How long to fix something simple?

One notable problem in large organisations is the lack of accountability and proactivity.

The Age's website is a case in point. If it was centralised and built on a better, more unifying platform with a single development team then maybe they would be able to fix the terrible, confusing template issues that plague the whole site.

Honestly, how long would it take a junior developer to fix the CSS for the letters page for example? How long does it take to add a <br> tag? (see image)

To the developers on The Age's website: where are the mavericks who get shit done? Why do you accept this state of play? When's the last time you worked back late to get something fixed- not built, but just fixed? Where are your bug reports? I hope you don't get tipped out during this global recession, because no one will think your skills and more imporantly your passion is up to scratch.

Oh and while you're at it, fix the bug that causes the site to crash iphones.

Ok I give in. 25 Random things about me

I don't mind a good meme-ing. Off we go.

1. My late grandfather was a war hero who went to his grave without telling anyone why he received his Militaty Medal. There is a book "Westralian Cavalry during the War" that outlines his citation. He had killed 6-8 men with a machine gun. Whenever he was asked why he got the medal he varied his answer between "for being the best looking bloke in the army" to "for marring your grandmother". The bond between us is strong, despite Tom Sarre having died when I was ten.
2. When I was very young I was terrified of water. My mum was convinced Harry would be the same. To prevent this, I have taken him to the pool, in the shower and to the beach since he was born. He loves the water.
3. Between the ages of 19 and 29 I weighed 72-74 kilos. Post knee reconstruction (which coincided with me getting a "real" job and giving up windsurfing instructing), I whacked on a lazy 25kgs. Losing them is proving harder than gaining 'em.
4. Depite the fact that my brother and I argue like crazy (and as recently as 5 years ago had a punch up!), I miss him a lot. Now he lives in LA instead of NYC, I kid myself we will visit them more often.
5. I am regarded as versatile. I like lots of things and I do a few of them moderately well. This has not led to fame and fortune, no matter what some people say.
6. My all time favourite adventure was our motorbike trip around Australia. (note: I dropped 10kgs on that!)
7. I can wheelie almost any bike- motor or cycle. I can wheelie my mountain bike until I am too tired to balance it, can wheelie a road bike like Robbie McEwen and got warned at Phillip Island for wheelie-ing down the straight at a track day at a tick over 200km/h.
8. I did not walk until I was 18 months old as I had a four wheelie tractor that I could get anywhere on. I could drift it, trundle it and steer it better than I can drive today.
9. My first dog was Boots. She was a muttley dog who was crazy smart, loyal and perfect as a first dog. When my Dad used to tell the story about how he took her off to have her put down, he cried. Every time.
10. When I was 21, I went on a windsurfing trip to WA with the recently gold medalled "Oasrome Foursome". Hilarity, insanity and lifelong memories ensued.
11. I started blogging in September 2003. I was, and am a crappy blogger. I rarely make enough effort and am in awe of those who keep it up.
12. I've had quite a few girlfiends, but only one whom I actually depise. Yes, it's YOU.
13. Like all new Fathers I was blown away when I became a Dad. I cried and cooed and felt 10 feet tall. Ask me if I feel the smame way at 3am when Harry has spat his dummy and is grizzling about it... The answer: HELL YES.
14. My all time hero is Albert Jacka VC. Most people know nothing of him, and yet he is our finest war hero. He was mayor of St Kilda and when he died young at 39, his pallbearers were all VCs. As Christopher Bantick wrote of Jacka "Albert Jacka is the forgotten man of Gallipoli. The reason is clear. Jacka was an efficient if not legendary killer."
15. In 2008 I took to gardening for the first time. Rach and I planted a range of veggies and what not. I set up a tank based watering system and we proceeded to kill 90% of the plants. We'll be back in 09/10!
16. I used to subscribe to the Henry Rollins philiosophy of being "trained in mind and body". But I have let both deteriorate woefully. Sorry Hank.
17. I once wrote a book about the years up to and just after my Father's death. But it was crap. It was good for me, but no good for the public. I deleted it from amy computer years ago with no regrets.
18. I am currently at my career crossroads. I'm going to let the next few months just play out and see where I go.
19. The first time I asked Rachel out on a date (to see a film) she said no. She didn't wasnt to see that film. I asked again weeks later. She said yes.
    
20. My favourite all time test car was the Aston Martin DB9 Sport. It is simply perfect.
21. One of my life goals is to break 40 knots on a windsurfer and 200mph on a motorbike.
22. I think Denis Walter is one of the nicest, funniest people I have ever met. Or worked with.
23. My camera was stolen at the 2008 F1 Gp and I cannot afford to replace it (Thanks Harry!). I love photgraphy and am becoming more and more depresssed about not having a digital SLR camera. I want a Nikon D90, but need to find a special project that provides me with additional funds.
24. For many years I lived the mantra that there are no limitations and you can be anything you want to be. This lead me down a path of doing things just because I wanted to prove I could do them, not due to any particular passion.
25. I would tag Rachel to do 25, but here's no way she would. So I am tagging no one.
    
    

The Real Thing

In 1989 I bought my last "real" record- as in "on vinyl". There have been others since, but they have been mere curios; a reminder of times gone by and perhaps for reasons of parody.

That album was Faith No More's "The Real Thing". I was halfway through year 12, and frankly I think this album got me to the end in safety. Of course, being an album from 1989- even the last 6 months of that decade makes it an 80's album. But really it's a bookend. I'm not entirely sure what the other bookend is- perhaps the death of Bon Scott/John Bonham signaled the beginning of the 80's just as TheReal Thing signaled the end.

All that aside, I want to focus on but one song; "From Out Of Nowhere". Of course any dissertation on "The Real Thing" ought to include "Epic", but that's almost too easy and certainly too obvious. In 2008, it's easy to listen to this song and say "oh... I get it", but in 1989 the musical landscape was very different. Culturally, the Berlin wall had fallen, Bob Hawke cried on telly and Milli Vanilla had not been revealed as a fake.

So from the opening bars emanating from Jim Martin's guitar, some confusion begins. It seems metal, but perhaps a little punk. There's a keyboard floating in and while you are trying to work out what's going on there a double flam hits you and the hi hats open from then on...! What the hell? There's a bass guitar bouncing about in a manner that just ain't right. Mike Patton's singing is forced and strained, yet on brand. What the hell is on brand in this situation? Listen and learn.

Back then I rarely listened on headphones to my favourite music. The only way I got to hear it loud was to turn it up when the family were out and hope Mr Munro in Maylands ave didn't come round/ring/tell Dad later. If I had listened to "From Out Of Nowhere" closely I would have picked up the the subtleties that ipod earbuds now afford me; the subtle doubling of the chorus vocals- Mike P singing with Mike P and the final "wave goodbye" being followed by a whispered "...goodbye".

The song's ending, where it perfectly runs down and then launches immediately into "Epic", is for me the greatest 1-2 opening double punch outside of Led Zeppelin IV's "Black Dog" "Rock n' Roll".

The evenness of this album, and by that I mean genius, would perhaps not have bothered the band as much as it bothered me. After copying the record to tape for my newly purchased '74 Corolla, it became my soundtrack to 1990 as well. I was at uni, had a job as a part time sound engineer and roadie. Every soundcheck that required a tape played invariably meant "From Out of Nowhere". This was the album and for me the song.

When Angel Dust came out in 1992, I was 20, turning 21. I had a steady girlfriend and school days were already behind me. There was no way for "Angel Dust" to compete no matter how good it was.

Fittingly, when I broke up with that girlfriend, she kept "The Real Thing". Today, I have it on my ipod, but its not the same.

And neither am I.

I'm reading Brett Easton Ellis again...

I'm reading Brett Easton Ellis again and his style is so unmistakable that at once I find myself able to write and indeed talk as if I am a much lesser version of said writer.

It was such a disappointment to me when Marieke Hardy reviewed American Psycho and hated it so. Perhaps Jennifer Byrne's love of AP filled the void for me, I can give it no more thought than that. So here I am 30,000 feet up writing a blog post on my iPhone- could I be more postmodern?

No, the answer is none more post modern.

I'm sitting in the exit seat. I am in this seat due to one reason- they asked me and I accepted. At first I thought it was due to my 190cms of glory, then I thought it might be due to my firefighter physique and style. Then I get to my seat and there is a short middle aged woman in the window seat.<
br>Perhaps it was one of those random acts of kindness you hear about.
All I know is it had nothing to do with me...
Til later
Thomasr.