Happy New Year

We celebrated NYE in the comfort of our own home, with a few friends and some total strangers. The highlight for me was my assertion that Red Dawn and First Blood were the two essential movies that one must see in order to understand America. I may have had a bit too much to drink.

Photos here

Merimbula

Christmas brought another Preston family adventure. While last year, we circumnavigated Tasmania, 2007 saw us on the South Coast of New South Wales setting up camp at the Merimbula Beach Holiday Park. Merimbula is well known as a coastal playground for Victorians who sneak across the border into NSW in search of warmth (although given the water temperature was downright frigid, I think some might have been disappointed).

While our previous adventures in Australian caravan parks were quiet affairs, where we encountered mostly foreign tourists, the caravan park in Merimbula was solidly populated with Australians. We had the place largely to ourselves up until Boxing Day, at which point the hordes arrived - a seemingly endless stream of Aussies on holidays, complete with caravans, tent cities, and all the comforts of home (refrigerators, television sets, DVDs, etc.). It wasn't exactly a tranquil experience, but we had a choice spot on the cliffs overlooking the beach.

We checked out the surrounding beaches (Tula, Pambula, Tathra) as well as the inland cheese-making community of Bega (which I'd previously visited on the job), but ended up spending quite a bit of time at Bar Beach. This small spot was sheltered from the northern winds, and clearly quite a gathering spot for Merimbula's locals. We dropped in on Mandeni "resort" on a couple of occasions for little golf action. Despite being a bit tourist oriented, it was actually a nice place to place a round in peace and quiet at low cost. On our last day, we ventured into Bournda National Park for a little bushwalking, where we encountered heaps of wildlife (Jacky Lizards, Lace Monitors) including a rather exciting run-in with a red-bellied black snake ( better than stumbling upon a common death adder I suppose).

On the return trip, we dropped in briefly on Eden, to the south of Merimbula, and topped things off with some fish and chips at Lakes Entrance, Victoria.


Photos here

Because Everyone Loves Vanilla Ice

The man himself is currently down under, playing New Years shows at Sydney's Coogee Beach and Wollongong, followed by other assorted dates.

Dramatic End

The end of 2007 brought interesting weather to Melbourne - first, three days of impressive rain which brought flooding to much of the state (including the streets of Melbourne and my own office building). This event suggested to me that rooves in Australia largely exist for decorative purposes, as they proved themselves to be rather incapable of keeping out rain. Actually, it seemed as if nothing in Melbourne works when it rains - the roads, the trains, the trams, the drainage systems, electricity. In short, semi-arid regions appear to cope with extreme rainfall about as well as Florida copes with a snow storm.

This drama was followed with miserably hot conditions between Christmas and the New Year. Temperatures reached 41C on the last day of the year (making it the hottest day of Victoria's hottest year on record), and temperatures are currently climbing back up toward 40C today.

Ave, Preston!

I was fortunate enough to pick up one of CSIRO's Julius Career Awards just before the Christmas break, which opens up a slush fund for me over the next three years to do (more or less) as I will, including a bit of globe-trotting.

Permanent

As of 18th December, Uta and I are officially permanent residents of the Commonwealth of Australia. On the positive side, we now don't have to worry about our visas expiring (which they would have at the end of February) and we'll be able to ride out the upcoming U.S. recession in more stable waters. On the negative side, we can no longer deduct our living expenses from our taxes (which was saving us quite a bit of $ every year). Barring deportation from something sordid, we'll be positioned to apply for citizenship in early 2009.

Congratulations UNFCCC

In 1992, Article II of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change committed the world (both developed and developing countries alike)to "stabilisation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere." Granted, that left a bit of work in regard to figuring out what that goal means and how to achieve it. But, here we are 25 years later and what did our world leaders agree to at the Bali conference? A recognition that commitments to reductions need to be made, but no actual agreement on the size of those reductions or an actual commitment. 25 years of diplomacy and all the world has to show is a continued agreement that emissions need to be reduced (somehow), but very little in the way of actual actions to make such reductions. A US commitment to emissions reductions is perhaps just one Presidential election away, but that would still leave the big emitters in the developing world reluctant to come to the party. 50% reductions in emissions by 2050? That'll be the day. . .

Zorba the Greek Yolngu Style

The latest entertainment craze that's taking Australia by storm, and giving new meaning to the concept of cultural assimilation. . .Apparently the Greeks love it!

He Fought the Law (and the Law Won)

Airport anger: man downs litre of vodka
December 13, 2007 - 6:19AM
"A man nearly died from alcohol poisoning after quaffing a litre of vodka at a German airport security check instead of handing it over to comply with new carry on rules, police said on Wednesday."

I can't say much for this guy's capacity for rational thought, but I appreciate his defiant behaviour. I thought of doing something similar this afternoon as security at the Christchurch airport called me out for having a water bottle in my carry-on bag. In fact, the security dude actually suggested I just chug it down, but after reading this, downing 250 ml of water just seems a bit weak.

Christchurch

I rocked up to Christchurch NZ this afternoon to attend the MODSIM07 conference. Took a bit of time getting through customs, etc. Despite its laid back atmosphere and reputation, the passport control guys in NZ can be a bit cheeky. Before I could even say hello, my friendly neighbourhood immigration agent said "you again, didn't I see you last week? Why are you back so soon?". This was followed by, "what were you doing in Thailand?," "Do you smoke marijuana?" and "What kind of conference are you attending?". Despite this interrogation, the guy on the x-ray machine that was supposed to be checking whether or not I was smuggling large quantities of dope into the country was, I believe, asleep. Meanwhile, as I was walking around the streets of Christchurch this afternoon, I noticed a large number of shops that appear to sell nothing but "energy" and "sex" pills (but then it makes sense that one would sell these together). So maybe immigraton just wanted to know if I was going to be contributing to the local economy.

In any case, so far I'm really enjoying this small gateway to NZ's southern island (despite the fact that everything was closed today, presumably because it's Sunday, but who knows?). NZ continues to be the only place in the antipodes where one can score a decent burrito, and the influx of students, backpackers and nerdy conference goers makes for a diverse town. Given it's summer, the tourists and flocking into the country, and given it's distance from the rest of the world, I reckon Christchurch has the highest incidence of jet lag of any country on Earth. Perhaps that's what all those energy pills are for.

More Evidence of Global Warming?

NFL Meteorologists Warn Steaming Black-Guy Heads Occurring Later Every Year

NEW YORK—Steaming black-guy heads, the traditional sign of approaching winter for generations of football fans, have been occurring later in the season with every passing year, a fact that may be evidence of a climatic change with long-term...

SNAFU

This update from the ongoing negotiations in Bali suggests any future progress on international climate change policy aren't going to yield much in the way of a substantive agreement:

1) The US and Japan oppose mandatory cuts.
2) China and India oppose cuts for developing nations.
3) Meanwhile, Europe is pushing for developed world emissions reductions by 2020 that the developed world probably can't meet.

Sounds like a recipe for success!

Queensland Moves into the mid-20th Century

The Premire of Queensland announced today that the state would step up and start adding fluoride to the water supply over the opposition of the small, but apparently powerful, anti-fluoridation lobby. According to The Australian,

"Townsville is Queensland's only city with fluoridated water; it was introduced in 1964. The north Queensland centre now has 65 per cent lower tooth decay rates in children than Brisbane."

Hard to believe it took 40 years for that little real world experiment to get the ball rolling. But then, this is also the state that refuses to adopt daylight savings time. Skeptical people those Queenslanders. Kind of like Texans.

Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research

Today marks the official launch of the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research (affectionately known by the awkward label of CAWCR). This joint venture between CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology promises to better coordinate national efforts on climate and weather research and data delivery.

'Tis the Season for Climate Stuff

With negotiations in Bali underway, The Age reports on Ross Garnaut, the man charged with executing what has appropriately been called the Garnaut Review - in other words, the Stern Review down under.

"The Review will examine the impacts of climate change on the Australian economy, and recommend medium to long-term policies and policy frameworks to improve the prospects for sustainable prosperity."

Meanwhile, the Climate Insitute released its own take on the costs of GHG mitigation, in a report which concluded that Australians can tackle climate change and continue to grow wealthier in the process. And in other news, CNN reports on the much publisised plight of the small-island states.

One Day, Two Talks

There's nothing I like better than a license to shoot my mouth off. Friday gave me two opportunities. First, I served as an "inspirational speaker" in the WOW! Program sponsored by the Education Foundation. I shared the short and winding road that took me from birth to my current position as a climate change researcher. Despite the many bits of wisdom I passed along, during Q&A, the boys in the yard were a bit more interested in my choice of film (they were quite disappointed that I hand't seen Saw or Saw II, III or IV), but hey, at least I got them thinking.

From there, I moved on to Melbourne Uni to participate in a panel discussion on climate change as part of Engineer's without Borders annual conference.

One to Go!

Hours after being sworn into office, Kevin Rudd signed off on the Kyoto Protocol, leaving Bush as the last man standing. The practical implications for Australia's emissions are negligible, as the official Howard policy was for Australia to meet its Kyoto target independent of the protocol. However, this will give Australia a seat at bargaining table in Bali.

On the Banks of the Mighty Murray

What do Victorians do while Americans get all soft chowing down on Turkey for Thanksgiving? Well, if they're in JKA, they go and spent the weekend at the annual Mildura Gasshuku. The weather was more favourable than last year, with temperatures peaking at only 28 as opposed to 38 (but the flies were there again to torment us).

After struggling with last year's drive from Melbourne to Mildura, I opted to wing it this time around, trading a six hour drive for a one hour flight. This gave me the opportunity to see the great line in the sand from above, and by that I mean the line where dryland agriculture (or attempts at it) in northern Victoria stops and irrigated agriculture starts. The contrast is quite striking - one massive brown band snuggled up next to a lush green one (as long as the Murray keeps flowing).

Prestige

Despite all the pop culture emphasis in America on the Beckham's and Old Spice's of the world, apparently when it comes to jobs, it's the nation's scientists that earn the most respect. This is actually an interesting social experiment. In light of this, I wonder how many supermodels, Hollywood actors, or rock stars would be willing to trade places with me. Does prestige=status in the minds of the public? I doubt it. . .

Sydney FC vs. Beckham

At this very moment, Sydney FC is playing David Beckam and the LA Galaxy. Sydney has just scored its fourth goal (to LA's two). 300 million people (and one English import) and the US still can't field an internationally competitive football team. . .Go Sydney!

Labor Day

It is the end of an era. After over 11 years as the leader of Australia, John Howard has been dismissed - losing not only his position as prime minister, but also his own seat, leaving him no home in the federal government. A decade of economic growth, rising incomes and tax cuts were not enough to woo Australian voters this time around, which begs the question, what does one have to do?

Well, whatever it is, Kevin Rudd seems to have done it, and Australia now has a younger, cuddlier leader. As an American, it has been an interesting election. First, because it was all wrapped up in about six weeks (America could learn something from this). Second, voting in compulsory (America would be a different place if it picked up that policy). Third, I find the differences between Labor and Liberal parties so fleetingly small, it surprises me that anyone can get worked up about an election.

With Labor now in power, a number of questions arise:

What can Rudd really do on the climate change issue? OK, so he's promised to ratify the Kyoto Protocol? Big freakin' deal - then what?

Can Rudd really deliver substantive improvements on issues such as education, child care, and health care?

Will Australia become a Republic or will it continue to pay homage to the Queen?

What's next for Australian soldiers in Iraq?

Will Australian's unions steamroll business under a Labor government as the Liberal Party claimed during the campaign?

Where do relations between Australia and the U.S. go from here (probably have to wait for Americans to have a turn at the polls before we know that)?

We shall see. . .

"Fiji Time"

Yes, "Fiji time" - that's a common phrase you'll here while traveling in Fiji. It's usually uttered by a local as a way of saying "chill out, tourist, just because you're a wealthy westerner doesn't mean we're going to be in a rush to help you out." As such, Fiji is a great place to relax. One can't drive quickly, because if one does, he's likely to hit a cow, a pothole, or a pedestrian. One can't eat quickly, because he won't be served quickly. Everything just slows down, kind of like an episode of the Twilight Zone or Doctor Who.

In addition to being laid back, the locals are friendly to say the least. Everywhere we went, it was "Bula" this and "Bula" that, and sometimes just "Bula, Bula, Bula". Allegedly this means "hello", but if it meant "tourist" or "wanker", every conversation we had would have made just as much sense. In any case, the locals are happy to meet tourists, and the ones we met were keen to quiz us on our backgrounds. One Fijian refused to believe I was an American, because of my hair. Others found it a bit odd that I was American, Uta was German, and we live in Australia. But as a testament to how many Australians visit Fiji, the default assumption was that any foreigner was Aussie. Most of our interactions with the locals outside the resort began in a similar manner: the two of us driving (in the wrong direction) down a narrow, bumpy dirt road, parking in some poor guy's front yard and then chatting with him while he pointed us in the right direction.

By and large, we spent most of the time beached at the Warwick Resort on the Coral Coast soaking up the all-inclusive meals, snorkeling in the lagoon, and other fun and games. We did spend a day in a rental car (with ~160,000 km on it), which allowed us to check out the towns of Sigatoka (and the sand dunes) and Pacific Harbour.

All in all, a beautiful, tropical country, but it could do a bit more to accommodate the tourists that represent the bulk of the nation's revenue (e.g., here's a tip: tourists expect a "visitor centre" to have some sort of staff working there to, say, collect entrance fees and such). And I'm sure it will - all in good time. . .

Photos here

Overseas Driving

Here's what the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (November, 2007) has to say regarding driving conditions in various countries:

United States
"In the U.S., driving conditions are similar to Australia. America has been a motorised society for longer than anywhere else and they've had longer to practise. so American drivers are generally competent and considerate. It's a paradox: crazy gun laws but sensible driving."

Italy
"Italians are regarded as the worst driver sin Europe. They routinely ignore red lights and avoid congestion by driving on the footpath. On the open road, they take corners at suicidal speed. In a survey of European motorists, 36% of respondents voted Italian drivers as the continent's most dangerous."

Germany
"Germany's autobahns are the best roads in the word, but they can be a strain to drive on. Just try pulling out at 100 km/h to overtake a slow-moving truck. Within seconds that dot in the mirror turns into a BMW doing 220 with its lights flashing for you to get out of the way. While crashes are quite rare on German autobahns, at such speeds the survival rate is low."

Developing Nations
"In the Third World it's also easy to pick up the road rules: there are none. Well, none that are enforced."

Edelstein Boarding School

Justin Norrie had this article in The Age on the rise of businesses catering to female otaku. It's a rather interesting tale of how the Japanese marketplace caters to the nation's various subcultures.

"Edelstein is not a school at all. Rather, it is the first of a new type of cafe that satisfies the fantasies of Japan's female otaku — a term given to fashion-challenged, socially dysfunctional geeks who collect anime cartoons, manga comics, dolls, trading cards and video games."

Longshot

Take a good look. That's $20.40 - our payout from the final race of the Melbourne Cup. No, we didn't don silly frocks or join the 100,000 or so racing enthusiasts at Flemington. We just dropped $5 on five horses at the local TAB and headed across the street to the Swan to watch the outcome (actually, Julian made the picks while I ordered everyone drinks). Fortunately for us, the favourite, Master O'Reilly, didn't even show - instead "Efficient" made an impressive come from behind dash to take the Cup. I love an underdog.

American Standard

It appears that America is the benchmark by which violent crime in Australia is judged. Take the following:

Terrifying car-jacking bid like worst of US, say police
Mark Russell
November 4, 2007

POLICE fear two brazen and violent daylight car-jacking attempts on Friday could be the start of a new wave of street crime to hit Melbourne.

"They were random, brazen attacks, the sort of thing you expect to hear coming from America," Senior Constable James Midgley said.

Well, that's not exactly flattering for America is it? And why does America get singled out? What about places like South Africa - that's got to be worse than the U.S., right? So, should we develop an international classification scheme to rank the violence of car-jackings, with America a 10 and some place without cars a 1? Where would the apparently fearful and delicate Australians fit into the mix (particularly given that stealing cars is an iconic Aussie pastime)? Maybe Australians should be happy that they're only just now catching up with America, and haven't yet crossed into the realm of some of the REALLY violent nations.

UPDATE 11/5/2007: Speaking of violence in America, I just stumbled upon this gem at All Men Are Liars. If you've ever had trouble getting your hands on your shotgun in the middle of the night to defend your home, familiy and property, American innovation has developed the solution: "The Backup". This handy little device allows one to snuggle up at night next to his favourite shotgun. Some of my favourite bits from the website's FAQ's:

I sleep on the right side of the bed. Can I use it there?

Because of our unique patented design, you can adjust to fit The Back-Up© on either side of the bed, placing it where it is most convenient for you. In fact, we suggest you have The Back-Up© on both sides of the bed.. [But of course - after all, who has only one shotgun anyway]

I travel a lot for business or hunting. Is The Back-Up© portable?

Yes The Back-Up© is very light and portable. The unique patented design and construction gives you the ability to collapse it easily for travel, and place it wherever you need it. [Thank God! I always feel so vulnerable when I'm traveling for business. Glad those days are over!]

You Must be Joking

Housing prices in Melbourne have become, in a word, stupid.

America = Australia?

We've always said that, in the grand spectrum of national diversity that exists around the globe, Australia and the United States possess a large degree of similarity. Naturally, Australians find the this concept appalling, but when push comes to shove, we can back it up. And lately, the similarities have become even stronger. Looking for a catastrophic bushfire? Well it seems you're just as likely to find one in southern California as in the highlands of Victoria. Or perhaps you'd prefer a good drought? Well, the reservoirs of the good ol' ATL are apparently in even worse shape than those of Melbourne (but perhaps not as bad off as Brisbane). And with the Australian dollar rapidly gaining ground on the US dollar, it's only a matter of time before the two currencies are effectively indistinguishable (except for the fact that Australia has the gold coins and the plastic notes in fun colours). Australia's case for becoming the 51st state just got that much stronger (only thing left for Australia to do is cut its minimum wage in half, abandon national health care, let fundamentalists take control of governance, and distribute a few million handguns to the people).

Bush Fair

Spent last weekend up at the annual Typo Station Bush Fair in central Victoria - 24 hours of fun in the sun (and the flies) supporting a worthy cause. As usual, we dragged along an international crowd of friends with us, just to bring a bit of diversity to the Bush (by the way - in case you're wondering, central Victoria is not a popular place with the brothers). A little wood cutting, the ol' sheath toss, some cowpat bingo, and late night drinking around the fire. What more could you ask for. And just to prove that country folks aren't uncivilized, if you felt the need, an espresso machine was on hand to satisfy any caffeine addictions (this is what I love about Australia - you might not have access to indoor plumbing, but you'll never have to go without a cappuccino).

A few photos here.

Yeah, so. . .

I have received complaints about my prolonged absence, to which I reply: "I've been busy" - six trips to Sydney, a trip to Bundaberg, QLD, and one to Canberra since the end of August. Apart from that, not much going on down under these days, as all things currently revolve around the upcoming election (which, based upon the respective policy platforms of the two parties, is proving to be a demonstration of convergent evolution in action).

Another Coup for Australian Journalism

Couldn't help but notice three of the big headlines at The Age Online this afternoon:

Kirribilli flame-thrower 'mentally ill'
4:45pm | "Sydney man who lobbed flaming bag into PM's residence ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment."

Drunk man served shot of detergent
4:02pm | "Barmaid served drunk customer a shot of Pine-o-Cleen, causing him to become violently ill."

Woman beheads goat in 'sacrifice'
2:23pm | "Drunken prank ends in the slaughter of a goat on the altar of a Brisbane church."

Glad to see The Age is tackling the issues that matter most.

Bundaberg

Back from Bundaberg, "one of Queensland's most modern and progressive cities." Initially, I scoffed at this claim, but then for QLD, Bundaberg probably could be considered a bustling urban centre. In any case, I was up there for the inaugural Queensland Coastal Conference. But managed to sample a little local culture - a dip in the surf at Bargara, a sip of some fine Bundy Rum, and a stay at the Bert Hinkler Comfort Inn - one of the many fine motels in town (although it did take us a few days to figure out who the hell Bert Hinkler was).

When I was in College. . .

The college experience (assuming you can afford it) is undergoing significant change as some of the more affluent schools are now offering double beds in what has traditional been minimalist campus housing. Gone are the days when college was akin to a cozy camp experience - now it's more like a luxury all-inclusive resort. Personally, I credit the year I spent sleeping on a rock-hard platform with my feet hanging off the end with all the success I've had to date. Although that experience (combined with a jerk of a roommate) also gave me incentive to move off campus after my freshman year.

It's a Small World After All

The world just got that much smaller. How small? Small enough that the traditionally marathon-esque journey from London to Sydney can now be undertaken by bus. Granted, it's a 12 week bus ride, but that's still a heck of a lot faster than the time needed by the first fleet to make the same journey by boat (eight months). So if you're in the market for a novel way to get to Australia (or to London), check out OZ-Bus.

An itinerary is provided here for the Australia-London leg, although the website does note: "Due to the unpredictability of political and environmental conditions, the route can be subject to change."

Spielberg and Hanks Stop Traffic

Sydney was locked down for APEC, but in Melbourne it takes something a bit more artsy to bring the city to a stand still. Enter Spielberg and Hanks, who have received permission to shut down the busiest intersection in central Melbourne for an entire weekend while they shoot their Pacific edition of Band of Brothers, which begain production in Melbourne last month.

WSJ Continues to Publish Rubbish on Climate Change

An opinion piece appeared on WSJ online last week (available here in full via a right-wing site), offering up a tired account of the climate change debate. The author, Syun-Ichi Akasofu (an individual with plenty of scientific credentials, but sadly one wouldn't know it from his article) raises three arguments that he asserts undermines the scientific evidence for climate change - three arguments that were dispensed with as rubbish years ago. Why they continue to resurface in any venue, particularly one associated with a presumably leading media outlet, is beyond me (but then WSJ has a history - see here or here). The three points:

1) "ice-core data showing that temperature rises tend to precede CO2 increases by about 1,000 years." Yes, in a naturally warming world CO2 increases in the atmosphere. This does not mean that any CO2 increase in the atmosphere is natural in nature(to draw this conclusion would be a far more absurd scientific deduction than anything climate change scientists have ever come up with). Rather, what this means is that as fossil fuel combustion increases atmospheric CO2 concentrations, the resulting human-induced warming will cause a positive feedback leading to even more CO2 in the atmosphere, and even more warming.

2) Then there's the old hockey stick graph, which the author argues has been debunked. "Two Canadian statisticians found that the authors of the graph made a statistical error in dealing with the tree-ring data. After correcting the error, the two researchers could not reproduce the sharp upturn of the curve -- even though they were using the very same data." OK, what was the point of the hockey stick graph? Temperatures in the northern hemisphere at the end of the 20th century were warmer than at any point in the prior 1000 years. Since that study was published, there have been about a dozen other independent studies arriving at the same conclusion (see Figure below from the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report). All of this is well documented in the literature for anyone interested in taking an honest look.

3) Then there are the particularly unscientific platitudes that are simply presented without any supporting information whatsoever. Things like global warming "can be attributed to the rebounding effect from the Little Ice Age" or "a supercomputer cannot provide an approximate estimate of the temperature in 2050 or 2100 because scientists are not able to instruct it with all the the unknown processes that may be at play." What the hell is this "rebounding effect" - the planet's energy balance is externally forced, so for it to "rebound" that external forcing must have changed. Although other forcings such as solar radiation and volcanic activity contribute in part to observed climate trends, you can't adequately explain those trends without accounting for the external forcing induced by greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, climate models are capable of reproducing the 20th century climate (although some models are much better than others), so presumably they can give an indication of the direction the climate will be forced in the future (but, hey, there are people that devote their lives to model evaluation - why not cite some of their work rather than making blanket statements). Obviously, if some other large forcing were to rear its head, then greenhouse gases would rightfully move to the back burner. Over geologic time scales, such forcings will invariably arise. But over the time scales of society and policy, there's nothing on the horizon that appears set to dominate over greenhouse gases.

In the universe of climate skepticism, this piece is pretty sub-standard, which makes one wonder why WSJ online would post it. It does a poor job of representing the science, which is exacerbated by the fact that the folks at WSJ online don't know any better or don't care. I'd be thrilled to see an international body of quality scientific research that provides compelling evidence that humans aren't significantly forcing the global climate. That evidence doesn't exist.

The Ubiquitous Backpacker

Australia is awash with backpackers, with the number of annual visits increasing by half a million in the past year along with an additional half a million in spending (largely on beer, I imagine). Apparently, new agreements secured at APEC will allow even more backpackers from the US and Canada to hitch-hike their way around Oz. Super - because nothing makes be happier that seeing little Canadian flags emblazoned on backpacks (and they say Americans are nationalistic. . . ).

Speaking of Canada, today's MX newspaper featured a reader's letter, who publicly outed herself:

"After years of travelling under the guise of a Canadian, I fell it's time to come out of the closet. I am an American".

She goes on to express her constant disappointment at meeting Australians who are surprised to find Americans that are actually critical of US foreign policy, the Bush administration, etc. Granted, I've had my own experience with Australians who seem happy to unload on an American - strangers who say things like "you know what's wrong with America" and proceed to list everything they observed while backpacking for a couple of weeks last year. I think it's a fair assumption that most Americans have a much better understanding of what's wrong with America than non-Americans. Yet generally I've found that if you've bothered to leave the US and, better yet, opted to spend some time in Australia ("the greatest country in the world"), most Australians will assume you must have some good sense.

German Enough for Ya?

Aussie fired for not being 'German enough'
September 13, 2007 - 9:41AM

"An Australian man has launched a 10 million pound sterling ($24.3 million) bid for compensation from a London investment bank he claims sacked him for not being German enough."

Bad Moon on the Rise

Despite the hopes that were raised back in May for above average winter rain and an end to the drought, southeast Australia is currently facing a familiar scene - the continuation of the Big Dry. With many farmers up against the wall at the beginning of the year, the hints of rain that did occur gave promise for a bumper year, triggering farmers to go "all in" in an attempt to make up for prior losses. But with normal rains failing to materialise, the consequences look dire. In the abscence of big rains in the next month, things will go from bad to worse.

Horseshoes and Handgrenades

Despite a number of close opportunities, the Socceroos fell to Argentina in tonight's friendly at the MCG.

Climate Ad

This new ad was sponsored by Australia's Climate Institute. Cute, eh?

Beautiful Beijing?

Beijing is China's most beautiful city? I find that hard to believe and (coming from my own perspective of western bias) hope that's not the case. Bits and pieces are certainly beautiful (assuming the air's transparent enough to see them), but on the whole, I reckon there's got to be something a bit more picturesque.

After APEC: Back to the Drawing Board

APEC is set to wrap up and although it has all come off as a "much ado about nothing" affair, there are some lasting repercussions:

1) "A $250 million security operations has been brought down by 11 comedians." This comment uttered in response to the penetration of the security shield erected around Bush and the rest of the APEC leadership by the The Chaser crew. So much for Australia's big demonstration of power, authority and competence amidst the global war on terror. Australians found the whole thing hysterical, but government officials weren't smiling. At least the NSW police got to bash a few protestors to make sure everyone knows they mean business.

2) A grand opportunity for John Howard to prop up his sagging poll numbers slipped past, with Howard receiving little praise or attention, his own party grumbling about a snap election and change of leadership, and opposition leader Kevin Rudd coming across cool, calm, and collected.

3) Another smokescreen on climate change emerged, with APEC leaders agreeing that an international greenhouse gas mitigation target may not be such a bad idea and setting regional goals (non-binding of course) of reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of their respective economies by 25% by 2030. In other words, they promise to dream optimistically about a future world where energy intensity continues to decline (as it has for decades) and greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. If maintaining "business-as-usual" is a grand vision of progressive behaviour, I reckon we're in trouble.

Aussie Eateries in NYC

The Age ran an article today on the growth of Australian-themed restaurants in New York City. With names like "Little Australia", "The Sunburnt Cow", "Sheep Station", and "Bondi Road", these establishments were largely developed by Aussies for Aussies, but are making inroads with Americans. Common offerrings appear to be Australian beer (both the good stuff and the not-so-good-stuff) and wine along with a smattering of Australian sports (rugby, AFL, cricket, etc.). I'd be interested to see how Americans contend with the Australian variety hamburger (complete with beet root and a fried egg). But at the very least, Americans will be able to experience something a bit more authentic than "Outback Steakhouse".

A Horse is a Horse, Unless it's a Racing Horse with Equine Flu

It's the end of the world as New South Wales knows it. Thousands of horses have come down with the sniffles at the dawn of one of the most lucrative gambling events of the year - spring carnival. New South Wales' carnival has been called off, tossing people out of work, and forcing tens of thousands of horse enthusiasts and chronic gamblers to find other forms of entertainment (to the dog tracks!). Some have called it a natural disaster, demanding compensation and government relief (think of the poor bookies!).

Victoria has thus far been spared, leaving Melbourne's carnival (and the Melbourne Cup) to continue on schedule, but with the horses of NSW and QLD barred from traveling, it's likely to be a subdued affair.

America, uh, in the, uh, such as, News, Again. I Think.

There's nothing Australians love more than a sporting event, except perhaps taking the piss out of someone. Fortunately, Americans provide ample opportunity. So the morning shows in Australia were delighted this week by Miss Teen South Carolina's stunning testimony to the quality of American education:

And this of course was followed by comical commentary on the Stalinesque legistlative proposal in Atlanta to punish the city's fashion challenged:

Proposal would ban underwear-exposing pants
By DAVID PENDERED
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/22/07

"Exposed boxer shorts and thongs would be illegal in any public place in Atlanta if the City Council approves a proposed amendment to the city's indecency laws."

As one Australian commentator put it: "you'd think they'd invest their energy in addressing issues of poverty, universal health coverage, gun violence and education (see above) before regulating boxer shorts".

Yes you would, wouldn't you.

Only In Australia

While the first, er, "colonists" of Australia left England under duress (for lack of a better word), this latest ad for Bundaberg Rum puts a humorous spin on the motivations of England's emigrees in the modern era.

Meanwhile, Catherine Deveny has this response to Australia's recently implemented citizenship test:

"Who are we trying to keep out with this test? How will knowing the name of Australia's first prime minister or the date of Federation keep out terrorists, wankers or bludgers? The citizenship test questions are irrelevant and offensive. Here's my citizenship test and if you don't like it you can rack off and go back to your own country. You know what the most un-Australian thing in the world is? Migrants. And we don't want them coming here with their fancy food, classy culture, rich traditions and willingness to contribute."

Private Dancer

The media erupted over the weekend with news that while visiting New York four years ago, opposition leader Kevin Rudd apparently went out drinking and visited an adult entertainment establishment (the horror!). Interestingly, only the media seemed interested in the story. When quizzed on the subject, Liberal government leaders initially dropped "no comment" faster than you can tuck a dollar bill into a g-string (but wait, they don't have dollar bills here. hmmmmmm. . .). Could it be that Rudd is perhaps not the only one in Canberra to have ventured into a strip club? But by this morning, it appeared that having a history of boys nights out might actually improve one's image in the public eye, which led to a veritable stampede of confessions. No one appears to want to be the prude who hasn't had a bit of naughty fun.

No-Water Sports

Looking for something to do this weekend? Why not head to Alice Springs for the 46th annual Henley-on-Todd Regatta:

"In 1962, Reg Smith and his compatriots at the Alice Springs Meteorological Bureau proposed they hold an actual regatta along the lines of the famous Henley-on-Thames, a race between Cambridge and Oxford Universities. The idea was taken up by the Rotary club of Alice Springs, and the fact that the town was 1,500 km's from the nearest large body of water was never seen as a problem."

"Watching seemingly sane people race in bottomless "eights", "oxford tubs", "bath tubs" and yachts through the deep coarse sand of the Todd River provides an unique spectacle amongst world sporting events. The multi-event program attracts many local and international participants from the audience who often finish up on world TV news paddling canoes with sand shovels and in "land lubber" events like filling empty 44 gallon drums with sand."

Two Songs about Bondage

"Tie Up My Hands" from the debut album of Australia's own British India:

Not to be confused with the Starsailor classic of the same name:

Bus Races

You can't make this stuff up. . .

Cameras Catch Drag-Racing Bus Drivers
August 17, 2007 - 5:58AM

"Sydney bus drivers have been caught on camera as they drag race, run red lights, speed and crash, putting passengers and other road users at risk."

Happy Ending

In the good old fashioned Aussie tradition of giving everyone a fair go, a brothel in South Melbourne is offering discounts on services to compensate for higher petrol costs. Melbourne's men no longer have to make the horrible trade-off between putting food on the table and the costs of driving the extra km's for a little attention. Just rock up with a petrol receipt, and get your rocks off for a bargain.

Carbon, Carbon Everywhere

Today's Washington Post has a long article on the expanding, and increasingly dodgy carbon offsets market.

What do Russia, Ireland, and Fiji Have in Common?

They comprise the nations whose citizens have the top 3 highest rates of murder when travelling in Australia.

Finally, Higher Water Prices

Water Prices Set to Rise
August 14, 2007 - 5:41PM

"Householders have been warned of steep rises in water bills to fund $30 billion worth of spending over the next five to 10 years to drought-proof the country."

Breast Subsidies

Breast Operation Prize Draws Anger
August 14, 2007 -- Updated 0831 GMT (1631 HKT)

"CANBERRA, Australia (Reuters) -- An Australian men's magazine offering readers a "boob job" breast enhancement for their girlfriends will be investigated under laws barring cosmetic surgery prizes, authorities said on Tuesday."

While this certainly qualifies as newsworthy information in Australia, I'm a bit surprised that someone at CNN is actually paid to dig up the details of such internationally-significant human interest stories.

Diplomacy

How do you welcome an Australian athelete to the United States?

Put Another Credit Card on the Barbie

I saw this last month, but forgot to get it up:

Americans still dream of holidays Down Under
Posted Tue Jul 3, 2007 6:34am AEST

"Australia has topped the list of the most popular vacation destinations for Americans, if money were no object. "

Unfortunately for Americans (and Australian tourism), the only places more expensive for Americans are Antarctica and outer space.

Big Brother Over Sydney

Google Earth goes all fuzzy over the Sydney business district - just a few weeks before the APEC summit. Coincidence?

RTA Launches New Anti-Speeding Campaign

Part of New South Wales Road and Traffic Authority's latest anti-speeding campaign. . .

Split/Vis

If you flew from Frankfurt to Split, Croatia, who would you expect to see on the plane? Germans? Croatians? How about a couple of dozen American pilgrims on their way to Christian holy sites? If you picked the latter, you'd be spot on. I personally, felt a twinge of guilt as our journey was all about self-indulgence.

We arrived in Split and were met by Davorka, mother of Ivan, former roomie of Uta from her GA State days. Uta and Davorka go way back, almost 10 years, when Davorka spent two weeks in Atlanta visiting her son. To say that she was ecstatic to see Uta would be an understatement. We'd arranged to stay with the family for a night before continuing on the island of Vis. Fortunately, for us, Croatian hospitality rivals that of anything one could find in the southern USA. Davorka provided us keys to an empty flat (allegedly purchased in an as yet unsuccessful attempt to lure Ivan back to Split to join the family business), which included a fridge stocked with goodies. She then escorted us around old Split, through Diocletian's Palace, along the embankment and most of the city's coastal frontage. She treated us to dinner in Bacvice Inlet, joined by Ivan's siblings.

The following morning, we met up with Ana and Michelle along the embankment and boarded a ferry for the two hour trip to Vis (check out this article on CNN as well). We were met at the ferry docks by Ivo, proprieter of our accomodation. We'd rented a couple of rooms in his 16th century house on the Vis harbour. Ivo took the bags in the car, and we proceeded on foot, which was fine, as any car trip in Vis is a hair raising experience, particularly in the towns where the roads are barely wide enough for a single car (one sees a lot of vehicles moving in reverse).

The following week was nothing but pure decadence (except the part where we got stopped by the police). We arranged for Ivo to transport us to various beaches on the island, and spent a day reaching some of the area's more remote locations by boat (including Biševo and the Blue Cave). Ultimately, we were joined by Maya and Victor, as well as Ivan himself, who dropped in for a night. We also spent a coule of evenings in Komiža, the island's fishing community, which hosts a fisherman's festival on Saturday nights. We largely skipped breakfast, as a Croatian breakfast appears to consist of Turkish coffee and cigarettes. We passed on the cigarettes. Lunch could also be hard to come by - we walked out of one spot after we leanred that our fellow patrons had been waiting for 1-2 hours for food. However, each evening was an occassion for a 3-hour feast of grilled seafood and wine. The town of Vis proved quite a picturesque spot for a morning jog, and Uta found a staircase that would challenge the anaerobic metabolism of the leg muscles of the most hardened athlete). The weather was perfect for the dration (save for a storm that blew in and out out one night), and the island is still sufficiently off the beaten path to not be overrun by tourists (as evidenced by the limited English and lack of friendly service). However, based upon the number of high priced yachts sailing into and out of the harbour, it's clear that the island is hardly undiscovered. After a week in paradise, we ventured by to Split, where we were once again met by Davorka and a restocked refigerator. We had a drink in the evening with the family and then spent one more night in Split, tackling Marjan Hill with Ivan's brother the following morning before starting the long trip back to Australia. Incidentally, Crotia's parting words to me were spoken by the chick at passport control - as she stamped by passport she commented: "Benjamin, you have interesting hair-do". With her accent it sounded pretty sexy, but then this could have also meant "dude, you look like a jackass, get out of our country".

The return trip was a test of endurance. An 1.5 hour flight back to Frankfurt (with the pilgirms) where we had a six hour lay-over in the airport. Incidentally, the Frankfurt airport, like Lufthansa, is somewhat of a no-frills zone. Though extremely busy, other than free newspapers in several languages, the airport offers little in the way of food options or ways to occupy oneself for six hours. We actually ate at McDonald's (I ended up with a happy meal due to some problems on Uta's behalf with her native tongue - I didn't get full, but at least I got a toy). Also, the aiport must have the worst indoor air quality of any airport in the western world, due to the prevalence of smokers and the half-assed mechanisms in place to prevent second-hand smoke. The experience was not unlike sitting in a bar, although even most bars in the world are now smoke free. This was followed by a 11.5 hour flight to Singapore (punctuated by an early conflict between two grown mean fighting because one was pushing the seat of the guy in front of him), where we had a five hour layover - fortunately, the Singapore airport is stacked with goodies. The last leg was 6.5 hours down to Melbourne, arriving around 6:30 in the morning. Jet lag has been kicking our asses around the block for the past couple of days, but hopefully we're on the tail end of its effects. Another work week is just around the corner. . .

Photos here

St. Peter-Ording

What does one do on a 10 hour flight from Bangkok to Frankfurt? Not much, particularly when no-frills Lufthansa doesn't even have movies on demand. Mainly, I tried to keep circulation to my legs going. Karin und Hartmut met us in Hamburg after a quick connecting flight and escorted us north to their retirement villa in St. Peter-Ording on the North Sea - a little spot of heaven in Germany's north.

We had two leisurely weeks on the coast, where we were joined by numerous family and friends. Oma and Opa dropped by first - happy to see us, although Oma found the current status of my hair to be less than ideal. The first few days were sunny and warm, allowing us to (finally-after many years) enjoy some quality time on the beach. We also got to take in Germany's Beach Volleyball Championships during that first weekend, where one of Uta's friends was coaching one of the women's teams. Saturday night, a tournament party rocked the beach - complete with all varieties of daggy music and Warsteiner tents featuring the latest rage in Germany: flavoured beer (yes, I know, when Germany starts serving up fruity beer one's got to start wondering about where the world is heading). Uta managed to run into another of her old buddies at the party, which led to hours of humorous recollection, particularly as said friend is now a teacher at Uta's old high school. I, however, made some new friends of my own - there's not too many people that look like me in northern Germany, so apparently it's one of the few places in the world where I'm cool by default. Katrin also arrived over the weekend, reuniting the Dittmer family once again.

As we headed into the following week, Bavarian Pia arrived, but the weather became a bit less reliable, driving up competition for the most critical piece of infrastructure in northern Germany: the Strandkorb. This piece of beach hardware acts as both a wind break and a comfy chair, and nothing appears more beloved among beachgoers. Some go as far as to erect ramparts around their Strandkorb to defend it against would-be usurpers. We had two rented for the duration, which enabled us to forceably evict squatters. And let me tell you - if you want to piss off a German, boot him out of his Strandkorb. It's not a pretty sight. Due to dodgy weather, we took one day and headed down to Hamburg via train to do a little shopping and meet up with Nina and Sylvia. We enjoyed a leisurely breafast at TH2, picked up some items at H&M (the only establishment cheap enough for our Aussie dollars to be useful), did some celebrity spotting (Michael Stich, but only from a distance) and then dined at the hip eatery Vapiano.

Back at the beach, we were eventually joined by the Lagerpusch cousins, Nico and Merit, as well as Matthias, leading to a full house indeed. We capped off the trip with a celebratory evening at the local tennis club, where Uta caught up with everyone from days of tennis gone by, and I put my German to the test trying to keep up with conversations (which become increasingly difficult as the night wore on and speech started to slur). Pia and I finally packed it in at 1:30 and biked back to the ranch, leaving Uta to rage til dawn.

All in all, a daily routine of food, bicycle rides, and lying on the beach is an idyllic existence, particularly with the occassional Dorf Fest, round of golf, or booze up. But all good things must come to an end, and in this case, we ultimately had to hop a plane to Split (which necessitated waking up at a truly criminal hour).

Photos here

Bangkok

We left for Thailand on Friday the 13th, arriving in Bangkok about 6 in the morning after an overnight flight from Melbourne. We took a cab into the city and woke up our hosts, Newley and Anasuya. We hung out at Anasuya's pad and caught up for a few hours before catching breakfast across the way at Crepes & Co. We headed down to the river and did a quick cruise with the tourists with our guide pointing out all the #1 spots in Bangkok to visit ("if you have time"). We also took in some beef noodle and proceeded to Khao San market to observe Bangkok's playground for grudgy backpackers (check out Newley's recent article in the NYT). We grabbed some tasty Thai vittles and finished off the night at the Suan Lum Night Bazaar where we drank German beer and watched a tacky stage show featuring Thai versions of top-40 hits. Not bad for day 1.

Day 2 we dared to venture into Chatuchak Weekend Market. If you can't find it at Chatuchak, you don't want it. Highlights included the rabbits in knitted sweaters and the squirrels with little hats. But an outdoor market in Bangkok's heat and humidity can only be endured for so long. We rewarded ourselves with a proper Bankok Sunday brunch at Trader Vic's at the Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa. Three hours of devine gluttony! We took a siesta in the afternoon, and Uta and I wandered off down the road to check out the neighborhood and dropped in on Bei Otto.

On Monday, we turned into proper tourists, and hit some of Bangkok's cultural sites. First stop was the obligatory Grand Palace followed by Wat Po. We had to do the tourist dance with a clown outside Wat Po who tried the ol' "the temple is closed for lunch, you can come back later, in the meantime why don't you take a tour with my buddy" routine. We said thanks and proceeded to walk into Wat Po. We then had a spot of difficulty catching a cab to Siam Square, as none of the cabbies wanted to use the meter - we had to hop in and out of a few cabs before finally getting a lift. Siam Square and the neighboring shopping precincts represent some of the more posh shopping in Bangkok, no shortage of Prada, Gucci and other things we can't afford (not to mention one of the biggest freakin' food courts we've ever seen). We regrouped with Newley and Anasuya to finish off the night with dinner at Cabbages and Condoms, before taking a cab through some of Bangkok's peak traffic (dreadful) to the airport to travel to our next destination.

Photos here

Return to Oz

Our vacation has come and gone. We spent four weeks overseas, trekking from Australia to Thailand (Bangkok), Germany (Hamburg and St. Peter-Ording) and Croatia (Split and Vis). Hit the links to check out a summary of each leg of the journey.

News from the Northern Hemisphere

Melbourne became too cold for us so we decided to jump ship and head north (way north) for a few weeks. We stopped by Newley's place in Bangkok (shown here - Bangkok that is, not Newley's place) for a couple of days before moving on to Germany, where we're currently dug-in in the northern coastal town of St. Peter-Ording on the North Sea. Here for another ten days before slowly returning to Australia via Croatia. More later, for the moment, we're busy doing as little as possible.

News from the Great Beyond

I received the following email this week. It's rather unintelligible, but amusing nonetheless, and I suppose I should feel priviliged to be the recipient of such intergalactic wisdom:
_______________________________________________

Subject: Metereology in the Solar System due to the Astronomical Cycle, of 26,000 years, of the Sun in the Star Cluster of Alcyone in the Pleiades. Intercession by A.D. 2012.

Re:

- ' The Great Global Warming Swindle ' = ' Glass Half Full '

- Cimate Change > the Environment > Astronomy > the UFO Matrix = Current <
Events < Genuine < Correlation

- " Focus on solar outbursts '" & " Radio 'screams' from the Sun warn of
radiatio storms " : European Space Agency (ESA)

- Perception on the Rescue of Humanity from the Astronomical Events
anticipated within A.D. 2012 due to the orbit of the Solar System in the
Photon Band - Exposure to the Centre of the Galaxy.

- Foreword from Jesus the Christ, Lord and Redeemer - Treatise: 'PROJECT
WORLD EVACUATION' - Compiled through Tuella by the ASHTAR Command.

- Treatise by Director Satya, from the Central Library of Alcyone in the
Pleiades, our local Star System, through Barbara Hand Clow - The anticipated
Astronomical Events discussed in Depth.

- The Official Website of the Sirian Command within the Galactic Federation
- Weekly Updates.


There is virtual evidence that our planet and solar system are gradually
receiving, and being influenced by, the energies originating from the centre
of the Milky Way Galaxy.

Two animated photos of the European Space Agency (ESA), and related article
by the title "Focus on solar outbursts", showing the Sun with great
emissions of gas into space from its North and South Poles are on the
record:

http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEM1V5XLDMD_FeatureWeek_0.html

With a complementary article of 29 May, 2007: "Radio 'screams' from the Sun
warn of radiation storms"

http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMOPF9RR1F_index_0.html

The following is a quotation from the weekly 'Update by Sheldan Nidle for
the Spiritual Hierarchy and the Galactic Federation':

"We also have briefly examined the present state of your Sun's
family. Your entire solar system is in a state of enormously accelerating
hyperactivity. At first, this heightened activity seriously affected her
innermost planets. More than a decade ago, Vulcan cracked and was destroyed.
Over the same decade, Mercury's orbit became slightly more eccentric. Venus'
dense atmosphere became more disturbed as volcanic and earthquake events
increased. Mother Earth's base frequency rose and her central sun - her core
- became more magnetic. Mars' ice caps began to melt more quickly and severe
dust storms occurred more frequently than before. The upper atmospheres of
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune encountered increased flux.

"As Mother Earth reacts to the Sun's increased energy transference,
she heats up. Temperatures in the lower atmosphere rise. Meanwhile, the
energy upheaval in Mother Earth's atmosphere and central 'sun' increase
exponentially. These factors lead to escalation in global volcanic and
earthquake activity.

[http://www.paoweb.com/sn120203.htm] Archives: http://www.paoweb.com

Our solar system orbits in the Pleiades. We are part of a conical spiral
star cluster, originating from the star Alcyone, at the vertex, with the
star systems of Mereope, Maya, Electra, Tayeta, Coele, Atlas and our Sun
which is the eighth star of the Alcyone Spiral.

Each star system of the Alcyone Spiral travels in the Galactic Night for
varying lengths of time. Alcyone is always exposed to the light of the
centre of the Milky Way Galaxy through the Photon Band, whereas, our Sun,
being the most far-off from Alcyone, spends most time in the Galactic Night
- 11,000 years in the Galactic Night and 2,000 years in the Photon Band and,
again, 11,000 and 2,000 to complete a cycle of circa 26,000 years.

December 21, 2012 is the culmination of the Sun's present cycle, referred to
as the Precession of the Equinoxes, and the beginning of the next, when our
solar system will re-enter the Photon Band and begins to be totally exposed
to the centre of our Milky Way Galaxy for a period of 2,000 years, before
re-exiting the same Photon Band and re-entering the Galactic Night.

More info:
'THE PLEIADIAN AGENDA', by Barbara Hand Clow
1995 Bear & Company Publishing
Rochester Vermont USA.
[Channeling Satya, the keeper of the records of Alcyone, the
central Pleidian library]

Between now and, well before, December 2012 the reality of the Precession of
the Equinoxes awakens the world into a galactic awareness and, by necessity,
humanity will require the assistance and help of the Board of Command of the
Galactic Federation as there will be predictable surface living conditions
that will affect all unless the Spiritual Hierarchy and the Member
Starnations, led by Sirian Command, within the Galactic Federation MEDIATE
in an effectively programmed way.

Also from Lord Ashtar:
"I am Ashtar, the Commander of ten million men surrounding this hemisphere
(northern) in the protective force within the Alliance for Peace in the
Intergalactic Council. "There is method and great organization in a
detailed plan already near completion for the purpose of removing souls from
this planet, in the event of catastrophic events making a rescue necessary.
"The possible polar shift has been greatly lessened and gentled by the
actions of our scientific volunteers from many worlds. "There are also
tracking units with the Ashtar Command which continually trace the pathways
of all asteroid action within this solar system and beyond.

More info:
PROJECT WORLD EVACUATION
Compiled through Tuella by the ASHTAR Command
1993 Inner Light Publications
New Brunswick NJ USA.

The Commanders and Teachers contributing to the Treatise above:

Jesus the Christ, Lord and Redeemer of the Planet; Ashtar; Kuthumi;
Andromeda Rex; Lytton; Avalon; Monka; Korton; Jycondria; St. Germain;
Cassion; Hatonn; Anton; Soltec; Voltra; Hilarion; Joshua.