READ Jeremy Clarkson's "Born To Be Riled" and you'll find a lot of articles about cars
Actually, pretty much all of them - not a huge surprise given Clarkson has been a motoring journalist for well over 20 years and is now one of the presenters on the UK version of Top Gear.
But scattered throughout the book - along with various comments about governments and national stereotypes - are references to a gentleman by the name of Bob Seger. In fact, Clarkson writes one of his columns about meeting the man and talking cars over some fried alligator. As you do.
Ask anyone to name a Bob Seger song and they'll probably mention Old Time Rock And Roll, featured in the movie Risky Business where Tom Cruise dances around in his reg grundies.
That song comes from Seger's 10th album Stranger In Town, a 9-track bad boy that's never the same song to song.
The album kicks off with Hollywood Nights, five minutes worth of bluesy story-telling that's absolutely perfect for a drive down a deserted freeway of a night time. Listen to this bad boy as the freeway lights go flashing by and you'll have an easy explanation for the nice policeman when he/she inevitably pulls you over for speeding. Even the first bloke to drive under the influence of this song did that: according to Songfacts musician Billy Payne was listening away when he noticed he'd topped 100 miles per hour!
Track #2 Still The Same drops back down a notch, taking your foot back off the accelerator and switching into cruise control. It's slighty downbeat, but that's ok because there's quite a few speed cameras coming up and you've escaped the big bad speeding ticket once already.
Batting number 3 is the aforementioned Old Time Rock And Roll - listen to this at home and try not dance around in sunnies and underwear! It's also a song that comes to mind every time I hit a nightclub and that stupid "if you were born in the 80s" song comes on for about the 467th time this year. But I digress...
Time to drop back down a notch then with Till It Shines, another sorrowful track with its very own sorrowful guitar solo during the chorus. This would probably match your mood if you were driving out of town away from another failed relationship. Is that a bit country? Possibly, but the song does dip its toe in those waters...
Number 5 is alive though with Feel Like A Number particularly suited to driving down a four-lane non-freeway/motorway road in a soft-top convertible with the roof down, the sunnies on and the speakers PUMPING. Not that I've done that, but it just seems right.
For those that like their blues track 6 will do it for you. Ain't Got No Money wouldn't be out of place on Memphis' Beale Street, possibly in that bar on the other side and down the end of the street from BB King's version. One to listen travelling between Chicago and Seger's home city of Detroit.
You wouldn't listen to track 7 in a car though. No, ideally you'd play - nay, sing - We've Got Tonite to a prospective partner as you both faced up to the fact you're trapped in a secluded cabin up in the mountains and a massive snowfall has trapped you in, although happily there's a lot of firewood, kindling and matches handy.
Fans of Billy Joel will recognise similarities between his Scenes From An Italian Restaurant and track 8's Brave Strangers - although Seger's song starts quickly, goes slow about 2:20 in, then picks back up about 4:15 (the reverse to Joel's track). Even so, it's a good track to have on a particularly boring stretch of road, eg the Hay Plains of NSW or any US highway where the speed limit isn't quite high enough.
As the name suggests, The Famous Final Scene is the album's famous final fling. While the rest of the album ebbs and flows, track 9 brings it all to a halt as you reach your destination - a slow halt "as the light fades from the screen from the famous final scene"...
After listening to this album, who wouldn't want to talk cars over fried alligator?
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Simply The Best?
INTERESTING article in today's Sydney Morning Herald about Australia and how it's viewed in the USA. In it, Peter Hartcher makes mention of four encounters he had regarding Australia around the time of the presidential election.
For those with time or motivation-related issues, the general gist of the article is that the Hawke, Keating, Howard and Rudd governments (from 1983 to the present day) have all contributed to Australia having a high standing in the world today. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright describes our electoral system as "the leading model"; a Wall Street Journal columnist asks not what an Obama government means for Australia, but rather what a Rudd government means for the US; a leading economist suggests Australia could actually avoid recession in the next few years; while a leading US banker suggested his country could take lessons from Australia in how to deal with the crisis.
Three of these deal with Australia from an economic standpoint - clearly not my area of expertise! But is Australia really at the top?
Nay-sayers certainly have plenty to point out. Indigenous health and educations standards are still well below the rest of the population; environmental issues (including the declining state of the Murray-Darling basin and the future of the Great Barrier Reef) require long-term planning; while there are those that say that Australia's three tiers of government (federal, state and local for those playing at home) means large amounts of red tape stifling growth.
Of course, anyone concerned about the last should probably check out red tape in the European Union. The words "you're kidding" often spring to mind...
But then, no country is without its own issues. Iceland's economy just went into free-fall; other Scandanavian countries can be prohibitively expensive; while close cousins New Zealand have to work to rectify a brain-drain to countries such as Australia, the UK and the USA.
After spending time overseas, I can say it's a relief not to worry about putting bags down for a second or things in pockets, never to be seen again. The general friendliness of Australians is also a blessed relief after the surliness of your average Londoner.
So yeah, I would say we're up there: but as Hartcher said towards the end of his article, this is no time for complacency.
For those with time or motivation-related issues, the general gist of the article is that the Hawke, Keating, Howard and Rudd governments (from 1983 to the present day) have all contributed to Australia having a high standing in the world today. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright describes our electoral system as "the leading model"; a Wall Street Journal columnist asks not what an Obama government means for Australia, but rather what a Rudd government means for the US; a leading economist suggests Australia could actually avoid recession in the next few years; while a leading US banker suggested his country could take lessons from Australia in how to deal with the crisis.
Three of these deal with Australia from an economic standpoint - clearly not my area of expertise! But is Australia really at the top?
Nay-sayers certainly have plenty to point out. Indigenous health and educations standards are still well below the rest of the population; environmental issues (including the declining state of the Murray-Darling basin and the future of the Great Barrier Reef) require long-term planning; while there are those that say that Australia's three tiers of government (federal, state and local for those playing at home) means large amounts of red tape stifling growth.
Of course, anyone concerned about the last should probably check out red tape in the European Union. The words "you're kidding" often spring to mind...
But then, no country is without its own issues. Iceland's economy just went into free-fall; other Scandanavian countries can be prohibitively expensive; while close cousins New Zealand have to work to rectify a brain-drain to countries such as Australia, the UK and the USA.
After spending time overseas, I can say it's a relief not to worry about putting bags down for a second or things in pockets, never to be seen again. The general friendliness of Australians is also a blessed relief after the surliness of your average Londoner.
So yeah, I would say we're up there: but as Hartcher said towards the end of his article, this is no time for complacency.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Through The Streets Of Your Town...
GOT back to Brisbane for the first time in two years the other day.
It was never meant to be that long. I was originally due back in November 2006; my little trick in destroying the ticket first laundry load in the UK was probably a sign that date with the plane was never going to happen.
In those two years I worked and travelled right around Europe: starting with mind-numbing speed of the Busabout training trip; two seasons of working with Busabout; trips around Ireland and Britain; the unexpectedness of seven Contiki tours; going to La Tomatina and Oktoberfest; a delayed trip to Romania; and the unexpected but very welcome bonus of a Lapland tour just before I headed home. In that time I travelled around Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Monaco, Liechtenstein, The Vatican City, Romania and Finland; met hundreds of fantastic people and had an absolute blast.
So why get excited about heading back to a city that until recently that's been known as a hick town in my lifetime?
It didn't hit that I was home - or what passes as it - on the plane across from Perth. I'd jumped online early on in order to get a window seat, but poor weather meant I couldn't get my normal view of Lang Park and the Gabba as we made our final approach to the airport.
Nope, it hit me I was home on the 350 bus to the city. Strange, I know.
All started just down from the Rode Road roundabout in the north of the city. When I first started going to uni the roundabout used to be an absolute pain in the rear to get through during peak hour. I'd regularly be just a few kilometres from my stop, but have to wait an extra 30 minutes or so for the bus to get through this ridiculous traffic hazard.
The overpass was supposed to be finished late 1998 from memory but wasn't until well after I left the area. Bastards.
I jumped on the bus on Old Northern Road on a section that goes waaaaay up then waaaaay down and is probably still a favourite with the boys in blue.
Down a little bit further we passed the shopping area at Everton Park. I can remember back in the day we used to get really excited passing there because they had real Slurpees like on the tv ads! From what I can remember there's always been a KFC there - and a "4 foot can't-remember-how-many inches human DYNAMO" called Judy Latham flogging real estate. It's also where Mum works now (and yes, I stopped by on the way back. Ok, it was only because she forgot her keys...).
To the right of this little shopping area is a bigger shopping area called Brookside, where Matt and I used to run around like mad chooks while Mum tried to keep us in line. Further down my route though was a section of road that could nab the unsuspecting. The left lane of South Pine Road just before it veers to the left has a number of dips that have been there pretty much forever; I reckon they aren't game to risk the traffic jams to fix it!
Down a little bit further on the Pickering Street overpass: another intersection that was a major traffic hazard before they built the bridge. That one's been up for a while: early 90s I think?
Go down a little bit further and the Matilda service station on the right marked the turn-off for the army barracks where Dad was posted the first couple of times we lived in Brisbane. I can remember many a function at the Seargent's Mess down the back of the barracks; the flying fox I could never quite hold onto long enough; Matt and I always queuing up for seconds when Maccas came round; and even waiting for my cousin and the three brothers to buy their sweets when Dad gave us a truckload of change. Always had to wait till last: that was the drama of being the oldest.
Going further down Wardell Street we veered to the left near Marist College. We had some family friends live there that we'd known since Townsville (where Matt and I made our world debuts). I can remember playing soccer for TGS there in 1996, although that marked the beginning of the end for one of the few enduring childhood friendships I had.
Onward then to Ashgrove then left onto Waterworks Road. We used to travel down this road a lot when we first moved to Brisbane (The Gap to be precise) in 1986. Explains why I laughed for a good ten minutes when I heard Jimmy Maher years later say "she's got legs like Waterworks Road... all the way to The Gap" on the radio. Had to be there I guess.
Down then towards the city, past the Normanby Hotel. Heard there's been a few dramas down that way recently: a shame really. Picked up there first night out after coming back from first trip around Europe in '05, then had Matt berate me a few days later for not being in a relationship. You get that.
Nearly done then... past Roma Street Station and the Brisbane Transit Centre, where I caught lost of coaches up to Toowoomba when boarding up there - and even one coach to Perth! Obviously it didn't go direct, but it was where that particular journey began.
Last stop Brisbane City: scene of many a drunken night at the Vic or the Cri. When we first moved to Brisbane in 1986 the Queen Street Mall was a bit different. I can remember going with both grandmothers to Tops at the top of the Myer Centre and begging to go on the admittedly poxy dragon coaster just below the roof. That and playing a multitude of arcade games at the Timezone when supposed to be at uni.
I've lived less than half my life in Brisbane. But with memories like these, it'll be home for a while yet.
It was never meant to be that long. I was originally due back in November 2006; my little trick in destroying the ticket first laundry load in the UK was probably a sign that date with the plane was never going to happen.
In those two years I worked and travelled right around Europe: starting with mind-numbing speed of the Busabout training trip; two seasons of working with Busabout; trips around Ireland and Britain; the unexpectedness of seven Contiki tours; going to La Tomatina and Oktoberfest; a delayed trip to Romania; and the unexpected but very welcome bonus of a Lapland tour just before I headed home. In that time I travelled around Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Monaco, Liechtenstein, The Vatican City, Romania and Finland; met hundreds of fantastic people and had an absolute blast.
So why get excited about heading back to a city that until recently that's been known as a hick town in my lifetime?
It didn't hit that I was home - or what passes as it - on the plane across from Perth. I'd jumped online early on in order to get a window seat, but poor weather meant I couldn't get my normal view of Lang Park and the Gabba as we made our final approach to the airport.
Nope, it hit me I was home on the 350 bus to the city. Strange, I know.
All started just down from the Rode Road roundabout in the north of the city. When I first started going to uni the roundabout used to be an absolute pain in the rear to get through during peak hour. I'd regularly be just a few kilometres from my stop, but have to wait an extra 30 minutes or so for the bus to get through this ridiculous traffic hazard.
The overpass was supposed to be finished late 1998 from memory but wasn't until well after I left the area. Bastards.
I jumped on the bus on Old Northern Road on a section that goes waaaaay up then waaaaay down and is probably still a favourite with the boys in blue.
Down a little bit further we passed the shopping area at Everton Park. I can remember back in the day we used to get really excited passing there because they had real Slurpees like on the tv ads! From what I can remember there's always been a KFC there - and a "4 foot can't-remember-how-many inches human DYNAMO" called Judy Latham flogging real estate. It's also where Mum works now (and yes, I stopped by on the way back. Ok, it was only because she forgot her keys...).
To the right of this little shopping area is a bigger shopping area called Brookside, where Matt and I used to run around like mad chooks while Mum tried to keep us in line. Further down my route though was a section of road that could nab the unsuspecting. The left lane of South Pine Road just before it veers to the left has a number of dips that have been there pretty much forever; I reckon they aren't game to risk the traffic jams to fix it!
Down a little bit further on the Pickering Street overpass: another intersection that was a major traffic hazard before they built the bridge. That one's been up for a while: early 90s I think?
Go down a little bit further and the Matilda service station on the right marked the turn-off for the army barracks where Dad was posted the first couple of times we lived in Brisbane. I can remember many a function at the Seargent's Mess down the back of the barracks; the flying fox I could never quite hold onto long enough; Matt and I always queuing up for seconds when Maccas came round; and even waiting for my cousin and the three brothers to buy their sweets when Dad gave us a truckload of change. Always had to wait till last: that was the drama of being the oldest.
Going further down Wardell Street we veered to the left near Marist College. We had some family friends live there that we'd known since Townsville (where Matt and I made our world debuts). I can remember playing soccer for TGS there in 1996, although that marked the beginning of the end for one of the few enduring childhood friendships I had.
Onward then to Ashgrove then left onto Waterworks Road. We used to travel down this road a lot when we first moved to Brisbane (The Gap to be precise) in 1986. Explains why I laughed for a good ten minutes when I heard Jimmy Maher years later say "she's got legs like Waterworks Road... all the way to The Gap" on the radio. Had to be there I guess.
Down then towards the city, past the Normanby Hotel. Heard there's been a few dramas down that way recently: a shame really. Picked up there first night out after coming back from first trip around Europe in '05, then had Matt berate me a few days later for not being in a relationship. You get that.
Nearly done then... past Roma Street Station and the Brisbane Transit Centre, where I caught lost of coaches up to Toowoomba when boarding up there - and even one coach to Perth! Obviously it didn't go direct, but it was where that particular journey began.
Last stop Brisbane City: scene of many a drunken night at the Vic or the Cri. When we first moved to Brisbane in 1986 the Queen Street Mall was a bit different. I can remember going with both grandmothers to Tops at the top of the Myer Centre and begging to go on the admittedly poxy dragon coaster just below the roof. That and playing a multitude of arcade games at the Timezone when supposed to be at uni.
I've lived less than half my life in Brisbane. But with memories like these, it'll be home for a while yet.
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