obesity no epidemic

It looks like I was right to be sceptical about the obesity epidemic. To me it always seemed like an ideal vehicle for professional health fanatics and the types who can only find work running government programs.

AUSTRALIA'S childhood obesity epidemic has been "exaggerated" and government-led national prevention efforts may be misdirected, with childhood obesity only increasing in lower-income families.
Publish Post
Controversial new research into childhood obesity rates has called into question whether the millions of dollars allocated by the Federal Government for obesity prevention programs should be targeted to the highest-risk groups, rather than focused at the general population.

The findings, based on measurements taken from thousands of Australian children in two nationally representative samples in 2000 and 2006, found that the growth in childhood obesity overall has slowed to a crawl, and the only statistically significant increases are now among boys and girls from low-income homes, The Australian reports......

The risk group was identified as low income earners. So if the government does introduce a "junk food tax" it will be a tax on the poor.

Banning food additives

Our innovative teenagers have found a way to beat the girlie drink tax increase - mix your own drinks. Unfortunately the police don't approve this type of initiative and want to ban the sale of food flavoring additives to under 18's. Yep, no strawberry syrup for you dear, you're much too young.

Why do we put up with such crap? If the government had any sense they should immediately tell him off and properly demote him on the grounds of stupidity.

I'll keep my UBD

I intend to purchase a satnav system in the next few weeks (anyone has a recommendation?) but after reading this article I think I'll still be keeping my UBD directory.

STATE police have urged motorists to use maps instead of GPS devices to avoid being stranded on remote roads.

Police in Bright, Victoria, have reported at least two incidents where tourists have followed GPS directions and found themselves stuck on four-wheel-drive (4WD) tracks.

Most recently, a family with a young child used GPS to navigate the shortest route home via Bright. The satellite navigation unit directed their sedan to a 4WD track in the Tea Tree Range, where they became stranded on a steep, wet slope and had to contact police for assistance.....

Al-Qaeda on brink of defeat?

The CIA seems to think Al-Qaeda is just about beaten. I hope they are right but I'm sceptical. Remember these are the same people who missed 9/11 and assured us that Saddam stil had active WMDs.

AL-QAEDA is essentially beaten in Iraq and Saudi Arabia and on the defensive elsewhere, including the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, the head of the CIA said today.

CIA director Michael Hayden said major gains have been made against Al-Qaeda's allies in the Middle East, while a campaign to destabilise the network's core leadership has been increasingly successful.

Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is also losing the battle for hearts and minds in the Islamic world and has largely lost his ability to exploit the Iraq war to recruit new members, he said in an interview with the Washington Post. ........

I'm ashamed

That we have allowed our infantry to degenerate to this shameful embarrassment is a disgrace. It means they are not receiving the proper training and experience to make them combat ready. If they were need to do the tough stuff to defend Australia they would be almost useless . If we have become so risk averse that we dare not allow our army to engage in combat whats the use of having them?

The exclusion of Australia's infantry troops from frontline conflicts, including in Iraq, has left many feeling "ashamed of wearing their Australian uniform", Army Major Jim Hammett has written.

The infantry, which makes up about a third of the army's combat forces, had not been assigned offensive actions since the Vietnam War and the special forces were seeing all the combat, he wrote.

In a separate article cited by Fairfax newspapers, Captain Greg Colton, second in command of the Sydney-based 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, said infantry morale had deteriorated in the past 10 years as regular infantry units were given only "second-rate operational tasks"....

Lt Gen Leahy said he understood some soldiers wanted "a bit more of a go", but they had to understand war had changed.

"I know that the infantry have real basic skills, that they can do that traditional role of seek ... and kill and destroy.

"But we're not asking for that at the moment, that's not the environment we're in."

Leahy's comments are a nonsense, its exactly the same environment American, British etc troops are in.

Nelson scores one

Finally, the federal Liberals are having an impact. Brendan Nelson's proposal to cut petrol excise by 5 cents a litre seems to have caught the government of guard and has forced them to respond. Unfortunately for Mr Nelson it hasn't helped him in the polls but it has public support.

Brendan Nelson was dead right to propose the tax cut and to oppose Big Daddy Kevin's tax on girlie drinks. He has to make it clear that Liberal Party = Lower Tax. Its a basic liberal principal. Without principals, without a philosophy they are worthless.

Oil prices predicted to fall

Thats what Amy Auster of the ANZ and other economist are saying. My gut feeling is they are right. The rapid rise in oil price looks like a bubble waiting to burst to me. Even if the oil price didn't come down soon market forces should ensure it eventually will. At current prices alternative sources such as shale, coal to oil etc become economic. The high prices is an enormous incentive to get them in production.

I'm old enough to remember the "energy crisis" of the 70's. The price of oil went sky high causing a world wide economic crisis. But eventually alternatives came on line and the shortage became a glut. I don't see why this should be any different. Petrol/ alcohol flex-fuel cars, which I'm an advcate of, would hasten that and would permanently end the oil monopoly.

Downer returns

Its a fun time in the federal Liberal Party. Howard government foreign minister and former Liberal leader Alexander Downer has decided he doesn't want to leave politics after all and wants a job on the front beach. Specifically he want Malcolm Turnbull's shadow treasurer position.

I don't think Malcolm is going to be happy. Brendan Nelson will need to find another high level show minister job for Turnbull or he can expect the two to gang up against him.

In the longer term this is really is good news as the highly experienced Downer will only add strength to the oppostion .

Also lets not forget Costello is still in parliament although I hope he has the sense to leave soon. He had his chance and walked away.

Running dog Cate

The Russian Communist Party have just paid Cate Blanchett the ultimate accolade. She is now an official CIA running dog.

LEADERS of Russia's Communist party have condemned Australia's Cate Blanchett as a "second-rate actor" and a "running dog of the CIA", for her role in the new Indiana Jones film.

They say the movie is crude anti-Soviet propaganda that distorts history and have called for it to be banned from Russian screens.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull stars Harrison Ford as an archeologist in 1957 competing with an evil KGB agent, played by Cate Blanchett, to find a skull endowed with mystic powers.

"What galls is how together with America we defeated Hitler, and how we sympathised when Bin Laden hit them. But they go ahead and scare kids with Communists. These people have no shame," said Viktor Perov, a Communist Party member in Russia's second city of St Petersburg.....

Chimps ain't humans

This is ridicules. Animal rights activists are trying to have the courts declare a chimpanzee a person:

A British woman is leading a court challenge to have a chimpanzee declared a "person" so the animal can enjoy "human rights".

Paula Stibbe and a group of Austrian animal rights activists want the European Court to declare that the ape, who they have given the name Matthew Hiasl Pan to make him sound "more human", legally declared a person so she can be appointed his guardian.

Mrs Stibbe wants the declaration so she can take care of the 26-year-old chimp if the bankrupt animal sanctuary in Voesendorf, south of Vienna, where he currently lives, is forced to close....

What will giving it "human rights" entail? Will it have a right to social services? What about obligations? If the chimp steals or hurts anyone will it be charged and go to prison? We may have similar DNA but the difference make a big difference.

Tania is very entertaining

Model, presenter and Bollywood actress Tania Zaetta, has been accused of providing a special service for Special Forces. An allegation she hotly denies:

THE Defence Department is investigating allegations that TV and film celebrity Tania Zaetta had sex with Australian special forces soldiers during a recent tour of war-ravaged Afghanistan.

The department has been severely embarrassed after admitting it broke privacy rules by naming Zaetta - who has denied the allegation - in a briefing document to the Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon......

This is what Zaetta assures us the diggers have not been getting.

Seasteading

As a member of the Atlantica expeditions I regarding this as an exciting development but I'm skeptical it will ever lead to a libertarian paradise. The policeman can still get you on planet Earth.

If a small team of Silicon Valley millionaires get their way, in a few years, you could have a new option for global citizenship: A permanent, quasi-sovereign nation floating in international waters. With a $5

00,000 donation from PayPal founder Peter Thiel, a Google engineer and a former Sun Microsystems programmer have launched The Seasteading Institute, an organization dedicated to creating experimental ocean communities "with diverse social, political, and legal systems."

"Decades from now, those looking back at the start of the century will understand that Seasteading was an obvious step towards encouraging the development of more efficient, practical public-sector models around the world," Thiel said in a statement......

Pregnant man bullshit

Look, I support transgender rights but I wish the media would stop making a big thing out of this story. Thomas Beatie was born a woman and is still biologically a woman. Appearing on Oprah is not going to change that.

However we do seem to have the technology to get biological men pregnant. Its only a matter of time some gay couple give it a go.

Sport HECS

Bruce Chapman, the economist behind HECS, wants a similar scheme for sport stars:

MILLIONAIRE sports stars such as Lleyton Hewitt, Shane Warne and Mark Viduka would be forced to pay back the cost of their government-sponsored training under plans for a dramatic expansion of the HECS system.

The architect of the Higher Education Contribution Scheme, economist Bruce Chapman, is urging the Rudd Government to expand it to the training of top athletes, as well as drought relief for farmers and even the payment of court fines.

Professor Chapman, who is hosting a conference on expanding income-contingent loans in August, said athletes should contribute to their training when they went on to make millions.......

My only comment is why hasn't it been done sooner?

Hybrid Commodore

Holden wants to produce a Hybrid Commodore within a couple of years.:

In a surprise announcement yesterday, General Motors's Asia-Pacific boss, Nick Reilly, in Australia for an annual review, told journalists: "We will introduce hybrids in the next couple of years. Our strength in hybrids tends to be in the larger vehicles, so that's where you'll see them first. [A hybrid Commodore] could be one of the first hybrids that you will see. I would put a time frame on that of probably a couple of years."

Problem, nobody wants to buy them so the car manufactures want subsidies.

"Hybrids don't make sense unless you have incentives. Part of our submission to the Federal Government review into the automotive industry is that there should be some benefit to the consumer."

All that hybrids do is improve fuel economy. motorist have better, cheaper, options for that such as smaller cars. Have a look at the current 4 cylinder Toyota Corolla sedan, its bigger then the early 60's 6 cylinder Holden (check the specs on the net if you doubt me) with much better economy. The baby boomer families of the 60's were happy with their Holdens so smaller modern famlies are happy with their Toyotas.

We can look forward to the government wasting millions on cars people don't want.

Isn't it strange

Alcohol fuels, free trade and Brazilian hotties , can't help but like this video!

Boofhead

This fellow was caught selling child porn and pirate DVDs at a local market, what a goose!

A MAN has been arrested for selling child pornography after a police raid on a weekend market in southwest Sydney.

Police raided the market on Beamish St, Campsie, at about 9.30am (AEST) today, searching four stalls and arresting the 36-year-old Lakemba man after finding DVDs containing child pornography.

About 3000 DVDs were seized from the stalls, including the child pornography, and illegal copies of feature films and popular television series, police said.

The Lakemba man was taken to Burwood Police Station for questioning....

Budget Slush Funds

Alan Wood is concerned that the budget surplus funds could end up as either slush funds or market distorting industry policy.

As far as I'm concerned budget surpluses mean we are being over taxed. The government is raising so much tax this year that it can't easily spend $21 Billion! If previous years are an indication thats an under estimate too.

There are about 10 million workers in Australia. Giving everyone a $2000 tax cut/tax credit would use up the surplus. However lets assume that its a good idea to keep that money out of our pockets for the moment. That the government should counter inflation by cutting demand.

Even if this is true there still is no reason for the government to keep it. Just don't give the money directly, instead deposit it into individual saving funds, probably linked to a person's super. In a few years people would have enough money saved up that they could use it to replace welfare hand outs such as the dole allowing further tax cuts.

More migrants

Looks like Rudd is going to increase migration. In general I have no problems with higher levels of migration, especially at a time when the labor market is tight. Also if theres a shortage in semi and unskilled workers it makes sense to allow such people in. My concern is that we bring in people who can integrate into Australian society. Lowering the requirement for English is not a good idea. Nor is bringing in people from cultures with poor track record of assimilation. I think we can do without any further expansion of the multiculturalism nonsense. Having an Australian nation requires a national identity, not multiculturalism.

"Import workers, export multiculturalists" sounds good to me.

Liberals do something liberal

Amazing! The federal Liberals have decided to block the alcopop tax increase. Imagine that, actually opposing a useless nanny state tax.

THE Opposition has threatened to block the tax hike on premixed alcoholic drinks, seizing on the Federal Government's admission that it will not reduce overall consumption.

The Coalition can block the measure — which the Government says is designed to reduce binge drinking, particularly among women — because it controls the Senate until July 1........

Go Girl , Go!

I have no idea what sort of President Hillary Clinton would make, but I just have to admire her tenacity. Obama seems to be in the lead but she just doesn't give up. Looks like she'll keep fighting to the end. Shame she didn't pursue a sporting career.

Good Riddance

Peter Debman, the NSW Liberals last loser leader has quit the shadow ministry. Good riddance. It shows their lack of good talent that they kept him on the front benches after the last election disaster. And he resigns over his party's support of electricity privatization. He was attacking the government over their privatization plan and now does not like the fact that the party has overwhelming supported the plan. Peter, electricity privatization is part of the Liberal platform so why did you appose it in the first place.! It would have been a complete disgrace for a party that claims to support free enterprise and individual freedom to oppose such much needed reform.

Barbarians

Sorry, but I just can't see what the problem is here. The couple told their story in the sealed section of Cleo after all:

A SYDNEY teacher suspended for appearing nude in a women's magazine would pose again, her husband says.

Lynne Tziolas, 24, is launching legal action to be reinstated to her position at Narraweena Public School, and her students' families are rallying in support by organising a petition.

The NSW Department of Education and Training says Ms Tziolas' suspension follows complaints from "several" parents at the school.

"Several Narraweena parents complained to the school about photographs and inappropriate sexual comments in a Cleo magazine article," a department spokesman said in a statement........

Andrew Bolt sees this as some sort of to return to barbarism but then he doesn't like pole dancing either. Heres a few words from my favorite barbarian:

Equal pay requires equal work

Some researcher does something not very politically correct- tell the bleeding obvious to the horror of his audience.

THE pay equity gap between men and women in Australia will not close until women are prepared to work longer hours, an academic says.

Social researcher for the University of Melbourne Mark Wooden said men were earning on average 15 per cent more than women because they put in more time at the workplace.

"All high achievers in all walks of life ... put in long hours into their activity,'' Professor Wooden said.

"It's (the pay equity gap) got a lot to do with the fact that women are not prepared to work longer hours.'' ......

Back to the bad old days

Perhaps the Howard government's greatest achievement was to just about reach full employment. The flexibility of the previous industrial relations law had a lot to do with it. Now with Rudd's industrial law changes we could be heading back to the bad old days of high unemployment and high inflation.

LABOR'S industrial relations changes are likely to trigger job losses and higher inflation that will ultimately create "wage-price spirals" and drive up interest rates, according to Treasury's official analysis of the plan to scrap Work Choices.

The Treasury critique also finds that limiting unfair dismissal laws will cut jobs, increase red tape for small business and make it more difficult for people to move from welfare to work.

The disclosure of the highly critical economic assessment of the plan to scrap John Howard's Work Choices laws came as Wayne Swan insisted that fighting inflation and taking price pressures off working families were the Government's prime budget objectives.

The Reserve Bank also warned yesterday of the danger of a wages breakout forcing interest rates higher, putting the Government on notice after Victorian teachers this week won a massive pay rise from the state Government that could trigger follow-up claims.

Treasury's assessment of the Prime Minister's industrial relations blueprint before last year's election is contained in an executive minute dated April 18, last year, which is the subject of a Freedom of Information claim.......

The sad thing is that the first to lose their jobs are likely to be marginal semi-skilled and unskilled workers. The type who always vote Labor and believed the Unions anti Work Choices propaganda.

What Australians can do

Above is a picture of Littoral Combat Ship INDEPENDENCE, built in Alabama by Austral USA. Austral is an Australian company and is the world leader in large catamarans. The US Navy is evaluating two designs, Austral is part of the General Dynamics team. The purpose of the LCS is to sail into shallower waters close to shore and blow the shit out of terrorists.

The General Dynamics approach features an innovative trimaran hull that enables the ship to reach sustainable speeds of nearly 50 knots and range as far as 10,000 nautical miles with an unmatched interior volume and payload. The ship is designed to allow a crew of fewer than 40 sailors to fully operate, maintain and defend it. With a focus on affordability, LCS will provide the Navy with the capability to defeat terrorist swarm boats, mines, and diesel submarines prevalent in coastal waters around the world

The US Navy wants 33 LCS. Austral is listed on the ASX. I might invest in the Australian military-industrial complex.

Gentlemen, keep your zippers done up

Heres the latest gem from the Iemma government. Now consensual sex is regarded as rape. Did the %^&$^ useless Opposition agree to this?

F you are a man, sex got a whole lot more dangerous. Consider this scenario. A woman meets a man in a bar or at a party. She likes the man. He likes the woman. She may not normally be a sex on the first night kind of girl. But they have a number of drinks. Fuelled by alcohol, they put aside their inhibitions. The woman goes home with the man. She says yes to sex. In the morning, the man makes it clear it was a one-night stand. The woman is deeply offended and regrets her drunken decision. She claims rape. Under new rape laws introduced in NSW this year, that man is likely to be convicted as a rapist. He is likely to go to prison..........

Respect the mother

Some jerk is trying to peddle an video tape allegedly showing Angelina Jolie taking drugs before she was famous. I hope its a false story or if true someone buys the tape and destroys it.

Theres nothing new here. She admitted to previously taking drugs years ago. Its part of her public history just like her lesbian encounters and brother kissing.

However she is now a married woman with a family, expecting another child,. She deserves to be treated with respect. Theres no good reason to release the tape and I expect its a blackmail attempt, Jolie herself would be the most likely person to buy it to keep it out of circulation.

More on gay marriage

A bit of a follow up to my gay marriage post. I have no problem with legal recognition for gay unions , my objection is to include such unions in the Marriage Act. I'm concerned about changing the meaning of marriage but what really worries me is that you can bet gay activists , human rights types and other social engineers will accuse religious ministers of discrimination for not preforming gay marriages. Its bound to end in the courts and if won , religious ministers would stop preforming legal marriages. If Christians and others don't want to preform such unions they shouldn't have too.

A better way is to give gays the same rights under separate legislation. Call it something like civil unions and give them a register too. Marriage celebrants can add it to their repertoire but they wouldn't have too. In fact theres no need to give civil unions any sexual basis at all. There are people such as spinster sisters who have lived together for a long time and face similar problems as gay couples, such unions would be of benefit to them too.

I actually expect we will end up with something like this , both major parties seem to be walking down this road.