nswirrigators NSW Irrigators
Mike Wade from Cal Farm Water notes anniversary of Senate topping Julius Caesar - what happens to leaders not listening! #basinplan lesson?
Tuesday 22 March 2011
Irrigators go all historical on Twitter
Monday 21 March 2011
Hang in there, Ginge!
Ginger Meggs needs our support as he copes with the fact that his best friend and current cartoonist, Jason Chatfield, was recently the victim of one very dangerous cabbie.Chin up, Ginge. Get well soon, Jas!
From everyone here at North Coast Voices.
Ginge drawing found in Google Images
Death by typography at Corrs Chambers Westgarth
There is a May 2010 Corrs Chambers Westgarth Lawyers legal letter under the title Australian Defamation Notice posted on Chilling Effects. It is hard to take this letter seriously when one counts the number of spelling errors.
Obviously the recipient didn't see the gravity – the number of Catholic Care employees named on the allegedly offending website has now risen to three.
Graphic found at Google Images
Giving The Greens a go......
…..’cause it will so p*ss orf the conservative element on the NSW North Coast.
The Greens political advertising currently doing the rounds in an email.
Sunday 20 March 2011
Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z and now ...
Veterans, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z are readily acknowledged but what about the latest lot?
According to a former resident of the Lower Clarence area youngsters in Australia have acquired a title that's in keeping with the notion of being able to readily identify them.
In a submission to the Issues Paper on a Sustainable Population Strategy for Australia the youngsters have been referred to as Generation Plasma.
Former Treasurer Peter Costello, who so regularly reminds us he holds the title of Australia's longest serving treasurer, gets much of the credit for this generation's name, thanks to his baby bonuses which many new parents spent at retailers such as Harvey Norman and acquired plasma televisions. (Note to Mr Costello: 'longest serving' is not synonymous with 'best'.)
Although submissions to the Paper formally closed on Tuesday 1 March 2011, late submissions will be considered to mid-March 2011.
Read the submissions here.
According to a former resident of the Lower Clarence area youngsters in Australia have acquired a title that's in keeping with the notion of being able to readily identify them.
In a submission to the Issues Paper on a Sustainable Population Strategy for Australia the youngsters have been referred to as Generation Plasma.
Former Treasurer Peter Costello, who so regularly reminds us he holds the title of Australia's longest serving treasurer, gets much of the credit for this generation's name, thanks to his baby bonuses which many new parents spent at retailers such as Harvey Norman and acquired plasma televisions. (Note to Mr Costello: 'longest serving' is not synonymous with 'best'.)
Although submissions to the Paper formally closed on Tuesday 1 March 2011, late submissions will be considered to mid-March 2011.
Read the submissions here.
Land values fall - finally the penny is dropping on the Clarence Coast?
The Daily Examiner 24 November 2009
For literally decades now – with information and risk scenarios firming along with the science as the years pass – the NSW Northern Rivers generally and the Clarence Coast specifically have been aware that these regions will probably be on the front line of climate change impacts. Heatwaves, increased fire risk, more drought periods per decade, more extreme rainfall/wind/flash flooding events are predicted.
With parts of Yamba Hill likely to end up in the ocean when specific weather and seas conditions batter the cliff face, rising sea levels also likely to cause strong storm surges which will inundate streets within the town as far up as Lake Kolora, higher groundwater tables or sea water in the aquifers and, river flooding predicted to be less frequent but more destructive
So it has been a quiet wonder over these last ten years to find that house and land values had been holding firm or rising.
Not anymore though, as it appears that prospective buyers may now be more cautious when scoping out coastal property and are probably not as willing to shoulder the higher end of the coming financial risk:
Well, the warnings were there weren't they?
Climate change has potentially profound effects for the property and development industry. Stakeholders in the industry must begin to consider the various ways that climate change will impact upon property prices and valuation methodologies. [2010]
Tens of thousands of properties along the coast of New South Wales could be left uninsured to the threats of rising sea levels, Gabby Greyem reports.
Sea level rise could cost Australians $150 billion in uninsured real estate, according to Insurance Australia Group.
As a result of global warming sea levels are predicted to rise up to 40 cm by 2050 and 90 cm by 2100. 46,000 properties between Newcastle and Wollongong are less than three metres above sea level and are uninsured for coastal erosion or landslip.
Director of Lonergan Edwards & Associates, Tony Coleman, said most insurance policies cover the house and contents, but not the land value, and often the land is a significant part of a waterfront property’s overall value.
“Even half a metre within 50 years is a lot of extra sea to keep out if you’re trying to stop waves.
“A lot of people are going to lose their property and they won’t be insured,” he said.
Mr Coleman believes there is a growing realisation about the costs of sea level rise, but it is being overshadowed by the high focus on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. [2009]
One general insurer has estimated that the value of coastal property in Australia at risk to rising sea levels and erosion is between $50 billion and $150 billion.
In a submission to a Federal Government inquiry, the insurer even suggests an insurance fund into which owners of low-lying land would pay a regular levy for compensation when sea levels cause their land to become permanently unusable. [2008]
Climate change has the potential to impact heavily both society at large and the global economy. It is also increasingly being understood as a business risk.
Issues of energy and environment have, for some time, been of key interest and relevance to the actuarial profession on a number of fronts. In particular, the effect of climate change on insurance and the contribution of electricity markets to greenhouse gas emissions.
Such concern on the part of the actuarial community is hardly surprising, given that they are experts at understanding and assessing the financial impact of future uncertain events. There can be no set of complex problems more amenable to, and more in need of, application of the actuarial skill set than those generated by climate change.
Weather and climate are "core business" for the insurance industry. At its most basic, insurers underwrite weather-related catastrophes by calculating, pricing and spreading the risk and then meeting claims when they arise. A changing, less predictable climate has the potential to reduce the capacity of insurers to calculate, price and spread this weather-related risk. Policyholders, shareholders and the community at large all have a stake. [2007]
Implications for property values & insurance in risky areas [2006]
How small we are......
NASA video taken of the Sun on February 24, 2011:
large prominence erupting from the surface. The dramatic explosion was captured in ultraviolet light in the above time lapse video covering 90 minutes, where a new frame was taken every 24 seconds. The scale of the prominence is huge -- the entire Earth would easily fit under the flowing curtain of hot gas.
Mental Health: tell us something we don't know already
Stone the crows! The Australian Government had to fund a study to find this?
“A latest study shows that a job that provides low control, high demands, complexity and the perception of unfair pay may lead to worse mental health than being unemployed. The study appeared in the journal Occupational Environmental Medicine.”
Well that’s earth shattering old news for working sods across Oz. Now add living in overcrowded dwellings or poorly maintained and high rent housing, being denied adequate public health care or a decent education and we’re getting close to the basic causes of most of life’s enduring ills in the Lucky Country.
It goes without saying that being female, elderly or a child living in poverty frequently compounds those situations.
See a great little video on The Girl Effect
http://www.girleffect.org/video
Saturday 19 March 2011
Moggy Musings [Archived material from Boy the Wonder Cat]
A that's a fact musing: Hey Boy, I was at a mate's place the other day and I saw a notice, which I memorised and am repeating for you below, posted very low on their fridge door. Later, I saw the notice that's on their front door on the way out. I didn't see it when I arrived because I went in via the back door, just as I always do at home. Do you have a similar signs at your place? Rex
Dear Dogs and Cats:
The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
The stairway is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.
I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however.
Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible.
I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.
For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine/feline attendance is not required.
The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough.
Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:
TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:
(1) They live here. You don't.
(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-niture.
(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.
Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
(1) eat less,
(2) don't ask for money all the time,
(3) are easier to train,
(4) normally come when called,
(5) never ask to drive the car,
(6) don't smoke or drink,
(7) don't want to wear your clothes,
(8) don't have to buy the latest fashions,
(9) don't need a gazillion dollars for university and
(10) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children .....
A How to Train Your Human musing: One little kitten has it down pat right from the start...Typical. The only wet food Chloë will eat is raw prawns and fresh snapper. Keep up the good work, Chloë!
A journalist with great taste and a big heart musing: @latikambourke tweets about the love of her life shown here in cute Chloe kitteh glory.
A cat in the doghouse musing: I tried to tell everyone that Basement Cat took over the keyboard when I added my voice to the end of this post. But my muvva didn't believe me and I now heartily apologize to any hens or dogs I may have offended or frightened.
Boy
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