TMO needed for blogging community?

 What is a TMO?

Well, in rugby it is a wanker guy sitting in front of a TV screen who analyses every little thing in a game.

For example, if a forward breaks wind in a scrum, the TMO will probably pick it up a little later and interrupt the game to have the farter red carded.

The referee becomes a bit like the pope, god's representative on earth.

The referee - god can override
his decisions.

Okay, okay, I might be depressing you after the AB's loss. Here are a couple of pictures to cheer you up.

Well, I hope that cheered you up. I'm off for a walk with my two flat mates, then I'll get some practice done.

Ciao tutti.

It certainly is a strange old world.

 I read a news item last night about a poor little nearly two year old who died in Lower Hutt. Very sad. The boy was named Ruthless-Empire.

Now please be assured that I have absolutely no intention of making light of this tragic situation. My question is how could a parent (or parents) inflict such a name on a child. Please don't tell me it is some sort of cultural thing.

One thing strikes me - this strange old world is not getting a lot right.

Look at the Israel / Hamas war. There are evidently one million Palestinians trapped in the war zone with food and water very hard to come by. Who will gain out of this conflict? Both sides worship a similar type of god. Obviously gods do not bring peace or try to help out.

We've also got the question, "Why did Russia need to invade Ukraine?"

Okay, okay, I know I'm treading a well worn path here. I could also mention our gang problems and the violence that seems to be happening in our own backyard.

Maybe I need to find something happy to write about.

* * *

Let's see what the (old) boys are writing about.

For anyone who is new around here, there are two bloggers who are regular readers of this great literary site we call Richard's Bass Bag.*

One writes under the name of The Curmudgeon, but his real name is Peter.

Peter likes nothing more than a good series. When he writes a series, he chooses a topic like one of these...

• Walking in the hills.
• Windows in my house.
• Planting my garden.
• Booze I have drunk.
• A revisit to windows in my house.
• Minor storms that have happened near my house.

The other blogger is called Robert, a guy who likes to dress up.

He also likes playing the violin and making videos.

Robert's last post was on Labour Day. From memory I think Robert is a Presbyterian and he posts a lot about god things. Okay, okay, he might actually be a Catholic.

Here are some examples of his topics...

• Abortion.
• Tent Horn.
• The Blessed Trinity (not to be confused with the movie 'They Call Me Trinity').
• Abortion.
• Parables.
• House cleaning.
• Cleaning a Presbyterian church and finding fault.
• Abortion.
• Mary, the mother of Jesus.
• Crazy lady saints.

Well, there you go. If you're silly enough to want to visit these sites, you'll find them on our LINKS service list.

Ciao tutti.

* the original bass bagging site

One silly thing quite a few All Blacks do.

 

I'm talking about pointing up to the clouds after scoring a try. A few of our Pasifika players do this. I think that the above cartoon explains why this gesture is silly.

Enough said.

Hey, here's another interesting thing that I came across.

I thought that Katha really nails this one. You can read about Katha HERE.

Well, It's Tuesday but it's like a Monday because yesterday was a holiday (for some). Today is a holiday for me too* because I'm not required at work. Tomorrow I work and will continue to work on a Wednesday because that's the day I teach violin. However, my relieving work should finish very soon because the senior students finish up at the end of this week. That will give me more time to get jobs done around the house and to get in some serious violin and double bass practice. I also need to put more work into my Italian.

My Italian friend Antonio is coming to stay over the Christmas period. That'll be fun. Here's a 'wise saying' in Italian.

Well, I'll leave it there for today.

Ciao tutti.

* Every day is a holiday for Peter.

IHANIWTWAT! (a post with no pictures)

 I have absolutely no idea what to write about today!

I see that Robert has already covered Labour Day or, at least, he's praying about it.

I know, maybe I could write a parable?

Let's see...

The origin of morality.

Some people think that morality comes from an instruction from some sort of god. Let's make up a god to show you how people think it works.

Booljit gave man a book with only twenty one pages. The wise man Damars was among the first to read it. The book had a title, "Live Like This If You Want To Avoid A Very Long Time In A Very, Very Cold Place After You Die."

Page one pronounced a set of rules that Booljit considered esential.

"You must love me and worship me. I have set out twenty things that will make you morally good and will get you into a good place when you die. I call that place Linford."

Each page listed, and then explained, one of the twenty morals.

Here are the twenty titles.

1. You must put your god Booljit above all other things.

2. Except for in a war, don't kill other people.

3. I will set up a church. You must belong to this institution.

4. Honour your superiors.

5. If you are a bottom feeder, always tell the truth.

6. Monday must be observed as a holy day.

7. On Monday you must come to my church.

8. Be kind to all people who are not too different from yourself.

9. Don't make moral judgements without consulting this book.

10. Say 'no' to abortion under any circumstances.

11. If you are playing sport, you must acknowledge me when you score.

12. Generally speaking, don't steal.

13. Warn people when you think they may be going to Freezing Place.

14. Remember that I am the one true god and don't show any interest in other ones.

15. If you are a man and you have a wife, you are in charge.

16. Women must always listen to their husband.

17. When cars are invented, get a huge one and keep the distance from other cars small.

18. Take every opportunity to promote this book because it is the word of your god.

19. If you want to pray to me, use my 'answer phone' system.

20. Remember that I am Booljit!

Damars became Booljit's main voice on this planet. He became Booljit's first dope. Dope Damars I.

* * *

Okay, okay, I'm supposed to be writing a parable. To be honest, I can't be bothered.

Look, morals ARE NOT set out by some superior entity. 

MORALS ARE BUILT ON COMMON SENSE.

They are ideas that make living good for as many people as possible. Unfortunately, there are many examples in the world where this is not happening - Ukraine and the Gaza strip are obvious examples of where the morality approach has been lost, but there are many more. I guess you just need to be aware of what effect your actions are having on others.

I'm off now.

Ciao tutti.

Go the All Blacks!

 It's semifinal time so I'll have to keep this brief.

Peter's briefs.

I think it could be a tough one, as both teams will be throwing everything they have into the mix.

Good luck ABs!

Ciao tutti.

Wednesday update.

 Okay, so here we are. It's Wednesday afternoon and it is sunny and feels warm and I've had a haircut.

Okay, okay, I know you all want an update on my grandson Harrison. Here he is with his grandma whom he is very fond of.

Harrison is eighteen days over six months old. He is already playing the double bass pretty bloody well! He has inspired me to practise even more than I have done lately.

"Time grandad, it's all about time! Get to work with that metronome."

At least, I think that's what he said. He is certainly a bright boy who knows about bass playing!

* * *

Israel vs Hamas.

What a sad state of affairs. 

Orthodox Judaism vs Salafism.

"Orthodox Jews believe in one God, and they adhere to the Ten Commandments and other associated laws of God from the Torah and Talmud. Jews believe in positive outcomes from choosing good deeds and lifestyle choices, and they also believe in retribution for bad deeds."

"Salafism is an Islamic reformist movement that emphasizes a restoration of Islamic piety and practice as was perceived to exist during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and his followers."

Well, it seems that big time killing of men, women, children and babies is on the agenda for both religions.

I would say, "God help us!" but it seems like He is behind it all.

I'll leave it there for today.

Ciao tutti.

It has been analyzed to death.

 I'm talking about the All Blacks meeting Ireland in the Rugby World Cup Quarter Final.

Oops, sorry. That's Portugal beating Fiji.

Well, once I was watching an All Blacks match on TV and Shelley asked, "Which ones are the All Blacks?" I lied and told her they were the team in red. She was happy.

Some people just don't care about rugby. I know Robert is not really a fan. Fair enough. It really is a lot of well paid young men chasing a ball. In the past I have been guilty of taking it too seriously and I still do enjoy watching a game. The reality though is that it won't be the end of the world if the All Blacks lose tomorrow.

The end of the world.

Actually, that's quite a popular saying these days, "It's not the end of the world."

Not many things are more serious than the end of the world.

Here's a list of things that are less important...

• Running out of double bass rosin.
• Being a bit low on toilet paper.
• Wetting your pants.
• Being late for a show.
• Missing mass.
• Losing a game of tennis or golf.
• Breaking a violin string.
• Losing a sock.
• Getting paint on your shirt.
• Finding that your car has a flat battery.
• Knocking over a cup of coffee.

I think you get the idea.

Well, I'm off soon to see my grandson.

He's a bit bigger than this now.

A bit bigger. He loves to grin. He's a happy little chap with two wonderful parents.

I'm sure he'll grin for grandad today. It's really neat being a grandad.

Ciao tutti.