Thursday, March 31, 2005
You little ripper beauty
I have just had that Bloglines message translated for me!! How easy is it when you talk the talk! FedEx, UPS blah , blah wotsit wotsit are courier companies. That's all you had to say!! Now I know I can track the delivery of my parcels in America through the new Bloglines facility. I'd be delighted if I lived in America and look forward to its Australian equivalent. I feel so much better now. I thought I'd lost it.
Australian virus may lead to cancer vaccine.
Australian virus may lead to cancer vaccine. : "QIMR laboratory head Andreas Suhrbier says the Kunjin virus, which is found in northern Australia, has been modified to cure cancerous cells in mice."
I rest my case. These guys are pretty smart in a very uassuming, self effacing manner. They are so good at what they do.
I rest my case. These guys are pretty smart in a very uassuming, self effacing manner. They are so good at what they do.
HIV drugs protect against malaria
QIMR research:
"Scientists from The Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) have found that a group of HIV drugs known as protease inhibitors may also be effective for treating or preventing malaria."
QIMR has made some very interesting breakthroughs with cancer treatments and treatments of debilitating and destructive diseases. They seem to use the same approach as the cancer researchers in Adelaide. They are very persistent, thorough, not frightened to "think outside the square" and very calm and methodical in their approach. You hear little about them but they come up with some great approaches and treatments. I'd like to see the government back far more of our breakthroughs because it's one area we are consistently good and our researchers get no accolades and no really open praise. They are quite unassuming too...they don't ask for it!
"Scientists from The Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) have found that a group of HIV drugs known as protease inhibitors may also be effective for treating or preventing malaria."
QIMR has made some very interesting breakthroughs with cancer treatments and treatments of debilitating and destructive diseases. They seem to use the same approach as the cancer researchers in Adelaide. They are very persistent, thorough, not frightened to "think outside the square" and very calm and methodical in their approach. You hear little about them but they come up with some great approaches and treatments. I'd like to see the government back far more of our breakthroughs because it's one area we are consistently good and our researchers get no accolades and no really open praise. They are quite unassuming too...they don't ask for it!
Family Friendly Parliament
The Advertiser:
Talks to make House more friendly :
"Dr Such said he would like to see Parliament adopt the Victorian system of having sittings from 9.30am to 9.30pm, with no sittings after that time."
I have never seen the sense of politicians staying up all night and falling asleep over their bills. It's a silly approach , probably founded in some obscure tradition. People think and operate better when they are in good health and they have slept and rested. Political debate needs to be well researched and well presented. Lack of sleep is not helping the level of debate nor a balanced approach to policy making. I also thoroughly approve of removing seamless integration between work and home. There is work and there is home. People need a life and if they need work to give them a raison d'être then I think we need to help them discover all the wonders of the world. Life is not work and work isn't life and I want politicians to be well educated, well rested, healthy, animated thinkers who can bring their life experience to policy making.
Talks to make House more friendly :
"Dr Such said he would like to see Parliament adopt the Victorian system of having sittings from 9.30am to 9.30pm, with no sittings after that time."
I have never seen the sense of politicians staying up all night and falling asleep over their bills. It's a silly approach , probably founded in some obscure tradition. People think and operate better when they are in good health and they have slept and rested. Political debate needs to be well researched and well presented. Lack of sleep is not helping the level of debate nor a balanced approach to policy making. I also thoroughly approve of removing seamless integration between work and home. There is work and there is home. People need a life and if they need work to give them a raison d'être then I think we need to help them discover all the wonders of the world. Life is not work and work isn't life and I want politicians to be well educated, well rested, healthy, animated thinkers who can bring their life experience to policy making.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Blogger - Unexpected Error
Blogger - Unexpected Error
"We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are unable to process your request at this time. Our engineers have been notified of this problem and will work to resolve it."
I know, I know...I have a couple of unexpected errors I need to fix , too, Blogger.
"We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are unable to process your request at this time. Our engineers have been notified of this problem and will work to resolve it."
I know, I know...I have a couple of unexpected errors I need to fix , too, Blogger.
Global alert system still too slow
The Advertiser: Global alert system still too slow
Can you detect small tremors before the larger ones become apparent? I was listening to an Australian guy being interviewed on ABC Radio National news who was on a boat on one of the nearby islands. He said it rattled his anchor chains and it was really weird and his thoughts were of how much worse it would be on land. His boat is now helping to transport medicine and whatever else might be needed. Human beings can be just so great. We need to know. I know we are pretty good a lot of things and we may just be waking up to moving ourselves a bit faster along this particular technological path, but we do need to know so that the massive loss of life, especially to women, is avoided. But globally we are all alert. Very alert to this.
Can you detect small tremors before the larger ones become apparent? I was listening to an Australian guy being interviewed on ABC Radio National news who was on a boat on one of the nearby islands. He said it rattled his anchor chains and it was really weird and his thoughts were of how much worse it would be on land. His boat is now helping to transport medicine and whatever else might be needed. Human beings can be just so great. We need to know. I know we are pretty good a lot of things and we may just be waking up to moving ourselves a bit faster along this particular technological path, but we do need to know so that the massive loss of life, especially to women, is avoided. But globally we are all alert. Very alert to this.
Outback women take health into own hands
The Advertiser: Outback women take health into own hands [30mar05]
"The Far North town is hot and flat and fresh produce is scarce. That makes it hard to develop healthy habits to prevent chronic disease."
South Australia has a long history of proactive women who are prepared to fight the tough emotional and social issues and improve the communities for all South Australians. It's good to see we haven't lost our touch.
Oodnadatta
"The Far North town is hot and flat and fresh produce is scarce. That makes it hard to develop healthy habits to prevent chronic disease."
South Australia has a long history of proactive women who are prepared to fight the tough emotional and social issues and improve the communities for all South Australians. It's good to see we haven't lost our touch.
Oodnadatta
Package Tracking
Package Tracking
"We are pleased to announce our newest feature, package tracking. Now, you can have Bloglines track the status of your UPS, FedEx, and USPS packages. From your My Feeds page, click the Add link in the left pane. Then, click the Package Tracking link in the right pane. From there you can enter tracking numbers for UPS, FedEx, and USPS packages. Also, you can do a search on a specific tracking number. Entering a tracking number will create a subscription in your account that is updated whenever the status of your package changes."
If I knew what that meant I'd be delighted or not. They actually think I am going to understand this message. Clearly I am right on the outer. I appreciate their effort to communicate with me. I actually love Bloglines to bits, but crikey, where are their heads?? Talk about obscure. As if I am going to admit to being thick as....
"We are pleased to announce our newest feature, package tracking. Now, you can have Bloglines track the status of your UPS, FedEx, and USPS packages. From your My Feeds page, click the Add link in the left pane. Then, click the Package Tracking link in the right pane. From there you can enter tracking numbers for UPS, FedEx, and USPS packages. Also, you can do a search on a specific tracking number. Entering a tracking number will create a subscription in your account that is updated whenever the status of your package changes."
If I knew what that meant I'd be delighted or not. They actually think I am going to understand this message. Clearly I am right on the outer. I appreciate their effort to communicate with me. I actually love Bloglines to bits, but crikey, where are their heads?? Talk about obscure. As if I am going to admit to being thick as....
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Seismic Monitor - 30 Day Earthquake List
Seismic Monitor - 30 Day Earthquake List:
You can reach the seismic monitor map from here. Northern Sumatra is still quaking away , in more ways than one. Indonesia must be beside itself with the terrible loss of life and the ongoing and relentless fear spread by our quaking planet. I hope they will be left in peace to honour their dead and rebuild their communities. The people must be frightened out of their wits.
You can reach the seismic monitor map from here. Northern Sumatra is still quaking away , in more ways than one. Indonesia must be beside itself with the terrible loss of life and the ongoing and relentless fear spread by our quaking planet. I hope they will be left in peace to honour their dead and rebuild their communities. The people must be frightened out of their wits.
Monday, March 28, 2005
Well done!
New Entrepreneur of the Year Award and Improved Keyword Stats:
"StatCounter.com CEO Aodhan Cullen won the New Entrepreneur Award at the IIA & MSN Net Visionary Awards."
Congratulations and well done. A well deserved award. I have found Statcounter to be hugely helpful and easy to use.
"StatCounter.com CEO Aodhan Cullen won the New Entrepreneur Award at the IIA & MSN Net Visionary Awards."
Congratulations and well done. A well deserved award. I have found Statcounter to be hugely helpful and easy to use.
Male suicide
Drummer committed suicide - www.theage.com.au
This is so sad. Sad he was driven to it and no one could stop him. Sad because he was a man of talent. Sad because I have loved Crowded House and Split Enz and they have had such an impact on our musical world downunder. Sad because men in their forties/fifties are so vulnerable. Sad because he had to commit suicide in a public place. The menopause is well acknowledged and women now get more support for their vulnerable emotional times. Granted, they have worked hard to be understood. Men need to take a tip. Not enough are confronting the issues of prostate cancer and not enough are dealing with the womenopause. It's an intensely emotional time for men and, in my experience, many become quite depressed and dark. They need support...but they need to be able to ask for it.
This is so sad. Sad he was driven to it and no one could stop him. Sad because he was a man of talent. Sad because I have loved Crowded House and Split Enz and they have had such an impact on our musical world downunder. Sad because men in their forties/fifties are so vulnerable. Sad because he had to commit suicide in a public place. The menopause is well acknowledged and women now get more support for their vulnerable emotional times. Granted, they have worked hard to be understood. Men need to take a tip. Not enough are confronting the issues of prostate cancer and not enough are dealing with the womenopause. It's an intensely emotional time for men and, in my experience, many become quite depressed and dark. They need support...but they need to be able to ask for it.
Terri Schiavo
Yahoo! News - Terri Schiavo Allowed to Receive Communion:
"Schiavo's husband, who a day earlier denied a request from his wife's parents that she be given communion, granted permission Sunday to offer the sacrament."
I am not religious, but I accept and value the religious beliefs of others, especially when they are in dire straits. Given he wanted her to die and thought she should, how could he possibly have a say as to whether she receives communion or not? I know it pays to advertise, but seriously. Hasn't she suffered enough? Clearly he doesn't believe she has a soul.
"Schiavo's husband, who a day earlier denied a request from his wife's parents that she be given communion, granted permission Sunday to offer the sacrament."
I am not religious, but I accept and value the religious beliefs of others, especially when they are in dire straits. Given he wanted her to die and thought she should, how could he possibly have a say as to whether she receives communion or not? I know it pays to advertise, but seriously. Hasn't she suffered enough? Clearly he doesn't believe she has a soul.
Baxter protests 'disturb' asylum seekers.
Baxter protests 'disturb' asylum seekers. 28/03/2005. ABC News Online: "Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone says the weekend protests outside
the Baxter Detention Centre in South Australia's north would have been
very disturbing for those detained there."
Maybe we should go in and ask the detainees what they think and thought. It's very difficult to know from the outside. That people were stopped from flying kites and launching red helium balloons seems to be a bit odd. No wonder everyone got cranky...but it is a very emotional issue. Let's go in and ask the detainees what they thought.
the Baxter Detention Centre in South Australia's north would have been
very disturbing for those detained there."
Maybe we should go in and ask the detainees what they think and thought. It's very difficult to know from the outside. That people were stopped from flying kites and launching red helium balloons seems to be a bit odd. No wonder everyone got cranky...but it is a very emotional issue. Let's go in and ask the detainees what they thought.
Mass-Mailed Malware Has Peaked
CRN | Breaking News | Six Years After Melissa, Mass-Mailed Malware Has Peaked
Well, that's a relief. Should we worry it's taken 6 years to peak? Kuo seems to think it was a very exciting time during the Melissa outbreak. Do you think? Did you have a nice time too? He also maintains that mass mailing relies of spoofing the From: address and that phishers are happy to do that now. ...mail themselves. Well, that's settled then, we can all be happy.
Well, that's a relief. Should we worry it's taken 6 years to peak? Kuo seems to think it was a very exciting time during the Melissa outbreak. Do you think? Did you have a nice time too? He also maintains that mass mailing relies of spoofing the From: address and that phishers are happy to do that now. ...mail themselves. Well, that's settled then, we can all be happy.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Friendly match
©AFP/Greg Wood
Haouar Mohammad, n°11 de l'équipe irakienne de football, est embrassé par un supporteur lors d'un match amical contre l'Australie.
Haouar Mohammad, n°11 in the Iraqui soccer team is kissed by a supporter during a friendly match against Australia.
When we invite you to play a friendly match in Australia , we really do mean friendly. Very friendly. We think we love you friendly.
Price put on toad's head
NEWS.com.au | Price put on toad's head (27-03-2005):
"'We may not find a weapon of mass destruction against cane toads, but some of the best brains in Queensland biotech will be focused on the task of controlling the spread of this amphibious vandal,' Mr Beattie said."
I blogged earlier about Cane Toads. They are hugely poisonous and have been a menace in Queensland. I also blogged about how good our biodiversity experts are in Australia when they are consulted and trusted to do the job. I am glad to see this development. I wonder if it will kill the thriving tourist industry based on cane toads. Yes, people stuff them and decorate them and they are hugely popular. They make sculptures and jewellery too. Cane toads have inspired our artists.
Toadbusters wage war on warty foe
"'We may not find a weapon of mass destruction against cane toads, but some of the best brains in Queensland biotech will be focused on the task of controlling the spread of this amphibious vandal,' Mr Beattie said."
I blogged earlier about Cane Toads. They are hugely poisonous and have been a menace in Queensland. I also blogged about how good our biodiversity experts are in Australia when they are consulted and trusted to do the job. I am glad to see this development. I wonder if it will kill the thriving tourist industry based on cane toads. Yes, people stuff them and decorate them and they are hugely popular. They make sculptures and jewellery too. Cane toads have inspired our artists.
Toadbusters wage war on warty foe
The times, they are a-changing
Well, even more leaders are falling from their positions. So many leaders are lost or have lost their positions and so many leadership positions have been changed. Currently, the deposed Kyrgystan leader is supposed to be in Russia. The Pope appeared in video at the Good Friday Procession since he appears to be in a very fragile, delicate state. Prince Rainier of Monaco is on life support and there were reports in the Weekend Australian that Kofi Annan was suffering from depression and may not be able to continue as the leader of the UN. 2005 looks to be the year where all the leadership positions are up for grabs. I haven't heard whether Jerry Adams of the IRA has managed to negotiate his way back into a stronger leadership position.
More clashes in Baxter protest
NEWS.com.au | More clashes in Baxter protest
People have been angry about the situation at the Baxter detention centre.The turning point was when we found out Cornelia Rau had been imprisoned there for 10 months and the detainees had tried everything to get that woman's plight to our notice. The "softening" by the government of allowing some detainees to be freed , especially if they have converted to Christianity, has not helped the longest kept detainee Peter Qasim. Dick Smith has even made a personal visit to the centre and a personal call to the Prime Minister and the situation with Qasim remains the same: he continues to be detained. Now that Easter is here and people have had a chance to air their views the frustration and anguish felt by us about those who are just detained and appear to have no way out has reached a desperate situation. People will be arrested and punished because we have not allowed the detainees a reasonable way of resolving their detention. We are not like that here. We accept border protection. We accept ascertaining whether people have the right to be here and not queue jump because many people have relatives on waiting lists ,but we don't accept people being detained in a prison like situation indefinitely with no way out. Many people have migrated here. Many people have come here through refugee camps...original settlers came from prisons. There has been no reasonable form of protest or approach which has allowed the Government to listen and change its approach. It has currently erupted and will continue to do so until there is reason put into he situation.
People have been angry about the situation at the Baxter detention centre.The turning point was when we found out Cornelia Rau had been imprisoned there for 10 months and the detainees had tried everything to get that woman's plight to our notice. The "softening" by the government of allowing some detainees to be freed , especially if they have converted to Christianity, has not helped the longest kept detainee Peter Qasim. Dick Smith has even made a personal visit to the centre and a personal call to the Prime Minister and the situation with Qasim remains the same: he continues to be detained. Now that Easter is here and people have had a chance to air their views the frustration and anguish felt by us about those who are just detained and appear to have no way out has reached a desperate situation. People will be arrested and punished because we have not allowed the detainees a reasonable way of resolving their detention. We are not like that here. We accept border protection. We accept ascertaining whether people have the right to be here and not queue jump because many people have relatives on waiting lists ,but we don't accept people being detained in a prison like situation indefinitely with no way out. Many people have migrated here. Many people have come here through refugee camps...original settlers came from prisons. There has been no reasonable form of protest or approach which has allowed the Government to listen and change its approach. It has currently erupted and will continue to do so until there is reason put into he situation.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
The Australian: Family reignites euthanasia debate :
"But Mr Spanbroek said the politicians were too afraid to address the topic.
'They are all weak and they don't want to visit it (the euthanasia issue) because they think it is not a popular subject to discuss,' he said."
I rarely feel sorry for politicians, but today I do. Often they open their mouths before engaging their brains and it's a rare treat to hear a well constructed, well informed political speech. I love them when I do hear them. But the euthanasia debate here is not the same as the Terri Schiavo debate unless you wish to view them as the antithesis of each other. This father's son is clearly dying and when people die they don't eat or drink and they get thinner and emaciated and it can take quite a while. That is the process of dying. We don't like watching it and so some people would prefer to intervene at an earlier stage. But it is striking that the Americans are cross with their politicians for interfering in what they see as a private issue when people here want the politicians to be involved in such a debate. I guess people want politicians who will support them in their hour of need. So the politicians are damned if they do and damned if they don't. I can only say what I said before. We all have to talk the tough stuff out. We all have to confront the difficult and heart rending issues. We need our learned and experienced people to put forward their view so we can truly debate issues. Then we shall be better at dealing with the tricky , difficult stuff we try to pretend can be fixed with a law or a process or a protocol. There are things in life which are ethically very difficult to confront. Talking about it all helps but no one should be forced one way or another to give up their life because it suits someone else. It's a deeply personal thing which should be respected.
"But Mr Spanbroek said the politicians were too afraid to address the topic.
'They are all weak and they don't want to visit it (the euthanasia issue) because they think it is not a popular subject to discuss,' he said."
I rarely feel sorry for politicians, but today I do. Often they open their mouths before engaging their brains and it's a rare treat to hear a well constructed, well informed political speech. I love them when I do hear them. But the euthanasia debate here is not the same as the Terri Schiavo debate unless you wish to view them as the antithesis of each other. This father's son is clearly dying and when people die they don't eat or drink and they get thinner and emaciated and it can take quite a while. That is the process of dying. We don't like watching it and so some people would prefer to intervene at an earlier stage. But it is striking that the Americans are cross with their politicians for interfering in what they see as a private issue when people here want the politicians to be involved in such a debate. I guess people want politicians who will support them in their hour of need. So the politicians are damned if they do and damned if they don't. I can only say what I said before. We all have to talk the tough stuff out. We all have to confront the difficult and heart rending issues. We need our learned and experienced people to put forward their view so we can truly debate issues. Then we shall be better at dealing with the tricky , difficult stuff we try to pretend can be fixed with a law or a process or a protocol. There are things in life which are ethically very difficult to confront. Talking about it all helps but no one should be forced one way or another to give up their life because it suits someone else. It's a deeply personal thing which should be respected.
Size does matter
Australian IT - PC sales to slow in 2005 :
"GROWTH of global personal computer sales is expected to cool to about 9.7 per cent in 2005, market research firm IDC said, scaling back its prior forecast of 10.1 per cent growth."
I have no idea why PC vendors panic. We've all got PCs. I have 2 and I have bought PCs on a regular basis. They need to be upgraded because the new technology is always impressive. We know that. I wish laptops would get cheaper so you could get one without the cheaper chips at a reasonable piece. They'd be so much more convenient than all the plastic and circuitry I am surrounded by. We buy printers and web cams and USB cables and this and that. I have regularly shelled out on PC stuff so I fail to see the "panic". Everyone I know regularly invests in their PC. We may not buy a whole new one each time. It's a part of our lives. It is not going to go away. We want something which takes up less room because eveyone in the house needs their own one, that's how far we have come. People can actually compute for their own purposes now. The problem is the desk top PC takes up so much space you have to think well and long before you get another...or another. Size does matter when you talk PC.
"GROWTH of global personal computer sales is expected to cool to about 9.7 per cent in 2005, market research firm IDC said, scaling back its prior forecast of 10.1 per cent growth."
I have no idea why PC vendors panic. We've all got PCs. I have 2 and I have bought PCs on a regular basis. They need to be upgraded because the new technology is always impressive. We know that. I wish laptops would get cheaper so you could get one without the cheaper chips at a reasonable piece. They'd be so much more convenient than all the plastic and circuitry I am surrounded by. We buy printers and web cams and USB cables and this and that. I have regularly shelled out on PC stuff so I fail to see the "panic". Everyone I know regularly invests in their PC. We may not buy a whole new one each time. It's a part of our lives. It is not going to go away. We want something which takes up less room because eveyone in the house needs their own one, that's how far we have come. People can actually compute for their own purposes now. The problem is the desk top PC takes up so much space you have to think well and long before you get another...or another. Size does matter when you talk PC.
Ay , caramba !
NEWS.com.au / Diseased fleas a trap for rabbits :
"A SPANISH flea has been recruited as the latest weapon to help fight the battle against rabbits causing havoc along South Australia's coastlines."
I can just see the Spanish flea doing a wild flamenco up and down our coast and thereby hypnotising the rabbits with its form, grace, power and beauty. Can't wait to see what happens because this approach of using imported predators to Australia has often run amok.
"A SPANISH flea has been recruited as the latest weapon to help fight the battle against rabbits causing havoc along South Australia's coastlines."
I can just see the Spanish flea doing a wild flamenco up and down our coast and thereby hypnotising the rabbits with its form, grace, power and beauty. Can't wait to see what happens because this approach of using imported predators to Australia has often run amok.
Friday, March 25, 2005
Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation
Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation
"MYTH: Many doctors have said that there is no hope for her.
FACT: Dr. Victor Gambone testified that he visits Terri 3 times a year. His visits last for approximately 10 minutes. He also testified, after viewing the court videotapes at Terri’s recent trial, that he was surprised to see Terri’s level of awareness. This doctor is part of a team hand-picked by her husband, Michael Schiavo, shortly before he filed to have Terri’s feeding removed. Contrary to Schiavo’s team, 14 independent medical professionals (6 of them neurologists) have given either statements or testimony that Terri is NOT in a Persistent Vegetative State. Additionally, there has never been any medical dispute of Terri’s ability to swallow. Even with this compelling evidence, Terri’s husband, Michael Schiavo, has denied any form of therapy for her for over 10 years."
It's Good Friday and I am thinking about this woman. If she were a cat and "vegetative" we would take her to the vet and put her down. She is not a cat. Many doctors have said there is a reaction. She is alive and she is not on life support but the courts have allowed her to be starved to death. If she were a child it would be neglect. If her husband gave her an overdose because she was terminally ill with cancer, then he would be tried for murder. I just cannot believe a court would order a living being to be starved to death. You don't even do that to the most hideous criminals. What has this poor woman done that on Good Friday she has been legally allowed to starve? What kind of laws are these?
"If the law supposes that," said Mr. Bumble, squeezing his hat emphatically in both hands, "the law is a ass , a idiot."
Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist
"MYTH: Many doctors have said that there is no hope for her.
FACT: Dr. Victor Gambone testified that he visits Terri 3 times a year. His visits last for approximately 10 minutes. He also testified, after viewing the court videotapes at Terri’s recent trial, that he was surprised to see Terri’s level of awareness. This doctor is part of a team hand-picked by her husband, Michael Schiavo, shortly before he filed to have Terri’s feeding removed. Contrary to Schiavo’s team, 14 independent medical professionals (6 of them neurologists) have given either statements or testimony that Terri is NOT in a Persistent Vegetative State. Additionally, there has never been any medical dispute of Terri’s ability to swallow. Even with this compelling evidence, Terri’s husband, Michael Schiavo, has denied any form of therapy for her for over 10 years."
It's Good Friday and I am thinking about this woman. If she were a cat and "vegetative" we would take her to the vet and put her down. She is not a cat. Many doctors have said there is a reaction. She is alive and she is not on life support but the courts have allowed her to be starved to death. If she were a child it would be neglect. If her husband gave her an overdose because she was terminally ill with cancer, then he would be tried for murder. I just cannot believe a court would order a living being to be starved to death. You don't even do that to the most hideous criminals. What has this poor woman done that on Good Friday she has been legally allowed to starve? What kind of laws are these?
"If the law supposes that," said Mr. Bumble, squeezing his hat emphatically in both hands, "the law is a ass , a idiot."
Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist
Road crashes put hospital under pressure.
Road crashes put hospital under pressure. Online:
"Twenty people have died on South Australian roads this month, the worst monthly figure in three years."
Our roads are no longer safe. People need to remember how to drive. We used to have good defensive driving in this state. Now everyone is zooming, weaving, tail gating...all the things we had got rid of. So now we are back to the fatalities and horrible injuries. Time to set our heads straight.
"Twenty people have died on South Australian roads this month, the worst monthly figure in three years."
Our roads are no longer safe. People need to remember how to drive. We used to have good defensive driving in this state. Now everyone is zooming, weaving, tail gating...all the things we had got rid of. So now we are back to the fatalities and horrible injuries. Time to set our heads straight.
Banks eye bootable Linux CDs
Banks eye bootable Linux CDs: ZDNet Australia: News: Security
Cybersource also includes Firefox as the browser. Are we thinking outside the square or what? I can remember crashing my computer really badly a while back and I used Knoppix to resurrect it. I was really impressed. It was a lot less clunky than all the Windows stuff , had a smooth interface and the thing which impressed me the most was it had available all sorts of help and support and possibilities for vision iimpaired people. I confess it wasn't intuitive like Windows, but Windows is familiar ground. That fact I had myself up and running with Knoppix in a relatively short time led me to believe it was a good programme. When I got XP going, where most of my stuff runs, I couldn't get the computer to run with Knoppix as well. It just became very cantankerous if I booted into Knoppix. I tried "lindows" as it was called then and I still had no joy. So my grand plan was to get a computer and set it up as a Linux based computer...well, my plan is still on the back burner! I got all the Mandrake stuff and a book to go with it and am all set to go. Time is what I need.
Cybersource also includes Firefox as the browser. Are we thinking outside the square or what? I can remember crashing my computer really badly a while back and I used Knoppix to resurrect it. I was really impressed. It was a lot less clunky than all the Windows stuff , had a smooth interface and the thing which impressed me the most was it had available all sorts of help and support and possibilities for vision iimpaired people. I confess it wasn't intuitive like Windows, but Windows is familiar ground. That fact I had myself up and running with Knoppix in a relatively short time led me to believe it was a good programme. When I got XP going, where most of my stuff runs, I couldn't get the computer to run with Knoppix as well. It just became very cantankerous if I booted into Knoppix. I tried "lindows" as it was called then and I still had no joy. So my grand plan was to get a computer and set it up as a Linux based computer...well, my plan is still on the back burner! I got all the Mandrake stuff and a book to go with it and am all set to go. Time is what I need.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Tea industry turns to pill popping solution.
Tea industry turns to pill popping solution. ABC News Online
They have got to be joking!! As a long term, case hardened tea drinker, I feel I must protest! How can you put your feet up with a nice tea pill? How can you savour the taste, the warmth? How can you warm your hands on a cold day with a nice tea pill?? How can you cool yourself on a hot summer's day? This is sacrilege ! I'm shocked. Anyone who would rather drink a soft drink has lost their senses and is truly missing out on an age old tradition and one of life's charming events. Anyone who is offering me a pill in place of a nice cuppa, has seriously lost the plot. We have forgotten the niceties associated with tea drinking. Let us remind people.
They have got to be joking!! As a long term, case hardened tea drinker, I feel I must protest! How can you put your feet up with a nice tea pill? How can you savour the taste, the warmth? How can you warm your hands on a cold day with a nice tea pill?? How can you cool yourself on a hot summer's day? This is sacrilege ! I'm shocked. Anyone who would rather drink a soft drink has lost their senses and is truly missing out on an age old tradition and one of life's charming events. Anyone who is offering me a pill in place of a nice cuppa, has seriously lost the plot. We have forgotten the niceties associated with tea drinking. Let us remind people.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
US court denies Schiavo parents' request
US court denies Schiavo parents' request:
"The feeding tube was disconnected on Friday, and doctors have said that Terri Schiavo, 41, could survive one to two weeks without water and nutrients."
Two weeks before she dies and that appears to be a very long time. I might as well have my tuppence worth because we are all involved now and there is probably a reason for it. The more people who feel compelled to become involved, the more complicated and ill defined the problem is. When people are very intense about something, there is usually a very good reason and it generally means something is very wrong. Like Cornelia Rau here , we would not be involved in this if there were not something fundamental to be resolved. The same as with Iraq and with the tsunami. It's how we human beings alert each other to the fact there is something quite amiss. This case is very complex in some people's minds. In mine, it is quite simple. If she is going to take the same length of time to die as any other person who is deprived of food and water, then she has the perfect right to live. I had a cousin in a "vegetative state" who was born that way. He was allowed to live until he died and he was cared for. It was sad, it was awful, it was uncomfortable and we talked about it often. She can breathe by herself and her body is still functioning inspite of the trauma to her brain. Kill her and it is possible to kill any number of brain damaged people. It costs time effort and money to own and care for them but they are not like that of their own choice. If she were "dying" , then yes, let her die, but evidence suggests her body is living. Whether we approve of her "vegetative" state or not is irrelevant and it may well be unpleasant and inconvenient, but we are people. She is not an animal to be put down. Nor do I understand the criticisms made of Congress and the American people for debating this long and hard. We talk about all the other issues and matters crucial to us as a society and I actually admire Congress for going to the trouble of giving up their time and energy to debate an issue which is so close to home. That to me is real leadership. While these experienced politicians are debating their legal system, their political system , their citizen's rights and responsibilities they are actually drawing their people into open debate on an extrememly difficult and emotional problem. They are allowing their country to debate a very tough issue and to formulate opinions. By having the guts to debate it it Congress they are saying it is a good idea to tackle the tough stuff head on and to allow people their say.The current mania for a rush to "closure" on such a serious matter is entirely inappropriate. In this way Terri Schiavo, who is unable to represent herself , has the power, through her people, to have a fair and proper hearing. Isn't that what is important? Isn't she the one who needs to be represented? And that is why we need Terri Schiavo's and Cornelia Rau's - they give us the gumption to front up to the good the bad and the ugly in our society and give it animated, open discussion where all points of view are heard. While it is debated she should be fed. Starving her to death is wrong because she is the one who deserves to be heard and we are talking on her behalf. When we are happy and when we have formulated our ideas, the best course of action can be decided without the heat of debate. Currently it is clearly still being discussed. That there is such a split in society and such a split between the husband and the parents is cause to pause and THINK. Get the opinions, the facts, the information. Then decide in a calmer frame of mind. In the meantime, speak out and be heard.
Detailed information is available on this site:
Abstract Appeal
"The feeding tube was disconnected on Friday, and doctors have said that Terri Schiavo, 41, could survive one to two weeks without water and nutrients."
Two weeks before she dies and that appears to be a very long time. I might as well have my tuppence worth because we are all involved now and there is probably a reason for it. The more people who feel compelled to become involved, the more complicated and ill defined the problem is. When people are very intense about something, there is usually a very good reason and it generally means something is very wrong. Like Cornelia Rau here , we would not be involved in this if there were not something fundamental to be resolved. The same as with Iraq and with the tsunami. It's how we human beings alert each other to the fact there is something quite amiss. This case is very complex in some people's minds. In mine, it is quite simple. If she is going to take the same length of time to die as any other person who is deprived of food and water, then she has the perfect right to live. I had a cousin in a "vegetative state" who was born that way. He was allowed to live until he died and he was cared for. It was sad, it was awful, it was uncomfortable and we talked about it often. She can breathe by herself and her body is still functioning inspite of the trauma to her brain. Kill her and it is possible to kill any number of brain damaged people. It costs time effort and money to own and care for them but they are not like that of their own choice. If she were "dying" , then yes, let her die, but evidence suggests her body is living. Whether we approve of her "vegetative" state or not is irrelevant and it may well be unpleasant and inconvenient, but we are people. She is not an animal to be put down. Nor do I understand the criticisms made of Congress and the American people for debating this long and hard. We talk about all the other issues and matters crucial to us as a society and I actually admire Congress for going to the trouble of giving up their time and energy to debate an issue which is so close to home. That to me is real leadership. While these experienced politicians are debating their legal system, their political system , their citizen's rights and responsibilities they are actually drawing their people into open debate on an extrememly difficult and emotional problem. They are allowing their country to debate a very tough issue and to formulate opinions. By having the guts to debate it it Congress they are saying it is a good idea to tackle the tough stuff head on and to allow people their say.The current mania for a rush to "closure" on such a serious matter is entirely inappropriate. In this way Terri Schiavo, who is unable to represent herself , has the power, through her people, to have a fair and proper hearing. Isn't that what is important? Isn't she the one who needs to be represented? And that is why we need Terri Schiavo's and Cornelia Rau's - they give us the gumption to front up to the good the bad and the ugly in our society and give it animated, open discussion where all points of view are heard. While it is debated she should be fed. Starving her to death is wrong because she is the one who deserves to be heard and we are talking on her behalf. When we are happy and when we have formulated our ideas, the best course of action can be decided without the heat of debate. Currently it is clearly still being discussed. That there is such a split in society and such a split between the husband and the parents is cause to pause and THINK. Get the opinions, the facts, the information. Then decide in a calmer frame of mind. In the meantime, speak out and be heard.
Detailed information is available on this site:
Abstract Appeal
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Antibiotics flushed into waterways
News in Science - Antibiotics flushed into waterways - 17/03/2005: "Antibiotics flushed into waterways"
We certainly take care of our environment. What are we thinking?? Who knows what we shall find in our waterways. Either that or our plants and fish will become indestructible.
We certainly take care of our environment. What are we thinking?? Who knows what we shall find in our waterways. Either that or our plants and fish will become indestructible.
Repeat Indian Ocean quake likely
News in Science 17/03/2005:
"The December quake put more stress on other active faults in the area, making another earthquake with a magnitude of up to 7.5 far more likely and increasing the need for a warning system, the researchers say."
Lovely. Just what we wanted to hear. So we not only need a warning system,we also need to stop wasting our money on non essential crisis generation and put it into our pre tsunami stockpile fund.
"The December quake put more stress on other active faults in the area, making another earthquake with a magnitude of up to 7.5 far more likely and increasing the need for a warning system, the researchers say."
Lovely. Just what we wanted to hear. So we not only need a warning system,we also need to stop wasting our money on non essential crisis generation and put it into our pre tsunami stockpile fund.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Monkey business
©AFP/Kazuhiro Nogi
Un singe de neige sculpté par l'artiste américain Robert Wilson est illuminé sur une place de Nagakute (Japon) où va s'ouvrir une Exposition universelle.
A monkey sculpted from snow by american artist, Robert Wilson, is illuminated in a square in Nagakute(Japan)where a universal exhibition is going to be opened.
You can talk to some people until you are blue in the face.
Journée internationale de la Francophonie - Le 20 mars 2005
Journée internationale de la Francophonie
"La Francophonie est plus que jamais en marche.Oeuvre humaine, espace vivant, elle se renouvelle et intensifie son action en faveur d’une société plurielle mais solidaire. Elle affirme ses valeurs, sur la base d’une langue partagée, et donne au reste du monde l’exemple d’une diversité dynamique au service d’une aspiration universelle."
Monsieur Abdou Diouf, Secrétaire Général de l'Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie
"La Francophonie est plus que jamais en marche.Oeuvre humaine, espace vivant, elle se renouvelle et intensifie son action en faveur d’une société plurielle mais solidaire. Elle affirme ses valeurs, sur la base d’une langue partagée, et donne au reste du monde l’exemple d’une diversité dynamique au service d’une aspiration universelle."
Monsieur Abdou Diouf, Secrétaire Général de l'Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie
Global Dimming
Four Corners - 21/03/2005: Global Dimming:
"Global dimming is a product of the fossil fuels that cause global warming. It is the result of tiny airborne pieces of soot, ash and sulphur compounds reflecting back the heat of the sun."
Yes, there has been a marked amount of global dimming in the world since the turn of the millennium, mainly with regard to leadership. I hadn't particularly noticed the sun was dimming. It seems ridiculously hot to me when it is shining and really "bites" the skin. It used to warm it. Is that dimming?? Feels more like being in a microwave oven , not that I'm in the habit of jumping into the oven!
"Global dimming is a product of the fossil fuels that cause global warming. It is the result of tiny airborne pieces of soot, ash and sulphur compounds reflecting back the heat of the sun."
Yes, there has been a marked amount of global dimming in the world since the turn of the millennium, mainly with regard to leadership. I hadn't particularly noticed the sun was dimming. It seems ridiculously hot to me when it is shining and really "bites" the skin. It used to warm it. Is that dimming?? Feels more like being in a microwave oven , not that I'm in the habit of jumping into the oven!
Tactless award
Today's brick bat goes to Channel Ten for showing the trailer of some tasteless comedy film about being eaten by sharks. The humour in the film is poor but to have it airing during an ad break before they did the news coverage on the young man in WA being taken by a shark at the weekend and the pain it was obviously causing his father and friends was a bit unbelievable really. His father was calm and dignified as was Nick Peterson's father here. I have no idea how these parents cope with a loss like that in front of a camera for us to share their news. That any TV station is showing a cheap comedy about people being eaten by sharks has to be totally insensitive at this point in time and the film makers must be feeling very hard hearted to make a cheap shot film like that. A documentary might have been tolerable, but a silly comedy made at the expense of real people's suffering?
Whodunnits
There has been a popular run of Agatha Christie TV series . The first lot had Hercule Poirot and the current lot have Miss Marple. I wonder why they haven't resurrected and revamped Inpector Maigret? I'm sure they'd go down well.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Another senseless death
The Advertiser: Died in my arms [20mar05]: "They said the woman had attempted to escape her killer by running from her parked car. But he pursued the woman, grabbed her and slashed her throat just 30m away in what police described as a 'violent and very deliberate attack'."
Why are relationships ending in death in Adelaide? Last time I checked statistics 8/10 murders in Adelaide were by someone who knew you, one was random and the other was by a woman who was a victim of domestic violence. It would appear our statistics are staying on target. I don't understand why , when we are a pretty quiet community, you suddenly get these alarmingly violent deaths between partners. Killing the opposition was never on the cards, never figured in the to do list when having a row or dipute with your partner. It is all very final and finite and increasingly the general public is being given roles in these crimes of terror. The woman who died was being terrorised. At least the lady who helped her had the courage to stay and not let her die alone, but she was putting herself at risk as well. The police must be getting exhausted by our uncustomary bloodshed around town.
Why are relationships ending in death in Adelaide? Last time I checked statistics 8/10 murders in Adelaide were by someone who knew you, one was random and the other was by a woman who was a victim of domestic violence. It would appear our statistics are staying on target. I don't understand why , when we are a pretty quiet community, you suddenly get these alarmingly violent deaths between partners. Killing the opposition was never on the cards, never figured in the to do list when having a row or dipute with your partner. It is all very final and finite and increasingly the general public is being given roles in these crimes of terror. The woman who died was being terrorised. At least the lady who helped her had the courage to stay and not let her die alone, but she was putting herself at risk as well. The police must be getting exhausted by our uncustomary bloodshed around town.
Chinese mine explosion toll doubles
Chinese mine explosion toll doubles. ABC News Online
I feel so sad for these miners. It's a hard,relentless life ,mines have always collapsed , miners have always been lost and the search for those still in the mines has always been heartbreaking. Most western countries have abandoned coal mining but I suppose there are too many Chinese for them to go without mining for coal. We need to get better energy sources and although the debate on nuclear energy still continues, we still need a viable alternative to fossil fuels for heating and power generation. European countries had mines collapsing at the turn of the last century and before and Emile Zola's account of mining communities in Germinal is still a very powerful and moving novel. Truly, we need to find another way.
I feel so sad for these miners. It's a hard,relentless life ,mines have always collapsed , miners have always been lost and the search for those still in the mines has always been heartbreaking. Most western countries have abandoned coal mining but I suppose there are too many Chinese for them to go without mining for coal. We need to get better energy sources and although the debate on nuclear energy still continues, we still need a viable alternative to fossil fuels for heating and power generation. European countries had mines collapsing at the turn of the last century and before and Emile Zola's account of mining communities in Germinal is still a very powerful and moving novel. Truly, we need to find another way.
Australians reiterate opposition to Iraq war.
Australians reiterate opposition to Iraq war. 20/03/2005. ABC News Online:
No matter what our leaders say or do, normal people keep trying to build bridges. Leaders keep building walls and barriers and yet they were normal people once. Why are leaders so out of touch with the people who elected them to govern?
No matter what our leaders say or do, normal people keep trying to build bridges. Leaders keep building walls and barriers and yet they were normal people once. Why are leaders so out of touch with the people who elected them to govern?
Saturday, March 19, 2005
The Irrawaddy On-line Edition
The Irrawaddy On-line Edition
"Post-tsunami Burmese migrant survivors, many of whom lost all their possessions and their identity and registration papers, now face another crisis—Thailand’s Immigration Department has been rounding up Burmese nationals that cannot prove they are in Thailand legally and deporting them. (This has complicated and slowed the victim identification effort as many Burmese have been too afraid to visit body collection centers.)"
I believe they have to leave by March 30th. Bad enough they went though the tsunami. That they cannot identify and grieve their own people is sad. That they must leave Thailand where they lived is sad...but we have the Baxter detention centre and that's sad too. Burmese people have had social justice issues which have been recognised in many public arenas. Do we keep ignoring things like this in the world? Isn't this the same world which rushed to lend a helping hand the day after the tsunami hit? Why do we change so quickly?
"Post-tsunami Burmese migrant survivors, many of whom lost all their possessions and their identity and registration papers, now face another crisis—Thailand’s Immigration Department has been rounding up Burmese nationals that cannot prove they are in Thailand legally and deporting them. (This has complicated and slowed the victim identification effort as many Burmese have been too afraid to visit body collection centers.)"
I believe they have to leave by March 30th. Bad enough they went though the tsunami. That they cannot identify and grieve their own people is sad. That they must leave Thailand where they lived is sad...but we have the Baxter detention centre and that's sad too. Burmese people have had social justice issues which have been recognised in many public arenas. Do we keep ignoring things like this in the world? Isn't this the same world which rushed to lend a helping hand the day after the tsunami hit? Why do we change so quickly?
Rainmaker
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Thai king aims high over drought: "Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej is to oversee personally an artificial rain-making project in a bid to end a severe drought in the country.
He is expanding a cloud-seeding technique he patented in 2002, which involves aircraft releasing a chemical into clouds to induce rainfall."
What next? I know about cloud seeding, but it has never appeared to have been that successful because droughts have still crippled areas in many countires. Why don't they bring rain to Africa so they can grow crops to feed their people? If you had a technique like this, why not use it before the drought kills too many crops, animals and goes on to starve people? Our scientific capabilities really are mind boggling and it'd good that the monarchy in Thailand is using these capabilities to sustain the livelihood of its people. I suppose they were waiting to see what nature would do rahter than interfere with the rhythm of life. Is it expensive? Are their dangers? Will it upset the balance of the planet if we do it?
He is expanding a cloud-seeding technique he patented in 2002, which involves aircraft releasing a chemical into clouds to induce rainfall."
What next? I know about cloud seeding, but it has never appeared to have been that successful because droughts have still crippled areas in many countires. Why don't they bring rain to Africa so they can grow crops to feed their people? If you had a technique like this, why not use it before the drought kills too many crops, animals and goes on to starve people? Our scientific capabilities really are mind boggling and it'd good that the monarchy in Thailand is using these capabilities to sustain the livelihood of its people. I suppose they were waiting to see what nature would do rahter than interfere with the rhythm of life. Is it expensive? Are their dangers? Will it upset the balance of the planet if we do it?
Mind boggling online police station
BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | South West Wales | 'Virtual' police station on line:
"The UK's first 'virtual' police station is up and running, giving
residents face-to-face access to a police officer 24 hours a day."
I think this is a great idea , especially with the uptake of broadband and the fact children and older people are very comfortable with the Net these days. Some times it's emotionally easier to do things on the web rather than in "real" life. I can imagine it would increase public participation in crime watch in a good way. Maybe there needs to be an international site as well. I can remember a story of a net user happening to see an armed hold up on a web cam they just happened to be visiting and they rang the local police of the area. With an international police site, you could just email them. I guess spamming and scamming might be an issue. Maybe some of the hackers who are caught could be used to protect the online site?! Honestly, this world is mind boggling sometimes.
"The UK's first 'virtual' police station is up and running, giving
residents face-to-face access to a police officer 24 hours a day."
I think this is a great idea , especially with the uptake of broadband and the fact children and older people are very comfortable with the Net these days. Some times it's emotionally easier to do things on the web rather than in "real" life. I can imagine it would increase public participation in crime watch in a good way. Maybe there needs to be an international site as well. I can remember a story of a net user happening to see an armed hold up on a web cam they just happened to be visiting and they rang the local police of the area. With an international police site, you could just email them. I guess spamming and scamming might be an issue. Maybe some of the hackers who are caught could be used to protect the online site?! Honestly, this world is mind boggling sometimes.
Friday, March 18, 2005
MSN Syndicated Content
MSN Syndicated Content: "* Place a My MSN button on your home page (pictured on right) to allow users to quickly add your RSS feed to their My MSN page. The code needed to make the button work should look like this:
When you insert this code,
* Replace www.destinationlink.com with the Web address of your RSS feed.
* Replace www.returnlink.com with an optional, alternate web address that will display if someone cancels before completely adding your feed.
* Copy the MyMSN.gif image to the same directory as the page containing the link."
This is the first time I have known MSN to be behind the times. They are usually the ones right up there; they have often been the market leaders and when it comes to helping your average computer user , they have usually the ones who have been user friendly. With RSS feeds they have just cottoned on and when I went to put a button on my site, I find it's a do it yourself project whereas every other syndication provider has gone out of their way to help me syndicate and help others do the same? What are you doing MSN? Can't you host buttons like everyone else? Come on!
When you insert this code,
* Replace www.destinationlink.com with the Web address of your RSS feed.
* Replace www.returnlink.com with an optional, alternate web address that will display if someone cancels before completely adding your feed.
* Copy the MyMSN.gif image to the same directory as the page containing the link."
This is the first time I have known MSN to be behind the times. They are usually the ones right up there; they have often been the market leaders and when it comes to helping your average computer user , they have usually the ones who have been user friendly. With RSS feeds they have just cottoned on and when I went to put a button on my site, I find it's a do it yourself project whereas every other syndication provider has gone out of their way to help me syndicate and help others do the same? What are you doing MSN? Can't you host buttons like everyone else? Come on!
Our Man in Hanoi
Our Man in Hanoi:
"* Sponsorship info.
It costs $80 a month (for 18 months) to sponsor a child. This covers everything from accommodation to a wage. We have 22 new kids who need sponsors.
You are investing in the sustainability of an indvidual. For less than the price of a month's cable TV subscription you can change a child's life forever. Think of it - for 18 montly payments you give someone a life.
If you're a blogger then link this message. If you've a few dollars to spare then contact me and I will arrange sponsorship or look here. If you have friends who might like to help out then cut, paste and send this to them.
Thank-you.
I can be contacted on ourmaninhanoi@gmail.com."
"* Sponsorship info.
It costs $80 a month (for 18 months) to sponsor a child. This covers everything from accommodation to a wage. We have 22 new kids who need sponsors.
You are investing in the sustainability of an indvidual. For less than the price of a month's cable TV subscription you can change a child's life forever. Think of it - for 18 montly payments you give someone a life.
If you're a blogger then link this message. If you've a few dollars to spare then contact me and I will arrange sponsorship or look here. If you have friends who might like to help out then cut, paste and send this to them.
Thank-you.
I can be contacted on ourmaninhanoi@gmail.com."
Cancer cells never die
The Advertiser: Cancer could save lives: scientists :
"Scientists believe they may be able to significantly increase people's lifespans by learning why cancer cells are immortal."
Apart from the fact cancer is one of the most insidious, hideous diseases I have had the misfortune to be associated with in various ways, I can't believe there is an up side. My brain strained scientific mind doesn't understand how they can stay alive forever if they kill the host body. That doesn't make them everlasting. They are obviously everlating in laboratory conditions and that is weird. It's also clear they play a role in longevity. How can something so brutally destructive help keep people alive?? Put your hand up if you are going to be the guimea pig to try this out?! It is astounding, all the same, what scientist can come up with when they have the time and money to pursue their thinking and exploring.
"Scientists believe they may be able to significantly increase people's lifespans by learning why cancer cells are immortal."
Apart from the fact cancer is one of the most insidious, hideous diseases I have had the misfortune to be associated with in various ways, I can't believe there is an up side. My brain strained scientific mind doesn't understand how they can stay alive forever if they kill the host body. That doesn't make them everlasting. They are obviously everlating in laboratory conditions and that is weird. It's also clear they play a role in longevity. How can something so brutally destructive help keep people alive?? Put your hand up if you are going to be the guimea pig to try this out?! It is astounding, all the same, what scientist can come up with when they have the time and money to pursue their thinking and exploring.
Woman still in coma
The Advertiser: Woman still in coma
The woman who was beaten and left in her car boot to die and who actually survived is still in a coma. This is so sad. She went through all of that and survived. I want her to wake up. Unrealistic as it may be, it seems sad she survived that brutal attempt at murder and has not woken up yet. Mind you, I heard a couple of weeks ago there was a lady who was in a coma for 20 years and then woke up as normal. The human body is very strange at times. Her daughter and young son must be beside themselves given what has happened to their mother and that their father was implicated. So much pain and trauma for them to deal with and the boy is only 11. At least the media seems to have backed off to help them to come to terms with this hand life's dealt them.
The woman who was beaten and left in her car boot to die and who actually survived is still in a coma. This is so sad. She went through all of that and survived. I want her to wake up. Unrealistic as it may be, it seems sad she survived that brutal attempt at murder and has not woken up yet. Mind you, I heard a couple of weeks ago there was a lady who was in a coma for 20 years and then woke up as normal. The human body is very strange at times. Her daughter and young son must be beside themselves given what has happened to their mother and that their father was implicated. So much pain and trauma for them to deal with and the boy is only 11. At least the media seems to have backed off to help them to come to terms with this hand life's dealt them.
Yahoo waters down Firefox pledge
Yahoo waters down Firefox pledge: ZDNet Australia: News: Software
"In the grand scheme of things Firefox is still a new technology. I’m not saying we are not going to be developing and exploring other areas -- we are. But there are so many different products on the Yahoo network that there may be some products that are, perhaps, not appropriate for that browser," the representative said.
Come on Yahoo, you've just celebrated your 10th birthday and you were new technology at the time and we and "they"...the grand schemers... supported you because you were new and different and we wanted you. People want Firefox. We are 10 years down the track, the yadda , yadda, blah, blah approach won't work. What exactly is the problem??
"In the grand scheme of things Firefox is still a new technology. I’m not saying we are not going to be developing and exploring other areas -- we are. But there are so many different products on the Yahoo network that there may be some products that are, perhaps, not appropriate for that browser," the representative said.
Come on Yahoo, you've just celebrated your 10th birthday and you were new technology at the time and we and "they"...the grand schemers... supported you because you were new and different and we wanted you. People want Firefox. We are 10 years down the track, the yadda , yadda, blah, blah approach won't work. What exactly is the problem??
Thursday, March 17, 2005
We asked for it
Australian IT - Sony in push to outflank PS2 mods (Andrew Colley, MARCH 15, 2005):
"The case would be based on amendments to the Copyright Act flowing from the US Free Trade Agreement in January, he said.
Sony's lawyers were preparing the case in anticipation of a High Court appeal overturning a decision in its favour, based on previous laws, handed down by the full bench of the Federal Court in July 2003."
I can't wait for what happens next...and then we get all the surprises with the trade agreements with China. To quote people in high places: I think it is going to be a very interesting time.
"The case would be based on amendments to the Copyright Act flowing from the US Free Trade Agreement in January, he said.
Sony's lawyers were preparing the case in anticipation of a High Court appeal overturning a decision in its favour, based on previous laws, handed down by the full bench of the Federal Court in July 2003."
I can't wait for what happens next...and then we get all the surprises with the trade agreements with China. To quote people in high places: I think it is going to be a very interesting time.
Pulling the rabbit out of the hat
©AFP/DDP/Henning Kaiser
Une employée du musée Ludwig à Cologne nettoie la vitrine où est exposée une oeuvre réalisée en chocolat noir et blanc. Par Hans-Peter Feldmann.
An employee of the Ludwig museum in Colognecleans the window of the case which exhibits a work of art made from dark and white chocolate.
So how come the Germans get all these big giant chocolate things and we, the nation which is supposed to eat more chocolate per head thean any other nation...how come we get little eggs and rabbits and bilbies. How fair is that??
PM won't promise `no more troops'
The Advertiser: PM won't promise `no more troops' [17mar05]:
"He said he could only repeat what he said after announcing the deployment of 450 troops last month. 'We do not have any current plans to increase the number but I can't rule out some change in the future and I do not intend to do so,' he said."
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.
The more things change, the more things stay the same.
Been there, done that!!
1916 24th August -British War Office cables Australia for more men.
We put more and more men into Turkey at the time and we narrowly defeated a move to bring in conscription on 28th October 1916. Later it was brought in and it came down to the women in Australia being very proactive and fighting their own battle to save their men and their country from the folly it had subscribed to. We don’t need to play ground hog day. It’s people’s lives we are talking about here.
"Australia lost a whole generation of men, 58,961 were never to come home and 166,811 were casualties coming home from the war with broken minds and bodies."
Anzac Day
"He said he could only repeat what he said after announcing the deployment of 450 troops last month. 'We do not have any current plans to increase the number but I can't rule out some change in the future and I do not intend to do so,' he said."
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.
The more things change, the more things stay the same.
Been there, done that!!
1916 24th August -British War Office cables Australia for more men.
We put more and more men into Turkey at the time and we narrowly defeated a move to bring in conscription on 28th October 1916. Later it was brought in and it came down to the women in Australia being very proactive and fighting their own battle to save their men and their country from the folly it had subscribed to. We don’t need to play ground hog day. It’s people’s lives we are talking about here.
"Australia lost a whole generation of men, 58,961 were never to come home and 166,811 were casualties coming home from the war with broken minds and bodies."
Anzac Day
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Still counting
US officials fudging Iraq army numbers
Well, let's face it, none of this adds up and it never did. Too many innocent people dead, too many people killed, too many soldiers killed. Too many people injured. Too many people damaged. Too may people affected negatively. Still counting. Stop it. Too many explosions, too many bombs, too many bullets, too much torture or not torture...we argue semantics and discuss definitions, but we wish to be precise with numbers. Will it help? If we get an exact number , will it be good? Will Iraq get itself back on the map? How many buildings, how much culture, how much blood? Does measuring improve it? Clearly it's all up a wattle. I read that 3000 American troops had deserted in Iraq. I daresay they are somewhere and probably can't go home. 3000 homeless Americans if those sites are correct. The Netherlands has pulled out, Italy has pulled out . How many other countries have pulled out? I read that business interests there to help set up the "liberated" Iraq had pulled out because it was too dangerous. If it stopped right now what are the dangers to people and the environment? What damage will the troops take home? Still counting. How much money is this all costing ? What could that money have done? Still counting. Counting doesn't doesn't help. What will help? Do you know why we had the United Nations? So we had a group of representatives from all corners of the world to discuss these very issues and have a forum for hammering out "best practice". What have we replaced it with? What else is there? We need nations to join in a forum to stop it. Stay and fix it or leave and let them fix themselves? What is the better thing to do or is there something we haven't considered? Bombs, explosions, deaths and more blood will not fix anything for anyone. You don't improve someone's health by giving them a thorough beating.
Well, let's face it, none of this adds up and it never did. Too many innocent people dead, too many people killed, too many soldiers killed. Too many people injured. Too many people damaged. Too may people affected negatively. Still counting. Stop it. Too many explosions, too many bombs, too many bullets, too much torture or not torture...we argue semantics and discuss definitions, but we wish to be precise with numbers. Will it help? If we get an exact number , will it be good? Will Iraq get itself back on the map? How many buildings, how much culture, how much blood? Does measuring improve it? Clearly it's all up a wattle. I read that 3000 American troops had deserted in Iraq. I daresay they are somewhere and probably can't go home. 3000 homeless Americans if those sites are correct. The Netherlands has pulled out, Italy has pulled out . How many other countries have pulled out? I read that business interests there to help set up the "liberated" Iraq had pulled out because it was too dangerous. If it stopped right now what are the dangers to people and the environment? What damage will the troops take home? Still counting. How much money is this all costing ? What could that money have done? Still counting. Counting doesn't doesn't help. What will help? Do you know why we had the United Nations? So we had a group of representatives from all corners of the world to discuss these very issues and have a forum for hammering out "best practice". What have we replaced it with? What else is there? We need nations to join in a forum to stop it. Stay and fix it or leave and let them fix themselves? What is the better thing to do or is there something we haven't considered? Bombs, explosions, deaths and more blood will not fix anything for anyone. You don't improve someone's health by giving them a thorough beating.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Strike a chord
Govt to maintain full-size orchestras.
I should jolly well think so. I can't believe we even considered reducing them. Someone's a philistine and it's not us. The South Australian Symphony orchestra was going to be one of them...thereby supplying floating musicians to ...yes, you guessed it... the eastern states. What a surprise.
I should jolly well think so. I can't believe we even considered reducing them. Someone's a philistine and it's not us. The South Australian Symphony orchestra was going to be one of them...thereby supplying floating musicians to ...yes, you guessed it... the eastern states. What a surprise.
Oussama bin Pimpernel
Pakistan's bin Laden trail goes cold. 15/03/2005. ABC News Online: "Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says his country's security forces have lost track of Osama bin Laden."
They seek him here, they seek him there....off again! Slipped through their fingers like dust.
They seek him here, they seek him there....off again! Slipped through their fingers like dust.
Dust???
NEWS.com.au | Dusty insulator cuts state's power (15-03-2005):
"INDEPENDENT electricity consultant Rob Booth said the blackout 'should never have happened'."
You can say that again!
"INDEPENDENT electricity consultant Rob Booth said the blackout 'should never have happened'."
"INDEPENDENT electricity consultant Rob Booth said the blackout 'should never have happened'."
"INDEPENDENT electricity consultant Rob Booth said the blackout 'should never have happened'."
"INDEPENDENT electricity consultant Rob Booth said the blackout 'should never have happened'."
You can say that again!
"INDEPENDENT electricity consultant Rob Booth said the blackout 'should never have happened'."
"INDEPENDENT electricity consultant Rob Booth said the blackout 'should never have happened'."
"INDEPENDENT electricity consultant Rob Booth said the blackout 'should never have happened'."
Monday, March 14, 2005
Power companies 'face lawsuits' over outage
NEWS.com.au | Power companies 'face lawsuits' over outage (14-03-2005): "POWER companies would face legal action if they were found to have caused today's blackout, which left almost half of South Australia without electricity, the State Government said today.
Energy Minister Patrick Conlon warned the Government would not be placated by 'lame excuses' from power companies for the blackout which caused widespread chaos in the state."
So why would South Australians get so cross and focussed about a bit of a black out this morning? Nothing like the blackouts in 1999 which heralded the onslaught of privatised utilities. Easy. Friday at 3pm there was a lighning strike of train drivers. Within its context it was something to understand and work with, but nevertheless, train dependent school students , in particular, had to get home some other way.Buses, parent taxi services. Then workers were inconvenienced at the end of a long week in Adelaide. Yes, the stuff of daily living, but the sort of thing which topples the precariously balanced. So we all get up this morning and at 7 it all falls apart. No roller doors, no traffic lights, no train signals, no microwaves. The timing was uncanny and we know it. Just enough to put the pressure on people trying to struggle back into harness...kids trying to print up homework, people trying to get their cars out and then big hold ups at intersections. The timing. This has really got us irked because our electricity comes from the eastern states and we are fed up being the fall guy to the eastern states. We did what we always do..just got on with it. We know, at the moment , there is no comeback, but Adelaide will start thinking. We are tired of being used and abused. Manipulated. Put upon, put out, when all we want to do is get on with our lives in a positive way. We are tired of the nonsense because it is unnecessarily destructive and there are far too many of these "explained" inconveniences and/or disasters. It is getting to saturation point.
Energy Minister Patrick Conlon warned the Government would not be placated by 'lame excuses' from power companies for the blackout which caused widespread chaos in the state."
So why would South Australians get so cross and focussed about a bit of a black out this morning? Nothing like the blackouts in 1999 which heralded the onslaught of privatised utilities. Easy. Friday at 3pm there was a lighning strike of train drivers. Within its context it was something to understand and work with, but nevertheless, train dependent school students , in particular, had to get home some other way.Buses, parent taxi services. Then workers were inconvenienced at the end of a long week in Adelaide. Yes, the stuff of daily living, but the sort of thing which topples the precariously balanced. So we all get up this morning and at 7 it all falls apart. No roller doors, no traffic lights, no train signals, no microwaves. The timing was uncanny and we know it. Just enough to put the pressure on people trying to struggle back into harness...kids trying to print up homework, people trying to get their cars out and then big hold ups at intersections. The timing. This has really got us irked because our electricity comes from the eastern states and we are fed up being the fall guy to the eastern states. We did what we always do..just got on with it. We know, at the moment , there is no comeback, but Adelaide will start thinking. We are tired of being used and abused. Manipulated. Put upon, put out, when all we want to do is get on with our lives in a positive way. We are tired of the nonsense because it is unnecessarily destructive and there are far too many of these "explained" inconveniences and/or disasters. It is getting to saturation point.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Togetherness
Tas toilet helps tsunami-ravaged Banda Aceh. 13/03/2005. ABC News Online:
"Sanitation in the tsunami devastated region of Banda Aceh is being improved with the help of 40 Tasmanian toilets.
The BiPu, or Bio-remedial In-field Personnel Unit, is a low-cost, environmentally friendly primary sewage treatment system."
Might not seem a big thing, but if everyone does their bit we can help each other and bring some dignity back to the tsunami affected areas. But if you read this article, it means a lot more in the scheme of things than sanitation. It's about being human and being part of a society.
"Sanitation in the tsunami devastated region of Banda Aceh is being improved with the help of 40 Tasmanian toilets.
The BiPu, or Bio-remedial In-field Personnel Unit, is a low-cost, environmentally friendly primary sewage treatment system."
Might not seem a big thing, but if everyone does their bit we can help each other and bring some dignity back to the tsunami affected areas. But if you read this article, it means a lot more in the scheme of things than sanitation. It's about being human and being part of a society.
Gone to pot
I've got a new plant!!! The pot was one of the birthday presents from my sister and brother in law. They also took me to dinner and my sister gave me all these lotions and potions to pamper myself with as well. It's a zinc pot, which is a bit different and I didn't really know what to do...but it's full of coconut fibre, a bucket with soil, my wotsit wotsit longifolia and some lovely river stones. I love it! Looks so swish
Saturday, March 12, 2005
The lesson of the Polar Bear
©AFP/Dieter Nagl
Christina, un bébé ours polaire, né en décembre dans le zoo de Schönbrunn, à Vienne, se tient sous la protection de sa mère Olinkaa.
Christina a baby polar bear born in December in the Schönbrunn zoo in Vienna stands under the protection of her mother Olinkaa.
Test Predicts Who Can Benefit From Chemo
NewsFactor Network - - Test Predicts Who Can Benefit From Chemo:
"A genetic profiling test already on the market accurately predicts which breast cancer patients will benefit from chemotherapy and which won't, giving women a powerful tool to help decide whether to undergo the ordeal, scientists report."
About time and another great example of where our money and research can go. If chemo works, it's fantastic....if it doesn't, it is absolutely hideous and we don't talk about it. Thank heavens we are using our brains and research dollar to save people from this awful dilemma of not knowing if it will go wrong or not. As I have said before, we have enough challenges on this planet to give us all an intellectual work out without creating man made disasters.
"A genetic profiling test already on the market accurately predicts which breast cancer patients will benefit from chemotherapy and which won't, giving women a powerful tool to help decide whether to undergo the ordeal, scientists report."
About time and another great example of where our money and research can go. If chemo works, it's fantastic....if it doesn't, it is absolutely hideous and we don't talk about it. Thank heavens we are using our brains and research dollar to save people from this awful dilemma of not knowing if it will go wrong or not. As I have said before, we have enough challenges on this planet to give us all an intellectual work out without creating man made disasters.
Elite girls school row comes to a head
The Australian: Elite girls school row comes to a head [March 12, 2005]
I think the parents are right! This school appears to be locked into Victorian protocol and we are not only in Australia we are in the year 2005. It's a bizarre story from where we sit getting the bits and pieces of news. The parents are clearly articulate and well qualified and appear to have a genuine interest in the welfare of the staff and the students. Susan Preedy also appears to have the support of the parents and students and it is unclear whether the staff support her or not. That is the crux of the issue to me. The governing council is trying to keep everything quiet and perhaps more from the point of view of the classic Victorian "discreet" protocol than for any other reason. Certainly the 3 key women have said virtually nothing to the news and so the outsider looking in it as baffled as the parents appear to be. The ex headmistress, who in this millennium should be called the principal, has returned to England and is not returning and the school appears to be currently cobbled together administratively.I don't know the origins of the other two women. Maybe they want an Australian principal for an Australian elite school. The school is obviously not dealing with change and may have thrown the baby out with the bath water. It is very odd for parents to go against a governing council in a school in such a determined manner so it leads me to believe there are some serious issues. I read of one parent talking about "transparency" and though I abhor the use of this word I think it's what needs to occur. Institutions like schools, hospitals and churches need to be organised in such a way as to be openly run and directed. Newly appointed,well credentialed, principals shouldn't find themselves running off in a state of distress and turmoil. Parents shouldn't find themselves having to find a way to stabilise their child's school. It's all very odd. We have enough education experts, sociologists and and business people in our community to create a decent, long term resolution to the school's problems. Unfortunately, they may continue to choose the Victorian approach and try and fix it themselves.
I think the parents are right! This school appears to be locked into Victorian protocol and we are not only in Australia we are in the year 2005. It's a bizarre story from where we sit getting the bits and pieces of news. The parents are clearly articulate and well qualified and appear to have a genuine interest in the welfare of the staff and the students. Susan Preedy also appears to have the support of the parents and students and it is unclear whether the staff support her or not. That is the crux of the issue to me. The governing council is trying to keep everything quiet and perhaps more from the point of view of the classic Victorian "discreet" protocol than for any other reason. Certainly the 3 key women have said virtually nothing to the news and so the outsider looking in it as baffled as the parents appear to be. The ex headmistress, who in this millennium should be called the principal, has returned to England and is not returning and the school appears to be currently cobbled together administratively.I don't know the origins of the other two women. Maybe they want an Australian principal for an Australian elite school. The school is obviously not dealing with change and may have thrown the baby out with the bath water. It is very odd for parents to go against a governing council in a school in such a determined manner so it leads me to believe there are some serious issues. I read of one parent talking about "transparency" and though I abhor the use of this word I think it's what needs to occur. Institutions like schools, hospitals and churches need to be organised in such a way as to be openly run and directed. Newly appointed,well credentialed, principals shouldn't find themselves running off in a state of distress and turmoil. Parents shouldn't find themselves having to find a way to stabilise their child's school. It's all very odd. We have enough education experts, sociologists and and business people in our community to create a decent, long term resolution to the school's problems. Unfortunately, they may continue to choose the Victorian approach and try and fix it themselves.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Climate Change - An Australian Guide to the Science and Potential Impacts
Climate Change - An Australian Guide to the Science and Potential Impacts:
"This guide sets out the main facts and uncertainties regarding climate change, and helps provide Australians with policy-relevant, but not policy-prescriptive, advice and source material. It is largely based on, and consistent with, the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC TAR) published in 2001. However, this guide has been substantially updated with relevant summaries of the latest international and Australian observations, scientific developments, and studies regarding the impacts of, and adaptation to climate change in Australia."
In spite of us bullheadedly not signing the Kyoto protocol, we have made an effort in recent years to help our environment and our climate. As a general population we are aware there are issues and want to be involved in positive action. As Australians we have tried to be more careful and to follow advice. Our kids have been on the ball too. It really didn't make sense for us , as a nation, not to sign that because we have cared about the ozone layer etc. We are trying to get our act together with regard to climate science...but thanks government for telling me about this brochure!!! I had no idea and it's actually a good thing you have done. I get ot hear all the crap...I never hear the good things like this.
"This guide sets out the main facts and uncertainties regarding climate change, and helps provide Australians with policy-relevant, but not policy-prescriptive, advice and source material. It is largely based on, and consistent with, the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC TAR) published in 2001. However, this guide has been substantially updated with relevant summaries of the latest international and Australian observations, scientific developments, and studies regarding the impacts of, and adaptation to climate change in Australia."
In spite of us bullheadedly not signing the Kyoto protocol, we have made an effort in recent years to help our environment and our climate. As a general population we are aware there are issues and want to be involved in positive action. As Australians we have tried to be more careful and to follow advice. Our kids have been on the ball too. It really didn't make sense for us , as a nation, not to sign that because we have cared about the ozone layer etc. We are trying to get our act together with regard to climate science...but thanks government for telling me about this brochure!!! I had no idea and it's actually a good thing you have done. I get ot hear all the crap...I never hear the good things like this.
Climate change
Thursday, March 10, 2005
PM accuses ALP of being trade snobs
The Australian: PM accuses ALP of being trade snobs [March 10, 2005]
I love the level of debate. Have these people had university educations? Honestly. We are not short of retail workers. No to my knowledge. We are becoming short of skills areas and trainee money needs to go to a variety of skills bases to encourage employers to train new staff. Many young kids start at Hungry Jacks or McDonalds at year 9 or 10 and then move on to other retail areas. At 14 and 15 I question the need for these students to be working late and long hours when they are in compulsory school here until 16. It does teach many kids about responsibility but it also teaches them about materialism. We need training money for carpenters, agricultural workers, welders...maybe they will give us a list. It's not about insulting the fast food industry nor about snobbery. It's to do with providing a variety of training places. But if you were a grown up , you'd know that. Interestingly enough, fast food outlets overseas are often serviced by older workers. Over here, the kids have the work that older unskilled people could have to feed themselves and their families. The kids could then be studying. Now, what a novel thought that is. Quiet streets...less graffiti...ooooooh. Shhh!
I love the level of debate. Have these people had university educations? Honestly. We are not short of retail workers. No to my knowledge. We are becoming short of skills areas and trainee money needs to go to a variety of skills bases to encourage employers to train new staff. Many young kids start at Hungry Jacks or McDonalds at year 9 or 10 and then move on to other retail areas. At 14 and 15 I question the need for these students to be working late and long hours when they are in compulsory school here until 16. It does teach many kids about responsibility but it also teaches them about materialism. We need training money for carpenters, agricultural workers, welders...maybe they will give us a list. It's not about insulting the fast food industry nor about snobbery. It's to do with providing a variety of training places. But if you were a grown up , you'd know that. Interestingly enough, fast food outlets overseas are often serviced by older workers. Over here, the kids have the work that older unskilled people could have to feed themselves and their families. The kids could then be studying. Now, what a novel thought that is. Quiet streets...less graffiti...ooooooh. Shhh!
OECD report finds Australian Govt tax rates comparitively high
AM - OECD report finds Australian Govt tax rates comparitively high:
"The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development says some Australian families pay the second highest effective marginal tax rates of any country in the OECD. And it says high taxes for families on average wages and single parents are creating big disincentives to work. Labor says the OECD report backs its claims that the Howard Government is high taxing."
We find the tax rates high too. There are some bizarre anomalies. For some people it is better to stay on welfare than earn a low income and pay taxes. For some it's a case of working hard for a living to support themselves and their families and then see others do better because they either have more children or they have family payments, benefits or whatever. The way income is generated here has become convoluted and then the taxes associated with it have become high because governments have tried to even things out. Case studies need to be done on the WAYS people earn income and then the TAXES they pay according to their income generation. The picture will then become clearer. Some households can generate a lot of income and other households are precluded from that. Those with lots of income don't want to lose it, obviously , but those trying to develop a career path and increase income are then finding it hard to get a foot in. In 10 years the picture ought to be considerably different and someone needs to look at that scenario pretty closely too.
"The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development says some Australian families pay the second highest effective marginal tax rates of any country in the OECD. And it says high taxes for families on average wages and single parents are creating big disincentives to work. Labor says the OECD report backs its claims that the Howard Government is high taxing."
We find the tax rates high too. There are some bizarre anomalies. For some people it is better to stay on welfare than earn a low income and pay taxes. For some it's a case of working hard for a living to support themselves and their families and then see others do better because they either have more children or they have family payments, benefits or whatever. The way income is generated here has become convoluted and then the taxes associated with it have become high because governments have tried to even things out. Case studies need to be done on the WAYS people earn income and then the TAXES they pay according to their income generation. The picture will then become clearer. Some households can generate a lot of income and other households are precluded from that. Those with lots of income don't want to lose it, obviously , but those trying to develop a career path and increase income are then finding it hard to get a foot in. In 10 years the picture ought to be considerably different and someone needs to look at that scenario pretty closely too.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Chechen Rebels Defiant After Chief Killed
Chechen Rebels Defiant After Chief Killed:
"But some analysts said the death of Maskhadov, a former Soviet army colonel who enjoyed the legitimacy of being democratically elected president of Chechnya in 1997, removed a moderate who could have negotiated a peace with the Kremlin."
Another one bites the dust. These world leaders are fragile creatures indeed. How many more can we change. It is almost weekly and even close to a daily occurrence. Weird.
"But some analysts said the death of Maskhadov, a former Soviet army colonel who enjoyed the legitimacy of being democratically elected president of Chechnya in 1997, removed a moderate who could have negotiated a peace with the Kremlin."
Another one bites the dust. These world leaders are fragile creatures indeed. How many more can we change. It is almost weekly and even close to a daily occurrence. Weird.
E-Health Network for Tsunami Refugees
UNSW Faculty of Commerce and Economics - News & Events - Latest News - E-Health Network for Tsunami Refugees
"Kiosks for internet access and emergency telemedicine, part of the “Mobile E-Health Initiative for Developing Countries”, will soon be delivered to the tsunami affected Aceh region in Indonesia thanks to a multinational consortium and the International Telecommunication Union/IEEE."
E-medicine, telemedicine, whatever they want to call it, heralds a new era and initiative in inspired technological delivery to disaster ravaged areas. It also enables local people to deal with the difficult to manage outreach areas where some inhabitants are wary of newcomers and foreign aid workers. There was an article in The Australian on Monday about the telemedicine kiosks in Aceh and how for 30 to 40 thousand dollars per kiosk they could provide medical expertise to the tsunami affected areas. What a great use of our experts and expertise for the benefit of humanity. It appears to be less intrusive but very effective.
"Kiosks for internet access and emergency telemedicine, part of the “Mobile E-Health Initiative for Developing Countries”, will soon be delivered to the tsunami affected Aceh region in Indonesia thanks to a multinational consortium and the International Telecommunication Union/IEEE."
E-medicine, telemedicine, whatever they want to call it, heralds a new era and initiative in inspired technological delivery to disaster ravaged areas. It also enables local people to deal with the difficult to manage outreach areas where some inhabitants are wary of newcomers and foreign aid workers. There was an article in The Australian on Monday about the telemedicine kiosks in Aceh and how for 30 to 40 thousand dollars per kiosk they could provide medical expertise to the tsunami affected areas. What a great use of our experts and expertise for the benefit of humanity. It appears to be less intrusive but very effective.
Duck, duck goose
©AFP/Janek Skarzinski
Un canard se promène dans le parc Lazienki à Varsovie couverte de neige.
Covered in snow, a duck walks in Lazienski Park in Varsovie.
So where do they swim in winter and how do they keep warm. It looks really quite happy and very healthy. Do they eat snow? How come its beak is covered in snow? Do ducks like eating snow. I thought they flew south for the winter?
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Killing fields of Kangaroo Island
NEWS.com.au | Killing fields of Kangaroo Island (08-03-2005):
"AN Asian television station has branded the state's premier eco-tourism
destination, Kangaroo Island, a 'killing ground' where farmers are
defying jail terms by illegally shooting koalas."
Yes, this is news. I don't suppose tourists would like to have starving koalas dropping out of trees on top of them. The koalas eat a lot and Kangaroo Island is small. Very small. It is an isolated area. I cannot bear the thought of koalas being killed because I see no need for it. They are happy and healthy on Kangaroo Island and so the population explodes. Koalas breed prolifically when they are happy and healthy. A while a go we had a problem because our koalas were so sick and they were under threat and we had scientists working on cures. Well, they worked! The farmers will kill them because Australians are very used to droughts and no farmer will allow an animal to starve to death. We have built out and threatened koalas in other areas in Australia and my preference is to move them out and relocate them. Now. Not think about it. Do it. Organise it, stop talking about it, just do it. I also think the animal keepers in our country need to be in charge of this because our bio diversity experts have looked after our koalas well. Kangaroo Island just got out of control. Killing is not the answer. Sterilising , yes. Relocation, yes. But don't leave the farmers there to live there and solve it while you sit back and think about it. Starving animals are too distressing to live with.
"AN Asian television station has branded the state's premier eco-tourism
destination, Kangaroo Island, a 'killing ground' where farmers are
defying jail terms by illegally shooting koalas."
Yes, this is news. I don't suppose tourists would like to have starving koalas dropping out of trees on top of them. The koalas eat a lot and Kangaroo Island is small. Very small. It is an isolated area. I cannot bear the thought of koalas being killed because I see no need for it. They are happy and healthy on Kangaroo Island and so the population explodes. Koalas breed prolifically when they are happy and healthy. A while a go we had a problem because our koalas were so sick and they were under threat and we had scientists working on cures. Well, they worked! The farmers will kill them because Australians are very used to droughts and no farmer will allow an animal to starve to death. We have built out and threatened koalas in other areas in Australia and my preference is to move them out and relocate them. Now. Not think about it. Do it. Organise it, stop talking about it, just do it. I also think the animal keepers in our country need to be in charge of this because our bio diversity experts have looked after our koalas well. Kangaroo Island just got out of control. Killing is not the answer. Sterilising , yes. Relocation, yes. But don't leave the farmers there to live there and solve it while you sit back and think about it. Starving animals are too distressing to live with.
Tsunami spread toxic waste in Somalia: UN.
Tsunami spread toxic waste in Somalia: UN. 03/03/2005. ABC News Online
Another one of those great articles. So who dumped the illegal waste there? How did it get there? How come it's illegal and it hasn't been dealt with? Who is responsible for creating radio active waste in Somalia and why does it take a tsunami for us to find out? If the containers break with the force of a tsunami and Somalia wasn't the hardest hit area, bang goes the assurances that our capacity to safely store toxic waste is out the window. How much more is in hiding? How many more lies? And how much more avoiding of facts? Now, what are we doing to help the people of Somalia? Is there country now destroyed and unsafe? Why are they not being moved out? Their people will suffer and their crops and food will be useless. The up side? Doesn't matter how hard you try, the truth always comes out. When will we start looking after each other and treating each other with respect? Why secretly hide toxic waste? How does that help the planet? How come Somalia was judged to be okay? I'll shut up now.
Another one of those great articles. So who dumped the illegal waste there? How did it get there? How come it's illegal and it hasn't been dealt with? Who is responsible for creating radio active waste in Somalia and why does it take a tsunami for us to find out? If the containers break with the force of a tsunami and Somalia wasn't the hardest hit area, bang goes the assurances that our capacity to safely store toxic waste is out the window. How much more is in hiding? How many more lies? And how much more avoiding of facts? Now, what are we doing to help the people of Somalia? Is there country now destroyed and unsafe? Why are they not being moved out? Their people will suffer and their crops and food will be useless. The up side? Doesn't matter how hard you try, the truth always comes out. When will we start looking after each other and treating each other with respect? Why secretly hide toxic waste? How does that help the planet? How come Somalia was judged to be okay? I'll shut up now.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Super Bunny and Wonder Wabbit
©AFP/DDP/Michael Durban
A l'approche de Pâques, une employée de la chocolaterie Felicitas en Allemagne met la dernière touche à des lapins en chocolat.
With the approach of Easter,an employee from the chocolate maker Felicitas in Germany is putting the finishing touches to the chocolate rabbits.
I can't believe the size of the rabbits..but check out Super Bunny and Wonder Wabbit. We don't get rabbits like that here!!
Blame parents for skills crisis, says PM
The Advertiser: Blame parents for skills crisis, says PM [07mar05]: "Blame parents for skills crisis, says PM"
I actually haven't seen a list of which skills we are lacking. I know about the grape pickers. Grape picking has been a bone of contention for the last 3 years and now, I gather, no one is willing to pick grapes. The conditions and pay have been poor, apparently. There was so much about it in the newspapers a couple of years ago and no one addressed it so that the workers and employers could come to a satisfactory arrangement. It's partly people won't work for low wages in poor conditions. We are talking about the have generation and the gadget kids who come from air conditioned homes and schools and double income parents. We are also in a situation where small businesses are stretched to the limit because of all the costs involved and covering the GST requirements. Much more of their time is spent on paperwork instead of training people on the job. We need to look at how people are having to work and why no one has the time any longer to train people . Many people used to be trained on the job whether they had university degrees or not. Profits have become more important than people. Share holders more important than skills sharing.
I actually haven't seen a list of which skills we are lacking. I know about the grape pickers. Grape picking has been a bone of contention for the last 3 years and now, I gather, no one is willing to pick grapes. The conditions and pay have been poor, apparently. There was so much about it in the newspapers a couple of years ago and no one addressed it so that the workers and employers could come to a satisfactory arrangement. It's partly people won't work for low wages in poor conditions. We are talking about the have generation and the gadget kids who come from air conditioned homes and schools and double income parents. We are also in a situation where small businesses are stretched to the limit because of all the costs involved and covering the GST requirements. Much more of their time is spent on paperwork instead of training people on the job. We need to look at how people are having to work and why no one has the time any longer to train people . Many people used to be trained on the job whether they had university degrees or not. Profits have become more important than people. Share holders more important than skills sharing.
President quits in cocoa protests
The Advertiser: President quits in cocoa protests :
"First thing tomorrow morning, I will submit to the Congress my resignation as president of the republic so that Congress may consider it,' Mr Mesa said in a message from the presidential palace late yesterday."
Another one bites the dust. World leaders are just dropping like flies. I'd really like to see a list of countries and the changes in leadership because just recently we seem to have had a massive changeover rate in world leaders ...including places like the World Bank. So, who's got the new broom??
"First thing tomorrow morning, I will submit to the Congress my resignation as president of the republic so that Congress may consider it,' Mr Mesa said in a message from the presidential palace late yesterday."
Another one bites the dust. World leaders are just dropping like flies. I'd really like to see a list of countries and the changes in leadership because just recently we seem to have had a massive changeover rate in world leaders ...including places like the World Bank. So, who's got the new broom??
Sunday, March 06, 2005
World water day March 22nd
"The United Nations General Assembly agreed to proclaim the years 2005
to 2015 as the second International Decade for Action, Water for Life,
and beginning with World Water Day"
I have a Brita water filter and I am more than happy with it. I get a lovely newsletter fairly frequently. The latest had notice about World Water Day.
World day for Water 2005
to 2015 as the second International Decade for Action, Water for Life,
and beginning with World Water Day"
I have a Brita water filter and I am more than happy with it. I get a lovely newsletter fairly frequently. The latest had notice about World Water Day.
World day for Water 2005
Hubble
Hubble you’re in trouble
You’re degenerate and old
No longer valued, past your prime
You’ll be left out in the cold
Labelled too outdated
Not warranting repair
You might be spiflicated
And scattered through the air
You’ve taught us well the wonders
Of an expanding universe
Honoured and revered for years
Now NASA’s closed its purse
Your contribution to cosmology
Is unparalleled to date
To suffer such indignity
Is an ignominious fate
Dismissed as Hubble huggers
Should we defend your authority
But you’ve enlightened us each day
About large scale galaxies
That we respect your learned teaching
Know you’re a wonder of our world
Should not surprise the scholars
Who love the knowledge you’ve unfurled
In truth you’re not organic
You’re a heavenly hard-wired hunk
But what an outrageous broadside
To think you’re throw away, dispensable junk.
You’re degenerate and old
No longer valued, past your prime
You’ll be left out in the cold
Labelled too outdated
Not warranting repair
You might be spiflicated
And scattered through the air
You’ve taught us well the wonders
Of an expanding universe
Honoured and revered for years
Now NASA’s closed its purse
Your contribution to cosmology
Is unparalleled to date
To suffer such indignity
Is an ignominious fate
Dismissed as Hubble huggers
Should we defend your authority
But you’ve enlightened us each day
About large scale galaxies
That we respect your learned teaching
Know you’re a wonder of our world
Should not surprise the scholars
Who love the knowledge you’ve unfurled
In truth you’re not organic
You’re a heavenly hard-wired hunk
But what an outrageous broadside
To think you’re throw away, dispensable junk.
Rejected Hubble
Space Watch: Backing A Bad Hubble Decision:
"Yet, NASA apparently never considered the idea seriously, even though engineers had completed the preliminary design work and construction of a revised docking module would have been far simpler and cheaper than trying to send robots to Hubble.
Instead, NASA officials repeatedly have acted as though no such option existed, often describing how a shuttle mission to the telescope was too risky - partly because any rescue would require a dangerous spacewalk."
"Yet, NASA apparently never considered the idea seriously, even though engineers had completed the preliminary design work and construction of a revised docking module would have been far simpler and cheaper than trying to send robots to Hubble.
Instead, NASA officials repeatedly have acted as though no such option existed, often describing how a shuttle mission to the telescope was too risky - partly because any rescue would require a dangerous spacewalk."
Artisitic Hubble
Looking Through The Hubble Space Telescope With An Artist's Eye: "Although derived from scientific data, the spectacular images fr
om the Hubble Space Telescope circulate far beyond the scientific community. From postage stamps to the cover of Pearl Jam Cds, images of the heavens collected by the Hubble Space Telescope have become part of American culture, appreciated not only for their scientific content, but also for their raw emotional power."
om the Hubble Space Telescope circulate far beyond the scientific community. From postage stamps to the cover of Pearl Jam Cds, images of the heavens collected by the Hubble Space Telescope have become part of American culture, appreciated not only for their scientific content, but also for their raw emotional power."
Sharks still on our coastline
The Advertiser: The 'timid' killer
The sharks are still about and the ones circling this boat were 5 metres. The government stopped funding the shark patrol plane at the end of January and now the Nick Peterson Surf Life Saving appeal aims to raise a million dollars to help fund a shark spotter plane. So far they have raised $60 000 but people will forget about sharks while it's cool. The weather hasn't been at all summery this year and now it's autumn. We are still all a bit jumpy and I suppose the cooler weather has helped us to "forget". We shouldn't ever forget in Adelaide, though.
The sharks are still about and the ones circling this boat were 5 metres. The government stopped funding the shark patrol plane at the end of January and now the Nick Peterson Surf Life Saving appeal aims to raise a million dollars to help fund a shark spotter plane. So far they have raised $60 000 but people will forget about sharks while it's cool. The weather hasn't been at all summery this year and now it's autumn. We are still all a bit jumpy and I suppose the cooler weather has helped us to "forget". We shouldn't ever forget in Adelaide, though.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Sunny side up
SpaceWeather.com :
News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids
What's Up in Space ?
Pretty attractive, comprehensive site to keep up to date on the sunspot activity amongst other things.
The square kilometer array project
This site has local and international information about the history of the universe and interesting activities in our heavens.
News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids
What's Up in Space ?
Pretty attractive, comprehensive site to keep up to date on the sunspot activity amongst other things.
The square kilometer array project
This site has local and international information about the history of the universe and interesting activities in our heavens.
How cute
©AFP/INRA/Gabriel Iperti
Photo montrant une coccinelle, prédateur très demandé par les pépinières et pour les espaces verts pour lutter contre les pucerons.
Photo showing a ladybird which is a predator very much in demand by nurseries to help fight against aphids in their green areas.
Speeders push their luck past the limit
The Advertiser: Speeders push their luck past the limit [05mar05]:
"However, police were still concerned about drivers' behaviour in 50km/h zones, with more than 72,000 fined for speeding last year. About 55 per cent of fines in 50km/h zones were issued to people travelling at up to 64km/h, while a further 36 per cent related to speeds of between 65 and 79km/h."
Tell me about it. This is something we have talked about a lot this week. Young kids have always driven madly right back to the 50s. What we have now, though ,is a complete change because main Adelaide roads were quiet and the cars were driving sensibly. On main roads you have cars coming in on your tail and then swinging out and roaring past. This is even when you are doing the speed limit. There are drags on straight stretches and 50K zones are a free for all.I love driving home in the pool of exhaust spweing from some car or another. In the morning at seven they start as people go to work and then you get it from 6pm at night. The bikes and cars are just so loud. The cross the road about and that's it. VAROOOOOOOOOOM. We have little kids on this street. But it's not just my street. Apart from the damage done to my garden and my neighbour's house I blogged about earlier, there are the sickening metal thuds and you know someone's been killed or badly injured. If we have had fewer deaths, I'm amazed. I haven't heard so many thuds in 10 years around here. On the way to work I noticed car tyre tracks wiggling across the freeway and into the kerb. The car may well have gone onto the other side of the freeway. We may have speed limits. No one is taking any notice. The opposite, in fact. Why is that? I heard cars had been clocked at 170 K going down the Main North Road. That is built up now, has traffic lights, lots of traffic. Who cares? Speed kills, doncha know?
"However, police were still concerned about drivers' behaviour in 50km/h zones, with more than 72,000 fined for speeding last year. About 55 per cent of fines in 50km/h zones were issued to people travelling at up to 64km/h, while a further 36 per cent related to speeds of between 65 and 79km/h."
Tell me about it. This is something we have talked about a lot this week. Young kids have always driven madly right back to the 50s. What we have now, though ,is a complete change because main Adelaide roads were quiet and the cars were driving sensibly. On main roads you have cars coming in on your tail and then swinging out and roaring past. This is even when you are doing the speed limit. There are drags on straight stretches and 50K zones are a free for all.I love driving home in the pool of exhaust spweing from some car or another. In the morning at seven they start as people go to work and then you get it from 6pm at night. The bikes and cars are just so loud. The cross the road about and that's it. VAROOOOOOOOOOM. We have little kids on this street. But it's not just my street. Apart from the damage done to my garden and my neighbour's house I blogged about earlier, there are the sickening metal thuds and you know someone's been killed or badly injured. If we have had fewer deaths, I'm amazed. I haven't heard so many thuds in 10 years around here. On the way to work I noticed car tyre tracks wiggling across the freeway and into the kerb. The car may well have gone onto the other side of the freeway. We may have speed limits. No one is taking any notice. The opposite, in fact. Why is that? I heard cars had been clocked at 170 K going down the Main North Road. That is built up now, has traffic lights, lots of traffic. Who cares? Speed kills, doncha know?
Friday, March 04, 2005
I don't like cricket, man, I love it!
©AFP/Sena Vidanagama
La première balle de cricket entièrement faite d'or et de 2.704 diamants a été présentée à Colombo au Sri Lanka.
The first cricket ball entirely made of gold and 2,704 diamonds was presented to Colombo in Sri Lanka.
Skill and technique
BOI PORTAL:
"Blue Diamonds Jewellery Worldwide Ltd (BDJWL), a member of Ceylinco Consolidated, opened its second international sales outlet in Armadale, Australia. The highlight of the opening ceremony was the launch of the world's first ever diamond cricket ball by the world-famous Sri Lankan spin wizard, Muttiah Muralitharan."
"Blue Diamonds Jewellery Worldwide Ltd (BDJWL), a member of Ceylinco Consolidated, opened its second international sales outlet in Armadale, Australia. The highlight of the opening ceremony was the launch of the world's first ever diamond cricket ball by the world-famous Sri Lankan spin wizard, Muttiah Muralitharan."
Scientists find silver lining on botched sun mission.
Scientists find silver lining on botched sun mission. 03/03/2005. ABC News Online:
"Scientists analysing the remains of a NASA satellite designed to capture particles blown into space by the sun say they have managed to salvage useful data even though the probe crashed into the desert on its return to Earth."
That must be incredibly frustrating , especially in a day and age where information about the sun and solar wind would help so much towards helping us find the answers to our severe weather. I mean that was 3 years of data and then all that expense launching it and keeping it up there. Worse than tipping your chocolate cake on the floor when you get it out of the oven. It's good they got some information and it's good it came down in Utah so they could just get on with the salvaging in their own country. They might not have been able to have salvaged so much if it had come down elsewhere or in the sea. So it wasn't all bad...just bad enough!
"Scientists analysing the remains of a NASA satellite designed to capture particles blown into space by the sun say they have managed to salvage useful data even though the probe crashed into the desert on its return to Earth."
That must be incredibly frustrating , especially in a day and age where information about the sun and solar wind would help so much towards helping us find the answers to our severe weather. I mean that was 3 years of data and then all that expense launching it and keeping it up there. Worse than tipping your chocolate cake on the floor when you get it out of the oven. It's good they got some information and it's good it came down in Utah so they could just get on with the salvaging in their own country. They might not have been able to have salvaged so much if it had come down elsewhere or in the sea. So it wasn't all bad...just bad enough!
Car boot case woman still ill
Car boot case woman still ill - National - www.theage.com.au:
"Maria Korp, the Melbourne woman who was severely beaten and left for dead in the boot of her car, has made little progress in her recovery in a Melbourne hospital."
This article in The Age at least treats the woman and her daughter with respect and dignity. She had been bashed and left to die in her car boot. She doesn't appear to have been doing any wrong. She is a victim and her daughter was having to deal with that AND the fact her father had done that to her mother AND look after her little brother AND deal with all the nedia hype. It is so very sad because the woman actually survived her horrendous ordeal and still hasn't come round and has brain damage. I hope she can be well again and have a life without that kind of brutality from her husband. I thought when I blogged about this before he was her estranged husband. Bloomin' well ought to be now.
"Maria Korp, the Melbourne woman who was severely beaten and left for dead in the boot of her car, has made little progress in her recovery in a Melbourne hospital."
This article in The Age at least treats the woman and her daughter with respect and dignity. She had been bashed and left to die in her car boot. She doesn't appear to have been doing any wrong. She is a victim and her daughter was having to deal with that AND the fact her father had done that to her mother AND look after her little brother AND deal with all the nedia hype. It is so very sad because the woman actually survived her horrendous ordeal and still hasn't come round and has brain damage. I hope she can be well again and have a life without that kind of brutality from her husband. I thought when I blogged about this before he was her estranged husband. Bloomin' well ought to be now.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Howard denies training failures behind migrant plan.
Howard denies training failures behind migrant plan. 03/03/2005. ABC News Online
What is going on?? We have been wondering why so many houses are being built all over Adelaide and there has been an announcement for 6000 more at Seaford. We just don't have that many people in Adelaide. They have been taking over the hills and valleys, our landscape is being plotted and blotted by housing estate after housing estate. We have so far filled them all and we haven't yet worked out where the empty ones must be.We have been talking about it on and off for quite a while. We are not like the eastern states. We just putter along here. So we figure they're is going to be an influx of people and they will finally let the people out of Baxter and the young ones are going to get suddenly very fond of multiplying. We have noticed, Mr. Howard. We know there is something going on because we can't see our sheep and hills anymore and the corellas and other parrots have been built out of here.
What is going on?? We have been wondering why so many houses are being built all over Adelaide and there has been an announcement for 6000 more at Seaford. We just don't have that many people in Adelaide. They have been taking over the hills and valleys, our landscape is being plotted and blotted by housing estate after housing estate. We have so far filled them all and we haven't yet worked out where the empty ones must be.We have been talking about it on and off for quite a while. We are not like the eastern states. We just putter along here. So we figure they're is going to be an influx of people and they will finally let the people out of Baxter and the young ones are going to get suddenly very fond of multiplying. We have noticed, Mr. Howard. We know there is something going on because we can't see our sheep and hills anymore and the corellas and other parrots have been built out of here.
Tougher sentences
Top Stories. ABC News Online: "Australia seeks tougher sentence for Bashir"
Why? Oussama is still alive and I still haven't seen the evidence which would stand up in court and unequivocally assure the judges he really did commit a crime involving the WTC, but since he is judged to be supremely guilty, then ...he is still alive and no court hearing has been made for him at all. Saddam is still alive. Bush, Blair and Howard have been party to an illegal invasion based on nothing. I mean, I'd hate someone to come over here, take away my prime minister, tell me which religion to practise, blow up my neighbourhood, my schools, library, shops, art gallery. Take away my electricity, hospitals and safe drinking water. Turn my landscape into rubble and my friends and family into lifeless ornaments, all because they didn't like Howard. Have my streets full of troops, guns, explosions. No Net, no tele, no slippers, no dog, no radio. Tell me I had got it all wrong and I needed to be like them even though I had no idea who they were and what they were like? And if I didn't want to be free like them? If their culture meant nothing to me? I so understood that when I had that Indonesian homestay girl here. As I blogged before, I knew there was nothing in my home that meant a thing to her. Nothing. Just my photos of my father as a Scottish clansman. So, I do sort of get what the Iraqis are on about and why their hearts are breaking. I understand we have killed so many of them and so many of our own soldiers all for misguided reasons because we were "caught in the moment" and we just didn't think. But no one is going to get tried and sent to jail for the amount of destruction they have caused. So why single out Bashir? The Bali bombings were hideous, but so is Afghanistan..and the women there are still dying in childbirth as are their children. It's horrible what we have done. WTC was hideous. Madrid was hideous. You name it , it was hideous. Man made destruction and dealing of death. Stop it. Just stop it. We deal it out and then point the finger and say that person is more deserving than others to be jailed for longer. Britain has just put out programmes on the effects of the Guantanamo methods on people. They used volunteers. Anyone who is practising those methods is visiting the same kind of pain and agony on people who have been denied justice. So where is our justice? For as long as we have none I think we need to stop waggling our fingers. If Bashir was involved in the Bali bombings he does deserve to stay in prison for a long time. But don't you just wonder why he isn't? And why Saddam is alive but his people and the soldiers are dying daily? Why Oussama has never been caught and tried? Don't you ever wonder why the world is so wonky?
Why? Oussama is still alive and I still haven't seen the evidence which would stand up in court and unequivocally assure the judges he really did commit a crime involving the WTC, but since he is judged to be supremely guilty, then ...he is still alive and no court hearing has been made for him at all. Saddam is still alive. Bush, Blair and Howard have been party to an illegal invasion based on nothing. I mean, I'd hate someone to come over here, take away my prime minister, tell me which religion to practise, blow up my neighbourhood, my schools, library, shops, art gallery. Take away my electricity, hospitals and safe drinking water. Turn my landscape into rubble and my friends and family into lifeless ornaments, all because they didn't like Howard. Have my streets full of troops, guns, explosions. No Net, no tele, no slippers, no dog, no radio. Tell me I had got it all wrong and I needed to be like them even though I had no idea who they were and what they were like? And if I didn't want to be free like them? If their culture meant nothing to me? I so understood that when I had that Indonesian homestay girl here. As I blogged before, I knew there was nothing in my home that meant a thing to her. Nothing. Just my photos of my father as a Scottish clansman. So, I do sort of get what the Iraqis are on about and why their hearts are breaking. I understand we have killed so many of them and so many of our own soldiers all for misguided reasons because we were "caught in the moment" and we just didn't think. But no one is going to get tried and sent to jail for the amount of destruction they have caused. So why single out Bashir? The Bali bombings were hideous, but so is Afghanistan..and the women there are still dying in childbirth as are their children. It's horrible what we have done. WTC was hideous. Madrid was hideous. You name it , it was hideous. Man made destruction and dealing of death. Stop it. Just stop it. We deal it out and then point the finger and say that person is more deserving than others to be jailed for longer. Britain has just put out programmes on the effects of the Guantanamo methods on people. They used volunteers. Anyone who is practising those methods is visiting the same kind of pain and agony on people who have been denied justice. So where is our justice? For as long as we have none I think we need to stop waggling our fingers. If Bashir was involved in the Bali bombings he does deserve to stay in prison for a long time. But don't you just wonder why he isn't? And why Saddam is alive but his people and the soldiers are dying daily? Why Oussama has never been caught and tried? Don't you ever wonder why the world is so wonky?
Dust mites turn into bedmates
The Advertiser: Dust mites turn into bedmates [03mar05]:
"Cold water doesn't kill dust mites and therefore it would be a reasonable inference that dust mite allergies might be more common under those circumstances."
I'd never wash anything in cold water. We live in 2005 and have access to hot and cold running water where we live. Cold water is not for washing. It's for killing passion.
"Cold water doesn't kill dust mites and therefore it would be a reasonable inference that dust mite allergies might be more common under those circumstances."
I'd never wash anything in cold water. We live in 2005 and have access to hot and cold running water where we live. Cold water is not for washing. It's for killing passion.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Yahoo celebrates a decade online
BBC NEWS | Technology | Yahoo celebrates a decade online:
"Yahoo celebrates a decade online"
Oohoo, Yahoo...Happy Birthday to you , too. I'm a wee bit older than my 10th anniversary, but you can tell that March 2nd is the important birthday of VIPs. Like me , Yahoo has come a long way between decades!
"Yahoo celebrates a decade online"
Oohoo, Yahoo...Happy Birthday to you , too. I'm a wee bit older than my 10th anniversary, but you can tell that March 2nd is the important birthday of VIPs. Like me , Yahoo has come a long way between decades!
Happy birthday to me!
Strawberry Cheesecake
This is a great link for sweet indulgences! I think it's in America and I'd certainly make a beeline for the strawberry cheesecake if I could! Miam miam. Lecker, lecker. Yummy!
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Mobiles 'part of social fabric'
BBC NEWS | Programmes | Click Online | Mobiles 'part of social fabric'
Is it me or is it them? Televisions are part of the social fabric and toilets and DVD players. The list is endless. My reaction is so what... and so... and you don't say and ..this is not rocket science and...maybe I have missed something so I'd better stop raving right now.
Is it me or is it them? Televisions are part of the social fabric and toilets and DVD players. The list is endless. My reaction is so what... and so... and you don't say and ..this is not rocket science and...maybe I have missed something so I'd better stop raving right now.
Authority upholds 4 complaints about ABC war coverage.
Authority upholds 4 complaints about ABC war coverage. 01/03/2005. ABC News Online: "Authority upholds 4 complaints about ABC war coverage"
I hope the Authority will investigate Mr. Howard's war coverage as well. He is, after all, the Prime Minister elected to govern by the people as Auntie ABC is the medium chosen to represent the people.
I hope the Authority will investigate Mr. Howard's war coverage as well. He is, after all, the Prime Minister elected to govern by the people as Auntie ABC is the medium chosen to represent the people.
Dick Smith flies to Baxter detainee's aid.
Dick Smith flies to Baxter detainee's aid. 01/03/2005. ABC News Online:
"Entrepreneur Dick Smith has vowed to fly half way around the world to fight for the release of Australia's longest serving detainee, who is being held at Port Augusta's Baxter detention centre."
It's not going to go away. Baxter is something so unaustralian and those who would support the detention centre ( who are they, by the way?) would say you are not allowed to say something is unaustralian. Well, I am and I can because this is still a free country and we managed people and things in a bit of a lumpy way but it was a place where people came from other parts of the world and they said they could make a home for themselves. I used to hear that so many times. Baxter is up at Woomera which is a real no man's land. When I went to Woomera I had nothing but admiration for those who lived there. They were in the middle of no where. Tt was hot,dry and dusty. They made all their own entertainment and they had a good sense of community. I wonder how they feel about having Baxter there because it is more or less a high security prison. Our very own Tower Of London from the medieval ages. People can get chucked in there at the King's pleasure and wilt and wither away. Come on . Australia!! This is not medieval England. I agree we have to vet those who want to live here, but our process is far too vague and convoluted and people are being kept there too long. And if they can't be sent home? For a nation founded on convicts maybe we should give them the Australian fair go and if they don't do the right thing, make them walk the plank.
"Entrepreneur Dick Smith has vowed to fly half way around the world to fight for the release of Australia's longest serving detainee, who is being held at Port Augusta's Baxter detention centre."
It's not going to go away. Baxter is something so unaustralian and those who would support the detention centre ( who are they, by the way?) would say you are not allowed to say something is unaustralian. Well, I am and I can because this is still a free country and we managed people and things in a bit of a lumpy way but it was a place where people came from other parts of the world and they said they could make a home for themselves. I used to hear that so many times. Baxter is up at Woomera which is a real no man's land. When I went to Woomera I had nothing but admiration for those who lived there. They were in the middle of no where. Tt was hot,dry and dusty. They made all their own entertainment and they had a good sense of community. I wonder how they feel about having Baxter there because it is more or less a high security prison. Our very own Tower Of London from the medieval ages. People can get chucked in there at the King's pleasure and wilt and wither away. Come on . Australia!! This is not medieval England. I agree we have to vet those who want to live here, but our process is far too vague and convoluted and people are being kept there too long. And if they can't be sent home? For a nation founded on convicts maybe we should give them the Australian fair go and if they don't do the right thing, make them walk the plank.
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