"I pity them"
Angelo, a barrister was interviewed by the BBC after escaping one of the train explosions in the London underground. Covered in soot, shaky, confused as to why more emergency workers were not assisting in the evac (he did not know or had not taken in the fact of multiple attacks), he was asked what he thought of the perps.

"I pity them". Asked to elaborate he responded that "such wicked behaviour can only be pitied".

Resilience and compassion mean that we will all arise again on July 8 and live. Terrorism means death, but humanity will overcome terrorism. We live to honour the dead and I too pity the wicked.

A little selfishly I am relieved that my eldest boy will not be in London for several months....

Hopefully, we will not be reading the likes of this in six months time.

Rain wonderful rain, plenty of rain around Canberra, too much on the north coast of NSW and the Gold Coast. Goulburn still needs more. Our Prayers of Intercession on Sunday include one each week thanking God for the rain we have received and praying for more rain for those areas that need it. It's a prayer being prayed across the Archdiocese.

The winter days are beginning to lengthen again so spring is coming. Cold weather will be the order of the day for several more months yet. Global warming is not a micro weather feature yet.

First semester is over, all assignments have returned to me with satisfactory results in essay writing and research. Beginners enthusiasm seems to have caused me to try to cover too much in my assignments so I am seeing a lecturer mid month to try and get a grip on what is required.
Footnotes gave my lecturers some grief. I have a lot of misunderstanding as to what each lecturer particularly seeks with respect to the correct citing of authors, texts, quotes and page numbers. Hopefully by October 2007 I will have mastered the art of citation.

Master numero uno living son turns 21 on July 6, so we had a surprise party for him on Saturday night. An assortment of relatives and friends recent and past managed to arrive and allow him an enjoyable evening that almost moved him to tears. Sweet boy. His ticket to Austria and the UK have been purchased - 'rock on' September is his song.

Diary entries for me at the agonist have been a bit post and run lately. Time does not allow too much self promotion. So casual readers don't miss out: read them >>>>>here<<<<<<.

This is one of three paintings by congo the chimp, that took the media by storm this week, pushing once again to the background the horrible ongoing violence and death toll in the Congo.

See, I'm safe with a good Christian family. On the weekend I went to Wisconsin.

Hmmm. the table is the same as the one in canberra, but this fellow is certainly not an australian. I'm told it's about 45�F in Canberra, sleet and snow on the way, I'm so glad I'm in sunny Minnesota.

Almost there, I can see home from here.

Uh oh, better wait here, I can hear someone coming. I cannot believe the grass, it is so green and lush compared to the dry, dusty brown stalks in canberra.

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....