In case you've been living under a rock, you might have heard some of the fuss over the Australian government trying to censor our internet access.. This is wrong on so many levels, and we're being ridiculed worldwide because of it :(

I'll update this page as more information becomes available, but in the meantime the following links should give you an idea of whats happening. Feel free to suggest related links in the comments :)

Protests ! (13th of December 2008)

• Brisbane : 11am to 3pm @ Brisbane Square (more info)
• Melbourne : 12pm to 5pm @ State Library (more info)
• Adelaide : 12pm to 4pm @ Parliament (more info)
• Sydney : 11am to 4pm @ Town Hall (more info)
• Hobart : 11am to 1:30pm @ Parliament House (more info)

Online Discussions:

• No Clean Feed Forum (nocleanfeedforum.com)
• Internode refuses to participate in "Trial" (whirlpool.net.au)
• NoCleanFeed - Stop internet censorship in Australia
• Somebody think of the children - Censorship discussion

News Articles:

• iiNet director agrees to "Ridiculous" filtering trial (smh.com.au)
• Irene Graham: Secret, unaccountable, censorship is incompatible with democracy. (getup.org.au)
• Filtering out the fury: how government tried to gag web censor critics (smh.com.au)

Mainstream Media Discussions:

• Senator Conroy dodging questions in Parliament (Transcript)
• Audio Interview with Internode Rep Mark Newton (techwiredau.com)
• MMM's Spoonman discusses the filtering plan (Transcript)

Official Government releases:

• Technical Testing Framework pdf (dbcde.gov.au)

• Petition against mandatory censorship (wakinggiant.org)
• Stop Australian Internet Censorship (takingitglobal.org)
• Stop Internet Censorship in Australia (gopetition.com)

Facebook Groups:

• I DO NOT support Australia implementing MANDATORY internet filtering! (facebook.com)
• Australians Against Internet Censorship

Ever wondered what it would be like to be homeless? Passed someone crying on the street, with everything they own in a bag and nowhere to go, and wondered how things got that bad for them? Or were you one of the many that completely ignored these people, mentally filtering them out ?

There's a program being organised right now called "Step into my shoes" that happens at the end of this week (18th-19th of Oct) that will give a group of young people an eye-opening (hopefully) once in a lifetime experience. Participants will experience a range of activities common among the Brisbane streeties, like selling the Big Issue, visiting shelters & drop in centers, bin diving and sleeping out in the Botanical gardens.

The purpose of the program is to raise awareness, but also to create an experience to never be forgotten. The objective is to get some sort of response from the students whether it be an appreciation for their family and material possessions, an understanding for the importance of education, or an understanding/tolerance of diversity.

I cant support this cause enough. Most people are ignorant of the real issues affecting homeless people on the streets in their own town, and seem to think that its simply a case of people not caring enough to "go find a job" or that its related to drug abuse. The problem is sooo much bigger than that. Homelessness is NOT just "houselessness". It can happen to anyone, and until you've had the experience you shouldn't judge others down on their luck.

The program is being organised with the support of many awesome groups that have helped myself and a lot of my mates through hard times, including: Salvation army, Red Cross, 139 Club, Brisbane Youth Service, Big Issue and the Qld police. This will be the first run for the program, it will be documented as it comes together, to be exhibited in early December. If it gets enough support they will hopefully get a grant to make this an ongoing annual event.

I'm begging anyone with any sort of media influence to get behind this event, I'll be doing everything I can to help these people including hopefully organising some speakers who've been living like this for years..

If you'd like to participate, register your interest by firing off an email to stepintomyshoes_crew@hotmail.com. Last I heard they had enough people interested, but do it anyway in case people drop out at the last moment and need replacing. Also, the more interest is expressed in this trial run, the more chance that the organizers will get a grant to make it an annual event.

Also, while I'm on the topic, I think people should read this thread on homeless.org.au by an awesome girl I've met a few times over the years. Its a few years old, but its a good insight into what a young person on the streets goes through, conveyed well before she became jaded by her experiences. I wish I knew what happened to this girl, she just seemed to dissapear :(

Wanna help spread the word? Digg this post

I've also brought SmashcraB.org back to life (again), this time as a blog concentrating on my more 'underground' interests and hobbies..

To start off with im working on a complete directory of Masonic Lodges in Qld. I could use some help filling out the directory, so if anybody has noticed any lodges around their area let me know via the comments there, or anonymously via the sites contact form.

Or, if you dont wanna help research, help me find people that DO by digging the story. Cheers!

I've got no good news to share, but its been too long since I posted..
So heres a bunch of little scribbles i"ve done, mashed up into a single rap..
I dont actually like how it flows in my head at all, and it needs more work before I was gonna show it to anyone, but I dunno if I'll ever finish it so here goes..

Brisbane Streets: (unordered, unfinished and emo)

I know I cant ryhme, this wont flow when I spit,
But I dont give a shit, cos these words are legit..

Got no cash, buds or clothes,
A loose tap in my nose,
cos thats how I roll,
now times taken its toll..

Don't judge me yet, theres heaps more to see,
I may not have much but at least im free..
I spend my days hustling, for food and for fun.
Making some cash, but then have to run..

I know that im stubborn, defensive and wierd,
And I look like your mum with this scraggly beard,
But im trying real hard to improve myself,
In a way so much deeper than material wealth.

It just shits me so much that I saw all this comin,
Trying so hard but I still end up bummin,
Just wanna relax, but I need to keep running..
Cant fuck up this job, or they'll all come gunning.

Lifes hard enough, but add assholes and jerks
Who dont understand that theres more then just work.
theres more to a person than how much they own,
What car they drive, and the size of their phone..

While your off buying crap with the platinum card,
Stuff you dont need, just to prove that your hard,
You really lost track of what matters the most,
and sold out your soul, for a piece of McToast..

But its not even hoarders that shit me the most,
Nor sheep, goths and emo's, or assholes that boast.
Its the emotional vultures that feed on my pain,
The strain of this game has corrupted their brain,
cruel jabs, cuts and headfucks, my torture was fun,
so they'll be the first, when I get my gun..

Drifting again,
lonely but free
I only wish,
you people could see..

Swap heads for a day, you try to be me
how long will you last, just living for free..
It changes you man, not having those keys,
Never forget we're just fucked up monkeys
Drop back down a notch, remember your needs,
and THEN try and say that nobody needs weed.

Gotta wrap this up because im rambling now,
I could carry on like this for hours and hours,
just the feelings I get when I drift on this train
Cant do this for long, im going insane..