Pubs: where more than just booze flows.

Society is a cacophony of metaphorical fountains. Whichever one we drink from can help to guide us through our often bewildering everyday lives, and in all manner of ways. being highly social (in a physical and/or commercial sense) is a fountain for keeping fit and maintaining contact with the important folk in our lives. Alternatively, working from home (whatever one's vocation) is often an ideal way to unwind, especially for the more introverted who call themselves humans. Whatever rocks your pad.

Now, me, being something of an ambivert, I'm known to drink from both of those "fountains" at various times, but another fountain which, for better or worse, I often embrace which is closely related to the second form (and no pun intended here) is the pub. That being said, I certainly don't mean here to sanitize or glorify the downsides of pub culture but rather to emphasize the "fountain" any pub can be AND the positive occurrences that can subsequently spawn despite the cons of pub culture like alcoholism, problem gambling and alcohol-related violence.

Firstly, a watering hole can be a fountain for prolonged creativity. How many legendary artists (from whatever field and known for whatever creative tones) must have crafted their greatest works while seated in a pub making their livers and bladders work overtime? I'd say thousands of them. For just one example, Mozart relentlessly frequented the pubs and coffeehouses of Vienna to open the creative floodgates (and to socialize), but here I must digress: drinking is just one fountain for creative thinking, with many much healthier ones being equally creatively inspiring.

Secondly, a pub can be a fountain for revolution. This word frequently has a dark connotation, due to the violence underpinning many uprisings, but like drinking culture, revolutionary action has as many pros as cons, both now and historically. Here a few modern examples of the connection between the drinking culture and rocking the establishment. Firstly, the famous worldwide student protests of 1968 saw disillusioned, angry young people from all backgrounds well and truly stick it to the man (on various issues), and with drinking a key part of youth culture then and now, it's fair to say many said students decided to rise up while they were drinking up. Secondly, the Beatles (who of course addressed the events of '68 in their classic Revolution) took their first steps to legendary status playing in Liverpudlian pubs, and then irrevocably changed not only pop culture but politics, too. Thirdly, Ronald Reagan once said, "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." To me, all great change ANYWHERE begins at ANY fountain for socialization, like a pub or a dinner table. Why? Because socialization naturally means conversation - the fountain for all plans and ideas we concoct with others.

To close, again, glorifying drinking or sanitizing its cons is hardly my intention here. I mean only to give due credit to the humble watering hole as a fountain for creative and political inspiration - the effects of which can taste just as pleasant as what most of us go to pubs for.

P.S. This piece pressed itself on me by a visit to Melbourne's glorious Young and Jackson Hotel, but was written (ironically) at my friends' house.

The REAL degree uni's given me.

In '06 I kicked off my Bachelor of Arts degree at CQUniversity, graduating in '09. Soon I'll graduate again with Honours, but bragging is not my intention here. This will be the end of my studies and then time to at last face the daunting prospect of trying to achieve my long-term goal of being a successful writer. Being at a crossroads once again, naturally my current mood is a reflective, pondering one, and thus I have decided to convey this in a reflective piece. Before I delve any deeper, I acknowledge in advance this will likely be quite sentimental and clichéd but only because I feel honesty is necessary in such pieces.

I started my studies straight after high school. High school is often viewed as the stage in life in which that lovely period known as coming of age occurs, however, for me at least it was merely the life stage in which that period began. At the start of my course I certainly knew I would learn a great deal about what I had chosen to study (Film Studies and Cult. and Lit. Studies mainly) but little did I know that was merely a small portion of the immeasurable amount uni would teach me, but I'll discuss that more comprehensively in a minute. Uni and high school were/are both as impactful on me personally but ultimately in quite different ways, as high school worked to prepare me for the adult world to which university belongs, but uni has proven more impactful and influential towards my values and interests, while still influencing my personality in several ways.

My time at uni has broadened my horizons profoundly, and for that I can only thank all the truly amazing people it has introduced me to in whatever form; they are just too many to name. Firstly, I am a lot more politically aware and motivated thanks to several said people, and also many of the courses I undertook, than I was when I commenced my studies. Secondly this, as well as interactions with several overseas students at CQU I feel has enhanced my understanding of and appreciation for others' cultures. Thirdly, my studies at CQU have given me exposure to so many incredible films and books that have deeply influenced me personally and/or creatively. Finally, I seriously never had one lecturer or course co-ordinator who I disliked as a person - I even had one who (and so as to not upset others he will remain nameless) is a fucking talented and passionate rock musician! I recall in an interview in 2007 Andrew Denton asking Bob Hawke what advice he'd give to a young university graduate in my current position, with Bob replying that they must always remember education is a lifelong thing. With all the experience I have gained during my time at university, I truly believe that.

I'd be lying through my teeth if I said my uni experience has been perfect - my grades were usually adequate at best, it has made me more cynical and sarcastic than I used to be and it's even made me quite disillusioned at times. I had a bit of a reputation as the class clown (though let's be honest, that's a pro or a con depending on who you ask) also, which I was very rarely known as in school. Plus, having to watch many of my friends go out and see the world (though they all certainly deserve that) while I slaved away at one assessment piece after another and endured boring text books, lectures and tutorials took quite some getting used to. But I'm sure my time for getting the utmost out of life will come, and ultimately despite those cons (and hey, cons are sadly experienced all throughout life) for me uni has been more than worth it, as it has taught me a huge amount about my areas of study but a huge amount more about myself and our world, I've made what I'm sure will be many lifelong friends, and it, they and all my family and other friends have all given me the ability, encouragement and drive if not to succeed in my goals, then to at least truly do everything in my power to leave my own mark on this world. Thank you so much, each and every one of you, and if everything that follows doesn't compare, I guess that'll just have showed how truly great it was. Peace!