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Left wing, Right wing, East wing, no wing wing..

Having sat through a reasonably uncomfortable family reunion dinner, where recent international events surrounding an unusually disturbing day, in what is seen as a friendly South Island city in a happy and relaxed country, New Zealand.  Christchurch changed forever.

A war of sides.  Not religious, not culturalism, not even political, but of belief and righteousness has raised its societal head. …

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It’s been almost 2 years since I bit the bullet and started playing with 4.5 inches.  I thought it would look great, turn heads, but in reality, it was uncomfortable, unstable and very uneconomical.  The first thing I noticed was the increased wind drag.  Sure clearance was better but the feeling of overbalancing and ultimately tipping over became something that i just couldn’t shift when having a little fun getting dirty.

Just over a week ago I shortened back to 2.5 inches, which where I live, is legal.  After a trip last weekend (the first since I went from 4.5 – 2.5 inches) I wish I had done it sooner, and would even go as far as saying I wish I hadn’t bothered with 4.5 inches to start with.

The first thing I noticed was how much less undercarriage was showing.  The aggressive look didn’t disappear at all, and I would say the look was much better.    Forget going bigger rubber,  I can stay with the current diameters and not have to re-gear.

For those of you reading this and have not cottoned on, I’m talking about suspension height.

A small decrease in height has made a vehicle that was rough to ride in, weakened in the steering and as fuel economic as an Abraham’s Tank.  I’m actually enjoying just driving the TJ now, where as before, the only driving I’d do on road was from home to the trail heads.

The changes only took about 7 hours in the driveway.  All springs out – Good Bye Teraflex and hello King Springs, Goodbye Teraflex shocks and hello Ironman 35mm diameter Nitro charged shocks.

Following the suspension change, I had to readjust the Track Bars to align the differentials again, and roll the diffs forward again by shortening the lower control arms.

With any job like this, there’s always something that doesn’t go to plan.   That pesky bolt and nut that seize and won’t budge.  These thing are what I call the IKEA experience.  No matter how prepared you are, there’s always something that’s missing or needs adjusting.  This allows you to personalise the experience and make a required change to be able to complete the task.  I lost 2 hours shaving the brake line brackets to fit the adjustable control arm mounts.

Offroad, there’s better stability, but a lack of clearance means all the fun parts of trail driving like choosing appropriate lines and avoiding smashing through bog holes and choosing the more technical route come into play.   You truly don’t have to have a lifted vehicle to complete the difficult trails.

The whole process of lifting then lowering has been a learning process.   Why bounce around on 4.5 inches when a more comfortable 2.5 inches will get you to the same destination, with a little more fun, a bump or two more in the undercarriage…….. (coughs)…

I went from 4.5 inches to 2.5 inches and couldn’t be happier…. It's been almost 2 years since I bit the bullet and started playing with 4.5 inches.  I thought it would look great, turn heads, but in reality, it was uncomfortable, unstable and very uneconomical. 

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Its been a while since my last café review.

  Mr Miller & Co found in the Altona North Business precinct, close to Office works, Bunnings, JB Hifi etc is the perfect place to stop while shopping, on the way to work (as I do for my morning coffee every day) or fun lunch.  They even do catering for that all important corporate luncheon or meeting.

After waiting several months, watching Mr Miller & Co go from an empty shop front into a popular café, I realised the wait was well worth it.   My first time through the front doors I was greeted by some of the friendliest staff I’m privileged to meet.  The Cafes Facebook page has some accurate reviews – Mr Miller & Co Facebook Page

The décor at Mr Miller & Co has a touch of Industrial Modern, and is warm, welcoming and comfortable.  There is also a small outside dining area.

The breakfasts are sizeable and delicious.  I struggle to complete their Big Breakfast (I’m a big eater).

Coffees (dine in or take out) are delicious and are made by their experienced, friendly and professional Baristas.  The coffee blend is smooth and delicious and there’s no horrible smell permeating from the cup after you finish that you find from the drive through sourced McCuppa.

  This review is short and sweet, but there’s not much else to say as this is how a café should be.  Enjoyable, comfortable and has a great variety of food served by friendly happy staff that greet you by first name, and who are always happy to chat.  Make sure you visit next time you pass through Williamstown, Newport or Altona.

address:  1/21 Lobelia Drive, Altona North, Victoria 3025

    Mr Miller & Co Its been a while since my last café review. Mr Miller & Co found in the Altona North Business precinct, close to Office works, Bunnings, JB Hifi etc is the perfect place to stop while shopping, on the way to work (as I do for my morning coffee every day) or fun lunch. 

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Men, an endangered species ?!

Its an interesting time to be alive.  Over the past decade, so much has happened in societies across the world that its hard to believe we’re actually still here. The feminist movement of the 1960’s & 1970’s gave light to women’s rights.  An article I read once stated “A woman was expected to follow one path: to marry in her early 20s, start a family quickly, and devote her life to homemaking. As…

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The Murray River, Torrumbarry/Echuca, Victoria.

The warm, dry air howls through the upper limbs of the hundred year old eucalyptus trees causing a sound similar to angry waves at the beach.  Galas and cockatoos call out breaking the silence of the morning matched only by the distant rumbling of a nearing 650 horse powered V8 ski boat towing a bight red helmet wearing Southern 80 entrant, practicing their 90mile an hour ski run on the quiet…

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Survivalist's at heart, 'Preppers' in reality.

Survivalist’s at heart, ‘Preppers’ in reality.

Everyone it seems, and I mean everyone, is preparing, hoarding, and readying themselves for something.  I put a few extra long life cans away every time I go shopping for what ever happens.  Who really knows what it may be.  I want to be prepared.  I can use the extra cans to provide me with meals, entertainment (build a can castle) or defence (I can throw them at whatever I need defending from).…

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Yes, I drive a Jeep.  Yes I know they get crappy fuel mileage, and they have about as much interior room as shoe box and on the road you feel every bump.  But damn, can they drive off-road !!!

Having led some great weekend and day trips, with groups of just three up to fifteen, of varying brand and models of four-wheel drive vehicles, I think I’ve seen it all.   I believe my knowledge of tracks ,and what vehicles and drivers may, or may not find challenging, is slightly higher than the average four-wheel drive hobbyist.   I am very confident in what I can, or can not do in my Jeep Wrangler TJ.

Like any four-wheel drive enthusiast, I have spent months tinkering, modifying adding or removing parts to personalise my machine, and make it what I believe to be an off-road weapon.   Every four wheel driver believes this of they’re vehicle.  That is until we’re humbled by an obstacle we can’t drive over, thorough or around.  Then we’re back to modifying to make sure we can beat that obstacle the next time we go out.

We all work for a reason.  To pay off a loan, a house or afford that next holiday.  I work for those things too, but I also work to afford to do the things I enjoy doing, when I’m not working.  I don’t drink, smoke or gamble.  What I do, is spend a lot of time waiting for parts to arrive, so I can fit them to my Jeep.  When I’m not doing that, I’m looking for parts to buy, or actually fitting them.  It seems I spend more time doing this than actually driving, but it’s what makes me happy.

Every man needs to justify the fact he’s spent $400 on suspension.  I like to keep things simple and say “It’s so that we’ll be safer when driving off-road” or “Look Babe, see how smooth the ride is now, I did that for you !”.  The accompanying  “You can’t pull the wool over my eyes” look is priceless.

I’ve driven several different automotive brands off-road in my time.  Land Rover, Suzuki,  Nissan, Toyota, but Jeep has stuck with me for some reason.   I find the brand versatile in that if you don’t want a roof above you, you simply opt for a soft top.  The soft top can open up to have a sun roof, you can go windowless, or simply convertible.   The windscreen folds down to resemble a Jeep like off the TV show MASH, you can even remove the doors if you so desire.  No other brand of off-road capable vehicle has as much diversity as the jeep.  The only other brand that comes close is the Land Rover, but they stopped making those models years ago.

People are  funny when it comes to brands.   I have found that Nissan and Toyota drivers really dislike Jeep drivers.  Maybe it’s because the Jeep comes straight off the assembly line as a more capable vehicle, than they’re make and model.  But that’s what Jeep is about.  You don’t have to spend thousands on it to make it drive well off-road, it’s actually designed with that purpose in mind.  A Nissan Patrol ( GQ or GU ) is a suburban four-wheel drive with towing a boat or caravan and the occasional gravel road in mind.  The same goes with the Toyota landcruiser.  Both very good vehicles and capable in their own rights in mud and over rocks, but to get serious, a lot of work needs to be done, ie, suspension, drive train, reduction gears etc.  I know this having driven them myself, and the work required etc.

Jeeps don’t tow.   I’m talking about the Wrangler models in specific the TJ and JK.  They’re designed to be a recreational off-road vehicle.  You just have to look at the TJ Wrangler for example.  It has a max unbraked towing capacity of just 650kg’s.  Practically nothing, braked towing capacity of under a tonne.   What !!??  This suggests the designers had something else in mind when designing these vehicles.

The Jeep wave.  Yes, there is such a thing, and people become wankers when you don’t wave back from behind the wheel of your jeep.  There are bumper stickers highlighting the fact that you are an advocate of the “Jeep wave”.  I personally will wave to anyone who waves at me regardless of what they drive.  Does that make me a wanker, oh I hope so.

Apparel.   I do own a pair of Jeep trousers, not to mention a few jeep t-shirts.  Would I go out of my way to buy them, no.  My brother works at Jeep and has flicked a few freebies my way, otherwise I’m not the sort of guy that has to display the vehicle I drive on my shirt.  That’s a big negative in my books to being a brand whore.  I actually don’t think I would be caught dead wearing a red shirt with a Ferrari emblem on it, let alone a Toyota or Nissan shirt.

Here in Australia, the authorities are very controlling on what someone can or can’t do to their vehicle.  A four-wheel drive vehicle can not be lifted more than 2.5 inches above factory height, and that’s including tyres.  You must not have tyres protruding past the guards or wheel arches, and you must have mudflaps to an angle of 45 degrees or greater on your vehicle to prevent stones from being flicked up behind your vehicle.  This restricts many brands of four wheel drive vehicles  from ever being able to be driven off-road as you simply cannot modify them within the law to be capable on the tracks and trails we have available to us.  And only registered vehicles can be driven on the tracks and trails, meaning if your vehicle doesn’t pass inspection, it can’t be registered.  Just look at the picture below of who trolls through the bush in search of offenders of such vehicles.

The purpose of driving recreational vehicles is to drive places a normal, road purposed vehicle can’t go, to see scenery, reach locations and enjoy the trip to such places.   The roads we drive these vehicles are challenging, the trails demanding and the tracks treacherous.  The fun that’s to be had is in-measurable.  I for one, and glad to say that I enjoy doing this as often as I can.  But there’s one thing I’m even happier to say.  And that is, I enjoy doing all these things in a Jeep.

    Its a Jeep thing… Yes, I drive a Jeep.  Yes I know they get crappy fuel mileage, and they have about as much interior room as shoe box and on the road you feel every bump. 

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No one knows what tomorrow will bring, let alone what impacts today will have on tomorrow.  We, everyone and everything on this planet we ride on, are embroiled in the universes greatest experiment.  The very fact we, or anything exists on this planet is a result of a series of completely random events that have developed into what we call “the world” as we know it now.  But, this “world” is definitely not the same “world” we knew yesterday, and it wont be the same tomorrow.

Just a few years ago we passed the threshold of 400 parts per million particles of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, this is up from the mid 1800’s where the atmosphere contained just 280 parts per million.   This is a raise of 40% since the “Industrial Era”.  The reaction of the earths atmosphere as a result of this is what science is calling “The Green House Effect”.   Supposedly this is causing the atmosphere to heat up as a result, causing the weather channel to resemble something of a horror show !!.

Lets go back to the Industrial Era.  An era where factories, creating machines designed to make life easier, work less laborious and more output more efficient, spewed tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere.  People got sick, land got polluted and through the convection of heated air, pollution spread across the globe, through the oceans and eventually popped up on a dinner plate in the Salmon Johnny Adams just ate for dinner.  In all its glory, science is trying to show us something.  To teach us that every action has opposite reaction, sometimes though, this reaction isn’t as equal as we’d like to believe it should be.  Just now are we beginning to realise the effects of what we did 60 – 80 years ago.   We didn’t know back then.

I remember seeing adverts stating that “More doctors smoke Camels….” & “It’s just what the doctor ordered”.  Try telling people 60 years ago that smoking cigarettes would give them cancer.  The smoking experiment eventually showed us that nicotine and tar inhaled through a filter caused cancerous cells to make us unwell and eventually die.

How safe do you feel now, smearing sunscreen over yourself before heading out into the sun.  We really have no idea of the long-term effects of using sunscreen, it hasn’t been around long enough.  How about supplementing sugar with Equal, Stevia or one of a handful of chemical substitutes ?.  Butter comes from milk, but Margarine,  which is supposed to be just one ingredient away from plastic and has added coloring to turn it from its natural color of Gray to Yellow.  Whats that doing to us ?? Maybe in 20 years we’ll find out. !!

What I’m getting at is this.  No-one knows the results of anything.  We can guess, which is exactly what science is;  the best informed and educated prediction about something we can’t be 100% certain of.

Scientists usually have varying opinions on everything, but there’s one thing every scientist can agree on, and that is that our atmosphere has changed.  What this means is that every scientific model that’s ever been developed is obsolete.  They have no idea whats going to happen next !!  Weather reporting and predictions is now more than ever, a “just run with it and see what happens” type system.  We can see what coming a few days out, but beyond that is anyone’s guess.  With the development and advancement of technology, wouldn’t you believe that we should be able to predict what’s coming two or maybe three weeks away !?

Fracking has become a huge topic for environmentalists.  Fracking is where drilling occurs and high pressure water (among other chemicals) is forced into coal seams to force out gas, used in industry.   The long-term effects on the climate is unknown.  Fracking has been blamed for earthquakes,  flammable gas found present in towns drinking water supplies, and disastrous biological and ecological effects across hundreds of thousands of acres of land.   No-one can say with any determination what the long term effects of fracking will be.  Just like no-one can say what the long term effects of coal mining,  oil drilling or even tapping into the underground aquifers will be.   We just pushing ahead with hope that what we are doing now isn’t going to have to much of an effect on tomorrow.

Funnily enough, the knee jerk reactions of mankind see’s groups such as WWF to help protect the worlds endangered animals as a result of their habitats being diminished to feed organisations such as Ikea, that uses 1% of the world’s wood every year.  Remember the Kyoto

Does anyone remember this ?  “I am the one that is burdened with finding the balance between sound environment practice on one hand and jobs for the American people on the other” I wasn’t long after this statement was made that President Bush abandoned the Kyoto Accord favoring a stronger economy over a strained world environment – little did he know just over 15 years later America like the rest of the word suffered through a global financial crisis that damaged the very economy he was trying to protect, in turn this slowed down if not closed down many of the very same polluting industries,  in the same way that the Kyoto Accord would have.

Putting the environment aside, the experiment we are all participating in stretches far beyond the environment we live in.  An example of this is the additions that we have developed to seemingly make our lives better.  Lets take the mobile phone for example.  When the innocent mobile phone was first used back on the 3rd April 1973, Martin Cooper, a senior engineer at Motorola, didn’t call his rival and competitor company to boast about speaking to them on his mobile phone, believing that his invention would be the cause of many a car accident, the phrase “time poor” or that it would in fact become the platform of millions of “apps”, a camera/video camera or even phone banking.  He believed he was revolutionizing simple voice communication allowing someone to talk to someone else without having a spring wire connecting the hand-piece to the wall.  The phone experiment has morphed into something more than just a tool, a means of communicating.  It’s now a computer, GPS, ATM, Camera, shopping trolley, alarm, stopwatch, calendar among a million other things.  Psychologically a mobile phone is as addictive as a drug, it’s as dependable as a family member or friend.  Its missed when we leave it at home.  Its pined over, its cared for, its checked more frequently than a baby, and now, its become more important to us than the safety of ourselves and the people around us.   How should we mark the mobile phone experiment ?  Pass or fail ?

Some of histories greatest experiments have given us some of life’s most useful discoveries.  Plato said “Science is nothing but perception” and he was right when it comes to Penicillin.   Scottish Biologist Alexander Flemming while researching Staphylococcus went on holiday leaving his dirty dishes near his cultures, the fungi that grew on his dirty dished killed the Staphylococci dead in its tracks, which lead to the discovery of Penicillin.   Microwave Ovens came about after an engineer, Percy Spencer, working for Raytheon, walked in front of a magnetron and discovered the chocolate bar in his pocket had melted.  A few tweaks and several exploding eggs later, the microwave oven was invented.   Vaseline came from the oil fields – known then as “Rod Wax” it used to gum up the drilling equipment, a guy named Robert Chesebrough re-branded it as Vaseline, and its been treating cuts and abrasions since.  See oil drilling did give us something useful after all !!!  Apart from Oil, which is present in practically everything we touch, wear, spray on our skin, wash through our hair, rub on our lips, cook on, in and with, watch, listen through, to and on, etc etc etc

The religion experiment has seem world wars, terrorism, so-called witches burned on stakes and millions of people persecuted for something that can’t be seen by most as it’s a state of mind, a belief, a way of life.  Religion directs large populations to dress a certain way.  Pray to god known differently across the various religious groups in different ways, at different time, using different languages.  For the Atheists out there, they’re not understood.  The fear of the unknown, or misunderstood has created some of the worlds greatest, most atrocious events in history.   Fear of being different, misunderstood, or simply the fear that someone believes in something different to our own beliefs has caused us to turn on our own.  Human against human.  What are we thinking !!??  Extremists take things to the extreme, it’s as simple as that.  But the knowledge that we are all here in the atmosphere, on the same ball, in the same galaxy, doesn’t halt their need to fulfill their belief.  For this, the experiment continues, for all of us.  A great chunk of us live in hope that the experiment will conclude peacefully, and there are those that believe the opposite.  All we can really do is wait and see.

The one experiment I can think of that’s likely to affect us all at one point or another, is the one that see’s us leaving the earth.  Some say its to escape the planet due to its increasing failure to support long-term life, and some say it’s purely as a way to further discover places we haven’t been.

My opinion is this.  We are here for a reason.  Not as individuals, but as a species.   Until we can all come together and coexist as that,  will we then realise the gift we have under our feet isn’t doing so well.  We’re to distracted with what everyone else is doing.   The earth is a garden.  If we don’t care for it, it will die.  And Our garden is starting to die !!!

    The Earth Experiment No one knows what tomorrow will bring, let alone what impacts today will have on tomorrow.  We, everyone and everything on this planet we ride on, are embroiled in the universes greatest experiment. 

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Every once in a while you stumble across a little piece of heaven.  A place that is humble in size, and on the surface looks simply divine, but it’s not until you break the surface that the magic really begins.   The place I’m writing about isn’t for everyone, in fact some will find it impossible due to medical reasons or maybe even a phobia, will allow only half of the magic to be experienced.

The name of this location will mean forgetting it, will be near impossible, and in no way reflects the location.  Goat Island.

Tucked away only minutes from the small town of Leigh, approximately 1hr and 10minutes driving up the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand, you come across a small town known as the “Snapper Capital of New Zealand”.   Leigh has a population of just 300 people, not including the students studying at Auckland University’s Marine laboratory.

My first time at Goat Island was while I participated in my PADI Open Water Diving course.  The addiction to explore the underwater world is partly because of the intensely abundant sea life just inches below the sparkling water lapping the coast and shores of Goat island.

COVER

During peak times; school holidays and weekends, the car park can sometimes be a game of cat and mouse, and see’s the grassy road embankments used as an overflow.   Children are safe directly in front of the island as there are no currents, and being a marine reserve, taking of sea life from the ocean is strictly prohibited.  Local shops sell fish food in the form of pellets that you can hand feed to the fish.  Cray fish the size of small monkeys pop their heads out of they’re holes to say hi, spotted sea slugs, moray eels and angel fish glide throughout the shallow reefs.

Snorkelling is by far the most popular activity here, however for a real experience, slap a tank on your back and spend 45mins sitting on the bottom and marvel as you’re completely surrounded by schools of a variety of fish species.

The Goat Island experience is completely free.  Pack a lunch, bring a sun umbrella, and make sure your mask and snorkel are in order and enjoy yet another of New Zealand’s unique experiences.

Click here to see a short video with thanks to The Kayaking World of Nathan Pettigrew

      Goat Island Marine Reserve Every once in a while you stumble across a little piece of heaven.  A place that is humble in size, and on the surface looks simply divine, but it's not until you break the surface that the magic really begins.  

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Over the past 10 years we have seen a change in television.  For better of worse it’s here to stay.  Not because of skilled performers but because ratings and the increasing wealth of the networks by not having to fund expensive written productions or pay costly actors/actresses.   The new genre of television “Reality television” is here to stay.

One day, not long ago, an associate at a board meeting had an idea.  He took a gamble, and it paid off big time.  Not just for himself, but to the delight of many a divorce lawyer, not to mention the millions of single guys and girls out there blessed with little or no morality when it comes to entertaining someone of the opposite (or same-sex) that may happen to be off-limits (ie, married).

From that idea, the world of reality television started airing shows such as “7 year itch” and “Wife swap”, even “The Bachelorette”.  The result has had an impact on the thoughts of anyone that’s wasted 45 minutes watching psychologically evaluated opposites clash over personalities, and happily married people introduced to someone better matched to them than they’re wife/husband.

Personally, when I turn on the television, the last thing I want to watch is a Farmer trying to choose a wife out of a pool of 20 suitors, or 10 couples try to outdo each other by building a house of which is built for them by professionals and judges by a panel that has varying tastes.   I can see this all without turning the television on by walking across the road or sitting in a country bar watching “Billy Joe” the farmer hit on “Delores” the waitress.

Over the past several months I have been witness to several marriage breakups of people who have been happily married for years.  These people used to actively participate in sports and group activities with their families, attend social outings and were what I would call “long haulers”.  Something changed.  I think I can put a finger on what it is that’s caused the strain, what has caused happily married people to look at their partner and start wondering “Is he/she really the one for me ?”, or “I think I deserve more that what I have, even if I’m happy now”.   Reality show couples almost always never last.   The tabloids happily show a smitten couple, brought together through a process of elimination signified by the prose a red rose as a symbol of achievement, they show images of dream holidays in tropical locations, and make viewers believe true love actually exists, and everything can be perfect.  Two months after the show finishes, they feature a story of how a fairytale couple turns into a nightmare of fighting and divorce.   No wonder the dream of “happily ever after” is nonexistent in today’s world.

We all know that its easy question our decisions.  We all do it.  But the influence to question something that we would never have considered brought about by extremely clever teams of psychologists, psychiatrists, communications experts through the medium of television has actually made society a scary place.

The influential power of visual media is well stated throughout time.  Taking the next step via reality shows has seen the viewers of such shows modify their beliefs by simply liking a character on the show they watch, in exactly the same way a child would idolize they’re favorite sports star.  The child attempts to mimic they’re idol, take on certain traits, and behaviours.  This is a good thing.  Success comes from mimicking success,   do what a successful person does, behave like them and the chances of your own success will be greatly improved.

What is happening now, is we are seeing a happily married couple on television,  granted, there may be an issue or two (what married couple doesn’t have an issue or two ?) that like all past issues, they would have worked out creating a stronger bond between them.  However, they sign a television contract, and before they know what’s happened they find themselves separated,  and in a house with someone designed to be better suited to them than what their husband/wife are, with the sole purpose on seeing if the bond between them is strong enough to weather the advances of this amazingly good-looking, psychologically better suited stranger.

Amy and John (random names I’ve chosen) are sitting on the couch, relaxing after a days work, happily married, start watching a show depicting the above.   A simple problem, lets say, Amy doesn’t like how John talks when around his friends.  Something that could easily be discussed between them and one that John may well be happy to take on board and make changes, because he loves Amy.  The show they watch depicts a happy couple with a similar problem.  However the way that the TV couple deal with it see’s them argue, over react and separate.  Amy starts to worry that John may react in a similar way to the TV couple, and buries the problem.  It grows developing into resentment and eventually causes a rift that there’s no coming back from.

The above example is pretty low scale compared to the problems seen on television between the couples contracted to entertain us.  The result is the same though.  The influence of suggestion of high, especially with everything else that happening in the world today.  Entertainment has gone from happy comedy, to adventurous stories, action, drama to reality.  The word reality television suggests what we see is real.  How people react to certain environments on television on “reality” shows creates suggestion that we should, or might react in a similar way.

A cabinet-maker friend of mine was telling me about the lack of business in his area of expertise.  He said, home decorators, painters and even local landscapers had seen a decrease in available work.   Then he said this “Shane, it’s because of the amount of “Do-It-Yourself” reality TV shows.  People see a couple on television changing the house, adding extensions, knocking out walls, and they believe its easy, because of what they see on television.  So they simply take on the projects themselves”.

This is great if you own a hardware store, not so great if your livelihood is dependent on your trade.   Here’s the problem.  Television makes things look easy.  Behind the scenes, and what the producers don’t show, is the  professionals finishing the jobs the couple are seen starting.   Building codes, laws relating to qualified trades people, are there to ensure are houses are safe, and remain insurable.

This shows the influences of reality television.  People see something on the screen, and believe they can do what they see, behave the way the people on-screen behave and make decisions based on the reasoning the character on television in a similar, yet designed situation does.    The universally known saying – “Monkey see, monkey do” comes to mind.

I could start on cooking shows, but I’ll leave this one alone.  I can’t find fault in a TV show regardless if it is reality or instructional that makes people want to cook better.   The restaurant industry may beg to differ.

Weight loss reality.  Filmed over 12 months yet portrayed as 8 weeks.  Extreme dieting and pharmaceutical assistance give the impression extreme weight loss is actually achievable, while being tempted with chocolate moose, cupcakes and roast lamb.  Ask any health professional if it is possible to drop 15kg’s of fat in a week.  You’ll be surprised what the answer is.

I firmly believe that the Reality Television must at some point take responsibility for the influences their shows bestow on their viewers.  I also believe that it is the viewers choice to watch such shows.  The networks know reality TV is easy money.  They report the fact “Sam cheated on Henry with Isobel” in their papers and during the TV news updates like it were actual news.  Every second advert is for their show, and even actual paid actors comment on who their favorite cook on “Master Chef” is.  How can we avoid the peer pressure that stabs at us from every angle ?.   People are arguing on the streets because they believe “Andrew should have given the rose to Sarah” and “Jason is a bad person because Alison gave him a massage in the spa pool, when his wife Danielle has managed to avoid the advances of Luke, whom she’s sharing a bed with”.

I say bring back shows that actually encourage us to be nice to each other, shows such as “Full House”, “Happy Days” for example,  television that taught the viewers how deal with issues through the actors on-screen, while entertaining us, and making us laugh.

The most powerful, the most influential medium besides religion, must realise it has the power to change the society we see from the safety of our homes.  Do they really care ?

Monkey see, Monkey do – Reality Television, creating unrealistic expectations. Over the past 10 years we have seen a change in television.  For better of worse it's here to stay. 

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The intro on their website hits the nail firmly on the head:

Bean Counter Cafe

Is open for breakfast, lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea and also provides a relaxed ambiance of a cocktail lounge, with freshly roasted Coffee and Breakfast or Lunch experience that will make your mouth water. You will be surrounded by a beautiful surroundings and green landscape.

When I used to live nearby (some 4 years ago) this was my favorite cafe to have a Sunday breakfast at.  The reasons for me was a little thing called “great coffee”.   In fact, I later learned this cafe and its proficient and beautifully natured staff, has rated within the top 100 cafe destinations in Melbourne by the Melbourne Coffee Review for the past two years.  This doesn’t surprise me at all.

The Bean Counter Cafe has plenty of room.  There’s enough seating outside to be able enjoy the warm morning sun, they have a courtyard out the back which is decorated with toys for the kids to use and inside is furnished with local artwork, comfortable seats and homely decorations, making you feel comfortable and relaxed.

To be honest, there’s really nothing about this cafe that I don’t like.   Its located directly across the road from the Fairfield train station( but you couldn’t tell from inside), making it very easy to access from Melbourne city.  The cafe is Child and family friendly, It’s dog friendly, bike friendly….. It’s just friendly all around.

I have tried pretty much everything on the menu, but my favorite meal experience is breakfast, in which I choose the “Bean Counter Big Breakfast”, consisting of bacon, mushrooms, a home made potato cake, cherry tomatoes, a chorizo sausage and I usually choose scrambled eggs to go with the two pieces of toast with avocado slices.  Everything a growing boy needs !!.

Breakfast runs all day, so for someone like me, who doesn’t live locally, and Melbourne’s traffic being what it is, I’m assured that if I walk in at midday, I can still enjoy a breakfast.  Lunch however runs from 12:30 to 3:30.   Who eats lunch anyway !!

The Bean Counter Cafe also caters for functions – something I’m yet to experience.  They also sell their own blend of coffee beans, and flower blossom teas for those that like to drink flowers.

Oh, I’d better not leave out the waffles.  I’m yet to remember to actually take my own picture, so the one below’s from their webpage.  Something ablout a fresh waffle on a plate in front of me turns off my brain.  I’m sure one day I’ll remember.

So there you have it.  When in Melbourne, and feeling like an experience that I guarantee won’t disappoint, drop into the Bean Counter Cafe in Fairfield.

Below is a link to their webpage and address.  Enjoy.

The Bean Counter Cafe

Map

        Bean Counter Cafe – Fairfield, East Melbourne The intro on their website hits the nail firmly on the head: Bean Counter Cafe Is open for breakfast, lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea and also provides a relaxed ambiance of a cocktail lounge, with freshly roasted Coffee and Breakfast or Lunch experience that will make your mouth water.

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Gender Equality, Violence - Save the children, protect Fairy Tales

Gender Equality, Violence – Save the children, protect Fairy Tales

It was a completely normal Tuesday morning.  Sitting my car in traffic, coffee in the cup holder giving off a pleasant aroma, and talk back radio tuned on.  I started listening about how children as young as 4 should avoid being read fairy tales as they contain anti gender equality messages .  WHAT.  Are they serious.   Some “fancy pants” in an office decides that Cinderella may secretly be…

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Imagine your surprise.  Going about your business, expecting yet another normal evening, then lo and behold, “ding-dong”….  you answer the door and there’s a flaming bag of “do do” on your door step.

Gone are the days of ignorance.  The days when your clean, warm pair of slippers, were ruined by the sweet stench emulating from below as you blindly stomp out the flames.  As a society, we’ve become more cynical – surely some happy honest individual didn’t accidentally leave their flaming bag here !!  We’ve become accustomed to expect the unexpected.  A flaming bag isn’t just a flaming bag !!

A good friend of mine just updated her Facebook status, commenting at her disgust at finding someone had decided to defecate on her lawn over night.  As horrid as this sounds, and despite my reply and emoji set on “shock” the fact remains, I wasn’t shocked at all.  In fact, I too have had someone busting too much to make it home, so they’ve decided to “make brown” over my front fence.   It’s just the way the world is now.  People seem to care less, there’s less respect, and if you need to go, “who cares about someone else’s roses, I’ll do what I want, when I need to do it”.

In my opinion, the world would be a far greater place if we expect less of ourselves.   The person wouldn’t have fertilized my garden had they had known they’d not be able to make it home to the safety of their toilet.   They obviously expected to be able to make it.

Recently I had the privilege of traveling and passing through several airports.   Signs everywhere warn people not to leave your baggage unattended.  This is a two-way warning.  It warns against people picking up and stealing your unattended bags, and the second and more alarming part of the warning – If you leave a bag unattended, it may be perceived to contain something that goes bang, and causes a lot of damage, possibly even claiming life.   The fear is real, something as common as a bag in an airport, when left alone, looks like a black ball with a fuse on top.  Unfortunately males wearing beards have the same effect.

As a society constantly on edge, living under the possibility of harm by certain groups, the power of certain countries and of course the threat of those that surround us by the unknown way they may act at any given time, has over time both desensitized  us and made us into a group of people who are accustomed to looking sideways.  If only the person taking a dump over the fence was more paranoid.

There seems to be a vast gap between those who give a stuff, over those who don’t.   The circumstances vary greatly as well.  I see it every day on the roads.  Some people drive like they could have an accident any second.  They’re pressed up against the steering wheel, squinting as their eyes dart wildly trying to see an impeding threat to their safety.  On the flip side, there’s those who “drive like they stole it”.  No care for the safety of those around them.  They cut in, brake hard and speed like they’re driving the “Enterprise” being chased across space.  The only time they slow down is for a “safety camera/speed camera”, as selfishness towards other road users is rampant and the only thing you can sure of, is they will protect themselves against a speeding fine at any cost.                       The road is the one place you really do need to be paranoid.

Everything that has nothing to do with ourselves, we have no control over.   I like to live my life based on that statement.  There’s one thing you can be sure of in life, and that is that you really be sure of anything.   I constantly expect the unexpected.  Nowadays nothing really surprises me.  Just like a flaming bag on a door step, or a personalized gift left in my front garden, I too have become desensitized to the vastness of human nature.  This by no means I’ll replicate what I see out there.  I don’t think anyone should.  Not unless it highlights the positive side of life existing with other people.

Be kind out there

    The flaming bag on the door step Imagine your surprise.  Going about your business, expecting yet another normal evening, then lo and behold, "ding-dong".... 

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I remember as a child sitting down to watch cartoons on a Saturday morning.  Of course back then you had to wait for the snow on the TV to be replaced by the test pattern, and then came the Disney introductions and my favourite cartoon “Chester and Spike”.  The big dog with all the power and the over excited small dog bouncing around trying desperately to gain the attention and approval of the big dog.

They say cartoons have subliminal messaging, and that they’re medias way of suggestive learning.  This cartoon now, to me, represents an old-fashioned way of social acceptance and advancement.  The big dog (dumb yet powerful beyond his comprehension) has suggestions thrown at him by an excited, motivated, yet still dumb smaller dog, in an attempt to actually do something, hoping that in doing so might make the smaller dog own par with the big dog.  Welcome to Australian Politicians approach to the politicians of “super power” countries.

With regards to very recent international events, the Australian Prime Minister (like the small dog)  was very quick to jump on the Trump Wagon with media conferences stating “We back America fully”.  And that “We were advised of the attack several hours prior”.  The second statement was made in such a way that it misled the Australian pubic into believing that Australia was the only country told of the impeding operation.  The Prime Minister of Australia, stood proud, with the look of a Puppy Dog that had just been given the leftover bone by the big dog.   You could see that “Now we’re part of the winning team” look on his face as he delivered his statements while leaving out the facts that several countries, including Russia, UK etc were also informed of the impending operation.

I remember a cartoon Chester and Spike.  See the clip below :

Spike – Trump, Chester – Australia Prime Minister

Riding on the coat tails of a stronger country, the Prime Minister was seeking the approval of the international community,  in an attempt to protect his economy and shore up possible long-term benefits in trade.  To the less educated, he did just that.  To the rest of us who actually learned to read, all he did was throw us into the mix of a far greater threat.  The South China sea trade route dispute.  Something the Australian Government has been trying to remain “on the fence” of for a long time.  In just minutes, the “smug faced” Prime Minister, riding on someone else power trip, demolished what his government has been trying to protect.  He basically handed over the reigns to someone else, and in doing so, has now no control over the future of sea bound trade into and out of Australia, via the South China Sea.  A huge gamble if there ever was one.

Recently, media reports suggested that Australia wouldn’t take sides with regards to the South China sea tensions:

The article below comes from News.com.au article on OCTOBER 23, 20165:43AM

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has accused Labor of lacking a coherent policy on the South China Sea dispute.Source:AFP

But the Federal Government has deemed Labor’s position on the South China Sea “all over the shop”.

“The challenge for Labor is to come up with clear and coherent policy, they have now had four or five pronouncements on what Labor would do in relation to the South China Sea,” Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told Sky News.

“The importance of dealing with great powers like to China is to be clear and consistent in your messaging and Labor’s all over the shop.”

Ms Bishop has explicitly ruled out an exercise within the 12-mile nautical zone.

HOW AUSTRALIA’S PRESENCE MAKES A DIFFERENCE

So far, Australia’s involvement in the conflict has been relatively low-risk.

It’s understood the country is yet to sail within 12 nautical miles of the Chinese islands, and despite occasional threats from China, they don’t see our military as particularly provocative.

Odom commended Australia’s role in the conflict, despite the fact that Australia hasn’t nearly acted as strongly as its US ally in the region.

    It seems, once again the small dog is sitting close to the big dog, waiting patiently, yet excited about what the big dog might suggest.   This “hand sitting tactic” is becoming old with the Australian people, who are treated like uneducated buffoons by the privileged few that sit high on their thrones in the country’s Capital.   So closed off to the realities of life in Australia, the election of Donald Trump as President, and the lesson learned in the US congress regarding how powerful a vote can be, the Australian Government has no idea what they’re doing, yet alone how to protect themselves against future election wipeouts.  This was obvious with the amount of head scratching going on after the US election results were released.  It seems the public do have a say when it comes to elections.  Who ever would have thought !!!

One this that is apparent.  We live in uncertain times.  The decisions that are made for us, by the very people that we elected to speak on our behalf, definitely don’t represent the views of the general consensus.  Can we really trust the elected few to steer the ship of safety?  To make the right choices, the morally right choices, choices that are humane, and representative the population ?   This is the question.  But unfortunately followed by another.

What can we really do about it.??!!

Political Popularity – The “Chester and Spike” Method I remember as a child sitting down to watch cartoons on a Saturday morning.  Of course back then you had to wait for the snow on the TV to be replaced by the test pattern, and then came the Disney introductions and my favourite cartoon "Chester and Spike".  

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Prepare, overcome, succeed.

For an adventurer, the ability to hike, climb or paddle are important abilities. For everyday people the ability to move, have enough strength to do the activities you like, even the flexibility to pull your socks on and tie your laces for example, is the difference between surviving and thriving or just existing. Now I’m not saying that people with disabilities are simply existing, far from it.…

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Its simple.  One thing, and one thing alone will ensure you make it up that hill, through that puddle, bog hole or swamp.  It’s the one thing that when taken from your vehicle you become stuck.  Its called MOMENTUM.  Don’t be fooled though, there’s a definite clear line between enough momentum and too much momentum.  Go to fast and your out of control, too slow and your going to get stuck.

Traction.  It’s the key to momentum.  Going “just fast enough” with your wheels spinning is as good as being bogged.  I’ve seen so many younger four-wheel drivers, start their ascent up a hill, going flat-out, wheels spinning, and get no further that the guy before him going to slow.   When you spin your wheels, you no longer have control of where your going, and all to often end up with the vehicle on its roof or side.

Ideally, you should be travelling at the speed your going to ascend the hill at the start of it, and in the gear (if your driving a manual) that you’ll use the whole climb.  Changing gears on an ascent will cause loss of traction or a stall.   This can end up with disastrous consequences.

Your line.  Walk the hill first, check for anything that can cause you to lose momentum.  The height of your vehicle, the clearance of your undercarriage (Differentials, fuel tank, tow bar) are important things to take into consideration.  Most people have no idea.  Having enough momentum isn’t going to make a difference if you bottom out half way up the hill or halfway  through the puddle.   The last time I bottomed out, it was in a deep puddle.  The tyres sunk half way through causing my vehicles belly pan to touch, I came to a grinding halt, and the water started to come in, filling my foot wells with the most horrible smelling liquid.   No amount of momentum would have helped.  Not without causing damage.

Sand driving.  Here’s where you need a lot of momentum.  Stop in soft sand and you’ll never get going again without sinking.  Going up hills in sand is simple.  Go as fast as you can safely.  One thing you must know though, your steering will be sluggish, and the tighter the turn, the more likely you are to get stuck.   If you do stop, use MaxTrax or something similar to get going again.  The key is to create momentum again, and don’t stop.  Spinning tyres in sand will dig a hole faster than a shovel.   Keep your tyre pressures to a minimum to create surface area.

Rock Crawling.  Very little momentum is needed, hence the title “Rock Crawling”.  Traction is a must.  Smooth and in control is the name of the game.  Choosing lines and knowing your vehicle like the back of your hand are the two main ingredients to successfully climbing rocks in your vehicle.   Short bursts of momentum followed by stops and adjusting your line, with assistance of your spotter (someone outside the vehicle to guide you).

Descending slopes.  Momentum is the key again.  Keep your tyres moving and pointing in the direction of the line you want to take.  If your tyres lock up, and you start sliding there’s only one thing to do, and its the opposite of what you want to do.  Hit the gas (accelerator), just a little, to regain traction.  The wheels should spin at the same speed as the vehicle moving down the hill.  Don’t brake !!!   This is the same in loose rocks, sand, mud, snow and ice.

River crossings.  Yet another example of momentum.  Select your gear, start slow then speed up slightly.  This creates a “bow wave” in front of your vehicle, which keeps the water out of your engine bay and helps suck the vehicle through the water.  A “Car Bra” (tarp like cover across the front of your vehicle) assists in keeping the engine bay dry, and aids in creating a bow wave.   Select a lower gear and keep the engine revving through the crossing.   BUT walk the crossing first.  If the currents too strong to walk safely, then keep the vehicle out of it.  Check the depth against your vehicles capabilities.  A vehicle with a snorkel air intake will be more equipped for deeper water.  Check for rocks, logs or uneven surface that might interfere with your vehicles momentum.

That’s about it from me.  Safe and fun 4wding :)

  Check out videos at Offroad Adventures Melbourne

Momentum – The key to 4wding Its simple.  One thing, and one thing alone will ensure you make it up that hill, through that puddle, bog hole or swamp.  

[kampa77-blog]

As an ex-professional driver, there are rules, laws, regulations and guidelines, not to mention company policies to combat the effects of fatigue.  From a professional point of view, there have been only a couple of companies I’ve worked for that haven’t forced me to work while fatigued.  Yes, I know I have the right to say no, but altimatums such as “If you can’t do it, I’ll find someone who can” and statements such as  “You knew what we expected of you when you accepted the job” come from the lips of the manager.  In fact, just recently I spent 7 weeks in a cast after falling and breaking a bone in my wrist as a direct result of lost concentration due to having already worked 33.5hrs between Monday and Wednesday Midday when I had the accident at work.

I recall being behind the wheel of a truck at one point, just ticking over the 58hr mark for the week, and not remembering the last 45 minutes.  It’s not that I was actually asleep at the wheel, it’s just that my concentration levels were affecting my memory.  It’s scary to think, that going over the point of recognised fatigue is as good as being drunk.  I was in control of 50 tonnes !!!

Research found that after 17 hours without sleep, our alertness is similar to the effects of a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05%, which according to U.S. law is considered “impaired” on the legally drunk scale. – Here in Australia the limit os 0.02% !!!!

Fatigue isn’t just something that happens when you’ve done too much physical work.   The fatigue I suffered from came from the many hours of constant concentration.   My body felt fine.   I recall talking to my boss about the danger of fatigue and that reducing my hours by just 1 a day would greatly help.  I was told “If you can’t keep up, maybe you should find an office job”.  Great huh.!!

Here in Australia, anyone driving a vehicle with a GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) of 4.5t and over, when travelling more than 100km from the companies depot, must complete a National Driver Work Diary, supplied through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.   I have one, and have used it many times.  I have also thrown several of these diaries out of the truck window at the request (demand) of my manager, and told to lie to any officer that pulls me over saying that I must have left it on the trailer at the last stop.  Highly unorthodox, not to mention the legalities.

Now away from that industry and occupation, I look back and am thankful I made the decision to leave.  The transport industry is accredited with many disastrous road accidents, lives impacted and of course lost.  It makes me angry that employers can threaten the livelihood of their employees and endanger other road users life’s, all in the name of a better bottom line.   I can decisively say,  the overtime isn’t worth it when your driving 80 hours a week.  You just don’t have time to spend it.  I used to leave work 7.5hrs before I was due back and underway again.

From a non-professional point of view.  I’m a very responsible driver.  Knowing what the effects of fatigue are, how they affect your decision-making, concentration and reaction times, I don’t take the risk.  I don’t have an employer breathing down my neck, and can make use of the many rest stops on the freeways and interstate roads.  We even have “driver revive” stations where a caravan is set up as a cafe, and free coffee and tea are on offer for responsible drivers who take a rest.

  I’m originally from New Zealand.  It’s a beautiful place, and driving in New Zealand is as easy as it gets.  The toughest thing about driving there is concentrating on the road as there’s so much to see outside of the car and away from the road its easy to get distracted.  Fatigue was never really an issue for anyone I knew.  The longest drive I ever did was 4 hours.  In fact, no matter where you are in New Zealand, you can drive to either coast in under 4 hours.  Great if you surf !!  It wasn’t until I moved to Australia that I became away what a real drive was.  Driving from Adelaide to Melbourne took 7.5 hours.  I needed to stop half way !!   16 years later and I can easily drive from Melbourne to Sydney, a 10 hour drive (not including stops).  I wouldn’t attempt this though without preparation.   Rest up before the drive, get a good nights sleep and eat a healthy breakfast.  Simple.

There are many websites, road safety publications etc that give great advice on how to tackle long drives.   My advice is simply this;

If you feel tired stop

eat healthy snacks while driving long distances (greasy takeout and fat fried food just make you more tired)

drink plenty of water – coffee and energy drinks “pep” you up but make you crash hard later

talk to your passengers, sing along to a song, tap the steering wheel – active isn’t asleep

plan the journey

  Safe travels out there everyone in the lead up to the warmer months (and cooler months here in the southern atmosphere).

Fatigue – ‘The new drunk’ As an ex-professional driver, there are rules, laws, regulations and guidelines, not to mention company policies to combat the effects of fatigue.