Monday, January 31, 2005
Excruciating decision
We had a terrible choice to make last night in Adelaide last night. We didn't know whether to watch the cricket with Australia playing Pakistan or the tennis finals with Lleyton Hewitt. Some of us tried to do both because the tension in both sporting arenas was too much for us. Those who watched the whole of the cricket were spellbound by a fantastic match. Those who tried to watch the tennis had to find other things to divert them from the pain of watching such a tense, well played match. In the end we all won. The level of sport was superb, the capacity to be held and entranced by totally dedicated professionals was invigorating and the nail biting moments were discussion worthy this morning. But the real talk of the town? Lleyton's engagement! Some couldn't believe it was so soon after his last girlfriend and therefore must be some sort of joke. Some thought it was fantastic because she is so nice. We all thought he had grown up and looked so fit and well and had become worthy of being called a top tennis player. We were always a bit split in our opinions of the younger Lleyton. Not now. We respect the fact he is even better looking and is a superb player. The dedication to his chosen sport is clear. But the engagement, yes, that's got all our tongues happily wagging! Who cares if he lost!
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Amazing feat
©AFP/Mike Clarke L'équipe chinoise de natation synchronisée lors d'un spectacle à Hong Kong destiné à venir en aide aux victimes des tsunamis.
The Chinese national syncronised swimming team during a show in Hong Kong which was held in aid of the tsunami victims.
Think
" At the psychological level, too, more violent verbal attacks will be made, and the discrediting of people by smear techniques, etc., will become increasingly ruthless and more general. Fantasy life will become more violent, and the trend will penetrate marriage, the home, industrial relations and so on. Violence will also become more sophisticated, and will seek to undermine not just a class but society as a whole.
Failure to curb aggressive impulses will be accompanied by failure to curb selfish and acquisitive ones, and we shall see an increase in dishonesty,pilfering, careless work, bad driving,littering and polluting, incivility and lack of consideration for others generally. It is not an attractive prospect.
When a society is sick in this way, it either breaks up , is conquered , or looks for a dictator to restore order. Thus we are on a collision course, and it is vital that we make a titanic effort to reduce the frustrations which give rise to violence, both situational elements in society and the built in aggressions which derive from poor childhoods. Unfortunately, our leaders have no inkling of this."
Rethink Gordon Rattray Taylor
Book Club Associates, London 1972 p.254
Failure to curb aggressive impulses will be accompanied by failure to curb selfish and acquisitive ones, and we shall see an increase in dishonesty,pilfering, careless work, bad driving,littering and polluting, incivility and lack of consideration for others generally. It is not an attractive prospect.
When a society is sick in this way, it either breaks up , is conquered , or looks for a dictator to restore order. Thus we are on a collision course, and it is vital that we make a titanic effort to reduce the frustrations which give rise to violence, both situational elements in society and the built in aggressions which derive from poor childhoods. Unfortunately, our leaders have no inkling of this."
Rethink Gordon Rattray Taylor
Book Club Associates, London 1972 p.254
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Doors of family pub stay shut in memory of slain publican
Doors of family pub stay shut in memory of slain publican - National - www.smh.com.au: "'Since Shane's death I have become aware of how much more violent some people are.'"
Spoken by Shane's sister, Erin Peterson. The sad thing about Australia is that it has become more violent and it is subscribing a trend which is world wide. It is something we have accepted and felt powerless to deal with but Shane's sister has crystallised it for us. We now are aware it is too much. He lived for two days after he was injured but his injuries came from being there doing his job and a fight breaking out. Woolloomooloo is one of those old Australian towns whose name visitors and newcomers can't believe. It really does exist. Like Kanmantu and Dimboola. It's the boundaries stuff again. Other people are choosing to express themselves violently. Shootings have become common as have stabbings. We are actually doing the opposite of what is taught. We are taught not to yell, not to raise our voices, not to be physical, not to be abusive. The upshot is now brawls, shootings,road rage, phone rage, mobile rage, rage rage, ram raids, aggression and our fear of all those things has escalated. A back to front effect. Maybe it's the I may as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb mentality. Or maybe, holding onto our anger means it will explode irrationally and with dire consequences . We haven't got the balance right because increased violence is a sign of malaise and frustration , and yet, we would say we are happy.
Spoken by Shane's sister, Erin Peterson. The sad thing about Australia is that it has become more violent and it is subscribing a trend which is world wide. It is something we have accepted and felt powerless to deal with but Shane's sister has crystallised it for us. We now are aware it is too much. He lived for two days after he was injured but his injuries came from being there doing his job and a fight breaking out. Woolloomooloo is one of those old Australian towns whose name visitors and newcomers can't believe. It really does exist. Like Kanmantu and Dimboola. It's the boundaries stuff again. Other people are choosing to express themselves violently. Shootings have become common as have stabbings. We are actually doing the opposite of what is taught. We are taught not to yell, not to raise our voices, not to be physical, not to be abusive. The upshot is now brawls, shootings,road rage, phone rage, mobile rage, rage rage, ram raids, aggression and our fear of all those things has escalated. A back to front effect. Maybe it's the I may as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb mentality. Or maybe, holding onto our anger means it will explode irrationally and with dire consequences . We haven't got the balance right because increased violence is a sign of malaise and frustration , and yet, we would say we are happy.
At this bar, drinks are on the roof
The Advertiser: At this bar, drinks are on the roof [28jan05]: "back"
The Majestic is just that, a lovely majestic place with a solid place in Adelaide. We have made some bold moves lately. I do not approve of chopping all the trees on North Terrace.It has made it far too stark and hot. Maybe the improvements , whatever they are, will be welcome. I go into town and find things have totally changed but we never know what the plans are and how it will look. I'd like to be shown what thh differences will be. People seem to really appreciate the change in Hutt Street and Gouger Street is certainly taking on a life of its own which people love. The roof top bar seems to me to be a great concept for Adelaide because we have fantastic views and the weather can be very accommodating to outside activities. I don't think we make the most of the open air. Sun safety and all of that can be included in the concepts. I have no idea why this bar has been " a bone of contention." I hate articles like this where you get a hint or a clue and then you are supposed to ESP the rest. So what are the problems and what are the options? Give us some facts, pictures and information. Russell Strake is right. Some people go out to be in the crowd and the melee. Others like the feel and buzz of the crowd but they want a spot to call their own to talk with friends, loved ones. Compulsory socialising is not good.
The Majestic is just that, a lovely majestic place with a solid place in Adelaide. We have made some bold moves lately. I do not approve of chopping all the trees on North Terrace.It has made it far too stark and hot. Maybe the improvements , whatever they are, will be welcome. I go into town and find things have totally changed but we never know what the plans are and how it will look. I'd like to be shown what thh differences will be. People seem to really appreciate the change in Hutt Street and Gouger Street is certainly taking on a life of its own which people love. The roof top bar seems to me to be a great concept for Adelaide because we have fantastic views and the weather can be very accommodating to outside activities. I don't think we make the most of the open air. Sun safety and all of that can be included in the concepts. I have no idea why this bar has been " a bone of contention." I hate articles like this where you get a hint or a clue and then you are supposed to ESP the rest. So what are the problems and what are the options? Give us some facts, pictures and information. Russell Strake is right. Some people go out to be in the crowd and the melee. Others like the feel and buzz of the crowd but they want a spot to call their own to talk with friends, loved ones. Compulsory socialising is not good.
Friday, January 28, 2005
How Bush's grandfather helped Hitler's rise to power
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | How Bush's grandfather helped Hitler's rise to power: "Remarkably, little of Bush's dealings with Germany has received public scrutiny, partly because of the secret status of the documentation involving him. But now the multibillion dollar legal action for damages by two Holocaust survivors against the Bush family, and the imminent publication of three books on the subject are threatening to make Prescott Bush's business history an uncomfortable issue for his grandson, George W, as he seeks re-election."
Uncomfortable? I don't think so. He seems to have won quite comfortably . Like the Hardy case here, the claimants will probably find it quite hard to set this straight through the intricacies of a modern legal system.
Uncomfortable? I don't think so. He seems to have won quite comfortably . Like the Hardy case here, the claimants will probably find it quite hard to set this straight through the intricacies of a modern legal system.
Gazing upon a decaying nation
Gazing upon a decaying nation - Arts - www.smh.com.au: "Trent Parke has one of the most vivid visual signatures in
Australian photojournalism. His photographs do not observe life so
much as contain its contradictions within dense, idiosyncratic
tableaux."
Trent Parke shows quite a different Australia and the video on this site has him explaining why, as a Newcastle boy, he discovered such a different,stark Australia as a photogrpher.
Stills are here.
Australian photojournalism. His photographs do not observe life so
much as contain its contradictions within dense, idiosyncratic
tableaux."
Trent Parke shows quite a different Australia and the video on this site has him explaining why, as a Newcastle boy, he discovered such a different,stark Australia as a photogrpher.
Stills are here.
Man of steel's country retreat
Man of steel's country retreat - Film - www.smh.com.au: "The first two films told the story of Superman's arrival as a
baby after his father, Jor-El from the planet Krypton, sent his son
to planet Earth before Krypton exploded."
I confess I shed a tear when I heard Christopher Reeve had died. It's strange sometimes how someone you do not know can touch your heart. When I saw the first Superman movie I got to the end and wanted to stand up and cheer. I was embarrassed. No other film had affected me like that. It was just so spirited and I guess what I needed at the time. I wasn't alone. The whole audience here had thrilled to that first Superman movie and Christopher Reeve was what we wanted in a Superman. When he had the accident on his horse it was hard to take. Superman wasn't supposed to get hurt like that. Yet, Christopher Reeve didn't ever stop inspiring us as human beings because he fought against his adversity, rose above it and even acted again. He really was Superman in spirit. He was so determined to move and walk again. I wanted him to. He made me believe he'd get there one day such was the power of his charisma. Brandon Routh has a lot to live up to. I haven't seen a photo of him yet and I suppose the next generation has a right to their Superman. I find it odd they are making Kansas in Tamworth. Tamworth is a big country music area in Australia and it has a big festival every year. Why isn't Kansas Kansas? But I suppose if New Zealand can be Middle Earth , Tamworth can be Kansas. The marketing will need to be sensitive. Now I'll go and hunt down a picture of the newbie.
baby after his father, Jor-El from the planet Krypton, sent his son
to planet Earth before Krypton exploded."
I confess I shed a tear when I heard Christopher Reeve had died. It's strange sometimes how someone you do not know can touch your heart. When I saw the first Superman movie I got to the end and wanted to stand up and cheer. I was embarrassed. No other film had affected me like that. It was just so spirited and I guess what I needed at the time. I wasn't alone. The whole audience here had thrilled to that first Superman movie and Christopher Reeve was what we wanted in a Superman. When he had the accident on his horse it was hard to take. Superman wasn't supposed to get hurt like that. Yet, Christopher Reeve didn't ever stop inspiring us as human beings because he fought against his adversity, rose above it and even acted again. He really was Superman in spirit. He was so determined to move and walk again. I wanted him to. He made me believe he'd get there one day such was the power of his charisma. Brandon Routh has a lot to live up to. I haven't seen a photo of him yet and I suppose the next generation has a right to their Superman. I find it odd they are making Kansas in Tamworth. Tamworth is a big country music area in Australia and it has a big festival every year. Why isn't Kansas Kansas? But I suppose if New Zealand can be Middle Earth , Tamworth can be Kansas. The marketing will need to be sensitive. Now I'll go and hunt down a picture of the newbie.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Woman in court over burning murder
News.com.au | Woman in court over burning murder (27-01-2005)
This has certainly been the talk of the town because those of us who live in Adelaide know the Marion Hotel and it's just one of those hotels where you can go for a reasonable countermeal in good surroundings. It's a bit like the infamous Mr. and Mrs Bobbitt case of many years ago in America. It's a thing which makes people ask how it all got that far and whether it really is real and how come and why. It's the boundaries stuff. She is not yet on trial. I seem to have said this before ...this isn't something which happens in Adelaide and we keep getting things which don't normally happen. A man on fire in a carpark doesn't happen in Adelaide. We don't say a lot but we certainly take note. How does it get to this in our city?
This has certainly been the talk of the town because those of us who live in Adelaide know the Marion Hotel and it's just one of those hotels where you can go for a reasonable countermeal in good surroundings. It's a bit like the infamous Mr. and Mrs Bobbitt case of many years ago in America. It's a thing which makes people ask how it all got that far and whether it really is real and how come and why. It's the boundaries stuff. She is not yet on trial. I seem to have said this before ...this isn't something which happens in Adelaide and we keep getting things which don't normally happen. A man on fire in a carpark doesn't happen in Adelaide. We don't say a lot but we certainly take note. How does it get to this in our city?
Study finds temperature 'skyrocketing'
News.com.au | Study finds Earth temperature 'skyrocketing' (27-01-2005)
This is another example of how experts can use us--the people of the planet-- to help solve some of our problems. We have got problems. We do need to confront and deal with them. An increase of up to 11 degrees is much bigger than we all thought. That 90,000 people participated in the testing of data is both encouraging and hepful. As people we have a lot of skills these days but we need leaders to lead us and clearly, we will gladly lend a hand. What does it mean for us to have such increases in temperatures? How will we cope? Can we prevent it?
This is another example of how experts can use us--the people of the planet-- to help solve some of our problems. We have got problems. We do need to confront and deal with them. An increase of up to 11 degrees is much bigger than we all thought. That 90,000 people participated in the testing of data is both encouraging and hepful. As people we have a lot of skills these days but we need leaders to lead us and clearly, we will gladly lend a hand. What does it mean for us to have such increases in temperatures? How will we cope? Can we prevent it?
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Shadehouse plants
I spent my day with a dear friend who will be leaving Australia for a couple of years and going overseas. Her garden is so superb inspite of the heat.
Australia Day
Australia Day today. Celebrations, processions, quiet things, cricket. ABC radio took us live to the Eyre Peninsula so we could hear how the people were doing there after the awful bush fires and know what else they needed. That was an inspired gesture.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Medicare online registration
Your Health : Home
I had trouble finding the online registration advertised on the Medicare postcard I received today. Here's the link to the online page so that if you are Australian and registering for the Safety Net, you won't have to hunt around like I did.
Good luck!
I had trouble finding the online registration advertised on the Medicare postcard I received today. Here's the link to the online page so that if you are Australian and registering for the Safety Net, you won't have to hunt around like I did.
Good luck!
Tsunami et séisme en Asie
http://www.rfi.fr/francais/actu/pages/001/dossier_special_94.asp
Un très bon site pour ceux et celles qui comprennent le français. Plein d'infos.
Un très bon site pour ceux et celles qui comprennent le français. Plein d'infos.
DNS Lookup
DNS Stuff: DNS tools, WHOIS, tracert, ping, and other network tools.
Want to find out what's at an IP address is when it's all numbers? This is a useful site to help locate the organisation.
Want to find out what's at an IP address is when it's all numbers? This is a useful site to help locate the organisation.
Sharks could return to Adelaide beaches
Sharks could return to Adelaide beaches: "The beach immediately west of Glenelg is West Beach, the scene of a
fatal shark attack in December last year when two great whites attacked
18-year-old surfer Nick Peterson."
This is precisely why we need to tackle the problem and do it in an efficient manner. We ignore it at someone's peril . Looking after ourselves is not such a bad idea.
fatal shark attack in December last year when two great whites attacked
18-year-old surfer Nick Peterson."
This is precisely why we need to tackle the problem and do it in an efficient manner. We ignore it at someone's peril . Looking after ourselves is not such a bad idea.
Dead fish will be flushed out to sea
News.com.au | Dead fish will be flushed out to sea (25-01-2005)
Last year the people of Glenelg were flooded out because they forgot to open the flood gates during the downpours. There was apparently a system malfunction. Now there are dead fish trapped in the weirs because the huge amount of rain has brought the fish in. No one has really owned the problem. Glenelg is a great seaside resort and the boats at the Patawalonga make it a good sailing area. It's vibrant spirit and life lend a good atmosphere to Adelaide. I don't like the condominiums they have put on the beach front but plenty of people have bought them, so who am I? It's a great ocean view and the shopping is good. They have jazz festivals, sports events, celebrate New Year's Eve in a traditional way. Time for the council to work with the area so dead fish son't pollute the air and water. Sending them out to sea is a very bad idea...but no one is talking about the needless killing of them in the first place. Think!
Last year the people of Glenelg were flooded out because they forgot to open the flood gates during the downpours. There was apparently a system malfunction. Now there are dead fish trapped in the weirs because the huge amount of rain has brought the fish in. No one has really owned the problem. Glenelg is a great seaside resort and the boats at the Patawalonga make it a good sailing area. It's vibrant spirit and life lend a good atmosphere to Adelaide. I don't like the condominiums they have put on the beach front but plenty of people have bought them, so who am I? It's a great ocean view and the shopping is good. They have jazz festivals, sports events, celebrate New Year's Eve in a traditional way. Time for the council to work with the area so dead fish son't pollute the air and water. Sending them out to sea is a very bad idea...but no one is talking about the needless killing of them in the first place. Think!
Monday, January 24, 2005
Scientists pore over wave data
News.com.au | Scientists pore over wave data (24-01-2005)
I don't know how everyone else feels, but there has clearly been a massive interest in the tsunami. I think everyone has been affected one way or another and , inspite of the massive devastation and destruction, it has demonstrated, that as a planet, we have some wonderful resources and people.It has proven that as a planet each person and each nation has something positive to contribute. It has shown unequivocally that we can rally in the face of the seemingly impossible and insurmountable and channel a path to the positive. I know from the visits to my site, general discussions and my own thinking, that people want to know. They want information. They are utterly curious and it is that very curiosity which has impelled us to climb out of the mire and play the cards we've been dealt as though we are experts. Humans can be astoundingly creative and positive. Give them a challenge, a free rein and they can rise above the quagmire and dazzle you with their inspiration. So I am glad the scientists are looking and pondering. My request is that we are all allowed to share this knowledge. My opinion is we should have books and DVDs and that the costs of the products should be covered and the profits go to worthy projects for the tsunami affected countries. Without their pain and loss , we'd have nothing to "study". It would satisfy our need to be curious and their need to be stabilised.
I don't know how everyone else feels, but there has clearly been a massive interest in the tsunami. I think everyone has been affected one way or another and , inspite of the massive devastation and destruction, it has demonstrated, that as a planet, we have some wonderful resources and people.It has proven that as a planet each person and each nation has something positive to contribute. It has shown unequivocally that we can rally in the face of the seemingly impossible and insurmountable and channel a path to the positive. I know from the visits to my site, general discussions and my own thinking, that people want to know. They want information. They are utterly curious and it is that very curiosity which has impelled us to climb out of the mire and play the cards we've been dealt as though we are experts. Humans can be astoundingly creative and positive. Give them a challenge, a free rein and they can rise above the quagmire and dazzle you with their inspiration. So I am glad the scientists are looking and pondering. My request is that we are all allowed to share this knowledge. My opinion is we should have books and DVDs and that the costs of the products should be covered and the profits go to worthy projects for the tsunami affected countries. Without their pain and loss , we'd have nothing to "study". It would satisfy our need to be curious and their need to be stabilised.
US enlists robo-soldiers
US enlists robo-soldiers. 24/01/2005. ABC News Online
What about robo peacemakers as well? Negotiate from a safe distance? We have to sit and talk. Solve it. It is a mess. There are too many dead, injured, slain. It has escalated out of hand. Commonsense says you don't feed the fire , you blanket it. It is just so sad. Too much has already been destroyed and too many hearts are hurting. As a world, why can't we do what adults do and sit and talk? Sending in robots will freak people out. I'd be freaked out. I wouldn't want to talk. I'd be too terrified, too afraid. You can't resolve anything with people who are scared witless. I know the situation has to be resolved somehow ... but we really need to think. Think, think, think, think, think.
What about robo peacemakers as well? Negotiate from a safe distance? We have to sit and talk. Solve it. It is a mess. There are too many dead, injured, slain. It has escalated out of hand. Commonsense says you don't feed the fire , you blanket it. It is just so sad. Too much has already been destroyed and too many hearts are hurting. As a world, why can't we do what adults do and sit and talk? Sending in robots will freak people out. I'd be freaked out. I wouldn't want to talk. I'd be too terrified, too afraid. You can't resolve anything with people who are scared witless. I know the situation has to be resolved somehow ... but we really need to think. Think, think, think, think, think.
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Surely you jest
Bloggers take the world by storm. 22/01/2005. ABC News Online:
"But blogs are more than a political forum, providing a voice to everyone from stay-at-home dads to infertile mums."
"But blogs are more than a political forum, providing a voice to everyone from stay-at-home dads to infertile mums."
The circle of life
Deux lionceaux blancs aux yeux bleus nés fin décembre 2004 dans un cirque près d'Agen. Baron et Empereur ont le même père, pas la même mère. ©AFP/Jean-Louis Borderie.
Two white lion cubs with blue eyes were born at the end of december 2004 in a circus near Agen(south west of France).Baron and Emperor have the same father but not the same mother.
World needs an extreme makeover
Nepal : Bus crash kills 42
Guyana: 5 die in flood devastation
Iraq : 15 killed in Bagdad mosque blast
Iran: 16 dead after landslide hits bus
Uganda : 8 children die in campfire
Total number of deaths in countries hit by the December 26 tsunami - over 227,000.
Western Australia : 2 women died when they were thrown from the back of a utility .
Washington : Flights cancelled in snow storm
Sydney and central western New South Wales were lashed by powerful storms this morning, with lightning setting fire to the roof of one house in Sydney's north west.
and the good news?? “A premature baby that the High Court ruled should be left to die by hospital doctors has survived against the odds. So remarkable is the little girl’s progress that lawyers for her parents will this week go to court and ask for the ruling to be lifted.”
Premature baby survived against the odds.
Guyana: 5 die in flood devastation
Iraq : 15 killed in Bagdad mosque blast
Iran: 16 dead after landslide hits bus
Uganda : 8 children die in campfire
Total number of deaths in countries hit by the December 26 tsunami - over 227,000.
Western Australia : 2 women died when they were thrown from the back of a utility .
Washington : Flights cancelled in snow storm
Sydney and central western New South Wales were lashed by powerful storms this morning, with lightning setting fire to the roof of one house in Sydney's north west.
and the good news?? “A premature baby that the High Court ruled should be left to die by hospital doctors has survived against the odds. So remarkable is the little girl’s progress that lawyers for her parents will this week go to court and ask for the ruling to be lifted.”
Premature baby survived against the odds.
Spim,spam,spum
“Many spim messages tout pornography or fast-money schemes and include a link to a website. Following that link can trigger an avalanche of other privacy and security problems. You may get swamped with pop-up ads or spyware and Trojan horse apps may install themselves on your PC. And spim can be even more intrusive than spam. Just like a regular IM message, spim can pop up in a chat window on top of whatever you're working on at the time.”
Chat protection
Stress free surfing
Free spamblocker from Earthlink for Outlook and Outlook Express.
If you go to Realtime credentials
you will see how America is dealing with internet security and phishing. You can even download the anti-phishing utility, Spoof Stick, for IE and Firefox.
The Asia-pacific angle
is here. You can download Mailwasher here, too.
Chat protection
Stress free surfing
Free spamblocker from Earthlink for Outlook and Outlook Express.
If you go to Realtime credentials
you will see how America is dealing with internet security and phishing. You can even download the anti-phishing utility, Spoof Stick, for IE and Firefox.
The Asia-pacific angle
is here. You can download Mailwasher here, too.
Gone phishing.
The Australian: ID scheme details call [January 22, 2005]
The ID card issue is back before us. Funny, I thought we had made a very clear point we did not want ID cards in Australia. I thought we even had a referendum about it. Oh, well, not to worry. Another year, we might as well go back over old ground until we get the answer right. Irene Graham is quite right to say we have had no public discussion of it. None. This is the first I heard, but I should have guessed when they were going on and on about the phishing which will occur in 2005 and how we had all these gadgets and software to buy to protect us. I also heard there is an online site where we can apply to check our records and pay 23 dollars or something to do that.I love knowing I can access my private stuff online! This is sad. Have ID card, gone phishing.
When to use the Freedom of Information, Archives and Privacy Acts
The ID card issue is back before us. Funny, I thought we had made a very clear point we did not want ID cards in Australia. I thought we even had a referendum about it. Oh, well, not to worry. Another year, we might as well go back over old ground until we get the answer right. Irene Graham is quite right to say we have had no public discussion of it. None. This is the first I heard, but I should have guessed when they were going on and on about the phishing which will occur in 2005 and how we had all these gadgets and software to buy to protect us. I also heard there is an online site where we can apply to check our records and pay 23 dollars or something to do that.I love knowing I can access my private stuff online! This is sad. Have ID card, gone phishing.
When to use the Freedom of Information, Archives and Privacy Acts
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Techno noddy
I still use my old Ericsson because I see no reason to "move on". It does what I want and other phones seem like toys. I guess I'm just a techno noddy.
Summer fruit inspite of the weirdo weather
The wind and storms earlier in the week didn't exactly destroy all my fruit. On the right is a nice tidy pocket of healthy nectarines which were protected by my new fence. On the left is one of the 3 peaches still on the tree. I am sulking big time because these are spectacular peaches. I grew the tree from a stone when my neighbours cut the peach tree down which used to hang over the fence. I was scandalised, but devoured one of the peaches and planted the stone...and now I have a brilliant peach tree.
Native violet
The white and purple flower is a native violet. They are so pretty and delicate. They mix in well with the impatiens. I love them.
Elephant ears
My elephant's ears have flowered again. It's hard to believe. This is the second year in a row so I must be doing something right. Not quite as spectacular as the monstera flowers though. This doesn't hold a candle to those!
Friday, January 21, 2005
The trouble with our civilisation
„ Das Problem dieser Zivilisation ist, dass sie keine Alternative zu Auschwitz hat.“
Heiner Müller
H. Müller, « Auschwitz kein Ende », in Drucksache n° 16, Berlin, Berliner Ensemble GmbH, p.612.
« Le problème de notre civilisation, c’est qu’elle n’a pas d’alternative à Auschwitz. »
“ The problem with our civilisation is that it doesn’t have an alternative to Auschwitz.”
Heiner Müller
H. Müller, « Auschwitz kein Ende », in Drucksache n° 16, Berlin, Berliner Ensemble GmbH, p.612.
« Le problème de notre civilisation, c’est qu’elle n’a pas d’alternative à Auschwitz. »
“ The problem with our civilisation is that it doesn’t have an alternative to Auschwitz.”
19 Million Firefox Downloads
19 Million Firefox Downloads - Spread Firefox:
Posted by sfx team on Thu, 01/20/2005 - 04:29 :: Spreading Firefox
"What an amazing accomplishment you all have made. In just a little over 10 weeks, you've helped to spread the word to over 19 million people. 19,000,000! When numbers get this big, I personally have a difficult time wrapping my brain around them so I turn to some volumes I can actually imagine. Nineteen million people would fill the NFL's largest football stadium -- 200 times over. Think of that, the largest professional sports venue in the US, stacked on top of itself 200 times! It's about the total population of Australia or New York! Not that it actually helps me visualize anything but my estimate is that these downloads add up to about 90 terabytes. (crossposted from my primary blog.)
--Asa, on behalf of the sfx team"
Posted by sfx team on Thu, 01/20/2005 - 04:29 :: Spreading Firefox
"What an amazing accomplishment you all have made. In just a little over 10 weeks, you've helped to spread the word to over 19 million people. 19,000,000! When numbers get this big, I personally have a difficult time wrapping my brain around them so I turn to some volumes I can actually imagine. Nineteen million people would fill the NFL's largest football stadium -- 200 times over. Think of that, the largest professional sports venue in the US, stacked on top of itself 200 times! It's about the total population of Australia or New York! Not that it actually helps me visualize anything but my estimate is that these downloads add up to about 90 terabytes. (crossposted from my primary blog.)
--Asa, on behalf of the sfx team"
Spellchecker poem
When I found my keyboard prayer, I remembered there used to be a poem you could run through a spellchecker (or , for those of you who speak Kiwi - spillchucker!)to demonstrate how you still needed to be au courant with your spelling! I couldn't find my copy but I found the poem on a website. I love the web, it solves a multitude of problems at times! When you put the poem into word 2000 , it wants to change It and Its to lower case i. Weird.
"There is also a difference of opinion as to whether spellcheckers improve students' spelling ability. Obviously, a student needs to be a reasonable speller before a spellchecker can provide some suggestions as to alternative spelling options. So spelling needs to be taught. But having reached a reasonable spelling proficiency, will spellcheckers allow further improvement? My experience is that they will. Others argue otherwise. The person who wrote the following poem titled Spellchecker is clearly a keen advocate of the use of spellcheckers:"
Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw it
Eye am shore yore pleased two no
Its let a perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.
Technology in classrooms
"There is also a difference of opinion as to whether spellcheckers improve students' spelling ability. Obviously, a student needs to be a reasonable speller before a spellchecker can provide some suggestions as to alternative spelling options. So spelling needs to be taught. But having reached a reasonable spelling proficiency, will spellcheckers allow further improvement? My experience is that they will. Others argue otherwise. The person who wrote the following poem titled Spellchecker is clearly a keen advocate of the use of spellcheckers:"
Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw it
Eye am shore yore pleased two no
Its let a perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.
Technology in classrooms
Thursday, January 20, 2005
NASA - Antarctic Demolition is Underway
NASA - Antarctic Demolition is Underway
Scientists witness hundreds of cracks in the sea ice : "Car demolition derbies last minutes, but when it comes to a giant iceberg near Antarctica it takes a bit longer. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board the Terra and Aqua satellites captured images of iceberg B-15A steaming a steady course towards the extended Drygalski Ice Tongue and scientists expected the Long Island, NY sized berg to initiate a colossal collision by January 15."
Scientists witness hundreds of cracks in the sea ice : "Car demolition derbies last minutes, but when it comes to a giant iceberg near Antarctica it takes a bit longer. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board the Terra and Aqua satellites captured images of iceberg B-15A steaming a steady course towards the extended Drygalski Ice Tongue and scientists expected the Long Island, NY sized berg to initiate a colossal collision by January 15."
Iceberg clashing with the glacier
KIWINEWS - The Real Kiwi Homepage: "'It's a clash of the titans, a radical and uncommon event,' says Robert Bindshadler, a researcher at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and if the two giant slabs of ice collide, we could see one of the best demolition derbies on the planet. 'Even a 'tap' from a giant can be powerful. It will certainly be a blow far larger than anything else the ice tongue has ever experienced,' says Bindshadler."
It was supposed to be 9/11/04 to 2/1/05 but the French news was saying tonight it is imminent and no one knows what will happen...as usual. Another weirdo even like we haven't had before!!
It was supposed to be 9/11/04 to 2/1/05 but the French news was saying tonight it is imminent and no one knows what will happen...as usual. Another weirdo even like we haven't had before!!
Keyboard Prayer
I found my copy of the Keyboard Prayer when I was tidying my papers today. I share it with you and would gladly acknowledge the author but it wasn't on the copy I had.
Our programme, which art in memory,” Hello” be they name.
Thy GUI come, thy commands be done, on the printer as they are on the screen.
Give us this day, our daily baud, and forgive us our keyboard errors,
As we forgive those who reformat our disks.
And lead us not into frustration, but deliver us from viruses,
For thine is the macro and the index and the output,
Looping forever and ever,
RETURN
Fascinating fuchsia
This new camera makes it very easy to take nice photos. I have never been able to get this sort of clarity with my old one. We had a huge storm last night which went on for hours.(Seemed like it.) The thunder sounded like it was broken and needed oiling. It had a very odd sound to it. Plenty of rain. I'm actually pleased the flowers brushed up so well this afternoon. The honey eaters love these flowers and are often dangling upsidedown tasting the nectar.
Chilli weather
My chillies are finally flowering . The weather has been so unseasonably wet and weird that the plants have no idea. I actually have some winter bulbs starting to come up. February can be very hot so I hope my winter garden won't be ruined! But chillies at last!
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Done!!!
Now, like me, you can look past the gum tree and out over the hills. They are not looking too bad for this time of year. Adelaide is usually a nice shade of crunchy brown by now.
Commemoration cushion
I stitched the pincushion in the middle to commemorate my naturalisation ceremony in 1999. The Confiture pot is a new present from Secret Santa and the little teapot came from my daughter a couple of years ago. These tiny teapots are clever.
Dog's not impressed
Isn't she gorgeous?? But she wasn't very impressed with the camera. My other dog used to love having his photo taken.
More photos
The plants are surviving the dryness and heat. Pots are doing better than the garden plants.I love my new camera!
New camera..be prepared!
What do you do when your new camera arrives? Take a million photos of things you have photographed before!! The garden is holding up through summer, weird as it is.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Phish and spam
I have had enough of spam. I have never worked out how it became acceptable, then tolerated , then oh, yes, what a curse. It's always been about fix it yourself or get this product. Mailwasher was good but then my computer kept destabilising when I used it. My Yahoo account has never had a problem. Yahoo is extremely effective at deleting spam and made one mistake in a year which was an understandable one. I transferred from Hotmail to Yahoo because even though Hotmail created a spam filter I still had to wade through the grossness to find the legitimate emails put there by accident. Ozemail has never dealt with spam. Let's face it, there is a lot of spam which is easily recognizable. Considering people can't put obscene stuff on my desk at work, nor in my letterbox, considering I can't buy obscene stuff except maybe under the counter and considering we have laws which regulate content, language, sex and violence and even bigger laws against child pornography, I still am unaware as to why so much of this stuff gets into my inbox in the first place. Thank God for tick and delete all.
As for phishing, which I am being told is the new in thing no matter whether I read the paper or computer magazines, it may be the thing which makes people put their internet and computer down for good. Who is going to risk their identity being stolen? When everything is so identifiable and traceable on the Net, why can't they nab these people? I know we have a sort of cyber police. Much as I hate the notion of it, I am beginning to think one of the new jobs of this century is going to be cyber cop.The world is online. It's a community with problems but not quite the same as the real community. In real life someone has to steal my things to get my identity. We need to get ahead of these things before they take a hold. As I read about phishing though I was heartened to discover we have a myriad of programmes and security devices we can buy to protect ourselves. A bit like safe sex, I suppose. Safe surfing. Mind you, there are those who believe the safest sex is abstention. I wonder how many will pull the plug if phishing becomes as endemic as spam?
As for phishing, which I am being told is the new in thing no matter whether I read the paper or computer magazines, it may be the thing which makes people put their internet and computer down for good. Who is going to risk their identity being stolen? When everything is so identifiable and traceable on the Net, why can't they nab these people? I know we have a sort of cyber police. Much as I hate the notion of it, I am beginning to think one of the new jobs of this century is going to be cyber cop.The world is online. It's a community with problems but not quite the same as the real community. In real life someone has to steal my things to get my identity. We need to get ahead of these things before they take a hold. As I read about phishing though I was heartened to discover we have a myriad of programmes and security devices we can buy to protect ourselves. A bit like safe sex, I suppose. Safe surfing. Mind you, there are those who believe the safest sex is abstention. I wonder how many will pull the plug if phishing becomes as endemic as spam?
Monday, January 17, 2005
New news is bad news
Has been a long, busy day. Sat down, well pleased with all I had achieved only to discover, once again , the world had gone mad. I should know by now. There was heart warming stuff about the progress being made in the tsunami stricken nations inspite of the overwhelming destruction. Human endurance, co operation and goodwill are all helping that juggernaut turn around. As for the rest of the news, well, where shall I start? The American guy with a great huge nail lodged in his cheek just missing his eye. He'd gone to hospital with a huge headache and found out he had a nail in his face. The X- Ray was impressive. The the bush fires in Western Australia. Lit by a teenager to all accounts. I've said my piece about people deliberately lighting fires in this country. It has turned into a huge fire , hard to fight for the same reasons as the Eyre Peninsula one - hot , dry weather and then a wind which suddenly changed course. They said the same as they said about the Eyre Peninsula one - the conditions were unusual. Then there was the Adelaide rock thrower. We have a person running around in a car heaving great rocks into people's car windows. One of the victims is very ill in hospital. It is becoming extremely serious because it is happening so often. This used to be a quiet place. Who gets up in the morning and has an urge to chuck huge rocks into car windscreens while they are driving around ?? Then there was the 67 year old university lady in Roumania who has just given birth. The best bit about that was the comment at the end from the person giving the story: " The new baby will give her a new lease on life and she may well need it." I nearly choked on my cup of tea. We don't get news presenters like that. They are usually very calm in Adelaide. That was priceless.
Well, has the cyanide gone missing or not?
Calls for independent inquiry over mining 'debacle'. 17/01/2005. ABC News Online: 17/01/2005.
Last Update: Monday, January 17, 2005. 5:30pm (AEDT)
Calls for independent inquiry over mining 'debacle'
Northern Territory environmentalists maintain an independent inquiry is still needed over the clean-up of a former Top End mine.
The Territory Government has appointed Mintech Chemical Industries to neutralise nearly 700,000 litres of cyanide stored at the Mount Todd Mine, 150 kilometres south-east of Darwin.
Peter Robertson from the Northern Territory Environment Centre says while the appointment is welcome, there is still a number of outstanding issues.
'It's turned into a massive debacle,' he said. 'It's going to cost the public over $20 million to fix up the mess down there.
'There needs to be an inquiry into how we got into this situation and what's going to be done to make sure it never happens again.
'We also want to see a levy put on the mining industry to help cover the cost of cleaning up Mount Todd.'
Mr Robertson believes there was originally more cyanide at the site than the Government has reported.
'There's still questions to be asked about just how much cyanide there was to begin with when this mine was first shut down, as compared to how much there is now in the two remaining cyanide tanks,' he said.
'Depending on how much has gone missing, the public does need to be told what happened to the missing cyanide, and if it leaked out into the environment than we need to know about that.'
2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Why would we, the public, be funding the search and clean up of a mine we do not own? Ah, yes, because there is cyanide missing and it's in our interests to find it. Or is it missing? Who knows the facts? Why has all that cyanide been left up there in the first place? Normal people wouldn't do that.Who leaves cyanide lying around??? Maybe I've read too many Agatha Christie's but I do not think we need cynanide, missing or not . Time to clean up our act and behave responsibly...it's a new year. Turn over a new leaf!!
Last Update: Monday, January 17, 2005. 5:30pm (AEDT)
Calls for independent inquiry over mining 'debacle'
Northern Territory environmentalists maintain an independent inquiry is still needed over the clean-up of a former Top End mine.
The Territory Government has appointed Mintech Chemical Industries to neutralise nearly 700,000 litres of cyanide stored at the Mount Todd Mine, 150 kilometres south-east of Darwin.
Peter Robertson from the Northern Territory Environment Centre says while the appointment is welcome, there is still a number of outstanding issues.
'It's turned into a massive debacle,' he said. 'It's going to cost the public over $20 million to fix up the mess down there.
'There needs to be an inquiry into how we got into this situation and what's going to be done to make sure it never happens again.
'We also want to see a levy put on the mining industry to help cover the cost of cleaning up Mount Todd.'
Mr Robertson believes there was originally more cyanide at the site than the Government has reported.
'There's still questions to be asked about just how much cyanide there was to begin with when this mine was first shut down, as compared to how much there is now in the two remaining cyanide tanks,' he said.
'Depending on how much has gone missing, the public does need to be told what happened to the missing cyanide, and if it leaked out into the environment than we need to know about that.'
2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Why would we, the public, be funding the search and clean up of a mine we do not own? Ah, yes, because there is cyanide missing and it's in our interests to find it. Or is it missing? Who knows the facts? Why has all that cyanide been left up there in the first place? Normal people wouldn't do that.Who leaves cyanide lying around??? Maybe I've read too many Agatha Christie's but I do not think we need cynanide, missing or not . Time to clean up our act and behave responsibly...it's a new year. Turn over a new leaf!!
Bilingual is beautiful
I read this article at the Times site last night and even though the author claims the spread of English is seismic, I can't help thinking he's written it from a native English speaker's point of view. English is spoken by 504 million people in 104 countries. French is spoken on 5 continents and in 52 countries , Spanish is spoken by 500 million people in 21 countries. 1000 million Chinese can't be wrong, nor 1000 million Indians. The conclusion I have drawn is that the rest of the world has worked out that to meet people half way and to engage with them, negotiate with them and be friends with them, you need to learn their language. Given we live in an economy and not a society , other people have worked out they need English to participate in the current global economy because of where the money is. If you read the earlier post of the richest men in the world, you can see where the money is. Other countries have made the effort to be BILINGUAL and particpate globally that way. As native English speakers, my question is, have we made the same effort and if not, why not? There's some fascinating information about languages at www.ethnologue.com.
The global spread of English is a seismic event in Man's history
Facts and figures about French
Why study Spanish?
The global spread of English is a seismic event in Man's history
Facts and figures about French
Why study Spanish?
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Elephant conservation in Aceh
I didn’t know, but Aceh has been working on elephant conservation and eco tourism as a way of preserving its environment, sustaining its people and keeping alive the flora and fauna unique to Sumatra. The elephant had been adopted as a symbol for Aceh. I am hoping , in the midst of the chaos and trauma in Indonesia, these plans to keep Aceh as a special place for the development of eco tourism can be part of our ongoing co operation with Indonesia. We have already establish the links:
Sumatran Elephant Conservation supported by Adelaide Zoo
"The Sumatran Elephant is classified as endangered by the IUCN Red Data List. One of the greatest concerns for elephant conservationists is elephant/human conflict. Elephants periodically raid farming areas to feed on high protein crops such as corn and as a result, much resentment is created amongst farming communities. Adelaide Zoo together with Taronga Zoo participated in a workshop hosted by Taman Safari Indonesia in 2000 to discuss issues associated with the conservation of the Sumatran Elephant and the proposal to set up a Sumatran Elephant Conservation Fund, in conjunction with all interested stakeholders a . Financial support for the workshop was also made available by Melbourne Zoo and Auckland Zoo. Progress towards setting up such a conservation fund continues with a more regional approach. Adelaide Zoo maintains links with workshop participants and supports the continued progress towards in-situ conservation programs associated with the Sumatran Elephant.
At the request of Fauna and Flora International, Melbourne Zoo has agreed to support a range of small projects for Sumatran Elephants. These projects mainly involve elephants in, or displaced from, the troubled province of Aceh. About AU$18,000 will be made available for workshops, for equipment, facilities and supplies for elephant managers. This money has been raised through the sale paintings by Melbourne Zoo's two elephants, Bong Su and Mek Kapah. The first installment has been paid to part fund the Workshop on Captive Sumatran Elephant Management held in Palembang, South Sumatra, on June 3 and 4, 2002."
http://www.arazpa.org.au/SAG_SEAsian.htm
Nature based case studies
Centre for Elephant Conservation
"Biodiversity Information.SECP supports Sumatra`s Elephant Conservation Centres (ECCs), which were originally developed as sanctuaries and training Centres (ETCs) for `problem` elephants involved in human-elephant conflicts.”
Sumatran Elephant Conservation Programme
“In preparation for the Leuser Development Program, the preparatory Integrated Conservation and Develop Project (ICDP) prepared a "Tourism Master Plan for the Leuser Ecosystem". This report stated:
As one of the world's few remaining large wilderness areas containing contiguous pristine rainforest, the Leuser Ecosystem is in an excellent position to attract its share of visitors. It has a unique fauna, with many large and charismatic species, such as tigers, rhinos, elephants, orang-utans and hornbills. It harbours an unsurpassed flora, with a wide variety of trees, lianas and epiphytes, amongst which hundreds of exotic orchid species, as well as the world's largest flower, Rafflesia. It has spectacular scenery, wild rocky rivers in the mountains, and also mild meandering rivers bordered by tall primary forests in the lowlands, and extensive unspoilt beaches (ICDP, 1995b: 26).
The Leuser Ecosystem offers enormous potential for the development of sustainable ecotourism that will support economic development without compromising the ecological integrity and biodiversity values of the region (ICDP, 1995b: 24).
However, clearly there is a tension between recreational and developmental needs on the one hand, and ecological integrity on the other. The problem is: how can tourism be developed in a way that generated revenue while also protecting the ecological integrity of the Leuser Ecosystem? This problem generates an inherent conflict of interest for those managing the LE. As Cochrane notes:
Ecotourism should minimise negative impacts on the Leuser Ecosystem. The goal of limiting environmental effects, however, conflicts with the goal of maximising revenue from tourism… Small-scale ecotourism may sound good as a theoretical contribution to conservation but because of its low economic impacts its positive contribution is too small to be significant. A balance has to be found somehow which allows for significant levels of income to be generated while limiting tourism- related disturbance to the forest (Cochrane, 1998: 16)."
Nature Based Tourism
Sumatran Elephant Conservation supported by Adelaide Zoo
"The Sumatran Elephant is classified as endangered by the IUCN Red Data List. One of the greatest concerns for elephant conservationists is elephant/human conflict. Elephants periodically raid farming areas to feed on high protein crops such as corn and as a result, much resentment is created amongst farming communities. Adelaide Zoo together with Taronga Zoo participated in a workshop hosted by Taman Safari Indonesia in 2000 to discuss issues associated with the conservation of the Sumatran Elephant and the proposal to set up a Sumatran Elephant Conservation Fund, in conjunction with all interested stakeholders a . Financial support for the workshop was also made available by Melbourne Zoo and Auckland Zoo. Progress towards setting up such a conservation fund continues with a more regional approach. Adelaide Zoo maintains links with workshop participants and supports the continued progress towards in-situ conservation programs associated with the Sumatran Elephant.
At the request of Fauna and Flora International, Melbourne Zoo has agreed to support a range of small projects for Sumatran Elephants. These projects mainly involve elephants in, or displaced from, the troubled province of Aceh. About AU$18,000 will be made available for workshops, for equipment, facilities and supplies for elephant managers. This money has been raised through the sale paintings by Melbourne Zoo's two elephants, Bong Su and Mek Kapah. The first installment has been paid to part fund the Workshop on Captive Sumatran Elephant Management held in Palembang, South Sumatra, on June 3 and 4, 2002."
http://www.arazpa.org.au/SAG_SEAsian.htm
Nature based case studies
Centre for Elephant Conservation
"Biodiversity Information.SECP supports Sumatra`s Elephant Conservation Centres (ECCs), which were originally developed as sanctuaries and training Centres (ETCs) for `problem` elephants involved in human-elephant conflicts.”
Sumatran Elephant Conservation Programme
“In preparation for the Leuser Development Program, the preparatory Integrated Conservation and Develop Project (ICDP) prepared a "Tourism Master Plan for the Leuser Ecosystem". This report stated:
As one of the world's few remaining large wilderness areas containing contiguous pristine rainforest, the Leuser Ecosystem is in an excellent position to attract its share of visitors. It has a unique fauna, with many large and charismatic species, such as tigers, rhinos, elephants, orang-utans and hornbills. It harbours an unsurpassed flora, with a wide variety of trees, lianas and epiphytes, amongst which hundreds of exotic orchid species, as well as the world's largest flower, Rafflesia. It has spectacular scenery, wild rocky rivers in the mountains, and also mild meandering rivers bordered by tall primary forests in the lowlands, and extensive unspoilt beaches (ICDP, 1995b: 26).
The Leuser Ecosystem offers enormous potential for the development of sustainable ecotourism that will support economic development without compromising the ecological integrity and biodiversity values of the region (ICDP, 1995b: 24).
However, clearly there is a tension between recreational and developmental needs on the one hand, and ecological integrity on the other. The problem is: how can tourism be developed in a way that generated revenue while also protecting the ecological integrity of the Leuser Ecosystem? This problem generates an inherent conflict of interest for those managing the LE. As Cochrane notes:
Ecotourism should minimise negative impacts on the Leuser Ecosystem. The goal of limiting environmental effects, however, conflicts with the goal of maximising revenue from tourism… Small-scale ecotourism may sound good as a theoretical contribution to conservation but because of its low economic impacts its positive contribution is too small to be significant. A balance has to be found somehow which allows for significant levels of income to be generated while limiting tourism- related disturbance to the forest (Cochrane, 1998: 16)."
Nature Based Tourism
Life is stranger than fiction
©AFP 2005 Une mosquée, seul vestige des constructions bordant cette plage de Banda Aceh, sur l'île indonésienne de Sumatra, avant le tsunami.
This mosque is the only thing left on the beach in Banda Aceh. I remember seeing it on one of the news items , but now I look at the photo and it just seems so very odd. Is it the construction of the mosque? Is it because it has proper foundations and is made of different materials from the rest of the buildings? I should really like to see a photo of this mosque before the tsunami. And when you look at the beach surrounding it, it looks like so may beaches I have seen in Australia. Land untouched by man. The palm trees look odd too, but they obviously have the capacity to withstand a massive wall of water. Nature always gives us clues.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Shark warning
Shark warning issued for Fleurieu Peninsula. 14/01/2005.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1282239.htm]
Last Update: Friday, January 14, 2005. 8:30pm (AEDT)
The Environment Department in South Australia is warning swimmers, surfers and fishers not to use beaches on the Fleurieu Peninsula, near Deep Creek and Newland Head.
The warning comes after a whale carcass was stranded on Tunklilla Beach last Saturday.
The department says it is now leaching whale oil into the sea, which is attracting sharks.
A spokesperson says sharks have been feeding on the carcass at high tide.
Warning signs have been placed on beach access points.
© 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Regional ripples from the National Oceans Office.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1282239.htm]
Last Update: Friday, January 14, 2005. 8:30pm (AEDT)
The Environment Department in South Australia is warning swimmers, surfers and fishers not to use beaches on the Fleurieu Peninsula, near Deep Creek and Newland Head.
The warning comes after a whale carcass was stranded on Tunklilla Beach last Saturday.
The department says it is now leaching whale oil into the sea, which is attracting sharks.
A spokesperson says sharks have been feeding on the carcass at high tide.
Warning signs have been placed on beach access points.
© 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Regional ripples from the National Oceans Office.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Redrawing maps of the world
While doctors are busy trying to contain the surprising( not something they see normally because of immunisation), but not so surprising, tetanus outbreaks in Aceh,
Tetanus outbreak in Sumatra shocks doctors
cartographers are working on redrawing maps of the changes to our world:
Cartographers Redrawing Maps After Tsunami
Satellite images from Digital Globe
Ikonos images and videos here.
Tetanus outbreak in Sumatra shocks doctors
cartographers are working on redrawing maps of the changes to our world:
Cartographers Redrawing Maps After Tsunami
Satellite images from Digital Globe
Ikonos images and videos here.
Montage-a-google
New toy to play with. The top three rows I searched "fraises" and it delivered that montage and the bottom three rows I searched"strawberries" and got that montage. A bit of time out with montage-a-google!
Montage-a-google
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Australian Royal family
Much has been said about our unilateral decision making processes. I have heard and read people talking of Emperor George and Emperor John and it has become a fact of our democracies that we no longer have viable opposition. They are just wiped out, dismissed and discounted , even from within. For me it remains odd that the incumbents in government ( I nearly wrote a capital G!!) can pull the wool over people’s eyes and when called to account they just say things like they “misspoke’ or they weren’t given the right facts or “ people just want to move on , that’s all behind us now.” But woe betide any opposition member who is not seen to be doing the right thing and may they have a good crystal ball because rarely do they know what the right thing is until they are hauled over the coals and chastised like some naughty 19th century child for getting it all wrong . Tsk. Tsk. So I guess we think sometimes we might as well have a monarchy. France fought a massive revolution to limit the powers of the monarchy only to find out they had an emperor. From that point onwards they have never ceased trying to get democracy right. Without vigilance, it is easily lost.
I should just like you all to know we do actually have a principality in Australia and we do have a royal family. Prince Leonard is celebrating 33 years as the reigning monarch of the Hutt River Province.
Hutt River Province
Official Site
I should just like you all to know we do actually have a principality in Australia and we do have a royal family. Prince Leonard is celebrating 33 years as the reigning monarch of the Hutt River Province.
Hutt River Province
Official Site
Winds of change
Ever since the tsunami there has been an immediate response and subtle changes in my street. Unfortunately, using it as a speed strip isn't one of them. My neighbours will finally get all their property repaired next week after the last blow out and I have just repaired my garden and am just waiting for it to grow. In this heat? Surely I jest. I try. When the council changed this side of the road to 50 km somehow war was declared and the motorbikes and P platers roar down here with monotonous regularity. The perversity of human nature on both sides. That aside, the street has gone into tidy town mode. It's incredible. There have been numerous reports around the world about differnt things about how this is the first time this or this has happened. Well, I have lived here for quite some time and never have I seen people go into tidy town mode with such an understated sense of purpose. Trees are trimmed, lawns are mown, carports are built. Everything has been neatened, cleaned, repainted, spruced up. I do not live in a post code preferred area. It's a great place though. We have a good mix of professionals, unemployed, self employed, young, old , in the middle. People from different cultural backgrounds. What we have in common is an appreciation of our homes, a respect for each other and a love of being near the hills, beach, wine areas, town. It's a well situated spot for all sorts of good things. You go out the back and see the hills. You drive around and see the hills or the beach. Kids have plenty to do and they do it. Everyone has quietly been cleaning up their homes. Like we suddenly realise we have so much here and it's ours. If we are not careful we shall win the street appeal award because, I tell you, it's looking pretty darn good and once the winter sets in and my hundreds of bulbs are planted and in bloom...it will be a riot of colour.
Weather of mass destruction
We can't ignore it. It's not going to go away...we have to keep talking, thinking, considering, discussing. Now the hunt for the weapons of mass destruction is over again(and please dear God stop all the killing in Iraq. Now America knows again for sure there are no weapons, please let it all stop ..NOW. Enough is enough. Everyone...the world, the Iraquis, the soldiers, the families...everyone has suffered enough. Time to stop.) let's move on to 2005 and hunt down the weather of mass destruction. If you missed my earlier post, read:
Slide Into Disaster is Man-Made
Johann Hari gives us a starting point so that we make a supreme effort to get our planet back in order. We can't go on like this. At some stage we have to stop making money and start making sense.
Take another look at the seismic monitor. We are still quaking away. I know it happens all the time...but how much is too much?
Check the earthquakes
Slide Into Disaster is Man-Made
Johann Hari gives us a starting point so that we make a supreme effort to get our planet back in order. We can't go on like this. At some stage we have to stop making money and start making sense.
Take another look at the seismic monitor. We are still quaking away. I know it happens all the time...but how much is too much?
Check the earthquakes
Just blogging along - blog help
While I have a quiet moment and am waiting for my new digital camera to show up…can’t wait !!! I was going to put out a couple of thank yous. At the beginning of this blog I said it was my own spot and it was all about discovery learning for me. Compared with the Rolls Royce blogs I am just choofing along, but I have achieved a lot in a short time and I am more than pleased. I figure if each day I’m further along the path to being a better blogger, then I am doing well! I have to thank Bloglines and Blogger because they make organising a blog easy and provide excellent,non patronising support for the clueless. I haven’t graduated to Adobe anything yet so I still use Paintshop Pro and it suits my simple needs and I have mastered a few effects now. This is progress. I also use Canon Easy Webprint and Photostitch and I would be lost without my Arcsoft Photo Impression and Photo Studio. I find all of these programmes allow me to produce something with a bit more individuality and style. Again, they suit my needs.
Problogger
is a site which gave me a heap of clues and tips. Darren Rowse explains things clearly and well and has plenty of ideas to promote a "positive blogging experience"..some jolly good blogging!
superfluousbanter
has supplied the template for my site. I am grateful to the graphic designer Dan Rubin because unlike other templates I have tried I can say my blue one has served me well. The graphics haven’t shut down, the links to my site haven’t vanished, the clock hasn’t walked off elsewhere and the whole thing has been stable, so I can concentrate on all my fine ideas.
Last, but by no means least is my stat counter. I'd be lost without my stats. For those of us who are scientifically and mathematically challenged, it's a non threatening way to beat numerical oppression:
StatCounter.com
Blog on!
Problogger
is a site which gave me a heap of clues and tips. Darren Rowse explains things clearly and well and has plenty of ideas to promote a "positive blogging experience"..some jolly good blogging!
superfluousbanter
has supplied the template for my site. I am grateful to the graphic designer Dan Rubin because unlike other templates I have tried I can say my blue one has served me well. The graphics haven’t shut down, the links to my site haven’t vanished, the clock hasn’t walked off elsewhere and the whole thing has been stable, so I can concentrate on all my fine ideas.
Last, but by no means least is my stat counter. I'd be lost without my stats. For those of us who are scientifically and mathematically challenged, it's a non threatening way to beat numerical oppression:
StatCounter.com
Blog on!
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Variable weather
I thank Climate Science (link on right) for a link to Space.com where there is an article which doesn't completely explain what on earth is going on with all this woeful weather, but it does put a sense of perpective on it which enables me to feel a bit more at peace. I know I can't expect to understand everything, but there is no sense sitting worrying when there are a heap of experts out there doing their job so that I can come on the Net and get some sort of direction in my thinking.
Sun's Output Increasing in Possible Trend Fueling Global Warming
Sun's Output Increasing in Possible Trend Fueling Global Warming
Deadly weather
Like the rest of the world, Adelaide’s weather has gone lethal. Sweden has lost more of its people in the storms which wreaked havoc in Europe, England is currently suffering storms and floods, California is sliding down and the torrents are raging. The devastation, heartache and trauma are obvious. Japan had cyclones and storms, as did Queensland and then we may not forget the pain of the tsunamis. The weather machine has gone mad. California has had more rain than ever and we have had bushfires raging out of control and 9 people are now dead and the damage to homes and livestock is unbelievable. We haven’t had a fire like this in 22 years. The Ash Wednesday one I spoke of earlier. People were killed trying to outrun the fires in their cars but when the conditions are 40 degrees, dry and the North wind is blowing the fires were racing along at 35km an hour and the fire fighters cannot fight those sorts of fires. Didn’t stop them trying and they have exhausted themselves making us safe again. Who turned the fan up on the fire machine? Who took the humidity out of the air? I said in my previous post a bush fire is terrifying. The people on the bottom end of the Eyre Peninsula have lost everything. Like we did in Adelaide on Ash Wednesday. Port Lincoln and Tumby Bay are on the ocean so some people headed for the sea. It’s a beautiful area. We have a tuna fishing industry there but it’s just one of our beautiful areas and the caravan site at Tumby bay has been destroyed. I have seen the other countries on the news and my heart hurts for all these people. Haven’t we had enough? Every day another disaster. Haven’t we reached saturation point by now? I passed the charred fields at Hallett Cove on my way to town today. Black. Acres and acres of black and the burnt smell in my car. The hills fires were deliberately lit. I hope they catch the people because they were started in our national parks. Hallett Cove and Eyre Peninsula, I don’t know. They have bush fires in Victoria as well. Summer brings fires but we can usually contain them. Yesterday the wind fanned the fires. 45 hectares of land has been wiped out on the Eyre Peninsula and the animals with it. To give you an idea, you can fit 2 Germanies into South Australia and 14 and a half Frances into the whole of Australia. As I said, you have to think big here , so when people deliberately light fires on hot , windy days and they kill people, is that murder? I am so fed up with these people who are bringing harm to others with their destructive, anti social behaviour. We do not need it. Nature can be destructive enough when she chooses to be.
Nine dead in SA fires
Nine dead as fire threat spreads
Nine dead in SA fires
Nine dead as fire threat spreads
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Cyclone Kerry
I rest my case. I thought I'd pop over to the New Caledonian link on the right because I hadn't been there for a while. What do I see? They don't know if they are going to be hit by Cyclone Kerry or not. If you can read french you will see they had consulted various meteorological bureaux in France, Fiji and America, all of which were giving a different trajectory. So, as the article is headed, they were sitting there in suspense for lack of useful facts. Can't even tell if a cyclone is going to hit you or not!!
"Deux théories
Alors qui de la Navy ou de Météo-France se situe dans le vrai ? Difficile à dire, d’autant que les deux théories ont leurs supporters. A Fidji, l’observatoire météorologique gouvernemental penche du côté français. Il en va de même chez nos voisins australiens, très attentifs à la trajectoire de Kerry. A des milliers de kilomètres, le très sérieux laboratoire de recherche de l’université du Wisconsin prédit à l’inverse un cap au sud, identique à celui imaginé par les météorologues hawaïens... Vous avez dit incertain ?"
Kerry entretient le suspens
For my own peace of mind I looked Cyclone Kerry up on the net and found out we have an Asia-pacific disaster alerts site. I had no idea. So here's the link:
Asia-Pacific Disaster Alerts
As I have said frequently, you become very wise trying to nail down facts!
"Deux théories
Alors qui de la Navy ou de Météo-France se situe dans le vrai ? Difficile à dire, d’autant que les deux théories ont leurs supporters. A Fidji, l’observatoire météorologique gouvernemental penche du côté français. Il en va de même chez nos voisins australiens, très attentifs à la trajectoire de Kerry. A des milliers de kilomètres, le très sérieux laboratoire de recherche de l’université du Wisconsin prédit à l’inverse un cap au sud, identique à celui imaginé par les météorologues hawaïens... Vous avez dit incertain ?"
Kerry entretient le suspens
For my own peace of mind I looked Cyclone Kerry up on the net and found out we have an Asia-pacific disaster alerts site. I had no idea. So here's the link:
Asia-Pacific Disaster Alerts
As I have said frequently, you become very wise trying to nail down facts!
Olympic Dam, you've done it again
Olympic Dam , Roxby Downs , 560 Km north of Adelaide has had a colourful history. It is still a controversial place, but it is a part of us now. It’s not the usual type of mining town and we were all awestruck when we saw the gigantically huge trucks they used up there. We couldn’t think of a word which would reflect the size. It’s a place where some people go for a while to make a life and income and still have a good sense of community and lifestyle. It can be hot, harsh and arid but most people rate it as pretty civilised. People love it because it is so different. It is frought with problems, though ,because we have beautiful birds and plants in the area. There have been land riots , land title disputes and Western Mining was leaking waste in 2003. It’s in the papers again because of the number of bird deaths occurring. Another example of where some sit, talk, think then act would benefit everyone concerned.
“Among the benefits that the Olympic Dam Mine has brought to South Australia is a rail link, water resources and electricity links, bitumen roads not just to Roxby Downs but to the opal mining community of Andamooka. Coupled with this a permanent work force exceeding 1,200 employees directly employed by the company and a large group of sub-contractors who are regularly employed.”
Olympic Dam Mine
Roxby Downs
CBOnline
Bird deaths at Olympic Dam
“Among the benefits that the Olympic Dam Mine has brought to South Australia is a rail link, water resources and electricity links, bitumen roads not just to Roxby Downs but to the opal mining community of Andamooka. Coupled with this a permanent work force exceeding 1,200 employees directly employed by the company and a large group of sub-contractors who are regularly employed.”
Olympic Dam Mine
Roxby Downs
CBOnline
Bird deaths at Olympic Dam
On the right track
"The scandal deals another blow to credibility in journalism, adding CBS News to a list of media organisations tainted by sloppy or false reporting.
Other casualties have included the New York Times, USA Today, the BBC, the Washington Post and CNN.
Leslie Moonves, chairman and chief executive officer of CBS and co-president of parent company Viacom Inc, said: "There were lapses every step of the way."
"The bottom line is that much of the September 8 broadcast was wrong, incomplete or unfair," Mr Moonves said, promising to adopt changes to improve CBS's credibility."
CBS sacks four over erroneous Bush story
Well, checking the sources is essential, I agree. What were the sources? Why were they wrong? So what are the facts about what Mr. Bush did during the time of the Vietnam action? See what I mean? I have said this before. You read an article and you are still none the wiser. If some journalists are apparently getting it wrong, why aren't the other journalists giving me the facts and information so that I am not wandering around with these vague ideas all the time. Bit harsh taking it out on those particular journalists and sacking them. Reprimanding them and teaching everyone to cite their sources and check for validity is fair enough. As I have shown before on my blog , it is not easy in the current information era to get facts. I wholly support getting to the bottom of things and sorting out rumour mongering and gossip from the facts. I think , though , this is one of the issues currently confronting us in the media. In the search for angles and spin, the truth becomes a casualty. It shouldn't because since we have had the tsunami you can see that just being there talking and videoing tells the truth. No need for spin. When you stick to the facts the stories tell themselves.
Meanwhile....
I have just found this article which gives more details. I want facts! I want information!!
CBS Fires 4 After Bush Guard
Other casualties have included the New York Times, USA Today, the BBC, the Washington Post and CNN.
Leslie Moonves, chairman and chief executive officer of CBS and co-president of parent company Viacom Inc, said: "There were lapses every step of the way."
"The bottom line is that much of the September 8 broadcast was wrong, incomplete or unfair," Mr Moonves said, promising to adopt changes to improve CBS's credibility."
CBS sacks four over erroneous Bush story
Well, checking the sources is essential, I agree. What were the sources? Why were they wrong? So what are the facts about what Mr. Bush did during the time of the Vietnam action? See what I mean? I have said this before. You read an article and you are still none the wiser. If some journalists are apparently getting it wrong, why aren't the other journalists giving me the facts and information so that I am not wandering around with these vague ideas all the time. Bit harsh taking it out on those particular journalists and sacking them. Reprimanding them and teaching everyone to cite their sources and check for validity is fair enough. As I have shown before on my blog , it is not easy in the current information era to get facts. I wholly support getting to the bottom of things and sorting out rumour mongering and gossip from the facts. I think , though , this is one of the issues currently confronting us in the media. In the search for angles and spin, the truth becomes a casualty. It shouldn't because since we have had the tsunami you can see that just being there talking and videoing tells the truth. No need for spin. When you stick to the facts the stories tell themselves.
Meanwhile....
I have just found this article which gives more details. I want facts! I want information!!
CBS Fires 4 After Bush Guard
Monday, January 10, 2005
Getting back to nature
"According to some of the tribal leaders, earth communicates to them. And this time they could see it coming in their remote viewing periscopes.
Interestingly, in South and South east Asia which includes Andaman and Nicobar islands, it is now confirmed that animal bodies are not found because most of them moved to higher grounds days before the Tsunami came.
It seems if this correlation is anything close to correct, we may be gaining in so called “modern technologies” but we are losing in higher grounds of technical expertise, which may encompass spiritual science and paranormal technologies."
Primitive tribes in Andaman Nicobar Islands of India
Earlier on , some of these tribes were unreachable and one tribe was shooting bows and arrows at the helicopters. The Sentinelese were unapproachable. As a planet we have been called upon to deal with a whole range of social and sensitive issues. Common sense has been prevailing. Negotiation and talking are all we can and should do and it is heart warming to see the break throughs and the gradual change because we have all been working along side each other as earthlings. Seems to me , there is much the modern world could relearn from people who have stayed in touch with nature. It is also true that modern civilisation can bring us life and health with things like soap, fresh water, and anti biotics and these need to be offered to those who do not know them. I think we've reached a time where we need to get in touch with the human side of our beings because in a situation like we have now, the blending of our original skills with our new ones offers the greatest possibility of survival. Our strength is our diversity , both as tribal and urban people and our differing cultural heritages. I have become very aware of how rich a canvas humanity is and that we need all of the different human traits in order to survive and tackle gigantic challenges.
Interestingly, in South and South east Asia which includes Andaman and Nicobar islands, it is now confirmed that animal bodies are not found because most of them moved to higher grounds days before the Tsunami came.
It seems if this correlation is anything close to correct, we may be gaining in so called “modern technologies” but we are losing in higher grounds of technical expertise, which may encompass spiritual science and paranormal technologies."
Primitive tribes in Andaman Nicobar Islands of India
Earlier on , some of these tribes were unreachable and one tribe was shooting bows and arrows at the helicopters. The Sentinelese were unapproachable. As a planet we have been called upon to deal with a whole range of social and sensitive issues. Common sense has been prevailing. Negotiation and talking are all we can and should do and it is heart warming to see the break throughs and the gradual change because we have all been working along side each other as earthlings. Seems to me , there is much the modern world could relearn from people who have stayed in touch with nature. It is also true that modern civilisation can bring us life and health with things like soap, fresh water, and anti biotics and these need to be offered to those who do not know them. I think we've reached a time where we need to get in touch with the human side of our beings because in a situation like we have now, the blending of our original skills with our new ones offers the greatest possibility of survival. Our strength is our diversity , both as tribal and urban people and our differing cultural heritages. I have become very aware of how rich a canvas humanity is and that we need all of the different human traits in order to survive and tackle gigantic challenges.
The cogs are turning
"Two students at the University of Technology in Sydney have developed a tsunami warning program which runs on the desktop of a Windows PC or a Mac."
Students develop tsunami warning app
Students develop tsunami warning app
Sunday, January 09, 2005
The Electorater
I can't believe Arnold Schwarznegger said this. Somebody needed to say it,so it might as well have been him since people do listen when the Electorator speaks:
"Fourth, we must make California's elections democratic once again.
When I was studying to take my citizenship test, I learned about gerrymandering and how politicians changed the boundaries of a voting area to protect themselves. For a long time I thought that was something that happened way back in the 1800's, but the practice is still alive and well today.
Here is a telling statistic: 153 of California's congressional and legislative seats were up in the last election and not one changed parties.
What kind of democracy is that?
I will propose that an independent panel of retired judges--not politicians--determine California's legislative and congressional districts.
They can draw fair, honest district lines that make politicians of both parties accountable to the people.
The current system is rigged to benefit the interests of those in office . . . not the interests of those who put them there. And we must reform it.
On top of the reforms to be addressed in the special session, we must also reform and reorganize the structure of government itself. We need a 21st Century government to match a 21st Century world."
Governor Schwarznegger's State of the State Address 2005
"Fourth, we must make California's elections democratic once again.
When I was studying to take my citizenship test, I learned about gerrymandering and how politicians changed the boundaries of a voting area to protect themselves. For a long time I thought that was something that happened way back in the 1800's, but the practice is still alive and well today.
Here is a telling statistic: 153 of California's congressional and legislative seats were up in the last election and not one changed parties.
What kind of democracy is that?
I will propose that an independent panel of retired judges--not politicians--determine California's legislative and congressional districts.
They can draw fair, honest district lines that make politicians of both parties accountable to the people.
The current system is rigged to benefit the interests of those in office . . . not the interests of those who put them there. And we must reform it.
On top of the reforms to be addressed in the special session, we must also reform and reorganize the structure of government itself. We need a 21st Century government to match a 21st Century world."
Governor Schwarznegger's State of the State Address 2005
The crazy ants are back !
Yellow crazy ants found in NSW
09:40 AEDT Sat Jul 31 2004
Beware the yellow crazy ants.
Although harmless to humans, the rare African ants have been discovered in northern NSW, state parliamentary secretary on natural resources Alison Megarrity said.
Ms Megarrity said it may be the first appearance of the ants - known scientifically as anoplolepis gracilipes - in NSW.
Ants found in NSW
Crazy Ant find sparks quarantine
January 9, 2005
ABOUT 30 southeast Queensland commercial properties have been placed under emergency quarantine after an outbreak of African Crazy Ants.
Natural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson said the ants, which spray formic acid that can burn or irritate the skin and eyes of animals and humans, had been found near Caboolture, north of Brisbane.
He said the ants had a reputation for quickly multiplying and wreaking havoc with native flora and fauna.
Now they are in Queensland.
09:40 AEDT Sat Jul 31 2004
Beware the yellow crazy ants.
Although harmless to humans, the rare African ants have been discovered in northern NSW, state parliamentary secretary on natural resources Alison Megarrity said.
Ms Megarrity said it may be the first appearance of the ants - known scientifically as anoplolepis gracilipes - in NSW.
Ants found in NSW
Crazy Ant find sparks quarantine
January 9, 2005
ABOUT 30 southeast Queensland commercial properties have been placed under emergency quarantine after an outbreak of African Crazy Ants.
Natural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson said the ants, which spray formic acid that can burn or irritate the skin and eyes of animals and humans, had been found near Caboolture, north of Brisbane.
He said the ants had a reputation for quickly multiplying and wreaking havoc with native flora and fauna.
Now they are in Queensland.
Yellow crazy ants
The Wilderness Society explains the ecological problems on Christmas Island where these ants have been since 1989 as well as detailing the current biodiversity programmes they are involved with in Australia.
The Wilderness Society
Home is where the heart is
"Tarmac is peeled off roads for kilometres down the western coast of Aceh province, on the northern end of Indonesia's Sumatra island, which bore the brunt of the tsunami's force.
Old maps of these parts no longer apply. There is water where once was land, flat earth where once were towns. Plans are now being laid for new towns and new names on maps."
I can remember my mother telling me that when she was working in London during WWII she went home one day and it wasn't there. She spent hours standing in queues and panicking because she knew nothing of what had happened to her family nor whether they were alive or dead. As it had turned out my grandfather had moved the family out and rented a house in Gloucester. No mobile phones, no way of communicating. Just going through the process. My auntie's two daughters were then sent to a family in Wales for the rest of the war so that they could be safe. The adults stayed to continue in the army or my Grandfather's business. When Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin in 1974 we billeted a lot of the people in our homes around Australia while the military cleaned it up. My brother was in the navy at the time and was called back off leave during that Christmas. He speaks very little of it . Just a couple of stories and I don't think he has ever come to terms with what he saw and had to do. When the situation in Kosovo occurred we took people into Australia and housed them and as a community we were aked to provide packages according to certain specifications...hygiene packages or school packages. We all felt useful and we wanted to help. Right now we are giving money. The notion of short term care has been raised and then squashed. Some of the countries are coping and will cope with the extra help going in, but I can't help thinking still that some short term accomodation for some of the people would make it easier to clean up and easier to manage the devastation. Putting them all together in camps is only going to add to hygiene and stress problems. I fully appreciate it is not that easy. I had an Indonesian girl staying here for a year and one thing which became totally apparant was her background and ours were so different.Nothing in my home meant anything to her and it was a real wake up call for me about cultural heritage. The common ground turned out to be my father's clansman heritage. She related to that very quickly. No one has been suggesting taking over someone's cultural heritage or creating problems. It was suggested in a way of just providing shelter and relief for people who have suffered enough. Like my mum and cousins during the war. My grandfather could help his family, but it was safer for my cousins to be out of the way for a while. Yes, they came back with welsh accents and a heartfelt love for the family who took them in, but they went back to their own lives and homes and lived long and well.
Old maps of these parts no longer apply. There is water where once was land, flat earth where once were towns. Plans are now being laid for new towns and new names on maps."
How do you find home when it isn't on the map? is here.
I can remember my mother telling me that when she was working in London during WWII she went home one day and it wasn't there. She spent hours standing in queues and panicking because she knew nothing of what had happened to her family nor whether they were alive or dead. As it had turned out my grandfather had moved the family out and rented a house in Gloucester. No mobile phones, no way of communicating. Just going through the process. My auntie's two daughters were then sent to a family in Wales for the rest of the war so that they could be safe. The adults stayed to continue in the army or my Grandfather's business. When Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin in 1974 we billeted a lot of the people in our homes around Australia while the military cleaned it up. My brother was in the navy at the time and was called back off leave during that Christmas. He speaks very little of it . Just a couple of stories and I don't think he has ever come to terms with what he saw and had to do. When the situation in Kosovo occurred we took people into Australia and housed them and as a community we were aked to provide packages according to certain specifications...hygiene packages or school packages. We all felt useful and we wanted to help. Right now we are giving money. The notion of short term care has been raised and then squashed. Some of the countries are coping and will cope with the extra help going in, but I can't help thinking still that some short term accomodation for some of the people would make it easier to clean up and easier to manage the devastation. Putting them all together in camps is only going to add to hygiene and stress problems. I fully appreciate it is not that easy. I had an Indonesian girl staying here for a year and one thing which became totally apparant was her background and ours were so different.Nothing in my home meant anything to her and it was a real wake up call for me about cultural heritage. The common ground turned out to be my father's clansman heritage. She related to that very quickly. No one has been suggesting taking over someone's cultural heritage or creating problems. It was suggested in a way of just providing shelter and relief for people who have suffered enough. Like my mum and cousins during the war. My grandfather could help his family, but it was safer for my cousins to be out of the way for a while. Yes, they came back with welsh accents and a heartfelt love for the family who took them in, but they went back to their own lives and homes and lived long and well.
Comprehensive information re tsunami
If you've missed the link to this blog elsewhere, I'll publish it here. They are doing an astounding job at co ordinating all sorts of information with regard to the tsunami:
Tsunami Help Needed
Site runs in Chinese,Japanese,Korean,French,German,Italian,Portuguese and Spanish.
Tsunami Help Needed
Site runs in Chinese,Japanese,Korean,French,German,Italian,Portuguese and Spanish.
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Mother Nature on the line
p6 The Weekend Australian 8/1/2005
“ The earth is still ringing like a bell, nearly two weeks after the powerful earthquake that launched the killer Boxing Day tsunamis.
“I’ve never seen the earth ringing this long after an earthquake,” said Australian National University geophysicist Herbert McQueen.
“The persistence is very unusual, “ said Mr. McQueen, who has monitored the bell ringing effect with a highly sensitive instrument called a super conducting gravimeter.”
Mother Nature’s calling…get up and answer the phone , will you?
“ The earth is still ringing like a bell, nearly two weeks after the powerful earthquake that launched the killer Boxing Day tsunamis.
“I’ve never seen the earth ringing this long after an earthquake,” said Australian National University geophysicist Herbert McQueen.
“The persistence is very unusual, “ said Mr. McQueen, who has monitored the bell ringing effect with a highly sensitive instrument called a super conducting gravimeter.”
Mother Nature’s calling…get up and answer the phone , will you?
Friday, January 07, 2005
This weather is driving me crazy
Is it us? Is it "them"? Is it nature? I read on the Net tonight it might be aliens! Maybe. Maybe not. It has to be something. Sun spots and sun spot cycles seem to be the go. Space weather seems to affect us. Most of the stuff I found was HIGHLY scientific. I am LOWLY scientific so :
Seeing Double at Space.com was something I could follow. It has the Hubble telescope too. See what I mean? You try and get a simple answer these days...to what you think is a simple question, and you come up with all this circumspect discussion and become so knowledeable from it....but I still don't know why we have wonky weather.
Climate change calling
“Man-made climate change was claiming thousands of victims before this natural disaster reinforced our mistakes. Anybody who wants to understand the threat we face has to read Mark Lynas' extraordinary recent book "High Tide: News From a Warming World." It's the only piece of non-fiction that has ever given me nightmares. The British journalist traveled across the world to visit the canaries in the environmental mineshaft: the areas in the world already being affected by global warming.”
The rest of the article is here and there have been other articles around the world suggesting we all need to sit down and take a long hard look at what we are doing. Think. We need to sit and think. We have all contributed to the state of our planet, so we all need to sit and work it out and then act. That is what globalization should be about. Everybody working together on common problems …and right now we have a doosie.
What would you do?
Well, I did it. I have my senior certificate in first aid after 16 hours of intensive, challenging training. I thanked my trainer for having the capacity and stamina to keep us performing, thinking , active and engaged for eight hours a day. There was no down time. No easy bits. It was all active learning and I came home less tired than after a normal day's work. Explain that to me. As per my other post, the thing I found most useful about this course was that we had to constantly deal with real life scenarios and employ the knowledge we were gaining to address the situations. Sometimes five minutes into it she would complicate everything because at no stage did she allow it to be easy for us. We were always working with some solid knowledge but brought to a halt by a new twist so that we had to constantly think on our feet. Great training. I feel heaps better for it except it proved, once again, I am bandage dyslexic with the big bandages for collar bone fractures and arm immobilisation. I can never get the right point to start with. So I shall have to practise and practise. But one of the dilemmas for my group was to do with a crushed foot. The three of us had had a lot of experience in life and life situations. One had worked in a factory but we hadn't actually seen a crushed foot and decided we didn't want to. We treated it with the shoe on because we decided as first aid people it would hurt the person too much to take the shoe off, or it might take skin with it and it would be better to leave that till they got to hospital. Our trainer, who had over 20 years in the nursing and front line first aid experience, said take the shoe off. I know it works better in the real life situation because you respond to clues and cues. I still think shoe on is better if an ambulance is coming. I hope I never have to deal with it.
Hip,hip hoorah!
Un bébé hippopotame qui a survécu au tsunami sur la côte kenyane se colle tout contre son nouvel ami, la tortue.
A baby hippotamus which survived the tsunamie on the Kenyan coast cuddles up to his new friend, the tortoise.
L'actualité en images
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