The word ‘hero’ is grossly misused today. Sports figures who score a thrilling goal or touchdown; public figures who use their position in the spotlight to advance a particular charity or cause; these and many others are called ‘heroes’. They’re not. A real heroine has just left us. If you want to know what true… Continue reading Farewell to a true heroine
Tag: Reality
Blame the cops for everything!
Some readers may be aware of events in Pittsburg, PA last Tuesday. Sciulli and another officer, both in uniform, were driving on Arlington Avenue in a marked police car to respond to a report of shots fired when they spotted Justin Jackson, police said. They stopped because they believed he was carrying a gun, Harper… Continue reading Blame the cops for everything!
The curse of a lucky country?
There’s a very interesting article in the Sydney Morning Herald. Peter Hartcher comments: In the long story of humankind, it is normal that societies lucky enough to have rich natural resources end up failures. The apparent blessings of nature usually turn out to be a curse. Not just most of the time, but virtually all… Continue reading The curse of a lucky country?
Big Brother tactics fail miserably, but will that stop them?
If you think so, dream on . . . It’s been revealed that in Britain, CCTV public surveillance cameras number one for every 14 members of the population, or 20% of the installed total worldwide. In London alone, £200 million (equivalent to US $400 million) has been spent to install 10,000 cameras, plus their monitoring… Continue reading Big Brother tactics fail miserably, but will that stop them?
Thought-provoking and worth reading
Kim du Toit‘s wife has published a very thought-provoking essay on her blog. It’s titled “Rage Of Ages“. A few snippets to whet your appetite: Americans are an immigrant culture. We’re a healthy stock of mutts. What we have in common, which is what the immigrant culture thing means, is that our ancestors woke up… Continue reading Thought-provoking and worth reading
The self-service scam
One of my favorite Australian humorists, Richard Glover, is at it again. This time he tackles the rise of self-service in business, particularly self-checkout counters in supermarkets. He points out that it’s nothing new, just the latest method of making customers do the work. Of course, the customer-as-worker is an old lurk. Service stations were… Continue reading The self-service scam
The wisdom of the unsage
Via e-mail from Fred (thanks, buddy!) I received these side-splitters. 1. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. 2. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well. 3. He, who laughs last, thinks slowest. 4. A day… Continue reading The wisdom of the unsage
It’s true – when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns!
That phrase is hated and derided by the anti-gun lobby, but it’s starkly and undeniably true. Further evidence of that truth has just come to light in Britain, where the Home Office’s British Crime Survey has released its latest figures. Sixty people a week are being wounded as gun crime continues to rise, Home Office… Continue reading It’s true – when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns!
Darwin strikes again
I was saddened to read of the death of Stephan Miller. Saddened – and bloody angry! You see, Mr. Miller was bitten to death by a five-year-old grizzly bear known as Rocky, who starred in the film “Semi-Pro”. Three experienced handlers were working with the grizzly Tuesday at the Predators in Action wild animal training… Continue reading Darwin strikes again
Of time and place
I see that at a conference in the Persian Gulf, Muslim scientists and clerics have called for the adoption of Mecca time to replace GMT, arguing that the Saudi city is the true centre of the Earth. One geologist argued that unlike other longitudes, Mecca’s was in perfect alignment to magnetic north. . . .… Continue reading Of time and place