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Image by Lorenzoclick via Flickr Bless them all by paulinemom
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OF PALM SUNDAY, DONKEYS, FICKLE CROWDS AND POETRY by gillyk Today's Palm Sunday, which for us started in the teeth of a...
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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
One for the birds here...
Image via WikipediaHere's one for the boffins: Did you know that in terms of body lengths per second, a diving hummingbird actually flies faster than a fighter jet? Yes, according to the University of California,Berkeley, USA.Christopher Clark filmed the courtship rituals of male Anna's hummingbirds and calculated that when swooping to impress females, "the feathered acrobats reached speeds of almost 400 body lengths per second."
Such a speed is comparatively "greater than that of fighter jet", at full throttle, says Clark. When pulling up at the end of its dive, the bird is subject to a force of ten times the pull of gravity - more than fighter pilots can stand without losing consciousness.
So much for mere humans - one for the birds here!
http://huttriver.blog.co.uk
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
A big thank you to Robin Williams and others who have made donations to the Canterbury earthquake fund...
Image via WikipediaA big thank you to Robin Williams and others 
who have made donations to the Canterbury earthquake fund...Robin Williams, American actor and comedian, mixed comic relief with earthquake relief at his recent show in Christchurch, New Zealand recently.
And Williams announced that all proceeds from his recent stand-up comedy performance at the C B S Canterbury Arena would go to earthquake rebuilding projects.
The money is to be shared between the Canterbury quake fund administered by the Red Cross and the Christchurch City Council's mayoral building fund.
He said it was devastating what happened in Christchurch, but from what he learned, the people there are incredibly resilient. The first quake of 7.1 magnitude would have been traumatic enough, but he understood that since then, the people of Christchurch have experienced close to 3000 aftershocks. The quake and aftershocks were an "unmanageable trauma".
Robin Williams hoped his donation would go some way to help the rebuilding effort in the city. Red Cross national marketing manager, Paul Socringe , said Williams donation was wonderful news.
The earthquake fund had now reached about $19.4 million dollars, of which $4.4 million had already been paid out. Applications for another $2.5 million had also been received.
A group of Kiwis working in London had raised $15,000 towards the earthquake fund too.
Donations had peaked, aside from the Robin Williams show, Band together CD sales and corporate grants.
Mr Socringe said they wanted to communicate thank-you messagas to all concerned to the rest of NZ on behalf of Canterbury, and to Canterbury for the generosity that has come through. He said it was quite amazing.
As a Canterbury boy myself, despite being away for forty odd years, I don't find it unusual at all. I would like to thank everybody who has made donations as well. There is a huge task to rebuild Christchurch and surrounding districts - the face of the city will never be the same.
http://anzacbloggersunite.blog.co.uk
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Victim's mum cried herself to paralysis...
Image via WikipediaVictims mum cried herself to paralysis...
The mother of murder victim Yi Ren cried so much she deprived her brain of oxygen, leaving half her body paralysed.
The High Court has today heard the mother of murder victim Yi Ren cried so much she deprived her brain of oxygen, leaving half her body paralysed.
Ms Ren was stabbed seven times in her Auckland apartment in September 2008
.
Her killer Peng Cheng Tian was today sentenced to a minimum ten years behind bars
.
Justice Douglas White read out the victim impact statement from Ms Ren's sister, who said not only was her mother now paralysed, but her father was hospitalised with a heart condition after the murder.
Ms Ren and Tian had been friends, but relations had soured over money.
This is such a sad story.
http://communitybloggersevolve.blog.co.uk
Acknowledgements: © 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
An exaggerated swing of their young gay hips upsets the Buddhist hierarchy
Image via WikipediaIt has been reported from Bangkok that a number of new monks in Thailand have been 'sullying' the reputation of the more conservative Buddhist faith's hierarchy by wearing lipstick,overly tightening their robes, and walking with an exaggerated swing of the hips and carrying handbags. Concern over the behaviour of these gay novices has apparently moved religious authorities to propose training monks in matters of decorum. A leading Buddhist preacher explained that homosexuality in itself is not banned among monks, 'otherwise more than half of them would be defrocked".
Monday, November 15, 2010
Did he think his wife talked too much - Aussie monster cut off his wife's tongue...
Image via WikipediaDid he think she talked too much - Aussie monster cut off his wife's tongue after argument...
An Australian man allegedly cut off his de-facto partner's tongue and sliced her mouth open during a vicious early-morning attack in her home.
Mohammed Tasleem Tahir appeared in Southport Magistrate's Court yesterday, charged with torture, acts intended to maim and disfigure and grievous bodily harm, the Gold Coast Bulletin reports.
Court documents reveal the victim, Catherine Cameron, moved to the Gold Coast from South Australia six months ago after ending her relationship with Tahir.
The 20-year-old changed her name and telephone number, with the intent of starting "afresh".
But police allege Tahir confronted Ms Cameron in her unit around 1.30am on Saturday morning, telling her he wanted to "repair" their relationship.
Instead, he allegedly held her in a headlock while bashing her with an empty alcohol bottle.
He then pulled out a knife and cut her tongue and mouth. Ms Cameron was taken to hospital, suffering from a 4cm gash on the left side of her mouth and a 2cm gash on the right
.
She also suffered a fractured eye socket and will need a metal plate to be inserted.
Tahir then allegedly tried to strangle Ms Cameron on her bed and only stopped when she feigned losing consciousness and went limp.
Neighbours called police when they heard commotion in Ms Cameron's apartment.
The case has been adjourned until November 27.
Acknowledgements: MSN News
http://anzacbloggersunite.blog.co.uk
Shanghai - to be a one dog town now...
Image via WikipediaAfter getting used to the one child policy during the last thirty years, Shanghai's city authorities have proposed a one-dog rule in this city of 20 million people.It is estimated that 800,000 dogs live in Shanghai, where pets are not just companions, but a sign of wealth among the new rich residents of this Chinese city.
The rule was needed, it has been claimed, to combat barking, unscooped dog waste, and the constant risk of dog attacks. In return the city will reduce the costs of owning a dog there, vaccinations and identification chips - from 2000 yuan (NZ$390) down to 300 yuan.
Dog owners in Shanghai will also be responsible for any puppies that are born - they must adopt them out within three months, send them to approved re-homing agencies or have the dogs neutered.
The reduction of licence fees, a contentious issue in Chinese cities anyway where many dogs go unregistered because of cost, will prove to be a popular move.
Acknowledgements: The Times
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Paypal reveals new micropayment option...
Image via CrunchBasePaypal has reportedly revealed a new micropayment option to allow for the purchase of digital goods at a reduced rate, "Paypal for digital goods". Read this story in Blogworld.comRead the story here: http://www.blogworld.com/2010/10/26/paypal-reveals-micropayment-option-to-allow-purchase-of-digital-goods/
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Kiwifruit disease found in NZ...
Image via WikipediaKiwifruit disease found in NZ
Topics: Could devastate NZ industry...
Business newsA potentially devastating Kiwifruit disease has been found in New Zealand.
Psa or Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae is a bacterial disease which affects the health of the vines, but not the fruit. It carries no risks for human health and does not affect other plants.
Biosecurity Minister David Carter said it was unclear how the disease arrived on our shores and it was possible it has been here for some time but dormant, reports the New Zealand Herald.
Industry meetings will be held today to deal with the possible crisis, but David Carter said the news should not cause panic, even though it has the potential to upset trade.
The disease has infected vines at an orchard in the Bay of Plenty.
Growers will be told in today's meetings how to recognise symptoms of Psa and advised of best practice orchard hygiene.
MAF Biosecurity is working with ZESPRI, Plant & Food Research and New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) to tackle the Psa threat.
Kiwifruit companies Seeka and Satara halted trading yesterday, with Satara chief financial officer Paul Moriarty later saying if the disease was dealt with promptly, its impact would not too significant in the short-to-medium term.
"But if [the disease] becomes too prevalent across the industry then it will become a major issue," he said.
Satara are expected to lift the trading halt later today.
Psa was first identified in green kiwifruit vines in Japan and later in Italy, and can be spread by airborne spores or equipment.
Psa or Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae is a bacterial disease which affects the health of the vines, but not the fruit. It carries no risks for human health and does not affect other plants.
Biosecurity Minister David Carter said it was unclear how the disease arrived on our shores and it was possible it has been here for some time but dormant, reports the New Zealand Herald.
Industry meetings will be held today to deal with the possible crisis, but David Carter said the news should not cause panic, even though it has the potential to upset trade.
The disease has infected vines at an orchard in the Bay of Plenty.
Growers will be told in today's meetings how to recognise symptoms of Psa and advised of best practice orchard hygiene.
MAF Biosecurity is working with ZESPRI, Plant & Food Research and New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) to tackle the Psa threat.
Kiwifruit companies Seeka and Satara halted trading yesterday, with Satara chief financial officer Paul Moriarty later saying if the disease was dealt with promptly, its impact would not too significant in the short-to-medium term.
"But if [the disease] becomes too prevalent across the industry then it will become a major issue," he said.
Satara are expected to lift the trading halt later today.
Psa was first identified in green kiwifruit vines in Japan and later in Italy, and can be spread by airborne spores or equipment.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Maryland woman still banned from Facebook...
Image by david_shankbone via Flickr My good blogging friend MULTIBRAND linked to the following story recently:
12,000 Miles and a Court Case Later, Maryland Woman Still Banned from Facebook::
As I wrote here, I admittedly have a weakness for stories where a corporation rolls out its ultimate "death penalty" punishment on a customer: "You can never come here [buy here] [eat here] again!!"- Sending friend requests to people you don’t know
- Regularly contacting strangers through unsolicited Inbox messages
- Soliciting others for dating or business purposes
Let's stop right here and ask the question: What would you do in this situation? If you answered, "get in my 10-year old station wagon and drive 3,000 miles from Maryland to Facebook's headquarters in California," then you and Ms. Young are in synch. Upon arrival, an unimpressed Facebook receptionist told Young that other people had driven much further than Young (from Canada) before and gave her a form to fill out. She filled it out and saw that her account was soon reinstated. However, the account was back to "banned" status by the time she drove back home to Maryland.
So -- now what would you do? Did you say "drive back to California from Maryland a second time?" Correct! This second 6,000 mile journey also apparently proved fruitless because on July 30, 2010, Young sued Facebook alleging violations of her First and 14th Amendment rights; breach of contract; breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing; negligence; and fraud. Last week, the Internet Cases blog reports, Young's case was dismissed entirely by the court.
Now what? Resort to MySpace.
http://multibrand.blogspot.com
New Zealand - United States relations...
Image by Getty Images via @daylifeNew Zealand - United States relations
...
New Zealand – United States relations refers to international relations between New Zealand and the United States of America. New Zealand is a friend, but not an ally of the United States. Nonetheless, New Zealand has maintained "excellent" relations with the United States[1] on a broad number of international issues. President Obama reiterated this in 2009, saying that New Zealand and the United States had a very strong relationship and he wanted that relationship to be even better. [2]
Both the United States and New Zealand share some common ancestry and history (see British Empire), having both been British colonies. Both countries had native peoples who were dispossessed of their land by the process of colonisation. Both have been part of the Western alliance of nations in various wars. There are numerous other similarities between the two countries.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Huttriver the quintessential international blogger...
Image by GothPhil via Flickr 'Mount Hutt, New Zealand'The term Huttriver, Hutts or Hutt are my blog identites used on a number of blogs in recent years and terms of endearment from fellow bloggers.
I'm a Kiwi or New Zealander and publicise my ancestry and country as often as I feel inclined. I have been a member of a number of community blogs which have been deserted by most real bloggers because of the splogging that has ruined these communities. Communities such as Blogevolve and Bloggere Party. I still post regularly despite my original determination to do otherwise. Now on a weekly or fortnightly posting basis. I may visit more often to read any comments. Continuing blogging does help to promote other linked sites.
I am the quintessential international blogger who has popped up around the globe. From those American sites to British/European Blog.co.uk
I invite you to pop in and have a read some time. I also add links to Facebook and Twitter.
http://huttriver.blog.co.uk Visit Kiwipete
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Diet tips for men only...
Image by Getty Images via @daylifeDiet tips for men only...
Related articles
When we say that men and women are different, we're not telling you anything you didn't know already.
But what many of us don't realise is that men and women are different when it comes to losing weight, as well as in more obvious ways.
Our bodies have different needs and our minds have different motivations. Which means that if you want to lose weight sensibly, you can't just piggyback onto your girlfriend's diet plan and expect it to work.
"Men and women are totally different when it comes to weight loss — different body issues, different hormonal issues, different psychological issues," says nutrition consultant Kate Arnold.
"And the image of dieting — that it's all down to cottage cheese and a lettuce leaf - is really quite girly and not attractive to men."
With that in mind, we've gathered together a few handy hints on how to diet like a man, so you can lose the love handles without losing the will to live.
The basics
In some ways, of course, we're exactly the same as women. Like them, most of us should be aiming for a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 18.5 and 24.9.
But it's not quite that simple. Men tend to have a higher percentage of muscle than women, and if you're very well built the BMI number may describe you as overweight mistakenly.
So it's worth measuring your waist circumference too. Over 37 inches and you start to become more at risk of health problems; over 40 inches puts you in the high-risk category.
Get help
If you have a wife or girlfriend, make sure she knows you're looking to eat more healthily. Women can be very good weight loss companions.
"I've seen men's health turn around purely because the cooking was done by the female in the house and they had no options as to what to eat," says Arnold.
But she adds a proviso. This requires a strong, supportive and respectful relationship. If we feel bullied or henpecked most men will simply stop taking orders and march straight back to the beer and greasy food diet.
Mate weight
It's worth telling your mates that you want to lose weight, too, if only to hear some uncomfortable truths. Because when a woman announces her intention to diet her friends fall over themselves to tell her how little she needs to diet.
And when a man announces his intention to diet his friends fall over themselves to tell him how much he needs to diet — and spend the next hour laughing at his insipient moobs.
Which is both cruel and kind. It tells it how it is. And if, in the coming weeks and months, the man fails to present a leaner, trimmer figure, his mates will make sure he knows about that, too.
The beer and kebab diet
But mates who drag you to the pub can also be trouble. To lose weight, men need to reign in their weekend excesses to an extent few women do.
The hard truth is that beers are packed with more calories than the shorter drinks women prefer. Kate Arnold suggests you offer to be the Saturday night driver for a few months and stick to lime and soda.
If you must drink alcohol, single measures of spirits with low calorie mixers are the best choice.
The same advice goes for the post-pub takeaway. The healthiest option is not to have one at all, but if that's occasionally out of the question, go for a chicken skewer rather than kebab meat, a tomato-based dish rather than a creamy option, and boiled rice rather than fried.
Don't diet
But weekends aside, perhaps the most crucial diet tip for men is to, well, stop dieting. "Diets aren't sustainable long term," says Arnold. Evidence suggests men fall off diets more easily than women.
And don't be fooled into thinking that low-carb meat-fest diets like the Atkins are exactly what men need. Men are already at higher risk of heart disease than women, and diets packed with red meat, eggs, cheese, butter and fried food will be high in artery-clogging saturated fat.
Eat like a man
So what should you eat — day-to-day — to lose weight? Some of the advice crosses genders, of course. Eat more fruit and veg, less fried and processed foods, and watch your portion size.
After that, Kate Arnold believes that sensible eating is not the nightmare of self-sacrifice some men think it will be, and that men simply need to change their perception.
"For instance, fat is seen as bad, but tell men they can have a scrape of butter and grilled bacon on wholemeal toast and breakfast becomes a completely different ballgame," she says.
More generally, men should eat protein when hungry, rather than carbohydrates and sugar. Protein fills you up, especially on top of small portions of wholegrain carbs like whole-wheat pasta, brown rice and wholemeal bread.
Kate Arnold suggests an ordinary day's eating for men might include scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast, a jacket potato and tuna salad for lunch and salmon or grilled chicken with sauteed potatoes and steamed vegetables for supper. Nuts and fruit make great snacks.
Repeat that sort of regime often enough and you'll lose weight, feel healthier and gain energy. Given those benefits, it really doesn't seem like such a great sacrifice at al
But what many of us don't realise is that men and women are different when it comes to losing weight, as well as in more obvious ways.
Our bodies have different needs and our minds have different motivations. Which means that if you want to lose weight sensibly, you can't just piggyback onto your girlfriend's diet plan and expect it to work.
"Men and women are totally different when it comes to weight loss — different body issues, different hormonal issues, different psychological issues," says nutrition consultant Kate Arnold.
"And the image of dieting — that it's all down to cottage cheese and a lettuce leaf - is really quite girly and not attractive to men."
With that in mind, we've gathered together a few handy hints on how to diet like a man, so you can lose the love handles without losing the will to live.
The basics
In some ways, of course, we're exactly the same as women. Like them, most of us should be aiming for a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 18.5 and 24.9.
But it's not quite that simple. Men tend to have a higher percentage of muscle than women, and if you're very well built the BMI number may describe you as overweight mistakenly.
So it's worth measuring your waist circumference too. Over 37 inches and you start to become more at risk of health problems; over 40 inches puts you in the high-risk category.
Get help
If you have a wife or girlfriend, make sure she knows you're looking to eat more healthily. Women can be very good weight loss companions.
"I've seen men's health turn around purely because the cooking was done by the female in the house and they had no options as to what to eat," says Arnold.
But she adds a proviso. This requires a strong, supportive and respectful relationship. If we feel bullied or henpecked most men will simply stop taking orders and march straight back to the beer and greasy food diet.
Mate weight
It's worth telling your mates that you want to lose weight, too, if only to hear some uncomfortable truths. Because when a woman announces her intention to diet her friends fall over themselves to tell her how little she needs to diet.
And when a man announces his intention to diet his friends fall over themselves to tell him how much he needs to diet — and spend the next hour laughing at his insipient moobs.
Which is both cruel and kind. It tells it how it is. And if, in the coming weeks and months, the man fails to present a leaner, trimmer figure, his mates will make sure he knows about that, too.
The beer and kebab diet
But mates who drag you to the pub can also be trouble. To lose weight, men need to reign in their weekend excesses to an extent few women do.
The hard truth is that beers are packed with more calories than the shorter drinks women prefer. Kate Arnold suggests you offer to be the Saturday night driver for a few months and stick to lime and soda.
If you must drink alcohol, single measures of spirits with low calorie mixers are the best choice.
The same advice goes for the post-pub takeaway. The healthiest option is not to have one at all, but if that's occasionally out of the question, go for a chicken skewer rather than kebab meat, a tomato-based dish rather than a creamy option, and boiled rice rather than fried.
Don't diet
But weekends aside, perhaps the most crucial diet tip for men is to, well, stop dieting. "Diets aren't sustainable long term," says Arnold. Evidence suggests men fall off diets more easily than women.
And don't be fooled into thinking that low-carb meat-fest diets like the Atkins are exactly what men need. Men are already at higher risk of heart disease than women, and diets packed with red meat, eggs, cheese, butter and fried food will be high in artery-clogging saturated fat.
Eat like a man
So what should you eat — day-to-day — to lose weight? Some of the advice crosses genders, of course. Eat more fruit and veg, less fried and processed foods, and watch your portion size.
After that, Kate Arnold believes that sensible eating is not the nightmare of self-sacrifice some men think it will be, and that men simply need to change their perception.
"For instance, fat is seen as bad, but tell men they can have a scrape of butter and grilled bacon on wholemeal toast and breakfast becomes a completely different ballgame," she says.
More generally, men should eat protein when hungry, rather than carbohydrates and sugar. Protein fills you up, especially on top of small portions of wholegrain carbs like whole-wheat pasta, brown rice and wholemeal bread.
Kate Arnold suggests an ordinary day's eating for men might include scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast, a jacket potato and tuna salad for lunch and salmon or grilled chicken with sauteed potatoes and steamed vegetables for supper. Nuts and fruit make great snacks.
Repeat that sort of regime often enough and you'll lose weight, feel healthier and gain energy. Given those benefits, it really doesn't seem like such a great sacrifice at al
Native Australian too white for Aboriginal charity...
Image via Wikipedia 
Tarran Betterridge, a Canberra university student, was told she would be a "perfect" campaigner for Generation One, but that the group was looking for "someone that looked indigenous".
"I couldn't believe a company that advocates increasing indigenous employment would question hiring a person because they do not meet the colour standard," she wrote for public broadcaster ABC's website.
"(It) left me feeling useless -- that because I have pale skin I should not be included."
Betterridge, from the Wiradjuri tribe, said she was "in shock and felt humiliated" when she was eventually turned down.
Generation One is a grassroots non-profit group founded by Fortescue Metals founder and mining magnate Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest.
It campaigns to increase education, employment and living standards for Aborigines, Australia's disadvantaged first inhabitants with a culture stretching back many thousands of years.
Chief executive Tim Gartrell said Generation One was "shocked and appalled" by the story and had terminated its contract with the recruitment firm, Epic Promotions.
"It's correct that we asked for people of indigenous heritage to work for us and with us," Gartrell told ABC radio.
"At no point did we issue directives asking for indigenous people who look indigenous, that is offensive. That is totally against what we stand for and we would not do that."
Gartrell said he had apologised unreservedly to Betterridge, who is studying to be a teacher, and said it had been both embarrassing and hurtful for her.
Aborigines, once more than a million in number, now account for just 470,000 out of a population of 22 million, and suffer disproportionately high rates of disease, imprisonment and unemployment.
Indigenous men die, on average, 11.5 years earlier than non-Aboriginal males.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Research shows smoking doubles the risk of getting dementia in old age...
Image via WikipediaResearch shows smoking doubles the risk of getting dementia in old age...
Research from the US shows that smoking in middle age more than doubles the risk of alzheimers disease and other dementia later in life, according to one of the first long-term studies that have examined this issue.
Smoking definately has a clear effect on heart and lungs, but whether it also damaged the brain has been controversial. After looking at other factors that can contribute to dementia - such as race, age, diabetes, heart disease and substance abuse, the study published in the ARCHIVES OF INTERNAL MEDICINE recently found a significant link with heavy smoking at middle age.
Compared with non-smokers, those who smoked two packs a day or more had a 114 % increased risk of dementia (more than double), while those who smoked a half pack to one pack had a 37% increased risk. Middle aged former smokers did not appear to have an increased risk of later dementia.
Researchers in Finland and Sweden followed 21,123 middle-aged members of a health plan who took part in a survey between 1978 and 1985
.
The subjects were then followed for an average of 23 years. Giving up smoking appeared to improve chances of avoiding increased chances of getting dementia in old age.
Acknowledgements: Los Angeles Time
http://huttriver.blog.co.uk
http://huttshealthhub.blogspot.co.uk
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