Playing Doctor

A fool?

Sometimes I wonder if I have been fooling myself. Is a life of some international travel, focused on austere investigation into the nature of reality, ensconced in academia what I really want? I have been dogged by this thought that some how settling down with a 'normal' job, a house and all the rest might somehow be more fulfilling. That lifestyle seems gentler, if not mundane.

The life of a scientist has been described as some what monastic. I remember reading somewhere that one should not join the clergy if they could be happy doing anything else.

I'm not sure I'd be happy doing anything else.

I originally thought i would say succor in academia, but it didn't fit well. Idly googling it produced a promising title, but it turned out to be a complete horror.

An Australian Institution

I saw the Mundine v. Green fight this evening. For all twelve rounds it was obvious what Mundine was up to, but Green totally fell for it. I don't think either really cares though. $5 Million each in the pocket. I think anyone would get in the ring for that money. Other than discussing pugilism with my friends from the Kung Fu club who were also watching the match my mind drifted a bit.

We had all headed up to the Ainslie Football Club to see the fight. This was my first time into such a place in Australia. It's a bit different to back home. Here a football club seems to be much more of a formalised institution. To get in to the facilities you have to be a member or be signed in by a member (One of my Kung Fu mates was a member). The facilities are all well maintained by a large uniformed staff. The facilities include a restaurant, two bars, many, many poker machines and maybe some actual football related stuff. They have a team, somewhere.

This sort of institution is pretty common here. Each AFL team has one at least, plus there are other clubs such as the 'Hellenic Club' or 'Canberra Businessmen's Club'. I've also seem racial clubs (such as Croatian etc) around too, but I'm not sure how things work there. Maybe I'm just more aware of it here. They have ads on TV for these things, which I've never seen before coming here.

I think people must dig the feeling of exclusivity have a membership for a place provides. Even though anyone can buy a membership. The feeling of belonging must help people get money out of their pockets given the prevalent nature of these business types. It might also filter the clientele a bit, I'm not really sure how it would skew things though. It depends how the club is pitched I suppose.

After the fight I saw a presumably drunk individual asking then demanding cars exiting the parking lot give him a lift into town when it was about a 15 minute walk away. Even to the extent of standing in front of a car, while yelling out his request. I am also reminded of another 'football club' The South Pacific Rugby Club in town. There was no actual team, just a membership fee. The place was a dive from all accounts. They were also nearly shut down for putting methanol into their liquor. That practice may have accounted for the devastatingly cheap drinks there, which were only equalled in value by the magnitude of the resulting hangover.

I haven't even mentioned the Labour Clubs yet. They all seem to stand for bargain drink and food prices with pokies out the back. Much like RSLs (RSAs if you speak Kiwi).

Clubs are an interesting way to do things.

I want

I've been thinking about stuff that I want. Some of it has become apparent with the last few days torrential rain, other stuff is just the usual techno-lust crap.

Stuff I want:

Front  mud guard

Front bike light

real water proof light weight pull over  jacket (for riding)

laptop (small light, widescreen maybe Toshiba?)

New 5.1 speaker system for my computer.

Table (for a desk)

Chair

Bamboo pot plant

peace of mind

Thoughts on doctoral study

I am not sure why everyone seems to insist that a PhD should be a long hard slog that infuses the individual with bitterness and a distaste for the world of academia and/or private employment.

I want to enjoy my time studying and be enthused about my work, relishing the challenge and staying positive about things.

Is that so wrong?

This could have been a new year's resolution.

Glimpses of real

I was over at the campus convenience store earlier getting my nearly daily 600 mL intake of caffeinated bovine lactation when I noticed my Kung Fu instructor there with his daughter who can't be older than 5. They were in front of the ice cream freezer trying to pick an icy treat. Hearing him talk to his daughter about ice cream was a distinct contrast from hearing him describe how you should gouge out someone's eye. It's nice to know there is a human side to him aswell.

It seemed almost as much of a non-sequitur as having a few drinks out in town with my PhD supervisor, and while walking from one point to another, having to wait for him to 'have a slash' in the bushes.

Viva La Resistance!

The quality management system here (which supposedly enhances the quality of everything by documenting it) consists of many Quality Documents. Since everything gets written into these QDs there is an awful lot of them. The reading, writing and managing of this paper work can be a bit of a hassle. At least most of it is electronic. There seems to be an considerable undercurrent of resentment at the management here for instituting this system.

The general feeling of the faculty has been summed up rather well in the best QD which is written on a door in one of the Mens' rooms here: 'QD 827 Productivity - Ignore QDs 1-826'.

Irony is a universal concept

All of the moves in Yu Shih Tao have traditional names. They are usually quite colourful, such as: dancing monkey, peasant sows the field, bondsman pushes cart etc. They evoke scenes of peaceful daily life in yesteryear China. A casual observer's view point. However, instead of a relaxing scene these moves entail people being thrown to the floor, perhaps with a broken wrist or dislocated shoulder. I suppose it is that dichotomy that is part of the appeal.

The long cold walk home

I saw the fifth film by Quentin Tarantino last night. It was very entertaining. Especially, the scenes with Pai Mei. There was plenty of time to think of what I liked and disliked about the film as I walked the half hour journey back from the cinema in sub zero temperatures. It was reminiscent of walking home from a night out in Dunedin. My mind drifted back to the many times I walked my girlfriend back to her house after a night clubbing. Despite the discomfort from the cold, I miss those times immensely.

Bridging the cultural divide

I was reading around everything today. I happened upon an interesting node. It reminded me of the first time I ate lunch out with my girlfriend. We were sitting together in a mall in my home town with some sushi. I proceeded to eat with the chop sticks provided. She seemed a bit surprised that I was able to use those particular implements. I was surprised that she was surprised.

A comment on modern social order

I often wonder if anyone bothers to look here. I can figure that out using the following rule. Internet publishing seems to have one key truth: If you have attractive female content you get hits. Since there is no porn or a journal of some girl here, I guess I know the answer.

The new feminism?