The fog
of war,
the smoke
of climate
change
The fog
of war,
the smoke
of climate
change
Politicians
and journalists
always demand to
know, and then
reject, the cost of
measures to conserve
the environment.
But neither ever
ask the cost
of war.
This is the way the world ends,
with the bang of a
million trees exploding,
with the whimper of a
thousand koalas dying,
and unbreathable smoke,
and blowing dust,
and drying earth,
and drying rivers,
and a howling wind,
and a bloody Sun,
and a feeling of
utter helplessness.
I have an
“Anxiety
App” that
generates
anxiety.
It’s also
called
“Fires near me”
When I see an
unusual
familiar name
in the news,
I think, “Oh
that must be
the daughter
(or son) of
someone who
I once knew”.
Turns out,
these days,
it’s usually
a grandchild.
Having an online
map of bushfires
in this state,
constantly
updated,
is good because
it keeps you
informed about
what is burning.
It is bad
because it keeps
you informed about
what is burning.
Clive James and
Jonathan
Miller are
dead? What is
that bell I
hear tolling?
I challenged
received wisdom,
but those who
had received that
wisdom did not
accept my challenge,
said that the wisdom
was unchallengeable,
and therefore the
challenge was wrong.
Never mind, soon I will
be gone, and then you
can say “what challenge?”
Never use two
syllables when
one will do;
never use three
syllables when
two will do;
never use four
syllables.