20 20 vision - Picture of a man with only seconds to live

Well my week of buying The Advertiser is nearly over, and back to just getting papers on the weekend is only a couple of days away. Mind you I have found it to be a better read than in the past. Still my interest was only peaked because of the 2020 Vision idea for the week. It has been the usual stuff up until Wednesday today it took a turn towards what I think needs to change, the resident attitude. Up until now it has been all about and feedback of buildings, buildings and buildings. The usual comments of not making Adelaide look like Sydney or Melbourne for what ever reason they are contributed just seem stupid to me.

I am just looking forward to doing the show on Saturday night alway love it when I see the sold out signs go up for a gig. Knowing the room is going to be full makes it so much more enjoyable. Went to a couple of the rehersals and... Okay, I don't rehearse. It is totally pointless for stand-up comedy so I went along just to get a running sheet and make sure the mic. and sound system work. All I organised is what color shirt I'll wear for the show, almost anyway. I know I will wear a shirt. Told the people doing the show what I will use for material except that was then, I won't have a clue until I walk out on the stage.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Adelaide - Belly Button lint or Ecstasy?

Belly buttton lint is obviously an intoxicating substance. Adelaide for some reason does a lot of navel gazing and some people may purposely or accidentally inhale or eat navel lint and suffer from the halucinatory effects of this blue fluff. A big country town is a title that can be applied to Port Lincoln or Mount Gambier. Although, Mount Gambier is classed as a city. Then there are those dear old talking heads who refer to Adelaide as a big country town. No it is not. A big country town is where you go to a public or entertainment event and have a quick social chat with the ticket seller and recognise many of the audience. A big country town is a place that has a population that has numerically just under or just over the amount of people required to be called a city. That figure is tens of thousands not hundreds of thousands.

For the first time in months I am buying The Advertiser during the week, only because of the Vision for 2020 series. First thing that is catching my attention in the articles is the disparity between Olde Adelaide and Young Adelaide. Olde Adelaide appears to have this ideal of suburban jockeying for identity, literally 'keeping up and getting one step in front of the neighbours'. Perhaps this is why the Airport, Bus Terminal and Interstate Train Depot have languished for so long. Almost as if they are necessary to have but damned if we are going to have attractive places on hand that may attract people to leave the state.

For all the comments that infer how, supposedly, SA is viewed interstate it is a great myth propagated about nothing. It is nothing, but a little tale that has reached bogeyman proportions. Is it the ultimate Urban Myth?

Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

"Great Idea - Now What?"

Okay I have taken the title from The Advertiser's - Review article on Saturday which is the first of a special series on SA this week. The newspaper is bringing some bold ideas to the 'table' for discussion on a vision for a vibrant Adelaide in 2020. I am anticipating seeing this and the reaction across the board before it is quietly shelved away and overshadowed by other issues of importance. Various hamstring injuries, amount of beer to be drank before eating a pie floater etc.

Mike Rann in his introduction to the Government Strategic Plan from March 2004 wrote, "South Australia has had so many plans and we have been consulted to death, what we have lacked is a comparable zeal for implementation..." Much like entering an SA team into the AFL it would not have happened unless Brian Webber and his board at the PAFC hadn't made the decision for the club and it's members because Adelaide was becoming a playing field that was no fun any more.

The Heysen Tunnel, Southern Express Way, the O-Bahn, National Wine Centre, the Multi Function Polis, Monarto development, Football Park, Victoria Square, some are constructions that have eventuated some have not. Invigorating and enacting tangible zeal for the future, starting today. That is going to be something to be part of, hearing, seeing and most importantly doing. Where the questions and analysis are of you and no-one else. For this to happen each resident of the State is accountable and responsible. Do you the balls/courage to ring, for example talkback radio and say that the esteemed figure who said, ie; the grand prix was stolen, or kick a vic, is wrong?

This is not a material construction, no bricks and mortar put together by tradespeople which will say, "SA has zeal". There is no shortage of people with the right kind of zeal to make a SA improve. Just you do not hear them as often or as loudly as those whose zealousness is wrong. Much harder to make in fact because people have to stand up as individuals and shrug off decades of negatives being enhanced and repeated ad nauseum. One other thing, you don't get paid for being zealous. Some people do and that is also a problem because what is needed is people who can stand up in front of people and be zealous of SA in the new RIGHT way and the people listening HAVE TO DO THIS NOW and make the current State mentality and attitude change.

Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Next Gig, bloody Joan Rivers

The Penguin Hunter Diaries
Bloody Joan Rivers made me laugh on the Logies, on Sunday night. At the same time I just knew it was going to mean I am going to have to explain my next shows content to the community group organising it. Got a phone call yesterday arvo that there is a meeting at the venue today and yes the content of what I am going to do came up. I lied of course because I have no idea what I am going to do until I walk out on stage.

It's actually pretty cool as the director of the show is aware of what stand-up is, but the usual meddlers in any community event are putting in their 20cents worth of censorship. I don't often do community events purely for that reason. People who have never been to a stand-up gig giving 'advice' about what can be done in the act. It's like meeting people and they tell me that they are a doctor and when I say I do stand-up in my job getting that reply. "Oh I have lots of funny stories to tell, I'd be a good comedian" Shit yeah, and this morning I woke up and though bloody hell I'd make a great brain surgeon how about you do my gig tonight and I'll do your surgery.

It seems that once again the conservative element think I am going to come out and swear. Coz that is what stand-up comedy is.

Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff