Whizzers's Place

Obama and Bin Laden

2011-05-17T10:41:00.003+10:00

I was actually pleased to hear of the silencing of the world’s most wanted man…I was not however wrapped in the dubious way in which it was done.

Many people are of a similar opinion, as to photos of his demise I care not one way or the other. What did worry me was the articles by Glenn Greenwald referring to the Nuremberg principles See here The Nuremberg principles and Benjamin Ferencz this 92 year old ex-combat soldier who was also a prosecutor at the war crimes tribunal. What he stated made perfect sense to me; Michael Newton also a lawyer from Tennessee came on after Benjamin Ferencz who had similar views in some respects but not all. Now think back if you are old enough or know your history…war criminals were given a fair and just trial. OK so you may think ah that was in wartime possibly you could be right; I do not think so however. These days in times of terrorism could be different but in my opinion should not. After 9/11 Bush went gung-ho into Afghanistan he publically declared Iraq is next. If you cast your minds back Saddam Hussein was given a fair trial he did not think so but he did receive one. I moot that this will be argued for quite a few years but the fact remains he was not captured and brought to trial and he should have been. This action has caused a bit of a rift between the US government and the Republic of Pakistan, justified by the Americans but not by their ally Pakistan. In lots of ways the US government tend to roughshod over a lot of the world: A very bad habit sadly. Comments are welcomed

FRASER ISLAND QLD AUSTRALIA

2010-02-13T20:32:00.005+10:00

Named after shipwreck victim Eliza Fraser It was formed during the ice age when the prevailing winds transported vast quantities of sand from New South Wales and deposited it along the coast of Queensland forming Fraser Island as we know it today. Fraser Island is also home to over 200 species of birds along with a variety of mammals, wallabies, snakes, possums,dingoes, turtles and flying foxes. Fraser Island stretches over 123 kilometres in length and 22 kilometres at its widest point. With an area of 184 000 hectares it is the largest sand island in the world. Fraser Island ranks with Australia's Uluru, Kakadu and the Great Barrier Reef. Fraser Island is a precious part of Australia's natural and cultural heritage, it is protected for all to appreciate and enjoy. Fraser island is a place of exceptional beauty, with its long uninterrupted white beaches flanked by strikingly coloured sand cliffs, and over freshwater lakes, some tea-coloured and others clear and blue all ringed by white sandy beaches. Ancient rainforests grow in sand along the banks of fast-flowing, crystal-clear creeks. Fraser Island is the only place in the world where tall rainforests are found growing on sand dunes at elevations of over 200 metres. The low "wallum" heaths on the island are of particular evolutionary and ecological significance, and provide magnificent wildflower displays in spring and summer. The immense sand blows and cliffs of coloured sands are part of the longest and most complete age sequence of coastal dune systems in the world and they are still evolving. They are a continuous record of climatic and sea level changes over the last 700 000 years. The highest dunes on the island reach up to 240 metres above sea level. The Great Sandy Strait, separating Fraser Island from the mainland, is listed by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention). The wetlands include: rare patterned ferns; mangrove colonies; sea-grass beds; and up to 40,000 migratory shorebirds. Rare, vulnerable or endangered species include dugongs, turtles, Illidge's ant-blue butterflies and eastern curlews. Dingoes have killed humans here but it was believed the animals were annoyed by two legged animals; no action was taken

Life as an Ancient Egyptian

2010-02-12T17:41:00.005+10:00

My daily life in ancient Egypt revolved around the Nile and the fertile land along its banks. The yearly flooding of the Nile enriched the soil and brought good harvests and wealth to the land. It was not an easy life yet it was not so bad, we built mud brick homes in villages and in the country. We grew a lot of our own food grew some food and traded in the villages for the food and goods they could not produce. I was a field worker but we had farmers and craftsmen; we also had what was termed a scribe for people who could not read or write. Very few if any of us could read or write me amongst them, our noblemen of course were treated very well compared to us; it was a much harder life for us particularly our wives. When I arose I simply washed and shaved dressed and had a meal prepared by my wife; usually bread and fruit then toddled off to work in the nearby fields. These noblemen had a life of Reilly by comparison; linen sheets plus a servant, this guy helped him to wash and shave. His good lady supervised preparations for a banquet she was hosting later whilst hubby had a bit of tucker with his overseer plus grog, beer was plentiful in ancient Egypt at that time. Thinking about it now life was not too bad, we had no distractions way back then. On the other hand It wasn’t an easy living either; I usually walked or bummed a ride on ferries to go somewhere Much of my life was coping with the annual flood of the Nile River no schooling but this kept us ignorant. We did have a clock though, run by water or the sundial and we barbequed in the evening so we did have entertainment. I was responsible for providing for my family. My wife stayed home and raised the children. Small children and other female relatives lived in a special part of the house. Much of the children's time was spent in training for their adulthood. By the age of four my children would help my wife or me in the field or train as craftsmen; this was not so easy to do. Most of us usually had black hair and dark eyes. My skin was tanned we all wore very simple clothing. The clothes were made of linen. Linen was made from the flax that grew in the fields. It was woven into cloth. The rich wore finely woven linen while the workers wore a more durable material. I usually wore a loincloth. Many times I wore no clothing at all. Don’t laugh but we all wore eye make up. I do believe my wife called to say supper is ready so goodbye for now

Finland’s civil war a very brief account

2010-02-04T16:47:00.004+10:00

In 1917 the Russian revolution was whistling along to supposedly free Russian citizens from the Tsar’s yoke; this did not happen in fact it was worse for the poor Russian citizens; however the Russian fleet, which was in Helsinki Finland at the time mutinied; in my day military personnel do not mutiny. The provisional government of the day in Helsinki cancelled most if not all of the Tsar’s government policies in regard to its neighbour Finland; to be blunt they wanted independence and frankly I don’t blame them. Both the Tsar’s and the new communist regime were both degrading and shocking. In these troubled times Finland was not ruled by a government per se, most of the power came from what was known as strike committees, breaking that down middle class and working class; this happened once before in 1905; same rules applied, they even had their own private armies or militias, police were replaced; that sort of thing, in fact things were sticky all round. Unease set in, arguments, violence; and then the so called power act was passed which led to the making of decisions highly unpopular. Finland’s government was then dissolved (and we think we have problems) murders were committed, in fact a highly unpleasant atmosphere was abroad. Cutting to the chase non socialists won, in fact socialists had 92 seats out of 200. Man being the beast he is (still can be at times) made the socialists royally pissed off, in fact Finnish society was gradually splitting up into two camps; both armed and damned dangerous and I bet you thought they were gentle people; they were not at that time I assure you. Then along came the Bolshevik takeover in Russia; middle class Finns quite naturally dreaded this; not so the workers who thought quite differently. However in November a middle class government of Finland was established; run efficiently by Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, on December 6 1917 Finland was declared independent. Bolshie Lenin (and to think he lived in London once, relax he was in gaol there) recognised Finland’s independence; December 6 has been known to Finns as their independence day; it is still celebrated as such. Finland’s point of no return came when Svinhufvud’s government authorised the white guard to be the security force, and try and establish law and order, as by this time it had all but broken down. Returned German guards transformed this white guard into a very credible fighting force; run by a former fighting Tsarist General, named Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, this General was a Finn but a Swedish speaking one; he also had a number of professional Swedish Military officers to aid and abet his cause Military action was called for on Jan 27-28 1918; foreign intervention helped a little in this struggle After the Brest-Litovsk treaty was signed artillery troops were withdrawn, the conflict was finally resolved; General Mannerheim entered Helsinki on May 16 1918 just to end the conflict on a formal note. Strangely every year until WWll was celebrated as a kind of second Independence Day. This tragedy was really because of the horrific terror released by reds and whites. In hindsight it should have been nipped in the bud; I have never met anyone with hindsight; it could well have prevented many wars Finland’s civil war was a catastrophe, in a few months around 30,000 were wiped out, society was divided; I won’t go into the fine details, I would never finish (excuse the pun) this blog

The Yangtse Incident

2010-02-01T13:10:00.001+10:00

At the time of this incident the 20th of April 1949 there was civil war raging in China between the Reds and the Kuomintang...which in the end was won by the communists, with the support of the Soviets, yes they were good old buddy’s way back then...the Kuomintang under Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek pictured below fled to the Island of Formosa (now called Taiwan) MANY foreign nations were in China at the time, including US and British. HMS Amethyst at the time a frigate was doing the job of a gunboat steaming down the Yangtse River trying to rejoin the British fleet and was under fire; she was the last foreign warship in inland Chinese waters without permission of the Chinese government. Further downriver on her way from Shanghai to Nanjing she came under heavy sustained shelling, the wheelhouse and bridge was hit rather badly; the result was a grounding of the ship by the injured coxswain; the skipper was mortally wounded, the first Lieutenant ( known as the Executive officer in US Navy jargon) was injured also. Sadly the sick bay, port engine room and generator were hit very badly; Amethyst was now a sitting duck and paid heavily, 22 killed, 31 wounded; she received more than 50 hits from the PLA or people’s liberation army, HMS Consort was steaming from Nanjing to her aid and silenced the shore batteries and attempted a tow; it never worked indeed Consort lost 10 of her crew some were injured. The first Lieutenant although injured finally re floated old Amethyst, moved her out of range of any more artillery fire whilst the British Naval attaché to China assumed command. Two other ships came to Amethysts aid or tried to, they lost men too, meanwhile she remained under guard by the PLA; supplies were denied to her for ten weeks. Finally on the 30th of July, she slipped her chain and headed downriver; a 104 mile run running gauntlets at 0500 on July 31 she broke through the boom, made contact with HMS Concord, passed through to the mouth of the river and sent the time-honoured signal. "Have rejoined the fleet off Woosung...God save the King." arriving in Hong Kong on the 11th August 1949, so it took nearly four months, here is a news bulletin heralding the ship's arrival in Hong Kong A strange ending to this was that the ships cat was awarded the Dickin Medal known as the animal Victoria Cross. This is just a brief account of my readings on this; in fact there are many websites devoted to this all slightly different. Medals were awarded of course to the crews of the four ships involved, highly prized ones at that. Three Distinguished Service orders were awarded, along with one MBE, four Distinguished Service Crosses, one Distinguished Flying Cross, seven Distinguished Service Medals, and many "Mentioned in Dispatches." Simon the ships cat also received the Blue Cross Medal of the Dumb Friends League, and of 53 Dickin Medals issued, his was the only one ever awarded to a cat One medal in particular was the Naval General Service medal with the bar Yangtse 1949, the ones awarded to the ships Company of HMS Amethyst fetched up to almost £700 pictured below

I HAD A BAD DAY TODAY

2010-01-08T19:08:00.007+10:00

I stepped outside this morning and boy was it hot..humid as hell and I had to go get some groceries...that sort of thing. My mood was hot and mad after I took the wrong road...not really my fault as...you wouldn't read about it roadwork’s loomed up. them things are everywhere Guess my mind was not on the road...well it wasn't I know this...anyways I carried on cuz in my mind some place a voice kept saying go to the shopping mall there...you need a change I though yeah why not my usual joint has a monopoly where I live…which I reckon is a bit crook…after driving around and around I finally got a parking place. Gets out of the car the heat hit me like a ton of bricks…50 swearwords later I was in blissfully cool air-conditioned surroundings…after a run in with the assistant in the delicatessen…I calmed down. This is good I thought my other store doesn’t have all the goodies this mob has…that’s when the fun started. My usual brand of a apple juice was nowhere to be seen…I saw a young bloke having a swig of apple juice ah then I spotted it way way up on high…damned if I could reach it…got it I thought grabs my walking cane…(this cane has a history some low down thief flogged it off me when my back was turned rotten mongrel) where was I oh yeah as I was saying I grabs my newbie all aluminium job reaches up yanked at the drinks …three cartons tumbled down…how I missed them I’ll never know…but they clobbered some guy WHACK…lucky for me he was just shocked and stunned…we had a beer together when I finally got home…yeah he lives near me. Off I goes again and I’m not lying but I spotted a gal looked like my daughter from the back…hiya babe I sez…nearly got a smack in the mouth...lucky there but…she spotted the cane…yeah the newbie cane…I hope the mongrel who flogged it off of me gets the treatment I narrowly avoided. Going through the aisle that has clocks… stuff like that I recalled an e-mail I had once where this joker used to set off the alarms on em and watch for reactions…yep so I did that…sheer bedlam..when asked by the store manager a baby faced pimply kid if it was me…I just blew up…me I sez do you seriously think that a 73 year old bloke like myself would do that…I heard oohs and ahs everywhere…some bloke took him to task over it…must have just come in before the soft drink crisis…I left em to it…I just meandered my merry way through the aisles. Got to the aisle that has canned meat…canned vegies that sort of stuff had a squiz see if anyone was in it…lucky Mick I thought and started to bowl some cans down to the end of the aisle...all went ok for a while…still sorting out the clock bizzo I s’pose…it couldn’t last of course…they tried like hell to find me but I sneaked into the butchery department quick smart asked the butcher could he cut a joint of beef in two…no worries mate he sez…I followed him in chatted to him about next to nothing..to stay away from the commotion outside…what’s going on out there mate have squiz through that window would yah…just some pimply kid getting ticked off it looks like sez yours truly…oh him he’s just the under-manager….he hasn’t got a clue not a brain cell in his head…I reckon your right mate shifty lookin bloke too I sez…you got that right he sez…fancy a cup of tea in my office? Too right thanks old mate…at this stage I just wanted to get out of the store….in the end I had to go of course…my shopping trolley was still there...I took off my hat and glasses wandered nonchalantly to the far end cash register and wonder of wonders. The kid with all the zits could not be seen…however it was still being talked about by the gals on the registers…what happened to this guy I asked…boss gave up looking she sez but how he vanished has us all baffled. He found the butchery department door closed…which he found strange…yair a bit odd that I told her As I collected the goods I just couldn’t resist saying so what did this joker look like…oh about your age but he had glasses…that’s a hell of a thing for a bloke to do cripes…tell me about she sez. Oh well I said have a nice day..ok you too came the reply… Off I toddled free as bird...but had to hide in the gents when I spotted zit face giving me a hard look in the car park...I made it home had a couple of beers with the bloke I knew...enjoy your day I enjoyed mine...but it had its moments

The American Civil War

2010-01-07T13:25:00.004+10:00

____________________________________________________________________ The American civil war of 1861-5 was a rather important happening pitting Americans against Americans…It revolved around slavery and the disagreement of the south’s refusal to give up what amounted to cheap labour, Sound familiar to you!! Thought so it does to me as well The southerners today yeah... Lots of them have huge assets which their kin acquired by the use of slaves If an agreement had been reached, in hindsight there would have been no war…the war itself was set off by the states that owned slaves (YES NEGRO'S OWNED LIKE DOGS) to accept the decision of the 1860 Presidential election…which had seen the first Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln, sweep the northern states but did not gain a single electoral vote in the South… From December 1860-February 1861 seven states in the Deep South passed ordinances of secession, occupied federal installations, and called out their militias. These states set up their own Confederacy with a pro-slavery constitution headed by a Confederate president, Jefferson Davis, and this new government located its capital initially at Montgomery, Alabama. ( later it was moved to Richmond Va) The rebel government was eager to remove the two remaining federal outposts on their territory, at Pensacola in Florida and at Fort Sumter in Charleston harbour. After a stand-off lasting four months, the Confederacy bombarded Fort Sumter in Charleston harbour on 12-13 April 1861. Lincoln asked for 75,000 volunteers…it was reckoned quite wrongly it would not last for long…the confederacy was extremely large…a naval blockade was decided on…even submarines were used…very brave guys considering the conditions…in actual fact the civil war was a kind of testing ground for today’s submarines…in the end the union mustered up more,so the 75, 000 volunteers were soon supplemented, and by the 1st of July 1861 300, 000 men had been raised, the majority for three years. Jefferson Davis had succeeded in raising 200, 000 Confederate volunteers by August 1861. These hosts on both sides were difficult to command. The men believed that they were civilians in uniform and enjoyed all their previous rights; they were not deferential to their officers, who were often elected. Many incompetents had to be weeded out by commission’s boards…as usual politicians not only bibbed in with orders they actually got their selves commissioned....nothing has changed there I notice

All the time the Brits were featured buying cotton picked by slaves naturally...that cruddy little Island may have done a lot in colonising the world...it also stuck its nose in to things that really did not concern them. They were still annoyed no doubt that they lost the war between colonial America and their selves...plus France stuck her oar in too A different matter today where bullshitter Brown their PM is crawling up Obama's a**. But I digress. The civil war had cost 620, 000 American soldiers' lives (360, 000 Union and 260, 000 Confederate), although two-thirds of these were victims of disease not bullets. The economic damage inflicted on the South was enormous. Total southern capital, heavily invested in now-demonetised slaves, shrank by 46 per cent, whereas northern capital grew by 50 per cent. In 1860 the slave states contained 30 per cent of the total wealth of the USA; by 1870 this figure had slumped to 12 per cent. The war's political significance was enormous: the issue of secession was dealt with once and for all; slavery was abolished. This is only a brief outline of the civil war...I did find out that Australians and New Zealanders (plus the Irish) fought in this war...but I have no idea as to which side they were on

What worries me is that the way things are going at the moment in the United States, there could well be another one...just my opinions and comments are welcome

The possibility of a Double Dissolution in September 2010 Australian elections

2010-01-02T16:41:00.007+10:00

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has told reporters that some agreement is still possible in key climate talks in Copenhagen despite major disagreements in over one hundred provisions…at the moment 747 we the people here in Australia think you should cut your B/S and think long and hard about our spiralling interest rates. Copenhagen can go on hold so should all the money (ours not yours) you have decided in your wisdom to bestow on the Girl Guide movement… (Sorry girls you will have to wait I’m afraid for a while…until this Ragbag gets his facts and priorities in order). Right so first up we want our troops brought back from Afghanistan (you were voted in on this pledge) you ratted out instead…I fervently believe at least, I’ll take that back you sent more because Obama (another spendthrift with his people’s money) asked you to. Now most of us think that you a multi millionaire (a battler’s man what crap) should spend start spending your cash for worldly jaunts…you have deep pockets, to be blunt an abyss. Now you are toying with the possibility of a double dissolution so as to give you more control…meanwhile things are getting expensive for us to purchase…power is rising by 60%...still I don’t suppose it will bother a silver tail like yourself…BUT I do wonder whether the GG you picked might do a John Kerr on you it happened to Gough REMEMBER him…oh of course you were a diplomat to Red China you may have wiped it from your memory banks Why your popularity has suddenly shot up beats the likes of us downtrodden serfs. Take what is known as the welfare or social security benefits my only two granddaughters have never known what a job is… what is worse they never intend to work…the youngest is 25 or 26 not married no kids (I thought this a disgrace that they have never worked)…still you 747 prop them up with the taxpayers cash why should they, this is how they think…my oldest son and my grandson are even smarter…they draw cash from you and also work on the sly…thank God my other two are not like them. 2010 will be the horror budget so I reckon the government will probably hold an election about March next year (The Rat has until October) If it comes to the double dissolution I’m afraid all could be lost for genuine law abiding citizens here. The main thing and I think most of us want is our troops brought back from foreign wars…THAT WAS YOUR ELECTION PLEDGE REMEMBER it conveniently slipped your mind as usual. Another thing that really gets up my nose (I’m not alone on this one) is you taking control of what internet sites we can see…who the hell do you think you are, doing a Red China again yeah well it stick out like dogs testicles to me. You know you remind me of that Brit politician Jim Callaghan he was an oily heap of **** just like you or a smooth talking politician...take your pick Here is an image of you sucking up to Clinton

Islam and the West

2009-12-29T21:51:00.005+10:00

At some time in our past, when is hard to determine…we have made enemies between the west and our friends who follow a completely different religion to ourselves. In retrospect we in the western world are not entirely blameless either…there has been and still is violence towards each other…it is time we here realised that if we carry on in this vein something bad will happen. It is my fervent belief this started a long time ago in the days of Richard the Lion Heart on his crusades…it carried on of course take all these honour killings coupled with Abu Ghraib…suicide attacks, the head covering that women of the Moslem faith wear…Sharia law…I am not advocating here that it is the west’s fault it is BOTH our faults. By the same token as a child my father taught me a man’s religion is his own business; he was right come on we all know this. I did not forget the Taliban I felt sorry for those woman, here again they are a strict Islamic sect…peoples it has nothing to do with us…my folk rave on about the Saudi’s they say the punishments they dish out are inhumane…to our western minds they are; strange how it keeps breakers of the law in that country underfoot though. It is said we insulted the prophet; we probably did we do not think the same; I don’t think we will as yet…however for peace and harmony WE HAVE TO. Mistakes have been made on both sides and this has to be rectified not in a while or I’ll get around to it…it has to be done now. The atmosphere of distrust between Muslims and the West has been around for centuries. Lately, it hasn't been getting any better. For centuries Christians regarded Mohammed as a false prophet; even today few Christians would probably consider him a true prophet…well wake up as he was a prophet…in fact he is known as the seal of the prophet much the same as our own prophet Jesus of Nazareth…who by the way is treated with respect in the Islamic world Conversely, the West has left its mark on the Islamic world; not only through its politicians and generals, but also through its materialism, technologies, communication tools and organizational paradigms, things with which only hermits can completely avoid contact…sadly there are very many of those Millions of Muslim men and women live in the West and many are citizens of Western nations. They are therefore now inextricably part of the West…however this antagonism HAS TO CEASE…we all have to live on this lovely planet of ours…we must do this as a joint effort. There will always be minor altercations we would not be human otherwise…I have read of youths rioting in France…I have seen them here do much the same thing. I also read of the Grand Mufti of Australia who made insulting remarks to our women…he was fired after an investigation by an Islamic council. The business with the Israelis and Islam I admit I find hard to understand…I suspect a land rights issue but do not really know; I have read though that the Western nations possess an astonishing ignorance of the ages old Arab-Israeli conflict, and even more astounding is the absurdly naive thinking that the church has towards the religion of Islam, and its relationship to the nation of Israel…in fact Islam is the third great monotheistic religion to arise out of the common stock of Hebrew scripture. Islam though is the exact antithesis of Biblical Christianity. Each of the three great monotheistic religions views itself as the great redemptive epicentre of universal history. The following is the Jewish belief or take on this I quote "Christianity advocates love and compassion toward one's neighbour, even if he is an enemy, while Islam dictates that its pagan neighbour is an infidel who must submit to Allah, or be killed" unquote. So you see one could argue for centuries and never come to anywhere close to solving this terrible rift Most Christians probably think that Allah is merely an Arabic term for the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph…this not the case. Allah was the name of an ancient Chaldean God which was known as the Moon God. Allah was in fact the male counterpart to the female Goddess worshipped in Babylon. She was represented by the Sun. Her name was Ishtar, from which, we get our English word "Easter". As the Moon God, Allah was symbolized by the crescent shaped moon. Today, the Arabic-Islamic nations portray this very symbol on their national flags, usually in conjunction with a sword. The intent of the flag symbolism is that all nations should submit to Allah or face the sword of Allah. It may surprise Christians to know that the Koran is the most studied, most memorised, and the most respected religious book in the world today, far surpassing the public interest in the Holy Bible. This is not meant to be a lesson in religion I was just trying to point out the why’s and wherefores of this…if we do not cease to carry on like we are doing both the west and the Islamic world will in the end turn out to be quite nasty. I’m a pretty liberal thinker but we have all erred, we have to stop I’m only glad the younger Moslem's are not so disposed to this as we in the west are. WE MUST MEND THESE FENCES before it is too late

A Mammoth task

2009-12-28T19:35:00.001+10:00

A Mammoth task indeed is it possible to re-create one from DNA well an International team thinks it possible to recreate this huge beast; the thing is why; it died out more than 10.000 Years ago, the real question facing us is do we really want Sabre toothed tigers and the like roaming the Earth once again. Still these jokers appear to be on track with this and it seems DNA was extracted from a well-preserved 27,000-year-old specimen found in the Siberian permafrost. So far, about 30 million "letters" of the genetic code have been read, albeit in small pieces, representing about 1 per cent of the entire code. Looks to me as though it will take ages anyway would these people be more gainfully employed trying to find this world of ours a better place to live in? I reckon they would. Scientists in Japan and Russia have announced plans to attempt to clone woolly mammoths with the help of the ancient animal's living relatives and, despite scepticism that they will be successful, this recent development will renew interest in the idea.Personally I think they are as nutty as the first lot. so if you see one of these Flee for your very life Which looks the more dangerous of the two? they both do to me and of course there were many other Prehistoric animals as well. Jurassic Park was enough I think lol...good movie but.

ANOTHER POMMY GOVERNMENT MISTAKE

2009-12-22T09:31:00.003+10:00

This is a ~~damned disgrace on the part of the British government again~~

...to wrongly blame a man and then fail to correct their error...this is done so very easily... ALL THE TIME ...look at the way they treated their ex Ghurka soldiers who were denied citizenship and the right to live in the UK...they laid their lives on the line though. So for years this poor man's family were led to believe he was a self styled cowboy showing off when in fact he was saving a child's life. No wonder their colonies decided to break completely free of this cruddy little Island...this was reported in the British Daily Mail. And to think that the truth came to light only when the mayor of the town where it happened traced the soldier's relatives to tell them a road was being named in his honour as he was considered a local hero...his family now want the Ministry of Defence to amend the bombardier's military service record to reflect his heroism...a medal for heroism wouldn't hurt either now either would it. I first read it on here along with the rest of the world otherwise it would have faded into obscurity source.

My solution to fix up the planet

2009-12-15T12:30:00.002+10:00

I have noticed that every time I open a newspaper switch on the TV (radio what’s that) all I seem to read are ~~grim reports~~ about various wars going on...terrorists attacks bombings stuff like that. Shitty little muggers, child pornographers this list of unhuman (wait piracy) nasty crimes grows day by day...in fact if I wrote a gazillion words about it I’m sure to have missed one. Suffice to say that if at this very moment in time we were called upon by our creator to explain our lips would be zipped like a zip file. Well I have a proposal which may (probably won't) fix this problem round up all militant groups difficult yeah but worth it. Of course I include our heads of state and ALL government representatives that we like dumb idiots voted into office...in fact I suggest we start with those as they are using our cash most of our cash to be correct. This solution will cost a bit but then look at the HUGE salaries heads of state and heads of our various governments around get completely GRATIS from us mugs...ladies and gentlemen we can afford this surely. First though a brief look at the facts I’ll start with this bloke OBAMA ~~Nobel peace prize holder~~ (I was shocked and stunned when I read that info) then whistle on down to his cronies. Onto the Brit Government, a load of con artists I ever saw...I’m not certain about the various European Heads of state and their hangers on...probably the same as the British bloke ~~bullshitter Brown~~ one could never trust the French heads of state but that was in the days of Mitterrand...I know little of the other European countries...however one I have never forgot the Russian ex ~~KGB thug Putin~~. In fact these types of creeps are everywhere we get them in Australia (look at that ~~conniving liar Rudd~~) they need to go. Just recalled the worst of the lot, the ~~RED Chinese~~ government you know they killed all those students in Tiananmen Square over 20 years ago. Yeah my solution now don’t laugh I’m serious here. I guess you all recall reading about this planet that’s just been discovered...thought you had here is a video to make this interesting I know what you are thinking but you are wrong by the time we have conned our various governments into building space craft...this planet will hopefully sustain human life. So here we go oh no not us those rotten heads of government and politicians are ALL gunna go whilst we live securely once more on our own earth global warming or not. So what do you reckon a good idea yeah it is you know it we all know it all it needs is just needs a little foresight Source

Five stories you may like

2009-12-12T16:47:00.002+10:00

I’ve often wondered whether we were being told a lot of crap when this first started up...now it seems it is. The article in question pertains to European law (I don’t much care what they do with these globes but could tell them if needs be) why on earth our esteemed dork who runs my country went along with it God only knows... oh so his predecessor went along with this farce too (what’s new) see here for details Too be blunt its bullshit Source The decision to remove Saddam Hussein according to the EX-British PM was correct or was it...quite frankly if Saddam Hussein had been left alone would the world today be in the terrible state it’s in? I think not...but oh no Blair had to play that stupid game called follow the leader...as did our resident clown at the time Howard...Bush had a few followers alright...in this case it was uttered in public after the Afghanistan debacle I quote “Iraq is next” unquote what Iraq had to do with this is still not known to me...this is on the BBC also Many years ago the Australian labor party promised to deal with these impudent Japanese whalers; indeed he was elected on that premise...we are still waiting Kev old mate...I’ll tell you this for gratis I don’t vote for you or the Australian party anymore...you seem to ride rough shod over us all...there is a name to describe you...how’s about getting up from your taxpayers food travel and drink and fix this. See here for more details This well it is just a sick joke did Obama deserve to win the Nobel Peace Prize...A BIG NO naturally he had to fight to get where he is...he is not exactly doing to good...but a peace prize from a man! Who has decided to send many more troops to Afghanistan...he gets the Nobel Peace Prize for that...get off the grass. This is on the BBC This is a classic...a SEA rescue operation was launched to save a 500kg cow after it was found floating about in Northern Territory waters yesterday...seems it was not too happy at first either...sourced from the Northern territory news

South Georgia in the South Atlantic

2009-12-11T22:00:00.001+10:00

South Georgia was found first by a hopelessly lost British merchant ship in 1675...it was not heard of again until that intrepid explorer of renowned fame Captain James Cook RN made his mark there by sticking in the British flag claiming it for the British Crown...he did this in 1775 so a good 100 years had passed by since it was first seen.

It has a bit of a history attached to it as well...on the third of April 1982 an epic battle was fought there a mere nine Royal Marine Commandos against an elite Argentine Commando force....these Argentines of whom there were quite a few compared to the RM naval party, finally lost and the Union Jack was once more flying....a much different tale was emerging from the Falkland Islands...a political battle really to help shore up the Argentine junta who were highly unpopular.

It was in the main used for whaling and sealing...there is a lot of conjecture that Amerigo Vespucci might have sighted South Georgia during one of his much publicised voyages. While sailing in the South Atlantic to 52° south latitude (Vespucci's own estimate), in April 1502 they allegedly encountered a high, gloomy and rough land where human life was rendered impossible by severe cold ― this description sounds like South Georgia.

Early on in the nineteenth century there was severe exploitation with seals one chap took more than 57,000 seal skins just on one trip alone...there were more expeditions so fur seals soon declined.

Next to be hit were the elephant seals, these were killed off for their oil...these soon vanished thank goodness we still have these animals which are a vital part of our environment.

Shark Netting could vanish in Australia still there's always the machine guns

2009-09-20T23:00:00.000+10:00

A very brief history on nets Invitations for public submissions on how to address the shark attack problem in 1935 resulted in some pretty outrageous suggestions, including the use of machine guns mounted on headlands, and explosives to kill sharks. Just imagine the brochures: little children frolicking happily in the surf, sea gulls and bullets flying overhead, great white plumes exploding on the blue horizon, and chunks of dead shark rolling in on the tide. Not ideal marketing material to sell your slice of paradise! The theory behind the net is quite simple: fewer sharks equal less chance of shark attacks. The sharks are caught in the net by their fins and drown, reducing the risk of attacks. History suggests this works very well - prior to the introduction of shark nets in 1936, fatal attacks occurred about once a year on Sydney's popular ocean beaches. Since then, there have been no deaths associated with sharks. However how the nets are affecting shark populations is unknown. While theories about declining catch rates are yet to be confirmed much also remains to be learned about the territorial behaviour of sharks. Weighing the benefits of the reduced risk of shark attack against the relatively unknown environmental impact of shark meshing is complicated by several highly emotive issues. The impact on the marine ecology of removing large predatory sharks is not completely known, and protected species such as dolphins, turtles, and whales can also fall victim to the nets. For instance, in May 2001, a humpback whale calf became entangled in the nets off the Gold Coast and died while its 20 plus tonne mother looked on. As a result of this and other incidents, there is increasing pressure on the NSW and Queensland governments, which administer nets, to cease the practice. I was not aware the Queensland government had them however on asking a Queensland lifeguard was told quite firmly that we had them up here; he declined to comment further. My personal opinion is that ok there are a few fatalities with the Sharks and Whales, and other denizen's of the deep which to me as an animal lover is sad but one has to put the human being first. Although the United States has one of the highest rates of litigation in the world, it does not have shark nets. This is despite the fact that an average of more than 15 shark attacks per year occur on the Florida coast alone. It is not inconceivable in our modern blame culture that in the future, we could see a court ruling finding the liability for a shark attack at a previously meshed beach rests on the shoulders of the government. Removing shark nets in Australia could expose the NSW and Queensland governments to a legal risk which doesn't even exist in the USA, where shark meshing has been considered but never practised. Until someone tries to sue a government for losing a limb, spouse, or child to a shark, we cannot be sure how the legal system would deal with such a thing I did find it odd that no nets existed in the USA very odd to be honest Public Opinion wavers Doesn't it always lol

The Village of Arniston South Western Africa

2009-09-14T18:05:00.003+10:00

In May 1815, a British East Indiaman, the Arniston, was rounding the Western Cape of Africa on a mission of mercy I guess repatriating wounded solidiers from Ceylon back to England....this ship did not have a chronometer aboard in those days this was a very expensive instrument so it relied on other ships in its convoy to calculate its longitude.separated from its convoy in heavy seas, the Arnison was relying on dead reckoning to navigate.so the ship's master steered north for St Helena figuring he was a 100 miles or so west of the Cape...sadly he had made an error which was a very expensive one and wrecked the ship on the rocks at Waenhuiskrans. Only six of the 378 souls on board survived. The image reproduced here is of a similar ship. The survivors spent several days on the beach before being discovered by a farmer's son a memorial was erected on the beach by the wife of Colonel Giels, whose four unaccompanied children were lost in the tragedy.a replica was erected in later years and can be seen today The memorial bears the following inscription Erected by their disconsolate parents to the memory of Thomas, aged 13 years, William Noble, aged 10, Andrew, aged 8 and Alexander McGregor Murray, aged 7 (the four eldest sons of Lieut Colonel Andrew Giels of H.M. 73rd Regiment) who, with Lord and Lady Molesworth unfortunately perished in the Arniston Transport, wrecked on this shore on 3rd May, 1815. Over the years, the wreck's name has become synonymous with the place name, and today Arniston and Waenhuiskrans are used interchangeably At first it was only a fishing community now it has now become a renowned holiday destination and wine farming area. The fishing village - recognisable for its lime-washed and thatched houses - remains intact and has been declared a National Monument in its entirety. Fishermen still take the original style boats out, although now under contract. Whale watching is a popular seaside tourist activity.The Arniston Hotel is a popular tourist destination that looks out over the ocean. This link here gives you some info on what it is like now The closest major town is Bredasdorp, 24km to the north. The Overberg Test Range is situated adjacent to the town.

ANOTHER AUSSIE BUSH YARN

2009-09-10T18:53:00.000+10:00

These yarns are not exactly fiction but may have been embellished a little; this one is about what happened after a country race event near Torrens Creek. During the afternoon uncle Dick had been boozing up at the bar, and when he came back to our camp, tanked to the eyeballs, he said some Ringer had been threatening to beat him up. A little after this he wandered out into the night and flaked out on the ground a little way from the tent, One of the Aunts coming back from the toilets found him lying there, and remembering what he said earlier jumped to the conclusion that he had been caught up with by the Ringer. Poor Dick has been bashed up, she announced, as soon as she got to the tent. Uncle Bill also with a few grogs in him jumped up wild as hell; I'll get the Bastard that did it, he shouted and charged out into the night, heading across the flat he tripped over Dick. There you are you rotten Mongrel Bill shouted and started to put the Boot into Dick's ribs, first on one side and then on the other. Next morning old Dick was staggering around the camp holding his sides, some Mongrel got me last night and really did me over No worries said Bill I caught up with him later and really gave him some Boot Leather

Is the world wide web in trouble

2009-07-08T16:32:00.002+10:00

It appears from this article click on here for more info that the web cable feed from New York to the UK or is it Great Britain will run out of space by 2014 unless somebody comes up with an idea of how to keep it running...At the moment it is buried under 2 metres of sand I presume off a Beach in the Duchy of Cornwall. of course this could all be a load of rubbish if the report from this source is to be believed. below is the supposed cable on the beach that spans the Atlantic I have read there are no motorways south of the city of Exeter. what made me smile was what this reporter said about kids and finding this if they dug down the two metres is he serious as if they would. One is more likely to find them doing something else but definitely not digging. As if a plastic spade would cut this cable just have a squiz at it. I always thought the web was done via satellite but it seems not here is an image showing the world webs not that I saw mine on it but it apparently uses underwater or submarine cable just like the USA UK version...in fact it is how all of us are linked I have explored Wikipedia and discovered the web is an application built on top of the Internet...this is becoming complicated but bear with me please. I have read in several places indeed even argued about this but lots of people believe America own the web not true in fact of all things it was invented in 1989 by an English Physicist Sir Berners-Lee. Annoying huh but there you have it this can be verified by clicking here.

Obama is going to wage war it seems

2009-07-06T14:19:00.002+10:00

America’s newest President romped home in the November elections last year and the whole world rejoiced. Well folks we rejoiced too damn soon he is waging war on Swiss banks in effect he is resorting to what I and quite a few others would term an illegal manoeuvre enforcing the placid Swiss into divulging Swiss bank clients who are American citizens. Indeed it is at the moment illegal for swiss banks to violate said law. But now it appears Mr. nice guy has forced the swiss to make an exception against one bank in particular. This bank good readers must also it seems pay $780 million in fines no less. Good old Mr nice guy has now declared war what a pathetic **** on all tax havens. He is not the only one either France and the UK with Germany at their heels quickly got into this act I sincerely hope Kevin 747 does not try this on...somehow I think he will await a decision on this until he sees how the land lies next year when yep you got it it is election time once more. Course he is a red Chinese lover who knows with him So to get back to good old Mr nice guy not only is he content to take any monies he can grab he is also taking money from honest Americans to pay for his Grandiose schemes...A squiz at this video may change your minds about him come next Election time. Mark my words all you Americans well all western nations if this persists one day you will all be as poor as church mice. Freedom has never come without a cost this disgraceful business could well be the downfall of a lot of western governments one day. May I remind you Mr nice guy America is not an autocracy as yet but the way you are going it could well become a reality one day...I don't want that and neither does the American citizen either. You are recieving very bad financial advice...I suggest you fire the bastards before you bring down America to a third world nation. It almost happened here once under the auspices of Paul Keating one time treasurer and later Prime Minister of Australia. We got rid of him America can get rid of you also...you are treading on stony ground here. People who do that usually fall by the wayside hopefully you will see the light but somehow I think not. I mean someone has to pay for all the promises you made to get elected don't they. One can soon topple from the spire, sourced from here

The Gestapo at work in the USA

2009-07-04T12:06:00.001+10:00

Airport Screening in the USA This to me is an infringement on public rights and liberties of all citizens of all countries that merely wished to visit the USA for some reason or other. It would appear this zealous mob is overstepping its remit I have been told this by friends and also suffered from this when visiting. After the indignities I suffered at the hands of this pathetic mob which reminded me of Gestapo tactics it will be a long time if ever that I return to the USA as a guest. I have it on good authority that aircrew are treated in the same manner...their own aircrew by the way I was most indignant and was very rude and cutting to the punk who was trying out his tricks on me, needless to say I had to be searched I just did not like this jokers attitude QANTAS did not put me through this humiliation why are these Gestapo tactics allowed to prevail now. It has been a long time since 9/11 and what's more other western countries have had similar problems re terrorists yet we do not employ these methods and our countries function just fine. Another thing I noticed my friend and I were stopped by the border patrol near Mexico...I have read of illegal’s as I expect you all have ...were we searched? No of course not the young guy peered through the driver’s window and never even had a dog or asked to look in the trunk. His very words were have a nice day and that folks was it. American taxpayers are being ripped off by this lurk all the time...get real POTUS will you and look into this...your citizens need basic health care and education free. Whilst on the subject of these so called illegal’s let me say I found them hard working and courteous...why I receive e-mails whining or whinging about them is quite beyond me. They work hard to support their families back in Mexico very hard indeed Apart from all this I did have a very enjoyable time in the USA and I thank all my hosts especially one friend who put up with me. Here is a quick video of the Grand Canyon...It is no good hiding now the world can see you smiling Another quick one a little gloomy as you can see and so cold. I met many people whilst there and had a thoroughly good time...my thanks go to you all especially Bonnie and her family. I encountered snow the likes of which I cannot recall ever seeing and all Americans I met were very friendly people. I must say they do tend to eat too much though LOL The source for the Gestapo tactics is on here

Road Safety Week

2009-06-04T21:16:00.003+10:00

Just a joke folks

A comparison

2009-02-05T23:04:00.004+10:00

Kevin 747 versus Honest John our last Prime Minister

Is there much difference in Kevin 747 and honest John re their globe trotting...I think not both of em did a lot of travelling (at the taxpayers’ expense of course) John has hopefully finished his (although there are hidden perks in an ex PM’s job many the average bloke knows nothing about)...yeah service to the nation and shit like that Kevin 747 well he is set to plunder all the perks of the PM’s job and has started off in good form...were I a bookie I would give him tremendous odds. More on Kevin 747 can be found here I notice he got up GW Bush’s nose I had a smile at that as George may have been unpopular but at the time he was still President of the USA and should have been shown some respect Look here He has visited China, the UK in fact the list will be a lengthy one by the time he is toppled from his job...hopefully I will be around to deny him another stab at governing just like Honest John’s government. Kevin 747 has met with the new American president sadly before the inauguration as can be seen here I don’t begrudge him a trip to Washington to have a chat etc...There is still however no need to jet about the globe Willy-nilly like I envision. I have the idea that Kevin 747 is up to no good either all these stimulus packages I view with foreboding...I looked at the one for today nothing for myself (which I can understand) but I do think it wrong for kids on the dole (collecting social security for the rest of the world) to pick up a hefty sum tax free naturally whilst other folk stretched Beyond their means at times struggle with mortgage payments and frankly just try to keep their heads out of the mire...meanwhile Kevin 747 will just jet away wherever. Yes I did benefit last year from Kevin 747’s regime with a well needed boost. But I saved most of mine for a rainy day if you get my drift...To satisfy the government I spent a few bucks as was intended by the lump sum

Kevin 747 however must choof off to Washington post hoc d proc and get on friendly terms with the new American President...Take over a couple of cartons of duty free smokes though as I understand he smokes...thrash out a few things with him and such. He won't be invited to Texas I'll give you the drum he did his dash with GW not like his beaten opponent below...it is essential he meet with Mr Obama as soon as possible though...it would be a good idea to invite the just elected NZ PM to come along split the cost of the trip...many of us have got our beady eyes on Kevin 747 now and I figure he knows it.

Comments are always welcome for non bloggers a coloured underlined word is a link

Congratulations sir on a fine achievement

2009-01-22T14:23:00.000+10:00

************************************************************************ After months of what must have been a wearying campaign to be become the President of the USA...Mr Obama must be very pleased. From slavery to President is no mean feat in fact I never thought it would happen. Do you know there are still slaves today in the USA illegal yes but still slaves...I do believe it is now called ~~human trafficking~~ Now of course his work will have started in earnest Putin needs to be put down a bit... in my opinion he is nothing but an ~~ex KGB thug~~...then there is Medvedev to consider and let’s face it he is the Russian President. Why him and Putin seem to have more or less the same things to say about various matters has me baffled. Look at the way in which Russia treated with disdain the recent gas crisis...I’m wondering just how he will get along with ~~Hu the red Chinese overlord~~. Of course Hu had Mr Obama’s Speech heavily cut although the fools left the English translation in...I suppose it had not occurred that quite a few can speak English. Still they had a Phone call in November last year. As president he will have all these problems thrust upon him as well as the ones listed below. Afghanistan Cuba Guantanamo Iraq Iran Saudi Arabia Israel well the list is endless. Raul Castro has made overtures already I read But more importantly his own country, and its inhabitants most of whom voted for him. They are looking towards him for help...but he can’t do this on his own you may have to get up off your butt as you call it and help. Still this bloke is good so I read and have been told Probably saying I'll see Medvedev next Comments are always welcome

Giant Bird Droppings in New Zealand

2009-01-13T16:26:00.000+10:00

What a subject you will think and I for one will agree. But I actually read about it on this site this means researchers must be rooting about in ancient huge bird s**** er faeces what a (excuse the pun) load of old crap. It’s reported as being a treasure trove of info but why do we need to know all this. I mean is it to keep these researchers in a job so they can feed their loved ones or what? I mean I’m talking crap here now ancient plain old fashioned bird shit. Do we really want to know about all this discovered recently; prior to this these huge bird turds for want of a better word have been buried underneath caves for millennia. This stuff has a name it seems they are called coprolites; sounds better than turds I suppose. Some professor on this site reckons that we in Australia should have some of this gargantuan stuff from giant marsupials from the past. I don’t think we need him here to dig up any of this crap we have plenty of the new stuff. That poses a question; I wonder what people of similar interests will find here in a few millennia? Still not to worry our animals will be too small I reckon. On the other hand maybe not if these researchers now decide to have a go at making one of these giant birds from DNA found in these huge Mounds (good word) of bird droppings. In the future they may think it was us and the small crap of today could be attributed to their young

Using public monies I see right up to the end

2009-01-12T10:30:00.000+10:00

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One of my arch enemies (should have been impeached) G.W.Bush made his final boots and all free trips (for him) to Virginia today. The occasion his last flight on Air Force one for a ceremony at the Norfolk Navy base I guess…it was in fact the commissioning of the USS nuclear powered aircraft carrier the George HW Bush. This carrier is of the Nimitz class…a grand ship actually, I like the look of her…The aircraft carrier will be the 10th and final Nimitz-class sub and the ninth in the Navy's fleet. All the usual hangers on were present naturally like dead eye Dick, Miz Condi and Gates…why not they never paid the good old American taxpayer did. I did mention Bush’s Momma came along as well I hope can’t leave her out of this gathering can we. Cripes Bush actually said Mom was a strong force of nature Sis was there too would you believe Dotty Koch…in fact it was her who did the business you can read it on Australian ABC here. I don’t think Bush actually realises that most of the American people are actually sick of this war that has killed so many; in fact I’ve lost count of how many. And the cost well the mind boggles. I hope along with many Americans that the new President will endeavour to bring a halt to this but I get a feeling it won’t happen not yet anyway

Unveiling windows 7 Beta

2009-01-08T10:43:00.001+10:00

On Wednesday night so I read, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is going to step on stage at the Venetian Hotel’s Palazzo Ballroom to give the keynote address that kicks off the Consumer Electronics Show. It’s the first time for Ballmer, who’s taking the slot that his predecessor Bill Gates has had for years. It’s widely expected that Ballmer will publicly unveil Windows 7 Beta 1, just as Gates used the stage to announce previous Windows versions. He’ll no doubt have an entourage of product managers to help him do the actual demos, hopefully inspiring a wow or two from the assembled throngs. I’m looking forward to the demo, even though I don’t expect any surprises. Mostly, I’m going to be listening between the lines, paying attention to the things that Microsoft chooses not to talk about. In the spirit of the occasion, I offer up the following predictions of things that Ballmer will take great pains to avoid saying. 1. “Some of you are going to hate our new OS, no matter what we do.” Building software is part art, part science, and all compromise. Every design decision involves tradeoffs in performance, in ease of use for novices versus raw power for experts, even in aesthetics. I addressed some of these issues in a post I wrote last year, I fully expect each succeeding wave of Windows 7 reviews to include plenty of “Microsoft sucks” commentary. Especially from InfoWorld. The back and forth between my ZDNet colleague Jason Perlow and me last week illustrates this principle perfectly. Jason (and the commenter’s who agree with his point of view) want Microsoft to offer an option that allows them to use their system using the Windows interface they mastered in 1998. I think pursuing that backward-looking strategy would be a massive waste of limited development resources. The bottom line is you can’t please everyone, and one size will never fit all. So the big question for Microsoft is whether they can please enough people and generate enough positive buzz to drown out the negative voices. 2. “Good luck finding drivers for all your old XP-only hardware.” (sheer rubbish) Over the past few months, I’ve installed and used Windows 7 on a dozen separate systems, representing a wide range in hardware capability and all sorts of different form factors. Virtually every one of those systems had also run Windows Vista at some point in its lab lifecycle, which made it easy for me to track down the best drivers for each subsystem and peripheral. Over the course of the last two years, I’ve discarded or replaced a handful of devices that didn’t work at all with Vista: several network cards, some storage adapters, a scanner, a TV tuner. In every case, I had to replace the unsupported part or do without. The good news is that the driver model for Windows 7 is identical to that of Windows Vista, so all the hardware I now own (and all the drivers I’ve bookmarked and saved) will work on upgraded systems. So, what happens to people who decided to skip Vista and stick with XP, for whatever reason? They get to face those exact same issues. If your device doesn’t have a driver for Windows Vista, it will not work under Windows 7. Period. Full stop. 3. “We’re still at the mercy of our clueless OEM partners – and so are you.” Some of the worst complaints about Windows Vista came from users who were subjected to horrible installations from OEMs, with poorly written drivers, inadequate hardware, and great heaping helpings of crapware to slow everything down to a crawl. I had the chance to see this phenomenon up close and personal last year, when I rebuilt a Sony VAIO whose performance with Windows Vista was so awful that its owner basically wrote it off and bought a new Mac Book. After a clean installation, including Vista Service Pack 1, its performance was eye-opening and impressive. Since that time, Sony, Dell, and other top-tier OEMs have cleaned up their acts impressively. But even if Windows 7 turns out to be an excellent operating system, there’s still the potential for it to be scuttled by sloppy or greedy hardware makers. Microsoft executives are jawboning like crazy with their hardware partners; you know they’ll be holding their breath after the launch to see how those systems perform in the real world. 4. “It might be years before we have a killer application for Vista or Windows 7.” The myth of the “killer app” has never been stronger than with Windows Vista. The idea refers to some program that performs an absolutely irresistible function and only runs on a particular platform. If you need that program, you have to upgrade to the new OS. But software developers, including Microsoft, aren’t interested in cutting off customers who still use older platforms, especially in this tight economy. So, as a result, most popular Windows programs these days are written to run on Windows XP, Vista, and (soon) Windows 7. And there’s no sign that’s going to change anytime soon. If anything, Microsoft is doing its best to avoid any kind of Vista-only software. The new Windows Live Essentials bundle, for example, works on XP and Vista, as does Windows Live Mesh and every member of the Microsoft Office family. None of those programs are going to drop XP support anytime soon (although it’s remotely possible that the next version of Office will work only on Vista or later). That strategy of wide backward compatibility is the right thing to do for customers, but it bolsters the argument of those who contend that a killer app is the only reason to upgrade. 5. “Our licensing terms are as hopelessly confusing as ever.” Microsoft hasn’t gotten around to announcing how many editions of Windows 7 it plans to produce or what their prices will be. But one thing is certain: the confusing, multi-layered Windows business model isn’t going to change. Royalty OEMs (the big PC makers like HP, Dell, Sony, and Toshiba) have one price list and one set of terms. Small system builders have another set of rules. Retail copies are horrendously overpriced. Enterprise customers have to navigate through a thicket of price lists and volume licensing programs that actually require their own certification programs. And even Microsoft sometimes contradicts itself completely on how licensing terms apply to some customers. These predictions were sent to me by an e-mail friend where she got them from God only knows, as I get them from various sources like newsletters etc anyway; I have however seen screenshots of the new windows 7 and was impressed so I will get it . I use vista but lately I have been using my XP computer as I can’t seem to get service pack one for vista; something odd with that as I can get the service pack one for Vista on my laptop If you are worried about getting drivers for XP just write and ask me and I will tell you where you can find them on your computer. I put mine on to a CD-Rom mind you a lot of my XP extra’s like a webcam and scanner to name but two will not work on Vista nor will Nero you have to purchase Nero 8 or 9, so in a way I’m glad I went back to using XP professional. I can always change the boot order if I wish and bring up the vista operating system But looking at this screenshot...to my unpractised eye it just looks like Vista

What a tragic waste of money

2009-01-03T14:38:00.002+10:00

My local council is mean so I read on HERE Yes I have no doubt they were mean regarding the pyrotechnic displays to welcome in 2009. Our very own fireworks resident Guru chipped in $16,500 of his own money still at the same time when one considers the financial climate we live in today, one must ponder whether we should have them at all. No I am not being miserly just practical; I was shocked and stunned good people when I read on the link of the amount of money that just went up in smoke merely to welcome in 2009 when there is so much suffering and hunger in the world. Homeless comes into this category although thinking hard and long about the homeless, there is absolutely no need to be homeless in Australia. People may disagree with my view on Australia’s homeless so let them but there are social security payments, free medical and cheap public housing all available in my country I cannot say the same for other countries of course but the amounts spent on these celebrations were horrendous, it mentions the amounts on the site as you would have already seen. However a recap from the site reveals that the Gold Coast had spent $160,000, Brisbane had budgeted about $280,000, Melbourne had $1.4 million worth of fireworks and Sydney had more than $5 million. What a tragic waste in my view I’m sure that our disadvantaged folk would have just loved a share of these amounts even countries like Rwanda...just look at the starving kids there. But no it had to be spent on stuff like this as shown on the video below

http://www.livevideo.com

Comments are most welcome

Do you want excellent employment prospects

2009-01-02T17:35:00.002+10:00

So you want a job with excellent prospects and better yet fantastic time off (with pay of course) if so this is the job for you...AUSTRALIA POST who like any other normal blood sucking money grabber will have today off with pay of course (Friday here January the 2nd ) they already had Thursday off along with other workers for the New Year. This unsatisfactory (to me at least) arrangement must be addressed Kev why oh why is this blatant use of the taxpayers money being permitted. This I must admit has been happening for years this mob never work on a Saturday morning; strangely for the last three Saturday mornings they have. Oh of course that accounts for a working day closure today. Another strange thing is that sub Post offices do open well some of them. Seems to me it is just like the banks a very minute few open on a Saturday morning. This is even worse as they have to answer to a board of directors. After some checking I find our politicos get a real cushy time and go back to running Australia around the middle of February. I find this state of affairs to be a bloody disgrace these jokers do a hell of a lot better than our posties even, To get back to the original whinge or whine if you are American something has to be done about this and NOW not twenty years down the track

This is what we here in Australia call a mongrel dog.

2008-12-12T19:20:00.000+10:00

Yes you got it he's a crook he's under investigation, he has been warned by the DA to put up or shut up. they will arrest him no worries and yet this is the Governor of Illinois. The mind boggles at how corrupt this nation of mainly decent honest people has sunk to. I have been reading about this most of the day. I thought we Australians had colourful language not so...This man and some of his cronies need their mouths washed out with carbolic soap...I dont' think I swore as much as this mob when I was a soldier. I read a little on it here so you can make your own mind up...I just hope this does not rub off on President elect Barack Obama...something I have noticed now all the hoo ha has died down I am in contact with an American friend her opinion is he will go to gaol...it seems it has been in the American media for some considerable time...but only recently here in Oz. I definitely did not like this statement a direct Quote "Governor Blagojevich was caught on FBI tapes referring to Mr Obama in a derogatory fashion calling him a mother f****r unquote". This bloke is the elected (hmm) Governor of a state in the USA and he uses such derogatory language...he would not have lasted long in Queensland I assure you. The man is just a pig. comments most welcome

I don't like this.

2008-12-04T19:18:00.002+10:00

This reminds me of the Gough Whitlam era which was brought undone by proposed off shore loans called in those far off days petro-dollar loans. My personal opinion is that Kev is possibly going too far. The younger generation may not think so; thank goodness we have an older generation that recalls this only too well. My memory was jogged about this not only by reports in the media but also by a Canadian friend who was telling me about the activities of the Canadian opposition and the role of their Governor General (GG) the Monarchs representative. This representative in all British Commonwealth countries has certain powers as old Gough found out (yes he is still alive and pretty robust for 91) so hopefully the Canadian one works out a solution ok. I’m worried about our so called esteemed PM falling into the same trap. His plans are much to grandiose for us Australians I fear he must pull his head in on this, this is my view...but not his of course naturally the trouble is we ordinary Australians suffer if he makes a blue, but not him he’s a wealthy man his wife more so...he has no worries just us idiots do...big worries at that. A direct quote “The Whitlam government (1972-75) was rocked by revelations that rogue ministers had enlisted Khemlani to raise billions from Arab nations. Unquote” According to the leader of the Australian Federal opposition Mal Turnbull it’s the Kev-lani road show which is a mere reference to Tirath Khemlani the Pakistani commodity dealer in Whitlam’s day More can be read here and also here

The Media and Andrew Symonds

2008-11-30T16:25:00.004+10:00

Andrew Symonds does his own thing to whatever he does, whether he is bowling or batting, his batting is in the mould of David Hooks. Legend has it that Symonds, a dreadlocked Queensland larrikin, once turned up barefoot and wearing a cowboy hat for a contract meeting with Cricket Australia's then-chief executive Malcolm Speed. He also graciously ruled himself ineligible for any award at the 2006 Allan Border Medal - he would have been the One-Day Player of the Year - after being suspended for turning up drunk before Australia's embarrassing loss to Bangladesh on the 2005 Ashes tour. Sadly that was true But One day changed everything. Striding out with his team in strife against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup, a game and tournament he never expected to play in, Symonds sculpted a masterly 143 not out in 125 balls. Until that day, he had mustered just 762 one-day runs at only 23; ever since he has averaged more than 45 and become a hero to the masses. "In the past," he admits, "I was a man without a map when I went out to bat." Now he understands his one-day role perfectly - he could have claimed to be the side's most valuable player after pounding three hundreds and taking 21 wickets in 2005-06. His impact on limited-overs cricket was shown the following season after he ripped a tendon from his arm. Without him the team struggled to its worst losing streak in a decade. Symonds proved he was an incredibly quick healer by entering the World Cup mid-tournament and was part of his second consecutive triumph. Symonds could have played for England but dreamed only of wearing the baggy green. In 2004 his fantasy was fulfilled in Sri Lanka . He batted gamely and was dumped after two Tests. Almost two years later Facing the axe, he cracked a huge six at the MCG to open his scoring with 72 from 54 balls, but was dropped on the Bangladesh tour after the previous series against South Africa. Given another opportunity when Shane Watson was injured and Damien Martyn retired, he appeared in his first Ashes series and reached a career high in his second game with 156 at the MCG. Batting with his fishing mate Matt Hayden. Last year with 777 runs in nine Tests against Sri Lanka, India and West Indies. The high was an unbeaten 162 in the first innings at the SCG, which was quickly followed by a lengthy race row involving Harbhajan Singh. These problems did not prevent him becoming the most popular overseas player at the Indian Premier League auction, where he sold for US$1.35m, After the tournament he switched back into five-day mode and a pair of half-centuries in the tight opening contest with West Indies showed his growing batting maturity and sense of security at Test level. By the end of the campaign his average was a respectable 44.65. His off-field attitude has been odd it’s true when he went fishing in Darwin when he should have been at a team meeting. Symonds was sent home from the series he was picked for this series against NZ. As I see it he played well within himself what bugs me is the way the Media, the ACB and even ex cricketers are out to get him just because he has a few beers after the game, to me it was a trumped up job other sportsmen were in that pub and drinking with Symmo according to them it was all B/S it is my opinion as well. Somebody on the ACB is out to get him with the media’s help they will damn journos. More on Cricket

Medvedev a meddler or mischievous

2008-11-29T19:31:00.002+10:00

I see there are Russian warships in the Caribbean to begin so called exercises with the Venezuelan Navy. This just happens to come at a time when Meddler Medvedev visits this South American Country (I smell oil) he's Definitely not the Khrushchev type or is he it looks to me as though he is throwing down the gauntlet to President Elect Obama. Typical of a man like him he knows full well that the USA is in the process of changing Presidents. I read about exercises and coincidences; I don't believe in coincidence, there is a method in this bloke's madness. Lookee here "Of course these are not times of Cuba and missiles in Cuba" says Teodoro Petkoff, a journalist. For what it is worth I reckon Medvedev is trying it on knowing full well the strain this will place on President Elect Obama. If this is not a provocation why does the Venezuelan president keep stating that it is not of course it's a provocation the American President Elect has enough worries as it is without this meddler. It's obvious to me at least that he is after a warm water port at the same time it seems he is putting the pressure on President Elect Obama. Can you just hear the whinges of him and Putin were the position reversed? I can. I took this blog from my blog on StumbleUpon partly to permit a wider audience to read it, I'm talking the likes of Technorati now But you can read it on this site

Is China a Petulant Child

2008-11-27T15:54:00.000+10:00

I see the Red Chinese government is acting like a spoiled child once more what can you expect from a communist regime? I was not aware his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama lived in China. The reds seem to have forgotten that also the fact they just upped and reclaimed Tibet like they did. Of course most of us realise that The Red Chinese Government has considerable power in the world today, a country that uses our system but at the same time denounces it. Yeah I know the 14th Dalai Lama is a sore point with them don’t you just love it I do it makes that high and mighty HU (well he thinks he is the man) look just like a dork I just love that. Make no mistake the Red Chinese Government are murderers think back to Tiananmen Square. He kicked up a stink when the Dalai Lama came here as I recall and our (at the time John Howard) PM had to be nagged and nagged until public pressure made him speak to his holiness. What will happen with Kev at the helm is anyone’s guess I do know prior to taking office he snubbed the gentleman this was in May 2007 and was more or less forced to meet him things hopefully may have changed somewhat now. But now it appears not according to our very own ABC online. The reason oh just the usual jaunt around the world; at the taxpayer’s expense of course so he has delegated this job to the Government leader in the senate, our deputy PM jetting off to New Zealand. According to the ABC Rudd denies avoiding his Holiness; I guess he would have had to say something like that. Comments most welcome

Governor of New Mexico a large consideration

2008-11-16T20:19:00.001+10:00

American Democrat officials today said Barack Obama is seriously considering Hillary Clinton or Bill Richardson to be his secretary of State. Richardson the New Mexico Governor has a fair bit of foreign policy under his belt with good qualifications these include a UN ambassadorship in the Clinton Administration plus diplomacy qualifications in the Sudan and North Korea. For what it is worth I reckon Hilary will be asked personally as after she stepped down in favour of B Obama she tirelessly worked her utmost for him; I could be wrong of course. More on that can be read here on the Sydney Morning Herald’s online news. I have been receiving a lot of e-mail from friends lately who seem to wish to return to the Republican way and are back to their usual thing of sending mail to how it was prior to the election. I ignore it in the main but often wonder why they bother to do it, the man (yes he is the man now isn’t he) got voted in fair and square by the American people he never squeaked in on a court decision like GW Bush did either he was actually voted into office. We here in Australia had one hell of a shock when Bush got in like that; to me that is not a fair and just decision. It seems certain that the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is hoping to meet with Barack Obama very soon, reading between the lines I reckon they have reached an understanding; I certainly hope so as thinking about it Russia and America have so much in common with each other as countries. Today in America I read racism is a very current issue in fact at this moment in time there is (I had a bloody shock when I read this) 751 hate groups against in the main racism ethnicity and religion. This does not speak well of the ordinary citizen who is just trying to make a living etc, the KKK come into this make no bones about it there was a time when law enforcement officers were members; there probably still are who knows only the inhabitants I guess. This sort of thing is something to be ashamed of how these people who think this way can sleep at nights has me puzzled. I have just been reading about sport some wag suggests it is the main cause of American racism I think that is a lot of crap. It is just competition I like to win when I play games I don't use that as an excuse if I lose. The Brits have the right idea by being seen as a good sportsman/woman. We here in Australia think much the same way sport is to be played in the spirit of the game; not so in the USA sadly. Another thing that pisses me off is why are coloured Americans called African Americans? Because I guess their forbears were slaves, Is that their fault no it is not to me they are American thankfully they may get a chance here once Barack Obama is sworn in. I really hope he turns America on its back if I was him after all of it dies down after the swearing in I would make the American government apologise to the coloured Americans just like our prime minister had to, he had to apologise to the stolen generations of our indigenous people because the previous Prime Minister would not. The previous one was of the same political beliefs as your Republican president. I can't wait for January the 20th to be honest I might write him a letter suggesting an apology once the dust has settled. Then there is recourse to these people the ACLU read what Mr. Obama said on the 1st of August 2007 I’ll tell you ok “As President, I will close Guantánamo, reject the Military Commissions Act, and adhere to the Geneva Conventions”

I don't like this at all

2008-11-13T18:31:00.003+10:00

This is just big brother Rudd one idiotic Prime Minister who has let the job go to his head. Who the hell does he and the rest of our federal government think they are? In the beginning I thought he was an ok bloke but no the man is a devious snake who has allowed his power to go to his head. I shall not vote for the Australian Labor party again. He is going to block 10,000 websites from our right to view them. I think he should get off his backside and apologise look how he treated GW Bush now he thinks all Australians are idiots as well. These websites might be bad sites but it is our right as free individual’s to view what content we please. Conroy is just as bad indeed the whole Caucus is for allowing this sort of thing. I would describe this as the work of an oily heap of crap, Rudd it seems is one smooth talking bastard; not the Mr nice guy he strives to show the world Read all about this on this site

A follow up to yesterday's Remembrance day post

2008-11-12T15:26:00.002+10:00

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To those in America, and the countries of the British empire the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in their country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and also because of the opportunity it gave America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations. These two Videos shows the start of the war and also some of the courtesies displayed to enemy combatants.

Lest we forget

2008-11-11T05:36:00.001+10:00

Remembrance Day 2008 Remembrance Day is always observed on 11 of November, in Australia although the day is not a public holiday. Services are held at 11am at war memorials in suburbs and towns across the country, at which "Last Post" is sounded by a bugler and a one-minute silence is observed. They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old Age shall not weary them nor the year’s condemn At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them Lest we forget Recently road works in Gallipoli have uncovered the remains of soldiers killed there in 1915 during World War I. Australians from all walks of life have expressed concern about our diggers’ last resting place being disturbed. This tells me at least that the ANZAC legend has been embraced by most Australians and going strong. But with Remembrance Day (November 11) tomorrow we need to include those from the Vietnam War as part of this legend. It seems there are those who still make a “distinction” between Gallipoli and Vietnam, even though there are similarities. The Gallipoli campaign, fought on the shores of Turkey and starting on April 25, 1915, involved Australian soldiers being sent to invade a foreign state, the Turkish Ottoman Empire, and ease the pressure on our then ally Russia. These soldiers and sailors by the way volunteered to go to bat for a country most had never seen, we were part of the British Empire then. The eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month is also remembered by many military from many countries besides British, Canadian, South African and the USA. The whole stanza which contains the ode can be read on this site Lest we forget

Post-mortems who needs em

2008-11-09T19:29:00.002+10:00

I see absolutely no need for all these so called political writers holding posts after the event Mr Obama won fair and square. For what do they do these things if only there was a way of speeding up the inauguration process now yeah that would work for me? Naturally they cannot so that's that. I meant to say that Mr Obama has a MySpace and Facebook account he also has a website called a change of Government just here I like it I like what he says on his site I quote “"Immediately after I become president I will confront this economic crisis head-on by taking all necessary steps to ease the credit crisis, help hard-working families, and restore growth and prosperity," President-Elect Obama said unquote” More on here

Elections Elections Elections

2008-11-09T10:56:00.003+10:00

Elections Elections Elections All we seem to read or hear these days is elections last year Kev ran and won in Australia, on Tuesday it was time for a new American President who scored an incredible win over his lacklustre Republican rival. Now the tide has turned yet again against the ruling New Zealand labour party...for the first time in nine years a conservative will run this tiny country. John Key is his name he has been in the NZ opposition party for a mere six years. John a former currency trader who is Jewish and conservative promises change but not where nuclear ships are concerned which annoyed the USA a few years back now...it threatened the ANZUS Treaty I recall that well. We are of the same opinion here in good old OZ and yet a blind eye was turned for us. A lot of problems in NZ most don't know about one of which is the Maori Party. John Key does not need their support but is going to ask them as a matter of courtesy I assume...I applaud that Sadly Helen had no personality like this guy or our esteemed leader. I cannot offer an opinion as to the U S President Elect at this time re personality but he certainly was wanted ...that pleased me More of this can be read here