Could a Crocodile Be YOUR Friend?

The Northern Territory is full of crocodle stories. Crocodile Dundee helped make it that way. They regularly appear on the front page of the NT News , the local newspaper, and there are several large tourist ventures that use crocodiles as their money spinner.

Locally, they are VERY respected. Definitely not to be abused, or treated lightly.........or it might cost you your life.

It seems as if that is not always the way things are. I am a bit shocked, but a recent news article shows a Costa Rican man actually playing with his pet crocodile. Read about it here; see the photos.
http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25940391-5014090,00.html

It is mind boggling. Not something one does lightly.

Tour de France 2009 - THE END

The penultimate stage - the climb to the finish at Mont Ventoux - was, as expected, awesome. Grunt, guts, gasping, grabbing and getting blown around.

The visual appeal is absolutely spectacular. This moonscape area above verdant green lower slopes, and yesterday, a monstrous wind of somewhere between 30 - 90kms per hour [depending on the time and area] made for tricky cycling and VERY tough.

As they say, when the going gets tough, the tough get going, and yes, the race leaders were very much at the pointy end of the peloton. Some great tactics and some grunty cycling by the top five or six of the cyclists.

It is one hell of a tough climb.

In about an hour, I shall sit and watch the final stage into Paris. A bit of a laissez- faire event until they reach the Champs Eleysee, when the serious racing begins as this is where there is what is effectively a criterium up and down the Champs. A race for the sprinters today.

But yesterday effectively decided the outcome of the GC [ general Classification, or overall winner]. Alberto Contader retained the Yellow Jersey and second was Andy Schleck with Lance Armstrong third.

The 3rd place by Armstrong is absolutely outstanding. To be away for three years at the absolute top level of a sport and then return to a third place in what is one of the toughest of the tough sporting events is awesome. Sure he does not have the climbing power of a Contador or Schleck, but he is a master tactician plus a lot of grunt and guts and that was seen to great advantage on yesterday's stage. However, they do all need to finish today to get a podium finish!!

Contador - who already had won in 2007 - is a great climber. A few people have questioned whether he is "drug free", and there have been issues around that, leading to his team being not invited to compete last year, although he had tested clean. Neither I or you can answer that.

The French have zeroed in on Armstrong AGAIN this year for drug testing, but it seems as if there might be a touch of spite, methinks.

Lets wait ands see on both issues.

But the tour is a fantastic visual spectacle -over all the various stages, which ran live on TV here in Australia each night for the past three weeks. Yesterday, there were estimates of 600 - 700 THOUSAND spectators who were actually on Mont Ventoux for the final ascent. That is some crowd! There was a vast crowd - definitely.

Normal sleeping patterns recommence tomorrow evening.

[photos from two sources wikipedia for Mt Ventoux; google images for the mountain grades]

Have You Flown Lately??

Flying is a smart way to travel long distances...........or is it? As a long term resident of a reasonably remote region of Australia, flying is about the only option to go anywhere, unless you are prepared for the multi-day long distance road or rail journey. And as for international travel, well, Australia is an island, so it is aircraft or ship, if you leave Australia.

But time is important to most...........so one flys. But is it a pleasant experience? Lots of blogs pontificate on the traveller perspective and how terrible the experience was [funny though, not too many positive comments, which seems a little unbalanced], and how obnoxious the fellow traveller can be. Sure, like most people travelling in Business Class or equivalent on long haul flights I find that it is much more pleasant and a real step up from Economy.......but you sure pay for it. I cannot recall it being awful. On short haul flights [ 0.5 - 2.0hrs] economy is ok, but does one need a lot of liquids or food of dubious character anyway? The old adage of liquid in equals liquid out still applies. Just a seat and settle down to read or quietly entain yourself.......or take a train, increasingly common in Europe or Asia now. Point to point times are usually comparable.

This article and the comments are a reasoned set of thoughts on the crappiness of airline travel, and through that, the unthoughtful, inconsiderate and down right rude behaviour of people. Are we all that inadequate that the ability to smile, say please and thank you and generally behave tolerantly and reasonably to one's neighbours, on a aircraft or almost anywhere else has just evaporated in favour of a mindset that screams "me me me me me" at all times, in all circumstances? That behaviour code is called good manners.

Maybe some people should NEVER travel, on any mode, or at any time.

I have always found you get more from people by being pleasant than you ever do by being awful towards them - pleasantness begets the same in response. Do not forget that.

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2632386.htm This is well written and the comments are worth a read as well.

1994 WAS a GOOD Year

Australia has a reasonable reputation as a producer of fine wine. Some areas are definitely very good and the SW of Western Australia has an excellent reputation for a distinct style of good, big, long lasting red wines among others.

Cape Mentelle is among the better producers.

I enjoy a good red and recently we indulged in an excellent drop from my own cellar. One that had been around for a while.

With a cool dry season evening [been quite a few recently] and a great steak a decent red wine sure adds to the enjoyment. And it is supposedly good for you too.

It was a great year - 1994!!

Too Close to the Truth??

Cartoon copyright 2009 - Sherman's Lagoon - Jim Toomey.



This is a bit too close to the truth................

Food Calorie Labels MIGHT Be Wrong!!

Oh dear...........what do I choose?? A nice muffin or a muesli bar, both with the same calories on the label.

The truth might be they are not the same.

Food harder to digest, nominally with the same calories as softer food that is easier to digest, might actually have lower available calories to you, the eater of the food.

Sounds sensible......sometimes.

And it might also explain why you are actually consuming more calories than you think.

The link to a recent article in New Scientist magazine puts it all in perspective
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327171.200-the-calorie-delusion-why-food-labels-are-wrong.html?full=true

As the pundits are already saying, eat less processed food for better health - but it might also be better for the waistline.

Toto's Africa - Like Never Before!!

Monsoon frogs love rain...........lots of heavy monsoonal rain, storms or a steady tropical shower.

And there is a song to match this figurative metaphor............Toto's Africa, a hit from a few years ago. It has a great beat and evokes Africa very well.

BUT.............to really add some topical flavour a recent adaptation is just fabulous. Use the link to have a look yourself. And turn up the volume, while you watch the youtube video. It is an absolutely FANTASTIC 6 minutes of sheer fun!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjbpwlqp5Qw

Toto's Africa by Perpetuum Jazzile, performed live at Vokal Xtravaganzza 2008 (October 2008) at Lubijana

America - from a South East Asian Perspective

Americans think they are loved world wide. This could not be further from the truth. While many might admire the USA and aspire to be in America, many also do not admire or condone things American.

A reasonably recent article - roughly November 2008- lays out a fairly clear agenda of the view from south East Asia.

It is worth a read.
http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/ips/docs/pub/pa_tk_United%20States%20and%20Southeast%20Asia_2008.pdf

NT Open Garden Scheme

The Northern Territory has an open garden scheme, which functions during the Dry Season.

The scheme operates with local gardens open to the public - and these gardens are very varied in size, style [or lack of] and tend to represent what may be achieved in local conditions. Garden size is "pocket hankerchief" to several hectares. Most are far removed from the classic stylish gardens of Europe or even temperate Australia. Classic regular form - think of the gardens of Versailles or St Petersburg - is usually absent.

Some gardens have been excellent in 2009...........and some I think ........well, this is a public blog, so enough said.

I was dragged against my choice all of 70kms out of Darwin today to visit an extensive 4 ha garden. Some interesting ideas, and over 4ha the garden was a bit variable, but covered most of the main points of shade, curves and a lead through to something different. Tropical gardens NEED shade......lots of it, to moderate heat and harsh light with mulch to conserve moisture.

They did have about 500 roses.....ONCE......but they are dying off slowly, now down to around 300 and still declining. This is not rose country, you are always struggling, so why try when failure is almost assured - disease seems to get you every time.

But it was not all that awful........a good veggie garden, cool nooks among the trees and it seems, lots of irrigation, obviously from their own bore- so much so in places that the lawn was all sedges from overwatering.

Not one of the top few, even for large extensive gardens, but ok.

Still, I think I could have used my time better. Although the other half insisted I go......oh well.

Creative Commons Licenses

Are you worried about your blog work getting used elsewhere? And getting no credit for it? Someone else pinching a photo or three off Flickr, Picasa, Google images or Webshots? Have you done that yourself when desperate for a suitable photo?

It sure happens. Have a look at : http://www.creativecommons.org.au/licences as this system is applied in Australia. Similar systems operate elsewhere around the world too.

This is a system which tries to fairly sustain ownership of creative work - written, scientific, visual, audio and so on to the creator of the work through a lowered level of copyright. If you like, allowing use under certain conditions and purposes provided they give attribution to the original creator of the work, for mostly non-commercial use.

You can join and claim ownership of your work. As easy as putting a license on your blog or website.

It is a sensible and useful option where you can assert ownership of the creative work, without getting all tied up in copyright disputes. Something that has happened recently over a photo that seems to have been used almost everywhere this person's photo appeared, in both commercial and non-commercial uses. Was getting a bit crazy.......yet this system would have overcome almost all of the issues raised by the purported original copyright owner [they never really established that either].

We all seem to use a variety of sources in what is written or created, and this option can offer a degree of fairness to all - creators and users.

Have you any experience with the system? Do you attribute any sources used in your blog or website? Please share your ideas.

Vive Le Tour

Long evenings are now the norm............the Tour de France is in progress and with full live cover on both TV and streaming on the net in Australia, it is providing for some interesting viewing each evening. Some wags say watching a bike race is like watching paint dry - absolutely rivetingly boring! Not so..........tactics, tactics and tactics - plus action.


So far all stages have seen some great racing - a plus for cycling fans.


And as usual, the tv coverage is one of the greatest tourist pluses that France has going for the country. Some fantastic scenery, and superb outside broadcast coverage. THAT is worth a lot to France I am sure.


Australia's "hope" Cadel Evans has been let down by his team - again - so far. Sure, another 2+ weeks to go, but Silence - Lotto need a miracle to achieve any better than they have so far. Tip of the day for Cadel Evans - change to a team that will support YOU, because they sure do not now!


However, do not forget Australia has a few other likely contenders for a high place finish - with Michael Rogers among them.


As many others have already said while voicing their opinions, it is hard to look past Astana as the team to beat in the GC - with the interest being who among them is the superior rider - Armstrong, Kloden, Contador or Leiphimer. All have form as climbers too. But, still early days!! And that itself is part of the fascination about the Tour anyway- the next day. Remember, it is a team event, even though often the focus is on an individual.


Armstrong has shown himself as a very shrewd, wily, observant and clever tactitian in his bike riding. People forget that aspect of riding in a bike race..........it is not always about "go fast" - there is a need for all sorts of skills, not to mention that you have to get up each day and do it all again - so mental toughness is also very critical. It seems as if he has lost none of those skills, nor his bike handling, honed over many years in professional cycling. They count A LOT! Watch the team time trial to see how Astana performed - fantastic!


Definitely looking forward to the next 2+ weeks - viva le Tour!!!!!!

Bottled Water to Go - AWAY

New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees has ordered all State Government departments and agencies to stop buying bottled water, following swiftly on plans for a small-town ban.

Bundanoon, in the NSW Southern Highlands, is set to become the first community in Australia to ban the sale of bottled water. And Government agencies seem set to also ban its use, with a partial ban already operating in Ministers' offices.

"We're asking government departments to phase it out unless there is obvious and practical commonsense reasons not to in the event someone doesn't have cool water in a hot environment," said the Premier. He says the move will save taxpayer money and help reduce the impact on the environment of producing and throwing away plastic bottles. A public campaign to discourage the use of bottled water by the wider community is also planned.

Residents in Bundanoon are meanwhile preparing to vote on their town's plan to ban local shops from selling plastic bottles of water at a community meeting tonight. Local businesses in the town of 2,500 people are proposing to replace the bottles with reusables and then offer directions to filtered water fountains that will be installed on the main street, calling it 'Bundy on tap'. It is likely there will be widespread support for the plan.

In Bundanoon "... there is an overwhelming opposition to the marketing scam that is stilled bottled water," with other cities around the world taxing bottled water and putting in place measures similar to those of the NSW Government.

Environmentalist Jon Dee from activist group Do Something believes Bundanoon could be the first town in the world to ban bottled water entirely. "Huge amounts of resources are used to extract, bottle and transport that bottled water, and much of the package ends up as litter or landfill," he said. "Environmentally, it makes no sense and... what we are trying to do in Bundanoon is show that a community can live without single-use bottled water." "If Bundanoon can ban bottled water, many other towns and communities around Australia will also consider their usage of bottled water," he said.

"At the very least, if they don't ban it, then at least they will reduce their usage of it and in doing so, reduce the half-a-billion dollars a year that Australians are spending on bottled water."
-------------------
I find that living in a hot environment makes drinking water during the day very necessary, especially if working outside, but with most of Australia having very reasonable water supplies produced by local utilities, the use of bottled water is crazy, and VERY expensive. It would be normal to take water from home, at most times, and keep it in a soft cooler, so it is cool to drink - not necessarily very cold. I even freeze it in 3L bottles for work use outside and to do double duty as a freezer brick in the esky. Great option and commonly used. Why buy water??

I have no issue with bottled water in Bali for example where local water supplies are commonly of poor quality for drinking. But in many parts of Asia today, tap water is just fine for drinking, with Singapore and Kuala Lumpur good examples.

Bottled water in Australia is both expensive and dubiously superior to tap water.

Reducing or banning the trendy use of purchased single use bottled water is a good idea!!!!

The Crocodile is BACK

As noted a few times, the local newspaper is renowned for the outlandish front page........normally crocodiles, sometimes fishing and the odd "way out there" story of all sorts. The emu starred a few weeks back, for a short few days.

BUT.............crocodiles are back, and they are large. Over 4m long. The same croc was seen some months ago in the same place at Fogg Dam Nature Reserve just south of Darwin. After that it seems to have been absent for a while. A wet season holiday maybe.

This time it was sunning itself on the earthen dam wall. Seen last week, same spot and it is BIG. At least four metres. That is a serious sized crocodile. The photo was taken in March, the first time it appeared at Fogg Dam.

A front page story again............same crocodile!

Quite a few years ago, when living near Fogg Dam I used to exercise our dog by throwing sticks into the dam for the dog to jump in, swim and chase the stick. Was definitely very safe then with no crocodiles around much. NOT the thing to do now.

Parks and Wildlife are warning people not to walk across the dam wall at this time. Understandably. But is is a great walk, with plenty of native flora and fauna to see...............but you do not want to meet a croc, in or out of the water.



Image taken by Brian Hannand March 2009 at Fogg Dam

Fannie Bay Swim 2009

The Fannie Bay Swim 2009

Saturday morning was cold……….official temperature in Darwin was a cool minimum of 14.9C, and a dry cool wind.

But the day warmed up to around 30C by early afternoon.

It was very cool waiting in waist deep water in front of Pee Wee’s Restaurant at East Point for the start of the Fannie Bay to Trailer Boat Club Swim [commonly known as the Fannie Bay Swim Classic] and even cooler once we got under way with the usual argy-bargy at the start.

There was a strong on shore sea breeze which made it rough and choppy and very difficult for those breathing to the right – directly into the sea water chop! Everyone made a mad scramble to swim for the first buoy with a fair amount of kicking legs and shoving of arms, then settling down to try to manage a good steady pace and concentrate on technique. The chop interfered with that and most swimmers when discussing it afterwards seemed content with ploughing on and just trying to keep a good pace.

The buoys are quite large but with a strong NW breeze and an incoming tide there is a tendency to swing left so one needs a regular correction to stay on line.

The winner overall was a young woman – Rachel Maclean in a time of just under 29 minutes, a good minute in front of the first male. She has good form – is from Darwin, and a member of the training team for the Australian open water contingent for the next Olympics, so the win was not unexpected. Kyle Gear was second and the first male to finish.

Yes, I finished, and quite a good time for the conditions – 48.11 minutes, which is nearly 6 minutes better than last year, with many swimmers finishing behind me. Not quite as sharp as I was aiming for but I had a few “off course” issues which cost a bit of time. But being much quicker than last year, in quite tough conditions was really great. And I managed to win my age group too, although again, not quite as quick as the female age group winner - Gerda Williams – but I reckon that as she holds a few world swim distance and backstroke records for her Masters Swim Age Group, I should be reasonably content.

It was a great event, a good afternoon.

There was a good turnout of swimmers ranging in ages from the sub 20 year olds and an especially large group in the 30s and 40s, through to the 60s.

Distance swimming, or bike riding, or running does require a commitment to doing some serious training. It does not happen, at least with any vigour or speed, without that commitment. And it is great to see so many enjoying themselves on a very pleasant dry season afternoon.

I also must acknowledge my strapper for carting me and the gear around……….thanks Roni!

Tomorrow is the Big Swim

The training has been done, entries are in, and a good nights sleep is wanted.

Tomorrow is the Big Swim - the annual cross Darwin Harbour event. The entry indicates that you need to be aware that crocodiles and sharks, marine stingers and similar creatures are out to get you......and you cannot wear flotation wet suits.

Oh well.........most things have some risk, even getting out of bed.

It is likely to be cold to night [15C predicted] and there has been a strong afternoon sea breeze over the past few days - that will make it a bit cooler and probably very choppy. Or should that be just rough.........makes for a much harder swim.

It is COLD - (relatively speaking)

We have a COLD snap..............temperature dropped to 17C last night, and 16C expected tonight. Even colder a few kilometres away from the coast - with one area already this evening at 1030pm below 13C, with 9C or less expected. The maximum today was around 27C., which for Darwin is distinctly cool.....but very pleasant if you are a local.

The air is dry and the near full moon is very bright and clear, as it has been for the past few nights.

Many locals were out in light jumpers this morning...........and heading off for a warming coffee. There will be more sweaters used tomorrow morning, I am sure.

I even decided late this afternoon that it was too cool for swimming training today! So it has to be COOL, for me to miss my swim fix.

How Time Flies

WOW...........three weeks and no blogging!!!

I have many excuses - been away, work is busy, too much focus on swimming training, visitors staying in the house, doing other more interesting things............pretty much all of the above.

BUT.........I have a new blog post. Hi folks!!!

And today was the first real dry season morning. Temperature actually was down to below 20C, and a few more mornings to come in the next few days that will be similar. A strong dry SE wind blowing and very typically ......the dry season! Good one!

Emu Replaces the Crocodile

The crocodile is a regular contributor to the NT News. If not the front page, then page 2, 3,4,5,6, etc.

Whether it is size, some one has been attacked or killed, or a famous personality has been in the big submerged cage at one of the local crocodile tourist facilities.

But the croc has ben gazumped! Pure and simple. The headline says it all!

Enjoy the headlines from last Saturday.

It is Legit - Swimming Keeps You Alive

As an avid swimmer who suffers withdrawal symptoms if more than a day passes without swimming, it is good to know you might actually be doing the right thing.

Afterall, you need to do crosswords, play scrabble learn something new or similar activities to keep the brain functioning [ how topical - In Australia today a lot of talk about oldies with Alzheimers Disease - and more coming to a place near you too!] but exercise is also useful to keep the body functioning - whether old or young.

I attach some recent pronouncements about the role of swimming to keep you fit AND alive.......yes, it lowers mortality rates!

So all you folks.......get with it. However, I do find it still difficult to do the crossword in the newspaper while I am swimming.
------------------------
A NEW study shows that swimming cuts men’s risk of dying by about 50% compared to runners, walkers and sedentary peers.

The University of South Carolina study led by Dr Steven Blair evaluated comprehensive physical exams and behavioural surveys from thousands of people who were enrolled in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal study (ACLS) over the last 32 years.

The results were presented in the 2008 World Aquatic Health Conference in Colorado Springs, USA, last month and have been published in the International Journal of Aquatic Education and Research.“Swimmers had the lowest death rate,” explains Dr Blair.

He also adds that the study takes into account the age, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol intake, hypertension, other medical factors and family history.“This is the first report that examined mortality rates among swimmers in comparison with other types of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle.

We conclude that men who swim for exercise have better survival rates than their sedentary peers,” summarises Dr Blair.

The ACLS includes extensive medical and physical activity data on more than 40,000 men aged 29 to 90. “These lower rates in swimmers compared with walkers and sedentary men might well be expected,” comments Dr Blair, “but it is surprising that we also observed lower mortality in swimmers than in runners,” he adds. “Therefore swimming appears to be a healthful alternative to other types of physical activity.”The study population was limited to white, well educated middle to upper class men.

While this limits the general cover of the study, it should not affect the study’s internal validity, advises Blair. He explains that, “there is no compelling reason to assume that the benefits of swimming would be different for women or for men from other socio-economic groups.

In an earlier study in this same population we found that both women and men had similar benefits from swimming in terms of fitness and other health indicators.”Dr Blair concludes that “Swimming provides a healthful alternative to traditional modes of exercise for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and health for the general population, as well as for patients suffering from chronic diseases.
Swimming may be a good alternative exercise for individuals who cannot participate in running or other forms of physical activity.”

NOW.......all you runners note that, and remember what happened to Jim Fixx!!!

An Errant Thought

In these somewhat turbulent and troubled times it might be prudent to consider the following:

Quote of the week:

We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart?
- Author Unknown

Free Speech Should be Revered

The ability to speak freely is a treasured right in democratic society. Not the right to slander, nor denigrate but the right to have something to say, and that includes the issues around freedom to publish and print, to draw cartoons and so on. Remember the adage.......a picture is worth a thousand words, or is it that "a cartoon is worth a thousand words".

It has been tested almightily over recent times with the publication of less than positive images of religious figures. And over the years there have been many less than flattering images and drawings of religious leaders of Australians and in Australia.

More recently Bill Leak has had a few cartoons published that mock the Australian Prime Minister. Most Aussies I know think them very satirical, and have a good laugh. Just like they have done with images and cartoons of previous Prime Ministers - Howard, Hawke, Keating, Whitlam, Fraser and others back over the past 50 years or so. And many other cartoonists have also had a go at satirising these same public figures.

Cartoonists do society a great service...........development of the ability to not take one's self TOO seriously, independent of your apparent status in life. Cartoonists have lampooned the "pillars of society" for several hundred years in many English language newspapers and magazines - some of the latter especially famous for satirical political cartoons.

An editorial in the Australian newspaper on 4 April summed it up very eloquently. It is reproduced below and worth reading. Bill Leak's recent cartoons about Kevin Rudd are VERY satirical; just enjoy him taking the mickey out of him........from whatever side of politics!

Laughing with Leak
April 04, 2009
Article from: The Australian

We need people who poke fun at the powerful and po-faced.

Last week, Bill Leak's editorial cartoon in The Weekend Australian offended some readers. To compound the offence, here it is again. This is not done to dismiss critics' concerns. We accept that Leak's work often upsets people. We understand some were affronted in 2003 by his celebrated cartoon of then Labor leader Simon Crean making a very important point to the media, while the press pack found fornicating dogs much more interesting. And we recognise a range of readers were appalled by his 2006 cartoon of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as a dominant dog sporting carnally with a West Papuan in canine form.

But Leak should continue to draw it as he sees it. Great cartoonists express the issues of an age.

Thomas Nast helped break Tammany Hall's control of New York politics in the 1870s with his savage caricatures of Boss Tweed. Livingston Hopkins cartoons featuring "the little boy from Manly" in The Bulletin summed up Australian politics in the federation years. And when cartoonists are stopped by the state, it is a sure sign of strife for everybody who believes in open political argument.

As Christopher Allen points out in Review this weekend, while political cartooning prospered in regency England, in revolutionary France the tribunes of the people did not encourage criticism. The caustic commentary supplied by politically engaged artists in Weimar Germany similarly stopped as soon as the Nazis came to power.

But while Leak will not be arrested, no matter how many politicians he upsets, he is certainly subject to the censorious tut-tutting of people who believe that people like them are off limits for lampooning. For years, Leak made fun of the follies and foibles of John Howard, to laughter and applause from the cultural establishment - writers and broadcasters from the ABC and Fairfax newspapers - plus their fellow travellers in the blogosphere. But now that Leak is laughing at Kevin Rudd, today's darling of the Left, all of a sudden his cartoons are in bad taste.

This is the same censorious style adopted by people who applauded the persecution of Salman Rushdie after the publication of The Satanic Verses.

It holds that publishing anything that offends other cultures is impermissible, that laughing at people the opinion-makers approve of is out of order. Fairfax journalist David Marr's selective support for art that offends is an excellent example of this. Marr defends photographer Bill Henson for his controversial images of naked children but attacked a Leak cartoon in The Australian that made fun of Henson, saying "it is astonishing that a national newspaper would print such a thing".

Perhaps people outraged by last week's cartoon took offence because they assume their own political opinions and community standards are synonymous. But whatever critics think, Leak's comment on the Prime Minister's desire to demonstrate his fundamental friendship with US President Barack Obama was fair and amusing comment. He should keep it up.

Australia need larrikins who laugh at the powerful - and the po-faced.

Alexander Pope explained why in the 1730s: "Hence satire rose, that just the medium hit, / And heals with morals what it hurts with wit."

Life Thoughts

Sometimes you read an article that really gels with your own experiences, or evokes some significant thoughts....on any one of a myriad of subjects.

Recently Greg Sheridan wrote an article for the Review Section of the Weekend Australian. It covered his experiences with a range of older colleagues, who helped and mentored him, while a student as well as in his "formative" years as journalist. He is a very respected senior journalist these days, commonly covering politics and international affairs for The Australian newspaper.

The link is http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25333293-5013460,00.html and it is worth reading not only for the information about some of his key contacts while a young journalist, but for some key messages.......the role of personal contacts and their influences, often without realising it.

The last two short paragraphs are worth noting -

"What Big Bob and Little Bob had in common was a generosity with young people, a willingness to take them seriously. I've forgotten almost everything they said to me about foreign policy or economics, but the odd lapidary phrase stays forever.

So take care when you speak with younger people. Against all your expectations, they may very well be listening quite hard." [ excerpt from his article]

In this time when often young people are ignored or "written off", they may be listening to YOU.....so offer sage advice, particularly in the workplace, if you want a great workplace culture to thrive. It is the leaders that make that happen, and like it or not, leaders are often a little older, and a little wiser, something that younger people may just need. Not maybe right now.......but as a thought and action forming option to consider.

Yee Ha - I get to swim!

Today was an important day...............my first swim for 2 weeks, following the skin cancer cut out off the arm. I did enjoy a serious hit out in the pool for a couple of kms, but am now a bit short on speed, after a two week lay off.

BUT......methinks it will be short lived. I had an important phone call today......the small innocous mark on my upper chest, just below the midpoint of the left clavicle is a nasty squamous cell carcinoma, and I need to go back to have more interaction at the "Casuarina Charcuterie".

They need to be sure that all bits are removed, so there will be a serious incision to remove the other bits close to the edges......tomorrow, shortly after the stitches are removed from the first round of incisions!

Hopefully, the time out of the water will only be a few days this time.

Skin Care 2

It is 2 weeks nearly since "the big slice" on my arm. Finally coming good. It took a while, and the Easter weekend was a very quiet one, unable to do a lot.

Have been exercise restricted for 2 weeks and getting a bit toey!

Stitches come out on Tuesday.

Skin Care Pays Off

Men are not renowned for taking a lot of care with their skin. Whether as teenagers or older it does not seem to happen, especially in Australia. We are too macho.......or stupid. My local doctor used to say "if you are fair skinned and blue eyed - you are a skin cancer suspect"...........he is pretty spot on I think. Yet here we see so many young people very red skinned after most weekends - too much sun, too little protection.

I have recently had another skin cancer removed........from the right forearm, a condition commonly and cynically called "driver's arm syndrome". Yes, simply caused mainly through hanging the right arm on the door sill while driving. Maybe not so likely today, with a lot vehicles air-conditioned, especially in hot areas of Australia.

But, I, like many, who have done many hundreds of thousands of kilometres driving in those times where all airconditioning was through an open window, had an arm on the window sill. About 35 years of doing that is now causing a few problems.

I have had quite a few minor skin cancers removed before, on the same arm, and a few years ago used a therapy with a cream to pick up a lot of incipient damaged pre cancerous cells, including the top of the knuckles [ holding the steering wheel]. This one was larger and needed quite a few stitches to close it after the relatively minor surgery with a local anaesthetic. And the wound has been a bit sore too, since.

But there is good news too..........even though I have spent a lot of time surfing and swimming, sailing and other outdoor sports, I have little skin damage on the face and back, legs etc. Maybe it is those areas that received more sun block cream too.

My mother always insisted we use the old fashioned white or pink zinc cream as younger kids, keep out of the midday sun [ that was easy - surf is better early am anyway before the wind is strong] and as an adult sunblock creams have been used - usually 30+. So that has paid off so far. But the poor old right arm has suffered. Probably missed out on treatment!

With this surgery being done last Wednesday, it has meant a very quiet Easter.

Kick Ass your i - Pod

GM organisms can do great things. Reported today is a new technology that is reported to really boost lithium ion battery power, extend the battery life and, well, do great things for this class of battery now in almost all small devices - phones, computers, i-Pods, MP3 players, cameras etc.

It sounds great. Watch this space!
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A tiny virus has been trained to build a more efficient and powerful lithium battery, say US researchers. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) modified two genes in a virus called M13, which caused it to build a shell made out of a compound called iron phosphate.

These shells attached to a carbon nanotube to create a powerful and tiny electrode.

The virus boosted battery could provide more power for MP3 players or cellular telephones, and are far more environmentally friendly than current battery technologies, says MIT materials scientist Angela Belcher, who led the research, which appears today in the journal Science. "It has some of the same capacity and energy power performance as the best commercially available state-of-the-art batteries," says Belcher. "We could run an iPod on it for about three times as long as current iPod batteries. If we really scale it, it would be used in a car," she says.

But Belcher admits that such scaling is some time away.

She says the technology is inherently green because it involves a live virus. "We are having organisms make the materials for us," says Belcher. "We are confined to temperatures and solvents - water - that organisms can live in. It's a clean technology. We can't do anything that kills our organisms."

The viruses used in the battery are a common bacteriophage, which infect bacteria, but are harmless to humans

Battery booster - Current lithium batteries are powerful and light, but they do not release their electrons very quickly. Belcher's team genetically engineered the viruses to grow shells of amorphous iron phosphate. The material is generally not a good conductor, but makes a useful battery material when patterned at the nanoscale - a microscopic molecular scale.

The virus-made material increases the cathode's conductivity inside the battery, making it more powerful without adding too much weight. "My students hate it when I say we sit back and let them (the viruses) do the work. We put a lot of work in too," says Belcher. "But once you have the right genetic sequence and have the right proteins then you just put them in solution with water and ions and they template the battery in the same way an abalone templates a shell. They build little shells around themselves."

The team is already working on a second-generation battery using materials with higher voltage and electrical capacity, such as manganese phosphate and nickel phosphate, says Belcher.

Rudd and Obama

Australia is a modest player on the world stage - we are small in population, large in area and some people think we punch above our weight, on the world stage. Is there a larger world stage than visiting the US President? Maybe not.

The Prime Minister has been in the US this week - NY and Washington, and meeting all the right people, and getting plenrty of media coverage in Australia, even a mention by the US President at his press conferences.

However, many Australians think that there is a somewhat syncopantic relationship with the US......what they want, Australia, as the dutiful lap dog, does. Or maybe better illustrated in the cartoon that appeared today in the Weekend Australian. Cartoonist is Bill Leak, who can be a bit in your face at times, and definitely has an irreverent streak.



This is!

For others who may not know, the Prime minister's wife [ coming through the door] also runs a very successful multimillion dollar recruitment agency with offices in a number of countries.

Wolfram Alpha - Google Has A REAL Rival

Do you use Google? The real answer is probably who does not!

BUT.............what about real answers, not just a list of places that might have the answer?

Rumour hath it that this will be coming to a place near you VERY SOON. I have only seen reviews, and wow........if it does what it is supposed to do, it will be stunning.

Read an in depth review:

http://www.twine.com/item/122mz8lz9-4c/wolfram-alpha-is-coming-and-it-could-be-as-important-as-google

Facebook NOT

I am not a Facebook devotee, not even someone who likes it or believes it useful.

Others agree...........

This article is a profound anti Facebook rant, and a lot of people seem to agree. Log off Facebook and live.

This is the link:

http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/256implp.asp

It is well written and worth a read. What do you think?

Container Deposit Legislation for the NT

It is like a bolt of lightning..........The Northern Territory Government announced today a container deposit scheme, to be similar to that in South Australia.

The press release in part says:

The Chief Minister Paul Henderson today announced the Northern Territory will introduce a cash for containers scheme to reduce litter and boost recycling efforts. “Cash for containers will make the Territory cleaner and greener – it will reduce litter by rewarding people who do the right thing,” Mr Henderson said. “This Government has always supported a national approach to legislation providing cash for containers but I’ve been disappointed with the slow progress. I’m not prepared to wait further.

“I’m taking the lead and hope other states will follow.

“My Government has made the commitment in principle to adopt cash for containers legislation by 2011 provided it is financially viable, legally sound and can deliver in both urban and remote centres. “That’s why I have set up a reference group to further explore those three criteria, and report back to Government in July.”

The Environment Minister Alison Anderson will chair the reference group, which will include Fannie Bay MLA Michael Gunner and the Independent Member for Nelson Gerry Wood. Ms Anderson said the NT’s scheme will be modelled on South Australia’s container deposit legislation where cans, bottles and cartons attract a 10c refund.

“The results in South Australia clearly show cash for containers is a success. In other states beverage containers typically contribute up to 40% - 50% of litter by volume – in South Australia they contribute less than 20% by volume,” she said. “I don’t pretend the scheme is going to fix all our litter problems but it’s very effective for what it targets.

“It gets litter off the streets and money into the pockets of people who do the right thing. It gives kids and community groups a chance to raise funds and we can show a clean green image to visitors who come to share our unique environment and lifestyle.”

The Independent Member for Nelson Gerry Wood said he is simply rapt that after nearly 20 years of trying, a Northern Territory Government has finally bitten the bullet and announced a program that will do great things for the Territory environment and the community.

This is quite amazing............and seems to go against the efforts of a number of strident industry lobby groups who have resisted such a move for many many years.

Sure it is still a year or more away - in 2011 - but that is time to develop the legislation and show others we can do the right thing! [ as the old Keep Australia Beautiful slogan goes]