GENEVA: The United states has 90 guns for every 100 citizens, making it the most heavily armed society in Our world.Us citizens own 270 million of the 875 million known firearms, according to the small arms survey 2007 by the Geneva-based graduate institute of international studies.
INDIA india had the second-largest civillian gun arsenal, with an estimated 46 million firearms outside law enforcement and the military, but this represented just four guns per 100 people.
On a per capita basis, Yemen had the second most heavily armed citizenry with 61 guns per 100 people.
A person owning a gun is more likely to kill someone than a person who is not a gun owner.
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
Numbskull Ferry Navigators Putting Lives at Risk
Sydney Australia.
SYDNEY Ferries captains are smoking cigarettes, taking phone calls and reading newspapers while at the controls of passenger vessels.
Just as frightening, a majority of masters have no idea how to use expensive radar equipment in Freshwater class Manly ferries and JetCats, a damning report has revealed.
NSW Maritime investigators, who rode on the bridge with ferry crews during their investigation, observed: "Assessment of contacts was purely by eye. No attempt was made to utilise radar or compass bearings."
"No master ever checked the vessels' quarter for the presence of another vessel prior to altering course," the report noted.
It also found compasses are not maintained in precise working order - one compass had not been "swung" since 1984.
"The navigation charts are out of date and in some cases misleading - one was stamped 'not to be used in navigation'," NSW Maritime said.
Masters are also prone to allowing deckhands and other non-essential staff to ride on the bridge, "considerably elevating the noise levels" in the cabin.
The Daily Telegraph yesterday observed a Manly ferry crew lighting up cigarettes in the wheelhouse mid-trip, in breach of workplace laws.
The damning assessment of the seamanship of ferry masters was contained in a report into two separate near misses in heavy fog in October 2005, obtained under Freedom of Information laws.
In what could have been an unprecedented disaster, two JetCats crossed within 50-70m of each other doing a combined speed of 42 knots (about 60km/h).
Two Manly ferries - which can carry more than 1000 passengers at peak times - passed within 25-200m of each other.
Although visibility was a pea soup-like 0-200m on that morning, none of the crews used radar to ensure safe passage.
The incidents occurred just over a year before the two recent ferry tragedies that claimed five lives and sparked the current safety inquiry headed by barrister Bret Walker SC.
Sydney Ferries yesterday said ferries no longer operate in heavy fog. "The policy of ceasing ferry operations in heavy fog was introduced in May 2006 and has proven effective, with no near-miss incidents during fog recorded since its inception," a spokesman said.
One ferry master yesterday dismissed the NSW Maritime findings on poor seamanship.
"Those guys are like failed police recruits who end up as security guards," he said.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYDNEY Ferries captains are smoking cigarettes, taking phone calls and reading newspapers while at the controls of passenger vessels.
Just as frightening, a majority of masters have no idea how to use expensive radar equipment in Freshwater class Manly ferries and JetCats, a damning report has revealed.
NSW Maritime investigators, who rode on the bridge with ferry crews during their investigation, observed: "Assessment of contacts was purely by eye. No attempt was made to utilise radar or compass bearings."
"No master ever checked the vessels' quarter for the presence of another vessel prior to altering course," the report noted.
It also found compasses are not maintained in precise working order - one compass had not been "swung" since 1984.
"The navigation charts are out of date and in some cases misleading - one was stamped 'not to be used in navigation'," NSW Maritime said.
Masters are also prone to allowing deckhands and other non-essential staff to ride on the bridge, "considerably elevating the noise levels" in the cabin.
The Daily Telegraph yesterday observed a Manly ferry crew lighting up cigarettes in the wheelhouse mid-trip, in breach of workplace laws.
The damning assessment of the seamanship of ferry masters was contained in a report into two separate near misses in heavy fog in October 2005, obtained under Freedom of Information laws.
In what could have been an unprecedented disaster, two JetCats crossed within 50-70m of each other doing a combined speed of 42 knots (about 60km/h).
Two Manly ferries - which can carry more than 1000 passengers at peak times - passed within 25-200m of each other.
Although visibility was a pea soup-like 0-200m on that morning, none of the crews used radar to ensure safe passage.
The incidents occurred just over a year before the two recent ferry tragedies that claimed five lives and sparked the current safety inquiry headed by barrister Bret Walker SC.
Sydney Ferries yesterday said ferries no longer operate in heavy fog. "The policy of ceasing ferry operations in heavy fog was introduced in May 2006 and has proven effective, with no near-miss incidents during fog recorded since its inception," a spokesman said.
One ferry master yesterday dismissed the NSW Maritime findings on poor seamanship.
"Those guys are like failed police recruits who end up as security guards," he said.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, 27 August 2007
Parents urged to say "NO"
IN THE modern, mollycoddled world of parenting, the word "no" has gone the way of phrases such as "Do that again, and I'll smack you" and "Don't make me hurt the wooden spoon with your backside."
But parenting expert Janet Cater says not saying no is a big no-no.
"This idea that it's not okay to say no to your child seems to have snuck in with the no-smacking thing,'' Mrs Cater says.
"It's this new trend that says we have to negotiate with children and give them choices.
"Smacking's not okay, but we seem to have thrown out `no' as well - which is wrong, because children still need to be told no.
"It's a long way from a hiding to nothing, from the bad old days when people would hit kids to this idea now that you don't do anything at all and just let them run wild.
"We need the pendulum to swing back the other way.''
Mrs Cater, who has been working with children for more than 40 years, says she is dismayed when she hears about parents who are trying to find circuitous ways to avoid the simple, single-syllable negative.
"It's true that it's always better to tell children what you want rather than what you don't want: `Please come down the stairs' rather than 'No, don't go up the stairs','' she says.
"But when you've already explained 13,000 times why it's wrong to hit people, you get to the point where you just have to say no.
"A lot of parents let their children set the boundaries and do what they want. The theory is that if you say no to them all the time, they'll just start saying no back - and that's true to an extent; you can overdo it.
"But children need boundaries, and if they don't get them they will act out and misbehave.''
According to recent research by the Australian Council for Educational Research, "increasing numbers of young children exhibit aggressive, disruptive, hostile and inconsiderate behaviours''.
Mrs Cater is running a series of parenting workshops titled If I've Told You Once ... Better Ways To Parent.
She says addressing problems in early childhood is essential for parents who are keen to avoid having their children end up in brat camps for wild teenagers.
"As I say in my workshops, if you can't control your three-year-old, you've got Buckley's of controlling your 15-year-old,'' Mrs Cater says.
Among the families she has been working with are the Larsens, of Manly.
Sue and Andrew Larsen have two children: Hugh, aged four, and Ingrid, two.
Sue Larsen says she can't imagine parenting without the word "no'' in her arsenal.
"I absolutely believe in saying no,'' she says. "But it's the way the child reacts when you say no that leaves you thinking: 'Where do I go from here?'
"I've put the boundaries up, and the child is still not responding. You get the tears and the tantrums, and it's about how you cope with that.
"That's where Janet's been so helpful, putting strategies in place and knowing how the child's brain is mapped so you can disrupt certain patterns.
"If they're crying about wanting to talk on the phone while I'm on it, you can activate a different part of their brains by talking about colour, and they're distracted by that.''
Ian Dalton, executive director of the Australian Parents Council, says he is aware of the just- don't-say-no trend.
"Once you start making rules around this kind of language, it gets a bit nonsensical,'' he says.
"We end up in a situation where we have paralysis by overanalysis, because there are just too many experts out there trying to explain the technical aspects of parenting.
"In an ideal world, people might speak in particular ways, but we would all end up sounding like robots.
"If we don't say no to our children, they're eventually going to get into situations where someone will say no to them - and what are they going to do then?''
Mr Dalton says the council's research has shown that many very good parents feel they aren't doing a good job because they haven't kept up with the latest child-rearing fads.
"Parents should be allowed to follow their instincts and to live their lives in a positive way - where every action isn't subject to severe scrutiny,'' he says.
Vest Say's: Never once did I strike my children, any minor corporal punishment was dealt out by my loving wife to our five sons, a sound smack with a wet hand on a bare bum gained their attention more often than not, and it certainly has created more good than harm. Our family has had its internal feuds occasionally but has survived generally as a whole without crimminal intent. Our sons have never been unemployed or on the dole, and despite the constant canings at the schools I attended, it has been a lesson learned that needless brutality and canings are regressive and build dissention.
Parenting skills should be mandatory and taught to all parents, and of course the role of the child to their parents too.
Pie in the sky and wishful thinking, shove it in the too hard basket it will never happen.
But parenting expert Janet Cater says not saying no is a big no-no.
"This idea that it's not okay to say no to your child seems to have snuck in with the no-smacking thing,'' Mrs Cater says.
"It's this new trend that says we have to negotiate with children and give them choices.
"Smacking's not okay, but we seem to have thrown out `no' as well - which is wrong, because children still need to be told no.
"It's a long way from a hiding to nothing, from the bad old days when people would hit kids to this idea now that you don't do anything at all and just let them run wild.
"We need the pendulum to swing back the other way.''
Mrs Cater, who has been working with children for more than 40 years, says she is dismayed when she hears about parents who are trying to find circuitous ways to avoid the simple, single-syllable negative.
"It's true that it's always better to tell children what you want rather than what you don't want: `Please come down the stairs' rather than 'No, don't go up the stairs','' she says.
"But when you've already explained 13,000 times why it's wrong to hit people, you get to the point where you just have to say no.
"A lot of parents let their children set the boundaries and do what they want. The theory is that if you say no to them all the time, they'll just start saying no back - and that's true to an extent; you can overdo it.
"But children need boundaries, and if they don't get them they will act out and misbehave.''
According to recent research by the Australian Council for Educational Research, "increasing numbers of young children exhibit aggressive, disruptive, hostile and inconsiderate behaviours''.
Mrs Cater is running a series of parenting workshops titled If I've Told You Once ... Better Ways To Parent.
She says addressing problems in early childhood is essential for parents who are keen to avoid having their children end up in brat camps for wild teenagers.
"As I say in my workshops, if you can't control your three-year-old, you've got Buckley's of controlling your 15-year-old,'' Mrs Cater says.
Among the families she has been working with are the Larsens, of Manly.
Sue and Andrew Larsen have two children: Hugh, aged four, and Ingrid, two.
Sue Larsen says she can't imagine parenting without the word "no'' in her arsenal.
"I absolutely believe in saying no,'' she says. "But it's the way the child reacts when you say no that leaves you thinking: 'Where do I go from here?'
"I've put the boundaries up, and the child is still not responding. You get the tears and the tantrums, and it's about how you cope with that.
"That's where Janet's been so helpful, putting strategies in place and knowing how the child's brain is mapped so you can disrupt certain patterns.
"If they're crying about wanting to talk on the phone while I'm on it, you can activate a different part of their brains by talking about colour, and they're distracted by that.''
Ian Dalton, executive director of the Australian Parents Council, says he is aware of the just- don't-say-no trend.
"Once you start making rules around this kind of language, it gets a bit nonsensical,'' he says.
"We end up in a situation where we have paralysis by overanalysis, because there are just too many experts out there trying to explain the technical aspects of parenting.
"In an ideal world, people might speak in particular ways, but we would all end up sounding like robots.
"If we don't say no to our children, they're eventually going to get into situations where someone will say no to them - and what are they going to do then?''
Mr Dalton says the council's research has shown that many very good parents feel they aren't doing a good job because they haven't kept up with the latest child-rearing fads.
"Parents should be allowed to follow their instincts and to live their lives in a positive way - where every action isn't subject to severe scrutiny,'' he says.
Vest Say's: Never once did I strike my children, any minor corporal punishment was dealt out by my loving wife to our five sons, a sound smack with a wet hand on a bare bum gained their attention more often than not, and it certainly has created more good than harm. Our family has had its internal feuds occasionally but has survived generally as a whole without crimminal intent. Our sons have never been unemployed or on the dole, and despite the constant canings at the schools I attended, it has been a lesson learned that needless brutality and canings are regressive and build dissention.
Parenting skills should be mandatory and taught to all parents, and of course the role of the child to their parents too.
Pie in the sky and wishful thinking, shove it in the too hard basket it will never happen.
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
The Right Knee or Not the Right Knee. That is the Question?.
I'm off to the hospital tomorrow to get my knee fixed, only there for a day or two, then I shall be sent home to recover, 'Hopefully'. I qualify to have the procedure done for free, so I had to wait a few months which saved me a fair amount and enough to keep me in scotch for a couple of years. When the hospital sent me the info way back it mentioned my left knee, I wrote to the hospital explaining it was not the right knee that they had on their records, like the left knee was not the right knee and the right knee is not the wrong one but the knee that needs fixing-right. I then explained that, I would; on arrival in case of confusion label my left knee (This is not the right knee). Last week I had a discussion with the anethetist at the hospital during which I noticed the records were still showing the left knee the wrong knee, I hope they sort it out before I temporarily depart to the hereafter, I'll take a look around for angels etc while away with the fairies.
Makes one wonder when you drift off whether you will be coming back, you can't tell these days with all the skulduggery going on in the world, the anethetist is Portuguese/Asian, glad he isn't from Ranier Minnesota.
GOING AROUND THE BEND.
NOW I FEEL BETTER I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE!
Thank goodness there's a name for this disorder.
Somehow I feel better, even though I have it!!
Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D -
Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder& lt; BR>
This is how it manifests:
I decide to water my garden.
As I turn on the hose in the driveway,
I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.
As I start toward the garage,
I notice mail on the porch table that
I brought up from the mail box earlier.
I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.
I lay my car keys on the table,
put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full.
So, I decide to put the bills back
on the table and take out the garbage first.
But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway,I may as well pay the bills first.
I take my cheque book off the table, and see that there is only one cheque left.
My extra cheques are in my desk in the study,so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke I'd been drinking.
I'm going to look for my cheques,
but first I need to push the Coke aside
so that I don't accidentally knock it over.
The Coke is getting warm,and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke,
a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need water.
I put the Coke on the counter and discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.
I decide I better put them back on my desk,
but first I'm going to water the flowers.
I set the glasses back down on the counter,
fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.
Someone left it on the kitchen table.
I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote,but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table,so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs,but first I'll water the flowers.
I pour some water in the flowers,
but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.
So, I set the remote back on the table,
get some towels and wipe up the spill.
Then, I head down the hall trying to
remember what I was planning to do.
At the end of the day:
the car isn't washed
the bills aren't paid
there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter
the flowers don't have enough water,
there is still only 1 cheque in my cheque book,
I can't find the remote,
I can't find my glasses,
and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.
Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all damn day, and I'm really tired.
I realize this is a serious problem,and I'll try to get some help for it,but first I'll check my e-mail....
Do me a favour.
Forward this message to everyone you know,because I don't remember who the heck I've sent it to.
Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!!
All of you have a lovely day.
VEST Daily Gaggle.
Makes one wonder when you drift off whether you will be coming back, you can't tell these days with all the skulduggery going on in the world, the anethetist is Portuguese/Asian, glad he isn't from Ranier Minnesota.
GOING AROUND THE BEND.
NOW I FEEL BETTER I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE!
Thank goodness there's a name for this disorder.
Somehow I feel better, even though I have it!!
Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D -
Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder& lt; BR>
This is how it manifests:
I decide to water my garden.
As I turn on the hose in the driveway,
I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.
As I start toward the garage,
I notice mail on the porch table that
I brought up from the mail box earlier.
I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.
I lay my car keys on the table,
put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full.
So, I decide to put the bills back
on the table and take out the garbage first.
But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway,I may as well pay the bills first.
I take my cheque book off the table, and see that there is only one cheque left.
My extra cheques are in my desk in the study,so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke I'd been drinking.
I'm going to look for my cheques,
but first I need to push the Coke aside
so that I don't accidentally knock it over.
The Coke is getting warm,and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke,
a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need water.
I put the Coke on the counter and discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.
I decide I better put them back on my desk,
but first I'm going to water the flowers.
I set the glasses back down on the counter,
fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.
Someone left it on the kitchen table.
I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote,but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table,so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs,but first I'll water the flowers.
I pour some water in the flowers,
but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.
So, I set the remote back on the table,
get some towels and wipe up the spill.
Then, I head down the hall trying to
remember what I was planning to do.
At the end of the day:
the car isn't washed
the bills aren't paid
there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter
the flowers don't have enough water,
there is still only 1 cheque in my cheque book,
I can't find the remote,
I can't find my glasses,
and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.
Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all damn day, and I'm really tired.
I realize this is a serious problem,and I'll try to get some help for it,but first I'll check my e-mail....
Do me a favour.
Forward this message to everyone you know,because I don't remember who the heck I've sent it to.
Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!!
All of you have a lovely day.
VEST Daily Gaggle.
Sunday, 19 August 2007
Thou Shalt Not Enjoy Life, But Death will bring you happiness in the Hereafter.....You gotta be kidding.
Thou Shalt Not Enjoy Life...Say's Vest
Nutters see The Ten as antagonism towards Christianity
Based on an article from Christian Today.
A new movie features the Ten Commandments from the Bible in a very unflattering way.
The Ten, is a compilation of ten different stories, each depicting one of the ancient commandments given to Moses by God.
Christians have expressed their concern about the film and how it degrades and insults God and His laws.
The film has a number of stars in it including Kevin Rudd oops sorry its Paul Rudd,(Sorry Kev) Adam Brody, Gretchen Mol, Winona Ryder, Oliver Platt and Jessica Alba. Each of them either stars or plays minor roles in each of the short scripts. Each uses the Bible to create a foundation for caricature. Due to the friction created by the three way tossup who was to play god; John chicken hawk Howard, Antonio Blair or Grandstanding Bullshitter Bush, it was decided god would be a speaking part only and rightly so Lawsey aka JL himself got the job in preference to toilet troller Jonesy whose gender image didn't come over as being too Godly.
A main example of one of the acts tells the story of a virgin librarian who takes a trip to Mexico and experiences a sexual awakening with a local named Jesus H. Christ.
Other shorts include a prisoner coveting his inmate’s “wife,” a woman who steals a ventriloquist doll after she falls in love with it, and a police detective who covets his neighbour’s Cat Scan machine.
Some Christian leaders feel that the film is part of a larger trend of increasing antagonism toward Christianity and religion in America.
This is going to be a very positive attack on the faith industry and It's great that an intelligent thinking society has descended into this attack mode. In the old film code, you couldn't defame any one's religion.
Discarding the lies and deceptions of the Miscellaneous sects of the faith industry, would create more space to deal with the unfairness and mismanagement of the lives of all people on our planet, the days of flim flam vestments pomp and greed must be forgotten, we have an abundance of common sense and scientific knowledge to make this world of ours livable for all people, not just the bone idle privileged few.
Vest Daily Gaggle.
Nutters see The Ten as antagonism towards Christianity
Based on an article from Christian Today.
A new movie features the Ten Commandments from the Bible in a very unflattering way.
The Ten, is a compilation of ten different stories, each depicting one of the ancient commandments given to Moses by God.
Christians have expressed their concern about the film and how it degrades and insults God and His laws.
The film has a number of stars in it including Kevin Rudd oops sorry its Paul Rudd,(Sorry Kev) Adam Brody, Gretchen Mol, Winona Ryder, Oliver Platt and Jessica Alba. Each of them either stars or plays minor roles in each of the short scripts. Each uses the Bible to create a foundation for caricature. Due to the friction created by the three way tossup who was to play god; John chicken hawk Howard, Antonio Blair or Grandstanding Bullshitter Bush, it was decided god would be a speaking part only and rightly so Lawsey aka JL himself got the job in preference to toilet troller Jonesy whose gender image didn't come over as being too Godly.
A main example of one of the acts tells the story of a virgin librarian who takes a trip to Mexico and experiences a sexual awakening with a local named Jesus H. Christ.
Other shorts include a prisoner coveting his inmate’s “wife,” a woman who steals a ventriloquist doll after she falls in love with it, and a police detective who covets his neighbour’s Cat Scan machine.
Some Christian leaders feel that the film is part of a larger trend of increasing antagonism toward Christianity and religion in America.
This is going to be a very positive attack on the faith industry and It's great that an intelligent thinking society has descended into this attack mode. In the old film code, you couldn't defame any one's religion.
Discarding the lies and deceptions of the Miscellaneous sects of the faith industry, would create more space to deal with the unfairness and mismanagement of the lives of all people on our planet, the days of flim flam vestments pomp and greed must be forgotten, we have an abundance of common sense and scientific knowledge to make this world of ours livable for all people, not just the bone idle privileged few.
Vest Daily Gaggle.
Friday, 17 August 2007
Well done Lawsey , We need your honest Opinion.. Vest say's, "Asians , The Worst Drivers In Australia.
By Fiona Connolly, Media Writer
August 17, 2007 12:34pm
WITH just three months left in the job after 55 years on air, John Laws has let loose again, indulging during his show today in a racial rant against Asian drivers.
This morning's tirade was directed at a Chinese-Australian caller, "Helen".
Helen was describing the trouble she had recently experienced with the cross-city tunnel. She had been fined for failing to pay the toll.
Laws asked her why she hadn't paid the toll. She said she didn't know that there was an electronic toll.
"I never travel to east (sic), that's the first time I travel to east."
Talking over the top of Helen, Laws said: "Sounds like you travelled from the east."
He continued: "Obviously you're Asian are you?
Helen said she was from China.
And away Laws went.
"I understand that Chinese drivers are probably the worst drivers on the face of the earth.
"You probably fall into that category along with the rest of them."
By this time Helen was superfluous to requirements and was cut off.
"I'll give you even money that sweet Helen's little, too. She's about 4'8. I can see it. They look out between the steering wheel and the top of the dashboard.
"You've got to ... well, I won't put it that way ... well i will: you've got to keep your eyes open.
"Now I'm going to be screamed at for saying (sic) that I'm being racist.
"I'm not being racist. I'm telling you the truth."
Laws, who is due to retire after 55 years in broadcasting on November 30, has a long history of making politically incorrect comments on air.
In 2003 the veteran broadcaster angered Australia's gay community when he and fellow 2UE talkback host Steve Price used the words grubby and poofs about gay renovators Gav and Waz from the channel Nine TV series The Block.
In a similar tone the following year he called Queer Eye For The Straight Guy personality Carson Kressley a "pillow biter" and "pompous little pansy prig" during a broadcast, comments he defended as tongue-in-cheek.
But he made no apology for todays rant against Asian drivers saying it was simply the truth.
He then challenged angry callers who phoned in to state their disgust at the comments, the first caller telling Laws he should be ashamed of the comments and suggested he play back Helens call and listen to how racist he sounded.
2UE station manager Greg Byrnes said he had no comment to make as Lawsie had said it all on air.
August 17, 2007 12:34pm
WITH just three months left in the job after 55 years on air, John Laws has let loose again, indulging during his show today in a racial rant against Asian drivers.
This morning's tirade was directed at a Chinese-Australian caller, "Helen".
Helen was describing the trouble she had recently experienced with the cross-city tunnel. She had been fined for failing to pay the toll.
Laws asked her why she hadn't paid the toll. She said she didn't know that there was an electronic toll.
"I never travel to east (sic), that's the first time I travel to east."
Talking over the top of Helen, Laws said: "Sounds like you travelled from the east."
He continued: "Obviously you're Asian are you?
Helen said she was from China.
And away Laws went.
"I understand that Chinese drivers are probably the worst drivers on the face of the earth.
"You probably fall into that category along with the rest of them."
By this time Helen was superfluous to requirements and was cut off.
"I'll give you even money that sweet Helen's little, too. She's about 4'8. I can see it. They look out between the steering wheel and the top of the dashboard.
"You've got to ... well, I won't put it that way ... well i will: you've got to keep your eyes open.
"Now I'm going to be screamed at for saying (sic) that I'm being racist.
"I'm not being racist. I'm telling you the truth."
Laws, who is due to retire after 55 years in broadcasting on November 30, has a long history of making politically incorrect comments on air.
In 2003 the veteran broadcaster angered Australia's gay community when he and fellow 2UE talkback host Steve Price used the words grubby and poofs about gay renovators Gav and Waz from the channel Nine TV series The Block.
In a similar tone the following year he called Queer Eye For The Straight Guy personality Carson Kressley a "pillow biter" and "pompous little pansy prig" during a broadcast, comments he defended as tongue-in-cheek.
But he made no apology for todays rant against Asian drivers saying it was simply the truth.
He then challenged angry callers who phoned in to state their disgust at the comments, the first caller telling Laws he should be ashamed of the comments and suggested he play back Helens call and listen to how racist he sounded.
2UE station manager Greg Byrnes said he had no comment to make as Lawsie had said it all on air.
Thursday, 16 August 2007
Stuck up a Tree For a Week.
A STOCKMAN - bleeding and with little food - spent seven nights up a tree in a crocodile - infested swamp before penning a poignant farewell to his son.
"Surrounded by crocs and snakes," wrote 53-year old David George, scratching the note into the lid of a tobacco tin.
"See choppers every day flying in too low - can pass a football to them, they must be blind, Love you my son."
The father of one yesterday told his remarkable tale of survival and rescue by helicopter in rugged bushland near Coen in Queensland's remote far north.
"Every night I was stalked by two crocs who would sit at the bottom of the tree staring up at me. All I could see was two sets of red eyes below me and all night I had to listen to a big bull crocodile bellowing a bit further out, I'd yell out at them, 'I'm not falling out of this tree for you bastards',"
Mr George said.
"Surrounded by crocs and snakes," wrote 53-year old David George, scratching the note into the lid of a tobacco tin.
"See choppers every day flying in too low - can pass a football to them, they must be blind, Love you my son."
The father of one yesterday told his remarkable tale of survival and rescue by helicopter in rugged bushland near Coen in Queensland's remote far north.
"Every night I was stalked by two crocs who would sit at the bottom of the tree staring up at me. All I could see was two sets of red eyes below me and all night I had to listen to a big bull crocodile bellowing a bit further out, I'd yell out at them, 'I'm not falling out of this tree for you bastards',"
Mr George said.
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
Killer Koala Beats the Poo out would be Thieves
A cranky koala achieved what an angry croc couldn't - it beat off thieves.
The bizarre incident began when Rockhampton police in Queensland received a tip-off that someone had a crocodile in their possession.
"The police came to the zoo, checked out our exhibit and we were down a female freshwater crocodile,'' said Tom Wyatt at Rockhampton City Council.
The 1.2 metre crocodile - known simply as "the girl freshie" - was dragged by thieves over a 2.4 metre fence in the middle of the night.
"Can you imagine these people struggling over a 2.4 metre security fence with a writhing wild reptile?" he said.
"It's not a baby you are holding in your arms here. We are talking about 40 kilograms and 1.2 metres of absolute fury."
"They are not man-eaters [like salt water crocodiles]. But they can still give you a nasty bite."
The thieves originally planned to take one of the zoo's koalas and only changed tack after it proved too vicious, 21-year-old zookeeper Wil Kemp told smh.com.au.
He had been told by police that four people were involved in the wildlife heist, which allegedly involved stealing a koala and swapping it for drugs.
"The original plan was to steal a koala - that's what they were going to use to swap [for] the drugs,'' Mr Kemp said.
"[But] apparently [the koala] scratched the shit out of them.''
"The blokes have quite a lot of scratches and lacerations caused by the koala.''
The thieves then decided to take a crocodile instead.
"I don't know what makes someone go, 'Oh we tried to steal a koala and that didn't work so lets go and steal a croc.' "
"The people who did it must have been quite stupid. It's the last thing I wound have thought a member of the general public would try to steal for drugs."
Mr Kemp said the meat and skin of a freshwater crocodile were worthless, but the stolen reptile might be sold in the pet trade for about $600.
"I'm worried and angered. I spent the last three years looking after it. I hope at least [the person who has it is] looking after it OK.''
He said police had told him they had been unable to locate the crocodile.
"They can't find it because it has been passed on to someone else who traded it for some marijuana and speed.''
Two women have been issued with notices to appear in court over the theft of the crocodile.
Sergeant Paul Elliot said a lot of rumours were flying around about what the thieves' original intention was.
"There's a lot of that going around. We can't confirm or deny if their intention was initially to get a koala. It's all specualtion at the moment."
He would not comment on the drug deal allegations.
Police believe the crocodile was taken in the early hours of Saturday morning but Mr Kemp remembers seeing it on Sunday morning.
He thinks it must have been taken on Monday morning when another drama occurred at the zoo.
"One of the wombats got bitten by a snake. No one can officially remember seeing [the female] crocodile on Monday.
The bizarre incident began when Rockhampton police in Queensland received a tip-off that someone had a crocodile in their possession.
"The police came to the zoo, checked out our exhibit and we were down a female freshwater crocodile,'' said Tom Wyatt at Rockhampton City Council.
The 1.2 metre crocodile - known simply as "the girl freshie" - was dragged by thieves over a 2.4 metre fence in the middle of the night.
"Can you imagine these people struggling over a 2.4 metre security fence with a writhing wild reptile?" he said.
"It's not a baby you are holding in your arms here. We are talking about 40 kilograms and 1.2 metres of absolute fury."
"They are not man-eaters [like salt water crocodiles]. But they can still give you a nasty bite."
The thieves originally planned to take one of the zoo's koalas and only changed tack after it proved too vicious, 21-year-old zookeeper Wil Kemp told smh.com.au.
He had been told by police that four people were involved in the wildlife heist, which allegedly involved stealing a koala and swapping it for drugs.
"The original plan was to steal a koala - that's what they were going to use to swap [for] the drugs,'' Mr Kemp said.
"[But] apparently [the koala] scratched the shit out of them.''
"The blokes have quite a lot of scratches and lacerations caused by the koala.''
The thieves then decided to take a crocodile instead.
"I don't know what makes someone go, 'Oh we tried to steal a koala and that didn't work so lets go and steal a croc.' "
"The people who did it must have been quite stupid. It's the last thing I wound have thought a member of the general public would try to steal for drugs."
Mr Kemp said the meat and skin of a freshwater crocodile were worthless, but the stolen reptile might be sold in the pet trade for about $600.
"I'm worried and angered. I spent the last three years looking after it. I hope at least [the person who has it is] looking after it OK.''
He said police had told him they had been unable to locate the crocodile.
"They can't find it because it has been passed on to someone else who traded it for some marijuana and speed.''
Two women have been issued with notices to appear in court over the theft of the crocodile.
Sergeant Paul Elliot said a lot of rumours were flying around about what the thieves' original intention was.
"There's a lot of that going around. We can't confirm or deny if their intention was initially to get a koala. It's all specualtion at the moment."
He would not comment on the drug deal allegations.
Police believe the crocodile was taken in the early hours of Saturday morning but Mr Kemp remembers seeing it on Sunday morning.
He thinks it must have been taken on Monday morning when another drama occurred at the zoo.
"One of the wombats got bitten by a snake. No one can officially remember seeing [the female] crocodile on Monday.
Sunday, 12 August 2007
Its that time of the year Again, remembering VJ Day
Its when we pause to remember those people of the 'Forgotten Fleet' the young British Royal Navy Sailors of the British Pacific Fleet, The ave age after being in commission for two years was 19.5 yrs on VJ Day, Myself joining Jan 1942 I was 19.1 yrs on VJ day Aug 1945. Our revered leader, Vice Admiral Sir Bernard Rawlings proudly described us as mere children with heaps of guts.
George Haynes an old shipmate was today explaining that over a period of one year the fleet lost 248 aircraft in all, 44 in raids over Palembang (Indonesia) in two days, those captured the two youngest 19 yrs to the two eldest 22 years old , Nine all told were Beheaded by the Japs after VJ Day, countless others failed to make the trip home to the UK, however our ship after repairs finally made it home on a freezing March 3 - 1946, Being at sea on VE day and also VJ Day we missed out on celebrations, adding to this we were the last unit serving overseas during the war to arrive home to the UK ten months after the war in Europe had packed in. Apart from our relatives who were pleased to see us, the British Govt did nothing not even a flaming band, most people were wondering and asking "what war are you going on about" the ignorant twits. So The British Pacific Fleet WW2 became the "Forgotten Fleet".
And like the "Three Old Ladies Locked in The Lavatory"--"Nobody Knew We Were There".
Hi its vest here, I shall be popping in to the local hospital on Tues Aug 14 for something or other to do with my Op on the Aug 23, I may be late going to other blogs as well as here, so hang about, see you soon.
Here is a small excerpt from my novel, 'Waving Goodbye to A Thousand Flies'.
The Sailor’s Uniform
For many years, sailors in the British Royal Navy waited for the privilege to leave their ship or establishment out of uniform. In the early 1950’s, this privilege was finally granted, but only in shore establishments. In 1965, it was extended to ships, but only in British Commonwealth ports of call.
Should anyone dare suggest that my descendants wear a Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera-type navy uniform, I would cheerfully see them dead before allowing it. People who wear these uniforms may feel proud for a while, but the novelty wears off very quickly when you discover you have been dressed to fit into a subordinate category and are identified as such. Furthermore, you are obliged to cringe, bow, and grovel before all other navy personnel who are dressed in attire that is more comfortable. The higher their order of rank, the more difficult it is to communicate with them. This sort of situation gives the word ‘rank’ a different definition. You can easily recognise these Dartmouth Desmonds because they elevate their twitching noses like pompous peacocks when they address you. During any conversation, you will be forced to listen to cod’s wallop like “I say, old chap” or” I say, Smith” or “Jolly good, oh get on with it” or “Damn good show” and “Rugger Soccer” and “Twickers.” By this time, you will wish you had joined the salvos, who at least command respect no matter what IQ they have. Sitting on their arses and legally collecting money and smiling at people cannot be all that bad.
If you have ever struggled to get into a British Navy sailor’s uniform, you will know how uncomfortably hot and itchy it is. The useless black silk and lanyard just make it easier for shore-going assassins to be able to strangle you in a punch-up.
Most sailors during my Royal Navy days (including those from other countries) couldn’t wait to take off these peculiar uniforms that are reminiscent of the days of wigs and crinolines.
(The USA, a Former Colony of Britain) and the world leader when it comes to reform and futuristic ideology, has also missed the boat when it comes to uniforms. Although its lower-deck sailor’s uniform lacks the distinctive pantomime look of the French and British theatrical costume, in my opinion it still looks flamboyant and effeminate.
Gene Kelly, Old Blue Eyes, and other stars were seen cavorting gaily about in sailor’s uniforms in semi-ancient Hollywood movies, but they were paid astronomical fees for doing so.
Nowadays, girls, women, etc. avoid relationships with long-absent seagoing lovers, unless of course they are strict or religious or perhaps desperate, pregnant, or just plain ugly. Nevertheless, I admire those dear few ladies who love waiting and appreciate what they are waiting for.
My message to you black-tie bigwigs with your myriads of medals is: Cast your eyes upon the plight of your lower-deck men. It’s time they wore sophisticated uniforms that make them look like men. Put the old, outdated uniforms where they belong – with cocked hats, penny-farthing bicycles, grandma’s box of musty mementoes, and rusty tins of used gramophone neeedles.
Excerpt from vest's aka J L Spencers book "Waving Goodbye To A Thousand Flies". Now banned in 37 countries.mostly those controlled by Catholicism or Muslim faith industries.get it straight from the publisher Email sales@trafford.com ISBN 1-4120-3384-5 or Amazon.
Uniform Rig (1857)
The Admiralty finally established a uniform rig for enlisted men (ratings) in 1857. Considerable attention had been given to the uniforms worn by officers for some time, but this was the first Admiralty mandated uniform for enlisted men. The uniform was the same for senior and junior ratings, except for the badges worn on the left sleeve. All those dressed as seamen were to wear "square rig". 'Idlers' which the Admiralty defined as those incapable of manning the guns, masts, and yards to fight the ship, were not deemed worthy of square rig and were dressed in a rudimentary form of fore and aft rig.
Tell me: Have you ever dated a Sailor? if so describe the experience, (Men need not answer this question).
More Info available, Google. British Royal Navy Uniforms.
Vest Daily Gaggle.
George Haynes an old shipmate was today explaining that over a period of one year the fleet lost 248 aircraft in all, 44 in raids over Palembang (Indonesia) in two days, those captured the two youngest 19 yrs to the two eldest 22 years old , Nine all told were Beheaded by the Japs after VJ Day, countless others failed to make the trip home to the UK, however our ship after repairs finally made it home on a freezing March 3 - 1946, Being at sea on VE day and also VJ Day we missed out on celebrations, adding to this we were the last unit serving overseas during the war to arrive home to the UK ten months after the war in Europe had packed in. Apart from our relatives who were pleased to see us, the British Govt did nothing not even a flaming band, most people were wondering and asking "what war are you going on about" the ignorant twits. So The British Pacific Fleet WW2 became the "Forgotten Fleet".
And like the "Three Old Ladies Locked in The Lavatory"--"Nobody Knew We Were There".
Hi its vest here, I shall be popping in to the local hospital on Tues Aug 14 for something or other to do with my Op on the Aug 23, I may be late going to other blogs as well as here, so hang about, see you soon.
Here is a small excerpt from my novel, 'Waving Goodbye to A Thousand Flies'.
The Sailor’s Uniform
For many years, sailors in the British Royal Navy waited for the privilege to leave their ship or establishment out of uniform. In the early 1950’s, this privilege was finally granted, but only in shore establishments. In 1965, it was extended to ships, but only in British Commonwealth ports of call.
Should anyone dare suggest that my descendants wear a Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera-type navy uniform, I would cheerfully see them dead before allowing it. People who wear these uniforms may feel proud for a while, but the novelty wears off very quickly when you discover you have been dressed to fit into a subordinate category and are identified as such. Furthermore, you are obliged to cringe, bow, and grovel before all other navy personnel who are dressed in attire that is more comfortable. The higher their order of rank, the more difficult it is to communicate with them. This sort of situation gives the word ‘rank’ a different definition. You can easily recognise these Dartmouth Desmonds because they elevate their twitching noses like pompous peacocks when they address you. During any conversation, you will be forced to listen to cod’s wallop like “I say, old chap” or” I say, Smith” or “Jolly good, oh get on with it” or “Damn good show” and “Rugger Soccer” and “Twickers.” By this time, you will wish you had joined the salvos, who at least command respect no matter what IQ they have. Sitting on their arses and legally collecting money and smiling at people cannot be all that bad.
If you have ever struggled to get into a British Navy sailor’s uniform, you will know how uncomfortably hot and itchy it is. The useless black silk and lanyard just make it easier for shore-going assassins to be able to strangle you in a punch-up.
Most sailors during my Royal Navy days (including those from other countries) couldn’t wait to take off these peculiar uniforms that are reminiscent of the days of wigs and crinolines.
(The USA, a Former Colony of Britain) and the world leader when it comes to reform and futuristic ideology, has also missed the boat when it comes to uniforms. Although its lower-deck sailor’s uniform lacks the distinctive pantomime look of the French and British theatrical costume, in my opinion it still looks flamboyant and effeminate.
Gene Kelly, Old Blue Eyes, and other stars were seen cavorting gaily about in sailor’s uniforms in semi-ancient Hollywood movies, but they were paid astronomical fees for doing so.
Nowadays, girls, women, etc. avoid relationships with long-absent seagoing lovers, unless of course they are strict or religious or perhaps desperate, pregnant, or just plain ugly. Nevertheless, I admire those dear few ladies who love waiting and appreciate what they are waiting for.
My message to you black-tie bigwigs with your myriads of medals is: Cast your eyes upon the plight of your lower-deck men. It’s time they wore sophisticated uniforms that make them look like men. Put the old, outdated uniforms where they belong – with cocked hats, penny-farthing bicycles, grandma’s box of musty mementoes, and rusty tins of used gramophone neeedles.
Excerpt from vest's aka J L Spencers book "Waving Goodbye To A Thousand Flies". Now banned in 37 countries.mostly those controlled by Catholicism or Muslim faith industries.get it straight from the publisher Email sales@trafford.com ISBN 1-4120-3384-5 or Amazon.
Uniform Rig (1857)
The Admiralty finally established a uniform rig for enlisted men (ratings) in 1857. Considerable attention had been given to the uniforms worn by officers for some time, but this was the first Admiralty mandated uniform for enlisted men. The uniform was the same for senior and junior ratings, except for the badges worn on the left sleeve. All those dressed as seamen were to wear "square rig". 'Idlers' which the Admiralty defined as those incapable of manning the guns, masts, and yards to fight the ship, were not deemed worthy of square rig and were dressed in a rudimentary form of fore and aft rig.
Tell me: Have you ever dated a Sailor? if so describe the experience, (Men need not answer this question).
More Info available, Google. British Royal Navy Uniforms.
Vest Daily Gaggle.
Saturday, 11 August 2007
Speeding loonies get their comeuppance. Street Hoon cars seized
5 August 2007
Deathwish loonies get there come uppance
Blokes point the finger at RTA
From: The Sunday Telegraph
August 05, 2007
AN RTA road safety campaign that suggests car hoons have small penises has unleashed a flood of complaints to the advertising standards bureau - from blokes.
The $1.9 million campaign, which targets speeding among 17- to 25-year-olds, depicts female onlookers wiggling their pinkies as young male drivers speed by.
The gesture, designed to symbolise a male with a small penis, is part of a strategy adopted by the RTA to make speeding "uncool".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Twentythee cars have been seized by police under the state's hoon legislation since a crackdown on street racers began two weeks ago after two Sydney grandparents were hit and killed, Police seized 60 cars in the past six months and 177 in the state in the past year.
A few months back, my car tyres were let down in my club car park, shortly after I discovered our Ten Ton Tongan Bouncer had a similar car, not difficult to work that one out. Vest Daily Gaggle.
http://www.news.com.au/sundaytelegraph/story/0,22049,22189442-5001021,00.html
Why not have your Daily Telegraph delivered to your door , its convenient and saves you money too. speak to your newsagent.
Deathwish loonies get there come uppance
Blokes point the finger at RTA
From: The Sunday Telegraph
August 05, 2007
AN RTA road safety campaign that suggests car hoons have small penises has unleashed a flood of complaints to the advertising standards bureau - from blokes.
The $1.9 million campaign, which targets speeding among 17- to 25-year-olds, depicts female onlookers wiggling their pinkies as young male drivers speed by.
The gesture, designed to symbolise a male with a small penis, is part of a strategy adopted by the RTA to make speeding "uncool".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Twentythee cars have been seized by police under the state's hoon legislation since a crackdown on street racers began two weeks ago after two Sydney grandparents were hit and killed, Police seized 60 cars in the past six months and 177 in the state in the past year.
A few months back, my car tyres were let down in my club car park, shortly after I discovered our Ten Ton Tongan Bouncer had a similar car, not difficult to work that one out. Vest Daily Gaggle.
http://www.news.com.au/sundaytelegraph/story/0,22049,22189442-5001021,00.html
Why not have your Daily Telegraph delivered to your door , its convenient and saves you money too. speak to your newsagent.
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
DOES THIS ONLY HAPPEN IN AUSTRALIA ? or, IS YOUR GOVT BONKERS TOO?
Welfare Poem
I cross ocean, poor and broke,
Take bus, see employment folk.
Nice man treat me good in there,
Say I need to see welfare.
Welfare say, "You come no more,
We send cash right to your door."
Welfare cheques, they make you wealthy,
Medic aid it keep you healthy!
By and by, I got plenty money,
Thanks to you, Australian dummy.
Write to friends in motherland,
Tell them 'come fast as you can.'
They come in turbans and Ford trucks,
I buy big house with welfare bucks
They come here, we live together,
More welfare checks -- it gets better!
Fourteen families, they moving in,
But neighbour's patience wearing thin.
Finally, white guy moves away,
Now I buy his house, and then I say,
"Find more aliens for house to rent."
And in the yard I put a tent.
Send for family they just trash,
But they, too, draw the welfare cash!
Everything is very good,
And soon we own the neighbourhood.
We have hobby, it's called breeding,
Welfare pay for baby feeding.
Kids need dentist? Wife need pills?
We get free! We got no bills!
Australian crazy! He pay all year,
To keep welfare running here.
We think Australia darn good place!
Too darn good for the white man race.
If they no like us, they can scram,
Got lots of room in Pakistan!
It is interesting that the federal government provides a single refugee with a monthly allowance of $1,890.00 and each can also get an additional $580.00 in social assistance for a total of $2,470.00.
This compares very well to a single pensioner who after contributing to the growth and development of Australia for 40 to 50 years only receives a monthly maximum of $1,012.00 in old age pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement.
Maybe our pensioners should apply as refugees!
Let's send this to all Australians so we can all be ticked off and maybe we can get the refugees cut back to $1,012.00 and the pensioners up to $2,470.00 and enjoy some of the money we were forced to submit to the Government over the last 40 or 50 years.
Please forward to every Australian to expose what our elected politicians are doing - to the over-taxed Australian.
I cross ocean, poor and broke,
Take bus, see employment folk.
Nice man treat me good in there,
Say I need to see welfare.
Welfare say, "You come no more,
We send cash right to your door."
Welfare cheques, they make you wealthy,
Medic aid it keep you healthy!
By and by, I got plenty money,
Thanks to you, Australian dummy.
Write to friends in motherland,
Tell them 'come fast as you can.'
They come in turbans and Ford trucks,
I buy big house with welfare bucks
They come here, we live together,
More welfare checks -- it gets better!
Fourteen families, they moving in,
But neighbour's patience wearing thin.
Finally, white guy moves away,
Now I buy his house, and then I say,
"Find more aliens for house to rent."
And in the yard I put a tent.
Send for family they just trash,
But they, too, draw the welfare cash!
Everything is very good,
And soon we own the neighbourhood.
We have hobby, it's called breeding,
Welfare pay for baby feeding.
Kids need dentist? Wife need pills?
We get free! We got no bills!
Australian crazy! He pay all year,
To keep welfare running here.
We think Australia darn good place!
Too darn good for the white man race.
If they no like us, they can scram,
Got lots of room in Pakistan!
It is interesting that the federal government provides a single refugee with a monthly allowance of $1,890.00 and each can also get an additional $580.00 in social assistance for a total of $2,470.00.
This compares very well to a single pensioner who after contributing to the growth and development of Australia for 40 to 50 years only receives a monthly maximum of $1,012.00 in old age pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement.
Maybe our pensioners should apply as refugees!
Let's send this to all Australians so we can all be ticked off and maybe we can get the refugees cut back to $1,012.00 and the pensioners up to $2,470.00 and enjoy some of the money we were forced to submit to the Government over the last 40 or 50 years.
Please forward to every Australian to expose what our elected politicians are doing - to the over-taxed Australian.
Saturday, 4 August 2007
Will this ongoing Bumble bee our demise on earth. A Stinging report says' "Humans have four years to live".
Bee decline threatens our dinner and the countryside It will mean the end of the human race.
What will you do to help recover the present situation?
Plant more flowers, ban pesticides, hope it doesn't happen or live it up and spend up on a lavish tomb (remember there will be no visitors)or live as normal.
Of course, I was forgetting the good old faith industry, they will have a field day, tickets to heaven will be at a premium.
There are so many things one could do to in that last four years. Tell me what will you do, remember murdering someone would be a waste of time.
COME ON TELL ME, Vest.
---------------------------
BEES are disappearing at an unprecedented rate. This could not only have a devastating impact on our food supplies, but could also turn our brightly-coloured meadows into grey hinterlands.
Threatened: More and more bees are disappearing
"This year, right now, it feels very bleak," said a conservation researcher at the University of Stirling and co-founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. He was talking about the serious decline in bees over recent years, which is now coming to a head, what with large and unprecedented losses of bees in Europe, the US and other parts of the world.
"It's urgent and we need to do something about it now," he continued. "But all too often people notice the importance of something when it's not there - when it's too late."
I'd been sitting outside on my homemade garden bench having an early lunch, bees buzzing merrily all around me. What with its long grasses and wildflowers my garden is something of a haven for bees and other insects.
If I'm honest they benefit from my laziness. I rarely mow the lawns and allow weeds and whatever seeds the birds and breeze bring in to grow as nature intended - with wild abandon.
But as he told me about the plight of our bees I realised with a shudder that many of the things we take for granted - the colourful blazes of wildflowers in our meadows, even much of the food on our plates - would not be around if it wasn't for them.
It's easy to forget that bees don't just make honey; they pollinate more than 90 of the flowering crops we rely on for food. Among them: apples, nuts, pears, avocados, soybeans, asparagus, broccoli, celery, squash, tomatoes, sunflowers and cucumbers. Along with citrus fruit, peaches, kiwis, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries and melons.
Crops like oilseed rape (increasingly used in biofuels), alfalfa, peas, runner beans and broadbeans also rely on visits by bees and other pollinating insects to improve the quality and quantity of fruits and seeds produced.
It's hard to believe that one small creature can be so important to our food supply. But as Brian Latham, chair of the Leeds Beekeepers Association, points out: we've become almost terminally disconnected from the natural world we live in and how it feeds us.
"We get our food from supermarkets and think little more about it," he says. "Very few of us are as aware as our grandparents were of the connection between what's on our dinner plates and the intricate workings of nature."
Albert Einstein was well aware of this connection. When it came to bees, he put it in no uncertain terms: "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man."
Chillingly, more and more bees are disappearing off the face of the Earth. In some areas of the UK honeybee numbers have dropped by as much as 80 per cent, while bumblebees across the country have declined by 60 per cent since 1970.
In both cases this is largely due to loss of wild habitats, intensive farming and overuse of pesticides and herbicides. The simple truth is that bees need flowers, and there are very few flowers to be found in the farmed countryside these days.
In the USA, Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) - where whole colonies disappear or die - has caused a devastating loss of honeybees. Since it broke out last autumn, declines of between 30 per cent and 90 per cent of honeybee populations in at least 27 states have been recorded. There have also been reports of CCD in Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece.
One beekeeper in London found over half of his hives mysteriously abandoned, leading many to speculate that CCD has broken out here. But the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is adamant it is not occurring in Britain.
Echoing the concerns of beekeepers across the country, Tim Lovett, chairman of the British Beekeepers Association, warns that it would be "foolhardy in the extreme" for the government to ignore the possible emergence of CCD in Britain.
------------------------------------------
I dun wanna die, well do something practical to resolve this problem or you certainly will. Vest Daily Gaggle.
What will you do to help recover the present situation?
Plant more flowers, ban pesticides, hope it doesn't happen or live it up and spend up on a lavish tomb (remember there will be no visitors)or live as normal.
Of course, I was forgetting the good old faith industry, they will have a field day, tickets to heaven will be at a premium.
There are so many things one could do to in that last four years. Tell me what will you do, remember murdering someone would be a waste of time.
COME ON TELL ME, Vest.
---------------------------
BEES are disappearing at an unprecedented rate. This could not only have a devastating impact on our food supplies, but could also turn our brightly-coloured meadows into grey hinterlands.
Threatened: More and more bees are disappearing
"This year, right now, it feels very bleak," said a conservation researcher at the University of Stirling and co-founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. He was talking about the serious decline in bees over recent years, which is now coming to a head, what with large and unprecedented losses of bees in Europe, the US and other parts of the world.
"It's urgent and we need to do something about it now," he continued. "But all too often people notice the importance of something when it's not there - when it's too late."
I'd been sitting outside on my homemade garden bench having an early lunch, bees buzzing merrily all around me. What with its long grasses and wildflowers my garden is something of a haven for bees and other insects.
If I'm honest they benefit from my laziness. I rarely mow the lawns and allow weeds and whatever seeds the birds and breeze bring in to grow as nature intended - with wild abandon.
But as he told me about the plight of our bees I realised with a shudder that many of the things we take for granted - the colourful blazes of wildflowers in our meadows, even much of the food on our plates - would not be around if it wasn't for them.
It's easy to forget that bees don't just make honey; they pollinate more than 90 of the flowering crops we rely on for food. Among them: apples, nuts, pears, avocados, soybeans, asparagus, broccoli, celery, squash, tomatoes, sunflowers and cucumbers. Along with citrus fruit, peaches, kiwis, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries and melons.
Crops like oilseed rape (increasingly used in biofuels), alfalfa, peas, runner beans and broadbeans also rely on visits by bees and other pollinating insects to improve the quality and quantity of fruits and seeds produced.
It's hard to believe that one small creature can be so important to our food supply. But as Brian Latham, chair of the Leeds Beekeepers Association, points out: we've become almost terminally disconnected from the natural world we live in and how it feeds us.
"We get our food from supermarkets and think little more about it," he says. "Very few of us are as aware as our grandparents were of the connection between what's on our dinner plates and the intricate workings of nature."
Albert Einstein was well aware of this connection. When it came to bees, he put it in no uncertain terms: "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man."
Chillingly, more and more bees are disappearing off the face of the Earth. In some areas of the UK honeybee numbers have dropped by as much as 80 per cent, while bumblebees across the country have declined by 60 per cent since 1970.
In both cases this is largely due to loss of wild habitats, intensive farming and overuse of pesticides and herbicides. The simple truth is that bees need flowers, and there are very few flowers to be found in the farmed countryside these days.
In the USA, Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) - where whole colonies disappear or die - has caused a devastating loss of honeybees. Since it broke out last autumn, declines of between 30 per cent and 90 per cent of honeybee populations in at least 27 states have been recorded. There have also been reports of CCD in Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece.
One beekeeper in London found over half of his hives mysteriously abandoned, leading many to speculate that CCD has broken out here. But the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is adamant it is not occurring in Britain.
Echoing the concerns of beekeepers across the country, Tim Lovett, chairman of the British Beekeepers Association, warns that it would be "foolhardy in the extreme" for the government to ignore the possible emergence of CCD in Britain.
------------------------------------------
I dun wanna die, well do something practical to resolve this problem or you certainly will. Vest Daily Gaggle.
Thursday, 2 August 2007
More bad news for Dopey Smokers-Dope is Much worse than Fags
Dope far worse than fags
SMOKING a single marijuana joint has the same impact on breathing capacity as up to five cigarettes.
It follows a study published in the British journal The Lancet on Saturday that said there was now clear evidence of a link between Cannabis Smoking and Mental ill-health.
In the study now reported in Thorax, Medical Research Institute of New Zealand doctors recruited 339 volunteers, who were divided into four categories - those who smoked only cannabis, those who smoked only tobacco, those who smoked both, and those who smoked neither.
Cannabis-only smokers were defined as those who had smoked the equivalent of at least one joint a day for five years; tobacco-only smokers were those who had smoked the equivalent of a packet of cigarettes a day for at least a year.
All were scanned by computed tomography (CT) to get a high-definition image of their lungs and were given tests to assess their airflow, the term for their respiratory efficiency.
The most serious damage was found in tobacco smokers - both tobacco-only and combined users - who were the only volunteers to have emphysema, a degenerative and crippling lung disease.
Cannabis smokers had lighter symptoms, such as wheeze, cough, chest tightness and phlegm, which tobacco smokers also had.
But the CT scan also revealed that, among cannabis smokers, fine damage had occurred to their lungs. This had happened in small fine airways that are important for bringing in oxygen and taking away waste gases. As a result, their lungs had to work harder.
The extent of the damage rose in proportion to the number of joints that had been smoked.
In statistical terms, each joint that was smoked was the equivalent of smoking between two and a half and five cigarettes in one go for impairing lung efficiency.
The discovery of this hazard is "of major public health significance" given that cannabis is the most widely-used illegal drug worldwide, an estimated 160 million people use cannabis, also called marijuana.
The reason for cannabis' heavy toll on the lungs stems is that joints are usually smoked without a filter and are smoked down as far as possible, which means the smoke is hotter when it arrives in the lungs.
In addition, cannabis users tend to inhale smoke more deeply and then hold their breath to get a bigger "high".
Reminds me of that song.
"Smoke smoke smoke that cigarette"
"Smoke smoke smoke"
"AND YOU WILL SMOKE YOURSELF TO DEATH".
"Tell St Peter at the golden gate"
"That you hate to make him wait"
"But you just gotta have another Cigarette". Cough cough.
The tax paid by one smoker of 20 cigs over 50 years, about $200,000, worth more than $1,000000 if saved. Most of this tax goes to Cancer research, we are told?
The Govt saves $150,000 or about on paying state pensions for an average 7.5 years for looney smokers who die earlier.
Yet its strange how a little old bloke I knew until recently(Woody)smoked about 40 rollies a day until he cashed in at 97 years old, sort of a lottery ennit.
SMOKING a single marijuana joint has the same impact on breathing capacity as up to five cigarettes.
It follows a study published in the British journal The Lancet on Saturday that said there was now clear evidence of a link between Cannabis Smoking and Mental ill-health.
In the study now reported in Thorax, Medical Research Institute of New Zealand doctors recruited 339 volunteers, who were divided into four categories - those who smoked only cannabis, those who smoked only tobacco, those who smoked both, and those who smoked neither.
Cannabis-only smokers were defined as those who had smoked the equivalent of at least one joint a day for five years; tobacco-only smokers were those who had smoked the equivalent of a packet of cigarettes a day for at least a year.
All were scanned by computed tomography (CT) to get a high-definition image of their lungs and were given tests to assess their airflow, the term for their respiratory efficiency.
The most serious damage was found in tobacco smokers - both tobacco-only and combined users - who were the only volunteers to have emphysema, a degenerative and crippling lung disease.
Cannabis smokers had lighter symptoms, such as wheeze, cough, chest tightness and phlegm, which tobacco smokers also had.
But the CT scan also revealed that, among cannabis smokers, fine damage had occurred to their lungs. This had happened in small fine airways that are important for bringing in oxygen and taking away waste gases. As a result, their lungs had to work harder.
The extent of the damage rose in proportion to the number of joints that had been smoked.
In statistical terms, each joint that was smoked was the equivalent of smoking between two and a half and five cigarettes in one go for impairing lung efficiency.
The discovery of this hazard is "of major public health significance" given that cannabis is the most widely-used illegal drug worldwide, an estimated 160 million people use cannabis, also called marijuana.
The reason for cannabis' heavy toll on the lungs stems is that joints are usually smoked without a filter and are smoked down as far as possible, which means the smoke is hotter when it arrives in the lungs.
In addition, cannabis users tend to inhale smoke more deeply and then hold their breath to get a bigger "high".
Reminds me of that song.
"Smoke smoke smoke that cigarette"
"Smoke smoke smoke"
"AND YOU WILL SMOKE YOURSELF TO DEATH".
"Tell St Peter at the golden gate"
"That you hate to make him wait"
"But you just gotta have another Cigarette". Cough cough.
The tax paid by one smoker of 20 cigs over 50 years, about $200,000, worth more than $1,000000 if saved. Most of this tax goes to Cancer research, we are told?
The Govt saves $150,000 or about on paying state pensions for an average 7.5 years for looney smokers who die earlier.
Yet its strange how a little old bloke I knew until recently(Woody)smoked about 40 rollies a day until he cashed in at 97 years old, sort of a lottery ennit.
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