Is it just me?

No surprises in China...

2008-07-31T10:04:00.001+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone want to say ‘I told you so’ to the international Olympic committee?

Yesterday Kevin Gosper was forced to apologise to the world’s media, gathered in China to cover the Olympic games.

Despite all the promises that china would clean up its act, the media has found internet access blocked – journalists are only allowed talk to approved members of the so called public – the homeless have been bussed out of Beijing, China still occupies Tibet, political prisoners remain on death row and so it goes on…

Communist China has made no attempt at all to address human rights issues. Who'da thunk it?

There is absolutely no chance of an Olympic boycott; our Olympians have worked too hard. But we must tread very carefully.

Hitler was the master politician. While these days everyone goes on about how he refused to shake Jesse Owen’s hand, the truth is, the Berlin Games were a PR triumph.

Despite loud rumblings about the Third Reich, by the end of the 1936 Games, Hitler was being slapped on the back and heartily congratulated by IOC officials and world leaders alike.

Anti-semites said: “See? We don’t know what everyone was worried about.”

I guess we know now.

For me, the Olympics will be more exciting than ever this year….we’ve got 5 fantastic athletes at the games…but I promise to never fool myself that the Olympics is just about sporting prowess.

The Olympics have always been political and no one understands that better than the Chinese.

Enjoy the spectacle, but never let them use glitz, glamour and our sporting stars to hide their transgressions.

Get involved!

2008-07-30T09:57:00.002+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone think we are at a cross roads on the Sunshine Coast?

Affordable housing is a massive issue – yet the community voted earlier this year for a cautious council, a team to preserve the coast….

Most people realise our council is now completely at odds with the State Government – since Anna Bligh announced the fast tracking of Greenfield Development on the Sunshine Coast – making way for 75 thousand new residents.

Tomorrow night at Lake Kawana Community centre there will be a community forum to discuss the government plan…

On stage to answer questions will be:

Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbot:

Leader of the Liberal National Party Lawrence Springborg:

Labor MP Stirling Hinchliffe, who the assistant minister for the Deputy Premier & Minister for Infrastructure and Planning:

It all gets underway at 7 O’clock tomorrow night (July 31 2008) at Lake Kawana Community Centre.

A panel of community representatives will address questions to the speakers – you are invited to submit questions to be asked by the panel... Either email me here (just submit a comment - it's easy!) - or contact Steve Dickson at kawana@parliament.qld.gov.au (fax: 5478 1815)

How did it happen?

2008-07-25T10:23:00.000+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone wonder how corruptible they might be?

Dr Dragan Dabic looks like a cross between a chilled out new age guru and Father Christmas.

In the alternative medicine community of Belgrade he is well known for his healing work with cancer patients and calm soothing manner. He conducts public meditation workshops and writes a column for the magazine Healthy Life.

In his spare time Dabic writes poetry, leading a local writers group and recently publishing at least one book of poems.

Dabic wears his thick white hair long with a kooky little top knot apparently useful in attracting positive energy to the head of the wearer.

13 years ago Dr Dragan Dabic was Radovan Karadzic, a megalomaniac war lord, famous for inventing the despicable term ‘ethnic cleansing’ as he drove 1.5 million Muslims and Croats from their homes and murdered thousands more.

On perhaps his worst day, in 1995 Karadzic apparently got tired of housing prisoners in his concentration camp at Srebrenica. He opened the gates and told the women and and girls to run for the hills. He then stood by and watched his soldiers slaughter 8000 men and boys, most of them found later buried in mass graves with their wrists bound together.

The Bosnian Civil War is obviously complicated, but from what I understand, absolutely no one saw the “ethnic cleansing” coming. Serbs, Croats and Turks had lived side by side for centuries in Yugoslavia. It 1990 Bosnia was a progressive, artistic, barely religious, culturally diverse melting pot.

Radovan Karadzic’s ultra nationalistic violence still dismays its survivors.

Muslims who knew him before or after the civil war say they cannot connect the man they know with the infamous war criminal.

Karadzic grew up poor in the hills of Montenegro. His father was a political prisoner of the Tito regime. Probably significant.

When he was 15 Radovan moved to the city and worked hard to study medicine. At University he met and married Ljubljana and moved to an ethnically diverse neighbourhood, enjoying the friendships of Serbs, Muslims and Croats alike.

Some of his neighbours from the 1960’s still live in the same building. They remember the young doctor as kind and generous, a charming bohemian who hung out with writers and poets, staying up all night to debate life literature and art.

Mostly, Karadzic’s poetry was ignored. Tragically, that includes the hateful ‘take no pity let’s go / kill that scum in the city’ – a poem he later used as a slogan in his war.

In contrast, Karadzic’s children’s poetry was popular – a book of published works ‘there are miracles’ is still a favourite in Serbian homes.

The young Karadzic eventually became a psychiatrist, studying for a while in the US and even working as the team psychologist for a Sarajevo soccer team. He bought a construction company, gambled, raised two children and remained a high profile ‘crazy poet’ in his groovy ethnic neighbourhood.

Commentators now claim everything up until this point, the late 1980’s, was part of Karadzic’s quest for glory, a craving for fame, eventually satisfied by politics.

At first, Karadzic joined the Greens, but he didn’t last long. A peasant boy at heart, he was raised to the tune of protest songs about ancient battles against the Turks (Muslims). In 1990 as Yugoslavia was beginning to break apart the ultra-nationalists came calling and Karadzic answered.

So which one is the real Radovan Karadzic?

Is it the groovy poet with a top knot and a gift for healing - or the brutal murderer who turned guns and shells on his former colleagues, neighbours, friends and patients?

I’ve heard the civil war in Bosnia described as comparable to civil war in Australia and I wonder how easily an enigmatic madman or woman could turn Queenslanders against Victorians or Territorians?

Did power corrupt Radovan Karadzic or was the evil racist always lurking below the surface?

For his victims and their families, it probably doesn’t matter. This week, at least, may they rest knowing their homeland is now ‘cleansed’ of Radovan Karadzic.

He is finally on his way to The Hague.

Bullies are cowards!

2008-07-24T10:23:00.000+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone think we have to be very careful with our young people?

There’s a story out of New South Wales this morning about an apprentice who was bullied. The cabinet maker who employed him faces court today….

The vast majority of bosses treat their apprentices with care and respect – but we know some things never change too.

I accept this particular kid might have been particularly unsuited to cabinet making – but that’s not his fault. If you take on an apprentice, you have to be aware that you are completely responsible for their well being.

No-one says you can’t sack them if you have to – but teasing and intimidation are the despicable traits of cowards.

For the record, here’s the list of what the New South Wales cabinet maker is accused of:

* TELLING the apprentice his mother wasn't allowed to drive him to work on Saturdays;

* THREATENING to smash his mobile phone with a hammer and banning him from making calls on his break;

* SENDING him home early, saying there was not enough work, only to force him to work unpaid on weekends;

* CALLING him a "fag" and a marijuana user;

* TELLING him he that he smelled; and he was not allowed assemble his sandwiches at work (????).

Byron was only paid slightly more than $6 an hour, however even that was after a week of unpaid trial work and another eight days after that for which he was not paid.

Papal apology

2008-07-18T09:51:00.002+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone wonder why the Pope doesn’t just apologise already?

It’s a terrible blight on the Catholic Church that members of the clergy have been guilty of abusing children and adults – making a mockery of everything they preach and worst of all, eroding peoples faith in the church and in God.

I guess the nature of an apology is that it’s worthless – unless the receiver is ready to accept it.

For me, the most impressive thing about Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generation this year, was the spirit in which it was received. After years of acrimony – Australia’s indigenous community accepted the apology with dignity and grace.

Maybe the Pope and his many advisers are still trying to gauge the mood in Australia – an apology rejected as 'inadequate' would just damage the standing of the church even further.

There's no doubt the church is still coming to terms with how to deal with victims and their quest for compensation.

More importantly, I think there is still some way to go in terms of how it treats the perpetrators of abuse. To date, the hierarchy of the church, has treated abusers with far more respect than they deserve.

And finally just one point ….I make no apology for any sex abuser - but I think it's sad that we lump all Catholic priests into the same category.

More than 80 thousand Catholic Clergy have served the Australian people in the past hundred years. They've built schools, fed the homeless, comforted the bereft and given guidance and security to thousands.

All churches in Australia are worth a lot more than a headline.

Five great things about Germany!

2008-07-15T09:04:00.002+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone think we’ve always got something to learn from other people?

I don’t want to live anywhere else but here – but it doesn’t mean we get everything right in Australia.

We had three German boys staying with us for the weekend, on their way to Sydney for World Youth Day.

Josef (Joe), Sebastian (Basti) and Ludwig (Ludi) are all from Perna, a town near Dresden, in what used to be called East Germany.

We exchanged heaps of information - for instance, wages are very low in Germany and some things are expensive, like getting a drivers licence (a couple of thousand euro all up).

They've got some great ideas though...

Germany is the mother of all green movements. A green government about ten years ago first identified that the world was facing an oil crisis – they jacked up the price of fuel and forced people to find alternative fuel sources. And they did it very successfully.

Our visitors were staring out across a see of bald rooves, stunned that Australians (…on the Sunshine Coast of all places) are yet to embrace solar power.

As a result of the governments tough choices – they say Germany is almost immune to rising oil prices.

And far from causing economic hardship, the environmental focus has been an environmental boon - resulting in exciting, clean, green, lucrative new technologies.

Other things I thought were great;

When you finish school in Germany – before work or uni – you have a choice nine months in the military – non combat – or nine months community work.

Sebastian – one of our boys - has chosen community and will work for student wages in a local hospital.

As well, if you give blood in Germany, you get 20 Euro – if you bring along a friend who has never given blood before, 50 euro…

They don’t watch much tv in Germany either, which has got to be a good thing.

All girl - all good!

2008-07-14T10:39:00.001+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone really believe in all girl high schools?

Anna Bligh has asked Queensland parents to keep an open mind about the future of education. She says she is a big fan of single sex schools and is considering the introduction of single sex state schools.

I went to both as a kid, co-ed and all girls….and…I’m a big fan of all girls schools too (never been to an all boys, so probably not qualified to comment on that).

My all-girl school was very functional – that is, we were a happy group of well adjusted teenagers. We weren’t frustrated or competitive, we weren’t obsessed with boys (unless you count Simon le Bon and Michael Hutchence) we weren’t scared to be smart, and we weren’t worried about our hair or makeup.

The fact is, if you’re not Jessica Simpson – teenage boys can be pretty harsh critics… Girls like me did a lot better through puberty, without a constant reminder that we weren’t “pretty enough”.

Not only that, even in this day and age, you talk to any teacher, they’ll tell you to take a look at the fiestiest girl in year 7, who likes nothing more than to take it up to the boys. To be smarter, faster or stronger. Then take a look at the same girl two or three years later and she’s changed.

Teenage girls want boys to like them, and that’s why they take a back seat.

That’s no criticism of boys, by the way. It’s not their fault girls teenage girls like to be coy – it’s just a fact.

Single sex schools are not for everyone but at the moment, they are only available to families who can afford a private education. I reckon we can do better than that.

Dennis Ferguson

2008-07-08T09:10:00.001+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone wonder about the right for pedophiles to exist?

Dennis Ferguson is a creepy dog. I am not soppy or sympathetic about him at all – I am however tired of the boring media circus, costing Queensland taxpayers thousands of dollars a day.

Dennis Ferguson was released from prison last week, for a variety of reasons, including the fact the judge could see no prospect of a fair trial, given that Ferguson has become a statewide media star.

Ever since, he has been followed by the media – who whip locals into a frenzy, pack up, and follow him to the next location.

In desperation, the Queensland government has called on a church group to essentially take possession of Dennis Ferguson. It will cost us a thousand dollars a day – but he will be kept on a property (which we now know is in Carbrook, because the media is camped on the doorstep).

The church group has agreed, in principle, to shoulder responsibility for Ferguson.

I am not arguing the rights of Ferguson. I’m arguing the law.

Dennis Ferguson was released by the courts, on a point of law. Queensland isn’t a police state – it’s a democracy – and that means the government has no right to forcibly incarcerate Ferguson.

Its hands are tied.

In truth, the government actually has no responsibility to house Dennis Ferguson him at all – and if we’re not careful – that’s what will happen.

We either find an acceptable, supervised location for Dennis Ferguson, or we risk having him on the streets.

While tabloid news editors would most likely relish that outcome, I don’t think the rest of us would be as pleased.

My mate Satts!

2008-07-07T10:01:00.002+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone love a brush with fame?

I spent last week on holidays at North Stradbroke Island, with four girlfriends, a heap of kids and very little sign of the husbands.

On Thursday, when the wind chased us off the beach early, we decided to take the kids to the pub for lunch (best spot ever for a pub, by the way…)

One of the barmen was a pretty old bloke who took a bit of a shine to us girls - not in a creepy way – in my favourite, cheeky-old-bloke-with- a-twinkle-in-his-eye type way…

We all loved him, he was feeding the kids red cordial drinks for free and generally making our day great…

Long story short, as we were leaving, he gave us all a cuddle, and in passing, happened to mention he used to play rugby league…and might have captained Australia once or twice…

His name is John Sattler. Now because we’re idiot girls - we didn’t really get it. He mentioned his son Scott Sattler (which rang a bell with me) so we gave him a bit of credit for Scott, said good bye and went home to call our husbands and see if they have ever heard of him…

I can hear the rugby league lovers groaning from here...by the way....

Turns out John Sattler is one of leagues legendary tough men. In the 1970 Grand Final, he was captain of the Rabbitohs. Five minutes into the match, "Satt's" jaw was smashed. He played the remaining 75 minutes with his teeth clenched hard, finally running out winners over Manly.

Awesome man...great fun....hugely exciting...

The pets....

2008-06-27T04:53:00.003+10:00

My sister sent me this email...I absolutely love it!!!

By the way...it's my farewell gift for a week - after an incredibly busy month raising cash for the children's ward...I'm off to North Stradbroke Island for a week. Yay!

See you when we get back. xx

Excerpts from the Dog's Diary......

8:00 am - Dog food! My favourite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favourite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favourite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favourite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favourite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favourite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favourite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favourite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favourite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favourite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favourite thing!

Excerpts from the Cat's Daily Diary. ..

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' Note to self: Must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return.

He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now................

Is your kid a bully?

2008-06-24T09:44:00.002+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone think school bullies are a part of life?

I think schools are more pro-active than ever – but maybe bullies are tougher than ever too.
In my life – I’ve found that sometimes victims become perpetrators – that is, nice kids who have been bullied, sometimes turn – even if just to keep their head above water.

I guess what I mean by that is, no matter how badly your kid has been treated at some stage – never be too sure you don’t have to have the chat with them too.

A 13 year boy called Elijah Vetma – a kid who suffers from a mild form of autism called Aspergers – has written a letter to his local newspaper, the Geelong Advertiser.

It’s caused quite a stir in Victoria – and I thought I’d read a bit this morning….Elijah says he wrote the letter after a particularly gruelling day, "help people understand how I and other people with disabilities feel about being bullied".

Here is a bit of the letter....

"For over four years I have had to put up with being bullied and teased and hated by everyone in the school. I've been called all sorts of names like germ boy, gay and retard … Kids don't let me join their groups when we had to do team activities … I try really hard to make friends but the people that make fun of me turn them against me. I don't know why they do this - maybe to be popular … Just because I have a disability I still have the same feelings of wanting to belong, to have friends, and be liked. I have feelings of sadness, anger, and confusion inside, being alone and hated … Each morning before I go to school I think of what's going to happen today. Nothing I have tried to do has stopped it."

His mother, Jan, says that when Elijah gets on the school bus each day she sees hime as a soldier going into battle.

That story just breaks my heart - most people know how it feels to be bullied - it's time we ALL taught our kids to be heroes at school and shut bullies down.

Parent trap!

2008-06-20T10:14:00.002+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone think the modern parent is sometimes a kid's worst enemy?

A friend of mine was a teacher in the western suburbs of Sydney for around 15 years. While others did their time and got out as fast as they could, Luke stuck at it.

Part P.E. teacher, part social worker, he believed in the kids and loved his job.

A couple of years ago, at the final bell one Friday as kids and teachers began streaming out of classrooms looking for a short cut home, a group of Year 10 girls passed Luke on the stairs.

Laughing and joking, one of them made a grab for the pens in Luke’s top pocket.

He was a relatively young, good looking teacher, he liked to joke with the kids and he felt he had a good rapport with them.

So he swatted her hand and kept moving. Suddenly there were ten girls who wanted the pens – amidst cheering and giggling, Luke was swamped.

Never one to back down from a challenge, as the pens were grabbed and lifted victoriously, he hit back – seized the pen snatchers wrist and backed her up against a wall.

To more cheers and lots more boos he plucked the pens from her hand.

Long story short, later that evening the police visited his home to discuss allegations of assault.

The 15-year-old had told her dad that Luke had ‘crushed’ her wrist and humiliated her.

Her Dad demanded an apology, Luke’s dismissal and financial compensation for the effect the injury would have on his daughter’s study.

The rumour mill began to grind and it eventually made the papers, with headlines like “student assault” complete with testimony from the standard disgruntled parents.
Luke was stood down pending an investigation.

In the end, the charges didn’t make it to court, however the family received an official apology and Luke was offered a job at a different school. He didn’t take it.

This week the Victorian Principals Association issued a plea to parents to “butt out” of their children’s education.

The Teachers Federation claims hundreds of Queensland teachers are under investigation because of parent complaints they yell too much.

As a parent, there is nothing I hate more than being stopped in the car park and whinged to about what is going on at school.

Across the board kids are offered a fantastic education these days and I have a lot of faith in the schools my kids attend.

If I didn’t, I wouldn’t bitch and moan for a second. I would simply re-enrol them somewhere else (where I suspect I would find the same mix of good, bad, relaxed, crabby, funny, kind and yelly teachers).

No doubt my kids like some teachers more than others but I don’t give it much thought.

If “being grumpy” is how a Year 10 science teacher gets through her day - locked in a classroom with 30 adolescents - that’s her bad luck.

The way I see it, going to school is my children’s job, just like their dad and I have a job.

It’s regularly boring and sometimes you get into trouble for doing the wrong thing.
Sometimes you get into trouble because someone else did something wrong and you copped the blame. Suck it up, Tiger.

It’s not always fair or fun, but it is life and the quicker you learn to play by the rules, the happier you’ll be.

Parents who allow their kids to turn every perceived slight or injustice into a federal case are fools. Far from protecting their children from harm, they are setting them up for a lifetime of petty battles.

You can’t manage every minute of your child’s day. And you certainly can’t trust them to tell the whole truth about what happens in the classroom.

When parents get involved, they can easily get it wrong and suddenly allegations and finger pointing take on a life of their own.

My friend Luke lost a lot more than his job when a parent got it wrong, but so did the Department of Education. They lost Luke and, I suspect, a lot more like him along the way.

Big Dell's biggest asset!

2008-06-06T06:41:00.000+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone believe in redemption?

I think Wendell Sailor shocked a lot of people a couple of years ago when he tested positive for cocaine use.

Tonight the 33 year old makes his return to top grade NRL – playing for St George Illawarra against the Bronco’s.

There’s a great story in the Sydney Morning Herald today about Wendell’s wife Tara - and this is where redemption is important.

Tara has born the brunt of Wendell’s crime. As his wife and the mother of his kids she had to continue turning up to school with a smile on her face, nurse him through his despair and generally keep things running.

In an interview she has admitted that when St George-Illawarra first wanted to sign big Dell – she lost it. Tara says she was on auto pilot, just keeping things together…and the moment
Wendell started to get excited about his future…she admits that was when she went ballistic – a bit of the how dare you get your normal life back – how dare you get to be the big man again?

She says she knows it was irrational – because more than anything she wanted Wendell back in NRL….but I get it.

I think she’s good and strong and has proven to be a fantastic support for her flightly bloke….certainly no trophy wife.

So tonight, when Wendell takes the field I won’t be cheering for the Dragons but I’ll certainly be cheering for Tara.

Pay up Angry!

2008-06-05T10:02:00.001+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone think Tania Zaetta is entiled to somes sort of compensation for the events of the past three weeks?

I am usually completely opposed to pay outs of any kind…but something that happened yesterday made me change my mind.

In a meeting for Mix fm’s Give Me Five For Kids, Tania Zaetta’s name came up because of something she generously donated to the cause, immediately the laughs and snickers started. And this is a group of people who know and like Tania….people who know she didn’t do anything!

Defence head Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston has admitted the military completely mismanaged the affair - after a so-called "Hot Issues Brief" containing the (completely unsubstantiated) claims from Angry Anderson was distributed to 96 people. It was recalled four minutes later and the names removed…but it was too late.

I don’t blame the military for the ‘Hot issues brief’ – it’s the modern world that they have to manage potential risk.

Angry Anderson still denies he made the claims, but the army is adamant he triggered "Zaettagate", when he told Lt-Col Greg McCauley that he knew Tania had sex with troops and that there were "photographs to prove it".
Anyway – I’d hate this to go to court – it would be tacky and undignified. I think everyone involved should do the right thing and make fair reparation to Tania.

Give me Five for Kids xx

2008-06-03T10:03:00.002+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone feel very lucky to have healthy kids?

I know we’re only at day 2 of Mix FM’s Give Me Five for Kids but every time I spend time in the children’s ward – I get fired up again to make Give Me Five bigger and better.

Yesterday I spent time with Jo and her three beautiful baby girls. Four year old Kaitlin, 3 year old Jade and Zoe the delicious 6 month old baby.

Jade, who has the prettiest eyes and cupie doll face you are ever likely to see, has an undiagnosed condition that leaves her unable to sit, speak or even swallow. Her chest fills with fluid constantly and every now and then, inexplicably, her organs shut down…

Jo and her husband have a hell of a job with their girls. More than two hundred nights in hospital in the past couple of years…most of those nights with the whole family in tow.

Jade’s condition is undiagnosed. The experts think she might have invented it herself - probably in utero – it doesn’t come from either side of the family and she has never tested positive for a known condition - she’s just a baby in a million.

On one hand, it's completely heartbreaking....one the other, Jo is the head of a warm, generous, positive family, putting love into action every day.

Then, just when you think you’ve seen it all, yesterday I also met a gorgeous little 10 year old with an eating disorder. Seriously.

Her devoted parents are lost for answers. They didn't see it coming and they don't know how to fix it. They just can't stop crying.

I wrote recently about the growing incidence of Anorexia in teens. Stand by for the tweens.

Just because of the little girl I met yesterday, I decided to see how common anorexia was in one so young...there's heaps of stuff on the net...but I'll leave you with this...

Statistics from Body Wars: Making Peace with Women's Bodies
Source: Body Wars: Making Peace with Women’s Bodies,by Margo Maine, Ph.D., Gürze Books, 2000
· 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner
· 45% of boys and girls in grades 3-6 want to be thinner
· 37% have already dieted
· 6.9% score in the ED range
· 51% of 9-10 year old girls feel better about selves when dieting
· 9% of 9 year old have vomited to lose weight
· 81% of 10 year old are afraid of being fat
· 53% of 13 year old girls are unhappy with their bodies
· 78% of 18 year old girls are unhappy with their bodies

Making good.....

2008-05-29T09:09:00.000+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone think it feels great to admit your mistakes, be brave and move on?

You might have heard the ads on (92.7) Mix FM for Accord Homes, looking for some help building a charity home.

There was an unfortunate incident a couple of years ago – a work place accident on an Accord Homes site resulting in serious injury to a contractor and his employee.

Part of Accord Homes so called punishment for that accident, is an enforceable undertaking - that is, they have been ordered to spend some money in the community….

Accord Homes could quite easily have just written a cheque – allocated the money to a community group and put the whole thing behind them.

But anyone who knows Peter Flaskas (one of the owners of Accord Homes) knows he would never do that. Instead, the plan to join with local subbies and suppliers in building a fully furnished home to be sold, and the proceeds given to Integrated Family and Youth Service (IFYS).

Accord Homes is providing capital and project management…they’d love help with a block of land – and any donations of goods or services to build the house will be gratefully accepted.
If you’d like to find out more, contact Accord Homes 5443 7079.

Irritated?

2008-05-28T09:14:00.002+10:00

Is it just me or is everyone not really annoyed by the people they work with?

Mark is the only person I work really closely with – and while he sometimes brings egg salad to our (very small) studio – on the whole, he’s not too bad.

A leading recruiting company has done a survey and listed the top ten most annoying office habits.

1. Office drummers – people who like to tap tap tap….

2. The Foghorn phone voice – I’m not sure I’m guilty of that – but I have heard the odd office door slam when I’m around people trying to talk on the phone…

3. People who wear too much perfume – we don’t have one of those – but I think we’ve call copped a whiff in the past…

4. What about Key smashers? People who hit their computers too hard? Seriously, if you’re whinging about that, you’re a wuss…

5. People who are paid for nothing. I hate work avoiders – but even more I hate delegaters. Everyone’s got their job to do - don’t come up with new crap for me – I’m busy….

6. Apparently we hate people who come to work sick. Not me, I actually love a trooper – call me crazy but I’m much more annoyed by people who have time off…

7. Smelly lunches…

8. Annoying Ringtones…. (no comment…talk to Nokia…I only use it because it’s loud…)

9. Space invaders – that’s colleagues who can’t keep their stuff on one desk…

And finally…..

10. Ink pink…you stink! The most annoying people at work are the smelly ones….fair call.

Peak Oil.....

2008-05-27T10:04:00.001+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone think the rest of our lives are going to be dominated by oil - or the lack there of?

There are plans for a local growers market on the Sunshine Coast - a very sensible plan to sell produce locally, rather than trucking it away so we can truck it back at ten times the price. The Labor party is battling over the cost of fuel too – that’s because absolutely everything we do and buy is about the cost of fuel.

I believe in 'peak oil'; that oil is a finite resource and the more we depend on it, the quicker it will go.

The concept of peak oil has been around a while – those who like to drive their V8’s have called it greenie scaremongering.

Recently the CEO of Shell oil, a Dutchman named Jeroen van der Veer, admitted we are headed for trouble.

Mr van der Veer told all his staff, 'Shell estimates that after 2015 supplies of easy-to-access oil and gas will no longer keep up with demand.'

Governments are famous for taking the path of least resistance – despite being fully aware we’re heading for a crisis – they consider it too risky to tackle the hard questions.

There is a project called ‘The Blue House’ in Yandina - the people behind The Blue House project dream of a community that is completely self sufficient. Call them alarmist – but the people behind the Blue House project believe the day will come that their model will be the only thing between Australians and total chaos.

I know lots of people don’t believe in Peak Oil – they think it’s some greenie conspiracy to steal away their quality of life. I just point to the headline - $2.00/litre for petrol by Christmas.

Big decisions...

2008-05-26T09:59:00.002+10:00

Is it just me or is everyone grateful for kids who just fight and refuse to clean their room?

Over the weekend, the Victorian family court granted a twelve year old girl the right to a sex change procedure.

A gaggle of experts testified that the girl, who can’t be identified for obvious reasons, suffers gender dysmorphia…that is, despite the fact she was born a girl she doesn’t identify herself as such, in any way.

Basically, when she looks in the mirror, she sees a boy. Simple as that.

And the family court agreed – granting the girl the right to a sex change operation, a new birth certificate, passport and medicare card.

Now I’m no expert, but I’ve known a couple of sexually re-assigned adults – and in my experience, the operation is no recipe for happiness. People who make that choice just exchange one type of limbo for another.

I'm not saying she wouldn't be better off re-assigned, just that it's unlikely to be everything she hopes.

For the record, the girl's father and his family intend to appeal the decision of the family court, saying that while they are not against gender changes and all of her family will stand by her no matter what…they don’t agree the treatment is warranted in this case.

I don’t know the girl – but I do know this – I am glad no-one asked me to decide my entire future at the age of 12.

Lock up your daughters. Please.

2008-05-23T07:45:00.002+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone think there is no such thing as a fine line between art and child porn?

Last night police raided a trendy, mainstream art gallery in Paddington Sydney, seizing photographs by Bill Henson, featuring naked 12 and 13 year-old girls.

You can see the photos on the net if you like – they are nothing like art – they are the saddest thing I have ever seen.

Dark, sombre photos, featuring little girls completely nude. If the subjects were adult, I might think the photos were beautiful. But they’re not – the wide eyed, frail and vulnerable nudes are children.

There seems to be an explosion at the moment – every so called 'Hollywood' parent seems happy to make their little girl famous for getting her gear off. They might be kidding themselves that it’s art…but it’s not…take one look at the photos from Bill Hensen – I have no doubt they will be saved straight to favourites on every pedophile computer in the world. It honestly makes me want to cry.

Every time a 13 year old gets her gear off, and someone defends it as art, we break down the taboo…and in no time at all they lose the capacity to shock. And before long, we move the bar a little lower.

Cover up your little girls – there is heaps of time for them to be models and actresses and objects of desire for strangers.

It’s not prudish..it’s basic protection.

One world, one God?

2008-05-23T06:52:00.001+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone suspect there might be just one God?

I’m Catholic and I love God very much. I don’t subscribe to every thing the Catholic Church has to say – but I’ve got my reasons for staying in the fold.

Those reasons are between God and me.

I don’t know if it’s considered blasphemous, but I think I’ve believed in one God all my life; same mountain, different path to the top. Something like that.

It’s only recently when Australians became nervous about Islam that I have tried to make sense of that thought.

Put simply, I suppose I just don’t think God is as interested in rules and divisions as man appears to be.

Religion has been a brutal tyrant in His name, and I consider that the worst sin of all.

Muslim extremists are completely out of step with God and the Quran, in the same way IRA bombers are out of step with God and Catholicism, and the Oklahoma bombers were out of step with God and the Pentecostal churches.

There is a new movement called One World One God, I don’t know much about it and I don’t have any faith that we’ll all eventually sort out our differences, but I like to think someone is trying.

I’m baring my little Christian soul for a reason by the way. A friend of mine has just been appointed the interim head of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils.
Haset Sali is his name and he’s one in a million.

I’m sure he’d hate me to tell you, but I first got to know Haset through his generosity. Every now and then on the air at Mix FM we tell the story of someone doing it tough. Haset is often the first person to donate.

He’s also one of the best known blokes I know, in business, in Alex, at the gym, in politics, even in Shepparton, Victoria, where I used to live, everybody knows Haset.

To be honest, I hope he becomes even more famous. As the author of a new book, “The Holy Quran Simply: A Simple English Translation” and as a high-profile moderate Muslim leader.

I’ve always respected Muslims. Equally, I’ve had doubts and fears about what sort of messages might be hidden in the Quran.

In everything, however, I believe what unites us as humans is a lot more significant than what divides us, so in honour of Haset’s appointment, I thought I’d investigate the obvious similarities between mainstream, warring, religions.

A very small step on the road to peace.

Did you know “Allah” is the Aramaic word Jesus used when praying to God? In Hebrew the word is “Eloh”, meaning the same thing, God.

One Islamic website claims the prophet Moses revealed the Torah, the prophet Jesus revealed the gospel and the prophet Mohammed revealed the Quran.

All three prophets appear in all three books. Even the scarves worn by Muslim women are worn in respect of Mary, mother of Jesus.

Then, there’s Lent and Ramadan, the fact Islam has a Lord’s Prayer, and even the Ten Commandments can be found in the Quran.

In fact, large tracts of the Quran can be found almost word for word in the Bible. I’m not sure about the Torah, but I’m willing to make a bet. I don’t know exactly when the wires got crossed, but I believe with all my heart that at some point we all agreed.

Above all else, and regardless of any horror perpetrated by their followers, all three faiths preach peace.

Obviously, this issue is a lot more important than I could ever give it credit. I’m just very proud of Haset and look forward to leaders like him bridging the gap.

And, on that note, I’m going to leave you with my favourite Haset quote.
He said, “God does not belong to us, nor the Christians, nor does God belong to the Jews. It is we who belong to God.”

Godspeed my friend.

Sneaky spend...

2008-05-22T09:47:00.003+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone get very nervous about the sly spend?

Bob Jane and his ex wife, Laree are in court – generously allowing Australia a glimpse of life in the fast lane.

Apparently Laree likes to shop – Bob claims she has 41 credit cards and was unable to keep within her 800 thousand dollar a year allowance. In a year, according to Bob and his lawyers, Laree racked up 1.5 million dollars in credit - then took out a mortgage on the house to pay it off.

That’s a sneaky spend.

My dad once told my mum that we had no money, we were on a 'credit squeeze'. After breaking the news to Mum, he sat all the kids down and explained that he had big plans for the business and we had to reign in the spending to prepare.

I am not kidding – the very next day he went to Perth and bought a boat – a 17 foot Westerberg – so quite a big boat in fact. Dad’s been dead 20 years and I think Mum’s still getting over the Westerberg.

I used to work with a bloke called Neil whose wife just turned up at the office one day with a new car. I know I’m a little 1950’s housewife, but in my tiny world, new cars are more a bloke’s thing.

I’m not saying I’d be happy if John sneaked off and bought a new car without telling me – but there’s a lot more chance he’d do it than I would.

I was blown away by Neil's wife - very proud of her though - and proud of Neil too, because while he was shocked, he took it really well and agreed she got a really good deal.

Boo Hoo Boomers!

2008-05-21T09:14:00.002+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone love a sweeping generalisation? Without them, there’d be no breakfast radio, that’s for sure.

Australia’s most famous demographer Bernard Salt wrote a very provocative article yesterday about baby boomers bleeding the nation dry.

Baby boomers are people born after their dad’s got back from WWII. People born between 1946 and 1961 – people raised on the sheep’s back in Australia – the generation that has earned the most from the property boom – the generation that could buy a newsagency for a couple of thousand dollars, put in the hard yards and walk away a millionaire, with no nasty debt or multinational competition.

And Bernard Salt says they’re the most selfish generation Australia has ever seen.

Mr Salt wrote his article in response to the protesting pensioners getting their gear off in Melbourne this week.

He says the generation before baby boomers is ‘the frugals’ - people born in the 1920’s and 30’s, surrounded by catastrophe: they were born between world wars with a Great Depression thrown in for good measure. The generation we could all learn from.

Unlike their children, Frugals aren't motivated by money or status and they are largely happy in retirement. Bernard Salt claims the Frugals make little or no demand on the national budget because most of them are grateful for the pension. They never expected nor received a cent for free.

Boomers, according to Mr Salt are about to show us exactly how selfish they are. He claims no matter how much money they have to retire on, it still won't be enough. And, unlike their Frugal parents, boomer retirees will be whining long and loud for the next 20 years about how hard done by they are.

(I submit this from the safe haven of 'generation x', whatever that means....feel free to discuss....)

Deliverance country?

2008-05-19T10:13:00.002+10:00

Is it just me – or does everyone think it’s completely acceptable in Australia to bag the town you grew up in?

Former Labor leader Mark Latham grabbed a headline this weekend by claiming in a newspaper column that Kevin Rudd used to be "fond of telling people that once you leave Brisbane and cross the Pine River you can hear the sound of banjo music". Hell has no fury like a leader scorned and all that.

I love the place - and if our Kev used to crack gags about Nambour in the old days – I’m not offended in the least. For a start, just because someone says something, doesn’t make it true.

Lots of people like to say that Queenslanders are red necks, that we live in a cultural vacuum. It doesn’t make it true. In fact, it usually makes me laugh.

I've lived in every state of Australia except SA and Tassie....I've spent a bit of time overseas and I've been on the coast exactly ten years.

I've never really thought about the cultural merits of any place I've lived.

What I read, the movies I watch, theatre I see (which is very little), music I enjoy, conversations I have and food I eat is completely up to me.

Where I choose to live has never really had any impact on my cultural life.

In a place as big as the Sunshine Coast, if you can't find like minded people to hang out with (and sit around discussing how culturally superior you are to the rest of us) then I reckon you're just not trying!

Domestic Violence Hurts....

2008-05-16T10:47:00.002+10:00

Is it just me or does everyone think children raised in violent homes are probably the most troubled adults in Australia?

How we deal with violence is getting better – but there’s still a long way to go.

I’m taking part in an interactive workshop at Maroochy library today – hoping to raise awareness for domestic violence month.

Awareness is great, but practical help is even better. I heard today about a new law in New South Wales – which seeks to understand how domestic violence is perpetuated.

Trialled successfully in Campbelltown and Wagga, the hard line law is about to rolled out across the state – and hopefully the nation.

Basically, it works like this....People accused of bashing their partners will have just seven days to plead guilty or not guilty.

Right now, the perpetrator gets to drag things out. Slow down court proceedings – make sure the bruises are gone – see if he or she can’t talk the victim around – then, with a bit of luck, enter a plea of not guilty....and the arresting officers throw up their hands in despair.

Just by forcing perpetrators to plead within seven days of the crime – so far, in Campbelltown and Wagga – guilty pleas have risen by 65.8 per cent – 65.8 per cent!!!

That's a quick turnaround, less time wasted in the courts and 65.8 per cent more recorded convictions. 65.8 per cent more people forced to answer for their actions.