The Australian: Hello boys, here's the cool look for the office :
"Committing what is seen as a fashion crime, his gangly models paraded grey business suits of tailored jackets, matched with knee-length Bermuda shorts and knee-high socks."
Alexander McQueen has always been a bit of an iconoclast. Enough to make us think outside the square for want of a better phrase. I wish I had the pictures. If you read about the outfits in this piece, it's a real hoot. I think it's about challenging the establishment rather than setting a new fashion trend in business wear. Time to liven the corporate lot up, maybe. Don't know. I was in Sydney this morning and the Japanese businessmen who had flown in were impeccable in their dark suits, their neat haircuts and their white shirts with dark ties. They looked like they were serious about their business and took a pride in who they were. The Australians were very trendy with their perfectly globbed and blobbed hair, their crisply ironed light blue, dark blue or grey shirts and their artistic ties. They looked and sounded relaxed,capable and full of good humour. Then there were the European businessmen - very dapper. Very comfortable stances and relaxed green/greys and fawns and whites. A sort of military look in a way but very clean cut and switching easily from French to English to their own language. I don't know that any of the groups would want to follow the path of gingham and squashed coke cans. Probably too grown up for that!
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Kennett apologises for Latham bi-polar remarks.
Kennett apologises for Latham bi-polar remarks. 30/06/2005. ABC News Online:
"Mr Kennett is the chairman of the Beyond Blue depression support group and yesterday he told the ABC he was concerned Mr Latham's biography showed signs of a person suffering a bi-polar illness."
Mark Latham has been the victim of a horrid set of vicious, cruel personal attacks ever since the election. He has been hounded, harassed and all sorts of aspersions have been cast. As a person he is an extremely competent thinker who articulates his ideas well. He can been blunt, he can be very colourful in his use of language and he is , above all, capable of individual thinking. The intention seemed to be to discredit and undermine him in the most unfair fashion. Unfair because he has been expected to tolerate and survive the sort of lambasting no one can. He has become physically ill from it and the media and other individuals have aimed a very consistent campaign about him and then clapped when he was not able to withstand the hunting down. Everyone has the right to their opinion. Everyone has the right to approve or disapprove of a leader, but to hunt someone down and constantly criticise and undermine someone is unthinkable. It's all very well saying things, but it's the extent to which the intent to hurt, maim and destroy has become acceptable in this country that I find very difficult to tolerate. We have always given people a fair go and we are certainly very good at getting people to pull their head in. We have never been this cruel. The same seems to be happening to Shane Warne. At the moment it seems to be okay to victimise and target people until they fall over. I hate that. It's a horrible way to treat people. Treating others like quarry isn't very worthy of us. Maybe what goes around will come around?
"Mr Kennett is the chairman of the Beyond Blue depression support group and yesterday he told the ABC he was concerned Mr Latham's biography showed signs of a person suffering a bi-polar illness."
Mark Latham has been the victim of a horrid set of vicious, cruel personal attacks ever since the election. He has been hounded, harassed and all sorts of aspersions have been cast. As a person he is an extremely competent thinker who articulates his ideas well. He can been blunt, he can be very colourful in his use of language and he is , above all, capable of individual thinking. The intention seemed to be to discredit and undermine him in the most unfair fashion. Unfair because he has been expected to tolerate and survive the sort of lambasting no one can. He has become physically ill from it and the media and other individuals have aimed a very consistent campaign about him and then clapped when he was not able to withstand the hunting down. Everyone has the right to their opinion. Everyone has the right to approve or disapprove of a leader, but to hunt someone down and constantly criticise and undermine someone is unthinkable. It's all very well saying things, but it's the extent to which the intent to hurt, maim and destroy has become acceptable in this country that I find very difficult to tolerate. We have always given people a fair go and we are certainly very good at getting people to pull their head in. We have never been this cruel. The same seems to be happening to Shane Warne. At the moment it seems to be okay to victimise and target people until they fall over. I hate that. It's a horrible way to treat people. Treating others like quarry isn't very worthy of us. Maybe what goes around will come around?
Why New Caledonia?
It's two and a half hours from Sydney. It's two hours from Adelaide to Sydney. It is totally tropical, totally French and totally amazing. Everything is French. It is a French society. Many French people work there and many French people didn't get back home! They fell in love with the place. Lots of Japanese and Chinese live there and there are groups of Indonesians. The tribal people are of Kanak and Melanesian origin and they all speak French and their tribal languages. It's a fantastic mix but their school system is French and they are French with or without tribal origins. The tribal connections are starting to break down as the place is being developed and "civilised" but it has a very strong culture. It is the one place off our coast where you can go and be soaked in French...and it is so beautiful. That's why. I need to soak my bones in the sunshine and the French from time to time.
Sydney was drenched.
But poor Sydney was drenched and the plane was delayed over an hour trying to get out through the deluge.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Glog Blog
The Glog Blog came to visit me the other day. It is the local information portal to Bangalore. The opening page is rich with information but it is quite navigable. Last week we had a radio programme about Bangalore and it was saying how the city is booming but how the infrastructure hadn't caught up with the speed with which people needed to navigate their city. Apparently traffic congestion has become a headache and simply transversing the city has become a difficult task. The people in Bangalore, whom they spoke to, seemed to be eternally patient and ever willing to try and come to terms with the changes and what needed to occur. It sounded like it couldn't happen fast enough...but it's bad enough in Adelaide when you get changes to the layout or services even though the outcome might be better. I cannot imagine the impact of changes to the routine running of a huge city other than there would be constant noise , disruption and a need for complete flexibility. Apart from transport the programme didn't really mention what else might help. Glog Blog is very busy, but well organised and I guess it reflects how Bangalore will become a little further down the track. The IT industry is creating the boom. I suppose it's no different from the industrial revolution bringing massive change and rebuilding of cities related to mining and mills .
Rats!!
Channelnewsasia.com
Communications chaos in NZ caused by rats
"The outage also disrupted banking and air travel and closed the country's stock exchange, with communications disrupted throughout much of the country for five hours on Monday."
NZ has been in a muddle. The rats chewed through fibre optic cable on the east side of the north island and then workmen cut cable on the west side of the island. It disrupted communications for more than 5 hours on Monday! The story wasn't reported here that I know of. Hope the Kiwis were okay without their ATMs, net and phones. I should think so. A very resourceful nation.
Communications chaos in NZ caused by rats
"The outage also disrupted banking and air travel and closed the country's stock exchange, with communications disrupted throughout much of the country for five hours on Monday."
NZ has been in a muddle. The rats chewed through fibre optic cable on the east side of the north island and then workmen cut cable on the west side of the island. It disrupted communications for more than 5 hours on Monday! The story wasn't reported here that I know of. Hope the Kiwis were okay without their ATMs, net and phones. I should think so. A very resourceful nation.
They're at it again!
The Australian: Public servants in revolt over IR:
"THE man in charge of John Howard's workplace reform agenda is facing a revolt from his own department, with staff claiming they were coerced into signing non-union individual employment contracts."
No one is happy with the work place reform. It's not reform, not unless someone can explain to us how it will improve our situation. It appears to be very manipulative. Sometimes things read worse than they actually are in practice. Sometimes vice versa. Most permanent people do not want to be made casual. The difficulty at present with the Austrlian workforce is there are too many casual positions and not enough permanent ones. It creates uncertainty, lack of commitment. On the other side of the coin , permanent workers can become too entrenched. I acknowledge there needs to be a balance. Right now we need more permanent jobs so that people can settle into the lifestyle choices we are supposed to make to keep the economy going. Some people cannot get a loan for a mortgage because they can never get permanent work. This means they cannot establish stability. With a family , it is a scary notion an employer can make you casual when you have been permanent. The public servants are quite rightly asking for some common sense and stability. Competition is fine but stressing people out because they cannot have a place to go to work and settle into it excludes them from making all sorts of other choices. The threat of these individual contracts has been around for years. Union workers decided not to sign them so that each individual had the support of the others to keep work conditons reasonable. If people are being co erced into signing individual contracts then the face of our country has become pretty sour.
"THE man in charge of John Howard's workplace reform agenda is facing a revolt from his own department, with staff claiming they were coerced into signing non-union individual employment contracts."
No one is happy with the work place reform. It's not reform, not unless someone can explain to us how it will improve our situation. It appears to be very manipulative. Sometimes things read worse than they actually are in practice. Sometimes vice versa. Most permanent people do not want to be made casual. The difficulty at present with the Austrlian workforce is there are too many casual positions and not enough permanent ones. It creates uncertainty, lack of commitment. On the other side of the coin , permanent workers can become too entrenched. I acknowledge there needs to be a balance. Right now we need more permanent jobs so that people can settle into the lifestyle choices we are supposed to make to keep the economy going. Some people cannot get a loan for a mortgage because they can never get permanent work. This means they cannot establish stability. With a family , it is a scary notion an employer can make you casual when you have been permanent. The public servants are quite rightly asking for some common sense and stability. Competition is fine but stressing people out because they cannot have a place to go to work and settle into it excludes them from making all sorts of other choices. The threat of these individual contracts has been around for years. Union workers decided not to sign them so that each individual had the support of the others to keep work conditons reasonable. If people are being co erced into signing individual contracts then the face of our country has become pretty sour.
US withdrawal from Iraq
US withdrawal from Iraq on horizon, says Rice :
"The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, has begun to outline a withdrawal strategy for American troops in Iraq."
Yes! Yes! Yes! May she keep speaking loudly and clearly and may all the people involved with this ghastly situation in Iraq bring it forward and onto a positive path. Time to change. Guess it takes a woman, heh!?! Why don't all the women with a vested interest involved talk it out? Maybe it all needs a different perspective.
"The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, has begun to outline a withdrawal strategy for American troops in Iraq."
Yes! Yes! Yes! May she keep speaking loudly and clearly and may all the people involved with this ghastly situation in Iraq bring it forward and onto a positive path. Time to change. Guess it takes a woman, heh!?! Why don't all the women with a vested interest involved talk it out? Maybe it all needs a different perspective.
Wind bags
Wind farms must meet new rules if approved. :
"The commission developed the draft principles in response to a report, which indicated that electricity could become more expensive and less reliable, if the wind farms were built."
I know there will be price fixing. I know we shall not be able to have cheaper electricity. Money rules. When we create wind farms and hydro electric plants it ought to be cheaper because it's natural power, but I guess the suppliers want to make their money. Making it dearer from wind farms doesn't make sense. The windmills are expensive and the costs need to be covered for that outlay and the maintenance... but it would be nice if the utilities suppliers would work with us!
"The commission developed the draft principles in response to a report, which indicated that electricity could become more expensive and less reliable, if the wind farms were built."
I know there will be price fixing. I know we shall not be able to have cheaper electricity. Money rules. When we create wind farms and hydro electric plants it ought to be cheaper because it's natural power, but I guess the suppliers want to make their money. Making it dearer from wind farms doesn't make sense. The windmills are expensive and the costs need to be covered for that outlay and the maintenance... but it would be nice if the utilities suppliers would work with us!
Monday, June 20, 2005
All in the same boat
The Advertiser: Random recount of ballot:
"IRANIAN authorities are to randomly recount some ballots cast in the first round of presidential elections after several candidates complained of vote rigging."
So what else is new? Doesn't matter where elections are held these days, the general public in every country has wanted recounts and revotes and changes to the system. I guess we can be pleased that Iran is following in the footsteps of countries which have had voting for years. That , at least , is reassuring! It's nice to see them recounting. When a recount of votes in Kingston was requested because it was so close between Kym Richardson and David Cox, I do believe the request was declined. Mind you, I think everyone was pretty well exhausted from counting all the postal and other votes which were not made directly on the day. It's a pretty huge electorate
( relatively speaking!)
Richardson LIB 36,848 43.6 +3.8
Cox ALP 35,748 42.3 +3.4
Kingston (Key Seat)
"IRANIAN authorities are to randomly recount some ballots cast in the first round of presidential elections after several candidates complained of vote rigging."
So what else is new? Doesn't matter where elections are held these days, the general public in every country has wanted recounts and revotes and changes to the system. I guess we can be pleased that Iran is following in the footsteps of countries which have had voting for years. That , at least , is reassuring! It's nice to see them recounting. When a recount of votes in Kingston was requested because it was so close between Kym Richardson and David Cox, I do believe the request was declined. Mind you, I think everyone was pretty well exhausted from counting all the postal and other votes which were not made directly on the day. It's a pretty huge electorate
( relatively speaking!)
Richardson LIB 36,848 43.6 +3.8
Cox ALP 35,748 42.3 +3.4
Kingston (Key Seat)
The Big Wetter
I love the Bureau of Meteorology! It's a classic in understatement. The BOM is never known for excess and over reaction. Today's maps show we have rain, show we have had swirly cloud, show we have had light to moderate rain...but we see it differently! We have been frozen, wet, cold. We have had the brollies and raincoats out- something we are very reluctant to do in Adelaide. We have had flooding from blocked road drains ( quite right, quite right, that is not the weather's fault) and we have had flooded houses...again, not the weather's fault. The bureau does have a number of weather alerts out for tomorrow, but in fine fashion, the BOM has kept an even keel while we have been water challenged today. Out of practice , I guess!!
Building bridges instead of walls
Qasim 'excited' about prospect of freedom.:
"'He's been in detention around seven years now, so you can understand he's absolute jubilation at the news and he's just looking forward to getting out and putting together some semblance of a life.'"
I bet Peter Qasim cannot believe his ears. After so long, the thought of freedom must be alien to him. No wonder he's been so severely depressed. Dick Smith has been fighting for his cause and will now take up supporting the David Hicks' case. The question of whether the bridging visa will help has been raised. It has to be a bridge to a better life or there is no point in making an offer. A number of people are ready to step in and help pave the way and soften the transition for Peter Qasim, so I hope all the goodwill and faith brings us a subsequent success story of what Australia is really about.
"'He's been in detention around seven years now, so you can understand he's absolute jubilation at the news and he's just looking forward to getting out and putting together some semblance of a life.'"
I bet Peter Qasim cannot believe his ears. After so long, the thought of freedom must be alien to him. No wonder he's been so severely depressed. Dick Smith has been fighting for his cause and will now take up supporting the David Hicks' case. The question of whether the bridging visa will help has been raised. It has to be a bridge to a better life or there is no point in making an offer. A number of people are ready to step in and help pave the way and soften the transition for Peter Qasim, so I hope all the goodwill and faith brings us a subsequent success story of what Australia is really about.
When oils ain't oils
The Australian: Troubled waters over oil's future :
"THE crude oil price went through the ceiling again on Friday, closing on a new record high of $58.47 a barrel and filling the weekend finance pages with the usual barrage of statistics."
This article is discussing the very things I alluded to in the previous article. America, China and India are all coing to have to look at how they provide their nations with energy and weigh up things like the health of the environment, the cost , the risks...some big decisions which will have to be made relatively soon and presumably as negotiations, debates, discussions and conferences. Their decisions will affect us all because I have come to the conclusion that history has brought us to the stage now where we have to look at things from a global perspective and much of what we do can no longer be ignored by other nations. We are on Planet Earth time in the new millennium.
"THE crude oil price went through the ceiling again on Friday, closing on a new record high of $58.47 a barrel and filling the weekend finance pages with the usual barrage of statistics."
This article is discussing the very things I alluded to in the previous article. America, China and India are all coing to have to look at how they provide their nations with energy and weigh up things like the health of the environment, the cost , the risks...some big decisions which will have to be made relatively soon and presumably as negotiations, debates, discussions and conferences. Their decisions will affect us all because I have come to the conclusion that history has brought us to the stage now where we have to look at things from a global perspective and much of what we do can no longer be ignored by other nations. We are on Planet Earth time in the new millennium.
Nuclear option 'not very realistic' for Australia
The Australian: Nuclear option 'not very realistic' for Australia :
"HONG KONG-based power company China Light & Power, joint developers of one of China's first nuclear power plants, is sceptical of Australia ever turning nuclear for its power needs."
I agree. I cannot see us needing nuclear power for domestic use, whereas I can understand why large nations are looking to nuclear power as a short term cheaper energy source for their domestic consumption. The problem appears to lie in whether the domestic nuclear power can be used for warfare or not. That's one for the scientists to clarify to us mere mortals because we are a bit hazy on that one. I didn't think nuclear reactors for domestic power could be misused for warfare but could, like Chernobyl become a massive threat to the environment if anything were to go wrong. That aside, storing the waste is an issue and has to be weighed up against the fuels which pollute the atmosphere one way or another...and then the rising cost of oil. Australia, NZ and other smaller nations need to be looking at renewable sources of energy because we do not have huge domestic demands to manage. Defense is then a completely separate issue. In my mind it's all so clear!
"HONG KONG-based power company China Light & Power, joint developers of one of China's first nuclear power plants, is sceptical of Australia ever turning nuclear for its power needs."
I agree. I cannot see us needing nuclear power for domestic use, whereas I can understand why large nations are looking to nuclear power as a short term cheaper energy source for their domestic consumption. The problem appears to lie in whether the domestic nuclear power can be used for warfare or not. That's one for the scientists to clarify to us mere mortals because we are a bit hazy on that one. I didn't think nuclear reactors for domestic power could be misused for warfare but could, like Chernobyl become a massive threat to the environment if anything were to go wrong. That aside, storing the waste is an issue and has to be weighed up against the fuels which pollute the atmosphere one way or another...and then the rising cost of oil. Australia, NZ and other smaller nations need to be looking at renewable sources of energy because we do not have huge domestic demands to manage. Defense is then a completely separate issue. In my mind it's all so clear!
Second chance
The Advertiser: Young given second chance to join police :
"SAPOL will establish a Youth Recruitment Development Program and employ a youth recruitment development officer to help young people who have missed entry into the Police Academy."
This is the sort of thing I mean.Young people who have been rejected by the police are being mentored through programmes to give them a better chance of succeeding with their applications. It will give young people who didn't make the grade a chance to prove they want to be in the police. It gives them a chance to fill in their learning gaps. The police can't just take someone on because they want to be in the police. Policing requires very particular skills and personalities. The police, in a mentoring programme, can draw out and develop the qualities they need in young recruits. The young ones have something to aim for and something to work on. The police have a chance to share their knowledge and expertise and build a force which is stable and skilled. Adults do have to show the young ones the ropes. It is a time honoured method across centuries and cultures.
"SAPOL will establish a Youth Recruitment Development Program and employ a youth recruitment development officer to help young people who have missed entry into the Police Academy."
This is the sort of thing I mean.Young people who have been rejected by the police are being mentored through programmes to give them a better chance of succeeding with their applications. It will give young people who didn't make the grade a chance to prove they want to be in the police. It gives them a chance to fill in their learning gaps. The police can't just take someone on because they want to be in the police. Policing requires very particular skills and personalities. The police, in a mentoring programme, can draw out and develop the qualities they need in young recruits. The young ones have something to aim for and something to work on. The police have a chance to share their knowledge and expertise and build a force which is stable and skilled. Adults do have to show the young ones the ropes. It is a time honoured method across centuries and cultures.
Adopting change
The Advertiser: Adoption joy - and it's not too late at 55 :
"Demographics expert Professor Graeme Hugo, from the University of Adelaide, said the changes were 'consistent' with SA's changing society and ageing population. 'People are living longer, working longer and getting married later,' he said.
'You are also getting more couples marrying at quite differing ages."
We have just changed the laws so that older people can adopt children and the waiting period is less. If you adopt under 2 year olds you will get he $3000 maternity payment . Professor Graeme Hugo has hit the nail on the head when he says society has changed! It has. We have managed many things but other things like the amount of young people dying on the roads , the urgent need for child care places and more facilities for the aged are things which we haven't quite managed yet. We are going to have to make a shift because there are a number of disengaged groups who now don't have their needs met because we haven't looked at some fundamental changes. Shopping hours was one of the things we had to consider. Looking at what takeway and restaurant food was available. We are going to have to look at how we operate and what our needs are so that we create an even more positive environment for ourselves. Lots of kids are happy to do hands on active things in their learning but many of those courses have been changed or abandoned. We need to look at the skills we need and how we can offer those in a way that people can access. We need to look at how young ones are tied into 30 hour a week working contracts when they are supposed to be studying and how people who need work can only get 20 hour weeks spread over five days,transport, health...all sorts of fundamental changes need to be made. So our experts do need to sit down and look at these issues and we do need to vocalise our needs as a society. It's not about the I want, I want, I want. It's about how we can best set up our communities now to benefit the members.
"Demographics expert Professor Graeme Hugo, from the University of Adelaide, said the changes were 'consistent' with SA's changing society and ageing population. 'People are living longer, working longer and getting married later,' he said.
'You are also getting more couples marrying at quite differing ages."
We have just changed the laws so that older people can adopt children and the waiting period is less. If you adopt under 2 year olds you will get he $3000 maternity payment . Professor Graeme Hugo has hit the nail on the head when he says society has changed! It has. We have managed many things but other things like the amount of young people dying on the roads , the urgent need for child care places and more facilities for the aged are things which we haven't quite managed yet. We are going to have to make a shift because there are a number of disengaged groups who now don't have their needs met because we haven't looked at some fundamental changes. Shopping hours was one of the things we had to consider. Looking at what takeway and restaurant food was available. We are going to have to look at how we operate and what our needs are so that we create an even more positive environment for ourselves. Lots of kids are happy to do hands on active things in their learning but many of those courses have been changed or abandoned. We need to look at the skills we need and how we can offer those in a way that people can access. We need to look at how young ones are tied into 30 hour a week working contracts when they are supposed to be studying and how people who need work can only get 20 hour weeks spread over five days,transport, health...all sorts of fundamental changes need to be made. So our experts do need to sit down and look at these issues and we do need to vocalise our needs as a society. It's not about the I want, I want, I want. It's about how we can best set up our communities now to benefit the members.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
6000 thank yous
It may be wild, wet and woolly outside, but I shall bask in the warm glow of 6000 clicks from all the people who have visited this site from all over the world. I thank you all. Six mille fois merci.
Queen Victoria is back
Queen Victoria restored to former glory. :
"After several months of restoration, the bronze statue of Queen Victoria will be returned to its usual spot in Adelaide's Victoria Square this morning."
I hadn't even noticed she was missing! It does explain why Adelaide has lost that certain je ne sais quoi. The statue of Queen Victoria is very large and imposing. No wonder the place has seemed a bit empty. She is very impressive and I shall have to go and see how she looks now she's been cleaned up!Not in this freezing cold and wondrous wet,though. Knowing us, we shall have been very meticulous with her cleansing and purification.
"After several months of restoration, the bronze statue of Queen Victoria will be returned to its usual spot in Adelaide's Victoria Square this morning."
I hadn't even noticed she was missing! It does explain why Adelaide has lost that certain je ne sais quoi. The statue of Queen Victoria is very large and imposing. No wonder the place has seemed a bit empty. She is very impressive and I shall have to go and see how she looks now she's been cleaned up!Not in this freezing cold and wondrous wet,though. Knowing us, we shall have been very meticulous with her cleansing and purification.
Priscilla Frisch
"January 15, 1985
As part of our continuing policy of bringing you warnings of world disasters in good time for you to prepare for them, we hereby report that Priscilla Frisch, an astronomer at the University of Chicago, has found that an interstellar wind now blowing through the solar system will massively disrupt worldwide weather patterns. If the prediction is correct, the climatic changes (mainly heavy rains) will occur 250, 000 years from now. “I have this stored in my file as long-range weather forecasting,” said Ms. Frisch. Ms. Frisch said the earth and the rest of the solar system are now on the edge of a very thin cloud of interstellar material blowing toward us at a speed of roughly 26 kms per second.
The cloud producing this “local interstellar wind,” as she calls it, is composed mostly of hydrogen atoms with trace amounts of many other elements. It could also contain a core perhaps 10,000 times as dense as the wind now blowing past the solar system, she said. If the core came into contact with the earth’s atmosphere, the hydrogen atoms in it would combine with oxygen in the atmosphere to form water. “ The result would be big rainfall,” Ms. Frisch said."
Probably The Last of Stay in Touch
Edited by David Dale
Horan Wall & Walker1985 p.18
I have found from my net search that 20 years later Dr. Frisch, who clearly was ahead of her time, is still active in the world of astronomy , has her own home page:
Homepage of Priscilla C. Frisch
and has been widely published and acknowledged in various scientific arenas e.g. here:
Gas attack
and here:
The Galactic Environment of the Sun
As part of our continuing policy of bringing you warnings of world disasters in good time for you to prepare for them, we hereby report that Priscilla Frisch, an astronomer at the University of Chicago, has found that an interstellar wind now blowing through the solar system will massively disrupt worldwide weather patterns. If the prediction is correct, the climatic changes (mainly heavy rains) will occur 250, 000 years from now. “I have this stored in my file as long-range weather forecasting,” said Ms. Frisch. Ms. Frisch said the earth and the rest of the solar system are now on the edge of a very thin cloud of interstellar material blowing toward us at a speed of roughly 26 kms per second.
The cloud producing this “local interstellar wind,” as she calls it, is composed mostly of hydrogen atoms with trace amounts of many other elements. It could also contain a core perhaps 10,000 times as dense as the wind now blowing past the solar system, she said. If the core came into contact with the earth’s atmosphere, the hydrogen atoms in it would combine with oxygen in the atmosphere to form water. “ The result would be big rainfall,” Ms. Frisch said."
Probably The Last of Stay in Touch
Edited by David Dale
Horan Wall & Walker1985 p.18
I have found from my net search that 20 years later Dr. Frisch, who clearly was ahead of her time, is still active in the world of astronomy , has her own home page:
Homepage of Priscilla C. Frisch
and has been widely published and acknowledged in various scientific arenas e.g. here:
Gas attack
and here:
The Galactic Environment of the Sun
Asian Tiger mosquitoes
Local authorities intercept exotic mosquitoes:
"Authorities have prevented a possible Dengue mosquito establishing in the NT by intercepting cargo carrying exotic mosquitoes at a Darwin port facility.
The Department of Health and Community Services (DHCS) and the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) last week intercepted the importation of Asian tiger mosquitoes in cargo unloaded at the East Arm port."
This is an article from 2003 so we have been on the ball trying to keep these Asian Tiger mosquitoes at bay. They have got as far as the Torres Strait Islands:
New killer mozzie on our doorstep
and in 2001 the University of Florida predicted they would spread and become a problem as a result of global warming:
University Of Florida Scientists Say Global Warming Could Spread Mosquito
Given this mosquito can carry diseases such as dengue fever, Ross River fever and Japanese encephalitis , we don't want it. We can't light little smoke fires to dissuade it because the cure might be worse than the insect given our history of bush fires. Hope our ecologists can find a way to stamp it out since they predict it could come south because it doesn't mind cooler climates. Well, it's not invited and I mind.
"Authorities have prevented a possible Dengue mosquito establishing in the NT by intercepting cargo carrying exotic mosquitoes at a Darwin port facility.
The Department of Health and Community Services (DHCS) and the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) last week intercepted the importation of Asian tiger mosquitoes in cargo unloaded at the East Arm port."
This is an article from 2003 so we have been on the ball trying to keep these Asian Tiger mosquitoes at bay. They have got as far as the Torres Strait Islands:
New killer mozzie on our doorstep
and in 2001 the University of Florida predicted they would spread and become a problem as a result of global warming:
University Of Florida Scientists Say Global Warming Could Spread Mosquito
Given this mosquito can carry diseases such as dengue fever, Ross River fever and Japanese encephalitis , we don't want it. We can't light little smoke fires to dissuade it because the cure might be worse than the insect given our history of bush fires. Hope our ecologists can find a way to stamp it out since they predict it could come south because it doesn't mind cooler climates. Well, it's not invited and I mind.
Detention discussion
Refugee advocates seek more changes. :
"The director of the New South Wales Institute of Psychiatry, Dr Louise Newman, says the changes are a mediocre compromise that do not fully address the issues faced by families in detention.
'The devil will be in the detail,' she said.
'We need to certainly see what this actually means in practice."
This situation with the detention centres has gone on and on. It's a weeping wound in our society which can become very infected . The situation has been untenable. There have been some changes. I do not think we are going to see an overnight transformation in the situation because as Meg Lees has said in another article:
Costello almost cost the GST, Lees says
We haven't particularly had a government that has been open to discussion. It's only recently there has been an abandonment of the potshot, ad hominem, undermine and destroy approach . Consultation has come back onto the scene and the leaders have been seen discussing issues with other groups in the community. It's actually been nice to get back to a country where experts and their experience are valued and they then discuss whatever issues are the order of the day. The team effort. So the detention matter has become quite serious and severe and it will take a lot of looking, talking , adjusting and changing before we have a system which suits us. We cannot approach it with a rosy eyed view of the world but it certainly is unworthy of us to adopt a draconian approach. For as long as people are talking, for as long as there is expert input, and for as long as we can see some moves forward then I think evolution is the way to go because the situation has been so unstable and emotional instability needs to be managed methodically, even if our policies are the ones which have created the extreme emotions in the first place.
"The director of the New South Wales Institute of Psychiatry, Dr Louise Newman, says the changes are a mediocre compromise that do not fully address the issues faced by families in detention.
'The devil will be in the detail,' she said.
'We need to certainly see what this actually means in practice."
This situation with the detention centres has gone on and on. It's a weeping wound in our society which can become very infected . The situation has been untenable. There have been some changes. I do not think we are going to see an overnight transformation in the situation because as Meg Lees has said in another article:
Costello almost cost the GST, Lees says
We haven't particularly had a government that has been open to discussion. It's only recently there has been an abandonment of the potshot, ad hominem, undermine and destroy approach . Consultation has come back onto the scene and the leaders have been seen discussing issues with other groups in the community. It's actually been nice to get back to a country where experts and their experience are valued and they then discuss whatever issues are the order of the day. The team effort. So the detention matter has become quite serious and severe and it will take a lot of looking, talking , adjusting and changing before we have a system which suits us. We cannot approach it with a rosy eyed view of the world but it certainly is unworthy of us to adopt a draconian approach. For as long as people are talking, for as long as there is expert input, and for as long as we can see some moves forward then I think evolution is the way to go because the situation has been so unstable and emotional instability needs to be managed methodically, even if our policies are the ones which have created the extreme emotions in the first place.
You've got big sky!
Lights out in Sydney for better view. :
"'Because people who live in the city miss out on seeing a lot in the sky each night.'"
I don't know if Sydney siders will like having the lights turned off so they can see the sky...it might make them feel very unsafe. Then again , it might make them feel all warm and cosy as they ooh and aah at their sky. I love the idea...I just want to know how it goes, so get back to me with the news. Don't leave me here as you often do with the start of a story and no more. One of the consistent comments I have heard form overseas visitors here is, "You've got big sky!"..always about how much sky we have. The sky is spectacular. So don't build it out!! Let us see it and let us see the stars. I love NZ for that reason...you can stand there in NZ and just look up at the sky for hours at night. In Australia you can do that too if you pick the right spot. Everyone has a right to have their piece of the sky. I am glad I didn't grow up without it. So...let us see how Sydney goes with the lights out!!! I am not sure if this is a good idea...
"'Because people who live in the city miss out on seeing a lot in the sky each night.'"
I don't know if Sydney siders will like having the lights turned off so they can see the sky...it might make them feel very unsafe. Then again , it might make them feel all warm and cosy as they ooh and aah at their sky. I love the idea...I just want to know how it goes, so get back to me with the news. Don't leave me here as you often do with the start of a story and no more. One of the consistent comments I have heard form overseas visitors here is, "You've got big sky!"..always about how much sky we have. The sky is spectacular. So don't build it out!! Let us see it and let us see the stars. I love NZ for that reason...you can stand there in NZ and just look up at the sky for hours at night. In Australia you can do that too if you pick the right spot. Everyone has a right to have their piece of the sky. I am glad I didn't grow up without it. So...let us see how Sydney goes with the lights out!!! I am not sure if this is a good idea...
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Kent Town firm puts whambam into Batman
The Advertiser: Kent Town firm puts whambam into Batman :
"The release this week of comic-book superpower Batman Begins showcases the heavyweight handiwork of Rising Sun. The Kent Town Company was also involved with Return of the King and is working on sequences for potential blockbusters Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Superman Returns and Charlotte's Web – the latter two films are being made in New South Wales and Victoria."
Didn't realise we'd worked on Batman!! How exciting. I know we have a long history of association with film, the film industry and special effects work. Adelaide people enjoy their films and there is a good appreciation of film making and film makers here. The digital stuff is really taking off and Rising Sun and Kojo Group are companies which win some prestigious contracts. I guess in Adelaide you can just become absorbed in what you are doing and get on with it without any fuss. Sometimes because people have no idea there is fame and fortune to be had here and sometimes because we just let people get on with what they need to do and respect their space. It's a funny city like that. Kent Town is a very productive business area of Adelaide but it is very unique and has some really lovely old buildings. It's a little niche area with its own feel...not a bad effort in a small place like this.
"The release this week of comic-book superpower Batman Begins showcases the heavyweight handiwork of Rising Sun. The Kent Town Company was also involved with Return of the King and is working on sequences for potential blockbusters Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Superman Returns and Charlotte's Web – the latter two films are being made in New South Wales and Victoria."
Didn't realise we'd worked on Batman!! How exciting. I know we have a long history of association with film, the film industry and special effects work. Adelaide people enjoy their films and there is a good appreciation of film making and film makers here. The digital stuff is really taking off and Rising Sun and Kojo Group are companies which win some prestigious contracts. I guess in Adelaide you can just become absorbed in what you are doing and get on with it without any fuss. Sometimes because people have no idea there is fame and fortune to be had here and sometimes because we just let people get on with what they need to do and respect their space. It's a funny city like that. Kent Town is a very productive business area of Adelaide but it is very unique and has some really lovely old buildings. It's a little niche area with its own feel...not a bad effort in a small place like this.
220 trees die in parklands since cut in water
The Advertiser: 220 trees die in parklands since cut in water :
"The report said some trees were 'identified as stressed' as a result of a number of factors including age, disease, prolonged dry weather conditions and reduced watering. 'The loss of further trees can be anticipated where reductions in water application rates continue to be effected,' the report concluded."
Our parklands are pretty areas and people use them a lot for different social events and family outings. Water restrictions are counter productive if they deny us the life force of trees. Obviously the council will investigate this because we can't afford to lose 200 trees and given we have cut down the beautiful shade trees to "open up" North Terrace then Adelaide will no longer be known for its green belt. It'll be dry, hot, dusty and uninviting and put that together with the teen takeover of Rundle Mall and the miscreants in Hindley Street and we are not looking too good. You have to water to keep things green and we probably have to look at the sort of water we can reallocate from where to solve the problem. It may not just be the water restrictions. We have had restrictions before and the trees have gone on. I noticed my neighbour's protea tree is is a terrible state today. it was big, bushy and very healthly and has been for years. They water at night and the tree is burnt up and dried. Tends to suggest a soil problem. The salts can build up in the soil if you don't have enough water to wash them away. We've only had a greener Adelaide since people have had sprinkler systems and have been more regular with their watering... even within the restrictions.
"The report said some trees were 'identified as stressed' as a result of a number of factors including age, disease, prolonged dry weather conditions and reduced watering. 'The loss of further trees can be anticipated where reductions in water application rates continue to be effected,' the report concluded."
Our parklands are pretty areas and people use them a lot for different social events and family outings. Water restrictions are counter productive if they deny us the life force of trees. Obviously the council will investigate this because we can't afford to lose 200 trees and given we have cut down the beautiful shade trees to "open up" North Terrace then Adelaide will no longer be known for its green belt. It'll be dry, hot, dusty and uninviting and put that together with the teen takeover of Rundle Mall and the miscreants in Hindley Street and we are not looking too good. You have to water to keep things green and we probably have to look at the sort of water we can reallocate from where to solve the problem. It may not just be the water restrictions. We have had restrictions before and the trees have gone on. I noticed my neighbour's protea tree is is a terrible state today. it was big, bushy and very healthly and has been for years. They water at night and the tree is burnt up and dried. Tends to suggest a soil problem. The salts can build up in the soil if you don't have enough water to wash them away. We've only had a greener Adelaide since people have had sprinkler systems and have been more regular with their watering... even within the restrictions.
Happy footie fans
Crows thrash stumbling Tigers:
"The Crows won every quarter, with Ian Perrie providing a great support act to Welsh with five majors as Adelaide won 20.12 (132) to 9.8 (62)."
Adelaide AFL fans will be happy again this weekend because both our teams won their matches again. Adelaide Crows had a convincing win over Richmond and Port Adelaide 29.14.188 defeated Hawthorn 10.11.71. The weather has been wet and cold so it would have made good inside entertainment this weekend.
"The Crows won every quarter, with Ian Perrie providing a great support act to Welsh with five majors as Adelaide won 20.12 (132) to 9.8 (62)."
Adelaide AFL fans will be happy again this weekend because both our teams won their matches again. Adelaide Crows had a convincing win over Richmond and Port Adelaide 29.14.188 defeated Hawthorn 10.11.71. The weather has been wet and cold so it would have made good inside entertainment this weekend.
Fair's fair
Psychiatrists dismiss Vanstone's call to limit role. :
"'It would be negligent of a psychiatrist not to speak out against things that drive people crazy.
'I know that the patients I've seen were driven crazy by being in Baxter."
If Amanda Vanstone believes psychiatrists should not speak out about psychiatric issues, does she also believe politicians should not speak out about political issues?
"'It would be negligent of a psychiatrist not to speak out against things that drive people crazy.
'I know that the patients I've seen were driven crazy by being in Baxter."
If Amanda Vanstone believes psychiatrists should not speak out about psychiatric issues, does she also believe politicians should not speak out about political issues?
Mother arrested after car chase.
Mother arrested after car chase. :
"The car eventually became bogged in a paddock a Craigmoor."
I gather the reporter is not from SA. It's Craigmore. Very north of the city. Well, we seem to have had a few of them lately, these car chases. The hoon laws got to their second stage and it went blissfully quiet, but with the rain last Friday they have all been out again squealing their tyres and revving like mad and going a million miles an hour. The Monday holiday was the pits around here again. I suppose it sounds better in the rain and they know we won't bother going out while it's freezing and pouring to try and see who they are. Bugga!
"The car eventually became bogged in a paddock a Craigmoor."
I gather the reporter is not from SA. It's Craigmore. Very north of the city. Well, we seem to have had a few of them lately, these car chases. The hoon laws got to their second stage and it went blissfully quiet, but with the rain last Friday they have all been out again squealing their tyres and revving like mad and going a million miles an hour. The Monday holiday was the pits around here again. I suppose it sounds better in the rain and they know we won't bother going out while it's freezing and pouring to try and see who they are. Bugga!
Wake up, wake up.
Second helicopter crashes in NY river. :
"A helicopter with eight people on board has crashed into New York's East River, four days after a tourist chopper went down in the same river."
So far no casualties. We've had a wake up call about our tour and parks. The Americans are having a wake up call about their flying machines. Flying upside down in the river is not the go.
"A helicopter with eight people on board has crashed into New York's East River, four days after a tourist chopper went down in the same river."
So far no casualties. We've had a wake up call about our tour and parks. The Americans are having a wake up call about their flying machines. Flying upside down in the river is not the go.
Tourists found after night in national park.
Tourists found after night in national park. :
"Five Chinese tourists and two guides reported missing overnight in the Kosciusko National Park have been found."
This is about the third group to go missing in our national parks in as many weeks. They obviously haven't been taking a cut lunch and compass. Fortunately, nothing serious has happened but I think we have had enough incidents to remind us to wake up! Our national parks are massive. The best one, if I may say that, was the other night when Channel 10 news showed the senior citizens who'd got lost on one of their tours. One of the daughters was on the news: "That's it , Mum, you are grounded!!" The poor daughter was crying tears of relief and the little mother was standing their stalwartly not a bit chastened. It looked so human and so funny. The daughter had obviously worried herself sick about her Mum.
"Five Chinese tourists and two guides reported missing overnight in the Kosciusko National Park have been found."
This is about the third group to go missing in our national parks in as many weeks. They obviously haven't been taking a cut lunch and compass. Fortunately, nothing serious has happened but I think we have had enough incidents to remind us to wake up! Our national parks are massive. The best one, if I may say that, was the other night when Channel 10 news showed the senior citizens who'd got lost on one of their tours. One of the daughters was on the news: "That's it , Mum, you are grounded!!" The poor daughter was crying tears of relief and the little mother was standing their stalwartly not a bit chastened. It looked so human and so funny. The daughter had obviously worried herself sick about her Mum.
Girl born from frozen egg.
Girl born from frozen egg. :
"A South Australian girl is believed to be the first in Australia to be born from a frozen egg."
As usual, I haven't got enough information here, but we've got our first frozen embryo fertilisation. I don't quite understand why it is a problem to have a fertilised egg/embryo transplanted and okay to use a frozen one if the biological parents are the couple involved. The couple opted for frozen because of their religious beliefs. Egg fertilisation is making it possible for people to have children who previously couldn't, but I know from a friend that the IVF programme can be quite tough on you physically. For her, it was never successful and that was so sad to listen to when she finally talked about it. There was also the court case in France, I think it was, where a woman asked the court to use the frozen sperm of her dead husband so that she could have his baby. She won the case but I have never seen anything about whether she had a baby or not. What happens to the frozen eggs and sperm if someone dies or if they get divorced? I can see there might be some interesting legal ramifications down the track. For now, I am sure Mr and Mrs Kurtzer are so delighted to have their new little daughter. May she bring them as much pleasure and joy as mine has.
"A South Australian girl is believed to be the first in Australia to be born from a frozen egg."
As usual, I haven't got enough information here, but we've got our first frozen embryo fertilisation. I don't quite understand why it is a problem to have a fertilised egg/embryo transplanted and okay to use a frozen one if the biological parents are the couple involved. The couple opted for frozen because of their religious beliefs. Egg fertilisation is making it possible for people to have children who previously couldn't, but I know from a friend that the IVF programme can be quite tough on you physically. For her, it was never successful and that was so sad to listen to when she finally talked about it. There was also the court case in France, I think it was, where a woman asked the court to use the frozen sperm of her dead husband so that she could have his baby. She won the case but I have never seen anything about whether she had a baby or not. What happens to the frozen eggs and sperm if someone dies or if they get divorced? I can see there might be some interesting legal ramifications down the track. For now, I am sure Mr and Mrs Kurtzer are so delighted to have their new little daughter. May she bring them as much pleasure and joy as mine has.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Doctors attack plans for 'shopping mall surgeries'
SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Society | Doctors attack plans for 'shopping mall surgeries':
"The plans would 'crush singlehanded and small practices in favour of giant super-surgeries of 10 or more doctors' and Britain's 10,000 GP practices would 'shrink to a miserable 1,800', he said."
I won't comment on the situation in Britain as I am not there. Reading this , though, made me think of how things have been revamped here. In certain areas we cannot get doctors at all and trying to get rural and regional doctors is a problem. How it is set up has changed,and, for the most part, for the better. I have two GPs because over my life, and given where I have worked and am working ,I have needed doctors at opposite ends of town. One is in a practice with a partner and it has been hugely successful and long lasting. Both of the doctors are real family doctors and will make house calls in serious circumstances. My other doctor was originally in a practice of four. Now he is in a practice of I have no idea..about 10-12. They use one of our huge beautiful Adelaide bungalows and it has some real advantages. There are all sorts of other medical facilities onsite so that older patients or very sick patients can have tests and treatments before anything else occurs. Since it is a big Adelaide home, we all feel very much at home and the 10-12 doctors have been selected to cover varying age groups, patient needs and a mix of expertise. No doctor is without someone to consult. The oldies really like it because they don't have to run around. The young ones like it because it doesn't have what can be an overwhelming feeling of being in a waiting room by yourself when you don't feel well. The doctors also sponsor local artists and their works are displayed for sale. It's very calming. I like both experiences. We also have 24 hour surgeries where different doctors are rostered as an alternative to locums. The main concern for me is that I and my family have a good relationship of trust with a doctor. It's the level of care and concern from the doctor. You need someone whose opinion you value and who is competent and can formulate a plan for your well being. Smaller practices here have dwindled because the doctors have felt a bit threatened by some of the patients and a bit isolated. In a bigger practice there is the safety of numbers and I think that is worth considering. A bigger practice doesn't have to be a mall. My two doctors in the small practice are hugely competent and happy, but so are the ones in the bigger one...because I asked! I know quite a few of them now. They all felt odd at first and now they like the comradeship and the chance to discuss things easily with others.
"The plans would 'crush singlehanded and small practices in favour of giant super-surgeries of 10 or more doctors' and Britain's 10,000 GP practices would 'shrink to a miserable 1,800', he said."
I won't comment on the situation in Britain as I am not there. Reading this , though, made me think of how things have been revamped here. In certain areas we cannot get doctors at all and trying to get rural and regional doctors is a problem. How it is set up has changed,and, for the most part, for the better. I have two GPs because over my life, and given where I have worked and am working ,I have needed doctors at opposite ends of town. One is in a practice with a partner and it has been hugely successful and long lasting. Both of the doctors are real family doctors and will make house calls in serious circumstances. My other doctor was originally in a practice of four. Now he is in a practice of I have no idea..about 10-12. They use one of our huge beautiful Adelaide bungalows and it has some real advantages. There are all sorts of other medical facilities onsite so that older patients or very sick patients can have tests and treatments before anything else occurs. Since it is a big Adelaide home, we all feel very much at home and the 10-12 doctors have been selected to cover varying age groups, patient needs and a mix of expertise. No doctor is without someone to consult. The oldies really like it because they don't have to run around. The young ones like it because it doesn't have what can be an overwhelming feeling of being in a waiting room by yourself when you don't feel well. The doctors also sponsor local artists and their works are displayed for sale. It's very calming. I like both experiences. We also have 24 hour surgeries where different doctors are rostered as an alternative to locums. The main concern for me is that I and my family have a good relationship of trust with a doctor. It's the level of care and concern from the doctor. You need someone whose opinion you value and who is competent and can formulate a plan for your well being. Smaller practices here have dwindled because the doctors have felt a bit threatened by some of the patients and a bit isolated. In a bigger practice there is the safety of numbers and I think that is worth considering. A bigger practice doesn't have to be a mall. My two doctors in the small practice are hugely competent and happy, but so are the ones in the bigger one...because I asked! I know quite a few of them now. They all felt odd at first and now they like the comradeship and the chance to discuss things easily with others.
There's trouble at mill
The Australian: Garden guru digs in against pulp mill:
"'It (the mill) is going to use an enormous amount of clean, fresh, drinking water and pump it out to sea ... and a 100m chimneystack is going to blow smoke and fumes down the valley.'"
We all know Peter Cundall from Gardening Australia and the 'ABC' Gardening Australia LIVE' . The article is right, if Peter Cundall has concerns, they will have to be addressed. He is a very mild mannered, personable human being but there is no doubting he values plants, soil and nature above all else. He is one of our very knowledgeable environmentalists and he is one person we listen to when we have problems in the garden. He is very intense about his plants! His advice is down to earth, solid, straight forward and no nonsense so he will be expecting the same sorts of responses from whomever he asks about buiding a pulp mill in one of the most beautiful valleys in Tasmania. Why would you do that??
"'It (the mill) is going to use an enormous amount of clean, fresh, drinking water and pump it out to sea ... and a 100m chimneystack is going to blow smoke and fumes down the valley.'"
We all know Peter Cundall from Gardening Australia and the 'ABC' Gardening Australia LIVE' . The article is right, if Peter Cundall has concerns, they will have to be addressed. He is a very mild mannered, personable human being but there is no doubting he values plants, soil and nature above all else. He is one of our very knowledgeable environmentalists and he is one person we listen to when we have problems in the garden. He is very intense about his plants! His advice is down to earth, solid, straight forward and no nonsense so he will be expecting the same sorts of responses from whomever he asks about buiding a pulp mill in one of the most beautiful valleys in Tasmania. Why would you do that??
Suffer the little children
Cambodian siege a revenge attack: police. :
"The men who stormed an international school in Cambodia had aimed to kill the two children of a former South Korean employer of the ringleader, police said initial investigations showed today."
This is only one of the stories about pain, death and degradation being visited on little children. We have had plenty of stories about teenagers visiting all of those things upon themselves and that has been hard enough to take. But the stuff coming through over the last couple of days about little children is cutting deep. I do not like living in a world where little children are being used, abused maimed, hurt, murdered. Why would you do anything to hurt little children? They are our messengers to the future. Why would you seek revenge on a little child?
My heart is hurting so much for the Canadian father who has lost his two year old son because I saw him on the news tonight carry his little boy in his arms and as a parent it just pulls you apart. His parents do not deserve this and I can say nothing to help them. I don't like this kind of world.
Two-year-old Canadian boy killed in Cambodian school hostage drama
"The men who stormed an international school in Cambodia had aimed to kill the two children of a former South Korean employer of the ringleader, police said initial investigations showed today."
This is only one of the stories about pain, death and degradation being visited on little children. We have had plenty of stories about teenagers visiting all of those things upon themselves and that has been hard enough to take. But the stuff coming through over the last couple of days about little children is cutting deep. I do not like living in a world where little children are being used, abused maimed, hurt, murdered. Why would you do anything to hurt little children? They are our messengers to the future. Why would you seek revenge on a little child?
My heart is hurting so much for the Canadian father who has lost his two year old son because I saw him on the news tonight carry his little boy in his arms and as a parent it just pulls you apart. His parents do not deserve this and I can say nothing to help them. I don't like this kind of world.
Two-year-old Canadian boy killed in Cambodian school hostage drama
We have lift off!
PM announces major changes to migration laws. :
"The primary decision on an asylum seeker's case must be made within three months, and the Refugee Review Tribunal must also finalise decisions within three months.
Long-term detainees who have been held for two years will have their cases referred to the Commonwealth ombudsman for review.
If a person has been detained for two years or more there will be an automatic requirement that every six months a report on their detention must be given to the Ombudsman who will give an assessment to the minister."
If cases of asylum seekers and refugees have to be resolved within three months, then how can anyone be detained for two years or more?? I don't get that bit...but I get the rest and halleluya, woo-hoo, hooray and about time and thank heavens and you little beauty ripper and may the Lord God bless your little cotton socks.
"The primary decision on an asylum seeker's case must be made within three months, and the Refugee Review Tribunal must also finalise decisions within three months.
Long-term detainees who have been held for two years will have their cases referred to the Commonwealth ombudsman for review.
If a person has been detained for two years or more there will be an automatic requirement that every six months a report on their detention must be given to the Ombudsman who will give an assessment to the minister."
If cases of asylum seekers and refugees have to be resolved within three months, then how can anyone be detained for two years or more?? I don't get that bit...but I get the rest and halleluya, woo-hoo, hooray and about time and thank heavens and you little beauty ripper and may the Lord God bless your little cotton socks.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Dr. Red
This Brisbane Vineyard has been the talk of the whole of Australia since it was featured on Good Morning Australia. The Ginger Punch has been tested in hospital laboratories and has destroyed all 3 forms of prostate cancer cells. There was a great 95 year old man on with the vineyard owner and he swore by the stuff. Consequently, as you will see from the site, the vineyard has been swamped with enquiries. It adds to what others have been saying before :poor nutrition and cancer appear to be linked and a good diet of whole foods will help. The Ginger Punch though appears to really pack a punch if it can deliver a knock out blow to cancer cells! They are going to carry on with further tests before they do the clinical tests on humans.
" Brisbane’s Vineyard, under the leadership of biochemist Greg Jardine, has introduced a range of wine products and a ginger concentrate aptly branded Dr Red that are packed full of antioxidants. Dr Red was introduced to the world on 31 st March 2003 . Red wine has a third of the grape antioxidants, Dr Red has 100%."
Dr. Red
" Brisbane’s Vineyard, under the leadership of biochemist Greg Jardine, has introduced a range of wine products and a ginger concentrate aptly branded Dr Red that are packed full of antioxidants. Dr Red was introduced to the world on 31 st March 2003 . Red wine has a third of the grape antioxidants, Dr Red has 100%."
Dr. Red
Wo ist Osama Bomb Laden?
Usama? Ousama? Osama? They seek him here. They seek him there.
Hunting bin Laden
"Asked if he had any idea where Osama was, he said: �Well, that we don�t know. We know this much that he cannot possibly be in Afghanistan.� About the possibility of �terrorists� mounting high-profile attacks in the country, Mr Karzai said the terrorists and their backers would try to make elections for parliament difficult."
Karzai says Osama not in Afghanistan
I tried to find him and came across this on my Yahoo search but the text was not available. This is obviously why he is not in Afghanistan.
#
Osama Bin Laden arrested at Delhi railway station- The Times of India Open this result in new window
CITY SUPPLEMENTS: DELHI TIMES. SearchThe Times of India Indiatimes Web. CLASSIFIEDS. HOT LINKS. NEWS. OPINION. SUPPLEMENTS. SUNDAY SPECIALS. NRI SERVICES. PRINT EDITION. DAILY DOSE. Osama Bin Laden arrested at Delhi railway station ... new delhi: osama bin laden, the leader of the terrorist ... on sunday evening. bin laden, who tops the federal bureau ... made in the country, bin laden, who had booked a ...
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Articleshow.asp?art_id=5564030 - 53k - Cached - More pages from this site
http://au.search.yahoo.com/search?p=ousama+bin+laden&meta=
Phished off
Australian IT - Phishing reports double :
"The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) warned people to beware of 'phishing', whereby fraudsters use deceptive email messages that appear to come from legitimate businesses."
I blogged earlier in the year (18/1/05 and23/1/05) that "they" had warned us the big new thing in 2005 was going to be phishing and here it is. Haven't they heard we are running out of phish? We are all phished out?
Like anything else, there is plenty of software and a plethora of gadgets so you can deflect the illegal phishing. Go for it , chaps! And I caught one..and it was .....<.....THIS BIG!!!......>.
"The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) warned people to beware of 'phishing', whereby fraudsters use deceptive email messages that appear to come from legitimate businesses."
I blogged earlier in the year (18/1/05 and23/1/05) that "they" had warned us the big new thing in 2005 was going to be phishing and here it is. Haven't they heard we are running out of phish? We are all phished out?
Like anything else, there is plenty of software and a plethora of gadgets so you can deflect the illegal phishing. Go for it , chaps! And I caught one..and it was .....<.....THIS BIG!!!......>.
Non capisco. E troppo.
Bloggiourno, Blogerto. Blogonami se sto farfugliando ma blogono nueva. Blogestri portarme blogistorante. Bloglio bloghetti.
Non sapeveo chegli blogeli potessero blogare cosi in blogasso. Blogsi fan tutti.
Non blagaramo. Mi scusi. Facciamo colazione assiemi blogani.
Blogissimo. Rendi piu to piacevole la blognata.
Blogzie. Che cosa ha ? Non bloggo corte.
Un blogento. Prego . Prego. Blogiao.
Arriveblogerci.
Non sapeveo chegli blogeli potessero blogare cosi in blogasso. Blogsi fan tutti.
Non blagaramo. Mi scusi. Facciamo colazione assiemi blogani.
Blogissimo. Rendi piu to piacevole la blognata.
Blogzie. Che cosa ha ? Non bloggo corte.
Un blogento. Prego . Prego. Blogiao.
Arriveblogerci.
Qantas probe on LA fight
The Australian: Qantas probe on LA fight
: "The fight is believed to have broken out between two cabin crew and a second officer in a room at the Bonaventure Hotel in central Los Angeles on Saturday, The Australian newspaper reports."
I daresay spats break out after hours from time to time in any job but we just don't hear about it. I can't imagine everyone is hunky dorey all of the time every minute of every day. Flight attendant has to be a difficult job these days because of the nature of what has been going on associated with air craft. Then there is all the restructuring of airlines and then airlines suddenly disappearing and new ones appearing only to disappear again. It must put pressure on the staff. Qantas really needs to sort this out as I am sure it will. People management is everything. I have to confess I have nothing but praise for the Qantas flight attendants I have met recently. I hadn't flown for quite some time with Qantas because I decided I hadn't gone on a plane to be treated like a naughtly school girl. The previous attendants were full of tut tuts, tsk tsks and peremptory commands. It was a relief to fly with other airlines and see just how much you can be valued and made to feel welcome. Well, I was a bit apprehensive having to fly Qantas this time, but to my pleasant surprise it was just lovely. The first flight was very civilised and friendly and the second flight was an absolute hoot. Everybody was the impeccable professional but the good humour and pleasant manner really made the flight a great experience rather than a routine one. So, for my part, I'd like to ask Qantas to get to the bottom of this because it seems like the pressure valve has blown. As I have said before...Qantas is one of our icons. We need to look after it. Value it. Cherish it!!
: "The fight is believed to have broken out between two cabin crew and a second officer in a room at the Bonaventure Hotel in central Los Angeles on Saturday, The Australian newspaper reports."
I daresay spats break out after hours from time to time in any job but we just don't hear about it. I can't imagine everyone is hunky dorey all of the time every minute of every day. Flight attendant has to be a difficult job these days because of the nature of what has been going on associated with air craft. Then there is all the restructuring of airlines and then airlines suddenly disappearing and new ones appearing only to disappear again. It must put pressure on the staff. Qantas really needs to sort this out as I am sure it will. People management is everything. I have to confess I have nothing but praise for the Qantas flight attendants I have met recently. I hadn't flown for quite some time with Qantas because I decided I hadn't gone on a plane to be treated like a naughtly school girl. The previous attendants were full of tut tuts, tsk tsks and peremptory commands. It was a relief to fly with other airlines and see just how much you can be valued and made to feel welcome. Well, I was a bit apprehensive having to fly Qantas this time, but to my pleasant surprise it was just lovely. The first flight was very civilised and friendly and the second flight was an absolute hoot. Everybody was the impeccable professional but the good humour and pleasant manner really made the flight a great experience rather than a routine one. So, for my part, I'd like to ask Qantas to get to the bottom of this because it seems like the pressure valve has blown. As I have said before...Qantas is one of our icons. We need to look after it. Value it. Cherish it!!
US military jet crashes into homes, no injuries.
US military jet crashes into homes, no injuries. :
"A US Marine Corps jet has crashed into flames in a residential area of Yuma in Arizona, but no one on the ground was hurt and the pilot ejected safely, military and city officials said."
On November 5th 2004 I blogged about an F-16 shooting at a school during a training mission. Now a Marine Corps jet has crashed into homes and it was carrying 4 bombs and 300 rounds of ammunition. It is so lucky no one has been hurt. The pilot is in hospital. It must have scared the living daylights out of the people who were living in the homes. The plane was preparing to land. It is soooo lucky no one was hurt.
"A US Marine Corps jet has crashed into flames in a residential area of Yuma in Arizona, but no one on the ground was hurt and the pilot ejected safely, military and city officials said."
On November 5th 2004 I blogged about an F-16 shooting at a school during a training mission. Now a Marine Corps jet has crashed into homes and it was carrying 4 bombs and 300 rounds of ammunition. It is so lucky no one has been hurt. The pilot is in hospital. It must have scared the living daylights out of the people who were living in the homes. The plane was preparing to land. It is soooo lucky no one was hurt.
Cats hail Wood's rescue with team membership.
Cats hail Wood's rescue with team membership. :
"Mr Wood's family says one of the first things he asked when he spoke to them was whether the Geelong cats would win this year's AFL premiership."
This is an Australian and these are Australians. Nothing else matters in footie season!
"Mr Wood's family says one of the first things he asked when he spoke to them was whether the Geelong cats would win this year's AFL premiership."
This is an Australian and these are Australians. Nothing else matters in footie season!
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Appliblog
If you belong to Blogshares, you will know there are all sorts of challenges and experiences to be had. I am not that good at the game side of it and am only slowly acquiring virtual money and getting the hang of that...what I like are the missions!! Especially missions where I write or have to create something.
I have no difficulty drawing Appliblog to your attention. Satish Talim explains very clearly how to deal with some of the tricky problems associated with blogging. He is very positive and quietly encouraging and there is a wealth of knowledge. Appliblog describes itself as, " Easy practical tips, tricks, tools" and it's true. The first tip I came across was one I have been having with Technorati. Anybody else finding Technorati a bit odd? I can't even claim this blog! My other two yes, but not this one.
Just take a peep at Appliblog, I am sure you'll find a tip or trick to help you and I shall be linking it to my blog because I think it's one of those blogs you need to keep in touch with regularly.
Appliblog
I have no difficulty drawing Appliblog to your attention. Satish Talim explains very clearly how to deal with some of the tricky problems associated with blogging. He is very positive and quietly encouraging and there is a wealth of knowledge. Appliblog describes itself as, " Easy practical tips, tricks, tools" and it's true. The first tip I came across was one I have been having with Technorati. Anybody else finding Technorati a bit odd? I can't even claim this blog! My other two yes, but not this one.
Just take a peep at Appliblog, I am sure you'll find a tip or trick to help you and I shall be linking it to my blog because I think it's one of those blogs you need to keep in touch with regularly.
Appliblog
Douglas Wood is free!
Downer says freed Wood a lucky man. :
"Mr Downer says Mr Wood is now in the care of the head of the Government's emergency response team, Nick Warner."
This is such good news. What a great day. He appears to be well and okay. His family will be crying tears of joy. This is lovely news. May there be more.
Hostage Douglas Wood rescued
"Mr Downer says Mr Wood is now in the care of the head of the Government's emergency response team, Nick Warner."
This is such good news. What a great day. He appears to be well and okay. His family will be crying tears of joy. This is lovely news. May there be more.
Hostage Douglas Wood rescued
Crypt halts work, solves old mystery
The Advertiser: Crypt halts work, solves old mystery [15jun05]:
"The unmarked crypt holds three lead-lined coffins and is the resting place of affluent 19th-century landowner and ironmonger Edward Drew, his sister, Sophia, and her husband, Highfield Estate owner Joseph Dauncey."
This was on the news last night and the pictures were rather odd. The crypt really was very deep into the earth and the road appeared to have gone over it. The older residents appeared quite pleased and delighted that the mystery appeared to be solved because everyone knew about it. The excavations had appeared to have disturbed the coffins and one person thought they needed to be left there because it was their burial place, their tomb. In any case the residents will have to wait with all the excavation work around them until the legality of all of this has been resolved. It is just odd how they were so deep into the earth and how the cells were so strongly built. People have tried before to find the lost three. No wonder they couldn't find them! Adelaide had always been a curious place like that. There is supposed to be a sink hole around North Adelaide somewhere wher people used to go and swim in the early 1900s. It appears to be gone and no one now seems to know about it.
"The unmarked crypt holds three lead-lined coffins and is the resting place of affluent 19th-century landowner and ironmonger Edward Drew, his sister, Sophia, and her husband, Highfield Estate owner Joseph Dauncey."
This was on the news last night and the pictures were rather odd. The crypt really was very deep into the earth and the road appeared to have gone over it. The older residents appeared quite pleased and delighted that the mystery appeared to be solved because everyone knew about it. The excavations had appeared to have disturbed the coffins and one person thought they needed to be left there because it was their burial place, their tomb. In any case the residents will have to wait with all the excavation work around them until the legality of all of this has been resolved. It is just odd how they were so deep into the earth and how the cells were so strongly built. People have tried before to find the lost three. No wonder they couldn't find them! Adelaide had always been a curious place like that. There is supposed to be a sink hole around North Adelaide somewhere wher people used to go and swim in the early 1900s. It appears to be gone and no one now seems to know about it.
Rebel Liberal MPs labelled 'political terrorists'.
Rebel Liberal MPs labelled 'political terrorists'. :
"'If you spit the dummy because the vast majority of people in your own party won't agree with you, and you in effect behave as a political terrorist, then I think you lose credibility - I don't think it's a bad sign for the party at all,' she said."
If you cannot allow open debate in a democracy of an issue which has been disturbing us all, then what are you? The people pushing the issue of our mandatory detention and detention centres are trying to bring some sanity into a set of policies and venues which are not currently serving our needs and are indeed inhumane. This is not prime facie. We have locked up our own. We have locked up mentally ill people. We have broken up families and we have caused acute mental anguish and illness. This has all been observed and documented. It is out there. Even we know about it. Our government has been elected to govern. I keep saying this. They do not have a mandate to put Corneleia Rau in Baxter. They do not have a mandate to deport our own back to a country where they are put in a hospice. They do not have a mandate to make people insane. Think about it. This is not about who is right or who is wrong or who is onside or who is offside. That is so petty given the things which have occured. All the Liberal bank benchers and others are trying to do is stabilise a very wobbly boat. Put a human face on a system which is not working. These people have not lost credibility at all. They have, infact, gained respect because they are prepared to try and solve some really tricky stuff and they have not been hot headed nor ill advised in their manner.
"'If you spit the dummy because the vast majority of people in your own party won't agree with you, and you in effect behave as a political terrorist, then I think you lose credibility - I don't think it's a bad sign for the party at all,' she said."
If you cannot allow open debate in a democracy of an issue which has been disturbing us all, then what are you? The people pushing the issue of our mandatory detention and detention centres are trying to bring some sanity into a set of policies and venues which are not currently serving our needs and are indeed inhumane. This is not prime facie. We have locked up our own. We have locked up mentally ill people. We have broken up families and we have caused acute mental anguish and illness. This has all been observed and documented. It is out there. Even we know about it. Our government has been elected to govern. I keep saying this. They do not have a mandate to put Corneleia Rau in Baxter. They do not have a mandate to deport our own back to a country where they are put in a hospice. They do not have a mandate to make people insane. Think about it. This is not about who is right or who is wrong or who is onside or who is offside. That is so petty given the things which have occured. All the Liberal bank benchers and others are trying to do is stabilise a very wobbly boat. Put a human face on a system which is not working. These people have not lost credibility at all. They have, infact, gained respect because they are prepared to try and solve some really tricky stuff and they have not been hot headed nor ill advised in their manner.
Taxing times
Senate passes Labor tax amendments.
: "But the Opposition's amendments will eventually be defeated once the Government gains its Senate majority next month."
I heard the some of the debate yesterday and today. The papers were presented in a no nonsense fashion until the Liberals got up this morning and said they had had nine years of competent fiscal management and who was anybody to question that. The senate did vote in favour of the amendments which assist the middle/low income earners better. What is wrong with that? Oh..it wasn't their idea. How can senate pass amendments and then plain ignore them....or is this another case of crystal ball gazing and the Government has been told what it is going to do when it takes control of the senate? I think we need to abandon the notion of democracy. Both the Democrats and labour presented a sane solution to the tax reform inequities. Why bother debating if the issues are to be ignored?. It wasn't silly stuff. it made good sense to me to even it out a bit and the amendments are quite sane. They are ill founded.
: "But the Opposition's amendments will eventually be defeated once the Government gains its Senate majority next month."
I heard the some of the debate yesterday and today. The papers were presented in a no nonsense fashion until the Liberals got up this morning and said they had had nine years of competent fiscal management and who was anybody to question that. The senate did vote in favour of the amendments which assist the middle/low income earners better. What is wrong with that? Oh..it wasn't their idea. How can senate pass amendments and then plain ignore them....or is this another case of crystal ball gazing and the Government has been told what it is going to do when it takes control of the senate? I think we need to abandon the notion of democracy. Both the Democrats and labour presented a sane solution to the tax reform inequities. Why bother debating if the issues are to be ignored?. It wasn't silly stuff. it made good sense to me to even it out a bit and the amendments are quite sane. They are ill founded.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Forget the tiger - put sheep urine in your tank
Guardian Unlimited | Life | Forget the tiger - put sheep urine in your tank:
"The urine is collected by the fertiliser industry from farmyard waste and refined into pure urea, which is then sold on to be used in the green engine technology. Ammonia from the urea reacts with nitrous oxides in the exhaust fumes and converts them to nitrogen gas and water, which is released as steam."
What is going on in the UK? If nothing else they are thinking outside the square. I guess it's better to run on sheep wee than oil in this day and age. I seem to remember we were doing things with pig poo to run generators or something and then there's the famous bit in the Day of the Triffids where they fly the plane on sugar. So , let's forget the oil and the daily price of the barrel. Let's take the bull by the horns and go fully organic with fuel. What a hoot. We could fill up at the bowsers on donkey wee, camel wee...run our homes on pig poo.Heaps more fun than oil. Can you imagine the branding, logos and ads?
"The urine is collected by the fertiliser industry from farmyard waste and refined into pure urea, which is then sold on to be used in the green engine technology. Ammonia from the urea reacts with nitrous oxides in the exhaust fumes and converts them to nitrogen gas and water, which is released as steam."
What is going on in the UK? If nothing else they are thinking outside the square. I guess it's better to run on sheep wee than oil in this day and age. I seem to remember we were doing things with pig poo to run generators or something and then there's the famous bit in the Day of the Triffids where they fly the plane on sugar. So , let's forget the oil and the daily price of the barrel. Let's take the bull by the horns and go fully organic with fuel. What a hoot. We could fill up at the bowsers on donkey wee, camel wee...run our homes on pig poo.Heaps more fun than oil. Can you imagine the branding, logos and ads?
Spray-on mud: the ultimate accessory for city 4x4 drivers
Guardian Unlimited | Life | Spray-on mud: the ultimate accessory for city 4x4 drivers:
"It could be the ultimate accessory for the 4x4-driving city dweller: spray-on mud. A few squirts and neighbours will think you spent the weekend hurtling along muddy lanes looking for a country retreat, rather than sitting in traffic on the way to drop the kids off before your yoga class."
I love it! Something frivolous and silly. But who is the silly one? It's selling well in the UK and the US. We wouldn't buy it here. We are in the driest state on the driest continent ...so they keep telling us - but has global warming/climate change/ climate science changed any of that? We don't have to pretend. Just wait till it rains a bit or just park the car outside and we can offer you a fully authentic I have driven up North /across the Nullabor/ across the Hay plain look. We can supply grey, écru, red, brown, charcoal coloured mud and your vehicle will look so genuinely off road . The dust here ought to be bottled! In exchange we'll purchase anything to do with clean water and/or car cleaning.
"It could be the ultimate accessory for the 4x4-driving city dweller: spray-on mud. A few squirts and neighbours will think you spent the weekend hurtling along muddy lanes looking for a country retreat, rather than sitting in traffic on the way to drop the kids off before your yoga class."
I love it! Something frivolous and silly. But who is the silly one? It's selling well in the UK and the US. We wouldn't buy it here. We are in the driest state on the driest continent ...so they keep telling us - but has global warming/climate change/ climate science changed any of that? We don't have to pretend. Just wait till it rains a bit or just park the car outside and we can offer you a fully authentic I have driven up North /across the Nullabor/ across the Hay plain look. We can supply grey, écru, red, brown, charcoal coloured mud and your vehicle will look so genuinely off road . The dust here ought to be bottled! In exchange we'll purchase anything to do with clean water and/or car cleaning.
Battle looms over mandatory detention
Battle looms over mandatory detention - Immigration - Features - In Depth:
"Mr Howard gave a one word answer: 'No.''"
Hardly a battle and hardly immigration features in depth. There are, however, closed meetings going on. That's not a battle either. That's a barricade. Mr. Georgiou's bill will be withdrawn if he and Mr. Howard can strike an agreement. So that's not a battle either. My only hope is that there are plenty of big players in the field with some clear, intelligent,definite views and that ought to mean we are going to have a proper, open and intense debate about an issue we need to fix. It's something which is reflecting upon all of us. It's something which belongs to all Australians. It is something we need to debate in the open and pretty solidly and get it to the stage where we have a system which works for everyone. The democratic process has some sound and sensible players in the arena. Let the debate commence.
"Mr Howard gave a one word answer: 'No.''"
Hardly a battle and hardly immigration features in depth. There are, however, closed meetings going on. That's not a battle either. That's a barricade. Mr. Georgiou's bill will be withdrawn if he and Mr. Howard can strike an agreement. So that's not a battle either. My only hope is that there are plenty of big players in the field with some clear, intelligent,definite views and that ought to mean we are going to have a proper, open and intense debate about an issue we need to fix. It's something which is reflecting upon all of us. It's something which belongs to all Australians. It is something we need to debate in the open and pretty solidly and get it to the stage where we have a system which works for everyone. The democratic process has some sound and sensible players in the arena. Let the debate commence.
Browsers
I find StatCounter very useful. If nothing else it is interesting to see the variety of people who come form all over the world. That is gratifying in itself. Today, though, I checked out the browser section. I know you can argue the figures of false distribution and say maybe this site attracts more Firefox users than other sites. Maybe it does. Then again, maybe the sands have shifted again. I can remember when we all used Netscape and migrated to IE. 
Please adopt a starving goat
The Advertiser: Please adopt a starving goat :
"Leesa Lewis, director of the Australian Association for Dairy Goats, has appealed through The Advertiser for 'city people to adopt a goat' and ease the pressure on the association's 15 SA members."
Goat food has apparently become prohibitively expensive and the dairy goat breeders need our help. Other than contacting the Advertiser directly, there doesn't appear to be an easy way to lend the support itemised in this article. The price of fodder has risen as the result of our drought conditions, so we need to lend a hand in the interim.
"Leesa Lewis, director of the Australian Association for Dairy Goats, has appealed through The Advertiser for 'city people to adopt a goat' and ease the pressure on the association's 15 SA members."
Goat food has apparently become prohibitively expensive and the dairy goat breeders need our help. Other than contacting the Advertiser directly, there doesn't appear to be an easy way to lend the support itemised in this article. The price of fodder has risen as the result of our drought conditions, so we need to lend a hand in the interim.
She'll be right
The Advertiser: Mannum to Adelaide water
pipe held up by firewood :
"Two roughly cut tree stumps and wooden wedges are all that is supporting a section of the Mannum to Adelaide pipeline."
This article asks for photos to be sent in of our bush repairs. Apparently it is structurally sound. That is so Australian. When you go out into the country areas you see all sorts of ingenious and nature based repairs. But come on, no wonder our water is the pits if our supporting structures are still in the last millennium. For a temporary fix it's great...but it has been there for some time. Cute, ozzie, good use of lateral thinking but just take a snap and move on to 2005.
pipe held up by firewood :
"Two roughly cut tree stumps and wooden wedges are all that is supporting a section of the Mannum to Adelaide pipeline."
This article asks for photos to be sent in of our bush repairs. Apparently it is structurally sound. That is so Australian. When you go out into the country areas you see all sorts of ingenious and nature based repairs. But come on, no wonder our water is the pits if our supporting structures are still in the last millennium. For a temporary fix it's great...but it has been there for some time. Cute, ozzie, good use of lateral thinking but just take a snap and move on to 2005.
The Gaul of him
Her fingers thrummed a tattoo on the table. This wasn’t Blogshares, this was warfare. She stared transfixed at his email. A hostile takeover of Rezo.net. How could she lose control like that? She hummed La Marseillaise softly and knew she could not endure these slings and arrows of miscreant misfortune. Galvanising herself into action, she abandoned her status of ornament by the computer and sallied forth to the challenge. This was the most wretched blogging experience ever. The gall of him!
Rezo.net had educated her through Iraq, found her Kitetoa, Grosse fatigue, Daduf.net. It had brought her Terry Jones’ satirical article on Iraq, Robert Fisk and that moving Chilean piece about their September 11th. Rezo.net. The other portal.
Sadly, her fingers clattered purposefully across the keyboard to deliver her pained response. She capitulated, questioned his action and wished him well. There was no room for hostility in her world. It was done.
He replied the next day, this miscreant of misfortune from a distant land, explaining it was a game and he’d used an avatar. She felt foolish. Avatar or no avatar, she couldn’t lose something she had never really had in the first place. She felt silly and blushed at the stereotypical manifestation of her Piscean emotional swamp. She replied with heavy heart but good grace. He was kind.
Gingerly, she logged onto Blogshares. 34,000,000 dollars!? How so? She had been gifted 3800 shares in Rezo.net from none other than her hostile miscreant. He had used Astérix the Gaul to accomplish his action. Astérix! How fittingly appropriate. Her heart swelled with a whole new perspective on the warmth of humanity. Blogshares always has a happy ending.
Rezo.net had educated her through Iraq, found her Kitetoa, Grosse fatigue, Daduf.net. It had brought her Terry Jones’ satirical article on Iraq, Robert Fisk and that moving Chilean piece about their September 11th. Rezo.net. The other portal.
Sadly, her fingers clattered purposefully across the keyboard to deliver her pained response. She capitulated, questioned his action and wished him well. There was no room for hostility in her world. It was done.
He replied the next day, this miscreant of misfortune from a distant land, explaining it was a game and he’d used an avatar. She felt foolish. Avatar or no avatar, she couldn’t lose something she had never really had in the first place. She felt silly and blushed at the stereotypical manifestation of her Piscean emotional swamp. She replied with heavy heart but good grace. He was kind.
Gingerly, she logged onto Blogshares. 34,000,000 dollars!? How so? She had been gifted 3800 shares in Rezo.net from none other than her hostile miscreant. He had used Astérix the Gaul to accomplish his action. Astérix! How fittingly appropriate. Her heart swelled with a whole new perspective on the warmth of humanity. Blogshares always has a happy ending.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Smoke alarms
There have been some horrendous house fires lately both in NSW and I heard of another awful one in America today and I found out at the same time that the houses didn't have smoke alarms. I don't want to sound sactimonious or patronising because what has happened, and the tragic loss of young lives, is terrible. In SA we have compulsory smoke alarms. I thought all of Australia did, but obviously not. Like seat belts, they save lives. In new houses they have to be hard wired and in public buildings they are wired above the ceiling for safety reasons. I have two battery operated ones. I bought them at Bunnings for about $7 dollars each and they use a 9 volt battery each. Once a year I change the batteries. So, for virtually no cost, I can be warned very quickly of smoke. They work. I had to move my kitchen one into the dining room because steam from microwaved dishes would set it off. If I mow the lawn on a dusty day, the dust which has to travel and get through the screen door can set the one off at the front of the house. Yes, they can be annoying and you have to get up and pull the pin to reset it. On a stressful day it can be a bit much. But the thing is, for next to nothing, my family and my home is protected. So much cheaper than the Clipsal safety switch I had installed, but then again, the safety switch has paid for itself several times over by shutting down faulty equipment. All buildings should have smoke alarms and safety switches and if people can't afford them we should fund them through community agencies and fund raising. It makes so much sense than the terrible trauma which is breaking everyone's hearts at present. If nothing else, the smoke alarms raise the neighbours if people can't get out. We've got the technology, let's use it to give people a chance.
Water Challenges for Adelaide in the 21st Century
Making Waves: Water Challenges for Adelaide in the 21st Century:
"South Australia has the capacity to become the test bed for world’s best practice in water management. You have the challenge of water scarcity, the creative skills of leading researchers and a cluster of innovative companies in the water area. You need the commitment of your community and your Government to show the world how to live sustainably in a dry country. There are commercial, social and environmental advantages to the State in showing such leadership. There are real commercial opportunities if you can build upon the research strengths and the professionalism of your water industry to drive innovation. If you succeed in this journey, you can expect water experts from Israel and elsewhere coming to Adelaide to learn how to live in a dry land. These are global challenges. You may even succeed in waterproofing Adelaide."
This is part of a talk delivered by Adelaide's thinker in residence 2004, Peter Cullen. It's good having thinkers. They stir the pot and get us going. We have Adelaide Festival of Ideas coming up soon 7/7/05- 10/7/05. The programme is packed full of talks on different things all day and in the evenings as well. I am just wondering whether Adelaide actually followed through on any of Peter Cullen's ideas for improving our water because his 10 point plan makes a lot of sense and is not unwieldy. All very well having talks, but you have to listen to the collective wisdom and put it into practice.
"South Australia has the capacity to become the test bed for world’s best practice in water management. You have the challenge of water scarcity, the creative skills of leading researchers and a cluster of innovative companies in the water area. You need the commitment of your community and your Government to show the world how to live sustainably in a dry country. There are commercial, social and environmental advantages to the State in showing such leadership. There are real commercial opportunities if you can build upon the research strengths and the professionalism of your water industry to drive innovation. If you succeed in this journey, you can expect water experts from Israel and elsewhere coming to Adelaide to learn how to live in a dry land. These are global challenges. You may even succeed in waterproofing Adelaide."
This is part of a talk delivered by Adelaide's thinker in residence 2004, Peter Cullen. It's good having thinkers. They stir the pot and get us going. We have Adelaide Festival of Ideas coming up soon 7/7/05- 10/7/05. The programme is packed full of talks on different things all day and in the evenings as well. I am just wondering whether Adelaide actually followed through on any of Peter Cullen's ideas for improving our water because his 10 point plan makes a lot of sense and is not unwieldy. All very well having talks, but you have to listen to the collective wisdom and put it into practice.
Republicans urge shift in Iraq plan
The Australian: Republicans urge shift in Iraq plan :
"A REPUBLICAN congressman has called for a deadline to pull US troops from Iraq, while some other members of President George W. Bush's party have urged that his administration come to grips with a persistent insurgency and revamp Iraq policy."
I am truly grateful to the blogosphere that I can get a different perspective on America and Americans because , otherwise, I'd be lost. I really don't get it. I have been, and currently am, a member of all sorts of online communities based in America. My experience with all of them has been very positive and good. I used to like Hotmail and the things associated with it but then the wheels fell off when I had to search through the ick to find my real mail in their blocked mail bin. So I swapped to Yahoo mail. That was great and still is. Has got two mails wrong in a year and has made some good changes to the service and been helpful with my queries. Bloglines goes out of its way to make you feel a member of their group, can't be helpful enough when you are stuck and is very efficient when things go wrong. Their capacity to include you as a member of their group is excellent. Blogshares breeds a lot of goodwill, baffles me at times, but is clearly a community which works in a very positive way for the benefit of its members. It's a highly satisfying , fun, virtual "game" for some with a lot of positive challenges and skills sharing for those who belong. Google is the same. People like Google and Google explains itself clearly and well if you belong to any of its Google spin offs like adsense. There are many of these very positive, vibrant ,beneficial, go ahead, feel good communities where the community makes you feel so much better and gives you some good help and support along the way. How could I not mention Firefox and Blogger? All these communities grow, share and boost the common aim and the knowledge of individuals within the group. So my observation from the blogosphere is that Americans are extremely good at building positive, successful communities which welcome and include newbies and get them up and running in a non invasive, non threatening manner. And it's not that other international communities can't do that, but at the moment I am talking about Americans. So their government, to me, seems so very different in its MO from Americans.It's government seems to operate in a manner which alienates people and gets their back up, so yes, I think something needs to be done about Iraq because it would appear the American presence is just making it worse for the Iraqis whether the American government intends that or not. I mean, the American military had offered to train Iraqi people to do their own guarding and security and then Iraqis apparently turned down the offer for fear they would be seen as colluding with the Americans. This is the sort of sticky, untenable mess that now exists. I read somewhere that maybe Iraq might respond better to a UN presence and help. I think at this point it time I can only say what I have said before and that is - talk. Get everyone and keep talking. What is the best thing to do? It's a mess. Too many people are dying. Too many troops will need too much debriefing and support from coming out of it and too many Iraqis are in pain. This needs a strategic plan to move it forward into stability and it's not going to come from blowing everybody and everything up. Put down the guns and talk. Go ahead..revamp.
"A REPUBLICAN congressman has called for a deadline to pull US troops from Iraq, while some other members of President George W. Bush's party have urged that his administration come to grips with a persistent insurgency and revamp Iraq policy."
I am truly grateful to the blogosphere that I can get a different perspective on America and Americans because , otherwise, I'd be lost. I really don't get it. I have been, and currently am, a member of all sorts of online communities based in America. My experience with all of them has been very positive and good. I used to like Hotmail and the things associated with it but then the wheels fell off when I had to search through the ick to find my real mail in their blocked mail bin. So I swapped to Yahoo mail. That was great and still is. Has got two mails wrong in a year and has made some good changes to the service and been helpful with my queries. Bloglines goes out of its way to make you feel a member of their group, can't be helpful enough when you are stuck and is very efficient when things go wrong. Their capacity to include you as a member of their group is excellent. Blogshares breeds a lot of goodwill, baffles me at times, but is clearly a community which works in a very positive way for the benefit of its members. It's a highly satisfying , fun, virtual "game" for some with a lot of positive challenges and skills sharing for those who belong. Google is the same. People like Google and Google explains itself clearly and well if you belong to any of its Google spin offs like adsense. There are many of these very positive, vibrant ,beneficial, go ahead, feel good communities where the community makes you feel so much better and gives you some good help and support along the way. How could I not mention Firefox and Blogger? All these communities grow, share and boost the common aim and the knowledge of individuals within the group. So my observation from the blogosphere is that Americans are extremely good at building positive, successful communities which welcome and include newbies and get them up and running in a non invasive, non threatening manner. And it's not that other international communities can't do that, but at the moment I am talking about Americans. So their government, to me, seems so very different in its MO from Americans.It's government seems to operate in a manner which alienates people and gets their back up, so yes, I think something needs to be done about Iraq because it would appear the American presence is just making it worse for the Iraqis whether the American government intends that or not. I mean, the American military had offered to train Iraqi people to do their own guarding and security and then Iraqis apparently turned down the offer for fear they would be seen as colluding with the Americans. This is the sort of sticky, untenable mess that now exists. I read somewhere that maybe Iraq might respond better to a UN presence and help. I think at this point it time I can only say what I have said before and that is - talk. Get everyone and keep talking. What is the best thing to do? It's a mess. Too many people are dying. Too many troops will need too much debriefing and support from coming out of it and too many Iraqis are in pain. This needs a strategic plan to move it forward into stability and it's not going to come from blowing everybody and everything up. Put down the guns and talk. Go ahead..revamp.
Communication breakdown frustrates William Creek.
Communication breakdown frustrates William Creek. :
"'At the end of the day, if they want to sell Telstra they need to come out here, talk to these small communities and see the level of frustration that's occurring in these communities both with people going through the town and the people who live here,' he said."
People in remote areas are very reliant on communication. In the city we have choices and the distance to the nearest "post" isn't far. Intermittent service is actually worse than no service at all because it is so frustrating. I can remember being in an NZ town in winter where the storms were knocking out electricity and phone lines. I found it very disconcerting. As a tourist unfamiliar with the area it really put the wind up me and I shall never go back to that place. Vanuatu I managed better because even though it's not big on communication as we are in the city and suburbia, Port Vila was wired in a way you understood and the people support was around you because of their nature and the mild weather . New Zealanders are not at all unfriendly, but the cold , snow, wind, rain, thunder and lightning impeded the contact with people you need when communications and utilities go down. That fact that William Creek is also deprived of reliable and solid ATM and internet services is appalling in this day and age. It would put unnecessary strain on locals when they have tourists there who are used to slicker communications and reliant on electronic banking. I bet William Creek has a good laugh at all the high speed, reliable, cutting edge connectivity clap trap advertised. I suppose it was sunspots or global dimming or something. The same thing that knocked out the communications on a Qantas flight.
"'At the end of the day, if they want to sell Telstra they need to come out here, talk to these small communities and see the level of frustration that's occurring in these communities both with people going through the town and the people who live here,' he said."
People in remote areas are very reliant on communication. In the city we have choices and the distance to the nearest "post" isn't far. Intermittent service is actually worse than no service at all because it is so frustrating. I can remember being in an NZ town in winter where the storms were knocking out electricity and phone lines. I found it very disconcerting. As a tourist unfamiliar with the area it really put the wind up me and I shall never go back to that place. Vanuatu I managed better because even though it's not big on communication as we are in the city and suburbia, Port Vila was wired in a way you understood and the people support was around you because of their nature and the mild weather . New Zealanders are not at all unfriendly, but the cold , snow, wind, rain, thunder and lightning impeded the contact with people you need when communications and utilities go down. That fact that William Creek is also deprived of reliable and solid ATM and internet services is appalling in this day and age. It would put unnecessary strain on locals when they have tourists there who are used to slicker communications and reliant on electronic banking. I bet William Creek has a good laugh at all the high speed, reliable, cutting edge connectivity clap trap advertised. I suppose it was sunspots or global dimming or something. The same thing that knocked out the communications on a Qantas flight.
A vacuum of leadership
Guantanamo interrogation 'wrong, dangerous, dumb'. 13/06/2005. :
"'If there's a vacuum, something will fill that vacuum,' he said."
Dust. Dust fills vacuums. I love it. " Vacuum of leadership"". Wish I had thought of that. Dust, dog hairs, cat hairs, crumbs, bits of leaves and grass...dust mites. They all fill vacuums.
If you look at it from another perspective, then at least 2 US senators are starting to fill the vacuum by seeing that you need to treat people with respect and dignity if that is how you wished to be viewed yourself. The interrogation techniques are bizarre to say the least and tell me more about the headset of the interrogators than the detainee. Seriously, if you behaved like that, what would people be thinking?
"'If there's a vacuum, something will fill that vacuum,' he said."
Dust. Dust fills vacuums. I love it. " Vacuum of leadership"". Wish I had thought of that. Dust, dog hairs, cat hairs, crumbs, bits of leaves and grass...dust mites. They all fill vacuums.
If you look at it from another perspective, then at least 2 US senators are starting to fill the vacuum by seeing that you need to treat people with respect and dignity if that is how you wished to be viewed yourself. The interrogation techniques are bizarre to say the least and tell me more about the headset of the interrogators than the detainee. Seriously, if you behaved like that, what would people be thinking?
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Adelaide Water
Climate change 'will prolong' drought conditions. :
"He says Melbourne is also vulnerable to water deficits while Adelaide may have problems with water quality."
Professor Flannery is the director of the South Australian Museum. He has tasted Adelaide water. Ours used to be one of the ports where ships never loaded water. When I first tasted Adelaide water I spat it out and was truly embarassed because I am not one to spit out food or drink. It was like a mouthful of dust. Now it's a mouthful of chlorine. One of the good things of getting away from Adelaide is you get to experience great water. Your clothes are soft. Your hair is shiny. You can taste a nice taste in your mouth. There are a few diehards who pride themselves on drinking the stuff because of the electrolytes. Most of us drink filtered water and bottled water is the go here because tap water is ...well, taste it.Puratap had absolutely no problem selling its water purifying system to us. Nobody does. I confess we are past the days of running a bath and getting all this brown stuff in the tub. I could not believe my eyes when I first saw that. If we go back to that kind of water..well, we'll just be turning back the clock. What else is new? Reasonable water in Adelaide is a relatively new thing. We know our washing machines wear out faster and our stomachs need to be made of cast iron to tolerate the stuff.
"He says Melbourne is also vulnerable to water deficits while Adelaide may have problems with water quality."
Professor Flannery is the director of the South Australian Museum. He has tasted Adelaide water. Ours used to be one of the ports where ships never loaded water. When I first tasted Adelaide water I spat it out and was truly embarassed because I am not one to spit out food or drink. It was like a mouthful of dust. Now it's a mouthful of chlorine. One of the good things of getting away from Adelaide is you get to experience great water. Your clothes are soft. Your hair is shiny. You can taste a nice taste in your mouth. There are a few diehards who pride themselves on drinking the stuff because of the electrolytes. Most of us drink filtered water and bottled water is the go here because tap water is ...well, taste it.Puratap had absolutely no problem selling its water purifying system to us. Nobody does. I confess we are past the days of running a bath and getting all this brown stuff in the tub. I could not believe my eyes when I first saw that. If we go back to that kind of water..well, we'll just be turning back the clock. What else is new? Reasonable water in Adelaide is a relatively new thing. We know our washing machines wear out faster and our stomachs need to be made of cast iron to tolerate the stuff.
Kidnapped French journalist freed
The Australian: Kidnapped French journalist freed :
"A French journalist, Florence Aubenas, and her Iraqi interpreter, Hussein Hanun, have been freed after a five-month hostage ordeal in Iraq, the French foreign ministry said today."
This is great news. I have become involved in this story because Florence Aubenas is featured prominently on many French sites. They have all been holding their breath for her and they have all been feeling for her and they have all kept her story in front of our eyes. They have never lost touch with her in their hearts. I am sure the tears of joy will be flowing freely. Again..it is so nice to have something good to talk about. May we, too, feel the relief of seeing our own Douglas Wood and David Hicks. Holding on is the thing.
"A French journalist, Florence Aubenas, and her Iraqi interpreter, Hussein Hanun, have been freed after a five-month hostage ordeal in Iraq, the French foreign ministry said today."
This is great news. I have become involved in this story because Florence Aubenas is featured prominently on many French sites. They have all been holding their breath for her and they have all been feeling for her and they have all kept her story in front of our eyes. They have never lost touch with her in their hearts. I am sure the tears of joy will be flowing freely. Again..it is so nice to have something good to talk about. May we, too, feel the relief of seeing our own Douglas Wood and David Hicks. Holding on is the thing.
Qasim is in a terrible state, Smith says.
Qasim is in a terrible state, Smith says. :
"Qasim is in a terrible state, Smith says"
Dick Smith tried to resolve this case before by using his own time, money and prestige. He has gone into bat for Qasim again. Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock believes there are still issues which need clarifying, even after seven years of detention. Is Qasim heinous? Is he a hideous creature? Has he a criminal record of the most dire kind? What issues? Tell us. Maybe we should build him a little wire pen and toss a sausage over to him whenever we might saunter past. So what's wrong? I agree with Dick Smith: what has happened to Qasim is outrageous. He has not been tried or accused. Nothing. Just left as a persona non grata and now he is in Glenside. He is that sick he needs to be in Glenside. You have to be pretty sick to be sent to Glenside. Presumably he is getting treatment...or assessment and then treatment. Fresh air, freedom. Nice dinners and good company. Friends. A puppy dog. Does he have a wife? Children? We have locked him up for seven years and we know nothing. Normally if someone is locked up in Australia we know why and the whole country knows if it's a long sentence. Well, Qasim was sentenced to insanity. It's not right.
"Qasim is in a terrible state, Smith says"
Dick Smith tried to resolve this case before by using his own time, money and prestige. He has gone into bat for Qasim again. Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock believes there are still issues which need clarifying, even after seven years of detention. Is Qasim heinous? Is he a hideous creature? Has he a criminal record of the most dire kind? What issues? Tell us. Maybe we should build him a little wire pen and toss a sausage over to him whenever we might saunter past. So what's wrong? I agree with Dick Smith: what has happened to Qasim is outrageous. He has not been tried or accused. Nothing. Just left as a persona non grata and now he is in Glenside. He is that sick he needs to be in Glenside. You have to be pretty sick to be sent to Glenside. Presumably he is getting treatment...or assessment and then treatment. Fresh air, freedom. Nice dinners and good company. Friends. A puppy dog. Does he have a wife? Children? We have locked him up for seven years and we know nothing. Normally if someone is locked up in Australia we know why and the whole country knows if it's a long sentence. Well, Qasim was sentenced to insanity. It's not right.
Global Warming
Solutions to Global Warming:
"As the reality of global warming becomes more and more obvious, it is easy to sink into a morass of hopeless resignation or cynicism. This is why, in researching and writing the book, Dead Mars, Dying Earth, we felt it was critical to put forth a series of workable solutions."
This site has a heartwarming approach to the climate change. It is no nonsense and provides an antithesis to things which disturb and destabilise the thinking. It is serious in its intent but includes some good humour to lighten the pitch - like the 10 best things about global warming. I got it from a Google link on the Climate Change site (linked right). Incidently, I have set this blog up on Firefox( have you downloaded your new version..it's good!) and run my screen at 1024 x 768 and the site appears on a white background with the links on the right. To get back to where I was, the Garden Earth Enterprise site also keeps a file of weird weather reports.
"As the reality of global warming becomes more and more obvious, it is easy to sink into a morass of hopeless resignation or cynicism. This is why, in researching and writing the book, Dead Mars, Dying Earth, we felt it was critical to put forth a series of workable solutions."
This site has a heartwarming approach to the climate change. It is no nonsense and provides an antithesis to things which disturb and destabilise the thinking. It is serious in its intent but includes some good humour to lighten the pitch - like the 10 best things about global warming. I got it from a Google link on the Climate Change site (linked right). Incidently, I have set this blog up on Firefox( have you downloaded your new version..it's good!) and run my screen at 1024 x 768 and the site appears on a white background with the links on the right. To get back to where I was, the Garden Earth Enterprise site also keeps a file of weird weather reports.
Ozone
NASA - Ozone Levels Drop When Hurricanes Are Strengthening:
"By using NASA's satellite Earth Probe/ TOMS total ozone data, forecasters can identify ozone amounts that are closely related to the formation, intensification, and movement of a hurricane. Zou and Wu also found a strong relationship between ozone, air pressure and spin within the hurricanes."
Well, the experts are trying to get onto it and are making some interesting discoveries. The Nasa site and international space station site have some pictures of tropical storms and various other pictures and information related to our extreme weather. We are getting there!
Space Station Tracking
Great tracking of International Space Station and satellites. It's fun!
"By using NASA's satellite Earth Probe/ TOMS total ozone data, forecasters can identify ozone amounts that are closely related to the formation, intensification, and movement of a hurricane. Zou and Wu also found a strong relationship between ozone, air pressure and spin within the hurricanes."
Well, the experts are trying to get onto it and are making some interesting discoveries. The Nasa site and international space station site have some pictures of tropical storms and various other pictures and information related to our extreme weather. We are getting there!
Space Station Tracking
Great tracking of International Space Station and satellites. It's fun!
ISD
White House snubs Crowe:
"Crowe's latest blow-up – which could send him to prison for up to eight years – happened at 4.20am in the lobby of the Mercer Hotel when he hurled his room's cordless Panasonic phone at concierge Nestor 'Josh' Estrada after being unable to get through to his wife, Danielle Spencer, in Australia."
I tried the international direct dialling in Vanuatu. It was hilarious. The first time I was told I was calling to Australia by some nice female voice but I had not dialled properly. The second time I was told by the same female voice that the number wasn't correct. (Like I don't know my own number??) I reread the literature in the room..leave off the 0. Okay. I left off the zero and was then told in French by another nice female voice that I couldn't connect and check the number. So I plopped the phone down and got out my mobile. Now, I had a fair idea my mobile wasn't going to work, but you never know your luck on the lagoon in island paradise. So I tried to connect....NUP! No signal out. No surprise. I found out I could've organised all that before I left and I couldn't use the short term SMILE packs, which were great, because my phone is , um, very old ( as you know if you read my blog). I am thinking of getting a new one. The thought is closer than the wish, though. So I had to wait until the next day, go into Port Vila and walk all over town trying to find a computer to send an email. I was just trying to say I'd got here okay and was loving it. It turned into a big challenge.A French lady at the hotel couldn't wait like me. She went up to reception and told them she wanted them to connect her to this number in France and she'd use their phone because she couldn't dial out from her room. I can't believe the phone didn't work in New York, but what I can't believe even more, is Russell Crowe, who is a big, famous film star doesn't have a mobile with international roaming. That makes him as techno deprived as I am. Unbelieveable. Get a fancy mobile, Russell, because now you've blown your chances of a teaparty and sleep over at the White House. Honestly!
"Crowe's latest blow-up – which could send him to prison for up to eight years – happened at 4.20am in the lobby of the Mercer Hotel when he hurled his room's cordless Panasonic phone at concierge Nestor 'Josh' Estrada after being unable to get through to his wife, Danielle Spencer, in Australia."
I tried the international direct dialling in Vanuatu. It was hilarious. The first time I was told I was calling to Australia by some nice female voice but I had not dialled properly. The second time I was told by the same female voice that the number wasn't correct. (Like I don't know my own number??) I reread the literature in the room..leave off the 0. Okay. I left off the zero and was then told in French by another nice female voice that I couldn't connect and check the number. So I plopped the phone down and got out my mobile. Now, I had a fair idea my mobile wasn't going to work, but you never know your luck on the lagoon in island paradise. So I tried to connect....NUP! No signal out. No surprise. I found out I could've organised all that before I left and I couldn't use the short term SMILE packs, which were great, because my phone is , um, very old ( as you know if you read my blog). I am thinking of getting a new one. The thought is closer than the wish, though. So I had to wait until the next day, go into Port Vila and walk all over town trying to find a computer to send an email. I was just trying to say I'd got here okay and was loving it. It turned into a big challenge.A French lady at the hotel couldn't wait like me. She went up to reception and told them she wanted them to connect her to this number in France and she'd use their phone because she couldn't dial out from her room. I can't believe the phone didn't work in New York, but what I can't believe even more, is Russell Crowe, who is a big, famous film star doesn't have a mobile with international roaming. That makes him as techno deprived as I am. Unbelieveable. Get a fancy mobile, Russell, because now you've blown your chances of a teaparty and sleep over at the White House. Honestly!
The even bigger dry
World news from The Times and the Sunday Times :
"In Andalusia, southern Spain, an estimated 20,000 fish lie rotting next to rivers or reservoirs that have become trickles, with water levels half those of last year. Watering gardens is banned."
This is the worst drought in 60 years. half of Spain is on water rationing. Farmers are losing huge amounts of income. Portugal has accused Spain of stealing its water. What is going on here? The worst drought since 1945, that's what.
"In Andalusia, southern Spain, an estimated 20,000 fish lie rotting next to rivers or reservoirs that have become trickles, with water levels half those of last year. Watering gardens is banned."
This is the worst drought in 60 years. half of Spain is on water rationing. Farmers are losing huge amounts of income. Portugal has accused Spain of stealing its water. What is going on here? The worst drought since 1945, that's what.
Curiouser and curiouser
Ministers were told of need for Gulf war ‘excuse’ :
"MINISTERS were warned in July 2002 that Britain was committed to taking part in an American-led invasion of Iraq and they had no choice but to find a way of making it legal."
Times Online has made interesting reading today. I wonder what our position was.
"MINISTERS were warned in July 2002 that Britain was committed to taking part in an American-led invasion of Iraq and they had no choice but to find a way of making it legal."
Times Online has made interesting reading today. I wonder what our position was.
What kind of weather is this?
The Advertiser: King-hit: town's night of terror :
"'It's certainly like nothing seen before in South Australia,' she said.
'There are a lot of people, especially elderly, affected by this and it's very frightening for them.
'We are assessing any emergency relief needed but this is a resilient community and will quickly be back on its feet.'"
People keep saying the world over - this has never happened before. We have never had this type of weather before. Cyclonic activity is one of the things on the increase. Karoonda is a tough town. It's tough living there without cyclone activity. One old lady saved her own life by listening to her inner voice. Hers was the hardest hit house. We've had the driest dries, the wettest wets, the lightning hits when it never did before. Old people are frightened out of their homes and wits. Karoonda can't plant because it has to clean up. The State Govt is there and helping out...but like other countries, we are living on the edge all the time all of a sudden with the weather. WHY? You try and manage, rationlise it and get over it... then there's another lot of weather and that lightning on Friday, we have all been talking about it....it wasn't normal. It was weirdo flashing. These days the weather is always extreme and the rain rains from north to south instead of east to west. It changed direction last year. We are always in a state of emergency with the weather. WHY? Have we watched too many scary movies? Has the sunspot/sundimming/sun whatever/global warming gone up the creek totally?
"'It's certainly like nothing seen before in South Australia,' she said.
'There are a lot of people, especially elderly, affected by this and it's very frightening for them.
'We are assessing any emergency relief needed but this is a resilient community and will quickly be back on its feet.'"
People keep saying the world over - this has never happened before. We have never had this type of weather before. Cyclonic activity is one of the things on the increase. Karoonda is a tough town. It's tough living there without cyclone activity. One old lady saved her own life by listening to her inner voice. Hers was the hardest hit house. We've had the driest dries, the wettest wets, the lightning hits when it never did before. Old people are frightened out of their homes and wits. Karoonda can't plant because it has to clean up. The State Govt is there and helping out...but like other countries, we are living on the edge all the time all of a sudden with the weather. WHY? You try and manage, rationlise it and get over it... then there's another lot of weather and that lightning on Friday, we have all been talking about it....it wasn't normal. It was weirdo flashing. These days the weather is always extreme and the rain rains from north to south instead of east to west. It changed direction last year. We are always in a state of emergency with the weather. WHY? Have we watched too many scary movies? Has the sunspot/sundimming/sun whatever/global warming gone up the creek totally?
The Big Dry
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology is a wonderful site because you not only get the forecasts you get information about the weather. We all know we have needed rain. We all know it's been hard on the eastern states and we all know WA has been hit hard by rain and storms, but it has had some real success with its crops this year. The rain for us and the change in the weather pattern for the eastern states means there is a hive of activity. We have a long weekend, so the farmers will be out there tilling and planting like mad. We have all been doing what we normally do in April. April is normally the time to get out there and plant and fertilise because the rains have started. Not this year. We were all looking at the brown and dry. I have been through droughts before. Geraniums and bottlebrushes last the distance. Melaleucas get there but look so twiggy and dry. Spider plants keep the green going if they can get a splash of water. Last drought I lost much of my garden and it was a dust bowl. People will be cleaning up the water damage from Friday but when you look at the garden and you turn the soil and see the worms, it softens the blow a bit. So much dust has come out of the air. Red, brown grey. Lovely on my nice shiny car! The dark red patches on the map show areas of the lowest deficiencies of rainfall we have ever had on record. Sometimes you wonder what goes on and why you can't just tilt the land a bit. Like we've had all that rain in the west and not in the east and there was one year where Germany and Poland were flooded badly and France was as dry as a bone. We need to learn a bit of tilting or long distance piping of water!!
Australian rainfall deficiencies - 3 months
Australian rainfall deficiencies - 3 months
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Clean-up begins after storms lash Adelaide.
Clean-up begins after storms lash Adelaide. :
"Residents across Adelaide are mopping up after severe storms crossed the city early this evening."
We had flooding in Moana and McLaren Vale, Aberfoyle Park, buildings were damaged in Karoonda by what was described as a tornado and a house was hit by lightning at Salisbury Heights and caught fire. Adelaide Hills, Murray Bridge and the Barossa Valley were also hit. So yes, that was a lot of rain. We can't just seems to have rain anymore. Thre has to be all these extreme conditions that come with it. The weather machine needs a service.
"Residents across Adelaide are mopping up after severe storms crossed the city early this evening."
We had flooding in Moana and McLaren Vale, Aberfoyle Park, buildings were damaged in Karoonda by what was described as a tornado and a house was hit by lightning at Salisbury Heights and caught fire. Adelaide Hills, Murray Bridge and the Barossa Valley were also hit. So yes, that was a lot of rain. We can't just seems to have rain anymore. Thre has to be all these extreme conditions that come with it. The weather machine needs a service.
Broken Blogroll
What's that all about then? I get here and my Blogroll is broken. I have never seen that ever on anyone else's site and I have seen some good broken blogs around the place. There should be a competition for them! My broken debug ID Type: 0 really isn't up there will the best of the broken blogs..but it's bizarre. Patience. I have checked what I can and now await expert help...we'll see. With a broken debug ID type 0 I think they must be trialling a new ID system for the detainees. I'll keep you posted. I may be onto to something here.
Join the Greenpeace virtual march against whaling
Join the Greenpeace virtual march against whaling - Blackmores Australia:
"At the time of writing, Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell has been campaigning for other countries to join Australia in voting against resumption of commercial whaling at the IWC meeting next week. Sadly, at this stage indications are that the pro-whaling lobby still has a good chance of winning."
The link for the virtual march is on the Blackmores site. Truly, why would we be made to look so stupid because we want to protect whales, we want them to flourish and we want them to be able to live in a safe, happy way in our oceans. The criticism we have received is like we are a whole bunch of tree hugging, stupid ningnongs for wanting to protect very special creatures who are threatened because of our human behaviour. What's in it for the other countries that they would want to commerically exploit whales? Why would they want to kill a threatened species? What is in it for them that they cannot look at farming them in some way? What will be there to exploit if they are depleted in numbers again? Why drive whales onto beaches and pretend it has nothing to do with us? That we don't need to bother? The thousands of people in WA who got off their butts in freezing weather to help the false killer whales who were beached are the sort of people I want on the planet. There is room for everybody and everything. There is no need to sacrifice one species for the sake of another.
"At the time of writing, Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell has been campaigning for other countries to join Australia in voting against resumption of commercial whaling at the IWC meeting next week. Sadly, at this stage indications are that the pro-whaling lobby still has a good chance of winning."
The link for the virtual march is on the Blackmores site. Truly, why would we be made to look so stupid because we want to protect whales, we want them to flourish and we want them to be able to live in a safe, happy way in our oceans. The criticism we have received is like we are a whole bunch of tree hugging, stupid ningnongs for wanting to protect very special creatures who are threatened because of our human behaviour. What's in it for the other countries that they would want to commerically exploit whales? Why would they want to kill a threatened species? What is in it for them that they cannot look at farming them in some way? What will be there to exploit if they are depleted in numbers again? Why drive whales onto beaches and pretend it has nothing to do with us? That we don't need to bother? The thousands of people in WA who got off their butts in freezing weather to help the false killer whales who were beached are the sort of people I want on the planet. There is room for everybody and everything. There is no need to sacrifice one species for the sake of another.
Macular degeneration
Simple steps could save your sight - Blackmores Australia:
"The Hon. Tony Abbott MP, Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, launched the Macular Degeneration Awareness Week 2005 Campaign with a special presentation in recognition of the significance of this disease."
I get the Blackmores e-newsletter and I am grateful because Blackmores is a site and organisation which I have long held in high esteem. Why? The products work and have been helpful and the advice on the site is actually informative, not just to push products. One in seven Australian over 50 suffers from Macular Degeneration. One in three over 75. It has become the scourge of developed countries and they are raising awareness to get funding for research and to help us avoid the disease. Much of it appears to do with lifestyle and eating habits. This link provides a little test, some good advice and a link to the main macular degeneration site. Like cancer, it's a disease we need to conquer now.
"The Hon. Tony Abbott MP, Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, launched the Macular Degeneration Awareness Week 2005 Campaign with a special presentation in recognition of the significance of this disease."
I get the Blackmores e-newsletter and I am grateful because Blackmores is a site and organisation which I have long held in high esteem. Why? The products work and have been helpful and the advice on the site is actually informative, not just to push products. One in seven Australian over 50 suffers from Macular Degeneration. One in three over 75. It has become the scourge of developed countries and they are raising awareness to get funding for research and to help us avoid the disease. Much of it appears to do with lifestyle and eating habits. This link provides a little test, some good advice and a link to the main macular degeneration site. Like cancer, it's a disease we need to conquer now.
Friday, June 10, 2005
Wanna see our rain ???
State Weather
Yes, we have rain. We had rain yesterday and we had rain this morning and tonight, complete with thunderstorms and plenty of weirdo lightning. Like someone was turning the lights on and off . Then things like lightning and no thunder and then a thunder roll like the roller had broken. It was the funniest noise. Like someone was too drunk to thunder properly! Oh well, it is Friday night. It's described as patchy rain. I'd describe it as big downpours. The farmers are happy.
Yes, we have rain. We had rain yesterday and we had rain this morning and tonight, complete with thunderstorms and plenty of weirdo lightning. Like someone was turning the lights on and off . Then things like lightning and no thunder and then a thunder roll like the roller had broken. It was the funniest noise. Like someone was too drunk to thunder properly! Oh well, it is Friday night. It's described as patchy rain. I'd describe it as big downpours. The farmers are happy.
Officials crack $300m tax evasion scheme.
Officials crack $300m tax evasion scheme.:
"The Australian Crime Commission has uncovered a major tax avoidance scheme that has deprived the Commonwealth of $300 million in revenue."
Fraud, scamming and misrepresentation of events seems to be the order of the day at the moment. This latest tax scam has got us all agog and aflutter. We haven't had anything this big in AGES and we shall probably be nice a cross when we find out because our taxes have been getting us down and the new tax scheme is driving us crazy...so it is going to be very interesting to find out the details of this. Very interesting. I can feel a bout of moral outrage coming on. No wonder our rich are getting richer. I'd love some fiscal equity here. maybe this is the start of something big!
"The Australian Crime Commission has uncovered a major tax avoidance scheme that has deprived the Commonwealth of $300 million in revenue."
Fraud, scamming and misrepresentation of events seems to be the order of the day at the moment. This latest tax scam has got us all agog and aflutter. We haven't had anything this big in AGES and we shall probably be nice a cross when we find out because our taxes have been getting us down and the new tax scheme is driving us crazy...so it is going to be very interesting to find out the details of this. Very interesting. I can feel a bout of moral outrage coming on. No wonder our rich are getting richer. I'd love some fiscal equity here. maybe this is the start of something big!
Govt dismisses push to bring Hicks home.
Govt dismisses push to bring Hicks home. :
"Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison has dismissed new calls for Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks to be brought back to Australia."
Oh, okay then, we'll just leave him there then, shall we? Silly of us to even think of bringing him home. After all, he's probably having the time of his life. May you never walk in David Hick's shoes because you cannot just dismiss him. David Hicks is not a persona non grata and as a government, you have been elected to govern..so off you go then and govern. We have a person who needs the Australian government to intervene because we are not sufficiently emminent and important to negotiate at that superior, highly sensitive level. It's called diplomacy. It's for high flying officials, not your average aussie citizen.
"Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison has dismissed new calls for Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks to be brought back to Australia."
Oh, okay then, we'll just leave him there then, shall we? Silly of us to even think of bringing him home. After all, he's probably having the time of his life. May you never walk in David Hick's shoes because you cannot just dismiss him. David Hicks is not a persona non grata and as a government, you have been elected to govern..so off you go then and govern. We have a person who needs the Australian government to intervene because we are not sufficiently emminent and important to negotiate at that superior, highly sensitive level. It's called diplomacy. It's for high flying officials, not your average aussie citizen.
Have cake and eat it
You were deprived of such images last year as I wasn't even running this blog. Hadn't even thought of it!! Now everything is blogged and you can see the chocolate caramel cake I have made for my brother in law's birthday. Chocolate cake , topped with caramel cake, filled with caramel icing and topped with real chocolate icing and real chocolate...and a few blobs of caramel icing for effect! The smell as it cooked was driving us crazy. But the test is in the tasting...
'Sea change' cities to experience housing boom.
'Sea change' cities to experience housing boom.:
"'The biggest demand for housing over the 30 years to 2031 will remain the leading capital cities - Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth,' he said."
Is it me or is it them? This article reads like crystal ball gazing again. How do they know where people will want to live in 30 years? How can you tell now where you want to live in 30 years and why doesn't Adelaide figure on the list? I have just been reading articles about all the revamping of Whyalla and Port Augusta to supply swish retiree villages for people which seem to be making people very happy. Yes, they are pouring money into Queensland, but it's becoming too built out for some of us. Some of us like the rural feel with the surburban conveniences and that can be found so easily in Adelaide. Cairns is brilliant but not everyone wants a tropical paradise. So where are the facts and information? What is this nationwide study and where can I find it?
Lifestyle cities add lustre to the golden years
"'The biggest demand for housing over the 30 years to 2031 will remain the leading capital cities - Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth,' he said."
Is it me or is it them? This article reads like crystal ball gazing again. How do they know where people will want to live in 30 years? How can you tell now where you want to live in 30 years and why doesn't Adelaide figure on the list? I have just been reading articles about all the revamping of Whyalla and Port Augusta to supply swish retiree villages for people which seem to be making people very happy. Yes, they are pouring money into Queensland, but it's becoming too built out for some of us. Some of us like the rural feel with the surburban conveniences and that can be found so easily in Adelaide. Cairns is brilliant but not everyone wants a tropical paradise. So where are the facts and information? What is this nationwide study and where can I find it?
Lifestyle cities add lustre to the golden years
David Hicks
Hicks's father pushes for action on release comments. :
"The father of an Australian detainee, David Hicks, says the Federal Government needs to press the matter further.
'The Federal Government should be speaking to Rumsfeld to find out whether this is a fact or whether it's just talk,' he said."
David Hick's father has had so many lessons in patience and tolerance and has learnt them all. He always sounds so level headed, so rational. His heart must be aching. He would be so relieved to have his son on Austrlian soil so that this whole sorry matter can be resolved. David Hicks has been in Guantanomo Bay for more than three years and is our only detainee there now because Habib was released. How David's father copes is anyone's guess, but yes, we do need to know if it's just talk or if there will be an end to all this misery. David Hick's case is currently tied up in red tape which means he risks being forgotten if we don't remember him or what it's about.
"The father of an Australian detainee, David Hicks, says the Federal Government needs to press the matter further.
'The Federal Government should be speaking to Rumsfeld to find out whether this is a fact or whether it's just talk,' he said."
David Hick's father has had so many lessons in patience and tolerance and has learnt them all. He always sounds so level headed, so rational. His heart must be aching. He would be so relieved to have his son on Austrlian soil so that this whole sorry matter can be resolved. David Hicks has been in Guantanomo Bay for more than three years and is our only detainee there now because Habib was released. How David's father copes is anyone's guess, but yes, we do need to know if it's just talk or if there will be an end to all this misery. David Hick's case is currently tied up in red tape which means he risks being forgotten if we don't remember him or what it's about.
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