I think an important thing about beginning to understand New China is that it has problems of such a massive scale that we can't even conceptualise this. It has successes on such a massive scale that we cannot even conceptualise this. It remains the only reason there is far less poverty and misery on Earth than there has ever been. For all the flaws we note every day, this remarkable and ongoing, empowered human process of alleviation of poverty and human misery, IS the work of the Communist Party of China, and of the people of China, and especially in terms of National Unity and Family, is the work of the women of China.

The prospect of not working tonight has brought with it a desire to clean up my writer's room/creative hub/multi-function polis/office/music studio/ fun parlour/bar/retreat/ashram/meditation cove/art space/church/synagogue/mosque/Dreamtime/Dance Club/smoking parlour/bird sanctuary/ eagle's nest/ wizard's coven/ and used clothing jumble sale store.As usual, my staff and the acolytes have abandoned me.

Casio

Mr President
The Casio Watch Company
5400-1 Higashine-ko, Higashine-city, Yamagata 999-3701 Japan

Dear Mr President

It is with sad reluctance that I forward to you, in this package, the Casio G-Shock GA-100 watch I have owned for about one year. I bought it at Brisbane Airport in Australia. I recall the price was about $AU130.00.

I have had a good personal ‘affinity’ with Casio products over the years as they are well made, accurate, and affordable.

My first 'Nurses Watch' was a simple analogue quartz Casio and was engraved with my name by my parents when I graduated in the 1980s. It was light, sturdy and very useful for many years. I have liked Casio ever since.
I am returning the GA-100 G Shock watch to you simply because I have spent, in general total, more than ten hours trying to change the analogue hands on it to match the digital clock on the dial, due to Daylight Savings Time changes here in Melbourne, Australia. 

I have studied the book that came with the watch, I have read and analysed the available information on-line and have watched a number of YouTube videos regarding how to adjust this watch. 

Apart from my own time spent in this pursuit, I have driven to two watch repair shops locally and the watch repairers, not un-talented people at all, have been unable to adjust the analogue hands to the correct time, each taking about 30 minutes in their attempts. They couldn't change the hands at all but I did pay them a small amount for their efforts although this was not asked for.

I like the sturdiness of the G Shock watch indeed, although it has occasioned a crack in the glass as well, although I cannot recall ever bumping it against anything. The crack does not seem to affect the waterproofness of the watch at all...and is in a perfect straight line across the face without any sign of an impact, even on close and magnified study.

I have attached the photographs also of the GA-100 with a ‘fake’ U-Boat watch I bought in Thailand 7 years ago for the equivalent of about $AU40...and do note that the ‘fake’ watch has been quite brilliant in its time keeping and sturdiness, and waterproofness, and, over 7 years has not occasioned any damage to its glass at all.

I have also attached a photograph of my Grandfather's Westclox pocket watch, made in Canada in about 1930, and I do note that this wind-up watch does keep extremely good time and is very easy to adjust.
I am not seeking a refund regarding the GA-100 nor any other recompense, but I wish you to know that I am not happy with this product and so I simply and sadly return it to you for your company's study and reflection.

I have always liked watches. I will always have a warm place in my heart for the Casio nurses watch and I thank you for that excellent time keeping and for that fond memory.

Yours sincerely

John Fitzpatrick
MASA.

Serious John: I do think, on the whole, that the job of Good Mothering is more difficult and time consuming than the job of Good Fathering...but this doesn't mean that Good Fathers are somehow low life cunts in the world.

Serious John: I think it is all about some kind of balance as we go from 'go to whoa'...and we do go, and we do 'whoa' quite well. We don't have to worry at all about the 'whoa'...nature has us all lined up, before we came in. Nature, unlike us, knows exactly what she is doing...and she has us pinned.

you know, at 63, if I hadn't been born mortal, you know, I'd still choose it. For some odd reason, I seem to be a being pretty happy with my own short Shining Path..and one of the main reasons that I'm happy with it is that it is quite short in the scheme of things. Mind you, its taken me awhile. It is probably why I am quite okay at caring for the young who desire to suicide...'well, you never know, if you live, you may like more of it than you know just now...but, for sure, the gig itself is fucking dubious at best and there's nothin much that changes much about the pointlessness and stupidity and the suffering of the world, except you, as time goes by...'

you know, at 63, if I hadn't been born mortal, you know, I'd still choose it. For some odd reason, I seem to be a being pretty happy with my own short Shining Path. Mind you, its taken me awhile. It is probably why I am quite okay at caring for the young who desire to suicide...'well, you never know, if you live, you may like more of it than you know just now...but, for sure, the gig itself is fucking dubious at best and there's nothin much that changes much about the pointlessness and stupidity and the suffering of the world, except you, as time goes by...'