I wrote a while back about how the conflict in Iraq qas spurred by a knee-jerk reaction to the Trade Centre attacks. I have repeated this opinion several times and for the most part it has fallen on deaf ears.
Well, it now transpires that George Dubya, made that particular decision within one day of the attack. He was quoted as saying that "Iraq deserves to shoulder some of the responsibilty for the attacks". At the time (and currently for that matter) there was , nor has there been since despite the US's puppet inspectors best efforts to uncover, no evidence to suggest any connection between the Middle-Eastern country and the attacks save for the shared religion.
Could this just be a continuation of Bush senior's attempt to control that uncontrollable land? A family affair as it were?
It's been quite a price for keeping something in the family. The man would put you in mind of a mad sientist, drunk on his unfettered power.
Who's the bigger terrorist?
Monday, April 30, 2007
"UM!"
Todays um, lesson, readers, concerns the um, rapidly developing occurrence of um, dead-air fillers in um, everyday speech.
This emerging predeliction is disturbing as it illustrates sloth of mind with an equally dumb sounding 'doh!' type utterance.
While listening to talkback radio, I sometimes count the 'ams' during interviews and general talkback. The record is an amazing 47 in a 1 minute, 30 secs period. About every fifth word.
Has society become so lazy that we no longer care if we sound like grunting apes, or a society of Homers? (The cartoon idiot - not the poet).
I recently read a friend's son's English homework and although it was demonstrably understood, there were fifteen errors, in spelling and grammar (I can just hear the 'cool kids' guffawing in derision).
If this is, as I suspect, a slide, and not a one-off then what future intelligible speech. Is the world going to communicate via electronics and cease conversation? An entire language created around 'ums and ams'? Like a binary language?
This emerging predeliction is disturbing as it illustrates sloth of mind with an equally dumb sounding 'doh!' type utterance.
While listening to talkback radio, I sometimes count the 'ams' during interviews and general talkback. The record is an amazing 47 in a 1 minute, 30 secs period. About every fifth word.
Has society become so lazy that we no longer care if we sound like grunting apes, or a society of Homers? (The cartoon idiot - not the poet).
I recently read a friend's son's English homework and although it was demonstrably understood, there were fifteen errors, in spelling and grammar (I can just hear the 'cool kids' guffawing in derision).
If this is, as I suspect, a slide, and not a one-off then what future intelligible speech. Is the world going to communicate via electronics and cease conversation? An entire language created around 'ums and ams'? Like a binary language?
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Todays paper
There's quite a lot in it today.
I'll start with the Prince Harry story. The young Prince is to act as troop leader with the Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry. And the insurgents are awaiting his arrival. As soon as it was made public, they came out threatening to 'send him home to his grandmother without his ears'.
An Iraqi militia commander claims he has soldiers whose job it will be to capture the young prince. He claims he has people within the British bases who will inform when the prince arrives.
A huge scalp indeed.
There's a small piece on the teenage drinking culture. And how assault has dramatically risen in the group of 15-19 year olds. It seems to me that alcohol and assault have been inextricably linked since Adam was a boy. So nothing unusual there. Part of the problem Down Under at least is the almost obligatory way Australians are expected to consume quantities of 'grog' as they bluntly refer to it.
One is considered a freak, to have something wrong with them if they don't embrace the culture. Even the PC, sanctimonious radio hosts espouse with regularity the benefits of alcohol. Depending on the class of host, the more respectful 'wine' is exampled instead of the 'ockey' beer.
But it all means the same thing - drink piss, it's great. Essentially that's what they mean. Well, look at the results.
Forget drugs, there has been nothing as socially destructive as alcohol. Complete strangers, eons in separation from the imbiber of the fluid, can feel its effect.
But it's a HUGE business and as per usual - money talks so for as long as the powerful keep getting rich of its back, the culture will remain.
I've spoken often of the general decline in standards of English and the following headline may go some way to explaining why:
"It's true, mum, we don't have any homework".
A Sydney high school has stopped giving homework to the younger students (year 7 and 8. Ages 9-12). The theory is that the only homework they do get is work they didn't finish in class. Parents say, "it gives them time to be kids". I suspect it may be laziness on the part of the parents (that and the fact that even the parents who have probably not been educated that well and therefore can't help with their kids' work, are perhaps feeling a bit stupid so remove the issue rather than face it.)
Homework is practice. One learns in class but sometimes it can be overwhelming and it rarely locks in immediately so homework is a way of 'pushing it home' as it were. Take that away, instead letting the kids go out and play and completely forget about the subject can result in the next day almost having to start again.
I'm convinced it's detrimental to learning.
I'll start with the Prince Harry story. The young Prince is to act as troop leader with the Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry. And the insurgents are awaiting his arrival. As soon as it was made public, they came out threatening to 'send him home to his grandmother without his ears'.
An Iraqi militia commander claims he has soldiers whose job it will be to capture the young prince. He claims he has people within the British bases who will inform when the prince arrives.
A huge scalp indeed.
There's a small piece on the teenage drinking culture. And how assault has dramatically risen in the group of 15-19 year olds. It seems to me that alcohol and assault have been inextricably linked since Adam was a boy. So nothing unusual there. Part of the problem Down Under at least is the almost obligatory way Australians are expected to consume quantities of 'grog' as they bluntly refer to it.
One is considered a freak, to have something wrong with them if they don't embrace the culture. Even the PC, sanctimonious radio hosts espouse with regularity the benefits of alcohol. Depending on the class of host, the more respectful 'wine' is exampled instead of the 'ockey' beer.
But it all means the same thing - drink piss, it's great. Essentially that's what they mean. Well, look at the results.
Forget drugs, there has been nothing as socially destructive as alcohol. Complete strangers, eons in separation from the imbiber of the fluid, can feel its effect.
But it's a HUGE business and as per usual - money talks so for as long as the powerful keep getting rich of its back, the culture will remain.
I've spoken often of the general decline in standards of English and the following headline may go some way to explaining why:
"It's true, mum, we don't have any homework".
A Sydney high school has stopped giving homework to the younger students (year 7 and 8. Ages 9-12). The theory is that the only homework they do get is work they didn't finish in class. Parents say, "it gives them time to be kids". I suspect it may be laziness on the part of the parents (that and the fact that even the parents who have probably not been educated that well and therefore can't help with their kids' work, are perhaps feeling a bit stupid so remove the issue rather than face it.)
Homework is practice. One learns in class but sometimes it can be overwhelming and it rarely locks in immediately so homework is a way of 'pushing it home' as it were. Take that away, instead letting the kids go out and play and completely forget about the subject can result in the next day almost having to start again.
I'm convinced it's detrimental to learning.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Furthermore
People who choose cats over dogs are a bit strange, too. A bit like those weirdo vegetarians who always appear pale and a bit sickly like they're not eatin right or somethin.
Freaks.
Freaks.
Why do dogs chase cats?
And why am I made to feel like a bad owner when I let mine chase them?
Well, no more. For a start, cats are bastards. Y'ever seen how they torture rodents? Letting them run a bit away, like they have even some chance of escape before leaping on them and continuing the torture.
Eventually they get bored and just remove the head.
Moreover, cats will go where they're fed - no matter who 'owns' them. They sit in comfort on laps or cushions by the fire in the house while their canine cousins are banished outside in whatever weather meets them.
There's a cat in my street that sits and watches with this look of superior contempt as I walk my dogs past. Man, I swear, one of these days I'm goin to let 'the big fella' of his lead. That'll take the smug look of its face when it sees the dog comin at it.
See, we have nothing to learn from cats - at least nothing good. Selfishness and exploitation, the ability to slyly feign interest to achieve an end (usually gettin stroked or petted or fed).
From dogs, on the other hand, we can learn honesty, trust, bravery, loyalty and an unconditional love. Man's best friend is apt. We get companionship from them; they lead us, work for us and provide us with a sense of happiness. The great explorers of the ice world used the humble dog to pull sleds. Police forces use them to enforce law and otherwise protect the public.
Cats? Well, like I say - selfish bastards and if my most trusted of friends want to succumb to the pull of nature then tough shit on the cat. If you don't like it, keep your scrawny moggie inside. Any cat out after 5pm is fair game in my book.
Well, no more. For a start, cats are bastards. Y'ever seen how they torture rodents? Letting them run a bit away, like they have even some chance of escape before leaping on them and continuing the torture.
Eventually they get bored and just remove the head.
Moreover, cats will go where they're fed - no matter who 'owns' them. They sit in comfort on laps or cushions by the fire in the house while their canine cousins are banished outside in whatever weather meets them.
There's a cat in my street that sits and watches with this look of superior contempt as I walk my dogs past. Man, I swear, one of these days I'm goin to let 'the big fella' of his lead. That'll take the smug look of its face when it sees the dog comin at it.
See, we have nothing to learn from cats - at least nothing good. Selfishness and exploitation, the ability to slyly feign interest to achieve an end (usually gettin stroked or petted or fed).
From dogs, on the other hand, we can learn honesty, trust, bravery, loyalty and an unconditional love. Man's best friend is apt. We get companionship from them; they lead us, work for us and provide us with a sense of happiness. The great explorers of the ice world used the humble dog to pull sleds. Police forces use them to enforce law and otherwise protect the public.
Cats? Well, like I say - selfish bastards and if my most trusted of friends want to succumb to the pull of nature then tough shit on the cat. If you don't like it, keep your scrawny moggie inside. Any cat out after 5pm is fair game in my book.
I'm back
Far out, I've been ignorin this corner of late. But I'm back now, armed with reams of research and ready to put it out there.
Think I've maybe mellowed a bit - have to wait and see 'bout that though.
The pollies have been at their infuriating best again, especially that twat Iemma. And his obvious manipulation concerning the Lane Cove tunnel. This roughly 2 K tunnel which runs between Epping and the Warringah freeway, is facing the same future as the disastrous cross-city tunnel (which has recently fallen into receivership after the public turned away in droves when the RTA closed virtually every other access road around it, in a failed attempt to force traffic into said tunnel).
The toll-free period has just finished and the goverment expect a reduction of about 10%. Interestingly and promoting suspicion of conspiracy in yours truly, radio broadcasters that previously were against the ill-fated CCT, seem to be attempting to persuade the public of THIS tunnels benefits.
I wonder if any behind the scenes manipulation has been goin on. A few bucks changin hands maybe? A little favour coaxed? Hmmm.
This would come as no surprise considering the protagonists and the worlds in which they exist. (Politicians and media people - their whole world's a sham).
And the idiotic public voted Iemma dilemma (as a radio host in a, rather poor I think attempt at humour, often referred to him) and his party of incompetents back in. I'm still astounded (though, actually, not particularly that surprised as it just confirms my suspicions that Joe Public is indeed a cretin).
I feel surrounded by the incompetent and deceitful.
Tch! That'll do for now
Think I've maybe mellowed a bit - have to wait and see 'bout that though.
The pollies have been at their infuriating best again, especially that twat Iemma. And his obvious manipulation concerning the Lane Cove tunnel. This roughly 2 K tunnel which runs between Epping and the Warringah freeway, is facing the same future as the disastrous cross-city tunnel (which has recently fallen into receivership after the public turned away in droves when the RTA closed virtually every other access road around it, in a failed attempt to force traffic into said tunnel).
The toll-free period has just finished and the goverment expect a reduction of about 10%. Interestingly and promoting suspicion of conspiracy in yours truly, radio broadcasters that previously were against the ill-fated CCT, seem to be attempting to persuade the public of THIS tunnels benefits.
I wonder if any behind the scenes manipulation has been goin on. A few bucks changin hands maybe? A little favour coaxed? Hmmm.
This would come as no surprise considering the protagonists and the worlds in which they exist. (Politicians and media people - their whole world's a sham).
And the idiotic public voted Iemma dilemma (as a radio host in a, rather poor I think attempt at humour, often referred to him) and his party of incompetents back in. I'm still astounded (though, actually, not particularly that surprised as it just confirms my suspicions that Joe Public is indeed a cretin).
I feel surrounded by the incompetent and deceitful.
Tch! That'll do for now
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