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May 31, 2007
No, I can't get back to you.
Another quick note to... well frankly, EVERYONE - family, friends, students, colleagues and business partners - that I am completely flat out and just cannot do anything in the way of catching up with things till the weekend. Sorry folks. As you'll note from the time of this post, I'm trying to sleep as little as possible just to stay on track with the workload I have.
EDIT: Just realised my time settings are still out by an hour. That time stamp should say 4:00am.
Posted by jj at 5:00 AM | Comments (2)
May 28, 2007
In answer to your questions...
I'm really, really busy, and I'm really, really tired.
Posted by jj at 9:20 PM | Comments (1)
May 23, 2007
Happy Birthday Mum!
After a very belated Mother's Day message, I'm going to be on time for Mum's birthday today. Hope you have a fabulous birthday Mum! Thank you also to my dear friends, Veronica, Christine and Avril for looking after Mum today and giving her a little party :) Thank you all!
Posted by jj at 9:50 AM | Comments (2)
May 22, 2007
A Very Belated Happy Mother's Day message
Wow it's been ages since I've blogged and that's partly because I've been busy with my consultancies (a big hello to all my clients!) and because I've been spending every spare moment with my Mum (belated Happy Mother's Day, Mum!) who is staying with me in Brisbane. We've had a fabulous time, trawling the markets at Riverside, shopping in town, taking ferry rides, taking walks down to Portside Wharf, and generally enjoying Brisbane.
Then last weekend it was just fantastic to be with my aunt and cousins at Mt Tamborine in the Gold Coast hinterland and to meet my second cousin Finlea for the first time. Finlea, you are a delight and it was a pleasure to get to know you. My very best to you for your studies and future!
Then on Sunday Mum and I spent the day in Caloundra and again enjoyed the beautiful weather and golden beaches of the Sunshine Coast before returning home to a day of rest yesterday for Mum and a long day of meetings and teaching for me.
Mum departs this morning and it will be sad (as always) to see her go, but it's been great having her here this last time before I head overseas. Happy Mother's Day and thank you for staying with me Mum. Hope you had a great time :) xoxo
Posted by jj at 7:05 AM | Comments (2)
May 11, 2007
*hugs for my friends*
My thoughts and congratulations are with my darling friend, Kristen and her lovely husband Phil, on the birth of their baby son, John James Simpson today. Tiny John was born 13 weeks premature and is just 800 grams, so I would appreciate your vibes and prayers to help this little man on the road to good health.
I'm also thinking of my friend Melissa Foran this week. Mel, the mother of my godson, Ethan, has had an incredibly tough week and my heart is with her. May your future be much brighter than the darkness you are now experiencing.
Posted by jj at 7:57 PM | Comments (0)
New Survey of Blogging
Once again, I'd like to invite all bloggers and readers of blogs to participate in an international survey on uses and users of blogs. My colleagues from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville USA are conducting a survey from which a profile of the value of blogs will be built.
The survey should take about 20 minutes of your time, but I strongly encourage people of all ages and all levels of participation (from readers-only to active bloggers) to have their say - perhaps over the weekend, if you can't devote time during office hours. This is a fabulous opportunity to ensure the range of uses and users of blogs is faithfully assessed.
The survey is based here: http://survey.utk.edu/mrIWeb/mrIWeb.dll?I.Project=BLOGS
Thanks for your support.
Posted by jj at 7:23 AM | Comments (0)
May 5, 2007
A New Future for Scotland
Last October and again in January when I was in the UK there were stories in the press about the possibility of the Scottish National Party winning government in Holyrood, the Scottish parliament. It seemed an almost impossible dream, to unseat Labour from its dominant position in Scottish politics, but it was one which was awash with Scottish pride; a William-Wallace-esque cry for freedom. The SNP had pledged to begin the long road to ending the union between England and Scotland, giving Scotland true independence, true freedom.
Today those stories became a reality, with the SNP gaining the most marginal majority (47 seats to Labour's 46), but the implications of this victory for the SNP are profound. Scotland has the chance to forge a new nation based on self-determinating policies, not merely be regarded as an adjunct to Westminster. This is truly an amazing achievement, with the SNP nearly doubling its representation in Holyrood; a swing of nearly 6% overall.
I remember the Australian republican referendum in November 1999 as if it was yesterday. I remember feeling devastated that the majority of Australian people had failed to perceive our country as truly independent, entitled to its own Head of State. I'm proud today for Scotland, who have achieved what Australia has yet failed to achieve - a belief in their right to independence and confidence to forge their own future. Well done, Scots.
Posted by jj at 11:14 AM | Comments (0)
May 1, 2007
More on climate change: dealing with skeptics and uninformed commentators
For anyone who has read the tripe being fed to the public from conservative emeritus meteorology hack William Gray in the news this week, or via Australia's own conservative hack, Alan Jones, PLEASE read the views of the academic community in the field of climate change and see just how profoundly William Gray is mistaken.
1. Gray and Muddy Thinking about Global Warming - RealClimate, Climate Science from Climate Scientists.
2. Aged Skeptics - Science and Politics of Climate Change, Andrew Dessler, Associate Professor on the Physics of Science Change.
Posted by jj at 9:00 AM | Comments (0)