“You’d better update your page boy,” Awesome Cake said, using his disapproving radio voice while tapping the screen. My blog sat on the display, mocking me for my inability to get on top of things, let alone update the damn blog.

Of course I had to update my blog. How else could I survive the long waits inbetween posts, where there isn’t a comment that hits my mailbox, with a big “SOMEONE HAS LEFT A COMMENT! OH! MY! GOSH! PEOPLE ACTUALLY READ THIS CRAP!” heading. I have to admit it, I’m addicted to reading people’s comments on the blog. Its the only feedback I get from the readers, and it provides a colourful window into some of their thoughts and positions on said post, such as “Your blog sucks” or “who the shit are you guys,. Fiji is Fiji. Go to PNG or Solomon and get your butt kicked around…stop criticizing Fiji.” Free and fair speech I always say makes the world go round and blogs become crap.

In more interesting news, a few of the Saturday papers have this interesting competition going on, courtesy of the hard working folks at Training Productivity Authority of Fiji. Because TPAF is concerned with our nations productivity, they’ve stepped up and produced an icon/ambassador for productivity that’ll get kids all hyped up about slave labour camps and such.

Behold, Timi the Worker.

When it comes to educating kids about certain grown up and at times difficult to understand adult themes, nothing beats cute, fluffy, near huggable mascots and their giggly, stiff arm waving tactics. The more cute the avatar, the less aware children are to the fact that they’re been slowly imbued with whatever message is needed to be taught.

Timi however, is the exact polar opposite of all that is cute and fluffy. Aside from choosing a creature that most kids interact with on a daily basis with either a lens to burn them, mortein to kill them, or a swift palm to squash them, ants aren’t exactly what you may describe as ‘lovable’.

Nevertheless, Timi is a hard worker, and he doesn’t give a rat’s behind as to what kids think. And as with all hardworkers, he goes to work with his set of tools that include a garden fork which looks more like a vampire hunting multi-stake shotgun then anything to do with peaceful gardens and flowers. Beside his trusty hammer of justice and tied to his waist is a bag full of nails that double as ammo for said vampire hunting multi-stake shotgun. He also sports a nice hard hat.

But it was those eyes that got me. Those freaky, bulgy, win every stare contest eyes that drew my attention.

I don’t know about you, but those eyes are the stuff nightmares are made of. Long after the educated children will have grown up, those eyes will still haunt their dreams, with visions of piles and piles of documents yet to process, and deadlines of yesterdays fluttering around their head, while computers that sit on the desk sprout spam mail and deny access to microsoft word.

And all the while, those eyes watch the people struggle.

I wonder exactly how successful the education campaign went for TPAF.