PUZZLE ZONE
ACROSS 1. Detect 5. Prods sharply 7. Exaggeratedly masculine 8. Defined region 9. Seepage 10. Shine 11. Bee’s liquid harvest
13. Single object 14. Carnivores, meat ... 18. Most painful 21. Cougar 22. Stood on hind legs 24. Terminate 25. Days of yore, the ... 26. Graceful bird 27. Clear
28. Refuse to admit 29. Wool clippers DOWN 1. Throat capsule 2. Skilful 3. Piece of glowing coal 4. Frozen water spikes 5. Merrier
6. Sportsmen’s jackets 12. Ventilate 15. Flatter to excess 16. Precisely 17. Graze 19. Primary number 20. News 22. Splits apart 23. Supermarket lane
Puzzles supplied by Lovatts Publications Pty Ltd www.lovattspuzzles.com See page 48 for solutions.
A Grain of Salt Same-sex marriage, the big question? I’ve worked with many homosexual people as an actor over the years but other than their talent their sexual preferences were insignificant. I attended one marriage ceremony and yes, I wondered why, but only a passing thought. I married after a 5-year relationship and while there was a sexual element there was also a strong ignorant desire for children. Some heterosexual couples did not have this “family” preference, a question of choice, or personal drive. In my time (specifically the 1950s) there was very little deep thought. You met a female, you liked her; more importantly she adored you, so married, led there in retrospect by society’s unwritten laws, but happy enough. It’s surely at least arguable whether or not a married heterosexual couple are better qualified to raise children; apparently most are, but many are not? The lottery of life. Aristotle said we should approach our wives gravely and wisely for fear lest we unhinge our reason by arousing them too lasciviously, the short term danger of voluptuous and unremitting pleasure. (Short-term being around two years, but again, variable?) Socrates, in answer to whether it was appropriate to take a wife, answered “whichever you do, you will be sorry”. Strange response. As always however, the genital activities of men and women, although necessary and part of the mind’s everyday activities of the vast majority, are in fact classified as unmentionables. Thus, I apply my “living next door to me” principle. No problem, therefore, let them marry; vote yes. There’s a car park next door to me.
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Western Port News 14 July 2015
*** Would that I could enjoy bowls or woodwork, fishing, gardening, long walks, bird watching, anything to escape those winds and bucketing rain; the inevitability of a power blackout. I have a bad back and I cannot blame Cupid; he deserted me long ago. My body has assumed control. I listen; I have no choice. I’m in constant argument on smoking but losing there too. Beer or coffee without a cigarette is Un-Australian; my necessity for cheerfulness being challenged. Fear of the “grim face” attitude, feeding on misfortune, increased levels of self-pity. The ever present fight for the necessary attitude of positivity. ”The value of life lies not in the length of days, but the use we make of them” [Michel Montaigne]. Well said Michel, but you didn’t experience July here, or Tony Abbott’s crusade of fear, or the real mafia (electricity, gas and water retailers) or the panic attack of another Hawthorn premiership. *** I shake my head in disbelief. I shouldn’t, but again I fall for the trap, temporarily forgetting the historical stupidity of governments. No smoking in prisons after months in the planning process; what on earth did they talk about? It beggars belief they didn’t anticipate the riot. “Shocking and disgraceful” said Danny Andrews, vowing to uncover the reasons for the unrest, with a report due in November? Email me Danny and I’ll tell you in one sitting; you pay for petrol. Save a fortune on meetings. *** Two friends were adamant after the ABC‘s Q&A Zaky Mallah episode
“Chuck him out of the country” etc. All I saw were similar words from little known Liberal politician Steven Ciobo and Mallah responding followed by the furore and Tony’s perfect opportunity to further his political scare campaign including his wish to have our ABC be an extension of News Limited. I’m reminded of Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act dealing with harmful speech on the grounds it burdened freedom of expression, Attorney-General Uncle George Brandis arguing in support of his attempted amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act: “Everyone is entitled to be a bigot”. Clearly we can say what we like, but not anything Tony doesn’t like? Fear of terror, wind farms, unions and the ABC. How about fear of Alan Jones? Forget this early election nonsense and the likelihood of an ABC comedy titled At Home with Tony. *** Our wonderful Government is sniffing at the heels of independent union representatives on industry superannuation funds suggesting they be replaced by financial experts? Janet Albrechtsen? Union funds are outperforming commercial funds. Yes, certain to be shonkies hidden among the union funds bosses, but anything run by financial experts (is there such an animal?) will be a step to the detriment. Beware. *** Some things bear repeating: How to close down a democracy (Naomi Wolf, The Guardian).. “invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy, create a gulag, employ security contractors, set up a surveillance system, harass citizen groups, in-
By Cliff Ellen troduce arbitrary detention, control the media and believe that dissent equals treason”. The good news? Like Keating, Howard, Rudd and Gillard, Tony’s day will come. Sooner rather than later, please. *** Cato the Younger (long before Shakespeare’s birth) “we can judge a man’s character much better from his conversation than his physiognomy”...Former union leader Kathy Jackson has become an undischarged bankrupt?...$300 billion euros debt; sell Mykonos?..Maybe a Royal Commission on “right of way” assumptions by females with
trolleys at Woolworths?...I’m a patient man - sooner or later our PM will explain his contention his Liberal Party are best at managing the economy...They play a hard game at Direct Endoscopy Frankston. A request for a second two biscuit pack was met with “only one per person”...I often wonder what a “mature” discussion is... “The time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will follow their own desires and will collect themselves more and more teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear” [2 Timothy 4:3]. ...hooroo...cliffie9@bigpond. com