Since the days of Alexander the Great, binge drinking has been a very popular past time - leading to him apparently killing a friend and burning down Persepolis while drunk.

Those are some Great shoes to fill.

Yet, governments, schools and the media have repeatedly tried to teach us of binge drinking's dangers. 

Dartmouth University has taken the lead, instigating a new nationwide policy to curb heavy drinking by their students.

Pour me another glass.

Binge drinking is defined as "the consumption of five or more drinks in a row by men — or four or more drinks in a row by women — at least once in the previous 2 weeks. Heavy binge drinking includes three or more such episodes in 2 weeks."

Seems I don't know anyone who isn't a heavy binge drinker.

Do you think this definition should be changed or should we change people's attitudes? Or should you follow HPD's no fools guide to drinking a lot but not dying?  . . read more

Reading it can give you a sense of hopelessness, a sense of powerlessness that is very similar to the experience people feel after talking to Peter Garrett’s office. People in the solar cell industry, people with “illegal” e-bikes who send in submissions that are never even acknowledged and writers like myself have all felt this. We know that real change needs micro steps as well as macro plans but Labor “environmentalists” are so glued to “the big picture” they can’t see how they are not only going backwards and disappointing us but also taking incentive away from real people to give to big corporations who will not deliver anything but profits to themselves. As the Oils once sang “Brave faces… fall silent… got those tears in their eyes”. Does it make sense to you, Peter?  . . read more

Up to 2,000 pigs are infected with the swine flu which is believed to have been introduced by workers on the property. It is worth noting that unlike the pigs, the workers when they have fully recovered will not be slaughtered.

Key veterinary adviser, Dr Ian Roth says groups of pigs can be cleared during the quarantine period but only after meeting stringent protocols and inspections.

"The piggery will remain in quarantine, but when pigs have fully recovered, when they're completely healthy and at least seven days [have] passed, then those animals will be able to go for slaughter," he said, without any concession to the ethics involved.

Lucky pigs!  . . read more

As Queensland braces for its second apocalyptic weather event in recent weeks, many in the ironically nicknamed 'Sunshine State' must be starting to wonder whether the next two horsemen are on their way. 

Well not to give away any spoliers but they will be, and soon.

Yes, maybe not in Queensland (hopefully that battered State gets some respite) but as blackbirds fall from the sky and mud slides hit Brazil; the increasnig frequency of bizarre and freakishly strong climate change based catastrophes means something will hit hard and hit soon. 

   . . read more

By 2020 Australia will be making a major contribution to a comprehensive global response to climate change, including working with our partners on clean energy. Australia will have dramatically reduced our emissions, and communities, regions and business will be actively assisted to adopt the unavoidable consequences of climate change.

Environmental considerations will be fully integrated into economic decision making in Australia, at the household, business and government levels. We will have resilient and innovative water systems that reduce our dependency on climate-sensitive water resources in our towns and cities.

A robust emissions trading system and a suite of complementary measures will be driving a low carbon revolution with Government taking the lead working in partnership with business and the community. Climate and sustainability policy will also incorporate the needs of disadvantaged and low-income Australians. A new dialogue will have been established with our indigenous peoples on our response to climate change, water and sustainability challenges. . . read more

we are still able to help each other
without producing invoice
or lawyer
as seen in our response
to national emergencies

Yet on the edge of awareness
a ghostly predator gnaws
at our self confidence
and tradition of tolerance

On Australia Day
too many citizens
flew too many flags

"We're full!" was a slogan on t-shirts,
meaning, "Muslims piss off".

A high profile social commentator
And climate-change denier
said "greenies" were responsible
for the ferocity of the bushfires
and deserved to be
"strung up on lamp posts".

What is it that makes
hate-mongers
and war mongers so angry?

A subliminal awareness
that their enthusiasm for invasions,
aerial bombardment,
assassinations and torture ....

has helped to accelerate
the decline of the West. . . read more

Lo and behold, the man who can't insulate a roof, build a school hall or give us the great big tax on everything is now going to help us in our time's of greatest need.

Hooray, but it's interesting to note that on t'otherside the state that once voted to secede from the Commonwealth is putting up stern stonewalls to Rudd's fingers creeping toward their piggy bank. 

Hopefully us gullible eastsiders can avoid becoming rudd-kill as he hurtles towards an election desperately trying to keep power and deperately trying to remind us why his hands should be hovering over our life-support.   . . read more

The simple point again is the environment needs as many people as possible to change from car use as soon as possible and that's what e-bikes (electric assisted bikes) are helping. The immediate reduction of CO2 creation is a Federal issue and past members of Federal Parliament have acted as human beings even if their party wants them to shut up. This issue will be taken to the Court of Appeal and Garrett, being a lawyer, could play his part in the legal team. Do I hear his people saying ‘he can't do that'? Yes, he can if he cares about things that matter. Does he? His office could have responded to the detailed submission that Trevor Patrick has sent them or at least ring him but they haven't.

In California the right wing Republican Governor is actually subsidizing the sale of e-bikes while here in Australia Labor governments are letting them be pushed off the road. The environment should be more important than the Supreme Court.

I urge you to reconsider your position vis-a-vis the controversial proposal to create a Gas Hub at James Price point in the Kimberly, particularly in view of the recent incidents of serious off-shore disasters in the Timor Sea and the American Gulf coast.

I recently watched a snippet on YouTube by local elder and law man Joseph Roe, who is one of the many people opposed to this ill thought-out project that could well cause untold environmental damage to the area, and it brought tears to my eyes.

It seems to me, Mr Barnett, that the thinly veiled threat to compulsorily purchase the land (which I understand belongs to the local Aboriginal people under a "Land Rights" grant) smacks of hypocrisy!

I don't know whether either of you have a family home or estate, going back with several generations of history. If you did, try to imagine how you would feel if your Aboriginal gardener dug up some ancient Nungar bones, and was able to prove it was a sacred site, and was allowed to compulsorily purchase your home (probably for far less than it was worth) and demolish it - and your history into the bargain?

As for you, "Silent" Peter - do you remember a song you were proud to sing with the Oils called "Warakurna"?

Words used like "it's their land, let's give it back" would appear in retrospect to be so much hot air!

C'mon, both of you!

It's time to "Stand up! Stand up and be counted!".

The safety of this pristine environment, and its whale breeding ground has to be worth more than money....? 

Michael Stewart  . . read more