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Saturday, 12 July 2008
Signs
There were two good articles in the “West Australian’ newspaper today by Paul Murray and Zoltan Kovacs. Discussing how we live in a nanny state and how paternalistic governments can be and so forth.
One comment made was “We’re largely over-governed because we want to be”. A most refreshing comment and one that I fully agree with. Why are we living in a nanny state? Because we want to be. Well I don’t, but most Australians do. So it is the electorate who is responsible for the nanny state not the government.
One always hears people banging on about how politicians lie to us and put spin on this and that. Most politicians are OK people who don’t want to lie, so why do they? Because they know that if they tell it as it is on certain topics then we, the electorate will rapidly ‘un-elect’ them. So it is us, the voters, who say to the politicians tell us the truth but if you do then we will kick you out of office. So it is the voters who are responsible for political spin on this and that. We elect people who we know are going to lie to us, so that is our responsibility. In the final analysis a politician is merely a reflection of the attitudes of the electorate.
And to the nanny state. I went to the beach the other day and as you walk to it from your car you are confronted with all these signs about shallow water here so don’t dive, rocks over there so be cautious, beware of rips, jellyfish and so forth. Fuck! I thought. All they need is one sign which says, “Remember to assess the environment for potential dangers” then the rest is up to me. I don’t need the government to do it for me!
Here is a picture of me when I was a long haired freaky person
With all those signs I was reminded of a great song that was around when I was a long haired freaky person. We used to love this song and sing it at parties when it was played. It is by Telsa and titled “Signs”
And the sign says "Long-haired freaky people need not apply"
So I put my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why
He said you look like a fine outstanding young man, I think you'll do
So I took off my hat, I said "Imagine that, huh, me working for you"
[Chorus:]
Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs
Fuckin' up the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign
And the sign says "Anybody caught trespassing will be shot on sight"
So I jumped the fence and I yelled at the house
Hey! What gives you the right!
To put up a fence and keep me out, or to keep Mother Nature in
If God was here, he'd tell it to your face, man, you're some kind of sinner
[Chorus]
Oh, say now mister, can't you read
You got to have a shirt and tie to get a seat
You can't watch, no you can't eat, you ain't supposed to be here
And the sign says "You got to have a membership card to get inside" - uh!
[Solo]
And the sign says "Everybody welcome, come in, kneel down and pray"
But then they passed around a plate at the end of it all
And I didn't have a penny to pay
So I got me a pen and a paper and I made up my own fuckin' sign
I said, "Thank you Lord for thinking 'bout me, I'm alive and doing fine", oh
[Chorus 2x]
--------------
One thing that does concern me is how much the youth in particular just accept what the government tells them and it is like they want the government to tell them what to do. When I was young (I always promised never to say that) the government was the enemy. What they told you to do you didn’t do and you certainly didn’t ask them what to do!!
However there is one thing that the youth of today do do which shows they have spirit and gives assurance that they have a mind of their own - graffiti. The government constantly tells them not to do it and they keep doing it. They are making up their own signs!
Graffiti
12:05 Permalink | Comments (58) | Email this
Comments
Actually, i think there is more art-graffiti in our youth than we think. Not just in the painting on walls and stuff.
Gosh Mr Graffiti, this is a really good post. I like it a lot. Well observed and stated.
roses
Posted by: roses | Saturday, 12 July 2008
What a handsome young man in the second picture, Tony.
We are nannied half to death in the US as well, yet we still have citizens who are homeless or have no access to proper medical care. It seems such a contradiction to me. I don't understand it.
I caught the ending of a movie called The Bucket List tonight. A man died and his friend, the narrator of the ending, talked about how the burial was on some mountain top. He said he was sure his friend would like that very much because it was against the law to bury someone there. Made me think of you. :-)
Posted by: Lynn | Sunday, 13 July 2008
Hi Roses,
Glad you liked the comments and thanks for the strokes
Graffiti
Posted by: Graffiti | Sunday, 13 July 2008
Lynn,
Good to hear from you and that is a picture of me in the swimming pool that was at my parents home.
Buried on a mountain top sounds OK to me. I still want my ashes shot up in a sky rocket over the ocean.
Cheers
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Sunday, 13 July 2008
The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. This was one of the winners:
7. Giraffiti : Vandalism spray-painted very, very high
Posted by: kahless | Sunday, 13 July 2008
Great post as ever Tony. Thank you.
Posted by: Hullaballoo | Monday, 14 July 2008
Your very welcome Tony.
Kahless! Giraffiti! Nothing hindering your imagination that's for sure. I like it a lot *giggles*
Is that why they have all those brown spots on them. Spraypaint? Or is it the white squiggly lines? Do girafes have spots or lines? I don't know - but they do tend to stick their necks out a bit.
Posted by: roses | Monday, 14 July 2008
Ohh and by the way Lynn. The bucket list - really nice movie i thought. A bit like, 'very real' type thing. Funny you know - at times during the movie and after it, i realised how every moment of our lives can actually count. But pretty soon after it, all that "making moments count" stuff seems to recede into the back ground clamor (riotous endless noise) of life. So strange really...
I was wondering about you. It's so good to see your comment. Cheers
Posted by: roses | Monday, 14 July 2008
Have the aussies gone into hibernation?
Wot no aussies
^
___O___
¤ ¤
Posted by: kahless | Monday, 14 July 2008
(Kilroy was here)
Posted by: Kilroy | Tuesday, 15 July 2008
I don't know where they all are Kahless. Probably having an extended coffee and chips somewhere. May be they found a sunny spot (out of the cold wind) and snuggling down for the winter - you could be very correct. I've got to admit... hibernation sounds pretty good and it's only ten to nine am over where i am. Probably something like Ten to seven over in Perth.
I hope it's not as chilly where you are. Brrrrr
Posted by: roses | Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Yes, there is life outside of Grafitti's blog. I am hybernating and I had fish and chips last night Roses. My gas heater is having problems lighting up. There seems to be a knack to getting it going.
kenoath
Posted by: kenoath | Tuesday, 15 July 2008
If you can find some sun soaked place Ken, be like my cat and curl up in it. It's July - the great thaw is on it's way. You had fish and chips? Nice choice!
Gas is good but sometimes it can give one a bit of a pain in the belly. Flatulence, though smelly and embarrasing at times, can be such a relief.
I hope you work out your heater soon Ken. Before bits of you freeze up and drop off. Ouch!
Posted by: roses | Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Hello after SO many weeks!Life was too busy to surf the net!
You look really cute in long hair!How old are you?You look like a young boy!!!
Phoebe
Posted by: Phoebe | Thursday, 17 July 2008
Hi Phoebe.
Tony?
It's probably been said often but... 1) What's a supervision group and - 2) what do they do?
Posted by: roses | Thursday, 17 July 2008
Kahless, So you are a member of mensa?
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Thursday, 17 July 2008
Life out side Graffiti's blog Kenoath?
That sounds like an oxymoron to me.
Graffiti
Posted by: Graffiti | Thursday, 17 July 2008
Supervision group Roses is where people get supervision on various aspects of psychotherapy.
They sit around and ask questions and talk about stuff
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Thursday, 17 July 2008
Hello Phoebe,
Good to hear from you.
How old am I now or in the photograph?
In the photograph I would be about 19 years old.
I will tell you how old I am now if you tell first.
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Thursday, 17 July 2008
I don't know how to answer that Grafitti? Maybe we have our universes cross wired? There is a world out there somewhere. Some say that a man called the Pope is having rave reviews in Sydney.
kenoath
Posted by: kenoath | Thursday, 17 July 2008
Tony, so that's kind of like a tute at uni then? I bet it's fun/interesting.
Ken, it appears that the man called Pope is having a lovely time during his visit down under. Boy do those young catholic people know how to party! I guess most young people know how to party, huh? Good for them!
By the way... welcome back Mr Graffiti
Posted by: roses | Thursday, 17 July 2008
I see the same reported Kenoath,
the Pope is pulling bigger crowds than major rock stars. Maybe Lennon was wrong and the Beatles were not bigger than Jesus.
Graffiti
Posted by: Graffiti | Thursday, 17 July 2008
And a howdie doodie to you to Roses.
And yes they are similar to university tutorials, at least the ones I was in anyway
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Thursday, 17 July 2008
So those are the kind of things that i'll be involved in if/when i begin my TA training. As frightening as it seems in my head - gosh i want to begin it. I wanted to enrol for my first TA thingy this summer (if they were holding it this December like they did last December) but i think i'll be doing the beginning of the uni subject that i'm doing now (I'm doing 102 now and 101 through the summer break).
The Sydney ladies said they held one this winter but i wanted to go when i wasn't studying. Maybe i'm just going to have to go when ever i can. Perhaps that's a better plan.
Posted by: roses | Thursday, 17 July 2008
If you do do TA training Roses then the supervisions groups will be very similar to the ones that I run.
Do go when ever you can Roses as it sounds like a better plan as they may not run them all that often
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Thursday, 17 July 2008
No I am not a ponsey.
I am not into joining elitist groups
Lol!
Got it off the internet!
Posted by: kahless | Thursday, 17 July 2008
Hello Kahless.
I get about 1 per year. People who want to join mensa.
They have to get an IQ test with a registered psychologist in Australia and then I am given the relevant paper work and fill it in with the relevant IQ score. So they either make the cut or they do not.
I always make sure I get paid in cash before I score the test and fill in the paper work. I have learnt over the years that those who don't make the cut tend to accuse the test of being wrong and that I don't know what I am doing and they refuse to pay for the test.
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Thursday, 17 July 2008
That is funny Tony - cash first.
I love your quirks.
Posted by: kahless | Thursday, 17 July 2008
That is funny Tony - cash first.
I love your quirks.
Posted by: kahless | Thursday, 17 July 2008
Oops
Seems like I have a stutter developing.
Posted by: kahless | Thursday, 17 July 2008
The testing they require kahless is quite intensive.
You are looking at least 2 hours work. They require the test to be of the highest quality which is good I suppose because at least they take them selves seriously.
I don't want to spend working for two hours only to be told that I have no idea what I am doing and don't get paid
Cheers
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Thursday, 17 July 2008
Yes, I would hate for you not to be paid. Why do they need you? Is it just not a written exam?
And what type of people come for testing?
Pushy parents wanting a super brainy kid?
Posted by: kahless | Thursday, 17 July 2008
No Kahless,
The best IQ tests are administered by a qualified practitioner and it has to be a category A test which means it is an instrument that has been very extensively researched.
The usual candidate for the mensa application is a male in his 20s or 30s
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Thursday, 17 July 2008
Wow a male in his 20s to 30s - I would have never has guessed that!
Have you tested yourself?
Posted by: kahless | Thursday, 17 July 2008
Do they ever tell you why they want to do a test like that during that age bracket? Do they ever explain to you just in chatting why they search for their IQ level at that age?
Posted by: roses | Friday, 18 July 2008
I am 43 years old.Now your turn!!!
Aww just 19! you look really cute there....
Phoebe
Posted by: Phoebe | Friday, 18 July 2008
Why they want to make an application to Mensa Roses?
They have never said, and I have never asked.
But I don't think it is search for their IQ at that age. It's more about belonging to mensa, I think
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Friday, 18 July 2008
Hi Phoebe,
Thanks for the kind comment.
43? You don't look a day over 30.
My age?
Take the number 20
add 545
divide by 5
multiply by 6
subtract 78
divide by 3
add 65
take its square root
subtract 6.27882
multiply by 8
subtract by the internal angle of an equilateral triangle
add 31
and that is my age.
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Friday, 18 July 2008
It comes to 51....i guess I am calculating wrong !That can not be true.
Phoebe
Posted by: Phoebe | Friday, 18 July 2008
Holley Molley Phoebe,
You work it out!
yes I am 18,615 days old
(baring the odd Feb 29th not included)
Cheers
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Friday, 18 July 2008
Graffiti,
Have you tested yourself?
Posted by: kahless | Friday, 18 July 2008
Hi Kahless,
I can't test myself now because I know all the answers.
But my mother did the test on me when I was 10 years old.
Graffiti
Posted by: Graffiti | Friday, 18 July 2008
I guess you could do the test but just score really highly as an off the scale super mega brain.
Where do you stand on cheating Graffiti. Are you adverse to cheating or game for it?
(Nosey Kahless )
Posted by: kahless | Friday, 18 July 2008
Your Mum did the test Grafitti? I am glad that only a few mothers had those sorts of tests in the drawer.
kenoath
Posted by: kenoath | Friday, 18 July 2008
Well I could cheat on it Kahless but what would be the point. I would know the score obtained is not accurate and I don't really have any interest in becoming a member of mensa.
I must say however that there have been a few mensa applicants I've tested and some of their answers have been too good. So it seems they may have some how got hold of the booklet and studied it.
Graffiti
Posted by: Tony | Saturday, 19 July 2008
I suppose you are right Kenoath,
Not many mothers would have such things in the drawer at home!
Nice sunny day to day, well at least at the moment. Did you see the hail storm last nite!!
Graffiti
Posted by: Graffiti | Saturday, 19 July 2008
What did you score? Gosh when you were 10!
I did the "how old is Graffiti math puzzle". That was fun! And 51, is an exciting sounding age to be.
You had a hail storm? It is most definately wanting to be quite a chilly day here today.
By the way... that 18,615 days - did you include leap years?
Posted by: roses | Saturday, 19 July 2008
It has been wild and woolly indeed Tony. Its good to see the sun out this morning. brrrr.
k
Posted by: kenoath | Saturday, 19 July 2008
No Roses I did not include Feburary 29ths in the 18615 days I have been alive. But if you want to for me that would be fine.
Not too sure if it would be wise to disclose the IQ score I got Roses
Graffiti
Posted by: Graffiti | Saturday, 19 July 2008
Chilly it is indeed kenoath!
Graffiti
Posted by: Graffiti | Saturday, 19 July 2008
I'm assuming you probably did well. I like to think most people prove that they are pretty clever. It's just that we're not always putting all our energy into what - well, the builders of our society would think is good or relevant? or *giggles*... healthy for society (their society that is)? So funny!
I think it's funny how you don't disclose a lot. Actually, i'm the same.
Posted by: roses | Saturday, 19 July 2008
I think that Tony actually reveals much about who he is on the blogs Roses. That is a very good statement about people proving how they are 'pretty clever' Roses. I would imagine for those who already know that about themselves, that they have less need to prove that to themselves.
k
Posted by: kenoath | Saturday, 19 July 2008
It's a bit like the blind leading the blind isn't it?
I'm never going to have my life together. I'm never not going to have problems and never not going to have to face my fears every day of my life. What will i ever possibly have for someone else? Why would someone come to me - when i know i'll never be totally 'together' in myself?
I think i chose the wrong thing Tony. I'm never going to be able to make a difference in anyones life. Not if i'm still and always will be learning and attempting to grasp at straws with my own. I don't even know why i was under the impression that i could make a difference to someone else's life but the only one that can make a difference in my life is me. Isn't it the same with everyone else?
How do you handle the expectations others put on you to be more than a natural human and the disappointments they face when they realise you're not super human.
Oops... if you are super human Tony - i'm sorry that i don't see you that way, but i don't see you that way.
You know - like when you're kids are little and they can't/won't believe that there's anyone bigger and better than their dad... then they become a teenager.
Actually, it's kind of beautiful when that happened to me. They look at me like i'm my 85 year old mum and keep reminding me that i'm not a kid anymore. I see them looking at me through concerned eyes when i do something like rearrange the furniture or... just stuff.
It's so nice to see them finding their independant feet. Gosh it's a lovely thing to see them storm through all life throws at them. So beautiful...
Posted by: roses | Saturday, 19 July 2008
Tony, where the dickens did you get that thingee above to calculate you age? Methinks you got too much free time :-), and possibly Phoebe as well working it out !!!
Posted by: gezunda | Saturday, 19 July 2008
The calculate your age thingee I made up Gezunda,
and I thought it was very good of Phoebe to calculate it!
Tony
Posted by: Tony | Saturday, 19 July 2008
Then you too have too much time on your hands, Tony !!! :-)
Posted by: gezunda | Saturday, 19 July 2008
Hey Gezunda,
I can make a quiz up for you if you want for people to guess your age?
Posted by: kahless | Saturday, 19 July 2008
Can you really? Okay. that'd be kewl.
Posted by: gezunda | Saturday, 19 July 2008