Waynes Word on Web

It for life

2011-01-06T07:00:00.003+10:00

I am a 55yo disability pensioner and up to ten years ago I led a very active life. I finished school before graduating, opting for any work that gave me the income to attend rock concerts, race motor bikes, surf, have a relationships and travel the world. Except for a brief attempt to study as a mature age student (pre computers), my life didn't have time for sitting down at a desk. Therefore when I became ill, I had to totally redefine my existence.

Firstly I read, obsessively, everything I could get my hands on and no library was safe from my newly acquired speed reading abilities. Then I tried painting and if it didn't move quickly enough, it ended up covered with my art. Soon I was writing my version of "War and Peace", devouring pens and pads faster than I could run to the nearest stationary outlet. This led to my first encounter with QWERTY, Microsoft operating systems and Word. After getting over my first loss of days of work , due to not backing up and the fact that you have to firstly go to Start to stop, I decide IT was the "thing" for me.

Two years of intensive study brought me to the conclusion, the days of floppy disks (hard copy back-up), expensive software and large (old fashioned) computers was over. The Web, cloud based servers and portable hardware is the way forward. Wikipedia HAS replaced Encyclopaedias, bookcases full of dusty old books and they need not clutter our lives again; regardless of your own personal nostalgic feelings for them. You CAN store all your vinyl records, tapes, CD's, video's, massive TV outputs, printed matter, photo's, albums etc, along with all the paraphernalia associated with an XP/Vista or old Apple system, in a building purpose built for such an extravagance; or you can store it in the cloud and take them with you wherever you go.

All this comes as no revelation to the young and those in the know, but it is still unrealized by the masses that would most benefit from the cheap and available technology springing forth, on our discount store shelves, as we ponder the new generation of IT with in our reach. For as little as a dollar a day (less than a newspaper) you can get a netbook with 4GB's of download p/m, that enough to access all the free storage needed to accommodate and all your precious stuff. I have opted for a handy 7" Galaxy tablet that can fit in the back pocket of my jeans or the coat pocket of my jacket. For under two dollars a day I get 10GB's p/m to store all the books, photo's, art, music and documents I can muster. I can download movies, newspapers, magazines, listen to radio, music, talks by the worlds most interesting speakers (TED). I can publish my book, display my art and if fate favours me, run a small business that will fund my retirement. And I can do all this on a bus/train, at the beach, while fishing, visiting my grand kids or vegeing in a retirement home. Oh btw, I can make free video calls to my most loved one's, or regular calls to any phone in the world, thanks to Skype.

For me this new technology is as good as a wheelchair for a cripple, a hearing aid for the deaf or a sight restoring eye opp for the blind. I can NOW begin to aspire to a more active life away from the confinement of an overstuffed office chair.

My hope for 2011

2010-12-30T06:24:00.003+10:00

My hope for 2011 is that attitudes will begin to move towards the concept of Direct Democracy.

Whenever the subject is breached, those with any semblance of power will laugh and hint at the "fact" Australian's are to stupid to have any say in policy decisions. Then they move the argument towards the "indisputable", referendums never get a result and it's way too expensive anyway.

Well, unless we are prepared to admit we will never be as clever as the Swiss http://www.abc.net.au/rn/rearvision/stories/2010/3047700.htm, the media should stop dumbing down the public and start gearing them up towards Citizen Initiated Policy. Because with a Nation Broadband Network comes the tools for voting on issues, rather than politicians who are bought and paid for by self interest groups.

Crazy RAN's closing down sale

2010-12-30T06:15:00.000+10:00

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/navy-drug-suspect-list-hits-17-following-police-raids-on-garden-island-naval-base/story-e6frf7l6-1225975265636

Another Aussie arms deal NAILED

2010-12-30T05:44:00.000+10:00

http://m.smh.com.au/national/top-brass-bombarded-with-treats-20101229-19a9m.html

New site for Breastplate of Narmer

2010-12-03T22:51:00.000+10:00

http://wayneswordpress.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/the-breastplate-of-narmer/

New Uniforms

2010-11-25T00:46:00.000+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web, 19.11.10

Multi-national, Multi-cam, Ameri-cam or Ausmeri-cam...??

Ameri-stralia..?

2010-11-13T13:42:00.000+10:00

Australia becomes the next star

BO is on the nose

Isn't it funny how fickle the voting public are, or how easy they can be manipulated by the media. One minute Kevin Rudd and Barack Obama are lifted up to to take the blame for the stimulus packages that had to be brought in (because of the greedy monetary policies of the Howard / Bush years), next they are kicked around by the very media that raised them.

If the Democrat's power is knobled by the mid term election, then no one should be happier than the irresponsible neo-cons who collapsed the world's economy and got bailed out by the Rudd / Obama temporary governments. Before you, the gullible public, can say BO is on the nose, things should get back to normal where the banks can start the cycle all over again.

Good on ya Murdock, Packer and public news casting services, where would we be with out you.

STOP BUYING IT!

Groups or organizations such as Churches, Governments, Military, Police and Corporations demand obedience at various levels and if one is highly disciplined at obeying their orders, then personal responsibility can be negated.
For example:
A soldier can use the defence "I was only obeying orders"
A Jehovah's Witness "my religion doesn't allow for blood transfusions"
A good citizen " the government allows me to sell cancer causing products"

If one is to remain highly disciplined and loyal to their organization yet be involved in activities such as human rights abuse, obvious stupidities and state sponsored murder, then the institutions they subscribe to must be held responsible not the individuals. When soldiers are brought up on charges of human rights abuse, quite often, they are tried by the very organizations that initiated the behaviour. When someone dies from lack of an available medical procedure a Church deemed inappropriate, then it's the individual who suffers and the institutions get away Scott free. When someone dies of cancer directly attributable to government taxed and approved products, then we as witnesses should be duty bound to hold the government to account and not point the finger at the victim. When a teenager gets drunk on socially approved liquor, jumps in a legally registered hot rod and raps himself and his girlfriend around a telegraph pole, we should be marching in the streets demanding accountability from the ones who have continually ignored the obvious remedy; tighter government restrictions regardless of the loss of revenue.

We the people have allowed our elected representatives, clergy and Captains of industry to get away with murder, while they continually point the finger at the victims. They spend tax payers money on advertizing campaigns that take the emphasis off their lack of responsibility and place it on the disempowered individual. STOP BUYING IT!

Never wrong

The decision points to bad intelligence traumatizing a generation and redefining human rights abuse, to please oneself, regardless of the consequences.

Lazarus comes forth

Lazarus was dead in his electorate, but arose on comman

Bring it on

2010-11-05T12:46:00.002+10:00

Text: Bring it on

from Waynes Word on Web, 20.10.10

Even if you are the Prime Minister of a great country and take on the Mining companies, you are going to get your butt kicked. If you want to rid the country of the evils of Alcohol, Tobacco and Gambling, the might of those industries will assure your demise. So to disagree with the need to be involved in war, on an ongoing basis, is suicide because the veracious military dynasties will not tolerate a reduction in the funding for their activities. War must go on, just as cigarettes and grog must continue to be sold, poker machines fed, coal mined and the collateral damage sustained.

Spend up BIG on war

2010-11-05T12:45:00.002+10:00

Text: Spend up BIG on war

from Waynes Word on Web, 17.10.10

Is it only me or does anybody else find it absurd that the combined, most expensive and ridiculously equipped armies, navies and air forces of the western world cannot seem to be able to win a single war against various groups whom have no warships, tanks or supersonic aircraft?

Taxpayers of America, Europe and Australia watch year after year as their hard earned funds are channelled into mega battles, until the well paid Generals get around to admitting that the only way to get out of their predicaments is to train the “locals” in the finer arts of war.

Now call me naive, if you will, but I think a cost/benefit analysis of this situation would significantly prove, beyond any shadow of a doubt, it would be better to get the “locals” to train our Generals in the art of how to effectively run a war without all the expensive tanks, battleships and jet fighters.

Hands up those who think the real reasons behind these farcical incursions are more about keeping all the Generals, Admirals, Majors, Lieutenants and Captains in paid employment and really cool toys, rather than protecting the taxpayers that pay their wages.

Governments plans to purchase 100 F-35's to fight global warming

2010-11-05T12:44:00.003+10:00

Text: Governments plans to purchase 100 F-35's to fight global warming

from Waynes Word on Web, 06.10.10

The RAAF's plans to acquire up to 100 F-35 joint strike fighters faces a further delay until next year as budget pressures continue to bear down on the government. In a long-awaited decision, cabinet's national security committee was due to sign off on the $16 billion purchase before Christmas and despite the outrageously price solution, conspiricy theorists insist that the money would be well spent, instead of providing more toys for the boy's to fight an imaginary war against an opposition that doesn't even have a figure head that can be found. An American spokesperson say's that they don't care what they are for, as long as they get the money.

Text: Fast Planes V's Fast Broadband

from Waynes Word on Web, 14.10.10

When do we get around to having a media/citizen discussion on a cost/benefit analysis of a National Broadband Network verses having a F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program or maybe a Very Fast Train?

TONY JONES: We will come to the cost/benefit question; Malcolm Turnbull, let's start with you. You've demanded a cost/benefit analysis, so let's start with the cost side of this equation. You claim the Government is proposing to spend $43 billion of taxpayers' money on the NBN. Is this literally true or are you fudging the figures?

MALCOLM TURNBULL: But can I just say, the reality is the taxpayer is the one that is on the hook, and just because he's putting $26 billion of taxpayers' equity in, putting it - ranking behind $16 or $17 billion of debt doesn't make it any less reckless.

STEPHEN CONROY: Well, notwithstanding Malcolm avoiding answering your question directly, Tony, both McKinsey's and now Mike Quigley have indicated that the figure is between $26 and 27 billion, not 43, as Malcolm just tried to claim incorrectly yet again. And we spent $25 million on a McKinsey's report into the business case which went through all of this information. It provided a business case that said the NBN is financially viable and affordable for Australia

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2010/s3025517.htm
------------------------------------------

GREGG COMBET: The aim of this conference is to help bring Australian technology and innovation together to the benefit of the JSF Program, because it is through our partnership in the JSF Program, the world‚s largest collaborative defence program, that we will meet our strategic and economic goals.

ERIC PALMER: There is no sound proof to state that the JSF F-35 program will meet “our strategic and economic goals”. If anything the aircraft will be sub-par as a weapon system and the definition of “economic goals” needs to be defined in significant detail by the Minister. I doubt that he has a grasp on this beyond some casual PowerPoint briefs that are based on Lockheed Martin talking points. In other words: “The fox telling the farmer, the definition of a chicken”. Unless the program shows proof of life with more orders of aircraft, Australia’s participation in this program will be a taxpayer-funded loss-leader. The hook was the seller of the aircraft (along with government support) stating that up to $5B in home industry work-share was possible with the program. (Note: This was promised to most JSF partner nations in briefings not just Australia.) This included the hype of up to $9B of home industry participation if the program did really well. What does Australian industry have so far? Not much but a few hundred million in contracts for a very troubled program. (1)(2)(3)

Long range estimates suddenly look bad when 3 different U.S. government agencies show that costs will increase dramatically. (4)

End notes-
(1) Carlo Kopp, Is the Joint Strike Fighter Right For Australia? Part 1—JSF V F-22, Australian Aviation, P1, April 2004, Adobe Acrobat Reader file, accessed 4 May 2010, (Note: set your Adobe Reader program to view in single page mode if needed as there is one graphic in this document that can blow-out the right and left viewing margins) http://www.ausairpower.net/Analysis-JSF-Apr-04-P.pdf
(2) Carlo Kopp, Is the Joint Strike Fighter Right For Australia? Part 2—JSF V Risk Factors, Australian Aviation, P34, May 2004, Adobe Acrobat Reader file, accessed 4 May 2010,http://www.ausairpower.net/Analysis-JSF-May-04-P.pdf
The author states the strategic risks in many ways but this quote at the end sums up what a layperson should first consider. “The stark reality is that whatever aircraft is chosen, Australia will have to live with it into the 2040 timescale. Choices which might look just good enough against the region today will not be competitive two to three decades hence, as a wealthier Asia invests increasingly in modern airpower.”
Newer analysis shows that it may be sooner than two decades for the risk to appear. This new analysis shows that if Australia purchases the F-35 JSF, that it will arrive for service in an obsolete condition.
(3) Peter Goon, Affordability and the new air combat capability, ADA Defender, Q4 2005, accessed 4 May 2010. Adobe Acrobat Reader file-http://www.ausairpower.net/NACC-Defender-Winter-2005.pdf
We were warned about economic viability of the F-35 JSF program as far back as 2005- “According to the April issue of Defence, some 18 Australian companies have won contracts to a value of over $A60m in the SDD phase. Even assuming a healthy EBIT (‘profit’) from these contracts of 15 per cent, and considering the level of investment being made by Government and Industry to win this work, such a ‘loss leader’ business model is certainly a courageous move on the part of all involved.”
(4) Bill Sweetman, JSF in the Dock, Aviation Week-ARES, 11 March 2010, accessed 4 March 2010.http://tinyurl.com/2ex76c7
Anyone claiming at this time that the F-35 JSF is somehow affordable can’t be taken seriously as there has been no proof except long range estimates. Note; In the world of Lockheed Martin and F-35 cheerleaders, long range estimates are great if they show a mythical low price for the aircraft. Long range estimates suddenly look bad when 3 different U.S. government agencies show that costs will increase dramatically.

Rev it up, Richard Cranium..!

2010-11-05T12:43:00.002+10:00

Text: Rev it up, Richard Cranium..!

from Waynes Word on Web, 09.10.10

Isn't it amazing how we, as a civilized bunch of evolved beings, can deplore road fatalities yet cheer for and acclaim racing drivers on any weekend in the year of living dangerously? Somehow or other we don't associate our lust for speed related recreational activities with the road toll, but common sense would assure us that promotion of speed demon activities, will inevitably raise the cost of human sacrifice on our roads.

We, the educated public , conveniently ignore the obvious and allow governments to promote the very thing that comes home to haunt us; in the horror of hospital casualties. Don't fret yourself on this Bathurst weekend, you can be assured most of your loyal Aussie compatriots will be cheering for Holden or Ford and will not consider, for one moment, the effect it will have on the next generation. Death on our roads is inevitable until the government starts to take seriously the consequences of their inaction.

Text: How much can a polar bear?

2010-11-05T12:42:00.000+10:00

Text: How much can a polar bear?

from Waynes Word on Web, 03.10.10

It never ceases to amaze me how the process of convincing sceptics, follows such a predictable path.

When the first signs of great and important truths are uncovered, the visionary is labelled a loony. Then when a few brave souls begin to come out of the closest and support the work, they are labelled as conspiracy theorists. If then they are going to have any chance of progressing the "theory" they have to band together and become a radical faction of the left. The conventional left then, reluctantly, begins to take it on as policy as the right consolidates it's forces in opposition because the right NEVER agrees with the left. Eventually, as scientific evidence accumulates to a point where it can't be denied any longer, the whole process moves into a go slow phase, to give the ones who made fools of themselves time to find a new issue to deny; so they don't have to admit they were wrong.

Et tu Tony!

2010-09-19T20:00:00.002+10:00

Text: Et tu Tony!

from Waynes Word on Web, 19.09.10

Act 1

Scene 1

The opposition to stable government begins it's destructive behaviour with an act of betrayal.

The lead actor denies the treachery and points to a woman, making fresh allegations of a similar act

"You backstabber!" he cries

"Down with your illegitimate rule."
--------------------

Text: Et tu Tony! Act 2

from Waynes Word on Web, 19.09.10

Scene 1

Saint Kevin, the old dragon slayer, is ever so nicely stabbed in the back by our heroine.

She goes on to be loved by nearly fifty percent of all the people in the land.

"Sorry" she said as Brutus Tonias, the usurper in waiting, lurks maliciously in the background.
-------------------------

Text: Et tu Tony! Act 3

from Waynes Word on Web, 19.09.10

Saint Kevin and Malus Turnbullius return as Ghost Ministers for the final battle.
-----------------------

Text: Sink the NBN?

2010-09-19T19:56:00.002+10:00

Text: Sink the NBN?

from Waynes Word on Web, 16.09.10

"Sink the NBN Admiral Turn-bull!" came the call

"Aye, aye your Majesty" the dutiful reply echoed

Before you could keel haul a land lubber, the brave Admiral climbed the nearest mast and began rattling his sabre towards the enemy.

This could be a scene from a Monty Python script if it wasn't so absurd. No sooner than the sounds of Tony's promises, of establishing a responcible opposition, are fading from ones ears, the man who was deposed by a nice knifing in the back is commissioned to destroy one of the newly elected governments main infrastructure building programs. We, the gullible public, had just finished listening to a disgruntled coalition on how ridiculous it was that Kevin Rudd could be reinstated with an important role in the Gillard Ministries, because of way he was deposed, when Malcomb is elevated by Tony who had done the same thing to him.

When we have all had to endure months of electioneering to decide which elected representatives are going to be allowed to form a government, so that they can get on with the business of ensuring the trains run on time, what is there in the grand scheme of things that makes Tony think that this is the way we expect him to behave? IMO there must be some mechanism put in place to bring to heel an opposition that refuses to accept the umpires decision and gets on with the task of positively building alternative policies, without resorting to the negative destructive behaviours we are now witnessing.

Heir Apparent or Presumptive?

2010-09-14T17:03:00.003+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web, 14.09.10

Some are born to rule and others have leadership thrust upon them.

In Australia we are privileged, in the sense that, the divine right to rule was never a part of our history except in the remote, via Britons paternalism. We like to think of ourselves as an independent lot ,even though England was responsible for our transplantation to the southern hemisphere. Therefore if a group can lay claim to privilege, it is because of their long term association with the growth and development of our nation. Take for instance the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church, they have had a long and influential history exerting authority here in our Antipodean abode, but no one would dare to seriously suggest either should have the right to civic governance nor unchallenged policy proclamations for the country. If the laws concerning the separation of powers between church and state weren't established then it wouldn't be inconceivably that at some point, in the past, the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Pope could have been our God given head of state. But this, of course, never eventuated.

In reality, we have the Labour Party and the Liberal / National coalition and to some factional devotees, the progression to leadership in either of these powerful organizations is no less in importance than when the puff of white smoke appears over the Vatican. Without the approval of the majority of citizens a party faithful can rise with in the ranks and go on to ultimate rule, if the divinations of the party room are accurate.

Now I think, if most Australians would be horrified of fifty one percent of voters becoming Muslim and installing an Ayatollah as PM, or even fifty one percent becoming born again Christians and installing Benny Hinn as President, then we should be just as outraged when fanatical party faithfuls behave in a manor that suggests, if they get fifty one percent of the vote then their particular Guru has a mandate to dictate to the country as a whole as if we all voted for them.

With the advent of the New Paradigm staring us in the face, there are those who are happy to see the diffusion of power beginning to emerge and there are those who can't wait to get back to the old system of Divine Right to Rule. While your particular needs maybe presented to you as best being served by one party or the other, don't make the mistake of thinking all can be represented by one perspective and no matter how much you like the current incumbent, the next Heir Apparent may not be your cup of tea.

Bob's New Paradigm

2010-09-09T07:42:00.003+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web, 09.09.10

A new era dawns over Canberra with the instillation of a Gillard Labour Minority Government and many Australians are happy with the result. This unusual situation signals a victory for those who have been less than contented with the two party domination of our system. The only one's who seem to be distraught with it are the hard core Liberal / National Party coalition types, who are crying "we was robbed". You don't have to be an expert in kinesics to read the body language of the disgruntled and despite Tony Abbott's unconvincing promises of co-operation, one can be reasonably assured the 43.7% opposition will be doing everything in there power to destabilize the legitimate government (formed by the representatives of 56.3% of the population).

The problem here is a failure to recognise that the old paradigm was past it's used by date. We have been conditioned to assume the domination of one party over the rest is the best result and the logical conclusion of an election. But when that situation occurs 50%+ voters are represented by their MPs and 50%- voters have to eat worms for three years.

The new paradigm is an opportunity for all to be represented and if Tony (and the boy's and girls of the coalition) can rise above their desire to be an obstructionist force, then they are in no worse position than anybody else and can put forward their plans for going forward. They can set policy if their ideas are any good because the independents have made clear they will not support party politics on matters of policy. But some how or other I perceive their disenchantment is, they don't get to lord it over the defeated and Tony doesn't get to live in the lodge.

When Parliament resumes it will be an experiment in whether our politicians can rise above their petty individual beliefs on how Australia should be governed, prove themselves to be good people and join in the new paradigm of group co-operation to obtain the best results for the whole country. If they exhibit recalcitrant behaviour and sink to behaving like adolescent schoolies then we, the empowering public, should make it crystal clear they will not receive our endorsement on our next visit to the ballot box.

The Way Forward

2010-08-26T22:07:00.001+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web, 26.08.10

We are now witnessing a monumental display, of the primitive nature, of the old fashioned paper based voting system.

Imagine the stock market or the banking industry following the example set by our electoral commission. You would buy stocks or bank money and they would say to you, wait a couple of weeks and we will eventually get around to looking at the piece of paper you scribbled your request on and then get back to you.

It’s a joke that the authorities can’t get around to upgrading the most important aspect of our governmental system, to a modern system which can count votes as quickly as Australian Idol. Ask yourself why we have to waste paper, money and fuel to upgrade our details on the government database, get out of bed on Saturday to drive to a polling station and tick boxes with an un-environmentally sustainable scribbling device on pieces of paper after being molested by polar unbearables handing out insults to your intelligence. Get a grip here, we all have state of the art polling devices in our reach that could remedy this insanity, yet we put up with this shit.

Do yourself, and everyone else, a favor and don't complain about what an idiot Abbott is or what a backstabber is Julia but demand a remake of the system that is letting you down as we speak.
My personal opinion is that they have no intention of upgrading the way we voice our democratic rights because once the electronic system is in place to vote for a person to represent you, the next logical step is we can vote on issues and that is unacceptable to those who make their living propagating the existing farce.

The Green Lodge

2010-08-23T21:18:00.000+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web, 23.08.10

There is one sure fact to emerge from the 2010 election in Australia and it is that the people of our nation are fed up with the way the two big parties go about their business.

There is one sure winner and it is those who have chosen not to support the rhetoric of hate; which has become the dialogue of Government and Opposition, and the hallmark of the House of Representatives.

If we are to glean lessons from this unusual situation and not just hope that there'll be a "better" result next time, then careful analysis of what brought us to this point must be a priority and how to move the country forward for the benifit of all, not just the smug satisfaction of the next majority, a goal.

The media interests have consistently paraded those with political aspirations as the Alpha dominant types to be looked up to and emulated. Growing up and becoming successful is personified by our heads of state, so it's safe to assume there are tribes of little John Howard's and Paul Keating's coveting The Lodge. Soon there will be little Tony's and Julia's moving forward and what can we expect of them but cynicism, one-upmanship and excellence in tearing down one's opposition in a ruthless desire to win at all costs. Is that what we want? Is that what we will continue to support after all this "nonsense" about a hung parliament is over?

My hope is that Julia, Tony and all those concerned are re-evaluating their negativity and looking forward to learning how to confide with the minority groups, sharing their responsibilities with those whom they may disagree and stop shouting down the ones who sit opposite. I hope they will put in place measures to care for the planet, as well as the attitudes of those who aspire to be like them and that soon we will see a Green Lodge with a more compassionate, caring and thoughtful occupant.

Turn your lights on

2010-08-20T00:13:00.003+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web, 20.08.10

Can you clearly see were the nation of Australia, is heading? I see a very definite, fork in the road ahead.

The decision we will have to make is not so much whether we will be governed by a liberal or labour party but whether we will steer to the left or the right of the elephant in the middle of the road? On one side is the dusty old road of protectionism, racism and the elitism of belonging to an Empire that had the delusion of being the God given, rightful rulers of the world. The other side is the highway to responsible global citizenship, where we take on the mantle of a progressive nation intent on sustainable, global practises and embracing the high profile position of becoming the worlds newest Republic.

Yes, the elephant I speak of is the great age of our existing monarch. One way or another we are going to have to address the problem of a change of circumstance, whether it be having a new King as our head of state or becoming a Democracy of a more modern kind. Mr Abbott leaves no doubt about which way he would go, being the number one replacement candidate for our countries most senior positioned confirmed monarchist. Julia Gillard, on the other hand, see's the way forward as embracing the aforementioned moment to become something better than we have ever been before.

The monarchists would argue doing nothing and excepting Charles as our King, is the best path to take, because they like the benefits of being associated with that system; as well as all the nasty, unspeakable acts done in it's name. Moving forward to a new style of government is an apostasy to them just as if the monarch was the head of their religion, instead of just the Church of England. In a day and age where religion and affairs of state are becoming dangerously incompatible, the very reasons they give for carrying on with a stiff upper lip, may very well be the best argument for distancing the British Royals from our Multicultural Democracy.

Isn't it about time we switched on the headlights and begin to see things clearly? We didn't vote for a change from the present system last time we were given a chance because the time wasn't right and we weren't given enough information on the types of republic's we could choose from. But if Julia is re-elected on the twenty first of August, we should take her for her word, as well as her stance on taking things to the public and demand a Citizens Forum for preparing ourselves for the time when we, as a nation, have to take the next BIG step in the view we present to a Multi-cultural world.

Give a man a fish ...

2010-08-14T01:30:00.003+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web, 14.08.10

With all the talk lately about Australia limiting it's population so we can continue to export food to a starving world, wouldn't it be better if we developed our ability to live sustainably and export that?

I can understand a man like Dick Smith wanting to sure up our nation into a profitable business, selling food to starving billions, after all he is in the business and is happy to declare his Capitalistic nature. But just because supply and demand works in the cut and thrust world of markets and pork-belly production, doesn't mean it is in our best interests, as a nation, to profiteer on the misfortunes of the rest of the people we have to share the planet with.

In line with the irrefutable wisdom, "give a man a fish and feed him for a day, but teach him to fish and he will feed himself for a lifetime", we could do with converting all that land and water devoted to producing unsustainable monoculture, into biospheres of diversity capable of feeding the millions more who could find homes and jobs bringing new solutions to old problems.

Unfortunately, we are stuck with the closed mindset of a over indulged population, intent on only looking at the solutions which allow for the continuation of a privileged few in a lifestyle billions can only aspire to; at the risk of a final depletion of natural resources. Instead of that bleak scenario, wouldn't it be nice to be looked up to as the smart nation, who found the solution to the population problems in new technology, rather than the old greedy reductionism views of population control.

Caution liars ahead..!

2010-08-11T18:25:00.000+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web, 11.08.10

If we are to believe fifty percent of our elected representatives, then the other fifty percent are a bunch of crazy liars and deluded fraudsters, who are intent on ruining this country and selling you a load of bad policies. But if we believe the other fifty percent of our elected representatives, then their counterparts are a bunch of crazy liars and deluded fraudsters, who are intent on ruining this country and selling you a load of bad policies.

What a great basis for a democracy! For your vote you can be sure you are going to get just under fifty percent of paid politicians working hard to undermine your elected government.

Who would want to change such a perfect system? If you are to believe all of the people benifiting from the current system, then only a bunch of crazies..!

A New View on Democracy

2010-08-08T17:07:00.003+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web, 08.08.10

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DemocracyDemocracy [The term is derived from the Greek: δημοκρατία - (dēmokratía) "the power to the people]

Democracy has been called the last form of government, a yet to be achieved “nirvana” that hinges on equitable education, freedom of speech and the means to manifest the will of the people. We the people have been sold a watered down version so manipulated by self interested power brokers that it’s almost impossible to distinguish it from liberal totalitarianism or conservative dictatorship. The bi-polar nature of our current liberal democracy denies middle ground sensibilities, as it rubber bands between two extreme views. It fosters an environment suitable for manipulation by those that would play one side off against the other to achieve an elite monopoly of unelected power brokers who preside regardless of ballots.

Now, while there is an argument for the continuation of the system we have done so well under, it behoves us to consider future generations and the concept of true democracy. Our children can be educated to a level were they can self govern and as the mechanisms come on line, all our future citizens can have their say on a secure, democratically governed, national internet. We have it within our grasp to put in the foundation stones for the first real democracy in the world.

Monarchists, republicans and democrats alike, should surly agree, technological advances have put us in the unique position of envisioning a better system, by anybodies standards. If we can seize this moment to rise above personal prejudices and begin a debate on what type of system we want to hand over to our offspring, it could be the “magnum opus” of a generation that took their planet to the edge of destruction.

Don’t let it be said, we fiddled while democracy burned.

From Socrates to the World Wide Web

2010-08-03T17:01:00.004+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web ,31.07.10

Whatever you think of the classic philosophers and their views on politics or virtue, as far as shaping our world, the moderns eventually over shadowed them because of one over riding principle. The ancients had no way of accurately envisaging the modern world and the changes in thinking that would be required keep up to date with factors of necessity, as time progressed. The moderns therefore, "progressed" philosophy into a redefinition of virtue, that would allow modern politicians to "virtuously" proceed with shaping the world as we know it.

Similarly the modern philosophy of last centuries poster boys of thought, may not have factored in certain changes beyond their frames of reference. The big two developments missing from their plans for advancing the mindset of those yet to come, in their crucial philosophy, was the advent and deployment of the World Wide Web, and the possibility of Planetary Destruction in our life time.

Therefore if Planetary Destruction becomes a reality, the Late Great Moderns of Philosophy will have failed to prove their worth. If the redefinition of virtue is a precursor for necessary change, then surely the measure of ones ecological footprint will be the main doctrine of New Philosophical Thinkers, who will be noted as the ones who save the human race and ultimately prove the worth of philosophy.

Now to the Internet, if this amazing tool is employed by those New Philosophical Thinkers for superseding the Moderns, then it also has the potential to bring about the supposed goal of true democracy. Purposely used for Democracy, the Internet has the potential to educate everyone interested in becoming an active part in the day to day running of their planet, as well as being the virtual civic centre where true democracy can be played out.

Summarily political philosophy has driven us to the point of extinction by placing the virtue of personal success and minority rule, ahead of true democracy and overall well being. If we are to reverse that trend, then the World Wide Web must be factored in and used to it's full potential for achieving the best results for as many as possible. A new line of philosophical thought should be fought for, no matter how opposed by the ones who have benefited from the old ways of thinking and failure is NOT an option.

Trust the X-spurts?

2010-07-17T18:38:00.000+10:00

According to the Oxford dictionary, "a spurt is a short period of unsustained effort" and as we move towards Australia's 2010 Federal election on August the twenty first, there will be a short period of unsustained effort by a stream of X-spurts trying their darnedest to influence the voting public. It is their big chance to galvanize the nation and leave us with the notion our democratic system is working for us.

We will be bombarded with targeted concepts like "moving forward" and "we're ready" designed to get our vote for Julia or Tony even though they won't be on the ballot paper most people mark. Most people vote for someone they don't know, or have a limited knowledge of, whose head only appears in the area once every three or four years. Our compulsory participation in this process is reduced to handing over power to someone who doesn't think we are capable of making any decisions other than picking one or two, pre-selected people, to make our decisions for us.

If you don't believe me, find an X-spurt, pull it aside and ask it for an off the record comment on whether the masses should be allowed to make policy decisions for themselves, even if only on the simplest of issues. Caution, you could be shocked by the reply!

The honeymoon is over

2010-07-09T15:45:00.006+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web, 09.07.10

It’s really quite bazaar the way Australia’s general public is manipulated by the media when it comes to giving the ever changing array of Prime ministers (or opposition leaders) their support or not.

One minute we are all quite chuffed with Mr 70% popularity and laughing at the images of the Emperor of the Republican Party, sorry Liberal Party, being knifed in the back. Then we are looking lovingly at Tony the Iron Man and considering him for the number one job, even though his only qualification seems to be disagreeing with anything anybody says.

We are then encouraged to be appalled at Julia (see-saw) usurping Kevin's reign, even though it was a liberal dose of media that did the hatchet job on him. But because she is a woman, she is soon forgiven and then after a short honeymoon the knives are being sharpened again on the old grind stone of evil boat people.

What a pathetic bunch we must look like to any sane observer! It’s not bad enough the ridiculous behavior of our elected parliamentarians is broadcast live to the world on the ABC, but now we appear to be seriously considering changing another perfectly adequate leader for a budgie smuggling mad monk, all because the story hungry, meddling media, can’t help themselves.

The grass IS greener

2010-07-06T11:21:00.001+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web, 06.07.10

When looking at the world as a whole, the continent of Australia stands out like a shag on a rock. There it sits right in the middle of the southern oceans, smack dab in between Africa and Sth America with Asia above us and Antarctica below. It’s one hell of a piece of real estate, probably the most desirable slab of land in our Galaxy.

There are 6,829,693,500 people on 148,429,000 square kilometers of turf on our planet in our little corner of the universe. Australia has 22,376,302 people on 7,687,000 square kilometers, that's approximately one / three hundredth of the people on a twentieth of the available land or simply 0.33% on 5%.

Considering these facts (and that the basics of human rights is the right and a place to exist) we lucky few, here in Aus, are potentially the head fascists of the worlds monopoly board and as our Prime Minister opened up the debate this week on what our policy should be towards policing our borders, we should tread carefully before stating our opinion on discriminating against 99.66% of the people we share this planet with.

In my opinion, we should at least put a plan on the table for addressing this heinous imbalance before pulling up the draw bridges. With a modicum of responsible behaviour we could take in vast amounts of refuges from all places and go somewhat towards placating the bulk of humanity who might not have previously noticed the imbalance, but inevitably will.

Rivers of opacity

2010-06-29T14:55:00.002+10:00

Opacity is the opposite of clarity and rivers of impenetrable political rhetoric flow through our living rooms daily, in regards to the big issues facing our nation and the Earth. We are inundated with reports ranging from the destruction of our planet, to the monetary worries of the worlds financial institutions and the security actions of troops in places like Afghanistan, but to what extent do we really understand?

Let's start with the Global Financial Crisis (GFC); we were kept in the dark while all those in the know were very aware our Superannuation funds were channeling monies into dicey Sub Prime loans and despite the myriads of financial reports brought to us by the mainstream, we were caught flat footed and aghast when the reality of the GFC came home to roost.

In regards to matters military, we went to war with Iraq over vague reports of Weapons of Mass Destruction, mainly because the sanctions weren't working, while the Australian Wheat Board was "secretly" manipulating billions of dollars in grain deals with Sadam Hussein. This was the reality while the worlds largest build up of security "experts" and foreign correspondents were suppose to be looking after our interests and keeping us informed on the situation.

Now to the fiasco of Climate Change; last years grave concerns for the salvation of the planet via a Carbon Trading Tax (and all the associated who-ha about us becoming a leading light) has totally disappeared from the cerebral cortex's of the countries leading editors and has been replaced by an obsession to pander to the big mining concerns about the repercussions of a Super Profits Tax. If a common sense, consistent approach to this matter was followed instead of an emotive outpouring of fear based logic, newspapers, radios and LCD screens would be pointing out we should be thinking about reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and winding down jobs in the Planet Stuffing Industries. But sadly no such luck because the ones that tried to convince you Kevin Rudd was responsible for getting us into debt durring the recovery from the GFC and that the refugees flooding into our country was not caused by previous governments failed foreign policies, are hell bent on brainwashing you into believing a change of government, in the upcoming election, is the only way you are going to save your ass.

Propaganda used to be the main tool for manipulating large population into doing the will of ruling elites but now we just have a sluice of opaque views leading to a dullness of mind that ensures the unseen power brokers get their way.

SPIN 2

2010-06-18T23:10:00.003+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web, 15.06.10

When the average person begins to format an opinion on matters political, in this wonderful country of ours, he/she has to rely on the marvelous manufacturers of spin we are all so-o-o familiar with. They reach this lofty perch by dutifully studying the prescribed methods of crowd manipulation taught so readily in our universities and tech colleges for the "benefit " of all. Journalism, Media Studies and Information Technology geared to giving you, the tax paying public, an unbiased view of the workings of the machine that lavishes our acquired opinions upon us.

If we should be "thinking" about the fate of our planet and the global warming debatable topics, then that's what we will be hammered with. But if then we are to be concerned with the unhindered rights of the big mining companies to rape the Earth (and the importance of the assosiated jobs) then that is what we will be hammered with. If they want us to have a "liberal" government, we will be plagued with SPIN that tells us what a jerk Kevin Rudd is...!

Personally, I would rather have the democratic right to vote for those who tells us how to think, rather than for any Cheesy Grin or Mad Monk.

PS. I wonder what Bob (greeny) Brown thinks of the Planet Stuffing Tax (PST).

DERACY

2010-06-18T22:41:00.002+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web, 07.06.10

It's strange the way we have come to think of Democracy, because originally it was meant to be a system were all those involved had a vote in the day today decision making process of their nation. If a road was to be built or a war participated in, then the concerned citizens gathered together and voted on what the united position would be. Somehow or other, it has deteriorated into, once every three or four years you get to vote for someone who makes those decisions for you. While it is not inconceivable that the definition needed to change to accommodate large uneducated populations, in this day and age with Democracy being forced upon people whether they want it or not, maybe it's time we had a fresh look at what it is we are all agreeing to?

Politicians are a strange breed, they move forwards out of the ranks of daily life to take positions as paid employees of the people that voted for them, as well as those who didn't, and join in with all the others who are in the same boat to make decisions and laws for the people who liked them enough to agree to pay their wages and honor their elevated positions. So they inherit this from the people who have given up the right to participate because they are busy making the money that pays for the 'luxury' of having this type of arrangement. All well and good if that's what you want, but what if that not what you want or they are making decisions that you don't agree with? You get a chance to vote for someone else in two or three years time who might or might not make decisions that you agree with, and so it goes.

Let's take a closer look at this and how it works with an issue such as whether or not we want to become a republic, irregardless of what your personal opinion is. Before the Howard years in Australia there was much discussion on the subject and it was generally considered we would soon become one, even the Queen and Prince Charles thought it was an inevitability and not a bad thing. The newest member of the Royal Order of the Garter, Sir John was a just a monarchist in those days and even though nobody had voted for him to lead our great nation with that in mind, all thoughts of going in any direction other than Sir John,s were put and end to with an expensive talk fest and a rigged referendum. Now I am sure that if the people who paid the Howard Government for the next ten years had of got their way instead of yielding to Sir John's then we would have been waving an Aussie flag that represented Australia as a truly independent country, instead of looking like we are still an outpost of the British Empire.

What about the G.S.T, again irregardless of what you think of it, most people were anti-G.S.T when John Howodd assured us that there would be no G.S.T if he became Prime Minister. Never the less the first thing he did when he got into power was to give us the very tax system he assured us he wouldn't. What about the war in Iraq, again most people were against it but did that matter? No, we signed up anyway, not because we authorised anyone to make that decision for us, just because John and George thought it was a good idea at the time. Are you getting the gist of what I'm talking about here? It's not weather you are for or against any of these ideas it's the fact that our employees made those decisions for us while pretending to be doing what they were elected for, which was to be your voice on the matters.

Now there is a simple way around this dilemma for anyone who is interested, if you wanted to become a republic today with the tools for real democracy in our homes and at our finger tips, then all it would take is fifty one percent of the voting population to sign up to a proposal on the Internet and it would begin to become a reality without having to ask your employees permission. If you didn,t want to buy a bunch of America's left over war planes and would prefer to spend all that money on your children's education, then all you have to do is collectively say so. Why isn't the program up and running that would allow this type of Democracy, maybe it's because your employees don't want you to have it.

Modified Dogs

2010-06-18T14:47:00.000+10:00

from Waynes Word on Web, 07.06.10

Envisage the future by understanding the past.

Even though current trends tend to steer logical, educated, transformists away from religious or mythological ancient stories, sometimes they are all we have to guide us towards an understanding of how we got into our present place in time and space. TheJudao-Christian Bible is particularly on the nose when it comes to making scientific enquiries and the Sumerian creational accounts not much better but I would suggest worthy of a second glance on the topic of Uplifting Non- human Animals or creating Chimeras in the search for ‘A Theory of Justice’ or when founding a ‘Great Ape Project’.

While many science fiction writers such as Asimov and Arthur C Clark are given high standing in ‘realist circles’, academics like Zechariah Stichin are generally left unquoted although in his specific area of enquiry, a giant of opinion and a genius of creative theory. His work on understanding the uplifting of mankind towards the Godly Anunnaki would seem to me directly relevant to those seeking an understanding of the problems and advantages of transhuman thinking. His ‘Lost Book of Enki’ has the chimera Adam transported back to the Gods home planet Nibiru with the instruction of hiding the fact of his hybrid nature. This was because such activity was unheard of and totally forbidden, so while I should be the last to complain ,seeing I am 98% monkey, I do feel caution should be adhered to as this was reported to be the issue the spiritual hierarchy flooded the earth over. So while we can be all patting one another on the back , admiring one another's amazing intellect, in the end it could be the most stupidest thing any being any could aspire to do.

However, I do think it is all academic because the incredibly intelligent leaders of our world absolutely shattered the ecology of our mutual nest and in reality, it will be issues other than this, that will decide the fate of the monkeys as well as the ‘whatever's’.

Fast Cars and Fat Cats

2010-06-18T13:52:00.002+10:00

Text: Fast Cars & Fat Cats

from Waynes Word on Web, 06.06.10

Most red blooded boy’s have fantasized on driving an over polished, internally combusted, fuel guzzling, super model on a long legged journey to an exotic destination but I think it’s about time these penile extensions were parked in the museum for really bad idea’s. No longer should rational, accountable, sane individuals have to gaze upon balding executives, exercising their ego’s in Foreign Convertibles as anything other than irresponsible, childish, selfish behaviour. No longer should race cars for the road, be tolerated for any reason, by anybody. There can be no justification for personal transport that needs the power to exceed 200kph nor should public servants be allowed to endorse them in anyway. They should be treated the same way as Tobacco products that kill. The death toll and cost of hospitalization for the victims is unacceptable and all efforts made to put an end to the carnage.

The time has come to stand up against car company executives who think they can continue this insanity while they claim compensation from an already
heavily taxed public. If they wish to continue trading in our future transport needs, then terms must be struck to make sure safe, reliable, sensibly paced
cars are their priority not Bathurst prepared V8’s. Publicity, promotions and advertisements regulated in the same way as other life endangering products have to be. Sales restrictions to protect the youth, legislation to protect us all and fines for the non-compliant.

We have to stop glorifying James Bond’s, Jack Brabham’s and Peter Brock Specials just like we had to stop idolizing the cigarette smoking celebrity if we want to move forward in the evolutionary stakes. It’s not just a matter of protecting the environment, although that’s reason enough, but developing a self preservation attitude against irrational self destructive behaviours and leading the next generation in that direction.

You can barge your way through life, blast along country roads when you think no one is watching or cruise the strip in your hot rod if you really want to, that’s the privilege of belonging to a liberal society, but you should not expect that people won’t look at you like your a moron or pretend they think your cool. My suggestion is that you grow up, behave and stop indulging your fantasies at great social cost.

For those that choose the sensible path, don’t encourage the feeble minded in their self indulgence. Don’t look longingly upon the overpriced planet stuffing machines when your travelling smart-safe and compliment one another on your intelligent choices.

2010-06-18T12:40:00.001+10:00

Not a patch on legislation.

I just don't get it, Nicotine patches to fight Nicotine addiction and targeting victims of the unscrupulous pushers with a concentrated form of the very drug that binds them to the state endorsed merchants of death and disease. This is somewhat akin to asking inmates of Auschwitz to pay for cyanide laced band-aids or gum in the vain hope it will help rid them of the fascist state that's killing them in the first place.

While I have no doubt some people have had success with the final solution, it occurs to me if you wanted to solve the overall problem you would outlaw the offending substance and those who were unscrupulous enough to participate its sale. As with everything else in this world of double standards, the very same people who are adamant about Cannabis and it's pushers being outlawed, don't seem to be similarly concerned when it comes to the Nicotine pushers, even though they have been responsible for the biggest genocidal attack on humanity bar none. While we have outlets for the sale and distribution of the drugs that fill our hospitals with the bulk of their patients, openly plying their immoral trade on most street corners in the western world, I for one refuse to take them seriously when it comes to these half baked campaigns for me to spend the remainder of my meager pittance on the deadly chewing gum they say will fix me.

How hard could it be to legislate these corporate giants out of existence? Every time I have spoken about this to a fellow victim, of this insidious plot, I've had a positive response but it seems to me the only one's who argue for the rights of companies to continue their reign of terror are the non-smoking authorities who demand their right to continue to collect taxes; how evil is that? It's not as though the monies they make are clear profit, they have to pass it over to the 'health professionals' who are looking after the ones who were made ill by the initial sale. So in the end it seems to be about the rights of a small group of people who value their incomes over the health of the bulk of the people and they are the ones who are trying to ram poisonous chewing gum down your throat.

When do we get to the point were we insist our well paid public servant behave in a responsible manor and demand they put an end to this insanity once and for all? It would be in every bodies best interests if they just bit the bullet and put the plans on the table for the end to the era of state approved drug pushing, anything else is just inane posturing.

2010-06-18T11:38:00.002+10:00

Now I'm not a prude or a wowser by any gauge but I have got to tell you I find it repulsive the way the children of our "civilization" have been bombarded with uncensored images of war. The warnographers of this world have been given carte blanche to pervert the minds of our most vulnerable and while they were diverting our moral attention span away from the foulest of human behavior, they focused it on the lesser of two evils pornography.

The "god-fearing" leaders of the Judaeo-Christian and Muslim nations have consistently ignored the effect, of their lust for war, on the innocent and chosen instead to demonize anything vaguely associated with sexuality outside the accepted norms. On a scale of one to ten, how do YOU rate the collateral damage caused by war verses porn?

If we rate the billions of people who have had their guts ripped out by war as a ten, then I would suggest by comparison, the victims of porn would be less than one. Why are we not as outraged when we find our children splattering heads on the Internet as we would be if we found them on a naked human site?

Responsible adults should understand the irony of this and no matter what your particular brand of belief is, collectively pray that the world gets it priorities in place and doesn't continue on with the insanities of the warnographers.

2010-06-18T11:28:00.005+10:00

Mob Rules!

I don’t think anybody would disagree, Mobsters ruin communities.

To get a picture in your mind, of what I am on about, just think Chicago during the prohibition years. Al Capone and Frank Nitti rode rough shot over a whole metropolis, while they ran gambling, prostitution and sold booze & drugs on every street corner. Now stop for a moment and ask yourself who carries out that tradition in our society today?

Mobster require one main ingredient to formalize their rule, a mob; so regardless of who’s the boss, it’s the mob that empowers. The average person
empowers the big bosses of this country and every time they put money in a slot machine, back a horse, buy grog or suck on a bit of smoko weed. They are
financing a system that is responsible for the bulk of family hardships, illness
and death. Now I hear the cries, surely not, our responsible leaders of industry
and government should not be put in the same category, they don’ carry machine guns, they don’t mow down innocent people in the course of maintaining their monopolies, or do they?

Our society doesn’t tolerate irresponsible, profiteering, drug dealing, pimps
because they prey on peoples weaknesses for their own greedy ambitions. Well
call me a liar, if you want to, but when the big company executives and
governmental bodies budget for large profits, in the fore mentioned areas, are
they not doing exactly the same thing? You may well put forward an argument in support of this kind of irresponsible behaviour, quoting the fiscal necessity
and the befits of job retention as overriding the moral imperative, but then you
are exactly the problem I am talking about.

For those who get it, you may well say ‘what can we do about it, we are just
the victims’ or ‘that’s the way it always been and after all you can’t change
city hall’. Well to that I say ‘BULLS*IT; don’t curtail social reform for those
reasons, fight for you children’s rights to live in a better era. There IS no
rational reason that we have to put up with mobsters running our lives and
making bad decisions that affect the very core of our existence. Demand
substantial social reforms and don’t hand over your power to representatives
who don’t have the highest moral agenda on this issue, because if you do, then you are the mob.

Media Magic 2

2010-06-18T11:23:00.001+10:00

Once upon a time you could trust your eyes and ears, not any more!

We really must be vigilant in engaging the b/s meter when reacting to what we see or what we hear. Spinsters used to be single old maidens plying a trade beneficial to weavers, at least. Now there are spin-stirs, greedy good for nothing a’holes, capable of selling you anything for their own benefit. Take for instance the gun lobby, they would sell you the line everybody has the right to carry a gun, but they don’t really mean it. What they mean is that they want the right to be judge, jury and executioner of anyone they deem to be guilty of threatening their prosperity. If everyone carried a gun it would be Dodge City all over again and the guy with the biggest gun rules or the scumbag that sneaks up behind you gets to tell his/her version of events while you rot in boot hill.

Then there’s the Tobacco and Alcohol lobbyists, they would sell you the line people have the right to decide for themselves, while addicting children to their products which subtly take away their ability to choose. The government spin-stirs plaster our living rooms with advertisements condemning smokers and drinkers to an early grave while raking in billions in ill gotten gains; when if it wasn’t for their addiction to the generated revenue, they could pass a bill tomorrow and end the evil trade.

The Hocus Pocus of unethical professionals swirls before you every day with the sole intent of lulling you into a state of mind from which they can profit. Everybody knows, every body can see the comb over, but we are so mesmerized by it and so used to the conditioning, we just go along with it. They tell you aspartame will make you slim, trim and terrific and permanently overweight people lap it up by the truckload. They tell you Round up ready, genetically modified crops are the go and before you know it were all shoving it down our gobs. They sell you the concept there is no God while they are trying there damndest to become your god; believe me?

Women used to want the right to bare boobs, now they want to bare arms.

Men used to plot their pay off, now they pay off their plot.

Children used to inherit a future, now they doubt any future.

The poor, the meek and the ones who mourn used to believe one day they would have their reward but the spin-stirs have even coverted that.

I believe in a creative force that doesn’t condone magic, but I sure wish someone would click their fingers and wake us all up.

The intelligence behind the creation

2010-05-15T11:27:00.001+10:00

Since the advent of the digital information era, it has become clear that infomation can exist without form. A USB filled with information doesn't weigh more than a blank one.

We humans may not be any different to an organic USB plugged into the computer that is Earth and the realization of such maybe the single greatest leap in evolutionary advancement.

The magnetosphere of Earth has the potential to store all the information that is us, if it isn't destroyed, and yet we continue to mine and pollute.

The Sun, worshiped as the creator by those extremely clever Ancient Egyptians, has information/energy visibly circulating around it and provides us with all the elements to sustain life; so who are we to imagine it doesn't possess consciousness and the ability to oversee our existence?

Now while I do not have the resorces to prove the assumption "it is the intelligence behind the creation", I don't believe anyone can disprove it.

A Spectrum of Views

2010-05-15T11:19:00.002+10:00

Does it ever amaze or amuse you, that some people assume we all see things from the same perspective? It's obvious and understandable, when dealing with the big issues on a global scale, that Westerners see things differently than Easterners, City dwellers to Country folk and Indigenous to Interlopers but within the sub-cultures not so.

Australians are a diverse breed, so when I hear "experts" pontificating on a subject as if we are all on the same page it annoys me because it forms the bedrock discrimination grows on. You could call it "Pauline Hanson Syndrome", assuming WE (Australians) all think the same about things and if you don't your not really an Australian. It invades all aspects of community life and thinking outside the box is rarely tolerated and often leads to isolation from the heard.

Now, while this very article may fall into the category of un-Australian thinking and some will isolate it from their common sense leanings, for those whom aren't in denial, I have a template to guard against PHS.

1. Is my idea Mono-polar (does it leave no room for dissent)?
2. Is it Bi-polar ( does it create an us and them mentality)?
3. Is it Tri-polar (sitting confused, in the middle of two polar extremes)?
4. Is it Multi-dimentional ( sitting centered in a spectrum of views and able to relate to all)?

Public Trust Journalism

2010-04-16T17:58:00.000+10:00

Public Trust Journalism is critical to any form of democracy that can conceive of running a country devoid of the apathy that is repugnant to those, whom ‘of the people for the people’ has any real meaning. Without an operating process for the monitoring of bureaucratic activity, the result can only be worse than that which we have just witnessed, a runaway train wreck of George Bush proportions.

'By public trust journalism, I refer to journalism that applies scrutiny, analysis and accountability to governments, parliaments, politicians, public servants, judges, police, councils, the military, NGOs, diplomats, business and community leaders and the recipients of public funding.' * Eric Beecher

In Australia, most of this journalism has been funded by advertisers in the same newspapers, radio and TV programs that also undertook the “public trust” journalism. Those media outlets and their owners reveled it, while it lasted and they got to make extortionate profits from the ads at the same time as they were basking in the power and glory of running “public trust” journalism. Now, as advertising migrates from these profiteers to the Internet, the funding source is disappearing. http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/04/08/democracy-and-the-near-death-of-public-trust-journalism/

The ABC is the only alternative to the privately owned guardians but because of there close association with the very institutions being scrutinized, space should be put aside for the public to engage in online activities that would serve as the watchdog, that has been sadly lacking, and now runs the risk of totally disappearing. This is the right and responsibility of those who fund the ABC through there tax contributions and no one at the broadcasting commission nor the incumbent government, has the right to refuse.

Imagine, total accountability, transparent process and the ability to actually influence policy. These things can be achieved by demanding the obvious and necessary function of Public Trust Journalism be returned to the conscientious citizens who are prepared to participate in a broad spread of patriotic activity and a pinpoint of accountability, via an ABC supplied content management system designed for the specific task.

What perceivable application of democracy could you come up with that would come with in a bulls roar, of having a country wide forum for analysing all aspects of Governmental operations, in your home, at your disposal, twenty four hours a day?

A tall/short story

2010-04-11T17:02:00.001+10:00

Super Professor/Administrator, I M Upitty signed off from the daily grind of endless discussion groups, countless working lunches and headed off in his Audi roadster to the airport for a rush trip into the field research part of His huge departments responsibilities. He was being pressured by the incumbent government’s budget restraints committee to actually come up with some positive actions in response to their massive financial contribution to His work. After a brief stop off at the Aero Ritz Bar and Grill to fortify himself for the hard yards which lay ahead, he boarded the private jet service flight to the remote location where he would have to walk all the way to the waiting helicopter. Just the thought it all was giving him a massive migraine, so he popped maybe one to many Vallium and managed to pass out for most of the gruelling three hour journey.

On arrival, the prearranged team of co-ordinators met Him with a small fleet of 4WD’s laden with all the provisions needed for an overnight stay in the potentially hostile territory referred to in His research as Problem area No:27b. This area had come under the spot light of all sorts of government research, it was unique in the sense that all the previous Aboriginal residents had move out because of the strict application of an alcohol cordon and now only poor white kids resided there, mainly because of a lack of transport. Small outposts of lean-to’s scattered over a large area was going to make the documenting of their current pathetic state difficult to say the least but, because of previous incursions into the area, Professor Upitty had it covered. He would make his base camp high on a ridge overlooking the creek where the little ferals tend to gather because of their need for water and the occasional yabby.

All had gone well up until the time they began to switch on the satellite surveillance grid and wouldn’t you know, it was down and a manual override had to be put in place before night fall. The professor tended to stay inside the air conditioned environment of the Hummer but as all the facilities of a fully operational field lab kicked into place and they settled down to observe the night time activities of the target groups, He positioned himself into the command chair ready to document anything that moved for the next twelve hours and had left word with his secretary not to be disturbed.

As the heat of the heat of the day subsided and night began to fall, all the occupants of the lean-to’s began to move about. Crime was about to erupt and the Prof. was feeling as hard as a Cobra. Soon the little perpetrators were brazenly about to start doing things in full view of the high tech surveillance devices and their conversations could be plainly heard via directional recording equipment aimed in their direction. Little fires began to erupt all along the banks of the creek even though there was a total fire ban covering the whole area. Before the night would be over, sex was bound to happen.

The morning light put an end to the operations, Professor Upitty thanked his team for a job well done and headed off back to the waiting helicopter to rush his findings to the sitting committee that was meeting for lunch at the Hyatt. As he walked from the rooftop helipad into lift he commented to His aids how tiring field work was but His findings would prove beyond a shadow of doubt, it was all worthwhile. As he took the floor to point to the evidence proudly displayed on the overhead projector, the professor’s demeanour changed to that of a highly concerned moral campaigner and everybody agreed that more money was needed to fight this grave injustice to human rights, law and order. His recommendations for more research and a higher police presence were well received and everybody felt sorry for these underprivileged kids when it was finally reported; “There just wasn’t enough money to relocate them and the facility to detain them was designed but not yet built, it would require further massive injections of funds".

A bigger bite!

2010-03-23T10:11:00.000+10:00

Everyday, I see an army of minimum wage flunkies servicing the interests of property magnates. They are the cleaners, shop assistants and waiters etc, for the tourists industry that is the Gold Coast, Queensland.

Up untill now you could have done OK here in Paradise as a underpaid slave for the negatively geared investors club, by rolling over your home loan till the debt level reached $300,000.oo but now you are up the creek without a paddle. How do you service a community when, as school leavers are now realizing, you have to pay $300.oo per week rent or take out a home loan that your meager $17.50c hourly rate is never going to pay for?

Even if you bite the bullet, roll up your sleeves and get the home loan from hell, you still have to factor in your out of control transport costs, dental plans, rapidly rising power costs, food and rates that would make a blind man blink. When ever I have pointed out this abysmal state of affairs to the one's that created it by voting for John Howard, they allude to the misconception that education can fix the problem and if the ones who are doing it the toughest, would only work harder at getting themselves into a big HEX debt, then they too could join the ranks of the privileged. This unfortunately does not fix the problem, it just passes it of to another sucker because the units still have to be cleaned, the shops manned, the beer poured and it doesn't matter if you are a qualified rocket scientist, you are still a only going to get less than $20.oo an hour to do it.

This problem is REAL, this dilemma is NOW and I would not consider voting for anybody/party that doesn't have a plan for addressing the inequality between the classes because what is going to happen when hard working, young family starters are being jailed for not being able to meet their debts.

It is in every bodies best interests that the working poor be given a bigger bite of the hamburger and that the over fed stop being so dam greedy.

BITE ME!

2010-03-23T10:06:00.001+10:00

It's about time someone highlighted the disparity between the poorly paid underclass of people who are the bottom tier of the pyramid that is Australian society and the ones who attain higher status, by standing on their shoulders.

When I was a school leaver, forty years ago, petrol was less than 50c a gallon (that's about 4-5 lts for the uneducated), you could buy a new car for less than $3000 or a home for $20,000 and as an unqualified teenager, I could easily earn $10 ph labouring and $350 pw was not an unrealistic take home pay.

Today a young person in similar circumstance has to pay at least $6 per gallon for fuel, $15,000 for a new car and $250,000 for a home. So it is with great sobriety that I state " the average child in this country will have to earn ten times more than my generation to have a chance at achieving the lifestyle their grand/parents rose to." Now while this might be possible for the offspring of the ruling class it is virtually impossible for the bulk of average kids so don't continue to delude yourself any longer, if our children are not revolting, they should be.

Nothing new under the sun?

2010-03-16T10:56:00.001+10:00

Nothing new under the sun?

Doing time, is an inevitability, because in the end all we have is time and time is what we don't have enough of.

Achievement requires doing time; a tradesman does time as an apprentice, a sports-person time in the gym and a scholar, time in the library. You could say it is one of the laws of creation, whether you are a Darwinist or a literal six day-ist, you can't be a big fish until you've done time as a guppy. Maybe this is why plagiarism is considered the unforgivable sin by those that haunt the corridors of the academic fortress, because no one knows better than them; if an engineer cheats his/her way into a position of authority the bridges of humanity begin to fall down.

Evil cheats the laws of creation, yet as a Lucifer, it presents as a manifestation of light. Just imagine if a patents clerk stole the idea for nuclear fussion and created a bomb, instead of free enery for the benefit of mankind, or a militaristic dictator stole the plans for a democracy and used them to defeat any opposition to his/her totalitarian reign.

History is full of such examples and can be studied as the rise and fall of any civilization. Our challenge, if we are to break the mold of a crumbling society, is to clearly locate and isolate the points were we are cheating and there is no doubt in my mind that when elements of destruction are elevated to the positions of acceptable solutions, the rot starts to set in. When the taxes collected from gambling, alcohol, tobacco and speeding cars are factored into the health budget, problems are not far ahead. When the army that destroys a city or country is left in charge of it's reconstruction, years of chaos will ensue. While the jailers of men like Nelson Mandela are running the radio stations and the rest of the media, apartheid in it's myriad of forms will preside.

Until the thorn birds are not left to rot on the vines for the pleasurable sounds they bring to the ears of the evil running the orchard and the interpretors of agony into ecstasy are removed from their privileged positions, we are at risk, our existence is challenged and the future happiness of our mutual children is in jeopardy. Let us at least try to define something new under the sun, peace and justice for all.

Dumb Insolence !

2010-03-13T14:37:00.002+10:00

The act of remaining silent in a presumptuous and insulting manner.

During the course of the Second World War if you were charged and found guilty of dumb insolence, you could be legally stood up against a wall and shot; so serious was the nature of the crime. It's an effective way of protesting in the face of authority when the words are not allowed to be spoken because they may incriminate you and while the fifth amendment of the United States ConstitutionNo person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger goes some what towards protecting perpetrators of the act, even there it can be overridden by the military, during times of war.

Now while authorities have found this type of behavior unacceptable in people who are accountable to them, they don't hesitate to use it themselves, when it suits them; to say "no comment". Reguardless of whether you are supported by an authority or not, it is particularly annoying when you come up against it, especially when the perportrator is just using the "crime" because they want their way and don't have a valid argument to support their case. In everyday life, dumb insolence can be used as a tool for bullying people, for example; a group of cool kids decide to ignore a nerd by pretending he/she does not exist or a mean spirited individual monopolizes something that somebody else needs and refuses to dialog on resolving the issue.

In the commercial world, the right to say "no comment" or punish someone for dumb insolence is metered out by Buck the Almighty.
In the world of public service the privilege is decided by, he/she whom recieves the most money from the public purse. In a fair and equitable democracy, no one would be allowed to sink so low that they would use dumb insolence as a tool for pushing people around, without a valid exemption for the instance.

I like to pride myself as being a decent judge of character by sticking to a few basic rules;
* don't relate the size of someones wallet to their worth
* don't morally grade someone on what church they attend or their position in it
* don't worry about what dangles between someones legs or lack thereof
and if someone is able to rationally talk about conflicts of opinion, they are less likely to resort to violence and unjust acts.

The scatological dissemination society

2010-03-13T14:11:00.001+10:00

The scatological dissemination society

The science derives from the Greeks (σκώρ "feces" & λογικός "the study of reasoning").

In considering this important strain of scientific understanding lets take for instance the story of Troy or the exploits of Alexander the Great, as examples of how scatological droppings can spread all around the world. In reality they were a rampaging bunch of barbaric invaders who raped and pillaged, but if you read their literature, they are reconstructed as legendary heroes. Similarly, the Romans carried on the tradition, along with every other Empirical regime since and if the Nazis won the second world war, we would be up to our ears in their brand of pooh. Currently the new crop of beefcake paddies are being spread by the Americans in conjunction with their coalition of comrades in arms and the trails all seem to lead back to the Pentagon, or associated agencies. The heaviest deposits seem to accumulate around technology centers and if you are seeking some specimens they won't be far from a computer or the media based service providers.

Now while this brand of anthropological data has been used efficiently to keep the average Joe Blow up to date with what is expected of them to know, it is getting a little long in the tooth and it might be time for those in the industry to reconsider the way they go about their "science". What with the invention of all the mod-cons we the people have at our disposal, like flushing toilets etc, we can learn to analize the stools for ourselves and a new era of freedom from the muck spreaders can be achieved.

So, it is with great respect that I propose the end of the scatological dissemination society and the beginnings of a new way of understanding how the Great Apes go about their buisness.

A brave new world?

2010-03-05T12:15:00.003+10:00

A brave New World?

Old world thinking has had it's day in many ways. I wouldn't get a lot of argument if I listed all past wisdoms that have bit the dust in line with current thinking, but if I begin to address some of the sacred cows that should be in the same category, I immediately notice raised hackles on the guard dogs of the banal "facts" preservation society. Take the English language, for instance, which has always been an evolving system of expression; if any modern adaptation rears it's head, an army of "old fashionistas" take to their brooms and if they had their way we would all be still theeing and thouing. Or in religion, the ones who want the mass said in Latin, an elitist language of scholars and a bourgeoisie who like to lord it over the common man with their understanding of a tired old communication format.

It's a brave new world which embraces change and doesn't suppress it. While you may think it strange for me to quote a thirties novel to accentuate my point, consider this; eugenics as portrayed in Aldous Huxley's classic dystopia, is a tired old theory. If the elitists, who espouse it, were forced onto the public stage to debate it, instead of cowering in their ivory towers alluding to it, we would see it relegated to the trash bin of history were it belongs. When Prescott Bush pushed for President of the United States, he was soon put in his place because of his association with this type of eugenic stance. The Reverend Thomas Robert Malthus's works have been conspicuously veiled from the general public view because of their controversial nature. When Eugenic Societies were forced to change the signage on the fronts of their buildings, to that of the more acceptable Family Planning Centers, it went relatively unnoticed. The concept of Alpha and Beta humans is offensive to the bulk of humanity when we all know, given equal opportunity, new blood strays are quite often the salvation of inbreed pedigrees.

It's old fashioned thinking to continue to believe the Earth cannot sustain large diversities of life, for example; if we were to continue to use old fashions fosile fuels sure we would run out and problems would occur but if we move to sustainable practises, no problems. You can apply this type of thinking to all the "problems" Malthus referred to in his flawed mathematical reckonings.

If you are still of the mindset that disregarding the human rights of the underprivileged is an answer to the worlds perceived problems and that there is some moral high ground to be had in favoring the already favored few then maybe you are the one's we would all be better off without.The future belongs to the brave, not the morally indignant and while I'm not suggesting all problems can be simply fixed by adapting to a new way of thinking it's better than wallowing in the muddy thoughts of past professors of a limited view. We, of the now, have more information at our finger tips than any previously held in high regard thinker could have possibly imagined. We can develop systems so unique to the world as it is now, that the building blocks of the past simply don't fit and new ideas can be assembled from the ground up with new thinking at it's base not the confused mutterings of bygone legends.

Shame and repentance

2010-02-11T11:27:00.001+10:00

Most of us can only imagine what it must be like to fall from grace when you've been a public figure, previously of high regard. So I gather it would be an act of self preservation, to delude yourself into an obvious lie, regardless of knowing everyone can see the comb-over. Take for instance George W Bush, John Howard or Tony Blair, do they really believe they did the right thing when they were being idolized eventhough the thing they did, led to them being shamed before the whole world?

While the intensity of being a shamed public figure may not be the norm, the phenomenon of self delusion, as a tool to continuing on regardless, is. Millions of ordinary people were totally sucked into the logic of the "Coalition of the Wallys", therefor there must be millions of anonymous self deluder's who are grasping onto the lie their fallen public counterparts have concocted. This mental condition goes undiagnosed year after year, generation after generation and "no doubt" causes ongoing problems in our society. Because a lot of those in denial are people who hold "responsible" positions in the organisations encompassing the "smooth" running of everyones daily lives, maybe a national group therapy day should be held regularly to help purge this mental problem from those who are suffering from it and move our country towards a saner future.

Now I know there will be those that don't want to hear this diagnosis of their present condition and will strugle against the pricks of conscience, but for the sake of those who weren't sucked into the rhetoric of the mass delusion and the children of all, who weren't part of it, the act of repentance is a healing therapy and a balm only those who have genuinely said sorry can know.

To those who hear what I am saying ( not just about about George W's insane war, but many other big wrongs) and don't want to do the right thing by those who were hurt by their error in "intelligence", I have only three more words: SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!

Pharisees and Sadducees of Art

2010-02-01T12:32:00.001+10:00

The Pharisees and Sadducees of Art (the art-erarty)

reside in the temples, built by Inspired the Great

Monopolizing expressions of spirit, as well as the tithe

formatting the practises of late , forging and festering hate.

Like photocopiers of existing talent and gift (realism)

they bolster one another and seek out the weak

laying stumbleing blocks and trip wires for the meek

Stoning the inevitable "sinners", thinning potential "winners".

A brood of vipers I say, stifling any challenge to change

The mass production of frangipanis is the cause

and the crucifixion of the muse, a necessary evil

to put down any "whores" and prevent art wars.

Watch out for the one holding the coats (in support)

secretly scheming and aspiring to persecute the fold

By an amateur psychology and a new testament

that it was all done for your salvation!

Referendum on the cards

2010-01-27T21:41:00.003+10:00

Referendum on the cards
from Waynes Word on Web, 27.01.10
Our future is on the line in regards to how we are perceived by our neighbors and depending on what side of the tracks you come from, the flag waving issue seems to dictate what our national image might be. On one side we have those who are proud of our Britishness, and the fact many brave souls fought and died for the right to display the union jack in the corner of our southern cross. On the other we have those who are not so impressed with what the red and white intertwined crosses represent and would love to see something else put in its place.
Is one side more Australian or British than the other? Is wanting a unique and exclusively Australian symbol, in lieu of "the jack", a display of un-Australian behavior or just the reverse?
Now, you can be as dogmatic as you like on your particular view because, in reality, thats what our soldiers fought for in the second world war. To keep flag waving Nazis and Imperialists out of our country was the priority, not to defend England's right to perch on our turf. If I remember rightly, the flavor of digger commentary in the RSL clubs, was no more pro-Pommy than it was any other European state. My father put his life on the line every day of the conflict as a British sailor before migrating here. As the son of a two bob Pom, I grew up in a country that discriminated equally against anyone who wasn't white with an Aussie drawl so don't come the raw prawn when it comes to talking about what's traditional Australian attitudes. We didn't respect the British flag anymore than we did the Italian, Greek, Polish, German, Japanese or American.
When young people stand on their soap boxes and drape themselves in our composite flag, chanting Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, they dishonor the men and women who would have fought for our country regardless of what was on their pole. Do you think they wouldn't have fought as bravely if a Koala bear or anything else was the image of their unity? No, my compatriots, if you want to honor the real free spirit of the digger, ask yourself these questions;
1. Would you be just as proud to stand under a different flag if it represented over fifty percent of Australian voters and
2. Would you like to live in a country that wouldn't give the people the right to select their own image?
When I look into my crystal ball, I see a country that prides itself on its multi-cultural heritage and had the gumption to secede from an old and flawed system. The trick was to ask the right questions in a referendum not limited to a simple choice that ensured the status quo continued to pull the wool over the majorities eyes. Yes, my fellow republicans, victory was gained by demanding all views be given an equal chance of success and when one united, viable option was put up against the old and outdated biases, common sense prevailed.

A Manifestation of Democracy

from Waynes Word on Web, 21.01.10

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy

Democracy [The term is derived from the Greek: δημοκρατία - (dēmokratía) "the power to the people]

Now, while there is an argument for the continuation of the system we have done so well under, it behoves us to consider future generations and the concept of true democracy. All our children can be educated to a level were they can self govern; as the mechanisms come on line. All our future citizens can have their say on a secure, democratically governed, national internet. We have it within our grasp to put in the foundation stones for the first real democracy in the world.

Monarchists, republicans and democrats alike, should surly agree, technological advances have put us in the unique position of envisioning a better system, by anybodies standards. If we can seize this moment to rise above personal prejudices, the up and coming debate on what type of republic we want to hand over to our offspring could be the “magnum opus” of a generation that took their planet to the edge of destruction.

Don’t let it be said, we fiddled while democracy burned.

Wielding worry

2010-01-20T20:32:00.001+10:00

It never ceases to amaze me how good Christian people wield worry like a battle-axe, when it was a teaching of their Lord not to worry because, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life [b]?"

Some people go out of there way to bring their worry down upon you, like it is their Christian duty.

Now I know it's easier said than done to follow His teachings and they are no worse at this one than all the others like;

"Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men" and
"when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners." or
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal."

When we see the religious right on both sides of conflicts, worrying about protecting themselves, and their treasures from the other, then they are dishonoring the very concepts their faith is built on. When we see them hating their enemies, instead of loving them, then the hot coals of fire are firmly in place on their own heads. Until the "responsible" leaders of the great religions and nations start reminding themselves, and others, to follow the teachings of their great profit or Lord, then there is no chance of a promised peace.

If you agree with what I'm stating here and know of any "godly" people wielding the worry axe, remind them of the saying " why call me Lord and not do the things I say" or for the others just the good old adage " before you worry about the cinder in your brothers eye, take the log out of your own."

2010-01-18T20:11:00.000+10:00

Check out my new site http://sites.google.com/site/wayneswordsite/home

Look into my crystal ball

2010-01-18T11:12:00.003+10:00

When we have a big problem with our thinking, quite often we are the last ones to notice it. When Adam had a bite of the apple, he probably couldn’t see anything wrong with it. When Saul/ Paul decided to gather a band of followers, kill and imprison Jesus’ followers, he probably thought he was being morally responsible. When Germany rallied to Hitler’s ravings, they were certain they were on the right track. So if we are making a huge error in thinking, how would we know?

Inevitably, when evaluating this phenomenon, the truism “only time will tell” becomes the mark of all judgements. So it is not a bad idea to use that measure to self analyse , take for instance if you were one of those indignant Aussies who were certain the dingo was innocent in the Adzharia Chamberlin case, time proved you wrong. If you thought Joh Bjelke-Petersen was just a nice guy who was good for Queensland, the Fitzgerald Inquiry eventually put paid to that myth. If you thought George Bush and John How-odd were justified in waging war over weapons of mass destruction, you are now put in your place.

If you are currently of the mindset that the war on drugs will solve the problem or warnings on the packets of cigarettes will stop kids from smoking or a tax on alcho-pops will reduce kiddie alcoholism, then time is currently doing a job on you. New ways of thinking are required here as with many other old and outdated errors of judgement and as the bible recommends, a transformation of renewing the mind is required. So get on it before you end up looking like a total jerk or worse, criminally responsible for duty of care issues and side with the ones who are prepared to recommend the hard decisions be made by those who are paid to make the hard decisions.

The only way the best outcomes will be realized with smoking and drinking issues is to put the ones profiteering from it out of business. The only way to fix the illegal drug trade is to take the profit out of it and the only way to stop our kids ending up in hospital from speed related accidents is to stop registering cars that can exceed the speed limit. Get with the program!

Breastplate of Narmer

2010-01-14T15:18:00.003+10:00

Read the book here-> http://wayneswordpress.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/the-breastplate-of-narmer/

Get with the program

2010-01-14T13:08:00.002+10:00

A Global Warning

2010-01-14T12:59:00.001+10:00

When things heat up, physical changes occur, ice turns to water and water turns to steam. When human relations heat up, talk turns to arguments and arguments turn to violence. These truisms may have more relevance to the fate of mankind than would be realized at first glance. Take for instance the two big issues on the world stage at the moment, global warming and the war against terrorism.

When dialogue and sanctions broke down with the war in Iraq, violence erupted and George Bush committed trillions of dollars to proving America was the toughest kid on the block. Imagine for one second if all that money and effort went towards the other big problem, maybe we would all have solar cells on our roofs by now and Copenhagen would be an irrelevance.

Last month Barack Obama and K. Rudd signed away trillions more of taxpayers dollars to the never ending story of war against people who would threaten your security, whilst totally failing to put a penny towards the other problem; which if left unattended could be the end of us all. But never the less, I don’t blame them, they are being pushed around by people who only care about their jobs in the industrial military complex and the filthy dirty planet stuffing industries.

So, in summary, if you don’t want, ice to turn to water, water to turn to steam, talk to turn to argument and arguments to turn to more war, make sure when you pay your taxes and vote for your puppet, commonsense prevails.

Read my book

2009-11-12T11:25:00.004+10:00

http://pool.org.au/text/waynes_word_on_web/breastplate_of_narmer

The wreck resurfaces

2009-10-13T11:42:00.001+10:00

William James Clough came out from England as a Salvation Army Officer to work in the Wonthaggi Mines of Victoria, sometime before the First World War, and as far as I know, brought this very boat with him or made it on the long trip out here. He was my grandfather on my mother’s side and the HMS Victory has been lost from my family since his demise.

I never knew the man; he died a long time before I was bourn. Even my mother only had vague memories and a story of how he died in a motor cycle accident. This kind of endeared me to him, for as I grew up, I began a long love affair with the deadly two wheeled beasts. So I find it amazing and appropriate that I end up with, what I assume, was his prize possession.

When he died, he left my mother an orphan to be raised by older step children whom inherited all he left. As time would have it, they all did quite well in this Australian life, except my mother who suffered from a bad case of the “Cinderella’s”. So when the wreck of the Victory finally resurfaced this year and made its way into my possession, it represented all we ever inherited and an appropriate representation it is.

On the other side of the world, while William was beginning his stinted attempts at a dynasty, Thomas Scholfield my paternal grandfather was leaving a wife and a profitable business as a Cooper, to fight for his county in the trenches of France. He returned a broken man after receiving three doses of mustard gas for his trouble and spent the remainder of his day’s unsuccessfully partitioning for adequate compensation.

Eventually World War Two broke out, my father signed up to do his patriotic duty with the British Navy and ended up in Australia after serving in every theatre of war the second had to offer, including being one the first set of allied feet on Japan’s freshly radiated soil. With boundless energy he went about doing all the dirty job’s Aussies didn’t want and he didn’t stop till Cancer stopped him, all without any recognition from the British and no repat pension from the good old Aussie Services.

Not to worry, it’s all good here in the lucky country as I, being the only surviving male heir in Australia to both my Fathers clan and Williams are here to attest. The point of telling this little tale is two fold; one to inform those that don’t know that the original wreck of the Victory has been found and is looking like being the biggest find of English Maritime treasures with heaps of brass cannons and four ton of gold coins. Here’s the link http://www.shipwreck.net/hmsvictory.php and for those that are interested, after my fathers estate was settled I had another interesting item to go on the mantelpiece with Granddads model ship; a lovely original pigskin wallet, empty of course.

The wreck resurfaces

2009-10-13T11:23:00.000+10:00

12:17 PM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it

FC

It came to exist at the same time as me

And was originally called a Holden FE

My dad bought one and he called it fun

The maiden voyage, the Queensland run

First photos of Wayne were at the wheel

It was then that I knew I had the feel

For beautiful cars, and the wild life

Even though it would lead to strife

Sixteen years latter I had my own

The ancient equivalent of a mobile phone

If you couldn’t hook up, with one of these

Chances are you had mange, or fleas

My best mate had one with a back

A panel van, wide wheels and board racks

Mobile freedom and a bed on the go

We had it made with flairs and a fro

Double Jay concerts and days at the beach

No party or venue was out of our reach

Girls on the make and grog near at hand

We really were, kings of the land

No car could match it for style and grace

Even though you’d get beat in a race

Didn’t mater what anyone said

Fords were only for extreme rev heads

V8 Holden’s were for Peter Brock types

We were above that and better at nights

Rolling along with Hendrix and songs

Girls in the back were wearing their thongs

If you wanted a drag my bike would suffice

Twelve second quarters at a Honda price

Would leave them crying in my wake

With all the horse power they could rake

Yep Holden’s ruled there’s no doubt about that

Believe what you want with out knowing the fact

While you were dreaming outside in the back

We were nailing it, in the old FC hack

12:16 PM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it

Goin’ Fishin’

My old man worked twenty four seven

Which wasn’t bad, for a Westie Bevan

His quest for dollars became a mission

But that didn’t leave much time for fishin’

When times came around for taking a trip

The bugger was full of lies and bull shit

After thirty years or so, it fell to me

To invite him fish hunting, as a retiree

The prep was grand on a scale for us

Buy a fibreglass skiff and a trailer with rust

Patch it, paint it and put an Evinrude to match

Get the rods and the reels, a bag for the catch

A tent, sleeping bags, blow ups, the lot

Stacked in the boat not much we forgot

Sun cream, Aeroguard, hats and a change

Maps and spare fuel I cleverly arranged

Two hours north and a beautiful day

We were off-- to Tin Can Bay

But before we got there, I must explain

It positively pissed down with rain

Not to worry for we were in the car

And it fined up fast before we’d gone far

Only problem was the soaking of bedding

And that could dry out while we were fishing

So with tent set up and ship set to sail

We were absolutely sure not to fail

With Dad in the front and me in the back

I soon reeled in my first Mangrove Jack

Everything was going well as night began to fall

But there and then we realised mosquito’s were the call

Not your every day type, these ones were from hell

Big black bastards and our blood they could smell

I thought I had it covered though

Cause back to the camp we would go

Lots of repellent and a fully meshed tent

To enjoy a dinner that was heaven sent

With a six horse, flat strap, we couldn’t out run

Twelve thousand mossies lookin’ for fun

I went quite mental swinging my belt

By the time we got there, just one big welt

Left the boat in the water and run at full pace

Picked up the bedding, it looked like a race

Into the tent with no moments to spare

But a nightmare was waiting, when we got there

Midges had nested in all that we owned

Silence was shattered as both of us groaned

And the pest sprays didn’t work as they orta’

The mean little buggers drank it like water

To make matters worse, they come two abreast

Thought my father was having an arrest

I just needed some time to think

So back to the river and into the drink

We sat there up to our ears in relief

Bating our eyelids to stop further grief

But as time would have it we started to freeze

The plan was to run for it and head for the breeze

Out of the water and into the car

The windows were down so therefore no bar

It was full of bities so we had to get going

Down the track we went without even slowing

Bouncing around like two jumping beans

At least we were rid of those flying machines

All was lost and there was no going back

Calamine lotion was all that we lacked

Rolled into Gympie at quarter to five

Suffering from a bad case of hives

Waited outside till the chemist was open

He took one look at us and said “you’re gotta be jokin”

Sitting in the cafe with only our shorts

Covered in white stuff and listening to snorts

When a young Murri guy let rip a jibe

“I know were I’m from, but what’s your tribe.”

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Dolphins, what dolphins?

A meditation on top of the falls

Clear as a bell I heard the calls

To sojourn in the sea of salt

An invitation to good to fault

The nearest beach was miles away

Somewhere near our Byron Bay

But a walking track was not so far

And I finished the last part in a car

On the sand at waters edge I see

A six foot closeout barring me

From entry to the glassy rack

Forming nicely out the back

I grab the board with no leg rope tied

And paddle for hell against the tide

Under lips that were pushing me

On to the bottom of the sea

My dash for the back was almost done

When looming there against the sun

Stood a briny pyramid ten foot high

Blocking my vision to the sky

To make things worse and me quite glum

My board had gone and I had no gun

Five dolphins lay readied on the crest

To speed my way and piece my chest

I dived as deep as I could go

Only to be pulled up into the show

Opened my eyes as wide as I could

Flapped my arms and patiently stood

In the wave that was ten tones thick

I was worried I would shit a brick

Five noses coming straight for me

At thirty knots and no time to flee

One went directly over my head

And two at my hands I could have fed

Two at my feet but they quickly past

A star of energy and a memory to last

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Old man of the sea

Sleep wasn’t coming easy

The radio didn’t help at all

Reports of a giant swell

Building from the gates of hell

Kept the adrenalin flowin’

And I couldn’t wait to go

Down to Currumbin Rock and see

The waves that were haunting me

------------------------------------

Mornings light was yet to shine

The wet suit drying on the line

Boards were lashed to the Holden’s rack

And nothin’ was going to hold me back

------------------------------------

The car park full at quart to five

Everything was cumin’ alive

The line up started on the rock

Bravest souls first to drop

Into the soup and paddle out

Under brine stacked like a house

By the time I took the dive

Legends were hangin’ five

-----------------------------------

The barrelin’ section in front of the rock

Was an esky lid play pen not for the lot

Diving in there was death for sure

Paddling around the back even more

------------------------------------

Pick up on the wrong one and expect to die

I’m telling you this and I do not lie

T’was getting bigger with the tide

Pick the set and you’re in for a ride

Back from surfers on the bus

Amidst the chunder and the fuss

Most of us were paddling, going nowhere fast

The BIG ones wasted, too far out

------------------------------------

All of a sudden and right on cue

The Mayor of Currumbin came into view

On the tip of the rock and about to pounce

And paddled straight out, regardless of paunch

Pulled on to the Wave of the day

Freefell ten feet into the fray

Stagger a bit and grabbed the rail

In a bottom turn not for the frail

-------------------------------------

He drove up the face with awesome force

Trimmed and stood there proud as a horse

As the barrel engulfed him we all held our breath

Cause this old guy was dicein’ with death

---------------------------------------

He looked a little wobbly

As he spat out of the hole

But it didn’t matter

Style was not the goal

Gathered speed with turns of gold

Hit the lip right on the fold

Floated sideways into place

And into Lacy’s with heaps of pace

---------------------------------------

Down the line he did go

Passed the young guns and those that know

Men like that don’t come along all time

And poems about them usually don’t rhyme

-----------------------------------------

So when I tell my stories now

I don’t forget the sacred cow

Of tales and memories fading fast

Or Ishmael, when tied to the mast

Was something most will never greet

Or someone they will never meet

And defiantly all but none will ever be

As brave and heroic as the old man of the sea

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October 05

A day to remember

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A day to remember

I was heading south out of Queensland and had paused to spend the coldest part of the night sucking down a bottle of Stones. This was the only way to stop the wind chill factor shakes that was preventing me from having a clean run. The bull dosser that pushed yesterday’s trees into a pile by the road was my best ally against the frozen wind because the fire wasn’t much help; couldn’t get close enough to it. Sleep finally came and it seemed only like a moment before the early morning road gang was waking me up.

On with the full face, kick the beast to life and back at it. It was a full 10 minutes before I let the tacho rise above three grand and only when the Burringbar Range was in my rear mirrors did I lift the right foot to place the segregated gear box into top gear. The touring range of my interstate tank was full and the Grafton fuzz weren’t out of bed yet, so it only seemed like a dawn breaking fart before Coffs was a distant memory. Maxville’s Iron Bridge became Newcastle’s gateway and a milkshake at the Oak wasn’t as attractive as a Hawkesbury oyster, so I pushed on towards Sydney. Just passed the Toukley turn off and wouldn’t ya know it, a creep club was blocking me. As I rounded the big right hander on to Wyong straight, I couldn’t take it anymore, I flicked on the blinker, stuck the nineteen inch Dunlop on the yellow line and before we were half way along the eighteenth fairway I was three cars behind the offending long wide load. A police escort was in front waving the on coming traffic onto the verge, when a Mac Bulldog, carting a full load of bricks, came out of the Wyong township, steered left over the railway bridge and didn’t even attempt to slow down as it turned to negotiate the verge. As it turned out rather unsuccessfully!

Here I was, perched in the middle of the road with nowhere to go and fifty ton of bricks heading straight for me, pushing a jack knifed prime mover. I had less than five seconds to live. I tapped the Mageera leaver in my right hand twice, just enough to see the tail lights of the Falcon beside me, laid into a ninety degree lefthander and gassed it off the bonnet of a Commodore up the Fords arse. As I was leaving the raised surface of the carriage way, I managed a quick look in the direction of the driver of the offending implement, visible to me through his side window, and he was ducking for cover. Boom, the fibreglass cab exploded into a million pieces as the overhanging load from the westward bound freight ripped it open like it was a can of tuna.

Back to the task at hand: I was leaving a perfectly good road surface and taking to the air between it and the wire mesh fence protecting motorists from stray white balls, I just cleared it and landed heavily in the sand bunker. That day in seventy six never left my memory, as I’m sure it didn’t the twenty odd drivers that got side swiped or the shell shocked suicide jock that crawled out of the burning wreck.

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He who can't be named!

2009-05-03T15:46:00.000+10:00

14 April

William and Mary

William I was a Stadtholder (Dutch for Steward) It is comparable with the French title Lieutenant, England's fifteenth century Lord Lieutenant with the Italian title of Doge.

Henrietta Maria was Princess of France and Queen Consort of England, Scotland and Ireland through her marriage to Charles I. She was the mother of two kings, Charles II and James II, and was grandmother to Mary II, William III, and Anne of Great Britain. She was also, through her daughter Henrietta, Duchess of Orléans, the ancestor of Louis XV, Louis XVI, Louis XVII, Louis XVIII &Charles X. Through the illegitimate children of Charles II, she is a direct ancestor of Princess Diana , Prince William and Prince Harry.

William II was a Stadtholder of the the United Provinces of the Netherlands On May 2, 1641 William married Mary Henrietta Stuart, the Princess Royal, the eldest daughter of King Charles I of England and Queen Henrietta Maria in the Chapel Royal, Whitehall Palace, London.

Mary, Princess Royal's ancestors were

Father: Charles I of England

Paternal Grandfather: James I of England

Paternal Great-grandfather: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley

Paternal Great-grandmother: Mary I of Scotland

Paternal Grandmother: Anne of Denmark

Paternal Great-grandfather: Frederick II of Denmark

Paternal Great-grandmother: Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow

Mother: Henrietta Maria of France

Maternal Grandfather: Henry IV of France

Maternal Great-grandfather: Antoine de Bourbon

Maternal Great-grandmother: Jeanne III of Navarre

Maternal Grandmother: Marie de' Medici

Maternal Great-grandfather: Francesco I de' Medici

Maternal Great-grandmother: Johanna of Austria

William III of England and Mary II of England

Co-regents 1689-95

Upon the death of Charles II in 1685, the Duke of York became King as James II in England and Ireland (and as James VII in Scotland). He had a controversial religious policy and the King James Bible;

On 30 June, the Immortal Seven secretly requested William—then in the Netherlands with Mary—to come to England with an army. At first, William was reluctant; he was jealous of his wife's position as the heiress to the English Crown and feared that she would become more powerful than he was. Mary, however, convinced her husband that she did not care for political power, telling him "she would be no more but his wife, and that she would do all that lay in her power to make him King for life". William agreed to invade and issued a declaration which referred to James' newborn son as the "pretended Prince of Wales". He also gave a list of grievances of the English people and stated that his proposed expedition was for the sole purpose of having "a free and lawful Parliament assembled". The Dutch army finally landed on 5 November, having been turned back by a storm in October. The disaffected English Army and Navy went over to William, and English people's confidence in James stood so low that they did not attempt to save their King. On 11 December, the defeated King attempted to flee, but was intercepted. A second attempt at flight, on 23 December, was successful: James escaped to France where he lived in exile until his death.

Mary was upset by the circumstances surrounding the deposition of her father, but William ordered her to appear cheerful on their triumphant arrival in London. As a result, she was criticised for appearing cold to her father's plight. James, too, wrote a diatribe against her criticising her disloyalty, an action which deeply affected the pious Mary.

The invasion marked the final defeat of England in the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the 17th century. However, the personal union, the common market and the merging of the English and Dutch navies shifted the dominance in world trade from the Netherlands to England (and then theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain). Although most in England accepted William as Sovereign, he faced considerable opposition in Scotland and Ireland. The Scottish Jacobites—those who believed that James VII was the legitimate monarch—won a stunning victory on 27 July 1689 at theBattle of Killiecrankie, but were nevertheless subdued within a month. William's reputation suffered following the Massacre of Glencoe (1692), in which 78 Highland Scots were murdered or died of exposure for not properly pledging their allegiance to the new King and Queen. Bowing to public opinion, William dismissed those responsible for the massacre, though they still remained in his favour; in the words of the historianJohn Dalberg-Acton, "one became a colonel, another a knight, a third a peer and a fourth an earl."

Whilst William was away fighting, his wife, Mary II, governed the realm, but acted on his advice. Each time he returned to England, Mary gave up her power to him without reservation, an arrangement that lasted for the rest of Mary's life. William endowed the College of William and Mary (in present day Williamsburg, Virginia) in 1693. Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas, is named after Fort Nassau, which was renamed in 1695 in his honor. Similarly Nassau County, New York a county on Long Island, is a namesake. Long Island itself was also known as Nassau during early Dutch rule. Though many alumni of Princeton University think that Princeton, N.J. (and hence the university) was named in his honor, this is probably untrue. Nassau Hall, at the university campus, is so named, however.

The modern day Orange Institution is named after William III, and makes a point of celebrating his victory at the Boyne. New York City was briefly renamed New Orange for him in 1673 after the Dutch recaptured the city, which had been renamed New York by the British in 1665. His name was applied to the fort and administrative center for the city on two separate occasions reflecting his different sovereign status—first as Fort Willem Hendrick in 1673, and then as Fort William in 1691 when the English evicted Colonists who had seized the fort and city.

William and Mary (the Adam and Eve of Virginia)

William Randolph (1650– 1711) was a colonist and land owner who played an important role in the history and government of theCommonwealth of Virginia. He moved to Virginia sometime between 1669 and 1673, and married Mary Isham (1652–December 29*, 1735) a few years later. His descendants included several prominent political figures, including Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall. Genealogists have taken an interest in him for his progeny's many marital alliances, referring to him and Mary Isham as "the Adam and Eve of Virginia".

*The same day Mary II supposable died in 1694 at the age of 32.

The Randolphs were established gentry, in England, meaning that they had property and a family tradition of knightly military service signified by a coat of arms. Although the family can be directly traced back only as far as 1500, the name appears in the Doomsday Book and there is a distinguished Scottish family with which they may have been connected. There is better evidence that they were descended from Surety Barons of Magna Carta through a female line. The historian David Hackett Fisher shows a chart illustrating gentry intermarriages in which the Randolphs and Ishams figure. Although there is no record of William's attending a university, his half-uncle Thomas Randolph was an Oxford don and noted poet.

After his arrival in Virginia, Randolph began working as an "undertaker" (building contractor), before turning to tobacco farming. Even after he had acquired property, a tax roll refers to him as "William Randolph, Merchant". At some point he owned a ship which travelled between Bristol, England and his dock at Turkey Island. Randolph held multiple official appointments. At the local level, he became clerk of Henrico County Court in 1673 and held the position until he was asked to serve as a justice of the peace in 1683. He also served as sheriff and coroner.

In addition, Randolph represented Henrico County in every assembly of the House of Burgesses from 1684 to 1698, was the Speaker of the House of Burgesses in 1698, and was the Clerk of the House from 1699 to 1702. He fell ill in August of 1702 and his son, William, took his place. Randolph resigned the clerkship completely in March of 1703.

Randolph was also one of the founders and first trustees of the College of William and Mary. His son, John Randolph, was awarded a knighthood on a trip to London to secure a royal charter for the College.

Randolph was a friend of William Byrd and served as an advisor to Byrd’s sons during their political careers. He is mentioned in one of Byrd's diaries without the supercilious tone Byrd employed with most of his contemporaries, no small character reference. Byrd also describes a visit to Tuckahoe Plantation around 1733.

He built a mansion on the Turkey Island plantation on high ground overlooking the island and the river. It featured a ribbed dome and was known as the "Bird's Cage

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 into a family closely related to some of the most prominent individuals in Virginia, the third of eight children. His mother was Jane Randolph, daughter of Isham Randolph, a ship's captain and sometime planter, first cousin to Peyton Randolph, and granddaughter of wealthy English gentry. Jefferson's father was Peter Jefferson, a planter and surveyor in Albemarle County(Shadwell, then Edge Hill, Virginia.) He was of Welsh descent. When Colonel William Randolph, an old friend of Peter Jefferson, died in 1745, Peter assumed executorship and personal charge of William Randolph's estate in Tuckahoe as well as his infant son, Thomas Mann Randolph

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13 April

He who can't be named!

Witch one is the Head Master?

Thomas Jefferson - Thomas Malthus or the Viscount Melbourne

(April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) (13 February 1766 – 23 Dec 1834) ( 5 March 1779 – 24 Nov 1848)

Thomas Jefferson was a political philosopher, a man of the Enlightenment and knew many intellectual leaders in Britain and France. Jefferson served as the wartime Governor of Virginia (1779–1781), first United States Secretary of State(1789–1793) and second Vice President (1797–1801) before becoming the 3rd President .

He was born in 1743 into a family closely related to some of the most prominent individuals in Virginia, the third of eight children. His mother was Jane Randolph, daughter of Isham Randolph (a ship's captain who owned a ship which travelled between Bristol, England and his dock at Turkey Island), first cousin to Peyton Randolph, and granddaughter of wealthy English gentry. She came from a leading Tidewater family, and had a noble bloodline ranging back to various locations in England and Scotland. Family lore held her as descended from various European royalty ranging as far back as Charlemagne. The first record of Jane's presence in Virginia is her marriage to Peter Jefferson on October 3, 1739.

Peter Jefferson, a self-educated jack of all trades, was of Welsh descent. When Colonel William Randolph, an old friend of Peter Jefferson, died in 1745, Peter assumed executorship and personal charge of William Randolph's estate in Tuckahoe as well as his infant son, Thomas Mann Randolph.

William Randolph and Mary Isham Randolph

In 1752, Jefferson began attending a local school run by William Douglas, a Scottish minister. At the age of nine, Jefferson began studyingLatin, Greek, and French. In 1757, when he was 14 years old, his father died. Jefferson inherited about 5,000 acres (20 km²) of land and dozens of slaves. He built his home there, which eventually became known as Monticello.

In 1772, at age 29 Jefferson married the 23-year-old widow Martha Wayles Skelton. They had six children: Martha Jefferson Randolph (1772–1836), Jane Randolph (1774–1775), a stillborn or unnamed son (1777), Mary Jefferson Eppes (1778–1804), Lucy Elizabeth (1780–1781), and Elizabeth (1782–1785). Martha died on September 6, 1782. Although Jefferson was only 39 at her death, he never remarried.

Jefferson is believed to have taken an enslaved woman as a companion, as other wealthy widowers had done. He had a nearly four decades-long relationship with Sally Hemings, a young quadroon believed to have been a half-sister to his late wife. (They were both the children of John Wayles, and Sally's mother Betty Hemings was mixed-race. Wayles had started a relationship with Betty Hemings after becoming a widower.) DNA testing has supported the weight of historical evidence pointing to the relationship, and the conclusion that Jefferson was the father of Sally's six mixed-race children (who were of seven-eighths white ancestry). Four of the children survived: Beverly, Harriet, Madisonand Eston, and Jefferson freed all of them at about age 21.

During Jefferson's term as governor of Virginia, it was invaded twice by the British. He, along with Patrick Henry and other leaders, were but ten minutes away from being captured by Banastre Tarleton, a British colonel leading a cavalry column that was raiding the area in June 1781. Public disapproval of his performance delayed his future political prospects, and he was never again elected to office in Virginia.

In 1784, Thomas Jefferson took up residence in Paris (as the American envoy) when the French Revolution was being hatched and despite being friends with the ruling and social elite, he sided with the revolutionaries when the killing began. He returned to become the USA’s first Secretary of State in 1789 with his eldest daughter Martha, looking just like her dead mother Martha, by his side.

Martha Jefferson (not sure which one)

Jefferson achieved distinction as, among other things, a horticulturist, statesman, architect, archaeologist, inventor, and founder of theUniversity of Virginia which is still one of the most exclusive educational institutes in the world. Conceived in 1800 and established by 1819, it is the only university in the United States to be designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, an honour it shares with nearby Monticello. Although Jefferson undertook all planning of the University, the land underneath it was once a farm belonging to Monroe. His farmhouse was located on Monroe Hill, which today is the site of one of three undergraduate residential colleges.

Elevation of The Rotunda drawn by Thomas Jefferson in 1819 and fire in 1885

Meanwhile across the Atlantic

Thomas Robert Malthus

Born 13^th Feb 1766;

was beginning his public life by signing up for an arts degree at Cambridge, majoring in Mathematics and specializing in Latin, Greek and French, about the same time as Thomas Jefferson was beginning his sojourn in Europe. By the time he had Mastered it, produced his famous treatise, An Essay on the Principle of Population, Jefferson was being elected to the White house. For a man who had just presided over and closely witnessed the deaths of Millions of New Virginians, Brits and French, Malthusian theory must have come as a breath of fresh air.

Quote:

"The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man. Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio. Subsistence increases only in an arithmetical ratio. A slight acquaintance with numbers will show the immensity of the first power in comparison with the second." T.R. Malthus

On a personal note while Jefferson was living in the white house with his 20 to 30 year old daughters, Malthus was marrying his young cousin Harriet and procuring two or three of his own and his Cambridge study buddy, the Viscount Melbourne, was marrying the infamous Lady Caroline (Ponsonby) Lamb.

Note: If that lot ever got together for a party you wouldn’t know witch one was witch.

The Jeffersons

The Malthusians

and The Lambs

And if the future King William turned up with his main squeeze Dorothy, I wouldn’t want to be allocating bedrooms.

Especially if Byron and Mary Shelly turned up;

Anyway, Pops Malthus went on to become Professor of History and Political Economy, at

The East India Company College (now known as Haileybury) in Hertfordshire.

It was then and is now one of the most influential educational institutes in Briton.

By the time Jefferson had started and won America’s first external war (First Barbary War

(1801-1805), established the United States Military Academy at West Point and established

Virginia’s University in 1818, Malthus had become a Fellow of the Royal Society.

As for William Lamb He first came to general notice for reasons he would rather have avoided: his wife had a public affair with Lord Byron — she coined the famous characterization of him as "mad, bad, and dangerous to know". The resulting scandal was the talk of Britain in 1812. Eventually the two reconciled and though they separated in 1825, her death (1828) affected him considerably.

Lamb's hallmark was finding the middle ground. Though a Whig, he accepted the post of Irish Secretary (1827) in the moderate Tory governments of George Canning and Lord Goderich. Upon the death of his father in 1828 and his becoming Viscount Melbourne, he moved to the House of Lords, but when the Whigs came to power under Lord Grey in November 1830 he became Home Secretary in the new government. One of his first acts was to insist on harsh punishments for the impoverished agricultural labourers involved in the machine-breaking Swing Riots. Sentences of hanging, transportation and imprisonment followed all that before becoming Prime Minister.

King William IV's opposition to the Whigs' reforming ways led him to dismiss Melbourne in November. He then gave the Tories under Robert Peel an opportunity to form a government. Peel's failure to win a House of Commons majority in the resulting general election (January 1835) made it impossible for him to govern, and the Whigs returned to power under Melbourne in April 1835. This was the last time a British monarch attempted to dismiss a prime minister.

The next year, Melbourne was once again involved in a sex scandal. This time he was the victim of attempted blackmail from the husband of a close friend, society beauty and author Caroline Norton. The husband demanded £1400, and when he was turned down he accused Melbourne of having an affair with his wife. In the early 19th century even one sexual scandal (like the one two decades earlier involving Lord Byron) would be enough to finish off the career of most men, so it is a measure of the respect contemporaries had for his integrity that Melbourne's government did not fall. After Mr. Norton was unable to produce any evidence of an affair, the scandal died away.

Nonetheless, as a recent historian records, "it is irrefutable that Melbourne's personal life was problematic": Spanking sessions with aristocratic ladies were harmless, not so the whippings administered to orphan girls taken into his household as objects of charity.

Melbourne was Prime Minister when Queen Victoria came to the throne (June 1837). Barely eighteen, she was only just breaking free from the domineering influence of her mother, the Duchess of Kent, and her mother's advisor, John Conroy. Over the next four years Melbourne trained her in the art of politics and the two became friends: Victoria was quoted as saying she considered him like a father (her own had died when she was only eight months old), and Melbourne's daughter had died at a young age. Melbourne was given a private apartment at Windsor Castle, and unfounded rumours circulated for a time that Victoria would marry Melbourne, forty years her senior.

In May 1839 the Bedchamber Crisis occurred when Melbourne tried to resign and Victoria rejected the request of prospective Tory Prime Minister Robert Peel that she dismiss some of the wives and daughters of Whig MP's who made up her personal entourage. As Monarch she was expected to avoid any hint of favouritism to a party out of power, so her action (which was supported by the Whigs) led to Peel's refusal to form a new government. Melbourne was eventually persuaded to stay on as Prime Minister. On 25 February 1841, he was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society.

The capital city of Melbourne, Australia, was named in his honour in March 1837, but that’s another story.

x Mad Jack.

Cultural ruminations

2009-05-03T15:41:00.000+10:00

11 April

Cultural ruminations

Invest in a website that is, not owned by any body but accessed by all, and you will be a shareholder in the company of Australia. With that type of powerful tool at our disposal, politicians can be relegated to the status of check out chicks and tax payers can take there rightful place as masters of their own destiny.

Imagine, total accountability, transparent process, the ability to actually influence policy and a realistic share in the profits of your company. These things can only be achieved by large groups of conscientious citizens participating in a broad spread of patriotic activity and a pinpoint of accountability.

What perceivable application of democracy could you come up with that would come with in a bulls roar, of having a country wide forum for analysing all aspects of Governmental operations, in your home, at your disposal, twenty four hours a day?

Chew on that, or wallow in mediocrity.

Malthusians V Muggles.

2009-05-03T15:40:00.000+10:00

06 April

Malthusians V Muggles.

Thomas Robert Malthus was a piece of work and it occurs to me that no-one in History is so adequately positioned as to represent the divide between those in the know and the ignorant, the one’s socially positioned and the herd.

His controversial theories have been discussed by such powerful entities as Darwin, Wallace, Marx and Engels. He is well known in educated families and yet strangely enough, virtually invisible to the Muggles. I say ‘strangely enough’ because he could be the biggest threat to their existence. If a wealthy organization valued his contributions to academia, and held his theories in high regard, then they would be in a position to implement his final solutions to the population problem; Eugenic management.

If you, or your family, don’t quite measure up to A grade beef standards, then in theory, you could be weeded out of the herd. If your genes aren’t valued then maybe you should be interested in his argument:

"Malthus argued that population was held within resource limits by two types of checks: positive ones, which raised the death rate, andpreventative ones, which lowered the birth rate. The positive checks included hunger, disease and war; the preventative checks, abortion, birth control, prostitution, postponement of marriage, and celibacy."

Don’t let me worry you though because I’m sure the rich and powerful people, in this world of ours, have your best interests at heart.

* By the way here is a link to the school he haunts Haileybury

Sex, lies & Internet filters

2009-05-03T15:39:00.000+10:00

28 March

Sex, lies & Internet filters

While my first point grabbed your attention and my second is a compulsory part of modern life, it’s the third obscenity that is the controversial one; at this particular point in time.

Sex has always been around, we wouldn’t exist without it.

Lies were found to be useful in the Garden of Eden.

Internet filters, on the other hand, have yet to be proven a good or bad thing and more to the point, a connection to the ability to know the difference between good and evil. Now while no decent person would object to spam being ejected from our daily electronic discourse, those who would censor free speech are a scourge who camouflage themselves as purveyors of morality. I don’t know about you, but I think the Chinese governments’ track record of riding rough shot over their characterized google-ing ability and their you tubing, voyeuristic, human right is a travesty of international proportions.

Nothing said here breaches the stable datum of current thinking but if I venture to say, or comment upon Australia’s preoccupation with becoming the world’s most filtered consumers of digitalized porridge, then no doubt I would raise the hackles of many a social guardian. Never the less, thoughtful, law abiding and erect citizens of our great nation take heed; because if you go down to the woods today be sure of a big surprise, tomorrow a powerful elite of bureaucratic wolves will be in charge of you children’s future and there will be no governing them.

DON’T confuse a minority of sexual degenerates with the somewhat maligned, outspoken dissidents who, rightly or wrongly, criticize the dem-mock-rat-ically elected ruling class because in the end they maybe putting their freedoms on the line for your rights.

CRIME & PUNISHMENT (the short version)

2009-05-03T15:38:00.001+10:00

02 March

CRIME & PUNISHMENT (the short version)

Spare the rod, spoil the child; hang the bastards; nuke ‘em all. These terms have had their day to all but the uneducated, mean-spirited, right-wing ass-holes. They don’t represent anything but an intolerant, outdated, failure of policy but still we are surrounded by well meaning people who haven't managed to associated their way of thinking and speaking to the verifiable error of pursuing the hard line. So here I go again with a rant aimed at begging some to change their view, even if it is totally foreign to their regular habit.

Catholics, Jews and Muslims, God bless their souls, are, by their own admition, victims of their chosen religion in the ‘guilt’ department. If all was fair and equitable in the church, as well as more secular concerns, changes of policy would have kept pace with common knowledge. So all have become victims of the slow pace of change, in the sense that those who feel it is their godly duty to condemn sinners to the fiery pits suffer as well as those they judge. Red necked, pro- 911- retribution advocates sit squarely with terrorists and the financial neo-cons as world opinion swings decisively away from their bad judgements, extreme reactions and poor results.

Nothing I have said here comes as a revelatory cognition, we all know it. Why I have chosen to pontificate on this subject comes from a personal realization that if you treat people badly they react badly. If you offer people respect and understanding, you see the best come from the worst, no matter what the percentage; don’t take my word for it, try it for yourself. If you want to see your children grow and mature as responsible adults, invest in giving them the space to act like responsible adults. If you want to see criminals or terrorists act in away that you would desire , try treating them in a similar way and you might just be surprised at the results.

I have seen the nicest, most well intentioned, honestly godly people turn into the nastiest, mean spirited, old devils that we all are glad to see the back of, for the lack of understanding this issue. Don’t propagate the trend.