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Some years ago Papua New Guinea’s Governor, Powes Parkop, damned near caused civil insurrection on New Year’s Day when he enacted a law to ban the chewing of betel nuts on streets of Port Moresby. I said “betel nuts”, not “beetle’s nuts”, in case you think it’s a typo. Most Westerners are not familiar with betel nuts unless they have toured the Sub-Continent.
Hygiene laws in Western countries have thankfully stymied the proliferation of this dirty habit to where a still surprising 10 to 20% of the planet’s population still chaw it in one form or another; making it the 4th most used psychoactive substance, after nicotine, alcohol and caffeine.
Read more: The Colour Red is a Filthy Habit in some places. Betel Nut
Back in 1904, HG Wells wrote a short story about a man who stumbled into a forgotten kingdom where everyone was blind. He thought that would give him incredible power because he possessed something that they did not. The ability to see.
He soon learned that his gift of sight was seen by the villagers as an affliction of the brain that must be caused by two things on his head that he called eyes. They pitied him and, instead of being a gift, the eyes were perceived as a curse, an illness and a disturbance of his brain.
It did not take long before the man realised that, when surrounded by the blindness of ignorance, knowledge itself was an enemy to be ousted and eradicated.
Last night you probably slept for seven to eight hours. About one or two of these was likely in deep sleep, especially if you’re young or physically active. That’s because sleep changes with age and exercise affects brain activity. About three or four hours will have been spent in light sleep.
For the remaining time, you were likely in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. While this is not the only time your brain is potentially dreaming – we also dream during other sleep stages – it is the time your brain activity is most likely to be recalled and reported when you’re awake.
In 1971 there was a time I was dying. In a yacht on a lake. And my brother saved me. I was a young girl in my yacht with my brother. We " canned out " and I, like my brother, fell into the dark and cold gloom of very troubled water.
It did not matter where it happened, but that it happened.
We were going to die. Cold water. Deep, cold, dark and endless water. Yet we were saved. Through determination, love and hard work.
As the Xmas/New Year break approaches many people will have their eyes on the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race; a traditional event starting on Boxing Day.
One of the several unticked items on my bucket list is to sail in the Sydney to Hobart. Back in the 1970’s and early 80’s I crewed on an ocean racer out of Sandringham Yacht Club in Melbourne. The boat I was on was a Carter 30, an English design that could better be described as a Slow Boat to China rather than a racing thoroughbred.
Read more: The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race - a Boxing Day Tradition
At the heart of the Christmas story rests some important lessons concerning free enterprise, government, and the role of wealth in society.
Let’s begin with one of the most famous phrases: “There’s no room at the inn.” This phrase is often invoked as if it were a cruel and heartless dismissal of the tired travelers Joseph and Mary. Many renditions of the story conjure up images of the couple going from inn to inn only to have the owner barking at them to go away and slamming the door.
In fact, the inns were full to overflowing in the entire Holy Land because of the Roman emperor’s decree that everyone be counted and taxed. Inns are private businesses, and customers are their lifeblood. There would have been no reason to turn away this man of royal lineage and his beautiful, expectant bride.
Read more: The Businessman and the Holy Family - something to think about
Samuel Pepys is probably one of the most famous diarists in history and his words are treasured throughout the English speaking world.
A politician from the 1600's, he captured the spirit and soul of Britain in those days of an era we no longer recognise. Though, in some cases, perhaps we do, all rather too well.
I read Mr Pepys most excellent diary entries for Christmas Day and Boxing Day 1665. Back during the days of the Plague, 400 years ago. So much has changed, yet so little.
Only minutes before midnight on Christmas Eve, 1953, the engine driver of the Wellington to Auckland express train will notch back to walking pace in a remote area of New Zealand's North Island's 'volcanic plateau. Most passengers will be sleeping.
The train consisting of eight carriages, a heating unit, postal and guard's van will approach the double span steel trestle bridge, lit by the headlight of the powerful throbbing DX locomotive. At a strategic point the driver will cast a floral tribute into the darkness, where it will come to rest in the gentle waters below to mark the tragic events that occurred here 70 years ago in 1953.
Read more: The Bridge Over The River Cry - A Christmas Eve tale of Tragedy
" A relative who lives in Brisbane was telling me about her visit doing Christmas shopping. She wanted to buy for her young children a Nativity Scene so she could put it on the table and explain the meaning of Christmas. Do you know that none of the shop assistants had a clue what she was talking about or even the real meaning of Christmas. This shows how much Australia has lost over the past generation.
So much for politicians enriching our society by bringing in aliens. To me it shows how bad Australia has got"
And that got me thinking about a Christmas a long time ago.
Read more: Nativity Scenes, Cardboard Boxes, Barbie Dolls and Missing Sheep
General Sir John Monash is one of the truly great Australians. He was an Australian military and civilian leader as well as a great contributor to Australian life. His achievements are outstanding. In my opinion, Monash was not just our most outstanding military leader but our most outstanding citizen of all time.
The achievements of John Monash are so extensive and comprehensive that I cannot condense them into a single post, brief enough to retain the reader’s interest. Therefore I have decided to present them in six episodes of which this is the first. The episodes have been divided into specific eras of his life; Pre 1901 (two parts), 1901-1915 and 1916-1918 and Post WW1.
In May 1942, as Japanese forces surged southward across the Pacific, Australia stood on the…
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When a nation loses its voice, it turns to memory. In these strange days, when…
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Factional ferrets, backstabbing bandicoots, and the great Teal tango - how the Libs turned on…
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In an era where technology dictates much of our daily lives, algorithms have become the…
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When you cast your vote, you’re not just selecting a candidate; you’re choosing the kind…
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When news broke that Australia had declared war on New Zealand, most assumed it was…
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Beneath the swaying trees and the green grass of Norfolk Island lies a brutal chapter…
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In a world that seems determined to teach us to hate our countries, I remember…
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By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble In a stunning turn of events, Peter “Cooker” Fookit - who…
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For nearly three decades, the Port Arthur Massacre has been remembered as Australia's darkest day…
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Who pays the Ferryman? In the old myths, no soul crossed the river Styx without…
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By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Special Correspondent for Ratty News Roderick Whiskers McNibble here, tail fluffed…
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Each war seems to produce its own under-appreciated heroes who, for reasons that have nothing…
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Just before dawn on August 7, 1915, the men of the 8th and 10th Australian…
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It is not often that a hero can also be a larrikin and vice versa.…
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On ANZAC Day we remember the fallen, the brave, the heroic. But behind every name…
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Magic happens everywhere and goodness, wonder and delight can be found alive and well throughout…
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How many people around the world have been warning about the danger we are in? …
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Two names. Two battles. One legend. At Chunuk Bair and Lone Pine, ANZAC soldiers faced…
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It has been truly said that Australia arrived in Gallipoli as six separate States and…
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By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Investigative Reporter Extraordinaire The Ratty News Foreign Desk | Special Report…
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There are men who live great adventures and there are men who write about them.…
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When life collapses and the weight of grief threatens to bury us, we have two…
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He was short, wiry, and came from the dusty outskirts of Clermont in rural Queensland.…
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As the sun rises on another ANZAC Day in less than two weeks, and an…
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Some memories shimmer in the mind like a heat haze, half mischief, half magic. This…
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For over five years now, this blog has grown into more than just a place…
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In a stunning turn of events, Roderick “Whiskers” McNibble - microphone-wielding rat and founding fur…
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How did it happen? How did a failed artist and fringe political agitator rise from…
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What happens when the battlefield goes silent....but the war doesn’t end? When soldiers come home,…
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John B. Calhoun’s “rat utopia” experiments of the 1960s, designed to be paradises with unlimited…
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Throughout history, religion has been hailed as a guiding light, a beacon of morality and…
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Factional ferrets, backstabbing bandicoots, and the great Teal tango - how the Libs turned on…
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Magic happens everywhere and goodness, wonder and delight can be found alive and well throughout…
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How many people around the world have been warning about the danger we are in? …
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The latest State of the Climate Report is out to scare everyone with plucked esoteric records based…
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I am a Christian Brothers College (CBC) old boy and attended a few of the…
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Malcolm Roberts just gave a speech in Parliament. It is well worth recording here and…
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The Fox News star gives voice to the concerns of millions – the part of…
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Close to 800 million sealed face coverings that were manufactured for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) scamdemic will…
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It is beyond belief that the speaker who tore up the copies of Donald Trump’s…
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“We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government…
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Thursday February 08
In the 1880’s shearers wielded a lot of influence on our country. Despite us not…
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Wednesday March 01
At the beginning of March, 2023, I join Monty in celebrating Irish month. There are…
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Thursday December 29
One of the most famous and best known characters in Australian folk lore, Ned Kelly…
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Saturday January 14
General Sir John Monash is one of the truly great Australians. He was an Australian…
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Friday July 14
Nearly 30 years has flowed under the bridge since I last owned a dog. That…
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Monday March 04
These are episides from Against the Wind , a 1978 Australian television miniseries. It is a historical drama…
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I think it’s safe to say that adventures of the more daring kind are often…
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Speckled about the steep slopes are clumps of small, fieldstone cottages. Their crumbling mortar and aging stones are victim…
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Nearly 30 years has flowed under the bridge since I last owned a dog. That…
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Conservative opinions by PatriotrealmCC BY-ND 4.0
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