The Biggest Loser Finale 2008

All my fatties are gone now! They are all thin!! How impressive were they? I was staggered. It was so fantastic to watch my fatties come out as thin people with such big smiles, such a lot of confidence and a balanced view of life. They looked happy , healthy and well...and Sam pipped Alison to the post, so the women could do it. They just need to be a bit more organised at the start and it's an advantage to have weight to lose at the end.Sam looked so cute and so lovely and he will maybe become the personal trainer he thought of becoming. In any case he may well be the one to get through to people like himself and Michelle . All those young ones trapped in their bulk. He will have a chance now to be young and happy...and normal. He was not able to be normal. But what about Sean? He looked so young and boy, did he ever shape up and turn on the Mr. Cool. What a stupendous effort and thank heavens because he was so close to doing some really serious damage to himself and his family. He looks so young now. John too. There is no doubt weight is aging. Alison looked transformed and will hopefully renew her faith in herself now she is a yummy mummy! Sheridan too looked so happy and well. She seems to have lost her demons as well as her weight and can move on beyond the girl who was straight jacketing herself. An impressive line up and even Steven and Rachel ,who are doddling along, are getting there and if they have another year like this one, they'll be much thinner and they'll be even happier. Truly, a very positive show and I hope to hear from Sam because he really didn't get a chance to say anything and this end he is a really popular winner. So many people are pleased to see a young person like him beat that massive eight problem and come out on top . Bryce looked really well and it's great to know he has totally loosened up and dedicated himself to a happy , healthy lifestyle. All the trainers have done well because they have created such strong winners this year. They are mentally stronger and physically well. That was a pretty big achievement from all the trainers and the show. It may have gone down an odd road at times but the upshot is this year's lot were pretty game and they have turned out to be really quite stable in the end. The proof is down the track, I know, but given it's the third season there is a big network now where people can get encouragement and help. It'll broaden and widen because these people will influence others...and we may well get so many more Australians back on track. It was a lovely, homely show but the contestants were startling and mostly very unassuming and grateful. I think their appreciation of what had taken place in their lives thanks to the biggest loser, was very touching...and well done , Sam. Well done.Now I've got no fatties to watch. Now what am I going to do? It was just so great watching people like Debs reconstruct themselves into confident, cheerful , sassy charmers!

Passengers vent fury on trams

Passengers vent fury on trams: "Dr McFetridge said the Government must fix the service's airconditioning after The Advertiser revealed that a number of passengers fainted yesterday morning because of the stifling conditions inside the peak-hour trams."

Enough of us have travelled elsewhere to know you can have good public transport and we have reached our limit. The roadworks all around Adelaide are slowing us down and driving us crazy in cars. The buses have been arriving late, early or driving straight past us. The trains aren't up to scratch...well they are...we are fed up with great views and scratched windows...and the trams are insufficient for our needs. We want to save carbon. We want to save energy and we want to avoid the ongoing constant mess of roadworks and rebuilding. We have reached that point where things had better change for the better. Enough is enough. We are getting more people here and we just don't have the systems to cope and the rebuilding is just adding to the pressure.

Man fronts court over superglue prank

Man fronts court over superglue prank : "The recipient of the glue prank was deaf for up to 12 weeks and had to undergo $8,000 worth of medical treatment."

Prank? I don't think so. I think the poor man needs to be given a lot of support and help to be able to recover from being treated like that. Why don't people think? That is just awful and I don't understand why the person thought this was a joke/prank whatever he thought it was. Clearly he needs a lot of help too.

Public service struggling to fill vacancies

Public service struggling to fill vacancies : "While graduate recruitment programs remain strong, 88 per cent of agencies surveyed by the Australian National Audit Office reported having difficulties filling vacancies"

Perhaps because they do group interviews. Perhaps because they do not look at what really is on offer. Perhaps they will not give people with degrees and accolades a chance because they haven't worked before because they have been busy acquiring knowledge and skills which could be used at a high level were they to be given a chance. Two potentials I know are working at KFC with a first class law degree and the other has university prizes and two degrees and a diploma and is at Coles because they were the companies prepared to encourage them and take them on.

Protesting taxi drivers block Melbourne street

Protesting taxi drivers block Melbourne street after stabbing: "Earlier Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said a trial of the security screens was underway, but not all drivers were happy with them."

Well, maybe at this stage, something is better than nothing and maybe the taxi drivers can be the ones to decide whether they want what is on offer at this stage or not. If it were you, what would you decide? We do have some extreme behaviour and it is violent. It is not most of us. It is a few of us but the damage these few people can cause: the fear, the terror and ultimately the cost to us as a community is far too high. I think we deal with is as best we can because obviously the taxi drivers are really on edge and pushed to their limit. Let's get in behind them ...and be safe passengers!

Wanted: A stranger to save this boy’s life

Wanted: A stranger to save this boy’s life : "Mrs Lilburne said she was now appealing for more West Australians to register. “We are relying on the goodness of a stranger to offer their bone marrow to save our son’s life,” she said. “Ultimately we might not be able to help Ryan but we might be able to help someone else (who needs a transplant).”"

This boy has leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant. They do not have a match. He's 15. So how easy is it to register as a bone marrow donor? What does that mean and how is it done? We know how to give blood and we have been reluctant to do that. Do we have an easy way of giving bone marrow? He will not be the only one who is in need of a bone marrow transplant. The article has contact details for Perth if you want to help.

New laws to target predatory pricing

New laws to target predatory pricing : "'The devil will be in the detail, but on the face of it, it would seem reasonably sound,' he said."

True enough, but it is a start and hopefully a good one. Monopolies do cut competition. Death of competition means you do not get the best products and services. You get what is there. I'd like to think a product has the right to survive if it is a good product. Then there is the more serious issue of livelihoods lost. I know we have to change. I know life is about changes. We don't really want to be living in th last millennium and lots of different things drive change. monopolies can bring about fast and sudden change and it isn't always for the better. The changes in the laws ought to bring out information which we can use to benefit customers, producers and businesses.We do have to see what happens and we do need to see if these changes are helpful or unhelpful. We are at least looking at an issue which affects us all.

Extreme Weather

Extreme weather is here to stay: "'I've been in this game for 20 years, and I can't recall a longer period of sustained weather patterns, of various kinds.'"

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! We want our seasons back. We want proper weather back. We have been drenched and frozen. One minute boiled to pieces and the next one shivering and shaking. Oh yes, we need the rain. The article is right...we get long weather attacks. It's not just nice and the rain just falls out of the heaven. It's not raining. It's either precipitation or it's this bloomin' deluge. The sun is like a microwave and is far too hot and biting. The winds are too strong , quite often come from the wrong direction and whip. So we have these pressure zones which can just hold things at bay and we have a day like today which was wet and then warm and then bloomin' freezing. We keep all our clothes out because one minute you are too hot and then you are too cold. We want proper weather.

The mobile future is calling

The mobile future is calling: "'The mobile web is not just about accessing the web from your phone,' he said 'Mobile phones that are location aware, temporarily situated and socially connected will transform our experience of the web, the world and ourselves.'"

Can't wait. If it is all about time and place and we are talking easy web access...I am sure workplaces and schools are in for a lot of fun...not to mention the innocent commuter. Who knows what people will be accessing and where and what they will divert themselves into while they are supposed to be learning, working or merely travelling. Mobile phones are already a source of way too much information verbally. Add the visual too much information and I just cannot wait.

The oil situation is bad

If you think the oil situation is bad, worse is to come : "'This is the market signalling there is a problem, that there is a growing difficulty to meet demand with new supplies,' said UBS global oil economist Jan Stuart."

Isn't oil a limited resource? I know they have been saying that for quite some time with no sign of a real alternative and in the meantime we pay at the pump and the bank accounts swell. The biofuels have caused consternation because they are affecting food supply. One way not to have biofuels because we didn't think that one through properly and we haven't come up with a solution. Bleating is not going to work. We need a new millennium fuel and we need new millennium cars. Oil is so last millennium and the price is making it a mug's choice.

The way the world can feed itself

The way the world can feed itself : "“Large swathes of Africa could be used far more productively if properly managed by large companies. To contain the rise in food prices we need more globalisation, not less.”"

This article points out a different way of dealing with
the food shortages. It suggests looking into the global market and fixing it on a global level. It looks also at our unchecked population growth . This is something we haven't factored into the food costs and prices. We have a lot more people and we are going to have a lot more people but they will not be eating if we don't solve this problem. I still say local because you are in control of it. Global companies which collapse, go bust or go into implementation dips...like supplying Hong Kong with Vegemite, will be risky in my opinion. We need to talk and we need to think...and we need to keep coming up with the ideas.

Food bills set to soar 50pc

Food bills set to soar 50pc: "On top of that, soaring fuel and energy prices will push up the cost of food production, transportation and distribution."

Good argument for local. Good argument for creating smaller concerns which can come up with the goods and a good argument for remaining flexible in our thinking and diet. In terms of global warming or icing ,whatever they want it to be called, then local produce costs less in terms of carbon and carrying. We used to have local shops which gave us local food and it was like that FOREVA. So then we got the supermarket monopolies as we got the paddle steamer monopolies and suddenly local wasn't good enough and the bottom line? Local was stamped out. It has happened time and time again and we just don't learn. Monopolies get rid of the competition, but the competition is local and can provide you with what you need....and they are sustainable if you get rid of the monopoly competition! We are going to have to have a long hard think and we are going to have to think about looking after ourselves and we might even have to think about keeping it simple.

City's long dry spell broken

City's long dry spell broken : "A BOM spokesman said the last time the city received any 'significant'' rain such as this was last December."

I know , it's wet out there and cold! It has rained quite a bit over the last two days and it's rather a novel experience. It hasn't sent us running indoors. It means we can plant, we can get rid of the rest of the burnt up gardens and we can dig!! I have been digging! The rain has not penetrated far but the plants are so happy and the birds are back chirping away. My little honey eater is back at the window again ( bottom left). It's so cute. It has made us race for the cooking pots though to brew up soups, pasta sauces and casseroles and bread and sausages have been marching out the shops. It's all good. Luckily we had had a chance to recuperate from the heat and then prepare the houses for winter. So we are set to go now! May the reservoirs fill and the rivers run...poor Goolwa.

Australian links in honour killing of Pela Atroshi

Australian links in honour killing of Pela Atroshi : "The UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Yakin Erturk, in a report last year to the Human Rights Council, said she had been told that a 'family council of male relatives living in Sweden and Australia decided that Pela had to die to cleanse the family honour'."

Another woman dead for no good reason. This is something we can do something about. The incredible international networking to solve this crime didn't help the girl but incredible international networking to stop this sort of behaviour because we are in 2008 will work. Originally the behaviour may have been to do with some kind of tribal survival technique. A lot of intolerable behaviour does have a historical sense about it when put in context. This girl was part of this millennium. We can change this. We can publicise, talk, look, open our eyes and do something about it...so it doesn't turn into balcony suicides as in Sweden.

Tim Winton draws breath from a reckless youth

Tim Winton draws breath from a reckless youth : "TIM WINTON will not be holding his breath for the publication next week of his first novel for seven years. That is probably because there are enough people in the book doing it for him."

It'll take off. Just as Dirt Music did. Tim Winton has grown into one of our best authors because he understands our pain, he understands the malaise which is running through us and he understands how Australia can make you strong and weak all at once. I have just finished a book of short stories,The Turning. There is one on domestic violence which pulls no punches ( pardon the pun) and it cuts right to the quick because you understand how easily it happens, how messed up everyone is and then how brutal and relentless it is in its impact. Some of his stories are not for the faint hearted because he really does get inside people's skin and it's not always pleasant there but it does help you realise that these are people you recognise. The depression in Australia has to do with our land and us. There's uplifting stuff too. Tim Winton grabs us and takes us on a journey of self discovery and I cannot believe this is the guy of Lockie Leonard fame. He is such a great writer now and as a keeper of australiana we couldn't have any one better. No,he won't be bothered about his new book. He'll know he needs a rest now and the book will sink or swim according to our whim...but I think it'll go great guns.

So you think you can dance?

Final steps in show for nice guys finalists - the funk/hip-hop dancer Jack Chambers, 19; the contemporary jazz dancer Rhys Bobridge, 26; the jazz dancer Kate Wormald, 29; and the street/hip-hop dancer Demi Sorono, 28 - is expected to attract close to 2 million viewers."

It's a show that got me in. It was so wonderful to see such talent and then to hear people who ought to know taking the time and effort to strengthen and build this talent into something which is now quite spectacular. I have no idea who will win. They are all clever in their own ways and all capable of going such a long way. They have listened and learned. They have taken the challenges seriously and given their best and for these 4 , they will grow beyond this I should think. The judges have been direct, enthusiastic and honest. They have encouraged, been cut to pieces, fronted up to the tough and awful decisions which have had to come and the compère has been a part of that too. She has softened the blow and been so positive and encouraging. I don't want to see people knocked down and I don't want to see more crap when the world has currently plenty on offer. Dancing is the stuff of dreams. Young ones will be watching it so transported and oldies will be watching it taken back to the glitter and glam of their youth. The rest of us are having a grand time because the show makes you work as a viewer. You have to embrace different styles and you have to look at what the contestants are being asked to do...and in the end, you are in thrall because it is just such a good thing to see young people being picked up and shown how to be better...and better...and better because the talent which surrounds them is prepared to stop for a while and give them a hand.

Magazine for super-rich has real Snob

Magazine for super-rich has real Snob appeal : "But Andrei Shmarov, who will run the Snob operation, said it had a different meaning in Russia. 'Snob to us means a person who is a self-made man, a person who has gained a right to snobbishness,' he said."

Yes, it's funny how one word can change in meaning from one social context to another and one language to another. No way would we be making and buying a magazine called Snob. Besides, we'd just be beside ourselves with mirth if something like that came onto the market. We just should not be able to contain ourselves at all.That is not to say we don't have different magazines for different social and financial groups and even so we laugh at what some of them have...or we drool. All depends how it's done.

Beijing's hopeful smoking ban

Beijing's hopeful smoking ban : "New regulations ban smoking in sports venues, parks, on public transport and in schools but restaurants and hotels are exempted."

It's not hard really. You do ban it in cinemas, public transport, restaurants , cafes and bars. You then can create outside smoking areas or designated smoking areas. The smoke is then not dominating recreational and public areas but smokers can smoke. It works well and when people are clear what the rules are then there is no unhappiness or unpleasantness about it.

Zoo plea after hoax

Zoo plea after hoax: Stop calling our animals : "'It might be kind of funny the first few times but we have lost our sense of humour now with calls coming in at a rate of about 13 a minute. The system is pretty much choked,' she said."

Yes, I can see how people might think it is funny but they wouldn't be thinking about how many calls are likely to be made. It's very wearing and destructive. You'd think in this day and age that Telcos and IT people could come to the party to work out a filtering programme which would send those kinds of unwanted calls to a dead end...especially since the Telcos are making money out of them. There are days when you wonder why we have the "benefits" of technology.

Man with hashish in stomach dies

Man with hashish in stomach dies : "No decision had been made on the return of Jones' body to Australia, with the DFAT spokesman saying it was 'a matter for his family to decide'."

I am glad they said that. I am glad they have let the family take control of this sad situation. Why would a 50 year old be smuggling so much hashish inside himself? It was never going to turn out well. I hate stories like this because drugs have such an allure and they promise so much but the reality is you get sad stories like this. The only good part is the authorities have been big enough to let the family decide how to come to grips with their loss.

Gordon Ramsay sued for £500,000

Gordon Ramsay sued for £500,000 by restaurant manager : "And of course, the fabulously foul-mouthed chef doesn't mince his words."

Nor does he need to. Every week we look at those unhygienic kitchens and food which is so off. Our stomachs are turning. Gordon Ramsay doesn't need to make anything up but he does have to take quick action and get a reaction so he can save businesses losing thousands of dollars a week. It has wised us up to what is coming out on our plates, it has made us think twice about the sorts of pressures restauranteurs and their staff are under. Gordon Ramsay gets in there and helps, is immensely practical, can troubleshoot very quickly and moves most people on. He creates happy work places and spaces and I cannot believe the trouble he goes to to try and get through to people and to save their livelihood. He cares about food. He cares about chefs and business owners being proud of what they do and being happy about their job. He takes the misery and pain out of their lives. We watch who and what he is dealing with. He says less than we do.There is a great deal of compassion and a cleverness. He is bright, intelligent, flexible and cares so much about food an people. A lot of us have changed our approach to food because of him and that's a good thing. I am sure this will all be sorted out one way or another but it serves no useful purpose to destroy a chef who has given so much to the industry and the public.

Sarkozy admits 'mistakes'

Sarkozy admits 'mistakes' during first year in power : "'France has been asleep for the past 25 years... We have a difficult international context, all the more reason to accelerate reforms,' Mr Sarkozy said."

Oh yes, it is their fault, they are not up to it and yes, there is such a difficult international context...we can see what people are doing now. If we are looking at M. Sarkozy du bout du monde and we are wondering what on earth is going on in France c'est pas de la petite bière! Truly, he seems to be spending a lot of time on himself and his image and very little on what it means to be the president of France and they are giving him a chance. He doesn't appear to be able to operate at that level even though he has been very competent in the past. The Peter Principal? The French have been working their derrières off to get into the international scene and be part of the international community. Their contributions are not insignificant. Should their current President be blissfully unaware of his country's capacity to involve itself globally then that tends to suggest it is not the French who have been sleeping. Unfortunately they voted for him.

Prince William gets knighthood

Prince William gets knighthood nod ahead of ex-Oz PM: "The news has ended year-long speculations of former Australian Prime Minister John Howard being the Queen's frontrunner for the honour."

Hm...tough decision that one. Prince William? John Howard? Prince William.....John Howard??? Oh, I don't know. I just think I'll pick Prince William!!

So who on earth did the speculating? I thought I might be made a knight. I really did. I speculated and speculated...didn't put it in the paper, though. Fantasy is not reality. Vague notions are not fact.

Does Obama have a white problem?

Does Obama have a white problem?: "Some Democrats are reportedly now starting to wonder whether or not Senator Obama has a 'white problem'."

No, he doesn't have a white problem. He is black. The whites might have a black problem . Surely not? It's 2008. I am sure we have moved on and can just accept people for who they are, can't we?I'm embarrassed. This is 2008. I've got a red problem. My face is just way too red.

Five-star hotel infested with cockroaches

Five-star hotel infested with cockroaches : "A LEADING luxury Adelaide hotel, investigated for a gastroenteritis outbreak which is believed to have affected 50 people, had cockroach-infested kitchens."

You know from watching chefs on TV that we are not the only place to have squalid kitchen conditions and that it is a sorry and poor state of affairs when it occurs. You know the establishment is finding it hard to keep its people and act together because health and hygiene come top in the food and hospitality industry. These programmes have made us more aware that we need to look out for ourselves and have confidence in kitchens. I go to places where I can see the kitchen. It's not only fascinating to watch the chefs in action, it is important in terms of reassurance that the place is clean and well run. I do think it's the best way to do things because everyone is happy then. You can see the chefs feel better by hearing he public and will respond to the compliments. They do get rewards because we can be in awe of their food preparation. Cleanliness is time and habit. Some places are flat to the floorboards so yes, they need to think about the cleanliness aspect under those conditions. It means we have to help them establish workable routines and we have to help them find easy ways of keeping on top of everything...and oh dear, maybe they'll have to cut into their profit margins. This may not be easy for some places, but if we want to keep our great food label as a city we need to look after our establishments and the Stamford has served us well for many years. Maybe they need a bit of a hand to get back on top of it all and maybe it's good they have been sprung because it'll liven everyone up. The blame game is pointless. Let's sort it out.

Formaldehyde is the next asbestos

Formaldehyde is the next asbestos: "'There's also a long-term health effect for ordinary householders - particularly when you think of a kitchen, kitchen cupboards, that's where you store food, and tests have indicated that the formaldehyde cures out of the product into the air for up to 20 years after it's been installed.'"

What is the matter with us? We seem to be totally incapable of looking after ourselves in even the most basic sense. I get the asbestos. It was a new product. It did wonderful things and people wouldn't have thought of how harmful and dangerous it can be. They were just being creative and ingenious and human history is littered with a whole list of these ill informed creations...and great discoveries as well. But formaldehyde? I figure if I, Mrs. Average, am aware this stuff is potently toxic then it has to be common knowledge. I am not a specialist but you just know that formaldehyde is not something you want in your home, your garden, your life. You just do not want it. So liven up industrial people and get your social responsibility into gear. I feel a whole heap of class actions coming on. It would be far better if there were some responsibility in place just because it's the right thing to do!

Skills shortage leaves no room for innovation: study

Skills shortage leaves no room for innovation: study : "'Sixty-eight per cent of the firms surveyed said the skills shortages had affected their business over the past year; of those, 60 per cent found it was limiting their ability to be innovative.'"

It's not just a shortage of skills. It's a shortage of people who actually are dependable and who are prepared to get up in the morning, go to work and stay there...and then come back the next day. We have raised a whole heap of kids who have no work ethic, who have not valued education, are oblivious to the fact they are in a country with so much opportunity...because they don't want to be at school and they don't want to work either.We have also raised a number of dynamos who are capable of very great and far reaching achievements at a young age. The indulged expect to be kept. They are the entitled. We haven't forced them to stand on their own two feet and now the older are getting older, the Xers are starting to feel the strain and companies are realising they maybe should have thought before they got sucked into downsizing and offloading workers. There is no sense of loyalty and there is no sense of being there. Well, it just means we have lots of opportunities for people who want to be independent , earn a good living and live in a nice country. Our local supermarkets can't get and keep staff and the guy who was restoring my roof had been through 34 young lads before he got the one who was helping him at my place. 34. The work was straight forward and the wages were fantastic for a young person...even an older person. It is a well paid job and if you don't mind clambering over roofs, you can do quite well for yourself. Same as our super markets. They are helping staff by matching hours with lifestyle and family commitments but still they have people who just plain don't turn up or who are such liabilities because of their temperament. We really need a good shake up and our kids need to know they have to be there ...at school, at their desk and on their own two feet. We are paying the price of not taking action and being too indulgent.