Mobile phone message trips up would-be fraud

AdelaideNow... Mobile phone message trips up would-be fraud: "Meanwhile a search of the car allegedly turned up a mobile phone belonging to the man and when the messages were checked, the most recent had been requesting someone to pick him up from the accident scene."

Oh dear...so much for the plans of mice and men. Undone by our very own technology. The police are on the ball!!

Nine-year-old on the run with $10,000

Nine-year-old on the run with $10,000 : "The boy ran away from his home in a suburb of the capital after his mother grounded him for not doing his homework, the Jakarta Post reported."

And once they know he is safe and sound I am sure he will be grounded for the rest of his life! He really doesn't understand just how much at risk he is now at the parents must be worried sick. I hope he is found.

Lisa Curry Kenny recovering from heart op

Curry Kenny recovering from heart op : "'Training was going really well and then, one day, I just didn't feel right, so for the past two months I've been undergoing tests to determine why I've been feeling unwell, but it was my paramedic training partner who guessed what it was,'' she said."

It certainly pays to stop and pay attention and then to persist. Lisa Curry Kenny is someone we all know and admire. I am pretty certain she will share all of this with the general public when she is fit, well and ready. She is a guiding light in the community and will help more people pay attention to heart conditions. I hope all continues to go well for her because she has given us a lot.

Mobiles 'more harmful than smoking'

Mobiles 'more harmful than smoking' : "“There is a significant and increasing body of evidence – to date at least eight comprehensive clinical studies internationally and one long-term meta-analysis – for a link between mobile phone usage and certain brain tumours.”"

Yes, we need to listen. We need to look at the facts and we are coming up to a time where long term use can be documented. Bluetooth devices are going to prove another area of study. We have all these things and for many of us they are helpful. The work arounds will come eventually, but we need to listen to any advice and information which comes to our attention from the people who ought to know.

Switch off to save planet goes global

Switch off to save planet goes global : "The British arm of internet search engine Google turned its home page black and added the message: 'We've turned the lights out. Now it's your turn.'"

This is fantastic. People have been creative, funny and dedicated. This earth Hour has put people back on the planet instead of consumers and statistics. We are real people who can make a difference...and have a laugh at the same time.

Clinton should stay in race

Clinton should stay in race: Obama : "Party chief Howard Dean this week warned both sides to unify soon to avoid handing November's presidential election to the Republicans, and a top Obama backer, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, called openly for Clinton to quit."

Can't believe it. America must be like France and can't bear the thought of a woman being good enough to run their country...that only a man can do the job of President. Hillary Clinton has all the credentials and she does not need to be patronised by being given permission to continue her campaign or not.She has a good brain. She'll use it. I can't think why anyone would come this far and then bail out. I don't know why anyone would suggest it. You don't expect jockeys to dismount half way around the race track and you don't ask Olympic swimmers to get out of the pool when they are in the middle of going for a medal. The best person will win. This race to the White House has been formidable and Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have really made each other strong.

Daylight savings change creates time bug

Daylight savings change creates time bug : "'The fact that the rules have changed and those rules haven't been reflected back into the tables in the computer, means the computer has got the wrong idea about what the time is.'"

It's not a bug, it's a programming implementation dip. I do believe this was the weekend we were going to change back and now they have changed their minds and put it to next weekend. They really needn't bother. We are over it. We have done stinking hot day after day and now we have been thrown into freezing cold and wet...so to have the times changed on us next weekend so we are getting up an hour earlier than now by putting the clocks back, may well send people over the top and round the bend. The computers didn't get it wrong. The people who programme them didn't update the information . My one hasn't been a problem but my daughter's changed over.

SA scientists develop radiation detector robot

SA scientists develop radioactive detection robot: "The so-called robotic watchdog can be operated by remote control from up to 350 metres away, meaning dangerous substances can be investigated from a safe distance."

We could have our own K-9. How cool is that? Needs to be sent up to Arkaroola quick smart that's for sure.

Le smirting

Smirting - Wikipédia: "Le smirting (/'smɜːtɪŋ/) est une nouvelle pratique de séduction consistant à flirter tout en fumant à l'extérieur d'un lieu public au sein duquel le tabagisme est interdit (lieu de travail, café, restaurant, etc.) — le terme est d'ailleurs un mot-valise formé à partir de « smoking » et « flirting », qui désignent respectivement le fait de fumer et de flirter."

Only the French could do this!! They have a new word brought about by their laws anti-tabac which came into force on the 1st January this year. I know, I know, about time because we have been doing it for years. We are not allowed to smoke in restaurants etc etc. It's just come in in France but it has taken very little time for the French to realise that these laws have had a wonderful spin off. It's almost like speed dating. They have the word "flumer" for "flirting" and "fumer" (smoking) but they seem to be going with "le smirting" ...smoking and flirting. So while you are outside having your smoke break you can use it as a time to meet and greet and perhaps go back inside more hopeful than when you went out...because outside you have something to talk about...the cold, the smoking habit, the time you are wasting...but you can also borrow someone's lighter and strike up a conversation....ah, l'amour.

Earth Hour around the globe

Earth Hour around the globe : "'There's 370 cities and municipalities taking part that we know about, and many others as well, so we only need 50 cities of two million people and we'll do it."

I hear my neighbours next door left their outside light glaring through Earth Hour and beyond. The rest of our area was solidly supporting it. I was over at my sister's for dinner and we did our bit and broke out the frangipani candles. it was so calming and soothing. Her whole neighbourhood participated. it's great. Most lights were still out on my drive back home so I daresay others felt like we did..the candle light was good medicine. Electric lights are too harsh!!

Turn-off plea to help the planet

Turn-off plea to help the planet: "At the Hyatt Regency Adelaide, guests will receive a 'turn-off service' in place of the regular 'turn down service', where housekeeping will turn off everyone's TVs and lights for them."

I am proud of Adelaide. We like getting involved in good things and once someone shows us the light...we turn it off for an hour!!! That is such a good article because now I realise we are all getting behind it and the snowball effect has done its job around Adelaide. Well, I'm ready for Earth Hour...are you?

Model wife proves Sarkozy's best asset

Model wife proves Sarkozy's best asset : "Until the 36-hour visit to London, Sarkozy's glitzy marriage had symbolised a presidency heavy on headlines and flash jewellery but light on substantive reform and presidential gravitas, helping to earn him the nickname 'President Bling Bling'."

France is surrounded by well groomed, beautifully coiffed, elegant, well presented women of style and substance ,so Carli Bruni may well be an asset to President Sarkozy overseas, but in his own country they are watching and listening and rightly so. Is he about democracy or is he about himself? Are the French being hood winked and railroaded like we were under Mr. Howard? John Howard changed us onto such a different path until we were suffocating. Our creativity and enthusiasm is back now and we are valuing and cherishing the positive atmosphere we have now. The French are right to listen and watch. They have survived far more than a Sarkozy consequently they have the history, skills and talents to manage and limit someone who harms their democracy in the ways ours was harmed. We ended up with no democracy at all , John Howard stood alone and we were diminished. The French won't be worried about whether Carla Bruni is a hit overseas or not. They will be looking at the changes which have been made in their country. They will be looking at Tibet and they will be looking at the technological shifts and changes. All that over un petit noir or a decent red. Bon courage et bonne continuation!

Police save swimmer from crocodiles

Police save swimmer from crocodiles : "'He was very intoxicated and started basically abusing police for the fact that we were shooting at crocodiles,'' Constable Stanley said."

The story is hilarious but it might well have been tragic. The local man who called the police was quick to act. The police were quick to respond and then dealt with it efficiently so that the man was saved from the crocodiles. So was he pleased? No, not at all. he was too piddled to be grateful. he lectured the police instead about hurting the crocodiles. Oh dear. I am certain police will still persist in their stupidity of trying to save people from crocs...good on them...and may the man's head hurt for a while. maybe they just need to bang a few saucepans around him for a while. The whole scene sounds hilarious though. So bloomin' Australian.

2020 summit

AdelaideNow... Full list of participants: "HERE is the full list of 1000 participants in Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's 2020 summit."

This is history in the making and these people are going to help make history. It's good to see the list and it is great to have 1000 Australians now who will provide some intense input into the future development of our country. it will change us. We are already changed. We are ready to talk more readily about the things which are affecting us. We are not rushing around all the time. We have started to listen to each other and in doing that we have been formulating thoughts and ideas which can be used. it takes time to create positive change. It is not something you do on the run because to build something sound , you have to think and pay attention. It's been great. Just great. We are over the snap decisions, the expedience and the jargonistic clap trap which have all amounted to smoke and mirrors....nothing. Not even fresh air.

Earth Hour 2008

See the difference you can make - Earth Hour 2008: "It is about simple changes that will collectively make a difference – from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty, to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby."

Are you ready? It's 8-9pm EST Saturday night. We're ready!!

South Australia confused over end of daylight saving

South Australia confused over end of daylight saving: "While the summer time period has traditionally ended on the last weekend of March, clocks this year will not go back an hour until next weekend, the first weekend of April."

I wasn't aware we were confused. We are past waiting. Fed up more like it. I just want my hour back. I am always very resentful when that hour is taken off me so I am always waiting until we get it back and I savour every minute of it. We have been waiting and waiting and waiting. it seems too late now and they might just as well leave it. We are over it. We won't get it confused because we are told and we are warned and the information is there and before our very eyes on the Net, on TV , in the papers...and our computers update. Just hurry up and get on with it because , truly, I want my hour back.

End of Mitsubishi opens way to new State Government development

End of Mitsubishi opens way to new State Government development: "About 100 workers gathered inside the factory today for an official function to mark the production of the last vehicles, with one, Mario Bosio, describing it as a sad day for the company and staff."

It is a sad day. It'll be sadder if those workers don't get new jobs in a hurry. People have offered and will keep offering and I hope our team effort will pay off for the workers. The best thing they can know is we are standing along side them. I am so pleased some important people went along today to show some solidarity and compassion in what is a heart rending event for our state. It means we can haul together and fix this blow together. It was so important for notables to be there and I am proud of us for doing that and for the government to step in and make an offer on the site. There is so much history there. So much of us. It needs to be treated with respect and we really are hoping those workers will be snapped up now by other companies. They at least have some good transferable skills.

Drug-toting youths flag down cop car

Drug-toting youths flag down cop car : "When they saw what they thought was their ute coming towards them, they flagged it down, only to discover it was a police car."

Hilarious. If we can nail drugs with a smile on our faces, so much the better. Looks like we have to get them one at a time. Silly buggas.

Public hospitals can't handle extra training

Public hospitals can't handle extra training: AMA : "'For all these students and junior doctors you need extra trainers, and extra trainers means you need to retain and increase the staff on hospitals - unless we're using the private sector for training,' he said."

Maybe we need virtual hospitals. Maybe we need to be looking at our technology to help solve some of this. Maybe private hospitals do need to be involved but that will change the nature of being a private patient. Maybe we need to create smaller teaching hospitals that are dedicated to particular forms of treatment. We need the hospital staff and we need the medical staff. We need to think about this and come up with some good ideas which we can put into practice.

Teen guilty of schoolgirl's murder

Teen guilty of schoolgirl's murder: "During the trial, the court was told Miss Burgess gave a first name, high school name and grade that matched the teenager before she died."

How awful for the parents and friends of Tania Burgess. How strong must the girl have been that, after being stabbed 48 times (48??)she, as a 15 year old could summon the energy and courage to give the information needed to help solve her crime. The only comfort this family has is that they created a young girl who had presence of mind and enormous courage at such a moment. The boy was 16 at the time. How do we create children like this? 48 times is an awful lot of times to stab someone. He is obviously in need of all the help he can get. How do you help and trust someone like that? We need to understand him. We do not need another boy like this.

Triple-zero hero saves mum's life

Triple-zero hero saves mum's life : "Constable Travis Cusack, who went to the house, said young Noah's actions proved how important it was for parents to educate their children about how to call triple zero."

Mum can be very proud of her little boy. Three years old and he has saved her life. children can be very good at remembering procedures if you take the time to teach them. They will think and respond. This little boy is proof that children can be remarkable in times of need.

Genealogist links Obama to Pitt, Clinton to Jolie

Genealogist links Obama to Pitt, Clinton to Jolie : "Clinton, who is of French-Canadian descent on her mother's side, is also a distant cousin of singers Madonna, Celine Dion and Alanis Morissette.

Obama, the son of a white woman from Kansas and a black man from Kenya, can call six US presidents, including George W Bush, his cousins."

How bizarre is that? Hillary Clinton linked to Angelina Jolie and Barack Obama related to Brad Pitt! it becomes more and more interesting and I thought Adelaide was where we were all linked in some way. There are some incredible links you find here that you didn't even know about! The really odd thing is they are both ninth cousins of these stars! Weirder and weirder. Whoever wins it is going to be one helluva party!

Huge Antarctic ice shelf disintegrating

Huge Antarctic ice shelf disintegrating: "These kinds of events, we don't see them very often. But we want to understand them better because these are the things that lead to a complete loss of the ice shelf.'"

Yes, indeed. it is very important we understand clearly how this is occurring.

Victoria signs on to $10bn federal takeover of the River Murray

Victoria signs on to $10bn federal takeover of the River Murray: "The deal was brokered in a series of intense negotiations last night and at today's Council of Australian Governments meeting in Adelaide."

It's about trust. The one thing I have liked about Mr. Rann is that he could play John Howard at his own game and that was good for us. Steve Brumby was put into a corner and it was unfortunate. Mr. Rudd appears to have been able to talk his way through all of this to everyone's satisfaction and it is about removing the fear factor and providing a safe direction for us all. The openness helps us work together and takes away targets. In this way we focus on the problem...and that is our poor River Murray. It needs everyone onside as it is a hugely long river which feeds so many of us. We do need an independent body to look after the Murray and a body which can work with the states to solve the water problems...and it cannot be too soon. Now , at least, we can hopefully get some health and strength back into our river and our nation. Team effort and it's great.

AdelaideNow... Young people on the move - report

AdelaideNow... Young people on the move : "Migrants arriving in 2006-07 had a median age of 27, and for people heading abroad it was 29."

Not surprising really because travel is relatively cheap, the internet has made the world accessible to so many and the young are the ones who will forge a global perspective for our planet. To do that successfully they need to know the world and so it's natural they want to travel and broaden their horizons and knowledge. They don't have to look things up in books, watch documentaries on the television. They can live the dream and find out for themselves. There are a lot of global companies, there are a lot of casual and contract positions, so anyone can fill them. The young go places to learn languages and cultures and they will be prepared to take this world a step further for us and it will be as a global community which knows how to co operate. We won't talk of foreigners nor aliens. We shall know each other and understand each other better. The young are building bridges instead of walls and that is a good thing.

Climate change could devastate Aust fauna

Climate change could devastate Aust fauna: "The report's author, Lesley Hughes, says many native species are vulnerable to climate change because they live in small habitats and will not easily be able to move if conditions become unsuitable."

We neither respect nor value our wild life. We do not realise if we do not care and take action then everything will turn into pigeons as it has overseas. Our unique and beautiful creatures can be mercilessly threatened by us. To add climate change problems to it means they are living a harassed existence and truly, we need to wake up to ourselves. people want them gone because they make noise or a mess. We excavate and destroy their land to build houses. We make their habitat smaller. We never plan for them and then we do things like kill and cull because they are in the way of our urban sprawl. Would be interesting if they killed and culled us because we make too much noise and get in their way. I left for work this morning and was totally taken aback to see a kangaroo hopping along the street. I live in the suburbs but not far form the scrub. The wild life has been coming in here because it has been hot and dry and their food and water has dried up....and we keep clearing land for yet more housing estates. We need to have a plan we and we need to include our native species in that plan. It's horrible that we don't.

Drug use rife in Australian workforce

Drug use rife in Australian workforce: "'There should not be open slather testing of employees or whenever they feel like it,' Mr Fary said."

We have to work alongside them and we have to rely on them or work instead of them. For many of us drugs in the workplace wouldn't be an issue, but it does appear to be a serious issue in some jobs. So let's get this out in the open. If they brought in random drug testing, would I be worried? No. Would I be offended? No. I have nothing to lose and I have so much to gain because I am sick and tired of the way drugs have brought us all down and how they are just impacting on everything. The way i look at it , is we have to be vigilant and thorough is getting rid of them where we don't want them...and to make them go back where they belong. Not here. Not with us. Not in our community. They cost too much. They damage too many people and they are doing us harm. Open slather is a bit of an emotive way of putting it but I guess I have had a gutful of the open slather on drugs ( and mobile phones in public but that's another story!). That's my tuppence worth...what about yours? Let's get this one nailed.

OzHarvest

OzHarvest: "Every day in our city, thousands of kilos of high-quality, nutritious food is thrown away, while elsewhere people go hungry."

If you are serious about helping the hungry at home you could do worse than consult the Oz harvest site. It's a wonderful organisation which is helping get food around the city. It has released its first annual report after 3 years of operation and in February it opened the Canberra branch. I hope this is the year we can look at making sure all Australians have sufficient to eat because we have become the wasteful and the deprived. We would feel so much better if everyone was okay. There are lots of ways to offer help.

Kids aspire to join bikie gangs

Kids aspire to join bikie gangs : "'Mike Rann is creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. By declaring war on bikies he has given young criminals the aspiration to become bikies.'"

The blame game is so easy. Pick your target and away you go. No real looking at cause and effect. No real facts and no real evidence. Just a thought. Ah well, yes, it must all be Mike Rann's fault these kids are amoral . Has nothing to do with us, our lifestyle, our parenting. Nothing at all. We have a lot of things we don't want. We don't aspire to them, though. If the kids want to aspire to being bikies it says more about the attraction of gangs than anything. It also means they are limited in their options and are looking for a hard life. Why is that? Drugs. I suppose that is Mike Rann's fault too.

'Person travelled in boot during car chase'

'Person travelled in boot during car chase' : "Two passengers, a 14-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy, were taken to hospital in Melbourne with serious head injuries."

The losing control and hitting a tree is becoming common place these days and it is a worry. Safe driving and taking corners at a lower speed with tyres in good condition seems to be neglected. I don't think they are ready for a licence yet. The girls are very young. Surely there wasn't someone in the boot as well? It's hard to think why they'd travel in a car boot.

Hidden danger lurking above your head

Hidden danger lurking above your head : "“If octopus straps must be used, don’t overstretch them and don’t tighten them by pulling straight towards yourself – stand well to one side,” he said."

Exactly! Safety first. I'd be lost without my octopus straps and they work wonders where and when I need them...but I always use caution and think about what I am doing. I keep different sizes for different purposes. you cannot over stretch them...they do rebound in the most frightening way and I could well imagine the injuries would be horrendous. It's a matter of thinking. Always thinking.

Price rises won't break your back

Price rises won't break your back: "'It'll be significant, it won't be overwhelming, it won't be a doubling, it will be well below that, but significant,' Prof Garnaut said on Network Ten."

All these increases are starting to have quite an impact. Okay, it means we shall probably stop spending so much money on all these gadgets and toys and we shall make things last longer. It does mean though that even without that , there are some people who cannot now, at this very moment, afford shoes and bike brakes for their children. We can get more serious about second hand outlets and dealers to help people cope. We can publish cheaper recipes and ideas for people. There is a lot we can do to help those who just cannot cut back and cannot see their way through all these increases. There are things we need to change and the infrastructure will cost but we need to be careful we do not keep advantaging company profit and shareholders at the expense of the general public. Somewhere in all of this their has to be some fairness.

Firms jostle for Mitsubishi site

Firms jostle for Mitsubishi site : "A COMPANY hoping to build the army's new fleet of trucks and another with a plan for hybrid cars are among the queue of hopefuls lining up to move into Adelaide's soon-to-be-vacant Mitsubishi car factory."

Mitsubishi has served us well on that site for all the reasons I have blogged before. It's a prime site in a key area and it is a landmark site. From that point of view , whatever takes over has to be part of our state and represent our state. Mitsubishi has done a lot in its time here to be a leading force in the development of our young, to provide learning opportunities and information for our young and to develop a workplace which at one stage had the best practice and was cutting edge for Adelaide. over the years Mitsubishi has served us well. Whatever goes into that site has to be something worthwhile in my opinion and I should like to think that it would show the same sorts of initiatives in helping and guiding our students. There has been talk of a state of the art let's get really serious about recycling development for that sight...and certainly anything which fitted in with our initiatives to be dealing with carbon emissions and being a cleaner , greener state would be good. We'll see.

Murdoch, Cosgrove among 2020 participants

Murdoch, Cosgrove among 2020 participants : "Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the 1,000 participants for next month's 2020 summit in Canberra have been chosen."

This consultative concept is very new for us and it's actually quite exciting and interesting to think so many people will get together and think about our nation. It won't be perfect and there are things we shall learn and be able to improve upon , but as an approach I really like it. I should like to know who they are and what their credentials are. I'd like to know the programme of the summit and I'd be really happy if we could be included in some way by way of some video files made available and even podcasts of stuff which will become ground breaking. Some of this summit might be ordinary but there will be bits which will be ground breaking and the more we adopt this approach the more we shall free up our ideas and thinking. With that many people involved the influence through out our nation will be felt so the whole tone of it is critical. I am really looking forward to seeing how this goes because I think it is a bold move in the right direction and the next one will be even better. We'll grow through this.

Drinking age could be lifted to 21

Drinking age could be lifted to 21: "'There might be a two year discussion period that would give a very strong message to people that either we change the environment ourselves or the government will do it,' Prof Currie said."

We have seen what has happened with taking all the boundaries out. We have dispensed with traditions and barriers to behaviour and we have also dispensed with the holding pens notion of growing up...so that people have a chance to be in a safe zone until they are old enough to know better. Most Australians in their 20s are affable, friendly, pretty sensible and yes, there are the extremes, but the twenty somethings are pretty easy going and happy. They like work, they party but they are pretty safe about it. What we have are insane teenagers. teenagers who do as they please, go where they want, behave as they wish and don't seem to have anything which holds them in place. We do need to create some barriers for these people who are growing up because too many of them have lost their lives, too many of them are destructive of others and their property and too many of them are costing us all too much. I don't think it would do any harm to have a good look at statistics for 12 to 19 year olds and get a bit of a picture about behaviour at home, in school , on the street. What kind of picture do we have? I think they are out of control and those who are not are being overlooked and taken for granted. It's not about taking away freedom, it's about creating safety zones and a learning environment which adds to their characters.

The web, the politician and the prostitute

The web, the politician and the prostitute: "Ms Dupre may have never expected journalists and bloggers to pore over everything she had ever uploaded to the web."

Sounds like a beginning of a joke...there was a politician, a prostitute and a social network.....blah, balh, yadda, yadda.

We have come to a defining point in our online history. Is everything up for public scrutiny? Is everything public domain? Do we have no rights? No privacy? Is there no etiquette? rules of engagement? As I said yesterday there is so much which is so very destructive about our world of technology and it is destroying us and our society. The rules are , there are no rules and anyone can have their MySpace invaded...or a fictional one put up to represent them. Spybots and web crawlers just make it even harder to.
keep yourself to yourself. Most people post things but they don't actually want all and sundry to be peeking and passing comment. I think we need to have a long hard look at what is going on and adopt some protocols which are reasonable...and that is so much more easily said than done .

'Hoon' clocked at 110kmh

'Hoon' clocked at 110kmh : "A 17-year-old Melbourne learner driver's car has been impounded for the second time in three weeks after he was clocked at more than double the speed limit."

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and may the force be with you. Go, team!!

Court to send parents back to school

Court to send parents back to school: "'If we don't, there is a great risk that these children will need to be taken into state care, grow up with poorer education levels and become involved in serious anti-social or criminal behaviours such as drugs, theft and assault.'"

In theory , this sounds really good and I am curious to discover whether it will help or not. I want to know who is running the courses and what the programme is...and whether you can actually get the parents there! It is important to treat a whole family I believe. We often deal with individuals in different ways in different parts of our society and yet a lot of the issues are family issues and if the family had some back up and intervention it might well help. I think it would. We'll see. We have to do something.

Bush says no regrets over war in Iraq

Bush says no regrets over war in Iraq : "US President George W. Bush says he has no regrets about the war in Iraq despite the 'high cost in lives and treasure' and has declared the US is on track for a major victory there."

Says it all , doesn't it. Not only is he out of touch with his people, he is out of touch with the feelings of others. He is all right because he is rich, he is okay, his family is neither maimed nor killed and his country is intact. What has happened in Iraq is inexcusable. Unforgivable and irreversible. We have done so much harm. We have hurt so many thousands of people and we have damaged their land , their culture and their environment. Mr. Bush has spent squillions of dollars which his own people would have benefited from and he has allowed his own people to be killed. of course you back your own soldiers when hey are there and in danger. Of course you feel for them. More rational heads would never have done this because it was unwarranted. All that money...up in smoke and destruction.

'Police, help. Someone's stealing my drugs'

'Police, help. Someone's stealing my drugs' | : "The 35-year-old Adelaide man told police that up to six men smashed the front window on his house and gained entry about 3.30am."

I am so embarrassed. How does that make us look?! What a silly sausage. How embarrassing.

Man 'busted with 3000 steroid pills'

Man 'busted with 3000 steroid pills' : "A MAN has been caught allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 3,000 steroid tablets through Sydney Airport, customs officials say."

he obviously had steroids on the brian. Apart from money...what was he thinking? Why would he think he wouldn't be caught? Seems very odd and well done to the airport staff...but we are seemingly a country where everyone wants to bring their drugs. Why?

Man 'groomed girls via chatrooms'

Man 'groomed girls via chatrooms': "The offences were allegedly committed against 13 girls aged between 12 and 17 years in various locations across NSW and the ACT, police say."

I am glad they have caught him and I hope they catch the others who are like him...but he girls need to be sorted out for not protecting themselves better. They are old enough to have some idea of how to manage personal safety. We were talking at work today about how destructive and tacky computers have made our lives. Things which come with computers are creating horrible situations, undermining community safety and general order. There is a strong element of computing which creates forces to bring social fabric apart and nothing is safe and nothing is sacred. It is just anti social all the way. There are things which hurt , harm and destroy people. There are things which undermine social order and there are things which create behaviours which end up costing a lot of time and money. Time and money which could be put into positive initiatives. Pretty sad really. One day we'll sit down and use a computer to work out how much this is costing us with or without the anti social, destructive muck. Even positively used they are eating up time, cash and carbon.

Water's too cheap in Australia, says OECD thinktank

Water's too cheap in Australia, says OECD thinktank: "The OECD's Environmental Performance Review of Australia says water is being wasted because it is too cheap. It says the move would help conserve water and encourage investment in alternative supplies."

As Australia we were different. People could have a good lifestyle here and no one was left out. Bringing us in line with the rest of the world means we have lost the equity, we have created a divide and we have the haves and have nots.We are not the fair go Australians anymore and money seems to be in every sentence whereas being okay used to be. Water has to be there. Some people are topping up their pools while others have not enough water...and yet we mostly live on the coast. There are oceans there to swim in. Some people are paying to sink bores and then taking underground water. The mines are taking water out of the artesian basin. The urban users are not the problem. We have gone as far as watering our gardens with dishwashing water and breaking our backs watering with the washing machine rinse water . Our pipes have not been maintained and so street mains burst....and we watch the water being wasted. Buildings are built without storage tanks.Trees are cut soen and land is cleared so we have lost our ecosystem. The urban population has done it hard and we have more than done our bit. Water. We need water. If the Murray is dammed we don't get the water here in SA. Goolwa has dried up. The Torrens has become ridiculously low. That is lack of water. Making us pay for it will not give us water and when the bottom line is pay, pay ,pay...well, who is profiting? We have been paying a River Murray Levy. There is no water. The Murray is a sorry sight. Maybe we are only supposed to have a small population in Australia because we cannot seem to supply ourselves with sufficient water to lead a normal lifestyle...of those who live in a civilised country. Money will change nothing because we are conserving and we are being very careful. We need rain. We need water. You do not need money.

Sydney to get metro rail system

Sydney to get metro rail system : "Sydney is to get a much-anticipated, European-style metro rail system, with a $12.5 billion line to operate between the city centre and north-western suburbs by 2017."

I want one. I want a European-style metro rail system. I want swish trains and cruisy trips around our state.

'So you call that dance? It's hideous'

'So you call that dance? It's hideous' : "After watching the show Tankard said it could have been improved by being less competitive with more money put into 'good dancing''.

'It'd be nice if we could connect more,'' she said."

The performing arts have been impoverished for the last few years since they have not even been considered. The headlines, air time and prime time have been grabbed by shows like Big Brother, the aggressive and violent series, politicians, Baxter...some really negative and belligerent stuff. So you think you can dance? has changed the landscape and it has grabbed people and drawn them in. The game aspect is very trying and everyone knows that. For the time being it means we have had a chance to revel in our performing artists and the show may well bring about an awareness that people like and even love dance, so then they will think about going to shows. Until his show there was nothing to turn our heads away from a very aggressive political agenda which did not considers artists. So now is the time to keep grabbing that attention and get everyone engaged with the arts again. How beautiful would that be?

Bamboo bashing a hit with the stars

Bamboo bashing a hit with the stars : "A man from Adelaide is one of only two people in the world trained in the ancient Chinese form of muscle detoxification."

If he is from Adelaide he is probably dead set serious about the efficacy and technique of his treatment. If it takes being bashed with bamboo to get you onto the path of wellness...then give it a whirl and we need to train others! I have a feeling bamboo bashing will be the go but we need to get a kinder name for it.

Cool as cucumbers

We have not only been eating them, we feel like them now!! What a relief that was this morning to get up and feel cool air. Air with oxygen. We were throwing the windows and doors open at home and at work. It is unbelievable when you can do that. Yes, we are grateful for air conditioning, but nothing beats fresh air. Then this afternoon there was the tell tale warmth and humidity but by four it was just beautiful. Cool. Cool and fresh...the place looks devastated. Crispy brown and disgusting. We so need water.As I said before, no one has really taken into account that in these extreme conditions we needed help and consideration...but we are so buggered! Constant heat just saps you.

Heatwave takes its toll on the homeless

Heatwave takes its toll on the homeless: "ADELAIDE'S record-breaking heatwave has taken a heavy toll on the homeless, with many suffering heatstroke, dehydration and other physical and emotional distress."

Were it extremes of cold and wet , some sort of emergency conditions would have been put in place. We arrived at a state of emergency Friday last week. People weren't coping, the extreme heat kept on and it has been relentless. Excess snow and we'd have protocol. Inundations and we would have protocol. We have done it and we have got through this emergency but it really is odd no one has thought to consider our extreme and ongoing heat as warranting some kind of plan and protocol. I feel really sorry for those who have had to endure it unaided.

Melting Moments

Young Aussies too fat for booster seat

Young Aussies too fat for booster seats : "AUSTRALIAN kids are becoming so fat they need bigger booster seats to keep them safe in cars, an alarming new report has found."

They don't need bigger boosters for their bigger bums..they need proper food and exercise. Kids need to run around and eat decent food. Someone needs a big boost on the bottom and it's not the kids.

'Glaciers disappearing at record rate'

'Glaciers disappearing at record rate' : "'Data from close to 30 reference glaciers in nine mountain ranges indicate that between the years 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 the average rate of melting and thinning more than doubled,' it said."

I think we are past blaming it on the weather and the planet. This is man made and man orchestrated. Men are fantastic at destruction and greed.

Children to be banned from front seat

Children to be banned from front seat : "More than 500 children die on Australian roads each year and a further 2300 are seriously injured in car accidents each year."

How do those figures compare with previous years and decades because they are indeed worrying. Very worrying. I want to see the figures for previous years. By putting children in the back seat between the ages of four and seven , yes, you will protect them more but I am glad I don't have to drive children around like that. I used to like to have them in the front where I could talk to them like a human being. What concerns me is that we may be treating the symptoms again and not the root causes. How do we actually kill and injure this many children in a year, how does it happen and what are the reasons. it's appalling and very upsetting.This needs to come out into
the open and the facts need to get out there so that we are more aware of it as a community. We might then be able to work on it together.

Authority to look at 'very fast' Sydney-Canberra rail link

Authority to look at 'very fast' Sydney-Canberra rail link - : "A spokesman for the Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, says the very fast train link would be 'absolutely considered' by the authority."

Can't think of anything better. It would haul us into the 21st century and we really need some reliable, modern intercity connections if we want to take ourselves seriously. It would help us because we seem to be travelling around a lot and it would also help tourists and those here on business. Trains would reduce carbon and pollution...I just love trains!

12 teenagers stung by jellyfish

12 teenagers stung by jellyfish: "'What was more unusual was that there were so many of them and they were quite close to the surface of the water.

'It wasn't very nice for them (competitors), it can cause a bit of panic.''"

The warm water attracts them and they are horrible and the stings are nasty. The paramedics were on the ball and limited the damage. It's a pretty vile experience and lesson for the kids who were swimming and it makes it hard to hold healthy, active events. Maybe they'll work out why there were so many jellyfish. It's a rotten thing to happen to these kids. Luckily they are okay.

100 youths in violent brawl

100 youths in violent brawl : "A MELBOURNE man is in a serious condition in hospital after being attacked during a brawl involving up to 100 youths, some armed with wooden sticks."

Are we dealing with the root causes of the violence because we keep treating the symptoms and actually we are not doing a very good job of it because it is costing us heaps in terms of time, money, energy. We need to treat the causes of the behaviour and my personal belief is we need to take a hard line on violent behaviour to make it undesirable. Once we treat the causes we shall have less of a problem...like we did before. We used to have a nice nation.

ACT to reconsider jail needle exchange

ACT to reconsider jail needle exchange : "ACT Health Minister Katy Gallagher says the Government will reconsider a needle exchange program at Canberra's new jail 18 months after it opens."

Is it me or is it them? Pardon my ignorance but shouldn't people be off drugs in gaol and if they are going through rehab in prison shouldn't that all be dealt with in a medical way? Or is the exchange for diabetics? Again, shouldn't that be handled in a medical way in gaol?

Teen on life support after jumping from cab

Teen on life support after jumping from cab: "Police believe he jumped out of the cab as it arrived close to his home.

The youth sustained serious injuries when he hit his head on the road."

The police might charge the taxi driver for not stopping to help the injured boy.Until the facts re establish we can only go on what is here. I don't know what the boy was thinking if he really was jumping out of the taxi to save himself the cost of the fare. This is not what he would have anticipated. The taxi driver may have been taken aback completely by what had happened and teenagers can put the fear of God into people these days when they behave irrationally. It would be hard to know at this stage what occurred before , if the jumping out was sudden and startling and then there is the matter of the taxi driver losing his fare and having to get to his next job. Taxi drivers are really doing it hard at the moment. If the boy jumped out he is of an age to know that will lead to injury. No one would expect to be on life support because of it. His family will be so traumatised.We are required to render assistance in an accident. This wasn't an accident, so I don't actually know what the obligation is legally and I am curious to find out. I don't believe there is a way of holding us accountable for erratic behaviour in others because we have been living in a world where we have put ourselves in danger when we have tried to help people who are unpredictable in their behaviour. Tricky one, but my heart is certainly with that family.

Adelaide booming

AdelaideNow... More flights for business needs: "THE number of flights from Adelaide to Sydney and Melbourne will be ramped up by Qantas, in a bid to meet the demands of business travellers."

I heard on the news we were going to be the next boom city and the flights increasing was a sign of this they said. I can't see us booming. We are too bloomin' fed up with being hot, bothered and dried up. A boom suggests things flourishing, but with kids at shopping centres instead of schools, hoons driving people crazy in the night, weirdo public transport arrangements and total and complete lack of water and general crunching and crisping of the environment,it doesn't make it feel anything like a boom is coming. We are more like to blow a gasket because we are not getting our needs met. That'll send a boom through our state because when we are pushed past the stage of reason, we are intractable and incredibly tough. It's why SA was the first place in the world to give women the vote. We are more than patient and reasonable but when it starts becoming unfair and way past that point of reason and fair dealing...look out and we are getting to that point.

School safety must be the priority

School safety must be the priority: "Fading paint and minor wall cracking, particularly in schools which will ultimately be phased out, can be tolerated. But broken windows, loose paving stones and asbestos-ridden toilet blocks represent serious safety issues which must be addressed urgently."

My sister said when she was at the shops today there seemed to be an awful lot of school kids there and people who looked like they ought to be at school. It's hot. It has been stinking hot for days. Why are the students at the shops instead of school? Probably because there schools are not properly air conditioned and shopping centres are. Kids today have been brought up on sir conditioners and comfy surroundings. They are not the deprived. The are not children of the depression. They have no idea what making do means and they do not know how to economise. These students are the haves. Schools need to reflect heat because we need to look after our protected , delicate children. Sarcasm aside, it's 2008 and our schools should reflect eh changing times as do our shops and libraries. Schools should be clean, light, efficient, in a state of good repair, properly heated and cooled. The should have furniture which suits the size of students attending and it should be durable. The electronic stuff probably needs to be bolted down but it should be there. In many ways schools should be more like home these days because students are used to creature comforts. There should be landscaped gardens and proper facilities and shaded, proper areas for the students to sit. tertiary institutions seems to have revamped and reinvented themselves. Schools need to do that as well. Then any attempt to be uncivil in a civil environment should not be tolerated. It's not accepted or worked through elsewhere. It is just not tolerated. In our changing weather conditions then school-scaping should be a priority.

Adelaide sets another heatwave record

Adelaide sets another heatwave record : "The city's forecast maximum of 40 degrees today is the 12th consecutive day of temperatures above 35 degrees - the longest heatwave ever in any Australian capital city."

It's the sort of record you don't want. Some people are starting to really stress because we are still supposed to be living a normal lifestyle. There has been an increase of stupid, mad, fast drivers. There has been an increase in tempers and then we have had the fainters and the vomiters and the utterly lethargic. It's the lack of sleep and then having to do normal things. We are given no consideration and it is starting to have a psychological impact. Those of us who are coping have slowed down and we are not letting ourselves be pushed along. We are taking more care and accepting that it is just too darn hot for most things. The fires are worrying, but what else do we expect. If arson is involved I hope we catch them and then I hope they are made to feel hot and bothered for a very long time. We do not need the added burden of fire bugs. But some people are just going troppo around now. The relentlessness of the heat is difficult when there is no respite...except for people like me who just thrive on it! I love feeling hot and warm and I like that warm air and I sleep heaps better!

Blair heads global climate body

Blair heads global climate body : "“There is a deadlock. Everyone is agreed where we want to get to, but unless you agree on the framework for getting there, you are left with a process and not a result,” Mr Blair told The Guardian newspaper."

Yes, well, given he is an expert in hot air and excess emissions, he is the man for the job. Given that Britain was pleased to vote him out for not getting them where they needed to go he does not come endorsed. Given he could see things in Iraq that we couldn't wee, well, who knows where this appointment might lead.

Consumer confidence hits 15-year low

Consumer confidence hits 15-year low : "High interest rates and rising prices have left heavily indebted consumers at their gloomiest in 15 years, which economists say could result in a speedier slowdown in the economy."

Yes, we shall have to make changes but I don't know that they'll be bad. The material phase has to come to an end because our homes are bursting with things and we cannot recycle the surpassed electronic stuff very easily so we have excess. We have had a good time with our toys and eating out and playing. Maybe it is time for a restructure and a rethink and notice it is quite nice to be at home enjoying the company of friends and family....and pursuing things which don't burn up the dollars.Time to give up the kindy for grown ups. We have been a bit over the top. The only thing getting to us is how indulged the rich are and how they are prone to flaunt the excess to a ridiculous extent. It is laughable really so we are laughing about that. Those people who will be suffering because of the added expenses of petrol and food are the ones we are worrying about. Most of us have enough and we are fed up with the giant box houses . Our environment has been transformed by these edifices and truly, we don't all need giant box homes blocking our views and creating dust. If hauling back means we'll enjoy nature and the simple life , it is not a problem. The hardship likely to be endured by some needs to be addressed because the rich have tipped the balance of our "economy" and have done pretty well.

Student knocked out at high school

Student knocked out at high school : "The New South Wales Department of Education and Training (DEET) said the year 12 student's head hit the ground, knocking him out, but would not confirm if it was during a fight."

I think it is hard on schools and I think they need to keep things under their own and police scrutiny. Maybe it's already on YouTube.Hope not. It is a horrible thing when schools are supposed to be there for education and then teachers are dealing with violence. It is also fantastic the teacher who helped the boy was a St John's ambulance instructor. The truth will come out and it will probably be ugly. Schools need more support and violence needs to be taken out of the equation. What would happen with violent behaviour in the workplace? Or in the supermarket?If it wasn't violence, then what would occur if someone was knocked unconscious at work or in a supermarket?

50 people seek hospital treatment for heat stress

50 people seek hospital treatment for heat stress: "'We really need to take care of the most vulnerable in our community, young children and babies and the elderly,' he said."

Yes, we need to remind people to drink and take special care of people. A lot of people are feeling sick with the heat because we are used to air conditioning. If they are out too long they become nauseous and they forget to drink. Most of us though are piddling up a storm because we have been glugging the water. Those who cannot drink plain water have been getting into the new iced tea cordial on the shelves. It's really becoming popular. Plain water is the go, though.I was lucky enough to have 10 splots of rain on the windscreen on the way to work. Talk about a tease.

Crikey, international doctors learning slang

Crikey, international doctors learning slang : "'Feeling a bit crook' and a 'splitting headache' are some of the colloquialisms graduates are learning to better understand Australian English."

I think it's important for anyone who is working elsewhere to get up to speed with local language and customs. It is very important for doctors because it's life and death sometimes. It is important as a tourist too to learn the words for ill, hospital, sick, very sick. Don't go overseas ill prepared! Yes, we have some interesting turns of phrase like feeling a bit crook sick; having a wog ( virus)and often Australians will understate how ill they actually are. Even if they are really at risk they'll say they they don't feel that good. Then they have a bit of a pain in the guts and are feeling a bit off and that could mean anything. It is important to ask Australians a lot of questions.All countries should put their survival language on a list and explain what things mean. You can stuff a lot of things here too. Like stuff your big toe or stuff your wrist...my wrist's stuffed! I'd love to see our list.

Australia fully part of Kyoto club

Australia fully part of Kyoto club : "THE Federal Government's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol came into force today, with both sides of politics attempting to take credit for the nation being on track to meet its emissions target."

As long as we are meeting the targets! We are now part of Kyoto and about bloomin' time.

Losing sleep over work

Losing sleep over work : "New results by health insurer MBF reveal 51 per cent of the population are sleep deprived, and 12 per cent blame longer working hours, work-related stress and job insecurity for feeling exhausted."

I rest my case. We have too much to do and too many things to do. Lack of sleep is a real issue where I work. People are regularly using their weekends to catch up on sleep. During the week they are waking up around 2.30 am or 4 or 5 am. That is not enough sleep and it's all about what they have to do and whether they have it properly planned. the pressure needs to come off. One job. That's it.

Half of Aussies job hunting

Half of Aussies job hunting : "'As a result, employees are demanding more from their employer."

I guess wwe want one job. We seem to be doing several including our own clerical and clerical aide work. Multitasking gone mad because professionals are spending less time with the professional side of their work and more and more time on menial tasks and documentation. Then there are the hours. Inflexible. We need to look at the structure of our day because most of us have interests which are absorbing and want to be able to pursue them and it doesn't matter what age we are. We are skilled but we are being used for brain numbing tasks. Then there is the delegation thing where people in high places believe handing on vague ideas which they haven't sorted out the detail on is called delegating.passing on fresh air. The Dilbert thing of the harder you work, the more I earn. We want job satisfaction and time to breathe.

Heatwave record for Adelaide

AdelaideNow... Heatwave record for Adelaide - over 35C for nine days straight: "ADELAIDE has set a heatwave record, with the mercury rising above a scorching 35C for the ninth day in a row - and there's worse to come."

Been there before . We just get hot, dry and bothered. We are debating whether there will be a natural break or whether it'll co inside with agreeing to GM crops which we are currently resisting for obvious reasons. I know, not rational btu we tend to think like that when we are hot. We try and find a bargaining position because our brains are melted. Some people get far too giggly and over cheerful from the stress of it. Others just wimp away and wilt a lot. Others pretend it is not occurring. People use it as a reason..well, excuse for not doing what they ought to...but we need to go slowly and then when the weather changes we'll be totally useless. Absolutely. A lot of people are just going to the beach on a permanent basis. Others are hiding out indoors and then there are those who just carry on as near to normal as possible. It's stifling. There have been storms and rain up north and we want rain. We want water. We are getting very angry we cannot water. At least we could manage to cool off as we watered our gardens. Air conditioning? Yes, we have that but it is not the same as water. We shouldn't really be so surprised. SA is hot and always has been. Me? I don't do cold so I am happy!!

Journée des femmes

Found this on Yahoo France.

Womens' Day

On average we earn 17% less than you do. That really merits a day off.


Love it!

Aussie dollar lower at noon

Aussie dollar lower at noon : "During the morning, the domestic currency traded between a low of $US0.9262 and a high of 0.9313."

Dollar goes up. Dollar goes down. Dollar goes up. Dollar goes down...how the financial advisers and watchdogs are having fun! The rest of us are simply paying more for everything.

Confusion over strange lights

Confusion over strange lights : "Astronomers said the debris was unlikely to survive re-entering the earth’s atmosphere. It brought back memories of the Skylab incident in 1979 when space junk crashed into the State."

WA has strange lights in the sky. They seem to think it is not the space junk form the exploded satellite but no one seems to know what it is. Can't we Google it or something? If we can see to blow up a satellite, surely we can see to identify the glowing bits?!

Trees fall as temperatures rise

Trees fall as temperatures rise: "'A large branch came down outside the ABC broadcast at WOMADelaide on Saturday,' she said. 'It is quite dangerous and on that occasion it was just lucky no one was standing there.'"

Gum trees belong in the bush. They are growing in our suburbs and in our cities but the cities are too populated and the suburbs are too cramped. Gum trees need to be really looked after if they are to be in the cities. They shouldn't be in suburban gardens but most councils gave them to home owners and now they are stuck with these massive , magnificent trees which just don't suit the suburbs. The cost of having them maintained or looked after is prohibitive and there is no plan to manage them. Not watering will only create more stress for all of us. Who cares...we still have no water . People are living here and there is no provision for an adequate water supply for us to live...but we still put more people here. It is really rather negligent since homeowners are virtually powerless and they need a plan.

Pay-as-you-drive proposal to ease traffic ongestion

Pay-as-you-drive proposal to ease traffic ongestion : "The amount of the user charge would depend on the size of the vehicle and the wear it causes roads, an environmental charge related to engine capacity, a levy to cover the costs of crashes and the congestion charge."

Unless we are prepared to create a country whereby you can safely, easily and reliably conduct your life using public transport, then I think this is mean. By all means encourage drivers to get into the green machines..and that will occur over time anyway. By all means encourage people to use non peak times if they can and non peak roads. We have the quickest way to work. We have only a certain amount of roads to choose form. This country is set up so you usually have to have a car to get to work and back efficiently. Unless we restructure, we are a car dependent nation and I have said many times we need to rethink this because we will not employ people because they don't have a car! To keep charging motorists is just going to put additional strain on and peak times are that for a reason...unless we start creating different work and school hours we are stuck with our narrow thinking and systems. We are already paying a lot as motorists it is becoming outrageous now. When you go overseas you don't have to have a car to live and work. People still jam up the roads...but we need to look at changing working and school hours. I think it is high time we looked at our daily routine because life has changed. Schools could start earlier and finish earlier so kids can work, play sport, go to other classes and courses run by the community. Office workers could have staggered hours. I think we could learn form supermarkets in that respect and it would take the strain off.

Dance judge branded 'amateur'

Dance judge branded 'amateur': "'It's like an artwork; some people are going to like it and others hate it. If Jason said he loved everything then it would be a fairly boring show.''"

Sarah Boulter sounds like an adult!! That is how you handle all this catty comment stuff. It's ridiculous and it is tiresome having such a stupidly petty approach to things. I think Sarah Boulter has nailed it! These are competent, talented people. Put the claws away and just stop it at once.

Help Us Help The Earth

Help Us Help The Earth, - how much you can save water: "With your help, the Help Us Help the Earth campaign hopes to reduce Aussie household water use by 10% – saving up to 105,000 Olympic size swimming pools of water!"

Yes, we are all trying to save water and we know we are wasteful. Are the businesses and industries coming to the same conclusions? The Landcare site has a water calculator and some ideas for saving water. It is often a topic for conversation. We need to keep talking...and we need rain! So hot at the moment. There is some really useful stuff on this site.

30,000 pupils miss all school choices

30,000 pupils miss all school choices : "Many of the parents have missed out because they are refusing to choose inadequate local schools and are instead taking the gamble of applying to better ones farther from their homes, where they have a smaller chance of winning a place."

There are a lot of English and Scottish people enrolling their children here in Adelaide. The upsurge is quite astounding. Everywhere you go you hear the accents at the moment and one thing is clear, which has never happened before, they are relieved to be here. Normally English and Scottish people are very homesick for a while. At the moment they are enthusiastically launching themselves into our heat and lifestyle...and the kids are being enrolled in our schools. There'll be an upsurge in soccer players and athletes!

Hunt is on for the "Civil Serf"

Hunt is on for the "Civil Serf" demon blogger of Whitehall : "The blog reports on rows in the run up to this week’s budget, claiming that the Treasury accused her departmental bosses of trying to “diddle them out of money while delivering less”."

No one wants to be working in an environment where they are being documented, watched, judged and reported upon. I have been thinking about this. If you really want to blog about an organisation then you'd have to create a fictitious one as authors do when they want to make social commentary. I really think it is out of line for somebody who is not identified to be blabbing and claptrapping about the daily goings on anywhere. If there is a belief the workplace is unsavoury then there are legal avenues to pursue that. If there is a belief that the workplace is beneath contempt then you need to either put up and shut up, say your bit at work to try and remedy it or go elsewhere. I think we wouldn't want to be spied upon and that it would contribute to workplace stress. It also puts a media bias on the workers and that isn't at all fair. Sounds like the Civil Serf wants to bring the Labour Party down so I'd question why they are actually working as a civil servant under the current Labour Government. They perhaps need to apply for a post at Yale or work for the conservatives as a party piece. It sounds really odd.

We're feeling it as US economy worsens

We're feeling it as US economy worsens : "IT'S official. The collapse of the US housing market has hit the broader American economy — and Australia is about to feel the effects. The loss of 63,000 US jobs last month was the second consecutive fall — and the strongest indication so far that the world's biggest economy is in recession."

Bush , Blair and Howard must be laughing their heads off. Their fiscal incompetence has led to this because they just kept blowing money and funds and creating an artificial high...and what goes up, must come down and they are laughing because they have done really well out of this. I hope we have sufficient experts here and in the US to help buffer the blow...and it will be a team effort but I guess the rich will want to hang on to all their funds. Some are considering very carefully how they assist others and that is fantastic. There is only so much money and if the plan is to create systems whereby money goes in a particular direction..then we need to redirect some of it and we need to remember there is really only so much money you can spend...and that it does not buy happiness. I sound like my Grandma!!

Food costs are up

Food costs are up, and there's more pain in store - : "The prolonged drought, soaring farm business costs, high grain prices and booming overseas demand for some Australian produce is putting pressure on food prices."

At the moment we are all saying it is costing us twice as much to go to the supermarket. In winter it will be cheaper and we are looking at the work arounds...but double the cost? Some families will be going to the wall with this. It's awful and considering we cannot grow our own because of water rationing...well, time for plan B I think.

Rudd wants Australia to host 2009 Pacific Forum

Rudd says Australia will host 2009 Pacific Forum: "PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has announced that for the first time in 14 years Australia will host the Pacific Islands Forum in 2009."

Oh hoorah!!! The sad fact is the people of the Pacific think we don't care about them and that we are not a part of the Pacific. It was interesting to see the school books in Vanuatu with the Pacific map and NZ was there but Australia wasn't. We have been seen as obstructive, negative and unhelpful...and too full of a misplaced sense of self importance. I am so pleased that the forum might be held here because it makes us part of the Pacific again and it will hopefully allow us to be viewed as friends.I'm glad Kevin Rudd has taken the initiative and tried to show we do want to be part of the Pacific.

Naked cyclists brave hot weather

AdelaideNow... Naked cyclists brave hot weather: "Five riders assembled in North Adelaide for the inaugural World Naked Bike Ride today before it was called off when the mercury climbed to 39 degrees."

Well, rather them than me and it is a good idea to raise our awareness of cyclists...but hey need to wear bright colours. You never overlook the lycra lads. If they were putting their bare behinds on scorching seats...poor buggas.

Obama aide quits

Obama aide quits over Clinton 'monster' comment : "'Last Monday, I made inexcusable remarks that are at marked variance from my oft-stated admiration for Senator Clinton and from the spirit, tenor and purpose of the Obama campaign.'"

We do live in a world of flimsy peole, don't we? I think it's time to get over our preciousness and realise we are made of sterner stuff and that most of us have a backbone. I should think Hillary Clinton has had a good laugh over that comment. If someone called me a monster I'd laugh. I'm not. I know I am not so the sticks and stones approach serves me well. Hillary Clinton knows who she is. She surely has a right of reply if she wants one. I am really getting fed up with all this petty politicking because it means competent people just walk off the job. Ms. Power is probably competent and if she said what she thought, I see that as a good thing. She can call it how she sees it but it doesn't make it the truth and we are dealing with adults...or are we? I don't think people have to quite their jobs because they wither make a faux pas or they have a big mouth. We all do that and then it's up to us to repair the damage or not as we choose. I just find this all very frustrating.Ms Power needs to go and see Hillary Clinton if she thinks she was that out of line now that she has thought about it.It's called clearing the air.

Did cigarettes doom Swayze?

Did cigarettes doom Swayze?: "PATRICK Swayze's heavy smoking habit may have caused the aggressive cancer doctors say amounts to a death sentence."

Maybe they did and maybe they didn't. I had a friend who died two years ago from pancreatic cancer and it was quick and very sad. I have another family friend who has survived it for years. Neither of them smoked. Whatever happens to Patrick Swayze, I should like to thank him for Dirty Dancing. It was a film which meant a lot to me and it was an inspiration in my life. I loved him in it and I know he has had his problems since and I have thought about that. He has brought so much joy and yet he seems to have been so troubled himself.maybe we didn't appreciate him enough. Dirty Dancing was fantastic. There won't be another film like that and there is only one Patrick Swayze. I wish him well.

Ministers agree to Commonwealth cap on Murray water

Ministers agree to Commonwealth cap on Murray water: "ALL states agreed to SA's $6 million plan to save the Lower Lakes by pumping water from Lake Alexandrina into Lake Albert, with the Murray-Darling Basin Commission footing the bill."

Somebody needs to explain to me how pumping water out of Lake Alexandrina is going to help. Lake Alexandrina is the home of so much wild life and was such a sanctuary. Goolwa is a really depressing sight at the moment. There is no water. The boats are high and dry, the locals are dismal and the visitors who used to enjoy getting away there are beside themselves.The discussions is whether to open the barrages or not to let the sea water in. Who is the ecologist? it would kill the algae. Where is the expert advice? The lack of water is monstrous. We are suffering and the wild life is in distress. I still don't see how bringing more people into the country and building all these houses is going to help matters. Basically, the plan is, there is no plan because we are watching our gardens dry up, our lakes dry up, our wild life suffer. The foxes are coming into West Lakes, the koalas into southern suburbs, the pelicans are being killed by power lines because they have shifted. So all of this sounds like rubbish to us. We need water. We don't need more houses and dust. We don't need more suburbs and hot air. We don't need dry gardens because no one can live in a desert and growing your own vegetables saves more carbon than commercially produced stuff. So, somebody needs to show me where the water is. Topping up swimming pools.

Iraqi women in 'national crisis'

Iraqi women in 'national crisis' since invasion : "The report also found that 76 percent of the women interviewed said that girls in their families were forbidden from attending school."

This is one of the silent tragedies of the invasion of Iraq and it's another thing we have totally discounted and dimissed. By "liberating" them we have turned their women back into the dark ages. Iraqi women were well educated, enjoyed freedom and were some of the most articulate women in the world. We have done so much damage and it needs to come out into the open, because while the boys are playing with the toys they have paid no heed to the impact on women. We don't hear about it. It's not important and, from their point of view it just plain doesn't exist. 2008 and all's well, heh?

Small town parties as doctor breaks drought

Small town parties as doctor breaks drought: "He will move by the end of the year into a new health centre, on which Wudinna spent about $500,000 in a push to build up its health workforce. But Dr Lewis counts the lifestyle, people and breadth of practice as bigger drawcards. He chose Wudinna as his base because he spent time there in training, and he spent his early years in the bush, moving from town to town in South Australia with his bank manager father."

He is not totally cut off because he has a hangar for his plane. Doctor Lewis is bound to thrive because he has gone into a community and most of us need that and it's what we don't have these days. A community looks after its own and that kind of nurturing cannot be replicated and we just don't get it in the suburbs and cities. He will learn how to be a good doctor because he'll practise with the support of his community. It's good to see someone break the mould and dare to be different.

Stacey Mitchell

Lovers kissed over victim's body : "Jailing the women today, Justice Blaxell said Stasinowsky and Parashumti's crime was particularly horrifying because of their amusement at the killing, their failure to show remorse and their lack of a substantial motive."

I can only reiterate what was said by a WA politician or city counsellor on the radio today and that was a statement to the effect that this wasn't a horror story, but life in Perth. This is real life and it is very hard to stomach. The family and friends of Stacey Mitchell are probably inconsolable at this stage. The two who have been sentenced are so young and yet we seem powerless to be able to redeem them in any way and that is a sorry state of affairs because you always think you can help people. Bottom line, they are not safe. People who are with them are not safe and we need to be able to understand them so we can stop this sort of person being created. We cannot help everyone, I suppose.

Parents' fury over comic newsletter

Parents' fury over comic newsletter : "The school’s head teacher defended the decision, saying “you can’t say what is going to happen with any of those pictures”."

Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Over here you cannot photograph without permission. That means that stunning photos are often missed, that memories cannot be recorded and that just the plain fun of seeing photos is lost. I think it's why social networking sites have become so big. People like all of that...but the Principal is right...there are some really twisted minds out there and then we all become chagrined and dismayed with what occurs...and social networking sites have shown that too. Time for debate and action.

Tram driver praised after boy trapped

Tram driver praised after boy trapped : "'The boy was looking in the opposite direction. He was not looking directly at the driver and she immediately decided to apply the brakes,'' Mr Tyrus said."

Hopefully the young boy will recover in time and it's yet another reminder we need to be constantly reminded. Kids need reminders to think and look and to keep their wits about them. Drivers need to be reminded of the best ways to drive defensively and avoid /minimise damage to others. It's a constant battle with the amount of distractions and even though some people ignore help and advice, most people get it right if they have the reminders.

Maths and the gateway to the future

Maths and the gateway to the future: "The youngsters of today will become the pioneers of the next generation. They will be the power behind SA's economic growth and maturity. But there are real fears skills shortages will hamper development, and economic benefit, in these 21st century industries."

If our young people don't pick up the skills and run with them then people form other countries will. It is a global market, global economy and if other nations are more alert and educated than we are then they will grab the opportunities and run with them. Same if we don't promote languages. People from other countries can often speak 3 or 4 languages and bits and pieces of others. I should imagine it would be exciting to be involved in the new changes which are occurring but if our kids can't be bothered then some one else's kids will be. Historically this has been what has happened when other races can utilise the resources of another nation better than the inhabitants. So maybe we need to value education more and maybe we need to light up the dreams for the young.

Howard slams Rudd

Howard slams Rudd on IR, Iraq : "Former prime minister John Howard has hit out at several of the Rudd Government's policies while giving a major speech in the United States."

What a blast from the past that was. He's gone. So gone. It's been nice to be doing things in a more modern fashion.

Earth Hour

The Earth Hour: "SEARS TOWER in Chicago, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and Toronto's CN Tower have joined a growing list of landmarks that will have their lights switched off during Earth Hour this month."

This is so fantastic and 60,000 people have already signed up. It is march 29th at 8pm EST. We shall save so much carbon but it is also a chance to show some solidarity at planet earthlings. you can make a difference. Join the Earth Hour and you can sign up if you wish.

Rudd plans political donation overhaul

Rudd plans political donation overhaul : "'[But] I think you have got to be very worried, at the end of the day, about whether a democracy therefore ends up being up for sale.

'I'm not about to be Prime Minister of a country which allows that to happen.'"

I applaud this. I think it's time money went into food, housing, transport, hospitals, research...anything but political campaigns and leaflets we just recycle. There is such waste and we need to aim to train people to get away form the advertising and brochures and focus on information and thought. I want to be able to go online or tune into radio or TV spots where I am kept up to date with political views and news. I think we can do away with paper and I think we can do away with campaigns which cost far too much. I really want the money to go into what we really need...food, health care...I should also like to think our politicians could talk to us and discuss with us. That our nation would be built on conversations and consultation. I should like to think you can be anyone and be a good politician and that you are not excluded because you lack funds. We need to put the politician back into politics and get us all talking about our needs, our hopes, our ways of doing things. I have heard some great discussions and interviews on the radio just lately. It's fantastic. We need to talk not spend.

Fat people don't live as long

Fat people don't live as long : "If current obesity trends in Australian children continued, life expectancy for those alive now would fall two years by the time they are 20."

To young people , two years at the other end of their life means nothing. 2 years means nothing at all. It is not going to stop them being fat if that is the cost. Will 5 years make a difference? Doubt it. You never think of yourself as old. You don't relate to old. You see old people and older people but it is never going to be you.One thing I have noticed is that heart attacks for men are great motivators for exercise and diet. A lot of men who survive heart attacks really start to get into the walking and exercise, but it's pretty severe having to have a heart attack before you do anything. Weight...we are plagued by weight and it seems to have happened suddenly and it is people on a manufactured diet. We ought to be able to look after ourselves and our children better than that.

School locked down after text threats

School locked down after text threats : "POLICE have gone to Indooroopilly State High School after a girl began receiving threatening text messages from an ex-boyfriend."

It's gone too far and I am so glad I do not have children at school. A whole school held to ransom over a boyfriend and girlfriend thing. Staff, students, police, parents all manipulated and held to ransom.The power of mobile phones is insane. This is insane.

So you think you can dance?

So you think you can dance? has very wide appeal and had been creating some very animated conversations. I thought it was just me. I was hooked because the talent was there, the challenges were there and the judges were managing something which was so tough with a great deal of expertise and graciousness. Saying it like it is, is what has to happen sometimes. It's a tough world out there for performing artists. It might be a bit kinder now because we are all getting back into it very enthusiastically thanks to this show. We love talking about it. It has inspired us, it is teaching us so much and we are very willing learners. The general consensus of opinion is that, on the whole, the choreographers are not matching the flexibility and commitment of the judges and dancers...and lovely compère. The choreographers are out of step so the dancers and judges and then the compère can find themselves walking through some very sticky, gluey horrible bits. The range of opinions and ideas is excitng. The willingness of the dancers to get in there and give anything their best shot is just so great to watch. We know there are rough bits, but it's fantastic to see a hip hopper do the tango or a ballet dancer go latin. It was a relief last night we were in the knicker free zone because we were tiring of nighties, knickers and crotches and last night was sexy, sassy and great without the knickers always on show. We want dance and costumes. We liked the tango. We know it wasn't sizzling enough. That takes time, confidence and chemistry. The Bollywood number was fun and different.It struck a chord because it was cleverly executed. This show is so very positive and the tough bits are tough...but no one walking off the show is unworthy. We have seen some great dancers and they have brought us joy. We have to accept the game. There is no choice in that. Pity.

Language barrier stops Briton's peace walk in France

Language barrier stops Briton's peace walk in France : "A British peace activist aiming to walk to India to prove a money-free world is possible has turned back at the first hurdle, after getting to France and finding he needed to speak French."

Yes, they speak French in France. Chinese in China and Russian in Russia. You need to speak to people in their language in their country.

Music piracy hits new highs

AdelaideNow... Music piracy hits new highs: "Although most song thieves feel bad they are ripping off artists of billions of dollars, half of them ask why they should pay to download music if they can get it free."

It's the social clarity which we lack. Yes, if you can do it , why not? That is as far as the thinking does go. Doesn't matter about the harm, damage, pain and distress caused. If it's doable...just do it. Bugga the morality and social consequences.

Don't let our city stagnate

AdelaideNow... Don't let our city stagnate, readers say: "In Mr Downer's column, the long-serving minister argued that Adelaide 'needs a new spark', and called for Adelaide to build the most innovative art museum in the southern hemisphere to 'excite the world' and create a tourism boom."

I wonder if he wants to be our next premier? He is certainly making himself public in that way with his column and radio show. I'd like to see some things changed and a Torrens boardwalk would be fantastic. I am not in favour of building out our parklands because they are critical to the green nature of Adelaide and provide that lovely relaxed atmosphere, but we could certainly look at how to make our spaces useable and it would be fantastic to get back up there in the arts again. I think we need to go for excellence again and stop pretending we are good at something when we are not. We need the places and people who will make us strong and we need the leaders who will create that level of excellence in all we do. We used to provide the country and world with stunning people in the performing arts and visual arts. We still can, but we have focussed on food and mining. We need to look at things like that skate park on North Terrace. It provides a niche spot on what was an eyesore for a group of people who want to be skateboarders. It's a good attraction and has livened up a dull area. We can be very good because we are patient and we are encouraging. We need the niche venues because we are essentially a nurturing spot.

Blogging boosts your social life

Blogging boosts your social life: research : "Bloggers reported a greater sense of belonging to a group of like-minded people and feeling more confident they could rely on others for help."

I don't see blogging the same as MySpace et al. I see social networking as different and I think the article tends to blend the two. Blogging has a different purpose and function. MySpace et al will increase your social contacts but it isn't always good. Blogging increases your capacity to be in contact with the world and if you are a specialist blogger it will increase your contact with like minded people. I know a lot more because I blog and I have made some good blog friends. Could I now live without blogging? Yes. Would it bother me? No. I do acknowledge though that blogging can give you some really powerful support that can touch your heart and mean something very important to you. It cannot be replicated.

Joyeux Anniversaire!

Another one! I am having such a nice time and my friends and family have spoiled me rotten. My sister has made me a delicious Black Forest cherry cake. I also have some lovely lotions and potions from L'Occitane and the DVD of Jam and Jerusalem which will really be appreciated...and some lovely person bought me these superb tiger lilies and German liqueur chocolates. Having a birthday is not all that hard , really. Loving it and most grateful and appreciative of all the attention and spoiling!!

Virgin's biofuel demo more than a stunt

Virgin's biofuel demo more than a stunt : "Some governments around the world are already taxing air passengers to discourage the pollution they cause, and airlines will likely be included in emissions trading systems being proposed and may soon be forced to pay for their exhaust."

It's 2008 and we have to solve this. I am currently not flying so I can do my bit for carbon emissions. I am putting my money into my home at this stage. But it's 2008. We don't really seem to have a reliable carbon offset programme which leads us to believe it will really, really work. We have talk of biofuels causing problems for food supply and farmers. We have other talk of them not saving much carbon anyway and then we have the melting bogs in Siberia which make us all feel powerless when we think about it. In the mean time we keep trying. People like to fly. They like to travel across the planet and to other countries. It could become our new world because we love it, but we are constantly dealing with airline disasters, airline costs, carbon emissions and don't do it mentalities . It is a natural thing in 2008 to want to fly. We just haven't got it safe, environmentally friendly and the right price yet. We can do better.