READERS WRITE

 

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Tim B from the U S of A sent an email in response to the post on Anzac Day:

Evening Otto,

I enjoyed reading about ANZAC day and especially that the young folks are participating and remembering what it is all about. I hate to say it, but Memorial Day here in the states is becoming to the young folks just another holiday, one that marks the beginning of summer.

I hope that your ANZAC day was peaceful and one filled with gratitude for your service members.

Tim B

Thanks Tim.

By the way #1:

Tim’s email raises an interesting point: Is it ANZAC Day or Anzac Day? I have seen it written both ways.

The following is from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website:

There is no rule or law that indicates how the word 'Anzac' should be capitalised. For example, DVA only uses 'ANZAC' when referencing the Corps itself and uses 'Anzac' in all other circumstances; the Australian War Memorial (AWM) generally uses 'ANZAC', given its focus on historical records and memorabilia.

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.dva.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/about%20dva/recognition/guidelines-use-of-the-word-anzac.pdf 

According to Anzac Websites:

Basic advice

In short, use Anzac, not ANZAC - unless you are specifically referring to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps as an army formation, ie to the corps itself, in which case use ANZAC.

For the day of commemoration, use Anzac Day.

http://www.anzacwebsites.com/general/anzac-capitals.htm

By the way #2:

An article in the Daily Mail yesterday drew attention to what I have been saying for years: it is not appropriate to wish people “Happy Anzac Day”, even if is a public holiday. You wouldn’t wish someone going to a funeral of a loved one to have a happy last rites. For the same reason, “commemorate” is a better word than “celebrate”, as is “observed”.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12009123/Anzac-Day-2023-Australians-avoid-saying.html

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From Byter Sandy J:

Couldn’t resist taking a pic of your name on a wall in Brugge. We’re in a beautiful city.

Sandy

 

Thanks Sandy.

Hey Sandy, something to remember when you fly back to Australia . . . .

A Lufthansa pilot landed his AirBus A320 at London's Heathrow Airport. An operations manager saw him deplaning and asked him if he had any trouble landing the plane since it was a bit windy.

"Nein," the pilot answered, "I let Otto land the plane."

"Otto? Is that your co-pilot?"

"Nein, my co-pilot was Frederick, and I would not trust my life with him, or my passengers."

Startled, the Ops guy asked, "So, then who is Otto?"

"Otto-pilot, perfect landing every time."

(Boom, boom tsh)

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From Steve M, himself an author, in response to the post on the passing of Barry Humphries:

Thanks for the Bazza post, Otto. The man was a complete comic genius and author, witty, satirical, acerbic and totally without fear. He dealt with subjects that those who now follow him fear… oh how the times have changed that we can no longer laugh at our own absurdities and foibles. I met Humphries once at one of his book signings – a wonderful lunch followed by him talking without notes for in excess of an hour then sitting behind a desk posing for photos and signing books for hero worshippers such as yours truly, for in excess of another two hours.

After I read his autobiography I was struck by his desire for anonymity in his private life. He stated that he was fed up with people approaching him in public with the opening line “You don’t know me from a bar of soap”. Three weeks later and there I was in Sydney airport, and obviously wishing to remain incognito and anonymous, I see Barry Humphries (as himself) wearing a flowing black cape with a red lining and carrying a cane as he strode through the arrivals terminal to collect his son. Without fear I approached the great man and stuck out my right hand, which he shook, and I said “Mr Humphries, I just finished your autobiography and you don’t know me from a bar of soap, but…” He laughed as I introduced myself and he was most charming.

In 100 years, Barry Humphries will be respected and revered in the same way that Charlie Chaplin is today. He was a ground breaking, eccentric genius that we are all honoured to call Australia’s best and we are privileged to have lived during his reign, which will continue forever.

Vale Barry Humphries.

Steve m.

Thanks Steve.

By the way, a Barry Humphries quote:

“Australia is an outdoor country. People only go inside to use the toilet. And that's only a recent development.”

- Barry Humphries

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Steve M had also sent me an email earlier in response to the post about Salvador Avarenga, who spent 14 months adrift on a small boat in the Pacific Ocean beginning on November 17, 2012. Day in, day out, no food or water except what he could obtain or produce, endless ocean stretching out to the horizon, nothing to break the monotony of each day’s sameness and extreme solitude. It’s not hard to believe that insanity could be the outcome, but he survived and was well.

From Steve:

Loved the story about Salvador Arenga Otto.

The human spirit is amazing at times and the strength that some people find during times of great duress is inspirational.

May thanks

Steve m

Amen to that, Steve.

I can tell you from personal experience that once I had to go for 2 days without internet – no emails, no internet, no mobile phone use – but the strength of the human spirit got me through it.