Happy New Year. What a start to the year, and aren't we, lucky living where we are? The kind fates that directed us here certainly knew what they were doing. And don't you feel proud at how the public has rallied to help the less fortunate. Shows what a real community is. We've had our own death in this area, with a drowning when a foolhardy driver defied the “Road Closed” sign at the junction of the Aramac Road and the Flinders Highway. Police are investigating.Which leads me into winners of this year's Darwin Awards. For those who may not know, these awards are awarded posthumously to people who have removed themselves from the gene pool by the most bizzare manner.2010 DARWIN AWARDSEighth Place: In Detroit, a 41-year-old man got stuck and drowned in two feet of water after squeezing head first through an 18-inch-wide sewer grate to retrieve his car keys. Seventh Place: A 49-year-old San Francisco stockbroker, who "totally zoned when he ran" , accidentally jogged off a 100-foot high cliff on his daily run. Sixth Place: While at the beach , Daniel Jones , 21 , dug an 8 foot hole for protection from the wind and had been sitting in a beach chair at the bottom , when it collapsed , burying him beneath 5 feet of sand. People on the beach used their hands and shovels trying to get him out but could not reach him. It took rescue workers using heavy equipment almost an hour to free him. Jones was pronounced dead at a hospital. Fifth Place: Santiago Alvarado, 24, was killed as he fell through the ceiling of a bicycle shop he was burglarizing. Death was caused when the long flashlight he had placed in his mouth to keep his hands free rammed into the base of his skull as he hit the floor. Fourth Place :Sylvester Briddell, Jr., 26, was killed as he won a bet with friends who said he would not put a revolver loaded with four bullets into his mouth and pull the trigger. Third Place: After stepping around a marked police patrol car parked at the front door , a man walked into H&J Leather & Firearms intent on robbing the store. The shop was full of customers and a uniformed officer was standing at the counter. Upon seeing the officer, the would-be robber announced a hold-up and fired a few wild shots from a target pistol. The officer and a clerk promptly returned fire, and several customers also drew their guns and fired. The robber was pronounced dead at the scene by Paramedics. Crime scene investigators located 47 expended cartridge cases in the shop. The subsequent autopsy revealed 23 gunshot wounds. Ballistics identified rounds from 7 different weapons. No one else was hurt. Second Place: Paul Stiller, 47, and his wife Bonnie were bored just driving around at 2 A.M. So they lit a quarter stick of dynamite to toss out the window to see what would happen. Apparently they failed to notice that the window was closed. AND THE WINNER IS....Zookeeper Friedrich Riesfeldt (Paderborn, Germany) fed his constipated elephant 22 doses of animal laxative and more than a bushel of berries, figs and prunes before the plugged-up pachyderm finally got relief. Investigators say ill-fated Friedrich, 46, was attempting to give the ailing elephant an olive oil enema when the relieved beast unloaded. The sheer force of the elephants unexpected defecation knocked Mr. Riesfeldt to the ground where he struck his head on a rock as the elephant continued to evacuate 200 pounds of dung on top of him. It seems to be just one of those freak accidents that proves... ‘Shit happens.'
For those of you not familiar with the Darwin Awards, they are
Monday, January 31, 2011
Australia Day, 2011.Last week I posted the “in” words for 2010. It seems to be the season for language discussions. Seems that our Ausie slang is losing its flavour in USA. Some words have been raising eyebrows in the states, are seen as offensive to some sections over there. “Dunny” and “sheila” are seen as particularly undesirable language to use in public. After years of patroling secondary school corridors during breaks I agree that some words should be removed from our vocabulary. It seems I am not alone, the Lake Superior State University is located in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, along the U.S./Canada international border has published the following list of banished words, and the reasons banishment.. VIRAL:"This linguistic disease of a term must be quarantined." Kuahmel Allah, Los Angeles, Calif."Events, photographs, written pieces and even occasional videos that attracted a great deal of attention once were simply highly publicized, repeated in news broadcasts, and talked about for a few days. Now, however, it is no longer enough to give such offerings their 15 minutes of fame, but they must be declared to 'go viral.' As a result, any mindless stunt or vapid bit of writing is sent by its creators whirling around the Internet and, once whirled, its creators declare it (trumpets here) 'viral!' Enough already! If anything is to be declared worthy enough to 'go viral,' clearly it should be the LSSU Banished Words list for 2011!" Lawrence Mickel, Coventry, Conn. EPIC :"Anything that this word describes in popular over-usage is rarely ever 'epic' in the traditional sense of being heroic, majestic, or just plain awe-inspiring." Mel F., Dallas, Tex. "Standards for using 'epic' are so low, even 'awesome' is embarrassed." Mike of Kettering, Ohio. FAIL:One nominator says, "what originally may have been a term for a stockbroker's default is now abused by today's youth as virtually any kind of 'failure.' Whether it is someone tripping, a car accident, a costumed character scaring the living daylights out a kid, or just a poor choice in fashion, these people drive me crazy thinking that anything that is a mistake is a 'fail.' They fail proper language!" "Fail is not a noun. It is not an adjective. It is a verb. If this word is not banned, then this entire word banishment system is full of FAIL. (Now doesn't that just sound silly?)" Daniel of Carrollton, Georgia. WOW FACTOR :"This buzzword is served up with a heaping of cliché factor and a side order of irritation. But the lemmings from cable-TV cooking, whatever design and fashion shows keep dishing it out. I miss the old days when 'factor' was only on the math-and-science menu." Dan Muldoon, Omaha, Neb. A-HA MOMENT: "All this means is a point at which you understand something or something becomes clearer. Why can't you just say that?" Audrey Mayo, Killeen, Tex. BACK STORY :"This should be on the list of words that don't need to exist because a perfectly good word has been used for years. In this case, the word is 'history,' or, for those who must be weaned, 'story.'" Jeff Williams, Sherwood, Ariz. BFF :"These chicks call each other BFF (Best Friends Forever) and it lasts about 10 minutes. Now there's BFFA (Best Friends For Awhile), which makes more sense." Kate Rabe Forgach, Ft. Collins, Colo. MAN UP :"A stupid phrase when directed at men. Even more stupid when directed at a woman, as in 'Alexis, you need to man up and join that Pilates class!'" Sherry Edwards, Clarkston, Mich. "Another case of 'verbing' a noun and ending with a preposition that goes nowhere. Not only that, the phrase is insulting, especially when voiced by a female, who'd never think to say, 'Woman up!'" Aunt Shecky, East Greenbush, NY. . REFUDIATE:"Adding this word to the English language simply because a part-time politician lacks a spell checker on her cell phone is an action that needs to be repudiated." Dale Humphreys, Muskegon, Mich. MAMA GRIZZLIES:"Unless you are referring to a scientific study of Ursus arctos horribilis , this analogy of right-wing female politicians should rest in peace." Mark Carlson, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE "Aren't all Americans people? Every political speech refers to the 'American' people as if simply saying 'Americans' (or 'people') is not enough." Deb Faust, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. I'M JUST SAYIN' "'A phrase used to diffuse any ill feelings caused by a preceded remark,' according to the Urban Dictionary. Do we really need a qualifier at the end of every sentence? FACEBOOK / GOOGLE as verbs :"Facebook is a great, addicting website. Google is a great search engine. However, their use as verbs causes some deep problems. As bad as they are, the trend can only get worse, i.e. 'I'm going to Twitter a few people, then Yahoo the movie listings and maybe Amazon a book or two." Jordan of Waterloo, Ont.LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST :"It's an absurdity followed by a redundancy. First, things are full or they're not; there is no fullest. Second, 'live life' is redundant. Finally, the expression is nauseatingly overused. What's wrong with enjoying life fully or completely? The phrase makes me gag. I'm surprised it hasn't appeared on the list before." Sylvia Hall, Williamsport, Penn.
I'm sure you all have a few words to add to this list? Technology is certainly moving our language forward.Hope you have a really AUSTRALIAN Holiday on Wednesday.
I'm sure you all have a few words to add to this list? Technology is certainly moving our language forward.Hope you have a really AUSTRALIAN Holiday on Wednesday.
18th January
The floods didn’t deter the Fire Brigade’s training session on the weekend. A motivated group of members spent Saturday working to improve skills on handling their new equipment. Nice to see non-members showing some interest too.
A group of motor cyclists made an emergency stop, for repairs to a bike, at the Hotel and enjoyed themselves so much that they stayed the night . They plan to bring a larger group next trip. It is always great when people appreciate the services and hospitality offered, isn’t it?
The weather has been perfect for catching up with a bit of reading and, as usual the library had plenty of new reading in stock. I don’t know if you have noticed the new vocabulary which is filtering into the new novels? The following article will explain how this is happening. It is really interesting to go back to a book published even twenty years ago and see how the language has changed. You will note the same changes in television shows of the same era.
“App” voted 2010 word of the year by the American Dialect Society (UPDATED)
WYNDHAM GRAND HOTEL, PITTSBURGH—JAN. 7—In its 21st annual words of the year vote, the American Dialect Society voted “app” (noun, an abbreviated form of application, a software program for a computer or phone operating system) as the word of the year for 2010. (Read the entire press release.) UPDATE: Photos from the event.)Presiding at the Jan. 7 voting session were ADS Executive Secretary Allan Metcalf of MacMurray College, and Ben Zimmer, chair of the New Words Committee of the American Dialect Society and executive producer of VisualThesaurus.com. Zimmer is also the “On Language” columnist for the New York Times Magazine.“App has been around for ages, but with millions of dollars of marketing muscle behind the slogan ‘There’s an app for that,’ plus the arrival of ‘app stores’ for a wide spectrum of operating systems for phones and computers, app really exploded in the last 12 months,” Zimmer said. “One of the most convincing arguments from the voting floor was from a woman who said that even her grandmother had heard of it.”Word of the Year is interpreted in its broader sense as “vocabulary item”—not just words but phrases. The words or phrases do not have to be brand-new, but they have to be newly prominent or notable in the past year, in the manner of Time magazine’s Person of the Year. The vote is the longest-running such vote anywhere, the only one not tied to commercial interests, and the word-of-the-year event up to which all others lead. It is fully informed by the members’ expertise in the study of words, but it is far from a solemn occasion. Members in the 121-year-old organization include linguists, lexicographers, etymologists, grammarians, historians, researchers, writers, authors, editors, professors, university students, and independent scholars. In conducting the vote, they act in fun and do not pretend to be officially inducting words into the English language. Instead they are highlighting that language change is normal, ongoing, and entertaining.
English—or should I say Amlish—is truly a dynamic language.Till next week, be safe..
The floods didn’t deter the Fire Brigade’s training session on the weekend. A motivated group of members spent Saturday working to improve skills on handling their new equipment. Nice to see non-members showing some interest too.
A group of motor cyclists made an emergency stop, for repairs to a bike, at the Hotel and enjoyed themselves so much that they stayed the night . They plan to bring a larger group next trip. It is always great when people appreciate the services and hospitality offered, isn’t it?
The weather has been perfect for catching up with a bit of reading and, as usual the library had plenty of new reading in stock. I don’t know if you have noticed the new vocabulary which is filtering into the new novels? The following article will explain how this is happening. It is really interesting to go back to a book published even twenty years ago and see how the language has changed. You will note the same changes in television shows of the same era.
“App” voted 2010 word of the year by the American Dialect Society (UPDATED)
WYNDHAM GRAND HOTEL, PITTSBURGH—JAN. 7—In its 21st annual words of the year vote, the American Dialect Society voted “app” (noun, an abbreviated form of application, a software program for a computer or phone operating system) as the word of the year for 2010. (Read the entire press release.) UPDATE: Photos from the event.)Presiding at the Jan. 7 voting session were ADS Executive Secretary Allan Metcalf of MacMurray College, and Ben Zimmer, chair of the New Words Committee of the American Dialect Society and executive producer of VisualThesaurus.com. Zimmer is also the “On Language” columnist for the New York Times Magazine.“App has been around for ages, but with millions of dollars of marketing muscle behind the slogan ‘There’s an app for that,’ plus the arrival of ‘app stores’ for a wide spectrum of operating systems for phones and computers, app really exploded in the last 12 months,” Zimmer said. “One of the most convincing arguments from the voting floor was from a woman who said that even her grandmother had heard of it.”Word of the Year is interpreted in its broader sense as “vocabulary item”—not just words but phrases. The words or phrases do not have to be brand-new, but they have to be newly prominent or notable in the past year, in the manner of Time magazine’s Person of the Year. The vote is the longest-running such vote anywhere, the only one not tied to commercial interests, and the word-of-the-year event up to which all others lead. It is fully informed by the members’ expertise in the study of words, but it is far from a solemn occasion. Members in the 121-year-old organization include linguists, lexicographers, etymologists, grammarians, historians, researchers, writers, authors, editors, professors, university students, and independent scholars. In conducting the vote, they act in fun and do not pretend to be officially inducting words into the English language. Instead they are highlighting that language change is normal, ongoing, and entertaining.
English—or should I say Amlish—is truly a dynamic language.Till next week, be safe..
Monday, January 17, 2011
11th January
I guess I was a little ahead of myself last week. 20011 (?) Anyway, I do hope you are all safe and well. At the moment I’m listening to the update on the Toowoomba devastation. We drove to Charters Towers yesterday to get supplies and the water along the sides of the highway made me very uneasy, especially as the clouds were threatening on all sides. The road is broken in places and you can see the force of the water as it swept grass and branches before it. I was glad to get home again, until I heard the news. The scenes were horrendous.
I feel for those who are in the path of all this water, how are they managing to cope as they wait to see what is going to hit them? And those who have already been flooded—what will they find when they are finally able to return to their homes? Those who have lost everything in floods, fire or cyclones eventually realise that possessions are only that, but when you first lose everything it is hard to handle. Having lost our possessions in Cyclone Tracy I understand their loss. So I know that we do eventually recover from the loss, though I still miss some little pieces of my past—school photos, etc., which are irreplaceable.
What does soften the blow somewhat, is the unselfish caring shown by people, strangers who step in to help. It is typical of country people, who are used to hardship, to step in and lend a hand. Already donations are pouring in, and offers of assistance from people who want to help. This is a memory these flood victims will carry with them forever. Hopefully our Progress Association will offer some assistance towards helping our fellow Queenslanders.
The loss of livestock must be enormous too. For those that survive the floods, what fodder will they have, once the water recedes? The wet has extended as far as Tasmania but Queensland is suffering its worst floods. Maybe it is time to re think the dam situation in this state?
Undoubtedly, we will all eventually suffer from the loss of produce and grumble about prices, but it is the producers who will feel this disaster for a long time to come. Some will not survive. I feel for you all, it is not the start of 2011 I wished for.
Until next week...
I feel for those who are in the path of all this water, how are they managing to cope as they wait to see what is going to hit them? And those who have already been flooded—what will they find when they are finally able to return to their homes? Those who have lost everything in floods, fire or cyclones eventually realise that possessions are only that, but when you first lose everything it is hard to handle. Having lost our possessions in Cyclone Tracy I understand their loss. So I know that we do eventually recover from the loss, though I still miss some little pieces of my past—school photos, etc., which are irreplaceable.
What does soften the blow somewhat, is the unselfish caring shown by people, strangers who step in to help. It is typical of country people, who are used to hardship, to step in and lend a hand. Already donations are pouring in, and offers of assistance from people who want to help. This is a memory these flood victims will carry with them forever. Hopefully our Progress Association will offer some assistance towards helping our fellow Queenslanders.
The loss of livestock must be enormous too. For those that survive the floods, what fodder will they have, once the water recedes? The wet has extended as far as Tasmania but Queensland is suffering its worst floods. Maybe it is time to re think the dam situation in this state?
Undoubtedly, we will all eventually suffer from the loss of produce and grumble about prices, but it is the producers who will feel this disaster for a long time to come. Some will not survive. I feel for you all, it is not the start of 2011 I wished for.
Until next week...
Monday, January 10, 2011
Happy 20011.
New year comes every year, but 2011 is a special year : It will start with 1/1/11 & after 10 days, 11/1/11. After 10 months, 1/11/11 & after 10 months & 10 days, it will be 11/11/11. Guess some maths major had time on his hands?
Sort of along the same lines. Did you know that the dates in 1993 matched the days in 2010? Does that mean that 1994 calendar will match 2011? Duh! I just checked and—yes it does. Knew I’d saved these diaries for something.I hope the new year brings good things to us all. At last the sun is shining and life is starting to get back to normal here, at least. What a devastating time Queensland has had. I hope none of you readers have suffered the hardships those further south have suffered.
I rang to find how our former Police Officer, Lynda Collin (nee Shand) and her husband Wayne were doing and am pleased to report that they are not in the flood zone. I imagine, though, they are both pretty busy with assisting those effected in their area.
During the holidays the grass around town has jumped up. Congratulations to our local Fieries for continuing to maintain the appearance of the town and give the town a positive image.
The locals are starting to trickle back from holidays away as work returns to normal. Unfortunately, along with the rain there has been plenty of problems with communications. The internet (satellite) keeps dropping out and I have to try and work around the problems. There has been no use trying to do anything until the weather settles. So many more are using the internet now that there are periods when overload occurs. Like when we were all sending those photos of the floods off to our friends and clogging the system. I’ve also noticed it happens on special occasions and special days when the reception is extra slow. It will be interesting to see what the solution to this will be. If the airways are already clogged I wonder how the Broadband cable will cope. And did those birds that dropped from the sky in USA fly into a clogged satellite path???
Have a great week. Don’t forget Fari returns on Wednesday 19th.
New year comes every year, but 2011 is a special year : It will start with 1/1/11 & after 10 days, 11/1/11. After 10 months, 1/11/11 & after 10 months & 10 days, it will be 11/11/11. Guess some maths major had time on his hands?
Sort of along the same lines. Did you know that the dates in 1993 matched the days in 2010? Does that mean that 1994 calendar will match 2011? Duh! I just checked and—yes it does. Knew I’d saved these diaries for something.I hope the new year brings good things to us all. At last the sun is shining and life is starting to get back to normal here, at least. What a devastating time Queensland has had. I hope none of you readers have suffered the hardships those further south have suffered.
I rang to find how our former Police Officer, Lynda Collin (nee Shand) and her husband Wayne were doing and am pleased to report that they are not in the flood zone. I imagine, though, they are both pretty busy with assisting those effected in their area.
During the holidays the grass around town has jumped up. Congratulations to our local Fieries for continuing to maintain the appearance of the town and give the town a positive image.
The locals are starting to trickle back from holidays away as work returns to normal. Unfortunately, along with the rain there has been plenty of problems with communications. The internet (satellite) keeps dropping out and I have to try and work around the problems. There has been no use trying to do anything until the weather settles. So many more are using the internet now that there are periods when overload occurs. Like when we were all sending those photos of the floods off to our friends and clogging the system. I’ve also noticed it happens on special occasions and special days when the reception is extra slow. It will be interesting to see what the solution to this will be. If the airways are already clogged I wonder how the Broadband cable will cope. And did those birds that dropped from the sky in USA fly into a clogged satellite path???
Have a great week. Don’t forget Fari returns on Wednesday 19th.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Before Christmas Break
And the rain has moved on! Isn’t it wonderful to finally wake up to sunshine? The last storm certainly dumped us a bonus before it moved towards the coast. We got 3 inches Friday night. One of the down sides of progress was that those on the south side of the paved part of Torrens Street had about 4 inches flooding through the yard. Up side is that it washed all the nasties away from the house.
Our friendly fish venders who travel through here regularly were bogged on the Aramac road and stranded all night. Luckily they had their van or it would have been pretty uncomfortable. Bet they were glad when morning, and rescue, arrived, though.
How nice it is to see the Christmas lights around the town. Especially worth mentioning are those on the Police Station. It gives the town a welcome feel to see them flickering for the girls. Hope Santa is good to them. This will probably for the last Christmas as an official building.
The continuing debate about who is smarter—feline or canine?
A Smart Cat Story on today’s news.
A quick-thinking pussycat has saved his owners' house after a fire broke out in the kitchen while they were Christmas shopping.
Five-year-old Pepper has been hailed a hero for his actions - he opened a window, which allowed smoke to escape and alerted neighbours, who contacted firefighters and stopped the fire spreading to the rest of the house.
The cat had learnt to open windows so he could let himself out at night. He would hop on a kitchen bench and turn the latch with his paw.
Owner Sharon White, of Totnes in Devon, said Pepper showed off his window-opening skills at a dinner party.
"Everyone was applauding him, I think it spurred him on," she said.
"He can climb back in through the window by jumping diagonally on to the ledge as well so he really does come and go as he pleases.
"Pepper is still a bit spooked by the ordeal but is still managing to eat plenty of food."
The West Australian December 14, 2010, 7:31 am
Our friendly fish venders who travel through here regularly were bogged on the Aramac road and stranded all night. Luckily they had their van or it would have been pretty uncomfortable. Bet they were glad when morning, and rescue, arrived, though.
How nice it is to see the Christmas lights around the town. Especially worth mentioning are those on the Police Station. It gives the town a welcome feel to see them flickering for the girls. Hope Santa is good to them. This will probably for the last Christmas as an official building.
The continuing debate about who is smarter—feline or canine?
A Smart Cat Story on today’s news.
A quick-thinking pussycat has saved his owners' house after a fire broke out in the kitchen while they were Christmas shopping.
Five-year-old Pepper has been hailed a hero for his actions - he opened a window, which allowed smoke to escape and alerted neighbours, who contacted firefighters and stopped the fire spreading to the rest of the house.
The cat had learnt to open windows so he could let himself out at night. He would hop on a kitchen bench and turn the latch with his paw.
Owner Sharon White, of Totnes in Devon, said Pepper showed off his window-opening skills at a dinner party.
"Everyone was applauding him, I think it spurred him on," she said.
"He can climb back in through the window by jumping diagonally on to the ledge as well so he really does come and go as he pleases.
"Pepper is still a bit spooked by the ordeal but is still managing to eat plenty of food."
The West Australian December 14, 2010, 7:31 am
Monday, December 13, 2010
8th December.
Tuesday a group of concerned locals attended the meeting with the Police officials to hear how discussions re closure of the Torrens Creek’s Police Station. Although the discussion is still open, and emails regarding local needs and concerns are encouraged, it is anticipated that the station will eventually close. As it was pointed out, the station was established when there was a vastly different transport system. Now, with cars and four wheel drives so much quicker than the horse, it is seen to be more necessary to have personnel out in the field. That , combined with the availability of official sites on the internet where registration, etc. can be handled, release officers for more intensive road patrol, and other duties.
Seems another page of our history turns.
Speaking of history. Here are some interesting dates for this week:
Monday 6th - William Arnott, biscuit manufacturer was born 1827,
Tuesday 7th— Sir Robert Lucas Tooth, brewer was born 1844. Interesting the brewer not the biscuit manufacturer got knighted, I think.
Wednesday 8th— the first Australian harvest was made in 1789.
Thursday 9th— “Breaker” Morant born in England 1864.
former Prime Minister born in Bordertown 1929.
Friday 10th— Queensland declared a separate colony in 1859.
Monday 13th—the first stage appearance of Dame Edna Everage in Melbourne, 1955
Tuesday a group of concerned locals attended the meeting with the Police officials to hear how discussions re closure of the Torrens Creek’s Police Station. Although the discussion is still open, and emails regarding local needs and concerns are encouraged, it is anticipated that the station will eventually close. As it was pointed out, the station was established when there was a vastly different transport system. Now, with cars and four wheel drives so much quicker than the horse, it is seen to be more necessary to have personnel out in the field. That , combined with the availability of official sites on the internet where registration, etc. can be handled, release officers for more intensive road patrol, and other duties.
Seems another page of our history turns.
Speaking of history. Here are some interesting dates for this week:
Monday 6th - William Arnott, biscuit manufacturer was born 1827,
Tuesday 7th— Sir Robert Lucas Tooth, brewer was born 1844. Interesting the brewer not the biscuit manufacturer got knighted, I think.
Wednesday 8th— the first Australian harvest was made in 1789.
Thursday 9th— “Breaker” Morant born in England 1864.
former Prime Minister born in Bordertown 1929.
Friday 10th— Queensland declared a separate colony in 1859.
Monday 13th—the first stage appearance of Dame Edna Everage in Melbourne, 1955
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Finally I’m back on line. Hopefully the problem is fixed permanently. It is scary how necessary the internet has become to my life. I guess it is another symptom of the instant gratification generation - and the loss of patience.
This is the last day of November. Only 4 weeks until Christmas and I haven’t even got my cards. The early rain has upset the shopping routine too. Couldn’t get into town last week and now it’s going to be a rush to get all the parcels off in time. Among the many emails waiting to be opened when I got back on line I came across the following message which I thought was worth passing on. Nice to know that other countries approve of what we are doing.
Powerful stuff. May we all learn from it.
This is perhaps one of the most intense commercials that I've ever seen and very well made. I hope that by passing this along to others, it will make a difference and if just one life is saved, it will all be worth the effort .
I think that Australia should be complimented on having the guts to "tell it like it is" and get this campaign out to all of its licensed drivers and to air it on TV. It is very moving and very life like, so it has a very strong impact.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Z2mf8DtWWd8
Some Things are Sent to Try Us. (a character I met last week, with a bit of poetic license .)
He drove up from Isisford,
that’s due south from Longreach,
for a trip he'd carefully planned
in a boat off Mission Beach.
But now beside me at the bar
his ruddy face was bleak
as he explained his presence
here in Torrens Creek.
“This flamin' wet weather
keeps followin' me around -
rained so hard along the coast
I think the fish all drowned.”
His granite face impassive
stern lips gave a bare tweak,
“Now it seems I'm stranded -
be here for another week.
“The road's cut, the creek's up
between here and Barcaldine.
so I'll stay 'til it goes down
and we see some more sunshine.
He sighed and settled on his stool,
Then downed his amber brew,
“Guess I'll chill here awhile
before I can shoot through.
“The beer's good, company too.
lots of peace and quiet,
and actually the menu here
beats my no fish diet.”
His eyes twinkled, he waved his glass
and called for another round,
adding, “So if my wife calls for me
please tell her I can't be found.
“I'll veg. out for awhile
play a round of golf - or more,”
swung his imaginary club
then he hollered “Fore!”
He seemed to be reconciled
to this unforeseen delay
separating him from family
500 kilometres away.
.
This is the last day of November. Only 4 weeks until Christmas and I haven’t even got my cards. The early rain has upset the shopping routine too. Couldn’t get into town last week and now it’s going to be a rush to get all the parcels off in time. Among the many emails waiting to be opened when I got back on line I came across the following message which I thought was worth passing on. Nice to know that other countries approve of what we are doing.
Powerful stuff. May we all learn from it.
This is perhaps one of the most intense commercials that I've ever seen and very well made. I hope that by passing this along to others, it will make a difference and if just one life is saved, it will all be worth the effort .
I think that Australia should be complimented on having the guts to "tell it like it is" and get this campaign out to all of its licensed drivers and to air it on TV. It is very moving and very life like, so it has a very strong impact.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Z2mf8DtWWd8
Some Things are Sent to Try Us. (a character I met last week, with a bit of poetic license .)
He drove up from Isisford,
that’s due south from Longreach,
for a trip he'd carefully planned
in a boat off Mission Beach.
But now beside me at the bar
his ruddy face was bleak
as he explained his presence
here in Torrens Creek.
“This flamin' wet weather
keeps followin' me around -
rained so hard along the coast
I think the fish all drowned.”
His granite face impassive
stern lips gave a bare tweak,
“Now it seems I'm stranded -
be here for another week.
“The road's cut, the creek's up
between here and Barcaldine.
so I'll stay 'til it goes down
and we see some more sunshine.
He sighed and settled on his stool,
Then downed his amber brew,
“Guess I'll chill here awhile
before I can shoot through.
“The beer's good, company too.
lots of peace and quiet,
and actually the menu here
beats my no fish diet.”
His eyes twinkled, he waved his glass
and called for another round,
adding, “So if my wife calls for me
please tell her I can't be found.
“I'll veg. out for awhile
play a round of golf - or more,”
swung his imaginary club
then he hollered “Fore!”
He seemed to be reconciled
to this unforeseen delay
separating him from family
500 kilometres away.
.
Monday, November 15, 2010
November 2.
In keeping with the good news month, our water continues to flow—red. But I have been informed by Ms Keating, the shire’s Health Officer, that an engineering firm, Base IGI, is studying the water situation in Prairie, Stamford and Torrens Creek in an attempt to improve the quality provided. Meanwhile, boil your water until the pump’s fixed.
After losing our Post Office this year we are now told that we are in danger of losing out Police Station as well. A meeting is called for Wednesday, 25th of October to ‘gauge public opinion about policing services in the community’. Despite the short notice, it should be an interesting meeting. For those unable to attend but would like to have input
email PolicingSmallerCommunities@police.qld.gov.au or phone Acting Inspector Joe Kitching on 47268704 within the next week.
A more comprehensive meeting will be held next month, with more adequate warning of time and venue.
So Near and yet So far.
The Aramac—Torrens Creek has always been a bone of contention.
This north-south road cuts the trip south by a day (when weather conditions permit) and affords the Aramac end quicker access to health facilities, especially now their hospital has closed. It also offers the traveller some wonderful sights. Animals, birds and changes of scenery that tourists who are brave enough to travel that road can dine out on their experiences for ever.
Aramac took the initiative and began working at their end, sealing it to make an all weather road. Working steadily through the past couple of years they have sealed up to 30ks from the junction with the Flinders Highway.
Prior to the elections this year, funding for the road’s completion was withdrawn and now, with the wet season approaching the road has been closed to traffic twice already. With a warning of a more serious cyclone season this year how will those living down this road cope? Dept. Main Roads has still not, as yet, responded to my call.
I’ll end this cheery snippet of rural life with this truism:
Two of the greatest qualities in life are: Patience and Wisdom
In keeping with the good news month, our water continues to flow—red. But I have been informed by Ms Keating, the shire’s Health Officer, that an engineering firm, Base IGI, is studying the water situation in Prairie, Stamford and Torrens Creek in an attempt to improve the quality provided. Meanwhile, boil your water until the pump’s fixed.
After losing our Post Office this year we are now told that we are in danger of losing out Police Station as well. A meeting is called for Wednesday, 25th of October to ‘gauge public opinion about policing services in the community’. Despite the short notice, it should be an interesting meeting. For those unable to attend but would like to have input
email PolicingSmallerCommunities@police.qld.gov.au or phone Acting Inspector Joe Kitching on 47268704 within the next week.
A more comprehensive meeting will be held next month, with more adequate warning of time and venue.
So Near and yet So far.
The Aramac—Torrens Creek has always been a bone of contention.
This north-south road cuts the trip south by a day (when weather conditions permit) and affords the Aramac end quicker access to health facilities, especially now their hospital has closed. It also offers the traveller some wonderful sights. Animals, birds and changes of scenery that tourists who are brave enough to travel that road can dine out on their experiences for ever.
Aramac took the initiative and began working at their end, sealing it to make an all weather road. Working steadily through the past couple of years they have sealed up to 30ks from the junction with the Flinders Highway.
Prior to the elections this year, funding for the road’s completion was withdrawn and now, with the wet season approaching the road has been closed to traffic twice already. With a warning of a more serious cyclone season this year how will those living down this road cope? Dept. Main Roads has still not, as yet, responded to my call.
I’ll end this cheery snippet of rural life with this truism:
Two of the greatest qualities in life are: Patience and Wisdom
November 9th.
The annual Torrens Creek Golf Hambrose was played at the beginning of November, quite a bit earlier than usual. The weather stayed fine for the 17 contestants who came to test their skills for the prize of a Christmas Ham. Winners were all locals, Bruce and Liz Grimmer and Pete ? walked away with the goods this year. Well done, guys.
Despite the downturn in tourism due to the higher valued Australian dollar, The Exchange Hotel has been busy hosting busloads of tourists.
One group from Mackay, Golden Oldies, are regular visitors who have ties to the west and travel here annually. They enjoyed a break and a meal on their way further west to Mt. Isa.
Another Oz Tours bus brought some fun-loving sightseers for the night, and naturally they had to leave their mark on the highest point of the famous graffiti bar. To the appreciation of the local patrons.
And the 150th Melbourne Cup was a fun run for those who decided to watch in in company. I’m a bit sorry that Bart didn’t get his 13th win, but isn’t it wonderful how the old cup goes from strength to strength. This win will ensure more overseas contenders and bring in more big bucks. Too bad I didn’t have my money on the winner, and I had picked a couple of ones that were “certain”.
Lateral Thinking (Will this become a new fashion?)
Now I ask you...Who stands and looks at a pair of men's briefs and sayshummmm...I can make a nice summer top from these!! On the other hand...$6 for a three pack is a good price!! Only in America.
The annual Torrens Creek Golf Hambrose was played at the beginning of November, quite a bit earlier than usual. The weather stayed fine for the 17 contestants who came to test their skills for the prize of a Christmas Ham. Winners were all locals, Bruce and Liz Grimmer and Pete ? walked away with the goods this year. Well done, guys.
Despite the downturn in tourism due to the higher valued Australian dollar, The Exchange Hotel has been busy hosting busloads of tourists.
One group from Mackay, Golden Oldies, are regular visitors who have ties to the west and travel here annually. They enjoyed a break and a meal on their way further west to Mt. Isa.
Another Oz Tours bus brought some fun-loving sightseers for the night, and naturally they had to leave their mark on the highest point of the famous graffiti bar. To the appreciation of the local patrons.
And the 150th Melbourne Cup was a fun run for those who decided to watch in in company. I’m a bit sorry that Bart didn’t get his 13th win, but isn’t it wonderful how the old cup goes from strength to strength. This win will ensure more overseas contenders and bring in more big bucks. Too bad I didn’t have my money on the winner, and I had picked a couple of ones that were “certain”.
Lateral Thinking (Will this become a new fashion?)
Now I ask you...Who stands and looks at a pair of men's briefs and sayshummmm...I can make a nice summer top from these!! On the other hand...$6 for a three pack is a good price!! Only in America.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
19th October
Internet Problems.
I’m still having network problems. After an early start yesterday, my network crashed. That’s with the new modem installed. I rang technical support (after doing all the usual things they tell me to do) and eventually they told me to pull the thing apart, disconnect everything, and leave it off for about thirty minutes, then ring them back. Nothing worked, so the technician said that the modem needed to be sent back. ‘‘Again?” I squeaked in agony. Another three weeks of isolation loomed. But I’m an optimist and kept trying to get the wretched thing up and running. No luck yesterday.
Today, ever the optimist, I turned on the unit and walked away. As I walked away, the virus protector informed me that it had just been updated. My day was made.
These problems led me to look for alternative network providers, and to find out what redress we have if we feel the service is not satisfactory.
I rang Mr. Katter’s office and his staff member was right on the ball. Very helpful and informed me that there is an ombudsman to regulate these services. The TIO number is 1800 062 058. Before you ring, make sure you have your contract and other documents handy.
Some historic dates for this week.
19th 1895 Banjo Patterson’s Man from Snowy River and other stories published in 1895.
20th Sydney Opera House officially opened 1973.
21st irrigation pioneer, William Chaffey born in Canada 1856.
AND
25nd the 1,000,000 Holden car rolled off the assembly line in 1962.
Recipe:
ROSELLA PICKLE.
Ingredients; Rosellas, vinegar, spice, peppercorns, chillies, salt and water.
Mode: Peel the fruit from the seed pod in as large pieces as possible. Throw them into salted water for five or six hours. Then boil the vinegar with some whole spice, peppercorns and bird’s-eye chillies. Put the fruit into jars or bottles and pour the vinegar over it when cool. Tie down and store away for a week or two.
The Antipodean Cookery Book, 1895.
Did you know?
Each king in a pack of playing cards represents a real leader.
Spades = King David.
Clubs = Alexander the Great
Hearts = Charlemagne
Diamonds = Julius Caesar
Perception—an interesting experiment.
The following is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. MetroStation, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a socialexperiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007,this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. Duringthat time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most ofthem on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged mannoticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stoppedfor a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.About 4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.At 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at hiswatch and started to walk again.At 10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard andthe child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This actionwas repeated by several other children, but every parent - withoutexception - forced their children to move on quickly.At 45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normalpace. The man collected a total of $32.After 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no oneapplauded. There was no recognition at all.No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatestmusicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces everwritten, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, JoshuaBell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $200 each to sitand listen to him play the same music.This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. MetroStation, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a socialexperiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.This experiment raised several questions:* In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do weperceive beauty?* If so, do we stop to appreciate it?* Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musiciansin the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one ofthe most beautiful instruments ever made . . .How many other things are we missing as we rush through life? just because of the preprogrammed MIND - the product of the dead past. Contributed by Carole.
I’m still having network problems. After an early start yesterday, my network crashed. That’s with the new modem installed. I rang technical support (after doing all the usual things they tell me to do) and eventually they told me to pull the thing apart, disconnect everything, and leave it off for about thirty minutes, then ring them back. Nothing worked, so the technician said that the modem needed to be sent back. ‘‘Again?” I squeaked in agony. Another three weeks of isolation loomed. But I’m an optimist and kept trying to get the wretched thing up and running. No luck yesterday.
Today, ever the optimist, I turned on the unit and walked away. As I walked away, the virus protector informed me that it had just been updated. My day was made.
These problems led me to look for alternative network providers, and to find out what redress we have if we feel the service is not satisfactory.
I rang Mr. Katter’s office and his staff member was right on the ball. Very helpful and informed me that there is an ombudsman to regulate these services. The TIO number is 1800 062 058. Before you ring, make sure you have your contract and other documents handy.
Some historic dates for this week.
19th 1895 Banjo Patterson’s Man from Snowy River and other stories published in 1895.
20th Sydney Opera House officially opened 1973.
21st irrigation pioneer, William Chaffey born in Canada 1856.
AND
25nd the 1,000,000 Holden car rolled off the assembly line in 1962.
Recipe:
ROSELLA PICKLE.
Ingredients; Rosellas, vinegar, spice, peppercorns, chillies, salt and water.
Mode: Peel the fruit from the seed pod in as large pieces as possible. Throw them into salted water for five or six hours. Then boil the vinegar with some whole spice, peppercorns and bird’s-eye chillies. Put the fruit into jars or bottles and pour the vinegar over it when cool. Tie down and store away for a week or two.
The Antipodean Cookery Book, 1895.
Did you know?
Each king in a pack of playing cards represents a real leader.
Spades = King David.
Clubs = Alexander the Great
Hearts = Charlemagne
Diamonds = Julius Caesar
Perception—an interesting experiment.
The following is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. MetroStation, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a socialexperiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007,this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. Duringthat time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most ofthem on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged mannoticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stoppedfor a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.About 4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.At 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at hiswatch and started to walk again.At 10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard andthe child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This actionwas repeated by several other children, but every parent - withoutexception - forced their children to move on quickly.At 45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normalpace. The man collected a total of $32.After 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no oneapplauded. There was no recognition at all.No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatestmusicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces everwritten, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, JoshuaBell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $200 each to sitand listen to him play the same music.This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. MetroStation, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a socialexperiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.This experiment raised several questions:* In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do weperceive beauty?* If so, do we stop to appreciate it?* Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musiciansin the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one ofthe most beautiful instruments ever made . . .How many other things are we missing as we rush through life? just because of the preprogrammed MIND - the product of the dead past. Contributed by Carole.
The weather’s turned - again ! This time I know it’s my fault. Sorry. It has been so hot lately that I took the plunge and put away my winter clothes yesterday. After all, it was close to 30 degrees so I thought I would be safe. It was so warm at night that the cane toads were out in force. Great big lumbering monsters baring me from the outside world.
I always enjoy changing wardrobes. I discover clothes I’d totally forgotten so it’s almost like getting a new wardrobe. One of the benefits of getting older, I guess. Anyway, today it’s cold again, the toads are hiding but they reminded me of the news article which triggered the following poem
Evolution?
Pothole was a young ringer
working his way out west
eradicating the prickly pear,
an imported cacti pest.
The cactoblastis grubs,
introduced to eat the pear,
became a bigger problem -
sugar cane its favourite fare.
To stop the devastation
of important cash crop earners
the cane toad was suggested
by some scientific slow learners.
Cane toads over-run our state
from coast to western border,
ugly poisonous interloper
defying our natural order.
The cactoblastis has now gone,
prickly pear's an exotic fruit,
soon Pothole's prodigy will send
our toads to China, earning lots’a loot.
F.Mackay. 2010
I always enjoy changing wardrobes. I discover clothes I’d totally forgotten so it’s almost like getting a new wardrobe. One of the benefits of getting older, I guess. Anyway, today it’s cold again, the toads are hiding but they reminded me of the news article which triggered the following poem
Evolution?
Pothole was a young ringer
working his way out west
eradicating the prickly pear,
an imported cacti pest.
The cactoblastis grubs,
introduced to eat the pear,
became a bigger problem -
sugar cane its favourite fare.
To stop the devastation
of important cash crop earners
the cane toad was suggested
by some scientific slow learners.
Cane toads over-run our state
from coast to western border,
ugly poisonous interloper
defying our natural order.
The cactoblastis has now gone,
prickly pear's an exotic fruit,
soon Pothole's prodigy will send
our toads to China, earning lots’a loot.
F.Mackay. 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
12th October
Well the good news is, we have water after a miserable day without any. The other news is that it is being pumped from the creek. It reminds me a bit of the Jaws movie ... Just when we thought we were safe to put out our summer clothes the dirty water is back. I can hear that creepy theme music.
Unless you have a great filter system, beware of those rusty stains on your good whites and don’t forget to boil your drinking water. The council is working on the pump problem.
Had an email waiting for me when I finally got back on line. Maggie, the dog from ‘Running in Pink’, says that she and owner Deborah De Williams have made it around Australia. Deborah is the first female to run the entire distance, not sure about the dog. Some of you will remember her stay here last year and I imagine quite a few saw her on ‘Sunrise’. What a great achievement, such persistence. You can visit her website on www.runningpink.com.au
I wonder how many watched the Bathurst race on Sunday? I’m still recovering. What a nail-biter. of us have actually driven the circuit? I bet there are a few stories out there. Might make an interesting book of memoirs. The view we got from the helicopter shows what an awesome circuit it is. The race has become an icon over the years and is a real family affair., they say.
Many thankIt was so full of action that I couldn’t leave the television until the ads. Today they say that the leaders were almost out of fuel when they finished. How many s to Trish’s visitors who helped me when my Gopher broke down while I was walking the dogs one afternoon during the school holidays. They noticed the problem and fetched my husband. This saved me trying to get the dogs home without transport.
The storm bird is certainly not lying this year. We are getting our fair share of rain and thunder. Not like Brisbane, thank goodness but it has kept our grass green. The interesting thing I’ve noticed is that there are very few ants—lots of fleas this year, but no ants.
Speaking of fleas, ‘Margaret’s Handy Hints’ says not to try and wash the fleas off your dog, as fleas swim, but rub a good quality flea powder through their hair regularly.
And did you know—the oldest recorded written recipe (about 4000 years old) is for Beer? Who’d have guessed? www.beerinstitute.org/
Unless you have a great filter system, beware of those rusty stains on your good whites and don’t forget to boil your drinking water. The council is working on the pump problem.
Had an email waiting for me when I finally got back on line. Maggie, the dog from ‘Running in Pink’, says that she and owner Deborah De Williams have made it around Australia. Deborah is the first female to run the entire distance, not sure about the dog. Some of you will remember her stay here last year and I imagine quite a few saw her on ‘Sunrise’. What a great achievement, such persistence. You can visit her website on www.runningpink.com.au
I wonder how many watched the Bathurst race on Sunday? I’m still recovering. What a nail-biter. of us have actually driven the circuit? I bet there are a few stories out there. Might make an interesting book of memoirs. The view we got from the helicopter shows what an awesome circuit it is. The race has become an icon over the years and is a real family affair., they say.
Many thankIt was so full of action that I couldn’t leave the television until the ads. Today they say that the leaders were almost out of fuel when they finished. How many s to Trish’s visitors who helped me when my Gopher broke down while I was walking the dogs one afternoon during the school holidays. They noticed the problem and fetched my husband. This saved me trying to get the dogs home without transport.
The storm bird is certainly not lying this year. We are getting our fair share of rain and thunder. Not like Brisbane, thank goodness but it has kept our grass green. The interesting thing I’ve noticed is that there are very few ants—lots of fleas this year, but no ants.
Speaking of fleas, ‘Margaret’s Handy Hints’ says not to try and wash the fleas off your dog, as fleas swim, but rub a good quality flea powder through their hair regularly.
And did you know—the oldest recorded written recipe (about 4000 years old) is for Beer? Who’d have guessed? www.beerinstitute.org/
Monday, October 11, 2010
8th October
G'day - I have been off line for the past three weeks and now I discover we are now behind the rest of the east coast. Yes, daylight savings has started. I don’t know about you but I get so fed up with having to juggle time zones in the summer. It goes on for so long too. Now I have to remember when is the best time to ring—when is school, tea, and all the other commitments mothers have with young children. And the poor things all have to get up in the dark. I always hated that!
Since I last wrote Terry and Carole have returned from their holidays in Bali, just missing one of the best ever Torrens Creek’s Golf Open weekend.
The weather was kind; the course was picture perfect with a green covering, thanks to the gentle rain we’d had leading up to the weekend. Molly and Pedro Borrinson catered for the club and produced a hungi so tasty that appreciative diners, golfers and visitors, were reluctant to leave. OLiver Twist—eat your heart out. What will the Hambrose bring?
Weather continues to confound. Last week of September saw a spectacular storm here on the Sunday. Two inches were recorded in half and hour and the wind was strong enough to blow the rain, mixed with leaves and branches, horizontal so it is doubtful that the measurement was accurate. It was the best storm I’ve seen here in years. What will the rest of the season be like? Apparently the catchments down south are filling to capacity.
The three weeks I was off line was long enough to show me that I am addicted to the internet. I had real withdrawal symptoms. My service provider promised that it would be only one week. These people based in cities have no idea of logistics of country living, nor the distances, even the overnight courier took two days, plus. Bring on the cable Broadband—PLEASE?
One thing I did learn by accident. There is a new scam to be aware of. A foreign gentleman rang me one evening and asked if I was getting an error message on my internet. I was a little suspicious and led him along for awhile. He said he could fix the problem. By that time I was fed up and told him that I doubted that as I had no modem at the moment. He hung up immediately.
According to my server provider the scammer, when accepted to fix the problem, charges a one off price, does nothing but pockets the money. There have been a couple of such calls in our town, so beware.
Since I last wrote Terry and Carole have returned from their holidays in Bali, just missing one of the best ever Torrens Creek’s Golf Open weekend.
The weather was kind; the course was picture perfect with a green covering, thanks to the gentle rain we’d had leading up to the weekend. Molly and Pedro Borrinson catered for the club and produced a hungi so tasty that appreciative diners, golfers and visitors, were reluctant to leave. OLiver Twist—eat your heart out. What will the Hambrose bring?
Weather continues to confound. Last week of September saw a spectacular storm here on the Sunday. Two inches were recorded in half and hour and the wind was strong enough to blow the rain, mixed with leaves and branches, horizontal so it is doubtful that the measurement was accurate. It was the best storm I’ve seen here in years. What will the rest of the season be like? Apparently the catchments down south are filling to capacity.
The three weeks I was off line was long enough to show me that I am addicted to the internet. I had real withdrawal symptoms. My service provider promised that it would be only one week. These people based in cities have no idea of logistics of country living, nor the distances, even the overnight courier took two days, plus. Bring on the cable Broadband—PLEASE?
One thing I did learn by accident. There is a new scam to be aware of. A foreign gentleman rang me one evening and asked if I was getting an error message on my internet. I was a little suspicious and led him along for awhile. He said he could fix the problem. By that time I was fed up and told him that I doubted that as I had no modem at the moment. He hung up immediately.
According to my server provider the scammer, when accepted to fix the problem, charges a one off price, does nothing but pockets the money. There have been a couple of such calls in our town, so beware.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
7th Sept.
The passengers from last Tuesday’s Aussie Tour bus were given a special treat when Nev., guitarist and singer, entertained them for the evening. He and his wife were travelling through and decided Torrens Creek was the best place to spend the night. Obviously a seasoned performer, Nev. catered for all styles and tastes and kept the music going into the wee hours, to the glee of locals and passengers alike. Just goes to show, you never know what you might miss if you don’t stop for awhile.
Carole and Terry are away for two weeks well earned holiday. Welcome back to Shaz and Gaz who have returned for a stint behind the bar to keep us all happy while the holiday makers make merry. We hope they enjoy their stay with us.
Spring cleaning is the ideal time to sort out those unwanted items that could get a bit of cash so don’t forget the Car Boot Sale to help the Torrens Creek Progress Association on 18th September, between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm. Donation of a gold coin is all it costs to set up a stall. Coffee and tea will be available for a small charge.
The weather is behaving strangely. Over 25 ml. Sunday. The photo shows the cloud rolling in late afternoon. Not even the ants were prepared for it. We had nary a one in the house - but cockroaches are another story. I heard that Eucalyptus oil is an excellent defence against them so have been washing the floors and cupboards out with a mixture water and oil. It is not advisable to use more than half a cap to the bucket of water as it tends to make floors slippery.
I notice that the tourist traffic has decreased slightly but that didn’t deter these early birds at Pentland last Wednesday morning. The police were out in force, checking vehicles and breathalising drivers before 10am. This was quite a turn out for the little town. And it wasn’t even school holidays...
Sunday, August 29, 2010
26th August
The weather’s turned - again ! This time I know it’s my fault. Sorry. It has been so hot lately that I took the plunge and put away my winter clothes yesterday. After all, it was close to 30 degrees so I thought I would be safe. It was so warm at night that the cane toads were out in force. Great big lumbering monsters baring me from the outside world.
I always enjoy changing wardrobes. I discover clothes I’d totally forgotten so it’s almost like getting a new wardrobe. One of the benefits of getting older, I guess. Anyway, today it’s cold again, the toads are hiding but they reminded me of the news article which triggered the following poem
Evolution?
Pothole was a young ringer
working his way out west
eradicating the prickly pear,
an imported cacti pest.
The cactoblastis grubs,
introduced to eat the pear,
became a bigger problem -
sugar cane its favourite fare.
To stop the devastation
of important cash crop earners
the cane toad was suggested
by some scientific slow learners.
Cane toads over-run our state
from coast to western border,
ugly poisonous interloper
defying our natural order.
The cactoblastis has now gone,
prickly pear's an exotic fruit,
soon Pothole's prodigy will send
our toads to China, earning lots’a loot.
F.Mackay. 2010
I always enjoy changing wardrobes. I discover clothes I’d totally forgotten so it’s almost like getting a new wardrobe. One of the benefits of getting older, I guess. Anyway, today it’s cold again, the toads are hiding but they reminded me of the news article which triggered the following poem
Evolution?
Pothole was a young ringer
working his way out west
eradicating the prickly pear,
an imported cacti pest.
The cactoblastis grubs,
introduced to eat the pear,
became a bigger problem -
sugar cane its favourite fare.
To stop the devastation
of important cash crop earners
the cane toad was suggested
by some scientific slow learners.
Cane toads over-run our state
from coast to western border,
ugly poisonous interloper
defying our natural order.
The cactoblastis has now gone,
prickly pear's an exotic fruit,
soon Pothole's prodigy will send
our toads to China, earning lots’a loot.
F.Mackay. 2010
24th August
Well, the election results were certainly interesting. It is estimated that it will be at least ten days until the results are known. The first hung parliament since the war. Certainly shows how the voters feel about their choices. I’d certainly like to hear what the negotiations are with the two leaders and the independents, but of course we won’t.
5th September is Fathers’ Day. The origins of this special day are younger than I’d have thought. I found this on the internet (where else?) and found it interesting.
While mothers have had their special day since 1914, fathers have only recently officially received the recognition they so richly deserve. After all, dad is the pillar of the family unit, the one who made us feel safe, loved to tickle and tease, and above all gave us a sense of security. While mom was the pillow to fall on, dad was the rock who held us up. Here are some thoughts and facts on Father's Day, dedicated to every man out there who proudly wears the name DAD.
Origins
In 1909, listening to a sermon on Mother's Day, Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd felt inspired by Anna Jarvis's efforts and felt there should also be a Father's Day. Her father, Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, had as a single parent raised his six children in Spokane, Washington after his wife's death. She initially suggested June 5th, the anniversary of her father's death, however, she did not provide the organizers with enough time to make arrangements, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday in June. Unofficial support from such figures as William Jennings Bryan was immediate and widespread. Calvin Coolidge recommended it as a national holiday in 1924 but the all-male U.S. Congress was mindful that passing a measure so favorable to males could be seen as a conflict of interest. In 1926, The National Father's Day Committee met for the first time in New York City. Lyndon Johnson made Father's Day a holiday in 1966, but the holiday was not officially recognized until the presidency of Richard Nixon in 1972 when he signed into law a permanent U.S. Father's Day to be observed on the third Sunday of June.
Inspiring Words
When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. - Mark Twain I'm sure we all remember our teenage years and how true and insightful this statement by Mark Twain is. Here is another of my favorites: It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was. - Anne Sexton
You’ll note that the dates are different in the northern hemisphere. This caused confusion in our family, with children in different continents and hemispheres.
I hope all you DADS have a great day and, although I no longer have a dad I will make his favourite pud. for him
Plum Duff.
His was a favourite, and very filling, dessert in earlier times in Australia, although it was more suited the to colder climates from whence they came. It was probably eaten with a hard sauce or, if the family was affluent, cream.
Ingredients
1/4 cup plain flour, 1/4 cup s.r. flour, pinch salt,1/2 teaspn bicarb soda, 60gm suet, 1 egg, 2 tblspn sugar, 1 cup cooked prunes cut into small pieces, 1 teaspn mixed spice.
Method.
Sift the flour, salt and soda. Shred suet and rub into flour. Beat the egg, add sugar and then the prunes. Gently fold in the flour. Tip the mixture into a floured pudding cloth, gather at top and tie securely. Place in a large pot of boiling water and boil for 3 hours. Dried mixed fruit can be used instead, or with prunes. Delicious cold as well. My dad used to take it for ’smoko’.
Life’s Lesson (from Dad)
My dad taught me to make gravy,
how to save the juices from the roast,
blend in flour to a smooth paste
over the right spot on the wood stove.
He showed me how to stir in fluid
from the vegetables to add flavour,
said there was no need for seasoning
if the food was cooked properly.
Frances Mackay 2010.
5th September is Fathers’ Day. The origins of this special day are younger than I’d have thought. I found this on the internet (where else?) and found it interesting.
While mothers have had their special day since 1914, fathers have only recently officially received the recognition they so richly deserve. After all, dad is the pillar of the family unit, the one who made us feel safe, loved to tickle and tease, and above all gave us a sense of security. While mom was the pillow to fall on, dad was the rock who held us up. Here are some thoughts and facts on Father's Day, dedicated to every man out there who proudly wears the name DAD.
Origins
In 1909, listening to a sermon on Mother's Day, Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd felt inspired by Anna Jarvis's efforts and felt there should also be a Father's Day. Her father, Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, had as a single parent raised his six children in Spokane, Washington after his wife's death. She initially suggested June 5th, the anniversary of her father's death, however, she did not provide the organizers with enough time to make arrangements, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday in June. Unofficial support from such figures as William Jennings Bryan was immediate and widespread. Calvin Coolidge recommended it as a national holiday in 1924 but the all-male U.S. Congress was mindful that passing a measure so favorable to males could be seen as a conflict of interest. In 1926, The National Father's Day Committee met for the first time in New York City. Lyndon Johnson made Father's Day a holiday in 1966, but the holiday was not officially recognized until the presidency of Richard Nixon in 1972 when he signed into law a permanent U.S. Father's Day to be observed on the third Sunday of June.
Inspiring Words
When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. - Mark Twain I'm sure we all remember our teenage years and how true and insightful this statement by Mark Twain is. Here is another of my favorites: It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was. - Anne Sexton
You’ll note that the dates are different in the northern hemisphere. This caused confusion in our family, with children in different continents and hemispheres.
I hope all you DADS have a great day and, although I no longer have a dad I will make his favourite pud. for him
Plum Duff.
His was a favourite, and very filling, dessert in earlier times in Australia, although it was more suited the to colder climates from whence they came. It was probably eaten with a hard sauce or, if the family was affluent, cream.
Ingredients
1/4 cup plain flour, 1/4 cup s.r. flour, pinch salt,1/2 teaspn bicarb soda, 60gm suet, 1 egg, 2 tblspn sugar, 1 cup cooked prunes cut into small pieces, 1 teaspn mixed spice.
Method.
Sift the flour, salt and soda. Shred suet and rub into flour. Beat the egg, add sugar and then the prunes. Gently fold in the flour. Tip the mixture into a floured pudding cloth, gather at top and tie securely. Place in a large pot of boiling water and boil for 3 hours. Dried mixed fruit can be used instead, or with prunes. Delicious cold as well. My dad used to take it for ’smoko’.
Life’s Lesson (from Dad)
My dad taught me to make gravy,
how to save the juices from the roast,
blend in flour to a smooth paste
over the right spot on the wood stove.
He showed me how to stir in fluid
from the vegetables to add flavour,
said there was no need for seasoning
if the food was cooked properly.
Frances Mackay 2010.
Monday, August 23, 2010
17th August, 2010
Four days until the election and it’s any one’s game. Despite all the debate about debates and question time and meeting the “real” candidates I am pretty sure the ‘great unwashed’ have made up their minds how they will vote. Thanks to postal voting, we’ve already voted. Now we have to wait and see what happens. I wonder which candidate will consider completing the Aramac road? I haven’t seen any of the candidates so, haven’t asked them if it is in their priorities. Should have done so before I voted, I guess.
Travellers beware of the kangaroos which are out in large numbers on the roads from dusk till dawn. Probably picking the green grass that is still visible along the drains. The number of dead ‘roos along the highway has certainly escalated over the past month and apparently the country roads are worse.
Starting the day.
I’ve just returned from our normal start to the day on the golf course. How lucky we are to have this gem right at our back door. The course is looking great, just ready for September’s Open. The wattles are out, really making it an idyllic spot. Our dogs love this part of the day and nag from 6am until we are ready to leave. Who rules our house?
To capitalize on Golf Day the Progress Association proposes to have a car boot sale at The Flying Doctor’s. Stalls are invited. To find out more information please ring 47 417378. It is hoped that this will become a regular event. Suggestions for encouraging participation would be appreciated at the next Progress Association meeting on Saturday 28th August at 5 pm.
Odd News
American road painters were left red-faced after they painstakingly inked the world "SHCOOL" outside a high school in North Carolina.
Another employee, who did not wish to be named, told the US news station KSBW that the error had caused amusement within the company."We're trying to find someone who can spell and get them out there to fix that ASAP," he said.
The error was not the first misspelling in the area; just last month, a resident posted a photo on Facebook showing that the town's name had been misspelled as "Guiliford" on a detour sign printed by the state's department of transport. Spelling the word "school" has proved a challenge to other US road painters in the past. Last year a road crew directed Miami drivers to "SCOHOL. Maybe this is where Ms. Gillard’s ‘super teachers’ should be tried and tested?
.Warm Lemon Tart
It is our anniversary today and I’m making a special meal that includes this tart recipe I found
In the library’s Better House and Garden. If it works we may last together another few years.
Ingredients:
4 eggs, 1 cup sugar,1/2 cup almond meal, 1 cup desiccated coconut, 1 cup lemon juice, 270ml
Light coconut milk, 1/2 cup plain flour sifted with 1 teaspoon baking powder, 2 tablespoons castor sugar. Sifted icing sugar for dusting.
Method:
Preheat oven to 180C, brush 26cm pie plate with melted butter. Separate eggs and put yolks, sugar, almond meal, coconut, lemon juice, coconut milk, baking powder and flour into medium mixing bowl and whisk until just combined.
Whisk egg whites and caster sugar in a medium glass bowl until soft peaks form. Add whites to egg mixture and fold to just combined. Spoon mixture into prepared pie plate and bake for 30—35 minutes until firm to touch and golden. Serve with lightly whipped thickened cream.
Don’t forget, to keep this page interesting we need your input. Until next week, keep well. Frances.
Travellers beware of the kangaroos which are out in large numbers on the roads from dusk till dawn. Probably picking the green grass that is still visible along the drains. The number of dead ‘roos along the highway has certainly escalated over the past month and apparently the country roads are worse.
Starting the day.
I’ve just returned from our normal start to the day on the golf course. How lucky we are to have this gem right at our back door. The course is looking great, just ready for September’s Open. The wattles are out, really making it an idyllic spot. Our dogs love this part of the day and nag from 6am until we are ready to leave. Who rules our house?
To capitalize on Golf Day the Progress Association proposes to have a car boot sale at The Flying Doctor’s. Stalls are invited. To find out more information please ring 47 417378. It is hoped that this will become a regular event. Suggestions for encouraging participation would be appreciated at the next Progress Association meeting on Saturday 28th August at 5 pm.
Odd News
American road painters were left red-faced after they painstakingly inked the world "SHCOOL" outside a high school in North Carolina.
Another employee, who did not wish to be named, told the US news station KSBW that the error had caused amusement within the company."We're trying to find someone who can spell and get them out there to fix that ASAP," he said.
The error was not the first misspelling in the area; just last month, a resident posted a photo on Facebook showing that the town's name had been misspelled as "Guiliford" on a detour sign printed by the state's department of transport. Spelling the word "school" has proved a challenge to other US road painters in the past. Last year a road crew directed Miami drivers to "SCOHOL. Maybe this is where Ms. Gillard’s ‘super teachers’ should be tried and tested?
.Warm Lemon Tart
It is our anniversary today and I’m making a special meal that includes this tart recipe I found
In the library’s Better House and Garden. If it works we may last together another few years.
Ingredients:
4 eggs, 1 cup sugar,1/2 cup almond meal, 1 cup desiccated coconut, 1 cup lemon juice, 270ml
Light coconut milk, 1/2 cup plain flour sifted with 1 teaspoon baking powder, 2 tablespoons castor sugar. Sifted icing sugar for dusting.
Method:
Preheat oven to 180C, brush 26cm pie plate with melted butter. Separate eggs and put yolks, sugar, almond meal, coconut, lemon juice, coconut milk, baking powder and flour into medium mixing bowl and whisk until just combined.
Whisk egg whites and caster sugar in a medium glass bowl until soft peaks form. Add whites to egg mixture and fold to just combined. Spoon mixture into prepared pie plate and bake for 30—35 minutes until firm to touch and golden. Serve with lightly whipped thickened cream.
Don’t forget, to keep this page interesting we need your input. Until next week, keep well. Frances.
Monday, August 9, 2010
10th August
10th August (Really this time)
What a strange winter this has been. Today is so dark and wet, and warm. And the nights have been hot and so windy. I can’t remember it being like this since we’ve moved up here. I hear that it is very cold down south this year, so we are all suffering. I guess southerners more than us.
Looks like Torrens Creek has missed out on ‘The Whisper’ again this week. Wonder is it because I put the wrong date on the page? Somehow I was a week ahead of myself. Now I’m behind. So figure…
In winter we seem to get more emails. If you are like me, you love the reminder from friends, and sharing a laugh with them. But there are some safety measures which need to be followed to ensure that people can not invade your mail boxes with spam, or add your address to their mailing lists, then sell that list to other nuisance users. Remember to always delete the sender’s address from the top of the message to prevent this happening. I learnt the hard way when some hacker infiltrated my computer and ran up $2000.00 around Christmas time one year. Not a nice Christmas present. The server was aware the account was overusing but did not warn us. So we changed servers. The following advice will help. (Thanks Gordon.)
E-Mail Tracker Programs --very interesting and a must read!!!
The man that sent this information is a computer tech. He spends a lot of time clearing the junk off computers for people and listens to complaints about speed. All forwards are not bad, just some. Be sure you read the very last paragraph
He wrote: By now, I suspect everyone is familiar with snopes.comand/or truthorfiction.com for determining whether information received via email is just that: true/false or fact/fiction. Both are excellent sites.
Advice from snopes.com VERY IMPORTANT!!
1) Any time you see an email that says "forward this on to '10' (or however many) of your friends", "sign this petition", or "you'll get bad luck" or "you'll get good luck" or "you'll see something funny on your screen after you send it" or whatever --- it almost always has an email tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and emails of those folks you forward to. The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' email addresses to use in SPAM emails or sell to other spammers. Even when you get emails that demand you send the email on if you're not ashamed of God/Jesus --- that is email tracking, and they are playing on our conscience. These people don't care how they get your email addresses - just as long as they get them. Also, emails that talk about a missing child or a child with an incurable disease "how would you feel if that was your child" --- email tracking. Ignore them and don't participate!
2) Almost all emails that ask you to add your name and forward on to others are similar to that mass letter years ago that asked people to send business cards to the little kid in Florida who wanted to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most cards. All it was, and all any of this type of email is, is a way to get names and 'cookie' tracking information for telemarketers and spammers -- to validate active email accounts for their own profitable purposes.
You can do your Friends and Family members a GREAT favor by sending this information to them. You will be providing a service to your friends. And you will be rewarded by not getting thousands of spam emails in the future!
Do yourself a favor and STOP adding your name(s) to those types of listing regardless how inviting they might sound! Or make you feel guilty if you don't! It's all about getting email addresses and nothing more.
You may think you are supporting a GREAT cause, but you are NOT! Instead, you will be getting tons of junk mail later and very possibly a virus attached! Plus, we are helping the spammers get rich! Let's not make it easy for them!
ALSO: Email petitions are NOT acceptable to Congress of any other organization - i.e. social security, etc. To be acceptable, petitions must have a "signed signature" and full address of the person signing the petition, so this is a waste of time and you are just helping the email trackers.
Tips for Handling Telemarketers
Three Little Words That Work!!
(1)The three little words are: 'Hold On, Please...'
Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off (instead of hanging-up immediately) would make each telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt.
Then when you eventually hear the phone company's 'beep-beep-beep' tone, you know it's time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task.
These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting..
(2) Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end?
This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone.
This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a 'real' sales person to call back and get someone at home.
What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times as quickly as possible. This confuses the machine that dialed the call, and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer!!!
(3) Junk Mail Help:
When you get 'ads' enclosed with your phone or utility bill, return these 'ads' with your payment. Let the sending companies throw their own junk mail away.
When you get those 'pre-approved' letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope.
Most of these come with postage-paid return envelopes, right? It costs them more than the regular 44 cents postage, 'IF' and when they receive them back.
It costs them nothing if you throw them away! The postage was around 50 cents before the last increase and it is according to the weight. In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes.
One of Andy Rooney 's (60 minutes) ideas.
Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to Citibank. If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back!
If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them.
You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing! It still costs them 44 cents.
The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them. Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all they're paying for it...Twice!
Let's help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits, and that's why they need to increase postage costs again. You get the idea!
If enough people follow these tips, it will work ---- I have been doing this for years, and I get very little junk mail anymore.
THIS JUST MIGHT BE ONE E-MAIL THAT YOU WILL WANT TO FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS
What a strange winter this has been. Today is so dark and wet, and warm. And the nights have been hot and so windy. I can’t remember it being like this since we’ve moved up here. I hear that it is very cold down south this year, so we are all suffering. I guess southerners more than us.
Looks like Torrens Creek has missed out on ‘The Whisper’ again this week. Wonder is it because I put the wrong date on the page? Somehow I was a week ahead of myself. Now I’m behind. So figure…
In winter we seem to get more emails. If you are like me, you love the reminder from friends, and sharing a laugh with them. But there are some safety measures which need to be followed to ensure that people can not invade your mail boxes with spam, or add your address to their mailing lists, then sell that list to other nuisance users. Remember to always delete the sender’s address from the top of the message to prevent this happening. I learnt the hard way when some hacker infiltrated my computer and ran up $2000.00 around Christmas time one year. Not a nice Christmas present. The server was aware the account was overusing but did not warn us. So we changed servers. The following advice will help. (Thanks Gordon.)
E-Mail Tracker Programs --very interesting and a must read!!!
The man that sent this information is a computer tech. He spends a lot of time clearing the junk off computers for people and listens to complaints about speed. All forwards are not bad, just some. Be sure you read the very last paragraph
He wrote: By now, I suspect everyone is familiar with snopes.comand/or truthorfiction.com for determining whether information received via email is just that: true/false or fact/fiction. Both are excellent sites.
Advice from snopes.com VERY IMPORTANT!!
1) Any time you see an email that says "forward this on to '10' (or however many) of your friends", "sign this petition", or "you'll get bad luck" or "you'll get good luck" or "you'll see something funny on your screen after you send it" or whatever --- it almost always has an email tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and emails of those folks you forward to. The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' email addresses to use in SPAM emails or sell to other spammers. Even when you get emails that demand you send the email on if you're not ashamed of God/Jesus --- that is email tracking, and they are playing on our conscience. These people don't care how they get your email addresses - just as long as they get them. Also, emails that talk about a missing child or a child with an incurable disease "how would you feel if that was your child" --- email tracking. Ignore them and don't participate!
2) Almost all emails that ask you to add your name and forward on to others are similar to that mass letter years ago that asked people to send business cards to the little kid in Florida who wanted to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most cards. All it was, and all any of this type of email is, is a way to get names and 'cookie' tracking information for telemarketers and spammers -- to validate active email accounts for their own profitable purposes.
You can do your Friends and Family members a GREAT favor by sending this information to them. You will be providing a service to your friends. And you will be rewarded by not getting thousands of spam emails in the future!
Do yourself a favor and STOP adding your name(s) to those types of listing regardless how inviting they might sound! Or make you feel guilty if you don't! It's all about getting email addresses and nothing more.
You may think you are supporting a GREAT cause, but you are NOT! Instead, you will be getting tons of junk mail later and very possibly a virus attached! Plus, we are helping the spammers get rich! Let's not make it easy for them!
ALSO: Email petitions are NOT acceptable to Congress of any other organization - i.e. social security, etc. To be acceptable, petitions must have a "signed signature" and full address of the person signing the petition, so this is a waste of time and you are just helping the email trackers.
Tips for Handling Telemarketers
Three Little Words That Work!!
(1)The three little words are: 'Hold On, Please...'
Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off (instead of hanging-up immediately) would make each telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt.
Then when you eventually hear the phone company's 'beep-beep-beep' tone, you know it's time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task.
These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting..
(2) Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end?
This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone.
This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a 'real' sales person to call back and get someone at home.
What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times as quickly as possible. This confuses the machine that dialed the call, and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer!!!
(3) Junk Mail Help:
When you get 'ads' enclosed with your phone or utility bill, return these 'ads' with your payment. Let the sending companies throw their own junk mail away.
When you get those 'pre-approved' letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope.
Most of these come with postage-paid return envelopes, right? It costs them more than the regular 44 cents postage, 'IF' and when they receive them back.
It costs them nothing if you throw them away! The postage was around 50 cents before the last increase and it is according to the weight. In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes.
One of Andy Rooney 's (60 minutes) ideas.
Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to Citibank. If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back!
If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them.
You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing! It still costs them 44 cents.
The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them. Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all they're paying for it...Twice!
Let's help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits, and that's why they need to increase postage costs again. You get the idea!
If enough people follow these tips, it will work ---- I have been doing this for years, and I get very little junk mail anymore.
THIS JUST MIGHT BE ONE E-MAIL THAT YOU WILL WANT TO FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS
Monday, August 2, 2010
3rd August
Wow, we are certainly paying for our week of warm weather. It’s almost eleven and I am still shaking with cold. At least here we can be pretty sure that we’ve got a good day ahead. Lots of tourists escaping from the south now—and, I guess, the political arena. Yesterday saw the Variety Bash cars coming through town on their way north. What a fun way for enthusiasts to raise money for charity.
It’s been an interesting campaign so far. All aimed at the larger areas of population. Even the coalition is forgetting our rural areas. I see Mr. Abbott (or Mista Rabbit, as Ms Gillard calls him) intends to drop the Broadband idea. With the cable well on the way to being finished here does that mean that we will still be relying on worse than Third World communications, that the work is seen as a ‘waste of money’? Will the work that has already been done be scrapped and - again - we will have a useless cable passing our doors, with no access to the benefits of speedy internet? How far seeing is that?
Congratulations to the Fire Brigade on Saturday’s burn-off. A large area was cleared with a minimum of fuss. Conditions were perfect and residents in town suffered little effect from the smoke. Thanks guys, shows what good team work can do.
The monthly meeting of the Progress Association was cancelled due to the town burn-off. Unless notified the next meeting will be held the last Saturday in August, as usual, at 5 pm.
Odd News from France.SAINT-JEAN-CAP-FERRA, France (Reuters) - A team of engineers plan to venture where no man has gone before after unveiling a pedal-boat submarine on the French Riviera.Nicknamed "the Scubster," the 3.5 metre-long one-man yellow submarine has echoes of the fancy gadgets from fictional spy James Bond.Powered by twin propellers connected to a pedal belt, the mini-sub can reach speeds of 8 km an hour (5 mph) if its pilot is in good shape, and can reach depths of 6 metres (20 ft)."I've been up in the air by pedalling, underwater with my bike and now underwater with a submarine," Stephane Rousson, the man behind the invention, told Reuters.The vessel managed an hour under water in the Mediterranean waters off the Cote d'Azur this week and is entirely controlled by hand or pedal. Hermetically sealed, the passenger breathes with a mask and a bottle of oxygen.Whether it will have commercial success remains to be seen, but Rousson believes it may capture the attention of an emerging high-end market of yacht owners with "pocket submarines.""And if it doesn't take off, I'll race it," said the 40-year old from Nice, who plans to take part in the 2011 International submarine race in the United States.(Writing by John Irish; Editing by Steve Addison)
It’s been an interesting campaign so far. All aimed at the larger areas of population. Even the coalition is forgetting our rural areas. I see Mr. Abbott (or Mista Rabbit, as Ms Gillard calls him) intends to drop the Broadband idea. With the cable well on the way to being finished here does that mean that we will still be relying on worse than Third World communications, that the work is seen as a ‘waste of money’? Will the work that has already been done be scrapped and - again - we will have a useless cable passing our doors, with no access to the benefits of speedy internet? How far seeing is that?
Congratulations to the Fire Brigade on Saturday’s burn-off. A large area was cleared with a minimum of fuss. Conditions were perfect and residents in town suffered little effect from the smoke. Thanks guys, shows what good team work can do.
The monthly meeting of the Progress Association was cancelled due to the town burn-off. Unless notified the next meeting will be held the last Saturday in August, as usual, at 5 pm.
Odd News from France.SAINT-JEAN-CAP-FERRA, France (Reuters) - A team of engineers plan to venture where no man has gone before after unveiling a pedal-boat submarine on the French Riviera.Nicknamed "the Scubster," the 3.5 metre-long one-man yellow submarine has echoes of the fancy gadgets from fictional spy James Bond.Powered by twin propellers connected to a pedal belt, the mini-sub can reach speeds of 8 km an hour (5 mph) if its pilot is in good shape, and can reach depths of 6 metres (20 ft)."I've been up in the air by pedalling, underwater with my bike and now underwater with a submarine," Stephane Rousson, the man behind the invention, told Reuters.The vessel managed an hour under water in the Mediterranean waters off the Cote d'Azur this week and is entirely controlled by hand or pedal. Hermetically sealed, the passenger breathes with a mask and a bottle of oxygen.Whether it will have commercial success remains to be seen, but Rousson believes it may capture the attention of an emerging high-end market of yacht owners with "pocket submarines.""And if it doesn't take off, I'll race it," said the 40-year old from Nice, who plans to take part in the 2011 International submarine race in the United States.(Writing by John Irish; Editing by Steve Addison)
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