Just a Bunch of Links
January 14, 2010Crappy Taxidermy
What If Cartoons Were real
Machine Gun Guitars – for those who think the “axe” is too medieval and want to move into a more modern phase of music.
Star Wars in fabrics
Wonder which financial records to keep? No more.
Australian Ice Hockey League
Your Logo Makes Me Barf
Awkward Family Portraits
You can buy one – before they go under. Large please 
!
Done Like Dinner
November 18, 2009Uni
I have finally completed my first year of university (I cannot claim success yet as I don’t know such things) and to say I was ready for it to be done would be an understatement. It couldn’t finish quick enough. I had forgotten how much stress assignments and exams put on you. The last time I did this stuff I didn’t have a family or a job in the mix. There is a huge difference.
Today is the first day of freedom.
Now all I have to do is work and hang with the family. Easy.
Moved
We have moved since my last post, into a bigger 3 bedroom house. It gives us a bit more room, and is across the road from a couple of parks, around the corner to a good thai restaurant and a short walk/drive to the train and a favorite coffee place. It also includes lawn maintenance in the rent. Brilliant. The realestate has been good to deal with too so far, so we are happy with it.
Wrasslin‘
I have also graded again in the last month, and now have my 4th stripe in BJJ. The next test for me will be a blue belt grading that will require some extra training. Our blue belt grading is kinda like running the gauntlet. We must run through all of our syllabus techniques for the first 4 stripes (about 10-12 in each comprised of different attacks, escapes and sweeps) and be technically sound and instinctive. This can take a couple hours 
depending on how many others are grading, because basically one partner drills the technique until everyone has been graded on it, and then the other partner does the same. After you have completed the syllabus, we have 10x3minute wrestles with 30s rest in between each. If you get a submission, you have the rest of that round off to rest as a reward. This doesn’t happen very often as we wrestle mostly senior belts. It is grueling. For my last stripe I had to do 5x3minute wrestles. It was tough. Guys usually take the next couple days off afterwards. This is what I am training towards. Receiving a blue belt in BJJ is a big thing. Luckily I am in no rush. The plan is to use the next 3 months off uni to build myself a good fitness base to prepare.
The Boy
Little dude went into help with a new assessment being used by our occupational therapy dept at the hospital. It is basically just a series of 
little tests to determine cognitive ability and development. I am just letting you know this because NOW when I tell you that my son is better than yours, I’ll have documented evidence and will use phrases like, “All medical professionals agree that Caleb’s son is better than yours!”
Now I am off, as I really want to pay attention to this episode of Survivorman, which Jordon put me onto. Out.
My 2nd BJJ Comp And Another 2-1 Loss
August 17, 2009For those of you who may not have seen it yet, this is my match in the 85-91kg Masters (age 30-35) division of the EventsBJJ comp held here in Sydney. I didn’t get submitted, and I used my lockdown to keep him moving, but couldn’t get the sweep. I probably should’ve tried something else but I had no idea where the time was at, and it felt like it was over quickly. Unlike the first comp where I thought it would never end.
One thing to take away from this match was how I left my leg out there for the takedown. Never even crossed my mind. I refuse to retire though until I get at least one win.
Props to benough for filming it for me.
Whew
June 23, 20090.1 Uni is done for the semester. Exams, prac, assignments, classes, over. For now. I have 5 weeks off to regain any sense of why this stress and work is worth it. Near the end of the semester I was feeling pretty worn out and over it all. Sitting through lectures and labs is mentally fatiguing which quickly translates into physical. Despite it all, I am doing well. I think the exams went well, and even though it’s only been a week, I am looking forward to the new classes in August.
0.2 In the middle of uni I have been training my jiujitsu 2-3 times a week and have graded up a stripe this week. I am back at the bottom of the food chain, and will be working on defense for the next couple months. It will be grueling, but I love the training, and I seem to suck a little less each time.
0.3 I been a judge at a MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) show around here last month and I have been asked to do another show in the middle of July. It is awesome seeing the fights from ringside, but a little daunting not being there without responsibility. The reality is, rarely do the judges have to make more than a couple of decisions in a night, but I still find it a bit stressful. Regardless, it is a cool new opportunity for me to be involved in a sport I have been following for years.
0.3.5 I had my external hard drive die on me last month which, although annoying and an inconvenience, was not all that disastrous. I then decided that I should look at upgrading my HD in my laptop as it was about the same age. Good thing. While backing up my data the techies were amazed that my laptop was still functioning as the HD was near death. It required a few disk repairs for my info to get fixed but it’s all back and working. Hopefully, this will make it last a few more years. As much as I lust after the new macbooks we just can’t afford one. Plus, we don’t really need it. For a fraction of the price we have maxed out my old G4 12″ powerbook and it still works fine. I think I have found a webcam that will work with it as well, which has been a challenge. Older technology does come with it’s own issues.
0.4 So because I am off for a few weeks, it means I will be around the intertubes a bit more, so if people are on skype, let me know as I am looking to catch up with a few people during my time off.
