JSMedia - Downunder

I Wish I May, I Wish I Might...

News reports often include unnecessary time-wasting comments which may be better appreciated over the back fence than for everyone's ears. Also, after a crackling delay, phone sellers are wearing unsuspecting people's patience thin. Ever get a knock at the door by someone without an identification card who wants to mow your lawn, paint your tiles, hose your windows ― perhaps run your bath?

I have just had a brick fence built and somehow by co-incidence a more than usual number of people have come-a-knocking to provide 'suspect' services. Would there be any chance that certain religious crusaders are giving away their "unconverted" customer lists with those regular Oh Lordy brochures?

George from 'Tell-starah' called me yesterday telling me that my computer was badly infected with a virus. "Oh," I said; before hanging up. This morning I get a call asking me about recent damage to my car. I have never had the time to waste continuing conversation with these problem children but I have been told that these callers record your voice so when you say 'yes', any verbal agreement over the phone is recorded and may be falsely added to documents like fake finance contracts.

They already have your name, address, phone number and whatever else that has been allocated by dubious means. During these time-wasting calls blood can boil while precious time-is-a-wasting― and things seem to occur so quickly these days in comparison to less-invasive events enacted in the 20th Century.

Why is there constant conflict if our growing society, which, thanks to digital technology, is using little effort while wasting more time and money without retaining any basic commonsense skills. We're living on Mother Earth aren't we? Not in suits made of scales somewhere between Jupiter and Mars which has no workshops, hobby books or corner coffee shops.

It appears that today's youth have been deprived of the many skills which our forefathers took a pride in to create this huge void. There is none, if little consideration or respect of our environment or the people that do their best to make it a safe and happy place.

Being my birthday, I treated myself to dinner at the local surf club. There was loads of activity on arrival. I was seated by the front window to watch the waves tumble― and by looking in another direction one screen beamed the football whilst another screen showed numbered keno balls tumbling.

A band in a secluded corner strummed out some beaten-to-death boogie as my meal arrived. Included with background noise was a male in a life saving pullover approaching diners for club donations. He stood before me as I sliced through some sea scallop making sound to raise my attention.

With a tilt of my head I said; "I am still eating". Apologetic he moved on, returning when my meal was replaced by a cup of coffee. Some people may not show concern about this type of interruption yet from my early days and etiquette I found it was disrespectfully rude.

Most importantly is the fact that we have a duty to care for ourselves and others, both now and in the future. Community groups do have classes on confidence and self-esteem. Classes are overwhelmingly received by cheerful attendees, yet once the course is completed, every confident student finds that during their daily activities they may meet other people who are riddled with negativity.

How can we be made aware of the obsessed person who will blindly off-load bucketloads of burdensome trivia to anyone within earshot? Any interfering situation is unnecessary and damaging to the innocent victim. Perhaps the television media could make people aware of such human error instead of promoting hamburgers and chips― even weather predictions which worked a fortnight ago but not today―

I use glass lenses in my camera which must be focussed for a sharp image. In the same way, our minds must remain focussed on whatever we do. I may be working in the kitchen and if the TV is on, my focus in the kitchen is not 100%. Without total focus coffee could be spilt or food dropped― all because I want to stay in-tune with the image that gyrates across the wide-screen TV.

Too many ads? That's easy, turn it off. I feel that many viewers are hypnotic slaves to their TV. There is little benefit unless it is an informative show― and what about those ads that flicker and roar around us while we stare at the screen? Surely you suffer from more harm than just watery eyes― relieved by an eye-wash squirt so they just don't hurt!

It seems that TV can be synonymous with kitchens and refrigerators. That way you might digest TV baloney while also digesting a baloney sandwich. And there is a show that teaches you to lose that muffin top appearance. You just need to stop all physical exertion so you can lie prostrate on the lounge while a miracle de-flabbing takes place. Forced Hollywood smiles from instructors doesn't help either― especially when you have done it enough times to notice there is no change to your body― only that weekly de-flab deductions are recorded in your bank account.

So I wrote my letter of disapproval and e-mailed it to the Letters section of our local newspaper. I truly would like to see some change to society so that I wake up one morning and people and places are different. People, courteous people being unusually considerate while sharing their love of life with others as the day unfolds.
And I hope the price of petrol settles down too.
Let's chat again soon...