Don't hold back, now. Tell us what you really think.

This is a promotional image for a new bread based snack called Beerka. The line is "Made for beer".

I went to the footy this afternoon. To save spending possibly two hours driving, and trying to find a parking spot, I catch the train in. Getting off at Richmond station, there was a bread van parked outside, and people were giving away cartons and cartons of the stuff. Obviously, from the different colours, there were all kind of flavours available. Naturally, people being what they are, they didn't turn down a free handout, and one of the handlers was employed full time flattening the empty cartons.

The walk from the station to the MCG is about half a kilometre. There are quite a number of rubbish bins along the way, and all of them looked like this.

My guess is the footy patrons weren't overly impressed.

Redecorating.

The Retreat was starting to feel a little musty, like an attic that hasn't been aired for years. So decided to do a little redecorating. Hope you like the new look.

The odds are even that it will be odd.

This is just one of those inconsequential observations that are generally fascinating only to the observer.

When I hang clothes on the clothesline, I take an item of clothing, and then grab a handful of pegs. I then proceed to pin articles until the handful runs out. Almost invariably, the number of pegs in my hand will be an odd one. Only on extremely rare occasions will I pick up an even number of pegs.

I'm wondering what it is that determines how many pegs I can grab in a handful. Are there other people like me who always get an odd number? Are there people out there who only pick an even amount? Maybe we could start a society. The Odd Peg Pickers Association.

Now that I've totally bored you, I'll get out of your way now.

Someone's knocking at the door.

We had this charming young female ring-tailed possum visit us the other night.

Daughter, E, was the first to spot it as it was climbing up the screen door. To start with, she thought it was a rat, but then noticed the tail.

Naturally, there was a mad scramble for cameras, which were suddenly not where they were supposed to be. Fortunately, I remembered my phone had a camera, and I knew where that was, so was able to get a few pictures of our visitor.

We're not sure why the possum felt it needed to climb our door; there's a large overhanging eave so there isn't any acess to the roof. I put it down to the rain. It was the first night in a long time that we have experienced any substantial precipitation, and it's certainly possible that miss possum had never seen any before and was thus unnerved by the experience and sought shelter.

E eventually found her camera and was also able to get some good shots before our model tired of the whole thing and stormed off.

I was wondering ...

What did they call a photographic memory before cameras were invented?

Back in the saddle again.

After some three weeks, my computer is back online. It seems that Windows did one of its regular updates, and removed a file that connected me to the network, resulting in my not being able to log on. Thankfully, problem has been sorted - many thanks to D - and things are running smoothly again.

Computer problems.

Sorry for lack of input. Having troubles with computer.

The iron lung and the Blues.

June Middleton made the news this week by being included in the pages of Guiness World Book of Records for the longest time spent in an iron lung.

Mrs Middleton, 80, contracted polio in 1949 at the age of 23 and now spends 18 hours a day in the machine. Fifty-seven years on, she was presented with a certificate whilst attached to a portable respirator, and watching her beloved footbal team, Carlton (The Blues) training for the upcoming pre-season competition.

Some of the players were interviewed at the occasion, and all expressed their admiration for her strength of will and character. As well they should be. Judging by the results of the last two seasons, I think it's safe to say that Mrs. Middleton has worked a damn sight harder than some of the players lately.

Random activity.

More random acts of ponderance.

• I think Google must have Alzheimers. Every time I need to go into my templates, or to edit/create posts, it asks me to sign in. I do so, then tick the box that says Remember me on this computer. But it never does. Sometimes it even forgets me while I'm still signed in. Definitely Alzheimers. Can you imagine the chaos that would cause?
  "Hey, Mike. Where did we put that Website about the Great Wall of China?"
  "Website? What's a Website?"
• Doing the shopping yesterday. Saw quite a few people wearing jumpers or jackets. How weird is this weather? If this keeps up, all the plants are going to develop a persecution complex.
• On the subject of shopping; noticed that the supermarket has increased the price yet again of some of the basic staples. The saying goes; "Man does not live on bread alone." The way things are headed, doesn't look like man will be living on bread at all.
• Emporer Johnny announced a Federal Government initiative the other day. Basically, the Federal Government is taking over control of the Murray - Darling water basin in an effort to address the current drought and water crisis Australia is facing. The country has been in the grip of one of the worst droughts in history for the past ten years, but we've hardly heard a word from Canberra apart from the odd politian (pun intended) paying lip service to the problem. This year however - which coincidentally happens to end in an election -, Little Johnny is personally going to deliver his people up from the arid lands. As transparent as the compound he is supposedly going to supply.
• While on the subject of the emporer's new rain coat; John Howard's official residence is Kirrabilli House, in Sydney. To show he is a ruler in touch with his subjects, he has applied to have a rain water tank installed. The peasants have revolted. Kirrabilli House is a National Trust building, and the mandarins in charge of said organisation have declined permission for the project, stating the usual bromide about affecting the heritage value, etc, etc. This despite the fact that the house had a rain water tank when it was first built.
• Has anybody answered the musical question "What's Love Got To Do With It?"

Through the glass darkly.

Last December, the world's first "test-tube" baby gave birth to her first child, and it barely rated a mention. Stark contrast to when she herself was born.

Church groups were outraged. "It's the Devil's work!" they cried. The Pope disapproved, saying it was interfering in God's creation. Moralists denounced the process as "men trying to be God". Experts started popping up like mushrooms on TV news and talk shows, each with their own idea, and agenda. And the medical team who were responsibile for the whole thing were confronted by jostling, screaming, rampaging hordes (A.K.A. the media).

Much the same is going on now, with the cloning of stem cells. All the naysayers are pronouncing the beginning of our slide into condemnation. The church groups are as loud as ever. All focusing on the negative aspects, overshadowing the positive.

Sure, the potential is there for the procedure to be abused, but that's true of everything. Millions of people drive cars, and there will always be drivers who do the wrong thing and end up destroying lives. That's why we have laws to prevent these things, and to deal with the offenders if it happens. As long as we remain aware of this potential, there will be those who will continue to keep close scrutiny in order to prevent it.

Today, there are tens of thousands of test-tube babies living ordinary lives. We, as a society, have accepted them as part of the pardigm. Now, more than fifty percent of American couples would be willing to use the IVF program if they weren't able to conceive naturally. Yes, there have been some unlawful practises, but the appropriate checks and balances are in place.

And, on a personal note, I'd like to think that all those babies have been raised in a loving, nuturing home; simply by the fact their parents went to so much trouble to have them.