Dear World ...

Saturday, March 27, 2004

Our Troops, Our PM : Their War.

John Howard wrote an article in the U.S.A's Wall Street Journal(not a direct link (what do you expect from wall street) it's the ABCs story) recently, raising a few questions in the minds of many Australians, well in my mind at least.
Why is OUR prime minister promising the american (re)public(ans) that we will commit OUR troops?
Why did Johnny say that our troops would be back within a couple of months, and then attack Latham when he said they should be brought home now?
And If

Dr. Condy's Mind Control a hit with Washington

Condoleeza Rice

Thursday, March 25, 2004

Politics in the Playground

Hehehe, I started this huge "discussion" (people talking passionately in raised voices) today about whether or not the School Captains of a Catholic School (such as the one I go to (hence the passion - interestingly the division) ) have to be Catholics. I myself was brought up in a family which goes to church every Sunday, everyone except for me that is. Now I don't actually want to be school captain, I rather working quietly in the background and talking with small groups of people than standing in front of school assemblies acting as an administrative mouth piece (available at a chemist near you!), but I am going to run for leadership council (who are all interviewed for the position (by prinicipals selection) of school captain (male and female ^) anyway (the council is able to do a lot more in changing the school than I am able to do by myself, I need to become more confident with my public speaking, and I like being able to do something for the other people in my year group / the rest of the school). I mentioned this to one of my friends the other day, and told them about how one of the student leadership council members, who a lot of people think should have been School Captain, was basically crossed off because he said he was an aethiest, despite this, he is one of the only SLC members who are actively involved in any social justice activity, he's the only one who I've actually seen talking to students other than his friends, and he's probably the only one who gives a stuff about most of the things happening around the school.

Anyway It was pretty funny, most of the people in my group of friends are relatively reasonable when it comes to religion, that is they aren't blind followers of anything and have made up their own minds. I think the people who do have a strong catholic faith don't talk about it much because the group of us who don't believe / don't know are so very outspoken (still everyones individual beliefs are respected). It's good to see that a few people just listened to what people where saying instead of jumping in and raving on about what they thought.
Good points from both sides - some struggles communicating thoughts - Some very strange analogies. But Overall a very entertaining lunch-hour (Lunch 50 minutes *)

(I think Luke has audio / video of it happening in the background, probably Riley filming though (on Lukes digital camera (a sony which has video with sound), Riley has the habit of going round taking photo's with it, so does Michaela. I used to take a heap of photo's at school, but mostly of the buildings and I tried to be inconspicious if I was taking photo's of people, and asked permission, instead of just running round shoving it in their faces / >down shirts< (more on that some other time)

Maybe this blog needs a content level rating, then again maybe not, I'm not to fond of censorship, Is this blog still blocked by the NSW public education system in North East NSW Benita?

Media, Me & the Masses

I've got quite a few stories lined up for the Echo (school newspaper which fell apart) when it comes back (I bring it back) this year, two being:

  • "We're all in the same boat, People."
  • and
  • "Death to the Talkback Kings".
I got the idea for that second one during one of the workshops / skill session we had today during Day 1 of our Pastoral days (Today and Tomorrow). Mr. Miknovich (yes him ... teaching a class (about researching and the internet (he bagged out google :( ) ) ), who's about 45 - 55 years old (no idea really) was talking about how most of his generation grew up in a time where they had very little sources of information which meant that they trusted everything they heard - but these days because there is so much information, from so many different points of view about so many different things - they just apply a filter, to cut down on the amount of stuff they need to digest Enter Allan Jones & What's his name (*) ... So the reason so many people listen to those mindless drivel-ful shows is that they don't actually understand the concept of "being a critical audience", cross-referencing sources, and BIAS. "Mr. Jones said on the radio that "Illegal Immigrant Boat People Muslim Smuggled Terrorisers are Bad", they must be!!!"

My theory is that talkback drivel shows will die as the filter needing generations do, problem is we've got things like Fox News and CNN to fill in the void of rhetoric regurgitation machines.
I heard somewhere that the media today has so many different faces that to get a real (objective) picture you really need to read / listen to / watch a huge range of sources, to be able to see the story properly you needed to watch both the right and left media, But I'm not sure if that's the case. I suppose that you may become slightly paranoid if you are constantly having to think about the accuracy of the news stories you are seeing / hearing, but if you instead put yourself in the shoes of the person being portrayed as the bad guy (/gal), and tried to see their point of view surely we would all be a lot more considerate / understanding / compassionate / Intelligent.

*Benita, is it because women are so far more intelligent that they would never be something so pitiful? I need your knowledge oh knower of all things feminist (what's your aunty say ;) ? )

Assylum seekers, In and Out

Worldwide Distribution of Refugees (Departure Country)



Worldwide Distribution of Refugees (Destination Country)

USADR CONGOSUDANARMENIATANZANIACHINAPAKISTANIRANGERMANYSERBIA & MONTENEGRO

Wednesday, March 24, 2004

Johnny's Blog

Hmmm the post I lost before was about this site: John Howards Blog.

"Bar Italia", Is that where we had Gelato and Lattè's that day after the "Ferry Incident" (got drenched on the Manly Ferry) .

Brb, got to lodge my BAS (Business Activity Statement)

Was looking at his stats the other day, He's had 500,000 hits (excluding reloads) in half a year.

Hmmm.

Through Australian Eyes – ABC Foreign Correspondents Since the 1930s is an exhibition celebrating the ABC's long and continuing commitment to foreign reporting.

The exhibition brings to life the history of the ABC’s foreign correspondents and bureaux from the 1930s to the present.


I think I might have a look at that before I go to the State Library (oops, I thought it was at Sydney Uni or UNSW, that's what I told Ms. Sato (Jap teacher) when she asked where it was, I'd better find her tomorrow) for my Australia - Japan Relations Essay Contest award ceremony (from the Embassy, presented by the Consulate General from Sydney)

I think I want to be a journalist (world, not local "interest"), or something like that.

Same, I usually just write to you too. I have seen saddle club (3 sisters), but I can't talk now, I have to go to work. SHit! I'm going to be late (need to ride down :( )

Bye

Tuesday, March 23, 2004

I read the first few pages of the Alchemist about a week ago at Amazon. It's pretty good, you should take it off your shelf and get into it.

Monday, March 22, 2004

Wow, long time no blog, Here or There - yours or there - mine.
How are Anne and Corrine coping being up there with you and all the (other) hippies? Has Corrine died her hair rainbow coloured or tie-died anything?, and has Anne attempted to buy any drugged up / technicoloured pets? I liked the photo. My list is .... well I don't really have one, I'd just like to go to a whole range of different places and stay at least for a few years (5 - 10).
I am probably going to Japan this year (After my persistent *lobbying* of Dr. Wenham [school principal] (more like walking in to her office saying "Hi Miss, is there any news about the Japan trip?", (what a great relationship, ) she is nice really, even if I complain sometimes, it's usually a school system / legal / money thing.) .
And then after school (2006) I want to go to Iraq, and then maybe Japan again (6 month Japanese government sponsored exchange program (assisting in english teaching in japanese schools), though I might do a small trip of Europe / Middle east as part of the Iraq trip.