Jay-qu Posted September 13, 2007 Report Share Posted September 13, 2007 Well if I said you have to visit melbourne that would probably be a bias answer :( I would say it depends on the time of year, melbourne can be fairly cold and rainy (though not so much lately with the drought) in the winter. While queensland can get pretty damn hot and humid in summer (depending on the area). I think the outback may be a tad boring.. but if you want diversity and want to see some desert I would probably go to western Australia, Ive heard its beautiful, but I have never been myself. Its a big country Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monomer Posted September 13, 2007 Report Share Posted September 13, 2007 I'd say don't bother with Adelaide I think you'd find what you're looking for in Tasmania and Western Australia. I haven't been to either but I hear they're rather beautiful places. And they have wetlands you might be interested in. Michaelangelica 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted September 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 I've often thought of visiting Oz, but the funds are not there, yet. So if I plan a trip to Oz, what would you Aussies say would be the best destinations, allowing for the following:* I would love to visit Tasmania (I know...)* I'm not into urban so much, but it would be great to mingle in a city to learn the talk of the street and local customs etc...* The Outback sounds great, but not top on the list by any means.* Coastal towns are appealing* Diversity, Diversity, Diversity* Indigenous studies; particularly those related to survival and tradition* Ecology - heck, I'll even volunteer to eradicate some cane toads :) I have some ideas in mind, but I'd really love to hear input from all the Aussies here. :hyper:Go by plane if you want diversity. remember the place is as big as RussiaThere is a post here on Bill's Peache's plane toursTasmania is beautiful very sparsely populatedthere is a magazine called Tasmainia lifestyle which is great.lots of great national parksyou need to tell us what you are into (Hiking?) lots of bits of rainforest still left in Tas and Qld but not for long SA has some lovely wineries and some suburb wines (first settled by Germans stunning Riselings you can lay down for 20 years if they don't have corks.) again a very pretty place the little bit around Adelaide and the hills I have seen. Adelade is a small manageable town Sydney is across between LA and San Francisco. The 150 miles around it is where most people in Oz live. Pretty but watch we don't mug you. Lot of art Culture, Opera nightlife jazz etc etc. All the east cost of Oz is stunning white sand beach after beach after beach. Avoid the touristy ones like Bondi, Terrigal unless you are trying to pick up opposite sex tourists/ backpackers. If you are going to surf please let me know and I will post a few bits of sage advice which might save your life. The Sydney Zoo is terrific right on the harbour hillside.- walk from the top down I have never been to NT or WA but if you go don't poke any crocodiles with sticks or go swimming in inappropriately named creeks like "Alligator" River. I am told kackado (cant spell it) National Park in NT is great but not sure if you should go in wet or dry season. Any other Ozzies know? The Great Barrier Reef is stunning (Most of the cost of Queensland). You can only visit some spots the rest is restricted national park. See it soon Global warming will kill it in the next 10-20 years. The Whitsundays is a good dropping off point. Lots of tourists there though- where the young German backpackers go to get laid and drunk.The hinterland is intersting crafty and some rainforest never reall been "Outback" to far hot dusty and dry. It looks like this years crop, planted when it rained a few months ago is kacktus too, at least in NSW********************Australian politics has suddenly become interestingJust in case you miss itA nice article on politics by Alan Ramsy In the SMHIt trys to explain what has happened in the last week via Life of Brian analogys V. Good http://mail.google.com/mail/?auth=DQAAAIIAAACh5TMl7Z4m-pt2AAZrt2NfTjORbvKS7K7zU2BG4yOsB9GZgVjdHCfhpVH3MzaAWL14Om1eRUMUX0zKdv5KB5E32pUCadr8k66qjTfsrVmZWDW9CD93Md7Aeeytmdrzq1GQ5c_oJ-AGEkD4GSxHyd9Ju4d3N_-DVgcT5irwrE-m_Tumjdh9f8O2dETTxYyLTU4&shva=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay-qu Posted September 16, 2007 Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 If you are going to surf please let me know and I will post a few bits of sage advice which might save your life. If you want to do any surfing come down to victoria and I can show you some secret spots :hyper: J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted September 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 If you want to do any surfing come down to victoria and I can show you some secret spots Jopps forgot about Victoria (What NSW Vic rivalry?) Great restaurants (used to be the best before everyone got poker-machines and Casinos,) Cosmopolitan city with a bit of an inferiority complex about Sydney. Silly really it has its own charm, I love its second hand bookshops, Greek food coffee, shopping. Lot of good rag trade designers, great art Gallery, gardens The dandenong mountans (hills) nearby are great for gardens The Rickets Sanctuary is a MUST see. Everything in Victoria seems a little closer countryside wise. Can be quite cool and changeable weather even in summer, but they are having a bad time with the drought too.Some great old historic (ie European historic =150 years -aboriginal historic =40-60,000 years old)) country towns like Ballarat and Bendigo. One of my long lost ancestors was mayor of Bendigo Did I forget Canberra too?"The ruination of a good sheep farm". The erstwhile, planned, Political Capital of Australia. (when Melbourne and Sydney could not agree on which would be the capital they plunked a new one down on a sheep paddock half way between both!)The War Museum and National Art Gallery are worth a look so too maybe the New Australia Museum & Parliament House But I have not seen either yet. Very planed and ordered city (town). Still I always get lost driving in circles around it. Always seems a bit sole-less to me. Always good to check what art exhibitions are on in all cites. We have had some great ones. Our art galleries are not up to NY or Washington but the exhibitions are often knock-outs.Went to Newcastle last night (4,5,6th? biggest town in Oz?) to see Tiddle l Po the Milligan/Goon story -fabulous show especially if you are a Goon /Milligan fan.) Ate some of the best kangaroo I have eaten, inexpensively too.(it needs to be under cooked don't ask for it well done). Newcastle is the biggest coal port in the world. Used to be dingy steel (BHP) town like Pitsburg but is becoming very cosmopolitan. Up the Valley from it (Hunter valley) are lots of wineries, restaurants, expensive bed and breakfasts etcUnfortunately I was bought up on & prefer SA and Victorian (Rutherglen-wonderful full bodied reds and muscats and ports) wines and so don't really visit there much PSThe Chaser's APEC ?OPEC Australia/Austria prank is a must see but How do you get permission to let of your own explosive fireworks when such an event is on? No one seems to have noticed their extra rockets and the firework sign that said "APEC SUCKS" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted September 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 Solarium skin cancer victim Clare Oliver, 26, diesArticle from: The Sunday Times September 13, 2007 08:00am CANCER victim Clare Oliver has died in hospital from melanoma after spending her last days campaigning against the unregulated use of tanning salons.Ms Oliver, who turned 26 late last month, had campaigned in her final days to raise awareness of the dangers of tanning salons. Ms Oliver who died of aggressive melanoma, captured Victorian hearts when she spoke out against tanning and solariums. Her plight sparked the government to action with Health Minister Daniel Andrews promising to frame legislation to ensure that tanning salons adhered to age limits for clients and insisted on parental consent forms from customers aged between 16 and 18. Solarium skin cancer victim Clare Oliver, 26, dies | PerthNow So how much sun is a good thing?See also vitamin D thread -ends here:- http://hypography.com/forums/medical-science/7076-vitamin-d-magic-mushrooms-3.html#post189902 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted September 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 If you have a farmer friend in Oz get them to read this ABC article.The Carbon Farmers - Features - The Lab - Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Gateway to ScienceIt could save the farm. If you are interested in soil read the article yourself. If it interests or your farmer friend, then look at the Hypography Terra preta forumhttp://hypography.com/forums/terra-preta/index2.html[More pics hereLocal photos - photo of the week :: ABC North Coast NSW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay-qu Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 There has been an unusual presence of kookaburra's in my area of late - I tried to snap a pic with my phone but wasnt to successful as I didnt get close enough before I scared it away :D They are great birds to listen to and I have enjoyed having them around - I just wonder what has brought them all in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted September 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 There has been an unusual presence of kookaburra's in my area of late - I tried to snap a pic with my phone but wasnt to successful as I didnt get close enough before I scared it away :D They are great birds to listen to and I have enjoyed having them around - I just wonder what has brought them all in? If you are an insomniac, like me, you might notice that at dawn all the birds start to call.But kookas start laughing about 30 minutes or more before sunriseHow? Why?Do they have watches? It is also said that Kookas calling a lot predicts coming rain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted September 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 Australian Animals Lesson 1Quolls They are mammals.Some are as big as a cat, so they are sometimes called Native Cats. They are nocturnal animals. In the day time they sleep in hollow trees and logs. At night they look for food. Quolls eat insects, birds, snakes and mice and even some grasses. Cats, dogs and foxes kill quolls.Quolls | In the Air | Our Animals Hobart in Tasmania just burnt down but no-one noticedFire at Hobart's Myer building contained - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Store 'family' grieves | Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania Historic Hobart Myer destroyed by fire | Herald Sun Hobart's Myer store up in flames - National - theage.com.au Blog On The Spot - An Events BlogThe Hobart's Mercury Newspaper I note is complaining that there is nearly one "armed" (with stick, knife not necessarily a gun) robbery every month. Sydney should be so lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted September 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 My God!!You can't go anywhere without a Government advertisement about how good they are I mean were.I just looked up the TV programme and got an adobe flash add about bloody "work choices" (sic). Without broadband it really stuffed my system (They must be running scared too many people out there want a democracy that respects human rights rather than a fascist dictatorship)Here is my retaliation; my apologies in advance, if by some fluke of DNA, there is a Liberal voter at Hypography.Subject: John Howard (AKA Bonsai)- Heaven & Hell While on his morning walk, Prime Minister John Howard falls over, has a heart attack and dies because the accident and emergency ward at his nearest hospital is too understaffed to treat him in time. So his soul arrives in Heaven and he is met by Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. "Welcome to Heaven," says Saint Peter, "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a Liberal around these parts, so we're not sure what to do with you.""No problem, just let me in; I'm a good Christian; I'm a believer," says the PM. "I'd like to just let you in, but I have orders from God Himself. He says that since the implementation of his new HEAVENCHOICES policy, you have to spend one day in Hell and one day in Heaven. Then you must choose where you'll live for eternity." "But I've already made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven," replies Howard. "I'm sorry ... but we have our rules," Peter interjects. And, with that, St. Peter escorts him to an elevator and he goes down, down, down ... all the way to Hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a lush golf course. The sun is shining in a cloudless sky. The temperature is a perfect 22C degrees. In the distance is a beautiful club-house. Standing in front of it is Bob Menzies and thousands of other Liberals luminaries who had helped him out over the years --- Harold Holt, John Gorton, Bill McMahon, etc. The whole of the Liberal Party leaders were there everyone laughing, happy, and casually but expensively dressed They run to greet him, to hug him and to reminisce about the good times they had getting rich at the expense of 'suckers and peasants.' They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar. The Devil himself comes up to Howard with a frosty drink, "Have a tequila and relax, John!". "Uh, I can't drink anymore, I took a pledge," says Howard, dejectedly. "This is Hell, son. You can drink and eat all you want and not worry and it just gets better from there!" Howard takes the drink and finds himself liking the Devil, who he thinks is a really very friendly bloke who tells funny jokes like himself and pulls hilarious nasty pranks, kind of like the ones the Liberals pulled with the GST and the Free Trade Agreement promises. They are having such a great time that, before he realises it, it's time to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and waves as Howard steps on the elevator and heads upward. When the elevator door reopens, he is in Heaven again and Saint Peter is waiting for him. "Now it's time to visit Heaven," the old man says, opening the gate. So for 24 hours Howard is made to hang out with a bunch of honest, good-natured people who enjoy each other's company, talk about things other than money and treat each other decently. Not a nasty prank or short-arse joke among them. No fancy country clubs here and, while the food tastes great, it's not caviar or lobster. And these people are all poor. He doesn't see anybody he knows and he isn't even treated like someone special! "Whoa," he says uncomfortably to himself. "Bob Menzies never prepared me for this!". The day done, Saint Peter returns and says, "Well, you've spent a day in Hell and a day in Heaven. Now choose where you want to live for eternity." With the 'Deal or No Deal' theme playing softly in the background, Howard reflects for a minute ... then answers: "Well, I would never have thought I'd say this -- I mean, Heaven has been delightful and all -- but I really think I belong in Hell with my friends." So Saint Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down, all the way to Hell. The doors of the elevator open and he is in the middle of a barren scorched earth covered with garbage and toxic industrial wasteland, kind of like the eroded, rabbit and fox affected Australian outback. He is horrified to see all of his friends, dressed in rags and chained together, picking up the roadside rubbish and putting it into black plastic bags. They are groaning and moaning in pain, faces and hands black with grime. The Devil comes over to Howard and puts an arm around his shoulder. "I don't understand," stammers a shocked John, "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a club-house and we ate lobster and caviar and drank tequila. We lazed around and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and everybody looks miserable!" The Devil looks at him, smiles slyly and purrs, "Yesterday we were campaigning; today you voted for us!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted October 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 Just watched ABC's message stick. A show about & for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples.Today's show was about health and aged care. Beautiful faces old Aborigines have"Everyone over forty is responsible for their own face " Prof Cooper Link is here is you would like to learn more. Lots of links to other aboriginal WWW sitesMessage Stick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted October 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 Interesting show on ABC "Australia Story " tonightIf you are interested in airplanes, flying or gutsy people you should watch it.Australian StoryIf you have a few million stashed away; this could be a good investment. I read recently of another Australian Aeronautics firm that has a good trade in making replica WW2 Spitfires. (!! Boys and their toys?)1. Supermarine Aircraft Pty LtdCompany Type: ManufacturerWebsite: Supermarine Aircraft - SpitfireSupermarine Aircraft Pty Ltd are manufacturers of the replica WWII Spitfire Mark 26 in 'kit form'.Doing very well from all accounts The election is looming. I think Bonsai is hoping for an Al Quida attack to put himself back in the running ; so no announcement yet. Retailers wil be p****d if he puts on a Christmas election. Never to be underestimated the Liberals/Nats are past masters of the scare campaign. Nation Party Pork Barreling or Necessary?[Still not as bad as US farm subsidies, although most of those go to big agri-business rather than the Family Farm.While out-of-work Australians can earn just $31 before their payout is reduced, the Howard Government's new drought assistance package allows farmers to earn nearly $400 a week before it starts to taper off. Australian National University academic Linda Botterill this week raised concerns that those chasing work, those on the aged and disability pension and students working part-time had their welfare payments hit far earlier than farmers. "I don't understand the rationale for allowing them to earn an additional $20,000 a year and then receive a full welfare payment on top of that," she told ABC radio on Thursday. "If the welfare payment is intended to be that, it seem to me that it is only reasonable that it be offered to farmers on welfare at the same rate that it's offered to others in the community." Dr Botterill said farmers could now earn 13 times more than other Australians before their welfare payments began to be affected,.. . "What's missing from that policy is any sense there is such a thing as human capital," he said. . . . Beyond the increase to the welfare threshold and the $150,000 exit grant were grants of up to $20,000 to irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin to implement water management strategies, and $10,000 for relocation costs for those who quit farming and a further $10,000 for training. The asset test to secure the payments will be increased to $350,000 after families have sold the family farm, allowing farmers to walk off the land with up to $500,000 if they secure the full grant.Higher dole for farmers defended | The AustralianI love the irony in "What's missing from that policy is any sense there is such a thing as human capital," he said.. Better DNA in the country rather than city dole-bludgers?The Brotherhood of St. Lawrence has today pointed out the 5%, or One Million, Australians are out of work or underemployed. This when the Govt. is swimming in money and the economy is going gang-busters on a commodities boom (ie Digging up and selling the rarer bits of Australia)Mr Nicholson said the Brotherhood was proposing a vision for the next decade that focused on developing the skills, work experience and confidence of the most disadvantaged job seekers to make these people more employable in today's high-skill economy. http://hypography.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=191229 Amnesty is very upset about the Australian government's treatment of this young Indian Doctor- Dr Haneef.If it wasn't for O/S doctors the Australian medical system would collapse.The medical profession has run a union "closed shop" for years. Allowing only the top 0.01% academically into its illustrious, wealthy, privileged and government-gravy-train ranks. Now many university medical schools will not let you in unless you have a degree or too first!Amnesty International Australia, Search, Search results Earlier this year Amnesty raises concern over terror suspect detentionMark Dodd | July 12, 2007 HUMAN rights group Amnesty International has voiced serious concern over the prolonged detention of Gold Coast doctor Mohamed Haneef who has been held without charge for more than a week by Australian Federal Police on possible terrorist charges. Dr Haneef, a registrar at Gold Coast Hospital, has been held in the Brisbane watchouse since July 2 under the government's harsh new anti-terror laws and is unable to apply for bail. Amnesty raises concern over terror suspect detention | The AustralianIt like McCarthyism gone mad here:eek2:Four CornersCheck out amnesty site or ABC's "Four Corners" ( the only media programme that keeps our politicians moderately "honest"). You can see why they all hate it and try to castrate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted October 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 AS VAST areas of rural Australia teeter on the brink of a devastating crop failure, a CSIRO report has predicted worse droughts to come and added to questions about current government policies on climate and agriculture. . . . "Lack of follow-up rains have lowered production estimates by around 7 million tonnes, with current conditions dictating that there is further downside risk," Ms Dixon said.. . .The report, Climate Change in Australia, provides the most comprehensive assessment of the country's climate to date, and is based on the work of more than 50 scientists. Its grim projections of more droughts, heatwaves, bushfires and severe weather were released in Sydney yesterday at the Greenhouse 2007 conference. Addressing 700 assembled scientists, Dr Tim Flannery said urgent action was needed ahead of upcoming climate talks in Bali. "I respectfully and publicly ask our Prime Minister to ratify the Kyoto Protocol so we have a seat at the table in those negotiations," Dr Flannery said.. . .Australia's parched future - Climate Watch - theage.com.au The bushfires started yesterday in Sydney Kuringai national park( a late burn off got away-Sydney is surrounded by national parks) and Port Stephens where two home were lost. One poor guy lost everything & was not ensured This is very early for bushfires. A hot, dry, 30-34C day with strong wind predicted for tomorrow,- Bushfire weather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaurieAG Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 Hi Michaelangelica, The election is looming. I think Bonsai is hoping for an Al Quida attack to put himself back in the running ; so no announcement yet. They probably thought that all their Xmas's had come at once, and then found out that they had only relaxed APEC security for a bunch of comedians. Earlier that day John Howard was held up at a locked gate waiting for a key, the head of security had his credentials questioned at another checkpoint and they relaxed their security checks. That's a new extension for the neo era "plausible deniability through incompetence". Michaelangelica 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted October 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 LOL LaurieAGHow right you areShould I be laughing? Let's forget about politics, elections, pulp mills etc for a second. This is an interesting new Australian environmental bookBob Beale is a lovely guy who wrote me up 25 years ago when I was first in business. The first person who thought I was not insane, giving up my career and "going bush/feral"This looks like a good read The story of Australia and its people told as never before: through a celebration of the finest and most outstanding of Australia's trees. Go on a remarkable journey through time and across the entire continent, reviving forgotten history, revealing unknown treasures and unearthing some unsung heroes of the natural world. Description Our trees have stood as silent witnesses to the colonisation of a harsh land, as living memorials of events we must never forget, and as inspiration to generations of artists, poets and writers. Some will forever be associated with the pivotal moments in our history, some have simply offered shelter from the sun, while others have provided the wood that was at the foundation of European settlement. But regardless of their roles, they have all played a part in forming our heritage. The ancient, the young, those teetering on the brink of death, the tallest, the endangered - they all have stories they could tell. Bob Beale takes us on a journey back in time, across the vastness of this unique continent and towards a future that will continue to be witnessed by our silent sentinels - hopefully for many years to come. About Bob BealeBob Beale has been a writer for more than 25 years, specialising in science and the environment. He worked for many years as a journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald where he was the former Chief of Staff, European Correspondent and Science and Environment Editor. He is now a freelance writer whose work appears regularly in The Bulletin and the Reader's Digest, and he is a contributor to a wide range of Australian and international science and medical magazines. His awards include five times winner or finalist of the Michael Daley Award for science journalism, winner of the Peter Hunt Prize for environmental journalism, and finalist in the Walkley awards for journalism.ISBN: 9781741142761Australian Pub.: October 2007Edition: 1Publisher: Allen & UnwinImprint: Allen & UnwinSubject: Trees, wildflowers & plants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted October 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 Clarke and Dawe on Bonsai's "Fairness Test" . . . . . .. . . JOHN CLARKE: It's highly successful. BRYAN DAWE: If the fairness test has determined the system doesn't work. 25,000 people. JOHN CLARKE: Bryan, who put the fairness test? BRYAN DAWE: You did. You did. JOHN CLARKE: Exactly, the system works. BRYAN DAWE: Why were the unfair agreements written in the first place? JOHN CLARKE: I think the employers in those 25,000 instances hadn't seen the ads. BRYAN DAWE: Which ads? JOHN CLARKE: The ones that Barbara Bennett did for us. BRYAN DAWE: For the Government or for the Liberal Party? JOHN CLARKE: Same thing, Bryan. BRYAN DAWE: It's fair? JOHN CLARKE: In those agreements? No, not in those 25,000 cases, that's what she determines. BRYAN DAWE: So what are you saying? They're made fair by being found to be unfair? JOHN CLARKE: No, Bryan, that would be completely illogical. What I am saying is that the system works. BRYAN DAWE: Change the law? JOHN CLARKE: Be reasonable, Bryan. What is Barbara Bennett going to do if we change the law? If we make the law fair, what's the possible point in having a fairness test? She runs the fairness tests. BRYAN DAWE: Lose the job. JOHN CLARKE: Have some compassion, Bryan, we're talking about people. BRYAN DAWE: Mr Hockey, thanks for your time. JOHN CLARKE: I am a people person. Sometimes comedians cut right though the political crap.More atThe 7.30 Report - ABC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.