UN To Hold Special Session On Burma On 2 October

Scoop: UN To Hold Special Session On Burma On 2 October: "The United Nations Human Rights Council has announced it will hold a special meeting on 2 October to discuss the situation in Myanmar, amid growing calls for authorities in the Southeast Asian nation to exercise restraint in dealing with ongoing protests."

This is good news. It is really good to know that everyone in the world is saying the same thing. It is good to know we are all talking loudly and clearly to Burma and it is good to know that the people who want to just go about their daily lives as we do have well and truly been heard this time. It's right and proper that the UN call a meeting so this matter can be properly addressed and it's important that we ask the government of Burma to change to a more humane and logical form of government which is more in keeping with how the planet is now. It is not for us to tell a country how to run itself, but it is up to us to say that certain ways of treating people are just not acceptable anymore.We are all connected now. We have gone past the era where we didn't know and so we could do nothing. I should so love to think we could solve this in a sensible, adult fashion...and that we can be allowed to help those in Burma who need food, medication...practical help.

Meerkats in your office?

Meerkats in your office?:

"CUBICLE CRIMES
Food: Eat fish or boiled eggs at your desk
Volume: It is a telephone, not a megaphone
Disclosure: Your life is an open book
Lurking: Mr and Ms Havachat
Grooming: The at-your-desk makeover
Display: Your fabulous (other) life in photos
Hygiene: Your desk is a tip Mobile:
Annoying ringtones
Volatility: Temper, temper
Repetition: Overuse of words (awesome! absolutely!)"

I don't think these are just cubicle no nos. I think they are work place and lunch room no nos. I think we do need some office etiquette and the fact Jim Thompson has written a cubicle survival guide gives me hope we are past the anything goes phase and we are going to start considering others. It's been about the loud, the do as I feel like , the run myself over the top of everyone. It's very noticeable when you get Indian, Asian and European workers just how differently they operate. They can laugh and joke like the rest of us. They can talk and share like the rest of us, but their level of politesse is higher. They consider others. They do not force themselves on you or force their needs and wants over yours. They are more co operative. They don't charge into the office yapping about what they want while you are deeply in the middle of something which requires high level concentration. They notice you need some time...and oh yes, please stop the fish for lunch. Please.

Pain in the shopping

Pain in the shopping : "Mr Hunt said high global demand for food products, spurred by growing wealth and demand for calories in developing countries such as China and India, had combined with drought to raise prices in Australia."

I don't quite get the connection between global food demands , calorie hungry Indians and Chinese, our drought and high food prices. As long as he knows what he means. I get the message...again...we have to pay more for food. Well, thrifty and frugal are two words which come to mind and given Adelaide kids have been throwing their lunches in the bin , then maybe it's high time. Given that much of our waste is actually compostable, then maybe it won't hurt to think before we purchase before we eat. It might be time to go on a budget! We need to look at farming too, because while some crops may not grow , there may be others we can adapt to and maybe we need to get local produce. If you eat locally then you are eating what can be grown and we'll just have to adapt. Might be fun to have a few changes, but getting us off kiwi fruit, sweet potatoes and fresh dates might be hard. We are changing our eating habits and we are sharing recipes for good, nutritious meals. It'll be a team effort...and I am sure the Indians and Chinese will work it out too...and anyone else who wants food products. Of course there is a global demand for food products...we like to eat!

Water policy leaving Rann high and dry

AdelaideNow... Water policy leaving Rann high and dry: "Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith, who has managed to grab the political spotlight and hold it since his elevation to the leadership is aware of the Government's vulnerability on this issue."

So, does Mr. Martin Hamilton-Smith know something we do not know? Does he know how to make rain? Does he know how to bring rain here in the summer? That's what it amounts to. It is really unfair but it is how it is. As soon as it gets hot and dry we are angry, we are overwhelmed and we are totally irrational. We paid a high price last summer and watering in the dark, watering with buckets, watering at night when it is cold...it's all put us under enormous stress because we are working. We cannot water under our restrictions and work. We understand the need for restrictions. We understand the need to save water but we also understand our need to be sane. The lack of water is not Mr. Rann's fault. We have known about water issues for years and the federal government has done nothing in all that time to address the issue. We haven't looked at our supplies. We haven't looked at where to get water. We have allowed mining and soft drink companies to use up squillions of gallons of water. Mr. Rann cannot make rain. What he can do is look at city planning and storage. He can look at storm water run off. He can look at how to get us water and it is not his fault Victoria will not be party to an agreement about the Murray...but Victoria is also in strife waterwise. So Mr. Rann needs to put our minds at ease and he needs to take the pressure off...and if Mr. Hamilton-Smith is able to change the weather , we shall mor than happily listen.

Sublime Cats end premiership drought

Sublime Cats end premiership drought : "Geelong won their first premiership in 44 years with a staggering 119-point thrashing of Port Adelaide in the AFL grand final at the MCG this afternoon."

Well, it was about Geelong who haven't won a premiership since 1963...so good on 'em. I caught up with the scores in the second quarter when it was 70 -20 and thought Port would have to run hard and keep the ball to get over that. The hard thing for Port is that this is the biggest winning margin in grand final history so that will be lessons in patience and humility for them because they really have had a great year and have played well. Everyone was so excited at the shops this morning and they were buying up big for the BBQs which seemed to be going to be standard pre match fare today. Even though we had rain later it held off over lunch while everyone stoked up their barbies and just to be sure, some people were doing the standard Australian thing of firing up the barbie under the carport. The Port colours were out, people had their Port tops and scarves on. There was such a happy atmosphere. I guess they'll be sad tomorrow. I think they will have to look at it pragmatically. No one goes into the AFL competition to come second. Port ran its legs off this year and had some great matches to get where it did. It was a fantastic effort. So they need to put that up against Geelong not having won for over 40 years. The fact that Port and Geelong really got the real football heart of Australia out is really something ...and Port lost. There's another year next year and some good lessons learned from today. Fantastic effort.

Declining Magazine Circulation

http://www.bandt.com.au/news/64/0c00ad64.asp: "FEW magazines have managed to shore up weakened circulation figures, with only five magazines in the top 20 achieving significant growth in circulation."

We all read magazines. We share them and there's a lot of interest in them. The ones they mention as declining are not really surprising. I can hardly see the farmers running out to get their Farm Journal when the weather has wreaked havoc with their farms and the equine flu is creating heavy demands. I think our interests have changed and we want intelligent, helpful reading. We are over twaddle and we want things which look at the matters which concern us in an expert, engaging way. There are some brilliant magazines out there. Our food ones are fantastic, our health and wellbeing ones are a good, solid read. We are looking for high quality fashion magazines and we have a big interest in other countries, discovering our own country and knowing about gardening. We have robust interests. We need magazines to match that.

Golden Circle may go better with Coke

Golden Circle may go better with Coke : "But globalisation means that he is ready to accept Coca-Cola as the possible new owner of the Queensland-based juice processor."

Well, Kraft owns Vegemite, America owns Arnotts...Coke can buy Golden Circle and free trade is really working for us. Do we actually own anything anymore? We are really onto this globalisation thing, aren't we? We are doing so well with it that our trade deficit to America increased 17%last year to 16.3 billion . So roll on Golden Cokel.

Condi lets fly at regime's leaders

Condi lets fly at regime's leaders : "He added: 'I took the opportunity when I very briefly met the Chinese Foreign Minister today to say to him we look for your help on the issue of Burma.'"

We can do a lot of damage if we unite and try and "fix" a country. We know this. We have evidence. The words reported in this article are different sorts of words and they are what we are all saying around the world. We've noticed properly now and it cannot go on like that. We don't like it and we do not support it. Each country has the right to sort out its differences and difficulties, but when monks are killed that is something which strikes home hard in Australia. We have an incredible respect for monks even though we might seem to be an irreverent, irreligious lot. We have had monks visit us here. We have been to Asia and seen the monks .We been inspired by their unadorned life of service and their wisdom. We have had saffron robes wander through our cities and many Australians are stronger because they have spent time with these monks. So yes, that is the bit which has got home to us, because when monks go to speak on behalf of their people and they somehow end up dead, then this is something we don't want to see going on. No country is perfect and no country can stand there and say we have done so much better . We certainly haven't. Our history is not nice in some spots...but we didn't have a planet which could connect so readily. We didn't have a way of showing people how we behaved. So people fought on and it was resolved without dignity and it's something we are not proud of. We are sorry. We are truly sorry. That's the past. It's not pleasant, but it is gone. Our world operated differently and now we need to stand by the people of Burma who want to do things differently. They want what we have...a chance to live in peace and prosperity. I think they just want peace. They just want to be able to go about their daily lives. We have all known about Burma and we have all shaken our heads...but today, around the world , it is different. We do not want this fixed through violence. That achieves nothing. If the Burmese people are taken off the Net and mobile networks, it will not change anything. We know now and, this time, the Burmese people have touched us profoundly.

Victoria rejects sharing water with SA

Victoria rejects sharing water with SA : "South Australian Premier Mike Rann chose not to comment on Victoria’s stance, but called for the release of the contingency report, including its recommendations."

Good move. Read the information and stick to the facts. No sense in getting into all this political hot air and position bargaining. We just need to solve our problem and clearly Victoria is not the place to look for help nor is our Federal Government able to negotiate a sensible solution. Power games are irrelevant. We are already subject to the power grid of the Eastern States. We shall have to think about this ourselves. We shall have to look to our best planners and advisers and we shall have to think of a brilliant South Australian solution. We are used to it. We'll sort it out.

Prepare for food shortages, says PM

Prepare for food shortages, says PM : "“There will be a food shortage and that will have an effect on prices. We do have to face that reality,” he told Southern Cross Broadcasting in Melbourne."
And that's about the long and short of it. We pay more, it's all the fault of the greenies and there's no looking at how we farm and how we can help ourselves produce food under current climate conditions...and desalination may or may not help. I feel better now.

How to retain Gen-Y workers

How to retain Gen-Y workers : "'Quite frankly, to a degree, work is an interruption to their life - it's not the other way around. They don't want to think too much and they want everything handed to them on a platter.'"

That and a specially appointed social activities co ordinator makes it sound like employers just need to put in a big sand pit and build a kindergarten for adults. Can't wait to see how it all goes.

60,000 fans cheer Port, Geelong in Grand Final parade

60,000 fans cheer Port, Geelong in Grand Final parade: "'We're going to go out there to run them off their legs as much as we can. That's what we will bring to the table - it is our big ace up our sleeve and now we have to deliver it.'"

This Port - Geelong match is already one of the best Grand Finals we have had. It has brought out our Australian spirit. It has made us tease each other, make up poems, be happy for the supporters whose teams are in the big match. There has been tremendous hometown support for Port and I can imagine Geelong is getting similar in Victoria. There has been some really healthy rivalry between the two teams. It's all good because we've remembered the fun of being Australian and how much football means to us whether we actually care about it or not. It has been fantastic to see the Port supporters out in their scarves and tops and to see how much fun everyone is having. We've thrown ourselves into it and I haven't seen that in a long time. Good on us!! A lot of places and people are organising social sharing of the big match. It is great, really great.

Students prove easy pickings for thieves

Students prove easy pickings for thieves: "In Leeds, around 60,000 students have just arrived, and most live within the LS6 postcode. It becomes a crime hotspot every autumn."

I don't suppose Leeds is the only place in the world where students are targeted for theft. When you think about it, young people are more and more carrying expensive little gadgets which can be snaffled and easily hidden. They have mobiles, MP3 and 4 players, laptops, pocket PCs , games gadgets. It must be a thieves paradise because none of these gadgets has a built in anti theft device or system. We are enticed into buying these things but then the technology doesn't provide any protection and you would think it possible. To a certain extent it would pay to stay behind the times and not equip yourself with teh latest gadgets. So how are kids, young adults and parents coping with this and are the police able to mange the amount of theft and so insurance companies pay out? It's all very well saying the young are not security conscious but they are enticed to buy these things, they are encouraged to think fo them as usual but the world doesn't provide them with a society which has any integrity. They are played for suckers and it's not fair nor right.

Monks killed as soldiers shoot at protesters

Monks killed as soldiers shoot at protesters : "At least three monks were killed, an official told Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity. One was killed when a gun went off as he tried to wrest the weapon away from a soldier, while two were beaten to death, the official said."

Killing those who dedicate their lives to the worship of their God serves no good at all. Never has. Never will.

Child porn Santa did little wrong, says lawyer

Child porn Santa did little wrong, says lawyer: "'This man has done no more than look at what was already there without putting forward any consideration (payment) whatsoever,' he said."

The court will decide what it decides in terms of justice. The pictures were there. So who takes responsibility for those? Who lets the pictures onto the Net for anyone to look at? Who allows this to happen so people can look? Who are we going to ask to be responsible for that aspect of it? If they are not there then children are not on the Net for all and sundry to see. That is a community responsibility. Then there is the matter of the number of people we are finding who abuse children this way. We tend to find those who are actively abusing them in real life and the ones who are looking at pictures someone made. We don't seem to catch the makers of the images. As horrible, horrifying and distasteful as this is at least we have got it out into the public arena. At least we are not pretending it is not there. At least we are trying to work out why people do this and in that there is some hope of stopping people from doing it. At least we are not pretending it doesn't exist and those who have been abused can talk about it. It is not their dark secret, their worst nightmare and something they are not entitled to disclose. I want us to keep this up so that children who have put up with this are freed of their trauma and guilt. I want us to have it out there in the open so people know we are watching and we do not want this to happen any more. It has happened for years, centuries through different civilisations. We do not get a lot right. I'd like to think we can, from this point onwards, protect and care for our children.

Abbott needs a talking to, says Rudd

Abbott needs a talking to, says Rudd: "His views contrasted with those of Mr Abbott, who said: 'If you don't like what's happening in public hospitals now, don't vote Labor, because state Labor has created this problem and I think federal Labor would just make the problem worse'."

This is Australia 2007. Who has been governing Australia for how long? Facts not fancy. To then bring political potshots in to such a matter shows a marked lack of sensibility.These two women have been lonely and isolated in dealing with something which is heart rending and might have been avoided had we had enough staff. Hospital staff can only do what they can and priority becomes an issue when staff and facilities are over stretched. We are either going to have a health system which is civilised or we are not. At the moment this is not very civilised. If nothing else the experience of these two women in Sydney in Australia in 2007 is something which should pull us all up short and should make us realise we are not at all a civilised country with adequate health care. Blaming will not change the truth. I'd say we do need to change things.

Dame Edna for charity

Dame Edna: "A glass urn purporting to contain the 'used' prostate of Dame Edna Everage's late husband has been put up for sale on eBay. The winning bidder will receive a letter and DVD from Dame Edna. All proceeds from the sale will go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia."

Classic . An absolute classic. Dame Edna does things with such delightful style. Wish we were all so brilliant at getting the message across.

Power coach says speed the grand final key

Power coach says speed the grand final key : "Port Adelaide football fans have turned out in their thousands to watch their team's last training session in Adelaide before it heads to Melbourne for Saturday's AFL grand final at the MCG."

Yes, there is a lot of excitement in Adelaide about the AFL grand final because Power are playing. We are really happy we have a team in the grand final. We have been really happy for our friends who are Power supports and a lot of people seem to be going over to Melbourne...and a lot of people have organised Power parties. Of course we want them to win but we are very proud, Power supporters or not that an Adelaide team is right up there at the end of this year. Good luck!! The one thing Port can do is run its legs off!

Stop the treadmill, we want to get off

Stop the treadmill, we want to get off : "If opinion polls are right, voters are on the verge of dumping the Howard Government even though it has presided over a golden economic era."

Money does not buy happiness. Money doesn't make you well. Long working hours and seamless integration between work and home doesn't work. The more you work the more I earn. It's been that simple. It has benefited people at the top but a lot of them are not happy, well nor are they content.They are not even alive to enjoy all their money. The economic improvements came from where? If you have looked around the world then developed countries have been prospering no matter who has been their leader, so it would have happened anywhere ...and it did. It has not been Australia specific.

Britain ‘is the laughing stock of Europe’ for its neglect of allergy cures

‘is the laughing stock of Europe’ for its neglect of allergy cures - Times Online: "In parts of the developing world where groundnuts were used in a “soup” for weaning babies, there had not been the explosion in the number of people allergic to peanuts, she said."

This type of thinking tends to suggest that Britain is on the ball and not silly at all. It is true that we get research information, then we get directives and the truth is, we may have been given illogical conclusions and we need to be quite clear about what we are saying and what we advise. South Australia is well known for its allergies. Everyone here has allergies and we deal with them routinely. We have had great support from the Asthma Foundation. We get plenty of advice about anaphylactic reactions and our foods are clearly labelled .People are wise to it. Our main culprits are peanuts and seafood. We suffer from hayfever and climate change has served to worsen it. Our allergies have been worse the last two years and bush fires have increased our susceptibility further. We are familiar with allergy causing foods. I think we, as a community, have been keen to get it right. We have had a lot of help from Government and health organisations. Our magazines and newspapers regularly give us information. It is about action. It's also about research and what that might mean in practice. Considering the implications of research is an important part of helping people to manage routinely and I think that is the crux of the issue.

Pisces

Horoscope: "Pisces: You may find the early morning a bit emotional but for no apparent reason other than you may have got out of the wrong side of the proverbial bed. Uncertainty about what you want can cause you to stand in one place and not achieve very much today, so try to snap out of it! You must avoid any form of exaggeration tonight."

You are not wrong!! I should have read my horoscope this morning. Not that it would have helped. Adelaide was so out of sorts this morning...and it got worse as the heat went up to 30. I don't mind the heat , others do...but I was wrongly dressed and I hate being overdressed in the heat. Then everyone was hayfevery. So it was general crankiness and emotion all round, topped off with road ragers and plain dumb, self absorbed drivers. OH, I think I shall turn here, no I won't indicate. Get out of my way , you stupid woman, can't you see I need to be ahead of you? Straight through the red lights, straight across the road...dumb...and more than one abandoned car on the road side. That never bodes well in Adelaide. So then all dopey stuff at work. Cranky people. Mistakes and stuff ups galore. People getting angry for no reason. I felt like I should never have got up. So home, at last...and do you think I could connect to the Net? When has that ever happened? So many computers and no access!!! What's the point of all this fancy technology...so say the magic incantation, go through ritual turning on and off and on and off, and swearing, wishing this magical connection would occur...sorry, I couldn't help over doing the dramatic performance when I couldn't even get on the Net. Stupid woman. Should've read my stars. I did do one good deed which has redeemed all of this for me. One lady was nearly in tears because she just couldn't print her resume which she needed for tonight. She was so upset. She nearly wouldn't give me her USB she was so in despair of stupid technology. I plugged it into my computer and printed up 2 copies of her resume...I'm on her Christmas list, but it was just a crappy day in Adelaide, I tell you.

Private eyes on public data

Private eyes on public data : "For $5, each customer can even purchase two maps of the moon. But not Australia."

Do I want a map of the moon? Not really. I have some really good slides. Do I want government data released for anyone to peruse at a cost, especially spatial data? Can't say. I thought we were into security and safety and this is the big catch of data storage. As soon as it is stored then it is accessible for a price or not. For good or not. For profit or not. I read all 6 pages of this article and when it came up with the Panama Canal analogy, I started to be concerned. When you start getting bizarre analogies which sound relatively innocent then the argument is often on shaky ground. Releasing data so anyone can use it and so the terribly disorganised government can't hog it all, isn't an argument which convinces me. So I can have a map of the moon?? So I can have as much cheap data as the US? So I can be more ahead of data digging than the UK? There is nothing which tells me we should offer our data for anyone and anybody to use as they wish. I may be wrong. Perhaps there are benefits which I have overlooked or not even considered. It's bad enough now with the lack of privacy boundaries. It's about sacred space, I suppose.

One laptop for you and one for the developing world

One laptop for you and one for the developing world : "For example, Italy is buying all 50,000 XOs that Ethiopia will get in the program's first wave."ind the BUy One Give One litt

If the Buy One Give One is going to be reduced to sums and profit, then it says a lot about how the world works. I should like to think we could all get behind the Buy one , give one idea so that developing nations could be part of our technological world. It's a vital resource for them and helps them to be a part of us. Originally, when I blogged about the 100 dollar laptops they were going to supply them to different nations. Now it's the Buy one , give one approach and it's better because I do not think we should expect developing nations to have something different from us but we do have to provide robust computers which fit in with their life styles. For those nations mobiles and computers will provide critical communication which we take for granted. I hope this scheme really is going to take off and I hope the whole planet can get behind it.

Childhood rape linked to weight gain

Childhood rape linked to weight gain : "Research by the University of Queensland has found that female victims of childhood sexual abuse are 85% more likely to be overweight by the age of 21."

You only have to watch The Biggest Loser to know that all those rolls of fat are hiding some pretty severe trauma and some very painful self esteem issues. The programme often does a lot to repair this kind of damage because they get the contestants into a different mind set. The effects may not last but there is hope once they have confronted their pain that they may find a way out. Psychological support is important. Some contestants don't continue because they are dealing with awful past events and realise it's not what they want to confront on TV. To have a study like this only serves to underline how critically important it is to discover why people seek solace in food, why they become food addicts and why they continue to punish themselves for things which are largely out of their control. Research is as important as nutrition since we need to isolate the mechanisms which create the food dependancy. We have some real hope then of helping over weight people.

PM rules out election this weekend

PM rules out election this weekend : "“We aren't measuring up ministerial offices we might be moving to after the election – counting our chickens before they have hatched,” Mr Howard said."

No, we are going off to the football, knowing when we are going to an election and knowing that no one else knows. We figured it wasn't this weekend! He who has the information has the power.

Cut red meat intake to save planet

Cut red meat intake to save planet: "Its authors point out that 22 per cent of the planet's total emissions of greenhouse gases come from agriculture, a tally similar to that of industry and more than that of transport."

Have we got a central think tank? Not one full of hot air, but an international body which collates all the ideas for saving energy, addressing food and water shortages, managing weather extremes? So much research is being done. So much good information is being generated and it needs to go to a central location with top thinkers so we can instigate change. We need to change. We want to change so we do not want the research and ideas to be lost.It's important we use these ideas to build momentum and practical solutions to our problems.

Broadband beyond the grave offers web service for the dead

Broadband beyond the grave offers web service for the dead : "The idea came to co-founder Collin Harris after the death of his own father in 2000. 'We had no information about anything, even down to the key to his desk, so we had to get a locksmith,' Harris recalled. 'He had two safety deposit boxes but we never found them."

I don't know that I'd use a site like this but a lot of people have already. I certainly know all to well the driving force behind this site. It is really, really hard to look after the dying interests of someone who tells you nothing, or someone who dies suddenly and you are not sure about their wishes and where to find things. It actually is a massive strain. You are trying to cope with loss, grief, trauma and then the practicalities of tidying up the lose ends in a considerate and respectful way. Whether we use a website like this one or we just plain talk to people...we need to let people know where important things are and what important wishes we have. No one wants to think about it. no one wants to deal with it...but we do have to share this.

Cultural rift threatens to rip Belgium apart

Cultural rift threatens to rip Belgium apart: "'The main worry for ordinary Belgians is how all of this looks to the rest of the world. Brussels is the headquarters of the European Union but we can't even manage our own union.'"

The Belgians have not only given us the world's best chocolate they have given us a world of thought, architecture, literature, ideas...it is very sad they cannot accept their differences and agree to govern in a way which allows for their heritage. Yes, Brussels is the headquarters of the European Union. That Belgium is questioning its worth is of concern, but better they question it than others. The Belgians will sort it out and it does rather look like their country will split and join the countries of its heritage.I have a feeling that Belgian is a state of mind. A spirit and a way of being. Maybe they will see that and agree to live with each other. Maybe not...and then there will be no Belgium. Is that what they want? I guess our world is doing away with small and exclusive and merging these names into the big multinationals.

Brown to fight election on health

Brown to fight election on health: "Although Mr Brown would not be drawn on whether he would go to the polls in October, he made clear that whenever he decided to call an election he would take on David Cameron's Conservatives on the issue of health."

Another dithering Prime Minister who cannot name an election date. I gather vague is the new cheese. These people have the country's top job and they want us to see them as credible when they cannot even fix a day. Name a date. Uuuuh...derrr...hm...we'll see....maybe....not sure yet...ummmmm....mmmm. Obviously men of decision!

Poll dancing: the quickstep to your vote

Poll dancing: the quickstep to your vote : "So, you paid for advertisements to convince you that you were wrong about WorkChoices. Then you paid for polling to gauge the effectiveness of advertisements that were telling you something you didn't believe. As taxpayer-funded polls drive advertising, polls published by newspapers drive politics."

Love the headline. Some headlines really are a trial, but that one is funny! As for the polls, it's well and truly time to dump the post modern approach, to do some proper thinking, proper debating, proper discussing and proper, well thought out, well considered planning...and then put our taxes into roads, hospitals and education , especially, because we are so over post modern and we have moved on.

Failure to save dying boy prompts call to scrap ‘community’ police

Failure to save dying boy prompts call to scrap ‘community’ police - : "Greater Manchester’s Assistant Chief Constable, Dave Thompson, said that he fully supported the actions of the PCSOs, and added: “The lake is about the size of a football pitch, at a former quarry. The water is black with poor visibility. While shallow at the edge, after a few feet it becomes very deep, very quickly.”"

You can understand the outrage. He was so little, so cute , so brave. Three adults had done the best they could but they needed more help. The community support officers didn't have the training to rescue anyone and we are the same here. We ask people not to put themselves at risk to save others. You would expect, however, that community support officers would have some very particular skills. I wouldn't have jumped into the water under those conditions. If I did it to try and save the boy then I probably wouldn't be helping because I'd be really struggling. Others could go in the water and do a good job of helping. People who are in rescue jobs need swimming skills, a level of fitness, fire fighting skills, child birth skills, anger management strategies, mediation strategies. You could list off the skills they need to have. A drowning person needs someone who is skilled at water rescue.My sister had lessons in that at school in England but perhaps they do not do that anymore. Here, most people swim well and confidently because they have had lessons at school. It's critical. Then a lot of people here do surf life saving. It's about skilling people up. It is so very sad about that little boy but the community officers may not have been able to swim or to swim well. The reasons need to be clear because as it stands they may not be forgiven. It depends who they employ to do the job and then they need to look at the training...which will not help little Jordan, so people are going to be angry.

Developers warn council

AdelaideNow... Developers warn council: "The consortium says if the council does not seek its written approval before making comments on 'any aspect' of the project it will have 'no option' but to take legal action."

How odd. Councils often express opinions about what is occurring in their councils ...as do the residents. The Hindmarsh Island Bridge had long and loud discussions. The bridge went ahead but we heard from everyone and we knew what everyone thought. It's good to discuss projects.

Teenagers 'damage grave sites'

Teenagers 'damage grave sites': "A number of grave sites were damaged, along with shopping trolleys, garden beds and sign posts along Takalvan Street and nearby motels in Bundaberg about 3.30am (AEST) yesterday, police said."

I know, they were having fun, they didn't mean it and it's no big deal. I doubt the families of the graves which were damaged would want them to restore the state of the graves. They should at least be put to work in a grave yard to help keep the graves nice and they should meet with these families so that they can put their fun in context. Respect doesn't seem to be a think we expect these days but I think we should insist upon it.

Nouvelle Vague

NOUVELLE VAGUE / BANDE A PART: LIMITED EDITION : "Nouvelle Vague"

So, what am I listening to? Bande à part by Nouvelle Vague who are one of the Peacefrog artists. I picked it up at JB HiFi this morning but it is not listed on their site, so I give you the link to Sanity. Those two stores and Borders come up with some good music from around the world. This album is 80s covers and it's a great nostalgic trip done in great Frenchie style. The French, Latin and Jazz influences are very apparent and it just makes you relax and drift into a much better mind space. I love the cover versions of Heart of Glass and The Killing Moon...but the whole CD is good value. Great for relaxing, winding down, uncurling your toes and just feeling soothed and more at peace with yourself. Has a great atmosphere and would be fantastic at a dinner party or when you want to set a stylish, laid-back mood. Love it!!

Howard dampens poll date frenzy

Howard dampens poll date frenzy : "THE Government's leadership team — Prime Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello — has played down any suggestion of an imminent announcement of the election."

He who has the information , has the power. It's an old manipulation trick, but then again, we are dealing with someone who has graced us with his leadership for quite some time and who is determined to do it the old fashioned way.

Cost of Iraq

Cost of Iraq War: "Mr Bush yesterday said there could be no 'instant democracy in Iraq' because people were still recovering from Saddam Hussein's brutal rule'."

Saddam Hussein's brutal rule? The rule we intensified and added to by invading Iraq? Carpeting children's heads with bombs? Then there were the trade sanctions before that. To be honest, I could think of far greater ways of spending $29 billion dollars a year so that it would be of benefit to life, community and international relations.

Martian caves 'could shelter alien life'

Martian caves 'could shelter alien life' : "But the discovery of the holes, dubbed 'Seven Sisters', has triggered interest in hunting for caverns elsewhere on the planet, NASA said."
How exciting!! They might, but then again they might not...but just the thought they might is enough to get the imagination going. Just the fact NASA has found caves on Mars and if they keep looking they might find a tiny morsel of living thing...with spots and purple bits. It's fantastic!!

Rudd defends changed Medicare stance

Rudd defends changed Medicare stance : "Federal Labor had previously pledged to scrap the safety net if it won this year's election, saying it subsidised the wealthy."

I am glad Mr. Rudd has changed his mind and that's a strong point because if he sees he hasn't got it right , he changes the position once he has the information. The safety net supports those who have a lot of prescriptions and need regular medication. I don't benefit from it and there hasn't been one year where I have but that means my family has been well. My sister, brother in law and mother benefitted from it because they had long term conditions which needed regular medication. Without the safety net they would have been financially high and dry. I don't see it benefitting the wealthy unless they use a lot of medication. It is true, when you have little or no money then illness is your worst nightmare. I can remember a time when all I could do was afford the visit to the doctor...my family paid for the treatments and medicines my daughter needed at the time. I know that awful feeling of not being able to afford what you need to help your children get well. I had private health cover. It was the last time the interest rates were hiked up to around 16%. All I could do was pay the mortgage. It was horrible. There may be a better way of helping people do the basic thing of afford treatment. I hope so.

35000...Youpi!!!

Youpi!! Ça gaze, ça bouge...tout baigne! Je suis si contente. Merci infiniment. I am so happy! The time has really flown since the last 5000 celebration and I only noticed tonight how close I was. No joke. You, the clickers, have made my day. Thank you so much.

Talk like a Pirate Day

bendigo.yourguide.com.au: "International Talk Like a Pirate Day is now an important event at the Bendigo Health rehab ward. So is fairy day, so is loud shirt day and so is Movember."

Talk like a pirate day is September 19th and was invented in 1995 by 2 Americans. Like a lot of things it came about spontaneously, but to see it now picked up in Bendigo as part of their rehab ward fund raising is fantastic. It's great to know that the internet can bring inspirational and ideas which people can use to help cheer themselves up and then do a lot of good for others. I should like to see these pirates as fairies!

Iraq could cost $25 billion a year long-term - Conflict in Iraq - MSNBC.com

Iraq could cost $25 billion a year long-term - Conflict in Iraq : "Congress has already appropriated $412 billion for the Iraq mission, CBO says, with costs for operations there and in Afghanistan expected to require an almost $200 billion additional appropriation for the budget year beginning Oct. 1."

That's a lot of billion. A lot of billion. Where so they get all those billions to waste on death and destruction? Cannot be value for money, not in anyones' book. It's a black hole which sucks up life and money. Just imagine if that money were spent at home? How glitzy would America look and it could be state of the art everywhere. I just don't understand where all this money comes from.

Coles result dreadful: analyst

Coles result dreadful: analyst : "The most clearest indication of how far behind Coles has fallen is its food and liquor earnings, which have fallen by 25 per cent in the second half , while margins in the supermarkets business are at their lowest level ever."

Someone needs some English lessons!!

Coles? I think this. They should never have rebranded Bi-Lo because Bi Lo and Coles co-existed with a clear job to do as far as we customers were concerned. When you shop in Coles now you find they will not have the brands you are used to or they will suddenly be out of the generic or non multinational brand. If I want Dairy Farmers Yoghourt in a big tub I cannot get it. I can occasionally see mango, but I don't like mango. So the brands we like and want are not there...not even in frozen chips. It is a store full of products we don't relate to. Then there have been the cut backs in staff. Some staff are miserable as a result, so the morale is down. Others are keeping up the pleasant, polite friendly faces we are used to in Coles. They have had us lining up at check outs when they used to pride themselves on customer service...and sometimes it is just too hard for them to direct you to what you want. Like the time I wanted Brita filters. Oh, they might be in aisle whatever ...right down the bottom...if we have any. Coles was never offhand...nor have I had check out operators huffing and puffing because I have brought in my cloth bags . In the end I packed my own backs because the girl was having such a hissy fit. This does a great disservice to the employees who have been just fantastic. They have had quite a turnover in staff and the aisles don't have our food...so people have gone elsewhere to get served. Standardisation breeds mediocrity and there is no fun in shopping at a clone. All the Coles had an atmosphere of their own. Now they are weird...but they are getting better staff again.

Doubts raised over trees for carbon plan

Doubts raised over trees for carbon plan : "'Providing carbon sinks is either important or it is not … If we believe greenhouse gases are a real problem then we should be encouraging this type of activity,' the Minister for Forestry and Conservation, Eric Abetz, said."

It must be a terrible trial for thinking, intelligent people to be in politics at the moment. I do wish people would think. The Greens had not questioned the sinks. What the Greens have suggested has been clearly articulated...they want to put in safeguards so that the sinks will actually work and be of benefit. I am surprised anyone who talked about doing something serious about carbon offsets would have left out what the Greens have asked to be included. This is just so sad and we really need to lift our game and educate people because we are swamped with twaddle. For the carbon sinks to work and be viable it is important:

1. They do not deplete vital water resources.

2. They do not harm or endanger the place where they are planted.

3. They are native trees.

4. They are actually planted and the trees agreed to be planted are actually planted.

5. The trees stay in the ground and are there for a long enough period to actually do some good. The Greens have suggested 100 years.

6. Sites for carbon sinks should not threaten our environment or current agricultural endeavours.

The idea ,in principle, is what the government seems to have suggested but the principle will not offset carbon..the detailed practice will.

Sarkozy announces huge job cuts

Sarkozy announces huge job cuts: "'I want a public service that is smaller, better paid and with better career prospects,' he said."

It's extraordinary how western democracies are all spouting the same thing...whether it be about beefing up of security, dealing with water, Gm food, "efficiency" in the delivery of health, education and public sector agencies and/or media and telecommunications. Administration. Jobs lost but CEO salaries quite lovely, really. Then the outsourcing, the downsizing and the reforms. The arguments are the same. Same anti smoking campaigns, same public service changes, same banking reforms. We just get a federal blueprint stamped across democracies and who benefits? Job are changing , life is changing but through the restructuring key positions as consultants become lucrative as many people lose their jobs. Unions are discredited. We've been there, done that. It increases the government agencies but decreases the public service because people are not there to deliver the service. So people deal with letters, protocol, administrative and bureaucratic systems. When you want something solved then you are always talking to the person not authorised to do anything. Is there evidence that we have benefited? Our public service is a skeleton of what it was, so it is almost invisible. Government , though, has a much higher profile.France should look quite interesting over the next few months as they try to deal with this.

Mum beats off robber with broom

Mum beats off robber with broom: "'Thats when he pulled a pistol out' and threatened them, he said. 'She hit him with the broom and chased him out the shop'."

Obviously not a mother to be messed with. Good on her. We really have had enough of being put upon. We are sick to death of it. I really hope they catch him. They have a fair amount of detail.

Rudd, Howard clash on 'dirt file'

Rudd, Howard clash on 'dirt file': "IN the most fiery Question Time in months, the Opposition and government frontbenchers have traded insults over allegations of a government 'dirt unit'."

I look forward to hearing our politicians talk seriously about the matters which we consider to be important and the matters which affect the future of this nation. This infantile approach is not confidence inspiring but it is making other parties look really good since they are talking intelligently about the needs of our nation.

We want Downer for premier

We want Downer for premier: "Earlier today, Mr Downer said he was speaking hypothetically when he outlined what he would do as South Australian premier."

If this isn't living proof that people here need to get an education then I don't know what is. If people do not understand the difference between hypothetical and reality then we have a problem. If , furthermore, someone has to come and re-explain that then, heaven help us. Hypothetical is simply that. Whim. Fancy. Dreaming. The realm of possibility. For it to be taken as fact is very odd indeed and for Andrew Downer to have to go into crisis management mode over it is absurd. Absolutely absurd. If he is speaking hypothetically this in no way reflects his current state, his current commitment nor his current capacity to attend to the upcoming election. It's so embarrassing. We look like such plonkers.

Australia only developed country to cut spending

Australia only developed country to cut spending : "The funding reduction — down 4 per cent compared with an average OECD rise of 49 per cent — resulted in private spending on higher education, including students' tuition fees, surpass government funding."

Education cuts don't heal and our lack of capacity to produce skilled and intellectually capable people is becoming evident. Education has been neglected and the band aid, air head, cost cutting is advertising itself loudly and clearly. We need to take ourselves seriously instead of conning ourselves that various levels of kindergarten activities are what different age groups need. It's cheaper that way but it is not effective.

Sensor hope in cancer fight

Sensor hope in cancer fight: "A team in the United States has created a sensor that can detect the presence of small amounts of mesothelin"

Mesothelin is linked to a number of cancers and the sensor can test for these molecules when it is in contact with a sample of blood. It is fantastic how clever we are getting and we are getting close to my dream that we can be scanned for illnesses and diseases, get a print out and then receive the corrective medication! Can't wait. Any step along the way has to be a good one because cancer is the pits.

MP3 players double as stethoscopes

MP3 players: "He said the new technology had several other advantages, such as storing recordings for future reference and analysis of them with more sophisticated software."

Okay, so who found this out and how? Was it actually tested or one of those serendipitous finds? Astounding. Yes, MP3 players would be more expensive but a lot of doctors would own them. It means heart conditions can be monitored and recorded and it would be easier to share opinions and allow trainee doctors to consult more easily. I just think it's brilliant and I think we can be so clever at finding new and different ways of using our technology. It's not just frivolous, mind numbing stuff.

ALP complains PM gave the finger

ALP complains PM gave the finger: "But only five Government MPs had been removed over the same time, despite newspaper photographs apparently showing Prime Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello raising their middle fingers at Labor leader Kevin Rudd, he said."

The level of discussion prior to an election is truly amazing. Time to move over and move on because, quite frankly, I should like adults who can string arguments, debates and information together running this country. If it's gone a bit pear shaped it suggests there is not the executive expertise there to run the country. Living in the past is not an argument for the future and squabbling is hardly inspiring. I suggest we leave government behind and move on to some model which allows us to have a credible and creditable image.

Major carbon dump for SA

Major carbon dump for SA: "Adelaide-based oil and gas company Santos believes a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide could be stored in its depleted oil and gas reservoirs in the Cooper Basin, compared with an original estimate of 400 million tonnes."

Boy, that is really an aspirational goal. Something to aim for . Stick it all in our soil. Just what we wanted!!! Better get those carbon capturers out so we can sequester it! Oh well, if the Norwegians can do it so can we...

Boy wakes up with posh accent after brain surgery

Boy wakes up with posh accent after brain surgery : "William McCartney-Moore's usual northern England accent was replaced with a much more refined tones complete with elongated vowels after he had an operation to remove fluid on his brain."

It is so easy to see the expressions on his family's face when the northern English boy started to sound decidedly privileged. It's a classic and reads as a very funny story, but it is real and will be disconcerting for his family. He had a rare form of meningitis , was severely hampered and the doctors thought he would die. Coming out with a refined accent is a blessing really. I remember someone telling me at some time that we never actually forget anything we have taken into our brains, that it is all there somewhere and so if we have read a latin book, the book is still there. Of course we don't remember most of what we take in because we run on a need to know basis. His brain sounds like it's got a wired cross and somewhere the boy would have heard a refined accent and now it is his! This is such a great story. I hope he goes from strength to strength and I hope his family continue to be rewarded with kindness.

Far, far away and - bingo - another 14 galaxies

Far, far away and - bingo - another 14 galaxies : "Light from these newly found galaxies comes from the time the universe was about 6 billion years old, less than half its current age. By studying the light, the researchers have determined they are 'starburst galaxies' that are forming lots of new stars - the equivalent of 20 suns a year."

The science involved in discovering galaxies behind quasars is extraordinary and the article has made it possible to understand, at least in simple form...but all these galaxies and not one with life? It always seems weird to me that we are the only inhabited planet and I suppose, we shall discover something or other when the time comes. We are only just getting the skills, thinking and technology together so that we can find and discover new things out there. I suppose we have come a long way since the days we didn't even know there was a village on the other side of the mountain....and no one knew Australia existed! You can see how our vision is expanding again and this time into space. One day we shall discover something really, really amazing.

Industry cutting emissions by 1m tonnes annually

Industry cutting emissions by 1m tonnes annually: "'Many businesses have followed along with reducing waste and certainly reducing water usages and waste discharges in general.'"

All a bit vague, but it is a short article so I guess that's why it's general. Which businesses? How many? What exactly are they doing? The go ahead, proactive businesses are telling us what they are doing and how and what their future plans are. Media organisations are right at the forefront of this energetic , energy saving , conservationist approach and it is just plain fantastic.If nothing else it keeps the ball rolling and makes us very enthusiastic in supporting them. The "green" businesses are very confident businesses and they have a sense of the future and a knowledge of past poor decision making. They are also businesses which manage to find a way to get us to help them and that kind of team approach is what we are very good at. Everyone should be concerned about climate change. We are all trying to do our bit so vague, as I said before, just doesn't cut it. We are up to the details and action phase because we want change.

Technology that can save science

Access Grid Notes : "SCIENCE units struggling with low enrolments could be saved through a new collaboration project, according to Graham Pegg of Charles Darwin University."

I am really pleased to see academics collaborating on a technolgogy project which will have wide application and allow students to be drawn into the realm of science and technology. The project sounds pretty exciting and I hope it will create more ideas of how we can broaden our use of the technology we have at our disposal. It's pretty sad , though, for a country which considers itself developed we cannot seem to get students into science. Maybe they have to study content? It's odd. Our future is science and technology based and here we have a country oblivious to its importance. I am glad we still have some people left who are enthusiastic about still trying to get the message through. I think our priorities are up the creek if we don't understand that science is important in 2007.

Still misty horizon for Vista

Still misty horizon for Vista : "Nothing will stop Windows Vista from becoming the world's dominant operating system in due course, and as yet there are few signs that Microsoft is suffering financially from the pace of its adoption, but there is good reason to question whether it will ever achieve the ubiquity that XP enjoyed."

There isn't really anything which sells Vista as such. When I first loaded XP, once I'd dumped the round and bouncy kiddy safe interface, I was really pleased with how much it moved my computer forward. Vista I would not buy except I got a new laptop and it came with that. I think it has a more adult interface and looks quite nice but I don't see it as an advantage in terms of my own computing. The features built in to make it safer are largely an irritation and the fact I cannot load desktop themes is a down for me, but I quite like Vista. In an office situation XP has more of the corporate look and functionality and you wouldn't want to be held up by confirm this, are you sure that, are you the authorised one this and no, you cannot do that and that's what Vista is. XP took over because it was solid and robust and solved a lot of problems of previous Windows OS. In the work arena you need a computer that looks good and just does the job. Having outlaid on XP you'd really want to know Vista had some decent advantages because it is resource hungry. It may well take over by attrition but that's hardly a selling point.

Technique links words to signing

Technique links words to signing: "'Sign language users are among the most disenfranchised citizens as a result of services and products not being designed with their needs in mind.'"

A group of British students and IBM have collaborated on virtual signing....SiSi. What a fantastic idea. It's using voice recognition software which is starting to get better, but it has a way to go .The possibilities for people to use sign language to be easily included in normal screen activities are enormous.Even just at airports the virtual signer would ease the travel information for those who sign. It also means we all would be able to learn sign language and that in itself would be a bonus. We had real difficulty calming a profoundly deaf woman whose daughter had been in an accident ...and the daughter had to sign to mother as she was being put in the ambulance. It would have really taken the strain off everyone if we could have signed to her ourselves.

Drippers: No guarantee

AdelaideNow... Drippers: No guarantee: "PREMIER Mike Rann has clarified the easing of water restrictions - and there is no guarantee drippers and buckets can be used over summer."

No buckets? So what have businesses and industry been asked to do because we home gardeners seem to be copping a lot! I fully intend to prepare myself as others are. We are busy planning our strategies and how we'll recycle, cut back, consider. Okay, I accept that and I don't actually need to government to get stuck into me because we are trying to manage this responsibly as gardeners. Of course the government needs to keep a current overview. Of course the government needs to give us the information we can work with. We also need some positives and some ideas. We need encouragement. We also want to know what the big water uses are being asked to do? It's called a team effort.

City to Bay Fun Run

Cit to Bay: "Some 23,120 competitors participated in the event, which was won in a close finish by Queenslander Michael Shelley in 34 minutes and 24 seconds."

It seems every year the City to Bay becomes better and more fun for the participants. I guess because a lot more people have worked on their fitness and because it now draws interstate competitors so it's good for some people to have that kind of challenge. It was a bit dull and cold out there this morning so I think the runners would have had a good run before the rain. It's a nice route and to get to Glenelg at the end of it would be a nice stopping point...cup of coffee, cooked breakfast and back into the city on a tram!!

Stroke victims turn to friends before triple-0

Stroke victims turn to friends before triple-0: "She urges victims to test themselves for stroke symptoms including facial and arm weaknesses and speech difficulties, and to call an ambulance as soon as possible."

It doesn't surprise me. They would want reassurance, they would want to talk to someone they loved if they were thinking this was too serious to be even contemplated. It's all the human comfort stuff. It's a hard thing to fight. I know when my Mum was sliding into a coma at home and I was pretty sure of that my instinct was to ring my sister just so I could talk to someone who would give me some strength. I overrode that and rang the ambulance first and I am glad I did because they were very reassuring and gave me practical things to do which kept her alive and kept me managing. I think we need to gently remind people how to do this so that they get the urgent help they need because it's true, time is everything.

Warmer Weather

It was an odd day today. It was really cold this morning and then suddenly the sun came out and even though it was a bit brisk, it really was a lovely day. It took me a while to get going because things and people just kept happening, but when I did get outside, it was just so lovely. The neighbourhood was oddly quiet for a Saturday but there was a feeling of quietness…unlike yesterday where we had hoons, people shouting and banging car door, sirens, barking, miaowing. That too was unusual. The birds were just as noisy yesterday and today they we happy and contented. The wattle birds are back and that’s a sign of the weather warming. It was good to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine until it became too cold again and it was important to get a few things tidied up , because , as usual, the weeds are thriving. What is it with weeds? They are never affected by extreme conditions. They never get frost bitten. They don’t care if it’s hot and dry. They don’t fall over with too much rain. They just adapt and grow! Maybe we are growing the wrong plants! I think we need to start working on giant dandelions and plantain and thick stalked soursobs…

Windows Vista

Vista has been driving me bonkers. Well, slight exaggeration. It’s been getting on my goat, really. Don’t get me wrong. It has a very smooth interface, some good features and is generally quite helpful, but it is such a control freak and it doesn’t suit all my needs. It’s such a relief to go back to XP at times just so I can get things done. Not to be thwarted I went out and bought two Vista magazines. The British and Australian versions of the Windows Vista magazine. I got some great tips ,not the least of which is the Power Defragmenter. The Vista defragmenter is slow. It’s meant to be because it quietly runs in the background and doesn’t want to disturb you. Well, that’s for people who do not like to watch the defrag!! I like seeing what it is doing. I always have. The Power Defragmenter just runs through text line after text line and takes a while the first time you do it…I even went and had a shower and came back….made a pot of tea… The magazine warned me of that. So it pays to take time and read up a bit on Vista. I also spoke to my brother who doesn’t like the controlling aspect of Vista either, but he has sold me on Office 2007. He just raved about it and was so impressed he could reel off all the applications and features without taking a breath. I feel better now. I guess it’s like putting on new shoes. You have to wear them in and use band aids in the meantime!

Learn a language!

There is no doubt about the fact that people on planet earth want to talk to each other. They want to engage with each other. They want to build bridges, not walls. As it happens we are technologically set up to make that easy. Computers and MP3 players are very patient, helpful teachers who will listen and repeat until you get your mouth around the sounds and you can get you head to rememebr them. We are in such a good position to teach ourselves languages. Indo-European Langages offers a lot of language tutorials in a number of languages. It gives you podcasts and links to other materials as well. Totally awesome site! You've got no excuse to remain monolingual now. Go for it and just enjoy it.

Raining Cane Toads

Toads fall victim to crows in NT : "'One of them turned its head and it walked over to this cane toad and grabbed it by its leg and turned it over,' he said."

Raining cane toads in the Northern Territory!! The crows are catching and eating them and then letting them drop out of the trees. The picture of a cane toad on the article is so revolting!! Cane toads are a bit of a legend in Queensland and there is a big industry in souvenirs...but they do a lot of environmental damage. Crows...who would have thought? Big birds can be so amazing. My respect for the big magpies grew the day I saw two of them saving a Rosella from a cat. They didn't hurt the cat, but they kept swooping it and bothering it so that the Rosella had time to recover and fly free. I was so touched by how much concern they showed for a fellow bird and how they did no harm to the cat in the process. So if crows can help the cane toad infestations...go for it! That squawking in the morning is so annoying, though!

Chaser ratings rocket on APEC antics

Chaser ratings rocket on APEC antics: "The Chaser's War on APEC last night delivered the coup de grace to the already threadbare reputation of the $170 million APEC security operation as it aired the full footage of their stunt."

I think Chaser's War on Everything made a point which we were talking about today. The Sydneysiders were seen as a nuisance and a threat to APEC. They were unwelcome in their own city. We were told it was for security reasons and the people of Sydney watched their city being locked down and found themselves locked out. $170 million dollars for all of this ... so it only added insult to injury to discover it wasn't that secure anyway and that the Chaser team itself had to stop itself. We sat at work and laughed our heads off...because we were in Adelaide, but we were astounded this happened in our own country. Enough is enough. Chaser restored some of the balance and put it in perspective and we so needed that.

Dreams for little big shots

Dreams for little big shots: "'It documents the very valuable effect music and culture and art have on children, particularly those who normally don't get to participate in theatrical things. Some of the kids are from very difficult backgrounds,' Ms Burns said."

It's nice to know we can celebrate success. It's pleasing to see we can take time out and welcome the positive changes some people are making in their lives. It's well worth considering the difference a positive, can do approach can make and it's heartening to know some people are working to improve the potential of our young children. We need to focus on the positives because we spend too much time being distracted by constriction and restriction instead of opening up to the good we can do and how great it is to feed imagination and talent.

Plea by residents on climate

Plea by residents on climate: "'The whole focus of the forum is a very positive thing, it's not about criticising,' he said. 'Because there's a crisis, everyone from councils to business and individual people have to raise their game,' he said."

It's really good to see people saying what they want and what they are prepared to accept. It's a bit unfortunate that citizens are having to drive the change, but maybe that's what we need right now because others will follow and then the leaders will have to follow that. We need change and we need it now. We have some good ideas around, we have some excellent research and we are imaginative and inventive. I have seen what a council can achieve in terms of green initiatives. I have seen them liven us all up businesses and residents alike. I have then seen residents start of participate in the snowballing of that. It's very effective and so if councils will come onside and look at climate change issues and work with residents who are prepared to negotiate and listen, I am certain we'll get some good change as well as climate change. We are past the stage of listening. We want to act.

Citizens offer new take on news

Citizens offer new take on news: "'Users gravitated towards more eclectic stories. There was a sense that users sifting through a lot of raw information; rumour, gossip, propaganda and the news were all throw into the mix,' said Tom Rosenstiel, one of the authors of the report."

Exactly, I rest my case! We want news. We don't want scraps, left overs and predigested fresh air twaddle. We want proper news. It's even worse when you read the same news from one country to another!! It's just format nonsense. We want meat. We want real information. We want something intelligent and thinking...and we need to lighten up from time to time too.We were talking at work how we used to relish breakfast and the newspaper. it has been lost through ;longer working hours but even the pleasure of Sunday morning breakfast with a good newspaper is gone. It is so predictable. So unsatisfying.

Lizard venom may hold key to controlling diabetes

Lizard venom may hold key to controlling diabetes : "A Royal Brisbane Hospital endocrinologist says a new drug developed from the saliva of the venomous Gila Monster, a lizard native to south America, can help people control their type 2 diabetes and lose weight."

It's amazing what they think of and then find out. I often wonder how they make the connections. Lizard venom and diabetes? In the end I don't care because if it works...go for it!

Stress and cancer

Cancer research: "Emotional stress affects our central nervous system, which controls the amount and the type of hormones we produce. Under stressful conditions the body increases the production of corticosteroids throughout the body. Corticosteroids suppress certain parts of the immune system and reduce the production of molecules that create inflammation."

Wendy Zukerman's study is a good start and it is something well worth investigating. Anything which will shed light and help us combat this hideous disease is well worth it and already she has made some interesting findings. When my mother had non Hodgkin's lymphoma, it was a question I asked her specialist....did he think stress contributed to her disease. he thought not and yet, every time she started to stress and become agitated she started coughing and growing lumps in her neck. It happened several times. It also seemed that when she was calm and confident she was looking and feeling much better. it was hard to know whether the disease created the stress or the stress has a bad impact on any sort of recovery. I have known people to beat non-Hodgkins and they have been very confident and although worried they were not getting distressed like my Mum did sometimes. I still think stress played its part.

No news is good news

Listeners turn to music stations: "While pop was a hit in Sydney, where 2DAY FM gained 1.3 ratings points, Melbourne wanted to rock, with 3MMM FM up 1.5 points, and Perth listeners opted for soothing classical sounds, giving ABC Classic FM a 1.5-point rise."

We are not fools. We have reached saturation point on fabricated news, pretend news and engineered news. We are over repetitive stories and the party line. We are tired of the fearfest and the powerlessness of politicians to take action to make our world better. We are fed up with the deaths, the explosions, the roads caving in, the floods, the storms..it's the same old story over and over again and not a single attempt to actually improve the situation. It's just the venue which changes all the time.We know the news off by heart. We are not at all disinclined nor uninterested but we have had enough of hot air and manipulation. We have chosen other things because that way we can grow and move forward. We don't need to be held back by people who refuse to let us move forward...and if music be the food of love, play on!!

Prices to rise under $2.5bn water rescue plan

Prices to rise under $2.5bn water rescue plan: "Water Security Minister Karlene Maywald today said the pricing of water remained under review, but that 'increased infrastructure will lead to increased prices for water'."

All of this will have to be thought out and argued logically. Water needs to be priced in such a way that people understand it is a precious resource which we need to think about. We also have to be treated in such a way so that we can get adequate supplies to remain viable and hygienic. We need to know everyone can afford water and that it will not become an item of privilege. We also need to know the extra money will go towards solving our water crisis and that our primary industry, our food, our wine, our waterways are looked after. Vague is not going to cut it nor is incessant hot air.

Mobiles for the 'world's poorest'

Mobiles for the 'world's poorest': "It is hoped that the connections will help improve healthcare and education, as well as boosting the local economy."

The best thing about mobiles in underdeveloped and isolated areas is that you can get help to people quickly. It is often difficult to locate isolated villages and people. It is often hard to get the right help to the right place. It would save time and money. It also means people can let agencies know what they need and can have some chance of developing support networks of their own. Fantastic initiative.

Thousands of babies on ice

Thousands of babies on ice : "More than 30,000 Australian couples have frozen embryos in storage in the hope of having a baby, a unique national snapshot has found."

So why don't they just have a baby? 12,frozen potential babies. IVF destined. Is that 30, 000 couples who cannot have children without IVF? Seems a bit odd.

Fears over Australia's language decline

Fears over Australia's language decline: "As the world's economic power shifts to emerging trading blocs including Asia, Australia's language gap could be exposed."

Absolutely and we need the leadership of this country to take speaking languages seriously to the extent that it becomes a normal expectation. If we want to play on a global market we need to be credible, we need to be flexible and we need to be multilingual...just like people from other countries. There is no excuse because Australians learn languages very well when they are allowed to and find themselves in a position where they have to. They become proficient very quickly. So it's the antiquated white Australia monolingual cultural profile which is doing us in.

Dopey dealer reports theft to police

Dopey dealer reports theft to police : "'At one point he said he regretted calling us, and I'm sure he did,' Friend said. 'It's quite rare to have people dealing drugs call us when they're ripped off.'"

Silly sausage. At least the police saw the funny side of it. I hope they catch the guys with the gun. They are the real problem that they would do that.

Man wanted wife 'to see suicide'

Man wanted wife 'to see suicide' : "Magistrate Sarah Dawes granted the intervention order prohibiting him from contact with his wife and son."
Well, there is so much more to this case today. It's a mess. A complete mess and the man, an ex policeman, is a very sick puppy indeed. Just reading what is available here is sufficient to see he is quite distraught and unbalanced for whatever reason. He drugged his 7 year old. He had rung his father to tell him to take care of him. He obviously didn't want his son to see what was going on. His wife must be totally traumatised by now because some of this will be sinking in. She is going to need a lot of help. Presumably at some stage he was stable and could hold down a tough job. He's broken. His wife will be broken. His son will be broken and the families will be in crisis management. What a mess. This is going to need a lot of expert help and support. The judge doesn't need my permission, but I am so glad the husband cannot see his wife and son and I am so glad they have left it until December for the hearing. It'll give the family time to rally and for expert help to stabilise the situation and for the details to be pieced together. Even if he was supposed to be cross about her possibly having an affair, his reaction is quite extreme. There is a lot more to it than that, if that is what set it off. The 3 of them are very much at risk at this point in time.

Japanese Schoolgirls Go for Over-Engineered Lashes

Japanese Schoolgirls Go for Over-Engineered Lashes: "Hip teens are hitting the Tokyo Lash Bar in the city's Omotesando district for eye-poppingly over-engineered fake lashes."

They are just astounding. They actually look pretty cool but I don't know if the weight of them would do damage to the eyelids. Very artistic and certainly a big improvement on the fake eyelash look of the 60s. Certainly an innovative and imaginative decorative accessory which are probably safer than piercings. Are we over piercings yet?

Level 3 water restrictions

Just in case you have forgotten our water restrictions in SA:

1.Hand-held hoses fitted with a trigger nozzle or
drip-watering systems may be used on any day
but only before 8am or after 8pm.
2. Watering cans and buckets may be used at
any time.
3.Sprinkler systems can be used on one day a
week for three hours in the morning or for three
hours in the evening in accordance with the
following:
- Even numbered properties on Saturday
between 5am-8am and 8pm-11pm
- Odd numbered properties on Sunday
between 5am-8am and 8pm-11pm
4. Sprinklers cannot be used to water verges.

Hoses before and and after 8 aren't really viable if you are working in winter and it hasn't been raining. It's hard if it doesn't rain.

Holistic Treatment

Drugs treatment ignores darker side : "'It is an unfortunate tradition in the health system of providers only wanting to deal with areas they have expertise in and neglect other areas, for example, mental health and drug use. They need to treat people holistically,' Ryan says."

It's probably true. A lot of people with mental health issues are probably drug users and a lot of drug users probably have mental health issues in the first place. We need to paint a more honest and detailed picture. We need to insist anyone getting treatment is off drugs but that that issue is taken into account. We also need some early intervention stuff. The denial and sweeping it under the carpet is not working. I know it would probably be difficult for parents to deal with this whether they have to acknowledge their child is on drugs or their child has a mental health problem. We need to find a way to get it out into the open so we can deal with it early. The sooner the better.

City out of water by next summer

City out of water by next summer : "University of Adelaide water expert Mike Young said improved rains this year had only matched losses from evaporation, meaning current consumption is depleting what little reserves remain in the system."

Seems very odd that countries with much higher populations...much higher populations ,can cater to the water needs of their citizens. It's really pretty drastic if we are so short of water but no one at the top seems to be that bothered by our cities running out of water. New buildings are built without tanks to catch rain water. Planning goes ahead without due regard for water management...but here we are likely to run out. All that seems to concern people is the lack of skills and the drop in tourism. Who is going to live in a country where you use a cup of water to clean your teeth, a bucket of water to flush the toilet and you pee on the lemon tree? It is not really very upmarket nor civilised. Who is going to live in a country where you cannot flush at will and where we bucket water plants or not at all? Who wants to live anywhere where there is no water to sustain animals and plant life and where growing your own fresh food is a problem and the river is running dry? How inviting is that? So, put the two together and get us water!

Man 'drove kidnapped wife into creek'

Man 'drove kidnapped wife into creek' : "Police found the woman dripping wet, still with chains and a padlock around her ankles, walking along Main Street at 3.35am (AEST)."

Yes, this is the talk of the town today. We cannot believe she broke free and that she got out of there alive and that her husband survived it all so that he could be charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment and other associated offences after the incident at Mordialloc creek. It is unbelievable and there are sure to be a lot of other things which go with this and the police will have to piece it all together. Did they have children? Where were they? What happened to them? He is obviously so disturbed at the moment and his wife must be totally and utterly traumatised and if kids were there before they were in the car , what must they have gone thought and the neighbours? The families? It is an incredibly complex situation and it'll take more than our law courts to sort out all the issues surrounding this incident. There has to have been some indication it was going really bad. We need the early intervention stuff to be more efficient so that we stop people having to live like this. Must've been pretty traumatic for those who first rescued them too.

Wallabies win!

Australia waltz home : "The result may have been predictable, but at least Australia served notice that the description should not extend to the story of this tournament as a whole."

La Coupe du Monde has been in our sites and hopes and our sports commentators are dealing with it very effectively and enthusiastically. We are not massive followers of rugby during the footie season but the Crows went down last night so there is real solace in knowing we beat Japan, that the Kiwis beat Italy and we are sorry France went down to Argentina but they'll lift their game. France cannot take their rugby results for granted at the movement and they are going to have to get in there and support them and give them some real positives...as the French can! We actually have had a better chance to get to know our rugby players and a lot more younger kids are taking an interest in rugby. Over here you get a lot of kids who can excel at a number of sports. They can do really well in cricket, footie, soccer, cycling , swimming and they tend to change their interests as they grow older. The girls are no different. Our top women athletes are really impressive. So it's nice to get to know the rugby players, know they are doing okay and to see that they are inspiring younger players to get into a game like that with such amazing possibilities for travel as well as competition. So let's see how they go against Wales and the New Zealand team...which really is awesome!

Heat on minister as temperatures soar

Heat on minister as temperatures soar : "'It has been dry to very dry through parts of southern Australia,' he said, but South Australia has had its second very dry winter in a row. But the promise of wetter conditions in a La Nina weather effect had been no help to the Murray-Darling Basin."

Yes, we are getting angry and frustrated. What happened to La Nina? We just are told one lot of rubbish after another. We know if the weather is normal or not. We know if we are stressing or not. The worst thing is leaders are totally oblivious to the conditions on the ground. They are so isolated and insular in their conduct and thoughts they have no idea we need to act on water right now and we need to address climate change effectively. Their total lack of concern is very worrying because they are the only ones not concerned. Why is that? If they are locked behind wire fences like zoo exhibits it's because their living conditions are quite unreal and they are fed and watered by others.

170,000 can beat ban

170,000 can beat ban: "'One minute the restrictions were someone else's fault, then the next minute they hand out a bucket-load of exemptions,' he said"

Except when I am using my rainwater tank, the bucket of water is coming from the same tap as the hose would be connected to. It is making it time consuming and arduous. My trigger hose is a bugga and I want my old nozzle back because I controlled water waste far better. I want to put the hose on the tap so I don't have to waste time and energy bucketing around. It would be simpler. Can people be trusted? By and large , yes. The elderly and the infirm have to be able to manage the restrictions in a way that suits them. Those with money can water at will and pay the fines. Bore water is being drained from our basin for those who have bores. Business and industry doesn't appear to be contributing much. I'd say it's pretty unbalanced and certainly not equitable. The water restrictions are not an issue. We support them. We are doing our bit, but we need to be allowed to manage them more effectively. If Adelaide is angry and cranky this week it's because we are back to the same old crap we had through summer where we did our bit but water mains were blowing, industry did as it pleased, we had to cart buckets after work and water in the dark and get bitten and injured. Give us a break.

Virtual School

Wired News : "However, virtual schools are growing fast - at an annual rate of about 25 percent. There are 25 statewide or state-led programs and more than 170 virtual charter schools across the nation, according to the North American Council for Online Learning."

Got this one via Wired and I can see it taking off. It won't be an alternative and it won't be for special needs students. I can see it bringing online tutors to every child and it has the potential to be very good, but also very bad. It could be schooling according to money and that will only increase the divide we have now. Silly , really. You train and educate your best brains regardless of their economic status. Countries need intelligent, thinking, skilled people. Money does not determine that. I can see it becoming popular because there are parents who wish to keep their children home. They hide behind them. I can also see it becoming popular because of the drugs and violence situations in schools. Some parents must be mighty sick of their children being held up in their learning because of that tough group of destructive anti socials who are just creating such a negative environment. It does not mean that virtual students will be isolated. They can be in learning pods that could go on excursions. It'll cut costs. No need for buildings and work place safety. So that will provide incentives to rid ourselves of real schools. I think we need to look at the real possibilities and consider what might be lost and what will become a hard sell just to save money.

Infested Britain

Infested Britain: "According to the 2006 National Rodent Survey Report published by the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA), there has been a 12.5 per cent increase in mice infestations, 13 per cent increase in brown rat infestations, and a 22 per cent rise in “summer rats”."

Fruit rats. We get them here in the summer and they are buggas. We don't really get rats in winter. Mice, yes, the mice like to come in out of the cold. This article has made me think. We are totally infested over here too and it's getting worse. A million type of ants from teenie to inch ants, spiders of all different colours and sizes, some we have never seen before. Moths, cockroaches, snakes because fo the drought,black flying things, white flying things...oh so many choices. More flies than ever. So if it's happening in Britain and it's happening in here, who can explain what on earth is going on because it is full on defend yourself or be eaten!

Aspirational greenhouse targets

Apirational greenhouse targets from APEC : "'(It also includes) the need for all nations, no matter what their stage of development, to contribute according to their own capacity and their own circumstances to reducing greenhouse gases,' Mr Howard said."

Crikey, they are in the position to do something really concrete and what we get is more hot air. There will be no aspiration. We need respiration and we need concrete targets. Come on, you are the leaders! Oh, for pity's sake.

Driza-bones for APEC leaders

APEC Outfits : "The jackets have the APEC logo embroidered on them and each leader will also be given an Akubra felt hat."

Can't think of anything better, really. They fit our country's legends and history. Very appropriate considering they have just been talking climate change. Couldn't have chosen a better outfit than our stockman Driza-bone and Akubra. Our land is being deeply affected by the drought so the leaders should be driza-bone and they should be symbolically representing the fight of our people on the land.