Some predictions have included an increase in "persecution" (the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another group) prior to the "end of days". There has been no shortage of evidence for this in recent times. In February 2012 police and fire brigade officials descended on the Schack residence in a failed attempt to prosecute fire restriction breaches. At 11 pm on Anzac Day eve police detained a driver in a car registered in the name of "Schack" and issued a warning about the impending registration expiration on the (unroadworthy) car he was driving. In June a "red light" camera on the outskirts of Warrnambool recorded an alleged speeding offence by a driver in a car registered under the name "Schack". In October Queensland police tailed a hire car rented in Port Douglas in the name of "Schack" for 15 ks before breathalysing the driver and conducting a licence check. In November South Australian police detained a citizen identified as "M. Schack"on an alleged jaywalking offence in a street in Adelaide. In December, a driver holding a licence in the name of "M. Schack" was called to the Warrnambool police station to answer an allegations of "leaving the scene of an accident". Systematic? Maybe. Cataclysmic? Certainly.
Let's consider some transformative encounters (ie lessons or experiences that cause a shift in viewpoint). A psychologist specialising in compulsive buying disorder (CBD) and impulse buying syndrome (IBS) was called to examine Michael after he entered Aldi to purchase some fruit and came out with a portable toilet. The diagnosis was not conclusive, but some subsequent purchases raised concerns. The acquisition of an "automotive scratch remover pen" (prompted by a promising TV ad ) resulted in a $200 panel beating bill to "repair the repairs". An E-Bay amplifier purchase turned acrimonious after the device was identified as faulty and the seller seemed unattracted to the concept of refunding the $400. A TV special steam cleaner purchased for a mere $200 failed to perform quite as well as the advertisement suggested but was useful for opening sealed envelopes. Then there was the switch in electricity retailer for a cheaper rate - three days before the rates were raised. A "shift in viewpoint" is not evident as yet.
Depending on where you fall on the optimism scale, a 60th birthday could be considered cataclysmic, but the 10 day celebration Helen enjoyed suggested an alternate perception. Her performance at the family "Charades" night was only surpassed by her appreciation of the digestive system simulation (Cloaca) at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart. Admiration of her new found proficiency with the I-Phone map app was tempered by some imprecision in place-name recall. An attempt to navigate from Hobart to the Southern Tasmanian location of Peppermint Cove descended into chaos as we headed to the Perth suburb of Peppermint Grove.
Cataclysmic domestic events began with a household flood of near Biblical dimensions resulting from a waterpipe fracture. Although the insurance company initially maintained that damage from hookahs was not covered, we were eventually settled (temporarily) in the Lady Bay resort. CGU policy holders may notice an increase in premiums next year due to the room service bill incurred. Other events have included a burn out (a pump, not a hoon incident) and numerous household breakages. At least three vitamiser mixing bowls have had transformative encounters with the tiled floor. More mysterious was a shattered glass door, and forensic investigators at first suspected a drive-by shooting. This was discounted upon the realisation that there was not really anywhere to drive by to, and trajectory measurements were taken to provide an insight. The conclusion was reached that a blender bowl was dropped onto a tiled floor, cannoning a glass projectile into the door panel. A person helping with enquiries eventually confessed.
Depending on your point of view, events such as marriage, house purchases and job appointments could be perceived as either cataclysmic or transformative, and Hannah has experienced them all in one year. Whilst managing to marry Dan and sign up for a significant debt she remarkably dodged the bullets on the battlefield of budget cuts and attained an ongoing position in the Government bureaucracy. We are waiting on confirmation that it is in the Department of Music Festival and Concert tickets.
The South West Auto Re-Cycle and Repair Association has recognised Rebecca's contribution to its members' financial position for 2012. In a remarkable configuration of cataclysmic events she has recycled a Nissan Pulsar, written off a Mitsubishi Verada, dented a Toyota RAV4, blown a head gasket in a Ford Falcon and hit a dog with a Toyota Camry.
William is what one might call a dedicated football fan -- it is worth noting that Josh Klapow, a clinical psychologist at the University of Alabama, points out that there is a big difference between a dedicated fan and a football addict -- and so there has been and always will be only one cataclysmic event for William - Collingwood not winning the Premiership. In 2012 such an event occurred, but it has happened so frequently over the last century that it would be difficult to isolate it as an indicator of the end of the world. As in previous years, he remained unplaced in the nude race at the Meredith Music Festival.
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