Dirty tricks... let's explain why you need to enroll to vote NOW.

The Howard Government's changes to the Electoral Act mean that many Australians, without their knowledge, will not be able to vote at the upcoming Federal Election. Make sure that your family and friends are enrolled to vote - and enrolled correctly.

If you are NOT enrolled to vote BEFORE the election is called (before they announce the date of the election), then you will not be able to vote at this election. Very kindly of them, you can still enroll after that time.. but not actually vote at this Federal election.. how sneaky is that eh?

Did anyone see THAT point explained in all those lovely expensive TV adverts the current government are paying for ( i.e YOU are paying for ) NO ! Not a word said about it. They nicely omitted that important part didnt they?

ENROLL NOW - they could call the election any day.....make your vote count - pass the word on please.

Just doing my small bit...
Click here to download an enrollment form if you need one

They take away our rights at work whilst, at the same time, apply a very generous pay rise to themselves, and now conveniently omit an important message on voting enrollment????....

Let's get these bastards out of government before we totally loose our rights beyond remedy.......the Australian way of life that we are lucky enough to have become accustomed to

I'm still kickin !

Started a new job Friday 20th July... long hours and even a longer drive home in the afternoons. Gotta love Gold Coast bottle necks.. NOT .. argh !

I have not given up on this blog, but between the new job and family illness, time has just not stretched enough to allow blogging.

I have no wit, no funny url's.. and story telling about the new job would be boring as hell.

I started as receptionist and PA for a couple that run 4 companies. As of today, I am now book keeper / accounts / PA .. and I have to find a replacement for the job I am vacating. Of course, I will be doing said job till I DO FIND the replacement.. lol .. oh well.. I do so hate being bored?

Hopefully things will balance out soon and I will bring some funnies to the blog :D

Want to fly with Qantas?

Never let it be said that Qantas ground crews lack a sense of humour.


After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form, called a "gripe sheet", which tells mechanics about any problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems; document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight. According to a recent email I received, here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by Qantas' pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers.

Although this is my kind of sarcasm, I swear, I have never worked in maintenance for Qantas.... truely...

P: Left inside main tyre almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tyre.


P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.


P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.


P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.


P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.


P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.


P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.


P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what friction locks are for.


P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.


P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.


P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.


P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.


P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.


P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.


P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.

.

Maybe this is part of the training package the maintanance guys get?


.

Dustin 'Rainman' Hoffman swears Qantas are the best


By the way - Qantas is the only major airline that has never, ever, had a major accident. Maybe sarcasm is their secret?

.

Well Done Pink !

Dear Mr President Lyrics
.
I will let this speak for itself....... watch the video.. you can see lyrics on the scrolling picture below
.






Dear Mr president Lyrics


Modern music still HAS a conscience
.

What a Gem this is!

.

I think this is precious

,

The 'Lead singer' is 90 years old.. I take my hat off to him!


Make sure you watch it till the end ...



Mel.. I know you will like it !

.

John would be proud - artists make a stand for human rights

“When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream.” .....JOHN LENNON

Even as a young child, I had incredible respect for John Lennon and his beliefs.


Those of you that know me personally know just how much many of his principles have shaped the way I think.

“My role in society, or any artist's or poet's role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all.”...JOHN LENNON

One of the darkest days I can recall was when I found out John had been murdered. Aside from the obvious and sad loss of a husband (to Yoko), a father (to John's children), a musical virtuoso (to us fans) I saw it as a huge loss to the promotion of human rights and peace protests of our era. The movements that John was so dedicated to.

John Lennon connected with people.

People related to John.

He was a very rare person, an influential activist.

Without John, how many others had the ability via music, or any other avenue, to get the message out so distinctly to earth's inhabitants. Who had the guts to stand up in the face of those in power and give them what for?

Bob Geldof stood up and shouldered some of the responsibility.

"It's really very simple, Governor. When people are hungry they die. So spare me your politics and tell me what you need and how you're going to get it to these people"...... BOB GELDOF

He was the face of, and the driving force behind, Band Aid & Band Aid 20 - and now, amongst other things, does a fantastic job fighting to Make Poverty History.

'There's a world outside your window, and it's a world of dread and fear'.....BAND AID

Bob is extremely vocal and very well informed. I respect him greatly on this issue - but not on all of his beliefs.

"The total amount of aid going into Africa on annual basis by 2010 will be $50 billion. That's between the seven richest countries on the planet who count their annual budgets in trillions of dollars. It's like me saying to my little kid: 'Here is $3 pocket money and I'm going to take 2¢ out of that and give it to Africa'." .......BOB GELDOF

I could waffle on for hours about John Lennon & Bob Geldof.. but..ahem..I've gone off on a tangent again havn't I? I'm good at that.. now, back to what I was going to blog about!

Instant Karma: The Campaign To Save Darfur

"Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur," the new global "Make Some Noise" project from Amnesty International, seeks to mobilize millions around the urgent catastrophe in Darfur, Sudan. It combines the power of John Lennon's music recorded by some of the world's best-known artists, together with cutting-edge forms of instant activism enabled by Internet and mobile technologies.

This album, I will be purchasing this week.
I (we) are so very fortunate to live in the style we do.

Where you sit, right now, reading this, take a look at your life...stop for just a minute, look at what you have

now.....compare it to someone in Sudan.

PERSPECTIVE PEOPLE,

PERSPECTIVE!

This work is a great gesture from musical artists of today. I'm sure John would be very impressed and honoured to have his music played by a new generation and more importantly, still sending out his message.

Proceeds derived from the entire campaign will go directly to support Amnesty International’s urgent work in Darfur, Sedan and other human rights crises worldwide.

double click on the arrow in the middle of the box to watch this short video

Yoko Ono granted the rights to John Lennon’s entire solo songbook to Amnesty International (the world’s largest grassroots human rights organisation) to use as the centerpiece of this project and to inspire and invigorate a new generation of human rights activists.

As a solo artist, John Lennon's unique talent and passionate campaign for world peace made him one of the most influential activists the world has ever known.

"Peace is no violence, no frustration, no fear," claimed Lennon - and with this lyrical mantra, he strived to promote the issues he believed in, inspiring change through music which both provoked and united communities.

In a world plagued by war, poverty, and fear, John's message is just as relevant today as it was when first written.

Lennon's use of music, modern communication techniques, and celebrity status created unprecedented support for the peace and civil rights movements. He was a man who not only spoke truth to power, but understood that music was itself power - a unique way to touch people's hearts and minds, and inspire them to stand up for human rights.

Amnesty International is profoundly grateful to Yoko Ono for her extraordinary gift of Lennon's solo catalogue for use in this project. With the gift, she had in mind to help Amnesty International create the next generation of activists.

May this new generation join us in making a positive impact on our world.

From speaking to my friends recently, I know a few really appreciated some of the quotes I used in an earlier post on my blog. Here is a small selection of some of my favorites.

"Poverty is the worst form of violence"..... Mohandas Gandhi

"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it".....ALBERT EINSTEIN

"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world".....ROBIN WILLIAMS

"If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it".....JESSE JACKSON

"I really feel this is such a serious time for us all that being silent is not an option".....GEORGE MICHAEL

"Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent".....NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

"You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say".....MARTIN LUTHER

"The things which are most important don't always scream the loudest".....BOB HAWKE

"Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind - even if your voice shakes".....MAGGIE KUHN

Let us collectively raise our voices in the on going struggle for peace & human rights.
.

Springbrook National Park part 1 The Purlingbrook Falls

This is Purlingbrook Falls, located in Springwood National Park, South East Queensland. Infact, it's right on the New South Wales border. It is about a 45 - 60 minute drive at a guess. One can never be exactly sure because you are always so distracted by the scenic tour on the drive there... and ....because I have such a crap memory.

You can go here four times a year (very easily, I might add) and each time you go, the falls will look different. The amount of recent rainfall makes a huge difference in the view and the temperture. I have been to this place when it was 34c with 85% humidity at home.. but it is always cool in this valley. The walk to get to the bottom of the falls, however, may not always be as cool. (i.e. carry lots of drinking water!)

The walk does take a few hours, but as most of it is in shade its a delight to go. Not for the totally unfit unless you have 4-5 (or so) hours to spare.. must add that.

Most of the photographs I have posted today, were taken in October 2005. It was about 30c but I'm guessing not much more than 23c by the time we got to the bottom. We comfortably did this walk, 3 Adults & 5 children, in umm not sure.. around 3 hours? You can spend far more time than that - so much to see.. stop and take in nature.. it's wonderful.

Mind you, we stopped so I could photograph every thing that moved and many many things that didnt. Much fun was had - apologies to those we may have disturbed with our frequent laughter which often broke the delicious calm of the valley.

Then again, if laughter annoys you, stiff shit... it's a great sound. If you don't like laughter.. you know what you can do :D

OOhh...must NOT forget to mention our fake tropical bird calls.

"Ga gaah Ga gaah" and "Ahh ahh eeh eeh toockie toockie" (a la George of the Jungle) were crowd favorites for our walking party - and honestly, I can not say it was only the children doing it.. but they did participate at some stage ....hee hee

OK lets start with some real info rather than my dribble.

There is no right and wrong way to walk this trail..(legs do help & walking on your hands would just be bloody stupid). Just start at either end and make sure you exit the other. For some reason, we have always started on the same side. Creature of habit I am..

Don't forget, you can click on the images to enlarge them

The path kinda runs in a large wobbly circle. It heads down hill.. zig zagging all the way so it is never too steep. The path is well looked after and very safe .. just stay on the path ! I have many photographs of the walking trail, but they mainly have people in them, and as I have not asked their permission to show their faces.. I will not post. Sounds like a good excuse to go for another Springbrook National Park walk with the camera? Remind me of that will ya? Just not when its gonna be 5c tonight.. brrr

This is the water pooling at the top of the falls. Nothing incredibly spectacular about this area really I guess. It could be any smallish waterway. The fun starts just a few metres away !
In this photo, off in the distance you can see the Gold Coast .. err. coast? hmm.. water?.. ocean.. yes.. thats the word, ocean. . The altitude is 900 metres (2953 feet for you imperial buggers),
Purlingbrook Falls itself has a drop of 100 metres (approx 328 feet )

This walk way is roughly the half way point. Yes, you do walk BEHIND the waterfall. In high summer this would be magnificent as I'm thinking you would be damn hot by then.


As I said, different times of the year = diff volume of water.

.

.

.

OOh.. edit ! I just found this photo online.. thief ! It must have been right after a good rain.. check out the volume of water going over! Bags me not walking under that waterfall in this weather ! Summer.. maybe.

My camera did get slightly wet when I took this photo. I was standing infront of the cliff wall, but behind the waterfall. I love this place.

Still behind the waterfall, but looking across the other side.



Then looking upwards. Vertigo, is not my friend. Vertigo is a right bitch.I held the camera with one hand and gripped the handrail extremely firmly with the other. Even if you don't like this photo, or can't work it out.. I don't care.. You MUST LOVE this picture cause it made me feel sick to take it. Did I mention that I intensely dislike Vertigo?

This photograph ... I stole from a website. A thief.. but at least I confess.

The volcanic rock at the bottom of the falls.. it's actually very soothing.. the constant rushing water sound hitting the rocks.


Just past the waterfall itself, this tree fern used to live. It is no longer there.

Why it is not there anymore, I'm not sure. I know I didn't take it home.. although I'd love to !

Ok.. thats it for the water shots. I've got some other photos to sort.. and I'll post them soon. Also looking into the indigenous history of the area. It is very interesting.

Damn it's cold tonight!.. remind me of this when I am whinging in summer please?

.