Sometimes it seems everyone in authority is going quite daft! I recall a quote which went "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Unfortunately history is either not taught at schools these days, or is skewed to suit some left or right wing bigoted idiot's viewpoint, or is ignored to pander to a vocal minority.
In Australia we have recently experienced massive destruction in the southern states from bush fires. Although I live in the north, it seems to me that the solution is quite simple - burn off selectively at the most suitable time, which is what Aborigines practiced for centuries and what the older generation in the rural sector also practiced.
Unfortunately, in recent years local authorities, no doubt encouraged by politically correct nitwits in the State & Federal arena, have conveniently forgotten the lessons of history, bent over for the vocal minority greenies, many of whom have no idea what they are talking about, & reduced or forbidden burn offs.
A recent report has recalled history - ScienceDaily (Nov. 29, 2009) — A landmark Australian project that mitigates the extent and severity of natural savannah blazes by deploying traditional Indigenous fire management techniques is being hailed as a model with vast global potential in the fights against climate change and biodiversity loss, and for protecting Indigenous lands and culture, etc, etc Check it out here http://bit.ly/8rz9Rm
What resources we could save by studying history more closely!
Monday 30 November 2009
Monday 23 November 2009
Xmas Ideas for the Lazy Shopper!
Christmas comes but once a year, fortunately, even if that makes me sound like Scrooge!
It has really lost much of its charm, thanks to retailers chasing the almighty dollar.
As a kid in the '50's I recall it was a magic time. As I had been sent from Ceylon to boarding school in Scotland, I spent my school holidays with my Aunt in the country outside Glasgow.
She bustled around for several weeks before Xmas making the cake & icing it, making various sweetmeats & the pudding, ordering some luxury groceries by phone from a friend in Glasgow who owned an upmarket shop, boiling the ham and making arrangements to obtain a pheasant, salmon, or other special item from various locals, who I suspect may have been poachers! I helped by licking out the bowls!
Uncle Tom set up the tree in the sitting room in bucket suitably covered with fancy paper, with pine boughs spread around under it on which the gifts would be laid & I helped him decorate it. He had spent much time in Germany & Austria before WW1 & was strongly influenced by the traditions of those countries, which included a quiet family gathering on Xmas Eve, presenting & opening gifts after a light meal & having guests in or going out to friends for a formal lunch on Xmas Day.
Most evenings were occupied by games like rummy, chinese checkers, tiddlywinks, & dominoes, although when guests were present they usually played bridge. We did not get TV until after 1960!
Stockings were put out at the foot of the bed on Xmas Eve for Santa to fill with fruit & nuts to keep kids quiet for some time the next day.
Most of the gifts in those days were home made, or at least modestly priced, as there were no credit cards then. Much time was spent in thinking what would be appropriate for the people you were proposing to give a gift to, followed by careful shopping around, with considerable time spent on wrapping the item and composing a carefully worded card addressed to the recipient.
These days little thought seems to be given to what gifts might be most appropriate for a person. Often shopping is left to the last minute, with items hurriedly picked from shelves, paid for by credit card & wrapped by the shop assistant.
As a kid I was a bookworm, but these days, although I still enjoy browsing in bookshops, I have taken to using the web to check out the latest offerings from authors I enjoy. Of course, this site is great for not just books
It has really lost much of its charm, thanks to retailers chasing the almighty dollar.
As a kid in the '50's I recall it was a magic time. As I had been sent from Ceylon to boarding school in Scotland, I spent my school holidays with my Aunt in the country outside Glasgow.
She bustled around for several weeks before Xmas making the cake & icing it, making various sweetmeats & the pudding, ordering some luxury groceries by phone from a friend in Glasgow who owned an upmarket shop, boiling the ham and making arrangements to obtain a pheasant, salmon, or other special item from various locals, who I suspect may have been poachers! I helped by licking out the bowls!
Uncle Tom set up the tree in the sitting room in bucket suitably covered with fancy paper, with pine boughs spread around under it on which the gifts would be laid & I helped him decorate it. He had spent much time in Germany & Austria before WW1 & was strongly influenced by the traditions of those countries, which included a quiet family gathering on Xmas Eve, presenting & opening gifts after a light meal & having guests in or going out to friends for a formal lunch on Xmas Day.
Most evenings were occupied by games like rummy, chinese checkers, tiddlywinks, & dominoes, although when guests were present they usually played bridge. We did not get TV until after 1960!
Stockings were put out at the foot of the bed on Xmas Eve for Santa to fill with fruit & nuts to keep kids quiet for some time the next day.
Most of the gifts in those days were home made, or at least modestly priced, as there were no credit cards then. Much time was spent in thinking what would be appropriate for the people you were proposing to give a gift to, followed by careful shopping around, with considerable time spent on wrapping the item and composing a carefully worded card addressed to the recipient.
These days little thought seems to be given to what gifts might be most appropriate for a person. Often shopping is left to the last minute, with items hurriedly picked from shelves, paid for by credit card & wrapped by the shop assistant.
As a kid I was a bookworm, but these days, although I still enjoy browsing in bookshops, I have taken to using the web to check out the latest offerings from authors I enjoy. Of course, this site is great for not just books
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Hooked on Golf - Some Tips & Tricks from a Golf Addict
In my last article, Hooked on Golf - A Slice of a Golf Addict's Tale (part 3), published on 10th September, I finished describing my inexorable slide into addiction to this exhilarating, fascinating, humbling, infuriating game & I promised to cover some tips & tricks that I have picked up over the years.
Some of these have helped me to overcome the depths of despair into which I have been plunged into from time to time by the vicissitudes of the game, when I couldn't seem to get anything right & my handicap was steadily moving out.
Others have helped me hold the game together when I've started off well, but then found my game falling apart in the middle of a competition round.
Still others have lifted my game to new levels, unfortunately usually only temporarily, as without constant practice the effect of a new technique seems to wear off, or the technique is forgotten over time & the bad old ways sneak back!
This process must inevitably be spread over several articles, as I should really start with advice for potential newcomers to the game. They may have been drawn to it after watching it on TV, or hearing friends talk, or because they have no interest in team games, or because they have retired and have time on their hands, or their doctor has advised them to get some exercise, or their wife wants them out of her hair for a while (more on that later), or any number of other reasons.
The first thing they need to understand is that the idea behind the game of golf is simple, the object being to hit a small ball from a starting point (the tee) over a variety of terrain & get it into a hole in the ground some distance away in the least number of shots using a variety of clubs.
That is not to say the game is easy! There is a vast difference between the idea and the practice, so we'll go straight into practicalities.
I am firmly of the opinion that a beginner should not spend a vast amount on equipment. After all, you may decide after the first few weeks that it is not what you were looking for. However, bearing in mind Abe Lincoln's advice that "If you have 8 hours to fell a tree, spend the first 6 sharpening your axe", professional tuition at the start is a must.
Friends who play the game will be able to advise you which club professional in the area offers the best tuition. If you live in a country area with only one club, then you may have no choice, but any professional tuition at the start is better than none. Tips from well meaning friends, however low their handicap, will only confuse until you learn the basics.
This need not be expensive either. Most club professionals have beginners classes where, for a reasonable fee, a group class is tutored once or twice a week for a few weeks & the professional may supply the clubs too from hire sets (at least in Australia in my experience).
Once you decide that the game may be worth further investigation, you have several options. You can pick up a few cheap clubs & a bag from friends or at car boot sales & hone your skills on the practice range until you feel reasonably confident to go out with friends for a social round. Or you can go on eBay, or see if your local golf shop or professional has any cheap sets available. Used balls can be obtained cheaply at the golf club, or found on the course if that is allowed.
Eventually, however, you should see a professional to get measured for clubs, as the lie angle of the clubhead and the length and flex of the club shaft have a significant effect on your game. As in every field of endeavour, some professionals are better than others at measuring & fitting you out, so discuss this with your friends who play. You should not be talked into buying a new full set at this point. If your pro is any good, he will give you some options. These could include buying a decent second hand set which can be altered to your measurements, or buying a new half set made to measure. What bag you need will depend on which option you take, or how close it is to your birthday or Christmas!
Hopefully you will feel that you know enough now to make a decision whether to investigate this wonderful game further. The next article will cover common beginners problems & what I found useful to fix these. Meanwhile here are some Hot golf books
for light reading over the festive season, or if you want some swing tips Click Here!.
Some of these have helped me to overcome the depths of despair into which I have been plunged into from time to time by the vicissitudes of the game, when I couldn't seem to get anything right & my handicap was steadily moving out.
Others have helped me hold the game together when I've started off well, but then found my game falling apart in the middle of a competition round.
Still others have lifted my game to new levels, unfortunately usually only temporarily, as without constant practice the effect of a new technique seems to wear off, or the technique is forgotten over time & the bad old ways sneak back!
This process must inevitably be spread over several articles, as I should really start with advice for potential newcomers to the game. They may have been drawn to it after watching it on TV, or hearing friends talk, or because they have no interest in team games, or because they have retired and have time on their hands, or their doctor has advised them to get some exercise, or their wife wants them out of her hair for a while (more on that later), or any number of other reasons.
The first thing they need to understand is that the idea behind the game of golf is simple, the object being to hit a small ball from a starting point (the tee) over a variety of terrain & get it into a hole in the ground some distance away in the least number of shots using a variety of clubs.
That is not to say the game is easy! There is a vast difference between the idea and the practice, so we'll go straight into practicalities.
I am firmly of the opinion that a beginner should not spend a vast amount on equipment. After all, you may decide after the first few weeks that it is not what you were looking for. However, bearing in mind Abe Lincoln's advice that "If you have 8 hours to fell a tree, spend the first 6 sharpening your axe", professional tuition at the start is a must.
Friends who play the game will be able to advise you which club professional in the area offers the best tuition. If you live in a country area with only one club, then you may have no choice, but any professional tuition at the start is better than none. Tips from well meaning friends, however low their handicap, will only confuse until you learn the basics.
This need not be expensive either. Most club professionals have beginners classes where, for a reasonable fee, a group class is tutored once or twice a week for a few weeks & the professional may supply the clubs too from hire sets (at least in Australia in my experience).
Once you decide that the game may be worth further investigation, you have several options. You can pick up a few cheap clubs & a bag from friends or at car boot sales & hone your skills on the practice range until you feel reasonably confident to go out with friends for a social round. Or you can go on eBay, or see if your local golf shop or professional has any cheap sets available. Used balls can be obtained cheaply at the golf club, or found on the course if that is allowed.
Eventually, however, you should see a professional to get measured for clubs, as the lie angle of the clubhead and the length and flex of the club shaft have a significant effect on your game. As in every field of endeavour, some professionals are better than others at measuring & fitting you out, so discuss this with your friends who play. You should not be talked into buying a new full set at this point. If your pro is any good, he will give you some options. These could include buying a decent second hand set which can be altered to your measurements, or buying a new half set made to measure. What bag you need will depend on which option you take, or how close it is to your birthday or Christmas!
Hopefully you will feel that you know enough now to make a decision whether to investigate this wonderful game further. The next article will cover common beginners problems & what I found useful to fix these. Meanwhile here are some Hot golf books
for light reading over the festive season, or if you want some swing tips Click Here!.
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