Je vous souhaite à tous un bon Nouvel An, mille bonheurs et une année plein de bonnes surprises et qui bouge.
May 2006 bring you some nice surprises and be full of the good things in life. I wish you all a Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Cheers, dears
Je vous souhaite à tous un bon Nouvel An, mille bonheurs et une année plein de bonnes surprises et qui bouge.
May 2006 bring you some nice surprises and be full of the good things in life. I wish you all a Happy New Year!
Town's lonely lads hope website will net women
Scotsman.com News - UK - Town's lonely lads hope website will net women:
"So a group of friends set up the Alston Moor Regeneration Society and a website - www.villagesincrisis.tk - urging women to head to 'the Ibiza of the North'."
I heard this on the news this morning as I went to get the last bits and pieces for the New Year's Eve feast. The man who was speaking from Cumbria sounded really nice and so down to earth. The men outnumber women 10-1 and this web site is starting to help attract women. The man who spoke this morning was saying he was now looking at the real issues as to why women and young people do not want to stay there. He was also talikg about how the hospital is under threat of being closed down. Given it's 20 miles to the next nearest one, it's a good reason not to live there. In the freezing conditions and inclement weather experienced in winter it is unthinkable there would be no hospital facilities within easy reach. It's outrageous in a so called civilised country but our "civilised" countries haven't scored well on the civilometer lately. I hope these guys get some success now the web site is starting to stimulate an interest. With women and children there is no way they'll close the hospital. Bit of sexism going on here, heh?
"So a group of friends set up the Alston Moor Regeneration Society and a website - www.villagesincrisis.tk - urging women to head to 'the Ibiza of the North'."
I heard this on the news this morning as I went to get the last bits and pieces for the New Year's Eve feast. The man who was speaking from Cumbria sounded really nice and so down to earth. The men outnumber women 10-1 and this web site is starting to help attract women. The man who spoke this morning was saying he was now looking at the real issues as to why women and young people do not want to stay there. He was also talikg about how the hospital is under threat of being closed down. Given it's 20 miles to the next nearest one, it's a good reason not to live there. In the freezing conditions and inclement weather experienced in winter it is unthinkable there would be no hospital facilities within easy reach. It's outrageous in a so called civilised country but our "civilised" countries haven't scored well on the civilometer lately. I hope these guys get some success now the web site is starting to stimulate an interest. With women and children there is no way they'll close the hospital. Bit of sexism going on here, heh?
Power cut to thousands of Adelaide homes.
Power cut to thousands of Adelaide homes. :
"More than 8,000 homes in Adelaide's north-west were blacked out last night, but ETSA says that power has now been restored."
Yep!! It was 42 yesterday and the power failures in some areas really put the pressure on. From what I heard people escaped to the big shopping centres and/or a good film!
"More than 8,000 homes in Adelaide's north-west were blacked out last night, but ETSA says that power has now been restored."
Yep!! It was 42 yesterday and the power failures in some areas really put the pressure on. From what I heard people escaped to the big shopping centres and/or a good film!
US teen makes solo trip to Iraq.
US teen makes solo trip to Iraq. :
"Sixteen-year-old Farris Hassan from Fort Lauderdale in Florida did not tell his parents when he used his savings to buy a ticket to Iraq, arriving in Baghdad on Christmas Day."
Farris went on his trip to Baghdad as part of his immersion journalism course. His mother is shocked he got a visa, a ticket and, at 16, was allowed into Iraq. He doesn't speak arabic. He has learnt something from America because they have a long, and well respected, tradition of incisive journalists who cut to the heart of any matter very quickly and who will never give up on getting the truth. He was obviously inspired by his country and his teachers and the heritage of journalism in America to do a very brave thing to get to the truth of the matter: to go there himself and see. I am sure he will be grounded forever now and his allowance will be cut off now he has put himself so much at risk and I feel for the mother. She must have been beside herself when she found out. But she needs to be hugely proud of her son too because he wanted the truth. While he is grounded I hope he has access to a computer and some good mentors so he can hone his journalism skills.
"Sixteen-year-old Farris Hassan from Fort Lauderdale in Florida did not tell his parents when he used his savings to buy a ticket to Iraq, arriving in Baghdad on Christmas Day."
Farris went on his trip to Baghdad as part of his immersion journalism course. His mother is shocked he got a visa, a ticket and, at 16, was allowed into Iraq. He doesn't speak arabic. He has learnt something from America because they have a long, and well respected, tradition of incisive journalists who cut to the heart of any matter very quickly and who will never give up on getting the truth. He was obviously inspired by his country and his teachers and the heritage of journalism in America to do a very brave thing to get to the truth of the matter: to go there himself and see. I am sure he will be grounded forever now and his allowance will be cut off now he has put himself so much at risk and I feel for the mother. She must have been beside herself when she found out. But she needs to be hugely proud of her son too because he wanted the truth. While he is grounded I hope he has access to a computer and some good mentors so he can hone his journalism skills.
US denies guards force-feed Guantanamo hunger strikers.
US denies guards force-feed Guantanamo hunger strikers.
"The United States is denying allegations that its methods of force-feeding hunger strikers at the Guantamano Bay military base constitute torture."
I do not think they are denying they are force feeding them. I think they are denying the methods are cruel. There were reports about these people being force fed a few weeks back. If they didn't feed them they would probably be heavily criticised too. So stop position bargaining and look at the problem and then look at the solutions. Yes, it is that simple, but people will suffer because other people position bargain. The big problem is these people have been captured and put in Guantanomo Bay which appears to be outside of any international law. These people are persona non grata. They are kept there at the President's pleasure and /or leisure. The people have obviously decided it is too awful to stay there under those conditions and have chosen to starve themselves and commit slow suicide because they would rather die than be in Guantanomo Bay. Like Baxter, when you do something like that to people, when you put them in a place where they will choose a slow , painful death over hope and living, then I think you have to admit there is a fundamental problem. It is inhumane to make people want to die. Feeding them is trying to give them a chance to survive and shows you actually have some concerns about what this all means. Lawyers have said the process is cruel, but I believe the Red Cross asked to go in and then couldn't for some reason or another. In any case, as wrong as we were with Baxter, we got the experts in and fronted up to the problems and we are still fronting up to them. Putting people away if you genuinely believe they are dangerous is one thing, thinking they might be dangerous is another, but getting yourself into this kind of a tangle in the richest country in the world that ought to be able to manage everyone in their country adequately because the famous infrastructure is there, appears to be a challenge and I do not understand why. A well organised country ought not get itself into a position like this and it seems to me, like Baxter here, you just have to go in with the experts and the skilled people and resolve the humanitarian disaster. Pretending it's not there won't make it go away. So many people choosing to starve themselves to death is a sign that Guantanomo Bay needs all the help it can get.
"The United States is denying allegations that its methods of force-feeding hunger strikers at the Guantamano Bay military base constitute torture."
I do not think they are denying they are force feeding them. I think they are denying the methods are cruel. There were reports about these people being force fed a few weeks back. If they didn't feed them they would probably be heavily criticised too. So stop position bargaining and look at the problem and then look at the solutions. Yes, it is that simple, but people will suffer because other people position bargain. The big problem is these people have been captured and put in Guantanomo Bay which appears to be outside of any international law. These people are persona non grata. They are kept there at the President's pleasure and /or leisure. The people have obviously decided it is too awful to stay there under those conditions and have chosen to starve themselves and commit slow suicide because they would rather die than be in Guantanomo Bay. Like Baxter, when you do something like that to people, when you put them in a place where they will choose a slow , painful death over hope and living, then I think you have to admit there is a fundamental problem. It is inhumane to make people want to die. Feeding them is trying to give them a chance to survive and shows you actually have some concerns about what this all means. Lawyers have said the process is cruel, but I believe the Red Cross asked to go in and then couldn't for some reason or another. In any case, as wrong as we were with Baxter, we got the experts in and fronted up to the problems and we are still fronting up to them. Putting people away if you genuinely believe they are dangerous is one thing, thinking they might be dangerous is another, but getting yourself into this kind of a tangle in the richest country in the world that ought to be able to manage everyone in their country adequately because the famous infrastructure is there, appears to be a challenge and I do not understand why. A well organised country ought not get itself into a position like this and it seems to me, like Baxter here, you just have to go in with the experts and the skilled people and resolve the humanitarian disaster. Pretending it's not there won't make it go away. So many people choosing to starve themselves to death is a sign that Guantanomo Bay needs all the help it can get.
Friday, December 30, 2005
German buys back stolen camera on eBay
German buys back stolen camera on eBay :
"But he became suspicious when it emerged the seller came from his home town. It proved to be the same camera."
The businessman had had his camera stolen and went onto eBay and found an identical model...and then discovered it was his camera he was buying!! eBay has advantages and disadvantages. Without eBay he may never have seen his camera again. Since eBay has done its best to identify and profile sellers and buyers then the businessman had a chance to realise it was his own camera. From this point of view it was easier on him and the police to track the thief. Normally people would just claim the loss on insurance. So , as far as I'm concerned, eBay has proven that its profiling is viable!! Some people get really addicted to eBay and can't live without it. Others use it legitimately as a way of trading goods and raising some useful income. I like to go looking. I have friends and family who have regularly bought items from eBay and who are really pleased with their purchases. I haven't yet got around to buying anything. I even have a friend who bought an expensive musical instrument from an eBay overseas. It was so much easier than trying to track down a shop and work out if they were reliable etc etc. The overseas person was also happy because of the limited market for such instruments. It's silly to offer stolen goods on eBay. Times have changed and the German businessman did the logical thing for 2005...went on eBay to get himself a replacement camera. How did we ever manage without eBay, it is so much a part of our lives now.
"But he became suspicious when it emerged the seller came from his home town. It proved to be the same camera."
The businessman had had his camera stolen and went onto eBay and found an identical model...and then discovered it was his camera he was buying!! eBay has advantages and disadvantages. Without eBay he may never have seen his camera again. Since eBay has done its best to identify and profile sellers and buyers then the businessman had a chance to realise it was his own camera. From this point of view it was easier on him and the police to track the thief. Normally people would just claim the loss on insurance. So , as far as I'm concerned, eBay has proven that its profiling is viable!! Some people get really addicted to eBay and can't live without it. Others use it legitimately as a way of trading goods and raising some useful income. I like to go looking. I have friends and family who have regularly bought items from eBay and who are really pleased with their purchases. I haven't yet got around to buying anything. I even have a friend who bought an expensive musical instrument from an eBay overseas. It was so much easier than trying to track down a shop and work out if they were reliable etc etc. The overseas person was also happy because of the limited market for such instruments. It's silly to offer stolen goods on eBay. Times have changed and the German businessman did the logical thing for 2005...went on eBay to get himself a replacement camera. How did we ever manage without eBay, it is so much a part of our lives now.
Hippo keeps his new dad
Shell-shocked hippo keeps his new dad:
"The unlikely couple of a baby hippo and a 130-year-old tortoise are still together, a year after the hippo was separated from its family by the Boxing Day tsunami."
I blogged about this last year and am amazed the turtle and hippo are still firm friends a year later. It's an extraordinary tale. Conservation workers plan to introduce Owen the hippo to Cleo, a female hippo, who has lived without hippo friends for more than 10 years. It would be great if it worked out...but then what will the poor turtle do??
"The unlikely couple of a baby hippo and a 130-year-old tortoise are still together, a year after the hippo was separated from its family by the Boxing Day tsunami."
I blogged about this last year and am amazed the turtle and hippo are still firm friends a year later. It's an extraordinary tale. Conservation workers plan to introduce Owen the hippo to Cleo, a female hippo, who has lived without hippo friends for more than 10 years. It would be great if it worked out...but then what will the poor turtle do??
Public transport
Public transport surge :
"Patronage has soared in the north-eastern suburbs, particularly on the O-Bahn, and in the outer south.
Total patronage jumped by 80,000 last month in the north-east, compared to the same time last year, and 28,000 in the outer south. But the number of people catching the Glenelg tram fell by 3000, according to Transport Department figures."
The article claims service changes and petrol prices as the reason for our increased patronage of public transport. The petrol prices are no longer so high. The changes to services caused considerable grief and would have been offputting so there has to be more to it than that. I'd like to think we have become environmentally conscious. I'd like to think we have worked out that public transport is a good way to participate in the human race. The northern suburbs and outer southern seem to be where the increases are. Maybe people are fed up with the maniac drivers. You only need one and it really puts the wind up you. There have been some horrendous crashes caused by this small percentage who set their own road rules. These drivers really are dangerous and it is horrible being on the same road as they are. I pulled over one day and went to get vegetables just to get off the same road as some nutter . Likewise today, I got tailgated by a black ute with headlights on and of course they drive too close for you to get the number plate. So maybe people just want a break while the police are obviously out there trying to nail these nutcase drivers. The accidents,though, are enough to put anyone off and it must be traumatic for the police and paramedics, then the hospital staff. It was never this bad. On the up side there have been reports of really cheerful, helpful public transport drivers and that makes a real difference. I know some of them are tested by inconsiderate, stupid passengers, but most of us are really nice and will work with them when they get a nasty or stupid passenger. Not so easy in the quiet hours, but if we use public transport more often, it will mean the drivers also get the benefit of more public protection. Frankly, the rules need to be quite clear as to how you conduct yourself in public and then the drivers are not put in difficult positions. The transit guards on the trains have certainly helped...so maybe we have worked out it's quite fun to go by public transport!!
"Patronage has soared in the north-eastern suburbs, particularly on the O-Bahn, and in the outer south.
Total patronage jumped by 80,000 last month in the north-east, compared to the same time last year, and 28,000 in the outer south. But the number of people catching the Glenelg tram fell by 3000, according to Transport Department figures."
The article claims service changes and petrol prices as the reason for our increased patronage of public transport. The petrol prices are no longer so high. The changes to services caused considerable grief and would have been offputting so there has to be more to it than that. I'd like to think we have become environmentally conscious. I'd like to think we have worked out that public transport is a good way to participate in the human race. The northern suburbs and outer southern seem to be where the increases are. Maybe people are fed up with the maniac drivers. You only need one and it really puts the wind up you. There have been some horrendous crashes caused by this small percentage who set their own road rules. These drivers really are dangerous and it is horrible being on the same road as they are. I pulled over one day and went to get vegetables just to get off the same road as some nutter . Likewise today, I got tailgated by a black ute with headlights on and of course they drive too close for you to get the number plate. So maybe people just want a break while the police are obviously out there trying to nail these nutcase drivers. The accidents,though, are enough to put anyone off and it must be traumatic for the police and paramedics, then the hospital staff. It was never this bad. On the up side there have been reports of really cheerful, helpful public transport drivers and that makes a real difference. I know some of them are tested by inconsiderate, stupid passengers, but most of us are really nice and will work with them when they get a nasty or stupid passenger. Not so easy in the quiet hours, but if we use public transport more often, it will mean the drivers also get the benefit of more public protection. Frankly, the rules need to be quite clear as to how you conduct yourself in public and then the drivers are not put in difficult positions. The transit guards on the trains have certainly helped...so maybe we have worked out it's quite fun to go by public transport!!
Europeans to help identify Katrina victims.
Europeans to help identify Katrina victims. :
"The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) was set up in Sarajevo to help identify the thousands of victims of the Bosnian war."
This is the kind of world I want to see develop and grow in 2006. It is the sort of international co operation which highlights our strength as a human race. No country can be good at everything. No country should need to develop everything for itself. We should have matured sufficiently where we can work co operatively together so that each nation develops its areas of expertise and then we have an international skills register. This way we all benefit, we are not in competition and we can offload this negative, suspicious approach. It might be too Utopian for some, but I actually believe most of us can achieve that. I think we keep creating models to incorporate the dysfunctional instead of realising most of us are okay and the destructive people need to be snapped into line. I hope the Europeans can identify the bone samples well enough for people to be identified. It must be awful for the relatives who have lost people not to know if they are lost, alive, dead or what they are.
"The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) was set up in Sarajevo to help identify the thousands of victims of the Bosnian war."
This is the kind of world I want to see develop and grow in 2006. It is the sort of international co operation which highlights our strength as a human race. No country can be good at everything. No country should need to develop everything for itself. We should have matured sufficiently where we can work co operatively together so that each nation develops its areas of expertise and then we have an international skills register. This way we all benefit, we are not in competition and we can offload this negative, suspicious approach. It might be too Utopian for some, but I actually believe most of us can achieve that. I think we keep creating models to incorporate the dysfunctional instead of realising most of us are okay and the destructive people need to be snapped into line. I hope the Europeans can identify the bone samples well enough for people to be identified. It must be awful for the relatives who have lost people not to know if they are lost, alive, dead or what they are.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Breast paintings
Articulate: 'Like abstract flowers'. :
"There was a woman doing breast paintings and her boobs were quite small. I emailed the article to a friend and then my friend said 'well if you think you can do any better you should have a go'. So I did."
Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Farah Fawcett do something like launch her naked, painted body at balank canvasses and create works of art? Seems like body bit paintings - paintings with body bits, are still the go. Di Peel at the moment sells her "abstract flowers" for $90. She seems to be in her formative stages as an artist and will no doubt gain confidence and develop from here. It's amazing how a small thing can supply the drive and energy to take off and create.
"There was a woman doing breast paintings and her boobs were quite small. I emailed the article to a friend and then my friend said 'well if you think you can do any better you should have a go'. So I did."
Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Farah Fawcett do something like launch her naked, painted body at balank canvasses and create works of art? Seems like body bit paintings - paintings with body bits, are still the go. Di Peel at the moment sells her "abstract flowers" for $90. She seems to be in her formative stages as an artist and will no doubt gain confidence and develop from here. It's amazing how a small thing can supply the drive and energy to take off and create.
Canada blames violence surge on US
Scotsman.com News - Canada blames violence surge on US:
"It was the 52nd shooting death this year in Ontario's capital, almost twice as many as last year, and raises the total number of murders to 78 - not far below the record 88 of 1991."
We were staggered as the guns came out as soon as Katrina hit. Even mild mannered grannies were getting guns. The best explanation I have heard for it , is that the USA was founded on pioneers and sharp shooters and so it's a part of their history to be gun wielding "law-abiding" citizens. It's part of the frontier heritage. That I can understand to an extent. Then they have "heroes" such as Al Capone , Jesse James...the gun wielding notables we all know about. So it's part of their recent history. In a populated city , though, where our life style leads to a number of people with stress related behaviours...guns and people can only cause heartbreak and despair. Sorry, but I really do not think the average citizen needs a gun. Guns kill. It is too easy to pick up a gun and kill someone. Canada seems to be in the grip of the same young people mayhem as we have elsewhere in the world. No one has been spared as far as I can see. Kids are all too ready at the moment to kill themselves and others and it is very perplexing - up to a point. I don't know that adults have given them a world to feel safe and happy in so they will always follow the laws of uproar and mayhem as young people do. Boundaries and discipline re establish the norm. Punishment is not about punishment - it should be about restoring calm and safety. Gangs are merely a way of young people giving themselves some power and strength and these gangs just take off and run amok. We get what we accept. If we have created conditions whereby our young people wish to kill, maim and destroy, then first we shall have to shut the behaviour down and then, we shall have to discover why young people think this is "civilised" living. My other thought, is we keep having gangs all around the world wreaking havoc in the suburbs. Round 'em up, train 'em and send them of to Afghanistan and Iraq. They can use up all that high energy in places where we need soldiers, then the ones who don't want to be there can come home and see their families.
"It was the 52nd shooting death this year in Ontario's capital, almost twice as many as last year, and raises the total number of murders to 78 - not far below the record 88 of 1991."
We were staggered as the guns came out as soon as Katrina hit. Even mild mannered grannies were getting guns. The best explanation I have heard for it , is that the USA was founded on pioneers and sharp shooters and so it's a part of their history to be gun wielding "law-abiding" citizens. It's part of the frontier heritage. That I can understand to an extent. Then they have "heroes" such as Al Capone , Jesse James...the gun wielding notables we all know about. So it's part of their recent history. In a populated city , though, where our life style leads to a number of people with stress related behaviours...guns and people can only cause heartbreak and despair. Sorry, but I really do not think the average citizen needs a gun. Guns kill. It is too easy to pick up a gun and kill someone. Canada seems to be in the grip of the same young people mayhem as we have elsewhere in the world. No one has been spared as far as I can see. Kids are all too ready at the moment to kill themselves and others and it is very perplexing - up to a point. I don't know that adults have given them a world to feel safe and happy in so they will always follow the laws of uproar and mayhem as young people do. Boundaries and discipline re establish the norm. Punishment is not about punishment - it should be about restoring calm and safety. Gangs are merely a way of young people giving themselves some power and strength and these gangs just take off and run amok. We get what we accept. If we have created conditions whereby our young people wish to kill, maim and destroy, then first we shall have to shut the behaviour down and then, we shall have to discover why young people think this is "civilised" living. My other thought, is we keep having gangs all around the world wreaking havoc in the suburbs. Round 'em up, train 'em and send them of to Afghanistan and Iraq. They can use up all that high energy in places where we need soldiers, then the ones who don't want to be there can come home and see their families.
Scientists cause a stir over vanishing teaspoons
Scotsman.com News - Scientists cause a stir over vanishing teaspoons:
"Supporting expectations, 80 per cent of the spoons vanished during the period - although those in private areas lasted nearly twice as long as those in communal sections."
Well, there you have it. Scientists have proven you would need to buy 250 spoons a year to keep a constant set of 70 spoons. They really do vanish! They suspect it's caused by resistentialism where inanimate objects dispay an aversion to human beings or perhaps they are just migrating, as per The Hitchikers's Guide to the Galaxy, to a planet with other spoonoid life. This article is well worth the read. Intriguing!!
"Supporting expectations, 80 per cent of the spoons vanished during the period - although those in private areas lasted nearly twice as long as those in communal sections."
Well, there you have it. Scientists have proven you would need to buy 250 spoons a year to keep a constant set of 70 spoons. They really do vanish! They suspect it's caused by resistentialism where inanimate objects dispay an aversion to human beings or perhaps they are just migrating, as per The Hitchikers's Guide to the Galaxy, to a planet with other spoonoid life. This article is well worth the read. Intriguing!!
John Cooper Clarke
John Cooper Clarke - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
"He is often referred to as a punk poet, having initially achieved recognition in the late 1970s amidst the flourishing punk movement. He performed as an opening act for such bands as The Sex Pistols, The Buzzcocks and Elvis Costello. His set was characterized by his lively, rapid-fire renditions of his poems, which were usually performed a capella."
When you are born on Rabbie Burns day, 25th January, it would be hard not to become a famous performance poet. I grew up on the poetry of Robert Burns and it was designed to be performed and quoted. John Cooper Clarke has always been a favourite of mine because he rocket launched poetry back into the popular arena and made it the pwerful communication medium it always was. I still have my big This is Chicken Town mounted poster and I still love his poetry. He made poetry as big as pop music and that is how it should be, but he knew how to perform. You can't fake it.
We have a similar tradition in Australia called Bush Poetry. You have to get up there and perform it. It's not a reading. It is the essence of communication from the literary mind to the people. It is very dynamic. Poetry is quite strong is SA and we have some strong poets who are all very ready and very good at performing their poetry. They can draw you in and add to you by sharing their poetry performances. Victoria, too, is carrying on our tradition:
Surge in popularity for bush poetry
"He is often referred to as a punk poet, having initially achieved recognition in the late 1970s amidst the flourishing punk movement. He performed as an opening act for such bands as The Sex Pistols, The Buzzcocks and Elvis Costello. His set was characterized by his lively, rapid-fire renditions of his poems, which were usually performed a capella."
When you are born on Rabbie Burns day, 25th January, it would be hard not to become a famous performance poet. I grew up on the poetry of Robert Burns and it was designed to be performed and quoted. John Cooper Clarke has always been a favourite of mine because he rocket launched poetry back into the popular arena and made it the pwerful communication medium it always was. I still have my big This is Chicken Town mounted poster and I still love his poetry. He made poetry as big as pop music and that is how it should be, but he knew how to perform. You can't fake it.
We have a similar tradition in Australia called Bush Poetry. You have to get up there and perform it. It's not a reading. It is the essence of communication from the literary mind to the people. It is very dynamic. Poetry is quite strong is SA and we have some strong poets who are all very ready and very good at performing their poetry. They can draw you in and add to you by sharing their poetry performances. Victoria, too, is carrying on our tradition:
Surge in popularity for bush poetry
Escaped kangaroo eludes French owner
Escaped kangaroo eludes French owner :
"Bernadetter Darchen, a retired zoologist who owns the animal, says two of the marsupials broke through a hole in their enclosure in Coux-et-Bigaroque in the Dordogne region."
The kangaroo is still on the hop after three months. Two had escaped and one was caught almost immediately, but the other has been hopping through the Dordognes! It doesn't say what type of kangaroo but at less than a metre, we would still be wary of approaching it. They have wallabies in Belgium and Europe has been wallaby friendly for quite some time. We don't approach kangaroos because their back legs can give you quite a thump, they can box you with their fists and they are not easy to manage. Over here they do not take well to being kept as pets and people rarely keep them. They like to roam , thump and jump. Some of the smaller zoos keep them. Kangaroos are a part of our life here. You see them as you drive around and in the country you need to be wary as they cross the road. Most frequent country drivers fit Roo bars. It's not uncommon for people to accidently crash into kangaroos because they hop across the road so suddenly.The Roos get hurt but the cars can be written off and the passengers can be quite seriously hurt. Even with roo warnings on the roads, they can catch you unawares.....but we love them!
Kangaroos
When roos are in full flight, pilots get jumpy
"Bernadetter Darchen, a retired zoologist who owns the animal, says two of the marsupials broke through a hole in their enclosure in Coux-et-Bigaroque in the Dordogne region."
The kangaroo is still on the hop after three months. Two had escaped and one was caught almost immediately, but the other has been hopping through the Dordognes! It doesn't say what type of kangaroo but at less than a metre, we would still be wary of approaching it. They have wallabies in Belgium and Europe has been wallaby friendly for quite some time. We don't approach kangaroos because their back legs can give you quite a thump, they can box you with their fists and they are not easy to manage. Over here they do not take well to being kept as pets and people rarely keep them. They like to roam , thump and jump. Some of the smaller zoos keep them. Kangaroos are a part of our life here. You see them as you drive around and in the country you need to be wary as they cross the road. Most frequent country drivers fit Roo bars. It's not uncommon for people to accidently crash into kangaroos because they hop across the road so suddenly.The Roos get hurt but the cars can be written off and the passengers can be quite seriously hurt. Even with roo warnings on the roads, they can catch you unawares.....but we love them!
Kangaroos
When roos are in full flight, pilots get jumpy
Katrina fund scam uncovered
Katrina fund scam uncovered :
"WASHINGTON: Nearly 50 people have been indicted in connection with a scam that milked hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Red Cross program that gave cash to Hurricane Katrina victims, US federal authorities say."
49 people in the Bakersfield area have been indicted in the last three months for scamming the katrina funds and thank heavens the Red Cross is on the ball. When you are under pressure it is always easy to overlook the obvious, but thankfully the Red Cross has been alert to opportunistic behaviour. Whan annoys me is we would all give willingly to needy people and we would all be the first to hand over funds to help others out when they are in trouble. Organisations like the Red Cross then mobilise themselves to get goods and services to needy areas...so then some rats decide they cannot resist the urge to get some free finance. It makes me so annoyed because then we wonder if our money is going to the right people. I understand an economy has forced us to think money first and people second, but even so, most of the world does not take advantage under these circumstances. I hope these people have to repay the money they stole and then work for people in need. No one should sit on their bum when they were looking to take advantage. Let them spend their time doing some good for people.
This article also attracts attention to the rising suicide rate in the areas affected by flood and storm damage. This is terribly sad. So sad. The people have lost their homes, their friends and relatives. They have put up with one loss and indignity after another and now some very severe depression is setting in. They need their own space and their own lives back...and support.So much support. They need their sanity restored. Surely we can have a virtual help centre? This is terrible the suicide rate in the flood and storm affected areas is double the national average.
"WASHINGTON: Nearly 50 people have been indicted in connection with a scam that milked hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Red Cross program that gave cash to Hurricane Katrina victims, US federal authorities say."
49 people in the Bakersfield area have been indicted in the last three months for scamming the katrina funds and thank heavens the Red Cross is on the ball. When you are under pressure it is always easy to overlook the obvious, but thankfully the Red Cross has been alert to opportunistic behaviour. Whan annoys me is we would all give willingly to needy people and we would all be the first to hand over funds to help others out when they are in trouble. Organisations like the Red Cross then mobilise themselves to get goods and services to needy areas...so then some rats decide they cannot resist the urge to get some free finance. It makes me so annoyed because then we wonder if our money is going to the right people. I understand an economy has forced us to think money first and people second, but even so, most of the world does not take advantage under these circumstances. I hope these people have to repay the money they stole and then work for people in need. No one should sit on their bum when they were looking to take advantage. Let them spend their time doing some good for people.
This article also attracts attention to the rising suicide rate in the areas affected by flood and storm damage. This is terribly sad. So sad. The people have lost their homes, their friends and relatives. They have put up with one loss and indignity after another and now some very severe depression is setting in. They need their own space and their own lives back...and support.So much support. They need their sanity restored. Surely we can have a virtual help centre? This is terrible the suicide rate in the flood and storm affected areas is double the national average.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Brett Lee
How's this guy? On a roll!! As was Micheal Hussey. Wasn't so long ago Brett Lee was in all sorts of trouble and we were all in anguish about his state and frame of mind. As a young cricketer he was brilliant and then he went through a really tough patch which was his rite of passage to his mature cricketing self. We have been truly blessed with some great cricket since Boxing Day. The emotional side of it, with the sad loss of a great cricket sponsor, has added a genuine human face to it all. The focus has not just been on the great cricketers in both teams, it has been about the team which makes cricket great - the coaches, mentors, sponsors, financers and the role the public plays. Boxing Day cricket has never been so great because the people have been acknowledged and the human impact of cricket on our lives.
Tories sign up Geldof
The Australian: Tories sign up Geldof :
"Geldof, who led calls for the Group of Eight richest nations to act on debt, trade and poverty during July's Gleneagles summit, will work as an adviser to Tory leader David Cameron's new Globalisation and Global Poverty policy group."
David Cameron is no fool and will give Tony Blair's 22% of the vote a run for its money. Mr. Cameron is starting to home in on the issues which mean something to the real people of the world and although they have been called "the wristband generation" in this article because they bought the white wristbands to support the Make Poverty History campaign, they cannot be labelled and used. People who buy the wrist bands have a heart and a brain. David Cameron is looking to revamp the Conservative Party so getting influencial people like Bob Geldorf onside will help considerably, but it wouldn't want to turn out to be a ticket to success. He will need to put his money where his revamping is. Tony Blair got to power because he appeared to be the person who was able to fix some of the long term issues for Britain. Then the wheels fell off because he didn't follow through on his capacity to problem solve.
"Geldof, who led calls for the Group of Eight richest nations to act on debt, trade and poverty during July's Gleneagles summit, will work as an adviser to Tory leader David Cameron's new Globalisation and Global Poverty policy group."
David Cameron is no fool and will give Tony Blair's 22% of the vote a run for its money. Mr. Cameron is starting to home in on the issues which mean something to the real people of the world and although they have been called "the wristband generation" in this article because they bought the white wristbands to support the Make Poverty History campaign, they cannot be labelled and used. People who buy the wrist bands have a heart and a brain. David Cameron is looking to revamp the Conservative Party so getting influencial people like Bob Geldorf onside will help considerably, but it wouldn't want to turn out to be a ticket to success. He will need to put his money where his revamping is. Tony Blair got to power because he appeared to be the person who was able to fix some of the long term issues for Britain. Then the wheels fell off because he didn't follow through on his capacity to problem solve.
Console Games
Gamasutra - Australia Sales Chart, Week Ending December 18:
1 2 Need for Speed: Most Wanted EA PS2
2 3 WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw THQ PS2
3 4 Buzz: The Music Quiz Bundle Sony PS2
4 1 NRL Rugby League 2 HES Interactive PS2
5 5 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories Rockstar PSP
6 9 SingStar 80s Bundle Sony Xbox
7 8 EyeToy: Play 3 Pac Sony PS2
1 Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire EA PS2
9 - Nintendogs: Dachshund & Friend Nintendo Nintendo DS
10 - Need for Speed: Most Wanted EA Xbox
These are the top 10 console games in Australia the week before Christmas. The games market it just growing biggers and bigger and the competition is hot because , worldwide, they are the thing which is most desirable!!
In France L'Express24/11/05 reports the top 5 console games in France as being( it doesn't say if it's 2004 or 2005):
GTA San Andreas
Pro Evolution Soccer 4
Need for Speed Underground 2
Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3
Burnout 3 Takedown.
All PS2. Sims 2,Double Deluxe and Triple Deluxe, Half Life 2 and Far Cry were the top 5 PC games in France in 2004.
1 2 Need for Speed: Most Wanted EA PS2
2 3 WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw THQ PS2
3 4 Buzz: The Music Quiz Bundle Sony PS2
4 1 NRL Rugby League 2 HES Interactive PS2
5 5 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories Rockstar PSP
6 9 SingStar 80s Bundle Sony Xbox
7 8 EyeToy: Play 3 Pac Sony PS2
1 Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire EA PS2
9 - Nintendogs: Dachshund & Friend Nintendo Nintendo DS
10 - Need for Speed: Most Wanted EA Xbox
These are the top 10 console games in Australia the week before Christmas. The games market it just growing biggers and bigger and the competition is hot because , worldwide, they are the thing which is most desirable!!
In France L'Express24/11/05 reports the top 5 console games in France as being( it doesn't say if it's 2004 or 2005):
GTA San Andreas
Pro Evolution Soccer 4
Need for Speed Underground 2
Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3
Burnout 3 Takedown.
All PS2. Sims 2,Double Deluxe and Triple Deluxe, Half Life 2 and Far Cry were the top 5 PC games in France in 2004.
Carry for Kids
History:
"Carry for Kids aims to educate and assist other travellers wanting to make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children. Next time you are preparing for a trip overseas take a few minutes to pack for the children and let their joy be your ultimate travelling reward."
Sponsored by Venture Holidays, Carry for Kids is a site which tells you how you, as a traveller, can make a difference to children in countries like Bali, Cambodia, Nepal, Thailand or Vietnam. Brenton Whittaker has worked out this scheme so that orphanges will get the much needed goods efficiently because you, the traveller, are reliable. We need more initiatives like this and a site like GiveThing (see right) where it is co ordinated so that we, the travellers, can make a personal contribution to a survival network to people in trouble. The will is there, that has been made clear time and time again so now we just need to make it routine.
"Carry for Kids aims to educate and assist other travellers wanting to make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children. Next time you are preparing for a trip overseas take a few minutes to pack for the children and let their joy be your ultimate travelling reward."
Sponsored by Venture Holidays, Carry for Kids is a site which tells you how you, as a traveller, can make a difference to children in countries like Bali, Cambodia, Nepal, Thailand or Vietnam. Brenton Whittaker has worked out this scheme so that orphanges will get the much needed goods efficiently because you, the traveller, are reliable. We need more initiatives like this and a site like GiveThing (see right) where it is co ordinated so that we, the travellers, can make a personal contribution to a survival network to people in trouble. The will is there, that has been made clear time and time again so now we just need to make it routine.
Kenya seeks help as famine worsens.
Kenya seeks help as famine worsens. :
"Most of the dead are children and aid workers fear that the toll is much higher in remote villages that cannot be accessed."
The trouble is some of these areas are hard to access, but I still belive we live in an age where this kind of starvation can be overcome. We have the transport and the technology and the excess food. It horrifies me we leave grapes to rot on the vines because we can't get the market and the price and this is a story world wide in our famous, much touted "successful" economies. Then we hear that people are starving. What is the matter with us?
"Most of the dead are children and aid workers fear that the toll is much higher in remote villages that cannot be accessed."
The trouble is some of these areas are hard to access, but I still belive we live in an age where this kind of starvation can be overcome. We have the transport and the technology and the excess food. It horrifies me we leave grapes to rot on the vines because we can't get the market and the price and this is a story world wide in our famous, much touted "successful" economies. Then we hear that people are starving. What is the matter with us?
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
NZ scientists freeze oyster eggs
NZ scientists freeze oyster eggs:
"Cawthron Institute scientists in Nelson have been working on the technique, known as cryopreservation, since 1998, but their findings have only just been officially published."
Now the world is our oyster! Sorting out the intricacies for cryogenics has kept researchers busy for years. Now we have a major breakthrough in the freezing process so that the oyster eggs can be thawed and used. At present the process is still in its "embryonic" phase, but with a major breakthrough like this, developments usually start to happen thick and fast. Once they improve the survival rates of the oysters bred from these eggs it will become a viable process with wide ranging applications.
"Cawthron Institute scientists in Nelson have been working on the technique, known as cryopreservation, since 1998, but their findings have only just been officially published."
Now the world is our oyster! Sorting out the intricacies for cryogenics has kept researchers busy for years. Now we have a major breakthrough in the freezing process so that the oyster eggs can be thawed and used. At present the process is still in its "embryonic" phase, but with a major breakthrough like this, developments usually start to happen thick and fast. Once they improve the survival rates of the oysters bred from these eggs it will become a viable process with wide ranging applications.
Over-70s women not over sex: survey
Over-70s women not over sex: survey - :
"'It surprises me that so many women express this positive interest.'"
Why is this surprising? We have burnt our bras, had Germaine Greer, liberation, emancipation, equality, equity ... and still it surprises people that women like sex. The best bit of this article is that they think older women are more sexually active than younger women...because younger women have mortgages and families. This peristence in stereotyping surprises me in this day and age. Look at the facts. Younger women are more caught up in this media profiling than older women. Younger women have to be the body beautiful, the babe, the handbag...and become the older woman who doesn't like or have sex!! And the myth about men is just as damaging to men and just as misleading.
"'It surprises me that so many women express this positive interest.'"
Why is this surprising? We have burnt our bras, had Germaine Greer, liberation, emancipation, equality, equity ... and still it surprises people that women like sex. The best bit of this article is that they think older women are more sexually active than younger women...because younger women have mortgages and families. This peristence in stereotyping surprises me in this day and age. Look at the facts. Younger women are more caught up in this media profiling than older women. Younger women have to be the body beautiful, the babe, the handbag...and become the older woman who doesn't like or have sex!! And the myth about men is just as damaging to men and just as misleading.
Kerry Packer
COMMERCE - Kerry Packer:
"After his near fatal heart attack in 1990, whilst playing polo, he said 'I've been to the other side and let me tell you son, there's f... nothing there'."
Many people are going to remember Kerry Packer for many things. He made himself a billionnaire by buying back Channel Nine from Alan Bond after he had sold it to him originally and is reported to have said, "Thanks for your company." His quotes will be the thing which will resound in history. Things like ;"Never complain. Never explain." or, "Bite off more than you can chew, then chew like mad!" He will be remembered as a big man and his words will echo for a long time simply because he knew how to think big and was the first Australian to get that rich.
"After his near fatal heart attack in 1990, whilst playing polo, he said 'I've been to the other side and let me tell you son, there's f... nothing there'."
Many people are going to remember Kerry Packer for many things. He made himself a billionnaire by buying back Channel Nine from Alan Bond after he had sold it to him originally and is reported to have said, "Thanks for your company." His quotes will be the thing which will resound in history. Things like ;"Never complain. Never explain." or, "Bite off more than you can chew, then chew like mad!" He will be remembered as a big man and his words will echo for a long time simply because he knew how to think big and was the first Australian to get that rich.
Schoolgirl hero
Schoolgirl hero :
"A FRENCH children's magazine named as its 'Child of the Year' a British schoolgirl credited with saving about 100 tourists at a Thai beach when the tsunami struck last year."
It's a nice thing, as everyone remembers the pain of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, for Mon Quotidien to honour the 11 year old English girl , Tilly Smith as the child of the year. I remember seeing Tilly on some of the footage shown last year and not only had she been taught and learnt well, she was able to get that information through to the adults who could take charge of the situation. Her remarkably down to earth and self effacing approach saved all those lives and protected the people in the area from serious injury. Good teachers are invaluable when their students can shoot the arrows straight.
"A FRENCH children's magazine named as its 'Child of the Year' a British schoolgirl credited with saving about 100 tourists at a Thai beach when the tsunami struck last year."
It's a nice thing, as everyone remembers the pain of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, for Mon Quotidien to honour the 11 year old English girl , Tilly Smith as the child of the year. I remember seeing Tilly on some of the footage shown last year and not only had she been taught and learnt well, she was able to get that information through to the adults who could take charge of the situation. Her remarkably down to earth and self effacing approach saved all those lives and protected the people in the area from serious injury. Good teachers are invaluable when their students can shoot the arrows straight.
New Year's Day 2006 delayed by a second.
New Year's Day 2006 delayed by a second. :
"Get ready for a minute with 61 seconds. Scientists are delaying the start of 2006 by the first 'leap second' in seven years, a timing tweak meant to make up for changes in the Earth's rotation."
Well, you have a second longer to do whatever you wish before you dish out all those big , sloppy New Year's Eve kisses. The scientists are going to add a leap second to our world atomic clock so it's right!! How would we know??? The first leap second was added in 1972 and they have never had to take away a leap second. These totally precise time measurements aren't needed by normal humans. They use them at he Olympics and sound terribly technical and they are also needed for high speed communications systems. Reminds me of Shot in the Dark where the wernderfull Inspector Clouseau and ees erfsiderrr , Hercule, tried to synchronise their watches and they kept stopping and Hercule ended up having to count 5 minutes out loud before he switched off the electricity. We've come a long way since then! But I shall have a mental image of these people with French accents trying to synchronise their ertomic clicks at ze verry stroke of ze o'clerk!!
"Get ready for a minute with 61 seconds. Scientists are delaying the start of 2006 by the first 'leap second' in seven years, a timing tweak meant to make up for changes in the Earth's rotation."
Well, you have a second longer to do whatever you wish before you dish out all those big , sloppy New Year's Eve kisses. The scientists are going to add a leap second to our world atomic clock so it's right!! How would we know??? The first leap second was added in 1972 and they have never had to take away a leap second. These totally precise time measurements aren't needed by normal humans. They use them at he Olympics and sound terribly technical and they are also needed for high speed communications systems. Reminds me of Shot in the Dark where the wernderfull Inspector Clouseau and ees erfsiderrr , Hercule, tried to synchronise their watches and they kept stopping and Hercule ended up having to count 5 minutes out loud before he switched off the electricity. We've come a long way since then! But I shall have a mental image of these people with French accents trying to synchronise their ertomic clicks at ze verry stroke of ze o'clerk!!
Monday, December 26, 2005
Make Poverty History
Make Poverty History: "The WTO meeting failed to deliver the trade justice deal needed in 2005 to make poverty history. The responsibility for the WTO failing the world's poor rests with rich countries whose governments, despite all our campaigning, did not show willingness to deliver trade justice. The agreement reached is far from just for the poor of the world."
A lot of talk and no action. Historically we are in a position to make a difference. We have the transport, we have the communications, we have the technology. Why do we shy away from it? Over Christmas I saw the Live Aid concert and was well fed and sheltered enough to appreciate it was a fantastic concert and a massive effort on the part of the music world to try and FEED THE WORLD. Twenty years have gone by and nothing has changed. What kind of generation are we? We go to these massive efforts, we get people aware and in the know...and then those who can make the changes do not. 2005 gave us the Make Poverty History concerts. Rent a riot tried to destroy the message at the G8, but failed. Again we wanted to change everything. The WTO has just met. What happened to th promises, the capacity to care about others? We could change this. Why are we so reluctant to act en masse for good purposes? Why do we shy away from easing the misery of other people? What is the matter with us? Within my group some of us have sponored children this year. One sister has been working for the past year in an African nation and is going back with her mother after Christmas because they both want to help. Someone else has been in Africa as a volunteer and 3 others are lined up waiting to go. So my own group has an awareness that we can make a change. If it is getting through to us, why is is not changing in the grand scheme of things?
Judge blocks law on violent games
BBC NEWS | Technology | Judge blocks law on violent games:
"The injunction only delays the introduction of the law and now both sides in the row will get a chance to argue their case before a court. Backers of the law said Judge Whyte's block was only a 'temporary pause'."
Apparently they can be unblocked because of freedom of speech laws in the US. I do not quite understand. The law wants to block the sale of violent games and sexually explicit games to minors. We have ratings on all our text and media material. Children have a right to grow into things and have a right to make a choice later on when they have grown up . Making all sorts of material readily available to children is not really a good thing. Some kids could probably deal with it and it wouldn't affect them. Some would see and image and it would disturb them. The thing is, when media materials are available everywhere you do not have an opportunity to filter what you do not want, not even as an adult. Somehow the freedom of speech doesn't seem to work on the side of "I have no wish to see that at any time any place." Part of bringing children up is helping them to manage a cruel and violent world, but you want the chance to pace yourself and your children. Feeding violence and making money from it isn't what I want, but I am not the only person in the world, so there has to be some sort of consensus.
"The injunction only delays the introduction of the law and now both sides in the row will get a chance to argue their case before a court. Backers of the law said Judge Whyte's block was only a 'temporary pause'."
Apparently they can be unblocked because of freedom of speech laws in the US. I do not quite understand. The law wants to block the sale of violent games and sexually explicit games to minors. We have ratings on all our text and media material. Children have a right to grow into things and have a right to make a choice later on when they have grown up . Making all sorts of material readily available to children is not really a good thing. Some kids could probably deal with it and it wouldn't affect them. Some would see and image and it would disturb them. The thing is, when media materials are available everywhere you do not have an opportunity to filter what you do not want, not even as an adult. Somehow the freedom of speech doesn't seem to work on the side of "I have no wish to see that at any time any place." Part of bringing children up is helping them to manage a cruel and violent world, but you want the chance to pace yourself and your children. Feeding violence and making money from it isn't what I want, but I am not the only person in the world, so there has to be some sort of consensus.
Heritage listing boost for MCG
Heritage listing boost for MCG:
"Mr Costello was speaking during the lunch break on the first day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and South Africa at the 152-year-old stadium, which has just been extensively redeveloped in preparation for next year's Commonwealth Games."
You would expect the Melbourne Cricket Ground to have had a long and distinguished cricketing tradition. It all started in 1853. Mr. Costello is right, every Australian knows the MCG because if they don't follow the cricket, they will know the venue as the home of the AFL grand final. It will also be used for the Commonwealth Games. We are too quick to destroy our history and our old buildings. It worries me how easily we can and do pull the old buildings down because they are old! Like the Balfours building in town looks to be going to be destroyed to make way for the new , swanky bus station. If the new bus station is as good as our new airport it will be well worth the trade in heritage. I find it hard to understand that people here have no appreciation of "old" when it comes to architecture. Most of Adelaide has been sacrificed to the concrete and clay and the North Terrace tree rip up is a plum example of our respect for heritage. It's like we cannot accept we have roots and history. Old is synonymous with useless. Pretty odd way to think, especially, when we do care about heritage, like the Adelaide Railway Station, we are very inventive in preserving old and adapting it to new style living.
"Mr Costello was speaking during the lunch break on the first day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and South Africa at the 152-year-old stadium, which has just been extensively redeveloped in preparation for next year's Commonwealth Games."
You would expect the Melbourne Cricket Ground to have had a long and distinguished cricketing tradition. It all started in 1853. Mr. Costello is right, every Australian knows the MCG because if they don't follow the cricket, they will know the venue as the home of the AFL grand final. It will also be used for the Commonwealth Games. We are too quick to destroy our history and our old buildings. It worries me how easily we can and do pull the old buildings down because they are old! Like the Balfours building in town looks to be going to be destroyed to make way for the new , swanky bus station. If the new bus station is as good as our new airport it will be well worth the trade in heritage. I find it hard to understand that people here have no appreciation of "old" when it comes to architecture. Most of Adelaide has been sacrificed to the concrete and clay and the North Terrace tree rip up is a plum example of our respect for heritage. It's like we cannot accept we have roots and history. Old is synonymous with useless. Pretty odd way to think, especially, when we do care about heritage, like the Adelaide Railway Station, we are very inventive in preserving old and adapting it to new style living.
Ads to dispel 'light' cigarette myths.
Ads to dispel 'light' cigarette myths. :
"A $9 million advertising campaign aimed at informing smokers that 'light' and 'mild' cigarettes are not necessarily safer options, begins today."
Dispelling the myth is a good idea, but the ads need to be information and they need to be text based. We saw one of the ads when we were watching the Boxing Day Cricket match, as you do on Boxing Day here. The test cricket is what Boxing Day is about. The ad which came on really disrupted my brother in law. It was a mad ad. He gave up smoking four years ago...but he said the ad had made him feel like having a cigarette. It was the way it was done. Obviously put together by a non smoker. How silly to advertise and then put people back on to smoking. An addict of any kind is very precariously balanced. Anti smoking things need to be carefully planned. Targetting one group above another is one thing, and this particular ad wasn't about victimising, but the way it gave the information wouldn't put a smoker off. It was a very pretty ad. Consumers need proper information given in a factual way. Besides, I thought we had laws not to advertise smoking? That ad advertises smoking even if it gives information about cigarettes.
"A $9 million advertising campaign aimed at informing smokers that 'light' and 'mild' cigarettes are not necessarily safer options, begins today."
Dispelling the myth is a good idea, but the ads need to be information and they need to be text based. We saw one of the ads when we were watching the Boxing Day Cricket match, as you do on Boxing Day here. The test cricket is what Boxing Day is about. The ad which came on really disrupted my brother in law. It was a mad ad. He gave up smoking four years ago...but he said the ad had made him feel like having a cigarette. It was the way it was done. Obviously put together by a non smoker. How silly to advertise and then put people back on to smoking. An addict of any kind is very precariously balanced. Anti smoking things need to be carefully planned. Targetting one group above another is one thing, and this particular ad wasn't about victimising, but the way it gave the information wouldn't put a smoker off. It was a very pretty ad. Consumers need proper information given in a factual way. Besides, I thought we had laws not to advertise smoking? That ad advertises smoking even if it gives information about cigarettes.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Bonne fête de Noël
Bonne fête de Noël! We are all set to go. May you all have a lovely Christmas and a good time with your friends and family. We are into the final countdown and all's well.
South Australians have the biggest hearts
Yes, South Australians have the biggest hearts :
"Marion came first with a whopping 7664 gifts received followed by Noarlunga with 6937.
South Australians overall donated 38,717 gifts, more than 4500 above the state target. A total of 438,923 gifts was received nationally."
It's nice to know that we collected lots of presents for the children at Christmas and that we did our bit. Other states still did their bit too and probably people run at a faster pace and meant to give and forgot or they have the present and didn't get it down there. I can imagine there are plenty of well intentioned people out there. In any case, the tree I saw was brimming over with presents so I really hoep it brings a smile to lots of people's faces. Christmas can be a strain if you are trying to make ends meet.
"Marion came first with a whopping 7664 gifts received followed by Noarlunga with 6937.
South Australians overall donated 38,717 gifts, more than 4500 above the state target. A total of 438,923 gifts was received nationally."
It's nice to know that we collected lots of presents for the children at Christmas and that we did our bit. Other states still did their bit too and probably people run at a faster pace and meant to give and forgot or they have the present and didn't get it down there. I can imagine there are plenty of well intentioned people out there. In any case, the tree I saw was brimming over with presents so I really hoep it brings a smile to lots of people's faces. Christmas can be a strain if you are trying to make ends meet.
Friday, December 23, 2005
Robogames
Robot technology has come a long way and we are getting robots which are more and more humanoid . You can see it'll change the face of things and all those Droids we have seen in films and TV series are going to be part of our lives in the not too distant future. The latest news is on these two sites:
Robots
Androids
And maybe life will be a little like this:
One gloomy day between asteroid storms, I jetted my way through city clouds until I found my way to the country. I pressed my memory button – I hadn’t been to the country for six bleaks. I immediately put ten cents in a cow and it mooed several times.
I reached quickly for my laugh button and laughed so loudly I got a pain in the hard wired circuit. Suddenly I heard a noise just over the hill and a cloud of astro dust soon followed, so I put myself in cruise control and moseyed on over.
To my astonishment I saw a Suzijet flash past and lay rubber down Crater Straight, then blast into the oil pits for an oil change. Wow! This looked cool and the robo-dude could ride a Suzijet like a comet. I just had to meet this guy! I zoomed over and found myself sitting on top of his mean cycle.
The dude warned me about Crater Jump and Moondust Corner, and before I knew it I was off. Throttle response freaked me out and I was moving! I was just getting used to this big meanie when the afterburner cut in and – crunch - I was on the dirt eating moon rocks.
This was too much and having lost my street cred I split the scene and materialised down at Hungry Jack’s. There was a space age special on and you could buy a Whopper and Coke for the year 2005 prices. I couldn’t let this pass me by so I placed my order with the sexy-bot and pressed my galactic gorge button.
Over in the corner sat a petite, Martian model cute-bot and when she caught my eye my battery started to buzz and my antennae stood on end. Finally, I blew a circuit. Luckily I’d had a service recently and my auto repair took over. I was back to normal in a seeb.
I didn’t waste any time. I revved my way over and started whispering sweet nothings in her head hole like, “ I love the way your jet pack wiggles when you fly,” and “You make my battery acid boil.” She answered my attentions by splattering a Mars Munchie in my computer banks.
So much for that. I made my way back through the Volksjets and Comoplanes, fighting my way past meteorites and asteroid belts to soak my aching joints in a bath of degreaser. What a day!
Christmas Cheer
The shops were packed, but no one was stressed. We all waited to get a park, but who cared? We eventually got the park, jumped out of the car and waltzed over to the shops. Lots of laughs. Shopping really has been great this year. I even had a race with an old guy who decided to change check out lanes to see if he could actually get out of the store. We had picked the slowest lane with a woman who was fiddle faddling with everything at the check out. The lanes either side were processing 3 customers to her one. He got out ages ahead of me, but it was a cheery competition and made the time pass, as did the old lady in the lane I changed to, to get out. She had obviously had words with her daughter who had a daughter of about 20. The old lady was saying, "I'm still your mother, you know" and winked at me. She was hilarious. She charmed the check out boy and had her grand daughter helping her with all the packages and the mother? Very straight faced. I'm sure she'll get over it!!
Minister warns against whaling confrontation.
Minister warns against whaling confrontation. :
"The Japanese Government insists the whales are caught for scientific purposes but environmental groups say the whales are sold on the commercial market."
This is becoming very difficult. The Japanese sailor has every right to be treated for his appendicitis in Tasmania and there is no one who would stop him form having the medical aid he needs. We are a nation which does not support whaling and we have not since the seventies. We do feel very strongly about it. The Japanese ship is here to catch whales in the Antarctic Ocean for scientific purposes. People are disputing whether you need to kill that many whales - there is talk of 200- for scientific purposes. Senator Bob Brown has called it a diplomatic incident and it is, really.
We belong to the IWC as does Japan although there was a bit of skating on thin ice earlier in the year:
"They're ships that are required to get into the Southern Ocean and they're doing research that is sanctioned by the whaling commission and supported by countries like New Zealand and Australia," he said.
"I want to make sure and can I just reassure your listeners, that we will not allow any vessel that is actively engaged with whaling to be in an Australian port and there'll be no exceptions."
Japan threatens whaling commission withdrawal
The difficulty is that the Japanese boat has come to collect its scientific evidence in an area the IWC has declared the Southern Ocean Sanctuary. As a result there have been a number of protests lodged and the disbelief that agreements mean nothing is making people frustrated with the process of commissions being organised to set the record straight and then the daily monitoring of that if people ignore it. Is money at the bottom of all of this again?
Antarctic whale slaughter must not be tolerated
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Countdown to Christmas
Closer and closer! All the presents are wrapped and under the tree. The marinated cheese is marinading, the wall is full of cards, the BBQ stuff is set to go and my fridge is just about bursting at the seams. So tomorrow will be the grand clean up ready for the Christmas guests! Shopping again today was fun because everone was so cheery and helpful. The guys even got my gas bottle instead of making me get it myself. Adelaide is really full of Christmas cheer and consideration for others. It has been a great relief and it really has taken the strain off. So thank you everyone!
Chocolate is good for you
Chocolate is good for you :
"This is because chocolate contains high quantities of antioxidants called flavonoids, which prevent arteries hardening."
I come from a long line of chocoholics and I have been surrounded by them all my life. Even the offspring are chocoholics. There has never been any doubt in our family that chocolate is good for you. I have been rather on the outer because I'd rather have strawberries!! This study has been interesting because it has used smokers and dark chocolate. Frankly, dark chocolate is the only way to go, that much I know, especially with a demitasse of strong black coffee. Yum!!
"This is because chocolate contains high quantities of antioxidants called flavonoids, which prevent arteries hardening."
I come from a long line of chocoholics and I have been surrounded by them all my life. Even the offspring are chocoholics. There has never been any doubt in our family that chocolate is good for you. I have been rather on the outer because I'd rather have strawberries!! This study has been interesting because it has used smokers and dark chocolate. Frankly, dark chocolate is the only way to go, that much I know, especially with a demitasse of strong black coffee. Yum!!
Biofuel targets receive strong support
The Advertiser: Biofuel targets receive strong support :
"'Following a very positive meeting with oil majors in September, today's release of the (plan) demonstrates a significant step forward and a strong vote of confidence in the industry,' he said in a statement."
The IR laws might be up the creek but the biofuel initiatives are really taking shape and it is being driven by government incentives. They have mapped out the production schedules and achievable targets. The action plan will encourage further developments in a sustainable biofuel industry. We have started to think green in a lot bigger way lately and even the new small cars are getting some good airplay and critiques. Not sure about the street basketballers for a certain small car. So not us, but other TV avenues have given some really good insights into the performance and safety advantages of the small cars. They are being picked up. There are plenty of new shiny ones in the Christmas car parks!!
"'Following a very positive meeting with oil majors in September, today's release of the (plan) demonstrates a significant step forward and a strong vote of confidence in the industry,' he said in a statement."
The IR laws might be up the creek but the biofuel initiatives are really taking shape and it is being driven by government incentives. They have mapped out the production schedules and achievable targets. The action plan will encourage further developments in a sustainable biofuel industry. We have started to think green in a lot bigger way lately and even the new small cars are getting some good airplay and critiques. Not sure about the street basketballers for a certain small car. So not us, but other TV avenues have given some really good insights into the performance and safety advantages of the small cars. They are being picked up. There are plenty of new shiny ones in the Christmas car parks!!
State govts should save IR High Court challenge funds.
State govts should save IR High Court challenge funds. :
"Federal Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews has dismissed the New South Wales Government's High Court challenge to the industrial relations changes."
The federal government is doing a lot of dismissing of a lot of intelligent Australians. States wouldn't take this up if they thought it were a waste of time and money. States are not that stupid . The government keeps telling us what is good for us but doesn't seem to think our own laws and constitution which we have developed are worth anything. Pretty sad state of affairs when the government cannot value our laws and constitution. If we have separate industrial relations from the federal government , there may well be a good reason for that. It's called collective bargaining.
"Federal Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews has dismissed the New South Wales Government's High Court challenge to the industrial relations changes."
The federal government is doing a lot of dismissing of a lot of intelligent Australians. States wouldn't take this up if they thought it were a waste of time and money. States are not that stupid . The government keeps telling us what is good for us but doesn't seem to think our own laws and constitution which we have developed are worth anything. Pretty sad state of affairs when the government cannot value our laws and constitution. If we have separate industrial relations from the federal government , there may well be a good reason for that. It's called collective bargaining.
Refloated whales remain close to shallow NZ beach.
Refloated whales remain close to shallow NZ beach. :
"The pod of more than 100 pilot whales refloated after being stranded on a New Zealand beach earlier this week have been seen heading back into shallow waters on Thursday."
These whales seem pretty determined to get out of the ocean and have come back intot he shallows again. They have lost 20 whales so far. All credit to the New Zealanders for staying alert and prepared to help these poor whales who have given up liking their ocean. They are ready to launch them back to sea again if they get stranded again. What a fantastic effort.
"The pod of more than 100 pilot whales refloated after being stranded on a New Zealand beach earlier this week have been seen heading back into shallow waters on Thursday."
These whales seem pretty determined to get out of the ocean and have come back intot he shallows again. They have lost 20 whales so far. All credit to the New Zealanders for staying alert and prepared to help these poor whales who have given up liking their ocean. They are ready to launch them back to sea again if they get stranded again. What a fantastic effort.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Golden Bay notorious for strandings
Golden Bay notorious for strandings :
"In the past 20 years there have been 10 strandings at Golden Bay, with nearly 900 taking place in the 1990s. In 1990, 100 were stranded followed by 300 the following year."
Dr. Rochelle, an Auckland university biologist says whale strandings are very common at Golden Bay because the whales misjudge the depth of the water, the sonar is useless in shallow water and then the bay itself is not easy to navigate. It's bizarre. We are talking about mammals who know the ocean, whose habitat is the ocean. For so many whales to be that poor in navigating their own waters it would lead me to believe whales have no idea how to survive. Surely not? Apparently they become very attached to sick females in particular and will not allow them to be left alone. Again, this tells me whales have no instinct for survival. How on earth did they survive and breed so well without us?
"In the past 20 years there have been 10 strandings at Golden Bay, with nearly 900 taking place in the 1990s. In 1990, 100 were stranded followed by 300 the following year."
Dr. Rochelle, an Auckland university biologist says whale strandings are very common at Golden Bay because the whales misjudge the depth of the water, the sonar is useless in shallow water and then the bay itself is not easy to navigate. It's bizarre. We are talking about mammals who know the ocean, whose habitat is the ocean. For so many whales to be that poor in navigating their own waters it would lead me to believe whales have no idea how to survive. Surely not? Apparently they become very attached to sick females in particular and will not allow them to be left alone. Again, this tells me whales have no instinct for survival. How on earth did they survive and breed so well without us?
Whales head back to sea
Whales head back to sea :
"Just hours after more than 100 whales were refloated in Golden Bay, about 50 returned to shore, but a further rescue effort means they are on their way out to open water once more."
They lost about 10 whales over night which is not a bad effort for the dedciated rescuers. 50 rebeached themselves further up the coast after they'ed got them back to sea from Puponga Beach. Now they appear to have the 50 back in the ocean. Farewell Spit had a beaching of 300 whales about 15 years ago which they managed to get back out to sea. The humans saving the whales have done an excellent job, but you have to wonder why whales don't want to be in their own ocean.
"Just hours after more than 100 whales were refloated in Golden Bay, about 50 returned to shore, but a further rescue effort means they are on their way out to open water once more."
They lost about 10 whales over night which is not a bad effort for the dedciated rescuers. 50 rebeached themselves further up the coast after they'ed got them back to sea from Puponga Beach. Now they appear to have the 50 back in the ocean. Farewell Spit had a beaching of 300 whales about 15 years ago which they managed to get back out to sea. The humans saving the whales have done an excellent job, but you have to wonder why whales don't want to be in their own ocean.
120 whales stranded on NZ beach
The Australian: 120 whales stranded on NZ beach:
"The whales became stranded on Puponga Beach near Farewell Spit in the north of the South Island early this afternoon as the tide went out, said John Mason, the local manager of the Department of Conservation."
The New Zealanders are working hard to preserve the lives of the whales. Seems a bit odd the whales didn't go back out to see with the tide. With that many whales the people trying to help them are in danger of being squashed or hurt and so they haven't been able to stay on the beach overnight to help keep them wet. They used buckets of water and wet sheets to try and keep the whales alive. I hope it works. I hate it when we have strandings.
"The whales became stranded on Puponga Beach near Farewell Spit in the north of the South Island early this afternoon as the tide went out, said John Mason, the local manager of the Department of Conservation."
The New Zealanders are working hard to preserve the lives of the whales. Seems a bit odd the whales didn't go back out to see with the tide. With that many whales the people trying to help them are in danger of being squashed or hurt and so they haven't been able to stay on the beach overnight to help keep them wet. They used buckets of water and wet sheets to try and keep the whales alive. I hope it works. I hate it when we have strandings.
Giant squid
The Australian: An ice way to eyeball a truly monstrous squid :
"But children who come to view Archi, whose tentacles are doubled back and forth above him in a custom-made box in Melbourne Aquarium, will be safe. The 7m monster is trapped in the biggest block of ice ever made in Australia."
Giant squid have been believed to attack boats and sperm whales. There is quite a mystique about them. The Japanese have been the first to film a live one in September this year. The one in the Melbourne aquarium was caught by New Zealanders and it has taken 3 weeks for the freezing process to take place so that it can be displayed. Wires and nylon weights are assisting the display of its tentacles. I am certain this will have the Wow factor !
"But children who come to view Archi, whose tentacles are doubled back and forth above him in a custom-made box in Melbourne Aquarium, will be safe. The 7m monster is trapped in the biggest block of ice ever made in Australia."
Giant squid have been believed to attack boats and sperm whales. There is quite a mystique about them. The Japanese have been the first to film a live one in September this year. The one in the Melbourne aquarium was caught by New Zealanders and it has taken 3 weeks for the freezing process to take place so that it can be displayed. Wires and nylon weights are assisting the display of its tentacles. I am certain this will have the Wow factor !
Vegie growers to feel brunt of fertiliser sales laws.
Vegie growers to feel brunt of fertiliser sales laws. :
"'We find that farmers are being singled out as being the guilty ones when there's a lot of other products in the Australian economy that can be used to make explosives but I suppose that's too hard for the Government to do anything about.'"
Farmers have been the back bone of our nation. We all know how much they do for us, how they suffer in hard times and how we take them too much for granted. I should have thought that the be alert and not alarmed approach would have allowed for some sensible and practical approaches to chemicals we no longer wish to have freely available. A complete crackdown with no negotiations is punishing those people who have been sensible users of chemicals we have endorsed for particular purposes. The discussions as to whether we need so many chemicals in our environment is for another arena. It would make sense , if we are going about this in a level headed fashion, to provide alternatives, to be working with farmers and others and to allow open discussion of the matters so that the viable alternatives can be found. Punishing the innocent and making them suffer unreasonable burdens doesn't make sense to me at all. I thought it was a rally against those who would harm us, not an attack on those who work for us.
"'We find that farmers are being singled out as being the guilty ones when there's a lot of other products in the Australian economy that can be used to make explosives but I suppose that's too hard for the Government to do anything about.'"
Farmers have been the back bone of our nation. We all know how much they do for us, how they suffer in hard times and how we take them too much for granted. I should have thought that the be alert and not alarmed approach would have allowed for some sensible and practical approaches to chemicals we no longer wish to have freely available. A complete crackdown with no negotiations is punishing those people who have been sensible users of chemicals we have endorsed for particular purposes. The discussions as to whether we need so many chemicals in our environment is for another arena. It would make sense , if we are going about this in a level headed fashion, to provide alternatives, to be working with farmers and others and to allow open discussion of the matters so that the viable alternatives can be found. Punishing the innocent and making them suffer unreasonable burdens doesn't make sense to me at all. I thought it was a rally against those who would harm us, not an attack on those who work for us.
High Court challenge to IR laws.
NSW launches High Court challenge to IR laws. :
"'The first one is that the original constitutional powers on industrial relations were jointly held between the Commonwealth and the state for very good reasons, and we believe that that should remain the case,' he said.
'Secondly, we believe the corporations power is not meant to allow the exploitation of individuals. It's there to protect individuals from corporations.'"
Were it sensible reform, so many sensible people would not be challenging it and I am glad we are taking up the High Court challenges. Many, many well credentialled and sensible people have rung the arlarm bells on this. Business practice is not necessarily good economic sense. The business model might suit businesses, and a global economy might be more desirous of good business models, but a society is not just business. Businesses are about profit for owners and shareholders. The economy has to be about the members of the society. We have had good industrial practices. We had happy , safe, reasonable work places. Work makes up much of your life but it is not life, it is work. Subjugating people to work place legislation which will impact on their lives in a deliterous fashion is never something we have endorsed. The impact will come over time and then it would be a long, hard haul to recover the ground we have. Our work environments have been noted to be viable, stable places but this has upset everyone and everything . We have negotiated so many things through our work place relations forums. We were all part of the process and it included us. We have been disenfranchised and that's a retrograde step since we had moved so well along the work place continuum. Our constitution is exactly that...about our constitution as a nation. At federation we allowed states to have their own powers as well, probably to avoid absolute government.
"'The first one is that the original constitutional powers on industrial relations were jointly held between the Commonwealth and the state for very good reasons, and we believe that that should remain the case,' he said.
'Secondly, we believe the corporations power is not meant to allow the exploitation of individuals. It's there to protect individuals from corporations.'"
Were it sensible reform, so many sensible people would not be challenging it and I am glad we are taking up the High Court challenges. Many, many well credentialled and sensible people have rung the arlarm bells on this. Business practice is not necessarily good economic sense. The business model might suit businesses, and a global economy might be more desirous of good business models, but a society is not just business. Businesses are about profit for owners and shareholders. The economy has to be about the members of the society. We have had good industrial practices. We had happy , safe, reasonable work places. Work makes up much of your life but it is not life, it is work. Subjugating people to work place legislation which will impact on their lives in a deliterous fashion is never something we have endorsed. The impact will come over time and then it would be a long, hard haul to recover the ground we have. Our work environments have been noted to be viable, stable places but this has upset everyone and everything . We have negotiated so many things through our work place relations forums. We were all part of the process and it included us. We have been disenfranchised and that's a retrograde step since we had moved so well along the work place continuum. Our constitution is exactly that...about our constitution as a nation. At federation we allowed states to have their own powers as well, probably to avoid absolute government.
Christmas under control
Well, so far it's under control. The cooking and baking have made my home smell delicious and anyone coming to visit has walked in the door and gone, "Mmm, what are you cooking?" so I have had plenty of quality control volunteers and so far plenty of compliments too. For some reason it's all falling into place with the cooking this year. The shopping, which can often be a struggle, has been lightened and cheered by the friendly, genuine service I have received around the place. Every shop has looked nice and the assistants have gone out of their way to look Christmassy, but it's their attitude. They have just been so relaxed, friendly and genuinely helpful. I've come out of the shops feeling great. The garden has had its last minute touch ups and I still have a few presents to wrap. People seem to genuinely care this Christmas and we've put the people back into it. Even at the post office the young guy was chatting away and making all my overseas posting so easy. Normally I hate sending all that stuff at Christmas. It's a real chore, but the friendly chat as you go along takes all the pain out of it. Merry Christmas , Adelaide!!
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Australus
New name cooked up for kangaroo steaks:
"SYDNEY (AFP) - Australians could soon be chucking a piece of 'australus' on the barbecue if the new name for a slice of kangaroo makes it more appealing to diners sensitive about eating the national symbol."
We call it Roo meat and many of us feed it to our dogs. Kangaroo meat tastes loely and is a healthier option than steak. I can't imagine ordering or buying 'australus'. It's true, lots of us think of the kangaroo as our emblem and so tend not to eat it, but we also don't think of it as human food. For people with heart and cholesterol problems it's a viable alternative to other meat. I like it, but I don't think to buy it. I buy steak. Old habits die hard. I am happy to eat it or order it when I am out. Part of the problem is children here regard kangaroos very kindly and so to serve them at dinner wouldn't be a good idea. Nor is serving up an option when they are in our wild life parks. Maybe they need to be looked upon as game.
"SYDNEY (AFP) - Australians could soon be chucking a piece of 'australus' on the barbecue if the new name for a slice of kangaroo makes it more appealing to diners sensitive about eating the national symbol."
We call it Roo meat and many of us feed it to our dogs. Kangaroo meat tastes loely and is a healthier option than steak. I can't imagine ordering or buying 'australus'. It's true, lots of us think of the kangaroo as our emblem and so tend not to eat it, but we also don't think of it as human food. For people with heart and cholesterol problems it's a viable alternative to other meat. I like it, but I don't think to buy it. I buy steak. Old habits die hard. I am happy to eat it or order it when I am out. Part of the problem is children here regard kangaroos very kindly and so to serve them at dinner wouldn't be a good idea. Nor is serving up an option when they are in our wild life parks. Maybe they need to be looked upon as game.
SA's egg producers at breaking point
The Advertiser: SA's egg producers at breaking point:
"INTERSTATE egg producers have started offering eggs for free in South Australia, pushing local producers to breaking point."
All part of the business plan, the marketing strategy and getting the edge.
"John O'Hara, chief executive of Sunny Queen - a Queensland-based company with farms in Queensland, NSW and Victoria - said that was "certainly not our goal". "We formulated a strategic plan three years ago to become a national player in the egg market," he said."
Giving eggs away is not a very sound way to establish business confidence and capabilty. Grow locally and supply locally. Our food should be fresh unless we cannot produce it ourselves. This free egg strategy will only egg people on and create division. Muscling in is how I see it. Slapping the chook shed. Don't like it. I prefer a fair approach but when it comes to food, I want fresh because you can taste the difference. Overseas visitors don't remark on the quality and taste of SA food because we use old produce.
"INTERSTATE egg producers have started offering eggs for free in South Australia, pushing local producers to breaking point."
All part of the business plan, the marketing strategy and getting the edge.
"John O'Hara, chief executive of Sunny Queen - a Queensland-based company with farms in Queensland, NSW and Victoria - said that was "certainly not our goal". "We formulated a strategic plan three years ago to become a national player in the egg market," he said."
Giving eggs away is not a very sound way to establish business confidence and capabilty. Grow locally and supply locally. Our food should be fresh unless we cannot produce it ourselves. This free egg strategy will only egg people on and create division. Muscling in is how I see it. Slapping the chook shed. Don't like it. I prefer a fair approach but when it comes to food, I want fresh because you can taste the difference. Overseas visitors don't remark on the quality and taste of SA food because we use old produce.
Patient takes heart in new stem cells trial.
Patient takes heart in new stem cells trial. :
"The research, being conducted at Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital, involves isolating a rare stem cell from within the patient's own bone marrow and injecting it back into the heart muscle to prompt new blood vessel growth."
My father dies of a heart attack when I was young. It was a big loss and I see and hear of people who have lost their parents at an early age both for them and their parents. We seem to have the bypass surgery down to a fine art now. If we can master the stem cell treatment then more parents will stay alive and more people will stay alive to see their grand children. My father didn't ever see his grand children. It's a big piece of the puzzle missing as they grow up. People need to know whom they belong to. I hope this stem cell surgery helps, especially for this man who has been troubled with heart problems for 20 years.
"The research, being conducted at Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital, involves isolating a rare stem cell from within the patient's own bone marrow and injecting it back into the heart muscle to prompt new blood vessel growth."
My father dies of a heart attack when I was young. It was a big loss and I see and hear of people who have lost their parents at an early age both for them and their parents. We seem to have the bypass surgery down to a fine art now. If we can master the stem cell treatment then more parents will stay alive and more people will stay alive to see their grand children. My father didn't ever see his grand children. It's a big piece of the puzzle missing as they grow up. People need to know whom they belong to. I hope this stem cell surgery helps, especially for this man who has been troubled with heart problems for 20 years.
Joggerholic
You’d have to be a masochist to be a jogger. What kind of a nut would pound delicate tootsies over kilometres of tarmac and dust at some ungodly hour all in the name of good health and vitality? Who’d have rivulets of sweat pouring over shapely shoulders, down a cute, upturned nose onto a soggy tank top to be soaked up by nifty silk shorts? What’s so vital about B.O.? While the rest of the world is dreaming sweetly, you’re out there kidding yourself it’s great to be alive in pouring rain, sub zero temperatures, soaring humidity or just plain mud and slush.
It’s nothing for my friend Sally to turn up on my doorstep, dripping sweat, panting heavily but with a cheerful Hello. She’s only jogged a mere 10 km to my place yet she has a natty little car with everything that buzzes, whirrs, clicks and clunks. “It’s such a nice day ,” she beams. I nearly died when she said she had got up yesterday to run to Victor Harbour from Adelaide. “It only took me 7 hours!” She grinned triumphantly. It’s 40Km. It’s a lovely Sunday drive, but a jog?
When everyone else is going on luxury tours, pampering themselves in top class hotels and simply revelling in creature comforts, Sally is out on a track or trail somewhere. Her idea of a “beaut holiday” is tramping trails in NZ or sprinting around the Himalayas. She comes back and tells you in enthusiastic detail how she ran for kilometres through thick mud, sloshed her way down river beds which were supposed to be dry or tippy toed across single wire bridges strung precariously over gorges. Then she’ll laugh about the time she was clambering around the edge of a mountain (part of the official trail, mind you) through tussocky grass, getting her foot stuck in holes and slipping off rocks. She positively beams and then becomes sad because the bad weather had stopped her going over the glaciers.
As you dive into your carpetbag, she’ll sit there heartily munching on a cheese sandwich – whole meal bread of course, and she’ll wash it all down with a carton of skimmed milk as you savour the bouquet of a rather nice red. And dessert? Chinese dates. She lives on them. Her idea of lashing out is digging into NZ ice cream and fresh boysenberries.
Now, you can’t tell me she is not a masochist. She tells me she gets a high while she’s running. Just think of the pain she has to go through to get there. While I’m enjoying a hearty BBQ, Sally picks at a few bits of chicken, loosens up while I’m gorging dessert and then takes off for a run as I bask in the warm outdoors. She tells me she’ll soon be off on a jogging holiday around Nepal. That’s self-inflicted punishment if ever I’ve heard of it.
It’s nothing for my friend Sally to turn up on my doorstep, dripping sweat, panting heavily but with a cheerful Hello. She’s only jogged a mere 10 km to my place yet she has a natty little car with everything that buzzes, whirrs, clicks and clunks. “It’s such a nice day ,” she beams. I nearly died when she said she had got up yesterday to run to Victor Harbour from Adelaide. “It only took me 7 hours!” She grinned triumphantly. It’s 40Km. It’s a lovely Sunday drive, but a jog?
When everyone else is going on luxury tours, pampering themselves in top class hotels and simply revelling in creature comforts, Sally is out on a track or trail somewhere. Her idea of a “beaut holiday” is tramping trails in NZ or sprinting around the Himalayas. She comes back and tells you in enthusiastic detail how she ran for kilometres through thick mud, sloshed her way down river beds which were supposed to be dry or tippy toed across single wire bridges strung precariously over gorges. Then she’ll laugh about the time she was clambering around the edge of a mountain (part of the official trail, mind you) through tussocky grass, getting her foot stuck in holes and slipping off rocks. She positively beams and then becomes sad because the bad weather had stopped her going over the glaciers.
As you dive into your carpetbag, she’ll sit there heartily munching on a cheese sandwich – whole meal bread of course, and she’ll wash it all down with a carton of skimmed milk as you savour the bouquet of a rather nice red. And dessert? Chinese dates. She lives on them. Her idea of lashing out is digging into NZ ice cream and fresh boysenberries.
Now, you can’t tell me she is not a masochist. She tells me she gets a high while she’s running. Just think of the pain she has to go through to get there. While I’m enjoying a hearty BBQ, Sally picks at a few bits of chicken, loosens up while I’m gorging dessert and then takes off for a run as I bask in the warm outdoors. She tells me she’ll soon be off on a jogging holiday around Nepal. That’s self-inflicted punishment if ever I’ve heard of it.
Monday, December 19, 2005
More Aussies facing poverty
More Aussies facing poverty: charities :
"'We at Vinnies have experienced an increased demand not only for presents and food for the Christmas season but even with the day-to-day expenses such as prescriptions, doctors' visits, school excursions and electricity bills,' Dr Falzon said."
The charity organisations and churches would know because they work with the poorer and disenfranchised people all the time. I do know we have been trying to rally our support and if asked, it happens. But the changes to our daily living have created the haves and the have nots. There is only so much money to go around. If there is more at the top, there is less at the bottom. I suppose it's fair enough to give rich people more money. I am sure they wouldn't fritter it away on silly things like bread, cheese and milk. I am sure they'd buy shares and the odd diamond or two and another new car. Some people have too much. Others cannot even have a place to sleep. I was reading a French article on Liberation and they now have figures that people on the street die around the age of fifty and older than that is considered "old". In France they have pretty organised assistance with people in vans going around trying to find the homeless and making sure they have things to keep warm, to eat or to keep cool. We have here, too, but you don't see it on the news. Some people want to live on the street and for some they have to go down that road before they can come intot he community . Most are not there by choice. Some have terrible health problems and that is how we are "dealing" with it. At Christmas, it'd be nice to know that everyone could manage to feel comfortable at Christmas time. We are not a large, impersonal nation. Some run it as though we are, but recent events show clearly we are all linked one way or another when we want to be.
"'We at Vinnies have experienced an increased demand not only for presents and food for the Christmas season but even with the day-to-day expenses such as prescriptions, doctors' visits, school excursions and electricity bills,' Dr Falzon said."
The charity organisations and churches would know because they work with the poorer and disenfranchised people all the time. I do know we have been trying to rally our support and if asked, it happens. But the changes to our daily living have created the haves and the have nots. There is only so much money to go around. If there is more at the top, there is less at the bottom. I suppose it's fair enough to give rich people more money. I am sure they wouldn't fritter it away on silly things like bread, cheese and milk. I am sure they'd buy shares and the odd diamond or two and another new car. Some people have too much. Others cannot even have a place to sleep. I was reading a French article on Liberation and they now have figures that people on the street die around the age of fifty and older than that is considered "old". In France they have pretty organised assistance with people in vans going around trying to find the homeless and making sure they have things to keep warm, to eat or to keep cool. We have here, too, but you don't see it on the news. Some people want to live on the street and for some they have to go down that road before they can come intot he community . Most are not there by choice. Some have terrible health problems and that is how we are "dealing" with it. At Christmas, it'd be nice to know that everyone could manage to feel comfortable at Christmas time. We are not a large, impersonal nation. Some run it as though we are, but recent events show clearly we are all linked one way or another when we want to be.
Digital disadvantaging
Backpage Article Display:
"They fear Brandon Routh's profile in the superhero's skintight costume could be distracting, reports the Sun."
Love the double standards, guys. Okay to show well endowed females for men to drool over, but no chance for women to enjoy a true superhero. How sexist can you get? How could you digitally deny him when you enhance female anatomy. So not fair! We might want to be distracted and I think we should do some preliminary reconnaissance work to see if we dispprove or not. I simply cannot understand the puritanical attitude in this day and age...what is sauce for the goose...
"They fear Brandon Routh's profile in the superhero's skintight costume could be distracting, reports the Sun."
Love the double standards, guys. Okay to show well endowed females for men to drool over, but no chance for women to enjoy a true superhero. How sexist can you get? How could you digitally deny him when you enhance female anatomy. So not fair! We might want to be distracted and I think we should do some preliminary reconnaissance work to see if we dispprove or not. I simply cannot understand the puritanical attitude in this day and age...what is sauce for the goose...
Ginormous Thai lime
Boing Boing: Ginormous lime of Thailand:
"Four of these limes give 500cc juice that tastes exactly like lime juice from a normal sized lime."
Boing Boing has a link to the Thai article about this supersize lime. Yesterday eggs, today limes. They have a diameter of nearly 15cm. Unbelievable and 500cc of juice from one lime is fantastic value! Apparently it's probably because of a mutation. The massive limes weigh in at 1.5kg so you could use them for body conditioning too!
"Four of these limes give 500cc juice that tastes exactly like lime juice from a normal sized lime."
Boing Boing has a link to the Thai article about this supersize lime. Yesterday eggs, today limes. They have a diameter of nearly 15cm. Unbelievable and 500cc of juice from one lime is fantastic value! Apparently it's probably because of a mutation. The massive limes weigh in at 1.5kg so you could use them for body conditioning too!
Listeria company 'playing media games'
The Australian: Listeria company 'playing media games' :
"South Australian Health Minister John Hill today accused Conroy's Smallgoods of 'playing a media game' but warned it would not convince the state Health Department to approve the resumption of smallgoods production."
Bit harsh. A lot harsh for this time of the year and given the circumstances. Nippys and Garibaldis found themselves in the same situation. Food gets contaminated. People worry. When they are household names and names they have relied upon , then those companies are talking to us as they would to family. We support and buy their goods and have done so for years. They need to explain to us and we need to be included in the loop. They have to talk to the media everyday and these days people use media consultants. This is rather unfair. Conroys is a big company we are very familiar with. We need to know what is going on. They are going through a process to clean up the factory. If the stuff cannot be destroyed...they have removed the equipment. Truth is, listeria is probably in many of the small goods we eat. It is hugely persistent and in our current humid conditions it would be even more persistent. We have prime conditions for mould, bacteria, germs...so the message is clear...we all need to be vigilant with our food hygiene. Nobody wants Conroys in business again before it passes health tests, but as one of our companies, like the other two, hearing about what is happening engenders confidence. What did people do in the olden days? We must have eaten bad food and salting, drying , smoking and sulphuring were ways of preserving. Organic food is organic. We can only be as perfect as we can be...and we can be human, which does not mean irresponsible. It means talking to people.
"South Australian Health Minister John Hill today accused Conroy's Smallgoods of 'playing a media game' but warned it would not convince the state Health Department to approve the resumption of smallgoods production."
Bit harsh. A lot harsh for this time of the year and given the circumstances. Nippys and Garibaldis found themselves in the same situation. Food gets contaminated. People worry. When they are household names and names they have relied upon , then those companies are talking to us as they would to family. We support and buy their goods and have done so for years. They need to explain to us and we need to be included in the loop. They have to talk to the media everyday and these days people use media consultants. This is rather unfair. Conroys is a big company we are very familiar with. We need to know what is going on. They are going through a process to clean up the factory. If the stuff cannot be destroyed...they have removed the equipment. Truth is, listeria is probably in many of the small goods we eat. It is hugely persistent and in our current humid conditions it would be even more persistent. We have prime conditions for mould, bacteria, germs...so the message is clear...we all need to be vigilant with our food hygiene. Nobody wants Conroys in business again before it passes health tests, but as one of our companies, like the other two, hearing about what is happening engenders confidence. What did people do in the olden days? We must have eaten bad food and salting, drying , smoking and sulphuring were ways of preserving. Organic food is organic. We can only be as perfect as we can be...and we can be human, which does not mean irresponsible. It means talking to people.
Celebrity carols postponed over riots
The Advertiser: Celebrity carols postponed over riots:
"'It is important that the recent violent incidents do not affect our lives and our sense of community,' said Randwick Mayor Ted Seng."
For a while there we were thinking the various carols evenings were going to be cancelled because of the threat of violence. I am glad to see our traditions will be upheld and the aberrant behaviour of a few will not determine the happiness and welfare of the majority of Austrlians. The open air carols concerts have been a fundamental part of our Christmas tradition for years. Granted, the police and councils have to consider the safety of the crowds which attend the concerts and granted there is no point in staging something which would breed ill will rather than the goodwill to all. I am glad the goodwill has prevailed and it's probably more appropriate for the carols to be close to Christmas. That way they are a part of Chritmas and not just something slotted in at a convenient time. Christmas is Christmas. People are more than upset that a few nasties would influence the significant occasions which breed a sense of community.
"'It is important that the recent violent incidents do not affect our lives and our sense of community,' said Randwick Mayor Ted Seng."
For a while there we were thinking the various carols evenings were going to be cancelled because of the threat of violence. I am glad to see our traditions will be upheld and the aberrant behaviour of a few will not determine the happiness and welfare of the majority of Austrlians. The open air carols concerts have been a fundamental part of our Christmas tradition for years. Granted, the police and councils have to consider the safety of the crowds which attend the concerts and granted there is no point in staging something which would breed ill will rather than the goodwill to all. I am glad the goodwill has prevailed and it's probably more appropriate for the carols to be close to Christmas. That way they are a part of Chritmas and not just something slotted in at a convenient time. Christmas is Christmas. People are more than upset that a few nasties would influence the significant occasions which breed a sense of community.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Preparing for Christmas
Well, the Christmas preparations are coming along. There is a trend for people to have their Christmas celebrations before or after Christmas but not actually on Christmas Day. They are keeping Christmas Day to themselves whether it's one or two of them or their nuclear family. We are still having the general family thing on Christmas Day and we are all quite looking forward to it. It's usually very animated when we get together and there are not that many of us. I did the non perishable shopping today and have the stuff ready to go for the pate tomorrow. I have written the cards I have to post and have organised the rellie and overseas stuff. I just couldn't get it ready any earlier. I am pleased with myself for getting it done today. Then I have been over to my sister's to have our last pow pow about the set up for the 3 day Christmas celebration where the food goes backwards and forwards in the cars until it's eaten! We allow for extra because there is nothing worse than getting to the end of Christmas and finding all the yumicious stuff has gone!
Gippsland chook produces 'egg-streme' lay.
Gippsland chook produces 'egg-streme' lay. :
"A Gippsland chook has produced a 135-gram egg which is more than twice normal size.
Farmer Janet Lamont told Cameron Wilson the chicken coped with the experience."
I wish you could hear Janet Lamont talk. She was so matter of fact about it all, so country Australian and so down to earth. That is a pretty big egg. I wonder if it only had one yolk? Maybe the chicken will be a superchook and lay more giant eggs! I heard this on the radio when I was driving around. I love stories of natural supersizing. Don't know why, but giant pumpkins and huge marrows and massive chocolate cakes have always intrigued me.
"A Gippsland chook has produced a 135-gram egg which is more than twice normal size.
Farmer Janet Lamont told Cameron Wilson the chicken coped with the experience."
I wish you could hear Janet Lamont talk. She was so matter of fact about it all, so country Australian and so down to earth. That is a pretty big egg. I wonder if it only had one yolk? Maybe the chicken will be a superchook and lay more giant eggs! I heard this on the radio when I was driving around. I love stories of natural supersizing. Don't know why, but giant pumpkins and huge marrows and massive chocolate cakes have always intrigued me.
Vitamin D - the sunshine vitamin!
Vitamin D - the sunshine vitamin! :
"The study found that more than three quarters of older Australian people are vitamin D deficient. As we age the skin's ability to produce vitamin D decreases and we require more exposure to sunlight. Nursing home patients may be affected as they often don't get the opportunity to go outside and get direct sunlight. Without adequate levels of vitamin D, calcium can't be absorbed optimally by your body. Calcium deficiency may lead to brittle bones and even osteoporosis (a condition that weakens the bones to the point of fracture) later in life. Being frail, these elderly people are often at risk of falling and suffering a fractured bone."
Yes, we probably ae becoming Vitamin D deficient because we have all listened to the programmes and information about the damaging effects of the sun . Couple that with the hours we work, and yes, we are avoiding one of the major sources of vitamin D. This artcile is very soen to earth and gives some very practical help so we can realign ourselves. I make sure I garden. It helps my garden, I get exercise and I know I am outside for a while. I never stay out for too long and I always put on the sunscreen. I think we are getting confused. This artcilcle sets us straight.
"The study found that more than three quarters of older Australian people are vitamin D deficient. As we age the skin's ability to produce vitamin D decreases and we require more exposure to sunlight. Nursing home patients may be affected as they often don't get the opportunity to go outside and get direct sunlight. Without adequate levels of vitamin D, calcium can't be absorbed optimally by your body. Calcium deficiency may lead to brittle bones and even osteoporosis (a condition that weakens the bones to the point of fracture) later in life. Being frail, these elderly people are often at risk of falling and suffering a fractured bone."
Yes, we probably ae becoming Vitamin D deficient because we have all listened to the programmes and information about the damaging effects of the sun . Couple that with the hours we work, and yes, we are avoiding one of the major sources of vitamin D. This artcile is very soen to earth and gives some very practical help so we can realign ourselves. I make sure I garden. It helps my garden, I get exercise and I know I am outside for a while. I never stay out for too long and I always put on the sunscreen. I think we are getting confused. This artcilcle sets us straight.
English people are whingers
The Australian: Poms rapt with gift for whingeing :
"One of the more popular English stocking-fillers this Yuletide is a charming little book called Is It Just Me, Or Is Everything Shit?. It's a publishing phenomenon - sales are soaring and copies are flying off the shelves."
While we are talking about racism, may I say that the use of the word Pom is very offensive, pointless, adversarial and I have had a gutful of it. There is no need to be patronising. Sticking with worn racial profiling won't work. Whoever wrote this, didn't get it. I laughed out loud when I read that book title because quite frankly, I have wondered if it's me or if life is just shit. It's catharsis. Reaction. Breaking out. Loosening the elastic and getting into comfy pants as Bloglines put it. Australian people sledge. They rip into people. They go straight for the jugular. English people have a good moan and a cup of tea and then roar with laughter so there is nothing nihilistic about it , as the article suggests. Grumpy Old Men and Grumpy Old Women have touched a chord here as well and so many of the things which were said have given others the courage to change Christmas this year and make it more about them and sharing rather than rigid routine. I broke free when my Mum died and we revamped Christmas to take the burden out of it. It's a very positive time of year and a time to regenerate. It's not about money at all. So if the grumpy books are coming out , you will find a lot of people with tears rolling down their cheeks from laughing and let's face it, we need a good laugh. We do think about the starving people in Africa. I decided to sponsor one this year.
"One of the more popular English stocking-fillers this Yuletide is a charming little book called Is It Just Me, Or Is Everything Shit?. It's a publishing phenomenon - sales are soaring and copies are flying off the shelves."
While we are talking about racism, may I say that the use of the word Pom is very offensive, pointless, adversarial and I have had a gutful of it. There is no need to be patronising. Sticking with worn racial profiling won't work. Whoever wrote this, didn't get it. I laughed out loud when I read that book title because quite frankly, I have wondered if it's me or if life is just shit. It's catharsis. Reaction. Breaking out. Loosening the elastic and getting into comfy pants as Bloglines put it. Australian people sledge. They rip into people. They go straight for the jugular. English people have a good moan and a cup of tea and then roar with laughter so there is nothing nihilistic about it , as the article suggests. Grumpy Old Men and Grumpy Old Women have touched a chord here as well and so many of the things which were said have given others the courage to change Christmas this year and make it more about them and sharing rather than rigid routine. I broke free when my Mum died and we revamped Christmas to take the burden out of it. It's a very positive time of year and a time to regenerate. It's not about money at all. So if the grumpy books are coming out , you will find a lot of people with tears rolling down their cheeks from laughing and let's face it, we need a good laugh. We do think about the starving people in Africa. I decided to sponsor one this year.
Nation bakes in its hottest year
The Australian: Nation bakes in its hottest year :
"'It was as if summer didn't stop,' said climatologist Michael Coughlan of the Bureau of Meteorology's National Climate Centre in Melbourne. 'It was not until we got into June that things turned around and we got some good rain across central Australia.'"
I am not sure what I think except I seem to spend more time in winter clothes than summer clothes. I spend more time feeling too cold rather than too hot. May was a beautiful month and it needed to be because the last three summers have been pretty cool. It gets hot and heats up and then the temperature plummets and it's cold again. I was so glad to get away to the South Pacific because it was the first time in ages I had actually worn summer clothes all the time like I used to here. Things change. I used to put my winter clothes away. Now, like today, I am wearing them in December again. I think the seasons have shifted and we need to recalibrate the year. Everything is starting later. As for winter ...it's wetter and the rain just drenches. It's getting more like Darwin and less like Adelaide because we used to have dry heat and now the heat is humid. Doesn't bother me except we have fewer warmer days. I like hanging out in shorts and tank tops. I have actually done that this year but they have gone away again for the warm pants and the long sleeved tops. When it is hot, it bites. The sun bites. Didn't used to bite. Used to be hot. In my day, we were so tough, we used to make our own weather with a few paperclips, a bit of Clag and some newspaper. These days we have to wait for men to do it.
"'It was as if summer didn't stop,' said climatologist Michael Coughlan of the Bureau of Meteorology's National Climate Centre in Melbourne. 'It was not until we got into June that things turned around and we got some good rain across central Australia.'"
I am not sure what I think except I seem to spend more time in winter clothes than summer clothes. I spend more time feeling too cold rather than too hot. May was a beautiful month and it needed to be because the last three summers have been pretty cool. It gets hot and heats up and then the temperature plummets and it's cold again. I was so glad to get away to the South Pacific because it was the first time in ages I had actually worn summer clothes all the time like I used to here. Things change. I used to put my winter clothes away. Now, like today, I am wearing them in December again. I think the seasons have shifted and we need to recalibrate the year. Everything is starting later. As for winter ...it's wetter and the rain just drenches. It's getting more like Darwin and less like Adelaide because we used to have dry heat and now the heat is humid. Doesn't bother me except we have fewer warmer days. I like hanging out in shorts and tank tops. I have actually done that this year but they have gone away again for the warm pants and the long sleeved tops. When it is hot, it bites. The sun bites. Didn't used to bite. Used to be hot. In my day, we were so tough, we used to make our own weather with a few paperclips, a bit of Clag and some newspaper. These days we have to wait for men to do it.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Dancers wired up to own beat
Dancers wired up to own beat :
"At Manly Beach groovers were set to make a spectacle of themselves at Australia's first silent disco."
The ultimate in avoiding any community spirit. Don't work on noise issues, don't work on co operation. Plug them in , turn them on and let them party by themselves. How bizarre.
"At Manly Beach groovers were set to make a spectacle of themselves at Australia's first silent disco."
The ultimate in avoiding any community spirit. Don't work on noise issues, don't work on co operation. Plug them in , turn them on and let them party by themselves. How bizarre.
Potted Cheese
I am preparing for Christmas with my to do list and it's a leisurely pace so far. I have made my fruit cake and today I made the short bread. This year I put almond flakes in it just to be a bit different and the official taster and quality control expert certainly approved. The potted cheese and pudding are brewing nicely. Potted cheese is handy. I use it on vegies to liven them up but it's a nice spread on crackers and fresh bread. I have my own recipe but this one is pretty good:
Potted Cheese
Chef: Annie Learmonth
You need:
225g cheese
110g butter, softened
40mls sherry
¼ teaspoon ground mace
½ teaspoon mustard powder
salt and freshly milled black pepper
Cheese can be leftover stilton, cheddar, goats etc.
Method:
Grate the cheese into a mixing bowl, and then add the rest of the ingredients. Now beat it all together like mad until you have a very fluffy smooth paste. Taste and season as required with salt and pepper, then pack the mixture into an earthenware pot. Leave the potted cheese in a cool place until ready to serve. Serve with cheese crackers or oat biscuits. Great for toast or toasted under the grill 'til brown and bubbling.
Potted Cheese
It literally keeps for ages. I use 250 gms of tasty cheddar cheese and get about 5 mustard sized pots. I do not use butter, I use margarine. Butter goes too hard and I find it too rich. I add a very good tablespoon of celery seeds and a good amount of ground black pepper. Yum!
Shane Warne
What a legend! The one thing this man is a master at is cricket. He is a brilliant cricketer and to beat Lillee's stats is pretty impressive! Onya, Shane.
Aussies complete whitewash
Warne breaks Lillee's record
"Shane Warne set a new world record for most Test dismissals in a calendar year with the dismissal of Ashwell Prince on day two of the first Test at the WACA ground in Perth."
But we had best watch out for de Villiers. What a classy cricketer he is turning out to be.
Teens face arson charges over multi-million dollar fires.
Teens face arson charges over multi-million dollar fires. :
"A 15-year-old and two 16-year-olds have each been charged with two counts of arson and four counts of wilful destruction."
A great example of a community being so on the ball they actually caught the kids. Kids. 200 people out of work before Christmas, two buildings absolutely gutted.4 major businesses gone. People working for a living and others trying to shop for Christmas and 3, what are they , year 10s? 3 kids decide to set it all on fire. Why? Why would you go and get petrol at the age of 16 and decide you will set a bin on fire and then gut 2 buildings and put all those lives and businesses at risk? Millions of dollars worth of damage and people's whole lives up in flames and they are the ones who have to repair all of this and insurance companies have to fork out to pay for some stupid act of 2 16 year olds and a 15 year old. Don't they usually go down the beach? Dob a footie? Ride off on their bikes? Have a game of cricket or basketball? Play with their Playstation or X-box? Where do year 10s get the idea they'll set a bin on fire which is outside the shops? The parents must be gutted too. I don't know what time this occurred but I expect the parents thought the kids were just hanging out together and now the parents have to go through all of this and feel responsible for the actions of kids of 15 and 16. Have they been irresponsible parents? Probably not. The kids just get something in their head and just do it. No boundaries, no social conscience, no thought of others....or the consequences for themselves. Most people will laugh and say , under 18, there will be no consequences. I want to see these kids contracted to repair that damage. 3 fit young boys could probably do a fair amount of solid work under supervision. Seriously, sod them. And the timing. Sod them.
"A 15-year-old and two 16-year-olds have each been charged with two counts of arson and four counts of wilful destruction."
A great example of a community being so on the ball they actually caught the kids. Kids. 200 people out of work before Christmas, two buildings absolutely gutted.4 major businesses gone. People working for a living and others trying to shop for Christmas and 3, what are they , year 10s? 3 kids decide to set it all on fire. Why? Why would you go and get petrol at the age of 16 and decide you will set a bin on fire and then gut 2 buildings and put all those lives and businesses at risk? Millions of dollars worth of damage and people's whole lives up in flames and they are the ones who have to repair all of this and insurance companies have to fork out to pay for some stupid act of 2 16 year olds and a 15 year old. Don't they usually go down the beach? Dob a footie? Ride off on their bikes? Have a game of cricket or basketball? Play with their Playstation or X-box? Where do year 10s get the idea they'll set a bin on fire which is outside the shops? The parents must be gutted too. I don't know what time this occurred but I expect the parents thought the kids were just hanging out together and now the parents have to go through all of this and feel responsible for the actions of kids of 15 and 16. Have they been irresponsible parents? Probably not. The kids just get something in their head and just do it. No boundaries, no social conscience, no thought of others....or the consequences for themselves. Most people will laugh and say , under 18, there will be no consequences. I want to see these kids contracted to repair that damage. 3 fit young boys could probably do a fair amount of solid work under supervision. Seriously, sod them. And the timing. Sod them.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Shocked scientists find tsunami legacy: a dead sea
Shocked scientists find tsunami legacy: a dead sea :
"'Normally, when you go to the bottom of the sea anywhere and take a sample or look around, there's always something alive,' Professor O'Dor said. 'But five months after the earthquake, this entire plain, created by the collapse of the cliff, was essentially devoid of life.'"
Neither wild life nor nature is stupid. If there is still no life around the epicentre of the quake there will be a good natural explanation for it. The scientists are probably right that we just simply haven't been able to investigate areas like this before. Now that we can, we can usually come up with effective reasons and explanations. There will be a good reason for sea creatures avoiding the area. There are an astounding 1700 scientists from 73 countries studying this. I am so grateful. I believe we have 108 countries in the world, so a good two thirds of the countries are actively participating in this research which means we have a really good chance of being able to explain this to ourselves and maybe even coming up with some useful plan or set of guidelines for us as planet earth inhabitants. I am heartwarmed and I daresay the non participating countries probably do not have the funds to allow their scientists to participate. They may not even have scientists. Fantastic team effort.
"'Normally, when you go to the bottom of the sea anywhere and take a sample or look around, there's always something alive,' Professor O'Dor said. 'But five months after the earthquake, this entire plain, created by the collapse of the cliff, was essentially devoid of life.'"
Neither wild life nor nature is stupid. If there is still no life around the epicentre of the quake there will be a good natural explanation for it. The scientists are probably right that we just simply haven't been able to investigate areas like this before. Now that we can, we can usually come up with effective reasons and explanations. There will be a good reason for sea creatures avoiding the area. There are an astounding 1700 scientists from 73 countries studying this. I am so grateful. I believe we have 108 countries in the world, so a good two thirds of the countries are actively participating in this research which means we have a really good chance of being able to explain this to ourselves and maybe even coming up with some useful plan or set of guidelines for us as planet earth inhabitants. I am heartwarmed and I daresay the non participating countries probably do not have the funds to allow their scientists to participate. They may not even have scientists. Fantastic team effort.
Bloglines News
Bloglines | News:
"We're not going to beat around the bush about this. Bloglines performance has sucked eggs lately. Why? In short, Bloglines has been busting at the seams like the Incredible Hulk.
All of us here at Bloglines have been foregoing sleep and social lives over the past several months to keep Bloglines running and preparing for our move to a new access center (with bigger britches and a very elastic waistline).
So hang tight because there's a light at the end of the tunnel. The move will happen soon; we'll keep you posted.
- The Bloglines Team"
I love Bloglines. It has served me well for a long time now. It is strictly no nonsense, direct, helpful ...and these guys have a fantastic sense of humour. All the things you need in leadership. The warmth and efficiency are greatly appreciated and their honesty is disarming. I suspect the bigger britches and elastic waitline are something we all gravitate towards at Christmas time!! Merry Christmas, Bloglines and may you continue to prosper.
"We're not going to beat around the bush about this. Bloglines performance has sucked eggs lately. Why? In short, Bloglines has been busting at the seams like the Incredible Hulk.
All of us here at Bloglines have been foregoing sleep and social lives over the past several months to keep Bloglines running and preparing for our move to a new access center (with bigger britches and a very elastic waistline).
So hang tight because there's a light at the end of the tunnel. The move will happen soon; we'll keep you posted.
- The Bloglines Team"
I love Bloglines. It has served me well for a long time now. It is strictly no nonsense, direct, helpful ...and these guys have a fantastic sense of humour. All the things you need in leadership. The warmth and efficiency are greatly appreciated and their honesty is disarming. I suspect the bigger britches and elastic waitline are something we all gravitate towards at Christmas time!! Merry Christmas, Bloglines and may you continue to prosper.
TV show creates real problems for residents.
TV show creates real problems for residents. :
"'They start work setting the site up with all their technical people and their labourers and I think their last show went for over 14 days I think, it might have been 17 days, and when they start shooting it is 24-7.'"
It's a moot point , isn't it, whether rate paying residents have rights over TV and film producers. Location shooting happens a lot and I wonder how many people suffer in silence, how many people are excited by the prospect and how many are left with mess to clean up or profits to count? Are there rules and regulations which govern location shooting? Don't people have to give permission and agree? Surely there is paperwork to be filled out? Are people given notice? Are they consulted or told? What are ratepayer rights? I know some areas are really excited when the film cres come to teon, but some areas would not tolerate an influx of TV and film hype very well simply because of where they are situated. I know the people in Vanuatu were quite proud of Hideaway Island having been filmed there and they were pleased to show off the location. There was some kind of island in joke that I didn't get...they knew something about it I didn't and you kind of got the idea they thought it was a bit of a joke for people to be doing that for entertainment. I daresay they would have watched and nothing would have passed them by. Hugely polite but exceedingly perceptive.
"'They start work setting the site up with all their technical people and their labourers and I think their last show went for over 14 days I think, it might have been 17 days, and when they start shooting it is 24-7.'"
It's a moot point , isn't it, whether rate paying residents have rights over TV and film producers. Location shooting happens a lot and I wonder how many people suffer in silence, how many people are excited by the prospect and how many are left with mess to clean up or profits to count? Are there rules and regulations which govern location shooting? Don't people have to give permission and agree? Surely there is paperwork to be filled out? Are people given notice? Are they consulted or told? What are ratepayer rights? I know some areas are really excited when the film cres come to teon, but some areas would not tolerate an influx of TV and film hype very well simply because of where they are situated. I know the people in Vanuatu were quite proud of Hideaway Island having been filmed there and they were pleased to show off the location. There was some kind of island in joke that I didn't get...they knew something about it I didn't and you kind of got the idea they thought it was a bit of a joke for people to be doing that for entertainment. I daresay they would have watched and nothing would have passed them by. Hugely polite but exceedingly perceptive.
Coles fined over citrus imports.
Coles fined over citrus imports. :
"The court heard that Coles sent 90 kilograms of Queensland mandarins to its Berri supermarket on July 17 this year."
I shop at Coles and have done for years because they have, in my opinion, a good relationship with their customers and have been innovative in customer relations. I am concerned they would cite a communication breakdown as the reason for sending interstate citrus to the Riverland. The Riverland is our citrus growing area and its citrus is top quality. To be in breach of quarantine regulations instated a year ago is very ...I was going to say, slack. Slack is not what I know Coles to be. They are usually very good at responding to local needs even within a small area. Each Coles is slightly different according to its locations and that is something I have appreciated. I cannot believe they would be that inefficient and retrograde. Someone needs some professional development because whoever has ignored the location of the Riverland store and the quarantine regulations has ignored something fundamental to what I see as the Coles MO...they value good relations with their customers based on polite, cheerful, helpful, co operative service. They also provide a good range of quality supermarket food. I guess the fine will remind them they have a name to uphold!
"The court heard that Coles sent 90 kilograms of Queensland mandarins to its Berri supermarket on July 17 this year."
I shop at Coles and have done for years because they have, in my opinion, a good relationship with their customers and have been innovative in customer relations. I am concerned they would cite a communication breakdown as the reason for sending interstate citrus to the Riverland. The Riverland is our citrus growing area and its citrus is top quality. To be in breach of quarantine regulations instated a year ago is very ...I was going to say, slack. Slack is not what I know Coles to be. They are usually very good at responding to local needs even within a small area. Each Coles is slightly different according to its locations and that is something I have appreciated. I cannot believe they would be that inefficient and retrograde. Someone needs some professional development because whoever has ignored the location of the Riverland store and the quarantine regulations has ignored something fundamental to what I see as the Coles MO...they value good relations with their customers based on polite, cheerful, helpful, co operative service. They also provide a good range of quality supermarket food. I guess the fine will remind them they have a name to uphold!
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Christmas on the launchpad
I love the rellies. I am starting to get my packages and parcels in with the Royal Mail stickers and I feel just like Hyacinth Bucket. Love it!! It's the third sign of Christmas for me. The first is the first card and this year it arrived in the middle of November! The second sign is my making the puddings. The third sign are these Royal Mail labels. Already I have a wall of cards I have received and tomorrow I deliver the cards which don't need posting. Monday is my designated day for parcel and card posting. I have made the potted cheese, organised the presents, put up the decorations, so from here on in its onto the pate, shortbread, sausage rolls, marinated cheese and then the Christmas dinner. These days we have a very nice BBQ, thank you very much. We decided we had suffered enough trying to do the traditional roast in the heat. Everyone pitches in with the BBQ and it's really lovely and the turkey is fabulous served that way...so Christmas is well and truly on the launch pad.
'Fish with chips' tracked
'Fish with chips' tracked :
"'Fish with chips' - hi-tech implants that enable either satellite or seabed tracking - were one of the breakthroughs to uncover ocean migration paths, scientists in the 73-nation Census of Marine Life (COML) said."
I love the fish with chips heading. Very funny. I am also glad to hear we are using our technology to trace the patterns of our ocean fish so we can try and work out how to replenish our ocean. Some interesting and unexpected data is turning up though. One tuna swam around the Pacific 3 times in 600 days - 400, 000 kilometres. That is astounding. It's made me think that fish might also give us lessons in fitness , stamina and endurance.That really is unbelievably amazing. How fit would you have to be to do that???
"'Fish with chips' - hi-tech implants that enable either satellite or seabed tracking - were one of the breakthroughs to uncover ocean migration paths, scientists in the 73-nation Census of Marine Life (COML) said."
I love the fish with chips heading. Very funny. I am also glad to hear we are using our technology to trace the patterns of our ocean fish so we can try and work out how to replenish our ocean. Some interesting and unexpected data is turning up though. One tuna swam around the Pacific 3 times in 600 days - 400, 000 kilometres. That is astounding. It's made me think that fish might also give us lessons in fitness , stamina and endurance.That really is unbelievably amazing. How fit would you have to be to do that???
SA police check race hate mail
The Advertiser: SA police check race hate mail :
"An Adelaide city receptionist - disgusted by its contents - forwarded it to The Advertiser.
A copy was provided to Multicultural Affairs Minister Michael Atkinson, whose office referred it to police."
Thinking is what it is about. Acting rather than reacting. Wake up Australia, your country needs you. It really is about being alert and these two have acted. There is no room for disgust and disapproval. It's a game of uproar so you have to apply cold, hard logic and play mind games. Sticks and stones.
"An Adelaide city receptionist - disgusted by its contents - forwarded it to The Advertiser.
A copy was provided to Multicultural Affairs Minister Michael Atkinson, whose office referred it to police."
Thinking is what it is about. Acting rather than reacting. Wake up Australia, your country needs you. It really is about being alert and these two have acted. There is no room for disgust and disapproval. It's a game of uproar so you have to apply cold, hard logic and play mind games. Sticks and stones.
Jobs go as Ratbag's new owner pulls plug
The Advertiser: Jobs go as Ratbag's new owner pulls plug
"Sources close to the company said U.S.-company Midway Game's worldwide studios senior vice president Matthew Booty was in Adelaide to deliver the bad news to about 70 stunned staff on Tuesday night."
Why stunned? The company was sold to overseas interests. They can do as they please with it or cut it out as a competitor. That is their right as the purchaser. They seem to have paid for it in shares. Odd...or am I finacially ignorant and shares are a good thing to be paid in? I like the colour of money.
"Sources close to the company said U.S.-company Midway Game's worldwide studios senior vice president Matthew Booty was in Adelaide to deliver the bad news to about 70 stunned staff on Tuesday night."
Why stunned? The company was sold to overseas interests. They can do as they please with it or cut it out as a competitor. That is their right as the purchaser. They seem to have paid for it in shares. Odd...or am I finacially ignorant and shares are a good thing to be paid in? I like the colour of money.
Drunk patients cost hospitals millions.
Drunk patients cost hospitals millions.
:
"'It's no different for other hospitals anywhere - alcohol is a major drain of resources, a major drain on people's happiness.'"
Tell me about it. I shall never forget the night when my daughter was a baby adn we sat up in the e,ergency section from 11pm until 4.30 am to get help. The doctor had sent me there thinking I would get superior treatment for her. Nothing has changed. The drunks have to take precedence because they are aggressive and need to me moved through the procedures quickly to avoid any further threats or disturbances to others; because they have to have the blood tests the police need to charge them or because they have been injured badly through their drunken behaviour and so require immediate attention. Normal sober folk and babies just don't rate on that scale. I thought at the time and I still think so now, we need a separate unit to treat alcohol and chemically affected people so that non enhanced people can get a better chance of reasonable service. I ended up having to have the day off work because I had had no sleep. It's a crazy world that treats self inflicted wounds or self imposed emergency or unlawfulness first, but you understand how it happens. The drunkeness then goes home or out into the community to wreak further havoc. It really is a costly form of behaviour in terms of community time , energy and well being.
:
"'It's no different for other hospitals anywhere - alcohol is a major drain of resources, a major drain on people's happiness.'"
Tell me about it. I shall never forget the night when my daughter was a baby adn we sat up in the e,ergency section from 11pm until 4.30 am to get help. The doctor had sent me there thinking I would get superior treatment for her. Nothing has changed. The drunks have to take precedence because they are aggressive and need to me moved through the procedures quickly to avoid any further threats or disturbances to others; because they have to have the blood tests the police need to charge them or because they have been injured badly through their drunken behaviour and so require immediate attention. Normal sober folk and babies just don't rate on that scale. I thought at the time and I still think so now, we need a separate unit to treat alcohol and chemically affected people so that non enhanced people can get a better chance of reasonable service. I ended up having to have the day off work because I had had no sleep. It's a crazy world that treats self inflicted wounds or self imposed emergency or unlawfulness first, but you understand how it happens. The drunkeness then goes home or out into the community to wreak further havoc. It really is a costly form of behaviour in terms of community time , energy and well being.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Have an environmental Christmas
Have an environmental Christmas:
"The University of Sydney-calculated data found December sales of typical Christmas goods - confectionary, alcohol, household appliances, clothes and books and magazines - created 2,861,000 tonnes of greenhouse gasses and used 100,000 megalitres of water."
Ew! This is food for thought. I think I may have blown it for this year..but I need to get my environmental act together for next year.
"$30 on chocolate santas and candy canes also cost 940 litres of water, created 16kg of greenhouse gasses and disturbed 26 square metres of land."
Ew...I have been very , very bad and yet I pride myself on doing most of the stuff myself so I don't over use things and I am not creating all this waste. I think I need more guidelines...a checklist...software. Some environmental Christmas Planner which will make me think better. I recycle my cards!!
It is true that we all over consume so that's one of the things we can look at...being happier with less!! If you make things, it takeds loner so you cannot over provide, I have worked that out. I suppose it's about putting some thought into it all. I love Christmas because I can put myself into it. I don't want to wreck the environment , though.
"The University of Sydney-calculated data found December sales of typical Christmas goods - confectionary, alcohol, household appliances, clothes and books and magazines - created 2,861,000 tonnes of greenhouse gasses and used 100,000 megalitres of water."
Ew! This is food for thought. I think I may have blown it for this year..but I need to get my environmental act together for next year.
"$30 on chocolate santas and candy canes also cost 940 litres of water, created 16kg of greenhouse gasses and disturbed 26 square metres of land."
Ew...I have been very , very bad and yet I pride myself on doing most of the stuff myself so I don't over use things and I am not creating all this waste. I think I need more guidelines...a checklist...software. Some environmental Christmas Planner which will make me think better. I recycle my cards!!
It is true that we all over consume so that's one of the things we can look at...being happier with less!! If you make things, it takeds loner so you cannot over provide, I have worked that out. I suppose it's about putting some thought into it all. I love Christmas because I can put myself into it. I don't want to wreck the environment , though.
We're turning off the telly for time in the sun
The Advertiser: We're turning off the telly for time in the sun :
While the lack of quality TV invariably affects silly season viewing levels, so, too, do the warmer days with viewers opting to stay outdoors."
Say what you like but most of us have stopped watching tele because there is nothing with any meat in it. It's all very facile and bland. We enjoyed the Glass House. We liked Spicks and Specks, Kath and Kim. We like decent documentaries and current affairs which give us facts. We like Grumpy old men, Grumpy old women, Creature Comforts...we even liked Lost. So give us something to watch and we'll watch but we otherwise chose to do other things because TV is about persuading us to think in a particular way and we'd rather discuss things with others if that is the case.
While the lack of quality TV invariably affects silly season viewing levels, so, too, do the warmer days with viewers opting to stay outdoors."
Say what you like but most of us have stopped watching tele because there is nothing with any meat in it. It's all very facile and bland. We enjoyed the Glass House. We liked Spicks and Specks, Kath and Kim. We like decent documentaries and current affairs which give us facts. We like Grumpy old men, Grumpy old women, Creature Comforts...we even liked Lost. So give us something to watch and we'll watch but we otherwise chose to do other things because TV is about persuading us to think in a particular way and we'd rather discuss things with others if that is the case.
Conroy's
The Advertiser: Please don't ruin us, Conroy's pleads :
"The brothers, who, with their father Robert, spent 50 years building the business into a household name, said the recall alone would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The crisis came at the worst possible time for the business - the peak Christmas period."
The listeria outbreak at the factory could not have been worse timed for everyone. For Conroy's it means the loss of the Christmas sales, it also means the loss of hospital saless because of the impact there, it means we have to go hunting our cold cuts down which are traditional fare for us at this time of the year...and it means employees have no work at present. Our orange juice factory was in similar trouble, as was Garibaldis. I should hope that South Australians would remember that Conroys is a household name as is Nippy's. It is all very horrible. The news made it quite clear that Conroy's has rigorous health checks to submit to here and that it has its own very high standards of health and hygiene...but it only takes one careless person to put everyone else's cleanliness and purification at risk. Something obviously went wrong in a short space of time because they had had external health checks just before this outbreak. The timing is the absolute pits but it will motivate people to be doubly vigilant at this time of the year because for some reason we seem to be prone to it especially at change of season. Conroy's won't go off my list forever anymore than Nippy's did. Garibaldi was never on it for some reason. I shall just wait for the all clear and hope we have all reminded ourselves again that you can never be too vigilant when it comes to food.
"The brothers, who, with their father Robert, spent 50 years building the business into a household name, said the recall alone would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The crisis came at the worst possible time for the business - the peak Christmas period."
The listeria outbreak at the factory could not have been worse timed for everyone. For Conroy's it means the loss of the Christmas sales, it also means the loss of hospital saless because of the impact there, it means we have to go hunting our cold cuts down which are traditional fare for us at this time of the year...and it means employees have no work at present. Our orange juice factory was in similar trouble, as was Garibaldis. I should hope that South Australians would remember that Conroys is a household name as is Nippy's. It is all very horrible. The news made it quite clear that Conroy's has rigorous health checks to submit to here and that it has its own very high standards of health and hygiene...but it only takes one careless person to put everyone else's cleanliness and purification at risk. Something obviously went wrong in a short space of time because they had had external health checks just before this outbreak. The timing is the absolute pits but it will motivate people to be doubly vigilant at this time of the year because for some reason we seem to be prone to it especially at change of season. Conroy's won't go off my list forever anymore than Nippy's did. Garibaldi was never on it for some reason. I shall just wait for the all clear and hope we have all reminded ourselves again that you can never be too vigilant when it comes to food.
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