Seriously, Ravenswood?

In northern Tasmania we have a suburb renown for being 'not so nice'.  However, the past 12months or so the people of this suburb haven't taken 'not so nice' to a whole new fucking level!

Ravenswood is a suburb that is predominately housing department housing.  Moderately high density units and houses packed into a tiny space.

It has a community centre, small shopping centre, churchs, opshops, sports club/bar, skate park.

My ex-husband lived in Ravenswood until June of 2011.  He has mental health issues and is on a disability pension and was granted a house due to being homeless and having our two children for access visits fortnightly.

He was there for close on two years and this is his short history from when he moved into a 3 bedroom on (the notorious) Pioneer Parade:

week 2 - all four tyres slashed on his car and side mirrors smashed.
week 4 - tyres and mirrors replaced.
week 5 - car firebombed and completely burnt out.

Told by housing department they could do nothing.

Told by police nothing could be done.

March-May 2011
*house burgled
*car vandalised
*verbal threats received from one lot of neighbours ranging from "we will shoot you and kids" to "we will burn your house down with you in it"
*laundry window smashed with paintball gun
*neighbours left due to similar threats
*neighbours house vandalised
*told by department of housing, fire department and police to stop calling and annoying them when he reported vandals and children lighting fires in empty house.
*empty house burnt out within 24hrs of being vacated
*further threats.
*told again by housing department nothing could be done and that they were currently trying to "trick the neighbours into moving out".  WTF!
*his house burnt out with 12hrs of moving out.

After this, my family helped move him out and stored his things at my house.
Housing department informed him that he was off the list and probably owed rent for moving out without notice.  Despite providing medical evidence of extreme stress and anxiety due to above actions.

At this point I endeavored to find some form of assistance.  I called Human services Minister Cassy O'Connor and was told nothing could be done, referred to advocacy Tasmania who recommended services in Launceston that didn't actually exist.  They were for indigenous and based in the south of the state!

In the end, the only option was to share house in our current situation.

Since then, his house has been burnt out twice and the two neighbouring properties once each.  Damages are valued at an average of $200,000 for each burnt property and most properties are vacant at the time.

I am not wanting to do a 'poor him/me' but wish to highlight just one persons experience within the department.

In the Mercury on 3 June 2012 Cassy O'Connor stated:

Last week, Human Services Minister Cassy O'Connor said arson prevention measures were working. She told Budget estimates last week that arson and vandalism had cost the Tasmanian Housing department $10 million in the past two years.

She said yesterday arson prevention measures by Housing Tasmania had led "to an encouraging decline in the number of arson attacks".

Housing Tasmania has fitted smoke detectors to all properties, installed remotely monitored security devices, engaged private security firms, formed partnerships with Tasmania Police, and offered rewards of up to $10,000 for information leading to the conviction of anyone burning down a public housing property, said Ms O'Connor.

There were 886 incidents of malicious damage on tenanted and untenanted properties from July 2011 until March this year. The claims cost taxpayers $1.6 million on top of $1.7 million from the 2010-11 financial year.

Costs have grown from $681,000 in the 2006-07 financial year.

Half of the arson cases were in vacant Housing Tasmania properties. 

Arson and vandalism has been on the increase since 2006-7 yet they are just starting to think about "taking measures"????

YET all of the above is jack shit in the bigger scheme of things.

WHY IS THERE NOT  A MANNED, 24HR POLICE STATION???

In a suburb so clearly damaged and desperate there is not a manned station.  Well, when I say manned I mean beyond 5pm.  there is a station that is attended during business hours.  Beyond that you are met with apathy  annoyance and plain rude responses if you bother to call police regarding an incident in Ravenswood.

A study down in 2009 involving the department of housing and police highlighted the need for urgent attention in housing department suburbs such as Ravenswood.

Even a quick search on the ABC news website for Ravenswood throws back three pages of arson and murder since 2004.  The majority of cases happening in the past two years.

And this week?   Two people stabbed to death in their unit that was subsequently burnt down.

Again

                      WHY IS THERE NOT  A MANNED, 24HR POLICE STATION???

I wonder, did they call police or housing to express their fears?

Were  they told to stop calling?

Would this have been avoided if there was a better police presense?

I have so many questions and I am angry, sadded and sickened by the decline of humanity in Ravenswood.  It is about increasing lack of respect for other people and their property.  Lack of respect for life.  When will the police and the government stop making excuses and start fixing this problem.  Sadly, I can't "it will take a death to see this fixed" because in the last four years there have been four deaths and still nothing has been done.

I will call it!   

The police, Tasmanian government and the housing department of Tasmania have blood on their hands tonight in my opinion.

and this by jane

When an asylum seeker is worth zero

It would seem this is something not looked at by the Australian people government.
On Sunday two fishermen in the south west of Tasmania went out to check their craypots and never returned. They were reported on Monday as missing and today the search has been declared a recovery mission and the divers have been sent in to search for bodies.  A dingy and life jacket have been found but it isn't know whether the men were actually wearing any life jackets.
The search for the two men began immediately after they were declared missing and lasts till now.  So far totaling six days or 120 hrs.




In international waters, half way between Christmas Island and the south of Indonesia 90+ asylums seekers are dead because they weren't given the same attention.  Their lives aren't equal value.

Three people have been confirmed dead and rescue authorities say there are more bodies in the water.

• 108 adult men and one 13-year-old boy rescued so far
• Three people confirmed dead and about 90 more remain missing
• Australian Maritime Safety Authority says rescuers still searching for survivors
• All known survivors have been taken ashore
• Six ships and several aircraft are on the scene
• Australian authorities say they knew the boat was in trouble early on Wednesday and told it to return to Indonesia

On Tuesday night at 10pm the AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) were called by a person on the boat that 200+ asylum seekers were travelling to Christmas Island on.  The call was one seeking assistance as the boat was taking on water.  This is not surprising considering the condition of the boats the smugglers use to transport these people.  No location was given, yet 3.5hrs later another call was received by AMSA and a location of 38 nautical miles south of java was given.  AMSA advised the caller to turn and travel northward.

In an interview Jason Clare (home affairs minister) gave to ABC Lateline one of the first things he says is that they didn't take the advise given to them.  As if this absolves Australia of the blame for the almost 100 deaths that ensued.
He also claimed that 'we' never know how many people are on board.  I think we can safely say that almost all boats carrying asylum seekers average around 200 people.  This bodes the question of why only 3-4 inflatable rescue boats were dropped?

He also stated that although the boat was in international waters, it is agreed that it was in the Indonesian search area, BUT that AMSA are aware that Australian search facilities are better so we usually help out.  Why then did we leave it until Thursday afternoon to do anything?   Oh that's right, they should have followed the advise and headed back up to Indonesia.

Could that six hours of sitting on your hands and reciting "lalalalalalalalalalalala" saved the other 100 passengers?

Jason, did you know the boat was there before the call or not??  Faxes would say you did, yet you seem unsure??

Today, search the 36hr window of 'opportunity' for finding any more people alive has been passed and they are just going to pick up the bodies and go home.  In south west Tasmania, the 120hr search effort has continued on.  I don't begrudge the Tasmania search at all, but I feel sick that the 100 missing north of Christmas Island don't seem to be deserving of the same efforts.

Another thing mentioned by Jason Clare that makes me want to vomit is when (four minutes into the interview) he casually states that the problem is quite a bit bigger that it seems.  "....200 drowned in Dec when the boat didn't even make it out of the Java Sea..... 100 washed up on shore and the other 100 lay at the bottom of the Java Sea.."   Said without an ounce of compassion or emotion.

Yes, Jason Clare is just doing his job.  Julia, Tony and the rest of those who apparently represent Australians  I blame you all.  You all have blood on your hands.

I hang my head in shame and cry. 

Unschool Monday

Joining up with Lauren  over at owlet.  This week there was a discussion on ABC Radio National about home schooling.  I listened as I 'knew' (online) one of the home ed mums involved in the discussion.  It took me the rest of the day to calm down!

Although they had home ed adequately covered and gave Shae and the other mum a relatively good amount of speaking time I was stunned by the ignorance of one of the other guests, a professor of education.  If you are going to invite a professional to give his opinion then surely it would be wise to firstly check that he understood a bit about home education.  I am disappointed in ABC for this error on their part.  I am also amazed (perhaps naively) at the number of people who have such a strong negative view of home education without ANY idea whatsoever as to what it really is.

So, for starters here are some things we DON'T do:

• stay at home 24/7
• sit at a desk all day with books
• assume to be able to teach our children ALL the things
• isolate our children from other people
• do it on our own

Just a FEW of the things we DO:

• play
• talk
• read
• research
• go on excursions
• do workshops and courses
• play team sports
• go to sporting venues to learn new skills such as martial arts
• go to girl guides
• have play dates
• learn from other peers/friends/strangers
• out source teachers

Before you can have an opinion on  home education you need to understand what it is and what it isn't.

what value is a life?

This week has been a  week of remembrance and somewhat sadness.  Yes, just when you thought all the 9/11 blog posts had been done and it was safe to log into your reader!

I do remember where I was when I first heard about the planes crashing into the world trade centre.  I was driving home from an evening shift at my work, Qantas.  I caught the tail end of some news but wasn't sure what it was about so when I got home I turned the tv on to find out, and oh boy did I find out.  It was horrendous of course and I sat glued for some time in shock like most people I know.  Yet the worse was to come when I returned to work next day.  Taking calls from families desperate to get to their family in America or vice versa.  Calls from people who had family in the buildings, people calling screaming and sobbing for flights that we couldn't provide.  It truly was heartbreaking and emotional torture, yet I know that I felt nothing compared to those involved on the day or as it would seem ten years on.

This week the world pays it's respects to those 2974 people who lost their lives on that day in September.   The disbelief and the anger flows as it did ten years ago and I understand that totally.
I feel anger at  such a violent and unnecessary act.
I feel anger at the unnecessary loss of innocent lives.

But I feel more anger when I think about the inequality in death.  People jump up and down about inequality and rights etc etc yet seem to think this should stop when the breath stops.

What value do we put on a life?  

Is one worth more than another?  

What about in death?  

Does it matter how, when or where one dies?

Do the countless and faceless rescuers from 9/11 have the same value as the 2974 victims?  We don't hear of them and their suffering from subsequent illnesses and deaths related to being in the smoke and concrete dust.  The city of New York do not pay any compensation or medical bills for these men and women.  Will they have a memorial or a state service?

After 9/11 America invaded Afghanistan and Iraq.  Allied troops were also deployed to these countries.  Sadly many soldiers have lost their lives since 9/11. According to icasualties 4792 soldiers of the coalition forces have lost their lives in Irag since 2003 and 2712 in Afghanistan since 2001.  I don't know about other countries but I know that here in Australia when a soldier who has been deployed is killed it makes prime time news and front page of the papers.  Rightly so too, don't get me wrong, loss of life through war is so wrong and such a waste, particularly a war that I don't believe should be occurring or that we should be involved in.  These lives are commemorated in their death and remembered, they are all victims of 9/11.

Since 9/11 there have been at least 1035587 civilian Iraqi and Afghan  lives lost that are not widely commemorated, remembered, revered or documented.  These are also lives lost as a result of 9/11, either at the hand of coalition forces, al qaeda, taliban or suicide bombers.  Regardless of who is responsible these innocents are still victims that are largely ignored and overlooked when a value is being placed on life.

I have been thinking about this a lot this week.  

Did you know there were Queensland floods, Japanese tsunamis, earthquakes of New Zealand, Australia and Japan?  You would have had to have been living in a bubble not to know this of course!  we raised money, offered assistance and saw it on the news daily.  The loss of life minimal in comparison to other disasters but the attention and value obviously high.

Did you know there have been floods in Pakistan recently?  Yes, in August floods have left 200 known dead and 1million injured.  Unicef reports that 25 mil children and 50mil people have been affected.  No huge news reports, no remembrance days for these victims.

Did you know that since 2002 Iran have had 10 major earthquakes with no less than 31000 fatalities.  No huge news reports, no remembrance days for these victims.

There was a landslide in Sth Korea killing 32 people.

There are 300 dead in storms in Alabama, USA

Last year 112 were killed and 500 missing after an earthquake in Sumatra.

In last years floods in Pakistan 1100 people were killed.

I could go on but I won't.  Needless to say, 1000's of people die around the world daily but unless they are of great importance to Australia or USA we do not acknowledge these victims.  They may get a brief story in the paper or on the news but they are  not given the same value as others.

A life is a life!

We are all born of woman, we grow, we weep, we sleep, we shit and we die.  No more and no less than anyone else so why is one life valued more than another?

Please, remember those who died on 9/11 if you must but put it into perspective and remember that those 2974 who died that day are but a few..........

Each to their own, or not??

At the moment I am feeling physically ill.  I want to vomit profusely!   Every inch of my body is clenched and stressed beyond belief and my heart aches.   I am not sick but I am sickened.


I am sickened by the beliefs some people hold.  Mostly I have the attitude of 'each to their own'.  If you want to bottle feed, vax, use disposable nappies etc then go for it.  I choose not to and I don't believe it is the best practice but hey!.....


However, when your beliefs could (and usually do) contribute to hysteria, fear, pain or suffering I have to draw the line.  And, yes this does happen.  Particular when the subject is asylum seekers and refugees.  There is nothing better to catch a red neck with than the dangling hook of a refugee discussion!  This applies to those in the upper echelons of government through to the ordinary Joe Blow down the street.  
For now I am concentrating on Mr and Mrs J Blow, who unfortunately frequent social media such as facebook.  It often intrigues me that someone with such minimal social skills, intelligence and logic can even master the internet but they do.  They also spread their xenaphobic and hateful, small minded attitudes via this medium.  It is not uncommon to see groups set up such as the ever so eloquent "fuck off we're full" and it's many variations  or profile updates such as:

"Interesting.... If you cross the North Korean Border illegally, you get 12 years hard labor. If you cross the Afghanistan border illegally, you get shot. Two Americans just got eight years for crossing the Iranian border. If you cross the AUSTRALIAN border illegally you get get a job, a drivers license, food stamps, a place too live, health care, housing & child benefits, education, & a free business for 7 yrs. No wonder we are a country in debt. Re-post if you agree".                                                                                                                                  

The above was posted today on someone's profile. This person was on my friend list.  Probably only because we have known each other since childhood and our mothers are best of friends.  That would really be the only connection we have as we eventually grew apart and pursued completely different lives. The thing that disturbs me the most is that it appears to have been copied off my brother's profile, I don't know for sure as I don't have him on my facebook friend list (for various reasons).  That people can think this way is sickening enough but so close to home makes me ashamed to know these people and yes, to be related to someone who can think this way.  


I commented on the post, knowing I would cop a fair amount of flack.  But the interesting thing was that when I asked 
"and if you are being persecuted and need to leave Australia and go to another country to save your family and only option is to arrive as many do here......what would you do??"  

No-one could answer my question.  There was plenty of abusing me and calling me small minded, and reminding me how kind and wonderful and caring the original poster is though.  I don't dispute that she would give the shirt of her back or her last $5.  I don't disagree that we should be looking after our homeless, our children, our elderly.   

But why is it so hard to extend our hand to others in need.  Others who are risking their lives coming here to save their families from prosecution, death, torture.  They don't make this decision lightly, they are desperate and they are at the mercy of criminals such as the people smugglers.  We could solve the issue of the smugglers by just letting them come here without having to further risk their lives on barely sea-worthy boats.  We could cut out the middle man!

But I digress,  my heart breaks that people feel the need to spread this red neck crap and perpetuate the myth that we are somehow missing out if we invite 'them' in.  That our tax dollars will be wasted or jobs taken.  This is bullshit and if people bothered to do their research they would know this.  However, it is much easier to hate, blame, persercute than to admit fear at change.  At the end of the day we were all immigrants at some stage in our ancestry...

Needless to say, I have culled my friend list and perhaps if you are on it and disagree with me 

you can save me the trouble next time and just remove yourself :)

image

Keeping it together

or at least I am trying to keep it together.  So far this year I have really come to the understanding of being a solo parent.  Now, I know the kids do have a dad who they see regularly but his input as a parent is very minimal.  I jokingly call him a babysitter but that isn't too far from the truth.

Since finding out that Beren has autism it has become blatantly clear that his dad also has it.  Probably the only thing we have agreed on in years!  This explains an awful lot for me and it saddens me that he is too old and stubborn to ever seek or agree to some form of intervention to help him find life a little easier.

Having said that though, I don't think it excuses a clear lack of interest in what is going on with his kids.  NEVER does he ask what therapy Beren is having, what the kids have been learning at my house, what extra curricular activities they are doing. NOTHING!  Despite this I let him know what is going on, even though he gives no response, eye contact or thank you.  I am not sure why I bother really.

But this isn't what pisses me off or wears me down the most.  What does that is that I am doing this whole kid wrangling on my own.  We have a minimum of two appointments a week, plus home ed group, library  and trampolining.  I am the one who has to take the kids to all of these and I am tired.  It would be so nice to have another parent around to hand over to occasionally.  To say, "hey I need a break can you take B to his appointment" and be able to 1. trust that they would go, 2. Rely on any important messages being relayed back to me, 3. The 'specialist' won't be completely insulted and wipe us off their list.

I don't want to be the only adult in this family.  I am exhausted from carrying the load emotionally, physically and financially.  I don't get shit from him for any of this.  Yes, I have friends who understand and sympathise, I have my folks also who are great.  But, that is not the same as having another parent who gives a shit beyond what fucking level he is on in pokemon etc and can support our children by helping me.

But I will keep it together because I have no choice.  Shit, if I was childless and under this amount of stress I would have tossed in the towel long ago and said goodbye. But I can't do that so I have to soldier on.  I savour those little moments that make my heart swell and remind myself why I am doing all of this.

Christianity - make a cuppa it is long!

I have been giving this quite a bit of thought lately.  The whole thing on what is a Christian, what is Christian behaviour, beliefs and actions.   I have tried to just let it go but it keeps coming back to bug me.

What prompted this?  A couple of weeks ago I went shopping to buy a birthday/Christmas gift for my good friend Mrs P.  Now I figured because she is a church goer (Mormon), a good place to find something with meaning for her would be the "Christian" book store.
I wandered in and started browsing.  I had been looking around quite aimlessly for about 10min, finding one book that I thought might be okay, when a young female employee came up to me.  The following conversation took place:

girl "Can I help you with anything?"

me "Possibly, I am looking for a book, maybe with prayers or something for a good friend.  Because I am pretty much non-religion I don't have much of a clue.  Do you have any Mormon literature?"
girl "Um, well we have books on witnessing to Mormons?"
me "Ah no, she is a Mormon already, doesn't need converting"
girl "Yes, well, um, perhaps there might be something in fiction she would like, they are Christian but she might still like them"
me "Well, seeing she is Christian I am sure she probably would but I was thinking something non-fiction."
girl "well we are a Christian book store so you won't find anything Mormon or to suit her here I shouldn't think."
me "Soooooo, are you saying Mormons are not Christian?  What church is affiliated with this store?"
girl "No! Mormons are a cult!!  We are Protestant, you know the Reformation and all that so we are Christian and we believe in Jesus and Mormons don't!"
me "OOOOOOOOOOOOkay!  Well, I know she does believe in Jesus, pretty sure she doesn't have pictures up of him just for decorating the house!"
girl "Oh no, I have researched it!  It is in a book here (she goes and grabs a book on other religions written by the Protestant church), see it says they believe in ..........oh, okay so they believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost.  UM, oh but yes!! The believe in JOSEPH SMITH!!  There, see!"
me "So I guess you wouldn't call any of the new evangelical churches, Jews or Muslims Christian?
girl "ah NO!"
me " what about Catholics?"
girl " well, not really.  they have some christian stuff about them but not really"
me "oh but why? They are as judgemental as the Protestants so why leave them out?"
girl "oh you really need to be nice!" 

and she walked away.

um, I need to be nice???  Who was it that put down every other religion, including other Christian and called The Church of Latter Day Saints a cult????

By this stage of was fuming, I really wanted the book I had so I still bought it and declined their offer of a membership card and then left. 

 Since then, I have been doing a lot of thinking about what a Christian is, what you need to do to be a Christian.

But then I thought perhaps I had gotten it wrong so I did a bit of research.  OH BOY!!  there is a whole lot of religion bashing happening out there on the net by so called 'Christian' groups.  It really gets quite high and mighty and down right nasty!

A reasonable definition of Christianity was on the ABC website  it also includes a brief history of Christianity and how it's origins were as a Jewish Sect, wonder if my shop girl knows this!
It also states the key beliefs of Christians as:

Key Beliefs

• Christians believe that there is only one God, who is all-powerful and all-knowing.
• Most Christians believe that God is a Trinity made up of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.
• 
  
  • The second person of the Trinity, God the Son, became a human being in the person of Jesus.
  • Jesus was born to a human woman, Mary (whom many believe was a virgin), and was subject to pain, suffering, and sorrow like other human beings.
  • Jesus was put to death on a cross and three days later was raised from the dead (the resurrection). Forty days after this he ascended to heaven (the ascension).
  • After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, the Holy Spirit was sent to bring the knowledge and power of Jesus to the church.
  
  
• Christians believe in eternal life after death, but not earthly reincarnation.
• Christians await the second coming of Christ which will bring fulfilment of the Kingdom of God and a final day of judgement.
• Christians share with Islam and Judaism a moral code that includes the Ten Commandments.
• Eastern churches, Roman and Protestant churches accept (with slight verbal differences) the Apostles’ Creed, a profession of faith formalised around 500 CE.
• Many Catholics believe that the Western Catholic church is the church founded by Jesus Christ and that only it offers the fullness of sacramental grace.

Just reading a few different descriptions of Christianity was enough to do my head in.  I did find this site quite interesting though.  It also talks of the history of the church and compares the role of tradition and the Bible in the Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox branches of Christianity.

It also states that "Christianity is to a large extent dependent upon historical events: Its idea of God is based on how God dealt with ancient Israel, on Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and to some extent on later happenings among Jesus' followers. Being a Christian means (for most of us) being convinced that there really is a God who guided Israel through much of its history, that Jesus really represents him, and that Jesus was really resurrected."

Which leads me to my next quest.  I went to Mormon.com and they say that:

"Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the Son of God. He is our Redeemer. The Holy Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ's mother was Mary, His father on earth was Joseph, that He was born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, and labored with Joseph as a carpenter. When he turned 30, He began a three-year ministry of teaching, blessing, and healing the people of the Holy Land. He also organized His Church and gave His apostles "power and authority" (Luke 9:1) to assist in His work."

and finally the adventist.org.au  pretty much says what everyone else has been saying. 

The way I see it, Christianity is about following God, his son Jesus and all their teachings.  But at the top of that chain is GOD. 

So, who cares if you kneel in church, or wave your hands, speak in tongues or clap a tad too much?  Why all the bitchiness?  Honestly this whole church thing is like being locked in a room with 20 pre-pubescent girls!  FAR OUT!!!

If we are born in His image, then shouldn't that mean we act Godly.  Not judging, being cruel, proud etc etc  SO WHAT if they read some extra doctrines or wear blue on Wednesdays with rollerskates?  Does it affect your relationship with your God? 

You know, I reckon God is sitting up there wondering what the hell is going on.  Wars are fought over religion, people are killed for their beliefs.  WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY THEY PRAY BETTER!!  Who has the right to say their way is better?  

I read of scorn for Joseph Smith and his Book of Mormon.  I wonder, if that had come before the 2nd testament would it be the other way around?  Who has the right to say that he is full of crap but the authors of the bible aren't?  NO-ONE! 

I am baptised a Catholic.  I went to a Catholic high school and had a year or so of being devout.  That was a long time ago.  I don't know that I will ever be drawn back to a church, mainly because I don't want to be part of a so called 'Christian' organisation that judges people for their beliefs, their sexuality, that highlights and twists the words of the bible to suit their interpretation.

I wonder how many others out there could benefit from the community and sharing provided by church but are turned away for the same reasons as myself.  I find this incredibly sad. 

I want to add a disclaimer to this before I get shouted down, I do want to say that I know there are individuals who attend church that don't necessary support everything the church 'says'.  I don't want to tar you all with the same brush so please, it isn't so much the 'congregation' as the organisation I have issues with.

I think this small piece of humour from Yuricare report sums up my thoughts on the interpretations of the bible quite beautifully.

"On her radio show sometime prior to 2004, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant
Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22,
and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an
open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the
Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:

---

Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law.
I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge
with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual
lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly
states it to be an abomination. ... End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of
God's Law and how to follow them.
1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbours. They
claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus
21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her
period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I
tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A
friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not
Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2.
The passage clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated
to kill him myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I
don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a
defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my
vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27.
How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me
unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different
crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two
different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse
and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of
getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we
just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people
who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable
expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your adoring fan,
Anonymous"

what a rollercoaster

Be warned I suspect a bit of a ramble mixed in with a touch of blubber is coming up!

The first thing I watched today from a facebook friend's link was this.  It is a TED talk by a woman named Stacey Kramer.  Take the time to watch as it is only a 3minute monologue but it is deeply toughing.  She reminded me that we truly do need to take the time to cherish every thing in our lives daily.  I guess it goes back to that quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "life is a journey, not a destination".  I mean, at the end of the day we know that the destination is death, harsh but true.  What we don't know is how long our journey is going to be, so we must value it and make the most of it and be thankful for it's ingredients.  As Stacey says, it may not all be great stuff along the way but at least you are alive and I figure if it doesn't kill you it will make you stronger and wiser! 

But it isn't just about valuing our lives is it.  We have to do what we can to make other people's life journeys easier and more valued.  This comes down to respect really.  We need to respect other's choices, lifestyles and ways.  We may not agree with them or choose them for ourselves but at the end of the day we can walk away.  What we cannot and must not do is judge, persecute or condemn.  "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all", not sure who said it but I like it.  It doesn't mean we have to go around lying by saying stuff we don't believe, it also doesn't mean staying quiet if we believe something strongly and want to be heard.  But it also doesn't mean we have the right to insult on a personal level.  To belittle others and make their lives miserable.

This brings me to the second thing I read this morning from this blog.  This is a sad and tragic read about the rise in child suicide in USA.  Fortunately in Australia reported suicide rates have declined in all states except Tasmania.   Many of these child suicides would have been preventable if we treated others with respect!!  It breaks my heart that there are children as young as six years old feeling they need to end their lives because they are being told they are not good enough, wrong, evil and the list goes on.  Get a fucking grip folks, who says your way is the right way???  I will probably get a back lash for saying this but I wonder how many of these suicides are from 'church going folk'??  Just sayin!  I mean the rate of churches that accept gays is probably lower than the rate of child suicide and the leading cause is generally because a child is either perceived as gay (as if that is a bad thing) or actually is struggling with their own sexuality and they are deemed as not normal.

Just what is normal though?   I had an interesting conversation with a mum at home-ed group the other week.  We were discussing children on the autism spectrum and she was saying how her son says that he is the only 'normal' person and that everyone else is different.  I think this is just beautiful!  Everyone's perception of normal is different.  For me normal is living with depression, and I really mean living with it.  Not fighting it and exhausting myself but accepting that this is part of me, I take medication daily to help control it and I see a psychologist on a regular basis to vent and to also learn techniques to make my life easier.  I have had to fight many internal battles to reach a point where I can say "I AM NORMAL!!  THIS IS MY NORMAL!" 

A great blog I have stumbled on is here and has a series of posts called Portraits of Autism.  She writes beautifully on what her (and her son's) experiences have been in the early days of diagnosis.  This other blog is another incite into the world of autism and made me stop and wonder what goes on in my boys head.  I wish I could step in his shoes to understand his motives for behaviour and words, not to change them necessarily but just be able to respond to them a little more appropriately.  I am sure to him everything he says and does is normal and we are just plain weird for being different LOL

Lets embrace our normality in all it's shapes and sizes.  Teach our children that they are perfect just how they are and to know that normal is unique.  I am a strong believer in respect.  There is not enough of it about and that saddens me.  I see examples of this daily and despair that just like crime and  poverty it is a cycle that is perpetuated through the generations.  I have no answers on this one and wish I did,  I guess all we can do is teach our children to love themselves and others , to respect themselves and others and to care.

Moving on up!

Combining a bit of a rant along with the song for the day. Probably should have played this song four years ago, but hey! better late than never LOL

I am in tears and pissed off with myself for getting to this point. Yup, a fight with the ex. I cannot understand how someone can be content to sit and shrivel up as a human being. There is no pride, no emotion , nothing. At least he will admit he has depression but as per usual blames anything , everything and everyone for his situation. Apparently he has been to see counsellors etc, but "noone can help him". He will not take medication, he will not do anything to help himself. He is content to be a lonely, sad 41yo sitting in a bungalow in his parents back yard. I can not understand how one can live content with this. i know that there is a way out of depression,. I have seen many people do it but I guess you have to want to stop being a victim and I am not sure that will happen.
Today I cry because I see the waste that stands before me, a man who once was a strong, caring, feeling and intelligent human being but is now a shell.

Today I cry because this is the role model my children see

Today I cry becauese this man is my childrens father and I want more for them

Today I cry because I feel nothing for him, the love went some time ago but the anger, frustration, resentment and anything else has gone too. I shake my head and hope in my heart that one day he will wake up before it is too late.

Today I cry.

Enough already!!

Yes, this is the cat who ate cotton and had stitches. Well, his wound had been looking a bit weepy so I had bathed it and when I took him back to get the stitches out today the vet freaked. He has been overcleaning and caused the fold of skin to unfold from the wound and part of the wound (about an inch) hadn't fused together at all. A big gaping wound once the stitches were cut. Soooooo, he had to stay and have the wound flushed and restitched. The vet said, "well you should have put a collar on him (like in picture)" I wasn't to know that and perhaps he should have mentioned it (his nurse agrees). So, the boy is on anti-biotics and walking backwards. Gotta admit that is hilarious. Not a happy chappy at all.

I can do with out the dramas though.

Beren is now home from hospital. He had his tonsils and adenoids removed and grommits inserted in his ears. Poor boy, today he is feeling a bit more human but has been in a lot of pain from his throat.
He was refusing to leave the hospital because "they are nice mum and give me lots of jelly, icecream and icypoles when I ask". I have been spoiling him too though, lots of dvd/tv and jelly, icecream, icypoles and cuddles.

You know some people are truly weird. There was a 4yo girl in the same room at the hospital. She was clearly very hyper, emotional and as much as I hate to say it very manipulative of her folks. Both parents were there and from what I can gather they had been there for a couple of days trying to work out what was wrong with said child. they were lamenting at how hyper she is and that she never sleeps, eats very little and pretty much climbs the walls. She had stomach complaints and temps etc
So, what would you feed a child like this? Obviously chips, lollies, chocolate, soft drink, or so it would seem. I was amazed at the junk they pumped into this kid. When she was being a bit noisy around 9ish that night they bribed her into bed with chocolate. HELLLOOOOO???????????
First thing the next morning she had lollies while she waited for dad to get back with her packet of cherrios for breakfast. They really seemed hesitant to leave the hospital too, which was strange. The doc said nothing wrong, no tests came back with anythign and they had pumped antibiotics into her and yet they were still pushing for a stay. Her mum even had her own ear temp thing and was taking her temp constantly, both ears as well. scary really!

As for us, well I must say this little adventure with Beren has been an education for me. I am deeply saddened/angry/furious/disapointed (take your pick) that even though his father (and I use this term very loosely) didn't agree with have the operation he didn't bother to ask which hospital or even call and ask how B was or how it went. I cannot begin to fathom how this could be. Even if I didn't agree I would still want to be there and know how he was. I have never blogged about my ex husband but this takes the cake. He is truly the most selfish, waste of oxygen I have ever known.

Missing Without Action

Not spending much time sitting here of late. Actually not doing much at all. Have had a shitty, fucked up flair up of FMS
Now, don't get me wrong, I am never pain free and 'not' tired but this is unfuckingbelievable. Oh and did I mention i am feeling somewhat sorry for myself and pissed off with it all.

I have been bed ridden for the days I don't have kids here and the rest of the time I do school drop off/pick up, see doctor and then resume my little (read *big*) bum dent in the couch. And what is even worse is that for days I didn't even have the strength, clearness of thought or energy to KNIT! I know, WTF?

Pain is still at about a 7/10 (usual is 3-4), brain fog is still pretty bad and find holding a conversation taxing at the very least. I am sure people think I do drugs or drink or something. As for the fatigue. Today I took Nienna to the library, came home made us sandwiches and then dozed on the couch for 3hrs while she shrouded me in catalogue paper and dolls (damn lucky she doesn't know wher eth permanent markers are). Anyway, gonna see my regular doc next week to do some bloods to rule anything else out. Just keeping resting and hoping it will back off sooner than later.

I really think after the super busy year I hav ehad my body is saying "NO MORE!" and I need to listen. I am handing over all responsibilities for Glen Park as I am finding that all very stressful and demanding and I am just going to concentrate on me and the kids and be a mum for a while.

Lastly, GO OBAMA!! But oh boy am I glad that is all over. I have never seen such full on coverage of an international election on our media before.

Fucking hypocritical bastards!

The performance, entitled "Flying with the Dream", tried to create an atmosphere of "dream, grace, warmth and happiness," interpret the idea that "all life has value, all life has dignity, all life has dream" as well as promote harmony among "sky, earth and human beings".

This is what the opening ceremony of the 2008 Paralympics was about. They also mentioned equality and world peace too. What a fucking laugh. How can the rest of the world sit back and praise this blatant lie.

Please take the time to watch this short film. The film maker is still 'missing' after being detained by Chinese authorities in Tibet. Mind you I am sure he is being treated with the utmost respect, value and dignity. FFS get me a bucket quick!

12 babies die a needless death

I got this from this other blogger
And people question my choice not to vax???

At Least 12 Babies Die in Glaxo Vaccine Trials in Argentina

Trading Markets provides news of interest to investors: On July 10, it reported that at least 12 babies, who were test subjects in a clinical trial testing GlaxSmithKline's pneumonia vaccine, in Argentina died. (see below)

According to the Argentine Federation of Health Professionals, or Fesprosa, the pharmaceutical giant uses children from poor families, who are"pressured and forced into signing consent forms. This occurs without anytype of state control" and "does not comply with minimum ethicalrequirements."

Pediatrician Ana Maria Marchese, who works at the children's hospital in the provincial capital where the studies are being conducted, was highly critical: "because they can't experiment in Europe or the UnitedStates, they come to do it in third-world countries."

Indeed, "Colombia and Panama were also chosen by GSK as staging grounds for trials of the vaccine against the pneumococcal bacteria." But one of the lead Glaxo-paid investigators, pediatrician Enrique Smith, is quoted stating: "Only 12 have died throughout the country, which is a very low figure if we compare it with the deaths produced by respiratory illnesses caused by the pneumococcal bacteria."

Since 2007, 15,000 babies have been subjects of the trial, so the death rate in the trial is 1 in 1,250. Question is, would they have died had they received antibiotics and not been in the trial? Fesprosa complained that the parents are pressured, and trial "occurs without any type of control..."If "the trials were authorized when Enrique's brother, Juan Carlos Smith, was provincial health minister" the legitimacy of the trial isquestionable, at best.

The world is bearing witness to the moral dissolution of corporate influenced medicine--a pediatrician is sanguine about the death of 12 babies in a clinical trial, claiming it is "a very low figure..."

This profit-driven culture has derailed medicine from its traditional ethical principles, rapidly converting into a ruthless commercialenterprise.

This medical tragedy is widely disseminated on internet blogs but ignored by the press--Why ?????????????????????

fucking jackhammers

I wonder if shoving jackhammers up renovator/builders butts is a committable crime? We may soon find out if the dude up the street doesn't stop using his!!! SINCE 10am this morning and still going strong (now 6.30pm). FUCK!!! It is doing my frigging head in bigtime. Can't concentrate and I am trying to finish another assignment. I swear to god, my patience is thin at the best of times

Dinosty!

I found this on Joy Nash's blog. I love her stuff and well, now I like this chicks stuff too. This video is only part one apparently so I look forward to the other episodes.
So, did the dinosaur come slap yo uin the face,did her words, her film making? What did it for you? Well, for me the last few lines "lets go buy horizontal stripes" did it for me. I almost fell off my chair, I have been having flashbacks since seeing/hearing this. not altogether pleasant memories of my childhood, fuck ! my entire 40years really. (Mind you as I sit writing this I do have to give a sneaky chuckle cos I realised I am wearing a yellow and purple HORIZONTAL striped jumper heehheee, how norty am i!)
Yes, I am fat! Actually truth be told I am obese actually. Now, I am not proud of this and in fact I would say I am ashamed. I find going shopping for clothes leaves me in a depression for days, I avoid my reflection and can't bare to look at myself naked. I suffer from very low physical self esteem. this is the largest I have ever been.
But ya know, the thing is I have done the above and felt the same even when I was size 12/14! I posted in January about this and how I felt about body and appearance changes.
So, if I feel shit about myself no matter what size there must be a problem. Duh!!!!!!!!
I am constantly telling my kids how beautiful, clever, talented, intelligent etc etc etc they are. I don't recall hearing this growing up. I do remember as a teen I used to babysit alot, I can still remember my mum saying that I shouldn't tell this certain child that she was gorgeous for fear she would grow up thinking it! WTF!!!!!!!
This was probably an era of "oh look at her she is sooooooooooo up herself" mentality.
I do remember being told often that :

• I could do better
• I need to apply myself and stop mucking around
• My marks (usually top) don't mean anything it is my attitude that counts (re school reports)
• I have a chip on my shoulder
• you can't wear that it makes you look fat
• you need to lose some weight
• you need to eat less
• you need to exercise more
• YOU SHOULDN'T WEAR COTHES THAT BRING ATTENTION TO YOURSELF
• YOU SHOULDN'T WEAR HORIZONTAL STRIPES
• TOO TIGHT
• TOO SHORT
• TOO LONG
• TOO LOOSE

I am guessing you are getting the message LOL
Perhaps I should have said a few "you need to's or you should's" Ya think?

Sooooooooo, if I was getting all this from a young age and I suspect quite a few other women too. How are we meant to come out the other end without a fucked up view of ourselves.

You know what is weird is that I know I have a fucked up view and I can write about and say how wrong it is to think like this and I can ensure my kids will NEVER feel like this but at the end of the day I don't seem to be able to change the way I think about it.

I hate that people are judged by their weight and appearance. I remember missing out on a job offer and my mum being told that it was because of what I wore. Probably made me look fat LOL well, hello sunshine I AM FAT! It isn't like I can take this horizontal striped jumper off and VOILA! I am fucking gorgeously shaped underneath.

The mystery still exists though. Can we change our perceptions of ourselves or are we beyond help and can only stop it happening in future generations? In my circle of friends I am judged by my intelligence and personality and not by how fat, thin, fashionable or unfashionable I am. That is why I love my friends. There is no need to say anything about weight because it isn't a factor.

Funny enough, now that I am really overweight my family don't say much as they are too worried they will upset me, another go figure moment!

One person who commented quite sometime ago was a friend of my fathers, he was extremely overweight with a beer belly and he said to me "jeez, you've put some beef on!". To which I answered "well, I have had 2 babies (one not long ago) and I also have a medical condition called fibromyalgia which means I am not as active as I should be because of chronic pain. What would your excuse be?" Obviously, he did a sort of mumble into his stubby and went back to talking chainsaws and guns with my dad.

This is turning into a bit of a ramble and I am not sure I am making sense but figure I should just write while the words spill out. What I want to know is how do you embrace the fat? Should you embrace it? I mean, I worry that at 40 and overweight the impact on my health is not good and having young children I want to be around for a while longer. I do try to avoid the "ooh I shouldn't wear that!" mentality and just wear what I WANT to wear. Obviously I do set myself limits and don't DO some clothes, but I probably wouldn't do them regardless of size. And my kids will always feel fantastic about themselves because I tell they are every day!
Thats a start isn''t it!

Old article but very relevant

This is a great article by Catherine Deveney and as this is a topic that I have discussed recently with friends I thought I would revive it. It is from here
And this is an excerpt from it:'

Spend, spend, spend. It's no way to happiness

Catherine DevenySeptember 26, 2007

You'll see them in shopping centres every weekend seeking sedation: people trying to buy their next high.

REDUCE greed. There's your answer. Thank you and good night.

Nothing new, nothing fancy, nothing even slightly original. Here's a tip to increase your happiness. Just stop trying to fill that gaping hole inside yourself with more stuff. Or shelving for the stuff. Or a bigger house for the shelving. It doesn't work. It just makes the hole bigger. Everything won't be fine if you just get new light fittings, replace the curtains or buy a new mobile phone. No one needs 12 doona covers. Everything will be fine if you take a big breath and stop buying crap you don't need with money you don't have to impress people you don't like.

Does anyone else want to slap half the people around you and say "You'd have more peace if you just spent less money"? People complain about how hard they work, how little money they have and how their relationship is at breaking point. And then what do they do? Exercise? Meditate? Work less? Nope. They buy themselves a cappuccino machine they'll only use twice, an exercise bike that will be the most expensive clothes hanger they have ever owned, shoes they'll never wear and then sign up for cable TV. And then put their hand up for more overtime....

On my soap box!

Yes, I am about to rant.

This morning I have sat down to find a sustainable, ethical, enviromental etc company and write a short blurb about it for an assessment. So, I google and the first link I look at is the Global 100 list of most sustainable corporations in the world.

Some of the companies on the list are: Air France, L'Oreal, Marks & Spence and, wait for it...............NESTLE.

I am sorry but is the the most sustainable or the most UNSUSTAINABLE. I am having difficulting in understanding how an airline can be sustainable, a cosmetics company that tests on animals, a department store that buys non-fair trade and a food company that lets African babies starve can all be on this list.

The next Link I looked at that grabbed my attention was this one:

Kimberly-Clark: Twice named the most sustainable personal care company

20 October 2006

For the second year running Kimberly-Clark leads all other personal care companies in terms of sustainability, according to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World).

Dow Jones has ranked Kimberly-Clark in first place amongst personal care companies in recognition of our commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship.

Senior vice president and Chief Innovation Officer, Cheryl Perkins, said Kimberly-Clark views sustainability as a critical component of doing business.

“We continue to make important progress in improving the sustainability of our products and processes. Our focus is on reducing environmental impacts and costs as we strengthen our brand performance and fulfil our commitment as an environmentally diligent and socially responsible corporate citizen,” says Perkins.

The DJSI tracks the performance of the world’s leading 250 sustainability-driven companies. This year 14 of the world’s largest personal care companies were selected to participate.

Against this field Kimberly-Clark earned the highest scores in the personal care category across a number of selection criteria including risk and crisis management, codes of conduct and compliance, strategy for emerging markets, environmental performance, environmental policy and management, product impact, and corporate philanthropy and citizenship.,

Am I missing something? Have disposable nappies suddenly become reusable? How the fuck can this be? Yes, I am angry. I know this is a 2006 award but you just need to read through their Caring for the Environment section to see what warped views they give and why people think what they are doing is ok!

As they say, disposable nappies ONLY make up 3% of landfill compared to 34% of domestic waste. Sounds fabulous doesn't it, why don't we all use them since they have such a small impact on the environment.

UMMMM, WOULD THE FACT THEY HAVEN'T MENTIONED THAT THEY TAKE AROUND
THREE GENERATIONS
TO BREAK DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(AS OPPOSED TO A FEW WEEKS OF BREAKDOWN TIME REQUIRED FOR 'OTHER ' HOUSEHOLD WASTAGE)
MAKE YOU SUSPICIOUS??

This is so misleading ( in my opinion ofcourse :P)

So, I am still on the elusive search for a truly sustainable and ethical company. Wonder if I will find one? Stay tuned folks............................




But wait there is more!

The Raytheon Company has an "Ethics Quick Test" that asks employees to consider the following questions when faced with ethical dilemmas:

* Is the action legal?

* Is it right?

* Who will be affected?

* Does it fit Raytheon's values?

* How will I feel afterwards?

* How would it look in the newspaper?

* Will it reflect poorly on the company?

Sounds awesome doesn't it, so responsible and ethical!

Now for those of you who haven't heard of Ratheon and their products (like myself)

Here is a list of SOME of their products:

Javelin Weapon System

Javelin is the world's first one man-portable and employable fire-and-forget medium-range missile system. www.raytheon.com/products/javelin/

Sparrow

The Sparrow Missile is a medium-range, all-weather, all-aspect, semi-active guided missile used in multiple roles by multiple services. www.raytheon.com/products/sparrow/

Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)

The Phalanx CIWS advanced radar-controlled gun system provides superior defense against close-in air and surface threats. www.raytheon.com/products/phalanx/

Non Line of Sight – Launch System (NLOS-LS)

The Non Line of Sight – Launch System (NLOS-LS) is a family of artillery missiles fired from a vertical launcher that can be deployed by ground or air assets throughout ... www.raytheon.com/products/nlos_ls/

Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Guided Missile System

The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Guided Missile Weapon System is the world's most modern ship self-defense weapon. www.raytheon.com/products/ram/

TOW Family

TOW 2 (Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided) Weapon System, with the multi-mission TOW 2A, TOW 2B, TOW 2B Aero, and TOW Bunker Buster missiles. www.raytheon.com/products/tow_family/

AIM-9M Sidewinder

The AIM-9M is a long term performer in the Sidewinder family of missiles. www.raytheon.com/products/aim_9m/

AGM-65 Maverick Missile

The Maverick AGM-65 family of missiles is the versatile, precision strike missile of choice for the US Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and dozens of international ... www.raytheon.com/products/agm_65/

Vigilant Eagle Airport Protection System Vigilant Eagle is an affordable, ground based airport protection system that uses
high power microwave technology to protect commercial aircraft from shoulder-fired ...

THAT'S RIGHT FOLKS! THEY SELL MISSILES ~ WHICH, LAST I HEARD, KILL PEOPLE. FORGIVE ME FOR THINKING THAT KILLING PEOPLE WAS A TAD UNETHICAL!!!!! ffs........