Saturday, December 19, 2009

The Great World Theater;


The Fourth World War

Directed by Rick Rowley. With Suheir Hammad
4th World War - taken from a speech by Marcos calling the war against globalization the 4th World War - is a brief, documentary of radical resistance to global capitalism

Despite the titanic struggles of dispossessed peoples around the world, the wealth of nations continues to reside in fewer and fewer hands. The economies of poor countries collapse under vicious IMF policies, and capitalism's global 'clubs' thrive ever and ever upward. Meanwhile, people keep struggling, ultimately downward...


To read or see the video please click here

Photo TS

Sunday, November 29, 2009

A Myth; chewing 27 times;

Paella; plenty to chew;

A myth is an 'old wives' tale,' unsubstantiated, accepted beliefs.

Some studies proclaim to chew your food slowly and more then 27 times. True or false?

When people emerged from the shadows they hunted and gathered their food. There was never food in abundance. As faster they chewed and swallowed as more they could eat, because they did not know when their next food would be available. This means we have not been programmed by nature to eat slowly. We are programmed to gobble down our food. Civilisation has brought forward more refined table manners which means to eat slowly and savour the food we are eating.

Imagine the family sitting around the table eating dinner; everyone counts how many chews, no time for an interesting talk, or how was your day, no, everybody is busy chewing and counting; Who ever had this ridiculous idea?



After eating go for a walk; true or false?
Our ancestors would happily curl up, rest and sleep after their meal. Animals do not go for a walk after they have eaten; they rest.
It is programmed in us, once we have hunted, caught and eaten our food, we were tired and it was not necessary to go and hunt again, as our tummies were full.
Civilisation has changed our lifestyle, but after a good meal we still feel pleasantly tired to have a nap if possible.








Thursday, November 5, 2009

Greed; Nepotism and laissez faire...A Satire;



Happily they meet and smile; nothing happened to them. Congratulate each other, how well the sandman trick works.
The taxpayers money which could have been used to build schools, hospitals, public transport, repair roads and would also have provided many with work, was used to bail out the big shots. Rubbing their well manicured hands, adjusting their silk ties, looking suave in their SavilleRow suits and handmade shoes. They can expect a huge bonus pay out for their negligence.
The lili faced executives shake hands we have got away with it again.
Politicans smile like it were their children who have got away with a little
prank.

The Group of Eight (G8, and formerly the G6 or Group of Six) is a forum, created by France in 1975, for governments of eight nations of the northern hemisphere: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States; in addition, the European Union is represented within the G8, but cannot host or chair.[1] "G8" can refer to the member states or to the annual summit meeting of the G8 heads of government. The former term, G6, is now frequently applied to the six most populous countries within the European Union (see G6 (EU)). G8 ministers also meet throughout the year, such as the G7/8 finance ministers (who meet four times a year), G8 foreign ministers, or G8 environment ministers.
Each calendar year, the responsibility of hosting the G8 rotates through the member states in the following order: France, United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada. The holder of the presidency sets the agenda, hosts the summit for that year, and determines which ministerial meetings will take place. Lately, both France and the United Kingdom have expressed a desire to expand the group to include five developing countries, referred to as the Outreach Five (O5) or the Plus Five: Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa. These countries have participated as guests in previous meetings, which are sometimes called G8+5. Recently, France, Germany, and Italy are lobbying to include Egypt to the O5 and expand the G8 to G14.[2]

The more the merrier!

Politicians are thoroughly trained in "Sandmanship" to sprinkle enough sand into the citizens eyes to put them to sleep.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Billy has been very sick;


Hi Bozo; I have been very sick. I had a paralysing tick; I have been lucky and have recovered. We have to be very watchful and checking me every day.


Tick Paralysis
Tick paralysis in animals is caused by a salivary neurotoxin produced by certain species of ticks. Usually this is caused by the adult female tick during the period of rapid engorgement (days 5-7), although large numbers of larval or nymphal ticks may also cause paralysis.

Epidemiology
The most famous and dangerous tick in this respect is the Paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus, of the Eastern coast of Australia, which attacks humans, dogs, cats, foxes and many livestock animals.

Pathogenesis
I. holocyclus causes reversible myocardial depression and diastolic failure, leading to cardiogenic pulmonary edema. In severe cases, increased PCV (packed cell volume) reflects a fluid shift from the circulation to the lungs. Progressive pulmonary dysfunction appears to be primarily due to edema, leading to hypoxia, hypercarbia, respiratory acidosis, and eventually death.
Removal of ticks does not immediately halt the progression of the disease, once clinical signs are apparent. Death from respiratory failure is likely to occur within 1-2 days of onset of clinical signs. Appropriate and prompt action saves ~95% of affected animals.

Treatment
In Australia, the disease commonly continues to progress after removal of ticks, and treatment is indicated for animals with motor or respiratory impairment. In cases in which an adult female Paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus, has been removed, but nevertheless clinical symptoms develop within the next 24 hours, a canine tick hyperimmune serum, also called tick antiserum (TAS), is the specific treatment against the tick paralysis. TAS should be given as early in the disease as possible; subsequent “top up” doses are not very effective. For dogs, a minimal dosage of 0.5-1.0 ml/kg, warmed up to room temperature, is given slowly intravenously.

About 5% of animals are likely to die despite all treatment efforts, especially those with advanced paralysis and dyspnea. Older animals or those with pre-existing cardiopulmonary disease are at greatest risk. For animals that recover, owners should be advised to continue searching for ticks, use appropriate preventative methods to repel and kill ticks, and avoid stressing or strenuously exercising the animal over the next two months.

Human tick paralysis
In humans, tick paralysis is most likely to be seen in children. The symptoms in humans are similar to the clinical signs in dogs, including unsteady gait, increased weakness of the limbs, multiple rashes, headache, fever, flu-like symptoms, tenderness of lymph nodes, and partial facial paralysis. Despite the removal of the tick, the patient's condition typically will continue to deteriorate for a time and recovery is often slow.


I am feeling so much better again.

I wish you a very happy birthday Sam; you look pretty cool with your rawhide cigar!
Click here for wings and paws


Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Sting!


East of Everything;

Drama on ABC 1.
ABC should announce if you want to watch a boring, badly produced drama watch ABC 1 on Saturday evening.

I have watched the past episodes , with little hope from the beginning, that it would get better.

This is such rubbish.
The production is bad and amateurish.
Who has written and produced such utter drivel.
I wonder who has made the decision to show this awfully boring story on ABC 1 on Saturdays.
Out of 10 I give it 1 and that is very generous.
There are such wonderful dramas or comedies produced and we are ending up with this cheap, stupid and shoddy production.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Pet Pride; Billy has a visitor;

Come on Louie lets play....

Yes, its me ....
Where are you going

Hi Bozo, I had a good time...gosh how we chased each other, where is she now?

Here she goes home again!

Click here for wings and paws.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Pet Pride; The Angelinas;








Hi Bozo; today I want you yo meet the "Angelinas". I am sure you would like to chase them. I have to tell you it is not allowed, I have tried a few times...they lay eggs and they are yummy! Have you got chickens at your home?
For wings and paws please click here

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

My World; Cairns, Australia;



This picture was taken from the top floor at the Mercure Hotel in January which is the rainy season in the tropics. The mountains are hung with clouds, it rains every day and it is hot and steamy. The hotel was all right, but I would not choose it anymore as it is to far out of the city.
I like Cairns, it still has a bit of an old fashioned flair which gives this tropical city a wonderful ambiance. I think I could live there.
Click here for Cairns

Click here... and see many more places...

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Pet Pride; Mrs. Benteli;




Mrs. Benteli was born in our garden 14 years ago. Her name, Mrs. Benteli, derives from a little story.

Every Sunday morning an old lady went past our garden. Every Sunday she wore a black dress with tiny white dots, just like Tooki's plumage. Mrs Benteli comes when I call her. She talks all the time to herself.

She more or less tolerated Mitzi and Sophie,the dogs, sometimes there was a little skirmish but Mrs Benteli always stood her ground.

Now in her old age she has never accepted Billy, probably because he is also a Jack Russel when he joined our family more then two years ago.

We had a Rottweiler called Taj. He was a wonderful dog with a very sweet nature. He was her friend, she slept between his paws.

She lives now in the orchard with the chickens. I feed her twice a day away from the chickens so she can have her little treats. She still comes for walks with me in the orchard.


wings and paws click here

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

My World; Broadbeach;




A small part of My World, Gold Coast city, is Broadbeach with its Highrises and Holiday lifestyle! This is a glance from the Monorail which connects the Jupiter's Casino with a shopping area called Oasis.
Please click here for showyourworld

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Pet Pride; Our Billy;

My name is Billy. I am a Jack Russell, born two and a half years ago. I am a very astute dog I do not take NO for an answer. My family insisted that I show some of my baby pictures, because they think I was so cute. OK lets get it over;

Here I am in all my puppy cuteness.





Please click here to go to wings and paws to participate and see many more friends of the family.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

My World; Native Birds;

The Galah; Eolophus rosaicapilla;



"shall we stay or go"?
"Try this, it is tasty"!

" OK then, you win"!

The Galahs love to come to eat the seed of the Tipuana Tipu tree.
The Galah ), Eolophus roseicapilla, also known as the Rose-breasted Cockatoo, Galah Cockatoo, Roseate Cockatoo or Pink and Grey, is one of the most common and widespread cockatoos, and it can be found in open country in almost all parts of mainland Australia.
It is endemic in Australia (including Tasmania), where its distinctive pink and grey plumage and its bold and loud behaviour make it a familiar sight in
the bush and increasingly in urban areas.
The term galah is derived from gilaa, a word found in
Yuwaalaraay and neighbouring Aboriginal languages.[1]
Source wikipedia

Galah is also a familiar Australian slang term for a foolish person.
Showyourworld click here
Photos TS

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Henry Lawson 1867-1922; Poetry



Reedy River;

Ten miles down Reedy River a pool of water lies,
And all the year it mirrors the changes in the skies,
And in that pool's broad bosom is room for all the stars;
Its bed of sand has drifted o'ver countless rocky bars.

Around the lower edges there waves a bed of reeds,
Where water rats are hidden and where the wild duck breeds;
And grassy slopes rise gently to ridges long and low,
Where groves of wattle flourish and native bluebells grow.

Beneath the granite ridges the eye may just discern
Where Rocky Creek emerges from deep green banks of fern;
And standing tall between them, the grassy she-oaks cool
The hard, blue-tinted waters before they reach the pool.

Ten miles down Reedy River one Sunday afternoon,
I rode with Mary Campbell to that broad, bright lagoon;
We left our horses grazing till shadows climbed the peak,
And strolled beneath the she-oaks on the banks of Rocky Creek.

Then home along the river that night we rode a race,
And the moonlight lent a glory to Mary Campbell's face;
And I pleaded for our future all through that moonlight ride,
Until our weary horses drew closer side by side

Ten miles from Ryan's Crossing and five miles below the peak,
I built a little homestead o the banks of Rocky Creek;
I cleared the land and fenced it and ploughed the rich, red loam,
And my first crop was golden when I brought my Mary home.

Now still down Reedy River the grassy she-oaks sigh,
And the water-holes still mirror the pictures in the sky;
And over all for ever Go sun and moon and stars,
While the golden sand is drifting Across the rocky bars.


But of the hut I builded there are no traces now.
And many rains have levelled the furrows of the plough;
And my bright days are olden, for the twisted branches wave
And the wattle blossoms golden on the hill by Mary's grave.

Henry Lawson

Monday, May 25, 2009

My world; A guest for lunch;












On Sunday a yellow crested Cockatoo flew in, said hello and wanted lunch. This bird was tame. It followed the vegetable gardener around. He could give it a pat, but it did not like me.
It was hanging around for a few hours and then suddenly took off and flew away.
Photos TS.
To see the world click here


Thursday, May 21, 2009

Deep fried Pastries; "Schenkeli"


The autumn sky;
Generally this deep fried traditional pastry is strictly for Carnival times which occurs in Switzerland in February. Here are no Carnival celebrations and in any case February in the subtropics is not an ideal month to make deep fried pastries, as it is still very humid and hot. I can not help myself but once a year I have to make Schenkeli. The ideal time is late autumn or winter. As I usually can not wait until winter, I make them in autumn. They are easy and quick. the only time it takes, is to let the dough rest over night, possibly in the fridge.


The finished Schenkeli which means loosely translated, "small thighs". Somebody had already sticky fingers.
The recipe if you want to try your hand on these. They are yummy and moreish!
Schenkeli (small thighs)
makes around 30
Butter 50 g
Sugar 125 g mix well together
Eggs 2 add
pinch of salt beat well by hand or with a electric beater until light and frothy.
Kirsch or Brandy 1 Tblspoon
The grated peel of 1 lemon
250 g plain flour
add to mixture and quickly knead the dough. For best results leave it in the fridge over night.
Make longish rolls about a finger thick, cut those in 8 cm long sticks. Deep fry in Peanut oil. I let them rest on absorbent paper to soak up the oil. The oil should not be to hot until the Schenkeli have risen and split. Sieve plenty of icing sugar over them. Ready to eat with a cup of tea or coffee.
Enjoy!


Tuesday, May 19, 2009

My World; Pelicans; Pelecanus conspicillatus;



The Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) is a large water bird, widespread on the inland and coastal waters of Australia and New Guinea, also in Fiji, parts of Indonesia and as a vagrant to New Zealand.
 
The Australian Pelican was first described by Dutch naturalist
Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1824. Its specific epithet is derived from the Latin verb conspicere 'to perceive', hence 'conspicuous'.
 
The Australian Pelican is medium-sized by
pelican standards: 1.6 to 1.8 m (5.3-6 ft) long with a wingspan of 2.3 to 2.5 m (7.6–8.3 ft) and weighing 4 to 13 kg (9–29 lb).[1][2] It is predominantly white with black along the primaries of the wings. The pale, pinkish bill is enormous, even by pelican standards, and is the largest bill in the avian world. The record-sized bill was 49 cm (19.5 in) long.
 
Australian Pelicans prefer large expanses of open water without too much aquatic vegetation. The surrounding environment is unimportant: it can be
forest, grassland, desert, estuarine mudflats, an ornamental city park, or industrial wasteland, provided only that there is open water able to support a sufficient supply of fish.
Australian Pelicans follow no particular schedule of regular movement, simply following the availability of food supplies. When the normally barren
Lake Eyre filled during 1974 to 1976, for example, only a handful of pelicans remained around the coastal cities: when the great inland lakes dried again, the population dispersed once more, flocks of thousands being seen on the northern coasts and some individuals reaching Christmas Island, Palau and New Zealand.
 
The Australian Pelican begins breeding at two or three years of age. Breeding season varies, occurring in winter in tropical areas (north of 26oS) and late spring in parts of southern Australia. Any time after rainfall is usual in inland areas. The nest is a shallow depression in earth or sand, sometimes with some grass lining. Grassy platforms are constructed at
Lake Alexandrina in South Australia. Nesting is communal, with colonies located on islands or sheltered areas in the vicinity of lakes or the sea. Breeding Australian pelicans will lay one or three chalky-white eggs measuring 93 x 57 mm, which are often scratched and dirty.[3] After they hatch, the larger one will be fed more, and the smaller one will eventually die of starvation. For the first two weeks the chicks will be fed regurgitated liquid, but for the remaining two months they will be fed fish such as goldfish or the introduced European carp, and some invertebrates. Widespread throughout its large range, the Australian Pelican is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Source W
ikipedia
Photo TS.
Showyourworld click here

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Mother's Day;

The vegetable gardener, Poeta and Scientist, closed his eyes and handed over the finances.
Considering ( the little money I spend) I had quite a good shopping spree.

No, I did not buy this rose. Elina grows in my garden from a cutting, which was free from my daughter's garden.


I bought a new teapot. Botanic blue from Portmeirion.


I really "needed" a new shopping bag. Who could say no to this snazzy piece. (It is not leather, fine for me.)


Who would guess that this cute purse is woven from bamboo. It is from Ciannis.


My favourite, a new journal, spring green embossed with flowers, made in Italy.


I can not wait to use all these blank pages.



A little egghead...a tape measure (they always disappear) this one has a magnet and hopefully stays on the fridge door.
I had a few nice Mother's Days staying with my second daughter in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. The cottage has no electricity, outdoor toilet had a wonderful view in to the bush. Shower had piping hot water and in the evening the solar lights came on. In the morning a chorus of bird song was welcoming the new day.