lightning strikes twice

My lame claim to fame is that I played (okay, trained, I was never on his team) with Phil Waugh during his schoolboy rugby days.  Anyway, I’m a big a fan of his, but the way he deals with the media has reached full on “robot” mode.  I’m sure he is a great leader, but it’s all platitudes all the time with Phil these days when it comes to his media comments:

‘‘After losing those two, it leaves a pretty big hole,’’ Waugh said. ‘‘Certainly the younger guys are a little disheartened about losing those two experienced guys, and this just gives everyone reassurance and confidence. By getting Berrick on the books, there’s certainly a nice vibe around NSW Rugby at the moment.’’

I had a little personal bet with myself about the number of times Phil would say “certainly” in this article, and while he was worrying me in the first couple of paragraphs, he’s come through in the end.

Barnes signing delights Waugh – rugbyheaven.com.au.

by Joseph Heller

I thought perhaps this would not measure up so well to Catch-22, as it is so well known and loved, but this is an amazing book in its own right.  The premise is that King David (from the Bible, but also timeless) is telling his story, from almost the beginning, to almost the end.  We hear about all the things not fit for the Bible, the women he has slept with, the people he has crossed, the wise words he has said, and his feud with God (for taking the life of his baby.)

The wit and humour of the story are superb.  David’s son Solomon (or ‘Shlomo’) is a comic figure made fun of for his lack of sense and wisdom (precisely the things he became known for through the Bible), and the portrayal of his manipulative wife Bethsheba is perfect in the balance between beguiling and bold.

Will definitely get a re-read.

Dear Freddie,

Wow, a heinous workload at the new job means I’ve missed your last month update! Being in the office at least 6 out of 7 days a week (and often 7 out of 7! Today I’m up to 14 days straight and 20 out of 21) is not compatible with spending a lot of time with you. The plus side is your mum is handling you superbly, and that when I do get to see you, you’ve almost always got new things to show to me!

Here are all the things you’ve managed since the last update:

• You’re still sleeping like a champ (mostly.)
• Your rolling is sooo old news. Now it’s all about sitting and commando-crawling. You have sitting up baths, which means the occasional tumble and mouthful of water.
• You’ve started eating solids (at five and a half months). Very exciting for you, very messy for us. Favourites include anything with ricotta, pumpkin, carrot, apple. Not so mad about peas (like your dad.)
• Goya, goya, goya
• Lots of laughs! You’ve got a ticklish tummy.
• And it seems you are VERY social. You like nothing more than new people, especially little people.

All your updates are on http://freddiebolton.com.

Lots of love, Mum & Dad (written by dad).

Yes, this is sorta cheesy, but I’ve actually thought about this several times since i first saw the clip a year or so ago. As a new junior basketball coach, I can tell Will Smith has put a lot of thought into how to get a succinct but important message across. Good on him, this video alone makes him a bit of a hero to me.

via Ben Casnocha: The Blog: The Keys to Life: Running and Reading.

Western Force and now Wallabies prop Pek Cowan on his surprise call from Robbie Deans: “Then he asked: ‘Would you be willing to play for your country?’ All of the emotions came flooding back. I couldn’t speak. My mouth went dry. I tried to say, ‘I’d love to’ but I got a bit tongue-tied and I think it came out as, ‘I love you’.”

via Keep out notice a sign of times – Sport – smh.com.au.

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – overly sentimental, meandering rubbish.
• Tyson – a fascinating insight into a misunderstood and child-like modern icon. At once an aware but still naive, highly emotional character. Compelling

Everyone from Detroit namechecks the Electrifying Mojo:

A report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in December found that the average cost to build a new house in NSW was $272,000 and the average floor area was 252 square metres in 2007-08. Twenty years earlier the cost was $67,000 and the average area was 181 square metres.

via Architects say small houses are the next big thing.

My cultural heritage is where I draw my strength, that’s high on my priority list. I represent my family, but I also represent my indigenous culture. I’m in a rare, unique position, because our opportunities are limited in Australia and we need role models.

via Patrick Mills Interview | NBADraft.net.

Movies have taken a back seat for The West Wing, Mad Men and Arrested Development. But we did watch Burn After Reading last night, and it was truly rubbish. Superficial characters and a stupid storyline that tried to be far too clever for its own good. In retrospect I wish we’d watched one of the alternatives: Australia, Body of Lies, Quantum of Solace. Oh well…