On the back of .....

Christchurch City Council boss CEO Tony Marryatt accepts a $68,000.00  pay rise. Christchurch citizens have vented fury and labelled this pay rise as “indecent”.

Marryatt’s 14.4 per cent pay rise has reignited debate over the issue. The increase took his pay from $470,400 to $538,529 a year, effective from July 1, 2011.

A pay – rise of gross indecent proportions when City Council tenants of Christchurch :a few days after the 22nd. February 2011 earthquake, received a 2.2 increase on the rent. For market value. What market value. The truth is as follows ….

This rent rise is on the back of a previous rent rise to carry the burden of Dave Henderson who Christchurch City Council bailed out of seventeen million dollars. For buildings (Dave Henderson too old and no intention to buy back or in a position that he could )but the Christchurch City Council handing him seventeen million dollars saying he would.

However, after battling liquefaction, finding a portaloo, being without power, water, sewage,telecommunications one was somehow suppose to find a newspaper, to look for an article or notice from the Christchurch City Council that the rent had gone up.

Year later 2012 ………..

Rate -payers,council tenants:  especially those still unable to return home or to their council flat : are justifiably distressed at Tony Marryatts’ indecent pay-rise. He talks publicly about how good he is and his team .. what team… don’t see them or hear of them… doing what? Tony Marryatt tells the public he works hard, so does the council worker in a ditch of sludge, mum and dad caring for the distressed elderly in the neighborhood,  the  children digging out dehydrated liquefaction, Salvation Army giving vouchers for food.

At the coal face Christchurch people are suffering. Also working hard on all fronts.

Plenty of expensive beautifully printed pamphlets, or instructions “go on line” or go to Welfare, who give a pamphlet, and answer no to funds, or instructions to “go on line” People have lost employment, homes, live in dire circumstances in temporary accommodation , double expenses.

Tony Marryatt, what does he do? never heard of him, until this pay rise became public, that could support at least three families, or food to the food bank, many are hungry in Christchurch .. food would be good.

So who needs people like Tony Marryatt, and those who worked for EQC and defrauded the system whilst employed with EQC. Or those with excessive wages per day of a $1000 plus.

The city of Christchurch is a dysfunctional mess. EQC ( earthquake commission ) dysfunctional and confrontational to the victims, use of language one needs a lawyers to interpret, insurance companies for business for example with excess rises of 2,400% , Government engineers strolling around the city and suburbs saying the red zone is now green, …… many homes deemed to be a re-build… what lift the house for remedial re-piling on shonky land, repair, then when shattered again the insurance is not paying out again? Or the excess so great who could afford the insurance.

Tony Marryatt claims returning from holiday in Australia that his $68,000.00 pay rise was a reflection of his performance and the market rate for the job. What performance? Market rate, well go back to Australia or anywhere else and he would probably find he would not get a job.

( Another quake……. 5 …or was that a 6 just then………. where are the portaloos, the street is a river of liquefaction, the car has sunk in a hole of sludge, the power is off again.)

Never heard of the bloke.

People living in tents protesting corporate greed…. in New Zealand.. perhaps they have a point.

Play it again Sam

How much did one hear and see, yet was deaf and blind?

The audio bombardment and effects of the global movement is so demanding how much does one actually hear or see and retain or recall with accuracy..on demand.

It is widely known two people in the same situation at the same time will hear and see differently, for example a traffic accident.

Communication technology is so vast it is “Play it again Sam ” tune so the individuals desire to be enabled finding a quiet space, a full stop in life to listen and absorb, or sort information.

Riviera for Skype is a Skype call recorder (for Windows.) a tool which automatically records Skype calls and conversations to MP3 files. Record interviews, tech talks, conferences, audio casts, pod casts for learning later, a valuable tool holding information one can listen to at leisure and ponder on.

Help your business or that life on the run……….. work/life balance You may play call recordings with built-in player or any other external MP3 player. Consequently a level of accuracy is retained and can be repeated for clarification.

The audio armchair : the demands of an ever increasing technological life, in business and life itself,an opportunity to relax, listen … sort information at leisure in a demanding world, great value for the ears.

Discover hear and see: try the link below……

http://jiteco.com/skype_call_recorder.html

Keith Te Momo in his Connectics work truck.

Being connected one thinks of being “on line ” .. internet, either by the PC or cell-phone an instant global reach of communication.

The reliance of this type of connection/communication has reached into all corners of the world.

The business world, the world of professionals, the world of domestic and financial information or help the environmental impact is such to “save paper ” “save the trees ” is to go on line as directed by many banks and organizations.

Communication as in the art of conversation , in the technological advanced world has taken on a new meaning.

In the environment of ” being connected ” one seems to have to become ones own lawyer, administrator, banker and the list goes on. It is like desiring to purchase a car so one is required to go to University, gain a degree in mechanics then buy the car. One then wonders why we have ” professionals” who never speak, or sustain an informative conversation. The “go on line” attitude, that is ever increasing, may well save paper but not human beings in the aftermath of a crisis or disaster.

In Christchurch after the 22nd February 2011 Earthquake and the following earthquakes, communication was confusing, messy and most was “go on line ” very difficult with no power. Or ones PC is under a ton of masonry. Cell Phone towers out of order. Disrupted cables.

But wait…. there is more !! Hard mail, the postman. New Zealand Post at its best keeping communication open and delivering through snow storms, earthquakes, and after shocks.

However the real hero, a gentleman named Keith Te Momo, the man at the coal face of Connetics New Zealand, who stood in a hole knee deep in freezing water repairing shattered cables.

Keith Te Momo in freezing conditions and a work mate took time out in their lunch break to reset, re-secure, with duck tape a letter box, now the mail man can deliver …. that’s real connection. The human hands on kind, all by a simple request for help a fine example of communication.

One did not have to “go on line ” make an   application,    fill out forms, wait for months in hope of any interview.

Demolished after the earthquake,  the workman left standing a book case. now remaining as a community free library, books are borrowed and returned freely, even to new ones being installed. That demonstrates a stunning portrayal of staying connected by physical human effort. A small park bench sits near-by where people gather, sit in the Canterbury sun and have a conversation.

Communication is essential in a time of a disaster such as experienced in Christchurch from the 22nd February 2011 earthquake. Communication by the art of conversation, is even more important in the aftermath of such a disaster, because one does not become a lawyer overnight, or a medic, or a banker, or insurance broker, is that not why one has “professionals” ?

Books anyone ?

Open 24 hours,7 days a week, open air, park bench and picnic table available. Quiet Street, slow traffic.

Once upon a time, in an earthquake devastated city called Christchurch South Island New Zealand Bureaucratic Paper Tigers :

Tell the truck driver to move on, but his reply is he has not been paid and unable to purchase the diesel for his empty tank so he can move on. He is offered counselling, or told he could get a Red Cross grant, apply on line, but he has no computer, he could get a government fuel grant, which he has to pay back, that is if he is eligible. The Red Cross Grants are no longer available.

The community spirit is such who hear of the truck drivers plight, he receives a food parcel, kindly help from the Salvation Army, and other community spirited people.

The process of the paper war directed by the Bureaucratic Paper Tigers costs is far greater than if the truck driver had been paid for his work/ or dues in the first place, he would have bought his diesel and moved on. .

Same with the builder, eagerly sought , who can no longer build or continue repair work as the client is still waiting for the Earthquake Commission pay out, so the client can pay the builder, the builder has run out of money unable to purchase any more material.

The builder is also offered counselling and other means to cope with the after-shock stress.

Families in temporary accommodation financial relief ceases to exist. Yet still have pay the rent or mortgage on a place they cannot reside in either because of structural damage, or total content loss/or both. So costs are double, food grant for the year used up from welfare not eligible for any more so the merge provisions in the bottom of their supermarket trolley make the Wall Street protests in United States of America  perfect,logical, objective sense.

The Bureaucratic Paper Tigers well paid, well funded, swamp a crippled city, with meaningless gestures, rhetoric, arrogance , strangling the people who are the phoenixes’ willing, intelligent people desiring the legitimate means enabling the rise from the rubble and ashes to re-build.

The Earthquake Commission seem to be busy doing a re-enactment of shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Or it reminds one of the story of Queen Marie Antoinette who said to a starving population “Let them eat cake” if there was no bread. Neither could be made there was no flour or means to achieve cake or bread.

Time goes by

Existentialism: Philosophers since the 19th century, despite differences in the approach to the subject, generally focus on the meaning of life and human existence.

Existentialism is sometimes referred to as a continental philosophy, that of Europe, as opposed to British existentialism defined as analytic philosophy studying/analysing language.

Traditional /academic philosophy became viewed as too abstract to the human experience, regardless of the external and internal factors, includes the potential consequences of the existence or non existence of God, however the teachings of traditional/academic philosophy: across the spectrum of human existence since the beginning of time: are the bones of human thought or behaviour living the meaning of life. So it has been for centuries.

It is the individuals ‘ freedom of choice to answer the question of what the meaning of life is within themselves and behave accordingly.

A question many ask and indeed search for. What does life mean to you. What is your purpose in life is the question. It has been suggested meaning was once given, handed down by our “elders and betters “. Through the ages so it has, a discipline to give order or governance across all race, colour or creed, people accepted, direction and purpose to the individuals lives their contribution within that structure was the meaning of life.. Picasso painting the agony of Spain. Charles Dickens portraying the real England promoting social change, a endless list could be written: the point being the artists expression or the writers, is an extension beyond the self, through the works raising conscious awareness.
As a US President stated “Do not ask your country what it can do for you, ask what can I do for my country” in other words be responsible for yourself.

“ABC” Action, Behaviour, Consequences. It is your action that is your behaviour therefore it is your consequence. This can be applied in any situation.

The meaning of life is within you, asking the question. We live in a world of great beauty and wealth for all to share if the conscious awareness is raised by the captains of industry/government the face of the workplace changes, social structures, for the betterment of mankind. The key is self responsibility that becomes global responsibility giving the meaning to life.

Live in the question for infinite possibilities, if your attitude changes that is positive then things around you change so is the excitement and thrilling act of being human just being consciously aware.

Consider the contribution to life outside the self, the practice of trust,loyalty, faith, structure as the ancients taught then perhaps the question is answered.

NZ Army Rescue mission Christchurch Earthquake February 2011

A human being is one being/soul, when fractured the question is who do you choose for help or answers ?

The psychologist: analyses the emotive action or reaction of the human being, whose brain in the biological term is a physiological matter ( a functional anatomical organ), i.e. a solid body of matter activated by electrical impulses of a chemical make-up: and psychiatry is the study of the consequences of the action or reaction of the human being.

The psychiatrist: The word psyche comes from the ancient Greek for ” soul ‘ or ‘ butterfly ‘ the colourful fluttering elusive insect. The madman lives in a world that makes perfect sense to him, yet those on the outside see his mind and actions of a butterfly.

The psychotherapist: personal counseling an intentional interpersonal relationship : is the psychotherapist just a mental masseur, and/or thread between the psychologist and the psychiatrist ?.

How does one divide what the role of the psychiatrists does… to that of the psychologist or the psychotherapist.. when without the brains activity and the electrical interaction between the matter and chemicals the emotion or ‘feelings’ would not exist. Therefore the psychology of the human being must be interrelated/interconnected with the psychiatric workings of the human being and vice versa. I think, I feel, therefore I am. Shall I remain a madman and live inside out?

Can the three professions be divided, if so, the division choice be the psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist , for example throw sticky hot coffee into your lap-top the electrical impulses go hay-wire,therefore its’ behavior changes for what is expected to be the normal response to your physical input tapping on the keys.

Are humans all fractured in some way and a butterflies in reality ?

What would your answer be? The measure of human existence, the three mentioned professions which this question seems yet to be answered.?

The early philosophers/religious men seem to have been the psychologist,psychiatrist and psychotherapist, the extentialist, all in one. What have we learnt through the ages except advance in sciences to discover we are at the beginning of the end.

Water is the real gold, solar the power,  ” Without the breath of the tiger there will be no wind, only clouds and certainly no rain” ( i ching )  one is forever a child in the face of his motherland,and a pupil in the face of knowledge.

A soldiers wisdom ?

Leaving the City Behind

In the NZ Bush

Leaving the city behind to indulge in off grid living in the dense New Zealand bush presents new challenges.  www.offgridecostay.com

“Going with the Flow” article, in the magazine New Zealand Lifestyle Block the February 20011 issue, describes the building process of the off grid eco stay, challenges and establishment of the small lodge running entirely off grid.

You become part of the environment, the environment is not part of you,one soon becomes acutely aware  of weather, for example when the sun is out, rainfall and being in harmony with the land.

Living alongside other residents of the bush, hares, quails,native birds whose raucous singing, a cacophony of song, dominates the early morning silence.

Honey bees, butterflies, a living poetic existence overlooking the Koromiko Valley in the Marlborough Sounds.

The living in the ‘gone bush life-style’ challenges for example in the culinary part of life is learning to cook using a 1 kw hot plate on top of the wood burning fire-place. Going back to basics and producing fine fare of healthy food. Additionally for convienence using the gas hob.

Using an axe to split the pine wood to fit in the fire-box. Gathering pine cones being escorted through the bush by NZ bird the  fan tail. The fan tail not shy, flits from branch to branch catching any insects disturbed by human foraging. The fan tail constantly chattering: one never feels alone.

NZ Fan Tail

The biggest challenge in a well run off grid lodge is what is for dinner? Maybe some wild goat, or wild pig that roam the land, self farming and self  sustaining,very healthy live style for animals.

Wild quail or rabbit, accompanied with home grown greens and herbs.

A demonstration of the food bowl from mother nature, freely given mixed with  an offerring of warmth/cooking abilty from the sustainable pine trees or gorse, plus fresh unpolluted air, bathed in sunshine.

As winter approaches the rolling early morning fog settles over the valley and the lodge sits high above  the view is like looking out onto a white sea.

No city lights at night: the nights a velvet soft black, clear nights the worlds ceiling above is a packed studded array of heavenly bodies the twinkling stars.

Off grid-gone bush- no city lights , cappuccino cafe with interested bumble bees. Simple living with a first class attitude, provided by renewable, sustainable resources, a perfect  balance in harmony with mother earth.

What is Love?

The philosophical context love, is a virtue, human expression of compassion and affection.

St Thomas Aquinas defined love as “to will good of another” or the desire for another to succeed.

The religious view expands to the “all being”  as God is Love, that love is not just a virtue.

Impersonal love relates to an object ( teddy bear ) goal  or a cause.

Interpersonal love relates to the love between human beings.

Love is not just a virtue ( moral excellence ) it is a trait that is deemed to be excellence in the act of living daily life promoting individual and collective well being, for example to quote from the movie  Hotel Rwanda:

“when the world closes its’ eyes, who opens their arms “ the true story of Hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina. He opened his arms.

Love is being awake to conditions around one. Impersonal and Interpersonal behavior  is a balancing act through  the journey  called  life.

Balance

Both behaviors captured in metaphysical easy simple read, encapsulating positive thinking, visualization, religouse, philosophical, virtues of excellence the book of The Wisdom of Florence Schovel Shinn.

No matter the canvas you paint for life it is ABC. Action, Behavior ,Consequence.

http://florencescovelshinn.wwwhubs.com/

Poem………………By MC Hazledine-Barber

Love is like a leaf

it is a shade for the working bee

a swing for the naughty ant

and a restaurant for a worm.

Shouldering Mankinds Burden

Jesus Christ was born and died 600 years before the birth of Muhammad. Jesus Christ’s life was witnessed and documented. That is called evidence.

Muhammad was illiterate and recited his revelations, his sayings were compiled and written down in the Qur’an based on texts from 130 to 300 years after his death. That is heresay..

In 1391 an expressed passionate view of the Emperor Manuel 11 Paleologus one of the last Christian rulers before the Fall of Constantinople to the Muslim Ottoman Empire:  Quote ……..

“Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman,such as his command to spread by sword the faith he preached”

Muhammad and Jesus, two significant leaders, both men accepted the Old Testament as God’s Word, and acknowledged Abraham. Christians believe God’s promise is through Abraham’s son, Isaac. Muslims believe it is through Abraham’s other son, Ishmael.

The Qur’an proves Jesus is the Messiah and Muhammad acknowledge this fact and he (Muhammad was a mere man and a prophet ) did not replace him as there can be only one Messiah. Jesus did the Messiah;s work opening heaven 550 years before Muhammad was born. So it is written.

Prophet Muhammad passionate about God believed Jesus was the Messiah, Gods messenger, so Muhammad set about in his way deliverance of that message and mankind should obey by a set of rules.

Although Jesus Christ and Muhammad views of God’s nature were different, both men believed in and taught about one true God who is sovereign, infinite, all-knowing, the ultimate judge of all mankind.

Jesus Christ taught by love and grace, Muhammad by the sword. Both men of God, however sadly both Christian and Muslim have picked up the sword, to excert will upon others.

St Thomas Aquinas defined love as “to will good of another” or the desire for another to succeed.

As does the Muslim faith for the good of mankind.

History in philosophy, religious debate, a window to the world past through evidence by the way of documents, artefacts, the modern world with aid of technology we know so much, yet so little. For every question there is an answer, for every answer there is a question.

For the One God as Jesus Christ and Muhammad told mankind existed, does it matter how one travels in life to believe and conduct life in a God like manner irrespective of race colour or creed? as taught by Jesus Christ or Muhammad, so for Gods’ sake, what is love and what are we fighting for ?

Even if you do not believe in God ask one self, how many times have you asked Him for help when alone in the night, alone in your bed?

Muhammad

The means to the end.

Capitalism vs Co-Operatives or is it the Art of Responsible Capitalism?

Capitalism sources the means to keep the end whereas Co-operatives source the means to share the end.

Pressure is applied to capitalism for greater profits for shareholders who share nothing and applied nothing to means or energy to the success of the profit. Except a degree of financial risk wise or otherwise.
Co-operatives source the means, share the energy, share the end: profitable or not, however democratically share the financial risk. The pressure for co-operatives, as in all aspects of life the consideration of variables in individuals human desires, is growth.

A leaf from both books perhaps would be the principle of a new beginning in responsible capitalism: a share, like co-operatives being conscious of the reason for the means, for the means to the end taking in account the desire and dreams from cradle to grave “culture” of mankind.

From the cradle

Shared wealth is health as health is wealth, rather than sit inside with a bowl of hot soup afraid of those shut out in the snow, cold and hungry banging on your door is it not?

A merging of both principles, capitalism and co-operatives, collectively forging a new frontier to restore agriculture and industrial progress for the security and betterment of mankind irrespective of which country or culture, requires immense courage, wisdom and initiative for any individual or society to carry the name “Leadership”.

I have moved on : where are you?