Google gives homeless free voicemail: "“We're firm believers in the power of technology to improve the daily lives of individuals and communities as a whole, and we recognise that access to phone and voicemail services is one way (to) help San Francisco's homeless stay connected with family, friends, social workers, health care providers, and potential employers,” Mr Walker said."
Crikey, that's a company which is prepared to put its money where its mouth is. I applaud Google. Time for a change, eh?
Friday, February 29, 2008
Nicole Cornes's abuser refused appeal
Nicole Cornes's abuser refused appeal : "FORMER federal Labor candidate Nicole Cornes wept with relief today as her four-year battle with the man who sexually abused her ended."
In the circles in which I mix Nicole Cornes is getting a lot of support. We think she is incredible for pursuing this and setting right a terrible wrong. We realise it is at great personal cost to her and that she is modelling good behaviour for us in dealing with the unthinkable in our lives. We have been proud of her and her efforts. This from a group of people who thought she should not have stood as a political candidate. Now our view is this. Had we known what she was going through at the time the whole thing would have looked quite different. It makes us understand so much about her now. We appreciate what she was trying to do. We believe she should have got stronger support earlier on and that we should have known so we could have supported her too. Sometimes public figures don't realise that we do understand personal pain and we do value people who try to deal with it. It is highly prized. Many public figures are afraid to come out because they will be shot down and torn apart. That era has passed. In the end our values have won and Nicole Cornes can be heartened by the knowledge there are a lot of people who care about her.
In the circles in which I mix Nicole Cornes is getting a lot of support. We think she is incredible for pursuing this and setting right a terrible wrong. We realise it is at great personal cost to her and that she is modelling good behaviour for us in dealing with the unthinkable in our lives. We have been proud of her and her efforts. This from a group of people who thought she should not have stood as a political candidate. Now our view is this. Had we known what she was going through at the time the whole thing would have looked quite different. It makes us understand so much about her now. We appreciate what she was trying to do. We believe she should have got stronger support earlier on and that we should have known so we could have supported her too. Sometimes public figures don't realise that we do understand personal pain and we do value people who try to deal with it. It is highly prized. Many public figures are afraid to come out because they will be shot down and torn apart. That era has passed. In the end our values have won and Nicole Cornes can be heartened by the knowledge there are a lot of people who care about her.
Olympics 'threat to water supply'
Olympics 'threat to water supply': "The Hebei Daily reported that 33,000 sq km (12,740 sq miles) of farmland was now affected by drought, while a quarter of a million residents were facing problems with drinking water."
It would take the shine off the Olympics if we knew people were going through hardship and suffering just for us to watch the Olympics and have it as an event. I cannot see anyone liking that idea or sitting comfortably with it. Perhaps we can work together to solve the logistics of water supply to the Beijing Olympics so that farmers are not put under stress and so that Chinese people continue to have adequate supplies of drinking water.
It would take the shine off the Olympics if we knew people were going through hardship and suffering just for us to watch the Olympics and have it as an event. I cannot see anyone liking that idea or sitting comfortably with it. Perhaps we can work together to solve the logistics of water supply to the Beijing Olympics so that farmers are not put under stress and so that Chinese people continue to have adequate supplies of drinking water.
Desperate bosses give gifts
Desperate bosses give gifts : "But the most common rewards, acording to the survey of 1723 workers, were laptops, bottles of wine and mobile phones."
Give more to the haves? Okay...I want a laptop for work and I certainly think this is a better approach than the ...here, you can add this to your load which seems to be the current agenda for bosses. We can do everything! Do we need more things? Who is ultimately paying for all these presents? The culture has changed to be very self centred. Loyalty and commitment can't be bought. They are inherent and can be values which are taught. We perhaps need to look at the work culture and then the expectation of work and workers. Toys! Do we need toys? I guess some people would but it's a pretty cynical way to treat people.
Give more to the haves? Okay...I want a laptop for work and I certainly think this is a better approach than the ...here, you can add this to your load which seems to be the current agenda for bosses. We can do everything! Do we need more things? Who is ultimately paying for all these presents? The culture has changed to be very self centred. Loyalty and commitment can't be bought. They are inherent and can be values which are taught. We perhaps need to look at the work culture and then the expectation of work and workers. Toys! Do we need toys? I guess some people would but it's a pretty cynical way to treat people.
MoD may recall Prince Harry from Afghanistan
MoD may recall Prince Harry from Afghanistan: "But, the paper noted in its editorial, it was likely his deployment was over, now that it had become public: 'The only disappointment is that Harry may have to come back because foreign media blew his cover.'"
Pity friends do not realise they need to keep their mouths shut sometimes. Pity also that news is more important than keeping people safe and alive. Thought and consideration take a back seat to gossip and blabbing again.
Pity friends do not realise they need to keep their mouths shut sometimes. Pity also that news is more important than keeping people safe and alive. Thought and consideration take a back seat to gossip and blabbing again.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Drivers slam taxi 'knowledge' quiz
Drivers slam taxi 'knowledge' quiz : "'The problems in the taxi industry are structural and a systemic nature, and the Government is papering over these huge problems with these cosmetic reforms.'"
This article is about taxis in Melbourne but I have heard complaints about taxis in Sydney and we have certainly got complaints about taxis here. it is an industry which appears to be in crisis. From the drivers point of view there are the ongoing crank and prank calls which cost them time and money, then there are the abusive and unreasonable passengers which seem to be on the increase and then there are the outright dangerous passengers who have cost the drivers dearly. From our point of view we are increasingly faced with taxis which don't turn up. Some people have to ring two or 3 times. For old and infirm people this is distressing but it also means a once reliable form of service is no longer there. This has increased. Then there are the drivers who don't know ehre they are going, so either you have to keep telling them or you end up with a big fare because they took the scenic route. The good taxi drivers in Australia are brilliant and continue to be that way. We need to resolve the safety issues on both sides, we need to ensure drivers know the area they are working and we need to ensure the taxis will be there when booked or will arrive in a reasonable amount of time. The problems are structural and systemic. We need a group of drivers , consumers and those familiar with transport around the city to get together to come up with some reasonable ways to resolve this. Taxi drivers will lose out if we cannot rely on them and we always could and they will become frustrated because they are not being heard in any open way. At the moment we have all these thoughts but we need to nail it down to facts and then address the difficulties which are arising. One taxi driver I met recently was beside himself because no one had spoken to him about the road changes around Adelaide. His suggestions were fair, reasonable and valid and ought to have been heard at the planning meetings. Did anyone think about that? We do have a resource about city traffic which is going to waste here.
This article is about taxis in Melbourne but I have heard complaints about taxis in Sydney and we have certainly got complaints about taxis here. it is an industry which appears to be in crisis. From the drivers point of view there are the ongoing crank and prank calls which cost them time and money, then there are the abusive and unreasonable passengers which seem to be on the increase and then there are the outright dangerous passengers who have cost the drivers dearly. From our point of view we are increasingly faced with taxis which don't turn up. Some people have to ring two or 3 times. For old and infirm people this is distressing but it also means a once reliable form of service is no longer there. This has increased. Then there are the drivers who don't know ehre they are going, so either you have to keep telling them or you end up with a big fare because they took the scenic route. The good taxi drivers in Australia are brilliant and continue to be that way. We need to resolve the safety issues on both sides, we need to ensure drivers know the area they are working and we need to ensure the taxis will be there when booked or will arrive in a reasonable amount of time. The problems are structural and systemic. We need a group of drivers , consumers and those familiar with transport around the city to get together to come up with some reasonable ways to resolve this. Taxi drivers will lose out if we cannot rely on them and we always could and they will become frustrated because they are not being heard in any open way. At the moment we have all these thoughts but we need to nail it down to facts and then address the difficulties which are arising. One taxi driver I met recently was beside himself because no one had spoken to him about the road changes around Adelaide. His suggestions were fair, reasonable and valid and ought to have been heard at the planning meetings. Did anyone think about that? We do have a resource about city traffic which is going to waste here.
Rat poison suspected in double tragedy
AdelaideNow... Rat poison suspected in double tragedy: "Strychnine is a white, odourless, bitter crystalline powder commonly found in pesticides, particularly rat poison."
This is a follow up to yesterday's story. Strychnine? Obviously one of them knew he had been poisoned and made a call for help. No wonder the town is rocked .These two are so young. Their families will be devastated. Would they have known it was strychnine? Evidently, yes. They maybe thought it was something else and that it wouldn't have such a devastating effect on them. So where did it come from and why did they have it? Past that point I shall leave the town and families to come to grips with a sad loss of two young people. I hope we learn something which will help us. It's awful for the people who tried so hard to keep them alive too. After the complete toxicology report there will be better information and the townsfolk will maybe able to get to the truth of all of this in the meantime. I hope so.
This is a follow up to yesterday's story. Strychnine? Obviously one of them knew he had been poisoned and made a call for help. No wonder the town is rocked .These two are so young. Their families will be devastated. Would they have known it was strychnine? Evidently, yes. They maybe thought it was something else and that it wouldn't have such a devastating effect on them. So where did it come from and why did they have it? Past that point I shall leave the town and families to come to grips with a sad loss of two young people. I hope we learn something which will help us. It's awful for the people who tried so hard to keep them alive too. After the complete toxicology report there will be better information and the townsfolk will maybe able to get to the truth of all of this in the meantime. I hope so.
Women seek longer-lasting erections
Women seek longer-lasting erections : "Women seek longer-lasting erections"
And if they keep trying, they might just get them.
And if they keep trying, they might just get them.
Singapore lifts stake in ABC Learning
Singapore lifts stake in ABC Learning : "Temasek Holdings, one of the Singapore government's investment vehicles, has lifted its stake in troubled childcare provider ABC Learning Centres."
The whole thing can be written off as a business lesson to be learned but it has all been a bit peculiar and we were wondering who would come in and buy it and what on earth was going on. Some have lost a lot, some have gained a lot but a core business has become oddly shaky and parents are being put under strain. So we have been watching, listening and waiting. It is odd.
The whole thing can be written off as a business lesson to be learned but it has all been a bit peculiar and we were wondering who would come in and buy it and what on earth was going on. Some have lost a lot, some have gained a lot but a core business has become oddly shaky and parents are being put under strain. So we have been watching, listening and waiting. It is odd.
'Help' in sand saves missing tourist
'Help' in sand saves missing tourist : "Searchers and helicopters failed to find any trace of the woman until this morning, when some tracks were found.
Shortly before 1.30pm (CST) today, searchers found the word `help' written in the sand."
On the news this afternoon they said she had scrawled LOST. Oh well, at least she had had the sense to scrawl something which could be seen from the air. That is vital in this country because it's massive and we conduct a lot of searches by air. She had also had the sense to register her travel plans so that the searchers had an idea of what she was doing. The thing which impressed me on the news was how organised the search teams were, how much they were prepared to find this French tourist and how good they were at guessing intelligently where she was likely to be...so yes, all has gone well because, in the end, it was a team effort from us and the tourist who just didn't know how big our country can be and how much it looks the same. I daresay we'll discover how she became lost and that will further help us with others who get lost here. It happens easily...and it is serious so tourists do need survival skills.
Shortly before 1.30pm (CST) today, searchers found the word `help' written in the sand."
On the news this afternoon they said she had scrawled LOST. Oh well, at least she had had the sense to scrawl something which could be seen from the air. That is vital in this country because it's massive and we conduct a lot of searches by air. She had also had the sense to register her travel plans so that the searchers had an idea of what she was doing. The thing which impressed me on the news was how organised the search teams were, how much they were prepared to find this French tourist and how good they were at guessing intelligently where she was likely to be...so yes, all has gone well because, in the end, it was a team effort from us and the tourist who just didn't know how big our country can be and how much it looks the same. I daresay we'll discover how she became lost and that will further help us with others who get lost here. It happens easily...and it is serious so tourists do need survival skills.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Clipsal crowd well-behaved
AdelaideNow... Clipsal crowd well-behaved: "WITH a record crowd of nearly 300,000 people attending the Clipsal 500 on the weekend, police made only 10 arrests."
Those who went, loved it and had been really looking forward to it. Those who didn't go got to enjoy the sound of hoons all weekend and the screeching of cars, bikes and generally loud brm brm noises...Even the disruptions to our normal traffic paths was taken in our stride this year. It is an event which suits a lot of people here and is tolerated by the unenthusiastic. The atmosphere is always good and it is something which tends to be seen as creating a chance to catch up with friends and family. Those who didn't go were having parties or family get togethers and that's a nice feeling. The Fringe is a bonus...or vice versa!
Those who went, loved it and had been really looking forward to it. Those who didn't go got to enjoy the sound of hoons all weekend and the screeching of cars, bikes and generally loud brm brm noises...Even the disruptions to our normal traffic paths was taken in our stride this year. It is an event which suits a lot of people here and is tolerated by the unenthusiastic. The atmosphere is always good and it is something which tends to be seen as creating a chance to catch up with friends and family. Those who didn't go were having parties or family get togethers and that's a nice feeling. The Fringe is a bonus...or vice versa!
Almost 3000 2020 summit nominations
Almost 3000 2020 summit nominations : "People have until close of business this Friday to nominate at www.australia2020.gov.au."
Inspite of shortcomings this is hugely popular and it has created genuine and animated debate based on good, solid thought. Love it! It's what we need. It does depend on who is available and who can be available and the newness of such a think tank summit has caught us unawares because we are plain not used to this kind of modern leadership approach. So, yes, it's not quite right at this stage but it is one of those things we shall grow through and which we can embellish and help to flourish. I take heart in the fact we have broken this kind of leadership and governance ground. I take heart in the fact people are clearly articulating where it falls down as a model and I take heart in the fact a lot of really good stuff is going to come out of this because we have loosened and freed up our thinking already. It means we shall not have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. We'll get there in an animated, lively way.
Inspite of shortcomings this is hugely popular and it has created genuine and animated debate based on good, solid thought. Love it! It's what we need. It does depend on who is available and who can be available and the newness of such a think tank summit has caught us unawares because we are plain not used to this kind of modern leadership approach. So, yes, it's not quite right at this stage but it is one of those things we shall grow through and which we can embellish and help to flourish. I take heart in the fact we have broken this kind of leadership and governance ground. I take heart in the fact people are clearly articulating where it falls down as a model and I take heart in the fact a lot of really good stuff is going to come out of this because we have loosened and freed up our thinking already. It means we shall not have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. We'll get there in an animated, lively way.
Poison puzzle over death of men
AdelaideNow... Poison puzzle over death of men: "Police said there were no apparent signs of foul play, but detectives were investigating reports the men ingested an unknown type of poison."
How bizarre. Were they psychotic at the time? One of the men seemed lucid enough to believe he had taken poison and rang the right place. This is a terrible loss of young life, a tough one for the police and must have been really hard to deal with for the paramedics who valiantly worked for an hour and a half to save them. It's sad.
How bizarre. Were they psychotic at the time? One of the men seemed lucid enough to believe he had taken poison and rang the right place. This is a terrible loss of young life, a tough one for the police and must have been really hard to deal with for the paramedics who valiantly worked for an hour and a half to save them. It's sad.
3 in 5 death causing drivers had past driving offence
Messenger Community Newspapers Local News Adelaide South Australia: "The preliminary figures, seen by the City Messenger, also reveal three out of five drivers responsible for fatal road crashes had recorded at least one driving offence in the past five years, the majority for speeding and drink driving."
The whole article is a very sobering read. We can sit here and go how awful, that's shocking...blah blah, but how did it get that way? What has changed? Will tougher measures stop drinking and driving and speeding? Will they stop reckless abandonment when it comes to drivers and cars? Why do we have drivers like this and why do they have no understanding of cause and effect? It seems to me we need to backtrack and find the changes. Then I believe we need to look at who gets a licence. Then we need to work out whether people are driving unlicensed. The common good is ignored. The conscience is not there, so it's a personality thing. Do drivers need to be more carefully vetted as people before we issue a licence? Can our technology monitor driving better? We need some good thinkers, some good strategists and even more information to get our new action plan right.
The whole article is a very sobering read. We can sit here and go how awful, that's shocking...blah blah, but how did it get that way? What has changed? Will tougher measures stop drinking and driving and speeding? Will they stop reckless abandonment when it comes to drivers and cars? Why do we have drivers like this and why do they have no understanding of cause and effect? It seems to me we need to backtrack and find the changes. Then I believe we need to look at who gets a licence. Then we need to work out whether people are driving unlicensed. The common good is ignored. The conscience is not there, so it's a personality thing. Do drivers need to be more carefully vetted as people before we issue a licence? Can our technology monitor driving better? We need some good thinkers, some good strategists and even more information to get our new action plan right.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Luxury cruise passengers forced to wade through water
Luxury cruise passengers forced to wade through water : "Like many modern cruisers, the QV is too tall to fit under the Gateway Bridge, so travellers had to disembark into a marquee before making the 30-minute bus trip to Brisbane city."
Slosh, slosh, slosh. Squidge. I am laughing! A bit of prior preparation and planning would prevent peed off passengers. A dirty great ship can't berth everywhere. We are obviously not ready for them...so we need to put on out thinking caps to manage the challenges of such events...and the shipping company needs to plan and consult. I am sure Brisbane is not the only port but you have to talk to people, give and get information, look at the problems. No use just letting them occur and then telling the city it's not up to scratch and a cruise terminal has to be able to take these massive passenger liners if it's a cruise terminal. They are monstrously huge.
Slosh, slosh, slosh. Squidge. I am laughing! A bit of prior preparation and planning would prevent peed off passengers. A dirty great ship can't berth everywhere. We are obviously not ready for them...so we need to put on out thinking caps to manage the challenges of such events...and the shipping company needs to plan and consult. I am sure Brisbane is not the only port but you have to talk to people, give and get information, look at the problems. No use just letting them occur and then telling the city it's not up to scratch and a cruise terminal has to be able to take these massive passenger liners if it's a cruise terminal. They are monstrously huge.
Power meters may switch on advertising in homes
Power meters may switch on advertising in homes : "The Government has ruled that the new meter boxes must be able to communicate with in-house display units to show householders how much electricity they are using at any time and how much they are paying for it."
Spare us. I don't mind a meter which monitors my use and shows me which appliances are burning up my money...but if anyone thinks they are going to put advertising in my home with something like that...no, no and no again. I get all the advertising I need with TV, the Net, magazines and junk mail. I hardly listen to the radio now because I got so sick of the ads. If I want something I'll look and there are plenty of avenues to show me what's new and what's cool without polluting my home. Forget it!
Spare us. I don't mind a meter which monitors my use and shows me which appliances are burning up my money...but if anyone thinks they are going to put advertising in my home with something like that...no, no and no again. I get all the advertising I need with TV, the Net, magazines and junk mail. I hardly listen to the radio now because I got so sick of the ads. If I want something I'll look and there are plenty of avenues to show me what's new and what's cool without polluting my home. Forget it!
NZ PM to meet with Rudd tomorrow
NZ PM to meet with Rudd tomorrow : "'Australia and New Zealand enjoy a strong and robust bilateral relationship founded on a unique shared history and international outlook,'' he said in a statement."
It's good these two are getting together again and so soon. I hope the partnership continues because we have had strong ties with NZ and it all was left hanging really and we were operating in good faith, I suppose. We need to develop the common ground, the common interests and the joint initiatives again so that we can grow together again. I should like to think they can develop neighbourly pop in relations!
It's good these two are getting together again and so soon. I hope the partnership continues because we have had strong ties with NZ and it all was left hanging really and we were operating in good faith, I suppose. We need to develop the common ground, the common interests and the joint initiatives again so that we can grow together again. I should like to think they can develop neighbourly pop in relations!
NSW drug suspects 'linked to Melbourne underworld'
NSW drug suspects 'linked to Melbourne underworld' News : "Police say the 31 kilograms of pills, which were found in a suitcase, have an estimated street value of at least $3 million."
I have to congratulate the police for stopping this amount of drugs from coming onto our streets and into the systems of our citizens. They face a big challenge though. They have to be able to make the connections and they have to be aware they are dealing with hugely dangerous people ...not the ones they catch but the ones who are running the show. It has to be a global business. It has to be a multinational which makes gazillions of dollars out of the susceptible and from human misery. Local police can make the connections in their own country but it is so important for international relationships to be forged between police since the organisers will be using the Net like us and they will be shifting stuff around the world according to their needs. We have to pick it up and we have to co operate internationally because drugs are harming us all.
I have to congratulate the police for stopping this amount of drugs from coming onto our streets and into the systems of our citizens. They face a big challenge though. They have to be able to make the connections and they have to be aware they are dealing with hugely dangerous people ...not the ones they catch but the ones who are running the show. It has to be a global business. It has to be a multinational which makes gazillions of dollars out of the susceptible and from human misery. Local police can make the connections in their own country but it is so important for international relationships to be forged between police since the organisers will be using the Net like us and they will be shifting stuff around the world according to their needs. We have to pick it up and we have to co operate internationally because drugs are harming us all.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Ovarian Cancer
Shedding light on symptoms of a silent killer :
"Symptoms include abdominal or back pain, abdominal bloating, loss of appetite or feeling full, changes in toilet habits, unexplained weight change, fatigue and indigestion or heartburn."
A lot of women don't realise a pap smear is only for cervical cancer and the pap smears have certainly helped stop women dying of cervical cancer. Now we need to become more alert about ovarian cancer because we are not so good at tracking and noticing the symptoms. Perhaps we need more and better help. In the end it is up to us to ask and not to be frightened to ask...better to find out there is no problem than to find out there has been one and we didn't ask.
"Symptoms include abdominal or back pain, abdominal bloating, loss of appetite or feeling full, changes in toilet habits, unexplained weight change, fatigue and indigestion or heartburn."
A lot of women don't realise a pap smear is only for cervical cancer and the pap smears have certainly helped stop women dying of cervical cancer. Now we need to become more alert about ovarian cancer because we are not so good at tracking and noticing the symptoms. Perhaps we need more and better help. In the end it is up to us to ask and not to be frightened to ask...better to find out there is no problem than to find out there has been one and we didn't ask.
Call for ads to tackle street crime
Call for ads to tackle street crime : "Mr Twentyman said children as young as 14 were arming themselves with knives because they felt unsafe and youth had become desensitised to the proliferation of weapons on the street."
Where is the role modelling for a violent culture coming? Where are kids getting the idea that tooling up is a good idea? Creating an ad campaign for this is going to be very tricky. It may well not get through to the very people it needs to get through to . It is true we need to counterbalance violence with other , healthier ideas and images but we need to work out why kids want to be violent. What is in it for them and why are happier options being rejected? It would need to come through peer pressure and making it very uncool. How to do that is the thing but we are never weak when it comes to getting the right mix in ad campaigns and we often get the messages right because we are essentially creative and very practical in our approach.
Where is the role modelling for a violent culture coming? Where are kids getting the idea that tooling up is a good idea? Creating an ad campaign for this is going to be very tricky. It may well not get through to the very people it needs to get through to . It is true we need to counterbalance violence with other , healthier ideas and images but we need to work out why kids want to be violent. What is in it for them and why are happier options being rejected? It would need to come through peer pressure and making it very uncool. How to do that is the thing but we are never weak when it comes to getting the right mix in ad campaigns and we often get the messages right because we are essentially creative and very practical in our approach.
Landmark case over schoolboy's turban
Landmark case over schoolboy's turban : "A Sikh family is fighting a landmark case after a school refused to enrol their son allegedly because his turban breached the school's uniform rules."
We have a Sikh family near here and it's nice to see the father walk out in his turban. That's what Sikhs wear. I am of the opinion if the headress is part of their religion then it should not be altered until they are prepared to make that commitment. We don't have any strict religious codes any more and some would say we are the worse for it. We haven't those sorts of values. Sikhs do have long hair and it is what makes them Sikhs. It's like the veils. I haven't a problem with them because girls have been brought up with them as part of their culture and it would be distressing to them not to wear them. We don't care how clad or unclad people are but that is not the case for some of our immigrants. Often you find that the immigrants start to dress in a more relaxed way as the families begin to understand our culture. You often see people with part their traditional clothing and part ours. It marks a transformation to being Australian. To be honest I think we need to meet people half way for a bit and show a bit of sensitivity. To them, not wearing a veil or turban would be so unthinkable and appalling. We have to get people more used to our relaxed dress code because that's the thing we become homesick about when we are away...and the gum trees!
We have a Sikh family near here and it's nice to see the father walk out in his turban. That's what Sikhs wear. I am of the opinion if the headress is part of their religion then it should not be altered until they are prepared to make that commitment. We don't have any strict religious codes any more and some would say we are the worse for it. We haven't those sorts of values. Sikhs do have long hair and it is what makes them Sikhs. It's like the veils. I haven't a problem with them because girls have been brought up with them as part of their culture and it would be distressing to them not to wear them. We don't care how clad or unclad people are but that is not the case for some of our immigrants. Often you find that the immigrants start to dress in a more relaxed way as the families begin to understand our culture. You often see people with part their traditional clothing and part ours. It marks a transformation to being Australian. To be honest I think we need to meet people half way for a bit and show a bit of sensitivity. To them, not wearing a veil or turban would be so unthinkable and appalling. We have to get people more used to our relaxed dress code because that's the thing we become homesick about when we are away...and the gum trees!
Gear failure unlikely in Clipsal crash
Gear failure unlikely in Clipsal crash : "V8 Supercars boss Wayne Cattach said there were no indications of safety equipment failure in a fatal crash on the weekend."
We were hoping against hope that Ashley Cooper might pull through the crash. it was a big crash at high speed and it's true, you often see drivers climb out and carry on. What has happened to Ashley is so sad and not a t all what we want. High speed races create high speed crashes but I am certain the family doesn't want to hear that right now. There will be a lot of heartache and soul searching and we are all saddened by this . If there was any fault they will find it because this kind of loss weighs heavily on everyone involved in motor racing and so they search carefully through the evidence. We are so sorry and our thoughts are with Ashley's family.
We were hoping against hope that Ashley Cooper might pull through the crash. it was a big crash at high speed and it's true, you often see drivers climb out and carry on. What has happened to Ashley is so sad and not a t all what we want. High speed races create high speed crashes but I am certain the family doesn't want to hear that right now. There will be a lot of heartache and soul searching and we are all saddened by this . If there was any fault they will find it because this kind of loss weighs heavily on everyone involved in motor racing and so they search carefully through the evidence. We are so sorry and our thoughts are with Ashley's family.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Mega flower theft a downer
Mega flower theft a downer : "'To whoever stole this sunflower: These sunflowers were planted by my daughters. They cried when the flower was stolen. The flowers are for their enjoyment and for the viewing pleasure of people passing by.''The girls planted the seeds last year and they have watched them grow and grow and keep on growing,' he said.
'It's a shame that someone took a flower; they're there for the enjoyment of the girls and for people walking by.'"
Pretty nasty lesson for the two little Tasmanian girls to learn...but here Dad seems to have his head screwed on the right way and is teaching them how to come out on top of adversity. I hope the other sunflowers are safe and grow even bigger and better. A web cam might be the answer!
MP urges old guard to announce retirement
MP urges old guard to announce retirement : "An opposition frontbencher has urged former Howard government ministers who have moved to the backbench to announce their retirement from politics by the middle of the year."
Actually, there was some pretty animated discussion on the radio this morning from Liberals and non Liberals alike and it gave me a chance to feel heartened again. There are still some Liberals with all their faculties about them who are willing to resurrect the party and get it into the 21st century. Then there was animated discussion about the situation in Parliament and other issues. It's what we need. We need to be talking about things and debating issues. We don't need to avoid work because we are not work avoiders. We don't need to avoid thinking because we love a good all in, no holds barred discussion of any topic and that is what we need...some depth, some breadth and politicians who want to work for our country and keep each other honest. Fundamentally that is what it is about. A good government gets on with the job and deals with what we want dealt with and what we see as priorities and then guides us into the new areas we need to broach. A good opposition keeps them honest and makes sure that all issues are on the table..that there is no hiding out. Like it or not we need to get ourselves into the 21st century and we need to operate in an international arena so we need to come up to speed. We don't need people holding us up.
Actually, there was some pretty animated discussion on the radio this morning from Liberals and non Liberals alike and it gave me a chance to feel heartened again. There are still some Liberals with all their faculties about them who are willing to resurrect the party and get it into the 21st century. Then there was animated discussion about the situation in Parliament and other issues. It's what we need. We need to be talking about things and debating issues. We don't need to avoid work because we are not work avoiders. We don't need to avoid thinking because we love a good all in, no holds barred discussion of any topic and that is what we need...some depth, some breadth and politicians who want to work for our country and keep each other honest. Fundamentally that is what it is about. A good government gets on with the job and deals with what we want dealt with and what we see as priorities and then guides us into the new areas we need to broach. A good opposition keeps them honest and makes sure that all issues are on the table..that there is no hiding out. Like it or not we need to get ourselves into the 21st century and we need to operate in an international arena so we need to come up to speed. We don't need people holding us up.
Shame on you, Clinton tells Obama
Shame on you, Clinton tells Obama: "Brandishing a leaflet, Senator Clinton said the Obama campaign was spreading 'false, misleading, discredited information' about her health-care plan."
The more I see these two the more I think they are what America needs right now because they are on each other's case, they keep each other honest and they are giving each other the skills and expertise to stay strong and thinking straight. Between them they cover the interests, groups and concerns which need to flourish now in America. The women need to be heard in a real and honest way, the black people need to be heard in a confident, competent manner, the health issues need to be addressed, the social issues need to be remedied and there needs to be enthusiasm and optimism. Between them they are covering all of that and more. I still think if one is the president and one is the vice president America will have a formidable team which will help rejuvenate it and repair the negatives which are eating it away.
The more I see these two the more I think they are what America needs right now because they are on each other's case, they keep each other honest and they are giving each other the skills and expertise to stay strong and thinking straight. Between them they cover the interests, groups and concerns which need to flourish now in America. The women need to be heard in a real and honest way, the black people need to be heard in a confident, competent manner, the health issues need to be addressed, the social issues need to be remedied and there needs to be enthusiasm and optimism. Between them they are covering all of that and more. I still think if one is the president and one is the vice president America will have a formidable team which will help rejuvenate it and repair the negatives which are eating it away.
Call for probe into 'genital mutilation' doctor
Call for probe into 'genital mutilation' doctor : "'That's what I think the Minister for Health needs to investigate.'"
That's what we need from the opposition, someone with balls and someone with their wits about them who knows what their job is. I am horrified if this is occurring in Australia and the women in Africa are starting to take action on it too. We need to support those women. There is no place for it and it's hard to understand why it came into practice in the first place. The reality of it is just so painful and awful. I should have thought it would be illegal here and if it isn't, I want to know why it isn't.
That's what we need from the opposition, someone with balls and someone with their wits about them who knows what their job is. I am horrified if this is occurring in Australia and the women in Africa are starting to take action on it too. We need to support those women. There is no place for it and it's hard to understand why it came into practice in the first place. The reality of it is just so painful and awful. I should have thought it would be illegal here and if it isn't, I want to know why it isn't.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Cardboard cut-out causes House chaos
Where's Kevin? Cardboard cut-out causes House chaos : "'It is very disappointing indeed that the Opposition, which has lost its way, which has got no ideas to put forward for the nation, has taken out their frustration at their defeat at the last federal election on the Parliament itself,' he said."
Lost its way??? Lost the plot. Lost its marbles, lost its credibility. As I went about my business today I was really aware that everyone was doing their job and well. I was thinking...I have no idea if these people have a boss here today or not. They are pleasant, polite, enthusiastic and on the ball. I had a great time out and about today because people in Adelaide were really taking a pride in a job well done and the communication from that was really worthwhile. So then I was thinking about my own situation. Over the last few years my bosses have been there and not there. Sometimes they are away for quite a time because these days they have to participate in all sorts of things to create confidence, keep up to date and develop their leadership skills. While they are away we just get on with our jobs but it means some people get a chance to flex their leadership skills in the short term and pick up useful competencies which can help them develop their own career path. We get a bit of change and variety and a chance to try promotion positions out. What we have in parliament is a total inability to take our country seriously. The more I think about it , the angrier I get. These people are supposed to be our elected leaders. They have a job for which they are being paid. If we behaved like that while the boss was away, one, we should be considered totally incompetent, two, we'd be asked whether we wanted to keep our job or not and three...we actually wouldn't think of behaving like that because we are responsible for our own area of expertise. The opposition is refusing to accept they are not in government and were elected OUT. They are incapable of forming an opposition. They are just behaving badly, throwing tantrums and hissy fits and this has gone out around the world. It is not confidence inspiring. It doesn't bode well for any thought of being a republic and it is a complete denigration of our parliament and our people. I do not think school children would be allowed to behave like this in class. All of those people have a job and they can be there and do it. Kevin Rudd has to be with the flood affected people and the indigenous people. Julia Gillard was there so the opposition is demonstrating that they are hugely disrespectful to her as deputy prime minister. What with Andrew Downer not turning up and now this, the opposition is treating women in the most disgustingly sexist way because they refuse to co operate with them and are playing them for suckers. I am angry because they have no right to do this to our country and we are sitting here...working our damn backsides off and this is what we merit apparently. This is our parliament. If they cannot co operate I suggest someone is put into their place who can do the job. The biggest joke is they blame John Howard for losing the election and that is all they do..blame, cry, bleat, throw tantrums, patronise and abuse...and we can now see who they are and what they are like. Complete work avoiders. They have all the tricks in the book for avoiding work.They are doing nothing and they are stopping others from working.They are even doing nothing and complaining because others have had the cheek to go out and work! So now we know that John Howard must have been some kind of miracle worker to hold this unmotivated, negative, disruptive and arrogant lot together. How he did it will remain his secret and not once did he rat on them as they have done on him, frequently...but now we know what he had to put up with and it is amazing he held them all together for so long...look at them now. They couldn't organise the proverbial you know what in a brewery and they want to be in parliament. I want them out. I am not prepared to be treated like this.
Lost its way??? Lost the plot. Lost its marbles, lost its credibility. As I went about my business today I was really aware that everyone was doing their job and well. I was thinking...I have no idea if these people have a boss here today or not. They are pleasant, polite, enthusiastic and on the ball. I had a great time out and about today because people in Adelaide were really taking a pride in a job well done and the communication from that was really worthwhile. So then I was thinking about my own situation. Over the last few years my bosses have been there and not there. Sometimes they are away for quite a time because these days they have to participate in all sorts of things to create confidence, keep up to date and develop their leadership skills. While they are away we just get on with our jobs but it means some people get a chance to flex their leadership skills in the short term and pick up useful competencies which can help them develop their own career path. We get a bit of change and variety and a chance to try promotion positions out. What we have in parliament is a total inability to take our country seriously. The more I think about it , the angrier I get. These people are supposed to be our elected leaders. They have a job for which they are being paid. If we behaved like that while the boss was away, one, we should be considered totally incompetent, two, we'd be asked whether we wanted to keep our job or not and three...we actually wouldn't think of behaving like that because we are responsible for our own area of expertise. The opposition is refusing to accept they are not in government and were elected OUT. They are incapable of forming an opposition. They are just behaving badly, throwing tantrums and hissy fits and this has gone out around the world. It is not confidence inspiring. It doesn't bode well for any thought of being a republic and it is a complete denigration of our parliament and our people. I do not think school children would be allowed to behave like this in class. All of those people have a job and they can be there and do it. Kevin Rudd has to be with the flood affected people and the indigenous people. Julia Gillard was there so the opposition is demonstrating that they are hugely disrespectful to her as deputy prime minister. What with Andrew Downer not turning up and now this, the opposition is treating women in the most disgustingly sexist way because they refuse to co operate with them and are playing them for suckers. I am angry because they have no right to do this to our country and we are sitting here...working our damn backsides off and this is what we merit apparently. This is our parliament. If they cannot co operate I suggest someone is put into their place who can do the job. The biggest joke is they blame John Howard for losing the election and that is all they do..blame, cry, bleat, throw tantrums, patronise and abuse...and we can now see who they are and what they are like. Complete work avoiders. They have all the tricks in the book for avoiding work.They are doing nothing and they are stopping others from working.They are even doing nothing and complaining because others have had the cheek to go out and work! So now we know that John Howard must have been some kind of miracle worker to hold this unmotivated, negative, disruptive and arrogant lot together. How he did it will remain his secret and not once did he rat on them as they have done on him, frequently...but now we know what he had to put up with and it is amazing he held them all together for so long...look at them now. They couldn't organise the proverbial you know what in a brewery and they want to be in parliament. I want them out. I am not prepared to be treated like this.
Policewoman 'hit with shotgun'
Policewoman 'hit with shotgun' : "It is alleged that the officer was hit over the head with a shotgun and kicked as she lay on the floor, after she tried to stop a hold-up at the Somerville Hotel on Thursday night."
They have been saying Melbourne is becoming more violent. I guess they need to clean it up. What are twenty somethings doing with shotguns? How did they get the licences? I hope the police woman is okay because it sounds like she did her best to stop the armed robbery which could have turned really nasty.
They have been saying Melbourne is becoming more violent. I guess they need to clean it up. What are twenty somethings doing with shotguns? How did they get the licences? I hope the police woman is okay because it sounds like she did her best to stop the armed robbery which could have turned really nasty.
Iraq withdrawal to go ahead
Iraq withdrawal to go ahead, Govt tells US: "'Australia stands ready to consider what other avenues of support there may well be to support the effort in Iraq,' he said."
That will make us so happy. We were never asked. It was all foisted upon us. It hurts us deeply. As many have said, the troops will probably come home and be redeployed in our region and that is something we need. We need to know we can help and support the nations in our region because we always have done so. Having troops in Afghanistan and Iraq has made it very difficult for us to be the neighbours we normally are and it has made us feel all wrong.
That will make us so happy. We were never asked. It was all foisted upon us. It hurts us deeply. As many have said, the troops will probably come home and be redeployed in our region and that is something we need. We need to know we can help and support the nations in our region because we always have done so. Having troops in Afghanistan and Iraq has made it very difficult for us to be the neighbours we normally are and it has made us feel all wrong.
Rice rules out vice-president bid
Rice rules out vice-president bid : "'I have always said that the one thing that I have not seen myself doing is running for elected office in the United States,' she told a press conference."
I think Condoleezza Rice has been hampered by the people she is working with. She actually has never had a chance to get out there and really show what she is made of. She doesn't need to be a 2 IC because she now has a lot of skill and experience...and has obviously developed a lot of patience and tolerance. That with her capacity to learn quickly means she could carve a career at the very top of anywhere she chose . It is up to her how this plays out and I think she needs to give it her best shot because there is probably more to her than we have seen because she has been squeezed into a role she can play well but I am not certain that it's her. I think she can do better. I am curious to see what she will do now.
I think Condoleezza Rice has been hampered by the people she is working with. She actually has never had a chance to get out there and really show what she is made of. She doesn't need to be a 2 IC because she now has a lot of skill and experience...and has obviously developed a lot of patience and tolerance. That with her capacity to learn quickly means she could carve a career at the very top of anywhere she chose . It is up to her how this plays out and I think she needs to give it her best shot because there is probably more to her than we have seen because she has been squeezed into a role she can play well but I am not certain that it's her. I think she can do better. I am curious to see what she will do now.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Earthquakes are caused by gays
Earthquakes are caused by gays, says MP : "AN Israeli politician has blamed a spate of recent earthquakes in the Middle East on gays"
Earthquakes are more likely being caused by the great clangers being dropped.
Earthquakes are more likely being caused by the great clangers being dropped.
When office jokes go wrong
When office jokes go wrong : "'I'd certainly counsel bosses against trying to be funny,' he said."
No wonder we have become a joyless society and no wonder we are fed up with work and no wonder we are stressed. We need a laugh. We need to be able to laugh. A healthy workplace is somewhere where people can exercise their wit and it is self regulating. People get told plainly they have gone to far. People get told they are a bit over the top. People are told they are too serious as well and they need to lighten up. We are far too serious and way too precious. We are more flexible and resilient than we think and one fo the ways we establish values is by communicating with others and then discovering we haven't got it quite right. We've been too harsh, too hurtful, too intense...tooo something. Others give us feedback and then we learn. There is nothing wrong with learning and I think we have lost our boundaries because they are set externally by this vague appropriate-inappropriate notion. Being told by others we are inappropriate doesn't make us learn . We never discuss what we mean and what is meant. There needs to be discussion and there certainly needs to be more laughter. We are old enough to determine whether we have gone too far because that then is decided by consensus and it creates balance. We need to have natural responses because most people are reasonable. Losing our humour is the saddest thing which has happened to us. I am lucky because I have a very funny work environment which is not afraid to tackle the tough stuff. We can do that through laughing or crying or simply knowing we can say it as we feel it and someone will shut us up if we are being unreasonable or unfair. There is a nice sense of balance and it means you can lighten up and lighten others up before you get stuck into the mundane, the routine and the just plain difficult. It has been the boss who has given us this freedom because they are a very straight talker with a great sense of humour. We are better for it. Our last boss gave us a long list of what was appropriate and not appropriate and we just wilted and shut down.
No wonder we have become a joyless society and no wonder we are fed up with work and no wonder we are stressed. We need a laugh. We need to be able to laugh. A healthy workplace is somewhere where people can exercise their wit and it is self regulating. People get told plainly they have gone to far. People get told they are a bit over the top. People are told they are too serious as well and they need to lighten up. We are far too serious and way too precious. We are more flexible and resilient than we think and one fo the ways we establish values is by communicating with others and then discovering we haven't got it quite right. We've been too harsh, too hurtful, too intense...tooo something. Others give us feedback and then we learn. There is nothing wrong with learning and I think we have lost our boundaries because they are set externally by this vague appropriate-inappropriate notion. Being told by others we are inappropriate doesn't make us learn . We never discuss what we mean and what is meant. There needs to be discussion and there certainly needs to be more laughter. We are old enough to determine whether we have gone too far because that then is decided by consensus and it creates balance. We need to have natural responses because most people are reasonable. Losing our humour is the saddest thing which has happened to us. I am lucky because I have a very funny work environment which is not afraid to tackle the tough stuff. We can do that through laughing or crying or simply knowing we can say it as we feel it and someone will shut us up if we are being unreasonable or unfair. There is a nice sense of balance and it means you can lighten up and lighten others up before you get stuck into the mundane, the routine and the just plain difficult. It has been the boss who has given us this freedom because they are a very straight talker with a great sense of humour. We are better for it. Our last boss gave us a long list of what was appropriate and not appropriate and we just wilted and shut down.
Trujillo won't rule out move from Telstra
Trujillo won't rule out move from Telstra Business: "'I can't rule anything out because, you know, we're always subject to our families, to our health, and to a lot of other externalities that you can't control.''"
He is an overseas businessman. He'll do as he wishes and apply for the jobs he wants and get the jobs he succeeds in winning. His commitment is to his career. That is business. If you want the boss to have a commitment to the company then you have to change the culture of corporations in 2008.
He is an overseas businessman. He'll do as he wishes and apply for the jobs he wants and get the jobs he succeeds in winning. His commitment is to his career. That is business. If you want the boss to have a commitment to the company then you have to change the culture of corporations in 2008.
Speaker warns MPs against future misbehaviour
Speaker warns MPs against future misbehaviour : "Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has opted not to attend today's first Friday sitting, deciding instead to visit an Indigenous community in New South Wales before later travelling to flood-devastated Mackay in Queensland."
Our leader was where he needed to be and that will probably always be the case for a Prime Minister. They have to put their priority with their people. He was doing his job. Our boss was away all week working on our behalf away from us. So did we play uproar? No, we got on with the job like adults do. It's called taking responsibility . Can't believe the childishness of this whole sad affair. We don't need a boss there all the time to do our jobs. They should not be representing us because they most certainly are not. They obviously are not au courant with current leadership practices.
Our leader was where he needed to be and that will probably always be the case for a Prime Minister. They have to put their priority with their people. He was doing his job. Our boss was away all week working on our behalf away from us. So did we play uproar? No, we got on with the job like adults do. It's called taking responsibility . Can't believe the childishness of this whole sad affair. We don't need a boss there all the time to do our jobs. They should not be representing us because they most certainly are not. They obviously are not au courant with current leadership practices.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Restaurant apologises for F-word bill
Restaurant apologises for F-word bill : "A RESTAURANT owner has been forced to apologise after diners received a bill with an abusive and sexually-explicit message."
Someone obviously programmed this into the computer and probably thought it was funny. They didn't think about the reputation of the business nor about the respect eh customers deserved. Who cares, they were just having fun.
Someone obviously programmed this into the computer and probably thought it was funny. They didn't think about the reputation of the business nor about the respect eh customers deserved. Who cares, they were just having fun.
'It's OK to wag if you're a backbencher'
'It's OK to wag if you're a backbencher' | : "A lunch with a journalist during yesterday's question time was far more enjoyable than listening to the antics of Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the former foreign minister said."
Patronising, rude and rather surprising for someone who was in government for so long and to whom we had listened for years. So , if it is not about him it's not worthy? Charmed, I am sure.
Patronising, rude and rather surprising for someone who was in government for so long and to whom we had listened for years. So , if it is not about him it's not worthy? Charmed, I am sure.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Brain control headset for gamers
Brain control headset for gamers: "Gamers will soon be able to interact with the virtual world using their thoughts and emotions alone."
Gamers are always ahead of the pack and this one will really send them off their heads. It's just the beginning!
Gamers are always ahead of the pack and this one will really send them off their heads. It's just the beginning!
Iraq war bill to top $2b
Iraq war bill to top $2b: defence chief : "'Current approved funding for the period 2007-2008 through to 2009-2010 is another $598m, which will bring the total approved funding for Operation Catalyst for the period staring 16 July 2003 to $2,158.7m.'"
I know we cannot turn back the clock and it is awful we are stuck with this. We keep pretending it's not occurring but that money could have been spent at home. Thousands of Iraqis would still be alive. We wouldn't have lost soldiers there and we wouldn't be suffering the fall out from what has occurred to the soldiers. We were put in the invidious position of supporting our troops in a place we hardly knew existed . We certainly know where it is now but we are not accountable for what we have done to this place. I should like to have a world at peace, but I regret deeply we have been party to the suffering of so many and no one is accountable. It need not have occurred but who cares now. I do. I care this amount of money has been spent to cause so much misery.
I know we cannot turn back the clock and it is awful we are stuck with this. We keep pretending it's not occurring but that money could have been spent at home. Thousands of Iraqis would still be alive. We wouldn't have lost soldiers there and we wouldn't be suffering the fall out from what has occurred to the soldiers. We were put in the invidious position of supporting our troops in a place we hardly knew existed . We certainly know where it is now but we are not accountable for what we have done to this place. I should like to have a world at peace, but I regret deeply we have been party to the suffering of so many and no one is accountable. It need not have occurred but who cares now. I do. I care this amount of money has been spent to cause so much misery.
See the difference you can make
See the difference you can make - Earth Hour 2008: "Earth Hour 2007 was a Sydney event. Earth Hour 2008 is a global movement."
March 29th. Last year it was just Sydney and some of us in Adelaide decided to lend them support. You turn your lights of for an hour and the carbon saving is extraordinary. Every person can make a difference. Now there are more countries involved and you can sign up and be part of it...or you can just be part of it. They like to keep count though!!
March 29th. Last year it was just Sydney and some of us in Adelaide decided to lend them support. You turn your lights of for an hour and the carbon saving is extraordinary. Every person can make a difference. Now there are more countries involved and you can sign up and be part of it...or you can just be part of it. They like to keep count though!!
Printing subsidy likely to be cut
EXCLUSIVE Printing subsidy likely to be cut : "Originally set at $8000 a year, the allowance hit a peak at $150,000 a year in 2005 as a result of the Coalition winning an absolute majority in the Senate."
Go for it! I hate those election leaflets and govt brochures. We have the internet. We have local papers. We have TV, radio and MP3/4 players. Give us bulletin boards, net sites, podcasts but for heaven's sake save our trees and our money. In this day and age it's ridiculous to put that much paper into he system to clog it up. Mine go straight in the recycle bin. I look up what I want to know on the Net or I listen to parliament. It's quite tolerable these days. One of my local MPs puts out a regular newsletter and that is fantastic. I appreciate that. When it comes to elections you need to get detailed information and a brochure or leaflet cannot do that. We need to save money and carbon. Put the money into transport, schools and hospitals please.
Go for it! I hate those election leaflets and govt brochures. We have the internet. We have local papers. We have TV, radio and MP3/4 players. Give us bulletin boards, net sites, podcasts but for heaven's sake save our trees and our money. In this day and age it's ridiculous to put that much paper into he system to clog it up. Mine go straight in the recycle bin. I look up what I want to know on the Net or I listen to parliament. It's quite tolerable these days. One of my local MPs puts out a regular newsletter and that is fantastic. I appreciate that. When it comes to elections you need to get detailed information and a brochure or leaflet cannot do that. We need to save money and carbon. Put the money into transport, schools and hospitals please.
So you think you can dance?
I had no plans to watch this show but it's got me hooked. Why? It's very positive and we clearly have some really talented people in Australia. I have watched people full of self doubt grow and get into a far more professional stance. I have even been watching and enjoying genres I wouldn't consider in a fit. These people love what they are doing and they are working with people who love what they are doing. They want to be excellent. There are no big heads, no false illusions and a complete capacity to listen and learn...and to take risks. The judges are straight forward, diplomatic and, at times, just plain blunt. The dancers take it all on board and learn from it. If the rules are people have to go, then those are the rules and the judges are balancing that in a very professional, compassionate, realistic way. It is a show full of hope. To be a successful dancer you have to be strong physically, mentally and emotionally. We seem to lack in emotional strength and yet the thing the judges try to get through is this is not an end...it's part of the road these people have chosen. If the road appears to end on a particular performance, well, then it's up to the dancer to literally take the next step. They are shown they can do it by perfecting their own genre, by perfecting their own strengths or by doing something completely different: putting themselves out there and just seeing what happens. It's about taking risks and not worrying if it goes pear shaped. Some of our dancers who have quite some talent seem to think that are not allowed to get it wrong and that they need to keep picking the safe path. It means they dig a rut for themselves unless they can become so great at what they do they will rise above it all. Most people need that mental, emotional and physical flexibility in order to put together a box of tricks which will stand them in good stead and set them apart. This is why so many of the dancers are growing. They respond to the encouragement, the honesty and the opportunity to trust themselves to meet a challenge. I hope it means they'll become emotionally stronger because there has been some great stuff. So inspiring.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Organ Donations
I heard on a parliamentary report today that only 198 people have volunteered to donate organs. 198 in the whole of Australia. There is something wrong here because we are not against it as a nation and most of us would know of someone who is still alive because of that wonderful organ donation. I am not in favour of compulsory organ donation because of all the reasons I have stated before. So what are the issues? What are the things we have not come to terms with? What is holding us back? Is everyone like me and my family? We are quite clear in our family that the living are the ones who have to make that decision because losing someone is very traumatic. We are also clear that we would support organ donation if it were something asked of us? Are the stories we are hearing not inspiring us or are the other stories of things going wrong putting us off? I have heard more of successes. I haven't heard personally of anything going wrong. I don't think we should make this a mandatory matter but I do believe we need to look at how we can successfully allow organ donation to occur. On the whole it is something we support and something we would want for our families. Some thing isn't right about how we are going about it.
Nelson defends 9 per cent poll rating
Nelson defends 9 per cent poll rating : "Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's personal approval is at an unprecedented high of 70 per cent - surpassing ratings for Bob Hawke and John Howard and the best result since Newspoll began asking the preferred prime minister question in 1987."
We needed fresh air and we got it. We needed someone of our times and we got it. We needed someone who talked to us and who listened to us. We got it. Some people can't accept we want a positive, encouraging environment where we can have hope and where we can work together on what we think needs changing.
We needed fresh air and we got it. We needed someone of our times and we got it. We needed someone who talked to us and who listened to us. We got it. Some people can't accept we want a positive, encouraging environment where we can have hope and where we can work together on what we think needs changing.
I have too much power: Immigration Minister
I have too much power: Immigration Minister: "'I have formed the view that I have too much power, in terms of the power given to the minister to make decisions about individual cases,' he said."
Immigration matters affect a lot of people, not the least of whom are the mentally ill with foreign accents and backgrounds. I think it's important that more than one person makes decisions about immigration matters because the needs of immigrants, illegal or otherwise, do change and so different parties need to be involved. It's of paramount importance that the people are correctly and properly identified and that if any deportation is to occur there has been consultation. A fantastic move.
Immigration matters affect a lot of people, not the least of whom are the mentally ill with foreign accents and backgrounds. I think it's important that more than one person makes decisions about immigration matters because the needs of immigrants, illegal or otherwise, do change and so different parties need to be involved. It's of paramount importance that the people are correctly and properly identified and that if any deportation is to occur there has been consultation. A fantastic move.
High pitch a 'buzz off' message
High pitch a 'buzz off' message : "Ceduna mayor Allan Suter says it has been successfully used by British shopkeepers to repel problem teenagers."
Have they done this over a long term so the side effects can be properly assessed? Does it affect animals? Will the noise still have an impact on others even if they cannot hear it? Can't we modify the behaviour any other way?
Have they done this over a long term so the side effects can be properly assessed? Does it affect animals? Will the noise still have an impact on others even if they cannot hear it? Can't we modify the behaviour any other way?
Monday, February 18, 2008
Youpi...c'est trop cool!!
The 40 000 is a big achievement and I am more than well aware that I should not have achieved this landmark without a lot of help from my clickers. I have been getting more traffic, I bop along here and am happy like that. I have made some good connections and this blog keeps me in contact with what is going on in the world. It has taught me a lot and I have gained considerably in knowledge since I have been running it. I now have a lot of facts and information at my fingertips which makes me sound pretty cluey!! And they think blogging is oddball stuff. The social networks may well be more popular and more visited but I value my blog and the blogs of others which I visit. Blogging does a lot of good. So I am more than grateful for the clickers who have passed through here because they kept my blog alive and well while I was doing the hard yards of family trauma. I have never had to manage so much in one go and it is still heart warming to know there is a world out there which is prepared to encourage and support. Je vous remercie tous de tout mon coeur and I really do thank you!Youpi!!!!!
Ecpod.com : Learn English and Chinese
Ecpod.com Learn English and Chinese the EC way
I have to thank Susan who left a comment on my last post about learning Chinese online. Now we have another good site, thanks to her, but this one teaches English as well. Shall we be ready for Beijing?!! We need to learn to meet each other half way and do the best we can to learn each other's languages. The bonus of this site is that it is quite funny! The site is being improved all the time so be patient with any speed issues. Since it relies largely on videos then all of this takes a bit of time to sort out.
I have to thank Susan who left a comment on my last post about learning Chinese online. Now we have another good site, thanks to her, but this one teaches English as well. Shall we be ready for Beijing?!! We need to learn to meet each other half way and do the best we can to learn each other's languages. The bonus of this site is that it is quite funny! The site is being improved all the time so be patient with any speed issues. Since it relies largely on videos then all of this takes a bit of time to sort out.
Elite paramedic service 'in crisis'
AdelaideNow... Elite paramedic service 'in crisis': "Mr McGhie said many elite paramedics were walking away from the service because of fatigue and frustration with MAS bosses using MICA to prop up an understaffed service and urged the Victorian government to step in."
There was an article yesterday about how bosses don't get sick and they don't have major illnesses. Then there have been articles about our skills shortages. So the funding goes into repairing police cars and public property damaged by swarming kids who need a life. We've got people with skills who want to do a good job. Our health care professions ARE professional. They pride themselves on it and when you hear of someone who isn't good...they have badly let a fantastic service down. We could be world standard but money is frittered away on dopey clean up and repair stuff and we need to just shut the money sucking antics down and get on with the real world. We need to support these paramedics and we need to free some of them up so they can train others. It takes the weight off hospitals, it keep us healthy and well and it means we are all part of a functioning community instead of an ill informed and incompetent economically driven bureaucracy which cannot fund the necessary services.
There was an article yesterday about how bosses don't get sick and they don't have major illnesses. Then there have been articles about our skills shortages. So the funding goes into repairing police cars and public property damaged by swarming kids who need a life. We've got people with skills who want to do a good job. Our health care professions ARE professional. They pride themselves on it and when you hear of someone who isn't good...they have badly let a fantastic service down. We could be world standard but money is frittered away on dopey clean up and repair stuff and we need to just shut the money sucking antics down and get on with the real world. We need to support these paramedics and we need to free some of them up so they can train others. It takes the weight off hospitals, it keep us healthy and well and it means we are all part of a functioning community instead of an ill informed and incompetent economically driven bureaucracy which cannot fund the necessary services.
Former ministers come clean over Howard government mistakes
Former ministers come clean over Howard government mistakes : "He says the time for ratification was when Australia first endorsed the target. 'With the wisdom of hindsight, I think that would have been the right thing to do: that was many years earlier.'"
I don't think they have even started. There are a lot things which need to be clarified and we did say!! It's just that certain people knew better than we did what was good for us and we were the great ignored who then became the great uninvited. A democratic government has to consult. Blaming it all on Howard doesn't resolve the lack of cohesion within the party. They seem to have trust issues.
I don't think they have even started. There are a lot things which need to be clarified and we did say!! It's just that certain people knew better than we did what was good for us and we were the great ignored who then became the great uninvited. A democratic government has to consult. Blaming it all on Howard doesn't resolve the lack of cohesion within the party. They seem to have trust issues.
Homeless settle on Common Ground
Homeless settle on Common Ground : "'We've got the first project off theground in Australia, and we're being criticised for trying to do the right thing.'"
Yes, the critics are always ready at the moment. We have become a nation of snipers and I guess old habits die hard. We need to change and we need to be more positive. We keep criticising anyone and anything. No wonder we are always crying on television. We need to make it easier on ourselves and others and a difference in attitude would help because we keep knocking things down and we keep putting great holes in people . That way nothing works and no one wants to be a part of anything. Common Ground is breaking new ground. It'll take a good year to get it up and running properly and to discover the issues. We need to let the people who have put it together have a decent go at it and we need to be ready with ideas if it wobbles. It is up to us.
Yes, the critics are always ready at the moment. We have become a nation of snipers and I guess old habits die hard. We need to change and we need to be more positive. We keep criticising anyone and anything. No wonder we are always crying on television. We need to make it easier on ourselves and others and a difference in attitude would help because we keep knocking things down and we keep putting great holes in people . That way nothing works and no one wants to be a part of anything. Common Ground is breaking new ground. It'll take a good year to get it up and running properly and to discover the issues. We need to let the people who have put it together have a decent go at it and we need to be ready with ideas if it wobbles. It is up to us.
100 youths in street incident
100 youths in street incident : "The group was eventually moved on but extensive damage was caused to a marked police car, with several body panels damaged, two windows smashed and graffiti marked on the car."
And I am sure you'll be able to see it all on YouTube or similar. So who is paying for the 5000 dollars damage to the police car? Better not be us . That money could have gone elsewhere to something more useful. For as long as we excuse, cover up and pretend it's no big deal, others pay and we continue to be held to ransom.
And I am sure you'll be able to see it all on YouTube or similar. So who is paying for the 5000 dollars damage to the police car? Better not be us . That money could have gone elsewhere to something more useful. For as long as we excuse, cover up and pretend it's no big deal, others pay and we continue to be held to ransom.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
'Drunk' teen driver runs down family
'Drunk' teen driver runs down family: police: "The woman was thrown onto the bonnet and the two children aged five and nine were dragged under the car for about 15 metres."
This woman and her children now have to be in hospital. They will have ongoing medical appointments and some of the injuries may be severe. Then there is the shock of being hit and knowing it was a drunk 16 year old. All of that is going to take time and need not have happened. I am sure he didn't mean to and I am sure he was just having fun and I am certain his brain is still under construction. Not one of these is a reason for that amount of damage. Putting him behind bars is not going to give him a conscience nor will it make him think twice. He'll think it's too harsh when he didn't mean to and he was just having fun and he may or may not say sorry.She wouldn't want any help from him I shouldn't think. She certainly needs to be able to tell him at some stage how this has affected her, her children and her life. The boy needs to be doing a lot of community service and, given he was driving without a licence, then I guess not letting him have a licence isn't going to work. He shouldn't have a licence for at least 10 years and then he needs to be monitored. He is a danger to himself and the community. He needs to be on a tight leash and have lots of counselling. I am getting so sick of awful stuff happening when it just doesn't need to.
This woman and her children now have to be in hospital. They will have ongoing medical appointments and some of the injuries may be severe. Then there is the shock of being hit and knowing it was a drunk 16 year old. All of that is going to take time and need not have happened. I am sure he didn't mean to and I am sure he was just having fun and I am certain his brain is still under construction. Not one of these is a reason for that amount of damage. Putting him behind bars is not going to give him a conscience nor will it make him think twice. He'll think it's too harsh when he didn't mean to and he was just having fun and he may or may not say sorry.She wouldn't want any help from him I shouldn't think. She certainly needs to be able to tell him at some stage how this has affected her, her children and her life. The boy needs to be doing a lot of community service and, given he was driving without a licence, then I guess not letting him have a licence isn't going to work. He shouldn't have a licence for at least 10 years and then he needs to be monitored. He is a danger to himself and the community. He needs to be on a tight leash and have lots of counselling. I am getting so sick of awful stuff happening when it just doesn't need to.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Concern as sewage enters floodwaters
Concern as sewage enters floodwaters : "'We would advise people to still avoid floodwaters if they can.''"
Much of Queensland is flooded. Some people didn't get supplies and just had to manage and I am not sure if all areas have access to clean, drinkable water and it is important to us to know that the people in Queensland are okay...that they have enough food, equipment and water to manage. We were talking about it at the end of last week because they seems t have had to manage this by themselves and maybe they don't realise we have been sitting here keeping in contact with friends and relatives if we can and we realise it's pretty serious. So we have expected to be called for help. We are more than prepared to get the donations going but it is important that the stuff is flown in to the people. I realise that it easier said than done in some places because of the weather and extend of flooding. We are thinking of all our Queensland friends and please let us help you if you need help. Insurance may not cover the damage because policies don't cover flood by and large...and yet it's one of the things which'll take your home here. They may need help down the track.
Much of Queensland is flooded. Some people didn't get supplies and just had to manage and I am not sure if all areas have access to clean, drinkable water and it is important to us to know that the people in Queensland are okay...that they have enough food, equipment and water to manage. We were talking about it at the end of last week because they seems t have had to manage this by themselves and maybe they don't realise we have been sitting here keeping in contact with friends and relatives if we can and we realise it's pretty serious. So we have expected to be called for help. We are more than prepared to get the donations going but it is important that the stuff is flown in to the people. I realise that it easier said than done in some places because of the weather and extend of flooding. We are thinking of all our Queensland friends and please let us help you if you need help. Insurance may not cover the damage because policies don't cover flood by and large...and yet it's one of the things which'll take your home here. They may need help down the track.
Nelson apologises over sorry speech
Nelson apologises over sorry speech : "'I said, 'Why didn't you ring me, why didn't you ask me?' And he couldn't answer that, he couldn't answer that.'"
It's fantastic. For the first time I am now seeing people learning how to deal with tribal people. Learning their protocol. Learning how to accord them respect. You have to talk straight. You have to talk from your heart.A tribal person knows the difference when your head is saying something which is not in your heart or your head is not saying what is in your heart. What Ms. Lyman had published in a book was one thing, but Brendan Nelson thought he could use it in his speech in front of millions of people. That is another matter. It means you go over and talk to the person and see how they feel about it.It's person to person and it's negotiation. Ms. Lyman would have been shocked because it was what she said and she had no control over how it was said and where. If you are using people's words it's important to let them know. Especially when it was as significant and as public as it was. Brendan Nelson has apologised. Between them they will sort it out because that what you do in a tribal society. You talk it out until everyone is happy. She is teaching him how to consult with tribal people and he is teaching her how to get on the phone and resolve things. I have a feeling this one will work out to everyone's benefit...because there is fundamental learning stuff on both sides here and that's what we need to move forward. The spirit of this land is so amazing when it comes to vital issues.
It's fantastic. For the first time I am now seeing people learning how to deal with tribal people. Learning their protocol. Learning how to accord them respect. You have to talk straight. You have to talk from your heart.A tribal person knows the difference when your head is saying something which is not in your heart or your head is not saying what is in your heart. What Ms. Lyman had published in a book was one thing, but Brendan Nelson thought he could use it in his speech in front of millions of people. That is another matter. It means you go over and talk to the person and see how they feel about it.It's person to person and it's negotiation. Ms. Lyman would have been shocked because it was what she said and she had no control over how it was said and where. If you are using people's words it's important to let them know. Especially when it was as significant and as public as it was. Brendan Nelson has apologised. Between them they will sort it out because that what you do in a tribal society. You talk it out until everyone is happy. She is teaching him how to consult with tribal people and he is teaching her how to get on the phone and resolve things. I have a feeling this one will work out to everyone's benefit...because there is fundamental learning stuff on both sides here and that's what we need to move forward. The spirit of this land is so amazing when it comes to vital issues.
Danielle Steel urges Spears' parents to keep fighting
Danielle Steel urges Spears' parents to keep fighting : "Speaking on the 10th anniversary of the creation of the Nick Traina Foundation, which funds groups who do 'hands on' work with mentally ill young people, Steel said Spears problems 'illustrate the drama and dilemma of the family of mentally ill people in this country - it's a very, very tough thing.'"
Oh well said. We are so bad at recognising mental illness and the behaviour is often extreme, ill conceived and newsworthy. We need to stop putting these young ones in the news and start opening our hearts and brains. They need to be in treatment , not the news and Danielle Steel is magnificent for confronting her own personal pain and trauma and trying to make the lessons she has learned help others. We really have to lift our game so that people get help rather than lampooning or early demise.
Oh well said. We are so bad at recognising mental illness and the behaviour is often extreme, ill conceived and newsworthy. We need to stop putting these young ones in the news and start opening our hearts and brains. They need to be in treatment , not the news and Danielle Steel is magnificent for confronting her own personal pain and trauma and trying to make the lessons she has learned help others. We really have to lift our game so that people get help rather than lampooning or early demise.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Irate residents get loud in Music Bowl noise fight
Irate residents get loud in Music Bowl noise fight: "Trouble between the venue operators, promoters, residents and the Environmental Protection Authority has been brewing at the bowl for a while, but appears to have escalated."
It's true. Creating more living space in cities means there are more people and their needs to consider. Those with clout will win. The shared spaces have to be negotiated. It had to come and this is a perfect example of how there is a clash of interests. The city was always the place for big events. Clearly that is changing...which means the life will change in the city. You can't have events without noise but living with that noise can cut right across your life. I have guests over the Clipsal weekend here because where they live will be constant concert and V8 noise. It's a great event. People love it, but those who live in the city do not have any private space during that time. Sooner or later we'll create sound barrier technology so that noises can be contained or deflected to a better spot! For now, we have to negotiate!!
It's true. Creating more living space in cities means there are more people and their needs to consider. Those with clout will win. The shared spaces have to be negotiated. It had to come and this is a perfect example of how there is a clash of interests. The city was always the place for big events. Clearly that is changing...which means the life will change in the city. You can't have events without noise but living with that noise can cut right across your life. I have guests over the Clipsal weekend here because where they live will be constant concert and V8 noise. It's a great event. People love it, but those who live in the city do not have any private space during that time. Sooner or later we'll create sound barrier technology so that noises can be contained or deflected to a better spot! For now, we have to negotiate!!
Astronaut recovers for second spacewalk
Astronaut recovers for second spacewalk : "Schlegel had been due to take part in Monday's walk but had an undisclosed health problem, delaying the walk."
RSI from all that origami. They become addicted to it.
RSI from all that origami. They become addicted to it.
Jane Fonda drops the c-bomb
Jane Fonda drops the c-bomb : "“It was a slip and obviously she apologises and so do we – we would do nothing to offend the audience, so please accept that apology."
Well, that's what happens when you talk about body bits. Some people are far too colourful in their use of language. My own personal opinion is there is absolutely no room for the c word anywhere in public, but I'm sure they will keep trying because there is no protocol these days...but Jane Fonda was simply talking the truth and it is what those monologues were about. Just making it all normal. For me there is still a time and a place for particular forms of language.
Well, that's what happens when you talk about body bits. Some people are far too colourful in their use of language. My own personal opinion is there is absolutely no room for the c word anywhere in public, but I'm sure they will keep trying because there is no protocol these days...but Jane Fonda was simply talking the truth and it is what those monologues were about. Just making it all normal. For me there is still a time and a place for particular forms of language.
Downer won't confirm new role
Downer won't confirm new role : "ALEXANDER Downer yesterday denied that he and other former Howard government ministers were co-ordinating their resignations from federal parliament, but confirmed he was actively considering his future outside politics."
They had a long term of office under interesting conditions so maybe they do want to get away from it all and try something else. They are not getting any younger and we have changed. Maybe they don't want to be in politics now they are not in the limelight, which is a bit unfortunate since their experience and expertise might be useful to us as a nation and to their party in particular. We need a solid rank of experienced politicians who can be our mentors and counsellors, but obviously a lot of people in the Howard government would prefer to fly their wings elsewhere and that's a bit of a shame but good for them.
They had a long term of office under interesting conditions so maybe they do want to get away from it all and try something else. They are not getting any younger and we have changed. Maybe they don't want to be in politics now they are not in the limelight, which is a bit unfortunate since their experience and expertise might be useful to us as a nation and to their party in particular. We need a solid rank of experienced politicians who can be our mentors and counsellors, but obviously a lot of people in the Howard government would prefer to fly their wings elsewhere and that's a bit of a shame but good for them.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Can the tech community go green?
Can the tech community go green?: "It is a smart meter with a difference, because it stores data for the past four weeks and has a USB socket so you can download it to your computer and plot graphs, look at trends and even upload the information to their community site."
While we are busy thinking petrol and electricity we don't think about our technology use as such and a smart meter to make us think would really help. What about all the servers which are on all the time? Which screens are the best? What about the lights, lamps and extra bits? Which peripherals use the least energy and then that ever pressing question...how on earth do we recycle all this stuff routinely and safely. This is a fabulous article which really gets you thinking.
While we are busy thinking petrol and electricity we don't think about our technology use as such and a smart meter to make us think would really help. What about all the servers which are on all the time? Which screens are the best? What about the lights, lamps and extra bits? Which peripherals use the least energy and then that ever pressing question...how on earth do we recycle all this stuff routinely and safely. This is a fabulous article which really gets you thinking.
Brits refuse to say sorry
Brits refuse to say sorry : "He said the policy of removing indigenous children from their families was based on the theories of English eugenics intellectuals, who believed aboriginality to be a degenerate trait and should be bred out."
When Britain says it is our matter, then they are right. Our matter to resolve. That they cannot say sorry is a bit odd because we are supposed to be in enlightened times . It's as basic as when you find out something horrible has happened to someone , you say sorry. When you find out it is part of your heritage , you wonder how on earth people thought like that so you say sorry. When my brother in law died , people who hardly knew me even said sorry because they knew it was a hard thing for me to manage. It's just about looking at what is happening for others or what has happened for them and saying...sorry...I don't actually want to be a part of that type of thinking because I think it is horrid. if we can repair it ourselves, we are well on the way to some measure of independence because we can look at our history and know how it happened, what we endorse and what we reject. I like Mr. Robertson. he can see the facts in context and know the context makes the people of the time look pretty ill informed in their views. I read about different nations and their history and it makes you feel sad what has happened to some people and how some groups have treated others in such a cruel fashion. You cannot make people feel sorrow though and sometimes that is what you learn about others and that is a good lesson in itself.
When Britain says it is our matter, then they are right. Our matter to resolve. That they cannot say sorry is a bit odd because we are supposed to be in enlightened times . It's as basic as when you find out something horrible has happened to someone , you say sorry. When you find out it is part of your heritage , you wonder how on earth people thought like that so you say sorry. When my brother in law died , people who hardly knew me even said sorry because they knew it was a hard thing for me to manage. It's just about looking at what is happening for others or what has happened for them and saying...sorry...I don't actually want to be a part of that type of thinking because I think it is horrid. if we can repair it ourselves, we are well on the way to some measure of independence because we can look at our history and know how it happened, what we endorse and what we reject. I like Mr. Robertson. he can see the facts in context and know the context makes the people of the time look pretty ill informed in their views. I read about different nations and their history and it makes you feel sad what has happened to some people and how some groups have treated others in such a cruel fashion. You cannot make people feel sorrow though and sometimes that is what you learn about others and that is a good lesson in itself.
Australia ready for 'opt out' organ donation
Australia ready for 'opt out' organ donation: "'Some community leaders are saying that, in fact, Australia is not ready for that yet, ' she said."
Ready or not ready completely misses the point. This is my body. It belongs to me and,in death, it belongs to my family. My body is not community property and there has been sufficient degradation in death whereby anyone can demand a copy of a death certificate. The lack of care and concern in some sectors is worrying. With this matter fresh on my mind I am all too well aware of how the community deals with what is essentially a personal and private matter deserving of the utmost consideration and respect. We are not bits to be traded. I have spoken with my family because I believe it is their decision and it will be what they can manage. No one has the right to overrule me or my family. We know how important organ donation is but it is our decision.
Ready or not ready completely misses the point. This is my body. It belongs to me and,in death, it belongs to my family. My body is not community property and there has been sufficient degradation in death whereby anyone can demand a copy of a death certificate. The lack of care and concern in some sectors is worrying. With this matter fresh on my mind I am all too well aware of how the community deals with what is essentially a personal and private matter deserving of the utmost consideration and respect. We are not bits to be traded. I have spoken with my family because I believe it is their decision and it will be what they can manage. No one has the right to overrule me or my family. We know how important organ donation is but it is our decision.
Sorry, but why are they arguing?
Sorry, but why are they arguing? : "'Kevin Rudd's staff should have known better, I suppose for people who have just come straight up from the Aboriginal tent embassy, who are radicalised activists... a certain amount of hostility is to be expected, but I don't believe anyone who attentively listened to Brendan's speech would have been anything other than very satisfied with it,' Mr Abbott said."
Some people just cannot let the past go , can they? They can't get over the grooves in their thinking and they cannot move on. We loved the speech. We were moved. Some of us clapped and where I was most of the people left about 5 minutes into Brendan Nelson's speech. He was not able to do himself and his party justice because he was hog tied by the people in his party who are clinging to the past. John Howard may or may not have been a good Prime Minister for the time he was there. History will judge that. We have decided we needed to move on. We wanted to change and we wanted someone we could have confidence in and who could help us write a new page in our history. Kevin Rudd is doing that. If we want to be a republic we have to have confident leaders who can give us hope and vision and who have a practical approach. The "what is good for us" and insulting and name calling is gone. We are so over it. It has been a pleasure listening to parliament because speakers are thinking very carefully about what they are saying. They are giving us plenty to think about and they are discussing matters...yes, they are actually having proper discussions. To be a republic we have to take our tough political issues and air them confidently. We have to discuss them fully and ably. We have to have leaders who can think and who will allow open discussion so that all aspects of an issue are seen. Limiting us with insults and name calling is achieving nothing and someone who turns their back is not really doing anything wrong. There were senators who actually did not turn up on one of the most important days in our history. To express our views is good. To take potshots is bad. Not to be there and participate means you actually have no interest in resolving anything. You are not part of the team at all in any way shape or form. I can only say again that Brendan Nelson was doing the best he could with a party that is not engaged and which is rooted in the past. He is prepared to move on and become part of 2008. He is prepared to have a fresh look at things and actually develop his thinking. His position was invidious but he was there and he was a part of it and he tried to do what was wanted of him. I think he needs to think about what he wants for himself....and the rest of us have a real feeling of pride today. We needed that.
Some people just cannot let the past go , can they? They can't get over the grooves in their thinking and they cannot move on. We loved the speech. We were moved. Some of us clapped and where I was most of the people left about 5 minutes into Brendan Nelson's speech. He was not able to do himself and his party justice because he was hog tied by the people in his party who are clinging to the past. John Howard may or may not have been a good Prime Minister for the time he was there. History will judge that. We have decided we needed to move on. We wanted to change and we wanted someone we could have confidence in and who could help us write a new page in our history. Kevin Rudd is doing that. If we want to be a republic we have to have confident leaders who can give us hope and vision and who have a practical approach. The "what is good for us" and insulting and name calling is gone. We are so over it. It has been a pleasure listening to parliament because speakers are thinking very carefully about what they are saying. They are giving us plenty to think about and they are discussing matters...yes, they are actually having proper discussions. To be a republic we have to take our tough political issues and air them confidently. We have to discuss them fully and ably. We have to have leaders who can think and who will allow open discussion so that all aspects of an issue are seen. Limiting us with insults and name calling is achieving nothing and someone who turns their back is not really doing anything wrong. There were senators who actually did not turn up on one of the most important days in our history. To express our views is good. To take potshots is bad. Not to be there and participate means you actually have no interest in resolving anything. You are not part of the team at all in any way shape or form. I can only say again that Brendan Nelson was doing the best he could with a party that is not engaged and which is rooted in the past. He is prepared to move on and become part of 2008. He is prepared to have a fresh look at things and actually develop his thinking. His position was invidious but he was there and he was a part of it and he tried to do what was wanted of him. I think he needs to think about what he wants for himself....and the rest of us have a real feeling of pride today. We needed that.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
So you think you can dance?
We're not reality TV stars, say dancers : "The oldest of the bunch, 29-year-old Sydneysider Kate Wormald, said most would go back to their normal lives after the show."
I think the show has shown so far that the dancers' lives are anything but normal. Some of them had survived considerable adversity and were emotionally vulnerable but had enormously strong spirits. They are dancers. They may not have all been brilliant. They may not have all been inspirational but they all loved dance. We got to see there are so many good dancers out there and I ended up watching the show because I was taken with how good so many of them were. Such life. Those who were let go from the top 100 are now out there and will strengthen and enrich our dance and performing arts in Australia. It had taken a back seat to military clap trap so it is nice to see the Arts take a step forward again because it is uplifting and hopefully more and better funding will be accessible to these artists. The top 20 will no doubt bring us much joy and we need to be stirred and moved again because until recently we have just been shaken. Every day another thing. Dance will help heal and inspire us and dancers offer us so much more than visual entertainment. Their love of dance brings us joy and it really is time to give up being a joyless society. I am looking forward to the show!
I think the show has shown so far that the dancers' lives are anything but normal. Some of them had survived considerable adversity and were emotionally vulnerable but had enormously strong spirits. They are dancers. They may not have all been brilliant. They may not have all been inspirational but they all loved dance. We got to see there are so many good dancers out there and I ended up watching the show because I was taken with how good so many of them were. Such life. Those who were let go from the top 100 are now out there and will strengthen and enrich our dance and performing arts in Australia. It had taken a back seat to military clap trap so it is nice to see the Arts take a step forward again because it is uplifting and hopefully more and better funding will be accessible to these artists. The top 20 will no doubt bring us much joy and we need to be stirred and moved again because until recently we have just been shaken. Every day another thing. Dance will help heal and inspire us and dancers offer us so much more than visual entertainment. Their love of dance brings us joy and it really is time to give up being a joyless society. I am looking forward to the show!
Spurned lover makes 10,000 calls to ex
Spurned lover makes 10,000 calls to ex : "A DUMPED girlfriend plagued her ex with more than 10,000 calls and text messages in 65 days, a British court has heard."
No doubt he has found the whole ordeal harrowing and justice will be done...but the woman is clearly very unbalanced and ill and needs to be treated not put on trial. The difficulty with mental unbalance is it has to go too far before people can be noticed and then they are tried rather than treated. We need a far better mechanism for picking up mental unbalance. Once people become ill then they can sometimes be dangerous and very difficult to deal with. We don't deal with this at all well. With physical illness we can pick up the illness at the first signs of headaches, running noses, temperature or rash. With mental illness we have no early intervention methods and so people involved with people become too distressed and the person themselves becomes quite out of hand so that they are often a danger to themselves and others.
No doubt he has found the whole ordeal harrowing and justice will be done...but the woman is clearly very unbalanced and ill and needs to be treated not put on trial. The difficulty with mental unbalance is it has to go too far before people can be noticed and then they are tried rather than treated. We need a far better mechanism for picking up mental unbalance. Once people become ill then they can sometimes be dangerous and very difficult to deal with. We don't deal with this at all well. With physical illness we can pick up the illness at the first signs of headaches, running noses, temperature or rash. With mental illness we have no early intervention methods and so people involved with people become too distressed and the person themselves becomes quite out of hand so that they are often a danger to themselves and others.
Tears flow in Redfern
Tears flow in Redfern : "EMOTIONS flowed in Sydney's Redfern today as 1,000 people from all over the city crowded into 'The Block' to listen to Kevin Rudd's apology."
It was very moving to see how much that speech meant to our indigenous people. We saw the tears quietly flow and there were quite a few of us who joined in. It was a brilliant speech which did everything it possible could to reconcile us. Kevin Rudd was a statesman who was trying to heal this great divide and he did it so well because the whole speech was so well constructed, so honest, so straight forward and so very moving. It was what we wanted as white people and it was what we needed as a nation and for the second day in a row I was really proud to be an Australian. It has been a long time coming and as the speech quite rightly pointed out there is nothing we can actually say to heal the pain. We can only try to say sorry and openly acknowledge the hurt and wrong. The indigenous people we saw gave us hope we had said the right things and we had a way of walking next to them to try and make things better in the future. What was said needed to be said in a formal way but Kevin Rudd's speech wasn't cold and formal. It honoured the occasion by being as well thought out as it possibly could be and it was open . What we do now is up to all of us and we can have faith the government will guide us in that. We need direction. We need inspiration and we need practical ways of repairing the damage and bringing us all together. It is so important that the aboriginal children have an education because it means then that in this country they can make a choice and they can access our system properly. They need to be bilingual or multilingual so they can be a part of us and we need to make a better effort to learn more about aboriginal languages and culture because what we have done so far has increased our difference and not created the common ground. We need to make an effort with the language stuff. A fantastic day. A good feeling and may we not go back to our old ways. If Brendan Nelson didn't get it quite right it was because he was put in an invidious position by his party some of whom will not acknowledge the indigenous people of this land have suffered too much as a result of white settlement and it is written in black and what all over our land. It is sad they cannot see that saying sorry is how you react to anyone who has been treated badly. I am sorry for Brendan Nelson because his party made it really hard for him to do anything decent this morning and his party did not allow him to speak from his heart. In the end he will look at what he did and said and he will make his own judgements about what is important. He is no fool and he will search his own heart and do his own thinking. It's actually what tribal cultures are about.
It was very moving to see how much that speech meant to our indigenous people. We saw the tears quietly flow and there were quite a few of us who joined in. It was a brilliant speech which did everything it possible could to reconcile us. Kevin Rudd was a statesman who was trying to heal this great divide and he did it so well because the whole speech was so well constructed, so honest, so straight forward and so very moving. It was what we wanted as white people and it was what we needed as a nation and for the second day in a row I was really proud to be an Australian. It has been a long time coming and as the speech quite rightly pointed out there is nothing we can actually say to heal the pain. We can only try to say sorry and openly acknowledge the hurt and wrong. The indigenous people we saw gave us hope we had said the right things and we had a way of walking next to them to try and make things better in the future. What was said needed to be said in a formal way but Kevin Rudd's speech wasn't cold and formal. It honoured the occasion by being as well thought out as it possibly could be and it was open . What we do now is up to all of us and we can have faith the government will guide us in that. We need direction. We need inspiration and we need practical ways of repairing the damage and bringing us all together. It is so important that the aboriginal children have an education because it means then that in this country they can make a choice and they can access our system properly. They need to be bilingual or multilingual so they can be a part of us and we need to make a better effort to learn more about aboriginal languages and culture because what we have done so far has increased our difference and not created the common ground. We need to make an effort with the language stuff. A fantastic day. A good feeling and may we not go back to our old ways. If Brendan Nelson didn't get it quite right it was because he was put in an invidious position by his party some of whom will not acknowledge the indigenous people of this land have suffered too much as a result of white settlement and it is written in black and what all over our land. It is sad they cannot see that saying sorry is how you react to anyone who has been treated badly. I am sorry for Brendan Nelson because his party made it really hard for him to do anything decent this morning and his party did not allow him to speak from his heart. In the end he will look at what he did and said and he will make his own judgements about what is important. He is no fool and he will search his own heart and do his own thinking. It's actually what tribal cultures are about.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Parliament pays tribute to Beazley senior
Parliament pays tribute to Beazley senior : "All sides of Federal Parliament have paid tribute to former MP Kim Beazley senior who died last year."
I heard a lot of this while I was driving this afternoon. I was actually proud to be Australian and to hear our parliamentarians speak so well and so honestly about one of the men who has shaped our country. There wasn't rhetoric. It was very well thought out, careful thinking which honed in on Mr. Beazley's real strengths, the strengths of our country and then the things we needed to consider and think about: the fact we could admire and value someone even if we did not agree with everything they said and did. There was a sense of perspective and appreciation for a man who had made us the Australia we are today and therefore deserving of our respect and thought. I can't remember when I was last pleased to hear a political broadcast. These are good leaders!
I heard a lot of this while I was driving this afternoon. I was actually proud to be Australian and to hear our parliamentarians speak so well and so honestly about one of the men who has shaped our country. There wasn't rhetoric. It was very well thought out, careful thinking which honed in on Mr. Beazley's real strengths, the strengths of our country and then the things we needed to consider and think about: the fact we could admire and value someone even if we did not agree with everything they said and did. There was a sense of perspective and appreciation for a man who had made us the Australia we are today and therefore deserving of our respect and thought. I can't remember when I was last pleased to hear a political broadcast. These are good leaders!
Teens avoid jail for 'brutal' attack
Teens avoid jail for 'brutal' attack : "The Children's Court was told the girl was forced to perform sexual acts, was spat on and had her hair set alight by a group of 11 boys."
So why is the brutal in inverted commas? It was a brutal attack, quoted or unquoted. It really was brutal. In our civilised society? So what exactly did she do to deserve that and how does she feel now? 17 is a pretty critical year for something like that to happen. Just the violence of it. Just the fact she was one girl and there were 11 boys. How did they get the notion that this sort of thing is okay because it is more than anti social. It is mindless and senseless violence. I can't actually believe they can justify it and I don't think we can justify it. These boys aren't even clueless. So how old were they? I feel desperately sorry for the girl and I hope her family can make her well and I hope we, as a society, will stand by her and make her feel strong. That girl will be looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life. I hope the boys have someone looking over their shoulders and watching every move they make. I couldn't trust them.
So why is the brutal in inverted commas? It was a brutal attack, quoted or unquoted. It really was brutal. In our civilised society? So what exactly did she do to deserve that and how does she feel now? 17 is a pretty critical year for something like that to happen. Just the violence of it. Just the fact she was one girl and there were 11 boys. How did they get the notion that this sort of thing is okay because it is more than anti social. It is mindless and senseless violence. I can't actually believe they can justify it and I don't think we can justify it. These boys aren't even clueless. So how old were they? I feel desperately sorry for the girl and I hope her family can make her well and I hope we, as a society, will stand by her and make her feel strong. That girl will be looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life. I hope the boys have someone looking over their shoulders and watching every move they make. I couldn't trust them.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Wire-trap 'could have killed girl'
Wire-trap 'could have killed girl' : "'You could have killed someone, not just hurt my daughter. You could have killed anyone,'' Mr Rose said."
Indeed. Poor wee thing. I can remember whacking into a chain which was strapped across a play park when I was playing with children. I was running and went straight into the chain and really, really hurt my nose and was knocked flat on my back and walloped my head. It might have been my neck. I was just so upset and it damn well hurt...and did quite a bit of damage. But I was a fully grown woman. I could come to terms with it...and I haven't played with kids in a park since!!! That poor wee thing got piano wire across her neck. Had she been bigger and stronger it would have been horrendous. She will be in shock and she needs to be nurtured through this so she doesn't lose her confidence and belief in the community. Obviously the motor cyclists have been driving people crazy and that aspect of the whole sorry story needs to be dealt with more seriously because someone was driven to the piano wire solutions and it was someone with brain under construction stamped on their head. They didn't think of the impact on the whole community. It means citizens feel as though they are powerless and so they are trying to solve problems themselves. Motor cyclists are obviously causing concern and may well do damage of their own. This is a serious situation which needs to be resolved and those who can resolve it need to get involved.
Indeed. Poor wee thing. I can remember whacking into a chain which was strapped across a play park when I was playing with children. I was running and went straight into the chain and really, really hurt my nose and was knocked flat on my back and walloped my head. It might have been my neck. I was just so upset and it damn well hurt...and did quite a bit of damage. But I was a fully grown woman. I could come to terms with it...and I haven't played with kids in a park since!!! That poor wee thing got piano wire across her neck. Had she been bigger and stronger it would have been horrendous. She will be in shock and she needs to be nurtured through this so she doesn't lose her confidence and belief in the community. Obviously the motor cyclists have been driving people crazy and that aspect of the whole sorry story needs to be dealt with more seriously because someone was driven to the piano wire solutions and it was someone with brain under construction stamped on their head. They didn't think of the impact on the whole community. It means citizens feel as though they are powerless and so they are trying to solve problems themselves. Motor cyclists are obviously causing concern and may well do damage of their own. This is a serious situation which needs to be resolved and those who can resolve it need to get involved.
'New evidence' to be presented at Kovco inquest
'New evidence' to be presented at Kovco inquest: "An inquest which has begun into the death of Private Jake Kovco has been told there is a great deal of new evidence to be presented."
There have already been investigations into the death of Private Kovko and nothing has given peace of mind to the family and that is awful. It is bad enough he died, but the truth is out there somewhere and cannot be altered and only the truth will put the family at peace with itself. This case keeps coming back because we want the truth. We are tired of stories and official versions and stuff and nonsense basically. It shows no consideration of the effect on real people. They knew he was in Iraq. They knew there was a risk but it needs to come out so that they can make sense of it. Once they are at peace, we all shall be. If it is for their ears only I'll just be happy to hear they have made sense of it all and can mourn Private Kovko's death in their own way and in their own time.
There have already been investigations into the death of Private Kovko and nothing has given peace of mind to the family and that is awful. It is bad enough he died, but the truth is out there somewhere and cannot be altered and only the truth will put the family at peace with itself. This case keeps coming back because we want the truth. We are tired of stories and official versions and stuff and nonsense basically. It shows no consideration of the effect on real people. They knew he was in Iraq. They knew there was a risk but it needs to come out so that they can make sense of it. Once they are at peace, we all shall be. If it is for their ears only I'll just be happy to hear they have made sense of it all and can mourn Private Kovko's death in their own way and in their own time.
Ramos Horta to be evacuated to Darwin
Ramos Horta to be evacuated to Darwin : "Greens leader Bob Brown says Mr Ramos Horta is a great friend of Australia and he hopes he survives the attack for the sake of East Timor and the world."
Well yes. We have been involved in East Timor for a long time and we have tried to make that a positive role as far as I understand. East Timor is our neighbour and very tricky politically. Who'd be a leader. Mr. Horta is the leader of a democratically elected government but that counts for nothing these days. If it was a legal vote, he should be allowed to be in charge and it is very difficult for us to be so close and then try not to be involved in what are East Timorese issues. We tread a very difficult path here. I am glad we have offered Mr. Horta help because he is someone we all know and with whom we have an understanding. He does deserve to be looked after in a safe haven until he is strong enough to go back and work for his country. It is really hard when nothing can be taken for granted these days and if you elect someone , they can be taken out. If someone wants to contest an election, they can be taken out. We seem to be far too ready to get rid of the very people we need to make strong leadership. We need leaders and we need people who can give those leaders a run for their money. The destructive approach is getting us absolutely nowhere , so I am hoping we can be a part of recovering some sense into the region so that the people of East Timor can just get on with their lives and prosper.
Well yes. We have been involved in East Timor for a long time and we have tried to make that a positive role as far as I understand. East Timor is our neighbour and very tricky politically. Who'd be a leader. Mr. Horta is the leader of a democratically elected government but that counts for nothing these days. If it was a legal vote, he should be allowed to be in charge and it is very difficult for us to be so close and then try not to be involved in what are East Timorese issues. We tread a very difficult path here. I am glad we have offered Mr. Horta help because he is someone we all know and with whom we have an understanding. He does deserve to be looked after in a safe haven until he is strong enough to go back and work for his country. It is really hard when nothing can be taken for granted these days and if you elect someone , they can be taken out. If someone wants to contest an election, they can be taken out. We seem to be far too ready to get rid of the very people we need to make strong leadership. We need leaders and we need people who can give those leaders a run for their money. The destructive approach is getting us absolutely nowhere , so I am hoping we can be a part of recovering some sense into the region so that the people of East Timor can just get on with their lives and prosper.
Education report shows 'little or no improvement since 1964'
Education report shows little or no improvement since 1964: "'We spent a lot of money on getting smaller classes in Australian schools and in the process we allowed teachers' salaries to stagnate. Maybe that was a bad decision in retrospect.'"
Whatever we might think, we need to get hold of the facts. Since 1964 we have more one parent homes, mores students working part time, more students on drugs and getting really drunk . We have mobile phone and game box diversions. We have non attendance and money will not change this. Teachers can only teach if the students are there, value education and if the teachers are competent enough to deliver the skills to alert students. In some countries it is illegal for students to have a part time job while they are at school. So we need to work out what is affecting our results and money may or may not cure it. I suspect it's the sorts of things money has no influence over.
Whatever we might think, we need to get hold of the facts. Since 1964 we have more one parent homes, mores students working part time, more students on drugs and getting really drunk . We have mobile phone and game box diversions. We have non attendance and money will not change this. Teachers can only teach if the students are there, value education and if the teachers are competent enough to deliver the skills to alert students. In some countries it is illegal for students to have a part time job while they are at school. So we need to work out what is affecting our results and money may or may not cure it. I suspect it's the sorts of things money has no influence over.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
NASA delays Atlantis spacewalk
NASA delays Atlantis spacewalk : "No reason was given for the delay."
Shhh! Leave them alone. Didn't you read? They are busy practising their origami.
Shhh! Leave them alone. Didn't you read? They are busy practising their origami.
Hillary's face 'right for the job'
Hillary's face right for the job: "After making quick assessments of each face, the students rated the “perceived competence” of the candidates – but if a student recognised the face, their rating for that candidate was ignored."
Post modernism strikes again. Send them back to school if they don't know who presidential candidates are , if they are ignorant of significant world matters. Look at their face and see if they are competent?! I am speechless. Mind you, over here faces are very important and expressions on faces are very important. We do do a lot of face reading and it's true, we want someone to look the part as well as be the part. I'd like to think , though, students had a sound knowledge of current affair, especially when they are legible or nearly eligible to vote. Tsk. Tsk.
Post modernism strikes again. Send them back to school if they don't know who presidential candidates are , if they are ignorant of significant world matters. Look at their face and see if they are competent?! I am speechless. Mind you, over here faces are very important and expressions on faces are very important. We do do a lot of face reading and it's true, we want someone to look the part as well as be the part. I'd like to think , though, students had a sound knowledge of current affair, especially when they are legible or nearly eligible to vote. Tsk. Tsk.
'Just Say No' to drugs has failed
'Just Say No' to drugs has failed : "I'm not saying you're wrong. The trouble is nobody is listening. Certainly not young people, not even if they have as much to lose as Ben Cousins and Heath Ledger."
Very clever article and extremely well written. The bottom line it's your choice, your drug of choice, your consequences. You can choose slow and painful or quick and painful. You can choose to damage a lot of people. You can choose to lose all you have.You can choose to bring down others. Yes, call in the facts. The facts are really good. And show the pictures. Don't hide from the truth and don't create arguments. Show them the pictures, give them the facts and then, if they choose to go down that road...we have a choice too. We can cut them loose and refuse to help them. How much money does it cost to support rehab programmes and how many resources are being tied up with drug related issues? All of that could go elsewhere to other needs. Yes, we could choose to do that too.
Very clever article and extremely well written. The bottom line it's your choice, your drug of choice, your consequences. You can choose slow and painful or quick and painful. You can choose to damage a lot of people. You can choose to lose all you have.You can choose to bring down others. Yes, call in the facts. The facts are really good. And show the pictures. Don't hide from the truth and don't create arguments. Show them the pictures, give them the facts and then, if they choose to go down that road...we have a choice too. We can cut them loose and refuse to help them. How much money does it cost to support rehab programmes and how many resources are being tied up with drug related issues? All of that could go elsewhere to other needs. Yes, we could choose to do that too.
Parents warned over phone porn
AdelaideNow... Parents warned over phone porn: "'If they cannot do so willingly, then perhaps they need to delete offending items as, if they are in possession of pornography or have passed material on to others, they put themselves at risk of having committed a criminal offence.'"
We've got anti porn laws, but as if the kids are going to give a damn. Technology makes it very easy to bypass morals and laws. Invent your own values and see what happens. Schools are not responsible for mobile phone content nor laptop content. Students are. Parents are the first line of education and legal and non legal issues ought to be on the family table for discussion, but who eats together these days and who actually sees their parents? families are quite fragmented and technology is opportunistic. If it can be done, then they do it and laws are no longer relevant. We have quite a problem on our hands here but the buck stops with the kids. They are old enough to know the law. We need to decide whether we want laws or not and whether we want porn or not and then act.
We've got anti porn laws, but as if the kids are going to give a damn. Technology makes it very easy to bypass morals and laws. Invent your own values and see what happens. Schools are not responsible for mobile phone content nor laptop content. Students are. Parents are the first line of education and legal and non legal issues ought to be on the family table for discussion, but who eats together these days and who actually sees their parents? families are quite fragmented and technology is opportunistic. If it can be done, then they do it and laws are no longer relevant. We have quite a problem on our hands here but the buck stops with the kids. They are old enough to know the law. We need to decide whether we want laws or not and whether we want porn or not and then act.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Bikies invited into Parliament
AdelaideNow... Bikies invited into Parliament: "Under the laws, scheduled to be debated next week in the House of Assembly, South Australians who have contact with bikies at least six times a year will face a minimum of five years in jail."
I don't like it and I don't even know any bikie people . Do people who regularly ride motor cycles get called bikies too or is it just gang members? And if you know gang members you can't visit them? If they are your family and you're not a bikie? I think we have lost it. I think this needs a long , hard debate and yes, the bikie gang leaders need to be informed because that makes us a democracy . The laws will affect them and they need to know. Then everyone else needs to know and it needs to be debated long and hard. What is here sounds unfair and yet I do believe we need to restore the balance of power back to the community away from gangs.
I don't like it and I don't even know any bikie people . Do people who regularly ride motor cycles get called bikies too or is it just gang members? And if you know gang members you can't visit them? If they are your family and you're not a bikie? I think we have lost it. I think this needs a long , hard debate and yes, the bikie gang leaders need to be informed because that makes us a democracy . The laws will affect them and they need to know. Then everyone else needs to know and it needs to be debated long and hard. What is here sounds unfair and yet I do believe we need to restore the balance of power back to the community away from gangs.
Private schools 'overpaid by $2bn'
Private schools overpaid by $2bn : "PRIVATE schools have been overfunded by more than $2 billion over four years and some will be overpaid by as much as $23 million each in the next funding cycle, according to a leaked report by the federal Education Department."
Yes, and they are all boasting about and advertising their new performing arts centres, wellbeing centres, new halls, gymnasiums....they have been building up a storm and the state school kids must be looking at that as they go to their own schools and think the country is all about swanky buildings.
Yes, and they are all boasting about and advertising their new performing arts centres, wellbeing centres, new halls, gymnasiums....they have been building up a storm and the state school kids must be looking at that as they go to their own schools and think the country is all about swanky buildings.
Actor Renfro died of heroin overdose
Actor Renfro died of heroin overdose : "ACTOR Brad Renfro, a former child star in films such as The Client, died of an accidental overdose of heroin, the Los Angeles coroner's office said in a report."
Another victim of the drug cartels and drugs do not care who they kill. Overdosing on heroin is one of the side effects of that drug. So where's the source? Afghanistan? I thought we were in there cleaning the place up? Aren't we supposed to be a big presence there? So what are we doing, guarding the poppy fields as the taleban harvest their crops and send it past the military to our countries? We're doing well and our strategies are obviously working. At least we were lucky to pick up one lot which had got through to Adelaide. We are going to have to be mighty careful. Heroin is a great seducer and kills slowly and painfully.
Another victim of the drug cartels and drugs do not care who they kill. Overdosing on heroin is one of the side effects of that drug. So where's the source? Afghanistan? I thought we were in there cleaning the place up? Aren't we supposed to be a big presence there? So what are we doing, guarding the poppy fields as the taleban harvest their crops and send it past the military to our countries? We're doing well and our strategies are obviously working. At least we were lucky to pick up one lot which had got through to Adelaide. We are going to have to be mighty careful. Heroin is a great seducer and kills slowly and painfully.
The mine that's swallowing a town
The mine that's swallowing a town : "With gold prices hitting record modern-day highs, its North American owners plan to make the Super Pit even bigger, unlocking billions of dollars' worth of extra gold and extending the mine's life through to 2017. The expansion would make the mine 4km long, 1.6km wide and 600m deep, enough to fit two Eiffel Towers on top of each other."Overseas owners are hardly going to care what is happening to our landscape, our environment , our locals if there is money to be made. It's gold. Why would they care about WA when gold can fetch so much on the world market and they don't even live here? The mine expansion is daily rocking the city. The extensions will bring it within 200m of homes. The company is the nation's single biggest emitter of mercury and has a poor record with pollutant control. Our fault for selling it to them. Our fault for not looking after our own. Our fault for not being more vigilant, but heh, it's money. Billions of dollars so...meh. When I first saw the picture I thought it must have been a new Australian art work. It looks astounding. A mine in WA is no big deal, but mines have looked after our country. Not this one. EPA appears to be non compliant with regulations and is arguing technicalities, which is a pretty flimsy approach, so the residents and town are under threat. We are learning a very expensive lesson and it is about time Australia came up to speed.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Crowds may see sorry on the big screen outside
Crowds may see sorry on the big screen outside: "'Our feeling is, just from what we hear, a lot of Canberra people and also people from around the country want to be part of this event, want to be here to support the Stolen Generations and support the Parliament for the important step that's being taken,' a spokeswoman said."
We do and of course it's bloomin' unprecedented. No one has healed the great divide before. No one has made us one nation before. Of course we want to participate in it. Of course we want to see it. This is good history and I thought about it at the supermarket today when I saw an aboriginal family there. They weren't speaking English. It needs to be done in their language/es too...they need to be able to understand first hand what we are doing and we should give them subtitles or a dubbed version on big screens in their communities and then they will maybe understand there are so many of us who want to make that gesture of saying sorry...that we actually know they have other languages they have a right to use and that English is a second or third language for them. We need to bridge those psychological gaps now and we need to validate their linguistic heritage as well...and I am certain we'll all feel so much better for it. The rest will take time and thought.
We do and of course it's bloomin' unprecedented. No one has healed the great divide before. No one has made us one nation before. Of course we want to participate in it. Of course we want to see it. This is good history and I thought about it at the supermarket today when I saw an aboriginal family there. They weren't speaking English. It needs to be done in their language/es too...they need to be able to understand first hand what we are doing and we should give them subtitles or a dubbed version on big screens in their communities and then they will maybe understand there are so many of us who want to make that gesture of saying sorry...that we actually know they have other languages they have a right to use and that English is a second or third language for them. We need to bridge those psychological gaps now and we need to validate their linguistic heritage as well...and I am certain we'll all feel so much better for it. The rest will take time and thought.
Scientists developing origami spacecraft
Scientists developing origami spacecraft : "A SPACECRAFT made of folded paper zooming through the skies may sound far-fetched, but Japanese scientists plan to launch paper planes from the International Space Station to see if they make it back to Earth."
So, that's what they are doing up on the ISS. I often think of them up there day in and day out and wonder how they keep themselves from going batty. Origami! Of course...and fly the little planes back here and then...and then they'll eventually turn them into unmanned craft. I guess they have to do something up there and this all sounds terribly serious. So, have they tried blowing bubbles?
So, that's what they are doing up on the ISS. I often think of them up there day in and day out and wonder how they keep themselves from going batty. Origami! Of course...and fly the little planes back here and then...and then they'll eventually turn them into unmanned craft. I guess they have to do something up there and this all sounds terribly serious. So, have they tried blowing bubbles?
Care death doctors face review
Care death doctors face review: "DOCTORS acted 'improperly' and 'undesirably' by cremating a woman before reporting her death, a court has ruled."
I heard this story on the way home today and I was really disturbed by it, especiallybecause we have recently had a death in our family and no doctor has the right to order a cremation before the death is reported. No doctor. No one. It is something which the family needs to do and set the time for. It is outrageous. I was choked up because it hit home so hard of what that might have meant to me if that lady belonged to me. It's not clear from the story, nor the news item whether the family was actually included in this bizarre behaviour and allowed to have a proper funeral. The husband appears to have signed one death certificates and then there appears to have been another and the lady appears to have died in a very odd fashion without her loved ones there. The news programme was discussing things which might help the protocol in nursing homes. A bit of compassion, consideration and common sense wouldn't go astray. It is abominable. I haven't got enough bad words for this whole sorry affair if this is what really occurred and I feel really upset for the family. You see, it is a moment which cannot be dignified through them now so it's another way our current sloppy society has degraded privacy and personal matters. The whole world just romps over people these days and that is just horrible. We need to respect personal moments and private matters. Quite frankly it needs to be investigated further and I think doctors themselves should offer their considered opinions and suggestions. It is bringing shame on a lot of decent professionals.
I heard this story on the way home today and I was really disturbed by it, especiallybecause we have recently had a death in our family and no doctor has the right to order a cremation before the death is reported. No doctor. No one. It is something which the family needs to do and set the time for. It is outrageous. I was choked up because it hit home so hard of what that might have meant to me if that lady belonged to me. It's not clear from the story, nor the news item whether the family was actually included in this bizarre behaviour and allowed to have a proper funeral. The husband appears to have signed one death certificates and then there appears to have been another and the lady appears to have died in a very odd fashion without her loved ones there. The news programme was discussing things which might help the protocol in nursing homes. A bit of compassion, consideration and common sense wouldn't go astray. It is abominable. I haven't got enough bad words for this whole sorry affair if this is what really occurred and I feel really upset for the family. You see, it is a moment which cannot be dignified through them now so it's another way our current sloppy society has degraded privacy and personal matters. The whole world just romps over people these days and that is just horrible. We need to respect personal moments and private matters. Quite frankly it needs to be investigated further and I think doctors themselves should offer their considered opinions and suggestions. It is bringing shame on a lot of decent professionals.
South Australia to stay GM-free
South Australia to stay GM-free : "Mr Rann said the Government was yet to be convinced that allowing GM crops would have a positive impact on marketing the state's food and wine to important export destinations around the world."
GM crops are a way of getting hold of the world food markets and they are crops which will support chemical companies.Funny that we have seen bees disappear. How convenient. It is important to stick to the facts and there are no facts which have come out which suggest they are good for us, will help farmers and are biologically sound. They will, however, be able to be more easily manipulated by global companies, can be made sterile and herbicide dependant. No one will be able to grow their own crops from collected seed. The efforts overseas appear to have had poor success and a lot of the GM corn has been dumped on our market because it is inferior. Get the facts and experiences from overseas. GM crops have a big impact on the environment and I haven't seen any country praise them yet. In the end , standing our ground may only be a matter of honour because of market manipulation, but it is better to try because we need proper crops which produce proper food. We don't want GM food.
GM Crops
GM Crops 2
GM crops are a way of getting hold of the world food markets and they are crops which will support chemical companies.Funny that we have seen bees disappear. How convenient. It is important to stick to the facts and there are no facts which have come out which suggest they are good for us, will help farmers and are biologically sound. They will, however, be able to be more easily manipulated by global companies, can be made sterile and herbicide dependant. No one will be able to grow their own crops from collected seed. The efforts overseas appear to have had poor success and a lot of the GM corn has been dumped on our market because it is inferior. Get the facts and experiences from overseas. GM crops have a big impact on the environment and I haven't seen any country praise them yet. In the end , standing our ground may only be a matter of honour because of market manipulation, but it is better to try because we need proper crops which produce proper food. We don't want GM food.
GM Crops
GM Crops 2
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Australian tourist numbers down
Australian tourist numbers down : "INBOUND tourism to Australia is lagging behind the rest of the world, with visitor numbers increasing just 2 per cent compared with a global average of 6 per cent growth last year."
We've had massive floods, incessant bushfires , stringent water restrictions...sharks, high petrol prices..who is going to come here to look at dry, crsipy bits, flooded bits, pay through the nose to travel around, pee on the lemon tree and watch the dried up Murray?? The news is out there. The tourists I've met here are having a whale of a time, but we do not sound good and we are not easy to navigate if you are unfamiliar with the size of our land and its current water deprived state. Been down to Goolwa lately??!
We've had massive floods, incessant bushfires , stringent water restrictions...sharks, high petrol prices..who is going to come here to look at dry, crsipy bits, flooded bits, pay through the nose to travel around, pee on the lemon tree and watch the dried up Murray?? The news is out there. The tourists I've met here are having a whale of a time, but we do not sound good and we are not easy to navigate if you are unfamiliar with the size of our land and its current water deprived state. Been down to Goolwa lately??!
Clinton, Obama start from scratch
Clinton, Obama start from scratch : "BONE-WEARY from the most gruelling presidential quest ever, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama awoke to a daunting truth after Super Tuesday - their battle is effectively starting over from scratch."
Piffle!!If they had any sense they would realise they are making each other tough and strong. If they thought about it they would realise they are forcing America to think really hard about what they want as a country now and how much they want what they want. If they looked each other in the eye they would realise they are on the same side, they want the same thing for America and the best thing they could do would be to really pull out all the stops and have a great race to the finish and test each other's metal. Then they need to sit down and whoever wins needs to honour the other by making them Vice President because, hell, together they would be a formidable team and America would get the much needed renovation and strength it needs..
Piffle!!If they had any sense they would realise they are making each other tough and strong. If they thought about it they would realise they are forcing America to think really hard about what they want as a country now and how much they want what they want. If they looked each other in the eye they would realise they are on the same side, they want the same thing for America and the best thing they could do would be to really pull out all the stops and have a great race to the finish and test each other's metal. Then they need to sit down and whoever wins needs to honour the other by making them Vice President because, hell, together they would be a formidable team and America would get the much needed renovation and strength it needs..
Police probe fights, bullying on YouTube
Police probe fights, bullying on YouTube : "'I think YouTube at the moment's probably misused along the line for that. People have got to start to become responsible.'"
The law is the law and it needs to be enforced YouTube or not. Kids cannot be allowed to think they are above the law nor should they be molly coddled. We've tried the understanding, we have tried the talking and reasoning. Now just shut the behaviour down down because YouTube is actually a good site and it just gets polluted with highly questionable activity. They cannot police everything. We can. We can run out of patience with destructive, anti social twits. We don't have to apologise. They do. We have to act.
The law is the law and it needs to be enforced YouTube or not. Kids cannot be allowed to think they are above the law nor should they be molly coddled. We've tried the understanding, we have tried the talking and reasoning. Now just shut the behaviour down down because YouTube is actually a good site and it just gets polluted with highly questionable activity. They cannot police everything. We can. We can run out of patience with destructive, anti social twits. We don't have to apologise. They do. We have to act.
Whale kill photos misleading
Whale kill photos misleading, Japanese say : "'It is necessary to conduct random sampling of the Antarctic minke population to obtain accurate statistical data.'"
Are the whales dead? Were they taken from the Southern Ocean? Is there an adult whale and a young whale? Do you think we can tell if whales are dead or not? We do not like whales being killed. We do not want them to be killed. We will be even more concerned if that is a baby whale and we believe the Southern Ocean is a whale sanctuary and we wanted that. We want whales to live. We have people studying whales here. When it comes to animals we are not easily mislead because we are very particular about facts.
Are the whales dead? Were they taken from the Southern Ocean? Is there an adult whale and a young whale? Do you think we can tell if whales are dead or not? We do not like whales being killed. We do not want them to be killed. We will be even more concerned if that is a baby whale and we believe the Southern Ocean is a whale sanctuary and we wanted that. We want whales to live. We have people studying whales here. When it comes to animals we are not easily mislead because we are very particular about facts.