thoughts on life, leadership, ministry and whatever other weird stuff comes to mind

So, I came across this news piece, and not at all sure it makes me feel better about sharks at all…

Great white sharks have some things in common with human serial killers, a new study says: They do not attack at random, but stalk specific victims, lurking out of sight.

The sharks hang back and observe from a not-too-close, not-too-far base, hunt strategically, and learn from previous attempts, according to a study being published online on today in the Journal of Zoology.

And, just like serial killers, they fit a certain profile of operating:

The sharks had a distinct mode of operation.

They were focused. They stalked from a usual base of operations, 90m from their victims – close enough to see their prey, but not close enough to be seen and scare off their victims.

They attacked when the lights were low. They liked their victims young and alone. They tried to attack when no other sharks were around to compete. They learned from previous kills. And they attacked from below, unseen.

However, there is a big difference between great white sharks and serial killers – motive.

Great whites attack to eat and survive, not for thrills.

So, the good news is that if you get attacked by a Great White, it won’t just be for fun. Bad news is that he’ll be really good at taking you out for lunch.

I had no idea of the existence of this weirdness, but discovered this morning that since 1984 here in Australia, there has been a special dispensation to allow British citizens to vote in Australian federal elections!

I’m quite amazed at this. I cannot think of a SINGLE good reason to allow this, and there is currently a committee in parliament discussing changing this. What is even more amazing is that there are certain seats around the country which were settled on very fine margins at the last election, and where thousands of non-Australian citizens voted.

I’m sure there is an interesting story behind how this special dispensation came to be, but I think it’s a joke. Honestly, what other country in the world permits non-citizens to vote for their government?!

Curiously, although Australia has passed legislation to allow for dual citizenship, and also the High Court has clarified that British citizens are in fact aliens (in the technical sense!), we have literally thousands of British citizens who have chosen over a 25 year period not to become Australians (even though they could still maintain their British status), and yet still felt quite ok about voting in our elections… doesn’t make sense to me… seems somehow inconsistent. I’m surprised this has continued for so long.

And, yes, I AM a republican at heart…

“We say we waste time, but that is impossible – we waste ourselves.” — Alice Bloch

Read this quote a few times, roll it around in your mind, and then stop wasting yourself…

I’m not against wealth, per se, and it can certainly make your life simpler in some ways and more complicated in many other ways. The Bible has plenty to say about the the Lord’s blessings and our appropriate response to that. Those of us who are wealthy in this world (and that includes most Australians) have great expectations that accompany our wealth.

But, there are some things that just make me angry. Not sure I can fully explain why, but this story, for example of a Saudi prince’s $485million flying palace doesn’t make me envious – it actually really steams me when I think about the pure waste of money on something so beyond the boundary of extravagance that I just can’t comprehend what sort of mindset would create such a thing.

The plane usually seats 600, but lots of room had to be cleared for various perks. Naturally, there’s an on-board garage, so that the prince can be driven right to the threshold of of the airplane’s elevator. After arrival, he can retire to his master suite–one of five with king-size beds, and computer generated prayer mats which always face Mecca (one must always be humble); up to 20 extra-guests have to make due in sleepers that are the equivalent of first class.

But the real insanity begins elsewhere on the plane’s three floors: There’s a concert hall that seats ten and has a baby grand piano; a boardroom with a holographic projector; and a full-size steamroom. The most entertaining perk is a “Wellbeing Room” which has a floor upon which is projected an enormous image of what the plane is flying over–thus creating a “magic carpet” effect.

Yeah, that’s really cool… I guess you just have to make sure you’re not flying over really poor people, or it may mess with your wellbeing.

Apparently, according to this interesting piece of research, iPhone users are younger, richer and more productive than their counterparts.

Who wouldn’t want to be so cool?!

However, that all being said, I still wouldn’t buy a Fiesta…

• Today was nothing like what I planned. One of those days which was
  probably very important in some indirect ways, but totally off-page. #
• Watching some classic psychology happening across the room from me.
  Loudest guy at the head of the table. #
• Dome wifi sucks this morning. I’m going to have to relocate to a more
  useful spot to work. Doh! #

• Just had a great chat with a guy who couldn’t get over that I don’t
  wear a collar and “bat gear” as a “priest”… #

• Right… that’s it. I’ve had enough. Time to sleep. #

• Good to be home, but what’s with the Melbourne weather?! #
• A blur of a day. #