The work blues

Just over the past couple days, the subject of jobs have come up in my conversations with different people. Here is a summary – “Getting bored. Need a new job.”, “Not paid enough. Need a new job.” , “‘Any reason you can think of insert here’. Need a new job.”. Notice a recurring pattern here?

I’ve been working at my current job for over a year now but now I feel restless and uninspired. My main issue is being underpaid and boredom. At my place, we don’t have any incentives to constantly aspire and motivate us. No six month evaluation, no promotions (you’re either hired or you’re fired), no pay rise, no company car and carpark…you get my drift. It is in retail so it’s not like there is something new and exciting to learn everyday (after the initial stress of trying to remember EVERYTHING!).

So how does blue become renewed shades of fun and excitement where every day of the job is a fantastic day? One way is to swap jobs (I swear we young adults have an attention span of a gnat!) so that everything is new and different again. Another is to perhaps ask for a pay rise, then everything becomes “green” again (except if you live in Australia like me where money comes in many colours). Last resort is to continue to slog it out and hope for the best. *Sigh*

Teenagers + Sex = ??

While doing a blog analysis of prominent Australian news sites for my journalism class, I came across this blog written by screenwriter, Evan Maloney. One particular article caught my eye as I was scrolling down – ‘Teenagers and sex’. Some of the responses were very entertaining!

Why is there such a big hoo-hah surrounding this issue? Parents admittedly have problems about their children doing it but then again isn’t that a bit hypocritical when they themselves were playing “hide and seek” as teenagers? Does becoming a parent automatically activate the ‘touch-my-daughter/son-and-I-have-a-shotgun/rolling pin/(note: insert weapon of choice here)-and-a-six-acre-lot’ gene or is it because it is just because they fear their teenagers are not yet capable of handling the emotional and mental baggage that comes with sex?

Personally, the best way to handle this issue is to not try to control their teenager’s life but to equip them with good morals and values grounded in strong foundations. Bring kids up with the ability to independently think about choices and to understand the consequences of their decision. Oh yeah, don’t forget the whole “sexually transmitted infections” and “safe sex” bit.

And if…who are we kidding…more like when teenagers start to be sexually active, don’t condemn and be disapproving. It is after all their choice and their bodies. Instead, I would have been a lot more grateful if my mother accepted my decision and slipped me a condom and the pill.

Hooked on Sims

Sigh, it has happened again!

As soon as you think you’ve kicked the habit, Maxis comes out again with a newer and better Sims – Sims2 and its various crazy expansions. I know this game has been in the market for yonks and it might seem like I’m behind the times in terms of gaming, but I never seem to tire of the game (within reason).

I recently started playing Sims2 again and I receive fiendish delight in having power and control over my characters, Man and Woman Funny (terribly original, I know). I can dictate their every movement – when they eat, sleep, use the bathroom and even have sex. If I want them to abstain, well…all I have to do is NOT click the ‘Make Love’ button. Easy!

Is Maxis playing off our human instincts to always want to control our environment and the people around us (think Hitler, most existing religions, etc.)? Or is it voyeurism? Can it be that we are all just plain nosy, busybodies? Perhaps it may even be all of the above…

Whatever it is, I will most likely be spending the next couple of weeks of my life on this game until the habit is kicked again. Great…fantastic.

What a day!

The Sydney Harbour Bridge celebrated its 75^th birthday with pomp, glory and style…if only it wasn’t for those noisy Peer Networkers!

A swarm of approximately forty hyperactive Peer Networkers (PNs) and international students from University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) descended upon the bridge to participate in the Bridge Walk. They came brightly dressed in greens and golds to show their support for Australia’s national and historical icon.

“It was very thoughtful [of the UTS organisers] to arrange this event…it is a day the international students wouldn’t have known about otherwise so it is good to get them involved,” said Michelle Beattie, a Marketing and Tourism student.

Rebecca Lai agreed: “It is lucky for them [international students] because they get to celebrate with local people and its shows them that we can be very festive.”

The UTS contingent joined the more than 200,000 group of people who officially registered to join the 3.6 kilometer walk. It started in North Sydney, ended either at Darling Harbour or The Rocks and took around an hour to complete depending if you ambled, walked, jogged or ran (the UTS group took a very long time to cross the bridge as they stopped numerous times for photos!). All who participated in the walk received a free neon green cap to commemorate the day.

For those who missed out on the walk, organisers had planned various other activities and free family entertainment at and around the area. Highlights included a ferry and workboat race around the harbour, fly-overs of historical planes, an Aboriginal smoking ceremony and the dazzling bridge lights that illuminated the night sky.

Allen Lui, the UTS organiser, said the day was a great success even though not as many people turned up as he had hoped. “It is a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ special event and it was about time PNs got together with the international students…to foster the university’s international community.”

Other links:

www.ourbridge.com.au

http://photos.all.id.au (Click on Allen’s link)

 

Journalism: You but not me

I have to admit that I’m not particularly interested in journalism as a future career. Why then, you ask me, are you even studying this degree?

Well it all started off with with the force of nature that is my mum. Let’s call her Cyclone George. Combine this with my aunt who we shall call Cyclone Jacob and what do you get? It’s pretty obvious…remember the cow in the movie ‘Twister’?

While I don’t see myself as journalist, that’s not to say that I don’t like writing news stories. It is pretty fun and challenging to properly structure a piece and I feel totally pumped after a job well done. But it’s the actual business about chasing after quotes that bugs me. If there was only a way that I could hire a “quote-taker” and then I’ll write the stories…ah, that would such an ideal situation!

If only wishes were bugs, then a lot of wishes would come true.