Ask the Pope

Ask the Pope
A satirical website following the Popes appearances in the media.

Complaining Day

Weather: The weather sucked. It was cold, wet, windy and all together pretty miserable. Because of this, work sucked. I was cold, wet, and although not personally windy, all together pretty miserable.

Results: I got a sup. NOoooOOOooOOOoooo... I haven't had a sup in ages, but I remember how much they suck. I have to go check when it is ASAP actually, It just occurred to me if it falls in one of my holiday weeks things are gonna suck even more... :'( Also got another NCN (non-complete assessment) and 2 credits. At least the sup is in lamo labour law and equity is out of the way. I've never skipped a sup, but until this exam period I never purposely slipped an exam either... Next year its at least 3 electives then, or 4 if I'm lazy and/or on holiday ;)

Whatelse?... I was reading Letters from a Skeptic last night, then before I finished a chapter I asked myself - Why am I reading this?!?! I know the answer.


On the plus side - Passed Equity. Soccer is 3 days away. I am warm atm. I am full atm. I am gorgeous. Gonna go play some games

Weekend Recap - Engagement Party

Adam and Kirsty had their engagement party on Saturday. It was pretty coo despite the lack of alcoholic beverage to lubricate proceedings. The food was tasty and plentiful. The guests were largely older and related to one of the happy couple.

Our gift was wicked coo - A massage chair thing and a foot spa. The foot spa was almost an afterthought, but it got the biggest "OOoohhh" by far. It may have helped that the previous 15 presents were all porcelain baking cookware. Adam was hella funny with his subdued "wow... thats... greeaaatt..." at some of the more awesomely practical gifts, like the cookbook holder.

Our card was also wicked coo and was always going to be the coolest card. Vj found it, but not after I told him repeatedly to keep lookin till we found the perfect one.

Friday was taken up largely by shopping for aforementioned gifts although it being my only day off last week I took the time to try and organise my extremely late insurance claims. One of the 2 is now ready to go and I will endeavour to get to a mailbox early tomorrow morning or afternoon at worst. Then I played some dance machine in Tuggers where there is a $1 machine at the cinema for 3 rounds which is pretty affordable. The machine itself is a bit odd in display and sometimes the menu goes funky, I think it must have loads of options for the uber pro ddr gamer. Then after tedious amounts of shopping and a late dinner at Vj's, I popped inside the Ignite Christian Rock Concert at Woden before an appearance at Steph and Cecilia and Ness' second housewarming (despite moving in well over amonth ago and having only travelled down the road).

Ignite was almost finished. I suspect Christians spontaneously combust at midnight unless they are fast asleep in bed. This is probably why Vampires so enjoy eating them! ;). Anyway, by 9.30 it was a wrap. What I saw was more of the same, Guitar, Bass, Drum band singing uptempo hymns. Anyone see the Hillsong thing in the morning? Probably not, but it was that type o thing.

Housewarming I wasn't up to. No alchohol, 4 days of work, being on my feet all day, and christian rock didn't float my boat. Had a bit of a chat then went home. I really need some soccer in my system. On Thursday I am gonna score so many goals. So many goals you won't believe.

Tomorrow it's back to work and Uni results. I already know there will be a FAIL waiting for me. First time for that experience, but I think I'm rather worried about it having a buddy too. Oh well, I'll deal with it tomorrow.

In the future - Thursday Soccer Saturday Bro's Bday (not that we doin anything but I gotta get him something somehow) Next Week Tasmania 2 Weeks after Xmas Few days later Melbourne New Years Eve Trashed off my face and then the New Year back in Canberra.
I haven't had a chance to do any of the writing and creating I had hoped to get stuck into yet. Hopefully I will have a chance to think about that effectively on the 2 trips I've got goin. I don't want to end up working away my inspiration, or wasting that time since time is clearly running out before the conventional life beckons. And if I keep up being exhausted after work and busy on the weekend, I may as well get a real job and compensate for my stifled imagination with a cushioned chair, a pinstriped suit and superannuation.

Finally - here are some pics and vids courtesy VJ's phone from the Sydney Trip.

Video 1 - here
Video 2 - here
Video 3 - here

I did my part for the Roos!

Because I'm worth it

...mmm-bob bipeda-by doo-bop...

9-5

Workin at the nursery isn't terrible.
I need more sleep though. No break after the week in Sydney, and a 3 hour drive home doesn't count. Getting to sleep between 12 and 1am each night doesn't help me get up promptly.
Each day tends to be occupied in one particular task although I don't realise it until I've been doing it for 3 hours. Be it sweeping, watering, weeding, or tubing etc.
Today was definetely tubing, but that became obvious in short order. After 7 odd hours with my head down menially placing one slender blade of grass into it's own hotel room within a vast tray holding 198 seperated cells, my neck was SORE. In fact it's still sore.
Now after whiling away in front of the computer for longer than I intended it's time to get some real food into me and watch a movie.
Just realised I have eaten today: 1 Bacon Deluxe from Hungrys, 1 600ml Coke, 1 small packet of BBQ Tasty Jacks crisps, and maybe 3 room temperature curry puffs while at the comp. Being able to keep my bodily urges in check the way I can control my emotions doesn't help me gain weight alas. There are of course exceptions, hunger isn't one of them.
Tomorrow will be 4 days in a row. More than I have worked in the last 12 months combined.
Good thing I'm gettin paid

Also...
I LIKE TO MOVE IT MOVE IT! - lyrics

DVD Reviews10: November

Madagascar - Voices: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Ali G
Animated, Childrens - King Julian! I am the King! Look at my crown! It's on my head! I am wearing it right? What a champ. Also the penguins - Where are the people? We killed them and ate their livers... :D Unfortunately all the main charachters sucked ass. Poorly directed, terribly scripted, very average animation to complete the mediocrity. Ali G was teh king btw and one of the directors was the Captain Penguin. If you took out everything but the penguins and lemurs this movie would fkin rock! 1.5 stars

Kingdom of Heaven - Orlando Bloom, Jeremy Irons, Liam Neeson, Ridley Scott [D]
Action, Drama - Beautiful, rich and emotive imagery as expected from Scott. A great script teasing out more important issues of faith and morality. A fantastic cast including Irons, Neeson, and kiwi Martin Csokas, and Alexander Siddig (who I only recognised the second time around as Julian Bashir from Star Trek:DS9). Unfortunately the hero speeches are the let down at the end of the film, both poorly written, and delivered by Bloom. Cool movie nonetheless. 3.5 stars

The Iron Giant - Voices: Harry Connick Jnr, Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel (as the robot!), Brad Bird [D]
Animated, Childrens - From the director of The Incredibles a simply delivered, well directed childrens fantasy about having your own 40 foot Giant Robot friend from Outer Space. 50's Cold War Nuclear Family setting leads to ultimate showdown between the military and the visitor. 3 stars

Amelie - Audrey Tatou
French, Comedy, Romance - Fantastic movie. Cute and bizarre, always playful, always touching! 4 stars

The Island - Ewan MacGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Bay [D]
Action - So many people said this sucked. It didn't suck, but it wasn't uber. Being an action movie, it over dramatised and simplified moral issues around genetics and evil scientists and glossed over the most interesting issues. Good use of over exposed film to create the highly contrasting and over saturated images. Although the shaky-action-cam got annoying and was overused. Bay loves car crashes and twisted metal and managed to top the ridiculously cool chase in Bad Boys 2. Scarlett is hot. Macgregor's american is wierd. The mercenary's final loyalties are inconsistent as Luke noted. Fantastic production values, I wish I get the chance to throw that much money at a movie one day - although would probably feel incredibly wasteful! 3 stars

Guess Who - Bernie Mac, Aston Kutcher
Comedy - Not bad. Had some coo black jokes hehe. 2.5 stars

Miss Congeniality 2 - Sandra Bullock
Comedy - Woeful. Really quite very poor. Nice hats, but only 1 Shatner joke, and thats where it gets it's ... 1 star

Hitch - Will Smith, Eva Mendes
Romantic Comedy - Decent soundtrack, some great scenes esp the dancing. Decent RomCom 2.5 stars

MOVIE: Corpse Bride (brief)

It was also OK. I liked The Nightmare Before Christmas better. I didn't like the songs. The animation was excellent and the visual feel was par for a Tim Burton movie. Johhny Depp was boring, plain and could have been performed by anyone. None of the charachters for that matter were very inspiring. The story had an interesting plot but not much really happened - a vehicle for the songs if nothing else. Since I didn't really like the story or songs, there wasn't much left for me to enjoy. The final scene with the butterflies was a wicked cool visual effect, but couldn't save the film for me. Would have benefitted from more jokes. WHERE ARE THE JOKES?!

MOVIE: Mysterious Skin (brief)

Starrin that dude from 3rd Rock and the kid from Thunderbirds (Brady Corbet) about what happens to two boys who are molested in primary school. It was pretty coo - make that ok. The story didn't really go anywhere. Basically one becomes a gay prostitute trying to relive his first love, the other blocks it out, thinks it's aliens and seeks out the other to reveal the truth. The 3rd rock dude, Joseph Gorden Lewitt (?? - omigosh in one) was especially good. I didn't like the kid who played the young thunderbird kid , he looked freaky, but maybe that was half the point. The young 3rd rock was excellent. The fireworks were gnarly gross. Does anybody understand the Mysterious Skin metaphor? Or is there no metaphor and it's just a reference to the fruitloops? If you have a clue, lemme know

My team's a winner!

As I was saying to Steph on Saturday night on the way to Sydney FC v Perth Glory, the best soccer game from an entertainment point of view is the 4-3 come from behind, back and forth victory (e.g. 1-0, 1-1-, 2-1, 2-2 etc) the best example of which is Leeds 4 v Liverpool 3 from way back in 2001 (?) when big Dukes put the world on notice with all 4 goals!

Anyway, the next best victory from an entertainment perspective is 0-3 in the first half, and then a complete turn around for a 4-3 win! And although we had no goals in Sydney, at Southampton Leeds was to turn in a victory of this second type! How cool :D

World Cup Weekend Summary!

WOOoOOOoooooOOOooooOOOTTT!!!

AUSTRALIA WINS!! SCHWARZAAAAHHH!! 4 fkin - 2 on penalties!!

How fkin awwwwesome! Bresciano scores!! Vidmar = Champion! Schwarzer's second save! Schwarzers first save! Kewell's penalty! Neill's penalty! Vidmar's penalty! OMG Duke missed his fkin penalty! OMFG SCHWARZER'S SECOND SAVE!!! ALOISI SCORES WE'RE GOING TO THE WORLD CUP!!!

Holy crap holy woaaah!!!

OMi omi omi omigosh wow!!

Take that! None from one for uruguay!

Vinnie does the hard yards

FKIN YEEAAAAHHH!! - Bresca lapses into instant coma

ON YA BIKE LADS!

NUFF - SAID!

Cop that (thank god ref didn't see!) popa u crazy sunuvabitch!

Didn't get to the ground early, but it turns out Travolta was there. His wife had a clue though! Green and gold!

YEAAAHHHHH!!!!

TEH HERO and teh fans!

Fans!

Guu's da man? HAHA! GUUuuUUUuuSSS!

You beauty! We dun it!

Hehe - Bresca so stunned haha, everyone else lets him know what he just did!
Posted by Lordstok

Champions Harry and Aloisi

OMIGAWWWDD!

uruguayan fans - now that they lost i don't hate them anymore ;)

fans

Suck it! We felt it, now it's your turn!

Bresca's in there somewhere!

Man of the hour

If you have more hero pics not already here, SEND TO ME PLEASE! Highest possible quality! :D

The rest of the week!

Oh yeah.
So - After the game we spent a good 30 mins waiting for the ceremony and cheerin' our 'eads off!
Then a less intense hour odd waiting for the train! Although really needed a bit of respite! My throat BURNED after we left the stadium for a good 5 mins till I guess I got used to the pain!
Spent a few hours at a pub in town but went to bed pretty early really - 3am.

Thursday was more relaxed. Woke late. Umm... we did... stuff? I recall playing dance machine heaps - I am gettin' better. This summer I'm gonna get pro ;) Where did we have dinner? Umm...

Oh yeah we had a small roast pork/duck/chicken dinner in chinatown before the game on friday since we got in late, hadn't eaten and just as well since the game and celebrations went for so long!

*crazy lucy got drunk and clare and clo who went up seperate to us, had to take her home and miss the second half and penalties! omgosh. If vj ever does that I will MURDER him!*

Thursday night we had KARAOKE - it was wicked coo. Anf likes to boogy, what a champ. Mike like to improve, Vj's drunken revelry kinda makes sense when he's next to them come to think of it... ;) Steph said she wouldn't sing - I said she would. As usual I am awesome! Cassie can't hold a microphone to her mouth without significant encouragement. The crazy chinese dude at the bar was cluuuuueless - at least $3.50 cruisers redeemed him :) Drank a reasonable amount and left at closing 2am

Oh yeah we also watched Corpse Bride on Thursday. I thought it was 'ok' I have a back log of reviews to write now, I might do em all at once cause I thought they were all kinda unremarkable. Did we go to Luna Park on Thursday? I think we did. It was lamo. So tiny. So expensive. So crap. Gravitron (called Rotor at Luna Park) was coo - gave me a headache :D

Breakfast on Thursday was down the road from Gabe's place. Gabe's place is not the complete hole I thought it would be, although it was pretty messy when we got there. I was awesome and cleaned up the whole house all by myself in my sleep - I'm so awesome.

Friday had yum cha at the cheaper chinese place on the china town strip which I always go to when I haven't got someone in line to get into a better place - in hindsight on a friday we probably could have gone to Marigold or the place upstairs in Paddy's. Anyway - it was YUM - I got my cha siew cheung fan and ate till i was stuffed. Even tried chicken's feet with VJ although Cassie and Mike (our token Aussie's) were too wimpy. Full kudos to the manager who stood behind mike when Mike was trying to be funny by playing with the chicken foot - HAHaha - hilarious shit hehe! Also ended up dirt cheap - wicked coo - the trick I think is to bring as many token aussie's as possible and eat all the food hehe :D

Cassie bussed out Friday arvo, Vj is useless at buying presents, prepared for Gabe's party. Wore my wicked coo tattoo shirt and samurai knot and contacts. But forgot I can't double up - and just like last time I doubled up - was the first to throw up and pass out!

Saturday got up later still? Caught up with Amy but only momentarily for a crappy korean dinner - the food was fine the service I'm still waiting for - Steph didn't respond to throwing up as well as I did, turns out she followed me up and over about 30 mins after my brilliant performance - I start all the good trends :D Then walked to Aussie Stadium to watch a dour draw between Perth and Sydney. Perth were well worth a point, but Sydney's performance didn't really deserve anything. They kept all the possession, have a terrible defence, and are as unimaginative as liverpool going forward. Kazu rocks though, 38 and wickid coo touch and flicks. Other stand out players were Mori, Yorke, Despotovski, Corica, Petrovski, Zdrillic in that order.

Saturday night started with Maccas after the game and a looong walk to Darling Harbour, only to realise I meant to go to Circular Quay (I still forget the names) - and so we walked off to the other one. Home cost loads, but the whole place was open this time which meant we could change rooms whenever the music wasn't to our liking or we felt like a change. Gabe nicked off to find his woman so me an Steph kept on until 6.30 am. More maccas then home for sleep.

Sunday woke later still! Steph and Gabe took in the Glebe Street Festival. If it's a choice between Julian's Dreams and a Street Festival everyone would choose the dreams, but I'm the only person on the planet awesome enough to comprehend them without their brain exploding from awesome-overload. Then had a nice dinner in Leichardt at some semi-decent Italian joint. Was good to get at least a little good service and dine-out. A weekend away just isn't complete without one. I need more money cause I was really in the mood for a bottle of Moet, but then again had to drive home.

Did indeed drive home after dropping off Amy and grabbing our gear from Gabe's place. Weekend complete - Verdict: Wicked Coo!

*p.s. who can guess my new catch phrase?

Picture from Steph's camera, and Videos from VJ's phone to upload when I get them!

A Twisting Path

I'm still living in the daze,
from the week that who,
neath gentle foggy haze,
caught me unaware.

Wrapt tight between it's arms,
I could not breathe.
Warm gently in her palms,
I daren't believe.

Awake but not alive,
senses blurred and frayed,
daring not tempt fate,
but failing either way.

No cross road lay before me,
no alter path to take.
I cannot steal what cannot love,
and faith I will not fake.

The week I've waited for?

So its 1.40 am Wednesday the 16th of November.
We've got tickets. We've got shirts. Do we have game?

I hope this week is the panacea I might be longing for. The last fortnight has been nouvelle.

>> poem about emotional state

Next week my update no doubt won't include the details of this weekends adventure ;)

In a side note, today the wind pissed me off no end. I blasphemed mightily both inwardly and out.

>> poem about being true

Meantime I'm downloading, I mean legally aquiring, music for the trip. A healthy dose of Pop from the flavour factories of Shannon Noll, Robbie Williams, Gwen Stefani mixed with some alternate rock in both hard and chewy - Garbage, Harvey Danger, with a sprinkling of folk Bernard Fanning. I'm glad my name wasn't Bernard Fanning in school...

I think I'll call one of my kids Balian. And the other Christiaan. I haven't thought of a girls name. My kids will be freakin awesome.

Out of steam

Well, I didn't go to my exam.
It's the first time I have willfully missed assessment like this.
I ought to feel worse than I do - which is almost guilt free.
I have 'excuses' the main one being that I'm playing the probabilities in terms of economy of effort. Having missed all assesment for the class (in fact now I have missed all for the whole course!) I would struggle to get a result in the final. Assuming they would consider me for a final grade, I would need a distinction in what appeared to be pretty difficult and technical final paper. In addition I'm saving my self the extra effort of cramming last night, and perhaps more tellingly, the post exam exhaustion I have been experiencing this time around. That means I'm giving myself more time to get through my final essay for Labour law, a class I have an ordinary chance of passing, and even a shot at higher distinction.
Sounds pretty convincing eh?
Of course that means I wasted my effort going through my materials yesterday. But we will ignore that eh?

So tomorrow morning is URUGUAY v AUSTRALIA - C'MON YOU GOOD THINGS!

Dayum - didn't realise so many Aussie players on yellow cards :(

Can't wait to get this last essay out of the way so I can just forget about all this crap and concentrate on the more important things ;)

Pro Procrastinator

What I've done instead of my essay Today...

1. Read the soccer websites... all of them
2. Play Minesweeper with everyone I find on MSN (and own their asses)
3. Go outside and juggle a ball, 3 sessions
4. Grab the Robbie Williams album and listen to it through twice
   
5. Read the Chronicle over leisurely dinner
   
6. Finish all the puzzles in the Chronicle
7. Hit the web in search of the Daily Jigsaw
8. Discover addiction for HyperFrame (MindCube no.12 was nasty)
9. Write down all the things I have done instead of doing my essay

Also I should have started my essay YESTERDAY. Well... given I hadn't already started it weeks ago and avoid a late penalty...

Go to Shockwave.com for HyperFrame!

Edit: No.19 was tough tough tough too! OMG need to start essay ... :'(
Edit: I have MASTERED HyperFrame :D

Ups and Downs

An interesting week gone by, another one beginning seamlessly.

Happy day on wednesday, utterly confused on Thursday. Great fun in buggy began crappy day on friday, funny movie to finish. Crappy study, revelation on Saturday, work was fun as was movies at home. Sunday was "wierd", mum stuffed up Sydney plans, but ended on a high at 4am! Monday was tiring at work, soccer highlights preped me for brain boring cramming till late. 1st Exam over is relieving, but essay is already late, and I'm tired, and a lil confused...

What' next? Another 48 hours of coke fuelled insomnia and emotional blankness. Maybe a day to rest, then more cramming for Econ on Saturday. A half day rest esp to watch the World Cup Qualifier 1st Leg on Sunday morning, and then 2nd essay turn in on Monday. A day of work for a spot of extra cash, then off to Sydney! Will have to finalise accomodation and maps before next week, but I predict some of it will be 'winged'. Ought to be good, esp on Wednesday, esp if we win. Gov is going down, as is Anna, Strauch, Lucy and lot, and now Gabe might try swing by with someone too.

Who was talking to me about emotional rollercoasters? ;) God forbid hehe

ROFLMAO! Chinese Backstreet Boys

ROFLCOPTERMAO!!!

This is what I wanted to do for presentation night! Who comes up with freakin awesome ideas? Me and these fkin hilarious chinese omg so hilarious!!

Chinese Backstreet Boys - here!

Found from DAVSBlog

Lyrics: Lift - Shannon Noll

I know you're hurtin,
feels like youre learnin,
bout life the hard way,
and it ain't workin.

Seems like forever,
that you been fallin.
It's time to move on,
your life is callin' (yeah).

This was never
meant to be the end.
Close the book
and start again,

Cause I know,
how hard it can get,
you gotta lift.
You gotta lift.

And sometimes,
that's how it is.
But I know you're stronger,
stronger than this.

You gotta lift.
You gotta lift.

When you can hear your,
whole body's achin,
what's left in your heart,
it won't stop breakin.
You've gotta let go,
you took a hit.
It's time to pick up now,
move on from this.

This was never
meant to be the end,
Close the book
and start again,

Cause I know,
how hard it can get,
you gotta lift.
You gotta lift.

And sometimes
that's how it is.
But I know you're stronger,
stronger than this.

You got to,
lift yourself up above all the hurt don't give in.
Wipe your eyes and remember you're better than this.
Let em know that they took their best shot and they missed.

Come on and lift!

Cause I know,
how hard it can get.
You gotta lift.
You gotta lift.

And sometimes,
that's how it is.
But I know you're stronger,
stronger than this.

(yeah) I know,
how hard it can get.
You gotta lift.
You gotta lift.

And sometimes,
that's how it is.
But I know you're stronger,
stronger than this.

You gotta lift.
You gotta lift.
You gotta lift (pick up now)
You gotta lift (pick up now)
(pick up now)

Crappit

God 1 - Julian 0

*joking (Edit:a bit)

Shannon Noll rocks

Edit: Wrote out the Lift Lyrics on mah very own since I couldn't find em. That song is coo. I'm gonna have to get the Album, since when do I care what people think

Went and saw 40 Year Old Virgin with Luke, it was pretty funny and had a few very non-pc jokes that got thrown in at unexpected places! For some reason I thought it was gonna be PG or M rated but it's definetly MA 15+. Good pick me up, will write a review later.

I'm not depressed! Just a lil let down ;) Too bad, Cassie is great and her place is teh shit wif buggys and quads and pool and tennis court and pool table and darts and foosball. I'm not material but gawd materials are fun! Kid in a toy store. But I didn't get to take anyhome :| Gee I'm in a wierd sharing funk - I'll have to bury this in an avalance of media next week and return to my cryptical, guarded irreverance.

"I know you're gay cause you draw lil pictures and write poems!"

At least I'm havin a Good Lookin' Day! Samurai hair rocks, as if I would want to cut it off!

Now with colour!

casjulanimecolour
Originally uploaded by lordstok.

Happy Day :)

casjulanimebw60
Originally uploaded by lordstok.

happy happy day
happy happy yay :)

working slowly on a colour version