Georgia beware, Putin's gonna get ya

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has announced that he cannot rule out another war with Georgia as long as President Mikheil Saakashvilli remains in power. He issued the warning stating that Georgia should think twice about attempting to retake two rebel regions by force; reminding them (and the public) of last year's brutal war.

On home soil the sad news of the deaths of those on board the plane which crashed in PNG hurts the nation. An investigation has been ordered to determine the cause of the crash.

Darwin has taken the spotlight this week in a bid to welcome the alien forms to our shores. Set to become a UFO hot spot, Acacia Hills, just south of Darwin has reported various sightings. I'm all for believing and plan on watching District 9 just for a bit of background.

And finally; le francais est furieux! An angry Russian lady (must be the war issue upsetting her) has hurled a cup of tea at the Mona Lisa! Thankfully Mona's bullet proof glass screen protected her ever lasting smirk and the Russian tea-freak was escorted out of the Louvre. Non non non!

Loving:

(Beni Hana tricks and treats)

(The unscathed Mona Lisa)

RIP Sam

I am sad because Sam the bush fire koala died this week. The poor little lady fought and fought but was eventually put down due to an illness common in koalas. She was a symbol of the terrible tragedy and many will mourn. Her bandaged feet made global headlines and brought a brief but welcomes interlude to the death, violence and trauma that usually dominates the press.

New developments in the Madeleine McCann case have aired with a witness coming forward saying a suspicious conversation had taken place between himself and a female who in the witnesses words is a "Posh Beckham look alike". While the witness allegedly claims to have spoken with the woman who asked for her "new daughter" there is little else to support that the cases are related. What's more interesting is that no one seems to have noticed the witness has defamed Posh Beckham by comparing her to a kidnapping suspect. Not entirely sure whether VB looks anything like the woman in the photo either...for a start, she's missing the pob.

On the lighter side, a toddler has wiped out all of the Gen Y stereotypes by jumping online and bidding on a piece of earth moving equipment. The three year old girl had snuck onto the computer and successfully bid $NZ 20 000 and won! Wait... aren't those toys for boys?

Loving:

(Ferris wheels and ferris music - joy)

(Hot air balloons and how they float so peacefully from a distance)

Blooper or bad parenting?

Commercial radio 'shock' jock Kyle Sandilands is back in the headlines today after an incident during a live show this morning. The radio show's 'lie detector' segment calls for parents to hook their children up to a lie detector and quiz them on topics which they obviously can't lie about, live on air.

A mother daughter pair signed up for the segment, although the daughter sounds like she didn't want to be there in the first place. The mother then quizzes her daughter on wagging school and then her sexual experiences. At this point the daughter clearly states that she has told her mother the story and after slight hesitation exclaims she was raped when she was 12. Of course this took both the DJs and the mother by surprise.

But the situation escalated when Kyle followed up the statement with another question about the incident being the girl's only sexual relation. For most people this is the biggest scandal. But, the mother who then freely admits knowing about her daughter's rape had no hesitation in asking her daughter a sexual experience related question. Which in my eyes is pretty insensitive and stupid.

Honestly though; is this an issue of reaction, or simply a situation where a mother should have known better than to:

a) publicly ask her daughter about her sexual relations (knowing she's been raped);

b) put her daughter on a lie detector test on radio in the first place; and

c) admit to not helping her daughter get counselling following the rape.

I think everyone should carefully consider what happened on the show and then decide what the real shock is...blooper or bad parenting?

Also making news today - some justice! John Caratozzolo was jailed for 15 years (minimum 10) today for the murder of Zhongjun Cao early last year in Melbourne. Dr. Cao was walking home when he was attached by the group who appeared to beat him to death for fun.

On a more inspirational note, miniature ponies are now being used across the USA to act as guide-animals for the blind. According to reports the ponies have much longer life spans and are far more stable for people with mobility issues.

Loving:

(Writing with a freshly sharpened pencil.)

(NYC memories.)

Oh Wow...lovely...

Loving:



(Cassie from Skins; brutally honest, concerning, weird but...lovely. Cassie: "In some ways I love everything. It’s less…less of a thing than like, less distinct, less particular. I like things that I like, but I love everything. There’s more choice in like, because even the worse things have things to love in them.")

It's nakey time...

The world's greatest news story surfaced today. Farmers in India have asked their unmarried daughters to plow parched fields wearing nothing but their birthday suits in hopes it will embarrass the weather gods and bring some badly needed monsoon rains. Awkward......but hilarious (and hopefully successful).

On home soil, our PM has called for young people to accept whatever job they can get. While the economy smooths out its 'bumps' Gen Y is being told to be less snobby about work choices and be grateful for any job offer. Would you like fries with that?

Virgin Blue has hit it's own speed bump today when one of its planes lost a wheel while taxiing in Melbourne. A spokesperson has confirmed the aircraft has been fixed and the rest of the fleet checked for similar issues. According to the company it was 'fortunate' the incident occurred on the ground and not mid-flight which would have led to the loss of an aircraft. I would imagine happy hour prices will be quite lovely to Melbourne this week; although I would take a helmet should any freak wheels fly from the sky.

Unfortunately Russia has this week said no deal to anymore Kangaroo meat imports sparking concern about a jump in growth of skippy numbers. According to reports Russia took almost 70% of Australia's kangaroo meat exports and culling quotas will not longer be achievable.

Loving:

(Mid afternoon red apples)

Amber and blue

Loving:

(GC sunsets)

Authority in question

I am furious. Like, deeply, blood boiling, mind racingly furious.

Why?

Dangerous Liaisons.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission has set out the results of it's Operation Capri in a report entitled Dangerous Liaisons. But the report details narrate more like a cheap soap opera than reality, throwing into question the legitimacy of our authorities.

The facts state that 25 policemen are described to have been paying convicted criminal (murder, rape) Lee Henderson in return for information. Furthermore other prisoners have been taken on excursion for ruthless romps, illicit injections and fancy feasts; all presumably on our tax dollars.

With little real repercussions or hype the report appears to have sunk into the background of the media's attention and therefore little notice has been taken by the public. We can't ignore the gravity of the issue at hand; when a society has little faith in its authority, those installed to retain security and peace, it is almost surely heading towards demise.

Loving:

( Luna Lovegood in HP's latest movie. "A Wrackspurt - they're invisible, they float in through your ears and make your brain go fuzzy," she said. "I thought I felt one zooming around in here." PS. Sick head wear Luns)

(David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu in Australia)