So your kids are into games on the computer?

And you are getting concerned about it...

Have a look at this blog post by Gary Hayes
http://www.personalizemedia.com/index.php/2007/07/05/the-games-universe/
to his blog I add this:
not only are games not what they used to be but the industry behind them
is not what it used to be and is a strong competitor for every
publishing media from print to broadcast and movies.

There is also the aspect of the experiencial dimension of the web (what
some including gary call Web3.0) which the children of our children will
look back on in the same way our kids look at having to go to a cinema
to see a movie - something their grandparents did...

We are well and truly into the Information age (and I suspect that
before long there will be an age of scarcity or at least conservation)
which will be mediated not by the media we understand today but new
versions being that are in the embrionic stages today.

Quadrapop tree in SL

Yes, that is true... the Tree now has a branch in Second Life. And that may well be a big part of why I haven't posed here in a while.

So, if you are in world pop past and see what is on the walls or displayed around the place: Quadrapop Tree, Pelinor (145, 145, 50).

If you don't know what the h*ll I'm on about then we shall return you to your regular scheduled programming....

Or you can go check out the Second Life webpage. Careful SL can become addictive;-)

TED - Technology, Entertainment, Design - great talks on all sorts

http://www.ted.com/index.php/pages/view/id/5

worth browsing through their list of talks on line

inspiring and informative - a mix of doco and uni lecture/presentation

eg http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/141

Enjoy....

online cardweaving/tablet weaving simulator

http://www.theloomybin.com/cw/index.html

thanks to my photography friend at Archeon for the link

M de H

The SCA: what to expect, or, I’m interested, now what’s it all about?

The following is an article I wrote for the April Issue of The Rhol -
the newsletter for the Canton of Abertridwr
<http://www.sca.org.au/abertridwr/WebMain.html>:

What do we do?
The following article seeks to outline the various and diverse
activities undertaken by members of the SCA. Most people try a few and
settle on a those that strike their fancy or skills. Over the years many
will attempt them all.

Guilds
Most of the activities that folks get up to within the SCA are covered
by a Guild or Company. If you are interested in joining a Guild (it's
not necessary to do so to practice or engage in most activities) there
are some entry requirements. Usually you need to display a basic working
knowledge of the area of interest (not too hard if you are already
interested in the subject).
Guilds hold competitions to encourage involvement and honour those who
display excellence. Their members are knowledgeable folk who readily
answer questions and share resources regarding their topics of interest.

Arts & Sciences
Most of these activities can be done in the company of others at
training, Arts & Sciences meeting, or whilst attending other events, but
then again, many of the activities enjoyed by members are time consuming
or engaging (not to mention requiring bulky or specialist equipment) and
often need to be done outside of group activities. The SCA is not the
kind of group, club or association where you can only do it during
events, there is plenty of homework and self directed research and
application. Unsurprisingly this pastime often becomes a way of life
and, in many, inspires a passion for history.
There is a rare form of satisfaction involved in working out how
something was done 700 years ago from scraps of information one has
gleaned from many sources and experimented with till one can recreate a
reasonable example.
Abertridwr holds Arts & Science (A&S) days on the 3rd Saturday of the
month at Kane & Rhianwen's house in Willagee, and Aneala holds A&S
evenings every Tuesday evening at UWA.

People & jargon
Then there is the social side, the SCA is full of geeks of every stripe,
from sport to technology, from musical to culinary. The variety of
people is such that you are bound to find someone with similar interests
to your own.
There will be some in game jargon to learn, as with all specialty
activities. The SCA's jargon tends to be more obvious as it is
recreating a very different age and intrudes on areas that another sport
or craft would not. Chivalry and courtesy are central to our
interpersonal interactions. Polite greetings of "Good Day My lord" or
"Good Day My Lady" to those you meet helps to create the impression of
no longer being in the 21st Century, as does keeping discussion of out
of game matters to a minimum during costumed events.
If you see someone with a coronet or to whom others are bowing it would
be courteous to do the same as these people will probably be either the
Baron or Baroness and may be politely addressed as "Your Excellency".
Any Lord wearing a white belt will be a 'belted knight' and will be
known as Sir 'Someone'.The guys wearing red belts are their squires.
There is one big difference between the SCA and many of the other
recreation (or living history groups) we don't expect newcomers to have
all the kit to begin with before they start to play. A t-tunic, cloth
bag, clay mug, bowl and wooden spoon may be all you need to happily
engage in SCA activities for years (and you are not even expected to
have those for your first event, we have loaner garb and gear to tide
you over), but very few people go to more than an event or two before
they find they have acquired or are making a number of other items to
add to their feasting box, wardrobe and equipment.
The more you put into this interest the more you will get out of it - a
reminder to both new and old members.

Dressing up
As most events are "in garb" getting dressed up is one thing we all do.
How dressed up is up to the individual's ability or interest, though at
least some attempt at pre-17th century dress is encouraged.
Thus at most events you will see folks in everything from simple
T-tunics over trousers to hand sewn high Elizabethan costume recreating
a garment from a royal portrait (well, usually at least some ladies will
be in bespoke bodices and big skirts and some men might be in tights or
braes). Head coverings are a good idea as most cultures during Period
required the well dressed to wear something on their heads. This will
range from a simple head wrap or straw hat to fancy floppy things with
feathers and beads. It all depends of the wearer's persona, culture, or
ability. Wearing hats is a good idea as most of us can then dispense
with the mundane dark glasses to survive Abertridwr's bright sunshine.
Shoes will range from simple sandals or strong boots (usually on
fighters) to handmade turnshoes or boots made either by the wearer or
bought or bartered form another re-enactor whose specialty is making
shoes. If it is chilly most folk will add a warm cloak to their
ensemble, this may be a plain dark wool blanket fastened with a clasp a
la Anglo Saxon or Viking or it might be a beautifully embroidered velvet
silk lined hooded court cloak (though I don't think I've seen one of the
latter outside of Rowany Festival (a camping event held over Easter in
NSW) during a cold court ;-).

Costuming
If you are into sewing and making costumes you will be in seventh
heaven.As there are so many styles and cultures covered by the SCA's
period, you are bound to find something to suit your taste. Everything
from simple linen (or a close approximation) tunics to highly beaded and
embroidered bodices or houpelands. If sewing is your thing you will
probably end up with lots of fabrics (if you don't already have a
cupboard full) and a number of projects on the go at once (or not,
depending on your approach to sewing and making costumes).
If sewing is really not your thing, don't despair, talk to one of the
folk sitting and sewing at the event and ask around for help - someone
will be more than willing to help turn your material into a tunic or
dress, especially if you have at least some idea of pattern, period or
culture. Busy bees and Arts & Science days are good times to ask for
advice and see what others are doing.

Embroidery
Handy with a needle and thread? There is the Worshipful Company of
Broiderers <http://www.sca.org.au/broiderers/index.htm> to join. If you
want specky decorated garb and accessories that will win prizes in Arts
& Sciences competitions you will need to embroider it yourself or make
borders by weaving in some manner. At events though, you will notice
that most folks use machine made trim in appropriate colours and
materials (or at least a good approximation there of). Stitch and Bitch
is held during A&S meets and many a lady is seen during training or
tourneys with some sewing on her lap. And not a few of the men too;-)

Fighting
This is what a lot of folks think the SCA is all about, but I'm sorry
fighters: it isn't the be all and end all... fighters still need to be
dressed appropriately when not fighting and to eat period style foods at
feasts, and the belts and swords they earn the right to wear are made by
someone. OK, so heavy fighting (or being a heavy fighter's consort -
male or female) is the only way to one day be King or Queen but you can
gain kudos in other ways too.
All SCA groups from Shire to Barony hold training sessions for the
various fighters. There are 3 kinds, with both men and women taking part
in all: heavy (you get to wear a padded gambeson under at least minimal
metal armour and helmet - there are several loaner suits available and
more in the pipeline) and hit similarly armoured people with rattan and
tape swords (bastard, one handed, two handed, axe, pole arm etc); light
(usually only seen at war training or war scenarios) which includes
combat archers and who get to wear minimal metal armour too; and rapier
(you get to wear a padded gambeson or similar and a fencing mask) and
fight in the round with metal or fibre glass blades with safety tips.
Armouring in Abertridwr mostly takes place at Bastion (come along to an
open house or A&S Saturday) but there are members spread across the
southern metropolitan area who have an interest in arms and armouring.
(And more north of the Swan River...)
Safety is a big thing in the styles of fighting you will experience in
the SCA. All training and tourneys are supervised by authorised
marshals. If you ever hear 'HOLD' during training or a tourney stop what
you are doing and look to the person who yelled, as there is a safety issue.
Training for both Aneala and Abertridwr is on Sundays for all forms of
combat. Aneala in the morning at Lake Monger and Abertridwr in the
afternoon at South Fremantle High School (See the map on the Regular
event's page) unless there is some other event on that day.

Archery
We have both target and combat archery opportunities. You can use modern
recurve bows, but the arrows are all wooden shafted with feather
fletching and, if used in combat, have special rubber 'blunts' instead
of points.
Archery training is held at Lake Monger on Sunday mornings when there
are enough archers and archery marshals.

Cooking
We all have to eat. Medieval food isn't all boiled cabbage and rancid
meat - that's a Hollywood invention. Some of the tastiest dishes I've
eaten have been at SCA feasts.
Cooks 'redact' or recreate recipes from medieval descriptions or
'recipes' that read very differently from modern recipes. It can be
challenging to find the ingredients or to work out what is meant, or the
measures involved. There are many recipes available already converted
for modern kitchens and available ingredients. Try looking on the Lochac
Cooks Guild <http://www.sca.org.au/cooks/Pages/Links/recipes.htm>
webpage or search through Stefan's Florilegium
<http://www.florilegium.org/> (this is a useful link for many aspects of
the SCA)
The Cook's Guild meets monthly in Abertridwr at Kilic's house in
Cannington, contact Rhianwen for dates, venue and focus dishes.

Brewing
What to drink? Small beer, beer, cider, spirits, cordials... all kinds
of brewing is done by members of the Barony and Canton. The results of
their labours are often part of feasts and prize tables. The Brewer's
Vintner's and Imbiber's Guild meets intermittently - if at all
interested in making or tasting of their wares contact Creag at
ghilander@arach.net.au for dates etc.

Performing
If the performing arts are your thing, then look no further than the
Bardic Guild. All forms of performance: storytelling, poetry, singing
(singly or in groups), instrumental, and plays are covered by this Guild.
What sort of music? Madrigals, plainsong, and some traditional pieces
are the mainstay. Researching medieval music and performance is
interesting due to the lack of written evidence - but that's all part of
the challenge. To get you started there are a number of madrigals and
other songs collected into song books available on the web: an example
is the Rowany Festival Songbook
<http://www.sca.org.au/rowany/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=68&func=fileinfo&id=10>
from AS XL. The local bards meet on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday evenings of
the month at the Aneala A&S evening at UWA.

Dancing
The Dancers have their own Guild: The Guild of the Silver Rondel. Most
dances are done in groups of pairs and involve fairly easily learnt
footwork. Dancing practice is once a month at Aneala A&S night at UWA
and is available if there is interest at Abertridwr training on Sunday
afternoons.

Illumination
If drawing or calligraphy is of interest you will not be disappointed in
the opportunities available to learn and share your passion. Two Guilds
cover this area The Painter's and Limner's Guild
(http://www.sca.org.au/peyntlimners/) and The Scribe's Guild

http://www.sca.org.au/scribe/). Weekly meetings will recommence once
Branwen is back in town. Contact Rhianwen for details.

Gaming
No, not RPGs (though a number of our membership indulge in this outside
of SCA) nor do we run a betting shop! What I am talking about here are
the many old and interesting board, card, field and children's games
that have survived to the modern day and some that did not, but are none
the less played by our membership. Everything from Chess to Dice games,
Alqurque to Nine Men's Morris and an evil game called Tablero.
There are several feasting/tavern events held during the year at which
many games will be played. Look out for the infamous Whyte Horse Tavern...

Heraldry
Want to know what the symbols of the banners and flags mean? And why
some folk have their symbols on their shields and others don't? Have a
loud voice and a flare for talking forsoothly? Then Heraldry could be
for you! The Heralds are the people with the green tabards and booming
voices at the tourney calling every one to Court, or the person who
comes around at 8am at a camping event loudly proclaiming that breakfast
will be over in half an hour so you'd best move along...
The College of Heralds are the ones who will pass or turn down your name
and device registrations and your local herald is the person who can
helps you make a submission.

Speaking of names...
So why does everyone you meet have a weird unpronounceable name? This is
mostly because it helps us to separate the 'in game' from the
'mundane'... and this also aids in playing a medieval persona at events.
The SCA covers cultures and languages, from Norse to Middle Eastern and
beyond, through 1000+ years of history so naming conventions,
pronunciation and spelling are (unsurprisingly) diverse.
When choosing your Society name take your time and do some research
about the culture or time period which interests you - or the people
during period who engaged in your favourite SCA activity. What were they
called and why? Beware, though you can change your Society name as often
as you like, you may end up being known by the first name you chose...
Choosing a name is a wonderful way to end up learning a lot about your
chosen persona's time, place and culture... or even as a way of creating
a persona - pick a name and find out who would have been likely to have
that name and why.

But wait, there's more...
I could go on for pages with tips and information on the many areas of
SCA activity that I have not so far mentioned (like gardening,
metalworking, jewellery, leatherwork, spinning, weaving etc), but space
is limited and you will have fun finding most of it out for yourself - I
know I did in the first years of being in the Society.

Yours in Service to the Dream,
Maria of Heybridge

160 Books for Boys

http://tinyurl.com/2fzxxp

A curious list of books for boys generated who knows how in the UK and was published yesterday by the UK Education Secretary and reported in The Times Online. It is aimed at secondary school aged boys ie 11+. The list appears to be grouped into catagories...

1. The Top 10 of Everything 2007 by Russell Ash, Hamlyn (2008 edition available in the autumn)

2. Strange Powers of the Human Mind (Forbidden Truths) by Herbie Brennan, Faber

3. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, Black Swan,

4. I Know You Got Soul by Jeremy Clarkson, Penguin

5. Guinness Book of Records 2007, Guinness (2008 edition available in the autumn)

6. 101 Things You Need To Know (And Some You Don’t) by Richard Horne, Bloomsbury

7. 101 Things To Do Before You’re Old and Boring by Richard Horne, Bloomsbury

8. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! by Robert LeRoy Ripley, Century

9. The Boys’ Book; How to be the Best at Everything by Guy McDonald, Buster Books

10. Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food by Eric Schlosser, Puffin

11. How to Spot a Hadrosaur in a Bus Queue by Andy Seed, Hodder

12. How to Avoid a Wombat’s Bum by Mitchell Symons, Doubleday

13. Why Don’t Penguins’ Feet Freeze? by Mick O'Hare, Profile Books

14. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, Macmillan

15. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, Puffin

16. King Solomon’s Mines by H Rider Haggard, Penguin

17. Northern Lights (His Dark Materials) by Philip Pullman, Scholastic

18. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Bloomsbury

19. Kidnapped (adapted by) Alan Grant, Barrington Stoke

20. Treasure Island by R L Stevenson, Bloomsbury

21. The Hobbit by J RR Tolkien, HarperCollins

22. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Penguin

23. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Penguin

24. Like Father Like Son by Tony Bradman (ed), Kingfisher

25. Unreal! by Paul Jennings, Puffin

26. Flight by Kazu Kibuishi, Image Comics

27. One Beastly Beast by Garth Nix, HarperCollins

28. The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, Puffin

29. It Was A Dark and Silly Night by Art Spiegelman, HarperCollins

30. Scientific Progress Goes Boink (Calvin and Hobbes) by Bill Watterson, Time Warner

31. Talking Turkeys by Bejamin Zephaniah, Puffin

32. Arthur and the Invisibles by Luc Besson, Faber

33. The Spellgrinder’s Apprentice by N M Browne, Bloomsbury

34. The Forgotten Spell (Spellcaster Gamebooks) by Louisa Dent, Wizard Books

35. Castle of Wizardry (The Belgariad) by David Eddings, Corgi

36. Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke, Chicken House

37. Mirrormask by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, Bloomsbury

38. Samurai (Saint of Dragons) by Jason Hightman, HarperCollins

39. Blade of Fire (The Icemark Chronicles) by Stuart Hill, Chicken House

40. Eldest by Christopher Paolini, Corgi

41. Clash of the Sky Galleons (The Edge Chronicles) by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell, Doubleday

42. Bloodsong by Melvin Burgess, Puffin

43. The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer, Puffi

44. Small-Minded Giants by Oisin McGann, Corgi

45. Takedown by Graham Marks, Catnip

46. Jango (Noble Warriors) by William Nicholson, Egmont

47. Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (Maximum Ride) by James Patterson, Headline

48. A Darkling Plain (Mortal Engines Quartet) by Philip Reeve, Scholastic

49. Storm Thief by Chris Wooding, Scholastic

50. Darkside by Tom Becker, Scholastic

51. The Spook’s Secret (Wardstone Chronicles) by Joseph Delaney, Bodley Head

52. The Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven, Doubleday

53. Coraline by Neil Gaiman, Bloomsbury

54. Setting of a Cruel Sun (The Lost Souls Stories) by Alan Gibbons, Orion

55. Nightrise (Power of Five) by Anthony Horowitz, Walker

56. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy, HarperCollins

57. Breathe by Cliff McNish, Orion

58. Devil for Sale by E E Richardson, Barrington Stoke

59. The Intruders by E E Richardson, Corgi

60. Blood Beast (Demonata) by Darren Shan, HarperCollins

61. Crazy Creatures (Reality Check) by Gillian Arbuthnott, Barrington Stoke

62. The Fighting Pit (Bear Kingdom) by Michael Coleman, Orchard

63. Flanimals of the Deep by Ricky Gervais

64. High Rhulain (Redwall) by Brian Jacques, Puffin

65. The Dark Portal (Deptford Mice) by Robin Jarvis, Hodder

66. Mouse Noses on Toast by Darren King, Faber

67. Soul Eater (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness) by Michelle Paver, Orion

68. Fall 1152 (Mouse Guard) by David Petersen, Archaia (Publication due in June)

69. Nathan Fox by L Brittney, Macmillan

70. Mines of the Minotaur (Companion’s Quartet) by Julia Golding, Oxford

71. The Ship Between the Worlds by Julia Golding, Oxford

72. The Black Book of Secrets by F E Higgins, Macmillan

73. Here There be Dragons (Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica) by James A Owen, Simon & Schuster

74. Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve, Scholastic

75. Larklight by Philip Reeve, Bloomsbury

76. Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan, Puffin

77. Physik (Septimus Heap) by Angie Sage, Bloomsbury

78. My Swordhand is Singing by Marcus Sedgwick, Orion

79. Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton, Puffin

80. Ptolemy’s Gate (Bartimaeus Trilogy) by Jonathan Stroud, Corgi

81. Bloodline by Kevin Brooks, Barrington Stoke

82. Johnny Delgado Like Father Like Son by Kevin Brooks, Barrington Stoke

83. Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer, Puffin

84. Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer, Puffin

85. Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce, Macmillan

86. Grk and the Hot Dog Trail by Joshua Doder, Andersen Press

87. Final Lap (Traces) by Malcolm Rose, Kingfisher

88. The Crime Lord (F.E.A.R. Adventures) by Jak Shadow, Wizard Books

89. Tins by Alex Shearer, Macmillan

90. Great Britain (Jack Stalwart) by Elizabeth Singer Hunt, Red Fox

91. The Curse of the Nightwolf (Barnaby Grimes) by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell, Doubleday

92. Montmorency’s Revenge by Eleanor Updale, Scholastic

93. The Obsidian Dagger (Horatio Lyle) by Catherine Webb, Atom

92. The Boy who was Wanted Dead or Alive – or both (Blart) by Dominic Barker, Bloomsbury

93. Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools by Philip Cavney, Bodley Head

94. The Moomy’s Curse (Cows in Action) by Steve Cole, Red Fox

95. Toonhead by Fiona Dunbar, Orchard

96. The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, Bloomsbury

97. So You Think You Know the Simpsons? by Clive Gifford, Hodder

98. It’s True You Can Make Your Own Jokes by Sharon Holt, Allen & Unwin

99. Ryan’s Brain (Jiggy McCue) by Michael Lawrence, Orchard

100. Measle and the Slitherghoul (Measle Stubbs Adventures) by Ian Ogilvy, OUP

101. Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People by Dav Pilkey, Scholastic

102. Urgum the Axe Man by Kjartan Poskitt, Scholastic

103. A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett, Doubleday

104. Zip’s Apollo by Philip Ridley, Puffin

105. The Great Cow Race (Bone) by Jeff Smith, Cartoon Books

106. Boy and Going Solo by Roald Dahl, Puffin

107. Once by Morris Gleitzman, Puffin

108. Crusade by Elizabeth Laird, Macmillan (Publication due in June)

109. Secrets of the Fearless by Elizabeth Laird, Macmillan

110. The Highwayman’s Footsteps by Nicola Morgan, Walker

111. Billy the Kid by Michael Morpurgo, Collins

112. Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo, HarperCollins

113. Rebel Cargo by James Riordan, Frances Lincoln

114. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Bodley Head

115. Divided City by Theresa Breslin, Corgi

116. Game Boy (4u2read.ok) by Alan Durant, Barrington Stoke

117. Stat Man (FYI) by Alan Durant, Barrington Stoke

118. Lady Friday (Keys to the Kingdom) by Garth Nix, HarperCollins

119. The Penalty by Mal Peet, Walker

120. Dream On by Bali Rai, Barrington Stoke

121. Goal 2: Living the Dream by Robert Rigby, Corgi

122. Agent Orange (Spy High) by A J Butcher, Atom

123. Sakkara (New Heroes) by Michael Carroll, HarperCollins

124. Jimmy Coates: Revenge by Joe Craig, HarperCollins

125. True Spy Stories (Usborne True Stories) by Paul Dowswell and Fergus Fleming, Spies (Publication due in June)

126. The Flight of the Silver Turtle by John Fardell, Faber

127. The Devil’s Breath by David Gilman, Puffin (Publication due in June)

128. Double or Die (Young Bond) by Charlie Higson, Puffin

129. Ark Angel (Alex Rider) by Anthony Horowitz, Walker

130. Meltdown (Special Agents) by Sam Hutton, HarperCollins

131. Deep Waters (Zac Power) by H I Larry, Egmont

132. The Fall (Cherub) by Robert Muchamore, Hodder

133. Deadline by John Townsend, Barrington Stoke

134. S.T.O.R.M. by E L Young, Macmillan

135. The Hand of the Devil by Dean Vincent Carter, Corgi

136. The Aztec Code by Steve Cole, Bloomsbury

137. Bunker 10 by J A Henderson, OUP

138. Sure Fire by Jack Higgins and Justin Richards, HarperCollins (Publication due in May)

139. Bloodbones (Fighting Fantasy) by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, Wizard Books

140. Troll Blood (Troll trilogy) by Katherine Langrish, HarperCollins

141. The Beast Within (Nemesis) by Catherine Macphail, Bloomsbury

142. Avenger (Boy Soldier) by Andy McNab, Corgi

143. Operation Typhoon Shore (Guild Trilogy) by Joshua Mowll, Walker

144. Boffin Boy and the Invaders from Space (Boffin Boy) by David Orme, Ransom

145. Time Runners: Freeze Framed (Time Runners) by Justin Richards, Simon & Schuster

146. Flash Flood (Code Red Adventures) by Chris Ryan, Red Fox

147. Book the Thirteenth: The End by Lemony Snicket, Egmont

148. The Web of Fire by Steve Voake, Faber

149. Smokescreen by Bernard Ashley, Usborne

150. Mutant (Gr8reads) by Theresa Breslin, Barrington Stoke

151. Being by Kevin Brooks, Puffin

152. Billy Elliot by Melvin Burgess, Chicken House

153. The Bone Room by Anne Cassidy, Barrington Stoke

154. Moon Man by David Donohue, Egmont

155. The Road of Bones by Anne Fine, Corgi

156. The Thing with Finn by Tom Kelly, Macmillan

157. Flush by Carl Hiaasen, Corgi

158. Under the Skin by Catherine Macphail, Barrington Stoke

159. Captives by Tom Pow, Corgi

160. BurnOut by Robert Swindells, Barrington Stoke

161. Case Closed by Gosho Aoyama, Gollancz

162. Help I’m a Classroom Gambler by Pete Johnson, Corgi

163. The Paradise Plot by Natasha Narayan, Egmont

164. The Inventors by Alexander Gordon Smith, Faber

165. Tide of Terror (Vampirates) by Justin Somper, Simon & Schuster

166. Running the Risk (Shapeshifter) by Ali Sparkes, OUP

167. H.I.V.E. (Higher Institute of Villainous Education) by Mark Walden, Bloomsbury

The Milkcrate Project

Discovered while out walking T to sleep... lots of nice music created in 24 hour sessions from objects that can fit in a single milkcrate, with computer aid of course. Thanks to New Music Up Late on ABC Classic fm for the inspiration. The particular session involved in the broadcast was this one. CDs of the sessions are $5 each... guess what I will be getting myself for my birthday?!

Woolstores Urban Decay, Fremantle

070412woolstoredecay
Originally uploaded by quadrapop.

some woolstores urban decay... I can remember when this was still a working warehouse for wool exports... it's now a hangout for homeless and skaters that is being encroached upon by its gradual redevelopment into expensive apartments, across the road and railway line from a working port with fortnightly exports of live sheep...

Fremantle, Western Australia

What Women Want party

Dear Friends and Supporters of Birth Reform,

Over the past 7 years I have given my heart and soul to reforming Australia's maternity system, with particular emphasis on women being able to choose the care of a known midwife (funded).

I have met/spoken to many politicians and bureaucrats across several states.

I have watched:

Both the Federal and State Governments refuse to provide assistance to private practicing midwives, despite funding indemnity to medical practitioners to the tune of hundreds of millions.

State Labor Governments by and large be very slow or refuse to facilitate women's choice and enable midwives to practice as they are educated and registered.

The Federal Government bring in amendments to Medicare Item No 16400 that enables RN's EN's (without midwifery qualifications) and Dr's (without obstetric training) to provide antenatal care to rural and remote women (a move unprecedented in health).

And all the while our interventions escalate and in my view women's positive experiences (and the view of mothering) are diminished.

I have had hope that a federal Labor Government would work with us to bring about major reform. In recent weeks I have less hope that this will happen without considerable pressure.

To date those of us that front politicians simply appeal to their good nature (despite compelling argument). We have nothing really to bargain with.

I have thought long and hard about forming a political party.

Nervously I announce that I plan to register a political party called What Women Want to contest senate seats and key marginal seats across Australia. The main aim will be to gather media attention and as much electoral support as possible in order to pressure the major parties to achieve key election promises (ie Medicare funding for midwives).

The Australian Electoral Commission requires 500 signed up members before a party can be registered.

I ask that you look at the website and consider joining.

www.whatwomenwant.org.au

We only have a couple of months to get 500 members so if you are supportive, please JOIN SOON!

Annual membership is $15 (in order to make it accessible). This fee is not even likely to meet the costs of registering candidates for the election (unless we get thousands of members).

The website reveals a 'feel for the party' there is a lot to do. I am hoping to recruit some passionate and skilled women in the coming weeks to help build on what's there.

I am approaching you as an individual and will not be seeking the support of either Maternity Coalition or Homebirth Australia in any way. Maternity Coalition and Homebirth Australia are apolitical organisations. Maternity Coalition and Homebirth Australia are not in a position (via their constitutions) to support any political party regardless of its aims.

Please pass this on far and wide

Yours sincerely

Justine Caines

Secretary – What Women Want
PO Box 625
SCONE NSW 2329
Ph: (02) 65453612
Fax: (02)65482902
Mob: 0408 210273
E-Mail: info@whatwomenwant. org.au
www.whatwomenwant.org.au

Tacit on why he is an optimist

I have to point to this  post by Tacit on LJ... I'm enjoying reading his entries on life the universe and most things....

How to be creative

(thanks to Gapingvoid via Stilgherian...)

How's that?! I actually included the link properly from my mail client;-)

Home ed on RN's new EdPod service

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/edpod/features/stories_temp/1859666.htm
originally broadcast on 26 July 2006
now available to download as one of RN's new EdPod special features.

penn radio programme

http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2007/02/and-in-time-it-took-to-say-that-neil.html

no dig garden 10 weeks on

061217ndg
Originally uploaded by quadrapop.

and we are about to harvest our first fruits. We have been using basll from the ndg for a few weeks now.

Looks like we are going to get pumpkins too!