Good by Bakhtiaris

Well in the middle of the night at about 1am the Bakhtiaris were whisked out of Australia on a chartered flight, the government wanted to hide from the media attention, and the outrage of the unfair treatment of Australia's highest profile Asylum seekers. They were sent on their way to Pakistan despite their pleads by them, activists and others that they are in fact Afghan. They speak Farsi, they look Afghan, and there is evidence that they are, provided from sources within Afghanistan. Why couldn't the government see that? The thing is, if the government finds them to be Afghan they would have had to let them stay, this is the extent the government are willing to lie to avoid showing compassion.

hmm...some thoughts

The tragedy of the earth quake and tsunami in Asia is devastating, I haven't yeet said much about it, but my thoughts go out to all the people out there, with the death toll ever rising, I thank all the countries, organisations and people that have pledged aid to the countries affected. The death toll is coming towards the total of the death in the Dafur region in Sudan. It makes me wonder where there aid is, why hasn't our government pledged millions of dollars to them, I think with more than 75,000 dead and over 2.3 million homeless that the people there could really do with that. Where is the TV news specials for them, why is the situation there seem so much less important than the Tsunami. I still feel for the people in Asia, but why can't we feel for the people in not just Sudan, but Africa as a whole, because their devastation is not a suprise, but a daily occurance, that people seem immune to.

Just a note.

I'm still here, just been busy with christmas and the like.
I wrote a poem tonight, which can be found at my site, http://writingcorner.cjb.net, and I did a little bit on my novel (refer to meter at left).
Also I got a digital camera for christmas, which is great. But I'm having trouble, getting the photos onto the computer, I even wasted $30 on a compact flash card reader. The thing is, it's my computer. Well in the process I managed to make my computer faster, give it more free space, and remove some virus' and spyware, but still no pictures to show you. It's a shame, I really want to change my profile picture to something less formal. I'm still alive, are you? Leave a comment if your still here reading.

Merry Christmas to all

This is just a note to say Merry Christmas to everyone out there who celebrate it also gretting for anyone else who is celebrating something else this time of year. Well I finished to article, and sent it to the editor, I'll keep you posted on where you can find it.

Break and reflect

I'm taking a small break from writing this article to write this short post. I am having mixed feelings about a lot of things at the moment. I haven't blogged since Monday, which is also a worry, however minor. Between writing tonight, there was a period of stoppage, where I ended up in bed, and saying to myself that it's a waste of time. This has nothing to do with me, or my writing, but my family. I was interupted when my sister wanted to use the computer, but I was busy and I stressed to her that I needed to finished this. She didn't care, my dad got involved, and they were all arguing that I was hogging the computer, that I should give her a go. What was she going on for? to talk to friends. I was writing an article. Big difference. I feel with my political involvement and with my journalism, I'm doing something bad, like I'm taking drugs or going out stealing or something. My parents act as if me caring about things is wrong. My family, except for my bitchy sister lean to the side of 'mortgage is all that matters, and if your a muslim, your a terrorist.' I have learnt to avoid political discussions because they lead to full-blown arguments. But now I find I have to shut up about what I'm doing, like I'm doing something wrong. So I took to much time writing this post, so I wont fix gramma or spelling mistakes. By the way, Merry Christmas to you all.

Just a link

Middle East Times

I don't like talking religion, so I won't, I'll just leave you with a link to a story in the Middle East Times.

Real problems take second pillar to the problems of the Bush dictatorship

Sudanese troops raiding Darfur: African Union - World - www.smh.com.au

Darfur is not getting any better, further raids, including by air have ravaged the region. The African Union are trying desperately to enforce peace in the region, but unlike the Iraq situation, international assistance is limited. With 70,000+ people dead and over 2.3 million homeless, isn't this a real problem, instead of a problem the US created in Iraq, they invaded them, not the other way around, why should they get help. But yet again the media falls silent on real problems, in favour of quibbles that feature the dictatorship of George W. Bush.

The government once again avoid others finding the truth

Mental fears for hunger strikers - Immigration - www.theage.com.au

There are fears for the mental health of those hunger striking at Baxter Immigration Detention Centre. An alliance of independent psychiatrists and GP's have been formed to access those hunger striking, including those who have sewn their lips together. But the group has been denied access, the government claims that there is to much hype about the ordeal, and they shouldn't be negotiated with. Does the government have any compassion, for someone to take such a drastic stand would require some sort of severe suffering. Dr Newman said: "This latest outbreak of despair and self-harm is entirely predictable. Long-term detention damages psychological health and the prospect of indefinite detention results in hopelessness and mental deterioration."

And the results are in.

Well I got my HSC results today, for those who are saying 'HSC? What the...?" it's my final year results. My mum was hassling for me to get up early so I could see them, I didn't, I just went on sleeping, amidst being mildly annoyed by my mum's nagging. My results are fine, nothing special, I'm just writing this post because I think that this is a major event and must be reported on, and my UAI is in tomorrow, that's my rank for University admission. Oh yea, I didn't write last night, my sister was on the computer so I watched lame slasher flicks till 1am.

Where have I been?

Monday was the last time I graced my presence on here. This would be for a variety of reasons, 1. Monday was the last night I was home. Tuesday night I was at a friends watching iRobot after an exhausting day at the beach, and last night I went to my school's presentation night, where a few friends got awards. and 2. I have spent any other free time bludging and not even bothering to do much at all except indulge in a bit of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Whilst watching iRobot, which has a cool message at the end, I came up with a little bit for my novel when I was daydreaming. So tonight I'm ready to keep typing away, at the detriment of my parents, who find the 'tatter tatter' of the keyboard increasingly irritating.

One other thing, my results are in tomorrow, so I'll be on the net in the morning in a rush to release the pressure, and then either party hard or drown my sorrows.

Public opinion survey

Well the HSC is over for me. But not my sister, she is now on the same voyage I have now finished, and she needs your help. She is doing a research project on the refugee issue for one of her subjects, and for it she, with my help, has made a survey to record people's opinions. So please go to: http://pub36.bravenet.com/vote/vote.php?usernum=3059349219&cpv=2 and answer a few questions, it will only take two minutes or so. If you know absolutely zilch on what the whole refugee issue is, please visit The Age's achive on the issue at http://www.theage.com.au/issues/immigration/index.html or www.chilout.org

They're crying out load for our support.

Baxter protest from the rooftops - Immigration - www.theage.com.au

An Asylum seeker from Iran has been seen protesting on the roof of Baxter Detention centre screaming, "I am a Christian, and I cannot go back to Iran.", he is part of 22 other detainees who have been on a hunger stike for just over a week, five stiching their lips together. The man said his rooftop protest was the only way he could show his plight to the Australian public.

Novel Update: First draft - Chapter One

Word Count: 3353

Last night I got writing again, it was only a little bit, and I did a little bit more this evening. Tomorrow I'm off to the beach, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow night to do some more, but then again I might get into it tonight, I'll keep you posted.

Novel Update: First draft - Chapter 1 (and other stuff)

Ok, the prologue is done...for now, and I am about to move onto the first chapter. To tell you the truth the prologue was done a while ago, but I'm at a loss as to how to start the first chapter. It has given me some time to think things over, and the story is forever changing in my head. This is a good thing, because my story is constantly gaining more and more depth, I'm coming up with more stuff that adds interest to my character's and sub-plots that make it easy to string to story together and keep it moving.

With no writing, you'd think I'd be doing nothing, but I have been doing something. I have been working on an article for a webzine, from the US. The article is on the Australian refugee issue, and it's basically an overview of the whole issue. I sent the article away to the editor for a first look and he sent it back with notes for me to fix it up, this experience is extremely enjoyable and worthwhile.

Blackmail at it's most disgusting.

Countries that refuse US immunity 'face aid cuts' - World - www.smh.com.au

George Bush is going to cut humanitarian aid to countries that wont grant the US immunity from a future war crimes tribunal. By doing this hasn't he basically admitted to war crimes? If not, why would he do something so drastic? I know that the US are guilty of atrocious acts during the war, even though the mainstream media in Australia won't peep a word of it. It's because I care, I enough to find the real truth, and not some fake story telling me the American's are doing a noble thing. The problems run right into the American Army culture, the music in the comms, the kind of culture that instills killing people as an ok thing, and a way to create peace. Sorry you don't have to be a rocked scientist to realize invading a country does not equal peace, especially when it involves a large amount of civilian casualties. This really does prove that George W. Bush has no compassion.

After 10 years to problem doesn't get any better.

UN lists children's fatal legacy of hunger, war and disease - Health - www.smh.com.au

UNICEF have released a report detailing the suffering of Children in the world. It produced some heart-breaking statistics, and makes you worry, with all the starving and sick children inhabiting the world's poorest countries, why aren't countries such as the US, Australia, UK and other healthy countries helping? They say it's not their responsibility to help out. Maybe countries should stop caring whether or not their responsible and just help out because they can. I mean the main way they do help, is to give out loans, but this leaves the country with a debt that is hampering the country from climbing out a vicious hole of poverty. A main source is conflict as stated in the report: "Fifty-nine wars were fought around the world between 1990 and 2003, and 16 of the world's 20 poorest countries suffered violent conflict in the past 15 years."

The truth comes out, but what's going to come of it.

Senate inquiry finds PM misled public - Immigration - www.theage.com.au

A senate inquiry has officially found that Howard had misled the public during the 2001 election campaign over the children overboard claims.

Mr Howard and other Liberal MPs claimed that children were thrown overboard when the SIEV X 4 sank on route to Australia, full of Refugees. They used this as a major political tool to deceive the Australian public into attaching an unfair stigma to Asylum seekers. I didn't need an official inquiry to tell me that Howard lied.

But what will come of it? Will the media actually report on this adequately, the report came out at about 5pm this afternoon, and I still haven't heard anything about it except for from the Age. Isn't it a shame that I have to search articles from a Melbourne newspaper to be adequately informed when I live in Sydney, isn't it even more of a worry, that I have to turn to an amateur journalist/blogger to get some truth about the battle of Fallujah via www.fallujahinpictures.com.

A great book has been published on the SIEV X tragedy where hundreds of Asylum seekers were left to drown outside Australian waters because if the government saved them they would have to bear the responsibility of their claims for Asylum. I have put the book on my chrissy wish-list. I just hope my racist grandparents won't realize what the book is all about and then decide not to get it for me because they are too ignorant to care.

update: since writing this major news sources around Australia have made a mention but not much.

In the spirit of Christmas

In the Christmas spirit and as a new tradition between me and my friends, we have got our photo taken with Santa. Yes, I know we are 17-18, but we don't care, it's nice photo, don't you think?

What is worse than terrorism?

Annan Warns Chaos Looms in Violent Darfur (washingtonpost.com)

This is easy, the situation in Darfur is far worse. Whilst I feel for the vicitims of Terrorist attacks, the situation in Sudan recieves vastly less attention then the 'War on Terror' or the Iraq (which isn't even against Terrorists). How many died in 9/11 ...2,000 ...3,000. Yeah that's alot. But try around 70,000 people dead and millions homeless. But no one says much about that. Why? Because people only care when American's die. We all mourn the death of Americans but we are cut off from feeling compassion for people over the other side of the globe. Tell me where would troops be better off. In Iraq, fighting an unnessary war, or in Sudan protecting the people. No, not invading Sudan, but going into the Darfur region and protecting them and providing food and care. That would make a real difference.

Absolutely disgraceful

Vanstone defends family's treatment - http://www.smh.com.au

An Indian family that migrated to Australia are facing deportation because their son is Autistic. When their visas expired, they had to apply to the immigration department to stay in Australia. The discriminatory system has the ability to reject applications if people aren't of sound health, this includes this family because their son is Autistic. Is this really fair?

New story

To keep my novel from going stale, I have turned to writing a different story. I wrote this just now, it's under 1000 words, so it's not long. It's called 'His father's words', have a look and tell me what you think. For Blogexplosion users, the story open's in a new window.

News in review

Scathing Putin brands US a dictatorship - SMH
Russian president has labeled George Bush a dictator over global affairs, saying a unipolar world would only worsen the threat of Terrorism. I whole-heartedly agree when the Russian leader says, "Even when dictatorship is beautifully gift-wrapped in pseudo-democratic phraseology, it has never been capable of resolving systemic problems. On the contrary, it can only make them worse,"

Trail of al-Qaeda fades away- SMH
The search for Osama bin Laden has gone cold, and the Pakistani president has said the US bears a large amount of responsibility for that. He said that there was a lack of troops in the region to fill in the 'voids.' Mr Bush said there was "nobody more dedicated" to tracking down bin Laden. That I agree with, as Mr Bush seems to think Iraq is more important than tracking down a mass-murdering Terrorist.

Images of Fighting in Fallujah Compel at Different Levels - Washington Post
A Blogger's coverage of the Battle of Fallujah is much more graphic and truthful than a US military slideshow. Isn't it a sad time for the media, when the main-stream media fails to adequately show the effect this war has on civilians and it is left up to a part time blogger to tell the world the truth. 'Iraq in pictures' gives a more in depth and truthful look at the horrors of this war. (Warning: Some pictures are extremely disturbing)

Egypt using laws to 'stifle' free speech - Middle East Times
Egypt's opposition left-wing party is moving to remove laws that ban gatherings of more than five people without the approval of the government. This has the effect of removing the threat that is faced from opposition demontrations.

Israeli, Palestinian doves spread message - Middle East Times
There is re-newed hope for piece in the region, when prominent groups from both sides of the divide will air presentations promoting peace to region prompting new talks.

Israel, Egypt Swap Prisoners in Sign of Warmer Ties - Reuters.com
Egypt-Israeli relations have been given a boost with the swapping of political prisoners.

And that's my wrap, also my post on the refugee issue has been cross-posted to In Search of Utopia

Novel Update: First Draft - Prologue

Word count: 2903

Well I have basically finished the prologue. I think that more of what happened prior to the main part of the story can be explained during the story. It is finished for the time being, and will undoubtedly require tweaking/re-writing like the rest will when the first draft is finished.

Tomorrow I will turn to other writing projects like an article from an ezine on the refugee issue, and I will also finish a poem, that started with two stanzas that popped in my head at 3am, when I was trying to sleep.

Oh and one more thing, leave questions for my FAQ.

Political Rants.

Prime Minister John Howard said today that civil liberties must be compromised for the Aboriginal community, saying it is less important than staying alive. His statements are completely absurd and divert attention away from the need for further economic involvement by the government. It seems putting lots of money into blowing stuff up over in Iraq is more important than protecting the people that rightfully own this land.
from the Sydney Morning Herald.

The new photos of prisoner abuse in Iraq sicken me. My grand-father said in relation to the Abu-Graib torture scandal, "But it's only physiological", well this is a lot different even if you think psychological torture is ok. Why are the right supporting this? Also the resistance "problem" isn't getting better for the US, so get the fuck out of there it isn't your country.
SMH

I sent his letter to the Sydney Morning Herald in regards to this article, where students have defended the reputation of the school, criticizing a rape victims actions and this hit me with anger:

In response to the article titled, "Students challenge rape victim's story", It disgusts me to think people can put the reputation of a school above the well-being of this victim. It is not acceptable to cover up her story, and then make excuses for the rape. Rape isn't excusable no matter what, and the school should be held accountable for it's reckless actions. Private schools receive little admiration or respect from me for their ability to keep students from connecting with different cultures and socio-economic classes, and therefore institutionalizing a lack of tolerance in their education. The fact that they cover up a rape and then try to defend the reputation for the school, lowers my view of Private School further.

Sorry Cow

Morale question solved and my FAQ

In a previous post I questioned whether or not it was a worry that I wrote gore and horror, yet in reality I'm a human rights activists. I got a few responses to the question. Paul Moment was kind enough to direct me to an interview at the Nanowrimo site where this question was addressed. It said "No one ever accuses Stephen King of fantasizing about being an axe-murderer." and Jay made a comparison to me and Roald Dahl. Who writes disturbing adult novels, whilst also writing moral stories for children. I think you must highlight the fact that there are sick people out there and that brings awareness to the need for human decency. I am trying to weave a moral message of humanity into my novel. Yeah I know a horror novel with a moral to it, don't be surprised it's been done before. I'm still worried about me though.

On another subject, some bloggers have had readers submit questions to compile a FAQ on themselves for other readers. I am interested in doing the same, so please leave some questions so I can get started.

National Treasure

Tonight I expected to sit on the internet all night, doing brain numbing things like browse blogexplosion for hours. Instead I got a phone call from my friend, Ben (no I'm not friends with myself). Me and four other friends went to the local cinema to see the new movie 'National Treasure'. I thought yeah, it might be alright, probably nothing special though. Boy I was so wrong. It has to be one of my favourite movies of all time, next to Braveheart and The Green Mile, among others. The fact that it was PG turned me off, but once you were hooked you forgot about that. It had suspense, action, history, mystery and a little bit of romance and comedy. It let your mind wander. For those who haven't seen or heard about the movie, it's about a treasure that has been passed through civilizations through the years (like right back to ancient Egypt). Until finally the founding father of the US declaration of independence hid it. Now Ben, (just a coincidence) played by Nicholas Cage, is on mission that has been passed down from his great grandfather to find the treasure.

Also I little piece at the start allowed my mind to wander to a solution to one of my holes in my novel, and things are slowly falling into place.

Novel Update: First draft - Prologue

Word count: 2680

Ok, I really am trying to get into a rhythm when I'm writing this, I have brought a big event to start the story, this is a way of hooking the reader in. I have developed my character, and now seems very 3D, but he can be so even more. As I sleep every night, I usually get thoughts on stuff that can happen, filling in more doubts so as I write I am getting even more confident.

But...There's always a but. I'm having a kind of moral dilemma. My writing especially if you read Spontaneous homicide, McSean or Journey out of this place is very graphic and disturbing. Now there are other writer's like this, but the thing that gets me is while I describe in vivid detail how my totally screwed character disembowels someone or hacks out their eyes with a toothpick. I am still someone who is very politically and morally challenged, and I strive for compassion, human decency and equality. Is their a problem with me?

Where is the Fucking compassion

Detainees on hunger strike say goodbye - Breaking News - http://www.theage.com.au

Excuse the language, but the refugee issue has laid reasonably dormant, the last couple of days, but it has fumed up again. Read this:

"We have been locked up like animals for a long time and we are not criminal people.

"We want to live in Australia as free people. That is our reason for hunger strike."

The immigration department said the hunger strike was over-exaggerated.

Over-exaggeration! What the Fuck! Let me ask everyone who sits at their computer all day browsing through blogexplosion not giving a shit (this is not all of you) If you were going to be given the death penalty for being a Christian would you flee your country anyway you could? How would you feel when you arrived at a so-called 'country of freedom' and then you were locked up? This problem is not getting any better. Most of the world and even most of Australia don't know enough or don't fucking care. I'm sorry if I blew up over this, but I am very frustrated that this is being ignored on every TV station, that most newspapers ignore this, that most people are so cheap and greedy to forget that they are human and only see them as criminals out to take our welfare.

Australia and it's cheap and dirty trick for not taking responsibility

Most Iraqis on Nauru win refugee status - Immigration - www.theage.com.au

Good news on the refugee front, 27 Iraqis have been granted refugee status, but the problem is not fixed and this announcement doesn't come without it's problems. Australia will only settle 11 of the refugees, that were detained in Nauru. Leaving the others no better off, they have to find countries that will have them. Why doesn't Australia except them? This is the problem with the so called 'pacific solution' They use Nauru to house Asylum seekers and they are not held accountable because they aren't with in Australian borders. How cheap and cruel can the government get. These people are fleeing persecution, they desperately seek protection and we lock them up, and try as best as we can, even after it takes us three years to find them as refugees, to not have them in our country. THREE YEARS! The government took that long to realize that these people were genuine, come on give me a break Vanstone and get some fucking compassion.

The racism and tolerance problem is getting worse not better

Police probe KKK-style attack - National - www.theage.com.au

Ok, my politics posts have been kept to a minimum, but today will be an exeption, there are some good news and bad news, so read them, learn and bear with me:

Today there have been reports of a KKK style attack in The Age, "A man and his son were yesterday accused of tying a noose around the necks of two Aborigines...After they broke into a hut...Aboriginal leaders have claimed the youths had nooses tied around their necks and wrists and were dragged around while being beaten for almost an hour along a river bank."

This is a good example of the recent influx of racism against aborigine's. There was an incident where an Aboriginal man died in suspicious circumstances, causing to community to riot. I naively thought that the racism problem was gone for the aboriginal people but it's being brought back up again.

How can someone judge someone based on what colour they are. To put them in a stereotype. This is a fundamental principle that some people fail to understand. Aborigine's are stereotyped as drunk no-hopers, Muslims are stereotyped as angry terrorists. Please this is a problem that deeply troubles me. So before you judge someone, you better have to right knowledge to judge them, otherwise quite bluntly. Fuck You!

No big party alternatives in both Australia and the US

New-look Labor's pitch to business - National - www.smh.com.au

Labor has retracted today all it's policies that were mildly differing from Howard and his racist, right-wing cronies. They moved in line with the Liberal policy on industrial relations with would slowly phase out any union involvement and they even backed down on their policy to protect the old growth forests. The Labor party are making it worse for themselves not better. I can tell you quite simply why Labor lost. It didn't offer an alternative, they are moving further and further towards the right and now they fail the represent the middle and lower class workers and which they were founded. They're just a cheap right-wing alternative. Maybe my dad, a staunch unionist, will change to the greens now.

This is the same in the US, Kerry lost the election because he didn't offer and alternative. Most of the left-wingers in the US voted for Kerry even though he was going to sustain the war. He wanted to try Osama Bin Laden in a US court, like all the things he did to other countries didn't matter. He puppeted Bush on gay rights. And yet, the left still supported him. I love Michael Moore's film, but I am confused as to why he supported Kerry, when he was for the war. Nader had the best policies of them all, but Moore campaigned to have him off the Ballot.

And nothing will change until lefties get off their asses and do something. Protest, go see your local member and campaigning. Blogging has made a big influence in getting out messages across, but we are still trying to combat the large number of right-wing bloggers that offer their racist taunts and puppet Bush and Howard'ss lies and right-wing hysteria.

FictionPress.Com Profile : Benjamin Solah

FictionPress.Com Profile : Benjamin Solah

Ok, while I sit at this computer churning out my novel, here is a link to my profile at fictionpress.com complete with 6 fiction pieces and 3 poems. Please read them and leave your comments.

Keep a safe distance of 5 metres

I have no real desire to write today. My mum has screwed it all up for me, she seems to think if she tries to stop me from using the internet I will try tirelessly to get a job. I have applied for 10 jobs yesterday through www.seek.com.au, but no reply (yet). I don't usually write personal rants, but in a nutshell my mum pisses me off. She is so pushy, and hates technology, she seems to think we all live in the 60s where people at 45 still listen to everything there mother tells them (45? No I'm not exaggerating). I lost my cool and the way I blew up must have been very childish, but that's the way it is when you have my mother. I know there are mum's out there that will probably jump up and down at my feelings, and teens that will nod in agreement. Please say what you want, I don't give a fuck.

Novel update: Planning, Research and First draft - Prologue

Word count: 1255

Well I finally got the guts to scrap the first 1106 words I wrote, and replace them with better ones. But first I did some more research and planning. I did some character profiles so I could better understand my two main characters, Hadeon and Aleksander. What was more I went on some of those lame questionnaire sites and did personality tests for Hadeon. This let me gain a better understanding of this really quirky and out there character I have created in my head. The profiles and quizzes allowed me to fill in the gaps that hadn't crossed my mind.
Well I wrote 1255 words and later may follow tonight, and I am pleased with what I have produced as it shows more motivation and introduces Hadeon further. Overall there is more depth in what I have written which is essential in writing a novel.

A chance for change

Move to change migration law - National - www.smh.com.au

Writing has occupied my thoughts lately, but never the less, I have not given up on the refugee issue. This article says that a group of lawyers are working for reform, and they are trying to "demonstrate it was possible to achieve the Government's objective of national security while also maintaining people's right to liberty." Also I have been invited to write a series of articles for an e-zine on the refugee issue, the magazine is American based, and the articles will focus on all areas in trying to create world wide awareness of the issue. Remember that this is a human rights issue, these people have come to seek protection, they have done nothing wrong and they don't deserve to be locking in limbo in inhumane prisons.

Music and Writing

Music mixed with writing can be both good and bad. In my early experiences at being a serious writer I used music constantly to block out external distractions and as a great tool for encasing a mood or emotion that was needed to add authenticity to the scene I was writing. If I was writing a scene about an angry man killing lots of people, angry music such as heavy metal or death metal would be appropriate to bolster these feelings. However especially with loud music that contains alot of screaming this can have an adverse affect. In my experience writing scenes with blaring metal music, the writing tends to come out choppy and crazy, with little literary or intellectual comments. This may be good for a short story, or something that you are not trying to get published. Music should be used before hand but not during, silence, no matter how hard it is to obtain is the best soundtrack for writing, it lets your mind stay open. Also playing games like Grand Theft Auto are a terrible thing to play before or during writing. I am addicted to the games, but if you write after playing them, the writing is something you will not be proud of.

This post can also be found at A-Blog-y-mous Rants

Novel Update: Research

Tightening the Sagging Middle

Ok, if you refer to my previous post, you might notice I am not feeling that confident about my writing. So I thought some light reading might be in order. I found this link via The Writing desk of the Scribe. It talks about "Tightening the sagging middle", and it did help...a bit. It's not the fault of anyone but myself, I just need to get it all together and start writing.

Novel Update: First Draft - Prologue

Word count: 1106

Ok for some reason I haven't written in a while. Not just because I have been busy. There are some nights that I have had a lot of time, but instead I wasted this time doing something completely pointless or mind-numbing. I thought about the first thousand words I have written, and I read it for a little bit. The writing is good, I sometimes surprise myself with the descriptions and ideas that come out of my head when I'm 'in the zone.' However, does it lead me anywhere? I think I've bitched about this in a previous post, but I am seriously considering re-writing the first thousand words to add a bit of meaning and introduction of the character. But I want to keep some of the great lines I have come up with. This is not the predicament I want to be in. Help?

Team blogging

I have been invited to be part of A-Blog-y-mous Rants, a blog with a team of bloggers rather then one sole rambler. So have a read, the posts are a bit slow but we'll see how it goes.

Getting into a routine

Regular readers will notice that the 'Nanowrimo' meter has not moved in a while. Why? Quite simply, I haven't written anything. I might do some tonight, but I might start again! I don't like what I've written because a) There is not an introduction of the character and b) the killing is senseless and needs to have a motive or the fact that the killing is senseless needs to be made clearer. Something that would solve all this is, if I actually did some writing. In Stephen King's great book 'On Writing' he says writers should get into a routine of writing at least a thousand words a day, and that is something I want to get into the habit of doing. I blog at least once a day, so why can't I write once a day. This has something to do with the shitty keyboard I'm using. I can't type as fast as the words are being processed in my demented head. Also reading is another habit I need to get into. I'm currently reading 'It', which is good, it's just difficult to read reguarly because I am a slow reader, but I will make an effort, next book on the list is 'Grapes of Wroth' by John Steinbeck.

A friends story

It never seizes to amaze me when I read a friends story/poem and actually find that they can write a half decent story. Tonight, Micheal Jones, sent me one of his stories, The Wedding for me to look at. It's erotica, so not everybodies cup of tea, but hey nobody is forcing you to read it. It's well written with some nice description. Have a read if you don't think you will get offended.

Images of our own

Drawing compassion - Arts - www.theage.com.au

An Australian artist is holding an exhibition of works about the refugee issue. She said "This is the saddest it's been as a nation. There is no excitement in a country where most people are only concerned about the size of their mortgage."

Are you hinting at anything Johnnie?

PM riles Asia with snub to peace treaty - www.smh.com.au

Prime Minister John Howard has refused to sign a non-agression pact with our South-East Asian and pacific neighbours. Why? Every other country including China has signed. Are you hinting at anything? If I put myself in Mr Howards mindset this move still strikes me as odd. Why would Howard attack them, there isn't much oil in South-East Asia.

Today...

Today I went to the University of Wollongong for my interview for a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing). Basically we had to talk about our styles, influences and aspirations and other questions. Everyone was nervous, except for me, the professors seemed pretty nice. I was lucky enough to go first, and it went great. The two interviewers asked mainly about my political writing and they seemed impressed. A lot of encouraging words from them just made me more confident and I seemed to mesh well with them. We seemed to mesh well, in relation to our political beliefs and spiritual beliefs (or lack of). The head professor gave me a reading list that included John Steinbeck, who I have heard of. Have any of you guys heard of him or read any of his stuff? If so, what's he like? Oh and with around five days till the end of Nanowrimo, I may have written the least in the history of the event, I've done like 2%. Oh well, there's still next year.

Coffee

What a better late night topic than the drink that keeps people glued to their computer screens doing mind-numbing things such as surf on blogexplosion rather than write the novel of your dreams. Well I went to the city today with two friends, mainly because it was a fare free day. This is because the trains are crap, so crap that this legal secretary got on the radio and told the whole of Sydney to not pay today. The Premier backed down and made it official. Anyway we caught a train that went half way round the world before arriving in the city. This really sucked because we were busting for breakfast at Maccas. So we got of at the quey, and bolted to the Maccas across the road. We arrived at 10:31 (I'm not joking), but there were three bacon & egg Mcmuffins left. Anyway back to coffee, my friend Ben wanted to go to the bank on Pitt Street, and next door happened to be a Starbucks. Now I have always been skeptical about chain coffee shops, mainly because chain hamburger places aren't as good as the local hamburger shop. Well since it was early (10:45 is early for me now, since there is no school) Me and Mitch got a small cafe late (pronounced in a strong aussie accent to avoid sounding like a stuck up yuppie) and it was nice. I mean one of the best cups of coffee I've ever had. Why does globilisation have to taste so good. I think they're building a Starbucks at our local shopping centre with the Krispie Kreams and the ice rink. Well it's late, I have an annoying virus on my computer that I haven't been able to get rid of for weeks and I'm too lazy to make a cup of coffee to keep me awake. (Sorry for the spelling and gramma mistakes and all the annoying brackets)

Kingdom Hospital

I am a very big Stephen King fan. I'm currently reading IT, for the first time suprisingly. I have only got a very little way into it and it is already a great read. King has also written a TV series 'Kingdom Hospital.' I have heard a little bit about it on his webpage and some fan sites, but until recently it hasn't come to Australia. Well now it has, and I checked it out, and it's great. I must admit, at first I wasn't to sure weather it was going to be any good. The name turned me away from thinking it would be anything like his books or movies. But it is full of horror, violence and all the quirky stuff that makes his books so good, well it's on in a little under half and hour and I can't wait. Also I'm going to the city tomorrow by train because it's free.

Update on me

Hi all. A lot has happened since I last spoke to everyone in the blogoshere on Friday Afternoon. It involved a formal, an after-party, and a cool new game.

Well when I left you, I was leaving to get ready for my formal on Friday night. I met my friends at a park in Campbelltown to drive a limo to the venue. When we arrived our parents were snapping lots of photos and video, Geez! We went to Appin House, a very cozy venue. Everyone looked great. There were some speeches, dinner, and then some awards. Our group of friends did well snatching 10 of this years awards, including me as Bachelor of the Year! What the...
Afterwards there was dancing, where we had a ball, it included a congo line and a wicked mosh pit.

But the night didn't end there. I went to a friends house, for a mediocre after party. It was fairly calm, not much drinking was done, but we did watch Robin Hood: Men in tights, Shrek, and Pirates of the Caribbean till about four the next morning, where I was woken up at 8 to go to the dentist, Grrr!

When I got back, I was meant to go a family barbecue, but after one of my friends pleaded me to go partying with him, I got out of it. I went to his place, where he was going for his license so we could get to this wicked party. Lucky being only luck, he didn't get them and three of us spent to night playing a new game that I've been dying to get!

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the best game I have ever seen. You can do anything, I found myself acting very childish as I got all excited when I discovered a cool new feature. The character can now swim, instead of just drowning when he fell in the water. You character's clothes can be customized, including hair and tattoos. You have to eat, and work out, you character gets better skills with experience, and that game is two player. Wow, I am a mega game geek aren't I, well I might be getting the game on Wednesday.

A history lesson for the ignorant

Ok, I am quite proud that I have kept my politcal rants to a minimum, but something has to be said to counter all the heartlessness displayed on the right side of the blogosphere.

After the Boar war before the 20th Century, the major powers held a talk in Geneva where they signed the Geneva conventions. These conventions established a set of rules for the humane treatment in the 'unavoidable' event of war. It established the Red Cross/Red Cresent. One clear rule stated that you can't kill someone if they are injured and/or unarmed. What happened with that US soldier killing that Iraqi resistance fighter (the term terrorist and insurgent are both incorrect), was a clear breach of these conventions and he should be held accountable. For those people who said he did it in the heat of battle, you are quite bluntly, stupid. That is problem with the army culture. It is common place knowledge that a heavy metal song with the words 'Burn Muddafucker Burn!' are played through the coms in some cases. A soldier has a job, and he should be responsible. A soldier is someone that defends our way of life, not someone who destroy's every other countries way of life.
Hi to all those right-wing bloggers that are reading this and bursting to make a comment of lies or hysteria or plain ignorance. All are welcome!

A poem

I have written a poem just now, I'm bored at home, I had some thoughts, I felt like writing, So I came up with this. It's bit mushy/deep, but poetry is a way I can release these thoughts. The poem is appropriately called 'Love'

Oh the pain!

In a recent post I told you about how much fun I had a Newtown festival. The bands were great and the weather was perfect. Well I forgot that my medication I take for my acne makes me particuarly vunerable to the sun. So I got sunburnt, it was pretty bad, I can deal with sunburn. But when it started to peel yesterday, that's when it got worse. I'm sunburnt on my nose and forehead and when the skin peeled of it left raw skin. This hurts, it stings and itches, if you scratch it, it gets worse. The thing that makes this a big deal to blog about, is that my formal is tomorrow, and not meaning to sound like someone who is superficial (like my sisters) I don't want to look odd with my red raw nose and forehead. It seems to slightly getting better in the last couple of hours but we will have to see tomorrow how it looks then. On a positive note I picked up my suit, and it looks great. I'll be sure to get a digital pic for you guys to look at, but I wont be home till late Saturday/early Sunday. Also I have written more of my novel and I'm up to 1106 words.

Novel update: Planning and First draft - prologue

Current words: 190

Last night I managed to come up with a skeleton for the novel. All major doubts have been eradicated, and now I have a coherent story line to go off. So about 10 minutes ago I started! I have begun to churn out the prologue, the bit before the main story. This bit is the bit that really excited me. So I may reduce blogging to maybe one post a day whilst I continue to tell my tale. Here's one line from my first paragraph, hope you like it.

"The mark left from the first lashing was deep and encased all his pain, it stung like all the mistreatment he had received as a slave in one single blow."

Novel Update: Planning

Wow! Huge development in my novel, I now have a brief skeleton of how the book will go, I will let finer details work themselves out. Like the reader, I want to be suprised by what I find out about the characters. This is only rough, things could change, and the ending is still fairly uncertain. So I am in the process of typing out a slighty more detailed skeleton to go by. Then I'm off! Lots of caffeine ridden nights ahead of me. I will be sure to keep you all posted, through this process.

Novel Update: Research

The Supernatural World :: Telepathy

In order to fill a gap in the story, I went to do a little bit of research on the supernatural to trigger ideas. This is a page on Telepathy and may subtly be included in my story. I have some issues, would Telepathy weaken my story? Is it too clicé? Please leave your thoughts.

Novel Update: Planning

I think I have done enough research now, but as I go I will continue to do more. I have begun to use the snowflake technique to collaborate my ideas. I did step one a fair few days ago. Step two, however, has proved a hassle. This is good, as I found a gap in the storyline before it's too late. Thoughts have been swimming around in my head all day, looking for a solution to this problem. Elements of the supernatural may be incorporated, but not too much. Time travel, is something in this story I have to avoid making to cliché, but my head is spinning and I am dying to start. The prologue, is ready to go out on paper, but I don't want to start until planning is complete or I might ruin the story. Arggh! The HSC is over and I'm stressing over this one little thing that is preventing my story from starting. 50,000 words by the end of November looks impossible.

Me on 2UE!

Ok, I was on 2UE this morning at 7.30am. I was unable to hear it myself as I was on the bus to Canberra. Liz at promotions was kind enough to e-mail me an MP3 version of the editorial that you can all access through my main website, http://writingcorner.cjb.net or right click and select 'save target as' here.

Canberra convergence and Socialist Alternative

Today I woke up at 4.30am!! Why? To get into the city by 7am to catch a bus down to Canberra to protest for refugee rights on the opening of the new parliament. There were three bused organized by ChilOut to travel from Sydney to Canberra. My bus was really slow and so we missed the initial march, however we did get to chant outside parliament house, and march to the attorney generals office. One gripe about the protest, was the media. The protest was swarming with cameras, and the only mention it got on the Channel 9 news, was an incident where some protesters and police scuffled over marching in two lanes instead of one. Come on, is this biased, this is the whole reason why people simply don't care, they digest the mainstream media like a pack of drones, and fail to look into the real facts, such as the fact that what the US are doing in Fallujah* is a war crime.
During the day I hung out with Socialist Alternative, whom I met at the Fallujah rally on Thursday. Over the past year or so, I have begun to become increasingly self-conscious and therefore moving further and further left-wing. So with me agreeing with the true definition of socialism, I joined up and now am a proud member of Socialist Alternative. They have a cool magazine that can be found on their website at http://www.sa.org.au. I will definitely refer to some of their articles.

* apologies for spelling Fallujah wrong in previous posts

The death of a 'freedom fighter'

I have yet to say anything about the sad death of Yasser Arafat, as he himself said "I am not a terrorist, I am a freedom fighter" And I sincerly believe that. He was fighting for the rights of the Palestinian people. The people who have been denied the right to belong to to a country based on religion and imperialist greed. What I don't get, is why do both sides have a problem with each other, why can't they live together. I am appalled at the attacks by world leaders that his death will renew a chance for peace. I disagree, the other side is too greedy to divide it fairly. I had a badge that read "Free Palestine" but I lost it. In regards to Arafat being called a terrorist, it is funny to call him a terrorist but when Bush slaughters thousands or Iraqi civilians in Falluja, no one says anything. Isn't a terrorist someone who creates terror, if so, put Bush in that catagory.

Novel Update: Research

Serial Murder

I found this site on the minds of serial killers, it's late so I haven't read alot of it, check it out it looks interesting. I am also watching a documentery on TV at the moment (it's an ad break right now) about the trail side murders, which is interesting.

Life after the HSC, that unfortunetly doesn't include writing at the present moment

Today I went to Newtown festival with Mitchel. It was a great day, with great bands, I did a bit of volunteering for Socialist Alternative, a group I met on Thursday at the protest to the US consulate. Also I got two new badges that read, "Deport the Liberals not Refugees" and "Unfuck the world", also Mitchel got a badge reading "George Bush, World's #1 Terrorist"
About writing, well I should start but I've been really busy, tomorrow I am home by myself so my meter might get off zero if you read this time tomorrow.

Novel Update: Research/Inspiration

All about Anatoly Onoprienko, by David Lohr

This is the short story of serial killer Anatoly Onoprienko. I found it whilst looking for serial killers from Russia or the Ukraine. I have not read the whole thing yet, but some things have given me ideas and I might be able to start very soon, because I'm itching to start.

Another picture from 2UE and ramblings from a procrastinating writer

Photo: Liz Waddle - 2UE, Red-eyes reduction: Ben Harris, Cropping: Benjamin Solah

My friend Ben Harris removed the red-eye from this photo for me, plus I did a bit of cropping. Look at me, I'm a journalist...well kind of. Today was a bit of a bludge and I haven't managed to finish the last scraps of research just so I can start writing, but the night is young so I might get something done soon. But at the moment an old favourite of mine is on TV, Jurassic Park. I was obsessed with dinosaurs when I was a kid, and I would watch this movie over and over until I got sick of it. Well I haven't seen it in a couple of years so it would be worth a look, the best parts are when the lawyer gets eaten off the dunny and the raptors in the kitchen scene. Have a nice day, and leave a comment.

Novel update: Research

Stefan's Florilegium

I found this page on slavery during 10th century Kievan Rus'. I really have a good angle and I am trying really hard to get started but there is life after the HSC, and it's been pretty busy. I went with my friends to see Bridget Jone's Diary 2, which was good considering it was a chick-flick. Tomorrow I might do a bit of planning, maybe even some writing, but Sunday, Tuesday, Friday and next Saturday are very busy days.

Today at 2UE

Photo: Liz Wadle, 2UE

Today I went to the 2UE studios in Greenwich, North Sydney. I got to record my 45 second editorial and also got a cool tour of the studio from the promo co-ordinator Liz Wadle. My editorial will be aired a little after 7.30am on Tuesday on the Mike Carlton show at 954 AM. It will also be mailed to me as a cd and e-mailed to me as an mp3 so I can show all you guys even if you don't live in Australia. Also another picture is to come.

Today has been great!

Today was a fantastic day for everything. I went to the city with some friends to see the Living End play at Manly warf. They were there to play live for Triple M, but only two songs, however after the broadcast they continued to play for us. Then I went to a protest against the assault on Faluja, which went very well, considering people were only told about it two days ago.

Then the best news of all came by e-mail just moments ago. I sent in an editorial to Radio station 2UE for a contest expressing young people's views...and I won! I get to record my editorial and it will be played on radio, also I get a real cool NEC product.

I am glad I am given an opportunity in this country to express my points of view, and we in Australia and other free countries that we have the Liberty to oppose our government.

Novel Update: Research

Kievan Rus'

Some information of Kievan society in medieval times, with which my character comes from. Kievan society lived in modern day Ukraine, I never knew anything about this civilisation until I looked it up for myself, studies of the middle ages back when I was at school ('Back when' I like the ring of that) focused on England. If you don't like history don't mind me, I'm a history geek.

Novel Update: Motivation and other stuff

Earlier I expressed my interest in writing in Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month), well as my exams are over, I can begin writing my novel. Nanowrimo will give me a deadline to complete 50,000 words this month. So I've just got to put together some last pieces of research, and then I'm off. There's the meter to your write to count the words and I'll add this graphic somewhere on the sidebar too...if I can find the room.

ASIO to pay out after refugee blunder - http://www.smh.com.au

ASIO to pay out after refugee blunder - Breaking News - http://www.smh.com.au

ASIO has been made to pay $200,000 to a refugee who was mistakenly classified as a security risk and locked up for two years in a detention centre.

Another case, another tragedy, yet this decision won't change anything, unfortunately

Exam reflections: Legal Studies

Well, today was Legal studies, my final exam of the 2004 HSC. I was pretty confident about this one, and I studied for it yesterday with a few friends at the Library. I had to do a do a multiple choice section, a couple of short answer questions on the law, a few extended response questions on crime and two essays on Family Law and World order. Funnily enough the essay were my favourite, in one I got to argue for gay marriage and the other I got critisise America and their involvement in foreign affairs. So I did fairly well, but more importantly it's all over.

I have finished school completely, returned my textbooks, that include three just for modern history. I am free, and it hasn't really sunk in yet, hopefully Uni next year and a new experience for me. But in the meantime it's my novel, parties and a few protests, visit's to detention centres and promoting causes. Basically until March next year, I will be having a lot of fun.

Memories

Picture courtesy of Ben Harris

This is me and my friends at our last official day of school at some dam for a picnic day. I have a lot of memories from High School, after tomorrow me and them switch to party mode.

Novel Update: Research, Planning and other things other then writing

Tonight I embarked on more information about anything, that might have something to do with the first part of my novel, that is set in Medieval times...maybe. As I stated before I'm looking for information to do with the punishment of exile in Medieval times, and other bits and pieces. History really interests me, especially when it doesn't involve exams, assignments and homework. I let my mind take me where it wanted to go, and since I did Soviet Russia for my HSC, I was interested in things pre-dating that. I looked up stuff to do with executions of the time and also found about Prince John, who my father said was exiled, but am yet to find that out for sure. So I'll give research a break till after Wednesday, when I do my final exam of the HSC and then I plan to write as soon as possible

Sites I visted:

• John of England - http://www.fact-index.com/j/jo/john_of_england.html
• Medieval Russia -- Economy, Government, and Law -- Law Codes of the Kievan Russia - http://medievalrussia.freeservers.com/economy-laws.html
• Exile - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exile
• Law enforcement in the past - http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Studio/3015/decap.htm

Which America Hating Minority Are You?

I am an Intellectual



Which America Hating Minority Are You?

Damn I've been doing to many quizzes but this one is to good to pass down

Author quiz

1. Do you have a favorite author? Who is it, and which of their works do you recommend that we read? (If you have more than one, feel free to list them!)
Stephen King - Best book, The Green Mile
I also like Dean Koontz

2. Who would you consider your least-favorite author? How many books have you read by this person, and why do you dislike them? (Again, if there is more than one, list away!)
Scott Monk - Read Raw for HSC English, I don't like him because his descriptions are very flat and the book therefore isn't interesting

3. Do you ever purchase a book solely based on the author's name, without even knowing what the book is about? Have you ever been disappointed by something they wrote?
I usually hear about a good author from friends and then start with their most popular book, and I've never been disappointed

4. Have you ever met one of your favorite authors, such as at a book signing or a reading? Did they act as you had expected, or were they completely different from the way you had pictured them?
Haven't met a famous author before

5. Do you check out your favorite author's website or blog on a regular basis?
No, to busy with my own site

From the Book Worm

New things on my blog

Ok, my sidebar is now longer than my posts. I have added a meter to count how many words I have written for Nanowrimo. At the present moment it's a big fat 0.

Deportation to Fiji splits family of six

Deportation to Fiji splits family of six - SMH

A Fijian women who overstayed her visa, will be deported to Fiji leaving her Australia-born children behind. "I don't know when I will see them again," she said from inside the detention centre yesterday. I urge the government to have a little compassion, this was done a couple of years ago with a Russian women, who could not see her child because she was in detention. How can people see this as fair.

My political rants will begin to be minimized to maybe just the issue of mandatory detention of Asylum seekers, and rare outbursts of disgust at racism and the Iraq war. This is because I am about to beging writing my novel and so that will return the centrepiece of this blog, a it was before. As I write this post I am currently under attack from spyware. Oh and I have a look at my new tagboard/shoutbox, and drop me a line

Novel update: Research

Medieval Sourcebook

This is the first update on the progress of my novel, which doesn't yet have a working title. Ok, because this is online and anyone can read I'm not going to give away the story or my idea, but will update you on various aspects.

Now I know I said I wouldn't start writing till after the exams, but this doesn't really count because it's only research. This is a link to a source book on stuff about Medieval history. I have always liked this period the most, but it isn't offered as a HSC course, like Ancient and Modern. I'm looking for information on the trial of murderers and the like, also to do with people being exiled. So I'm browsing this, I might set the prologue during the time of the war of the roses.

If you have any information/links that would help me it would be much appreciated.

Iranian to be deported from Australia in the middle of her final exams

Immediately after the [Australian] election a young Iranian Christian man was forcibly (let’s just think what that must have been like…) returned to Iran (see below). Those remaining at Baxter and Villawood are in a terrible state, thinking they’re next.

Jacarandas are in bloom. For countless generations of Australian students this time is always associated with exams. One unfortunate candidate who has lived here for three and a half years on a Bridging Visa E with study rights, sat the first day of her HSC and then kept an appointment with DIMIA relating to her permanent residency application. Her lawyer had been assured she wouldn’t be detained but – you’ve guessed it, she was.

Can you imagine it? All that hard work, that preparation, those years of preparation, that anxiety thrown away by the momentary actions of a bureaucrat. Whatever the circumstances, the girl concerned was not responsible for coming here. What would it have cost us to at least let her sit the exams and have something to show for the years she has spent here? She is very distressed, alone and has been told she will be deported on Friday. Please contact the NSW Minister for Education and Training, Dr Andrew Refshauge to ask if he is happy with this waste of investment in 18 year old Velicia and if he can intervene. Likewise we’d like to think our Federal Education Minister, Dr Brendan Nelson might be concerned? Couldn’t they arrange for her to access her study materials and still take the exams? She is only 18. Does she have to be treated like this?
Dr Andrew Refshauge's e-mail - marrickville@parliament.nsw.gov.au
- From ChilOut newsletter

I am also sitting my exams, and I can imagine what she would be going through, this just isn't right. Sorry I know many of you do not know the full details, but you still must be able to sympathise with these people, we have liberties that they do not

I don't want your bombs Bush!

US bombs to be tested in Australia: report - www.smh.com.au

Reports in the Sydney Morning Herald today say that there are plans to test smart bombs on Australian soil. Do these people just do these things to piss peaceful people like me off? I don't want to have my country used as a testing ground so America can find other countries with lots of oil to blow up. I can't remember when, but a while back Britain tested Nukes in the Australian desert with disastrous effects on the Aboriginal population for year to come. I hate weapons, they cause so much suffering, not just to the countries they bomb, but to their own country. Instead of wasting ridiculous amounts of money on weapons, there could be more money spent on other things. It really sickens me that people continue to take the lives of innocents. Violence solves nothing, Bush claims to fighting for freedom, but you can't do that by taking over a country, it's a total contradiction. Please the divide between the west and the Arabic world will never be fixed until armed conflict is taken out of the diplomatic arsenal.

The Scribes new writing desk

For a while now I have been a regular reader of the Scribe. She has moved to her own domain name, as you notice the link to that blog has changed on the blogroll. The blog is about writing and is really useful she also talks about history which I like too so you can go to her site at http://www.fantasyscribe.com or her blog at http://www.fantasyscribe.com/blog/

Exam reflections: Ancient History

Today was probhably the hardest exam I had done, I didn't feel ready at all, the exam is so confusing to know what questions you have to do, and the broad range of the topics means study is not at all fun. Well I got in there, nervous as hell, and I just did it, I wrote as much as I could. The essays were fine, I did one on Augustus, the first emperor of Rome and one on Egyptian burial. By the end I was extremely pleased that I was able to write until the end.

Now just one more, Legal studies and I'm pretty confident I'll do well in that, it's on next Wednesday.

Canberra Convergance

The ChilOut Bus to Canberra - Tuesday 16 November

ChilOut invites you to join us in Canberra on Tuesday 16th November outside
Parliament House. It is the first sitting day of the new parliament, to be opened by the
Governor-General at 12:30pm. Refugees and their advocates will be on the front lawn
reminding the politicians that we have not gone away! We will plant a sea of hearts.
ChilOut Ambassadors and others will address the crowd. Sydney people can come on
the ChilOut bus (details below).

Departure time 7am sharp

Where Jones Street, Ultimo. Coming along Broadway towards the city, turn left before
you get to the UTS Tower. Coming along Broadway from Central Station, cross Harris
Street on the UTS side of the road, and it's the first right after the UTS Tower.

Return time: bus will return to Sydney at around 6pm.

How to book: first phone Kirsten on 0402 434 601 to reserve your spot.

Cost: $35 (Concession $25)

How to pay:
Cheque or money orders - make out to Refugee Action Coalition, to PO Box 433,
Newtown 2042.
Cash - take to the Resistance Centre, 23 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale.
No credit cards. You must pay by Sunday 12 November to secure your spot.
We hope you can make it!
Thanks
Penny

Well I'm going, I've paid my money and it should be good, if you live in Sydney please consider going, even if it's not on the bus.

What is your life rated

My life is rated PG-13.
What is your life rated?

Exam reflections: Modern History

Five down, and only two to go. Today was the biggest, Modern History and the first of my three hour exams. I have been studying for this one the most, and it's really hard to get everything in. Is their really that much room in your head to remember three major topics, and in depth? I had to answer a couple of short answer/mini essay questions on the First World War with the assistance of four sources. That was fine, the questions are on peace and I'm good at that one. Then I had to write two essays on Russia. The first one was a choice of two, and they were both crap questions, but I survived and came up with something reasonably coherent. The next was a two part essay on Leon Trotsky, and it was fairly straitforward. Then finally an essay on Indochina, which I loved because I get to say how stupid America was.
So another one down, and I've got a day off before Ancient History on Thursday

Exam reflections: Drama

Four down, three to go. Today was my one and half hour drama exam where I had to write two essays on two different types of drama: Australian and The theatre of the Absurd. I must admit I didn't think I was ready for this one, I was too busy studying for Modern History tomorrow morning. But once I got inside the exam room and started writing it just seemed to flow out of my pen. I wrote an adequate amount and I live to tell the tale.
So it's Modern History tomorrow, this is a big one. So no Internet tonight because I'll be cramming my little brain out.
If you are a HSC student or anyone please leave your comments.

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

What's the opposite to writer's block?

Damn, so many ideas, thoughts, lines, themes, characters and a whole lot of writing waiting to burst out of my head. This feeling is what brings out great writing in me, and I haven't felt like this in a bit. If you think this is a good thing, I'm afraid your wrong because the timing really stinks. I have three exams this week and another the week after. Damn, my luck is really bad, just hope it stays with me till after my last exam.

Media get a blogging from internet pundits - US Elections - www.smh.com.au

Media get a blogging from internet pundits - www.smh.com.au

Yes we have a voice, this article in the Sydney Morning Herald today said that bloggers (like me) are keeping check on the bias news coverage of the mainstream press. I agree bloggers have a voice, but really we are biased, there are so many pro-Bush blogs out there backing Bush up, but even bloggers on the civil rights/anti-bush side, we seem to be inherantly biased. Though I think the difference is, although we are biased, I speak the truth. My biased opinion is not wrong because it is biased, I have gained my opinion from the truth. Bush bloggers have an opinion, however racist, but it is based on lies. Bush lied to the world when he said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. He lied when he said he would do anything to capture Saddam Hussein. Bush bloggers are just puppets to the Fox new channel

'Florida 2004'

This is evidence of yet more 2004 'Floridas' and this is obviously aimed at removing potential democrat voters. This is because the majority of the African-American population vote Democrat. Other members of the Progressive Blogger Alliance have blogged this. Including, Progressive Blog Alliance HQ and In Search of Utopia.

Hey I got this new service in order to publish pictures to my blog with Hello, this is just a test, here's a cartoon from www.chilout.org

Bin Laden taunts US with new attacks - www.smh.com.au

Bin Laden taunts US with new attacks - www.smh.com.au

Bin Laden has gone on television telling the people of America that in four years since September 11, he has failed to capture him. He was mocking the president and his diversion from the war on terror to Iraq.

He then told of his inspiration for the September 11 attacks saying "As I watched the destroyed towers in Lebanon, it occurred to me to punish the unjust the same way ... to destroy towers in America so that it can taste some of what we are tasting and to stop killing our children and women," He was referring to an Israeli attack on towers in Lebanon that the US was accused of supporting. Maybe people will realise terrorism is running both ways.

Excerpts from Bin Laden's message

What about the real target Mr. Bush

L.A. Daily News - News

An article in the L.A. daily news says that the pentagon know where Osama is but arn't going to get him because "There is an American presence in the area, but we can't just send in troops. If we did, we could have another Vietnam, and the United States cannot afford that right now."

Another Vietnam? Can't just send in troops? Excuse me Mr. 'I don't give a damn about a country's sovreignty' Bush, isn't that what you've done in Iraq.

Ferguson sounds harsh note on refugees - www.theage.com.au

Ferguson sounds harsh note on refugees - www.theage.com.au

Like other refugee advocates I am appalled at the comments by Labors new shadow immigration minister, she claimed "they would have a more realistic view if they lived in areas where most refugees resided."

Ok I wont lecture people on the issue because I do it freqently on this blog, but he also said "a sizeable proportion" of asylum seekers had fraudulent cases and manipulated the legal system to stay in Australia.

Ok, these people are unable to obtain the correct papers, do you think countries such as Iran and China want to allow people to obtain refugee status. The fact is 93% of those detained for lengthy amounts of time are found to be refugees. The other 7% surely includes those that have given up on rejected claims, and gone back to their country to live the rest of their lives with a burden percecution, rather then the Australian government accepting their applications.

New post to 'In Search of Utopia'

I have posted to the blog 'In Search of Utopia' about the refugee issue, in order to express my view to the world that is relitively unaware of what is going on.

Guest blogger

I am now a guest blogger from In Search of Utopia, a political blogger that is also a member or the Progressive Blogging Alliance. This a majorly American blog, but it might give me a chance to spread the issue of Australian detention centres. Stay tuned I'll notify everyone through this blog of my post's, but they won't be frequent. Maybe once a week.

To End Detention of Children and Separation of Families in Australia Petition

To End Detention of Children and Separation of Families in Australia Petition

Please click the above link to sign the for the end of mandatory detention of Asylum seekers, including the detention of children, some who have been born there.

Shortlisted!

Today I received a letter from the University of Wollongong, notifying me that I have been short listed for selection in the Bachalor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing). This is great news and I think it has really boosted my attitude, as all the stress of the HSC is taking it's toll. I now have to go to an interview on November 24 where they will ask me about my writing and stuff like what makes me tick. I'll be on a high for the rest of day, hopefully my family won't ruin it.

Unethical scare tactics will lead to a viciously ill-made choice

Be afraid of the big bad wolf, voters warned - US Elections - www.smh.com.au

George Bush's latest ad and campaign angle is quite frightening, not that it reminds you of the real terror threat, but it plays with people's fears. People who don't really know, are sucked into the republican propaganda rather than an informed choice between the two parties policies. To say you would be better to throw your family to the wolves rather than vote for Kerry is absurd and unethical. George Bush did nothing before 9/11, and when 9/11 came he wasn't thinking of the tragedy of all the innocent Americans that got killed, he wasn't thinking of stopping Osama Bin Ladin. All George W. Bush cared about was taking out Saddam Hussein because he has lots of oil and George wasn't happy he beat his daddy a decade ago. Bush thinks about money, and that's it, not about freedom or doing things the humane. If he wanted to stop terrorism wouldn't the troops be better off looking for Bin Ladin in Afghanistan rather than killing people needlessly in Iraq.

An account of forced deportation

An account of forced deportation

This is a man’s account of Australasian Correctional Management (ACM) and immigration department (DIMA) staff’s attempt to forcibly deport him from Villawood detention centre.
I’d been informed by the DIMA for the first time on 11 October 1999 I am denied a visa. So I expressed my denial by hitting the desk before the DIMA officer ... To prison for one week [for] frightening the immigration agent ... And from there I’ve been taken to the airport without any previous informing on the 17th October 1999 [and] handcuffed again.

Two policemen took me [and] treated me exactly like an animal. The first policeman drew me by my throat which caused me congestion and difficulties in swallowing and eating for the consequent week. The other drew me by my hand fiercely ... by the handcuff chain, [which] has left [an] obvious scar till now. They’d put me on the airplane which the captain had refused to carry me on after I discussed the matter with him, so they got me back to the prison.

One week later on 24th October 1999 and in the same unexplained procedure another correction officer attended my cell, handcuffed me and asked me to come ... to the reception where [I was] received by ACM officials, including a doctor and a nurse.

Soon the doctor entered the cell carrying an injection with four tablets asking me to choose either the injection or the tablets. I refused them both ... the doctor ordered the security officers to do their job and he and the officers laid me down on the floor and [both sat] on my back, took my pants down [so that the doctor could] inject me. So then I accepted to receive the tablets since I got an old medical problem with injections.

The doctor told me how those tablets are only tranquillisers. But they didn’t work. So they forced me to take a fifth tablet at the airport when they got me on the airplane with a wheelchair accompanied by a nurse, two companions and three other ACM officers. All that continued for about five to six hours with three types of handcuffs and ties of leather, plastic and steel around my hands and belly that gathered my arms to my trunk!

I stood screaming and asking for help from the passengers there. I immediately regretted that [because] those companion escort officers started to hit me and beat me fiercely and cruelly with kicks all over my body, especially my genitalia with their knees and feet which subsequently caused left testis congested lesions and pain. The testis swelling is still evident ...
The nurse on trying to inject in my leg missed my body [and] hit the plane seat where the needle got bent. but he didn’t change the needle and injected me again with the contaminated, bent needle in a completely odd side on my leg, immediately above my left knee where the scar and pigmentation still [can be] clearly seen.

I continued to scream and ask for help until a few passengers cried and [came] to relieve my oppression. But they [were] rejected ... So the officers got me to [Silverwater prison] for the third time where they put me in a special quarantine room for the addicts for five days because I became physically and medically sick.

On the 2nd December 1999 I’ve been moved from the prison to the detention centre again where I am now. Since then I haven’t consulted any medical personnel in detention since losing the trust in any of them who works for this ACM to deal with psychological trauma.
[Five years later, this man remains in Villawood detention centre. He resists any offers of help with his immigration case, which remains static to this day.]

From Green Left Weekly, October 20, 2004. Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

Out of Africa

Out of Africa

I was watching 60 minutes tonight and I watched a touching story about a couple from Canberra who adopted two children from Ethiopia. It was a very moving story to see the conditions they were in and then to see the impact the adoption had on the children and the new parents, how this drastic move acheived so much. It gives you hope in humanity

National Novel Writing Month

National Novel Writing Month

Ok, people such as shutuped and The Scribe have expressed there interest in this event and so I signed up. Basically everyone attempts to write 50,000 words in November, should be good, and it'll get me started writing my novel. Can't wait for November 1 now, when I start. Except for the fact that I have a drama exam in the afternoon, and a Modern History exam the next day.

I'm no.1

Ok, this is a special time, I'm am no.1 on Blogrank.net. So I took a screenshot so I can gloat.
Keep me there by clicking http://www.blogrank.net/cgi-bin/blogs/rankem.cgi?id=bsolah

Refugee link

Refugeeguarantee.com.au

I found this site via all my refugee activist friends, where you can sign a major online petition, so go and sign it if you live in Australia

also I'm going to the swearing in of our Federal Parliament, with ChilOut we're are picketing outside for a just refugee policy, so stay tuned I might be on the news.

Why hasn't Australia got a bill of rights?

Bill of rights needed now, says QC - www.theage.com.au

A feature article in the Age today argued that the treatment of refugees in Australia was among the best arguments for a bill of rights in Australia. AndI agree. Howard said a bill of rights would "get in the way of how the Government does business"

Refugee Article

Woomera detainee provoked into escaping, court told - www.smh.com.au

Ok I wont say much but here's an article about the trauma a detainee suffered whilst in Woomera detention centre, this trauma prompted him to escape detention. Mercy please, a criminal record will do only harm.

Exam reflections: Entertainment Certificate

Today was Entertainment. This is possibly the easiest exam in the history of the Higher School Certificate. It was set for 2 hours, I finished on one hour. The long answers went perfect but adequate, this exam doesn't matter that much though, it's only a backup in case I crash out of any of my other exams.

So now I have a week off to study for my four exams that are left, next is Drama on Monday the 1st of November.

Crayon box

I found this site, as many people have added a banner like the one above and the one now on my side bar. This is a great cause, and something everyone should follow, treating everyone equally and not judging them based on their race/culture/religion/sexual preference/etc please go to http://www.typical.net/crayon-box/ and get a code for a banner and add it to your site.

Downer has no idea

Journo's comments on hostages 'appalling': Downer - SMH

Ok, Downer today critised the comments made by the SBS journalist that gave a different perspective of the hostage situation. Downer can't critise. Was he there? No.

Mr Downer said today it was pretty much the most appalling thing any Australian had said about the Iraq war.

Well I'll leave that decision up to you

Of all the countries

France confronts a surge in racism - Sydney Morning Herald

An article in the Herald today states that France is facing a surge is racist and anti-semitist attacks. France likes to call itself the 'cradle of human rights.' Then what do you call the ban on religious symbols. I look up to France for their stance on Iraq and their general stance in most area's but I think the surge in racism has something to do with the ban. Maybe, some of the people believe it is ok to show resent against other cultures/religions by what the President has ordered. What is this world coming to?

Here's the other side of the story

My captors weren't savages: kidnapped journalist

So many times people have told me to look at the other side of the story, well that's all I ever here, The Telegraph in Australia is the most biased source of media aside from Fox News, of course their from the same company. Ok, so for all those Bush-lovers, and Howard lovers, and anyone else who loves their leader and he's a Bush ass-licker read this article. This guy got away because he didn't support the war. "They're not actually just killing people willy-nilly."
"They talk to you, they think about things."
"(From their perspective) there was a reason to kill (British hostage Ken) Bigley, there was a reason to kill the Americans; there was not a reason to kill me (and) luckily I managed to convince them of that."
I pose this question to all who are in favour of the war, what would you xenophobes do if someone invaded your country?

Note: In no way to I support the torture and cruel treatment of hostages by the kidnappers, but you have to look at their extremely desperate situation.

3 years since a disturbing incident that is still unknown to the world

The tragedy that Australia refuses to remember - The Age

Yesterday it was the three year anniversary of the SIEV X, I was unaware of this until I searched for articles, it was in the Age so I had to find it online, but this opinion piece horrifies me even more than the sketchy details I have been given by others. For those who don't know what happened, the Australian authorities guarding the coast of Northern Australia would not let a boatload of Asylum seekers into Australian waters as to keep them out of Australia's responsibility, but they fail to realize even though the International 'Law of the Sea' is not binding it still matters in the caring hearts of those who have a humane conscience. The boat sunk, 353 people drowned, and the government covered it up.
It is still barely known today as the majority of Australians refuse to remember that in a supposedly multi-cultural society, our government does this sort of thing and even worse gets away with it. As soon as an Islamic country does something everyone jumps on the media bandwagon and criticizes, but as soon as Australia is guilty of something as horrendous as this, the media is silent, or too quiet for anyone to hear and take notice.

I will leave you with a quote because quotes are powerful things, this quote is from the Age's opinion article.

"On October 19, 2001, a woman gave birth on a sinking boat en route from
Indonesia to Christmas Island...Like many of our ancestors, she was in search of
that precious gift called freedom. She was last seen drifting with her baby
attached by the umbilical cord."

This is a disgusting law

First French pupils expelled over headscarves - World - www.smh.com.au

I hate this law, they say the ban is to protect them, but to do so would go against their religion. The french government is just giving in to the racist people of France, they should try to educate and promote tolerance, isn't this why assimilation in Australia was scrutinised, for denying the right to practise their own culture.
I will leave you with a quote from 'The Russians' by Sting, I used it one of my essays today because it was a related text. "We share the same biology, regardless of ideology"

Exam reflections: English Paper 2: Modules

Ok, that's two down now and both English exams finished, and it feels great. Today I has to write 3 essays in two hours on three different texts (with related texts for two of them)
I wrote about 6 pages for all of them and now my hand really hurts. Overall what I wrote was good, I just wanted to write more but my hand wouldn't go fast enough, I wish I could attach a V8 engine. Because after a while my hand started to ache and as I forced my hand to write my hand writing started to become really messy, but still readable, I hope.
Well next exam is Entertainment on Friday, which is really easy.

Virus alert

This is for users of MSN messenger, if 'the_western_vampire@hotmail.com asks you to add them to your contacts, say NO! If you do, you will be infected with a virus and it will be passed on to all your contacts on MSN.

I don't get people who do this sort of thing, why would they want to cause so much trouble and what do they get out of it?

This is really funny!

Some one had posted the same thing on their blog, except it was someone else, I was brave enough to do it to myself

The Life and Loves of Coco Church

The Life and Loves of Coco Church

I found this blog, wow, what a kool concept, it's a novel as a blog and each page is a post. I get the feeling it's kind of like 'Bridget Jone's diary' except a heap more tasteful. I've added it to my blogroll so have a look.

The mission statement of the progressive blog alliance

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Exam reflections: English paper 1: Area of study

Wow, one exam done , only six more to go. Today was my first English paper. Ok, for people who don't know what this entails, At the start of the year (actually Term 4 last year) we were given an area of study, for my class it was physical journeys. We studied the poetry of Peter Skrzynecki (hope I spelt it right). This also includes texts of your own choosing that relate. Well anyway the exam was questions on texts we haven't seen before, Creative Writing and an essay on Skrzynecki and other related texts.

Over all I did pretty well. I aced unseen texts, then I did my essay because someone on the Bored of Studies forum (yes I spelt bored right) said strong creative writers should leave it last. The essay went well, I wrote flat out, and managed to fill the whole eight page booklet. One of my related texts was a chapter called 'No room at the inn' from a book by Heather Tyler called 'Asylum - voices from behind the razor wire' So I could obviously cover that in depth as it's one of my favourite books.

Creative Writing went really well, I regurgitated the story I wrote in my half-yearlys and the trials. It's about a Russian sniper who kills a general of the german army, then he takes the general to Petrograd on a snowmobile. It worked really well, pity we don't get our papers back, just the marks. I would like to show it to you.

Well, my hand hurts now from writing so much. Next exam is English 2: modules, good luck all other HSC students for this paper, and it would be great to hear your comments on this paper.