flatwhite.net » Lifestyle

You Win, ShitBook

Matt — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:18:04 +0000

So now ShitBook works for me. Well, I think so... I’m still wary of how often I’m checking in, how much stuff comes dribbling down that line. My new addiction is to ruthless management of a trickle of updates, photos that I actually find I want to know. So now I browse with a twitchy, itchy trigger finger hovering over that ‘delete friend’ button, ready to cull at any moment...no pressure...

Confessions of a night school drop out

Guest Barista — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:28:37 +0000

Having moved to a new town, and with time on my hands, I felt the time was ripe to enrol myself in a night school class. I confess to fancying myself as a linguist, though I really shouldn't as my conversation skills in reality only extend to please and hello in about 5 or 6 languages, a paltry collection of Japanese phrases and just enough Italian to get by and crack the odd joke.

The Best T-Shirt Store is Open

Matt — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:55:00 +0000

T-shirts have been around for almost a hundred years, and for more than half that time they've been garnished with messages that reflect and project the wearer's personal taste and identity. As the kids of a world in which the clutter of media messages seems to intensify year-on-year, we're becoming quite adept at branding ourselves - we're, quite literally, wearing our hearts on our (short) sleeves.

Dry July

Matt — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:00:00 +0000

The details of those ten years are bloody sketchy, and I'm certainly not about to recount those that I can remember here, but it's fair to say that I spent most of the time either drunk, drinking to get drunk, or trying to scam the money to buy drink to get drunk. Quite a waste when you look back on it, and a lifestyle that, while surely unsustainable in the long term, could possibly have continued up to the present day had it not been for the unexpected yet thankful interlude of Dry July in 1999.

Eat Your Greens

Matt — Wed, 02 May 2007 21:02:46 +0000

In the past two and a half years, the closest thing to a beastie that has passed my lips has been a surprise anchovy stuffed inside a spainish olive. After a youth spent devouring all sorts of animals in vast quanitities, my shimmy into vegetarianism came quite unexpectedly. As unexpected as that sneaky anchovy I guess, but in a different way all together - quite a pleasant one which I'm bloody pleased took place.

Why I hate Starbucks

Matt — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 10:00:00 +0000

Nothing would make me happier than waking to the news of a total collapse of Starbucks around the globe, brought to its knees and leaving scarred retail space from which could spring a million different types of coffee-shops each doing things their own way and giving us back our stolen freedom to choose...

Watch Yourself (Part II)

Matt — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 23:46:06 +0000

Since that fateful day in the 80's when the ZX81 moved in I've stumbled through a couple of decades of technology consumption, leaving a dusty trail of discarded beige computer casings and screens in my wake...towards...I dunno...just the next funky little box I guess. Whatever 'They' come up with next for me to use, consume and discard. I'm probably a little more addicted to gadgets than the average bear, but I doubt this pattern is too different to most. Looking back, the most interesting and disturbing feature of this acquisition and disposal cycle is that I've rarely needed (not wanted - I'm addicted, remember) any of this shit until it's hit the store shelves. But the point is, I'm a Technology Victim - and I doubt I'm alone.

Waking Life

Matt — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 23:15:11 +0000

I was going to continue and complete 'Watch Yourself (Part I)' but I can't quite get my thoughts off some irritating crap I'm going through at the moment. Insomnia has paid a visit and is overstaying its welcome. The word itself sits a touch uncomfortably with me. Insomnia. Insomniac. There's a slightly deranged sound to it when you say it out loud (or repeat it over and over in your head).

It may seem like witchcraft but it works…

Guest Barista — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 08:27:01 +0000

So trusting the wise, professional judgement of my peer, I decided to try it, and was blown away by the results. Cranial osteopathy to me feels like witchcraft. To say that the manipulation they use is gentle is an over-statement. The movements they make are so subtle that at times, it feels like they aren’t doing anything aside from gently prodding you in the tailbone. But that gentle prodding is amazingly effective, as on emerging from the clinic you can feel how those knots of tension have evaporated, and that your body’s alignment has been restored. It is a very gentle technique but incredibly powerful in its results.

New year food resolution (revolution?)

Guest Barista — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 22:56:11 +0000

Hands up those of you northern hemisphere residents that gaily filled your champagne flutes with strawberries over the silly season (I did). Well whilst we can’t necessarily be expected to do the right thing all of the time, and certain allowances can be made for those special occasions such as xmas and new year, we should all feel the littlest bit guilty.