Thanks to Lucy Carter from JJJ news (@lucethoughts on Twitter) for the heads-up
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sub-editor's wet dream
I used to be a sub-editor at a newspaper in a past life. I also read Twilight. This site makes a point of correcting grammar and making Stephenie Meyer's work look like it was written by a 12-year-old. Despite being a fan of Twilight, I can see the funny points of these Tumblr posts. Check it at http://reasoningwithvampires.tumblr.com/
Thanks to Lucy Carter from JJJ news (@lucethoughts on Twitter) for the heads-up
Thanks to Lucy Carter from JJJ news (@lucethoughts on Twitter) for the heads-up
Monday, November 8, 2010
Homelessness is not child's play
A local radio presenter today quit 2 days into a 5-day stint as a homeless person living on the streets of Geelong.
He spent the first night sleeping in a tunnel in Werribee, the second in his car as he was too afraid to sleep on the streets.
There was talk of him spending a night in the men's crisis facility provided by the homelessness agency I work for, but after some talks with radio station management he's pulling out over genuine fears for his safety.
My thoughts on this whole thing are mixed - on one hand I can admire him doing something I wouldn't have the courage to do, while on the other I do question the seriousness with which they have taken this "stunt".
It's no small thing to sleep rough on the street. Not at all. I see people every day who are doing exactly that. Coming from the country town that I did, my experiences of homelessness in Geelong compared to knocked me flat.
There is no accommodation in Geelong. Next to none. Options are limited, or unsuitable. Waiting lists for public housing are years long, private rentals are too expensive, government assistance barely covers the cost of living and resources available to agencies such as the one I work for are just as limited.
To hear the abuse and accusations that people like myself working at these agencies are not doing enough is frankly insulting. As housing support workers, we are bound by the resources available to us. Basically, if the housing isn't there, then we can't offer it.
One of the presenters on the radio this morning claimed that local services were fudging their figures to make it look less bad than what it was. We have no reason to make it look good - we are underfunded industry. In an ideal world, more homeless would equal more funding and support to decrease those figures. Obviously it doesn't work like that, my point being we have no cause to sugar coat figures.
In a typical day, I see people being evicted from homes for a number of reasons, families sleeping on lounge room floors (if they're lucky) or in cars, paying ridiculous amounts of money for caravan parks, people living literally, on the street. They come in, they use our shower, they listen to us tell them there is no accommodation, they get a food parcel, they walk the streets scouting for a good, relatively safe place to sleep for the night.
Don't tell me we downplay homelessness in Geelong, because we certainly don't. It's not something easily fixed, no fluff and bubble or suitcase of cash is going to solve this, we don't treat it like that - and no-one else should either.
I can see the good in trying to raise awareness of homelessness by sleeping rough for a week, but don't blame the problem on the services that are doing their best to help and certainly don't underestimate what you're getting yourself into when you make the decision to be homeless for a week to right the world. I know of one person who wasn't prepared and didn't like what they found.
He spent the first night sleeping in a tunnel in Werribee, the second in his car as he was too afraid to sleep on the streets.
There was talk of him spending a night in the men's crisis facility provided by the homelessness agency I work for, but after some talks with radio station management he's pulling out over genuine fears for his safety.
My thoughts on this whole thing are mixed - on one hand I can admire him doing something I wouldn't have the courage to do, while on the other I do question the seriousness with which they have taken this "stunt".
It's no small thing to sleep rough on the street. Not at all. I see people every day who are doing exactly that. Coming from the country town that I did, my experiences of homelessness in Geelong compared to knocked me flat.
There is no accommodation in Geelong. Next to none. Options are limited, or unsuitable. Waiting lists for public housing are years long, private rentals are too expensive, government assistance barely covers the cost of living and resources available to agencies such as the one I work for are just as limited.
To hear the abuse and accusations that people like myself working at these agencies are not doing enough is frankly insulting. As housing support workers, we are bound by the resources available to us. Basically, if the housing isn't there, then we can't offer it.
One of the presenters on the radio this morning claimed that local services were fudging their figures to make it look less bad than what it was. We have no reason to make it look good - we are underfunded industry. In an ideal world, more homeless would equal more funding and support to decrease those figures. Obviously it doesn't work like that, my point being we have no cause to sugar coat figures.
In a typical day, I see people being evicted from homes for a number of reasons, families sleeping on lounge room floors (if they're lucky) or in cars, paying ridiculous amounts of money for caravan parks, people living literally, on the street. They come in, they use our shower, they listen to us tell them there is no accommodation, they get a food parcel, they walk the streets scouting for a good, relatively safe place to sleep for the night.
Don't tell me we downplay homelessness in Geelong, because we certainly don't. It's not something easily fixed, no fluff and bubble or suitcase of cash is going to solve this, we don't treat it like that - and no-one else should either.
I can see the good in trying to raise awareness of homelessness by sleeping rough for a week, but don't blame the problem on the services that are doing their best to help and certainly don't underestimate what you're getting yourself into when you make the decision to be homeless for a week to right the world. I know of one person who wasn't prepared and didn't like what they found.
Monday
Today smelt like grass clippings and sunshine.
I can hear the sea from my yard, I'm listening to Gotye and reading fanfic before heading off to the gym.
I've been checking pics of Breaking Dawn filming on Twitter today, God I'm sad :P
I've been flogging Art vs Science 'Magic Fountain' in the car today, it's my current driving song.
I'm waiting on a very important phone call, I hope it has what I'm looking for.
I'm off to Mildura in 6 days, not that I'm counting - I've been telling people about Mungo and Perry Sandhills, the river and the bush . . . I'm not sure what to expect when I get back.
The Mentalist is on, there's schnitzels and ice cream waiting, after a gym session . . . awesome.
I can hear the sea from my yard, I'm listening to Gotye and reading fanfic before heading off to the gym.
I've been checking pics of Breaking Dawn filming on Twitter today, God I'm sad :P
I've been flogging Art vs Science 'Magic Fountain' in the car today, it's my current driving song.
I'm waiting on a very important phone call, I hope it has what I'm looking for.
I'm off to Mildura in 6 days, not that I'm counting - I've been telling people about Mungo and Perry Sandhills, the river and the bush . . . I'm not sure what to expect when I get back.
The Mentalist is on, there's schnitzels and ice cream waiting, after a gym session . . . awesome.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Kimbra - Settle Down (Official Music Video HD)
Loving this song. Hooked me the first time I heard it.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
This is Oz
I'm all for supporting good causes. This is one of them.
This Is Oz is about celebrating diversity and challenging homophobia and making Australia a place where everyone belongs.
This Is Oz is an online photo gallery where you can help spread the word about GLBT rights by uploading an image of yourself with your message and encouraging friends and family to do the same.
I think it's great that there are forums like this for people to express themselves without recrimination. Paying out on homosexual people is not cool.
Check it out: www.thisisoz.com.au
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| Bart & Jayden, Torquay - courtesy thisisoz.com.au |
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