timtufuga's Journal in December 2007
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| 2008 resolutions. Current mood: grateful Category: Life Twas the Sunday before New Years Eve and all seemed well for the Possie the retches had settled down from the conniving misdeeds throughout the year and now looking on hindsight they have reflected upon their ill gotten gains. Well, what have we achieved in the year that was 2007? "Sweet f--- all" but, we did see a tumultuous change in everything from the number of political changes, the changes of governments, from the demise of great living legends, Great Tenors, thespian personalities, political asssignations and democracy being forever challenged with the continual usurpation by the Machiavallian Prince throughout the anarchic world stage. Peace has been a shrinking violet for a while now. There was an endless amount of disappointments for yet another 365 of Earth's orbit around the sun. According to the American Cancar Society some 12 million people were diagnosed with cancer and some 7 million people died from Cancer in 2007, and, get this, some 20,000 people died per day from some form of caner causing death in 2007. In the 3rd world some 6 million children died from malnutrition this year. As a Samoan, I would have to say that this year has been marked by a unique regime change with the passing of the Head of State of Samoa, Le Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, le ao o le Malo. It is a tragic year for many people and it is not a year in which we can readily celebrate the achievements of many Samoans apart from staging the Samoa games, which was a very notable highlight for Samoa's young and developing sporting history. On the local scene, Australia has finally spoken in the ballot box and have demanded the disendorsement of the federal liberal/national coalition government now the moderate left labour governemnts, dominate state and federal governments in Australia. Paradoxically, however, the labour movement is ideologically riding on the new right wave which has introduced the monetarism philosophy to most western democratic political philosophies of today. In layman terms, the new right still dictate public policy of government and Milton Friedman is still surreptitiously the blueprint architect of the present poltical mindsets of most of the rightwingers' cabal, even within the labour governments/caucases within Australia, and, dare I say, NZ. The 'war on terror', still is high on the political agenda and America will be facing its on judgement day come the Federal elections in 08. It is highly suggested that Australia has set a precendent in what ought to be a real regime change even within the USA elections. In the meatime, Australia, and the rest of coalition of the willing hardliners, will be bracing themselves for the moribund realpolitical outcomes of political choice. The Hawks have dominated American and Australian political thinking for half a decade now America and her allies are facing a change in preference for the less than coercive and more assertive approach to international relations. The key may lie with the Democratic incumbents who will establish the new order for the denouemont of the Jihadi conflict that is now entering its endgame strategies. The Middle East conflicts will be drawn out once again with more political skirmishes to dismantle the peace process, afterall, it is a way of life for most of these people who not known anything else but violence, sport and education, and the concept of lasting intergenerational peace, are cultural shock experiences, which will be alien to the present generation and future generation of Palestinians, Israelis, as well as, Iraqi, Iranian and Afghani people etc. These people will escape to Australia and elsewhere, and bring with them their conflicts onto our beaches and streets. On this note, the influences of the foreign conflicts has impacted Australia so directly that even the likes of David Hicks still makes headline news with his release from imprisonment. He has been considered as a soldier of fortunem a mercenary soldier who wanted to enter a skirmish against a purported religious enemy fighting in Afghanistan for a noble cause which has been considered, on hindsight, a very costly freedom of choice. David Hicks is now free which has become a political well timed exercise in the light f the political ramifications in Afghanistan and America's response being somewhat muted and reserved in light of the increasingly unpopular American foreign policy in Australia. David Hicks was a political pawn used by America and her enemies to pit Australians against themselves within the domestic sphere. The deaths of three Australian soldiers in Afghanistan has highlighted the 'wait and see' approach by America and in particular how trhe Australian media will respond to David Hicks and the response of the Australian servicemen KIA families to his release. The anti-American rally, post-David Hicks release, may be muted with the three ADF KIA from Afghanistan. It is a time to be circumspect and to seek comfort in knowing that you and I have survived yet another orbit around this celestrial star in the sky, and yes, I have survived. We are merely star dust and we look at our creator every day and we spin around GOD every year, we have about 2 billion rotations around God before she shrinks and implodes into a death star and 'whammo', she (it) will implode into the black abyss of the "black hole", ahh, then it will be the end of life as we know it. In the meantime, happy new year everybody. Tofa Soifua, Tim Brian Tufuga Currently listening : Greatest Hits By Neil Young Release date: 16 November, 2004 |
 Merry Merry Christmas 2007 Everyone, from Tim Tufuga. |
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I would have to say that the year that was 2007 was rather uneventful on the local scene. The exception was that I did some more triathlons and now I have almost lost the inclination to do anymore triathlons. I have decided to switch to roadrunning and still swimming and to cycle some more I am considering a shorter triathlon maybe in March or April 2008. I will be warming up for the April running calender where I will be considering doing the Brisbane half marathon, or the full marathon. Then it will be the July 6th 30th Gold Coast marathon. Swimming is coming along just fine, it is just stroke correction at present, no fitness in the pool, too close to Christmas for any fitness peakness, I need to relax over the festive season and enjoy the festive ails. I will probably prepare for the Mooloolaba and then maybe the Noosa running season in 2008? Then again I might just do absolutely zilch! Then I'll just do my usual weekly and daily riding and running and swimming for persoanl fitness. No big deal. Now, the federal government has changed seating positions. The opposition are now in power and the former government are now sitting on the opposite side of the house of reoresentatives and the senate. The first day in the office for the Australian Labour Prime Minister was marked with an international covenant being ratified concerning the Climate Change, the Greenhouse effect has now become a global treaty with members agreeing in principle to watch out their Carbon emmisions levels in some glaobal benchmark. The Kyoto Protocal has been ratified by the world except the USA, who still had their ubiquitous eyes in the conference and saying their Pax Americana two cents worth to proceedings as per usual. American exclusion from the UN sanctioned global forum in Bali has been interupted by American delegates stating their views of "We might join in, and, if we are members, we would have said this, or we might have said this, provided that we do consider signing into the Kyoto treaty?, but, alas, we are not ratifing anything. So we are in no position to say anything and we have no "official" comment on present proceedings." (personal hypothesis) The truth might seem very surreptitiously anti-American which may stir some pro-Americanism paranoia in New York and Washington DC. The war on terrorism may have ignited a counter Americanism which may be the underlying motif within the Bali conference which would concern Langley to no end. The Australian general election has also spelt out the particularly anti-American backlash by the Bennelong electorate with the resounding victory to Maxine McKew (ALP) who ousted the Australian Prime Minister from his Bennelong seat and out of government and out of politics perhaps forever. The All the way with George W Bush rationale did not bode well for the Australian people who had completely changed their views to the American 'staying the course', in Afghanistan and Iraq. The loyalty was undiminished amongst the military factors and the hawks who had welcomed the American weapons and military deals with Halliburton etc, the Galaxy troop carriers, the JSF, the Abram tanks, the Unmanned drones, and other technical and military intel sharing capabilities which has transformed the Australian military machine as the most advanced military power on this side of the planet. This is the mates rates which the ADF and the DSD have procured and acquired with their American allegiences. The military Tamdem Thrust exercises have prepared Australia and American military for the ost comprehensively rehearsed amphibious conventional invasion of an enemy nation anywhere within the South East Asian region, and to repel any potential invading force north of the Arafura and Timor Sea area. The Tandem Thrust exercise has been held in Queensland for the past few years and have used over 26,000 American Marine and Army personnel as well as a couple of Australian Army regiments, QLD based, with the full support of the US Pacific Command and RAN. The Airforce are also well represented in this multi-million dollar staged show for the real thing anywhere from the Philipines, Indonesia, Malaysia, PNG or any place that may threaten Australian territories now or in the near future. America is commited to intervene almost automatically. Tandem Thrust has prepared American troops to be deployed from as far away as Hawaii and landing anywhere in Queensland within 24 hours, almost undetected by local area surveillance sources. This was already proven when US Airbourne parachuted into Shoalwater Bay, in north Queensland, completely undetected by Australian surveillance in 2006. The Americans took happy shots of their landing and then showed it to the Australians. An entire brigade of US Airbourne troops, some 750 troops, with live weapons, had landed in Queensland undetected. American-Australian wargames have been going on for quite some time now. It is seldom revealed to the public but when it does it is normally the accidental deaths in exercise accidents in North Queensalnd that are reported. The present Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has not shirked in Australia's military commitment to Afghanistan by not ordering the withdraw of Australian troops but to increase numbers of Australian military numbers in Tarin Kowt, The Australian compound, within Southern Afghani province. However, the ALP Prime Minister has commited to withdraw up to 500 Australian Diggers from Iraq. The Australian military muscle has been overstretched and it is true it has become weathered and battle weary in Iraq and Afghanistan. The de ja vue Vietnam war backlash has been expected but not overly passionate in the local reaction to Iraq and Afghanistan, this may be explained with the 911 experience, therefore, it is yet another day in the office for the professional soldier, unlike the Vietnam conscription period within the US, which had spilt over to very strong anti-war sentiments in Australia and in NZ. The casualty rates has been well controlled bar the three recent fatalities in Afghanistan by Taliban forces. The Australians have not been too anti-American due to this lack of casualty rate in the Middle East. Locally, though, I have had my fair share of close encounters with road rage, whilst training on my bike. I have had a couple of prangs on my bike and on both occasions I had an Aboriginal Muslim person behind the wheel, knocked off the road in Loganlea, and a Arab man braked on his car suddenly, whilst I was cycling behind him, in Kangaroo Point, forcing me to run into his black SUV, he blamed me for crashing into his car. I did not agree of this summation. I tried to pursue the matter further with police intervention and the police did not care, it was not a big deal. On both occassions I had minor injuries and I sought medical attention and was delayed at the Princess Alexander hospital and so I left with no medical attention at all and no more was said about it. So apart from these minor incidents (accidents) out on the road, I had managed to do three big triathlons, and did a couple of half marathons, and the Gold Coast marathon. I am now convalescing in December feeling rather worn out as well. I have now returned to cycling, and swimming in the local pool, and doing the usual road runs to keep myself reasonably fit. I am still living with my sister, who is on holiday from university studies, I am still single and living well within my means in outter suburbia in South East Queensland. No festive cheer for anyone this christmas, I'm afraid to say, because I have no one to give it to, hahaha. Might just pop over to visit mum in the Beenleigh cemetery and say happy Xmas, we will all be with her some time in the future anyway, so she can just wait for us a while longer. I have noticed in the local rag the local city councillors are about to receive a pay rise. Our local councillor Cr. Phil Pidgeon is earning over $87,000 per annum, and he will be receiving an remuneration increase next month of some $14,000, this is not included to loadings? for whatever incidentals he may accrue from his service to the community obligations. Not a bad little job if you can get it. You have to be elected into office within the democratic process of local government elections. The Lord Mayor receives over $143,000 per annum, so it is a well paying job for very important and efficacious political incumbents, right?! Im still on the dole! I have a university degree worth bugger all. Ahh, the Australian dream, like the American dream, it works only for the very, very few. My New Years resolution coming up next time.... Soifua. Tim Tufuga Logan City Council (division nine, triathlete, marathoner, bum!)
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Nathan Briggs versus Alex Leapai. It has been a longtime in coming but it is interesting to see who really has the local boxing scene dominance. It has been proven irrefuatbly by the powerhouse Samoan, Alex the Lionheart Leapai who had knocked down Nathan Briggs not once, twice, or even three times, but seven times in a most emphatic display of boxing supremacy for the Logan City area. Aces boxing has all the footages and gallery. http://www.aceboxingpromotions.com/index.php?option=com_expose&Itemid=55 Nathan Briggs, a former world K1 kickboxing champion, switched fighting codes to boxing and has showed his natural abilities with the pugilist form as well, he had encountered the devastatingly menacing power of Col Wilson over the years and has now raised pyschological doubts about his abilities after a most emphatic humbling experience with the Lionhearted Samoan. It is kudos for a very impressive pugilist career for Nathan Briggs which must admit does not look too impressive now after Alex Leapai's remonstrative demolition of the Briggs family pride. Alex Leapai, is a London Misionary Society, an LMS son, or a member of the David Tua Congregational church boxing tradition. You know the Samuel Marsden deployed missioanries such as John Williams who was sent on board the "Message of Peace" ship to the South Pacific in circa 1830, to spread the gospel to the Pacific Islanders. Over 150 years later, these Paific Islanders have returned to Marsden, in Logan City, Queensland. Now, Marsden is obviously named in honour of Samuel Marsden, the Church Missionary Society head, it was jointly part of the Weslyan and Congregational missions from Australia in 1800s. Samuel Marsden was the big huncho, who had sent John Williams, the missionary, to Samoa, from Sydney Cove, New South Wales. Not from Queensland mind you, but, Marsden, as a suburb, is situated in South East Queensland. Marsden like the name Williams has a historical cultural significance for the Samoans which is unknown by many Australians. Many Samoans have now taken up residency in Marsden, or nearby, in Logan City, in South East Queensland, and many have become naturalised Australians, some of which are now local pugilists like Alex Leapai. The Samoan congregationalists are proud of their pugilist traditions from David Tua and now Alex Leapai. The congregationalists still have the largest protestant membership in Samoa, which comprises of some 60% of the nations population. My father is also a congregationalist, in To'omatagi, Apia, Samoa. He is also an avid fan of rugby and boxing, although, he represents his country in lawnbowls. Alex Leapai, from Logan City, near Marsden, is preparing for another fight and will consider himself a contender for any more serious bouts on offer in the USA and elsewhere, he is getting in yarsd like all of us and his career needs a hurry up to attain the dizzying heights of David Tua and perhaps better? Ia soifua tatou mo lenei aso! Tim Tufuga, Crestmead, near Marsden.
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View the Youtube video on Ted, the Ten Bob Pom. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InyXQP2wNbk At long last, I have finally interviewed a Ten Bob Pom in real life. Here is amongst the last of the original Ten Bob Poms to arrive into Australia in 1962 onboard the HMAS Canberra. Ted was born in east London and migrated to Scotland to a place called Hamilton, then boarded the HMAS Canberra for her final voyage to Australia. I had asked him the cost of his passage and he replied. "Ten pounds" and laughed. Ted is now a reclusive man living with his wife, named Anna, who is suffering from alzeimers disease, in Regents Park, in Logan City, and he is 72 years of age. |
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