Common Rocks The Metro: A DJ Ho timeline

9am - 6pm
It's the day before Australia day and everyone is thinking about what they are going to do 2moro. BBQ's, hanging out with the fam, having a few quiet drinks with friends, sleeping in. It's all calm before the storm.

Me? No siree, I'm nervous, agitated, excited, ready to hear one of Chicago's finest. In eager anticipation, I'm chatty, smiling, ready to rumble baby cause tonite Common is playing at the Metro. I've been so hyped up about since I found out he was coming. Just counting down the work hours.

9.30pm
I'm standing outside the Metro, on the hard bitumen pavements of George Street. As I walk through the glass doors, I can feel the vibe in the air, I can feel the beats. Walking up those steep red steps, I soak up the atmosphere and start headnoddin' to the hip hop beats that fill the air.

10.30pm
It's pitchblack. But its noisy up in here. Like we're in the eye of the hurricane. I'm standing right up the top level of the Metro with a perfect aerial view of the stage. We're chanting "COMMON, COMMON, COMMON!". People are moving around on red lit stage. Then BOOM! Common runs out madly back and forth. He hits us with "BE" from the same titled album. So much energy, so much clarity in his voice. Waving his hands, we move in tune to the lyric: Hands in the air, we wave'em like we just don't care (had to say that!). If there is such thing as a natural high, I've just experienced it. Ivan and I agree "I never knew he was such a good live performer". Words can't describe how happy I am at this stage.

He then went through more songs from his latest album, giving hip hop fiends "Faithful", a track where he talks about if God was a female, and would we view females differnetly. That then led to the polar opposite - nasty trick ass females that try to use males as he laced "Testify". As he explained, the Queen Pen - you know her, we all have come across a manipulative female that wouldn't think twice about letting a man take the blame.

Above: Actual Concert Footage. Common is wearing a white shirt. Exclusive for DJ Ho readers - Copyright DJ Ho 2006.

11pm
He even had a call from Talib Kweli on the mobile and led to "Get'Em High". However, I had seen this before in the North Sea concert. In fact, that's the one criticism I would have about this concert - its a bit predictable because I had seen the same sequence of songs, the routine before. But its a harsh criticism cause I guess all performers have like a set they perform - even watching Guru twice, I'd seen the same stuff previously. For example, Common did the whole bring the hottest chick from the audience onto stage and dance (bump N Grind style) with her while he sang one of his love tracks to her - and that was straight from the North Sea concert. Although, he did get props from the audience when he mentioned the suburb in a freestyle where that girl was from: "I'm down with Campbelltown".

Pic: DJ Alvin up top, Hottie on the left, Common mackin' on the right. DJ Ho Copyright 2006.

Ooooohh, importantly back to the music: The hip hop fiends needed another hit to satisfy thier addiciton so he came at us with the classic "I used to love H.E.R" from way back in the day, a song where he talks about hip hop as if it was a female. There were other classic bangers but I don't know their name, tracks from One Day It'll All Make Sense, Electric Circus, and the O.G album Can I borrow a dollar.

I believe that most of the audience were more familiar with his new material like myself and he responded with the radio friendly "Go" and hit at the haters with "They Say". But he saved the best til last, leaving "The Corner" up his sleeve. That song with The Last Poets, is sick. So good - he talks about the corner as his refuge, his rock of gibraltor, where he grew up - the street corner. Where drug deals went down, where people were shot, where live past by. To be honest, I think this song is where he tries to win back his original audience, trying to keep it nitty and gritty but with a catchy beat for the mainstream.

11.45pm
The best track all night, had to be one of his last: "The Food" featuring Kanyeezy aka Kanye West. He did a call and reponse type thing where he did this:
Common: I walked in the crib/ got two kids/And my baby mama late...
Audience: uh oh! uh oh! uh oh!
Common: So I had to did, what I had to did/Cause I had to get...
Audience: duh-ough! duh-ough! duh-ough! Pic: There would have been about 1000 hip hop fans at the Metro. You can see Common in the foreground. Copyright DJ Ho 2006.

I've been to a lot of hip hop concerts in my 24 years on this earth, and honestly that was one of the best I've seen. In fact, I'm almost tempted to say that is the best concert i've witnessed. Mad beats and simply being able to understand his words as its sometimes hard to hear an artist rap when they perform live. The crowd was actively participating, everyone was pumped up, and he was just the consumate performer.

When he freestyled, he dropped suburbs like "newtown, Kings Cross, Campbelltown", and that was cool. I really liked it when the beats just stopped, and he did an acappella or he just did a freestyle or just talked to the audience. He talked about God, War & Peace, George Bush, just life in general.

3am
Having fed my hip hop addiction for the month, I crashed into bed.

Summary: That concert was worth every dollar I spent.
DJ Ho rating: 10 out of 10.

What's Next
Apparently Jean Grae, Bahamadia and TALIB KWELI are performing in two weeks, can't wait! And Public Enemy are coming in April. I'll be there, and you'll be with me as I describe it to you, song by song. Humanity Critic, you'd be proud.

Peace Out,

DJ Ho.

Reflections and projections for 2K6

Dear Diary,

I just had a really great day yesterday. It's almost a year since I've started working and I feel like I'm really fitting in. My relationships with my managers are really good - in fact with one of them I feel like I'm v good friends with her, like I can be smart ass myself around her. It's funny how good things come to those who wait. Last week, I was allocated two clients - two! That means a lot to me, that someone out there trusts me, that I've proven myself to them to some degree. In my industry (professional services), that'll make or break you. That brings my total client list to 4!

I've just been reading Di's blog and totally agree with the comments that she's made about her work experience. Working is a totally different experience to uni. And its crazy how time flies - I've almost been working a year now and I didn't realise how much I know. I said to myself that I wouldn't study again, but I've just completed two subjects in my Masters degree (1 Distinction, 1 credit! Represent!).

On a personal front, I hope that 2K6 brings a lot more joy and happiness in my life. It started off very well with the Gold Coast trip and just having with some mates. But its saddened by the sudden death of Zach and my brother's friend's friend, both committing suicide due to depression. I didn't really know either of them very well, but I just can't understand why people would do that. In other areas, Dawen and I have agreed to certain things (which remain even secretive to you!) stuff like being more committed to our relationship, buying random gifts for each other and so far the scam is working, I've got a country road shirt! Just kidding.

On a spiritual level, 12 months ago I didn't want to go to Church anymore. For some reason, I was just avoiding it. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me. And I've renewed my faith. It started well, since I found this Christian group at work that meets up every Monday and so we can share fellowship and just know other Christians (I work for a v large company you see!). Also, I'm going to Katoomba this weekend for KYC, the Katoomba Youth Convention for Christians. It's my first time, so I'm looking forward to it but not the two hour train ride.

I'm optimistic about the year 2k6. I'm planning to work another year at my company and then take some time off work and see the world. Two brothers and me are planning to go to Europe. Middle brother will finish uni end of the year, and Little Bro will have done one year of uni, so its perfect timing. Me and my brothers against the world! At this stage, I'm thinking about going to Europe for two months - one week in each country. My mum wants to come too, but it ain't happening! A couple weeks in South America is something I've always wanted to do as well.

And Diary, I'm going to New Zealand soon! I'm going to the South Island - flying into Christchurch and going to hire a car and drive around. Stops at Queenstown (where they filmed Lord of the Rings), Dunedin, Fiordland, Glaciers - can't wait. And I might check out North Canterbury as Mark pointed out that's where he and Scribe is from.

I hope you have a prosperous and good year too.

I'm out like the year 2K5,

DJ Ho.

Straight outta Oz: The shower scene from hell

I don't mind showering at the gym. Or seeing other people almost totally naked in the change room. I'm mature enough to deal with that. Occassionally, I can put up with guys walking around naked in the public change room. Walking straight from the shower to putting on their clothes with no towel around them. I'm comfortable with seeing another guy's ass though not very comfortable seeing another guy's penis.

So last Thursday after completing my first kickboxing lesson, I'm sweating like I've just stepped outta the rain. My B.O. (body odour) levels are totally off the charts and my clothes are totally drenched. I see a guy walking around naked and think this is not usual, but say to myself "ok, I can deal with this". I walk into the shower room and HELLO! its just an open area with showerheads. No walls/doors separating the showerees. Picture this: 4m x 4m room, tiled white, showerheads alongside the walls. The middle of the room is empty and there is one very built naked guy (that was walking around naked before) having a shower on the close wall.

I'm just thinking, what the..........? This is a shower scene straight outta Oz. At this point I think I can quickly get the hell outta there, go home and have a shower, complete with walls and secure locked door. But considering how sweaty I am, and that I'm going to catch the train home, I don't want to be some kind of social outcast who smells like he hasn't had a shower in a month. So really I've got no option, but to hang my towel on the rack, strip completely down and hope that this guy doesn't tell me to pick up the soap.

Surveying my options, I take the opposite wall from this guy. As far away as possible and face the wall like the whole time. I'd seen enough episodes from Oz and that shower scene in American History X where Edward Norton gets raped up the ass by this huge White Nazi dude with 4 guys holding him down. Maybe its paranoia, maybe its a fear of the unknown, maybe too many jail house movies, definently too many uncomfortable thoughts running around my head.

Thank goodness I brought my shower gel. So I minding my own business, very conscious of the guy on the opposite wall, hoping he's not checking out the new "meat". All I can say is this - holding your ass cheeks in and showering is not a pleasant experience. THEN, to compound the problem, more guys start coming into the shower room. A guy comes up next to me and starts turning the shower knobs only to discover it doens't work. To my horror, he moves behind me and I'm very conscious of where he is (sixth sense kicking in), and he moves to the corner of the room. I know there's no rules around open communal shower engagement, but dude your invading my sphere of privacy here! Maintain your distance like you've got some kind of AVO order.

After a very brief shower, I got the hell outta there only to be greeted by multiple well hung Irish gentlemen getting changed and engaging in deep and meaningful discussion about life and its mysteries (something about getting with Kate/the females in our class/the tall blonde chick in our class - you know the usual D&M conversations you get with guys). Without my regulator hat on, I just got changed and met my female friend outside.

She's like "where were you, I've been waiting out here for the last 10 minutes?".

Me: "oh, I just had a shower".

Her: "I didn't even bother".

All I'm thinking is I wish I took that option.

Peace Out,

DJ Ho.

Would you have done any different?

The Facts

In the dying minutes of the Chicago - New York thriller, Antonio Davis did something unpredictable. He ran towards the scorer's table, jumped over and went into the stands 10 rows deep. Standing around, looking for something, searching. Then he went over to his wife and he exchanged words with a heckler who was touching his wife, who had fallen over. He waits for security to come over, and people are holding him back (we'll he's 208cm tall, built like a tank, looks like Busta Rhymes). Security converged like bees to a honey pot. Sort out the situation. Davis goes back to the bench calmly and is then ejected from the game. Security then removes a group of intoxicated dudes from that area.

Davis is then suspended for 8 games by the League.

Issue: Should Davis have gone into the stands? Would we have done any different? Did he deserve that suspension?



Post Game Comments:

Larry Brown (coach of the Knicks), when asked about another potential Ron Artest incident:

"Come on, that's his wife," Brown said. "That's entirely different. I was worried about Kendra. That's why he went in the stands, he saw her falling back"

Maurice Taylor (Knicks forward):

"His wife was up there with his kids. There were two men up there getting into an altercation with them. It seemed like a no-brainer to me."

Steve Kerr (NBA Commentator):

"Antonio Davis' decision to do so Wednesday night in Chicago – in response to a fan's apparent heckling of Davis' wife – was an unfortunate incident but a mistake on Davis' part......... the player has to quickly point out the situation to security and trust that other fans in the area will come to the aid of any person who is being threatened. "

Antonio Davis:

"I witnessed my wife being threatened by a man that I learned later to be intoxicated,"..... "I saw him touch her, and I know I should not have acted the way I did, but I would have felt terrible if I didn't react. There was no time to call security. It happened too quickly."

What would I have done?

To be honest, I would have done exactly the same as Antionio. I am amazed at the restraint Antonio Davis displayed. I think he reacted like any athlete would have. Just like any human being/husband/father would have. It's your family , of course you do whatever to protect them. Sometimes you don't have time to react, time to think, and you can't rely on security to do anything. Their watching 20,000 people in the stadium, you see someone hassling your wife who's fallen over, you worry about her and your kids.

You watch the video and you see how calm he was. He stood in the stands and watched what was happening before going in. It wasn't like Ron Artest where he went in punching everyone. I have a lot of respect for Davis as he's the president of the NBA players association, so this ain't your average baller.

I think the last thing on his mind was the Ron Artest incident but I'm sure it flashed past his eyes. I thought the suspension was a bit harsh - should have got a slap on the wrist like a 1-3 game suspension. Of course they had to suspend him, because the official position is what Steve Kerr said - you can't go into the stands. You just have to be like a robot, all unemotional and point out the incident to security.

He did the right thing but unfortunately for every reaction there is an equal and opposite reaction. Both sides had to react: he had to do something for his wife, and the league has to punish him in some way. Because if the league doesn't do anything, its sending a message to athletes that they can enter the stands and puts more people at risk. But it should have taken into the account the circumstances and given him a lesser suspension or just a fine.

WWYD (What Would You Do?),

DJ Ho.

To the Incoming Graduates of 2006 and beyond........

I think I'm supposed to help out in the induction process of the new graduates at my work next month since I'm in the graduate committee, but I'll be on holidays. But what happened last year was that a graduate who had already worked a year opened up our induction program (first day at work) with an informal speech.

Rather I'll give you something more useful - 10 practical things I wish I knew or discovered along the way and some reflections as well. They are generic as possible - i've gone for things that apply to everyone rather than stuff which is industry specific. It's long, but if you want advice, it doens't come in a short form.

DJ Ho's 10 pointers for graduates

1. Time is of the essence

I mentioned this a while ago but this is one of the biggest transitions you have to deal with, especially in client facing roles. With uni, you get deadlines which you are usually a few weeks/months away. The environment is more controllable, and you hand in something right on time or a little bit after, that's cool.

Well you can't do that anymore. I had to quickly realise that although something is due by today, you have to hand in a lot earlier than that (say 2pm or 3pm rather than close of business). This gives your manager or someone higher up time to review and change things. Also, it impresses people if you can hand in something before the deadline. Also, being able to manage your time is important - dealing with multiple tasks, and letting people know where you are at. You've got to show people especially early on that you can meet deadlines and effectively manage your time.

I know time is important to all working people, but in my industry you have to record what you are doing every 6 minutes (that's how professional services firms bill).

2. Quality

At uni I was comfortable handing in an assignment that could score 70-80% plus. Of course i usually i was aiming for much higher than that, but if i got back 75% I'd be like "cool". Not any more, young padawan. The stuff that you hand in has to be like aiming for 100% each time. Stuff that I do gets passed onto a client. We've got to ensure that everything is of the highest quality. It's the same if your a manufacturing firm making products, a law firm drafting documents, a call centre delivering customer service. Everything you do, has to be of the highest standard.

Why? Keep up the rep of your company. To ensure your customers get the very best and are completely satisfied, and don't consider going elsewhere.

3. Working in teams - for the greater good

Everyone can claim that they worked in groups at uni, they are great team player, that's fantastic. Really. When you start working, you have to realise that most people work in teams. You've got to be a team player. A lot of stuff can't get accomplished by a single person.

You've got to build trust in your group. Prove to them that you can meet deadlines, that you can produce quality work, and you will give it your all basically. When you start out, if someone higher than you asks you do to something, just do it. Don't question it. Sure get some clarification. But don't be a smartass and ask "why". There's a difference between the former and understanding something. A fine line which you must tread carefully.

I remember when I was working til 10pm with my team at a client site. I was told that I could go home. But I said, "As long as I can still be useful and there are things for me to do, I'll stay with everyone". You can't bail in that situation. So I ended up staying til midnight! Trust me, if you bail like I did in the past - it looks bad, especially if you went to Friday night drinks instead!

You've got to be down for whatever. It's about the actions and the attitude.

4. The best graduates can stand back and can see the whole forest but can also see the trees.

I think that's the correct expression. Everyone is good at looking at the details - knowing the specific task they are working on. But what makes someone stand out in my mind is the graduate that can understand the purpose of what they are doing. That can understand what the overall goal or what that task is meant to achieve. Being able to step back and see the overview of the whole project or what department is trying to do.

That's how I separate the sheep from the goats. Being able to see the trees and the forest at the same time. That's what leaders are made of.

So you've got to ask questions "Why am I doing this" and phrased in not a smart ass way (that fine line I was talking about) or simply being able to visualise the goals of the project.

5. Takes notes (while I take totes of the marijuna smoke) and clarify

Ok, that a biggie line. But this was passed down to me from Aadesh. I don't care what industry your're in, you've got to take notes son. Especially if you're new. I'm not the best listener in the world and even if you are, if someone tells you 10 things, you are going to struggle to remember everything. If you roll up to someone's desk, go to a meeting, sit in on a phone conference, bring that white paper along and a pen. Take down instructions, everything relevant.

The worst thing to do is to walk away from a meeting, a chat, a conference and not know what is going on. Then to try and figure it out and then go back ask that person. It doens't impress people and shows your're an idiot. And more importanlty, you might do the task wrong cause you haven't written it down.

Best tip of all from Aadesh (the master :P)? Clarify the message/instructions by repeating back to the person what they told you. i.e. "So you want me to do Task A, then Task B and call Person C?".

Also, for legal reasons and to protect your own ass you write stuff down as a file note. When I worked in a law firm, I was told by a partner (who is now a consultant to one of the big 4 law firms around ie. they come to her for advice) that we write down everything, so that if ever go to court, we can prove that someone said this. Even if your notes are messy, if can interpret them you can protect your neck ie. "Boss, On the 5th of March, you said that you wanted a cappuccino with 2 sugars".

I think this is going to take longer than I thought to write, plus I have to go to work. I'll continue it tomorrow/weekend, and give you the other 5.

Let me know if its useful/what you think.

Peace Out,

DJ Ho.

To Kobe or To Lebron, that is the Question

The NBA's big shots

By Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports

That's the question fans kept asking me around town prior to the Cleveland Cavaliers-Los Angeles Lakers matchup at Staples Center. It's a question that may not be easy to answer, but one that is pleasing to ponder.

Each player is spectacularly athletic, dynamic in personality, physically dominant and skilled beyond belief. But L.A.'s win over Cleveland also showed how different the two players are, and that Kobe might be – at his stage anyway – a step ahead of LeBron.

Prior to the game, James was asked about Kobe and gave a very candid response that foreshadowed the outcome of the game. LeBron described Bryant as the best player in the NBA before admitting, "I don't think I have an instinct like Kobe where I want to kill everybody."

I think that quote tells a lot about the difference between the two. Kobe is a cold-blooded scorer – a man without a conscience who revels in taking the big shot at the end of the game and isn't afraid of missing it. LeBron is a more conscientious player – a distributor of the ball who feels most comfortable controlling the game with his passing yet providing scoring when needed.

Their respective approaches to the game differ defensively, too. Kobe relishes the one-on-one, mano-a-mano style, but he can get lost watching the ball on the weak side. LeBron is not as accomplished in his one-on-one defense, preferring to play away from the ball, clog the passing lanes and look for steals.

Kobe's relentless nature was on full display late in the game on Thursday. He overcame a cold shooting performance to knock down three straight jumpers in the waning moments to seal the victory for the Lakers. Only the most confident of players can shrug off a bad stretch – Kobe had missed 11 of his previous 12 shots at that point – and confidently drain buckets with the game on the line. But Kobe does it time and again, and his aggressive nature and unforgiving style allow him to perform at the highest level in crunch time. He is Jordan-like in his Terminator-style approach: Nothing will get in his way, or in his head.
LeBron, on the other hand, is a more thoughtful player. He is always looking for teammates and trying to bring a sense of order to the game. Against the Lakers, the Cavaliers' strategy was to pound the ball into Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and James made sure his big man got the ball, as Ilgauskas dominated the paint for most of the game in scoring 29 points.

When James needed to score, he did, pouring in 28 points. His outside shot has improved dramatically in the past year or two, and although he occasionally takes an off-balance shot, he is gaining more and more confidence in his offensive game. But his nature is to be a passer, and when he can mix up his scoring and distributing, he's at his best.

Each player's strength can also be his weakness. Kobe is so strong-willed and relentless that he frequently takes bad shots and disrupts the flow of the game for his teammates. He often continues his attacking style when the situation calls for pulling back and getting teammates involved, and that gets the Lakers in trouble. As a result, many of his teammates have struggled to find a niche playing with him.

LeBron is such a team-oriented player that he doesn't quite have Kobe's (or Michael Jordan's) game-closing mentality. With 5.2 seconds to play, LeBron missed a tying free throw, and after Drew Gooden grabbed the offensive board, James missed a potential game-winning jumper. While James certainly wasn't afraid of taking the big shot, he didn't appear arrogant in his approach.
With Kobe, everyone in the building knows that he's going to make the clutch shot. You can feel Bryant's aura in the arena. LeBron is still young, but he clearly doesn't look as comfortable in that role as Kobe does.

So who is better? Take your pick. Would you rather have Tom Brady or Peyton Manning? You can't go wrong with either one.

LeBron is the better passer and rebounder, he's younger, stronger and more explosive than Kobe and he has a better feel for the game and his teammates. Bryant is the better shooter, the more creative one-on-one player and a tougher on-ball defender.

They are different players, each superior to the other in many ways. But what separated them Thursday was Kobe's killer instinct that LeBron spoke of before the game. James just might be the best overall player in the league, but Bryant is the best – and most feared – player in the NBA with the game on the line.

------------------------------------------------------------------

So who do you take? Kobe or Lebron. I reckon if my team was starting out, I'd take Lebron. But if I'm on the cusp of Championsip glory (i.e. got a playoff ready team) you go with Kobe.

BTW was anyone else thinking "rapist" the whole time Lebron said "I don't think I have an instinct like Kobe where I want to kill everybody."

Peace Out,

DJ Ho.

The Food v The Exercise

Everybody gotta eat right? It's the food baby!
- Common on "The Food".

This week's been interesting. First week back at work, trying to get into the swing of things, get rid of old habits and gain new ones. I tried to analyse what sport I do and what I actually eat in order to meet............

New year's resolution: Get really fit.

KPI (key performance indicator): Will have abs + be under 80kgs + fit into my size 32 jeans.

Means: Go to gym and do sport regulary + eat healthy food.

Formula: More fruit in my diet - pizzas - alcohol - kebabs + pasta + bread - less fatty food x (gym twice a week + kickboxing once week + fortnightly swim) = lean mean fighting machine @ 80kgs.


Week 1 analysis: The Exercise v The Food

Sunday: Played basketball from 6.30 - 8.30pm @ Blakehurst v Eating Lamb pide from Adam's Kebabs for dinner ($6)

Monday: Woke up too sore to do anything v Eating Morrocan Lamb Pizza @ Australian hotel for lunch ($14) + bourbon & coke after work ($36 - bought everyone drinks, friggin coronas)

Tuesday: Again, bring the pain Method man style, too sore v sandwich lunch from home $0.

Wednesday: swam 10 x 25m laps + walked 6 laps @ local swimming pool at 6.30am v fruit salad ($4.50) and cereal breakfast @ home + lunch: salad + chicken/avocado crepe + mango lassi @ myer food court ($23, paid for dawen's lunch too).

Thursday: UTS Gym 30 mins + cancelled kickboxing lesson after work (frustrating) v lunch: Spicy Meatlovers pizza @ Metropolitan ($15) + breakfast: ham/cheese croissant, fruit salad and bannana ($7) + dinner: Katsu Curry + gyoza @ Jap place ($23).

Friday: UTS Gym 45 mins v Pizza @ Australian Hotel ($7) + meat platter @ Bavarian Bier Cafe $23 + chips + drinks including 500ml dunkel beer, vodka lemonda, boags ($25) at Bavarian & Opera Bar.

Saturday: Playing tennis against my boss (and hopefully kicking his ass) v brother's b'day dinner at random Chinese restaurant (free but msg).

Conclusion: Exercise is on track. Food is weighing me down (pun, get it?). It's hard to eat healthy when we go out for lunch at a specific place eg a hotel/pizza place as there aren't many healthy options. And food is expensive to eat out.

All up I think I've spent $200 on food and drink this week. That's friggin expensive. That includes snacks I've bought throughout the day like milkshakes, random food & drinks for other people (the real kicker).

Shoutouts: It was Alexs b'day on Friday, so happy b'day mate! Oh and Anvij, Mark, and Zankhna, must say it was great catching up with you all. Should do it again with more advanced notice (ALEXS!!!). And Aruni, keep ya head up girl! Good things will come to those that are patient.

So drink and eat merry, for tomorrow we exercise,

DJ Ho.

Captain Planet

The streets up my end of town where I work are blocked off after 4pm. Why?

It's not a terrorist attack (surprise surprise).

No the (insert Sydney sporting team name) have not just won the premiership.

If you guessed it, there's a global conference just up the road. A very important one mind you.

For the first time, Asia Pacific countries are meeting to discuss a climate partnership. Its a historic meeting between US, Japan, China, South Korea, India and Australia and is seen as an alternative to the Kyoto Protocols. It's about how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to discuss global warming, carbon trading and how to work together for a better climate.

You know what it really is? A smokescreen. A farce.

The Kyoto protocols was an agreement to reduce green house gases by 2012 agreed by most of the world's countries . The U.S and Australia have refused to sign it. India and China were considered developing countries at that time and didn't have to sign it. Australia has "ratified it" but never implemented it.

But the thing is, these countries are the biggest offenders - the U.S pumps out more greenhouse gases than anyone. Australia has the highest gas emission per capita (and I not talking about farting!). And you can bet China and India are up there too - I've seen the factories and the air in China/Hong Kong - its not very breathable.

These countries have to be seen to be doing something - so they're like "let's organise a conference about 'climate change' instead of ratifying the protocols".

You know what though? The climate is important to all of us. You look at the biggest events that occured last year - Tsunami through Asia Pacific, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Wilma, Earthquakes in Pakistan, random flash flooding. I mean look at our own backyard - on the 31st December it was 42 degrees, the second highest temperature we've ever had.

The weather has just been so random lately. And I reckon a lot of it has to do with climate change - global warming. The environment has never had to deal with so much greenhouse emissions, deforestation, and the presence of so many humans living on this earth.

But who is our environmental saviour? Captain Planet? No apparently:

"Canberra and Washington say industry will regulate itself without specific targets or taxes on the amount of carbon they pump into the atmosphere.
"I believe that the people who run the private sector, who run these companies, they do have children, they do have grandchildren, they do live and breathe in the world," U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said."

Self regulation is the answer folks. Yes these private sector participants will surely limit themselves. OF COURSE NOT! As if private companies have an incentive to do anything - money makes the world go round. I'm sure some companies like Visy Industries do their part for the environment, but for the most part - its business as usual.

Maybe you care about the environment, maybe you don't. But it's important to all of us - its the world in which we live in. If we treat it badly, surely it'll come back to bite us. If not know, future generations will feel the wrath of mother nature.

Bring back Captain Planet. There's my rant for today.

Ticket Tech: A story behind each one

In my room, there this little "black box" which is like my time capsule, where I store important memories like these ticket stubs. And there's a story behind each one. Nothing beats live music - its raw, no second takes, and the atmosphere is just incredible.

J5 & Roots - one of the best value concerts I've been to. Two of the biggest live acts for $75! Still one of my favourites.


Buggn Tour: I wrote a review of this which explains it in greater detail. But yeah, 5 acts, 100% hip hop.

"LETS GET RETARDED!" - one of the most entertaining concert I've been to. Yes they sold out, but it was a very fun night (minus the 14 year old girls).

Til the end of the road: Bit disappointing. They were good when they dropped their classics and didn't boyz 2 men have 4 members?This was easily my worst concert experience. Busta Rhymes didn't even turn up. Fights broke out, people started throwing stuff onto stage, I walked to the station the pouring rain. Irony of it all? The next morning i woke up and put on 'Woohah" and listened to what might have been.
Finally, the AND1 mixtape ballers came to Australia. It was all hyped up, there were some mad dunks, but it wasn't quite the same as the videos........but then again it never is, innit? Kings all the way baby! This is from one of their championship games. It was cool when they won their first one, started to get boring when they won the third ring. BTW where did all the fans spring from? I've been down since '95!

My first Olympic games experience, and hopefully not my last! I saw the Dream Team, it was so exciting. Sydney 2000 was the place to be! Check the Rudy T (USA Coach) signature!

This was actually quite good. One of the first musicals I've been to - impressed!

My next concert.......Common. Can't wait.

I've also been to see De La Soul, Gangstarr twice and Guru once, Dizzie Rascal, The Roots (again!), John Legend, and will be seeing Blackstreet and New Edition soon. And there'll be many more reviews, NO DOUBT!

Peace Out,

DJ Ho.

Can't nobody hold Chau down, oh no!

I have a new hero/inspiration. She's 5 foot tall, must weigh like 42 kilos, of slim build and speaks viet. Not your typical picture yeah? Her name is Chau and we used to study together back in the day @ UWS, Macarthur. Chau is easily the most determined person I've ever met.

The reason that she's my inspiration? Well I've sending her SMS's for the last couple of weeks and I decided to call her mobile. It was disconnected so I called her home phone. And I find out that she's gone to the UK to work for a year. That's out of the ordinary but not extreme. But she just came back from a year working in New York for a law firm, and studying Masters of international business part time at the same time. And the year b4 that, she had spent it in Canada studying and travelling the US.

She finished uni like a year before I did and we started at the same time! She'd overload each semester with like 5 or 6 subjects. Do 2 subjects in the summer while everyone was on holidays. And work like 3 or 4 days a week at a law firm. It was just insane. I was surprised that she didn't just breakdown and cry.

She was one of a handful of people that felt the same way I did about UWS. I wanted to get out bad. After my first week of uni, I made up my mind to get out and go to UTS or Sydney Uni. I hated the 1-2 hour travel to get there. It felt like Bouganville. The people there were fantastic and some of my best friendships were formed there. But it felt like the outback and that everyone wasn't as competitive or driven like me. I found my oasis: Rebecca, Addison, Nguyen and of course, Chau.

Chau was the one person that worked harder than me. And still does to this day. She told me she was going to work overseas, and I thought this was another farfetched idea from her. But the New York thing blew me away. And when her sister told me over the phone that she gone to the UK, i just smiled again and thought "That's Chau". I'm so happy for you.

I'll put my money on it that you'll be the most successful person career wise I'll know. The first Asian female CEO that's 5 foot. I can see it now!

My UWS Experience

I didn't get the marks to go to a prestigious law school like UNSW, Sydney, UTS or even Macquarie. But the only thing I wanted to do was study law and commerce, cause these were the only things that interested me. I figured I'd rather study what I love, rather than study commerce and hope to get a transfer into commerce/law. It was too much of a risk, in case I didn't get it. But after a week, and considering my future career prospects I decided to get out. Maybe it was being biased, maybe it was because I thought I was better than UWS, maybe it was because I hated seeing the cows and the cowboys on the train ride to Macarthur.

Whatever the case may have been, I decided to work my ass off for that one year. I must admit, I've never worked harder in my life. My uni results were like off the charts, with nearly a distiniction in every subject. You know, I really enjoyed the study - learning about criminal law, consitutional law, legal ethics, macroeconomics. In fact, the teaching was actually a lot better at UWS. I loved the way classes were run, and I was really mentally challenged and class was just fun to attend. They ran law classes in an innovative way. No lectures, just two hour tutorial and one hour practical class. No other uni does this.

And the people? They were fantastic. I met people from the real "Wesside" - Cabramatta, Fairfield, Parramatta, Green Valley. To be honest, it seemed like there were two majority races there: Viets or Lebs. People just assumed that I was Viet because that's who I hung around. Plus, I wore a baseball cap and microfibre/suit pants which was in fashion then. Looking back, I can't believe I wore that! That's disgusting!

I still remember my "group":
- Nguyen: who i still talk to and is working in the UK
- Luke "Crazyee": from my old hi skool
- Katey: Standard outfit, Jeans and adidas superstar sneaks!
- Melissa: Crazy giggling italian chick who dropped out of uni but continued to turn up at uni to convince her parents she hadn't dropped out!
- Olivia: The prettiest girl on campus.

We used to hang out all the time on the steps around the oval. Or the cafeteria. That was us. If it wasn't for you guys, uni would have been unbearable.

The one thing that I liked about going to a smaller uni, was that everyone knew each other. Everyone knew everyone. So I must have been known as that determined vietnamnese asian gangster who answered every question in class. I still remember in criminal law class where the tutor would say "Could someone besides DJ Ho answer a question?".

After a year, my wish was answered, and I went to a bigger uni in the city. And became another student number. Another law graduate processed through the system. Instead of UWS, my degree says "UTS". Swapped the "W" for a "T".

Peace Out.

DJ Ho

Ho's note

I posted an article I had written about the "agile corporation" and said that Bill Gates was the first to coin that phrase. However, a comment was left on my blog by James McGovern stating that he was the first to publicly use that phrase.

Of course, I thought "what the......?". But after doing some research (googling) and reading his background and the fact that he has several books sellling on Amazon on the topic(!!), he may have been the first to use that phrase.

My question is, James what are you doing reading my blog?!! As Bosco says, I must be going worldwide!

Peace Out,

DJ Ho.

Tandem story: An Email story

Here's a prime example of "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" offered by an English professor from the University of Western Australia.

The professor told his class one day: "Today we will experiment with a new form called the tandem story. The process is simple. Each person will pair off with the person sitting to his or her immediate right. As homework tonight, one of you will write the first paragraph of a short story. You will e-mail your partner that paragraph and send another copy to me.

The partner will read the first paragraph and then add another paragraph to the story and send it back, also sending another copy to me. The first person will then add a third paragraph, and so on back-and-forth. Remember to re-read what has been written each time in order to keep the story coherent. There is be absolutely NO talking outside of the e-mails, and anything you wish to say must be written in the e-mail. The story is over when both agree a conclusion has been reached."

The following was actually turned in by two of his English students:
Rebecca and Gary.

* THE STORY: *

(first paragraph by Rebecca)
At first, Laurie couldn't decide which kind of tea she wanted. The chamomile, which used to be her favorite for lazy evenings at home, now reminded her too much of Carl, who once said, in happier times, that he liked chamomile. But she felt she must now, at all costs, keep her mind off Carl. His possessiveness was suffocating, and if she thought about him too much her asthma started acting up again. So chamomile was out of the question.

(second paragraph by Gary)
Meanwhile, Advance Sergeant Carl Harris, leader of the attack squadron now in orbit over Skylon 4, had more important things to think about than the neuroses of an air-headed asthmatic bimbo named Laurie with whom he had spent one sweaty night over a year ago. "A.S. Harris to Geostation 17," he said into his transgalactic communicator. "Polar orbit established. No sign of resistance so far..." But before he could sign off a bluish particle beam flashed out of nowhere and blasted a hole through his ship's cargo bay. The jolt from the direct hit sent him flying out of his seat and across the cockpit.

(Rebecca)
He bumped his head and died almost immediately, but not before he felt one last pang of regret for psychically brutalizing the one woman who had ever had feelings for him. Soon afterwards, Earth stopped its pointless hostilities towards the peaceful farmers of Skylon 4. "Congress Passes Law Permanently Abolishing War and Space Travel," Laurie read in her newspaper one morning. The news simultaneously excited her and bored her. She stared out the window, dreaming of her youth, when the days had passed unhurriedly and carefree, with no newspaper to read, no television to distract her from her sense of innocent wonder at all the beautiful things around her. "Why must one lose one's innocence to become a woman?" she pondered wistfully.

(Gary)
Little did she know, but she had less than 10 seconds to live. Thousands of miles above the city, the Anu'udrian mothership launched the first of its lithium fusion missiles. The dim-witted wimpy peaceniks who pushed the Unilateral Aerospace disarmament Treaty through the congress had left Earth defenseless target for the hostile alien empires who were determined to destroy the human race. Within two hours after the passage of the treaty the Anu'udrian ships were on course for Earth, carrying enough firepower to pulverize the entire planet. With no one to stop them, they swiftly initiated their diabolical plan. The lithium fusion missile entered the atmosphere unimpeded. The President, in his top-secret mobile submarine headquarters on the ocean floor off the coast of Guam, felt the inconceivably massive explosion, which vaporized poor, stupid, Laurie and 85 million other Americans. The President slammed his fist on the conference table. "We can't allow this! I'm going to veto that treaty! Let's blow 'em out of the sky!"

(Rebecca)
This is absurd. I refuse to continue this mockery of literature. My writing partner is a violent, chauvinistic semi-literate adolescent.

(Gary)
Yeah? Well, you're a self-centered tedious neurotic whose attempts at writing are the literary equivalent of Valium. "Oh, shall I have chamomile tea? Or shall I have some other sort of F---ING TEA??? Oh no, I'm such an air headed bimbo who reads too many Danielle Steel novels!"

(Rebecca)
A**hole.

(Gary)
B****h
(Rebecca)

F__K YOU - YOU NEANDERTHAL!

(Gary)
Go drink some tea - whore.

(TEACHER)
A+ - I really liked this one

Blogging from the Gold Coast! City of Surf, Sun and Sexy Bodies

Hey everyone, how you y'all doing?

Right now, I'm @ Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, living it up Ja Rule Style. I've been to the beach a couple of times, learnt how to surf and am having a blast of a time. Must say that surfing is crazy. Ip and I took a two hour lesson and basically got the techniques down pat. We hired surfboards the next day and got aboslutely smashed by the waves. It's actually quite tricky learning how to stand on a board. I can lie down on it and get on my knees but only briefly stand up on the board. I was thinking the other day, WWJD? Jesus would walk on the water as Kanye West would put it.

Anyway, the other day, I also hired a boat for 10 people and drove out to this little island. I started driving but was too nervous, and handed to a lil phsyco named Jerm who put it into high speed. Other highlights? We anchored the boat and Henry caught a big fish! Chuck and Ip jumped off the boat for a swim, Terry took a leak - call of nature (Cringe!) and Chuck pushed him into the his own piss. Hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!

We also drove up to Brisbane in two cars and went clubbing at this joint called Fridays. They had two rooms, RNB and Aussie dance music. It went off and we only paid $25. This girl actually asked me - "Are you guys here to break hearts?" My response - "Some of us are here to break hearts, some are stone cold, and some are just chilling out like me". Ed - work your game player! And Tim.........what more can I say?

Lastly, I must report that Brisbane and Gold Coast (GC) feel like two different cities. When you walk around GC, the people look different. Everyone has really buff bodies, very athletic. Guys looked absolutely cut. Women - well, they are very shapely :P. I guess its because its a beach culture and everyone sees each other half naked and you want to look good. Brisbane - is a commerce city - greater diversity of people.

I'm out like non-buff bodies on the gold coast,

DJ Ho.