Yadda Yadda Yadda

Giggles

I'm starting to put together an email list for those who want to hear about her time in Tajikistan. Send me your email address and I'll put you on my list if you're interested in hearing about my adventures while I'm away.

I'm announcing that pending any problems in the application process, I'll be moving to Tajikistan in about 3 months for at least a year to be a teacher!
Let me know if you have any questions and I'll try to answer them!

Here are some preview photos of where I'll be going.

Just in case you haven't seen this yet. Amazing. Made from sounds and footage from the movie 'Up'.

'Your life is an occasion. Rise to it.' - Mr. Magorium.

Tonight I watched Mr. Magormium's Wonder Emporium. Honestly, a crap film. Bad storyline, bad writing, awful CGI. However, the film has so much heart that I quite enjoyed it. A few very well written moments, and a lot of geniune heart felt moments. I was quite inspired by parts of it and was left with a good feeling after the film.

If you've seen it, you'll know what I mean when I say, Awwwww! That soft toy monkey! It broke my heart and truly moved me. Weird I know, but it did.

I just came from a meeting (of sorts). BIG NEWS! I have an opportunity to move to and teach in Tajikistan! There are a few families over there who need someone to teach their kids (in English). If I go I'll have to move in less than 4 months (mid August). It's not official and we're still working through it, but it's looking good. It'd be an initial 1 year commitment. I'm excited!

Well for starters, read this. It's not long and will tell you what I'm on about.

WTF?!!

First of all it's concerning that there is a market for such a thing. And enough of a market to start a whole station, not just a program, around the idea!

Now everyone is entitled to their opinion of course, but one phrase caught my eye as being particularly disturbing.

"...a new operation that is being targeted at "Americans who are looking for content that reflects and reinforces their perspective and world-view.""

Isn't news meant to be about the truth?! It's got nothing to do with reinforcing anyone's world view! ANYONE'S! Sure I will disagree with ALL the content (one can only assume seeing as I disagree with almost all of Fox's content), but more concerning is the idea of presenting 'news' in such a way to reinforce already existing ideas instead of being interested in what is actually occurring in the world. That's not news. That's spin doctoring. And it's dangerous.

Oh, and as a side note, I'm so disappointed in Kelsey Grammer. How can someone so talented be such a douche?

EDIT:
Appropriate and great quote that fits what I'm on about.
"I'm a comedian. I'm not moving towards the news box. They're moving towards me!" - Jon Stewart

I'm finally going to start working as a CRT (Casual Relief Teacher)! Finally!!! I'm a little freaked out coz I've never done it before. And I'm starting at a school I've never been to before. I'm sure it'll be ok, but the unknown is slightly scary! I start tomorrow. Prepare for the trauma...

I don't know anyone who ever sat down and planned a life of mediocrity.

I want to look back on my life with the least possible amount of regret.

I think one of the best ways of measuring failure, or simply mediocrity, is our level of regret re: unfulfilled potential. Some may say that we're not all destined for greatness, but I disagree. I think it’s just our definition of greatness that needs changing. The way society calls people great does not match my definition of great. Great is realising one’s potential, not fame or fortune. We are all meant to be different. We are made this way. And this is a good thing.

I think we should all take more risks in life. That is the key to unlocking potential and travelling on the adventure of life, not just watching on the sidelines. I don't want to look back at my life and wonder: What if? I want to have taken the risk.

If you're still unsure how the Robin Hood Tax works, here is a great video explaining it.

Great article on the proposed 'Robin Hood Tax', written by Julian Morrow



I NEVER thought I'd say this, but I'd like to talk about tax. Before you flee to the Cayman Islands, hold on a second. If you're an ordinary citizen who pays their taxes, or even just a barrister, this tax won't apply to you.

We need to talk about tax because of the GFC. In case you're unfamiliar with the acronym, it refers to the massive global economic meltdown caused by large financial institutions, known in economics as Greedy F'ing Cs.

Trying to save financial institutions from themselves, and the quaintly named ''real economy'' from the impact of the GFC, has cost governments a packet. The US and European central banks had to buy $US2.5 trillion of government debt and toxic assets in the greatest injection of liquidity the world has seen since David Boon's 1989 Ashes flight to London.

Although Australia's financial institutions fared better, the need for economic stimulus made it necessary for the government to install school buildings suitable for mounting plaques commemorating Julia Gillard. As a result, government debt is now somewhere between $200 billion and whatever figure Barnaby Joyce came up with today (probably closer to the former).

In short, governments across the world need to raise whopping amounts of revenue, not just to return to surplus and pay off national debt, but also to address urgent public spending priorities such as global poverty, climate change and study trips.

It is in this context that a global movement in support of a ''financial transaction tax'' (FTT) or ''Robin Hood tax'' has emerged. The FTT would be a very small levy - just 0.05 per cent - on transactions in financial markets.

It would not apply to individual consumer transactions, but to transactions between financial institutions - things such as collateralised debt obligations and credit default swaps, whatever they are. (The people trading them don't know either).

The rate of the FTT is so low - half a cent in every thousand dollars - it can't reasonably be argued that it would deter substantive trading activity, not that financial institutions limit themselves to reasonable arguments.

No self-respecting government would slug its real human taxpayers at such a pitiful rate. But that's all that our delicate-petal financial institutions would have to cop. Nevertheless, the sheer volume of trading activity means the FTT could be quite the money spinner. It's hard to estimate, but according to one massive abacus, the FTT would raise $1.5 billion a year in Australia, and up to $350 billion a year in the US.

Just as significant is the fact that a financial transaction tax would reduce instability in the financial system because it discourages speculative activity.

The financial system is awash with short-term investments. Complex transactions can be started and finished - and the profits banked - in the time it takes Kevin Rudd to utter one unintelligible phrase. Indeed, the speed of trading is so great that in some hedge funds, the male traders think about transactions more frequently than they think about sex.

While the FTT would have a negligible effect on long-term investments, it would hit high-volume, short-term trading more, since it would clip the ticket of every single trade, even if it only lasted a few seconds. A disincentive to speculative, short-term trading such as this would bolster the overall stability of the system. Britain's chief financial regulator, Adair Turner, described such trading as ''socially useless'' (a pretty good description of many economists, actually).

If you don't believe me - and I admit I'm probably one of the few people with less economic credibility than Barnaby Joyce - then listen to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, or any one of the 350 economists from more than 35 countries - including Jeffrey Sachs and the Nobel laureates Joseph Stiglitz and Paul Krugman - who have signed a letter to the G20 calling for the introduction of an FTT. All of them support its introduction, as do other Australians far more reputable than me, such as World Vision boss Tim Costello and ethicist Peter Singer.

The Robin Hood tax will give governments more money to pay off debt and fight poverty, and stabilise the financial system without deterring meaningful trade. Australia should take the lead in urging all G20 nations to adopt it.

Julian Morrow is a comedian and television producer, best known as part of the satirical team The Chaser. For more on the FTT, visit www.robinhoodtax.org.au

This is the organisation I gave 2 years of my life to. As you can imagine I'm pretty shocked and confused. I believe in it's truth, but wrapping my head around the truth of it is beyond baffling. I knew this man and saw him all the time. I always had my issues with him, but never did I think his abuses of power could translate to something like this.

EDIT:
And now there a couple of follow up articles. If you're interested you can read them here and here.

And here is Derryn Hinch interviewing the victim on the radio.



This was his short response on Facebook:


I wish Derryn Hinch had taken the time to connect with me before publishing the article that appeared in the Sunday Age.

He indicated that he had found it hard to get in touch with me, and yet had been regularly looking at my facebook page. Either he really doesn’t know how technology works or he wasn’t trying very hard. He sent no message via facebook or my e-mail address which is listed on my page. I would have been happy to respond to him.

Derryn’s article yesterday was the first time I have heard these specific allegations and I have got to say I am so relieved. They are so far from the truth that anybody who knows me will know they are over the top.

I am prepared to admit I made mistakes, real ones, but nothing that looks like what was described in the article. The young lady Derryn calls “Sarah” exhibited a range of extreme behaviours that now cause me to wonder if she has a condition known as “Borderline Personality Disorder” (see: www.bpdfamily.com). I freely admit that I did not have the skill I needed to work with this condition which meant that I made a number of errors of judgement and I certainly wish I had done things differently. I have fully disclosed the details of all of this to an independent panel.

In 2006 when I turned 65 I announced even though physically I was ready for retirement I would stay on for another 3 years to support the transition. These circumstances as well as my deteriorating health confirmed that it was time for me to step aside in my leadership of Fusion and hand over to others. I am so proud of the Fusion work and its workers, many of whom are working in some of the toughest communities in Australia and around the world. They continue the Fusion vision of the last 50 years “bringing young people and their communities together with hope.” (www.fusion.org.au)

I sincerely hope that your readers are able to see through an obviously biased story
Yours Sincerely

Mal Garvin.



The responses were mixed and at times baffling and anger inducing. Anyway, if you want to know more, ask me.

The new film clip by Ok Go.
Just amazing!

For the Lost fans! We want answers!

Still no word on jobs. Living in limbo...

Gah! I might have to move interstate in 5 days and start a new job 2 days after that! I got a call from the Principal of Stuart High School in Whyalla, South Australia this morning saying they want me for an English/Maths position. Stuart High is a middle school, years 8 - 10. They've had increased enrollments this year so they need an extra teacher. They are waiting for confirmation of numbers, and if they have enough they'll hire me! I might actually have a job!

These last few weeks have been a little stressful as I thought I'd have a teaching job by now. I really thought I'd be able to get a job and it's been so hard. Anyone who thinks there is a teacher shortage is way off the mark. There hasn't been a teacher shortage for years, it's hard to get a teaching job.

I can't get one in Melbourne at all, so I branched out with the Whyalla jobs and it seems something might come of it! I won't know until Friday, but it certainly sounds promising! It's such a big move in such a short time! I'd really rather more than 1 day to prepare for such a huge job I very little about, but I guess I'll have to do what I can. The first couple of weeks may be a good time to buy stocks in energy drinks...

Well it's that time of year again. Triple J's Hottest 100 goes out on Australia Day (Jan 26), but voting is now! So here is my top 10 for this year:

ARTIST Song

BERTIE BLACKMAN Black Cats
BLUEJUICE Broken Leg
BOB EVANS Power Of Speech
GOSSIP, THE Heavy Cross
LISA MITCHELL Coin Laundry
MUMFORD & SONS Little Lion Man
MUSE Uprising
PAUL DEMPSEY Fast Friends
REGINA SPEKTOR Laughing With
WASHINGTON How To Tame Lions

Here is the link if you'd like to check out this year's list for yourself.

If you've already voted, what did you vote for?

If you haven't heard of Dr. Horrible, you haven't lived!
It's a 3 part web series by the genius Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, Firefly) starring Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion & Felicia Day. All up it goes for about 40 minutes. It's a musical comedy about heroes and villains and life, in it's fantastic triumphs, terrible lows, and menial details. It's absolutely hilarious and I can't recommend it highly enough!



Harris stars as Dr. Horrible, an upcoming villain whose arch nemesis is Fillion, the arrogant, cheesy Captain Hammer. Felicia Day plays the lovely lady caught between the two, fighting for her affections.

It's just hilarious and very well done. Not only is the acting great and the story fantastic, but the music is amazing! The stars can really sing and the songs themselves are brilliant. I bought the soundtrack and haven't stopped listening to it!

Make sure you watch Dr. Horrible if you haven't already! You can get it form iTunes, or buy the DVD from Amazon. Although I own the show from iTunes, I'm going to get the DVD because it comes with a commentary track, which is also a musical! I've been told it's almost better than the show itself! I can't wait to get it!

Hello to anyone who still read this.
I hope you have a wonderful and safe and prosperous and adventurous and exciting new year!
Much love to you all!
I hope you don't feel like this tomorrow.