HAVE THE BABY BOOMERS LET US DOWN?

As the baby boomers enter the retirement zone, we have fifteen more years before they all reach 65, we should reflect on their past. I, by the way, was born just a few months before the boom began, but feel part of their world, not that of those born during and just before WWII.

In the fifties and sixties many of us campaigned for civil rights, clean air, fresh food, pristine waterways, honest politicians, no WAR and numerous other important causes. Today generation X & Y and younger are campaigning for similar ideals. They are living in a world that has improved civil rights in some countries; access to organic food in many forms; restricted war fare; with varying amounts of clean air & waterways depending where you are located; and pressure from a population explosion that is consuming resources at a faster rate than ever.

There are only a few political leaders to admire, you can choose your own. We spend much more time and effort admiring personalities who flash across our assorted media screens and outlets than we do improving our lives and those around us.

Yes the baby boomers have let us down, but sadly the X & Y and those who follow will also be distracted by life and let us down. Slowly every generation does improve on the work of the previous lot. At the moment it may take all generations to improve on every level if the human race is to thrive and proper.

IS THIS THE END OF THE WORLD ?

Everyday we hear conflicting information about climate change. Floods, fire, winds, are these extremes really new? Are we collectively suffering from memory loss? Do we have enough information to view seasonal change with clear vision. At this moment I am shivering in a shed, it is windy and wet and very cold outside. We need all three of these elements, it is the middle of Winter in the Southern hemisphere. Some years it is Spring like in July, just a week ago we had a record warm day for June. Keep in mind we have only kept continuous records for slightly over 150 years. I have thirty plus years of temp and rain figures for my small plot. In the last decade we have applied computer power to these old records and daily inputs to map the past and the future. The world is millions of years old, mankind maybe at record numbers and creating huge demands, but volcanoes and storms have raged since the dawn of time. Don't think I am against reducing our footprint while we are here. But maybe we should stop having a collective hysteria and get on with improving the world and leaving it a little bit better than when we arrived.

ALIVE & WELL

After a very long break I am pleased to be Alive & well, just in case anyone was interested. Someone in Sweden wanted the blog site, sorry, but I think I will hold onto it. I am sure you are cleaver enough to come up with your own name. Look forward to visiting Sweden, I drive a Saab Griffen, a great fun car.

Winter is around the corner, but we have had no fall rain. This is even worse than last year and makes looking after cattle a real challenge. Had a great Summer crop of fruit and veg, with over eighty large cobs of corn frozen or given away to friends. This should see us through this year and if necessary, next as well. Takes a lot of water for good corn production. The baby bulls loved cleaning up the stalks and poor ears.

Starting the fall pruning of the orchard and site preparation for next spring. I have given up trying to grow winter veg, it is just too cold.

I had solar power installed in February, just a six panel system. Our purchase of power has dropped from 12.5kw per day to under 7 with apprx. 1kw per day sold back into the system. Two years ago our consumption was 45kw per day. By changing over our old low energy lights to the newer type and replacing a few left over incandescent bulbs, plus removing the oil column heaters and using the pot belly stove more, we have made the savings. This will equate to a dollar savings of $1,500 per year, at that rate we pay for the solar cells in three years.

Thanks for reading, drop a line if you have a positive comment, no spam please, Cobaw

MORE THAN ONE LOSS

Have you ever lost your drivers license for a driving offense? I have not so far, knock on wood, but a close friend has, recently.

If you are required to return your drivers license to the local authorities you loose more than the rights to drive.

Without this valuable form of identification, and if you do not have a passport, you will be unable to fly, anywhere. You need visual identification to board a plane; if you are a youth who looks under eighteen, you will be unable to enter a disco/night spot; and there are hundreds of other times when you need to have visual ID.

JUST ABOUT TIME!

It is just about time for Johnnie and his team of merry men to go on their annual winter hols. Today being the shortest day of the year. They can while away the Winters dark planning all the fun they will have with their control of both houses of parliament from July.
There might be a surprise or two when they start submitting their "wonderful" legislation. Some of the back benchers just might have their own opinions on new laws. They just might like to have some additional favors for themselves and their electors.
We might be heading into the biggest period of unstable government since the Whitlam era. This time it will be the libs fighting amongst themselves.
Congratulations to the Claire Martin team in NT, well done. Maybe the federal labour party can learn something from their team effort. I hope so.

OH WHAT A SURPRISE, TONY!

Well surprise, surprise, he is not YOUR SON, thank goodness. The poor lad was speechless and went to hide in England to get over the shock that you were his father. The forces of GOOD work in mysterious ways. Let's hope you have learnt a lesson from this matter, I doubt it!

The other children of the mother have a great deal to come to grips with, let's hope the family structure is strong and does not break down.

WHEN JOHNNY CAME MARCHING HOME!!!!

March, March, March, more men and women to Iraq on the orders of little general John, or should I say Captain Mainwering. When will we be able to believe anything that our government says, everything is a shade of grey or black. It was core and non-core promises, now it is just outright lies, time and time again.

People get the governments they deserve, if this is so, then we are being punished for our personal greed and lack of commitment. Wake up Australia, having made the mistake of giving the lib-nats control of both houses, we need to make our feelings known.

Public protests, letters to the editors, blog sites, talk back radio, every avenue must be pursued to let the clowns in Canberra, that we are "NOT happy JAN"!