Quote Of The Day

"Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden where the flowers are dead."

- Oscar Wilde

Odd Spot -The Age

A semi- trailer carrying about 25 million bees over-turned on an American interstate highway, freeing the insects. Authorities closed part of the Utah highway for several hours after the crash. They warned drivers in the area keep their windows closed.

*As published on the front page of The Age newspaper 26/10/11

Drinks, Camera, Action

Pubs, clubs and bars oh my, beware, police are now filming your staff and your clientele on their serving and consumption of alcohol.

The Sunday Age reported that the Victorian police have a new task force in town, Razon, and their sole goal is to persecute establishments thats are voiding their liquor license, the number one rule being not to serve a person already intoxicated. The task force secretly film patrons with cameras concealed within their clothes, filming their drinking. With the video evidence and other information and proof gathered, the established is shone the footage and asked to please explain. The police claim they are only doing this to establishments that have received several  warnings of infringement.

Anyone who has gone to a pub and club would know they don't gauge the alertness of the customer but ask what they want and hand it over. Especially in a club where the lighting is poor and the bar is swarmed with thirsty patrons, the drinks are just poured and passed. How do you gauge how much someone has drunk if their friends are buying the drinks for them?

However the task force's methods have got Liberty Victoria and the Victorian Law Reform Commission all in a spin. The people filmed in the footage can be used as evidence and could be considered an invasion of privacy. Liberty Victoria chairman Spencer Zifcak said, "The problem here is that they're targeting large numbers of innocent drinkers in a way that clearly invades their privacy and places their identity and whereabouts on film that can be used in legal proceedings."

I worked in hospitality for many years and in those years, worked behind a bar and turned people away, but I also probably served people that were drunk but didn't show the typical characteristics of a "drunk" person. Ask yourself, how would you define a drunk person? Loud? Obnoxious? Spinning shit? This could be someone sober, or do you need physical proof? Stumbling, knocking chairs over, falling asleep against a wall or aggression and violence? The definition of drunkenness is open to interpretation and the police have acknowledged this.

So, next time your out and about, smile, because your drunken acts may be appearing in a court room near you.

Thoughts? Do you think this is a fair and just way to persecute? Is it an invasion of privacy?

Quote Of The Day

"What you feel is what you are, and what you are is beautiful."

- Slide, Goo Goo Dolls

Quote Of The Day

"An expert is someone who knows some of the worst mistakes that can be made in his subject and who manages to avoid them."

- Werner Heisenberg

Quote Of The Day

"Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes."

-Oscar Wilde

Let's Talk About Breast....Cancer That Is

Their are many words in the English language that conjure strong emotions, but none so much as the word cancer. Six letters, used in any other word or order wouldn't bring as much fear as this word does. We hear about it all the time, no doubt know people who have had it or still have it. It is, unfortunately, a part of our lives, and weather it is technology informing and picking up on it earlier or life style reasons, cancer is the gate crasher to many of our parties.

So what is cancer?

We hear about it all the time, but do you know what it actually is? Cancer is a disease of the bodies cells. The cells grow and multiply in a controlled manner but if their is a glitch in this process, a mistake in the genetic blueprint, cancerous cells are produced. So, in other words, cancer cells are mutant cells in our bodies.

Breast Cancer: The following is information on breast cancer from the Pink Ribbon Day website

As cancerous cells can arise from almost any type of tissue cell, cancer actually refers to about 100 different diseases. Breast cancer starts in the ducts or lobules of the breast. Cells lining the ducts or lobules can grow out of control and develop into cancer. Some breast cancers are found when they are still confined to the ducts or lobules of the breast. This is called pre-invasive breast cancer. The most common types are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS).

Most breast cancers are found when they are invasive. This means the cancer has spread outside the ducts or lobules of the breast into surrounding tissue. There are several types of invasive breast cancer:

• Early breast cancer: contained in the breast but may have spread to one or more lymph nodes in the armpit.
• Locally advanced breast cancer: may have spread to places near the breast, such as the chest (including the skin, muscles or bones of the chest), but the cancer isn’t found in other areas of the body.
• Metastatic breast cancer: the cancer cells spread from the breast to other areas of the body, such as the bones, liver or the lungs. It may also be called advanced breast cancer.

Facts:

By the age of 85, 1 in 9 Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 1 in 730 for men. That's right, men can get breast cancer too

It is estimated that 12 700 Australian women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. 2500 of these will lose their battle

As a woman you should be aware of your breasts and constantly monitor them. Look for any changes, lumps or bumps, puckering, weeping, anything that has changed. The best time to check your breasts, is the same time every month, so after your period.

Pink Ribbon Day is October 24th. To find out more information or how you can take part, please click on the above link. 

Quote Of The Day

"Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything."

-Muhammad Ali

Odd Spot - The Age

For a small fee, two Alabama game wardens will turn cremated remains into ammunition the deceased's loved ones can fire. Warden Thad Holmes said it sounded strange to those not comfortable around guns, "but for those who are, it's not weird at all."

*As published on the front page of The Age newspaper 05/10/11

2011 - Anything Goes?

This post is prompted by several things. For a while now I have hung onto an email about ads that don't work anymore, mainly because they are extremely sexist by todays standards and just plain lies (think Mad Men when they were thinking of a print ad with doctors recommending their favourite brand of cigarettes) but because of this they are now very amusing.

I thought I would combine this post as it seemed quite fitting. For awhile now I have questioned where this country and the world in general is going. We now can communicate with each other and someone on the other side of the world within seconds, yet our social skills are waning. Children no longer write cursive and are losing the ability to write something with meaning longer then 140 characters long.

Excepting an invite has changed: yes or no is no longer your only option, maybe is an answer too (while you wait for something better that may come along) poking someone is a form of hello and the only mail you receive in the mail nowadays is bills and jury duty notices.

We no longer can do the same things we did when we were younger because now we may offend people.  Christmas trees and nativity scenes are a thing of the past. The Easter Bunny will kill you. You can't run onto the MCG anymore after a game without the risk of a $7000 (and growing) fine. Casual dress days with restrictions. The amount of food you can't eat whilst pregnant. Text messaging instead of calling. Working mothers condemned. Stay at home mothers condemned. Speeding up when someone is trying to over take, because how dare someone overtake you? Australians now have a sense of entitlement and a "you can't do that to me attitude".

So, I ask you, are we in the age of anything goes?

Australia still has a backwards view of the world and is predominately still very sexist like these ads. I have encountered this through work and life in general and I'm sure many men have too. I'm a woman so what would I know about cars and football? I shouldn't swear and drink because it unlady like. We live in a country that in 2004 changed the law so the definition of marriage was specifically outlined as between a man and a woman, deliberately excluding the possibility of same-sex marriage. Still feel like you're in 2011?

I am of an age where those around me are getting married and the same question is always asked; are you changing or keeping your surname? This notion only a few decades ago would never have been conceived, but in 2011 is quite a common question. Then why when this subject came up again recently, was I  frowned upon when I said I would keep my name despite the fact my partner wanted me to change it? It was this lack of regard for my partners wishes that made me the devil incarnate! My head spun with the time travel back to the time of these ads. Sure, I care what my partner thinks, but at the end of the day, it is my decision.

Despite the fact that women have never had as much freedom as we do now, are we still bound to societies rules and regulations? Does anything go or are we moving backwards? Has our new found freedom gone to our heads and damned us? Do we have so many choices now we don't know what's right anymore and have lost all morals?

Soapbox open for inspection.

Explained Absence

Regular readers of this blog may have noticed a rapid decline in postings of late. I have in the past been rather spasmodic with my posts, but 2011 was to be the year of my blog! Alas, my body had other ideas.

After several tests, a hospital visit and more tests and fasting, the doctors are no closer to explaining what is wrong with me, so I have been trying to give my body (and mind) a break. Some time away by the ocean helped immensely but then the medication I'm on helps too! I work full time so by the end of the day I can barely drive home let alone construct sentences.

I am feeling better then I was though, and hope to be full steam ahead again shortly, so please, in the meantime become a follower and you will be notified of any new posts.

Till my next rant....

John Cleese On Terrorism

There's nothing funny about terrorism, and unfortunately in our life time we have seen the worst terrorist attack in history (September 11) and the biggest terrorist attack involving Australians (the Bali bombings) but comedians make comical observations on life, including terror threats.

Below is John Cleese's take on Europe's handling of terrorism - with Australia thrown in for good measure (we are part of the colonies after all). I'm a huge Monty Python fan (I'm  a proud owner of a "I'm not dead yet." t-shirt - thanks Katie) and when this was sent to me via email I had to share it. Whether you like Monty Python or not, John Cleese's take on how countries deal with drama is amusing.

Here it is:

ALERTS TO THREATS IN 2011:

BY JOHN CLEESE
The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent events in Libya and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved.." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.

The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.

Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs.." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose."

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels .

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, Mate." Two more escalation levels remain: "Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!" and "The barbie is canceled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

-- John Cleese - British writer, actor and tall person

Odd Spot - The Age

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio is using artificial plaster eggs to fool its mother flamingoes so they don't wear themselves out laying replacement eggs when keepers take them away to be incubated.

*As published on the front page of The Age newspaper 16/07/11

Quote Of The Day

"There are three kinds of people in the world, the wills, the won'ts and the can'ts. The first accomplish everything; the second oppose everything; the third fail in everything."


-Eclectic Magazine

DEBATE: Should Australia Have A Carbon Tax?

Carbon Tax; two words that separate, don't really mean much, but together mean a lot to the Australian people and thanks the the Gillard governments announcement of the carbon tax price ($23 per tonne) on Sunday, those two words of Carbon Tax aren't going away anytime soon. The Gillard Government announced that from July 1st 2012, the Carbon Tax will take place. Here, writers Emma Gardiner - Deans and Stephen Davies debate the reasons why you should and shouldn't vote for the carbon tax.

AFFIRMATIVE: Emma Gardiner - Deans

Carbon dating: Why you should fall in love with the new carbon tax


I’m embarrassed to admit that I had to Google ‘Carbon tax’.

It’s not that I don’t care or am completely ignorant; it’s just that it’s quite complicated.
Trading schemes and caps aside, the upshot is that the carbon tax penalises polluters. Most companies only feel pain in their bottom lines so it makes sense to incentivise them where it hurts.

This scheme places the Australian government at the vanguard of revolutionary policy; a welcome change considering how thoroughly backward it’s been in the past (see: indigenous rights).
The Labor government has made some brave moves over the past three years – laptops in primary schools, maternity leave provisions, saying sorry at long last – and this is one more step in the right direction. Now, to get the mining tax across the line … but I digress.

This is not greenie-wishy-washiness. This is a tax based on the scientific facts surrounding global warming and dwindling fossil fuel reserves. It’s not about environmentalism; it’s about inventory management, which is a relief considering that lightweight environmentalism is fundamentally flawed. Many so-called ‘environmentalists’ fill their trolleys with organic food packaged in plastic, shove it all in a green bag and then drive home in their petrol-fuelled cars.

It’s fashionable to pretend you care but it’s an entirely different proposition when caring becomes a fiscal decision.

The carbon tax will increase the price of all sorts of things; basically anything that requires fossil fuels to make, transport or power. No one will be able to weasel their way out of paying the $26 tax per tonne of carbon dioxide. And you know what? You want to pollute? You should be made accountable.

In the same way you have to pay rates for rubbish collection, water, roads and other civic necessities, you should have to pay for infringements on air and water quality.
Imagine a world where there are safe bike paths, an abundance of solar, wind and water powered energy sources and the air and water is clean.

Contrast this with a world where the roads are strangled with traffic, power comes from coal or oil and the air and water are increasingly polluted.

Hang on; that’s the way things are now.

Go ahead. Tax me. I want the government to increase the pressure on me – and everyone else – who is too lazy, complacent or indifferent to make the necessary improvements to their habits.

Emma is the Founder and Creative Communications Director of Blossom Media.
She is communications specialist with over 10 years of media experience. She has a BA Communications from the University of Newcastle and started her career as a radio producer with ABC Newcastle, later moving to Sydney to become a print journalist on both consumer and trade titles. She has spent the past seven years working in consumer PR. Today Emma is the part-time PR Manager at Unique Tourism Collection and freelances for Toga Hospitality. She project manages Daily Addict xChange, a weekly women’s networking event created in partnership with Merivale and is a regular contributor to DailyAddict.com.au. She is the Founder and Publisher of SheGoes.com.au, a travel blog for adventurous people.


NEGATIVE: Stephen Davies

At school I did work experience at a vet. This usually involved holding things and mucking out cages. But sometimes I'd get the dreaded call to help comfort a dog while it was euthanised. The sight of someone's best friend, left behind to shuffle off alone, terrified, is horrible. My job was to pat and talk to the dog so they wouldn't be scared during the injection, and while they faded away. It haunts me today. I still remember the sad, resigned looks in their eyes.

I know that look, and I see it every time I look at Julia Gillard. How high were the hopes when she ousted Kevin Rudd, and how low the polls a year on. There are many reasons for this, but one that hangs around her like an albatross - the carbon price.

Australia needs action on climate change. It's right the government has adopted Ross Garnaut's suggestions (partly) to price carbon despite saying they wouldn't (in completely different circumstances than the current minority government) and Kevin Rudd ‘walking away’ from the ETS (he didn’t really).

Why, then, could anyone be against it? When it was announced, there was much hysteria from people who only a year earlier sent Rudd's approval rating plummeting for 'shelving' the ETS. The public is fickle. They don't care that the carbon price (it's not really a 'tax') is the first step toward that ETS.

The public would rather listen to Tony Abbott, an atavistic DLP-throwback whose entire platform as an alternative government rests on opposing, sniping at and (impossibly) promising to repeal a carbon price.

Abbott has been travelling the country, promising that it will drive up the cost of everything from sunshine to babies' smiles, destroy industry and end civilisation. While government support erodes, we have no similar scrutiny of his policy - throwing money at big polluters. This will actually cost 'battlers' much more.

We should oppose the carbon price to upset Abbott. Anyone who has read 'Battlelines' will know he isn't quite the idiot he seems. But he'll do anything and say anything to get into power. By focusing on an unpopular policy, one he doesn't even have details of, he's going to coast into the Lodge. By shelving this sensible policy we'd be cutting down on one of Australia's main sources of noxious emissions - the lies about it coming from our ascendant opposition leader.

Stephen Davis is an editor and writer based in Melbourne. You can read his blog here and follow him on Twitter at @stephendevice



If you would like to contribute to a debate, please contact Clare at g_o_a_s@hotmail.com or send her a message via Twitter