cdieter

Time to go back

2010-12-26T11:17:00.002+11:00

After a long break from my blog and website I think its time to have a think about getting back into it. I do enjoy face book for the most part but it gets to a point where you get lost. At least here i can set the pace.

The Victorian Bushfires

2009-02-09T13:36:00.006+11:00

The fires have been very bad, some are still out of control. There are 107 dead so far and there will be more before the week is done.I am glad we are not in Kalorama now even though there was only one fire there its always a nervous time. The fires have been close but we where not that worried here just watchful.I find it hard to believe that those towns are gone.I was up there for lunch two weeks ago and now its just smoke and ash its so sad.All those families without a home to go.There are also lots of dead animals.Its great the way people are willing to give during these tough times.
To all those people giving there time and risking their lives to make us safe I thank you all so very very much.

2009-02-09T13:33:00.000+11:00

Victorian fires

2009-02-09T13:31:00.000+11:00

poison food

2008-10-31T10:54:00.000+11:00

Lots of everyday foods have poisons apart from the humble kidney bean,rhubarb leaves are poisonous and should never be eaten.
Tomatoes, They contain an alkaloid that interferes with
cholinergic nerves and cause some serious gastrointestinal distress.
Fruit seeds (Cyanide)
What are they found in? Apple seeds, cherry stones, and the kernels inside the pits of apricots, nectarines, peaches, and plums.
Mushrooms & fungi (Mycotoxins)
What are they found in? Poisonous mushrooms, as well as mold on corn, peanuts, barley, wheat, oats, and beans.
We live in a toxic world, but we live.

Is spelling really vital

2008-10-29T15:47:00.000+11:00

2008-10-19T14:11:00.000+11:00

2008-10-19T14:08:00.000+11:00

2008-10-19T14:01:00.000+11:00

2008-10-19T13:58:00.000+11:00

2008-10-19T13:54:00.000+11:00

movie review

2008-10-15T16:55:00.002+11:00

Body of lies
Synopsis” Body of Lies" is based on "Washington Post" columnist David Ignatius' 2007 novel about a CIA operative, Roger Ferris, who uncovers a lead on a major terrorist leader suspected to be operating out of Jordan. When Ferris devises a plan to infiltrate his network, he must first win the backing of cunning CIA veteran Ed Hoffman and the collegial, but perhaps suspect, head of Jordanian intelligence. Although ostensibly his allies, Ferris questions how far he can really trust these men without putting his entire operation--and his life--on the line.

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Vince Colosimo, Clara Khoury, Jameel Khoury, Oscar Isaac, Mark Strong, Golshifte Farahani, Simon McBurney, Ali Suliman director: Ridley Scott

This movie started off well and I had high hopes of watching Crowe and DiCaprio on the big screen doing what they do best. Unfortunatly this was not to be. An over weight (they say he put the extra kilos on for the movie) Crowe was not at his best. DiCaprio was fairly good but not brillant. One surprise was another Aussie actor Vince Colosimo (from Underbelly,Alphonse Gangitano ) in what I think was his first Hollywood movie.
My rating out of five stars is two and a half. Wait for it on DVD

cork art

2008-09-20T17:22:00.001+10:00

Print Email Add to My Stories

Largest ever cork mosaic
Source: Arben Celi, Reuters
Published: Friday, September 5, 2008 7:37 AEST

People inspect the largest ever mosaic made of corks created by Albanian artist Saimir Strati in Tirana, Albania, on September 4, 2008. Working 14 hours a day for 28 days, Strati glued 229,764 corks of various shapes and colours over a plastic banner measuring 12.94 metres by 7.1 metres to make the artpiece 'Romeo with a crown of grapes playing the guitar while dancing with the sea and the sun'.

Sad days

2008-08-18T15:19:00.004+10:00

Jenny my first highschool girlfriend,Sadly passed away this month.There will always be a place in my heart for you J.J .If there is a heaven thats where you will be.
R.I.P

Movies I can watch more than once

2008-07-22T16:37:00.008+10:00

These are movies that I can and do watch over and over, most are not blockbuster movies and special effects but they all have either good actors or a good story.I my opinion these few have both, yes most are old movies and maybe I just like a story.

There To kill a mockingbird
Atticus Finch (Peck), a lawyer in the Depression-era South, defends a black man against an undeserved rape charge, and his kids against prejudice.
.........................................
Arsenic and old lace 1944
Mortimer Bruster is a newspaperman and author known for his diatribes against marriage. We watch him being married at city hall in the opening scene. Now all that is required is a quick trip home to tell Mortimer's two maiden aunts. While trying to break the news, he finds out his aunts' hobby; killing lonely old men and burying them in the cellar

..............................
12 Angry Men" focuses on a jury's deliberations in a capital murder case. A 12-man jury is sent to begin deliberations in the first-degree murder trial of an 18-year-old Latino accused in the stabbing death of his father, where a guilty verdict means an automatic death sentence. The case appears to be open-and-shut: The defendant has a weak alibi; a knife he claimed to have lost is found at the murder scene; and several witnesses either heard screaming, saw the killing or the boy fleeing the scene. Eleven of the jurors immediately vote guilty; only Juror No. 8 (Mr. Davis) casts a not guilty vote.
............................................
Tucker.The man and his dream.1988
When they tried to buy him, he refused. When they tried to bully him, he resisted. When they tried to break him, he became an American legend. The true story of Preston Tucker.

...............................................
Arlington road 1999
When Michael Faraday, single father, accidentally stumbles across a little lie from his new neigbour, he gets suspicious. As a university professor who gives classes on terrorism history and whose wife got killed in the line of FBI-duty, his fatherly protection instincts arise much faster than in normal people. Grant, his son, became the best friend of Brady Lang. Only that Brady's father did not always carry the name Lang. Digging deeper and deeper, Michael Faraday excavates a very interesting and frightening history. But what we didn't think of: From whose point of view is that history frightening? Written by Julian Reischl {julianreischl@mac.com

Heath Ledger

2008-07-18T14:33:00.002+10:00

Would the raves about the late Heath Ledger be the same if he had not died?
You won't have any trouble believing that aphorism when you see Heath Ledger's mesmerizing performance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight," Christopher Nolan's hotly anticipated and often brilliantly executed follow-up to "Batman Begins."

His face caked in cracked white greasepaint, his smile a grotesque red lipstick scar, kohl rimming his eyes, the Joker is a cruel kind of clown, the kind that is only interested in the last laugh.

Slouched in his purple suit, Ledger gives him a lopsided shuffle, a permanently craning neck and an insinuating, deceptively neighborly voice. But there's something reptilian about the way his tongue flicks through his pursed lips like a pickpocket. He's hungry for trouble, a maniac for mayhem -- and in Gotham City, where crime is still running wild, he can make himself right at home.

Ledger dominates this movie as a living presence, a live wire, dangerous and unpredictable. It's an astonishing performance, as extravagant and free ("deranged" might be a better word) as his Ennis Del Mar in "Brokeback Mountain" was inhibited and tongue-tied.

Take the test

2008-07-03T12:18:00.000+10:00

An exclusive insight into the likely content of a new 'Aussie values' test for potential Australian citizens which will come into effect later this year.

Sample questions devised by the Federal Government:

1. Which colours are represented on the Australian flag?

a. Green and yellow

b. Red, black and yellow

c. Blue, red and white

d. Orange and purple

2. Indigenous people have lived in Australia for ...

a. At least 40,000 years

b. About 8000 years

c. About 800 years

d. Less that 400 years

3. Australia's national flower is the ...

a. Rose

b. Wattle

c. Kangaroo paw

d. Banksia

4. Which is a popular sport in Australia?

a. Ice hockey

b. Water polo

c. Cricket

d. Table tennis

5. Australia's political system is a ...

a. Parliamentary democracy

b. Monarchy

c. Dictatorship

d. Socialist state

6. The Capital of Australia is...

a. Sydney

b. Melbourne

c. Hobart

d. Canberra

7. Which animals are on the Australian Coat of Arms?

a. Wombat and echidna

b. Kangaroo and emu

c. Kangaroo and dingo

d. Lion and unicorn

8. Where did the first European settlers to Australia come from?

a. Spain

b. France

c. England

d. Ireland

9. Who is Australia's head of state?

a. Prime Minister John Howard

b. Queen Elizabeth II

c. Governor General Michael Jeffery

d. Premier Steve Bracks

10. Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia?

a. Sir Edmund Barton

b. Sir Henry Parkes

c. John Curtin

d. Sir Robert Menzies

11. What song is Australia's national anthem?

a. God Save the Queen

b. Star Spangled Banner

c. Advance Australia Fair

d. Waltzing Matilda

12. What do you call the elected head of a state government?

a. Governor

b. Premier

c. Mayor

d. Prime Minister

13. Which federal political party or parties are in power?

a. Australian Labor Party

b. Australian Democrats and the Australian Greens

c. National Party

d. Liberal Party and National Party

14. Which of the following are Australian values?

a. Men and women are equal

b. `A fair go'

c. Mateship

d. All of the above

15. Australia's values are based on the ...

a. Teachings of the Koran

b. The Judaeo-Christian tradition

c. Catholicism

d. Secularism

16. What does Anzac Day commemorate?

a. The Gallipoli landing

b. Armistice Day

c. The Battle of the Somme

d. Victory in the Pacific

17. In what year did the first European settlers arrive?

a. 1801

b. 1770

c. 1788

d. 1505

18. How many states are there in Australia?

a. 5

b. 6

c. 7

d. 8

19. Australian soldiers fought in ...

a. World War I and World War II

b. Korean War

c. Vietnam War

d. All of the above

20. What is Australia's biggest river system?

a. The Murray Darling

b. The Murrumbidgee

c The Yarra

d. The Mississippi

Answers:

1) C, 2) A, 3) B, 4) C, 5) A, 6) D, 7) B, 8) C, 9) B, 10) A, 11) C, 12) B, 13) D, 14) D, 15) B, 16) A, 17) C, 18) B, 19) D, 20) A

So long, farewell and goodbye

2008-06-26T13:58:00.001+10:00

Tomorrow (Friday 27th June) will be a bit of a sad day; one that I knew was near. It’s the last day any of us can call this old house the family home. That familiar feeling that can only come from a home you have lived in for a long time will be gone. You get to know every creaking board every scratch and who made it. You know what needs fixing but never seem to get it done. As I enter the lounge room (I rarely go in there now) and look at the bare mantle and photo free walls I feel a little bit alone as though I am leaving a friend behind. I can remember the cold and wet Saturday morning we first moved into 1215 main road kalorama way back in 1967 and seeing this house of many doors, its seemed so big and I guess it was when compared to our other home. The yard was overgrown with walnut, lemon and apple trees, hydrangeas and rhododendrons where scattered everywhere. Now the new owners will make it their home and they want to renovate rather that rebuild that makes it ok. Now we move on, lets see what tomorrow brings.

A nation of fatties

2008-06-20T13:56:00.001+10:00

Australia is the world's most overweight nation, ahead of the supersized Americans. "As we send our athletes off to the Olympics let's reflect on the fact that we would win the gold medal problem now in the world fat Olympics if there was such a thing.

A topic that’s always I the news is obesity and today they say Australians have the highest percentage of obese people in the world. My question is why is this so? Is it the foods we eat or the amount we put on our plates? Blaming it on to much time on the computer is wrong; kids do in fact play more organized sport now than we ever did.
I have my own ideas on why we are so overweight; these are not facts but beliefs. We now have these huge dinner plates, a few weeks ago I found some plates that have not been used in years and was surprised at how small these where yet we seemed to get by on the smaller portions .We also snacked far less on things like potato chips, it was more like a piece of fruit or if we had a sandwich it was not over filled and the bread in our house was usually a rye bread.
That’s not to say we ate a low fat diet, foods like sausages or fried eggs where part of our weekend diet, it was just done in moderation and to a large degree we ate in seasonal foods. This is where I maybe completely wrong. I think a major cause to our allergies comes from the preservatives we put in our foods. It gives the food a longer self life but I believe its one of the reasons so many kids have things like asthma, when I was a child very few kids had things like asthma, diabetes or where obese, yes we walked everywhere and we ate less. We also had roast dinners and dipping bread into the roast juices was a treat, I even had dripping on toast with salt. We did not however have a pantry full of snack foods like chips party shapes biscuits (cookies) or huge bottles of soft drink in the refrigerator
The bottom line was we ate what was in season we ate less of it and did not snack an hour before dinner an after school snack was something small not a meal, I see kids eating hamburgers on their way home from school at 4pm its little wonder we are in so much trouble.

My movie review

2008-06-19T17:36:00.002+10:00

I saw this movie today and did not have expectations. All I knew before seeing the movie was it is not meant to be an accurate depiction of Mongolian history or the history of Genghis khan. The story does however give us a different look other than that of Hollywood. I did find that parts of the story were glossed over ‘not considered important I guess’ like how he got his followers, I think we are meant to use our imagination there. The actors did a good job and for those who worry about literal translations in the sub titles, stop thinking about it so much, its very hard to translate from one language to another accurately. I am told there is not much written in history about Genghis khan,
The movie was worth the price of admittance and is the first installment of the trilogy so go see it and be your own judge after all you might spend two hours watching a good movie.

There's a change in the air

2008-06-08T16:09:00.000+10:00

Barack Obama,
Here is something I never thought I would see in my lifetime, a Democratic black man defeating a white Democratic woman then him running against a conservative republican runner, the mind boggles at the money that has been spent just to decide the runners, its a pity they have that kind of money to put into telling the people how great it will be under them.
What all of us have to put up until November is these two leaders telling us why the he is not the right person and I am the one to lead America .we have to listen to more diatribes from both Barack Obama http://www.myspace.com/barackobama and John McCain. Its not just the American people who will have this on the nightly news in the paper etc but all of us will get our share, true the lions share will be directed to voter.
One of the things I do not understand is why a president can not run for more than two terms in the US If he/she is good enough why not let them be re-elected, that seems to be more democratic way of doing things. After all a president is in effect a lame duck in his/her final two years the way things are now, still it’s a system America seems to enjoy, now if only they put a higher value on their voting. Maybe they will get more out to vote this time around.
I guess only having two terms it stops dictators, then again many free countries do ok with a choice. Just think you may rob yourselves of a great leader and replace him/her with a not so great one and that has been done before

The other thing that’s always bothered me about the US system is you can be mayor governor or leader of the largest company but if you where not born in the USA you are not concidered good enough to be president which is odd when you think about some of the past leaders. This is NOT anti-american ,its just my opinion.

Just a few Pic's

2008-05-30T15:24:00.008+10:00

Flame TREE

I had this on my first blog

2008-05-02T12:18:00.000+10:00

Another definitive guide to being an Aussie
1. The bigger the hat , the smaller the farm.
2. The shorter the nickname, the more they like you.
3. Whether it's the opening of Parliament, or the launch of a new art gallery, there is no Australian event that cannot be improved by a sausage sizzle.
4. If the guy next to you is swearing like a wharfie he's probably a media billionaire. Or on the other hand, he may be a wharfie.
5. There is no food that cannot be improved by the application of tomato sauce.
6. On the beach, all Australians hide their keys and wallets by placing them inside their sandshoes. No thief has ever worked this out.
7. Industrial design knows of no article more useful than the plastic milk crate.
8. All our best heroes are losers.
9. The alpha male in any group is he who takes the barbecue tongs from the handsof the host and blithely begins turning the snags.
10. It's not summer until the steering wheel is too hot to hold.
11. It is proper to refer to your best friend as "a total bastard". By contrast, your worst enemy is "a bit of a bastard".
12. If it can't be fixed with pantyhose and fencing wire, it's not worth fixing.
13. The most popular and widely praised family in any street is the one that has the swimming pool.
14. It's considered better to be down on your luck than up yourself.
15. The phrase "we've got a great lifestyle" means everyone in the family drinks too much.
16. If invited to a party, you should take cheap red wine and then spend all nightdrinking the host's beer. (Don't worry, he'll have catered for it).
17. The phrase "a simple picnic" is not known. You should take everything you own. If you don't need to make three trips back to the car, you're not trying.
18. On picnics, the Esky is always too small, creating a food versus grog battle that can only ever be resolved by leaving the salad at home.
19. Unless ethnic or a Pom, you are not permitted to sit down in your front yard,or on your front porch. Pottering about, gardening or leaning on the fence is acceptable. Just don't sit. That's what backyards are for.
20. When on a country holiday, the neon sign advertising the Motel's pool will always be slightly larger than the pool itself.
21. There comes a time in every Australian's life when he/she realises that the Aerogard is worse than the mozzies.
22. And, finally, the true test for immigration to Australia. Potential new Aussies must pass the following test:
a) Mowing a sloping lawn (at least 20 degree angle) in a pair of thongs holding a VB (Beer) while watching the cricket.
b) If you can't pass that, chances are you will never be able to pass yourself off.

My opinion

2008-04-28T15:49:00.001+10:00

Closed circuit T.V, how effective is it in preventing crime or at catching those committing crimes? I have read a few web sites on this subject lately and while most agree its of some help many think'' CCTV cameras are clearly being used as a substitute for police on the beat. They are intrusive, counterproductive and offend civil liberties. If CCTV is so effective we should expect a decline in crime figures whereas we are actually seeing a steady increase'' (QUOTE from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/talking_point/2071824.stm ) There are as many for them as there are against.
On the news this week one story reported that in Briton they have now added a voice to the CTV,This is very big brother.The person from the company said 'If you are not doing anything wrong then, what's the problem?' and he is right.Having said that I am not sure I want every move I make watched ,and what of the over zealous watcher can not behave? They say it will all be on tape and the watchers will have watchers.I don't get much comfort from that. I wonder how productive it all is, What happens in peak hour when people are rushing around will they stop when a voice from above yells out 'would the person wearing blue jeans pick up the cigarette butt' unlikely.

I think a uniformed police man/woman would be enough to stop most crimes happening in the first place. It worked in New York City along with a tough stance from the courts.Their crime rate dropped dramatically.
If we must have big brother in our lives keep it ob TV where we can always switch off.
Please feel free to comment.

Going going.....gone

2008-04-27T14:57:00.000+10:00

Our family home has been sold after 41 years...........so sad but it was time

2008-03-27T11:12:00.000+11:00

I was a Mouse

You quietly examine life's lessons and see multiple meanings in things.

You are also good at discovering details and remaining in the background.

What Animal Were You In a Past Life?

Painted by a friend of a friend

2008-03-25T17:21:00.000+11:00

Painted by a friend of a friend

2008-03-25T17:15:00.000+11:00

BILBY EASTER

2008-03-21T12:43:00.004+11:00

The Bilby should replace the rabbit in Australia, here's why.Firstly the rabbit in Australia is vermon and has caused a lot of problems because they do not have enough preditors to keep the population down,even our winters are not cold enough to naturally cull the numbers.
Secondly and most important the Bilby has bigger ears so you get more chocolate.

The largest cuckoo clock in the world

2008-03-09T13:26:00.000+11:00

Someone forgot to wind the clock

Staff at the Cuckoo restaurant

2008-03-09T13:23:00.000+11:00

I hope we can do this again next year or sooner.

Donna Summers

2008-03-07T15:17:00.002+11:00

Works hard for the money
music file

looking up trees at 45 degree's

2008-03-02T16:45:00.001+11:00

2008-02-23T13:30:00.000+11:00

Made with free image tools @ TXT2PIC.com

Is this the end?

2008-02-20T17:04:00.000+11:00

Kooky but kind of funny

2008-02-19T16:57:00.002+11:00

amazing

2008-01-30T15:19:00.000+11:00

2008-01-28T18:04:00.000+11:00

2008-01-08T14:52:00.000+11:00

Joke

2008-01-08T14:34:00.000+11:00

Italian Wedding Night

Maria had just gotten married, and being a traditional Italian she was
still a virgin. On her wedding night, staying at her mother's house,
she was very nervous. Her mother reassured her, "Don't worry,
Maria,Tony's a good man.
Go upstairs and he'll take care of you. Meanwhile, I'll be > making
pasta."

So, uppa she went. When she got upstairs, Tony took off his shirt and >
exposed his hairy chest. Maria ran downstairs to her mother and says,
"Mama, Mama, Tony's got a big hairy chest." "Don't worry, Maria," says
the mother, "all good men have hairy chests. Go upstairs. He'll take
good care of you." So, uppa she went again.

When she got up in the bedroom, Tony took off his pants exposing his
hairy legs. Again, Maria ran downstairs to her mother. "Mama, Mama,
Tony took off his pants and he's got hairy legs!" "Don't worry! All
good men have hairy legs. Tony's a good man. Go upstairs and he'll
take good care of you."

So, uppa she went again. When she got there, Tony took off his socks
and on his left foot he was missing three toes.
When Maria saw this, she ran downstairs. "Mama, Mama, Tony's got a foot
and a half!" Her mama said, "Stay here and stir the pasta..."

The fire season had to come.

2008-01-04T14:44:00.000+11:00

Victoria will burn until April.
By Catherine Best | January 03, 2008

VICTORIAN fire authorities are warning of a long, perilous bushfire season and say massive swathes of grassland in western and central Victoria are ready to burn.

After a run of 40-degree-plus temperatures and with eight bushfires burning, state fire services today declared extreme fire conditions would prevail at least until April.

Fire chiefs urged people to be prepared, warning the conditions posed a risk to homes in coastal and provincial areas and on Melbourne's fringe.

Acting Premier Rob Hulls said the Otways, the Dandenongs and the Macedon ranges were at high risk.
"These areas are very dry, and in many cases, of course, they are densely populated," he said.

"The hot and dry conditions could lead to very intense and also fast-moving fires in densely populated areas."

Victorians could expect even more extreme fire days this season and with blazes moving fast they must be prepared early, Mr Hulls said.

"We all remember the devastating effect of last year's bushfires.

"Initially ignited by massive lightning strikes, last year's fires grew to a series of 83 fires that burnt over 1.48 million hectares of land, destroying more than 51 homes and resulting in significant loss of livestock."

Late today, five fires continued to burn out of control in East Gippsland and three had been contained. The three fires causing most concern were around Buchan and at Lightning Track, north of Orbost.

Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) chief officer Ewan Waller said fire crews did not expect to have the blazes under control by the weekend, when temperatures in the mid 30s are forecast.

Here is another opinion.

2008-01-03T16:35:00.000+11:00

For arguments sake or for the sake of an argument .Today I heard on national radio.One Australian Government minister who is no longer in power give his views on the alleged reason for the 'coalition of the willing' ha ha.invading Iraq was for oil and plenty think that way.
I think what he said makes sense,If the US and its western partners where only after oil they could have dealt with Saddam Hussein, after all he wanted to sell the oil and although he did not like countries like America he had been selling to them for a long time at the going rate. It would have save hundreds of millions of dollars at least, not to mention around 4000 young men and women and god only knows how many Iraqi civilians.
No oil was not the main factor , however I am sure its becoming one now that oil has reached $100us a barrel.
What are/where the real reasons ?I don't really know .I guess Bush or one of his henchmen will write a book and maybe,just maybe the truth will come out, don't hold your breath though.

Tasmania

2008-01-01T14:36:00.000+11:00

Perth

2008-01-01T14:32:00.000+11:00

Adelaide

2008-01-01T14:31:00.001+11:00

Sydney brings in 2008

2008-01-01T14:27:00.000+11:00

Melbounes new years eve

2008-01-01T14:14:00.000+11:00

looks like a summer Storm

2007-12-20T16:54:00.000+11:00

How much rain will this storm bring I wonder/? Look at Mt Dandenong, I think we will get wet.

The lighter side

2007-12-16T15:53:00.000+11:00

Awesome Graphics at pYzam.com

This is just going overboard

2007-12-04T15:31:00.000+11:00

Teddy row teacher flying back to UK
Press Association Tuesday December 4, 2007 3:08 AM
A British teacher jailed in Sudan for allowing her students to name a teddy bear Mohammed is due to arrive back in the UK after receiving a presidential pardon.
Gillian Gibbons spent more than a week in jail for insulting Islam and prompted a diplomatic row after letting her seven-year-old pupils give the bear the same name as the sacred prophet.
She was due to be incarcerated for 15 days but was released early after diplomacy by British parliamentarians Lord Ahmed of Rotherham and Baroness Warsi secured a pardon from the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
The 54-year-old then left Sudan, stopping in Dubai en route to London.
At her son's home in Wavertree, Liverpool, family and friends were already preparing for a celebration. Visitors to the house on Monday night arrived laden with beer, wine and flowers.
Her 25-year-old son John said: "Obviously we're very pleased. I'd like to thank the Government for all they have done, the hard work behind the scenes, especially the two peers who went out there. Everyone's been really great.
"Obviously it's a great feeling, we're very pleased, we have been under a lot of pressure."
Foreign Secretary David Miliband said that Mrs Gibbons was in "remarkably good spirits". She had been jailed on Thursday.
After speaking to the mother-of-two, Mr Miliband welcomed her pardon. He said: "She was a little overwhelmed by the amount of coverage she understood this case had received and proud of the way her family had stood up over the last week."
In a statement after her pardon, Mrs Gibbons said she did not intend to offend anyone and stressed that she had great respect for Islam

Confused Chef

2007-11-19T15:55:00.000+11:00

Monday November 19, 03:36 PM
Six die when China cook gets confused
A Chinese cook accidentally used rat poison instead of flour in rice dumplings, inadvertently killing himself and five others, state media says.

The six died after eating dumpling soup last week, prompting a police investigation to see if any crime had been committed, the Shanghai Daily said.

Chen Ruyan, who worked at a recycling station in the central province of Hubei, was preparing lunch last Sunday.

"In the process, Chen found the rice dough he was preparing for making "tangyuan" (rice dumplings) was quite watery and he decided to add more rice flour," the Shanghai Daily said.

"Unfortunately, he mistook rat poison that had been placed together with other condiments as flour and mixed it into the dough."

Investigators said Chen, who sold rat poison as a business, had put the chemicals in the kitchen when he moved home.

China is in the middle of a nationwide campaign to improve food and product safety after a string of international scares that have tainted its export reputation.

But the government is also worried about lax safety endangering the country's own citizens.

Reports of usually non-fatal food poisoning at school canteens and restaurants, especially in the countryside, are common.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sarah

2007-11-16T18:07:00.000+11:00

What's wrong with these people

2007-11-16T14:20:00.000+11:00

glumbert - Dolphin massacre in JapanCan't they find a more humane way of doing this.I'm not saying they can't after all we 'Aussies' eat 'skippy' kangaroo and other countries eat Bambi.

Christmas

2007-11-02T15:06:00.000+11:00

provided by: www.glittertools.com

2007-10-30T15:54:00.000+11:00

After more than fifty years'?(I'm told') The termites got our rhododendron, I guess all things must pass

Pop corn fumes can be dangerous

2007-10-28T17:47:00.000+11:00

World | Off the wall

The smell of buttery microwave popcorn can be intoxicating. But can it also be dangerous?

The question took on new significance recently when a doctor alerted federal regulatory agencies that a Colorado man who ate at least two bags every night for several years had "significant lung disease" similar to that seen in some microwave popcorn workers.

The illness - the first suspected case in a consumer - was linked to the man's habit of inhaling fumes from extra-buttery microwave popcorn, which contains the chemical diacetyl. The additive gives foods a buttery taste and has been linked to severe lung disease in some microwave popcorn and flavour plant workers.

Dr Cecile Rose, the lung specialist who examined the 53-year-old furniture salesman, says it "looks like a possible case, but we can't be sure." In her letter to federal officials, she said though it is hard to make a causal connection, "we have no other plausible explanation."

likely story

2007-10-23T14:47:00.000+10:00

Doctors in India have removed a three-inch piece of a toothbrush, including the business end, from a 31-year-old woman's nose.

The woman claims she is not sure how the toothbrush ended wedged in her nasal cavity.

She says, “Around two months ago as I was brushing my teeth, my husband accidentally pushed me and the toothbrush in my hand broke. I was left holding the lower portion of the brush but couldn’t locate the rest of it. Soon after, I started bleeding profusely from the nose,” she said.

She visited the family doctor to stop the bleeding. “But since that day, I began getting breathless and a foul smelling discharge began to come out of my nose. I used to get restless gasping for breath sometimes,” she said.

According to the doctor, it is impossible that the toothbrush could have entered the nasal cavity through the mouth. The woman’s father-in-law said his son lived separately and used to often fight with his wife as he was jobless. However, the woman has given a statement to the police that the brush had entered her nose accidentally.

simon

2007-10-10T15:01:00.000+10:00

My say on this

2007-10-03T15:02:00.000+10:00

Fad Diet’s what good are they really?
Admit it you have tried many diets and none of them work, or if they do its only for a short time. The only diet that will work is a ‘life style change’ go to the pantry remove everything and start again.
Try less cookies ’biscuits’ potato chips or any snack food with a long self-life. Get rid of the fruit drinks as well as the fizzy drinks, water is free.
Next place to attack is the refrigerator, start at the freezer dump half the ice cream, and them get rid of all those pizza type things like pies. I’m not saying don’t eat any junk food that’s not realistic but if you only have a small amount in stock you might find room for good foods.
Try eating only food that’s in season it tastes much better and is healthy. Don’t eat things like cool store apples that have been picked six months ago they are very low in nutrients, even the vegetables you buy at the super markets are more than likely past their best by the time they get to your plate.
Why not plant a few vegetables in your garden? You can put them in pots if there’s not room. A friend of mine just plants things like tomatoes potatoes amongst his plants and they grow just fine.
Last but not least, get rid of the bathroom scales. If you need confirmation you have lost weight stand in front of the mirror naked. Then get dressed and see how others will see you. Do you really need the extra stress that those scales bring?
Most of all if you feel good you are healthy enough.
Don’t be fooled by the so called experts,they keep changing their minds on what good for us and as a result keep putting books out there for us to buy, and we do over and over again.
Just one example is eggs, first its yes they are good for you then some smarty said no all that colestrol will kill you. I saw a test where they ate nothing but eggs for two weeks and guess what the cholesterol actually dropped so I think eggs in moderation are good, they are a vitamins where the good outlays ‘pun intended’ the bad .

Remember do as I say not as I do ………I eat chocolate, drink wine beer and scotch and love it. LOL

well done cats

2007-09-29T18:03:00.000+10:00

Geelong capped a sensational season with comfortably the biggest win in AFL grand final history, a 24.19 (163) to 6.8 (44) thrashing of Port Adelaide at the MCG.

The 119-point win, in front of a crowd of 97,302, dwarfed Hawthorn's 96-point win over Melbourne in 1998 as the greatest margin in an AFL/VFL premiership decider.

It's ironic that port power only got 44 point as that is the amount of years it took geelong to win another Flag. The fans and player will party long and hard.

If you buy ACER I wish you luck

2007-09-25T17:41:00.000+10:00

I had the same problems with ACER or more to the point Highpoint repair centre in sydney. I called them and emailed them and all i got was lip service. This was my first reply, it looked promising.

Thankyou for highlighting your concerns with Acer/Highpoint.
I am part of the Customer Service Team here at Highpoint and deal with such complaints.
If possible, could you please advise the serial number or reference number corresponding to your unit.
I will further assess the issue for you.
Thankyou for your time.

Best Regards
that was on Wednesday, August 08, 2007 11:15 AM .I got my lap top back on Wednesday 19th of september. Only to find the had not returned my power adaptor ,making the pc usless after an hour .I thought ok no problem call them and have it sent down. Sure enough the person on the phone said that is dreadful i will get onto it straight away and get back to you today'wednesday' silly me i believed him. Frday morning still nothing not even a call, so once again i'[m on the phone and get through to another person that asures me he will get action today.
Guess what ?
I have had with this service even the laptop they repaired come back covered in grime .All this from a company this size, it must be some kind of joke.
I WAS told by one of them they where in the middle of changes there , not our problem even if its true.
Buying ACER I have found is just the begining of you troubles if you want service, so before you decide try a google search or click a label below.The video is extreme but I have felt like doing this with my laptop.
http://www.avoidacer.com/ I am not doing this out of anger or spite,I am just frustrated by their lack of care and their treatment.

I think this is funny

2007-09-23T14:20:00.000+10:00

Man with no legs charged with drink driving
Jesse Perez

Print 0 Ratings | Rate It: Thank you for rating! Send to friend
21/09/2007 11:55:00 AM.

ABBOTSFORD, WISCONSIN - Two men who were driving the same pickup truck, have been caught drink driving in Wisconsin.

Police found that 43-year-old Harvey Miller, a double leg amputee, was steering the truck.

Officers say 55-year-old Edwin Marzinske was operating the accelerator and brake pedals.

The police report stated that Miller personally confessed he was too drunk to drive, but argued he wasn't actually driving the truck because he couldn't operate the accelerator or the brake. Officers disagreed and cited him for drink driving, third offence.

Marzinske was cited for his second drink driving offence.

Both men were also cited for operating a vehicle after revocation.

More is less

2007-09-17T17:56:00.000+10:00

POOR DEMI

It's been a challenging few years, being the age I am. Almost to the point where I felt like, well, they don't know what to do with me. I am not 20. Not 30,” she revealed to Red magazine. “There aren't that many good roles for women over 40. A lot of them don't have much substance, other than being someone's mother or wife.”

Demi’s frustration with Hollywood’s attitudes toward “women of a certain age” was evident throughout her interview with the publication. “If we are told we are not valuable once we hit 30, it is a problem,” she said. “We all have more to give … We can't just wait for something to happen. We have to say, ‘I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more.

OK Demi what about Meryl Streep,Helen Mirrin, Glen close Judy Dench Judy Davis....
maybe its not an age problem after all 'talent counts'

2007-09-02T17:16:00.000+10:00

Create a Free Slideshow

The boys

2007-08-31T13:31:00.000+10:00

APEC

2007-08-30T16:34:00.000+10:00

I find it bizarre that the so called protesters are saying they are there to stop the violence in Iraq by gearing up for violence against their own police force doing their job of protecting visiting heads of state, I am certainty not a fan of Bush and Co and believe every person has the right to protest. I know things have changed since I was a twenty something and know it all, but some of the greatest protesters have used peace as their weapon ‘Gandhi Nelson Mandela “ to name two. So by all means show your distaste and protest loud but do it in peace, wishful thinking? Maybe.

Font Size: Decrease Increase Print Page: Print Sarah Elks | August 30, 2007
A MELBOURNE group has announced its intention to violently disrupt next week's APEC summit and has issued a call to action to recruit more people for a "mass, strategic intervention".

The group, AC/DC, which is believed to be aligned with the anarchist political movement, plans to act as a "mobile disruption" unit during APEC, which will be held in Sydney for a week from Sunday.

AC/DC's open letter, posted on a number of internet forums, said APEC "promotes exploitation, inequality and the destruction of the planet" and acknowledged the group's actions might be seen as violent.

"By the very praxis of stepping out and challenging their control of space, we are committing what is regarded as a violent act," the letter reads.

"It is the violence of articulating resistance; it is a violation against their understanding of our lives."

The letter says it is important "that we stay safe and minimise the repercussions of police repression in our families and communities".

A spokesman for the Stop Bush Coalition, organisers of the biggest APEC protest on Saturday, September 8, insisted its march would be peaceful.

"We've clearly indicated that we intend for this to be a peaceful protest and we've chosen a march route that signals we're not interested in a confrontation with police," Alex Bainbridge said.

"We're confident that's going to happen on the day."

The march, which is expected to attract 5000 people, will highlight the issues of the war in Iraq, a comprehensive response to climate change and workers' rights.

Mr Bainbridge, 35, said concern over violent protest was unfounded.

"I don't think it's very likely," he said. "We've seen in the past these sorts of things get exaggerated in the media and then we turn up on the day and nothing happens."

He said he was more concerned about police violence against protesters.

"We've had this whole scare campaign for months of new water cannons, new stun guns, the new fence being set up and new police powers," he said. "It's not outlandish to think there might be some police that might be trigger-happy."

2007-08-26T13:59:00.000+10:00

We had a great time at Darren and Jenny's wedding it was well thought out and no one felt like they had missed out. The Quat Quatta provided us with a great venue and fine food.Thanks Darren and Jenny

From outside the church

2007-08-26T13:53:00.000+10:00

Happy bride and groom

2007-08-26T13:49:00.000+10:00

Congratulations

2007-08-21T17:19:00.000+10:00

Next Saturday"25th" My nephew Darren is getting married to the lovely Jenny, congratulations to the both of you.

Looney Germaine Greer

2007-08-20T17:28:00.000+10:00

The once highly respected if not feared Germaine has in the words of the other great feminist (Brittney Spears) Oops! I Did It Again. This woman only comes out from under her rock when she has something to sell. Her last bit of venom was directed at Steve Irwin(croc hunter)only days after his death.Now its Princess Diana's turn.

Some of the most startling one-liners I’ve heard all festival have issued not from the lips of male comics, who resort all too often to tiresomely predictable 'knob-gags', but from the erudite participants at the Book Festival - and most especially, from the motor-mouth of feminism’s still-reigning queen, Germaine Greer.

Germaine Greer
Germaine Greer lobbed a hand-grenade of a remark

At the end of a meet the author session at the Edinburgh Books Festival this weekend, she lobbed a hand-grenade of a remark her audience's way: she'd been thinking about Princess Diana, she revealed - and 'I’ve come to the conclusion that she was a devious moron.'

Making a mess of being Princess of Wales was no big deal, she reasoned ('All but one of the Princesses of Wales have come to a sticky end') but to botch up her life afterwards took some doing.

As always Greer, who’s been preparing a newspaper article on Diana, knows the kind of furore she’s bound to be stirring with this kind of talk - 'I’m going to have to invest in a bullet-proof vest,' she joked.

One of my other places

2007-08-18T17:40:00.000+10:00

Photos by Dieter on Buzznet

Outside? No way

2007-08-15T16:37:00.000+10:00

2007-08-15T13:49:00.000+10:00

My weekly indulgence

2007-08-14T14:53:00.001+10:00

2007-08-10T17:21:00.001+10:00

can you see him?

2007-08-10T17:21:00.000+10:00

can you see him?

My rant

2007-08-03T18:05:00.000+10:00

It’s strange how we in the richer countries are now asking ourselves. Why is everything made in china? Take Australia, years ago in stores you would have had no problem finding the Aussie brand at eye level. Now the Aussie is on the bottom self, if you can find it at all. Sure big companies sold out. The reason the did that more than likely was because the shelves where being flooded with imports that where slightly cheaper and we the consumer could not wait to dive in and save a dollar or two, who cares if the quality was not that great, its cheap right?
We have ourselves to blame for not buying established Australian brand when they where in the stores. Now that most of the brands are gone we are complaining that there’s nothing on the self apart from imports.We need to start buying home made products, pay the extra dollar its worth it. Do you want to buy fish (catfish) from Vietnam or support our fisheries and know where fish comes from? It’s not only fish or even food. Next time you are buying clothes look for the Australian product, good hunting. I am not anti imports we do need them but not if it destroys the local market. We have become too reliant on imports there is a balance. This is a worldwide issue. China Japan Thailand and Vietnam have become our factories and very cheap for now. Will it last?

2007-08-03T15:37:00.000+10:00

Let's take things literally!!

Red Tape Holds Up New Bridge

Deer Kill 17,000

Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery Hundreds Dead

Man Struck by Lightning Faces Battery Charge

New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group

Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft

Kids Make Nutritious Snacks

Chef Throws His Heart into Helping Feed Needy

Arson Suspect is Held in Massachusetts Fire

British Union Finds Dwarfs in Short Supply

Lansing Residents Can Drop Off Trees

Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half

New Vaccine May Contain Rabies

Man Minus Ear Waives Hearing

Deaf College Opens Doors to Hearing

Air Head Fired

Steals Clock, Faces Time

Prosecutor Releases Probe into Undersheriff

Old School Pillars are Replaced by Alumni

Bank Drive-in Window Blocked by Board

Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors

2007-08-02T13:39:00.000+10:00

Stop horsing around

2007-07-28T16:58:00.000+10:00

Double standards at its best

2007-07-24T16:32:00.001+10:00

2007-07-24T16:32:00.000+10:00

2007-07-24T16:31:00.000+10:00

Rant

2007-07-21T17:59:00.000+10:00

Me My Mine

Sounds self-indulgent? Well yes it is and why not, its not like I do this all the time. Is it? Every now and then you should think about yourself first. It just makes sense to look out for number one. Take fire fighters for example, it’s the first thing they are taught is their own safety, after all they are of no help to anyone if they don’t look after their own wellbeing first. So watch out for ‘ME’

This is my life, such as it is, it’s certainly not the life I wanted or expected. How many people started out in life wanting a certain kind of life but have settled for another? Most people I imagine. So a little my time should be put aside just like savings. You will need it one day.

It’s Mine’ Ok that sounds selfish. The truth is it is not. People assume you want to share should get a shock occasionally. How often have you had to go without or had to share just to keep the peace. I say let them jump up and down a bit. It’s your life first. Your health, your wellbeing Take a little me, my mine. Then you will get the respect love and gratitude you deserve

snow?

2007-07-18T12:47:00.000+10:00

The first snow

2007-07-18T12:42:00.000+10:00

Ok so it was only a little bit of snow

enough said lol

2007-07-16T16:52:00.001+10:00

Aborignal art

2007-07-14T16:35:00.000+10:00

This is the only thing I was allowed to take a picture/video of at the Aboriginal culture display at the Melbourne Museum , that's okay by me.

The Royal Exhibition buildings Carlton

2007-07-01T15:03:00.000+10:00

I am glad they put this on the heritage listing before developers could get to it.

Double standards

2007-06-24T16:35:00.000+10:00

The smoking debate continues here in Australia. At the end of this month ’June’ it
Will be illegal to smoke in clubs or bars in Victoria, I applaud this. If it helps people quit this habit it is a good thing. My only concern is the double standards of this legislation. Why is it the crown casino is permitted to continue letting people smoke in it’s mahogany room? Is it once again one rule for the affluent and one for the poor?

The staff working there must be pleased that they will get ill from a richer class of smoke. And what about the cigar clubs in Melbourne? According to a spokesperson for QUIT those workers would be at risk of getting second hand smoke related illnesses, That hardly makes sense to me.

A week in the life

2007-06-09T15:59:00.000+10:00

Okay Monday morning was like any other morning. Woke up to a cup of tea with honey (50+ heart starter) and toast. Did not feel much like getting up. I decided to bite the bullet and get a new computer or at least dip my toes into that world. Spent almost an hour with my archenemy, my disability care people. I had quick lunch of fish and chips with my brother. A hello to patty. And that’s about it really.

Tuesday…. Well a wasted day really I played on the computer and chatted a little. I had lots of calls to make, I like to let them accumulate then get them all done at once. Thought I was going out for dinner but I had the days mixed up, so its lamb roast and baked spuds with salad ‘maybe a cardboard red’ then T.V.

Wednesday. Looking forward to a massage today my shoulder is giving me grief. Tonight it’s off to the local for dinner the food is country style. (I knew it was a weekday but forgot when). They have just put in a large open fire I love it. Warm feet cold beer can’t argue with that

Thursday: Saw that rain had almost stopped up north, bugger we need much more. I went to the DVD store found a couple of older movies, and then over to the library it’s a small but relaxing place. I managed to find some easy reading. And I was online again (big shock)

Friday: Well I did warn you I lead a very boring life. Woke up in the middle of the night so guess who’s a bit grumpy? I would be happy top do nothing today and so far I have accomplished just that. I had an idea I might lounge in the sunroom and read the midweek age. I hope to watch Essendon beat the west coast eagles ‘I live in hope’ lol

Saturday. Well they did it, (I never had a doubt ha) they won by a point that is two weeks in a row. I’m not sure I can stand these close games, lucky for me I just happened to have a few Irish larger’s on hand. Nothing planned for today.

Sunday. A day spent with some of the family ‘you know what that’s like’ its all good lol

funnies

2007-05-28T17:58:00.000+10:00

1. This story occurred on Melbourne radio last week. One of the FM stations has a competition where they ring someone up, ask them three personal questions, ring their spouse or partner, ask them the same three questions, if the answers are the same, the couple win an overseas holiday. Last week the competition went like this:

Presenter: Hey its XXX-FM, do you want to play the game?

Brian: Yeah, sure.
Presenter: O.K., Question 1 - When was the last time you had sex?
Brian: Ha Ha, well, about 8 o'clock this morning.

Presenter: And how long did it go for Brian?
Brian: Hmmmmm .... about 10 minutes.
Presenter:10 minutes? Good one. And where did you do it?
Brian: Ohhhh , I can't say that.
Presenter: There's a holiday to Bali at stake here Brian!
Brian: O.K. ... O.K. ... On the kitchen table.

Presenter:(and others in the room - much laughter). Good one Brian, now is it O.K. for us to call your wife?
Brian: Yeah, alright.

Presenter: Hi Sharelle, how are you?
Sharelle: Hi. Good thanks.

Presenter: (Explains competition again) We've got Brian on the other line, say hello.
Sharelle: Hi Brian.
Brian: Hi Sharelle.

Presenter: Now Sharelle, we're going to ask you the same three questions we asked Brian and if you give the same answers, you win a trip for two to Bali.

Brian: Just tell the truth Honey.
Sharelle: O.K.

Presenter: Sharelle, when was the last time you had sex?
Sharelle: Oohhhh, noooooo. I can't say that on radio.
Brian: Sharelle, it doesn't matter. I've already told them.
Sharelle: O.K. ... About 8:00 this morning before Brian went to work.

Presenter: Good, nice start! Next question. How long did it go for Sharelle?
Sharelle: (giggling) About 12, maybe 15 minutes.
Co-Presenter: That's close enough ... Brian was just being a gentleman.

Presenter: O.K. Sharelle, final question. Where did you do it?
Sharelle: Oh no I can't say that. My mum could be listening. No way, no.
Presenter: There's a trip to Bali on the line here.
Brian: Sharelle, I've already told them so it doesn't matter anyway.. just tell em.

Sharelle: Ohhhh .... alright .... Up the ass!

Radio Silence

2.A newlywed couple returned to their apartment after being on their honeymoon.

"Care to go upstairs and do it?" the husband asked.

"Shh!" said the bride "All the neighbors will know what we're about to do. These walls are paper thin. In the future, we'll have to ask each other in code. For example, how about asking, 'Have you left the washing machine door open' instead?"

So, the following night, the husband asks, "I don't suppose you left the washing machine door open, did you?"

"No, I definitely shut it," replied the wife who rolled over and fell asleep.

When she woke up however, she was feeling a little frisky herself and she nudged her husband and said, "I think I did leave the washing machine door open after all. Would you like to do some washing?"

"No, thanks," said the husband. "It was only a small load so I did it by hand."

3.A huge muscular man walks into a bar and orders a beer. The bartender hands him the beer and says, "You know, I'm not gay but I want to compliment you on your physique, it really is phenomenal! I have a question though, why is your head so small?"

The big guy nods slowly. He's obviously fielded this question many times.

"One day," he begins, "I was hunting when I got lost in the woods. I heard someone crying for help and finally realized that it was coming from a frog sitting next to a stream."

So I picked up the frog and it said, "Kiss me. Kiss me and I will turn into a genie and grant you 3 wishes."

So I looked around to make sure I was alone and gave the frog a kiss. POOF! The frog turned into a beautiful, voluptuous, naked woman.

She said, "You now have 3 wishes."

I looked down at my scrawny 115 pound body and said, "I want a body like Arnold Schwarzenneger."

She nodded, whispered a spell, and POOF! there I was, so huge that I ripped out of my clothes and was standing there naked!

She then asked, "What will be your second wish?"

I looked hungrily at her beautiful body and replied, "I want to make sensuous love with you here by this stream." She nodded, laid down, and beckoned to me. "We then made love for hours!"

Later, as we lay there next to each other, sweating from our glorious lovemaking, she whispered into my ear, "You know, you do have one more wish. What will it be?"

I looked at her and replied, "How about a little head?"

4.

This fella goes to the doctor and says "Doctor, I've got a rash round my cock, have you got anything for it?"

The doctor said "put this on and come back next week if it doesn't work."

The bloke comes back the next week and the cream hadn't worked so he tells the doctor and the doctor gives him more cream and tells him to come back next week if it doesn't work.

The bloke comes back and the cream still hasn't worked so the doctor says "Drop your pants."

The man drops his pants and the doctor has a look and tells him to put a different cream on. The man then says "Doctor it's worked!! What was that?"

The doctor replies "Lipstick remover"

interesting

2007-05-22T17:20:00.001+10:00

Melbourne is the only city in the world that has five international standard sporting facilities (including three with retractable roofs) on the fringe of its central business district.
Each year Melbourne plays host to tens of thousands of interstate and overseas visitors who come to see the Australian Open Tennis Championships, the Australian Grand Prix, the Australian 500CC Motorcycle Grand Prix, Spring Racing Carnival, the Australian Football League Grand Final and many more special events.
Melbourne is home to eight of Australia's top ten spenders on research and development (R&D) including Australia's largest, Telstra and Ericsson. In addition, Melbourne boasts Ericsson's 42nd Precinct, one of only three Ericsson R&D centres in the world.
Melbourne's famous tramway system is the largest outside the European continent and the fourth largest in the world. It stretches along 244 kilometres (152 miles) of track, and has 450 trams.
Melbourne is the eighth largest telecommunications market in the world - making Melbourne one of the best wired cities globally - broadband infrastructure is located within 100 metres (328 feet) of every office building in the central business district.
Melbourne's scientists have been pivotal in the development of the world's most innovative biotechnology breakthroughs including Relenza, Relaxin and the bionic ear, which has provided hearing to 20,000 profoundly or totally deaf people in over 55 countries.
Melbourne was the largest city in Australia at the time of Federation (1901) and as such became the nation's interim capital and home of Federal Parliament from 1901-1927.
In 1856 a group of Melbourne workers, mostly stonemasons, won an eight-hour day from their employers. This was a world first, and is celebrated with a public holiday in Victoria.
Australia has held the Commonwealth Games on three previous occasions: 1938 in Sydney, 1962 in Perth, and 1982 in Brisbane.
The Welcome Stranger - the world's largest alluvial gold nugget weighing approximately 70 kilograms (154.3 pounds) - was discovered in Ballarat, (one hour's drive from Melbourne) in 1869.
The National Gallery of Victoria has the world's largest stained glass ceiling - 51 metres (167.3 feet) long by 15 metres (49.2 feet) wide.
The Story of the Ned Kelly Gang, made in Melbourne in 1906, is recognised as the world's first feature film, running to five reels.
One of the world's earliest feature-length films - Soldiers of the Cross - was made in 1900 in Melbourne by Salvation Army leader, General Booth.
In 1869, the largest fully-steerable telescope the world had ever seen was installed at the Melbourne Observatory. Known as the Great Melbourne Telescope, the device boasted a reflector of 122 centimetres (48 inches).
Luna Park, in Melbourne's bayside suburb of St Kilda, is the world's oldest amusement park under private management.
Melbourne's Observation Deck is in the Rialto, the tallest office building in the Southern Hemisphere. It stands on 75 huge concrete caissons (legs) attached to rock 20m (66 feet) below the ground.
The spire on top of the Victorian Arts Centre reaches 115 metres (377 feet) into the air. It has: 6,600 metres (21,654 feet) of fibre optic tubing in and around the spire; 17,700 metres (58,071 feet) of power and control cables; 14,000 incandescent lamps on the skirt of the spire, 150 metres (492 feet) of neon tubing on the mast; 496 computer control devices which manipulate the colours and movement of the lights.
The Melbourne-made television soap opera Neighbours recorded its 4,000th episode in May 2002. It screens in 57 different countries to an average daily audience of 120 million viewers. Since it began in 1985 the show has had 18 marriages, 11 deaths and six births.

interesting to me only ?

2007-05-22T17:17:00.000+10:00

Sister Cities

Melbourne has seven sister cities around the world.

The Sister Cities programme aims to promote Melbourne’s international profile, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, supporting exchanges in business, tourism, education, culture and sport and promoting tolerance, understanding and friendship.

The cities are Osaka in Japan (our first, back in 1978); Tianjin in the People's Republic of China; Thessaloniki in Greece; Boston in the USA; Saint Petersburg in Russia; Milan in Italy and Galle, Sri Lanka (after the 2004 tsunami disaster Melbourne adopted Galle in order to fund the reconstruction of its cricket ground).

fun

2007-04-24T17:38:00.000+10:00

Virtual Romance. (A Modern Morality Tale).
There was a young woman whose suitor,
Treated her just like his computer,
She let him log-on,But she told him; 'Begone!',
Whenever he tried to reboot her.

There was a young man from PurdueWho was only just learning to screw,
But he hadn't the knack,
And he got too far back
In the right church, but in the wrong pew.

The limerick's callous and crude,
Its morals distressingly lewd;
It's not worth the reading By persons of breeding - It's designed for us vulgar and rude.

2007-04-22T18:05:00.001+10:00

I once took our vicar to tea;
It was just as I thought it would be:
His rumblings abdominal
Were simply phenomenal,
And everyone thought it was me.

ha ha

2007-04-22T18:03:00.001+10:00

There was a young girl from Rabat,
who had triplets, Nat, Pat and Tat;
It was fun in the breeding,
But hell in the feeding,
When she found she had no tit for Tat

Best city in Australia?

2007-04-04T17:31:00.000+10:00

Sydney named the best place to live in Australia? Let's look at this : You cannot afford a house there unless you are loaded or willing to go into debt for life. Are the restaurants better? (Melbourne has equal if not better selection and in general cheaper than Sydney) Public Transport? Probably the worst in Australia. Major Events , name one. Theatre ,Arts ,Sports are all better down south, Beaches and climate go to Brisbane, sure Melbourne gets cold but our weather is not as erratic as Sydney's. All in all i would rather live here than there. Just my opinion though.

IN a shameful day for Sydneysiders, Auckland has been declared a better place to live than our fair city.

Sydney's relatively good position in the Worldwide Quality of Living Survey is overshadowed by the much higher ranking of our trans-Tasman rivals.

The Kiwis' large town came in at fith place in the study, conducted by human resources consultancy firm Mercer, while Australia's best city got a mere ninth.

At least we were ahead of Melbourne at 17, Perth at 21, Adelaide at 30 and Brisbane at 32. Wellington was at 12.

What do you think of the results? Which is the best city? Could the judges have been taking mind-altering drugs? Join the debate at Leah Creighton's objective, non-biased Sydney Is Best Blog.

The Quality of Living Survey is based on an evaluation of 39 criteria contributing to the overall livability of each city.

Mercer practice leader Rob Knox said most cities in Australia and New Zealand had remained consistent with last year's rankings.

"Major Australian cities continue to rank favourably against other cities from around the world from a quality of living perspective," he said today.

"They all offer a great selection of restaurants, are well-endowed with recreational facilities, have well-established transport infrastructure and provide a wonderful environment in which to raise families.

"They tend to rate favourably because they offer residents and visitors the full package."

The worst city to live in is Baghdad, and the second-worst is Brazzaville in the Congo.

The survey took political, social, economic and environmental factors, personal safety and health, education, transport and other public services into account.

It covered 215 cities, with each compared to New York.

Data for the survey was collected between September and November last year.

Diva wins pantie tanty action

2007-03-21T18:00:00.000+11:00

Opera star Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has won a lawsuit filed against her after she refused to perform with John Farnham.

In evidence in court Dame Kiri had expressed her outrage when she saw a DVD showing women's underwear being thrown on stage during one of Farnham's concerts.

Leading Edge Events sued the New Zealand-born soprano, her company, her former agent Nick Grace and his company for breach of contract, breach of contractual warranty equities and misleading conduct after she pulled out of a series of concerts with the pop singer in 2005.
.......................................... Needs to get over herself I think........................