INCREDIBLE

Ah but I hear you say A pen with a Camera in it big deal I have one in my Mobile or cell phone most of us have; this is true but read on and look on. It now starts to get quite interesting really interesting in fact I can't wait to see my son's face if he ever sees what I have done here. I was astonished at first myself but soon got into it and in fact I like it. I made some phone calls regarding this as well as an e-mail to a friend, it is not that new one told me and apparently the company he runs uses it; I have to admit everytime I have been there I have never noticed it. I have no reason to disbelieve it of course no reason at all and in fact the e-mails I had from a friend showed several websites regarding this technology so the next time you amble into an office to interview a guy for a position with the company; I bet you are just thinking why is he sitting behind my bank of computer's lol

Is white Supremecy rearing it's ugly head in Australia

POLICE have launched raids on the homes of suspected white supremacists in Sydney, arresting a security guard and seizing a cache of guns and other weapons. A Sydney man, 25, was one of five arrested while allegedly carrying tanks of petrol into Brighton-le-Sands on Sunday. The other four have been released. NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney said it appeared the men were "connected to a white supremacy group or groups It looks like we are heading back to the old days of when it was a white only policy in this land of ours. I can recall in the sixties before the decimal system was introduced of driving from a Sydney suburb to Mount Isa for work and as I went through Bourke in North West NSW and almost in Queensland I stopped at one of the numerous hotels there to quench my thirst; seeing a load of folk dressed in nurses uniforms non white of course and I stupidly asked the the licensee who they were and the reply was oh they are the nurses that tend to the blacks. We certainly don't want those days back; do some still want that or is it Middle East related. I think we shall find out soon enough; I stated in an earlier post that I had put it down to drunks but it seems this is not the case. What a world we all live in today, Grandmother would turn in her grave I just know it.

ACLU president insults Australia

A long time ago but it probably still happens; yes in 1999 The President of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Nadine Strossen, yesterday described Australia as a "global village idiot" because it has tried to protect children from illegal material on the Internet. Her comment is an unfortunate example of the arrogant disdain shown by some visiting "experts" who do not feel comfortable with ideas and approaches that differ from their own cultural experiences. I don't recall us poking our nose into American affairs of course; this ACLU is of course upsetting a lot of it's own countrymen OOP'S sorry Country persons. This is not to say it has not helped the American people as it has but at times they The ACLU why she ever said that God only knows sorry ACLU I can put God on here if I wish if you don't like it go take a hike preferably down to Hell or whatever. your dammed ideas are starting to rub off on some here and we are royally pissed off about that ok; so ACLU keep your dammed noses out of Australia As your Website says The ACLU is our nation's guardian of liberty. We work daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Our job is to conserve America's original civic values: the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Watch the video about the ACLU >> if you could only see what I get in my inbox about you mob from concerned American Citizens would you think twice? no I don't think so, do gooders are all the same the world over. So yes stick to your own country ok.

Tracking Santa

" well believe it or not this has now been going on for some 50 years and is a joint effort as signified by the Two flags" This is the 50th Anniversary that NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa. The tradition began after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. store advertisement for children to call Santa on a special "hotline" included an inadvertently misprinted telephone number. Instead of Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief's operations "hotline." The Director of Operations, Colonel Harry Shoup, received the first "Santa" call on Christmas Eve 1955. Realizing what had happened, Colonel Shoup had his staff check radar data to see if there was any indication of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Indeed there were signs of Santa and children who called were given an update on Santa's position. Thus, the tradition was born. In 1958, the governments of Canada and the United States decided to create a bi-national air defense command for the North American continent called the North American Air Defense Command. Canada and the U.S. believed they could better defend North America together as a team instead of separately. The Command carried out its first Santa tracking in 1958 after inheriting the tradition from CONAD. Since that time, Canadian and American men and women who work at NORAD have responded to phone calls from children personally. Additionally, media from all over the world call NORAD on Christmas Eve for updates on Santa's location. Last year this Website was visited by millions of people who wanted to know Santa's whereabouts. This year, the information is provided in six languages. NORAD relies on many volunteers to help make Santa tracking possible. Many people at Cheyenne Mountain and Peterson Air Force Base spend part of their Christmas Eve with their families and friends at NORAD's Santa Tracking Operations Center in order to answer phones and provide Santa updates to the many thousands of children who call in. Santa Just goes to show that many folk still believe in the word Christmas and put in time to please Children probably off duty time as well if the truth be told such a great thing to hear in this oh so ravaged world we live in today

Space Tourism Firm Unveils Orbital Spacecraft Concept

A space tourism group developing a suborbital rocket ship is now taking aim at orbital trips with a new spacecraft that doubles as a hypersonic glider. Canada’s London, Ontario-based firm PlanetSpace unveiled designs for its Silver Dart spacecraft, an eight-person vehicle derived from experimental aircraft studies in the 1970s, Thursday with hopes of carrying fare-paying passengers into orbit and resupplying the International Space Station (ISS). “The Silver Dart is the DC-3 of the space industry,” said Geoff Sheerin, PlanetSpace president and CEO, in a telephone interview. “It has so many things going for it in terms of performance.” Sheerin’s Silver Dart program is separate from his Canadian Arrow effort to use a proven V2 rocket design to build a three-person rocket ship for suborbital flights. Plans for the Silver Dart date back about four years as Sheerin was researching the Canadian Arrow rocket to compete in the $10 million Ansari X Prize competition for suborbital spaceflight. “About five percent of my time has been looking and poring over the program,” Sheerin said of the Silver Dart plans. But NASA’s intention to purchase commercial services for both cargo and crew flights to the ISS encouraged Sheerin and his team to push forward with their work. NASA plans to retire its three remaining space shuttles – Atlantis, Endeavour and Discovery – in 2010. Does anyone think that NASA will buy Canadian? well I for one hope so as Both countries share a common border and a long one at that; maybe it is time to bury the hatchet between both governments I hope so.

If you dont like the way we are, just leave you won't be missed at all.

not by either country I shouldn't think; however this is a letter I received today in my inbox and IMO it definitely warrants publishing on here; I do vaguely recall it in the media; it sort of slipped my mind until I was reminded today. Australia- The Right to Leave Our Country - YOU Have the right - the right to leave ! After Sydney not wanting to offend other cultures by putting up Xmas lights. After hearing that the State of South Australia changed its opinion and let a Muslim woman have her picture on her driver's license with her face covered. This prompted this editorial written by an Australian citizen. Published in an Australian newspaper; Well I found it here actually. Quote: IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It ! I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand. This idea of Australia being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, Learn the language! "In God We Trust" is our National Motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, Because God is part of our culture. If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like " A Fair Go", then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, And we really don't care how you did things where you came from. This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whinging, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our National Motto, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, "THE RIGHT TO LEAVE" If you aren't happy here then f#@* off! We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted. Pretty easy really, when you think about it. I figure if we all keep passing this to our friends (and enemies) it will also, sooner or later get back to the complainers, lets all try, please. Of course Helen Clarke's Government may take them who cares; New Zealand seem to like squandering their public funds on them; we on the other hand are sick of them. This has nothing to do with the ugly riots in Sydney either; that was fuelled by grog I reckon No matter how many times you receive it... please forward it to all you know .

Before you go

This is what I thought was a remarkable site sent to me by a U.S Marine retired and when I saw it it reminded me a little of my past in WW11. Memories Turn up your audio volume please. I was just a child of course and living in the UK and saw many of American soldiers mainly in the convoys awaiting to go across the English channel for D Day June 6th 1944; few returned in one piece either. The elderly parking lot attendant wasn't in a good mood. Neither was Sam Bierstock. It was around 1 a.m., and Bierstock, a Delray Beach , Fla., eye doctor, business consultant, corporate speaker and musician, was bone tired after appearing at an event. He pulled up in his car, and the parking attendant began to speak. "I took two bullets for this country and look what I'm doing," he said bitterly. At first, Bierstock didn't know what to say to the World War II veteran. But he rolled down his window and told the man, "Really, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you." Then the old soldier began to cry. Cut to today. Bierstock, 58, and John Melnick, 54, of Pompano Beach - a member of Bierstock's band, Dr. Sam and the Managed Care Band - have written a song>>> inspired by that old soldier in the airport parking lot. The mournful "Before You Go" does more than salute those who fought in WWII. It encourages people to go out of their way to thank the aging warriors before they die. "If we had lost that particular war, our whole way of life would have been shot," says Bierstock, who plays harmonica. "Every ethnic minority would be dead. And the soldiers are now dying at the rate of about 2,000 every day. I thought we needed to thank them." "It made me cry," wrote one veteran's son. Another sent an e-mail saying that only after his father consumed several glasses of wine would he discuss "the unspeakable horrors" he and other soldiers had witnessed in places such as Anzio, Iwo Jima, Bataan and Omaha Beach. "I can never thank them enough," the son wrote. "Thank you for thinking about them." Bierstock and Melnick thought about shipping it off to a professional singer, maybe a Lee Greenwood type, but because time was running out for so many veterans, they decided it was best to release it quickly, for free, on the Web. They've sent the song to Sen. John McCain and others in Washington. Already they have been invited to perform it in Houston for a Veterans Day tribute - this after just a few days on the Web. They hope every veteran in America Vets a chance to hear it. One should think long and hard about this when thinking about the American Patriot act in MHO as we have similar laws in Australia (I left the UK and became an Aussie)and whilst they come under close scrutiny they have not yet been abused and I doubt the Patriot act in the USA will either; MHO again of course. We owe all military a debt that can never ever be repayed and in the two world wars a lot of them were volunteers one should never forget that ever, remember the price of liberty is eternal vigilance

Irate New England Parishioners

So from praying to Condo's certainly a bleak outlook for the Congregation who will now have to move The old-timers call St. Peter's The Rock. They talk of the days when there were 10 Masses on a weekend, when the convent was full of nuns and the schools packed with children, when the ushers wore tuxedos to High Mass at the Dorchester church. But now the convent is empty, attendance at Mass is sparse, the school population has shrunk to one-fifth its former size. The church has no pastor, and is so desperate for cash that, after the last cut in the subsidy from the archdiocese, the priest in charge sold the rectory artwork and furniture, as well as the dining room set. And the makeup of the parish has been transformed. The Irish-Americans who filled the parish are almost entirely gone now; the neighborhood is dominated by immigrants from Cape Verde, while the largest group of worshipers at the church is from Vietnam. IMMACULATE CONDOS: Over the next two years, 70 Catholic churches in Boston will be sold. Some may be converted to condos, like this former church in Newton, Mass, picture at the top. Globe report The convent, which once housed 30 nuns, is now largely vacant, and the one nun left on the faculty of St. Peter's School is poised to retire. No pastor has lived at St. Peter's for nearly a decade; the rectory is home to two Vietnamese priests, one of whom is assigned to a Chelsea parish. One of the school buildings is rented to the Boston public schools; the other is still a parochial school, with 173 pupils, down from 1,100 in 1967. In its heyday, in the 1930s and 1940s, St. Peter's was home to an estimated 26,000 Catholics, most of whom went to Mass at least once a week. A lot of history there and yet like most things today money and disinterest is a major factor I think; disinterest from the masses and money dreams in eyes of some folk who have bought these Churches. I can hear it now " OH but I had to spend ex amount of dollars to convert them to condo's" of course what they don't mention is the huge profit they will make ah good old democracy at work; even the former Soviet union are at it; saw the error of their ways; hopefully the Chinese will as well; still they too are branching out into this money grabbing world; look at Hong Kong

Cool Christmas day Forecast

According to the weather Bureau it will be a pleasant 26 Celsius. QUEENSLANDERS sweltered again yesterday with temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s across the southeast, but conditions are expected to improve before Christmas. Brisbane topped 35C and Ipswich was slightly hotter at 37C, while the Gold and Sunshine coasts recorded 34C and 33C respectively. A mite warmish but then think of it on the big day A just right temperature; oh I just recalled for our North American cousins 26 Celsius is 78.8 Fahrenheit see http://www.google.com.au/ when is the USA going to come inline with the rest of us on the Metric system? lets face it most of us have adopted their Metric Monetary system; ex British Empire countries; even Mother herself did, although I reckon they should have used the ten shilling unit and not their beloved Pound; we used the old ten shillings I know. Ok money and weather are not akin to each other, I will go and post this minute

Queensland Cop a drunken driver

AN off-duty police officer has been caught three times over the alcohol limit driving home from his work Christmas party – in a paddy wagon. The constable, 41, careered off a harbourside street in Bowen, south of Townsville, early yesterday morning, wiping out a fence and damaging the front of the vehicle. He was on his way home from the Bowen Memorial Services Bowls Club after partying with workmates;Courier Mail. a quiet place Bowen and bloody hot as well still I guess the wrong thing was done especially now we have courtesy buses to take folk home; another scheme which was around was a $2 cab fare subsidised by various drinking establishments, I don't know if that one is still going but buses are. ok yeah so he did the wrong thing but I have done it not proud of it but all in all only minor damage occured; I still hope he evades a gaol term as all in all I have found cops in Queensland country areas fine; yep thats the word just fine him heavily ok.

Iraqis flock to ballot box

At least something came out of the bloodshed and according to news reports blood was still shed including yes you got it another American. No I am not American in case you are wondering just another western ally of theirs that lives on the Pacific Rim; give the man full marks easy one huh Australia of course. Such a pleasant change seeing Moslem women without that loathed veil. Who voted a far cry from the old days when they were forced to walk behind their menfolk and voting, well it was not allowed; I notice they remove that veil, well most of them when flying even with Westerners on board; as I came face to face with one on the way to the facilities aft on an aircraft one time; even a hesistant smile was seen; obviously their menfolk enforce it. We certainly live in a mixed up world.

George takes the blame for the Bagdad Butcher

Well he has no choice really but I do think if it had been all finished much quicker than it was;( well it is not really finished yet is it) the world would not have whinged so much. So easy to say in hindsight I know see, Sydney paper news report; Of course if one casts their minds back he was not alone in all this and the U.N was dithering as usual details so I think in MHO the right decision at the time was made; nobody likes war naturally maybe if his Father a former president had carried on in 1991 things would have been different, hindsight again. still progress has been made and although many lives have been lost (mainly American of course) Iraq is now a democracy. what sticks in my craw is the fact that after so much has been done there and the terrible price it cost; the coalition are not really wanted there at all. the French well they are not worth discussing; by French I mean their Government. Hopefully the Butcher of Bagdad will not be alive much longer; he alone is costing money; a Kangaroo court would have solved that issue much quicker methinks

Federation

Of course I am talking of Australia here; The birthplace of federation was a small NSW town on the NSW/Qld border. On the 24th of October 1889 the then premier of NSW one Sir Henry Parkes stopped in Tenterfield on the way back to Sydney; he had been visiting brisbane and had been discussing Federation there it seems. he had an unusual enthusiastic reception from the Townsfolk. this of course earned him the title father of Federation. Quiet statesmanship and dogged persistence were to achieve for Australia what cannon and sword won so dearly for the 13 American colonies. Australia's founding fathers were not confronted with the same obstinacy and greed from Queen Victoria that the Yankees encountered in George III. George was really insane and it is believed he suffered from the hereditary disease of Porphyria. So all in all America had a tough time of it defeating a maniac; they still defeat maniacs but that is another story entirely. Any opposition to it in fact came from us ourselves and not Great Britain. The vote in favour of Queensland becoming part of Australia was needed of course and lies were told I believe so what's new lol politics again. The Australian Labor Party was formed at Barcaldine and for seven turbulent days in December 1899, Queensland enjoyed the distinction of having the world's first Labor government. Queensland was plunged into one of it's most tumultuous period's, with the great shearers strike of 1891 prompting workers to again raise the Eureka flag; and again armed troops were sent in by the government to quell the uprising. Passions were running high and in the turbulent aftermath of the burning of the Dagworth station woolshed, Banjo Patterson put pen to paper to write the stirring words of Waltzing Matilda.why that was never our national anthem I and thousands of others will never know conventions were called, the premiers met yet again to draft enabling acts to elect delegates for a new convention to revise and amend the draft Constitution and then finally, in 1898, referendums were held. Even then, Queensland did things its own way, boycotting the 1898 vote. With its sugar industry heavily reliant on Kanaka labour, the northern colony had serious misgivings about the "White Australia Policy" component of Federation and it was not until the other colonies sweetened the deal financially that Queenslanders went to the polls. Not all Queenslanders, however. Indeed, it was anything but. For starters, Queensland's 215,000 females were denied to vote, so too all Aborigines. And of the other races, only the richest Indian and Chinese merchants were eligible to vote. What's more, a six-month residential qualification meant that Queensland's large itinerant workforce – shearers, canecutters and navvies – also were denied. That meant that out of a Queensland population of around 482,000, fewer than 70,000 were granted a say on whether Queensland was to become a state in the new Commonwealth, a homogeneous white vote for an homogeneous white land. Still I understand that this happened in northern countries as well. Women were denied the vote in the UK; not the case now thank goodness. Western Australia were also needed and it was feared they would back down; all ended well however and we became a federation and the Commonwealth in 1901 The upshot of all this is we are now a very modern Island nation Thanks to all concerned and that includes the poor convicts that started us off and free settlers as well naturaly; migrants we have always had although the method of getting into a country which is truly multicultural now is difficult and at times hard to understand.

Sydney's Shame

This is definitely one situation we do not need to be facing in Queensland but it appears that our NSW drunks have been sending text messages to us up here. Some of the photographs have shocked our local cops up here me too as well. One guy an ex NSW cop said he moved up here to escape the violence in the Sydney outer suburb of Cronulla. He is now a civilian living up here on the Sunshine Coast. I did read somewhere he is planning to leave here with his family in ten years time as he thinks this type of thing will move north, I think the guy is right; all the same he does not have much faith in our Police service. I think they will do ok myself I know our boys and gals in blue are up to scratch in this thing; but it is still a nasty situation to be in. These quotes are courtesy of the Sunshine coast daily One photograph of the recent violence showed an angry mob armed with beer bottles preparing to strike at a single officer. It is these kinds of images that have struck at the heart of some Coast police officers. But in a situation like that (Cronulla), it could very easily turn ugly and I don't know what kind of ¨protection we would have.¨ Another police officer said she had no doubt we had entered a new era of policing in Australia¡¨. We don't have tear gas bombs or water bombs which is why we havent been trained to use them. A police spokesperson said the Sunshine Coast police continually monitor community relations to detect any adverse trends To date there are no issues of concern,¡¨ the spokesperson said.In addition to the large number of police on the Sunshine Coast, resources could be called in to assist should it be necessary.

Tattoo of the week

Tattoo of the week This portrait tattoo is of that well known Australian flightless bird the Emu’ the second largest next to the South African Ostrich. They can run at up to 67.5 kilometres an hour or for our American friends who just won’t convert like the rest of the world 30 miles per hour (even their miles are different) but that’s another story. Despite their size and their fairly agro cousins the Ostrich Emu’s are shy, docile, timid perhaps. Some say they can be cute; I myself found them shy but not the cleanest of animals. The Tattoo featured was done in Adelaide and looks good; I do have a few tats but I think I have enough to be honest.

I don't live in a bubble

I do not live in a bubble. If one thinks about this, whatever you’re political bent the man is the head of state of the largest democracy in the world; of course he doesn’t live in a bubble as the media would have us believe. Why he actually answered the question on NBC nightly news has me stumped. Naturally he reads news papers and the odd Television like most of us. The only bubble he is in is the one of security; he knew this from the word go, Ok so the guy made a few mistakes don’t we all. He may or may not have made a huge one with Iraq but he had helpers in his ears like us and the Brits; it is far too late to back out now and I whilst not in love with him or his policies think he needs all the support he can get. Remember it is better the devil you know than the one you don't; I myself have never forgotten those words December 13, 2005 - 1:27PM this is from an Australian newspaper US President George Bush says he does not live "in a bubble". He said that he is well aware of what is going on outside the White House, rejecting critics' claims that he is out of touch with public opinion. "I don't feel in a bubble," he said in an interview on NBC Nightly News. Bush said he gets "really good advice" from "very capable people" and that people from all walks of life provide information to him and his advisers. "I feel very comfortable that I'm very aware of what's going on," Bush said. But Bush did acknowledge the bubble of security that prevents him from enjoying ordinary experiences. "I mean you feel in a bubble in the sense that I can't go walking out the front gate and you know, go shopping, like I'd love to do for my wife," he said. Asked how much television news and newspapers he regularly consumes, Bush moved to dispel a myth that grew a few years ago after he told an interviewer that he does not read newspapers. "Every morning I look at the newspaper," Bush told NBC. "I can't say I've read every single article in the newspaper. But, I definitely know what's in the news. "Occasionally, I watch television. I don't want to hurt your feelings. But it's occasionally," Bush said jokingly. "But I'm very aware of what's in the news. I'm aware because I see clips. I see summaries," he said, adding that staffers also brief him on "what's brewing today".

An open Letter from the RSL to the QLD Premier

OPEN LETTER TO PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND 6 December 2005 The Hon Peter Beattie MP Premier of Queensland PO Box 15185 City East QLD 4002 Dear Mr Premier I write on behalf of the Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) members in regards to the minute.s silence that was observed in Queensland Parliament on Friday 2 December on the occasion of the execution of Nguyen Tuong Van. The RSL was deeply offended and strongly opposed to the Parliamentary move to recognise this event through a one-minute silence and we are extremely disappointed in your leadership in this matter. Our vehement opposition is rooted in the apparent disregard for the concept of silence for remembrance of departed comrades, who have sacrificed their lives and health for the sake our nation. Our members strongly believe the decision to move the moment.s silence showed a complete disregard for the origins of remembrance silence, which is attributed to Australian journalist and returned serviceman, Edward Honey. Honey.s appeal for five silent minutes of national remembrance in 1919 was the beginning of what he described as a .very sacred intercession..communion with the Glorious Dead who won us peace.. The concept of remembrance silence remains an essential feature of commemorative services and League functions to this day. No matter how small, members stand in silence for a brief interval to remember their departed comrades. The RSL believes it is totally inappropriate to start using the moment's silence for any other circumstance. To do so otherwise, is offensive to our veterans, war widows, and all those who have lost loved ones in the service of our nation. The fact that Queensland Parliament publicly bestowed the same honour and mark of respect reserved for those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, on one who has been convicted of a criminal offence, was insulting and disrespectful. 1/2 Furthermore, as Chairman of the ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee (Queensland) Incorporated, we believe you have a responsibility to uphold the objects of the Association, specifically: - the recognition of the gallant courage displayed by the Australian sons and daughters in fighting for the preservation of liberty and civilisation; and - the commemoration of our fallen and the acknowlegement of the suffering of our wounded. We strongly urge you, as Premier of Queensland, to exercise more appropriate discretion in future to preserve the sanctity of the minute.s silence so it remains as it was intended to be . a very sacred intercession. Lest We Forget. Yours truly, GW Mason State President Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) As an ordinary member (sometimes wrongly mistakenly called a full member which it is but not called that) I although having sympathy with the executed man and his family have to agree that he was not serving his country indeed any country by his actions and as a drug mule does not rate this treatment by our Premier; this was sent to me by the way by friends still serving in our military.

One giant leap for Queensland

One giant leap for Queensland RECORD-breaker . . . weighing in at a healthy 3.85kg, Mia Angel Spencer officially became the state's four millionth resident early yesterday morning. Picture: Nathan Richter. Baby Mia makes it an even four million 10th December 2005 ONE tiny baby One giant leap for Queensland. Mia Angel Spencer yesterday secured her place in history by becoming Queensland's four millionth resident. Fittingly, she was born four minutes after the state's statisticians predicted the population would pass the four million mark, arriving at 3.59am in Caboolture Hospital. While Mia slept through most of her big day, father Rob Spencer and mother Paula Rutherford, of Morayfield, said the news was "still sinking in". "I said to the nurse: 'You're kidding me?' " Mr Spencer, a construction worker, said. "I was only joking about it last weekend, whether she'd be the four millionth, after reading the story in The Courier-Mail." The thing is will she go into the Guiness book of records? well I reckon it could happen; I myself thought she looked cute. and who knows with record books. Baby Mia had other ideas, even choosing to arrive two weeks before her due date. Although the couple are originally from NSW, they have certainly helped boost the Sunshine State's population. Mia, who weighed 3.85kg, is the family's sixth addition, joining Jessica, 19, Samantha, 17, Lauren, 13, Jack, 6, and Stephanie, 4. Premier Peter Beattie said parents of all babies born yesterday were eligible for a special commemorative certificate and T-shirt. "Today's milestone and our ongoing economic success makes Queensland the place to invest, work, live and play," he said. Queensland reached its first million in 1938. The second million took another 36 years, the third million just 18 years and the fourth only 13. The five millionth Queenslander is expected to arrive in September 2017.

Something to think about

"We are the ruling race of the world. . . . We will not renounce our part in the mission of our race, trustee, under God, of the civilization of the world. . . . He has marked us as his chosen people. . . . He has made us adept in government that we may administer government among savage and senile peoples." : Sen. Alfred Beveridge = "I firmly believe that when any territory outside the present territorial limits of the United States becomes necessary for our defense or essential for our commercial development, we ought to lose no time in acquiring it." : Sen. Orville Platt of Connecticut 1894. = "Between 1898 and 1934, the Marines invaded Cuba 4 times, Nicaragua 5 times, Honduras 7 times, the Dominican Republic 4 times, Haiti twice, Guatemala once, Panama twice, Mexico 3 times and Columbia 4 times," Washington has intervened militarily in foreign countries more than 200 times." === "If the people are not convinced (that the Free World is in mortal danger) it would be impossible for Congress to vote the vast sums now being spent to avert danger. With the support of public opinion, as marshalled by the press, we are off to a good start. It is our Job - yours and mine -- to keep our people convinced that the only way to keep disaster away from our shores is to build up America's might." -- Charles Wilson, Chairman of the Board of General Electric and Truman appointee to head the Office of Defence Mobilization, in a speech to the Newspaper Publishers Association, 1950 . Something to ponder on I agree but I think I"m glad they are on our side; still all in all one certainly wonders at times

Phar Lap and the Melbourne cup

Phar Lap the world’s greatest racehorse Well as most Aussies know on the second Tuesday in November a horse race is held in which the whole nation stops; it’s called the Melbourne cup. Phar Lap’s first big win appears to have been the 1929 AJC Derby. A New Zealand horse as indeed most Melbourne cup winners seem to be he had a huge heart and I mean that literally; on his first race in Victoria the Victorian Derby he won it by lengths. He was ridden by a nobbled jockey and was third in the 1929 Melbourne cup; the fix was in by this time; he still managed wins in Sydney and Adelaide but it was being made hard for the horse and trainer. Certain characters were off laying bets and as a result in some races bets were refused on the worlds best racehorse He dominated the racing news of the day; certain members of the Victorian racing club of the time (who are nameless in this account) I presume did things to stop it. In Novevember 1930 he did of course make history and win the melbourne cup. The horse float vehicle would not start on the day of the cup; the local Police Sergeant fixed that saying well I have a couple of quid on him myself But then the Victorian Jockey Club of the day made it so hard than the horse was eventually sold to some one in California He died there as a result of Arsenic poisoning and the matter was hushed up; a sad day for all of Australia, I am only glad I don’t bet; for those who don’t know it was all made into a movie

Venom in Lizards

But what do you think of our Goanna isn’t he great Venom in lizards It was always thought that no venomous lizards existed in Australia but they apparently do as I see it from this report I have read danger to us is low but if you are a mouse well I guess you have to go onto the next life. Scientists have known of just two living venomous lizards: the Gila monster and the Mexican beaded lizard. Turns out there may be more than 1,500 of them. The discovery, reported this week by the journal Nature, alters thinking on the origins of venom. Scientists used to believe that snakes evolved venom between 60 million and 80 million years ago. Lizards were said to have developed it around 100 million years ago, independent of their legless cousins. But after comparing the genetic code for snake and lizard venom, Bryan Fry at the University of Melbourne, Australia discovered that the two reptiles shared nine toxins. This supports the idea that snakes and venomous lizards evolved from a common venomous ancestor, and after connecting the DNA dots, Fry and his colleague’s traced venom to a single origin 200 million years ago. Ah but then I can hear a few murmurs here what about that horrible toxic Lizard that is I believe living on an Indonesian Island the Komodo dragon a huge brute and the biggest lizard in the world. I surely would not wish to come under him or his evil black eye; It has been known for this brute to kill children I read somewhere so Indonesia is off my travel plans still I have been once; that was enough for me I would never go back;It never rated another look as far as I could see and it amazes me how folk fly to Bali from here for holidays; More another day on something else I think.

Sharks a normal thing here

The large fin seen off Bondi last night Photo: courtesy of Daniel Matthewson Eyewitness accounts December 7, 2005 - 5:12PM A large shark spotted off Bondi had scores of onlookers "screaming like monkeys" as swimmers rushed from the water. The four to five-metre long shark was seen in the waters off Mackenzie Point in Bondi at 6pm yesterday. About 100 terrified onlookers screamed warnings to swimmers and a resident alerted the Bondi Life Guard Service. Two lifeguards on jet-skis were sent out to warn the estimated 500 people swimming at Bronte, Tamarama and Bondi beaches at the time. "There were 100 people up the top screaming like monkeys," said one lifeguard who went out on a jet-ski to alert swimmers. With the help of onlookers, the two jet-ski riders quickly cleared the area around the shark of swimmers. "We moved on probably 10 people from the vicinity of where the shark was spotted," according to one lifeguard ,who said. "They were everything from a spear-fisherman to board paddlers, swimmers and sea paddlers." the shark was described as a "monster". one guard said "My estimate of its size would have to be, by the look of the fin, 14 feet [4.3 metres], 15 feet. The fin stood half a metre out of the water." But he said he wasn't scared by the shark. "I wasn't scared. I was just in awe," he said. "We're in its backyard, you kind of respect it. You have respect for the beast of the ocean. "I've spent my whole life in the ocean and had close encounters with one shark before, but this thing was the king of the ocean. I mean, it could have eaten us at any time." The Life Guard Service had patrolled the coast this morning but found no sign of the shark. Be warned it can be worse as in our waters in Northern Queensland Saltwater crocodiles can be found Usually from Cairns and above; To be honest I have never seen a croc in the sea only in a creek, I have absolutely no wish to either as they can grow to a large size also. I did see a Shark down off Maroochydore beach last easter, and the swimmers were called out of the water; spotted by The shark air patrol, it soon vanished however. and here we are sweltering and need to cool off at the beach, not to worry we are a hardy and resourceful race and can cool off at a Pub lol

Drunken Elephants

So drunken Elephants and not pink ones That is a difference for sure I read this in a science mag Tipsy Elephants Probably Poisoned, Not Drunk so there could be some truth in it who knows with science these days. There's a longstanding myth that African elephants sometimes get plastered on the fruit of the marula tree. As with many myths, there are some facts that fuel this one. Elephants do sometimes get visibly tipsy. The Marula fruit gains an alcohol content of about 3 percent after a few days on the ground. Elephants like the fruit. And elephants have been known to raid stores of beer and wine, suggesting a desire to imbibe. It seems they like their grog just like most of us even going so far as to raid stores of alcohol but this study I read reckons it would be very hard for a three ton Elephant to get drunk just eating this Marula fruit; something in this I reckon I shall have to look into this a little deeper; providing the airfare is a reasonable price Lol; researchers determined that a three-ton elephant eating like a pig, and consuming nothing but Marula fruit, would struggle to get smashed. Here's the kicker: Elephants prefer Marula fruit direct from the tree, not the stuff that's been lying around. does this guy really think we believe that? I mean why raid our hoarded stores of grog when these brutes prefer this Marula fruit So what about those occasionally tottering pachyderms? Researchers speculated that they've been poisoned instead. African elephants also eat the bark of the marula tree, these jokers note, and the bark is inhabited by the pupae of a beetle traditionally used to poison the tips of arrows. I bet these guys get a huge university grant to study the boozing habits of Elephants instead of something worthwhile like medical research etc; Do you seriously believe this I reckon they just like getting smashed like a lot of us do. Being an Elephant must be a stressful life after all it seems lol I wanna be an Elephant when I grow up Well they live longer I was told as well as grog on.

On a stinking hot Tuesday (36 Celsius 97 Fahrenheit)

Christmas Where the Gum Trees Grow Christmas where the gum trees grow there is no frost and there is no snow Christmas in Australia's hot Cold and frosty is what it’s not when the bloom of the Jacaranda tree is here Christmas time is near From England came our Christmas fare They even said what Santa should wear But here down under for summers cool Santa should dip in a swimming pool Christmas where the gum trees grow There is no frost and there is no snow Christmas in Australia's hot Cold and frosty is what its not When the bloom of the Jacaranda tree is here Christmas time is near Santa rides in a sleigh on snow But down here where the gum trees grow Santa should wear some water ski's And glide around Australia with ease Christmas where the gum trees grow There is no frost and there is no snow Christmas in Australia's hot Cold and frosty is what its not When the bloom of the Jacaranda tree is here Christmas time is near To ride around the bush where its dry To cart all the presents piled so high A red nosed reindeer would never do Santa should jump on a kangaroo Christmas where the gum trees grow There is no frost and there is no snow Christmas in Australia's hot Cold and frosty is what its not When the bloom of the Jacaranda tree is here Christmas time is near Christmas time is near Yes just twenty days to go

Monday's news regarding tall towers or buildings

The world’s tallest tower Apparently that honour so I read in some scientific journal (heady stuff) goes to this tower pictured here and according to what I read is built on a fault line and is thought by some to be the cause of the tremors beneath it. It is in Taiwan so at least it is in the northern hemisphere. Well it made my Sunday report look a tad silly but still like I said Taiwan is in the Northern Hemisphere so it does not look all bad.

Bucks on Sunday

The picture above Ayers rock is a view of the Q tower on Queensland’s Gold Coast being struck by lightning on the 24th of October 2005 at 2 minutes past six in the evening; courtesy of Buck junior; this tower is the tallest in the Southern hemisphere and possibly the world. I can just see the looks of disbelief as all go to Wikkey or Google lol; well that’s what the report on the picture said ok. It crossed my mind as we have been having some rather bad electrical storms lately; still this is the season for it now so I guess we should not grumble, In fact while you lot in the Northern Hemisphere are freezing we are sweating; the funny thing is we shall still be sweating when you are but not quite as much. What a world And to think it is only three weeks to Christmas according to my calendar; not so nice to be ahead in time after all. I suppose we shall read in the media that it has been a record spending for Christmas this year as always, and hasn’t it gone quick this year and so on blah blah blah; what hogwash still all in I guess folk look forward to it. Maybe a post tomorrow or a trip out.

Saturday's happenings at Buck's place

I was surfing the net today a daily ritual and I came across this picture of two American Seabees helping out, well overseeing things by the look of it; in Muzaffarabad Pakistan; correct me if I am wrong here but is Pakistan a Moslem country; yes I thought so we help them and their neighbours in Afghanistan bomb the crap out of us. I sort of had a laugh at the Brits and Americans complaining or whinging as we Aussies would say at Libya for allegedly illegally jamming a couple of their satellites. Ok so what; the whole world is sick of terrorists I agree but we used satellites to spy on Libya and countries considered enemies of the west for years and still do; are or will we take a complaint from one of our enemies? I think not. I know I wouldn’t. I noticed they were in the main US Military diplomatic and wonders of wonders the good old FBI oh and of course the sports channels. Still I don’t really give a rat’s a**e myself but I could not help but secretly smile. And I wonder did you read about one of our blokes who applied for bail in Uganda name of Dr Aggrey Kiyingi a good old Aussie name that lol. Still his lawyer had a good old Ugandan name of Fred; I just love that Charged with murder of course I mean what else; refused naturally as he apparently only handed in his Aussie passport not his Ugandan one. I hear folks in the USA have one of ours as well another Doctor name of Patel sounds Indian to me ah but what the heck; I do recall him doing something wrong here and fled.

Buck1936's Place

From the land down under as folk from the Northern Hemisphere often refer to Australia,

Everything it seems is in reverse here even our Cyclones (Hurricanes) which spin the other way and yes even when water is emptied from the bathtub; seasons naturally except when one gets above the Tropic of Capricorn when just the two are present; the wet and dry seasons usually in Townsville and Darwin.

Where brains are concerned it is of course a different matter entirely; contrary to the European myth we are not dense or thick at all; sorry people it had to be said as I have heard it so much it tends to stick in ones craw.

I hear the weather is crook up in the north with snow etc; indeed I have seen pictures and I think I will stay put as cold weather is not exactly my cup of tea as we say, however I do admit our weather has whilst hot been wet; the usual electrical storms and so forth.

Here are a few links for you to look at until I post again

http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/ http://www.aboutseniors.com.au/default.htm http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/
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