This week's (Grand Prix) compendium

Here’s this week’s compendium. It’s devoted to the Australian F1 Grand Prix tomorrow afternoon. The event’s financially, environmentially and socially irresponsible. And the people involved with it are, well, judge for yourself:

1. Journalist Alan Attwood sets the scene – regarding the finances; and some people, notably Australian GP boss Ron Walker and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone [1]. QED.

2. The event’s official blog can’t spell Ecclestone’s name correctly [2]. And in the nine days since that post went up, it’s remained uncorrected. Who said petrol doesn’t cause brain damage.

3. Walker calls Ecclestone’s fee ‘wretched’ [3]. Who negotiated it? Walker, of course. How big’s the fee? The public doesn’t know – because the contract’s secret.

4. Tourism Australia [TA] has quantified the tourism flowon from Oprah Winfrey’s recent Australian odyssey [4]. Despite Walker prattling on for the last 18 years about the GP showcasing Melbourne, has TA ever quantified its tourism flowon? You know the answer. And the reason for it.

5. The government’s commissioned Ernst & Young to report on this year’s event [5]. What will it conclude? Whatever the government wants it to.

6. In a bid to save costs, and the event, Walker’s talking about relocating it to a permanent purpose-built venue [6]. Given accumulated losses of $253M since 1996, why's it taken 15 year for the penny to drop for Walker? Because it’s the taxpayers’ penny – that’s why.

7. Meanwhile Ecclestone, presumably realising the pressure the event’s under, will be in New York – not Melbourne – tomorrow [7]. If that’s not a kick in the guts for Walker and his cronies, I don’t know what is.

8. But never fear, readers dear, the GP’s on the comeback trail [8a]. Who said so? Oh the GP Corporation's CEO Andrew Westacott – the same man who, when asked about the 10,000 free tickets given to the corporate sector, said he didn’t have ‘an exact number’ [8b]

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

This week's compendium

Here’s this week’s compendium – belated and short, as being in Victoria’s thrown my schedule out of whack. This week…

1. actor Charlie Sheen (whether he’s Jewish or not) [1a] and Christian Dior head designer John Galliano [1b] added themselves to my list of anti-Semitic racist bigots. They joined notable luminaries Mikis Theodorakis [1c] and Mel Gibson [1d]. And also 23% of Australians [1e].

2. Alan Krinsky explained why ‘Much-maligned Israel still the pick of the Middle East [2]. I suppose it never hurts to state the bleeding obvious.

3. Bernie Ecclestone suggested artificial rain to liven up Formula 1 ‘races’ [3]. Hard to tell if the little man said it with his little tongue in his little cheek. Or not.

4. Greg Baum (who I’ve previously lauded [4a], brilliantly sent up Ron Walker and the Australia F1 Grand Prix [4b]. Of course all satire contains truth.

5. Pope Benedict XVI declared that Jews bear no collective responsibility for Jesus’s death [5]. Great news. Now I’ll be able to sleep better at night.

6. in the MJA, high profile nutritionist Rosemary Stanton wrote [6a] that doctors need to exercise caution when recommending products bearing the Heart Foundation’s tick [6b]. As do consumers browsing supermarket shelves. Is the Foundation sacrificing ethics for commercial gain?

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

It's time to stow your throne, Bernie.

My cyberfriend Chrows25 has been writing of her long-term tendency to transpose letters or syllables [1]. I think, but aren’t sure, they’re spoonerisms [2] and not malapropisms [3]. Anyway they brought to mind the conversion of the saying ‘People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’ [4] into ‘People who live in grass houses shouldn’t stow thrones’[5]. And thus in turn F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone [6]. Last 8 November in Brazil British F1 driver Jenson Button was confronted by a gang of machine-gun toting would-be thieves or kidnappers. Ecclestone commented sagely ‘I think they look for victims who are not too bright’ [7]. Then, ironically, in early December in London 80-year-old Ecclestone and his 31-year-old Brazilian girlfriend were mugged by four men who stole jewellery worth over A$300,000 after repeatedly punching and kicking him [8, 9]. Button sagely remained silent. Me? First, I reckon that self-evidently an 80-year-old man with a 31-year-old girlfriend can’t be too bright. Second, I hope the assault knocked some sense into him – because he definitely needs more of it. Third, if he wants to live in a glass house he shouldn’t throw stones. And fourth, if he wants to throw stones he shouldn’t live in a glass house. In other words, he should stop making foolish comments aimed at seeking publicity. And if that means retiring from public life, then so be it. The F1 king should stow his throne.

Qantas and the Grand Prix: a match made in heaven. Or hell.

Qantas. It’s been in the news lately. Because several of its planes have met with mishaps. The record [1] reveals two Qantas mishaps in 2006, four in 2007, eight in 2008, five in 2009, and so far 12 in 2010. I’ve previously written of Qantas’s mishaps [2] and their likely cause(s) [3]. Judging by these stats, self evidently Qantas hasn’t successfully fixed the cause(s). Me? I used to selectively fly Qantas – domestically and internationally. Its safety record seduced me. Since 1992 I’ve been a Qantas Club member. And I own 188 Qantas shares (current price A$2.67 each). I bought them when Qantas was naming rights sponsor of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix (which it did from 1997-2001) and I was a Save Albert Park activist. From 2002 to 2009 when the major sponsors were Foster’s then ING, I indolently retained these shares. Then, amazingly, in 2010 Qantas became major sponsor again, announcing its 1-year sponsorship less than a month before the event [4]. Last Saturday Qantas announced a 1-year extension – for the 2011 event [5]. What a perfect fit: an airline that can’t control its rapidly increasing frequency of mishaps, and an event that can’t control its rapidly inceasing requirement for taxpayer bailouts. It’s a match made in heaven. Or, more likely, hell.

P.S. Our house guest Dieter flies out today bound for Canada. He’s flying from Launceston to Melbourne, then from Melbourne to Sydney on, yes, Qantas. I wish him safe travelling.

This week's compendium

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

1. Iran was beaten (by East Timor) [1a] for a seat on the powerful new UN body nicknamed UN Women [1b]. Saudi Arabia (!) got a seat.

2. the Age reported that the Grand Prix’s in jeopardy due to an A$800,000 dispute [2a]. It’s a media beat-up [2b]. A vain effort to revive the dead event. Why not pay up and shut up, GP Corporation. You’re expert at spending taxpayers’ dollars.

3. Cymbalta (duloxetine) was cleared by the US FDA for treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain [3]. Its pain relief mechanism’s unknown, but.

4. the UN published its annual flagship report on comprehensive human development (i.e. quality of life) for each country [4a, 4b]. Australia came 2nd, US 4th, Canada 8th, Israel 15th, UK 26th. And Iran 70th – ho hum.

5. Levi’s announces a new method of making jeans, which uses much less water [5]. It’ll save 16M litres of water each year. Good on you, Levi’s.

6. San Franciso voted in a law requiring that foods meet certain nutritional standards, before they can be sold with toys [6]. Good on you, SanFran.

7. gizmodo told us the world’s running out of chocolate [7]. Oh no. Dear me. Ho hum.

8. our neighbour and sharefarmer Sharon, featured on the ABC Radio National’s ‘Bush Telegraph’ [8]. Nice interview, SJ.

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

In your dreams, Kennett

Northern Exposure [1]. It’s a 1990s US TV series. Its focus was Joel Fleischman, a young New York doctor (pictured, note the stethoscope) and his problems adjusting to Alaskan life. The romantic interest, Maggie O’Connell, spurned Fleischman’s advances with the classic retort: ‘In your dreams, Fleischman’. As I commented last Thursday [2] Jeffrey Kennett, ex Victorian Premier and frequent object of Farmdoc’s contempt, made some comments early last week which I think demonstrated memory impairment and lack of insight. Late last week, in a radio interview, Kennett said he was shot at twice during negotiations to bring the grand prix to Melbourne [3, 4]. Jeff Mawkes, the senior policeman responsible for protecting Kennett during his entire period as Premier, said he knew nothing about shooting incidents [5]. The current Premier and Police Minister were similarly sceptical. Here’s the thing: if you play fast and loose with the truth, a good memory’s imperative. The negotiations in which Melbourne stole the grand prix from Adelaide a year before Adelaide’s contract ended in 1997, occurred in private and secret. Thus the first the public knew the event would occur in Melbourne, to wit Albert Park, from 1996 was in late 1993 when Kennett announced the done deal. Thus his claim the two shootings occurred during negotiations to bring the grand prix to Melbourne, is disingenuous. And likely a lie intended to cover for Kennett’s silly and wrong comments earlier last week [6]. To paraphrase Mr Mawkes: ‘In your dreams, Kennett’.

I’d bet my bottom dollar on it.

Bet your bottom dollar. The Phrase Finder says it’s an American phrase dating from 1856 [1]. It means ‘ a sure thing’. I’ve heard it and used it. But until now I’ve never thought about the link between bottom dollar and sure thing. The Free Dictionary says your bottom dollar’s your last bit of money which you’d only risk on a sure bet [2]. English for Students says poker players stack their betting chips and take the top ones when betting, but when they bet all their chips on a good hand, they pick up or push the stack from the bottom chip – literally betting their bottom dollar [3]. Last Thursday the Australian Grand Prix Corporation’s latest annual report was tabled in the Victorian Parliament. It reveals a A$49.2M loss in 2010 [4]. This is a massive 22.7% up from the previous record loss – of A$40.1M in 2009 and 2008. (Prior losses were A$34.6M in 2007, A$15.6M in 2006, A$13.6M in 2005, A$12.6M in 2004, A$10.5M in 2003.) Of course the 2010 loss was blamed on the GFC. But the GFC was much worse in 2008/9. And why the Age’s teaser (in the photograph) mentions the government, escapes me. Well actually the government’s relevant. Because it’s the government, and only the government, that’s propping up this economically and environmentally catastrophic event. Oh, and by the way, do I reckon this year’s true loss is much more the sanitised A$49.2M? I’d bet my bottom dollar on it.

Not on the same page(r)

I levelled yesterday’s rant – sorry, post – at Australia’s Federal Government. Today I take aim at the Victorian State Government. Black Saturday – the most apocalyptic bushfire day in Australia’s history – was on 7 February 2009, i.e. 473 days ago [1]. The inevitable resultant Royal Commission began on 20 April 2009, i.e. 401 days ago [2]. And still, reportedly, Victoria’s Country Fire Authority brigades remain not just under-resourced, but lacking basic equipment including functioning pagers [3a, 3b]. What use is a well-trained firefighter who’s not fighting fires because of pager issues? The Minister responsible (N.B. not necessarily the responsible minister) is Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron. Said Education Minister Bronwyn Pike [4] (pictured) – to her and her government’s shame – the issues are being ‘worked through’. Not good enough, Minister. The public at large, especially people in fire-prone areas, don’t want endless inquiries and insouciant and peremptory ministerial pettifogging. Rather, they want action. Appropriate and immediate action. Each year the government coughs up over A$50M to underwrite the loss the facile and crass Australian F1 Grand Prix racks up. How far would A$50M go to upgrade CFA equipment? Far further than a F1 race, I reckon. And that’s but one year of government F1 profligacy.

P.S. I’m blessed to be a volunteer firefighter in the Tasmanian Fire Service whose brigades are all well, but not extravagantly, resourced to do our job.

This week's compendium

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

1. talking about the Australian F1 Grand Prix, this article says it’s ‘surrounded by…the ocean’ [1]. It’s a lake, stupid. Stick to selling Cheap Used Cars.

2. Concord Massachusetts, where Walden Pond is, became the first US town/city to ban bottled water sales [2a]. Last September Bundanoon in NSW became the first town in the world to do it [2b].

3. the newly crowned Miss America – 24-year-old Arab American Rima Fakih, a Lebanese immigrant – was shown to have strong family links to Hezbollah [3a, 3b]. A Hezbollah official commented ‘The criteria through which we evaluate women are different from those of the west [3c]’. Yessir.

4. in the NSW parliament, a private member’s bill to ban the burqa on grounds of security and women’s rights, was voted down [4a]. That’s not stopping France, though [4b].

5. the Get-Fit Guy told us what to eat before, during and after exercise [5]. It’s practical and thus useful advice.

6. aiming for everyone to borrow or lend everything [6a], along came thingloop.com [6b]. It extends the concept of sharedearth.com which I wrote about last week [6c].

7. darling Emily alerted me to this wonderful blog site mapping feral fruit trees in Melbourne [7]. She said the site made her think of me. Why so, I wonder.

8. Sweetheart Vivienne spent the week at Varuna, the Writers’ House, in the Blue Mountains [8a]. I hope she did justice to the god Varuna [8b].

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

Greg Baum - you're My Man.

Have you ever watched paint dry? Or grass grow? If so, you’ve done something infinitely more interesting and edifying than viewing F1 motor racing. There’s little that’s more brain numbing than observing noisy wheeled billboards driven repetitiously in a circle. So unsurprisingly the main story of the Australian F1 Grand Prix eight days ago wasn’t the race. Rather it was an F1 driver – Mr Hamilton, a Briton – doing a burnout [1] in a sponsor’s Mercedes, on a public street. The police impounded the car but neither charged nor fined Hamilton. Another F1 driver – Mr Webber, an Australian – leapt to Hamilton’s defence by calling Victoria a ‘Nanny State’ because it has too many rules and regulations, adding he’s ashamed whenever he returns here. Also leaping to Hamilton’s defence was Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Mr Walker who dismissed Hamilton’s burnout as youthful exuberance. To me, that the police didn’t treat Hamilton as they would’ve you or me had we done what he did, is another deplorable abrogation of the Rule of Law [2]. The whole saga’s beautifully summed up in a piece [3] in last Saturday’s Age by Greg Baum (pictured) [4, 5]. Hard-hitting, incisive, acerbic journalism laced with irony’s always a delight to read. It’s infinitely more interesting and edifying than watching paint dry or grass grow – let alone F1 car racing. Very well done, Mr Baum. I hereby add you to my list of favourite journalists [6, 7, 8].

The virgin, the genius and the robot

It’s coincidental, but synchronous, that yesterday’s Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix occurred in the same 24-hour period as EH10. Environmentally the GP and EH10 are diametrically opposed. Yet governments compete to host a car race that’s ruinous to their credibility on global warming and climate change. Maybe their focus groups show that punters don’t, or can’t, connect the dots. It’s all stupid. Talking of stupid, though F1 holds itself out to be at the automotive technology’s cutting edge, three days ago the geniuses in Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Racing team discovered their cars’ fuel tanks were 13 litres too small for the cars to complete the race without refuelling. Ho hum.
Talking of geniuses, as I wrote here I’ve long been captivated by robots; and I’ve admired the people who make them. Tonight’s the first Seder – the ceremonial dinner that starts the Jewish festival of Passover. An important element in the ceremony is Ma Nishtana, i.e. the asking of four key questions. Traditionally the youngest person present asks these questions. Tonight I’m not hosting or attending a Seder. I’ll be alone, and so the youngest person here. I won’t say, or sing, Ma Nishtana; but I’ll play this YouTube clip – courtesy of the geniuses in the Research and Development Institute for Intelligent Robotic Systems, Computer Science Department, The College of Management Academic Studies. COMAS is Israel’s leading academic college. This clip shows why. Happy Passover to you.

This week's compendium

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

1. US health reform legislation was approved by the House of Representatives [1]. No-one knows the exact implications. But surely the outcome will be a massive improvement on the status quo ante

2. the latest estimate is that peak oil will occur around 2014, i.e. a decade earlier than previously predicted [2]. Good news – the environmental and geopolitical effects of fossil fuel use are catastrophic.

3. Australian F1 Grand Prix boss Ron Walker underwent brain surgery [3]. Eh?

4. regarding the GP circus which runs for four days ending in the race tomorrow, the media, acting out of altruism in the public interest (sorry, that’s a joke), continue to promote the unpromotable [4]. Attendance will be abysmal this year, again requiring a massive injection of public money.

5. the JAMA reported that women with normal food intake require 60 minutes per day of moderate-intensity physical activity to prevent significant weight gain [5]. This is a big increase over the previously-advocated figure of 150 minutes per week.

6. a Lancet article by Australian researchers concluded the placebo effect is under-recognised and under-used [6]. I agree. The placebo effect confounds the fundamentalism of Evidence Based Medicine – which can only be a good thing. The art of medicine mustn’t be removed.

7. UK supermarket chain Sainsbury, known for its environmental initiatives including electric vehicle charging stations and converting waste food into energy, is moving into another area that’s a supermarket first – beekeeping [7]. Sainsbury makes Australian supermarkets look positively neanderthal.

8. the amazing Daylesford Organics gained sixth place on Australian Traveller magazine’s list of ‘100 Greatest Australian Gourmet Experiences’ [8]. Kate Ulman and Brendon Eisner: I am just so proud of, and happy for, you. xxxxx

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

farmdoc's blog post number 699

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

1. Greenpeace Australia published a helpful analysis of the sustainability of various canned tuna brands [1]. Unless buyers take note, in a few years there’ll be no tuna for anyone to eat.

2. Nutrition Diva wrote that healthy people can eat up to two whole eggs a day without any negative effect on their cholesterol levels or heart disease risk [2]. It’s amazing how the previous medical advice – to the contrary – could have been so wrong.

3. the BMJ reported that sexual activity, quality of sexual life, and interest in sex were positively associated with health in middle age and later life [3]. It’s a chicken-and-egg situation. Do healthier people have more and better sex, or does sex make people healthier?

4. JournalWATCH reported that long-term mortality among live kidney donors was similar to that in healthy controls [4] There was a increase in post-operative mortality among the donors. But it was tiny.

5. Sweetheart Vivienne alerted me to a NYT article concluding PSA (i.e. prostate specific antigen) testing’s useless to detect prostate cancer [5]. Hmmm. Interesting. I’ll ponder it for a while, I think.

6. using six criteria, Greenopia rated BP the greenest oil company [6]. Not many of the companies listed operate in Australia. Anyway BP’s the best of them. Shell was fourth.

7. the Herald-Sun reported that Australian F1 Grand Prix organisers lied by saying the 2009 event’s twilight timing produced a massive increase in TV watchers [7]. Question: How do you know when a GP organiser lies? Answer: When he speaks.

8. indeed today, is darling Emily's birthday [8]. I love her more today than I did on her previous birthday. Much more.

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

farmdoc's blog post number 681

Last Sunday night Sweetheart Vivienne and I watched, the 2-part Australian Story titled ‘Something in the Water’. Originally screened on ABC TV last month, it can be streamed from here [1, 2]. It’s about water pollution in north east Tasmania [3]. I found it riveting – partly due to the focus and persistence of Drs Bleaney and Scammell. But much more so due to the nay saying – no, antipathy – by politicians and bureaucrats who have clearly lost sight of the fact that their only raison d'être is to serve the Tasmanian public interest. I should’ve known better. I learnt the lesson years ago that politicians and bureaucrats march to a different drum. From 1996 when the first F1 Grand Prix [F1GP] was held in a subjugated Albert Park, it’s been obvious to the proverbial drover’s dog that the event in that location’s a triple-bottom-line disaster. And it always would be. Years ago Save Albert Park advocated a purpose-built state-of-the-art permanent venue. Our proposal fell on deaf political, bureaucratic and media ears. In fact it was met with scorn. Until now [4]. Why the change? I don’t know; but 2010’s an election year. Of course now even a permanent venue’s anachronistic – because in this peak oil era, motor sport’s immoral and antisocial. In any event (pun intended) judging by this Herald-Sun item [5], you can’t rely on Premier Brumby or F1GP boss Walker (pictured) to make wise decisions in the public interest. I don’t.

farmdoc's blog post number 678

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

1. Torah Bright won Australia’s first gold medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics [1]. Funny that – I thought Torah Bright was an evangelical Jewish sect.

2. talking of Olympic medals, the Vancouver Winter Olympics is the first Olympics whose medals contain recycled materials, i.e. gold, silver and copper from recycled e-waste [2]. Well done, Canada.

3. a mere month before the event, Qantas was announced as the naming rights sponsor for the 2010 Australian F1 Grand Prix [3]. Where the bloody hell have you been until now, Qantas?

4. I read that cat food has been successfully used to control cane toads – by attracting carnivorous meat ants that eat and kill baby toads [4]. Will the ants follow the toads – which themselves were originally introduced as a biological control – and become a major environmental scourge?

5. I came across this fascinating article about how love improves health [5]. I’ve been in love with Sweetheart Vivienne for over 45 years; and I’m healthy for my age. QED.

6. this paper describes methods of muscle cramp prevention [6]. It says quinine’s effective but unsafe; and vitamin B may be the best bet. It doesn’t mention corks in the bed.

7. I read this report of the promising early results of using paracetamol to help prevent heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and some cancers [7]. It may be the next wonder drug, but the article cautions that paracetamol is now Australia’s commonest cause of liver failure, having passed hepatitis and alcohol.

8. Darling Indigo, on her blog, offered ‘Indi’s random giveaway’. Coco the wombat [8a, 8b] hopes she'll win.

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

farmdoc's blog post number 675

The State of Victoria has fixed 4-year electoral terms. Thus, unless the 2010 Federal election’s held on Saturday 27 November, this’ll be the date of the next Victorian election. That’s about eight months after the Sunday 28 March date of the 2010 Australian F1 Grand Prix – which is a mere 32 days from today. Last Saturday Peter Logan, media officer of Save Albert Park, kindly copied me in on his letter to State and Federal politicians. I’ve edited his letter thus:

The Grand Prix problems for Victoria are getting worse. With the costs out of control and the loss of the naming rights sponsor, we’ll be hearing more about this problem in this election year. Since it came to Victoria in 1996, the event has clocked up an operating loss each year, to a total of A$204.36M. The GP Corporation’s annual reports show, damningly, that the taxpayer costs far exceed the reported operating losses. Save Albert Park claims total taxpayer support of the 2009 F1 Grand Prix alone was A$86.6M.

What an economic disaster the Australian F1 GP is. Environmental and social too. And the cruellest irony is that the politicians continue to obliviously shrug off rational criticism and obliviously hype the event up. It’d be Grand if the voters got rid of these Prix come 27 November. But I’m too old and wise to think they will, The Wisdom of Crowds notwithstanding. Ho hum.

farmdoc's blog post number 664

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

1. with the 2010 Australian F1 Grand Prix only 43 days away, the GP Corporation announced that the rock group Simple Minds will play concerts at this year’s event [1]. I rest my case.

2. with the race only 43 days away and sans naming rights sponsor, a hero of mine, Kevin Summers, offered A$3,000 for the naming rights – to plug a play he’s directing. He’s not heard back yet. [2] Surely three grand’s better than nothing. Shame on you, GP Corp. But go, Kev!

3. Nutrition Diva explained how to know that the fish fillets you buy are fresh and healthy, and how to thaw frozen fish without it turning to mush [3]. Sounds sensible to me.

4. UK peer Baroness Tonge said Israel should set up an inquiry to disprove allegations that its medical teams in Haiti harvested organs of earthquake victims for use in transplants [4a, 4b]. The anti-Israel Baroness beggars belief. But the Elder Of Ziyon has the perfect solution [4c].

5. I read two articles about anti-Israel bias infecting medical journals [5a, 5b]. Wouldn't it be a great idea if medical journals wrote about medicine.

6. a research study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that Australian GPs rarely follow guidelines when managing new episodes of low back pain [6a, 6b]. Ho hum.

7. it was reported that three Australian mining companies, i.e. Newmont Mining (ranked third), Rio Tinto (fourth) and BHP Billiton (tenth), were in the top-ten most controversial companies in the world last year [7]. Ho hum again.

8. the Events section of Sweetheart Vivienne’s website’s been filling up [8]. And there’s more in the pipeline. When will I ever see her?

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

farmdoc's blog post number 622

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

1. the F1 blogosphere was awash (can a blogosphere be awash?) with posts about the Australian Grand Prix being without a naming rights sponsor 2½ months before this year’s event [1]. All indicators point to the event being moribund – if not dead. But the government continues its life support. Why?

2. in last Sunday’s Sunday Age, its production editor, a Mr Coulter, wrote an article advocating buses to replace Melbourne’s trams [2]. As you didn’t mention the buses’ fuel, your view is not worth the paper it’s written on, sir.

3. this Age piece confirmed the benefit of businesses having easy-to-remember phone numbers [3]. They’re useful for individuals too. Mine ends in 1230.

4. Nutrition Diva wrote that frozen vegetables lose little nutritional value during freezing; and in the off-season they may be more nutritious than fresh vegies from far away [4]. What about the packaging?

5. this ABC News item tells of 1,300 people – labelling them ‘peace activists’ – who are in Egypt hoping to cross into Gaza to protest against Israel’ economic blockade of Gaza [5]. What – no mention of Gilad Shalit? How very convenient of these bleeding heart do-gooders to overlook the Hamas’s barbarian treatment of him, let alone its stated aim of eliminating a UN member state. A pox on all 1,300 of them.

6. treehugger.com put up an item about San Francisco offering free water to the public [6]. It’s happening, PJ. Not yet at the global tipping point, but every step’s one step towards it. Roll on, GlobalTap.

7. also in treehugger was a story of a group of girls in northern England who’ve started a campaign to make bicycling stylish for girls – who are under represented among cyclists [7]. This is one for you, Meg. Roll on, BikeBeauty.

8. yesterday my fellow Mole Creek resident Pete the Maremma [8] turned seven years old. Happy birthday, Petey Boy. Mate.

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

farmdoc's blog post number 618

Worms. There are two types of them: good worms (e.g. earthworms. Isn’t the Daylesford Organics one in the photograph a beauty) and bad ones (e.g. computer worms, tapeworms, ringworms). You’ve probably heard of the aphorism ‘even a worm will turn’. It comes from this line in Shakespeare’s Henry VI: ‘The smallest worm will turn being trodden on’. Whilst that line and the aphorism refer to turning from good to bad, meek to angry, there’s no rational reason why a worm can’t turn the other way. Enter stage right the Institute of Public Affairs. The IPA calls itself ‘an independent, non-profit public policy think tank, dedicated to preserving and strengthening the foundations of economic and political freedom’. I call it right wing. In 1992 when that right winger Jeff Kennett became Victorian premier, his legislative program was implemented so fast it must’ve been pre-planned. And I’ll bet the IPA, for all its self-proclaimed independence, was a prime mover. Including poaching the F1 Grand Prix from Adelaide in 1993, as the jewel in the crown of Kennett’s major events strategy. I’ve known from day one that this strategy’s a dud. But it’s taken the IPA 16 years to hear the penny drop. This article in last Sunday’s SMH is evidence it has. Reverting to the original metaphor, the IPA worm has turned. Surely now, finally, the days of the Grand Prix in Albert Park are numbered. Surely.

farmdoc's blog post number 608

Here’s this week’s compendium. This week…
1. Federal environment Minister Peter Garrett used emergency powers to heritage list the Tarkine Wilderness in north-west Tasmania because it’s a place of outstanding natural and cultural heritage value [1]. The moronic Tasmanian government still wants to build a A$23M tourist road through it.
2. it was announced that biodegradable plastic bags will be used at the 2010 Australian F1 Grand Prix and will help make it a ‘Green Event’ [2]. What’s that hot, brown, steamy stuff that comes out of the back end of bulls?
3. the Medical Journal of Australia [MJA] reported that some people are more violent and exhibit `werewolf' tendencies during a full moon [3]. The next full moon’s on New Year's Eve, so it won’t be a true test.
4. the MJA also published research showing that the faster you tear off a Band-Aid, the less it hurts. Also women reported less pain so doing than men. [4] Doesn’t bother me because my wife and daughters have made me an honorary woman.
5. in yet more medical news, a Queensland study reveals that using sunscreen is cost effective in preventing cancer [5]. Yep.
6. the Australia Institute reported that in 2009, Australia’s big four banks made a combined profit of A$35.1B. In other words, for every dollar spent in Australia, three cents went into bank profits. [6] Yet the banks have the temerity to raise interest rates on their loans by almost double the recent Reserve Bank’s 0.25% rise. Bastards.
7. Grammar Girl reminds us that the ‘X’ in ‘Xmas’ has a religious origin, and is not merely replacing Christ with an X [7]. Ho hum.
8. happy 42nd wedding anniversary today to my Sweetheart Vivienne (and me). Also to Gavin and Orly on your 7th.
Finally, I wish you, dear Farmdoc’s Blog readers, a wonderful week.