I wouldn't have recognised Heath Ledger if he and I were the only people in a one-table coffee shop. I knew of him (until a few days ago) only that he'd starred in a film about a pair of homosexual cowboys,
Now,though, I know a lot about the late Mr Ledger - much of it, no doubt,untrue.
I'm sorry a young man (Australian, and of reputed talent) is dead, and I'm sympathetic toward his family, friends and admirers.But I'll be very glad when the rest of us are able to move on!
I've never been able to properly understand why talented actors and singers (in particular) attract such an outpouring of "puppy love" and adulation, or why the media feel the need to whip up such a frenzy of guesswork and scandal as with Ledger's unfortunate death, and the much publicised social failings of other entertainment industry "stars".
Fame, it seems, is an asset of fleeting value
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Starting in Tasmania
Tasmania is Australia's smallest, least populated (but most elderly populated) state. It's so far south that careless map-makers tend to leave it of simple maps.
But Tasmania is, I believe, the nation's jewel, and I plan to use my newly installed slide show to show you the bits of it I like most.
Currently, you're seeing Mt Roland and its environs. It's the place to which we return each year, and the actual mountain makes a sort of exclamation point at the end of the bluff, gaunt Western Tiers. It, and the highland town of Sheffield (seen with some of its beautiful painted walls) marks the end of the rolling greenlands, and the start of the snow on the way to nearby Cradle Mountain.
The shed, by the way, is typical of many found right around Tassie. Farmers just don't seem to see any need to pull them down before the sort-of melt away.
Wife Dorothy was born in Tasmania and I spent much of my youth there.
But Tasmania is, I believe, the nation's jewel, and I plan to use my newly installed slide show to show you the bits of it I like most.
Currently, you're seeing Mt Roland and its environs. It's the place to which we return each year, and the actual mountain makes a sort of exclamation point at the end of the bluff, gaunt Western Tiers. It, and the highland town of Sheffield (seen with some of its beautiful painted walls) marks the end of the rolling greenlands, and the start of the snow on the way to nearby Cradle Mountain.
The shed, by the way, is typical of many found right around Tassie. Farmers just don't seem to see any need to pull them down before the sort-of melt away.
Wife Dorothy was born in Tasmania and I spent much of my youth there.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Have you noticed?
I've gone pictorial, at last. The Blogspot people have just made it easy to place photos, and even a slide show on-site, and it was so easy that even I could do it!
Regarding the slide show, if you click on any picture you'll go to Picasa and there you'll see the big scene, complete with caption, and can move right through the current folder. I'll change the folder every few weeks or so, and you'll be able to see bits of what we saw in our our "Grey Nomad" days.
If you have any queries or comments , just add a comment to any posting.
All of these minor developments, by the way, bring their own challenges and complications. You wouldn't believe how many times I've recently changed the order of the items open the side bar. I didn't want to associate a certain furry animal with either "Travelbug" (first of my forthcoming list of favourite links), or to myself, you see.
Regarding the slide show, if you click on any picture you'll go to Picasa and there you'll see the big scene, complete with caption, and can move right through the current folder. I'll change the folder every few weeks or so, and you'll be able to see bits of what we saw in our our "Grey Nomad" days.
If you have any queries or comments , just add a comment to any posting.
All of these minor developments, by the way, bring their own challenges and complications. You wouldn't believe how many times I've recently changed the order of the items open the side bar. I didn't want to associate a certain furry animal with either "Travelbug" (first of my forthcoming list of favourite links), or to myself, you see.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
For the term of their usefulness?
It's my firm belief that most of us within real democracies allow our politicians to serve terms that are far too short.
I recklon most of those we appoint divide (intentionally or not) their term into a basic three sections - a:Getting the hang of things; b:Having a go at making a difference and, c:Planning tactics for re-election. Same theory applies to governments as well, except they have an additional section entitled "Blaming the last lot."
Not that I really blame them. We hardly give them time to realize that they can't fulfil their promises within one term before it's time to start campaigning (or setting up a nice directorship in commerce). They really are only human, you know - no matter what they say.
Four year terms? Why not make it six, or eight? Let's put them in for the long haul, so they have a real chance to make a difference, or have take the blame for failure. Besides which - wouldn't it be nice to have a year or so more without campaigning?
I think most of our politicians enter parliament wanting to serve their state or nation. But lack of time and accountability, and political practicalities make that very difficult.
A friend of mine once assured me he'd never met a politician (singly) who wasn't convinced he was doing his level best for his electorate. "It's when you get two or more together that the rot sets in." he reckoned.
I recklon most of those we appoint divide (intentionally or not) their term into a basic three sections - a:Getting the hang of things; b:Having a go at making a difference and, c:Planning tactics for re-election. Same theory applies to governments as well, except they have an additional section entitled "Blaming the last lot."
Not that I really blame them. We hardly give them time to realize that they can't fulfil their promises within one term before it's time to start campaigning (or setting up a nice directorship in commerce). They really are only human, you know - no matter what they say.
Four year terms? Why not make it six, or eight? Let's put them in for the long haul, so they have a real chance to make a difference, or have take the blame for failure. Besides which - wouldn't it be nice to have a year or so more without campaigning?
I think most of our politicians enter parliament wanting to serve their state or nation. But lack of time and accountability, and political practicalities make that very difficult.
A friend of mine once assured me he'd never met a politician (singly) who wasn't convinced he was doing his level best for his electorate. "It's when you get two or more together that the rot sets in." he reckoned.
I've just got to do it!
I went sailing today!Well, not really'ntruly sailing in the fair dinkum sense of the word, in that I stayed on terror firmer and a two ft. six inch (after 30 years I'm still not metrified) radio - controlled yacht did all the physical work. NB Those hordes of new readers should refer to the previous item (yes I know it comes "after" this one) for background detail.
Anyway, this all came about because, three weeks ago, a great grandmother asked us to introduce her beautiful 12.y.o. budding flautist grand-daughter to play at one of our village social nights. Aforesaid great grandmother, that night, introduced the child's grandfather. He said, by way of making conversation, that he often goes sailing , but seldom gets either of his feet wet and that, without having any practical or theoretical prior knowledge about any sort sailing, he'd been having a wow of a time at it for the past nine months - It seemed like the birth of a great idea to me!
The invitation came by 'phone thismorning, and within the hour we were out there sailing,at a nearby and especially built lake and -it was great! Only minor problem was that, what with evaporation and recent shortage of rain around here, the average depth of the water was about half an inch less than the launched depth of the keel, and that meant that every time we stopped our brave vessel leaning it showed a distinct tendency to park.
Never mind. It's amazing what radio control and willpower can do. But I wish I could remember which of the two little levers adjusts the sails and which steers the little brute.
So there you are. Now you know more about this subject than does my wife. Stay tuned.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Like a lizard drinking . .
I've had a busy day already, even though there's still an hour 'til lunch.
Really! You wouldn't credit how hard it is to get everything done around here, even though I forced myself to get up and shower at 8.30.
"The Boss" has had a busy morning too, what with doing the week's washing, making us a morning cuppa.
As for me, I made the bed this-morning (now she says I should do it every day), and I emptied the vacuum cleaner for her too, before I popped down the road to see Dennis, and we both came back for that cuppa.
I've had to think up something to talk about in this posting too, and that's not easy. When I finish this job it will probably be near enough to lunch and the day's half gone.
I'm flat out - "like a lizard drinking" as my grandad used to say. I was going to clean the car this-afternoon, but it's a bit hot and we're not supposed to waste water these days. So I might tidy up the shed instead. . . . . . .
Well, maybe I have overplayed the "lazy retiree" theme just a bit, but it's a subject worth a bit of thought.
I had an active youth, a longish and often hectic working life, and a range of outside interests throughout. But now we've settled down and outside our home, family and immediate circle of friends my significance in the general scheme of things is fairly low on the scale.
But I don't really mind being a "wrinlkley" I don't want to return to work, to take up Yoga or mountain climbing or even accept a directorship - although it would be reassuring if, once in a while, someone sought my advice about something.
But it's nice having time to be busy at my own pace and, talking of that "I have to go, because the tennis finals are coming on the TV in a minute or so!"
Really! You wouldn't credit how hard it is to get everything done around here, even though I forced myself to get up and shower at 8.30.
"The Boss" has had a busy morning too, what with doing the week's washing, making us a morning cuppa.
As for me, I made the bed this-morning (now she says I should do it every day), and I emptied the vacuum cleaner for her too, before I popped down the road to see Dennis, and we both came back for that cuppa.
I've had to think up something to talk about in this posting too, and that's not easy. When I finish this job it will probably be near enough to lunch and the day's half gone.
I'm flat out - "like a lizard drinking" as my grandad used to say. I was going to clean the car this-afternoon, but it's a bit hot and we're not supposed to waste water these days. So I might tidy up the shed instead. . . . . . .
Well, maybe I have overplayed the "lazy retiree" theme just a bit, but it's a subject worth a bit of thought.
I had an active youth, a longish and often hectic working life, and a range of outside interests throughout. But now we've settled down and outside our home, family and immediate circle of friends my significance in the general scheme of things is fairly low on the scale.
But I don't really mind being a "wrinlkley" I don't want to return to work, to take up Yoga or mountain climbing or even accept a directorship - although it would be reassuring if, once in a while, someone sought my advice about something.
But it's nice having time to be busy at my own pace and, talking of that "I have to go, because the tennis finals are coming on the TV in a minute or so!"
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Money madness
If there's any sense in the national financial systems of most of the countries of the so-called Free World then I confess I can't see much of it!
Here in Australia, where there are more jobs than workers, where the drought is lately near enough to broken, and where miners are making fortunes from exporting countless cubic acres of our land, we have big money troubles.
Were not alone of course, as our stock market plunges, as interest climb and the price of everything we need to buy rises steadily.
Government raises our workers' wages, they reduce our taxes, and increase pensions so we can keep buying what we need/want. Then we're told we're spending too much, causing inflation and need to pay more interest. After all, we mustn't have the increasing inflation our leaders have created, must we?
In the US, greedy loan companies, who extended finance to thousands who couldn't make the repayments have gone bankrupt in droves. Their government, fearing recession has organised a massive reduction in interest rates to allow (I assume) more people to take up slightly cheaper loans.
So, who's right about interest rates, "them" or us?
I can remember when the value of our currency was fixed by our governmen. I remember when our money lenders were required to insist on borrowers providing realistic security, and proving they had the means to pay. In those days we didn't have the "sharks" touting their "instant money offers to those who can't or won't see the risk.
I'm beginning to wonder about the benefits of "Democracy"
I recall that, as World War 2 developed, Italy's Mussolini was, at first, a much loved dictator - Because he made the trains run on time!
Perhaps we all need dictators who, as well as niceness, and moral purity, have proven qualifications of finan cial genius. . . .
Then one of them might explain to me how our system works!
Here in Australia, where there are more jobs than workers, where the drought is lately near enough to broken, and where miners are making fortunes from exporting countless cubic acres of our land, we have big money troubles.
Were not alone of course, as our stock market plunges, as interest climb and the price of everything we need to buy rises steadily.
Government raises our workers' wages, they reduce our taxes, and increase pensions so we can keep buying what we need/want. Then we're told we're spending too much, causing inflation and need to pay more interest. After all, we mustn't have the increasing inflation our leaders have created, must we?
In the US, greedy loan companies, who extended finance to thousands who couldn't make the repayments have gone bankrupt in droves. Their government, fearing recession has organised a massive reduction in interest rates to allow (I assume) more people to take up slightly cheaper loans.
So, who's right about interest rates, "them" or us?
I can remember when the value of our currency was fixed by our governmen. I remember when our money lenders were required to insist on borrowers providing realistic security, and proving they had the means to pay. In those days we didn't have the "sharks" touting their "instant money offers to those who can't or won't see the risk.
I'm beginning to wonder about the benefits of "Democracy"
I recall that, as World War 2 developed, Italy's Mussolini was, at first, a much loved dictator - Because he made the trains run on time!
Perhaps we all need dictators who, as well as niceness, and moral purity, have proven qualifications of finan cial genius. . . .
Then one of them might explain to me how our system works!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Plastic unfantastic
Newspaper production companies spend millions in making their products look good. They (the big ones, anyway) have whole departments devoted to the graphic arts, have highly trained layout specialists to make the news (and of course the advertisements) attract our attention.
Through the stages from cutting down the first tree to printing , on incredibly complicated machines, I'm aware of the time that's spent on quality.
Why, then, do they let their home delivery contractors waste all that effort by rolling the papers in film plastic?
They spend ages setting up their presses so your paper is folded right in the centre of the gutter - and then the rolling machine moves the fold to a half-inch into the adjacent text. Then they mummify the "Daily Bugle" in clingy film that leaves me angry every morning, because the porridge is generally cold before I find the edge that lets me access my news.
Isn't it amazing how a relatively minor detail can defeat a noble cause?
Have you noticed how Internet news service have improved?
Through the stages from cutting down the first tree to printing , on incredibly complicated machines, I'm aware of the time that's spent on quality.
Why, then, do they let their home delivery contractors waste all that effort by rolling the papers in film plastic?
They spend ages setting up their presses so your paper is folded right in the centre of the gutter - and then the rolling machine moves the fold to a half-inch into the adjacent text. Then they mummify the "Daily Bugle" in clingy film that leaves me angry every morning, because the porridge is generally cold before I find the edge that lets me access my news.
Isn't it amazing how a relatively minor detail can defeat a noble cause?
Have you noticed how Internet news service have improved?
Monday, January 21, 2008
Head says yes, but . . .
I used to sail, offshore for years and years. My wife says "yachting widows" are more sinned against than golfers' wives, because their blokes stay away longer and more often, always come home smelling of diesel fuel and never offer to do their own washing.
I converted to Grey Nomadism in 2000 (through a combination of clumsiness through arthritis and husbandly guilt) and we had a wonderful six years largely spent exploring the vastness of Australia.
Settled now, secure and comfortable in the suburbs, I'm became a bit sentimental, recently, about my not so distant past. I'd started to miss, the salt and sweat, and the fellowship of a passion that kept me addicted for a couple of generations. There was, very soon, a marked difference of opinion between my body and my brain. Logic told me that even if I could afford to "go down to the sea again" I just wouldn't cope.
A man has to have a sport though,does he not? One can't surrender entirely to computers and books, and to "grand-dad-ism"!
So I've been thinking, a bit, about one of those radio-control model yachts, like I've occasionally seen racing and/or wallowing in small lakes and big ponds. That could be a manageable challenge, perhaps. It does look promising, but am I really that keen?
Will I investigate, or will I concentrate on trying to fly my tiny remote control helicopter?
Life in retirement is a real challenge.
"Are we going to have a cuppa thisafternoon, dear?
I converted to Grey Nomadism in 2000 (through a combination of clumsiness through arthritis and husbandly guilt) and we had a wonderful six years largely spent exploring the vastness of Australia.
Settled now, secure and comfortable in the suburbs, I'm became a bit sentimental, recently, about my not so distant past. I'd started to miss, the salt and sweat, and the fellowship of a passion that kept me addicted for a couple of generations. There was, very soon, a marked difference of opinion between my body and my brain. Logic told me that even if I could afford to "go down to the sea again" I just wouldn't cope.
A man has to have a sport though,does he not? One can't surrender entirely to computers and books, and to "grand-dad-ism"!
So I've been thinking, a bit, about one of those radio-control model yachts, like I've occasionally seen racing and/or wallowing in small lakes and big ponds. That could be a manageable challenge, perhaps. It does look promising, but am I really that keen?
Will I investigate, or will I concentrate on trying to fly my tiny remote control helicopter?
Life in retirement is a real challenge.
"Are we going to have a cuppa thisafternoon, dear?
Saturday, January 19, 2008
The pirates are back
Forget Captain Blood, and Black Jack and friends. Don't bother to read "Treasure Island" for your pirate type thrilling stories - just read your daily paper about the dirty doings in Southern seas.
Yes, you guessed. I'm talking about that Canadian Watson man who, with his merry band, is having glorious fun chasing Japanese whaling boats around the Antarctic!
I'm not "for" the whale slaughter campaign. I'm not sure most of the Japanese population is either since (so I'm told) relatively few of them like eating the meat these days, and I certainly don't believe they're finding any scientific break-through from the slaughter either.
But who gave the self-styled "Sea Shepherd Society" the right to risk lives and property in the open sea?
The old Greenpeace flagship "Rainbow Warrior" was wrong to create its own form of havoc in the ocean years ago, just as wrong as were the French commando types who sank the vessel in the port of Auckland in 1985.
Generations of tradition and "oceans" of international law apply to vessels in international waters.
We don't need environmental warriors at sea, and I'm sure the late Steve Irwin would be embarassed that his name graces "Captain Watson's" ratbag ship!
Yes, you guessed. I'm talking about that Canadian Watson man who, with his merry band, is having glorious fun chasing Japanese whaling boats around the Antarctic!
I'm not "for" the whale slaughter campaign. I'm not sure most of the Japanese population is either since (so I'm told) relatively few of them like eating the meat these days, and I certainly don't believe they're finding any scientific break-through from the slaughter either.
But who gave the self-styled "Sea Shepherd Society" the right to risk lives and property in the open sea?
The old Greenpeace flagship "Rainbow Warrior" was wrong to create its own form of havoc in the ocean years ago, just as wrong as were the French commando types who sank the vessel in the port of Auckland in 1985.
Generations of tradition and "oceans" of international law apply to vessels in international waters.
We don't need environmental warriors at sea, and I'm sure the late Steve Irwin would be embarassed that his name graces "Captain Watson's" ratbag ship!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Things memorial
My memory's not what is used to be. You have to believe that because I forgot to add anything to this publication for the last three months or so of last year.
Well, that's not exactly how the blog gap came about... In fact, our three youngest grand children suddenly transmogrified from smelly, mostly wet, bundles of screaming tantrumness, into generally happy and highly entertaining small people,and grand-parenthood, suddenly, became more interesting than tapping away at this PC.
Truthfully though, with "Anno's domino" having flipped over at 72, I do find myself spending a lot of time looking for my glasses, or my wallet, or my car keys, and it's been enough to set me toward challenging the trend.
I've enrolled in an Internet based memory training course, I'm working reasonably hard on its test routines (quite entertaining games) and the program tells me I'm getting better. The system is called "Lumosity", and you'll find it on lumosity.com. In any case, I'll let you know how I get on - if I remember.
Well, that's not exactly how the blog gap came about... In fact, our three youngest grand children suddenly transmogrified from smelly, mostly wet, bundles of screaming tantrumness, into generally happy and highly entertaining small people,and grand-parenthood, suddenly, became more interesting than tapping away at this PC.
Truthfully though, with "Anno's domino" having flipped over at 72, I do find myself spending a lot of time looking for my glasses, or my wallet, or my car keys, and it's been enough to set me toward challenging the trend.
I've enrolled in an Internet based memory training course, I'm working reasonably hard on its test routines (quite entertaining games) and the program tells me I'm getting better. The system is called "Lumosity", and you'll find it on lumosity.com. In any case, I'll let you know how I get on - if I remember.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Hot stuff!
Happy New Year from sunny Adelaide!
"Sunny", did I say? What I should have said was "swelteringly, baker's ovenly" Adelaide, because we're in the middle of the hottest hot spell we've had for yonks (as my son would say). I grew up in what was then a smallish country town, near Adelaide, and I remember we used to get a week or so of this heatwave stuff 60 years or so ago. But not for so long in and near the 40s (Celsius).
Not that this stuff really means much to me, pampered in my air-conditioned home and without any need to spend much time or effort outside.
The question (still) is "is this really Global Warming, or just part of the age-old cycle of weather, and our part in that?"
I have to admit that I've softened to believe that the new theories are probably right, in which case "Heaven help us all!" - because our governments aren't likely to do anything to save our kids and theirs before it's too late. But I hope I'm wrong.
Here in South Australia our main water supply (the Murray River) is so shrunken that we're all on quite severe water rations. After a year of rationing that's still all, except for feathery plans for a salinity plant.
We might as well all pray for rain, because no "earthly" prospects are on the way, and there's no expectation that our particular drought is near its end - even though our national tropics and Eastern zones are currently under monsoonal flooding.
NB: What a cheery way this has been for me to return to my blog, and to welcome you to 2008! Sorry about that.
"Sunny", did I say? What I should have said was "swelteringly, baker's ovenly" Adelaide, because we're in the middle of the hottest hot spell we've had for yonks (as my son would say). I grew up in what was then a smallish country town, near Adelaide, and I remember we used to get a week or so of this heatwave stuff 60 years or so ago. But not for so long in and near the 40s (Celsius).
Not that this stuff really means much to me, pampered in my air-conditioned home and without any need to spend much time or effort outside.
The question (still) is "is this really Global Warming, or just part of the age-old cycle of weather, and our part in that?"
I have to admit that I've softened to believe that the new theories are probably right, in which case "Heaven help us all!" - because our governments aren't likely to do anything to save our kids and theirs before it's too late. But I hope I'm wrong.
Here in South Australia our main water supply (the Murray River) is so shrunken that we're all on quite severe water rations. After a year of rationing that's still all, except for feathery plans for a salinity plant.
We might as well all pray for rain, because no "earthly" prospects are on the way, and there's no expectation that our particular drought is near its end - even though our national tropics and Eastern zones are currently under monsoonal flooding.
NB: What a cheery way this has been for me to return to my blog, and to welcome you to 2008! Sorry about that.
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