The Case Against Going to Lectures

Do these quotes sound familar?

Alan: "Wanna come Icey-ice at 3?"

Person X: "Ugh would love to but...I have AFM at 3...so freaken boring"

Alan: "What you doing later?"

Person Y: "Damnit! It's Wednesday! I got crappy ODS lecture; i always fall asleep in it!!"

Alan: "What time is it?"
Person Z: "It's Conlaw time...*sigh*"

Any of Person X, Y or Z sound like you?

As a result; I've always wondered why people go to lectures if that's going to be their mentality to sitting in there for 45 minutes. It just doesn't make any sense if you go into the lecture room that way. If I was the lecturer I would only want people who WANTED to be in my lecture. All lectures use the age old quote: "Nobody is forcing you to be here" and it's true.

You shouldn't have to force yourself to go.

The reason why i don't go to the majority of my lectures? It is a waste of time my time because I just don't learn effectievly. That 45 minutes I spend sitting there playing "Hangman/Boxes", checking out the pretty brunette three rows in front of me or sleeping/day dreaming would of been so much better spent elsewhere.

It makes sense right? If you are just bored out of your mind and not taking notes in a lecture room, distracted and sleepy, then there is simply no reason to be there. Your presence there is probably more of a distraction to others too.

Especially to that guy three rows behind of you.

In other news; I've begun my Project 365. A photo a day for a year. Let's see how it goes. I've added the link to the side.

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Again and again

It's a Sunday.

Again.

I went out last night.

Again.

I ended up at Metro's.

Again.

Then finished the night at Uncle Billy's.

Again.

Got home just before 5ish.

Again.

I'm in the Reid Library now.

Again.

I'm doing work for a group assignment.

Again.

Getting very disenchanted with this routine. Very very disenchanted indeed. This is very bad for my free roaming nature. Maybe it's just today but I'm feeling pretty down.

Don't hear me say that much eh?

White spaces

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Grand

Things have just been soooo grandoise as of late *sarcasm*

It feels like I've still just finished my Final Exams from last semester (deferred) and it's already Mid Semesters, Group Assignments and Short Essays piling up on me. Time management skills seem to be at an all time low. Like I can't find even the slightest slots to do the little things I do.

I am in the library most days from 9 - 10. I should be those little letters on the end too. 9am until 10pm it's excessive! I went out Saturday night and had a *few* drinks and on Sunday was so totally hungover I still managed to drag my alcoholic induced carcass to uni to do study. Now is that committment to an assignment or just stupid?

I'm thinking the latter.

And right now...guess where I am?

You betcha. At the Reid Library.

I think that's the price you pay for not buying your Unit textbooks. Your at uni ALOT more then you wish. I'm beginning to think the librarians know me on a first name basis. And the Closed Reserve will forever ensure that people will be in the Library.

In other news; Team Alan is really beginning to click and yesterday we gave Yoshi/Darren and their hack team a 7 - 2 thrashing. Scoring six goals in the first half (Me 3, Herbie 2, James 1) and then with a man down, no subs, completely inexperienced keeper; we held them off for another 20 minutes. James even scoring again.

That's teamwork.

I wish i could say the same about my dumbass group assignment members. For the last freaking time:

WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A SOURCE!!

Feeling like an ass. Acting like ass. Must be an ass.

I want Italian food. Whos in?

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Communication is so much more then the finger tips and a piece of plastic

If you never see me on MSN messenger it doesn't mean I've blocked you. I am just not going to use it as such a means of communication that much anymore.

Why?

I feel with MSN messenger I lose so much of my ability to communicate. To actively engage! I lose my sarcasm, my smile, my laugh, my hand actions, my overall body language, my tone (oh god my beloved tone!), my unique accent, my lisp, my speed talking, my wit, the eye contact, the awkward silences...things that are so inherent to talking.

The things that are unsaid are just as important.

There is so much more to talking to somebody then just the words. And some of the responses I get from hacks these days are just killing me. Communication is more then just the words from our mouth/finger tips. So much more.

Megan (is a) Fox says:
Hiya Alan
A - la - la - la - n says:
Hiiii *heart flutters*
Megan (is a) Fox says:
So we doing anything this weekend?
A - la - la - la - n says:
Yeppers. We going for dinner you and I are. I got somewhere special.
Megan (is a) Fox says:
Awesome-ness. I know you love me so much. How much? Tell me how much!
A - la - la - la - n says:
hahaha...you know how much.
Megan (is a) Fox says:
Tell me!! I want a new one this time!
A - la - la - la - n says:
Ok, lemme think for a sec...
A - la - la - la - n says:
Ready?
A - la - la - la - n says:
The ocean's deepest depth are just the shores of my love. The stars themselves have never known anyone that loves you like I do.
Megan (is a) Fox says:
lol...sweetie
A - la - la - la - n says:
Errrr...not the response i was expecting
Megan (is a) Fox says:
You're such a sweetie?
A - la - la - la - n says:
Nor was that
Megan (is a) Fox says:
What did you expect me to say?!? How the f&%k am I suppose to come up with something more romantic then that?! At least if it was in person we could kiss or something!!!
A - la - la - la - n says:
Um...calm down?
Megan (is a) Fox says:
humph...screw you and screw dinner this weekend
Megan (is a) Fox appears to be offline. Messages you send will be delivered when they sign in. E-mail this contact instead | Add a mobile number for this contact

[Great...now whose gonna fix my car?]

That's what happens. True story. And by true...well...somebody once said that the truth shouldn't get in the way of a good story. And a man has to make his living!

MSN Messenger should burn in hell. It has ruined so so much. I lose so much more then what I gain when I'm "chatting" online.

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Heart

I'm a bit of a romantic at heart. I'm not afraid to admit it. It's just so inherently optimistic and so pivotal to humanity. Pivotal to each other. There is something about the romantic style that makes me more optimistic. I'm not sure why, but it's just so right. It's a tough concept to explain.

I believe that romance can come in the most unlikely of places. Real romance.

It doesn't have to to be cliche over a candle lit dinner or by the beach watching a sunset. I find those type of romances to be childish and just so mediocre. Sure it's nice and sweet, but there is no valiant warrior, no helpless princess, no tragic fight against the inevitable, no dashing runs to save the princess.

I'm gonna tell you all a story now which DOES have this. Just eat with the opener. It get's so much freaken better.

Today after Team Alan (yes my new MSU soccer team is named after me) gave AWA a taste of a 4 - 0 thrashing (goals to James, John (2) and me) we stayed back to support the ultimate underdogs of the competition:

The Girls Team.

Think Rocky I and II. Think David from the Bible. Think James Braddock (Cinderella Man). Think Greece Euro 2004. Think King Robert the Bruce of Scotland. Minus the victory and you have the Girls Team.

We want them to win, but it is inevitable they will succumb.

Sure, they aren't flashy, tough as nails or skillful. But you know what?

They have heart. Lot's of it. Misch. Nicky. Amy (or Anne?). Dan. Shirls. Heart.

By half time they were at the short end of a 2 - 0 scoreline. Things weren't down and out but things were looking grim. It would with the team they had. But they had a secret weapon.

Danial was their intial keeper. He kept them in the game. But it was evident that caution should be thrown to the wind for any chance of a win/draw. Dan was moved into outfield. After the break with a few adjustments the team looked completely different. Or maybe just the two most important people to each other had really swapped positions.

Little Shirls was the new keeper. She is 1.65cm and weighs maybe 40 odd kg. Give or take a few kilos. Probably take a few cm's off while your at it. She is super-duper light; i would know. I was throwing her around a few hours before. And she is l-i-g-h-t

Additionally, she has a big sign on her saying: "I AM A NON-SPORTING GIRL". You can just see it in her. Who cares if she knows Akido? The muscle she exercises most is her tongue with her "lashing" wit.

But she has a big muscle where it matters. She has heart.

So the picture I have painted so far; little Shirls in the goals. She looked just so small between the posts. We all knew she was gonna let a few in. But she stuck at it. *thumbs up* We then have Dan slightly in front of her. Just outside the box. The pass option for Shirls. Protecting the box.

She the helpless princess. He the chivalric defender.

And the rest of the team in front of them. But they are like the minor strokes in a van Gogh masterpiece. But you could just see it:

Dan was not just defending the team. He was defending Shirls.

He also has a proper muscle where it matters; he has heart

Dan literally carried the team. His dashing runs down the flanks, cutting across the field and then blasting shot after shot at their goal. Three times he would find the back of the net. But that didn't matter. Goals never do.

What mattered was for every shot he missed and the opposition launched a counter-attack, he would rush back to defend Shirls. Making countless blocks, hassles and tackles to keep them from scoring. His black and white jersey a blur as he rampaged back across the field to do all the defending.

And then of course...the black and white rushing down the flanks to do it all over again. Running himself ragged. To keep it alive.

Watching from the sidelines you saw one of the opposition players hit his hat-trick. Nobody cared. Dan's hat-trick saw the sidelines erupt in fire! Dan deserved his. The Other Guy...pffft...a nobody.

It doesn't matter what the final score was. Dan and Shirls defence had heart and in this day and age; too many people are heartless.

That is romantic.

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It Flu right through me, Goodbye LG KG245 and Hullo Samsung U-700

This was a bti of a consolidated post because I've had a few bits floating around. So who cares for relevence right?

With everyone a little sick these days I decided to write something on it.

Recollecting; I was struck down by the some weird fever-flu thing just before my exams. Normally my immune system would just bounce it off but this time, I took the shotgun of illness to the chest and was down and out.

I had a burning fever, lethargic, nose leaked like a tap, breathing was labored, headaches...the works. I even had delusions and hallucinations. I blame this on Shirley, Sharly, Josh, Sheryl and anyone else who I talked to since that Monday first week, first day back. Shirley mainly because she is just a living germ. She probably contracted it from that Sock Monkey she tongues. And I'm not talking about Dan. Paul.

I decided against recommendations of Cold and Flu tablets from many a student-doctor and opted instead for some good old Alan Mentality.

Alan Mentality is characterised by a deep stubbornness that believes mind over body. Rejection of anything even with the slightest inkling of real life evidence/statistics and an adoration of all things that is home brewed medicine. Mmmmz...professional home brewed medicine.

And hey presto! It worked!

I spent a whole day at home. Focused all my energy on just getting better. I powered nap and listened to music the whole day and drank a lot of water. Some tea and Honey-Lemon on the side to get some flavor going but otherwise; water and my bed were my best friends that day.

My diet was juk (water rice with chicken/meat) and no matter how many times I wanted to it throw up, I stomached it and grimaced with the knowledge that in a few more hours I would be feeling better. I think KNOWING that there is an end to the illness is the ultimate motivator just to grit through it.

Thank god a few hours isn't long and I was feeling better the next day.

Mind over matter. Mind over matter. Mind over matter.

Random annoucements:

Here's my new phone. The Samsung U-700. Not as mean as my KG245 but definetly more lean.

[Sleeeeeeek]

[Shiny]

And a happy birthday to Lisa who turns 20.

And one last thing; Taxi 903 who took that hack home last night after the leedy closed down almost ran over a girl. The Taxi was stupid too.

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Attack of the Trones

I hate Trones.

Trones are those hacks in your tute classes which have that droning mono tonal voice and just copy + paste something from their text book and into their tute. Like WORD for WORD. I swear to god...that's plagiarism, ethical misconduct and all that crap.

That is not participating.

They annoy the hell out of me because they speak so poorly and are just pathetic when it comes to arguing a point. Many Trones will crumble and fall at an Alan Discussion Assault (ADA) and the tutor sees them for the hack they are. And when the tutor asks for elaboration, the Trone will sort of mumble something that nobody can hear and the tutor being the great girl she is will move on.

So freaken annoying. I wouldn't mind Trones so much if they didn't read it so expressionless as well. Stuff that. I still would care.

Needless to say my tute had about six Trones in them. Two of them are writhing on the ground as I shot them each with an ADA bullet. Take that Brendo! If that's even your real name you FOB. Bah.

Attack of the Trones.

[This is the clumsy stormtrooper on the right from iMockery. Relevence to Trones? Well...Clones became Stormtroopers. And Trones are just so boring. If only this could happen more. As in Trones running into opening doors]

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How much do you value the opinion of the world?

I love having super intelligent conversations and debates. In fact I just love talking and arguing heaps. It's like winning a fist fight but without the fist part and the grinding them in the dust is done verbally.

These arguments...it doesn't matter if they are political (Kevin Rudd vs John Howard), sporting (Wet Toast vs Frockers) or even trivial (Can Sean really eat his own weight?). Of course I seem to love to win these fights and I will do alto of talking to grind anybody and everybody into the dust. It's just who I am I guess.

Keep in mind. I'm NOT anti-homosexual or anything silly like that. I in fact have friends that swing that way and I would never rip into him for playing for the other team.

So with that disclaimer aside. Let's get story telling.

Today the UWA Tav was giving out free beer. Yes. That's right. F-r-e-e B-e-e-r. Of course you needed to do some sort of survey and it was Toohey's New but none the less. Free. Beer. Doesn't that inspire your Traditional Asian side?

Amongst some other friends we asked the question which plagues us all.

How much would it take to tongue someone of your own sex?

And were not talking just some flicker. We are talking LASHING. Like we talking like this but even fiercer. You don't need to click on it honestly. Just know that we are talking lashing.

So, would you do it for:

A thousand a second?
Five thousand a second?
Ten thousand a second?

And what happens if:

It was going to be Youtubed?
The world knew?
Future kids/grand kids were to see it?
Mama and papa saw this?
The other person was enjoying it?

It would seem that as soon as I added the additional conditions, no matter how much i would offer everybody would decline. Most people would be happy for the 1000 a second but as soon as I slapped those last four on...WHAM!

NO

Who can blame them?

By agreeing to those last conditions you have virtually sold your name. And I know heaps of people who say:

"I DON'T CARE WHAT THE WORLD THINKS OF ME"

And to which I reply: "Have you never heard of the expressions 'You mean the world to me' or 'You are my world'?"

That shuts those anti-social hacks up.

With 6 billion+ people in this world there is bound to be someone out there that you care enough for that you value their opinion. The odds are just against you for that not to be true. It's just mathematically impossible that you can't not care about one of those people.

By agreeing to earning $3.6million an hour (along with those conditions) for that tongue lash you have effectively placed a price on what the people most important to you thinks of you. And if their opinions don't matter? What are you building your life for? Who are you building it for?

It's swell to have $3.6 million but how about nobody to share it with? Oh sure they could "understand" but they all know deep down that you just sold your name and their opinions. Is this less chilling then I make it out to be?

Of course this wasn't a super intelligent conversation like I had with Siobhan on Saturday about if we vote John Howard then are we voting for him for the full term or are we voting for Peter Costello to take the reins in between.

But it was fun to see some people's reactions. I'll leave them nameless.

Am I still drunk from those beers o_O? @_@?

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Filler

Hey everybody, lack of blogging from exams.

Here's a bit of a filler post while i get everything in order first and then we'll move right along to getting back into the routines. The video is from the State Champion thing i won.

It's awesome and put together by the school. See if you can spot me and I'll be happy to think of some suitable reward. Yaolin people can't do spotting. So enjoy!

And the best convo of the week. No need for context:

Alan: "So where have you been?"
FOB Nigel: "I just got back from national service and now studying at Murdoch, how about you?"
Alan: "Oh...I'm at UWA and been being lazy"
FOB Nigel: "Wow! Your accent has really cleared up lah"
Alan: "Thanks mate"
FOB Nigel: "Lemme buy you a drink later!"

The world just gets better when people buy you drinks because the FOB accent you never had cleared up. Sweet.

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