Anthony's Web Site

The Australian Government does not know how to listen. Their "environmental" policy is a clear example of how not to do things.

It started with a glimmer of hope.

Prime Minister John Howard is expected to reveal a $500 million plan to encourage the private sector to develop energy technologies that release low levels of greenhouse gases today. Source ABC News

Then the reality hit.

In summary from most significant to lease significant

• $1.5 billion to reduce the cost of petrol
• $500 million to encourage the private sector to put $1 billion into research
• $100 Million to develop commercial renewable energy
• $75 Million to develop house hold renewable energy.

More...

logged by Anthony at 6:58:37 PM Link

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.

It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much." were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.

The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin. As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded: "yes." Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot."

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher. "We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."

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logged by Anthony at 11:51:49 PM Link

If life seems a little too busy for you look at this page to take a new reflection. I've linked to the music page just pick a setting and check it out.

Positive pause

logged by Anthony at 11:22:34 PM Link

Two Britions release from Guantanamo Bay have written an open letter to US President George W. Bush to say that they were also abused during their detention. They have said that the abuses inflicted on them were similar to the types of abuse that was inflicted in prisoners in Iraq.

So you could conclude that this type of behaviour is not the type of behaviour that is conducted by rogue individuals. It is the type of behaviour that at least had some sort of instruction or training. For Bush to state that these abuses were actions of rogue individuals is unbelievable.

How should soldiers act

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logged by Anthony at 5:38:36 PM Link

The local paper had an article about interviews with ex-POW's. From only a few people that had been interviewed it appeared that those that had been captured by Germans thought that was is happening in Iraq currently was horrible. People that had been caught by Japanese, agreed that the abuses should not be tolerated in Iraq, but that the abuses were a "beat up" by the media compared to what they endured in World War II.

At least the Iraqi prisoners were being fed and not used as slave labour as they had been in Japan or South-East Asia. Indeed one POW described an event just after the defeat of Japan as an example of what should be the standard.

Some of the Japanese were employed as labours to help load ships and some people would overload the Japanese workers. The ex-POW would order them to stop and would not let that abuse happen, despite being only a private in the Army. He would never allow us to be drawn down to the level that the enemy had used.

logged by Anthony at 4:09:40 PM Link

Either the world is becoming a terrible place or the information age is simply letting us know what exactly happens in conflicts of nations.

I've never been very happy about Australia's involvement in the "War against Terrorism" I feel the Australian government lost it's mind in November last year.

Now having seen the progress in the war, I still have to ask the question about our involvement.

Now I want to make it clear that I support the efforts of Australian Service men and women serving in Iraq. They place their lives on the line doing the job they have trained for and deserve much respect.

I have my gripe with the Government that sent them their.

More...

logged by Anthony at 9:57:22 PM Link

Believe it or not but the Patriot Act was used to gag a legal challenge to the Patriot Act by a civil liberties group. Three weeks ago a legal challenge was mounted but only now could the public be told of the existence of the challenge. How ridiculous with the U.S. go. Patriot Act Suppresses News Of Challenge to Patriot Act

logged by Anthony at 9:22:40 PM Link

The PM is getting very good at the flip flop act lately, although The road to surfdom has pointed out that he was well practiced doing this back in 2001 when the PM changed his stance on refugees

logged by Anthony at 9:48:19 AM Link

I hate rude drivers. Today coming into work I saw a case of a selfish rude driver, and just to show why in the end he got no further through traffic than I did. More...

logged by Anthony at 9:44:02 AM Link

Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson, who I normally have a lot of time for, is playing the political spin doctor games with Queensland state premier Peter Beattie. The Federal Government is delaying in implementing a halt to broad land clearing and Queensland is going it alone. Having left egg on the face of the Federal Government, the Deputy Prime Minister has to play spin doctor games. More...

logged by Anthony at 8:56:19 AM Link

I guess everyone know's that the US has been holding people in Guantanamo Bay without charge for over two years now. I agree that the government should be able to prevent attacks on its country. I also accept that at times this may require the holding of peoples without charge to to allow investigations to be completed while protecting the country. More...

logged by Anthony at 8:39:45 AM Link

Well now that Saddam has been caught by the US the question now arises, should Saddam get the death penalty?

US Senator Lieberman has made his views clear

Senator Lieberman said Saddam should only stand trial in a tribunal with the power to impose the death penalty Source ABC News

As for the UK Foreign Office they have made it clear they do not want the death penalty. The Australian Government is a little more undecided. The Foreign Minister Mr Downer said he could not support the death penalty for Saddam. But the Prime Minister supports the Death Penalty

Asked if he would support the death penalty, Mr Howard told the Nine Network: "If it were imposed, absolutely." He said he would prefer to see Saddam tried in Iraq than in an international tribunal. Source The Age

As for me, as I have said many times in the past, I see no reason why we should stoop as low as these tyrants and kill people because we feel we are better than they are. After all, Saddam's murders made in the name of law, an unjust law no doubt but are we any different to impose such a penalty.

logged by Anthony at 9:54:56 AM Link

James Ensor of Oxfam Community Aid Abroad agrees with my views on Australian Borders and has coined the term "elastic borders". I feel that Australia is behaving in a two faced manner over borders. On one hand we remove Melville Island from refugee status and then fight with East Timor over getting larger borders to get bigger gas and oil revenues.

logged by Anthony at 2:24:12 PM Link

Australia's Government appears to be heading off in to la la land. Look at the bizarre action taken in recent times.

People Smugglers & Illegal Immigrants

Australian has neglected international obligations to people in trouble by lying and then dumping people into other countries. The UNHRC is scathing in Australians treatment. Sydney Morning Herald Radio Australia BBC News

The Prime Minister had to accept the Government did not tell the truth about the 14 Turkish people claiming asylum while in Australia. Really being on Australia does not matter, but our officials have to ignore/deny the claims and dump them into Indonesia. ABC News The Age Radio Australia NEWS.com.au The Age

The 14 Turkish people arrived within Australia's Migration Zone and having failed to stop them the Government then retrospectively moves the Zone away from them. ABC News The Age Sydney Morning Herald

The ministers were happy to have succeeded in stopping another boat of illegal immigrants, "that did not claim asylum" but they did. And why would we want to move the Migration Zone if they were not claiming asylum. Gee the Australian Navy is more powerful than a boatload of people fleeing a country. Australia is in denial Sydney Morning Herald

Khaleed Daoed faces court over the deaths of peoples he was 'smuggling' into Australia. BBC News

Bastian Disun and Bastian Disun were convicted of people smuggling. This was the start of the Tampa affair where Australia denied helping people rescued from the sea by the freighter Tampa. This was the start of Australia dumping immigrants on other countries. BBC News

Australia uses Indonesia as a dumping ground for Turkish refugees that landed within Australia's Migration Zone. BBC News

Fifty Vietnamese were the first to suffer Australia's denial of its borders. BBC News

Then there is the whole SIEV X affair. SIEVX.com and Child "truth" overboard affair. truthoverboard.com

This is an excellent debate on the immigration issue and in includes a reminder that the first Boat people we convicts from England in 1788. BBC News

East Timor

Australia tries to bully the poorest country in the world into giving up its most valuable resource, oil/gas in the ocean between Australia. Not happy with accepting a line down the middle Australia tries pushes. BBC News

Iraq

Why did we invade. To increase international Security. No The war has caused more death and done nothing to stop the people that committed the terrorists acts on Sept. 11. The world agreed to invade Afghanistan, but not Iraq. Parliament Current Issues Brief No 19 To stop a dictator, by why ignore Zimbabwe. Economic Examiner

Why did the Prime Minister have to mislead Australia about Iraq. Sydney Morning Herald The Age

Code of Conduct

Do you think any of these Ministers will face the Ministerial Code of Conduct over the immigration lies not likely.

Phillip Ruddock had friends accepting money so he would exercise a Ministerial power to approve Visa. Sydney Morning Herald So much for

Ministers should not exercise the influence obtained from their public office, or use official information, to obtain any improper benefit for themselves or another.

He just get to be promoted to Attorney General Radio Australia

After all the Prime Minister made sure his brother's company did not get investigate by ensuring it's employees were paid within 30 days 7:30 report. Meanwhile Ansett Employees still wait for entitlements two years later. The Age despite the Ansett Levy making a profit. Herald Sun

The Australian Government must not be re-elected.

logged by Anthony at 8:49:00 AM Link

I'm glad to see that Canberra appears to not be embracing the military bunker approach to dealing with terrorism. We have to accept that in today's world people can pretty much destroy things if they really want to. Just look at some of the tactics being used in the middle east. shoulder launched rockets could easily do as much damage to a shopping centre as a bomb. We have to try and get along with each other more.

Canberra warned off fortress mentality ABC News

logged by Anthony at 9:35:53 AM Link

I'm not sure whether this is true or not, but it's a nice story.....

As we know, we see discrimination in some form or another almost everyday and often times it leaves a sour taste in our mouths. The following story shows us the side of diversity that we are all working for. It is a pleasant twist to see that there are companies and individuals who face discrimination head on, if only one small step at a time.

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On a British Airways flight from Johannesburg, a middle-aged, well-off white South African lady has found herself sitting next to a black man. She called the cabin crew attendant over to complain about her seating.

"What seems to be the problem Madam?" asked the attendant. "Can't you see?" she said "You've sat me next to a kaffir. I can't possibly sit next to this disgusting human. Find me another seat!" "Please calm down Madam." the stewardess replied. "The flight is very full today, but I'll tell you what I'll do-I'll go and check to see if we have any seats available in club or first class."

The woman cocks a snooty look at the outraged black man beside her (not to mention many of the surrounding passengers). A few minutes later the stewardess returns with the good news, which she delivers to the lady, who cannot help but look at the people around her with a smug and self satisfied grin:

"Madam, unfortunately, as I suspected, economy is full. I've spoken to the cabin services director, and club is also full. However, we do have one seat in first class."

Before the lady has a chance to answer, the stewardess continues ... "It is most extraordinary to make this kind of upgrade, however, and I have had to get special permission from the captain. But, given the circumstances, the captain felt that it was outrageous that someone be forced to sit next to such an obnoxious person." With which, she turned to the black man sitting next to the woman, and said: "So if you'd like to get your things, sir, I have your seat ready for you..."

At which point, apparently the surrounding passengers stood and gave a standing ovation while the black guy walks up to the front of the plane.

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people will forget what you said

people will forget what you did

but people will never forget how you made them feel

logged by Anthony at 9:52:19 AM Link

Well it would appear that we don't wish to offend the Chinese Government by having protectors demonstrating their Australian right to free speech and association. But it is curious that the U.S. President requires to be sheltered from such freedoms. As part of the security restrictions put in place for the upcoming visit by the leaders of U.S.A. and China, formal protestors will only be allowed in front of the Parliament House, which is normal. However they will not be allowed to use public address systems that face the house. Likewise the public is banned from going inside the house. What a shame the U.S. President will not be able to view democratic free speech in action.Source Sydney Morning Herald

logged by Anthony at 9:43:50 AM Link

Verisign has implemented a service where by any mistyped domain names ending .com or .net will be redirected to their Sitefinder web service. This will try to suggest the correct web site. Now given that Search engines like Google has been able to redirect users to the correct site for years, this new "service" looks to become the bane of users. More...

logged by Anthony at 1:10:23 PM Link

The next Bali bomber has been convicted and although it will go to appeal, Samudra wants to die so the death penalty will give him his wish and encourage others to continue the terrorism. This is yet more reasons to abolish the death penalty. I am disappointed that the Australian Government will not oppose the death penalty even though it is outlawed here.

Samudra to appeal death sentence Extract

The 33-year-old Afghan-trained fighter was convicted of planning, carrying out, and financing the nightclub bombings in Kuta last October.

Although Samudra has said he wants to die as a martyr, his lawyers said they planned to appeal against the verdict. Source Yahoo AAP

logged by Anthony at 10:34:50 AM Link

Do you have trouble know how to write or express your thoughts. Well imagine having to learn English again! This article highlights some of the problems you may never have noticed. More...

logged by Anthony at 4:56:42 PM Link

So much for tight security around airports and heightened awareness. It appears the good old social engineering trick worked again. Just look like you know what you are doing and you just might get away with it.

Sydney airport computers stolen

Australia's top security agencies are to conduct emergency damage audits following the theft of computers from Sydney Airport's intelligence centre.

Customs officials have told The Sydney Morning Herald the stolen computers held thousands of confidential files, including top-secret communications between customs investigators, Australian Federal Police and ASIO.

The newspaper reports two men of Pakistani-Indian-Arabic appearance presented themselves as computer technicians and were given unfettered access to the airport's top security mainframe room on August 27.

"Inside, they spent two hours disconnecting two computers, which they put on trolleys and wheeled out of the room, past the security desk, into the lift and out of the building," the newspaper reported.

"The Australian Federal Police and ASIO, the two chief guardians against terrorism, fired off angry memos to customs officials, demanding to know the extent to which their top-secret operations have been compromised."

The theft is being investigated by the AFP.

Source Yahoo

Customs computers stolen from Sydney Airport

Australian Federal Police are investigating the theft of computer equipment from the Australian Customs Service at Sydney International Airport.

It is believed two men were involved in the high-level security breach.

The AFP are investigating the theft of two file servers from a Customs building at the airport last week.

A spokesman for Customs Minister Senator Chris Ellison says extensive testing of the system is now being conducted to determine whether it has been compromised by the theft.

He says there is no evidence to indicate there has been any intrusion.

He says Customs has been advised the servers did not contain any information about national security.

Senator Ellison has requested a report into the incident.

Source ABC

logged by Anthony at 9:58:37 AM Link

The Canberra International Airport has offered its services as a second airport to overcome problems at Sydney airport with issues like noise and night time curfews. However there is always the fog issue to content with and the local government planning issues.

Canberra 'a Sydney airport option'

Canberra has offered itself as an option, asking in its advertisements: "Is the solution to Sydney's second airport still 20 years away?"

The answer: "Less than three hours actually."

Source The Courier Mail

logged by Anthony at 10:25:56 AM Link

Do you believe it, the Liberal party has it mind set on selling Telstra. Now they have dragged the National party along as well. The majority of Australians do not want any more of Telstra sold. In recent polling 81% do not want it sold. But De-Anne Kelly still feels that people want it sold because they want jobs and opportunities. The things that the polling said people would do with the proceeds.

However if the question was worded, what would you like to see the proceeds used for, then the answer is assuming it is sold, not that they want it sold.

House of Reps set to pass Telstra sale legislationExtract

ALEXANDRA KIRK: Queensland National Party MP, De-Anne Kelly, whose Party has given in principle support for the sale, says what the Independents are doing is dishonest, leading their voters on, getting a result they want, instead of what their constituents want.

So what does De-Anne Kelly's survey of 69,000 households reveal?

DE-ANNE KELLY: 76 per cent of the people in my electorate would like to see the proceeds from Telstra spent on jobs and opportunities.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: But that doesn't mean that 76 per cent support the sale of Telstra does it?

DE-ANNE KELLY: Well, you can't get jobs and opportunities without the sale.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: As it turns out, her survey found 81 per cent opposition to selling Telstra.

DE-ANNE KELLY: Yes, on first blush people are opposed, but then they say, the very same people, that they would like to see the money spent on jobs and opportunities.

It bears out the sort of polling that's been done which says people have an emotional first response, then they think about the deeper questions of how money could be invested in their particular area to take them forward.Source ABC

logged by Anthony at 10:40:42 AM Link

Ethanol is a fuel alternative that is being proposed to be blended with Petrol for use in motor vehicles. Ethanol - What is it?

The sale of such ethanol-enriched fuel is irresponsible, for quite a number of reasons: increase the corrosion of the steel underground storage tanks and the fuel delivery systems increasing the risk of leakage. It also enables the fuel to spread on the water table to a greater extent.

High levels of ethanol in petrol could cause damage to cars.

The Federal Government's environment and agriculture departments, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, motoring and consumer groups, car makers and the Federal Opposition all support capping ethanol additives. Car makers warn that using high-ethanol fuels can void warranties.

While there is nothing wrong with the blended fuel provided the car equipped with the right engine.

There is a push from the Federal Government's backbench to force oil companies to include ethanol in all petrol sold in Australia.

The Federal Government's own finance department slammed the decision to protect ethanol producer Manildra from foreign competition

The Opposition accuses the Government of crony capitalism and alleges a conspiracy in a fix that fundamentally benefits ethanol boss Dick Honan.

Labor had a "legitimate" political point in pursuing the Prime Minister over claims he had misled Parliament over a secret meeting with ethanol producer Manildra.

logged by Anthony at 2:04:35 PM Link

More reasons against the death penalty! More...

logged by Anthony at 2:01:22 PM Link

Well now you can say sorry dear I have to stay back and have a drink with my workmates so I can get promoted.

A drink with workmates gets you the good oil

THAT glass of Guinness is not only good for you, it may also be good for your career. And so is any other alcoholic beverage, so long as it's shared with your workmates.

A new study has found that those who enjoy a drink with work colleagues earn more and have a better chance of being promoted.

The study, from Stirling University in Scotland, has found that, on average, moderate drinkers earn 17 per cent more than their teetotal comrades. And even men who consume more than 50 standard drinks a week - or 35 units for women - take home more than those who abstain.

Having slipped out of the office for a lunchtime tipple at the Occidental Hotel in Sydney yesterday, Jeremy Dell and Steve Priestman toasted the findings.

Dell and Priestman believe that the key to a successful career is the ability to communicate with colleagues. "Having a drink helps the informal discussions," Dell said. "You form friendships and networks outside the structured bureaucracy that really help you."

Priestman, 29, a marketing analyst, agrees: "Going out to have a chat and a beer with a key person from work can be the clincher for a promotion."

Priestman and Dell drink with other AAPT staff no more than once or twice a week. But should they regularly refuse the offer of a Friday afternoon beer, their chances for a promotion could be affected, they claim.

"It's not so much the alcohol as the social side, and being part of a team," Dell, 28, said. "It's a young and social place. And there's sort of an implied pressure to join in."

Jim Bright, a workplace psychologist at the University of NSW, said that so long as the pub did not become an alternative workplace, and that a culture didn't develop that expects alcohol consumption, drinking with colleagues can build trust and strengthen relationships.

"It's long been suspected that it's not what you know, but who you know. And what you know about them," Dr Bright said. "At the pub you pick up on all the important pieces of information you might otherwise miss out on."

By Drew Warne-Smith and agencies. Source The Australian

logged by Anthony at 1:59:44 PM Link

Nothing like looking to the future to avoid problems. Member for Monaro, Steve Whan wants to build house in an area know as Tralee, south of Queanbeyan, despite it being near the Canberra Airport flight path. Apparently Queanbeyan needs some block of land now to reducing housing prices and I tell you what I think those blocks will go cheap.

Aircraft noise no reason to halt land release: Whan

The Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, says aircraft noise should not restrict the development of land at Tralee, south of Queanbeyan.

Canberra airport has been lobbying against approval of the new suburb, claiming it is too close to the flight path.

Mr Whan says Queanbeyan, like Canberra, is fast running out of land.

He says it is having a big impact on housing affordability.

Mr Whan says local authorities cannot afford to sit idle.

"If we want to make housing affordable then we have to work towards getting more land released for housing," Mr Whan said.

"Now the issues for Tralee need to be resolved quickly but I don't think we want to just stall on these things.

"We want to make sure that we deal with any legitimate problems that people might have quickly , resolve them and get on with some release of this land."Source ABC

logged by Anthony at 1:57:44 PM Link

Before giving a presentation or a speech, prepare for tough questions by considering every possible concern. Take a piece of paper and draw a vertical line down the middle. Place negative issues on the left side; list positive issues on the right side. Then try to link each negative on the left to something positive on the right. (Adapted from Leadership Strategies newsletter.) Sourced from Weekly Business Writing Tips

logged by Anthony at 1:46:42 PM Link

Dixie Chick Natalie Maines believes stars should speak out more. The problem with this is that stars would be using their ability to act/sing etc to promote their own issues. Imagine if Tom Cruise promoted more of the Church of Scientology or if Jerry Seinfeld promoted being Jewish suddenly religious values are being used in TV Comedy and movies. These are not the places for such issues. The main point is that the power of publicity should be used for the how it was gained. Using it to promote other values is wrong. Sure they could express their views at a rally and use their stardom at the rally, but not at a concert.

Dixie Chick believes more stars should speak out

Dixie Chicks front woman Natalie Maines believes the backlash she and her band mates faced after her controversial comments would never have happened if stars weren't so afraid to speak out. During a performance in London earlier this year, Maines sparked outrage when she told fans she and her band mates were ashamed that American president George W Bush hailed from their home state of Texas.

In the months that followed, fans turned against them, radio stations banned them and they were booed during performances. And Maines believes her comments wouldn't have been met with such shock if the public were used to hearing stars' opinions. She says, "It scares other people for us to speak out, and it scares other artists after what happened to us. But I think the more people get it out there, then it would be less of a topic and of a judgment if everyone just said who they were and what they were."

Maines defiantly stands by her remarks, explaining, "We're all aware of what I said. And my apology was for the words that I used, but not for the motivation behind the words and for my beliefs. I think we have all stood behind that." (wenn) Source Soundbuzz

logged by Anthony at 1:25:33 PM Link

If you want to know about modern aircraft engines have a look at this GE web site.

The information is pretty good, but the Flash interface is great.

logged by Anthony at 1:14:35 PM Link

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June 20. However, they were starting to smell so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children - last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the dogs, cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained, it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man "could bring home the bacon". They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or "upper crust."

logged by Anthony at 12:59:39 PM Link