Tag: social conscious

Public Funds Run Dry at Thagoona.

Engineering Failure or A Failed PR exercise ?

From experience, sometimes hard experience, you can’t test a water mitigation project until it goes under pressure in severe conditions.

In May and November this year we’re the testing times for The Great Thagoona Wall and as expected it failed in every aspect.

After over 500 mm of rain in two events it never managed to shift or run more than a conservative foot of water in the trench ,not enough to bend the grass.

This amazing exercise is something out of a Monty Python script where a project starts at the lowest point of the land, moves towards the source O’Sheas Gully of previous flooding , but runs out of funds and stops short of Thagoona Haigslea Road connecting to nothing and at a cost of 22 million dollars of public money granted and managed fully by the former council.

Yes great public PR was had by the elected officials but absolutely nothing achieved in preventing water going through the homes on the Thagoona Haigslea residents except a small drain clean out.

Bridges were built, thousands of meters of soil brought in to make the wall while the existing spoil was used to make some sort of a Helecopter pad to walk on in Caledonian Park.

Just imagine with that 22million would if some mitigation was done in the local spills, now breeding grounds for scotch grey 747 mosquitoes.

How about starting at the source and moving downstream and taking away the flow serviced by a ordinary spill as on the other side of the road.?

No way, my prediction is the logic is wait for the developer’s to start and make it their responsibility and hope the 50 year event does not happen until then.

Either way is public money used to what it has been granted to the people who need it in normal times , especially in times of changing and more severe weather conditions?.

I say NO. And to be brutally honest , my association with engineers has never been cordial as such but I’m sure no engineer would put his name to this “fuck up” willingly and some political influence had to be factored in.

Either way I have written to the current Mayor and spoke to our Two Councillors along with some Hi Vis clipboards on site who tried to fabricate the inexplainable.

The end game is quite simple, some one should be held accountable for the jobs failure, engineeringly or politically, either way the misuse of public moneys is reprehensible.

Photos Below reveal the stark truth of the infrastructure failure.

Existing Flows on Girral Road
Upstream View Spill Drain

Upstream The 22million Dollar Great Wall same time as Above
Downstream of the Wall

America Fails Female Equality Test. L.F.G.

While biding time pre the Matilda v USA Women match we decided to watch a documentary called L.F.G. On the claim for equal pay for American World Champions.

Let’s be totally upfront here, I’m not a America fan, probably instilled by my forefathers view on their involvement in both world wars and their performances since, BUT after seeing this film my opinion of their culture has sunk to a all time low.

The Matilda’s had to fight hard to achieve parity in and as a former trade unionist I wholly appreciate any battle for equality and in sure the majority of Australian people agree, however I never thought women could be regarded as inferior in not only skills but in their physical and mental makeup and that argument used in American court of law.

For that to happen and tolerated their has to be some flaw in not the female anatomy but the entire system of which these people live by and accepted as “normal and acceptable”.

No doubt it’s a total misogynistic system which only exists is for monetary gain which is the Great American Dream of individual capitalism till you reach a level of corporate capitalism and everything else, ethics and compassion, is collateral damage.

This example of the simple rights of a group of women who have outperformed their male counterparts at every single level of the sport yet get about a third reimbursement if their lucky, while the men are flat out finding their way out of the dressing sheds come the big gig ,World Cup time.

It sickens me and my wife that the men all men who are involved in sport can think this is “normal” in America and not have the guts to stand up.

What a pathetic race! “Big toys and little balls,thats the yanks”, was the saying and nothing has changed since 40’s apparently.

I understand the Law system is peculiar to America, yep I understand that. Where child marriage is still tolerated and practiced and accepted as normal says a lot for that system where you can justify anything as long as you have money to buy the outcome you desire without any boundaries or decency or human rights.

Where a political and human rights system has not evolved since settlement so as not to upset the wealthy and corporate moguls and none on either side of the isle having the guts to change even though their society is burning down around them.

So what chance has these strong women got for what is regarded as normal in any civilised society? My guess little without international pressure.

International pressure that would see their federations sanctioned by FIFA nations, cutting their subsidies, releasing their female players from international restraints on who they represent and USA citizenship no longer a currency in a players right to earn a living and right of recall.

We cannot as a football family allow inequality and when it’s exposed it must be acted on. We cannot allow the current thousands of young girls who are as passionate as us be treated as inferior in that environment and we all can play a part by boycotting the companies that support the managements that fail in their duty and support equality in the Women’s Game all over the world, not only America.

The game is bigger that the men with the small balls,and the fathers who accept their youngster is inferior in any way and do absolutely nothing.

LFG means (Let’s Fucken GO!)

The Pox of The Straw Man

Waking this morning to hear the news of people on the streets allegedly protesting against government trying to keep them and fellow citizens alive by lockdown would be understandable in America where the IQ level is not not a premium and demonstrated daily, but it seems that dumb down intellect has spread to Australia.

The habits of a failed nation where ethics, laws, elected officials, culture, religion is governed by the capitalist dollar where you crawl over your anybody or anything to gain money and be regarded as “A Businessman” and that justifies the code of the End always justifies the Means.

That type of culture is infiltrating Australians, and I fully agree with ones right to protest, I am not stupid enough to realise this gullible group is being infiltrated by the Right wing crackpots with sinister agendas.

And Yes I’ve been on the streets, marched and protested in my youth but were wise enough to know when the Nazis or Facists tried to infiltrate our ranks. Todays mature adults in “age”are totally street dumb, politically naive, easily led after all to them if you can’t get a haircut or a latte your deprived of freedom. Self centred, all about me, culture of image is exposed with little thought of the broader picture of how our nation has grown. Unlike America we have cultures of our fellow man, our health system is a classic example, which again the Americans do not have the intellect to consume, or our once welcoming attitudes of migrants, tainted by the present government granted, but that culture still is alive in our majority.

I witnessed first hand kids with polio, in my class and we cared. We got vaccinated, I saw kids and mothers grief with results of German measles and my mother had dypyheria so yes don’t crap me with your “Freedom Shit” lingo because if we did not get vaccinated those protesters would never have evolved. Fact.

It was the “responsible thing to do” yes responsible, a feeling that is normal in our culture now we have a sector that feel does not apply to them. Their special, maybe elite even who knows so just imagine having one in the trenches and could you rely on their support?

You’d be foolish or have grave doubts at least.

We have a Prime Minister who is gutless, a liar, a imposter on our democratic history who sees political advantage in courting the nut jobs, and I’m sure will be supported by the politically naive, the dumb down lot who just take passing interest , a condition the savvy politicians love as they only have to perform around elections. Der, then we have the other so called “Independent” people like Palmer and my local village idiot, the “political harlot” Hanson who will say anything do anything for self survival, who could be President in America with her ethical base, no problems there.

Oh yes how could I forget about the Conspiracy theorists who thrive on the illiterate, the uneducated the one who will seize on anything or anybody, looking fr the big Boogy man if you support us well keep you safe, here buy this hat, and don’t leave your state or you’ll fall off the edge of the earth.

Once a script for Monty Python now are actually living the role of the ridiculous with their silly hats, Spanish Inquisitions, or taking on movie star roles bringing the days of the rebellions, or cow boy characters waving flags and in costumes with scripted lines out of some spaghetti movie set.

How easy is it to lead a people to do senseless things? No problem , wave a flag in their face, tell them god is on their side, then invent a straw boogie man, give them guns or weapons of scripted word power and let the go out and populated it..

You now have a classic Propaganda Machine like cattle to the crush..

I’m not stupid enough not to know all sides of politics don’t use this strategy, but depending on your democracy type their has to be separation of powers to alleviate dictatorships and active intellectual Oppositions who’s ability to kick government hard without use of violence along with the use of the Forth Estate keeps civil society civil.

We are supposed to have a obligation to each other in Civil Society and the ones who see that are so special they divorce themselves from that obligation should be held out to identification, it’s their choice and it’s our choice to choose if they are fit enough to join our social fabric.

Our Delta Dilemma Sits With LNP’s Elite.

Lets cut to the chase right now and declare Australia would not be in its present dilemma with Delta Covid19 strain if our PM and the NSW Premier did their job and followed proven practice and locked down when it was obvious to the rest of the nation.

The ideological power game is now is a death sentence too many Australians, old and young and is developing into what should be a criminal offence.

Politicians and no different to bosses, they have a duty of care to their constituents and this total crap about waiting the election cycle to justify their actions especially when people are dying now.

These are different times we are told, their words, we have to adjust, their words, well isn’t it time politicians were opened up to legal charges if they fail their duty, My words?

There are last count 700 children in NSW hospitals with covid and no one knows what the after effects of that are, yet the toxic 2 continued to spouse the line that kids were safe to sell their “Keep BUSINESS OPEN IDEOLOGY”

THEY BOTH stated they took advice from Business and Health Professionals to justify fostering the spread, even after knowing that the virus was different to previous strains. Thats criminal.

What is also criminal is the media failing to report, question our investigate all the data including child hospitalisation instead just playing the daily game of scripted pressers tell us the same shit making the average person just turn off.

They have left the field (The Media) and reverted into an echo chamber of the morning brief, repeating exactly the same crap on the hour every hour.

What happened to them holding them to account? Answer : Im too scared because I might not be allowed back into the next presser.

From experience I know lockdowns do cause mental health problems but that pressure can be eased if peoples livleyhoods are guaranteed by governments, and worked with the previous strain with Job Keeper but now we have a more infectious strain and they discontinued, and if they recovered and charged all the billionaires who forged the books last time this time would not be such a issue now.

They won’t because they are the Donors to the LNP cartel.

Yes cartel. I say that because the LNP in no longer a true political entity. It now sanctions cover ups, money laundering, rapists and child mollesters and pedophiles openly, without consequence and that was never tolerated in years gone by as that party did have ethics, and the present party is a disgrace to its forefathers, and their genuine members and supporters.

So, with that all said no wonder the people in NSW are basically our nations Lepers, not of their own doing but lepers non the less all caused by total incompetence of the elite who will just walk away when its politically opportune as they have always done.

You Don’t Hold the Hose. Eh Scotty and Gladys ???

Jelly Back Journalism

Well if the Poms can get one thing right its their Media Scrum. They are pretty relentless in questioning of their leaders but sadly I believe it can be said the quality of the politician in England is not of the highest quality.

Good accountability can only be achieved and maintained a strong media who are fearless in questioning and investigative journalism.

Yes that via the way it WAS, not now. Our media now has descended into what can only be described as protection rackets who cover the arse of who gives them the inside running, be it news or business that in the past would be done by the Marfia.

In Australia Murdock has a monopoly, all blessed by the current government who get their propaganda out guaranteeing their control over Pay Tv and media digital and what’s left of hard copy.

If that’s not fertile ground corruption ill stand naked, and explains the acrid attacks on the public network who honestly tries to deliver a balanced view,

Sadly a “Balanced View” is ridiculed as a lefty socialist when the commercial media is that of the far right that would make Hitler smile.

The classic example is America with the assistance of a imbecile Trump split the already split nation into tribal warfare. Fox and CNN both abandoned true journalism and went to their corners and put on a show about as informative as a Jack and Jill book, but was feasted on by total fuckwitts on both sides.

The damage done is irreparable and before Trump it was a fractured nation racially ,economically and without any social conscious, and that capitalistic inbred culture will eventually destroy their society.

Enough with the Failed State, looking at our media does not take much analysis. Take a look at the wet behind the ears so called reporters fronting our leaders daily and they have about as much talent as my dogs squeaker.

Check out the mobile phones, all with questions texted to them by their bosses back in the office, while every now and then a real war horse pokes up his or her head and fires a ouch, and them who do don’t get asked in fear of having to respond off script.

Playing the game, a serious game that creates or destroys players who make decisions that effects every one of our lives. These mouth peaces in suits are often pay back jobs from the incest culture within the media organisations, and gone are the middle class kids running for anything that will get them into a building let alone a news room, and that flight for culture reflected in their journalistic style on and off air.

They are the real journalists, the ones that are memorable by their stories that shape our nation and shake the cages of the rich and powerful or the urban crook ripping off the granny.

Todays news is like quote “going to a Pizza shop”. You get to select which flavour you like and which truth you feel suits your lifestyle.

I object with passion outlets calling themselves News when its Opinion or more than that Entertainment, and it’s sad how people cannot define the difference out of pure ignorance.

ABC News Breakfast V Sunrise, Radio National V a million shock jocks, stark comparison you may say but answer the question: Do I Have the Intelligence or information to define what is the difference ?” OR do I want to?

If you can’t you should just think, because that what the fake news, conspiracy theorists thrive on and you’re their prey.

Struggle with that? You’re not alone just look at America an entire nation fell for it and it really boils down to a IQ test, cruel but true.

They’ll sell you a car with a free bumper bar, and they bought it hook line and sinker, and still do as we speak.. And that both sides..Dumb Down the population, starve them of news outside their bubble and the population can be manipulated much easier.

Yes I’m opinionated, an observer of human behaviour broadly and a belief we all should help each other up, not crawl over them to get up which puts me in the socialist category I suppose and I’m pretty comfortable in that seat.

Boomer Bag Blues

After I reached the counter of my local grocery store the young girl asked me what was on my rag bag and had a look and it was the younger er versions of 4 State Premiers and one Prime Minister, underlined by QLD Labor.

She seemed hesitant after that to converse and I understood in her role it may have been a “silent moment”.

On leaving the clear park I thought it was sad that it just seeing a piece of rag screen print makes a young person so defensive these days.

I suppose at that age I was a interested enough to be politically aware, probably been on a few protests and listened and understood the political landscape all before my 17th birthday.

I’d been involved in disputes to gain a lunch room, showers, sick pay, compensation, overtime rates, safety shoes, overalls, adequate staging to stand on when working at heights, just to name just a few all now taken as granted by the today’s society.

Many of these “New Age” people have never fought for a thing in their working life, in fact they may have traded off some of those conditions fought with often actual starvation charity from fellow workers in support, knowing well if we won a dispute it would flow on to them.

It would be hypocritical of me to just blame our present society as they had to get their education from some where and that parental history often was ignored as they too rode on the back of the Union gains without loosing a penny.

They just took and often ridiculed the worker who did the hard yards and that is happening today by the majority now living on their Superannuation that was fought for in the branches pressuring the politicians to change living standards, and it really sickens me when people are totally ignorant of industrial history nationally and internationally.

At this point I do not discount one minute those who have chose to work for themselves, the entrepreneur, the person who takes a punt on his/her instinct or being in a family business, it’s tough I know, but that was my choice, my punt and like any punter you have to be prepared to loose too.

The inequality comes is when support is not proportional to the distance from the poverty line, and l now I hear the “socialist “ cries but if looking after the least equiped to survive is a crime then I’m guilty in trumps, and quite proud of it in fact.

The loss of education on how we built our living standard cannot be left to politicians as you will never get a balanced view, my education come from listening to the elders, the ones that saw progress from their pain not only in money but marriages and family ideologies.

They stood up and walked the walk, unlike today where if you went into a fight you have to have reservations on the person in the trench was prepared to hold the line or make a pathetic excuse check his shares or iPhone.

In closing it would be amiss of me not to mention and credit the women that stood by their man, run the house and kids lives as best they could, they gave the men and women on the streets the support and confidence that their fight was a good fight, and if that was to happen today would that character re-emerge?

I live in hope but………excuses come cheap and blame is important strategically.

The Political Gap must be Obvious.

Well I’ve been involved in all sorts of political associations since I was 15, joining the union and becoming active within my realm.

Ive watched my country change governments and PM’s sometimes too quick but that’s history, but now I think we are at the lowest base the man on the street sees politicians and politics.

We’ve had rapes, DV’s, theft, corruption, and really its irrelevant but you really can’t get any lower in Australian politics.

Lying is a daily occurrence and now is accepted as the normal as in America.

Integrity is seen as weak as the battle ground has been dumbed down across all parties.

Thank Christ covid is controllable at this time thankful to the Premiers not the Federal Government, as everything the Federal has failed other than covering up their failures.

We have weak media, with wet behind the ear cadets being dictated to by the politicians PR mafia with the threat of being scolded by the teacher if any hard questions are asked. The accountability police are now little wimps with only a handful of older war horses who cut through the bullshit but struggle to get traction in key reporting times.

We are in trouble with the accountability stakes and if we are not careful we will descend into a banana state like America is now.

So whinging and wining won’t fix it. We have to get the masses to take notice and realise their loosing their freedoms and actually too politically ignorant to know. Himmler would be excited to have this happen naturally.

Our politicians need to get credibility and that won’t happen in parliament or offices, its on the street. Face to face contact, open the old soap boxes of sorts, copping the blasts and shouts from the punters but reestablishing the true grass root culture. Talk to the punters, all punters rich and poor, homeless to the well off, managers and owners to the unionists and non unionists and working poor. This should be fertile ground for the Labor Party but its not. they’ve talked the talk but not walked the walk, and that need to change if we are to achieve change.

To be honest I have 2 Pollys that do hit the ground but need to do more even though they have safe seats but never should be taken for granted, they have been reminded by history.

I guess what is needed we have to make the difference stark, before we go to the polls not just polling day. That starts now and that’s my point, the endorsed need to be on the ground in all seats, highlighting the gap between the people and establishment ideology.

The Greens also ask the questions inside Labor are scared to ask, and that’s not a bad thing, and it hits home runs in the Watermelon factions and Labor need to listen. I truly believe the punters are interested in climate and our environment and any alternative away from the capitalist solutions only should be welcomed.

Base line is we need to have a government where its people are the priority and it that too much to ask?

At 70yo with the Power of Invisibility

Well I am blessed to be able to sit and write this little ditty as a few of my mates have not been so lucky and left the stage.

Over my life I have not stayed inside any bubble for any great length of time in my work life therefor my social experiences have been as expansive yet as my son grew up my “street wise” credentials have expanded even further. That’s not a reflection on him its a reflection on our parental interest never failed him and like all kids he had to make his own way and I think we gave him that freedom. He was not in our bubble but knew where home was to clarify the point.

The reason I started on this is I am so thankful that I was introduced to what the younger set were thinking, and being a baby boomer we thought we knew the ropes and I /we discovered their were different ropes. Times change and we the old farts have to adjust.

Yes ADJUST, learn and let go and learn again.

Many of my age played the too old or don’t want to card and expected the world to feel sorry or adjust to them, be it business practices, technology, travel even basic shopping they played the victim card not realising it was their choice in the majority of cases so as time progressed that victim card turned into well get onboard and stop the poor me shit.

Personally I’m a self taught bloke, very fortunate to be involved in the biggest technology shift in the world at the leading edge. Thanks to PMG, Telecom Australia , Telstra i was involved in watching learning and partaking in changing the nations communication systems from open wire to fibre.

That knowledge sits with me today as vivid as it was when it happened as it was just exciting to be part and to grasp the knowledge so you could progress to the next level, be it physically and professionally.

I watched my initial trade Boilermaking progress in equipment, techniques but the 4 pound hammer is still a basic requirement. I left for my good and my family’s future taking a massive wage cut to gain security. The punt worked in so many ways I no regrets.

Then it was the Retail phase where we went into the family business, and lived out of the till. My/our decisions, and that was a necessary step we felt at the time. A great experience I don’t regret but it was a tough teacher.

Throw in cab driving, fruit and vegetable at the markets, car detailing, football coaching semi professional, leaves me I feel with reasonable credentials to in my older phase to look where we are, and where I fit.

It seems the older you get the more invisible you are to the busy or self indulged.

Self indulgement was a blessing we never claimed in my set but it was part of the elite lifestyle we never aspired to join for the fear of loosing real friends. Many tried and never has the breeding, and realised it was a inbred thing as it still is today.

Back to our secret power of invisibility we can talk at gatherings and be ignored, stand in line at the shop and people talk past you, say hello or make eye contact and people turn their head, offer advice and help from actual experience to absolute Fuckwitts and be looked at like a dog turd.

Such is life as older human who should be parked up out of sight out of mind.

No I’m not bitter I’m amazed and question myself strongly if I was that discourteous to my elders.. I question that daily. I often disagreed as I did question, but never ignored out of respect.

We old farts are guilty of our own destiny too as many especially in retirement cannot let go of their past and try to remain in roles of importance after retirement, not to the benefit of the organisation but for self importance and relativity.

All good but comes a time for the good of that organisation you have to stand aside a become a mere mortal.

An autocrats nightmare I know but that attitude does nothing for the elder reputation overall, and dare I suggest successive planning.

What a stupid idea is that… “look at me, I’m a senior citizen and there no-one to take my place”, without thinking its you job in reality to find and train people to do your job for the good of the organisation you represent.

Ego won’t allow that too many.

Yes it happens and happening in your bubble. Just look.

Well I’ve calmed down a bit, taken by blood pressure and I’m good to go. So what about the present me?

After being in positions of captain and presidents of football and golf clubs and being active in a playing only capacity for about 5 years I had to stop because of oxygen, or lack of.

Asbestos is not you friend so of late I’ve been asked if I want to help with the golf club Pennants side and I will do the job as I always have in a business like perspective. Results are a priority then comes the social aspect as it costs the club business to compete even though the players are amateur.

All of my “volunteer” roles have been based on the same princiopal which some find it hard to comprehend. That’s my business brain at work and it has cost me friends as they can’t grasp business outside the kitchen table wanna be professionals who have never moved outside their bubble, but know the power point presentations by heart.

Sister too has moved back into the workforce and I admire anyone regardless of age steps into the unknown and challenges themselves outside their bubble.

Pop that bubble and you will see life outside, but be prepared for some push back from those who have taken you for granted, or scared to move outside theirs, directly and indirectly, and be prepared to be challenged. You have no status other than your clipboard even though you may have a title bestowed.

It’s a test of your Basic skills not the ones you may have acquired in your former career.

In closing for now I was pleasantly surprised when a young person asked me if they could contact me for advice in a new role , so my superpower of invisibility is penatratable to some who actually want to converse to another human in a most unfashionable way face to face. Let’s see if that eventuates..

Bye for now, and if I’m still up i’ll be back oxygen permitting..

We’re Holding our Breath.

Well it happened ,cost millions, but it was a point that needed to be made.

The Orange Man Cowardly run away to the relief of any more illiterate waffling of a spoilt child loosing his favourite daily toy for that day given to him by his mummy to keep him quiet.

The new king has taken the castle and cleaning out the cupboard but probably nothing will change much other than the noise level.

Priority one is saving the population from basic extinction from the covid which didn’t seem to be important until now.

Politics was all important than any silly pandemic tearing the world apart and his supporters who followed him, followed his lies and innuendo blindly while all the time he was manipulating them into thinking they were helping the country rid of the evil he himself lives.

A rather psychopath skill used by Hitler and other despots that America will take years to wake up. That’s a challenge for the new king and probably the next.

The media both sides cannot go unchallenged. With real journalism being treated as toxic because it doesn’t fit the government narrative and agree it, is branded as enemy of the state. Toxic bias from both sides spewing the opinion shows pretending to be real journalism with hosts some with do not pass the IQ level of a head lice.

And sadder, people believe them because they too are fed by a monopolies with self interest first. Red ,Blue , no difference within America and that’s how things got out of hand. People lost the ability to think for themselves and that’s exactly what the media moguls want. Group think, setting up their own gestapo groups driving around with flags on Utes similar to the ISIS terrorists armed to the hilt.

What does that project to the rest of the world?

Patriotic image they think, downright facist activity viewed by the world, but that word facist is beyond the understanding of the uneducated participants. The average American links communism with socialism or socialistic initiatives like health care, and other things helping the less fortunate. Again uneducated and ill informed based on scare dividing cultures that know nothing about anything outside their state sometimes neighbourhood. Yep keep feeding them bullshit and show them a flag and they will hand their kids over to the warlords and get a flag back if your lucky and if they come back broken its not your countries concern its you local government to look after them.

Unless of course if they need props for a national event and then they call on all that national pride till after the parade has passed.

Sound familiar? It happens here in Australia and our governments of all breeds have failed them as well but not to the same scale as the Americans because of our health system they think is socialistic.

Ideology again reins over social responsibility.

Well that about enough of this waffle for today but as a observer I cannot go without saying how refreshing it was to see a full as possible press core at the first new kings presser and the freedom of the responses and questioning with respect both ways was my highlight above over all the pomp and ceremony..

I

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