They have no idea

This insurance company has zero knowledge of depression. Someone from Beyond Blue should have a chat to them.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/22/2749889.htm

If this had been a woman...

If this had been a woman, would she have been given as long a sentence?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/20/2748436.htm

Who will we remember?

Two teenagers, of similar ages and both with big ambitions but played out very, very differently. Who will we remember in 10 years, or even 4 years time?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/19/2747584.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/19/2747489.htm

Telephone manners

Or "Please don't let your child record your answering machine message.

Back when I was still employed, I encountered one of those cutesy answering machine messages recorded by a child masquerading as one of his parents. You know, along the lines of "This is X & Y. Please leave a message," followed by giggles as the child naturally thinks it's funny to pretend to be Dad (and evidently Mum or Dad has coached him on what to say).

It may make your family and friends smile but I like to think that an adult will get and return my call, particularly when I'm calling on professional business. When I get a cutesy child's voice I'm left to wonder if the message will get through - am I calling someone old enough to use the phone, let alone make a decision?

Call me a grouch if you will but frankly, I don't think that your child's voice is the bees knees just because he or she hasn't yet hit puberty. Am I the only one to feel this way?

And just for the record, no they never called back.

Idolatry

I was musing the other night, following a Bible study on "Money as god", about idolatry, houses and how to show we are different because of Christ.

I desire a house of my own - one where I can paint the walls a different colour, put nails in the walls to hang pictures, have a pet and alter the garden without having to get written permission from a landlord. Is this desire idolatry?

If it is, what about a married couple who long for a baby of their own?

We often pray for people to fall pregnant, but how often do we pray for someone to have a house of their own? Or an otherwise unaffordable new car? Or even a humble sewing machine?*

Is it that we see "having a family" as a Godly desire whereas having or not having "things" is an issue of contentment? Is it because the former is a living being so we don't associate the desire for one with being an idol, whereas the latter are material possessions so the desire for them is classed as "materialism"? Surely all these desires have the potential to be idols - things that we focus on ahead of God?


During an earlier Bible study, we discussed the issue of displaying our difference due to Christ's work in us. Once we are in a location, whether "permanent" or temporary, whether we own our accommodation or rent it, how do we show our neighbours our difference?

I considered that our efforts could go more into showing hospitality - inviting our neighbours into our home - than making our home the showpiece of the neighbourhood.** Unfortunately for me, when I've tried inviting our neighbours over for afternoon or morning tea I've had a grand total of zero take me up on the offers due to disinterest, other activities or commitment phobia.

Anyone else got any ideas on how to show our difference to those around us?


* I know of a missionary who had to relocate from one field placement to another due to reasons beyond her control. One thing she particularly missed was the sewing machine she'd had in the old location. She mentioned to God that she'd like a sewing machine; however she didn't really think that she'd have access to one until her next home assignment. To her amazement and delight, a few months after the move and well before home assignment time, God provided her with a sewing machine in the new location.

** I have no problem with the homes of Christians being "showpieces" - a home that is well maintained and beautiful to look at can be a great blessing to visitors as well as the occupants. It can also be a testament to good stewardship of the resources God provides. However, if you're more concerned with the beauty of your house than with your visitors' comfort#, if you're more concerned with what the neighbours think of your house than what God thinks of your soul, then I think you have a problem with idolatry of your house.

# How well I remember, as a child, dreading visiting certain relatives who didn't want to let me into the lounge room in case I dirtied something (obviously I would; I was a child after all!) and how they seemed to value their yappy dogs more than me. For those wondering, they aren't Christians.

Why I expect to use a car more and PT less in Brisbane

Translink, in their infinite wisdom, has decided to penalise public transport users, discourage the use of public transport and encourage the use of cars.

Currently, weekly tickets are 8 x the price of a single trip ticket, monthly tickets are 4 x the price of a weekly ticket. If you currently buy a weekly, monthly, 3, 6 or 12 monthly ticket because you make at least 8 regular trips a week, you're able to use that ticket to travel anywhere, anytime within the designated zones for no extra charge.

That means that if you travel to and from work 4 days a week and make one extra trip on public transport (for example, you work 5 days a week or go to the movies or go to a friends' party without having to worry about parking or getting the car home after drinking alcohol) you're a winner.

Now, from 1 January 2010, you will no longer be able to buy the 3, 6 and 12 month paper tickets for travel on the greater Brisbane public transport network. From the end of 2010, all paper tickets, including the weekly and monthly tickets will be discontinued.

Instead, you have the option of getting a "go card", for which you pay for every single trip. To add insult to injury, the price of the monthly tickets will go up by about 40 - 42%! For example, from 4 Jan 2010, a single go card trip from Zone 7 to Zone 1 will be $5, a monthly ticket will be $233.60, up from $166.40. You'll need to make 47 trips per month just to break even.

So, if we end up living in or near Carbrook (Zone 7) say, and Ian and I want to go to centrally located Southbank to see a movie with assorted other friends from other parts of the city, are we going to pay $20 in transport costs for the privilege of paying $17 for the movie tickets or are we going to drive our car? Gee, let me think about that one!

If I get a job that at times involves some travel that could be done by public transport or car and is on the way to my workplace*, which am I going to choose? Gee, let me think!

* When I worked in the Road Use Management section of Brisbane City Council, I would at times catch a train from Yeerongpilly station, get off at Fairfield, catch a bus to West End where I would walk to look at various locations about which we'd received complaints and then walk or catch a bus to the office. Parking in West End can be such that it was as fast to work in the above mentioned manner as to go into the office, get a pool car and have to park, move to another parking spot...

Along with avoiding the parking and moving a car a lot drama, my personal PT ticket allowed me to do this without incurring an extra charge so it made economic sense to do it this way. I also got some good exercise. With the new system, in the same job and location, I'd use a pool car - well done, Translink.

Welcome to Qld - the Nazi state

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/30/2728310.htm?section=justin

Secret evidence that the accused and their lawyers cannot see easily becomes no evidence required.