Missing on the mountain

UPDATE Tuesday 1 September 10 am: He’s been found ALIVE & WELL.

Why would anyone set out for such a difficult walk in those conditions?

The news that Victoria’s Minister for Water (and Tourism) Tim Holding is still missing on nearby Mt Feathertop after setting out from Harrietville on Saturday on a solo hike does not sound good. Two nights in those freezing conditions?

AFL round 22 ‘Round-Up’

It couldn't have worked out any better.

Now for the real thing

“It’s been a unique position we’ve been in the last month or so (securing first place so early), but the real stuff starts now.”~ Nick Riewoldt.

I hope he’s right. Anyway, I’m pleased St Kilda have Collingwood next week, who we beat by 88 pts. last time we played. Most of the round was not worth talking about .. but some games were, so here goes:

I have a new job

Who said running a “3rd-rate blog” doesn’t pay? Someone has noticed my incredible Internet skills and outstanding integrity & character and has offered me a job. It’s not just any job, mind you; I will have a “career” as an 

“International Cashier” for the well known Shuenn Jaan Group International Company of Taiwan.

And I only have to work 1 – 2 hours per day … from home! I bet you wish you’d received an email like this one. Well it’s too late, the job is gone and it’s mine (my reply follows the offer): 

AFL round 22 ‘expert’ tips

Pity he's not still the State Premier ~ he could have passed a new law to over-ride the AFL's decision on Franklin.

It’s ‘Kick Kennett’ round

What a wonderful way for the home & away season to end, with the reigning Premiers Hawthorn languishing in 9th spot but having the unexpected opportunity to grab 8th spot and a finals berth by simply beating Essendon tomorrow. Shouldn’t be too hard. Who have Essendon got to kick goals? Matthew Lloyd? He’s hardly fit. Scott Lucas? Not there. Hmm, with Franklin and Roughead, who have kicked about 150 goals between them this year, this should be a cakewalk for …. oh, hang on, they’re not there! Buddy is out suspended and Roughead is injured. Despite the best efforts of Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett to launch the most absurd of appeals to the Tribunal and to almost go to the Supreme Court to have the suspension overturned … the Hawks don’t have a forward line and will probably lose. Bad luck Hawthorn, bad luck Kennett, it couldn’t happen to a bigger fool and a more arrogant bunch of players. Go Essendon. Here are the ‘expert’ tips for the final round (before the finals):

Message to Eastlink …

… You need much better cameras

This ‘infringement notice’ arrived in the mail yesterday claiming I owe the Eastlink people the princely sum of $8.83 for driving on their freeway without an E-tag. The registration number (obliterated) is correct and it’s true I don’t have an E-tag, but everything else about it is wrong because:

Internet anonymity

Gutless cyberbullies are actually worse than the people they target.

Most (cyberbullies) suffer from relationship and low self-esteem issues and by bullying anonymously on the internet, it gives them a sense of power far beyond what they ordinarily have … see quote & link below.

Last week’s news  that Google has been forced by a U.S. court to reveal the identity of an anonymous blogger, who had set up a website to defame and ridicule a former model as a “skank” and an “old hag”, may have  opened the “floodgates” for anyone who has been the subject of nasty, anonymous comments online to take legal action, according to the victim’s lawyer.

How that ruling might apply to Australia I’m not exactly sure, but there is no doubt that many people over here also use the Internet as a means of defaming, insulting or “bullying” those that, for one reason or another, they don’t like. And, in my opinion, to do that from the cowardly position of anonymity is despicable and, in some instances, clearly a form of illegal stalking.

I’ve had the same experience myself when some people right here in this town used their anonymity to abuse and defame me via the (now closed) Save Bright website forums during the raging debate over the Coles supermarket issue throughout 2007 & 2008

AFL round 21 ‘Round-Up’

It will be a pleasure to do so.

Hot Pies flag favourites? Bring it on.

Let’s be real. The past few weeks have been ‘junk time’ for both St Kilda & Geelong, who have had 1st & 2nd spots on the ladder - respectively - well and truly sewn up since about round 17 or 18. Both sides have had little to play for lately, and nothing to gain except injuries to key players by going in as hard as they both were when the whole season was clearly a two-horse race. The losses they have suffered recently have been largely self-inflicted and against teams in either a much more desperate position or simply more motivated to win, as North was yesterday and as Carlton was on Friday night.

Meanwhile Collingwood, after a poor start to the year, has been on a roll and has needed to win nearly every game in the second half of the season to grab a top 4 spot. They’ve done that very well but just who have they beaten? So to call them “The one to beat” and to suggest they are “Premiership favourites” just makes me laugh. I know a lot of Geelong supporters are worried sick about meeting Collingwood in week one of the finals (as they surely will) but I really hope St Kilda does get to play them in September. I’m looking forward to it. Bring it on. Here’s the ‘Round-Up’:

Third person blog bios

What is it about this increasing trend I’ve noticed for people who write blogs to describe themselves in their ‘bios’ in the third person, as though someone else had written it?

Do they think that somehow this gives them more credibilty and makes them sound more important?

I think it makes them sound like wankers. Eg:

“A caffè latte minus the coffee, please”

 

In this, the first in a new series, Ray’s exposés, I blow the lid off the o-so-trendy coffee trend of sipping ‘lattes’.

Bright lights

I have it on good authority that this is our soon-to-be-adopted theme song for Bright. We could do worse. Have a listen to the great voice of Matchbox 20′s Rob Thomas (shut up, Dave):

AFL round 21 ‘expert’ tips

Oh my God, that just looks so gay. The truth is out - Riewoldt & Milne are 'an item'.

It’s ‘Gay Pride Round’

As regular readers of A.O.’s weekly ‘expert’ tips guide would know, I usually try to give each round a name based around a topical footy story. But this is really a ‘junk’ round that won’t have a great impact on the season, unless you think 8th spot is really worth fighting for – hardly!

Anyway, I’ve been inspired by the photo of my Sainter ’boys’ to the left here so, at the risk of being branded homophobic (I’m not, I have deep respect for gays),  I’ve branded this week ‘Gay Pride Round’. Maybe they should use rainbow-coloured footballs? Here are the ‘experts’:

Is Bright safe from bushfires?

The huge fire on 10 Dec 2006 was very close to Bright but did not really threaten the town ~ click to enlarge.

It must be, we’re not on ‘the list’

Hold on everyone, the news  that Bright was NOT named on the State Government’s list of 52 Victorian towns that are extremely vulnerable and at high risk of bushfire this summer, is not so bad. We mightn’t be getting any Government help to establish a town protection plan, but at least our safe-town status should mean we’ll be packed with tourists right through the summer school holidays. Spare a thought – if you must - for those tourist towns that are on the list and that are now  likely to see a rush of cancellations and go broke.

I don’t mean to be flippant about this very serious issue but you’ve got to laugh at Mr Brumby’s continual disregard for this part of Victoria. We’ve had 3 major bushfires around here in the past 6 years so just a little Government assistance might be in order, don’t you think?

God knows we can’t leave it up to the Alpine council to come up with any plans by itself like they are supposed to. No, we’re on our own and, as citizens, we’ve got to act - and I already have. Yes, I’ve scoured the whole town and come up with a foolproof plan. In the event of a major fire threatening Bright this summer everybody will be compelled to ‘leave early’ (real early) and make tracks for:

I’ll get back to blogging …

… SOON !

I haven’t written anything for a few days. Depending on your point of view that’s either a good thing or a bad thing. Sorry to disappoint those who appreciate this website. As for those who don’t … well  I guess there’s no pleasing the neanderthals. Cheers.

AFL round 20 ‘Round-Up’

The mark                          The miss                          The embarrassment

I’m still finding it hard to write about footy after the Saints 19-game winning streak finally came to an end on Sunday against … Essendon of all teams!  If you don’t know what happened you’re either (a) hiding under a rock, (b) following that neanderthal game known as NRL or (c) Godwin Grech or Malcolm Turnbull. Briefly, the Saints kicked the first 3 goals but then went to sleep and let the slippery little Bombers race away to a 7 goal lead deep into the 3rd quarter before coming home like a train. Captain Nick Riewoldt took a strong mark not that far out from goals in the dying seconds and had a shot – after the siren – to win the game. And … the pictures tell the story. Here is my belated (but much awaited?) ’round-up’ of all the games:

Leanne gets a laptop …

Macs are for wankers but Toshiba is 'tops'. Click on photo to enlarge.

… and goes shopping!

After years of steadfastly resisting the urge to join the wonderful world of cyber space, Leanne has gone out and bought herself a rather beautiful looking Toshiba laptop with a 17 inch screen and all the latest stuff  and is now finally online and ‘out there’ (well, so far, she’s just using it to check up on what I’m saying here and browse the online fashion and clothing sites). Mark my words though, it won’t be long before there’s a new ‘player’ in the blogging world and let this be a warning to all of you: 

Don’t argue with her, she’s always right!