More NSW North Coast flood pictures

Photographs of NSW North Coast flooding in January 2008 from ABC News and The Age.

Rudd meets with US Congressional Leaders delegation

"PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has taken a break from his summer holidays to meet two of the United States' most powerful parliamentary leaders today.

Mr Rudd met the 13-member US Congressional Leaders delegation at his Sydney residence, Kirribilli House, this evening.
There was expected to be a host of issues on the agenda during their meeting, including the US-Australian alliance and security issues such as Iraq and Afghanistan."

News.com.au yesterday:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23014031-29277,00.html

 

This should have made for an interesting exchange of ideas.

Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the leading Democrat in the delegation, appears to believe the only errors made in going to war in Afghanistan and Iraq were that not enough troops were sent and that combat forces deserve a pay rise.

While Congressman Roy Blunt of Southwest Missouri, the senior Republican in the group, seems to think everything is going just fine in Iraq, supports a continued US presence in Afghanistan and knows that all is peachy keen at Guantanamo Bay .

Now that the Prime Minister has met with some of his new best friends, will we see a further softening of Federal Labor's stance on Australian military involvement in Iraq?

Hey Hughie, tone it down a little!

On the NSW North Coast this morning the seas are high and dirty brown, beaches are eroded, with some towns and farm land awash with flood water.

Counting on my fingers, this has to be at least the third natural disaster declaration in the last twelve months on the Northern Rivers.

Severe storms, large hail, even a mini cyclone. Now bl**dy floods - we just can't win a trick.

Ballina Shire Council has a great arts idea

One of the things often missing from the NSW North Coast living experience is public art.

Most of us have to be content with the odd small, outdoor mural on local government property and little else.

So it was nice to read that Ballina is doing something positive.

 

"Creative pieces of public art are popping up around the Ballina Shire, giving tourists something to gawk at and the locals something to talk about.

The art works are in line with a Ballina council policy aimed at increasing the number of public art works in the Shire.

New commercial, retail and tourist developments worth more than $1 million must include public art to the value of at least $15,000."

The Northern Star article:

http://www.northernstar.com.au/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3759843&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

Cricket: Questionable umpiring decisions spoil the Second Australia v. India Test Match

Much has been said and written about the poor performances of umpires Steve Bucknor (West Indies) and Mark Benson (England) in the Second Cricket Test Match played between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (January 2 - 6, 2008).

A number of very dubious (no, make that downright wrong) umpiring decisions favoured the home team. Ironically, Australia's Andrew Symonds who was a prominent member of the cast in the umpiring controversies was named Man of the Match. Many experienced cricket-goers are convinced Steve Bucknor was easily THE man of the Match. Well, he did make a very big impression on it!

Bucknor's time in the centre must now be drawn to a sad and sorry close. Honestly, he should have stepped aside at a time when he was on top of his game and been remembered for the fantastic contribution he made to the game.

A full report of the game and its score card is at:
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/baggygreen/engine/match/291352.html

Are we turning into a nation of rude bores?

Surfing round the Net I've come across some rather acrimonious debate and the occasional over-the-top individual tirade.

Single instances like this on Friday last are not uncommon.

"The lies and the filth that exists there is the reason why Bogpond is fast approaching the status of supernova. One of their servers sh*t itself late last year and it will most likely never be seen again. That leaves two servers - once the server hosting IRC Services dies in the ar$e, that's it boys and girls and that puts Herle and her pals Smeg and Fatso out of a job."
Get out those knitting needles ladies. You'll go back to the role of housewife very soon the way Bogpond is sacking their engineering teams."

At http://iserv.com.au/ 

NB. Two words in this quote altered to avoid offence.

 

It seems that journalists are now beginning to baulk at being on the end of similar treatment. 

"SOMETHING worrying is happening to column readers. They are becoming rude. Menacingly rude — and just plain mean — when they don't agree with you.

Get a load of this: "Your article was stupid. How dare you leave out (thing I felt was really important here). You are totally unethical and should not be allowed to write in the newspaper ever again." Or this one. "You liar! I have forwarded your article to all my friends so they can see the left-wing drivel passing for informed comment these days."

The Age opinion piece yesterday:
 http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/insults-deter-quality-debate/2008/01/04/1198950070621.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

 

With the almost instantaneous connection to online comment pages, it is only natural that at some time many of us will make the odd 'off' comment before the brain engages our two-finger typing.

But when did we begin to accept monumental across-the-board personal rudeness as a norm? 

Footpath and road etiquette on NSW North Coast

Mobility scooters are a feature of many NSW North Coast towns and villages because of the high number of retirees, so I wasn't surprised to discover that Ballina considers itself the scooter capital of Australia and is worried about footpath etiquette between those 'scooting' and those walking.

The Sydney Morning Herald today:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/scooters-give-mobility-but-endanger-pedestrians/2008/01/05/1198950127841.html

 

In parts of the Clarence Valley mobility scooters tend to be found on local roads just as often as on footpaths.

While these scooters are a great help with mobility for the aged suffering chronic illness and those with disabilities, I have noticed a new group of users creeping onto the scene. Those who have permanently lost their driving licences after failing either the annual medical or driving skills test.

Mobility scooters are obviously being seen as a Clayton's car rather than a second pair of legs.

 

With the speed some of these scooter 'drivers' are consistently travelling, their insistence on right of way when they do deign to use a footpath, increasing bulk of some scooter models, and relatively low visibility on busy roads, it is no wonder that the NSW Local Government Association is reportedly seeking a state-wide review of mobility scooters.

 

As a pedestrian, I have found myself tooted out of the way on local footpaths, had to smartly skip to the side on shopping mall covered walks and been bumped on the legs in internal concourses. It is obvious that a few people using these scooters have little idea of the rules applying to their use.

A review by the NSW Government would be very welcome.