Australia

[Jay-qu]

Yes it can be done, but requires a years training with a master sensei of the art :eek_big:

[InfiniteNow]

Can a male REALLY undo a bra with one hand?

 

Having two hands, we can technically undo two at once. Yes, it's not hard. :shade:

 

 

What's this about seat sniffing?

[Michaelangelica]

The liberal party (read republican except they aren't) leader of WA state opposition has been accused of seat sniffing a colleges chair.

Everyone here is a bit bemused by this and wonder why he still has his job. Apparently there is no one better to lead. His other claim to fame is opening a bra with one hand. This all should get lots of female votes-not.

Seat-sniffing leader breaks down

 

April 29, 2008 - 3:39PM

 

West Australian Opposition Leader Troy Buswell has broken down at a press conference and admitted he sniffed the chair of a female Liberal Party staffer.

Seat-sniffing leader breaks down - National - smh.com.au

 

I did sniff colleague's chair, admits politician

By Nick Squires in Sydney

Last Updated: 2:04AM BST 30/04/2008

One of Australia’s most senior conservative politicians broke down as he tearfully admitted sniffing the chair of a female colleague shortly after she vacated it.

 

Troy Buswell, the leader of the opposition Liberal Party in Western Australia, was under intense pressure to resign over the incident, which happened in 2005.

I did sniff colleague's chair, admits politician - Telegraph

Buswell's leadership can survive seat-sniffing: analyst

 

Posted Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:30am AEST

Updated Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:37am AEST

Troy Buswell

 

An emotional Troy Buswell confronted the media yesterday to apologise for his chair sniffing antics. (ABC)

 

* Map: Perth 6000

 

A political analyst says the Western Australian Opposition Leader's latest indiscretion could cost the Liberal party dearly at the next election.

 

On Tuesday Troy Buswell admitted he had sniffed a female colleague's chair in 2005 - a claim he had earlier denied.

 

Mr Buswell admitted his actions were inappropriate, but said he had since changed his behaviour.

 

Dr Harry Phillips says the development will throw the party's election campaign off-track, but he says the incident should not affect Mr Buswell's leadership.

Buswell's leadership can survive seat-sniffing: analyst - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

I, and many others, just don't get it. This guy wants to run the "California" of Australia- bizarre!

[freeztar]

:)

That's flipping hilarious...seat sniffing...:shade:

[Michaelangelica]

What do you think of this from Care2?

31

Against the Commerical(Any) Killing of Kangaroos in Australia - PETITION

Animals (tags: langaros, slaughtered, massacred, national emblem, native australian animals, protection, government )

 

Simone

StarsButterfliesGold Notes - 1 day ago - prijatelji-zivotinja.hr

Send this letter to: The Prime Minister of Australia; the Federal Minister for Environment; the Premier of each State; the Minister for Environment in each State and the Departments responsible for wild animals in all states of Australia.

add a comment | visit site | problem?

the site( from Croatia)

AFC - The Commercial Killing of Kangaroos in Australia

The petition

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

Subject: The commercial killing of kangaroos for their meat and skin

 

I am writing to ask that you help protect kangaroos from slaughter by setting a zero quota for their shooting in the year 2008 and in the future.

 

Those in support of the kangaroo killing industry maintain that kangaroos are pests. However, scientific studies did not find any evidence of red kangaroos competing with sheep for grazing or destroying wheat crops. A study by the CSIRO showed that kangaroos never visit 95 percent of wheat crops. Red kangaroo numbers are self-regulating and they do not need to be killed.

 

Killing kangaroos for their meat and skin is cruel. Kangaroos are shot at night in the remote outback where nobody can monitor the shooting. The national 'Code of Practice for the humane killing of kangaroos' is voluntary and there are no penalties tor not complying. Adult kangaroos are shot and dragged to trucks, struggling and still conscious. Some are still alive when their leg is cut open, a large hook inserted through the gash, and they are hauled up onto the truck. Their throat is slit and they bleed to death.

 

Baby joeys are killed after their mothers are shot. The method of killing these baby animals is to chop off their head with an axe, or for them to receive a blow to the head with a heavy blunt instrument. Female kangaroos often have a joey who no longer lives in the pouch but still needs its mother for milk and protection from predation, as well as to learn life skills. When a shooter intrudes on a family unit and shoots the mother, this joey hops away frightened and will die a slow death due to starvation or capture by a predator.

 

Killing kangaroos for meat and skin is unsustainable. Permits are issued based on aerial surveys of numbers of kangaroos. Only a third of the area in which the shooting is to be carried out is counted each year on a rotational basis. Kangaroos are mobile animals, but the count may be spread over three years. This means that an animal can be counted twice; hence it is possible to overestimate the population and therefore any quotas for killing purposes.

 

Even those involved in the industry admit that the kangaroo population of Australia has halved from 50 to 25 million in the past five years as the drought has taken a toll on breeding and food sources. Now is certainly not the time to be issuing permits for the killing of kangaroos. Humans have shown that they cannot hunt animals in a sustainable manner. The overfishing of world oceans is illustrative of that.

 

Six kangaroo species are already extinct; with seventeen more species listed as endangered or vulnerable. Australia has the worst record in the world when it comes to animal and plant species extinctions. The kangaroo massacre is the largest massacre of wild animals in the world.

 

Kangaroo shooters kill the largest and physically superior individuals first since they are paid per kilogram. Over time, this weakens the population structure so much so that a smaller, genetically weaker species remains, which reduces the survival ability and strength of the targeted species. Native animals do not exist just to be killed to satisfy the selfish demands of humans but have an intrinsic value and should be able to live as they have done so for millions of years.

 

Killing kangaroos for meat and skin may bring in an income for a certain number of shooters, but it will turn away many tourists who will avoid travelling to a country which not only promotes, but also subsidizes the brutal killing of its native animals. Humane and sustainable industries and high value-added products would make much more money for many more people without killing animals. Tourism, recycling, solar energy and vegan foods are just some of the ways in which money can be earned that do not harm animals.

 

Europe is leading the world in the protection of wild animals in many ways. Green bridges are constructed for animals to cross highways. Bans on the imports of seal fur from Canada are being introduced. A ban on the breeding of chinchillas for fur goes into effect in Croatia in the year 2017.

 

I join many people and organizations from around the world and call on you to stop giving permission for the commercial killing of kangaroos.

 

Yours sincerely,

[Moontanman]

Can anyone explain 'seat sniffing'?

 

Can a male REALLY undo a bra with one hand?

 

I don't know from seat sniffing but I can undo a bra with one hand. My wife taught me that one:lol:

[Moontanman]

What do you think of this from Care2?

 

the site( from Croatia)

AFC - The Commercial Killing of Kangaroos in Australia

The petition

 

Why is it always cruel for humans to kill for food but Lions and tigers and others are glorified for being such effecent preditors? Killing is always a messy thing but so is being hungry. I have no problem killing a wild animal for food, I would hesitate if it was rare or endangered but a healthy population of meat is fair game:hyper:

 

Have shotgun, will travel....

[Michaelangelica]

:lol:

That's flipping hilarious...seat sniffing...

Yes Australian politics at the moment. It has to be seen to be believed, especially at state & council level. (See my signature quote below). There is effectively no opposition apart from the Greens and they are too small to be a force.

 

The Murray- Darling is running, well trickling, but the drought is not over yet. The big money is being made by farmers selling their water/pumping rights! (What is wrong with that picture?)

World's biggest cattle station gets rid of stock

 

By Nigel Austin

May 06, 2008 02:17am

Article from: The Advertiser

 

 

THE world's biggest cattle station, Anna Creek, in the South Australia's outback, will have no cattle for the first time if there is no soaking rain in the next 100 days.

 

If the heartbreaking decision is made to completely destock the station, manager Randall Crozier will face the grim task of managing the world-famous station without any cattle.

World's biggest cattle station gets rid of stock | NEWS.com.au

[Michaelangelica]

I am putting this here because

1. It is Australian and Australia is a world leader in this.

2. In case of the remote chance you have missed the large chunk of Hypography Server Diskspace now given over to discussion of Terra preta and related issues.

 

May 07, 2008

The Soil Carbon Manifesto

This manifesto is interesting for its focus. But what it doesn't tell you is how reliant the Coalition is in its perspectives on carbon emissions trading scheme to secure a "healthy profit". I can see their POV and I think it has to be addressed because moving to sustainable agriculture with its related benefits in regard to carbon sequestration has to include a scheme which ensures farmers are economically viable as they need the fund the transition.

 

There is even an "adopt a farmer" scheme by buying Australian Farm Soil Credits.

 

While this approach is in step & in sync with the strategy of value adding to farm product it is unfortunate that farmers should be tied to such a motivator in order to protect their incomes if they move to a carbon farming regime. -- DR

 

The Carbon Coalition is a group of concerned Australians who believe the globe is facing a crisis of CO2 overload leading to Global Warming and that one of the most effective strategies for locking up carbon in our atmosphere is to be found in fostering deep-rooted plant species on land used for agriculture.

Capturing more carbon in agricultural soils will mean water is used where it falls, leading to cleaner waterways and less silting.

 

We urge governments and the business community to acknowledge the role that agricultural soils can play in addressing the Global Warming crisis. Farmers can play a central role in sequestering carbon in their soils by fostering deep-rooted perennial plant species that have significant biomass in their root systems.

 

Soil biomass is a natural carbon sink and should be used to create carbon credits which can be traded alongside those currently traded for forests.

SOILS CAN SAVE THE WORLD

 

We stand by the following facts:

 

* The terrestrial biosphere currently sequesters 2 billion metric tons of carbon annually. (US Department of Agriculture)

* Soils contain 82% of terrestrial carbon.

* "Enhancing the natural processes that remove CO2 from the atmosphere is thought to be the most cost-effective means of reducing atmospheric levels of CO2." (US Department of Energy)

* "Soil organic carbon is the largest reservoir in interaction with the atmosphere." (United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation) - Vegetation 650 gigatons, atmosphere 750 gigatons, soil 1500 gigatons

* The carbon sink capacity of the world's agricultural and degraded soils is 50% to 66% of the historic carbon loss of 42 to 78 gigatons of carbon.

* Grazing land comprises more than half the total land surface

* An acre of pasture can sequester more carbon than an acre of forest.

* “Soil represents the largest carbon sink over which we have control. Improvements in soil carbon levels could be made in all rural areas, whereas the regions suited to carbon sequestration in plantation timber are limited.” (Dr Christine Jones)

 

BENEFITS FOR THE NATION AND THE COMMUNITY

 

The benefits of rewarding farmers for contributing to carbon sequestration include the following:

 

* Improved soil health, protecting our most precious national resource

* Increased soil fertility, boosting productivity and competitiveness

* Better usage of water, reducing erosion, silting, and salination

* Reduced danger of rising salt levels, lowering the water table

* Reduced loss of topsoil to wind and runoff with 100% ground cover

* Increased farm incomes, increasing viability in volatile industries

* Increased farm values, giving farm families financial flexibility

* Foster growth in farm communities, providing employment opportunities and protecting social infrastructure

LeftClick: Biochar: sustainable carbon sequestration

[Michaelangelica]

:lol:

That's flipping hilarious...seat sniffing...:hihi:

You reckon??

 

What is the point? It is totally bemusing to me. Is it to humiliate the woman?

 

OK you guys who say you can undo o a bra with one hand B### S***. I've always needed both hands, some assistance and a crowbar.

As for undoing two at once.!!!:shade::doh::shade:

If you can do that you need to run for political office in Australia :)

 

If you are Australian you have to be concerned about the Murray-Darling Basin.

I mentioned it on a previous post but now Catalyst has a download of their show on it available.

It is shocking.

Adding more water at this stage could make it worse!!

A REAL Catch 22

Catalyst - Fire, Flood and Acid Mud - The Murray-Darling in Crisis

[freeztar]

You reckon??

 

What is the point? It is totally bemusing to me. Is it to humiliate the woman?

 

I have no idea. :shrug:

I assumed it was a pheremone thing. ;)

OK you guys who say you can undo o a bra with one hand B### S***. I've always needed both hands, some assistance and a crowbar.

:lol:

I haven't tried the crow bar, but thanks for the advice! ;)

 

As for undoing two at once.!!!:eek2::doh::naughty:

If you can do that you need to run for political office in Australia :)

Nah, NY governor more like it.

 

If you are Australian you have to be concerned about the Murray-Darling Basin.

I mentioned it on a previous post but now Catalyst has a download of their show on it available.

It is shocking.

Adding more water at this stage could make it worse!!

A REAL Catch 22

Catalyst - Fire, Flood and Acid Mud - The Murray-Darling in Crisis

 

The video is too choppy for me to watch unfortunately. :(

I was able to watch the first couple minutes though.

 

Acid mud...hmmm...that sounds...not too good...

Can you fill me in on this and why more rain could be bad?

[Michaelangelica]

:cheer:

That's flipping hilarious...seat sniffing...:phones:

he was voted the winner and looser of the week here

Quite funny this week worth a listen. It has not been posted yet

Subscribe to the weekly podcast: Thank God it's Friday

ABC Sydney - TGIF Friday May 2

You need May 9

HERE NOW

ABC Sydney - TGIF Friday May 9

V funny

To inject a bit of Science into this unnecessarily frivolous thread

Scientists map the genome of the platypus

May 8 04:40 AM US/Eastern

By ROHAN SULLIVAN

Associated Press Writer

Write a Comment

 

 

 

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Scientists said they have mapped the genetic makeup of the platypus—one of nature's strangest animals with a bill like a duck's, a mammal's fur and snake-like venom.

 

The researchers, whose analysis of the platypus genome was published Thursday in the journal Nature, said it could help explain how mammals, including humans, evolved from reptiles millions of years ago.

. . .

Unique to Australia, the platypus has confounded observers for centuries. Aboriginal legend explained it as the offspring of a duck and an amorous water rat. When the British Museum received its first specimen in 1798, zoologist George Shaw was so dubious he tried to cut the pelt with scissors to make sure the bill had not been stitched on by a taxidermist.

This is a fully grown adult.

Platypuses live in the wild along most of Australia's east coast. Their numbers are not accurately known because they are notoriously shy. Hunted for years for their pelts, they have been protected since the early 1900s and are not considered to be endangered, though scientists say their habitat is vulnerable to human development.

Scientists map the genome of the platypus

The Australian Reptile Park at Gosford used to have a great platypus display.

Platypuses are one of two monotremes in the world; the other Monotreme the Echinda. (Was one discovered in New Guinea too?)

 

Aboriginies say Ecindna's are delicious; tasting a bit like pork.

Slide show here:

Google Image Result for http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/03/09/ani_echidna_gallery__550x368.jpg

[LaurieAG]

The High Court has backed the right of shareholders to share in any money set aside for creditors when a company goes broke, provided they can prove they were conned or misled.

 

PM - High Court delivers landmark ruling for shareholders

 

Good news for some shareholders but bad news for creditors shareholders.

 

I think the whole shareholder rights thing is getting out of hand.

[Jay-qu]

The 2001 Population Census data:

 

* 99,900 houseless people in Australia (105,304 in 1996)

* 54% adults over 24 years of age

* 10% under the age of 12 years

* 36% young people between 12 and 24 years

* 42% of houseless people were female

* 58% were single (58,116)

* 19% were couples (18,840)

* 23% were families (22,944 people or 6,745 families

from Homeless Statistics

 

This seems to be the rate most sources quote even though it is now 7 years old.

 

Thats around .5%

 

1 in 200 people on the streets on any one night..

 

Is this acceptable?

 

Its only going to get worse with the reserve bank strapping everying in for what could be a political term length interest rate hike..

 

Thoughts?

[Michaelangelica]

PM - High Court delivers landmark ruling for shareholders

 

Good news for some shareholders but bad news for creditors shareholders.

 

I think the whole shareholder rights thing is getting out of hand.

What a strange decision.

"Two Wongs don't make a Wright?"

 

I would prefer to see CEO salaries for the previous five years returned.

Even when you loose billions, or your company goes broke, you are given outrageous "golden parachutes". The latest of note was Citibank.

 

I think the whole CEO/management Salaries/benefits thing is getting out of hand.

[LaurieAG]

I read the following in the paper today with regards to the gang rape of a 10 year old aboriginal girl.

 

Under changes to Queensland law in 2004, sex with a child under 12 is considered rape because the the law deems any child under that age does not have to (the) capacity to consent

 

If this was the case then how come the prosecution and the defense both did not follow this law (in this recent case i.e. last year) and followed the precedent set by the Queensland Supreme Court of Review ruling that they could find nothing in state or federal law that would prevent an 11 year old child from consenting to sex with a 69 year old man.

 

At least someone has admitted that things are back to normal, but what about the 400 convicted child molesters (including ex MP Bill Darcy) who were released 4 years early because of the supreme courts ruling?

[Michaelangelica]

I don't nderstand why child rapists in Aboriginal communities where not prosecuted.

Nor do I understand why, kids given health checks (mainly because of the sexual uproar in the press), were not tested for STDs

 

The homeless figures are shocking.

I had a thought the the "detention centre" on Christmas Island that will house 400-800 people could be used as a Rehab Centre. It would be hard for drug dealers to set up shop outside.

 

However while dismantling the "Pacific Solution" to migrants the Rudd Labor government is going ahead with a "Indian Ocean Solution" finishing the building of the 60 million $ facility on Christmas Island and excising Cocos (Keeling) Island and Ashmore Reef from Australia's migration zone.

Have we ever had 800 asylum seekers at one time? Do they know something we don't? (the mushroom approach again)

 

Perhaps the homeless could have sunny Woomera if no one is bombing it.?

 

Health: Review: Delicious Greens 8000 is a Delicious, Nutritious Superfood Drink Powder

Review: Delicious Greens 8000 is a Delicious, Nutritious Superfood Drink Powder

I wonder if we could add alcohol to it :)