Tuesday tiny:Interesting take on the hung parliament
Michael Pascoe | What happens next in Canberra: 75 all.
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book review: Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work and Life
Number of View: 18My book review of David Allen’s Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work and Life here got me thinking about the book in more detail.
The hardest thing about the book was also its greatest asset. The fact it was an audiobook meant that it was right there with me which not only kept me moving through the book, and mindful of the principles, both good things. I am finding having a hard copy of books with me at the points that I feel like reading harder than it once was (bad for GTD itself perhaps, but there you go), so the audio allows me to use those moments when I have a gap, but when my head is too active to enjoy nothingness.
The negatives were that it was hard to get into a groove with it because in this book unlike in the audio version of the Getting Things Done book, the quotes were included in the audiobook as well as the hard copy, and the chapters are short sharp pointers; profound but not deep, and still practical enough to have you going “Now there’s a thought.” on more than one occasion
Allen claims in the introduction that after writing Getting Things Done, he started to think about the why of the approach, why the principles he was teaching seemed (at least to him it seems) universally applicable and as such started to put together principles and essays about their application. These are those essays. They are solid as an introduction, or as a review. There is depth to them which makes the format of an audiobook without chapter markers at the end of each point hard.
It is worth while as a read even if you have no direct interest in GTD. In Allen’s words;
This program will likely validate much of what you already know and do that works. But it will also challenge you to apply that awareness in a much more conscious and consistent manner and that’s where the real power lies.
In my own words it is as much about mindfulness as file folders.The spiritual angle is tangible and makes it a lot less a business book and much more a life book.. Thinking about my own choices and the impacts I have has been useful, given that really there is nothing new under the sun. As he says
If God is all and you’re part of that, just relax
This isn’t a sponsored post but my advice is if you want to buy/borrow a copy, get a hard copy.If you want to buy this it is on Amazon.
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back to the books
Two days ago I went to Books Kinokuniya a mammoth book shop in the City that I discovered when I left a job and got a sizeable gift voucher. It’s great to be someone who can still discover bookshops.
I was having a mildly brain dead day, with an afternoon to kill between meetings and coffee with a friend and another commitment in the evening. I had a lot to get my head around but that wasn’t going to happen. So inspired by my friends childfree trip to the ABC, I wandered past the handbags and wandering into this huge maze of beautiful books with a huge selection in asian languages which is disconcerting if you don’t know it’s there.
Didn’t end up buying anything (2hrs browsing) but it was nice to welcome back my book worm.
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meh
After every other election at whatever level I always felt quite relieved and perhaps exhilarated. Settled perhaps. Not this time.
It feels really odd. I know other countries have dealt with it, though I note that Gordon Brown had to resign to make it work for his party.
I’m sure it will be sorted but in the meantime — nothing is moving and it’s prevented a UN visitor.
I originally thought that we would end up going to the polls again quite quickly especially after one of the independents Rob Oakeshott originally floated the idea. I’m now not so sure that will happen if for no other reason than the independents won’t want to lose this power.
The longer it gets dragged out the more the apathy I fear
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I hate to say I told you so
But …..
Have a look
Poor Julia
We Aussies are good( the politicians at least) at putting women in the top jobs when there is a likely loss looming
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one take on the polls today
Number of View: 26In the words of one of the commentors:
This is probably the most succinct, accurate and hilarious summary of the campaign.
The apathy I heard and saw today while waiting after completing my own vote was heartbreaking and especially sad given the apparent closeness of the expected outcome. I would normally have expected a close election to fascinate more than bore. But still there were people more interested in finding out if they’d get fined for not voting because <insert excuse here> than in exercising a democratic right only afforded once every three or so years, despite their influence on our lives.
It certainly wasn’t an awe inspiring campaign but surely the closeness should engender interest? No?
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the cost of a vote
Number of View: 20I perhaps should have warned folks not to get me started on election equity issues, but a good mate of mine added this to a comment on this post
Still distrubing to see so many polling booths inaccessable, though at least in the Marrickville LGA it’s better that it was at he last local government election.
Yes well — it might indeed be *better* but really that’s not saying much now is it? I know people from the last Federal election who had to get excused from their democratic right and responsibility to vote (it’s compulsory here in Australia) because they had assumed there would be at least one they could get into in their electorate( of say 20 polling centres), so it was too late to pre-poll or postal vote. Different electorate than the one refered to in the comment mind you.
As for me — I have to drive or be driven to cast my vote despite voting in an area where there are booths much closer than the one I will be forced to use.
How does even having to think this hard about how one is going to do what one is democratically entitled and legally required to do (quite apart from deciding who gets your vote), reflective of Australia signing the UN Convention on the Rights of People with a Disability 2 years ago.
Accessible buses are unreliable in this area on Saturday and a cab will cost me $20 from within the electorate to go vote even with my discount. How exactly is that fair? Almost less hassle to not bother voting and pay the fine that ensues. Very good for democracy. Not.
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(the IDEAS) of Networking for a shy woman
People find this difficult to believe, but I’m shy. At least in some sense of the word. The way I describe it to people I am not comfortable in a crowd or with starting conversations with strangers. But I see no point in being backward about the obvious factors of my disability.
I might indeed be externally good at socializing but it certainly doesn’t rock my boat and I find it exhausting. Networking especially in a crowded room of people with whom the connection is tenuous is really hard.
Yet there I was the other night in a room full of “uprights” (200 hundred or so of them) representing a NGO I’m on the board of; IDEAS — Information on Disability & Education Awareness Services. We, IDEAS are an information provider on broad base information for people with disability, their family and “supporters”. So basically anything from holiday accommodation with ramps and rails to sign language course referrals to wheelchair repair places and information on the pension; IDEAS can point you in the right direction, at least in New South Wales. For us it’s about enabling participation and choice. (It really is a great service with two other arms too.)
We are a finalist in a category of a small business awards for the local government area. No winners were announced at this event. It was a “networking opportunity” with speeches/advertising from the sponsors. It was crowded. I sat in a corner so that I didn’t knock or get knocked. But I’m proud of myself. From my vantage point I watched people AND talked to people many of whom were I think surprised to see me and us there. I also gave the above spiel, and gave out cards. I wasn’t the first to leave either!
Mission accomplished I think.
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link love: Anger and Prayer
Number of View: 20I’m suffering from a tad bit of writers block after another poof gone moment. So I thought just share some links that interested me today.
On Anger Management
Ms McNugget going a little overboard in the name of choice.
While also in America a flight attendant makes his own exit.
I love the quote that is pulled out for focus:
Those of you who have shown dignity and respect these last 20 years, thanks for a great ride
I have to say I get his point. I think we forget that those who serve us our coffee, our sermons, our plumbing are people too.
On Prayer
To counter all that anger 6 favourite prayers including the entirity of my favourite the Serenity Prayer:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next.
Amen.
My most memorable “Dad” gift as a child from The Preacher was a small wall hanging of the well known first three lines of that prayer, set against a brown based tree lined vista. The wall hanging is “I don’t know where” but the prayer is with me always. I have used it often since .
Interesting that from nothing and yet committed to Blogging with Discipline out came a haphazard post!
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Tuesday tiny: GTD week three
Yes. It’s still working. Well in fact. Only a day after my scheduled weekly review I got to the point (in my “clear old podcasts” project), of listening to this, and even after my thorough mind sweep it worked well again.
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a handicap on language
Number of View: 63Update 7:15 pm Since linking to the news piece it has been updated to include comments of a similar nature to mine regarding Mr Peacock’s comments from another disability organisation here in Australia
This election has been scareingly un-inspiring this time around. There doesn’t seem to be a good place for a thinker more interested in the long debate than the sound bite to be.
Then we get this from a former leader;
“You’d need to be pretty handicapped not to appreciate this Government is dissolving before your eyes daily,” he said.
Yes indeed unfortunate. However Bill Shorten who as Parliamentary Secretary responded in two ways one worked one didn’t. Yes Mr Secretary you are right it wasn’t the most appropriate choice of words. But neither sir was your response.
He doesn’t have to attack and use the intellectual disability of thousands of people and say that that is the distinguishing factor of whether or not you know what’s going on in this country or not.
We need to claim language back. The definition of handicap includes
a circumstance that makes progress or success difficult .
But more on that at a later point.
Even in the more unfortunate interpretation of the word handicapped can refer to other impairment types than those with intellectual disability even when referencing the general public’s “appreciation” of the current situation. My perception of the current state of affairs is impacted because I live with an impairment. It’s not intellectual one, but it does impact the choices I make and will make in 12 days time. Just as you picked up on the intellectual disability angle of the quote, you missed the reference to sight loss. But maybe the votes aren’t there with the vision impaired community as with the carers lobby eh?
Don’t play favourites please Mr Shorten. Some of us are noticing.
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updated: because I was asked to
Number of View: 28I was asked to put my amazon wish list back on the blog. It’s by no means exhaustive. In fact I forget to add things to it. But as a start. It’s in the sidebar now
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growing my leaves
Number of View: 85It’s been a difficult week again. A few things that will I know only seem significant to me. At the beginning of the week I had lots of writing ideas. Now I don’t. But I cane say the Willows leaves are growing again.
By Friday I had “crashed”out and was shattered so after coffee with a friend who had a dream about me, I went home determined to finish some work so long overdue. Only to discover that my other server was down and will be back today. I wasn’t feeling well enough to go out. So I googled. Within minutes I found myself watching of all things youtube videos of the American TV shows, the Bachelor and the Bachelorette. Back to back. Sad? Yes possibly. Distraction? Yes. More importantly although I am well aware it is contrived, it made me smile and hope. I almost believe now that manners are not dead, at least not yet.
I started with the London Calling season. Despite the english angle, I couldn’t attach to the women or the catyness. After having difficulty finding other seasons to watch on YouTube I found season 14 Jake Pavelka “on the Wings of Love”, and it predecessor with Gillian. A nice guy with faith and manners and some good women. Google brings up some gossip and the sad news that they are over. But as I said in the note I left on his website; it was nice to see someone who believes in manners of my generation without prudishness.
It wasn’t that I needed to renew my faith in only men per se, but humanity. It did.
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Tuesday tiny: the bells
While walking through the city yesterday heard out of context (and schedule) the bells of a nearby church doing a long peel. It was beautiful to hear, especially out of context. I can see why it is call to worship, amid a difficult week.
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a night of chill
Number of View: 102After watching the Federal government election debate online tonight (don’t get me started about how underwhelmed I feel at this point about this election despite my usual interest) I waited.
I was supposed to go to Melbourne again this last weekend, but once again couldn’t so spent most of the weekend, doing “workish” stuff and waiting. Trying to just chill a bit. Not entirely successful (as my Saturday 6 word entry indicates) I felt strange awkward and strangely alone. I wasn’t altogether traumatised by the feeling. Just trying to work out where I fit these days and how I feel about that. As well as what I actually enjoy and what I don’t.
Oh dear it sounds so morbid if you say it like that. It was a pleasant difficult but oh-so-honest ride. I’m glad I’m here now.
I listened to various musics; all good but none just right.
Then the gifts arrived from Melbourne, from the intensely practical thermal shirt, to another hat, to the incredible intense music of the band I was to travel to the launch of their album. Daquqi is helping me be.
I am lifted by their equation. I thanked her. I thank her again.
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Blogging with discipline (Well I try)
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