welcome
30 something someone with some thoughts about some things.
30 something someone with some thoughts about some things.
There’s a thousand words spinning inside
so much to say, so much to keep at bay
trying so desperately to not make it about me
to realise it’s new, and some parts of the old still linger..
and it’s not up to me what you do with them.
Or is it?
I can’t fight an imaginary character,
because in my mind she’s more than me
and if she’s here then
i’m not enough.
But let’s turn the tables,
my mind needs to find the silver lining,
if silver is indeed a colour.
Because in all honesty,
if she was enough,
you wouldn’t be here.
I’m learning, it’s been such smooth sailing,
I know me when i’m with me.
but you
you’re a gale force, a whirlwind
i’ve found myself off course,
yet still managing to adjust my sails
every time brings more knowledge,
more skill,
more hope that this time,
i’ll make it past the rocks
the treacherous cliffs,
into a land where I can put my feet up,
and just love.
It’s been a while
A grin
A smile
Warm days seep into cloudy nights
Whilst neighbours shower
Unaware of observing eyes.
Trauma seeks warmth in the hands of love
And finds, much to everyone’s surprise,
There is trust.
There is need.
There is comfort.
Fear finds no solace here.
Skin feels skin
a warmth rises from within,
its too delicious to be real,
it’s too real,
it’s real x
Imagine finding a beautiful pebble. Smooth, maybe with flecks of crystal through it.
Loved for what it is.
Imagine if that pebble is sad because it feels so small; it used to part of a great cliff or a mountain, now it’s just sitting in someone’s back yard.
But you love the pebble for exactly what it is, as it’s the first time you’ve laid eyes on it.
**
Doesn’t matter where we’ve come from and what we’ve been through, those that meet us and appreciate us are seeing the beautiful pebble.
Forget you used to be the mountain. Be what you are, and others will love you for it x
Photography.
Everyone does it these days, with their phones, their go-pro’s,
the camera Aunt Jean bought them for Christmas.
Why do we feel such a drive to capture, lock-away moments?
Today I was reminded.
I arrived at the church 10min before the service started,
made my way up the steps where I was greeted at the door by 2 people handing out the Memorial Service book.
I couldn’t look at the front of it,
the grief had yet to hit me, and I wasn’t prepared to look upon the face I would never see animated again.
I flipped the booklet over, and there it was.
A family photo I’d taken at a party she’d asked me to attend.
Her face of such joy with her husband, their 4 kids.
Happy, smiling, embracing each other the way close families do.
A moment i’d captured, with a single 250th of a second shutter speed,
one of a hundred images I took that day.
This.
This is why I shoot.
This is why I am a photographer.
So that those tiniest of moments can become most treasured when those we love are gone.
I’m honoured by every friend, every friend-of-a-friend, every client that hires me.
Because I know,
that when your house burns down,
you grab the photos.
To be able to give the gift of love captured, is the most precious gift of all.
x
“A Discussion Paper to accompany consideration by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security of a package of national security ideas comprising proposals for telecommunications interception reform, telecommunications sector security reform and Australian intelligence community legislation reform”
Some comma’s and full-stops in there would be helpful, and I could write this entire post on the spelling, grammatical and formatting errors I found in this document.
But I’m not going to.
What I’m going to do is try and make this as least painful as possible. Like a dentist. We don’t enjoy it, but we know it’s horribly necessary.
So, I’m only going to focus on Section 4 – which is the Attorney-Generals request to adjust/modify/increase/streamline ASIO’s access to your private life.
I know what you’re thinking (well. some of you, others I wouldn’t even try to understand your minds..), but I bet you’re wondering why someone like myself gives a shit about the powers of ASIO? I have no criminal background, no arrests or charges laid, and I’m certainly not planning on peacefully overthrowing the government any time soon ( That could change if Abbott get’s in, and i know I’m not alone there..).
I am concerned, because I suppose I am now termed a “political activist”. This means I’m truly interested in what the government is doing. This means I care. And this means, that the government can’t spoon feed me bullshit, while I say “Please sir, can I have some more?”
So, I’m going to grab paragraphs from this document, and I’m going to make my comments against them.
Stay with me. this is important. I will translate into actual english where I can.
(blah blah – it’s hard to spy on you, technology is changing, and we want to save money)
(Yes please.)
(However.. in a previous section, they have requested that all ASIO employee’s are provided –
NB: The “certain conduct” is the key phrase here, and this level of conduct is signed off and authorised by only one person – the Director. This leads to potential mis-use, corruption, blackmail and lack of discussion over what is considered “appropriate”. I believe it should go to a panel. )
(ok – I can see their point. But again, the issue here is in the ambiguous wording. Key phrase here “variation”. What concerns me, is at what point does a “variation” become ” a complete change to the details of the initial warrant”. A name change? A location change? These kinds of “significant changes” should certainly have to go back to the courts to request a new warrant. But there seems to be no parameters describing their idea of “variation”.)
( Questions – 3 months isn’t long enough? Why not, and what were the circumstances surrounding the above mentioned “failure” to execute within 3 months. We all know, that many many things can change in 6 months. And they also want to have unlimited access to renew this warrant. ( they don’t say unlimited, but nor do they specify a time frame.
I need to jump forward in the document a bit, in order to show how this really effects people – let’s go to:
(So.. give them extended warrants, which have unlimited renewals, and allow them into your mum’s house, local pub, local hang-out, friends house, workplace etc. to install listening devices. think about it. Unlimited access, for an indefinite amount of time, into any “third-party premises” without having to re-establish the initial reasons for the warrant.)
And then this just underneath
(Drafting anomaly?? Really? Or is that those headings actually mean that the powers are limited to “target premises”, and that you would like them changed to ..well.. not specified.. but instead of specifying, you’ve instead termed it a “drafting anomaly”.. And if these subsections are limited to the target, and ASIO is using force outside of these parameters, then where are they getting the authorisation from?? Bit weird, that section.)
Going to stay on warrants for the moment..
(Can anyone say “plant information”?? )
(Walking past the building – subject to searching. Not at the premises. “one way, or another, we’re going to find ya”.. and search ya – and remember.. for an unlimited amount of time, without having to re-prove their case. They are also asking for adjustments to be made, to ensure they can search any and all computers attached to one network..)
Ok – now for what kinds of scenario’s/activities would you expect them to be able to execute all of the above?
( You going to investigate banks?? I would love that, but I don’t think that’s where you are going with this..)
(NB: a “serious crime” is considered anything with a jail term “over 12 months”. Not 12 months, but over.
My issue here is the wording ” is likely to be”. How is this determined? Because I am spending my time on a beautiful Saturday afternoon analysing an ASIO document, could they deem me to ultimately be “likely” to do something. Adding to this, they also wish to include a new provision of ” involved or likely to be involved, in intelligence or counter intelligence activities”. There goes Wikileaks. And they also wish to include another section, which, if you publicly name an ASIO officer ( currently this has a jail term of 12months, thus not allowing it to be called a “serious crime”, to be added.)
There’s plenty of other dubious comments within this section, but seeing as it really is a lovely day outside, I kinda want to get amongst it. However, I am going to touch on one more section that truly concerns me, and that’s the overarching power of the Director-General of Security. As I mentioned before, I don’t believe power should sit so heavily in one persons hands. These are the terms of what he/she wants to be able to do.
( One persons say so. This DG could be manipulated, or manipulate these codes for personal/political use )
(Again.. One person’s authority and oversight )
(that’s ok. But the opposite isn’t, where by they specify what they are able to do AND not get charged for it.)
( Five years later? Bit fuckin late by then)
So, in summary, this whole section of the document is way too ambiguous, not specific enough, and allows too much power into the hands of one person. I for one, do not believe this is a way to ‘secure the country’ – I believe it is a way to grow the police state we are seeing increase day by day. Add these above issues, with the new legislation just passed allowing unlimited access to all of our internet history, and you can see we have some real problems heading our way.
Glad you made it to the end. I know it’s full on, and I’ve had to read it 2,3,4 times in order to get my head around it. I’m just worried that these ongoing, unlimited powers will be used against good people who just want to protest against what our government is doing to us, and not just be used against criminals who really need to be held accountable. Just the fact that I’ve mentioned the word ASIO in this document will ‘ping’ their systems to review my blog.
Comments welcome, and please correct me if I’ve read in error. I’m more than willing to discuss this, and my opinions – as we know, everyone has an opinion – and this is mine.
Actually, it’s not Spring yet.
Another 2 weeks or so until the equinox.
But that’s not why I’m here, the title has nothing to do with the weather
and everything to do with love.
Such a laden word. Love.
Yet used so flippantly by many.
Day to day, I can say this word multiple times
but it’s been some time since I’ve looked into eyes
and seen it reflected back with equal ferocity and compassion.
“But you suit single!”, they say.
well, sure – if by that you mean I take all of life’s opportunities, haven’t settled into crazy-cat-lady, coupon cutting, Wheel of Fortune watching, middle-aged spinsterhood..?
I am none of these things, despite the lack of of a “significant other”.
What else am I to do?
I have life.
Am i not meant to live it?
I’m fit, healthy, intelligent, artistic, employed, fun. I love life, and every morning I invite it.
Oh, but to have that one amazing partner, with who I could jump rainbows with..
That’s my Summer.
To feel the same love that I feel when it’s a 28c day, seagulls are flying, gorgeous glassy waves are calling, it’s 2pm in the afternoon and I’ve cracked open a beer, and cranked up the tunes.
I explode into particles of love on days like that; dancing across the crests of the waves, up through the wispy clouds, into the very sky I’ve been dozing under for 20 minutes, while I secretly listen to conversations, kids playing, waves crashing.
Until then, and it’s not long now, like jasmine in the air taunting me of future delights;
Fly open the school doors, let me cast my books into a messy locker,
as we all run out into the playing fields of potentiality.
I am in my own Spring break.
Temporary. It is.
Desirable. We all are.
Hopeful. I am.
Till Summer.
Till you x
The images that are
Burnt into my brain
That taunt me with their vividness
Are those moments when I was
Sacrificing my soul
For the wrong cause
Knowing it wasn’t the path to take
Knowing it wasn’t me but another so
Fake
Desperate
In a lie I’d been
Caught
In your beam of pity.
It’s 22 years ago.
It’s yesterday.
Doesn’t time matter to matter?
Images shine on, no fading
Degrading
Would have chosen other moments.
If moments could be chosen and not just branded.
From the way I write,
you probably thinking I’m down, depressed
under the weather all the time.
I’m really not.
My blog is my gym, my screaming, my outlet
where I can write whatever the fuck I want
and I don’t care if you like it or not.
It’s not always about you,
you know.
some days are good
some days are bad
this isn’t worth writing about.
We all have them.
What makes the difference though?
Is it internal thoughts,
external occurrences,
or both.
Fucked if i know.
I just know today is a good day.
Even though it’s pissing down with rain outside,
I’ve got no dates this weekend,
no whiskey in the house.
But to watch you smile warmly at me,
for the first time since..
well, that made all the difference.
But….you’ve got a girlfriend,
even though
this weather,
the easy procuring of a bottle of whiskey
a warm blanket, and a crappy movie we could pretend to watch
would have made a perfect
Round 3.
x