8 December 2015 On 9 December 2006,17 year old David Iredale and three mates went for a hike in the Blue Mountains as part of their Duke Of Edinburgh Award program. They planned it pretty carefully and they had detailed maps and stuff. But it all went terribly wrong: the maps indicated a fresh water source along the route, which wasn't there. It was hot -mid-30s centrigrade- and they'd run out of water. Somehow, David became separated from his mates - my recollection is that as the strongest of the hiking party, he struck out ahead of the others to seek assistance. He became severely dehydrated and rang emergency services on … [Read more...]
In vino sanitas*
28/11/2015 by
Huffington Post ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Research conducted by the University of Alberta in Canada has found that health benefits in resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, are similar to those we get from exercise. …………………………………………………………………………………….......…… According to lead researcher, Jason Dyck, these findings will particularly help those who are unable to exercise. Resveratrol was seen to improve physical performance, heart function and muscle strength in the same way as they’re improved after a gym session. According to Dyck: ... resveratrol could help patient populations who want to exercise but are physically incapable. Resveratrol … [Read more...]
NAIDOC Week 2015
07/07/2015 by
7 July 2015 We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920′s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians. NAIDOC Week is held in the first full week of July. It is a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements and is an opportunity to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to our country and our … [Read more...]
Saving Mr Ross
03/07/2015 by
……………………………………………………………………………………………………… The following note is from The Australian's High Wired column of 3 July 2015 about John Ross, the doyen of VET reporting in the mainstream media in Australia. Nice smile, too. …………………………………………………………………………………….......…… For those who don’t already know, HW’s talented colleague John Ross had a massive heart attack one Tuesday morning just over three weeks ago. Miraculously, he survived. Just days out from a quadruple bypass operation, John lay in his hospital bed and penned a piece about what had happened and the serendipity of strangers. It’s a compelling, heart-rending and extraordinary piece of writing. Please read and share. … [Read more...]
Nature is speaking
02/07/2015 by
2 July 2015 Nature doesn't need people - people need nature ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… The The Abbott government bangs on a bit about "intergenerational theft" - the "public debt legacy" current generations are leaving to to their children and grandchildren to sort. As one business writer has observed: That’s a bit rich coming from a government that has axed the carbon tax, tried to increase university fees and hopes to cut youth welfare. It’s a bit rich coming from a government that doesn’t have a thing to say about Australian housing policy or the superannuation concessions that largely benefit older and richer Australians. It's also a government that is … [Read more...]
Leap second
28/06/2015 by
ABC News | 21 May 2015 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… On June 30 at 11:59.59pm (GMT), an extra second will be added so the Earth's rotational spin can catch up with the world's atomic clocks. …………………………………………………………………………………….......…… But while the idea of an extra second in the day might seem small, computer security expert Dr Suelette Dreyfus warned the consequences could be significant. "The last time a leap second was added was on June 30, 2012 and that did cause some technical problems for popular websites like Reddit and Mozilla and LinkedIn," she said. "I understand that Qantas computer systems went down for a period of time partially because … [Read more...]
A not so average Joe
10/06/2015 by
10 June 2015 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Joe Hockey has sought to mollify aspiring homebuyers offended by his comments that “if housing were unaffordable in Sydney, no one would be buying it” and “the starting point for a first home buyer is to get a good job that pays good money”. …………………………………………………………………………………….......…… For the record, Joe Hockey’s salary as treasurer is about $400,000 a year. He’s also “entitled” to a privately plated car for official business and he gets a tax-free $271 for every night spent in Canberra or other rates for “official business” elsewhere. Whatever he doesn’t spend, he can pocket. When in Canberra, Hockey stays in a $2 million house … [Read more...]
