John Fitzpatrick. About New China, the Koreas, Myanmar, Thailand, and also about Japanese and Chinese writers and poets. The main emphasis is on North Asia and the political tectonics of this very important, powerful, and many-peopled area.
Sunday, 14 October 2018
Small Tattoo of the Sun. I got this small benign skin cancer on a hot tropical Friday, riding the BMW K1100LT from Cairns to Rockhampton, about a 1200km journey, maybe around the year 2000. in the year 2000, she would have been about 12. I had trouble with family business at that time and just wanted to make sure that daughter knew I was caring and thinking about her....and I rode the bike down to make sure to make a connection with daughter who lived with her Mum in Rockhampton. I started about 6am and rode South for Cairns and pushed the bike up to around 200kph to make good time for awhile. I had fingerless leather gloves on and they were fastened by a press-stud but still left the top of the hand exposed. My right hand felt the heat and light and bite of the Western Queensland sun for about 6 hours. I arrived in Rockhampton around sunset, set up my small tent, had a shower, rode up to pick up daughter, take her to dinner and movies, drop her back off home, then I slept the night in the tent, then, early next morning, rode back to Cairns. I had to be back for work the next day. I did that. So, ever since, I have had this small tattoo of the sun on my right hand, and, in this way, I remember how it is to be a father.
Thursday, 11 October 2018
the independent organisation Bellingcat seems to do a good job of investigating and discovering how many Russian spies are lurking around. You'd think this would actually be the job of various governments...unless those governments want to make a statement for the sake of celebrity and self importance, but dont actually have the data...so are happy that BellingCat makes it up for them. I'd like to see Bellingcat's list of donators.
As for the Australian Prime Minister, on TV every day now...3 hours coaching for 5 minutes air time, every day...rather than governing. Governing is quiet, thoughtful, and really hard. Governing is why the Australian PM is paid more than the US President...the job is to actually do the work...be quiet, be astute, head down. He is A ridiculous clown always saying 'Hey, look at me! I've made it!'. Scott Morrison is the Kim Kardashian of politics.
In terms of Peter Dutton, he has shown that, as a leader, that whenever wealthy friends ask him for his help, he will help them, whilst keeping unwealthy folk in cages on islands as a warning to others. He is, arguably, Australia's best advocate for helping wealthy white South African people in the whole world. He should get some award for that...after all, wealthy white South African pastoralists are just like him...and not like THEM. These are his Qualities as... a man.
advice of 65 year old mental health nurse to patients of various ages... well, the human condition never changes. when you get to a certain age you are wise to choose what you wish to change about yourself, if anything at all, rather than listening to the world. you are fine as you are anyway. for young people, well, attend to what is most important to your own development as a being. you have to work out what that is, for you. the great thing about not committing suicide, or of having silly failed attempts, is that, generically, as we age, especially beyond 50, is that we get happier. this is the story of humanity. there is nothing wrong with being happier. there is nothing wrong with doing the hard yards. that's what we all have always done. at the same time, respect those who choose to go. if you study grief, well, suicide matters in the heart and mind of those who remain after you for a year or so, then they will just grieve for you the same as if a car accident or a cancer took you from us. that's the truth of it. that's all we can do. respect.
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