I recall that the first ever vinyl 45rpm single record that I bought was Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze. We have both stood the test of time.

one of my favourite Dylan Thomas poems...the sermon by Rev Eli Jenkins...from Under Milk Wood

Every morning when I wake,
Dear Lord, a little prayer I make,
O please do keep Thy lovely eye
On all poor creatures born to die

And every evening at sun-down
I ask a blessing on the town,
For whether we last the night or no
I’m sure is always touch-and-go.

We are not wholly bad or good
Who live our lives under Milk Wood,
And Thou, I know, wilt be the first
To see our best side, not our worst.

O let us see another day!
Bless us all this night, I pray,
And to the sun we all will bow

And say, good-bye – but just for now!

Cover image of I LOVE YOU PARK

The manuscript I LOVE YOU PARK is finished now after a few years...or maybe 5.

Its my attempt at distilling a day in the life in a bamboo park in China. 
My writing style started off with poems, short, something like haiku but less organised, and this is what I do still prefer.
In this way I LOVE YOU PARK is made up simply of about 40 or 50 sentences...this 'distilling' as I call it is tricky because if you write something and then distil/edit it down to its core idea you can easily get to a point where the tale no longer exists.
I try to write it as if I am always haunting non-existence...just saying enough...and as the vein of it is pretty much existential, this is what I like to do with words. Just say enough.
There is so much written all the time and yet so little of something with a meaning, so I am trying for gentle meaning without too many words.
Colours of green and red in a mist with shapes coming out of that. A piece of carved graffiti saying I Love U etc...quiet stillness at the hub of a bigger more confusing world.
That's what I wish my work to be.
personally, I am experiencing a revival of belief of a kind of Jesus not as a deity so much but as a kind of wise and helpful friend...funny business this Belief Index.

2 quotes from Michel de Montaigne, 1540AD: 1: Marriage, marriage is like a perfect golden cage where half of the beautiful birds inside are trying so hard to get out and half of the beautiful birds outside are trying so hard to get in. 2: Marriage is like going to a market, the only thing free is the entrance.

On Trump: I think that, about ten years ago, something went wrong, world-wide. The GFC occurred and this sudden change in how much money existed in the general flow of life caused repercussions across the globe. The Arab Spring arose around distribution of what money was left available (no one talks about that Arab Spring anymore) and wars were fought, here and there, but mostly there, over that. Then came refugees from those wars. At the same time, there was a shift from nation-states to large cities in terms of available money conduits. So, the major cities grew more powerful and the rural parts of countries became less able to manage. I was living in Bangkok back then and noticed the remarkable shift of wealth and hope from the country itself to the major city. It was easy to see in Thailand because there is only one major city, really, where all is invested and all is most certainly used up. The problems in the UK were not really about foreign refugees etc, or European immigrants, but rather the decrease in money available across the general public areas. Thus Brexit happened. In the USA the result was Trump. In all these upsetting scenarios the root cause was simply some bad decisions made world wide in the early 2000s, and, unfortunately, bad decisions on such a grand scale do lead to uncertainties and the rise of a kind of ‘primal over the cerebral’. I don’t think that people world-wide are any more or less racist or separatist or protectionist naturally, but they simply can’t find anyone else to blame…and nothing has been explained. The problem is that because of the impact of the GFC, no ready answers will be available for another ten years at least. These big adjustments always take at least 20 years... and no one is going to like this.

People note that the world would have been a better place if Hitler had been assassinated...but when you look at the Regime, there in the background ever-ready to take over was the even more evil, and not mad at all, H Himmler. Well worth considering when folk are thinking of a better world with Trump gone...all charismatic folk, whether good or bad, create a large shadow behind them and in those shadows strange characters lurk about. Fortunately Australia doesn't have any charismatic folk in any of the political parties. They are just all shadowy little men and women.

LIFE: Recent Highlights: 1: The Specific: The sneeze. Ever had a mouthful of hot coffee and at the same time sneezed whilst sitting in front of a large iMac computer display? 2: The General: The house. This Melbourne house is lovely although horrifically expensive to rent for the year. Rather than complain about this fact, we are just enjoying the place. The largeness of the rooms and the yards are just great. There is 'living space' or as Hitler would call it 'lebensraum?' I can imagine Hitler setting up the easel on the back verandah and painting a nice picture of the neighbour's house. He wasn't bad at landscapes and townscapes, just not very good at painting people. May well have changed his career trajectory if he'd had a nice backyard and stuck to what he did best.

People often just glance at news about North Korea, the DPRK, thinking that sometime soon the Regime will fall...but this is a very strong and supple regime....and savvy in the ways of the world, for sure, and no one disagrees that this is the 'worst human government on earth'...because it is...well, next to Saudi Arabia...and the Emirates...but they are our friends anyway...and the Emirates makes very nice aeroplane food...but North Korea is remarkably resilient and will survive many US Presidents and UK Prime Ministers, as it has done already...and it sits in the dead centre of the only region on Earth that could bring about a war that involves us all. The whole world 'power tectonics' are right there. The Middle East doesn't matter in this context...Syria, Israel, Iran, whatever...have wars, don't have wars, exist, don't exist, no one cares...they just don't mean enough anymore. The world HAS changed. North Asia is where it is all happening day by day.

Tianshu, who has just given up smoking, just walked through the writing room en route to the veranda. I noted to her that "Passive Smoking is Theft".

Favourite TV show for the last few years has been If You Are The One. You can see it on SBS ON Demand in Australia. It's great!

Kim Jong Nam reported dead in Malaysia

It is still impossible to get accurate information regarding the death at KLIA for a number of reasons, not only to do with the apparent notoriety of the deceased but also due to the way news operates in Malaysia.
If the death was that of Kim Jong Nam, this is significant as it has an impact on the Family echelon of DPRK.
If he was murdered in the way suggested, then this adds an extra dimension.
The Kims, as a family, do suffer from a range of cardio-vascular issues and if Kim Jong Nam died from a heart attack, then this could be expected by genetics and lifestyle; but if murdered, by whom, and why now?
Nam was a high rolling gambler in Macau with understandable links to mainland gambling/criminal Triads, but poisoning him at an international airport in the manner described, with needles and some face spray (?) does seem an odd and unpredictable way of punishment for not paying back money. That doesn't sound 'kosher'.
Murdered by NK agents? Possibly.
Murdered by SK agents? Unlikely. The SK authorities are in too much of a meltdown with the machinations of their troubled PM to be making much trouble elsewhere.
As I noted, Malaysia, especially the PMs office, has no history of actually ever defining the truth in its media releases anyway.
Taking into account this range of factors, I think the mostly cause of death was 'sudden cardiac death' related to lifestyle and genetic predisposition.

In the great scheme of things... there is no great scheme of things...and you can quote me on that....John Fitz.

The 'concept' with my small hardly started book "I Love You Park" is to write a small story about love illustrating the statement "I Love U" engraved into the bamboo in the picture. Very quickly the bamboo grows high up beyond eyesight, and beyond the walls of the park... and it changes with time age and the sun. By the time the bamboo plant reaches its zenith, 'I love U" is still there, but really really up high above us in the park...and looks quite different, and may even be unreadable, due to its natural desire, and its achievement, in growing so very high above us.

I recall when hurtful actions against me, though relatively rare, would engage me for weeks afterwards, but these days, it's hard to go beyond an hour holding a grudge. I'm not really sure if this is due to wisdom or simply a general lack of interest.

Happy Valentine's Day to dear wife Wan Yi who I love and respect, and to dear Tianshu step-daughter who I love and respect. The sunflowers are for this family and all who we are one with, in so many times and places all around the world...as family, kin, kith, friend and kindred, for all of then, for all of now, and for all as time goes by

RACIST SLURS!

CEO Sacked, Factory Closes, Workers Revolting

FITZNEWS@4, 13 February 2017 ROYALS IN HORROR RACIST SEX TRYST WITH LOST HIKERS

Libran Virtues: Libra 1:J: "Well, we have made the small garden now and the bok choi and spring onion seeds should grow a quick easy bright tasty crop before winter. We could dig up some of the yard to plant sunflowers?" Libra 2: "I love sunflowers most of all, too, as you do, but digging-work, no, I don't love them, no, not that much." Libra 1:"Some pots on the veranda outside would grow excellent sunflowers before winter." Libra 2: "Does this involve effort?" Libra 1: "Not at all". Libra 2: "We should certainly do this!" Libra 1: "This is why I suggested this!" Libra 2: "Good plan!" Libra 1: "Good Librans. Beauty without effort. This IS The Way!"

Great Concern from the Australian Government that China is pumping billions of dollars into infrastructure and development into our poor near neighbour and former colony, Papua New Guinea...could Australia have done the same in the last 50 years? Of course! Did it? Nope, nope, Never. Now: We are growing afraid of the neighbours...and they are black!..and Very Black as well, and...China is their friend! How will we control them now?

FAMILY: Father/Step Daughter Cultural Understanding Matrix :Father: "I love you being here!" Step-Daughter: "I just ate your chicken".

Father: I love you being here!
Step-Daughter: I just ate your chicken.

Listening the other night to the guy who owns that giant alibaba internet thing, and him talking about the US economy...he made so much sense. When the silicon valley tech boom arose in America so much money was generated, and so much tax etc...billions of gazillions...but instead of investing that huge amount, or any part of it, in America's mid-west etc to develop industry and infrastructure, and connectivity, to be the catalyst for betterment all round, for bettering each self and the collective...America spent it on very expensive wars for decades, wars that they didn't actually win, and that caused massive hatred towards the USA and the rise of terrorism...which is enormously expensive to fight and still never win. Then when the Wall Street folk did their big profiteering, all the billions of tax generated was...spent on bailing out Wall Street...no infrastructure, no national development etc...and not one public execution! Thus now the USA is in the dill pickle it is in. Just bad decisions, really bad decisions...for many decades. You can't just start making good decisions and have everything work out fine in 2 weeks, it takes decades and the USA is very behind in terms of looking after itself...very many decades now. What did China do for the last 30 years...massive infrastructure, massive development, and never using a penny of the money coming into the country from trade...theyv'e still got that money, most of it in US currency (although they are thinking of selling their US dollar stocks cheap to Russia if the USA tries a trade war). Smart. Good decisions, for decades, no military alliances, no expensive foreign military bases to pay for all the round the world, etc...and... no wars, not one...and not many hateful enemies...

We went to nearby Box Hill last night for Chinese Lantern Festival celebrations and there was quite a big crowd. I loved seeing the dragon dance and seeing, hearing and smelling the firecrackers warding off the ghosts of the past. I love that smell of black powder and cordite in the air...I haven't ever seen this celebration before although have travelled in China a bit, but never during Spring Festival-Lantern Festival time. Yes, the Symbol of China, for good reason, is The Dragon...and now, after all those years/centuries of dispute, of in fighting, introversion, colonisation by the West, all those centuries of isolation, sickness and poverty, and coma...the Dragon is awake, and well...and breathing real fire.

Different appreciations of Life at different ages: Me, at 30: job=career=role=manfulness=opportunity=acquistion=status=meaning. All achieved to a greater or lesser degree over the span... me at 63: job=enough money to responsibly have a cat. yes, yes, still working things out to acquire a little pussy.

Well, hot days in NSW Australia by the look of it...45-48 degrees C...that's about 118 degrees F, which is very hot indeed. In Melbourne, down the road, it is 12 degrees. The problem with NSW Australia countryside being at 118 degreesF is that there is an accompanying hot wind at 70kph/45 mph which means if a small fire starts anywhere no one can stop it. Good Luck NSW. Now, don't go believing in any of that Climate Change stuff...? Global warming?/ No, it is Global Furnace.

The Magic Circle of Anger Explained: man goes to work, boss yells at man because important letter hasn't arrived. man goes home, yells at partner. partner goes outside and yells at child. child gets cranky and kicks dog. dog jumps the fence in rage and bites postman. postman falls off bicycle and important letter goes down drain. man goes to work the next day...

The Magic Circle of Anger Explained...and, no, glucosamine doesn't help.

Australian Senator Corey Bernardi Announces New Conservative Political Party...promises to out-Weiner Weiner

Latest Poll Results: Bill Shorten FITZNEWS@4

NEWSFITZ 2&3 Jerry Hall, Hash for Cleric

In an effort to balance the current World Media Lies and Fake News I've decided to launch my own on-line News Service: NEWSFITZ...or...Real World News: FITZNEWS@4

I see that our brilliant Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, , following on from the 'success' of his plan to ship 2000 Iraqi refugees to the US (oh, yes, it's all still going to happen...) has suggested to China that THEY should take the place of the USA in the planned Trans Pacific Partnership, a quasi American military solution in the guise of a trading agreement, the purpose of which was to nobble China's trade... I can imagine China's response: "So you want us to take over the lead role in destroying our own trade routes in Asia, is that right?" Malcolm: "Well, yes, but but but not on the surface, of course..." China: "Our under sea trade routes in Asia?" Malcolm: "Well, sure, we could start there..."

I recall that just a few years ago you could only rely on established newspapers and broadcasters to supply a diet of fake news, but now anyone can do it

EMERGENCY Cat Summit. I've lined up my Chinese Lucky Good Fortune Cats and given them Motivational Lecture and an ultimatum..."Now, look, I appreciate your work in the past but just lately there seems to be a significant slacking off in terms of bringing in Fortune to the household and this upsets me. I know you have had to make adjustments in this new climate, etc...but I expect more from you. I know you can do better. As an incentive, I can guarantee that should Fortune Input increase in the next 2 weeks, then those of you who need AA batteries to keep performing the waving-hand thing, well, you will get not only new batteries, but good batteries. Now, I'm not talking 'fancy alkaline' batteries, at this stage, but Good batteries none the less. Nothing from the Reject Shop. So, get to it. Let's have another meeting next week."

EMERGENCY Cat Summit. 
I've lined up my Chinese Lucky Good Fortune Cats and given them Motivational Lecture and an ultimatum..."Now, look, I appreciate your work in the past but just lately there seems to be a significant slacking off in terms of bringing in Fortune to the household and this upsets me. I know you have had to make adjustments in this new climate, etc...but I expect more from you. I know you can do better. As an incentive, I can guarantee that should Fortune Input increase in the next 2 weeks, then those of you who need AA batteries to keep performing the waving-hand thing, well, you will get not only new batteries, but good batteries. Now, I'm not talking 'fancy alkaline' batteries, at this stage, but Good batteries none the less. Nothing from the Reject Shop. So, get to it. Let's have another meeting next week."

Buying a TV:Yes, a Sony Smart TV, not too big. Reviews note the picture is good and the sound is okay. Sony itself, as a company, is pretty well cactus now, as are quite a few famous Japanese companies. The good thing about Sony is that the quality is still there. It has to be. Sony is about to be bought out lock stock and barrel by the Chinese company that makes iPhones for Apple in China...and if Sony didn't keep making basically good stuff, then it would just sink without any buyers at all.

I mean, black outs don't happen much anymore, unless you have a cyclone or a big storm, and that doesn't happen often. What a bunch of babies. The best thing to do in a black-out is to do nothing. Maybe light a candle. No point running around like a complaining chook with its head cut off because you'll only most likely trip over on the furniture and graze your chicken feet. Just do nothing for awhile. It is well within our genetic structure to do nothing. Look at Canberra.

step daughter jokingly complained that I couldn't speak Chinese. I said "yes I can! Ni hao, tamada, jaiyo, zaijen, shar bi!" She replied " 'Saying Hello, motherfxxker, good luck, goodbye stupid cxxt'. Doesn't really count." Still, it has helped me through a lot of difficult social situations. I believe I was very clearly understood. Still, it is not a 'one size fits all' statement, to be sure. The only time it ever let me down was going through Customs at Beijing Airport. There was a bit of a delay.I did have to go through a full cavity search but at the time I just put that down to the oriental generosity of strangers.

I don't know why folk get so upset regarding Mr Trump. Well, yes I do, actually, but it is the stated plan as he stated it, and why folk voted for him. His actions have been in accord with his thinking and planning and statements. Yes, there will be some kind of trade war with China, yes, (bad idea) overall he will reduce the number of American military bases in Asia, (good idea)and yes Australia will face some serious consequences regarding allegiances, alliances, and future economics. It is obvious. The Au$ will go up, jobs here will be lost, there will be less money for hospitals, pensions schools etc and there will be some lasting economic distress, and all this is understandable. The global financial crisis of 2008 continues unabated for the next 10 years at least. It has to. These corrections always take that long. It was a BIG correction. The fact that the Australian Govt hasn't any plan or contingency at all just shows how much we have payed these clowns for doing nothing, in fact for not thinking, not planning... for so very long.

Australian Heat:Noting how soft and yet how demanding we Australians have become...the Southern heat wave causing some blackouts across here and there, for a few hours etc, and everyone in a fit as if it shouldn't happen...not to us and not in 2017! Well, you get extreme weather and the systems fail...that's natural. Like a cyclone near Cairns, the power goes out and people fix it as soon a possible but no one really expects things to be perfect as they do here. A preposterous arrogance of the OCD time-driven narcissistic social exactness of the Southern states. A bunch of babies.

At the Louboutin shop in Collins St Melbourne... Hi do you have anything in a men's extra wide size ten synthetic-rubber Croc-type slip-on that can be worn with knee high white poly cotton socks? I'm looking for a particular shade of khaki for the top as I don't wish to have anything ostentatious, but of course with the Louboutin characteristic glossy red sole... Of course, sir, of course. To match one of your organic hemp frocks, perhaps, sir? Our designer, Christian, has been working on the Croc-concept for 20 years...in a hybrid hiking-croc-boot melange-continuum...and I'm sure he has something just right for you...so, if, um, if you'd like to, take a seat, sir, Madeliene will get you an expresso... and I'll just... kick you in the face.

JJ Cale Naturally

Now, onto meaningful things...the size of televisions. Locally, it being Melbourne, I have found a TV Box that can deliver 300 free to air channels of China TV, which is great. Not expensive. $200. Good for family...connects via internet. But the TV itself needs to be some kind of Smart TV. The one we have is a Changhong Chinese brand of about 36 inch, which has been absolutely great in being a faultless TV for 6 years. But it seems there is a need for a TV to be Smart, and bigger. Friends note how great a Sony 70 inch is, or a Samsung 60 inch, but these are far too costly...especially for what you actually see on TV...and I don't see the quality of the shows improving in the next 500 years. Any suggestions? Both Sony (about to be bought out by the Chinese company that makes Apple phones and computers) and Samsung, the Korean monolith, seem to be best. I love advice on these matters as I have no idea. Hisense from China has had both good and bad reports.

An Observation: The problem with pursuing Meaning is that Meaning is always changing faster and moving faster than we can. It is better to simply accept the Dignity of self and others, and of all things, great and small.

I think the sociological difference between Cairns and Melbourne is that Cairns does run on Tropical Time...whereas with Melbourne, if you are going to meet someone at 7pm then you meet them exactly at 7 pm, not 6.50, not 7.10...this seems to be quite a big thing...and you don't change arrangements...this is very important. If you are having a 20 minute meeting, then the meeting lasts exactly 20 minutes. Time is important. After so many years in the Tropics and indeed in Asia, this is a difficult concept to just accept at face value. Sure, sure, time is important, sure, sure, life is important, but neither time nor life are everything.

I think the sociological difference between Cairns and Melbourne is that Cairns does run on Tropical Time...whereas with Melbourne, if you are going to meet someone at 7pm then you meet them exactly at 7 pm, not 6.50, not 7.10...this seems to be quite a big thing...and you don't change arrangements...this is very important. If you are having a 20 minute meeting, then the meeting lasts exactly 20 minutes. Time is important. After so many years in the Tropics and indeed in Asia, this is a difficult concept to just accept at face value. Sure, sure, time is important, sure, sure, life is important, but neither time nor life are everything.

picture of my mum and dad.Dad the calligrapher and financial consultant, and Mum the Sydney Paddington hat designer/milliner, stepping out in Manly, Sydney, some years back. Nice hat Mum, nice proper upright collar Dad. Dad left school at eleven when his Dad died, to work, and thus supported his Mum and his sisters. He wasn't in the Army in WW2...he was going to be but when Germany started bombing England, he began to admire them quite a lot. Anyone who bombed England was no enemy of his. His life held many compromises but he could not swear allegiance to the King of England. He just couldn't do that. He was loyal to Ireland, one truly United Ireland, loyal to the Holy Roman Catholic Church, and loyal to his Family. He didn't drink or smoke. he could speak Latin. He dallied in seminaries with serious studies of becoming a Jesuit priest for some years before he met Mum. After they found each other, they met clandestinely for some time in her Paddington flat. She married him because she loved his hand writing and respected his passion. He established some of the first Credit Unions in Australia to support the financial needs of working class folk, and they have grown into monoliths and juggernauts. Mum's parents were from London, strict CofE, and so neither sets of parents/relatives would attend the wedding, something which hurt them both very deeply. Mum eventually became the president of the Catholic Womens League, which is interesting, because she never became a Catholic. She just never bothered telling them that. She wore low shoes so as not to be taller than him, and so they could both look at the world from the same view point. She had a wonderful sense of humour, an elegant open mind, and a flair for getting things done...and she designed some very nice hats indeed. They did well in the hard world of their time, and loved their sons with two passions combined into one.

Tony Joe white and J.J. Cale LOUVELDA

A picture of my Dad, Bill Fitzpatrick, doing his impersonation of Marlon Brando, whilst smoking a good cigar, in Snow Country, in Australia, decades ago, just about to throw a big chunk of snow at one of his boys.

I note that the Australian Labor Party's Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is "fully behind the Prime Minister" in supporting the deal with Trump. There is something very spooky about having Bill Shorten fully behind you as the previous two Labor Prime Ministers, Rudd & Gillard, found out. No one wants Bill on their '6'. I guess you could say that "I'm fully behind Bill Shorten" and I'm excited about that.

It would be a bit tricky for many Australians to decry Trump's decisions regarding refugees etc in that Australia also is happy to keep breaking the International Convention on Refugees, and it is just that in this case we are begging America to help us to be irresponsible, illegal and unethical, for bizarre political reasons.

Coming from a family of proud military folk, the closest time I ever got to anything Military was when I was asked if I wanted to do officer training in the Australian Airforce. My response...NO. You'd have to be fucking joking. Take orders? Oh, I don't think so. Why the fuck would anyone want to do that? I mean, anyone in their right mind? I am a Fitzpatrick man, and we don't take orders, nor need to ever give them. We are somewhat more evolved than all that. The picture here is that of me wearing an aluminium bowl that was, at the time, the family vomit bowl, as there were many, many kids under parental management etc thus many vomits. My daughter, the remarkable artist, Siobhan Bernadette Fitzpatrick, noted that, when vomiting into the bowl, it had an amazing and dulcet musical echo. There was a whole batch of lovely years lived at and around that time. I loved being a pretty good Dad in the time available. Fly, my minions, fly...

OFFICIAL Somewhere over the Rainbow - Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole

Living in Melbourne After One Month: Overview Melbourne is in Australia, at the South Eastern end of the mainland. It is a city of 4 million people. The climate is temperate and noted as having very changeable weather. Summer days are usually hot, but can be cold. Nights can be warm in the summer months, but also sometimes coolish down to about 12 degreesC...so it has great weather 'flexibility'. Ethnicity The main/obvious ethnic groups seem to be white Anglo-Saxons, Celts, Greeks, Chinese, and some Arabs. Religions are the usual conservative matrix of Anglican/Catholic/Islam and Chinese Christian, which is a bit different. Housing Housing is expensive whether renting or buying. Food Is relatively cheap and fresh and plentiful. Transport Public Transport is very good based upon frequent trains, trams and buses. Where we live We live in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne and are renting. The rent is basically double the rent of anything similar in Cairns, where we come from. In terms of buying a house, well, here, where we are, a simple house of brick, 3 bedrooms, one bathroom, will cost about a million Australian dollars. it will have either a big front or backyard...or at least a goodly amount of out side space. Parks: Big, well looked after parks. Hospitals There is a shit load of hospitals, both public and private Work There is work here in quite a number of industries, and especially in health and service industries Infrastructure In summary: It is a modern medium sized international city with a temperate climate and with all the necessary gear. Access to services is very good. As noted it is the World's Most Liveable City for many good reasons. I am happy we came here.

The Australian Government has painted itself into a corner regarding refugees. They want to send 2500 Iraqi/Syrian and Iranian men women and children to the USA rather than have them settle in Australia. These poor bastards have been on lonely prison islands in New Guinea for years now, and at massive, massive expense to Australia. we can't actually afford to keep them there. As part of the deal with Obama's administration, Australia vetted and made sure and absolutely guaranteed that these folk were really genuine refugees, seeking refuge, and there is no doubt about that at all. that is not in question at all. The question arises: well, as they are real and genuine proven refugees, under international law, then you must accept them. But rather than doing so, Australian Govt wants the USA to take them, fearing a backlash from the Australian electorate...and fearing a hike in new arrival refugees should the present ones get to Australia. The problem with this Fear is that it can't be made into actual Policy or Law...because it is just a Fear, and not based upon any other concern except fear of voter response. The job of governance involves both making clear laws and decisions, and also, very importantly, persuading people. Australia doesn't have anyone in political office with these skills. If the government of Australia has made an absolute failure of persuading Australians as to what is a good thing for all....I don't think they will have much success with persuading Mr Trump. Not fucking likely I would expect.

Noting the expected response from Trump regarding the smart Australian deal to send up to 2500 refugees from prison-islands here to the USA...good folk from Iraq, Iran and Syria... The response was, after meeting with the Australian PM, Malcolm Turnbull, Trump noted 'what a dumb deal! No no no, we're going to take a good look at that.' Thus this is actually the only time in 50-60 years Australia has had a disagreement with the USA as we always do exactly what they want. Even now, we won't say anything negative about Mr Trump...because we are not in any way shape or form an independent nation capable of making independent policy or decisions, or even statements. We are an American Dependency and all of Asia knows this, absolutely and intimately, as does the USA, and the world in general knows this. It is only Australians who don't actually know this. The USA will not solve Australia's refugee dilemma because it is not the USA's dilemma. As Mr Trump noted, the USA has a lot of problems in itself, but it doesn't have other people's problems to solve. We have to solve our own issues properly, ethically and permanently. This is why we employ governments...this is their job. Neither the Government or the Opposition has a clue about how to actually solve this issue that both have blown out of proportion for many years for their own political advantages against each other. Mr Trump was correct: "What a dumb deal!" Click.

the worker poem

The Worker Poem

darkness in the sky
and darkness in the eye
the orbs define themselves
and make of this the lies
but you and i
we make our own content
in mosque or mansion or our tent
driven not by what is said
but made of comfort in our bed
of right and wrong
who gives a fuck
of life's rewards
we have our truck
and so we rest from day to day
the jokers think we need the pay
but we will ruin them
day by day by day

Darkness

darkness in the sky

and darkness in the eye

the orbs define themselves

and make of this the lies

but you and i

we make our own content

in mosque or mansion or our tent

driven not by what is said

but made of comfort in our bed

of right and wrong

who gives a fuck

of life's rewards

we have our truck

and so we rest from day to day

the jokers think we enjoy the pay

but we will ruin them

day by day by day

The Nothing Poem

nothing on the tv

and nothing on the mind

nothing much to fear

and nothing much to find

I keep a monthly diary/calendar thing to remind me of things I need and want to do. It's basically, each year, a bought thing...it puts out the month on a double A4 page with the days and dates etc. It is usually full of tasks and jobs and dates etc... I noticed today that the days between the 14th and 30th of January this year were totally blank of my usual scrawling writing because of this recent depression. I expect that if I looked back through enough journals then I would see blanks for maybe 25% of my living life, but that doesn't mean anything really negative...that's just those periods of incorporation and transition necessary for me to grow, as me...and to be, as me. we are all different, and that's a good thing. Often people will presume that if there is something wrong with you, that there is something with you, but this really isn't the case if you need to be you and find your satisfactions and equally your dissatisfactions, in being you. No one else can be you. You own yourself. As for my diary/journal...did I miss the period between the 14th and the 30th of January? No. I just had much more important business elsewhere.

The thing about depression caused by past trauma is this: it is something foistered upon us, for sure, as all experience is, whether we seek out experience, or not. Good and bad experiences just roll in. But it is different to watching Star Trek and being really upset when Spock died...and having to wait until the next movie when he comes back. What we do to deal with an awful event, deep down, is to personalise it, to make it part of us, part of our fabric, our tapestry, as it is real...to survive it... as we can't effectively deny it. So, this black dog of depression brought about by experience, is indeed part of us and it is best to respect it as part of our wholeness. Periods of depression are not a black gap in life, but simply a way of progressing through life as we grow larger through...experience of life. Some experiences are really horrible the same as some are really wondrous. We don't have experts treating us for Too Much Joy...but depression is much the same thing, just the other side of it. Wise folk will say that every coin has 2 sides, and that is true to some extent. ..but there are maybe 5 or 6 more sides to it all that current wisdom doesn't know about yet, and never will.

Poem: Love Poem

Love Poem

In gracious green
the last resort
the stars between the leaves were caught
faceless lovers on rolling grass
found love within the roiling task
and pulled down stars
to make a mask.

New Album in preparation/ Box Cutter Johnny & The Roiling Gerunds: Cutting Loose on Tremelo Bridge

Liner Notes for Album Cut Loose on Tremelo Bridge...'The album started as a Concept Album about Concept Albums...and initially I had trouble getting the raw, loud, electric sound I wanted out of the Fender Stratocastor, but then my agent suggested that it would be good to have an electrical lead going from the guitar to the amp, and since then, there's been a marked improvement.
The album moves progressively through all forms of world music, both Country, and Western, with an emphasis on White Blues played in a Swamp.