Category: General Musings

Ocean deaths end coastguard patrols

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AUSTRALIA’S frontline fleet of immigration boats has not patrolled the Torres Strait for three months after one sank with the loss of five lives.
Border protection patrols off Cape York, on the tip of Queensland, were halted after the October 15 disappearance of the Malu Sara, which was launched by Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone on August 29. It was one of six new Immigration vessels for the region.
 A preliminary report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau will be completed later this month. Questions to be cleared up include; ■ concerns about the sea-worthiness of the vessel, as well as the response of emergency services to the floundering boat, which allegedly radioed that it was lost in fog soon after it departed Saidai Island – and more than 12 hours before a search was launched; and ■ why the boat was ferrying passengers between the islands. Badu Island Council deputy chairman Manuel Namoa yesterday said there were rumours that about 100 calls were made from the vessel to authorities during its voyage. An Investigation spokesman said he believed that was the case. Curiouser and curiouser.
General Musings

Vic Police have too much money

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A VICTORIA Police plan to issue patrol officers with a hi-tech chariot known as the Segway Human Transporter has been put on hold after striking an unexpected hitch: it is illegal.
“Segways do not meet the necessary requirements to be registered in Australia and cannot be used on the footpath,” he said. The vehicles — which cost between $7000 and $10,000 are also banned from registration because they do not have brakes, lights and a horn or bell.
 They are rated at up to 20kph but I don’t think that would be that much faster than a policeman in full pursuit, particularly as I imagine they would be a bit difficult to manouvre in crowded streets. I’ve always thought that a lot of problems would dissipate in the face of two big coppers on the beat…walking….talking….meeting the people….frowning at young bucks…helping the little old lady and generally policing publically.
General Musings

Cyclone Clare weakens

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TROPICAL Cyclone Clare roared towards Western Australia’s Pilbara coast last night, forcing families into evacuation shelters as emergency workers prepared for a dangerous storm surge and destructive winds. The cyclone on the map defines neatly the area where I went sailing a few years ago. Click here for the almost finished article on that trip. Sea and air ports, roads and shops were closed and more than 150,000 barrels of daily oil production shut down as the category-three cyclone headed towards the northwest coast.
Despite the red alert, about 10 young men could not resist the chance to surf a rare swell in the famously flat waters of Dampier Harbour. The group soon realised the conditions were too dangerous and headed to shore, but two stragglers got into difficulty and had to be rescued by police. Locals raised the alarm as the pair struggled to reach the safety of Sam’s Island, about 600m off the shore.
 An onlooker, obviously the master of understatement, comments;
“It was traumatic for everyone watching them, that’s for sure,” said an onlooker who alerted police. “The police couldn’t believe anyone would be out there. They had to act really quickly because all their rescue stuff, including their boat, was locked down for the cyclone.”
I’m sure the Police language would have been more colourful. The Storm Surge effect is caused by cyclones occuring at high tide. This phenomena is exacerbated by the fact that the tidal range in the area is in the magnitude of 12 metres. Good luck guys and could you have the place cleaned up by the time I visit in May this year. Thanks. UPDATE: Clare has been downgraded from a category three to a category one storm as it heads for the state’s Gascoyne region.
General Musings

A bad week to be a Queenslander

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A Jellyfish sting kills a girl at Bamaga, in far north Queensland. The Box JellyFish (Chironex Fleckeri) aka Fire Medusa or Indringa is often fatal and is present in tropical waters during the wet season. When I was in Townsville my Company Sergeant Major and his wife were attacked by a Box Jelly fish. She died and he was badly scarred for life. A 21 year old woman was killed by a shark at Amity Point, just over the bay from where I live. NORTH Stradbroke Island tourism operators have called for a shark-proof swimming enclosure to be built off Amity Point where a young woman was fatally mauled by up to three bull sharks at the weekend. Sarah Kate Whiley, 21, from McDowall on Brisbane’s northside, was attacked while swimming in waist-high water about 15m off the beach late on Saturday afternoon. The island’s beaches were closed to swimmers yesterday but were expected to reopen today. Redland Shire Mayor Don Seccombe said council would consider installing a shark-proof fence when councillors returned from holidays. In the meantime warning signs would be erected. Local fishermen said they were not surprised a pack of bull sharks was believed to be responsible. A terrible business all round and a stark reminder of natures savagery.
General Musings

African thugs pick wrong woman

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A Melbourne woman has foiled a gang of masked bandits by kicking one of them in the groin. Police say four men in face masks and bandanas ambushed the 21-year-old Brunswick woman and a male companion in Railway Place West at Flemington, in the city’s north, about 11pm (AEDT).
After stopping the couple to ask the time, one of the men tried to grab the woman’s handbag, but when she resisted and kicked him, the gang ran off empty handed.
 Atta girl! She should be able to dine out on that kick for years.
Police said the offenders were of African appearance and aged in their late teens or early 20s.
 Oh my god. The police have racially profiled the perps. I thought that was a no-go in Melbourne
General Musings

Dubai PM dies in Australia

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Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the prime minister and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates, has died. This would not normally attract much attention here in Australia but the man actually died just down the highway at the Gold Coast. From News.com
He died on the Gold Coast at the Palazzo Versace resort from a suspected heart attack.The horse racing figure was in Australia in preparation for the Magic Millions yearling sales. Arrangements are being made at Brisbane International Airport to fly his body home.
In his own personal Jumbo Jet, I might add. From Aljazeera
Sheikh Maktoum, who was also the ruler of the emirate of Dubai, died in Australia on Wednesday. It is thought he had previously suffered from heart problems.
General Musings

Tehran ‘seeks nuclear bomb’

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IRAN is secretly trying to obtain technology and expertise needed to build a nuclear weapon, according to a leaked intelligence report that threatens to deepen a rift with the West over its nuclear program.
Tehran’s nuclear purchasing plans stretch from Europe to North Korea and the former Soviet states, Britain’s The Guardian newspaper said, citing a report by an unnamed European intelligence agency.
 It should read Tehran seeks ‘air attack by Israel’ as a report from Jeruselum says ‘Israel denies it’s about to bomb Iran nuke site’ Israel will not live under the threat of a rogue state having the ability to nuke them. They will do something.
General Musings

It’s the demography, stupid

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I commend to you the article by Mark Steyne linked in the RH column. It’s a long read but very thought provoking. An admin matter; could one of you more technically literate readers explain to me why apostrophes turn into question marks when I upload using CuteFTP? UPDATE: It was going to be a long read but the link is broken. Apparently I need to be subscriber to link…….I’m working on it. UPDATE II: Fixed
General Musings

Council reconsiders

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The no-flag issue at Waverly Council gains the council media coverage for two successive days. Today they are reported as having a rethink.
“I have called on the Premier and Mr Turnbull to meet with me to discuss the appropriateness of putting flags on the pavilion and also how it can be funded,” she said.
Just bloody fly them woman. You don’t need funding and you don’t need to involve politicians who have a real job to do. Ms Main and fellow Green, George Copeland, had led a group of Labor councillors, including Mr Newhouse, Peter Moscatt, John Wakefield and Ingrid Strewe, who wanted to ban the flag from the pavilion, sparking outrage. Ah ah. They’re Greens. That explains it
General Musings
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