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GEIFN | MIXING | Media | July 2024

Best wishes for less Suffering, more Happiness with Good Health and Time to Enjoy it. Welcome to Byzantine Calendar year 7532–7533*.

Sharing a timely aspiration:
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is like living with the results of other peoples thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
Steve Jobs, American business magnate, industrial designer, investor, and media proprietor (1955-2011 CE)

If having no reason to celebrate this month, here are 3 prepared earlier:

This edition we explore Re:serve.
From Middle English from Old French reserver = keep back; from Latin reservare:
re = again; express intense force; back
+ servare = keep, supply, hold

  • bring in. Ie, a fence was installed to protect the area from natural predators (ie, the nature reserve)
  • put aside. Ie, some was set aside for safe-keeping/later use (ie, reserve 2 seats at the theatre)
  • give out. Ie, some thing separated purposely and distributed/engaged when time arrives: the SES is for emergency relief
  • reflection. Ie, her manner appears quiet but it just that she thinks before she speaks. Ie, his manner radiates poise and reserve
  • unseeable but shared experience. Ie, due to her track record in a range of activities, she was trusted without reserve by a broad section of society
  • motivation, determination. Ie, your support overcame my natural reserves opposing the topic

Time for a musical interlude?


* = According to Wikipedia, did you know that The Gregorian Calendar:

  1. is where we get year 2024 CE
  2. took some time to be adopted as an international convention, common to all
  3. was backdated to start with birth of Jesus Christ, currently thought by present-day Christian scholars to be incorrectly started by about 3-4 years?

Remember, information may contain misunderstandings, deliberate omissions and complete fabrications. And remember, watch out for the thing forgotten. Accept nothing blindly. Test for usefulness, if useful keep, adapt for personal circumstances or if unuseful discard. Be your own guiding light.

Read on intrepid Mixers, and let's see what is to discover this edition. Subscribers decide if anything is useful.


Topics

  1. Guest Sings
  2. Street Jives
  3. Wisdom Reconciles
  4. Media Writes
  5. TED Talks
  6. Music Challenges
  7. Acknowledgments


1. Guest Sings

Approx 5 min presentation

 

2. Street Jives

Approx 2 min presentation

 

3. Wisdom Reconciles

 

4. Media Writes

Approx 5 min reads

Intro
Elissa Goldstein explores identity, opportunity and humility are some of the reasons why "My family nominated Dad for the Order of Australia before he died. Today he becomes a member” via The Age

Peter FitzSimons explores place, purpose and position recounting when "‘I was the youngest Australian to have an ASIO file’ – Why Phillip Adams is proud of that” via The Age

Elyne Le Faou explores gender, respectfulness and camaraderie recounting how "As a visiting Frenchwoman, Australian men are not at all what I expected” via The Age


Intra
Jamila Rizvi explores pregnancy, birthing and reality in "A letter to my sister before the arrival of her first baby” via The Age

Benjamin Law explores dicey topics Sex, Religion and Bodies with Em Rusciano who reveals "‘I finally make sense to myself’: her late ADHD and autism diagnoses” via The Brisbane Times

Juli Fraga explores anger, forgiveness and letting go of resentment because "Grudges seriously harm our health. Here are four ways to let them go” via The Sydney Morning Herald


Inter
Benjamin Law explores dicey topics Sex, Politics and Religion with "Tech insider Kara Swisher on the problem of Silicon Valley’s ‘adult toddlers’” via The Brisbane Times

David Swan explores identified need, technology and teamwork for "The Melburnians behind one of Silicon Valley’s hottest AI start-ups” via The Sydney Morning Herald

David Free explores the life, times and published works of Franz Kafka, "One hundred years since his death, this author is a must-read more than ever” via The Age


Multi
Jill Valentine explores retrenchment, taking personal stock and rebuilding confidence because "It’s not just office romances that cause heartbreak at work” via The Age

Richard Jinman explores history, governance and ownership when reviewing a new exhibition in "Think selfies started with the iPhone? Pharaohs beat us by 5,000 years” via The Sydney Morning Herald

Angus Holland explores gathering, deliberations and consensus with other reasons "Why can’t the world’s peacekeeper stop the fighting in Gaza and Ukraine?” via The Brisbane Times


All
Tim Costello explores identity, religion and compassion are reasons for questioning "I am a Christian but my tribe supports Trump. I feel like I no longer belong” via WA Today

Robin Stern and Marc Brackett explore attitude, pressure and grace when revealing "The big difference between exercising good judgment and being judgy” via The Sydney Morning Herald

Cassidy Knowlton explores gender, identity and social justice with feminist author Roxane Gay who argues "Cancel culture is a boogeyman” via The Age


Together
Najma Sambul explores identity, regional and a working dog’s life in "The small town between Melbourne and Adelaide where kelpies reign supreme” via The Sydney Morning Herald

Good Weekend explores people, place and poise in "Hot shots: Stars (and stripes) from the 2024 National Photographic Portrait Prize” via WA Today

Kate Halfpenny explores identity, time and life recounting how "My school reunion filled me with dread. Then something strange happened” via The Age


Nobly
Tony Wright explores the life, times and purposeful living recounting how "Aunty Fay Carter learned life’s truths from her Nanny in a tin hut” via The Age

Angus Dalton explores scientific research, integrity and peer review when "The Sydney student who uncovered a ‘shocking’ problem with global cancer research” via WA Today

Lia Timson explores childhood, education and learning opportunities recounting "How Ornella’s ‘very expensive education’ in Sydney pushed her to build a school across the Timor Sea” via The Sydney Morning Herald

  

5. TED Talks

5-20 min presentations

6. Music Challenges

Approx 30 min presentation + reflection times

If desired, a short selection of publicly available material on a chosen theme for personal reflection. 

For best results, sit comfortably with a straight back, have headphones in a shared space, after each clicked link, allow a little reflection with your personally-held view before clicking on the next link.

Get ready to Reflect!
Choose your playing level:
Be introduced at 1.
Be soothed at 2-4.
Be shocked at 5.
Be inspired at 6.
Fuller illumination 1-6.
You be the judge. Or not.

Cryptic Clue:
What is a way towards establishing personal identity, making friends and sustaining relationships?
        1. Inspire
        2. Perspire
        3. Collaborate
        4. Engage: Test for personal circumstances, if useful keep, if unuseful discard, if exceeds needs, share mindfully
        5. Endure: Adapt for present times without sacrificing intent
        6. Endear: (Inspiring Others To Tend the Flame) live/ demonstrate/ inspire/ teach experience with others
        This challenge is ascertaining attain, retain, stain & sustain

        ascertain
        [az’sir’tane]
        From Middle English acerteynen; from Old French acertener: from a- = to, towards + certener = make sure of; based on Latin certus = settled, sure, truth + tenere = to hold.

        verb
        • find (something) out for certain; make sure of. Ie, an attempt to ascertain the cause of the accident. Ie, management should ascertain whether adequate funding can be provided.

        attain
        [ah’tane]
        From Middle English = bring to justice, reach a state; from Old French ateindre, from Latin attingere, from ad- = at, to + tangere = to touch.

        verb
        1. succeed in achieving (something that one has worked for). Ie, clarify your objectives and ways of attaining them. Ie, They attained the rank of Brigadier. 
        2. reach (a specified age, size, or amount). Ie, dolphins can attain speeds in water which man cannot yet emulate.

        retain
        [ree’tane]
        From late Middle English: via Anglo-Norman French from Old French retenir, from Latin retinere, from re- = back, return to, concentrate + tenere = hold.

        verb
        1. continue to have (something); keep possession of. Ie, built in 1830, the house retains many of its original features. Ie, the encumbent retained the seat. 
          • not abolish or alter; maintain. Ie, the rights of defendants must be retained. 
          • keep in one's memory. Ie, I retained a few French words and phrases. 
        2. absorb and continue to hold (a substance). Ie, limestone is known to retain water. 
        3. keep (something) in place; hold fixed. Ie, the successful design of a cartridge belt requires that the cartridges in it be properly located and retained in that position. 
        4. keep (someone) engaged in one's service. Ie, they have been retained as freelancers. 
          • (Legal) secure the services of (a barrister) with a preliminary payment. Ie, retain a barrister to handle the client's business.

        stain
        [stane]
        From late Middle English (as a verb): shortening of archaic distain, from Old French desteindre = tinge with a colour different from the natural one. The noun was first recorded (mid 16th century) = defilement, disgrace.

        verb
        1. mark or discolour with something that is not easily removed. Ie, the sportsplayer's clothing was stained with blood. Ie, red powder paint can stain. 
          • be marked or be liable to be marked with a stain. 
          • damage or bring disgrace to (the reputation or image of someone or something). Ie, the awful events would unfairly stain the city's reputation. 
        2. colour (a material or object) by applying a penetrative dye or chemical. Ie, wood can always be stained to a darker shade. 
        noun 
        1. a coloured patch or dirty mark that is difficult to remove. Ie, there were mud stains on my shoes. 
          • a thing that damages or brings disgrace to someone or something's reputation. Ie, the time in gaol is a stain on the individual’s work history. 
        2. a penetrative dye or chemical used in colouring a material or object. 
          • (Biology) a special dye used to colour organic tissue so as to make the structure visible for microscopic examination. 
          • (Heraldry) any of the minor colours used in blazoning and liveries, especially tenné and sanguine.

        sustain
        [suhs’stane]
        From Middle English: from Old French soustenir, from Latin sustinere, from sub- = from below + tenere = hold.

        verb [with object] 
        1. strengthen or support physically or mentally. Ie, this thought had sustained them throughout the years. 
          • bear (the weight of an object) without breaking or falling. Ie, the weary individual sagged against them so that they could barely sustain the weight. Ie, health will no longer enable the politician to sustain the heavy burdens of office. 
        2. undergo or suffer (something unpleasant, especially an injury. Ie, the player sustained severe head injuries. 
        3. cause to continue for an extended period or without interruption. Ie, the shy employee cannot sustain a normal conversation. 
          • (Theatre) represent (a part or character) convincingly. Ie, the actor sustained the role of Creon with burly resilience. 
        4. uphold, affirm, or confirm the justice or validity of. Ie, the allegations of discrimination were sustained. 
        noun
        • (Music) an effect or facility on a keyboard or electronic instrument whereby a note can be sustained after the key is released.
        [Practice]

        Optional
        -- Chant Mantrastyle

        Why? Why not?
        Start today. 
        As the case may be.
        Or not.


        7. Acknowledgments

        Reconciliation
        Acknowledging traditional inhabitants of Cities of Port Phillip and Glen Eira are the Boon Wurrung, Bunurong and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. Respect is offered to past, present and future elders of all spiritual traditions. May we find together a generous way to accommodate those in need of refuge. Let us be cool, strive individually and together to overcome inequality, violence, disengagement, tragedy and injustice wherever it may be. Let us honour, savor and enjoy results of mindful effort so more thrive peacefully with less effort in our place called home.

        Invitation to Support Content Creators
        The music/stories/videos have been sourced from public domain. If you like any of the content, please consider buying directly from online marketplaces to support creators and truth telling in the public interest.

        Caretaker Disclosure
        Words and concepts are conditional things that point to a 'reflection of experience'. They are limited and do not adequately describe the 'full lived experience'. Like the moon's reflection on a lake's surface, it is not the moon, nor the experience of gazing up at the darkened sky transformed by the presence of a full moon. It is in the eyes/ears/nose/mouth/touch/cognisance of the beholder.

        This curation is an interpretation of the universal basis of re:lig:ion (Latin = again:uniting:energy) or bodhicitta (Sanskrit = Awakening Consciousness). This email invites a sharing of countless thoughts, words and actions wishing, causing and receiving less Suffering and more Happiness. For benefit initially of the individual increasing in beneficiaries until it includes all across the 3 times and 10 directions. Or not. As each case may be.

        It is not personal, it just the way things are.

        Jackie Huggins, Bidjara/Pitjara, Birri Gubba Juru woman and Aboriginal Australian

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