With ers Without You

I’m not one to try to remember the darker, weirder, less enjoyable moments of life.

But today, while I was having a meeting with a couple I’m marrying next year, an angry bloke named Mark walked in and threatened to bash me up in the middle of the cafe.

Mark posted in the Facebook Group about how Coles Supermarkets were closed today because of a computer issue, and commented that this is why we need to always carry cash etc.

I bantered with him a bit, became quite cheeky, and teased him for being a boomer. I was a bit of a douchebag.

He threatened to find me and fight me.

I saw a hurting middle aged guy named Mark, not some violent thug. So I offered up that I would be at my local cafe, Sisterhood Coffee, and although I would not and could not fight, I was available to meet and chat.

He arrived and made a big scene. The Police came and we made a report.

I posted the below in the Facebook Group before leaving it, and the sentiment remains for all. I don’t have much to offer this world, but if your alone and angry - online or off - I’m often available to be your friend.

Facebook Group Post:

A thing I never thought would happen, happened today. A member of this Facebook group walked into Sisterhood Coffee threatening to bash me up. A formal report’s been made with the Police and I guess they’ll find him and talk to him. But I’m seriously saddened by the state of our community. That some banter on a Facebook group about how Coles was closed and about a cashless society, resulted in a middle aged man resorting to violence. We make big claims in this Facebook group about the light rail, youths, or tradies, ruining Palm Beach, the truth is, we’re ruining Palm Beach, by being so emotionally disconnected, so spiritually void, that we feel the need to go into a fist fight in a cafe over cheeky Facebook comments. Mark, if you see this, my call to come to the coffee shop to talk was genuine. If you want to fight, I can’t and won’t, you’ll be bashing up a useless guy. But if you want a friend, I’m guessing you’ll be able to find me again. Seriously, if any of you are feeling that alone, sad, and divided that we resort to inhumane violence, I live in Palm Beach and I’d like to be your friend. Please don’t bash me up though. You’ll be leaving a pregnant wife and two year old daughter with a wounded dad, and you’ll be left with the legacy of missing out on having a real connection with another person on the planet.

Study reveals link between internet access coming to people and scepticism of government - The Economist

“Discovering things is clumsy and sporadic, and the results don’t at first compare well with the glossy and lauded works of the past. You have to keep reminding yourself that they went through that as well, otherwise they become frighteningly accomplished.” - Brian Eno

I have a memory of seeing someone eat avocado on toast and it being something I couldn’t have.

Skip forward 30 years and my almost two year old requests it for breakfast.

My new favourite iPhone game, Upspell It’s like your own personal 2 minute game of scrabble without a scrabble board, plus you can duel others.

On the chance that you were wondering how the different levels of government in Australia worked, in the 19th century all the states we now know as Australia (and for a second there, almost Fiji and New Zealand) agreed to federate, but all the states would keep their governments.

They agreed to give these powers to the new federal government though, as you can read in section 51 of the Constitution. Local governments are different again, each state’s Local Government Act determines what the councils can do.

So that’s the weird thing about Australia. The Prime Minister parades around like he’s Kingpin but he’s basically working for the states on a little to-do list put together 120 years ago.

Every now and then the PM has a nuanced little opportunity to flex some muscle with money, but basically the state Premiers are the real MVPs.

In hindsight it’s quite the odd system. If you were starting fresh today you’d probably design a country very differently.

“Here’s a deal to a place you can’t fly to right now, but maybe soon, but who knows, look, I don’t know, I’m just in charge of sending emails and convincing people to buy tickets to places, my job is hell, is there a state election soon?”

People in an airplane. Circa October 2020.

You wouldn’t know she has six stitches under that bandage. She’s back at full speed!

A rather lonely planet

“Build a good name. Keep your name clean. Don’t make compromises, don’t worry about making a bunch of money or being successful — be concerned with doing good work and make the right choices and protect your work. And if you build a good name, eventually, that name will be its own currency.”

• Patti Smith

There is only one coffee I’ve ever had that I still think about today, and I was served it in Tokyo

Tiny, Luna’s BFF, isn’t doing so well though. Went in with literally zero symptoms and walked out with antibiotics, a splint, and a bandage around the head.

Luna’s doing really well today, thanks everyone, and @cheesemaker @maique @Munish 💪🏽

Proof of life, and smile

Due to Withers family government restrictions, dancing is not allowed in the Withers house until further notice.

Just a reminder for Australians that before you go to bed tonight, to change your clocks back to the future, I’m thinking August 2021 personally, it should all be over then.

Science … the microcovid.org website calculates the risk of you contracting COVID-19.

This is my risk profile for “going to bars regularly” in Queensland, talking to random people for 20 minutes at a time if we’re all not wearing masks and at normal standing distances (3ft).

0.7-in-a-million.

Oh good, someone’s figured out how to make TikTok worse.

Autobiographies are just word selfies.