Recently in General Category

I just loved the picture and had to use it, it's beautiful and I think I would like to incorporate it into a theme some time. Time seems to be one thing I have little of lately (I think that is an oft-repeated statement from me!). I spend a good hour reading all the feeds I subscribe to, I'm up to 51 and they just keep coming. Google Reader has turned out to be an excellent tool for gathering everything into one spot and has extra features that I find quite handy, like sharing stories with friends, and adding stars to favourite articles. Then there's Twitter and Friend Feed, keeping up with the people I follow is nearly impossible, and I wonder why I even bother, but I do come across some interesting articles that would normally go under my radar. Then there's email. I have that pretty well under control now since I've switched to GMail to take care of all the spam. Occasionally I go through the spam to see if there's something there that shouldn't be, but it's rare. I'd recommend it to anyone with a spam problem.

I just upgraded to the newest Movable Type release that is now better than ever. MT 4.2 has incorporated the Community Pack and the Professional Pack into one package called Movable Type Pro. It used to cost to use those additional services, but they're now free for personal use. I haven't had a chance yet to really check it all out. Some of the social networking features I use on Toni Hambilton Online, it's a blog I set up that just gathers all the things I do on the web and lists them, like when I save a page or add tweets (use Twitter). It's easy to maintain because I don't do anything after it's set up. The best sort of site.

On a personal note, I've been busy. Carly worked 3 nights over in Wagga last week and it meant driving her over and picking her up. Thursday night I stayed over there and visited both Lauren and Emily. Friday I organised a lift over for her with a girl I work with who lives in Wagga, then drove over later to bring her home. Saturday night I drove over twice, and that was after driving to Tumut and back with Alex for football. All in all, alot of driving (and petrol). You do what you have to do, as the old saying goes. She's totally rapt to be getting wages. First thing this morning she logged into NetBank and lit up like a lantern when she saw how much money had gone in. I'm seeing a much more mature Carly lately. The Year 10 exams will be starting soon and she'll really have her hands full then.

Work has been very busy this week too. Councillor elections are being held next month and nominations closed on Wednesday, so there was lots of faxing being done. It's business paper week as well, and it's a big one. The photocopier will be tied up all morning tomorrow. I feel like I've had a productive week, and have caught up on a few jobs that were hanging around. But I'm tired. I haven't been to the gym for a few weeks now, there's always something else I have to do. Starting next week I'm getting back to the routine I had, and Monday and Wednesday nights will be gym nights. I do too much sitting at computers not to go!

I read an article last week that had me worried about both the girls in Wagga who have already refinanced a couple of times in the last couple of years.

Those home owners feeling the pinch from rising interest rates and living costs need to put their house on the market now because things are about to get much worse, Wizard Home Loans founder Mark Bouris said. He said inflation pressure and rates rises had made the repayments calculations people made when entering into a home loan only a few years ago were now not worth the paper they were written on - and urged home owners to "get their heads out of the sand" and realise the trouble around the corner.

I have plenty of friends who have taken advantage of bank's easy lending of late and have done those renovations they've always wanted, or got that reverse cycle air conditioning throughout the house. (Something I wish I too could get done at the moment.)

The Daily Telegraph reports rising inflation has gouged $86 a week out of the average household budget, meaning that the tax cuts would have to be $34.61 a week higher if they were to leave a typical family with the same disposable income they had when the cuts were announced on October 14 last year.

If that family drives two cars they will an extra $18.50 a week on top of that to cover increased petrol bills. The paper's calculations show the three interest rate rises that occurred after the tax cuts were promised have cost the average family $38.25 a week.

Childcare fee rises due this week will cost a family with two children, one in long day care, another in after school care, $23.40 a week extra if they use three days care. Grocery price rises are costing families a further $6 a week.

I'm feeling the pinch too and our fridge isn't looking too healthy lately. Gone are the little extras that once it was nothing to throw in the shopping trolley. Now I'm telling the kids to put things back. Every week it's something else that's gone up, especially petrol.

Mark your calendar, wrap a ribbon around your finger or write a little sticky yellow note. Download Day will start on June 17, 2008.

The news from China this week has been tragic indeed, but what makes it even sadder is the thought of all the children killed. Thousands of children were in class when the tremor hit Monday afternoon and many of their schools collapsed on top of them. News scenes show grieving mothers whose loss is compounded in many cases by a Chinese policy that limits most couples to one child, a measure meant to control explosive population growth.

As a result of the one-child policy, the massive earthquake that rocked China this week -- already responsible for at least 15,000 deaths -- is producing another tragic aftershock: Not only must thousands of parents suddenly cope with the loss of a child -- they must often cope with the loss of their only child.

The Federal Government is pushing forward with a plan to force ISPs to filter out all material "inappropriate" for children from Australian homes.This plan will waste tens of millions of taxpayer dollars and slow down Internet access.

Despite being almost universally condemned by the public, ISPs, State Governments, Media and censorship experts, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is determined to force this filter into your home. Don't let him!

There are several quick things you can do to keep Australian Internet access fast and open. Go here to see how you can help.

Many of us attend the ANZAC marches around the country and get emotional listening to the speeches, but how many think about what it must have been like for those original ANZACs?

In the lead up to Anzac Day in this 93rd year since the end of World War I NEWS.com.au and the Australian War Memorial open the archives to bring you extremely rare pictures from the nation's photo record.

'An Australian Light Horseman collecting anemones near Belah in Palestine'. Picture: Frank Hurley, 1918

Squadrons of the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade in formation at Gaza Picture: Frank Hurley, February 1918

Australians of the Imperial Camel Corps form up at Rafa, Egypt. Picture: Frank Hurley, 26 January 1918

The 3rd Australian Light Horse Regiment machinegun in action at Khurbetha-Ibn, Palestine. Picture: Frank Hurley, New Year's Eve 1917

Four camel ambulances attached to the Imperial Camel Corps at Rafa - used as a base for the attack on Gaza. Picture: Frank Hurley, 1918

The 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment behind the front line barricades at Nalin in Palestine, one man passing across a grenade. Picture: Frank Hurley, January 17, 1918

Australian Flying Corps planes in Palestine. Picture: Frank Hurley, 1918

Waiting the order to fire a camouflaged eight inch gun from the 1st Australian Siege Battery before the main attack on Polygon Wood in Belgium. Picture: Frank Hurley, September 1917

Official photograph at Gallipoli taken in early 1919 for The Australian Historical Mission showing a landing barge, wire and entrenchments. Picture: George Hubert Wilkins

A thigh bone and other skeletal remains near the Turkish war memorial at the Nek are a grim reminder of the fighting in this photo taken February/March 1919. Picture: George Hubert Wilkins

Stretcher bearers of the 13th Field Ambulance resting at a dressing station on Westhoek Ridge on the Western Front. Picture: Frank Hurley, October 1917

Soldiers, mules and carts stopped on a street in the ruined village of Voormezeele on the Western Front in Belgium. Picture Frank Hurley, August 1917

Statue of the Virgin hanging from the Cathedral of Albert in France. Local superstition held that war would end when the Madonna fell. She collapsed in the spring of 1918 under shellfire. Picture: Frank Hurley, September 1917

The derelict hulk of a British tank on the Pozieres battlefield - a battle in which for Australian troops distinguished themselves but suffered heavy losses while taking the French village and ridge from the Germans. Picture: Frank Hurley, 1917

An Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance wagon on the Philistine Plain, Palestine. Picture: Frank Hurley, 1918

French Premier Georges Benjamin Clemenceau on his only visit to the Australian front at the Somme, pictured with 4th Division command including Brigadier General Thomas Blamey, CMG, DSO, second from left. Picture: Unknown, July 7, 1918

Scattered graves marked by simple white crosses on the old Somme battlefields in France. Picture: Frank Hurley, September 1917

The first annual "Junee Rhythm 'n Rail" festival will be held on the weekend of 7 - 9 March 2008. The festival will be a celebration of Junee's strong railway history and of the depth of artistic talent in the area.

Vintage and steam trains will bring visitors from such places as Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Griffith and Cowra. Organisers estimate some 2,000 - 3,000 people will visit the town with accommodation provided by local hotels and motels, private homes and Tent City.

Local organisations have the opportunity to benefit directly whilst helping to make the festival a success. Proceeds from the festival will go to local drought relief charities, CanAssist and Variety Australia.

Broadway Museum will be assisting in the festival by conducting a display of handmade knitted, crocheted or woven rugs. So bring along your Granny Rugs, your Baby Rugs, or even your Fanciest Rugs. Prizes will be presented in four categories - Prettiest, Most Popular, Oldest and Most Unusual.

Three days of activities have been organised with two Guinness Book of Records attempts to be held on Saturday 8th March. The first is a record attempt for the Longest Licorice String, and second, a record attempt for the most guitars playing a single tune. Junee's Vaughan Logan has written a piece of music for many guitars to be played in the attempt.

If you can help in any way, want tickets, need accommodation, want to join in the record-breaking guitar playing attempt, or just want to know more about it, please vist the Rhythm'n'Rail website and use the contact form.