Down the shute and into the wonderful outdoors.

Never fear Uncle Minnesota Winnie to the rescue.

USA Customs Department, strip Kanga of beanie and scarf and prepare to cut open in search of contraband.

I dinna mean to scare you, I dinna wanna make you freak:
BUT
H5N1 is getting more and more serious, keep uptodate >>>here<<<.

The most important thing is to remember is wash your hands, a lot.

If you are out and about in malls, or other places where there are lots of people do not, repeat, do not touch your face. Before eating food - wash your hands, before touching your face - wash your hands. When you get home, yup - wash your hands.

Avian flu may not be the next pandemic, but the odds are increasing all the time.

And remember wash your hands a lot.

Two Deacons, an Archbishop, a Bishop, one puppet and sundry lay people sing a ditty to celebrate the 200th edition of the Catholic Voice newspaper(link down on the left).

Breaking News - Kanga has arrived in Minnesota and has commandeered a vehicle to take a weekend trip to Wisconsin. stay tuned...

THE ILLITERATE SURGEON
:Kristof @ NYT writes Just about the worst thing that can happen to a teenage girl in this world is to develop an obstetric fistula that leaves her trickling bodily wastes, stinking and shunned by everyone around her. That happened four decades ago to Mamitu Gashe.

But the most amazing thing about Ms. Mamitu is not what she endured but what she has become.
cont @ NYT.

I have been a supporter of Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital for many years, I urge you to support it as well. G_72

My eldest son, almost 21 is saving madly to travel to Europe, his gf is currently travelling through Austria and Germany. This is a neat photo she took in Melk.

Which Beatles song personality are you? Lady Madonna You have a lot of kids and no time. Wonder how you manage to make ends meet?

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Dear Mr Graham

On behalf of the Government and people of Australia, I wish to congratulate you on your decision to become an Australian citizen. I am delighted to advise that your application has been approved.

Dear Mr Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, w00t!
I don't have to pay uni fees for semester two, yeah!

PS I have been allowed to vote since 1977, but that was not good enough to get a university "edwucation."

President Bush, right, answers a reporter's question as British Prime Minister Tony Blair listens during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, June 7, 2005, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
With warm words but few solid promises from President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has tough negotiating ahead to work out deals on boosting Africa's poor and tackling climate change in time for next month's summit of rich countries in Scotland.
Bush inched toward Blair's position on writing off impoverished nations' debt and praised his close ally Tuesday for pressing Africa's cause.

A powerful consensus is building for a doubling of aid to Africa among the world's heavyweight donors, except the United States -- a divide that is likely to come into sharp relief this week when British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrives in Washington to meet with President Bush. sfgate

Read discussion at the Agonist

Fond farewells after twenty minutes together, Kanga must go on an overseas trip....

morning tea time, when the cups were put away the present came out to play.

my owners nanna helped my pick it out:

enjoying the sun, before shopping for Nakita's present.

checking out the last roses before winter.

Driver take me away, fast now!

It was the day he was finally going to get out and see something of Australia.

Winnie the Pooh bear stares out of the detention camp for immigrant bears.

Google just got better, personality plus...

Some of the thirty eight or so reference books I am using for my second last assignment for Semester One, I have 4 days to go to get two essays finished, then finis until July.

drivers, windows XP was 'sposed to subdue, subjugate and stop driver issues.
all I have got is a box that reboots randomly, and micr$oft informs me that it cannot identify the driver causing the problem.

I don't need the wipe the HDD and re-install hassle at present, the last two assignments are due next week, and I just wanna keep writing. And having fun with . and , and ,. and .. in the footnotes yech. if someone had warned me about referencing I would never have enrolled at university.

Meanwhile in the real world: rook notes that Sean Paul is pissed off. :)

Mebbe I'll take time off and go to the movies. (PS tanx to Helen for letting me blog on her computer)

Mr scam man starts again with new email address:

My name is Mrs. Jennifer Wilson i am a dying woman who have decided to donate what i have to you/ church.I am 59 years old and i was diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago,immediately after the death of my husband, who has left me everything he worked for.
I have been touched by God to donate from what i have inherited from my late husband to the you for the good work of God,rather than allow my relatives to use my husband hard earned funds ungodly.Please pray,that the good Lord forgive me my sins.I have asked God to forgive me and i believe he has because He is a merciful God. I will be going in for an operation in less than one hour.

I decided to WILL/donate the sum of $1,500,000 (One million five hundred thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the lord, and also to help the motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows according to (JAMES 1:27).

At the moment i cannot take any telephone calls right now due to the fact that my relatives are around me and my health status.I have adjusted my WILL and my lawyer is aware i have changed my will you and he will arrange the transfer of the funds from my account to you.

I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and please use the funds well and always extend the good work to others. Contact my lawyer with this specified email jbsolicitorx@netscape.net and tell him that i have WILLED ($1,500,000.00) to you and i have also notified him that i am WILLING that amount to you for a specific and good work.I know i don't know you but i have been directed to do this.Thanks and God bless.

NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished as I don't want anything that will Jeopardize my last wish. And Also I will be contacting with you by email as I don't want my relation or anybody to know because they are always around me.

Regards,
Mrs.Jennifer Wilson

Coat of Arms Benedict XVI
see stories here and here.

Briggs is back: An email I just received:
Hello, Graham-san

I am a Japanese woman. I received Mrs. Jenifer Wilson's mail and then
I also received Johnson Briggs's mail. He called himself as Barrister in
Law,
but my friend who is very good at English said that it should be called an
Attorney-at-Law in UK. His English is very poor than me.

I searched for his name on the Internet and found your weblog.

I appreciate you. I about to pay JPY370,000.

In Mr. Briggs's fraud, a bank in Netherlands named Zenith Group NL
is also involved. I called Netherland Embassy in Japan and they said
there is no bank having such name in their directory

Please see attached mail.

Thank you.

XXX XXXXX


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Zenith Group NL"
To: XXXXXXXX
Date: Fri, 6 May 2005 17:07:32 +0900
Subject: Bank Wire Transfer-With a copy to Barrister Briggs

ATTN Client,
Dear XXXX CXXXXXX.

Sequel to the telephone conversation with the Director Dr Frank Jones,i have been instructed to officially inform you that the sum of $1,500,000 (One million five hundred thousand Dollars) deposited by Mrs. Jennifer Wilson and credited to the Beneficiary Mrs. XXXXXX XXXXXXXi of:
Address:
XCX, XXXXX, KxXXXXX
XXXXX XXX
XXXX, Japan
Tel number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Based on the information provided to our Bank by Mrs. Jennifer Wilson's Attorney ( Mr Johnson Briggs) and considering the large sum of money due for transfer to your nominated Bank account, you will be required to pay a non deductible sum of Eur 2,734.86, (Two thousand, seven hundred and thirty four euros eighty six cents) which is equivalent to an estimated sum of JPY370,756.62 Japanese Yen as (Collectieve Garantierregeling-CGR) Compulsory deposit guarantee scheme.

De Nederlansche Bank (Central Bank in my Country) which is synonymous to the Central Bank of your country imposes a Banking rule of compulsory deposit guarantee scheme, known as (Collectieve Garantierregeling-CGR) which must be embarked upon by all account holders whose sum accrue over 12,500.00 and deposited in any any Netherlands Commercial Bank account.

This scheme is at the exclusive supervsion of De Netherlansche Bank, it will cost the sum of US$2,734.86 (Two thousand seven hundred and thirty four euros,eighty six cents) and we are not able to deduct the charges from your money because it is not covered by the Collectieve Garantierregeling-CGR scheme, we urge you to pay the above stated sum of money to enable the De Netherlansche Bank have a coverage scheme on your funds and we shall immediately commence transfer of your funds to your nominated Bank.

As soon as you have the scheme coverage, we shall send you and your Bank an access code which enables you or your Bank access your money online and we shall open communication with your Bank as soon the scheme is covered.

Please fill attached form and return as soon as possible.




Sincerely,



Mrs Ingrid Van Mulder ( Customer Service)



ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
Mr Duncan Greenham (Chief Executive)
Dr. Frank I. Jones (Administrative Director)
Ms. Gifty Lee Wang (Vice President/Marketing)
Mrs E.Ooswoud (Accounts)

OOSTZIDE 12
1502 ZAANDAM
THE NETHERLANDS
TEL: +31.624.824.076, +31.624.824.077,
+31.624.824.078, +31.624.425.673
FAX:+31.624.424.740

BRANCH OFFICE
ATOOMWEG 35
HOORN NH
1627 LE
THE NETHERLANDS

It appears that the boys in blue aint caught the man yet!

hattip Dr Mike.

The land remains dry, only a few drops of rain again today.
Sustainable options for water management are increasingly important.
I am well pleased that my brother in law in Sydney is providing ecological design services, providing basix assessments. Well Done John. Hopefully water tanks (water barrels to you USA types) are going to grow in popularity within urban centres.

blog find of the week, hattip Dr Mike.

Pope Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger (right, top) with his family in 1951, after he and his brother were ordained into the priesthood. wiki bio
Photo: Reuters

history endlessly repeating
suffering ad nauseum
even in blogland nothing ever changes.

BUT
say a prayer today
care for someone
smile at the stranger
rejoice and be glad for we are alive!

I had the privilege of being the assistant master of ceremonies at the Canberra Funeral Mass for the late Pontiff. This was the photo that appeared in the Canberra Times.

Theres not often that one is close to the creation of a new word.
A friend at the agonist has coined neoconfection, the placing of a cream pie in the face of a neoconservative.

Schiavo -- The Real "Real Issue" -- Personhood, the Pope, and PVS
a useful blog.

Schiavo -- The Real "Real Issue" -- Personhood, the Pope, and PVS
a useful blog.

Schiavo -- The Real "Real Issue" -- Personhood, the Pope, and PVS
a useful blog.

woopy doo da day,
An Easter gift kinda came early six days ago:
I got this thru my agonist email account:
***********************************
Attention:

This is to inform you that I have been informed by Mrs.Jennifer Wilson
of her intensions in WILLING $1.5 million US dollars to you. I will
immediately proceed in notifying Mrs.Jennifer Wilson's bank in order for
the funds to be released and transferred to you.

She has WILLED the funds to you based on her own decision. I will
require the following information below to process the release of the
funds and notification to the bank.

1. Full name
2. Country of Residence
3. Telephone number.

Sincerely,

Johnson Briggs (Barr.in Law)
**SOLICITOR AND LEGAL PRACTITIONER**
**************************************
I supplied my details as requested above
**************************************
On Tue, 22 Mar 2005 06:46:46 -0500, jjsolicitors@netscape.net
> wrote:
>> ATTENTION: Graham Upshell
>>
>> This is to notify you that I have applied to Jennifer's bank for the release of the funds making you the beneficiary to the amount of $1.5 million dollars.
>>
>> I shall notify you as soon as the application is approved. Endeavour to confirm the receipt of this mail.You can call me with my number below.
>>
>> Attach is the letter to the Bank.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Johnson Briggs (Barr.in Law).
>> **SOLICITOR AND LEGAL PRACTITIONER**
>> TEL: +44.7704708723
>> FAX: +44.8701301545
**********************************************
Dear Messr Briggs
Thanks for the notification, how often do you get to such a lovely job
like this one?
Graham
**********************************************
ATTENTION: Graham Upshell

This is to officially congratulate you that Mrs.Jennifer Wilson's bank have approved to release the funds which has been WILLED to you. This is based upon my notification to them that my client has WILLED $1.5 million US dollars to you.

The bank also requires me to tender a sworn affidavit from the British court, stating that you are now the actual beneficiary to the funds before transfer can be made to your designated account. I would also like to let you know that this sworn affidavit from the court would cost a total of £1,000(One thousand Pounds) to obtain. I hereby advise that you try and send this payment of £1,000(One thousand pounds) in order for me to obtain the affidavit from the british court of law making you the official beneficiary to this fund, in order to allow the bank transfer the 1.5 million dollars to you.

I would advise that you make the payment through western union money transfer with my name (JOHNSON BRIGGS) in order to facilitate the obtainance of the affidavit and the transfer of the funds to your account.

I would like to also notify you that Mrs.Jennifer Wilson passed away this morning during an operation .May her soul rest in peace.

I expect to hear from you soon, so that I can facilitate and conclude the transaction on your behalf.And as soon as the release is approved the bank shall contact you through your email address and you can tell them how you want to receive the funds.I have also attached my letter to the bank.

DETAILS FOR WESTERN UNION PAYMENT:
NAME FOR PAYMENT: JOHNSON BRIGGS
ADDRESS: 11 AMBLESIDE POINT
SE15 1EA, LONDON
UNITED KINGDOM.

Sincerely,
Johnson Briggs (Barr.in Law).
**SOLICITOR AND LEGAL PRACTITIONER**
TEL: +44.7787173525.
FAX: +44.8701341382.
***************************************
Dear Johnson,

This is the way I would like this to work:
You pay the £1000.00 out of your Solicititors work fund for the court matter.
I have instructed my British Solicitors, in Dorset, to provide any
assistance you may require. Please advise which bank will be
transferring the funds.

For your assistance in this matter I have asked my solicitors to make
a payment of £30,000.00 to you as a thank you.

Please advise full address of your company, and your bank details so
my solicitor can arrange transfer of the gratuity to you.

yours sincerely
Graham
************************************
Now I wait but I am not waiting at all!!!

In the middle of Triduum time a quick Easter greeting to the readers.

meanwhile sean-paul over at the agonist has got the diary disease linking to great news such as billmon who is back. - Yep, the barman writeth and linketh, on addictions and Wolfowitz.

An oziac by any other name, exept I am still not naturalized or naturalised.

graphite on recycled paper 2005

Blogger team advise it's easier to post comments now. Hint, hint :)

For your eye cleansing therapy click here

University work has increased, and not much time to say much else!

Karma has seen by ability to play with friends in a wiki taken away.
My post about ugly politics probably swung the needle to punishment side.

meanwhile a neat letter of recycled paper written on by pencil, a clipping from the Washington Chronicle and other assorted miscellany have arrived safely - thanks Mike.

To the books I go, a-studying is the new game for me.

blogs come , blogs go, some are still born: http://uglypolitics.blogspot.com/

it's a shame that a comment like this from a friend could not be attached:

So many idiots, so few comets. I'm quitting this politics crap. I have worked so hard to try to get them to see that Repugnicans are idiots, and that they need to get riled about the outrage that is George Bush, I did it over and over and over, and they just don't listen. They don't shut up and listen. A brilliant woman like me can try to pound it into the heads of idiots only so long. This is a waste of time. Except for the few that listen to me, those people at Agonist are a bunch of dense idiots that don't get that all fundies and Repugnicans should be locked up, and the country is full of them. Too few comets, so many idiiots. I'm moving to France. No more politics for me

meanwhile away from that nastiness I have commenced full time university study, as well as working full time. Theology is almost the original academic discipline, and the lecturers certainly expect a lot of hard work from us... assignment one has been handed in. (note to self: do not write 3,500 words for a 1,500 word question it is hard to edit that many words down to the right amount the night before it is due, DOH!)

Merton, freedom, truth and beauty, religion + spirituality, and authority in Marks gospel as it relates to Christology are some of the remaining assignments....

hattip as always ;) artappraiser
The pope a sign of elderly decrepitude still in the news and still enthuses me.
Precious Suffering.
The pope's condition is deteriorating, for all to see, and he's becoming a potent symbol for his message: that life is sacred, no matter how painful

It's good to revisit things that illumine the soul and mind. Life can be awfully hectic rushing between work and home, study and church. Meetings, appointments, services, shopping and stress and relationships can seem tenuouos. Hang in there and ponder what is rich, satisfying and luxurious in touching deep within, the special places that make you, you. I stopped tonight to smell some roses, breathe deeply of the night air and relaxed for a few minutes. I should do it more often!
May I suggest the poetry of Dylan Thomas
and Tuesdays with Morrie - DVD or book

What warms your heart and soul and mind?

Photo: thanks Greg, this is where the last week in January was spent, Currarong, under the Aussie sun, body surfing and enjoying prawns!

Reading theology after a morning at the beach can create a rather somnolent state. This massive tome by Robert Alter, The Five Books of Moses has interesting commentary for all those whose tastes in linguistics, history, scripture, anthropology and cultural mores require ongoing sating. hattip artappraiser for pointing me towards book; thanks again to Greg for the photo!

Happy New Year to all, this another great sticker, pleasing to the eye, folk art sent from a friend in Centralia. Washington.

Boxing Day Down Under

WHY am I holding a girt big rock?

Because I stubbed my toe next to my little toe on my right foot on it. Not being one to live and let live I picked up the rock, caught in the act by bros in law {thanks Greg} and in a satisfying expression of revenge I threw said rock away from its original location in the Cotter river, east of Canberra, to a new location.

Hopefully not disturbing any creatures that live under rocks. As you can see recent rain has made the river muddy but on a hot summers day it sure is nice to get wet!

Several hours later my toe is purple and painful.

Maybe the quote of 2004:
This is a nation which has been tested in adversity, which has survived physical destruction and catastrophic loss of life. I do not underestimate the ability of fanatical groups of terrorists to kill and destroy, but they do not threaten the life of the nation. Whether we would survive Hitler hung in the balance, but there is no doubt that we shall survive Al-Qaeda. The Spanish people have not said that what happened in Madrid, hideous crime as it was, threatened the life of their nation. Their legendary pride would not allow it. Terrorist violence, serious as it is, does not threaten our institutions of government or our existence as a civil community….

[S]uch a power in any form is not compatible with our constitution. The real threat to the life of the nation, in the sense of a people living in accordance with its traditional laws and political values, comes not from terrorism but from laws such as these. That is the true measure of what terrorism may achieve. It is for Parliament to decide whether to give the terrorists such a victory.
Lord Hoffman.

from the Lord Laws Report on detention of suspects in the 'war' on terror.

From Informed Comment Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Juan Cole writes:
Intimidation by Israeli-Linked Organization Aimed at US Academic
MEMRI tries a SLAPP

I just checked my campus mail and found a letter in it from Colonel Yigal Carmon, late of Israeli military intelligence, now an official at the Middle East Media Research Organization, or MEMRI. He threatened me with a lawsuit over blog comments I made here at Informed Comment, reprinted at anti-war.com. This technique of the SLAPP or Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation had already been pioneered by polluting industries against environmental activists, and now the pro-Likud lobby in the US has apparently decided to try it out against people like me.

UPDATE: Juan Cole (rights) writes: Many thanks to all the readers who have written in response to my posting about the attempt of the Israel-linked MEMRI "translation service" to intimidate me with the threat of a lawsuit. continues here .

I may live down under but i still take note of things like this:
Saving Private Ryan banned on US TV Stations! How much will they need to be paid to broadcast Passion of the Christ? Interesting times indeed: 'Tis a premature emasculation devoutly to be wished. From my favorite femme fatale blogger aynclouter!!! you rule girl. Consider yourself blogrolled!

So we have survived elections and eclipses.
The world shudders or is that twitches, and following that tic continues on its merry way.

Little thought provoking stuff in the blogosphere, autopsies remain stilted or anguised.

Some sense that the US has become a nation divided between the prosperity protestants and the despairing democrats. I think the truth is somewhere else, life is satisfactory for the masses and 51% chose the status quo.

Some think that the liberals are all at sea in the US and cannot come to grips for the unity call espoused by Kerry. More like we all live in a yellow submarine. And you can google that if you cannot remember the lyrics. If you are a liberal - you probably cannot!

So 49 days to Christmas - starvation, war, injustice, discrimination and the whole human mess continue to stalk the planet. Thank goodness for Jesus! Not the blessings and security Jesus but the Jesus who challenges the status quo, mixes with the tax-collectors and prostitutes and calls us to ask 'what is truth'.

Change is a constant, come and hear the birds sing!
The newness of the electronic medium means that social mores and behavioural norms are still being discovered.
Well meaning and good-intentioned people make mistakes...
However some rise beyond their errors and manage to maintain an ongoing persona...
Anniversary congratulations to the libguy!

In your honor the The Agitprop Sub-Commissar for the Antagonist Soviet will play "The lament of the cherokee reservation Indian" and" Dawn of correction", and finish up with Mr President by the Strangers.

I cannot seem to find that one - the pro-Nixon forces obviously have begun the internet purge! The ultra-conservative radio stations banned it in 1970 succesfully it appears.

Well, how about Don't it make you wanna go home? instead!

Occasionally the media manages to produce something that is head and shoulders above the normal mish mash and entertainment for the masses.

This is important

SORRY! but I have been called a weirdo for the last time.

You don't know me, and I am not one of your little toys.
So don't tell me what to do, don't tell me what to say.
And most of all don't run sean-paul down.

I aint feeding your sicko mind any more.

To all my friends, thanks for your support it's been wild.

See you at the other place.

flowers in my hair flowers everywhere:

another day another brilliant blogsite thanks to rook

It's my life and I can do what I want! Sometimes I do!

another shot, this sticker was made by an agonist friend from the USA. Unique handmade things are so cool. Just like the readers of this blog - all unique, all handmade. You are all cool.

This is a neat sticker adorning my CPU. Tilt your head to the right to see how I look at it, tilt your head to the left to see it from the perspective of the northern hemisphere. upside down sticker posted sideways. See it is good to think outside the square.

Smoke rises from outside the Australian embassy September 9th,2004

May our prayers rise for victims of terrorism - including family and friends,
May hatred of fellow human beings never, ever take root in our hearts.
September 11th, 2004

It was meant to be the day that Paula Radcliffe was crowned Olympic marathon champion, elevating her to the pantheon of British sporting immortals. It was not supposed to end with her slumped on an Athens pavement, crying bitter tears of pain and frustration. want to know more?

A decorated member of the New Hampshire Air National Guard after returning home from Iraq appeared hopeful and upbeat during an interview soon after his arrival in the United States. "It feels fantastic. It’s hard to explain it, it feels so good. I’m just going to take today slow, wake up tomorrow, and see what it’s like to be back in a normal place." A day later Dave was dead from a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

pathos and pain, post-traumatic stress and the rest of us keep praying...

Has Church discipline and rubrical observance gone to far?

'Church Says Girl's Communion Not Valid' BRIELLE, N.J. - An 8-year-old girl who suffers from a rare digestive disorder and cannot eat wheat has had her first Holy Communion declared invalid because the wafer contained no wheat, violating Roman Catholic doctrine.

In Australia, this coeliac problem is creating some havoc for the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia. The Society had been manufacturing gluten free hosts for years but now has changed to conform with the latest Vatican directives. Online Catholics article 'valid hosts could make you sick' and read more here, which links to this recent article in the THE AGE - "Assurance on communion wafers from Liturgical Commission head Fr Peter Williams of the National Liturgical Commission has given an assurance that the Church is determined to avoid causing alarm to communicant Catholics whose health is threatened by communion wafers containing gluten.'

Info-on-wheels
This mobile Internet PC is a welcome addition to the remote village of Bithoor in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It provides high-speed wireless internet access to Bithoor and five other villages as part of Project Info-cart, which aims to use technology to improve education, healthcare and access to agricultural information in India's villages. -- AP

T H O R P E - homage to the most succesful Aussie Olympian!

FREESTYLE THRILLER Ian Thorpe took his second gold of the Games in the 200m freestyle final - setting a new Olympic record on his way to victory.

The Australian phenomenon put Phelps in his place, as the 19-year-old could finish only third behind Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband, the defending champion.

This was supposed to be the clash of the titans, the king of the Sydney Olympics Thorpe taking on young pretender Phelps who came to Athens bidding to win eight gold medals.

In fact it was van den Hoogenband who made the early running, leading at the turn for the final 50 metres.

However, Thorpe stepped up a gear and powered ahead to touch home first, punching the air in triumph and brandishing a massive grin which was in contrast to the tears he shed two nights ago in relief at retaining his 400m freestyle crown.

Thorpe's winning time was 1:44.71, which was 0.65 of a second outside his own world record but 0.64 of a second inside the previous Olympic record which had been held by van den Hoogenband.

My bed and sleep were more important than getting up at 2.00am to watch the race, but still great to wake at 7.00am and hear the exciting news

abc.au reports
Hong Kong has highest abortion rate in developed world: Hong Kong has the highest abortion rate in the developed world with almost a third of all pregnancies terminated, according to a media report citing official figures.

But officials warned however that the figure could be much higher as the data does not take into account illegal abortions carried out over the border in mainland China.

Hong Kong's hospitals carried out 20,235 abortions in 2001, the latest figures available, the South China Morning Post reported, citing Government data.

With 49,144 live births that year, the termination rate was 29.2 per cent.

Officials were not immediately available to confirm the report.

The data placed Hong Kong at the top of the world abortion ladder, ahead of the United States at 24.4 per cent, Canada at 24.3 per cent and Australia at 23.7 per cent, the report said.

Medical experts quoted by the report blamed the high rate on poor sex education in the southern Chinese territory's schools but warned that the stigma of abortion forced many women to seek illegal terminations in China's neighbouring Guangdong province.

"Some of the girls are so confused, worried and frustrated and the first thing that comes to their mind is abortion," Suvan Law Sui-wan, counsellor at teenage pregnancy support group Mother's Choice told the paper.

"They think it is safe, quick and effective. In Chinese culture it's shameful to be unmarried and pregnant."

--AFP

from Bishop Anthony Fisher last month:

Such suffering women need to know that they are not alone, not mad. They need the healing and hope that can only come after confronting the truth of abortion. Could this latest film help?
Some years ago I was part of another Channel 4 programme, a panel discussion about the new genetics. I was asked what I thought about prenatal tests which were fast becoming ‘search and destroy’ techniques against the handicapped. Before I could answer, another panellist – who was a notorious embryo experimenter – accused me of thinking all abortion is a sin.

"Of course it’s a sin," piped up a third panellist, Germain Greer. As someone who’d been through the abortion mill and subsequent infertility, she spoke with some authority and passion. She even dared to use the politically incorrect word ‘sin’. Every abortion, she thought, is a sin and women know it in their heart of hearts.

Our society is now so habituated to aborting its young that it has little else to offer women with unplanned pregnancies. We have become so callused by an annual abortion count of 75,000 to 100,000 that we close our eyes to the unborn children destroyed and the women left wounded. And our medical profession has been so corrupted by three decades of this practice that many women find themselves on a treadmill to termination as soon as they enter the consulting room.

When I was at school almost 30 years ago a prayer we learnt by heart was "May human life be defended and protected from its first beginnings". For some the impact of a human life in utero is just too difficult. Abortion remains a plague on society in all countries.

this is making news in Australia:{via Catholic Telecommunications}

Catholic women "more likely" to have abortion

Sydney's Catholic women are far more likely than women of other religions to have an abortion, according to figures published in today's Sydney Morning Herald.

The paper says the statistics were provided by Sydney's main abortion provider, Australian Birth Control Services.

Almost half of the clinic's 6000 patients last year identified their religion and of this group almost 40% said they were Catholic. A further 23% identified themselves as "Christian", while fewer than 5% said they were Protestant. Seven% were Muslim and 5% were Buddhist.

An analysis of women who have had more than one abortion at the clinic since it opened in the late 1980s found that Catholics account for almost 45% of those who identified their religion.

Clinic medical director Dr Geoffrey Brodie speculated that the figure may be even higher because Catholics may be more reluctant than other patients to divulge their religion.

But ethicist and director of the Melbourne-based John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family Dr Warwick Neville said he would not have expected the number of Catholic women to be so high.

"The church's consistent teaching is that abortion in any circumstance is gravely wrong. [But] the church can never impose its teaching and nor does it seek to police it," he says.

"Where and how people are able to take [the church's teaching] on board and apply it to their lives, the church has no control over.

"But someone who says, 'look, I'm just going to go for an abortion', no one in the church either has any control over that or any understanding as to why they would do that."

SOURCE
A Catholic conundrum (Sydney Morning Herald 6/8/04 - requires payment)

LINKS
Economics as reason for abortion (Sydney Morning Herald 6/8/04)
Australian Birth Control Services
Abortion is science's grim story (Sydney Morning Herald 5/8/04)
Abortions cloaked in secrecy (The West Australian 4/8/04)
Public shift on abortion: Abbott (The Australian 2/8/04)
An abortion deception (The Age 3/8/04)
Abortion clinic fears pre-poll political assault (Sydney Morning Herald 6/8/04)
Why is my church so silent on abortion? (The Age 5/8/04)
Compass: My Foetus (The Age 5/8/04)


I note that over 40% of the Australian Population is Catholic, so the statistics make some sense; especially seeing that less than 18% of all Catholics attend Mass on Sunday, and have little moral understanding or willingness to follow the eternal proscription on abortion. Note the Compass story above earlier related news items: Reality TV going too far
and Abortion doco welcomed by right-to-lifer

BE ALERT NOT ALARMED, HAS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION SHAKEN THE TREE OR JUST BEEN POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT IN RAISING THE FEAR FACTOR?
from skynews: TERROR INTEL 'OUTDATED'

The intelligence that led to yesterday's US terror alert was up to four years old, it has been reported. Intelligence officers told the New York Times and the Washington Post there was "no concrete evidence" of a terrorist plot or proof that terror surveillance operations were still being carried out.

US financial institutions were put on alert after the Bush administration raised the terror alarm to 'high'. Emails on an arrested al Qaeda suspect's computer gave details of attacks on America's financial institutions - and also mentioned London. But intelligence officers said much of the information may have been collected before the September 11 attacks.

"There is nothing right now that we're hearing that is new," one intelligence officer told the Washington Post.

Spare a thought for all those whose fear level went through the ceiling over the past couple days. Those with mental disorders, the emotionally sensitive, those who were directly impacted by 911...

The yellow crazy ant has been found in NSW. This is an amazing event to actually make the news in this time of escalating oil prices due to terror fears. Meanwhile the Vatican has recognised women in the workplace. Another useful interview here, the uk independent published this.

It's cold this time of the year in Canberra. People inhabiting Northern Hemisphere countries up towards Greenland, Iceland, Siberia and Alaska know a different sort of cold. They know extreme cold. Here it is cold.

Toes are cold, fingers are cold and the ice and frost on the car takes ages to get off, if you use water that freezes over as you motor on down the road.

Fortunately unlike northern climes the sun comes out and after 11am it is very nice to be out in the sun. Sadly, of course, that means no cloud, no cloud means no rain, no rain remains a huge worry. Drought is bad.

I have decided after visiting many blogs that the latest reincarnation of the one hand clapping zoan is comments (0)

well its been almost 12 months since i last did an online quiz so here I go:

"God will not suffer man to have the knowledge of things to come; for if he had prescience of his prosperity he would be careless; and understanding of his adversity he would be senseless."

You are Augustine! You love to study tough issues and don't mind it if you lose sleep over them. Everyone loves you and wants to talk to you and hear your views, you even get things like "nice debating with you." Yep, you are super smart, even if you are still trying to figure it all out. You're also very honest, something people admire, even when you do stupid things.

What theologian are you?

A creation of Henderson

Two gems from a pagan christian from the angels:

1)Accepting Jesus Christ as Your Personal Lord and Deconstructionist: Winners Never Win {thanks for the link pagan christian }

in his own rite:
2)and a look at USA religio-politico-analysis

And a hattip to a Canberra blogger: / who has added moi to his blogroll BLUSH

another lovely creek shot from my agonist friend way out west

approaching Mt Nameless

more photos from an agonist friend: looking towards Mt Nameless, way out west far far far from where I live!

wallabies and kookaburrah

wallabies, birds, including kookaburrah sitting on branch

see wallaby, see galah

Another shot from an Aussie agonist, later in the day: I am hoping to travel outback in a few years, meanwhile I am glad others can share their tranquil home environs with me! I'll be posting some south NSW coast wildlife photos soon. Canberra is to dried out to share!

A wonderful shot of a very special Australian spot, many miles from civilization.

Nincompoop latest google bomb for an election year.

Only one thing to comment on tonight:
 
JOHNHOWARDLIESDOTCOM

Refugees allowed to stay.

The power of polls and blogs! The Australian Government has announced that almost 10,000 refugees are closer to being allowed to stay in Australia after a pre-election softening of the Howard Government's asylum-seeker rules.

The story even made the Guardian in the UK.

Locally in Canberra support for Afghan refugees is superb, and in regional areas opportunities have been increased. I am well pleased!

Life goes on outside the wired world...

Out on Saturday night to a book party, the things one does to get three hours with spouse, after 5 1/2 days in the bookshop I go to a bookparty!!

Childrens birthday parties, removing old grout from bathroom tiles and applying white silicon - tubes are neat, much better than mixing up grout, please comment if you have any suggestions for partially used bags of grout mix! Walking to the local shops for Sunday Morning Coffee, NO video of bellydance forthcoming....the lads are still playing the computer games.

Spare a thought for those, though rich, that live in some degree of fear, I often remember Isa in my prayers...

Meanwhile AIDS is referenced by Mathieu and again and by moi aussi at agonist.scoop which is now beginning to real move.

And according to this a fellow blogger got the finger by ~POTUS~!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DICKIE

Of Greeks and balls and blogs and floorboards.

We are all Greek today! Well done, one goal and match won! Little work will happen on Olympic Games preparations today methinks.

Meanwhile in the land of blog: Bubby, known offline as Lillian Tashlik, is an 88-year old, American-born great-grandmother who began her career as an award-winning blogger eight months ago at the behest of her granddaughters. Good work, Bubby! (and family). Featured in the Jerusalem Post registration required!

Well almost finished the flooring! 21.5 sq metres (approx 210 sq ft) is a lot of work. I bashed my knee at work on Friday so found it hard to get up and down all weekend as I laid the flooring.

On top of all that diverticulitis came back and I spent Sunday night thru to Monday morning tossing and turning in pain, too exhausted to get out of bed and get some Buscopan.

Honey flooring is what we are installing!

Of election bribery, allergies and flooring

Most Australian families over the past week have received a $600.00 per child payment from the Australian Government. If you are lucky enough to have moved or changed circumstances ( est. 2200 families) the Centrelink Payment has been paid twice, yippee for some lucky families. The Minister for Family And Community Services (FACS), and the Prime Minister are sparring over families paying back the overpayment. Fun and games indeed for those having a baby after12MN on July 1 the government gives them $3000.00!

No word on when the Australian election will be called though.

Meanhwhile, allergic skins reactions in Master 19 have led us to rip the carpet up out of his bedroom and begin installing wooden panel flooring....

Thank you, Mr Howard for funding the flooring. However, you have not bought my vote. Sadly, although I have been a liberal lover for over 25 years the treatment of refugees and the participation sans UN in the invasion of Iraq have soured my love affair. My vote will be going elsewhere.

Updates on Darfur and Sudan

Summary: over 30,000 dead, upto 1 million displaced. Widespread rape continues of western Sudanese women. Genocide is becoming a likely point of intervention for the USA. Posturing re terrorism and the cessation of the 21 year war between Christians and Moslems is also of interest to the USA. Recent Washington Post articles are also referenced here:
Darfur updates at hattip Candy

A happy foetus is a smiling foetus!
A professor at London's Create Health Clinic has poineered a new type of ultrasound scan which gives us, for the first time, pictures of foetuses as young as twelve weeks walking, yawning, moving their arms and legs, and at 18 weeks, opening their eyes, and even smiling at 26 weeks.

The new technique gives much more detailed pictures than conventional ultrasound, and according to Professor Stuart Campbell,

"This is a new science for understanding and mapping out the behaviour of the baby. Maybe in the future it will help us understand and diagnose genetic disease, maybe even conditions like cerebral palsy which puzzles the medical profession as to why it occurs."
He's compiled a book of the images, called Watch Me Grow, and provides 10 beautiful sample images linked within the original article from the BBC. hattip imrdkl

A smiling foetus is a happy foetus

Proper blogging technique requires a heading.


Then a link unto the site that discusses what makes a weblog a weblog.....

So now we have a proper blog entry.

news:
Blogging boom gives Iranian women a voice Jun 23, 2004, 18:25 AP

Take one exasperated Iranian woman. Add a computer. Hook it up to the internet. "And you have a voice in a country where it's very hard to be heard," said Lady Sun, the online identity of one of the first Iranian women to start a blog - a freeform mix of news items, commentaries and whatever else comes to mind.

Initially created to defy the nation's tight control on media, these web journals have turned into a cyber-sanctuary - part salon, part therapist's couch - for the vast pool of educated, young and computer-savvy Iranians.

But conservatives have formally reclaimed control of parliament and will step up pressure to censor the internet. continues @ AP link above!


After Chaos, a Forced Silence in Sudan Refugees Warned to Keep Quiet During Visits by Foreign Leaders Washington Post Foreign Service By Emily Wax Sunday, June 27, 2004; 7:01 PM

ABU SHOK, Sudan, June 27 -- The Sudanese villagers in this western region of Darfur were bombed. They were raped. Their huts were burned, and their grain pillaged. Now those who fled the chaos say they are being silenced.

The Sudanese government dispatched 500 men last week to this sweltering camp of 40,000 near El Fashir, capital of North Darfur state, the refugees and aid workers say. The men, some dressed in civilian clothes, others in military uniforms, warned the refugees to keep quiet about their experiences when Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan visit the region next week.

Darfur has been the scene of more than 16 months of conflict between residents of the region and Arab militiamen backed by the government. Aid workers say 30,000 have been killed by the militia and more than 1 .2 million forced to flee their homes.

"They kicked us and said, 'Stop talking,' " said Malki Ali Abduallah, 25, who fled the fighting six months ago with six children and a cooking pot. "I said, 'no, no, no. I am angry. I am tired. I don't want to be quiet.'
continues @ Washington Post Link above!

Well down they go for the fourth time in a quarter final, another penalty kickoff and Becks kicks above the cross-bar, pints are drunk and many other Englishman will feel as wretched as Beckham no doubt does. Portugal can feel proud but I wonder about that patch of dirt that Sven-Goran complanined about.

Meanwhile the filthy zionists have been excluded from participating in the chess competition in Libya. Apparently Gaddafis new won acceptance by the west does not extend to allowing Israeli Chess Masters to play within Libya. BOO! HISS! Fortunately many players are boycotting the 'games'.

I will raise a glass of wine with Portugal and ponder the ongoing state of things.

I have been meaning to mention the new Agonist - link at lower left... It has rapidly developed into an excellent news resource. The lively 'family' atmosphere that used to permeate the Bulletin Boards is gone, a more nuanced measured response to posts is the order of the day.

The scoop format appears to be taken seriously and posters are not (yet at least) confident enough to let some exuberance out in the diaries and comments. I am well pleased with the transition, the usual team of suspects has worked hard and it is a real credit to their efforts.

If you are interested in world events dip into the site.

forgotten fluffy favorites:
The smallest deed is greater than the
grandest intention. Patti Labelle

It takes less time to do a thing right than
it does to explain why you did it wrong. Henry Longfellow

Life is a series of moments.
To live each one is to succeed. Corita Kent

Do a little more than you're paid to;
Give a little more than you have to;
Try a little harder than you want to;
Aim a little higher than you think possible;
And give a lot of thanks to God for health, family and friends. Art Linkletter

Do your little bit of good where you are; it's
those little bits of good put together that
overwhelm the world. Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Wise sayings often fall on barren ground; but a
kind word is never thrown away. Arthur Helps

You must have long-range goals to keep you
from being frustrated by short-range failures. Charles Noble

A very comprehensive set of pages at the NY Times: U.S. Said to Overstate Value of Guantánamo Detainees By TIM GOLDEN and DON VAN NATTA Jr. Published: June 21, 2004

GUANTÁNAMO BAY, Cuba, June 19 — For nearly two and a half years, American officials have maintained that locked within the steel-mesh cells of the military prison here are some of the world's most dangerous terrorists — "the worst of a very bad lot," Vice President Dick Cheney has called them.

The officials say information gleaned from the detainees has exposed terrorist cells, thwarted planned attacks and revealed vital intelligence about Al Qaeda. The secrets they hold and the threats they pose justify holding them indefinitely without charge, Bush administration officials have said.

But as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the legal status of the 595 men imprisoned here, an examination by The New York Times has found that government and military officials have repeatedly exaggerated both the danger the detainees posed and the intelligence they have provided. continues at link at top^
hattip Sylv at agonist.scoop

Baby Boom X 2
Twice the joy By David Seale Friday, 18 June 2004

As of yesterday, twins outnumbered singletons in the John James Memorial Hospital maternity wing.
/snip

It was surreal seeing set after set of twins....

Maternity manager Robyne Moore said one or two sets of twins was quite common in a hospital at any one time - in its 10-year history, John James has had three sets once - but five was something altogether special.

She conceded twins had become a lot more common in the past 20 years, thanks mainly to in-vitro fertilisation, but not this common.

"It's exciting for the parents in particular, even the parents of single babies get very excited - everyone gets excited about twins, even the staff," she said, adding there were six more sets due to be born there in the next six or so months.

/snip

It had been quite hectic work for the midwives, more so because of the increased number of premature babies.

Twins were often put in a crib together to settle them down. This usually worked, considering they were quite used to each other's company in the womb.

"When you look at Jack and Eve, when I put them in the cot, you see Jack automatically wrap his arm around Eve and comfort her; and then they're trying to kiss each other and hug each other all the time," registered midwife Allana Carter said. "But with Hamish and Charlotte, we've got, 'oh no, not you, we're back together again'."

Guess that shows there's never two - or should that be four - the same.
Canberra Times

useful blog of the month award:
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Want to cut your electric bill? Check into compact fluorescent bulbs! They can save a dramatic amount of energy in the long run. After procrastinating for years, I've bitten the bullet and installed compact fluorescent bulbs in almost every light fixture here at ranchero indebto. And I'm reaping the benefits in more ways than one. Not only are compact fluorescent bulbs more energy-efficient, they last for years. Thats' right ... years. We're talking five years or more, depending on the bulb. Think about not having to change a home full of burned out light bulbs ... especially in those pesky hard-to-reach places ...now that's brilliant! continues:

daniel gray's geekbooks.com - from the swamps of joisey

Sunday dawns cool in mid June in Canberra. The Brindabella hills are capped with snow and a cold chill is in the air. The forecast is for possible snow but it does not eventuate. Instead a sunny day enables me to get out in the garden after Mass. Whilst trimming the old growth of bushes I reflect on the gospel of today where Jesus asks his disciples "Who do you say I am?"

Deep down all of us are asking each other that question silently all the time. The more mature may actually be able to ask friends what am I like, what are my good points, my not so good points, what do I need to change about myself.

Those of us who are more obsessive probably focus more on our (perceived) failings. An ego inventory of the positive side is more important. I found myself thinking about faith, self identity and communal aspects in worship and service to others.

I grew up in the post Vatican II church, but have inherited some of the
Jansenist beliefs that the Irish Catholics brought to Australia. Self criticism and doubt rule. The traditional Latin Mass probably offers its adherents some sense of being the elect. I struggle on with the novus ordo that the Church continues to promote as the correct style of worship for the current time. For the past 16 years Catholics have been waiting for a new translation of the Roman Catholic Celebration of the Mass, and we still wait. Faith is such a personal thing and I give thanks that I have the gift of faith. Meanwhile I continue to notice that church attendance continues to decline.

In the garden the gum trees are beginning to blossom. Other winter blooming plants have a myriad of buds about to pop open, and the daffodil and jonquils are poking their green shoots higher and higher.

Down the coast I collected a bag full of fine broken shells.I have created a little shell "garden" with a strand of seaweed delicately draped across it, behind it I have placed a number of succulents in little pots with polished stones around each succulent. My artistic side is nurtured a little bit. A pansy creates a purple patch under a small fence but does anyone care?

Safely home after a warmish break - 18degC days compared to 11degC Canberra days.

Finished Wittgensteins Poker and two greg bear novels + half a tome called 'complete reference guide to html' which of course it is not, was not and will not be slash / \ anyone?

Watched Molokai
Amazon.com
This biography of Father Damien, the Catholic priest who in 1873 volunteered for service on the eponymous Hawaiian leper colony, doesn't hesitate to idolize its subject, and why should it? For 15 years Damien ministered almost single-handedly to the quarantined community, supplying what medication he could procure while struggling against the red tape from organizations (religious and governmental) that would rather have forgotten all about the hundreds of people slowly dying in primitive conditions. He won some battles and lost others, finally succumbing to the disease himself in 1888. The film can't overcome the inherent weaknesses of projects such as this: high officials given to improbable speeches recapping the relevant historical events for us, a certain formlessness generated by skipping through the years and only hitting the high points, stock bureaucratic villains whose motives are never fairly explored. On the other hand, screenwriter John Briley has an Oscar on his shelf for Gandhi, so he knows how to string the lessons together and make them go down smoothly.
The earnestness of the project no doubt led to the who's-who supporting cast (Sam Neill, Derek Jacobi, Peter O'Toole, Leo McKern) (oh yes, and Kris Kristofferson), but it is David Wenham who must carry the film as Damien, which he does well enough--not spectacularly but with a touching humility not above a tetchy self-righteousness. Director Paul Cox was an inspired choice, however, bringing to the project his patient fascination with emotions at their most subtle and restrained; as a result, Molokai's low-key sense of conflict, often a fatal flaw in similar movies, becomes the film's saving grace, a manifestation of its subject's quiet, persistent faith. --Bruce Reid


which shows nothing ever changes.... Gandhi is next, been sitting unopened on the shelf for too long...

meanwhile many agonist posts to catch up on....

Gone to the coast for three days
Winter walks along the sandy beaches and thru the State Forest.

Israel to bulldoze Gaza settlements
JERUSALEM June 13, 2004
(Times of Oman-AFP)-- Israel will demolish all 21 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip as part of a promised pullout from the territory, officials said yesterday, going back on earlier plans to leave the homes intact.

"The houses will be destroyed so that they do not fall into the hands of terrorists or the mafia run by (Palestinian leader) Yasser Arafat," said an official in the office of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
"It would have been otherwise, had we received assurances that these buildings would be turned over the Palestinian refugees, but, as this is not the case, we had no other choice," the official said, asking not to be further identified.

The announcement came as Sharon accelerated preparations to implement the withdrawal following its approval in principle by ministers last week, despite opposition from hardline members of both his party and his government.

continues:
timesofman

My blood boils and my outrage grows, the sheer vindictiveness in demolishing perfectly good housing by the so called representatives of God's People is an expression of the ongoing callousness and hatred that those who do not wish peace exhibit!