The traditional use of suburban backyards for weddings, cricket matches, children’s parties and barbecues is under threat. Only the very wealthy in the inner city and those living in country towns look like having large backyards by 2020. NSW State Planning estimates an extra 82,600 houses will be needed in the middle suburbs by 2020, … Continue reading Backyard Blues

Susan Smith, 18, died instantly, and another girl is injured, both passengers in a car that hit a pole and overturned at Glenelg last night. Police report the car as travelling the wrong way in Ringer Street, with speed and risky driving other possible factors. The male driver has been released from hospital after being … Continue reading One Way To Tragedy

I marvelled at how no one was complaining. Usually, when the trains run late, that was the only topic of discussion among the passengers. Today, November 14, 2005, Brisbane got a little taste of terrorism, and nobody was saying anything. It had started earlier in the day. The lunch time trains and buses had been … Continue reading Train Of Thought

The virus was spread by birds. Twenty-five million people died. First, it infected the pigs, where the virus could mutate. Then it infected the humans. Eighteen months after appearing, the virus vanished completely. Sound like a projection of the possible devastation of the current bird flu threat? Maybe an extract from Stephen King’s apocalyptic novel … Continue reading The Birds That Flu

NOTICE OF REVOCATION OF INDEPENDENCE November 8 2000 To the citizens of the United States of America, In the light of your failure to elect a competent President of the USA, and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective today. Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will … Continue reading John Cleese Letter to USA (November 2000)