Recently there has been a lot of talk about 'the Big Picture (BP). This can mean anything. Often to fob off thinking or discussing uncomfortable issues(flaws)

To put some context MBP is.
Many typify me as 'lefty, bleeding heart, greenie etc. All wrong!
I am my version of a Secular Humanist.

(WARNING this is highly nuanced)

I don't believe in any supernatural being but I respect other peoples beliefs.

I view every thing in terms of human betterment.
Therefore I see it my responsibility to try and help (at least in the first instance biases and failings aside). In order to do this I tend to look at everything as objectively as possible.

Rules as they are designed (in theory) to make society more harmonious. That includes civility on the net.

The idea of racial, cultural purity, lifestyle discrimination are discretionary issues and cut little sway with me however I do comprehend other's views.

I work to protect the environment animals/plants included because it/they are what sustains humanity both from a physical/spiritual (?) levels. This is opposed to my daughter who wants to save the environment for its own sake (she's a pragmatic greenie) Subtle difference but important in that I have no automatic problem with the concepts like capitalism, development per se but I have problems with the way they're practised.
Clearly profit for a few isn't a valid argument for me.
Key point: Does it help humanity as a whole?.
Finally all things are up to change if appropriate
This permeates/colours all my thinking.
I think that's enough to give the gist. Ok so what IS YOUR big picture?

Dear examinator,

What is my "Big Picture?"

Mine is a world - "where every nation and
every people and every colour and every
religion finds at last the one heartbeat
we all share!"

But that would mean that I'd have to
create a new world on earth - and of
course that's not something that I'm
capable of doing. So all I can do - is
try to be responsible for my own actions.
Try to have a personl commitment to the
atributes of fair play and integrity.
Try as hard as I can to "not hate."
Because a little hatred is like a little
cancer. And who amongst us doesn't hate?

The ony way I know to protect myself from it,
is to check the hatred in my own mind.
I believe in our capacity to love each other
as human beings, and try to remember that we
are brothers/sisters on this planet.

It's an on-going job - but :

I try to change from an accusatory mind to a
loving one. I'm not aiming for perfection -
I'm only human - and a mere mortal, but
at least I try. To me it is important to try
to remove from my mind the tendency to judge
and the tendency to blame - and if I succeed,
then at least I may not have changed the
world - only my part in it - and at least
that's a start - right?
I may only be a very small part of the "Big
Picture," but if we all work on our parts -
we may end up with a beautiful painting!

Worth a try!

My Big Picture?
Thank you for asking.
Abortion is intrinsically evil.
Islam represents an existential threat.
Homosexuality is a psycho-sexual disorder.
I used to be right-leaning but now I'm a centrist.
Almost forgot - Obama is the anti-Christ.

Examinater - By and large it seems my BP is pretty much like yours. But experience has taught me that to go too far down personal paths on OLO can have distressing results so I am not going to get into the spiritual side of things.

However, Foxy -

Your post actually knocked me for six: "Try as hard as I can to "not hate." I was rather flabbergasted at that - especially knowing of your religious beliefs. Really? You actually have to consciously restrain yourself from hatred? I would not be intrusive enough to ask to whom this hate is directed, but the fact that you have to try so hard to restrain it makes me curious as to what form the unrestrained expression of this feeling would take?

The next sentence to completely flummox me was "And who amongst us doesn't hate?" Not to seem disingenuous...but I don't. In fact I have always considered hate to be a fairly rare emotion. Yet you subscribe to a world-view that believes that hatred is a dominant theme in peoples lives?

"The ony way I know to protect myself from it,is to check the hatred in my own mind." This I found both the saddest and most disturbing sentence of all. On this forum you have always given the impression of being a secure and happily married mother with only the usual kinds of frustrations and trials and tribulations most of us encounter. This sentence, however, paints a completely different picture.

I don't want to invade too much in your private life - but you did put the information out there - so is it possible to share a little of why you fight this battle? You have, from time to time, hinted at family history outside of Australia which was troubling. Is it this that has coloured your outlook?

My big picture?

Well, my big picture is securing the future both for mankind and the diverse array of other life forms whether they are of any use or benefit to humans or not.

In any case I see the fixing of environmental problems as being absolutely essential and a precursor to dealing with problems such as poverty, wars and all the other sorry afflictions we inflict upon ourselves.

In the past 15 years or so I have undergone a learning curve that started fairly slowly on a local environmental issue in Kununurra, minor in the scheme of things - extensive clearing of roadside vegetation packed with life of all sorts. My futile efforts to save it or at least some of it lead me on to develop a good understanding of state (WA) and national environmental issues and of the reluctance of governments to address them. The learning curve steepened as I quickly became aware of global environmental stresses we have to face, their seriousness, how they interconnect with societal problems and the proximate and ultimate causes of these.

Unfortunately what is driving all this environmental and resource destruction is unrestrained growth both economic and population which in turn are encouraged by our capitalistic value system that sets its eyes firmly on consumption and individual rights and growth at all costs.

So in the end my bigger picture is to see systems evolve that strive for a stable economy and reducing population and a fairer distribution of existing wealth amongst all rather than one that’s aims to exploit every last drop to increase wealth and hope enough of it trickles down to the masses to discourage them from adopting more violent means of extracting their share.

I wish myself luck in this Utopian dream.

PS. Examinater I suspect you and your daughter don't have too much to argue about. your interests are after all related are they not?

Total freedom to do anything you want as long as your actions dont hurt any other person.

I would like to see reform of the Global Reserve Banking system ie drastically reduce their powers and stop them stealing people'wealth via the Fractional Resereve Banking System. FRBS enables them to conjure money from cyber space.It is akin to counterfeiting for which you will go to gaol if convicted.Counterfeiting is theft and the creation of cyber money is theft by stealth.

It was not Fanny Mae or Freddy Mac that caused this collapse,they were merely a symptom.

See http://www.ronpaul.com/
Ron now has 33% of Congress that support his bill HR1207 to audit the US Federal Reserve.
Congress cannot find out what these private banks have done with the tax payers bail out money.This is the most important struggle happening on the planet at the moment and pop media ignores it.

I no longer have a BP, my life has been so "interesting", in the sense of the old Chinese curse, that I'm afraid I largely suffer a degree of ennui these days, the fire has left my belly so to speak.
I've been there and done that, an activist on a couple of fronts, a hard worker, a chef and a Crisis care worker, and a single parent, and a strange variety of other things and events, delivering babies, helping others not die alone, too much really, and it's made me just glad to be alive, however wounded it's left me, and though I do still care to some degree about some things, the drive and desire has died.
GOM or what? lol

My big picture is a generalisation of what others here have said. That of flattening out the world so that there is more opportunity for all and that all things human, environmental and economic are brought into better balance. The list of things that need to be changed is so farflung that there's not much point going into it here.

I've come to the conclusion, though, that my input is only a "necessary but insufficient condition" in terms of effecting that change. The Universe has its own timetable and the best one, as an individual, can do is to be aware of when there is an opportunity and take it. Until then tread water and stay vigilant.

My big picture? it has changed many times in my life.
While I am left of center, ALP for life I am no longer true very left.
My days of dreaming I can change the world are over.
But I can make sure I never stop trying to be a better person, no hate in me, not even for my worst enemy.
Understanding my reality may not be even near others, concentrating on the new me, 15kgs lighter and going down forever, the long walks ahead,
just excepting things I can not change.
That end of day good feeling that I have done my best at work while watching the moon come of over the hill, that is priceless.

I can't accept things I cannot change if I think they are wrong or ridiculous. That leaves me far less a happy person than I would otherwise be. Unfortunately so many things are wrong with the way society is progressing (or rather regressing) that it would seem to me to be irresponsible to just let thing slide without a contest of some sort.

Dear Romany,

I thought that my meaning was quite clear
from what I wrote in my previous post.
However, obviously it wasn't - and perhaps I
should not have used the word "hate," because it
gave you the wrong impression. Anger would
possibly have been a better word. My "Big
Picture," doesn't differ that much from examinator's.

I'll try to spell it out again -
perhaps this time I'll succeed. So, here goes:

Many people in today's world tend to be angrier
and less tolerant of others than they know
in their hearts that they
should be. (Just read the daily newspapers). A healthy
civilized society can absorb some anger and dysfunction,
as a healthy immune system can absorb some disease.
But a massive buildup of anger and mean-spiritedness
bombarding out social system day in and day out in millions
upon millions of individual doses overwhelms our social
defenses.

Therefore allthough I can't change other people - I
can be responsible for my own actions. A case of -
"Physician heal thyself..."

I was brought up to look at things from a positive
perspective. I don't want to be accused of being smug
or boasting, and I certainly don't want to pretend that
there hasn't been considerable conflict and pain along the way.
But I do want to be authentic and say that I decided
a long time ago that my ethos was to try not to judge
things too harshly.

In this country, there is a widespread tendency to think
that other people are the problem. Liberals tend to
blame Labour, Labour blames the Liberals. The media blames
everybody, and almost everyone blames asylum seekers.
Our entire culture seems to have become
a blame session.

I don't mean for a moment to suggest that
we all have to agree.
What I was trying to say in my previous post
is that malice and intolerance stalks our society,
trying to stake a claim to our minds
-and that is the influence
that I was determined to fight against.

I hope this makes sense.

Foxy,
You always make perfect sense!

Dear Psychophant,

Welcome back!

remember..bankers arnt a friend
http://www.poketheeye.org/?p=210

Germany was..hopelessly..broke..Private currency speculators caused the German mark to plummet,precipitating one of the worst runaway inflations in modern times.

A wheelbarrow full of 100 billion-mark banknotes could not buy a loaf of bread.The national treasury was empty.Countless homes and farms were lost to speculators and to private banks.Germans lived in hovels.They were starving.

the total destruction of the national currency,plus the wiping out of people’s savings and businesses...On top of this came a global depression.Germany had no choice but to succumb to debt slavery under international bankers

At that point the German government thwarted the international banking cartels by issuing its own money.

World..declaring a global boycott against Germany.Hitler began a national credit program by devising a plan of public works that included flood control,repair of public buildings and private residences,and construction of new roads,bridges,canals,and port facilities. All these were paid for with money that no longer came from the private international bankers.

The projected cost of these various programs was fixed at one billion units of the national currency.To pay for this, the German government (not the international bankers) issued bills of exchange,called Labor Treasury Certificates.

In this way the National Socialists put millions of people to work,and paid them with Treasury Certificates.

Under the National Socialists,Germany’s money wasn’t backed by gold (which was owned by the international bankers).It was essentially a receipt for labor and materials delivered to the government.

H“For every mark issued,we required the equivalent of a mark’s worth of work done,or goods produced.”The government paid workers in Certificates.Workers spent those Certificates on other goods and services,thus creating more jobs for more people.

In this way the German people climbed out of the crushing debt imposed on them by the international bankers.

Within two years, the unemployment problem had been solved,and Germany was back on its feet.It had a solid,stable currency,with no debt,and no inflation,

at a time when millions of people in the United States and other Western countries(controlled by international bankers)were still out of work.

Within five years,Germany went from the poorest nation in Europe to the richest.

Interesting topic examinator but a difficult one - maybe mine is more of a wishlist or my version of utopia.

A world where we see human activity as part of the earth/environment not separate from it.

A world where we treat each other with respect, accepting our differences. In fact our differences would be irrelevant merely what makes us individuals and creative beings.

A world where practicising random acts of kindness is not a bumper sticker but the norm.

A world without greed or at least the regulatory reform to prohibit those who exploit unfairly for personal gain, where there is a balance of the rights of all members in a community.

Starry eyes maybe but while we are not perfect by any means if we at least strive for the best we might not fall too far short.

From a personal point of view, we cannot always make the world changes we want but we can live our lives to our ideals as best we can. We can choose to think of others before ourselves, we can choose to get out of the rat race and become more thoughtful consumers.

The big picture is being mindful of some of those things we dislike about the global world but in the face of it all to stay positive.

examinator!
My big picture consists of millions of small, removable, changable pictures with millions questions on their sides!
For me left could means an honest man who moves arount the party but he is not member, or a beaurocrat who losts in his fight for his salary or a position-chair hunder who can do everything for the chair-position, or a good paid writer who act as mersinary and istead of guns he uses his pensil.
For me the big picture is very dark and very light, very complex and very simple, very good and very dangerous!
These litle pictures which create the big picture could change very fast, from one moment to other moment, for one millions of reasons KEEP THE BANANA ON ONE HAND AND THE STICK IN THE OTHER HAND!
This world is good when it is not bad and it could not be good if we are bad!
DO NOT WORRY FROM THE TROJAN HORSES THESE HORSES DO NOT EXIST, THEY HAVE CREATED TO DIVIDE US, TO CONFUSE US, TO MAKE EASIER THEIR GOALS.
Fight dishonests and hypocrities and worry from the smiles and nice words.
PREPARE FOR WAR IF WANT PEACE AND ALWAYS TRY TO KEEP THE BASTARDS HONESTS!
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Foxy,

Yeah, thanks for elucidating. See, I had got the part about you realising the big picture wasn't about changing other but changing oneself.

But that 'h' word seemed to be such a jarring note - especially from someone who does, otherwise, write with optimism and tolerance.

I wasn't being picky: I was genuinely puzzled. Hate is such a destructive emotion that I couldn't reconcile a world-view that could be optimistic with the belief that hatred was the norm ("Who amongst us doesn't hate?").

As others have pointed out: on this forum we only have other people's words to go on - these appear without the usual frameworks of actions, lifestyle etc. etc. that we usually use to get to "know" someone. So when, sometimes, those words seem to be at odds with what we think we know about a poster, it can present a conundrum which, in RL wouldn't be noticeable.

So yes, indeed, substituting the emotion of anger for hate does make a difference.

Personally I now find that anger, for me, is such a fleeting emotion it passes almost instantaneously which amuses me greatly. You see, one of the things that really used to anger me about my own mother was exactly that! I used to get really infuriated that she couldn't be "serious" enough about life to work up a sustained fury about its injustices.

Now, when its too late to tell her so, I finally realise where she was coming from

Dear examinator, excellent post, interesting responses.

The big picture is sometimes called the helicopter or top down view of the major issues. By this we mean we “see” the key components and their relationships but are not distracted by content, strategic thinking.

Today’s societies comprise the main components or domains of social, scientific, political, economic, religious and ecological. This is so because all human endeavors or activities fit into these domains.

If, as individuals, we are capable of recognizing, separating, yet understanding the relationships between each domain, this defines strategic, big picture thinking.

The further down each domain we “drill”, the more complex and “interrelated” each domain becomes. The levels below strategic are defined as “tactical”, “operational” and finally the most complex of all, “content”. The content layer is where things are so complex or “bottom up and side on”, there is not the remotest possibility of understanding anything, with the possible exception of “perceived effects”.

This not to say that the content layer does not serve a vital purpose, the tactical layer defines the effect upon action items, the operational layer defines effects upon processes and the content layer defines effects upon people (intellectual and physical assets). Each layer is therefore (should be) a feedback loop to the strategic layer.

Sadly for most of us, we thrash around in the content layer, trying to make some sense of important issues from the bottom up. If we do not understand or see the “big picture” we are doomed to live in the (frustrating) “content” world dealing with effects rather than causes.

Without exception, all the BP’s in these posts are content at the bottom of one or other of the domain entities. This is absolutely not intended to diminish or trivialize OLO comments however, it is intended to show how “big picture” thinking is taught, the structures needed, the processes required and most importantly, that it is absolutely definable in its meaning.

Top Nazis Planned EU-Style Fourth Reich
http://www.prisonplanet.com/top-nazis-planned-eu-style-fourth-reich.html

A writer..who was collecting material for a fictional book based around the premise that top Nazis,seeking to preserve their power at the end of the second world war,conspired to create a Fourth Reich under the auspices of the European Union,

...actually discovered documents proving the plot to be true.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/leaked-1955-bilderberg-docs-outline-plan-for-single-european-currency.html

watch the nazies do their thing
http://www.prisonplanet.com/nau-precursor-eu-police-subdue-sovereignty-protesters.html

cant have sovreign govt when world govt is the aim
http://www.prisonplanet.com/somali-pirates-guided-by-london-intelligence-team-report-says.html

in case you still believe..one is holier that the other

http://www.prisonplanet.com/us-accused-of-illegal-white-phosphorus-attack-in-afghanistan.html
lest we forget cia created the tall-i-bin[larden]taliban
http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/8227CE5AED148A8A652575B30020EBE7?OpenDocument

http://www.prisonplanet.com/green-shoots-or-greatest-depression.html

who
http://www.prisonplanet.com/israel-prime-minister-says-he-will-stand-up-to-obama.html

how
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/05/if_citigroup_--_recipient_of.php
using bloggers
http://www.prisonplanet.com/not-funny-barack-obama-laughs-at-wanda-sykes-joke-about-wanting-rush-limbaugh-dead.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/obama%e2%80%99s-middle-east-imperialism.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/chomsky-obama-policies-same-as-bush.html

http://www.prisonplanet.com/why-the-governments-attempt-to-instill-false-confidence-will-backfire-2.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/5301123/bEnjoy-the-rally-while-it-lasts---but-expect-to-take-a-sucker-punchb.html
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/dr_goldstein/2009/05/al-gores-endgame-deniers-are-n.php?ref=recmuck
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2009/05/while-substantial-uncertainty-remains.html

Examinator

From what I read of your posts, I think my BP is rather similar to yours.

I won't be making contributions to OLO as much, if at all. Apparently I am "difficult" but not difficult enough to qualify for a permanent ban from OLO it seems.

Ciao

spindoc,

That's a very good explanation of the big picture. Adding a vertical dimension to the concept gives the reader a sense that everything exists in a volume rather than in the two-dimensional slice they mostly live their lives.

Speaking of thrashing around in the content layer, that is all I ever see unions doing in the workplace, for example. It's always a case of it's his fault (glibly pointing the finger at the manager that made the last decision the union didn't like) or that "we work hard and therefore we deserve this and that". If the union looked a little higher and thought more about what they could do to achieve a more sustainable wage outcome for staff, they would see that the higher concept of improving their productivity (work output), getting rid of wasteful spending in the organisations and companies they work in, as well as serving their masters (either the consumer in the case of public companies or the public via the Government in the case of the Public Service), workers would make the country wealthier and thus should get a much better wage deal for themselves. They would then be dealing with the causes of their problems and not the symptoms.

The other problem with unions is that when they do work hard, they sometimes don’t add value – they’re then doing the equivalent of digging a hole out back that no-one else can see or cares about. In that situation it's just a matter of time before they lose their jobs because they simply aren't relevant any more.

Spindoc
Absolutely, You spotted it.
I figured that I'd simplify it so people could comment.
From a strategic perspective I wrote it to explain to some my basic reasoning processes in the hope of averting them from jumping to erroneous assumptions about what I write and why. When I tried to get academically correct in the past I've been accused of pomposity etc when in reality I view things from generally a larger picture thus seeing the connections, consequences etc a meaningful discussion needs to involve all three levels. But you know that, I suspect.I will admit that I need to take some lessons (classes) from Romany about expression, brevity and to the point.

Fractelle,
If your difficult then I must be too. Come to think of it if it emanates from "hey good looking" I can think of a few others who must also wear the same criticism. If you get bored remember my full title then try gmail.

Romany,
Spindoc beat me too the punch I was hoping that the topic might shake loose some philosophies or underlying overall thought premises or logic driving thought processes.
I could, obviously need your assistance. If I've learned anything from OLO (surprisingly not from other sites) that my ability with words doesn't necessarily extend to thought processes. Perhaps you can do the same as I suggested to Fractelle.

Fractelle,

What is this 'being difficult' of which you speak?

I only post to this topic because of your rather ominous post here earlier. I don't want to derail examinator's thread, so could you perhaps enlighten us a little further, perhaps on the 'Hey good lookin'' thread? I'd have to echo examinator's view, if this 'being difficult' emanates from your posts, then others could possibly have the same criticism leveled at them. From what does it derive, if it is any unbeknown business of other posters?

BTW, should you wish to lurk on the Forum incognito, just open another user account in your Ubuntu, and when you go to log onto OLO check 'do not set a cookie I am on a public terminal'. That way your userID will not transit the 'Users currently online' display (if that matters to you) unless you make a post.

Sorry to hear of your 'difficulty'. I rather admire your writing style. It will be a pity if it disappears from the Forum.

Examinator & Forrest

(not wishing to derail your topic E.)

It all stems from this

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=8737&page=0#140908

The Bigger Picture is behind the scenes.

Dear Fractelle,

I got quite a shock to read that you may not
be posting as often. And a bigger shock when
I looked up the site you gave. Ugly stuff!
What you had to put up with - stinks! (and I'm
being polite).

You should be Congratulated for the attacks that you
took, as well as for having the courage
to stand up for your convictions in
such a fair and well reasoned civil manner.

Please don't post less often.
If you're considered "difficult," then I'd like
to know where those others on that site were
ranked. Because their attacks and posts in
general were beyond the limits of what I for one
would consider fair and rational. Whereas yours
were.

I won't say "Ciao," to you just yet, my friend.
I intend to look forward to your next post,
as usual!

The pixels that make up the big picture...

………………………1……………………………………………….0…………………………….........0.......
………………………1…………………………………………...0…..…0……………………….......0…...0.......
……………….….......1…………………………………………0………....0……………………….0…….....0.......
………………………1……………….X……X……………….0…….....…0………………… . ….0……...…0.....
………………………1…………………X…X……………..…0……......…0….…= = = =………..0….….......0....
………………………1……………………X………………….0……..........0….. …….…………...0……....…0....
………………………1………………….X…X…………….....0……..…....0…….= = = =……..…0……....…0....
………………………1………………. X……..X……………..0….....….…0…………………........0…......….0....
………………………1………………………………………….. 0…...…0……………………… .......0…...0......
………………………1…………………………………………… ….0……………………………...........0.......

Translation: what you reap is closely related to what you sow.

Fine print –footnote:
This rule does not apply where you’re an executive of certain, unmentionable, private & govt “enterprises” , or, where you’re a member of certain ,unmentionable, legally designated disadvantaged groups.In these exceptional cases, effort is in no way related to remuneration

What the hell's going on?

WHO said you were 'difficult'?

WAS that piece of scum Robscrap suspended?

WHAT the hell do you mean you're not going to post so often?

DO NOT let any pusillanimous rrswipe wear you down!
__________________________

....and Horrendous; how very clever of you to 'draw' a picture. Then you revert back to form with your usual bullocks bollocks.

1 server error!!

Fractelle, I'm hoping you don't bow out from OLO. Each time a decent person leaves, the krank-quotient goes up a few notches, besides, you've always struck me as more than capable of going toe to toe with the pessimist chorus around these parts.

My big picture...

I try not to sweat the small stuff. I try to keep things in perspective - we all shape our views from the current affairs and media we consume, but it's important to weigh that up against the practical realities of everyday life.

It's so easy for people to allow their views to become more entrenched and extreme with time, I've seen it happen with people close to me and it saddens me - when it happens there are subjects which become closed off because a person's view becomes too strong and they react with defensiveness when their views are discussed.

A small part of your relationship with that person can die - thus, I think it's important to not let our passions take control of us completely.

But sometimes I wonder how much of that can be a smokescreen... In person I've always been more of a listener than a talker, and I've avoided discussing personal things about myself.
My underlying philosophy is nothing so grand as a formalised manifesto, it's always been more of a science of studying others before relating that back to myself.

But, 'live and let live' has always been a pretty good way to see things, I think. In person I avoid trying to judge others, but I often think that on OLO I've frequently fallen short of this ideal.

Fractelle,
I DO understand In more ways than you think. Give a direct email and I'll talk more.

examinator.ant

I've been away, but on scanning a few threads I see that some people haven't been playing very nicely in my absence. I think I understand Fractelle's position quite well - there are indeed a relatively small number of quite nasty individuals at OLO who get their jollies by targeting more enlightened types. It seems to directed most often by some quite horrible men against outspoken women.

My attitude these days is to 'not feed the trolls', as they say. When they come out from under their rocks I tend to just identify them and then try and carry on as if they're not there.

It's just too tedious to try and engage them, and at any rate if you just let them blather on it quickly becomes apparent to any reasonable reader where they're really coming from.

Having said that, like Fractelle my "BP" isn't far from examinator's. Interesting also that, like them, I often attract the attention of some of the most odious denizens of OLO.

As with the 'Big Picture', I don't think it pays to dwell on the negatives.

The warping of my teenage daughters Big Picture:

17 year old daughter went to a concert last weekend and I asked her how it went (yeah only today, I'm a bit slow remembering what she is up to at any given time) and I was told Heaps of girls wearing “Thanks Kev” t’shirts they got from Supre.

Drunk and drugged teens everywhere saying “yeah Ruddy”[fists in the air].

My 18 year old son:

Works in Syndey, and has left home. He popped in tonight to (actually I think he stole food) have a chat and was moaning about how the country is in debt.

I sent him that video of where money comes from to his IPhone.

My Big Picture: Mostly worrying about theirs.

Congratulations, Examinator, for an excellent discussion. It's so nice to see a thread without any of the usual spoilers.
Fractelle, may I join the others in hoping you won't give up the fight. Don't let the bastards win.
Foxy, I do like your point about hatred/anger. As heinous as the crime of rape is (and as angry as it makes me) I think the worst crime of all is parents teaching their children to hate. This is a crime which can span centuries.
Of course, it is easy for me to say this; I wasn't born in (for instance) the Gaza Strip, or had my family or close friends blown away by enemies of my state/clan/religion.
The Big Picture?
For me it is the prevention of the extinction of the Human race.
This requires several actions which can be addressed right now.
1.An end to war.
2.Protection of our habitat. (So obvious it's almost inconceivable there should be any argument).
3.Making some serious plans to get off this rock (the planet). We have all our eggs in one very fragile basket.
In the more immediate sense, my goal is to try and provide a better world for my children -but not at the expense of anyone else's children. This goal is -or should be- completely in harmony with the preceding 3 points, but sadly...
This post is continued on a new website, with just this sort of discussion in mind.
Please go to
http://thecomensality.com/avasay
And look for 'The Big Picture?' The site is intended to be as democratic as possible, with lots of polls about whatever you like.
I would be deeply honoured if y'all would help me out. I need all the help I can get.

http://thecomensality.com/avasay

Grim, really nice site. Showed everyone in my kitchen at the time I logged in. Even my computer illiterate neighbour loved it. Not often one comes across a site that has such a nice feeling about it.

And even better to see Fractelle there, OLO has lost something precious there and should be crossing fingers it is not permanent.

interesting theory fitting to fill in a bigger picture

from
http://republicbroadcasting.org/?p=1860
The European Union superstate is revealed as a front for a sinister conspiracy,..one rooted in the last days of the Second World War.

But as I researched and wrote the novel,I realised that some of the Red House Report had become fact.

Nazi Germany did export massive amounts of capital through neutral countries...German businesses did set up a network of front companies abroad.The German economy did soon recover after 1945.

The Third Reich was defeated militarily,..but powerful Nazi-era bankers,..industrialists and civil servants,reborn as democrats, soon prospered in the new West Germany...There they worked for a new cause:..European economic and political integration.[euro/union]

Is it possible that the Fourth Reich those Nazi industrialists foresaw has,in some part at least,come to pass?

The Red House Report was written by a French spy who was at the meeting in Strasbourg in 1944..and it paints an extraordinary picture.

The industrialists gathered at the Maison Rouge/Hotel waited expectantly as SS Obergruppenfuhrer Dr Scheid began the meeting...Scheid held one of the highest ranks in the SS,equivalent to Lieutenant General...Guards were posted outside and the room had been searched for microphones.

There was a sharp intake of breath as he began to speak...German industry must realise that the war cannot be won,he declared.

‘It must take steps in preparation for a post-war commercial campaign.’Such defeatist talk was treasonous enough to earn a visit to the Gestapo’s cellars,..followed by a one-way trip to a concentration camp.

But Scheid had been given special licence to speak the truth the future of the Reich was at stake...He ordered the industrialists to‘make contacts and alliances with foreign firms,but this must be done individually and without attracting any suspicion’.

The industrialists were to borrow substantial sums from foreign countries after the war.

They were especially to exploit the finances of those German firms that had already been used as fronts for economic penetration abroad, said Scheid,citing the American partner's...who have now realised homeland security/war on terror/global carbon tax[apac,cfr,worldbank,imf,monstatos,bayer,nasa..lol

"But Scheid had been given special licence to speak the truth the future of the Reich was at stake...He ordered the industrialists to‘make contacts and alliances with foreign firms,but this must be done individually and without attracting any suspicion’."

Did they win after all and no one knows?