Alpine Opinion

Hiatus

Posted in Alpine Shire Council, Bright Australia by Ray Dixon on 23 June, 2010

Please note:

This blog is ”on hold”. It might resume at some stage but I’m not sure yet.

160 comments

160 Responses

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  1. Rox said, on 23 June, 2010 at 1:19 pm

    I hope you keep it going in some form or other Ray, even if it’s just a time-to-time blog about general stuff, rather than the local stuff, which could also go in.

    I like it here, though i realise that that’s not necessarliy a good reason for a busy businessman to keep it going.

    Perhaps we could have tipping and an open thread from time to time like we did before. Anyway, your decision.

  2. Ray Dixon said, on 23 June, 2010 at 2:50 pm

    Well I’ll keep the tipping posts going until the Grand Final (between StKilda & Geelong with the Saints emerging victorious I hope) and the open thread idea might work now & then.

    But by and large I’d rather start up an entirely new blog at some future stage. Don’t worry, I’ll let you know and I’ll have a redirect on this one.

    This blog originally started more than 4 years ago in early 2006 in a different format. It was initially only about local issues but when I changed to WordPress in early 2007 I broadened the scope.

    The next one (when & if it emerges) would come from a much broader base in the first place.

  3. Rox said, on 23 June, 2010 at 4:59 pm

    I was looking at the view count and thinking we’d soon be up to 500,000.

  4. Don said, on 23 June, 2010 at 5:03 pm

    Jeez Ray,

    Your work projects must be substantial, looking forward to hearing what you’re working on one day, and if you start a new site instead then be sure to let us know where to go.

    So to speak!

  5. Baldrick said, on 23 June, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    This is my daily escape. Frightening innit.

    Been so busy it is difficult to sit, read, digest and then comment. Like Rox, I also enjoy it and being a “local” am always intrigued about what issues come up here and not least Ray’s almost messianic tirade against the Shire.

    I liked the open mike concept, but not having an original thought, find it impossible to start a thread.

    Ray loosen up son, I can’t imagine you not wanting to say something. And I am looking forward to the new version.

    Do we get frequent flyer points, who qualifies for a gold watch immediately prior to changing to the new format?

    Surprised we haven’t seen the “Milne is innocent” thread yet. That should get a response.

  6. Ray Dixon said, on 23 June, 2010 at 5:32 pm

    Don, without giving too much away, the project requires not only a fair bit of time but also a lot of mental energy. Rather than just put the odd piece up now and then and see the blog decline (even further if that’s possible!) like so many others have done, I’d rather just place it on hold (FIFA & AFL excepted due to committments made to Rox, Baldy etc and to the world at large).

    Baldrick, yes it’s hard to drag myself away from the local stuff-ups, especially after reading today’s Observer and noting (a) the utter bullshit about the findings of the gondola survey, and (b) the resignation of the entire Great Alpine Valleys tourism board with the chair signing off by saying their greatest achievement was “that they listened to each other”.

    That stuff is pretty hard to resist … but I will.

    Time to let someone else belt their head against that particular brick wall, don’t you think?

    As for “Milne is innocent”, well he patently is, until proven guilty. He’d have to be charged first too. I can’t help thinking that it’s all bullshit and cooked up to embarrass the Government or to unsettle St Kilda. Or both. The fact is the public prosecutor made the initial decision not to proceed – and he had the full brief of evidence.

    But that’ll do. Any more and I’d be technically back to blogging.

  7. Baldrick said, on 23 June, 2010 at 5:41 pm

    Let’s all have a big group hug.

  8. Rox said, on 23 June, 2010 at 5:45 pm

    *sniff*

    Ray – if you’re that busy, don’t let the tipping hold you here, really.

    (b) the resignation of the entire Great Alpine Valleys tourism board with the chair signing off by saying their greatest achievement was “that they listened to each other”.

    feck. No wonder you’re fed up.

  9. Ray Dixon said, on 23 June, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    No Rox, the AFL (and even FIFA, believe it or not) is an absolute pleasure and I will certainly keep that part going.

    Besides, as I’m getting a 6 figure sum for publishing the ‘expert’ tips from you lot why wouldn’t I?

  10. Vijay said, on 23 June, 2010 at 8:44 pm

    Hope to see you back soon… wait a minute have you stared twitterring ??? ;-)

  11. Ray Dixon said, on 23 June, 2010 at 10:41 pm

    Not much chance of that, Vijay. Cheers mate and yes, I’ll be back.

  12. Ray Dixon said, on 23 June, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    Bloody hell, just when I quit blogging along comes this story:

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/23/2935356.htm

    Julia Gillard challenging KRudd for the PM’ship. Vote tomorrow morning.

    BiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiG news.

  13. Baldrick said, on 23 June, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    Yeh, just got home and then texts ran hot. 9am meeting tomorrow apparently. This has been designed to test your resolve Raymond.

  14. Ray Dixon said, on 23 June, 2010 at 11:06 pm

    Yes, it just shadows the Great Alpine Valleys tourism board news.

  15. Rox said, on 24 June, 2010 at 6:58 am

    See what you did Ray?

  16. Ray Dixon said, on 24 June, 2010 at 7:26 am

    So, Gillard hears that A.O. has gone into hiatus and thinks, “Right, I’ll make my move now that loudmouth Dixon is out of the way”?

    News travels quickly, eh?

  17. Baldrick said, on 24 June, 2010 at 7:33 am

    A west suburban, woman PM, a double bonus

  18. Baldrick said, on 24 June, 2010 at 7:35 am

    Tacticall shrewd if it comes off, will pull back women and Greens and women in the Greens

  19. Ray Dixon said, on 24 June, 2010 at 7:37 am

    And Bulldogs supporter.

    What impact do you think this will have on the election? I reckon she’ll romp it in. Women will vote for her in droves and men will want to give her more than a few months in the job too. Tactically this might be a way for the ALP to turn looming disaster into success, especially if Abbott does his usual attack dog on her, which won’t go down very well with the voters.

  20. Baldrick said, on 24 June, 2010 at 7:44 am

    I don’t think there will be a backlash on removing Rudd even though it is extremely irregular and an amazing phenomenon removing a first time elected leader who had such a massive following.

    Does pull the carpet away from the Libs. Joyce is already on the attack but he sounds desperate.

  21. Ray Dixon said, on 24 June, 2010 at 8:01 am

    Rudd is going to go down in history as the PM who brilliantly out campaigned Howard and then brilliantly got us through the biggest financial crisis in 80 years only to be dumped by his own party because the opinion polls didn’t favour him. He’ll forever be able to hold his head high.

  22. Ray Dixon said, on 24 June, 2010 at 9:33 am

    Rudd has stepped down. No ballot. Julia Gillard walks into the job as our first ever female PM. History is made.

  23. Millsy said, on 24 June, 2010 at 9:45 am

    Interesting times!!!!!

  24. Ray Dixon said, on 24 June, 2010 at 9:48 am

    I blame the Socceroos. If they had won by 4 goals this morning instead of by one, they would have gone through to the final 16 and Rudd could have claimed credit and stayed on.

  25. Baldrick said, on 24 June, 2010 at 5:22 pm

    What’s more interesting is that Gillard lives in my home town, Altona North.

  26. Ray Dixon said, on 1 July, 2010 at 3:42 pm

    It’s things like this that almost make me wish I hadn’t quit blogging for the forseeable future. From the Alpine council’s website. I’ll discuss it with anyone who cares to in the comments. My God, what a complete farce and waste of time:

    ……………………………….

    Council to hear skyways recommendations – 30/6/2010

    The Mount Buffalo Skyways taskforce will present their recommendations to Council this afternoon at 4pm.

    The comprehensive community consultation process came to a close earlier this month with the majority supporting a gondola or cable car to the top of Mount Buffalo.

    The Mount Buffalo Skyways Taskforce held over 20 community meetings with 400 attendees to go with 532 survey respondents. 64.8% (345 survey respondents) supported a gondola or cable car, 28.8% (153) were against the idea while 6.4% (34) were unsure.

    Some of the key reasons supporting the gondola include

    Boost for tourism
    New icon and drawcard, providing great views
    Safe and easier access to Mount Buffalo
    Boost to local economy, creates jobs
    Revitalizes Mount Buffalo
    Positive experience on other gondolas
    May make Mount Buffalo Chalet viable ensuring it’s future

    Environmental damage, not being viable financially and wanting funds to be spent on the Mount Buffalo Chalet re-development instead were the key reasons against constructing a gondola.

    The taskforce’s recommendations include

    1. Pursuing two-thirds funding from the State Government for a financial viability study to show their commitment to the project.
    2. Three more months to lobby State Government for funding
    3. Making the Mount Buffalo tourism development investment more attractive as a whole.
    4. Investigate legislation required to allow a 99-year lease
    5. Abandoning project if viability study funding not secured by October

    The taskforce will also ask Council to decide whether the taskforce continues working past 30 June as opposed to Council taking over the project.
    ……………………………………

    Er, give up now.

  27. Ray Dixon said, on 1 July, 2010 at 4:42 pm

    Then again, there’s enough apathy in this town to let it all go unaddressed. That’s partly why I couldn’t be bothered any more.

  28. Rox said, on 1 July, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    You do get to that stage. Don’t push yourself. Have a hibernate.

  29. Ray Dixon said, on 1 July, 2010 at 5:20 pm

    I just got an email from someone:

    Hi Ray,

    I have been away for sometime and just read your Blog – You throwing the towel in??? You are the only person who keeps the bastards honest………..

    Please reconsider!!!!!!!!

    My answer was:

    The town is F*cked.

    I’ve done all I can and it’s kept me away from some things I really need to do.

    If you want evidence of how f*cked Bright is look at:

    • The closure of the Cosy
    • The still closed ex Foodworks store with no takers
    • The lack of any progress on town improvements
    • The focus on Mt Buffalo instead of on improving Bright and the subsequent admission that they will abandon the gondola pie-in-the-sky project if the State Govt doesn’t give its support by October (Um, I told you so – no point holding a gun to Brumby’s head, he’ll just tell you to piss off)
    • The resignation of the entire useless GAV tourism board to be replaced by another toothless board
    • The hordes of accommodation properties for sale with no buyers in sight
    • The budget that only allocates capital works spending on community facilities, with nothing to be spent on tourism
    • The ever growing tourism bureaucracy @ council and the ever diminishing results

    I could go on but you get the picture. This town has turned in on itself and has missed the boat. It can’t catch up now even if it wanted to.

    Pity, they had a chance.

  30. Ray Dixon said, on 2 July, 2010 at 3:50 pm

    Oh my God. It just gets worse. The Alpine council is calling for nominations for the Great Alpine Valleys Tourism Board (GAVTB) – following the resignation en masse of the 4 incompetents, sorry, incumbents.

    The press release with nomination forms announcing this was dated 25 June (last Friday) but did not go up until the weekend. And nominations closed on July 1st, yesterday!

    They’ve only given candidates 4 days (at best) to (a) find out about it (b) think about it (c) nominate.

    What does that say? It says they have certain people in mind. If not then why are they not giving more time & canvassing more widely? Well, that’s because they do not want anyone there who might rock the boat and do what needs to be done.

    And someone sent me an email today suggesting I apply. There’s your answer.

    This is the press release link:

    http://www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/page/page.asp?page_Id=1478

  31. Rox said, on 2 July, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    Would you have run? You would have been good. :-(

  32. Ray Dixon said, on 2 July, 2010 at 4:31 pm

    No Rox. This is (some of) what I said in reply:

    Huh? I think I’d be vetoed by the councillors.

    Food for thought but I reckon I’m the last person they want on that board. And I think the staff wouldn’t be all that pleased either.

    Thanks for the support _ _ _ _ _ _ but I would be advocating a lot of changes and that is the one thing they don’t embrace, change.

    Changes such as: …………………………

  33. Michelle said, on 2 July, 2010 at 9:53 pm

    Ray I know it must be frustrating to care so much and seem to be beating your head against a brick wall but Alpine Opinion has been very worthwhile. You have raised some great issues and dare I say, even entertained many. I have enjoyed it and will miss checking in to see what is going on. Thanks for your time and your efforts, all the best for whatever you do.

  34. Ray Dixon said, on 2 July, 2010 at 10:10 pm

    Thanks Michelle. I am not 100% sure that this is the absolute end, although I doubt I will reignite in the same format. Your comments have been most welcome. Cheers.

  35. Ray Dixon said, on 3 July, 2010 at 3:13 pm

    It’s weird how all the sh*t seems to be hitting the fan since I gave up writing new posts about the fools down @ the Alpine council (and about other stuff). From today’s Border Mail:

    North East councils facing bleak future
    02 Jul, 2010 09:21 AM

    THE viability of three North East council is under threat because of a lack of funding sources, a report has found.

    The Victorian opposition’s local government spokeswoman Jeanette Powell said a consultant’s report had found Alpine, Indigo and Towong councils were among 18 authorities unable to adequately fund community services.

    “The Whelan Report into the financial sustainability of Victoria’s 18 small rural councils has found cost shifting by the Brumby Government and increasing demands for services has left 18 small rural councils unsustainable,” Mrs Powell said.

    “The report, written by highly-respected local government consultant Merv Whelan, said the sustainability of these councils is dependent on the provision of guaranteed long-term funding.

    “These councils cover large geographic areas and have small populations which means they have limited capacity to raise revenue.”

    ………………………

    Comment: Yeah, well, they can blame lack of Govt assistance but do we really need to be spending something like in excess of $10 million per year on the ever expanding employees’ salaries, super, holidays & cars down there? That’s about 50% of their revenue including govt assistance and it actually exceeds the $s collected from rates – by several $million.

    They could provide more services (and infrastructure) if they didn’t spend so much money expanding the bureaucratic empire.

    Gee, what will Mayor Nino do about it? What will the other 6 useless & mute councillors do? Nothing.

  36. Rox said, on 19 July, 2010 at 6:40 pm

    Can’t we even have an election thread? :(

  37. Baldrick said, on 19 July, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    Start it up Rox, Raymond will probably do his thing to format it, and off we go. Let me start by saying that the red trunked protestor with Abbott today is an ex Bright resident. Way to go !!!

  38. Ray Dixon said, on 19 July, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    Okay, I’ll put up an open ‘Election 2010′ thread. Btw, who was the ex-Bright resident?

  39. Ray Dixon said, on 19 July, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    I found the article and a photo of the Bright bloke in his red undies. I don’t recognise him. Then again I wouldn’t recognise any local male without clothes on.

    Click HERE

  40. Ray Dixon said, on 19 July, 2010 at 11:53 pm

    It’s ‘Frenchy’ (whoever the hell that is, I’ve never heard of him). From The Age:

    Political and other sources last night named the ”Speedos streaker” who confronted the Opposition Leader at Knox City shopping centre as Conrad French. Mr French is believed to work at the ALP’s Victorian headquarters

  41. Rox said, on 20 July, 2010 at 6:17 am

    He looks better than Tony. But he needs a tan.

    Have you seen the AWU YouTube ad? It features your Sophie as part of the Addams family.

  42. Baldrick said, on 20 July, 2010 at 7:06 am

    Know him very well.

  43. Ray Dixon said, on 20 July, 2010 at 8:28 am

    In speedos?

  44. Baldrick said, on 20 July, 2010 at 5:30 pm

    Well, as fact has it, in Speedos as well.

  45. Ray Dixon said, on 20 July, 2010 at 5:44 pm

    Well on the positive side, there is one Bright resident the PM now knows exists.

  46. LuLi said, on 20 October, 2010 at 4:26 am

    Sometimes a rest is good for writing, and when you feel like you have more things to say I have no doubt you’ll be back :) I feel similar..

  47. Rox said, on 27 November, 2010 at 5:40 pm

    HOW ABOUT NOW?????

  48. Rox said, on 28 November, 2010 at 10:32 am

    Well, that worked. :(

  49. Ray Dixon said, on 28 November, 2010 at 11:12 am

    Sorry Rox, but I thought you would have got my email. I’m not ready to restart the blog yet – maybe sometime in the new year? Besides, we’ve all got to get out of Victoria after last night’s result. Tassie is looking very attractive all of a sudden.

  50. Baldrick said, on 29 November, 2010 at 9:55 am

    I’m due to be back next Tuesday. Just got back from Rome, Venice and Vienna where the Social Democrats have been in office since Mozart played centreback for the Vienna Thirds.

    Might get the flight redirected to Launceston. I did my duty at the Oz Embassy in Rome but fat lot of good that did.

  51. Baldrick said, on 29 November, 2010 at 10:05 am

    Btw Ray, you got a ride-on, my mail tells me that our backyard is a forest.

    I see that Labor put up another sacrificial lamb in Benalla. The damage seems to have been done in traditional Lib seats in the south-east of Melb. Apparently country regional seats held up ok. Now for the cat fight for new Labor leader and again the factions will spat. This is manna from heaven for the Tories no doubt.

    What can we expect to see from a “moderate” Bailleau? He is a Cats supporter.

    (Just between you and me Rox, let’s see if we can flush Raymond out of his hiatus)

  52. Ray Dixon said, on 29 November, 2010 at 12:24 pm

    I’ll make sure the Mayor knows you’re coming home, Baldrick. We’ll put up a banner across the GAR. You know the one, between my place & Ashwood Avenue. It will read:

    Sorry we’re full. If you go away you stay away. There is no room here for you Marxist views. Turn around NOW

    Welcome to the new Victoria!

    PS: I voted for her. I was one of the 18% who were not put off by her, um, orientation. Also, I do not have a ride-on but the way it’s looking I might have to shell out for one pretty soon. It’s a friggin jungle around here.

  53. Rox said, on 3 December, 2010 at 9:10 am

    A friggin’ LIBERAL jungle. I was very amused to see Baillieu referred to as Big Ted. He might not be too bad. If he can fix public transport he’ll be araldited in.

  54. Ray Dixon said, on 3 December, 2010 at 9:28 am

    Rox, he won’t fix public transport in Melbourne. It’s too far gone. He needs to move 1 million people out to the country areas – then he’ll have some success. But he won’t know how to do it. I could do it. I should be Premier!

    Baldrick, I did it. I bought a ride-on mower. It’s red and looks like a mini tractor. You can’t borrow it (*) but I’ll take a photo and put it up here later as a ‘special post’.

    (* Try ‘Trout’s mowing’ – he charges a lot but he’ll get it under control for you)

  55. Baldrick said, on 3 December, 2010 at 7:18 pm

    Apropos public transport, the Deutsche Bahn and better still the OBB, the Austrian rail network are crackers. We’ve travelled everywhere by train, the local and regional networks are efficient, timely, comfortable. The Intercity and overnighter international systems are better still.

    We didn’t even know our Eurail tickets were 1st class until a conductor alerted us to it on a trip. My instant reply was that sitting in 2nd class on the regional network was better than our 1st class. Mind you, next trip we were in 1st class and it was a treat. One of our trains hit 300km at one point and straight as an arrow, no being hurled from one side to the other. Fun

    I’m not familiar with Melbourne and subway trains. But in Germany and Austria, their S Bahn networks are brilliant. In Vienna, you go down up to three levels to catch trains. They arrive every 5 minutes on average. You just don’t want to fart around getting on, they don’t muck around..

    Re the mowing. A Ferrari mower. Prior to Ted getting in I would have asked about exhaust emission controls.

    I am aware of Trout’s services. Given I have two strapping lads at home, one reckons it will get done. They blame the variable weather conditions. Thank God for their Pop.

  56. Ray Dixon said, on 3 December, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    Austria: population 8.5 million people in an area, what, smaller than Victoria? Fairly well spread out too, I understand. I think that’s the problem in comparing Europe to Oz. My point is we have too small a population, and what we have is concentrated in the capitals. Therefore country areas suffer and infrastructire spending goes into roads/freeways that don’t extend beyond the capital cities.

    No wonder they get the anthems mixed up at the Olympics and such, and Australia cops Austria’s anthem.

    Btw, great effort by FIFA. We should give up trying to be a big player in soccer and just expand Aussie Rules, don’t you think?

  57. Baldrick said, on 3 December, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    Nothing like a rhetorical question to get me going. First, the decision “not” to award Oz was made ages ago and not attributable to our woeful last minute bid. Corruption, nothing more complex.

    As to our laying low, I’d simplify it by saying, we play in the Asian leagues, qualify and do what we normally do best, fight our guts out against countries who eat, sleep and drink football. We will always be minnows but we are known internationally for being fighters and punching above our weight, highly admired. Now the Kiwis join us. I’ve got no problem with the shite dealt up by FIFA. Our greatest enemy isn’t FIFA, it is the Australian apathy in relation to elevating soccer to a higher pinnacle. As Australians we will still accept cricket as being superior to soccer.

    Let’s also revel in the fact that we do succeed in many sports ranging from hockey, cycling, swimming etc. Tell me a country that succeeds to our level given our population base, geographical isolation, lack of funding etc…………

    As for furthering AFL, forget it. Not going to go anywhere. The AFL footy played over here is by expats and some other punchdrunk mates who love having a beer. Keep it in Oz and let us celebrate that, but as i have argued before, not at the expense of other sports.

    One of the local teachers here in southern Bavaria said he started up a cricket club, they play about 3 times a year, if the weather looks ordinary, they say stuff it and adjourn to the pub. Methinks the Bavarians are closet Aussies.

  58. Ray Dixon said, on 3 December, 2010 at 8:47 pm

    I have a different theory, Baldrick. I reckon the FIFA door is slammed shut on OZ because this European-centric organisation does not want to see a power shift to Asia, which eventually must happen given populations and the development of super powers like China & India.

    They see Australia as part of the Asian region (which it is) and as the most culturally advanced/westernised democracy capable of really pulling off a great world cup and shifting focus to this region.

    In short it’s fear-based envy that keeps us out in the cold.

    What’s the answer? Well I say we stop sucking up to FIFA and turn our attention to expanding our own game into the region – Aussie Rules. Despite what you say I believe it can be done.

    That would see FIFA come running out of fear that its own game might lose a strategic foothold in the fastest growing region of the world.

    In other words, we should stop trying so hard to impress and do what we do do well, boy.. Do what we do do well. (I think that was the Delltones).

  59. Baldrick said, on 4 December, 2010 at 8:55 am

    Over here there is much consternation and derisive mirth about the decision to give the WC to Qatar and yes, party because the Europeans don’t want to suffer the heat. I’ve heard a few Germans even feel sorry for the Poms. No mention of us being left out in the cold which I suppose adds weight to your theory, albeit tenuous evidence as it may well be.

    I do think you overestimate the importance our region holds or ought to hold in world football. Asia will flourish with football in its own right without backing from FIFA. Yes, it is Eurocentric and it won’t change in our lifetime. Asia will still have reps at the big one and they will cope adequately.

    I agree then that we should not waste our time trying to impress this bunch of pricks, but for other reasons than you cite. We should not frig around wasting millions of dollars trying to flog a dead horse on the international stage. Yes, let us do what we do well but let’s clean up our bag yard first. Fix up the bloody AFL, let Rox’s mob in and stop propping up inane propositions such as Western Sydney and Queensland.

  60. Ray Dixon said, on 4 December, 2010 at 9:19 am

    Over here? When are you coming back? That banner is already up!

    The Qatar decision is a bloody disgrace. Population 1.7 million people. Temperature range in June & July (when it’s played) 40 to 50 degrees. Temporary ‘air-conditioned’ (yeah!) stadiums not yet built and so unrequired in Qatar that they plan to ‘dismantle’ them afterwards and ship them off to ‘developing countries’. How the hell do you dismantle a 50 to 80,000 seat stadium? What does that say about its construction?

    Even the Olympic committee (not exactly a clean organisation either) struck out Qatar’s Olympics bid before it got to first base. “Not suitable” they said. If Aussies are angry – and they are – imagine what the anti-Muslim lot in the USA are saying about America losing to Qatar too.

    It’s unbelievable.

    Anyway, I don’t think I’m overestimating the potential for the Asia region to become the real powerhouse of world soccer. Just wait until China & India start getting involved. The whole world is going to change and the change is a new world order with the epicentre being Asia. Football will be swept up in it.

    Agree that we should be smarter about the way we expand AFL. Tassie is a must – it’s ‘overseas’! – and what about New Zealand? Well, maybe not New Zealand.

  61. Baldrick said, on 4 December, 2010 at 9:31 am

    Back in Oz Tuesday night but not home til Wednesday late. Mind you, that is contingent on the plane being able to leave Munich. Been a shirtload of snow here of late as in Engerland. And Melbourne itself has also seen drama.

    How is the river? And i hear it’s been pretty stormy. Humid too? Not looking forward to that when I’ve been accustomed to -5 to -15C temps.

  62. Ray Dixon said, on 4 December, 2010 at 9:40 am

    The river is roaring – not flooded though. I’m thinking of arranging a new event: ‘Ride the Wild River’. We’ll have kayaks race from Bright to Porepunkah, right through the canyon. Anyone who doesn’t get drowned is declared a winner.

    Actually, the weather has been good. Mid to high 20s. Sunny one minute, stormy the next. It’s better than the searing heat we usually have by now. Tour of Bright is on this weekend and it’s finally become a big event. I can see this really growing. We’ve been knocking back bookings for weeks and that has never happened before. Get on ya bike.

  63. Baldrick said, on 4 December, 2010 at 10:05 am

    Cruel joke, getting on a bike here means slip sliding away. Bugger, will miss the Tour. What has given it the “big event” status all of a sudden? When I get back, I most definitely be getting back on. Missed it.

  64. Ray Dixon said, on 4 December, 2010 at 10:22 am

    Not sure why it’s grown this year but maybe it’s the course. There’s no (boring) criterium around the town and, instead, the events are:

    Today: Bright to Ovens, up the Rosewhite Gap, over to Tawonga and up to the top of Tawonga Gap for the finish.

    Sunday: Time trials out to Wandi & back. Final race, Bright to the peak of Mt Hotham – the killer.

    It’s more of a real event that way. A good combination of road racing, hill climbs & time trials. A sort of mini (very mini) Le tour de France. It should be extended out to a week maybe?

    Just saw them going past – about 100 riders. With family, friends, organisers and onlookers, it’s probably attracted well over 1,000 people to Bright. When it gets to 5,000 it’ll be really something.

  65. Ray Dixon said, on 4 December, 2010 at 10:27 am

    Anyway, it’s sunny here today. I’m getting ‘The Red Devil’ out for its inaugral lawn mowing run. I hope I don’t kill a cyclist.

  66. Baldrick said, on 4 December, 2010 at 7:06 pm

    Lights on please, give them half a chance

  67. Baldrick said, on 4 December, 2010 at 7:09 pm

    Course looks great. I’ve normally assisted most years in support vehicles with spares. A lovely drive out behind the main group (peleton) and then need to stay with leading groups as they go up the hill.

    Then it is adrenalin plus as they fly down the mountain and the support vehicles have to weave in and out of riders and not get rear ended by riders. It is an amazing experience, and that from within the car.

  68. Baldrick said, on 9 December, 2010 at 7:44 am

    Back home. Some scary moments driving up the Hume yesterday arvo. How lush and green is it here in Paradise Raymond? Still haven’t ventured into town for fear of running into the vigilantes.

  69. Ray Dixon said, on 9 December, 2010 at 8:04 am

    Yes, another flood event on the very day you return. Says it all. I’m not sure what the biggest risk to town safety is, the water or you.

  70. Baldrick said, on 9 December, 2010 at 8:58 am

    A worry innit

  71. Ray Dixon said, on 9 December, 2010 at 9:24 am

    Don’t you have to work or something?

  72. Baldrick said, on 9 December, 2010 at 9:40 am

    Work? Please explain. Actually got LSL. So an excuse to be a public nuisance.

  73. Ray Dixon said, on 9 December, 2010 at 9:48 am

    You timed it well, so not back to work until about Feb? You could start up a summer business – I’ll hire you out the Red Devil and you can go mowing lawns. It’ll keep you off the streets and the Internet.

  74. Baldrick said, on 9 December, 2010 at 9:53 am

    I’d rather be the Red Devil who always gets his scone on the Tour De France. Now that’s a real occupation.

    My summer business incidentally will be trying to keep on top of our lawns here. It’s grown another inch since I started this post.

  75. Baldrick said, on 9 December, 2010 at 9:57 am

    Not tempted to throw your tuppence in on the Wikileaks drama?

  76. Ray Dixon said, on 9 December, 2010 at 10:17 am

    Yeah sure:

    1. Assange is a computer hacker. I don’t admire him one little bit. He’s a nerd who breaks laws and publishes confidential info just to prove he can. He’s an attention-seeker.

    2. That said I don’t see what real harm it’s done and I think the Governments around the world are over-reacting.

    3. Although I think you’ll find they’re more concerned that if they let him get away with it then how long before someone else goes further and really does damage?

    4. The sex charges in Sweden look trumped up and I think it’s a way of taking him out of circulation – because what else could they charge him with?

    5. I think the Governments are lagging behind in laws governing Internet activity and only have themselves to blame for failing to prevent this happening in the first place. There is way too much shit going on in cyberspace and much of it is worse than this (child porn, real stalking, defamation etc).

    6. It’s a bit of a ….. Yawn ……..

  77. Ray Dixon said, on 9 December, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    Btw Baldrick, did you notice that the hedge around the pool has been cut back rather severely and you can (at the moment) see through to the pool? I did it just so you can perv on that water polo team when they turn up.

  78. Greg Naylor said, on 10 December, 2010 at 11:20 pm

    In 1984 – before the Internet – a blond headed 13 yr old hacker used to come along to our computer swap meets where we all brought our computers along and swapped hardware and software. We called him ‘The Kid’. He was brilliant and could break the license code on any software that existed. I believe ‘The Kid’ was actually Julian Lasange.

    WikiLeaks has been online for over four years and has been honoured with two awards for providing a secure site for whistleblowers to do their thing.

    You have no right to say he ‘breaks laws’ when no government in the world can find a law that he may have broken. In fact, the over reaction of politicians – both here and overseas – may well bring down governments.

    Julian Lasange has already changed the game and western democracies will now have to rethink their responsibilities and accountability to their electorates. It might even reverberate all the way down to local government and you would once again be able to have faith in the Alpine Shire Council.

  79. Ray Dixon said, on 10 December, 2010 at 11:29 pm

    Wow – that’s truly very interesting, Greg. How are you, btw?

    As for Assange, the reason I say he’s “broken laws” is because he is (or was) a computer hacker, which is an illegal activity, and which your insight seems to confirm.

    It seems to me that the governments are after him because they believe he obtained this information illegally.

    How do you suggest he came by it?

  80. Greg Naylor said, on 10 December, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    At the moment, I have my quality of life back and I am kicking goals. I don’t believe my specialist who tells me I have about 12 months of quality life left – I am doing better than that. Thanks for asking, friend.

    I have been tuned into WikiLeaks for a couple of years now. The man is a master of creating anonymity for whistleblowers through proxies etc.. The best of the rest cannot trace where the information comes from. That is his strength.

    His ‘modus operandi’ is to publish the information first as unverified and then, after verification, and usually by the organisation involved and some of the world’s most influential newspapers, it is moved to the verified classification. The leaks are simultaneously published by those newspapers. So if Lasange is to be targeted, so too should the New York Times et al.

    Now, nobody can argue that the whistleblower – as opposed to the publisher – has the authority to release that information and, no doubt, the individual involved could be prosecuted … if identified. Our democracies have laws to protect whistleblowers who go about it in the prescribed manner but they still get crucified. Thus the need to resort to WikiLeaks.

    WikiLeaks is only one of a number of such sites and it is too late to stop them. The documents are mirrored all round the world as one is forced offline, another fire up.

    I think we are in for an interesting time that may educate the naive amongst us about the abuse of power at all levels of government and big business. That has to be a better world.

  81. Ray Dixon said, on 11 December, 2010 at 8:50 am

    Hmm, I dunno about that, Greg. I haven’t seem anything in the recent leaks that was worthy of publication or helped the public in any way.

    And are they whistleblowers or hackers?

    Whistleblowers are people who work on the inside and give information – to which they have legal access – to the outside. Whereas hackers are people who work on the outside and have no legal access to the information so they break in and steal it.

    I think Assange and his Wikileaks are definitely the latter.

  82. Baldrick said, on 11 December, 2010 at 9:36 am

    Was it Karl Konrads who was our first whistleblower of some notirety? Interested to see whether his actions were deemed malevolent.

    This Assange, whatever his motives, is releasing “sensitive” ( read, embarassing) stuff and I agree with you Raymond, relatively innocuous material to date. No earth breaking stuff. What it does highlight is the clumsy statements made by various sources. There are also very clumsy responses to it all. Maybe Rudd has come out best in this thus far.

    Agree with Greg in principle, there is a liberating of material and there is plenty of squirming by those dishing the information in the first place. The public does have a right to know if no “state secrets” that compromise a country’s security aren’t released. I know this may be a matter of interpretation and debate about levels of breaches of security, however, there is a level of accountability, surely, by the officials uttering their assessments and opinions.

    At the very least the public is now engaged, if it wishes. But in our country, it is prob deemed boring as batshit. Mind you it is December, start of slow news summer.

  83. Rox said, on 19 December, 2010 at 6:04 pm

    Hippy Christmas!!!

  84. Baldrick said, on 19 December, 2010 at 6:28 pm

    And to all correspondents a merry festive season, ho ho ho.
    Looking forward to the revamp in the New Year Raymond.

  85. Ray Dixon said, on 20 December, 2010 at 9:30 am

    Yes and a very happy Xmas to my two readers from here in freezing cold Victoria. I think it’s going to snow.

  86. Rox said, on 20 December, 2010 at 4:30 pm

    Better snow than 28!

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/20/3097298.htm

  87. Ray Dixon said, on 21 December, 2010 at 10:25 am

    There’s been more snow since that report, Rox, but yes, we’re expecting about 31 degrees by the weekend (which will be about 15 degrees up on the mountains). Normally we are having days between 30 – 36 degrees at this time of year but so far we haven’t had a December day over about 29. It’s unreal but I’m actually enjoying it.

    Btw, have you seen any good pics of St Kilda players lately? You know, pics of the boys just ‘hanging out’.

  88. Ray Dixon said, on 21 December, 2010 at 9:16 pm

    Actually Rox, I found them. Oh Nick and … the other Nick. What were you thinking?

    Anyway, if you’d like to see them I can, um, ‘point’ you in the right direction. It’s quite funny.

  89. Baldrick said, on 21 December, 2010 at 9:41 pm

    Anything to get St.Kilda in the news. “Member”ships up?

  90. Ray Dixon said, on 21 December, 2010 at 11:12 pm

    I think it’s all a ‘pointer’ to a pretty good season in 2011.

  91. Greg Naylor said, on 22 December, 2010 at 10:53 am

    Don’t forget those magpies fluttering around in the trees, Ray.
    Anyhow a happy Christmas to you, Rox, Baldrick and all your families

  92. Ray Dixon said, on 22 December, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    Thanks Greg. Have a great Xmas … and many more! Cheers.

  93. Baldrick said, on 22 December, 2010 at 9:30 pm

    Ditto what Raymond said Greg. May you correspond heaps more.

    Still coming to grips with you being a Pies supporter.

    Mind you, Magpies will come in useful if those locusts hit. There are a fair few between Everton and Wang.

  94. Rox said, on 24 December, 2010 at 5:05 pm

    *ahem*, I found the one of Riewoldt and Zac Dawson after some intensive searching. Is there more?

    Happy Christmas to you all – good to hear from you Greg. We’re not moving from here till Boxing day. The turkey may or may not get cooked tomorrow. Minimal stress.

    Why don’t they publish the Age on Christmas Day?

    Next year we’re doing all this a week later. It’s been mad. Heavenly peace my backside. Best wishes from us both to all of you.

  95. Ray Dixon said, on 24 December, 2010 at 7:58 pm

    You didn’t find the Del Santo one, Rox? Not much to see … if you get my drift. Try this site:

    http://www.alphabetasport.com/2010/12/its-like-monaghan-only-more-gay.html

    Cheers mate. Happy Xmas and may Tassie get into the AFL !!

  96. Baldrick said, on 24 December, 2010 at 8:14 pm

    Amen

  97. Baldrick said, on 1 January, 2011 at 8:43 am

    Well Raymond, New Year is done and dusted. Am not leaving this terminal until new, revamped thingie is up and running. Incidentally, Happy New Year to ye, Rox, Greg and the other lurkers.

  98. Ray Dixon said, on 1 January, 2011 at 9:17 am

    You might be waiting a long time. Today is 1.1.11 – maybe I’ll leave it until 2.2.22.

    Happy New Year.

  99. Baldrick said, on 1 January, 2011 at 9:24 am

    You want me hanging on here til then? That’s tantamount to stalking, put me out of my misery and get this new thing running. Where’s the echo of support from the rest of you?

  100. Baldrick said, on 1 January, 2011 at 9:25 am

    You want me hanging on here til then? That’s tantamount to stalking, put me out of my misery and get this new thing running.

    Where’s the echo of support from the rest of you?

  101. Baldrick said, on 1 January, 2011 at 9:29 am

    Whoops sorry about that Chief

  102. Ray Dixon said, on 1 January, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    It might be holiday times for you my friend but some of us have to work in this heat!

    I seriously don’t think I’ll restart until it gets quieter around here. And after we have a holiday. So I reckon you can look towards late Feb – early March. Just in time for the footy.

    Cheers and welcome to the first day of a new decade – called what, precisely?

  103. Baldrick said, on 1 January, 2011 at 2:31 pm

    Understood Raymond. Tell me, do you reckon it’s quieter here in Paradise this holiday period?

    Apropos the new decade, no idea what it’s called, maybe a competition on here with one of your fridge magnets as Grand Prize for best entry. I’ll kick it off by calling it the twentyteens (you can see I’m not a frontrunner).

  104. Ray Dixon said, on 1 January, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    Definitely quieter (not at GG though!). We went to the clocktower ‘bash’ for NYE last night and were amazed at how few people were there. Seriously, no more than a few hundred compared to thousands in past years. I believe that a lot of bogans are taking overseas trips this year, which might account for lower numbers in the caravan parks. No bogans here though – they’re banned.

    Btw, this decade cant have the word ‘twenty’ in it as the only ‘twenty’ is the last year. I propose it be called ‘the Tens’. That might not seem to fit with 2020 either but if you think about it, 2020 is simply the tenth year of the Tens, just like 1960 was actually part of the fifties.

  105. Baldrick said, on 1 January, 2011 at 3:13 pm

    Yeh it seems much quieter. I stayed home as usual but my lads were saying it was much quieter. Maybe our better exchange rate has got everyone travelling overseas, wonder whether Bundie and Jim Beam sales have gone up at duty free shops.

    Too much maths involved in the competition. I remember your thread last year re this, I got lost after the first word.

  106. Ray Dixon said, on 1 January, 2011 at 3:19 pm

    Maths?

    What’s maths got to do with it (apart from the fact maths is also a logical science)?

    Think of it this way:

    If you have 20 apples and you number them, what number do you start with?

    That’d be number 1.

    And is apple #10 in the first ten/decade of apples or in the second ten/decade?

    It’d be in the first decade.

    And likewise apple #20 is in the 2nd decade, not the third.

  107. Baldrick said, on 1 January, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    I vaguely recall a similar conversation with Lord Blackadder, that didn’t get too far either. Are we talking apples in season or coolstore?

  108. Rox said, on 3 January, 2011 at 11:34 am

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! When are we starting again? ;)

    Don’t you love that everyone seems to have accepted that THIS is the start of the new decade, after the endless arguing over 2000?

    Anyway, thank goodness the so-called festive season’s over, though I’m glad you’ve been busy Ray – that has to be a good thing. But I’m looking forward to the revival of the blog (if it happens). Twitter is boring and mostly trivial (though still an excellent news source).

  109. Ray Dixon said, on 3 January, 2011 at 5:22 pm

    Yes Rox, they’ve finally realised that the FIRST year of a decade starts with a year that ends in “1″. How surprising? Likewise the FIRST year of a new century starts with a year ending with “1″, like 2001.

    Late Feb – early March is the best I can offer on a restart, Rox. Funny about Twitter being “boring”, I’ve always believed it was a one trick pony, a real fad and an utter waste of time. It’s done a lot of damage to blogging.

    Btw, can you name one news story that first broke on Twitter? For every one you name, I’ll give you 100 that broke through more traditional sources.

    Happy New Year.

  110. Rox said, on 4 January, 2011 at 5:12 pm

    You’d probably win Ray, but I don’t have time to monitor every news source, so Twitter is fastest for me.

    And that’s where I found the picture of Riewoldt. :)

  111. Aditya said, on 5 January, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    Ray, I hope you won’t get real pissed off with me now. Well I couldn’t help going through some of the comments here. :)

    Julian Assange’s wikileaks is indeed a whistleblowers’ site, He himself is a hacker. But the information he has leaked recently about the US missions wasn’t obtained by hacking but by a US soldier (illegally according to the US laws, sure enough). And that is their modus operandi, giving whistleblowers (US marine in this case) a safe channel, as he explained in a TED interview. And if you go through the interview alone, you’d find he has achieved a few good things. In case you found his work boring, well I hope you didn’t miss this – http://www.collateralmurder.com/

    Regarding when does the decade start, well it works slightly differently than how you count apples. :) You’d find it difficult to understand through examples of 2000, 20001. So as a hint, ask yourself this – when did the 1st millennium start. 0 AD or 1st AD? And if your answer is 1 AD, well, when it was February of 0 AD, they were not living in the previous millennium, but in the new millennium. 0 AD to 1 AD is the span of the first year of the 1st millennium. Time is a continuous quantity, not discrete, with its origin fixed at 0 AD. Not 1 AD. Your confusion is because of the fact we generally start listing things starting from number 1. Well, you’d find some computer science puritans saying a more correct way of listing is starting from number 0 since it precisely avoids the confusion you have. 0 to 9. 10 quantities. Just that you’d find it counter-intuitive.

    Well but 0 AD, 1 AD are all history now.

  112. Ray Dixon said, on 5 January, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    Aditya, the blog is in hiatus because I don’t want to spend time on it, so I’ll just respond to your two points and can we leave it at that until (and if) the blog resumes please?

    Assange says that’s where he gets his information. I don’t believe that he’s not somehow involved in illegal hacking. I’m not alone with that suspicion.

    There was no such year as “0 AD”. The first year of the modern calendar was “1 AD”, the one before that “1 BC”. Therefore a decade/century/millenium ends with a year that ends in “0″, not 9. Thanks for the “hint” but you are completely & utterly wrong.

    Cheers and so long.

  113. Ray Dixon said, on 5 January, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    Btw Aditya, if you can’t relate it to objects (like apples) try relating it to birthdays, another measure of time.

    When you are born you are “0″, but you are in your first year, or “year 1″. That’s why there’s no “year 0″.

    And when (and if) if you turn 99 you have not lived 100 years, but you then enter “year 100″, even though you are only 99. And (just like we should do with years) you do not celebrate your 100th birthday until the end of your 100th year. Have you got it now?

  114. Aditya said, on 5 January, 2011 at 3:42 pm

    Yep, you’re correct about the Gregorian calendar. I did mix it up with how it is used in computer science (well I’m a computer science graduate) and astronomy, where ISO 8601 standards and astronomical year numbering (both of which have the zero year coinciding with Gregorian 1 BC) are respectively used to correctly calculate the time spans and so the start of the decade will differ in the two systems.

  115. Aditya said, on 5 January, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    I read your 2nd comment only now. And I’m not sure if you got the inherent anomaly in the Gregorian calendar, which gets corrected by the inclusion of year 0 in the astronomical one for scientific calculations. The 1st year of a new millennium will differ not because of your logic but because of the difference of origin in the 2 systems. So in a system with 0 AD as the origin (i.e. the astronomical one), 100 years would indeed get completed at the end of 99 AD and 100 AD would be the start of the new century. In the Gregarion one, since 1 AD is the origin (due to the absence of zero year), 101 AD becomes the 1st year of the new century in this system.

  116. Ray Dixon said, on 5 January, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    Oh please Aditya, give up.

    Just ask yourself this:

    When you were born what “year” were you immediately in?

    That would be “year 1″, wouldn’t it?

    You weren’t in “year zero”.

    Year “0″ doesn’t, and never has, existed. Not in the real world.

    PS: It takes a big man to admit he was wrong.

  117. Aditya said, on 5 January, 2011 at 11:09 pm

    I don’t think you read what I say. Just look up astronomical year numbering system. It has something called year zero. I did agree that 101 AD would be the 1st year of the new century in Gregorian calendar (whose 1st year is 1 AD), while it will be 100 AD in astronomical year system (whose 1st year is 0 AD). When I was born I was in my 1st year. But that’s not the point. Your reasoning to show why there is no year zero is wrong, because there is year zero in a different and more correct system (the astronomical one). Just think of it as an infinite axis with points 0,1,2,..You’re saying the span between 0 and 1 will be called the 1st year – that is true, but not the point. It doesn’t mean that there can’t be a year zero.

    I don’t know where do you want me to admit I’m wrong.

  118. Ray Dixon said, on 5 January, 2011 at 11:29 pm

    You just want to argue, don’t you?

    I don’t know (or care) about your “astronomical calendar”. Where were you on 1/1/2000? All over the world people were celebrating ‘the start of a new millenium’ – according to the normal calendar.

    And they were wrong – the new millenium started on 1/1/2001 … according to the normal calendar!

    You are wrong too.

    Good night.

  119. Aditya said, on 5 January, 2011 at 11:46 pm

    Well there is nothing wrong in what I said in my last comment. No I don’t really ‘want’ to argue. It’s actually painfully difficult to counter arrogance, more so when it pleads ignorance.

  120. Ray Dixon said, on 6 January, 2011 at 7:35 am

    The astronomical calendar is not in any practical, worldwide use. Nor was it the one used as the reference point on all such discussions on whether 2000 was the first or last year of a millenium. You have simply referred to it now because it suits your arrogant, refuse-to-admit-you’re-wrong stance.

    Now that will be all please. No more.

  121. Aditya said, on 6 January, 2011 at 8:23 am

    I’ll not debate with you. Just ruminate on these facts:

    !) Beginning from 1 AD, astronomical calendar is identical to Gregorian calendar. 2011 AD in astronomical year = 2011 AD in Gregorian. I’ll leave it to you to decide how Gregorian is practical and astronomical is not.

    2) Astronomical calendar is used in disciplines which deal with time before 1 AD (since year zero is required for calculations). Ex. astronomy, archaeology, geology etc. Again, I’ll leave it to you to decide its practical use.

    None of the above points has anything to do any more with when to celebrate what, since I’d already spoken on it.

    If you insist the above is wrong, I’m not the one you have to prove wrong. Go fight wikipedia or something.

  122. Ray Dixon said, on 6 January, 2011 at 8:54 am

    From Wikipedia:

    In the Astronomical calendar .. the year 1 BC/BCE is numbered 0

    In other words, your precious astronomical calendar – which has a very narrow application anyway – actually proves that the first year of the first millenium was the year “1″ not the year “0″.

    And you have also acknowledged this above. All you have done is to prove yourself wrong.

    Now if you can’t admit you are wrong just go away.

  123. Aditya said, on 6 January, 2011 at 9:27 am

    Sigh.
    What is your academic background Ray? Do tell me that.

    “your precious astronomical calendar actually proves that the first year of the first millenium was the year “1″ not the year “0″.”

    No. You have to specify the system.
    Like I said before, when you are in Feb of year 0, that’s your first year in astronomical system and year 0 is your first year of the millennium. However, if you are in Feb of 1 AD, that’s your first year in Gregorian system and 1 AD is your first year of the millennium.

    1 BC Gregorian = 0 in astronomical year.

    Now for all practical purposes, Gregorian and astronomical years are same. The difference comes when a historian is put against an astronomer/geologist etc.

    For a history student, only 1999 years would have completed on Jan 1 2000 AD. He won’t celebrate the new millennium. He’d celebrate it in 2001 AD. (I said all this in a previous comment too.)

    For a science student, 2000 years would have completed on Jan 1, 2000 AD. He will celebrate the new millennium on Jan 1 2000. And so will I if I cared about celebrating it.

    It so happens that most people relate more to the historian’s view and don’t worry about the science. So most people should celebrate it on 1 Jan 2001. And thus it angers you that they celebrated it on 1 Jan 2000. So, your anger, like always, is justified.

    So if your inclination is towards history, and if you wish me happy new decade on 1 Jan 2011, I won’t bite you Ray, because I’m nice. I’d wish you back.

  124. Ray Dixon said, on 6 January, 2011 at 10:32 am

    Rubbish. The astronomers only gave 1 BC the name “0″ in their (hardly recognised) calendar because, in numbering logic, there is obviously a zero between -1 and +1 and so for dating celestial movements etc, they had to include it.

    HOWEVER, they did not do that to say that the millienium started in year “0″. In fact, they deliberately stated that the year “0″ was designated as the year Christ was born – meaning the 12 months leading up to and including his birthdate, otherwise known as 1 BC.

    The astronomical calendar may include year zero but it acknowledges that the millenium actually started at year “1″. That’s as plain as day. To claim, as you have, that according to the astronomical calendar, we had finished 2000 years at the end of 1999 is wrong. The first year of the first millenium in both calendars is clearly the year “1″ and the year “0″ exists for scientific purposes only, not for dating the years after the birth of Christ.

    Give up. Go away. You are wrong. I don’t care how “nice” you claim to be, you are just becoming a pain in the arse. This blog is in hiatus. Please respect that and stop.

  125. Rox said, on 23 January, 2011 at 5:45 pm

    Roger Merrett has had a bad stroke.

  126. Ray Dixon said, on 23 January, 2011 at 8:29 pm

    Yes. It’s a pity because Brisbane were thinking of bringing him back … to replace Fevola.

  127. Rox said, on 6 February, 2011 at 12:07 pm

    Any flooding up there?

    Tasmania has been THE place to be this summer. I’m off to Cairns next week – great timing eh?

  128. Ray Dixon said, on 8 February, 2011 at 8:14 am

    Hi Rox. I’ve been away on holidays for the past week. Just got home yesterday and despite the hysterical media warnings there were no floods anywhere near Bright. Just a bit of rain but nothing approaching any kind of alarm. Good luck in Cairns – don’t travel too far out of town!

  129. Rox said, on 8 February, 2011 at 6:25 pm

    I won’t be moving out of the air conditioning.

  130. Ray Dixon said, on 8 February, 2011 at 6:50 pm

    Better take your own generator, just in case, Rox. Btw, one piece or bikini? Just curious.

  131. Rox said, on 9 February, 2011 at 6:18 am

    ONE

  132. Ray Dixon said, on 9 February, 2011 at 7:15 am

    I’m the same.

  133. Rox said, on 10 February, 2011 at 6:50 am

    Mankini?

  134. Baldrick said, on 10 February, 2011 at 7:22 am

    Will you two pipe down. This is a family site. And btw, still no sight of that water polo team. I’ve been keeping an eye out.

  135. Ray Dixon said, on 11 February, 2011 at 12:46 pm

    Sadly, the water polo has been washed out with all the rain.

  136. Baldrick said, on 11 February, 2011 at 4:54 pm

    Only a passing sun shower Raymond

  137. Rox said, on 12 February, 2011 at 5:38 pm

    Do they wear one piece or none?

  138. Baldrick said, on 13 February, 2011 at 8:35 am

    Raymond remembers them fondly and has the pics as a keepsake

  139. Ray Dixon said, on 13 February, 2011 at 9:18 am

    They wear a one-piece Rox but (as you can see) they have trouble keeping them on:

    http://alpineopinion.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/waterpolo1.jpg

    I thought you would have saved that by now, Baldrick.

  140. Rox said, on 13 February, 2011 at 11:19 am

    You might have some competition from the lady on the left.

  141. Ray Dixon said, on 13 February, 2011 at 3:38 pm

    Yes, she looks quite taken with the other girls’ nipples. But hey, a bit of girl-on-girl is not frowned up in my pool.

  142. Ray Dixon said, on 14 February, 2011 at 11:41 am

    I just read in the Border Mail that the actual amount of rain Bright had last Friday (11 Feb) was “over 110mm”!! It was reported elsewhere as half that amount because apparently any rain that falls before 9am is regarded as ‘the previous day’. The rain started here about 5am and didn’t let up until about 4pm. It was the most I’ve ever seen here in one day – pity it didn’t get the coverage it deserved.

  143. Rox said, on 15 February, 2011 at 4:45 pm

    Well it did, because I read about it down here – that’s why I asked.

  144. Rox said, on 15 February, 2011 at 4:46 pm

    Are we doing tipping this year?

  145. Ray Dixon said, on 15 February, 2011 at 4:55 pm

    Oh. Good to see the Tassie press got it right.

    Tipping? Why not?

  146. Rox said, on 2 March, 2011 at 1:31 pm

    When do we start? I’m back!

  147. Baldrick said, on 2 March, 2011 at 4:34 pm

    Back from where?

    I have suddenly tempered my interest since last week and am installing St.Kilda as red hot 2nd favourite for the flag.

    Meanwhile, same ole west ham in a relegation scrap yet again.

  148. Rox said, on 2 March, 2011 at 5:30 pm

    Back from Far North Queensland. Try and keep up.

    Sunderland still doing well.

  149. Ray Dixon said, on 3 March, 2011 at 12:19 pm

    You’re jumping the gun – Round 1 is still 3 weeks away. As for the NAB Cup ….. *yawn*.

    But I reckon Essendon will beat St Kilda tomorrow night – they want (and need) this more. That’ll be all they achieve under Hirdy though.

  150. Rox said, on 4 March, 2011 at 6:32 am

    You hope.

  151. Andrew Davis said, on 4 March, 2011 at 11:39 am

    Well its been sometime now, Ray.

    It’s the start of March and perhaps the “Blog” should kick off once again.

    How about it????

    There is so much to talk about………………….

  152. Ray Dixon said, on 4 March, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    Don’t leave me hanging like that, Andrew. So much talk about what? I have to admit to being less interested and more out of touch with local issues these days. Although I do note some strange goings on in council re tourism – it looks like there’s no board and now it’s 100% bureaucrats in charge. Not having much impact either.

  153. Andrew Davis said, on 4 March, 2011 at 4:31 pm

    great start.

    how about a new post then…………………

  154. Rox said, on 5 March, 2011 at 10:33 am

    We smashed the Saints. We’re coming back.

  155. Ray Dixon said, on 7 March, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    And you’ll smash the Pies … and you’ll go nowhere!

  156. Greg - "The Caringbush Kid" said, on 17 March, 2011 at 7:29 pm

    I’m still around and ready to play with you again.
    Over the summer, I have been up and down like a dry fly on a trout stream.
    Can we get back-to back premierships? Who knows?

  157. Ray Dixon said, on 17 March, 2011 at 8:04 pm

    I’m glad you’re still with us, Greg. Coincidentally I was just wondering about that.

    Collingwood back-to-back? Well right now I don’t see anyone stopping you. But then again you don’t know what the Saints might do … and neither do I.

    I guess I’ll have to get my bum into gear and start up sometime in the next week – there’s only 7 days to the first game! Cheers.

  158. Andrew Davis said, on 18 March, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    How about the blog, Ray?

  159. Ray Dixon said, on 18 March, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    I dunno if I’ll start up the blog again, Andrew. What’s the point? I’ve banged my head against the brick wall for a long time and what has it achieved? Well, it achieved a massive and unaccountable drop in my council vote, getting banned from advertising on the BrightVic website (I fixed that one!), hate mail, anonymous hate blogs and stalkers going out of their way to denigrate me and my business on the Internet. Want to try it?

  160. Andrew Davis said, on 18 March, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    Ray,

    I do not have the time to look after a blog.

    I understand your position. Its a real shame as I find the blog very informative.

    We know the people with whom have created these “hate” blogs, and I presume they are now on some other project.

    It would be nice to see it up and running once again


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