Waves of Patriotism.

I must be going through a period of patriotism, most un-Australian really. Today I'm feeling particularly proud of our voting system, in particular it's compulsory nature. At the end of polling day I can sleep well knowing that each and every Australian has presented themselves to a polling booth and been given the opportunity to vote how they like even if they vote informally. I may not like the outcome, I may wonder if my fellow Australians have left their minds in the glovebox of their "never seen dirt 4WD" but I have no doubt that Australia has spoken. To those who set this system in place, and those who have protected it - I thank you.

A rose by any other name...

The weekend just past saw us having breakfast with F (sometimes referred to as F&H) who seemed to become quite agitated when we used the name Kata Tjuta. instead of "The Olgas." It seemed to upset her that we had reverted to the names these places had been given before the arrival of The First Fleet.

I spent an amount of time in the UK making sure that people knew the name for "Ayers Rock" had reverted to "Uluru" because I think it is important to recognise the order of arrival in this country of ours, that these places had names before we walked in and thought we could find a better name for them and perhaps we should name them after our mate's daughter or the like.

To take this one step further, which is something I like to do.... Why, when our alphabet permits, do we insist on changing the names of foreign cities? For years we've referred to Turin - now with the winter olympics we're calling it Torino and we seem to have no problem with it. Somewhere along the line someone has said "Torino, not the word we want to use, make it Turin." Why is that?

I like original place names and I like consistency across the globe. You can all send me your atlas and I'll correct whatever I can.

Footsteps

So I've been mistaken for many years about the name of the third man to walk on the moon. It wasn't Michael Collins - he orbited the moon and collected Neil and Buzz when their lunar playtime was over.

The third man to walk on the moon was in fact Pete Conrad

Pete followed in the footsteps of Neil and Buzz - this blog, my blog, follows in the footsteps of those who have gone before me. Please make her feel special Miss Cathy

American Bashing

So I watched The Glass House last night and they had an american comedian on who made some comment about "American Bashing." Now this may be something I've been guilty of in my past and will likely be guilty of in my future. The question I have to answer is - is the "bashing" justified? Stay tuned

Please Australia - Learn!

I've been disappointed of late with how many Australians have been arrested on drugs charges in Indonesia. Please Australia - do not mix Bali and Drugs - they do not want it and they may execute you to serve as a reminder to others. If you're that way inclined - leave them at home, and if you can't go without them, don't go. I don't want to see more Australians given the death sentence or life imprisonment when there is no need.