Quiet Please! I Wanna Sleep!

The old lady two houses away is probably not the most pleasant person in the planet, but I think I do appreciate that she doesn't think twice about chewing the ears off those loud and inconsiderate students who choose to while away their time chattery chatting under other people's bedroom window at 3 in the morning. It absolutely drives me nuts!!! Well, last night the little lady was either in a drunken stupor which temporarily disabled her hearing or she is on holidays, because I am so sure that she wouldn't have let this go without a bit of a drama. She puts her foot down in occasions such as this.

Where I live is pretty quiet, away from the main street yet still literally a hop away from cafe's, bookshops, the university, and other conveniences. Around the area live mostly families, and perhaps just a couple of houses with students or young professionals. Overall an ideal location, a safe area. Ideal can be due to different factors, such as its proximity to places, especially the university (now that I'm no longer a student, it's still not too bad as we're literally at the city fringe). The downside could be the same thing... being close to university!... where one would find the biggest population of drunkenness and endless parties. I must admit that it's not that often that we're disturbed by such things, but when it does happen I can get pretty cranky especially when it has to be an early day the next morning!

Going back to the night prior, holy guacamole a bunch of people whom I would assume just got back from a party (or kicked out of a club i wouldn't be surprised... coz yes it's bloody closing time!!!) decided that they'd loiter around our normally quiet little alley, plant themselves under my window, talk silly, laugh and holler as if they were demented fools in an oh-my-goodness-as-if-the-whole-neighbourhood's-deaf volume level. Yes, I should have done something right?... but I didn't! Ugh. It's not being a coward but more on being careful. I don't fancy the idea of going down in dressing robes and facing up to a couple of strangers whom I was not certain whether or not are drunk enough to smash a bottle at me. I've thought of thowing tomatoes and eggs at them out from my window, but I am out of tomatoes and if I miss then what a waste of eggs!

I have no idea when they decided to transfer to another venue, or if any other neighbour actually came out with a baseball bat or with that ferocious doberman from the adjacent house. Whatever. Such an annoyance really to be kept tossing and turning in bed when the body and mind are so ready to have a rest, even more so annoying to know that some thoughtless people whom you don't even know are the cause of your sleeplessness. When I party, I make sure I get home with a clear head on my shoulder, and I tiptoe too even at my own house when I know that someone's sleeping. Music's definitely off or turned on very low key after midnight.

I wanna say to some, for heaven's sake, don't squat at other people's porch or under someone else's window unless you're seranading them with cheesy latino songs! Also, not everyone would enjoy another's festivities, if you're planning to disturb the whole neighbourhood from your loud, metallic, head-banging parties at 2 in the morning, don't be pissed off when police cars come disbanding the party. Geez, do I sound like one of those uptight, middle-aged ladies with hair curlers, coming out and screaming at high school kids running around the neighbourhood? I hope not. Hey, some courtesy doesn't hurt. And I hope the little, old lady next door comes back.

RU486

Much has been said about the controversial mifepristone, better known as RU486. The extensive debate and discussion on whether this drug should be allowed in Australia, heard from across parliament, elected representatives, religious groups, non-government organisations, concerned (or just curious) individuals, has left but more trails of unresolved issues and questions. As a hot topic running for weeks now, it has opened a pandora's box of other concerns, many political, such as who should have the final say and the power to approve or reject the entry of this abortion drug into the country. As of the most recent event, the bill to remove the veto power of the health minister on decisions concerning RU486 has been passed, thereby giving control regarding the matter to the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Surely, many people would be posing the same the question of whether this is the wisest move or not, as the TGA has a past history of its own. Then again, that's another story.

Drilling down to the real reasons for the many arguments and differing contentions regarding the said drug, the bulk of the talk would either be on health and safety implications for women, or moral and personal beliefs regarding abortion. On health issues, I suppose any form of abortion would have its risks and danger, be they surgical or medical. Surgical abortion is legally practised in Australia, and therefore many pro-choice groups contend the so called absurdity and hypocricy of banning medical abortion methods such that RU486 would be able to do. On the same note, the argument that medically tested drug or procedure is by far safer for women wanting to terminate pregnancy than for them to undergo dodgy ways in the absence of something suitable and easily accessible, does have logic. They say that in other countries where the drug is already available, abortion rate didn't increase in general, but there was in the proportion of terminated pregnancy in its early stages. One concern is on how readily this drug can be made available to women, objectively speaking there should still be some regulation on its availability, proper education on health implications, etc. But there are so many other questions... and uncertainties... like how would this affect the sense of responsibility in people when something that would reverse any results of their actions is made readily available? When we venture into individual principles and stance on the matter, yes, RU486 will be an issue to many. Then again, there will always be two sides of a coin... varying arguments, clashing beliefs and opinions, there will be no end to the debate.

Australia will let the bill for RU486 pass. It has already been expressed that anyone's moral or religious compunction shouldn't be a basis for making regulations; that health issues and benefits be given priority in the decision over the matter on conscience. I am not saying I am for the passing of the bill, for I still have strong beliefs of my own, which I will keep for myself and not impose on anyone nor use as a basis to judge anyone with a differing view. My opinion would probably not matter in this case, nor would many others', because obviously there are better and more well-informed people making the decisions. It is just my hope that whatever is decided on, those people in power who OK'ed a bill follow through and maintain a certain standard around the matter.

From a Child's Eyes

"How old do you think I am?" I asked a 5-year old girl after she announced that she's just a kid and that we are undoubtedly older than she is... just because we're bigger. Without much hesitation she replied "Ten years old!" Ahhhh.... so ten years old to her is unbelievably old. And I would bet that her parents are 15 and her grandparents around 30.

As amusing as her response may have sounded, it made me realise how small things and concepts are to a child, much much smaller than we'd dare to imagine. They view the world with purely innocent eyes, feel according to what is real to them. It is no doubt that we live in a complicated society, but a child wouldn't understand what complications exist, or why. When we think about it, the grown ups are the ones who weave for themselves complexities, oftentimes unnecessary and ridiculous.

Don't you find that it's simpler to converse with a child? One gets straight-forward answers, brutal truths sometimes, but over all an honest response. Sugary words, flowery phrases without substance, self praise, scornful comments, malicious and snide remarks... all from adults, but never from children. At least not from young children. To them, there is no such thing as pretension or mind-games. They look and act angry when they are angry, they show their temper when they feel like it, they don't hold back with their hugs and kisses, and when they love you, they just love you. These are probably why happiness to them is so easy, nothing extraordinary. They want not for much. Remember, small things, simple concepts, a small world... therefore easily content.

Don't you ever sometimes wish you were still a 5-year old? I admit that when I'm in deep reverie of years long past, I do too... just sometimes.