In my life of seventy eight years, two poems have been a source of inspiration and encouragement to me. Both are of Love and Devotion in pursuit of Happiness and Achievement and as in life there is a mixture of Success and Failure.
The first and a very famous poem for both it's content and length.
'The Nightingale and the Rose' by Oscar Wilde . It draws on the extent to which a young man will go to impress a young lady and we all know about how that felt, don't we gentlemen.
The main event in this blog or story is a poem 'The Beauty of the World' by the late Denis Kevans, known as Australia's Poet Lorikeet. ( for the none Australian the Lorikeet is a small multi-coloured Parrot). Long long before I met Denis at his home in Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, he was Internationally known for his poetry on protests of all kinds. The massive anti- Viet Nam rallies; the Rain forest anti logging protests and many more.
Denis composed the music and lyrics for his songs, but sadly as he told me once, he never made money from them as the rights or whatever were taken and registered by, I think he said a Heavy Metal Rock Group led by a Peter Garrett. Who really knows?, as Denis died some years agoe and I moved to the south coast. No, hang on. I once attended a poetry ready at the Parikeet Cafe in Katomba and I was invited to read 'The Beauty of the World', in front an audience which included Champion Bush Poets --- they appluaded, goodness me. Then again at our daughter Samantha,s friend,s, wedding and I hope Christine and Kevin remembers it still.
I think Denis wrote the poem for his daughter, however, I think, it is really for any Wife; Daughter; lady Partner and or friend.
The Beauty of the World.
I saw the beauty of the world,
The fists of diamonds fall,
Where water jumped the gleaming rock,
High on the mountain wall;
They sparkled in the dazzling sun,
As down the wind they blew,
I saw the beauty of the world,
But all I saw was you.
The honeyeater stretched her tongue
In the fluted crimson flower,
Her painted feathers rippling
In the thirsting midday hour;
She stole her children's honey,
And she sipped the blossom-dew,
I saw the beauty of the world,
But all I saw was you.
I saw you where the the waterfall,
In silver tumbled down,
And the moon stood, gazing speechless,
At the long white wedding gown;
Unmarried still she wanders,
But she often comes to view,
I saw the beauty of the world,
But all I saw was you.
I saw a lizard gazing at
The rainbow in the mist,
Her leather lips's were waving,
And her tail began to twist;
She capered round the clearing,
And she chanced a step or two,
I saw the beauty of the world,
But all I saw was you.
I caught the pride of lovely blooms,
Whose names were never known,
That jostle with the angry winds,
High on the mountain stone;
I saw in gargoyle mountain rocks,
The star flowers in a queue,
I saw the beauty of the world
But all I saw was you.
Now walk towards me, singing,
Froms rocks where music springs.
Where the golden whistlers melody
In idle gladness rings;
Where blooms burst from the rocky cliffs
And the falcon streaks the blue,
I saw the beauty of the world ,
But all I saw was you.
And when the beauty's vanished,
And in time I taste the dust,.
And see the water trickling,
All bright with orange rust;
And my tears are gently shaking,
And my blood has turned to glue,
I will lose the beauty of the wotrld,
But I will still have you.
With best wishes and happiness to you all.
This blog is in memory two great human beings Oscar Wilde and Denis Kevans.
Malcolm E Mason.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Flight MH370 Tragically Mort
This is a most difficult blog to write, as it will include life's experiences; projects and facts undisputed. So I have decided to say it is a 'Story based on Facts'.
We all know the beginning of this story, when the World was told that a Malaysian flight MH370 had gone off radar, four hours out of Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing. I remember thinking the route would have been over Vietnam and it took me back to the sixties when civil aircraft would fly over during the Vietnam conflict. A British Airways flight was one,where pilot said, don't be alarmed ladies and gentlemen, we have company on the right side of the aircraft- Just an American fighter, come to check us out - then he was gone.
The next thing I heard, was that all communication with MH370 had been cut and later it was thought the aircraft had turned left ---- that did it. I was then fully awake at 78 and alarm bell's rang and sleep eluded me for some time. My mind had shifted back quite along time agoe when I had written papers and reports on this kind of event --first things first.
Next came the report that two young men had boarded the flight with passports not their own. Interesting in that the actual passports were the genuine article. It was the passenger who fitted the document and not the other way round, this is in this day of computor imaging and comparing, the international syndicates are able to quickly identify a genuine passport with its client, or near enough with little alteration to the clients face.
How these two chaps thought they could get their very near look alike features past Chinese and European Immigration I don't know. The question still remains in my mind - did they indeed intend completing their journey to Europe.
Before I forget. This story was started 30 March 2014. On the 30 March 1944 the bombing of Nuremburg took place. Lancaster Bombers were the main force and Ninety Seven planes were lost with their crews , a sad day for all the families of those brave men -- Pilots and crews, dedicated every one.
In the fifties at Technical College we had two mature students, both RAF men. One who became our mature leader,if you will, was one Stanley Arthurs. Stan was a rather disturbed but very kind man, who had a scar from one ear the the other. He had been a Lancaster Pilot who I was told got his aircraft back dispite his injuries for one last time, how many sorties I know not or wether it was Nuremburg or Dresden. ------ Pilots are dedicated people, every one, some a little maverick of course.
Here comes the emmbarasing part of my story. All through my life I have rarely contacted the mainstream media, always addressing my thoughts direct with the authorities concerned , I have broadcast documentries on public radio but not main stream. Oh dear------ All the TV stations showed a two engined aircraft for the 777-200. somehow I had envisioned a stretched 747, which aligned with past insidents of the MH370 kind.
On reading my favourite paper The Guardian Weekly page 3 vol190 no14, 14-20 March 2014, there was a picture of a Asean TV screen indicating the news and on the side was a diagram of a Four engined plane. Something is wrong,very wrong, my mind kept going back to Lockerbie and others.
I decided to telephone ABC TV newsroom in Sydney to clarify matters. An answering machine, as ever I thought, so I emailed and I quote''' You consistantly show a two engined aircraft on the news background screen and two engined aircraft moving on the ground (archival). The aircraft on that fateful flight was a Boeing 777-200 a four engine plane and the upgrade of the old 747, the plane was rather old machine and vunerable to all sorts of interference I believe.You may like to check, it is a genuine mistake or an instruction.'''.
And an answer came directed in a way unexpected and I think the same was written with a computor not so far. T'was a senior man who wrote it and verbatum I will quote it ''''Hi Malcolm, sorry to disagree but every image I've seen of the Boeing 777-200, including the actual missing aircraft is of two engined planes. Check for yourself on Google. What could I say, my mind was on the past.
I did of course check out my favorite provider and in embarasment hid from view, for aday or two.
Before I get down to the real serious stuff, I should tell you about my adventures in Air Incident Land when I travelled in the sixties and seventies World Wide usually first class. Just a simple list.
Air India - Engine on fire. - India - 707?. 1960,s.
Air France - Shudder and nearly off runway - Caravelle. HK.
Philipine Airways - Spun on runway landing - Manila.
Uruguay Air - Forced to land on military airbase BunosAiries, our plane on wrong flight path. We were bused across city to waiting AirCanada for Mexico.
Qantas - Lost rudder control due oil leak. 707 Sydney to London, me for West Indies. 1972?.
There were numerous incidents Civil and Military, including interrogation by the Viet- Cong in Saigon, since visted and reconciled my experience.
OK - Here we go-----------------------
The most up to date aircraft are, what is known as the 'Fly by Wire' or what I prefer to call 'Fly by Computor' . That is say the pilot sends a signal to his control system and the computors act on the input. The most Pure Breed aircraft series is the Airbus, from the small to the mighty A380. In the simplest terms the plane is steered not with the old 'Joy Stick', but single column at the pilots right in the centre of the cockpit.
The pilot simply adjusts the column or handle or stick, can take his/her hand off and the computors do the work of converting the signal though the system to the mechanical parts of the plane, flaps-rudder etc.
This required intensive training of pilots and really without the absolute mental concentration of a fully trained 'Fly by Wire' pilot, there is no hope of flying the aircraft. If you are still with me. It is my opinion that this breed of aircraft, if taken over by terrorists, they would not a able to fly it ,or at least aim the damn thing.
Americans will not like this, but if the three planes in 2001 were pure 'Fly by Wire', 911 could not have happened.
Whilst on New York US, Airways flight 1549 pilot- Captain Sully Sullenberger which was ditched successfully in the Hudson river, was an Airbus A320-214 and it did not sink and all on board saved.
Now to the Google search, advised by Australias ABC TV news, Sydney boss.
Typed in Boeing 777-200, pressed the search button and there it was a Two Engined aircraft, pages and pages of it, so I decided to run the Wekipedia take, all twenty four pages of it. What revealing story it made -to me at least.
The aircraft in more detail was a 777-200ER , registered 9M-MRO, belonging to Malaysian Airlines on flight Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with 227 passengers and 12 crew. The aircraft is indeed a very modern one with new construction materials plus fibre optics in its systems.
All seemed ok but didn't clear my initial confusion. Then came page 7 of 24. 'Fly by Wire' and I quote from this document -- "In designing the 777 as its first 'Fly by Wire' commercial aircraft, Boeing decided to retain conventional control yokes, rather than change to sidestick controlllers, as used by many 'Fly by Wire' fighter aircraft and in many Airbus airliners". end of quote. In my opinion the 777 is a Hybrid, in that it is not a pure 'Fly by Wire' systemed aircraft, but Boeings choice.
So, we really do have an aircraft, capable of being flown for a short distance by none licienced or none qualified people, once in the air, that is and not intended to land on a runway.---- and so ends my original confusion, so admireably cleared by the good people of ABC TV news , Sydney.
I have spoken about the Airbus and the Hudson River, now about the Airbus 380 Qantas flight QF32 coming out of Changi Airport , Singapore. Engine number two exploded and delt with by another extraordinary pilot, one Richard De Crespigny and crew ( all detail in his book QF32). This chap is a died in the wool 'Fly by Wire' enthusiast and for some reason gives the impression that Rolls Royce, can do no bad . Anyway, he like Sully Sullenberger, got all to safety(book-Highest Duty) and we thank them for their dedication to duty, as I am certain the MH370 Captain would do the same.
My Lockerbie submmision at the time was accepted through Prime Minister Tatchers office, by the investigating teams but not acted upon, as the US had its own agenda. I was helped by a Qantas 747 pilot, now deceased. I will let it stay forgotten, together with my papers on Airport protection - Anti Terrorist and A passengers guide. There were others including The death of Princess Diana and other matters and the Think series published also, as a blog.
Rolls Royce - An aside really - BUT - I must say in most of the incidents I have seen, the name Rolls Royce pops up with failures due to Ice, or fuel lines and equipment. The most frightening to me, was when Captain De Grespigny could not shut the engine down. The computor reacted NO and kept speeding the unit up - I hope they fixed that one- Stop a spinning disc, lob great quantities of foam or fibre glass batts, as in roof insulation, in the intake. Works great in armour plating to jam a cutting saw. Rolls Royce, I don't knmow these days -My opinion only of course.
Flight MH 370 Tragically Mort- Listen to the silence of Beoing on security of recording; broadcast and controls, from ground attack. (my Tweet). I don't think Boeing would like me in their boardroom, advocating 'Pure bred 'Fly by Wire; Number of models or versions cut by 50%; Power units two and components or sections US made - At present it must be an engineers nightmare.
Flight MH370 bound for Beijing , last control tower contact, we are told was at 06-55-15N by 103-34-43E I think about 1.2 hours out of KL over the South China Sea. They said fours hours no contact and turning to Port, just like Pam-Am was about to, for the Atlantic.
Whether flown by official crew or by Hi-Jackers, we had an aircraft going somewhere or nowhere.
What have we got?.
1.No response from any ground radar, civil or military ie no fighter jets scambled.
2. No response from any airborn aircraft, in this busy area with their forward radar.
3.The Satelite people in London , gave ideas, but even the CEO was not certain the info was MH370.
4.No ground reports of wreckage in SEA ie Cambodia; Viet-Nam; Thailand; Indonesia etc.
5.No indication of hostile non transmitting aircraft by Commercial or Military installations ie Border protection and certainly no fighter or fighter bombers up and intercepting.
6.All countries spend billion s of dollars on equipment and planes - Could it be bad management by top brass?.
7.The oceans and seas are full of debrie, from dead animals/fish to containers and sunken vessels, plus of course sonic repeaters; cables et al.
Nearly there. We have seen the reaction of Chinese relatives and freinds to the bad news. The pilot of MH370 or any Hi- Jacker, would have been in deep trouble if the passengers thought some thing was wrong and could have ditched early. Therefore the the South China sea should not be ruled out entirely.
With all the attention given by so many and so much money being spent, one wonders what is in the hold of MH370
I HOPE that from this terrible experience, we can learn something about life and the part we play in it. For the families and friends of the 329 people who died, here is a poem or prayer I have. Hand written 11 August 1879 by Helen Herbert.It ever is the darkest hour,comes just before the dawning. Our father shows his loving power, when sorrows darkest storm-clouds over, by changing night to morning. And when our faithless hearts are prone, to doubt his tender caring, some deeper joy, before unkown,some pleasant path, is open thrown, to check our lone dispairing.
Malcolm E Mason 7 April 2012.
,
We all know the beginning of this story, when the World was told that a Malaysian flight MH370 had gone off radar, four hours out of Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing. I remember thinking the route would have been over Vietnam and it took me back to the sixties when civil aircraft would fly over during the Vietnam conflict. A British Airways flight was one,where pilot said, don't be alarmed ladies and gentlemen, we have company on the right side of the aircraft- Just an American fighter, come to check us out - then he was gone.
The next thing I heard, was that all communication with MH370 had been cut and later it was thought the aircraft had turned left ---- that did it. I was then fully awake at 78 and alarm bell's rang and sleep eluded me for some time. My mind had shifted back quite along time agoe when I had written papers and reports on this kind of event --first things first.
Next came the report that two young men had boarded the flight with passports not their own. Interesting in that the actual passports were the genuine article. It was the passenger who fitted the document and not the other way round, this is in this day of computor imaging and comparing, the international syndicates are able to quickly identify a genuine passport with its client, or near enough with little alteration to the clients face.
How these two chaps thought they could get their very near look alike features past Chinese and European Immigration I don't know. The question still remains in my mind - did they indeed intend completing their journey to Europe.
Before I forget. This story was started 30 March 2014. On the 30 March 1944 the bombing of Nuremburg took place. Lancaster Bombers were the main force and Ninety Seven planes were lost with their crews , a sad day for all the families of those brave men -- Pilots and crews, dedicated every one.
In the fifties at Technical College we had two mature students, both RAF men. One who became our mature leader,if you will, was one Stanley Arthurs. Stan was a rather disturbed but very kind man, who had a scar from one ear the the other. He had been a Lancaster Pilot who I was told got his aircraft back dispite his injuries for one last time, how many sorties I know not or wether it was Nuremburg or Dresden. ------ Pilots are dedicated people, every one, some a little maverick of course.
Here comes the emmbarasing part of my story. All through my life I have rarely contacted the mainstream media, always addressing my thoughts direct with the authorities concerned , I have broadcast documentries on public radio but not main stream. Oh dear------ All the TV stations showed a two engined aircraft for the 777-200. somehow I had envisioned a stretched 747, which aligned with past insidents of the MH370 kind.
On reading my favourite paper The Guardian Weekly page 3 vol190 no14, 14-20 March 2014, there was a picture of a Asean TV screen indicating the news and on the side was a diagram of a Four engined plane. Something is wrong,very wrong, my mind kept going back to Lockerbie and others.
I decided to telephone ABC TV newsroom in Sydney to clarify matters. An answering machine, as ever I thought, so I emailed and I quote''' You consistantly show a two engined aircraft on the news background screen and two engined aircraft moving on the ground (archival). The aircraft on that fateful flight was a Boeing 777-200 a four engine plane and the upgrade of the old 747, the plane was rather old machine and vunerable to all sorts of interference I believe.You may like to check, it is a genuine mistake or an instruction.'''.
And an answer came directed in a way unexpected and I think the same was written with a computor not so far. T'was a senior man who wrote it and verbatum I will quote it ''''Hi Malcolm, sorry to disagree but every image I've seen of the Boeing 777-200, including the actual missing aircraft is of two engined planes. Check for yourself on Google. What could I say, my mind was on the past.
I did of course check out my favorite provider and in embarasment hid from view, for aday or two.
Before I get down to the real serious stuff, I should tell you about my adventures in Air Incident Land when I travelled in the sixties and seventies World Wide usually first class. Just a simple list.
Air India - Engine on fire. - India - 707?. 1960,s.
Air France - Shudder and nearly off runway - Caravelle. HK.
Philipine Airways - Spun on runway landing - Manila.
Uruguay Air - Forced to land on military airbase BunosAiries, our plane on wrong flight path. We were bused across city to waiting AirCanada for Mexico.
Qantas - Lost rudder control due oil leak. 707 Sydney to London, me for West Indies. 1972?.
There were numerous incidents Civil and Military, including interrogation by the Viet- Cong in Saigon, since visted and reconciled my experience.
OK - Here we go-----------------------
The most up to date aircraft are, what is known as the 'Fly by Wire' or what I prefer to call 'Fly by Computor' . That is say the pilot sends a signal to his control system and the computors act on the input. The most Pure Breed aircraft series is the Airbus, from the small to the mighty A380. In the simplest terms the plane is steered not with the old 'Joy Stick', but single column at the pilots right in the centre of the cockpit.
The pilot simply adjusts the column or handle or stick, can take his/her hand off and the computors do the work of converting the signal though the system to the mechanical parts of the plane, flaps-rudder etc.
This required intensive training of pilots and really without the absolute mental concentration of a fully trained 'Fly by Wire' pilot, there is no hope of flying the aircraft. If you are still with me. It is my opinion that this breed of aircraft, if taken over by terrorists, they would not a able to fly it ,or at least aim the damn thing.
Americans will not like this, but if the three planes in 2001 were pure 'Fly by Wire', 911 could not have happened.
Whilst on New York US, Airways flight 1549 pilot- Captain Sully Sullenberger which was ditched successfully in the Hudson river, was an Airbus A320-214 and it did not sink and all on board saved.
Now to the Google search, advised by Australias ABC TV news, Sydney boss.
Typed in Boeing 777-200, pressed the search button and there it was a Two Engined aircraft, pages and pages of it, so I decided to run the Wekipedia take, all twenty four pages of it. What revealing story it made -to me at least.
The aircraft in more detail was a 777-200ER , registered 9M-MRO, belonging to Malaysian Airlines on flight Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with 227 passengers and 12 crew. The aircraft is indeed a very modern one with new construction materials plus fibre optics in its systems.
All seemed ok but didn't clear my initial confusion. Then came page 7 of 24. 'Fly by Wire' and I quote from this document -- "In designing the 777 as its first 'Fly by Wire' commercial aircraft, Boeing decided to retain conventional control yokes, rather than change to sidestick controlllers, as used by many 'Fly by Wire' fighter aircraft and in many Airbus airliners". end of quote. In my opinion the 777 is a Hybrid, in that it is not a pure 'Fly by Wire' systemed aircraft, but Boeings choice.
So, we really do have an aircraft, capable of being flown for a short distance by none licienced or none qualified people, once in the air, that is and not intended to land on a runway.---- and so ends my original confusion, so admireably cleared by the good people of ABC TV news , Sydney.
I have spoken about the Airbus and the Hudson River, now about the Airbus 380 Qantas flight QF32 coming out of Changi Airport , Singapore. Engine number two exploded and delt with by another extraordinary pilot, one Richard De Crespigny and crew ( all detail in his book QF32). This chap is a died in the wool 'Fly by Wire' enthusiast and for some reason gives the impression that Rolls Royce, can do no bad . Anyway, he like Sully Sullenberger, got all to safety(book-Highest Duty) and we thank them for their dedication to duty, as I am certain the MH370 Captain would do the same.
My Lockerbie submmision at the time was accepted through Prime Minister Tatchers office, by the investigating teams but not acted upon, as the US had its own agenda. I was helped by a Qantas 747 pilot, now deceased. I will let it stay forgotten, together with my papers on Airport protection - Anti Terrorist and A passengers guide. There were others including The death of Princess Diana and other matters and the Think series published also, as a blog.
Rolls Royce - An aside really - BUT - I must say in most of the incidents I have seen, the name Rolls Royce pops up with failures due to Ice, or fuel lines and equipment. The most frightening to me, was when Captain De Grespigny could not shut the engine down. The computor reacted NO and kept speeding the unit up - I hope they fixed that one- Stop a spinning disc, lob great quantities of foam or fibre glass batts, as in roof insulation, in the intake. Works great in armour plating to jam a cutting saw. Rolls Royce, I don't knmow these days -My opinion only of course.
Flight MH 370 Tragically Mort- Listen to the silence of Beoing on security of recording; broadcast and controls, from ground attack. (my Tweet). I don't think Boeing would like me in their boardroom, advocating 'Pure bred 'Fly by Wire; Number of models or versions cut by 50%; Power units two and components or sections US made - At present it must be an engineers nightmare.
Flight MH370 bound for Beijing , last control tower contact, we are told was at 06-55-15N by 103-34-43E I think about 1.2 hours out of KL over the South China Sea. They said fours hours no contact and turning to Port, just like Pam-Am was about to, for the Atlantic.
Whether flown by official crew or by Hi-Jackers, we had an aircraft going somewhere or nowhere.
What have we got?.
1.No response from any ground radar, civil or military ie no fighter jets scambled.
2. No response from any airborn aircraft, in this busy area with their forward radar.
3.The Satelite people in London , gave ideas, but even the CEO was not certain the info was MH370.
4.No ground reports of wreckage in SEA ie Cambodia; Viet-Nam; Thailand; Indonesia etc.
5.No indication of hostile non transmitting aircraft by Commercial or Military installations ie Border protection and certainly no fighter or fighter bombers up and intercepting.
6.All countries spend billion s of dollars on equipment and planes - Could it be bad management by top brass?.
7.The oceans and seas are full of debrie, from dead animals/fish to containers and sunken vessels, plus of course sonic repeaters; cables et al.
Nearly there. We have seen the reaction of Chinese relatives and freinds to the bad news. The pilot of MH370 or any Hi- Jacker, would have been in deep trouble if the passengers thought some thing was wrong and could have ditched early. Therefore the the South China sea should not be ruled out entirely.
With all the attention given by so many and so much money being spent, one wonders what is in the hold of MH370
I HOPE that from this terrible experience, we can learn something about life and the part we play in it. For the families and friends of the 329 people who died, here is a poem or prayer I have. Hand written 11 August 1879 by Helen Herbert.It ever is the darkest hour,comes just before the dawning. Our father shows his loving power, when sorrows darkest storm-clouds over, by changing night to morning. And when our faithless hearts are prone, to doubt his tender caring, some deeper joy, before unkown,some pleasant path, is open thrown, to check our lone dispairing.
Malcolm E Mason 7 April 2012.
,
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Paranoia; Piracy and Punishment
I have discussed in my writings to international entities and my blog http://thinktrue2008.blodspot.com, the subject of people endevouring to reach Australia without visas. They are generally characterised as Refugees/ Asylum seekers or Migrants, from tyranny and or economic disasters.
Until we actually meet them we don't know if they; are Doctors;Dentists;Engineers at all levels;electronic experts of all kinds, the list is long. What I do know is that they seek our help and as Pope Francis recently said, in words to the effect - We should welcome all people risking life and limb to reach the shores of the free and should be treated as Immigrants. Good words I believe.
Oh how I wish I was a writer like good old Winston Churchill, who was the master of the written word. Then I would be able to write this blog concisely and to the point and to get my message through to all concerned. Here goes and I start off with my definitions of the words Paranoia; Piracy and Punishment and fit in the aspirations and actions of those people responsible for what they call Border Security.
Paranoia. - A chronic mental derangement, characterised by systemised delusions, conditioned by numerous factors including the power of suggestion or perception.
Piracy. - Any Plunder; Robbery or interference on the high seas, by an armed ship or vessel and its personnel, which takes takes the property or personnel of another ship or vessel.
Punishment - To inflict a penalty on; to castigate and cause suffering on a person or persons, known and unknown for a perceived offence of any kind.
PARANOIA is difficult one to define isn't it, as mental problems always are. In the Australian government case I refer to its Prime Ministers inability to get away from the word 'Illegal' and the words 'Stop the boats' at any cost it would seem and by golly the money spent on Navy vessels and military and civil personnel must be enormous. I wish I could cost it out at $ per hour per refugee.
Over and over again they say 'No one coming by sea will be allowed to enter Australia', where I assume they mean without a visa. They do not care who they are or what they are and what they could do for this country. How they expect anyone is a war zone or tyranny could get to a Consulate, queue up and apply for a visa etc,defies me. Oh yes, before I write my blogs, I always talk about them before I write. I was in my bookshop, where I have purchased numerous books,usually non fiction like The Kite Flier. Well the dear lady who runs the shop, on hearing my ideas, suddenly said ' No one should come here, except through the correct channels. Whow, then 'You may leave now Mr Mason' and when I at 78 was a bit slow to move she said it again. Oh dear I thought, paranoia may the wrong word, but pretty close. I have found another shop in another town, more receptive to listening to lateral thinking.
PIRACY is a little easier to write about, as everyone likes a good Pirate story. Here we will start with the perpertrators. Numero uno the Prime Minister we have talked about and his take on the boat people, very right wing like his mentor the previous liberal one kicked out a few years agoe by an ex journalist, one could almost see the old fello sitting on the PM's and whispering in his ear, maybe that's why he is begining to weigh his words---is he listening?.
The Immigration minister is one of a kind, now let me see. Ah yes Robspierre comes to mind and with an attack dog on a invisible lease, in fact a doberman kind of fello-- hard and fearless. Regretably the minister took him into parliament buildings, always a bad move, they may get to like it and like a doberman can become difficult to handle and may bite. We all know what happened to Robspierre poor chap.
To piracy,there are two versions to my mind. Off we go to Brimston Hill,as I recall on St Kitts in the West Indies. Yes I have been there one, sunday, with some conservation enthusiasts on a working 'B' restoring the look out. Aarh me laddies in those far off days they had a watchman always looking for Spainish or Portugese ships passing. The flare would go up and the British navy would set sail to plunder the plunderer.
They also looked out for approaching British navy and merchant ships arriveing for 'refits' and 'revitaling.'
Now then, Captain Kidd was initially sent out plunder foreign vessels in this and other seas. The good Captain got to like it and went into business on his own plus his crew. The Brits Hung him high, as a Pirate.
As an aside I remember meeting a young man, sorry we were both young, who told me he was trying to set up a recording studio, as the American and British recording companies blocked him out. He had found an old banana warehouse he thought suitable, looked ok to me, we had a drink, off he went to set up and I to Barbados. His company became Virgin records--- He did well .
To serious stuff and for those who read my blog Vladimir Putin and Modern Russia,I talked about Greenpeace and their silly antics trying to board an Exploratory Oil rig in the Artic. At first I believe they were charged with Piracy, very near the definition. How fortunately they were to have it changed to a lesser count.
Remember the Bounty - Captain Bligh and the mutainy lead by Mr Christian. They put the Captain and others on a shore or life boat and said go. Well the good Captain knew all about the Ocean currents from the work of Lord Anson and his voyage around the World on HMS Centurion returning 1744. He had plundered ships of Spain and in particular the Manila Galleon. All for their logs and strategic members of the crew. Probably chucked the rest n the sea. Anyway showed Blyth, Cook etc the way round the pacific. Piracy, well Government instructed, all pretty Ho Ho--- up and at them lads.
The here a now and I am still thinking about my Alta literature hero Winston Church as First Lord of Admiralty and a memory of standing on Observatory Hill Greenwich,with my London historian expert brother in law and we observed an helicopter landing across the river Thames -- Probably the Admiral's coming in for lunch!. That great man would dictate the next bit with great clarity.
Just imagine the scene in Australia,its Prime Mister, soon to have an ex Army General and Head of Military as Australia,s constitutional head or Govenor General, representing the British Crown,fearlessly pursuing misguided goals. Its Immigration Minister with his Army General in tow, vowing to obey the master at all costs (literally) to turn the boats back, well, at least the Minster is -------
Out in the open sea between Australia and Indonesia is a passenger ship (not a Sea Princess). On board are fare paying passengers with a Captain and crew, proceding in the general direction of Australia or if not south may be west and not interferring with anyone. In the area it is being watched, not from a Brimston Hill, but from a rather enspensive surveylance aircraft. The vessel is percieved to be an intruder with illegal intent. A signal goes out to a Warship and or a lesser vessel to intercept.
The warship stands by, sending one or two fast boats- armed personnel- to stop,search and remove the passengers and crew to the warship.They deal with the vessel in manner I do not know, probably sinking. Of late with the orders of the Australian government, the passengers and crew are transferred to a orange lifeboat with sufficient fuel to reach Indonesian waters. Should they be a good distance from any Indonesian island , then it has been shown, they are towed there. On occasion the tow ship going into sovereign territory and as the navy know exactly where they are at any one time, they must have had clearance to do so by Australia.
Is this Piracy on Australia's part, in my opinion it is. Piracy is Piracy by any other name is Piracy. You my dear readers must come to your own conclusions.
PUNISHMENT. This section is the most disturbing and has kept me awaking many nights, trying to work out how to say it right. We are placing Asylum seekers, who have already gone through hell, in a situation of Demi-Rendition. I wish I had a better description. Both PNG and Nauru are not conducive places to process human beings. Razor wire; part building part tent acommodation; terrible climate wet and insect infested with armed guards and light surveilence constantly. To boot, the locals are not pleased they are on their islands. The poor wretches are expected to asccept waiting for months and maybe years for Australia to say hello. Yes it is Demi-Rendition by 'Situation'. A better description would be most welcome. Churchill wou;ld have been able to help me I am certain. A terrible Punishment by Paranoid people, who one day will have to answer to their maker or before to higher authority--- My opinion of course.
I will end this story with some words I wrote when I ran a little Spiritual Centre some years agoe. Once a month people of all ages, of all religions or of no religion at all, would gather at a community hall for freindship; healing and solice from their outside world. We would sing songs like 'Love Conquers Everthing',Prayers theirs and mine; healing and meditations.
I would start off the meeting, with about a minute of silence, so that we could come together as one. For the end I wrote few words for us all to send out as a message of Hope; Love; and Understanding.
HOPE- For all those people whose circumstances are so much worse than ours. In the same way, as other people messaged us,when we were down.
LOVE- To all who have never known love and are desparately searching for-maybe-just one word from us, we who are so fortunate to know and experience its life giving power.
UNDERSTANDING- To endeavour to understand, the ways, apprehensions, faiths,cultures and ideas of others.
We can do this, hopefully, not just today, but at all times.
Until next time, best wishes to you all.
Malcolm E Mason.
.
Until we actually meet them we don't know if they; are Doctors;Dentists;Engineers at all levels;electronic experts of all kinds, the list is long. What I do know is that they seek our help and as Pope Francis recently said, in words to the effect - We should welcome all people risking life and limb to reach the shores of the free and should be treated as Immigrants. Good words I believe.
Oh how I wish I was a writer like good old Winston Churchill, who was the master of the written word. Then I would be able to write this blog concisely and to the point and to get my message through to all concerned. Here goes and I start off with my definitions of the words Paranoia; Piracy and Punishment and fit in the aspirations and actions of those people responsible for what they call Border Security.
Paranoia. - A chronic mental derangement, characterised by systemised delusions, conditioned by numerous factors including the power of suggestion or perception.
Piracy. - Any Plunder; Robbery or interference on the high seas, by an armed ship or vessel and its personnel, which takes takes the property or personnel of another ship or vessel.
Punishment - To inflict a penalty on; to castigate and cause suffering on a person or persons, known and unknown for a perceived offence of any kind.
PARANOIA is difficult one to define isn't it, as mental problems always are. In the Australian government case I refer to its Prime Ministers inability to get away from the word 'Illegal' and the words 'Stop the boats' at any cost it would seem and by golly the money spent on Navy vessels and military and civil personnel must be enormous. I wish I could cost it out at $ per hour per refugee.
Over and over again they say 'No one coming by sea will be allowed to enter Australia', where I assume they mean without a visa. They do not care who they are or what they are and what they could do for this country. How they expect anyone is a war zone or tyranny could get to a Consulate, queue up and apply for a visa etc,defies me. Oh yes, before I write my blogs, I always talk about them before I write. I was in my bookshop, where I have purchased numerous books,usually non fiction like The Kite Flier. Well the dear lady who runs the shop, on hearing my ideas, suddenly said ' No one should come here, except through the correct channels. Whow, then 'You may leave now Mr Mason' and when I at 78 was a bit slow to move she said it again. Oh dear I thought, paranoia may the wrong word, but pretty close. I have found another shop in another town, more receptive to listening to lateral thinking.
PIRACY is a little easier to write about, as everyone likes a good Pirate story. Here we will start with the perpertrators. Numero uno the Prime Minister we have talked about and his take on the boat people, very right wing like his mentor the previous liberal one kicked out a few years agoe by an ex journalist, one could almost see the old fello sitting on the PM's and whispering in his ear, maybe that's why he is begining to weigh his words---is he listening?.
The Immigration minister is one of a kind, now let me see. Ah yes Robspierre comes to mind and with an attack dog on a invisible lease, in fact a doberman kind of fello-- hard and fearless. Regretably the minister took him into parliament buildings, always a bad move, they may get to like it and like a doberman can become difficult to handle and may bite. We all know what happened to Robspierre poor chap.
To piracy,there are two versions to my mind. Off we go to Brimston Hill,as I recall on St Kitts in the West Indies. Yes I have been there one, sunday, with some conservation enthusiasts on a working 'B' restoring the look out. Aarh me laddies in those far off days they had a watchman always looking for Spainish or Portugese ships passing. The flare would go up and the British navy would set sail to plunder the plunderer.
They also looked out for approaching British navy and merchant ships arriveing for 'refits' and 'revitaling.'
Now then, Captain Kidd was initially sent out plunder foreign vessels in this and other seas. The good Captain got to like it and went into business on his own plus his crew. The Brits Hung him high, as a Pirate.
As an aside I remember meeting a young man, sorry we were both young, who told me he was trying to set up a recording studio, as the American and British recording companies blocked him out. He had found an old banana warehouse he thought suitable, looked ok to me, we had a drink, off he went to set up and I to Barbados. His company became Virgin records--- He did well .
To serious stuff and for those who read my blog Vladimir Putin and Modern Russia,I talked about Greenpeace and their silly antics trying to board an Exploratory Oil rig in the Artic. At first I believe they were charged with Piracy, very near the definition. How fortunately they were to have it changed to a lesser count.
Remember the Bounty - Captain Bligh and the mutainy lead by Mr Christian. They put the Captain and others on a shore or life boat and said go. Well the good Captain knew all about the Ocean currents from the work of Lord Anson and his voyage around the World on HMS Centurion returning 1744. He had plundered ships of Spain and in particular the Manila Galleon. All for their logs and strategic members of the crew. Probably chucked the rest n the sea. Anyway showed Blyth, Cook etc the way round the pacific. Piracy, well Government instructed, all pretty Ho Ho--- up and at them lads.
The here a now and I am still thinking about my Alta literature hero Winston Church as First Lord of Admiralty and a memory of standing on Observatory Hill Greenwich,with my London historian expert brother in law and we observed an helicopter landing across the river Thames -- Probably the Admiral's coming in for lunch!. That great man would dictate the next bit with great clarity.
Just imagine the scene in Australia,its Prime Mister, soon to have an ex Army General and Head of Military as Australia,s constitutional head or Govenor General, representing the British Crown,fearlessly pursuing misguided goals. Its Immigration Minister with his Army General in tow, vowing to obey the master at all costs (literally) to turn the boats back, well, at least the Minster is -------
Out in the open sea between Australia and Indonesia is a passenger ship (not a Sea Princess). On board are fare paying passengers with a Captain and crew, proceding in the general direction of Australia or if not south may be west and not interferring with anyone. In the area it is being watched, not from a Brimston Hill, but from a rather enspensive surveylance aircraft. The vessel is percieved to be an intruder with illegal intent. A signal goes out to a Warship and or a lesser vessel to intercept.
The warship stands by, sending one or two fast boats- armed personnel- to stop,search and remove the passengers and crew to the warship.They deal with the vessel in manner I do not know, probably sinking. Of late with the orders of the Australian government, the passengers and crew are transferred to a orange lifeboat with sufficient fuel to reach Indonesian waters. Should they be a good distance from any Indonesian island , then it has been shown, they are towed there. On occasion the tow ship going into sovereign territory and as the navy know exactly where they are at any one time, they must have had clearance to do so by Australia.
Is this Piracy on Australia's part, in my opinion it is. Piracy is Piracy by any other name is Piracy. You my dear readers must come to your own conclusions.
PUNISHMENT. This section is the most disturbing and has kept me awaking many nights, trying to work out how to say it right. We are placing Asylum seekers, who have already gone through hell, in a situation of Demi-Rendition. I wish I had a better description. Both PNG and Nauru are not conducive places to process human beings. Razor wire; part building part tent acommodation; terrible climate wet and insect infested with armed guards and light surveilence constantly. To boot, the locals are not pleased they are on their islands. The poor wretches are expected to asccept waiting for months and maybe years for Australia to say hello. Yes it is Demi-Rendition by 'Situation'. A better description would be most welcome. Churchill wou;ld have been able to help me I am certain. A terrible Punishment by Paranoid people, who one day will have to answer to their maker or before to higher authority--- My opinion of course.
I will end this story with some words I wrote when I ran a little Spiritual Centre some years agoe. Once a month people of all ages, of all religions or of no religion at all, would gather at a community hall for freindship; healing and solice from their outside world. We would sing songs like 'Love Conquers Everthing',Prayers theirs and mine; healing and meditations.
I would start off the meeting, with about a minute of silence, so that we could come together as one. For the end I wrote few words for us all to send out as a message of Hope; Love; and Understanding.
HOPE- For all those people whose circumstances are so much worse than ours. In the same way, as other people messaged us,when we were down.
LOVE- To all who have never known love and are desparately searching for-maybe-just one word from us, we who are so fortunate to know and experience its life giving power.
UNDERSTANDING- To endeavour to understand, the ways, apprehensions, faiths,cultures and ideas of others.
We can do this, hopefully, not just today, but at all times.
Until next time, best wishes to you all.
Malcolm E Mason.
.
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