The Phillipines!

Hey, forget the "I'm with" whoevers... Phil and I are far, far closer in accord with many of these things than may be apparent. We just view it from very different personal physical limitation angles. ... oh, and we 'word game' a lot. ... for 'points'.

My rare empathy with the Fillipinos plight springs mainly from the fact that they get clouted more often than most without even bringing it to notice. Who knew they were extensively flattened by a typhoon last December? They didn't call on the World for help, they set about fixing their 'huts' up, themselves. I can't recall any instance of highly media covered outheld hands from there before this.

They are serial victims of nature but haven't been serial mendicants because of it. They're a very practical, even pragmatic, culture. They sure ain't all Saints, but they are Survivors. They exhibit much of the behaviours in normal times that Phil professes to espouse. ' Look after yourself and your own first.' The fact that they are beyond doing that this time simply points up the degree of the disaster, not the inadequacy of the people.

As to the tutting about the gangs and looting... isn't that what survivalists advocate? Arm yourself, look after yourself, suspend scruples and to hell with the hindmost? Can't have it both ways Phil.

... better get on with this, my 'spare' time is running out.

Here again, as I replied to Di I wonder if all this altruistic trouble and strife is actually going against the natural order of things ...
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^^^ I wonder about that too.


... and that is the Way of Nature. Survival of the fittest. All of this artificial lengthening of life-spans, every rescue of a disaster-struck area is another smack in the face of The Way Things Are Meant To Be. We allow our emotions to get the better of us and fly to the aid of those who are unlucky, and it seems on the surface to be a wonderful thing, but in doing so we are messing around with forces that we don't understand. Maybe this is Nature's way of saying that the population is too large ...
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And ain't that the golden kernel at the heart of the planet's problems?

I can't argue with anything else in that paragraph either, as I said, this is a very rare case to have elicited my sympathies.
I think it springs more from respect for their previous fortitude and doing better than most with less for a long time now than from anything 'pollyanna' based.



-------------

Well dammit! just got a phonecall that the event I got up early and organized for has been put off until Monday! aaaaaghhhhh! Send aid! Quick.

siiiiiigh.
------------------
Okay, time for another serve then.

I wondered why you nominated Taiwan as a possible destination when their next door neighbours are Malaysia, and Indonesia? Why not suggest they all move there?
Surely the fact that they are a predominately Catholic culture and the others are Moslem didn't enter into your strictly 'survivalist' calculations?
 

Diwundrin said:
Hey, forget the "I'm with" whoevers... Phil and I are far, far closer in accord with many of these things than may be apparent. We just view it from very different personal physical limitation angles. ... oh, and we 'word game' a lot. ... for 'points'.
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I'm still 183 behind you ... just give me a little more time ... :devilish:

My rare empathy with the Fillipinos plight springs mainly from the fact that they get clouted more often than most without even bringing it to notice. Who knew they were extensively flattened by a typhoon last December? They didn't call on the World for help, they set about fixing their 'huts' up, themselves. I can't recall any instance of highly media covered outheld hands from there before this.

They are serial victims of nature but haven't been serial mendicants because of it. They're a very practical, even pragmatic, culture. They sure ain't all Saints, but they are Survivors. They exhibit much of the behaviours in normal times that Phil professes to espouse. ' Look after yourself and your own first.' The fact that they are beyond doing that this time simply points up the degree of the disaster, not the inadequacy of the people.
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A very good point. In fact I'm one of those who don't even remember their December typhoon, so mea culpa.

As to the tutting about the gangs and looting... isn't that what survivalists advocate? Arm yourself, look after yourself, suspend scruples and to hell with the hindmost? Can't have it both ways Phil.
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No, not at all. At least, not the type of survivalism I'm talking about.


^^^ I wonder about that too.
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I know it probably isn't socially acceptable to think that way and certainly not to express it, but ever since I got into Taoist philosophy I've wondered about it.


And ain't that the golden kernel at the heart of the planet's problems?
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It seems to be ...

I can't argue with anything else in that paragraph either, as I said, this is a very rare case to have elicited my sympathies.
I think it springs more from respect for their previous fortitude and doing better than most with less for a long time now than from anything 'pollyanna' based.
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I can understand and appreciate that, I really can. Thanks for exposing that angle.


I wondered why you nominated Taiwan as a possible destination when their next door neighbours are Malaysia, and Indonesia? Why not suggest they all move there?
Surely the fact that they are a predominately Catholic culture and the others are Moslem didn't enter into your strictly 'survivalist' calculations?
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Actually, no it did not. Off the top o' my head I just thought that Taiwan was "safer" from typhoons than either Malaysia or Indonesia and had a better infrastructure.
 

I'm thrilled to see they're coming from every direction with supplies, maybe not nearly enough, but we've seen there are huge heartwarming efforts. And I guess we didn't give enough thought to complaining about the media not taking a little rationing with them. Stampeding is prevailing and anyone with a little bit of anything for distribution would risk their lives, 8 people reported this afternoon being trampled. They are so desperate for their families and themselves, it's so hard to watch. They had nothing to begin with, same as Haiti, and to have to start over??!! However meagerly any of us may live, these situations make us so grateful for living where we do.
 
Diwundrin said:
Malaysia has a fair bit of 'infrastructure'.
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Meh ... I worked with the 9/11 clean-up - you couldn't get me near one of those things anymore.

No, "infrastructure" like vast, flat plains with no trees or buildings over 10' high, no huge rivers to flood, no periodic twisters, no volcanoes to erupt, and laws that demand every person have a go-bag. :p

I call it my "Ultimate Kansas Plan". Still working on those twisters, though ... :(
 
No, "infrastructure" like vast, flat plains with no trees or buildings over 10' high, no huge rivers to flood, no periodic twisters, no volcanoes to erupt, and laws that demand every person have a go-bag. :p
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Could I interest you in a few million acres on the Nullabor Plain? It nails all of your requisites stated and there are vast tracts that include ocean frontage and views. Normal agent commission will apply.

For Sale!
The ultimate getaway destination!
This is 'do your own thing' country!
The ideal location for the dedicated
do- it- yourselfer and independent soul.
Be the first, well almost, to claim your
own patch of floodfree flat land to build
the shack of your dreams upon!
Be quick, the best views in this land
release will sell fast!

nullarbor-plain-40915.jpg
 
That looks PERFECT!!!

... wait ... what about subterranean erosion? Solar flares interfering with electronics? Vapor trails? Meteorite impacts? Roving packs of dissolute, treeless drop bears?

Do the natives have daughters between the ages of 24 and 35?

If "NO" to everything but the latter, I'll send my PayPal account number forthwith. :D
 
SifuPhil said:
That looks PERFECT!!!

... wait ... what about subterranean erosion? Solar flares interfering with electronics? Vapor trails? Meteorite impacts? Roving packs of dissolute, treeless drop bears?

Do the natives have daughters between the ages of 24 and 35?

If "NO" to everything but the latter, I'll send my PayPal account number forthwith. :D
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Aahhhh, I see this as being a harder sell than hoped.
Being limestone there are a few massive chasms beneath some areas so geophysic survey will be at purchasers expense.
The bright side of that though is that those caverns are the only permanent water source for a few thousand Ks.

Solar flare interferrence is not deemed a problem as there are no facilities for powering electronics there to interfere with.

Vapor trails are considered a welcome occurrence to relieve the monotony of clear blue skies.

Meteorites of considerable proportion have impacted somewhat to the East but no evidence exists of any of note in that region.
... Unless Skylab counts?

Fossil records prove that Drop Bears became extinct in this region some 40,000 years ago.

But yes I do believe daughters of that age would exist, however they would be found to have fled the place when old enough to travel, so finding a free one wandering about would be a very slim chance.

But if this release is no longer of interest please stay in contact, I believe land will soon be available in another area which may suit your needs.
This is the driveway, but of course higher land prices will reflect it's more attractive landscape and geological stability.
270px-Gunbarrel-Highway-26-Jun-2007.jpg
 
I was highly upset over very negative reports on the Red Cross, as were brought to media attention several years ago. I had the highest regard for them and would have bet the farm that every penny went to where it was supposed to go. Not so, not during this particular devastation, and I can't remember which one. But I was very shocked and since then I'm sure they've cleaned up their act. But it was proven that the funds were being mishandled by executives. Wish I could remember the story, but when it's being reported by 60 minutes, Diane Sawyer and highly respected journalists, I take it as fact and there was more than a big stir about it. Again, it's been several yrs ago, but I've never given them a dime since. I know others mishandle, but the Red Cross???!!!!
 
I remember something about that too, Katybug. The best I recall is that some executives of the red cross were being paid millions from the donations meant to help storm victims. I don't know the current situation but I prefer to keep my donations on a local level. Our government is sending shiploads of supplies so I guess our tax donations are going to help.
 
Glad you remember it RK, as a few people I've told act as if I read it in a cheap rag mag and don't give any credibility to the story. I remember it distinctly, just can't remember which disaster, but it was a big one and money was pouring in to them. I despise the concept of execs robbing from those so desperate!
 
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