Wednesday 20 May 2009
Puzzled from Ballina writes.....
Why is Joe Hockey crowing about delivering "budgets with less debt, less deficit and more jobs" when the bookies are still backing Labor to win at the next federal election and the latest Newspoll looks like this?
Even if all the uncommitted suddenly went to Turnbull, more voters would still think that he'd wouldn't make a good prime minister and probably wouldn't throw their vote in with the Libs. Perhaps Joe is hoping he'll replace Malcolm before too long and lead the party to glory.
PUZZLED
Ballina
* Guest Speak is a North Coast Voices segment allowing serious or satirical comment from NSW Northern Rivers residents. Email ncvguestpeak at live dot com dot au to submit comment for consideration.
A question for the NSW Government and Planning Minister Keneally concerning West Yamba
If Clarence Valley Council accepted a report which stated that the effects of ocean storm tides (predicted to increase due to climate change) might be felt around 16kms inland from the coast as the crow flies, why would anyone seriously consider placing another 2,000 - 2,500 people within 2kms of the coast on flood storage land at West Yamba?
Flooding in the Lower Valley is subject to influence from the ocean. Ocean storm tide consists of three components: normal astronomic tide, storm surge and wave set-up.....
This will have greatest impact on the coastal communities at Yamba and Iluka, and may also have a secondary influence on flood behaviour up to about Maclean, especially for more frequent events such as the 5 year flood.
[GRAFTON AND LOWER CLARENCE FLOODPLAIN RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN, June 2007]
Mid-North Coast producer wins gold medal in 2009 Vogue Entertaining + Travel Produce Awards
News Space reported this month on the 2009 Vogue Entertaining + Travel Produce Awards:
The complete list of winners and medallists were:
The complete list of winners and medallists were:
- WINNER: FROM THE DAIRY - HOLY GOAT LA LUNA, VIC
- MEDALLISTS: Woodside Cheese Wrights (SA), Ballycroft Barossa Artisan Cheese (SA), Bruny Island Cheese Co (Tas), John Bignall Tasmanian Highland Cheese (Tas), Meredith Dairy (Vic).
- WINNER: FROM THE EARTH - DAYLESFORD ORGANICS HEIRLOOM VEGETABLES, VIC
- MEDALLISTS: Cuttaway Creek raspberry vinegar (NSW), Darling Mills Farm herbs and salad leaves (NSW), Bunnyconnellen olive products (Qld), Bauer's Organic Farm sweetcorn (Qld), The Australian Caper Company (SA), Joseph olive oil (SA), Ashbolt olive oil and elderberry products (Tas), Frogmore Creek garlic (Tas), Lentara Grove olive oil (Tas), Murray River Salt (Vic), Thorogoods Cider (SA).
- JOINT WINNERS: FROM THE SEA - PRISTINE OYSTER FARM, SA AND SPANNER CRABS NOOSA, QLD
- MEDALLISTS: Ferguson Australia lobster products (SA), Woodbridge Smokehouse Smoked Ocean Trout (Tas), Spring Bay Mussels (Tas).
- WINNER: FROM THE PADDOCK - WHITE ROCKS VEAL, WA
- MEDALLISTS: Papanui eggs (NSW), Redgate Farm Jurassic Quail (NSW), Macleay Valley Rabbits (NSW), Mayura Station wagyu (SA), Pure Suffolk Lamb (SA), Daylesford Organics eggs (Vic), Sher Wagyu (Vic), Blackmore Wagyu (Vic), Glenloth Free Range squab (Vic), Castricum Brothers lamb (Vic), Green Eggs (Vic).
- WINNER: PRODUCER OF THE YEAR - HOLY GOAT, VIC
- JOINT WINNERS: THE REGIONAL AWARD - DAYLESFORD MACEDON, VIC, AND ORANGE, NSW
- WINNER: FOODHERITAGE/SUSTAINABILITY AWARD - SPRING BAY MUSSELS, TAS
- WINNER: BEST NEW PRODUCT - REDGATE FARM JURASSIC QUAIL, NSW
- WINNER: CONSISTENTLY EXCELLENT PRODUCT - BLACKMORE WAGYU, VIC
- WINNER: OUTSTANDING SUPPLIER - AUSTRALIA ON A PLATE, NSW
- WINNER: OUTSTANDING USE OF REGIONAL PRODUCE BY A CHEF - DAN HUNTER, ROYAL MAIL HOTEL, VIC
- WINNER: OUTSTANDING FARMERS' MARKET - WILLUNGA, SA
- WINNER: THE MAGGIE BEER AWARD FOR AN OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO AUSTRALIAN FOOD - STEPHANIE ALEXANDER
Tuesday 19 May 2009
Severe weather expected in NSW North Coast and SE Queensland, Wednesday 20 May 2009
Top Priority for Immediate Broadcast
NSW SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
Flash Flooding, Damaging Winds
For people in Northern Rivers
Issued at 12:55 pm on Tuesday 19 May 2009
Synoptic Situation: 12:00 noon EST Tuesday
HEAVY RAIN DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHEAST OF NSW FROM WEDNESDAY.
A strong upper low will move across southern Queensland during the next few days. As it moves eastwards, this system will generate a strong surface trough off the southern Queensland and northern NSW coast.
Heavy rain and damaging winds are expected to develop over the Northern Rivers late on Wednesday. Flash flooding is likely and wind gusts in excess of 90 km/hr may occur.
A separate Flood Watch has been issued for coastal rivers from the Queensland border to Nambucca.
Heavy rain and high winds are then expected to extend southwards into the Mid North Coast and westwards into the Northern Tablelands during Thursday.
Waves will also increase with dangerous surf conditions likely.
Maintain a close watch on forecasts and warnings for these districts.
Emergency services advise you to keep clear of fallen power lines, stay indoors away from windows and keep children indoors.
Emergency services advise do not enter flood water. Stay well clear of creeks, storm drains and causeways.
Surf Life Saving Australia recommends that you stay out of the water and stay well away from surf-exposed areas.
For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES [NSW and ACT] on telephone number 132 500.
The next warning is due to be issued by 7:00 pm Tuesday
This warning is also available through TV and Radio broadcasts; the Bureau's website at http://www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 218. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate this warning being broadcast regularly.
NSW SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
Flash Flooding, Damaging Winds
For people in Northern Rivers
Issued at 12:55 pm on Tuesday 19 May 2009
Synoptic Situation: 12:00 noon EST Tuesday
HEAVY RAIN DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHEAST OF NSW FROM WEDNESDAY.
A strong upper low will move across southern Queensland during the next few days. As it moves eastwards, this system will generate a strong surface trough off the southern Queensland and northern NSW coast.
Heavy rain and damaging winds are expected to develop over the Northern Rivers late on Wednesday. Flash flooding is likely and wind gusts in excess of 90 km/hr may occur.
A separate Flood Watch has been issued for coastal rivers from the Queensland border to Nambucca.
Heavy rain and high winds are then expected to extend southwards into the Mid North Coast and westwards into the Northern Tablelands during Thursday.
Waves will also increase with dangerous surf conditions likely.
Maintain a close watch on forecasts and warnings for these districts.
Emergency services advise you to keep clear of fallen power lines, stay indoors away from windows and keep children indoors.
Emergency services advise do not enter flood water. Stay well clear of creeks, storm drains and causeways.
Surf Life Saving Australia recommends that you stay out of the water and stay well away from surf-exposed areas.
For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES [NSW and ACT] on telephone number 132 500.
The next warning is due to be issued by 7:00 pm Tuesday
This warning is also available through TV and Radio broadcasts; the Bureau's website at http://www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 218. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate this warning being broadcast regularly.
Fiji Update: blogging from behind the palm curtain
From Raw Fiji News, 17 May 2009:
The European Union has reaffirmed its total opposition to the Fiji military's refusal to allow a return to democracy for at least another five years. One of the EU's commissioners says virtually all financial assistance to Fiji has been suspended.
Presenter: Sean Dorney, Australia Network's Pacific correspondent
Speaker: Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs .
Discombobulated Bubu scriptwrites on 15 May 2009:
Good evening people of Fiji.
The rate at which The most honirable, his elexensi, his majesti Common-dor LMAO, FFS, BDOE and OFB, Voreqe's Military shoes have to be replaced with new or rebuilt shoes varies widely under diverse climatic conditions.
(Sound of birds tweeting) ..... In the tropics of the SouthPacific, however, two pairs of shoes last, on the average, only five months, especially if the Commondore needs to run very fast down tapioka laden slopes under stress inducing mortar and gunfire..... (sound of heavy tweeting)
The replacement rate is not constant. It varies with the terrain, the weather and the type of warfare, and many other factors. It must be estimated before he and his loyalist troops even land on new territory such as in the hills of Naitasiri ... (sound of weeds tweeting) or on the porches of Methodist Churches or even within the confines of the Hot Bread Kitchen stores.
Luvei Viti: Children of Fiji, 15 May 2009:
Fiji Community & Friends of Fiji in Wellington were able to witness & enjoy the beautiful harmony by these school children who sang their hearts out last night. We cried silent tears as we soaked in the sweetness of their voices knowing well that our beloved Homeland Fiji is in dire strait.
Intelligentsiya home page:
Heroes Roll Call
Fiji Today on May 17 2009:
I am in the IT industry in Suva and spend most of my installing or maintaining company computer systems.
Yesterday I detected an unknown program operating on a system in an Internet Cafe. I copied the OS files but as they were encoded I was unable to ascertain their purpose.
I posted this segment of code on an international industry chat room and asked "What is it?"
The reply came from the author of the program that it was a "Keystroke" program designed to record all keystrokes on the computer and when "Pinged" from the outside to pass on all sites visited, usernames, times and passwords.
He is confident that his program has not currently been detected by virus software so will still be active. He has sold over 300 copies of the program at $US 2500 per copy. The sales are mainly to large companies or Spooks in various Governments. He offered this information in exchange for how I had detected it. He intends to rewrite the code so it is better hidden in the future versions.
Warning: Everything you type into any computer in a Fiji Internet Cafe can be viewed later by the Military. Do not do anything that requires you to use a password. If you have done so change your password immediatly.
I suspect this may be the reason that several blog sites were hacked and killed in the past.
Oi Turnbull! Please explain that debt and deficit again
Everytime I turn on the teev or radio I hear Truffles Turnbull banging on about debt and deficit.
He expresses horror at a national budget deficit predicted to run at around 4.9% of Gross Domestic Product this financial year and net debt reaching 13.8% by 2014.
He talks about the Rudd Government leaving a huge debt that generations to come will be paying back.
Truffles pulls a solemn face, puts his hand over his heart and promises the Coalition will do better if elected in 2010.
It really browns me off that he obviously thinks that nobody will be bothered to take a squiz at past government debt.
A history of public debt in Australia gives a more balanced view of Australia's debt record than Truffles.
It clearly shows that Australia carried considerable public debt right through the colonial era and went into Federation in a year which saw gross national debt reach 100% of GDP.
It also shows Australia managed to pay back huge World War One, Great Depression and World War Two debts (in relation to GDP) across the same two generations.
And our ability to recover is fairly consistent if you look at all the figures.
He expresses horror at a national budget deficit predicted to run at around 4.9% of Gross Domestic Product this financial year and net debt reaching 13.8% by 2014.
He talks about the Rudd Government leaving a huge debt that generations to come will be paying back.
Truffles pulls a solemn face, puts his hand over his heart and promises the Coalition will do better if elected in 2010.
It really browns me off that he obviously thinks that nobody will be bothered to take a squiz at past government debt.
A history of public debt in Australia gives a more balanced view of Australia's debt record than Truffles.
It clearly shows that Australia carried considerable public debt right through the colonial era and went into Federation in a year which saw gross national debt reach 100% of GDP.
It also shows Australia managed to pay back huge World War One, Great Depression and World War Two debts (in relation to GDP) across the same two generations.
And our ability to recover is fairly consistent if you look at all the figures.
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