ANZAC Day, 25 April

Today (yesterday?) we remember the fallen.

And that triggered a whole series of coincidences.

It started with that 2 minute sound-clip of Kerwi-Keith Holyoake announcing that NZ was sending troops to South Vietnam to support our allies, otherwise how could we expect them to come support us in our hour of need, and to defeat those terrible Communists so that Cambodia, Thailand, then Malaysia, and Singapore, did not likewise fall to communism.

I have to admit that (in the cold light of history, and the progress of recent events) the progress of communism into Southeast Asia may have been a valid and rational fear. What must be said at that point is that that progress has not come as the consequence of military action even in the form it took in Vietnam. It has been the result of political action, such as that being taken in Thailand at present by the Red-shirt peoples.

The obvious question that must come from that is "Why should people choose communist, or socialist government?" I don't know the answer to that one - the answers are probably manifold. But in my mind's eye, one of the leading replies would suggest that communism is perceived to give "me" more and better than I have at present.

That actually ranges wider than I intended. The thought now springs to mind that (irrespective of any other reason I might draw) Obama tapped that very potential with "Change" and "Yes we can!" (that is now being used by Chrysler to sell their junk cars and Jeeps in NZ).

So, we are now a long way from Remembrance and ANZAC. But perhaps when TF is wailing in the wind about Obama's attempted cures for the economic and international ills created by the beloved GWB and his predecessors he might remember that change came about in the search for something better. For whom? There is the rub.

We had a tax cut that took effect on 1 April, authorised in great haste by the new government immediately after the election. Some 80% of the benefit of that tax cut went to the top 3% of taxpayers. I received an additional $12 roughly per week. Half of that disappeared the same week when our electricity utility (a publicly listed company) announced increased prices.

Back to ANZAC Day.

I celebrated the remembrance by making (for the first time in years) a batch of ANZAC biscuits.

Nice.

After the festivities...

We (SWMBO and I as the rest of the family now have their own paths to walk) went north to Opo the Monday before Christmas. Work was done plastering the carport wall to get that all sealed off (to little avail but that will take another post)and painted.

Christmas dinner was enjoyable - roast lamb and veg, Demifroix ( I hate with intensity people who call it "demi-freddo" or "semi-freddo") made with apricot which was not an outstanding success.

Then we got into the serious business...

It ran through my mind while driving home that there is so much that happens in this world which, on reflection, matters very little.

Instances that come to mind -

The shenanigans around the Senate seat vacated by OHB.

The Israeli government getting into yet another "Wag the Dog" war with Gaza because their popularity with the electorate was dropping fast just a few weeks out from an election. Where did that deja vu flash come from?

GWB frantically trying to find something that people will remember him for. He found it - in the form of most of the North Pacific. What right he has to donate that area to posterity I don't know but I guess that after having the crap nuclear bombed out of it in the '50s and '60s there is little left there of real economic value.

Pontifications on the future of mankind from all manner of people from Il Papa on downward.

How education should be working and isn't. Interesting one this, as it is fairly close to the ol' cockles. Not worth pursuing though as half the world would not care and the other half would misinterpret the intent, and then half would think it a darned fine idea and spend the next 20 years and millions of bucks trying to make it work, which it probably wouldn't because the teachers think it is a stink idea anyway.

And so the list goes on. It does get quite depressing really.

Highlights? Walking to the Waiotemarama Falls. Took film rather than digital and might post up when I get the film back. Sometime. Seeing my sister for a second, no sorry third, Christmas dinner. Had Vichyssoise, boerewurst and salad for lunch. Nice. I did not take a dip in Stephan's moat. Biggest highlight was my first swim in 3 years, since Feb 06 in fact. Can't omit the woodchop on NYD. Always good fun, and the hangi was a good lunch for $8 a pop.

American politics...

...at the worst.

Well, no, that is a bit harsh. But it says little for the nation that holds itself out as the last bastion of Democracy.

From the Herald this morning

since the November 4 election, law enforcement officials have seen more potentially threatening writings, internet postings and other activity directed at Obama than has been seen with any past president-elect, said officials aware of the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue of a president's security is so sensitive.

Earlier this week, the Secret Service looked into the case of a sign posted on a tree in Vay, Idaho, with Obama's name and the offer of a "free public hanging". In North Carolina, civil rights officials complained of threatening racist graffiti targeting Obama found in a tunnel near the North Carolina State University campus.

And in a Maine convenience store, an Associated Press reporter saw a sign inviting customers to join a betting pool on when Obama might fall victim to an assassin.

The sign solicited US$1 (NZ$1.79) entries into "The Osama Obama Shotgun Pool," saying the money would go to the person picking the date closest to when Obama was attacked. "Let's hope we have a winner," said the sign, since taken down.

...

One of the most popular white supremacist websites, stormfront.org, got more than 2000 new members the day after the election, compared with 91 new members on election day, according to an AP count.

On Saturday, one Stormfront poster, identified as Dalderian Germanicus, of North Las Vegas, said, "I want the SOB laid out in a box to see how `messiahs' come to rest. God has abandoned us, this country is doomed."

How sad.