Mobile Mental Health

"Young people were telling us that it gave them greater insight into the way in which they were feeling and showed them they were sometimes over-reacting to things or doing things that weren't helpful, or that they should talk to someone."

Mobiletype has been piloted with 47 14-25 year olds to get feedback in between doctor's visits. Young people are very comfortable on their mobiles and it would appear this pilot programme is going really well and that the young people involved view it as really helpful. Easy, non invasive and such a great way to use technology to support people.If more people did it it  might create a strain on the system. We'd have to have a way of reading and coding responses, but I guess that could be done by computer software.

Messages for mental health - Local News - News - General - The Canberra Times

Sneaky software can duplicate keys

"Professor Savage, 39, said his team at the University's Jacobs School of Engineering in San Diego found "thousands" of images of keys inadvertently posted on the photo-sharing site Flickr."

The key cutting devices are easily obtained in Australia and that's a worry. The second BIG worry is that software can translate digital images of keys into code which can be used to cut keys. I think we need to put computers away!! This has been a PhD assignment, but I think it's a bloomin' great wake up call for us all.

Sneaky software key to unlocking secrets - Security - Technology - smh.com.au

Consumers forgo finer things as slump hits home

"CONSUMERS are already cutting back sharply on their spending and have turned away from high-priced luxury items as fear grows that Australia faces a deep and sustained economic downturn."

The economy needs to be based on primary and secondary industry in slower economic times. People will have less disposable income and will use their income to drive their life. They will cut back on luxury items and service industries will deplete. It'll be interesting because we have a lot of people who haven't experienced tough economic times and they are probably going to look upon it as deprivation. Things will have to be practical and functional and people will start looking for things which will last. That ought to be interesting in today's throw away economy.

Consumers forgo finer things as slump hits home | theage.com.au

Clark steps down after election defeat

"She's been a fighter in good times and bad times, and I think it's that that's earned her respect."

it wasn't a very eventful election and the New Zealanders do need to get a chance to change and liven up. Helen Clark has been very comfortable as their leader and she has been able to take a strong stand on many issues of benefit for NZ. She is very steady and very competent but 9 years is a long time to be at the top and she well and truly has earned her rest. Of course she will be sad to leave the position. Of course she will feel like it is her fault. John Key will have a chance to shape NZ the way they appear to want it,but I think they can look back on the Clark years as stable ones even if she has done some things they haven't liked. On the whole she has made NZ a strong place. John Key seems pleasant enough so it will be interesting to see how it all goes. Bit odd NZ is leaning to the right when most other places are leaning a bit to the left. Not that it makes much difference these days.

Clark steps down after election defeat - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Plugged in and fully networked.

I think I can safely say I have got myself up to scratch now and am fully plugged in and socially networked. I like my little Blogger Buddy on the Window's sidebar. It can be very handy and is simplicity itself. I have added a Twitter gadget in my sidebar because I was curious to see how Twitter worked and the night Obama Barack got elected it just went right off and the chattering was astounding to watch as it rolled through. I can see how it has its uses but when you see so many comments run through in so many different languages then you really get the idea of how connected we are and how much we talk! I have settled on Windows Live for my blogging because it is really rather nice and I am happy with what it does and how it supports my blogging. So all in all, after a long, tricky run, I am on my blogger feet again and a lot wiser for all my experiments and changes.

New trial for fat man who crushed wife

"The prosecution alleged she died of strangulation, while a defence expert testified she was likely crushed to death."

There is not enough information here to tell whether the Canadian man intentionally killed his wife or not. Surely there is a post mortem report which can tell the difference between crushing and strangulation. The couple had been allegedly fighting. It is a very strange case and of course, a weight discrepancy will make a difference if the fight was physical. I think the article is right...intention is the crux of the issue....and yet another solid reminder that weight differential can have serious implications if there are no reasonable ways of solving disputes.

New trial for fat man who crushed wife | World News | News.com.au

Father Christmas in Adelaide

"Such is the popularity of the pageant, parents began arriving before 4am to secure prime vantage points, with some even staying overnight at hotels like the Hilton."

The pageant is a big event here and so many parents go to great lengths to ensure their children get to see it. Some parents just let them watch the coverage on TV but even that makes for a very special morning at home. I was driving to town around eleven and the floats were coming back down South Terrace to go home for another year. The big pink monster was very eye catching and the floats were beautifully made. The detail, the colours and the variety are what make the Adelaide Pageant so special. The kids trotting back down Greenhill Road and Unley Road with their parents looked incredibly happy. It was a nice day for it because it wasn't too hot or cold, there was a bit of cloud cover which made the colours really stand out and the families were all looking comfortable and happy. I don't think I have ever felt such a happy sense around pageant time. people often get a bit stressed but this year there was a really good feel in town. So well done to the organisers, well done to the planning and preparation of the parents and well done to those beautiful floats.

AdelaideNow... 325,000 Pageant-goers celebrate in the city

Gallery

Lock up your waters!!

"Water-sensitive urban design: Design of subdivisions, buildings and landscape which enhances the opportunities for at-source conservation of water, rainfall detention and use, infiltration, and interception of pollutants in surface runoff from the block."

The NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources has provided us with a really comprehensive water glossary as a support to our conversations with regard to our ongoing water management crisis. Everything's a crisis at the moment. I keep reading about water detention where I would say water retention, so I came to this site to consult. Even they take the locking up of waters for granted. The concept of water illegally entering our country is rather ironic considering we have so little of it and therefore we'd have to put it in a detention centre to see if it has the right to stay here or not. Detained waters. It's hilarious. It is a concept we need to have as such. Detention tanks are there to hold water which has not been treated for consumption and hasn't been treated to be perfectly safe, so it has to be detained until it passes muster. I think that is what water detention is as far as I can see. Funny use of vocabulary, though.

A-Z of Water - Water Facts - Waterworks.net.au

Govt urged to buy embattled ABC Learning

"The not-for-profit sector is very concerned that something as important as children's growth and development and early learning was allowed to be subject to the market."

People need to get it quite clear in their heads how this all occurred because the whole fiasco with the ABC Learning has shown up quite clearly what bad business is all about and it was there from the start. It was rolled out and people railroaded into it. Home child care provision was undermined, smaller operators were undermined. It's just a disaster and was always going to be. Get that part of the picture straight while the government is propping it up to the tune of 22 million and who exactly is paying for that costly blow out? The government cannot prop up every bad financial disaster . We need to be more careful with how our finances, business and lifestyle is developed. We are paying dearly for not thinking clearly and allowing others to push us into things . So this is a good lesson. The suggestion here is about the government taking over completely and then leasing the individual concerns. More like a franchise idea so that individual centres might close but not the whole country's childcare facilities. It is a better idea to let them be individual concerns which have to meet regulations. It is also probably worth considering making it part of our pre school planning so that our children get proper care because we need their parents in the work force. We do need to think it out carefully and the government has given us thinking time and has approached this rationally. We now need to hear what our options are so we all take responsibility for what was a silly way to create child care in our country. If we take responsibility, our fault or not, we'll come up with something more than decent. We are very practical as a nation.

Govt urged to buy embattled ABC Learning - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Government plans to ban e-waste at landfills

"Under the policy, products such as light globes, computer monitors, TV screens and white goods would be banned from going to landfill and diverted to a system of recovery, reuse and recycling."

I have blogged about this on several occasions and still there is no easy way of disposing of e-waste and some of the disposal methods are costly. Fine us all you like. Bring the big guns out and point them at us but know that the community has failed to provide us with a simple solution to e-waste and we all have it piling up because the market made everything disposable and obsolete in record time. So now we have lots of dead monitors, printers, microwaves, computer boxes...we have updated and changed. We have the nonsense of new printers being cheaper than buying a set of cartridges. So consumerism got us to this point and the technological world foisted this upon us. I am currently collecting our e-waste from 3 family households and it is a great pile. It's insane. They charge a lot just to remove monitors. Some of what I have could be used by someone who knows what these things are for. I am sick of it. I want it to be easily collected and I don't want to have to pay heaps to get it removed...THAT is why it is just being dumped. We haven't dealt with it yet and I have asked and asked. Any other recycling I do easily and we have the bins, the depots and the management systems in place so I can recycle quickly and without cost. We really need e-waste depots which are easy to access.

AdelaideNow... Government plans to ban e-waste at landfills

Palin lays low as requests pile up

"Palin is coming off a whirlwind nine weeks of almost non-stop travel and campaigning since becoming John McCain's running mate in late August."

Yes, she was there for 9 weeks, she was in the limelight and spotlight and now needs to be back home. I'd hate to see her cop all the blame for a failed election on the part of the Republicans. She helped initially and then she became a liability. I heard someone say on the radio that had John McCain spoke as he did in the speech to concede the victory to Barack Obama , maybe things might have been different. Maybe. I think America does need this complete change. I think it'll make them clean out their closets and get everything out in the open. They need to understand it is important they at least have a President now that the world can relate to. I heard that 87% of Americans had not been out of their country, so they maybe don't get the world perspective on this. They need to. We don't want to watch them implode and they will have to have a few open and heated discussions because there is a lot of air to clear and a lot of discussion to be had. They'll love it in the end...they are like us. They are not good at keeping quiet and sober sided. Sarah Palin has had her time in the sun and entertaining prospects of her being a President have been put to rest I should have thought. I don't actually doubt she gave it her best shot. She needs to get on with her job now and be left alone to do it.

Palin lays low as requests pile up : thewest.com.au

Banning political donations 'may be invalid

"Nobody makes them take that money. We don't need the law to change to clean up the problem in New South Wales."

The issue has come up in New South Wales and the Greens are lobbying for political donations to be stopped. It could just apply to NSW but it would make sense, as is suggested in this article that we apply it nation wide. Internationally even. Political campaigns and lobbying have as much become a victim of consumerism as anything else in our money talks world. In that sense large sums are expected to be squandered to put on some kind of political show. I think we all need to think about what this means. The money which goes into political campaigns would be far better used in research, infrastructure support, feeding the hungry....any number of worthwhile things. I don't believe that we as voters need all this money to be spent. So we need to have a hard look at things. Why do politicians think they have to dispense with large sums to keep popular and to get voted in? Why are we so stupid as to vote for the biggest spender? Give us an itemised list of what politicians need to spend to get heard...and then let us be embarrassed, all of us, and make a decision to put that money to better use.

Banning political donations 'may be invalid' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Global Warming pushes lemmings off the planet

"This research provides a striking example of how climate change can modify the working of the natural world - raising the question of what the consequences such change might have for us."

Bloomin' good question I'd say. The lemmings are diminishing rapidly in numbers because of warmer temperatures and the wrong type of snow. We are pushing lemmings off the planet. This weather needs fixing. NOW!

The Sydney Morning Herald: Climate change pushes lemmings over the edge

Impeach Obama' groups pop up on Facebook

"On Facebook , an "Impeach Barack Obama" group has attracted more than 700 members and a lively debate about the Democrat's election victory on Tuesday over Republican John McCain."

Oh my goodness. So much for democracy ...or is it democracy? They have a vote and lose so then they plan to take down the nation's vote. Facebook does and can stir views and it's all healthy and basically what America needs right now. They are like we were. We needed some time to get used to thinking for ourselves again and finding out what we wanted. Initially we had a lot of squabbles and arguments but now we have learned to handle our capacity to make decisions again and we are thriving on it. We have been alive, alert and interested. The fact we took such a huge interest in the American election was a very healthy sign for our country. I should hate to see America implode because they cannot embrace change. It's not always about what you want. Sometimes it's about what you need and if the Facebook group is creating some healthy debate and getting the issues out in the open, then it will help Americans take hold of their own hearts and minds again. The Facebook group which wanted to bring the old Facebook back got quite a lot of airplay and was allowed the time of day, but the new Facebook is what a lot of us know and understand so the discussions were interesting and that in itself brought about some peace on Facebook....and the Facebook organisers took some of it onboard and ignored other bits of it.  What is vital is that the discussions are had and the ideas are out in the open.

Impeach Obama' groups pop up on Facebook - Yahoo!7 News

Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton dies of cancer | The Australian

"Crichton, the author of more than a dozen bestselling novels and creator of the medical drama series ER, died unexpectedly in Los Angeles, his family said."

I am very sorry to hear this because Michael Crichton was a great story teller with a profound impact. The Andromeda Strain was ground breaking and brilliant. Some of the episodes of ER really made your head hurt with thinking and involved you in a deep emotional way. I can't say I was ever a fan of Jurassic Park...but nevertheless  that captured everyone's imaginations. He was a writer of classics and his capacity to influence humanity will certainly become clear over the course of time. I am also sorry he battled cancer without making it public...but I can see that being his style. He'd find other human issues far more important and compelling than his own private battle with cancer. A sad loss to us all.

Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton dies of cancer | The Australian

Amputation of healthy limbs

"I realise that the idea strikes almost everyone as lunatic when they first hear it. However, there are a small number of people who see themselves, and have always seen themselves, as amputees," he said."

I am with the Scottish politicians on this one. I think it's horrible and should not be allowed. That's me. This psychiatrist has to work with people who want healthy limbs amputated. I'd rather treat what is in their head. Maybe you can't. Is there a reason why they feel like this? Is there a set of circumstances which lead people to feeling like this? Won't it impair their capacity to work and participate in life? Is that a problem. Can a one legged father play footie with his children? What happens to them if they don't have the limb amputated? Do they get too depressed and can't participate in life. Now we have it out in the open, then I think we might as well confront and debate it...because there will be people out there who feel like that. I didn't know this condition existed until today and if I had just read it on another day I might have dismissed it as daft. It's serious. We need some sensible discussion. I just think no and have a lot of questions.

Amputation of healthy limbs should be allowed, expert says | The Australian

S&P/ASX 200 and All Ords surge on decisive Obama win

"AUSTRALIAN shares surged alongside Asian markets today after Barack Obama won the US presidential election."

Woo-hoooo!!! Even the stocks are happy. Way more interesting than yet another old guy.

S&P/ASX 200 and All Ords surge on decisive Obama win | The Australian

The Numbers have it

The indigenous Americans will be able to explain this because they pay attention to numbers but there are an awful lot of fours and eights and then twos associated with Barack Obama. Powerful numbers. Born on the fourth on the eighth month in 1961 which adds up to eight if you add the numbers to get 17 and then add the one and the seven. Then today in America it is the fourth of November which adds to two as the 11th month 2008. It's weird, isn't it, because he is the 44th president as well.

Happy New Era

We are still going off. We still cannot believe it. Some people gathered to watch the acceptance speech by Barack Obama and some people here cried when it was being delivered. We acknowledge that John McCain has been the statesmen through and through and is to be valued for that...but for Barack Obama to be the new president of America has brought so much joy and hope. He is someone we can relate to. Someone we believe can help the world be a better place. Someone we think who will get America on the right track again. The thing which most impresses us is how the Americans got out there in force and stood in longs queues if they had to and just did their bit to bring such a good change.Happy New Era!!

OMG, America, Yes, you did!!

It became self evident across the day just how much people were wanting Barack Obama to win and just how much people cared about what was happening to and in America. We knew today was important. Americans have to understand that the whole world has been concerned about America. So on the way to work I heard about the EU sending its 6 page letter to teh new president of America...but all day at work we were on the Net and we were listening to broadcasts because we were interested and wanted to know.  In the car I heard John McCain give his speech and what a wonderful speech that was. He is  a very sensible Republican who holds good values and he was prepared to concede defeat in such a gracious and dignified way because he knew his country needed to change and needed a big change. His speech said a lot about him and it's unfortunate he was held up and back by Sarah Palin. But I also heard Barack Obama's inaugural speech as the president elect. He was so true to what his country needs right now and what we need. We need politicians we can talk to and relate to and we need politicians who know what our lives are like. Someone whose Grandmother died just before she got to see her grandson achieve the impossible. We have all had moments like that and we talked a lot about how sad it was for him to lose his grandmother now and just before he had won. We can't wait to see the poodle in the White House and we are just going off we are so pleased that Americans had the guts to get out there and put it right for their country. It is fantastic. You won't believe how glued to the information we have been today and how much we have cared.

Virtual Legal Swamp

"This is because the only way to be a thief in a virtual world is to get people's names and passwords and log in as them and take their stuff."

Internationally there is a lot going on legally with regard to virtual worlds. It is going to be a gigantically big messy bog and will test our capacity to think clearly to its limit. Most of the cases are not as complicated as they seem because they actually involve real life crime...like stealing passwords and hacking into computers. A real person committing a real crime. It because confusing though as with the cases cited form German experience. That really does make you think. So we are going to have to put our international  thinking caps on and work it out because a lot of these online games are played internationally. The legal profession are going to have fun and game players are going to have to be careful. I guess we need some psychologists on the job too because some weird thought department ideas played out virtually might actually banish them from becoming real life actions. Role playing might actually put the crooked thoughts to rest. We all need to confront this because virtual communities and games are becoming more and more popular and may well be how most people use a lot of their waking time in the not too distant future.

Virtual crime is on the rise - BizTech - Technology - theage.com.au

Weird Weather

It's overcast and weird. The weekend was weird because we had a storm but not much rain. Then last night it got cold. It's all over the place and we can see the dryness of the garden but it seems like it might rain so you don't know if you should water or not. Then it get warms, then it gets freezing. There is no real spring pattern and I guess one day it will be hot and just stay that way for a while. I think that is bothering us. After that weekend a couple of weeks back where we had a stinking hot Saturday with a north wind and plenty of dust, we have realised we are back to that again and we are trying to find the courage to face another long, hot, dry summer. It is getting us down whereas we would normally be looking forward to summer. We would normally feel confident and able to deal with it. It's why we live in Australia. this year though we are really down about it and the couldn't be bothered attitude hasn't gone. We are not difficult and we are pretty friendly. There is just this undercurrent . We want Australia back where we can just laugh and play in the sun, no worries. I was talking to an African guy today and he was saying there is no such thing as climate change in Africa. It's the same weather they have always had and they don't even talk about climate change. Weird.

Viewed wins Melbourne Cup

"The man himself says he is a simply a horse trainer."

That was some race...but we'd all been having a lovely lunch and were a bit slow in the afternoon at work...and yes, we stopped to watch the race. The camera work was excellent and the horses in such superb condition. It is great to see such well cared for animals. That finish was a heart stopper but I am glad Bart Cummings won because he is in his 80s and he has brought this country so much joy. He just loves horses and does the right thing by his horses. He is an extraordinary man because, for someone who is so touched by success, he is remarkably unassuming. C'est la guerre came third but the race to the finish by Bauer and Viewed was just awesome. I am glad he won. He is such a special man and he has done so much for horse racing and horses.

Rivals praise Cummings after Melbourne Cup win - Horseracing - Sport

Campaigns in a Web 2.0 World - NYTimes.com

"Shortly after 9 a.m. on Oct. 19, Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama for president during the taping of Meet the Press on NBC. Within minutes, the video was on the Web."

It's true. The way the world is working now is really interesting. A lot of information is available on the web before it is available through what are now called old media channels. Even online newspaper sites update quickly and they get the interactive and poll stuff going really quickly. We like to be informed. We like to participate and we like to be part of an event. Web 2.0 makes it easy to discuss things and get opinions and views out into the public arena. It means people and information can be scrutinised very closely and that is a tough call on anyone who has a lead role in an event. It also means they can rally support quickly and in a way which will make them feel strong. I like web 2.0 stuff. I think it has brightened us up and made us more alert. There are some quick brains and a lot of humour on the Net, so topics of interest can be explored in a lively, interesting way...but yes, we want to know now! It's actually exciting to know we can sit in Australia and already be up to date on what the polling situation is in America. We have never been this close to the world. It has actually brought us closer together because we are more informed and we have more to discuss. 

Campaigns in a Web 2.0 World - NYTimes.com

End Game

 (photo by Melinda Kolk)
So here we all are, ready for the Cup tomorrow and then Wednesday will be the US elections and the whole world will be watching. There is a lot riding on this and we have been following this right from the start. We are so much more clued up than we used to be and we are taking a lively and considerable interest in overseas politics. About time. But we've had fun. It was great following the French election and then pretty sad France couldn't put a woman in their top position. So then we thought, maybe America would and they went along with Hillary for some of the way and she was suddenly just out. Sarah Palin came in for a bit but has been losing ground faster than she gained it. So it's pretty disappointing to see than women just cannot get to the finish line and then stay in power and be regarded as worthy of top positions. Women will fix that in time. Meanwhile our eyes are on John McCain and Barack Obama. Who is going to get into the White House? It is going to make quite an impact internationally whoever gets in there. That's why we are watching.  The Australian

has a Live Poll ready to go and I am really pleased about that because Australia has often made it hard to get overseas information. This is a great step forward to have us looking out onto the world. I just wish that America would respect its voters more and allow them to vote more comfortably. They really have to do the hard yards to put in their votes in those queues. It's too long for people to be standing around. So, I wish them well and I look forward to seeing how it goes.

Teenager breaks into police station

"A TEENAGE boy made the mistake of breaking into a police station this morning, only to be arrested by the police officers on duty at the time."

I wonder what he was thinking?

AdelaideNow... Teenager arrested after police station break-in

Water Restrictions

Our water restrictions have been altered so we can share the watering time over two days. What a relief. We were all jumping for joy at work when we found out. So why didn't we know? The news had escaped us and when of the guys told us the good news...we realised how much easier this would be. One day a week is neither enough nor manageable. Two days is helpful and workable. 3 days of one hour max would be even better.  So if you missed the restriction updates:

• Even numbered houses        Tuesday and Saturday        6-9am or 6-9pm
• Odd numbered houses         Wednesday and Sunday     6-9am or 6-9pm

SA Water

Melbourne Cup

"It's amazing what it does for Australia.''

Absolutely ! We all get gripped by Cup fever and our foodies really do all sorts of special things around the country. Our chefs and cooks really become inspired. Then there is the fashion, of course. We like to see what people are wearing and might even dress up for our work Cup lunches as well. There is always a lot of excitement and the nation stops when the Cup is run. Sweeps are popular and it is just a fun, relaxing day which many of us believe should be a national holiday because it does embody our spirit. Our Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, is backing Zippy and Carson Kressley is backing Honolulu, but the Cup favourite at this stage is Mad Rush. Sounds like a bit how we are at the moment, so maybe it is the one to back. I just wish we all had a chance to appreciate the effort so many places go to to capture the spirit of the day.

Skies clear for Cup parade | The Australian

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome!

Välkommen till min webloppis!

Teens turn to stun guns - smh.com.au

"POLICE have warned of a dangerous trend of teenagers acquiring electric stun guns that paralyse victims."

They've got me! I am totally stunned by this news. They are getting them from rellies overseas. They've got me again!

Teens turn to stun guns -  smh.com.au

The next big thing in technology

"The next big thing is constant real-time online interactions such as sharing photos, messages and locations from wherever you are, whenever you like. Everything is getting faster."

This is already happening in my life and I can tell you I wouldn't need to work away from home if it were set up properly and everyone was doing it. The whole article is worth a read because it is a series of interviews with those who ought to know where our technology is headed. It is actually good to be able to connect with people online. it enhances live meetings no end and the benefits are substantial. it tends to forge strong bonds but you can also get a lot of innovation and hilarity. People tend to be more relaxed online and more like themselves. In a live social setting they have all their interpersonal skills to deal with. If the world is going this way, I wish it would hurry up. I'd be far happier mixing and matching it online and then organising live meetings with others when I needed to. It brings such a great deal of variety to your life and you can really get to see just how much people do and how interesting they can be. This will often go unnoticed in a group situation in real life.

The next big thing - Essential Gadgets - Executive Style - theage.com.au

Generation Y-worry still unfazed by credit woes

"They are not married, they don't have a mortgage, they don't have children, they're not too worried about their careers & So if they lose their job, that's fine. They'll just hunker down at home, watch the plasma telly and won't worry about the future."

If they are still spending and running up credit ,then eventually they will have to change. They are an ever optimistic age group who not only have had a lot, they have had to change a lot. Some of them have been driven to be high achievers with every waking moment supervised, every thought scrutinised and every idea challenged. Others have been in freefall like the market with no boundaries and no solid foundation. They have done as they have pleased and they have no idea what authority and limits mean. So it is an interesting mix of people and the article looks at quite a number of the issues with Gen Y. Some of them will survive extremely well because they are not fussed by outside influences and they can manipulate all sorts of circumstances and people quite well. Others will hit the wall. They are good at networking and very good at creating productive groups so it will be interesting to see how they manage. Those who have the wisdom of their families behind them will be all right. Those who survive boundary free living will be very inventive. They will change and maybe even bring some innovation to our consumer approach to life.

Generation Y-worry still unfazed by credit woes | theage.com.au

Baroness Beerli Blithely Battles the Blogosphere

It’s a jungle out there in the blogsphere . Hot, stormy and the terrain is treacherous! Oh yes, the thunder has been rolling, the rain pouring and the heat has been turned up to steaming. I have narrowly escaped falling headers, confronted corrupt code, hacked and chopped my way through the intricate creeping vines of  template technology and finally can see my way clear. My title has been restored albeit without the embellishment of  the photographic finery which was once on offer. I’ve sorted my divs, got my “ and ‘ in the right places and the resultant refurbishment is quite pleasing. But I tell you, it’s a jungle out there. Now that I have centred myself and recovered my title, I can now blog with dignity.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory at NASA sent out great Hallowe'en cards. Spooky picture of Saturn and it showed such a great sense of humour!! Get yourselves on the mailing list.

Header headed off

 

Blogger Titles Falling!

My talk of the town header is gone.It's dropped off my blog and won't come back. It won't republish and it is there in the editing section of the layout. Where is it? Why won't it come back? Now I am nameless and pictureless. Header challenged and header deprived. An unentitled, insignificant, vague , non specific, identity free piece of cyberspace. Blogger, what is going on? Surely I do not deserve to be relegated to the rank of non event?? I am monumentally unimpressed.

AdelaideNow... Forget flowers

"Geoff Prettejohn, of Living Colour Nurseries, said the business used to once "sell 70 to 80 per cent flowers. Now we'd be moving around 70 per cent vegies and herbs"."

I noticed in Adelaide last week that a lot of the front gardens did have vegetables and not the usual cottage flowers. I mean in the city in the older houses. Balconies still had the usual pot plants. The suburbs are a different story though and I think people are growing vegies in pots because the water situation is so depressing. Shop vegies have been of concern because we are not always sure where they are coming from and what they are covered with. They are not quality. So growing our own has been good and you just cannot beat the taste of fresh herbs, so even a modest outlay will get fresh tastes into your meals.

AdelaideNow... Forget flowers, say I love you with vegetables

AdelaideNow... Private schools facing slump

 

"It says some public schools have already filled vacancies for next year, with up to 60 per cent of new enrolments coming from private schools."

I am sure the state schools are feeling more than privileged to be considered at all and will embrace the endorsement wholeheartedly.Should make for some interesting times judging by what we have had in the news.

AdelaideNow... Private schools facing slump

Water Worries

Well, we are depressed. This weekend is is beautiful and we should be out in our gardens like we normally are. No. We are not. The last two weekends were hot and dry and we have had no rain. So we are fed up already. We spent months watching our gardens go dry last summer. We watched trees die and animals suffer. We breathed in lungs full of dust which made us so sick this winter. Then we spent all of autumn repairing the damage and were overjoyed to see our gardens come back to life and look so good. So we organised all the drought proofing and in two weekdns it is shot to pieces and the land is dry and things have browned off. We have restrictions and we have rain water tanks but Adelaide is despondant. We don't care. Our gardens are full of weeds and grass gone to see and we are not getting outour lawnmowers, we are not breaking our backs weeding and so Adelaide, which is normally a very pretty , tidy, well kept place is going to look like no one cares. We don't. We want water. We are not water wasters. We wnat enough water to make it worthwhle to garden and make things pretty. We can't keep carting buckets around when it  is hot and we are working. It is a 19th century approach and we live in 2008. We want to be able to have enough water so we can continue to work. The dry grass will be a fire hazard as will be the unraked leaves . When Adelaide gets like this there is no knowing which way we shall turn...but the worm will turn.

Obama in Halloween dust-up with press

Obama in Halloween dust-up with press | The Australian

"They were followed attentively by members of his traveling press corps plus a cameraman and reporter who said they were from Polish station Wydarzenia - too closely for the candidate's comfort."

Obama is really getting the pressure put on him now because the election is on Tuesday. This whole run up to the election has been fascinating and as electric as the French election and our own won. it is going to be tough and Obama Barack is going to need to be tough at the end of what has been a very arduous run for him. They won't let up though because now they have got Arnie out of the bag criticising Obama's physique. That is not manners.I get tired of how people pull apart how people look. Do you know what? It's nice to see a man who looks healthy, well and trim. Obama looks pleasant and relaxed. He has a good image as a man because he is neither the gym junkie nor the meterosexual nor the fashion flop. He dresses in an understated , well groomed way. He looks and sounds modern. On the ball. This last bit of the campaign will be a testing time and we are all rivetted to it. There is a lot riding on this.