Big meany.

I have a sneaking suspicion that perhaps, that I might actually be an intolerant, mean, selfish person, instead of the caring and peace-seeking soul that I've claimed to be in the past 21 years. Yes, it's unusual but growing truer by the minute, but it seems that I am a big meany.

Life so far, has been a bundle of crazy adventures. Some good, some bad, some easy, some difficult, but I've managed to get through them all with a funny story to tell and a little more experience to add to my worldly wisdom collection, however of late I am finding myself in quite a pickle, and a rude one at that.

I find myself judging people by their ignorant actions far beyond my usual attempt to understand what's going on in their lives to make them act in the ways that they have. There are comments circling through my brain of suggestions and favours that I am being asked that I wouldn't dare ask of others and my patience level seems to be lessening each day. I have no sympathy for people having a bad day and decide they're more important in the shopping line then me, and I certainly do not care to humour people for their petty jokes and tasteless remarks.

It's hard for me to say where this is exactly going to, seeing as each day something more comes up and I gradually shift further away from the tolerant existence that I once hoped we'd have, but it doesn't seem pleasant. However, I do believe that I can at least find a few reasons for my diminished care factor. Let's explore a little further...

I believe we live in a western society that is by majority, prides itself of the Eurocentric values consisting of superiority of the masses and little care for equal rights of people that may not hold the same immediate beliefs as them. There is no consideration for social differences and as it appears, no care for them either. I find no pride in that title, nor the fact that we as a nation continue to fuel the typical stereotypes of caring more about sporting achievements of which wages are unfairly distributed based on gender, then people suffering from basic human rights infringements in our own backyard, let alone in other countries that call out for international aid and care.

Something else particularly niggling at me in recently weeks is the inequities of the education system. Is it fair that some children are compensated for unacceptable treatment in care and poor literacy and numeracy skills with yearly theme park tickets and first dibs on entertainment in the local area, while others are not? Is it fair that the children that are not compensated in this manner will still have and continue to have challenges in school and learning environments that will not be improved but rather replaced with easier options? Not good enough.

Irresponsible and senseless consumerism, waste and litter surrounds me in this civilisation inhabited by western cultures of greed and power. This world, is seeming less and less deserving of the innocent souls that suffer at the feet of inequities and personally, I no longer feel the need to fight against it. I'm feeling more and more that this isn't a world I can pour my caring heart into,

I am a big meany. I am becoming intolerant of people who don't know any different. I feeling very mean with my horrible thoughts about why people don't think like me and why people can't just get along and see something from another's perspective, and lastly I must be selfish considering the fact that I've given up hope for the world that we live in. I guess I'll just take me and my big meany self and curl up in the corner for a while in the hope that I'll regain some sense of citizenship that I'll be proud to put my name to.

State of Origin bore...

I know I'm not the only one, however I feel a strong vibe in the air that I am outstandingly outnumbered in the amount of people who actually care about the state of origin rivalry between Queensland and New South Wales. I simply do not care.

I went out with my mum today and as we sat for a cuppa and people watched (as we often do) I noticed many people casting their social preference votes for who they backed in the game. It breaks my heart to see so many people proudly display their support for a ball game, and yet not half as many publically show their support for, say, Human Rights Day. I strongly feel that there are many more worthy topics that deserve not only the social support, but the media coverage and funds to go with it.

So tonight, I spend my time nibbling away at a bar of fair trade chocolate and rekindling my love for words of power while I listen to some calming tunes. Newton Faulkner or The Avett Brothers, perhaps.

Bleh, blah.

Good morning souls of the world,

I am here, blogging again for a small amount of time, trying to type out my frustration with the almighty writers block. I haven't been able to write anything decent or even sprout out ideas for the past three weeks or more and last night I had a good idea. It was a good idea, amongst the warmth of my blankets and snuggles, and I didn't write it down. Trust that to be the time that I don't keep a pad and paper near my bed. Now, in the morning, I come to my laptop, ready to write and I can't for the life of me remember what the heck I was on about when I came up with that idea last night. Argh! Why not? I usually have a good memory for things like that. Talk about frustrated! I have a million other ideas just sitting on my usb saved in titles and can't seem to squeeze anything out of that for the moment either. This is surely driving me mad! Perhaps a cup of organic black tea and some time to meditate in the morning sun will bring back any creativeness or sparks in my mind, so I'm off to see and either way, you'll see me back here. I'll either have another rambling piece of turd to express to you, or, all hopes for something decent.

Be the best you can be.

SM

Cleaners at risk

Cleaners at Myer Centre were recently verbally abused by a member of centre management staff to the point where they felt intimidated. One of those cleaners concerned feels she can no longer work there as a result and has found alternative employment.

When questioned as to what they were doing to ensure a safe workplace, Colonial First State Property Management (CFSPM) the employer of the satff member in question, contended that they'd performe a thorough investigation which had turned out to be 'inconclusive', and therefore felt they could close the matter.

The LHMU, the union representing property services workers - cleaners and security guards - at the Myer centre, subsequently ascertained that CFSPM did not even speak to a single cleaner in the course of their "thorough investigation'.

It was only on the insistence of the union that the investigation was reopened, and cleaners were given a chance to have their say. Even though the cleaners maintain that the verbal abuse took place, and that this incident was not the only occurrence, CFSPM still contend that the evidence is 'inconclusive', and that the matter should be closed.

Would you settle for this in your workplace?

What would have happened in the boot were on the other foot, and a cleaner had abused a member of centre management?

Support the right of property services workers to have a safe workplace, free from intimidation! Send an email supporting cleaners' rights at work to Coloinal First State Property Management at: jsigmun@colonialfirststate.com.au and Cc the cleaners at: cleanstartqld@lhmu.org.au

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I've certainly sent in my response and have pasted that below too - because I fully believe in equity in the workplace and believe this is unacceptable. Support the cause for fair work environments!

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To whom it may concern,

My name is Siobhan and I was recently handed a flyer in Queens ST, Brisbane earlier today stating the words 'Cleaner's at Risk' by a group of people banging bins and making noise.

After a closer inspection I further read that "cleaners at the Myer centre were recently abused by a member of centre management staff to the point where they felt intimidated". It was obvious that they were outraged at this mistreatment and were seeking the assistance of the general public to seek fairer treatment for the cleaners of Myers.

I absolutely agree with their statement and quest for equality - especially in an industry created by the arrogance of others that someone else must pick up after them. The cleaners are valuable and integral in contributing towards the beauty of Queen ST, not to mention are people themselves who deserve respect and fair treatment.

I full support them.

Kind regards,

Siobhan

Modern Day Gladiator

"Baby boy takes world by storm!"

"Wonder child born in miraculous way!"

"New breed of species through to be extinct, re-discovered!"

Good Evening Chairperson, ladies and gents.

It was a dark gloomy night. Thunder struck and the electricity ridden bolts of lightening began to light up the house to reveal the unknown mysteries that lay beneath. The shear screams that came from inside the house echoed and echoed and echoed down the long dark, eerie corridor. This night was full of pain, heaving and pushing until she was exhausted beyond exhaustion. However instead of her child being born, his tiny fingers clenched to make a fist as he punched is way out of his mother's womb, ready for life. And on this night, a modern gladiator was born. This was also known as the invention of caesarian birth. Shortly after this, the child grew a beard.

Some may think to themselves, what does a modern gladiator look like? Well, there is only one, true answer to that question. He is strong, with the strength of a jungle lion, but still have the most in-touch and gentle sides that a man can have. He is 5'11" tall with such a ravishing figure that no one shall dare stare upon him. His face - flawless. Sparkling bright blue eyes that reflect both the ocean and the sky. He has a cheeky, yet seductive grin that gradually turns into the most beautiful smile known to man and he has such sexy, sleek and roughed up hair, as red as the molten lava at Mount Saint Helens, that crawls down his face and across his chin; the most stunning beard a woman has ever seen.

Some may think to themselves, what does a modern gladiator act like? He acts as the Texas Ranger. He moves with ease and grace. His reflexes are unlike no other. He is cool, calm and collected. Ever vigilant for any obstacle that may next come his way. He walks with such confidence and zest, that he could defy the limits of gravity. But, you see, this modern gladiator does not have to act.

Of course this modern gladiator that I speak of is much, much more that just a gladiator, oh yes. He is a man, myth, legend, god. His tears could cure cancer, although he never cries. He has never lost a fight to a pirate, although he likes to say that he has, just to lure them to him. He is the only reason the aliens of the outside worlds haven't attacked yet and he can touch MC Hammer.

But this is nothing. He can stare at a book until the information jumps out at him from pure terror; he sells his sweat as the canned beverage that we know as 'Red Bull'; he can win a game of connect four, with only three moves and his favourite and personal best, he has increased the number of roundhouse kick related deaths by 13000%.

This gladiator, is the one, the only, the invincible, the Chuck Norris.

Yes, the same Chuck Norris that holds every world record. I know that you may not see him in that book, but if you look closely in the very back, in small print it states: "Chuck Norris holds every world record there is, this book is just a publishing of all those that have come the closest."

The same Chuck Norris that his and only his hand can beat a royal flush.

The same Chuck Norris that grinds his coffee with his teeth and boils the water with his rage.

Yes, this is the same Chuck.

Chuck Norris has had such an impact on our world. You see, some people wear Superman pajamas in their day dreaming fantasies to become heroes the same as he, but superman himself, wears Chuck Norris pajamas. He is, in our modern day lives, our gladiator. The man who can slam a revolving door, is, in our society a house-hold name for being nothing more than purely himself.

A pillar of strength when things go astray from the norm. A martial artist, who roundhouse kicks anyone who displeases him. A hero who has no trouble at all taking recognition for all the good things in life, and roundhouse kicks anyone who disagrees. An actor who uses his fame for charitable programs and launches initiatives again drug use, and roundhouse kicks anyone who disobeys!

But Chuck too, has his faults. For example, he knows every meaning of every word in the English language other than mercy. He is currently suing the NBC claiming Law and Order are the trademarked names for his left and right legs. Or perhaps the fact that the only people to get away from Chuck Norris when he is angry with them, are astronauts.

Other than that, though, Chuck Norris has no faults. A perfect being of life. Something, that should be aspired to. A man, to whom age does not take to. A man, who built Rome in a day. A man, who has the ability to lick his own elbow. Who wouldn't want to be able to do that?

Chuck is a one and only. If there were another, it is anticipated that Chuck Norris would meet another Chuck Norris roundhouse kick. Physicists theorize that this contact would end the universe. But that is indeed outlawed.

So every time you think of Chuck Norris, just remember, he is the one who gave Mona Lisa her smile; he is the reason why Wally is hiding; he has counted to infinite, twice; he is the one and only modern day gladiator.

Be bothered...

Last night I stayed up late to bake some fair trade chocolate cookies for Easter gifts for all my loved ones, and it was really fun! I was thinking to myself that I could just have not done anything, seeing as I didn't have the funds to purchase easter eggs let alone fair trade eggs, but I didn't. I decided to home bake some goodies and had fun, and am very proud with the outcome and hope my friends and family will be too!

It made me think about all those things that we do or don't do because we "can't be bothered"? Why not be bothered? Would you be happy with your life if you looked back to only see moments missed by 'can't be bothered' to do anything or try anything new?

Be bothered, I do say. Why not? Go out into the world with a positive attitude and be bothered to do things, try things, be the person you want to be and experience the world at your doorstep. Don't miss a chance because you can't be bothered - it's a general waste of life not to take advantage of the opportunities out there!

Boredom...

I sit here at uni with another 2 out of a 5 hour block remaining before my next class with nothing to do, literally. All the computers are taken, (first time in history for this desolate campus), no study to continue with plus I've just bored my myself out with reading numerous texts to which are horribly unenjoyable thank to the ridiculous amounts of copious readings required in my current studies from the uni library. I'm hungry and the canteen is packed, I'd go somewhere but I'm broke and I'm sitting here... bored.

Now, the ironic part of all of this is that I get quite abusive and irritant towards people that update their facebook status with "bored, bored, bored" and I think to myself, "get off your bottom and do something then..."... and yet here I am, experiencing the core of boredom. Hypocrite, anyone? Or perhaps not, for the genuine fact that I sit with little to no options for stimulation and therefore boredom is a popular choice that I'm cornered into...