Aussie Bloggers

You might remember my last post when I mentioned my un-comprehension at the popularity of things like Twitter and Plurk. I’m not saying they don’t have a place… just not my place.

Anyway it seems I’m not the only person perplexed by plurking.

However loyal readers… behold!

I found out that Red Cross workers in America are using Twitter and Utterz to communicate between themselves and apart from being “stickybeak” fascinating, I can see that as a communication device it’s pretty cool.

I like Utterz best. Audio grabs of workers in the field – at earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and floods. The Red Cross have pulled them into a blog.

But wait there’s more…

The other week I read an article in The Walkley Magazine talking about tweets and how some twitterers first heard of the Chinese earthquakes through twitter feeds.

“…Robert Scoble, perhaps the world’s leading Twit who claims to get a “tweet” every second of the day, claims he was getting messages about the Chinese earthquake from people in the region well before the news had broken in the mainstream media, and even before the United States Geological Survey, which provides early warnings of seismic events.”

“Breathing normal again. Feeling an earthquake on the 31st floor was not fun.” Twittered an office worker in Shanghai. [Walkley Magazine]

Maybe this little black duck will need to move with the times and investigate further.

Sigh. So much for simplifying my life.

Let me first assure you, I am no expert – in etiquette, in netiquette or in real life socialising.

Having said that, forums are pretty much like parties. Some are pretty wild, others tea and cucumber sandwiches. There are those that prefer formal invitees only, while others are a free for all.

Some you walk into and feel like you are immediately at home – others would prefer you to wipe your feet and admire the fine china before you can check out the wine rack.

Some you have to dress up for, others prefer fancy dress while there are those where a warm jumper over old jeans is just fine.

Here are just a few tips your Auntie Jeanie has picked up during her 7 years as a member of various forums. They are things that can be applied to real life as to unreal virtual.

1. When you walk in to a forum, you are allowed to check out the lay of the land. Sometimes forums will have a guideline of where and how to introduce yourself to the others. It does pay to read it, because it saves the embarrassment of stepped on toes or having to hold your coat all night. Generally there is somewhere to introduce yourself – if so, do so. Walking up to a group of people and giving your opinion without sparing a thought for this nicety will generally elicit funny looks (and a discrete – or not so discrete – push in the direction of the introduction zone).
2. Don’t walk in the door and immediately start to “sell”. As in real life, people get their backs up immediately and think “even if that were the best vacuum cleaner in the world I wouldn’t touch it”. There is a time and place – bide your time and you may find the place for your passionate pitch.
3. Check out how the other posters are “dressed”. If there is a dearth of glitter and tickers that tell you how long its been since you fed your goldfish, it may well be that people prefer it that way. If every poster has elaborate bling endorsing every post then you can glam up or be the classic stylist.
4. Don’t cry if no-one talks to you straight away. Find a conversation that you can add your wisdom to and add it. Ask a relevant question. Be open. There are comments that will generate more discussion and there are those that will shut it right down. Unfortunately, as in life, learning which is which is trial and error.
5. Try not to slam another poster down. Of course, in some forums this is de rigueur – but I don’t really move in those circles. There are also some people who will “troll” any board they can and make inflammatory statements to get responses. It is best to ignore these folk and hope they will go away quietly (or be asked to leave by the bouncers).
6. If a forum is for Grand Masters in a certain craft and you don’t hold the qualification, advise them and try not to look too stupid. It is never stupid to ask questions of the wise, but it is unwise to try and outwit them in their field. If a forum is for the hoi polloi and you are one of the chosen few, try to hide your disdain for their unwashed status in the ways of your speciality. You will be far more revered if you drop your pearls judiciously and in a manner they can understand.
7. Not everyone understands sarcasm. Not everyone will listen to SHOUTING. Some people have personal issues about ellipses… Oh and fragmented sentences. Exclamation marks!!! Until you really know who you are talking to, it is best to try and be clear. Likewise, if someone has got your back up, it is best to ask for clarity before you get too defensive or attack.
8. Do not pretend to be something you are not. In the days of modern technology, if you pretend to be a lap dancer from Utah and you are actually a Mormon from Calcutta, chances are that if you manner doesn’t find you out, your IP address will.
9. If you form a few special friendships that is great! Most forums have Private Messages where you can have conversations you don’t want others to be involved with. If you post a message to the board it is there for all to see. If you think you form a special friendship but it is actually more like harassment or stalking you may be asked to leave. Do so quietly – it is so pathetic to leave nail marks as you are heaved through the door.
10. Sex, religion and politics should only be raised if (a) the forum is specifically for sex, religion and/or politics, or (b) if it is pertinent. I have seen more boards melt down during the run up to US elections than I have ever been members of. (This rule also applies for posting jokes, I have learned the hard way).
11. Have fun. If you can’t have fun, learn something, add something, ask something and feel comfortable doing so there is no locked door policy that says you have to say. In fact, you don’t even NEED to make an excuse about your cat being in labour or picking the kids up from the ex – better than real life in that way.
12. If you are an old hand at the forum and someone does introduce themselves, it is nice to say g’day back to them. I am still unsure if it is okay to do a generic “g’day all” if you have been out of the room for a while – but try to be nice to the newbies.
13. If you enjoy yourself and everyone is having a good time, you are allowed to call your friends and have them join in. Generally, the more the merrier. So long as everyone plays together happily, the party will go on until the internet crashes!

So there you have it – Forums are just like parties – play nice and the others will play with you, give kudos to the hosts and you will be invited back.

This Sunday night Dexter will premiere on Channel Ten – yes, it is finally arriving on Australian free to air television. It’s only a couple of years late – the third season of Dexter is filming right now and is due to air in the states in September this year.

So for those of you new to the show, what can you expect? First up, let us state that this is not a show for the faint hearted. During the day Dexter is a blood spatter expert for the Miami police department. At night time, he is a serial killer – with a difference. He only kills serial killers. You could make the argument that he is actually saving lives. At the same time, killing is wrong, right? That is where the show gets interesting.

If you like your television bland and your characters black and white, Dexter won’t be for you. Michael C Hall said of Dexter – “A lot of times we see somebody with a black hat, somebody wearing a white hat, and he’s got a big ten gallon grey hat, which I like.” Sometimes there may be scenes which are a little scary, some might even say slightly gory, but certainly nothing worse than what you’d see on CSI. And of course given Dexter’s job, you’re going to see blood. Sometimes just a little bit, sometimes quite a lot of it.

There is a lot of great music in the show – from the jaunty theme tune which plays during the opening credits to more haunting themes and a lot in between. The first time I saw this series I would wake up at night hearing the music in my head. In this show the music is almost a character along with the cast.

Speaking of the cast, most of them will probably look unfamiliar to you to begin with even though a large percentage of the cast have been in many and varied shows previously. One person you’re likely to recognise if you are a Sex and The City fan is James Remar – who played Richard Wright in Sex and The City, one of Samantha’s favourite men.

In Dexter he is Harry Morgan, Dexter’s father who plays a huge role in Dexter’s life.

Rita Bennett, played by Julie Benz – Dexter’s sweet and trusting girlfriend. Rita has two kids – Astor and Cody – and an ex-husband who is currently in jail for what he did to her.

Debra Morgan, played by Jennifer Carpenter – Dexter’s sister who is a police officer. Debra works in the vice department and has legs up to her eyebrows but her dream is to become a homicide detective.

Lt. Maria Laguerta, played by Lauren Vélez – the always stunningly dressed lieutenant of the homicide department. Watch out for her sparkly lipstick, layered jewelery, salon fresh hair, fancy shoes and tailored suits.

Angel Batista, played by David Zayas – the detective with a heart of gold. He loves the Miami nightlife, and his wife. Aww. If you had to choose a policeman to help you, Angel would probably be the one.

Vincent Masuka, played by C. S. Lee – a forensic expert with his mind in the gutter who loves to drool over Dexter’s sister.

By the end of the first episode, Dexter will have introduced you to everyone near and dear to him – as well as those not so dear. You’ll get to know him a little. Will you like him? Will you tune in next time? Let us know in our new thread dedicated to Dexter Discussion.

I was thinking about Australian food, and writing about it, when I saw this list of great moments in takeaway food, Aussie style. Here we go, see whether you agree with the list.

#1) The Chiko Roll

Believe it or not, I used to actually like these. God knows why, now.

#2) Hamburger with beetroot

Errr, no thanks. Preferably no tomato either. Just bacon, egg, cheese, onion, lettuce please.

#3) Pizza with pineapple

Again, no thanks. Pineapple does not belong on a pizza.

#4) Hot chips

Yep, and apparently we prefer fat ones to the skinny french fries type. I can’t argue with that.

#5) Pad Thai

Mmm, nice enough but I’d hardly put it in the top 10 takeaways. The author of the list claims it is close to replacing spaghetti bolognaise as the national noodle. I doubt it myself, how can you beat spag bol?

#6) Gosleme

Yeah right! Again, I like it, but I hardly think its up there with the Aussie-est of takeaway cuisine. I reckon the guy who wrote the list needs to get out of Sydney’s inner suburbs.

#7) Potato scallops

Depending where you’re from, aka potato cakes. Mmmm, yum! Although I must say that the Greasy Joe’s near my work must have the greasiest scallops in the known universe. No matter how hungry you are, and no matter how tempting they may look, you always regret it when you bite into one.

#8) The Neenish tart

Nice enough, but I don’t think they are up there with lamingtons, vanilla slices etc. And what about cream buns, custard tarts, and my personal favourite, matchsticks (speaking of which, anyone know where you can get these anymore, I’ve not been able to track them down anywhere near home?)

Some other things suggested as iconic Aussie takeaways.

Whenever I see one of these, I wonder who the hell ever thought it would be a good idea to stick a frankfurt or sausage on a stick, dip it in batter then deep fry it?

The pie floater. This is a South Australian specialty, a pie in a sea of pea soup. Sounds lovely (not?). I’ll defer to our SA colleagues to convince readers of the delights of one of these.

The sausage sandwich (this is an elaborate one with not only onion but bacon too). Where would school fetes, sporting teams and just about everything else be without the funds raised by selling sausages wrapped in bread?

Honourable mention also goes to the baked bean jaffle, the meat pie and sauce and fried dim sims.

But here’s my favourite mention in the list – not because I particularly like them, just the name (which I must admit to never having heard until now). Readers, I present to you, …….

The Snot Block.

(also known in more civilised circles as the vanilla slice).

Over to you readers now …. got any delicacies of fast food greatness that you think are Australian icons?

For me and about 300 million of my fellow Americans (and for a lot of Canadians as well), the thought of a free-to-air channel that doesn’t have any ads conjures up images of foreign channels.* However, if I ask any of y’all about free TV without adverts, you immediately would respond with the ABC.

However, it’s the exact opposite that has been getting viewers to switch their TVs onto 2 (or 21 if you have digital) in numbers not seen since Kath and Kim debuted a few years back. The program that’s been hotting up TV dials all around Australia is about advertising – The Gruen Transfer.

Hosted by Glass House favourite Wil Anderson and produced by Andrew Dention, The Gruen Transfer takes a look at ads. Not just taking a look at an ad and being enthralled at it, saying “Ooh! Pretty!” or “Look! That ad had a puppy in it. I’m going to buy that car now!” – rather by discussing the ads, coming up with hilarious ways to sell things and explaining why ads work. Adding into the mix are a panel made up of professionals involved in the advertising business discussing their (and other companies’) work.

It’s a whole new outlook on the world of advertising – one that you won’t see here in the States (mostly because if we have a show about ads it’s one of those lame funniest ads shows that shows the foreign ads which are, to an American audience, very risque ). You even learn things about the industry, such as in the first episode when the regulations that alcohol advertising is held to, including not allowing what was termed the best part of drinking – sexual prowess, changing your mood and the like – to be shown on the ads.

However, to me, the best feature is The Pitch, where representatives of two ad agencies have the opportunity to create ads for something that, well, can’t be sold. The first example that they had was whale meat, and the two ads that were done (seen below) made you maybe want to consider trying the meat, if it weren’t for all the taboos involved in the potential gathering of the product.

If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s available for free download from the ABC Website (or on iTunes), or you can see it on ABC1 at 9.00 PM Wednesdays and on ABC2 at 8.30 PM Thursdays.

And now, the ads -

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XofGXKxpU2Y]
Whale Meat: The Beef of the Sea

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3u1gpFoY2Q]
The Angry Prawn

*If you’re wondering why I don’t claim PBS as advert-free TV, it’s because while the actual programs are advert-free, the spots before and after are really no different to the ads you see on everyday network TV.