hoodlehem

LIGHT A MILLION CANDLES

Help support this great idea by lighting a candle here.
Someday we will all have to face the truth of this widescale and intrecate worldwide problem - it is then that we can begin searching for a solution.

After much debate over whether or not snail mail services are required in our current day to day life of communicating with the rest of the world for whatever the purpose, through the seemingly more efficient e-mail system, I have to admit to the importance I place on paper sent mail.
Firstly of course is the privacy one can accomplish through the old fashioned written letter, sealed and sent for opening by the addressee. Many people still rely on this service as the No.1 means of written communication, including prisoners (of which have no choice), countries/regions forbidding such communication through means of the internet, and those with no other means for whatever the reason.
Secondly, it would be the importance of authentic paper documents originating from particularly service providers and so forth. Having the document physically fingered, licked and stamped for your record keeping needs makes it a legal certificate of authenticity, due to incertainty of the e-mail data being a genuine article.
Thirdly, immagine what would become of the local postie???

complete the Australia Post survey here

After hearing a song from my youth on radio station Triple M Melbourne that I just had to remind my self of thanks to youtube, just to ensure myself of its bone-ability. I Want Your Love by Transvision Vamp, which, I have to say, still does it for me!
It got me to thinking - Just who tops the list of rock chicks? first, heres “I Want Your Love” - Transvision Vamp, which just did it for me at the time.
For me, it isn’t any one quality in particular which would see them grace this list. Atmosphere, ambience, musical compositional genius and just plain musical integrity in what they potray - plain musical sense and that werthers original smooth/creamy and just plain nice kind of satisfaction.

and a few others I have been checking out…
Divinyls - I Touch Myself (live) TOTP 1991
Paramore - misery Business
The Go Go’s - Our Lips are Sealed
Tina Turner - Simply The Best
No Doubt - Just A Girl

Inmates in 58 county jails across New York are getting playing cards with the pictures of missing persons in hopes the photos will jog memories and help solve cold cases.

Under a state Senate pilot program, 7,200 decks of cards are being sent to the jails. They include telephone numbers of tip lines that offer rewards to anyone — including prisoners — who provide information about the crimes.

The cards were paid for with a $10,000 grant from Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno from funds he controls.

“This program seeks to go right to the source of crime, providing incarcerated criminals information via playing cards who, in turn, may have credible information or leads that help solve these crimes,” Bruno said in a statement

A spokesman for Bruno said a similar scheme in Florida prisons had resulted in leads that helped close old cases.

LONDON (Reuters) - Annie Mole’s blog about the London Underground rail system began as a New Year’s resolution to teach herself how to make an Internet Web site and has blossomed into a popular slice of commuter life.

The criticisms, witticisms and daily observations posted on her “London Underground’s Blog” www.london-underground.blogspot.com since she first began writing it in 2003 have struck a chord with commuters and the people who operate the rail system beneath the capital that is affectionately known as the “Tube”.

“I thought might be a subject that people would want to interact and talk about, because everyone’s got their own little Tube story,” Mole told Reuters in a coffee shop near her office.
Mole, who writes under a pseudonym and declined to reveal her real name, said the blog was a spin-off from her original Web site “Going Underground”, which she first created in 1999.

“I wanted to be anonymous because I thought, I’m not sure the Tube are actually going to like this and they might try and find out who I am and get the site closed down,” Mole said.

But her blog has received enormous attention instead, roping in other bloggers, commuters sharing experiences and even people who work on the Underground.

It has been nominated best British blog at the international weblog awards (aka: the bloggies) three times in the last four years and voted one of TimeOut magazine’s 50 best London sites.

A number of the private companies which do maintenance work on the 12 Tube lines that criss-cross London’s Underground, have recognised her blog’s powerful influence on commuters and have met Mole to clarify rumours and answer complaints, she said.

“They think what I’m doing is positive…they say it’s a way for the public to see what actually goes on behind these lines that they would have never done without bloggers.”

LIFE ON THE TUBE

Mole said her blog speaks to busy Londoners, who she says spend on average 45 minutes a day commuting on public transport, with three million passengers travelling on the Tube.

“The amount of time you spend on it, it’s definitely an extra life, well it is for me because I have quite a long commute,” Mole said.

The blogger spends 80 minutes observing fellow passengers on the Tube on her way to and from work as a product manager in central London.

“There are people who are incredibly self-conscious on the Tube, who are very aware of people watching them so they won’t look at anyone, they won’t smile at anyone…like I’m in my own little world,” Mole said.

“And then there are other people who are like: ‘Brilliant, here’s an extension of my office, here’s an extension of my bedroom. I’m gonna be on my phone, I’m gonna be doing my makeup,” she said.

But the blog has not changed Mole’s opinion about delayed services and crowded conditions on the Tube.

“Even this morning I was delayed by 25 minutes coming into work…I hated it,” Mole said. “Because I understand it more, it amazes me as to why it’s so rubbish because it shouldn’t be that bad.”

After a few days of head miles resurecting a computer I had collecting dust on top of the fridge in the kitchen, I have decided to try out suse 10.3. I would be installing it now, but spooky seems to be m.i.a. I have been over and tried knocking so I could finish the job - but to no avail!
I have prepared the data and hardware required, which can be found at http://software.opensuse.org

I will update my progress, and detail the results as soon as spooky returns to the world of the living.

Jodie Power has told a defamation jury she took drugs with former friend Mercedes Corby and photographed her with a “penis pipe” smoking marijuana.

Giving evidence on Wednesday in the NSW Supreme Court on behalf of the Seven Network, Ms Power said she had seen the sister of Schapelle Corby use the drugs marijuana, speed and shabu - a type of methamphetamine.

The Sydney jury was shown two photos she took in Bali in 1998 of Mercedes Corby with a pipe, shaped like a penis, which Ms Power said was used to smoke marijuana.

Ms Power said one was taken after Ms Corby had “just had a puff”, while the other showed her with the pipe in her mouth and “lighting it”.

The Seven Network’s QC, Tom Hughes, said the evidence would show Ms Corby had used various drugs, sold marijuana, supplied other substances and lied to the public about the Corby family’s involvement in the “vile” drug trade.

Ms Power’s evidence was interrupted at one stage by a woman in the public gallery shouting support for Schapelle Corby, who is serving 20 years in a Bali prison for smuggling cannabis into Indonesia in 2004.

The woman, with long grey hair and wearing a long purple dress, launched a tirade about Corby’s incarceration before being removed from the courtroom.

Mercedes Corby has taken defamation action over a Seven news bulletin and three items broadcast on its Today Tonight program to millions of viewers in February last year.

She is suing Channel Seven Sydney Pty Limited, Seven Network Limited and Australian News Channel Pty Limited, which aired the shows on Sky TV.

Ms Corby is also suing Today Tonight’s presenter Anna Coren, its reporter Bryan Seymour and Ms Power.

Her QC, Stuart Littlemore, has told the jury Ms Power was motivated by “money, hatred and celebrity” to tell lies on the programs and to say that Mercedes Corby, her former best friend, was a drug smuggler.

But Mr Hughes said Seven will call evidence to show Ms Corby had used marijuana, speed, shabu and ecstasy, as well as supplying the first three drugs.

He also said Ms Corby had lied to the public when she denied that she and her family had no involvement with drugs.

“Not only was she, Mercedes Corby, involved in this vile trade - and it is vile - but also her brother Michael Corby,” he said.

Ms Power, 35, told the jury she met Mercedes Corby on the Gold Coast in March 1992.

She said they had smoked marijuana, which she usually purchased from Michael Corby.

She said Ms Corby gave her a substance in Bali which she said was shabu and which “was really good, you can f*** all day”.

Ms Power then revealed she had “sex all day” with her partner after taking the drug.

Her evidence was interrupted by the woman in the public gallery who shouted: “Why isn’t Schapelle Corby freed? She has suffered enormously for three years in hell.

“You make me sick to the core of my Christian soul,” she said, addressing the court.

Justice Carolyn Simpson sent the jury away as the woman continued shouting, before security escorted her away.

Ms Power will continue her evidence on Friday.

Jodie Power, this poem is for you…
Mercedes drove you round the bend,
Vengeance be your only friend,
Bitterness until the end,
Spiteful swipe to offend.
Today Tonight be the crew,
that aired your grotty scandalous poo,
bout smoking weed taking shabu,
and munching on her pussy too.
Corby files for defamation,
you recall the situation,
handing out humiliation
searching for that same sensation,
Better keep it short and sweet,
as you and funds compete,
intended purpose you depleat,
karma be your only treat.

win, lose or draw,
you end up with a big fat what for

A man accused of stabbing a Melbourne taxi driver has mental health problems, is HIV positive and has no recollection of the incident, a court has heard.

Parish Charles, 45, of suburban Alphington, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday facing charges including attempted murder and intentionally causing injury.
Charles is also charged with two counts of intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing injury, assault and car theft.

The victim, who has been identified as 23-year-old Jalvinder Singh, is in a serious but stable condition in the Royal Melbourne Hospital after being stabbed and left for dead in Clifton Hill early on Tuesday.

The driver, an Indian student, was put in an induced coma after suffering serious blood loss.

Charles appeared in court wearing blue surgical gloves and was flanked by two guards.

His lawyer Rob Melasecca told the court Charles had HIV, mental and other health issues and did not know why he was in court.

“Mr Charles appears to have no memory of the incident,” he said.

Mr Melasecca asked that his client receive a blood test to assess his HIV condition as well as a test for meningitis and a mental health assessment.

He said his client should possibly be removed from the Melbourne Custody Centre to St Vincent’s Hospital for treatment.

He said otherwise “what we’ll have is two victims instead of one”.

Charles was remanded in custody to reappear in court on July 23.

Dozens of Melbourne taxi drivers whipped off their shirts and sat down at Melbourne’s busiest intersection on Wednesday morning in a protest over the near fatal stabbing.

Chanting “we want justice” and “shame, shame Victoria police”, some among several hundred drivers braved Melbourne’s cold morning by stripping off their tops at the intersection of Swanston and Flinders streets.

Other drivers held signs reading “stop killing the drivers” and “help us”, as scores of taxis lined the streets.

Dozens of police monitored the protest, which began on Tuesday night.

Trams and traffic were prevented from entering the area, leading to traffic disruption during morning peak hour.

Drivers have made several demands to the Victorian government, including compensation to the stabbing victim and severe punishment for the offender.

The drivers also want driver safety screens, pre-paid taxi rides, special protection at certain railway stations and suburbs after hours, and more attention from Victoria police.

The drivers also want all parking tickets issued on their cabs during the protest to be annulled.

The protest blockade later ended after drivers apparently received the safety concessions they were seeking.

A driver representative, Mohammed Jama, and Victorian Taxi Directorate general manager, Peter Corcoran, announced safety screens would be made compulsory in taxis and introduced by Christmas.

Pre-paid fares will be compulsory between 10pm and 5am, and the government will cover all medical costs for a driver viciously stabbed this week.

Mr Jama told AAP he was happy with the result and drivers could remove the screens if they did not want them.

Victorian Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the government had agreed to the introduction of compulsory pre-paid fares and the safety screens.

Ms Kosky met with representatives of the drivers who agreed to return to work and unblock the intersection of Swanston and Flinders streets before the afternoon peak period.

She said the state government would contribute half the funding of the screens, which cost between $1,000 and $1,200 and will be installed in up to 4,000 cabs.

The remainder of the cost would be met by taxi operators, she said.

Ms Kosky said she had also agreed to meet with taxi representatives again to help resolve other problems within the industry.

Having been one with a valid paying attitude whilst waiting over an hour at times for a cab outside Safeway on Smith Street Collingwood, hopelessly watching $150+ worth of shopping go down the drain, I am disgusted that it went so far. My hopes and prayers go out to the cabbie, and if it were that a man with as great a responsibility in such an illness as HIV be pardoned for such a wanton act of potentially lethal proportions, then the cabbie fights in vain.

Having invaluable wisdom gained as an overcomitted child in entertainment, I guess most would judge me for climbing out my window at 16yo in favour of the streets. Walking a rugged terrain as opposed to putting up with nine more months of torture at School, gutter living seemed worth the compromise.
So here I sit at 29yo, on the Dole, living in government housing, and what most would call a no-hoper. Collingwood, Redfern, Glenorchy, Bridgewater, Claymore, Cabramatta Caravan Park and Mount Druit are amongst the most notorius housing estates in Australia - and I have lived decent chunks of my life at each since running from a false existance at 16 - only to find much of the same story as my own reflected by neighbours. Castaways - these places are full of them. Good and bad. Some want better - some perpetuate the misery pit sucking others into thier world of torment unwittingly - but the causes are for the very result - to have an appearance of supperiority in hope of winning the poppularity contest. I am greatful of my journey, lucky to be alive and most fortunate to have a life I chose to steer.
From here, it is as if the path seems so simple, though with recent setbacks being both understood and overcome, I do know they can rear there ugly head at any time. As a tool, spooky and I have been recording alot of our jam sessions, as a way to culture our uniqueness of sound. It has been working well and has been a great way for us to evolve and sculpt a more refined sound. I recommend it to anyone, especially if you can record on your mp3/mp4/ipods. I have a cool little mp4 player with 4gb of space which works just fine for us as a practise excersize.