Me, and the neglect of you

It's Friday? Really?

I have no idea where this week has gone. And I've just realized that I've absolutely been neglecting this here blog. My apologies. But you see, the thing is that my creative fervor these days has been directed towards my daily Movember email. Because the recipients of those emails are paying -- well, "donating" may be more of an apt term -- customers. You people? Freeloaders. All of you!

Anyway, I'm off to Melbourne tomorrow to meet up with the parents* -- have I mentioned on here that they've been in the country for the last week? -- then do the Great Ocean Road**, then head back to Sydney on Wednesday. So if you think I've been neglecting the blog this week, just wait until next week. Of course, if you want to receive each of my daily ramblings and a daily picture of my filthy Mo, simply click here and donate.

*For the loyal readers of this blog, you better believe that I'm bringing along my Wallpaper guide book for part deux in Melbourne. Will it serve me any better than it did the first time around? Will it provide for more awesome times? Doubtful. But will I cling to it like a safety blanket my entire time there? Absolutely.

**This is not only supposed to be an absolutely majestic stretch of road, but we will also pass by Bells Beach. Will I attempt to reenact the final scene of Point Break with some unsuspecting Aussie? I wouldn't put it past me.

Whoa. We're halfway there.

I don't know where the time's gone, but somehow, we're halfway through Movember. And in the first 15 days of the month, I've mustered out what I'm beginning to consider a legitimate Mo. So for all those who aren't on the daily email -- and honestly, I can't understand why anyone wouldn't be on it* -- here's a sneak peak of what I just sent out to all the lovely people on that distribution list:


Ain't she a beauty? And we still have half a month to go!

*Oh, wait. Of course I know why you might not be on the daily email: you haven't donated to the cause yet! But lest you think that you can't do that anymore simply because November 1 has come and gone, I'll assure you that you absolutely can, right through to the end of the month. And it's as simple as clicking here.

Brilliance is...

...Garfield minus Garfield.


(Tip of the cap to Reeegan for introducing me to this site.)

Is this really something we're going to have to deal with in another four years?

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AK All Day Face: The SCG

The SCG (photo: Chino)

One year ago, I never thought I would utter these three words with such jubilation, but here we go: cricket is back! And with this return comes everything that comes with the return of baseball: the warmth, the long days, the barbecues, the green grass, the outdoor weekends, the sun, the festiveness. In other words, when cricket's here, everyone's happy.

Take a look at the above picture, taken about this time last year. I'm happy. Maybe it's because I'm at a cricket match, maybe it's because I'm absolutely wasted. And that's the beauty of cricket. You never know.

Behind me, Australia takes on India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Currently, Australia is in India for a Test Series. And all throughout Australia, all throughout India, people are happy. They are most definitely happy.

The vitals
Title: The SCG
Subject: AK
Face: The eye contact
Location: Sydney NSW

Throwin' some Election Day Kleinballs

Today was, and is, a big day.

Today was a big day because in Australia, the Melbourne Cup was run! As I so eloquently explained in my post about the race last year, this is a national event. Everyone stops what they're doing, loses their mind for an hour or two, gets boozy, places bets on horses that they hadn't heard of half a day earlier, watches the race, and then life goes on. Anyway, some horse won, I didn't win any of my bets, and that was that.

Today is a big day because in the US, there's a bit of an election. I doubt I need to tell you this. And I also doubt I need to tell any of the brilliant readers of this blog to get the hell out and vote! Even if the vote won't make a damned difference, like my absentee ballot in New York State, which likely will never even be taken out of its envelope.

For some election-related chuckles, have a look below at the wording of the headline above the picture of Sarah Palin on the front cover of Saturday's Sydney Morning Herald. And for a few more giggles, have a read of the accompanying article, and pay particular attention to how they quote poor Glenda Hock starting in the sixth paragraph.


A belated, but huge congrats to the Phillies for winning the World Series! I ended up running out of work for the last inning or two to watch from a sports betting office, and when they sealed the deal, I found myself standing there with a huge grin on my face. I couldn't be happier for the people of Philly. And for the rest of the country, just be happy to know that the apocalypse has been avoided.

I've seen two movies of note on cable in the last few weeks: Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Sleuth. The former was hilarious. I hadn't so much of heard of the movie whenever it came out, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The latter? Let's just say that if you ever have the opportunity to watch it, just run. Turn around and run.

In other Aussie news, the country is currently hosting the Rugby League World Cup! Although to be honest, this shouldn't interest you or anyone outside of Australia. Because the history of past winners of this World Cup, with Australia unfairly demolishing the competition, reads like the history of Ivy League men's basketball champs from 1958 to 2007, when Penn and Princeton reigned supreme. In fact, this might be the most one-sided international tournament out there, and I think the case could be made that it would be even more one-sided than a theoretical international World Cup of American football. Good stuff!

Mo Money, Mo Mo!!

If I'm friends with you, if I'm acquaintances with you, if I've only met you once, hell, if I've so much as ever looked at you, I've probably already told you about Movember. But just in case you've never been in my presence, here's the pitch:

Because Aussies have some sort of socially-engrained sense of duty to abbreviate every word in the dictionary, a moustache here is called a Mo. A few years ago, some do-gooders ran with this name and claimed the second to last month of the year as Movember: 30 days for men to unite, grow a Mo, and in doing so, raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation and beyondblue, foundations that finance research and increase support networks for men who suffer from prostate cancer and depression.

A few weeks ago, it occurred to me that the month was approaching and I thought, Why the hell not, it's for a good cause! And with that fleeting and impetuous brainfart, I'm embarking on 30 long days of growing a Mo. In return for the countless stares and snickers that I'm surely bringing upon myself, all I ask of you is to make a donation to these foundations by simply clicking on the link below, or copying and pasting it into your web browser:
https://www.movember.com/au/donate/donate-details.php?action=sponsorlink&rego=1432361&country=au

As if you need any more reason to donate beyond the fact that your money will be going to very worthy causes, I'll give one to you: Throughout the month, I will send emails to everyone who has made a donation with daily pictures of my Mo as well as any of my thoughts, ramblings, anecdotes, etc. I might not be able to send an email every day, but it will be close to that, and for those days that I miss, the next email will contain pictures from the past day(s). Thus, you will get to see my Mo grow, from infancy all the way through to bushy greatness. How good is that??!? But remember, this is a two-way road. Only if you donate Mo Money by clicking on this link will I give you Mo Mo. So do it today!

Finally, through the magic of the World Wide Internets, I've been able to generate a likeness of myself at the end of these 30 days. Behold!


Ain't I pretty? And won't it be worth it to see this beautiful Mo grow, day by day, throughout the month? If you agree and would like to see Mo Mo -- and how could you not? -- then please click here or on the link above and donate Mo Money!

Happy Halloween!

The lesson, as always: stay away from Heineken, Tecate and some other beer whose label I can’t make out. Drink as much of anything else and you’ll be fine.