Randy Kiwi Parrot gets Government Job

via telegraph.co.uk

The New Zealand prime minister has given the country’s most famous parrot a job in his government, it has emerged.

An endangered kakapo parrot, named Sirocco, which rose to fame last year after it attempted to mate with the head of Mark Carwardine, the wildlife presenter, during the BBC’s 'Last Chance to See' series, has been appointed by John Key as the world’s first “spokesbird for conservation”.

Footage of the incident attracted more than half a million hits on the video-sharing website, YouTube.
Mr Key claimed that the notorious and rare bird will be the ideal ambassador for conservation.
“He’s very media-savvy, he’s got a worldwide fan base – they hang on every squawk that comes out of his beak. He’ll be a great official spokesbird for New Zealand,” he said.“Sirocco can speak very loudly on this topic and by the end of this campaign people will be a lot more aware of what’s going on.”
Mr Key said Sirocco would focus attention on the plight of endangered species.

Kakapos are endemic to New Zealand – there were only 51 known kakapo in 1995 but thanks to extensive conservation efforts the number has risen to 124. Some 33 chicks have been transferred to sanctuary islands in southern New Zealand, where it is hoped they will continue to boost the recovery of the species.
“New Zealand is home to the world’s only flightless and nocturnal parrot, the last surviving member of a dinosaur family and the world’s smallest marine dolphin. This is our biodiversity to protect and Sirocco can help spread that message,” said Kate Wilkinson, New Zealand’s conservation minister.
* See Sirocco’s website and video – www.spokesbird.com

Posted via web from poobumwee's posterous

Unusual Cricket Occurences

Image via WikipediaAndrew Symonds scored 8 runs of one ball by running four runs and then got four overthrows from sloppy New Zealand fielding during the first test in Brisbane between Australia and New Zealand.

Bummer to be out two balls later.

End of over 45 (3 runs) - Australia 124/4 MJ Clarke 48* (123b 6x4) DL Vettori 1-0-3-0 A Symonds 18* (28b 3x4) IE O'Brien 11-4-25-0
45.1	O'Brien to Symonds, no run, bangs in the bouncer and that sails over Symonds' arched back
45.2	O'Brien to Symonds, no run, Was that dropped? Can't tell for sure, Symonds clubs a short ball and the ball goes straight to Redmond at short midwicket
45.3	O'Brien to Symonds, 7 runs, Now Symonds clubs another short ball from outside off, the ball just falls short of the rope at deep midwicket and they run four, worse for N there are four overthrows as well as the ball beats the keeper. Due to scoring issues the ball is being scored as 7 runs for the moment. It's complicated and I really can't explain why
45.4	O'Brien to Symonds, 1 run
45.5	O'Brien to Symonds, OUT, what a dramatic over! O'Brien pitches it just a shade outside off and gets Symonds to poke at it, the edge is taken and O'Brien is really pumped up in his celebration
	A Symonds c McCullum b O'Brien 26 (33b 3x4 0x6) SR: 78.78
There's a lot of confusion about the 46th over. The scoring software doesn't have a provision for 8 runs so it was scored as 7 runs for one ball and 1 off the next. Symonds was indeed on strike for all three balls.
45.6	O'Brien to Watson, no run, wide outside off and lets it go
End of over 46 (8 runs) - Australia 132/5 SR Watson 0* (1b) IE O'Brien 12-4-33-1

And here is a 12 from Yuvraj at a Footy Stadium in Melbourne during the stupid World XI versus Australia Series a few years ago.

Eight runs is obviously quite unusual because the Cricinfo scoring software does not allow it.

Curious how often that happens in a Test Match.

Go you Kiwis! Stick it to the ArrogantAussies. Interesting that the betting has hardly moved. People must think that if second rate Kiwi bowlers can do this then New Zealand will be bowled out for about 50. It is just like the stock market. Who knows? Entertaining all the same.

Australians hate to lose to the Kiwis. It would be worse than losing to Bangladesh.

Man Uses Hedgehog as Weapon Faces Jail

I am always interested how Zemanta, which is add on blogging software throws out suggestions for links when you write posts.

I liked this one from my last post on my name, presumably because I mentioned New Zealand.

"It hit the victim in the leg, causing a large, red welt and several puncture marks," said Senior Sgt Bruce Jenkins, in the North Island town of Whakatane.

It was unclear whether the hedgehog was still alive when it was thrown, though it was dead when collected as evidence.

The police spokesman said the suspect was arrested "for assault with a weapon, namely the hedgehog."

Important stuff. Don't throw Hedgehogs in New Zealand.

I wonder how you pick up a hedgehog and throw it.

And for Jayne, here's the recipe.

Whats for dinner tonight and tomorrow

and the day after that......?

A bit more challenging than chicken leftovers. You'd need a big fridge and a large frying pan for all that calamari. or a huge barbecue. The one being defrosted is around 500 kilograms and just medium sized. I know I would freak out if I came across one in my bath. Just the eyes are 11 inches in diameter and it is not full grown. I can imagine my kids reaction.

Marine Masochists - Why?

I just do not get people like these.

I have nothing against adventure, but what is it that motivates people to do nutty things like row from New Zealand to Australia. Only 31 days and 2,000 kilometres.

"Pain you can manage," Mr Gates said.

"Our medical kit was designed to get you through.

"The fact that everyone is still walking today is testimony to some of the drugs in that medical kit, but it's the mental toughness when you're stuck in that rear cabin."

Eleven metre seas and massive storms forced the crew of two men and two women to shelter in the 3m x 1.8m cabin early in the journey.

"When you're stuck in there for four days with three people, you've got condensation running down the walls, everything's wet, you're wet, nothing's dry and there's no room, so if one person moves they kick the other person in the head - that's pretty tough," Mr Gates said.

As well as the storms, Mr Gates said the four rowers encountered sharks, whales, pods of dolphins and narrowly avoided a collision with a ship.

As we speak another couple of people are kayaking the other way.

Hello. This is the season of crass consumerism. How is this kind of behaviour propping up the Antipodean Economy.

Based on my own experience of kayaking, that would be a pretty boring trip. I think that I will stick with tedious reruns and unpacking boxes.

Tough to Hide in an Identity Parade

You can run but you can't hide. There has to be some benefit to tattoos??

At Least There is Still a Use for the Haka

Antipodes in Mourning

Brits Bail Out

Australia and New Zealand received over 100,000 immigrants from the UK out of a total of about 400,000, as many as France as Spain in the last year. During that period almost 600,000 people moved in. This is the largest rush for the doors since 1991.

Perhaps we can expect even higher numbers next year as Brits become more frustrated with a seven day summer (over 3 months). Happy Sunny Bank Holiday Weekend residents of that soggy place. Glad you have been able to find some sunny weather wherever you are.

I can confirm that it took me many months living in Colorado when I first emigrated to get used to the sun being out every day during the summer and fall. It stayed that way for the rest of the day. We have the same weather here in Adelaide at the end of winter at the moment as parts of the UK. 25 degrees and sunny is the forecast for today. It would be hard to go back to the UK weather and I am not sure I could cope with my Australian family moaning about how cold and wet it is.

Cross posted at the Wardman Wire.