Clipmarks | Australia Clips

TEXTING KILLS RELATIONSHIPS !

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:12:21 GMT

clipped by: jt3600
clipper's remarks: To Women: if you can't keep your nose out of the text's will you get burned !

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

Text message snoop? Study says beware

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - Can't help checking your partner's text messages on the sly? You're not alone, with an Australian survey showing one in three mobile phone users are text message snoops, and the consequences can often be heart-breaking.

The online survey, conducted for telecoms service provider Virgin Mobile Australia, shows that women are more likely than men to check their partner's phone in secret.

It also revealed that 73 percent of these sneaky text checkers have found out things they later wished they hadn't, and 10 percent ended their relationship because of SMS snooping.

Nassim Nicholas Taleb: the prophet of boom and doom

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:41:52 GMT

clipped by: wildcat
clipper's remarks: In December he lectured bankers at Société Générale, France’s second biggest bank. He told them they were sitting on a mountain of risks – a menagerie of black swans. They didn’t believe him. Six weeks later the rogue trader and black swan Jérôme Kerviel landed them with $7.2 billion of losses.

As a result, Taleb is now the hottest thinker in the world. He has a $4m advance on his next book. He gives about 30 presentations a year to bankers, economists, traders, even to Nasa, the US Fire Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. But he doesn’t tell them what to do – he doesn’t know. He just tells them how the world is. “I’m not a guru. I’m just describing a problem and saying, ‘You deal with it.’”

take a moment and read the article

Clip Source: business.timesonline.co.uk

When this man said the world’s economy was heading for disaster, he was scorned. Now traders, economists, even Nasa, are clamouring to hear him speak

He is telling me how to live. “The only way you can say ‘F*** you’ to fate is by saying it’s not going to affect how I live. So if somebody puts you to death, make sure you shave.”

To explain: black swans were discovered in Australia. Before that, any reasonable person could assume the all-swans-are-white theory was unassailable. But the sight of just one black swan detonated that theory. Every theory we have about the human world and about the future is vulnerable to the black swan, the unexpected event. We sail in fragile vessels across a raging sea of uncertainty. “The world we live in is vastly different from the world we think we live in.”

Last May, Taleb published The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable. It said, among many other things, that most economists, and almost all bankers, are subhuman and very, very dangerous.

Tags: nassim nicholas taleb, economy, black swans

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:54:04 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: bibliodyssey.blogspot.com

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie - The Gumnut Babies
(cover detail)

They Found Mr Lizard at the Photographer's

At The Artist's Studio

Mrs Kookaburra's Dinner Party

Sea Dragons in Their Stable

Snugglepot Fights The Red Gumnut

Little Obelia (detail)

The Banksia Men Make a Wicked Plot

The Cabstand

The Cricket Match

The Gum Blossom Ballet

The Lecture

They Began the Homeward Journey

Little Obelia

May Gibbs (1877-1969) emigrated to Australia from England with her parents when she was four years old. Part of her childhood was spent at a farming homestead in Western Australia where Gibbs' love of the unique species in the Australian bush developed. The nuts, leaves and flowers she discovered as a child provided a lifetime of inspiration for her iconic and imaginative illustration work.

Northcott: Home of May Gibbs [biography].
Like Father Like Daughter: May & Herbert Gibbs Collection (has horizontal scroll galleries of early painting work among other material)
Amazon link to book.

Hopes fade for abandoned baby whale in Australia

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:12:09 GMT

clipped by: mugofcoffee
clipper's remarks: sad...

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Hopes of saving a baby whale abandoned by its mother in a bay north of Sydney faded late on Wednesday as the calf continued to try to suckle from a moored yacht. International experts said it had just days to live.

The humpback whale, nicknamed "Colin" by Australian media, was found at Pittwater after apparently being abandoned by its mother off Australia's east coast.

Whale calf mistakes boat for mum
Play Video

After U.S.-based whale rescue experts said the animal could not be saved without sophisticated equipment, wildlife authorities said the fast-weakening calf would probably have to be put down unless it could be paired with a migrating whale pod.

"I guess it's fair to say that we're getting close to that position at the moment. We're really, really hopeful that there can be some other possible way through," Environment Department spokesman John Dengate told Australian radio.

while it was distressing, it was natural for some animals to abandon their young

World’s Most Spectacular Skylines

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:04:50 GMT

clipped by: hitchhiker08
clipper's remarks: 'Spectacular' is right - each city/location has its own mesmerizing charm!

Clip Source: matadornights.com

The World’s Most Spectacular Skylines

Something about the outline of a city against its clear, crisp sky stops us in our tracks and commands our attention.

Below are staggeringly beautiful images where city meets sky all across the globe.

Miami, Florida, USA

Bangkok, Thailand

Vancouver, British Columbia

Republic Plaza, Singapore

Sydney, Australia

Shanghai, China

London, England

South Perth, Australia

Cologne, Germany

Graz, Austria

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Hong Kong

Detroit, Michigan

Berlin, Germany

Venice, Italy

New York, New York, USA

Warsaw, Poland

San Francisco, California, USA

Tags: skyline, horizon, architecture, photography, landscape, buildings

Noseless seats a less pressing option

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:28:14 GMT

clipped by: pokkets
clipper's remarks: It should be a great alternative for recreational use, and some professions where bike riding is part of the job description, but it isn't really an option for sports racing, where time is more important than comfort. Some bike racers would prefer to have a groin injury, than lose a second. Another remedy suggested by Dr Barnes, apart from seat adjustment, is a good quality chamois in the shorts. - However you may want to be careful not to use it to dry the car.
Another thing. Police may know how to ride a bike, but what fraction have ever adjusted the seat?

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

Claudine Ryan

A long day on the bike leaves most of us uncomfortable, but US scientists have good news for those men who find themselves with more than a numb backside

Research published in the latest issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine reveals that bicycle seats without the protruding nose extension can help to ease discomfort some male bike riders experience

past researchers have found men riding their bikes for extended periods are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction, as well as genital numbness.

Researchers evaluated 90 bike police officers in five metropolitan areas in the United States. After six months of using no-nose bike seats the number of officers who reported no genital numbness rose from 27% to 82%.

Sports Medicine Australia's

Dr Peter Barnes says there are easier ways for men to alleviate groin discomfort bike riding can cause.

It's a common problem, but it's not a major problem that can't be overcome with pretty simple adjustments to the set up of their bike

Olympic Design 1896-2012

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:19:26 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: www.colourlovers.com

Over the years of the modern Olympic era we have witnessed design take a forefront in the planning and execution of the event. It has seemingly gone from a casual, low key sporting event, with each venue taking their turn hosting, into a full scale media orgy of Superbowl proportions.

taking look at the Summer Olympic logos from 1896 to 2012 London along with some noteworthy facts from each games and palette inspiration from some of the more colorful posters and logos. For more info about each year of the Olympics, click on the corresponding image.

1908 London, UK

1912 Stockholm, Sweden

1920 Antwerp, Belgium

1924 Paris, France

1928 Amsterdam, Netherlands

1932 Los Angeles, California

1936 Berlin, Germany

1948 London, England

1952 Helsinki, Finland

1956 Melbourne, Australia

1960 Rome, Italy

1976 Montreal, Canada

1980 Moscow, U.S.S.R.

1984 Los Angeles, California

1992 Barcelona, Spain

1996 Atlanta, Georgia

2004 Athens, Greece

2008 Beijing, China

Abandoned whale calf mistakes boat for its mum

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:32:08 GMT

clipped by: mugofcoffee

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Rescuers in Australia are trying to save a baby humpback whale which they say took a shine to a moored yacht, possibly mistaking the vessel for its lost mother.

The whale calf was found at Pittwater, north of Sydney, after apparently being abandoned by its mother off the Australian east coast

"The calf has spent the last day or so in Pittwater and we believe it has been nuzzling up to a moored vessel in an attempt to find milk," said Chris McIntosh, local manager for the New South Wales state national parks service said.

A team of workers towed the private yacht out to sea to try to lure the calf out into deeper water where it was hoped it would reunite with its mother, but it was spotted close to the beach at Pittwater again on Tuesday.

Female whales give birth to a single calf, and a nursing period of more than one year for many species creates a strong bond between a mother and its young.

(Reporting by James Grubel)

'Bigfoot' fails DNA test

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:04:52 GMT

clipped by: The REAL Napster
clipper's remarks: Doh. What were they thinking?

Clip Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

'Bigfoot' fails DNA test

One sample was human and the other was 96 percent from an opossum

Results from tests on genetic material from alleged remains of one of the mythical half-ape and half-human creatures, made public at a news conference on Friday held after the claimed discovery swept the Internet, failed to prove its existence.

Its spread was fueled by a photograph of a hairy heap, bearing a close resemblance to a shaggy full-body gorilla costume, stuffed into a container resembling a refrigerator.

PALO ALTO, California - Bigfoot remains as elusive as ever.

Results of the DNA tests were revealed in an e-mail from Nelson and distributed at the Palo Alto, California, news conference held by Tom Biscardi, host of a weekly online radio show about the Bigfoot.

Despite the dubious photo and the commercial interests of the alleged discoverers, the Bigfoot claim drew interest from Australia to Europe and even The New York Times.

Tags: bigfoot, dna, hoax

Lost baby whale adopts a yacht

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:59:48 GMT

clipped by: queerty
clipper's remarks: Bless. I hope they find a way to feed it.

Clip Source: www.ananova.com

A baby whale lost at sea in Australia has bonded with a makeshift mum - an 11-metre-long yacht.

Rescuers say the calf has mistaken the boat for its mother and has been swimming around it near Sydney's northern beaches, nuzzling and trying to suckle the vessel.

The National Parks and Wildlife has stepped in and towed the "mother substitute" yacht away from the harbour, reports National Nine News.

"We've successfully enticed the calf to deeper waters between Broken Bay and West Head, Barrenjoey," said regional manager Chris McIntosh.

"Over the next little while, we'll experiment to try to separate it from the yacht."

But the whale appears to be exhausted and Mr McIntosh said the outlook wasn't good. "There is a slim chance it might move out to sea... but we can't predict exactly what might happen."

"It is only one to two months old and would not have been weaned yet from its mother. It can't be fed, and in fact we wouldn't know what to feed it."

Tags: whale, baby, lost, yacht

Secluded beaches around the globe

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:43:37 GMT

clipped by: Aribeth

Clip Source: www.thetravelerszone.com

Just about everyone loves the beach. If you don’t, then you just haven’t truly experienced an amazing beach yet.

The bright sun, endless blue skies, the sand beneath your feet, a cool breeze and the most crystal clear water you’ve ever seen will be sure to win over your heart.

Here are some of the secret sands; to those who are looking for secluded beaches around the globe, where quiet coasts invite in-the-know sunbathers to savor their relative solitude.

Wildcat Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, California

Cayo Costa, Florida

Pink Beach, Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda

one huge sandbar

Los Frailes, Ecuador

Majahuitas Cove, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Store Beach, Sydney, Australia

Polihua Beach, Lanai, Hawaii

If you are in an open vehicle, you’ll arrive looking like a sun-dried tomato.

Plage Blanche, Morocco

Porat Beach, Bisevo, Croatia

Playa Medina, Venezuela

Poles Bay, Kea, Greece

The island of Kea, with terraced hillsides and ancient, stone-paved walking paths, is a day trip from Athens.

Tags: travel, holidays, summer, photos, islands

Gnome sweet home

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:07:23 GMT

clipped by: queerty
clipper's remarks: More of the tale at source.

Clip Source: www.ananova.com

A gnome taken from it's owners garden seven months ago has been returned accompanied by a photo album showing his adventures.

In the album Murphy the gnome is picutred on a beach and hiking down a mountain.

On his adventures he travelled to South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong and Laos reports Daily Mail.

The gnome and album were placed on owner Eve Stuart Kelso's doorstep accompained by a note.

The letter said: 'Hello! First of all I feel I should explain my prolonged absence. A gnome's life is full of time for reflection, and whilst surveying your garden one summer morning, I began to get itchy feet.

'There have been high points, low points, and positively terrifying points. But I have survived - small thanks to the companion with whom I have shared all these moments.'

Tags: gnome, home, travel

Humans Implicated In Prehistoric Animal Extinctions With New Evidence

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:27:26 GMT

clipped by: Beholder

Clip Source: www.sciencedaily.com

Scientists have long argued over the reasons behind the worldwide mass extinctions that took place towards the end of the last ice age. The main culprits are generally thought to be climate change or some form of human impact. People only arrived in Tasmania around 43,000 years ago, when the island became temporarily connected by a land bridge to mainland Australia. None of Tasmania's giant animals, known as 'megafauna' were known to have survived until this time. This appeared to clear humans of any involvement in the disappearance of the island's large megafauna.

This new international study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, reports the discovery of giant kangaroos surviving in Tasmania until people arrived, placing humans back on the list of likely culprits for the subsequent extinction of the megafauna.

The researchers believe that the tale from Tasmania is relevant to many other parts of the world.

Tags: extension, ice age, tasmania

CHRISTIAN CHARITY? Cardinal Pell again.

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:30:56 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: This priest has got to be aiming for the title of Patron Saint of Paedophiles. I can't imagine why so many are turning their backs on the catholic church.

Clip Source: www.northernstar.com.au

IT wasn't bad enough that local man Anthony Jones was abused by a Catholic priest.

Now Cardinal George Pell's lawyers have told Mr Jones he could lose his house if he keeps pursuing legal action against the Church.

"I've had a letter from my lawyer where the Church says) I'd be forced into the situation (of having) to sell my home if I continued with the proceedings," Mr Jones said.

The 54-year-old disabled pensioner, who lives near Nimbin, said he was furious lawyers representing the Church would act in such a manner.

Mr Jones was sexually assaulted in 1982 by a priest, Fr Terence Goodall.

The leader of the Catholic Church in Australia, Cardinal Pell, has denied trying to cover-up allegations of sexual abuse against Fr Goodall.

Cardinal Pell has acknowledged the latest scandal was an embarrassment, but defended his actions over sexual abuse allegations against Fr Goodall, which he said were investigated by the Church and police and had resulted in the priest being stood down.

Tags: innocence, lost, victim, insulted

Australia's Reserve Bank expresses deep concern.

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:17:39 GMT

clipped by: tdsmum

Clip Source: www.theage.com.au

Now the Reserve says it's worried

Peter Martin
August 12, 2008

AUSTRALIA's Reserve Bank has expressed deep concern about Australia's economic outlook, presenting forecasts that suggest it might have lifted interest rates too high.

Westpac chief economist Bill Evans said the Reserve Bank seemed to be "shocked" by the severity of the slowdown that it had helped engineer.

"It's worried about the global outlook and concerned that that financial turmoil could exacerbate the slowdown," he said.

Tags: australia, reserve bank of australia