In my recent Blog, “Taking the bad with the Good” I mentioned that we had a problem with our plan in attracting Parrots to our Balcony and how some other birds such as the Galahs, were dominating and bossing away the birds we really wanted to keep feeding.
I also mentioned how it got so bad last year that we stopped feeding all the birds at one stage but started again recently now that the recent cooler months are here where wild food is scarce and the desired birds started revisiting again.
At first, we only started putting seed out in the late afternoon and early morning for the Parrots and Common Bronze Wing pigeons, and ignored the other birds. Well, up to the other day that is! My wife went out the back and was going down the steps to the yard, when she was given a scolding, by one of the Galahs sitting on the seed tray on the balcony, who obviously reckoned that she needed to be pulled into line if it wanted to be fed. Well my wife immediately came inside and told me. And so after laughing my head off, I told her to reward the cheeky Galah for his/her cheek; but even now still can’t work out who was the bigger galah? It or me! What say you?
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Taking the Bad with the Good.
In my recent Blog, “Pardon My Parroting On,” I mentioned how we started putting some Parrot seed out to attract some local parrots into our backyard and onto our balcony. I also mentioned that it worked better than I could have dreamt it would, and soon we had not only the local parrots but other non-local parrots and rarer birds as well, including the now, not so common, Common Bronze wing Pigeon.
I did not mention the noisy miner, or the common spotted doves, but did mention the Whistling or Crested Pigeon and the pink Galahs. Well these doves, Pigeons and galahs, are now the problem with trying to attract parrots to our Place. Yes we very quickly attracted the desired parrots and a few other desired birds too, but these others soon became problems to us.
The Crested Pigeons, although not native to our area, hang out in a group of up to 20, and the spotted doves, although not normally in groups, are also numerous here and so a lot of seed goes to the wrong birds. And as well, some of the crested pigeons and especially the Galahs, are very bossy and drive away the desired birds and hog the seed for themselves.
Which then leaves us with having to decide between the expensive option of trying to keep seed up to all and sundry, just to try and attract a few desirable birds? Or to feed none and let them all go away?
Over the previous Spring and Summer, we actuality took that latter action, but now in the Winter when some of the desired birds started coming back, we started putting out parrot seed again. And again, quickly re-attracted all the birds we would rather not have! Or at least not have in such large numbers. Thus we have chosen to accept the bad to keep the Good. How would you choose to handle this or a similar situation?
I did not mention the noisy miner, or the common spotted doves, but did mention the Whistling or Crested Pigeon and the pink Galahs. Well these doves, Pigeons and galahs, are now the problem with trying to attract parrots to our Place. Yes we very quickly attracted the desired parrots and a few other desired birds too, but these others soon became problems to us.
The Crested Pigeons, although not native to our area, hang out in a group of up to 20, and the spotted doves, although not normally in groups, are also numerous here and so a lot of seed goes to the wrong birds. And as well, some of the crested pigeons and especially the Galahs, are very bossy and drive away the desired birds and hog the seed for themselves.
Which then leaves us with having to decide between the expensive option of trying to keep seed up to all and sundry, just to try and attract a few desirable birds? Or to feed none and let them all go away?
Over the previous Spring and Summer, we actuality took that latter action, but now in the Winter when some of the desired birds started coming back, we started putting out parrot seed again. And again, quickly re-attracted all the birds we would rather not have! Or at least not have in such large numbers. Thus we have chosen to accept the bad to keep the Good. How would you choose to handle this or a similar situation?
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Pardon my parroting on.
At our previous place of residence, we noticed some parrots in the nearby trees and so bought some bird seed to try and encourage them to come and visit us. Which they didn’t really do. Or if they did, the Magpies soon drove them away. I have blogged elsewhere about the Magpies, but over a short time my wife was feeding up to 20 of them until we went on a month’s holiday and never restarted feeding them upon our return due to our then imminent move to this place.
Having moved here, I again noticed some Parrots nearby, so I again wanted to see if we could attract them here, but due to our previous dominance with the magpies, took a while to actually do it. Then one day at our local hardware chain, I saw a 4kg Block of seed for the same price in Dollars, so brought it with the intention of putting it straight out for the parrots! Which I never did; but put it in the garage instead, where I rediscovered it a couple of months later and put it out finally in the faint hope of attracting some local parrots!
Well I did succeed in attracting some local parrots such as the Crimson Rosella (Mountain Larry) and the Eastern Rosellas. However much to my surprise and absolute delight, we also attracted some non-local parrots too! Such as Rainbow Lorikeets and some beautiful King Parrots too! Latter we also attracted some Galahs and some Whistling or Crested Pigeons and even the now not so common, Common Bronze Wing Pigeons too!
None of which we would have seen here on our balcony, if we had not started to feed the local birds. And none of which we would have seen, if I had not finally put the Parrot food out for them.
So if you want something that is obtainable, start making plans to make that goal achievable. And having made your plans, actually take the next steps needed to make your goals a possibility, and not keep your 'Parrot seed' untouched and unreachable in the garage like me.
Again, you may not always be successful, but you will never know if you don’t have a go. So if there is something that you would like to achieve, and think you can, go out and give it your best shot. And do it now! Will you do that now?
Having moved here, I again noticed some Parrots nearby, so I again wanted to see if we could attract them here, but due to our previous dominance with the magpies, took a while to actually do it. Then one day at our local hardware chain, I saw a 4kg Block of seed for the same price in Dollars, so brought it with the intention of putting it straight out for the parrots! Which I never did; but put it in the garage instead, where I rediscovered it a couple of months later and put it out finally in the faint hope of attracting some local parrots!
Well I did succeed in attracting some local parrots such as the Crimson Rosella (Mountain Larry) and the Eastern Rosellas. However much to my surprise and absolute delight, we also attracted some non-local parrots too! Such as Rainbow Lorikeets and some beautiful King Parrots too! Latter we also attracted some Galahs and some Whistling or Crested Pigeons and even the now not so common, Common Bronze Wing Pigeons too!
None of which we would have seen here on our balcony, if we had not started to feed the local birds. And none of which we would have seen, if I had not finally put the Parrot food out for them.
So if you want something that is obtainable, start making plans to make that goal achievable. And having made your plans, actually take the next steps needed to make your goals a possibility, and not keep your 'Parrot seed' untouched and unreachable in the garage like me.
Again, you may not always be successful, but you will never know if you don’t have a go. So if there is something that you would like to achieve, and think you can, go out and give it your best shot. And do it now! Will you do that now?
Monday, July 4, 2011
Face book: Friend or foe?
A family brouhaha, has currently developed on Face book between some family members over what is appropriate and when, on Face Book.
My wife received a phone call on Friday Morning saying that her father was in a bad way and not expected to make out the weekend. So it was not surprising on Saturday night that I was woken from a deep sleep not long before Midnight to receive the sad news of his passing at 91. As it was so late, I decided not to wake my wife (although she had woken up anyway so I told here then,) and daughter, nor to ring our other daughter and son, but rather wait till the morning to do so.
Before doing so the next morning, I decided to check my face book page to allow a bit more time to elapse before getting them out of bed on their one sleep-in day of the week.
So I was surprised to find out at 8: 30 am Sunday Morning that some, much to the dismay of others who like me had not yet told their (teenage) children, (who not only have face book but access to it via their phones,) had already posted the news as early as 2: 30 am of that same day.
Since then, there have been back and forth discussions on Face book to the merit or lack thereof of pasting such news so quickly on Face Book.
And as an independent observer, one can see merit on both sides, but again see the very real danger of putting something as important and personal as that out into the public airways so soon, before everyone else has had the opportunity to learn it in private.
To me the problem was not so much with the act itself, but with the timing. So to answer my original question as to: Face Book: friend or Foe, it seems that the answer, like a lot of other things in life, including all sorts of modern technology, depends on how and when you use it, rather than the object itself!
So in closing now, how are you using, not only Facebook but all modern technology? Appropriately or Carelessly? Over to you now.
My wife received a phone call on Friday Morning saying that her father was in a bad way and not expected to make out the weekend. So it was not surprising on Saturday night that I was woken from a deep sleep not long before Midnight to receive the sad news of his passing at 91. As it was so late, I decided not to wake my wife (although she had woken up anyway so I told here then,) and daughter, nor to ring our other daughter and son, but rather wait till the morning to do so.
Before doing so the next morning, I decided to check my face book page to allow a bit more time to elapse before getting them out of bed on their one sleep-in day of the week.
So I was surprised to find out at 8: 30 am Sunday Morning that some, much to the dismay of others who like me had not yet told their (teenage) children, (who not only have face book but access to it via their phones,) had already posted the news as early as 2: 30 am of that same day.
Since then, there have been back and forth discussions on Face book to the merit or lack thereof of pasting such news so quickly on Face Book.
And as an independent observer, one can see merit on both sides, but again see the very real danger of putting something as important and personal as that out into the public airways so soon, before everyone else has had the opportunity to learn it in private.
To me the problem was not so much with the act itself, but with the timing. So to answer my original question as to: Face Book: friend or Foe, it seems that the answer, like a lot of other things in life, including all sorts of modern technology, depends on how and when you use it, rather than the object itself!
So in closing now, how are you using, not only Facebook but all modern technology? Appropriately or Carelessly? Over to you now.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
What is a Million Dollars’ worth these days?
According to the Melbourne Herald Sun Newspaper on June 24 2011, “In just the last two years, the number of Australians worth more than $1 million has increased by more than 45%”. I heard somewhere else that that means 11% of Australians are now millionaires! Sadly I and no one I know are that, but I couldn’t help wondering just how far a million Dollars would actually go these days? When I was a lad just staring out in the work force I brought a weekly Tattersall’s ticket, with a first prize of only $25, 000. Of course then you could enter the first home buyers’ market, for around half that, and have gotten new car, and still have “A bob or two” left over.
Now you would need over half a million Dollars to buy a first entry home in some suburbs alone! I think the gambling agencies have cottoned on to this too, and now in some lotteries the first prize is often between 10 & 15 million. (Last night they were advertising for one worth 30 Million!)
So obviously, even if you are one of those now 11% now, being a millionaire these days, it doesn’t mean you are really rich any more. Just better off than the other 89%! No, to be rich these days, you need to be a Billionaire instead.
Okay, so that’s money! What else has proven now to be not worth what it once promised to be, now that you have it? Over to you for comment now.
Now you would need over half a million Dollars to buy a first entry home in some suburbs alone! I think the gambling agencies have cottoned on to this too, and now in some lotteries the first prize is often between 10 & 15 million. (Last night they were advertising for one worth 30 Million!)
So obviously, even if you are one of those now 11% now, being a millionaire these days, it doesn’t mean you are really rich any more. Just better off than the other 89%! No, to be rich these days, you need to be a Billionaire instead.
Okay, so that’s money! What else has proven now to be not worth what it once promised to be, now that you have it? Over to you for comment now.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
What does Gay mean to you now?
In my 2010 blog, “What does a referee do?” I concluded with: “Again it just shows that even when using familiar words, they don't always have the meaning that we are familiar with, do they? And so we need to be careful at all times that we both know what the other means when using otherwise familiar words, don’t we?
So, are there any other familiar words that you have always used that now, you find have other meanings. Sometimes with totally opposite applications, like with “Cleave”.”
At that point I had not heard of any other words but since then was reminded on how the understanding of the word “Gay” has changed.
This is what a friend wrote in response to my request for words whose meanings have changed: “Interesting. And so much of this is because of the way language is fluid, and words can take on new meanings over time, or can eventually change meaning totally. A current (sad) example is ‘gay’. To me it is sad that the word has gone from a meaning expressing joy (something clearly from God), to what it commonly means now (which is clearly not from God). Another one that comes to mind is ‘let’ in KJV let is used in the sense of hindering or holding back, whereas it has the opposite meaning of allow now.
Words are amazing – truly the gift of communication is one of the things that shows clearly how we are made in His image, who is, after all, The Word.”
Interesting comment and quite true how once any may would not hesitate to say he was gay in the first sense, but would hesitate now lest he be thought gay in the new sense of the word, unless he really was.
Well, that is his say, and He has given us two words whose common meanings have changed. One a long tome back, and another in my generation! What are some other words commonly used by you that have different meanings now? Again over to you for now.
So, are there any other familiar words that you have always used that now, you find have other meanings. Sometimes with totally opposite applications, like with “Cleave”.”
At that point I had not heard of any other words but since then was reminded on how the understanding of the word “Gay” has changed.
This is what a friend wrote in response to my request for words whose meanings have changed: “Interesting. And so much of this is because of the way language is fluid, and words can take on new meanings over time, or can eventually change meaning totally. A current (sad) example is ‘gay’. To me it is sad that the word has gone from a meaning expressing joy (something clearly from God), to what it commonly means now (which is clearly not from God). Another one that comes to mind is ‘let’ in KJV let is used in the sense of hindering or holding back, whereas it has the opposite meaning of allow now.
Words are amazing – truly the gift of communication is one of the things that shows clearly how we are made in His image, who is, after all, The Word.”
Interesting comment and quite true how once any may would not hesitate to say he was gay in the first sense, but would hesitate now lest he be thought gay in the new sense of the word, unless he really was.
Well, that is his say, and He has given us two words whose common meanings have changed. One a long tome back, and another in my generation! What are some other words commonly used by you that have different meanings now? Again over to you for now.
Friday, July 1, 2011
What does cleave mean?
In my 2010 blog, “What does a referee do?” I concluded with: “Again it just shows that even when using familiar words, they don't always have the meaning that we are familiar with, do they? And so we need to be careful at all times that we both know what the other means when using otherwise familiar words, don’t we?
So, are there any other familiar words that you have always used that now, you find have other meanings. Sometimes with totally opposite applications, like with “Cleave”.”
As at that time I had not heard of any other words, so thought I would share with you the meaning of Cleave. Sorry I mean the “Meanings’ of Cleave.”
For as I once discovered, cleave as two totally opposite and in my mind at least opposing meanings.
While we were still in South Africa and at a Church conference with the Indian congregations in the Port Shepstone area, they had a Marriage councillor come in and talk about Marriage and cleaving.
To a country boy brought up with Cleavers and the such, my only understanding of cleave was to violently and with force cleave or cut apart. However upon checking it out in a dictionary I found that this counsellor was right and that there are two distinct, and almost opposite meanings for Cleave.
The first is the common one and is used in any of the following ways:
1. To split or divide by or as if by a cutting blow, esp. along a natural line of division, as the grain of wood.
2. To make by or as if by cutting: to cleave a path through the wilderness.
3. To penetrate or pass through (air, water, etc.): The bow of the boat cleaved the water cleanly.
4. To cut off; sever: to cleave a branch from a tree. –verb (used without object)
5. To part or split, esp. along a natural line of division.
6. To penetrate or advance by or as if by cutting (usually fol. by through).
And secondly, with the opposite and rarer (at least to me) meaning of:
1. To adhere closely; stick; cling (usually fol. by to).
2. To remain faithful (usually fol. by to): to cleave to one's principles in spite of persecution.
So now that you know the two understandings of the word cleave, how do you cleave to other people today? Do you violently of forcibly separate yourself from them? Or do you faithfully cling to and remain faithfully to them? Again over to you now for your application.
So, are there any other familiar words that you have always used that now, you find have other meanings. Sometimes with totally opposite applications, like with “Cleave”.”
As at that time I had not heard of any other words, so thought I would share with you the meaning of Cleave. Sorry I mean the “Meanings’ of Cleave.”
For as I once discovered, cleave as two totally opposite and in my mind at least opposing meanings.
While we were still in South Africa and at a Church conference with the Indian congregations in the Port Shepstone area, they had a Marriage councillor come in and talk about Marriage and cleaving.
To a country boy brought up with Cleavers and the such, my only understanding of cleave was to violently and with force cleave or cut apart. However upon checking it out in a dictionary I found that this counsellor was right and that there are two distinct, and almost opposite meanings for Cleave.
The first is the common one and is used in any of the following ways:
1. To split or divide by or as if by a cutting blow, esp. along a natural line of division, as the grain of wood.
2. To make by or as if by cutting: to cleave a path through the wilderness.
3. To penetrate or pass through (air, water, etc.): The bow of the boat cleaved the water cleanly.
4. To cut off; sever: to cleave a branch from a tree. –verb (used without object)
5. To part or split, esp. along a natural line of division.
6. To penetrate or advance by or as if by cutting (usually fol. by through).
And secondly, with the opposite and rarer (at least to me) meaning of:
1. To adhere closely; stick; cling (usually fol. by to).
2. To remain faithful (usually fol. by to): to cleave to one's principles in spite of persecution.
So now that you know the two understandings of the word cleave, how do you cleave to other people today? Do you violently of forcibly separate yourself from them? Or do you faithfully cling to and remain faithfully to them? Again over to you now for your application.
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