One Geek

Maybe I should go home from work early today.

So far I am enjoying my age.

I feel more ok with who I am then ever.

Maybe I am heading for a fall, but until then I am enjoying where I’m at.

Go age, and the wisdom, or perhaps the folly of age.

Yesterday was pretty excellent. Although the day started with the neighbours party which begun at 6.30am, it improved into a pretty fantastic day.

My good friend Sam has been down this weekend, (he goes back to Sydney this morning sadly) and so after deciding to get up we went and had breakfast at my favourite cafe. Where the coffee was good as always, and the breakfast was wonderful. The chef even wrote “Happy Birthday XX” in tomato sauce on my plate. How nice is that?

Then it was into the city to buy a video game with Sam for my new PS3.

After that back home for a while playing and chilling. Then we went to my favourite Belgium institution where they were even playing jazz. Very pleasant. From there we wandered around the city and then went to church.

At church they made a reasonably big deal of my birthday. We had two guys who did some music about indigenous issues, including some of Paul Kelly’s songs. What a wonderful sermon Kelly gives through his music.

After church it was on to the end of month dinner at an Indian restaurant. Where I had some good Indian food, and authentic Australian Indian restaurant service, and nice cheap pricing. (UPDATE 1.46pm) I also had a fab cake with 5 candles, prepared with love by Gemma, and one of her flatmates.
After dinner Gemma, Sam, and one of Gem’s new flatmates went out to a fine European establishment for a few hours. Very pleasant as well.

Then a lovely walk home with Sam from the city, a little more video games and sleep.

It may not sound like much but it made for a wonderful day.

Well yesterday marked the end of my university work for the Bachelors of Engineering (Computer Systems) and Diploma of Engineering Practice.

I finished with my least prepared university presentation, which was followed by a rather vigorous questioning by academics. It was not so fun but you get that.

Doesn’t matter now I am finished.

Last night I went to the lovely Emily’s party/dinner and it was good. I have some very good friends in Sydney.

I find it interesting when you are only somewhere for a short time how much one should focus on old friends vs new potential friends.

Anyway almost time for my flight to Melbourne.

I am tired. Stupid David, booking early flight.

Finished the report for my last subject of Uni.

Some paper work tomorrow.

Then a presentation next week.

Already celebrating the end of University. Yay.

Also going full time at work from 1st July.

I regret to inform people that both my parties are now cancelled. This is due to a change in when I am doing my capstone presentations.

However I am planning on attending commie dinner on the 24th at Jane and John’s.

Due to having my thesis presentation on either 26th or 27th June I am going to have a Sydney based party on Thursday June 26th.

Also for those who live in Melbourne I am planning on having a party somewhere on 28th June.

It’s been a while since a proper blog post, and it will be a while longer before I get to doing a full one, as my creative typing is going to be focused on my thesis which is due in two weeks.

I got my bag back after about a 26 hour delay.

I did get some solid work done in Alice, and had a wonderful time catching up with Keith and Stella.

Brisbane and Adelaide were good also.

Now back to work before a movie

Greetings from Alice Springs, sadly my bag did not make it with me. Qantas have lost it somewhere, I do not know where. Hopefully I will be joined by it shortly.

Meet Keith and Stella wonderful to see them again. Looking forward to chatting with them more in the coming days.

Last week Sydney.
Next week Brisbane, and Adelaide.
Week after Alice Springs.
A few weeks latter Sydney for a day.

I refuse to accept the idea that man is mere flotsom and jetsom in the river of life unable to influence the unfolding events which surround him. I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.

I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into the hell of thermonuclear destruction. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.

I believe that even amid today’s motor bursts and whining bullets, there is still hope for a brighter tomorrow. I believe that wounded justice, lying prostrate on the blood-flowing streets of our nations, can be lifted from this dust of shame to reign supreme among the children of men.

I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down, men other-centered can build up. I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land.

“And the lion and the lamb shall lie down together and every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid.”

I still believe that we shall overcome.

This faith can give us courage to face the uncertainties of the future. It will give our tired feet new strength as we continue our forward stride toward the city of freedom. When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds and our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, we will know that we are living in the creative turmoil of a genuine civilization struggling to be born.

Today I come to Oslo as a trustee, inspired and with renewed dedication to humanity. I accept this prize on behalf of all men who love peace and brotherhood. I say I come as a trustee, for in the depths of my heart I am aware that this prize is much more than an honor to me personally.

Every time I take a flight I am always mindful of the man people who make a successful journey possible — the known pilots and the unknown ground crew.

So you honor the dedicated pilots of our struggle who have sat at the controls as the freedom movement soared into orbit. You honor, once again, Chief (Albert) Luthuli of South Africa, whose struggles with and for his people, are still met with the most brutal expression of man’s inhumanity to man.

You honor the ground crew without whose labor and sacrifices the jet flights to freedom could never have left the earth.

Most of these people will never make the headlines and their names will not appear in Who’s Who. Yet when years have rolled past and when the blazing light of truth is focused on this marvelous age in which we live — men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization — because these humble children of God were willing to suffer for righteousness’ sake.

I think Alfred Nobel would know what I mean when I say that I accept this award in the spirit of a curator of some precious heirloom which he holds in trust for its true owners — all those to whom beauty is truth and truth beauty — and in whose eyes the beauty of genuine brotherhood and peace is more precious than diamonds or silver or gold.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

So much bad in the world, so many good people I know.
There is just no choice any more we must overcome, and soon.
More and better aid.
More and better disaster relief.
More and better justice.
More and better peace.
More and better love.

Because without these we are stuffed.
I can’t put into words my frustration and my joy at knowing good stuff is happening. If you want some of the less depressing news then look at TEAR’s site.

Seriously though:

Nagaland
Burma
China
Tibet
Uganda
Kenya
Iraq
Iran
Afghanistan
Indigenous Australia
Haiti
Congo
the list is just too long.

I do believe that with God on our side, we shall overcome.

1.

We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome some day
CHORUS:

Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome some day
2.

We’ll walk hand in hand
We’ll walk hand in hand
We’ll walk hand in hand some day
CHORUS

3.

We shall all be free
We shall all be free
We shall all be free some day
CHORUS

4.

We are not afraid
We are not afraid
We are not afraid some day
CHORUS

5.

We are not alone
We are not alone
We are not alone some day
CHORUS

6.

The whole wide world around
The whole wide world around
The whole wide world around some day
CHORUS

7.

We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome some day
CHORUS

Looks like Dimapur has erupted again, if you don’t mind being more depressed read more here.

My trip to Sydney was good. It is no longer home, but remains a place holding some people who are very dear to me. I had some wonderful connections and chats with people particularly at Emily and Martin’s house warming.

Now I am back home in Melbourne, and about to leave for work.