Considering the Premier of NSW office doesn't accept emails from outside it's electorate...

First, here's part of the email I received in return: "If you are a constituent of another electorate

Due to the large volume of emails we receive, your correspondence will not be forwarded to the Premier’s office."

So, here is one I penned (the last 4 paragraphs are not mine) quite some time ago, November in fact:

>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dear Mr Baird 

I am from South Australia, and have recently attended a public forum on the future of water looking ahead to 2050 held by the Goyder Institute. The conversation is already starting to take shape about what we need to do to protect our farmers, indigenous land owners, environment and general public in regards to water security for the future. 

Recently I sat with my family and we watched the documentary "Gaslands" about the issues that Coal Seam Gas extraction (fracking) has created in communities across the United States. I can only use one word to describe the reaction we all had: horrified. 

Water belongs to everyone, not corporations, and is a basic human right. 

I have also recently spoken to an old colleague who is now working in inland Queensland, who sadly reported to me they had lost two more farmers in the past week to suicide. She stated that it was because the support in infrastructure is not there for them, and they could not see forward into the future. They are trying to get this information heard, but it is not being heard loud enough. I find these kinds of stories exceptionally sad because although I do not know these families personally, I acknowledge that we rely on them for our local food sources and should be easing any stresses they have in relation to security in all its forms, including natural water supplies. 

I have seen and heard reports coming from NSW of communities fighting to keep fracking wells out of their communities, with some success. Please continue to listen to these people, and there rest of the country when we say CSG is not the way forward. It is a dangerous practice that should be banned in Australia. 

I believe the only way forward with regards to energy is via wind and solar. 

A scientific review presented to the NSW Great Artesian Basin Advisory Group has said that the Great Artesian Basin may not be able to survive the water extraction methods used in CSG operations. 

CSG could deplete the pressure that keeps water flowing through bores throughout the basin. The basin's recharge area makes up only about 10 per cent of the overall basin area, and most of this is in the Pilliga region, where Santos is now conducting exploratory drilling. 

CSG threatens to stop bores flowing throughout the basin, thereby cutting off the sole water source for 22 per cent of Australia. 

This represents an unacceptable risk to a water supply that's critical for farming, irrigation, and drinking water for rural communities.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Next time you want to clean your kettle...

Just tried something I remember my mum had told me and found some random notes on a website about it.... 

- halve a lemon
- squeeze half into 1 glass of water
- do that again (2 glasses)
- pour into your kettle
- boil

VOILA!

Let the kettle cool right down, including the element of course, and empty. If there is any scum left then wipe through with a small amount of bicarbonate of soda and a damp cloth. Rinse several times before using again.

Sooooooo good, no chemicals really required if you do this regularly instead of allowing the build up.

Really pleased. Simple.

xJ

begin rant...

If We Don't Dig It Up, Someone Else Will: Coal Giants Argument in Court
https://newmatilda.com//2015/04/09/if-we-dont-dig-it-someone-else-will-coal-giants-argument-court

No. Just no.  It is bad enough that this is a company from outside Australia with such an exposed poisonous, horrendous environmental record, but to say 'nobody is doing anything anyway, someone else will just do it anyway' is just shit.

YES we absolutely need to bring the developing world out of many forms of poverty and provide more stable energy and safer ways for households to cook, etc. to many; we are all equal and should be assisting in making the world safer in this way for the basics of living; but I would hope we can do this with alternative energy sources and with existing infrastructure, or at LEAST coal Carbon Capture technologies being added to existing sites. This particular type of technology has been discussed in many papers I have been reading (back to 2008), so what is the hold up?! And why are these paid think-tanks still getting away with spouting crap like this?! Urgh. Why is it NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY?! It is going to take everyone, Adani, you just can't opt out of this global issue of keeping the ecosystems sustainable and safe.

It is very obvious, and well documented, that China and others are moving well away from coal as an energy source because of the health issues/pollution it is creating in their Countries. Arguing to build another coal mine, another port, and to temporarily create jobs etc etc in a very vulnerable part of the ecosystem is a giant cop out.  There IS existing infrastructure in place, if we must continue to use it. We are smarter than this, Adani forgets that.

Don't get me started on Australia cutting foreign aid. What a joke!

Forwards, not backwards, you bag of DICKS (Liberal party - hehe).

/rant

Trying to NOT suck so hard at sewing.... Part Deux...

This awesome shopping trolley that I have had and used for a while now, thanks to a delightful friend who picked it up at a yard sale for me, has always seriously needed something to stop smaller things sliding out the side...

Awwww.... poor trolley!
So naked.

Anyhoo, my mother very naughtily cut out the sizing I had measured instead of letting me do it! Naughty mum!

So she said she would teach me a 'french seam' as it is the strongest thing she was ever taught when she learned to sew.

But then she realised she had not calculated quite enough to allow for this so we had a gap - nawwwww! Balls!

Oh look! Here's some sweet sweet corduroy from the shed!

So cute, totally foreign.

That's BETTER!

Completed Mission 2 of trying not to suck at sewing! Huzzah!

It's a little saggy at the side I guess but when filled with groceries who gives a toss.
It totally does the trick, is removable and washable.

NB. There was an awful lot of swearing and laughing during this project.

xJ

Trying to not suck so hard at SEWING...

So I've had a few things sitting there in a giant pile being neglected waiting for mending or just general 'that's not quite right' kind of fixing... so have made some headway on that this past week!

I'm a big fan of buttons, I can't help but collect a myriad of them wherever I am on this planet. The little memories they bring back to me are just wonderful.  So I had used a couple of pieces of fabric I got in Japan in 2009 and dodge-ily attached them to coathangers. They were getting a little neglected and saggy so it was time to fix them for real.

Here's what happened:

All that was really required for this was for me to go to the hardware store and buy some (sustainable forested) dowel, the chains and keyring chain came from what was already in my parents stash of craft things.




 Yay! Now they are less saggy and more sturdy and YIPPEE!

More soon. xJ

Divestment...

Just hit UNsubscribe on my current Superannuation Funds email newsletters...

I can't say that they haven't tried to be forthcoming in their communications with regards to sustainability and divestment.  In fact someone from their sustainability department tried to phone me when I was at work sadly, so could not answer.  Ultimately, with the WORLD BANK just announcing it will no longer fund coal projects (and yes, I know they aren't the best, however this is a big move), they don't really have a leg to stand on with comments like: "due to reasons of confidentiality and regulatory requirements xxxx cannot comment on individual companies or projects."  That has pretty much been a standard line in all communications I have received from a number of banks I have contacted about the fossil fuel project threatening the Great Barrier Reef.

Sod that. If some of the worlds biggest financial groups can just outright say NO, we will not fund the Adani project, why will NONE of the Big 4 Australian banks say the same.

My reply to the bank attached to my Fund:

"The World Bank was just able to announce that it will no longer fund coal projects unless there is 'extreme need'.

"The World Bank will invest heavily in clean energy and only fund coal projects in “circumstances of extreme need” because climate change will undermine efforts to eliminate extreme poverty, says its president Jim Yong Kim."

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/nov/23/world-bank-to-focus-future-investment-on-clean-energy

And with a coal mine in Australia having to shut production for 3 weeks just recently due to oversupply, it is very clear that coal is on the way out.  There has been little to no movement, it seems, in carbon capture technology and therefore trying to continue with this form of energy is simply bad investments.

I live in South Australia where the State's emissions reductions target is currently larger than the Federal one, where we are being noticed for the strong growth in renewables, and where Coal Seam Gas is also being fought against.

I will be posting my rollover form today to complete the process. I appreciate your emails but I cannot leave my money with any company I do not believe is clearly moving forward, as so many others are."

So, here's some photos... hehe.

Here are the resources I used to make my decision. All I'm asking is that you look into where your money is held. If you are comfortable with it, sure, keep it that way. But if you question the investments that your institution holds, start a dialogue with them.

Market Forces: http://www.marketforces.org.au/campaigns/banks/
Super Switch: www.superswitch.org.au
Future Super: http://www.myfuturesuper.com.au/
Go Fossil Free: http://gofossilfree.org.au/

We need everyone.
xJ

My total rant to Simon Birmingham...

I ask that you to reject the bill regarding the collection and holding of data from private email and telephone records in Australia, currently being debated in the Lower House.
The destructive policies the LNP is introducing every day in the Federal Parliament are creating fear, hatred and confusion amongst the people you are supposed to be serving.  I can personally tell you that my anxiety has gone through the roof.  I cannot see ONE thing that this current Government has done that is forward thinking.  Playing the blame game still, 12 months after being elected, is ridiculous and childish.
I see that you are the Parliamentary Secretary re: Environment.  May I also put forward my absolute disgust with not only 'Direct Action', but the approval of dredging in the Great Barrier Reef marine parks area.  Across the nation on the weekend of 18 October, thousands of people pledged to make moves to close, or did close, their bank accounts associated with fossil fuel investment. I  myself am pulling all of my money out of ANZ and BT Super (Westpac) so that my personal dollar does not continue to fund old dirty technologies which should be abandoned.  As the rest of the world moves forward, the LNP continues to push it's agenda of industrialisation which, simply, cannot be sustained.  Being a South Australian Senator, you may have noticed our State government setting it's OWN emissions target, much higher than what you are proposing Federally.
Roads are not the way forward, high speed rail is. Allowing more coal mines to be built is simply bad investment. And allowing hydraulic fracturing at ALL in this country is a terrible threat to aquifers and waterways, of which we have very limited resources.
Please pass on my comments also to Mr Hunt. I have phoned his office in the past when there was first talk of approving the Adani project to put forward my objection.
Sign the DOHA amendment for the Kyoto Protocol, committing to our future.
Regards,

Another day, another tape dubbed....

Talk about going into a time-warp! Yes I dubbed off video footage of some girlfriends and I on a cruise boat in early 1999, amongst other things. Hilarity.

One thing was for sure, I was ultimately miserable with my boyfriend at the time.  I also dragged out the last remaining box of random stuff (that I know of) in my parents house and have been going through old letters and such.  This included letters FROM said boyfriend, of which are all now in the recycling. What a joke, truly. You realise how far you came since getting rid of something so toxic out of your life.  So long ago *sigh*.

The tape also had really short bursts of footage from my old home just North of Adelaide. Friends doing stupid shit like discussing why christ was ultimately in smarties chocolate, and making a bunch of toys dance to random music. And failing at buying milk, apparently. It actually prompted me to look up a few people to see if I could find them in the social media sphere. I found a couple and sent them messages explaining what shenanigans I had found.

Still have a number of VHS tapes to go through, it is quite fun really. One tape I knew I wouldn't bother keeping but thought I would watch was very early season South Park.  I was feeling rather under the weather yesterday, a cold is trying desperately to get me but I won't let it!  So I slothed in front of the box whilst looking through paperwork and watched a half dozen episodes at least of that, then put the tape in the box with the others to go to the recycle place.

On the membership card challenge front (only a few days until the end of the month - EEK!), I put one for a nail salon in the recycling. Ultimately I tend to only do that girly stuff whilst in North America once I've destroyed my feet at a couple festivals over the summer there. Besides the business was actually pretty average and I know I won't go back.

I've asked the company I was querying AGAIN about their fair trade, workers rights, environmental practices. I'd sent them an email about it over a month ago when they queried what kind of information I was after. They never came back to me.  We shall see. They have about 5 days to do so or bye bye membership card.

I've downloaded the PDS and the other information from the Super fund I am most likely to switch to. NO investment in fossil fuels whatsoever. It's brand new. Some people might think it a gamble, but realistically, I'll be working probably another 35 years so sod it. I'd rather have a clear conscience than worry about if money will be there or not - at least right now.

Namaste.

xJ

SA Water Future Hypothetical

Hmmm... I still don't know how to react to what I saw last night.

Recently I watched the following film about how we are clearly doing things wrong.

Peak Oil was only mentioned once last night (by the moderator, the delightful Rod Quantock) and I wonder why we are still managing to ignore this.  It's why it infuriates me so much our Government is so backwards when it comes to renewables. Eventually things will start to run out, oil and coal are not reusable forms of energy, you burn them and that's it. Why is that so hard to comprehend?!

Currently the Australian Government are attacking the Renewable Energy Target, seemingly allowing some concessions for 'trade' if you believe a tweet by the "Environment Minister" Greg Hunt. I put him in inverted comma's because he is not doing the best job.

I am desperately trying to understand all of this. The fear, hatred and sheer confusion this Government is creating is completely frustrating. I want clear language, I want them to actually DO something, I want a Leader who can actually public speak, and a party who does not continue to play a blame game 12 months after they elected. You won, you fools, so actually work for the people you are supposed to serve, instead of playing he-said-she-said.

I'm so over it!
xJ

Yes, Julie, stop rabbiting on about Planet Challenge...

Okay okay so more on THAT tomorrow, however on to what we achieved in the last couple of days...
My mum volunteers at an Op Shop called The Caring Place in Morphett Vale, South Australia.

It's one of those true op shops too, where you can find stuff for 20 cents. I've managed to spend a whole $7 since I have been helping clean up there. (I cleaned up, cleaning up?!)
It's school holidays so it is closed at the moment but needs some love.

So with the combined forces of the lads from the "mens shed" (a club for men to hang and make stuff, really - like their own shed, but community based), we began!

We moved everything away from the walls in the main shop and the boys started painting yesterday...

So many things piled into the centre from the racks... if it falls over I will roll around on the floor with laughter I swear. We stacked pretty high!

 Here is their progress that we walked in on today!

Then we started to tackle the shed behind (there are three more rooms to this op shop).

Oops, forgot to get a full shot before I started <<<<<<


Haven't done the top shelf yet, but the only thing that lives here is boxes for people if they are purchasing a lot of things >>>>>>

I practiced my mad librarian skills on the bookshelves, all cleaned, all categorised! But for how long...

Before, again half way through... note the odd shoe mum found in the shoe racks. Shoe FAIL!
<<<<<<

All done!
>>>>>>>

The Caring Place opens again on October 15th and is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am - 3:30.

Come see how amazingly you can find useful things before it gets destroyed :)

One love.
Reclaim: Recycle: Reuse
xJ

Per-Tay-Ters

Notes on pertayters - or Potatoes in the Queens' English...

- If there's more than one 'eye on the spud you want to plant, cut it in half and allow it to dry out for a day or so. ie. Allow the cut section to form a layer otherwise moisture will get into it and rot once you've planted it and are watering and it just won't grow.

- when they start to grow, build a bank of soil around so only a very small amount of green leaf is showing.

More notes and photos to come on this one...

xJ

being on time, the typewriter, and the landline...

Been doing a lot of thinking about social media in the last month or so, sometimes completely avoiding it due to the fact that I had school assignments to finish.  Now that's done I've trawled it here and there, catching up on the happenings of friends, reading way too many articles and getting a good giggle out of political cartoons.

Several points of note:

It occurs to me that you possibly mean something to someone when they actually *don't* blab about your quite personal interactions in the social media sphere.  There are a number of personal interactions I could be referring to here - use your imagination - but I will give you an example to kick off the thought bubble:

I had a conversation with an old friend the other weekend, who I didn't personally know had a split with their partner (it had been a very very long time since I'd seen them in the actual face), that they were 'outted' via social media.  What they meant by that was that they hadn't discussed what was happening with their partner with their family yet; the other person involved changed their 'status' to simply 'single'; and all hell broke loose. I said 'Oh dude; I'm so sorry that happened to you'.  He doesn't use social media, never has, but she did.  Calls came from family around the world demanding to know what was going on.  I felt bad that this kind of thing could happen, because isn't that up to you? On YOUR time?

I suppose it's a respect thing. Do you respect another person enough to ensure that if you are going to proudly announce those types of things on social media by doing something as seemingly meaningless as changing your relationship status, you've actually checked that your other has had relevant conversations with those in their world first?!

Personally you can never quite tell with me when something completely outstanding in my sphere has happened, unless of course it really does relate to only me and doesn't involve someone else.  Such as I was truly happy to finish last assignments of the course, or sometimes when I have confirmed/won a new contract or am returning to an old one for another year.

I do, periodically, ask that other friends send strength to other friends going through rough times, but it's not like I would announce specifically what aforementioned rough time is; simply that some love and thoughts are passed in their direction.  If someone asks, that person has the right to tell them in reply; not me.

Now, the trolls. Oh the trolls. I admit, there has been some discussion around here about starting a website called "I enjoyed arguing with you on the internet (but here's why you are stupid)".  Like a fact-checker really, for the complete ignoramus out there, the ones who answer something you post on a social page with insults.  You know I'm fine to debate things with people, in fact I will totally revel in it, but the one's who respond with something like 'what a fat fuck' I have zero tolerance for.

If you're going to start an argument on some website, news, social or otherwise, be able to back yourself up without pulling the insult card.  Sometimes I have actually learned something from having a heated debate over a topic, or been sent a link to articles, etc etc. But when it's just as plain as 'you are an idiot, you should resign' blah blah blah when you DISAGREE with something someone says, just keep your hands away from the keyboard (idiot! hehe).

I've seen some of that, mostly on Twitter, lately directed at a Senator I actually really respect and support for she had put up a 'meme'.  The backlash was rife. How do you ignore that?! Being called stupid in the public social sphere?! I suppose it should be the old water of the ducks back; but as if that kind of blatant disrespect doesn't hurt.  In this case referring to 'oh but it was under Labor's watch'. And yes it was, however it is more about how international relations are dealt with under a CURRENT Government you numbnuts (see, here I go!).

So, why did I call this post 'being on time, the typewriter, and the landline...'?  Well, for a couple of reasons.  I did read something recently that pointed this out; but you know I feel like when we weren't so social media connected you used to turn up ON TIME for things.  I suppose that's pre-mobile phone really isn't it. When I didn't have a mobile phone (I was 19 when I first got one, and that was quite some time ago now), I called someone on the old landline, made arrangements and turned up somewhere on *time*.  It's not to say I don't now turn up on time to things, but I also can admit to finding it easier to be able to pull out of something if I'm simply not feeling up to it on the day. That's pretty awful you know, sorry friends.

*digression time* Though my excuses lately can usually run from a munty body that I'm not looking after very well (true fact; stupid spine), stemming from being too poor to be able to afford treatment on said munty body because of chosen career path change from 5 years ago when I was more able to hold money-fights.  You can usually tell. I'm more than happy to announce my own munty body goodness in the social sphere.

Sometimes I feel you can also see someones true colours coming out in their own 'avatar'.  Just a one-off throwaway can really reveal that.  Would they say what they say online having a drink with a group of friends?! Probably not, unless there's been too much wine flowing.

And advertising... ohhhh online advertising. You know I'm presuming that if I suddenly changed different parts of my profile, the advertising would really change around me. It seems to pick up pretty quickly on those kinds of things.  I guess that's why it's successful for some businesses.

And the typewriter?! Oh, the typewriter. Well, I did learn to type on one. It was electric, mind you, but it was still a typewriter. And they're making parents buy kids as young as 6 IPad's.  Reason number 412 not to procreate I say.

xJ

Lies! All lies!

I have to admit I am getting pretty annoyed actually, with just feeling angry at our Government all the time lately. They barely deserve capitalisation and all.

You know, I'm no economist but this magical idea that electricity prices will immediately drop as soon as the carbon 'tax' (which isn't a tax by the way) is repealed is an outright lie.  Firstly, if they expect businesses providing this service to be able to just overnight change a price, they are sorely mistaken.  Secondly, well the industry is saying it - plus they do have other costs.  Thirdly, they are mostly all privatized, they are there to make profits for shareholders, they absorb these kinds of costs into their business or they wouldn't survive. Fourth, our wages here are really high. Fifth, fifth... you get my drift.

I saw something else pop up on the screen today that said the initial amount our government (capitalisation now removed) offered to the Philippines initially was 390K. That's the cost of a nice house in the suburbs. If this was actually serious thank GOODNESS they have revised it to $10M.  Okay, so I see the 390K was for 'emergency supplies' and the rest is in 'aid' (see below link). Their initial offer was disgusting. Where is the military deployment in all this you utter GEESE!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-11/global-aid-response-typhoon-haiyan-australia-red-cross/5082024

Their complete disregard for the poor in the rest of the world when we are so rich is a real joke.

The fact that the *people* are now funding something as vital as the Climate Council is a joke.  But at least this one action by the people of Australia, funding this so quickly, shows we all give a damn.

This post has been sitting here uncompleted for about a week now, but I still feel the same. I am sick of feeling angry, so sick of it.  I can't stop watching the news or reading articles because I have the need to feel informed.

Stupid people, who needs 'em.
xJ

Do we really want a return to the Howard years?!

Early in the noughties, at least I think it was then, the second time Howard got voted in to power... I remember being at my boyfriends house at the time and the only person in the household rooting for that guy was my boyfriends sisters boyfriend (Bueller?!).

He actually came out of their room, where they were watching the telecast also, chanting "four more years".  

I'm pretty sure the rest of us opened beers.  For we knew that for us, low to middle income earners and students, that we were all screwed.

I mostly ignore polls in the media, especially the big media, because it's all owned by the same rich guy and seems rather biased.  And somehow I don't believe that Abbott would win an election if there was a vote today.  So far, not a single person I know has indicated that they support Liberal, the views of the party, and their absolute ignorance about things like climate change and providing their members with conscience votes on issues that may be important to their electorates (a prime example being gay marriage).

So if we think about just that for a moment... a Government that has policies yet doesn't let it's members choose to vote in either the Senate or the Lower House genuinely, and with the voices of their constituency.

Sometimes when I hear Abbott interviewed I get particularly worried. Here is a guy who has obviously never seen a documentary about water; conservation or use thereof.  Countries around the world are pulling right away from putting up dams, and yet this guy wants to put in 150 of them in Australia.  Who is advising this guy?! Obviously not a climatologist, scientist, conservationist, or anyone with any knowledge of the subject.

Growing up in South Australia, we always conserved water. Our State has always been the one that has suffered, being at this end of the Murray River. Cotton farmers are allowed to pull water out of the river systems at alarming rates in a country that is so baron and so dry and with so little agriculturally viable land.  My father piped the water tank into the laundry sink, as well as the bathtub, in the 1980's. Why do I remember this?! Because I almost lost a toe helping him install the pipe from the shed to the tank.  We would bucket water from the bathtub out on to the lawns when there had been little rain, and use the cold water from the water tank to half fill the tub or to do hand washing.  It absolutely boggled the mind when moving up to Queensland in late 2004 only to find people whining about newly introduced water restrictions.

I was thinking "what?! you're only just getting them NOW?" - when us Southerners have had to always think about it. At least for the last 30 years.

Ranting aside, I'm freak;n scared. I hope Australia does not make the wrong choice.

Our most important issue, in case you hadn't noticed over this summer period, is the violent change in our weather patterns.  Thinking about this yesterday; I don't recall these insane weather events happening throughout my childhood, and even into my teen years. And yet if you look at this summer, watching the news whilst they say "well there's 300 fires in NSW at the moment and 95 of them are uncontained..." you have to wonder... what's going to happen next?!

Can we not simply take the lead in a Green Energy Revolution?! Show the rest of the world how it's done. Push clean energy industries and make our exports again competitive ! Help the third world evolve, without the use of fossil fuels??!

I'm certain it can be done. But will Australia take up the challenge.

We shall see.

Stand strong, Australia.

xx

lonely and sadly alone...

Well, you know I have to be honest here, on Friday I felt terribly alone, sitting in the lounge devouring red wine, after buying frozen sweet potato fries and baking some fish, then watching some dodgy movie on teevee that was neither fantastic nor offensive to me. You know those movies.

It could well be that 'festival remorse' is real. I mean let's face it, several times a year (well, okay, a lot of the year) I spend my time with my festival families. Then I have to leave them. All of a sudden it's "goodbye, see you next year" - as we're all transient bastards, let's not lie about it.

Spending a few weeks in Sydney was both overwhelming and lovely at the same time. Met a wonderful new crew of peoples, but also felt particularly out of place in that city. Everyone seems too well dressed, or perhaps it was just that I saw a lot of corporate people and that generally makes me shudder. There's a difference between a nice suit and a dude standing on a corner with one of those blue tooth headsets (i thought no-one used them anymore, turns out I was wrong) looking like he's talking to himself, but it being about something terribly important like the next big thing, or budgeting or some crap.

I did, however, enjoy the fact that a bunch of people were coming together to watch footage and ideas from across the globe in many languages. It really has reignited my fascination for film (like it was ever  really gone? i guess other things took precedence in recent years) and think fondly of those friends within that industry thinking 'bravo'.

And GO TEAM BOX OFFICE.

This festival remorse will become all the worse I am sure when I return to Canada soon to help out on Shambhala and have to head back to the Land Of Oz so quickly. I had such an amazing time there last year, even if I did sound like Darth Vadar for a few days and get hooked up to some oxygen therapy. And I had camping neighbours that had yip-yip costumes.

So... Festival Number 36 will you please stand up...

That continual feeling that I belong in that country instead of my own will probably never pass. I've got this strange feeling I will always regret leaving when I did, and always regret not checking out what the requirements would have been for me to stay.  I didn't want to work a lot when I was there, I made that choice, I developed other skills and kept everything flexible to fit in with my disappearing act type lifestyle.

We are so lucky here, and I get jack of people that complain and scare monger, do things for their own gain. Like SUCK IT UP all of you, we have low unemployment, medical care for all, a Government that is actually moving towards decreasing our environmental impact... I mean of course not all of these things are perfect, we are still fighting for many important things to be heard / passed / understood. But to whine and moan about pricing and such, think less. It's always more.

Do you really NEED 3 televisions, 2 cars, shoe hire, hot dog, fries and a coke?! To run your air conditioner or heater 24 / 7, then cry about electric bills?! Put on a jumper!

Our shitty media largely to blame for our over-consumption of just about everything. You need the latest gadget man, seriously, you do... *scoff*.

Look outside it, and get involved in what is local to you.

{ Actually can I ad that some of the television advertising I have seen lately REALLY gives me the shits. Clubs Australia trying to convince us that they are part of a solution... banks using high profile celebs to make them sound like a charity... mining companies trying to prove that they work along side environmental projects. Y'all make me sick. }

here ends the ranting...

today i was proud...

after feeling particularly terrible, negative, drowning not waving financially and feeling the wrath of everyones soul after the Vancouver riot... finally, i feel again part of my community.

I achieved my biggest volunteer feat so far, I guess... well i have to count, right? but managing volunteers for todays Car Free Day in East Vancouver really has made me happy.

I have energy right now, apart from the slight sunburn which doesn't even seem possible because of the overcast day, because I feel like I achieved. I did my first television interview ever and wasn't nervous, i was coherent and precise. And I hope I gave all required and correct information. I spoke about what we were doing and what I personally was doing with the festivals. I think I made some new friends. I was certainly grateful to the people who showed up to help, and I'm pretty sure they all had fun too.

LOVE.

xx

Ohhhh Canadaaaaaaa...

this is where I isssss....

the cat is pawing at me to pay attention. she often gets her claws stuck in my clothes which is of course a problem. she also thinks she owns everything, as all cats do. Which is kinda why I don't end up liking them so much. Of course bearable but not my favourite animals. Dogs sure are. Except ones that headbutt me in the face in the park in Melbourne. That's a whole 'nother story.

It's bucketing down in Vancouver and I want to walk to work. It's kind of not fair somehow. Just when I have the motivation. Well the other reason is for being poor. Why not incorporate saving money with exercise. No problems there.

Besides, I need to start carbon offsetting my travel more effectively.

Walking takes an hour, I would be drowned head to toe by then. Sucks.

Oh well, best make some sandwiches to take in and hope it dies down shortly.

xx

hmmm... perhaps this doesn't even make sense... RANT!

Mission almost accomplished.... well, you know, not bad i say. not bad indeed.

so my original intention was to return to Australia with the idea of making festivals my full time working environment. And who woulda thunk it?! It's actually worked.

No doubt there have been a few stressful moments. Playing catchup financially is not fun, lack of communication on some organisers parts also not fun. Train lines being disrupted for upgrades JUST as I arrive somewhere, floods, etc etc.

In the reality of it all though, I guess those things are minor. My main problem is, I guess, that I decided a while back the corporate world is not for me. However I have also always had a regular pay cheque. 13 years of regular pay cheques in fact, give or take a few months. And therefore when I am not 100% certain when the next one will hit my bank account, get a little stressed.

It's really unfortunate that my stress is about money, considering how non-capitalist my brain feels about our world and the universe.

It's certainly occurred to me the easiest way to fix that stress is to beat the crap outta my credit card and get rid of it. It shall take some time indeed, but it's a big one for me. Definitely high on my priority list. Once it's gone I really can fully relax.

Whilst I recognise that we get paid exceptionally well compared to some other countries here in Australia, I can also acknowledge that we get ridiculously ripped off with most things here also. I guess I've always known that but not taken it so seriously as now.

As an example of a 'local' issue: The big wigs of capitalism can argue all they like for a GST to be put on imported items bought online and all that garb, but the truth is... why can we buy something for $2.99 including postage from Hong Kong when it costs $25 in a shop here. Markup? Taxes? What the hell? So why wouldn't people just import items independently from overseas, via online shopping. Besides, a GST on something like that will only add another 30cents, so it's really not going to do much. They think they are losing out. Well I tell you what, I've never bought anything except a mobile phone from Hardley Normal anyways. Guess I'm less of a consumer than some.

It kind of makes me think though that perhaps, finally, with all of the news local and international and the natural disasters and all, people really are beginning to take stock. Perhaps they're donating their money and their time and even giving away items they discover they don't really need, rather than going in droves to buy new stuff. For some people this has always been normal, for others maybe it's a new revelation. I'd like to think it's making more people socially aware, even though occurrences lately are pretty disastrous on a human and a natural environment scale.

ranty rant rant. that's all for now. xx

the rain, the rain...

Alberta.

Well I've seen a little of it now and I'm told these are the best bits. Surrounded by enormous mountains it is kind of strange how some days it just seems the same old, and some days you feel in awe of such rugged pieces of rock thrust out of the earth by some kind of molten force somewhere far below us.

I just moved into my own room in a place close to work in Banff with some cool kids.

Last night we made sushi and had a dance party in our kitchen fuelled by a lot of red wine.

xx

BP Oil Disaster Response Line...

Just thought I'd re-post this email I received back from them. Make sure you make them know it's NOT OKAY.

"Unified Command for the BP Oil Spill Deepwater Horizon Response

to me

show details Jul 14 (2 days ago)

The following inquiry was submitted to Unified Command for the BP Oil
Spill | Deepwater Horizon Response on 07/13/10 21:47 (492203):
From : Joint Information Center
Date : 07/14/10 10:35

Dear Ms. Faye,

Thank you for sharing your concerns with us. Every member of Unified
Command deeply regrets the impact this spill has had on wildlife and
the residents of the Gulf Coast. We are doing everything possible to
stop the flow from the well, contain spilled oil and minimize the
environmental impact and economic damage.

In the meantime, we appreciate your interest and concern, and encourage
you to follow our progress.

While ultimate responsibility for this terrible accident will be
determined in due time, right now all of us - Unified Command, BP, the
Administration, Federal, State and Local agencies and contracted
responders - are working together towards our ultimate goal of
environmental and economic restoration for the Gulf and its residents.

BP has assumed full responsibility for the spill, and where people have
legitimate claims for damages BP will honor them.

Regards,

Joint Information Center
Deepwater Horizon Response
------------------------------

-----------------------------------------
From : Julie Faye
Date : 07/13/10 21:47

The whole situation in the gulf is disgusting. I hope that your whole
company will be liable for all claims and all clean up costs.
Worst environmental disaster in years!
Makes me totally sick, I wouldn't even be driving a car right now even
if I hadn't recently sold mine.
I would volunteer, but certainly not through your organisation.

-----
If you have further questions or would like more information, feel
free to contact us via the link below.

https://www.piersystem.com/go/inquiry/2931/?i=492203"

I don't think they get it... it's not just people along the coast, they have affected the whole world by poisoning the ocean.

Douche-bags. xo