Australian?

Apparently 'dobbing' is un-Australian. This is according to Chris Berg: 'The Ramifications of Dobbing for Australians.' He observes that "Australia is a nation founded by people who were dobbed in" (he does have a point there) and therefore there is a tendency in the land of the convicts to avoiding dobbing ones mate in at all costs.

I disagree. If fact I believe dobbing is often very un-Australian.

For example, Australians frequently chop down their tall poppies, see "Tall Poppies" by Susan Mitchell. If we look at the ability and tendency of many Australians to chop down tall poppies, then dobbing (in this instance because people have been in breach of watering guidelines) can plausibly be construed as Australian.

Why do we dob in our neighbour for misusing water? Perhaps, on a superficial level, this is because neighbour A doesn't want neighbour B's grass to be green and lush, while neighbour A's grass remains yellow, brown and dead in patches. Or perhaps neighbour A's garden bed (prize winning roses, and other European imports) wilt and die while neighbour B's garden (also prize winning) flourishes. This is not because they are using water from a tank, nor grey water from their washing machine but because they are watering everyday with a hose. For all those not familiar with the new water regulations in Victoria house numbers are allocated specific days of the week they permitted to water and only hand watering with buckets is permitted. Is this fair? is this equal? Why should neighbour A have to deal with the results of drought and neighbour B disregard the lack of water in the state. Are the actions of neighbour B helping the little Aussie battler?

No. It isn't fair, nor should it be in the 'lucky country.' Neighbour B's garden bed and lawns should flourish while neighbour A's dies away in the drought ravaged state. I think not dobbing in this scenario is absolutely un-Australian. (I will concede that the argument is weakened by the documented substantial increase in water usage by state parliamentary offices. Hopefully someone is holding them to task, and also that one of the highest consumers of water in Victoria is in fact the Zoo. Could I suggest rain water tanks?)

Alternatively, using the garden example again, are the actions of neighbour A un-Australian. In my opinion, which isn't worth much these days, No. A's dobbing in of neigbhour B I would argue is as Australian a vegimite on toast. The behavior of neighbour B; their deliberate attempt to ignore rules and regluations to ensure their garden doesn't suffer the effects of drought, while it is highly likely that neighbour A's garden will wither away and die, is not Australian. When the prizes for gardens are next awarded neigbhour B will have an unfair advantage over neighbour A. That isn't Australian, that isn't fair. Let's chop the tall poppy down before they get the chance. Let's dob them in (NB, as much as I do have issues with the assasination of tall poppies it has been noted as an Australian trait. While used in this example I do not necessarily endorse the destruction of tall poppies, nor do I believe that life should be made so intolerable for them Australia that they are forced to run away to England.)


Perhaps we should also consider that dobbing relates back to that idealistic notion that Australia is an egalitarian country. In this country the Aussie battler is given an opportunity (well that was until the current Prime Minister turned his back on this group of people, the people supported him and many commentators say were instrumental in his successful election.) If we are all equal then one abusing the watering system devised to ensure fairness should be 'dobbed in' as we attempt to remain somewhat fair and equal.

Alternatively, I would like to think that reporting the misuse, of what is rapidly becoming an incredibly valuable resource, could be linked to the environmental concerns of many Australians. Wasn't it people power in Australia that put a stop to the damming of the Franklin River?

So perhaps 'dobbing in this instance isn't as un-Australian as some would have you believe.

On the topic of what is Australian and what is un-Australian it's sad to see that an Australian icon is no longer to be manufactured in this country. It's heading off-shore. Now that is un-Australian, or is it really Australian given market trends?

News

My promise to stop reading the Age was effective for a little bit. However, life isn't right without the coffee and the paper to start the day. I've made the sacrifice to read on line, rather than in hard copy. That's probably not a sacrifice given the reduction in environmental waste. Who knows, here is some interested articles from the last week:

Rather amusing, however, I think the poms vs Aussies rivalry is a bit boring. I know it's entertainment. Read here.

Barry Humphries, always entertaining. Here.

I am against most recent changes to tertiary education, including but not exclusive to VSU, the introduction of Fee Help, the reduction of HECS places so on and so forth. This is one of the reasons why.

Dakota Fanning is unique. I do not believe she should be compared to other child stars, as described in this article.

Didn't really like the theme behind the advertising campaign but I would still encourage people to visit Australia. While I don't condone Lara's actions it does 'take two' and the media's assault on her has been unequal when compared to the other party. Thoughtful commentary here.

This weekend I haven't got around to much reading wise, but have read the weekend Australian cover to cover. A definite plus being back on campus the papers are at breakfast every morning.

the SNAKE is more scared of you, than you of it!

No matter how many times I've been told this I remain sceptical. I'm petrified of these creatures. There is nothing nice about them and people who own them as pets - well can't say I have, nor intend to have, any friends that do - must see something that I definitely do not. I'm glad that at the Hideout we have Glen 'the snake man' (from nearby Healesville Sanctuary on speed dial.) This proved useful a few months back when Dad saw a tiger snake in the garden. Glen the snake man dropped by on his way home from work caught the snake (not dissimilar to the actions employed by the Crocodile Hunter, he grabbed it by the tail and pulled it out of the crevice it was attempting to escape into, apparently it heard him coming.) He relocated the vile creature. I may have been happier if he had chopped it's head off, but snakes, like sharks, spiders, jelly fish and scorpions all play their part in the eco-system.

I was not happy that Glen informed my Father that stomping on the ground (in order to create vibrations, which in turn scare off the snake) was ineffective and did little more than confuse the creatures. At least my days of stomping around fiercely hollering go away snakey snakey have come to an end. Apparently, if you walk normally they will just slither away.

While I believe the Hideout is rid of reptiles, apart from Dad's friend the blue tongue lizard, Mum still maintains she hears a snake in the agapanthus. She also has in-depth conversations with the dogs and the cat.

It's sad when someone dies. It's even sadder when someone young does. This happened on the weekend when a young boy was bitten by an eastern brown snake. Attempting to seek help, he walked through bushland until he stumbled upon an oval, where a cricket match was taking place. Unfortunately, it was not possible to splint the bitten limb, nor wrap it in a compressed bandage, nor administer anti-venom in time (these are some of the guidelines to follow when treating a snake bite.)This young life was lost. It was a tragedy. There was much written about it by the press.

Australia is a land of very dangerous creatures. I not referring to those human beings that live in the northern territory, deny that global warming is a problem, treat asylum seekers abhorrently, misconstrue native title as land rights, attempt to argue that the stolen generations didn't exist or think that Australia doesn't own an almighty apology to the Indigenous people of this country. I am referring to the animal variety. The snakes, the spiders (including the red back on the toilet seat) the jelly fish, the scorpions, the sharks, and the jelly fish.

There is a fantastic account of the and other Australian terrors in Bill Bryson's 'Down Under.' I'd add some snippets from the text here. Unfortunately Gordon Prisco still has my copy. I lent him this over a year ago. Feel free to go and borrow it from him. He lives in North Tower. If you stand down in the student court yard and holla his name, he should appear at a window somewhere. Just tell him you came to borrow Emma's copy of Bill Bryson's book. If he tells you he doesn't have it, he is fibbing. Rather, than returning the book to him when your done, drop it back to me. I leave here in August, so anytime before that would be fine. Oh and while you are there you could also retrieve my copy of 'Dude where is my Country.'

Highlights and lowlights

Did you realise a Canadian network owned part of channel ten. I tell you this country is trying to take-over ours. First they start with the Media outlets. They infiltrate Bond University Law School....this is the beginning.....However, those from the northern hemisphere are trying to sell. Perhaps they have concluded that conquering Australia may be a little harder than originally thought.

I have been following the bushfires in Victoria. The outlook is not positive. The Army and firefighters from New Zealand have been called in to bolster people power. What is worse is that these sort of fires usually occur in late January/February. Occurring in December, some commentators have posited that these could continue to burn all summer. Stage 4 water restrictions are a must. I think I might write a letter to Premier Bracks. Better still I might protest when I get back to Melbourne. Oh, but Parliament will probably be on holidays then. To all those people who do not believe in global warming, or do not believe it is a problem I wish to say something to you that I will not permit myself to publish on this site, given my guidelines published previously. I can still recall what the sky over Melbourne looked like during the Ash Wednesday fires. I was in my parents bedroom, which looked out to the park adjacent to our property. The sky was angry, red and full of ash. These fires could be as devastating. I have been reading about these fires, and following the news. I am actually learning a great deal. For example, fires generate their own weather conditions. It is also possible to follow the bushfires via the interactive site provided by google.

AFI (Australian Film Industry) Awards currently taking place. Candy and Jinderbyne would be two of my picks, as award recipients. However, I have not seen Ten Canoes. I have read some fantastic reviews. Cate Blanchett looked absolutely amazing (what's new.) Daniel Radcliffe headed 'down under' to attend these awards, his Australian fans were very excited. I love Australian cinematography.

7.30 Report on the Great White Shark, follow the sad shark attack of the South Coast of Western Australia.

Stolen wages should be repaid. With interest. Further reading, here, here. here http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20888754-1702,00.html

Last exam period I reported on this, once again I am suffering.

I have a spelling illness. No matter how hard I try it is not getting better. My grammar seems to be suffering a similar fate.

If I must

As noted I am short on material. This is not attributed to an actual lack of existing material, rather a self imposed restriction on reading, partaking in enjoyable past-times thus severely curtailing access to potential material.

As suggested, in the previous post , any material thought suitable would be appreciated. Accordingly, my dear Dad decided he would sent me an article, because I am interested in cricket. Not, particularly. For him, I will make an exception. (I imagine my Mother would be furious to find out my Father actually did this within hours of reading my blog. She can nag, and nag and nag at him for weeks, actually months, oh and in some cases years to do some things. Guess we are both lucky she is too busy to read equivocally emma.)

Moreover, I would think my Father would be aware that I find Shane Warne a disgraceful example of what an Australian, a cricket player, a Melbournian, and basically a human being should be. Perhaps not. I could superficially point to his white zinc, peroxided hair, sporty car or attempts at harassing numerous friends of mine with inappropriate comments (not text messages this time, but that was before everyone had mobile phones.) However, his actions and attitudes gives me sufficient material, that I don't need to appear superficial, as such. He takes diuretics. When caught out, he suggests that his mother gave them to him to assist with weight loss. Interesting to research what drugs the diuretic, found in his system, effectively masks. Shane obviously isn't terribly intelligent, but c'mon. There is his involvement with QUIT, obviously not terribly effective. Then, there is his problem with mobile phones. I'll leave it at that. Thus, I am hoping that my Father notified me of this article because:
"Peter Roebuck is a fine cricket journalist, poetic and appreciative of very good cricket. Post it for your Canadian friends, they will be confused and the English ones that came out to the wedding, Patrick in particular. Then again theses things tend to come back and bite you.....humble in victory,gracious in defeat. Sounds English to me."

Obviously, when reading, keep this in mind. Poor Dad, Canadians probably don't care too much about cricket; it's ice-hockey, baseball or American football. Confuse them? Well, many are still perplexed with the side of the road we drive on, that the water goes the opposite way down the plug hole in the southern hemisphere, Australian fashion and then there is the 'Australian' language . By the way my name is Emma not Amma. No, I am not English, I am Australian and many Australians have similar accents, we are not all occas, who have some bizzare way of pronouncing the number 13.) Confused, hence, may not be the right adjective here.

Regarding the reference to the English guests at Meg's wedding, and Patrick, I have to actually read the article to determine whether it's my Father rambling, or other.

Article

Fisticuffs at the Walkely Awards

Equivocally Emma supplies you with links to this story, but decides to not provide commentary, criticism or comedy.

1.Crikey! Walkleys erupt in stage stoush

2.Milne sorry for 'shocking' behaviour

3.Crikey! News Limited journalist makes a night of it

4. Milne apologises for Walkley outburst

5.Milne shoves Mayne at Walkley awards

6. Crikey

Follow up, from yesterday...

Helsinki Complaints Choir

Posted properly, now. Thanks to Dear Drew.

A new medium to voice complaints

Leon Gettler a writer for the Age has a blog: Management Line.


His blog today made me laugh:

"Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Whingeing harmony of complaint

Frustrated with the way they pat you on the shoulder at work, then stab you in the back? Constantly irritated by ringtones? Worried about jobs going to China? Don't you hate the way Christmas starts earlier every year?

If the annoying things in life are getting to you, check out this Finnish ensemble, the Helsinki Complaints Choir, which has been putting in appearances back home and which is now being posted up on YouTube.


Great to hear all those beautiful voices griping about the stuff that gets to all of us.

Some of it very European, but mostly universal. Everything from the everyday and banal ("Bullshitters get on too well in life", "My dreams are boring" and "Reference numbers are too long") to the unsettling ("Old people are fed with tranquilizers so they won't complain", "You can't get rich by working. And love doesn't last forever") to humor ("Old forests are cut down and turned into toilet paper. And still all the toilets are always out of paper").

Yeah, isn't it reassuring to know you're not on your own?

I reckon this one is an absolute corker. What do you think? And are there any complaints you'd like to add? Any gripes with an Australian slant?"


I would agree with him. It is rather universal. I know a few people who could conjure up similar lyrics, however the score might be another story. I like to think there are many things we (that being the Australia I live in) have in common with Europe, rather than the US. It's probably while I managed to consume this book in a matter of weeks a few years back. It was very interesting take on the gradual shift of the philosophical underpinnings of contemporary politics.

This morning

There has been a sighting; http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/comet-seen-across-Victoria/2006/11/28/1164476144999.html.

On a somewhat scarier note, I am currently sitting in the library (for a change.) I am sitting in the 'discussion area,' I have a different name for it. Across from me are two, I would presume, younger students. They may have finished school last year. They are talking about 'global warming.' Presumably, they are writing a paper or presentation. Apparently, the male thinks 'global warming' is 'the world heating up and people getting sunburnt really easily.' Well yes, but No No No. The girl thinks 'global warming' is 'pish posh.' Translated; she doesn't believe in it, or alternatively that it exists, or is taking place. Well, of course it's quite normal for there to be icebergs sightings of the south coast of New Zealand. That's only the beginning.......Oh and the person who 'doesn't like hippies' just walked past. He also told me once I looked like a person who owned cats. I am putting my headphones in now. That's enough. Thank heaven for music. I am going back to some time in the 1800s. Lovely.

I am glad I have a friend in Melbourne who deals with Robert Manne on a regular basis. I also think this gladness extends to the friends that can provide a succinct definition of global warming. Hey, they might even (for bonus points) provide you with a definition of green house gases. Better still they may provide suggestions and stimulating discussion highlighting the ways that global warming should be dealt with by inaudible, members of society, governments, multinationals..... I also am happy that I have numerous friends who have a greater grip on reality that other individuals in this world. They believe the world is bigger and better than them, that people are entitled to have different opinions and they enjoy helping and doing things for other people. Sometimes I have to remind myself how lucky I am really am!

I have received a Healesville update. The dining room at the Healesville Hotel is what the critics say, plus more. I've been to the pub 'counter meal' section, that was sufficient. There is currently a residential revolt occurring at Dowd Road. There are 'unnecessary' road expansions, and then there is town planning and VCAT.

Currently, I am a little nervous. The readership of this blog is expanding. I think this is what I wanted? However, I take forever and a day to proof read. Unfortunately, I really am a Virgo, with all this entails. I am attempting to curb perfectionist tendencies. The problem, however, is I am posting blogs that I return to re-read and find numerous errors. I don't like this. The pressure is on. I don't like forcing this expanding audience to witness my poor spelling, grammar, and editing skills.


That picture above would be the Hideout.

Opinion - The Australian

Today I had a little study break and ventured down to the main street of Healesville (Nicholson Street.) As usual I had a wander, more on that later. Today I chose to have a coffee and raspberry and white chocolate muffin at Healesville Harvest. This is adjacent to the Healesville Hotel which has won, and continues to win, many awards and has exceptional reviews. Healesville Harvest doesn't quite have the ambiance of Cheese Freaks. I think the Cheese Freaks people are more my type of people. More to follow.

Today I read the papers in hard copy (normally I read them but the ones that are out there in cyber space.)

This is an interesting piece I came across. I'm not a generation Y person (according to the categorisation in the article) nor was I ever a generation X. Once I came across a document defining these categories, and the qualities of the people in these categories: what they were about; their priorities; interests and concerns. It also provided the 'age brackets' so you knew when generation Y began, when the baby boomers finished...so on and so forth. Don't know where this document was or is. Anyway, I had a laugh at the following. Despite some rather harsh generalisations and judgmental remarks, I did enjoy the closing line.

Y the younger generation is so different
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Bernard Salt

I’VE had it up to here with Generation Y. They are the youngest, they are the prettiest, they are the cleverest generation in the history of mankind.
Did you know they discovered sex? Yes, apparently it’s true. And, courtesy of their penchant for the internet and MSN, they have been credited with being the first to truly think on a global scale: they have “chat friends” all over the world.
Well, what about the baby boomers? We discovered Bali. And we went on a Contiki Tour of Europe in the 1970s. We even have the photo albums to prove it, replete with obligatory pic “holding up” the Leaning Tower of Pisa and a pasted-in ticket-stub from our very first trip on the London Tube. Top zat, globe-trotting Generation Y!
The fact is I’m more than a little jealous of Generation Y. Here they are in their early 20s and they have the entire business world a-frettin’ and a-fussin’ about whether they are happy in their jobs.
Are you feeling valued, Generation Y? Is anyone being mean to you, Generation Y? Are we paying you enough, Generation Y? Can I get you a pillow, Generation Y?
What is it with Generation Y? Who are they, what do they believe and why is the spotlight on them and not on the boomers where it belongs? Let’s look at what separates Generation Y from the rest of humanity.
Generation Y do not fear the future. They have never experienced recession; they think the world is happy and rich all the time; they think, “Why won’t the future be just like the past?”
If their job doesn’t work out, then, no worries, toss it in and head off to London and if that doesn’t work out, come back home and live with mum and dad. Ah, for Generation Y “life is but a dream sh-boom sh-boom”.
Generation Y think money is an elastic concept. “Gosh, my mobile bill is a bit much this month (pause) - dad?” Boomers, on the other hand, understand the money has a hard edge; they learnt financial planning skills when establishing their first household at the age of 23. Boomers also learnt money management skills from their frugal parents who “touched” the Great Depression.
When the money ran out in early boomer households there was no safety net: it was a freefall to the rocks below.
Generation Y do not fear authority. If a young baby boomer got into a lift with the CEO in 1978, they would wedge themselves into the corner, avert their eyes, and barely squeak out a hello for fear of saying the wrong thing. Today, a Gen Y getting into a lift with the CEO would see this as a great opportunity to introduce themselves - “Hello, my name is such and such” - and to offer a few tips on how the company should be run. Gen Y are bold and unfettered in their thinking. “Why wouldn’t the CEO be interested in who I am and what I have to say?”
Generation Y have been mollycoddled from a young age. Their school reports shied away from the hard-edge grading of A to D. Instead these kids were given esteem-building commentary based on bland notions like “consolidating” and “building” but never, ever “failing”. The question is whether Ys were well or poorly served by a less than transparent assessment of where they stood in a competitive world.
My most damning indictment of Generation Y is that they cheated in the game of pass-the-parcel. When boomers played this game in the 1950s there was only one winner. Mothers’ deft manipulation of the music ensured that it was always the birthday-boy who opened the final wrapper to claim the single prize. Not like today; under every wrapper there is a prize. No kid loses; they’re all winners.
And now that Gen Y has entered the workforce they are again being shielded from the economy’s sharp edges by the fortune of our prosperous economic times. (What this lot need is a jolly good recession.)
Generation Y do not value corporate loyalty. Boomers see the fact that they might have worked for one firm for 30 years as a “badge of honour”. Here is evidence of corporate loyalty. But tell this to a Gen Y and they will say, “What sort of loser are you?” Gen Y believe that career and personal development are intertwined: “You should have spent three years at one firm, four years at another and so on”, and all the while collecting relationships and experiences.
Life’s there to be sipped, supped and sampled, not to be bogged down with the burden of marriage, mortgage, children or, “like, you know, a career”.
Generation Y value work-life balance. Work is an important component of Gen Y’s life but it is not the only component. Boomers come from a different bloodline which can be traced back to the extremism of the 1980s’ Gordon Gekko.
The reason why boomers are at the top of the heap today is their application and commitment over three decades. Boomers organised their lives around their work. Gen Y is different. They organise their work around their life.
This might mean pursuing flexible working hours or time. It might mean putting their career on hold while they do volunteer work in Africa. There was no option other than work for boomers who were committed from an early age to family and mortgage.
Generation Y’s tribe is the new family. This concept derives from the fact that Gen Y were often single children with both parents working. Their notion of what boomers will recall as “the Sunday roast” is more likely to have been “Friday night dinner at the local Chinese”.
As a consequence, Gen Y has filled the vacuum left by the receding family with their very own tribe. Connect with their tribe and you connect with Y’s emotions. This shift is reflected in popular culture: the big TV hit of the 1990s was Friends. Ten years earlier it was a program called Family. In 10 years’ time it may be Singleton. Ten years beyond that and it could be Oblivion.
But much of the problem with Generation Y is not Generation Y. It is Generation Y’s baby boomer parents. It isn’t Gen Y’s fault that they have been born into small families in prosperous times. If they were indulged, who did the indulging?
And for what purpose? To spoil the child or to assuage parental guilt? And who was it that put that prize under each wrapper?
Who is it that pays the monthly mobile phone bill and then whinges about it publicly but is privately proud of their ability to remain at the centre of their kids’ universe? The answer is, of course, the boomers.
Just as all roads lead to Rome, all generational guilt seems to beat a path back to the baby boomers.

Yes, it really is snowing in Victoria

These photos, and other are avaliable at http://www.theage.com.au/ftimages/2006/11/15/1163266609748.html

My world

This is my new friend. Well only a photo of what he sort of looks like. It's not my actual friend bu they are very similar. For about the last week when I've been at the hideout he has been looking at me through the window. He keeps coming back to visit. I wish I could take a photo of him, alas no camera. For those of not familiar with this member of the Kingfisher family, you can read more about him here. The scientific classification is located here. There are also lady Kookaburras, however, this one is male. Upon colonisation this bird was labeled a laughing jackass, no joke. It really has a hysterical laugh. Now its traditional name is used.

Today my friend has been sitting outside the window looking at me for the last 20 minutes. Normally he flys to a few different spots and looks for food. He focuses on the ground. I normally try to look where he is looking, for reasons later to be divulged. This time he is just looking into the window (well this is what I tell myself.) Apart from their laugh and good nature we really like these birds around here; they eat these. We think there may be a problem with the copper variety here. Accordingly, we are taking precautions. I was going to try and befriend these, Dad advised me against it. We've made sure the local hospital is well equipped to deal with any potential disaster. Apparently, this species threatened (and not just by my Mum) hence conservations efforts have been initiated. If it wasn't for some vague knowledge about eco-systems and so forth I would be saying we should kill em' all. Thankyou Mr Malcolm.


On race wear: http://blogs.theage.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/archives/2006/11/what_price_clea.html

on the weather in Melbourne:

• http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/spring-put-on-ice/2006/11/15/1163266585600.html
• http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/november-rain-hail--and-snow/2006/11/14/1163266529224.html
• http://www.theage.com.au/news/NATIONAL/Snow-predicted-in-vic-as-summer-looms/2006/11/14/1163266531578.html
• http://www.theage.com.au/news/breaking-news/snow-falls-in-parts-of-Victoria/2006/11/15/1163266596496.html
• but a few days ago this is what they had to say: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/rain-welcome-but-worries-aplenty/2006/11/12/1163266413569.html

The election, yes the state election:
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/11/14/1163266550934.html
I'm actually a bit over this whole thing so that's why I haven't said too much. I am passionate about Victoria but it seems it's going to the dogs either way. Lucky it's full of great people, and some good politicians they just don't have a very loud voice, or would that be good publicists.

Stay tuned for my Mother, the spoil sport.

Denton and Bono (repeat)

I often switch the Television over to watch Enough Rope on the ABC. Yes, already mentioned this once today!

This evening Andrew Denton's interview with Bono from March was a conversation with Bono. Amazing. Insightful. Relevant. Food for thought.

You can access it here.

Some highlights....

On George Bush:

ANDREW DENTON: What's George Bush patter?
BONO: I thought he looked rather enviously at my glasses. So I slagged him off about his dress sense. But I rode in one of those ridiculously long motorcades once and he was waving to the people on the street and I said to him, "You're pretty popular around here aren't you then, Mr President?" He said, "Wasn't always so, when I first came to this town, people used to wave at me with one finger." So, he's funny.
ANDREW DENTON: How did you explain it to the band?
BONO: I'm still explaining it to the band.

On the opportunities available to the United States:
ANDREW DENTON: The US has many critics around the world, but you believe this is America's moment, don't you?
BONO: Meaning?
ANDREW DENTON: This is America's time, if America wanted to step up to the plate?
BONO: Yeah. I think it's all - I don't think it's about America. This is a real moment in time where it is possible, if we want to, to be the first generation that says no to extreme poverty. And by extreme poverty we mean stupid poverty, kids dying for lack of food in their belly in the 21st century, or 3000 Africans, mostly children, dying everyday from mosquito bite. That is ridiculous and history has a way of looking, as I said earlier, has a way of making things that looked acceptable once appear ridiculous now. This is that moment. Other ages they had, you could pull back apartheid or it was the fight for equality and civil rights in the United States that defined the '60s and '70s. This is our shot at greatness. Other ages had a chance to put a man on the moon. I spoke to Bush about that, and just said, "Look, that was a great demonstration of financial prowess and intellectual genius really, putting a man on the moon. We're not asking you to put a man on the moon here, Mr President. It will cost less to the bring mankind back to earth so to speak and be that generation. We want to have our beaches and our barbies. We want to go to our rock shows, and no-one has a greater life like a spoiled rock star like myself. But I can't really enjoy it the way I'd like to knowing that there's this haemorrhaging of human life which could be stopped and isn't being stopped.And I think, you know, in a way we shouldn't be blaming the politicians. Really, we have to give them permission to spend what is in the end our money. In Australia's case and in Europe, everywhere, we're asking for 0.7 per cent of GDP. That's what it will take to stop this. That's less than 1 per cent. ...... everyone looks at everywhere else. I know this. I've been in Gleneagles with Bob running around the golf course in the G8 meeting. Everyone wants to know what everyone else is doing. Even if the Australians weren't in Gleneagles, the Canadians are looking at the Australians.This is a critical moment.......What an opportunity to be able to do that. Look, everyone knows how I feel about Australia. But you have to give the politicians, whoever's in power, permission to do this.
ANDREW DENTON: Have you spoken to John Howard about this?
BONO: I haven't and I'd like to when we get back.
ANDREW DENTON: Will you have that opportunity, if he'll have you? Have you asked?
BONO: I haven't yet.
ANDREW DENTON: How is that set up? Your people meet his people and it happens?
BONO: Kind of like how we met.

On Australia and Canada
BONO: ....You do get the feeling right in Australia that there's just - this is a new model. Something going on down here, a new society being dreamt up. And you're doing really well. It's an amazing - even just coming here having not played for years, you can see there's a prosperity, the way people walk. It's a confidence. With that, should be the opportunity to lead the world outside of this hemisphere, to actually just take some moral high ground. You can afford to now. I don't want to be a boring asshole
ANDREW DENTON: You say this to every country you visit.
BONO: The only other country I think has the chance in leadership in terms of creating a new model as Australia would be Canada. I would argue similarly with the Canadians.

On Scary Soccer Mums
BONO: Politicians love to write cheques and it is hard to get them to cash them. But again I answer you the same. It's about the movement. The movement are there. They're much more important than people like me. And they're made up of all kinds of people. We've got - it's a big tent is what Bill Clinton said to me. "That is a big tent. You've got rock stars, soccer mums, religious folks." Actually, in some ways the politicians are much more scared of the soccer mums and the religious folks than they are the student activists and the rock stars, but when we all start hanging out together, they're terrified and that's probably the single idea that we brought to the table, was let's not divide countries in half along party lines. This was always the subject of the left. It's no longer that and that's something I'm proud of. We're working across party lines and that's where our power comes and that's the way we'll get them to cash the cheques.If Australia decides that 0.7 is the decent thing to do - less than one per cent and it wants to lead the world and actually meet the world on these terms, if you decide it, the politicians at the next election will agree with you.


On Faith
ANDREW DENTON: As a man of faith, when you look at Africa, what's your concept of a working God?
BONO: Look on the God thing I have to be really careful because I'm not a very good advertisement and so I don't want to sit there and say, "I'm a man of faith," Yes, I am, I just can't. I recently read in one of St Paul's letters where it describes all of the fruits of the spirit, and I had none of them.
ANDREW DENTON: You fulfill a Christian ideal.
BONO: No, I don't think so. All the commandments I've broken and the ones I haven't I've probably wanted to. But that said, I do have a faith and it is challenged on a daily basis by what I see in Africa.

Denton closes the interview
ANDREW DENTON: I'd like to close with a quote from one of your favourite poets. Brendan Kennelly, "If you want to serve the age, betray it," what does that mean to you?
BONO: Well, he is an extraordinary poet. The book of Judas is an amazing epic poem. There is these amazing Jewish sheep herders standing in front of a pharaoh. He says, "You say you're equal to me." Yes, that's what it says in the book . Eventually they're accepted as equal, but not women, or not blacks. And it's a pain in the arse, equality, but right now where we're at with it. is if we believed that these people's lives were equal in value to ours, we would not be letting them die like this. This is not an argument for giving money to corrupt leadership or redecorating presidential palaces. Let's be tough, and vigorous and demanding of our aid. But let's increase it and let's be that generation that can say to our kids, "We stopped that".And just another one on the Jewish thing while I'm there. I met this incredible man in the United States Congress Tom Lantos and he was a survivor of concentration camps and he told me that years later it wasn't the mistreatment in the camps and the brutality that used to haunt him, but the thing that haunted him were the blank stares of the faces as they were being loaded onto the trains. And I knew this is a very heavy thing to bring up. I don't bring it up this lightly, but is there some analogy here. He said, "Oh no, it's worse than that, because we know where these trains are going. We are letting children die for lack of medicines you can get in any corner shop." And so I asked him could I use this analogy and he said "Yes", and that's what our generation has got to do. We've got to go down and lie across the tracks.
ANDREW DENTON: It's easy to talk, great to sing, but I really respect the fact you give time. Bono, thank you.

50 Years

Last night, Sunday 5th of November, marked the 50th birthday of the ABC. I was probably first introduced to the ABC by way of Play School. Jemima was one of my favorites, my sister's relationship with Little Ted was unhealthy. Then there was Secret Valley. I was lucky that my Uncle Bob (yes, Bob really is my Uncle) secured me a tee-shirt from the program. It was good to have a news reader for an Uncle.

There were many years when I was forced to watch the 7pm news. 'Everyone else' got to watch the news on the commercial channels and the proverbial argument that 'we are not everyone else's parents' was the standard defence. Commercials were more fun, you got to see the latest advertisements selling the newest Uncle Tobys product. The 7.30 Report followed the 7pm news, and then it was the Bill. There were no advertisements, there wasn't really anything. I can probably attribute my developed reading skills to the limited television exposure in our house.

Nowadays, I enjoy a few programs on this station. If the AFL was broadcasted by the ABC (funny one, I know) we would only have one television station in our house. Scary, especially to Canadian readers who lament that Australia only has five television stations.

Gordon Prisco should feel very privileged to share a birthday with the ABC. He is so much younger the ABC, in comparison to the people at Bond, who he is so much older than. Despite an eternal band from his blog (there have been words to the effect that this was to be lifted,) providing a target for his continual ridicule and dealing with him when he is sick or injured, I hope he had a good birthday.

Footprints

Some people have contacted me, disturbed at their impact on this planet. They determined this using the link provided in this post.

I am still trying to locate the ecological footprint calculator I used when studying Environmental History, Environmental Politics and then Environmental Law. I can't. It was very detailed and provided, what I thought, was a very accurate account of ones footprint on the earth. The calculator linked to the post was general.

I had people contacting me lamenting that their lifestyles required 3 planets. Someone else was 4, a number of people came it at 6-8. For those of you who didn't determine your ecological footprint what this means is that the individual who determined their impact on the earth required three planets to live their life. That's one person, not one state, not one country and not one content. Disturbing.

While I can't find the precise calculator I was looking for, the following links provide more detailed accounts of ones footprint and also suggest some ways these can be reduced.

• http://www.isa.org.usyd.edu.au
• http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/education/ecologic/games.htm
• http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/projects/eco-footprint/default.asp
• http://www.abc.net.au/science/planetslayer/
• http://www.myfootprint.org/

I'll continue to bother my friend for a link they were going to forward. Apparently the link is to a newsletter that provides information on how we can go about our lives and lessen our impact on the planet.

Goings on

• It is raining today. I think it has been raining since last night. Can't complain, we do need rain. I am sitting at a computer in the library (I still have not resolved the dilemma that was my laptop blowing up.) It is still raining outside. I thought it might stop after a sentence or two. I wonder if it will flood? I have a lot of work to do.
• Tonight I am taking my brother out for a birthday dinner. His 21st birthday, no less. I was planning to cook him a celebratory dinner on his actual birthday - the 8th of November - but a few things have come up. I think he may come down to the coast the night before his birthday, so I can wish him happy birthday on the actual morning. I think he just wants to over-capitalise on birthday celebrations.
• Car Batteries and I do not get on.
• This is not good news: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/11/03/1162340055442.html. To think people think global warming is not a problem.
• Mark Lucenti listens to Kelly Clarkson. His justification for this is that he 'has diverse music tastes.' Unlikely.
• This week I discovered, well actually was made to look rather foolish, that an English bull-dog is not just a breed of dog but in fact is associated with human boxing. I came across this information when I suggested to someone that rather dressing as an English bulldog for Halloween, they dressed as an American Bulldog. I think I provided a few individuals with a few moments of amusement.
• There are a lot of birthdays coming up. Not as hectic as September, but not far off. There is James , Canadian Belinda, Lizzie Andrews (from kindergarten and school - after 15 years of education together how could one forget) is the 4th, and Gordon Prisco who spring to mind.
• I want to read Jones Town. The hard copy was retailing for $49.95. I needed a new pair of shoes for Pete's wedding. We all have to make sacrifices. If anyone has bought it and read it and is willing to lend it to me. Please let me know. In the mean time I'll continue my expose into Mao's life. Oh, I found some exerts provided by the publishers. These can be accessed here.
• My Dad sent me the links for these newspaper articles, 'Songbird Swift takes flight,' and 'Greenies 'hijackers' Charged.' Dad, regarding the last article; why are you sending me propaganda? We have observed the devastation (first hand) that logging is doing to Victoria and its water catchment areas. The headline sets up the tone of the article (I learnt how to determine this in Year 10.) I read it, only to reassure myself that people in this country are often ill-informed and quick to jump on populist bandwagons.
• This information disgusts me.
• I am not happy about the sale of this house to anybody, but myself. Pity. I'm spending more money than I am earning, and I probably owe the Australian Government more money than I will ever earn.
• Typical: the rich are getting richer and the poor......
• Hysterical. My horoscope for today: "Victorian Virgos would be well advised to lock their doors this weekend to avoid the plague of devil politicians stalking their neighbourhoods on the lookout for souls. Or is that votes? Same difference. Poke your head out at your peril." That's courtesy of the Weekend Australian Magazine.

The news today

I am not a fan of people who sit on fences.

I hope these people cross the floor. I disapprove of the Australian government's treatment of refugees. Perhaps people will stop hiding behind their picket fences and take a walk on the footpath. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/asylum-laws-in-limbo-ahead-of-debate/2006/08/08/1154802885471.html

Today my mate Kerry O'Brien addressed the 'communication breakdown' that is Telstra. He doesn't sit on the fence. http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/ . Transcripts to Kerry's scrutinising and interrogations are not available immediately. I presume some lucky duck has to type them up. I'll see how quick they are.

This crash is not good news. My brother training to be a pilot. My mother freaks whenever she hears news like this. It has not been determined why the pilot crashed. My brother may shed some light on this tomorrow. I hope he makes the correct decisions when flying planes and doesn't sit on the fence when it comes to decision making. I am waiting until his plane has two engines before I consider heading up into the big blue sky with him. I hope he never has an accident. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200608/s1709509.htm