Calamari anyone?

A giant 495kg squid caught in water off Antarctica February 2006 is slowly being thawed and examined more closely by scientists in New Zealand. Dr. S. O'Shea says the giant squid was not fully grown when it was caught and that these giant squid can grow to 750kg. That is one huge amount of calamari to crumb. There has only been 75 of the sea giants found and this particular one great caution has to be taken with the thawing process due to the sheer size as while it will be frozen in the middle, the outside will begin to rot.
The eyes of this Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni (scientific name) measure 27 cm across and you can only see 10cm of the eye from the outside . The enormous squid has the largest eyes known in the animal world.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/080430/2/16o7a.html

Marine biologists are continuing to unlock the secrets of the giant squid, saying the deep-sea monster may not be a cannibal as previously thought.

It was thought the species was cannibalistic when parts of a fellow giant squid were found in the stomach of a specimen caught off Tasmania's west coast in 1999.

But New Zealand based marine biologist Steve O'Shea believes that was the result of some bizarre mating methods.

He says the creatures do not mean to eat each other but the females accidentally bite bits off of the males during mating.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200602/s1563818.htm

LIBERAL LEADERS SHAME.....

There are moves within the WA Liberal Party for a leadership spill after the latest revelations of inappropriate behaviour involving leader Troy Buswell.

Mr Buswell was yesterday forced to concede he sniffed the chair of a former Liberal Party female staffer in late 2005.

In recent times he has also admitted snapping the bra strap of a Labor Party staffer, and has been accused of making inappropriate comments.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/080430/21/16oe4.html

John Howard, Austrailia's once LIBERAL Prime Minister was known for his butt sniffing. Wonder if it's afiliated within the Liberal ranks.



Amid much sniggering and laughter, and the wonder of what in the hell was Troy Buswell thinking, this all happened 3 years ago. It does not lessen what he did, but what is the sense in bringing this issue to the public's knowledge now. Are there more important things to focus on than a grown man, leader of the Liberal Opposition in Western Australia than his sticking his nose on the seat of a female co-worker and sniffing. Not very becoming behaviour of a married man with children or a senior politician. Mr Buswell broke down in tears when asked how his wife and children are coping with this news being broadcast around the world. He stated that his wife was aware of the incident beforehand. Is he shamed now because the media got hold of the story or generally remorseful?

Eye Quiz

What Kind Of Eyes Do You Have?

***Blue Eyes***

People with blue eyes have the longest lasting relationships. They tend to be kind, pretty or handsome and are very good kissers. They are very xxxxxxxxxx xx xxx xxxxxxxx. They will EXCEED your xxxxxxxx standards. If you have light blue eyes you are peaceful with low physical endurance. If you have deep blue eyes you are spiritual, intense and connect with technology. If you have blue/grey eyes you are humanitarian with an altruistic nature.

Kate, another quiz and funny thing is , it didn't ask for eye colour. Found at Facebook, so if you want to have a go, you will have to join. Some text I have chosen not to include in this quiz.

Pet Quiz

Your cat is Simon Cowell! Enterprising, brassy and not afraid to meowing what's on his mind, Felix is Idol-maker Simon Cowell! There's no beating around the bush with Felix and flattery will get you nowhere. Felix calls it like he sees it, and stands firm on all fours behind his decisions. The cat definitely does not have Felix's tongue—some of his pals think he's bitter and confrontational, while others find him to be impawsibly hilarious. Felix's influence on those around him is remarkable, and he takes advantage of this fact and uses it wisely. Behind his no-nonsense mask, Felix is a perceptive sponge, taking in what he sees and hears around him, and then figuring out how to make it look, or sound, better.

Just a bit of fun with this quiz to see which star your pet resembles. The last two sentences describes exactly how Felix is. Do the quiz and discover which star your pet closely resembles.

http://www.catster.com/quizzes/celebrity_cat_quiz/

Sunset

Seen this while waiting to pick up my son from football training ( Australia's rugby fullback in waiting) . Was 6pm and happy my camera phone was able to pick it up so well. An old saying here where reef fishing is extremely popular: Red sky at night, sailor's delight, red sky at dawn, sailor be warned.

Man Fur is HOT !

Seeing an email today about man fur (chest and tummy) I thought I would write a few lines about it. In some cultures Hirsute men, are seen as virile and masculine. The statues of Ancient Greece and Rome did not show any chest hair and it was often seen as a sign of youthfulness. There is a variance of opinions as to whether hairy chests and torsos are acceptable by the women of the modern era. Sports and movie stars are known to wax their chests, some to aid in performance in their chosen sport or on the silver screen to maximise sex appeal.
If men are hairy, so be it. Personal choice decides whether we are attracted to those endowed with hairy chests and stomachs. Quite often here in Australia you will hear women/girls discussing the snail trail: the line of hair from the mans navel to just above the pubic region.
Hair on chests and tummys is a drool factor, if however there is hair on the face, forget it!

Anyway, while I was attempting to research this, I stumbled across a book, The Layguide: How to Seduce Women More Beautiful Than You Ever Dreamed Possible No Matter What You Look Like or How Much You Make by Tony Click. I was reading a review on the book by G. Turner and the comments alone had me laughing. These are just a few of them along with the link below:

A. reader says:And seriously, men who complain about feminists are just as bad as feminists who complain about men. Bitch, bitch, whine, whine, doesn't matter who's doing it, it's equally irritating. Give it up already.

MJN76 says:

"Feminists (and women in general), constantly make misandryst generalisations about men being inherently aggressive, dominant etc, forgetting that whatever essential nature men might have, if we have it at all, it is because women have spent our evolutionary history choosing it as an attractive sexual trait."
Great point. But feminists completely disregard evolutionary history, much to their convenience.

'Love between the sexes is a war', declared the gloomy Swedish playwright Strindberg. If you want to sharpen your armoury in order to have sex with lots of beautiful woman, this book is essential reading. For those who wish to understand the degradation of contemporary feminism into little more than a sexual trade union for embittered middle-aged women, then also read this book and the controversy that has surrounded it. ( this one was written by the book reviewer, G. Turner)

amazon.com

WE APOLOGISE FOR THIS DELAY

WARNING!! THIS BLOGGER HAS BEEN RUDELY INTERRUPTED....... BIG BROTHER 2008 HAS JUST STARTED.....TRANSMISSIONS WILL RESUME IN TWO HOURS...Please read the fine print:

No responsibility will be taken if you get lost, consume the alcohol at the blog bar or get bored whilst I am otherwise occupied.

Head Honcho

When he manages to come to work with me, Felix knows which seat is best suited to him.

Jose Paronella's Dream......Paronella Park

In 1913 Jose Paronella arrived in Australia from Catalonia, Spain. He spent the next eleven years cutting sugar cane, buying and improving and then re-selling cane farms. Jose returned to Spain in 1924 and the following year married his sweetheart, Margarita. Their honeymoon was a trip back to the shores of Australia. On this trip, Jose bought 13 acres of rainforest land at Mena creek for the price of 120 pound. It was then he started to build gardens and a reception centre for the public to enjoy.

The earliest structure, the Grand Staircase, was built to facilitate the carrying of the river sand to make the concrete. First they built a house to live in, then they started on the Castle itself. Apart from the house, which is made of stone, all of the structures were constructed of poured, reinforced concrete, the reinforcing being old railway track. The concrete was covered with a plaster made from clay and cement, which they put on by hand, leaving behind the prints of their fingers as a reminder of the work they had done.

The Park was officially opened to the public in 1935. The Theatre showed movies every Saturday night. In addition, with canvas chairs removed, the Hall was a favourite venue for dances and parties. During the sixties the Theatre ceased to be, the Hall then catered for functions, mainly weddings.

Above the Refreshment Rooms was the projection room, and up another flight of stairs was the Paronella Museum. This housed collections of coins, pistols, dolls, samples of North Queensland timbers and other items of interest. Originally, food service was from the lower Refreshment Rooms downstairs.

The Cottage - circa 1935's

The concrete slab tables forming the lower Tea Gardens and the swimming pool both proved extremely popular, and are still utilised to this day. The avenues and paths are well laid out with planters which one can still see wherever you go in the Park. Two tennis courts were behind the Refreshment Rooms, with a children's playground, The Meadow, situated near the creek.

Upwards of 7000 trees were planted by José. These included the magnificent Kauris lining Kauri Avenue. A Tunnel was excavated through a small hill. Above its entrances are the delightful stonework balconies. Walking through here brings you to spring fed Teresa Falls, named for his daughter.

The creek is lined with rocks and traversed by small bridges. Some parts have cascades built out of rocks, so the sound of water is always there. The Hydro Electric generating plant, commissioned in 1933, was the earliest in North Queensland, and supplied power to the entire Park.

The Castle - circa 1935's

In 1946, disaster struck. Upstream from the Park a patch of scrub had been cleared and the logs and branches pushed into the creek. When the first rains of the Wet Season came, the whole mass began to move downstream until it piled up against a railway bridge a few hundred metres from the Castle. Water backed up until the weight broke the bridge, and the entire mass descended on the Park. The downstairs Refreshment Rooms were all but destroyed, the Hydro was extensively damaged, as was the Theatre and Foyer.

Undaunted, the family began the task of rebuilding. The Refreshment Rooms downstairs were beyond repair, so this service was moved upstairs, and only the structure of the building recreated. In addition, José built the fountain. The Castle was repaired, the gardens replanted, and the Park was alive again.

In 1948, José died of cancer, leaving Margarita, daughter Teresa, and son Joe, to carry on. In time, Teresa married and eventually moved to Brisbane with her husband. Joe married Val in 1952, and they had two sons, Joe (José) and Kerry. Renovations and maintenance meant there was always plenty of work, and the floods of 1967, '72 and '74 further added to the load. In 1967 Margarita died, and in 1972, Joe died, leaving Val and the two boys to continue the hard working tradition and keep the dreams alive.

The Park was sold out of the family in 1977 and sadly, in 1979, a fire swept through the Castle. For a time, the Park was closed to the public. Cyclone Winifred in 1986 and a flood in January 1994 reminded us yet again that Nature always has the upper hand.

The current owner/operators, purchased the Park in 1993 and formulated a plan to put the Park back on the map. They see the Park as a work of art, and are maintaining and preserving, rather than rebuilding. Small restoration projects have been undertaken, pathways uncovered and improved, and the Museum, an ongoing project, is continuously being enhanced.

The Park gained National Trust listing in 1997, and has been recognised by a total of 11 Tourism Awards in the period from 1998 till April 2000.

At the top of the waterfall, is a swinging bridge where you can look down onto the moss covered stone tables and seats. A walk through Paronella takes you to a that is filled with a sense of romance and mystery. I have been in here many times before it became a viable tourist destination and the atmosphere is almost magical. It is a great place to get lost in your own thoughts. Paronella Park is 10 minutes by car from where I currently live.

satisfágame aquí, como usted desea

PARONELLA PARK

A Soldier's Entrance

The Final Inspection

The Soldier stood and faced his God,

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining,

Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, you Soldier,

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To My Church have you been true?"

The Soldier squared his shoulders and said,

"No, my Lord, I ain't.

Because those of us who carry guns,

Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,

And at times my talk was tough.

And sometimes I've been violent,

Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a dollar,

That wasn't mine to keep...

Though I worked a lot of overtime,

When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear.

And sometimes, God, forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,

Among the people here.

They never wanted me around,

Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,

It needn't be so grand.

I never expected or had too much,

But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,

Where the Saints had often trod.

As the Soldier waited quietly,

For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you Soldier,

You've borne your burdens well.

Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,

You've done your time in Hell."

~Author Unknown~

Book Meme

Kate has kindly tagged me to do this book meme,

The task:

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

I am tagging LORDSOMBER, JMB, JAMS, WELSHCAKES and COLIN.

There are a few I can't choose as they have already been tagged but take up the challenge anyway even if you haven't been tagged. All those who have visited here, have a go at this.



Ok I have picked up Extreme Weather by Christopher. C. Burt. On page 123 I have found the fifth sentence and the next three sentences are as follows:

Storm-surge floods--when a sudden rise in the sea level inundates coastal areas, usually during intense hurricanes prior to the landfall of the eye. Also happens on a lesser scale from intense storms of a non-tropical nature,like the "northeasters" of the Atlantic Coast. Dam failure flood-- more often than not the result of faulty engineering, and consequently not covered in this book.

What Movie Is Your Love Life Like?

Your Love Life is Like The Princess Bride

"Since the invention of the kiss, there have only been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind." For you, love is like a fairy tale - albeit a fairly twisted one. You believe romance is all about loyalty, fate, and a good big of goofy fun. Your love style: Idealistic yet quirky Your Hollywood Ending Will Be: Perfectly romantic

What Movie Is Your Love Life Like?

Thanks Kate, and I find this answer a little amusing and a touch too close to home for reasons I can't go into here. Interesting.

THREE STAGES OF A MANS LIFE

Courtesy of http://sigcarlfred.blogspot.com/2008/03/three-stages-in-mans-life.html

Doormat Greetings

This is the kind of doormat I want at my front and back door.

Words Women Use

WORDS WOMEN USE:

1. Fine:
this is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2. Five Minutes:
If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five Minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

3. Nothing:
This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

4. Go Ahead:
This is a dare, not permission. Don’t Do It!

5. Loud Sigh:
This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)

6. That’s Okay:
This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

7. Thanks:
A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you’re welcome.

8. Whatever:
Is a women’s way of saying F**K YOU!

9. Don’t worry about it, I’ve got it:
Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking “what’s wrong”, for the woman’s response refer to # 3.

10. No:
This is the most complicated word a woman can use with a man. This is because she will say no, and mean no, or she will say no but mean yes. You will never get this right no matter what, so it is best not to try. Just remember, if she has salad and you have fries or pizza and you offer her some and and she says no, allow her to eat off of your plate without questioning her, or better yet, just give her half. This may also mean she is upset when she says she is not, and if you dare to ask “why” she will either respond with “nothing” — refer to # 3, or I’m “fine” — refer to # 1.

Padre Pio

I found this story after seeing a short news story , and although I know nothing about the subject, am sharing, think it is quite intriguing..all found at following site:

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/04/24/padre.pio.ap/index.html

ROME, Italy (AP) -- The body of Padre Pio, a hugely popular 20th century Italian saint, went on public display Thursday in a southern Italian town where thousands gathered to pray.

Padre Pio, who died in 1968 at age 81, was a mystic monk who many Catholic faithful believe bore "stigmata," or wounds like those Jesus suffered at his crucifixion, on his hands and feet. He was made a saint in 2002.

Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, head of the Vatican's sainthood office, lead an open-air Mass for thousands of faithful before the unveiling of the saint's body in a church in San Giovanni Rotondo, where the saint had lived.

"Today, we venerate his body, opening a particularly intense period of pilgrimage," Saraiva Martins said. "This body is here, but Padre Pio is not only a corpse. Looking at his remains, we remember all the good that he has made."

Saraiva Martins and other church officials later descended into the church's crypt for a private viewing of the body. State-run broadcaster RAI showed the body in a casket enclosed in crystal, wearing a monk's hooded dark robe.

The officials gathered solemnly around the crypt, and prayed. The faithful, who were to file past the body later Thursday, followed the ceremony through maxi TV screens outside.

The Capuchin monk, whose original name was Francesco Forgione, had an enormous following in Italy and abroad. He lived for decades with inexplicable bleeding wounds on his hands and feet.

Church officials exhumed the body so the faithful could pray before it, since this year marks the 40th anniversary of his death. They also wanted to take measures to ensure it was being well preserved.

Since the unearthing in March, the body has been prepared for public viewing in the crypt of the Santa Maria delle Grazie church in San Giovanni Rotondo, a town near the Adriatic in southern Puglia.

Church officials have said there was no sign of the so-called stigmata on his limbs after an initial examination, and that the body was in good condition.

Padre Pio had a huge public following in life, as in death, and his beatification and canonization ceremonies drew hundreds of thousands of people to the Vatican.

For decades, though, many in the Vatican were uneasy about his popularity and scorned him, doubting that his wounds were real and that mystical virtues attributed to him were authentic. He was barred for years from saying Mass in public, even as his following grew immensely.

Among the stories that surround the monk, who died at the age of 81, is one that he wrestled with the devil one night in his monastery cell and emerged bloodied and bruised.

Some believers also say Padre Pio was able to predict events, was seen in two places at once and could tell people their sins before they confessed them to him.

However, he was dogged during his life and after his death by accusations of fraud. A book last year suggested he was a self-harming man who might have used carbolic acid to cause his wounds. Church officials have denied he was a fake.

the star.com

More ....Local Anzac Day Parade 2008

The sun peeped from behind the clouds and the threatening rains held off for our local Anzac day Parade. Thousands lined the streets, and cheered as the local police lead the parade followed by elderly diggers in army jeeps. The stirring sound of the bagpipes next followed by representation from various sections from the armed forces. Schools from around the district had students who marched proudly. Once again I seen Banjo and Chris along with two other members dressed in soldiers uniform from WW1. The parade made its way through town and back to the cenotaph on the water front, and waited for the drone of a Cessna slowly approaching and as it flew above the crowd they rained hundreds of red poppies down upon them.

ANZAC DAY PARADE 2008

Who Stole the Family Jewels?

Men beware!! If you travel to The Congo, you are putting yourself at risk of having your pink bits stolen, shriveled all in the name of traditional religions and withccraft. You should be on the lookout for anyone wearing gold rings in taxis, a single touch from the so called sorcerers can lead to your genitals shrinking or disappearing alltogether. A promise to have a cure is then met with extortion of cash.
Police arrested the accused sorcerers and their victims in an effort to avoid the sort of bloodshed seen in Ghana a decade ago, when 12 suspected penis snatchers were beaten to death by angry mobs. The 27 men have since been released.
Some Kinshasa residents accuse a separatist sect from nearby Bas-Congo province of being behind the witchcraft in revenge for a recent government crackdown on its members.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/080422/15/16ktt.html

Wesley Snipes .... 3 Years Jail

Actor Wesley Snipes has been given a 3 year jail term for failing to do his tax returns between 1999-2001. The prison term is the maximum penalty allowed in the US under the current law.
According to Snipes' lawyers, the amount of tax losses amounts to $US400,000($A422,030) and argued for a much lenient sentence. No matter the amount, we all have to pay and do our taxes whether we like it or loathe the whole system. He is no exception. Having said that, I still feel that is a long time to spend in jail for not filing taxes but if one was to outright steal that amount of money they would definitely be spending few years in the lock up. Non-compliance of tax returns is equivalent to stealing in the eyes of the law.
These stars earn huge amounts of money, so why do they not at least have an accountant or the likes to draw up their tax returns ? Outlandish spending habits could of afforded a measly amount of money and saved him 3 years behind bars. Me thinks he will not be there for the whole prison term, his status will see him on early release alone.

How Aussie Are You?

HOW AUSSIE ARE YOU?


Cherie has a quiz asking how English Are You? and since I am not, I did ask if there was an Aussie one, thank you to Lordsomber for showing me there is.
Oh haha , I don't do some of what that says, and just for the record, I do not have an accent :-)

What kind of animal are you?

ANIMOLOGY: What kind of animal are you?

Can hardly wait to see what the answers are for others.

Awesome Antarctica

This site is advertised on main page, and the above photo comes from there, if you have not been already and want to see some amazing and out of this world photographs, visit the link below:
http://jasonsolis.blogspot.com/

He serenades me

Tikky is Mum's boy, he sings to me at will, and yes I talk to him like he knows what I am saying. He is my agony aunt, my cuddle bunny. I am his chef and saviour from over enthusiastic children.

BEAUTIFUL IN MY EYES

BEAUTIFUL IN MY EYES (Joshua Kadison)

You’re my piece of mind, in this crazy world
You’re every thing I've tried to find
Your love is a pearl
You’re my Mona Lisa
You’re my rainbow skies
And my only prayer is that you realize
You'll always be beautiful in my eyes...

The world will turn
And the seasons will change
And all the lessons we will learn
Will be beautiful and strange
We'll have our fill of tears
Our share of sighs
My only prayer is that you realize
You'll always be beautiful in my eyes...

You will always be beautiful in my eyes
And the passing is the show
That you will always grow
Ever more beautiful in my eyes

And there are lines upon my face
From a life time of smiles
When the time comes to embrace
For one long last wine
We can laugh about how time really flies
We won’t say goodbye
‘Cause true love never dies
You'll always be beautiful in my eyes...

Aussie Joke of the Year

A bogan walked into the centerlink office, marched straight up to the
counter and said, "Hi. You know, I just HATE drawing welfare. I'd really rather have a job."

The worker behind the counter said, "Your timing is excellent.
We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old man who wants a chauffeur and bodyguard for his beautiful 30 year old daughter.

You'll have to drive around in his Mercedes, and he'll supply all of your clothes.
Because of the long hours, meals will be provided. You'll be expected to escort the daughter on her overseas holiday trips and you will have to satisfy her sexual urges. You'll be provided a two-bedroom apartment above the garage. The salary is $200,000 a year."

The guy, wide-eyed, said, "You're bullshittin' me!"

The Centerlink worker said, "Yeah, well . . . you started it."

ANZAC DAY

The "Ode of Remembrance" is regularly recited at memorial services held on days commemorating World War I, such as ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day, and Remembrance Sunday. In Australia's Returned and Services Leagues, it is read out nightly at 6 p.m., followed by a minute's silence.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Lest we forget...

Banjo, Chris and The Light Horse Brigade

On my way to work today and running late, looking over I seen a man with a horse. Nothing unusual about that you may say. This was a soldier and his horse. Still nothing unusual? I parked the car and quickly made my way to the park, said hello, and asked if I could take some photos of this soldier and his horse. Delighted when he said yes, I opened my camera phone which was at the ready anyways, and took a few snaps. This was not just any soldier and his horse.

Meet Chris Iseppi and Banjo the horse from the Innisfail R.S.L Lighthorse Brigade. I'm no journalist but Chris was very accommodating in answering the questions I asked of what he was doing and about Anzac Day parade coming up on Friday 25th April.

Chris and Banjo along with two other horses were going to do a practise run through the town in preparation for Friday. Banjo was retrieved from a station near Chillagoe Queensland , he is 15 years old and took part in his first parade only two years ago. According to Chris, Banjo lead the parade and never put a hoof out of place, he stayed in step the whole time.

It was truly awesome to see Chris dressed as a soldier from The Light Horse Brigade, the uniform itself looked as though it would of been difficult to wear comfortably.... thick, and it felt very scratchy to touch.



I spoke to Chris again after lunch after tracking him down to the R.S.L (Returned Serviceman's Leagues) Club and he informed me that the practise run with Banjo and the other horses went without a hitch. Once more, Banjo stayed true to form and was never spooked even when an ambulance came up behind him in an emergency with sirens blaring.

I look forward to seeing the parade on Anzac Day, watching Banjo, Chris and the rest of the team, the local school children and various clubs from the town march and commemorate a day of great reflection.

At Federation, Australia was at war. 838 Officers 15,327 Other Ranks and 16,314 Horses saw service in the South African conflict by the time it concluded in 1903. New South Wales had sent Lancers (New South Wales Lancers), Heavy Cavalry (The Australian Horse), Mounted Infantry (New South Wales Mounted Rifles), and Light Horse (Australian Commonwealth Horse); other states had sent Mounted Infantry (Queensland Mounted Infantry, Victorian Mounted Rifles, Tasmanian Mounted Infantry, South Australian Mounted Rifles, Western Australian Mounted Infantry) and Light Horse (Australian Commonwealth Horse). However, it was recognised in this conflict that horsemen exposed and at the gallop with short range "shock" weapons (swords and/or lances) were no match for rapid firing smokeless weapons particularly if channelled by obstacles into murderous killing zones.

Thus when "The Mounted Service Manual for Australian Light Horse and Mounted Infantry" was authorised for publication by Major General ETH Hutton, Commanding the military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia in July 1902, Mounted Troops were divided into two categories:

Light Horse, required to:

• fight on foot in the offensive and defensive;
• perform duties classified as information gathering and denial, reconnaissance and screening; and
• afford "protection" from surprise for all bodies of troops both halted and on the march.

Mounted Infantry, required to perform only the duties pertaining to infantry who are temporarily provided with increased means of mobility.

All Australian mounted units were Light Horse, there is no record of Mounted Infantry units being raised. The proud colonial titles and traditions of the colonial units were from this point used for ceremonial only. Light Horse units used horse-holders to enhance mobility, in order to engage the enemy, the lighthorsemen would dismount, handing their reins to one of their number who would move the horses out of the combat area. A trained horseholder could handle up to five extra horses.

You can read more on the Light Horse Brigade here:

The Australian Light Horse

You have Got to be Kidding??

This one is too good to let pass. Received in an email as soon as it was read, and laughing of course, I thought you guys might like to see it. It is funny and if you want a good laugh you will read it.

The Dirty Disher

I went on a Holiday

A change is as good as a holiday so on the transport and off I went to Dizzy City. A quaint little town about to boom, funny thing is, anyone can visit Dizzy City.

Why do we blog

When posts are done, does one do so with the idea that everyone will agree with you or do you expect a difference of opinion? I do not know about what other bloggers expect but myself, I want to hear differences of opinion. Nothing from this blogger is written with the expectation that all think the same and when posting if a piece is written that others disagree with then let them call me on it. With all due respect, if a topic is disagreed on, it isn't the writer but the topic at hand that I will question if I have a different opinion or knowledge. There is nothing wrong with a bit of healthy criticism. In the world of blogging, thick skin is needed as not each person who reads your blogs will agree or even like what you write. If we was all the same and all had same thought patterns and input what a boring place blogs would be. :-) Agree to disagree.

Limmericks

Am not going to post a limmerick but have found a site that has one, yes it is rude and crude and you view it at your own risk.

Limmerick

Jokefile.co.uk

All other conditions and ailments are preventative and are a product of mistreatment...Simply NOT true !

A statement at Ivyology says:

" A popular misconception is that physical or mental ailments are a result of old age. A fading memory, dementia, aches and pains are not a result of ageing! There have been so many times when I’ve heard, “oh, it’s just old age”. The only things that are a result of old age are wrinkles and grey hair. Yup! All other conditions and ailments are preventative and are a product of mistreatment or simply not knowing how to avert them."

The high lighted part of the statement is a misconception in itself.
Memory loss is a symptom that can be associated with dementia.There is currently no prevention or cure for most forms of dementia; however, symptoms may be reduced with medication. Wrinkles and grey hair are NOT symptoms of or caused by old age alone. Not all forms of dementia are a result of mistreatment nor are ALL forms of dementia preventative. Some of the most common forms of dementia

* Alzheimer’s disease
* Vascular dementia
* Parkinson’s disease
* Dementia with Lewy bodies
* Huntington’s disease
* Alcohol related dementia – Korsakoff’s syndrome
* AIDS related dementia
* Fronto Temporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD)
* Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/BHCV2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Dementia_different_types?Open

There are many other rarer causes of dementia, including progressive supranuclear palsy and Binswanger's disease. People with multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease can also be at an increased risk of developing dementia. A lot of these are not preventable and some may even be hereditary. See the following link:

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=200171&documentID=135

Singing for his Supper? Think Not!

Australia's illustrious Prime Minister has launched a single today, if he can sing like Bryan Johnson (Ac/Dc), gyrate like Billy Idol, serenade like Enrique, look like my Hobby Farm Consultant then I will buy the song. Have a listen here:

http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/MakeThisAHit&id=329

Happy Birthday Queen Elizabeth II

Happy Birthday Elizabeth Regina

Eeeeeyoooooore

Worked My Ass off Today

Not typical but this is how I spent most of the day at work today :-)

Where is DANIEL

Photo of Daniel and suspects vehicle.

DANIEL MORECOMBE:

Date of Birth: 19.12.89

Clothing Worn: A Red 'T' Shirt with the word "Billabong" printed on the front, dark knee length shorts, white socks and light coloured Globe runners.
Last Seen: approx 2.10pm Sunday the 7th of December 2003, Nambour-Connection Road, under the Kiel Mountain Road overpass Woombye, approximately 2km north of the Big Pineapple Sunshine Coast Queensland.
Daniel was carrying a distinctive 'fob' style Watch.
It is engraved with the word "DAN".
If you have seen or have information about either of these items then ring Crime Stoppers immediately. 1800 333 000.

Daniel Morecombe has been missing now for four and a half years. Daniel's parents, Denise and Bruce, twin brother Bradley and older brother Dean have no closure as to what happened to Daniel. His shetland pony Bullet grazes in a paddock waiting Daniel's return. Daniel's picture is on milk cartons, pizza boxes, billboards, ads on television, even a truckie has adorned his semi with Daniel's photo in the hope that it will jog someone's memory. To see the look in his parents eyes and hear the heartache in their voices is enough to make the strongest person shed tears for a little boy lost. Out there, there is someone or persons who knows where Daniel or his remains are and what happened to him.

Please visit the Daniel Morecombe Foundation website set up in Daniel's honor.

All too often, children are the innocent victim’s in our sometimes cruel society. The events surrounding Daniel’s disappearance have strengthened a community in their resolve to ensure that this type of tragedy never occurs again.

But the Daniel Morcombe Foundation’s belief and vision is one that also incorporates a future where all children are provided with protection, education and support in their lives.

The objectives of the foundation are simple and wide reaching across many facets of our community.

1. To educate children regarding their personal
safety (including abduction)
2. To assist victims of crime, particularly where crime involves children
3. To continue the search for Daniel
4. To raise funds from public and Government entities to support the above objectives
5. To provide a vehicle to attract funding from State and Federal bodies and to establish and maintain a public fund to attract public donations and bequests

1. To educate children regarding their personal
safety (including abduction)
2. To assist victims of crime, particularly where crime involves children
3. To continue the search for Daniel
4. To raise funds from public and Government entities to support the above objectives
5. To provide a vehicle to attract funding from State and Federal bodies and to establish and maintain a public fund to attract public donations and bequests



http://www.danielmorcombe.com.au/

Legend of Devil's Pool

Nestled in the rainforest near Babinda, a town half an hour drive from where I live is a swimming hole known as Devil's Pool but locals know it as The Boulders. The waters are crystal clear, at times they are freezing cold but in summer are a welcome relief from the heat and humidity. This is where I received my first case of severe Queensland sunburn, spending all day in the swimming hole and driving around in a topless jeep. It is also a popular tourist venue. Queensland's two highest mountains; Mt Bartle Frere and Mt Bellenden Ker are both visible from this swimming hole. There is a Legend that surrounds The Boulders and there has been 16 deaths since 1959 of young males in accordance with that legend.



The legend arises from the story of a woman who married a respected tribal elder but ran away with a beautiful young man visiting for the event. When they were captured she threw herself into the waters to escape, calling for her lover to follow her. The legend goes that her spirit guards the boulders and that her calls for her lover can still be heard.



One local, Annie Wonga, gave this account:

There was a tribe that lived here. In this tribe was an elder, and his name was called Waroonoo and Waroonoo was promised to a girl called Oolana. When they got married, they had a big dance. As they went dancing a wandering tribe passed through and they welcomed them. In this tribe was a handsome young warrior and his name was Dyga. Oolana fell in love with him, and he fell in love with Oolana. While they were dancing, they decided to run further up the creek and camp there overnight. And at the morning, the wandering tribe and our tribe saw that they were missing. So they went in search of them and they said to Oolana, "You've got to come with us." And his tribe took him away. And when she saw that, she just came and she threw herself into the creek. She loved him that much. And there was a mighty upheaval, and rocks were strewn everywhere and where she lay is now called the Devil's Pool. And every now and again she might call a wandering man to her, thinking that it's Dyga.

There are warning signs posted by local authorities about the dangers faced, further down from the main swimming hole, where the rapids are. The area immediately above where the rapids are and where it narrows through the rocks is fenced off but still deaths from drowning occur.

A sign warns of the dangers of swimming there because the water is deep and fast flowing through channels and over underwater rocks but deaths still occur – some by swimming, others by falling in unexpectedly, many being wedged in a rock "chute".

Local Aboriginal people believe that when people disrespect the site, the site "disrespects" them in return. One account given was a man who was warned, but kicked the plaque, slipped into the hole and drowned where a body had just been recovered. Another tells of a drowned man whose father photographed the site in memoriam. When the photograph was developed the son's face appeared on the rocks:

When the father come down, the police took him out and showed him where he went down in the chute. And he took the photo of that, thinking it's just a chute. And he come back and they showed him where they had him tied up there. And when he went over to Innisfail the next morning to get them developed that's what they found. That photo, he's even got the cigarette in his mouth.

The Aboriginal people, among them Rainforest people, feel they are protected and anyone who goes there with them as friends are also protected.

Devil's Pool

Should drugs be decriminalised?

Reading this post over at Revellian, he asks the question whether drugs should be decriminalised.

I believe that drugs should be completely decriminalized in favor of treatment. It’s ridiculous to send someone to prison because they are caught with drugs. Prison will only worsen things and ruin that person’s life; however, a person selling large quantities of illicit substances, does deserve prison.

So I ask you, should alcohol be illegal? Should the laws be changed in favor of treatment for people? One of the oldest arguments is that if alcohol is legal, then marijuana should be legal too; it is in some states and countries. In my opinion, marijuana should be legal. If not, then make alcohol illegal.

Revellian

He goes on further to state this:

What bothers me to no end is someone who drinks alcohol saying something negative about a drug user. If you drink alcohol, even in scarce moderation, you too are a drug user and are no better than a crack head…period. If the previous sentence offends you and you drink, you might be a hypocrite! We are all equal and should be treated as such.

Some of the most erratic behavior I’ve ever seen is from people going through cigarette withdrawal. I quit several years ago but it was extremely difficult. I know that until the day I die, I will be in tobacco recovery - the addiction NEVER goes away. Marijuana is psychologically addictive but can be tough to quit for some people. Overall, alcohol is by far more dangerous than pot.







Everyday heavy use of marijuana does have side effects and it is an addictive drug. Prison may not be the answer and as this blogger has previously stated, addiction whether it be cigarettes, alcohol, caffeine or just good old fashioned pot is difficult at best to live with. And yes I agree, alcohol abuse is extremely dangerous and is as bad as a regular pot smoker. Am not talking about those who partake in the occasional joint or billy (bong). Habitual users of marijuana often deny that it has any side effects and to think this is living with ones head in the sand. Mood swings are quite common, paranoia creeps up on you, DENIAL is the biggest affliction.
See the following link at NIDA for information how marijuana affects the user. There are drug programs in place and many of those caught for first time go through the 'drug court' here in Queensland. If they continue to use, then they either don't want to give up pot and or don't believe it is as harmless as proven. This is not a personal attack on Revellian, just on the topic at hand.

NIDA

2020 summit quick update

A proposal has been put forward and it is not yet clear who by but the proposal is that those born after 2008 be banned from smoking. Addiction to nicotine is a hard one to break and yes there are many illnesses caused from smoking. But this new proposal is the extreme and then our Health Minister Nicola Roxon states one submission was for annual national fitness testing with financial incentives for those who pass. Who is going to pay for all these incentives? Not the government but you the tax payer. Next you know they will be telling us not to use 2ply but 3ply toilet paper. Let's see if they ban alcohol consumption as well. I'd like to see that and if Australia continues on the Big Brother path to control almost every aspect of our lives, I'll happily pack my bags and move elsewhere. Don't insult our intelligence, we are not children and do not need to be told how to live our lives.

Re: [putin answers] about alina kabaeva

Vladimir Putin

In reference to the story James has on Putin, and attempts to post in whole url, lots of pictures and a substantial write up about his alleged dalliances. My comments at Nourishing obscurity are,

Age is but a number, but realistically and long term, if they was to get together, what is the bet it don't last. What has he got that she could possibly want, status! On the other hand she has everything he wants, silly old fart.

On the Menu tonight

My personal chefs cooked up this treat of spiral pasta. Am not a huge fan of pasta but this particular dish was done to perfection, one thing missing was the fresh parmesan cheese. The chefs do not allow this in their pantry or to be consumed by them , they refer to it as 'vomit cheese', no doubt because of the smell. My chefs (both boys) are only 10 and 9 but they love to cook for their mum. Now , who is to be the next guinea pig ?

The Olden Days Television with a dash of New

Cheech and Chong. Many nights spent laughing at the sheer idiocy of these two and the movies they made. How many times did I sit through Nice Dreams and Up In Smoke. At first I couldn't understand what they was on about , am not sure if I would sit and watch them now or find it as humourous. One video that does grace the shelf is Ferris Bueller's Day Out and the Austin Powers trilogy. There is just something about the cheek of Austin Powers that cracks me up every time and with his pick up lines and of course the hairy chest.
Must have another video night and after recent discussions am planning on seeing The Dead Zone and Sleepy Hollow. Does anyone remember The Ghost and Mrs Muir? Seen the movie years ago and as a kid used to watch the series on television. They don't make movies or tv shows like they used to.
Cartoons are nothing like yester-year. Good old Bugs Bunny, Sylvester & Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Wylie Coyote, Foghorn Leghorn, Taz, Speedy Gonzales, Road Runner and can't forget Donald Duck and Daffy. They were something special.