Melbourne Tram Company 1 : Richmond Football Club 0

Alternative title - Polak Pole-axed.

The game - Chicken
The scene - Melbourne tram line
The scoreline - MTC 1: RFC 0
The loser - Graham Polak

Very recently, Graham Polak, of the Richmond Football Club, was involved in a nasty incident. Normally Richmond footballers after going out on the piss use the local cop shop as a lavatory. But after a night out it appears that Polak had an accident with a tram in Melbourne only metres from his home.

Due to swelling of the brain, obviously he didn't have a footballer's brain or this would be no cause for concern, he was placed in an induced coma. This accident, strangely, occurred at the start of a mid-season break. Normally, footballers get comatose in the off-season - Chad Fletcher is a prime example.

Thankfully he has come out of the coma and has opened his eyes. He responds to questions with squeezing of hands and that is a good sign. I'm sure his coach will be in to see the doctor and ask, "Will he ever play football at the highest level?"
And if the doctor responded with, "Yes, he will," then I'd expected the coach to say, "Well, he couldn't before he went into a coma."

Get well Graham. I wouldn't wish this on too many people. Not even Richmond supporters can take being beaten by the Melbourne Tram Drivers.

Varanus Island - What's That Got To Do With A Hot Shower?

You probably haven't heard but a month ago there was an explosion at Varanus Island. Big deal, huh? Well, no. Apart from the fact that 30% of Western Australia's gas was pumped from the island through the pipe that ruptured. In a couple of months some repairs will have been carried out but it will be at least six months before it's fully operational again.

So far, domestic gas users aren't suffering. But the gas has been turned off or lessened for industrial users. It means that the two large brick manufacturers, with Midland Brick being the largest brickworks in the southern hemisphere (or was that Australia?), closing. Workers were instructed to have time off. Without bricks being manufactured that means there goes the building industry.

The mining game has got it tough too. They may be able to switch to diesel, which was already at high cost, but diesel usage has increased by 40% since the explosion. As if it wasn't costly enough doing business in the middle of a boom.

Apparently one percent of the workforce may be laid off with up to 15% taking time off due to the knock-on effects. They even shut down the escalators at some Perth businesses to save electricity - many of our electricity generating plants are gas-fired.

What is has meant for us is shorter showers, not just to save the planet, but to save the State.

Leonardo da Vinci Machines Exhibition

Last weekend I took the boy to the Leonardo da Vinci Machines Exhibition which was held on the Perth foreshore. He found it fascinating and I gained a new appreciation for one of the most prolific inventors and greatest thinkers of all time. Many of the items were hands-on so that kids could appreciate the exhibition also. I thought that that was a great idea. There was even a movie about his life. It's a pity that the Mona Lisa wasn't on display.

Link to Facebook photo album - Leonardo da Vinci Machines Exhibition - where I've written much more information on the machines.

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Frog In The Throat

With this affliction that I currently have, the aggravated throat, it means that I cough a lot. Maybe my cold or whatever progressed to bronchitis because I can honk like a goose. Anyway, a couple of days ago I was in a meeting and the neck muscles were convulsing slightly. When it came to my turn to talk much of what came out was only a squeak. Sometimes nothing came out. I was asked if I wanted some water but I had that in front of me and had been drinking it.

It was a bit embarrassing and a quite funny. Luckily there weren't too many serious people in the meeting and we could have a laugh about it.

Are You Smarter Than A Chimp?

One of my workmates sent this to me. Watch the video (first link) then try the game yourself (second link).

Do you think you are smart, think again .
http://www.nature.com/nature/newsvideo/news.2007.317.1.mpg

Now give it a go.
http://games.lumosity.com/chimp.html

I'm smarter than a chimp - but not by much

Stupid Questions

Q. If you drop your toast and it doesn't have butter on it which side does it land on?
A.
Q. How long do you have to wait if the local cows belong to nomads?
A.
Q. Why is it that sleeping does are allowed to get away with not telling the truth?
A.
Q. Do dead cats bounce higher than live cats?
A.
Q. Do books have a right not to be hit? Same for bottles?
A.
Q. Can't pharmaceutical companies create an itch cream that takes less than seven years to work?
A.

No Tonsil Hockey

It appears that I have contracted tonsillitis again. This usually occurs once every couple of years. At first I thought it was a cold but with the tonsils hurting and the nose clear what else could it be? Unfortunately, yesterday I had to chaperone our client for some inspections therefore couldn't even take the day off.

Tonsillitis does wonders for my voice. I sound so manly. A bit like Barry White. Maybe even better than John Laws. I'm thinking of joining a call centre or working for a sex line.

Facebook

I seem to be spending altogether too much time on Facebook. So, you could add me as a friend on Facebook, if you dare.

Don't be overloading me with rubbish or it will be bye-dee-byes for our friendship.

Giving You The Evil Eye

Here's what a dose of conjunctivitis looks like. Up close and personal. Not that it's too good to look at normally but it can always look worse.



How's this for an evil eye?

Kings Park Visit Sans The Boy

The missus and I took advantage of the Boy being at a birthday party to spend a few hours on a rainy day in Kings Park. It included a visit to the site of our wedding ceremony, a walk around some of the paths and hot drinks, gelato and chocolates in a restaurant. Lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon by ourselves.



Link to Kings Park Visit photos on Facebook.