News

Search news stories

Enter a keyword to search news.

Non-alcoholic drinks for the silly season

As a non-drinker, it’s nice to have alternative party drinks that are a bit more exciting than the usual soft drink options. These drinks also provide an enticing alternative for alcohol drinkers who are usually bored by the non-alcoholic options. You might want to consider some of the following if you’re hosting people over the holidays.

[Read more about Non-alcoholic drinks for the silly season]

Defeating writing distractions

PhD students have quite a bit more flexibility in their working day. Sometimes, too much flexibility. What makes it worse is that there are so many sources of distraction around me. I easily use it as an excuse to delay writing my thesis chapters. There’s making sure I am on top of current events and can spend an hour just reading the morning news. Then there’s finding out what people are saying about the news so I can possibly spend another hour on Twitter. Then there is reading journal articles in my field, answering emails, grabbing a coffee with other PhD students, checking and rearranging my calendar, and so on and so forth. By the end of it all, I would have wasted several hours and not have really written a single word.

[Read more about Defeating writing distractions]

A rant about stealing Santa

If you’re not aware, ‘Stealing Santa’ is a version of kris kringle gifting, where you buy a present (it could be for a particular person or not), and then people have the option of stealing / swapping another person’s present for their own. I was first introduced to the concept by The Office (US version), where a thoughtfully gifted teapot almost doesn’t end up in the right hands and everyone else fights over an iPod.

[Read more about A rant about stealing Santa]

My 200th post

I was wondering just how many blog posts I’ve written. I’ve done the math a few times now, and it turns out that this is my 200th post.

[Read more about My 200th post]

Christmas: you either love it or you hate it

In my experience, Christmas (if you celebrate it) is one of those things that you either love or you hate. Personally, I love it. I’m deeply passionate about all things Christmas: the food, the movies, the decorations (consumerism wins again), and the time spent with friends and family. It’s something that I look forward to every year, and when it’s over, I fall into a brief state of depression. That’s how much I love Christmas.

[Read more about Christmas: you either love it or you hate it]

A blocked ear

This might not seem like that big of a deal (it’s really not), but my right ear is currently blocked. I’m assuming it is blocked by a build-up of wax (yum, I know), and that with the help of some ear drops I should be back to full function hearing very soon.

[Read more about A blocked ear]

I always get hungry at 11am

My morning is going well. I’m a couple of hours into whatever I am doing, and I am getting stuff done. I should be able to fit in another couple of hours of study or work before I have a lunch break. Then a wave of hunger hits me.I’m suddenly starving and wishing it was lunchtime already. I’m daydreaming dizzily about getting a plate of hot noodles. It’s becoming difficult to focus on my work. I might have to give in and eat my packed lunch early.

[Read more about I always get hungry at 11am]

Story of an entire life

My grandfather (Pa) died three years ago, and his memoirs were recently published for his family and friends to read. 

[Read more about Story of an entire life]

Don't forget to have a break

I often don’t get to actually have a break in the holidays. This is because I fill up all my time doing little things that don’t really feel like a break at all.

[Read more about Don't forget to have a break]

In praise of: The Amazing Race Australia

I love Channel 10’s The Amazing Race Australia. It airs twice a week, on Monday and Tuesday nights, and is must see TV for me.

[Read more about In praise of: The Amazing Race Australia]

RSS News Feed