A.J. Sendall's Blog, page 4

Flank Street – The Sydney Quartet: Book Two

By %%ajsendall.com%%

Flank Street was released today!

From the first word to the first sale has taken a bit over sixmonths. It feels a lot longer, possibly because this was the first time I’d spent a winter in Europe for more than three decades; it seemed to go on forever. I missed the warmth of Australia and it’s people. However, those long, cold months of being house-bound with a log fire and pots of tea, were good for the writing process.

I took a different approach to writing Flan...

Flank Street – The Sydney Underworld Quartet: Book Two

By %%ajsendall.com%%

Flank Street was released today!

From the first word to the first sale has taken a bit over sixmonths. It feels a lot longer, possibly because this was the first time I’d spent a winter in Europe for more than three decades; it seemed to go on forever. I missed the warmth of Australia and it’s people. However, those long, cold months of being house-bound with a log fire and pots of tea, were good for the writing process.

I took a different approach to writing Flan...

Flank Street – In The Sydney Underworld: Book Two

By %%ajsendall.com%%

Flank Street was released today!

From the first word to the first sale has taken a bit over sixmonths. It feels a lot longer, possibly because this was the first time I’d spent a winter in Europe for more than three decades; it seemed to go on forever. I missed the warmth of Australia and it’s people. However, those long, cold months of being house-bound with a log fire and pots of tea, were good for the writing process.

I took a different approach to writing Flan...

ZZZ

By %%ajsendall.com%%

ZZZ … ZZZ … ZZZ …

That’s a sound you’ll all be familiar with, that sound of deep, contented sleep.

This final post in the April A to Z Challenge is dedicated to all you a-to-zers out there who have made it through April reasonably intact and are now in need of nap.

Whether you’re a practised napist, or a struggling beginner, this little book will help you develop your technique and get the most out of your nap time.

Napism.info is a fun read, and the author clearly did some solid, in depth research. It introduces you to the culture of napping, napists, and Nap Fu. It is packed with historical and cultural napping information, referencing eminent figures such as Napfucious, and includes some great advice from his holiness, the Dalai Napa.

A great read for those who are looking for an introduction to napping, or those wanting to hone their existing napping skills and methodology.

The official Napist flag

 

 

I hope you all enjoyed your blogging this April. Thanks to all of you who stopped by this blog, and I look forward to see you again soon.

As always, I’ll leave you with a short music clip.

 

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Yawn

By %%ajsendall.com%%

Why do we yawn, and why is it contagious?

Nobody really knows why we yawn, even though medical literature is full of possible explanations. One that has gained popularity in recent years, is that yawning may help regulate brain temperature. The brain operates best within a narrow range of temperatures. To lower the brain’s temperature, researchers suspect, the body takes in cooler air from its surroundings by yawning. This argument seems to have been strengthened after researchers placed ice packs of the heads of test subject, and contagious yawning ceased almost completely. This theory of brain temperature seems to be contradicted by the fact a foetus yawns in the womb. Perhaps there is a separate developmental reason for that.

You don’t even have to see somebody yawning to catch a yawn, just thinking about yawning can trigger the reflex. Some researchers suspect that catching a yawn is linked to our ability to empathize with other humans. For instance, contagious yawning activates the same parts of the brain that govern empathy and social know-how. And some studies have shown that humans with more fine-tuned social skills are more likely to catch a yawn. And it’s not just us. Many animals yawn as well as any of you with pets will know. Dogs can catch an interspecies yawn, and the closer they are attached to their human, the more common it is, which adds more weight to the empathy hypothesis. Wolves also yawn contagiously, possibly indicating a strong empathy within that specie.

 

Yawning in wolves is contagious.

 

How many times have you yawned whilst reading this post? Go on, leave a comment, I won’t be offended.

I’ll leave you today with Carlos Santana playing Samba Pa Ti live in Mexico.

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by, and join me again tomorrow for the final day of the April A to Z Challenge

Until then, happy yawning.

 

 

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XXXX

By %%ajsendall.com%%

 No, not that … Beer!

XXXX (pronounced fourex) is a popular brand of Australian beer brewed in Brisbane by Castlemaine. It’s very popular in the state of Queensland, where it is commonly found on-tap in pubs and bars. The XXXX brand was first introduced in 1924 and is a throwback to the long-standing tradition of using Xs to indicate the strength of an ale. The brand name built upon XXX Sparkling Ale introduced way back in 1878.

There seems to be a widely held misconception by non-Australians, that Fosters is Australia’s most popular beer. The reality is that if you walked into a bar in Australia and ordered a Foster’s, you might well receive some curious looks – it’s a long way down the popularity list, and almost unheard of in some parts of the country. XXXX and Victoria Bitter (VB) are Australia’s biggest-selling beers, and Fosters … well the least said about that the better.

“Australia’s greatest victory is, not only managing to export an unpopular beverage, but of indeed convincing the world that Fosters is in fact drinkable.” ~ Oscar Wilde

“Fosters: Australian for ‘tourist’.” ~ Winston Churchill

 

I’ll leave you today with a man who’s been drinkin’ again …

 

Thanks for calling by, and if you want to see what others are doing for ‘X is for -‘ today, check out some of the other great blogs on the A to Z Challenge

Join me again tomorrow for a look at ‘Y’.
Until then, happy reading.

 

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Whistleblower

By %%ajsendall.com%%

Whistleblower – would you have what it takes?

Whistleblower (whistle-blower or whistle blower)  a person who exposes misconduct, alleged dishonest or illegal activity occurring in an organization. The alleged misconduct may be classified in many ways; for example, a violation of a law, rule, regulation and/or a direct threat to public interest, such as fraud, health and safety violations, and corruption.

Whistleblowers frequently face reprisal, sometimes at the hands of the organization or group which they have accused, sometimes from related organizations, and sometimes under law. Questions about the legitimacy of whistleblowing, the moral responsibility of whistleblowing, and the appraisal of the institutions of whistleblowing are part of the field of political ethics.

 

Some examples of famous whistleblowers:

Frank Serpico

This New York City police officer, attempted to confront the rampant corruption within the police department. He left the force after being shot in the face during a botched drug raid and later moved out of the country. He was later portrayed by Al Pacino in the 1973 movie ‘Serpico‘.

Karen Silkwood

Like Frank Serpico, Karen Silkwod was played in a movie named for her, in this case by Meryl Streep in 1983. She died mysteriously in 1974 in the midst of a campaign to challenge Kerr-McGee about the safety of a nuclear facility. The circumstances of her death have been the subject of great speculation.

Jeffrey Wigand

Jeffrey Wigand began working for Brown & Williamson in January 1989, and was fired in March, 1993. He says that he was fired because he knew that high-ranking corporate executives knowingly approved the addition of additives to their cigarettes that were known to be carcinogenic and/or addictive, such as coumarin. The former tobacco company executive made enemies by claiming on “60 Minutes” in 1996 that cigarette companies were fully aware they were packing their products with addictive levels of nicotine. Russell Crowe played Wigand in the superb 1999 film “The Insider.”

June Collins

Possibly the least well know of the whistleblowers on this post, but without doubt one of the bravest and most intriguing of all. One who’s story if filled with conspiracy, vulnerability, and sacrifice. A story that needs to be more widely known and appreciated, particularly by Americans.

June Collins made international news headlines in 1969 when she became a whistleblower and testified before a U.S. Senate Committee.

This diminutive Aussie ex-exotic-dancer / rock-band agent, gathered evidence, and then blew the whistle on a Mafia like group of corrupt American Army sergeants, who managed the military clubs. They made millions during the Vietnam war by demanding kickbacks from all booking agents and sales people, as well as ‘fixing’ slot machines, bringing in professional gamblers to cheat the GI’s at cards, running prostitution, smuggling drugs and automatic weapons into the U.S., and black marketeering.

After Collins blew the whistle, she was hated by some, called a heroine by many more,  and became part of the history of the Vietnam War.

The Khaki Mafia, which Collins co-authored with Robin Moore, author The French Connection, became one of the best selling books on the Vietnam War.

The Khaki Mafia was the first of June’s books about her time in Vietnam. She has since written two true stories; Goodbye Junie Moon, and a sequel, Junie Moon Rising.

This sequel to Goodbye Junie Moon begins where she left off in Washington. After escaping death threats by the army sergeants in Vietnam, she gave testimony in Senate Hearings about those who sought to permanently silence her. She had sacrificed her business, and put herself at risk by succumbing to her conscience and becoming a whistleblower.

Both books are well worth reading, and will leave you in awe of this gutsy Aussie who’s post-war life was no less remarkable.

 

I’ve been told that this song became a bit of an anthem in Vietnam. It’s not hard to understand why.

 

 

Thanks for calling by, and if you want to see what others are doing for ‘W is for -‘ today, check out some of the other great blogs on the A to Z Challenge

Join me again tomorrow for a look at ‘X’.
Until then, happy reading.

 

 

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Vaka’etu, Vava’u

By %%ajsendall.com%%

Vaka’etu, Vava’u – one family’s paradise.

Vaka’etu is a small island in Vava’u, one of the three groups of islands that form the Kingdom of Tonga. Vava’u is the northern most of the three groups and is comprised of 70 islands, only 17 of which are inhabited. In Polynesia it is told that the islands were created by the god Maui, who caught the bottom of the sea with his magic hook, fished up, and left on the sea surface what became the islands of Vavaʻu.

Tongans are incredibly friendly people, and it doesn’t take long to feel at home there. The only way to experience Vava’u, is by boat, and that’s how the majority people do it. Vava’u is a very popular cruising destination, both for those crossing the Pacific as part of an extended cruise, or as a getaway for a few months for those based in Australia and New Zealand.

Vava’u is also one of the best places in the world to experience whale watching, and many land-based tourists take a tour to see the passing humpbacks, dolphins and many other types of whales that inhabit these waters. For the more adventurous, it’s possible to swim with these mighty animals, and with water temperatures 25 degrees and above, it’s very inviting.

 

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Vava’u a couple of times, and have always met lovely, memorable people. One of my favourites is Matti, who lives under this enormous tree on Vaka’etu with her husband, David, and some of her twelve children, one of which you can see on the beach dressed in pink.  Matti has that quiet strength that comes from enduring hardship with a heart full of love. She lives simply, and smiles constantly. She embodies the spirit of Tonga.The family are the only inhabitants of the island, and are very welcoming. Matti and David will sometimes invite the owners and crew of the cruising yachts anchored off their small beach, for a traditional Tongan feast of suckling pig with tons of veggies, and fruit. When asked about the cost, she just smiles and says, ‘If you enjoy it, you can leave us a tip.’

We enjoyed a lovely night with them and ten or so other cruisers last year, and if the ‘tips’ were anything to go by, everyone else really enjoyed it as well.

Today’s music clip is some traditional Tongan music.

 

 

 

Thanks for calling by, and if you want to see what others are doing for ‘V is for -‘ today, check out some of the other great blogs on the A to Z Challenge

Join me again on Monday for a look at ‘W’. Until then, have a great weekend, and happy reading.

 

 

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Uluru

By %%ajsendall.com%%

Uluru – The heart of the great red centre of Australia

Uluru is probably Australia’s most recognisable natural landmark. The sandstone formation is 348 m (1,142 ft) high, 863 m (2,831 ft) above sea level, has most of its bulk lying underground, and has a total circumference of 9.4 km. Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t the biggest monolith in the world; Mount Augustus in Western Australia holds that title.

The Uluru-Kata Tjuta park, formerly called Uluru (Ayers Rock – Mount Olga) National Park, features spectacular geological formations that dominate the vast red sandy plain of central Australia. Uluru, an immense monolith, and Kata Tjuta, the rock domes located 25 km to the west of Uluru, form part of the traditional belief system of one of the oldest human societies on earth. Both Uluru and the nearby Kata Tjuta formation have great cultural significance for the Aṉangu people, the owners and traditional inhabitants of the area.

 

 

In 1873, the surveyor William Gosse named the monolith Ayers Rock in honour of the then Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. In 1993, a dual naming policy was adopted that allowed official names that consist of both the traditional Aboriginal name and the English name. In December 1993, it was renamed “Ayers Rock / Uluru”. However, the order of the dual names was officially reversed to “Uluru / Ayers Rock” in November 2002.

Uluru is famous for appearing to change colour at different times of the day and year, most notably when it glows red at dawn and sunset. Special viewing areas with road access and parking have been constructed to give tourists the best views of both sites at dawn and dusk.

There are twenty-two native mammals found in the park, including red kangaroo, common marsupial mole, hopping mouse, several bat species including Australian false vampire, bilgy, occasional short-nosed echidna, several small marsupials and native rodents, and, of course, dingos.

 

 

In August 1980, Lindy Chamberlain, whilst on a camping trip at Uluru with her family, claimed that a dingo had stolen her baby daughter, Azaria, from the family tent. Azaria’s body was never found, and when police claimed there were some apparent inconsistencies in Lindy’s story, she was charged with murder. At the time, the case attracted a lot of attention, turning an investigation into a media circus with little chance of an unbiased trial. In 1982, Lindy Chamberlain was found guilty and received a mandatory life sentence. Despite being exonerated by the royal commission in 1987, it took until 2012 for a coronary ruling declaring that Azaria had indeed been killed by a dingo.  This sensational case has been dramatised for television, film and stage, and even been turned into an opera.

 

Today, I’ll leave you with some Aboriginal meditation music.

 

 

 

Thanks for calling by, and if you want to see what others are doing for ‘U is for -‘ today, check out some of the other great blogs on the A to Z Challenge

Join me again tomorrow for a look at ‘V’. Until then, happy reading.

 

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Tools

By %%ajsendall.com%%

Tools, and what that means to you.

Tools, what does the word conjure in your mind? Is it a set of metric spanners, a garden rake and fork, or perhaps scales, mixing bowls and spoons. We are surrounded by tools, filled with tools, and our minds use tools all the time to make sense of what is around us, to find a solution to a problem or a path to a desired goal.

I’ve always loved tools, both physical tools, hand tools, and those tools between the ears that we develop over time, and that serve to make our lives simpler as long as we remember to use them. Having moved around the world, possibly more than I should have, I’ve had to leave most material possessions behind on several occasions. After the first few times, I became aware of what was important to me and what I could walk away from without regret. Most material things can be replaced if they are important enough, and as time passes that list diminishes to just a few items; just a few tools.

At the top of that list now, is my ThinkPad,  a tool that I use every day, and the one that gives me the most satisfaction. Some might consider it strange to call it a tool, but for me it is. It is a tool above all else for writing, but also for staying organised, resolving problems in a spreadsheet, designing our new chicken coop, and as time passes, a backup for fading memory.

 

 

Despite numerous relocations, and years wandering the oceans, I still have hand tools that I bought forty years ago, which says something about their worth to me. Almost everything else has been abandoned, or in a few instances, replaced later in life. When I think about why that is, I realise that it’s nothing to do with aesthetic or sentimental value, but as a means of self-reliance, to maintain, repair, and keep moving forward independent of outside help. It’s the same sense of self-reliance that attracted me to ocean sailing, where again, I selected my sailing tools to suit that sense of self-reliance. Those tools, of course, were very different; a plastic sextant, a ten-dollar watch, and a stack of paper charts was all that was needed in a physical sense. The rest were the tools that live in my head.

What are your favourite tools? Pots and pans … planers and saws … whips and chains ??

Leave a comment below and let me know.

 

I’ll leave you today with a song that has nothing to do with tools, but about Timbuktu, which was almost the subject of the day.

 

 

 

Thanks for calling in. If you want to see what others are doing for ‘S is for -‘ today, check out some of the other great blogs on the A to Z Challenge

Join me again tomorrow for a look at ‘U’. Until then, happy reading.

 

 

 

 

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