Is the Pope Catholic? and other Myths?

Image via WikipediaListening to a promotion for the stupid sensationalist news shows that I never watch here in Adelaide. Yes more stupid than the supposedly serious news. I was shocked to hear that they were going to share how to stay out of the Christmas Credit Card Debt Trap.

Hello! Just leave them at home. Don't use them. Duh! This with retailers expecting a bumper Christmas shopping season here in Adelaide as prices rise and job security falls. Seems that not too many will be heeding the advice of the television equivalent of the News of the World.

Also in that category the thought that you can avoid a hangover by swallowing eels and vegemite and the like and that Coca Cola is an effective spermicide.

Hello just don't drink. I know that is the pot calling the kettle black, but as I get older I see that it has some merit especially if you plan to be productive the next day.

Oh and I liked the debunking of the argument related to wearing a hat when it is cold. I was so predisposed to believe that one and had no issue with selling that story to the kids when we were out in the not so cold Adelaide winter weather.

Oh well, more myths shattered and false misperceptions debunked.

Perhaps Santa Claus really does exist.

Contraception with a Sugar Buzz?

Alternate Night After Pill?

I always wondered why Coca Cola was so popular in the Phillippines when I lived there. So many kids, so little time.

The Harvard research team found that Coca-Cola was only able to immobilize only 30 percent of the sperms within an hour. Ironically coca-cola douches increase the forward velocity of healthy sperm by almost 18 cm/hour, actually increasing the chances of striking a baby using the method.

I love the bit about the healthy sperms getting a sugar buzz and heading down town. Survival of the fittest I suppose. Good to know that scientists have money to burn on this kind of important social and medical research.

Perhaps they should check out spermicidal capabilities of Irn Bru while they are at it. Maybe there is an export market.

Imagine some of the advertising campaigns for Pepsi and the like in some of those countries where it is used for alternative purposes.

You can blame @leoc and @facibus for Todays Medical Report.

Aurora Anyone?

Stunning photographs from The Telegraph of the Aurora Borealis.

From Wikipedia.

Aurorae are produced by the collision of charged particles from Earth's magnetosphere, mostly electrons but also protons and heavier particles, with atoms and molecules of Earth's upper atmosphere (at altitudes above 80 km (50 miles)). The particles have energies of 1 to 100 keV. They originate from the Sun and arrive at the vicinity of Earth in the relatively low-energy solar wind. When the trapped magnetic field of the solar wind is favourably oriented (principally southwards) it connects with Earth's magnetic field, and solar particles enter the magnetosphere and are swept to the magnetotail. Further magnetic reconnection accelerates the particles towards Earth.

So now you know. Apparently the Southern Hemisphere version is the Aurora Australis. Only visible from really cold parts of this part of the world. Too bad we can't just sit back and watch from our back garden. What we do have living in the suburbs is very clear sky unpolluted by urban light and one in which you can see most of the stars. I find the look of the whole sky more interesting than individual stars.

Winter Solstice Celebrations Kick Off in South Australia

Winter Solstice is a great time of year here and we celebrate it with our Northern Hemisphere Cousins, just in different ways.

Photo Hunt: Wide

The great wide expanse of Sellicks Beach. It was just us and a few cars yesterday afternoon on the way back from Granny's. I learned today that some vested interests had tried to push through a marina for this location. Very glad that got the kybosh. It is such a glorious expanse of open beach, sufficiently far from Adelaide that it is never too busy.

This is a great time of year here in South Australia, with great weather, hanging out in our pool, holidays, Christmas around the corner and cricket on the radio (and television). I have loved cricket since I grew up in Scotland. Being in Australia it is hard to avoid, which I like.

Tonight the cricket was from Perth, where Australia are hosting South Africa in a showdown between the number one and number 2 ranked test teams. I rarely have time to sit down and just watch cricket, but rather listen to the very entertaining coverage on the ABC. I was able to watch tonight outside by the pool while Elizabeth watched The Bill, because they played late due to the time difference and rain delays. The kids had gone to bed (ha ha ha), but they thought that it was a bit odd, and came out to take some photographs. They even caught one of me signalling a wide.


Merry Ho Ho Ho to all Photohunters and in fact to everyone.

Deep Throat Chokes

For the Last Time.

According to the newspaper, he had suffered two strokes in recent years, and his memory of the Watergate era had almost completely vanished because of Alzheimer's disease.

Mystery surrounded the identity of Deep Throat - named after a popular pornographic movie of the time - for decades, until Mark Felt admitted being the source in 2005.
"I'm the guy they used to call Deep Throat," he told the US magazine Vanity Fair in an article that revealed his secret.

Vale Mark Felt.

When I lived in Washington in the 1980s it was interesting to go and visit the complex, with the unusual circular structure along the banks of the Potomac, with all the normal stuff that people need, newsagents, hairdressers, cafes and to think that a little incident within that complex and the bravery of some journalists and a man called Mark Felt had brought down Tricky Dicky.

If only that Alzheimers had kicked in 40 years ago. Nixon may have made it through his Presidency and Dubya may have never become President. Now the second one is wishful thinking and the first one is just speculation.

He even outlived the director of the movie, who choked earlier.

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Skywatch Friday

Last Monday I took the kids down to Granny, who lives close to Normanville Beach. These were taken using my fairly lame camera on my phone as I had lunch by the beach and driving home. Beautiful clear sky with one puffy cloud each.

If you are a sky fetishist, then go here.

Ho Ho Ho from Hannah and Ryan

You can Ho Ho Ho yourself on Flickr by adding a note to a photo "ho ho ho hat" or "ho ho ho beard" does it.

And while we are at it, a Ho Ho Drunken Ho Ho from Monkey.



This is not the Christmas Message that my Grandmother made us stop eating cold Turkey for.

And even the real thing iz funny.

Everyone's a Loser Babe in Aussie Broadband Brawl

Telstra's Visionary New Broadband Receiver. Set to be rolled out Australia wide by 2096. "We have a very aggressive roll out strategy" said a Telstra spokesman. We just need to get the government off our back (so that we can deliver the programme). It is also reported that the Telstra CEO will resign and leave the country if he does not get his way.

The arrogance of Sol "I walk on Water" Telstrujillo and Donald "Duck the Brickbats" McGauchie is dumb and mindboggling.

And here is the new Aussie Broadband Everywhere Theme Tune, set to be announced soon.



Not!

Next up mud fights, live streamed to Tumbarumba and other regional towns by telegraphic, electrified broadband pigeons by 2065.

Good Luck Senator Conroy.

Everyone wants to do this!

On ya go. You know you want to.

And here is the World of Warcraft version, courtesty of Online Warmonger Silkcharm.

When an Eye for an Eye Seems Fair

An Iranian woman is seeking a sentence for her attacker more in line with something out of a torture manual than natural justice.

Four years ago, a spurned suitor poured a bucket of sulfuric acid over her head, leaving her blind and disfigured.

Late last month, an Iranian court ordered that five drops of the same chemical be placed in each of her attacker's eyes, acceding to Bahrami's demand that he be punished according to a principle in Islamic jurisprudence that allows a victim to seek retribution for a crime. The sentence has not yet been carried out.

Seems like a very barbaric sentence, but given the crime, pretty reasonable from her perspective. Why not an acid bath?

Can you tweet and ride a camel at the same time?

Nice Photograph by Gary Hayes

As Australians are being softened up to eat more Camel, I have to say that this is a much better use of these ugly but graceful animals.

Thanks Gary Hayes and Laurel Papworth (who has tweeted from a camel).

Oh by the way, come on down. The Australian Tourist Board would love to arrange for you to ride a Camel.

Photo Hunt: Favourite

This is Hannah's favourite toy dog, Champers. Very cute and no cleaning up.

This is Elizabeth's favourite boy. Very cute and lots of cleaning up.

photohunt

Skywatch Friday

Last week looking east in the morning.

More splendifierous skies at the Skywatch Blog.

Ireland Boycotts Harvey Norman

All Aussie Business Retailing Icon and potential saviour of the Australian economy should probably stick to retailing and leave out the history lessons, especially in Ireland. In a recent business presentation he said:

..but Ireland. Phew, just imagine you opened in Ireland; you'd want to go and cut your throat. The potato famine, someone said, the return of the potato famine in Ireland.

Way to go Gerry. Seems to me that Irish pig farmers have a better case to be unhappy with the the wholesale culling of dioxin contaminated pigs just before Christmas. Thousands have been made immediately unemployed after an animal food manufacturing plant used contaminated oil in the food production process.

Oh and by the way, talking of handouts (to deadbeats?) according to Gerry, make sure you don't give to charity during the generous season.

Asked in a new book about the role he and Harvey Norman play in the community, Mr Harvey said giving money to people who "are not putting anything back into the community" is like "helping a whole heap of no-hopers to survive for no good reason".

No doubt Harvey Norman will be hoping that a bunch of Australian no hopers will be dashing into his stores with their freshly minted money from the Rudd Governments stimulus handout.

Now that we have finished with that, make sure you go out and buy a plasma TV at Harvey Norman with your Government stimulus handout, eh Gerry?

What a nice man.

Satara the Randy Rampaging Rhino's Great Adventure

And so would you if your partner had been paired up with a younger rival.

Monarto Zoo senior curator Peter Clark said he believed the escape occurred because a younger male rhino had been paired with the female, Yhura. He said Satara had "got wind of" this. "I think he got a bit jealous," he said.

Two tonne Rhinos, just like humans. Apparently he is back in his mud pond cooling off this morning.

Monarto is part of Adelaide Zoo, located in the Adelaide Hills and is part of the worldwide rhino breeding programme. Rhino horns are considered aphrodisiacs. Perhaps Satara bit off more than he could chew.

Photo Hunt: Breakfast

Although I joke about Green Porridge, I had never actually had some until this morning. I decided to play a trick on my son, who had asked for porridge for breakfast and get some photographs for the hunt at the same time.

Needless to say, he was non too keen. Me, I thought it was just fine.

As for other green delicacies here in South Australia, I can recommend the pie floater from Villi's 24 hour cafe just of South Road. You can have it for breakfast.

photohunt

Alcoholics Anonymous New Advertising Campaign

It is Friday night in Australia. Drinking time. Now what do you think guys?

Abominable Behaviour

Image by wili_hybrid via Flickr

Two nuns, Sister Catherine and Sister Helen, are traveling through 
Europe in their car.  They get to Transylvania , and are stopped at a 
traffic light.  Suddenly, out of nowhere, a tiny little Dracula jumps 
onto the hood of the car, and hisses at them through the windshield.

'Quick, quick!' shouts Sister Catherine. 'What shall we do?'  'Turn the 
windshield wipers on. That will get rid of the abomination', says Sister 
Helen.  Sister Catherine switches them on, knocking Dracula about, but 
he clings on and continues hissing at the nuns.   ''What shall I do 
now?' she shouts. 'Switch on the windshield washer. I filled it up with 
Holy Water at the Vatican ', says Sister Helen.   Sister Catherine turns 
on the windshield washer.  Dracula screams as the water burns his skin, 
but he clings on and continues hissing at the nuns.

'Now what?' shouts Sister Catherine.  'Show him your cross', says Sister 
Helen.  'Now you're talking', says Sister Catherine.  She opens the 
window and shouts, 'Get the fuck off the car!'

Now that appeals to my sense of humour.

Brought to you by the ever understated good Catholic boy, my colleague Michael. 

Skywatch Friday

Walking home from the park last week.

Earlier this week, the highlight was the combination of a crescent moon, Venus and Jupiter making a smiley face in the sky. I couldn't get a shot, but many others did.
More great skies at the Skywatch Site.

Smiley in the Sky

The last two nights in our neighbourhood have been enlivened by clear skies and the presence of a crescent moon, Venus and Jupiter. On Monday night it was a smiley face and last night it was an upside down sad face.

The moon is the brightest, closest and smallest of the three and is 252,000 miles away. Venus, the second brightest, closest and smallest, is 94 million miles away, while Jupiter is 540 million miles away.

The three celestial objects come together from time to time, but often they are too close to the sun or unite at a time when they are less visible.

The next time the three will be as close and visible as this week will be Nov 18, 2052, according to Jack Horkheimer, director of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium.

I tried to take a picture, but my lame camera did not support my efforts to document the event. Still it was fun to see.

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Missing Boobies Alert

One hundred and thirty thousand inflatable boobies, destined to titilate obviously bored readers of soft porn mens interest mag Ralph have been lost at sea between China and Australia.

Alternative uses? The mind boggles. Kids bath toys?

Pretty sad. What kind of message are they trying to send?