Australia

[LaurieAG]

Sometimes comedians cut right though the political crap.:hyper:

 

And what makes it really funny is that both of the roles played by Clark and Dawe are done straight, because the real joke is on us.

[Michaelangelica]

The pristine Tarmar valley in Tasmania

What a great spot for the world's biggest Pulp Mill

 

 

Tamar Valley

OverviewPhotosReviews

Visit Tamar Valley website

Visit website

http://www.totaltravel.com.au/travel/tas/launceston/launceston/travel-guides/Destinations/tamar-valley

 

The Valley of the Senses

 

The majestic Tamar River is Australia’s longest navigable tidal estuary, meandering for 58 kilometres through the heart of high-yielding vineyard country, orchards, scenic pastures and forests from Launceston to the sea.

 

Discover the Valley by river or road, the choice is yours. Take pleasure in a relaxing river cruise, or indulge your senses on a wine tour and let someone else take care of the driving while you visit some of the Valley's 24 vineyards. Discover the boutique wineries, taste their Pinots, Chardonnays and Rieslings, and reflect on the bounty of nature and the skill of the winemakers.

 

The Tamar Valley Touring Route is known as one of Tasmania's great road trips, passing through fishing villages, historic settlements, holiday towns, dense rainforest, and gold mining country where two rescued miners captured the world's attention in 2006.

 

Both the West and East Tamar give access to the fantastic white sands of the north coast beaches of Bass Strait. The Batman Bridge links the East and West of the Valley, renowned for being one of the oldest cable-stayed truss bridges.

 

Stroll the boardwalks onto Tamar Island, home of the Tamar Valley Wetlands. A haven for bird life, the Island is an idyllic place to enjoy native birds in their natural habitat surrounded by food-for-the-soul views from the middle of the river.

 

Maritime enthusiasts can visit the fully operational pilot station at Low Head, Australia's oldest ship navigation station. Tours of resident seal and penguin colonies are close by, inhabiting one of the best coldwater marine environments in the world (which is also one of Australia's best dive sites).

 

With a Tamar Triple Pass to three of the Valley's key attractions, visit the only seahorse farm of its kind, get up close to platypus and echidnas in an indoor setting and learn of the Valley’s unique gold mining heritage.

 

Tours Tamar Valley Wine Route - Allow at least 2-3 days to visit the vineyards, fine restaurants & many other attractions in the area. Pamper yourself with the luxury of the top resorts or stay in friendly B&Bs and individual cottages full of charm and mystique.

 

History Grubb Shaft Gold and Heritage Museum - The site of Tasmania's largest gold mine, imagine yourself as a mine worker when you look at the massive brick mine engine houses, the relics and a working model of the largest dewatering mine pumps of their type every made.

 

A Sense of Spring in Launceston Tamar Valley

 

ImageSmell Tasmania’s cool, fresh, clean air as apple orchards blossom, wild daffodils burst through green pastures, and lambs are born and fattened.

 

See striking Tasmanian Waratah in Ben Lomond National Park, 1500m above sea level, coastal drifts of wild flowers at Narawntapu National Park, and lavender fields inbetween (at Rowella or Nabowla).

Launceston Tamar Valley Tasmania - Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lots more at

http://www.tamarvalley.com.au/

[Michaelangelica]

The lights are on

 

Andrew Linden | October 8, 2007 - 1:10PM

 

With an oversubscribed public float, a $5 million AusIndustry grant in the bag and a $100 billion global market beckoning BluGlass Limited is a start-up company defying Australia's poor track record of commercialising innovative technology.

 

Spun out of a decade-long Macquarie University research program, the race to bring its innovative world-beating technology to market has important lessons not only for other aspiring Australian technology start-ups but also for public policy.

 

BluGlass is commercialising technology that halves the cost of making gallium nitride (GaN) wafers. GaN wafers are a key component in the manufacture of LEDs, an emerging lighting technology now vying to be the energy efficient alternative to incandescent bulbs and even compact fluorescents.

 

The GaN production process was pioneered after a decade long research program at Macquarie University.

 

The company is staffed by Macquarie researchers and was established to commercialise the technology.

 

CEO David Jordan says the new production technology will have huge implications for energy efficiency.

 

''LEDs are the longest lasting, most energy efficient form of lighting. They have the potential to contribute significant reductions in electric power consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.''

 

Mr Jordan says a year after it first floated on the Australian Stock Exchange BluGlass is on track with its three year strategy to crack the $100 billion global general lighting market.

The lights are on

 

Plants seem to do better under led lights. has anyone else noticed this?

 

For sale /forums/images/smilies/banana_sign.gif

 

Should we sell out to the Chinese?

 

 

CHINA'S billion sovereign wealth fund is officially nine days old and Australian companies have already been earmarked as the fund's most likely investment targets in the Western world.

Should we sell out to the Chinese? - Business - Business - smh.com.au

[Michaelangelica]

Please other Ozzies chip in to this thread

I don't own it.

Any right wingers out there? We could have a fight?!

:eek_big: :( :(

 

We have been VERY lucky so far in Afghanistan and Iraq (apart from self inflicted injuries and cricket accidents)

But now

ADF taking 'necessary precautions' to return soldier's body

Posted 1 hour 57 minutes ago

Trooper David Pearce was killed during a roadside bomb attack.

 

Trooper David Pearce was killed during a roadside bomb attack. (Australian Defence Force)

 

* Video: Tributes flow for Australian solider (ABC News)

* Audio: ADF investigates trooper's death in Afghanistan (PM)

* Audio: Makeshift bombs on the increase (PM)

* Related Story: Family mourns 'popular and respected' soldier

* Related Story: I'm responsible for troops in Afghanistan: Howard

 

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) chief has moved to ensure the body of the Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan will be under constant escort on its return home.

 

Trooper David Pearce, 41, was killed during a roadside bomb attack on the light armoured vehicle he was driving, six kilometres from the Australian base at Tarin Kowt in the southern province of Oruzgan.

 

One other Australian soldier and three children were wounded in the attack.

 

After last year's bungled repatriation of the body of Private Jake Kovco from Iraq, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston says the Defence Force will take all necessary precautions.

 

"We're now working on arrangements to bring the body of the fallen soldier back to Australia," he said.

 

"This will be by ADF or a permanently chartered ADF aircraft, and his body will be under constant escort by ADF personnel."

 

http://abc.com.au/news/default.htm

http://abc.com.au/news/stories/2007/10/09/2055225.htm

[freeztar]

Well I'm not an Ozzie, but this seemed an appropriate place to put this:

Study: Biting spread devil tumors - CNN.com

[Michaelangelica]

Well I'm not an Ozzie, but this seemed an appropriate place to put this:

Study: Biting spread devil tumors - CNN.com

Thanks for bringing this up. The poor old Tassie Devil does need some help.

 

Very interesting study this

It has been known in Oz for some few years; now getting a run in OS press. My daughter used to work at Utas where a lot of the research is being done.

It is interesting because it shows Cancer can be caught and passed on like any infection.

All the cancers on the devils are genetically the same.

DPIW - Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease

 

They are trying to keep some devils in quarantine but the disease is progressing rapidly.

 

I am not overly fond of Tasmanian Devils but I know Yanks are, due to Warner Bros. cartoons. (Then, one of the main reasons I went to the States was to see "Chip & Dale" chipmunks!)

As at July 2007, the Tasmanian devil disease had spread to 60 separate sites covering 59% of the State.

 

Across Tasmania, there has been a 53% decline in average sightings in the last decade. In the north-east region, where signs of the Tasmanian devil disease were first reported, there has been a 90 per cent decline of average spotlighting sightings from 1992-95 to 2002-05.

If you would like to help

SEE : (You would think Warner Bros could chip in a few $?)

Contribute to the Tasmanian Devil Appeal

The Tasmanian Devil Appeal, launched in late 2003, assists with vital research into the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease.

 

You can:

 

* donate online at http://www.utas.edu.au/devilappealYou are now leaving our site. DPIWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement

* return a free donation envelope, available from Service Tasmania centresYou are now leaving our site. DPIWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement, Parks and WildlifeYou are now leaving our site. DPIWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement Visitor Centres etc.

* donate at any QantasYou are now leaving our site. DPIWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement collection sculptures located at: domestic airport terminals at Hobart, Launceston, Sydney and Melbourne; the Tasmanian Museum and Art GalleryYou are now leaving our site. DPIWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement; Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Visitor centres at Freycinet, Mt Field, Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair.

 

The Tasmanian Devil appeal is administered under the auspices of the University of Tasmania FoundationYou are now leaving our site. DPIWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement, which nominates and allocates a number of scholarships and grants biannually through the Tasmanian Wildlife Research Advisory Committee (TWRAC).

 

All appeal funds raised support key research areas approved by the Devil Facial Tumour Disease Steering Committee, which was formed after the October 2005 workshop of scientists and animal health experts from institutions and organisations throughout Australia. Donations to the Tasmanian Devil Appeal over $2 dollars are tax deductible in Australia.

 

Visit http://www.tassiedevil.com.auYou are now leaving our site. DPIWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement or phone the University of Tasmania Foundation on 03 6226 2053 to find out more about the Tasmanian Devil Appeal and other ways you can donate to help save the Tasmanian Devil.

 

DPIW - Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease

[Queso]

why are your wines so good?

 

there's a distinct difference between yours and ours (cali coast)

[Michaelangelica]

why are your wines so good?

 

there's a distinct difference between yours and ours (cali coast)

Good question, though I have not tried Californian wines

Partly is is a matter of immigration & multiculturalism.

 

The Barossa Valley (SA)was settled by Germans and their Rieslings and even reds are suburb. I have never had a bad wine from there. In fact I learnt to drink there as a student in the 60s. I have had 20 year old Rieslings from there were were the nectar of the Gods ( no corks, screw top)

 

Areas around Rutherglen (Vic/NSW) 100 -150 years ago mainly did Port and Sherry for the British market. Phyloxera and changing tastes killed the market until the sixties. If you want a REALLY FULL BODIED red this is the place to go. It may take a bit of getting used to as their reds are unique hearty and very full bodied. Their Merlo and Blue Imperial are outstanding and can be cellared for eons. So too the stickies and Muscats and Ports. The Muscats are a well kept secret. A good bottle of Rosewood Muscat will set you back $AUD65.00. It is worth every penny.But you can still pick up lovely stuff for $10-20. When I first started my cellar from Rutherglen wine was 75c a bottle sigh. . .

 

A lot of "Sea Change" doctors and Stockbrokers and other wealthy folk have also yearned to have their own little vineyard in the country. So there are hundreds of small vineyards. We seem to be blessed with a number of good "noses" or blenders. One famous one was a doctor Len Evans. If you can pick up a second-hand copy of his book on smell grab it.

 

Contrary to what most people think Australia has a huge range of Climates and soils which give a multitude of tastes. From Mediterranean (Tasmania and SA) to the semi-tropical, coastal Cassigrain at Port Macquarie ( a French family). Western Australia too is Mediterranean but has quite a different flavour /feeling to the wines. I love WA whites.

 

Victoria has a heap of climates and the Yarra valley is carving out a niche for itself. I love its Pino Noirs. Fantastic chilled on a hot summers day with basil and ripe tomatoes (i'm hungry)

 

The closest wine-making area to me is the Hunter Valley. I have not explored this area as much as i should I drink a lot less wine these days , but i find their reds very dry and 'flinty' probably a bit like some French wines. However there are many new wineries especially in the upper hunter experimenting with some nice drops.

Also Australian wine-makers have not been slow to experiment and take chances. The education of vintners is also world class. Many young Oz wine-makers are working in France and many French companies are buying up wineries here.

Australians are not hidebound to tradition so can try new methods and techniques.

Too we have never suffered from prohibition as the USA has.

Australians drink a lot of wine and beer. I think Americans tend to drink more spirits. It s unlikely that you would ever be offered a "martini" here.

 

I doubt if you see the best wines O/S as most is produced (80%) by one company. Most of the small wineries sell a lot of their stock at the cellar door or by subscription.

 

I was appalled by cheap wine in France. Here you can buy something drinkable from $AUD3.00 up with good stuff around $15-20+. Italian cheap wine was a lot better than French cheap wine.

 

The drought will mean that the $3 bottle will probably not be here next year.

Griffith is a big Italian grape growing area and they have NO water.

I am told the quality and intensity of flavour of what remains is great.

 

We just hope it rains enough to keep 100 year old vines alive.

It is not as if we can move them to the tropics.

[Buffy]

I was appalled by cheap wine in France. Here you can buy something drinkable from .00 up with good stuff around $15-20+. Italian cheap wine was a lot better than French cheap wine.

And I think that's data to explain the "effect" you perceive Orb: The snob appeal that puts a premium on the French and California wines actually gives Australian (and Italian!) wines an edge:

 

I've had a lot of expensive wine from around the world, and I can pick out favorites from each region, but because of that price premium because its French or Californian, if you take a $10 or $30 or $50 wines from each region, you'll find that the same-priced Austrialian bottles taste better than the equivalent California wine, but that there are just as many--in fact possibly many many more--superior *tasting* California wines, you just have to go up to the next price bracket. And even then, there'll be an Aussie bottle that's just as good as the best California bottle.

 

Statistical economic analysis is boring and opaque: I'd rather have a good Chardonnay,

Buffy

[Queso]

austrailian shiraz is quite heavenly :)

[LaurieAG]

Now that John Howard and Kevin Rudd both aspire to a referendum on changing our Constitutional preamble within the next 18 months, will they now reveal what their latest 'advice' on the legality of preambles is?

 

If, as publically stated by John Howard that preambles are not legally binding, the entire gesture is pointless. On the other hand, if preambles are legally binding, would this proposed Constitutional preamble change serve to rattify the (as yet unrattified) change of status to Australia's national sovereignty contained in the Australia Act 1986 and the bipartisan sale of the majority of our public assets since?

 

Surely the people of Australia deserve better than this.

[Michaelangelica]

Now that John Howard and Kevin Rudd both aspire to a referendum on changing our Constitutional preamble within the next 18 months, will they now reveal what their latest 'advice' on the legality of preambles is?

I would guess it is pure BS

The libs/nats are opportunists and have never been constrained by democratic tradition & precedent. A preamble is a joke. We need democratic principles set in concrete not wordy preambles.

Look to Whitlam's dismissal.

 

Now with the election being called that is no longer relevant; as they can't introduce new legislation

 

Who do you think will win?

What role will Hillsong and the Exclusive Brethren take?

[LaurieAG]

I would guess it is pure BS

The libs/nats are opportunists and have never been constrained by democratic tradition & precedent. A preamble is a joke. We need democratic principles set in concrete not wordy preambles.

Look to Whitlam's dismissal.

 

Hi Michaelangelica,

 

Yes, the commentators have already mentioned that of the 2 referenda (for the mindless pedants) in 1999, one was also a preamble change.

 

So, Aboriginal reconciliation via a preamble referendum must be a non core promise if JH still believes that preambles are non legally binding.

 

If he really does believe that preambles are not legally binding he wouldn't have changed the preamble he commissioned from the poet in 1999, to specifically reference the federal nature of our nation.

 

But if preambles are legally binding, especially constitutional ones, then a Yes vote in a majority of the states would rattify the change to the status of Australias national sovereignty, under the new command structure contained in the Australia Act 1986.

 

I've always had an uneasy feeling that our monarch and our politicians cut a deal that Australians would pay for the monarchs historic obligations to Australian Aboriginals (monarchs posessions from 1770-1967), and as their part of this underhand deal, Australian politicians were to secure a republic or equivalent ASAP (or at least before they sold off all of the public assets).

 

Remember Michaelangelica, in 1986 when the Australia act was passed the federal government was Labor, Bob Hawke was PM and Paul Keating was Treasurer!

[LaurieAG]

Who do you think will win?

 

Labor will most probably win, but it will be a fair bit closer than what the polls are saying and, with any luck, the senate will be dominated by the Greens/Democrats instead of a religious party. (I wrote the following over 10 years ago)

 

'The Green Knights Claim'

 

Noble sirs, exercise thy renowned might,

honour thine agreement with the Green knight,

tis his by right.

 

Do not be unnerved, justice shall be served,

while accolades are undeserved

and truthful valour is reserved.

 

Qualms about the justice of fate,

carry no weight on this judgement date,

pious fervour too late.

 

Come now and cement the agreed pact,

that ye have enacted through use of his multi-faceted axe.

 

Once ye have availed of its plentiful resource,

there is nay recourse, ye have chosen thine course.

[Michaelangelica]

Hi Michaelangelica,

I've always had an uneasy feeling that our monarch and our politicians cut a deal that Australians would pay for the monarchs historic obligations to Australian Aboriginals (monarchs posessions from 1770-1967), and as their part of this underhand deal, Australian politicians were to secure a republic or equivalent ASAP (or at least before they sold off all of the public assets).

Could you tell me more about this?

I don't understand

tar

 

I am not convinced labor will win

Will the electorate be conned into believing they are getting tax cuts?

(At first you take it away then you give it back-a a magician/s slight of hand)

Also tax cuts will force up interest rates so there is no net gain

 

I would like to see government get rid of inflationary taxs like the tipple? taxation on petrol (leave the GST but remove the rest esp. the 38c a litre excise)

In a country like Oz that would help farmers and reduce cartage costs of fruit vegies, goods etc etc. I am told it costs c$1,000+ in diesel to take a semi from Sydney to Brisbane in diesel alone this would be a deflationary tax cut that would force interest rates down. Reduce taxes even more on gas that we (or Chevron) have lots of

We should encourage more use of ethanol petrol mixes. This is a reasonable use of sugar cane as long as it does not increase the cost of Bundy Rum:) (now owned by the Brits)

 

State government should be paid to get rid of stamp duties on first home purchases and get rid of insane inflationary taxes like Payroll tax. Why should business be penalised for hiring people? Insanity. Even the Taronga Zoo has to pay a truckload of cash in payroll tax in NSW.

 

Too why stoke the economic fires of Qld and WA when Eastern states are languishing? This is economic idiocy and insanity. Certainly not "Good Economic Management". The Reserve bank just needs to up interest rates for everyone.

 

But it does seem we get years of hospital, education, science, media(ABC & local film)welfare neglect followed by a government that spends money on this, then another Govt that spends money on defence, prisons etc . . .

 

Except ALL politicians hate the ABC. I would like to see a "Future Fund" for them that would give them true independence. "Four Corners" is almost a forth arm of government- "keeping the bastards honest". Other media is a bad, puerile, destructive joke.

We need a fund to tell our own stories in drama etc

How much money do you think the BBC has made out of the GOONs so far? We could also develop classic drama/comedy etc if there was a"Future Fund" for it

 

BTW

What happened to the 50 billion pollies "Future Fund" super fund that they gave to the Yanks to look after? Anyone heard anything?

[LaurieAG]

Could you tell me more about this?

I don't understand

tar

 

Hi Michaelangelica,

 

In 1770 Captain Cook took posession of Australia, at Posession Island (in QLD, Cape York Peninsula) in the name of the British Monarch.

 

Until 1967, when the people of the states returned majority 'yes' votes on referenda questions that would remove specific instances where Australian Aboriginals were descriminated in our constitution. In one instance 'apart from Australian Aboriginals' was removed from the clause that gave the federal government Powers to create 'special laws for any race', apart from the aboriginals.

 

In 1986 the Australia Act came into being without constitutional approval from the people of Australia.

 

In the early 1990's MABO removed the justification for 'terra nullis' and initiated the lawyers feast of aboriginal land claims that amounted to very little flowing through to Australia's indigenous citizens.

[LaurieAG]

We should encourage more use of ethanol petrol mixes. This is a reasonable use of sugar cane as long as it does not increase the cost of Bundy Rum:) (now owned by the Brits)

 

State government should be paid to get rid of stamp duties on first home purchases and get rid of insane inflationary taxes like Payroll tax. Why should business be penalised for hiring people? Insanity. Even the Taronga Zoo has to pay a truckload of cash in payroll tax in NSW.

 

BTW

What happened to the 50 billion pollies "Future Fund" super fund that they gave to the Yanks to look after? Anyone heard anything?

 

Hi Michaelangelica,

 

Unfortunately some of the major oil companies are putting alot of ethanol in their ULP mixes, much more than the allowed 10%, and they are not even bothering to declare it!

 

The really funny thing about the whole federal/state is that the states were legitimate before the pollies tinkered with our constitution.

 

BTW, did you hear about the IMF urging Australia about fiscal resposibility, BEFORE JH announced his AU$34B in tax cuts, not to mention the other AU$20B in election pork barelling.