Andrew James Whalan

Decriminalising Asylum Seekers

On a regular basis asylum seekers are referred to as illegal. This week a link was drawn between asylum seekers, crime and paedophilia. What is missing from this debate is a means of decriminalising asylum seekers: * After release, asylum seekers would have to wear an electronic tracking tag and report daily to a police […]

Andrew Whalan

March 1, 2013

Politics

Asylum Seekers, Australia, Dog Whistle, Immigration, Manus Island, Politics, Refugee, Scott Morrison, Tony Abbott

We Cannot Live Together Any More (To My Burglar)

I was burgled this week. After some thought, I’ve decided that the burglar and I cannot live together any more no way never ever. Small change was borrowed and not returned. We haven’t been able to talk about this yet. And a can opener and some men’s toiletries have disappeared. And I’m sensing a growing […]

Andrew Whalan

March 1, 2013

Personal

Burglary, Business, Can opener, Cordless telephone, Food, Home and Garden, Humour, Living Together, Relationships, Seed, shopping

My Funny Valentines Day

Yesterday at work the conversation turned to Valentine’s Day. And I discovered all my workmates are attached and all planning something special for Valentine’s Day. Which to all you lovers out there is wonderful! But I wonder if anyone had a Valentine’s Day quite like mine. It did start well. Breakfast (High Tea actually) at a […]

Andrew Whalan

February 14, 2013

Humour, Personal

Humour, Valentine, Valentine Day

Dining With Strangers (Eat With Me Melbourne)

It’s not speed dating! And it’s not dinner for five! It’s Eat With Me’s Dining With Strangers! For a small cost, I received one drink, two meal courses and way more than three introductions. All at The Sharing House South Wharf Melbourne. As it turned out, I almost turned up sopping wet. But I made […]

Andrew Whalan

February 13, 2013

Personal, Social Media

British Columbia, Cooking, Dining With Strangers, Home, Lego, Melbourne, Mousse, Vancouver, Victoria

Rumi’s Puzzle of Love

Though long deceased, the Persian poet Rumi regularly sends me quotes on Facebook. Last week’s quote was “To find the Beloved, you must become the Beloved.” I was puzzled. And I tried to analyse it. And became more puzzled. So this time took my advice to others: when puzzled, describe don’t explain! So while I’m […]

Andrew Whalan

January 29, 2013

Love, Personal

Arts, Facebook, Literature, Persian literature, persian poets, poet rumi, Poetry, Romance, Rumi

A Learning Conversation

It was a long bus trip from the city to the suburbs. It was made worse by the conversation I couldn’t avoid. The two girls sitting in front of me were going through a laundry list of possessions. Each one seemed to be trying to out do the other. It reminded me of Clarisse in […]

Andrew Whalan

January 28, 2013

Personal

Adult Learning, Conversation, Education, Friendship, Learning, Listening

Social Media Simplified

Imagine you’re invited to a party. You check the date, time and place. You get ready and turn up. You expect to be the centre of attention. But when you arrive, the party is happening and has been going forever. Everybody is talking at once. Everybody seems to know everyone else. People will stop talking, […]

Andrew Whalan

January 24, 2013

Personal, Social Media

Business, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Social media, Social network, social-media, Twitter

The Conversation (Networking)

So what happens after the introduction? If the introduction is followed by an exchange of business cards then almost certainly it is a waste of time. I find myself very reluctant to exchange cards and will avoid it if possible. After a few introductions like that I probably will leave. My parting thought would be […]

Andrew Whalan

January 23, 2013

Leadership, Social Media

Ask an Expert, Business, Business card, Business networking, Open problem, Question

What’s Next?

What’s next? After watching one season of the West Wing, it is President Bartlet‘s catchphrase. And this is why is should be mine. After two months of being unemployed I’m back at work. Funnily enough it is a similar role to what I was doing last year! But with more potential! Which begs the question? […]

Andrew Whalan

January 21, 2013

Personal

Bartlet, Josiah Bartlet, West Wing, Whats Next

The Gratitude Principle

Gratitude is what I take away from this. Beautifully said. But not by me. I borrowed (and acknowledged) the phrase in an email to my ex-employer after being retrenched. Was I grateful? Not all the time. At first I was grateful but as the weeks passed I found it became more difficult. I did receive […]

Andrew Whalan

January 20, 2013

Leadership, Personal

Gratitude, Gratitude journal, Relationships