We fret about the ferocity of this year’s summer temperatures, reminding ourselves to take care. We grumble about the Centrelink ‘debt’ process and get cheerier as we remember it is birthday time for gay Felipe Rose – the ‘Indian’, founding member of the 70-80’s group ‘The Village People’.

In remembering the birthday of the man who discovered the dangers of DDT, and we chat about the danger of similar new discoveries, & the need for extensive testing of new compounds on animals before being used by humans.  But we note that even when disease-cures are discovered, the use of modern remedies is often limited by costs & our national health schemes – mostly free in Australia, but not in the US.

We honour the life and works of gay Long John Baldry, popular UK blues singer/musician/guitarist in the 60s, mentor in musical matters to Rod Stewart and Elton John (whom he also assisted with his ‘coming-out’ process.

We discuss petroleum, its source and modern uses, the rise of the motor-car & pollution from both cars and the burning of coal, and the transition to renewable resources.

In closing, we promote the forthcoming Midsumma Carnival Day.

Plus some trivia and mirth and much more ..

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Christmas has come and gone; with only New Year’s Eve to come, with a big fireworks bang. And Bah Humbug to New Year Resolutions: – and the celebration of northern hemisphere solstice of the shortest day as being the beginning of the new year – but not for us in the southern ‘hemispherers’.

Among gay identities having anniversaries at this time are J.Edgar Hoover of FBI fame, Sir Nigel Hawthorne the fine actor in BBC TV’s’ Yes Minister’ and Christopher Isherwood – novelist/Cabaret story theme, and singer/actress Marlene Dietrich.

This week we acknowledge the birthdays of Louis Pasteur and his treatment of milk to eliminate the ‘nasties’ – a practice we call ‘pasteurisation’.

Another French man of fame at this time is Louis Braille and his system of raised dots for reading by touch. Our final French remembrance at this time is the 2014 bombing of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine.

Our final saga is about the humble drinking straw.

Plus some trivia and mirth and much more ….

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