Out of left field
Proposed new road rules
15/08/09 19:22
People are going to speed in their vehicles
regardless of what authorities try to do about it. I
see it every morning and afternoon on my way to work.
These are usually the times when Police have knocked
off for the day.
Given this plainly evident situation, here are my new rules for National Divided roads (like the M1 from Brisbane to Cairns).
1. Left lane is speed restricted to 110 Kph
2. Right lane is unrestricted (drive as fast as you like or your vehicle will allow)
3. Any vehicle over 1.5 tonnes is restricted to 110 Kph and must use the left lane unless overtaking.
4. Any vehicle in the act of towing anything is restricted to 110 Kph and must use the left lane unless overtaking.
5. All on and off ramps are to be signed with High visibility signage informing motorists that death is likely and does occur often.
6. No insurance cover is provided if you exceed 110 Kph in any lane
7. If the driver of a motor vehicle causes an accident through negligence they lose their vehicle (never returned) and license for 12 months.
8. All current speeding road fines are tripled for the National routes.
9. No motorist using the National route can by any means sue or bring legal proceedings against any other motorist using the National route.
10. Any roadworks being carried out on a National route, must be carried out while ensuring traffic can continue at minimum of 110Kph in at least one lane, at any time of the day or night.
11. Only an accident is sufficient reason to restrict the speed limit to less than 110 Kph, and only while the accident has not been cleared.
12. Any vehicle carrying children under 16 is restricted to 110 Kph and must use the left lane unless overtaking.
I’m sure you can think of others (I’d like to hear them), and there will probably be caveats to these.
I’m also sure this will outrage some people... probably those who like to restrict and confine, but we’re all allowed our own opinions and these are mine.
Given this plainly evident situation, here are my new rules for National Divided roads (like the M1 from Brisbane to Cairns).
1. Left lane is speed restricted to 110 Kph
2. Right lane is unrestricted (drive as fast as you like or your vehicle will allow)
3. Any vehicle over 1.5 tonnes is restricted to 110 Kph and must use the left lane unless overtaking.
4. Any vehicle in the act of towing anything is restricted to 110 Kph and must use the left lane unless overtaking.
5. All on and off ramps are to be signed with High visibility signage informing motorists that death is likely and does occur often.
6. No insurance cover is provided if you exceed 110 Kph in any lane
7. If the driver of a motor vehicle causes an accident through negligence they lose their vehicle (never returned) and license for 12 months.
8. All current speeding road fines are tripled for the National routes.
9. No motorist using the National route can by any means sue or bring legal proceedings against any other motorist using the National route.
10. Any roadworks being carried out on a National route, must be carried out while ensuring traffic can continue at minimum of 110Kph in at least one lane, at any time of the day or night.
11. Only an accident is sufficient reason to restrict the speed limit to less than 110 Kph, and only while the accident has not been cleared.
12. Any vehicle carrying children under 16 is restricted to 110 Kph and must use the left lane unless overtaking.
I’m sure you can think of others (I’d like to hear them), and there will probably be caveats to these.
I’m also sure this will outrage some people... probably those who like to restrict and confine, but we’re all allowed our own opinions and these are mine.
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May the force be with you.
26/01/09 19:17
I spent a good deal of it rescuing Princess Leia from the Death Star. Fighting off the hordes of storm troopers sent to attack the rebel base on Hoth. Rescuing Princess Leia from Jabba’s sand barge. Flying X-Wing’s and destroying AT-ST walkers. Defending EH while he destroyed the AT-AT Walkers, and hanging out with the Emperor in the Mos Eisley cantina.
In between all these things, I exercised my right arm playing tennis and bowling (and being soundly beaten) on a Nintendo Wii, Watched the Emperor play Super Mario Galaxy in an alarmingly good manner. Looked up the biggest of everything on the internet via the Boba-book. Watched a good part of Star Wars The Clone Wars on a Zen Player with one of a pair of Apple ear-buds in my ear, decoding the “Yodish” to be compatible to seven year old ears. (I had to remove my helmet for that)
Also thrown in mix were viewings of insects incased in carbonite, a game of 3D snakes and ladders, a bit of tickling, some photography, introduction to Bunya nuts, heat and humidity and generally lots of fun.
How did I manage to do all these things?
Well... I AM Bobafett, and my accomplice was the Emperor (lightning bolts and all).
So. What did you get up to?
Can you save power?
13/12/08 20:27
I put this too you... Can you actually save money by saving power?
Western society is profit driven - it’s the curse of capitalism. So, is it actually possible to save money by reducing your power consumption?
The cost of electricity continues to increase year by year. If the population in general reduces their power consumption in an effort to save money, the power companies are no longer making the money they once did, their profits are reduced. Their natural reaction to reduced profit would be to increase the cost of the product they supply, that being electricity. We see this all the time with just about every product available... do they ever get cheaper? Only if there is a lot of competition or there is market saturation, or both.
They could try to make us use more power, but we’re trying to cut back because we’re told it’s harming the environment and it’s costing us money. We are a captive audience, our lives revolve around electricity.
So would this not create the scenario of “the less electricity you use the more it costs”? I think it will, because the power companies are not in business for the love of it. They’re in it for the money.
I don’t believe simply reducing your electricity usage will save the environment or your back pocket. The only way the environment will be protected from further damage is if the electricity suppliers source their product from environmentally friendly sources, not by the populace using less. The only way to save your back pocket is to let your money do the talking and change suppliers to ones that offer sources of electricity from environmentally friendly options.
Something to think about.
The two types of person
12/12/08 17:11
Long live the Mary Valley!!
25/11/08 17:14
Today, as I was driving home from work I heard on the radio that the Queensland State Government has put a hold on the Traveston Crossing Dam for a couple of years.
This is obviously excellent news for the remaining residents of the Valley, of which I class myself one.
While not completely stopped, the current economic climate along with possibly the end of they big dry in the South-east, could see it shelved permanently.
The decision to build the Traveston Crossing Dam in the first place was merely a political stunt by the previous Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie. And, through sheer stubbornness, Anna Bligh has been torch bearer of that same decision. Who voted for her anyway?
Due to poor management by the State, of the State water infrastructure, Brisbane (NOT Queensland) was running dry. To be seen to be doing something, Mr Beattie made a declaration that has destroyed the lives of a large number of people who once called the Mary Valley home. And continues to wreak havoc on the lives of the people who still live there.
Should the Dam be given the bullet, it will be interesting to see if the State Government has a legal case to answer, for the stress imposed on people due to it’s hardline stance and tactics.
If so, I hope the Government gets hung out to dry. It will serve them right.
To ignore the resolve of the common people, thinking an elected “government” is all mighty over the people who elected it, is fraught with danger for the careers of the elected... liken it to dancing with the Devil.
Here endeth the sermon.
Sageness from Horton
24/10/08 07:53
The amazing adventures of Morph
10/09/08 14:08
The Lion who thought he was People
30/07/08 19:05
I saw this on the news tonight. A true story, the
upshot is this.
Two Australians living in London buy a lion cub from a department store. They raise it in their flat in London. The authorities won’t let them keep the lion when it gets full grown so they arrange to get it released back in Africa.
The story.
Here is the first part of the story, re-enacted. Follow the links to the subsequent parts when Youtube opens up.
and here is the reunion a year later...
And while we’re talking of lions, do you remember Kimba!?
www.kimbawlion.com
The theme song (1966)
Fantastic stuff.
Two Australians living in London buy a lion cub from a department store. They raise it in their flat in London. The authorities won’t let them keep the lion when it gets full grown so they arrange to get it released back in Africa.
The story.
Here is the first part of the story, re-enacted. Follow the links to the subsequent parts when Youtube opens up.
and here is the reunion a year later...
And while we’re talking of lions, do you remember Kimba!?
www.kimbawlion.com
The theme song (1966)
Fantastic stuff.
Free Food Friday
11/07/08 18:09
Tonight I saw a terrible news report. It wasn’t the
quality of the reporting, this time it was the
content.
People lining up for free food. Up to 3,000 families, needing for food lined up over 750 metres. What made it much worse was this even occurs EVERY Friday in Logan, Brisbane.
What astounds me most is: THIS IS AUSTRALIA !
This country has more than enough food production capacity to feed everyone - easily. Don’t try to tell me it’s because of the cost of fuel. That is the biggest load of bullsh*t I have ever heard. It’s time for the food distribution companies to tighten their belts and those of their shareholders rather than the belts of the people who need to eat the food to survive.
We’ve all seen the reports on the markup of food-stuffs from the farmer to the supermarket.
If ever there is an example of the result of a few taking far too much it is Free Food Friday.
The very next news report was the turnout for the Apple iPhone. 300,000 people across this nation lining up for a bloody phone when families are having trouble feeding themselves.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got nothing against the iphone or Apple for that matter, but the contrast between the two news reports was so great and threw into stark relief what is wrong with the world.
BRING ON THE REVOLUTION!
... it’s time for this madness to stop.
People lining up for free food. Up to 3,000 families, needing for food lined up over 750 metres. What made it much worse was this even occurs EVERY Friday in Logan, Brisbane.
What astounds me most is: THIS IS AUSTRALIA !
This country has more than enough food production capacity to feed everyone - easily. Don’t try to tell me it’s because of the cost of fuel. That is the biggest load of bullsh*t I have ever heard. It’s time for the food distribution companies to tighten their belts and those of their shareholders rather than the belts of the people who need to eat the food to survive.
We’ve all seen the reports on the markup of food-stuffs from the farmer to the supermarket.
If ever there is an example of the result of a few taking far too much it is Free Food Friday.
The very next news report was the turnout for the Apple iPhone. 300,000 people across this nation lining up for a bloody phone when families are having trouble feeding themselves.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got nothing against the iphone or Apple for that matter, but the contrast between the two news reports was so great and threw into stark relief what is wrong with the world.
BRING ON THE REVOLUTION!
... it’s time for this madness to stop.
How times have changed...
28/05/08 20:42
Sage-ness
17/05/08 22:15
What would you say?
13/05/08 17:15
I was driving home this afternoon and my mind was
wandering as I travelled along well-known paths.
It's times like these that odd stuff floats around in my head. This is what floated to the surface of the soup today.
Being a parent, what would you say to your child?
"Be careful, you may get hurt".
or
"Don't do that, you'll get hurt".
It's times like these that odd stuff floats around in my head. This is what floated to the surface of the soup today.
Being a parent, what would you say to your child?
"Be careful, you may get hurt".
or
"Don't do that, you'll get hurt".
I remember...
04/05/08 20:16
Today I filled up my car with fuel. Total cost:
AU$83.00
$1.36 per litre.
I remember a time when the litres counted up faster than the dollars.
I guess if we ran all our vehicles on ethanol, food would become too expensive to eat.
I guess if we ran all our vehicles on hydrogen, water would become too expensive to drink.
I guess if we ran all our vehicles on air, it would become too expensive to breath.
Does anyone else think that we have reached a point that, no matter what we decide to fuel our cars with, there will never be enough?
The combustion engine. It's life or death, but which one will survive?
$1.36 per litre.
I remember a time when the litres counted up faster than the dollars.
I guess if we ran all our vehicles on ethanol, food would become too expensive to eat.
I guess if we ran all our vehicles on hydrogen, water would become too expensive to drink.
I guess if we ran all our vehicles on air, it would become too expensive to breath.
Does anyone else think that we have reached a point that, no matter what we decide to fuel our cars with, there will never be enough?
The combustion engine. It's life or death, but which one will survive?
of Kids and Chiropractors
18/12/07 18:35
From time-to-time I go to the Chiropractor. I have
done for years. It started as a spinal correction for
a primary school accident when I was in grade six and
has, over time, become an ongoing
proactive/preventative health maintenance thing.
Specially important now that age is starting to catch
up with me.
Today I had an appointment with my Chiropractor. A good bloke in Gympie.. yeah, I know what you're thinking...not many of them.
On the way to Gympie I was considering my future with my current employer. It's that time of year. Studies have shown that staff move around more at Christmas, through some desire for something better. Starting the new year with something fresh. I can sympathise. I do it every year also. I was depressing myself with thoughts of incompetent, knee-jerk, management and was rather gloomy when I arrived. Wistfully wishing I was on my bike touring around the country, I was flicking through the local rag as I sat in the waiting room.
There were children playing with blocks or some such things as I arrived and, lost in my own thoughts, I didn't think much about them. I was more interested in how I was going to make it through the next 15-20 minutes... I had arrived very early. That was until a little boy, perhaps around 5 or 6, came and sat down beside me and started watching me read the paper.
He started pointing out the Santa Clauses that littered every page. He informed me that Christmas was coming very soon and let it be known that he wanted a motorbike. WELL..... that was the perfect introduction to a conversation.
We started talking about bikes, he wanted a red one... it was the only condition. He asked what the political cartoon was about (picture of a Croc and Bindi Irwin). He pointed out a couple kids from his school that had made it into the paper. He told me he had walked all the way to the Chiropractor on his own, and on asking how far that was, was told he lived just across the road. He asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I had to mention my bike.. it is red after all.
In short... it seems I had made a friend, much to the amusement of the other patrons and staff.
Our conversation went on and before I knew it I was being called to enter the "unkinking room". With a jolly wave and toothy grin he said "Seeya later" and went back to the trucks on the floor.
Lying on the "unkinking table" I thought.. how odd. Kids don't normally walk up to me and strike up a conversation. I don't really know why and it doesn't keep me up at night. Don't get me wrong.. Kids are great, will have some of my own some day.
What I did realise was that I was in a much happier mood than when I first walked in. All thoughts of nad-less managers had dispersed. I suddenly became envious of all the parents out there who get to do that every day. His enthusiasm for the simplistic gave me hope for humanity in the future. Ah! ... to be a child again. Why is it that adults make everything so convolutedly complex?
He was gone when I came out, but he gave me the boost I needed.
Perceptive little bugger :-)
Today I had an appointment with my Chiropractor. A good bloke in Gympie.. yeah, I know what you're thinking...not many of them.
On the way to Gympie I was considering my future with my current employer. It's that time of year. Studies have shown that staff move around more at Christmas, through some desire for something better. Starting the new year with something fresh. I can sympathise. I do it every year also. I was depressing myself with thoughts of incompetent, knee-jerk, management and was rather gloomy when I arrived. Wistfully wishing I was on my bike touring around the country, I was flicking through the local rag as I sat in the waiting room.
There were children playing with blocks or some such things as I arrived and, lost in my own thoughts, I didn't think much about them. I was more interested in how I was going to make it through the next 15-20 minutes... I had arrived very early. That was until a little boy, perhaps around 5 or 6, came and sat down beside me and started watching me read the paper.
He started pointing out the Santa Clauses that littered every page. He informed me that Christmas was coming very soon and let it be known that he wanted a motorbike. WELL..... that was the perfect introduction to a conversation.
We started talking about bikes, he wanted a red one... it was the only condition. He asked what the political cartoon was about (picture of a Croc and Bindi Irwin). He pointed out a couple kids from his school that had made it into the paper. He told me he had walked all the way to the Chiropractor on his own, and on asking how far that was, was told he lived just across the road. He asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I had to mention my bike.. it is red after all.
In short... it seems I had made a friend, much to the amusement of the other patrons and staff.
Our conversation went on and before I knew it I was being called to enter the "unkinking room". With a jolly wave and toothy grin he said "Seeya later" and went back to the trucks on the floor.
Lying on the "unkinking table" I thought.. how odd. Kids don't normally walk up to me and strike up a conversation. I don't really know why and it doesn't keep me up at night. Don't get me wrong.. Kids are great, will have some of my own some day.
What I did realise was that I was in a much happier mood than when I first walked in. All thoughts of nad-less managers had dispersed. I suddenly became envious of all the parents out there who get to do that every day. His enthusiasm for the simplistic gave me hope for humanity in the future. Ah! ... to be a child again. Why is it that adults make everything so convolutedly complex?
He was gone when I came out, but he gave me the boost I needed.
Perceptive little bugger :-)
The End-Game
15/11/07 18:50
The divide between the haves and the have nots, is
getting wider. I have said this before, and no doubt
you've heard it too. The selfish hoarding of wealth
and resources by the minority for the betterment of
only the minority is increasing. Already it is said
that 5% of the worlds population controls 95% of the
worlds wealth and resources.
It is obvious that selfishness is the curse of humanity and that no matter how we try to avoid it, there will always be a "class" into which each of use will be slotted. This division of class will be thrust upon us by those who have the control, those who have.
Think about that, and while you do, think about this...
"All over the world, I will back the masses against the classes"
~ William E Gladstone
If the wheel keeps turning as it has, what do you think the end-game will look like when it completes the revolution?
It is obvious that selfishness is the curse of humanity and that no matter how we try to avoid it, there will always be a "class" into which each of use will be slotted. This division of class will be thrust upon us by those who have the control, those who have.
Think about that, and while you do, think about this...
"All over the world, I will back the masses against the classes"
~ William E Gladstone
If the wheel keeps turning as it has, what do you think the end-game will look like when it completes the revolution?
Change your perspective
15/11/07 18:48
~ Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot
What you NEED
07/11/07 18:03
"Take all that you need. NOT all that you can."
This is an interesting turn of phrase and it seems to be the reciprocal of society in general, at least in the western world. Yes, once again I generalize heavily but I can only report on what I observe for myself. Yes, I know there are good folk out there doing their bit to help. So I say to those good folk, duck out of the way, this isn't aimed at you.
need |nēd|
verb [ trans. ]
1 require (something) because it is essential or very important.
essential
adjective
1 crucial, necessary, key, vital, indispensable, important, all-important, of the essence, critical, imperative, mandatory, compulsory, obligatory; urgent, pressing, paramount, preeminent, high-priority, nonnegotiable;
important
adjective
1 significant, consequential, momentous, of great import, major; critical, crucial, vital, pivotal, decisive, urgent, historic; serious, grave, weighty, material; formal of great moment.
So you see, a need is NOT:
The latest car
More than one house
The latest fashion
The latest gadget regardless of what it is
A degree to seem intelligent or educated
Internet access
More money
...I'm sure you can think of others
If you disagree with me, then YOU are part of the consumerism problem that caused the phrase at the top of this blog entry to be formed. YOU are part of the problem. YOU!
When did taking all the lollies from the bowl instead of one or two, become par for the course?
Spare a thought for the people of the world who have nothing. Society, and in particular western society is primarily to blame for the current human condition. You DO NOT have the right to everything you want. You DO have the right to all that you need.
Don't think you're fooling people by saying, "Oh, I contribute back to society by blah blah and blah". It's belittling to those who need to put out their hand and ask. The hit to their self-worth is incalculable. Contribute by not taking it in the first place.
It's not difficult to fix. Just stop taking all the lollies.
If we as humans can't fix human society, who will? Monkeys?
Perhaps Donkeys? ...no that can't work, the planet doesn't NEED any more asses!
...just my 2c worth.
"Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money."
~ Cree Indian saying
Post update:
About an hour after uploading this blog entry I caught Today Tonight on Channel 7. The story was about Australian doctors volunteering in Bangladesh helping rebuild facial deformities in the children of that country. The lady doctor at the centre of the story said "We have the ability to help, so we have to help... we just have to help". There are not enough people in the world like her. Just imagine...
This is an interesting turn of phrase and it seems to be the reciprocal of society in general, at least in the western world. Yes, once again I generalize heavily but I can only report on what I observe for myself. Yes, I know there are good folk out there doing their bit to help. So I say to those good folk, duck out of the way, this isn't aimed at you.
need |nēd|
verb [ trans. ]
1 require (something) because it is essential or very important.
essential
adjective
1 crucial, necessary, key, vital, indispensable, important, all-important, of the essence, critical, imperative, mandatory, compulsory, obligatory; urgent, pressing, paramount, preeminent, high-priority, nonnegotiable;
important
adjective
1 significant, consequential, momentous, of great import, major; critical, crucial, vital, pivotal, decisive, urgent, historic; serious, grave, weighty, material; formal of great moment.
So you see, a need is NOT:
The latest car
More than one house
The latest fashion
The latest gadget regardless of what it is
A degree to seem intelligent or educated
Internet access
More money
...I'm sure you can think of others
If you disagree with me, then YOU are part of the consumerism problem that caused the phrase at the top of this blog entry to be formed. YOU are part of the problem. YOU!
When did taking all the lollies from the bowl instead of one or two, become par for the course?
Spare a thought for the people of the world who have nothing. Society, and in particular western society is primarily to blame for the current human condition. You DO NOT have the right to everything you want. You DO have the right to all that you need.
Don't think you're fooling people by saying, "Oh, I contribute back to society by blah blah and blah". It's belittling to those who need to put out their hand and ask. The hit to their self-worth is incalculable. Contribute by not taking it in the first place.
It's not difficult to fix. Just stop taking all the lollies.
If we as humans can't fix human society, who will? Monkeys?
Perhaps Donkeys? ...no that can't work, the planet doesn't NEED any more asses!
...just my 2c worth.
"Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money."
~ Cree Indian saying
Post update:
About an hour after uploading this blog entry I caught Today Tonight on Channel 7. The story was about Australian doctors volunteering in Bangladesh helping rebuild facial deformities in the children of that country. The lady doctor at the centre of the story said "We have the ability to help, so we have to help... we just have to help". There are not enough people in the world like her. Just imagine...
What Life should NOT be...
06/11/07 17:19
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the
intention of arriving safely in an attractive and
well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways
on a motorcycle, chocolate in one hand, martini in
the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out
and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!
... yeah you've read it before, but still a good way to look at life. I added the motorcycle bit ;-)
I don't eat much chocolate, it's too sweet, so I'd need to find something else to have in my hand at the time. The martini can stay however. Which poses an interesting question...
What would you replace the chocolate and martini with?
Now think about this. When you read that first paragraph smiling to yourself remembering it from the last time you read it, I doubt the image of the person in your mind was a yobbo and general nuisance to society. But probably more along the lines of someone, slightly inebriated who seemed to have got the most enjoyment out of life, without destroying the lives of those around them. Am I right? I think I am.
Now if we extrapolate this a little further, yobbos aside, this person you may have pictured in your mind is probably at odds with the image that most fiscally focused people wish to project to the world. People with money, generally (and I do generalise heavily) like to show the rest of society that they have money. How they do this might be subtle but enough to notice, or grandiose. They buy the new car every couple of years, the fancy house, the pool... they seem to have all the luxuries that people with money seem to require just to maintain their status as "People with money". They dress in smart clothes, they dine in fancy restaurants, and before long they may even start to look down their noses at those people who appear NOT to have money. They may start to pour their energy into maintaining their look of wealth, just to ensure they stand apart from those they have deemed not to have any.
This is not keeping up with, but "keeping ahead of the Jones", and is exactly what a burgeoning economy requires of its citizens. For how can one stay ahead of the "Jones" if all we have is the same opportunity to make the same amount of money? To get ahead of the "Jones" in our fiscal society requires us to spend more than the Jones do, and just trying to keep up with them is not sufficient enough for our economists, they require us to spend more and more each time, profits must always increase...never stabilise. Thus the economic spiral goes up, while the social spiral goes down. Those who require to acquire become socially distant from those who don't have the requirement to acquire. The latter are those who came to the realisation that wanton accumulation of wealth cannot continue unabated and so opted out of the whole process.
"What's my point?" I hear you ask...
Well... If one part of society is spending so much energy and time trying to out-do one another just to maintain an appearance of "Wealth", who do you think is ultimately going to represent the image you pictured in your mind when you read the opening paragraph?
The ones who realised early enough in their short lives that life was for LIVING not for ACQUIRING. They're the ones with the chockie bar in one hand and alcoholic beverage in the other. The other part of society is trying so bloody hard not to look like, or be like them that they have forgotten to really LIVE.
Which will you be? I'm acquiring a taste for chocolate.
PS. I'd like to meet the Jones, they're probably a great bunch of people but they've caused a hell of a problem.
... yeah you've read it before, but still a good way to look at life. I added the motorcycle bit ;-)
I don't eat much chocolate, it's too sweet, so I'd need to find something else to have in my hand at the time. The martini can stay however. Which poses an interesting question...
What would you replace the chocolate and martini with?
Now think about this. When you read that first paragraph smiling to yourself remembering it from the last time you read it, I doubt the image of the person in your mind was a yobbo and general nuisance to society. But probably more along the lines of someone, slightly inebriated who seemed to have got the most enjoyment out of life, without destroying the lives of those around them. Am I right? I think I am.
Now if we extrapolate this a little further, yobbos aside, this person you may have pictured in your mind is probably at odds with the image that most fiscally focused people wish to project to the world. People with money, generally (and I do generalise heavily) like to show the rest of society that they have money. How they do this might be subtle but enough to notice, or grandiose. They buy the new car every couple of years, the fancy house, the pool... they seem to have all the luxuries that people with money seem to require just to maintain their status as "People with money". They dress in smart clothes, they dine in fancy restaurants, and before long they may even start to look down their noses at those people who appear NOT to have money. They may start to pour their energy into maintaining their look of wealth, just to ensure they stand apart from those they have deemed not to have any.
This is not keeping up with, but "keeping ahead of the Jones", and is exactly what a burgeoning economy requires of its citizens. For how can one stay ahead of the "Jones" if all we have is the same opportunity to make the same amount of money? To get ahead of the "Jones" in our fiscal society requires us to spend more than the Jones do, and just trying to keep up with them is not sufficient enough for our economists, they require us to spend more and more each time, profits must always increase...never stabilise. Thus the economic spiral goes up, while the social spiral goes down. Those who require to acquire become socially distant from those who don't have the requirement to acquire. The latter are those who came to the realisation that wanton accumulation of wealth cannot continue unabated and so opted out of the whole process.
"What's my point?" I hear you ask...
Well... If one part of society is spending so much energy and time trying to out-do one another just to maintain an appearance of "Wealth", who do you think is ultimately going to represent the image you pictured in your mind when you read the opening paragraph?
The ones who realised early enough in their short lives that life was for LIVING not for ACQUIRING. They're the ones with the chockie bar in one hand and alcoholic beverage in the other. The other part of society is trying so bloody hard not to look like, or be like them that they have forgotten to really LIVE.
Which will you be? I'm acquiring a taste for chocolate.
PS. I'd like to meet the Jones, they're probably a great bunch of people but they've caused a hell of a problem.
And now for something completely different...
04/11/07 18:19
"First
there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then
there is."
- Buddhist proverb.
I'm not sure where I came up with this for a blog entry but it should provide some thought provoking err... thought.
There are so many meanings that one can apply to this proverb, and it's probably why I like it so much. My take on it is this:
You are something if you are nothing after having been something.
'What the..?' I hear you say.
Let me explain why I think it talks about three stages in life.
One starts out in life full of aspirations, goals, challenges...dreams. You set these goals and challenges for yourself based on what others think you should be, for at this stage you are usually young and impressionable. Once, having realised these goals (but not necessarily achieved them..there is a difference, and if you don't understand what this is then this blog entry will be lost on you), you have become something, a success, a failure..something, it matters not what. Not everyone moves past this stage of life, they get caught up in the machine of their society and continue in this stages tiny circle. For me, the 'mountain' represents the 'challenge' whatever that may be.
Those that do move past the first stage come to realise that life is more than being driven to becoming the success that was placed upon them in the first stage, In other words 'Keeping up with the Joneses'. In this second stage they become free to choose to do whatever they desire to do/be, rather than what society, friends, family think they should be or be doing. Now that one is free, there is no 'mountain'. Having been something, there are no longer any hurdles or challenges, nothing... only dreams, only freedom.
The final stage is this: Having met the challenge and become something, and after realising freedom over those challenges, to choose for oneself, one has become SOMETHING. One has BECOME the mountain.
"First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is."
...Just my thoughts on the matter.
- Buddhist proverb.
I'm not sure where I came up with this for a blog entry but it should provide some thought provoking err... thought.
There are so many meanings that one can apply to this proverb, and it's probably why I like it so much. My take on it is this:
You are something if you are nothing after having been something.
'What the..?' I hear you say.
Let me explain why I think it talks about three stages in life.
One starts out in life full of aspirations, goals, challenges...dreams. You set these goals and challenges for yourself based on what others think you should be, for at this stage you are usually young and impressionable. Once, having realised these goals (but not necessarily achieved them..there is a difference, and if you don't understand what this is then this blog entry will be lost on you), you have become something, a success, a failure..something, it matters not what. Not everyone moves past this stage of life, they get caught up in the machine of their society and continue in this stages tiny circle. For me, the 'mountain' represents the 'challenge' whatever that may be.
Those that do move past the first stage come to realise that life is more than being driven to becoming the success that was placed upon them in the first stage, In other words 'Keeping up with the Joneses'. In this second stage they become free to choose to do whatever they desire to do/be, rather than what society, friends, family think they should be or be doing. Now that one is free, there is no 'mountain'. Having been something, there are no longer any hurdles or challenges, nothing... only dreams, only freedom.
The final stage is this: Having met the challenge and become something, and after realising freedom over those challenges, to choose for oneself, one has become SOMETHING. One has BECOME the mountain.
"First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is."
...Just my thoughts on the matter.
Drifting in a vacuum
04/09/07 12:21
I had an early start today. 4:00 am, which for me
means a 2:00 am alarm. Such is the price for living a
respectable distance from work.
The reason or the early start was a complete shutdown of all IT systems/servers while contractors did a bit of pre-installation work for a new UPS for our data-centre. Power was being turned off to the building.
I work in IT. I wouldn't call myself a professional, merely a pleb. But as I was sitting there in the dark, waiting for the power to come back on, I realised just how utterly useless computers are without it. Not completely I guess... a boat anchor comes to mind. However, there was nothing for me to do except wait. And wait. I wonder if it's something like an astronaut drifting in a vacuum just out of reach of the shuttle. Nothing he can do, but drift.
In this world today the developed nation runs completely on electricity, we can exist without power for a day, perhaps two. It's an annoyance if it's out for a few hours, almost a disaster if out for a few days. What would happen if the power goes out for longer? perhaps completely? How would we drift I wonder?
The reason or the early start was a complete shutdown of all IT systems/servers while contractors did a bit of pre-installation work for a new UPS for our data-centre. Power was being turned off to the building.
I work in IT. I wouldn't call myself a professional, merely a pleb. But as I was sitting there in the dark, waiting for the power to come back on, I realised just how utterly useless computers are without it. Not completely I guess... a boat anchor comes to mind. However, there was nothing for me to do except wait. And wait. I wonder if it's something like an astronaut drifting in a vacuum just out of reach of the shuttle. Nothing he can do, but drift.
In this world today the developed nation runs completely on electricity, we can exist without power for a day, perhaps two. It's an annoyance if it's out for a few hours, almost a disaster if out for a few days. What would happen if the power goes out for longer? perhaps completely? How would we drift I wonder?
