Apparently there's a movie out and about by that name.
As an 'elder' got the joke as soon as i saw the title.
WTF.
Showing posts with label words. Show all posts
Showing posts with label words. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 08, 2016
Saturday, June 21, 2014
entitlements ... ???
OK, will post this - not written by me, but seems to be pottering around the internet, and caught my interest.
Mainly due to "Honest Joe's" claim (or policy intention) that
"... the age of entitlement" is over.
Will also accept that the requests have Buckley's chance of happening.
Proposals to make politicians and bureaucrats shoulder their share of the weight now that the Age of Entitlement is over
1. Scrap political pensions. Politicians can purchase their own retirement plan, just as most other working Australians are expected to do.
2. Retired politicians (past, present & future) participate in Centrelink. A Politician collects a substantial salary while in office but should receive no salary when they're out of office.
Terminated politicians under 70 can go get a job or apply for Centrelink unemployment benefits like ordinary Australians.
Terminated politicians under 70 can negotiate with Centrelink like the rest of the Australian people.
3. Funds already allocated to the Politicians' retirement fund be returned immediately to Consolidated Revenue.
This money is to be used to pay down debt they created which they expect us and our grandchildren to repay for them.
4. Politicians will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Politicians pay will rise by the lower of, either the CPI or 3%.
5. Politicians lose their privileged health care system and participate in the same health care system as ordinary Australian people. i.e. Politicians either pay for private cover from their own funds or accept ordinary Medicare.
6. Politicians must equally abide by all laws they impose on the Australian people.
7. All contracts with past and present Politicians men/women are void effective 31/12/14. The Australian people did not agree to provide perks to Politicians, that burden was thrust upon them.
Politicians devised all these contracts to benefit themselves.
Serving in Parliament is an honour not a career.
The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so our politicians should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people, then it will only take three or so days for most Australians to receive the message. Don't you think it's time?
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX Parliament and help bring fairness back into this country!
If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, just delete.
Um, don't delete, that bit came with the circular email from which this was 'copied' and 'pasted'..
It also fascinates me that politicians - or the current Federal lot - refuse to believe that they, themselves, are also paid - same as 'welfare' recipients - out of Australian COMMONWEALTH funds.
Mainly due to "Honest Joe's" claim (or policy intention) that
"... the age of entitlement" is over.
Will also accept that the requests have Buckley's chance of happening.
Proposals to make politicians and bureaucrats shoulder their share of the weight now that the Age of Entitlement is over
1. Scrap political pensions. Politicians can purchase their own retirement plan, just as most other working Australians are expected to do.
2. Retired politicians (past, present & future) participate in Centrelink. A Politician collects a substantial salary while in office but should receive no salary when they're out of office.
Terminated politicians under 70 can go get a job or apply for Centrelink unemployment benefits like ordinary Australians.
Terminated politicians under 70 can negotiate with Centrelink like the rest of the Australian people.
3. Funds already allocated to the Politicians' retirement fund be returned immediately to Consolidated Revenue.
This money is to be used to pay down debt they created which they expect us and our grandchildren to repay for them.
4. Politicians will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Politicians pay will rise by the lower of, either the CPI or 3%.
5. Politicians lose their privileged health care system and participate in the same health care system as ordinary Australian people. i.e. Politicians either pay for private cover from their own funds or accept ordinary Medicare.
6. Politicians must equally abide by all laws they impose on the Australian people.
7. All contracts with past and present Politicians men/women are void effective 31/12/14. The Australian people did not agree to provide perks to Politicians, that burden was thrust upon them.
Politicians devised all these contracts to benefit themselves.
Serving in Parliament is an honour not a career.
The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so our politicians should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people, then it will only take three or so days for most Australians to receive the message. Don't you think it's time?
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX Parliament and help bring fairness back into this country!
If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, just delete.
Um, don't delete, that bit came with the circular email from which this was 'copied' and 'pasted'..
It also fascinates me that politicians - or the current Federal lot - refuse to believe that they, themselves, are also paid - same as 'welfare' recipients - out of Australian COMMONWEALTH funds.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
The magic of invisible punctuation
AHA! All is explained. When Tony Abbott says "No new taxes" ... "No cuts to ABC or SBS". "No surprises" etc. -
What us stupid Aussies failed to see was the invisible comma , that bit .... heh.
What he REALLY meant was ...
"No, new taxes". "No, cuts to ABC and SBS". "No, changes to pensions". "No, surprises".
Bit like Tony Abbott's invisible god, i guess.
god, and Tony Abbott, apparently work in mysterious ways - just (another three word slogan) 'Trust and Believe'.
ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY INVISIBLE COMMA
What us stupid Aussies failed to see was the invisible comma , that bit .... heh.
What he REALLY meant was ...
"No, new taxes". "No, cuts to ABC and SBS". "No, changes to pensions". "No, surprises".
Bit like Tony Abbott's invisible god, i guess.
god, and Tony Abbott, apparently work in mysterious ways - just (another three word slogan) 'Trust and Believe'.
ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY INVISIBLE COMMA
Friday, March 08, 2013
How much is a heart worth (2)
Age? Perish the thought. If Rupert Murdoch's mum could reach a chirpy 103 - anything' s possible (though guess that she had considerable finance to help her along .. heh - but Rupert Murdoch reaching 103 is a scary thought).
Me? Quiet? Mmm, never have been particularly garrulous, and there hasn't been very much of interest or excitement around here to actually write about - EXCEPT -
Monday 4th March 2013 at about 4pm.
So, the story. As you know, have been pottering in to Bathurst to get my teeth (or what's left of them) removed. Am on the lower end of the socio-economic scale, so is being done as freebies through the equivalent of the NHS (probably by trainee dentists from various far flung parts of Asia- Pacific - but have to say that the lovely lady who is tackling my dental challenge is extremely gentle). Two teeth per visit, in/out in 20 minutes every ten days or so. All's been going well, so far; except yesterday.
Had been getting my friend Larry to drive me in and back, as am generally a bit woozy from the injections but generally recover in an hour or so. The extractions were a bit harsher than usual. One of my remaining eyeteeth had fused to the bone, so ended up with a slightly mangled jaw and gum. Larry seems to think it a huge joke, as have to spend the drive home with my jaws clamped together over the gauze pad to stop the bleeding - so he gives me schtick, and knows that i can't answer back (except by hand gestures).
Anyway, all in good humour. We arrived back at my place at about 3.30pm, made a cuppa tea (for him, me with glum face and jaws clamped sitting listening to Larry chortle).
Sometime between 3.30 and 4pm, he gets up from the table and wanders outside mumbling something about "bloody sausage roll". Left him out there for a minute or two, then wandered out to see where he'd gone. Found him rolling around on the lawn at the back door.
"What's up with you?"
"Feel like spewing".
He dry retched a few times, so i suggested the olde 'two fingers at back of throat’ trick. He did, but nothing much happened except a lot of dribble and, in retrospect, seemed a bit 'un-coordinated'. Tried to get him to drink a glass of water, but he didn't seem interested. Am, of course, at this time assuming that it was just a "tummy bug".
Brought him inside, sat him on the bed. By this time he didn't seem very well at all. He flopped back on the bed and it was really only then that i noticed that he was extremely pale; cold, and clammy. It was, actually, himself, who sat up and mumbled "ambulance".
Have to admit that it took a few seconds to digest that info. Bear in mind that the nearest ambulance is 35 kilometres away, and probably as many minutes. Not something that one does lightly. "Ambulance", he mumbles, "pain". "Where?" He points to his breastbone.
So yep, dial 000. Three brrings, voice answers "Police. Fire. Ambulance.". "Ambulance, thanks", say i. Three more brrings, "Ambulance service, what is your emergency?"
"um" say i, "I have a friend here who asked me to call. He's not well". (yer, i know, always the understatement, suspicious of histrionics - and covering my arse).
"What are his symptoms?" asks the very nice sounding female.
"Um, he's very pale, cold, clammy, and tells me he has a pain in his chest."
"OK, where are you?"
[give them my address] Slight pause.
“How is he now?"
[ I have a landline handset that is detachable from the 'base station' and can be switched to 'speakerphone', which i used throughout. "mobile" or "cellphone" access in this area is patchy , unreliable - ]
Me; “Larry how are you?"
Larry; (mumbling) “pain”.
Me; “Where?"
Larry; (barely conscious) “Arm”.
Operator; “Which arm?” [Larry indicates left arm].
Me; “Left Arm”.
"OK, am dispatching two units; one from Bathurst and one from Lithgow”.
Then ensued a longish conversation between me and the operator about estimated times of arrival, my exact location, and whether there was a defibrillator nearby. I told her yes, but it was in the bushfire shed across the road, but didn't know who had the key.
'000' Operator; “OK, I'll stay on the line with you until the ambulance arrives”.
Cutting a longish story short - for 40 minutes there was continual dialogue between me and the operator on the other end of the phoneline; explaining what was happening, my exact location; punctuated by grunts and groans from Larry.. The scary moments were when Larry 'became still and silent' for 30 seconds or so - probably the longest half minutes of my experience. Have never tackled the problem of CPR in a ‘real life or death’ situation.
Lithgow unit arrived first, with Bathurst a few minutes later.
For half an hour my little kitchen was filled with three extra blokes and one female; and a whole heap of electronics that had never seen - Larry was duly placed on a gurney and transported - first to Lithgow for stabilisation, and then, apparently, to Sydney.
Shortly after the ambulances departed at about 6pm, I drove to Portland to notify his family . - and give them his mobile phone.
Received a text message next morning at 2am. " ONLY YOU AND MY BROTHER CAN DRIVE MY CAR DONT DRINK AND DRIVE". (he left me the key).
So, guessed that he was still alive as of 2am that morning, and was being well cared for in one of Sydney's hospitals.
Post script - yes, have been in contact with his family. Am informed that there was a “blood clot” - apparently repaired with ‘non invasive’ surgery (a tube shoved up an artery in the groin) and a “stint”. Is probably back home in his own bed by now.
As Larry is only age 45, and me? somewhat older; found the whole episode (and concept) somewhat fascinating. Would there be anyone nearby who would - or could - do the same for me? Would anyone even “notice”. Would anyone else really ‘care’ whether i ‘fell orf the twig’? Some might feel a bit “sad", perhaps; but would have to admit that my ‘passing’ would have no serious effect on their own lives. And some that would be more than happy to see me "gone".
Such is life.
Me? Quiet? Mmm, never have been particularly garrulous, and there hasn't been very much of interest or excitement around here to actually write about - EXCEPT -
Monday 4th March 2013 at about 4pm.
So, the story. As you know, have been pottering in to Bathurst to get my teeth (or what's left of them) removed. Am on the lower end of the socio-economic scale, so is being done as freebies through the equivalent of the NHS (probably by trainee dentists from various far flung parts of Asia- Pacific - but have to say that the lovely lady who is tackling my dental challenge is extremely gentle). Two teeth per visit, in/out in 20 minutes every ten days or so. All's been going well, so far; except yesterday.
Had been getting my friend Larry to drive me in and back, as am generally a bit woozy from the injections but generally recover in an hour or so. The extractions were a bit harsher than usual. One of my remaining eyeteeth had fused to the bone, so ended up with a slightly mangled jaw and gum. Larry seems to think it a huge joke, as have to spend the drive home with my jaws clamped together over the gauze pad to stop the bleeding - so he gives me schtick, and knows that i can't answer back (except by hand gestures).
Anyway, all in good humour. We arrived back at my place at about 3.30pm, made a cuppa tea (for him, me with glum face and jaws clamped sitting listening to Larry chortle).
Sometime between 3.30 and 4pm, he gets up from the table and wanders outside mumbling something about "bloody sausage roll". Left him out there for a minute or two, then wandered out to see where he'd gone. Found him rolling around on the lawn at the back door.
"What's up with you?"
"Feel like spewing".
He dry retched a few times, so i suggested the olde 'two fingers at back of throat’ trick. He did, but nothing much happened except a lot of dribble and, in retrospect, seemed a bit 'un-coordinated'. Tried to get him to drink a glass of water, but he didn't seem interested. Am, of course, at this time assuming that it was just a "tummy bug".
Brought him inside, sat him on the bed. By this time he didn't seem very well at all. He flopped back on the bed and it was really only then that i noticed that he was extremely pale; cold, and clammy. It was, actually, himself, who sat up and mumbled "ambulance".
Have to admit that it took a few seconds to digest that info. Bear in mind that the nearest ambulance is 35 kilometres away, and probably as many minutes. Not something that one does lightly. "Ambulance", he mumbles, "pain". "Where?" He points to his breastbone.
So yep, dial 000. Three brrings, voice answers "Police. Fire. Ambulance.". "Ambulance, thanks", say i. Three more brrings, "Ambulance service, what is your emergency?"
"um" say i, "I have a friend here who asked me to call. He's not well". (yer, i know, always the understatement, suspicious of histrionics - and covering my arse).
"What are his symptoms?" asks the very nice sounding female.
"Um, he's very pale, cold, clammy, and tells me he has a pain in his chest."
"OK, where are you?"
[give them my address] Slight pause.
“How is he now?"
[ I have a landline handset that is detachable from the 'base station' and can be switched to 'speakerphone', which i used throughout. "mobile" or "cellphone" access in this area is patchy , unreliable - ]
Me; “Larry how are you?"
Larry; (mumbling) “pain”.
Me; “Where?"
Larry; (barely conscious) “Arm”.
Operator; “Which arm?” [Larry indicates left arm].
Me; “Left Arm”.
"OK, am dispatching two units; one from Bathurst and one from Lithgow”.
Then ensued a longish conversation between me and the operator about estimated times of arrival, my exact location, and whether there was a defibrillator nearby. I told her yes, but it was in the bushfire shed across the road, but didn't know who had the key.
'000' Operator; “OK, I'll stay on the line with you until the ambulance arrives”.
Cutting a longish story short - for 40 minutes there was continual dialogue between me and the operator on the other end of the phoneline; explaining what was happening, my exact location; punctuated by grunts and groans from Larry.. The scary moments were when Larry 'became still and silent' for 30 seconds or so - probably the longest half minutes of my experience. Have never tackled the problem of CPR in a ‘real life or death’ situation.
Lithgow unit arrived first, with Bathurst a few minutes later.
For half an hour my little kitchen was filled with three extra blokes and one female; and a whole heap of electronics that had never seen - Larry was duly placed on a gurney and transported - first to Lithgow for stabilisation, and then, apparently, to Sydney.
Shortly after the ambulances departed at about 6pm, I drove to Portland to notify his family . - and give them his mobile phone.
Received a text message next morning at 2am. " ONLY YOU AND MY BROTHER CAN DRIVE MY CAR DONT DRINK AND DRIVE". (he left me the key).
So, guessed that he was still alive as of 2am that morning, and was being well cared for in one of Sydney's hospitals.
Post script - yes, have been in contact with his family. Am informed that there was a “blood clot” - apparently repaired with ‘non invasive’ surgery (a tube shoved up an artery in the groin) and a “stint”. Is probably back home in his own bed by now.
As Larry is only age 45, and me? somewhat older; found the whole episode (and concept) somewhat fascinating. Would there be anyone nearby who would - or could - do the same for me? Would anyone even “notice”. Would anyone else really ‘care’ whether i ‘fell orf the twig’? Some might feel a bit “sad", perhaps; but would have to admit that my ‘passing’ would have no serious effect on their own lives. And some that would be more than happy to see me "gone".
Such is life.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Um ...
Thought that had better post something - just in case my occasional readers/followers suspect my demise. Nup, am still alive, in relative good health; pottering about in the garden and locality; occasionally reading about what's happening in the "other world" via ABC online .... BBC (the one in England, Billy, not you), the Guardian .. etc. Refuse, point blank, these days, to try to decipher whatever the Mudrake publishing empire is attempting.
There is, of course, the old adage - 'tis better to keep mouth shut; and be thought a fool - than speak, and remove all doubt.
There is, of course, the old adage - 'tis better to keep mouth shut; and be thought a fool - than speak, and remove all doubt.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
another 'ism'
"journalism" (see later).
An aside, would you believe that words beginning with the letter "j" comprise the smallest chapter in - at least my - dictionary? Yes, 'tis an old, well worn, frayed at the edges; the spine and binding repaired many times with Chinese manufactured gaffer tape - edition of the Chambers's Twentieth Century DICTIONARY (revised edition with supplement); published in 1961.
There are, of course; some annoying, younger, people who exhort me to "get with it", "update" .. but oy, am old enough to, now, choose my timings, and not be 'pushed around' too much.
I don't have a "TV" or read "newspapers" .. much - So, have very little to report - or get excited about. The past few weeks have been without major incident. The weather has been calm, warmish (depends on reference point - daytime temperatures more than 15C), more or less sunny; with the occasional cumulonimbus cloud occlusion drifting idly by.
The butterflies are beginning to spread colourful wings, bees are delving into the intricacies of floral apple tree reproduction.
The families -15 or so individuals - of King parrots, and similar numbers of Blue cheeked rosellas still turn up at dawnish ... nah, rephrase; two or three individual scouts of both species arrive at dawn, sit high up in the nearby branches of the local trees and wait until i decide to "feed the chooks" (which varies between before dawn and around two or three hours later - dunno why everyone gets stroppy about "daylight saving". Makes no difference to when the Parrots turn up .. it's called "dawn"). Then; call in the rest - hey "twitter" is not new.
Am, now, fascinated that there is magnificent mix of young and old among the bird population.
Oh, chooks. I did, and still have, a female Rhode Island red who flew over the fence into my yard (might characterise it as a 'refugee' - but far be it from me to 'anthropomorphise'; long story ) some months ago. She began to lay eggs. Silly me felt sorry for her so acquired a Rooster for her (from a friend round the back). mmm, am not sure whether that decision was a good idea, as he has a tendency to "crow", raucously, in the middle of the night, and all times of the day. "Oy, you", i grumble at him, "just because you get nooky, no need to shout about it!" .. but he doesn't listen to me .... but they seem a happy couple.
On the other hand, might acquire some more hens for him, and build a chookhouse (in the vague hope that he will too busy to chortle ..)
Have been planting a few seeds (of the vegetable variety) .. but am sort of waiting until November since we had snow last October (was warned - "don't plant tomatos until after the Melbourne Cup" .. ok, perhaps this year will listen to the "locals").
AH, "newbies". Always have much to learn (have, actually, been having a few 'linguistic' difficulties with a local "Doctor's". While yes, i do recognise that getting GP's into "the countryside" is becoming difficult - hey, this is not "the outbacks". Could, if I wished, drive to the Sydney CBD in three hours - but the last hour and a half would be after i reached Parramatta. Would be nice if Dr. Abdul and Dr. Tan understood irreverent Aussie slang and humour .. buuut, hey, we get by .... )
So, where was i .. ah -
"journal" n. a daily register or diary. (nup, ain't a journalist)
"journal" n. (mech) that part of a shaft or axle which rests on bearings ..
"journey" n. a day's work or travel ....
.... heh ...
An aside, would you believe that words beginning with the letter "j" comprise the smallest chapter in - at least my - dictionary? Yes, 'tis an old, well worn, frayed at the edges; the spine and binding repaired many times with Chinese manufactured gaffer tape - edition of the Chambers's Twentieth Century DICTIONARY (revised edition with supplement); published in 1961.
There are, of course; some annoying, younger, people who exhort me to "get with it", "update" .. but oy, am old enough to, now, choose my timings, and not be 'pushed around' too much.
I don't have a "TV" or read "newspapers" .. much - So, have very little to report - or get excited about. The past few weeks have been without major incident. The weather has been calm, warmish (depends on reference point - daytime temperatures more than 15C), more or less sunny; with the occasional cumulonimbus cloud occlusion drifting idly by.
The butterflies are beginning to spread colourful wings, bees are delving into the intricacies of floral apple tree reproduction.
The families -15 or so individuals - of King parrots, and similar numbers of Blue cheeked rosellas still turn up at dawnish ... nah, rephrase; two or three individual scouts of both species arrive at dawn, sit high up in the nearby branches of the local trees and wait until i decide to "feed the chooks" (which varies between before dawn and around two or three hours later - dunno why everyone gets stroppy about "daylight saving". Makes no difference to when the Parrots turn up .. it's called "dawn"). Then; call in the rest - hey "twitter" is not new.
Am, now, fascinated that there is magnificent mix of young and old among the bird population.
Oh, chooks. I did, and still have, a female Rhode Island red who flew over the fence into my yard (might characterise it as a 'refugee' - but far be it from me to 'anthropomorphise'; long story ) some months ago. She began to lay eggs. Silly me felt sorry for her so acquired a Rooster for her (from a friend round the back). mmm, am not sure whether that decision was a good idea, as he has a tendency to "crow", raucously, in the middle of the night, and all times of the day. "Oy, you", i grumble at him, "just because you get nooky, no need to shout about it!" .. but he doesn't listen to me .... but they seem a happy couple.
On the other hand, might acquire some more hens for him, and build a chookhouse (in the vague hope that he will too busy to chortle ..)
Have been planting a few seeds (of the vegetable variety) .. but am sort of waiting until November since we had snow last October (was warned - "don't plant tomatos until after the Melbourne Cup" .. ok, perhaps this year will listen to the "locals").
AH, "newbies". Always have much to learn (have, actually, been having a few 'linguistic' difficulties with a local "Doctor's". While yes, i do recognise that getting GP's into "the countryside" is becoming difficult - hey, this is not "the outbacks". Could, if I wished, drive to the Sydney CBD in three hours - but the last hour and a half would be after i reached Parramatta. Would be nice if Dr. Abdul and Dr. Tan understood irreverent Aussie slang and humour .. buuut, hey, we get by .... )
So, where was i .. ah -
"journal" n. a daily register or diary. (nup, ain't a journalist)
"journal" n. (mech) that part of a shaft or axle which rests on bearings ..
"journey" n. a day's work or travel ....
.... heh ...
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