We have moved!

So our days have ended in rainy blackheath, I will miss the garden and my lovely sheep, who are staying with a friend on his property. We have moved to Canberra where new horizons await us.

In defence of mothers

More videos from Animals Australia

Jesus is comming....

no... sorry it's just the pope. I'm soooo not a catholic fan, but who is after there history of burning and abuse of almost every other group that was (or is) not catholic plus a whole lot that where.... do I need to make a list, probably not.

So here comes Popie and Sydney World Youth Day, you know it's costing us $200 million plus.... not happy! Do you realise the difference that sort of money would make if it went to environmental causes or... I don't know 'public transport'... that sucks the big one in NSW...... There better be some cute boy's... oh sorry can't say that... they'll burn me or worse send me to one of those camps that makes you straight again... and you know I mean 18 year old boys... of course, what do you think I am - a priest.

Oh look... at last I found Jesus while looking for the TV remote.... he was behind the couch the whole time - 'I'm hiding from that Benedict guy' oh sorry I'll push the couch back again for you. 'Thanks that would be great'

Oh and get you free T-Shirt design from www.crikey.com.au

Our Vegetable Garden

A tour of our Vegetable Garden in Blackheath Australia. We chat about everything Garden related. Check out our Organic Tomatoes Corn Potatoes Carrots.

Does censorship help?

Do you struggle with emptiness and lack of a true and meaningful purpose in your life. Do you have all the nice trappings of life, but still feel depressed and often lost. I have and still do. I'm working on it now – instead of hiding from the pain. It's hard work.

News.com.au ran a story this morning about shocking footage of a mother repeatedly raped in front of her screaming children and then posted on YouTube.

The answer to this problem from some quarters is apparently to moderate and censor YouTube more than the company already does. Yeah, that will stop rape and why it happens.

Censorship and prohibition has never been a fix for societies social problems. I think history has well and truly proven that. My opinion is that we need to change how we think; and our behavior towards each other. It's become a cold, cold world.

So many people are lost in this big 'commercial' world of ours – they feel they have no real purpose, are empty and many live without love in their hearts. That brings a great deal of pain, which sometimes causes us to act in very inappropriate ways.

Without a meaningful purpose a person can suffer – some deal with it by working longer and keeping as busy as possible, but others resort to much more destructive activities like drink, drugs, rape, over eating, inappropriate sexual activities, excessive hours in front of the TV and Internet, the list goes on... (what do YOU do....?).

Anything that helps us forget or dull the true pain – pain that's often so deep most of us don't even realise it's there.

We need to start thinking in new ways if we want change. Understanding why people do what they do, with a compassionate heart, then addressing those problems. That's how you stop rape and other social problems.

We need kindness, love, understanding and to take responsibility for our actions – NOT censorship or prohibition.

Do you think YouTube should be moderated?
Link to story:

The sadness of Sow Stalls

It's a very sad image... I know. Imagine what it's like for the poor pig at this Australian factory pig farm.

People often ask me why I don't eat meat.

Well it's not because I don't like the taste, I do.

But the fact is so much of the meat we eat comes for animals that have been raised and treated with cruelty and lack of any respect.

These animals give up their lives for people, the least we can do is treat them with some dignity and kindness. Unfortunately with the introduction of large scale factory farming, companies don't think it's cost effective to do so.

Pigs are only one example.

Sow stalls have already been outlawed in the United Kingdom and Sweden and they are being phased out in the European Union, Florida (USA) and New Zealand. I wonder why is Australia still allowing it? Do you want to eat pork or bacon that is produced is this way?

Here are some facts about Sow Stalls and the pigs that are kept in them.

• Sow stalls are so small that pregnant pigs are not able to turn around or take more than one step forward or back

• Stalls cause stereotypies,repetitive purposeless behaviour and a sign of suffering

• Some studies have shown that over 90% of stall-housed sows exhibit stereotypic behaviour.

• Pigs can spend up to half their time in stereotypic behaviour.

• Stereotypies can result in physical damage or illness.

• Sows in stalls may well be ‘clinically depressed’.

• Stalls rate the lowest of all sow housing systems in terms of welfare.

• It is widely accepted that sow welfare is better in alternative systems.

Find out more visit: www.voiceless.org.au

Your senate vote could make all the difference

I don't eat meat or use animal products, but if you do please help support policies that 'RESPECT THE SACRIFICE THAT ANIMALS MAKE FOR US EVERYDAY'

Before voting in the Federal Election this Saturday, please take time to consider using your vote to bring about positive change for animals.

Whether you are voting for a Labor government or a Liberal government, remember that in the Senate, only the The Greens and The Democrats support policies that will stop cruelty to farming animals like pigs, chickens, cows and sheep.

The images of how these animals are treated in Australia and OS are so saddening that I could not even bare to post them.

Click on the link above to read Voiceless's Federal Election Survey for a quick summary of where the major parties stand on animal protection issues.

About Voiceless

"Steadily, and not so slowly any more, we are making progress. One day, not in our lifetime perhaps, but in a future that is not unforeseeable, animals of non-human species will be born into a world in which they stand a fair chance of living a life that is happy by their own standards and fulfilling.

"When that day comes, they will not look back with gratitude to the human beings who helped to make this dispensation possible, that is to say, who helped to restore a decent life to them. But that does not matter. We are a species whose nature it is to look back; other species have what they consider to be more important things to do with their time than looking back.

"Voiceless acts in the most practical of ways to fund projects across the country whose goal is to ameliorate the lives of animals. Voiceless is a small part of what has become a large and I would hope irreversible movement among human beings to make this planet a less harsh and deadly place for all those to whom it is the one and only home."

Fit for fairies

So here are some photos of how the front garden is coming along. It used to be a dust bowl.... now it's fit for fairies.

Arbor

ar•bor - a shady garden alcove with sides and a roof formed by trees or climbing plant trained over a wooden structure.

Christopher and I have been turning our front yard into a little forest and it's all coming along very nicely. Over the weekend we decided we needed a Arbor (Pergola) over the driveway... so off we went to see our mates at the hardware store and 6 hours later voila! I love building stuff... pretty good for X city boys.

Greedy

Who says being greedy don't make ya happy.... tell this guy that!

Trust Me, my name's John Howard

The fastest tongs in the west

A short movie we made on a sunday afternoon with the family. Our first, so we still have much to learn. An old style western movie about two brothers in love with the same girl. Had heaps of fun. Includes some fun special effects done in final cut express - shot in the backyard.

We look forward to your comments.

How to remove a tick

Sometimes even with frontline a tick will attach himself to my little dog... his nose is always sniffing in the long grass.

Today I discovered a simple technique to remove a tick from your dog without pulling it out. The tick will crawl out on it's own and you won't have to deal with 'did I get it all out?'. This sounds like a magic trick and you might even think it is, I did.

When you remove ticks using tweezers you get as close to the head of the tick as you can and pull straight out, it often leaves parts of the tick behind and that can be really bad and cause infections and other problems for your dog. Ticks seem to like areas near the eyes and ears, which could also leave marks and scars that wouldn't ever go away.

So how do you do it?
Rub the tick in a circular motion and pretend you're trying to make the tick dizzy. I generally stick with one direction, clockwise. It usually takes less than a minute, so if it's not working, make sure the body of the tick is moving around. Remember you can't get dizzy unless you're actually moving in a circle, quickly. I doubt the tick actually gets dizzy, but they sure don't like something about the movement and they crawl out on their own.

I used this technique only today and it worked a charm!

Finally the Sun!

I know we need rain... but damn I'm happy to see the sunshine once again. This is my Friend Rosie and me at the local lookout!