Whilst reading a transcript of a Bob Ellis interview, I found a great quote:

GEORGE NEGUS: What I find interesting about the fact that you’re such an independent thinker – that you could turn to political writing, whereas you said you have to demolish your own voice to give somebody else one.

BOB ELLIS: I think there’s a kind of writer who is a citizen writer, and Dickens was one. He was involved in campaigns against bad private schools, bad jails and things. That’s the kind of man I like to think I’m striving to be. And there’s a great saying from Walter Lippmann, who said, “This is why young men dream dreams and old men plant trees they will never sit under.”

1. My middle name is Austin, and it shits me when people acknowledge this with a lame “Shagadelic baby!”

2. Sometimes I feel that if I wasn’t conceived, my mother’s life would be better.

3. I gave up smoking four weeks ago (used to smoke half to a packet a day), which is huge, as cigarettes were my one vice. Those five minutes of smoking were bliss, sad, but true.

4. The one talent I wish I had was being able to sing. I’m crap at it, but if I was good, I wouldn’t mind being a Pete Murray/Alex Lloyd type.

5. My favourite meal is Roast Chicken (cooked in a wood oven) with gravy, potatoes, and a Chocolate Milkshake

6. I wanna be a writer… I’d like to be as emotive as Tim Winton, but I’d take Bob Ellis’ career any day.

7. Politics fascinates me, but I get impatient and frustrated when people are stupid and wrong.

8. I admit that from time to time, some people see me as fitting into the above category.

9. During the Y2K fiasco, I half liked the idea being the main character in “The Lake at the End of the World”

10. I want to have a cottage by a lake, Hemingway style, where I can potter and read and write.

11. I’ve never been a consistent weight – I lose weight and gain weight in cycles, usually every six to twelve months.

12. I’ve started writing about six novels, and never gotten halfway through them before I decided they were crap. My latest effort brings them all together, and I think I’ve finally found the vehicle to drive my theme.

13. I am so scared of losing those I love, that I sometimes cry when I’m alone.

14. My brother and I have trivia challenges, and we take it very seriously. So much so that we don’t often play with other people because they slow us down and make a serious game a fun one.
It’s not about fun, it’s about bragging rights!

15. I think the semi-colon is the greatest punctuation mark ever.

16. I lament the fact that money is a measure of success.

17. I think a lot of what Mark Latham says about the ALP is true (as a party member and successful candidate for party positions).

18. I’m excited about the new library being built near my house and I plan to start a book club immediately.

19. Winter depresses me, whilst Spring and Summer make me super happy.

20. I tried to make this list more trivial, but I seem to end up writing thoughts rather than facts.

Those who use good old PT will feel and share my pain at tonight’s train ride home. The train home takes around 40 minutes. I get on at the first stop and get off at the last, so I experience the whole gamut of train events and come across all kinds of people. Tonight though, I came across just about all the stereotypes:

1. The young person playing f*cking loud Doof Doof on their iPod.
You know the ones, they keep to themselves, make eye contact with no one, and play loud music that the whole carriage can hear and is sick of after one stop. Only when they get off the train do you get a reprieve, unless they get off when you do. And then you wanna hit them.

2. The “large” person who sits next to you and takes up half your seat
I have no issue with large people, I myself ain’t the smallest bloke going around. But, it may be harsh, if you’re perhaps a bit big for a standard seat, sit on two empty ones so that everyone’s comfortable. Tonight’s person was just about on top of me. Ugh. AND THERE WERE OTHER EMPTY SEATS TOGETHER! Pisses me off.

3. The old man who shakes his head and clicks his tongue, disapproving of everything
Grey hair, specs, sometimes a mo, and basically an attitude of “trains ain’t what they used to be and this one is real slow”. What they fail to realise is that their clicking annoys people much more than they themselves are annoyed.

4. The Sniffer
It’s coming to the end of winter, and some people have the sniffles. Fine, use tissues. Most do, which is great. But there’s always one person who doesn’t, and sniffs away the whole friggin trip. USE YOUR SLEEVE AT LEAST!

5. The bum, drinking Woodstock cans
On my train, there’s a guy who does this, he popped four cans in twenty minutes, guzzled away and the whole carriage smelt like cheap bourbon. I wish I had a lit match to flick and watch the f*cker go up in flames. PLUS, he has a bike (see #6)

6. The Bike Rider
Bikes on trains, no dramas, but in peak hour when you’re like sardines?! Pick a mode of transport and see it out, you Swiss Traveller.

7. The Observer
Usually watches everyone else and judges them all by what stereotype they fill. Tonight, I was the observer.

Seriously, all these characters were within two metres of me. I wanted The Sniffer to blow his nose in The Drinker’s bourbon can, then throw it as The iPod and follow through and punch the old man in the jaw. The Large Person could then have moved over, and I’d have been sweet

Yeah…I was relieved when the train pulled in.

I found this at PostSecret:

What a cack. It reminded me of something…

Last week I was reading a book at the library, and out fell a piece of paper with an email address on it… I’m gonna email that address, explain where I found it, and see what happens. Perhaps this could be one of those moments where something bizarre happens, or perhaps I could get an “Undeliverable” message back.

Either way, I’m game…. shall keep you posted…

1. My girlfriend and future wife, E’lise. She’s the reason I breathe, and why I want to be the best I can be.

2. My mother. The woman who kept me sane through the numerous battles I’ve fought.

3. Coffee milk (Dare Espresso particularly) or in its place, 7-Eleven Choc milk (rich and only $2!)

4. My goldfish, Henry and Petunia. Great listeners

5. The City Library, in Flinders Lane, Melbourne.

6. My brothers, for being my mates and never failing to be around when I need them.

7. I would have said cigarettes, but I’ve been on patches for two weeks, so I’ll say the Orange Tic Tacs I have in their place

8. Books.

9. Music – all of it, because for every mood and thought, there is a song to comfort and soothe.

10. My children – haven’t had them yet but I love them already.