Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Bloody hell! Why do programmers have to mess about with things? Now I have to work out how to run this blog again.
Poop!

Saturday, 31st July 2011

What the hell is happening to our world? It was bad enough when Martin Bryant murdered 35 people in Port Arthur, Tasmania; now we have Anders Breivik in Norway killing over 80 people, most of them young - teenagers. What is the cause of the apparent complete breakdown of decency and regard for others - the mindless hatred of one group by another?
In 1914 World War One saw the deaths of nearly the whole adult generation of the time - millions of men in uniform from all over the world. The "War to end all Wars" American President, Woodrow Wilson, called it. Twenty years later, the unthinkable occurred - it started all over again; and some would argue (looking at 20th Century history) that World War Two never really ended.
It is my belief that these two major conflicts (and the wars and "Police Actions" that followed) effectively blocked the transmission of the rules of civilised society from the generation that followed.
Many people today have not been taught the right way to interact with others. What about the respect for others and their property? If anything is found, the prevailing view would seem to be, "Tough luck. It's mine now." Where once we would immediately take it to the nearest Police Station.
Police seem to be viewed with contempt, and usually those who sneer at the police are the first ones to call on them when they are threatened or in trouble. Of course, later they all go back to sneering at the Police again.
I have personally witnessed drunken louts abusing Ambulance Paramedics who were trying to save the life of an injured motorcyclist.
Thankfully, not all people today are like this. Enough members of the Armed Forces returned from conflict to pass on the rules of society to their children so that the ways of polite, respectful behavior have not been lost. The Armed Forces still induct recruits to carry on the proud traditions of their parents and grandparents; and we should always remember that those who lose their lives in foreign wars, as they were once called, chose their path in this life.
We cannot understand why those who fall in conflict chose the lives they did. We can only wonder at their altruism and their willingness to put themselves in harm's way so that others may live safely - and there are millions who do not enjoy the peace and comfort we do today.
How can we help? By doing what we can to help others - sometimes all we can do is put a few coins in a beggar's hand. Do some volunteer work - there is a multitude of opportunities for that in our society. But, more importantly, we can make sure our children and grandchildren are well versed in the way to treat others as you would be treated, so that the next generation will know that all people are valued in the eyes of God. Teach them that every person, every animal, even the very Earth that we walk on, is but an aspect of God, and should be treasured and nurtured as such. If we all work for this, then our world can truly become a heaven on Earth.

Nineteen Eighty-Four

'If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face--for ever.'
This quote from Orwell's 1984, would seem to illustrate where our society is heading. When Immigration Minister, Chris Bowen, steadfastly insists that parent-less children will be sent to Malaysia, where there is no human rights laws. Where the Hell has his compassion gone? Has he not given a moment's thought to what will most certainly happen to them once he and his Cabinet colleagues have washed their hands of them? Especially the girls.
Oh wait - they're not children, they are "Unaccompanied Minors". Fine. The Minister is now employing the same tactics Hitler used against the Jews - announce that these are less than human and you can do whatever you like. Why not - it's how Hitler managed the "Jewish Problem" as he called it; and I see with mounting horror that the Government is talking of "The Pacific Solution".
In the name of all that's Holy and Compassionate - can nobody stop this? Bowen says they will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Crap. We all know what will happen - it will become all too hard for the authorities who will be in charge of it all, and soon we'll be hearing of "unfortunate errors" which will show that teenage boys and girls had "unfortunately" been the victims of paedophiles.
Nazism is still alive and, unfortunately, it seems to be in Australia.
The "Lucky Country" indeed.

We decided to spend Anzac Day travelling on the bus and tram to Glenelg – after all, it’s the only place on a public holiday that’s open in Adelaide. Don’t ask me why, I think it has something to do with the big stores in Rundle Mall. Who knows?

While we were waiting for the bus, just outside our home, along comes a man, in  his thirties we think, who, having passed us, decided to abuse a young, slight, woman about twentyish. Her crime? She was of Asian appearance. He finished his tirade with, “Lest We Forget”.

This paragon of (overweight) cowardly Australian Manhood, when he saw my wife and me approaching, immediately picked up speed and made himself scarce. God forbid he should have to deal with two incandescently angry (Anglo-Saxon) people! What he didn’t know was that the Asian woman he so cowardly attacked, spoke with an Australian accent – obviously being born in this country. We know this, because my wife apologised to the young woman, saying that we weren’t all like that. And who’s to say but that the woman’s grandparents may well have fought in the then South Vietnamese Army ALONGSIDE the Australian troops.

And while I’m in the subject, to those who would say that the “Boat People” are “Queue Jumpers” – there IS NO QUEUE! There are more illegal immigrants coming to Australia by air than there are by boat; and one should always bear in mind the “Boat People’s” situation must be dire to risk their lives and the lives of their families to get on a leaky boat to God knows what.

Lest we Forget. Indeed.

The politicians in Canberra have come up with yet another version of the old "we'll-cut-spending-on-welfare-to-help-the-country" scheme. This time it's the Opposition, and it beggars the imagination that a professed Christian would decide to try and penalise the very people that Christ was supposed to come to help.
Why is it that these so-called righteous people seem to have so little regard for the strugglers in our society - the ones who have to "do it tough" just to get by; while those who would make it even tougher for them live in perk-filled luxury at the expense of those very people they profess to care about.
It's a pity that the pollies in Canberra can't see the Karmic debt they are accruing and the questions they will have to answer when they stand before their higher selves.

Carbon and the Tax Debate - March 25th, 2011

Now I don’t hold much with politics and/or politicians, but the disgraceful way our Prime Minister (perhaps Mr. Abbott should remember that) is being treated, both inside and outside the House, just shows the way Mr. Abbott thinks. It is also interesting to note just who was NOT at the demo last week. Maybe the rest of the Opposition’s Front Bench are starting to back away from their leader? Not only the Opposition Leader, but the nasty little parrots on Sydney radio stations, who think that by spreading their invective to the simple minded will get them some sort of kudos. It’s easy to criticise – let’s see some of them go out and really work for the community they spend their time insulting with their mindless diatribes.

Earthquakes and the French Nuclear Tests March 11th 2011

While the latest earthquake (with its attendant tsunami) near Japan is in the news, I am reminded of the series of underground - and some above ground - nuclear tests carried out by France between 1966 and 1996 at Mururoa Atoll. With regard to the underground tests specifically, I wonder whether these may have so damaged the ocean floor as to begin the slow process of ever-increasing and expanding cracks. There is a pic that shows one of the cracks in the ocean floor, off Mururoa.
It may be “drawing  a long bow” but the increasing amount of seismic activity along the Pacific Rim may well be due to the French Nuclear testing, seeing as how the edge of the Pacific Plate runs right near the atoll.

Brendan Fevola March 11th 2011

With all the hype that has surrounded Mr Fevola in the past year or so, one thing has become abundantly clear from his on- and off-field activities – he needs caring help, not the press hounding him every time he sets foot outside his door. The very fact that he has admitted thinking seriously about suicide SHOULD be enough to make the press – especially the Television Sports News people – back off. Or are they stalking him in the event that he does complete suicide and they can be “in at the death” so to speak?As an ex-Lifeline Counsellor, I hope he gets help soon.

Reachelle Marie Smith - March 10th 2011

I received an e-mail today warning its recipients to watch out for a missing child. Before I did anything, I Googled the chid's name, viz. Reachelle Marie  Smith

As I thought, it's yet another hoax, or urban myth, and the child's picture changes with the story.
Why would someone do anything like this, given that too many children are murdered or stolen in our society. People who do this sort of thing must be completely lacking in any moral decency, and empathy for those who have lost children in tragic circumstances.
If you get one of these, tell the person who sent it to you, and then delete it.

Christchurch, New Zealand - February 27th 2011

Bloody Channel Seven! In a news broadcast last week, the News Item was about Mr. Brian Coker, who was trapped in the collapsed Pyne Gould Building on Tuesday night. They had the story of how Mr. Coker was rescued by a female surgeon from Melbourne using only a hacksaw and a foldaway knife.  What they didn't mention was the rescue was carried out in confined space with the unnamed surgeon assisted by an anaesthetist, a policeman and a police medic.
Then - the final insult to the viewers -they showed old footage of a rescuer using a hacksaw to cut through what I think was some concrete reinforcement steel out in the street. To be sure, they didn't actually SAY it was the surgeon, but putting that story over that vision was one more instance of the sad development of what Channel Seven chooses to call "News".
The other thing that ALL news services are doing, is making silly puns about their stories. Story about racing - the commentator will be a little "hoarse/horse" that sort of thing. It might have been funny once, but enough is enough.

Religion - February 24th 2011

It never fails to amaze me - the Vatican still insists Priests be celibate, and yet it will allow men who are already married to become priests, and what's more the Vatican allows them to STAY married while they're priests. What over-the-top hypocrisy is that? It has never, obviously, occurred to anyone at the Vatican, that if marriage were allowed, it might, just might, go some way to alleviating the dreadful problem of paedophilia within the Church.
I say might - maybe it's just a fool's dream.

The End of Julia Farr

After six years of vandalism, reported haunting by deceased inmates, and council/developer wrangling, this Adelaide eyesore is finally being demolished.

To see some other threatened Adelaide Buildings go to: Vanishing Adelaide

Spirit Festival

The Spirit Festival last Sunday was a wonderful example of Kaurna People getting together with the non-indigenous people of South Australia. Opened on Sunday by Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood, who thanked the local Kaurna People for setting everything up – especially the Pati Yerta Dance Ground and spreading pine bark to soak up some of the rain that fell Friday.

To see some more pix of the day go to:Flickr Albums

Christchurch - February 22nd 2011

Earthquake measuring 6.3, if the news service got it right. The 'quake that flattened San Francisco in 1906 was about that size - gives you some idea of the power of 'quakes when they do happen.
Christchurch looked like a nice city, and it doesn't matter where it is, we all send our healing thoughts to its people.

Politics - February 16th 2011

Never have I been so ashamed to call myself Australian. The furore that has erupted over the funeral of the asylum seekers who drowned off Christmas Island is utterly reprehensible. Especially the comments by the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott - so much for Christian principles
And now Immigration Minister Chris Bowen refuses to let the young survivor of this tragedy stay in Australia with his family. Where is the humanity in this - what possible danger could a young boy be to Australia? Would it not be better to reunite him with his family and so allow him to grow up to be a valued member of our society.
(It now seems that common sense has prevailed and the young boy will be allowed to stay.)
Joe Hockey, who I usually view with some suspicion, has gone up several steps in my estimation after his public disagreement with Tony Abbott's position.

Egypt - February 15th 2011

It's one thing to rejoice in the downfall of Mubarak, but I wonder if Egypt is going to be better off now?
The Army now holds the balance of power and has promised elections in about six months with a proviso that civilian unrest must cease.
Will the Army really relinquish power, or will we see yet another country ruled by a Military Junta.
Not only that, but the civil unrest seems to be threatening to spread to other countries in the region - Iran and Yemen for example; and if that happens God only knows where that will lead.
I also see that India and Pakistan are having more peace talks. Good luck with that - as both these somewhat volatile nations have nuclear weapons (not to mention Israel and, possibly, Iran) I can't help thinking of the scenario envisioned by Neville Shute in his novel, "On The Beach".
Heaven help us!

Wasps! - February 10, 2011

European wasps! Very dangerous, but strangely, we've been walking around and through them for weeks without any trouble. The only time I was worried is when I took this pic - it seemed to annoy them a little, because a few of them buzzed round my head in a sort of, 'Go away' dance. I went.
Unfortunately, as they're a menace to society at large, we had to get rid of them. Pity, but there you are.

Sunset - February 9th 2011

I was just thinking, as I took this pic, that from the time the Earth was formed until the sun eventually destroys the Earth some billions of years from now, that there has never been, nor will there ever be, a sunset exactly the same as this; and in all those uncounted and uncountable billions of years no sunset or sunrise has ever looked the same as another.

Tony Abbott - February 9th 2011

Now I want to make it abundantly clear that I don't like Tony Abbott, for the "church and state" comments I made earlier.
BUT
The way Channel Seven's reporter ambushed him, and then took Mr. Abbott's comments the wrong way is not only reprehensible, but, sadly, only too usual for the way Seven's reporters do things. The "here we are being chased by the police in Barcelona" story some time ago was a prime example.
If you want to clarify what someone has said, ask for clarification, don't ambush them and then plaster your OPINIONS all over the media as if they were holy writ.
Investigative journalism is, I'm afraid, too open to abuse, and this is a prime example.

Do The Shuffle! - February 8th 2011

The State Government has done it's usual New Year re-shuffle of Ministerial Portfolios.
Same places, different faces. What worries me is the addition of more fundamental Christians to the front bench. What the hell has happened to "The Separation of Church and State"? It's bad enough in Canberra, without it happening here.
Another thing that annoyed me was the Government's crowing about how young the new "team" was. What about some life experience - or does that not count for anything now?
One last: why didn't Tom Koutsantonis get Motor Sports? With his driving record he should have been a shoe-in!
Roll on the next election...