Month: November 2013

Zacchaeus, a senior Tax Collector and a Wealthy Man (Lk 19-1-10)

Zacchaeus said to Jesus: “Look, Sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.”

Occasionally there may be a wealthy person in our society who does likewise. Wouldn’t it be a marvellous world if more wealthy people had a similar attitude?

 

I want to mention here that you can now find “The Crisis of Civilisation” among my pages at the top. You may remember that I reblogged it from The Guardian.

Some Comments I made regarding the Russel Brand ‘Revolution’

auntyuta Says:

October 27, 2013 at 5:36 amChristopher Goodfellow
theguardian.com, Saturday 26 October 2013 02.02 AEST
. . . . But the left is ripe for a unique, intelligent leader who can truly work with the protest movement. Often the underdog is simply the politician that breaks from the normal rhetoric and speaks in manner which sounds different to the existing political elite.

Brand hasn’t put in the work, but the stage is set, so to speak. Paxman rather likes Brand too, and that’s probably something that would help should he take up my call and lead the revolution. And, if you look closely, he’s already made the implicit nod he’ll take up the mantle: “I don’t need the right [to be involved in politics] from you, I don’t need the right from anybody, I’m taking it.”

“The existent political elite” is mentioned in the above comment. At present the voter has no alternative but to vote for the existent political elite of one of the two major parties who differ only slightly in what they want to achieve politically. For if you vote for one of the minor parties your vote does not really count. As far as I can see it is about the same in all the Western Democracies. For people who absolutely do want a change in policies there should be the opportunity to vote for a true alternative. I think many people who are as frustrated with the political system as Brand is, would welcome the chance to be able to vote for a change.

  • October 27, 2013 at 6:27 amThere is no alternative. I, like you wanted to believe our hard fought for votes meant something.
    This present political system is flawed and broken.
    Russell is saying he does not want to be a part of the old paradigm. He advocates for a total change – not politicians but “admin bods” which is really what politicians are or should be. Which is a type of public servant. The public is us – the tax payer – the majority. They should be looking after and serving us and not their corporate overlords and sponsors. It is reaching critical mass now, a tipping point .

    • auntyuta Says:

      October 27, 2013 at 6:59 amCome to think of it we should really all be some kind of public servants, namely do whatever is good for the general public. Not everyone has the same qualifications or abilities. We all need to keep learning right into old age and pass on the knowledge we have acquired. There are very well qualified and highly trained people in our society. We should value them for the work they do for the whole community.
      We should respect each other, not waste our energies abusing each other!
      I agree, our present political system seems to be rather flawed. “The existing political elite” may not want any changes. Someone belonging to this elite should point out to them that changes are necessary and genuinely welcome some new ideas by people who do not belong to the established ‘elite’.
      Personally I prefer a well functioning society to one where ‘chaos’ prevails. We need capable, well trained people for a well functioning society. But we also need new ideas for instance how corruption can be prevented. We definitely ought to introduce measures to slow down climate change as much as possible.

Another Look back to Meck/Pom

Berlin is surrounded by the land of Brandenburg. In 2010 we travelled from Berlin through Brandenburg in a northerly direction. Where Brandenburg ends Mecklenburg-Vorpommern starts. The ‘border’ was marked by some signs near the road. We took some pictures of these signs.

Rheinsberg-Kleinzerlang is in Brandenburg. In 2010 we took a picture of its marina.
There is also a postcard picture of the Baltic Sea Resort (Ostsee Bad) Warnemünde. The other picture of Warnemünde is one that we took. .

The picture of the lake is my favourite. This lake is just a few steps away from where my brother Peter lives in Neu Canow with his wife Astrid. We stayed with them for one week in June 2010..

Last year in November 2012 we had once more a very good time  in Neu Canow, Mecklenburg/Vorpommern. Peter and Astrid showed us every day another beautiful place in this beautiful land of Meck/Pom. Parts of it always remind us a bit of Australia, some of the country-side that is. Meck/Pom is sparsely populated and has a lot of waterways and forests. It stretches right to the Baltic Sea. If you want a very relaxing, peaceful holiday in beautiful natural surroundings, you should go there. Lots of old castles can be visited. Here are some examples:

DSCN5428

DSCN5429

DSCN5528

DSCN5513.

Diary, 2nd November 2013

Tiergarten. Berlin, Beginning of Nov. 2012
Tiergarten. Berlin,
Beginning of Nov. 2012

One year ago we were visiting Berlin. For two months we stayed in one of the high-rise apartment buildings in Hansa Viertel, right in the centre of Berlin with the Tiergarten at our doorstep. We would usually go for an early morning walk in this beautiful Tiergarten. The above picture we probably took around the 2nd of November when our stay in Berlin was nearing its end.

In Berlin,  the first and second of November would not have been any special days for us. Unless you were Catholic, you would not think of All Saints and All Souls. In some parts of Germany the 31st of October is a holiday to celebrate Reformation Day. But in Berlin even the 31st of October is not a holiday.

Gaby, our daughter passed away last year. When we light a candle, we remember her. We also remember a great number of other departed. Nearly everyone who has been older than we are, has passed away by now. After all,  both Peter and I are in our late seventies by now. There are not all that many people around who are older than we are. We always think we might be the next ones to leave!

Do we have special needs in an emergency? This question came up recently when large areas of New South Wales experienced very hot conditions and fast spreading fires. Peter copied for us from the internet a plan for an emergency during a HEATWAVE. It said: “ABC Emergency delivers official warnings and alerts and publishes emergency coverage sourced form ABC Local Radio and ABC News.”

Here is a list of some of the things we should have prepared in our SURVIVAL KIT:

BATTERY-OPERATED RADIO (WITH SPARE BATTERIES)
Torch (with spare batteries)
Strong shoes, gumboots, leather gloves and overalls
First aid kit and medications we need
A change of clothes, toiletry and sanitary supplies
Water in sealed containers – ten litres per person (for three days)
Three days supply of canned food (plus can opener and utensils)
Pillows and blankets (woollen and thermal)
Mobile phone and charger
Strong plastic bags (for clothing, valuables, documents, and photos)
Spare car and house keys

Several Emergency Services are mentioned that can be of help.

Here is what we should do before a HEATWAVE:

Stay hydrated – it’s recommended to drink two to three litres of water and to avoid alcohol and caffeine
Dress light

Check on family and friends – twice a day
Avoid exposure to the sun
Get your home ready – draw curtains, blinds, awnings at the start of the day to keep the sun out
Seek air-conditioning in a shopping centre, library or other public place. (We do not have air-conditioning)
Fans can also provide relief (We do have fans.)

During a HEATWAVE we should phone for assistance immediately if we show any symptoms of heat stress including extremely heavy sweating, headache and vomiting, confusion, swollen tongue

After a Heatwave we should be careful of falling tree limbs – they can be a hazard during periods of extended high temperatures.