For me it is the prevention of the extinction of the Human race.
This requires several actions which can be addressed right now.
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An end to war.
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Protection of our habitat. (So obvious it’s almost inconceivable there should be any argument).
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Making some serious plans to get off this rock (the planet). We have all our eggs in one very fragile basket.
In the more immediate sense, my goal is to try and provide a better world for my children -but not at the expense of anyone else’s children. This goal is -or should be- completely in harmony with the preceding 3 points, but sadly…
Does anyone truly believe the Inuit chose to live in the arctic wastes, just because they preferred a cool climate?
Or that the Pitjinjarra chose to live in the Australian desert, because it was good for their asthma?
When we think of pioneers, I think many of us start thinking of words like strength, resilience, fortitude etc, etc. and I suppose some pioneers were adventurers. But history suggests most pioneers were refugees, or outcasts. It seems at some point, people find it easier to compete with a fresh new environment, than with their -more established- peers.
Have we really changed so much, from our ‘slash and burn’ ancestors?
I am very much afraid we humans will not make a serious effort to colonise space until we have made this habitat uninhabitable.
And by then, for all but a very select few (if any), it will be too late.
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Hey Grim
Very much in agreement with your BP.
To save the human race, though, we need to save our environment and all the life that maintains that environment. Not just the cute and cuddly ones.
Have we changed from our ‘slash and burn’ ancestors?
When did we stop? We just have more abstract names for such: economic rationalism.
Right now, because of climate change, because of GFC we have the best opportunity ever to revise our modus operandi. And I believe that we will achieve this because humans want to survive and we do that very well indeed.
As for OLO – I am not well right now, have no intention of being silenced by either a particular editor of OLO or the abuse of the disenfranchised.
Cheers
Fractelle, agreed, enviroment and all creatures.
Part of caring for children is wanting them to grow up in a better world, as I get older I want to be able to tell kids I did what I could to make it better.
I think we changed from our ancestors by being able to slash and burn on a much bigger scale these days.
Can I ask what happened on OLO? I come across an old user of OLO ages ago when my dog was crook. This user on another site had been banned from OLO.
Fractelle I hope you get better soon.
I agree save the environment yes but the human race only conditionally if they don’t up and repeat the mistakes human nature has made to date and particularly what we are busy doing now; ie making sure nothing changes and we continue our unrelenting pursuit of growth and obliterating everything in our way.
Seriously it’s not the human race that is under threat but “civilization” as we know it and the sheer quantity of humans scrabbling for a share of the pie.
Hey everyone, thanks for coming. I think as registered users, you should be able to go into the dashboard and there write articles of your own, or use your own wp and then cut and paste -which is what I do.
I’m here to give all the help I can, but sadly, I ain’t no geek.
Jewely, about your other comment, foster caring is something I know nothing about. I would love to see you write an article, or get others with personal experience to tell us about their problems in this area.
As to the matter of banning people, I have really fallen in love with the ‘poll’ widget. If we ever get a spoiler on this site, I’ll just put in a poll, and everyone can vote on what to do about it.
added a couple of widgets this morning. You should be able to edit your own posts within a 30 minute time frame. You should also get email alerts.
Please let me know if something doesn’t work, or you think of an improvement.
Hey Grim, I really am not sure what I am doing, I haven’t been on a site with this layout before so apologies if I do something wrong here. I’m guessing if I do you will be able to tidy it up for me.
Am I able to put an image somewhere to replace the thing on the top left?
Write an article; I am flattered, don’t know I can though, or have never tired.
A caseworker came to see me Friday morning to caution me about being on sites. I am the loudest and most opinionated foster parent I have found surfing the Aussie sites. Queensland DoCS rang NSW DoCS, meeting held – and still I can’t stop. I think I do need to learn how to phrase stuff as I suspect I might get in a lot of trouble soon.
Love your poll idea, this is real democracy in action isn’t it.
Hey Jewely, join the club, I don’t know what I’m doing either. No apologies required or offered, I define freedom as the right to make your own mistakes (and learn from them). I promise not to laugh at your stuffups, if you’ll do the same for me…
The thingy in the corner is called an ‘avatar’, I’ve just discovered. I have just added a widget which should allow to add your own. The recommendation is 128 x 128 pixels, less than 10k file.
You’re more than welcome to try it, and let us know how it goes.
Good luck, and if we never hear from you again… I’ll post a warning about avatars.
On the matter of foster parents, It sounds like we desperately need some ‘whistleblowers’. If you don’t want to disclose your real name, that’s fine by me.
“Avatar uploads not allowed (Administrator may set on Users » Avatars page).”
Wont let me, or I couldn’t figure it out. But at least it mentions it now where it didn’t before. This posting messages I seem to be fluking each time but hopefully I will hang around long enough to learn it better. Really is a nice looking sight Grim. I did whip over to OLO and give it a plug.
Tricky thing about whistle blowers, we should not let other innocent parties suffer if we do get punished. I don’t think I have worked out the ethics for it all. Oh I am “Jewely” everywhere because Julie is usually taken. But DoCS already know exactly who I am, hence the visit.
Hey Jewely, I have done a little work on the avatar thing, but I really don’t know if it will work. Obviously, I need to set up a user account, to test these things from your perspective.
With a grand total of 3 respondents, I’m not quite ready to quit my day job yet, so it may take a while. Please be patient, and while you’re waiting, why not check out the rest of the site, and maybe add your vote and comments.
Hey Jewely, I have added Gravatar capability to comments; it seems to work… at least, my thumb didn’t smash my monitor…
Feel free to try it.
Hello Admin, looking good.
Okay I went to my profile thing but this time I couldn’t see any mention of gravatar.
I’m driving you nuts aye. Oh just spotted the the thing above comments, I am so going to click it on it…
No idea what I am doing now, I click things and leave passwords.
What am I replying to?
Hey Jewely, interesting hair style…
Sorry, can’t help myself. As I understand it, the gravatar site (Globally Recognised Avatar) has it’s own database. Once you have uploaded your avatar to their site, it should appear on any blog or forum which you visit; IF they have gravatars enabled. The process seemed fairly painless, except for the photography, at least.
So far, I haven’t been bombarded with any more spam than usual, although I’m a little concerned about the morse code that occasionally comes through the speakers…
Tip: photo needs to be square, and as small a file size as possible.
Hiya Grim, Okay so now I just need to know where this Gravatar datebase is?
You know what, I have no idea what spam is, I know my outlook thing puts it somewhere.
You have speakers, my son upgraded my computer and he forgot I kinda liked sound, it is driving me nuts not being able to go listen to different links people have posted and I haras my son constantly in e-mail to no avail.
Oh and DoCS got a bit clearer, they want me to protect myself (bless them) and not mention something or other… like current kids or any situations with any kids… but they said they’d send me a letter just so as I understood… Phew cause I have mind like a sieve.
It is raining here lots and lots, and my house regularly floods so if I disapear for awhile you’ll know I’m floating around the house.
Testing, testing…
Apologies, Jewely, I think it’s my fault. I’m just running some tests, so expect to see some boring emails…
I dunno, Jewely. What’s supposed to happen is, when you click the gravatar check box and put in a password, Gravatar is supposed to send an email with a link. All you have to do is follow directions.
For some reason, Gravatar doesn’t want to play. I may have to explore other options.
Try following this link, and see how you go:
http://en.gravatar.com/
My avatar still seems to be working, buggrit…
Hey Grim,
I went to that link and made my gravatar thingi.. maybe it will turn up later.
This whole having your own site isn’t easy aye.
Tell ya what I learnt years ago running my own. Liked other ones so much I made my own and was really active on it for awhile then kinda of got busy with actually running it so didn’t leave that many comments and definatley didn’t feel like going on anyone elses.
Now I am looking at making my own again – just for foster parents like a support one. We are probably the quietest people out there because of fear of punishment (aka not being allowed any more kids if we complain).
I pretty much had it confirmed today that I have been black listed even though caseworkers keep asking for me to have their clients. Management is stopping children coming to me because I made an offical complaint.
Ombudsman is backing me up and not finished but like they matter.
Is this a comment on the only department monopolised by females? Probably.
MY PUZZLE IS THERE!
Congratulations! Sorry It didn’t work for you the way it was supposed to, but that’s life, hey. I’m still working on it.