The team of nine Kiwi Riverman blogs, with a variety
of niches. Something globally interesting to write about, every time. Positively
influencing the
blogesphere.
International Day of Older Persons...
"Longevity is a public health achievement, not a social or economic
liability. On this International Day of Older Persons, let us pledge to ensure
the well-being of older persons and to enlist their meaningful participation in
society so we can all benefit from their knowledge and ability."
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Theme for 2012: Longevity: Shaping the Future
On 14 December 1990,
the United Nations General Assembly (by resolution
45/106) designated 1 October the International Day of Older Persons. This
was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on
Ageing - which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing - and endorsed
later that year by the UN General Assembly. In 1991, the General Assembly
(by resolution
46/91) adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons. In 2002,
the Second World Assembly on Ageing adopted the Madrid
International Plan of Action on Ageing, to respond to the opportunities and
challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the
development of a society for all ages. The theme of the 2012 commemoration is
“Longevity: Shaping the Future”. Ageing and health was also the theme of this
year's World Health Day on 7 April. These themes focus on how healthy behaviours
throughout life can help older men and women lead full and productive lives and
be a resource for their families and communities
THE PERFECT
HUSBAND...
Several men are in the locker room of a golf club. A mobile phone on a bench
rings, one of the men picks up the phone and starts talking. Everyone else in
the room stops to listen.
MAN: "Hello"
WOMAN: "Hi Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?"
MAN: "Yes."
WOMAN: "I'm at the shops now and found this beautiful leather coat. It's only
$2,000; is it OK if I buy it?"
MAN: "Sure, go ahead if you like it that much."
WOMAN: "I also stopped by the Lexus dealership and saw the new models. I saw
one I really liked."
MAN: "How much?"
WOMAN: "$90,000."
MAN: "OK, but for that price I want it with all the options."
WOMAN: "Great! Oh, and one more thing... I was just talking to Janie and
found out that the house I
wanted last year is back on the market. They're
asking $980,000 for it."
MAN: "Well, then go ahead and make an offer of $900,000. They'll probably
take it. If not, we can
go the extra eighty-thousand if it's what you really
want."
WOMAN: "OK. I'll see you later! I love you so much!"
MAN: "Bye! I love you, too."
The man hangs up. The other men in the locker room stare at him in
astonishment, mouths wide open.
He turns and asks, "Anyone know who's phone this is?"
Peter Petterson signed the petition: How about you my friend?
PETITION: We want the French, Mexican and United States Governments to stop anyone using puppies and kittens as shark and alligator bait. Together we WILL put an end to this!
To: The French, Mexican and United States Governments
We have to stop this PLEASE help!
French Islanders using live puppies and kittens as shark bait??
Please stop this senseless abuse to innocent puppies and kittens. French Islander, Mexican and yes American fishermen and hunters are using LIVE puppies and kittens as shark and alligator bait!!...See More
We have to stop this PLEASE help!
French Islanders using live puppies and kittens as shark bait??
Please stop this senseless abuse to innocent puppies and kittens. French Islander, Mexican and yes American fishermen and hunters are using LIVE puppies and kittens as shark and alligator bait!! No living being should have to undergo this torture and insurmountable fear! This is inhumane and must stop NOW. Together we can make a difference and let our voice be heard as ONE. Please sign this petition and please pass this along. Thank you for caring. Blessed be ^;^
Currently the penalty is only 2 years and a little over$5,000 USD that is far too little for such a heinous crime. We urge that you raise the penalty to 10 years in prison with NO parole and a fine of $100,000. As well as offering a reward of $10,000 for turning in the offenders, which will come from the fines collected.This will hopefully act as a deterrent and will stop these horrendous acts against innocent animals FOREVER. Please do the right thing and help us stop these people.
Islanders on the French controlled Reunion Island have been using live dogs as shark bait.
The Sun claims that “a six-month-old labrador pup was recently found alive with a huge double hook through its snout – like the dog above – and another through a leg.”
It is also claimed that local fisherman have also been using kittens!
Reunion Island is an overseas départements of France and an official region of France, giving it the same status as a province or state in other countries.
Dogs Used as Shark Bait on French Island
by Patrizio • On feb 12, 2012
Stephanie Roche of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, another animal-welfare group in Paris, confirmed that live animals are used as bait on Réunion. But, she said, it is not a common practice.
The Bardot organization has been fighting the practice for a decade. But this is the first time Réunion politicians have reacted strongly and swiftly to stop it, Roche said.
The French Embassy in Washington, D.C., issued a written statement condemning the use of dogs as shark bait, emphasizing that such acts are illegal and will not be tolerated in the French territory.
The embassy maintains these are very isolated cases and authorities on the island are closely monitoring the situation.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in Friday Harbor, Washington State, is offering a U.S. $1,000 reward to any Réunion police officer who arrests anyone using live dogs or cats as bait for sharks.
Thanks for signing the petition.
Can you help us reach our goal of 1,200,000 signatures? Invite Friends
This puppy was found with this horrible hook pierced through his face. Please help stop this!
Two kittens saved in West Palm Beach, Florida. They were going to be alligator bait!!!! We have to stop this. Please help. Thank you ^;^
Because this is horrendous and hideous. Can you imagine the fear these animals must be in the last minutes of their lives? No living being deserves to be treated and used this way. These are private fishermen and the penalty is ONLY 2 years and a monetary fine of a little over $5,000 USD, we want the penalty to be stiffened to deter this horrific crime to 10 years in prison (no parole) and $100,000 fine.
Auckland police Dotcom mansion invasion a mistake? Yeah right! John key didn't know until the day before? As prime minister he is the head of the GCSB spy agency...
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KIM DOTCOM: The Megaupload internet entrepreneur is before the cou
LATEST: Prime Minister John Key says he is "quite shocked" at the possibility government spies acted unlawfully in the Kim Dotcom case.
However, the internet tycoon's US lawyer says it's too early to say if an investigation into the allegations will halt his case against extradition to the US, where Dotcom is wanted on anti-piracy charges.
Key has ordered an inquiry over interceptions in the Dotcom case by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) while assisting police to find people subject to arrest warrants.
At a post-Cabinet press conference, Key this afternoon said he referred the matter to the Inspector General last Monday - the same day he learned of the breach. Key said he was "quite shocked", but had confidence in the bureau. He told reporters he had been advised not to make a statement until filing papers with the court.
Key said he believed the incident was an isolated error and did not think it was because New Zealand authorities wanted to "curry favour" with the US.
"On the explanation I have at the moment, it was a mistake, an error, but that's now subject to an inquiry."
He added he was not asked to sign an intercept warrant, "nor was I briefed on the operation in question".
Speaking from the US, Ira Rothken said Dotcom's legal team will await the outcome of the inquiry and did not want to ''pre-judge'' it.
The investigation will deal with ''whether or not the intelligence agency broke the law by essentially spying on folks domestically'', Rothken said.
''It all depends on what the results are and what the prime minister does ... obviously we'd be interested to know if the United States was involved...we'll await the results."
He added: ''I think any time the prime minister orders an inquiry of the intelligence services potentially spying on residents domestically there should be a healthy concern.''
He was unable to say what communications were intercepted.
Dotcom was aware of the statement from Key, he said. ''He very much looks forward to the results of the inquiry, whether there has been a intrusion of domestic privacy.''
The inquiry's announcement comes just two days before Dotcom's case is again due in the High Court in Auckland.
Justice Helen Winkelmann has directed a hearing be called on Wednesday to discuss the search warrants issued for the January raids on Dotcom's Auckland mansion.
Fairfax Media understands the memo filed by the Crown about the GCSB relates to that hearing - not to either the extradition case or the disclosure hearing held in the Court of Appeal last week.
The search warrants issued for the raids were earlier ruled illegal by Justice Winkelmann. Dotcom's lawyers are now seeking a remedy for the situation. This has so far involved discussing the way the raids played out in minute detail at a two-day hearing last month.
The Crown is refusing to release the memo, saying the request must go through the court. Applications to the court can be lengthy, as all parties must have the opportunity to respond before the judge makes a decision on a document's release.
Labour leader David Shearer says Key must come clean on what he knew about illegal spying by GCSB.
He said it was a ''shocking breach'' of strict laws on snooping.
And he questioned how much Key knew about the raid. Key says he first heard of Dotcom on the day before police arrested the internet millionaire at his Coatesville estate.
Shearer said Key is responsible for signing off all intercept warrants by GSCB. ''While it's been revealed that 'some' bugging was done illegally, it is not credible to think that other monitoring by the agency was not signed by the Prime Minister before the raid was carried out.''
Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said a number of New Zealand agencies have ''bent over backwards'' to assist the US in prosecuting Dotcom.
"Government agencies should not, however, break New Zealand's laws to assist another country.
Questions from potential visitors to Australia...
These questions are from potential visitors to Australia. They were posted on
an Australian Tourism Website and the answers are the actual responses by the
website officials, who obviously have am Aussie sense of humor.
Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, so
how do the plants grow? (UK).
A: We import all plants fully grown and then
just sit around watching them die.
Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)
A: Depends how
much you’ve been drinking.
Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney – can I follow the railroad tracks?
(Sweden)
A: Sure, it’s only three thousand miles, take lots of water.
Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round?
(Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/ gatherers.
Milk is illegal.
Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense
rattlesnake serum. (USA)
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU
come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled
and make good pets, especially The Taipans. http://www.australianblogs.com.au/index.php?page=2 http://australianblogs.com.au http://www.australianblogs.com.au/for-sale
Australian Blogs for sale.
The 45
page colour instructional book entitled "Kicking Cats" guides men through the
process of kicking cats down flights of stairs without repercussions from their
spouse or girlfriends. "It isn't as easy as one would think to successfully do
and get away with", comments author John Moore. "I was caught numerous times by
my at the time girlfriends and eventually became determined to develop a
fail-proof process. This book represents years of studying, practicing, research
and an estimated 150 test cats. At first I was somewhat alarmed by my dislike
for cats, when considering how much my girlfriends and ex-wife liked them. But
after talking to scores of other men about my pent up feelings of anger towards
cats, I realized I was far from alone. That is why the introduction goes into
great detail about the history of cat kicking and some of the current theories
on men's hatred of cats. The secret to a successful kick is to first befriend
the cat, building its trust in you. It is when the cat is truly relaxed and
comfortable around you that you can then angle it towards the stair case for a
mighty punt."
An old man is sitting on a park bench crying. A young man is walking by and
asks him why he's crying.
The old man says, "I'm retired and I have lots of money, a huge luxury
apartment, a beautiful 25 year old wife who loves me and has sex with me twice a
day"
The young man says, "Well then why the hell are you crying!?"
The old man replies, "I can't remember where I live!"
Our lager, Which art in barrels, Hollowed be thy drink. I will be drunk, At home as in the travern. Give us this day our foamy head, And forgive us our spillages, As we forgive those who spill against us. And lead us not into incarceration, But deliver us from hangerovers. For thine is the beer. The bitter and the lager Forever and ever, Barmen.
Is
the Australian mining bubble about to burst?
This week it was announced that Australia’s GDP growth has fallen in the
second quarter compared to the first. Which has our learned friends raising
serious questions about the state of the economy. As we know our mining industry
is very reliant on China and unfortunately at the moment Chinas economy is not
looking too rosy, with a significant slowdown in China’s current growth and
further indications that it will slow further.
In turn this has affected our most precious export commodity; Iron ore… which
has taken a dive to $86 per tonne which is half of what is was a year ago. Also
this week FMG shares shed $1.4 Billion off the share market over a 2 day period,
causing them to announce they are deferring investments and laying off
workers. http://www.bandura.com.au/is-the-australian-mining-bubble-about-to-burst
'Prohibition is the abrogation of control leading to the unregulated peddling of adulterated substances outside the reach of the law.' Photograph: Mykel Nicolaou / Rex Features
This week, a study purportedly showed an association, or correlation, between people who became habitual cannabis users when they were 13 and people whose IQ dwindled between the ages of 13 and 38. It also suggested the lack of such correlation for those who first became habitual cannabis users when they were aged 18 or over. Accordingly, one is expected to infer that using cannabis in early adolescence has a detrimental effect on IQ, but doesn't if one begins using it in late adolescence.
These findings are likely to be mistakenly adopted by those who advocate continuing the prohibition of cannabis as a justification of their position. But assuming that such correlations are true, it is obviously important that cannabis use takes place within a framework where age limits may be imposed. I have been a dedicated supporter of the relegalising of cannabis since the mid-1960s. Neither I, nor any of the various pro-legalisation organisations with which I have been associated, have ever advocated that legalisation should not be accompanied by age limits and other controls. Age limits for a large number of activities are well entrenched and accepted by society, and tend to lie between the ages of 16 to 18.
But there are no age limits in a black market. Neither is there any other form of control. Prohibition is not control, and should not be equated as such. It is the abrogation of control leading to the unregulated peddling of adulterated substances outside the reach of the law. Apart from not beginning to achieve its aims, prohibition makes drugs artificially expensive and spawns an avalanche of acquisitive criminal behaviour.
The 45
page colour instructional book entitled "Kicking Cats" guides men through the
process of kicking cats down flights of stairs without repercussions from their
spouse or girlfriends. "It isn't as easy as one would think to successfully do
and get away with", comments author John Moore. "I was caught numerous times by
my at the time girlfriends and eventually became determined to develop a
fail-proof process. This book represents years of studying, practicing, research
and an estimated 150 test cats. At first I was somewhat alarmed by my dislike
for cats, when considering how much my girlfriends and ex-wife liked them. But
after talking to scores of other men about my pent up feelings of anger towards
cats, I realized I was far from alone. That is why the introduction goes into
great detail about the history of cat kicking and some of the current theories
on men's hatred of cats. The secret to a successful kick is to first befriend
the cat, building its trust in you. It is when the cat is truly relaxed and
comfortable around you that you can then angle it towards the stair case for a
mighty punt." 
Is
the Australian mining bubble about to burst?
Archaeologists unearth 5000 year old third
gender caveman, or in these politically correct days of gay marriages etc is
that just a cave person? Is it a case of back to the future?