CABG surgery minus one day

This afternoon at 2 p.m. I’m being admitted to hospital. Currently my world’s small. Focused in on myself. Which isn’t something I relish. But I suppose in the circumstances it’s inevitable. Beyond my solipsism, today’s Mother’s Day in Australia. So I’m especially thinking of my own mum, and the nearest and dearest mums to me. Not least Sweetheart Vivienne – who’s one of the best. Today’s also the first post Bin Laden Sunday. I can’t help but think our little planet’s a tad better off for that fact. Otherwise all else continues: football matches, political intrigue, celebrity worship, global warming, and more. Including the federal budget next Tuesday evening. But for me, it’s hospital. Speaking of which, I know that while hospitals are necessary institutions, it’s best to be a patient in one for as short a time as possible. Which is my aim in the days ahead. I don’t know when my next Farmdoc’s Blog post will go up. Hopefully soon. Stay tuned, folks.

Davids and Goliaths

Since I was a nipper it’s captivated me. The biblical story of David and Goliath, that is [1]. In which the underdog little guy knocking over the top dog big guy. Even ignoring its religious versus pagan connotations, it’s a romantic tale. And allegorical too. With David, well equipped with slingshot and lithely unencumbered by armour, more than a match for his opponent. The allegory’s modern day descendant’s asymmetric warfare [2]– wherein the ‘weaker’ combatant uses strategy to offset its resource deficiency. In the 8¾ years since 9/11, no-one – including the USA with its mighty resources – has captured or killed Osama Bin Laden despite a US$25M bounty. So whatever’s been done has failed. Enter Gary Brooks Faulker (pictured) [3], a Colorado carpenter. Last Tuesday Brooks – carrying a pistol, a sword, night-vision gear, Christian religious books and hashish – was arrested by police in Pakistan who said he was on a 1-man mission to personally hunt down and kill Bin Laden. I don’t know why he was arrested. An Age article [4] lampoons Faulkner, but the NYT takes him more seriously [5]. Me? I can’t find any evidence his mission wouldn’t have succeeded. Except that maybe Bin Laden’s in Iran and not Pakistan or Afghanistan [6]. But perhaps an unarrested Faulkner would’ve become a modern day David. And if so, wouldn’t that be delicious – for him to have slain Bin Laden who positions himself as a jihadist David.