A REAL Monsoon at Last

What a wonderful weekend................a monsoon at last!!!!

Cool cloudy days, some periodic sunny overcast skies, and monsoonal showers.  Not a lot of rain, around 40mm at our place in the gauge this morning [most from a decent burst early this morning] and maybe 10mm today.  But at last some relief from the horrible crappy hot weather.

More monsoonal showers tomorrow, but alas.........maybe drier after that.

Just nice while it is happening.

And the frogs are just loving it.

My heart bleeds for the family of the young boy who died from lyssa virus today.  I am sure that his death was an awful situation, for him as well as the family.

Some media coverage here -
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/boy-dies-after-contracting-bat-virus/story-fn3dxiwe-1226583924440

So what is lyssa virus you say?

It is a bat borne virus very similar to rabies in action, which can be caught by humans usually by a bite or scratch from a bat.  That happening is unusual in itself as they tend to avoid humans, and their radar system is operational, unless they are sick.  In this case the boy was bitten on the finger, inside the house.

It would appear that he was not treated as soon as possible.  The treatment is the same as if bitten by a rabid animal, using rabies treatment injections.

I was scratched on the head by a bat one evening at home myself, and made very definite efforts through vet colleagues to find out what was the best treatment options - which meant getting to casualty at the hospital, for immediate wound cleansing.  And the very next morning starting the anti rabies injection schedule. 

I had already had rabies injections as was working overseas in an area where rabies occurred reasonably regularly, so was aware of the need to do something in preparation, and knew post bite/ scratch treatment was needed when there.

Rabies / lyssa virus are NOT NICE, and inevitably kill if not treated quickly by vaccine injections.

There used to be a super dramatic black and white movie clip that AQIS used to show of a rabid person in Iran or Iraq, probably of imagery from the 1960s or so.  Have seen and never forgotten that.

RULE ONE - if suspect rabies or lyssa virus GET TREATMENT ASAP!!!!

RULE TWO - REFER TO RULE ONE.

[dogs, monkeys and other mammals typically show mad, out of character agressive behaviour]

Cybersecurity and You

The news on this issue has been simmering for the past few days, although a lot has been written on the subject over the past few months here in Australia.  Small Australian busineses have been targetted, and information on computer systems destroyed and some have been subject to "ransomware" attacks, requiring a ransom to release control of the computers affected and data made available again.

This is serious stuff for small businesses, but a more insidious form of cyber attacks is occurring on large business.

There are a wide number of articles discussing this issue including a significant one published in the AFR some weeks ago by Christopher Joye.  It is publicly available - a notable issue in itself as the AFR has a user pay system.  It is important.

http://www.afr.com/f/free/national/it_global_cyber_war_out_there_94da3CY7Avufi9jp5d0JTI

Today the Australian newpaper has several articles discussing the issue  See them here -

  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/drab-tower-houses-greatest-threat/story-fnb64oi6-1226581878746#

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/new-us-strategy-document-warns-on-trade-secret-theft-amid-china-concerns/story-e6frg6so-1226582481378

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/world-commentary/chinas-cyber-spies-are-stealing-more-than-secrets/story-e6frg6ux-1226582183261

There are many more to be seen on the internet.  For example -

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57570187-38/chinas-cyberwar-intrusions-are-the-new-normal-faq/?tag=nl.e703&s_cid=e703&ttag=e703

It is of concern that utilities and infrastructure are likely to be long term targets, not just trade secrets from commercial organisations.

Can you protect yourself? 

It might be difficult given the quality of organisations both government and large businesses targetted successfully.  But that said, keeping your firewalls and protection up to date is a start.  Be wary of things on line.  This sort of approach is not new and sound, but it might not be enough to efforts by a serious player.  That might be Chinese, or so is the inference in the various articles above. 

update on 22/2/2013 - another article in the Australian.  This will not go away.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/us-vows-war-on-hacking-as-china-hits-back-at-commercial-stunt/story-e6frg6so-1226582998309

Happy Monsoon Frog

A weather change is wonderful, and we have a monsoon!!

Late, yes and expected to be a short burst, but it is a monsoon.  For so long it has been hanging out north of the Australian coast and bringing unusual heavy rain to Singapore in January and February.

Even the infamous Edith River bridge might have been flooded, and no doubt there will be some water flowing out of the Mt Todd minesite downstream for a few days while the river is flowing strongly.

Around the Top End - rainfalls of 50 - 100mm have been recorded.

AND........the clouds are in, and the temperature a more bearable 28 - 30C, not the hot violent blast of bright sunshine and 34C.  What a difference a few degrees can make.

Bring it on.

The Curious Tale of a Penis Regrowing Sea Slug

Do males want to be able to have multiple penises?

Read more here....

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-13/sea-slug-able-to-regrow-penis/4516632?WT.svl=news4

The Pope Pulls the Pin

The pope has resigned, pulled the pin! A shock to many, Catholic or not.  Popes die on the job don't they?  That is mostly true - last one to not do so was 600 years ago.

The commentariat has been active, and the material below is by someone a little closer to the scene and is somewhat more reasoned than most media reports.

What are your impressions of the article?

----------------------------------------------

Ratzinger the reformer

by Crispin Rovere previously undertook academic research at the Vatican on Australia's political relations with the Holy See, and is now a PhD candidate at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, ANU.

'Reforming progressive' is not a phrase frequently cited to describe Pope Benedict XVI. Repeated over and over are terms like 'conservative', 'hardliner' and 'enforcer'. These depictions were never accurate, though on balance it served Ratzinger's agenda to have these labels. On doctrinal issues he may have been genuinely conservative, but on the bureaucratic and political traditions of the Vatican, he couldn't have been more radical.



First, one cannot separate Benedict XVI's legacy from the manner of his departure; he will go down in history as 'the Pope who retired'. Six hundred years ago in the midst of crises involving multiple claimants, Gregory XII resigned and effectively became the exception that proves the rule. And the rule is: popes die in office, or at worst are forced out by some calamity; they never just 'retire'. Ratzinger is all too aware of the gravity of this decision, something he made clear during his resignation address. This is Ratzinger's radical way of saying 'the Church has to change.'

Most immediate is the need to convene a papal conclave to elect the new pope. There is some speculation that the next pope may come from an emerging country outside Europe. Without completely discounting it as a possibility, on this occasion I find it unlikely. Of the 118 or so cardinals eligible to vote in this conclave, most are still European. The Vatican remains concerned about declining religiosity in Europe, so electing a pope who can grapple with this issue will be highly prized.

Given that, up to now, popes always died in office, few cardinals vote for candidates younger than themselves, as it reduces the probability of participating in future elections. As most cardinals from emerging countries have been raised comparatively recently, there aren't many from these nations in the field of likely candidates.

It is often asked why the Catholic Church is not more responsive to change. The truth is there is quite vibrant debate within the College of Cardinals on a whole range of issues, from contraception and abortion to the ordination of women priests, priesthood celibacy and same-sex marriage.

Yet what keeps everything in check is the perpetual and collective fear of the 'schism'. Two main schisms have shaped world history and left a permanent scar on the Church's power and memory: the permanent split between Rome and Constantinople of 1054, and the Protestant Reformation sparked by Martin Luther's ninety-five theses of 1517. The Vatican will go to any lengths to avoid a third, and this creates a strong gravitational pull toward liturgical orthodoxy. Ratzinger, like most others in the Curia across the traditionalist-reformist divide, are more fearful of division than irrelevancy.

It is not hard to see why. There is a general belief in Western Europe and Australia that the influence of the Catholic Church is waning. This is a serious error. While church attendance is low in these places, in the developing world the numbers of devout Catholics are exploding. In most of the emerging economies in South America, for instance, those who identify as 'Catholic' sit at around 80-90% or more. Across Africa, the number of those converting to Catholicism is growing faster than even Africa's rapidly growing population.

Moreover, coming from parts of the world where the supernatural is more readily accepted, African converts tend to be much more conservative than their European counterparts — doctrines regarding sin and hellfire are taken literally. Rapid movement toward social reform by the Vatican is therefore thought to be risky, potentially leading to another great schism, this time along geographical and ethnic lines. 

In Asia, on the other hand, far from being associated with conservatism, Christianity as a whole is viewed as a symbol of modernity, progressiveness and social mobility. This is largely due to the spectacular success of evangelical forms of Christianity exported from the US. In China, for example, there are now more Christians than members of the Communist Party.

Indeed, Ratzinger's greatest foreign policy initiative as pope was the abortive attempt to secure a rapprochement with China. Faced with the viral spread of underground conversion, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) grew concerned about the potentially subversive nature of these groups. Some Chinese leaders felt that giving a traditionalist and hierarchical Catholic Church preferential treatment may help to curtail this phenomenon, and support rather than undermine the legitimacy of the CCP.

Quiet diplomacy on both sides almost resulted in a major deal: the Holy See would move its embassy from Taiwan to Beijing, avoid embroiling itself in domestic political matters and cooperate broadly with the CCP. In exchange, the Catholic Church would be assisted by the Chinese state in connecting with Chinese Christians.

The details ultimately cooled the relationship to a point where a deal could not be finalised. China's leaders insisted on being able to veto bishops appointed by the pope, something completely unacceptable to the Vatican. The Vatican, for its part, wanted the Chinese Government to end the one-child policy and be able to lobby openly on social issues such as abortion, a bridge too far for the Chinese leadership. Still, the hallmarks of a grand bargain now exist, and future leaders on both sides may in the future implement it.

The other major political legacy of Pope Benedict XVI is possibly accidental: the increasingly strained relations with the Muslim world, particularly in contrast to his predecessor, John Paul II. As part of a lecture delivered at the University of Regensburg in Germany, Benedict quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor who saw Islam as 'evil and inhuman', and this was interpreted by some to reflect his personal views. Violent reprisals against Catholics in some areas ensued, and this helped to polarise views between Christians and Muslims, especially in the West.

Of course, Ratzinger's lecture is just one page in a much larger post-911 story, and he cannot be held personally responsible for the broader trend. Nevertheless, Ratzinger has conveyed the impression that, while he wanted good relations with peoples of other faiths, he himself is a champion of a form of Christianity that is essentially exclusive.

On the critical issue of child sex abuse, Ratzinger was highly controversial within the Church, not because he was resistant to reform but because he was so aggressively radical.

In late 2002 then-Cardinal Ratzinger threw his full weight behind the 'zero tolerance' policy, a reform that was hotly contested. Since then, horrific details have emerged whereby protection of the accused resulted in priests being moved from parish to parish to escape justice entirely. This has resulted in a Royal Commission being launched here in Australia, and is a clear demonstration for the need for a zero tolerance approach. Victims of abuse have so far given mixed verdicts on Ratzinger's legacy, with some commentators holding him responsible for the culture of secrecy that has so infuriatingly obstructed justice. This charge cannot be sustained by the facts and history will judge him far more kindly.

Nevertheless, Ratzinger's inability to restore the Church as a source of moral authority, particularly in the Western world, has no doubt led him to conclude that major changes are required, beginning with his own historic resignation.

Photo by Flickr user Catholic Church (England and Wales).

From the Interpreter - Lowy Institute.

Doping in Australian Professional Sport - New Evidence

I suppose it was inevitable, particularly given the material over the past few days involving Essendon AFL club and what appears to have been some dodgy supplement use.

BUT......today it is all over the local media about drugs and possible matchfixing in at least one  [ yet unnamed] football code.

Both rugby league and AFL seemed to be getting mentioned in the media earlier in the week, but there is no hint of which sport is involved in the material today, but possibly many.  And there are comments from many different professional sports.

Read some of the main media reports here:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-07/4505884?WT.svl=news0

and here
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/sportsday-live/sportsday-live-thursday-february-7-2013-20130207-2dzkm.html

This is a rapidly evolving story today with more details expected.

Match Fixing in Soccer - Singapore Based

While this story has been on major media coverage over the past few days - including mainstream news as well as sport news, it has hardly rated a mention in the Singapore press.  How curious!

Neither the online morning news summary from the Straits Times, nor headlines have mentioned this article.  Yet, the criminal gang involved is reputed to be Singapore based.

This matches a previous issue in which a Singapore national is now in jail in Finland over matchfixing and bribery activities related to soccer, plus the long festering sore over alleged matchfixing and bribery in soccer in both Malaysia and Singapore.

IT IS NEWS.........whether positive or negative, and a decent free press would be reporting it.

The story has major implications for the world game..........everywhere.  And making the public aware of the issues is important.

In Australia it is certainly causing those invoved with soccer to increase vigilance about the probity of games, with FFA chief executive David Gallop admitting match-fixing "has the potential to cause serious damage to the integrity and image of any sport".

"While our national code of conduct contains strong provisions relating to betting and match-fixing, as a governing body we have put significant processes in place to try and safeguard against betting and match-fixing-related issues," Gallop said.

"We have also taken steps to enter into product fee and integrity agreements with a number of betting operators in Australia and, most recently, we've commenced a partnership with Sportradar (which has expertise in monitoring football matches).

"We are determined in our efforts to eliminate the potential of match-fixing from football."

FFA signed with Sportradar in December. The company's list of clients includes UEFA, the English, German, French and Scottish FAs and the Italian Lega Pro.

So be it...........  

Cultured People - Eight Characteristics

What Anton Chekhov believed were eight characterisitcs of cultured people.

Does it resonate today?  How do the Twitter and Facebook trolls rate? 

Anton Chekhov on the 8 Qualities of Cultured People

"In order to feel comfortable among educated people, to be at home and happy with them, one must be cultured to a certain extent."

What does it mean to be "cultured"? Is it about being a good reader, or knowing how to talk about books you haven't read, or having a general disposition of intellectual elegance? That's precisely the question beloved Russian author Anton Chekhov, born on this day in 1860, considers in a letter to his older brother Nikolai, an artist. The missive, written when Anton was 26 and Nikolai 28 and found in Letters of Anton Chekhov to his Family and Friends (public domain; public library), dispenses a hearty dose of tough love and outlines the eight qualities of cultured people – including honesty, altruism, and good habits:

MOSCOW, 1886.

You have often complained to me that people "don't understand you"! Goethe and Newton did not complain of that…. Only Christ complained of it, but He was speaking of His doctrine and not of Himself…. People understand you perfectly well. And if you do not understand yourself, it is not their fault.

I assure you as a brother and as a friend I understand you and feel for you with all my heart. I know your good qualities as I know my five fingers; I value and deeply respect them. If you like, to prove that I understand you, I can enumerate those qualities. I think you are kind to the point of softness, magnanimous, unselfish, ready to share your last farthing; you have no envy nor hatred; you are simple-hearted, you pity men and beasts; you are trustful, without spite or guile, and do not remember evil…. You have a gift from above such as other people have not: you have talent. This talent places you above millions of men, for on earth only one out of two millions is an artist. Your talent sets you apart: if you were a toad or a tarantula, even then, people would respect you, for to talent all things are forgiven.

You have only one failing, and the falseness of your position, and your unhappiness and your catarrh of the bowels are all due to it. That is your utter lack of culture. Forgive me, please, but veritas magis amicitiae…. You see, life has its conditions. In order to feel comfortable among educated people, to be at home and happy with them, one must be cultured to a certain extent. Talent has brought you into such a circle, you belong to it, but … you are drawn away from it, and you vacillate between cultured people and the lodgers vis-a-vis.

Cultured people must, in my opinion, satisfy the following conditions:

1. They respect human personality, and therefore they are always kind, gentle, polite, and ready to give in to others. They do not make a row because of a hammer or a lost piece of india-rubber; if they live with anyone they do not regard it as a favour and, going away, they do not say "nobody can live with you." They forgive noise and cold and dried-up meat and witticisms and the presence of strangers in their homes.
2. They have sympathy not for beggars and cats alone. Their heart aches for what the eye does not see…. They sit up at night in order to help P…., to pay for brothers at the University, and to buy clothes for their mother.
3. They respect the property of others, and therefor pay their debts.
4. They are sincere, and dread lying like fire. They don't lie even in small things. A lie is insulting to the listener and puts him in a lower position in the eyes of the speaker. They do not pose, they behave in the street as they do at home, they do not show off before their humbler comrades. They are not given to babbling and forcing their uninvited confidences on others. Out of respect for other people's ears they more often keep silent than talk.
5. They do not disparage themselves to rouse compassion. They do not play on the strings of other people's hearts so that they may sigh and make much of them. They do not say "I am misunderstood," or "I have become second-rate," because all this is striving after cheap effect, is vulgar, stale, false….
6. They have no shallow vanity. They do not care for such false diamonds as knowing celebrities, shaking hands with the drunken P., [Translator's Note: Probably Palmin, a minor poet.] listening to the raptures of a stray spectator in a picture show, being renowned in the taverns…. If they do a pennyworth they do not strut about as though they had done a hundred roubles' worth, and do not brag of having the entry where others are not admitted…. The truly talented always keep in obscurity among the crowd, as far as possible from advertisement…. Even Krylov has said that an empty barrel echoes more loudly than a full one.
7. If they have a talent they respect it. They sacrifice to it rest, women, wine, vanity…. They are proud of their talent…. Besides, they are fastidious.
8. They develop the aesthetic feeling in themselves. They cannot go to sleep in their clothes, see cracks full of bugs on the walls, breathe bad air, walk on a floor that has been spat upon, cook their meals over an oil stove. They seek as far as possible to restrain and ennoble the sexual instinct…. What they want in a woman is not a bed-fellow … They do not ask for the cleverness which shows itself in continual lying. They want especially, if they are artists, freshness, elegance, humanity, the capacity for motherhood…. They do not swill vodka at all hours of the day and night, do not sniff at cupboards, for they are not pigs and know they are not. They drink only when they are free, on occasion…. For they want mens sana in corpore sano [a healthy mind in a healthy body].

And so on. This is what cultured people are like. In order to be cultured and not to stand below the level of your surroundings it is not enough to have read "The Pickwick Papers" and learnt a monologue from "Faust." …

What is needed is constant work, day and night, constant reading, study, will…. Every hour is precious for it…. Come to us, smash the vodka bottle, lie down and read…. Turgenev, if you like, whom you have not read.

You must drop your vanity, you are not a child … you will soon be thirty. It is time! I expect you…. We all expect you.

A. P. Chekhov (left) with Nikolai Chekhov (right), 1882

For more epistolary notes on the building of character, complement with history's finest letters of fatherly advice.

:: READ FULL ARTICLE ::

Indian Society and Women - a comment

from Marco Angelo DSouza  Tuesday at 4:55pm near Mumbai, Maharashtra

 

Written after the brutal rape and subsequent death [ now murder] of a women and the beating of her male friend in a minin bus in New Delhi, early January 2013.·

----------------------------------

 

A brilliant encapsulation of a very pertinent issue by Osborne Serrao. Posting it here so the message proliferates...

As the rest of the world watches News Channels in astonishment, as to how “sexually repressed” India is today, it would seem almost unreal to fathom that it was in fact India who pioneered the use of sexual education through art and literature hundreds of years ago. The Kama Sutra put forth the nature of love, family life and other aspects pertaining to sexual pleasure almost 2000 years ago. It would seem even more ironic, that it was the arrival of the British that had the largest influence on India’s attitude towards sex. “Victorian values” stigmatized Indian sexual liberalism. Hinduisms liberal attitudes were condemned as “barbaric” and a vindication of sorts that India was "backward". Upto 50 years ago, when peoples of the “Free World” were discovering the ancient culture of sexual liberalism in India as a source of inspiration for free love movements in the West, India itself had turned back the clock, clinging on to Victorian sensibilities that were abandoned decades ago in their country of origin.

Add to this, the umpteen invasions of northern India by everyone from the Turks, the Mongols, the Afghans,etc. that had necessitated a situation where women had to be hidden and protected from these tormentors who after defeating the local armies raped the women at will. Though this protection was required in those adverse times, it didn't cease when the invasions stopped, it just got worse....

We've been running in the wrong direction for at least a couple of centuries, and it's getting grimmer. Khaps, other political/religious ignoramuses and other "guardians of our morality" and their ilk are making statements which seem almost Talibanesque. It is no secret too, that they are only saying what a large part of our population identifies and agrees with. So, yes, the situation is extremely complex.

Just some of my thoughts:

1] Men - there is no difference between "expecting" and "accepting" dowry. If you were "gifted" a whole lot of stuff at your wedding by the brides father, depending on your "education" and "earning capacity", you have been "bought" and you are no different from a goat sold at the local flea market.

2] Sons - Oedipus Complex ends at 6, not 46. Untie your mothers' apron strings at least once you get married. From then on, the wife comes first. If you can't handle that, stay single.

3] Mothers - Don't complain about women being mistreated if you yourself worship the ground your sons walk on, while letting your daughters play second fiddle. What goes around, comes around.

4] Sex determination for aborting female fetuses is tantamount to cold blooded murder. If you are incapable of saving lives, don't you dare take them away.

5] Judges - The impotent courts you run are a farce. Clear your backlog of a 50 years and impose tracking of sex offenders instead of granting them parole

6] Parents - If your kids have a pulse, they will also be attracted to the opposite sex at some stage of their lives. It's not the end of the world. Teach them respect instead of restraint. It's not 300 BC. Wake up.

7] Politicians - Don't even bother. You have no clue.

8] Bollywood - Item numbers are not happening. Its downright degrading to bring this horseshit to society and pretend it's cool.

 

 

 

Voyager - Just Goes On

When Voyager was sent into space 35 years ago [ yes.....35 years ago] there was no Apple Mac, no PC, and the best computers were enormous house sized monsters.

Yet, Voyager has provided and still continues to provide a steady stream of data on the solar system.

It is now approaching the very edge of our solar system, beyond the planets into the heliosphere where the effects of the sun are minimal......amazing really.  I am no expert, but I continue to marvel at a fantastic and successful, even wildly successful beyond expectations, mission that has been the two Voyager, tiny satellites.

Read more here - it is a marvellous achievement - truly.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57556894-76/11-billion-miles-out-voyager-1-nears-interstellar-space/

Orchids in Flower Too

Not to be outdone by the local trees there are many vanda orchids in flower as well.

Their flowers are magnificent, and delicate as well in subtle shades and flower textures.  Not to mention large sizes.

These are just great!

 

Yellow Flowered Trees Anyone?

That time of year again when the local trees are flowering, before the wet season.

From recently, there have been rain trees.....with a massive flower fall as well, and some Tabueaia argenta on Trower Rd at Casuarina in golden yellow with no leaves obvious,  to the weeping rosewoods.

This rosewood is a few houses from our place........it is magnificent today. There are several others in our suburb, including one near the old Rite Price complex.......and most are now in full flower.

Fantastic!

A Rare Event

Seeing two or more running licence plate numbers is a reasonably rare event.

Even more so when the numbers are single digit licence plates.

Have a look at this.

Food Waste Levels Are Horrendous

Some recent data puts food waste in countries such as the US, Canada,  and Australia as around 40%.

Figures are being quoted for the US, but the survey from which they are using the statistics also included some other countries including Australia - it is not just the US.

This is an awful indictment on western society. Especially when the areas of waste are mostly in the home and the restaurant areas.  It is also a waste of an awful lot of the money we have spent on food.

It also  brings into question the use of "use by" and " best by" systems in relation to food that are now slavishly adhered too, rather than being used as a guide.  Is it fear of legal issues or just plain lack of common sense that is the issue?

There is a great article written on the subject and is worth reading and pondering on the  naivety of consumers over these issues.

The link is here: http://www.nrdc.org/food/wasted-food.asp

How many times have you eaten leftovers for lunch or as another quick meal a few evenings later, as well as drunk milk on a date past that on the bottle, or used other products near or past the use by date.  Sure, do not use anything that might be unusable - with a quick smell or appearance check a good guide - and better than a formal printed date.  Many charities use packaged foods that are past the "date" to provide excellent meals to the less well off.

Are we so stupid that we cannot be sensible enough to also be practical in using food, purchased with our money, sensibly.  Treat these dates as a guide - and remember, many supermarkets discount food items getting close to the "use by"date - so a bit of careful shopping can be $$ saving.

There are some ideas in the links shown, so  can you act somewhat wiser?

More details in the full article which also targets the supermarkets.

http://www.nrdc.org/food/files/wasted-food-IP.pdf

  

Picking up Chicks at Erldunda

Erldunda's main tourist attraction just got a whole lot smaller.

The emu pen is one of the first things you notice when you drive into the roadhouse about 220 kilometres south of Alice Springs.

 

 

While you may only see one or two emus wandering the fence line, it's now a flurry of activity, since eleven chicks hatched in the last few weeks.

 

 

Carer Jan Rolston says the males are proving to be particularly good parents to the chicks that are about 30 centimetres tall with black and white stripes.  "The males had been sitting on the eggs for several months, so it was certainly big news around the place when they all hatched.  "They're certainly very protective especially when the chicks arrive, it's difficult to get close.  "They'll fluff up their chest feathers and have a go at you if they get half a chance."

 

 

Ms Rolston says the father emu are protective with good reason.  "To be honest, there have been one or two that have disappeared and we presume that might have been hawks.  But we're feeling quite proud of ourselves that we've got them this far."

So where is Erlunda?

[ most of this was pinched off the NT Country Hour today......but aren't the emu chicks cute?]

The Olympics are Over.

It has been tough for the past two months with the Olympics rapidly following the Tour de France.

Any Aussie wanting to see these events live needed to stay up late at night, and for the Olympics sometimes get up early.

That has now finished and one can revert to a normal sleeping pattern.

There is to be a degree of soul searching over the performance of Australian competitors, as many believe we have not done well.  Lets just congratulate those who mad the standards to compete.  They are pretty tough anyway.

The sailing was terrific, and Australia has at last received some rewards in this area.  The women's match racing was excellent, with the final between Australia and Spain a bit of a gut wrenching event for Australia with the skipper being lost overboard..........you have to go back and get them!!!  So Australia won the silver medal.  But it was quite a good spectacle to watch.

If you have been watching late night European sport.......well..........yes, the Vuelta is coming soon.

Back to some late night TV soon.

It Can be Cold in the NT

It is cool......very cool........very, very cool even, with Darwin recording the lowest ever August temperature overnight of 13.1 C.  This is a great dry season!

Inland a little the temperatures were much lower, around 5C.  That is COLD by our standards.

Now, at around 1000hrs, while the temperature has risen to around 22C the apparent temperature which combines temperature and wind and RH is still around 15C.  And the office is distinctly cool, still. 

The dog is sitting in the sun, enjoying the warm sunshine, and this morning was very quick to find any small area of sunshine in the back yard on the S side of the house, where there is not a lot of sun until a month or so later in the year.

Even yesterday evening it was very cool early, around sunset.  We had a yiros and a drink on the cliff top at Nightcliff and most locals were complaining about how cool it was - and sitting in light jumpers.  We forgot ours and moved home to warm up, soon after eating and the sun had set.

Need to enjoy the cool weather while it is here - come November we will be complaining how hot it is even after the sunset!

Some Gold Medals Have Arrived

Australia has won some gold medals in the last few days, with possibly more to come.  It seems assured of a gold in one of the sailing classes, with maybe a second posible in another class.  That adds to the one in the Laser class won by Slingsby.

And both Sally Pearson [110m hurdles] and Anna Meares [ womens cycling sprint] have won gold medals over night.
There might be more medals to come.  But in mens pole vault.......not so sure as Steve Hooker is not at his best it seems.

But lets not forget that competition is VERY STRONG, with lots of countries now performing much better than a few years back.  Maybe what hurts most is that Australian coaches are plotting at the highest level for the opposition - yes, some of the best coaching talent is helping other countries'athletes to achieve at their best.  BUT.......wait......has not Australia used Chinese diving and gymnastic coaches, European rowing and cycling coaches - with the father of silver medallist Jessica Fox in kayaking from the UK.

It is a two way trade.

I think is that where it matters is that some of these coaches now operating overseas or coaching overseas athletes, at the highest levels and with outstanding success, were spurned by Australian authorities to coach Australians.

Media stories are likely to expand over coming days on this issue, methinks!

The Olympics - Are You Disappointed?

Some great events, some remarkable competitors both winners and just competitors, some crass behaviour often after events, and a few memorable moments.

For me, so far was the silver medal performance of Jessica Fox in the womens single kayak slalom event.  Saw the sem final, where she was ok, but definitely not seen as a medallist would, I think, have been my view. But there she was - a silver medallist. And relatively young for that sport at 18.  Showed a lot of poise and steel - and remember it is the mind that assumes much greater importance at that level.  Well done.

Some drama at the track cycling - with the Brit women's sprint team disqualified, then another DQ in the final, with Australia winning a bronze.  Bradley Wiggins was a deserved mens time trial winner over Tony Martin [ gold in Beijing], but remember Martin had a bad fall in the Tde F with a broken wrist, so that has been a big recovery for him.  Still more track cycling to come with the Meares v Pendelton sprint a big one to watch.

It seems as if the way the dice has fallen over a few things, has not been in Australia's favour, but that is sometimes how it goes.

Whie not yet over, the performance of Kim Crow in the womens single sculls so far has been amazinghas a fluid grace with the sculls  that seems to indicate absolute effortless performance.  I am sure it is not, but so far she has been outstanding in all races I have seen.

And swimming..........changing of the guard, too much on Magnussen and some say, some swimmers not adequately hungry to win.  And still Phelps goes on - 200IM win today.  While he may not have the in your face stand out talent seen a few years ago, he gets the job done, very well, so congratulations to him.

Still more to come.......   

Barking Owls Revisited

It is a quiet, cool, still and very dark "no moon", dry season evening.  Dinner is just underway.......then it begins.

The clear and distinct sound of a barking owl.  Yes, they have been around here quite regularly, for at least a year or more now.  BUT WAIT........there is not one but definitely two, and they are engaged in a steady, quite animated conversation.

Could it be we now have a breeding pair?

The conversation continues for some time.  A period of quiet.......and then a recommencement of the discussion.

It is now some 30 minutes later, and while now a little further away, there is still the distinct call of a barking owl.

There is a large African mahogany in the front yard, and I mean LARGE.  That is a favoured location it seems, and the area of this evening's discourse.

Usually when they are active and noisy, a short trip outside with a good high power led torch will quickly locate the bird or birds.  But tonight they were let be.........no need to interrupt any hi-jinks they may be up to in the tree.

More information on the barking owl is here - http://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/barking-owl
as well as the previous post in 2010 -http://monsoon-frog.blogspot.com.au/2010/09/tree-climbing-dog.html









o

Tour de France 2012

The Tour de France is nearly over for 2012.  As usual, there have been great races, dramas, a single suspicious drug issue, heroes, unsung heroes and trivia.

The Pyrenees have elicited a winner [ Wiggins], and a great climber who might have been a winner [Frome], found some wanting too [Cadel Evans] and another home country hero [Voeckler].

Not over yet, and I have no doubt there will be a very serious race for line honours in Paris.  Wiggins has to finish to claim the winner's yellow jersey, so he  must compete and finish.  Team Sky has clearly dominated the event, yet they may not be the winning team.  Some teams - Rabobank a good example - have been decimated, with only four of the nine team members making it to Paris, and there are only a few teams with all members finishing.

Dogs have starred again with a serious incident on last Friday with one of the riders involved almost trading blows with the dog's stupid owner [ saved by intervention of the team manager luckily].  Surely the dog lovers of Europe on the course can restrain their pooches during the race, or are they too stupid to do so?

The win by Cavendish on Friday as he rocketed out and accelerated at the sprint finish was amazingly fast.  Not to forget sprint wins by Griepel either.  Cancellara was a worthy yellow jersey holder in the first week, after a great prologue win.  Voekler won hearts as well as races with a typical gutsy win in the mountains, as well as being to secure the polka dot jersey.  We saw the emergence of some interesting younger riders - Chris Frome at Sky, Peter Sagan of Liquigas- Cannondale [ what an interesting display as he won his first stage during the first week followed by other stage wins in non sprint finishes] and who should win the green jersey prize, Van Garderen [ Team BMC] and a gutsy win by the experienced Valverde in a mountain stage too.  Not to mention the performance of Orica - Green Edge team, the first Australian team in the Tour de France - with some good performances by Matt Goss and crafty work by O'Grady and others.

Some Aussie cyclists also starrred for other teams - Richie Porte, Michael Rogers being notable ones. Remember - it is a team race; you must have a good team to perform well.

Team Sky performances, especially in the mountains are reminscent of US Postal in the Armstrong era - totally dominant.  BMC tried hard, and if Evans' effort in the mountains had paid off, well.........the result might be different.......but it did not.

One day to go, then a week of rest days [ evenings or nights???] before the Olympics.

There is though, nothing quite like the Tour de France, as a spectacle.   They are all superb athletes often riding close to the limit physically and mentally [ not to mention speed on the downhill descents] with the vision providing a spectacle of France.  That alone going to a world wide audience must do a lot for French travel desires.  The TV coverage is just great!

Vive le Tour pour 2013!!   

Old Bras

Well ladies, it is now official - bras have been in use for a long time.

Some recent archelogical work in Europe has uncovered a bra made in the 15th century - made of linen.

More details are here -http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/44689

There is no data on whether burning of bras was practised at this time , however.

Great New Buildings of Note - Gardens by the Bay - Singapore

http://www.news.com.au/travel/world/living-the-high-life-worlds-coolest-new-buildings/story-e6frfqai-1226422425029

One of these of considerable interest to those in Darwin might be the new Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.

These include the Supertrees along with two new fantastic conservatories with controlled climate conditions, which for hot and steamy Singapore means both dry and cooler conditions.

It opened at the end of June, and I have only seen the outside. Although there have been a few pictures around of the insides.

The conservatories are to the left of the photo, out of view.  The "Supertrees" do look better at night and are well lit up.  No doubt they will be even more intriguing once they are plant covered.

Indonesia - our Neighbour

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/indonesia-relations-in-a-mess/story-e6frg76f-1226417216721

This link is to an opinion piece in the national newspaper today.  It is a fairly salient examination of the current debacle that the current Australian government has made over relations with our neighbour.  Quite a few near term examples of which the cessation of live cattle trade is but one - although a very major one [What a stuff up by Australia].

Can they fix it up?  It might not matter, if they are not there after the next Australian election, as is widely tipped.  BUT.....the mess still will be.  And I would agree, it will take some fixing.

When you live in north Australia Indonesia is very near, and of much greater relevance.  Unfortunately the latte swilling set of the SE corner of Australia do not understand that.......at all.  Self centredness rules - speak English, beggar your neighbour, have no understanding of the rest of the world - sounds increasingly like the mid-west of the USA - pleasant, but disinterested in anything other than football.

We ignore Indonesia at Australia's peril - a rapidly growing middle class, vibrant manufacturing, excellent GDP growth, yet not without problems and very close by.

Does Australia Understand China ? Or Care?

Australia and China seem to be moving towards further intertwining.  Yet do we know China or its people or even more important its leaders or emerging leaders?

Recent announcements by government to promote Australian students studying at Asian institutions is a very important step forward.  Asians come here, and we should have some students study in Asia.  There are some first class universities across many disciplines, so it makes sense.

But a recent Lowy Institute paper also makes a more compelling case for some further interaction to deepen our understanding of Asia, and particularly China.  Language skills is one area where there are some real needs.  And today with the Indonesian President in Darwin is a timely teminder that Indonesian language skills are important to meet our next door neighbour on equal terms  too.  Indonesia seems to have fallen below the vision line.

Read the Lowy Institute article here:
http://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/australia-china-ties-search-political-trust

Interestingly in this article there are no formal high level links in relation to agriculture.  Curious, with all the media attention around Chinese land purchases and their interest in Australian agriculture.  Sydney Uni Agriculture Faculty is soon to establish formal relations in China; maybe more should start that process too.

TGIF

A big weekend coming up around Darwin with the V8 Supercars in town for the weekend, as a major event.  There will be lots of people going, but not me.

The dry season festivities are in full swing - Greek glenti last weekend, deck chair cinema is open and in action this weekend, several open gardens [ including a large orchid garden - mmmmm, might see that], outdoor performances by the Darwin Symphony Orchestra, a decent breeze - so sailing will be an option, but it might be a bit windy for fishing.

Thank God it's Friday!

Wine is the Next Big Knock Off by the Chinese

Yes, it is true.  The more reputable and mid to upmarket wine houses are preparing to combat "knock offs" by the Chinese.  And it applies to Australian wines as well, not just the exclusive French wine.

It is a bit of an organised racket, according to some recent articles.

See here - http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/a/-/world/13921375/fakes-hit-classic-wine-market/

So, if visiting China, or some other Asian countries, be careful you or the reseller are not being ripped off......big time.

I enjoy a drop of some of the better red wines, at least in Australia.  I wonder if this stuff is also coming to Australia.  Afterall, some fake designer handbags, electronics and other goods have done so.

You are warned!

What a Great Week - for The Weather

It has been a great week for the weather in Darwin and most of the Top End.

A burst of what has been ultra cool air and a strong SE wind has resulted in cool dry conditions all across the Top End, fantastic stuff!!

Darwin has had a few nights around 14C, with another 3-4 nights predicted around the 15 - 17 C range with days of 27-28C, basically through to early next week and over the coming long weekend.  But with the dry winds, the apparent temperature is much lower - around 12-13C at the low end and 24-25C at the max, with glorious warm and very balmy conditions.  Even pleasant enough for jeans and decent collared shirt, and there was no unpleasant sweat while walking around.  THAT is a change.

Have even had to resort to a light blanket on the bed.

Inland, the conditions are much cooler at night with actual minimum temperatures around 8-10C, and maxing out around 28C.

People have a spring in their step!  It is what makes Darwin, these conditions, and the awful hot humid steamy conditions of November are forgotten, at least with weather like this now.

Facebook - to be Strip Mined?

Australians are well aware of the strip mine.  We dig and send a lot of coal and iron ore from strip mines.

Some pundits are saying Facebook will be strip mined - to obtain value to justify the share prices,or they will fall.  They might anyway!

This link to a recent online article offers some thoughtful insight.

Definitely worth reading ,if you are one of the one in seven people that are users around the world.

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4037870.html