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Voting

This weekend just past, I had to vote in the local government elections in New South Wales, Australia. Voting is compulsory here or you cop a small fine. I think it is currently $50-55.00 AU for local government elections. Many chose to pay the fine, while others cast a ‘donkey’ vote, or one that was useless deliberately. Some put down the US president as a choice, while other doodled on the ballot paper. Some others probably tried to vote correctly but did the wrong thing. Many votes were passed in as invalid.

In the local government area where I live, I can’t say that I knew much about the various candidates – with the exception of one whom I regard as a waste of space in local government. Needless to say I didn’t vote for him. I found myself simply voting along traditional lines because I knew no better.

Most candidates are viewed as clowns or worse in elections here, which is quite a shame. Serving one’s country in government should be seen as an honourable profession. However, it is not and those who actually have something useful to offer turn away from the process because of the joke that government is often perceived to be. Those who really can make a difference are choosing to avoid serving in government and that is a real shame.

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Big Breakfast and the Paper

Big BreakfastSomething I quite like to do is read the paper and have a Big Breakfast somewhere. I know of a couple of places that I go to from time to time to have what’s known as a ‘Big Breakfast’ and to read the paper – I usually also have a 600ml Coke with it. So as you can see, it’s not necessarily the healthiest breakfast you can get. I don’t do it too often, but today was one of those times when I do. In fact, it would be the first time in months that I have done so. I’m on holidays and it was something of a holiday treat. I’m not likely to do so again for some time, as I am trying to be a bit healthier and loose a bit of weight, but with the occasional indulgence.

As you can see in the picture, there’s the Big Breakfast and the paper as well. So what’s in the Big Breakfast? Well in this example of the Big Breakfast there were 2 fried eggs, 2 slices of toast, some chips, 1 sausage, some bacon and 2 small hash browns. You can get some fried tomato at this place if you want it, but I always choose not to – they make me ill. The quality of the Big Breakfast can be a little up and down, even in the same establishment. This one was pretty good, but I do get the occasional poor slap up from time to time, which can be disappointing. I generally don’t give a place too many opportunities with poor quality meals.

On of the worst things in a Big Breakfast, or indeed any type of fried egg, is getting some shell served up with the egg. Places that do that to me don’t get many second chances – I really hate that.

So that was a Brunch I like to have every so often – yeah Brunch. I usually don’t have lunch when I’ve had a Big Breakfast – far too many calories if I did that!

Evernote – Remember Everything

Evernote is a web application that allows you to store everything that you need to remember, whether it is a few thoughts jotted down on a scrap of paper, a photo, a business card, newspaper article etc. There seems no end of possibilities for using Evernote.

    Some of the ways I’ll be using Evernote will be:

  • to keep a record of quotes from books I’m reading for easy recall (using tags and notebooks – basically a folder).

  • to keep scanned copies of articles from magazines, newspapers, etc – saves having to hold onto endless copies of magazines and papers, etc.

  • to keep copies of snail mail letters, bills, etc.

  • to keep copies of receipts I may need one day.

That is just a few ways I’ll use it – how about you?

Check out Evernote at:

https://www.evernote.com/