Life's like that LOL

Iz no readin' ur blog! Honest

Sometimes being a blog adminstrator in a regional area does have its LOL moments.
Last Wednesday I went to my letter box and pulled out a hand delivered note informing me that the computer literate letter writer (subject of a short post this week) did actually know what his letter to the editor had said!

Rather than post a comment on North Coast Voices or email Guest Speak to have his own post published, the writer of this very polite note preferred to print out a copy of his gripe, get in the car and drive a few kilometres, pop the hand addressed envelope into my letter box and then presumably drive back home.

All to avoid it being widely known that he actually regularly reads North Coast Voices perhaps?

Time to start designing that kite for the Brunswick Heads Kites & Bikes Festival 21-22 March 2009

Share the special energy, colour and magic of the much loved Brunswick Heads Kites and Bikes Festival.

A weekend of simple, healthy and affordable eco-friendly fun beside the seaside.

Hands on activities, workshops, demonstrations and challenges for kids, kids at heart and kite and bike enthusiasts.
Wonder at the biggest kites in Australia and be part of the world record attempt for the most kites in the air!

Date:21/03/2009 to 22/03/2009
Time:Saturday 11am to 4pm and Sunday 9am to 4pm
Place:
Riverside Parks and Beach
Brunswick Heads, NSW

http://www.brunswickheads.org.au/pdf/KB_How_to_build_a_kite.pdf

According to the Byron Shire News:

Lisa is looking for sporting teams, school classes, community or interest groups or even groups of friends of 10, dressed in their colours, to register on-line from January 26 for the Country Energy Kite Record Attempt.

The entry fee is $10 and everyone will receive a green, yellow or white kite to paint beforehand. Event co-ordinator Joanne McMurtry is encouraging families from outside the shire to stay for the weekend and enjoy all the eco-friendly family fun. "Kites and Bikes won't burn a hole in families' pockets, since nearly all the activities are free," she said.

"Apart from the festival day on Sunday March 22, there will be plenty of activities on the Saturday, such as last minute registration for the Country Energy Kite Record Attempt, kite making and bike decorating workshops, junior star search heats, and several organised bike rides in the hinterland."....

And as festival sponsorship and promotions co-ordinator, Kim is now looking for minor sponsorship for naming rights of the various kite, bike and entertainment activities and would love to have offers of support from individual residents as well as the local businesses.

EVENT CO-ORDINATOR
Joanne McMurtry info@kitesandbikes.com.au
(02)66851003
KITES CO-ORDINATOR
Lisa Schiethe kites@kitesandbikes.com.au
0414 423 919
BIKES CO-ORDINATOR
Vicki McKain bikes@kitesandbikes.com.au
0425 334 269
KITE RECORD
Lisa Parkes kiterecord@kitesandbikes.com.au

Kite picture from Australia Shop Safe

US judge orders Bush Administration to cough up those e-mails

Well, this has been a week and a half.

First a former Pentagon official in charge of those infamous military commissions finally admitted that torture occurred at GITMO.

Now we find out that a US Court has ordered the Office of the President to find those emails covering the period which included the invasion of Iraq and Hurricane Katrina.

Digital documents on memory sticks etc., are apparently just walking out the door or heading for the trash can of their own volition.

Yep, those pesky little blighters are even said to be jumping to their own deaths from fourth storey offices rather than reveal all they know about George, Dick, Donald, Colin, Alan, Roberto and whatshername.

The Order

Copy of order here.

Betting odds on Obama's inauguration - from godliness to weather - and afterwards

It appears that almost anything to do with US President-elect Barack Obama is worth betting on.

This time around its the January inauguration over at BetUS Sportscover:

How many past presidents will Obama reference in his inaugural speech?
Over 4½ -120
Under 4½ -120

How many times will Barack Obama refer to God in his inaugural address?
Over 2½ -140
Under 2½ Even

Will there be precipitation during Barack Obama's inaugural address?
None 3/2
Rain 2/1
Snow 5/4

Which former president will be mentioned first?
Abraham Lincoln 10/11
George Washington 3/1
Franklin Delano Roosevelt 3/2

How many times will Bill Clinton's name be mentioned?
Over 2 -120
Under 2 -120

But what is even more amusing is that the books are open for betting on the 2012 presidential election.

While over at Paddy Power they are betting on what will happen first under an Obama presidency:

The NSW Office of the Premier corresponds with a cat?

When North Coast Voices was set up a side blog was established for Clarencegirl's cat and, in a fit of absurdity, he was given a hotmail account.

Since then Boy the Wonder Cat has received almost every psihing email known to man or beast, become the recipient of begging letters from then presidential candidate Barack Obama, and now it appears he is on a 'reply to' list for an email he swears he never sent to the NSW Premier.

EA1382161 - new community housing rent policy‏

From:	thepremier (www.nsw.gov.au@mail.cabinet.nsw.gov.au)
Sent:	Friday, 9 January 2009 2:00:19 PM
To:	catlives9@hotmail.com

EA1382161 - CMU

To whom it may concern

The Premier has received your recent email concerning the new community housing rent policy.

As the matter you have raised primarily concerns the administration of the Minister for Housing, and Minister for Western Sydney, the Hon D L Borger, MP, the Premier has arranged to bring your approach to the Minister's attention.

You may be sure that your comments will receive close consideration.

Yours sincerely



Vanessa Karkousi
Office of the Premier

Now I'll apologise in advance in case a third party has used Boy's email address, but it does rather look as though someone at the Premier's office has seen a North Coast Voices post on the subject and is responding to that.

Mr. Rees, there is a comments button below those posts on the topic of your new community housing rental policy.
Might I suggest that you use it?

Congratulations, Claire Aman

Claire Aman, a Clarence valley resident and environmental planner, has just had a number of short stories published.

Her witty dissection of politics and society were always enjoyed when she wrote occasional articles for The Daily Examiner, so it is good to see that she is continuing to develop her craft.

Over the past few months the closet writer has been amazed as she got news that not just one, but several of her stories have been published alongside some top Australian authors including Emily Ballou and Frank Moorhouse.
"I've gone from having nothing published ever to being published in all of these books," Claire said.
In December her stories were included in The Best Australian Stories 2008 and Southerly's collection Little Disturbances.
Next month another of her stories will be included in New Australian Stories, published by Scribe.
"It's all just happened in such a short time," she said.
Claire taught herself to write when she penned her first novel, Why the Owl Gazes at the Moon, over a 10-year period.