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Stand up for what I believe in... take action on what I don't.
I've learned that even the silliest sounding things that intelligent people would assume would be squashed in the early stages have become sactioned or are being seriously considered by governments/laws. Some of the dumber ones include: total ownership of a countries water supply (yes, including rain water); Patenting of DNA - once a no-no, now common practice; corporations being recognised/having the same rights [as] people; trademarking/ownership of common words and colours... I've come to the conclusion that it's probably best to write a letter lobbying governments or to take action in some other way and risk looking totally stupid rather than to assume these dumb ideas won't become law and say or do nothing.
Things I'm for (at a macro level) include: support of local markets/stores (even if I have to pay a bit more) and/or putting pressure on supermarkets to stock local produce and products; people learning how to think and research rather than learning how to regurgitate; having a referendum on major economy/power/human rights affecting agreements and acts; more people taking action rather than just whining to their mates - whether it be a letter or something bigger; more people all over the world at least taking a look at some of their own foreign policy, if not that of other countries as well (Australia's Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade); people taking time to learn a bit about the differences in others rather than metaphorically screaming Ewwwwwwwwwwww... brushing the 'thing' off their shoulder and then killing it because it's different/scary/they don't get it.
Things I'm anti on (at a macro level) include: The Free Trade Agreement, Coles and Woolworth efforts to help create monopolies, Digital Millenium Act (or whatever it might get called in Oz - it's part and parcel of the Free Trade Agreement - read 'legalisation of censorship' which will bring about loss of freedom of speech for Americans and even though Australian's do not actually have any such thing as a Freedom of Speech Act even though as a nation, we are reasonably free with our opionions, we'll be silenced too - with the threat of legal action); large corporations having far too many rights for far to long; The Trademark Dilution Revision Act (TDRA, HR 683) - currently only US... but I'm sure we'll be affected; our goverments helping create a racist attitude with their fear mongering and campaigns to spy on others and fear foreigners - I'm sure there's more constructive education campaigns; a world that puts corporation rights on par (or above, coz they have more money and money *is* power) to individuals; DNA patents... Actually, there's lots of stuff. If I spent all day reading I'd still wouldn't have enough time to keep up-to-date on all the things I find important.
Take a risk and voice my views... even if I don't yet know everything. People may disagree with me but in doing so they'll also share their knowlege and may help me understand the other side of the story or help fill some of the gaps in my understanding of the issue.
So every now and then on a day deemed as vegie burger day, we call up our local supplier and organise vegie burgers for 12:30pm. We then consume these burgers while sitting around the coffee table in the reception area of our office and talk about life, the universe, and of course, everything.
Today's topics were Carrot girl, Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. (I think I've found religion! I *really* want to stand on some street corner and hand out brochures for fun... if people decline I can yell out, 'The Flying Spaghetti Monster Loves you anyway, may He touch you with his noodly appendage', I could then perhaps add a piratey 'Arrrr-Arrrrr' at the end... just for affect. And, finally (well, final in terms of the More Exciting Topics), The Blue Senator. These topics enraptured me, obviously, as I wasted no time getting links to these subjects on the friendly spam page - which is the grudknows.com home of all sorts of information, games and humour that come my way.
October 2005
A friend bought some flowers on a whim. Said friend popped into post office and decided that if the person behind the counter asked, 'Are they for me?' (as people often do when there's gifts and flowers and wine and such in sight) that they could have them. Postal worker didn't ask... and so I ended up with *even* more beautiful flowers. Wheeeeeeeeee!
- September 2005
So this morning, walking down the mall, I hear a man and his kids talking, he's busy telling them that good things come to those that wait. Over the years, I've pretty much found this to be a rare and unusual thing and have noted that good things come more often to those who get out there and ask for them/take action.
- September 2005
An odd or fanciful idea; a whim.
A quaint or fanciful quality: stories full of whimsy.
(Shrugs. I just like the word... ok? There should be more of i in our lives. Whimsey, that is.)
I know they are men. That look like the beatles.
- anon.
