nomadpete

I disagree with your judgement. Your graph of homicides is a report on the worst case scenario of outcomes. OME is referring to one of several possible development pathways of abuses. Different entirely, and in no way accepting the poor behaviour exhibited by either contributing party. And, remember, EVERY conflict REQUIRES participation by BOTH parties. Again, that does not say he or she (depending on which one suffers worst) is to entitled to inflict harm to the other party in the difference of opinion.

You asked us to avoid specific personal cases. Therefore I cannot add to your argument.

That is unfaily sexist. In my experience, any gender might have this dangerous attitude lurking within an initially pleasant countenance.

Unfulfilled expectations, aggravated by inflexibility.

Great idea! That makes sense. Here I respect your view, but disagree. Sure, the NSM try to make money out of 'reporting'. But I feel that quite large mobs use the Australia Day issue as leverage to promote blame. If these people (demonstrators) really want to improve the lives of the people they claim to represent, why aren't they out in the bush working with the most needy communities to improve the presently destructive indigenous culture. By destructive culture I refer to normalised tribal and domestic violence, and the loss of moral compass. Personally, I cannot understand why we celebrate the visit by Capt Cook any more than the Dutch or French who also dropped in for brief visits. So the day has no significance to me whatsoever.

We seem happy to honour the travesty of the Anzacs in Gallipoli so a precedent has been set with that sort of thing. I would argue that the fallout of which you speak is actually a mixed bag. In my opinion a large proportion of the disadvantage is self inflicted. What would you do to make the lives better, of either the disadvantaged descendants of the indigenous, or even of the disadvantaged descendants of poorer 'invaders' ? Both these demographic groups frequently tend to find difficulty seizing the opportunities to better their lot. Would cancelling or renaming a public holiday on 26th Jan (or any other day) end discrimination and bring peace and good will to everyone? I doubt it would change anything at all.

I am not saying that past events had no impact or value. I acknowledge the impact of past decisions and actions. However I am saying that it is pointless laying blame on today's people for the past events. For instance I cannot blame the present German people or Japanese people for acts of war committed by their parents/grandparents. Likewise I am not responsible for the illegal declaration that the British made about terra nullius a couple of hundred years ago.

Whitefella law (the law of the land in modern times) has decreed that the first British settlement was established illegally. So somebody can declare an 'invasion day' to commemorate that if they wish. However, no living person in the country took part in any invasion. Following that thought, no living person can bear the blame for it. I refuse to be bothered by past injustices. Otherwise, where would I stop? Every person could choose to dredge up past injustices committed by or to previous generations. (No matter where those ancestors came from.) Let every person do the best they can with whatever they are born into, and with whatever opportunities present themselves along the way. I can't drive a car very far just by staring into the rear view mirror.

Is there any legislation that requires a pilot certificate endorsement for piloting a ultralight cat? Or any minimum wing area?

Onetrack did say he planned to go to Pyalong (?) In early May. So I guess he's still hitching his way east across the Nullabor about now.

Hopefully we will soon hear about an eventful delivery trip. And all is well.

Does anybody have any contact details apart from the forum?

Just for you, OME..... DIN stands for "Deutsches Institut für Normung", meaning "German institute for standardization".

They mount on a DIN rail which is the standard in meter boxes.

Role models? The best role models are the people who fearlessly follow their own path, honestly, fairly and honorably. An when it comes to raising kids, I don't think the gender roles of parents matter. What matters is that the kids have caring cooperative, supporting, noncombatant parent figures to look up to. Further, I think two 'parent figures' is not enough. Kids do best when there is an extended family of sane, stable role models - grandparents can be a great guiding asset!

This fact is where spending large sums of money simply fails to protect the vulnerable. In my wife's case, her ex husband is the classic " well respected medical professional, church going, all around great guy". He has never had a police report for cruelty to farm animals, nor holding a gun to his wife head to get his way, nor for leaving bruises on his daughters neck during an argument. I expect there are many men (and women) out there who seem outwardly OK but are actually ticking time bombs, waiting for an unfortunate trigger to set them off..... People who have never experienced such a relationship, can never begin to understand the complexity of the issues at play.

Thank you. That does happen too often. People try to find a simple answer, a simple blame process. That is not possible.

I couldn't be bothered to go to all that trouble, who combs their cat? If it was up to me, I'd hang the bloody cat out and let the birds take as much as they want.

Random thought.... Is Alcoholism a cause, or a symptom of mental health issues?

Spacey, please at least get something like this..... (Bunnings Aerospace for $68).

Believe it or not, although my relationships were not being destroyed by alcohol, a visit to alanon helped me immensely. Until then I didn't know they are a support group for abused partners of alcoholics. They pointed out that trying to help the unhelpable only makes things worse - it turns the victim into the enabler - and in the end the victim is helping the perpretator to behave worse. I only went once but that realisation was the turning point for me. Enough! This was supposed to be random thoughts!

Totally agree. Western society has normalised violence as a conflict resolution answer. I wish I could have blamed it on drugs but a cause in my cases. It is more like "boiled frog" problem. Also, it takes a great deal of courage and mental strength to walk out on the one you love, when it is breaking a promise "in sickness and in health" (knowing mental health counts and knowing the perpretator needs help too). And to do it when all strength is gone and the victim is already very weak, and vulnerable. It is common for such relationships to have isolated the victim from their closest friends/relatives/ support, and they feel unable to seek the help they need. It may be hard to comprehend, but domestic violence is a (bad) outlet for the perpretator who at the time feels totally vulnerable, disempowered. It is their desperate attempt to regain lost power. In my opinion, a variation on "violence is the refuge of a coward". Perhaps a cultural change would help to build trust in seeking help outside the relationship. Maybe growing the courage to admit the behaviour to outsiders. Society presently sees that as a weakness. It seems frowned upon generally.

I would add one significant thing that is grossly lacking - specialist support for those suffering from psychological abuse. It is sadly lacking but is more effective than punisment. In most reports of partner physical violence, there is a common theme. Prior ongoing psychological manipulation by one person AND ongoing denial of that by the other person. Normalised deviance by BOTH parties is what facilitates the progressive worsening of violence. Laws and threats of jail or death penalty will do no good at all.

As I have said before, in my opinion, nobody in their right mind will harm the one they love. The problem is mental health. No amount of law threats will change the actions of a person who is having a mental health rage problem. Twice in my life I have had my life physically threatened by partners who were undergoing irrational rage episodes. On one occasion our teenage kids helped wrestle a knife out of my wife's hand. Later professional diagnosis showed it was all due to psychological problems. At the time of these events, no amount of rational discussion was possible. I can assure you, once a person is undergoing a psychotic episode, they are capable of dreadful stuff that none of their friends will believe.

Peter, I do agree with that. I don't agree with making a fuss about it because these folk are not desecrating anybody else's statuew - only their own. Besides that aspect, my only judgement of the pics you posted, is that some folk do stuff purely to draw attention, and to me, thats a waste of time.