Choices

I'm at it again. Yes, more choices.

The other day a friend tells me that they're sick of going shopping at Woolworths. So I suggest they find an alternative. They look at me like I'm asking for the impossible. As if there are no other grocery options around. They sat there and complained about the prices, the lack of quality despite the advertising campaign stating they are the "Fresh food people". Yet if you asked me to place any fruit that I deemed unworthy into the provided bins they have for wastage, I'd probably ask them to provide me with a fork lift so I could move all the pallets to the compost heap.

While there are the corner fruit shops that at least provide better quality, that give you a choice. All of a sudden every fruit shop in town is another alternative. What about other grocery chains such as Coles. While they might not be better, they are another option.

I myself shop at the Farmer's Markets on Saturday. While this limits me to what I can buy thanks to the 4 seasons Earth exhibits around the year, at least the fruit and veg is grown during a time of year it's suppose to be rather than grown in controlled environments usually aided by some form of chemical to help it along.

The downside is, I only get that one day a week to do all my shopping. If I sleep in, or miss out then I don't eat. But at least I have a choice. The local fruit shops around me provide me with less than ideal alternatives I'm willing to accept for my laziness, which has yet to happen.

This problem doesn't just stop with food. It's computers too. As an IT support business owner, the majority of complaints I get these days are about how poor Windows Vista is. While their associated service packs have fixed a lot of things, a lot of other things are still broken. Subsequently, I tell those customers that they have a choice. There are alternatives. You can go back to XP. You can try a Mac. You can install Linux. As such, my business supports all of the above.

The reality of it is, we all have choices. I mean, right now I'm reading about a few different people who have made the choice to leave suburban life, or city life and live off the land. Get away from everything and getting back to basics. This idea appeals to me, though I'm not a handy man. So I'm not sure how well I'll cope putting together a dwelling that can be lived in like some of these people I have been reading about. While you might start picturing me living in the outback, Australia. Trying to grow some cucumber for my salad. I would like to think that I could do that. However the reality is I'd supplement it purchasing foodstuffs as well. Either way, it'll be my choice. Whatever it is I do.

And that's really the whole point. So next time you hear someone say "ah well, whatayagonnado?" The answer is simple. Change.

OMG! Hell froze over

Yes. My wife finally got her drivers license. Right on her 30th birthday.

Now I just need to convince her that it's fun to drive.

So, don't shop there

I'm a little bewildered at the behaviour of some people lately. It's been around me for some time now and I'm starting to get annoyed with it.

What am I referring to? Choice.

Whether it's been on the radio or with friends, I have noticed that people are complaining about the lack of freshness and the monopolistic nature of certain food stores.

You have a choice, don't shop there.

I could go on about it for another five or ten minutes, but why bother? If people can't see that they have a choice with everything they do, then what will my telling them have any effect on future decisions?

Tweeting Twitter

The other day I was listening to my usual podcast and finally caved into their constant barrage of twitter this and twitter that. It made me think, what is this "twitter" you guys always speak of. So I went and had a look. If you haven't seen it yourself, feel free to click here.

It cost how much?

Over the last few years there have been a lot of buzz words zooming around in the media, on the web and in your face, just like in this entry today. I'm going to use as many buzz words as I can to see if it actually works. What am I talking about? Sustainability.

It's become one of those cool things people talk about. But the sad truth is, it's pretty much out of reach for most Australian's. Why so?

Firstly, most of us have full time jobs and can't really be expected to come home to attend to our veggie patch... keeping in mind that a patch big enough to sustain you year round will have to be massive and constantly looked after.

Fine, you say. What about your water? Sure, there are those water storage tank shops that have sprung up all over Sydney. They're not cheap and neither is the installation. Speaking of cheap... Solar panels are not, and you would be silly not to think about installing the and supplementing them with a couple of nice neighbour friendly windmills because it's generally windy when it's cloudy.

Earlier this year the Australian Government announced and implemented a cashback scheme for anyone purchasing solar technology for their homes. We're not talking a few hundred dollars either. We're talking thousands and on most occasions, tens of thousands of dollars to install. So when the Government implemented this extraordinary scheme guess what happened?

Solar panel installation prices went up.

What happened when the scheme was shutdown due to its significant popularity thank to sucking the Government dry? Solar installations went back down in price by a significant amount of money.

So, were customers who took advantage of the scheme taken advantage of? I would say yes. Much in the same way flat panel television sets went up in price when the Government announced the $900 rebate they handed out to every one, including dead people.

I have an inkling suspicion that everyone, deep down wants to be more sustainable and more considerate towards the environment. But how can anyone be expected to obtain a large enough solar panel array to support their household's electronics?

How is anyone expected to be able to afford the technology that has been around for a very long time now and should be expected to have significant reductions in costs?

Most technologically advanced devices get cheaper over time due to the simple fact that it gets cheaper to manufacture and market saturation. Since it isn't cheap, the market isn't taking it up, if the market doesn't take it up, the price stays up.

Talk about a double edged sword.

As a child I remember watching that brilliant show called Beyond 2000. Sadly most, if not all the things they showed haven't actually been invented. However, solar panels were shown on the show. I constantly hear and read about advances in solar panels, bringing up their efficiency and bringing down their price by a significant portion.

The verdict? I haven't seen them yet. And believe me, I've been looking. I'm looking because I am planning on building a new house soon and I want it to be as green as possible. Since I run my own server in my business from home, it's a device that's always on and I'd like to have it powered off the grid. Infact, I'd like to invest a great deal of time into making sure my house relies on the grid as much as possible. I know that it may be impossible to have it completely off the grid. But I want to have the least amount of reliance as possible.

This goes for water too. I plan on installing some large tanks, probably underground for water storage.

I'm open to hear about any other alternative energy suggestions you may have for a house in the suburbs of South West Sydney.

Water Restrictions Lifted

Most of my friends and even some business associates know that my wife and I are fairly proactive water conservationists. While we also recycle properly and don't litter, we also like to make sure that we are considerate of the environment.

Noch ein Bier, bitte! - One more beer, please!

The day was not dry, but cold and wet.

As time drew near, closer, we fret.

It was now due for us to leave.

Onward to Sash's party this eve.

We arrive with fanfare and our usual grace.

Sash greeting us with a smile on his face.

"Shit, we're late" lets make a move.

Jove's still getting dressed, dude.

Finally, we're off. To the train station

Crossing the street and up the elevation.

With a sudden blur, the train appears.

If we miss this one, we won't get there for years.

Blasting down the stairs

We just make it in.

Settled on the seating

With compromised position.

A stroll through the Quay

We make it to Löwenbräu

Spelling mistakes

Cause us to have a cow.

We were let in okay

And taken to our seats

Where we ordered our beers

And selection of cold meats.

Our meals arrived quickly

And on to our secord course

The beer was flowing

I started talking in Morse.

Voices got louder

Dirtier jokes

Helgas with boosoms

Covered in coats.

What the fuck?

This isn't right....

More beer please,

It's the start of the night!

Alex and Mary

Are off to get home

5am start

I don't envy them both.

Sash and Jove

Karensa and me

Talk and drink

With merry and glee.

Karensa and Jove

Stumble up the alley way

Jove is sick

Mixed alcohol gone stray

From champagne to schnapps

To beer, Oi! That was mine.

Jove is wasted

Spewing all the time.

We found her up the street

Kneeling over a pot plant

Bleahhhh, out it came

We all laughed, what a rant.

Laying down on the bench

She takes a small nap

Rudely awaken

By Sash's bursting yap!

"Get up, don't sleep"

Sash is freaking

Jove says "Shutup"

"I'm not sleephmfthing..."

We get her up

And she chunders some more.

Embarrassed, we walk her

To the main street floor.

TAXI! We caught one

The driver not sure.

Karensa assures him

She's already spewed before.

Sash held her boot

Over her mouth.

Ten minutes later,

Bleahhh! like a spout

Straight into the shoe

Down the calve it goes

Again and again

Who knows how many times

We finally arrive home

And put her to slumber

Karensa crashes in the car

What a bummer.

I sober up

And find Karensa in the car

Say goodbye to Sash

Best birthday by far.