This is the first part of a dispatch originally published on 8 November 2010. (Google Translate may help if it look Greek to you)
Γεια σας φίλοι μου, μια ωραία ημέρα του,
Granite is a crystalline rock believed to have formed as a result of mega-convection cells in the earth’s mantle. Like convection in a pan of heated water, but on a much much larger scale and much much slower. As the body of molten rock rises- like one of those lava lamps- surrounding rocks are absorbed into it. As the molten mega-bubble rises it begins to cool. Crystals are formed, their eventual size depending on the rate of cooling. Near the “contact zone” chunks of rock that have not been fully molten and absorbed end up having a much finer grain size. These are known as xenoliths (Greek= foreign rocks).
If through movements in the earth’s crust the granite “dome” reaches the surface, it is subjected to weathering and erosion. Mainly water and oxygen in the atmosphere begin to break down and alter the rocks. Quartz crystals end up as sand, feldspars end up as clay minerals etc. Xenoliths are more susceptible to weathering than granite. Xenoliths end up as hollows at the surface. They end up as water holes.
North of Yuendumu there is a hill that white pioneers in a fit of extraordinary imagination called “Rock Hill”. This is Wakurlpa, which consists of granite. On Wakurlpa there are two parallel narrow wanari (water holes), they are the handle of a kuriji (shield).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPqrTaVXJhI
One of the reasons I studied geology is that it would give me the chance to travel to foreign places. I’m a self confessed xenophile.
English Spell-check does not recognise xenophilia, but has no problem with xenophobia or necrophilia. Fancy that.
On 4th.November, The Australian published an article headed “Exiled group of Aborigines to leave damage”. It included the following:
“…Chief Superintendent Fred Trueman confirmed a number plate had been stolen and another car damaged.
“There is no evidence to suggest that anyone >from the Yuendumu group is involved,” Chief Superintendent Trueman said.
Despite the Yuendumu people staying in a block surrounded by cyclone fencing, staff have raised concerns about catching scabies and head lice from the children.”To ensure (police) staff and recruits did not contract these conditions, (police) took the precautionary measure of establishing a separate mess hall for those from Yuendumu,” he said….”
It is my understanding that the children often go swimming at the nearby beach. The police staff are scabiephobes and headlicephobes. Head lice and scabies are saltwaterphobes.
I recall comedian Alexi Sales talking about personalised numberplates. He thought they were a bit of a wank. The plates were rather expensive, so he could not afford a set. Instead he changed his name by deed-poll. He changed it to GMX-427.
I can’t recall any Warlpiri Yuendumu people suffering from numberplatephilia.
A co-author of the article in the Australian rang me, I guess to see if I would give her some more scintillating information to titillate her audience with. When she mentioned “the riot”, I said I objected to her calling it that. A “riot” brings to mind uncontrolled anarchy; what happened in Yuendumu quite clearly was not. She got defensive: “The police are calling it a riot. People have been charged with rioting. What are journalists meant to do?” she repeated it, like some Indonesian plurals. I thought of several suggestions, but bit my tongue.
Colin Powell told the UN that Iraq had chemical factories on the back of trucks. What were journalists meant to do?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYBA9JD5oW4
Mal Brough told us that there were paedophile rings on Aboriginal communities. What were journalists meant to do?
I’m telling you the cow jumped over the moon. What are journalists meant to do?