13 July 2008

The Return of the King... or, a dog to vomit.

| johnboy
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Greetings one and all with the news that I am once again a Canberran. My Yowie plates are affixed and my radio is tuned to local frequencies.

RiotACT is going to have a go at having a paid full time editor and the team were nice enough to offer me the job.

For those of you who are new to the site, and haven’t met me before, my name is John Griffiths and I ran RiotACT in my spare time from November 2000 to May 2007.

I’ve been living for the last year in Gerroa, a town of about 300 people overlooking Seven Mile Beach and working a variety of journalism and PR gigs. But you can’t run the Riot by remote control so here I am again.

I’m very keen to get submissions from people looking to write regular features and really want to get any interesting/funny photographs of things you might bump into out and about. Email them to john@the-riotact.com . Or join the RiotACT facebook group (in the Australia network) to say hello.

Other than that if you like the site with the amenity of a full time editor then I suggest you get recommending us to potential advertisers. That or make use of the “donate” button on the right hand side of the page (down a bit).

That’s all for now, there will be some minor changes over the coming weeks but we can address them as we go. The plan is to have more original writing and reporting, and a bit more polish, without disrupting any of you too much.

I’d say it’s nice to be back, but that’s freaking SNOW on them hills. Brrrrrrrr.

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JB, has returned!! That’s enough to make me post for the first time in months!!

So glad to hear that you’re back mate. Should brighten things up here no end.

OK, Ant, that’s taking things too far.

I know I’m stepping into the middle of things that have been running a while but we’re going to stop the personal attacks.

Final warning.

I have never posted on Riotact under any other name than the one I am using.

Shows that slinging some mud sure works with the feeble-minded, however.

So, Maelinar, when did you stop beating your wife?

I’m not sure I understand your statement farq.

What do you mean, Maelinar?

I predict a flurry of new posting names, the posters unaccountably having a deep knowledge of riotact posters and mysterious sets against some of them… – a committment to sticking to the one name by the biggest transgressor in the wind ?

Growling Ferret said :

Is JB also Angela Shanahan?

Jeepers, I hope not. Did you see her on Q and A tonight? What a weird, inarticulate loony. Marr had her for breakfast. She was such a waste of airtime.

Growling Ferret4:06 pm 16 Jul 08

Jb’s back and Ralph is back – who would have thought 😉

Is JB also Angela Shanahan?

I predict a flurry of new posting names, the posters unaccountably having a deep knowledge of riotact posters and mysterious sets against some of them…

Agitator, I always wondered what came after “Veteran”.

Welcome back – and I, at least, appreciated the PJK reference.

Well. I haven’t tried their espresso BUT Melita (next to the Tourist) does really good flat whites, cappuccinos and Lattes (I’ve never had a latte but those who like them reckon Melita’s are good). Good honest coffee with good body AND you get a little chocky with each one. The flat whites stand up with the best I’ve had in Canberra (except the stunner I had from 2 kids at a trestle table at the bus depot markets over a year ago, I still dream of that).

As for chicken schnitzels, anywhere that sells food in Qbn does these, I’ve discovered. But the one at Walshes is amazing. It’s evidently a whole chicken, with the bones pulled out, and then hammered flat. it takes up the entire plate! They put the chips underneath (it’s Qbn, you must have chips) as they won’t fit otherwise. No grease either.

ant said :

And you can get decent coffee in Queanbeyan, I’ve found some. The place is full of meditteranean peoples, of course there’s good coffee. And LOTS of chicken schnitzels.

So c’mon Ant.

Gimme a story on where to find the great Queanbeyan coffee?

Deadmandrinking said :

Aewosme

Heh.

So, we’ll see improvements, like quotes being attributed to the quotee, private messaging enabled, and LOTS more posts about where to find the good stuff in teh Canberra region.

[Ed. (Jazz) thats the stuff that i will now get to focus on a bit more now that JB will be taking care of all the editorial duties]

And you can get decent coffee in Queanbeyan, I’ve found some. The place is full of meditteranean peoples, of course there’s good coffee. And LOTS of chicken schnitzels.

*yawn*

Great to have you back – see you around.

Riotact already looks better.

welcome back johnboy!

tylersmayhem4:51 pm 14 Jul 08

Hi John – as for potential advertisers, I’d probably NOT approach The Burns Club,
The Southern Cross Club or Bellucci’s. Probably best to steer clear of Marist and Daramalan too 😉

Deadmandrinking4:45 pm 14 Jul 08

I agree Skid, it’s a huge local issue. I was kind of mocking how every post on Marist gets criticized nowadays by people who absolutely have to read every post.

Not mocking the Crimes is like avoiding Olympics coverage.
Impossible.

But if Jb wants to go along with some degree of coverage (that isn’t rambling insanityposts) on Marist I don’t mind.
But, as I think I started something that converted some of the Marist-story readers into posters (with this post), Jb probably has a good case to hate me.

Deadmandrinking4:41 pm 14 Jul 08

Aewosme

You guys tend to generate that yourself,

I will be cleaning up grotty hyperlinks and obvious typos in that content though (pray for me).

And delivering you so much editorial goodness that you’ll just waft over the rest.

Deadmandrinking4:32 pm 14 Jul 08

Will you still be delivering us restaurant reviews, hamburger reviews, neighbor b*tches and 24/7 hour coverage of Marist?

gingermick said :

What are your parole conditions?

I promised myself I’d mock the Canberra Times less, does that count?

AND THEN THEY GO AND RUN MS UNIVERSE IN LOCAL NEWS AND HOW IS A MAN SUPPOSED TO RESIST THAT????

To say nothing of Ms Cutrupi’s swan.

(sigh)

What are your parole conditions?

Johnboy Who? 😀

Welcome back bruz!

Jazz – I’ve done little more than keep the seat warm *ahem* rolled out RA 3.0 *ahem*

Snahons_scv6_berlina1:10 pm 14 Jul 08

Working overtime today JB??? Tis good to see you back !!

Skidbladnir said :

So Jb, does this mean The Concatenate is dead?

Nope, it’ll still be there for more wide-ranging debate.

Good to have you back – and some decent posting. It’s been shiite while you’ve been away.

“JB being back on deck means…a closer eye on stuff that gets submitted. “

Does this spell the end of “where can I get a good coffee/house painter/massage-with-happy-ending”- type posts? Nooo!!!!

WElcome back JB. Will be good to get someone out and about collecting local content.

johnboy is back at the same time the pope arrives in sydney… coincidence? his pontificateness returns and the riot will never be the same…

Skidbladnir said :

Do we now email you story ideas, or just submit them through the site, and let you polish our turds?

Skid, Its business as usual in terms of sumbitting things that interest you. JB being back on deck means that we’ve got someone to produce more content of our own, and keep a closer eye on stuff that gets submitted. I’ve done little more than keep the seat warm

Holden Caulfield10:58 am 14 Jul 08

I’ve heard about you.

So Jb, does this mean The Concatenate is dead?

Do we now email you story ideas, or just submit them through the site, and let you polish our turds?

Total coincidence.

The last act of the team before I crawled into the hot-seat.

Growling Ferret10:40 am 14 Jul 08

Is it just a coincidence that JB is back, and Riotact has some quality local adult ‘entertainment’ featured on the site?

Anything to get the readership up…..

Hooray!! great to have you back johnboy! you’ve been missed.

Somedays we all need some balls BN.

Woo-hoo. It would be good to here that Canberra was being shut down and all its functions transferred to Sydney, but if that can’t happen having you back to expose its follies is a good consolation prize.

Hooray. There is a god.

Sorry but ABN is balls JB.

As mentioned above I will be in ABN for pizza and pint from 7pm tomorrow night.

So when is the Welcome Back\Getting to know the Editor\Beer for Byline night, johnboy?

Nothing so exciting.

It’s all about the money.

I guess the statute of limitations has expired then?

Welcome back, JB.

Ahhhhh…JB. Welcome back! Hasn’t been the same without you.

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy8:59 am 14 Jul 08

Welcome back… there’s much for you to do.

barking toad8:39 am 14 Jul 08

An overdue return.

And due to your absence and therefore forgotten local knowledge, we’ll look forward to your first post.

Along the lines of “does anyone know where can I buy a cup of coffee?” 🙂

Welcome back JB… Good to have you back

Um, *back* even.

Long time reader (though I’ve only registered in the past year or so). It’s great to see you hack.

John Boy II will now pontificate that we are all arseholes to be screwed.

Sounds good JB. Welcome back.

Can you make that an event, with the date & time listed on this post? I’d like to come and meet some of you guys, especially since I missed today’s southsider meeting due to a severe hangover.

It’d be good to meet you all finally, especially since I’m leaving Canberra and Australia, possibly never to return…

Pesty said :

No idea who the hell you are, but you seem pretty popular! So i guess, welcome back! And, yes! there is snow on them there hills, I just got back from Thredbo, and if you had a camera (not to mention a microphone)Me & the Mrs tackling the ruddy snowchain fitting on the side of the road with no previous knowledge would have provided all the humour you needed to get you going again!

Johnboy, there’s a lot of ground to make up, just to rejoin the peloton. Welcome home.

Mælinar said :

A pissup is in order.

Well I’ll be an All Bar for pizza and pint night on Tuesday if anyone wants to drop by and say hello.

A pissup followed by a punchup Mael?

Cameron said :

Welcome back. Here’s hoping the ad revenue is steady enough to keep you on 😉

Here’s hoping.

But there are publications out there’s with not a tenth of our readership which manage to support a dozen staff.

Welcome back. Here’s hoping the ad revenue is steady enough to keep you on 😉

A pissup is in order.

Good to see you back JB.

Perfect timing too, the Riot really needs you!

Welcome home JB, all is forgiven.

(Insert Slim Shady Bassline)

Guess who’s back?
Back again ?
JB’s back,
Tell a friend,
Guess who’s back, guess who’s back, guess who’s back, guess who’s back…

Vic Bitterman7:51 pm 13 Jul 08

You’ve been away so long Johnboy that you forgot they are called Yogie plates and not Yowie plates 🙂

Welcome Home

No idea who the hell you are, but you seem pretty popular! So i guess, welcome back! And, yes! there is snow on them there hills, I just got back from Thredbo, and if you had a camera (not to mention a microphone)Me & the Mrs tackling the ruddy snowchain fitting on the side of the road with no previous knowledge would have provided all the humour you needed to get you going again!

Ari said :

I bought you that lovely filigree candle holder as a goodbye present and now you’re back again?

I recall a pint of beer… but not a candle holder.

Happy to return the beer sometime though.

JB’s back? Reaches for seatbelt..straps in tight..

Bloody hell,

I bought you that lovely filigree candle holder as a goodbye present and now you’re back again?

Sweet Jesus, it’s about time.

Things are about to get interesting around here.

Welcome back! I never noticed the donate button. Don’t be bashful – make it more prominent. Maybe call it a noncompulsory subscription? Posts have been a bit random timing-wise since you left, and lots of hot issues never surfaced. but the folksiness of the RA has made it still worth checking in.

Welcome back – and may you have a large Field Marshall’s baton in your kit.

Good to have you back JB. You’ve been missed.

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