How fast Can-a-van go?

Buzz Aldrin - "Rocket Experience" Prod. Snoop Dogg

2012-01-29T20:56:00.000+10:00

Wow snoop dogg and Buzz Aldrin

Electric shocks and soccer.

2011-12-09T08:30:00.000+10:00

Ever wanted to let the players know how you feel?

One of the funniest things I've seen in ages.

(If subtitles are off turn them on with the CC button)

Legend

2011-12-01T00:19:00.000+10:00

I know we've all seen these but...

Hallelujah Chorus -Quinhagak, Alaska

2011-11-15T18:37:00.000+10:00

This is pretty cool... A group of kid in Alaska did it for school. It has gone Viral

Darth Abdullah evil Sith Lord of Saudi Arabia

2011-10-26T15:49:00.000+10:00

JJ Heller - What Love Really Means (Official Music Video)

2011-10-17T00:52:00.000+10:00

This One time on Band camp...

2011-10-14T00:00:00.003+10:00

Well on tuesday I'm going on a band camp... It made me think the last time I was on band camp was in 1996 which was a marching band camp... It was great fun. Nothing like these guys who just have to be seen.

These is also enjoyable.

Why can't our kids be kids?

2011-10-12T15:37:00.001+10:00

I took this off the Collective Shout website. I've e-mailed Diva and castletown to express my distaste...Join me?

Diva selling Playboy brand to girls

Keep the global brand of the porn industry off our girls – boycott Diva

Diva, the jewellery and accessories store popular with teenage girls, is now selling Playboy branded jewellery.

Through use of cute love heart logos, invitations to‘BFF us on Facebook’ and girls magazine promos, Diva are directly marketing to young girls. So why is Diva wanting to dress them up in a Pornography brand?

‘Playboy’ is not just a ‘cute bunny’, but represents the global brand of the pornography industry. We’ve previously written about how Playboy has infiltrated the mainstream market creating brand familiarity with young people. Playboy is now branding bed sheets, make up and even energy drinks. Playboy founder Hugh Hefner has previously said “I don’t care if a baby holds up a Playboy bunny rattle.” What is then forgotten is Playboy’s core business – pornography.

Among the other Playboy items on sale at Diva is a playboy bunny ‘bowtie’ necklace. Presumably for little girls who want to look like ‘Playboy Bunnies?’ What is Diva thinking?

Diva announced their new Playboy range on Facebook and received some negative responses:

Some of the comments include:

‘Ok so I’m not being a prude (my job is in the adult industry) but playboy is PORN…. Nude magazines, porn films… Ect and i know that diva is REALLY popular amongst girls aged like what 9-16? Diva should be about encouraging girls to empower themselves and their individuality. Not letting a girl aged 14 to year a bunny necklace that shows all she wants to do in life is be a dumb blonde who wants to be in porn and get with an old guy. Seriously diva, thought SO much better than this tacky crap….’

‘Totally agree Nadine. I have two little girls and they were my thoughts also.‘

‘Very disappointed. Will look totally off sitting next to the Disney princess section.’

Take Action!

Write to Diva here: contact@diva.net.au

You can let them know what you think on their Facebook page here.

Tweet them on Twitter here.

Phone them: 02 9938 3311 or 1300 348 228

More contact details for Diva can be found here.

Tell Diva to withdraw their Playboy range or you will boycott their store.

[UPDATED] Petition Launched calling on Diva to remove all Playboy products from sale. Please sign the petition here
.

Leadership From A Dancing Guy

2011-10-11T23:50:00.000+10:00

Did I live my life for you?

2011-10-05T16:30:00.000+10:00

Star Wars Talk to Your Kids

2011-10-04T05:31:00.000+10:00

What is Star wars?

2011-09-30T21:01:00.000+10:00

I am constantly amazed how many people haven't seen the brilliance that is Star Wars. Here is a 2 minute summary of all 6 movies.

John Carter Trailer 2012 -- Official Movie Trailer | HD

2011-09-30T09:29:00.000+10:00

This could be interesting... This is based on books written by the same guy who wrote the tarzan books...

This is why I watch AFL

2011-09-24T23:01:00.000+10:00

What a game.... To put Collingwood into the GF...

Wrong Worship

2011-09-18T23:42:00.000+10:00

I'm fairly sure I've seen this posted around still a great reminder

You know you are from PNG when...

2011-09-18T00:01:00.000+10:00

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A PAPUA NEW GUINEAN WHEN

* You can have cordial 4 breakfast.
* You have buai and smoke for Lunch.
* You still live with your parents even though you're 30
* U bring your boyfriend/girlfriend to the house and everyone's concluded that you are married!
* You wear board shorts to cruz in town even though u r not going 4 a swim
* You share one cigarette with five other people
* Your Mother gives your father Black eyes
* You have about 3 families living in one house
* Still keep drinking even though you can barely talk and walk
* At any major function, instead of a plate, your food comes in a plastic container
* You run into a mountain of Slippers blocking the front door.
* Your staple diet is rice and tin fish or Ox & palm.
* You have a huge gap between your first two toes, (excessive thongwear...)
* Swimming pool is filled with people wearing t-shirts, (Females)
* You can sprint barefoot on sharp stones and rocks.
* You wake up and go straight to work or classes
* At crossings, your supposed 2 wait 4 the car to stop b4 crossing, not the other way around.
* Your first and last names are the same. ( John John )
* You have a perpetually drunk Uncle who starts fights at every family gathering
* You call a friend - (squad),
* Every time you greet someone he says "YOU"?
* You have sat in a 4-seater car with up to 8 other people.
* You can speak with your face - eg. Twitch like a rabbit to ask, Where you going?"
* Your Grandmother thinks Vicks Vapour-Rub is the miracle cure for everything (including broken bones...)
* You're getting a hiding and your parents yell at you as to,"Why you are crying for?" ("you karai lo wanem ah ......")
* You've been shamed and belted up by your Mother in front of schoolmates at the Supermarket.
* You're a Tycoon on your payday by shouting everyone and scab money off people till the next fortnight.
* You invite people over for dinner and your family all of a sudden says the grace.
* You've had an afro at some stage in your life (boys AND girls) and thought you looked cool.
* You're at your Aunties and see your 6 year old cousin doing household chores.
* Your Aunty visits and she's talking to you at the same time as looking in your pots for food...
* You think PMV Bus door can hold nearly 10 people
* You go to your village rich and come back poor.
* If you cannot recall peoples names you call them ‘raitmen’ or ‘raitmeri’
* You have lap laps for curtains in your house.
* You empty your pay packet on Friday & over the weekend, by Monday you go looking for Dinau Moni

GOD BLESS PNG

PNG EM BEST YAH………….Ha ha ha ha a a a a …..

Now, stop laughing and send it over to other proud Papua New Guineans.

Couldn't help but repost this... still a classic

2011-09-12T23:18:00.001+10:00

This version is better and probably reflects my attempts to sing it more. Kudos to Justine Beal for giving me this

BOATLIFT, An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience

2011-09-12T16:42:00.000+10:00

The more you dig into tragedy the more you will see common people stepping up. However the bravery of these guys- Remember no one knew what was happening at this time or if it was a large scale attack but they just kept sailing into the smoke

Brain Mush

2011-09-10T15:20:00.000+10:00

Hmmmm I have always wondered.

HAVE you found yourself watching TV while talking on the phone and checking your emails?

Already distracted reading that sentence? Well, you're not alone, the Herald Sun reported.

The internet has not only changed our lives, it's changed the way our brains work, according to research by visiting UK social psychologist Sheila Keegan.

Dr Keegan says the internet is reducing our ability to think and concentrate and, with long-term use, could cause brain dysfunction.

"We spend huge and a growing number of hours on the internet and, as a result, our brains are returning to shallow thinking," she said.

"We are being more easily distracted, and our thinking has developed a staccato quality that lacks concentration.

"The problem is so widespread that studies have also concluded that long-term internet addiction would result in chronic dysfunction of our brains, which is a pretty scary thought!"

Dr Keegan said more research was needed to be done on the long-term effects of persistent use of the internet, particularly in young children.

She said US research had revealed some children as young as five spent up to six hours a day in front of a screen. Lengthy periods spent alone in front of the TV or on the computer meant many young children were not developing the social skills they needed for later life.

"Kids need to have a good balance. They can learn a lot from the internet," she said.

"But the human brain is quite malleable. It's hard to say what the long-term effects will be. There needs to be research. But it's a bit like climate change. We can't wait for it to happen."

Dr Keegan presented her paper, Are we losing our minds and should we be bothered?, at the Australian Marketing and Social Research conference in Sydney this week.

Flaring Up - Surfing with a Flare - Red Bull Minor Threat

2011-09-04T00:06:00.000+10:00

This is kinda cool... but I wonder if sharks like flares

John Cleese vs Extremism

2011-09-03T01:30:00.000+10:00

Lecrae - Battle song ft. Suzy Rock

2011-09-03T01:23:00.000+10:00

The Gruen Transfer - The Pitch - Soccer

2011-09-02T18:57:00.000+10:00

No phone reception for the brotherhood

2011-09-02T09:15:00.000+10:00

Quite a good rap from some the students at st Teresa's Abergowrie talking about some of their issues- but mostly their lack of phone reception... But the story had a good ending Telstra put in a tower after seeing this. Catch is- it is limited to 30meters from the tower.

OK Go and The Muppets - Muppet Show Theme Song

2011-08-27T02:04:00.000+10:00

Hmmm well I like Ok Go and the muppets but not sold on this. Having said that there was some funny ok go references

A muppet dream within a muppet dream? Muppception!

2011 Lego Rugby World Cup

2011-08-27T01:33:00.000+10:00

301 posts

2011-08-24T03:05:00.001+10:00

Wow who would have guessed it... And most of it youtube too probably. Here is one to celebrate. I'm a huge fan of the kicking with white shoes from the band.

What is your impact on Your Environment

2011-08-23T16:30:00.003+10:00

I've been challenged recently on trying to positively effect my soundings. So many times it doesn't feel like you are getting anywhere and is easy to get discouraged. I found this challenging. From Here

37 Seconds To Read: May Change Your View For A Lifetime

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.

His bed was next to the room’s only window

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.

Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats.. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band – he could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.

It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, ‘Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.’

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy.

‘Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present .’

Study, Why so Hard?

2011-08-23T15:03:00.003+10:00

Well over the last One and a Half years I've been working on a Diploma of Youth Work through SU's training arm. And I've really struggled with it. Motivation levels have been at an all time low. One the surface it is easy- one online task every week (takes about 15 mins) and then a portfolio every term. (probably takes about 18 hours total). I really struggle to get the work done. And I shouldn't. It isn't hard. And it relates to my job. I mean this was last week's task- It isn't hard.

C7 OLT2: Doing Research and Evaluation with Children, Young People and Families

When planning programs and other responses to researched needs, it is important to factor in processes for evaluation. Such reviews are essential if we are to determine whether, not only our responses, but our processes in working out our responses, have been successful. Doing review and evaluation with children, young people and families can have its challenges, but these can be overcome. Fortunately, many others have gone before us and mapped out the challenges of such evaluations and have charted courses through them.

In this week's task, you are required to read a Fact Sheet on research with children, young people and families, and then respond to three discussion questions specifically about evaluation.

Read the Fact Sheet:

Read the Fact Sheet called, "Collecting Data from Parents and Children for the Purpose of Evaluation"by M McDonald & K Rosier (CAFCA)

Respond to the Discussion Questions:

Why is it important to do research and evaluation with children, young people and families
Outline one challenge you might face in trying to do research and evaluation with children, young people and families
Outline one strategy you might use to overcome that challenge

(Please refer to ideas outlined in the reading provided as well as from your own experiences)

As usual, make your post and respond to the posts of two other students...

(taken from the training site)

But why am I struggling so much to get it done? Is it my Pride thinking I don't need to be trained on something I can already do and do very well (apparently).

Or is it just pure and simple laziness? Differences in theology? I am jumping on any excuse not to do it. For example last year there was a section that I disagreed with theologically and so I shut down. I avoided any calls about the course and didn't do my assignments. Buried my head under a rock and waited for it all to vanish. It didn't. And I got it done- writing the same way I did at uni saying what was wanted to be said. Feeling hollow and like a sellout.

Is it because it is correspondence? Well the trainers are very good at contacting you and keeping you going. The on-line stuff is really good. And they have done a great job at making it easy to do where I am- though a study buddy here would be great.

Maybe I'm just losing my study edge. Maybe the thirst for knowledge is dry. Does this mean Bible college isn't for me?

The Mp3 Experiment Eight

2011-08-23T13:47:00.000+10:00

This is also very cool

Say Something Nice

2011-08-23T13:40:00.000+10:00

This would be good fun to do. Though in Townsville you are likely to get much different results.

Table Tennis -Spectacular!!

2011-08-20T23:07:00.000+10:00

O-Shen - Country Boy.

2011-08-15T15:59:00.000+10:00

sit back and enjoy

2011-08-15T07:53:00.000+10:00

I can't explain this but I've watched this 3 times and enjoyed it. It just needs to be experienced.

JESUS BEER

2011-08-14T16:34:00.000+10:00

Wow..... I dunno what to say

Jesse's 10 Commandments

2011-08-13T12:15:00.001+10:00

The ten commandments of Success

1. Speak to people There is nothing as nice as a cheerful greeting…..

2. Smile It takes 72 muscles to frown and only 14 to smile…..

3. Call people by name Everyone is pleased when you remember their name…..

4. Be friendly and helpful And others will respond in like manner…..

5. Speak and act As if everything you do were a genuine pleasure…..

6. Be genuinely Interested in people…..

7. Be generous With praise – Cautious with criticism…..

8. Be considerate With the feelings of others and it will be appreciated…..

9. Be thoughtful Of the opinions of others, there are 3 sides to any controversy – yours, the other persons and the right one?

10. Be willing To give service, what counts most in life is what we do for others…..

Poodle Fitness Video

2011-08-11T16:24:00.001+10:00

Hmmmm maybe this is what I need to do....

found here

All my tears by Jars of Clay

2011-08-08T17:02:00.000+10:00

Darth Vader Kicks Back & Goes On Holiday

2011-08-08T13:21:00.000+10:00

Darth Vader Kicks Back & Goes On Holiday

Songify This - CAN'T HUG EVERY CAT -- a song about loving cats

2011-08-06T07:48:00.000+10:00

The Skinny on Worship

2011-07-25T14:53:00.000+10:00

Idol Worship

2011-07-25T14:45:00.000+10:00

I'm a bit confused about how they have all these PNG guys and then Peru temples... But a good reminder

10 tips to losing weight in winter from Weightwatchers

2011-07-21T12:39:00.002+10:00

Take these 10 non-food related tips for adding energy to your life, and put a pep back in your step this chilly season.Find you can barely muster up the energy to change the channel these days? Take these 10 energy boosting tips on board..Winter's probably the time when we all feel the most lethargic. In fact, many of us spend it holed up in front of the latest reality show rather than out and about enjoying the crisp air.

Music
Chill out CDs are well and good, but for some instant get up and go choose lively bouncy tracks. Think Madonna, Kylie, Elvis, Abba – anything that makes you feel like moving will automatically lift energy levels and put a smile on your face.
Smell
Burning calming oils and incense may be great for creating that calm and peaceful haven but you can also use them to rejuvenate and uplift. Try lemon, grapefruit, jasmine, peppermint and orange oil.
Get active outdoors
Getting away from artificial lighting and computer screens is a natural mood booster. It also plays an important part in helping us get vitamin D which forms under our skin in reaction to light.
Colour
Choose your surroundings and clothes carefully. Wean yourself off the usual drab dark greys and black, and instead choose something more dramatic – reds, oranges, and yellows – even cerise pink! You don't have to dress head to toe to make use of these colours - a bright top, scarf or even coat will add vibrancy and make you feel less like you're fading into the background.
Get up early
Setting the alarm clock half an hour earlier and forcing yourself to go for a run or even a walk around the block will help you feel more invigorated for the rest of the day.
Avoid the vampires
These are the people who drain you of every last drop of energy with their moans about their kids, boss, partners and the weather. While we're not saying drop your friends, notice who revs you up and who pulls you down. Make an effort to see more of the first and less of the last.
Find a passion
There's nothing that energises us so much as passion – whether it's a passion for drama, making clothes or learning to play the piano. Having a goal or a project give us much more to think and talk about and you'll rediscover untapped reserves of oomph you never knew you had!
Sleep
Really make the effort to relax before you go to sleep – have a warm bath, read a book, even do some gentle yoga or meditation and get to bed at a reasonable time. If you've got so much on your mind you find it hard to switch off, then write it all down. It's interesting how your mind feels much lighter once you've 'dumped' all your worries down on paper.
Organise your environment
Unload food you don't want, get rid of clothes that make you feel dowdy and give away jewellery you never wear to friends that might. Don't rush out to replace them straight away. Enjoy the feeling of space – you might just want to keep it.
Get help
If you really are feeling overwhelmed and under-resourced tell someone. Can you get a cleaner? Delegate more to someone else at work? Choose a different shift or switch your hours? Energy is precious and the less of it you spend on the boring stuff the better.

Changes Pt 1

2011-07-21T12:23:00.002+10:00

Probably one of the smaller changes I have made in my life recently is attacking my weight. I started Weight watchers. So far I have lost 6.8kgs which isn't heaps but it is a start. So many times in my life I've said I need to do something but never started. Well now I have. I like the flexibility of Weight watcher- I can still eat the foods i like; I just need to be wiser on my choices and portion sizes. Been struggling a bit for the last few weeks but hoping that this week I get back on track. (feel free to encourage me as that always helps)

My first goal is to get below 100kg. Lot of work to do yet.

3D Printer

2011-07-20T23:34:00.000+10:00

Craig Ferguson showed me this tonight have a look

One of My favourite parts from Firefly

2011-07-20T00:17:00.002+10:00

And this is why I like the show with lines like these. (warning language and violence)

'Coke Zero' Team Left Field: Quick Draw Challenge

2011-07-19T09:59:00.000+10:00

Wow... crazyiness

2011-07-18T23:11:00.000+10:00

Apocalyptica "Hall of The Mountain King" (official full length live video)

2011-07-18T22:56:00.000+10:00

Why limit to classical or metal when you can have both.

Unlucky Keeps

2011-07-16T01:45:00.000+10:00

2011-07-10T13:52:00.000+10:00

Queensland's triumph a victory over the dirty rats of Origin

Mal Meninga
From:The Sunday Mail (Qld)
July 10, 2011 12:00AM
113 comments

TRIUMPHANT: Maroons players celebrate their victory in the State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium last Wednesday. Picture: Mark Kolbe Source: Getty Images

ON Friday morning, I celebrated my 51st birthday at breakfast with a couple of friends at the cafe atop the Kangaroo Point cliffs in Brisbane.

As we ate, I took in the panoramic view of Brisbane's central business district beneath a clear winter sky and saw a city that reflected the Queensland State of Origin team.

Looking across the river to the gleaming buildings of the CBD, it was easy to forget that not so long ago this was a city with a broken heart.

Back in January, that same picturesque river did its best to bring Brisbane to its knees, delivering devastating floods that swamped parts of the city and that added to the agony of Queenslanders across the state in a summer of disaster.

But on Friday, I saw a city and a state that have emerged from their darkest hours to once again stand proud and successful.

Like the city of Brisbane, the Queensland team have managed to restore their glory despite the almost irresistible surge of forces beyond their control, through the commitment and pride of their people.

In each building, standing defiantly over the very river that tried to drown them, I saw the reflection of every player who has played for Queensland - especially the team this year in our toughest Origin campaign.

Like the city, the team once again stands triumphant, their success hiding the filth and rats that continue to linger in the sewers and dark corners, and masking the scars left by the menace that tried to cut it down.

What the Maroons achieved on Wednesday night was about more than a sixth straight series win, or a fitting farewell for a champion in our captain Darren Lockyer.

It was a victory against the very rats and filth that tried to poison a monumental team with lies, personal attacks, arrogance and disrespect.

What the Queensland team has been able to achieve in the past six years has been truly remarkable, something never achieved before at State of Origin level.

The only other comparable era of success would be that enjoyed by the great St George team, which won 11 premierships between 1956 and 1966.

But although the tremendous achievements of the great Dragons team are quite rightly celebrated by the game, it frustrates me that the unequalled success of this Maroons team is not similarly embraced.

Like that St George team of years gone by, this Queensland team has transformed mere men into immortals, and footballers into young men their community can be proud of.

But rather than be a cause for celebration, the Queensland team this year found itself the victim of a smear campaign so malicious and orchestrated that it tainted the entire code of rugby league.

And it came from the enemy within the game itself.

They are the faceless men of influence who claim their agenda is to benefit the game. Really, their only agenda is to benefit themselves.

For them, what Queensland has achieved in the past six years is detrimental to the health of the game.

Rather than celebrating the positive, by marvelling at the skill and achievements of a very special rugby league team - as with St George - they focus on "destroying a dynasty".

Let me tell you this for a start: no one in the Queensland camp uses the word dynasty. Dynasties are about personal glory. We are not interested in dynasties, we are concerned with leaving a legacy.

Legacies are about leaving the game in a better position than it was before. That is our goal, our mantra.

Regardless, the powerbrokers in NSW set about trying to destroy the system, the very same system they themselves copied for their own benefit.

No matter that the television ratings were at a record high. No matter that all three games were sold out.

They are the ones who dragged the spotlight off the game on the field and on to the judiciary with the citing of Johnathan Thurston, and who found five weeks' worth of difference in the identical tackles of David Taylor and Akuila Uate.

They are the ones who criticise Queensland's two closed training sessions as a refusal to promote the game, yet give their blessing to the NSW decision not to name its team until an hour before kick-off - the first time in Origin history.

They are the ones who have the hide to label Queensland - a team built on the twin pillars of respect and humility - arrogant in victory and whingers in defeat, but offer nothing when their captain places the loss of the series at the feet of the referees, instead of acknowledging superior opponents.

For them, the self-appointed keepers of the game, rugby league's health depended on NSW winning this year. That is what made me and others targets of personal attacks this year, conceived by puppets and driven by smarter people with their own interests at heart.

When the attacks were directed at individuals, myself among them, my initial reaction was to treat it like water off a duck's back.

But it was only a day or so later that it dawned on me what the powerbrokers were trying to achieve.

Rather than trying to unsettle or stress the individuals, what they were trying to do was rot the systems we have put in place for success from the inside out by planting a seed of doubt in the minds of the players and staff. I was one they chose to attack in a sinister and malicious manoeuvre to remove me from my job. It was a disregard and disrespect of what I have worked so hard and so proudly to achieve in my career as a player, and now as a coach, by attacking my reputation, integrity, credibility and abilities, by branding me a dispensable commodity, an easily replaced cog in a machine they controlled.

My achievements were reduced to mere collateral damage, "for the good of the game", nothing more than a tactic from a desperate team trying to win a game of football.

What they were doing was attacking, and trying to destroy my employment in a job that I love.

During the first few days in camp, I asked Major General Mick Slater, the head of the Queensland Government's Flood Recovery Taskforce, to speak to the players. Mick is an impressive and genuine man, who personally saw the devastation caused around the state earlier this year, and comforted those left heartbroken when their world turned on them.

Mick talked to the players about Queenslanders dealing with hard times and overcoming adversity. He spoke about why winning means less than the effort you put in, and how you carry yourself; about being gracious in defeat and humble in success. The players hung on his every word.

The Queensland team didn't face a flood or a cyclone on Wednesday night, but in the week leading up to the game they faced the sinister elements of a game that should be sheltering them. It was personal. It was malicious, and it was disgraceful.

I know the people who were behind it. I know their personal agendas. Some of them I had considered friends. I know I will never forget what they did.

They are the rats who, rather than celebrating a remarkable football team, tried to drown it with a flood of lies, half-truths and propaganda.

I think if Mick Slater had sat with me at breakfast on Friday, and reflected on the fighting qualities of this state and its football team, he would have joined me in being a very proud man.

Carousel Horse Race

2011-06-28T02:21:00.000+10:00

An unusual crash for two race bikes

2011-06-23T15:10:00.000+10:00

Very funny crash and aftermarth

2011-06-20T17:00:00.001+10:00

Found an article that has some facinating stats. Guess it tells us to step up a bit.- Well when I become a father. Found here

Fathers: Key to Their Children's Faith

By S. Michael Craven | Christian Post Guest Columnist

I am afraid that our culture in general has reduced the role of fatherhood (along with marriage itself) to something nonessential or unnecessary. Even many men today regard parenting as being primarily the mother's role and somehow no longer associated with masculinity or “real” manhood.

Instead, many have succumbed to modern cultural caricatures-encouraged by feminist psychology-and the primitive label of hunter-gatherer, and thus assume that this is their main contribution to the family. As a result too many men, including professing Christian men, express their role as father exclusively in terms of financial provider. The fact is children are not looking for financial provision; they are looking for love, guidance, and a role model for what it means to be a man.

During the colonial period in America men defined themselves by their level of community involvement and fatherhood. Marriage and fatherhood were seen as being among the highest aspirations in a man’s life. Today the highest aspirations of men seem to be career success and personal leisure; and against these they seek to balance marriage and family.

The lack of actively involved fathers has produced societal conditions necessary for the intervention of government. It is a sobering fact when the government is compelled to respond to the failure of such a fundamental institution as family! In 2001 the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services under President Bush launched its Fatherhood Initiative with this statement:

The President is determined to make committed, responsible fatherhood a national priority … [T]he presence of two committed, involved parents contributes directly to better school performance, reduced substance abuse, less crime and delinquency, fewer emotional and other behavioral problems, less risk of abuse or neglect, and lower risk of teen suicide. The research is clear: fathers factor significantly in the lives of their children. There is simply no substitute for the love, involvement, and commitment of a responsible father.

While the research confirms that paternal absence (whether it is physical or emotional) is a significant contributing factor in almost every category of societal ill, my concern is the spiritual consequence.

A rather obscure but large and important study conducted by the Swiss government in 1994 and published in 2000 revealed some astonishing facts with regard to the generational transmission of faith and religious values. (The full title of the study is: “The Demographic Characteristics of the Linguistic and Religious Groups in Switzerland” by Werner Haug and Phillipe Warner of the Federal Statistical Office, Neuchatel. The study appears in Volume 2 of Population Studies No. 31, a book titled The Demographic Characteristics of National Minorities in Certain European States, edited by Werner Haug and others, published by the Council of Europe Directorate General III, Social Cohesion, Strasbourg, January 2000.) Sounds like a page-turner right?

In short, the study reveals: “It is the religious practice of the father of the family that, above all, determines the future attendance at or absence from church of the children” (Emphasis mine).

The study reports:

1. If both father and mother attend regularly, 33 percent of their children will end up as regular churchgoers, and 41 percent will end up attending irregularly. Only a quarter of their children will end up not practicing at all.

2. If the father is irregular and mother regular, only 3 percent of the children will subsequently become regulars themselves, while a further 59 percent will become irregulars. Thirty-eight percent will be lost.

3. If the father is non-practicing and mother regular, only 2 percent of children will become regular worshippers, and 37 percent will attend irregularly. Over 60 percent of their children will be lost completely to the church!

What happens if the father is regular but the mother irregular or non-practicing? Amazingly, the percentage of children becoming regular goes up from 33 percent to 38 percent with the irregular mother and up to 44 percent with the non-practicing. This suggests that loyalty to the father’s commitment grows in response to the mother’s laxity or indifference to religion.

In short, if a father does not go to church-no matter how faithful his wife’s devotions-only one child in 50 will become a regular worshipper. If a father does go regularly, regardless of the practice of the mother, between two-thirds and three-quarters of their children will become churchgoers (regular and irregular). One of the reasons suggested for this distinction is that children tend to take their cues about domestic life from Mom while their conceptions of the world outside come from Dad. If Dad takes faith in God seriously then the message to their children is that God should be taken seriously.

This confirms the essential role of father as spiritual leader, which I would argue is true fatherhood. Fathers are to love their wives as Christ loves the church, modeling the love of the Father in their most important earthly relationship. Fathers are to care for their children as our Father in heaven cares for us and finally, fathers play a primary role in teaching their children the truth about reality. It is the father who should instruct his children in their understanding of the world from a consciously and informed Christian worldview. It is the father who is essential for sending his children forth with a biblical view of reality and a faith in Jesus Christ that is rooted in solid understanding.

It is time for fathers to return to honorable manhood and reconsider their priorities and realign them with God’s commands, decrees, and laws, teaching these things to your children “when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise” (Deuteronomy 6:7 NKJV)

Teaching in Papua New Guinea --Part 2 of 2

2011-06-18T13:25:00.000+10:00

Wow I just found this. Look out for me and bethy... so cute :-)

Ukarumpa

2011-06-18T13:17:00.000+10:00

This is where I grew up. some days I miss it

Back in the game

2011-05-24T16:11:00.003+10:00

Well I'm going to try and get back in the game. Starting today. Stand by for some more personal stuff.

Transformers 3 Dark of the Moon Trailer 3 Official (HD)

2011-05-18T22:10:00.000+10:00

Have you seen this newer trailer? Makes me excited

World of Warcraft- Here Without You

2011-04-27T16:16:00.000+10:00

A sad story :-)

How technology (and Steve Jobs) has helped the Persecuted Church

2011-04-08T09:18:00.002+10:00

Fascinating thought. From here

How Steve Jobs (and the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans Before Him) Accidentally Empowered the Persecuted Church

1425 words by John Dyer on Apr 7, 2011 in Our Technological World with 5 comments

Steve Jobs has designed some fantastic products.

But that’s something everyone already knows.

What most of us don’t realize is that some of the product decisions Apple has made in the last decade have had a positive, though largely unintended impact on believers in closed, persecuted countries. These are fellow followers of Christ who will never touch an iPhone or use a system named after a big cat, and yet they are now using technology heavily influenced by choices Apple made over the last decade.

What the iPod Meant to the Big-C Church

15 years ago the dominate medium for music and audio was the CD. Then MP3 ripping technology came along and we started converting all of our CDs to MP3s our computer (or, if you were a sinner in the 1990s, you downloaded them from Naptster).

Shortly thereafter, the first MP3 players came on the market, but those early models only only had around 128 megabytes of memory, meaning you had to choose which 25 songs you wanted to listen to at one time.

Then, out of the blue, came the iPod with its $400 price tag and radical new interface, and it – as Apple is fond of proclaiming – changed everything. But the significance of the iPod wasn’t the Apple-y-goodness of its clickwheel. No, the iPod was revolutionary because it made gigabytes the new norm for storage capacities.

So why did this matter for the Church?

Well, there are still plenty of people around the world who live in cultures that don’t have a written language. Even if they do have a written language, illiteracy rates are high in many poor countries. This means that it costs millions of dollars to bring in a team that can create a written language out of their spoken words, translate the Bible into that newly created writing standard, and then teach everyone to read it.

The obvious solution was to translate directly into spoken words and give those cultures audio versions of the Scriptures. The problem was that doing so required dozens of CDs and a large playback device.

When the iPod came along, it was suddenly possible to carry a few dozen solar powered Bible in a backpack across the Amazon, the African plains, or the mountains of east Asia. Missionaries could hand such devices to any person anywhere in the world, and that person could hear the Word of God.

An even bigger bonus is that while customs agents often confiscate Bibles and CDs, they don’t care about MP3 players.

The iPhone Changed Everything… Again!

When the iPhone came out with its $600 price tag and single-button interface, it too was loved and ridiculed around the tech world. But as important as its interface was for the future of phone design, the iPhone’s more long-term legacy is that it pushed HTML5 audio and video into the mainstream.

HTML5 media allows web developers to show users audio and video without using plugins like Flash or RealMedia (remember them?). HTML5 had been around for a few years before the iPhone, but it was never a viable technology since it had such low adoption and there were all kinds of debates about whether HTML5 should use a license-heavy format like H.264 or an “open” format like Ogg/Vorbis (or Google’s new WebM).

But that’s a debate for the rich people of the world to have.

The persecuted Church just need a common standard for video. MP3 had long become the audio standard, but it was only when the iPhone came along that MP4/H.264 became a reasonalbly reliable standard format for video. For the first time, someone could make a video file in H.264 and know that it would work on almost any device.

And Now, the iPad

A few years later the iPad came along and it too was supposed to change the way people lived their lives and did their work.

But like the iPod and iPhone, the significance of the iPad is not really what rich people do with them, but the file format that Apple chose to distribute its content. In the case of the iPad, it was Apple’s choice to use the ePUB format for its ebooks that is beginning to have an impact in digital Bible distribution.

Prior to this decision, it was difficult to know what format to choose for distributing digital copies of the Bible. Adobe’s PDF is great for sending formatted documents that almost any computer can read, but PDF really only works on large computer screens because the text cannot be reformatted to display nicely on small devices like a cell phone.

There are other ebook formats out there that can reflow text such as Amazon’s AZW which it uses on its Kindle platform (or MOBI which Kindle also supports). However, these more proprietary formats are not very helpful as mechanisms for delivering digital Bibles and Christian reading material because they just don’t have wide enough adoption.

But ePUB is a perfect format for a universal book format. It’s basically just a ZIP file with a bunch of HTML webpages inside. Now that Apple has adopted ePUB (along with Border’s Nook), it is becoming a standard for in any ereading device.

Seminary for $79 at Walmart

The man you see in the picture above is Ken Bitgood, an air traffic controller who founded an organization called the Digital Bible Society. DBS specializes in collecting Bibles and theological material and distributing that material in closed countries. They started with Chinese language materials 10 years ago that they distributed on tens of thousands of CDs.

In the picture, Ken is holding up a $79 Ematic Color eReader.

It has a 7” color screen and 4GB of capacity (expandable via microSD).

It can play audio in MP3, play video in MP4, and read books in ePUB.

Sound familiar?

Ken and his team are preparing gigabytes of Bible, Christian books, and videos like the Jesus film and putting them on devices like the one from Ematic as well as microSD chips that today’s Bible smugglers can hide in their cameras or in their socks allowing them to sneak biblical materials into highly dangerous countries.

I had the chance to meet with them and some other ministries a few weeks back (they needed an HTML5 player), and they showed me an incredible array of James Bond-like devices that various ministries around the world are using to smuggle these materials in all manner of dark places.

One man talked about being interrogated by secret police for meeting with people and giving them Bibles. Then, through a thick Arabic accent, he said to the group,

“H.264 and ePUB are gifts from God.”

Is the Church Really Behind Technologically?

Occasionally, I hear tech-savvy Christians saying things like, “The church is so behind technologically.”

In one sense this is true.

Most churches simply can’t afford to buy every single new device Apple or any other company produces. But this problem is really unique to those living in the richest country in the world. We debate the finer points of Android vs. iPhone, CDMA vs. GSM, and USB vs. Thundercats (or whatever).

But outside our aberration of wealth, technology for the church takes on an entirely different significance. Pakistanis interested in Christianity can’t take a Bible home without getting killed by their family members. But they can take a microSD card from a missionary, plug in into their phones, and – like Nicodemus long ago (John 3:1-2) – hear from Jesus in the dark.

And this has been happening for quite some time.

When the Egyptians abandoned hieroglyphics for the emerging standard we now call “the alphabet,” Moses jumped on it (Ex. 34:27; Deut. 31:9). When the Hittites invented iron-smelting (around 1200), David snuck in, stole their technology, and then beat them down with it (Judges 1:19; 1 Samuel 13:19; 1 Sam 22:1; 2 Sam 12:29-31). When Alexander forced everyone to learn Greek and when the Romans paved Europe, the Spirit commissioned his disciples to go into all the world – using those roads – and share the message of Jesus – using the common language of Greek – with everyone (Acts 1:8). And we all know the story of the printing press.

Personally, I find it amazing that God has repeatedly used technology as a means of furthering his church. He is perfectly capable of working through dreams and miracles and yet he chooses to use the tools made by those who don’t yet know him to glorify himself and draw men and women to the Savior.

And that changes everything.

When will he lose it?

2011-04-05T22:43:00.000+10:00

My house mate gets his license back today- but can he keep it?????

Williamhill, ONLINE CASINO REVIEWS, Casino, Vote Polls, PLAY BINGO FREE

Rango- Owl Song

2011-03-22T02:50:00.001+10:00

Went and saw this movie the other day- was quite a funny wacky movie... My favorite part were the owl mariachi band. Those who are musically inclined will love the Hans Zimmer soundtrack-Here is a suite he wrote for it.

Gamer's bible

2011-03-18T16:46:00.000+10:00

Why wouldn't you read this book?

School Chaplaincy

2011-03-15T19:28:00.000+10:00

I found this on youtube, an old talk by John Brereton.

This is why I'm a school chaplain- (though I am unable to teach RE)

If you get a chance check out http://supportschoolchaplains.com.au/

An NFL Player Interviews for a Regular Job

2011-03-11T17:30:00.000+10:00

As you may or may not know American football (NFL) players maybe either going on strike or locked out by the owners due to pay disputes. Be funny to see them in the real world.

Amazing blunder by goalkeeper Bossut

2011-03-11T17:23:00.000+10:00

Feel for him :-(

A Katy Perry discussion????

2011-03-10T22:57:00.004+10:00

This is how low I've sunk in my blogging inspiration. I'm writing a blog about Katy Perry... I hang my head in shame.

For those who have been living under a rock for the last few years Katy Hudson (stage name Katy Perry) is your typical Pastor's kid gone bad. Other's might say she has has sold her soul to the devil to be famous- and famous she is. With songs like "I kissed a girl", "Hot and cold", "California gurls", "Teenage dreams" and "hot and cold" you are unable to find one positive lyric. However these are the songs on teenagers lips. It has caused me great amusement when, one of my housemate who is obsessed with her, if I am in the room and a song of her's come on, he will switch off the tv but leave the sound on as he knows I'm gonna stir him about the pretty much soft porn of her video clips. However the lyrics are just as bad. And these are played every sat morning and her catchy melodies are sung by millions of children, teens and obsessed young men.

But did you know she Toured with Phil Joel back in the day?

Or she sings on one of my favourite P.O.D. songs "Goodbye for now" a song which I think really looks towards the hope we have for the future. (she is at the end of the song)

But anyways Why am I posting about her? Well I heard a song of hers that made me think and I'm guessing will cause some interesting discussions. Most of them will probably be by teenagers and Isaac Andrews claiming "Look at this song she is a christian, therefore her music isn't bad" Well it is worth having a look at.

The Song is called "Who am I living for?"

Good question.

It seems to have some great religious content e.g.

So I pray for a favour like Esther

I need your strength to handle the pressure
I know there will be sacrifice
But that’s the price

I can see the writing on the wall
I can’t ignore this war
At the eh-end of it all
Who am I living for?

But as I had a quick look around some of the forums there were some fascinating discussions about this song. Some are proclaiming that this is why we teach our children religious things young because you never know if they are coming back to them.

Others would say that the song is really about the occult. The Vigilant Citzen says this here

Is it a song about occult initiation? Some might interpret the song as a religious song, perhaps about Christianity. But the terminology used however strongly points to occult mysteries: reference to a phoenix (a metaphor of man’s spiritual rebirth), a sacrifice, light growing from inside (illumination), duality between heaven and hell, etc

Still other theories are still out there including Dan Brown's Favourite- the Illuminati. If you are unaware there are many Conspirator's theories about this sort of thing. This comment was found here

I know someone of you will be completely unknown to this "theory", but a lot of people (including myself) believe there is this secret society that has been around for centuries, they're called the Illuminati. Alot of very successful artists practically sell they're soul to the devil for stardom, and they're usually granted their wishes; because of the immense control this group has on the movie and music industry.

I think the song was written about that. How Katy Perry is so strong in trying to resist the powers of this group. There is alot of religious undertones to the song.

Still others in the same discussion argue that she is indeed part of the group and this is describing her struggle/cries for help

Well I'm not sure about either theory. But I do point out that whilst this seems to kinda have a christian message- after she had released this song she still made videos prancing around in almost nothing and defiantly not living like a christian. So what do you think? I hope that when Isaac does come running to you with this song you have a rebuttal.

Lyrics to Katy Perry's "Who am I living for?"

I can feel a phoenix inside of me
As I march alone to a different beat
Slowly swallowing down my fear, yeah, yeah
I am ready for the road less traveled
Suiting up for my crowning battle
This is test is my own cross to bear
But I will get there

It's never easy to be chosen
Never easy to be called
Standing on the front line
When the bombs start to fall
I can see heavens
But I still hear the flames
Calling out my name

I can see the writing on the wall
I can't ignore this war
At the end of it all
Who am I living for?

I can feel this light that's inside of me
Growing fast into a bolt of lightning
I know one spark will shock the world, yeah, yeah
So I pray for favor like Esther
I need your strength to handle the pressure
I know there will be sacrifice
But that's the price

It's never easy to be chosen
Never easy to be called
Standing on the front line
When the bombs start to fall
I can see heavens
But I still hear the flames
Calling out my name

I can see the writing on the wall
I can't ignore this war
At the end of it all
Who am I living for? (x2)

(At the end, at the end)
Who am I living for?
(At the end, at the end)
Who am I living for?

Heavy is head that wears the crown
Don't let the greatness get you down
Heavy is head that wears the crown
Don't let the greatness get you down

I can see the writing on the wall
I can't ignore this war
At the end of it all
Who am I living for? (x2)

(At the end, at the end)
Who am I living for?
(At the end, at the end)
Who am I living for?

Cyberbullying

2011-03-09T23:08:00.002+10:00

Bullying these days has reached new levels. In the past we could head home and know we were safe. However now with facebook and phones there really is no escape. And kids are vicious. I read with great sorry this story below about how some bullies created a guy on facebook- had him woo a girl and they then "dated" on facebook for 3 months and then had him commit suicide. Wow how devastated would you be. Read below- found here

CYBERBULLIES tricked a 15-year-old British girl into believing that she had an online boyfriend for three months before cruelly "killing" him in a hoax suicide.
The victim, from Blackburn in Lancashire, northern England, was devastated when she saw Facebook reports that 16-year-old "Jaydon Rothwell" apparently killed himself with a cocktail of alcohol and drugs, the Lancashire Telegraph reported.
"Jaydon" was in fact the fictional creation of two 16-year-old girls who wanted to hurt the victim because she was once involved with one of their ex-boyfriends.
Police arrested the pair and forced them to apologise to the girl at a restorative justice meeting for what was described as a "devious plot".
Authorities were alerted when the fake suicide led 2000 people to join an online tribute site - but there was no record of sudden deaths in the area.
"I cried because I was shocked, gutted and scared. I was grieving for someone who wasn't real and felt I had been so gullible," the victim said.
Sergeant Paul Schofield said: "When all is said and done, this is online bullying. Social networking is a fantastic tool, but it can be misused by a small percentage of people."
A Facebook spokesman added: "Facebook is a place for real friendship, and we encourage people to think carefully about who they add as a friend."

STAR WARS I-PAD BRIEFING

2011-03-09T18:12:00.000+10:00

Shattered and Furious

2011-03-07T17:57:00.002+10:00

Well I'm back to actually typing a blog. I think its been a lack of things making me angry recently. Maybe my blog should be called How fast can a van rant and youtube clips. but anyways onto my next Rant.
As you may have guessed I'm pretty shattered by the demise of the Fury. Now you may shut off at this point and say " Look mate- no one went- thats what happens when no one supports a team." Fair point. But you may not have heard the full story.
2 years ago The NQ Fury joined the A-League Their crowds were modest at home but away from home they had the biggest attendances in the A-League. Meaning wherever they were on the ladder people came to see them mostly due to big signing Robbie Fowler- a english soccer Legend (Think Mal Maninga big). The FFA (Football Federation of Australia) trumpeted their arrival as "Key to a gateway into Asia" However no one from the FFA actually showed up to the launch. Strange
At the end of the first season The owner filed for bankruptcy and quit the club and some of Townsville's most astute business people came on board to "Save the Fury" The campaign was good- thousands of people signed up to keep the fury. Then The White Knight the FFA came on board. We all celebrated the saving of our club. They then sacked everyone. A few players were resigned. A new board appointed. Everyone else's contracts were ripped up.
Strange but ok... The FFA know what they are doing. A new coach appointed. good news. The budget is released- The Fury Salary cap is 85% of every other team. Adelaide who at this stage is also owned by the FFA doesn't have this stipulation. Also we are to have no marquee players (Players who aren't included in the salary cap- e.g. the players you pay the most to play). Most other teams have 4.
This young team launches the 2nd season- with maybe 1 or 2 bigger names. Everyone else was a reject or a very young player from other clubs. Half the players were signed before the coach was selected.
The FFA made it clear that they were only there to help the Fury get onto their feet. "Over the next few years we will be looking for a new owner to take over as it is not the FFA's job to fund clubs"- Frank Lowry. And soon great news came. A Singaporean organisation wanted to buy the Fury. The FFA rejected the sale as it wasn't an Australian entity. Strange considering they wanted the club to be a gateway to Asia.
The Draw was released. The NQ cowboys have shown that the only time slot that works in north queensland is sat night. Even friday night games aren't very well attended and sundays don't work. In the entire draw we had only 4 sat home games and only one of them was at 7pm (1 at 5pm the other 2 at 8:30). we had more monday night games than sat. We had more Wed night games than sat. And the wed night games were mostly on at 8:30 pm??? who is going to take their kids to game on a wed night at 8:30?
The only sat night game at 7pm happened to be a night where 200mm of rain fell on the day of the game. OF course our crowd figures were bad. But The draw was mostly to blame for this.
As time went on it became more and more clear that the FFA was solely focused on getting the world cup in Australia and they were propping up the Fury so they didn't look bad when the fury folded. However the World cup bid was a failure. 50 million dollars spent to get one vote. The Main man responsible for this (Ben Buckley) then came back to his forgotten job- to find the Fury a new owner.
The Board proposed a new ownership system- a community ownership scheme. FFA took the model to review it and promptly announced the Fury was losing money and was going to lose 3 million over the next 2 years. It was up to the NQ to find half of that money and they had till the end of January. This was announced just before Christmas. Any business owner will tell you the hardest time to find money is around Christmas time. The community ownership model wasn't approved. So the board began madly trying to raise money The state government came on board- things were looking great. Then we had the flood and the state government pulled out. The team wasn't doing great mostly due, in my opinion, lack of certainty in their future. The worst refs were sent here and actually cost us games. The FFA responded by fining anyone who complained about the standards of refs sent up.
The deadline drew near- we hadn't raised the money and we asked for an extension. A reply never came back just some ho humming about how the timeline wasn't set in concrete. A just after the deadline the community model was approved. This was on a friday. That next week Cyclone Yasi hit. Townsville was quite messed up and yet despite this sponsors and people started to come on board. The 1.5 million was reached with another 500,000 dollar sponsorship in the wings. The FFA received the books and said to the chairman "You guys have done an excellent job: leave it with us"
Ben Buckley then flew to Townsville two weeks later and closed the Fury down. His reasoning- you have not raised the Capital needed. Apparently sponsorship was not to be included in the 1.5 million. The Board learned that at 11:30 am on the day the Fury were closed. Now the FFA had the Fury's books for 2 weeks. Surely 1 quick phone call would have told the Fury board this.
See I can accept the the club being axed due to lack of support in Townsville. However what I can't accept is the goal posts being constantly moved. Rumour has it the decision was made in August to axe the fury and make it a nice even 10 team comp. However this wasn't made public because they still wanted the revenue from the remaining games. I'm angry about being promised "a few years" and not even getting one. I'm angry that the FFA can spend 50 million on greasing up FIFA executives and wont spend 3 million dollars on the future of football in north queensland. I'm mostly angry because despite the fact that the supporter were held up as some of the best in the A-League apparently we weren't good enough. People's lives have been seriously affected by these broken promises and whiles't its not mine, its gonna take a long time up here for anyone to trust our football authorities again.

Extreme downhill bike run

2011-03-07T13:22:00.000+10:00

Extreme downhill bike run: "Watch through the eyes of a crazy Chilean cyclist as he risks life and limb in the VCA race run in Santiago"

Charlie Sheen takes up rap

2011-03-07T11:49:00.000+10:00

Wow... just wow

A Father's love- Team Hoyt

2011-03-06T15:32:00.000+10:00

Trolling the News

2011-03-01T04:06:00.000+10:00

Laughed and Laughed

The Manslater: (Woman Language Translator)

2011-03-01T00:30:00.000+10:00

You've Probably all seen this... But oh well

Beached Whale - Donate To Christchurch

2011-02-24T14:01:00.000+10:00

Well I've seen all sorts of things promoting giving to charity. This would rank up there.

Cooking With Chef Reverend

2011-02-20T00:42:00.001+10:00

A warning to all who are using the "Devil's Box"

And again... Grease is the Word!!!

Thor - Trailer 2 (OFFICIAL)

2011-02-20T00:41:00.000+10:00

Looks pretty good- I'm cautiously excited

2011 'March to October' Commercial - Collingwood Football Club

2011-02-13T23:56:00.000+10:00

Back to Back? Can't see why not.

Sunrise Mel & Kochie Bringing the Devastation.mov

2011-02-06T15:41:00.000+10:00

Climate change???? no just Sunrise

(note- slight language bleep)

No that's just Queensland, back again

2011-02-06T14:45:00.001+10:00

From news.com.au

Andrew Bolt

Saturday, February 05, 2011 at 12:54pm

A brilliant piece by Heather Brown. Make sure you read it all:

I am a Queensland northerner, born and bred, and, for better or for worse, I carry 100 years of history in the blood, 100 years of a family crazy-drunk in love with a wild and unpredictable place.
Every part of the sweat-stained map that makes up north Queensland is part of the flesh: weddings in Cairns, funerals in Townsville, honeymoons on Magnetic Island. Our history is shaped by disaster: fire and flood, cyclone and drought. The north was a place we built with our hands.
My father once told me that you can never expect southerners to fully understand, because they were different from the rest of us.On Wednesday night I sat up following the cyclone, sitting in the cool darkness between the twin stars of television and internet while my husband—who is a southerner—slept peacefully beside me.
It was true: I just hoped my husband didn’t really know how much I wanted to go home that night, to feel the force of my land again, the sweet dense wind, rain hard enough to bruise the flesh. That’s the thing the new settlers never seem to understand about the north. How fierce she is. How utterly unpredictable.
For the past week I have watched the papers and the people make their assumptions and declarations about the north: dangerous and destructive, a place that needs taming, a very bad place to be. And the sweet southern chorus—television, bloggers, texters, tweeters—started to preach from their mantle of safety in the south.
It was hard watching my fellow Australians panic and plead for their lives, one million human ants desperately running in all directions, trying to ensure their survival.
All the while, they kept asking the same question: how can the north do this to us?
And I wanted to tell them, sorry, but that’s how she is: wild and dangerous, destructive, unpredictable, heart-breaking.
And did somebody mention wonderful?

Is global warming alarmism really a symptom of an urban elite, conditioned to flick-the-switch instant comfort and grown too disconnected with not only history but the land and its seasons?

(Thanks to reader Kevin.)

The Premier question.

2011-02-05T18:43:00.002+10:00

For those who don't know Anna Bligh our Premier was most likely going to be given the boot. However after all the "natural disasters" she actually is looking pretty good. A testament to her PR people as she has profited from the systems already in place. I honestly think they have saved her. This was a fascinating article I found here by Jack marx.

Some eagle-eyed viewers might have noticed a novel feature of Anna Bligh’s press conferences lately; a grimacing,gesticulating presence to the immediate left of the Queensland Premier, translating her words into sign language for the deaf. For those of us fortunate enough to have no hearing impairment, it’s as absurdly distracting as a breakdancer at a funeral - so mesmerised am I by the almost Vaudevillian exhibition on screen that I no longer pay much attention to what the Premier is saying. Even the deaf might find it all a trifle unnecessary, considering they surely have access to closed captions, if they bother with TV at all. And, if the Queensland Government’s own information is correct, less than 3000 deaf people in the state use sign language. So what’s this grand demonstration all about? I suspect the answer to that question might be found in the rebounding fortunes of a certain man who might be the next President of the United States.

Last Thursday, as Cyclone Yasi was cooking in the Pacific, Haley Barbour, the Republican Governor of Mississippi, broke months of speculation by announcing to reporters that he was “seriously considering a run for president”. It is a remarkable achievement for the former lobbyist and unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidate from Yazoo City, whose first few years as Governor of Mississippi (he took office in January, 2004) were so mired in charges of corruption that many were astonished when Barbour survived to a second term.

But there’s nothing like a civic catastrophe to revive a political career that’s on the nose, and, for Haley Barbour, his luck changed in August of 2005, when Hurricane Katrina visited upon the south-eastern states of the USA. Of all the public figures to address the nation during that chaotic time, it was Barbour who seemed to connect with the people, his frankness and calm during his media briefings moving fellow Republican Billy Hewes to remark: “He is to Katrina what Rudy Giuliani was to 9/11.” Peggy Noonan of The Wall Street Journal concurred:

“Mississippi’s Gov. Haley Barbour came closest to the Giuliani model,” she wrote. “In news conferences he laid out with breadth and precision the facts of the Mississippi coastal devastation. He had to keep telling the press and the public that there would be more dead than they understood, a delicate thing to have to do. He did it with candor and transparency but no defeat. He had command of what facts were known. His face was shocked and sad, but he never looked beaten; he referred on Larry King Live to the rebuilding of the coast as if it were a foregone conclusion but one that will take massive work. He seemed straight, unillusioned, human. Watch Mr. Barbour. If he continues like this, he’s going to become a significant national figure.”

Barbour took the advice to heart, rode his post-Katrina reputation to re-election at the end of 2007, and now looks certain to be a candidate for nomination in the Republican race for the White House in 2012. The folksy Mississippi governor has, in the eyes of some, “played the press like a violin”.

One of Barbour’s little trademarks - a novel addition to the press conferences that were to become standard during hurricane season - was the very visible inclusion of a sign language interpreter. There is no evidence that a single deaf person ever benefited from these exhibitions (indeed, deaf viewers were outraged when Barbour’s translator, during a TV interview, justified his position by claiming that most deaf people couldn’t read subtitles), but, as a piece of window decoration for Haley Barbour, the idea was inspired - that madly gesticulating figure to his left made the rich, conservative, anti-abortionist Republican seem as if he gave a hoot about minorities all of the sudden. People came to see it as symbolic of a leader so totally on top of a crisis that he had thought of almost everything, even the few people who could neither read nor hear. For many, it gave birth to the thought that maybe Haley Barbour wasn’t so bad after all.

Now, it might be just a coincidence that Anna Bligh started using sign language interpreters when the storms came, or that her stage set-up - with the interpreter to the left and her rear flanks covered by emergency personal - is identical to Barbour’s, or that Bligh’s most memorable line - “We are Queenslanders...We’re the ones that they knock down, and we get up again” - is a mirror of Haley Barbour’s now-famous war cry to his own from 2007 ("We got knocked down hard, but Mississippians got right back up..."). It might be a coincidence that Anna Bligh, prior to the storms, was looking down the barrel of political extinction, and that people are now comparing her to Gillard, and asking how she might cope as Prime Minister. All of this might be a coincidence.

To believe so, one has to accept that those sign language translators really are there for but 3000 Queenslanders, and are not meant to send any messages at all to the rest of Australia.

I’m not sure there’s a hand sign for what I think about that.

hmmmm

2011-01-28T10:10:00.002+10:00

A FATHER won the first round in his historic battle yesterday to have government-funded chaplains thrown out of the nation's public schools.

Ron Williams journeyed from Toowoomba to Sydney yesterday for a directions hearing in his challenge and was thrilled to hear that his case could be heard in the High Court over three days in May.

"This is a very important moment," a jubilant Mr Williams said yesterday.

The father of six, who has four children attending Queensland public schools, said his main argument was that the funding for chaplains in schools breached Section 116 of the Australian Constitution, which states that the "Commonwealth not legislate in respect of religion".

"This is not about getting chaplains out of schools, it's about the government funding them, which I believe is against the Constitution," he said. If Mr Williams wins his challenge, government funding for chaplains would be removed.

The National School Chaplaincy Program was introduced in 2006 by former prime minister John Howard.

The national program won support from Prime Minister Julia Gillard, an atheist who, just before the election last year, pledged $222 million to extend the program for four years.

More than 430 schools in NSW get up to $20,000 each a year for their chaplain services, totalling almost $12 million, and more than 2500 school across Australia now have chaplains at a cost of more than $151 million.

The chaplain program is run in Queensland by that state's branch of the Scripture Union.

In NSW the program is run by the National School Chaplaincy Association which is based in Western Australia.

A spokesman for the association said yesterday it was not appropriate to comment.

NSW Greens MP John Kaye said yesterday's decision was good news for those who believed in separation of church and state. "The anger felt by many of us at the use of public money will now at least be tested in the court," he said.

"There will now be an opportunity to hear in court why this program so deeply contradicts the integrity of the Australian Constitution."

Yoda showing his jedi dance moves

2011-01-28T09:57:00.000+10:00

Can you tell I'm on a day off procrastinating. :-)

Ice Age: Continental Drift - Trailer HD

2011-01-28T09:40:00.000+10:00

Australia Day 2011: Lambassador Sam Kekovich takes on Europe

2011-01-27T15:50:00.000+10:00

Well we had a great Australia day-(except the fury getting smashed) but I realised there was something missing... I hadn't seen this year's Lamb add. Here it is now.

THE QUEST (Michelangelo's Pizza and Pasta)

2011-01-25T17:07:00.004+10:00

Well we started with what I might call the Baseline model. Its one of my favourite pizzas and pizza shops

Michelangelo's pizza and pasta on Bamford lane, Kirwan (just up from red rooster) phone number 47551978

The Pizza is called Pollo Special- it is described as follows- "Our home-made special satay sauce, roast chicken, king prawns, shallots and garlic. Large Pizza Cost17.50

Scooter's rating is as follows

Quality: 7 (good amt toppings & cheese, cooked well)
Base: 7 (yeah, it was yummy)
Reheatability: 8 (great in a sandwich press)
Presentation/Ingredients: 6 (looked great, but I took marks off for including prawns on a Satay pizza. Who does that? It took away from the experience. And for having a gooey sauce, rather than a textured sauce, which is what I love about my own Satay pizza recipe).
Overall: 6

so that adds up to 34/50 not bad

I gave it

Toppings quality: 7 Really nice but when you pull a piece out not all the toppings came with it

Base 8 very nice base

Reheatability: 9- the satay sauce goes into the base, tastes absolutely perfect

Presentation/Ingredients 8 (would have like to see maybe broccoli or some other vegetable or something to make me think it was healthy)

Overall 8

So I gave it 40/50

This adds up to 74/100 which all in all is pretty good.I think this pizza could do better but its the first one- so I think we will try it again later.

Think you can beat that... Try us

The Quest Begins

2011-01-20T21:07:00.003+10:00

I Like Pizza. And I like Satay Chicken. Of course I like them combined. This led to a discussion tonight between Scott Gambling and myself and after which we thought we would set out on an intrepid quest to: Find the perfect Satay Chicken Pizza. And we want YOU to be part of this quest. That is right- WE NEED YOU to help us find the perfect pizza. Thus we have established the quest- For the ONE PIZZA TO RULE THEM ALL.

How we propose to do this is simple. We intend to sample as many pizzas as humanly possible. There are two ways you can be involved.

Firstly tell us where the best Satay Chicken pizzas may be found.

Secondly Are you and your Pizzas up for the challenge? We Challenge You to prepare your best Satay Chicken Pizza and have Scott and I around to taste them.

Our Categories are thus.

1. Overall taste

2. Good amount of toppings and or cheese

3. Base- (this is subjective as people prefer different things) judges decision is final

4. How it heats up the next morning. This will be one the of the hardest things but most crucial. After all who wants a dodgy pizza the next morning? (And yes you will need to provide us with some to bring home)

5. Presentation- (bonus marks for unusual things that add to the pizza's taste)

Each of these characteristics are scored out of 10 from both judges with a total score of a 100.

In case of a first place tie- both pizzas must be re-sampled and re-scored.

Now we don't wish to leave non- Townsville people out of this so we propose a compromise.

A) you can send your recipes to us with instructions or B) We will at some stage be in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne separately so in that case we will accept One of the judges plus a neutral person.

Disclaimers: It is in our opinion and our taste buds and please do not be offended if your pizza doesn't score well. It is a fun bit of a laugh.

ONE Pizza to rule them all,

Two judges to find them,

One chicken satay pizza to bring them all,

and in our stomaches bind them.

In the lands of Townsville

where our prize will lie.

Galactic Empire State of Mind star wars rap

2010-12-13T21:10:00.000+10:00

Transformers 3 Dark of the Moon Trailer - Official (HD)

2010-12-12T20:47:00.000+10:00

Excited. Like a Beiber fan

Don't Waste Your Life Video - Lecrae

2010-11-28T14:35:00.000+10:00

Also a good challenge and good song/video

Lecrae - Prayin' For You (music video)

2010-11-28T14:30:00.000+10:00

As a rule Christian Rap annoys me with a few exceptions. I didn't mind this song though. Its a good encouragement to keep praying for that friend of ours.

Luggage Problem

2010-11-23T00:42:00.000+10:00

Made Me laugh.

Wolverine Movie The Musical : BFX : Original Short

2010-11-23T00:35:00.000+10:00

Nothing worse than when you recruit a musical actor for a serious role- they just want to keep singing... Apologies for all the adds

Interesting documentary.

2010-11-18T14:23:00.003+10:00

"My life is tethered to a rolling stone, my dreams are anchored in the
wind. I come from here, I come from there, in truth I come from
everywhere. My tongue does not have a mother, my language is an open
mind. Before I learned how to walk, I already knew how to fly. Comfort
for me is a constant motion- continent to continent, ocean to ocean."

This is a statement which really does hit home to me. Interesting thing Third Culture Kids (TCK) and they will be more and more common. Worth a watch.

Les Passagers : A TCK Story from kalen hayman on Vimeo.

Surprise performance by The Opera Company of Philadelphia "Hallelujah!" Random Act of Culture

2010-11-16T11:29:00.000+10:00

I would love to be involve in something like this. would be great fun.

David Koch on parenting.

2010-11-16T10:18:00.002+10:00

I don't mind David Koch on Sunrise. He is proudly an older fashioned guy among a team of ladies and isn't afraid of being called sexist or putting noses out of joint. Often he has something worthwhile to say. This is his article on parenting. found here.

One surefire way of knowing you’ve officially become an old man is when you catch yourself coming out with a “kids these days…” rant. Well I’ve recently discovered that I am now among that special group of people with unending old school wisdom.

Bet his parents are furious ... with the cop.

I’m mourning the demise of what I call the “respect your elders” values of kids today. But I don’t blame them. I blame a new generation of mamby-pamby (not sure that’s a real term but you know what I mean) parents who want to be a child’s friend rather than a parent.

I’ve had these concerns for a while, but they’ve been brought to a head by a couple of recent incidents.

First was that story last week about the Queensland 15 year old pulled over by police for not wearing a helmet while riding his bike.

Rather than fine the kid or give him a warning, they made him let down his tires and walk home to ensure he didn’t ignore them and simply get back on after they’d gone.

His mother was outraged accusing the police of bullying and putting her 15 year old angel in danger by making him walk half an hour home.

I interviewed the pair on Sunrise. The 15 year old retold the story, and highlighted how unfair it was that the cops also took his pack of cigarettes. He said he asked for the cigarettes back because he knew he had rights.

A 15 year old demanding cigarettes back because he has rights. You can just imagine the tone of the exchange.

Rather than his mother getting stuck into him for riding without a helmet and having a pack of smokes, she gets on the case of the police for “putting him in danger”.

This is the issue I have with modern parenting. It’s the rose coloured glasses that their little angels can do no wrong. Backing the kid rather than the authorities.

It’s the absence of basic principles like respecting elders and those in authority like the police.

It’s not the kid’s fault. He’s simply following the example of his mum.

These little things bother me. The values which were pretty standard not too long ago but are now seen as old-fashioned and irrelevant.

Things like standing up on a bus for someone older. Things like calling an adult Mr or Mrs unless invited to use a first name.

I had this discussion with some of my colleagues after I explained that I still expect my adult children to address friends of mine as Mr or Mrs unless invited to do otherwise.

They were gobsmacked. I explained it was a mark of respect to someone older.

My colleagues claimed adults must earn the respect of children before they than can expect to be shown it.

And that is the root of the problem.

In my opinion all adults (and those in authority) deserve instant respect from children until they do something to lose it.

Yes it may sound silly and unimportant, but it exemplifies what is happening on a larger scale. Parents are trying way too hard to be their kids’ best friends, rather than being the parent.

A good friend, and inspiration for me, is Father Chris Riley who runs Youth Off The Streets, an organisation which certainly deals with its fair share of troubled adolescents.

For years he’s been helping street kids, drug dependant kids and abused youth by helping them turn their lives around. Guess what his golden piece of advice for parents is?

He says setting boundaries is a sign of love, and that it shows kids that someone cares enough about them to set limits and values.

He says all kids crave boundaries and direction because it makes them feel safe and loved.

What I fear is that we’re bringing up a new generation of smart-ass kids who have no respect and assume they can get away with anything they like because the boundaries are blurred.

The results from a UK study this week are claiming that it’s better for a kid’s happiness to be an only-child. But reaching this conclusion involved simply asking a bunch of kids whether they’d prefer to be the sole child in their family (and get spoiled rotten). Not exactly a reliable study I don’t think, but now it’s being touted by child psychologists as new, valuable ‘knowledge’.

It’s time parents did their part, stopped worrying about the emotional fragility of their special little darlings and started acting like a parent.

The problem is that people are over-thinking parenting. It’s not rocket science; it’s just common sense.

These sort of basic moral lessons may be old-fashioned, but they work.

Sad moment in basketball

2010-11-16T10:03:00.000+10:00

Have you ever noticed the funny things guys do in sport. The bum slap in volleyball. The Hugs in soccer. And the high five/handshake in basketball after freethrows- score or miss...

Here is a story about a handshake gone tragically wrong and but it has a happy ending.

Gospel Aerobics - Let The Praise Begin

2010-11-12T16:28:00.001+10:00

Need an a good dose of christian aerobics? Woohooo

Just get it right.

2010-11-04T17:06:00.003+10:00

Don't you hate when you read a book or watch a movie and there is some inconsistency between them and the sequel. Normally it is pretty minor and we complain or whine about it and get over it. Not so This Red shirted guy. Ian Bates a 17 year old from Florida asked at a major Blizzard convection about an inconsistency in the game World of Warcraft's expansion game Cataclysm. (For video see below)

Credit to the Head designer- he could have just made up some excuse but instead thanked the kid for pointing it out and promised to get it fixed. Something which is a very minor detail but for Ian it is a big thing. See Ian suffers from Asperger's Syndrome and a statement dismissing him or making fun of him who have really hurt the kid.

It made me think about how sometimes our throw away comments can really hurt someone. I found this a great reason to think about what we say and be easily ready to admit we are wrong. I'm not advocating nitpicking (This can do just as much harm especially Spelling/Grammer Nazis) nor am I advocating sloppy work but rather I want us to think about the snap replies we make that can be hurtful.

For Ian it doesn't look like this will the end of the issue. Blizzard have released a screenshot from it's testing area. They have fixed the inconsistency. And given the Council member an assistant- Entitled The Wildhammer Fact checker. Not just any Wildhammer Fact checker but one wearing a red shirt. Good on them :) and good on Ian.