GoonanismA Sporadic mix of the personal, political and programming

Yesterday afternoon I took myself off to see Inception. I won’t say anything about the film – it’s the sort of film that it is best to go into with few expectations. I do urge to you see it at the earliest convenience though. It is truly incredible – a game changer – one of the best films I’ve seen in a very long time.

I can’t remember the last time I walk out of a film thinking: ‘that changes everything’. The Matrix? Maybe.

Whatever the case, it was a 2 and a half hour film that I didn’t want to end and will probably go and see again while it is playing at the cinema – something I never do.

I rushed home from the cinema to catch the leader’s debate. The contrast could not have been more stark. Moving from something so exciting, so engaging to the most uninspiring, pedestrian leader’s debate I can remember. The only loser in the debate was the Australian public. Does that mean that both leader’s lost?

Waleed Aly said early on in the piece that this election was about nothing. My immediate reaction was ‘oh, about nothing is a bit harsh, it’s about… it’s about… it’s about’.

He’s right and that is really depressing. I’ve never been this disenfranchised with Australia’s political process.

Given our leaders inability to provide me with anything even vaguely resembling intellectual stimulation, I’ve turned to podcasts in a big way. My regular cycling commute has become full of thought provoking material which I’m loving. The podcasts I’m currently loving include:

• The Bugle (funny and informative)
• In Our Time (probably haven’t bonded with this one as much as others)
• NPR: Fresh Air Podcast
• NPR: Wait, Wait… Don’t tell me (a quiz show that keeps you up to date with news as well)
• ZDNet: Patch Monday (fully of tech goodness – and Australian!)
• Tank Riot (too me a little bit of listening to start enjoying but now I’m hooked)
• This American Life (my favourite – just so interesting)
• WNYC’s Radio Lab (shorter episodes and very interesting)

Feel free to share your thoughts on podcasts below. Any recommendations?

While riding in to work this morning, listening to a podcast, there was an interesting confrontation on the road. A scooter rider was going a long in the bike lane. This really bothers me. It’s illegal ($50 fine – no demerit points) and dangerous. As a motorcyclist I would never ride in the cycling lane. I knew how much it bothered me when I was cycling and I actually think that it is a much more dangerous thing to do than ‘lane split’. You should always avoid passing on the left… especially when there isn’t actually a lane there as it is the last place a car will look as any cyclist can attest to.

Anyway, on this particular morning a cyclist decided to take issue with the man on the scooter… to the point where he actually tried to push the guy off his scooter. I’m not one for the ‘cyclists-should-behave-well-so-that-cars-are-nice-to-us’ types. I’m all for cyclists being assertive, but this was just going too far.

This week I started doing website support for Prosper Australia (including support for Earth Sharing). I can’t see it being too much work but it’s a bit of fun as they are eager to implement some good changes and it’s always nice when you’re doing some work for someone eager for change that has faith that you can just get it done for them. It also means getting stuck into Pordpress themes and plugins which is something I really enjoy as the API is fantastic.

Unfortunately though, that work meant that I couldn’t get the changes to Sommelier.net.au done that I would have liked to. A few upgrades are coming though and I’ve got a good sense of the next couple of improvements which I’m looking forward to overhauling.

21 weeks to go.