Bored and loud.

With more and more stories coming out about certain breeds of dogs attacking young children - and even in one case, an Alsatian killing it’s adult male owner, it makes me think about how stupid people can be (and trust me, it happens a lot!!)

Just because an animal has been ‘domesticated’ and may be a family pet, it is not safe. Most of the owners of these dogs in ‘unprovoked attacks’, claim that their pet is very good-natured and usually docile so it shouldn’t have to be on it’s lead all the time. Now, I’ve lived with cats all my life, and they could be perfectly happy and purring one minute, and then suddenly I’d have claws in my hand. There would appear to be no explanation for it - I’d been patting it for minutes already, I hadn’t changed the motion or anything, but it’s an animal - and as such, I am aware that they have unpredictable, inexplicable behaviour at times. And this is what dog owners seem to be forgetting.

All domesticated dogs have evolved from what was once, a wild dog. Now, would people approach a wild dog that wasn’t on a leash, with a small child in tow? Probably not. What people need to be remembering, is that as an animal, there will always be potential for a ‘regression’ to this wild behaviour, whether provoked or not, whether the calmest and most docile of dogs.

I don’t honestly know who in their right mind would have a dog, of a certain breed known to be aggressive at times, off it’s leash and in the vicinity of a small child. It just does not make sense. You can’t watch a child 100% of the time anyway, and with an animal (not the child, the dog!) around, you never know what could be happening. It makes much more sense to have the dog restrained or separate from the child at all times, and if situation calls for them to be together for any reason (and there shouldn’t be), watch them like a hawk. Have the child within your reach so you can save them at a moment’s notice from the behaviour of what is, and always will be, an animal. No matter what stupid jackets, hats and boots you make them wear.

I started reading this book totally unaware of who SE Hinton was, or of The Outsiders. However, since reading this, I desperately need to read her other books!

I barely read the back before starting and so anything that happened during it was a pleasant surprise - I prefer reading some books this way. The time jumps did confuse me a little, with all the characters existing in all time frames, it was difficult to remember whether a certain event had occured before or after the current piece I was reading. However, as the book goes on, it becomes clear and is all set in one time frame, combining all aspects of the past. In seeing so many different sides of the characters, it’s easy to compare to real life - you may know someone from a certain way, but suddenly see them in a different light and it shows more sides to their personality. It also helps you to understand the characters more.

The story is, at first, more exciting and jumpy, and becomes more settled and, to a certain extent, romantic in nature. It has fascinating views of how people interact and deal with others, but without being one of those purposeful stories which try to make you look at yourself in a different light. I dislike those types of storise and am glad that this is different.

Written for the most part about males, it’s strange to remember that the author is a female - I am unsure of how this compares to other books by Hinton, but at first, I thought it was a male author. Just a random, possibly interesting sidenote.

So, since I’ve uploaded all of my ‘365′ photos, I’ve had a lot more to be uploading. I had 4 films developed - some from London, some here - and had them scanned, so some of them were ready for upload. I photographed a friend’s band, and had quite a few photos from that.

Last Monday, my new lens was delivered. A Canon USM 28-200mm 3.5-6.3, a beautiful little piece. I’ve tried it out at another of my friend’s shows, and also caught a fair bit of the Australia Day Parade yesterday and had it on me, so that was a good morning spent!!

Firstly, here’s Boot Boy Scally at their December 4th show at the Arthouse in the city.

Here’s a film photograph of 2 of my housemates on Christmas Day, we’d just got on the train to go to Kat’s parents’ place for a bbq.

And another film photograph, from London if I remember rightly. Sound alseep!

And lastly, from yesterday, 2 photos of the parade (well, these 2 in particular are from the speeches), just outside Town Hall.

So I finished my 365 photos of 2007, 1 picture everyday. Unfortunately after I’d uploaded them all my count reached 363. I’m not sure where it’s gone wrong, I think possibly when I flew over here. I’m still looking into it! Anyway, here are some of my favourites from the last couple months.

Flinder’s Street Station. An iconic station and view for Melbournians. This is the first proper photo I’ve taken at night here - I must do more!

Rain on the way to work. I’ve always found rain such a refreshing change - much more so when the country hasn’t been getting enough!!

Art in Richmond. Another thing I’ve been meaning to do - check out the graffiti in the city. Until then, small things like this can keep me satiated.

And another from Richmond. A view toward the city and the MCG.

This project has really made me think, it’s a lot of pressure to take a photo everyday especially when I usually go through phases of wanting to take photos. Trying to come up with something new each day - especially with the monotonous routine of work - is definitely a challenge, but one which I’ve relished and am glad to have completed. At the very least, thankfully I haven’t been put off taking photos!

An impulse buy at the end of a trip to the $5 bookshop, actually turned out to be quite an interesting read.

It addresses the social views on death and dying, and quotes many people who are terminal or the carers and staff involved in funerals. The chapters range from how people come to accept they are dying (or not in some cases), and how they may then change their lives all the way to belief in the afterlife and near death experiences.

The most interesting part to me was the biological changes which occur after death and how funeral directors deal with them - very covering outfits, heavy-duty makeup etc. I only wished this chapter was longer with more detail, it is fascinating stuff and I just hope there is more written in this easy-to-read style.

In the chapters relating to acceptance and the afterlife, there are quite a few philosophical views, which I enjoyed reading as I’ve studied most of them before in high school. There is also substantial talk of funerals and suggestions on how to plan your own if you wish. Taking a lighthearted view, there are ‘famous last words’ of some celebrities which have become well-know and proposals on what to include in the eulogy.

All in all, an interesting albeit short read, with a comical - but not disrespectful, view of death.

‘Happy Baby’ and ‘The Book of Death’

Since the writing of this book, the memoirs of Traudl Junge have been made into a movie about Hitler’s private life (from her perspective), and his last days in the bunker in Berlin, up to and after his suicide. A movie entitled ‘Downfall’ (Der Untergang). Junge wrote her memoirs in 1947 as part of herself trying to come to terms with herself and her guilt. She started working for Hitler in her early 20s, and despite her absent father being a member of the party, she had little idea as to the political side of German life.

Her memoirs are written in a rather simple way, with little attempt to make it sound more fictional or more intelligent. She simply writes what has happened, as she remembers it, and does not try to justify herself which helps to make it seem like an account rather than a reflection of the time. As she describes instances she dined with Hitler and Eva, and socialised with his dietician and valets, the language used to describe Hitler is very unexpected. It is written affectionately, as she has mostly positive memories of these times. She was not involved in the meetings with the military, and knew nothing of the horrors of the war. She wrote reports of death-counts and damages for her boss, but asked no questions, which to some extent could put her to blame, that she chose to ignore what was happening.

While reading it, it puts the people involved in the horror of WWII, in a more personal light. You see that they were only human, and when faced with hardship, people will take any option they can to get out of it - in this case, the German people dismissed the racism and discrimination in the hope that Hitler would improve the financial state of their country. Recently pictures were released of the leaders of the Auschwitz camp at their summer house nearby, socialising with their wives and enjoying the weather - these have a similar effect. The people commiting the atrocities were simply that - people. And when pushed, some people can change immensely, in this case Hitler can order killing and torture in a meeting in one room, and then act as an amiable host in the next. Highly recommend it.

The first book of the year, and I thought I’d go for non-fiction. Technically I started it just before the 1st Jan, but the marjority was read after!

I’ve always loved the Rough Guide series, having done so much travelling using them. The reviews and features in them are usually very honest, and if an infamous sight (eg. The Eiffel Tower or Tower Bridge) is boring, expensive or just overrated, it will say so. But rather than use it for a short getaway to a city or country, as I’m used to, I’m putting it to use in a city that I live in. Having settled into Melbourne and started working, I’ve realised I still haven’t done or seen many of the things that I want to and figured that this book would be the best way of getting ideas.

It describes each area of Melbourne, usually grouping 2 or 3 suburbs together, and gives a good history. It also explains how the history has had an effect on the current atmosphere of the area. The CBD is described in detail, and I’ve realised that I haven’t seen very much of it at all! One of these days I will have to get my backpack out and walk around the city with a camera and this book, doing the tourist bit. It also gives good info about the main sights and things to do.

The surrounding area is also given it’s fair share of pages, describing towns such as Geelong, and the Dandenongs. Thankfully it gives both public transport and driving instructions, so it is catering for all type of tourist (or resident!).

All in all, it’s made me realise that I live in a very interesting and historic city, and need to get out more.

This year I’m making a renewed effort to read a lot more. Last year I had several friends try to read 52 books (one a week for those who can’t count), but most failed. So rather than put pressure on myself, I’ll just read as much as I can, especially books that I’ve been meaning to read for a while now (classics like Bronte etc.). I’ll try to write a short review of each and post it on here as I go, but as usual, I may fall behind in the posts and it’ll probably just end up as a list!