Another attempt at revival, Happy Feet

No doubt most will have given up on me by now, but I'm starting this up again, primarily motivated by my family, who don't hear from me as often as they probably should.

Well, I'll give a review of the last few months at a later date, but this post is primarily to share a Letter to the Editor which I wrote to the Townsville Bulletin today. It probably won't be printed, but it might get others thinking. (see below)

Right now I am off to lunch before going to a wedding.

Cheers,
Scott

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To the editor,

In search of some innocent entertainment, I recently attended a showing of the all-singing, all-dancing, all-penguin film-sensation, Happy Feet. Instead, I found a sobering reminder of how easily children are exposed to undesirable influences.

Classified as General (G) by the Office of Film & Literature Classification (OFLC), and marketed as a children’s movie, the film’s opening musical number blatantly declares, "You don't have to be beautiful to turn me on. I just need your body, baby, from dusk till dawn." It doesn’t take a keen eye to spot additional coarse comments and sexual references, as well as one or two more-mature themes; all sadly missed [should have said 'ignored' - drat...'] by the OFLC.

According to the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995, a classification board representative of the Australian community considers issues including morality and decency, and the intended or likely audience. If this board is truly representative, then Happy Feet is just one more example of how casual and desensitised society has become concerning inappropriate material.

If this trend continues, parents will no longer be able to make informed choices regarding what their children are exposed to. Then again, in an age where profanity and obscenity scream so freely from media such as advertising, entertainment and even fashion, I would argue that we can no longer even make such choices for ourselves.

My triumphant return

Well, I have just (give an hour and a bit) come out of the final exam which will get me those six lovely letters behind my name - 'B. Pharm' - and I am confident of a pass-worthy effort in all six exams! So with the Pharmacy School having finished tearing me apart, and although I am now clinically dead, I promised Joel that I would present my mangled corpse to you all as an offering of good will, and post on my blog. So on that note...



Hello all and sundry,

After having spent the last several weeks somewhere between the JCU School of Pharmacy and a very stressful place, it is time to make my triumphant return to the world of blogging. Oh, how I have missed the trivial discussions, the 'oh-better-check-my-blog-again-to-see-if-someone's-left-a-comment' episodes every ten minutes, and the satisfaction that comes from delivering subtle and carefully-worded insults without fear of physical reprisal from their intended recipients.

It's good to be back.

And it's even better to be all-but-finished my degree - two weeks off, six weeks' prac and then that is the proverbial 'that'. It's practically all a formality as far as I am concerned (I would have to inflict grievious bodily harm on a patient to fail, and even then they'd probably make exceptions).

But the terror ended today and I derived great pleasure (not disgusting or obscene in any way, but great pleasure regardless) from walking up to the Exams & Ceremonies office and submitting my 'Notice of Intention to Graduate' form.

Take that.

So, without further ado, I would sincerely like to offer some well-understated tokens of thanks to some peole.

Firstly, to God, without whose strength and peace I would be sitting in the corner of my room in the foetal position, rocking back and forth and making 'ung-ung-ung..' noises. He is faithful in all circumstances, abounding in mercy and love.

Secondly, to the med crew who came and visited me Monday night and sponsored my surgar breaks over the following three days. I have not laughed so hard in a long time - your visit lifted me up from a deep slump and reminded me that God was there.

And finally, to all those whom have been praying for me and delivering words of encouragement. Thankyou for your support; not only recently but over the last four years. I couldn't have made it this far without the friends whom God has blessed me with.


Now, having said that, and having fulfilled my promise to Joel, please excuse me; I am heading off to have my long-overdue nervous breakdown. I've earned it, and I'm damn-well going to have it.

Yours in Christ,
Scott

The Scooter Chronicles 3

Brief comment.

On Wednesday, I got to dress up in Hospital Scrubs and go into the operating areas.

Man.. I looked darn sexy in those scrubs. My pharmacist told me I looked the part for a doctor.

It almost made me want to study medicine and become a surgeon.

..almost.


Sorry for being so brief.
Scott

The Scooter Chronicles 2

Hi all,

I apologise to all those who have been faithfully checking this blog every day for my spine-chilling stories from the south (and that's not all that's chilled). Alas, I have no internet access down here. I am currently speaking to you via a small dog in Indooroopilly.

No. I have come into a UQ lab (where my friend works) to filter through my spam while he does a few things. So time is short.

To summarise the last two weeks:

1. I arrived in Rocky (Tuesday)
2. I enjoyed Rocky
3. I left Rocky (Friday)
4. I arrived in Brisbane (Friday)
5. I got food poisoning from some dodgy chicken from BI-LO (Friday night)
6. I started prac at the Wesley Hospital (Monday morning)
7. I was admitted to the Wesley as a patient via Emergency (Monday night)
8. I was discharged from the Wesley (Friday morning)
9. I resumed prac at the Wesley (Monday morning)

That's about it.

Now I have to run. Can't guarantee any more posts until I get back to Townsville (5 August).

Thanks for all your prayers and emails - they have been much appreciated. I'm praying for everyone who's going on camp (plus the rest of you) - I hope it will be an enriching time of spiritual growth and godly relationships.

Your brother in Christ,
Scott

Brisbane Prac Post #1

Well, it's about time I put this blog to good use.

So, I've decided to adopt my friend Nathan's style* and, rather than emailing copious amounts of people and cramming up their inboxes, I'll be publishing my experiences on this blog and you may read them as you please.

I'll get to it.

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My adventure began leaving Townsville yesterday afternoon. Beebs was kind enough to drive me to the train station, where I realised my first mistake - I left my pillow and my jersey (only significant jacket) at home. Fortunately, ever-resourceful-Beebs keeps her own jersey in her car, and was kind enough to lend it to me for my trip south.

So, for the next four weeks, I'm Beebs. Don't get confused now.

I've always said that you meet the most interesting people on the train. Economy class, chiefly. Why, this trip I had the pleasure of sharing my region of the cabin with four children (two sets of siblings, under seven years), and their respective single mothers. It was noisy and rowdy, but the abuse that some of these children endure from their parents.. it was a real eye-opener and left one feeling helpless, and greatly sympathetic.

But perhaps the most interesting point of the trip (note I say 'interesting', and not 'highlight') was the chat I had in the club car with a drunken clairvoyant. After one too many rounds with the chardonnay, she asked me about what I do and went on to give me some... 'insight into myself'. As it turns out, according to the Amazing Miss Alco:

- I am much more than a pharmacist
- I am much farther than I think
- I need to remember the word 'backbone', even if it doesn't make any sense to me now

Well, she was right about point number three. In fact none of it made any sense to me. Her insight consisted of vague comments fading into the depths of ambiguity and obscurity. Fortunately there was no obscenity - that was coming from the next table.

So a fun trip, with very little sleep. Or inspiration.

But now I am home in Rocky, and get to spend three days with my family before heading down to Brisbane. I have no plans and no committments. It's like heaven, except it's Rocky.

Unfortunately, I don't know how frequenlty I'll be able to access internet whilst in Brisbane, but I hope to give you an up-to-date, blow-by-blow account of my journey as it unfolds. Or as regularly as I can.

Sincerely,
Scott

PS. Stay tuned for my personal analysis of NUGS - full of mindless abuse, mockery and obnoxiousness. And that's just my report.


*Here, it's best to apply the loosest definition of the word 'style' that you can.