Latest word on Tony Abbott's off the cuff remarks

Last Friday a friend sent me this short email:

Attached is a very short video clip (30 seconds) of Tony Abbott at a country retreat. He takes a short break to speak to the nation about his views on a number of important matters. Many people say this is his best presentation to date. His comments here actually make more sense than anything else he's ever said. This is the only speech that he has made, so far, with which I agree.

What's wrong with this WSJ offer?

The Wall Street Journal wants me to fork out to read it as a print newspaper or to see online articles it's hidden behind a paywall, but expects me to giveaway newsworthy documents for free just because Dow Jones & Co has created SafeHouse? Which by the way seems to reserve its own right to blow the whistle on me if I do upload to this leaky website. BAAWAAHAHAHA!
Errr..........and has it also purloined another's brandname or does it have an agreement with this company?

Does former NSW Police Commissioner Peter Ryan know that his identity has been stolen?

Snapshot of the lower half of the in memoriam for a deceased NSW Police officer

On 4 May 2011 The Clarence Valley Review newspaper published an in memoriam in its classified section which was purportedly lodged by one Peter James Ryan using a post office address in Maclean on the NSW North Coast.

This is not the first time this fake Peter Ryan has been active.

On 4 April 2011 he sent a fax (copy here) to both the Local Court at Grafton and the NSW Chief Judge, as well as to various other individuals.

As his approach to the courts was reported in The Daily Examiner, one has to wonder why alarm bells did not ring at the Review when it received the in memoriam for publication.

I suspect that Dr. Ryan would not be amused by this turn of events as he appears to act as a security consultant and public speaker since his retirement.

As April turned to May

A look at trans-Atlantic priorities according to the NY Daily News

National Weed Research Grant Goes To Trenayr Institute

Joint media release on 4 May 2011 from Labor MPs Mike Kelly and Janelle Saffin announcing a grant to the NSW North Coast’s Primary Industries Institute at Trenayr, to study an invasive exotic weed group which includes the notorious Giant Parramatta Grass and Giant Rat’s Tail Grass (NSW DPI photograph on the left):

PAGE MP Janelle Saffin has welcomed $144,396 in Australian Government funding for the Grafton Primary Industries Institute to continue research into biological control of weedy sporobolus grasses that impact on agriculture and the environment.

The national weed research project, being led by Mr David Officer at Trenayr, is one of 33 new projects under a $6.1-million investment announced by Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Dr Mike Kelly.

Ms Saffin said Mr Officer’s important work would promote biological control of weedy sporobolus grasses using a naturally occurring fungus, Nigrospora oryzae.

“This research will also investigate whether the fungus will infect other weedy sporobolus grasses,” she said.

“The Grafton Primary Industries Institute has a reputation for undertaking cutting edge research. This project hopefully will bring innovative approaches to tackling some of Australia’s most invasive plant pests.”

Dr Kelly said that weeds have a major impact on the national economy, costing farmers more than $4 billion annually in lost production and control measures.

“The damage caused to Australia’s natural environment by weeds is also immense,” Dr Kelly said.

“The research investment is a key plank of the National Weeds and Productivity Research Program which is leading Australia’s search for weeds solutions.”

The newly funded projects began in March 2011 and run until May 2012.

This Program is being managed by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).

A full list of the 33 research projects is available at http://www.rirdc.gov.au/programs.

The barbarians are not longer at the gate - they are inside the castle walls

It would be hard to find worse news for one of Australia's most endangered marine species, the Grey Nurse Shark, than this press release from an underwhelming and incredibly short-sighted NSW Minister for Primary Industries and Nationals MP for the landlocked seat of Burrinjuck, Katrina Hodgkinson, who appears hell-bent on ecological destruction for its own sake:

Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, today announced a revocation of the recreational fishing closures introduced at Fish Rock and Green Island in January this year, as promised in the lead up to the NSW election. Katrina Hodgkinson said that the NSW Government would put the closures back out to public consultation for a further three months to ensure the best outcome is achieved for both the grey nurse shark population and the local community.
"The NSW Government is committed to protecting the grey nurse shark population at Fish Rock and Green Island," she said.
"However, as promised prior to the election, we want to ensure the community have a proper chance to be consulted before any final decision is made.
"The NSW Government has also committed to a scientific review of the effectiveness of management arrangements in meeting domestic and international commitments to the conservation of marine biodiversity, and to ensuring the conservation needs of grey nurse shark are met well into the future.
"The outcomes from community consultation and scientific review will be used to guide the development of new management arrangements for Fish Rock and Green Island.
"Fishing and diving at Fish Rock and Green Island provide many social and economic benefits to the local community and it is important that the community have the chance to provide input into the future of the area.
Minister Hodgkinson said the revocation of the fishing closures means that the critical habitat rules that existed prior to Friday, January 28 will be reinstated.
"Recreational anglers are reminded that fishing with bait or wire trace while anchored or moored, or attaching weights of more than 500 grams to fishing lines is prohibited within 200 metres of Fish Rock and Green Island," she said.
"Today's announcements only affect recreational fishing, the commercial fishing closures at Fish Rock and Green Island to protect grey nurse sharks will continue unchanged.
For further information visit www.dpinsw.gov.au/fisheries

* Image from ABC Coffs Coast

What a ridiculous beat up by the Murdoch media

The online blurb for a Malcolm Farr article published by News Limited on 4 May 2011:

Rudd breaks silence on his ousting: 'Character building'

By Malcolm Farr RUDD speaks of his removal as PM in address in the US, in a sign he's not in a mood to forgive or forget.

And the basis for the claim that Rudd is not in a mood to forgive or forget?

This bland comment in his speech to the Brookings Institute in Washington DC on 3 May 2011:

This week — any week — it's great to be back at Brookings.

I spoke here last, just three years ago.

If a week is a long time in politics, three years is an eternity.

The three intervening years have been something of a rollercoaster ride:

• for the world economy;
• for global politics;
• and, for some of us personally

All of which, as they say in the classics, has been character building.

The stretch between what was actually said and the wording of the blurb is so long that one can only call that link a lying lure. Presumably a crude effort to drive readers to this article and create a perception in the minds of advertisers that they are getting value for their dollar. Is it any wonder that mainstream media’s reputation is in tatters?

An audio of his speech The Rise of Asia, International Cooperation and U.S. Foreign Policy can be found here.

Maclean Agricultural Show 11-12 May 2011

Sarah at Maclean Show with Margaretta Fahey and
Grand Champion Brahman Bull, Bizzy Monty

The NSW Far North Coast has twelve local agricultural shows at Alstonville, Bangalow, Bonalbo, Casino, Grafton, Kyogle, Lismore, Maclean, Mullumbimby, Murwillumbah, Nimbin, Woodenbong.

On the 11 and 12 May it is the Lower Clarence’s turn to strut its stuff with the Exhibition and Show at the Maclean Showground on the banks of the Clarence River.

Events include sideshows, equestrian events, sales displays, floral and fruit exhibits and food stalls. The Show also has exhibits in craft, beef cattle, vegetables, poultry, cooking, caged birds, photography, championship dog show, exhibits from local schools and from industry.

Come early and stay until late and join in the fun!

For more information:

Contact Name: Dawn Stewart

Phone: (02) 6645 1532

Eta Aquarids due to cross Australian sky around 4am on 6 May 2011

According to Meteors Online; This represents the view from mid-southern latitudes at about 4:00 a.m. local time around May 6. The graphic does not represent the view at the time of maximum, but is simply meant to help prospective observers to find the radiant location.

Eta Aquarids are fast and often trace yellow-coloured long paths across the sky. However, if the skies are clear early on Monday you will not need binoculars or a telescope to see larger objects in this meteor shower created by the tail of Halley's Comet.

So look north-east around 4am and with luck you will enjoy one of life's many wonders.

Halley's Comet in 1997 from Messiers Meteors