Photo: thanks Greg, this is where the last week in January was spent, Currarong, under the Aussie sun, body surfing and enjoying prawns!

Reading theology after a morning at the beach can create a rather somnolent state. This massive tome by Robert Alter, The Five Books of Moses has interesting commentary for all those whose tastes in linguistics, history, scripture, anthropology and cultural mores require ongoing sating. hattip artappraiser for pointing me towards book; thanks again to Greg for the photo!

Happy New Year to all, this another great sticker, pleasing to the eye, folk art sent from a friend in Centralia. Washington.

Boxing Day Down Under

WHY am I holding a girt big rock?

Because I stubbed my toe next to my little toe on my right foot on it. Not being one to live and let live I picked up the rock, caught in the act by bros in law {thanks Greg} and in a satisfying expression of revenge I threw said rock away from its original location in the Cotter river, east of Canberra, to a new location.

Hopefully not disturbing any creatures that live under rocks. As you can see recent rain has made the river muddy but on a hot summers day it sure is nice to get wet!

Several hours later my toe is purple and painful.

Maybe the quote of 2004:
This is a nation which has been tested in adversity, which has survived physical destruction and catastrophic loss of life. I do not underestimate the ability of fanatical groups of terrorists to kill and destroy, but they do not threaten the life of the nation. Whether we would survive Hitler hung in the balance, but there is no doubt that we shall survive Al-Qaeda. The Spanish people have not said that what happened in Madrid, hideous crime as it was, threatened the life of their nation. Their legendary pride would not allow it. Terrorist violence, serious as it is, does not threaten our institutions of government or our existence as a civil community….

[S]uch a power in any form is not compatible with our constitution. The real threat to the life of the nation, in the sense of a people living in accordance with its traditional laws and political values, comes not from terrorism but from laws such as these. That is the true measure of what terrorism may achieve. It is for Parliament to decide whether to give the terrorists such a victory.
Lord Hoffman.

from the Lord Laws Report on detention of suspects in the 'war' on terror.

From Informed Comment Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Juan Cole writes:
Intimidation by Israeli-Linked Organization Aimed at US Academic
MEMRI tries a SLAPP

I just checked my campus mail and found a letter in it from Colonel Yigal Carmon, late of Israeli military intelligence, now an official at the Middle East Media Research Organization, or MEMRI. He threatened me with a lawsuit over blog comments I made here at Informed Comment, reprinted at anti-war.com. This technique of the SLAPP or Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation had already been pioneered by polluting industries against environmental activists, and now the pro-Likud lobby in the US has apparently decided to try it out against people like me.

UPDATE: Juan Cole (rights) writes: Many thanks to all the readers who have written in response to my posting about the attempt of the Israel-linked MEMRI "translation service" to intimidate me with the threat of a lawsuit. continues here .

I may live down under but i still take note of things like this:
Saving Private Ryan banned on US TV Stations! How much will they need to be paid to broadcast Passion of the Christ? Interesting times indeed: 'Tis a premature emasculation devoutly to be wished. From my favorite femme fatale blogger aynclouter!!! you rule girl. Consider yourself blogrolled!

So we have survived elections and eclipses.
The world shudders or is that twitches, and following that tic continues on its merry way.

Little thought provoking stuff in the blogosphere, autopsies remain stilted or anguised.

Some sense that the US has become a nation divided between the prosperity protestants and the despairing democrats. I think the truth is somewhere else, life is satisfactory for the masses and 51% chose the status quo.

Some think that the liberals are all at sea in the US and cannot come to grips for the unity call espoused by Kerry. More like we all live in a yellow submarine. And you can google that if you cannot remember the lyrics. If you are a liberal - you probably cannot!

So 49 days to Christmas - starvation, war, injustice, discrimination and the whole human mess continue to stalk the planet. Thank goodness for Jesus! Not the blessings and security Jesus but the Jesus who challenges the status quo, mixes with the tax-collectors and prostitutes and calls us to ask 'what is truth'.

Change is a constant, come and hear the birds sing!
The newness of the electronic medium means that social mores and behavioural norms are still being discovered.
Well meaning and good-intentioned people make mistakes...
However some rise beyond their errors and manage to maintain an ongoing persona...
Anniversary congratulations to the libguy!

In your honor the The Agitprop Sub-Commissar for the Antagonist Soviet will play "The lament of the cherokee reservation Indian" and" Dawn of correction", and finish up with Mr President by the Strangers.

I cannot seem to find that one - the pro-Nixon forces obviously have begun the internet purge! The ultra-conservative radio stations banned it in 1970 succesfully it appears.

Well, how about Don't it make you wanna go home? instead!

Occasionally the media manages to produce something that is head and shoulders above the normal mish mash and entertainment for the masses.

This is important

SORRY! but I have been called a weirdo for the last time.

You don't know me, and I am not one of your little toys.
So don't tell me what to do, don't tell me what to say.
And most of all don't run sean-paul down.

I aint feeding your sicko mind any more.

To all my friends, thanks for your support it's been wild.

See you at the other place.

flowers in my hair flowers everywhere:

another day another brilliant blogsite thanks to rook

It's my life and I can do what I want! Sometimes I do!

another shot, this sticker was made by an agonist friend from the USA. Unique handmade things are so cool. Just like the readers of this blog - all unique, all handmade. You are all cool.

This is a neat sticker adorning my CPU. Tilt your head to the right to see how I look at it, tilt your head to the left to see it from the perspective of the northern hemisphere. upside down sticker posted sideways. See it is good to think outside the square.

Smoke rises from outside the Australian embassy September 9th,2004

May our prayers rise for victims of terrorism - including family and friends,
May hatred of fellow human beings never, ever take root in our hearts.
September 11th, 2004

It was meant to be the day that Paula Radcliffe was crowned Olympic marathon champion, elevating her to the pantheon of British sporting immortals. It was not supposed to end with her slumped on an Athens pavement, crying bitter tears of pain and frustration. want to know more?

A decorated member of the New Hampshire Air National Guard after returning home from Iraq appeared hopeful and upbeat during an interview soon after his arrival in the United States. "It feels fantastic. It’s hard to explain it, it feels so good. I’m just going to take today slow, wake up tomorrow, and see what it’s like to be back in a normal place." A day later Dave was dead from a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

pathos and pain, post-traumatic stress and the rest of us keep praying...

Has Church discipline and rubrical observance gone to far?

'Church Says Girl's Communion Not Valid' BRIELLE, N.J. - An 8-year-old girl who suffers from a rare digestive disorder and cannot eat wheat has had her first Holy Communion declared invalid because the wafer contained no wheat, violating Roman Catholic doctrine.

In Australia, this coeliac problem is creating some havoc for the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia. The Society had been manufacturing gluten free hosts for years but now has changed to conform with the latest Vatican directives. Online Catholics article 'valid hosts could make you sick' and read more here, which links to this recent article in the THE AGE - "Assurance on communion wafers from Liturgical Commission head Fr Peter Williams of the National Liturgical Commission has given an assurance that the Church is determined to avoid causing alarm to communicant Catholics whose health is threatened by communion wafers containing gluten.'

Info-on-wheels
This mobile Internet PC is a welcome addition to the remote village of Bithoor in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It provides high-speed wireless internet access to Bithoor and five other villages as part of Project Info-cart, which aims to use technology to improve education, healthcare and access to agricultural information in India's villages. -- AP

T H O R P E - homage to the most succesful Aussie Olympian!

FREESTYLE THRILLER Ian Thorpe took his second gold of the Games in the 200m freestyle final - setting a new Olympic record on his way to victory.

The Australian phenomenon put Phelps in his place, as the 19-year-old could finish only third behind Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband, the defending champion.

This was supposed to be the clash of the titans, the king of the Sydney Olympics Thorpe taking on young pretender Phelps who came to Athens bidding to win eight gold medals.

In fact it was van den Hoogenband who made the early running, leading at the turn for the final 50 metres.

However, Thorpe stepped up a gear and powered ahead to touch home first, punching the air in triumph and brandishing a massive grin which was in contrast to the tears he shed two nights ago in relief at retaining his 400m freestyle crown.

Thorpe's winning time was 1:44.71, which was 0.65 of a second outside his own world record but 0.64 of a second inside the previous Olympic record which had been held by van den Hoogenband.

My bed and sleep were more important than getting up at 2.00am to watch the race, but still great to wake at 7.00am and hear the exciting news

abc.au reports
Hong Kong has highest abortion rate in developed world: Hong Kong has the highest abortion rate in the developed world with almost a third of all pregnancies terminated, according to a media report citing official figures.

But officials warned however that the figure could be much higher as the data does not take into account illegal abortions carried out over the border in mainland China.

Hong Kong's hospitals carried out 20,235 abortions in 2001, the latest figures available, the South China Morning Post reported, citing Government data.

With 49,144 live births that year, the termination rate was 29.2 per cent.

Officials were not immediately available to confirm the report.

The data placed Hong Kong at the top of the world abortion ladder, ahead of the United States at 24.4 per cent, Canada at 24.3 per cent and Australia at 23.7 per cent, the report said.

Medical experts quoted by the report blamed the high rate on poor sex education in the southern Chinese territory's schools but warned that the stigma of abortion forced many women to seek illegal terminations in China's neighbouring Guangdong province.

"Some of the girls are so confused, worried and frustrated and the first thing that comes to their mind is abortion," Suvan Law Sui-wan, counsellor at teenage pregnancy support group Mother's Choice told the paper.

"They think it is safe, quick and effective. In Chinese culture it's shameful to be unmarried and pregnant."

--AFP