Ok well since I wrote about Afghanistan on Monday I will post about their national anthem.
The country has had a number of different national anthems throughout its history as the country has changed governments numerous times mostly resulting from political instability.
In 2004, the new Afghan constitution stated that a new national anthem for the country, requested by the post-Taliban government to signal a new era for Afghanistan, must be written in Pashto and contain the phrase “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great), and mention the names of the ethnic groups in Afghanistan. The winning composition was created by two Afghans living outside the country due to the war.
There has been some criticism of the anthem due to the above stated conditions of composition, that the Pashto requirement places less importance on the other languages spoken in the country; that the phrase “Allahu Akbar” should not be used in the anthem, as it is a sacred phrase in Islam and should not be set to music; and the ethnic groups mentioned in the anthem still do not represent the entire spectrum of nationalities in the country.
On August 15, 2021, the Afghan government fell to the extremist Islamic forces of the Taliban, who effectively controlled the country following that date. The government and its supporters continue to use this anthem in exile.
Here is the English translation
1. This land is Afghanistan It is pride of every Afghan The land of peace, the land of sword Its sons are all braves
2. This is the country of every tribe Land of Baloochs, and Uzbeks Pashtoons, and Hazaras Turkman and Tajiks
3. With them, Arabs and Gojars Pamirian, Nooristanian Barahawi, and Qizilbash Also Aimaq, and Pashaye
4. This Land will shine for ever Like the sun in the blue sky In the chest of Asia It will remain as heart for ever
5. We will follow the one God We all say, Allah is great, we all say, Allah is great, we all say, Allah is great
To wrap up my posts about moneys and apes I am share just a few odd facts about them such as did you know the Tarsier which is a small primate that has enormous eyes that are as large as their brains. In fact they are so large they are unable to move them in their sockets, so instead they can rotate their heads 180 degrees. They are also the only completely carnivorous primate, feasting on insects, lizards, and even small bats.
Spider monkeys and howler monkeys have prehensile tails that are incredibly strong and dexterous. A spider monkey’s tail is often longer than its body and has a unique “fingerprint-like” pattern on the underside for better grip. They can hang entirely by their tails and use them to pick up objects.
The fastest primate is the pata monkey it can run up to 35 miles per hour or 56 kilometres per hour.
The capuchin monkey has been observed crushing up millipedes and rubbing the paste all over their bodies. This serves as a natural bug repellent, as the millipedes release a chemical that repels insects.
Some great apes have been observed using natural remedies. Orangutans, for example, will chew up the leaves of a specific plant and apply the paste to their arms as a soothing balm for sore muscles. Researchers have also seen chimpanzees chewing up insects and applying them to wounds, a behaviour that may be a form of self-medication.
Humans and apes have an appendix, but most monkeys do not. This is one of the small, subtle anatomical differences that separate these two groups of primates.
A monkey’s eyes are rounder and closer together than humans.
Monkey’s do not catch colds.
Male gorillas have patch of silver hair on their backs.
Gorillas walk on all four limbs; this is called knuckle walking.
This week we are looking at the country of Afghanistan, this is a country that for some reason I didn’t think of as being part of Asia, but it is.
It is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, South, and Western Asia. It has a rich and complex history as a hub of diverse cultures and civilizations, but its recent history has been defined by decades of conflict and instability.
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the country has faced a severe humanitarian and economic crisis. The de facto Taliban government has not been formally recognised by most of the international community.
The situation remains volatile and dangerous. The Taliban government is led by Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada. The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) is also active and continues to conduct violent attacks. The country is considered extremely dangerous for travel due to the high threat of terrorist attacks and kidnapping.
The country is experiencing one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Factors contributing to this include economic mismanagement, a significant reduction in international aid, and the departure of many skilled professionals. The country’s GDP has seen a decline since 2021, and poverty and food insecurity are pressing challenges.
The Taliban has reimposed a strict interpretation of Sharia law, leading to severe human rights abuses. These are particularly acute for women and girls, who have been banned from secondary and university education, are largely excluded from public and economic life, and face restrictions on their movement and dress.
The current government is the “interim government” declared by the Taliban. It is a highly centralized system, and many of the human rights gains made over the previous two decades have been reversed.
The Afghan economy has been pushed into a crisis but has shown some signs of a slow recovery driven primarily by agriculture, mining, construction, and commerce. However, challenges remain due to a fragile banking sector, persistent unemployment, and limitations on women’s economic participation. Afghanistan’s economy relies heavily on foreign aid, although this has been significantly reduced since the Taliban’s takeover.
The country has substantial untapped mineral deposits, including lithium, iron, and copper. Traditional exports include dried fruits, nuts, and carpets.
Afghanistan is often referred to as the “graveyard of empires” due to its history of resisting foreign occupation. It has been a crossroads of civilizations for thousands of years, with influences from Persian, Greek, Buddhist, and Islamic empires. The modern state was founded in the 18th century. Since the late 1970s, the country has been mired in continuous warfare, including the Soviet invasion in 1979 and the US-led coalition’s presence from 2001 to 2021.
Afghan culture is a rich tapestry of tribal and ethnic traditions, with a strong emphasis on family, honour, and hospitality. Islam is the official religion and a dominant force in daily life and social customs. The main languages are Dari (Afghan Persian) and Pashto, with many people being fluent in both. Poetry is a highly valued cultural tradition.
The country has numerous historical and archaeological sites, though many have been damaged or destroyed by decades of conflict. The Buddhas of Bamiyan, destroyed by the Taliban in 2001, are one of the most iconic examples of this loss. Efforts are underway by various organizations to preserve Afghanistan’s remaining cultural heritage.
I slept well only woke once to pee at 2am then straight back to sleep, I had 10hrs & 12mins of sleep.
I did a load of washing and hung it out and took the clothes hoists outside. I also vacuumed three times and got Tim to hang a few photos for me.
Thankfully when I went to bring the clothes in at 5pm everything was dried, so I was able to fold the clothes ready to be put away tomorrow.
I also got Tim to give me a haircut it feels much better.
I have managed to stay awake till 7.30pm but now I am done for the day.
Temp at 5.30am 9C or 48F
Temp at 1pm 24C or 75F
Temp at 4pm 22C or 71F
Temp at 7pm 21C or 69F
BGL:5.4
Steps:12,167=6.1klms or 3.7miles
I slept well, woke twice to pee then straight back to sleep, I had 9hrs & 2mins of sleep.
I changed the sheets from winter to summer sheets and I washed the winter ones and hung them on the clothes hoists but didn’t take them outside as they will drag on the dirty ground.
Sue was surprised to find Sam here a d ready to leave when she arrived.
It is very warm and have changed into shorts. I had to get Sam to come down and turn the fan up to high as it was set for low.
Temp at 5.30am 9C or 48F
Temp at 1pm 25C or 77F
Temp at 4pm 26C or 78F
Temp at 7pm 22C or 71F
BGL:5.5
Steps:8,349=4.2klm or 2.6miles
I slept well, woke twice to pee then straight back to sleep, I had 9hrs & 13mins of sleep.
The sheets are dried, and I have folded them and put them away.
I, went to charge the battery in the small blower but I can’t find the charger.
Not as hot today but still pretty warm.
We are in for another hot day.
Temp at 5.30am 14C or 57F
Temp at 1pm 25C or 77F
Temp at 4pm 26C or 78F
Temp at 7pm 22C or 71F
BGL:5.2
Steps: 10,270=5.2klm’s
I slept well, eventually about an hour after going to bed I experienced restless legs. So, I go up and used the powerfit for 10 minutes then back to bed. I fell asleep soon after and didn’t wake till the alarm went off at 5am.
I had 7hrs & 8mins of sleep.
I steam mopped the laundry, kitchen and bathroom floors.
We are in for another hot day.
Tim found me asleep in front of the TV when he got home at 6pm, this is not like me.
Temp at 5.30am 14C or 57F
Temp at 1pm 26C or 78F
Temp at 4pm 22C or 71F
Temp at 7pm 18C or 66F
BGL:5.5
Steps: 11,546=5.8klm or 3.6miles
I slept well, had 7hrs and 41 mins of sleep was awake for only 6 mins and got up only once to pee.
Sam got a lift to school with his mate Ashton she was sitting for her white card and had to be at school before 8.30am. As it is Thursday I don’t have to meet her after school as she goes to Bailey’s place.
Jess bought me a cheeseburger for lunch and hung around talking to me for 1.5hrs, it was great talking to her.
This evening Jessica brought down some steak she cooked as she forgot that Sam wouldn’t be home for tea, so that is what Tim had.
Temp at 5.30am 12C or 53F
Temp at 1pm 22C or 71F
Temp at 4pm 20C or 68F
Temp at 7pm 16C or 60F
BGL:5.3
Steps: 13,275=6.7klm
I slept well, even if my watch says I only had 3hrs and 3 mins of sleep, I know it was longer.
It is another very warm day, Tim sent me a text letting me know it will be around 8pm when he gets home tonight.
After sorting out the medication for the next four weeks, I was left feeling exhausted.
I was going to do the ironing but felt too exhausted to bother with it.
I rode the scooter up to get Sam as I was unable to walk without sliding my feet and felt that was unsafe.
Temp at 5.30am 12C or 53F
Temp at 1pm 26C or 78F
Temp at 4pm 24C or 75F
Temp at 7pm 20C or 68F
BGL:5.9
Steps: 9,518= 4.8klm’s
I slept well, got 6hrs and 22mins sleep it did take me a while to settle into a firm sleep with dosing on and off for a few hours before I feel into a firm sleep.
I am up early this morning as at 4.40am as I woke with a headache and a sore left arm as well as pain in the upper back and chest.
By 1pm I had to turn the air con on while I was ironing the work shirts but by 3pm I was able to turn it off.
I also have another headache this afternoon. I am not fully with it this afternoon.
Sam and Bailey came over and brought Steve a plastic skeleton the size of a toddler he is so cute, I will have to ask for a photo. Seeing Steve cheered me up and made me all excited like a little kid, this amuses Bailey, I think.
Recently I read this book My Story No Way Back by Valerie Wilding it is about the early life of Mary Wade and I found it very interesting.
She was born on the 17 December 1775 and passed away on the 17 December 1859, she was a British teenager and convict who was transported to Australia when she was 12 years old. She was the youngest convict aboard Lady Juliana, which was part of the Second Fleet. Her family grew to include five generations and over 300 descendants in her own lifetime.
It is believed that Mary had at least three siblings all younger than her they were Elizabeth Ann Wade born 5 February 1778, Henrietta born 17 November 1780 and Henry born 1 August 1786, died April 1793.
She spent her days sweeping the streets of London, as a means of begging. On 5 January 1789, Mary, with another child, Jane Whiting, 14 years old, stole clothes (one cotton frock, one linen tippet which is like a shawl and a linen cap) from Mary Phillips, an 8-year-old, who at the time was collecting water in a bottle at a privy. They then sold the frock to a pawnbroker.
Mary was reported to a Police Constable by another child the officer later found the tippet in Mary’s room, whereupon she was arrested and placed in Bridewell Prison. Her trial was held on 14 January 1789 at the Old Bailey, where she was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. However, in April her sentence was commuted to transportation she would spend 93 days in Newgate Prison while waiting for the transportation to take place.
After arriving in New South Wales she was sent to Norfolk Island while there she had three children Sarah in 1793, Edward (born c1795 died c1796) and William (born 1795).
When they arrived back in Sydney, Mary lived with Teague Harrigan, with whom she had another two children: Edward (born c1800 died 1803) and Edward (born 1803), in their tent on the banks of the Tank Stream in Sydney. Teague left to go on a whaling expedition in 1806 and, by 1817, he was living in Tasmania where he was granted land in 1825 and, presumably, never returned to the mainland.
From 1809, Wade lived with a man named Jonathan Brooker who was given a certificate of freedom in February 1811 and was granted 60 acres (24 ha) of land by Governot Macquarie. Mary received her certificate of freedom on 1 September 1812.
Mary married Jonathan Brooker on 10 February 1817 at St Lukes, in Liverpool in NSW. Even though they lost everything and became destitute they pleaded to Governor Brisbane for aid. They recovered, with them owning 62 acres (25 ha) of land in Illawarra by 1828. They lived there until Brookers’ death on 14 March 1833.
Mary died in Wollongong, NSW on 17 December 1859 (her birthday), at the age of 84. Her funeral service was the very first to be held in St Paul’s Church of England, in Fairy Meadow, NSW it was her son who donated the land on which the church was built.
At the time of her death, Mary had over 300 living descendants and is considered one of the founding mothers of the early European settlement of Australia. Her descendants now number in the tens of thousands, including Kevin Rudd a former Prime Minister.
In 2017, the NSW Government named the Mary Wade Correction Centre, a remand centre for women, in her honour.
Ok this week we are looking still at primates but the ones we generally think of as being much larger. Those being apes which belong to different families and have key differences in their physical characteristics, behaviour, and evolutionary lineage.
There are 20 species of apes the smallest is the Gibbon with the gorilla being the largest.
The physical differences are such an ape’s tail is one straightforward way to tell them apart, what is the main difference apes do not have tails, generally speaking,
Apes are generally larger and have a more robust build than monkeys. Apes have a broader chest, a larger brain-to-body size ratio, and more mobile shoulder joints that allow them to swing through trees (a form of locomotion called brachiation). Monkeys are typically smaller, with a narrower chest, and are better suited for running and leaping on top of branches.
When it comes to movement monkeys are mostly quadrupedal, meaning they walk on all four limbs, often running along branches. Apes, because of their broad chest and flexible shoulders, can walk upright for short distances, and many are known for knuckle-walking.
When it comes to facial features, Apes often have flatter faces with a wide range of expressive features, which allows for complex social communication. Monkeys tend to have longer snouts and less expressive faces.
Apes are generally considered more intelligent than monkeys. They have larger brains and exhibit more complex cognitive abilities, including problem-solving, abstract thinking, and self-awareness (many can recognize themselves in a mirror).
Both monkeys and apes are highly social, but apes tend to have more complex social structures with hierarchies and alliances. Great apes also form strong family units and display a high degree of empathy and social learning.
They usually have a longer lifespan then a monkey and usually only have one baby at a time.
Some people find it hard to get their head around the fact that chimpanzees are not monkeys but are part of the ape family.
Now days China is ruled as a unitary one-party state by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP holds a monopoly on political power and its authority is embedded in all aspects of government and society.
The constitution of the People’s Republic of China explicitly states that the country is under the leadership of the CCP. The party’s institutions overlap with government bodies at every level, from the national government to local villages.
The General Secretary of the CCP, currently Xi Jinping, holds the ultimate power and authority over the state and the military. While he also holds the titles of President of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, his power is primarily derived from his position as head of the party.
The State Council is the chief administrative authority of the government. Led by the Premier, it is responsible for implementing the policies and directives set forth by the CCP. While it is the highest organ of state administration, it is subservient to the party’s leadership.
The National People’s Congress (NPC) is constitutionally the “highest organ of state power.” However, in practice, it functions as a rubber-stamp legislature that approves decisions already made by the CCP leadership. The CCP controls a two-thirds majority of the seats, and all elections are tightly controlled by the party.
Unlike many Western democracies, China’s political system does not have a separation of powers. The party’s authority is integrated into all state organs, including the government, military, and judicial system. The judiciary is not independent and serves to enforce the party’s will.
Or to put it simply, the Chinese Communist Party is the central and all-encompassing force that governs China, with all other state institutions operating under its control and direction. Like anyone didn’t already know this.
Jo-AnneRamplings 