Protestantism

» redback - cocka2

In response to cocka2 posted by Migisi:

Only in Australia??? And the bird could fly back down IF it really wanted to...or stay to sleep and eat in freedom. And their weird thinking is only restricted to cockatoo capture? ABC

-- posted by redback

» Migisi - cocka2

In response to cocka2 posted by redback:

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Not only in OZ, Red.
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And their weird thinking is only restricted to cockatoo capture?
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Maybe they saw $500 (replacement cost) sitting up in the tree?

-- posted by Migisi

» redback - Taking the RUDD-er

In response to cocka2 posted by Migisi:

The new Prime Minister (PM), Kevin Rudd, was "welcomed to country" by Matilda House, a "diminuitive" elder of the Ngunnawal people...the traditional custodians of the area of the national capital...Canberra. This is the first time since the federation of Australia in 1901 any Aboriginal elder has been so invited.

We've already had our first ever acting female PM during the Bali talks. The troops in Iraq have been already visited by the PM & told their deployment is the last one by OZ but ideas of ongoing training of the Iraqi Army seem creative. He's also visited our troops in Afghanistan and told them they're "in for the long haul".

Contentious workplace laws are being dismantled & Federal/State relations are being changed given all belong to the same party now. Many public servants have had their Xmas break shortened...so change is happening.

The secular national body ACOSS (OZ council of social services), previously marginalised, has replaced the non-denominational Christian 'Mission Australia' as favoured organisation...and the PM has been "quietly" visiting homeless shelters without any publicity. He wants his ministers to experience these realities personally, too.

So, watch this space?

But speaking of Afghanistan, I've just finished a book centred around Camp Peary...alleged fiction. The premise is...naaah, can't say as you may want to read it but Afghanistan gets a mention. David Baldacci - 'Simple Genius' - a good yarn.

-- posted by redback

» redback - True bull

In response to Taking the RUDD-er posted by redback:

Don Baxter's 12-month old Brahman bull, Barney, was swept into Hopping Dick Creek and survived an 87km journey. Some say it was miraculous but I woulda thought he coulda been plucked out to dry land much earlier. The paper it first appeared in showed Barney's happy face but here's the story:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story...

And Diff the dog! We often hear about rescuers themselves needing rescue. Well, Diff, a 65kg bull mastiff who initally rescued his owner may well have been permanently stranded on a mountain ledge until his very grateful owner returned to rescue him.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Noah for ensuring the world is full of bull. Here the bovine and canine types...other topics, other types.

-- posted by redback

» redback - the Diff

In response to True bull posted by redback:

Left off this link:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/d...

This one seems to lay more blame on the dog than it's master...but he did put the dog in harm's way to start with.

-- posted by redback

» Migisi - the Diff

In response to the Diff posted by redback:
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Stranded ... a folorn Diff before his rescue... The men, who became stranded themselves ... Mount Maroon...
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A fitting name for the mount, no? Or did they name it for its color?
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Dogs are banned from national parks, an issue likely to be raised with Diff's owners at a later stage.
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I wonder what the fine is, and what two helicopter rescues cost?
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I watched a vid at the news site you linked... your petrol has gone up to $1.50 a litre! At 4 litres to our gallon, fuel would be $6 a gallon here!! Yikes!

-- posted by Migisi

» redback - the Diff

In response to the Diff posted by Migisi:

Mt Maroon is in Mt Barney National Park...not named after Barney the bull from the previous story. Catching up on OZ history for myself, I find Aboriginal origins: "Mt Maroon was originally known as Wahlmoorum (Yuggera language meaning 'sand goanna')." Seems slightly maroon in parts?

"I wonder what the fine is, and what two helicopter rescues cost?"

From an TV interview the other night the fine talked about was $AUD1500 and the owner being prepared to pay it if fined...and to never take his dog into the park again. The cost of rescues generally, creates an interesting moral dilemna here. It is free except to the taxpayer.

"Yikes!"

One gallon to 4.54609 litres to be exact = $6.82? YEP, the petrol goes up and down during the week according to profit whims but its inexorably increasing overall. Like with banks raising mortgage interest rates ahead of the Reserve Bank (our Greenspan), governments get 'angry' and issue "naughty, naughty" censures. And if they do it again, they'll be called "naughty" again.

And Woolworths etc give shopper dockets for a 4c a litre discount from their petrol stations...after increasing the petrol cost to offset.

-- posted by redback

» Migisi - the Diff

In response to the Diff posted by redback:

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One gallon to 4.54609 litres to be exact = $6.82? YEP, the petrol goes up and down during the week according to profit whims but its inexorably increasing overall.
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Same here. Somebody farts, and petrol prices soar. It's a roller coaster ride with no getting off. The petrol stations offer and promote alternative fuels (for 'dual fuel' vehicles), like E85 (corn ethanol). It's 'less' expensive. What they don't tell you is that you get noticably fewer miles to the gallon. So, E85 users need to buy fuel more often, meaning they spend about the same, or even more, on fuel than petrol users. It's a scam.
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Like with banks raising mortgage interest rates ahead of the Reserve Bank (our Greenspan), governments get 'angry' and issue "naughty, naughty" censures. And if they do it again, they'll be called "naughty" again.
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A tsk tsk and a finger wag -- big deal, ay? Interest rates have gone down here, however, the mortgage houses have tightened their qualification requirements to the exteme, making it all but impossible for the average person with any debt to obtain a new loan or refinance their existing one. Those in foreclosure (millions of them) are doomed to ruination. My son is one of them.
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And Woolworths etc give shopper dockets for a 4c a litre discount from their petrol stations...after increasing the petrol cost to offset.
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Same here. Redeemable only at the store's filling station, right? Show the attendant your receipt that you just spent $150 in Dominicks (food chain), and he'll give you a 5 cent discount per gallon (which, at most, equals $1.50 per fill up). Their fuel, as you say, is already overpriced 5 cents (or more) to begin with. Another scam.

-- posted by Migisi

» redback - the Diff

In response to the Diff posted by Migisi:

A tsk tsk and a finger wag -- big deal, ay?

These things ARE gonna come back to bite 'em on the bum at the next election. Our Treasurer-in-Training, Wayne Swan, thinks HIS censure has clout. He blamed the far more experienced outgoing Treasurer, Peter Costello for not keeping the banks in line.

Those in foreclosure (millions of them) are doomed to ruination. My son is one of them.

There is a theory people here are better protected but whatever your sub-prime rate crisis is, we're copping some effects here. And there's talk of having 40-year home loans. The sad truth is you can't afford a loan if you can't afford six or more interest rate rises over 2 or so years.

The more this bites, the more the fact is highlighted, it can actually cost far less to simply rent. And the fact is home prices are going through the roof...job security through the floorboards for many.

-- posted by redback

» Migisi - the Diff

In response to the Diff posted by redback:
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The sad truth is you can't afford a loan if you can't afford six or more interest rate rises over 2 or so years.
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Well, if you qualify for a loan right now, consider a FIXED mortgage, NOT an ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage). The interest rate is locked in for the duration of the mortgage. Granted, if rates go down, you'd still be paying the higher rate. However, if they increase (as they've been), your rate won't. If your credit remains good, there's little to stop you from refinancing later at a lower rate. When the interest rate dropped recently, I refinanced my 30 year fixed mortgage down to a 20 year fixed at the lower rate. I'll refi again (and again) if and when the rates drop significantly.
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In any loan, BEWARE of any 'prepayment penalty' which will cost you a ton of money if you decide to sell or refinance within a specified time (usually within a year or two of intiating the mortgage). Lenders do 'sneak' that penalty paper in the paper pile to sign at closings. I'd NEVER sign that - ever! And I wouldn't rely on any real estate attorney to protect your financial interests. They don't care. They get paid no matter what.
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it can actually cost far less to simply rent.
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Funny you should mention that. My sister has rented all her life. The apartment building she's been living in for 30 years is now in foreclosure! She'll have to move. Nobody escapes unscathed, not even renters!
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...job security through the floorboards for many.
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That's an ugly FACT!

-- posted by Migisi