Kevin's Watch

Peter, the point is not that it's not worth doing anything. It's that trying to change it at an individual level doesn't affect much, and the thing to do if you want to actually do anything about it is to agitate for change on a political level.

Fair comment Murrin. Like most people on this subject I have trouble seeing the wood for the trees. I was thinking about that lass Greta the other day and hoping that she doesn't pay too high a price for the work she has been put to. Seems to me that a girl of her age should be thinking of maybe other stuff - having fun with her friends kind of stuff - rather than shouldering a burden the size of which (when I think it it anyway) represents a serious danger of overwhelming one. Time for me to let it rest for a bit I think for this very reason!

Actually that young girl is truly amazing .. and the strength of her passion is so very admirable. I fear for her disappointment. Yet Greta IS lobbying for change at the governmental level and its a hard government that can dismiss her impact.

She has a considerable and global force behind her. Her voice is indeed being carried across the oceans. The global climate protests coordinated over the past months is accredited to her voice.

Educators have mobilised students from their classrooms to join in lobbying governments.

You are such a dear soul Peter. I highly value your inquisitive mind and your questing for understanding.

You my friend do as you feel you can .. this will have its reward in the ever cycling personal worth and improvement feedback loop.

We all make the choices we feel most appropriate and achievable. Live your life to the full .. whatever that means for you. Rejoice in the truly important stuff .. your family .. your pets .. your friends and wherever and in whatever you find joy.

Assuming none of those things are illicit exploits

Chin up mate .. we are all on the clock, dont waste the time you have on worry and regret.

Oh and yes I wouldnt personally regard the US administration or POTUS as the benchmark re climate change.

And yes outright deniers I think are in the same canoe as flat earthers. They each have a paddle and the canoe is heading in a sorta semi discernible direction only known to them.

Hope you guys are all keeping well. I have been busy, for the most part, which is good.
My best mates brother - whose family I love - lost his son, killed in a car crash. It hurt.
Anyway, we all make comebacks,.... or we should I hope.

I think Israel Folau needs a slap. . . . But persecution? I dunno about that.

Love.

Thinking about compromise

Thinking about the weekend.

--A

Went out for a walk in the beautiful sunshine we had yesterday and came across an odd thing. A remote lodge house, on the edge of a large country house where someone had placed dolls of every age, shape and description in every window, upstairs and down. Against the dark, becurtained interior of the house and despite the sunny external conditions, the impression lent by the scene was slightly strange and entirely conducive of spinning the web of a good short thriller. What were those dolls, how had they come there? If I had knocked on that door to investigate further would I, today, be one of those dolls?

Sounds creepy.

--A

It's probably more effective than an alarm system.

Hmm, maybe there's a business opportunity in there somewhere.

Nah, it's the shock value. Relies on rarity.

--A

The Sunday Times Rich List has been published annually for many years now and this Sunday made it's usual appearance to be followed by the same usual cacophony of outrage at the inequality of life, the universe and everything else incidental to it. Screams for them to cough up their taxes, followed by declarations of intent to leave or place their wealth offshore where it would be safe from that worst of monstrous twists of fate, a Corbyn government, bounced back and forth like balls on a squash court. In truth it's all very dull and I don't know why the paper insists on doing it. There is nothing wrong with people being successful and reaping the rewards thereof - the country is dependent upon the kind of innovative thinking and industry that many of these individuals have shown. Equally, if you want to threaten to upsticks to the luxury prison of Monaco in order to avoid paying your proportionate dues to the country of your residence then good luck to you. Actually luck is exactly what you'll need because I'm guessing you'll pay more to the famous casino than you ever would to good old Blighty. I was bored shirtless (predictive text alteration there, but oddly appropriate ) by about 90 minutes after my arrival so God knows what 30 years in the place would be like.

No, I think it's time the Sunday Times put this old chestnut to bed. At worst it's a deliberate attempt to incite envy and anger amongst the populace, in the middle it's simply a way of thumbing a nose at those ninety nine point nine recurring percent of us who didn't make it up the greasy pole and at best it's simply a lazy way of upping sales by feeding public interest great gobs of irrelevant prurient meat. Perhaps though it's also turning the other way and saying to the fortunate 200 "Carry on, do your thing, but always remember - we are watching you."

Hmmmm.......

A lady came into work today and asked me if we stocked the popular anti-diahorreal medication Immodium. I replied that we did saying it was in the middle aisle with the medicines. My work mate, more familiar with this section than I am, called across "On the bottom shelf."

Kizza wrote:Hope you guys are all keeping well. I have been busy, for the most part, which is good.
My best mates brother - whose family I love - lost his son, killed in a car crash. It hurt.
Anyway, we all make comebacks,.... or we should I hope.

I think Israel Folau needs a slap. . . . But persecution? I dunno about that.

Love.

Sooo great to see you Kizza And so sorry to hear about that news. Thats tough. Hope you all pull through ok.

As to Folau .. I think he got what he brought on himself tbh. He breached the terms of his contract and contract law is pretty black and white.

He had numerous slaps on the wrist re earlier inappropriateness. But he chose to be a champion for god and tell people theyre going to hell.

Which fact I dont believe is determined IN the bible at all. Its selective interpretation as always.

We are here if you need a shoulder dude.

Pete

Ten people have died on the upper slopes of Mt Everest this season, seven in the last week. I am fortunate enough to have been to the base camp in Tibet and while there was guided by a Sherpa who had previously been employed as a climbing guide cum assistant in the very lucrative world of climbing tourism. He was insouciant about the whole thing. To the Tibetan people themselves it made no sense, he told me. "Why do you westerners want to go up there," he asked. "There's nothing up there!"

Seeing the bright smiling face of yet another young man in his goggles and climbing hat, who yesterday died minutes after reaching the summit of the mountain, I'm beginning to understand where he was coming from.

The mountain always wins.

The picture of the traffic jam of climbers was just baffling to me. I don't understand the appeal. At all. Paying thousands of dollars to be stuck in a queue in a climate that can kill you.

Been like that for years already. It's the cachet. Not to mention that if you want to prove you're a real climber, the seven summits is de rigueur.

Funnily enough, it's estimated that more people might die climbing Kilimanjaro, (a mountain you can almost walk to the top of) every year than Everest.

Of course, that's because you can practically walk to the top...more people climb it, and the relative ease makes more people careless and allows more questionable operators to take people up.

--A

I agree Sorus .. not appealing to me either.

But if youre a serious climber it is a milestone to achieve.

Thing is, it's become a milestone for people who are not serious climbers as well.

Some of the survivors are calling for the Nepalese government to restrict permits to serious climbers only.

(This year, a record number of permits was issued.)

Thing is, at $11,000 a pop, not to mention all the ancillary stuff, (travel, accommodation, etc. etc.) it's a big earner for a government that is otherwise pretty poor.

So not sure we'll see that.

Also, part of the point of climbing it is that you might die...

--A