Congratulations and Thank You to the people of Australia for rejecting the coalition and voting in the Rudd/Labor government!
No rabbits out of hats this time for Mr Howard and people seem to have rejected workchoices, ignored the 'Unionist' boogeyman fear campaign, and no, Australia is not going to suffer an economic collapse either. the sky did fall in though, right on the heads of the coalition!
In a way I do feel sorry for them, they seem to be completely shell-shocked. Well it might not have come as such a surprise if they weren't blinded by Mr Howards idealogically driven agenda. Some weren't I suspect, but their acquiescence made them complicit so they have no-one to blame but themselves.
A lot of right wing commentators labelled anyone who criticized the coalition as being 'Howard Haters', well I can assure anyone that there of plenty of those who hate Labor! I listened to the right-wing radio station 2GB for a few days after the election (just to hear what was being said) and the amount of vitriol and fury expressed by a lot of callers toward Labor left any 'Howard-Hating' commentary I read or heard in the dust! And this wasn't backed up by anything rational either, just full-on hate verging on noise pollution. it was disgraceful and hypocritical. I don't mind sensible debate but if they're just gonna rant and rave about nothing then they're not going to influence anybody. But if that's the outlet for their rage then so be it. Get it out, get over it, and let's start making this country the best that it can be. But as for me, I don't think I'll be tuning to 2GB again anytime soon.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Forgiveness
Sorry if I come across a bit preachy here, but I do believe it's a valid and worthwhile thing to consider ...
Lets say you're in a loving relationship and the sun is shining and the birds are singing and everything is indeed hunky dory. Then something happens, your lover transgresses in some way, some unforgiveable way. what they did was so bad, it is unforgiveable. What happens then ? The love you had for them quickly diminishes, and can easily turn to hate. The more you think about it, the more angry and hurt you become. It can literally eat you up inside.
It is generally agreed the forgiveness in this situation is the best thing you can do. but you might ask yourself why? why should I ? They are in the wrong, why do I have to be noble about it ?
Now before I answer that question, I'm not saying you should forgive and forget. If the transgression was so bad for you that it has ruined the relationship, then so be it. I am not in any way saying you should pretend like that thing never happened. That is NOT forgiveness. That is denial. A denial of a very real and valid interpretation. It may be the transgression was only slight. Not enough to destroy the relationship, but certainly damage it, and it remains there, in the back of your mind.
So why forgive ? because the pain and hurt and hatred can LITERALLY eat you up. you can LITERALLY damage your own health. Harbouring a festering load of negative emotion can make you physically sick. and you certainly won't be as happy as you could be in your life by carrying all that baggage around. Remember, forgiveness is not forgive and forget. You can forgive someone for stealing money from you, but that doesn't mean you not going to be careful with your money around them. I you're current partner betrays your trust, that doesn't mean you can't end the relationship !
Forgiveness is not some grand act of self sacrifice in the name of some noble cause, that is not forgiveness, that is indulgence. The act of forgiveness simply allows you to free yourself of all the negativity people tend to collect. Forgiveness has direct and very real benefits for yourself. When you can truly forgive people their transgressions you will be happier, healthier, life and love will flow joyously, don't we all want that ?
Now if the transgression was only slight, enough to upset you but not enough to end the relationship, make clear to them how it affected you, without being judgemental, and ask them to commit to you that they will not do that thing again, and then forgive them. If they agree but still do it again, well I guess you might realize it's time to move on, and forgive them for breaking their commitment. It's just the person they are. And we are all different.
And this not only applies to failed romantic relationships, but to ALL relationships, including the relationship you have with yourself. If you've done something wrong, make the commitment never to do that thing again, and give yourself the freedom that forgiveness can provide.
Practice forgiveness - It's like a muscle, it gets easier the more you exercise it, and it can be as easy as saying "You're an asshole, but I forgive you" any negativity you have will dissapate. They can still be assholes, the world is full of them, but to paraphrase a very wise person " forgive the assholes, for they not what they do ... "
Or to put it another way, holding a grudge is like poisoning yourself and hoping the other person gets sick.
..and here endeth the lesson...
Lets say you're in a loving relationship and the sun is shining and the birds are singing and everything is indeed hunky dory. Then something happens, your lover transgresses in some way, some unforgiveable way. what they did was so bad, it is unforgiveable. What happens then ? The love you had for them quickly diminishes, and can easily turn to hate. The more you think about it, the more angry and hurt you become. It can literally eat you up inside.
It is generally agreed the forgiveness in this situation is the best thing you can do. but you might ask yourself why? why should I ? They are in the wrong, why do I have to be noble about it ?
Now before I answer that question, I'm not saying you should forgive and forget. If the transgression was so bad for you that it has ruined the relationship, then so be it. I am not in any way saying you should pretend like that thing never happened. That is NOT forgiveness. That is denial. A denial of a very real and valid interpretation. It may be the transgression was only slight. Not enough to destroy the relationship, but certainly damage it, and it remains there, in the back of your mind.
So why forgive ? because the pain and hurt and hatred can LITERALLY eat you up. you can LITERALLY damage your own health. Harbouring a festering load of negative emotion can make you physically sick. and you certainly won't be as happy as you could be in your life by carrying all that baggage around. Remember, forgiveness is not forgive and forget. You can forgive someone for stealing money from you, but that doesn't mean you not going to be careful with your money around them. I you're current partner betrays your trust, that doesn't mean you can't end the relationship !
Forgiveness is not some grand act of self sacrifice in the name of some noble cause, that is not forgiveness, that is indulgence. The act of forgiveness simply allows you to free yourself of all the negativity people tend to collect. Forgiveness has direct and very real benefits for yourself. When you can truly forgive people their transgressions you will be happier, healthier, life and love will flow joyously, don't we all want that ?
Now if the transgression was only slight, enough to upset you but not enough to end the relationship, make clear to them how it affected you, without being judgemental, and ask them to commit to you that they will not do that thing again, and then forgive them. If they agree but still do it again, well I guess you might realize it's time to move on, and forgive them for breaking their commitment. It's just the person they are. And we are all different.
And this not only applies to failed romantic relationships, but to ALL relationships, including the relationship you have with yourself. If you've done something wrong, make the commitment never to do that thing again, and give yourself the freedom that forgiveness can provide.
Practice forgiveness - It's like a muscle, it gets easier the more you exercise it, and it can be as easy as saying "You're an asshole, but I forgive you" any negativity you have will dissapate. They can still be assholes, the world is full of them, but to paraphrase a very wise person " forgive the assholes, for they not what they do ... "
Or to put it another way, holding a grudge is like poisoning yourself and hoping the other person gets sick.
..and here endeth the lesson...
Friday, November 9, 2007
Little lost alien
A woman in the states has reported a close encounter with an alien grey. She reported that it appeared in a manhole, with the manhole cover balanced on it's head. Now I keep an open mind about such things, but really, someone's taking the piss. What i want to know is,
Why was it in the sewers ? Maybe it had lost it's anal probe, and was hoping to find it down there somewhere. Or perhaps the teleportation equipment was in need of calibration, and so depositing it in the sewer instead of the street.
What's with the manhole cover ? Those things are heavy! and the alien greys are all reportedly pretty scrawny. Pretty good trick. Perhaps it wasn't actually a manhole cover, for all I know flat metallic hats might be the height of alien fashion this summer.
Poor little bugger! maybe it was on it's way to the alien equivalent of the melbourne cup, resplendant in new metallic flat-hat, but due to a transportation error found itself in a mid-western US sewer instead, oh dear.
Why was it in the sewers ? Maybe it had lost it's anal probe, and was hoping to find it down there somewhere. Or perhaps the teleportation equipment was in need of calibration, and so depositing it in the sewer instead of the street.
What's with the manhole cover ? Those things are heavy! and the alien greys are all reportedly pretty scrawny. Pretty good trick. Perhaps it wasn't actually a manhole cover, for all I know flat metallic hats might be the height of alien fashion this summer.
Poor little bugger! maybe it was on it's way to the alien equivalent of the melbourne cup, resplendant in new metallic flat-hat, but due to a transportation error found itself in a mid-western US sewer instead, oh dear.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Windfarms, computers and conservatism
Meh, I'm over all that stuff below now, life's too short to hold a grudge, and it may be I got the wrong end of the sticj anyway ...
I read in the paper the federal government has knocked on the head a windfarm project for victoria, the reason ? It posed a threat to and endangered parrot that has never been seen in the area. So the Tamar river pulp mill gets the go ahead despite significant ecological damage but the windfarm is rejected because of a parrot ? It's rubbish of course, the nuclear / clean coal alternative is the governments agenda, windfarms don't seem to fit in with that. What a shame.
Melbourne University once made the most efficient solar cells available in the world, but now apparently Germany has the lead in the technology. there was just no government support for solar technology research, again, what a shame.
They must think solar and wind are 'airy fairy' or something, not worthwhile of serious consideration. well it is, 'cos it's the future. The trouble with conservatives, they can't look forward beyond the next budget, or if they do, can only consider what exists now, they seem incapable of any imagination at all.
Case in point - in the 1940's, the chief of IBM infamously declared ".. the world wide market for computers will only be a handfull .." (or words to that effect). We laugh now because computers are everywhere, billions of them exist today. but I dare say he was a conservative!
I read in the paper the federal government has knocked on the head a windfarm project for victoria, the reason ? It posed a threat to and endangered parrot that has never been seen in the area. So the Tamar river pulp mill gets the go ahead despite significant ecological damage but the windfarm is rejected because of a parrot ? It's rubbish of course, the nuclear / clean coal alternative is the governments agenda, windfarms don't seem to fit in with that. What a shame.
Melbourne University once made the most efficient solar cells available in the world, but now apparently Germany has the lead in the technology. there was just no government support for solar technology research, again, what a shame.
They must think solar and wind are 'airy fairy' or something, not worthwhile of serious consideration. well it is, 'cos it's the future. The trouble with conservatives, they can't look forward beyond the next budget, or if they do, can only consider what exists now, they seem incapable of any imagination at all.
Case in point - in the 1940's, the chief of IBM infamously declared ".. the world wide market for computers will only be a handfull .." (or words to that effect). We laugh now because computers are everywhere, billions of them exist today. but I dare say he was a conservative!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Myspace thought police ??
I link to this site from my myspace profile. The next day after posting the 'God of the Gaps' post below, the link to here from myspace has been blocked !!
I tried emailing Tom to find out what's going on - but he's away, so no possibility to clear things up there. I'm wondering though, why has it been blocked ?
It may be an error, but I somehow doubt it. More likely, someone objected,
and so it was blocked, pretty damn quick too. maybe the site I referenced below, maybe someone else, who knows ?
How weak and pitiful that there was no communication to me, no attempt to dispute or discuss my opinion, This is typical of the mindset of the fundamentalist, any dissenting view is simply ignored at best, censored at worst. What a disgrace.
Whoever it was, if they're reading this, I will only say there are none so blind as those that won't see, none so deaf as those who won't hear. And none that are so weak that they are not willing to defend their beliefs, but merely seek to silence those who have different viewpoints.
How disgusting.
I tried emailing Tom to find out what's going on - but he's away, so no possibility to clear things up there. I'm wondering though, why has it been blocked ?
It may be an error, but I somehow doubt it. More likely, someone objected,
and so it was blocked, pretty damn quick too. maybe the site I referenced below, maybe someone else, who knows ?
How weak and pitiful that there was no communication to me, no attempt to dispute or discuss my opinion, This is typical of the mindset of the fundamentalist, any dissenting view is simply ignored at best, censored at worst. What a disgrace.
Whoever it was, if they're reading this, I will only say there are none so blind as those that won't see, none so deaf as those who won't hear. And none that are so weak that they are not willing to defend their beliefs, but merely seek to silence those who have different viewpoints.
How disgusting.
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