Gawd struth!
Because John Winston Howard did not have the good grace to go quietly into retirement, is constantly touting for international testimonials to his political acumen, is always popping up in the media to offer gratuitous advice and let it be known that he still feels like Teh Leader - I have this recurring nightmare.
I dream that il grande fascista has a long discussion with Hyacinth and the kids and calls a press conference where (flanked by Tony Abbott) he announces he is going to stand for parliament again.
AAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, 19 January 2009
Sunday, 18 January 2009
Stephen Conroy's all a-Twitter
Screenshot from PerthNorg
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy, has an alter-ego on Twitter.
His profile reads like a strange phantasy.
Bio I'm a 45 year old politician who'll do anything to please you, baby. Don't worry girl, I gots "protection", and it'll degrade my performance all night long...
This other 'Stephen' was having a little fun at the Senator's expense this last week:
Today I received an I-Phone. The IT people tell me that it is biometrically activated, but no matter how much I lick it, it won't turn on. about 11 hours ago from web
stephenconroy Working on a form letter to send in response to the form letter Mark Newton and his seditionist allies have been sending.
stephenconroy Talking to a Nigerian ISV about IP filtering. Apparently _they'll_ pay _us_ to use it, all they need is the Federal Reserve's account number
2009 is the International Year of Astronomy
Milky Way and Southern Cross from Google ImagesThe New Scotsman reminds us all that:
A FIFTH of the world's population can no longer see the Milky Way with the naked eye due to artificial lights blocking out the view of the stars.
This year, which is International Year of Astronomy, a new project is taking place to try to improve the visibility of the stars.
Campaigners at the Dark Skies Awareness project will be lobbying local authorities and members of the public to turn off lights in built-up areas at night.
Malcolm Smith, an astronomer at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, wrote about the importance of the project in the journal Nature.
He said: "Over the past six decades, professional and amateur astronomers have been pioneering efforts to curb light pollution to protect the viability of their observatories.
"During the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, particularly through the Dark Skies Awareness project, astronomers can find allies in a common cause to convince authorities and the public that a dark sky is a valuable resource for everyone." Mr Tololo explains that turning lights off at night has benefits beyond improving the view of the stars.
"Reducing the number of lights on at night could help conserve energy, protect wildlife and benefit human health," he said.
"The most persuasive arguments for lighting control are economic ones. Estimates by the International Dark-Sky Association, based on work from satellite images, show that cities needlessly shine billions of pounds worth of light directly into the sky each year.
"As education on these issues improves, some cities are now realising the benefits of controlling such energy waste through better-quality lighting, thereby reducing dangerous glare and confusing lighting clutter."
Campaigners at the Dark Skies Awareness project will be lobbying local authorities and members of the public to turn off lights in built-up areas at night.
Malcolm Smith, an astronomer at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, wrote about the importance of the project in the journal Nature.
He said: "Over the past six decades, professional and amateur astronomers have been pioneering efforts to curb light pollution to protect the viability of their observatories.
"During the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, particularly through the Dark Skies Awareness project, astronomers can find allies in a common cause to convince authorities and the public that a dark sky is a valuable resource for everyone." Mr Tololo explains that turning lights off at night has benefits beyond improving the view of the stars.
"Reducing the number of lights on at night could help conserve energy, protect wildlife and benefit human health," he said.
"The most persuasive arguments for lighting control are economic ones. Estimates by the International Dark-Sky Association, based on work from satellite images, show that cities needlessly shine billions of pounds worth of light directly into the sky each year.
"As education on these issues improves, some cities are now realising the benefits of controlling such energy waste through better-quality lighting, thereby reducing dangerous glare and confusing lighting clutter."
Saturday, 17 January 2009
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!
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.
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