Shame On You Australia...

Shame on you Australia.
Shame on you Tony Abbott.
Prime Minister of The Lucky Country.
Shame on you for the despicable way you are treating thousands of boat people, refugees seeking asylum. People trying to escape the purgatory of their home countries, trying to find a better life in the so called 'civilised world'.
They didn't know when they paid all they had to people who would try and become rich at their expense, that they would be treated so inhumanely by the likes of you Abbott.
You, yes you Abbott, who paid the crew of an illegal people trafficking ship like the one pictured, thousands of dollars each to take their human cargo somewhere else. Anywhere else.
You are a despicable human being Abbott. And your forefathers Australia, before you forget, were boat people and mostly criminals being sent to the colonies by Mother England.
Their crimes pale into insignificance
next to yours Australia.
Shame on you...

The Spectacular Australian Camel Train. Don't Miss It...

The Spectacular Aussie Camel Train at Broome's Cable Beach  is evidently included on the list of One Hundred Things To Do before the inevitable happens. The ideal time to take the train is at sunset when the tide from the Indian Ocean is out. There's more here.
Put it on your bucket list and before you kick it, go for a camel train ride.
See you at the station...

A Naked Cyclist Gets Fined. For Not Wearing A Helmet...

A naked cyclist in New Zealand's Timaru was fined the other day.
For not wearing a helmet.
In Australia and in New Zealand, wearing a helmet is compulsary and non compliance can result in a fine of  up to $3,000
And in another act of bureaucratic and judicial craziness again in New Zealand where stupidity is alive, well and thriving, a Marlborough couple were fined $20,000 each for not wearing helmets while driving their farm quad bikes.
It's a mad mad world we live in...

Orange Sky. Australia's New Free Mobile Laundry Service For The Homeless...

Every night in Brisbane alone, around three hundred people sleep rough in parks, under bridges, in doorways and abandoned buildings.
Very few if any of these folk have access to one of the most comforting things in life,
fresh clean laundry.
Lucas Patchett and Nicholas Marchesi, two young engineering students say much of the inspiration behind the project came from the song Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch. In your love, my inspiration lies, and I had a dream I stood beneath an orange sky with my brother standing by are part of the lyrics from the song which is about helping your brothers and sisters and these values are central to this project say the two young entrepreneurs.
Teaming up Orange Sky with other services it's hoped to provide the laundry service while at the same time feeding the homeless too.
There's more about the wonderful idea here.
People helping people.
A concept that just could catch on...

An Indoor Underfloor Hot Tub. Ideal For Tiny Home Dwellers...

A great space saving idea if you live in a tiny home but just can't live without a hot tub.
This installation, designed by Weir Phillips Architects for an Australian client with a three bedroom apartment, could easily be incorporated in a tiny home.
When the hot tub isn't in use with the lid in an open position, it simply gets walked on.
So if you fancy being able to walk on water without getting your feet wet or have somewhere to sail your toy boats or play with your rubber ducky in the privacy of your own tiny house, then this idea could be the answer...

This Visiting Mammal Gives Freedom Camping At Tokerau Beach The Seal Of Approval...

It's not often a seal pays a visit to Tokerau Beach so when one does, it's quite an event.
My friend Harvey interviewed and photographed this unusual visitor.
My name's Sydney said the seal and I left home in the Southern Ocean a few weeks ago.
I'd heard about the beauty of New Zealand's Far North and the wonderful fishing here in Doubtless Bay, so I've stopped off for a feed and some freedom camping.
Then I'm off to Melbourne Australia for a nephew's barmitzvah.
Harvey was impressed but personally I don't believe a word Sydney said... 

Melbourne Australia Hosts The World Naked Bike Ride...

On March 3, Melbourne Australia
was one of the first cities in the world to take part in The World Naked Bike Ride 2013.
The idea behind the bike ride is to peacefully explore the vulnerability of cyclists, humanity and nature in the face of cars, aggression, consumerism and non-renewable energy.
And I thought it was just to have fun in the sun...

Beautiful Images From National Geographic's Shot Of The Day...

Children playing cricket in Bangladesh.
Fun on a Carousel in Wales.
A Gelada in the Simien Mountains.
A young girl on a train in Canada. Young Gorillas playing in Rwanda,
Kangaroos in Australia.
Walking the dog in California.
A Zebra and foal in Botswana.
A Kuvale Herdsman in Angola.
Some of the recent beautiful images to be found at National Geographic's Shot Of The Day...

One Of Nature's Scariest Phenomenons In The Australian Outback...

Film maker Chris Tangey has very recently been out at Australia's Alice Springs scouting locations for a movie and was suddenly confronted by one of Nature's most intimidating spectacles.
A tornado comprised entirely of fire.
He was a mere 300 metres away from the 30 metre high fire whirl which sounded he said like a jet fighter despite there being no wind in the area.
This type of tornado, also known as a fire devil will cause significant damage.
Usually one will last for just a very short time but Chris found himself mesmerized by this incredible sight for more than forty minutes.
Chris has been shooting in the great Aussie outback for 23 years and while he's heard of these fire whirls he'd never seen one till now.
In 1923, a fire tornado emerged during Japan's Great Kanto Earthquake and killed 38,000 people in just fifteen minutes.
Thanks Chris for being in the wrong place at the right time and getting these amazing images...