Sorry I've been quiet on the blogging front for the last couple of days. I've been working LONG hours. Currently I'm working on a data migration project and the timeframes for each test is very tight so it's 'heads down, bums up' a couple of days a fortnight.
BUT tomorrow I escape .... off hunting again ... YAYAYAYAYA !!!!!!!!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Yelling at the Radio
Am I the only person who does this???
Today, whilst driving to work, there was a "news article" about a study run by the We-Need-To-Justify-Our-Existance.org which has found that 61% of parents don't think the government is doing enough to EDUCATE their children about drugs!
WTF????????? In my book it's the parents' responsibility to educate children about drugs and other 'life issues' not the governments!
And, yes, I yelled that at the radio!
Today, whilst driving to work, there was a "news article" about a study run by the We-Need-To-Justify-Our-Existance.org which has found that 61% of parents don't think the government is doing enough to EDUCATE their children about drugs!
WTF????????? In my book it's the parents' responsibility to educate children about drugs and other 'life issues' not the governments!
And, yes, I yelled that at the radio!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
The Economy is so Bad ....
The economy is so bad that I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.
It’s so bad, I ordered a burger at McDonalds and the kid behind the counter asked, “Can you afford fries with that?”
The economy is so bad that CEO’s are now playing miniature golf.
The economy is so bad if the bank returns your check marked “Insufficient Funds,” you call them and ask if they meant you or them.
The economy is so bad Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.
The economy is so bad McDonalds is selling the 1/4 ouncer.
The economy is so bad parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children’s names.
More (mainly American focused) at Days of our Trailers.
It’s so bad, I ordered a burger at McDonalds and the kid behind the counter asked, “Can you afford fries with that?”
The economy is so bad that CEO’s are now playing miniature golf.
The economy is so bad if the bank returns your check marked “Insufficient Funds,” you call them and ask if they meant you or them.
The economy is so bad Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.
The economy is so bad McDonalds is selling the 1/4 ouncer.
The economy is so bad parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children’s names.
More (mainly American focused) at Days of our Trailers.
Range Report
At the beginning of September we started a new and more structured training regime at the gun club. So far we have only had a few new trainees which is proving beneficial for ironing out the wrinkles.
One of the major changes we have made is to try and eliminate the "just coming to see what it is like" people from the actual training course. Up to now these people have been included in with the trainees and it can make things difficult, especially when there are lots of trainees and lots of "try & sees". We are now planning to hold monthly "Have a Go" sessions designed for these people and keep the training course for new members only.
The other change is that we run a separate course at a different time for the first training session and we're going to limit this course to 4 participants only.
The way the training was run was that people could join at any time during the twelve week program and we just "coped" with it. This way we can assess and ensure that the newbies have basic gun handling skills before mixing in with the bigger classes.
But as I said, we've only had four newbies since the beginning of September - two we've seen only once and haven't applied for membership. The other two have submitted their membership forms and seem quite keen.
The Chief Instructor has been letting me do the majority of the training which has been great, and he's been there to offer advice and help when I've needed it.
Today we did an extra training session (we don't normally train on Sunday) but we're not there next weekend and the trainee from yesterday was keen to do more. The schedule called from shooting from various start positions - including "prone" - shame it had been raining (our range is outdoor on gravel). We did find a bit of plastic to put down, but that made it slippery. The trainee was a good sport about it and yes, I got wet & muddy too as I demonstrated how to keep the gun in front of your body while going prone.
One of the major changes we have made is to try and eliminate the "just coming to see what it is like" people from the actual training course. Up to now these people have been included in with the trainees and it can make things difficult, especially when there are lots of trainees and lots of "try & sees". We are now planning to hold monthly "Have a Go" sessions designed for these people and keep the training course for new members only.
The other change is that we run a separate course at a different time for the first training session and we're going to limit this course to 4 participants only.
The way the training was run was that people could join at any time during the twelve week program and we just "coped" with it. This way we can assess and ensure that the newbies have basic gun handling skills before mixing in with the bigger classes.
But as I said, we've only had four newbies since the beginning of September - two we've seen only once and haven't applied for membership. The other two have submitted their membership forms and seem quite keen.
The Chief Instructor has been letting me do the majority of the training which has been great, and he's been there to offer advice and help when I've needed it.
Today we did an extra training session (we don't normally train on Sunday) but we're not there next weekend and the trainee from yesterday was keen to do more. The schedule called from shooting from various start positions - including "prone" - shame it had been raining (our range is outdoor on gravel). We did find a bit of plastic to put down, but that made it slippery. The trainee was a good sport about it and yes, I got wet & muddy too as I demonstrated how to keep the gun in front of your body while going prone.
Miss 7 is now Miss 8
Actually she turned 8 on the 10th, but I've been a bit slack with posting her birthday photo here.
For her birthday she had set up an orienteering course for her friends and I had incorporated a treasure hunt at each checkpoint.
It was a lot of fun, but the poor girl had had some warts burnt off her feet a couple of days prior and had done a 11km hike the day before - so she wasn't feeling particularly brilliant.
However, it was a beautiful walk and lots of fun.
For her birthday she had set up an orienteering course for her friends and I had incorporated a treasure hunt at each checkpoint.
It was a lot of fun, but the poor girl had had some warts burnt off her feet a couple of days prior and had done a 11km hike the day before - so she wasn't feeling particularly brilliant.
However, it was a beautiful walk and lots of fun.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Funniest Thing I've Read in a Long Time
Discovered Dr Grumpy's blog tonight ... it's an hilarious read.
But for me the stand out winner was this wonderfun post on buying ice (the cold type not the drug).
Go read - enjoy.
But for me the stand out winner was this wonderfun post on buying ice (the cold type not the drug).
Go read - enjoy.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Quote of the Day
Just heard on Burn Notice:
It does no permenant damage, but the temporary damage hurts like hell.
...
It does no permenant damage, but the temporary damage hurts like hell.
...
Political Spectrum Quiz
Just done a Political Spectrum quiz.
It had some interesting questions but I think there were a lot more questions that could have been asked which would give a more complete profile.
Here's my results anyway. If you do the questionnaire let me know in comments how you went.
By the way the website has some cool demographic comparison tools.
Here's my results compared to other Australian women in my age group:
It had some interesting questions but I think there were a lot more questions that could have been asked which would give a more complete profile.
Here's my results anyway. If you do the questionnaire let me know in comments how you went.
By the way the website has some cool demographic comparison tools.
Here's my results compared to other Australian women in my age group:
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Avoiding Rape
Like the approach taken in this post:
Only rapists can prevent rape:
A lot has been said about how to prevent rape. Women should learn self-defense. Women should lock themselves in their houses after dark. Women shouldn’t have long hair and women shouldn’t wear short skirts. Women shouldn’t leave drinks unattended. Fuck, they shouldn’t dare to get drunk at all. Instead of that bullshit, how about:
If a woman is drunk, don’t rape her.
If a woman is walking alone at night, don’t rape her.
If a women is drugged and unconscious, don’t rape her.
If a woman is wearing a short skirt, don’t rape her.
If a woman is jogging in a park at 5 am, don’t rape her.
If a woman looks like your ex-girlfriend you’re still hung up on, don’t rape her.
If a woman is asleep in her bed, don’t rape her.
If a woman is asleep in your bed, don’t rape her.
If a woman is doing her laundry, don’t rape her.
If a woman is in a coma, don’t rape her.
If a woman changes her mind in the middle of or about a particular activity, don’t rape her.
If a woman has repeatedly refused a certain activity, don’t rape her.
If a woman is not yet a woman, but a child, don’t rape her.
If your girlfriend or wife is not in the mood, don’t rape her.
If your step-daughter is watching TV, don’t rape her.
If you break into a house and find a woman there, don’t rape her.
If your friend thinks it’s okay to rape someone, tell him it’s not, and that he’s not your friend.
If your “friend” tells you he raped someone, report him to the police.
If your frat-brother or another guy at the party tells you there’s an unconscious woman upstairs and it’s your turn, don’t rape her, call the police and tell the guy he’s a rapist.
Tell your sons, god-sons, nephews, grandsons, sons of friends it’s not okay to rape someone.
Don’t tell your women friends how to be safe and avoid rape.
Don’t imply that she could have avoided it if she’d only done/not done x.
Don’t imply that it’s in any way her fault.
Don’t let silence imply agreement when someone tells you he “got some” with the drunk girl.
Note:
This goes for any gendered rape, male on female or female on male or female on female or FTM on MTF or non gendered to dual gendered and so on and so forth….
-author unknown
Only rapists can prevent rape:
A lot has been said about how to prevent rape. Women should learn self-defense. Women should lock themselves in their houses after dark. Women shouldn’t have long hair and women shouldn’t wear short skirts. Women shouldn’t leave drinks unattended. Fuck, they shouldn’t dare to get drunk at all. Instead of that bullshit, how about:
If a woman is drunk, don’t rape her.
If a woman is walking alone at night, don’t rape her.
If a women is drugged and unconscious, don’t rape her.
If a woman is wearing a short skirt, don’t rape her.
If a woman is jogging in a park at 5 am, don’t rape her.
If a woman looks like your ex-girlfriend you’re still hung up on, don’t rape her.
If a woman is asleep in her bed, don’t rape her.
If a woman is asleep in your bed, don’t rape her.
If a woman is doing her laundry, don’t rape her.
If a woman is in a coma, don’t rape her.
If a woman changes her mind in the middle of or about a particular activity, don’t rape her.
If a woman has repeatedly refused a certain activity, don’t rape her.
If a woman is not yet a woman, but a child, don’t rape her.
If your girlfriend or wife is not in the mood, don’t rape her.
If your step-daughter is watching TV, don’t rape her.
If you break into a house and find a woman there, don’t rape her.
If your friend thinks it’s okay to rape someone, tell him it’s not, and that he’s not your friend.
If your “friend” tells you he raped someone, report him to the police.
If your frat-brother or another guy at the party tells you there’s an unconscious woman upstairs and it’s your turn, don’t rape her, call the police and tell the guy he’s a rapist.
Tell your sons, god-sons, nephews, grandsons, sons of friends it’s not okay to rape someone.
Don’t tell your women friends how to be safe and avoid rape.
Don’t imply that she could have avoided it if she’d only done/not done x.
Don’t imply that it’s in any way her fault.
Don’t let silence imply agreement when someone tells you he “got some” with the drunk girl.
Note:
This goes for any gendered rape, male on female or female on male or female on female or FTM on MTF or non gendered to dual gendered and so on and so forth….
-author unknown
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
So how would licensing the gun stop accidents or am I missing something again??
There's this story about a women who shot herself in the face while relaoding an air rifle.
Woman shoots herself in face reloading rifle
A WOMAN who shot herself in the face with an air rifle was lucky to escape serious injury but the man she was with now faces a fine for an unlicensed firearm.
Just after 5.30pm yesterday a man and woman were shooting targets in their backyard in Leanne Court, Greenbank.
As the woman was reloading the weapon it discharged a pellet which grazed her cheek.
Police said the injury was not serious but could have been much more dangerous if it had hit her eye.
``They don't usually penetrate the skin but if it had hit a vital area like an eye, it could have been more serious,'' said Regional Duty Officer Inspector David Lacey.
When police attended they discovered the gun was unlicensed and the man was issued a notice to appear in court for possessing an unlicensed firearm.
``People really need to look into their sheds for these weapons, and license them or hand them into police,'' said Insp Lacey.
How would licensing the gun have made any difference?
Woman shoots herself in face reloading rifle
A WOMAN who shot herself in the face with an air rifle was lucky to escape serious injury but the man she was with now faces a fine for an unlicensed firearm.
Just after 5.30pm yesterday a man and woman were shooting targets in their backyard in Leanne Court, Greenbank.
As the woman was reloading the weapon it discharged a pellet which grazed her cheek.
Police said the injury was not serious but could have been much more dangerous if it had hit her eye.
``They don't usually penetrate the skin but if it had hit a vital area like an eye, it could have been more serious,'' said Regional Duty Officer Inspector David Lacey.
When police attended they discovered the gun was unlicensed and the man was issued a notice to appear in court for possessing an unlicensed firearm.
``People really need to look into their sheds for these weapons, and license them or hand them into police,'' said Insp Lacey.
How would licensing the gun have made any difference?
The aim of the course was "to teach kids where food comes from" so what's the problem?
Making news around the world (well UK & Australia anyway) is a story about Marcus the sheep.
The headline in Australia was: Schoolkids vote 13-1 to slaughter lamb, with the blurb:
A GROUP of schoolchildren who reared a lamb from birth and named it Marcus have overridden objections by parents and rights activists and voted to send the animal to slaughter.
Marcus the six-month-old lamb has now been culled, the head teacher of the primary school in Kent confirmed yesterday, after the school's council - a 14-member group of children aged six to 11 - voted 13-1 to have him killed.
The decision has provoked fury among animal-loving celebrities, animal and human rights campaigners and the parents of some of the children, and led to threats against Lydd primary school and its teachers, according to a member of staff.
which linked back to the original story at The Daily Mail.
The story is basically that a school farm was set up to teach kids where food comes from. Marcus the sheep was hand reared by the kids who, when it got to 6 months old, voted to have it slaughtered. This has apparently caused a whole bunch of people to get upset.
Oh well, I guess some people like to pretend that the meat they buy in the supermarket didn't actually come from animals (either that or they are all vegetarians).
The headline in Australia was: Schoolkids vote 13-1 to slaughter lamb, with the blurb:
A GROUP of schoolchildren who reared a lamb from birth and named it Marcus have overridden objections by parents and rights activists and voted to send the animal to slaughter.
Marcus the six-month-old lamb has now been culled, the head teacher of the primary school in Kent confirmed yesterday, after the school's council - a 14-member group of children aged six to 11 - voted 13-1 to have him killed.
The decision has provoked fury among animal-loving celebrities, animal and human rights campaigners and the parents of some of the children, and led to threats against Lydd primary school and its teachers, according to a member of staff.
which linked back to the original story at The Daily Mail.
The story is basically that a school farm was set up to teach kids where food comes from. Marcus the sheep was hand reared by the kids who, when it got to 6 months old, voted to have it slaughtered. This has apparently caused a whole bunch of people to get upset.
Oh well, I guess some people like to pretend that the meat they buy in the supermarket didn't actually come from animals (either that or they are all vegetarians).
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
'Porn as dangerous as guns to kids'
from http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26051837-29277,00.html
'Porn as dangerous as guns to kids'
PORN should be treated like guns and kept under lock and key so children aren't inadvertently exposed to it at home, a senior Liberal MP has suggested.
Scott Morrison says there should by laws prohibiting parents from letting their children view restricted material.
"It is not acceptable to knowingly or negligently expose a child to pornographic material," Mr Morrison told Federal Parliament tonight.
"To do so in my view is child abuse.
"Even those who would defend an adult's right to porn would surely not oppose any restriction or sanction placed on parents who knowingly or negligently expose their children to this abuse."
Mr Morrison said Australia's laws currently "exempted" from sanction parents who exposed their children to porn.
"Our laws should and must draw the line."
The NSW Liberal said the legal system protected children from the dangers of firearms in the home and should similarly protect them from pornography.
"Any ammunition must be stored in a locked and separate container, it must be put in a locked receptacle which is very solid, and failure to meet these requirements attracts a jail sentence," Mr Morrison said.
"If we can protect our children from guns then we should also be aware of the loaded gun that is lying around in the homes of thousands of Australians on their computer, on their coffee table, in their bathroom or in their bookcase."
The opposition's housing spokesman said long-term exposure to porn put children at great risk of developing sexually deviant tendencies, committing sexual offences and having difficulties with intimate relationships.
******************
Apart from the "how is exposing children to guns dangerous" question, I'm wondering how they plan to "police" whether or not parents expose their kids to porn.
But as it's "for the children" I'm guessing they've got a plan!
'Porn as dangerous as guns to kids'
PORN should be treated like guns and kept under lock and key so children aren't inadvertently exposed to it at home, a senior Liberal MP has suggested.
Scott Morrison says there should by laws prohibiting parents from letting their children view restricted material.
"It is not acceptable to knowingly or negligently expose a child to pornographic material," Mr Morrison told Federal Parliament tonight.
"To do so in my view is child abuse.
"Even those who would defend an adult's right to porn would surely not oppose any restriction or sanction placed on parents who knowingly or negligently expose their children to this abuse."
Mr Morrison said Australia's laws currently "exempted" from sanction parents who exposed their children to porn.
"Our laws should and must draw the line."
The NSW Liberal said the legal system protected children from the dangers of firearms in the home and should similarly protect them from pornography.
"Any ammunition must be stored in a locked and separate container, it must be put in a locked receptacle which is very solid, and failure to meet these requirements attracts a jail sentence," Mr Morrison said.
"If we can protect our children from guns then we should also be aware of the loaded gun that is lying around in the homes of thousands of Australians on their computer, on their coffee table, in their bathroom or in their bookcase."
The opposition's housing spokesman said long-term exposure to porn put children at great risk of developing sexually deviant tendencies, committing sexual offences and having difficulties with intimate relationships.
******************
Apart from the "how is exposing children to guns dangerous" question, I'm wondering how they plan to "police" whether or not parents expose their kids to porn.
But as it's "for the children" I'm guessing they've got a plan!
Wow ... Free Education on Offer
Just discovered (by way of Sippican Cottage) that MIT offers FREE courses on its web site.
Apparentely there are 1900 courses, all with lecture notes, assignments and related resources.
The course that has caught my eye first is 9.57J / 24.904J Language Acquisition. Off to so some reading.
Apparentely there are 1900 courses, all with lecture notes, assignments and related resources.
The course that has caught my eye first is 9.57J / 24.904J Language Acquisition. Off to so some reading.
Meme - More Stuff About Me ....
1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing? Like blue cheese - don't like salad dressings of any variety.
2. Do you own a gun? "A" gun .. no ....
3. What’s a favorite drink at Starbucks or other special place? Umm, at Starbucks - nothing ... however, I am partial to a Vienna Coffee.
4. Do you get nervous before a doctor’s appointment? Umm, no, why would you??
5. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee for me please ...
6. Can you do pushups? Yes.
7. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? Rarely do jewellery ... I did however get a nice pendant from my mum for my birthday - so I guess that's it (or a the choker I wear ocassionally).
8. Favorite hobby? Shooting
9. Do you have A.D.D? No.
10. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself? "Hate's" a strong word ...
11. Name 3 Thoughts you have right now. 1. Need coffee. 2.Girls need to have their light turned off. 3. Do any of these questions actually get somewhat exciting?
12. Name 4 drinks you regularly drink. Coffee. Chai. Water. Alcohol.
13. Current hate right now? The weather - I would really like some sun for my daughter's birthday party on Sunday.
14. Current worry right now? Money ...
15. Favorite place to be? Dale Lookout.
16. Do you like to travel? Yes. Definitely.
17. Three people who will complete this? Umm, well if you're bored enough you're invited ...let me know in comments.
18. Do you own slippers? Nope. But given the weather I'm contemplating getting some.
19. What color shirt are you wearing? No shirt, just a mauvy zip up fleece.
20. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Nope, not into rolling out of bed.
21. Can you whistle? Um, yes, but I don't.
22. Favorite color? Deep Purple.
23. Would you be a pirate? Why? Are there jobs going?
24. What song do you sing in the shower? I don’t sing in the shower.
25. Favorite girl’s name? Prefer not to say.
26. Favorite boy’s name? Uri
27. What’s in your pocket right now? No pockets.
28. What were your best sheets as a child? Best sheets? Who remembers the sheets they had as a kid?
29. Worst Injury? Tend to be injury free.
30. Do you love where you live? Yes!
31. How many TVs do you have in your house? 2. Only one gets turned on with any sort of regularity.
32. Who is your loudest friend? Umm, don't think any of my friends are particularly loud - well, not unless they have had a bit to drink.
33. How many pets do you have? Do kids count?
34. Does someone have a crush on you? Hope so.
35. What is your favorite book? Book? Can we do author? Steven Pressfield or Julian May or Heinlein mmm ... okay, so I don't have a favourite.
36. What’s your favorite candy? Not into candy.
37. Favorite Sports Team? Not into sports teams either.
38. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? Drats, is it time to go to work already.
2. Do you own a gun? "A" gun .. no ....
3. What’s a favorite drink at Starbucks or other special place? Umm, at Starbucks - nothing ... however, I am partial to a Vienna Coffee.
4. Do you get nervous before a doctor’s appointment? Umm, no, why would you??
5. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee for me please ...
6. Can you do pushups? Yes.
7. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? Rarely do jewellery ... I did however get a nice pendant from my mum for my birthday - so I guess that's it (or a the choker I wear ocassionally).
8. Favorite hobby? Shooting
9. Do you have A.D.D? No.
10. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself? "Hate's" a strong word ...
11. Name 3 Thoughts you have right now. 1. Need coffee. 2.Girls need to have their light turned off. 3. Do any of these questions actually get somewhat exciting?
12. Name 4 drinks you regularly drink. Coffee. Chai. Water. Alcohol.
13. Current hate right now? The weather - I would really like some sun for my daughter's birthday party on Sunday.
14. Current worry right now? Money ...
15. Favorite place to be? Dale Lookout.
16. Do you like to travel? Yes. Definitely.
17. Three people who will complete this? Umm, well if you're bored enough you're invited ...let me know in comments.
18. Do you own slippers? Nope. But given the weather I'm contemplating getting some.
19. What color shirt are you wearing? No shirt, just a mauvy zip up fleece.
20. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Nope, not into rolling out of bed.
21. Can you whistle? Um, yes, but I don't.
22. Favorite color? Deep Purple.
23. Would you be a pirate? Why? Are there jobs going?
24. What song do you sing in the shower? I don’t sing in the shower.
25. Favorite girl’s name? Prefer not to say.
26. Favorite boy’s name? Uri
27. What’s in your pocket right now? No pockets.
28. What were your best sheets as a child? Best sheets? Who remembers the sheets they had as a kid?
29. Worst Injury? Tend to be injury free.
30. Do you love where you live? Yes!
31. How many TVs do you have in your house? 2. Only one gets turned on with any sort of regularity.
32. Who is your loudest friend? Umm, don't think any of my friends are particularly loud - well, not unless they have had a bit to drink.
33. How many pets do you have? Do kids count?
34. Does someone have a crush on you? Hope so.
35. What is your favorite book? Book? Can we do author? Steven Pressfield or Julian May or Heinlein mmm ... okay, so I don't have a favourite.
36. What’s your favorite candy? Not into candy.
37. Favorite Sports Team? Not into sports teams either.
38. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? Drats, is it time to go to work already.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Miss 5 is now Miss 6
Just got back from Miss Now 6's birthday party at the local Ten Pin bowl.
Great fun was had by all ....
The cake was made for her by a good friend ... here's a few more shots of it ...
And yes, it tasted as good as it looked.
Great fun was had by all ....
The cake was made for her by a good friend ... here's a few more shots of it ...
And yes, it tasted as good as it looked.
99 Rounds
That's what I shot today in the match! It was a great shoot. I've not shot competitively for awhile (we have to shoot a competitive match once every eight weeks to retain our firearms licence and I think I was pretty close to the end of the eight weeks).
So today I made the effort to get to the range for the 9am start. Being Father's Day I thought it would be quite quiet but we had three squads shooting - with between 8 and 10 shooters per squad.
Today was an ICOR shoot so it had been set up for revolvers but the stages were well designed and challenging.
My favourite stage was the all popper stage - 9 targets. I got the first 7 with one shot each and then took three shots to get a little popper set off to the left. I always have trouble with poppers in that position - more practice definitely needed. I got the 9th (a small round one half way up the bank) with a single shot too. Having taken three for the one on the left meant that I had to do a reload though.
The other fun stage was the last one. It was a 32 shot stage with a hatch (first two targets) and then three targets through a portal.
Good day was had!
So today I made the effort to get to the range for the 9am start. Being Father's Day I thought it would be quite quiet but we had three squads shooting - with between 8 and 10 shooters per squad.
Today was an ICOR shoot so it had been set up for revolvers but the stages were well designed and challenging.
My favourite stage was the all popper stage - 9 targets. I got the first 7 with one shot each and then took three shots to get a little popper set off to the left. I always have trouble with poppers in that position - more practice definitely needed. I got the 9th (a small round one half way up the bank) with a single shot too. Having taken three for the one on the left meant that I had to do a reload though.
The other fun stage was the last one. It was a 32 shot stage with a hatch (first two targets) and then three targets through a portal.
Good day was had!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
What? - Police wake truants and drive them to school
from http://logan-west-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/truants-pulled-out-of-bed-and-in-to-class/
STUDENTS wagging class have been hauled out of bed and carted off to school in police cars in a crackdown on truancy in the Logan West area.
The students were among 63 truants picked up by police and returned to Park Ridge and Browns Plains high schools between Monday and Wednesday last week, the Logan West Leader can reveal.
And next time, police warn they will start taking action against parents.
Ten officers on horses, trail bikes and bicycles and two Logan City Council park rangers were involved in Operation Chrome.
A juvenile was charged with possession of a dangerous drug during the operation.
Browns Plains officer in charge Senior Sergeant Andrew Dupere said apart from the 63 students “bludging” school, officers spoke to a further 100 wandering streets during school hours.
“Several of the 63 were roused from their beds and taken to school,” Sgt Dupere said.
Police copped “a bit of stick” from some students, but many were simply shocked, he said.
“They’d never had a police officer turn up at their house and drag them out of bed and take them to school,” he said.
The operation had been a partnership between police, Grand Plaza Shopping Centre retailers who declined to serve students in uniform unless they had a current leave pass, and the two high schools.
Park Ridge High deputy principal Deb Day said truancy had been an issue, but the rate had been cut by 80 per cent in the two months since the appointment of a student attendance officer.
She said now only a handful or less than 0.5 per cent of students were regular truants.
Ms Day said it was important the school worked with police to reduce absenteeism.
“Those 63 children (picked up last week) came from a number of schools - they didn’t just come back to us,” she said.
Sgt Dupere said the partnership was formed following an increase in break and enters and truancy.
“Most of the break and enters were occurring in school hours and 70 per cent of all break and enters in the Browns Plains’ division involved school-age children or those in school uniform,’’ he said.
Sgt Dupere stressed he was not singling out any school, but police were working with the two schools to combat truancy which would hopefully reduce minor crime.
He said the truancy campaign would continue for 12 to 18 months.
“If the same kids are picked up again for truancy then enforcement action will start to be taken against their parents,” he said.
“Parents have got to be made aware that just dropping their kids at the school gate doesn’t mean they’re there for the full day. They’ve got to take an interest and make sure they’re kids aren’t wagging.”
“I’m confident we can get truancy down to nearly zero like they’ve done in the Beenleigh district where they’ve been doing this for nearly two years,” Sgt Dupere he said.
***************************************************
The article did say “Several of the 63 were roused from their beds and taken to school,” didn't it??? OMG ... this is in Queensland, AUSTRALIA ... I can't believe that POLICE dragged MINORS out of their beds to take them to school ....
Under what legislation / authority can they do this???
I commented on the story at http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26012869-421,00.html. Previously when I've commented on a news story they have never been published so we'll see what happens this time.
Most of the comments there were positive, applauding the actions of the police and calling for the action to be extended to other states.
My comment was Police dragging MINORS from their beds to take them to school??? This is horrific. Parents aren't parenting so we applaud handing the responsiblity over to the "state" and having it carried out by armed police. Is this really the world you want to live in???
STUDENTS wagging class have been hauled out of bed and carted off to school in police cars in a crackdown on truancy in the Logan West area.
The students were among 63 truants picked up by police and returned to Park Ridge and Browns Plains high schools between Monday and Wednesday last week, the Logan West Leader can reveal.
And next time, police warn they will start taking action against parents.
Ten officers on horses, trail bikes and bicycles and two Logan City Council park rangers were involved in Operation Chrome.
A juvenile was charged with possession of a dangerous drug during the operation.
Browns Plains officer in charge Senior Sergeant Andrew Dupere said apart from the 63 students “bludging” school, officers spoke to a further 100 wandering streets during school hours.
“Several of the 63 were roused from their beds and taken to school,” Sgt Dupere said.
Police copped “a bit of stick” from some students, but many were simply shocked, he said.
“They’d never had a police officer turn up at their house and drag them out of bed and take them to school,” he said.
The operation had been a partnership between police, Grand Plaza Shopping Centre retailers who declined to serve students in uniform unless they had a current leave pass, and the two high schools.
Park Ridge High deputy principal Deb Day said truancy had been an issue, but the rate had been cut by 80 per cent in the two months since the appointment of a student attendance officer.
She said now only a handful or less than 0.5 per cent of students were regular truants.
Ms Day said it was important the school worked with police to reduce absenteeism.
“Those 63 children (picked up last week) came from a number of schools - they didn’t just come back to us,” she said.
Sgt Dupere said the partnership was formed following an increase in break and enters and truancy.
“Most of the break and enters were occurring in school hours and 70 per cent of all break and enters in the Browns Plains’ division involved school-age children or those in school uniform,’’ he said.
Sgt Dupere stressed he was not singling out any school, but police were working with the two schools to combat truancy which would hopefully reduce minor crime.
He said the truancy campaign would continue for 12 to 18 months.
“If the same kids are picked up again for truancy then enforcement action will start to be taken against their parents,” he said.
“Parents have got to be made aware that just dropping their kids at the school gate doesn’t mean they’re there for the full day. They’ve got to take an interest and make sure they’re kids aren’t wagging.”
“I’m confident we can get truancy down to nearly zero like they’ve done in the Beenleigh district where they’ve been doing this for nearly two years,” Sgt Dupere he said.
***************************************************
The article did say “Several of the 63 were roused from their beds and taken to school,” didn't it??? OMG ... this is in Queensland, AUSTRALIA ... I can't believe that POLICE dragged MINORS out of their beds to take them to school ....
Under what legislation / authority can they do this???
I commented on the story at http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26012869-421,00.html. Previously when I've commented on a news story they have never been published so we'll see what happens this time.
Most of the comments there were positive, applauding the actions of the police and calling for the action to be extended to other states.
My comment was Police dragging MINORS from their beds to take them to school??? This is horrific. Parents aren't parenting so we applaud handing the responsiblity over to the "state" and having it carried out by armed police. Is this really the world you want to live in???
Rifle for the girls
Been thinking about getting the girls their own rifle. They both like shooting the Winchester Lever Action .22 but it is very big and heavy for them.
Wondering around the internet today (while sick at home) I came across a recommendation for the Henry Lever Action Youth Model .22 at Geek with a .45.
Now I just wonder if I can find one somewhere in Australia at a good price ....
UPDATE: Henry's website lists international resellers so I've emailled the Australian one (Highland Sports) to see if they have them in stock and the cost.
The gun is listed on their website but no price.
I will also have to look at licencing requirements. I'm guessing I'm going to have to get it under a 'club activities only' licence for myself and let them use it.
Wondering around the internet today (while sick at home) I came across a recommendation for the Henry Lever Action Youth Model .22 at Geek with a .45.
Now I just wonder if I can find one somewhere in Australia at a good price ....
UPDATE: Henry's website lists international resellers so I've emailled the Australian one (Highland Sports) to see if they have them in stock and the cost.
The gun is listed on their website but no price.
I will also have to look at licencing requirements. I'm guessing I'm going to have to get it under a 'club activities only' licence for myself and let them use it.
More Things to Ponder
** I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Ghetto” routing option. (or a "I really don't want to tour all the back streets when getting somewhere option.")
** More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can’t wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that’s not only better, but also more directly involves me.
** Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.
** I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.
** The letters T and G are very close to each other on a keyboard. This recently became all too apparent to me and consequently I will never be ending a work email with the phrase “Regards” again.
** There is a great need for sarcasm font. (totally agree with this one!)
** Sometimes, I’ll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.
** How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
** I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.
** I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
** The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.
** A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.
** Was learning cursive really necessary?
** Lol has gone from meaning, “laugh out loud” to “I have nothing else to say”.
** I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
** How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear what they said?
** What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?
** While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it…thanks Mario Kart.
** MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
** Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
** Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
** I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.
** You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you’ve made up your mind that you just aren’t doing anything productive for the rest of the day.
** Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don’t want to have to restart my collection.
** There’s no worse feeling than that millisecond you’re sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
** I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
** “Do not machine wash or tumble dry” means I will never wash this ever.
** When I meet a new girl, I’m terrified of mentioning something she hasn’t already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.
** I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it’s on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.
** Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
** It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.
** I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
** Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey – but I’d bet my @$$ everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time… (So true!)
** It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text. (One of my pet peeves - news.com.au does the same)
** I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.
***********************************************************************************
Shamelessly stolen from http://iaimtomisbehave.blogspot.com/2009/08/someones-funny.html. Which is, of course, a great blog to read regularly.
** More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can’t wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that’s not only better, but also more directly involves me.
** Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.
** I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.
** The letters T and G are very close to each other on a keyboard. This recently became all too apparent to me and consequently I will never be ending a work email with the phrase “Regards” again.
** There is a great need for sarcasm font. (totally agree with this one!)
** Sometimes, I’ll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.
** How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
** I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.
** I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
** The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.
** A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.
** Was learning cursive really necessary?
** Lol has gone from meaning, “laugh out loud” to “I have nothing else to say”.
** I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
** How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear what they said?
** What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?
** While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it…thanks Mario Kart.
** MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
** Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
** Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
** I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.
** You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you’ve made up your mind that you just aren’t doing anything productive for the rest of the day.
** Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don’t want to have to restart my collection.
** There’s no worse feeling than that millisecond you’re sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
** I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
** “Do not machine wash or tumble dry” means I will never wash this ever.
** When I meet a new girl, I’m terrified of mentioning something she hasn’t already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.
** I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it’s on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.
** Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
** It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.
** I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
** Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey – but I’d bet my @$$ everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time… (So true!)
** It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text. (One of my pet peeves - news.com.au does the same)
** I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.
***********************************************************************************
Shamelessly stolen from http://iaimtomisbehave.blogspot.com/2009/08/someones-funny.html. Which is, of course, a great blog to read regularly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)