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Laura wrote: "Even if that jumper is annoying XD
Mmm..I mixed M&Ms with peanut buter..lol"
You know you can get MnMs with peanut butter inside them...greatest ever!
I just got back from the Ekka..was good not as much focus on the cattle and animals as there used to be and the showbags are no where near as good as I remember them.
also went to the Gallery of Modern Art Brisbane to see Surrealism- the Poetry of Dreams
was damn awesome
two favorite quotes:
"I dreamed I was alive. That Surprised me. I was alive. But I woke my self up."
"The earth is blue, just like an orange"
Mmm..I mixed M&Ms with peanut buter..lol"
You know you can get MnMs with peanut butter inside them...greatest ever!
I just got back from the Ekka..was good not as much focus on the cattle and animals as there used to be and the showbags are no where near as good as I remember them.
also went to the Gallery of Modern Art Brisbane to see Surrealism- the Poetry of Dreams
was damn awesome
two favorite quotes:
"I dreamed I was alive. That Surprised me. I was alive. But I woke my self up."
"The earth is blue, just like an orange"
Just throwing this out there, but I scored 2 goals in my soccer game today, and set up another 2 :) And Im a defender, so I thought that was pretty cool.
For the record, we drew 6-6. Highest scoring games Ive ever played in.
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Do I assume Brenda, that the mention of chocolate pricked up your ears???? ha"
Hahaha!!! Cheeky;D
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And Im a defender, so I thought that was pretty cool.
For the record, we drew 6-6. Highest scor..."
Congrats Jess, that's fabulous!
@Melanie- Yeaaap I seen them around before...In general I don't like peanut butter though..But I love this one candy bar from USA dunno it's name but it's got peanut butter, peanuts, pretzel, carmel and coated in chocolate...SO good!
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Oh hahahahahahaahaha!!!!!!!!! Cracking up here!!!!!!! Typo of a good kind Laura!!!!
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Yes, and I missed it myself when I first read it!! :)
...Maybe. Well, my computer is in my room, but my brother is watching it.
And Im going to join him :P
Brenda wrote: "Carmel wrote: "Oh Laura, me coated in chocolate:) hmmm"Oh hahahahahahaahaha!!!!!!!!! Cracking up here!!!!!!! Typo of a good kind Laura!!!!"
ahahahaha...Well, yes...Now i see my mistake there...I'm so used to writing Carmel than the word caramel! lolol
I'll confess to watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory again... what can I say Johnnie Depp is yummier than chocolate.
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:)
That was on not long ago as well...We taped it, I'll watch it later. Thanks for the heads up anyway Michael :)
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Weeehooo..reached my goal of 50/50 books for the year :D
Laura wrote: "Weeehooo..reached my goal of 50/50 books for the year :D"go for 100 ;)
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@Lost- 100 books!? Hahaha..Not now...Took long enough to reach 50 books....Or technically I've probably read close to 100 if you include comics :P@Brenda- 75 is a possiblity considering 10 books from the Spring challenge can be use and then 4 more books from the monthly challenges...Hmm seems more possibly than 100 books! haha
@Carmel- Thank you :D
Sorry for this being so long - but . . . . the first part is the report in today's SMH about the National Retail Association's submission.THE nation's biggest retail lobby group has launched a scathing attack on Australia Post for what it sees as its assistance to the growth of offshore online retailers at the expense of local shops and jobs.In a prickly supplementary submission to the Productivity Commission released at the weekend, the National Retail Association also cited Visa and eBay for their stance on the future of the shaky Australian retail sector.
It argued Visa's position that it could not collect GST on online purchases on behalf of the federal government was driven by self-interest.The NRA, which represents most retail chains such as Target, Myer, Country Road and thousands of other businesses, dismissed reports handed to the inquiry that argued the cost of collecting GST on incoming packages less than $1000 in value would far exceed tax revenue raised.The Productivity Commission said in a draft report released earlier this month the GST-free threshold should be reduced for reasons of ''tax neutrality'', but only once this could be done cost-effectively. It also judged the GST-free threshold only a ''minor part of the competition story''. Seizing on the submissions, the NRA sent a follow-up report to the Productivity Commission only two days before the draft report was released. In its blistering supplementary document, the NRA argued that the cost-benefit case of collecting GST on these packages had not been proven.It took special aim at Australia Post, calling its confidential submission ''embarrassing'', and saying its mail sorting process allowed a substantial number of low-value packages to enter Australia without any form of X-ray security screening or surveillance.''NRA submits that, in 'streamlining' entry arrangements for low-value imports, Australia Post is playing a key facilitative role in the growth of foreign online retailers at the expense of Australian online and Australian bricks-and-mortar retailers.''Many retailers say these low-value packages - worth less than $1000 - typically contain clothing, shoes, electronics, books and DVDs which avoid GST and represent lost purchases to Australian stores.''As a statutory body it is appropriate for Australia Post to explain to the Productivity Commission and the Australian retail sector how its statutory objectives can be reconciled with practices which will have the effect of facilitating the growth of foreign online retailers at the expense of Australian retailers with consequences for business viability and job opportunities in Australia,'' the NRA said.A spokeswoman for Australia Post said the organisation was disappointed the NRA did not contact it in the first instance to correct a number of factual errors in its submission.''All risk assessments and screening are conducted by Customs and Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service as part of their security and quarantine requirements,'' she said. ''These border agencies determine whether a particular postal item is 'low risk' or below the low-value threshold. Australia Post does not conduct a risk assessment.''The NRA also tackled global financial services group Visa, which in its own submission argued it could not collect the GST on behalf of the federal government, saying such a role would be unworkable and would lead to litigation and reputational risk.''NRA notes that Visa does not make any self-interest declaration. The Visa submission does not discuss the application by Visa of a 2.95 per cent fee on all international transactions and the financial gain to be derived by Visa from the incremental growth in international transactions attributable to the on-going operation of the threshold.''The NRA said a submission from online retailer eBay was ''totally silent'' about the interaction of its business model with other jurisdictions where a vastly reduced low-value threshold was in operation.
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I thought we lived in a capitalistic society. Obviously if a shop fails to make a profit let’s complain to the Government and force people through the door.
The NRA did not do their homework before complaining about Australia Post re customs and quarantine regulations – plus Australia Post has an agreement with all other postal offices around the world called UPU (Universal Postal Union) and they are bound by these agreements – if post is shipped to Australia they have to deliver.
For the right fee I would have helped NRA present a correct submission to the Productivity Commission. At least they wouldn't have had egg on their face.
Now they are dragging Visa in to the problem. Why would Visa get involved collecting taxes – they are a worldwide organisation, and the next thing all countries will want them to collect tax if a Visa card was used to purchase anything outside the home country. No mention of Master Card or American Express, perhaps they have shares in AE and don’t wish AE to incur further costs. Plus e-Bay is keeping a low profile, why wouldn’t they? Why get in to this type of debate – they’re not daft.
I am surprised that the NRA still haven’t got it through their heads that even with a 10% tax in many cases it will still be worth buying overseas. Don’t forget the 10% tax is on a much lower purchase price. e.g a $33 book in Oz has $3 tax levied, but the same book from Book Depository at say $14 has only $1.40 tax if NRA get their own way. Why would we not buy overseas?
Another rant from a penny pinching pensioner :-o)
cheers, Geoff
www.geoffwoodland.com
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Please be kind by ignoring mistakes, we are all human, and unique in our own way. Thanks one and all:)
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THE nation's biggest retail lobby group has launched a s..."
Very good post Geoff! Thanks for that:)
Geoff wrote: "Sorry for this being so long - but . . . . the first part is the report in today's SMH about the National Retail Association's submission.THE nation's biggest retail lobby group has launched a s..."
Thanks for this, Geoff. It seems the only way stores are going to get their customers back is to drop their prices or to go into the online retail business themselves. I've bought a few things [new] on ebay from Oz sellers much cheaper than the shops. I imagine the online sellers setting up business in their spare bedrooms. It looks like the whole concept of retail selling has changed just like the book publishing world has.
http://aussieauthorsatwork.blogspot.com
You may have seen this before - but I like a Goodread :-o)Two Choices
What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look
for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My
question is : Would you have made the same choice?
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended.
After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he
offered a question : 'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay,who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world,an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story :
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay
knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning..'
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt.. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball However, as Shay stepped up to the Plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball
in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.
The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!'
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!'
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY :
We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate.
The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.
If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message Well, the person who sent you this believes that we
all can make a difference.
We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.' So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:
Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
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Casual clothes day at school tomorrow...yay judgement :/
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Ha!!! To wear what you want Jess...>.<
haha ew :/ School uniforms suck as well. Its nice to have a casual day, but its tough finding something decent to wear. They're so rare, so people sort of judge you on what you wear.
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You off to Ballarat tomorrow Carmel?
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Have a lovely day..love Ballarat. Though it is a very cold place:( I'm sure you'll be back, your lovely daughter wouldn't be impressed if you didn't come back;D
Carmel wrote: "I'm sure you'll look nice in whatever you wear Jess. Me, I think I'll choose from my selection of denim jeans, match it with a white shirt & a nice pullover and perhaps topped off with a leather ja..." Its freezing in Adelaide as well! (How did you enjoy your trip down here, by the way?) Im gonna wear blue skinny jeans and a nice, long white top. Keepin' it simple.
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Yeah, who wou..."
Do I detect a little bit of sarcasm there Carmel? O_O!!!! Sounds like I need to have a word to your
lovely daughter!! ;D
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Moi, surely not, sacrasm is not in my nature!"
Hahaha!!
That sounds terrific Carmel! And that is such a great cake!
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Mmm!! I bet:) Was it a mud cake?
Geoff wrote: "You may have seen this before - but I like a Goodread :-o)Two Choices
What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look
for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My
question is : ..."
Wonderful story, Geoff. thank you for sharing it.
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"
Cheeky Shiraz?? ;D
Great you're home safe and sound:)
So a few hours ago I was settling in for a long night of homework, when I got a phone call from a friend, last minute invite to his house. We had dinner like civilized people, and watched some old Disney movies. It was pretty cool. Better than homework, for sure.
Outstanding! Have you read the others? And yes, I am actually really proud of you :) You'll love that book!
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Sounds like a nice, relaxing evening Jess!! What Disney's did you watch?
Carmel, You need to read them! ASAP! Brenda, we watched Aladdin & the start of Beauty & the Beast :D
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Brenda, we watched Aladdin & the start of Beauty & the Beast :D"
Oh, loved Aladdin:) I have lots and lots of Disney DVD's here...went through a stage when my daughter was overseas of buying everyone I could lay my hands on for her as she loves them and only had them on video >.<
I dont own any on DVD :( I'll have to buy some soon though. My favorite is 'Snow White' or 'The Lion King'. 'The Black Cauldron' is awesome too, but doesn't get enough appreciation because its "too scary". Its been forever since I watched them though; we all decided were having a Disney Weekend in a few week time :D
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Aussie Readers
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I'll give a plug to a winery we went to when I was there which was just divine - Bird in Hand in the Adelaide Hills...."
Oooh Carmel, they sound yummy! I'll write them down for our next visit:)