Freedom is never free.
Freedom comes at a cost. Many many people have died that we might have the freedoms we enjoy.
And one man died that we might have the freedom we where created for.
Easter and Anzac together. A reminder how blessed we are to be free.
I love how my team put up with my somewhat eccentric 365 photo project habits. Driving into Wellington after a fleeting trip to Christchurch and Wendy graciously stops the car so that I can get my photo of the day.
I couldn’t miss it. I mean how often do you get to Wellington with no wind, a beautiful day and all in the middle of winter.
It’s worth capturing, if not just to prove to future generations that it actually is possible.
Was at the Furlong’s on their life-slave block (oops meant life-style block) for an awesome Sunday lunch. We helped eat the corned beef. His name was Murray, one of the … ex … animals.
This is a shot of Tom’s soon-to-be dinner or lunch on the paddock next door.
Energy amazes me.
Take coal or gas and set fire to it (energy), convert that energy to electricity (energy), turn on a switch at home and the heater comes on (energy).
In the industrialised world, using unsustainable fuels were the norm. Then they built huge power stations like this one at Huntly. After all you need energy to make energy.
Nowadays we have more and more clean options like wind or geothermal, which is even more amazing.
On cold winters days like today’s. I am really thankful for modern energy.
I can’t remember my first day at school, but my dad can. He was told off for eating his lunch at morning-tea time. Told off as in 1940’s told off.
Schools have changed significantly over the years. They are more creative, more interactive, with better teaching and more opportunities. They have also made huge in-roads into catering for various learning styles.
I think the next big leap for schooling is focusing on strengths. Our national program still seems to focus on creating students who are all OK at everything. They still struggle to deal with a kid who excels in Math, but has work to do in reading.
The focus goes on reading, which reduces the enjoyment of the child and therefore effects math.
Took this photo as I was wondering how Jayden’s first day of school would go. All 3 of our children have hit school at 3 very different strengths.
I wonder what his strengths will be?
When your kids are 3 they are all artists. Regardless of how recognisable their drawing is we encourage them over and over again as they mass-produce their drawings and scribbles and … art.
By 10 many kids will realise that they don’t draw as well as other kids and by the late teens, you are either an artist or your not. Most feel useless at art and stop creating.
Art is defined “the creation of beautiful or significant things” and art is more than drawings or paintings. Sadly our societies, schools and families stop encouraging our kids to be artist, the way we used to when they were 3.
This leads to less creative adults.
Consequently less beautiful or significant things are created.
[178 | 365 Art – This is a shot of Siren drawing a picture for Talia at the Rototuna School market day]
I was talking to an ex-colleague the other day who fulfilled her dream and went to Costa-Rica. She said that she stayed with a really poor family by some beech for 2 weeks, and they were the so incredibly happy.
Poor happy people!
Then I found a recent article that states a full 27 Million Americans are now on anti-depressants. 10% of their entire population.
Rich unhappy people!
Maybe poor people don’t take anti-depressants because they can’t afford them. I am sure there are plenty of sad poor people around. OR maybe if we, (Western culture ‘we’), weren’t so worried about climbing the socioeconomic ladder, we wouldn’t be so sad.
Maybe then, we would focus on doing things that bring true happiness and not focus on buying things that brings happiness.
Maybe…
Malcolm Gladwell’s book ‘Tipping Point’ speaks of single events that then trigger other unrelated people to do similar things. I have been wondering if the Hawkes Bay Police siege might be a Tipping Point.
There have been a couple weird shootings that Police have been involved since the siege in Hawkes Bay with Jan Molenaar.
Last month, Shayne Sime, a paraplegic man was shot, and a connection made to the Hawkes Bay shooting and it was referred to in the media as "suicide by cop".
This week actor Rob Mokaraka was shot when he 'engineered' a confrontation with Police. He has a distant connection to the Jan Molenaar shootings.
Gladwell talks of a high profile person committing suicide in a car crash, and then the number of car crashes increasing, as people almost have permission to do the same.
I hope that Jan Mollenaar’s actions in Hawkes Bay aren’t a tipping point for people wanting to go out in a ‘blaze of glory’. I hope the media coverage doesn’t put more police personnel in harms way.
So now to the implication of this post…
It seems many Tipping Points are negative ones. I wonder what it would take to create a truly positive Tipping Point.
One that really makes a positive difference in the world.
One that the media would follow with as much interest as police shootings.
I am not sure it is possible?
There was some coverage earlier in the week about potential power shortages later this year. This from stuff:
National energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee said "things are very, very tight". "If we don't get rain in significant volume by the end of the month, going into the first week of May, we could be in considerable trouble." and "It was too early to think about a public savings campaign."
Firstly the RED line doesn't look that good. If that was sales in a business, it would be bad, wouldn't it?
Secondly, of course its too early to get the public to make savings. That would drive demand down, which would drive the price down.
It makes far better business sense to wait until there is a full on shortage, when spot prices are really high, then loss in revenue from savings, is more than offset by the increase in prices. Yeah its a hassle for their customers, but profits are stunning!
Conclusion: NZ still has some huge infrastructure issues! – Thanks Aunty Helen & Uncle Mike. Thankfully one of my family gets more out of the power companies than we pay.
I think there is little doubt that the economy is slowing. Christmas spending, and therefore transport volumes, where very late. Figures just out from show that Retail EFTPOS transactions are down in January.
Add to that an election year and high fuel and interest rates and it can only but slow down.
This is further reinforced by a quote I read in the Herald about Freightways result.
"In the current operating environment of low organic volume growth and rising costs, Freightways has been careful to continue to make decisions for the long term good of the business," the company said.
"As such, our investment in facilities, technology, customer service initiatives and most importantly in the training and development of our people has continued."
I agree with Freightways. Training, Development [and retention] are critical tis year.
