Sunday, February 28, 2010
FURY AT THE LAW WHICH MIGHT ALLOW A CRUEL MAN TO ESCAPE PUNISHMENT
I am sickened by the cruelty which people inflict on helpless animals.
A friend posted a link to an animal cruelty case in her home country - USA - and begged everyone who read it to sign the petition. A man chained his dog up and let it starve to death! His other dog had to be put down, probably for the same thing, but I was too chicken to watch the video of the case.
I can't understand why the law allows these creatures to escape punishment time and again. A slap on the wrist, 6 months good behaviour bond, a small fine - after all, it's "only an animal" they reason.
Our politicians here in Queensland finally got their act together and legislated for huge penalties for animals cruelty - and what do the old judges do?
NOTHING!
They will NOT make animal abusers pay the price for their cruelty and neglect of the helpless creatures in their care. And they will NOT make sure that these - things - are not allowed have an animal EVER again.
There was a recent case of a lout who kicked a kitten off a train platform. The cat survived, and the lout went to court. And what happened? The judge decided the perpetrator was suitably contrite and gave hima slap on the wrist.
Outside the court, however, out of sight of the judge, this digusting individual laughed and slung around sneering in triumph. Contrite? No way! He'd gotten away with it.
Being flogged with a bullwhip is too good for these types. Kneecapping might bring it home to them. The judges will not impose the sentences allowed by the law, and it's time the politicians showed what they're made of dropped a word in some judicial ears. Never mind that there is supposed to be separation of the law and the state - what's the point of our politicians finally getting off their well-padded bums and legislating suitably for this crime, when it's not being used?
I've had a gutfull of this type of behaviour by some members of society. It's time they were called to account.
If you would like to help one case please go to:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/chaine...d-to-death
and spread the word throughout the world!
Diana
Friday, February 19, 2010
AUSTRALIAN PUBLISHERS BEWARE!
Saturday 20th Feb, 2010
The other day a piece came on the news about Australian Publishers and how they've allowed themselves to fall behind the times. A bloke from Faber and Faber UK (I think it was) was giving a talk to a gang of publishers, agents - the usual suspects - at a conference and the news clip showed him telling them that ebooks loaded down onto Kindle and the like are the go. He said the paperback is safe, but they have to get their acts together and move with the times. (Hurrah!)
What he didn't say and what I believe is that the resistance of publishing companies to take on new authors is killing them. I know from trawling bookstores (and haunting the library) over the years, that few people give a flying fuck about who wrote a book. Sure, they'll search out their favourite authors - who doesn't? - but if a cover looks interesting and the blurb on the back sucks them in, they'll likely as not buy it, borrow it or steal it.
The reading public in the final analysis don't care that a new author has written a book. They'll read it and if they enjoy it they may or may not, look at the name of the author!!!
So this crap about not taking on new authors because no one will buy their novel is just, IMO, an excuse not to put themselves and their marketing team to any trouble or expense over a new author. Sooner or later, the "old" authors are going to kark it, and then what will they do? Hold lengthy seances?
My rant for the day!!
I nearly wasn't going to write this next piece, but it suddenly came over me as something I need to say.
Today would be my brother's birthday - if he had not died in 2002 of a massive heart attack.
He was one of those men who is always lean and active. The sort who can eat cream cakes for years and not get fat. He played competition tennis all his life, was a fabulously green-fingered gardener, loved animals and was a terrific husband and father. Okay he was 70, but one wouldn't have known it on casual acquaintance.
We were both adopted, Robert when he was a baby and me when I was just over two. He was 12 years older than I, so I didn't get to know him until I was in my teens. I'm sorry I didn't know him sooner, but we were both incarcerated in boarding school.
Robert went on to become a Prefect and Head Boy.
The December before he died, my sister-in-law Glenda rang and asked Andrew and I to join Robert and herself in a unit on Queensland's Gold Coast for a week, we'd go halves in the cost. We did, and it was the most wonderful time I've ever had. We didn't do much. Andrew and Robert walked along the beach in the mornings, we wandered the shops, went for drives up into the mountains. When the week was up, we all came back to Boonah where we lived on a small farm with chooks, dogs, Scottish Highland cattle and our mouse circus. We spent another week driving over southeast Queensland, talking and enjoying each others company. Again, a time I shall treasure.
That was in March. In July Robert dropped dead, literally out of his chair one Sunday lunchtime, while he was having a cup of tea. Glenda said she was sure he was dead before he hit the floor. He'd been persuaded to go to the doctor the next morning because he'd had shortness of breath and a chronic soft cough. What is it about men that they always have to be "persuaded" to go to the doctor? We women run screaming there over everything!
I am so grateful that God chose to take my dear brother that way and remember him with the greatest affection.
Diana
The other day a piece came on the news about Australian Publishers and how they've allowed themselves to fall behind the times. A bloke from Faber and Faber UK (I think it was) was giving a talk to a gang of publishers, agents - the usual suspects - at a conference and the news clip showed him telling them that ebooks loaded down onto Kindle and the like are the go. He said the paperback is safe, but they have to get their acts together and move with the times. (Hurrah!)
What he didn't say and what I believe is that the resistance of publishing companies to take on new authors is killing them. I know from trawling bookstores (and haunting the library) over the years, that few people give a flying fuck about who wrote a book. Sure, they'll search out their favourite authors - who doesn't? - but if a cover looks interesting and the blurb on the back sucks them in, they'll likely as not buy it, borrow it or steal it.
The reading public in the final analysis don't care that a new author has written a book. They'll read it and if they enjoy it they may or may not, look at the name of the author!!!
So this crap about not taking on new authors because no one will buy their novel is just, IMO, an excuse not to put themselves and their marketing team to any trouble or expense over a new author. Sooner or later, the "old" authors are going to kark it, and then what will they do? Hold lengthy seances?
My rant for the day!!
I nearly wasn't going to write this next piece, but it suddenly came over me as something I need to say.
Today would be my brother's birthday - if he had not died in 2002 of a massive heart attack.
He was one of those men who is always lean and active. The sort who can eat cream cakes for years and not get fat. He played competition tennis all his life, was a fabulously green-fingered gardener, loved animals and was a terrific husband and father. Okay he was 70, but one wouldn't have known it on casual acquaintance.
We were both adopted, Robert when he was a baby and me when I was just over two. He was 12 years older than I, so I didn't get to know him until I was in my teens. I'm sorry I didn't know him sooner, but we were both incarcerated in boarding school.
Robert went on to become a Prefect and Head Boy.
The December before he died, my sister-in-law Glenda rang and asked Andrew and I to join Robert and herself in a unit on Queensland's Gold Coast for a week, we'd go halves in the cost. We did, and it was the most wonderful time I've ever had. We didn't do much. Andrew and Robert walked along the beach in the mornings, we wandered the shops, went for drives up into the mountains. When the week was up, we all came back to Boonah where we lived on a small farm with chooks, dogs, Scottish Highland cattle and our mouse circus. We spent another week driving over southeast Queensland, talking and enjoying each others company. Again, a time I shall treasure.
That was in March. In July Robert dropped dead, literally out of his chair one Sunday lunchtime, while he was having a cup of tea. Glenda said she was sure he was dead before he hit the floor. He'd been persuaded to go to the doctor the next morning because he'd had shortness of breath and a chronic soft cough. What is it about men that they always have to be "persuaded" to go to the doctor? We women run screaming there over everything!
I am so grateful that God chose to take my dear brother that way and remember him with the greatest affection.
Diana
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Great Rat and Mouse Show
Sunday was a very exciting day for me! As some will be aware, I am the official judge of the mice at the Queensland Fancy Rat & Mouse Club and the 7th Feb was the first show for the year.
It rained on Saturday, absolutely pissed down and then again on Saturday night. BY Sunday morning we had 28mls in our raingauge - ir what is left of it after the Major Mitchell cockatoos had finished with it.They're the big white ones with yellow crests and there are about 10 of them living in the area. One of the them has obviously been a pet at some stage, and it stands in the tree outside shouting "Hello!" Of course I answer him and we conduct a rather limited bonding session the morning it comes around :)
Anyway I digress.
We left for the show very early because we have 1.5 hours to drive there, but it was pouring rain when we arrived. One of the rat judges and his wife were there, and had opened the hall so we stood like wet chooks under the porch, waiting to see if anyone else would turn up. Fortunately people started to trickle in late, because of slow traffic and in the end a large number of people turned up, around 12 of which were visitors. Some of them already had rats and were contemplating joining the club, others didn't and wanted to know all about rodents. They came to right place!
Lee, the aforementioned rat judge gave a talk about rats in general and demonstrated how to give medicine to a rat without fighting. The rat he selected was well taught - or bribed - and behaved itself perfectly.
Then a girl from the club said a couple of words about mice.
The judging went well, although we only two mice breeders come. A gorgeous Siamese mouse called Olivia got Champion Mouse in Show. The rats were superb, lots of them - big squishy males, sprightly females - a manx, some hairless - all of them gorgeous!
The journey home was hot and sticky and we were stuffed by the time we fell through our door.
We were just recovering today when the electricty account arrived - $310 for three months! That caused a relapse from which we won't recover until it's safel;y paid :(
WOuld you believe in Queensland it costs $600+ to register a 6 cyclinder car, over $1000 o register a V-8 (which is what our Landrover was when we had it)!
Bloody hell.
Tomorrow I am holding a writing tutorial on behalf of U3A. Two ladies have booked in, so I hope I can impart some sane thoughts to them! At the moment, I have forgotten where I put the book I used to record their names - Duuuuuuuuuuuuh, so they will have to introduce themselves all over again. Makes me look and feel like a dork. Perhaps I can plead a geriatric moment?
Best to all,
Diana
It rained on Saturday, absolutely pissed down and then again on Saturday night. BY Sunday morning we had 28mls in our raingauge - ir what is left of it after the Major Mitchell cockatoos had finished with it.They're the big white ones with yellow crests and there are about 10 of them living in the area. One of the them has obviously been a pet at some stage, and it stands in the tree outside shouting "Hello!" Of course I answer him and we conduct a rather limited bonding session the morning it comes around :)
Anyway I digress.
We left for the show very early because we have 1.5 hours to drive there, but it was pouring rain when we arrived. One of the rat judges and his wife were there, and had opened the hall so we stood like wet chooks under the porch, waiting to see if anyone else would turn up. Fortunately people started to trickle in late, because of slow traffic and in the end a large number of people turned up, around 12 of which were visitors. Some of them already had rats and were contemplating joining the club, others didn't and wanted to know all about rodents. They came to right place!
Lee, the aforementioned rat judge gave a talk about rats in general and demonstrated how to give medicine to a rat without fighting. The rat he selected was well taught - or bribed - and behaved itself perfectly.
Then a girl from the club said a couple of words about mice.
The judging went well, although we only two mice breeders come. A gorgeous Siamese mouse called Olivia got Champion Mouse in Show. The rats were superb, lots of them - big squishy males, sprightly females - a manx, some hairless - all of them gorgeous!
The journey home was hot and sticky and we were stuffed by the time we fell through our door.
We were just recovering today when the electricty account arrived - $310 for three months! That caused a relapse from which we won't recover until it's safel;y paid :(
WOuld you believe in Queensland it costs $600+ to register a 6 cyclinder car, over $1000 o register a V-8 (which is what our Landrover was when we had it)!
Bloody hell.
Tomorrow I am holding a writing tutorial on behalf of U3A. Two ladies have booked in, so I hope I can impart some sane thoughts to them! At the moment, I have forgotten where I put the book I used to record their names - Duuuuuuuuuuuuh, so they will have to introduce themselves all over again. Makes me look and feel like a dork. Perhaps I can plead a geriatric moment?
Best to all,
Diana
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