Just had a call from Sally, she is being discharged right now, and will be sleeping in her own bed this evening. Yay!
Month: April 2010
What’s wrong with factory farming?
Full article from Time Magazine here.
Help?
So. Turning 40. Big party. Well, a party, anyway. Presents? I hope so! Not a lot, but 40 is a big deal for me.
Anyway, I thought I had a list, a list of stuff that I couldn’t justify buying for myself. And I’ve lost it.
So if you were turning 40, and you already had the gorgeous husband, kid and mixmaster (thanks mum!), what would you want?
I also already have a swift, a ball winder, blocking wires, knitpicks options, a terrific camera, and I only wear Crocs.
Ideas?
In case you’ve ever wondered…
…why MARRIAGE is so important to people who are currently denied it, please read this.
Civil unions, relationship “recognition”, or civil partnerships, whatever words you want to use (without actually using the word marriage) don’t stack up, because a two tiered system of rights is open to abuse. Granted, this horrific case was probably made worse by the fact that the gentlemen were elderly, and the younger one had some cognitive impairment. Surely the very people that our society needs to protect.
And this is why I am in two minds…
Of course, I want one. But I don’t have a job, so unless one of my grant applications comes through, it will mean months of saving, but still, I want one.
And then I read something like this, and am reminded that technology is a double edged sword.
Already, the two year old is scarily adept at the iPhone.
Kick Ass
Kris posted a movie review a couple of weeks ago, and Mark and I decided that Kick Ass was an appropriate film to watch to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary. Yup, we were married on 04.04.04, so we have now been married approximately one million years.
And we still have the same taste in films. Thanks Kris!
P.S. Finally got to see Sally today, and she is in surprisingly good form – even sitting up in a chair for the first time since the accident. I brought her some quality caffeine, and some boring knitting, and promised to come back and see her again soon. Apparently her break is not a clean and simple one, so she might be in hospital for a few more days. She is very grateful for all the flowers and well wishes, and messages. She has read all the comments on my blog, and she loves youse all.
Sally
My dear friend Sally rang me from hospital last night. She fell over in the city, and has broken her hip in two places. She’s had surgery today, but will be in hospital for some time.
If you’re also a friend of hers, she’d love a visit, and if you don’t know her so well, I’m sure she’d appreciate some good wishes comments on her blog.
Protest!
Fe and I went to the protest yesterday, armed with our cameras. Fe was determined to stay impartial and professional, I thought I would try for as long as I could. But when one lone woman was surrounded with bile spewing rednecks, I had to take a stand and join her. Sarah, whoever you are, I thought you were very brave. Sarah said, “I wasn’t worried, the racists are most likely sexist too, and would never hit a woman”.
I was disgusted that the police had been close by when the refugee supporters found an APP supporter in their midst, but stayed away when the APP turned on Susan. I wondered if the police were truly as impartial as they are supposed to be, and I was still wondering when I snapped this picture.
Notice anything? The butt of his weapon?
The rest of my pictures are here.
Edited to add a link to Fe’s amazing pics.
And “John”, a Today Tonight poll is only going to reflect the ideas and aspirations of a not very educated group that get their opinions from “Today Tonight” and the Telegraph, etc. I won’t enter into an argument about the facts of immigration, but I would be happy to listen to your views once you have spent a month on a leaky boat, trying to save the lives of your children. Then we can talk about disadvantage, selfishness, and racism.
Sydney Morning Herald coverage here.
Anyone wanna fight racism with me tomorrow?
I got this in my inbox yesterday – and though I have serious reservations about taking Inigo to a protest that has the possibility of getting violent (not that I think this will, but I need to protect him), I really think it’s important to stand up for people who have no voice of their own.
Unfortunately Mark has to work tomorrow, so does anyone want to join me? Will be at Pearl Beach overnight with limited phone signal, so text me if you’re interested 🙂
—————————————————————————
Please forward this rally to ALL people who would be concerned about the
far-right taunting asylum seekers, many of whom have fled war and persecution,
while they are locked behind the razor wire
UNITE AGAINST RACISM
Refugees are welcome – racism is not!
The Australian Protectionist Party have called a rally attacking refugee rights for this Sunday, April 11, at 3pm outside Villawood Detention Centre.
The APP are anti-refugee, anti-immigrant & racist. They letterbox leaflets that scapegoat Africans, Muslims & immigrants for crime, unemployment & other social problems. However, the major parties are also to blame – they have given a green light to racism, by also demonising refugees & using migrants as scapegoats.
Racism kills. Refugees are still being deported to their deaths. Attacks on international students and immigrants are increasing.
We need a peaceful show of support for refugee rights, for equality and justice – and to let all racists know that their hatred is not welcome.
Rally Sun April 11, 2pm
At Villawood Detention Centre
15 Birmingham Ave, Villawood (nr Leightonfield Stn)
Please forward this message, organise your friends, bring placards and banners in support of refugees and against racism.
Supported by: Refugee Action Coalition, Latin American Social Forum, Sudanese Human Rights Assoc, Social Justice Group, Socialist Alliance, Solidarity, Socialist Alternative, Resistance.
For information, to add your support, or if you have ideas for the rally, please phone Paul 0410 629 088 or James 0438 718 348
———— —-
The racist APP’s rally call:
Weissingerising
Hoyden About Town commented on my recent link to 50 things you should know about feeding babies that the article needed “Weissingerising”. I absolutely agree, but it occurred to me that many people won’t know what we’re going on about.
Dianne Weissinger wrote a powerful article about the way we talk about breastfeeding – instead of saying that breastfeeding is “ideal”, we should be saying that breastfeeding is “normal”. Why? Because none of us see ourselves as ideal parents. “Trying Hard” parents, “Good Enough” parents maybe, but ideal, perfect, these concepts are too hard for most parents in the day to day reality of parenting, especially in the early days.
Also, as with any health message, it is better to talk about the risks of not breastfeeding than the benefits of breastfeeding. Can you imagine how many ex-smokers would still be smoking if the anti smoking campaigns were built around warm fuzzy images of healthy lungs instead of scary images of dead and diseased ones?
And we all now how I feel about patronising mothers by not telling them the truth about the risks of formula feeding….
Disco Knitter 