I work in engineering, telco engineering, it’s a male dominated field.
I don’t think I have ever actually had a job where I have worked with a lot of women, mostly I’ve worked with men.

One difference I’ve noticed more of late, is when I attend business meetings there are a lot more women present in a meeting (which for me is unusual, because in my department I am usually the only woman in the room).

This observation is not is what is disturbing.
In a room full of men we can have stand up drag out arguments, resolve our issues and leave the room still speaking to each other.

Women on the other hand tend to level personal attacks at you that have no relevance what so ever to the arugment or discussion at hand.

I fail to see how the comment “can I suggest we reposition our strategy to reflect this change…..” can result in a response…”I’m offended by your response and don’t like being treated like an idiot.”

Did I miss something? I was merely offering a suggestion which a “female” took as a criticism and was personally offended, by a comment that was certainly not even personal.

Well princess if you really want me to offend you come to one of my engineering meetings.
Of course I never actually said that, but I certainly was peeved about the delicacy of people to say the least.

Now I’m back to the peace and relative quiet and drama – less workspace where I am surrounded by men, and not bitchy women.

A row has errupted online, with one of my girlfriends and some unnamed person on her friends list (because I actually don’t know who it is).

Apparently she posted a random comment (something along the lines of “men….pffft, think I might try L town”) which apparently this unnamed person must have sent her partner (boyfriend, whatever) an SMS about.

Somehow this has resulted in a massive fight with her partner, which my friend claims is relationship ending.

Ok, so while I don’t have all the details, I did get to thinking, if a so called friend meddles in your relationship by running and telling tales (whether they be true or not) and this results in a break up, is this really the type of relationship you want?

By this I mean, do we really put that much stock in what other people tell us about our partners? or should we really be talking to each other?

Isn’t it up to us to communicate with our other half and sort these type of things out, instead of listening to thrid party’s and taking everything they say as gospel?

I know if it was me and someone said something to me about an alleged discretion, comment or infringement my partner is supposed to have made, I would ask them directly and not just blindly take the word of who ever passed on the tidbit of information.

In fact, recently there was an occasion where I let my own gut feeling be over ridden by the mob mentality.

It stemmed from the fact that I’m heading off on a short break overseas in a week or so with a friend.

Not a huge deal really, until the “girls” found out my friend is male. All of a sudden conclusions are jumped too and assumptions made about my friendship with this guy, with the girls thinking this is some romantic holiday.

My male friends on the other hand never made any such assumptions (I know, I asked them when the reaction of my female friends took me by surprise).

So I guess my post has two points.

1. Don’t meddle in another persons relationship or run and tell tales or make up stories about something you know nothing about, and

2. Don’t jump to conclusions about friendships when they are male/female, it might not be what you think.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/trials-and-errors-on-potholed-pokies-path/story-e6frezz0-1226250740991

THERE is little doubt that Australia has a gambling problem and in particular, a poker machine gambling problem.

• No, People have a gambling problem, the country is incapable of having a gambling problem.

The worst of the problem exists in NSW and there is a side to this story receiving very little attention.

• When you make a statment like this you need to be able to back it up, where is the evidence, quotation, footnote?

The Wyong Shire local government area in my electorate on the Central Coast has the fourth highest number of poker machines in the state.

• it’s possible, I haven’t counted but someone may need to validate this point.

In 2010, $80 million was lost by Wyong residents on pokies.

We are talking about an area where the average income in 2009 was $39,694.

Nearly a third of the area’s wage and salary earners are paid less than $20,800 per annum. This is incredibly disproportionate and clearly something needs to be done.

• Yes, it could very well be true that something needs to be done, but how is a “law” going to curtail this behaviour?
• According to other recent media reports gambling is an addiction and more than likely will be added to the DSM, so if you want to legistate for one addiction why not create legislation to outlaw them all, and all mental health issues while you are at it. It certainly wont make the problem go away, people need to take responsibility for themselves.

The clubs of course claim they are supporting the community. They have placed huge billboards up claiming their sporting grants and the like will be “cut”.

But less than 2 per cent of their poker machine takings go back to the community.

• How much is taxed by the government?
• We’ve had this conversation before, the government places higher tax rates on clubs purely because they have poker machines, so if you are looking for someone to blame for this i suggest you look at your own party.

The reality is that every day in Wyong, more money is being put through poker machines than clubs contribute in a year to the community.

• What source provided this information?
• Please validate your statement with evidence

So despite the clubs’ spin, everyone knows there is a problem with gambling.

However, as in my area, clubs do much more than provide community grants.

They are important parts of the community and their viability is a legitimate concern. The issue however has always been how do we deal with this problem.

During the past year there have been two proposals on the table; one from the clubs and the Andrew Wilkie plan.

Both plans have quite a bit in common; they both acknowledge there is an issue with problem gamblers and they both believe that individual gamblers setting themselves a limit will assist.

• Now you say problem gamblers? This peice started off stating the country had a gambling problem.
• Keep it consistent.

The essential difference in the approach is whether that commitment is mandatory or whether it is voluntary.

It is also interesting that both Mr Wilkie and the clubs claim that the alternate proposition won’t work.

Both sides of this argument can quote research to support their claims but it appears there is no definitive research either way.

The Prime Minister’s decision at the weekend was a victory for common sense.

It was timely and important.

The PM provided judgment and skill to course a path that is sensible and logical.

It is something that I and many NSW Labor MPs have been calling for – a comprehensive trial so that ultimately any legislation that comes before parliament is backed by scientific research.

• Ok and this is where you show you are a hypocrite.
• Last year you attended a rally against the licence to gamble and got into a heated argument with the rally spokeswoman.
• What happened in between then and now to change your mind when you fought so valiantly for this scheme?
• I dare say it wasn’t your idea at all but your consistuents who’se views you are paid to represent.

Given the lack of evidence for a “silver bullet” for this issue, this is a commonsense approach. To do otherwise would have flown in the face of proper policy making.

Craig Thomson is the federal Labor MHR for Dobell

The one that caught my eye today started with “If you are questioning your relationship….as to whether it is good or not….”

This one got me wondering because I would think if you actually needed to question it wouldn’t it mean it wasn’t good?

Why would you question it in the first place?

Do guys “question relationships?”

Can’t we just have a relationship without all the associated emotional crap that goes along with it? Are womens magazines responsbile for drilling into our minds the actual need to question things?

So may questions, perhaps some men out there can provide their own thoughts.

2. Rushing the set – 10 reps in 2 seconds WILL NOT have any impact on muscle adaption – rushing a set means you are actually using momentum to perform the exercise and not the actual muscle, you need to actually use the muscle it self to perform the exercise to get any benefit out of it. If in doubt see point 1 above.

3. Women picking up a 1kg weight and doing a million reps with the damn thing – ladies this does absolutely NOTHING. You need to lift, heavy.

There is no chance you will end up looking like the Rock unless you have any testosterone in your system. So stop being a pansy and pick up a decent sized weight.

Time poor?

What the hell is time poor?

I do understand that life can be busy, BUT we can choose to say no, have you ever tried it?

Women in general have a hard time saying no to people and things (something men in general don’t have trouble with).

We often feel the need to over explain things, “Sorry I can’t tonight I have blah blah blah…” whatever the excuse it.

Well excuse me but a simple NO will suffice, without an explanation.

I schedule work out time in my diary every day.

I start work at 7am and I am out the door at 330pm.

I have trained everyone at work that I leave at this time every day because I go to training (I do triathlon).

I don’t accept meeting invites that take me past this time, if a meeting runs over time (which can happen) I leave at the appointed time (this is in line with the “no agenda, I won’t attend rule”)

So I don’t wear your time poor excuse, it just shows you have no time management and can’t say no, and are prone to over committing yourself.

We’ve known each other since we were kids and have maintained that friendship through marriages (mine), and too many girlfriends to count (his).

But now I find myself in uncharted territory, or rather a place I have not been in a long time.

Since I separated from my husband Joe and I have been hanging out a lot more than usual.

Just doing things we used to do, watching movies, going out for drinks, nothing exciting.

Joe and I have never had sex in the 30 years we’ve known each other and I see no reason to start now.

The problem is Joe’s new girlfriend.

When I had a ring on finger I was never a problem, without a ring however I have now become the enemy.

I’m still the same person I was before the ring was removed, I have no idea why the change in attitude.

Perhaps she sees me as a threat, perhaps she is jealous that we’ve been friends for so long, and can hang out watch movies and just be comfortable with each other.

I tried to be friends with her in the beginning, for his sake, but now I know she gives him the third degree about me.

I’m glad I don’t engage in this behaviour (probably explains why i don’t have many female friends) but seriously, this guy is my friend, I have known him more than half my life.

The golden rule is NEVER EVER fuck your friends and if it hasn’t happened in the 30 years it wont now.

Get over it chick, just pretend like I’m another guy friend of his.

I don’t have time for the emotional girl crap you heap on this relationship.

The uproar of late was that it emerged he purchased the drugs then went to a massage palour and bragged about it.

Now he needs to prove he is a drug addict to be released into his parents custody.

So, having travelled extenseively to countries that have the death penalty for drugs I decided to ask my 11 year old son what he thought of the story.

His response?

“What sort of idiot goes out and buys drugs in Indonesia?”

So if my 11 year old knows the consequences because I took the time to talk to him about it, surely a 14 year old is capable of doing the same.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/gillard-calls-bali-boy-to-offer-personal-support-in-drug-charge-fight-20111010-1lges.html

It’s not like there hasn’t been enough press coverage in regards to drugs and Indonesia, so unless you have been living under a rock there is no way you can say you never knew about the Indonesian policy on drugs.

And still people will think they are invincable and wont get caught and try to get away with it.
Then cry when they get caught.

They are not sorry they did they are sorry for themselves that they got caught.

People really need to think through what the consquences of their actions will be especially when the laws are known.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/rudd-in-bid-to-free-boy-14-after-bali-drugs-arrest-20111007-1lc77.html

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/still-losing-battle-of-the-bulge-but-were-telling-fewer-porkies-20111006-1lbs5.html