My Blog

Shortest Blog in the World.

Bloke72 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:59:07 GMT

Hey folks. Just a quick note to say I might be a bit scarce over the next week or so. Would write more - but I am too Lazy :) And I don't talk much :)

Getting Naked with Cas !

Bloke72 — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 07:23:50 GMT

Not that’s sort of naked ! - the Naked Ale which is the house beer at Young and Jackson's in Melbourne.. Although the house shiraz was Cas's choice of poison - so the heading is really wrong.. and should be "Bloke gets Naked" -either way it is catchy - yes ? Teehee :) Cas was down from Sydney for a few days on a conference and she did me the pleasure and privilege of catching up face to face last Monday. I first met her on tribe - and she dragged me off to "Ambassadors for Peace" on orkut. A great group ! Cas is the moderator. Cas is as down to earth as they come. With a strong commitment to community and social justice - we share a lot in common. As well as being very personable and engaging with a great and balanced sense of compassion and empathy - she also has a wonderful sense of humour. (the description of your son is sill making me smile Cas) She is only the fourth person I have met in the flesh from tribe. As many will know - I love an extended conversation - especially via intimate means like small tribes and private messages - and always like getting them from interesting folk like Cas. Interestingly, we also share another thing in common - we both hold the same medal from the Federal Government for Community Service - and it was really interesting discussing previously, and in the pub, how such recognition affected us and those around us - especially our families. Speaking to people on the phone, but especially face to face, is a wonderful experience because it allows for much more rapid communication - and there is nothing like seeing someone's smile and the twinkle in their eye as they laugh with you.. And you get to hug them :) Cas is a very sort of huggable person :) My only regret was that we were not able to spend more time together than just few hours. Next time she comes to Melbourne, hopefully we can meet again and take up where we left off. Mind you - she did call my blokehood into question - but I think I managed to convince her otherwise as I compulsively offered to play with the camera.. sometimes us Blokes cannot help ourselves :) I would have got to this earlier - but Tribe has not been cooperating - so sorry to those who sent PMs I have not replied to or who posted in tribes I have not been into this week..

A.W.O.L Bloke.

Bloke72 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:42:15 GMT

A sad and heavily mourned death of the crap flat’s hot-water service has occurred and this is why I have not been about.. Three days of no hot water (cold showers!) and two days of hanging about at home without the internet access I need, not only critical for a bit of Tribal Action – but also a couple of paying and voluntary projects I have on the go.. Not really the Managing Agents nor tradesmen’s fault.. just a series of unfortunate circumstances - for which all are very apologetic.. I would not be worried about it, but tomorrow starts a long weekend.. and I am not sure my good humour, sanity, nor gonads could take seven cold showers in a row.. I guess I could just skip them… but … it is the punctuation that moves sleepy night into the action of the day… I don’t keep a computer at home in a long tradition of separating home from work – I used to have a largely ignored desktop PC when living in Richmond, and if the laptop was not on the blink I would have it at home, but I am on the Niece’s Computer for the first time (known for freezing apparently) – so if you are reading this I probably did not take to it with a hammer :) Life slowly flows on. Still have not found the dream job but am earning enough money for the odd trip to a restaurant. Beer consumption it at an all time low and single malt indulgences are very occasional.. I am down to my last two bottles of Johnnie Walker (one Blue, one Black) but I would give them away in a flash for a working hotwater unit :) The recent social highlight remains a return to the Reception Center where one of my sisters had her Wedding Reception. A bit of a family tradition – but this time the clan did not head off on mass – but only my sister, brother-in-law, their two sons, a few of their friends, and yours truly went. The food is great and the floor show outstanding.. probably not everyone’s cup of tea – but always entertaining. One of the owners is a very good Tenor and always makes a special appearance and is known for dragging up audience members for Happy Birthdays and also Elvis Impersonations.. they can be very funny and he does a great job. One Birthday Girl was obviously well briefed on this.. and when he wandered over to their table she hid under it to avoid the attention.. Unexpectedly the highlight of the night came at the end after the car broke down. We have something here called the “RACV” (Royal Automotive Club of Victoria) who come out and try to get your car back on the road.. The problem was a hose off the radiator which we ourselves could not reattach because the sleeve by which the hose is attached had broken.. the highlight of the night was singing with my sister while waiting for the RACV to appear.. all those silly songs from childhood which mum used to lead when we were board in the back seat of the car on long trips… so we put on our own little show for embarrassed nephews (teehee) and the funny thing was we were not even drunk :) I am still singing a few of them a couple of weeks later.. but not in the cold showers which are filled with groans of words like “God” - and giggles and shivers :) The plumber has just appeared. so maybe I will be singing in a hot shower tomorrow morning :) ******************************** Yay ! All fixed. Poor Bloke.. with the storm that knocked my power out recently and the latest hot water adventure – I have had more cold showers in 2008 than in the previous decade ! (Let the jokes begin :) But the hotwater is now fixed… so I withdraw the offer of giving the Scotch away…

Nice Quote !

Bloke72 — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:15:19 GMT

"I think people have a civilization when they can think of someone as a neighbor without having met them before." Nice Quote ! It came from a Tribe..... http://anthropologyclub.tribe.net/thread/9b89c151-9d24-455a-9f6e-575bdfa6d576#4c89fa66-6c7e-4611-a915-9a675071c395

How long since the Iraq War began ?

Bloke72 — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:23:59 GMT

Two Years ? Three... ? maybe four ? Five. "The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom (US), Operation TELIC (UK) or the occupation of Iraq, is an ongoing conflict which began on March 20, 2003 " Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War I thought it was worth noting as we tuck into our Easter Eggs..

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry !

Bloke72 — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 07:27:40 GMT

Merry Christmas Folks!

Darren, Tribe.net employee, on Google Ads..

Bloke72 — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:49:49 GMT

http://brainstorm.tribe.net/thread/d46e088e-bf7d-4275-99a7-690b57d5bb64

Check this

Bloke72 — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 03:47:28 GMT

http://people.tribe.net/pi/blog/79914cf1-b949-4a36-a964-73d97c94b047 Make a comment there ....

Enthusiasm and Curiosity can be a Two-Edged Sword..

Bloke72 — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 17:18:23 GMT

Ninety Tribes… Why the hell am I in 90 tribes ?? Why, why, why ? I must be stoo-pid ! Oh - and join the Trivia Tribe you smucks ! http://tribes.tribe.net/triviarocks

No Trivia Tribe ?!

Bloke72 — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 02:27:06 GMT

"What ?!" Bloke said to himself in the wee and dark hours of a 3 am session in Tribe, "No Trivia Tribe !!!!!!" How has Tribe survived without a Trivia Tribe ?!!!!! Bloke must fix ! I have established a Tribe for Trivia Buffs to share with the world trivial but interesting facts. Sources and references are alway good.... Let's kick arse in Trivia Competitions ! http://tribes.tribe.net/triviarocks TRIVIA IS CRITICAL TO ONES EXISTENCE !!!

The Blessings of Affluence and Generosity

Bloke72 — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 03:19:15 GMT

Something an associate recently said struck a chord with me. While discussing a downturn in revenues in his business - I noted that he was still generously financially supporting many community endeavours. His response was that it was really important to him that he supported the local community in which he both lives and operates his business. He quietly and consistently continued his charitable support. How many times do you hear the statement "Well, he can afford it" about someone who gives financial support to individuals and organisations? Too often. Indeed my friend probably could not "afford it" - but he was willing to "tighten his belt" in order to continue to help others. Recipients of his generosity generally made the mistake of confusing his philanthropy for an affluence that in fact he did not enjoy. Many did not even to thank him, dismissing his generosity with "Well, he can afford it". While many people give without the expectation of thanks or acknowledgment, unfortunately their efforts and sacrifice can be missed by those who assume that they suffer no detriment but only give their "spare change" even when the apparent "spare change" is tens of thousands of dollars. Taking people for granted can be so easy, but it can also be very hurtful. ~~~~~~~~~~~ From Devotion News 2007 07

Dilemma

Bloke72 — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:20:24 GMT

Okay… So I now have 24 friends on tribe… Most of my current friends will know how slow I was accepting with the “ I don’t accept invitations from people I don’t know” blah blah crap… Is it hard to keep track of your friends blogs when you have 50 friends ???? How about 100… How about a couple of hundred?? What if you only log in every few days… It’s pointless being my friend to watch my blog – cause I don’t really use it.. and feel no great inclination to…. Should I just start accepting all these invites I get or what ?

My Second Blog entry ever,….

Bloke72 — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:04:10 GMT

Life is wonderful… I am sitting here eating gooey grilled cheese on toast with tomato underneath the cheese :) That’s all… That’s enough… :) Mind you - I still can't see shit... oh well.... mmmmmm cheese

Vision Update

Bloke72 — Fri, 25 May 2007 03:13:10 GMT

Pleased to announce that my vision is much much better. I reckon I will be able to restart the last book I was reading. I will reurn to work on Monday next. I expect to be driving the car by next week if it continues at this rate. Recovery beyond hope :) I am sure I will have the same problem again – but hopefully not soon!!! If I ever suddenly get to the point where I can't use the computer – I will make sure I have someone log-in for me so you all know that I was not hit by a truck :) Peace, Love and Beer Bloke