It’s been a while since the kerfuffle about Paul Keatings comments recently regarding Gallipoli.

From the Herald Sun newspaper…

He said he has never been to Gallipoli and never will because it is nonsense to think the nation was born again or redeemed there.

On the one hand we were out to prove that ‘the British race in the antipodes had not degenerated’, yet we resented being dragooned into a war which did not threaten our own country or its people,” Mr Keating said.

Given Australian loyalties to England at the time, Keating said it was entirely understandable that Australia troops fought the Turks at Gallipoli, but the experience was shocking.

“Dragged into service by the imperial government in an ill-conceived and poorly-executed campaign, we were cut to ribbons and dispatched,” he said.

I’ve been musing for the past few days as to what Anzac Day means to Australians and why there is such an outcry to his statement.

I think most are reacting to the tradition of Anzac Day being sacred not because they have thought it through but because they are told and believe that it is something to treat as holy. A case of tradition for traditions sake.

If you take the time to consider the reality of 25 April 1915 it has to be admitted to being an abject disaster with the British using disposable Australians as cannon fodder and where over the duration of the war 61,720 died from an Australian population of 5 million. One of the greatest per capita disasters for any  country in the war.

If we want to celebrate a battle I agree with Paul Keating, in that the victory of holding back the advancing Japanese on the Kakoda Trail and the outstanding success of the Australian and New Guiniea troops there would be a far more favourable example of achievement over adversity. Or if you want to stick with Anzac Cove, lets celebrate without enemy knowledge, the withdrawal of troops as a huge success and without a single life lost. Now that’s an achievement!

The question is really “Why does Anzac Day resonate so?”

When the first and most importantly, impromptu Anzac Day dawn service was held it was not a celebration of a great battle it was a simple quite reflective remembrance of an event and loss.

The Dawn Service which I’ve been attending for about twenty years is about a loss of innocence, about a realisation that we are on our own and that war and the sacrifices made to it are folly.

I think what Anzac day has given the Australian personality, is a sense that we are on our own, which also lead  to Our Troops being identified as Australian rather than as being part of the British Imperial Forces in all conflicts after World War 1.

We don’t identify as being British any more and war is a waste of the best of our young people, not to mention the resources that the country must throw at it. Shear stupid waste! This is what Anzac Day has given us, it’s not a party but a reminder to move forward independently and to use our most precious resourses, our people, wisely.

Lest We Forget

censorship at the ISP level that simply can’t work for reasons that I respect from others far more knowledgeable than myself.

I decided that this was serious enough to act on so I’ve sent a letter to Senator Steven Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy and to my local Federal Member who just happens to be Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia. Hey, he’s my local member so that’s who I send stuff like this to.

I remember many years ago someone in the media said that a phone complaint was worth another ten who didn’t complain and a letter was worth a hundred. Today with email and the Internet we’re lazier than ever. If an online petition is worth one, a phone call is worth ten, and email is worth 100 maybe a letter posted is worth 1000 simply because of the effort it takes and a follow up blog post for those of us who know how is additional to that and a little more value. Nothing will change if nothing is done and every little bit helps.

So I’ve done my bit towards stopping this stupidity and I’ll look to do more as I’m educated as to how.

To help you understand the issues and educate yourself check out this rave by Angry Aussie.

To read more and see what you can do to help go to No Internet Censorship for Australia and to understand what the ISP’s think go to this interview by Ben Grubb.

Also if your interested here is what I sent to Kevin Rudd and Stephen Conroy.

I understand your government is considering filtering the Internet at the Internet Service Provider level, a measure that I have grave concerns about.

I appreciate that it is important to protect our children at all times from predation and exposure to adult concepts but it’s the considered opinion of experts in this field that attempts to filter such content will only drive these concepts to other methods of propagation. These have been discovered and are well known by those interested in this field. Filtering simply will not work.

Filtering technique are hugely expensive and will force smaller ISP out of business.

Filtering leads to false positives that are flagged for reasons that will shut down huge numbers of sites from being able to interact with Australia. The percentages are small (best case is 3%) but due to the number of internet sites these are still huge numbers. This will cripple the effectiveness of the internet.

On a personal note. I am a parent of a 17 year old girl who has been using the internet for about eight years. She now has her own laptop and free access to anything on the web that she wishes to interact with. When she was younger I used filter methods on search to restrict some access. I have educated her to realize that it’s important to keep some information private and not to share with anyone. I’ve also educated her that there are somethings adult, alternative or just very odd by our community standards that she will trip across if she is not careful and that she should sometimes choose not to go some places as these are not places for her and could well disturb her.

I feel fortunate that through education I have the best filter for my daughters welfare. Herself!
The internet is no different to any other part of our society with the same mix of events happening within it. It is no more and no less dangerous than elsewhere in our lives and like all parts of our society we negotiate it, not through restriction but through education, experience and judgement. Occasionally mistakes are made which we learn from, that is our responsibility.

This action is akin to cracking an egg with a  sledge hammer. It won’t work and it will make a mess of everything.

Please do not continue forward with this concept.

Sincerely

Ian Kath
http://yourstorypodcast.com

Well, quite a few times she brought this up but they never arrived and I started to pay out on her that they didn’t really exist and that she said this just to make Berlin sound more interesting or to encourage people to come and stay with her. The same complaint was made by many of her friends as they had never seen them either when she mentioned that they were about which added more fuel to the fire of my good natured ribbing that I was giving her.

Then one day this happened…

So now we know.

Romy is correct and the added atmosphere that they give to the streets of Berlin is something that lingers in my memory as I look back on this video of my time with her in Berlin.

Thanks again Romy

Today we talk with Colin Kerr who is my sisters father in-law who generously shared some time with us about his early life in Britain, dealing with life as a teenager during the war years and the fascination that only a 15 year old can have in war time despite the dangers of the blitz. As a young man he spent time in compulsory military service in the early ‘50 and shares the wonderful life that could be had in the military during peace time.

Colin explains his experiences of understanding both the British and French cultures and how he feels to be primarily European rather than being specifically British. He shares his thoughts on the British attitude towards involvement in external affairs of other countries and the impact that has on life in the UK going back to the influx of migration from the fifties and the impact of the IRA through to the involvement in the affairs of Western Europe and the United States of America.

As is often the case when I record these episodes of Your Story the conversation that I have before and after I start recording is often interesting. In this case I turned the recorder back on and recorded a more casual conversation with Colin. At the time he didn’t realise that the recorder was on but when I mentioned it to him he was happy for me to use it in the show. I was originally going to edit it in but on reflection I feel that it is more valid as a postscript to the original conversation. I’ve simply added it onto the end of the episode as an Addendum to the main portion. I think the continuing chat we had has merit.

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.
If you use another Podcast software Get the feed here.

Support Your Story by giving it a Digg or Stumble from the links under the heading for this episode or writing a review on iTunes

Music is from iodaPROMONET

Backrow Politics (mp3)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album
Immergent
Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band

Today we talk with McConnie E. Providence who approached me while I was walking down Whitechapel Road in London. He had noticed my Matrix Crew Jacket that I was wearing while fumbling around in my bag to get my recorder out. He ask me a few things about my involvement in the Matrix Films and I mentioned that I had worked on them as a special effects technician when they were being made in Sydney.

Coincidentally McConnie had been involved with Keanu Reeves along with many other successful young students in Canada while running a Drama Youth Programme many years ago while as an undergraduate at York University in Toronto.

After a brief exchange I mentioned what I was doing and McConnie agreed to come on Your Story to  share his passion for music composition, conducting and performing. Where he came from in St Vincent in the Caribbean and the way music was a major part of his upbringing and the developed through his life in Canada and his travels around the world.

He describe how he feels about being a conductor and the importance of being involved in the music as an interperitor of the composers expression of what was wanted to be achieved when the music was originally composed. He helps to share what it is like to be deeply immersed in the composition as a conductor and the reverence that is required towards the composition.
email is edfordmconnie@hotmail.com

Below is the introduction of the episode that I videoed with the full episode available as the podcast.

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.
If you use another Podcast software Get the feed here.

Support Your Story by giving it a Digg or Stumble from the links under the heading for this episode or writing a review on iTunes

So on line I found the instructions on how to pull it apart and carefully did so. Carefully due to the tiny screws involved and then mopped the poor thing dry.

For the next few hours I left it baking under my desk lamp and this morning I reassembled it. The end result you can see in the seesmic video.

Wish I had better news but it looks like I may be getting a 4th Generation iPod shortly. Shame as this iPod perfectly suited my needs at work as it fits in my shorts pocket and is a breeze to use and it’s all I need for work.

iPod Nano Washing Machine and Water Fix and Repair 

iPod Nano Restart Not! 

It’s been some time since there has been a Your Story Episode, unfortunately the constraints to produce an episode while on the road travelling made it difficult to find the time required for the standard necessary to do justice to the wonderful people that I meet.

However now that I’ve returned to Australia it’s possible to finish the necessary work required to get an episode out and here it is.

Today we talk with Michael Kierans who in is a Canadian migrant living with his Czech wife in Prague, Czech Republic. He is established as a successful business owner of two cafes bars having moved from his successful life as a lawyer in Canada to Prague after the fall of Communism. Michael explains the difficulties of dealing with a different cultural and mental attitude that permeates all aspects of life in the Czech Republic from organising the necessities of running a business to the way that the government and politicians operate.

Michael explains the ever so subtle differences that he is able to be aware of now that he has been in Prague for a considerable period of time. He explains why the personality of the Czech people is the way it is, due to the long history of the Czech Lands and the impact that this history has had on the culture particularly during the communist era. Also he shows his enthiusium for this country and why there is an exciting time for the Czech Republic into the future as the next generations come through with their new and different mindset and continuation of their cultural heritages.

Impressively Michael explains what keeps him in Prague and why he loves it so much to make it his home.

His website is kava-coffee.cz

email is kava@mbox.vol.cz

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.
If you use another Podcast software Get the feed here.

Support Your Story by giving it a Digg or Stumble from the links under the heading for this episode or writing a review on iTunes

I asked a few questions that I would apprediate a quick response to if you feel inclined to help me with understanding the direction to direct Your Story. Please send you thoughts to chat@yourstorypodcast.com.

• Am I hitting the mark and what is it that interests you about Your Story?

• What is it that you like or don’t like?

• What type of personalities would you like me to find and what interests you?

• Did you enjoy my addendum episodes or would you rather I just stick to the main Your Story episodes?

Music is from iodaPROMONET

Time Machine
“The Groove That Just Won’t Stop” (mp3)
from “Life Is Expensive”
(Glow In The Dark Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album

I’ve been nearly eight weeks away from Australia experiencing all that I could of the culture, sights but particually the people that I met and had a chance to commune with as I drifted from home and country of one person into the life of another. It was an amazing trip as all trips that people do and it was a trip that will impact in ways that I cannot fathom yet. That and getting over a bit of jetlag is the reason that it’s taken a week to get this episode out but here it is.

It’s best to just let you listen to it. I thought about rerecording it but decided to leave it as it is as it shows the confusion that I have about a few things as I continue to settle back in.

I said it on the show but I’ll also say it here, Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who emailed me, connected with me on twitter or commented on the posts or my Flickr photos.

Particularly I want to thank the hospitality and friendships that I was shown from Claudia, Eve & Romy in Berlin. Adam Daniel Mezei in Prague. Todd & Rozzen in Vannes and Madeline in London.

Thanks all, you know what you mean to me.

I’m as interested as anyone to know where this is going so let’s hang on and see what happens. I’m already planning for the next trip but more later.

Links

Reichstag Fire

Kristallnacht

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.
If you use another Podcast software Get the feed here.

My training post school was as an apprentice Pattern Maker. A beautiful craft of making patterns from primarily timber, to be used to produce the moulds that metal castings are made in. As I learnt the skills I developed an interest in how things are made and the manufacturing processes. So just before leaving on this trip I heard about the Whitechapel Bell Foundry from listening to This Week In London Podcast I knew that I needed to come and see it while I’m in London.

The Foundry is a modest but profound affair to me. There is a small museum and shop along with offices in the front of the old building on Whitechapel Road. Then out the back is the foundry where the bells are made, which isn’t large by foundry standards and seems to employ a dozen or so people.

But the history is staggering. They have made the two most famous bells that I know of. The Liberty Bell in the US and Big Ben here in London. They have recently made the new bell for the finally completed St Johns Anglican Cathedral in my home town of Brisbane. They are the oldest manufacturing organisation in the UK making bells for over 500 years and the history goes on and on. If you want more history here is the link to it.

For me to smell the grit and burnt sand of my trade, to see men still making things in an age old tradition and to consider the long and continuous history of a relatively modest concern was a wonderful experence  and if your into making things and manufacture I would strongly suggest that you drop in if your n the neighbourhood.

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.
If you use another Podcast software Get the feed here.

For a reason that I don’t understand I have an affinity towards the sacrifices made by the Australian troops particularly in World War One. So while here in London I went on a mission to see the Australian War Memorial at Hyde Park Corner.

On the way I was surprised to discovered the Canadian memorial in Green Park and the New Zealand war memorial near the Australian Memorial. Around these old British colonies war memorials is the grandiose memorials of old empire and militarism. The comparison for me was profound and I thought it was worth a comment.

Later in the day I had an opportunity to attend a performance at Shakespeare’s Globe of The Merry Wives of Windsor. I had a wonderful time laughing at a classic play performed in period Elizabethan costume in the worlds only open air Elizabethan play house . The costumes were impeccable in construction and function. The acting was the best in the world. The building that is the theatre is awesome in its style, function and construction.

The entire night was truly a wonderful experence in every way and I would strongly suggest that it’s a must see if visiting London.

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.
If you use another Podcast software Get the feed here.

London is a city that is confusing to me. We know that it has the biggest financial markets in the world but the amount of underlying social issues that are obvious just walking down the street is disturbing when compared to the affluence that is seen in wealthy areas.

I observe that this is a community that is in a state of fear and there is an underlying big brother, circa 1984, feel to London that is constantly reminding all that the authorities have it  under control and with millions of CCTV observing our every movement they are keeping us safe.There is a constant reminder with the TV’s, the posters and the public announcements that it is dangerous and if we all behave like good little citizens. Then we will be looked after and controlled for our own good.

Is just the English/London mentality of a big city that causes so few happy people. I can’t help but wonder is it due to the fear or the multitudes fighting to get by or maybe it’s just the cabin fever climate and the lack of decent weather. I don’t know!

These are just my musings on being in London for a short time.

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.
If you use another Podcast software Get the feed here.

Today we talk with Adam Daniel Mezei who for three years as a Canadian has been living in Prauge, Czech Republic. Working as a Journalist and a Podcaster mixing with the movers and shakers of Czech society and visiting international government individuals.

Adam is one of the unique individuals in a position in Czech society as a Czech speaking outsider who has a full understanding of the culture, history, challenges. He appreciates the differences between other cultures and Czech psyche including the conflicts that are inherent in that difference sharing some of these and the historical reasons for them.

Adam take us on an audio tour of Czech culture and history giving us a grounding in where the attitudes came from that are the personality traits of this society, helping us to understand the conflicts in the culture and why they exist.

As mentioned I recorded this episode within a couple of hours of arriving in order to have a fresh conversation with Adam. Over the next three days Adam spent a huge amount of time with me during the day showing me around Prague and long into the night in cafes and bars. We spent long hours talking about the histories and cultures of our home countries and reflecting on the histories of Europe and the cultural personalities that develop from that.

I could have recorded triple the information heard here in the many conversations that we shared while exploring the culture, social and language challengers of being a foreigner in the Czech Republic.

What we have here in this podcast episode is a quick overview that lead onto those conversations and I am personally  grateful for those continuing conversations.

Adam is a published author of two books the first being We are the New Bohemians followed by We are the New Auroras in 2006.

His website is adamdanielmezei.eu
email is adam@adamdanielmezei.eu

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.
If you use another Podcast software Get the feed here.

Music is from iodaPROMONET

Wade Robson
“It Was All In Your Mind” (mp3)
from “Wade Robson’s Project: Dance Beats Vol. 1″
(Wajero Entertainment, Inc.)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album

I’ve been insanely busy but for me in a wonderful way as the people that have been looking after me have been filing my days with wonder, good food and drink along with entertaining conversation long into the night.

Vannes was a wonderful experience to see an old city centre that is still maintained and used for commercial and private residences with the modern community around it. There are photos on my flickr feed if you want to see more of it. The two market days I saw impressed me with the quality of produce, particularly the seafood, cheese and smoked meats. I’ve never seen such a range in my life.

Alas with so many things to say, do and see it seems a bit rude at times to get away to work. Fortunately I’m now in London and I may be

able to get a little time to get a few things sorted.

So here is a wrap up of my time in Vannes and a quick trip to Paris to see that culture with a dear friend.

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.
If you use another Podcast software Get the feed here.

Adam introduced me to both the sights and also the issues that he feels confront the modern Czech Republic. These are the things that I took away with me as I continue my travels.

On reflection I can’t help but see some similarities when I reflect on Berlin and the issues created by two world wars, Nazism and Communism and the effects on Prague of multiple occupations over centuries and Communism.

These few things I reflect on now that I’ve left the Czech Republic.

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.
If you use another Podcast software Get the feed here.