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).
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
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???
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