Cold Cat
"Baby it's cold outside."Labels: cardigan, cat, cold, frozen, ginger, jumper, kitten, snug, warm, wool
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 8:30 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Adventure Australia
The Australian cultural, political and social environment. Australia's interaction in world affairs. Current activities and happenings in Australia. Keep up to date with Australian news and current affairs! Get a view on the news. Blog also contains Funny Animal Photos. --------- After finding this blog with "Google Search", enter a key word into "Search Blog" at top of page to locate article.
Monday, February 08, 2010
"Baby it's cold outside."Dog Explodes in Darwin
The Northern Territory Government is planning to build a housing estate across the road from a crematorium in Darwin. A dog exploded at the crematorium on Wednesday night. Bystanders said a strong yellow glow could be seen emanating from the chimney. Apparently, The dog had not been defrosted properly. A nearby resident said it was not unusual for such things to happen at the crematorium. Government officials said the housing zone will be completely separated from the light industrial area where the pet crematorium is situated.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: chimney, crematorium, defrosted, dog, explode, glow, northern, nt, territory, yellow
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 8:24 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Saturday, February 06, 2010
An Alien Has Landed
Evidence of alien landings?
Labels: alien, animal, creature, evidence, has, land, landed, landing, space, strange
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:01 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Australia Fails Tests to Meet Demands of the Modern World
A majority of Australians lack the minimum reading, writing and problem-solving skills to cope with life in the modern world. Just under half of Australians struggle to understand the meaning of newspaper and magazine articles or documentation such as maps and payslips. Over half failed the minimum numeracy and problem solving tests. The US rated much worse when the tests were applied to Americans. Switzerland and Norway did better. In Australia, women were stronger at understanding written material than men, but males were better at understanding documents such as maps and dealing with problems of numeracy.
The Australian government has not improved the education system over the last decade to meet changes in societal demands. It is an opportunity missed. If you don't make relevant public education interesting, exciting and a way to get into the modern world, you will slip back - and that's what's happening to Australia. We will look back over the last 10 years and realise with some horror how much we overemphasised the value of the individual and overlooked the common denominators in our society.
The Australian government has not improved the education system over the last decade to meet changes in societal demands. It is an opportunity missed. If you don't make relevant public education interesting, exciting and a way to get into the modern world, you will slip back - and that's what's happening to Australia. We will look back over the last 10 years and realise with some horror how much we overemphasised the value of the individual and overlooked the common denominators in our society.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: denominator, education, literacy, map, modern, numeracy, reading, skills, world, writing
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:53 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Cat Needs Help
"Get me out of heeeeeeeeeere!"Labels: blind, cat, get, jammed, out, scream, struggle, stuck, tabby, window
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:42 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Bull Ants Feed at Twilight
Bull ants do not feed during all daylight hours. Observation has shown that they feed at twilight. When the sun is brighter for longer, for example in summer or there is no cloud cover, they forage for food later in the day. When the sun is darker, earlier, they search for food sooner in the day. It was believed that all insects fed according to circadian rhythms, but this does not seem to be the case.
Activity in the nest was affected by cloud cover. But outside activity that involves feeding occurs at twilight. Obviously, they are feeding during these short intervals to avoid predators. Most animals that eat ants would be inactive at twilight.
Tests were done at ANU in Canberra. Bull ants were put in containers where diffused light was altered. It was found they only fed when the light was set at a particularly low level. Evolution does take some winding paths. This shows though that evolution develops in a rational way.
Activity in the nest was affected by cloud cover. But outside activity that involves feeding occurs at twilight. Obviously, they are feeding during these short intervals to avoid predators. Most animals that eat ants would be inactive at twilight.
Tests were done at ANU in Canberra. Bull ants were put in containers where diffused light was altered. It was found they only fed when the light was set at a particularly low level. Evolution does take some winding paths. This shows though that evolution develops in a rational way.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: ants, bull, dawn, feed, forage, light, low, sun, sunrise, twilight
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:31 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Monkey Grip
"Come on buddy. Spit it out!" Labels: buddy, cuddle, dog, friend, fur, hold, like, monkey, pat, puppy
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:59 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
An Aging Population is a Problem for Government
Australia's Labor Government blames the country's economic woes on the elderly, namely, those who will soon be retiring. It is not their fault that Paul Keating, an earlier Labor government leader, brought in compulsory superannuation far too late for them. Baby boomers have paid hardly any money into retirement funds because the funds have not been common practice for long enough. It is debatable that Australia can continue with a compulsory system when developing countries do not have or intend to have a retirement cost factored into wages.
In the UK wage earners have paid a "stamp" into general revenue for the sole purpose of paying them a retirement income. Retired Australian workers are paid state pensions out of general revenue. It seems that worker for General Motors, for example, in the US have lost their superannuation with the company clean out that has just occurred. These people are expecting the state to support them in their old age now. In "normal" times it is doubtful that super-for-all is on for everyone in any society. With an economic downturn it is definitely not possible.
Apart from government employees, politicians included, and professionals everyone else is struggling to put enough aside for retirement. Just do a quick calculation. People start work at 20 years of age and intend to retire when they reach 50 years. This is accepted by all public servants. Only these lucky people get their super and earn more by continuing to work for state and federal governments as "consultants". Most people in Western countries live into their 80s now, so during 30 years of work they have to put enough aside to support them for 30 years more. To save enough for this it is necessary to take out at least 50 percent of weekly pay, now! Obviously making super payments this high is not possible. The economy would suffer as current spending power is pushed into the future. Can compulsory superannuation be sustained for the long haul? Well, it appears that this cannot be done.
Another thing that retirees rely on is an increasing interest rate. It is what their retirement sum earns that provides an income. When things get bad as they are now, rates are too low to provide an income. Even in good times inflation can overtake interest rate rises, so there will be no income.
Kevin Rudd's intention to increase productivity will fail. This has been tried in the UK decades ago. First output rises, then scrap production increases, boredom sets in, people cut back on labor intensity and production falls. Workers continue in their jobs living off the base rate (remember pieceworkers are the target of productivity "wars" because services are pretty much averse to output improvement). You won't see a "time and motion" guy in the office. A few decades ago people across the world were applauding productivity of Japanese workers. You don't hear anything these days. The nation is losing its place to China. Post-war Japanese workers were motivated by a social value introduced from the US and they adopted it as if they had owned it for centuries. But young Japanese do not share this imported value system. They are surely individuals today and do not give hours of extra labor for free to the company any more. Bang goes your productivity!
A word bandied about is multi-skilling. This is just a way of reducing downtime between jobs when workers can be given different work to do. They soon tire of this and employees are likely to disappear into "where is .....?" wilderness.
Rationing of medical service will also be a problem in the future, as the elderly become first in the queue for services already rendered to the state. The Government will have no answer to this. They can't withhold services to the elderly.
The talk by the Government about what will be the case in 2050 is irrelevant. A significant proportion of the population will be dead by then. There is something that the government will be shocked to discover when it collects its data - most of the national asset base, i.e, property, is owned by the elderly. Will the Government asset test a person's primary residence before allocating retirement funds? It might do this.
The Government does some silly things. Bringing in compulsory parental leave was one of these. Obviously, companies are not now inclined to take on female workers. Perhaps this was a good thing though. A return to the old days of one primary breadwinner would make work for those who really should have it. Note I did not say male workers. A female should be sole breadwinner if she can achieve it.
Older workers are motivated by the same thing as young workers - money. For companies to retain ageing employees they need to get extra money from somewhere - the Government perhaps? The answer to the nation's woes are in the hands of Government. At least that is where people expect the solutions to come from.
In the UK wage earners have paid a "stamp" into general revenue for the sole purpose of paying them a retirement income. Retired Australian workers are paid state pensions out of general revenue. It seems that worker for General Motors, for example, in the US have lost their superannuation with the company clean out that has just occurred. These people are expecting the state to support them in their old age now. In "normal" times it is doubtful that super-for-all is on for everyone in any society. With an economic downturn it is definitely not possible.
Apart from government employees, politicians included, and professionals everyone else is struggling to put enough aside for retirement. Just do a quick calculation. People start work at 20 years of age and intend to retire when they reach 50 years. This is accepted by all public servants. Only these lucky people get their super and earn more by continuing to work for state and federal governments as "consultants". Most people in Western countries live into their 80s now, so during 30 years of work they have to put enough aside to support them for 30 years more. To save enough for this it is necessary to take out at least 50 percent of weekly pay, now! Obviously making super payments this high is not possible. The economy would suffer as current spending power is pushed into the future. Can compulsory superannuation be sustained for the long haul? Well, it appears that this cannot be done.
Another thing that retirees rely on is an increasing interest rate. It is what their retirement sum earns that provides an income. When things get bad as they are now, rates are too low to provide an income. Even in good times inflation can overtake interest rate rises, so there will be no income.
Kevin Rudd's intention to increase productivity will fail. This has been tried in the UK decades ago. First output rises, then scrap production increases, boredom sets in, people cut back on labor intensity and production falls. Workers continue in their jobs living off the base rate (remember pieceworkers are the target of productivity "wars" because services are pretty much averse to output improvement). You won't see a "time and motion" guy in the office. A few decades ago people across the world were applauding productivity of Japanese workers. You don't hear anything these days. The nation is losing its place to China. Post-war Japanese workers were motivated by a social value introduced from the US and they adopted it as if they had owned it for centuries. But young Japanese do not share this imported value system. They are surely individuals today and do not give hours of extra labor for free to the company any more. Bang goes your productivity!
A word bandied about is multi-skilling. This is just a way of reducing downtime between jobs when workers can be given different work to do. They soon tire of this and employees are likely to disappear into "where is .....?" wilderness.
Rationing of medical service will also be a problem in the future, as the elderly become first in the queue for services already rendered to the state. The Government will have no answer to this. They can't withhold services to the elderly.
The talk by the Government about what will be the case in 2050 is irrelevant. A significant proportion of the population will be dead by then. There is something that the government will be shocked to discover when it collects its data - most of the national asset base, i.e, property, is owned by the elderly. Will the Government asset test a person's primary residence before allocating retirement funds? It might do this.
The Government does some silly things. Bringing in compulsory parental leave was one of these. Obviously, companies are not now inclined to take on female workers. Perhaps this was a good thing though. A return to the old days of one primary breadwinner would make work for those who really should have it. Note I did not say male workers. A female should be sole breadwinner if she can achieve it.
Older workers are motivated by the same thing as young workers - money. For companies to retain ageing employees they need to get extra money from somewhere - the Government perhaps? The answer to the nation's woes are in the hands of Government. At least that is where people expect the solutions to come from.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: ageing, company, elderly aged, employee, government, retire, retiree, retirement, work
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:31 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Slow Landing
"I will be landing soon."Labels: air, animal, dancing, falling, flight, graceful, landing, poise, room, window
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 11:30 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
Schools Charge for "Free" Computers
When schools got new computers for their student the last thing you think would happen would be school charging a fee to use them. But this is what has occurred. What are the schools thinking of? A public school is asking parents to buy the computers for $1200. Another is trying to lease them for $1400. It boils down to a technicality. Schools are saying computers must be left at school. There will a charge if they want to take them home.
The ridiculous thing is after paying for a computer a student will still not actually own it. Computers will have to be taken back for use by other students. What a rip off. Over Years 9 to 12 a school will receive $1460. A good laptop can be purchased for $795 anywhere.
Just what is the Federal Government thinking of? It says schools can charge if they want to. Surely this negates the free computer promise. It wasn't voted in to do this. Education Minister Julia Gillard says Schools can arrange for home use as they see fit. The Government should have said providing computers was just a way of giving schools more funding because that is what has happened. Again children from poorer families lose out. It has brought further inequity with some states not charging.
The Labor Government is obviously in league with schools. It is trying to force parents to buy computers by making rental extremely high, so the Government will meet its target of every child having a computer by default.
The ridiculous thing is after paying for a computer a student will still not actually own it. Computers will have to be taken back for use by other students. What a rip off. Over Years 9 to 12 a school will receive $1460. A good laptop can be purchased for $795 anywhere.
Just what is the Federal Government thinking of? It says schools can charge if they want to. Surely this negates the free computer promise. It wasn't voted in to do this. Education Minister Julia Gillard says Schools can arrange for home use as they see fit. The Government should have said providing computers was just a way of giving schools more funding because that is what has happened. Again children from poorer families lose out. It has brought further inequity with some states not charging.
The Labor Government is obviously in league with schools. It is trying to force parents to buy computers by making rental extremely high, so the Government will meet its target of every child having a computer by default.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: children, computer, education, federal government, fee, lease, minister, schools, student
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:29 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Friday, January 29, 2010
Jazzy Cat
"When you're in the mood you gotta play, man." Labels: band, cat, group, jazz, jazzy, man, move, music, musical, play
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 11:05 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Australians Are the Most Sinful on Earth - According to the Brits
Trust the Brits to judge the world - they invented the hoity-toity foppish English accent that meant people who spoke that way were superior to the rest of us. Acting "posh" doesn't mean you are better! A BBC magazine says that Australians are the most sinful on earth. Yea, we have heard it all before every since the day we first won a cricket match against them. According to them we envy everybody else. What rubbish! We couldn't give a damn about anyone else. Live life to the full that is our moto. If you don't like it live somewhere else.
They have lampooned other countries as well though. Americans are gluttonous and greedy. South Africans are angry with everyone. Japanese and Koreans lust after everything.
The magazine attached values to things we do, for example, plastic surgery (pride), violent crime (wrath), theft (envy), holidays (sloth), food (gluttony), salary (greed) and porn (lust).
Australians are busy little creatures. Apparently we do all of these. Think what everyone else is missing out on! We always thought the Brits were envious of us. Now we know why. Start a barbecue, open the beer, and Aussies will be there. Of course we like to indulge. That is what life is about.
You see the real problem in the world is actually, well, the Brits. They stick their noses into other people's business - without being asked.
They have lampooned other countries as well though. Americans are gluttonous and greedy. South Africans are angry with everyone. Japanese and Koreans lust after everything.
The magazine attached values to things we do, for example, plastic surgery (pride), violent crime (wrath), theft (envy), holidays (sloth), food (gluttony), salary (greed) and porn (lust).
Australians are busy little creatures. Apparently we do all of these. Think what everyone else is missing out on! We always thought the Brits were envious of us. Now we know why. Start a barbecue, open the beer, and Aussies will be there. Of course we like to indulge. That is what life is about.
You see the real problem in the world is actually, well, the Brits. They stick their noses into other people's business - without being asked.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: american, australian, brit, britain, british, envy, japanese, korean, sin, sinful
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:23 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Dog Outfit
"They called me. So I just threw this outfit on." Labels: clothes, dog, dressed, hat, necklace, out, outfit, pooch, show, walk
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:22 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
Stop Funding Private Schools
The Australian Government is ignoring the protests of teachers and going ahead with publishing a list of schools ranked by proficiency. There are problems in how this ranking is done, what criteria it is based on and what parents can do about it. Teachers say the tests on students are not fully relevant to measuring how well schools "produce" good students. The rules of the test need to be explained to parents. If a parent finds his or her child does attend a poorly ranked school how can a change be carried out if, in the bush for example, another school is a hundred miles away?
Low wage earners do not have the choice of paying for their children's education so the list for them is irrelevant. Suggestions that parents take their custom elsewhere is not a luxury they can afford. The Government has made mistakes in allocating resources to schools. Yes they continue to do this. Too much is dished out to schools who then send parents unregulated bills to educate their children. Education is being treated like a business when it shouldn't be. It should be a right irrespective of income. These schools choose students based on their own criteria. A couple took their children to a Catholic School and admitted they were Protestants. They never got any correspondence from this school again. It is rubbish to say parents have a right to choose.
The website will show that schools in disadvantaged communities will be ranked low. You don't have to be an expert to know this. The allocation of money is the problem. It always had been. It is ridiculous to give schools money then allow them to charge as well. Cut all funding to private schools except to those who cater for teaching of rural students who have to live away from home. Cut funding and watch parents move their children out of private schools, ranking or no ranking. The cost of keeping them there will be too high. Let's face it private schools are subsidized by the taxpayer.
Ranking will let parents into the big secret of under-performing schools. And when they know there will be a reaction. The Government will not have to wait long for this. The Government will then try to quietly close the website citing a "technicality", like a review of the ranking system.
The truth is described by Judy Crowe of Melbourne Girls' College. She says that the school spends $20,000 per student which is three times the average spent on students in public schools. Parents who send there children to private schools are not upset by the ranking, because they will see their choice justified - carry on paying and get a first class education subsidized by the state.
Correct the disjointed funding problem. It is skewed toward the rich. Give to the poor.
Low wage earners do not have the choice of paying for their children's education so the list for them is irrelevant. Suggestions that parents take their custom elsewhere is not a luxury they can afford. The Government has made mistakes in allocating resources to schools. Yes they continue to do this. Too much is dished out to schools who then send parents unregulated bills to educate their children. Education is being treated like a business when it shouldn't be. It should be a right irrespective of income. These schools choose students based on their own criteria. A couple took their children to a Catholic School and admitted they were Protestants. They never got any correspondence from this school again. It is rubbish to say parents have a right to choose.
The website will show that schools in disadvantaged communities will be ranked low. You don't have to be an expert to know this. The allocation of money is the problem. It always had been. It is ridiculous to give schools money then allow them to charge as well. Cut all funding to private schools except to those who cater for teaching of rural students who have to live away from home. Cut funding and watch parents move their children out of private schools, ranking or no ranking. The cost of keeping them there will be too high. Let's face it private schools are subsidized by the taxpayer.
Ranking will let parents into the big secret of under-performing schools. And when they know there will be a reaction. The Government will not have to wait long for this. The Government will then try to quietly close the website citing a "technicality", like a review of the ranking system.
The truth is described by Judy Crowe of Melbourne Girls' College. She says that the school spends $20,000 per student which is three times the average spent on students in public schools. Parents who send there children to private schools are not upset by the ranking, because they will see their choice justified - carry on paying and get a first class education subsidized by the state.
Correct the disjointed funding problem. It is skewed toward the rich. Give to the poor.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: children, education, government, private, protest, public, rank, school, student, teachers
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:10 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Monday, January 25, 2010
Worry Dog
"There are so many things to worry about - the mortgage, job security."Labels: big, dog, down, eyes, look, looking, sad, unhappy, worried, worry
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:17 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
Calls to Change the Australian Flag
Celebrities like Ray Martin want to change the Australian flag, but it is the national anthem that needs changing. I do not believe there is enough support for changing the flag. After all we do not yet have a republic so there is no call to remove the Union Jack from the corner. Moreover, the Southern Cross is a star constellation that truly represents the country and is the natural view of the heavens from here.
Ray Martin is about twenty percent Aboriginal so he calls himself a native Australian. Just why he believes that he has more right than anyone else to decide on what happens to this country is beyond me. There is one thing that will push Australians to choose to become a republic. That is Prince Charles becoming king. If Prince William is the next King of England many Australians could want to keep him as head of state.
Getting back to the Australian flag. Ray Martin would obviously want the Aboriginal flag in the corner. But I personally do not want this. Aboriginals have been here for perhaps 60,000 years, yet they did not at any time form a nation. If the British flag is irrelevant to new Australians then certainly the Aboriginal flag will be as well. It is unlikely that the Aboriginal flag will ever be incorporated into a new national flag. Tasmanian Aboriginals own rights to the Aboriginal flag, or so they say. And they have put a caveat on its use demanding land, a treaty and more rights than white Australians.
A possible alternative could be the Eureka flag. It denotes rebellion, a fight against a tax on gold mining. Not enough Australians would agree on anything else. So prospects are not strong on changing to a new flag.
When people from other countries think of Australia they can hum a tune about the country and that tune is not Australia Fair. That song is Waltzing Matilda. And everyone knows that Matilda does not refer to a woman. The reason why this is not the Australian National Anthem, the tune at least, it due to a copyright problem. Apparently, the melody is owned by an American company. Though this ownership is contentious. After all these years if the company is not forthcoming in an agreement for Australia to use the tune this nation should go ahead and use it anyway. A little international "tango" would liven up debate.
Ray Martin is about twenty percent Aboriginal so he calls himself a native Australian. Just why he believes that he has more right than anyone else to decide on what happens to this country is beyond me. There is one thing that will push Australians to choose to become a republic. That is Prince Charles becoming king. If Prince William is the next King of England many Australians could want to keep him as head of state.
Getting back to the Australian flag. Ray Martin would obviously want the Aboriginal flag in the corner. But I personally do not want this. Aboriginals have been here for perhaps 60,000 years, yet they did not at any time form a nation. If the British flag is irrelevant to new Australians then certainly the Aboriginal flag will be as well. It is unlikely that the Aboriginal flag will ever be incorporated into a new national flag. Tasmanian Aboriginals own rights to the Aboriginal flag, or so they say. And they have put a caveat on its use demanding land, a treaty and more rights than white Australians.
A possible alternative could be the Eureka flag. It denotes rebellion, a fight against a tax on gold mining. Not enough Australians would agree on anything else. So prospects are not strong on changing to a new flag.
When people from other countries think of Australia they can hum a tune about the country and that tune is not Australia Fair. That song is Waltzing Matilda. And everyone knows that Matilda does not refer to a woman. The reason why this is not the Australian National Anthem, the tune at least, it due to a copyright problem. Apparently, the melody is owned by an American company. Though this ownership is contentious. After all these years if the company is not forthcoming in an agreement for Australia to use the tune this nation should go ahead and use it anyway. A little international "tango" would liven up debate.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: australia, australian, britain, charles, eureka, flag, jack, prince, union, william
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:13 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Hypnotic Dog
"You are feeeeling sleepy, veeeery sleepy."Labels: collar, dog, eyes, hypnotic, into, large, look, peering, puppy, staring
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 11:20 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Humans Wiped Out Australia's Megafauna
Humans destroy more things in the environment than climate change. This is especially the case in Australia where over the last 50,000 years people have wiped out the county's megafauna. Before Aboriginals arrived flightless birds, large reptiles and giant marsupials lived a carefree existence.
Humans slaughtered the large animals in a very short period of time. More accurate dating of bones shows that megafauna died out abruptly. When the giant creatures were in large numbers there is no evidence of human tools. After the Diprotodon, Australia's largest marsupial, large kangaroos and flightless birds died out stone tools appeared. Accurate dating shows they did not exist at the same time even though they were found together at certain locations. When humans became settled the large animals were gone. The odd thing is that humans and megafauna must have coexisted for at least 5,000 years. But this is a very narrow window to find evidence of both living side by side.
This gives weight to the theory that the arrival of modern Man in the Americas caused the demise of the mammoth. Though there is a problem with the American story. Megafauna "ruled" during the ice age which occurred 12,000 years ago. Its seems that when the ice ages ended life changed for the large animals. The climate was then well and truly against the survival of mammoths, short-faced bears, giant bison and sabor-toothed tigers. Some megafauna, however, continued to survive in Kansas, and Nebraska after the ice age period. The skeleton of a giant beaver has been found dating from 10,000 years ago. So Man could still be the culprit.
Humans slaughtered the large animals in a very short period of time. More accurate dating of bones shows that megafauna died out abruptly. When the giant creatures were in large numbers there is no evidence of human tools. After the Diprotodon, Australia's largest marsupial, large kangaroos and flightless birds died out stone tools appeared. Accurate dating shows they did not exist at the same time even though they were found together at certain locations. When humans became settled the large animals were gone. The odd thing is that humans and megafauna must have coexisted for at least 5,000 years. But this is a very narrow window to find evidence of both living side by side.
This gives weight to the theory that the arrival of modern Man in the Americas caused the demise of the mammoth. Though there is a problem with the American story. Megafauna "ruled" during the ice age which occurred 12,000 years ago. Its seems that when the ice ages ended life changed for the large animals. The climate was then well and truly against the survival of mammoths, short-faced bears, giant bison and sabor-toothed tigers. Some megafauna, however, continued to survive in Kansas, and Nebraska after the ice age period. The skeleton of a giant beaver has been found dating from 10,000 years ago. So Man could still be the culprit.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: age, australia, giant, human, ice, kangaroo, mammoth, man, megafauna, sabor
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:25 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Cat Going Out
"They are always going out without me. So this time I'm ready."Labels: bow, cat, dressed, going, kitten, out, pussy, smart, suit, tie
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:30 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
Claims in New Zealand That Car Windows Do Not Offer Protection From UV Are Suspect
Calls from New Zealand to cover up one's hand by wearing gloves when driving a car is silly to say the least. This may be something to think about if one is a delivery driver or a trucky but ordinary people don't drive enough to warrant it. They say the belief that glass provides protection from ultraviolet radiation is a myth.
Sunscreen maker "Oasis Beauty" has suggested putting sunscreen on hands before driving. This is sound advice, coming from a producer of sunscreen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer says drivers should wear gloves, long sleeved shirts and sun glasses. Unless one is a professional driver this is a bit much.
Car producers state that laminated windscreens do block UV radiation: 80 percent of UV-a. It is side windows that are dangerous, though 37 percent of UV-a and 97 percent of UV-b are blocked. From these data obviously the New Zealand Cancer Society and Oasis Beauty are wrong and car glass does offer protection. Furthermore, most countries do allow side windows to be tinted which helps.
Sunscreen maker "Oasis Beauty" has suggested putting sunscreen on hands before driving. This is sound advice, coming from a producer of sunscreen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer says drivers should wear gloves, long sleeved shirts and sun glasses. Unless one is a professional driver this is a bit much.
Car producers state that laminated windscreens do block UV radiation: 80 percent of UV-a. It is side windows that are dangerous, though 37 percent of UV-a and 97 percent of UV-b are blocked. From these data obviously the New Zealand Cancer Society and Oasis Beauty are wrong and car glass does offer protection. Furthermore, most countries do allow side windows to be tinted which helps.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: car, glass, hands, new, sunscreen, ultraviolet, uv, vehicle, windsrceen, zealand
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:27 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Dog Find
"It's not in here. It must be in the shed."Labels: bath, clean, clothes, dog, dryer, find, machine, spin, tub, washing
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 11:24 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Young Females Are More Violent
Females in Australia are becoming increasingly violent. Males know that if another person lays a hand on you that is assault. Unfortunately, females either don't know this or choose to ignore the fact. Violence by women begins at school where fights break out in the playground and in areas close to school where differences are settled. Getting a short movie on Utube can be one of the reasons.
Research shows that more females will take physical action against someone else than males. They also make more threats and are involved in stealing. It is said that girls are going into puberty earlier but aren't males reaching adulthood earlier as well? Girls are no longer the "weaker" sex. They are on a par with males today and certainly act that way. Testosterone is blamed for violent behavior but it is female hormones that increases in adolescence females.
More females than ever are taking up smoking, while male use of cigarettes is declining. Binge drinking in young women will soon be greater than in males. The same can be said for illicit drug taking.
This change in female behavior could be social in nature. In the 1960s young men were openly abusive to authority. They wore it like a badge, especially bad-mouthing police. Perhaps females today are acting in the same way, keeping up with their peers by seeing who can be more disruptive in social interaction.
Research shows that more females will take physical action against someone else than males. They also make more threats and are involved in stealing. It is said that girls are going into puberty earlier but aren't males reaching adulthood earlier as well? Girls are no longer the "weaker" sex. They are on a par with males today and certainly act that way. Testosterone is blamed for violent behavior but it is female hormones that increases in adolescence females.
More females than ever are taking up smoking, while male use of cigarettes is declining. Binge drinking in young women will soon be greater than in males. The same can be said for illicit drug taking.
This change in female behavior could be social in nature. In the 1960s young men were openly abusive to authority. They wore it like a badge, especially bad-mouthing police. Perhaps females today are acting in the same way, keeping up with their peers by seeing who can be more disruptive in social interaction.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: adolescence. testosterone, female, fight, males, physical, puberty, threat, violence, violent
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:21 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Listen to the Zebra
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:06 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
Anthony Bergin Is Trying to Stop Whaling Protesters by Banning Them at Australian Ports
Anthony Bergin of the Age is completely wrong when he condemns protesters, calling for the Australian Government to ban them from Australian ports. He is not living in a fascist country where any sort of protest is stomped on smartly. He would like everyone to accept the deceitful Japanese - Yes the government of Japan is deceitful, knowingly breaking international law. Anthony Bergin likes to portray himself as the know it all which he is not. His articles have a photograph of him staring wistfully back at you with an air of comfort and righteousness. He is a researcher giving advice to those who act. Consequently, his talks can be totally ignored.
For the Australian Government to be even handed it either leaves both sides alone, which it is doing, or takes legal action against protesters and Japanese fishermen alike. Since when is protesting piracy? The dictionary definition of piracy is "an act of robbery on the high seas". Protesters are not taking anything from anyone. they are preventing the Japanese from stealing whales from the rest of us.
I do believe that continuation of the protest action is vital to keep the spotlight on the killing of whales. If people do nothing then the Japanese get the green light to carry on as usual. It can only be hoped that China invests more money than Japan with developing Islander nations to get the votes reversed at the Commission meeting in Morocco. It would be a good thing for the world if the rogue country of Japan went into economic crisis and did not have the money to invest with small nations.
For the Australian Government to be even handed it either leaves both sides alone, which it is doing, or takes legal action against protesters and Japanese fishermen alike. Since when is protesting piracy? The dictionary definition of piracy is "an act of robbery on the high seas". Protesters are not taking anything from anyone. they are preventing the Japanese from stealing whales from the rest of us.
I do believe that continuation of the protest action is vital to keep the spotlight on the killing of whales. If people do nothing then the Japanese get the green light to carry on as usual. It can only be hoped that China invests more money than Japan with developing Islander nations to get the votes reversed at the Commission meeting in Morocco. It would be a good thing for the world if the rogue country of Japan went into economic crisis and did not have the money to invest with small nations.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: age, anthony, bergin, boat, fishermen, japan, japanese, protestors, ship, whale
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:59 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
Friday, January 15, 2010
Singing Pets
"We sing for our supper. Lah, luh, lah, luh, lah."Labels: bark, cat, dog, kitten, laugh, play, puppy, shout, sing, supper
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:22 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Fish Are Intelligent and Can Remember
For years scientists told us what we wanted to believe - that fish have short memories in line with one lap of the fish bowl. Now the truth has got out. They are intelligent creatures who can learn to do things and can even deceive other animals. Once attacked, if they escape, they remember which predator tried to kill them. Unlike humans, however, there is a cost when they use they intelligence. If they are given one fish for food they are very efficient in catching it, but if given two types of prey they apparently become confused and their effectiveness declines.
Fish interact in a social way. They recognize familiar others and modify their behavior accordingly. Siamese fighting fish will take advantage of a weak fighter by observing fish fights and readily attacking the weaker fish. Fish that clean others act busy when potential "customers' are watching. In a way they advertise.
The myth about fish having no memory or even intelligence is most likely promulgated to justify fishing, when fishermen say it is alright to jab in a hook or gut a fish because they don't feel any pain.
An example of fish learning occurred when Professor Charles Erikson fed fish after calling to them by saying "fish-fish". When he returned five years later he called to them and some fish came to the surface expecting food. Other examples include trigger fish which use tools to trick prey that hunt them, and frillfin which jump back into rock pools to avoid birds.
Fish interact in a social way. They recognize familiar others and modify their behavior accordingly. Siamese fighting fish will take advantage of a weak fighter by observing fish fights and readily attacking the weaker fish. Fish that clean others act busy when potential "customers' are watching. In a way they advertise.
The myth about fish having no memory or even intelligence is most likely promulgated to justify fishing, when fishermen say it is alright to jab in a hook or gut a fish because they don't feel any pain.
An example of fish learning occurred when Professor Charles Erikson fed fish after calling to them by saying "fish-fish". When he returned five years later he called to them and some fish came to the surface expecting food. Other examples include trigger fish which use tools to trick prey that hunt them, and frillfin which jump back into rock pools to avoid birds.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: bowl, fish, frillfin, hunt, intelligent, memory, pool, prey, remember, trigger
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:14 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Cat at Rest
"Can't you find somewhere else to lie down."Labels: arguing, cat, cats, down, kitten, lying, resting, sitting, tabby, upset
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:50 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
Thailand Forces Asylum Seekers into Laotian Camps
Recently in one of my articles I said "boat people" should be sent back to their country of origin. I still stand by this statement. However, before such action is taken potential refugees need to be kept for a time so that their background can be ascertained. This is particularly the case when sending them home could lead to them being victimized.
A case in point is the group of asylum seekers presently being detained in Laos. Four thousand people are there and 40 of them have been accepted by Australia as genuine refugees. Thailand sent them back to Laos even though it knew Australia had already made the offer. Reporters reached the camp yesterday and found women and children standing barefoot in dirt behind meters of razor wire. Some reporters were taken away and interrogated. Photographs were confiscated.
Over recent years thousands of Hmong have left Laos for freedom in Thailand. Despite fears to the contrary Laos says it will peacefully reintegrate them back into society. Indications are that they will spend years locked in camps. Many of the Hmong have got UN status as refugees in danger. Both Laos and Thailand say they are economic refugees fleeing for a better life, not running for freedom. UN officials have made official representation to Thailand to interview the Hmong. Thailand has ignored it and does not recognize the resettlement visas some hold.
Hmong have been allies of the US during the Vietnam and Laos conflicts. They continue to fight the Laotian government.
A case in point is the group of asylum seekers presently being detained in Laos. Four thousand people are there and 40 of them have been accepted by Australia as genuine refugees. Thailand sent them back to Laos even though it knew Australia had already made the offer. Reporters reached the camp yesterday and found women and children standing barefoot in dirt behind meters of razor wire. Some reporters were taken away and interrogated. Photographs were confiscated.
Over recent years thousands of Hmong have left Laos for freedom in Thailand. Despite fears to the contrary Laos says it will peacefully reintegrate them back into society. Indications are that they will spend years locked in camps. Many of the Hmong have got UN status as refugees in danger. Both Laos and Thailand say they are economic refugees fleeing for a better life, not running for freedom. UN officials have made official representation to Thailand to interview the Hmong. Thailand has ignored it and does not recognize the resettlement visas some hold.
Hmong have been allies of the US during the Vietnam and Laos conflicts. They continue to fight the Laotian government.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: ayslum, boat, camp, hmong, laos, laotian, people, refugee, thailand, visa
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:44 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Monday, January 11, 2010
Strong Cat
"I have to keep my strength up."Labels: beer, black, cat, drink, drinking, foam, froth, glass, guinness, kitten
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 11:38 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
Married Women Get Fatter: There Is No Solution
Research shows married women are heavier than single women. This could have been predicted really. Non-married females have to keep themselves "smart" to attract men. Even if they don't want marriage they certainly wouldn't mine relationships. The truth has come out, however, about childbirth and putting on weight - it contributes to obesity only marginally. Even married women who have no children gain weight.
The difference in weight between women is quite marked. As a single woman grows older with no husband or children she gains 11 lbs on average. Married women when have no children gain 15 lbs. Those with husbands and children put on 20 lbs. The survey followed young females from 18 years of age. Weight differences were not affected by paid or unpaid employment, cigarette smoking or alcohol consumption.
There were indications that lack of exercise was a factor. Overall the finding were problematic for researchers. Marriage is definitely bad for a woman's health. Apart from doing more exercise there seems to be no advice that can be given to married females. Saying that women copy their husband's eating habits is a "furphy". They do eat different things than their partner.
The difference in weight between women is quite marked. As a single woman grows older with no husband or children she gains 11 lbs on average. Married women when have no children gain 15 lbs. Those with husbands and children put on 20 lbs. The survey followed young females from 18 years of age. Weight differences were not affected by paid or unpaid employment, cigarette smoking or alcohol consumption.
There were indications that lack of exercise was a factor. Overall the finding were problematic for researchers. Marriage is definitely bad for a woman's health. Apart from doing more exercise there seems to be no advice that can be given to married females. Saying that women copy their husband's eating habits is a "furphy". They do eat different things than their partner.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: fat, female, husband, marriage, married, obese, obesity, single, wife, women
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 11:22 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Naughty Dog
"I know I shouldn't have done it."Labels: bad, dog, down, feel, look, mischievous, puppy, sad, sorry, upset
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:20 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Lower Infant Mortality Creates Higher Rates of Death as Adult in Aboriginals
New medical technology is keeping early delivery infants alive but it is also contributing to disease in later life. This result has been observed in Australia's Aboriginal population. Since the 1950s there has been a dramatic improvement in the survival of small babies. Death occurrence in adult life is from 2.30 times to 3.49 times above that of normal weight infants. Death is due to cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease and kidney disease. This is consistent with the Barker Hypothesis. Oddly, the low weight infants become overweight.
Though nothing has been said about underweight babies and the white segment of society, this finding can be transposed to the white population. Obesity is on the increase in younger people and they are certainly getting weight related diseases causing death. Just why no research has been done on white Australians has not been defined.
Problems have been predicted as medical science has improved making it possible for those with genetic weaknesses to live and have offspring. Perhaps it is a taboo subject. That is why Aboriginals have been examined and not white people. This social reality has to be confronted. DNA treatment can cure some genetic diseases but it cannot remove the predisposition to have genetically impaired children in those who have genetic disease. The right for everyone to have children may be sociopolitically correct, but for a healthy human animal it is not so correct.
Though nothing has been said about underweight babies and the white segment of society, this finding can be transposed to the white population. Obesity is on the increase in younger people and they are certainly getting weight related diseases causing death. Just why no research has been done on white Australians has not been defined.
Problems have been predicted as medical science has improved making it possible for those with genetic weaknesses to live and have offspring. Perhaps it is a taboo subject. That is why Aboriginals have been examined and not white people. This social reality has to be confronted. DNA treatment can cure some genetic diseases but it cannot remove the predisposition to have genetically impaired children in those who have genetic disease. The right for everyone to have children may be sociopolitically correct, but for a healthy human animal it is not so correct.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: aboriginal, adult, australian, babies, disease, human, mortality, pre-term, underweight, weight
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:13 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Cat Installation
"Oh darn it. Don't say I've got to install, again!"Labels: alone, angry, cat, computer, fierce, install, leave, mouse, nasty, upset
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:54 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Anti-Whaling Protesters Search for Japanese Fishermen with a Helicopter
Anti-whaling activists get high-tech in the search for illegal whale killers. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society used helicopters to find the Japanese fishing fleet. An infuriated Japanese Captain who ordered a conservation ship to be rammed thinking the activist would call off the pursuit made a mistake. Hitting their boat just made them more ardent in their purpose. The harassment soon continued.
The Japanese Captain is foolish to believe that a complaint to New Zealand where the boat is registered with get a sympathetic ear. New Zealand soundly condemns the illegal Japanese fishing. For good measure the Japanese also complained to Australia as well. No Australian law stops the conservationists from protesting.
"The series of sabotage acts by the Sea Shepherd were very dangerous and risked the life and safety of the Japanese crew members" was the protest launched by the Japanese Foreign Minister. "These acts should be strongly condemned." "Violence will not contribute to the final solution of this issue." But who is the violent side here? It was clearly the Japanese who ran into the boat, on purpose. Indeed, the Sea Shepherd can sue the Japanese Captain for negligence.
Japan kills 1,200 whales a year and no profit is made. It is subsidized by the Japanese taxpayer.
The Japanese Captain is foolish to believe that a complaint to New Zealand where the boat is registered with get a sympathetic ear. New Zealand soundly condemns the illegal Japanese fishing. For good measure the Japanese also complained to Australia as well. No Australian law stops the conservationists from protesting.
"The series of sabotage acts by the Sea Shepherd were very dangerous and risked the life and safety of the Japanese crew members" was the protest launched by the Japanese Foreign Minister. "These acts should be strongly condemned." "Violence will not contribute to the final solution of this issue." But who is the violent side here? It was clearly the Japanese who ran into the boat, on purpose. Indeed, the Sea Shepherd can sue the Japanese Captain for negligence.
Japan kills 1,200 whales a year and no profit is made. It is subsidized by the Japanese taxpayer.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: activist, conservation, government, greenpeace, helicopter, protest, sea, shepherd, whale, whaling
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:46 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Pushy Animal
"Don't bug me man. Push off!"Labels: animal, away, cold, funny, furry, goal, ice, leave, photo, snow
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 11:22 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Man Keeps on Protesting
People have a right to protest if it is not just mischievous. Peter Spencer has made his point so many times he has lost count. In fact he usually finishes up in court to settle the matter. In 2008 he sued the climate change minister of New South Wales. The dispute began 10 years earlier when new legislation restricted what Mr Spencer could do with his land.
He could have a taken an above-market-value price for his property if he had chosen to before the legislation was passed. But he decided to hang on. After the new laws were instituted the land would only be purchased at "market value". Mr Spencer was ultimately offered $2 million which he turned down. Justice Rothman said the laws were unfair but the government had the right to do anything.
You see this all comes down to the Kyoto Protocol, Mr Spencer claims. Apparently the government should have let him clear his land before signing it. Despite being ordered to pay 80 percent of court costs he continues with his protests. He is now on a hunger strike.
He could have a taken an above-market-value price for his property if he had chosen to before the legislation was passed. But he decided to hang on. After the new laws were instituted the land would only be purchased at "market value". Mr Spencer was ultimately offered $2 million which he turned down. Justice Rothman said the laws were unfair but the government had the right to do anything.
You see this all comes down to the Kyoto Protocol, Mr Spencer claims. Apparently the government should have let him clear his land before signing it. Despite being ordered to pay 80 percent of court costs he continues with his protests. He is now on a hunger strike.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: climate, court, government.kyoto, minister, nsw, peter, protest, protocol, spencer
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:24 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Mop Head Duck
"Stop calling me mop head."Labels: duck, feather, fowl, hair, mop. head, show, smart, standing, water
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 11:40 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
Fossil Find Throws Light on an Ancient Whale
A fossil find in Victoria, Australia, throws light on the origin of baleen whales. The artifact is 25 million years old. It is the 45 cm long skull of Mammalodon colliveri. Information about it has remained open since its discovery in 1932.
Though it had teeth it spent its time sucking mud in the search for prey on the seafloor. A short, blunt snout made this possible. This type of feeding led to the filter method of modern whales. The baleen whale was only three meters long, a far cry from the monsters that followed. Its ancestors though were also very large.
Other fossils have been found in Torquay, Victoria, notably Janjucetus hunderi which was unique to the area. This region is believed to be the cradle of tiny whales. Some form of isolation must have occurred for this to happen.
Though it had teeth it spent its time sucking mud in the search for prey on the seafloor. A short, blunt snout made this possible. This type of feeding led to the filter method of modern whales. The baleen whale was only three meters long, a far cry from the monsters that followed. Its ancestors though were also very large.
Other fossils have been found in Torquay, Victoria, notably Janjucetus hunderi which was unique to the area. This region is believed to be the cradle of tiny whales. Some form of isolation must have occurred for this to happen.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: find, fossil, large, mammal, million, old, small, tiny, victoria, whale
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 11:34 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Friday, January 01, 2010
Poor Cat
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:00 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
By 2050 Australia's Population Will Double
By the middle of the century Australia's population is forecast to be 35 million from just over 20 million today. It is doubtful that the country can "carry" this many people without a marked fall in the standard of living. Water will most definitely have to be rationed very strictly. Of course, many countries will be rationing fresh drinking water and water to wash with as well at this time. Electricity is already at break even supply versus demand. Millions will have to be spent on new power stations. Social infrastructure for new housing is not meeting what is needed now. That is why house prices and rents are rising and taking a greater proportion of take-home income.
The upper estimate is a doubling of population. Then we will really be in trouble. Society will be quite clearly divided into the "haves" - those who have property, and the "have nots" - those who do not own property: income during one's whole working life proving insufficient to purchase a home.
Work will be available especially in construction, health, education, town planning and financial planning. Suburbs will become major cities in their own right as petrol becomes very expensive - cars being used only to get to work. Life will revolve around the home as outings become special occasions when friends and family travel together to get greater value from the cost of petrol. Australia's natural growth remains stable. Growth continues from great international migrations of people from political and climatic crises.
Xenophobia is already passed in this country. It will become an Asian country with 10 percent of the population having relatives in Asia. Those of Caucasian heritage and Australians of Asian parentage learn to live together. By 2050 the US has less influence and everything revolves around China.
This is OUR future!
The upper estimate is a doubling of population. Then we will really be in trouble. Society will be quite clearly divided into the "haves" - those who have property, and the "have nots" - those who do not own property: income during one's whole working life proving insufficient to purchase a home.
Work will be available especially in construction, health, education, town planning and financial planning. Suburbs will become major cities in their own right as petrol becomes very expensive - cars being used only to get to work. Life will revolve around the home as outings become special occasions when friends and family travel together to get greater value from the cost of petrol. Australia's natural growth remains stable. Growth continues from great international migrations of people from political and climatic crises.
Xenophobia is already passed in this country. It will become an Asian country with 10 percent of the population having relatives in Asia. Those of Caucasian heritage and Australians of Asian parentage learn to live together. By 2050 the US has less influence and everything revolves around China.
This is OUR future!
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: 2050, australia, electricity, future, growth, housing, infrastructure, people, population, water
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:52 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Cat Look See
"Can you see it.""Where?"
"Over there."
Labels: around, cats, corner, door, look, looking, out, peering, watch, watching
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:16 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Australian Sportsmen Cannot Be Human
Australian cricketers cannot be human. At least that is what polling indicates. A survey has shown that nearly 80 percent of people believe Australian cricketer onfield behavior to be 'embarrassing and over the top'. This is despite the fact that no brawls have ever taken place or open abuse entered into. What the majority of people dislike is the glaring and muttering that goes on which is so quiet as to be inaudible on microphones set very close to the playing pitch.
Fifteen percent said that the behavior was "awesome" and showed the fighting spirit of Australian sportsmen.
The cricket authorities have taken action on recent behavior by fining wicket keeper Brad Haddin, and all rounders Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson. The Australian captain did not support his players. He said the opinion that Australian cricketers were " Ugly Aussies" was correct. It seems Australian sporting authorities have always picked gentlemen to manage its teams composed of ugly people. It begs the question - what has made Australian sporting teams successful? Is it the gentlemen leaders or the ugly team members?
Captain Ricky Ponting says "the guys are very aware that they did the wrong thing and have all come out and admitted it. Have they really? No, they haven't shown any remorse at all. In fact the fines seem to vindicate their behavior. Yes, we are on the right course mate! The more fines we get the more it shows we are true Australians. The Australian larrikin is alive and well in modern Aussie cricket.
The reality is it is all a storm in a tea cup. Australia invented the system of putting off batsmen with a quiet "you bat like a girl" muttered by the bowler as he walks passed. This is not offensive behavior. It is a sporting tactic with a goal - to win the game. Over the years players of other countries have learned to play the same way. It is part of cricket.
Fifteen percent said that the behavior was "awesome" and showed the fighting spirit of Australian sportsmen.
The cricket authorities have taken action on recent behavior by fining wicket keeper Brad Haddin, and all rounders Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson. The Australian captain did not support his players. He said the opinion that Australian cricketers were " Ugly Aussies" was correct. It seems Australian sporting authorities have always picked gentlemen to manage its teams composed of ugly people. It begs the question - what has made Australian sporting teams successful? Is it the gentlemen leaders or the ugly team members?
Captain Ricky Ponting says "the guys are very aware that they did the wrong thing and have all come out and admitted it. Have they really? No, they haven't shown any remorse at all. In fact the fines seem to vindicate their behavior. Yes, we are on the right course mate! The more fines we get the more it shows we are true Australians. The Australian larrikin is alive and well in modern Aussie cricket.
The reality is it is all a storm in a tea cup. Australia invented the system of putting off batsmen with a quiet "you bat like a girl" muttered by the bowler as he walks passed. This is not offensive behavior. It is a sporting tactic with a goal - to win the game. Over the years players of other countries have learned to play the same way. It is part of cricket.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: australian, batsmen, batting, captain, cricket, fine, leader, sledging, sport, sportsmen
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:08 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Monday, December 28, 2009
Dog Teeth
"I do visit the dentist. How did you know?"Labels: dentist, dog, funny, happy, laugh, look, photo, sleep, smile, teeth
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:12 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Can Mankind Survive the New Technology?
Will Mankind survive the technological change? Since the year 2000 the world has changed extremely quickly. Our social lives have altered forever. At the turn of the century only a quarter of Australians were connected to the Internet. Now three quarters have Internet access with two thirds of these having broadband. Only a third of Australians had mobile phones in the year 2000. Today, just about everyone has one, including children. Verbal communication is fading in favor of texting.
We bought newspapers, magazines and books for news, general information, instruction and direction mapping. Now we do this over the Internet or by using direction indicators that speak to us. Relationships now begin on the digital information highway. We pay bills without even using a card or cash. And take our favorite music with us everywhere we go.
Even ordinary emailing has been somewhat superceded by Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Skype. This year looks like the being the year of the Ebook as this device takes off and becomes commonplace.
But are we losing something? Yes we are. Verbal communication skills are declining as people go to and from work without actually speaking to anyone. A robotic "Good Day" or "Good Morning" is not enough. The problem is these changes are here to stay. They are permanent and there is no turning back. With the technological revolution has come world misery as people live in fear of their lives from those who would blow themselves and others to pieces. The world is now in a state of war and it is going to be that way for some time. Finally we have the economic downturn with a recovery a long way off.
People have also become obsessed with watching other people via television. Anyone will do, celebrity or just anyone. We get the "ooh", "ah" for a day or so as famous people die or get into mischief. There are friends everywhere on the Internet but they are not really people we actually know.
Neuroscientists say children will grow up with brains wired in an odd way. They will be adults with short attention spans who want pleasure and more new pleasures every moment. These "new" people will want a say in everything. Maybe we will reach a point where the masses will not be allowed to choose who governs them. A country where everyone wants everything is ungovernable.
We bought newspapers, magazines and books for news, general information, instruction and direction mapping. Now we do this over the Internet or by using direction indicators that speak to us. Relationships now begin on the digital information highway. We pay bills without even using a card or cash. And take our favorite music with us everywhere we go.
Even ordinary emailing has been somewhat superceded by Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Skype. This year looks like the being the year of the Ebook as this device takes off and becomes commonplace.
But are we losing something? Yes we are. Verbal communication skills are declining as people go to and from work without actually speaking to anyone. A robotic "Good Day" or "Good Morning" is not enough. The problem is these changes are here to stay. They are permanent and there is no turning back. With the technological revolution has come world misery as people live in fear of their lives from those who would blow themselves and others to pieces. The world is now in a state of war and it is going to be that way for some time. Finally we have the economic downturn with a recovery a long way off.
People have also become obsessed with watching other people via television. Anyone will do, celebrity or just anyone. We get the "ooh", "ah" for a day or so as famous people die or get into mischief. There are friends everywhere on the Internet but they are not really people we actually know.
Neuroscientists say children will grow up with brains wired in an odd way. They will be adults with short attention spans who want pleasure and more new pleasures every moment. These "new" people will want a say in everything. Maybe we will reach a point where the masses will not be allowed to choose who governs them. A country where everyone wants everything is ungovernable.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: change, facebook, government, internet, mankind, mobile, people, phone, technology, twitter
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:02 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Locked in Dog
My owners locked me in. I guess I'll have stay here until they let me out." Labels: car, close, dog, funny, lock, motor, open, photo, sun, window
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:11 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
The Pharmacy Guild's Refusal To Take on Students Is an Insult
The National Pharmacy Guild refuses to meet its obligation to train new pharmacists. All other industries train apprentices for future industry needs. In response to this the government should allow supermarkets nationwide to open pharmacy sections in their stores. There is no doubt that if supermarkets are given the go ahead to do this they will take on students and offer products at cheaper prices. For some reason the Pharmacy Guild thinks society owes them a living. Not only do pharmacies have a monopoly on restricted drugs but they overcharge as well.
With a pharmacy on virtually every corner it is obvious that they have it too easy. They have assistants on nearly every isle of chemist shops. Surely they can get rid of some of these and hire students. For years doctors have invested heavily in pharmacies because they have a "license to print money". Open them up to the free market and see how they operate then. A shortage of training "preceptors", a fancy word for qualified pharmacists, is not the problem. Prescribing medicines is a mathematical/scientific profession, where interaction with the public is minimal. They function mainly using mathematical formulas which they have learned by rote at college - counting out pills and putting them in containers. Besides, most prescription medicines are prepacked anyway. A child could do it.
Expecting their work to be further subsidized by the public despite having monopolistic powers is an insult to the taxpayer. The government has forced them into following stringent training procedures. Their monopoly should be taken away as well.
With a pharmacy on virtually every corner it is obvious that they have it too easy. They have assistants on nearly every isle of chemist shops. Surely they can get rid of some of these and hire students. For years doctors have invested heavily in pharmacies because they have a "license to print money". Open them up to the free market and see how they operate then. A shortage of training "preceptors", a fancy word for qualified pharmacists, is not the problem. Prescribing medicines is a mathematical/scientific profession, where interaction with the public is minimal. They function mainly using mathematical formulas which they have learned by rote at college - counting out pills and putting them in containers. Besides, most prescription medicines are prepacked anyway. A child could do it.
Expecting their work to be further subsidized by the public despite having monopolistic powers is an insult to the taxpayer. The government has forced them into following stringent training procedures. Their monopoly should be taken away as well.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: chemistry, drug, government, medicine, monopoly, pharmacist, pharmacy, prescription, public, taxpayer
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 5:01 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Cat and Dog Fight
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:50 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
Jairam Ramesh' Boast About Blocking Climate Agreements Will Ultimately Fail
India's Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh boasts that India has thwarted the Copenhagen negotiations. He claims this as a victory. This is not a battle to be won or lost. If he thinks that continued blocking of an agreement will see India's economy grow, he is wrong. President Obama has already announced that when the US brings in its anti-emissions program countries that do not carry out appropriate courses of action will face trade barriers. This is no idle promise. Countries will not drink water for the planet's sake while others drink milk and cream.
We are all in this together, rich and poor. There is no way developing nations can bargain their way into a better position. Jairam Ramesh obviously thinks the rest of the world is stupid and soft. But they clearly know what India is up to. Ramesh stomps around shouting that his country is a powerful force in climate-change negotiations. In the long run this shall not stand. Pressures will fall on India to take action or get out of the game. A child can "spit the dummy", go in the house and not play the game. However, the child will not get the pleasure and benefits of being in the game. If countries will not take action then trade barriers are inevitable. It is ironic that in the past trade restrictions have been used against a level playing field in trade. Soon they could be used to make a level playing field.
A voluntary system of pollution reduction is like self-regulation in business - it does not work. Countries will have to agree to clear targets. Ramesh says that not scrutinizing developing country programs will safeguard their rights. India is one of the countries that will pay a high price if climate change is given full reign. He can shout as loud as he likes at developed countries telling them to do more than developing nations. No one will be listening to him. Will someone please pinch him and make him wake up from his dream?
We are all in this together, rich and poor. There is no way developing nations can bargain their way into a better position. Jairam Ramesh obviously thinks the rest of the world is stupid and soft. But they clearly know what India is up to. Ramesh stomps around shouting that his country is a powerful force in climate-change negotiations. In the long run this shall not stand. Pressures will fall on India to take action or get out of the game. A child can "spit the dummy", go in the house and not play the game. However, the child will not get the pleasure and benefits of being in the game. If countries will not take action then trade barriers are inevitable. It is ironic that in the past trade restrictions have been used against a level playing field in trade. Soon they could be used to make a level playing field.
A voluntary system of pollution reduction is like self-regulation in business - it does not work. Countries will have to agree to clear targets. Ramesh says that not scrutinizing developing country programs will safeguard their rights. India is one of the countries that will pay a high price if climate change is given full reign. He can shout as loud as he likes at developed countries telling them to do more than developing nations. No one will be listening to him. Will someone please pinch him and make him wake up from his dream?
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: agreement, change, climate, copenhagen, developed, developing, india, mexico, pollution, thwarted
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:40 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Horse Buys Trailer
"This trailer is a little small. Have you got something larger?"Labels: buy, fit, horse, larger, photo, sale, sell, small, tight, trailer
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:57 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Bees Calculate Energy Expended When Getting Pollen
Bees calculate how much energy they need to get pollen. To survive, bees must run on a "profit" basis. They must not use more energy in obtaining nectar than energy the nectar provides. Bees were given the choice of travelling along two pathways to get nectar. One pathway was 10 meters long, the other 20 meters. However, the "scenery" of the 10 meter pathway was designed to trick the bees into perceiving that it was the furthest distance away.
When the bees returned to their fellows in the nest they told them with a waggle dance which pathway to use to get more pollen. Despite the 10 meter pathway appearing to the bees to be further away they told other bees to go to the feeder in the 10 meter pathway. Somehow, they had worked out that it used up less energy to go to this feeder than the one on the other pathway.
It is believed that bees have "calorimeters" built into their brains. They do not judge energy expenditure solely based on distance travelled. A partly covered pathway would be given the okay over a pathway out in the weather for example.
Bees are smart little critters and we can learn a great deal from them.
When the bees returned to their fellows in the nest they told them with a waggle dance which pathway to use to get more pollen. Despite the 10 meter pathway appearing to the bees to be further away they told other bees to go to the feeder in the 10 meter pathway. Somehow, they had worked out that it used up less energy to go to this feeder than the one on the other pathway.
It is believed that bees have "calorimeters" built into their brains. They do not judge energy expenditure solely based on distance travelled. A partly covered pathway would be given the okay over a pathway out in the weather for example.
Bees are smart little critters and we can learn a great deal from them.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: bee, bees, brain, energy, feeder, hive, intelligence, pollen, smart, travel
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:51 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Shocked Cat
"You dare to enter my home dressed like that?"Labels: cat, dismay, frightened, ginger, kitten, room, shock, shocked, startled, wake
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:45 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Australia's Big Brother Laws on Dogs and Cats
Big Brother is alive and well and living in Australia. Animal rights activist are pushing the Government to introduce laws directing people to take their dogs for walks every day. If you own a pet you will have to live by a code of behavior. Under existing legislation breaches of similar things could lead to a fine of $10,000.
Ironically, activists are calling for people to be locked up with pets if they do not exercise them, and neither will do exercise while the sentence is being carried out. Being forced to walk dogs is going to be hard on the elderly who are not fit enough to go for walks and will deny them the company of a dog.
Ensuring pets have enough food and water is fair enough, but keeping them chained up is disgraceful in my personal opinion. Surely, if there is any legislation at all it should make owners provide a fenced yard. Thousands of dogs are treated each year for damage done to chained up animals by collars being left on from when the animals were puppies.
Clearly, the freedom a dog enjoys is a value judgment and I am offended by dogs being left on leads. Why should my view not be taken into account? A small group of "do gooders" has been given the power to set laws that will affect millions. This is sufficiently important to have a Senate Inquiry.
Ironically, activists are calling for people to be locked up with pets if they do not exercise them, and neither will do exercise while the sentence is being carried out. Being forced to walk dogs is going to be hard on the elderly who are not fit enough to go for walks and will deny them the company of a dog.
Ensuring pets have enough food and water is fair enough, but keeping them chained up is disgraceful in my personal opinion. Surely, if there is any legislation at all it should make owners provide a fenced yard. Thousands of dogs are treated each year for damage done to chained up animals by collars being left on from when the animals were puppies.
Clearly, the freedom a dog enjoys is a value judgment and I am offended by dogs being left on leads. Why should my view not be taken into account? A small group of "do gooders" has been given the power to set laws that will affect millions. This is sufficiently important to have a Senate Inquiry.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: activist, animal, big, brother, cat, dog, law, legislation, pet, rights
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:38 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Ginger Cat
"Goodness gracious I'm ginger!"Labels: animal, cat, funny, fur, ginger, gosh, hair, kitten, pet, photo
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 12:06 AM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Friday, December 18, 2009
Climate Change Is a Problem but Population Growth is Just as Important
Climate change is a problem. Yet there is a greater issue that has been with us for many years before we even heard of global warming - population growth. With increasing world population where is the extra food going to come from? Sure, sea levels will rise and people will be forced to move inland, but we cannot move to a place where there is more food. Recently riots occurred in developing countries where food prices had risen. Though much of the rise is due to endemic corruption food is getting scarce, particularly when food crops are used a alternative fuels.
Farmers worldwide are being asked how they intend to grow more food. As with many research projects subjects have to choose from set answers:
•Removal of trade barriers
•Government intervention in food production
•Investment in research and development
•Uptake of new technologies and genetic modification
•Broader expertise, through education and training
Removal of trade barriers will hardly make any difference to food production. People in developing countries get their food locally anyway. Ironically farmers in India are committing suicide while food prices have increased markedly. Profits are being "creamed off" by racketeers, many of them government officials.
Government intervention will only create more bureaucracy. Private enterprise needs to be left to its own resources.
Investment in R & D could help in minor ways. Though developing genetically modified crops that cost the earth and are licensed to bind farmers into buying new every year are certainly of no benefit.
New technology implies mechanization which will use more fossil fuel, thus creating more pollution.
Educating farmers might seem a good idea. But these people are born into farming. They learn all the useful things about growing crops as children. Making them more academically proficient is a waste of resources which ties them up doing unproductive things.
Let people go back to organic practices: money spent on artificial fertilizers is a capital transfer from the poor to the rich. If intensive mechanized agriculture is adopted, building canning factories or refrigeration plants is the way to go.
Farmers worldwide are being asked how they intend to grow more food. As with many research projects subjects have to choose from set answers:
•Removal of trade barriers
•Government intervention in food production
•Investment in research and development
•Uptake of new technologies and genetic modification
•Broader expertise, through education and training
Removal of trade barriers will hardly make any difference to food production. People in developing countries get their food locally anyway. Ironically farmers in India are committing suicide while food prices have increased markedly. Profits are being "creamed off" by racketeers, many of them government officials.
Government intervention will only create more bureaucracy. Private enterprise needs to be left to its own resources.
Investment in R & D could help in minor ways. Though developing genetically modified crops that cost the earth and are licensed to bind farmers into buying new every year are certainly of no benefit.
New technology implies mechanization which will use more fossil fuel, thus creating more pollution.
Educating farmers might seem a good idea. But these people are born into farming. They learn all the useful things about growing crops as children. Making them more academically proficient is a waste of resources which ties them up doing unproductive things.
Let people go back to organic practices: money spent on artificial fertilizers is a capital transfer from the poor to the rich. If intensive mechanized agriculture is adopted, building canning factories or refrigeration plants is the way to go.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: agriculture, change, climate, food, global, growing, growth, more, people, population
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 11:59 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Pig in the Hole
"What's going on here then?"Labels: animal, funny, look, nose, photo, pig, pork, smell, snout, stare
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 8:45 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Consuming More Tea and Coffee Stops You Getting Diabetes - Doubtful
Claims about consuming certain things to improve health are way off beam. Every now and then supposed new research shows that if you eat this or don't eat that your health will improve. Years late we discover that the "experts' were totally wrong and your health was actually damaged. This happened with margarine, milk, eggs and so on.
What is the latest? Well, apparently drinking up to three cups of coffee or tea each day reduces the risk of getting diabetes. Look around. Do you see people who drink these beverages regularly with diabetes? You sure do. There are thousands of them.
The University of Sydney says “If such beneficial effects were observed in interventional trials to be real, the implications for the millions of individuals who have diabetes mellitus, or who are at future risk of developing it, would be substantial.”
Their trials must be wrong. Surely millions of regular drinkers who have diabetes are thinking, "Why me? Why have I got the disease". Eight percent of people in the US have diabetes and many of them drink coffee every day. In fact tea and coffee are two of the most consumed commodities on earth.
When you read the text of research papers two important factors are played down: exercise and weight loss. Another issue is the finding that consumption of decaffeinated coffee reduced risk even more. But caffeine did not "cause" this reduction. This is despite the fact that decaffeinated coffee is identical to ordinary coffee in every way except the caffeine level.
What is the latest? Well, apparently drinking up to three cups of coffee or tea each day reduces the risk of getting diabetes. Look around. Do you see people who drink these beverages regularly with diabetes? You sure do. There are thousands of them.
The University of Sydney says “If such beneficial effects were observed in interventional trials to be real, the implications for the millions of individuals who have diabetes mellitus, or who are at future risk of developing it, would be substantial.”
Their trials must be wrong. Surely millions of regular drinkers who have diabetes are thinking, "Why me? Why have I got the disease". Eight percent of people in the US have diabetes and many of them drink coffee every day. In fact tea and coffee are two of the most consumed commodities on earth.
When you read the text of research papers two important factors are played down: exercise and weight loss. Another issue is the finding that consumption of decaffeinated coffee reduced risk even more. But caffeine did not "cause" this reduction. This is despite the fact that decaffeinated coffee is identical to ordinary coffee in every way except the caffeine level.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: caffeine, coffee, decaffeinate, diabetes, drinking, reduce, research, risk, study, tea
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 8:40 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Monday, December 14, 2009
It's a What?
Can work this picture out?Labels: animal, bite, dog, funny, jaw, photo, picture, snarl, teeth, thing
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 11:22 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
Japanese Newspaper Circulation Is Declining
The writing is on the wall - or should I say on computer screens. You would think that a society such as Japan which is isolated from the rest from the world by a unique language system, alphabet and gene pool would be unaffected by the trading environment. Recent data collection shows newspapers in Japan are on the decline. This same thing is happening in Western countries. The decline is slower in Japan. Yet it is happening.
The Sankei newspaper stopped charging for Internet access to its content. Japan's other newspapers are worried that the "disease" will spread to all of them. Toshinao Sasaki a writer for Mainichi Shumbun fears that the end of newspapers and television is imminent. Blogs have caught on strongly in Japan and many people get their daily news and opinion (which in my view is more important) from them. Toshinao Sasaki sees a sharp fall in newspaper sales as the main readership, the middle aged, leave the workforce and retire.
The Sankei newspaper stopped charging for Internet access to its content. Japan's other newspapers are worried that the "disease" will spread to all of them. Toshinao Sasaki a writer for Mainichi Shumbun fears that the end of newspapers and television is imminent. Blogs have caught on strongly in Japan and many people get their daily news and opinion (which in my view is more important) from them. Toshinao Sasaki sees a sharp fall in newspaper sales as the main readership, the middle aged, leave the workforce and retire.
Research shows the following percentage of each age group who read Newspapers:
» 60 & over 86%
» 30-40yrs 54%
» 20-30yrs 34%
This data clearly supports his argument.
Newspaper income is not derived from money taken from newsagents or subscription. Profit comes from advertising which has been decreasing sharply, so even if circulation is sustained newspapers could be in trouble. Newspaper readers are increasingly getting their news and current affairs from other sources as well as print media. As news by mobile phone becomes mainstream there will be temptation for people to dump newspapers altogether. In surveys, students judged news sourced by phone to be just as accurate as that provided by print media.
Japanese newspaper circulation is higher than in other countries. It is claimed that sales numbers cannot be trusted because they are skewed by distributors being forced to buy far more newspapers than they actually need.
Sankei's offering of all its newspaper content for free will have a detrimental impact on competitors who were working on ways to charge consumers for Internet access. When Sankei offered free content its downloader was the hottest Japanese iPhone application. Unfortunately, Sankei is not making a profit. In the long run something has to give. If the other Japanese publishers hope Sankei will go bust and the market will go back to the old ways they are mistaken, however.
Many people in the west get their daily news and current affairs from free to air radio and television broadcasters like the BBC in the UK and ABC in Australia. It does seem that "free" national broadcasters are here to stay because their running costs are paid for by the taxpayer. People can do without professional news collection by the press if other avenues to news remain.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: bbc, blog, distributor, media, newspaper, press, print, publisher, radio, television
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 11:16 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Sad Dog
"You are a poor example of a dog, aren't you?"Labels: cower, dog, example, large, look, poor, sight, small, terrier, tiny
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:56 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Irish Law Is Outdated: Only Single Homosexuals Can Be Legal Parents
Yet another custody fiasco has affected four people, including the child, in two countries. The Irish Supreme Court has given a homosexual sperm donor visiting rights to see his child, a child that was carried by one partner in a lesbian relationship. The odd part about it is that the couple wants to live in Australia. A question of legal jurisdiction exists. Reasons given for the decision were that a lesbian relationship is not legal in Ireland, so the male donor was given partial custody. Considering that lesbian relationships are now recognized in Australia, how is the court directive to be enacted?
Clearly, Ireland is out of step with the rest of the world on this issue. The High Court in Ireland had earlier found that the lesbian couple were in the right and denied the man visiting rights. The Supreme Court ordered both sides to arrange times for visitations. But what if the lesbian couple leaves for Australia in the mean time and refuses? A decision on whether to give the man sole custody has now been referred back to the High Court.
This is a complete mess. A child is to be taken out of a stable family environment and put into a single parent situation. When the couple was in the High Court they based their claim on the European Convention on Human Rights. The Irish Supreme Court, however, has higher jurisdiction. There is no real future for EU "government" while parochial laws dominate. It seems one is classed as a valid parent if homosexual, but single. The problem arises when homosexuals live as a couple with a child.
Clearly, Ireland is out of step with the rest of the world on this issue. The High Court in Ireland had earlier found that the lesbian couple were in the right and denied the man visiting rights. The Supreme Court ordered both sides to arrange times for visitations. But what if the lesbian couple leaves for Australia in the mean time and refuses? A decision on whether to give the man sole custody has now been referred back to the High Court.
This is a complete mess. A child is to be taken out of a stable family environment and put into a single parent situation. When the couple was in the High Court they based their claim on the European Convention on Human Rights. The Irish Supreme Court, however, has higher jurisdiction. There is no real future for EU "government" while parochial laws dominate. It seems one is classed as a valid parent if homosexual, but single. The problem arises when homosexuals live as a couple with a child.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: convention, court, european, high, homosexual, human, ireland, lesbian, rights, supreme
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:22 PM
4 Comments
Links to this post
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Dancing Cat
"One two, one-two-three, dance on man!"Labels: air, cat, dance, dancing, jive, jump, jumping, kitten, man, one
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:59 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Animal To Human Transplants Allowed in Australia
An old joke: Do you want a new heart? Then get one from a gorilla "grunt".
This is not a joke any longer. Australia has just given the go ahead for animal-to-human transplants. This is a turn around from the outright banning of such transplants in 2004. There are two conditions: one, a monitoring system must be in place: and two, there must be a patient register. New Zealand allowed transplants in 2005. The first "transplant" involved implanting insulin producing pig cells into volunteer diabetics.
This change has happened when direct research on animals such as chimpanzees is being reduced because test can more effectively be done in a test tube. Results in many instances are quite different for chimpanzees, for example. This was discovered in AIDs research when chimpanzees didn't get AIDs. They became carriers of the disease. Animals are proving more useful when material at a cellular level is transplanted. Using animals as hosts is far more beneficial than just infecting them and seeing what happens. Soon, infusion of material to patients suffering from Parkinson's disease will begin.
The medical world is hoping that research done in Australia will be of a high standard and will add to knowledge about new medical techniques. Great care is needed in housing animals such as pigs in sterile environments. It is hoped that improved transplant success from animals will reduce the waiting lists for organ transplants
This is not a joke any longer. Australia has just given the go ahead for animal-to-human transplants. This is a turn around from the outright banning of such transplants in 2004. There are two conditions: one, a monitoring system must be in place: and two, there must be a patient register. New Zealand allowed transplants in 2005. The first "transplant" involved implanting insulin producing pig cells into volunteer diabetics.
This change has happened when direct research on animals such as chimpanzees is being reduced because test can more effectively be done in a test tube. Results in many instances are quite different for chimpanzees, for example. This was discovered in AIDs research when chimpanzees didn't get AIDs. They became carriers of the disease. Animals are proving more useful when material at a cellular level is transplanted. Using animals as hosts is far more beneficial than just infecting them and seeing what happens. Soon, infusion of material to patients suffering from Parkinson's disease will begin.
The medical world is hoping that research done in Australia will be of a high standard and will add to knowledge about new medical techniques. Great care is needed in housing animals such as pigs in sterile environments. It is hoped that improved transplant success from animals will reduce the waiting lists for organ transplants
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: animal, diabetics, disease, human, list, medical, parkinson, pig, transplant, waiting
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:52 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Shiny Dogs
"Yeah. We're real shiny man."Labels: animal, curly, dog, funny, hair, photo, shiny, show, sitting, standing
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:18 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Coal and Oil Production Brings Radioactive Sludge to the Surface
It seems it is not only nuclear power that pollutes the earth with radioactive substances. For centuries coal and oil production has brought thousands of tons of polluted material from beneath the planet to the surface. Apparently the sludge is left lying around and is not isolated from the population. For every barrel of oil pumped up into storage, ten barrels of polluted water is dragged up as well. Uranium and radium occur naturally below ground. In the US plastic pipes used in the production process were given to kindergartens to make playground equipment.
The coal and oil industry has known for many years about the problem but has kept very quiet about it. While nuclear power stations are closely monitored standards are set so high for coal and oil producers as to allow them to pollute at will. Tests for radio activity on dumps of sludge give readings 700 times higher than clean areas.
With new housing estates being built on top of discarded polluted sludge it is only a matter of time before a disaster takes place. When the general population finds out the truth about this there will be street protests across the globe.
The coal and oil industry has known for many years about the problem but has kept very quiet about it. While nuclear power stations are closely monitored standards are set so high for coal and oil producers as to allow them to pollute at will. Tests for radio activity on dumps of sludge give readings 700 times higher than clean areas.
With new housing estates being built on top of discarded polluted sludge it is only a matter of time before a disaster takes place. When the general population finds out the truth about this there will be street protests across the globe.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: coal, nuclear, oil, pollution, power, radioactive, radium, sludge, surface, uranium
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:05 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Sunday, December 06, 2009
TV Cats
"Don't believe all you see on television son."Labels: cat, father, kitten, mat, sit, sitting, son, television, tv, watching
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:47 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
New Prehistoric Crocodiles Found
A new type of crocodile now extinct has been found in northern Africa. It had three sets of fangs like wild boar tusks for killing other animals. Another kind of crocodile was found nearby. This one used a flat, wide snout to catch fish. A third species of crocodile also located close by was only three feet long. This had "buckteeth" for eating plants. It was a rich find with two other known kinds of crocodile being dug up there.
The National Geographic Society sponsored the successful project. The new crocodiles show that the region had unique animals 100 million years ago. much different than in surrounding regions. These reptiles could run along at quite a fast pace then dive into the water and swim off. Unlike modern crocodiles which have legs on the side of their bodies these had longer legs set underneath. Luckily there were no people around for them to chase and eat.
The three new species are as follows:
1) BoarCroc (Kaprosuchus saharicus) 20 feet in length with three pairs of fangs sticking out of the side of their mouths like a warthog.
2) PancakeCroc (Laganosuchus thaumastos) again 20 feet long with shorter legs, laid in wait for fish grasping them with spiked teeth set in flat wide jaws in a head 3 feet long.
3) RatCroc (Araripesuchus rattoides) 3 feet from nose to tail, had buckteeth and dug for plants and grubs.
The National Geographic Society sponsored the successful project. The new crocodiles show that the region had unique animals 100 million years ago. much different than in surrounding regions. These reptiles could run along at quite a fast pace then dive into the water and swim off. Unlike modern crocodiles which have legs on the side of their bodies these had longer legs set underneath. Luckily there were no people around for them to chase and eat.
The three new species are as follows:
1) BoarCroc (Kaprosuchus saharicus) 20 feet in length with three pairs of fangs sticking out of the side of their mouths like a warthog.
2) PancakeCroc (Laganosuchus thaumastos) again 20 feet long with shorter legs, laid in wait for fish grasping them with spiked teeth set in flat wide jaws in a head 3 feet long.
3) RatCroc (Araripesuchus rattoides) 3 feet from nose to tail, had buckteeth and dug for plants and grubs.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: africa, crocodile, extinct, kind, legs, longer, new, prehistoric, species, type
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:41 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Friday, December 04, 2009
Riding Cat
"How do you go about riding this thing?"Labels: air, bicycle, biker, cat, driving, flying, ginger, ride, riding, room
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:52 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
Climate Change Could Make Timid Animals More Aggressive
Climate change will cause changes in behavior. As water becomes warmer so some species of fish become aggressive. Some fish are inherently timid while others are bold. In experiments on fish from the Australian Barrier reef, when water was slowly warmed normally timid fish became aggressive. Their rate of activity increased as well. Evolution has created fish that fit into a niche where survival depends on a fish being very careful about its surroundings. If they openly attack larger fish it could mean the smaller ones will be eaten.
It is possible that similar changes will occur with reptiles, amphibians, ectotherms and even mammals. If timid animals become bold then they could be killed off by predators or by humans using harvesting equipment trying to catch other animals for food. Only a very small increase in temperature led to the change.
In the tests, fish were bred in captivity then released into holding tanks where the water was slowly warmed. They had no chance to socialize with wild fish. When the water was cool the fish hid in plastic pipe. As the water heated up the fish ventured further from the protective pipe.
Certain assumptions can be made from this research. As the Arctic ice disappears, Polar bears wandering near small towns in Alaska, Canada and Northern Europe could become more brazen in their search for food from garbage cans and dump sites. They could kill humans more frequently in their anger. Similarly, rats living in these cold climes may not just die of shock when hit. They could turn on people and fight back.
It is possible that similar changes will occur with reptiles, amphibians, ectotherms and even mammals. If timid animals become bold then they could be killed off by predators or by humans using harvesting equipment trying to catch other animals for food. Only a very small increase in temperature led to the change.
In the tests, fish were bred in captivity then released into holding tanks where the water was slowly warmed. They had no chance to socialize with wild fish. When the water was cool the fish hid in plastic pipe. As the water heated up the fish ventured further from the protective pipe.
Certain assumptions can be made from this research. As the Arctic ice disappears, Polar bears wandering near small towns in Alaska, Canada and Northern Europe could become more brazen in their search for food from garbage cans and dump sites. They could kill humans more frequently in their anger. Similarly, rats living in these cold climes may not just die of shock when hit. They could turn on people and fight back.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: amphibians, animal, barrier, fish, reef, reptiles, temperature, timid, warming, water
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:46 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Listen to the Zebra
"Just a word in your ear"Labels: bars, early, fence, intelligent, smart, talking, teeth, yard, your, zebra
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:00 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
People Would Spend Time With Families If Life Was Extended
New Research on living longer indicates that people would choose to enjoy the extra years with their families. This is a valid conclusion, but other research shows that people are increasingly living alone in the declining years, i.e., children grow up, move away and do not allow the elderly to see the next generation. The research had 605 respondents between the years of 18 and 96. Clearly the young in this survey are overly optimistic about retaining contact with their offspring. It seems many today are extremely individualistic and are not overly family orientated.
If many participants of the research could only reply with "spend more time with the family" as the most received reply when asked, it shows how life has so little to offer people in regard to things to do as they grow old. When you give up your job, it seems, that's it, it is all over - apart from reminiscing.
Surprisingly 21 percent said they would have more years with "better Health and quality of life". This is a bold assumption because the aged when they are asked usually reply with a comment about pain somewhere in their bodies. This response about living with better health is contrasted, however, with the 34 percent who were concerned with living in poor health and the 16 percent who saw problems in financing the extra years.
Some responses were enlightening. A quarter said society's collective knowledge would be increased and 15 percent declared that the life of intelligent people would be extended. These statements were at odds with other anwers - only 12 percent claimed it gave more time to contribute.
It is not clear whether the research set out a list of suggested responses from which participants chose. Some expressed views such as "collective knowledge" and "intelligent people" do seem to be a bit "deep" for general surveys.
If many participants of the research could only reply with "spend more time with the family" as the most received reply when asked, it shows how life has so little to offer people in regard to things to do as they grow old. When you give up your job, it seems, that's it, it is all over - apart from reminiscing.
Surprisingly 21 percent said they would have more years with "better Health and quality of life". This is a bold assumption because the aged when they are asked usually reply with a comment about pain somewhere in their bodies. This response about living with better health is contrasted, however, with the 34 percent who were concerned with living in poor health and the 16 percent who saw problems in financing the extra years.
Some responses were enlightening. A quarter said society's collective knowledge would be increased and 15 percent declared that the life of intelligent people would be extended. These statements were at odds with other anwers - only 12 percent claimed it gave more time to contribute.
It is not clear whether the research set out a list of suggested responses from which participants chose. Some expressed views such as "collective knowledge" and "intelligent people" do seem to be a bit "deep" for general surveys.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: aged, data, elderly, life, living, longer, old, research, survey, years
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 8:53 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Dog Haircut
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 6:25 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Joe Hockey Takes the Helm
"A day is a long time in politics." It certainly is. Yesterday Joe Hockey was refusing to stand against Malcolm Turnbull for leadership of the Liberal Party. Today it is a maybe. If Joe Hockey stands he will win, without doubt. But for Joe that will be the end of the "easy" days as a shadow minister. Even though he holds a responsible position as shadow Treasurer, being leader will be much different. He is very likeable and shows no hostility to anyone. Unfortunately, he will have to get his hands dirty cleaning up the present mess. This is a pity really, because he is such a nice guy. He will soon be pulling his hair out trying to settle the differences of stubborn people.
At issue is - will he be bound by the right wing of the party. They will make it clear to him that it is they who are installing him as leader. Can he give them what they want and expect the rest to be quiet. This is a tall order. Those who wanted to pass some sort of Emissions Trading Scheme will want to be listened to. They will see this as a missed opportunity. The Labor Government has caved in to just about everything they asked for. Delaying an ETS is just prolonging the inevitable. At some time in the future the right wing will have to "spit the dummy" and go screaming and shouting to the table and agree on some sort of scheme.
The dark clouds are rising in the world with pollution getting worse every day. But no government is going to find it easy in forming a clean up policy. Australia has had a difficult time in passing an ETS. New Zealand passed its Scheme by just five votes. There are already rumblings in the US Senate and Congress with some members saying they will never vote for such a policy. Foregoing the good life and intentionally lowering the standard of living is not for them. Even if they cannot see in front of them for soot some will always deny reality.
The Arctic is disappearing. That is a fact. If the Gulf Stream changes direction which is predicted it will be economic disaster for the US, Europe and the world. We are all in this together. That's how important it is to do something. But. I fear, the obstacles are too great. Maybe panic will set in when things get really bad and climate damage is obvious. Then perhaps action will be taken - too late though.
At issue is - will he be bound by the right wing of the party. They will make it clear to him that it is they who are installing him as leader. Can he give them what they want and expect the rest to be quiet. This is a tall order. Those who wanted to pass some sort of Emissions Trading Scheme will want to be listened to. They will see this as a missed opportunity. The Labor Government has caved in to just about everything they asked for. Delaying an ETS is just prolonging the inevitable. At some time in the future the right wing will have to "spit the dummy" and go screaming and shouting to the table and agree on some sort of scheme.
The dark clouds are rising in the world with pollution getting worse every day. But no government is going to find it easy in forming a clean up policy. Australia has had a difficult time in passing an ETS. New Zealand passed its Scheme by just five votes. There are already rumblings in the US Senate and Congress with some members saying they will never vote for such a policy. Foregoing the good life and intentionally lowering the standard of living is not for them. Even if they cannot see in front of them for soot some will always deny reality.
The Arctic is disappearing. That is a fact. If the Gulf Stream changes direction which is predicted it will be economic disaster for the US, Europe and the world. We are all in this together. That's how important it is to do something. But. I fear, the obstacles are too great. Maybe panic will set in when things get really bad and climate damage is obvious. Then perhaps action will be taken - too late though.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: agreement, ets, hockey, joe, leadership, liberal, malcolm, opposition, party, turnbull
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 6:17 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Don't Hurt Small Animals
"Please don't hurt me!"Labels: animal, don't, funny, help, hurt, little, photo, plead, reaching, small
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 5:50 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Friday, November 27, 2009
Will the Real Australian Liberal Party Please Stand Up
World governments just will not do enough to reduce the damage that continued use of fossil fuels will do. It is "human nature" to want something that is just out of reach, for example, wanting a clean planet but not wanting to pay the cost. The Opposition is in the process of emasculating the legislation to reduce climate change. Rewarding companies with compensating packages will mean that they continue to pollute. Commonsense would be to bring in a plain, old fashioned tax on polluting industries, and that's it. Messing around with compensatory agreements and opted out deals will achieve nothing.
Now let's get back to the real problem. The issue is: Where the hell on the political spectrum does the Opposition lay? One of the parties in the Coalition is called the Liberal party. The only problem is it is not really a Liberal Party. A true Liberal party is what the Europeans call Social Democrats. That is they are in the centre, having a welfare state while operating capitalist markets. According to "blindfolded" members of the Opposition who do not accept the climate change premise the Opposition stands for low taxes. That is laughable when it was a Coalition Government that brought in the good and services tax. Before the GST, service providers paid no tax. Now, due to a coalition government consumers pay tax to service providers and they give it to the government.
Don't kid yourself, members of the Coalition who want a leadership change are worried. They know that if the Emissions Trading Scheme does not pass, they will be slaughtered at a double-dissolution election. A far right party cannot win government in Australia. The country has always had a welfare state and it isn't going to change now.
Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull will not stand aside and give the Coalition the luxury of having the ideal candidate Joe Hockey as leader. Joe Hockey has promised not to stand as leader while Malcolm Turnbull holds the position. Having Tony Abbott (Noddy's mate - he will make cartoonists happy!) as leader is the worst possible compromise the Opposition can have. If Malcolm Turnbull's rating are low wait till you see Tony Abbott's. His discussions on Lateline just don't make sense on many issues. He turns up on the program because nobody else will go.
Up to the present Tony Abbott has been supporting Malcolm Turnbull all the way. Now he is running the other way. He is not consistent at all. If he is leader going into the next election he will have to go in with a no emissions tradings scheme, ever. Those who vote him as leader, the right wing of the party, will surely hold him to this. Supporters of emissions trading will be forced to shut up. But will they? This is doubtful. The fear of losing their seats will press them to speak their minds.
So, the Coalition will go to the next election bashed and bleeding. A divided "party" it is, and divided it will remain. Until, perhaps, it totally implodes and the real Liberal Party stands up.
Now let's get back to the real problem. The issue is: Where the hell on the political spectrum does the Opposition lay? One of the parties in the Coalition is called the Liberal party. The only problem is it is not really a Liberal Party. A true Liberal party is what the Europeans call Social Democrats. That is they are in the centre, having a welfare state while operating capitalist markets. According to "blindfolded" members of the Opposition who do not accept the climate change premise the Opposition stands for low taxes. That is laughable when it was a Coalition Government that brought in the good and services tax. Before the GST, service providers paid no tax. Now, due to a coalition government consumers pay tax to service providers and they give it to the government.
Don't kid yourself, members of the Coalition who want a leadership change are worried. They know that if the Emissions Trading Scheme does not pass, they will be slaughtered at a double-dissolution election. A far right party cannot win government in Australia. The country has always had a welfare state and it isn't going to change now.
Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull will not stand aside and give the Coalition the luxury of having the ideal candidate Joe Hockey as leader. Joe Hockey has promised not to stand as leader while Malcolm Turnbull holds the position. Having Tony Abbott (Noddy's mate - he will make cartoonists happy!) as leader is the worst possible compromise the Opposition can have. If Malcolm Turnbull's rating are low wait till you see Tony Abbott's. His discussions on Lateline just don't make sense on many issues. He turns up on the program because nobody else will go.
Up to the present Tony Abbott has been supporting Malcolm Turnbull all the way. Now he is running the other way. He is not consistent at all. If he is leader going into the next election he will have to go in with a no emissions tradings scheme, ever. Those who vote him as leader, the right wing of the party, will surely hold him to this. Supporters of emissions trading will be forced to shut up. But will they? This is doubtful. The fear of losing their seats will press them to speak their minds.
So, the Coalition will go to the next election bashed and bleeding. A divided "party" it is, and divided it will remain. Until, perhaps, it totally implodes and the real Liberal Party stands up.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: coalition, emissions, labor, leadership, liberal, national, opposition, party, scheme, trading
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 8:20 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Hypnotic Dogs
"Look into my eyes. You are feeling sleepy."Labels: dog, eye, hipnotic, hypnosis, look, looking, my, sleep, sleepy, trance
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:07 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Boat People Find Entry Into Australia Difficult
People want to come to Australia. They get on a leaky old boat, paying their life savings to the traffickers, thinking they will soon be in the promised land. However, if they did not leave as genuine refugees they will be on the boat back home. Only a few days ago those who were not refugees were forcibly removed. A riot recently broke out between Afghans and Sri Lankans when the Afghans said the Sri Lankans didn't have a chance of getting residency. The truth is the war is over in Sri Lanka and two boats have just been stopped by Sri lankan Government vessels.
Why do they want to live here? Well, social services and health now employ more people than retail. The mining industry is booming. People in developing countries hear that life is easy in Australia and the state looks after you. But do they know that coastal cities are short of houses and water runs out, often. Electricity is rapidly increasing in price. Council rates are rising faster than the rate of inflation. States are continually raising charges for running a motor vehicle. Interest rates are getting higher every month. More people live on the streets than ever before. Rents are $300, $400 a week for a basic home (while welfare is $250). No, they don't know this.
The Howard Government just had temporary visas for those awaiting evaluation. When holders of the visas were asked how they were doing, most said employers would not take them on with the visas. Now these people are being kept in detention. Getting in a boat is like sentencing yourself to ten years in gaol, because that's how long evaluation takes in some cases, with the appeal processes, etc. Some "boat people" were paid by the Howard Government to return to Afghanistan. They came back when the money ran out at home.
More money is to be spent on new accommodation for people seeking residency. Things are not getting easier for new settlers. It is becoming more difficult by the day to be allowed to stay. The government has now pushed all selection approvals onto the UN. If it says you are not a refugee, then you are out.
Why do they want to live here? Well, social services and health now employ more people than retail. The mining industry is booming. People in developing countries hear that life is easy in Australia and the state looks after you. But do they know that coastal cities are short of houses and water runs out, often. Electricity is rapidly increasing in price. Council rates are rising faster than the rate of inflation. States are continually raising charges for running a motor vehicle. Interest rates are getting higher every month. More people live on the streets than ever before. Rents are $300, $400 a week for a basic home (while welfare is $250). No, they don't know this.
The Howard Government just had temporary visas for those awaiting evaluation. When holders of the visas were asked how they were doing, most said employers would not take them on with the visas. Now these people are being kept in detention. Getting in a boat is like sentencing yourself to ten years in gaol, because that's how long evaluation takes in some cases, with the appeal processes, etc. Some "boat people" were paid by the Howard Government to return to Afghanistan. They came back when the money ran out at home.
More money is to be spent on new accommodation for people seeking residency. Things are not getting easier for new settlers. It is becoming more difficult by the day to be allowed to stay. The government has now pushed all selection approvals onto the UN. If it says you are not a refugee, then you are out.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: afghanistan, boat, developing, people, refugee, residency, sri lankan, trafficker, un
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 8:58 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Monday, November 23, 2009
Singing, Playing Piano Dog
"Mammy. How I-luv-yuh, how I-luv-yuh, my dear old Mammy."Labels: animal, dog, funny, music, photo, piano, play, sing, singing, song
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 11:17 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Save the Rabbit!
It's amazing. With all the suffering in the world from hunger and war, you would think people would be concerned about something other than a rabbit. No home can be found for Copper the rabbit so the Humane Society has decided to euthanize the animal. People are up in arms about this. There have been protesters in the street holding placards. Pleas for the rabbit to be spared have come from all over the world.
The little animal has a feisty disposition, apparently. It bit a society worker. Veterinarians have found Copper to be unfit for rehabilitation. Many have said they will take him, but the society does not want to be held responsible for any consequent injuries.
This outpouring of concern is touching. Yet there is no such reaction for the thousands of dogs and cats euthanized every day. Humans have really unusual feelings about the external world. They don't worry about the cow that was slaughtered to make the pie they are eating. But end the life of a pony or a cuddly rabbit and they are impassioned to the nth degree.
The little animal has a feisty disposition, apparently. It bit a society worker. Veterinarians have found Copper to be unfit for rehabilitation. Many have said they will take him, but the society does not want to be held responsible for any consequent injuries.
This outpouring of concern is touching. Yet there is no such reaction for the thousands of dogs and cats euthanized every day. Humans have really unusual feelings about the external world. They don't worry about the cow that was slaughtered to make the pie they are eating. But end the life of a pony or a cuddly rabbit and they are impassioned to the nth degree.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: animal, bunny, concern, dog, euthanize, furry, humane, protest, rabbit, society
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:18 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Cat Tidbit
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 11:26 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Cataract Surgeons are Ripping-Off the Taxpayer
Despite Surgeons saying that the Government cut in rebates for cataract surgery is "unfair", it seems it is they who are running a scam. They have been dobbed in by one of their own. An anaesthetist said it is disgusting how much eye surgeons grab from the taxpayer everyday. Australian eye surgeons are paid twice as much as US surgeons and three times as much as German counterparts.
Australian cataract doctors carrying out operations in public hospitals are pocketing more than $21,000 a day. They pay only $200 an hour in costs to the hospital when the hospital provides all the expensive equipment: running costs are being met by hospitals not surgeons. Trainees are sent to see patients the next day while surgeons sit down with a coffee.
No wonder surgeons own yachts. Legislate and regulate what they can charge! The government stopped the automotive advisory body from distributing recommended prices for fuel to service station operators in the 1970s. It said price recommendations were now illegal. Regulation became a dirty word. There is nothing wrong with price regulation when it is an essential service. Health is an essential service. Bring back the old ways. Too much freedom got the world into the present economic mess.
Dr Brad Horsburgh president of the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists admits that some doctors do gross $28,000 a day, doing 26 operations. Assuming that they don't actually operate for two hours each day, this means an operation takes less than 15 minutes. He also says that many doctors only operate for two hours a week (talk about having a buck each way). If they expect to earn a living from such a small amount of work they should be kicked out the door. What are surgeons - money grabbers or lazy sloths? By the way, the two-hour surgeons have a practice manager, four secretaries and two assistants, he says. This does show big profits are being made.
Australian cataract doctors carrying out operations in public hospitals are pocketing more than $21,000 a day. They pay only $200 an hour in costs to the hospital when the hospital provides all the expensive equipment: running costs are being met by hospitals not surgeons. Trainees are sent to see patients the next day while surgeons sit down with a coffee.
No wonder surgeons own yachts. Legislate and regulate what they can charge! The government stopped the automotive advisory body from distributing recommended prices for fuel to service station operators in the 1970s. It said price recommendations were now illegal. Regulation became a dirty word. There is nothing wrong with price regulation when it is an essential service. Health is an essential service. Bring back the old ways. Too much freedom got the world into the present economic mess.
Dr Brad Horsburgh president of the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists admits that some doctors do gross $28,000 a day, doing 26 operations. Assuming that they don't actually operate for two hours each day, this means an operation takes less than 15 minutes. He also says that many doctors only operate for two hours a week (talk about having a buck each way). If they expect to earn a living from such a small amount of work they should be kicked out the door. What are surgeons - money grabbers or lazy sloths? By the way, the two-hour surgeons have a practice manager, four secretaries and two assistants, he says. This does show big profits are being made.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: cataract, eye, government, hospital, off, ophthalmologist, payer. rip, surgeon, tax
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:20 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Furniture Dog
"Since you've been here George you have become part of the furniture."Labels: animal, carpet, dog, funny, furniture, indoors, photo, sitting, top, window
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 8:07 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
New Research on Box Jellyfish
There has been a breakthrough in the research on box jellyfish. They have thousands of stinging cells on their ten-foot long tentacles. New discoveries have been made into their evolution. This will help in finding antivenom and new treatment for stings to humans.
Some species of jelly fish have good sight: they have 24 eyes, can sense light and form images of their surroundings. Little is know, however, about what they actually see. They don't need to see to mate. Females and males just get together and fertilize eggs in a mass spawning, though some species do appear to mate one-on-one.
The most dangerous jelly fish, in Australia, is the Box Jellyfish (sea wasp or stinger). Some can immobilize while others can kill. The Portuguese man of war is held to be very dangerous, but despite its name it cannot kill humans. Chironex flecken, an Australian box jellyfish, can be lethal. A similar type, Chironex yamaguchii, has killed people in Japan.
Evolution of jellyfish has been pinned down by DNA extracted from tissue samples. It is now known how species are related. It was found that several types cause Irukandji Syndrome which leaves sufferers with body pain, severe depression and feelings of impending doom. If you are stung by members of this grouping then these symptoms can be expected. Some types have been isolated from others for a long period of time. Sea level changes from tectonic plate movements apparently create new species.
Some species of jelly fish have good sight: they have 24 eyes, can sense light and form images of their surroundings. Little is know, however, about what they actually see. They don't need to see to mate. Females and males just get together and fertilize eggs in a mass spawning, though some species do appear to mate one-on-one.
The most dangerous jelly fish, in Australia, is the Box Jellyfish (sea wasp or stinger). Some can immobilize while others can kill. The Portuguese man of war is held to be very dangerous, but despite its name it cannot kill humans. Chironex flecken, an Australian box jellyfish, can be lethal. A similar type, Chironex yamaguchii, has killed people in Japan.
Evolution of jellyfish has been pinned down by DNA extracted from tissue samples. It is now known how species are related. It was found that several types cause Irukandji Syndrome which leaves sufferers with body pain, severe depression and feelings of impending doom. If you are stung by members of this grouping then these symptoms can be expected. Some types have been isolated from others for a long period of time. Sea level changes from tectonic plate movements apparently create new species.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: box, fish, jelly, jellyfish, lethal, man, portuguese, sting, stung, war
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 7:47 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Bargain Cat
Hey, have I got a bargain for you; are you interested?"Labels: animal, cat, funny, ginger, good, photo, sell, smart, thing, wink
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:12 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Men Are Scared of Women Taking Their Assets
How did the Western world get into the situation where the female in a broken relationship gets, well, just about everything that the male has accumulated? When a relationship ends the man's life is ruined. Not only has he got to pay for the keep of his children, with access to them being blocked in many cases, but he has to keep the female ex-partner until she decides to actually marry another man.
A young man in his late twenties discussed his situation with me the other day. He was left a house by his father who died suddenly at a quite a young age. The man married three years ago and has a child. His wife left him and arranged a divorce. She claimed legal aid. He tried to get it but it was refused. The divorce has just been finalized. His ex-wife got the house, a house to which she did not contribute. He had to find rental accommodation which he thought was to be short term. Now it is permanent. He is faced with the rental burden for the rest of his life. After he pays for the upkeep of his child and his ex-wife he has hardly anything left.
It is no wonder men of all ages are running scared. They will take a woman out for a meal and a drink, even carry on a relationship. But when the word marriage is mentioned they are straight out the door, in the car and gone. A single man will stay nights at the female's home. However, he will not have her in his home, especially if he owns it. He knows that after a year of living in his house she can claim that they were living as man and wife and get the house.
Modern women are becoming "paranoid" about getting a man. They are becoming desperate: "I go out with so many eligible men", they say,"and none of them will make a commitment". The reason they won't commit is they are thinking of their pockets and how they will be emptied.
A young man in his late twenties discussed his situation with me the other day. He was left a house by his father who died suddenly at a quite a young age. The man married three years ago and has a child. His wife left him and arranged a divorce. She claimed legal aid. He tried to get it but it was refused. The divorce has just been finalized. His ex-wife got the house, a house to which she did not contribute. He had to find rental accommodation which he thought was to be short term. Now it is permanent. He is faced with the rental burden for the rest of his life. After he pays for the upkeep of his child and his ex-wife he has hardly anything left.
It is no wonder men of all ages are running scared. They will take a woman out for a meal and a drink, even carry on a relationship. But when the word marriage is mentioned they are straight out the door, in the car and gone. A single man will stay nights at the female's home. However, he will not have her in his home, especially if he owns it. He knows that after a year of living in his house she can claim that they were living as man and wife and get the house.
Modern women are becoming "paranoid" about getting a man. They are becoming desperate: "I go out with so many eligible men", they say,"and none of them will make a commitment". The reason they won't commit is they are thinking of their pockets and how they will be emptied.
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: alimony, divorce, emptied, house, lawyer, man, marriage, pocket, settlement, wife
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:03 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Cat Doss House
"Hey buster, do yuh want a room or don't yuh?" Labels: buster, cat, doss, house, kitty, room, tough, tuff, want, window
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:51 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Australians Hold More Cash Than Ever
We are moving toward a cashless society as people use credit cards more and more - Wrong! People keep cash in their pockets more than they have ever done before. In Australia $46 billion is in circulation. This is a record. Every Australian now has $2,092 on their person. In 1999 it was only $1,222.
This is a quasi expansion of the money supply because people are also increasingly using the Internet to pay bills. The main cause is the Government's economic stimulus package. Problems could lay down the track as all the cash floating about leads to inflation. Economists have already warned the British government about printing money.
It is also said that a low interest rates raises spending and increases the money supply. Personally, I don't see this. Interest rate payments are really a transfer from those who don't have money to those who have, so how can the money supply expand? Perhaps economists are talking about the multiplier effect on money because spending is boosted. That is, the amount of money in circulation is greater when an economy is in growth than when it is in contraction.
Another thing is people tend to hold cash when the economy is in downturn. But economists can't have it both ways: either the economy is contracting or it is expanding.
Saying customers hold more cash because there are more ATMs is also a furphy: there are more than 26 percent more ATMs now than 5 years ago. It is just as easy to pay by EFTPOS using a card. Debit card use has also boomed - 81 percent higher than 5 years ago.
Could it be that people just hold cash while they carry out payments using cards or online. Perhaps they are just hiding their assets from the Government by holding cash. with superannuation being so transparent hiding assets this way is "human nature".
This is a quasi expansion of the money supply because people are also increasingly using the Internet to pay bills. The main cause is the Government's economic stimulus package. Problems could lay down the track as all the cash floating about leads to inflation. Economists have already warned the British government about printing money.
It is also said that a low interest rates raises spending and increases the money supply. Personally, I don't see this. Interest rate payments are really a transfer from those who don't have money to those who have, so how can the money supply expand? Perhaps economists are talking about the multiplier effect on money because spending is boosted. That is, the amount of money in circulation is greater when an economy is in growth than when it is in contraction.
Another thing is people tend to hold cash when the economy is in downturn. But economists can't have it both ways: either the economy is contracting or it is expanding.
Saying customers hold more cash because there are more ATMs is also a furphy: there are more than 26 percent more ATMs now than 5 years ago. It is just as easy to pay by EFTPOS using a card. Debit card use has also boomed - 81 percent higher than 5 years ago.
Could it be that people just hold cash while they carry out payments using cards or online. Perhaps they are just hiding their assets from the Government by holding cash. with superannuation being so transparent hiding assets this way is "human nature".
http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: atm, bank, card, customer, debit, economy, eftpos, government, money, supply
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:45 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Friday, November 13, 2009
Cat Fight
"Don't kid yourself. You can't hurt me!" Labels: arguing, cat, cats, fighting, frame, glass, inside, outside, window
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 8:34 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
More Meat and Milk from Cloned Cows
The Pollard farm looks like an ordinary farm but there is something that makes it unique. Many cows there are identical. Indeed, 20 are clones. They are copies of the most productive animals around. It must be noted, however, that the clones real age is their actual age plus the age of the animal they were cloned from. This is the problem with cloning. But, in breeding animals that give more meat and milk there have been no overriding problems.
Less feed is required per pound of meat or liter of milk. Clones also reproduce quicker with reduced complications. This is good for the environment: less fertilizer and diesel is used.
There are issues with genetic tampering of animals and crops. Scientists are saying that despite decades of work no genetically modified crop has yet been adopted worldwide. Because only people from high-income countries eat meat, cloning of cows will not help world hunger.
The real issue with cloning of cows is the high cost - $15,000 per animal. So meat from them will also be expensive. Genetically modified crops also have the same problem. Thus, cost is the main barrier to acceptance of GM products.
Less feed is required per pound of meat or liter of milk. Clones also reproduce quicker with reduced complications. This is good for the environment: less fertilizer and diesel is used.
There are issues with genetic tampering of animals and crops. Scientists are saying that despite decades of work no genetically modified crop has yet been adopted worldwide. Because only people from high-income countries eat meat, cloning of cows will not help world hunger.
The real issue with cloning of cows is the high cost - $15,000 per animal. So meat from them will also be expensive. Genetically modified crops also have the same problem. Thus, cost is the main barrier to acceptance of GM products.
http://adventure--%20australia.blogspot.com/http://tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: animal, cattle, clone, cow, crops, genetically, gm, meat, modified, seed
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 8:07 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Possum Road Crossing
"Is it okay to cross the road?""Think so. Can't see any cars."
Labels: animal, crossing, drain, gutter, kerb, pavement, possum, road, street
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:34 PM
1 Comments
Links to this post
Australian Birth Rate Rises to a Record
How could the experts get it so wrong. For many years we were told that Australia should populate or perish. The Bureau of Statistics has released data showing that 296,00 births occurred in 2008. This is 10,000 more that 2007 and 1971, earlier record years.
The fertility rate for women is high at 1.97 babies for every female. Tasmanians are really getting on with it (must be the cold climate) with a fertility rate of 2.24. Hot Darwin had a lower rate of 1.76. Not only are women having more babies, but the proportion of women in the population is rising.
And the reason for this increase is financial. The Government pays $5,000 to a woman to have a baby. Women are getting pregnant in some cases just to get the money. If they want a big ticket item they see this as the way to get it, irrespective of the lifetime cost of bringing up a child. Another thing is that women who have put off having babies are now reaching the point of no return where they must act or never have children.
The fertility rate for women is high at 1.97 babies for every female. Tasmanians are really getting on with it (must be the cold climate) with a fertility rate of 2.24. Hot Darwin had a lower rate of 1.76. Not only are women having more babies, but the proportion of women in the population is rising.
And the reason for this increase is financial. The Government pays $5,000 to a woman to have a baby. Women are getting pregnant in some cases just to get the money. If they want a big ticket item they see this as the way to get it, irrespective of the lifetime cost of bringing up a child. Another thing is that women who have put off having babies are now reaching the point of no return where they must act or never have children.
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: babies, baby, bonus, children, fertility, growth, population, pregnant, rate, women
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:26 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Monday, November 09, 2009
Dog Fan
"Yaaaah! Tom, Tom Cruise, it's me."Labels: animal, cruise, dog, fan, funny, furry, photos, running, rushing, tom
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 8:40 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Governments Will Not Do Enough to Stop Climate Damage
The climate debate is just that - a debate. In Australia we have a case where the Senate will not pass legislation because the Opposition believes it is too strong (against business) while the Independents and Greens feel it isn't strong enough. What a ridiculous state of affairs this is.
You see, the Labor Government only has a majority in the House of Representatives. They need support from Greens and Independents or some Opposition parliamentarians to get legislation passed in the Senate. It looks like the bill will be defeated. Being the second time it has been presented, it means that Labor will go to the people in the next election with all seats in both Houses being up for grabs.
Once the "boat people" problem fades away, which it will, Labor will renew its popular support and Labor winning the next election is highly probable. This means that in a about 18 months a Labor Government will be able to do anything it wants in regard to legislation.
Then the problems really begin because ideal legislation to reduce emissions will hit the economy very hard indeed, as the standard of living falls permanently for everyone while the cost of living rises. In the future, income will not buy the amount of goods purchased currently. This is a reality. If change actually occurs. Perhaps, the Opposition will win government. Then restructuring is deferred to future years, too late to save the planet.
The outcome from Copenhagen does not look promising either, with developed countries saying big polluters must act first, developed and developing economies alike. And Third World countries saying Western countries caused the pollution so they must act first. Oddly, this is similar to the stalemate in Australia's parliament at present.
You see, the Labor Government only has a majority in the House of Representatives. They need support from Greens and Independents or some Opposition parliamentarians to get legislation passed in the Senate. It looks like the bill will be defeated. Being the second time it has been presented, it means that Labor will go to the people in the next election with all seats in both Houses being up for grabs.
Once the "boat people" problem fades away, which it will, Labor will renew its popular support and Labor winning the next election is highly probable. This means that in a about 18 months a Labor Government will be able to do anything it wants in regard to legislation.
Then the problems really begin because ideal legislation to reduce emissions will hit the economy very hard indeed, as the standard of living falls permanently for everyone while the cost of living rises. In the future, income will not buy the amount of goods purchased currently. This is a reality. If change actually occurs. Perhaps, the Opposition will win government. Then restructuring is deferred to future years, too late to save the planet.
The outcome from Copenhagen does not look promising either, with developed countries saying big polluters must act first, developed and developing economies alike. And Third World countries saying Western countries caused the pollution so they must act first. Oddly, this is similar to the stalemate in Australia's parliament at present.
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: australia, carbon, change, climate, copenhagen, emissions, government, legislation, planet, pollution
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 8:22 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Photo Cat
"Nah! I don't care. Take my photo."Labels: animal, bored, cat, down, funny, looking, photo, sitting, take, thinking
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:40 PM
2 Comments
Links to this post
Boot Throwing at Politicians is Becoming Popular
It seems ex-President Bush is not the only politician to have had a boot thrown at him. Former Australian Prime Minister had a boot aimed in his direction a week ago. This occurred at Cambridge University in Britain. The man who actually caught the shoe announced this to the world on Thursday.
Apparently, members of the audience were getting frustrated at what Mr Howard was saying. One of them stood up, told him that he was a racist and threw the boot. Later it was discovered than the protester was an Australian.
Howard in his own nonchalant fashion just brushed the incident aside and got on with what he was doing. The title of Mr Howard's speech was "Leadership in the New Century". The words shouted out were ""You make me ashamed to be Australian. Go home, racist".
The interceptor of the shoe was quick thinking. He saw what was about to happen as the man reached down toward his feet. He moved between the two protagonists and caught the flying object. University authorities refused to return the shoe when the man came back to get it. In typical British fashion the interceptor of the boot says it was "hugely regrettable" that this happened with about 400 people in the audience listening to the speech. Afterwards John Howard said the man caught the boot like a cricketer.
Another case of shoe throwing happened last February when a German man at Cambridge attacked Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in the same way.
Apparently, members of the audience were getting frustrated at what Mr Howard was saying. One of them stood up, told him that he was a racist and threw the boot. Later it was discovered than the protester was an Australian.
Howard in his own nonchalant fashion just brushed the incident aside and got on with what he was doing. The title of Mr Howard's speech was "Leadership in the New Century". The words shouted out were ""You make me ashamed to be Australian. Go home, racist".
The interceptor of the shoe was quick thinking. He saw what was about to happen as the man reached down toward his feet. He moved between the two protagonists and caught the flying object. University authorities refused to return the shoe when the man came back to get it. In typical British fashion the interceptor of the boot says it was "hugely regrettable" that this happened with about 400 people in the audience listening to the speech. Afterwards John Howard said the man caught the boot like a cricketer.
Another case of shoe throwing happened last February when a German man at Cambridge attacked Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in the same way.
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com/http://tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com
Labels: anger, boot, cambridge, leadership, politician, shoe, threw, throw, throwing, university
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 9:30 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Cute Cat
Labels: baby, cat, cute, kitten, nice, paw, pretty, smiling, tabby
posted by Ty Buchanan @ 10:10 PM
0 Comments
Links to this post
There Is an Answer to the Boat People Refugee Problem
There is an answer to the refugee problem. A the moment the Australian Federal Government is in talks with the Sri Lankan Government. Hopefully, some bright spark will have the courage to stand up and say it: Australian ships should take them back home and let them apply for refugee status through the usual means, if the country of origin agrees. And indeed there should be pressure to make them agree.
There is a long queue to attain citizenship status. Boat people should be patient. In countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq, perhaps people fear going home, but these countries should take them back and give them protection. This may be simplistic. Nonetheless, it is the only answer when people are leaving to gain a better life and not running from oppression. The Tamils are clearly not running from oppression. The war is over. They should not be allowed to demand Australian citizenship and win. If they do win, we can expect all boat people from now on to refuse to get off ships taken to Indonesia.
All countries in Southeast Asia are looking for just one country to become the dumping ground for a world problem. Not only will they come from Asia and the Middle East, they will come from Africa because it is becoming more difficult to get into the UK. I am imploring Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Leader of the Opposition Malcolm Turn
There is a long queue to attain citizenship status. Boat people should be patient. In countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq, perhaps people fear going home, but these countries should take them back and give them protection. This may be simplistic. Nonetheless, it is the only answer when people are leaving to gain a better life and not running from oppression. The Tamils are clearly not running from oppression. The war is over. They should not be allowed to demand Australian citizenship and win. If they do win, we can expect all boat people from now on to refuse to get off ships taken to Indonesia.
All countries in Southeast Asia are looking for just one country to become the dumping ground for a world problem. Not only will they come from Asia and the Middle East, they will come from Africa because it is becoming more difficult to get into the UK. I am imploring Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Leader of the Opposition Malcolm Turn