousness', truthiness, reality and validity element to a blog, but without a doubt there are some serious blogs out there that certainly could be studied, thus ruining the experience of blogs for the next generation, just as English ruined the experience of movies for me.

Thomas.

Anyone who is currently watching the Australian decimation of the New Zealand cricket team is missing out on a cinematic gem! Right now, Channel Seven, Frank Sinatra is singing his way through the Peninsular War, fighting against that horrid Napoleon alongside silver-screen great Cary Grant.

No, seriously, not a joke. The Pride and the Passion is classic 50's film, classic Sinatra and a black mark on Grant's career. The same sort of thing a 22-run over is for Shane Bond is, which easily turned that match from a "We could do this" to "No fucking chance".

New Zealand: Australia's second foe.

Thomas.