Town Cat Meets House Cats

"Spoilt brats."
 Funny Animal Photos by Ty Buchanan 
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Dangerous Love - Gonorrhoea

Millions of dollars is being spent in HIV research.  It is mainly spread by sexual contact. However, venereal diseases in general are being forgotten.

Antibiotics are becoming ineffective in combating venereal diseases. Such infections have been around for thousands of years and there is still no cure. Antibiotics used to "knock it on the head" in the past. This luxury no longer exists.

A serious resistant strain of gonorrhoea is extant in Australia and New Zealand. It has now arrived on our doorstep. A8806 is very similar to H041 which is absolutely untreatable. Different resistant strains have appeared in Japan, the US and Norway.

Because people today are more promiscuous than ever "the clap" is spreading extremely fast. The disease affects the whole body invading mucous membranes such as the sexual organs, eyes and throat. Arthritis, heart infections and meningitis can result.

Most people have serious symptoms. Pain when urinating, bleeding and oozing puss are common. The greatest problem is that some sufferers have no symptoms at all, so they unknowingly keep spreading the disease.
Health by Ty Buchanan
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Tired Cat

"I told you not to wake me up early."
 Funny Animal Photos by Ty Buchanan 
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Two New Species Carrying Irukandji Found in Australia

It never fails to amaze me how new things are discovered on our doorstep when the majority of people think everything is known about nature.  This is particularly true in Australia where a low number of people live on a vast continent.  Some places have not even been visited by humans for thousands of years.

Dr Lisa-Ann Gershwin has identified two species of jellyfish that can carry Irukandji syndrome.  The new species are Keesingia gigas and Malo bella.  Doctor Gershwin works for CSIRO.  There are now 16 species that can cause Irukandji.

Keesingia can grow to 50 cm in bell height.  This is by far the largest jellyfish.  Juvenile leatherjacket fish safely live in its subumbrellar cavity as with the more common medusas.

The two newly documented species have been generally known for some time.  However, they have not been found in Australian waters before.  They could have been present for a long time or maybe they are new, moving here due to climate change and the warming ocean.
 Biology by Ty Buchanan 

Cat?

"I am a cat!"
~ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan ~
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Bitcoin is an Asset According to the Australian Tax Office

Everyone thought that bitcoins would remain untraceable and out of the reach of national revenue collections. This belief has proved to be fairyland. The Australian Tax Office now values bitcoins as assets to be included on your yearly income tax form.

If you have millions of these things when there value increases you will have to give part of it to the Australian Tax Office (ATO) if you reside in Australia. Don't think that this is the end - it is just the beginning. Other countries are looking at making bitcoins taxable income.

BitPos an Australian company which arranges an exchange and purchasing service for people dealing in bitcoins say owners have to pay the Goods and Service Tax (GST) on the full value of coins not just on the fee. This is when buying the actual "currency" itself.

Because dealers say bitcoin it is not a currency it opens the door for countries to interpret it as they like. It is possible some jurisdictions will class it as currency and capital investment. Indeed, some countries could make bitcoins illegal. This would throw a spanner in the works.

The ATO has issued a warning to businesses that purchases of goods and services with bitcoins must be recorded in the books and the government is planning to collect GST on it. Essentially, the currency is going to be taxed twice. Banks praise this because bitcoin is a treat to them.

Businesses do not know whether it is legal to charge the GST at the moment.  It could be levied on them when they have not collected it from customers.  This is a gray legal area at present.  Charging for GST when it not yet payable could be classed as price gouging, a trick to charge more.
Economics by Ty Buchanan
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Cat Learns Spanish

'Shush!  I'm studying Spanish."
Funny Animal Photos by Ty Buchanan
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New Chinese Theme Park for Australia?

A theme park is to be built at Warnervale in New South Wales. It is not your usual holiday inspired park like Marine World or Disney World. The name of the new entertainment precinct is not yet known, but it will be devoted solely to things Chinese. Buddhist

It is aimed more at Chinese tourists than Australians. A panda paradise, thanksgiving temple and treasure ship are expected to draw the customers. A massive half a billion dollars is dedicated to the project.

The rather odd name of "Chappypie China Time" is being put forward as the preferred choice by Chinese developers. This choice will not go down well with Australians. It is awkward and doesn't translate well into Australian culture.

It will based on "old" China, not the present totalitarian state. Things such as a copy of the Forbidden City, thousand-hand Guanyin and dragon boats will be the main theme.  Developers say it will rival Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. However, these are thing quintessentially Australia. How can a Chinese project be marketed as an Australian icon?

The Wyong Shire Council insisted that the park must have rides to make it relevant to Australian customers. Disney has also said that legal action will follow if the word "Disney" is in the park's name. The move by the Chinese consortium comes as a bit of a shock to Disney which says there is no local market there for such a huge investment.

Such a project could be a ruse to build a thanksgiving temple. This will be the first thing constructed. It could also be the last. Local people would not want such as large temple built near to them. Councillors should be wary of the "easy out" clause in the contract.
Culture by Ty Buchanan
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Cat School

"Pay attention.  You little runt!"
Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan
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Zebrafish Stem Cell Discovery

A lot of work is going into stem cells research. Anything we can learn about them is important for future human transplants. There have been some claims that have been proved wrong. However, we are moving forward in understanding how organs can be created from them.

A significant breakthrough has been made in Australia while investigating zebrafish. Scientists have found out how hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) important in bone marrow and blood are made. The stem cells replenish immune cells in the blood.

At present hematopoietic stem cells are used to treat leukemia and myeloma. It will probably be possible to treat other cancers in blood vessels, muscle and bone. Furthermore, diabetes, spinal problems and degenerative disorders cold also be treated.

The discovery is important. "Buddy" cells were observed while the hematopoietic stem cell were being created. Ironically, the scientists were investigating muscle development when they noticed the "helper" cell. Other scientist will take this further.
Science by Ty Buchanan
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