Hot topic - shots in the dark

So, I might shoot off my mouth.

I might make sweeping, generalised statements about things I don't really have much understanding of or issues I know little about. I might even get all self-righteous and pissy if I'm verbally shot down. Like anyone, this doesn't make me feel good. In fact, it might even get my temper up.

But I don't get in a car and go shooting up the houses of my detractors.

Since the beginning of this year, there have been 10 separate incidents of drive by shootings in my fair city. Couple that with the 3 dozen odd shootings in the previous 6 months and it adds up. Thankfully, in most of these cases, no one was injured. Having said this, it also appears that in most cases, the only people in the houses at the time were women and children.

Yes, you heard right - women and children. And you know, if this continues, soon enough an innocent woman or child will be injured or killed.

Statistically speaking, the amount of shootings is miniscule compared to some other countries. But in Australia, this is huge. To make matters worse, the police are being hamstrung by tight-lipped communites who are rightly afraid of retribution from the same douches responsible in the first place.

These lowlifes are nothing but cowards. They might think they're big men for carrying a gun and for shooting up a house or a car. But in reality, they're little pussies hiding behind a community fear of gang retribution. For their unbelievably callous behaviour, they're awarded the second Lowlife Pondscum award for 2012.

Manly Reads - Got Fight by Forrest Griffin

I'm reading a great book at the moment. Its called 'Got Fight' and is written by Forrest Griffin. Most of you probably don't know who this bloke is but for anyone who follows MMA, you'd be well aware of Forrest.

Now I know there are some of you reading this and thinking "oh, must be a book about fighting". Well, it is, kind of. But it's more about being a man and taking responsibility for yourself and your actions. It is about having confidence, not being a cocky arsehole or a pussy and learning to trust yourself. And there is also stuff about fighting.

Forrest writes with self-deprecating humour and fills the book with anecdotes from his life lived large. It has many laugh-out-loud moments but between all the guffaws there is actually some really great advice about being a man and getting away from all the habits and rituals which make us less so.

This is not a literary piece, nor is it for the ladies (although I know a few would probably benefit from reading it). And it is definitely not a self-help manual. In fact, if anything, it is an anti self-help manual (he has numerous rants about how he thinks self-help manuals are a crock of crap and the only person who benefits from them are those making money off them). The irony, not lost on him one little bit, is this makes it nearly a perfect self-help manual. But don't tell Forrest, okay?

Good Manners

So, yesterday, in a local rag usually not worth wrapping dog shit in, there was actually something worth reading. Without boring you fucking stupid, the article talked about how manners, particularly gentlemanly behaviour, has all but disappeared in Australia.

The writer is a pregnant woman who recently caught a bus or a train and had to stand up for the journey because no one would offer up their seat. What made this even sadder were some of the comments made by some scumbags.

The tone of these comments was pretty much 'you fucking women wanted liberation, well here it is' or 'you got yourself pregnant so deal with it'. I might be a clueless dickwad but I know what good manners are and how to treat people with respect.

If I was any sort of real fucking man, I'd seek out those who made these comments, break their fucking leg so they're on crutches then put them on a crowded train to fucksville during peak hour and make them stand up all the fucking way. It is as much as they deserve.

These douche bags get my very first Lowlife Pondscum award for 2012.