Christmas 2011

The Christmas Tree - a pagan ritual or pious belief ?

Towards the end of the calendar year, the Christmas celebration occurs annually on December 25, an event which has variable practices stretching from the exchange of goodwill and a generous spirit of sharing to the rampant purchase of consumer goods, the hanging of an array of gaudy decorations and the profligate display of inflated images of Saint Nicholas (named Santa Claus), a sled with some reindeer. Generally the event is recognised  as a religious and cultural holiday across the globe. Christmas however at its origin remains a feast central to the Christian liturigical year, closing the Advent season and initiating the twelve days of Christmastide. 

The precise day of the birth of Jesus is unknown occuring somewhere between the 7th and 2nd Century BC however in the early-to-mid 4th century AD, the Western Christian Church placed Christmas on December 25, a date which was also adopted later by the Eastern Church. Since then however a number of additional practices has been added including the display of a Christmas tree, considered by some religious scholars as the adoption of a pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice. This involved the use of evergreen boughs with the adaptation of pagan tree worship. The figure of Santa Claus is also partly pagan as the current form is a combination of Saint Nicholas of Myra (a 4th Century Greek Christian Bishop) and Odin, the Norse God whom was also worshipped in Northern Europe including Germany and Holland. At any rate, the value of Christmas is the annual pause in the transactions of life, the focus on others and the end of year reflection whether this occurs through religious worship or the provision of a civil holiday and recreational rest.

2012 - A new year with old problems

As 2012 draws close, the world will carry forward a range of major challenges with no easy solution in sight. Foremost among these remains difficult economic conditions with a flat US economy and the European Union struggling to avoid a full scale recession. Arguably the European Union is, in fact, already in a recession with the continuous risk that Greece will ultimately default on its loans. Portugal which earlier had seemed to be a further fiscal risk to the EU has been able to manage its economic situation effectively within domestic policy and is no longer listed with Italy, Spain and Greece as requiring a bail-out. With China's forecast that its double digit growth is now over the international economy will be flat at best but more likely be marginally negative. Australia is unlikely to avoid a level of downturn as well given the reality that it is China which is propping up the balance of payments and Australia's trade position.

In international relations, the conflict in Afghanistan continues with no likely negotiated settlement with the Taliban and a continuing level of instability in Pakistan. The so-termed 'Arab Spring' which has brought to a conclusion several repressive dictatorships, nonetheless has uncertain outcomes in Egypt and Libya. Only Tunisia where the uprising commenced has there been a largely peaceful and successful result. So 2012 opens with little promise but an overhang of the end-play of existing events.

How the Bible influences contemporary language

King James Bible

Most people when reflecting on the Bilble perceive it in terms of its religious teachings, quasi historical framewrok and its' underlying Judeo-Christian ideology but in fact, its later translations particularly the King James Edition of 1769 introduced many classic phrases into common use. Some of the most common phrases which can be Googled are -

The root of the matter (Paslms 4:4)
Get thee behind me (Luke 4:8)
As a lamb to slaughter (Isaiah)
Suffer the little children (Luke 18:16)
A thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7)
East of Eden (Genesis 4:16)
How the mighty have fallen (2 Samuel 3:19)
A man of his own heart (1 Samuel 13:14)
A Still small voice (1 Kings 19:12)
Turned the World upside down (Acts 17:6)
Know for a certainty (Joshua 24:13)
From time to time (Ezekial 4:10)

Even the most non religious in all likelihood use some phrases from the Bible without realising the source of their language.

Where are the ships ? US Fleet Deployments

Courtesy: StratFor

An aspect of the United States is its strong promotion of its military assets. Perhaps a clear example is the use of public information to show current deployments of the US Naval Fleets across the world as the diagram above demonstrates. Most countries don't advertise much of their activities and other powers such as Russia and China operate with the opposite perspective which is to deem all military information as secret.

Film Review: The Ides of March

'The Ides of March' is a political drama following a storyline which highlights the dark side of politics. Betrayal, double standards, duplicity and the pursuit of power are the key themes of this film.

George Clooney is cast as Mike Morris, the democratic governor of Pennsylvania and presidential hopeful in the lead up to the Ohio Democratic primary from which the likely winner will clinch the Democratic Party's nomination for the presidential election.  His media adviser is one Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) and the film is centred on Myers, his faith in Morris and his idealistic conviction that Morris has the same ideals and commitment to ethical standards in public life. Although Morris is the frontrunner to win this primary, due to adept manouvring and promises made by his Democratic opponent, there a good chance that he will lose the primary. Morris has a seasoned and experienced campaign manager, Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who brings a ruthless pragmatic approach to politics reminding Meyers at every point that this game is all about the numbers. Add to this focus, an intern sex scandal, a cover-up and a canny, manipulative campaign manager for the other Democratic candidate (Paul Giamatti) and the basis of the film is established.

Overall this is a disappointing effort given the quality of the cast,the high production values and very slick seamless linking of the stages of the film. The storyline is thin, lacking insight and one dimensional missing the many permutations, issues management crises and political negotiation weaving that characterises much of the process during a major vote-wining campaign. Despite some minor background details mentioned in the dialogue, there is little to distinguish and define the main characters in the plot. In many respects, this film compares unfavourably with the lower budget but more agile film 'Primary Colors' based on the book of the same title which has been often described as a accurate ghost writer insight into the Clinton presidential campaign.'The ides of March' misses an opportunity, skims trhe surface and delivers only a veneer of political intrigue.

Energy growth adding to CO2 emissions

        
The most recemnt report from the International Energy Agency (World Energy Outlook 2011), does not make for an optimistic perspective on power generation and efforts to reduce CO2. The Report points out that existing power generation infrastructure (consisting of various power plants and factories) which will be used for several decades already coverd 80% of the emissions needed to reach 2oC and the schedule of new plants which are to be constructed will make up the remaining portion to reach if not slightly exceed the 2 degrees Celcius. The efforts to ramp up renewable energy production therefore takes on a more urgent timetable for adoption enabling a further increase from the current 16% of global energy supply already provided.