This is exactly why I signed up for #blogjune, and maybe why I shouldn't have.
It's day 4, but I'm typing this at 12:30am on day 5. :)
One of my friends who has done #blogjune before said something like "don't be too hard on yourself, pace yourself" etc... And this has always been the 'problem' with my blog: if it's not right / perfect I don't post, so very little gets posted at all!
I really liked this tweet from another #blogjune writer: https://twitter.com/jackielb79/status/472971928441864192 Jackie writes "in which I remember I have a blog"... It's like that for me.
I hope that the habit of #blogjune may bring on some more regular blogging into the future and help me overcome my perfectionistic tendencies.
We can but try, right?
Thursday, June 05, 2014
Tuesday, June 03, 2014
oz_bandicoot... #blogjune
On Twitter, I am @oz_bandicoot.
Why oz_bandicoot?
Oz_bandicoot was 'born' on the blogging site LiveJournal.
I thought long and hard about my public blogging name on LiveJournal. This was 2004 (yikes) and I'd been blogging privately on LiveJournal, but not done much publicly.
Internet names are hard to choose, I think. I've never been much for "online handles" or nics. I'm not really a soul that was born on the Internet. But I come here to visit and usually the natives are welcoming! I've only had one online nic and that was "RachREL" when I was part of the Usenet group 'aus.tv.x-files' (ATXF) (now part of Google Groups and probably full of spam!). RachREL was a nic that was coined by $tephen Dann and embraced by the rest of the group (as well as myself). I think I did a search and there was no "RachREL" on LiveJournal. It didn't seem right though, to use RachREL. It belonged to a different place and a time that, even ten years ago, was past. Not to mention having an intrinsic meaning that belongs to the ATXF world.
So... what then?
I decided oz_bandicoot for a couple of reasons.
oz is pretty obvious! I'm Australian and proud of it. It's a key part of my identity and who I am. Besides which, plain old "bandicoot" had already been taken! :-)
Bandicoot is, in part, in honour of my mother's father. Apparently he used to call me a little bandicoot when I was little as I was mischevious and would get into everything! (Some would say not much has changed - apart from not being little anymore!).
I also *like* bandicoots. When I was a teenager, I had a poster on my wall about saving the Eastern Barred Bandicoot. Bandicoots are little known Australian marsupials. They are also found in New Guinea. They're nocturnal and usually hard to see. I think this is why most people don't know much about them. They're not glamourous like koalas or abundant and easy to see like kangaroos. They're also not really all that cute. They do, after all, most closely resemble rats! Many of the varieties of bandicoots are endangered or listed as vulnerable. This includes the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, as well as the Southern Brown Bandicoot (see also: http://www.sharkbay.org/Southernbrownbandicootfactsheet.aspx) and others.
Bandicoot also has a place as a unique Aussie word. When I first wrote about choosing this name, ten years ago, I said "These days, Aussie animals are very trendy and I'm sure many kids know bandicoots from Sony's "Crash Bandicoot" game". I wonder how popular Crash Bandicoot is today?
It's really the personal angle that made me choose the name, but I can relate to the bandicoot being endangered and not well known. I feel a bit that way myself sometimes!
My LiveJournal user icon was created by my hubby. He drew an Eastern Barred Bandicoot using a model from The Australian Museum Complete book of Australian Mammals [edited by Ronald Strahan, Cornstalk publishing 1991]. The picture was then scanned and made electronic. It's wasn't quite what I had in mind, but I liked it.
Later, we encounted a bandicoot in a car park on the Great Ocean Road and a photo userpic was made.
Even later again, when I joined Twitter and some other online sites, I used oz_bandicoot as my user name. If I was choosing it today, I'd do away with the underscore. But underscores were the thing (back in the day).
And that, as they say, is how oz_bandicoot got her name! And although this blog post was mostly written in 2004, I think the 2014 version is better. Sadly, many (all?) of the links from the 2004 post are no more. I did wonder if Wikpedia had been invented then (it had), because I didn't use Wikipedia links in 2004. Today, I've replaced some links with Wikipedia ones.
I'm sorry to say the Eastern Barred Bandicoot is still endangered, but I'm pleased to say that dedicated individuals continue to work to save this little marsupial.
#blogjune
Why oz_bandicoot?
Oz_bandicoot was 'born' on the blogging site LiveJournal.
I thought long and hard about my public blogging name on LiveJournal. This was 2004 (yikes) and I'd been blogging privately on LiveJournal, but not done much publicly.
Internet names are hard to choose, I think. I've never been much for "online handles" or nics. I'm not really a soul that was born on the Internet. But I come here to visit and usually the natives are welcoming! I've only had one online nic and that was "RachREL" when I was part of the Usenet group 'aus.tv.x-files' (ATXF) (now part of Google Groups and probably full of spam!). RachREL was a nic that was coined by $tephen Dann and embraced by the rest of the group (as well as myself). I think I did a search and there was no "RachREL" on LiveJournal. It didn't seem right though, to use RachREL. It belonged to a different place and a time that, even ten years ago, was past. Not to mention having an intrinsic meaning that belongs to the ATXF world.
So... what then?
I decided oz_bandicoot for a couple of reasons.
oz is pretty obvious! I'm Australian and proud of it. It's a key part of my identity and who I am. Besides which, plain old "bandicoot" had already been taken! :-)
Bandicoot is, in part, in honour of my mother's father. Apparently he used to call me a little bandicoot when I was little as I was mischevious and would get into everything! (Some would say not much has changed - apart from not being little anymore!).
I also *like* bandicoots. When I was a teenager, I had a poster on my wall about saving the Eastern Barred Bandicoot. Bandicoots are little known Australian marsupials. They are also found in New Guinea. They're nocturnal and usually hard to see. I think this is why most people don't know much about them. They're not glamourous like koalas or abundant and easy to see like kangaroos. They're also not really all that cute. They do, after all, most closely resemble rats! Many of the varieties of bandicoots are endangered or listed as vulnerable. This includes the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, as well as the Southern Brown Bandicoot (see also: http://www.sharkbay.org/Southernbrownbandicootfactsheet.aspx) and others.
Bandicoot also has a place as a unique Aussie word. When I first wrote about choosing this name, ten years ago, I said "These days, Aussie animals are very trendy and I'm sure many kids know bandicoots from Sony's "Crash Bandicoot" game". I wonder how popular Crash Bandicoot is today?
It's really the personal angle that made me choose the name, but I can relate to the bandicoot being endangered and not well known. I feel a bit that way myself sometimes!
My LiveJournal user icon was created by my hubby. He drew an Eastern Barred Bandicoot using a model from The Australian Museum Complete book of Australian Mammals [edited by Ronald Strahan, Cornstalk publishing 1991]. The picture was then scanned and made electronic. It's wasn't quite what I had in mind, but I liked it.
Even later again, when I joined Twitter and some other online sites, I used oz_bandicoot as my user name. If I was choosing it today, I'd do away with the underscore. But underscores were the thing (back in the day).
And that, as they say, is how
Monday, June 02, 2014
Email... #blogjune
As I finally posted my #blogjune post last night, I realised... I hadn't checked my work emails all weekend!
Yes, I'm one of those people... I do check my work emails at home. I'm working on a project at the moment and the main vendor has offices in Ontario, Indiana and Tennessee so I've gotten into the habit of checking emails on a Saturday morning. Saturday morning will pick up any emails sent on their Friday. But last Saturday I had to take my daughter to the dentist at 9am and I had an afternoon appointment and Sunday was also busy... yadda, yadda... so, no email checking.
Did the world end? NO.
It got me thinking... maybe I should cut back on the email checking out of hours?
Email, and our ever-increasing access to it has certainly become an issue for workplaces. Some of the moves in Europe, such as the ban by Volkswagen on delivery to Blackberry devices out of hours have been widely reported. My Google search today shows a similar approach in France. I wouldn't normally recommend an article from the Times of India, but this one covers the issues well.
Interestingly, when I searched work emails at home on Google, the bulk of the hits were about how to set it up!
One of the business sites I like is Inc.com (well, mainly I follow them on Twitter).
It was very interesting to check out their site archive on 'email'.
Back in 2011, they reported on the company that outlawed email. Klick, a Toronto-based digital marketing agency was the company in question. Klick CEO Leerom Segal says:
“In the very early days of Klick we started to recognize some basic challenges with email and wanted to find a better solution... While email makes for a decent communication tool with clients, internally it doesn’t facilitate collaboration and basic workflow. Email has no intelligent mechanisms for prioritization, lacks context, lacks a framework for knowledge management, and saps accountability.”
I tend to agree!
But for most of us, outlawing email isn't an option.
We can 'kill' some of our email traffic. I love these email "killing" tips from company founders!
We can make email more productive ("Key to Email Productivity? Better Subject Lines") - and I love these ideas! Wonder if I can implement any of them?
I once had an academic tell me that there is no such thing as 'work-life balance'. That sometimes, work is our focus 100% and sometimes 'life/family/whatever' is our focus 100%. I get what he was saying... but I still think there's a need for us to be aware of work life balance and of how modern technology blurs the lines between time spend "at" (on?) work, and time spent on non-work.
I'll give the final word here to Suzanne Lucas from her article "France Wants to Ban Work Emails After 6 PM. Should You?". Lucas writes:
"Long hours are legendary in startups, and many entrepreneurs wear them as a badge of honor. If you're running a startup, you might wish to encourage your people to put down the smartphone now and then and spend some time with their family and friends. But you have to balance that with the knowledge that working harder does get you ahead. And it's a tough world out there."
Related links:
Volkswagen turns off Blackberry email after work hours.
23 December 2011.
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-16314901
Lost In Translation: French Rule On Work Email Covers Fewer Workers
by KRISHNADEV CALAMUR
April 10, 2014
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/04/10/301418591/mon-dieu-no-more-work-email-at-home-for-some-french-workers
Ban on after-hours work emails tackles burnout
AFP | May 27, 2014, 02.27 PM IST
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/jobs/Ban-on-after-hours-work-emails-tackles-burnout/articleshow/35629464.cms
Haden, Jeff. (1 Dec 2011). The Company That Outlawed Email. http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/the-company-that-outlawed-email.html
Dumaine, Brian. (May 2014). How to Escape Email Hell: Three founders and their e-mail-killing tips. http://www.inc.com/magazine/201405/brian-dumaine/email-management-tips.html
McKeown, Les. (30 Jan 2014). Key to Email Productivity? Better Subject Lines. http://www.inc.com/les-mckeown/3-simple-letters-that-will-increase-your-email-productivity-immediately.html
Lucas, Suzanne. (10 Apr 2014). France Wants to Ban Work Emails After 6 PM. Should You? http://www.inc.com/suzanne-lucas/should-work-emails-be-banned-after-6pm.html
#blogjune
Yes, I'm one of those people... I do check my work emails at home. I'm working on a project at the moment and the main vendor has offices in Ontario, Indiana and Tennessee so I've gotten into the habit of checking emails on a Saturday morning. Saturday morning will pick up any emails sent on their Friday. But last Saturday I had to take my daughter to the dentist at 9am and I had an afternoon appointment and Sunday was also busy... yadda, yadda... so, no email checking.
Did the world end? NO.
It got me thinking... maybe I should cut back on the email checking out of hours?
Email, and our ever-increasing access to it has certainly become an issue for workplaces. Some of the moves in Europe, such as the ban by Volkswagen on delivery to Blackberry devices out of hours have been widely reported. My Google search today shows a similar approach in France. I wouldn't normally recommend an article from the Times of India, but this one covers the issues well.
Interestingly, when I searched work emails at home on Google, the bulk of the hits were about how to set it up!
One of the business sites I like is Inc.com (well, mainly I follow them on Twitter).
It was very interesting to check out their site archive on 'email'.
Back in 2011, they reported on the company that outlawed email. Klick, a Toronto-based digital marketing agency was the company in question. Klick CEO Leerom Segal says:
“In the very early days of Klick we started to recognize some basic challenges with email and wanted to find a better solution... While email makes for a decent communication tool with clients, internally it doesn’t facilitate collaboration and basic workflow. Email has no intelligent mechanisms for prioritization, lacks context, lacks a framework for knowledge management, and saps accountability.”
I tend to agree!
But for most of us, outlawing email isn't an option.
We can 'kill' some of our email traffic. I love these email "killing" tips from company founders!
We can make email more productive ("Key to Email Productivity? Better Subject Lines") - and I love these ideas! Wonder if I can implement any of them?
I once had an academic tell me that there is no such thing as 'work-life balance'. That sometimes, work is our focus 100% and sometimes 'life/family/whatever' is our focus 100%. I get what he was saying... but I still think there's a need for us to be aware of work life balance and of how modern technology blurs the lines between time spend "at" (on?) work, and time spent on non-work.
I'll give the final word here to Suzanne Lucas from her article "France Wants to Ban Work Emails After 6 PM. Should You?". Lucas writes:
"Long hours are legendary in startups, and many entrepreneurs wear them as a badge of honor. If you're running a startup, you might wish to encourage your people to put down the smartphone now and then and spend some time with their family and friends. But you have to balance that with the knowledge that working harder does get you ahead. And it's a tough world out there."
Related links:
Volkswagen turns off Blackberry email after work hours.
23 December 2011.
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-16314901
Lost In Translation: French Rule On Work Email Covers Fewer Workers
by KRISHNADEV CALAMUR
April 10, 2014
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/04/10/301418591/mon-dieu-no-more-work-email-at-home-for-some-french-workers
Ban on after-hours work emails tackles burnout
AFP | May 27, 2014, 02.27 PM IST
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/jobs/Ban-on-after-hours-work-emails-tackles-burnout/articleshow/35629464.cms
Haden, Jeff. (1 Dec 2011). The Company That Outlawed Email. http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/the-company-that-outlawed-email.html
Dumaine, Brian. (May 2014). How to Escape Email Hell: Three founders and their e-mail-killing tips. http://www.inc.com/magazine/201405/brian-dumaine/email-management-tips.html
McKeown, Les. (30 Jan 2014). Key to Email Productivity? Better Subject Lines. http://www.inc.com/les-mckeown/3-simple-letters-that-will-increase-your-email-productivity-immediately.html
Lucas, Suzanne. (10 Apr 2014). France Wants to Ban Work Emails After 6 PM. Should You? http://www.inc.com/suzanne-lucas/should-work-emails-be-banned-after-6pm.html
#blogjune
Sunday, June 01, 2014
Augmented reality ... at McDonalds? #blogjune
I went to McDonald’s for breakfast this morning. (Yeah, don't judge me!)
Imagine my surprise when my tray mat featured an invitation to download the new World Cup Augmented Reality app.
Augmented Reality? At McDonalds?
Augmented Reality (AR) isn't new and in the GLAM sector we've been using it to do all sorts of interesting things for some time now.
However, I've always thought of AR as being a little 'out there', a bit specialised, maybe only for the 'early adopters'. That sort of thing.
So, what’s it doing at McDonald’s? Was AR now mainstream? Have I not been paying attention?
Copious amounts of googling later and I find… apparently not!
To quote Bruce Sterling "... From now on, when people ask you, “Is AR mainstream yet?” you can say, Hey man, McDonald’s." [1]
Sterling was actually talking about an AR app launched by European McDonald's in 2013. (http://youtu.be/my4JtK3W5vE) McDonald's has experimented with AR in other areas with a "Track my Maccas app" in Australia in 2013. [2]
But now, McDonald's AR has gone global. The Huffington Post reports that: "... By the time the soccer competition begins in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 12 (concluding on July 13), the boxes will be in 119 markets."[3]
Not only that… I have to say it's the first time I've seen AR promoted on a tray mat!
McDonald's also appears to have learnt from previous outings and now offers the app on both iOS and android platforms.
Many of the write-ups about the new app seem to follow the press release, but there are a few highlights. Ina Fried discusses the use of Qualcomm's Vuforia Technology in the app. [4] She writes: "Augmented reality is one of those things that is perennially around the corner, but Qualcomm VP Jay Wright says it is starting to catch on, particularly with marketers looking to give more life to physical goods."
My google search revealed that there are many uses for AR "out there". Some are still pretty "out there", but some are being used by brands we know - Ikea, Lego, Nivea - to reach out to customers and engage with them.
There's still room for libraries and museums in this space. There's an interesting summary of AR and its application to libraries by Carli Spina over at the American Library Association site [5] and I liked Shelley Mannion's post at the British Library [6].
What are your favourite AR apps?
For those of us who want to know more, where would you suggest we start?
Will I download the McDonald's app. Maybe? It's free... and I'm willing to bet that if there's going to be a good example of AR in the marketplace, this better be it.
References:
[1] Sterling, B. (9 March 2013) Augmented Reality: McDonald’s and Metaio http://www.wired.com/2013/09/augmented-reality-mcdonalds-and-metaio/
[2] http://youtu.be/7iFQQGADjf4; http://www.creativeguerrillamarketing.com/augmented-reality/mcdonalds-augmented-reality-app-shows-whats-inside-your-meal/
[3] Burger Business (20 May 2014) McDonald's Fry Boxes Get World Cup Artwork http://www.huffingtonpost.com/burgerbusiness/mcdonalds-fry-boxes-get-w_b_5357456.htm
[4] Fried, Ina (20 May 2014). McDonald’s World Cup Promo Uses Augmented Reality to Turn French Fry Boxes Into Soccer Fields. http://recode.net/2014/05/20/mcdonalds-world-cup-promo-uses-augmented-reality-to-turn-fry-boxes-into-soccer-fields/
[5] Spina, Carli. (Feb 2014). Keeping up with… Augmented Reality. http://www.ala.org/acrl/publications/keeping_up_with/ar
[6] Mannion, Shelley. (2012?) British Museum - Augmented Reality: Beyond the Hype. http://www.museum-id.com/idea-detail.asp?id=336
Related links:
McDonalds:
Burton, Bonnie. (21 May 2014). Gol! McDonald's World Cup app turns boxes of fries into field of dreams. http://www.cnet.com/au/news/play-soccer-with-new-mcdonalds-world-cup-french-fry-boxes/
Jackson, Christopher. (22 May 2014) McDonald’s French Fry Boxes Turns into Soccer Fields with Augmented Reality. http://www.augmentedrealitytrends.com/ar-app/mcdonalds-gol.html
Johnson, Lauren. (20 May 2014). McDonald's Overhauls Packaging for World Cup Digital Push: Also moves from QR codes to augmented reality. http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/mcdonalds-overhauls-packaging-big-digital-world-cup-push-157867
Freeman, Mike. (24 May 2014). McDonald's World Cup app uses new Qualcomm tech: Augmented reality software lets users place objects into soccer app. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/May/24/Qualcomm-augmented-reality-McDonalds-world-cup/
McDonald's app site: http://gol.mcd.com/en.html
AR examples
10 Mind-Blowing Augmented Reality Campaigns
http://www.business2community.com/marketing/10-mind-blowing-augmented-reality-campaigns-0160078#!TeHTq
10 Examples of Augmented Reality in Retail http://www.creativeguerrillamarketing.com/augmented-reality/10-examples-augmented-reality-retail/
10 Rockstar Examples of Augmented Reality for 2014 http://www.creativeguerrillamarketing.com/guerrilla-marketing/10-rockstar-examples-augmented-reality-2014/
#blogjune
Imagine my surprise when my tray mat featured an invitation to download the new World Cup Augmented Reality app.
Augmented Reality? At McDonalds?
Augmented Reality (AR) isn't new and in the GLAM sector we've been using it to do all sorts of interesting things for some time now.
However, I've always thought of AR as being a little 'out there', a bit specialised, maybe only for the 'early adopters'. That sort of thing.
So, what’s it doing at McDonald’s? Was AR now mainstream? Have I not been paying attention?
Copious amounts of googling later and I find… apparently not!
To quote Bruce Sterling "... From now on, when people ask you, “Is AR mainstream yet?” you can say, Hey man, McDonald’s." [1]
Sterling was actually talking about an AR app launched by European McDonald's in 2013. (http://youtu.be/my4JtK3W5vE) McDonald's has experimented with AR in other areas with a "Track my Maccas app" in Australia in 2013. [2]
But now, McDonald's AR has gone global. The Huffington Post reports that: "... By the time the soccer competition begins in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 12 (concluding on July 13), the boxes will be in 119 markets."[3]
Not only that… I have to say it's the first time I've seen AR promoted on a tray mat!
McDonald's also appears to have learnt from previous outings and now offers the app on both iOS and android platforms.
Many of the write-ups about the new app seem to follow the press release, but there are a few highlights. Ina Fried discusses the use of Qualcomm's Vuforia Technology in the app. [4] She writes: "Augmented reality is one of those things that is perennially around the corner, but Qualcomm VP Jay Wright says it is starting to catch on, particularly with marketers looking to give more life to physical goods."
My google search revealed that there are many uses for AR "out there". Some are still pretty "out there", but some are being used by brands we know - Ikea, Lego, Nivea - to reach out to customers and engage with them.
There's still room for libraries and museums in this space. There's an interesting summary of AR and its application to libraries by Carli Spina over at the American Library Association site [5] and I liked Shelley Mannion's post at the British Library [6].
What are your favourite AR apps?
For those of us who want to know more, where would you suggest we start?
Will I download the McDonald's app. Maybe? It's free... and I'm willing to bet that if there's going to be a good example of AR in the marketplace, this better be it.
References:
[1] Sterling, B. (9 March 2013) Augmented Reality: McDonald’s and Metaio http://www.wired.com/2013/09/augmented-reality-mcdonalds-and-metaio/
[2] http://youtu.be/7iFQQGADjf4; http://www.creativeguerrillamarketing.com/augmented-reality/mcdonalds-augmented-reality-app-shows-whats-inside-your-meal/
[3] Burger Business (20 May 2014) McDonald's Fry Boxes Get World Cup Artwork http://www.huffingtonpost.com/burgerbusiness/mcdonalds-fry-boxes-get-w_b_5357456.htm
[4] Fried, Ina (20 May 2014). McDonald’s World Cup Promo Uses Augmented Reality to Turn French Fry Boxes Into Soccer Fields. http://recode.net/2014/05/20/mcdonalds-world-cup-promo-uses-augmented-reality-to-turn-fry-boxes-into-soccer-fields/
[5] Spina, Carli. (Feb 2014). Keeping up with… Augmented Reality. http://www.ala.org/acrl/publications/keeping_up_with/ar
[6] Mannion, Shelley. (2012?) British Museum - Augmented Reality: Beyond the Hype. http://www.museum-id.com/idea-detail.asp?id=336
Related links:
McDonalds:
Burton, Bonnie. (21 May 2014). Gol! McDonald's World Cup app turns boxes of fries into field of dreams. http://www.cnet.com/au/news/play-soccer-with-new-mcdonalds-world-cup-french-fry-boxes/
Jackson, Christopher. (22 May 2014) McDonald’s French Fry Boxes Turns into Soccer Fields with Augmented Reality. http://www.augmentedrealitytrends.com/ar-app/mcdonalds-gol.html
Johnson, Lauren. (20 May 2014). McDonald's Overhauls Packaging for World Cup Digital Push: Also moves from QR codes to augmented reality. http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/mcdonalds-overhauls-packaging-big-digital-world-cup-push-157867
Freeman, Mike. (24 May 2014). McDonald's World Cup app uses new Qualcomm tech: Augmented reality software lets users place objects into soccer app. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/May/24/Qualcomm-augmented-reality-McDonalds-world-cup/
McDonald's app site: http://gol.mcd.com/en.html
AR examples
10 Mind-Blowing Augmented Reality Campaigns
http://www.business2community.com/marketing/10-mind-blowing-augmented-reality-campaigns-0160078#!TeHTq
10 Examples of Augmented Reality in Retail http://www.creativeguerrillamarketing.com/augmented-reality/10-examples-augmented-reality-retail/
10 Rockstar Examples of Augmented Reality for 2014 http://www.creativeguerrillamarketing.com/guerrilla-marketing/10-rockstar-examples-augmented-reality-2014/
#blogjune
Thursday, October 04, 2012
The 'week' that was... Random thoughts on recent events... (part 1?)
It's more than a week since Jill Meagher went missing from a Melbourne street, but less than a week since a man was charged with her abduction, rape and murder. I feel for Jill's family. More than that, I feel for the friend/colleague who offered to walk her home and didn't. It's just around the corner she is reported to have demurred. All the more reason to insist said a taxi driver to me during the week. I agreed. I wonder if I would have insisted though. It's just around the corner in a well-lit Melbourne street. It was late, but there were still people around. Would I have insisted? Would you?
There's been a lot of commentary in the wake of this event. Of course women should be safe to walk home at night. We shouldn't need to 'watch out' all the time. What concerned me most was the number of women who came forward and said 'it could have been me, I was approached by a man in that very area'. Had we known, we might have issued a warning to women, cautioned potential perpetrators. We could have done something... Do we not report incidents because we don't want to be a bother? Do we think it is not important? You can't solve a jigsaw without all the pieces and sometimes its the tiny fagments that add up to a bigger picture.
I particularly liked this piece about 'don't rape', rather than 'don't get raped'. We need to put responsibility where it lies. http://www.hercanberra.com.au/index.php/2012/10/02/rape-culture/
More to come if I ever find time to write it...
There's been a lot of commentary in the wake of this event. Of course women should be safe to walk home at night. We shouldn't need to 'watch out' all the time. What concerned me most was the number of women who came forward and said 'it could have been me, I was approached by a man in that very area'. Had we known, we might have issued a warning to women, cautioned potential perpetrators. We could have done something... Do we not report incidents because we don't want to be a bother? Do we think it is not important? You can't solve a jigsaw without all the pieces and sometimes its the tiny fagments that add up to a bigger picture.
I particularly liked this piece about 'don't rape', rather than 'don't get raped'. We need to put responsibility where it lies. http://www.hercanberra.com.au/index.php/2012/10/02/rape-culture/
More to come if I ever find time to write it...
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Gran Torino
WIN is broadcasting Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" tonight. I saw it on first release in the cinema. It's a good movie.
I love Eastwood's work as a director. "Gran Torino" received some mixed reviews. The use of amateur Hmong actors was criticized and some performances - even Clint's - were described as wooden.
I prefer to think that every performance, every scene, is how Director Eastwood wanted it to be.
There's an authenticity in the amateur actors which I'm not sure professional actors (even if Eastwood could have found any) would have achieved.
I really like the New York Times review. It captures the contribution that Eastwood as an actor makes to this film. It has been suggested that without Eastwood in the leading role that this film would be lacking. I agree. As the NYR article says, Eastwood is "a canny manipulator of his own iconographic presence". With Eastwood comes every vigilante role he has ever played. When Walt Kowalski calls the cleric "padre" it reminds us of Eastwood the outlaw and every "Western" role he has ever played.
Eastwood knows this. As Executive Producer I think he knows it is a role that only he can play. Eastwood is reported as saying that this is his final acting role.
The tension in the final part of the film is perfectly played as the story builds to its surprising conclusion.
I love the cinematography. There's a certain look to the film that captures the tired neighbourhood and Walt's tired life. The final shot (end credits) is the lightest in the film, obviously deliberately so.
On a lighter note, I love the performance of the dog!
Related links:
http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/movies/12tori.html
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1205489/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gran_Torino
I love Eastwood's work as a director. "Gran Torino" received some mixed reviews. The use of amateur Hmong actors was criticized and some performances - even Clint's - were described as wooden.
I prefer to think that every performance, every scene, is how Director Eastwood wanted it to be.
There's an authenticity in the amateur actors which I'm not sure professional actors (even if Eastwood could have found any) would have achieved.
I really like the New York Times review. It captures the contribution that Eastwood as an actor makes to this film. It has been suggested that without Eastwood in the leading role that this film would be lacking. I agree. As the NYR article says, Eastwood is "a canny manipulator of his own iconographic presence". With Eastwood comes every vigilante role he has ever played. When Walt Kowalski calls the cleric "padre" it reminds us of Eastwood the outlaw and every "Western" role he has ever played.
Eastwood knows this. As Executive Producer I think he knows it is a role that only he can play. Eastwood is reported as saying that this is his final acting role.
The tension in the final part of the film is perfectly played as the story builds to its surprising conclusion.
I love the cinematography. There's a certain look to the film that captures the tired neighbourhood and Walt's tired life. The final shot (end credits) is the lightest in the film, obviously deliberately so.
On a lighter note, I love the performance of the dog!
Related links:
http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/movies/12tori.html
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1205489/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gran_Torino
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Lemon-pumpkin scones
I wish I had taken a photo of my own effort (the one above is from the $120 food challenge blog), but I can confirm that it was delicious! I left out the peel, as we're not fond of it. Love to hear if you liked it with the peel left in.
Find the recipe here:
http://120dollarsfoodchallenge.com/2011/06/23/sweet-treats-lemon-pumpkin-scones-2/
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Easter
Religion without mysticism becomes an 'ideology' and we have too many ideologies.
- Raimon Panikkar speaking on Compass (ABC TV), 5 July 2009.
This quote from Raimon Panikkar resonates with me. My personal understanding of mysticism is of an engagement with the spiritual, with the divine or the Deity (as you know Him or Her), an experience of the 'supernatural' of faith. This does not gel entirely with its definition, but it works for me in terms of understanding why 'religion' must be a personal experience. I think this is why proselytizing does not work... without the personal experience of the divine, religion is (as Panikkar says) simply an ideology and asks us to believe without 'evidence'. Of course, for Christians 'faith is the evidence' (Hebrews 11:1, paraphrased), but for others... rejection of religion is logical and sensible for there is no 'evidence' of the things it claims. For me, that mystical experience of faith, the universe, of spirituality, of God... is what makes my beliefs meaningful to me.
Easter is the ultimate experience of the supernatural in the Christian faith. The Resurrection asks us to believe the unbelievable (see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurrection). Although some may argue for a symbolic resurrection (i.e. the soul, not the body of Christ came back to 'life'), the physical resurrection is they key to the Christian faith. Christ's triumph over death gives hope to all who believe.
Of course, the rituals of Easter embrace more than the Christian faith. Coming as it does from the Northern Hemisphere, the ancient rituals incorporated into the modern Easter celebration stem from celebrations of the Spring Equinox and all that Spring represents including fertility and new life. (See: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-big-question-why-do-we-celebrate-easter-and-where-did-the-bunny-come-from-443550.html) It's a little weird for us south of the Equator where winter is taking hold!
Whatever you believe, may your Easter celebrations be enjoyable!
Related links:
Easter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter
Easter in Australia: http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/easter-in-australia
Easter traditions: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6074283.ece
- Raimon Panikkar speaking on Compass (ABC TV), 5 July 2009.
This quote from Raimon Panikkar resonates with me. My personal understanding of mysticism is of an engagement with the spiritual, with the divine or the Deity (as you know Him or Her), an experience of the 'supernatural' of faith. This does not gel entirely with its definition, but it works for me in terms of understanding why 'religion' must be a personal experience. I think this is why proselytizing does not work... without the personal experience of the divine, religion is (as Panikkar says) simply an ideology and asks us to believe without 'evidence'. Of course, for Christians 'faith is the evidence' (Hebrews 11:1, paraphrased), but for others... rejection of religion is logical and sensible for there is no 'evidence' of the things it claims. For me, that mystical experience of faith, the universe, of spirituality, of God... is what makes my beliefs meaningful to me.
Easter is the ultimate experience of the supernatural in the Christian faith. The Resurrection asks us to believe the unbelievable (see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurrection). Although some may argue for a symbolic resurrection (i.e. the soul, not the body of Christ came back to 'life'), the physical resurrection is they key to the Christian faith. Christ's triumph over death gives hope to all who believe.
Of course, the rituals of Easter embrace more than the Christian faith. Coming as it does from the Northern Hemisphere, the ancient rituals incorporated into the modern Easter celebration stem from celebrations of the Spring Equinox and all that Spring represents including fertility and new life. (See: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-big-question-why-do-we-celebrate-easter-and-where-did-the-bunny-come-from-443550.html) It's a little weird for us south of the Equator where winter is taking hold!
Whatever you believe, may your Easter celebrations be enjoyable!
Related links:
Easter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter
Easter in Australia: http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/easter-in-australia
Easter traditions: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6074283.ece
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Brilliant effort
This is a brilliant result and I'm pleased to have been part of it. How did I hear about it? Clearly, I'm not a crafter myself! Probably via Little Mysteries, or maybe via facebook? I've started following a number of designers and others there. Either way, the raffles and auctions encouraged me to give a bit extra than I would have otherwise. I did win a couple of auctions and I won a raffle! A gorgeous softie bunny is heading my way. How awesome!
Special thanks to Toni and Carli who were the masterminds of this (I believe). Thanks again to all who contributed, especially those who created and offered their work, but also to those who bid, who donated. At the end of the day, the total speaks volumes about how community online can work.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Raffles for flood relief...
Raffles for flood relief... check out the gorgeous crafty items up for grabs all for a $5 donation to the flood appeal. Many will ship overseas for a small fee. Perfect for presents! Gotta be in it to win it! (I figure if I don't win it I'll bookmark my favourite pages for when I am rich!) :) For the full list of raffles go to: http://tonicoward.blogspot.com/2011/01/qld-flood-auctions-raffle-list.html
Donate to the Premier's flood relief appeal here: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html
Donate to the Premier's flood relief appeal here: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Flood crisis in Queensland
I sat up late last night following two news stories, one being the worsening flood crisis in Queensland. Premier Anna Bligh held a news conference at 10pm (AEST / 11pm AEDT) last night outlining the issues that Emergency Services (EMQ) were looking at overnight. She outlined the very serious events of the afternoon including the 'inland tsunami' in Toowoomba and how that water was making its way down the Lockyer valley. At that stage, four people had died in Toowoomba and EMQ held grave fears for those in the valley including the town of Grantham. Poor weather was hampering rescue efforts and rescue attempts would resume at first light.
The morning has revealed further devastation. We now know that at least eight people are dead and seventy more are missing with the death toll expected to rise.
Some areas have reported receiving their yearly rainfall in the last week.
Words fail in attempts to describe this disaster. 'Heartbreaking'; 'tragedy'; 'shocking'; 'unprecedented'; 'supernatural' - all have been used in press reports. Personally, I'm in a state of shock. My mind can't quite take it in!
The Toowoomba 'tsunami' comes on the heels of an ongoing flood emergency in Queensland. Some districts have been evacuated twice in the last three weeks. Some have experienced flooding for the second time in twelve months.
I've been surprised by some of the commentary surrounding the flooding though. Some people have said "well, if you live on a flood plain, what do you expect?". Certainly, many of those on the land who have been flooded before are pragmatic about these things. Yet, I feel this is quite a heartless point of view. No-one expects a 'tsunami' in their main street! The latest installment in this disaster illustrates that this is not 'just' about flooding rivers... it is a calamity that is greater than that.
I'm surprised that there has not been more commentary discussing the rains and the link with climate change. This piece by the Independent Media Centre was the only 'reasonable' discussion of the issues I could find. (Though they also quote a press release from the Socialist Alliance!). I'm not at all scientific, but my scientific friends have explained the link between increasing sea temperatures and increased rain. Not to mention the La Nina affecting eastern Australia.
On top of all this, the water has to go somewhere. When it works its way through New South Wales and the Murray-Darling Basin, what will it mean for those downstream? We await to see.
For those who wish to help, donations to the Queensland flood appeal may be made here: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html
Related links:
http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=73248 (Transcript of Premier Bligh's press conference 10pm, 10 January 2011)
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3110187.htm (Early reports from Grantham)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/11/3110285.htm (ABC news with the latest, including links to Toowoomba video and other sites)
http://www.abc.net.au/emergency/flood/ (ABC emergency site)
http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/01/11/inland-instant-tsunami-devastates-southern-qld/ (Crikey has an outstanding collection of links - including some I have listed below)
http://www.indymedia.org.au/2011/01/06/the-queensland-big-wet-big-flood-and-climate-change (Sensible look at climate change with many serious links).
http://diane-adventurebeforedementia.blogspot.com/2011/01/queenslands-floods.html (summary of flood situation, with amazing photos - especially the snake!)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/jan/03/australia-floods-queensland-map (Awesome map - try the comparison the UK link and the scale of this disaster becomes more apparent!)
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/flash-flood-hits-toowoomba/story-fn7ik2te-1225985113281 (Details of the flash flood in Toowoomba)
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/01/10/australia.floods/index.html?hpt=T2 (considered reporting from CNN)
The morning has revealed further devastation. We now know that at least eight people are dead and seventy more are missing with the death toll expected to rise.
Some areas have reported receiving their yearly rainfall in the last week.
Words fail in attempts to describe this disaster. 'Heartbreaking'; 'tragedy'; 'shocking'; 'unprecedented'; 'supernatural' - all have been used in press reports. Personally, I'm in a state of shock. My mind can't quite take it in!
The Toowoomba 'tsunami' comes on the heels of an ongoing flood emergency in Queensland. Some districts have been evacuated twice in the last three weeks. Some have experienced flooding for the second time in twelve months.
I've been surprised by some of the commentary surrounding the flooding though. Some people have said "well, if you live on a flood plain, what do you expect?". Certainly, many of those on the land who have been flooded before are pragmatic about these things. Yet, I feel this is quite a heartless point of view. No-one expects a 'tsunami' in their main street! The latest installment in this disaster illustrates that this is not 'just' about flooding rivers... it is a calamity that is greater than that.
I'm surprised that there has not been more commentary discussing the rains and the link with climate change. This piece by the Independent Media Centre was the only 'reasonable' discussion of the issues I could find. (Though they also quote a press release from the Socialist Alliance!). I'm not at all scientific, but my scientific friends have explained the link between increasing sea temperatures and increased rain. Not to mention the La Nina affecting eastern Australia.
On top of all this, the water has to go somewhere. When it works its way through New South Wales and the Murray-Darling Basin, what will it mean for those downstream? We await to see.
For those who wish to help, donations to the Queensland flood appeal may be made here: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html
Related links:
http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=73248 (Transcript of Premier Bligh's press conference 10pm, 10 January 2011)
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3110187.htm (Early reports from Grantham)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/11/3110285.htm (ABC news with the latest, including links to Toowoomba video and other sites)
http://www.abc.net.au/emergency/flood/ (ABC emergency site)
http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/01/11/inland-instant-tsunami-devastates-southern-qld/ (Crikey has an outstanding collection of links - including some I have listed below)
http://www.indymedia.org.au/2011/01/06/the-queensland-big-wet-big-flood-and-climate-change (Sensible look at climate change with many serious links).
http://diane-adventurebeforedementia.blogspot.com/2011/01/queenslands-floods.html (summary of flood situation, with amazing photos - especially the snake!)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/jan/03/australia-floods-queensland-map (Awesome map - try the comparison the UK link and the scale of this disaster becomes more apparent!)
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/flash-flood-hits-toowoomba/story-fn7ik2te-1225985113281 (Details of the flash flood in Toowoomba)
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/01/10/australia.floods/index.html?hpt=T2 (considered reporting from CNN)
Friday, August 20, 2010
Election Eve...
Despite the best opinion polls, the one thing you can never predict is exactly what a person will do when they get in the ballot box on election day. You've run the gamut of the parties "how to vote" card people; you might even have passed some interest groups (like GetUp!) handing out other election material; you may have sampled the sausage sizzle and be planning to visit the cake stall on your way out; but when you're in there, just you and the ballot paper, who knows what might happen.
Oh, there are those die-hard Labor and Liberal types, but even they are wavering this election. The primary vote for each party (if the opinion polls are to be believed) is at a record low. One poll is putting the two party preferred split at 50/50. Pundits are predicting a hung parliament.
My feeling has always been that the Labor party will scrape across the line in this election. I had previously felt that they would lose around nine seats (and no, I don't have any 'science' for that, just intuition!). However, now I'm not feeling so confident. It would be unusual for a first term government to lose office, but this government has a number of issues which set it apart from the 'norm'.
I have always believed that the dumping of Kevin Rudd was a strategic mistake on the part of the Labor Party. This feeling was confirmed tonight when I saw footage of a passer-by in a shopping mall shout at PM Julia Gillard that she was a 'back stabber' that she had back stabbed Kevin Rudd. In some quarters, passions are still running high about how Rudd was removed. There seems to be a variety of issues. Some people are angry that *they* don't get the chance to vote Kevin out. Others feel it was un-Australian to 'sack' the Prime Minister. Whichever way you look at it, it was not well thought through in terms of its implications both in the short and longer term.
Undoubtedly Kevin Rudd was not popular in his party and he paid the price for being autocratic in style and substance. When you have no support base, you are bound to crumble. The mining tax was shaping up to be a disaster given Kevin Rudd's refusal to compromise (to even SAY the word) in any way. I do believe something needed to be done, but I wonder if it will a driving factor in the poll booth? KRudd was a dork, but he was our dork. It was up to the Australian people to judge how well he did in the job and many voters will remember that they never got to exercise that judgement thanks to the machinations of the Labor Party.
On a recent episode of "60 Minutes"(Australia), former Opposition Leader Mark Latham said:
"...When it comes to good ideas for Australia's future, Gillard and Abbott have given the voters a blank piece of paper. I say let's give them a blank piece of paper in return. They say voting is compulsory in Australia, but it's not compulsory to fill out the ballot paper. You can put it straight into the ballot box totally blank - that's what I'll be doing next Saturday, and I urge you to do the same. It's the ultimate protest vote..."
The only party with any vision this time around is the Greens. We've been warned about how extreme they are. And in some areas they do have what would be considered 'extreme' views. But at the same time, it feels as if they are the only party that stands for something.
I await to see the actual poll results. The primary vote; the 'protest' vote and the informal vote! I wonder just how many will try Mark Latham's stunt? I can imagine it might be very appealing to some.
Oh, there are those die-hard Labor and Liberal types, but even they are wavering this election. The primary vote for each party (if the opinion polls are to be believed) is at a record low. One poll is putting the two party preferred split at 50/50. Pundits are predicting a hung parliament.
My feeling has always been that the Labor party will scrape across the line in this election. I had previously felt that they would lose around nine seats (and no, I don't have any 'science' for that, just intuition!). However, now I'm not feeling so confident. It would be unusual for a first term government to lose office, but this government has a number of issues which set it apart from the 'norm'.
I have always believed that the dumping of Kevin Rudd was a strategic mistake on the part of the Labor Party. This feeling was confirmed tonight when I saw footage of a passer-by in a shopping mall shout at PM Julia Gillard that she was a 'back stabber' that she had back stabbed Kevin Rudd. In some quarters, passions are still running high about how Rudd was removed. There seems to be a variety of issues. Some people are angry that *they* don't get the chance to vote Kevin out. Others feel it was un-Australian to 'sack' the Prime Minister. Whichever way you look at it, it was not well thought through in terms of its implications both in the short and longer term.
Undoubtedly Kevin Rudd was not popular in his party and he paid the price for being autocratic in style and substance. When you have no support base, you are bound to crumble. The mining tax was shaping up to be a disaster given Kevin Rudd's refusal to compromise (to even SAY the word) in any way. I do believe something needed to be done, but I wonder if it will a driving factor in the poll booth? KRudd was a dork, but he was our dork. It was up to the Australian people to judge how well he did in the job and many voters will remember that they never got to exercise that judgement thanks to the machinations of the Labor Party.
On a recent episode of "60 Minutes"(Australia), former Opposition Leader Mark Latham said:
"...When it comes to good ideas for Australia's future, Gillard and Abbott have given the voters a blank piece of paper. I say let's give them a blank piece of paper in return. They say voting is compulsory in Australia, but it's not compulsory to fill out the ballot paper. You can put it straight into the ballot box totally blank - that's what I'll be doing next Saturday, and I urge you to do the same. It's the ultimate protest vote..."
The only party with any vision this time around is the Greens. We've been warned about how extreme they are. And in some areas they do have what would be considered 'extreme' views. But at the same time, it feels as if they are the only party that stands for something.
I await to see the actual poll results. The primary vote; the 'protest' vote and the informal vote! I wonder just how many will try Mark Latham's stunt? I can imagine it might be very appealing to some.
Friday, December 11, 2009
A Christmas donation?
I know I've said this before, (in fact - in my previous post!), but the Wayside Chapel do such brilliant work. I love getting their weekly emails.
This week Pastor Graham Long says:
I sent out our Christmas appeal letter but I'm a bit concerned that because we've had a lot of publicity around the fundraising for our building that people will think we've got loads of money. The truth is that our operational account is in the same state that it has always been and our building is nothing more than a tool for our daily work. We do miracles on a shoe string budget with the demands upon us increasing and the shoe string becoming ever more stretched. In 5 years I almost never talk about money in this note but if you are considering making a donation to a charity this Christmas, could you spare a thought for Wayside? Donations can be made on our website - http://www.thewaysidechapel.com/donations.php
I know all of us are stretched financially at Christmas. I won't be making a special donation to Wayside this Christmas as my funds are already allocated to support others. But... if you've got something to spare, I commmend the cause to you.
This week Pastor Graham Long says:
I sent out our Christmas appeal letter but I'm a bit concerned that because we've had a lot of publicity around the fundraising for our building that people will think we've got loads of money. The truth is that our operational account is in the same state that it has always been and our building is nothing more than a tool for our daily work. We do miracles on a shoe string budget with the demands upon us increasing and the shoe string becoming ever more stretched. In 5 years I almost never talk about money in this note but if you are considering making a donation to a charity this Christmas, could you spare a thought for Wayside? Donations can be made on our website - http://www.thewaysidechapel.com/donations.php
I know all of us are stretched financially at Christmas. I won't be making a special donation to Wayside this Christmas as my funds are already allocated to support others. But... if you've got something to spare, I commmend the cause to you.
Friday, November 27, 2009
A happy thing...
I'm feeling tired today. I have a lot to do, but I thought before I logged off the computer I would check my credit card statement. I'm missing a transaction - my donation to the Wayside Chapel should have been processed over a week ago. I don't like to bother people, but in this case, I rang them.
Well... I'm so glad I did! I've just got off the phone after a lovely conversation. It turns out that when I signed up as a 'friend' of the Wayside last year, it was only for a 12 month period. That's why the November 2009 donation hasn't gone through.
The lady I spoke to was so thrilled to hear from me (she says it's usually they who ring donors not the other way around!).
So, I'm signed up again and I've had a lovely uplifting conversation.
I strongly support the philosophy of the Wayside Chapel. I believe in love over hate. If you do too, you can make a donation here: http://www.thewaysidechapel.com.au/donations.php
Well... I'm so glad I did! I've just got off the phone after a lovely conversation. It turns out that when I signed up as a 'friend' of the Wayside last year, it was only for a 12 month period. That's why the November 2009 donation hasn't gone through.
The lady I spoke to was so thrilled to hear from me (she says it's usually they who ring donors not the other way around!).
So, I'm signed up again and I've had a lovely uplifting conversation.
I strongly support the philosophy of the Wayside Chapel. I believe in love over hate. If you do too, you can make a donation here: http://www.thewaysidechapel.com.au/donations.php
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
What a difference a typo makes...!
I just did a post/comment on a blog and entered my blog url. At least I thought I did...
I mistyped my URL and found that http://rachaelsravings.blogpot.com/ goes to a "mega site of bible studies". It was truly freaky as I was commenting on something religious at the time! I thought my blog had been hacked for a minute until I worked it out.
It would appear that I am not the only one:
http://ijteveningbatch.blogpot.com/
http://webplus10.blogpot.com/
http://packerland.blogpot.com/
(and that's just the random blogs I found using the 'next blog' button).
I haven't linked any of these as it only encourages the buggers.
How rude.
I mistyped my URL and found that http://rachaelsravings.blogpot.com/ goes to a "mega site of bible studies". It was truly freaky as I was commenting on something religious at the time! I thought my blog had been hacked for a minute until I worked it out.
It would appear that I am not the only one:
http://ijteveningbatch.blogpot.com/
http://webplus10.blogpot.com/
http://packerland.blogpot.com/
(and that's just the random blogs I found using the 'next blog' button).
I haven't linked any of these as it only encourages the buggers.
How rude.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Accident at Yass yesterday
We drove to Yass yesterday. It's about 45 minutes drive north of Canberra. We took the exit from the Barton Highway and on the way into town we were passed by a fire truck, an ambulance and a police car all heading in the opposite direction with sirens and lights on. I said to my husband that there might have been an accident on the highway. Unfortunately I was right.
Four young men died when their car lost control and crossed the median strip into oncoming traffic. They collided head on with a semi trailer. The accident occured on the Hume Highway about 20 km north of Yass.
The accident did not impact on our travel plans, but other travellers were held up for hours as the Hume Highway was closed southbound for investigations.
I love highway driving. But you have to be aware that you're taking your life - and the life of your passengers - in your hands when you venture on to a major road. You cannot vouch for other drivers. The Hume Highway is the major highway linking Melbourne and Sydney. We only drove on a short stretch of it on our way home. The Barton Highway links Canberra to Yass and Canberra to the Hume (it's the route we'd take to begin a trip to Melbourne for instance). In recent years the Hume has been worked on considerably and is now two lanes each way nearly all the way from Sydney to Melbourne. There are still black spots, but where the accident happened isn't one of them.
I hope the truck driver is able to recover from his part in the accident. As far as I can tell from the footage, he did all he could to avoid hitting the car, but when you are driving a semi with a full load it is impossible to stop in an instant. Obviously I'm not a traffic investigator, but I can't see how he could have avoided the impact. I would hate to be in that situation - how heartbreaking to know that despite doing everything you could you could not avoid hitting the car.
Related links:
Google maps: http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=yass&sll=-34.461248,149.317564&sspn=3.958071,4.53186&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Yass+NSW&t=h&z=13
News reports:
http://www.smh.com.au/national/five-die-as-road-toll-goes-back-to-bad-old-days-20091115-igd6.html
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26355010-421,00.html
Four young men died when their car lost control and crossed the median strip into oncoming traffic. They collided head on with a semi trailer. The accident occured on the Hume Highway about 20 km north of Yass.
The accident did not impact on our travel plans, but other travellers were held up for hours as the Hume Highway was closed southbound for investigations.
I love highway driving. But you have to be aware that you're taking your life - and the life of your passengers - in your hands when you venture on to a major road. You cannot vouch for other drivers. The Hume Highway is the major highway linking Melbourne and Sydney. We only drove on a short stretch of it on our way home. The Barton Highway links Canberra to Yass and Canberra to the Hume (it's the route we'd take to begin a trip to Melbourne for instance). In recent years the Hume has been worked on considerably and is now two lanes each way nearly all the way from Sydney to Melbourne. There are still black spots, but where the accident happened isn't one of them.
I hope the truck driver is able to recover from his part in the accident. As far as I can tell from the footage, he did all he could to avoid hitting the car, but when you are driving a semi with a full load it is impossible to stop in an instant. Obviously I'm not a traffic investigator, but I can't see how he could have avoided the impact. I would hate to be in that situation - how heartbreaking to know that despite doing everything you could you could not avoid hitting the car.
Related links:
Google maps: http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=yass&sll=-34.461248,149.317564&sspn=3.958071,4.53186&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Yass+NSW&t=h&z=13
News reports:
http://www.smh.com.au/national/five-die-as-road-toll-goes-back-to-bad-old-days-20091115-igd6.html
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26355010-421,00.html
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Guilty murder plea in "Lake Angel" case
The mother of Dean Shillingsworth (the boy in the suitcase / Lake Angel) pleaded guilty yesterday to his murder. She will be sentenced on October 8. The Australian gives a detailed report on the background to the story : http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25950446-5006784,00.html
I'm interested to see that The Australian reports that they "obtained written permission to publish the identity of Dean Shillingsworth."
I blogged about this case in 2007:
http://oz-bandicoot.livejournal.com/270629.html
I'm interested to see that The Australian reports that they "obtained written permission to publish the identity of Dean Shillingsworth."
I blogged about this case in 2007:
http://oz-bandicoot.livejournal.com/270629.html
Friday, July 03, 2009
Vale Sol Gordon
I met someone at lunch today who grew up in Rochester, NY. I was trying to remember what my connection with Rochester is and I (mistakenly) thought that Sol Gordon went to University there[1]. I came home and searched Sol again on Google only to find that he has died!
Sol was a hero of mine. He saved my life when I was a teenager. His book When living hurts was stocked by our local library and it helped me immeasurably.
There is a memorial website at: http://www.ilasting.com/solgordon.php
One of the guest book entries there lists Sol's Rules:
The Rules
l. Never judge a day by the weather.
2. The best things in life aren’t things.
3. Tell the truth -- there’s less to remember
4. Speak softly and wear a loud shirt.
5. Loosen up. The unaimed arrow never misses.
6. He who dies with the most toys, still dies.
7. Age is relative. When you’re over the hill,
you pick up speed.
8. There are two ways to get rich -- you can make
more money, or you can require less.
9. What you look like doesn’t matter -- beauty
is internal.
10. No rain -- no rainbows.
While I don't recognise the quote, it sounds authentic to me.
Rest in peace, dear Professor. You cannot imagine how profound your impact has been.
Related links:
Tribute by friend and colleague Debra W. Haffner: http://debrahaffner.blogspot.com/2008/12/sol-gordon-rest-in-peace.html
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheila_steele/6533058/
Papers at Syracuse University Archives [no online content]: http://archives.syr.edu/collections/faculty/gordon_bio.html
Pages from "Ten Heavy Facts about Sex": http://www.flickr.com/photos/55159906@N00/sets/72157594551093068/
Newspaper article: "In search of askable parents": http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19860416&id=cw0QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iIsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5629,2735223
Audio interview: http://www.iub.edu/~kinsey/library/sol_gordon.html
[1] What I was mis-remembering was that Sol was Emeritus Professor at Syracuse University!
Sol was a hero of mine. He saved my life when I was a teenager. His book When living hurts was stocked by our local library and it helped me immeasurably.
There is a memorial website at: http://www.ilasting.com/solgordon.php
One of the guest book entries there lists Sol's Rules:
The Rules
l. Never judge a day by the weather.
2. The best things in life aren’t things.
3. Tell the truth -- there’s less to remember
4. Speak softly and wear a loud shirt.
5. Loosen up. The unaimed arrow never misses.
6. He who dies with the most toys, still dies.
7. Age is relative. When you’re over the hill,
you pick up speed.
8. There are two ways to get rich -- you can make
more money, or you can require less.
9. What you look like doesn’t matter -- beauty
is internal.
10. No rain -- no rainbows.
While I don't recognise the quote, it sounds authentic to me.
Rest in peace, dear Professor. You cannot imagine how profound your impact has been.
Related links:
Tribute by friend and colleague Debra W. Haffner: http://debrahaffner.blogspot.com/2008/12/sol-gordon-rest-in-peace.html
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheila_steele/6533058/
Papers at Syracuse University Archives [no online content]: http://archives.syr.edu/collections/faculty/gordon_bio.html
Pages from "Ten Heavy Facts about Sex": http://www.flickr.com/photos/55159906@N00/sets/72157594551093068/
Newspaper article: "In search of askable parents": http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19860416&id=cw0QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iIsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5629,2735223
Audio interview: http://www.iub.edu/~kinsey/library/sol_gordon.html
[1] What I was mis-remembering was that Sol was Emeritus Professor at Syracuse University!
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Happy 50th Birthday Mr Squiggle!
A belated Happy 50th Birthday to Mr Squiggle!
I loved Mr Squiggle when I was a child. "My" Mr Squiggle 'assistant' was Miss Jane. I don't remember the others.
For details see: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/01/2613501.htm
I loved Mr Squiggle when I was a child. "My" Mr Squiggle 'assistant' was Miss Jane. I don't remember the others.
For details see: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/01/2613501.htm
Monday, February 09, 2009
Bushfire horror in Victoria
I find myself reflecting on death, again.
Australia is dealing with the aftermath of its worst 'natural' disaster ever. The State of Victoria has been ravaged by fires. The death toll is already over 100 and expected to rise. More than 700 properties have been destroyed. I put 'natural' in inverted commas for, as the authorities are telling us, many of these fires were deliberately lit.
There's no way to adequately express the anger in the community towards those who lit the fires. I was in Big W this morning. I overheard a staff member suggest that the clothes she was marking down should be given to the fire victims. I encouraged her to tell management. She said she had. I then proceeded to chat with her and two of her colleagues. We all agreed that capital punishment was a fit response to this kind of act. It's so out of character for me to say that. But I find myself understanding how cultures can stone people to death. The anger over this senseless destruction of life is palpable.
So is the sadness. Whole communities have been all but wiped out. It's estimated that around 95% of the township of Marysville has been destroyed. The footage we are seeing of the fire-ravaged areas shows what looks like a war-zone. It's been compared to a nuclear bomb going off and while I think that comparison is a little extreme, I can see where the person who said that is coming from.
It's clear the death toll will rise. Emergency services and police are working through burnt out cars first, in an attempt to clear the roads so emergency vehicles can gain access. Then there will be the gruesome task of going through the rubble of the houses that have been destroyed. Some sights you can never forget. I wouldn't be an emergency worker for quids.
The director of emergency services at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital has been on many of the news reports speaking very eloquently about the people in his care and the care his staff are giving them. The Alfred hospital has a specialist burns unit and are treating the worst of the burns victims. Many are not expected to survive. Those who do are facing months of treatment.
We have one 'celebrity' face to the tragedy. Veteran Channel Nine newsreader Brian Naylor and his wife have died. Brian Naylor was the 'face' of news when I was growing up. He fronted the news for probably thirty years. For many people, Brian was like family. The tragedy, for those who knew no-one in the fires, will be all the more real if they knew Brian.
I have donated to the National Australia Bank appeal. Donations are tax-deductible as the NAB is funneling them through its own charitable trust. I urge everyone to give what they can. If every Australian gave $1 that's $20 million towards rebuilding. I'm also urging those who can to GIVE BLOOD. I can't donate as my iron levels are too low, I wish I could. Burns victims need blood. I've also just heard from my gym (Fernwood) that they will be sending non-perishable items to help. I'll also contribute there what I can.
I've turned off the TV and the radio. I can't take in any more of the tragedy right now. It breaks my heart.
I read the Editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald today and I think it set the tone really well. It speaks about mourning and it speaks about loss. It says that fires are not new, and that there will be a next time. It follows with this paragraph on Climate Change:
What is new here is global warming and the extreme weather it is bringing in its wake. The evidence suggests we are living in a world where there are now more storms, more floods, more droughts and more fire. Whole tracts of Queensland lie under water. Most of NSW is in drought. This weekend south-eastern Australia has seen some of the worst fires in our history. This is no time for political grandstanding but it was not out of place of Senator Bob Brown to suggest yesterday: "This is a sobering reminder to the whole world of our need to tackle climate change."
I'm sad to say, I wholeheartedly agree.
Related links:
Rescuers brace for more bushfire horror:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2485840.htm
Australia's bushfire disaster: Many good people lie dead
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/many-good-people-lie-dead/2009/02/09/1234027889048.html
Brian Naylor confirmed dead
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/newsreader-brian-naylor-confirmed-among-the-dead/1428143.aspx
SMH Editorial
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/editorial/a-nation-mourns-their-memory-20090208-80wv.html?page=-1
How you can help:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25027108-421,00.html
http://www.redcross.org.au
Australia is dealing with the aftermath of its worst 'natural' disaster ever. The State of Victoria has been ravaged by fires. The death toll is already over 100 and expected to rise. More than 700 properties have been destroyed. I put 'natural' in inverted commas for, as the authorities are telling us, many of these fires were deliberately lit.
There's no way to adequately express the anger in the community towards those who lit the fires. I was in Big W this morning. I overheard a staff member suggest that the clothes she was marking down should be given to the fire victims. I encouraged her to tell management. She said she had. I then proceeded to chat with her and two of her colleagues. We all agreed that capital punishment was a fit response to this kind of act. It's so out of character for me to say that. But I find myself understanding how cultures can stone people to death. The anger over this senseless destruction of life is palpable.
So is the sadness. Whole communities have been all but wiped out. It's estimated that around 95% of the township of Marysville has been destroyed. The footage we are seeing of the fire-ravaged areas shows what looks like a war-zone. It's been compared to a nuclear bomb going off and while I think that comparison is a little extreme, I can see where the person who said that is coming from.
It's clear the death toll will rise. Emergency services and police are working through burnt out cars first, in an attempt to clear the roads so emergency vehicles can gain access. Then there will be the gruesome task of going through the rubble of the houses that have been destroyed. Some sights you can never forget. I wouldn't be an emergency worker for quids.
The director of emergency services at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital has been on many of the news reports speaking very eloquently about the people in his care and the care his staff are giving them. The Alfred hospital has a specialist burns unit and are treating the worst of the burns victims. Many are not expected to survive. Those who do are facing months of treatment.
We have one 'celebrity' face to the tragedy. Veteran Channel Nine newsreader Brian Naylor and his wife have died. Brian Naylor was the 'face' of news when I was growing up. He fronted the news for probably thirty years. For many people, Brian was like family. The tragedy, for those who knew no-one in the fires, will be all the more real if they knew Brian.
I have donated to the National Australia Bank appeal. Donations are tax-deductible as the NAB is funneling them through its own charitable trust. I urge everyone to give what they can. If every Australian gave $1 that's $20 million towards rebuilding. I'm also urging those who can to GIVE BLOOD. I can't donate as my iron levels are too low, I wish I could. Burns victims need blood. I've also just heard from my gym (Fernwood) that they will be sending non-perishable items to help. I'll also contribute there what I can.
I've turned off the TV and the radio. I can't take in any more of the tragedy right now. It breaks my heart.
I read the Editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald today and I think it set the tone really well. It speaks about mourning and it speaks about loss. It says that fires are not new, and that there will be a next time. It follows with this paragraph on Climate Change:
What is new here is global warming and the extreme weather it is bringing in its wake. The evidence suggests we are living in a world where there are now more storms, more floods, more droughts and more fire. Whole tracts of Queensland lie under water. Most of NSW is in drought. This weekend south-eastern Australia has seen some of the worst fires in our history. This is no time for political grandstanding but it was not out of place of Senator Bob Brown to suggest yesterday: "This is a sobering reminder to the whole world of our need to tackle climate change."
I'm sad to say, I wholeheartedly agree.
Related links:
Rescuers brace for more bushfire horror:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2485840.htm
Australia's bushfire disaster: Many good people lie dead
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/many-good-people-lie-dead/2009/02/09/1234027889048.html
Brian Naylor confirmed dead
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/newsreader-brian-naylor-confirmed-among-the-dead/1428143.aspx
SMH Editorial
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/editorial/a-nation-mourns-their-memory-20090208-80wv.html?page=-1
How you can help:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25027108-421,00.html
http://www.redcross.org.au
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