This week's compendium

Here’s this week’s compendium. This week…

1. I read that the last roll of Kodachrome film had been processed [1]. A poignant historical milestone.

2. the comeback announced by Ian Thorpe, Australia’s most successful Olympian, was marred by rank commercialism [2]. I’d have been astounded if it hadn’t been.

3. Cyclone Yasi caused Queensland Premier Anna Bligh to label the Port Hinchinbrook development ‘like a war zone’ [3a]. Sorry, but I’ m unsympathetic – for this reason [3b].

4. the Sydney Peace Foundation awarded Julian Asssange its gold medal for ‘Peace with Justice’. He’s only the fourth recipient in the Foundation’s 14-year history [4] And WikiLeaks has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. How WikiLeaks has advanced Peace by even one jot, is beyond my ken.

5. the US government announced a 2010 update of its 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans [5]. There’s nothing unexpected or revolutionary in the update. But it’s worth reading.

6. the journal Gut reported Japanese research concluding that a dog can sniff out bowel cancer in breath and stool samples, with a very high degree of accuracy – even in the early stages of the disease [6]. Well if dogs can sniff out truffles…

7. the Fox family owned transport group Linfox has revealed plans to employ 500 indigenous Australians over the next two years [7]. A win-win plan, hopefully. Good on you for this, Linfox.

8. I read of a new train in China that travels 1,000 km in three hours. It’s the fastest train in the world [8]. Where the bloody hell are you, Australia?

Finally, I wish you, dear Farmdoc’s Blog readers, a wonderful week.