Friday, October 07, 2005
It's Good News Week
One bit of good news:
My friend Ron comes back from Iraq mid-November!
Yay!
*dances* Hopefully he'll stay safe and get back without any injuries or anything like that. Although it's bizarre in a way with my attitudes towards war and having a friend who's a soldier and who isn't bothered by it.
My friend Ron comes back from Iraq mid-November!
Yay!
*dances* Hopefully he'll stay safe and get back without any injuries or anything like that. Although it's bizarre in a way with my attitudes towards war and having a friend who's a soldier and who isn't bothered by it.
Safe as... houses???
Well, I did the property inspection/looking at thing this afternoon, and it actually wasn't too bad. The place is roomy and it has a generous back yard that's fenced and would be great for the doggies to run around in.
Not quite what I'd choose if I had lots of options, but I don't, so I've put my name down for it *lol* And I think Larie's going to apply for it, too. We'll see what happens, I guess! Although the lady is apparently really picky about who she wants there and when it has to be settled by (23rd).
It'd be nice to be in another place before people come looking through here for the sale of this place. I know it's awful, but that will really make me annoyed... But it can't be helped *sigh*
*curses under breath*
Oh well, hopefully there's going to be another house to move into soon. Or maybe the people who buy this one will want it as an 'investment property' and would want to rent it out ;) Or I could suddenly discover an inordinate amount of money and be able to buy this!
Ah, I can dream :-p
Not quite what I'd choose if I had lots of options, but I don't, so I've put my name down for it *lol* And I think Larie's going to apply for it, too. We'll see what happens, I guess! Although the lady is apparently really picky about who she wants there and when it has to be settled by (23rd).
It'd be nice to be in another place before people come looking through here for the sale of this place. I know it's awful, but that will really make me annoyed... But it can't be helped *sigh*
*curses under breath*
Oh well, hopefully there's going to be another house to move into soon. Or maybe the people who buy this one will want it as an 'investment property' and would want to rent it out ;) Or I could suddenly discover an inordinate amount of money and be able to buy this!
Ah, I can dream :-p
Quote of the Day
Lenny Henry was on the Classic Parkinson today, and I haven't laughed so hard in forever and a year! And now there's a quote of the day from it:
"You're the bouncy castle, I'm the party of overly hyperactive children..." - Lenny Henry (and yes, imagine him saying it in a really strong Jamaican style-accent!).
Well hello! *LOL*
"You're the bouncy castle, I'm the party of overly hyperactive children..." - Lenny Henry (and yes, imagine him saying it in a really strong Jamaican style-accent!).
Well hello! *LOL*
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori?
Speaking of that in my previous blog reminded me of one of my favourite poets, Wilfred Owen (1893 - 1918). Quite possibly the most brilliant war poet the world has ever seen and tragically killed near the end of WWI, he wrote with amazing insight and I've never been able to get his works out of my head ever since I studied them first in Year 9.
I think Dulce et Decorum est is probably one of his better-known works, and although not my favourite, I thought I'd post it anyway.
Dulce et Decorum est
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame, all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.
Gas! GAS! Quick, boys! -- An ecstasy of fumbling
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime. --
Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams before my helpless sight
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin,
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs
Bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, --
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
More Wilfred Owen poems can be found here. Anthem for Doomed Youth, Strange Meeting, Futility and SIW still make me cry. Or maybe it's the futility of war and never learning from it that does that...
I think Dulce et Decorum est is probably one of his better-known works, and although not my favourite, I thought I'd post it anyway.
Dulce et Decorum est
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame, all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.
Gas! GAS! Quick, boys! -- An ecstasy of fumbling
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime. --
Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams before my helpless sight
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin,
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs
Bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, --
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
More Wilfred Owen poems can be found here. Anthem for Doomed Youth, Strange Meeting, Futility and SIW still make me cry. Or maybe it's the futility of war and never learning from it that does that...
I got sent the link for this cartoon earlier today by Kel.
Ahh, Leunig... is it not said that you are so sharp that you'll cut yourself? *teehee*
But really, it's an interesting cartoon, and it reminds me of the way Christianity is portrayed compared to Islam.
Or the way "white" people get more media time and attention than "non-white" people (such as: One American solider was killed in a suicide bombing that destroyed his military vehicle. He had been manning a check-point when the bombing occurred and was killed instantly. 54 Iraqis, mostly women and children, also perished in the attack... or anything else along the lines of that old refrain...) (dulce et decorum est pro patria mori?)
Ahh, Leunig... is it not said that you are so sharp that you'll cut yourself? *teehee*
But really, it's an interesting cartoon, and it reminds me of the way Christianity is portrayed compared to Islam.
Or the way "white" people get more media time and attention than "non-white" people (such as: One American solider was killed in a suicide bombing that destroyed his military vehicle. He had been manning a check-point when the bombing occurred and was killed instantly. 54 Iraqis, mostly women and children, also perished in the attack... or anything else along the lines of that old refrain...) (dulce et decorum est pro patria mori?)
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Oh Mercy!
I have to wonder what Delta is wearing in this photo.It looks like some variety of outfit for an Edwardian-era pirate vampyric hooker with a seat-belt fetish.
And the shoulder ruffles? Please, someone explain the shoulder ruffles to me? Are they meant to distract the viewer from the rest of the outfit? Are they a throw-back to childhood days of inexplicable ruffling on clothing? Are they actually small wings??
And why the dress is so saggy around the bust area? It makes the young and presumably perky Delts look like her bust is attempting to hide under her arms at waist level!
Please, why can't women who have lovely figures like Delta dress properly?!
Never Mind The..?
Waiting around to hear back from people is rather dull, especially when you can't finish your work until they get back in contact with you. There are two people I'm waiting to hear back from about some news stuff - one's out of his office until the 17th and the other's in a meeting. Hopefully the meeting will be over before the 17th. Oh wait, make that three people... one's in WA and that's practically the other side of the planet, isn't it? (just teasing... I love WA - I believe I went there as "luggage" prior to birth *lol*)
Listening to some CDs to kill some time, and I got to thinking about how much I'd love to audition for Australian Idol... Yes, my most hated show! But wait! There is a reason... I want to audition with the Sex Pistol's version of I Did It My Way. Either that or Anarchy in the UK. And at a pinch, perhaps I could do something with TISM's If You're Not Famous By Fourteen, You're Finished. Ahh, I can just imagine those judge's expressions... *smirk*
Another thought forms on this sluggish Wednesday afternoon! I wish to be in a punk band. Proper punk, I mean. Not like Good "I just wanna live to see you fall in the Grand Canyon" Charlotte or Avril "What's the Clash?" Lavigne or pseudo-punk like that. Thinking back, it's kind of been a dream of mine since High School, where I believe I was Tiggles the Punk Rocker... or something deeply odd like that... *ponders* Yes, that was the name. Too good at doing British accents, I guess.
Mmm, those were the days... Singing along to various punk stuff that Denise would tape off of her dad's records at lunch out on the oval, creating our own punk songs and being totally not punk-like at all, other than in those vague lunchtime moments where there was the strut, the look, the never mind the bollocks and then Denise went back to Holland.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Interesting point raised on Lateline tonight about the anarchy issues in Iraq due to the American invasion, not just about the problems that the invasion has caused.
The guy (I believe Robert Fiske?) on the show said: Would America have invaded Iraq if their main product was asparagus or carrots, rather than oil?
Good question. Would Saddam Hussein have been so vital to remove (illegally) from leadership if oil hadn't been present in Iraq? Hmm.
Not that I think Saddam Hussein was a great leader, but people have to choose democracy and change for their own countries. It's like Vladimir Putin said, "Democracy cannot be exported... it must be a product of internal domestic development."
Oh well. I guess we should already be used to the way in which American invasions of countries bugger everything up. Not that their track record makes it any more paletable, however.
The guy (I believe Robert Fiske?) on the show said: Would America have invaded Iraq if their main product was asparagus or carrots, rather than oil?
Good question. Would Saddam Hussein have been so vital to remove (illegally) from leadership if oil hadn't been present in Iraq? Hmm.
Not that I think Saddam Hussein was a great leader, but people have to choose democracy and change for their own countries. It's like Vladimir Putin said, "Democracy cannot be exported... it must be a product of internal domestic development."
Oh well. I guess we should already be used to the way in which American invasions of countries bugger everything up. Not that their track record makes it any more paletable, however.
Quote of the Night
"Ling-Ling is no pet! Ling-Ling here to kill, and to give children seizures!"- Ling-Ling, Drawn Together
Meant to post this yesterday...
Migrants welcome - unless they're from the Middle East by Joseph Kerr
This got me thinking, just how racist *are* we as Australians?
I don't think we've ever had to deal with racial reconciliation in the way that other countries, such as the USA, have had to. But this sort of thing extends far beyond reconciliation (something we've yet to come to grips with in Australia for the Stolen Generation, etc, where we seem to feel a total lack of nation guilt for the treatment of the Aboriginals in the past and to the present day).
It's like there's a new style of racism or something, one that's far more private and tied in to thought processes rather than actions. I mean, 53% of the people interviewed in the survey to be published in Monash University's People and Place said that they'd like to see fewer migrants from the Middle East. And it wasn't just Middle Eastern people that they didn't like. More than 36% wanted there to be less Asian migrants. And this is after a few years since the last survey where people interviewed were far less tolerant!
However, it's interesting to note that people from Europe or Britain were the ones that people wanted to migrate here, which seemed to be the case in the last survey, too.
Obviously people don't have an issue with people speaking a language other than English, if migrants from Europe are welcome, so it can't be said that Australians are hesitant to have people come to our country if people aren't born English-speakers.
So could it possibly be that there are a lot of Australians who don't want non-white people to move to the country?! *gasp* Yes, I said that. Perhaps Australia isn't quite so tolerant as it would like to believe itself to be. Maybe it doesn't think that everyone should have a "fair go," regardless of race, background, religion, gender, etc. Are we sacrificing our multiculturalism after all?
Perhaps some people feel threatened by migrants from the Middle East because they tar all Middle Eastern people with the "terrorist" brush. One example of this that I clearly remember was at the Sydney domestic terminal in January perhaps about two years ago. There was a large Muslim family there and people went out of their way to avoid standing near them, be in their way, etc. Perhaps it was an unconscious thing on the part of most people that did it, but then isn't that a worry, too? The silent intolerance was visible from a mile off and I felt ashamed by the behaviour of the non-Muslim people there that day.
Not quite sure about why such a large percentage would want there to be less Asian migrants. That makes no sense, really.
But then when has racism ever made sense?
Personally, I don't think we should have any issues with migrants, but should be welcoming them. Especially since our population is steadily aging and there's a predicted shortage of workers on the horizon (let's not think about the tax issues that will cause). All of the migrants I've met are really glad to be here, want to work hard and do their best at making a go of it here in a new country. Almost all of the issues that surround migrants are there because of the people who were born and raised in Australia and who treat new arrivals with suspicion or fear or intolerance. Things would probably be a lot better if Australians welcomed migrants and did their best to integrate them into the local areas with cultural and personal sensitivity.
This got me thinking, just how racist *are* we as Australians?
I don't think we've ever had to deal with racial reconciliation in the way that other countries, such as the USA, have had to. But this sort of thing extends far beyond reconciliation (something we've yet to come to grips with in Australia for the Stolen Generation, etc, where we seem to feel a total lack of nation guilt for the treatment of the Aboriginals in the past and to the present day).
It's like there's a new style of racism or something, one that's far more private and tied in to thought processes rather than actions. I mean, 53% of the people interviewed in the survey to be published in Monash University's People and Place said that they'd like to see fewer migrants from the Middle East. And it wasn't just Middle Eastern people that they didn't like. More than 36% wanted there to be less Asian migrants. And this is after a few years since the last survey where people interviewed were far less tolerant!
However, it's interesting to note that people from Europe or Britain were the ones that people wanted to migrate here, which seemed to be the case in the last survey, too.
Obviously people don't have an issue with people speaking a language other than English, if migrants from Europe are welcome, so it can't be said that Australians are hesitant to have people come to our country if people aren't born English-speakers.
So could it possibly be that there are a lot of Australians who don't want non-white people to move to the country?! *gasp* Yes, I said that. Perhaps Australia isn't quite so tolerant as it would like to believe itself to be. Maybe it doesn't think that everyone should have a "fair go," regardless of race, background, religion, gender, etc. Are we sacrificing our multiculturalism after all?
Perhaps some people feel threatened by migrants from the Middle East because they tar all Middle Eastern people with the "terrorist" brush. One example of this that I clearly remember was at the Sydney domestic terminal in January perhaps about two years ago. There was a large Muslim family there and people went out of their way to avoid standing near them, be in their way, etc. Perhaps it was an unconscious thing on the part of most people that did it, but then isn't that a worry, too? The silent intolerance was visible from a mile off and I felt ashamed by the behaviour of the non-Muslim people there that day.
Not quite sure about why such a large percentage would want there to be less Asian migrants. That makes no sense, really.
But then when has racism ever made sense?
Personally, I don't think we should have any issues with migrants, but should be welcoming them. Especially since our population is steadily aging and there's a predicted shortage of workers on the horizon (let's not think about the tax issues that will cause). All of the migrants I've met are really glad to be here, want to work hard and do their best at making a go of it here in a new country. Almost all of the issues that surround migrants are there because of the people who were born and raised in Australia and who treat new arrivals with suspicion or fear or intolerance. Things would probably be a lot better if Australians welcomed migrants and did their best to integrate them into the local areas with cultural and personal sensitivity.
Faith, youth, ranting
"God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him." - Andrew Murray.
"Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." - Luke 11:2
Is it possible to have an epiphany when you're sitting at your desk, reading a book that you picked up the day before to give to your book reviewer to read and review, when the computer program that you need to be working on is consistently refusing to function, even going so far as to crash the computer when you try to work on it?
Perhaps it is...
And it makes me wonder about what God is up to when He lets these kind of things happen as they do. Besides, he knows I'm a sucker for books, and Pride and Seek by Seth J Pierce was just sitting here, innocently, when I decided to pick it up and read it while I waited to hear back from the IT guy. And now I'm almost finished! And I'm starting to wonder whether God was allowing this 'distraction' to happen.
This hit me smack between the eyes when I read it:
"You want to hear something scary? You want to know why some churches have explosive growth? You want to know why their sermons are deeper and more effective than so many of ours? It's because they have a larger focus on Christ's return than we do. Everything they do is in light of going to heaven and living in a powerful way for God to influence others to making a decision for eternity. They believe God will bring results no matter what. They believe that when Jesus said, "I will make you fishers of men," He really meant it..."
- pp 112-113, Pride and Seek, Seth J Pierce.
That's one thing I have to give to the 'charismatic' or 'evangelical' sort of churches. They really are enthusiastic about God coming back, even if they get some other elements of the mix really warped (like the prosperity gospel side of stuff, being slain in the spirit, etc). And there's a real focus on meeting people, regardless of where they're at or who they are, which is excellent. And it's about youth! Like my ex's former church, the big Salvation Army church a few streets up from Rundel Mall in Adelaide, has a great outreach thing for teenagers that makes it really comfortable to be there and you can integrate as quickly or slowly as you want - if you want to go to church with them on Sunday, cool, but if you just want to hang out at the Friday night programme, that works, too. And there's none of the jargon crap. Everyone there was friendly, too (except for my ex's friend Mark, who apparently referred to me as "that f*cking freaky b*tch," probably because on the one time I met him we were out doing a soup kitchen night for the homeless people in Adelaide and spent the evening joking around with the homeless people, giving them far more than the "regulation" and strictly instructed one teaspoon of Milo and avoiding the irritating people in the soup kitchen who acted like doing that was earning them points somewhere. Although I am a freak anyway, so who knows...).
I went to Paradise church a few times too (that's where Guy Sebastian was from originally... and that cued a whole lot of teenage girls after the Australian Idol thing which made me exit stage left... I *hate* Australian Idol, and in a strange indirect way, it meant that you couldn't get a seat in the mega-church unless I bothered to arrive at least an hour early). To be blunt, I never felt any real spiritual stuff at Paradise, but I did get a lot out of the times that I went to the Salvation Army church (including properly committing to God during a sermon mid-last year that was just amazing). At Paradise, they wouldn't notice if you slumped over dead and would probably think you were slain in the spirit until you started to decompose...
Apparently people need about seven close friends in a church to want to stay there and become active members. Aristotle said, "What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies." This is true, I think. It might not be soulmates or anything like that, but our connections to people are important. We're not going to show people that Jesus wants to be friends with them by bashing them over the head with a Bible and telling them that everything that they do is wrong. That said, we shouldn't make friends with non-Christian people with the view to winning them over or anything like that either. That sort of thing is just exploitative. I think we need to stop having such fortress mentalities with our churches and encourage people to make ministry and outreach more personal. AND work on making churches more friendly, welcoming environments. Because when you're not a church-attending person, they are kind of scary. You either get totally ignored or over-friendlied to death by people you don't know.
But back to what I was thinking about before! God coming back! How much do we totally forget about that? I know I never think about it. That makes me wonder how many other people who go to church think about it and really truly believe that it's going to happen. What's happened to our bold faith? What about the right sort of spiritual pride? And youth involvement?? Youth involvement is so important in the charismatic churches - they're never stuffed in a back room to twiddle their thumbs until they're 55 and "old enough." They're passionate about Jesus being a part of their lives and about Him coming back.
As someone who has a responsibility to youth, I have a big responsibility with God happening, too, and suddenly I'm seeing that this isn't just a job, but something much more enormous than that and I just hope that God can really guide me with everything and help me to find some answers to how we can get back the bold faith young people in charismatic churches have but ours seems to be so sadly lacking.
Hmm... your mission should you choose to accept it, eh...
Yikes.
"Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." - Luke 11:2
Is it possible to have an epiphany when you're sitting at your desk, reading a book that you picked up the day before to give to your book reviewer to read and review, when the computer program that you need to be working on is consistently refusing to function, even going so far as to crash the computer when you try to work on it?
Perhaps it is...
And it makes me wonder about what God is up to when He lets these kind of things happen as they do. Besides, he knows I'm a sucker for books, and Pride and Seek by Seth J Pierce was just sitting here, innocently, when I decided to pick it up and read it while I waited to hear back from the IT guy. And now I'm almost finished! And I'm starting to wonder whether God was allowing this 'distraction' to happen.
This hit me smack between the eyes when I read it:
"You want to hear something scary? You want to know why some churches have explosive growth? You want to know why their sermons are deeper and more effective than so many of ours? It's because they have a larger focus on Christ's return than we do. Everything they do is in light of going to heaven and living in a powerful way for God to influence others to making a decision for eternity. They believe God will bring results no matter what. They believe that when Jesus said, "I will make you fishers of men," He really meant it..."
- pp 112-113, Pride and Seek, Seth J Pierce.
That's one thing I have to give to the 'charismatic' or 'evangelical' sort of churches. They really are enthusiastic about God coming back, even if they get some other elements of the mix really warped (like the prosperity gospel side of stuff, being slain in the spirit, etc). And there's a real focus on meeting people, regardless of where they're at or who they are, which is excellent. And it's about youth! Like my ex's former church, the big Salvation Army church a few streets up from Rundel Mall in Adelaide, has a great outreach thing for teenagers that makes it really comfortable to be there and you can integrate as quickly or slowly as you want - if you want to go to church with them on Sunday, cool, but if you just want to hang out at the Friday night programme, that works, too. And there's none of the jargon crap. Everyone there was friendly, too (except for my ex's friend Mark, who apparently referred to me as "that f*cking freaky b*tch," probably because on the one time I met him we were out doing a soup kitchen night for the homeless people in Adelaide and spent the evening joking around with the homeless people, giving them far more than the "regulation" and strictly instructed one teaspoon of Milo and avoiding the irritating people in the soup kitchen who acted like doing that was earning them points somewhere. Although I am a freak anyway, so who knows...).
I went to Paradise church a few times too (that's where Guy Sebastian was from originally... and that cued a whole lot of teenage girls after the Australian Idol thing which made me exit stage left... I *hate* Australian Idol, and in a strange indirect way, it meant that you couldn't get a seat in the mega-church unless I bothered to arrive at least an hour early). To be blunt, I never felt any real spiritual stuff at Paradise, but I did get a lot out of the times that I went to the Salvation Army church (including properly committing to God during a sermon mid-last year that was just amazing). At Paradise, they wouldn't notice if you slumped over dead and would probably think you were slain in the spirit until you started to decompose...
Apparently people need about seven close friends in a church to want to stay there and become active members. Aristotle said, "What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies." This is true, I think. It might not be soulmates or anything like that, but our connections to people are important. We're not going to show people that Jesus wants to be friends with them by bashing them over the head with a Bible and telling them that everything that they do is wrong. That said, we shouldn't make friends with non-Christian people with the view to winning them over or anything like that either. That sort of thing is just exploitative. I think we need to stop having such fortress mentalities with our churches and encourage people to make ministry and outreach more personal. AND work on making churches more friendly, welcoming environments. Because when you're not a church-attending person, they are kind of scary. You either get totally ignored or over-friendlied to death by people you don't know.
But back to what I was thinking about before! God coming back! How much do we totally forget about that? I know I never think about it. That makes me wonder how many other people who go to church think about it and really truly believe that it's going to happen. What's happened to our bold faith? What about the right sort of spiritual pride? And youth involvement?? Youth involvement is so important in the charismatic churches - they're never stuffed in a back room to twiddle their thumbs until they're 55 and "old enough." They're passionate about Jesus being a part of their lives and about Him coming back.
As someone who has a responsibility to youth, I have a big responsibility with God happening, too, and suddenly I'm seeing that this isn't just a job, but something much more enormous than that and I just hope that God can really guide me with everything and help me to find some answers to how we can get back the bold faith young people in charismatic churches have but ours seems to be so sadly lacking.
Hmm... your mission should you choose to accept it, eh...
Yikes.
Monday, October 03, 2005
cold comfort
This morning, Alexander Downer, our Foreign Minister, was on the Today show. He was on to talk about the latest Bali bombings and one thing he said was that there was no intelligence about this latest bombing, and that no-one saw it coming, basically.
Hmmm. Now I sort of feel like what I posted last night about Bali and ASIO and Australian intelligence agency information seems kind of a bit too true. Which is unfortunate. I know that we can't stop bad things from happening and that there will be terrorist attacks on all sorts of locations and people. But you'd still think that an intelligence agency would have some idea about things and you don't really want the Foreign Minister admitting that they had no idea on national television.
Just a bit worrying, really, all things considered.
But it really does raise the question of how terrorism within Australia could possibly be dealt with appropriately when these sort of things happen, and whether or not the anti-terrorism laws will actually be effective. Unless the plan is to lock every Australian citizen up and ask them, "Are you a terrorist?" and release them when they say, "No, of course not!" (as if a terrorist would say, "Why, golly gosh gee whizz, how ever did you guess! Of course! Hurrah! I'm so glad you knew," and put their wrists out for the handcuffs to be snapped around).
The laws just seem to cater to stupid things, really. Or stupid people... Like how much trouble you can get in for leaving baggage unattended or something like that. Does that have any implications for when you've done the grocery shopping and turn away from the cart to put a bag of shopping in the boot of the car? What about not claiming your luggage the second you spot it on the luggage carousel at the airport? Meh... stupid stuff. Besides, the guys who blew themselves up in Bali kept their "baggage" with them at all times.
So do we outlaw backpacks because they're potentially something a terrorist could use, subsequently making all school students suspects for ASIO questioning? Hmmm... the truth is out there, but the bollocks is in the politician's heads...
Hmmm. Now I sort of feel like what I posted last night about Bali and ASIO and Australian intelligence agency information seems kind of a bit too true. Which is unfortunate. I know that we can't stop bad things from happening and that there will be terrorist attacks on all sorts of locations and people. But you'd still think that an intelligence agency would have some idea about things and you don't really want the Foreign Minister admitting that they had no idea on national television.
Just a bit worrying, really, all things considered.
But it really does raise the question of how terrorism within Australia could possibly be dealt with appropriately when these sort of things happen, and whether or not the anti-terrorism laws will actually be effective. Unless the plan is to lock every Australian citizen up and ask them, "Are you a terrorist?" and release them when they say, "No, of course not!" (as if a terrorist would say, "Why, golly gosh gee whizz, how ever did you guess! Of course! Hurrah! I'm so glad you knew," and put their wrists out for the handcuffs to be snapped around).
The laws just seem to cater to stupid things, really. Or stupid people... Like how much trouble you can get in for leaving baggage unattended or something like that. Does that have any implications for when you've done the grocery shopping and turn away from the cart to put a bag of shopping in the boot of the car? What about not claiming your luggage the second you spot it on the luggage carousel at the airport? Meh... stupid stuff. Besides, the guys who blew themselves up in Bali kept their "baggage" with them at all times.
So do we outlaw backpacks because they're potentially something a terrorist could use, subsequently making all school students suspects for ASIO questioning? Hmmm... the truth is out there, but the bollocks is in the politician's heads...
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Bali again..?
With another Bali bombing that's claimed the lives of more Australians, as well as many locals and others from countries around the world, I've had to wonder about the sense of the new anti-terror laws that John Howard has been touting.
I mean, the anti-terror laws are meant to give ASIO more power, prevent all sorts of attacks and so on and generally make Australia a greater police state... ahem, I mean happy place where cricket can be played and American presidents are welcomed with showers of tax payer dollars!
If ASIO can't pick up on something like the 2002 Bali Bombing and the Bali bombing that happened overnight, would I trust them to be able to manage anything with the new laws? I'd have to say a resounding no to that.
Of course, Bali isn't Australia, but we are meant to know things about potential risks posed by terrorists and so on in other countries. That's why we have travel advisories... which usually appear *after* something's already happened in a place to make it unsafe, but you know what I mean.
How's ASIO meant to do anything properly within Australia if they can't manage to warn us about things like this latest Bali bombing in advance? Surely there'd be some whispers around about that sort of stuff. Or maybe the terrorists really *are* that good that they can keep secrets like that.
Or maybe ASIO's just not looking hard enough. But then I guess it's hard to see things clearly with their heads that far up their arses.
Personally, I don't believe that the new 'anti-terror' laws will be that effective, and not just because of what's happened with Bali (again). They'll work if people are really obvious about things and run around shouting through megaphones that they want to blow stuff up, but other than that? I don't know. And it worries me in a way. And that's not just because I see problems with the laws and personal freedoms and rights.
*sigh*
My sympathies to the victims and families of the victims of the latest Bali bombing, though...
I mean, the anti-terror laws are meant to give ASIO more power, prevent all sorts of attacks and so on and generally make Australia a greater police state... ahem, I mean happy place where cricket can be played and American presidents are welcomed with showers of tax payer dollars!
If ASIO can't pick up on something like the 2002 Bali Bombing and the Bali bombing that happened overnight, would I trust them to be able to manage anything with the new laws? I'd have to say a resounding no to that.
Of course, Bali isn't Australia, but we are meant to know things about potential risks posed by terrorists and so on in other countries. That's why we have travel advisories... which usually appear *after* something's already happened in a place to make it unsafe, but you know what I mean.
How's ASIO meant to do anything properly within Australia if they can't manage to warn us about things like this latest Bali bombing in advance? Surely there'd be some whispers around about that sort of stuff. Or maybe the terrorists really *are* that good that they can keep secrets like that.
Or maybe ASIO's just not looking hard enough. But then I guess it's hard to see things clearly with their heads that far up their arses.
Personally, I don't believe that the new 'anti-terror' laws will be that effective, and not just because of what's happened with Bali (again). They'll work if people are really obvious about things and run around shouting through megaphones that they want to blow stuff up, but other than that? I don't know. And it worries me in a way. And that's not just because I see problems with the laws and personal freedoms and rights.
*sigh*
My sympathies to the victims and families of the victims of the latest Bali bombing, though...
Flower of Carnage
I'm mostly a non-violent person (am I? Yes, mostly... definitely non-violent), but there are some times and some people that are really annoying and it can make me cross.
Right now, I would like to make like The Bride and rip the eyes out of a guy I know. Yes, that's evil, but he just infuriates me *that* much with how he hits on me, even though he's engaged. I try avoiding him, but he goes to extra lengths to contact me, etc.
Grrrr!!!
*ahem*
And now, let us ponder wonderfully serene things, like mountain lakes, harmonious sunsets, ikibana floral arrangements, quiet Sunday afternoons with the birds singing and the sun shining warm, Turkish delight, painting...
*deep breaths*
Right now, I would like to make like The Bride and rip the eyes out of a guy I know. Yes, that's evil, but he just infuriates me *that* much with how he hits on me, even though he's engaged. I try avoiding him, but he goes to extra lengths to contact me, etc.
Grrrr!!!
*ahem*
And now, let us ponder wonderfully serene things, like mountain lakes, harmonious sunsets, ikibana floral arrangements, quiet Sunday afternoons with the birds singing and the sun shining warm, Turkish delight, painting...
*deep breaths*
What would you do...
... if you won the Lottery? Like the full-on jackpot, not just $23 *lol*
My friend Timmah and I were just talking about this and I was thinking that other than buying a tomato sammich, as he suggested, I'd want to:
# Buy the family farm back and work on my sort-of dream of getting into organic farming. More of a hobby farm thing, but I could see a lot of benefits with it.
# Go on a proper holiday overseas to Germany, the UK and some other places. And take my family, too! :D
# Donate a whole lot to charity.
# Set up some scholarship funds or something like that for my old high school. When I was in Yr 12, I won one of them, and although it wasn't much, it was really nice. Not sure what I'd want it to be for. Maybe something like Spanish or Classical Studies (which I won the subject medals for... huzzah!). Or Biology, just because of how much fun I had in that subject *lol*
Hmmm, that's about it, really. There are probably more things that I'd do if I could, but seeing as I've never bought a ticket for the Lottery, that kind of defeats the whole purpose! :-p
My friend Timmah and I were just talking about this and I was thinking that other than buying a tomato sammich, as he suggested, I'd want to:
# Buy the family farm back and work on my sort-of dream of getting into organic farming. More of a hobby farm thing, but I could see a lot of benefits with it.
# Go on a proper holiday overseas to Germany, the UK and some other places. And take my family, too! :D
# Donate a whole lot to charity.
# Set up some scholarship funds or something like that for my old high school. When I was in Yr 12, I won one of them, and although it wasn't much, it was really nice. Not sure what I'd want it to be for. Maybe something like Spanish or Classical Studies (which I won the subject medals for... huzzah!). Or Biology, just because of how much fun I had in that subject *lol*
Hmmm, that's about it, really. There are probably more things that I'd do if I could, but seeing as I've never bought a ticket for the Lottery, that kind of defeats the whole purpose! :-p
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Mental image not for the weak!
Try not to think of the former Russian president, Boris Yeltzin, nude, in the snow and dancing around singing In the Navy whilst giving you lascivious glances...I bet you just saw that in your mind's eye now, didn't you? And now you won't be able to get that Russian hunka-hunka burnin' love out of your mind until something else comes along!
Now think of happy things. Yes, happy things, like puppies, kittens, lovely flowers, tall mountains, magestic sunsets and no Boris involved in any of them! No vodka-sozzled Boris, falling down in the snow and telling you that it's time to make lovely snow angels...
*smirks*
And no, I'm not high at the moment to write this, if you're wondering :-p It's like Salvador Dali said: "I am not on drugs. I am drugs!"
...and you won't be disappointed!
Sometimes things aren't as bad as you think they'll be...
Went to church and had lunch with some friends of my parents, which was actually *really* nice. I had been a bit hesitant about it all, but had a fantastic time, and saw some people I knew and had met earlier in the year.
All in all, it was actually damn good :)
Especially the Indian food at lunch!
Should do that sort of thing more often, although who knows how long I'll be around this area. Ah well, 'twas good :)
Went to church and had lunch with some friends of my parents, which was actually *really* nice. I had been a bit hesitant about it all, but had a fantastic time, and saw some people I knew and had met earlier in the year.
All in all, it was actually damn good :)
Especially the Indian food at lunch!
Should do that sort of thing more often, although who knows how long I'll be around this area. Ah well, 'twas good :)
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Ooooh...
This year is a year for flowers, I think!
Today I got the first flowers that I've ever received from a guy *insert blushes n stuff* They were waiting for me when I got home this evening, and are gorgeous. Singapore orchids, two bunches, and enough to make the people who visited tonight to ask me whether they were from a boyfriend...
Will take some photos tomorrow.
*happy sigh*
This year is a year for flowers, I think!
Today I got the first flowers that I've ever received from a guy *insert blushes n stuff* They were waiting for me when I got home this evening, and are gorgeous. Singapore orchids, two bunches, and enough to make the people who visited tonight to ask me whether they were from a boyfriend...
Will take some photos tomorrow.
*happy sigh*
For sale!
I decided to try my hand at real estate agent language with a colleague's office that's for sale...Thus, I present to you... *trumpet fanfare*
The Box Office
This spacious, mobile office made of all-natural materials will delight you with its many innovations and features. With simplicity and sleek design as the driving forces in its construction, you cannot fail to be impressed by its style and modernity, even though it contains a lot of old-world charm. It has many stunning views from its tastefully-designed windows and two entrances, one of which is complete with modern expressive artwork. With built-in CSDH,* DDH,** and 2 x TDH,*** it cannot fail to excite a buyer who is looking for an office that has everything. Enquire today!
*Club sandwich delivery hole
**Divine delivery hole
***Toast delivery hole
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Filt'y liars!
I'm thinking about getting back into writing. I mean proper writing-for-myself writing, not the writing that I do every day at work, which is proper enough, but not creative and my own, you know? Maybe I'll get into writing once I've moved into a new place and gather my thoughts together a bit more. Things are a bit hectic at the moment, and will continue to be for the next few months. Oh well, at least I can't say that life is boring, even while living in a small-ish country-like town.
On another thought, smoking is unattractive, when I think about it. Looking at a pic of someone with a half-smoked cigarette hanging out of their mouth suddenly made me stop chewing my pen and cast it away into outer darkness. It just looks so... so... gormless? Drunk people suck as well. The whole "Heeeyyyy... I'm gonna fall on my a$$ soon or lose an item of clothing if I don't stop sculling these shots... oohh... look! There goes my shirt! Ha ha ha ha! That was funny! Now I'll pour vodka into my eye... mouth... or is that eye? F*ck! Not the eye! Who's the b@stard who poured vodka in my eye!??!?! Right! *swings some punches* F*ck, wait, it was me... Ha ha ha! That was sooooo funny!" look is definitely not attractive.
And real estate agents are nothing but filthy liars! Never trust them when they use the word "delightful." It means that the place might look delightful if you had glaucoma and had been punched in both eyes repeatedly. Pfft. This rental business is frightful - I'd forgotten how much I hated looking for rental properties since the beginning of this year. Oh well, expect the worst and you won't be disappointed! (which works in both a pessimistic and optimistic way - hurrah!)
On another thought, smoking is unattractive, when I think about it. Looking at a pic of someone with a half-smoked cigarette hanging out of their mouth suddenly made me stop chewing my pen and cast it away into outer darkness. It just looks so... so... gormless? Drunk people suck as well. The whole "Heeeyyyy... I'm gonna fall on my a$$ soon or lose an item of clothing if I don't stop sculling these shots... oohh... look! There goes my shirt! Ha ha ha ha! That was funny! Now I'll pour vodka into my eye... mouth... or is that eye? F*ck! Not the eye! Who's the b@stard who poured vodka in my eye!??!?! Right! *swings some punches* F*ck, wait, it was me... Ha ha ha! That was sooooo funny!" look is definitely not attractive.
And real estate agents are nothing but filthy liars! Never trust them when they use the word "delightful." It means that the place might look delightful if you had glaucoma and had been punched in both eyes repeatedly. Pfft. This rental business is frightful - I'd forgotten how much I hated looking for rental properties since the beginning of this year. Oh well, expect the worst and you won't be disappointed! (which works in both a pessimistic and optimistic way - hurrah!)
Ole!
...After some trial and tribulation,
She reached the station
And met a sailor
Who had acquired a wooden leg in Venezuela,
And so she married him because he couldn't dance..!
- Noel Coward, Senorita Nina
She reached the station
And met a sailor
Who had acquired a wooden leg in Venezuela,
And so she married him because he couldn't dance..!
- Noel Coward, Senorita Nina
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
I like politics.
But I hate office politics.
Office politics can suck the salt off of my peanuts.
You'd think people would be kind of above that sort of thing here, but hey, I guess there's just some people out there who aren't happy unless they're twisting the knife in (with a smile on their face, of course, and a cheerful, "God bless you!") or gossiping or taking the direct route and saying hurtful stuff to your face.
And people wonder why I tend to avoid going to church!
Or why other people I know (or have heard of) who have been treated in really sh*tty ways by church-run organisations don't bother to go to church.*
You'd kind of think that as Christians we'd know better when it comes to how we treat people, wouldn't you?
Hmm!
*Note: I'm not saying that I'm being treated in a sh*tty way by my work, btw, just that there are some things that are bugging me with it! The people who I know who've had issues with church-related employment have not worked where I currently do, but with other branches of church-related employment.
But I hate office politics.
Office politics can suck the salt off of my peanuts.
You'd think people would be kind of above that sort of thing here, but hey, I guess there's just some people out there who aren't happy unless they're twisting the knife in (with a smile on their face, of course, and a cheerful, "God bless you!") or gossiping or taking the direct route and saying hurtful stuff to your face.
And people wonder why I tend to avoid going to church!
Or why other people I know (or have heard of) who have been treated in really sh*tty ways by church-run organisations don't bother to go to church.*
You'd kind of think that as Christians we'd know better when it comes to how we treat people, wouldn't you?
Hmm!
*Note: I'm not saying that I'm being treated in a sh*tty way by my work, btw, just that there are some things that are bugging me with it! The people who I know who've had issues with church-related employment have not worked where I currently do, but with other branches of church-related employment.
*insert appropriate wild giggles*
*LOL*
THE funniest thing of the day so far just happened!
I was writing to a prize winner to let them know that they'd won the "Good to Go" album by Denver and the Mile High Orchestra and that they'd need to keep an eye out for it in the coming weeks. I'm just ready to send it when I think, May as well read over it to make sure it's all alright...
So I do.
What do I read? Instead of "Orchestra," I've written "Club!"
*falls on the ground laughing*
I can just imagine the scandal if I'd not changed that oh-so-minor slip-up *lol*
Ahhh, I crack me up sometimes *lol*
THE funniest thing of the day so far just happened!
I was writing to a prize winner to let them know that they'd won the "Good to Go" album by Denver and the Mile High Orchestra and that they'd need to keep an eye out for it in the coming weeks. I'm just ready to send it when I think, May as well read over it to make sure it's all alright...
So I do.
What do I read? Instead of "Orchestra," I've written "Club!"
*falls on the ground laughing*
I can just imagine the scandal if I'd not changed that oh-so-minor slip-up *lol*
Ahhh, I crack me up sometimes *lol*
RIP, Don Adams
"Get Smart" actor diesRIP, Don Adams.
You made me laugh with Get Smart. The good old, "Ohh, so it's the old .... trick, eh!" Or, "Would you believe..?" followed by something that sounds like every spy should have waiting around the corner for them but actually isn't there for him, which the enemies would never believe, followed by another, "Would you believe..?" that's slightly less intimidating and so on and so on until all it was was Maxwell Smart, rescued once more by his own stupidity and the smarts of 99.
And who'd forget the credit sequence of Get Smart, where you did the nose-caught-in-lift-door thing.
*teehee* Hilarious!
Thanks for also doing the voice for Inspector Gadget. That was another show I grew up on and totally adored. Once more the bumbling secret agent... But in the best, funniest kind of way.
Thanks for making me laugh, even though I never knew you other than on the TV.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Real estate agent talk
In my hunt for a new home, I've decided that real estate agents are weasels with words. They should stop pretending that "Renovator's delight" doesn't mean that the roof has fallen in over part of the hall way and that the place hasn't been painted in at least 20 years.
Currently looking through some real estate ads, and I think I've figured out what a few terms mean.
...A great open living area, with a sensation of space... means: It does have a sensation of space, yes. But that's only when there's no furniture in the room. Once you get one chair and a coffee table in, the room looks cluttered and you can't get past to go to the kitchen without hurlding the table.
...Cosy wood heater and alarm system... means: Why mention an alarm system? Is it more important than the spa? Why, yes. It's in an area where people will break in to steal the spa. The alarm will be needed. You might want to strap your granny down when in this area, too, just in case people decide to steal her.
...Located at the end of a quiet no-through road... means: This is at the end of a dirt road that's beyond the black stump... or at least 10kms from the main street of the town.
...Old world charm... means: The house is likely to fall over within three months of you moving in to it. This is something that the landlord has noticed and will blame on you. But at least you can admire the pressed-tin work as it collapses around your head at 3am on a windy morning.
...Just a stroll from shops/river/school/etc... means: A bit more than a stroll. You might want to consider taking a packed lunch. Or at least a 2 liter water bottle.
...Immaculate in presentation... means: You won't feel comfortable here. The landlord will be someone who swoops down upon the house to do inspections. They will wear white gloves and run their fingers over every surface, inspecting for dust. One speck found and they will make a face like Alexander Peacock.
...Perfect for families... means: The last people who lived here gave the house a thorough bashing in terms of wear and tear. We've done our best to do it up, but we wouldn't be renting it to young professionals who'd want to host dinner parties. Your children can scribble on the walls to their heart's content here. But you will be charged for cleaning it off...
...Sought-after area... means: Well, it's not really, but it sounds better to say it. We're hoping for a quick rental because we've got a large mortgage to pay off and the debt collectors are threatening to reposess the telly.
Currently looking through some real estate ads, and I think I've figured out what a few terms mean.
...A great open living area, with a sensation of space... means: It does have a sensation of space, yes. But that's only when there's no furniture in the room. Once you get one chair and a coffee table in, the room looks cluttered and you can't get past to go to the kitchen without hurlding the table.
...Cosy wood heater and alarm system... means: Why mention an alarm system? Is it more important than the spa? Why, yes. It's in an area where people will break in to steal the spa. The alarm will be needed. You might want to strap your granny down when in this area, too, just in case people decide to steal her.
...Located at the end of a quiet no-through road... means: This is at the end of a dirt road that's beyond the black stump... or at least 10kms from the main street of the town.
...Old world charm... means: The house is likely to fall over within three months of you moving in to it. This is something that the landlord has noticed and will blame on you. But at least you can admire the pressed-tin work as it collapses around your head at 3am on a windy morning.
...Just a stroll from shops/river/school/etc... means: A bit more than a stroll. You might want to consider taking a packed lunch. Or at least a 2 liter water bottle.
...Immaculate in presentation... means: You won't feel comfortable here. The landlord will be someone who swoops down upon the house to do inspections. They will wear white gloves and run their fingers over every surface, inspecting for dust. One speck found and they will make a face like Alexander Peacock.
...Perfect for families... means: The last people who lived here gave the house a thorough bashing in terms of wear and tear. We've done our best to do it up, but we wouldn't be renting it to young professionals who'd want to host dinner parties. Your children can scribble on the walls to their heart's content here. But you will be charged for cleaning it off...
...Sought-after area... means: Well, it's not really, but it sounds better to say it. We're hoping for a quick rental because we've got a large mortgage to pay off and the debt collectors are threatening to reposess the telly.
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