I’m starting to generate lots of documentation for my IT Department. I am using a Wiki which makes it so easy to post pages and edit them. I am finally sold on the wiki concept.
It is now less then 95 days until I arrive home for my whirl wind trip. And 109 days until Howie and Jenny get married.
So much work to do before then. Oh well maybe the ceasefire talks will collapse and I can just stay home after the wedding.
Wes and I re-arranged the computers and workspace.
As you can see I now look quite productive.
I just read this about John Howard’s comments at a press conference.
He is defending America with questionable statements like this:
“No dominant power in history has brought to bear the righteous force or generous countenance of the United States of America.”
Maybe this one is true but it is not good judgment on the US. Consider the company it’s in Nazi Germany, UK, Rome, Soviet Union, China, Egypt. The UK is probably the closet competition it is hard to work out who would win between USA and UK.
“Without American leadership, the trials and tragedies of recent years could be but a prelude of darker days to come,” he said.
America has spawned this climate where terorism is a bigger issue. Invading Iraq, undermining the UN, anti-terror laws, mistreating prisioners, illegal phone tapping… Not to mention it’s anti leadership on climate issues, maybe John Howard is right. Global warming might make it brighter..
“I share your President’s resolve to prevail in Iraq. Australia is with you. We will stay the course. We will finish the job.”
What is the course?
What is the job?
The rapid emergence of a global middle class, as evidenced in China and India, was “history’s vindication” of US leadership.”
A global middle class would not have been possible without American power and purpose in the last 60 years,” he said.
From what I understand the US isn’t too happy about it. I don’t exactly know how US leadership gave the world a middle class. Perhaps outsourcing is what they mean, but that’s really motivate by US corporate greed and lower wages in other countries.
Now I don’t hate the American people, and I believe America can do a lot to help the world. I believe it is not a pure evil country and that it does some good in the world. However congratulating it at a this stage whilst it is the midst of doing very dodgy things seems wrong.
I had a coconut masala dosa today with a mango juice..
Very nice.
A while ago in Delhi I saw some of those dodgy A4 paper signs advertising abortion by pill and giving a phone number. Then the other day I saw a big sign outside a medical centre advertising Abortion By Pill Available here.
Whilst I am unsure where I stand on pro-choice/pro-life debate these signs do worry me. I feel like they advocate abortion by pill as a primary and easy means of birth control. There surely must be long term psychological effects on the mother who aborts a pregnancy. It seems to me like abortion being made to seem like an easier option then I imagine it would be. I don’t know what kinds of conditions they have on abortion in India, maybe they do deal with issues and give counseling but I doubt it.
In a country where STI’s including HIV/AIDS is such a problem I feel even more worried. If people choose not to use condoms based on the availibity of an abortion pill then that is going to create a bigger problem.
From The Parable of the Shrewd Manager
“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”
Luke 16:9
I can see now why John Howard and Peter Costello gave us tax cuts. It really is quite simply they were buying our friendship. As you can see all very Biblical.
I have now found my home using Google Earth. If you have Google Earth you can use this placemark.
You know you have lost the war with all the little bugs around the place when instead of going in for the kill you just watch them crawling over everything.
Mark Knopfller and Emmylou Harris have combined to form a duet based album called All the Roadrunning. It is a really enjoyable relaxing albumn to listen to. I have been enjoying it a lot. You owe it to yourself to have a listen to it.
A limp cigarette with a message beside it saying that smoking cause erectile dysfunction.
I knew there was a good reason why I don’t smoke. I thought it was to avoid cancer but I think staying alive isn’t nearly as important as being able to sustain an erection. I love male pride. Then again I am sure men will ignore the sign and remember the miracle drug that is Viagra.
Though if I’m honest my main reason for not smoking is not medical but that it smells, and it costs lots of money.
I just had it pointed out to me that I have no link to my photo blog on this website at the moment..Ops. You can look at it at http://media.onegeek.net. I just added two extra photos.
TB is the biggest killer in Nelson Mandela Bay SA.
In other news a US company is trying to patent its antiretroviral drug in India. If successful it could mean death for many AIDS people, as it would cut off the supply of a cheap Indian generic version sold in developing countries. That’s what this greed leads to. Right now antiretroviral drugs are able to be accessed by a large number of poor people. If the cost of the drugs goes up the people who are depending on them may die much sooner. All because of international Intellectual Property.
What’s more based on my knowledge of drug resistance, once a patient stops it enables the virus to become resistant to them. Which is bad for everyone.
Another key thing is the antriretrovirals help to prevent mother to child HIV/AIDS infection. So more children could be infected with HIV/AIDS.
These drugs are important, they need to be affordable.
To stop HIV/AIDS spread it’s as easy as ABC:
Abstinence or delay of sexual activity, especially for youth,
Being faithful, especially for those in committed relationships,
Condom use, for those who engage in risky behaviour.
Or is CNN more usable
Condom use, for those who engage in risky behaviour.
Needles, use clean ones
Negotiating skills; negotiating safer sex with a partner and empowering women to make smart choices
Tonight Wes and I went to Haus Khaz market and went to a mexican restruant there. It was quite fun. Although not having beef made the experience slightly strange. We also went to a big apple supermarket, it was about the size of some of the little IGA supermarkets back home. So nice to do food shopping in AC with a bit more space :-).
Praxis
Praxis is a complex activity by which individuals create culture and society, and become critically conscious human beings. Praxis comprises a cycle of action-reflection-action which is central to liberatory education. Characteristics of praxis include self-determination (as opposed to coercion), intentionality (as opposed to reaction), creativity (as opposed to homogeneity), and rationality (as opposed to chance).