I read the news today, oh boy!

[Ruby]

This really boggles the brain - ridiculous - https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/...20millions

[Jerome]

South Africa is shot for sure. And it isn't coming back. I have spent quite a bit of time this weekend going through the papers/media/social media accounts etc. Chaos reigns supreme. It's a wonder that the country is operating at all. Just like Zim, a once prosperous nation reduced to rubble by corruption. People are too lazy to even check qualifications when hiring someone for a position. That's why you end up in the situation Ruby's post mentions.

The comment that really makes one think - Montana says “It’s really unfortunate that South Africans equate academic qualification with competence to do the job."

Tell you what 'Lucky' - the next time you go in for brain surgery, which you are clearly in need of, we'll send in a carpenter. Don't know if he's really a qualified carpenter but hey qualifications aren't really necessary are they!

[CRAZY-HORSE]

theres been an exodus of qualified professionals from SA to Australia, and Perth in particular, over the last 20 or so years, many of those I have spoken to vow to never set foot in their homeland again no matter what life throws their way abroad, so yeah, I totally hear what you guys are saying as ive heard it a lot.

[Jerome]

And on another hysterical, gender-neutral, politically correct point - the makers of Barbie dolls have now made a gender-neutral doll. This planet is well and truly screwed. Hey wait, maybe that's the solution to overpopulation. Humankind will stop procreating because they won't know what to do with their fiddly bits. I can forsee a future where you will one day order your child like a take-out meal. Come to think of it you already can. You can look at a menu in a fertility clinic and pick out your future son or daughter based on the father/mother's appearance. Mad stuff.

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theres been an exodus of qualified professionals from SA to Australia, and Perth in particular, over the last 20 or so years, many of those I have spoken to vow to never set foot in their homeland again no matter what life throws their way abroad, so yeah, I totally hear what you guys are saying as ive heard it a lot.

Not sure if the figures are accurate or not CH but I saw an article some time ago saying that 3 million have left SA in the last 7 years. And on another point - sounds a bit far-fetched to me but who knows - an article stating that 11 million have arrived in SA from other African states since the government changed hands. 

I have been back to SA about 7 or 8 times since I left to see family etc. If it wasn't for them not too sure I would go back at all. Some places I miss for sure but the country is rapidly falling apart. Such a bloody shame. It was a fantastic place to grow up in but you would not dare raise a child in that society now.

[Jerome]

Finally!!! An autobiography on the electronic genius Jean Michel Jarre. Been waiting for someone to put this together for years. I am sure it will be a fascinating read. Initially only available in French I believe but pretty sure it will be translated.

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So CH is getting the Beatles boxset for Xmas, I am getting JMJ's biography for myself. What do SteveO, Ruby and MH want for Xmas? No Ruby you can't have my body - I am past my sell-by-date! Answers in writing to jerome@auralscapes.com

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Sometimes life throws up some really nice surprises - great story!
https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/world/hom...spartandhp

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Ooh shit - forgot to add the link to the JMJ book - here it is - https://www.lisez.com/livre-grand-format...2019_10_03

[CRAZY-HORSE]

speaking of busking...

Paul McCartney donned a disguise back in the early 1980s and busked at a Tube Station reimagining Beatle tunes as a dare/bet...
no one recognised him and he only earned a couple of quid for the hour he busked...LOL

Ray Davies of The Kinks busked at Waterloo Station in the mid to late 80s (1987 comes to mind??), he failed to make much money also...

on the JMJ, that is something I would read purely for the fact its a biography but not in French, I have forgotten just about all of that language I learned in school in the UK before moving to AU many moons ago... (forgot most of the German I learned also, but I can still count to 100 in that language for some stupid reason!)...

[Jerome]

Celine Dion doing a couple of concerts in Ireland. Have no interest in her music whatsoever but for those that do it's going to set you back 400 euro per head - total rip off.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

ABBEY ROAD debuts at #1 on the UK charts on re-issue this week

https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-new...rd__27444/

[Ruby]

Finally!!! An autobiography on the electronic genius Jean Michel Jarre. Been waiting for someone to put this together for years. I am sure it will be a fascinating read. Initially only available in French I believe but pretty sure it will be translated.

---

So CH is getting the Beatles boxset for Xmas, I am getting JMJ's biography for myself. What do SteveO, Ruby and MH want for Xmas? No Ruby you can't have my body - I am past my sell-by-date! Answers in writing to jerome@auralscapes.com

---

Sometimes life throws up some really nice surprises - great story!
https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/world/hom...spartandhp

---

Ooh shit - forgot to add the link to the JMJ book - here it is - https://www.lisez.com/livre-grand-format...2019_10_03

Aw too bad! I will just have to continue lusting after MK's errr ... cute little guitar package. Lol!!

I keep seeing the Phil Collins memoir in various places - Not Dead Yet. Anyone read it?

[CRAZY-HORSE]

LOL MK's guitar package...