Worse than wolf shirts.

In the newspapers, there's been a lot of talk about legalising hard drugs. The gist of the argument is that by legalising heroin, and making it available at the local pharmacy (as a prescription drug), crime rates would drop because junkies wouldn't have to steal from people to support their habit.

Riiiight. Whoever came up with that theory deserves five across the eyes.

The last thing I want to see when I buy my aspirin or cough lollies is a junkie in the same queue, doing the 'responsible' thing by buying it from a qualified chemist rather than on the street.

This really is the stupidest thing I've heard in quite some time. Why should crime rates drop just because heroin is legalised? It still has a price attached to it, after all.

Consensual Living

From here:

"Consensual Living" parenting, which was developed in 2006 and now has many hundreds of followers, supposes that every family member's needs are equally valid and respectworthy. Even pre-adolescents are assumed able to understand their own needs and respect those of others. When little Kiernen, 3, of Langley, British Columbia, hits another child, his mom told Toronto's Globe & Mail in March, she does not invoke authority but instead asks about his feelings and whether he'd like to express himself differently. If Kahlan, 18 months old, of Nanaimo, British Columbia, is grumpy at a time when her mother has made plans, Mom says she is obligated to consider other plans. And when Savannah, 6, insisted on wearing her Halloween cat costume every single day for several months, her mom in Burlington, Ontario, just shrugged, since she recalled how contentious the morning dressing rituals were, pre-Consensual Living. [Globe & Mail, 3-31-09]

Oh fuck off.

Edit: Isn't this how the Princess complex in girls started about? The last thing the world needs is a new generation of kids who feel they have a sense of entitlement to everything.

Also, do parents really think this will ever work in reverse? If my brother decided to wear the same shirt for a month I'd freaking kick his ass. I never have, and never will ask someone if they'd like to "express themselves differently" if they're pissing me off on purpose.

Seriously, fuck off.

The one where I complain about work again.

My workplace has just moved from Sydney city to the western suburbs of Sydney. Initially I thought it was a boon because it meant I could drive to work again. And by drive to work, I really mean drive to the town, and then find some free parking in the back streets, and then walk 20 minutes to get to work. I like the walk too, it helps my wonky knee warm up with minimal stress on it.

Unfortunately, the town my office is now in is a shithole, not to mention a place notorious for its high crime levels.

Recent highlights include: A store in the nearby shopping centre held up in an armed robbery, a hit and run at the pedestrian crossing directly opposite the office, and two people stabbed at the train station (also directly across from the office).

Lowlights include: Being walked into on purpose by a dero young man who then asked me, "How about it then, love?", being coughed on by a crackhead, and witnessing at least a dozen mentally ill people harassing random passers by on the main street outside the office.

Some of my female workmates have flat out refused to walk alone outside of the building after an email went around about a sexual assault in the public park, located funnily enough right next to the office.

So I'd just like to take my hat off to the management of the company I work for, who in their wisdom decided to ship over a thousand people to the middle of fucking nowhere, adding an extra 1 hour travel time to people's daily commute, putting us in an unsavoury atmosphere, and not even giving us some perks to offset all the bullshit that we now have to put up with. Fuckers.

I'll have a box, please.

Aldi has these on special later this week. A friend of mine from work sent me the link this morning. I told him he'd have an instant heart attack. He said he'll have a box of them.

My initial revulsion at the idea of chocolate covered chips has since died down a little, and now my curiosity is starting to come through. So I'm going to buy a packet and at least try one. I'll probably buy some normal things at the same time and try to hide the chips underneath them in an attempt to mask the fact I am buying something that embraces indulgence to the extreme.

Cor, I remember the days when grated carrot used to be my favourite treat.

It's that time again. Eurovision 2009

Like the rest of the world, I watch the Eurovision telecast with morbid fascination every year. Common thoughts that arise are: How can so much metallic material be worn by one person? What gender is the lead singer? Is this act for real? (Protip: it's not, unless the group comes from the Eastern bloc, in which case it probably is).

Here's how it usually goes. Serious songs with good vocals are appreciated, but should never win, as this is not true to modern Eurovision. What an act lacks in talent, they try to make up for in sex appeal and/or sheer ridiculousness. Simple.

Last year is a case in point for the Czech Republic. CZ learned that serious submissions like that of 2007 (click for bonus poorly-translated lyrics!) will never get them anywhere, so they tried their hand at Poor-Vocals-Sex-Appeal in 2008. Which also got them nowhere. Next tactic: the ridiculous submission.

Behold: Czech Republic's entry for Eurovision 2009. (The intro is not in Czech).


Edit: I will donate $20 to a charity of my choice for every time I hear the words: "Czech Republic: DOUZE POINTE".

I got nothin' but a love song for y'all.

Why is it a "happy" Easter?

Thanks to Facebook, I've now seen over 20 people wishing me a Happy Easter. Honestly, I'm just glad for the super long weekend. We get Good Friday and Easter Monday as public holidays in New South Wales. Easter Sunday is meant to be all about going to church, but I'll be sleeping in and no doubt stuffing my face with hot cross buns and the ridiculous amount of chocolate I got this year, and also not going to church.

So yeah, can someone please explain why it's a "happy" Easter? Has it always been a happy event? I can't really equate this holiday with a happy occasion, but maybe that's because Catholic school and its doctrines pretty much ruined most religious things for me.

Dude died on the cross for my sins. Real happy occasion, that.