Well, not "finito" , as in "cease" , in a personal progress sense. More along the lines of "god be with you", adios, au revoir (or this au revoir .. heh.) - but "technological factors" will soon prevent me from posting to "Wombat's Waffles" .. within seven days. Odd, in many ways, that the word, or concept, of "god" has to be involved .. but it IS so ingrained and interwoven with much of Mediterranean thought processes.
had assumed it simple .. just find a suitable video/song with "Soo long, it's been good to know ya" .. but there are several versions on uTube, some terrible, some - more or less along the lines of my thinking ..
This is one of them ..
.. but wasn't quite the tone that was looking for, so then thought .. OK, Gracie Fields - "Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye" .. and found this one (it's part of a movie, "Shipyard Sally" - 5min25sec). ummm, sort of close, but not quite.
Then found this ..
(almost 8 minutes)
Make of it what you will .. heh ..
I will have access to landlines and "easy internet" for a few more days, and this is a sort of "warning" that Wombat's Waffles will be shutting down soon.
On one hand - I will miss it, but on the other, am looking forward to being able to "smell the pheromones", see the subtleties of eyeblinks and frowns, subconscious and instant shifts of stance within visual distance .. moving "backwards", so to speak, into the community of human beings.
[and yup, have added a bit more and couple of pics to "Odds, sods and bookends" in case yer too lazy to scroll back that far.]
Thursday, March 13, 2008
"L" plate idiots
This would be wryly funny - if it weren't so spectacularly tragic.
Rice (sort of) admits mistake.
The following was, actually, written and posted on WW back in November 2005. (updated - slightly, in case nobody remembers).
Has anything changed much?
______________________________________________
For those worried by the [disturbing] scenes coming to you via the Television - HAVE NO FEAR -
It's the 'dailies' from the forthcoming Big Budget Blockbuster Movie.
NEEDMORE SPACE WARS. Episode 2 3/4 (draft 2) ©
Produced by Stewpit Murdick and Associates.. ©
Directed by Krarl Rover …
Starring---
Jerge V. Bosch as the genial, not very bright, genuwwine, tough talkin', straight shootin', Hero.
Rich Cheaty as the billionaire (de)construction Entrepreneur.
Saul Wolfishgrin as the accountant with a gambling problem.
Ronald Feelsrummy as the cheerful court buffoon ( jester? um, have to write him better lines, at the moment he comes across as a silly twit)
Rollin Towell as the 'quiet sensible man' -- who gets fired early in the scenario for being boring and forgetting his script. Then .. yeeeehaaaa!!.. replaced by ..
Mizz Bouncezy Highprice as the better-than-beautiful black female in a macho man's world, sent out with Whiter-than-White Colgate smile to seduce the Mayors of the neighbouring townsfolk.
AND INTRODUCING!!
OBLA1- [bin]alQanobi - who, after an early life of quiet piety - turns into the dark, devious, evil, malicious, elusive villain intent on worldly dominion.
With a supporting cast of MILLIONS!!.
Including -
Cony Hare - First Deputy - (no time, no time) scuttling back and forth attempting to appease the old, the new and the ancient.
Johnny Littlebackward - 2nd Deputy -undersize boots clumping hollowly through the corridors of power, trying to keep up.
(there were a few other characters lurking in the background - Johnny Garlac and Vladdy Sputim* etc.- but they tended to get in the way of the forward thrust, and have been written out)
Scenario.
The movie begins. We see a long, slow, panorama of wide, pristine, open deserts and seven ancient pillars of geological wisdom. A train of life plods slowly across a distant horizon.
On the other side of the world, Jerge is sitting morose [bored] and alone in a gaudy, ramshackle Tavern contemplating his 12th whisky, third failed business venture and toying with a syringe near his toe. Naked dancers writhe and gyrate sensuously in the background. A short, faceless, dumpy man sidles up behind him and whispers "Psssst, Jerge, ya wanna outdo daddy an' Rule the World?" Bleary eyed, Jerge turns and sees .. a tall, luminous, pillar of light smiling at him, with enormous white wings outspread across the world (brilliantly morphed by Pixar). At such an astounding, shocking Revelation, Jerge ponders for several minutes, then slowly nods. Now, with the Clear Light of Purpose glowing in his eyes, Jerge stands, braces his shoulders, straps on his shootin' irons, juts out his manly chin, then - with the dumpy, faceless man tagging along to guide him - strides out of the Gaudy Tavern into the Deserts of Manifest Destiny.
The Quest has a bumbling beginning when Jerge drops the saddlebags, and spills the cash. While he's looking for it, OBLA1-alQanobi sneaks up in front of him, punches Jerge on the nose then vanishes in a puff of Myth. Now, angry as a Hornet's Nest, Jerge gathers the mendacious Magnificent Seven, raids the National bank and begins shooting at Shadows. Rich Cheaty gathers the loose change. Saul Wolfishgrin deals himself a Full House. Ronny Feelsrummy capers with delight.
After several huge, Big Budget Battles by the armies of the Western Alliance - which rage across several Kingdoms and the Dunes of Middle Earth defeating [expending ordnance on] small pockets of guerilla resistance from many Nations (carefully staged for the Foxhole cameras). ..
It will all come to a Happy Ending where Ronald Feelsrummy is seen trying to eat his words (should be hilarious),
Jerge V. Bosch buys Mittel Amerigo (yet again) and retires to play golf,
Rich Cheaty has enough money to buy Europa, Canamanda, East Continent, Centralbig Continent, Northbig Continent, and a quiet, peaceful little island in the South Pacific called Australis.
Saul Wolfishgrin rolls up his sleeves, puts on another green eyeshade, and moves on to another High Stakes game (a 'spin-off' script is in pre-production). AAAAANNDD!! Wait, there's more ..
Bouncezy elopes with her Middle Earth boyfriend, to live happily ever after behind a white picket fence in Cheyenne Mountain ..
All the 'dead' extras get up, collect their paycheques from Central Casting and go home to their children and Desperate Housewives.
Stay tuned folks!! After many years of planning, production, editing and digital enhancement by "Dreamworks" - in another couple[?] of year's time it will arrive on a WMD near you !!!
(this is a work of fiction, any relationship to actual people, places or events is purely intentional coincidence).
© Democritus
(further credit should be given to cynical philosopher who sparked the idea, but who shall remain nameless, as the Thought Police have just broken in and stolen my hard dri
Rice (sort of) admits mistake.
The following was, actually, written and posted on WW back in November 2005. (updated - slightly, in case nobody remembers).
Has anything changed much?
______________________________________________
For those worried by the [disturbing] scenes coming to you via the Television - HAVE NO FEAR -
It's the 'dailies' from the forthcoming Big Budget Blockbuster Movie.
NEEDMORE SPACE WARS. Episode 2 3/4 (draft 2) ©
Produced by Stewpit Murdick and Associates.. ©
Directed by Krarl Rover …
Starring---
Jerge V. Bosch as the genial, not very bright, genuwwine, tough talkin', straight shootin', Hero.
Rich Cheaty as the billionaire (de)construction Entrepreneur.
Saul Wolfishgrin as the accountant with a gambling problem.
Ronald Feelsrummy as the cheerful court buffoon ( jester? um, have to write him better lines, at the moment he comes across as a silly twit)
Rollin Towell as the 'quiet sensible man' -- who gets fired early in the scenario for being boring and forgetting his script. Then .. yeeeehaaaa!!.. replaced by ..
Mizz Bouncezy Highprice as the better-than-beautiful black female in a macho man's world, sent out with Whiter-than-White Colgate smile to seduce the Mayors of the neighbouring townsfolk.
AND INTRODUCING!!
OBLA1- [bin]alQanobi - who, after an early life of quiet piety - turns into the dark, devious, evil, malicious, elusive villain intent on worldly dominion.
With a supporting cast of MILLIONS!!.
Including -
Cony Hare - First Deputy - (no time, no time) scuttling back and forth attempting to appease the old, the new and the ancient.
Johnny Littlebackward - 2nd Deputy -undersize boots clumping hollowly through the corridors of power, trying to keep up.
(there were a few other characters lurking in the background - Johnny Garlac and Vladdy Sputim* etc.- but they tended to get in the way of the forward thrust, and have been written out)
Scenario.
The movie begins. We see a long, slow, panorama of wide, pristine, open deserts and seven ancient pillars of geological wisdom. A train of life plods slowly across a distant horizon.
On the other side of the world, Jerge is sitting morose [bored] and alone in a gaudy, ramshackle Tavern contemplating his 12th whisky, third failed business venture and toying with a syringe near his toe. Naked dancers writhe and gyrate sensuously in the background. A short, faceless, dumpy man sidles up behind him and whispers "Psssst, Jerge, ya wanna outdo daddy an' Rule the World?" Bleary eyed, Jerge turns and sees .. a tall, luminous, pillar of light smiling at him, with enormous white wings outspread across the world (brilliantly morphed by Pixar). At such an astounding, shocking Revelation, Jerge ponders for several minutes, then slowly nods. Now, with the Clear Light of Purpose glowing in his eyes, Jerge stands, braces his shoulders, straps on his shootin' irons, juts out his manly chin, then - with the dumpy, faceless man tagging along to guide him - strides out of the Gaudy Tavern into the Deserts of Manifest Destiny.
The Quest has a bumbling beginning when Jerge drops the saddlebags, and spills the cash. While he's looking for it, OBLA1-alQanobi sneaks up in front of him, punches Jerge on the nose then vanishes in a puff of Myth. Now, angry as a Hornet's Nest, Jerge gathers the mendacious Magnificent Seven, raids the National bank and begins shooting at Shadows. Rich Cheaty gathers the loose change. Saul Wolfishgrin deals himself a Full House. Ronny Feelsrummy capers with delight.
After several huge, Big Budget Battles by the armies of the Western Alliance - which rage across several Kingdoms and the Dunes of Middle Earth defeating [expending ordnance on] small pockets of guerilla resistance from many Nations (carefully staged for the Foxhole cameras). ..
It will all come to a Happy Ending where Ronald Feelsrummy is seen trying to eat his words (should be hilarious),
Jerge V. Bosch buys Mittel Amerigo (yet again) and retires to play golf,
Rich Cheaty has enough money to buy Europa, Canamanda, East Continent, Centralbig Continent, Northbig Continent, and a quiet, peaceful little island in the South Pacific called Australis.
Saul Wolfishgrin rolls up his sleeves, puts on another green eyeshade, and moves on to another High Stakes game (a 'spin-off' script is in pre-production). AAAAANNDD!! Wait, there's more ..
Bouncezy elopes with her Middle Earth boyfriend, to live happily ever after behind a white picket fence in Cheyenne Mountain ..
All the 'dead' extras get up, collect their paycheques from Central Casting and go home to their children and Desperate Housewives.
Stay tuned folks!! After many years of planning, production, editing and digital enhancement by "Dreamworks" - in another couple[?] of year's time it will arrive on a WMD near you !!!
(this is a work of fiction, any relationship to actual people, places or events is purely intentional coincidence).
© Democritus
(further credit should be given to cynical philosopher who sparked the idea, but who shall remain nameless, as the Thought Police have just broken in and stolen my hard dri
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Setting Records
Has been a bit warm down this way. Probably nothing spectacular to somewhere like Baghdad, but has been warmish. My first attempt at searching for a link came up with this one, but that was dated December, last year. Try this one - which was dated yesterday ..and looks like continuing until Tuesday next week. [C'marr..nnnn, Adelaide, I know ya c'n do it ... Ra Ra Ra .. just a few more days .. then we'll be unbeatable .. heh.]
Hmmm, had been wondering why what was left (and right) of the mush that i call a brain had been melting out of the spigot a lot - and explains why I haven't felt much like continuing the post about the Clearance sale. Not t' worry .. i will, I promise. And Y'all mustn't worry, y'hear .. this elderly gent IS making sure the liquid intake is .. errr, where was I .. ?
[and OY, you Northern Hemisphere lot .. tilting the bloody cultural axis up your way was bad enough ... BUT WE DON'T NEED YER BLODDY March, April, June, July CLIMATE, as well..!!]
[Update: March 13 - 11 days over 35C (95F) .. Am still waiting fer Tamsin, the rather attractive little "weather pixie" over on the sidebar to strip naked when the Temp gets to 100F (as it is today) .. but, no luck, so far. Some people really ARE strictly "programmed" .. drat.
Temperature converter. Hourly graph. hmm. an interesting side note - no blackouts, nor serious bushfires - as yet.]
Monday, March 10, 2008
Lines on a map
Have just been having a squizz at (newish?) blog, and this post - Dangers of Denim - caught my eye. Hmmm, didn't know about all that stuff, or rather, hadn't thought much about it.
There is a fair amount of controversy about Cubby Station (Queensland cotton farm. There are "fors and againsts" .. gurgle it for more info).
[hmmmm, wonder if we can get the "New" Prime Minister to move into more progressive Parliamentary policy - get them to convince Cubby Station to grow lovely, waving, green fields of Hemp??]
South Australia is at the bottom end of the Murray-DarlingsewerRiver System, and as such - very rarely see much of the water that ends up in it, and the poor "Water Minister" has her work cut out trying to battle negotiate with the "upstream" States (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria).
Apart from having to close several of our "cross river" ferries due to the fact that the "ferry landing" is now several feet away across dry mud (not to worry, we're planning on building bitumen roads across the riverbed .. sometime soon .. heh.) - one of the Rivermouth Lakes (Lake Albert) is in deep trouble and almost dry. [am not even going to mention the Coorong "wet"?lands].
So, if anyone from the floods in Queensland has a philanthropic streak, and a watertanker .. please send us a couple of truckloads .. would be much appreciated.
Won't be long before the "Murray-Darling" system will be reduced to "lines on a map", and perhaps cartographers of the future will be able to use much less ink.
There is a fair amount of controversy about Cubby Station (Queensland cotton farm. There are "fors and againsts" .. gurgle it for more info).
[hmmmm, wonder if we can get the "New" Prime Minister to move into more progressive Parliamentary policy - get them to convince Cubby Station to grow lovely, waving, green fields of Hemp??]
South Australia is at the bottom end of the Murray-Darling
(perspective pic from post, back here Murray-Darling basin in light green.)
Apart from having to close several of our "cross river" ferries due to the fact that the "ferry landing" is now several feet away across dry mud (not to worry, we're planning on building bitumen roads across the riverbed .. sometime soon .. heh.) - one of the Rivermouth Lakes (Lake Albert) is in deep trouble and almost dry. [am not even going to mention the Coorong "wet"?lands].
So, if anyone from the floods in Queensland has a philanthropic streak, and a watertanker .. please send us a couple of truckloads .. would be much appreciated.
Won't be long before the "Murray-Darling" system will be reduced to "lines on a map", and perhaps cartographers of the future will be able to use much less ink.
Odds, sods, and bookends
The past few days - well, up until last Sunday, at least - have been somewhat hectic.
It's called a "Garage Sale". [um, didn't have a "garage" to sell, though did have a carport, and a house-full of knick-nacks .. heh.]
As usual, had been perpetually procrastinating, had intended to hold the "Household clearance" sale weekend before last, but one thing piled on top of another - plus cousin wasn't available to assist - until last Saturday. Still felt completely disorganised, but actually remembered to place an Ad in the paper last Friday afternoon. The lass on the phone at "classifieds" was very helpful.
"hello," say I, "never done this before, but do you have a section for Garage sales in Saturday's paper?"
"Oh yes," she replies, so we talked through the "usual" sort of wording. Suburb, address, item categories then she said "Do you really want to put your house number in?"
Er, yes, think dingbat me, how else are people going to know where it is.
Now, am not sure how common this is - but i have a curious sort of "dis-connect" between "knowing" and "doing". In other words - I know what the likely result from an action will be .. but go ahead and do it anyway.
Had heard that some of the
The first edition of the newspaper comes out at midnight.
So, had been pottering around for several days before Friday, trying to get things organised .. tidy up, figure out what I needed to keep, what to "let go", but live on my own without much in the way of 'whip-crackers' or assistance, so progress was somewhat slow. Spent Friday morning painting signs on cardboard boxes, and getting some balloons and ribbons. At this point most of the "ornaments", crockery and dinner sets were still wrapped in paper, packed in cardboard boxes from the previous move, 12 months ago.
Another small problem was beginning to dawn on me. Had originally intended to transfer everything that I wanted to "keep" into the caravan - then just open the doors of the house so people could just browse though what was on view. Hoo boy.
Had - more or less - finished the "refurbishment/additions" to the caravan where I needed the room to move, then had transferred most of the "essentials", and the van is full to overflowing, BUT - for some reason still had a whole ROOM FULL of "stuff" left over. Oh well, think i, just put a sign on the door - "Private -No Entry", and sort though that stuff later.
Had arranged with cousin and daughter to turn up Saturday morn at 7am.
Friday night, had trouble sleeping. Fell into bed at about midnight, fitfully tossed and turned until about 4am. Out of bed, opened front door to let in some cool air [has been 38-40C for the past week or so] then Aarrrgh! no coffee. Made a cuppa tea, and thought about unpacking the ornaments. Still half asleep, walked past the door to still dark front room - and there's a bloke standing there! "G'day", sez he. "SHIT!", exclaim I, almost performing that action. [for a bit of perspective - am an almost solitary recluse, and there has been no other person come into this house, day or night, for several months.]
Quickly recovered though ["anal retentive" takes a different perspective and is, at times, an advantage]. "So," sez he, "what have you got?" I took him on a quick tour [he even brought a torch]. He knew what he was after, though. Wasn't interested in very much, but did surprise me.
There was an old wooden "traymobile" circa 1930, not flash, belonged to my mother. "How much?", he asks. "Errrm, $10.00?" say I, hopefully. "I'll give you $50.00", sez he. 'Tis always a pleasant surprise when people negotiate upwards!
Well, everything became a bit of a blur, after that. In they came. Must have been about 6-8 people then, between 5 and 6.30am. Chaos, crows around a carcase. They fossicked rapidly through the boxes, strewing paper wrappings willy-nilly, a couple of items broken without recompense. Me trying to "supervise" four rooms, as well as trying to remember who had "bought" what. Deals were done; some good, some not [cheapskates]. Some stuff honestly acquired, some probably "walked".
By 6.45 had sold - dining table with six chairs, corner cabinet, sideboard, three "nest of tables" .. and who knows what else - most of the furniture - and 3/4 of the knick-nacks.
Cousin and daughter arrived at 7am. "Piss orf," say I, mind still reeling, "it's all over". He was slightly bemused and non-plussed at first, but grinned - then made lottsa cuppsa tea [had, miraculously, managed to hang on to my tea-bags, sugar and electric kettle .. heh], and we set about "tidying up".
It was only then, with some sanity and breathing space established - that I managed to take my balloons and (carefully painted) cardboard box signs announcing "garage sale - household clearance" out to the street corners.
There was a steady stream of browsers, buyers and "nosey-parkers" after that, but the bulk of the really "interesting" items had gone, so sales were slow. It was getting bloody hot by 11am, so was getting to the stage where, taking my cue from several local restaurants - was saying to everyone "All you can take - for a dollar."
[haven't even got to the "books" bit yet .. will add more - and some photos - soon].
[Addition:15 Mar 08]
This is probably a bit too late .. after all, who scrolls back this far .. heh. Not a lot more to write, actually. Have just added some photos. In retrospect, the day went quite well, but can't say that I made a lot of money as the "value" of things is always relative. I didn't put a "price" on anything, and if anyone asked, would say "What's it worth to you".
I felt the "saddest" really, over the books. While it IS true that have not read a book, cover to cover, for many years (internet, drat) I did have quite an eclectic collection, built up over many years, and it sometimes amazes me that I still have them, considering the amount of travelling that have done over the past 63 years. There are texts that belonged to my father and grandfather, and some from my early childhood, and it is really quite interesting to compare books printed in the '20's, '30's and '40's with those of today. I have a "Collins' Boy Scouts' Annual" which belonged to my father and must have been printed - in England - sometime during the 1920's (there is no mention, or indication among the stories that WWII had ever happened, or was about to happen. The only clue is a story "A century of transport 1827-1927"). All "tebbly, tebbly, British!" and a somewhat more "innocent", perhaps naive age.
Not many people were really interested in them, though did manage to offload about a quarter of them. "As many as you want, $1.00", and one bloke kept coming back at various times later during the afternoon.
Have no idea what am going to do with the ones left over, which have been out the front for the past week (there is a sign that says "For whatever a Word's Worth") ... perhaps St Vinnies or the Salvo's will find good homes for them.
The bloody annoying thing at the moment is that I STILL have a roomful of "other stuff" that am pretty sure won't fit in the caravan.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
addictions
Yer, well, whatever.
Trying to reduce the " technology" inputs is not thAT EASY. iN THE LETTER BOX TOX .. FROM THE RENTAL AGENTS .. oh, oops, inadvertent caps lock. ......
heh.
won't give the 'list of "requirements" -and will 'lose'; my "Bond" .. but wil tell ya that am leaving it in far better condition than i found it.
Ohg, ..Olivia.. please. come walk throgh the propert y with me.,
Trying to reduce the " technology" inputs is not thAT EASY. iN THE LETTER BOX TOX .. FROM THE RENTAL AGENTS .. oh, oops, inadvertent caps lock. ......
heh.
won't give the 'list of "requirements" -and will 'lose'; my "Bond" .. but wil tell ya that am leaving it in far better condition than i found it.
Ohg, ..Olivia.. please. come walk throgh the propert y with me.,
errr ..aaaaAH ah ..phew!
Doubt that any of my readers have followed this one in the title .. intensely personal, extremely intimate. [nothing to do with ME, just an interest]
And .. have to admit that there's been a few months gap in MY interest, but have to report that Val is alive, well, and on the way to thriving.
Which brings me to the concept of " instant" gratification.
Am oldish bastard, like to read books from front to back .. not from "today to yesterday" . [there must be a 'media studies' PhD there somewhere] .. if that makes sense. Blogger - or any of the "online services" gives us an "inverted" look at history. Everything has been 'invented" TODAY!!!
[won't mention that the power of 'steam' was a "toy" for the Romans, or that females have held power for ..........................x...years]
It's all on " Gurgle .. ".
.. or, basically, on hard copy in various Libraries around the world.
have just been watching a doco on TV about the amount of the cocktails of drugs " prescribed" by highly paid "doctors" - to CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!! For what? Misbehaving?
Hey, give us a break. From time immemorial .. kids are kids, children are children.
Some survive, some don't.
And .. have to admit that there's been a few months gap in MY interest, but have to report that Val is alive, well, and on the way to thriving.
Which brings me to the concept of " instant" gratification.
Am oldish bastard, like to read books from front to back .. not from "today to yesterday" . [there must be a 'media studies' PhD there somewhere] .. if that makes sense. Blogger - or any of the "online services" gives us an "inverted" look at history. Everything has been 'invented" TODAY!!!
[won't mention that the power of 'steam' was a "toy" for the Romans, or that females have held power for ..........................x...years]
It's all on " Gurgle .. ".
.. or, basically, on hard copy in various Libraries around the world.
have just been watching a doco on TV about the amount of the cocktails of drugs " prescribed" by highly paid "doctors" - to CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!! For what? Misbehaving?
Hey, give us a break. From time immemorial .. kids are kids, children are children.
Some survive, some don't.
Monday, March 03, 2008
vice
funny how some words spark a train of thought.
[a device for squeezing the mind?]
"vice". I only have two dictionaries, both ancient in recent terms.
One - the "Westminster English Dictionary" - a rather battered, hard bound copy that may well have belonged to my father. Published by "Rigby Ltd, Adelaide" but "printed in Great Britain" .. but contains no publishing date.
[oh shit. have just found one page of a hand-written letter hidden among its pages .. haven't opened the book since 1975 .. forgive me .. am going silent while i digest its import]
[update .. nothing to do with my father, just something written by someone else to someone else, but relevant to three people, a long time ago.
There will be few who understand the significance of these few words .. unseen, for so many years ..
[a device for squeezing the mind?]
"vice". I only have two dictionaries, both ancient in recent terms.
One - the "Westminster English Dictionary" - a rather battered, hard bound copy that may well have belonged to my father. Published by "Rigby Ltd, Adelaide" but "printed in Great Britain" .. but contains no publishing date.
[oh shit. have just found one page of a hand-written letter hidden among its pages .. haven't opened the book since 1975 .. forgive me .. am going silent while i digest its import]
[update .. nothing to do with my father, just something written by someone else to someone else, but relevant to three people, a long time ago.
There will be few who understand the significance of these few words .. unseen, for so many years ..
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Ra .. Ra .. Ra
There are, of course, many names, myths, legends and Deities of ancient civilisations devoted to that bloody big hot thing that travels across the sky each day - but won't go into that, look 'em up for yourself.
What does fascinate me is the attitude of us Australians. We "worship" it, of course - surf, suntans, sport .. but bury our heads in the corpses of ancient dead trees deep underground when looking for energy to switch on a light .. or cappuccino machine, microwave oven, plasma TV set, toothbrush ..
Am going to make some guesses with the percentages here but let's say that a land mass roughly the size of the USA - or Europe - is 90% flat - ish, and more-or-less uninhabited. 80% of it receives direct sunlight for 100% of the day for 80% of the year.
Am slightly bemused by the fact that a country - Germany - with far less "available space" and "solar hours per year" - has a far more radical and progressive Solar power policy.
In fact, water in Australia is so scarce the (previous) Government was offering a "grant" of $150,000 for farmers to "walk off the land". What are they going to do with that money? Buy a one way ticket to China and work in a factory?
Doesn't make much sense to me, if one considers this story. German farmer makes better income.
Here, the over-stressed Murray Darling Irrigation system is on the verge of collapse. Dozens, if not hundreds of "small holding" irrigators are contemplating "walking away" - with the subsequent collapse of local communities and infrastructure.
If the Gummint is prepared to "grant" $150K .. why not offer to "lend" them another $xK to set up a "Solar" farm? They can't use the "too far away from the Grid" excuse that has been used in the "hot rocks" situation.
Don't particularly want to get all carried away with discussion re "geothermal" - but if we can afford - in recent times - to build a bloody railway line from Alice Springs to Darwin - shit, it's only 1500klm (1000 miles?) (or, previously, in a rather more "cash-strapped" era - a telephone line from Adelaide to Darwin [2000 miles?]) .. I can't figure out how the proposed [but ignored] Geothermal plants are "too far away". Shit, Roxby Downs is a stone's throw away .. in outback distances.
[and don't get me started on the benefits of Geothermal .. apart from everything else, does anyone really comprehend how much WATER a Nuclear Plant uses??].
Oh, where was I .. ah ..
.. back to the personal. I wuz gypped .. or rather "misunderstood the marketing". Was under the impression that this little baby out-putted 2 Amps in full sunlight. Not so .. barely 0.5 Amp .. but that's not a problem, have the 60 Watter on the caravan, this is sort of "Back-up". Neat package, though, look at all the "bits 'n pieces" it comes with. Manufactured in Canada, or so am led to believe, and only $140.00 from Tandy.
[side cutters not included - relative size reference only]
seems to work quite well in the shade, also - but am not going to mention any angst regarding Sliver Cell Technology . (which seems to have been invented/developed in Australia, and all but died due to previous Gummint dis- interest). Sheesh, 11 years wasted .. one can only try to not weep.
So ..
Am slowly getting organised ..
Ah, that last pic didn't quite turn out as it should have. The battery (80 amp deep cycle) is at the bottom, the "inverter" [converts 12 volt DC to 240 Volts modified sine wave AC] is poking its front out of the little rectangle just above it.
Hey, am not a complete "Greenie", just yet .. i do like some of the comforts and indulgences that 240 volt appliances provide. [heh]
What does fascinate me is the attitude of us Australians. We "worship" it, of course - surf, suntans, sport .. but bury our heads in the corpses of ancient dead trees deep underground when looking for energy to switch on a light .. or cappuccino machine, microwave oven, plasma TV set, toothbrush ..
Am going to make some guesses with the percentages here but let's say that a land mass roughly the size of the USA - or Europe - is 90% flat - ish, and more-or-less uninhabited. 80% of it receives direct sunlight for 100% of the day for 80% of the year.
Am slightly bemused by the fact that a country - Germany - with far less "available space" and "solar hours per year" - has a far more radical and progressive Solar power policy.
In fact, water in Australia is so scarce the (previous) Government was offering a "grant" of $150,000 for farmers to "walk off the land". What are they going to do with that money? Buy a one way ticket to China and work in a factory?
Doesn't make much sense to me, if one considers this story. German farmer makes better income.
Here, the over-stressed Murray Darling Irrigation system is on the verge of collapse. Dozens, if not hundreds of "small holding" irrigators are contemplating "walking away" - with the subsequent collapse of local communities and infrastructure.
If the Gummint is prepared to "grant" $150K .. why not offer to "lend" them another $xK to set up a "Solar" farm? They can't use the "too far away from the Grid" excuse that has been used in the "hot rocks" situation.
Don't particularly want to get all carried away with discussion re "geothermal" - but if we can afford - in recent times - to build a bloody railway line from Alice Springs to Darwin - shit, it's only 1500klm (1000 miles?) (or, previously, in a rather more "cash-strapped" era - a telephone line from Adelaide to Darwin [2000 miles?]) .. I can't figure out how the proposed [but ignored] Geothermal plants are "too far away". Shit, Roxby Downs is a stone's throw away .. in outback distances.
[and don't get me started on the benefits of Geothermal .. apart from everything else, does anyone really comprehend how much WATER a Nuclear Plant uses??].
Oh, where was I .. ah ..
.. back to the personal. I wuz gypped .. or rather "misunderstood the marketing". Was under the impression that this little baby out-putted 2 Amps in full sunlight. Not so .. barely 0.5 Amp .. but that's not a problem, have the 60 Watter on the caravan, this is sort of "Back-up". Neat package, though, look at all the "bits 'n pieces" it comes with. Manufactured in Canada, or so am led to believe, and only $140.00 from Tandy.
[side cutters not included - relative size reference only]So ..
Am slowly getting organised ..
Ah, that last pic didn't quite turn out as it should have. The battery (80 amp deep cycle) is at the bottom, the "inverter" [converts 12 volt DC to 240 Volts modified sine wave AC] is poking its front out of the little rectangle just above it.
Hey, am not a complete "Greenie", just yet .. i do like some of the comforts and indulgences that 240 volt appliances provide. [heh]
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Retrospect
this is going to be some random notes .. i could put it into the "drafts", but will probably forget it, or let it die of "new-moania".
History fascinates me. not history itself, but the way it is constructed. We tend to forget that "writing"is recent phenomena. most of what we think we know about the past is/was transferred by "word of mouth". a point, here. writing is, actually, mostly, transitory - written for the moment. i send a letter .. the intention is tell someone what's happening NOW. If that written item survives several generations, it gives the reader an "impression" of what happened back then. (there is much to be looked at here) quite a lot of "history"is re-constructed from clay tablets that .. well, are records of commercial transactions, never meant, nor intended, to be "historical documents" - and yes, can get into trouble here .. some stone carvings WERE intended to be seen at a later date .. but not many. most were designed for "local consumption".
Anyway, want to move on quickly. Am, at this point, thinking about the strict discipline required of the "bards " and "ollaves"who had to spend 7 years apprenticeship. very few people at that time could read and write. The only way "news" or "ïnformation"could be spread around was by - basically - word of mouth. But also - before "writing" - tribal "history" HAD to be strictly controlled, and so it became a "discipline". Any variation, "improvisation" was verboten, had to be .. one of the reasons for couching history in the mathematical precision of"chants" otherwise it would deteriorate into "chinese whispers" and who knows where it would end up ..
It's all a long story - difficult to explain in few words - and one of the reasons "religion" is stuck where it is .. but that's another long story.
What actually prompted all this is that have been focussed on researching a specific event that happened within living memory - almost exactly 63 years ago. Oh yes, have all the "official"documentation from the National Archives .. but what is fascinating me at the moment is that have never been able to find, or listen to - eyewitnesses. I do, however, have contacts who have contacts. At the moment the discrepancies between the "officially recorded" reports , and the "hearsay" reports - are remarkable. (am using "hearsay"as a fairly loose term. More like .. "yer, me mate wuz there, and he said .." - though does expand into "I heard from a mate who's uncle said"..).
Even so .. some of the "hearsay" reports match with the "official" typewritten copies .. but some don't .. and trying to figure out which is the more "believable" is an interesting excercise.
The point, at the time of writing - is that, three weeks ago, was given the phone number of .. guess what .. an eyewitness. Yes, have spoken with him, listened to what he had to say .. is it exciting, breaking news .. er, well ..
Yes, he remembers being there but errrrm, it was 63 years ago. I wonder how many people could remember the details of what they did on one particular day LAST YEAR - though will have to add that this particular event was "unusual" and "traumatic", so not ya normal day.
Something else that have noticed is that nobody - even at the time - noticed or remembered what happened leading up the the "event". It was, like .. normal .. until the event THEN everyone suddenly has clear recollection, and a plethora of detailed documentation .. curious.
[ there will be some people who know the background of what am talking about .. some not .. the details - in this instance - are irrelevant]
I ring (pester) him every Friday evening .. he's still trying to remember. He's a lovely guy, but the stories are all intermingled with what happened 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago.. he's promised - at some point to write it all down .. have told him that anything is OK by me .. just write it down!!.
Is there a point to all this ? Well, yes.
I do have to scratch my head a bit - now - when people tell me the "bible" is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth ..
History fascinates me. not history itself, but the way it is constructed. We tend to forget that "writing"is recent phenomena. most of what we think we know about the past is/was transferred by "word of mouth". a point, here. writing is, actually, mostly, transitory - written for the moment. i send a letter .. the intention is tell someone what's happening NOW. If that written item survives several generations, it gives the reader an "impression" of what happened back then. (there is much to be looked at here) quite a lot of "history"is re-constructed from clay tablets that .. well, are records of commercial transactions, never meant, nor intended, to be "historical documents" - and yes, can get into trouble here .. some stone carvings WERE intended to be seen at a later date .. but not many. most were designed for "local consumption".
Anyway, want to move on quickly. Am, at this point, thinking about the strict discipline required of the "bards " and "ollaves"who had to spend 7 years apprenticeship. very few people at that time could read and write. The only way "news" or "ïnformation"could be spread around was by - basically - word of mouth. But also - before "writing" - tribal "history" HAD to be strictly controlled, and so it became a "discipline". Any variation, "improvisation" was verboten, had to be .. one of the reasons for couching history in the mathematical precision of"chants" otherwise it would deteriorate into "chinese whispers" and who knows where it would end up ..
It's all a long story - difficult to explain in few words - and one of the reasons "religion" is stuck where it is .. but that's another long story.
What actually prompted all this is that have been focussed on researching a specific event that happened within living memory - almost exactly 63 years ago. Oh yes, have all the "official"documentation from the National Archives .. but what is fascinating me at the moment is that have never been able to find, or listen to - eyewitnesses. I do, however, have contacts who have contacts. At the moment the discrepancies between the "officially recorded" reports , and the "hearsay" reports - are remarkable. (am using "hearsay"as a fairly loose term. More like .. "yer, me mate wuz there, and he said .." - though does expand into "I heard from a mate who's uncle said"..).
Even so .. some of the "hearsay" reports match with the "official" typewritten copies .. but some don't .. and trying to figure out which is the more "believable" is an interesting excercise.
The point, at the time of writing - is that, three weeks ago, was given the phone number of .. guess what .. an eyewitness. Yes, have spoken with him, listened to what he had to say .. is it exciting, breaking news .. er, well ..
Yes, he remembers being there but errrrm, it was 63 years ago. I wonder how many people could remember the details of what they did on one particular day LAST YEAR - though will have to add that this particular event was "unusual" and "traumatic", so not ya normal day.
Something else that have noticed is that nobody - even at the time - noticed or remembered what happened leading up the the "event". It was, like .. normal .. until the event THEN everyone suddenly has clear recollection, and a plethora of detailed documentation .. curious.
[ there will be some people who know the background of what am talking about .. some not .. the details - in this instance - are irrelevant]
I ring (pester) him every Friday evening .. he's still trying to remember. He's a lovely guy, but the stories are all intermingled with what happened 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago.. he's promised - at some point to write it all down .. have told him that anything is OK by me .. just write it down!!.
Is there a point to all this ? Well, yes.
I do have to scratch my head a bit - now - when people tell me the "bible" is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth ..
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