Sri Lanka, Dilmah and a *Lucky* Winner

(Check out the photos at the bottom)
You know how you enter competitions and you never win?

Dilmah Tea Fields, adjacent to "Tea Trails"

 Well, I did!

It felt unreal, it was unbelievable, I mean who wins overseas trips? Not me, not you (it seems) but I won! It was via 3AW radio in Melbourne, a competition, not your regular ring in and win, but a
competition that actually required some thought, in 25 words or less, why I deserve to travel to Sri Lanka and see Dilmah's Operations. I thought about the entry for all of 2 minutes (I mean who honestly wins?)
 

My entry read:- I would love to win this for my darling husband of 25 years, every night I make him a tea and he loves it. He's never flown before and we have always talked about travelling, this would combine his love with a desire.

That was the winning entry. It's all true, and he loves tea.
 

As the dates approach I'm starting to get nervous, hubby is too. We don't even have passports, we've never flown anywhere before, let alone overseas! It's scary!
 

We organised the local chauffeured vehicle to the airport (and the return trip) and then really started to panic! It's REAL!
 

 We arrive at the airport early, and with Anne's (chauffeur) help find the right gate and we are away (well sort of!) Suddenly we are on the plane and the plane is taking off. It's real, we are seriously flying to Sri Lanka and going to see The Home of Tea.
 

 We change planes in Singapore, we almost missed the plane, Singapore's Changi Airport IS HUGE and 7hrs on a plane, I've stiffened up a bit and that slowed us down.
 

Water Monitor, Seen on the way to "Tea Trails"

Suddenly we are in Sri Lanka, people everywhere, but everyone is so friendly. We get through customs and are met by the Dilmah tour guide. Did I mention that telephone (or SIM card) salespeople are the same world-over? Yup they are!
 

One of the buildings in Colombo. Built in the 1800's

Several other Dilmah guests arrived on the same flight, we just didn't realise it at the time, we all piled on the bus and the fun began. The first stop was The Hilton in Colombo, we got there about 1am……. By 6am hubby and I were exploring the streets of Colombo. It was amazing, so much old world architecture, intermingled with lots of glass and cement. A city changing its skin like a chameleon. Tuk Tuks sharing the roads with 2013 Land Rovers! Beautiful and certainly a change from lil' ol' Melbourne.

Snake Charmer in Colombo.

 

We stayed in Colombo for 2 days, it felt like forever. We toured the Dilmah factory, it's a beautiful place, a place for the person, it's a family. Machines are present, but unlike Australia, people are the preferred method of getting things done. The love that is put into company of Dilmah, by the owners (Fernando Family) and the employees is a sight to behold.

Water Buffalo, as seen on the way to 'Tea Trails'

 The next stop was 'Tea Trails' http://www.teatrails.com/ a magical place, right in the middle of the tea fields, up in the hills. The mist in the morning and 4 poster beds of a night. An experience that should be on your bucket list!

Bridge over a river, notice the baggage being carried? Likely tea leaves

 

Tea Drying House

Steps at "Tea Trails"

 The rest of the tour were scheduled to visit the tea fields and drying houses, I opted out, as I know that yesterday I held up the tour group and knowing that the group would be going into the tea fields, it wouldn’t be fair to have me dragging them down. We had a wonderful day, being spoilt by the staff at Tea Trails and later in the afternoon we went for a walk in the village. I felt like the pied piper, with kids calling out in English and wanting to talk and then following us down the road. We caught a tuk tuk back (it was all uphill.) We stayed two nights here and it was a peaceful, quiet retreat.

Tea Fields, near 'Tea Trails"

 

Sunset over the Dam at 'Tea Trails'

 On the way to the next port of call, we stopped at the Temple of the Tooth. The Temple is a very special place, the age of and reverence within the Temple of the Tooth is sacred. It's so hard to explain. I was awe-struck. After our visit we proceeded to "Blue Water" http://www.bluewatersrilanka.com/ (I think this was our favourite!) another 2 wonderful nights, another 2 wonderful days in heaven, smiling people both within and outside the resort. The weather was glorious, the views amazing.  The pool was the centre-piece of the resort (as it is with many). Early in the morning an elephant would be bought to the grounds and you could pay for a ride if you wanted (I wasn't game enough!) On the beach, the local fishermen would spend hours laying their nets and hauling them in. It was a sight to see. The food was amazing. You had spas at your fingertips, drinks from the poolside bar. You name it, I think everything was available, all you had to do was ask. We had a wonderful time outside the resort too. Took a tuk tuk and went shopping. We ended up in the Russian quarter. No longer were the signs in English, all Russian, felt very strange! Bought a beautiful dress 

Elephant rides at Blue Water

 

Fishermen at Blue Water

From Blue Water, we travelled to Uda Walawa and had lunch at Manduka. Manduka is a very special place, set up as an initiative of the Merrill J Fernando Centre, where women of the area can earn a wage, by throwing, baking and glazing pottery. It's amazing what can be done with so little. The next stop (again two nights) was Uda Walawe Grand Safari Lodge


Water Lily at Uda Walawa Grand safari Lodge

The Afternoon Rains at Uda Walawa Grand Safari Lodge

Rain Band coming in over the hills at Uda Walawa

http://www.udawalawesafari.com/ Many a cricket team has stayed here! A gorgeous place, squirrels literally on your doorstep and the  opportunity to go on safari just around the corner. While we were there - we visited the Elephant Transit Home, a very special place for young orphaned, mistreated and injured elephants. https://www.facebook.com/ElephantTransitHomeSriLanka Perhaps have a look and make a donation. I know we did.
 

Orphaned elephant getting his daily feed of milk at the Elephant Transit Home

Elephant playing with water. Seen whilst on Safari

The next stop was Galle and a place called The Fortress. http://www.fortressresortandspa.com/ A truly beautiful place. Ravaged by the  2004 Tsunami, a full recovery has been made. The opulence of the surroundings is jaw dropping to say the least. Just around the corner (100m walk) you can see traditional pole fishermen, and a 20min drive in the other direction, you can see the Galle Fort, built in 1588 by the Portuguese followed by the Dutch with many different architectural styles clearly still visible today. Check out Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galle_Fort I was taken aback by the sheer thickness of the walls!
 

Night at 'The Fortress'

The Fortress was our last overnight stay in Sri Lanka, from Galle we proceeded to Colombo and checked into the Hilton again for a meal, to freshen up and then fly out at 1am.
 

Stall Holder

Our trip to Sri Lanka was a wonderful eye-opening visit. We saw very little of the civil war that ended in 2009, nor did we see much damage from the 2004 Tsunami. The people were so friendly and smiles everywhere. So polite and helpful. We were wandering around the local market at 6am the first morning we arrived and it was an amazing experience.

Temple in Colombo

 

Dilmah tea is not the traditional stodgy English hot tea you are used to, Dilmah tea can be served in many styles, from hot to cold and even infused in your food! Check out some of the Dilmah recipes here http://realhightea.dilmahtea.com/recipes/ or create your own, perhaps you are a closet mixologist (bartender) or a secret chef! Why not tempt your tastebuds and find out!
We learnt so much about tea, about the Dilmah manufacturing processes and MORE importantly the Dilmah 'family'. Each and every employee is part of that family and it is they that brings to tea to you, for you to enjoy.

 Celebrating 25 years of Dilmah.

Tea made with Love, Care and a Commitment to Human Service
 

Thank-you to the Fernando Family and Dilmah staff, my husband and I had a once in a lifetime experience.

Squirrel, enjoying a nut. (Remember the Movie 'Up'?) Hubby and I couldn't get it out of our minds!

The tusked elephant (4%er) is approx. 45yo. We saw him on our early morning safari - and he wasn't moving for ANYONE!



Baby Elephant and sibling (cue the ooohhs!) - as seen on safari (another 4%er - Tusk)



Peacock in full show - as seen on safari

Boats in the Galle Harbour

Squirrel in silhouette

Pole Fisherman at Galle

Galle Market

Popular Form of Transport ;) (and good photo op!)

Railway crossing near 'The Fortress'

Railway Crossing Shed at same crossing



Temple of the Tooth. A wonderous place of beauty, age and reverence

'The Fortress' at night

Fisher monger on his motorbike weighing out fish in Galle

View from the Pool at 'The Fortress'

Bed made up at 'The Fortress'







Merril and Dilhan Fernando with Hubby and myself





Tea Lounge - coming to a location near you - look out for them.

Galle Fortress - A structure from the Spanish Period

In Memory of Joan Gillespie 1937-13th July 2012

Today I learnt that a dear friend had passed away. Nothing is as final death. Not illness, not sickness, NOTHING.

I've known Joan since 2002, May actually. I was working at the Austin Hospital at the time.

We seemed to hit it off straight away, age made no difference, nor the fact that she was wheelchair bound and using a respirator to survive. See Joan was a polio sufferer, yet suffer she did not.

She helped everyone, she had a smile for everyone. She was a beautiful person.

She always put everyone else's needs above her own. In fact when I saw her on Thursday, whilst she was an in-patient, she was more concerned with getting out and about again, than worrying about her health. She was worried people were missing her already (She'd been in hospital one week)

She would do the shopping for many patients, buying Tattslotto tickets and generally just being useful for those that couldn't get out. Being wheelchair bound made no difference to her.

Her lovely husband John, made much of this possible, John was Joan's right hand man, literally.

Joan (and John) would regularly present a Sunday session on Inner FM, Melbourne 96.5FM Much of the music was requested by Joan and Johns' friends.

Some of Joans' Milestones

1937 - Contracted polio and lived in an Iron Lung for the next 30 years

1967 - (approx) released from the confines of the Iron Lung

1980 - (approx) Met John, her partner

1990 - debut on radio

2011 - Victorian Senior of the Year Awards - Veteran Community Award

 Joan was an avid listener to 3AW Melbourne radio, as well as a prolific poem writer, which were often broadcast on 3AW radio.

I have previously written about Joan (and Charlie) here My Hero

Joan loved the work she did, it may have been voluntary, but to Joan it was work and very rewarding from what she always told me.

Joan, you will live in my memory forever. I looked up at you. My problems seemed like baby goldfish. Yours were the sharks of the world.

Thank-you for being my friend.

Thinking of you John at your great time of loss.

Truth

Truth is something that people are more and more often avoiding speaking about, addressing or even confronting.

Sure THE TRUTH hurts sometimes, but would you rather people didn't tell you the truth?

Would you rather people who knew something you don't, never utter a word for fear of hurting your feelings?

Would you rather be ripped off by a business partner, because someone on the outside could see what was happening, but was afraid of being attacked by you, because you always attack when confronted with the truth?

A friend is a person who is not afraid of telling you The Truth, because they know that you have enough guts to face the truth and not blame them for telling it as it is.

People think that sugar-coating everything is good for the people, good for the children, good for the world.

Sugar-coating, only brings corpulence, corruption, deceit and the eventual mistrust of everyone and everything.

A person who is capable of telling the truth is a friend indeed. Remember that, because tomorrow, looks and brains may not be everything to get you by.

A pinch of honesty is the best thing for everything and remember, not everyone in the competition of life can win a prize. Some people have to win the wooden spoon too. Hell I've won a couple in my lifetime.

"Get rid of your regrets. You are what you are from what you have experienced. And rightly understood and accepted. All experiences are good, and the bitter ones best of all"

From:- Nifty Nuts 1910.

The Federal Government is Broke and I am a Tax Cheat.

The 8th of February 2012, made me realise that the Federal Government really is hard up for money and that government employees have no idea how to perform their job let alone meet KPI's.

I received a letter dated the 8th February 2012, stating :"You may not be eligible for *********** tax refund that you claimed in 2009 and 2010 tax returns."

Claiming that I had not made payment application for benefit **** from Centrelink.

Hate to tell you ATO - but you were WRONG. I had claimed BOTH benefits, one had been accepted, the 2010 period in PAID July 2011 and the 2009 period was denied by Centrelink because Centrelink couldn't "data-match" with ATO records.

I resubmitted the Centrelink claim for benefit **** for the 2009 period and blindly waited for a response. Centrelink guidelines are 28 day turn-around. I advised ATO this was the case and sat back and waited (stupid me)

I re-entered the Centrelink office on the 21st March, they advised me that the claim was still being processed. I asked for a letter confirming this was the case, which I received and duly faxed off to the to Centrelink AND ATO data-matching team office. NO RESPONSE. Exert "As this matter is beyond my ability to solve. I just have to wait and consequently you will also have to wait. This also means that the adjustment to my tax return for the period 2009 can not be enforced until such time as Centrelink data-match information previously provided to them in July 2011."

On the 17th April, low and behold a revised assessment is received from the ATO claiming I owe them $1000. I duly send off ANOTHER letter to both the ATO and Centrelink. No response is received from either party. Exert: "As I have previously explained to you. Centrelink have failed to fulfil their end of the application, regarding benefit **** which was submitted to them on the 27th February 2012. I have now received an amended assessment, which I will not pay until Centrelink either pay or decline my application, which has been submitted. not once BUT twice for this period."

On the 19th April I decide enough is enough and submit a complaint to the Commonwealth Ombudsman. Low and behold within 48 hours I am talking to sane people from both the Ombudsman AND ATO (Not Centrelink)

At NO POINT IN time did ANYONE from Centrelink contact me to discuss this matter, even when escalated to the Commonwealth Ombudsman. NOT ONCE.

The ATO refuse to acknowledge they are wrong in applying a penalty, when evidence obviously shows doubt. They will only extend the payment due date, nothing else. But better than nothing I suppose.

On the 24th April 2012, (57 days after second application) a determination is made in my favour (as I knew it would be) and Centrelink have to pay me (as I knew would be the case.)

I then have to contact the ATO and advise them this is the case. Exert: "The stress you placed upon me was unacceptable and no-one was prepared to accept the fact that I am an honest law-abiding citizen. No wonder people dislike the ATO and staff face issues of verbal abuse, in relation to determinations that are incorrect. and force people to approach the Ombudsman to get things resolved."

The matter is now closed, but the fact that Centrelink did not contact me regarding ANY correspondence sent to them and ATO take 5 days to acknowledge fax or not at all in some cases, is deplorable.

My only conclusion in all of this, is that the Federal Government is broke and they are hoping the Little Mr and Mrs Smith, will just pay up and shut up and save the Government billions in benefits and reap illegal back payments.

Have you had a similar experience?

 My previous run-ins with Centrelink.

Social Security - September 2009
Social Security - Name and Shame - July 2011

**Centrelink finally called me on the 10th May 2012 at 5pm.........

My hero

.................................................. ..

Joan and Charlie ......................... .............. .................. ....... Sally!

Some 7 or 8 years ago – I met a lady. I took one look and realised she was something special.

First and foremost, she loves animals, in fact had a companion dog that went everywhere with her. Secondly, she volunteers at the Austin Hospital a minimum of 5 days a week and is there Christmas Day also, loving, and laughing with the patients. Thirdly, she endures the after-effects of polio, which means she relies on a ventilator for every life-giving breath. Thirdly she is confined to a wheelchair.

Every day of every week, she is lifted out of bed and every day she is thinking of someone other than herself.

Her name is Joan Gillespie and she is my hero. Joan was born in 1937 and in that same year contracted Polio. It wasn’t until the 1980’s that Joan left the numerous hospitals she called home and moved in with her partner John. Soon after full-time employment was no longer an option with the worsening effects of polio taking a toll on her body. About the same time technology caught up with Joan and allowed her to continue to work full-time in a voluntary capacity, with the provision of a portable ventilator.

Joan volunteers once a month at Inner FM (96.5FM) radio in Melbourne, along with her partner John. Joan is also a member of the Polio Advisory Committee, who meet once a month and discuss and advise on issues relating to Polio.

Joan goes shopping for patients at the Austin Hospital and the adjoining nursing home, because (as Joan says) ‘They can’t get out, like I can.”

As we have both have a love of animals, Joan asked me to do her a favour. Joan knew that her dog Sally was struggling to keep up with her and she asked if I could perhaps find a dog that might replace Sally when her time was near.

I asked around my network and was offered two brothers, little Chihuahua Crosses. I couldn’t make the choice for Joan. So I organised for the dogs to be bought to the Austin Hospital for Joan to see if she liked either dog. After much debate and what ifs and maybes, Joan settled on the less dominant of the pair. This little boy had been abandoned and was a little timid, but had a lovely temperament. I organised for this little guy to come home with me on the weekend.

He spent a week at my place, where I tried so hard to stay remote from him, but alas 6 years later it appears that I failed.

He was named Charlie and helped Joan with the loss of her Sally and is trying hard to fill the space that Sally left.

Today Joan and I were laughing at his antics, and I realised that Charlie helps Joan and Joan helps Charlie. The two are a match made in heaven.

Joan is my hero. If you are ever at the Austin Hospital and you see a lady in a wheelchair with a little dog walking beside her. Say hello and remember that without people like Joan, the world would be a sadder place.

Thank-you Joan for giving me permission to publish this.

My Favourite Photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment juvenile Kangaroo on the hop (28th December 2010)

Dolphin chasing a bow wave at Apollo Bay (cropped) 25th January 2011

The family dog enjoying some paddock time - 9th February 2011

Tiger Woods set in brick - Craigieburn Brick works 27th December 2010

Please DO NOT copy any photos on this blog - without my express written permission

Are you Dead?

Weird question……. Hell I’m a weird person, so I suppose it’s normal for me to have weird questions.

I always worry when people disappear from my digital life, they come, they make an impression, (or you wouldn’t be worrying about them) and they go. Not in the, I hate you, I don’t agree with you way ………… but just *POOF* gone and it makes me worry.

People say why worry? I worry! Just because it may be someone I’ve never met In Real Life (IRL) but someone I’ve met through a computer screen. They are real people even if some say it’s not like these people are your friends. I consider them a friend, the only difference is they are a digital friend – I may not share what I do with IRL friends, but you still share a little bit of you every time you communicate.

One memorable case for me, someone had obviously got sick of social networking, so they posted

‘It's not you, it's me. 999 days together (that went quick!) but I need a break. If you need me, you know where to find me.”

Now this works for me, it tells me they are okay (well you hope so) and that perhaps they’ll be back, perhaps they won’t, but at least you know they are okay.

Whilst writing this blog post – I realised that someone else has gone and done the *POOF* thing. It wasn’t until I asked others that I found a website etc.

Because 90% of my work (and my relaxation) time is computer orientated, I use social networking like the proverbial water cooler and will often pop in and talk to a variety of people, the conversations often aren’t very deep, but they are enough to make someone smile or laugh and that could be the highlight of someone’s day.

For me social networking is not just about advertising oneself (which I rarely do) It’s not about spamming the people you talk to. It’s about communicating with people who have similar interests, worries, concerns or even just strange animals! (Yup, animals can define who you are too!)

So next time you take a hiatus from social networking, let someone know, if you decide to change your name, let people know also – it may seem a small thing for you – but some people do care. Perhaps you run a business and use your business name as your name on social networking – suddenly, you can no longer be traced. (That’s not a good business practice!)

Someone sitting behind a computer a screen does care, even if sometimes it appears they don’t.

Enjoy the day and remember treat others as you wish to be treated!

Are you a fake?

Have you every claimed someone else’s hard work as your own? Ever taken something and claimed it as your own? Every worked together with someone and then taken the collaborative work and claimed it as your own? Has someone ever given you something in good faith and you’ve failed to carry through with the promise you made to them?

If you’ve ever done anything like that – YOU ARE A FAKE.

I want everyone to remember, that Karma is a Bitch and she bides her time – you’ve heard that revenge is a dish best served cold, well the good girl Karma knows how to serve that dish.

My reason for writing this is because I built something, I created something and I gave it to someone in the good faith they would do what needs to be done. They have now cut me from their life, they have ceased all communication and I feel used and dirty.

I trust people – I trust that there is more good than bad in this world. I’m renowned for working solo and now I know why.

I hope that this person who is claiming to be something they are not, who is using goods that are not their own and claiming the hard work of others as their own realises before it’s too late that Karma is a Bitch, because SHE bites.

Enjoy the day and remember tomorrow may never come, or if it does, it may be totally different to what you expected yesterday.

ALL EUROPEAN LIFE DIED IN AUSCHWITZ

The following is a copy of an article written by Spanish writer, Sebastian Vilar Rodriguez and published in a Spanish newspaper on Jan. 15, 2008.

REMEMBER AS YOU READ -- IT WAS IN A SPANISH PAPER
Date: Tue. 15 January 2008 14:30

ALL EUROPEAN LIFE DIED IN AUSCHWITZ By Sebastian Vilar Rodrigez

I walked down the street in Barcelona, and suddenly discovered a terrible truth - Europe died in Auschwitz ... We killed six million Jews and replaced them with 20 million Muslims. In Auschwitz we burned a culture, thought, creativity, talent. We destroyed the chosen people, truly chosen, because they produced great and wonderful people who changed the world.

The contribution of this people is felt in all areas of life: science, art, international trade, and above all, as the conscience of the world. These are the people we burned.

And under the pretence of tolerance, and because we wanted to prove to ourselves that we were cured of the disease of racism, we opened our gates to 20 million Muslims, who brought us stupidity and ignorance, religious extremism and lack of tolerance, crime and poverty, due to an unwillingness to work and support their families with pride.

They have blown up our trains and turned our beautiful Spanish cities into the third world, drowning in filth and crime.

Shut up in the apartments they receive free from the government, they plan the murder and destruction of their naive hosts.

And thus, in our misery, we have exchanged culture for fanatical hatred, creative skill for destructive skill, intelligence for backwardness and superstition.

We have exchanged the pursuit of peace of the Jews of Europe and their talent for a better future for their children, their determined clinging to life because life is holy, for those who pursue death, for people consumed by the desire for death for themselves and others, for our children and theirs.

What a terrible mistake was made by miserable Europe ..

The Global Islamic population is approximately 1,200,000,000; that is ONE BILLION TWO HUNDRED MILLION or 20% of the world's population.
They have received the following Nobel Prizes:

Literature:
1988 - Najib Mahfooz

Peace:
1978 - Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat
1990 - Elias James Corey
1994 - Yaser Arafat:
1999 - Ahmed Zewai

Economics:
(zero)

Physics:
(zero)

Medicine:
1960 - Peter Brian Medawar
1998 - Ferid Mourad

TOTAL: 7 SEVEN

The Global Jewish population is approximately 14,000,000; that is FOURTEEN MILLION or about 0.02% of the world's population. They have received the following Nobel Prizes:

Literature:
1910 - Paul Heyse
1927 - Henri Bergson
1958 - Boris Pasternak
1966 - Shmuel Yosef Agnon
1966 - Nelly Sachs
1976 - Saul Bellow
1978 - Isaac Bashevis Singer
1981 - Elias Canetti
1987 - Joseph Brodsky
1991 - Nadine Gordimer World

Peace:
1911 - Alfred Fried
1911 - Tobias Michael Carel Asser
1968 - Rene Cassin
1973 - Henry Kissinger
1978 - Menachem Begin
1986 - Elie Wiesel
1994 - Shimon Peres
1994 - Yitzhak Rabin

Physics:
1905 - Adolph Von Baeyer
1906 - Henri Moissan
1907 - Albert Abraham Michelson
1908 - Gabriel Lippmann
1910 - Otto Wallach
1915 - Richard Willstaetter
1918 - Fritz Haber
1921 - Albert Einstein
1922 - Niels Bohr
1925 - James Franck
1925 - Gustav Hertz
1943 - Gustav Stern
1943 - George Charles de Hevesy
1944 - Isidor Issac Rabi
1952 - Felix Bloch
1954 - Max Born
1958 - Igor Tamm
1959 - Emilio Segre
1960 - Donald A. Glaser
1961 - Robert Hofstadter
1961 - Melvin Calvin
1962 - Lev Davidovich Landau
1962 - Max Ferdinand Perutz
1965 - Richard Phillips Feynman
1965 - Julian Schwinger
1969 - Murray Gell-Mann
1971 - Dennis Gabor
1972 - William Howard Stein
1973 - Brian David Josephson
1975 - Benjamin Mottleson
1976 - Burton Richter
1977 - Ilya Prigogine
1978 - Arno Allan Penzias
1978 - Peter L Kapitza
1979 - Stephen Weinberg
1979 - Sheldon Glashow
1979 - Herbert Charles Brown
1980 - Paul Berg
1980 - Walter Gilbert
1981 - Roald Hoffmann
1982 - Aaron Klug
1985 - Albert A. Hauptman
1985 - Jerome Karle
1986 - Dudley R. Herschbach
1988 - Robert Huber
1988 - Leon Lederman
1988 - Melvin Schwartz
1988 - Jack Steinberger
1989 - Sidney Altman
1990 - Jerome Friedman
1992 - Rudolph Marcus
1995 - Martin Perl
2000 - Alan J. Heeger

Economics:
1970 - Paul Anthony Samuelson
1971 - Simon Kuznets
1972 - Kenneth Joseph Arrow
1975 - Leonid Kantorovich
1976 - Milton Friedman
1978 - Herbert A. Simon
1980 - Lawrence Robert Klein
1985 - Franco Modigliani
1987 - Robert M. Solow
1990 - Harry Markowitz
1990 - Merton Miller
1992 - Gary Becker
1993 - Robert Fogel

Medicine:
1908 - Elie Metchnikoff
1908 - Paul Erlich
1914 - Robert Barany
1922 - Otto Meyerhof
1930 - Karl Landsteiner
1931 - Otto Warburg
1936 - Otto Loewi
1944 - Joseph Erlanger
1944 - Herbert Spencer Gasser
1945 - Ernst Boris Chain
1946 - Hermann Joseph Muller
1950 - Tadeus Reichstein
1952 - Selman Abraham Waksman
1953 - Hans Krebs
1953 - Fritz Albert Lipmann
1958 - Joshua Lederberg
1959 - Arthur Kornberg
1964 - Konrad Bloch
1965 - Francois Jacob
1965 - Andre Lwoff
1967 - George Wald
1968 - Marshall W. Nirenberg
1969 - Salvador Luria
1970 - Julius Axelrod
1970 - Sir Bernard Katz
1972 - Gerald Maurice Edelman
1975 - Howard Martin Temin
1976 - Baruch S. Blumberg
1977 - Roselyn Sussman Yalow
1978 - Daniel Nathans
1980 - Baruj Benacerraf
1984 - Cesar Milstein
1985 - Michael Stuart Brown
1985 - Joseph L. Goldstein
1986 - Stanley Cohen [& Rita Levi-Montalcini]
1988 - Gertrude Elion
1989 - Harold Varmus
1991 - Erwin Neher
1991 - Bert Sakmann
1993 - Richard J. Roberts
1993 - Phillip Sharp
1994 - Alfred Gilman
1995 - Edward B. Lewis
1996- Lu RoseIacovino
TOTAL: 129!

The Jews are NOT promoting brain washing children in military training camps, teaching them how to blow themselves up and cause maximum deaths of Jews and other non Muslims. The Jews don't hijack planes, nor kill athletes at the Olympics, or blow themselves up in German restaurants. There is NOT one single Jew who has destroyed a church. There is NOT a single Jew who protests by killing people.

The Jews don't traffic slaves, nor have leaders calling for Jihad and death to all the Infidels.

Perhaps the world's Muslims should consider investing more in standard education and less in blaming the Jews for all their problems.

Muslims must ask 'what can they do for humankind' before they demand that humankind respects them.

Regardless of your feelings about the crisis between Israel and the Palestinians and Arab neighbours, even if you believe there is more culpability on Israel's part, the following two sentences really say it all:

'If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel.’ Benjamin Netanyahu

It is a matter of history that when the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, General Dwight Eisenhower, found the victims of the death camps he ordered all possible photographs to be taken, and for the German people from surrounding villages to be ushered through the camps and even made to bury the dead.

He did this because he said in words to this effect:

'Get it all on record now - get the films - get the witnesses - because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened'

Recently, the UK debated whether to remove The Holocaust from its school curriculum because it 'offends' the Muslim population which claims it never occurred. It is not removed as yet. However, this is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easily each country is giving into it.

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the, 6 million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians, and 1,900 Catholic priests who were 'murdered, raped, burned, starved, beaten, experimented on and humiliated' while the German people looked the other way.

Now, more than ever, with Iran, among others, claiming the Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets.

This e-mail is intended to reach 400 million people. Be a link in the memorial chain and help distribute this around the world.

How many years will it be before the attack on the World Trade Center 'NEVER HAPPENED' because it offends some Muslim in the United States ?

Do not just delete this message; it will take only a minute to pass this along.

(This came to my by email – I’ve left it completely untouched, do as you feel you should)

The below links I believe show/prove that the text is an accurate translation of what was originally written in Spanish.

Gerry Charlotte Phelps
My Peoples Voice

Wall-E – The Movie, The world that could be….

.............If we allow it to be.

My reason for writing this post, is that I was watching this movie on the weekend with my 13yo and even he realised there is a grain of truth in. Are we smart enough to save ourselves now? Or do we have to wait 800 years for a saviour?

W.A.L.L.E. = Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth Class.

Walle is a trash compaction unit, left behind after Earth was evacuated due to people just using and abusing and throwing away. Humans are evacuated as a temporary measure until the WALL-E units can clean up the planet and allow the humans to return.

Unfortunately 5 years after taking to the skies, earth was deemed too toxic for humans to return, so they stay in space and with a sedentary lifestyle, turn into fat humans, unable to move and only living because computers do everything for them, from making decisions, to bringing them food, to clothing them and making them scared of the real world.

When Eve is sent down to the Earth to see how things are going, she finds WALL-E and then a seedling, once Eve detects the seedling, she shuts down, hiding the plant, and calling for a ship to come and pick her and the plant up.

WALL-E hitches a lift and makes it back to the mother ship. The Auto-pilot of the Mother ship realises that the plant signifies life and by declaring WALL-E a threat and stealing the plant, the autopilot almost derails humans returning back to Earth.

Eventually the humans realise that being obese and reliant on robots/computers is not good nor healthy for them and make a change.

What I’m getting at, are humans being too consumer orientated, prepared to settle brand-new straight out the box and not fix something that is broken, rather throw it out and get a replacement?

Are we becoming too reliant on computers to feed us, warm us, monitor us, coach us, entertain us and pretty much do everything except spoon the calorie laden food into our mouths and wipe our butts (Although I believe you can buy a toilet seat that does that!)

Have we lost our sense of who and what we are? Have we lost the ability to think for ourselves, have we lost common sense. Are we so stupid that we can’t think for ourselves anymore.

Think it about – watch the movie WALL-E, it might have been made in 2008 and it might be animated, but look, listen and pay attention – there IS A MESSAGE THERE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! (or is it?)

*Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
* December 25th is just a "Holiday ".*

*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, cheques and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
* At Myers the word Christmas - was nowhere to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Target and Woolies and Coles*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*

*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Gillard!*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith;*
* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*
*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate "Summer Break" under your "Dream Tree"*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, Not Happy Holiday!*
*Christ is 'The Reason' for the Christ-mas Season!*

(The earliest reference I can find to this, is December 2006) if anyone knows the origins, I'm happy to attribute)

I (used) to baby-sit your dog

Well…….. I did until a person, told the owner that I wasn’t feeding the dog – complete and utter lies.

This dog is the sort of dog – that will eat until he vomits and makes himself very sick, so he always presents as being hungry.

I was accused of not supplying water, this is completely untrue – around the corner under the tap was another 20 litre bucket of water. Near the back door another 20 litre bucket of water. 40 litres for two dogs for a 12 hour period is more than enough and they are not known for tipping their water over. The owners only have the 1 x 20 litre bucket. But they have the benefit of being home most of the time. I didn’t have that luxury. I come in the morning and night.

I used to go every morning and every night, water, talk to and feed these two dogs.

Then I find out about being accused of not caring for these two dogs.

Fine, let someone else care for them. Someone else was found. The people looked after the dogs once, twice and the third time something happened to one of the dogs and I get the call to check out what the problem is. I pick up pretty quickly it’s a back problem and gentle walking might assist with the problem. I was ignored. The owners called. The owners asked me what I thought (again) and I told them the same thing.

They took the dog to the vet, the vet said the same thing (which I’ve been saying for 3 days now) The owner ignores all advice, 2 weeks and $1000 later, the dog is put down, the owners couldn’t be bothered following. The dog is in too much pain to do anything other than be put down. Noting that said dog is 12 years old, so not a bad run.

That leaves a dog, who will eat anything in sight, needing to be looked after. I’m pretty upset – I consider my dog to be the centre of my universe (well almost) As I told someone the house could burn down and as long as I have my dog I’ll survive. That’s what I think of my dog and any other dog as well. I can’t help it if the owners are dick-heads.

I don’t take kindly to being accused of something I didn’t do, in fact I take it very seriously – I consider it to be a slur on my name.

I let it ride, there are reasons for this.

Tonight I get the dogs’ owner knocking on my door, hat in hand wanting me to feed said dog for a 6 week period. (noting the past that I have not accepted any gifts or similar in exchange for said care) I figure the dog is more important.

I’m still upset and refused, I even told him I don’t take kindly to being accused of something that I didn’t do.

In an act of blackmail, he threatened to have the dog put down. After all he is 14 years old and he’s had a good life. Now he is more trouble that he’s worth. My God. I felt like putting the owner down.

The owner has done nothing wrong, the animal is cared for, fed, watered, allowed to sleep inside, Basically fairly spoilt, so I don’t understand these turn of events.

I am mad and I don’t like being black-mailed.

I’m in two minds – do I say yes and look after the dog or do I sit back and see what other ‘solutions’ he comes up with in the hope he doesn’t carry through with his threat?

I don’t know

Food Court Etiquette

8 out of 10 people*, don’t place their rubbish in the bin when visiting food halls in shopping centres. I am appalled that people are so lazy and dirty.

They leave the food, the scraps everything for the cleaners to pick up. I am disgusted that people think so little of others that are there to sweep the floors for the inadvertent spills, have now been turned into slaves to those too lazy to clean up their own mess.

I can’t imagine what the inside of their houses must look like. I can’t imagine what their children must think of this. They probably think it is completely normal to leave your waste for others to clean up.

I must admit I was stunned by the figures. People didn’t even think about placing the discarded packaging, food stuffs on the tray, they just left everything scattered about on the table. They were even too lazy to do that.

Is society so disrespectful and selfish of their surroundings and other people that they think they can do this?

Who will be waiting on the tables in 20 years time? It won’t be those children that walked away today. That would be too low for them. They would rather be on the dole than cleaning up other peoples’ messes. YET………… If they tidied up after themselves, there would be no need for people to clear the tables.

Are you are you a table pig or a bin user?

Would love your thoughts please!

*Witnessed by self over a period of 3 visits to 2 seperate food courts

Car salesmen and missed opportunities

As the saying goes – ‘never judge a book by it’s cover’ This saying has never truer than in the new and used car sales industry.

1970 – Grandfather wants to buy an upmarket vehicle – he can’t get anyone to attend to his needs – he returns home and Nanna says no wonder, you re dressed like a farm worker (grey overalls) standard dress for Grandpa as he worked for the sake of work, not the money. He returns to same yard (new, luxury car yard) in a tie an suit. Walks into the managers/owner’s office and advises them that they just lost a sale, due to their making judgement by the clothes a man wore and not what he actually wanted. Until his death he bought a NEW car every two years, same make from the ‘new’ dealer in the CBD, a dealer that didn’t judge a book by its cover.

1994 – Husband and wife – driving through a small town spot a 4x4 they might be interested in purchasing. They are in the market for a new car, they do some towing, in fact they were towing a boat that very day. They walk into the dealership request a look at the vehicle (it is 3pm on a Saturday) the dealer says no – it’s too much trouble to get the car out and on the road.

The couple walk away, the couple do not identify themselves, they might be dressed in clothes more suitable for fishing, than buying cars, but their money is the same colour.

12 weeks later the wife returns with a baby on her hip, walks into the same showroom, the salesman, who is also the owner fawns all over her. She says – ‘you haven’t sold THAT car yet?’ (referring to the 4x4). “No” is the response. Reply “that doesn’t surprise me with your attitude. It would have been sold 12 weeks ago. You refused to show it to us. Instead we bought……………”(and points to a new vehicle sitting on the kerb). I then did the introductions and advised him that I am the daughter of so and so. His jaw hit the ground, he apologised profusely. I told him to make this a lesson learnt. NEVER EVER Judge a book by its cover.

He learnt his lesson the hard way. He lost not only that one sale on that one 4x4 but father like daughter, he lost a new car sale every two years. He begged, he rang, he tried bribery. All attempts failed. – Sometimes money is not the be all and end all.

Do you have similar stories? – Would love to hear them!