VolaciousNet

The election is over, yes. Old news, yes.
This was shown to me tonight by , and I knew I had to quote it in LJ.
Read it over, and offer your thoughts.\

Facts are, in Ronald Rea-gan’s immortal phrase “stubborn things”. Fact: the coalition parties had a massive electoral victory on 9 October and are almost certain to be in office for at least the next six years. Fact: the coalition will control the Senate, either in its own right or with the help of the homophobic Family First party. Fact: the Democrats no longer constitute a viable force in Australian politics. Fact: the Greens did spectacularly less well at this election than was anticipated. Fact: if Family First gets any Senate seats it will be entirely courtesy of the Labor Party which preferenced Family First ahead of the Greens and Democrats where it really counted. Fact: with the Liberals in control of the Senate there will be no amendments to legislation and no inquiries or committees established that the government does not want. Fact: the agenda for the next three (and probably six) years is entirely in the hands of John Howard and Peter Costello. Fact: there is nothing the Labor Party, the Greens or anyone else can do about this – electorally they are now irrelevant. Fact: the idea of gay marriage is as dead a dodo.

These are the facts – get over it, get used to it or move to Spain.

It is now time for the GLTBI community to stop its moaning and whingeing about the election and for community leaders like Rodney Croome (SSO 735) to desist from their pathetic paranoid Chicken Little impressions about what they think might be the “worst government ever” and start using some productive energy to work out what can be achieved for the community over the next six years.

Three questions need to be addressed: what can be achieved; how can it be achieved; and who will help achieve it?

What
Clearly it’s time to forget the “gay marriage” debate. Neither Howard nor Costello is going to be moved on this issue. Focus on what can be achieved. This means having a rational debate to set priorities for what our community actually wants, balanced by a realistic assessment of what can be achieved under a coalition government. I have no doubt that finalising superannuation reform, dealing with immigration matters, eliminating some of the social welfare discrimination and getting a properly funded national HIV/AIDS strategy in place are all eminently achievable.

How
The Latin maxim res ipsa loquiter – the thing speaks for itself – has to be the guide. Well reasoned and argued cases dealt with on their merits and not presented within the “victim” paradigm have to be developed and put forward. They have to be framed not in the rhetoric and values of our community but in the rhetoric and values system that resonates with the listeners in the coalition party room – hard but by no means impossible. Let’s remember Philip Ruddock’s key role in ensuring the success of the inter-dependency visa immigration reforms, Helen Coonan’s support of superannuation reform and various Liberal ministers’ positive approaches to AIDS policy.

Who
Personal relationships need to be built with key Liberal insiders such as the out councillors Shayne Mallard (City of Sydney), Bruce Notley-Smith (Randwick) or Trent Zimmerman (North Sydney); with people who run the Gay and Lesbian Business Association (president Stephen Peoples was Howard’s deputy campaign manager in Bennelong) and similar organisations that have many Liberal Party members. Relationships must be built with sympathetic state and federal NSW parliamentarians. At the state level, the likes of John Brogden, John Ryan, Peta Seaton, Patricia Forsythe, Jillian Skinner and Don Harwin have shown their sympathy and understanding of our issues. Federally, NSW parliamentarians Marise Payne, Bruce Baird, Helen Coonan, Kay Hull (Nat); libertarians like Joe Hockey, Brendan Nelson, Malcolm Turnbull (an active AIDS Trust supporter) and even Tony Abbott are approachable; on some issues so is Philip Ruddock.

“Who” also means who in the community is going to speak on its behalf. Community “leaders” who have publicly, irrevocably committed themselves to the ALP or who have been the greatest public abusers of Howard personally are not likely to cut much ice in Canberra. A new level of political professionalism is required. Spokespeople who, however they might vote in private, or whatever private support they may give to any political party or organisation, are seen by coalition parliamentarians as reasonable, rational, fair, competent and politically savvy, have to take over the reins from some of the tired, old, compromised regulars. Without in any way failing to honour their efforts and achievements in the past, I would say for many of them it is time to step aside and let those who can work within the new paradigm get on with the job that they can no longer do successfully.

Of course it is galling that our rights and issues are not respected and supported on their intrinsic merits alone and that progress remains possible only by getting involved in the grubby world of realpolitik (a process which has left me with a few scars), through the process of presenting cases and asking for support. But that is how it is and that is what needs to be done, especially by a community which can realistically deliver very little in return (such as votes) and which has shown itself in electoral terms to be essentially irrelevant as far as the current government is concerned. It is actually a cruel and tough world out there – sorry, but that’s another Fact.

Our fellow Australians have spoken – vox populi, vox dei. It is no good sitting back and sulking for the next six years, muttering imprecations into our vodkas or trying to maintain some synthetic rage about the injustices of this world. It will make life better for no-one and may in fact, through failure or inactivity, make it positively worse for many.

They broke in again.
Walked down to my car this morning to find the cabin lights on, the doors unlocked, and the contents of glovebox all over the front passenger seat.
I’m getting sick of this, people, I really am.
This morning was nothing but annoyance, but it was completely needless. After the last theft, they gained access to the car park using the remote control they stole from my car. Strata management say “it’s too difficult” to change the door code. I wrote a letter to them today stating if they don’t, Redfern Police will be in contact with them, and I will hold them liable for any damages made to my car in this “security” car park.

So I spent some of today cleaning out the car for good. Getting rid of all junk, so it doesn’t look like it needs to be broken into. Also bought a TV cabinet, so that my monster of a TV doesn’t balance precariously over the computer desk. Looks good now.. even has a fish tank on top!

I’ve been looking at new places to live. I think I may move back up to the North Shore. Up to Crows Nest. It’s a nice place up there, prices are similar to here, and the crime rate is a hell of a lot lower. At the moment, I’m just about ready to wage war on Redfern, starting with covering The Block with napalm. I just need to find someone to move out with. If we don’t get decent security, I will push for grounds of breaking lease.

So that’s the state of things. I am going to try and go to uni tomorrow… you never know… last lecture of the year is usually informative. See how it goes!

Hi Boys and Girls.

It’s been a mixed weekend. There have been tears and smiles and very comfortable snuggling, and it’s a bit difficult to take a step back and try to let my logical abilities solve the problem for me. It’s something I was talking with about on Friday night… our similar predilections to divorce emotions from practicality in terms of problem-solving… like any good engineer! Simon, searching for houses around “the good side of Redfern”, was staying at my place for two nights.

I guess it wasn’t the best introduction to the area, when at 8am on Saturday morning, Redfern Police starts knocking at the door. My car had been broken into, down in the “security car park” downstairs. I’m not sure how they got in, but they smashed the rear corner window, hunted around the car for anything of value, but only made off with the security buzzer to open the car park door. Which, of course, means that they now have access to other cars whenever they want. So not a good start. Poor ‘Tasha has a garbage bag over the rear window, which only just weathered the big storms that came tearing through the area this evening.

But that was only a start. Adam and I also had a big talk and sorted a few things out… one of the things I will endeavour to do from now on is not to publicise our problems over a public medium like LiveJournal. Sarah had a look over a few of my recent posts and agreed that if her boyfriend would have written it, then she would have been pissed off. Fair call… I have to respect other people’s privacy.

I have shed many tears lately, and many are worried that I am getting worse again. The doc wants me back on meds… I’m still against the idea. My mum thinks I should get back on them, but then again that’s her solution to everything.

I have been getting worse… the accumulation of pressures is taking its toll again. My mother is… well… I am scared for her. Frankly, she is living my worst nightmare, but I have faith in her. Adam… well… I love the boy to death. He really is the best thing to happen to me, and may yet be key in providing the love and stability I need to sort myself out properly and get this all behind me.

I guess the important thing at the moment is to maintain functionality. After that, I will try little by little to get myself on top of my work.

Best of luck to all… I am shocked by ‘s and ‘s breakup… it’s not my place to pass judgment or even opinion… but I think it is a damn pity. It was great to see again, and even though as a host I didn’t provide the cleanest of apartments, I hope it was ok! I’m glad he got out and saw friends of his over the weekend… caught up with the Posseâ„¢. I’ll get to catch up with my friends after the exams.. life is just way too much to handle up until then.

Thanks to all that replied in my post last week! Much appreciated! Keep the love flowin’

I can’t seem to do anything right. Even when unintentional, I have a habit of unwittingly causing upset to people that I don’t mean to.

It astounds me. Just today, I was wondering to myself why it was that I have seem to have lost all feeling and compassion, in reference to my complete indifference to my uni work, my parent’s breakup, and my lack of direction in life. One SMS from Adam, saying he’s upset with me, and my heart literally beats faster, I begin to hyperventilate, and even whimper. Oh yes, those emotions are still there. I’m beginning to learn what a complex yet all-empowering emotion love is. For a philosopher like myself, it intruiges me no end. I will quote my prophetic friend David, with a statement that captures my thoughts…

Life… it changes, turns, in an all-embracing yet perplexing way.
Here’s the next part to Gus’ life:

Adam wants to move in with me!.

Yes, I know that the last post showed that there were troubles. But in some confusing way, it’s all interrelated. I got an email last night from him, which was very sweet, but also very confusing. I can’t say it made things a lot clearer, but it did at least outline the problems in a way I was able to manage.

I have no doubt as to my commitment to him. I’m apprehensive because of all the horror stories I’ve heard. Circumstances and logistics make it most practical for him to come and stay with me. His family home is taking its toll on him, with the stress and the constant travel (he lives in Picton, goes to uni in Wollongong, and works in Sydney with me). He doesn’t have the money to move into his own place, nor the security behind him should things fall afoul. His troubled medical history means that at least he will be a lot closer to medical services here. All things point to a much better situation if he were to come and live with me.

My lease runs out in February of next year, and I was quite willing, if we were still together by then, to make that assessment then as to whether we should move out and get our own place. I would not mind at all having him live with me… I am remarkably adaptable in many situations, and if I needed my own space I would be able to get it. I don’t know how he would adapt… it would involve accepting that i’m not the tidiest of people, I can spend hours on the computer and not notice, and during exam time I tend to go nocturnal.

Whilst I know our 6 months together equates to about 10 years in the gay world, I just know that I have heard too many horror stories of it all going awry. So I’ve suggested that he come and stay with me for a month, starting soon, and see how it goes.

I want your comments, people
This is not attention-whoring, but asking for comments, advice, etc. That’s why I have you guys on my LiveJournal friends list!
These days, I’m not one to get caught up in rampant emotions, but sometimes I might need a reality check.

Well, I’ve got a sunburnt nose! Seems to be a common occurence every time I go to Bathurst!

Caption A good weekend in the DG-300 !

Well, another time I just needed to go flying. With the comps coming up in December, I need to get as much practice as I can in. For starters, I needed to actually do a flight in the aircraft that I’m taking! The day wasn’t looking that good… even though it was sunny, the other gliders weren’t staying up. However, I took a launch at 2pm, and it seems that’s when the day broke free and some lift was had. My takeoff was a little shaky… it’s been a few months since I’ve flown a high-performance machine. Anyway, the lift was a bit scratchy… too broken, weak and far apart for me to venture out over the rough terrain between Bathurst and Orange. So I did some local soaring, then taking the machine for some sight-seeing over Bathurst and Mt. Panorama. She was beautiful. Nicely responsive on the controls… and I learnt very quickly that unless I co-ordinated perfectly, it would not climb at all. I had 5.5kts on the averager at the best of times, reaching about 6,500′ AMSL at the best. The circuit and landing were just too easy… the aircraft flew itself and the landing was one of the best I’ve done. Here are some more photos taken with my little Pentax Optio S4… after putting my arm out of the storm window! I thought they were pretty good… tell me what you think!!!

Pic 1

Pic 2

Pic 3