Aussie SlangFrom Kel Credit phb OZWORD OF THE DAY: Author is Kel (not me): Quoted from my Mailbox: Yesterday I mentioned a mystery novel called Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent, who is (more or less) England’s version of Kel Richards. In other words, she is a popular language journalist.  In Guilty by Definition, she has set the mystery in a fictional dictionary office in Oxford. She calls this dictionary the Clarendon English Dictionary (the CED) presumably to avoid being sued by the Oxford English Dictionary (the OED).  Yesterday I focussed on the rare, obscure or obsolete words she uses as chapter headwords. But what about the book? Is it something that a wordie such as you would enjoy? Yes. I have no hesitation in recommending it.  It is full of language and word puzzles, and for us word wizards it is great fun at that level. But it is also a first-class detective novel.  You know that whether a detective novel works, or not, all depends on the conclusion—the way it is all wrapped up in the end, and how the puzzles and mysteries are solved. If that is satisfactory, the whole book is satisfactory. And the end of Guilty of Definitionworks brilliantly at that level.  There are enough twists and surprises, and the loose ends are all tied up neatly enough, to make a detective novel reader (such as me) delighted. So, well…

This post is about Education and Adventure and Navigation and Orientation Created and written by Author and Blogger Peter Hanns Bloecker, retired Educator at the Gold Coast in QLD Australia. Ocean and sailing and Ulysses. Inspired by Ocean Walking plus reading and writing. Walter Benjamin James Joyce Handwriting and more Widening Horizons Through Education In the age of digital screens and touchpads, the art of handwriting may seem like an ancient relic. Yet, its value in education, especially in fields as specialized as navigation and sailing, remains undeniable. Handwriting isn't merely about forming letters; it's a cognitive process that involves memory, comprehension, and engagement. It’s an indispensable skill that anchors us to traditional methods of learning, much like how sailors rely on their understanding of the stars and the sea. Handwriting: A Cognitive Catalyst Handwriting enhances learning by engaging multiple senses. The physical act of writing activates neural pathways associated with memory and comprehension. For aspiring navigators and sailors, this means that jotting down coordinates, sketching maps, and noting weather patterns are not just clerical tasks—they are cognitive exercises that solidify knowledge and prepare them for the unpredictable nature of the sea. Navigational Mastery Through Practice Navigation, whether by ancient stars or modern GPS, is a skill that demands precision and wisdom. Master navigators often keep detailed logbooks, hand-drawn charts, and personal notes. These handwritten records serve not only as practical…

Sydney and NSW, Brisbane and Queensland 1 Hour later: https://videopress.com/v/SQf4RNSY?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Dateline in Sydney and Auckland As the clock ticks down to the start of 2025, Sydney and Auckland are among the first major cities in the world to welcome the new year. With just 36 minutes to go in sydney and NSW, the anticipation builds, and the dateline becomes a focal point of this countdown as the years are passing by. The Dateline's Role The dateline is an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole and demarcates the change of one calendar day to the next, and it holds special significance on the last day of each year. As the world moves across this line, different time zones experience the arrival of the new year at different moments. Sydney, located in the Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) zone, and Auckland, in the New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT) zone, will be among the first to ring in 2025, but not at the same time. The world was watching at the end of 1999, but today the Time Zones are not a focus in a every country, and many people never heard about the Dateline at all. Celebrating in Sydney In Sydney, the countdown to 2025 is more than just a moment—it's a spectacular celebration of community and hope. As the clock strikes midnight in about 30 minutes,…