Since I returned back to Australia, there have been many things that I have felt were quite different to what I remembered as a child and a young adult.... and many things that I felt were quite different to my more recent experiences in Europe.

It is quite hard to really put a finger on what it is that is different... things evolve... places and societies, and more likely than not... myself. I guess that what I find most different is how much we have taken onboard from our American cousins... lots of things that I just don't like, from all sides of the political and social spectrum.

I can't really name everything... but it is just prevalent everywhere... from big cars and big barbeques... through to mannerisms and social norms.

However, as I was walking around in Sydney today... after dumping my car and taking public transport to my rehearsal... I was struck by something that just seemed to symbolise everything that I was finding distasteful about contemporary Australia.

Fences and gates... now, it just seems on the face of things to be just a stupid observation. But I do remember that fences and gates were much LESS common than what I see now. My kids school had no gates and no fence when I arrived... but soon afterwards, the school caved to demands from parents... something about safety and all of that load of crap.

... and that is the mentality that I've sort of not liked. This "protect" mentality... a sort of us and them sort of thing. And this sort of idea is quite prevalent on both sides of the political spectrum... and is something more pervasive... a desire to protect what is yours, and to keep out "undesirable" elements. But at what cost?

Anyway, fences at schools in the Netherlands wasn't a thing... well, the American and British schools had them... but they were roundly laughed at. But here... I see these things everywhere... is the world truly more dangerous, or are we more scared?

I can also be found cross-posting at:
Hive
Steem
Publish0x

Handy Crypto Tools

Ledger Nano S/X: Keep your crypto safe and offline with the leading hardware wallet provider. Not your keys, not your crypto!
Coinbase Wallet: Multi chain wallet with lots of opportunities to Learn and Earn!
Binance: My first choice of centralised exchange, featuring a wide variety of crypto and savings products.
WooX: The centralised version of WooFi. Stake WOO for fee-free trades and free withdrawals! This link also gives you back 25% of the commission.
GMX.io: Decentralised perpetual futures trading on Arbitrum!
Coinbase: If you need a regulated and safe environment to trade, this is the first exchange for most newcomers!
Crypto.com: Mixed feelings, but they have the BEST looking VISA debit card in existence! Seriously, it is beautiful!
CoinList: Access to early investor and crowdsale of vetted and reserached projects.
Cointracking: Automated or manual tracking of crypto for accounting and taxation reports.
KuCoin: I still use this exchange to take part in the Spotlight and Burning Drop launches.
MEXC: Accepts HIVE, and trades in most poopcoins! Join the casino!
ByBit: Leverage and spot trading, next Binance?
OkX: Again, another Binance contender?