Submitted by Peter Petterson on Thu, 2008-07-24 02:46.
Home and Family
She thought she was a Mrs - but was a Miss...
When a Wellington, New Zealand, couple decided to divorce, they received the shock of their lives - their marriage had never been recorded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Births, Deaths and Marriages Department in the city.
In April 2008 the "husband" applied for a copy of his marriage certificate to enable him to initiate divorce proceedings. Instead of a written record, he received a letter that stated that no record of the marriage existed. He forwarded the letter to his "wife", who was stunned by the revelation, despite having the original copy from the celebrant.
Submitted by Steve Lee on Sat, 2008-07-19 01:07.
Politics and Government
in Orlando, Florida? as the Atlantic ocean surf that laps-up on the beaches at St. Agustine and Flagler and the sun is warm and the breeze balmy as it refreshes the Aquatica and SeaWorld theme parks so any splash from the Killer Whales is refreshing.
A Letter in "What You think: Friday back talk" in the Orlando Sentinel newspaper:
Hold Big Plans
"They need to put a hold on their big plans for downtown. Anyone with a brain can easily see the city cannot afford all the new additional expenses that will come with the (new) "venues." The tourist tax is NOT going to pay for all the increased public services that go along with these multi billion-dollar playgrounds. If the Orlando City Council refuses to clean up their mess and do the right thing then it is TIME TO IMPEACH ORLANDO CITY HALL!"
Submitted by Bharath Bushan ... on Fri, 2008-07-18 00:30.
Opinion
In general , the world population is classified on the basis of religion. Christianity is the world’s largest community. Islam is the second largest and Hinduism the third. The Chinese religions are excluded from the list, because China doesn’t encourage religious activities in that country and so the exact status of Shintoism, Confucianism and Budhism is not available.
Even though Christianity is the largest bloc, there is only one country in the world, which can be called as Christian, and that is the United Kingdom in Europe. The U.K. is the only country in the world, which is ruled in the name of Lord Jesus Christ. The Arch Bishop Of Canterbury of the Church of England is the sole authority who is vested with the duty to anoint the King/Queen of the United Kingdom. Though the U.K. is a democratic country, the constitutional head of the state is the King/Queen. The King/Queen rules the country in the name of Lord Jesus.
Submitted by Peter Petterson on Thu, 2008-07-17 01:00.
Automotive
Can cars really run on water? Thats a very good question.
There are many internet based claims that cars can actually run on water, with hydrogen gas being extracted to run the engine. But most claims are discounted as mere scams. But are they really?
Is there actually a little more to it? The multinational global oil companies are not going to support these claims, are they? Their whole economic future is all tied up with the future of oil based products such as petroleum/gasoline.
Is there a little more to these claims than skeptics and critics consider? Yes,no?
Let's read this latest story from New Zealand down in the pacific and judge for yourself whether there may be some credence attached to such claims.
Submitted by DanaPrince on Wed, 2008-07-16 22:42.
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Freelance writers that work alone can be busy. They often get work thrown at them with tight deadlines and if your writer is working for you but gets a better offer or has an emergency arise at home, they might be tempted to find someone to finish your assignment for you. This can go well and you might never know the difference but it can also result in projects turning up late or work not being done according to your specifications.
Submitted by Bharath Bushan ... on Wed, 2008-07-16 11:57.
Opinion
It is being written to analyze the BJP victory in the recent Gujarath and Himachal Pradesh state assembly elections. Contrary to the expectations of the secular minded people all over India, the BJP swept both the states with convincing majority. This is a very confusing phenomenon to an average scholar of the Indian politics.
The question is this: can the BJP score such a victory without getting the Muslim votes in these states, and did the North Indian Muslims forget the Gujarath carnage of 2002 ? No. Five years is not such a long period, enough to erase the memory of such a horrible chapter. Then why did that so happened ? This is a question, the answer of which should be, found out from the history.
Submitted by Steve Lee on Tue, 2008-07-15 23:43.
Entertainment
Orlando, Florida is known as a family vacation destination because Universal Studios and Aquatica are two of the many attractions and resorts. Cocoa and Daytona Beaches are nearby for a day on the sand. At Daytona Beach you can drive your car right on the beach!
Soon there will be a 16,000 seat center stage Orlando Events Center where you will be able to see as well as hear your favorite musical acts in concert.
The Orlando Events Center will seat 18,500 Orlando Magic Basketball Fans as they cheer their home-team to an NBA Championship.
Submitted by Bharath Bushan ... on Tue, 2008-07-15 16:30.
Opinion
AT last, after rhe assassination of Ms.Bhutto, a section of the Muslim leaders had a revelation that terrorism is not as good as they thought. Until a few weeks ago, they had a different view and opinion about terrorism. Let us have a look into a real instance.
I live in Cochin, in the South Indian state of Kerala. Kerala might be the place where the most civilized and educated Muslim community of India live. Dr. M.K.Muneer is a medical doctor and he was a minister in the previous government. Reacting to the al-Quaeda strikes at the World Trade Centre and Pentagon on the 9/11, Dr. M.K.Muneer told the local media, “America had sown the wind, and and had reaped hurricane.
Submitted by Bharath Bushan ... on Tue, 2008-07-15 10:11.
Opinion
Vajpayee’s second tenure in New Delhi was for 13 months from march 1998 to April 1999. During the short span of an year, Vajpayee’s defence minister George Fernandez made five trips to the Drass-Kargil-Batalik regions by using Indian Air Force helicopters.
As per an editorial appeared in the Indian Express daily immediately after the finale of the Kargil 99 war, all the bunkers on the Drass-Kargil-Batalik mountain ridges had been under the joint occupancy of the Mullah militia and the Pak Army, ever since the fall of the Rajive Gandhi regime in 1989. This means that the Pak army regulars and the Mullah militants were right there within the vicinity of the helicopter in which George Fernandez conducted his aerial reconnaissance missions. His last trip was just a week before the outbreak of the Kargil war. Can anybody say that George Fernandez didn’t notice the build-up of the Pak army and the Mullah militia just under his chopper? What was his real mission?
Submitted by Bharath Bushan ... on Tue, 2008-07-15 09:57.
Opinion
The Hindu-Muslim fundamentalist axis of the Indian subcontinent is an entity set into existence by the top brass of the Hindu RSS and the Pak ISI, in order to fight against their common enemy Indira Gandhi, immediately after the Indo-Pak war of 1971 which culminated in the foundation of the Bengla Desh Republic. The golden era of this unholy nexus was the period from March 1998 to October 1999 during which Vajpayee and Nawaz Sherief, were the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan respectively.
It remains as an ugly factor that the then US President Bill Clinton played the role of a broker who guided Vajpayee and Sherief in striking their deal. It was this adultery, which had made Vajpayee and Nawaz Sherief emerge as the Siamese-twin-Antichrists of the Indian subcontinent.
Submitted by Bharath Bushan ... on Tue, 2008-07-15 09:47.
Opinion
The assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by the RSS, the assassination of Indira Gandhi by the Sikh Khalistan Commando Force and the assassination of Rajive Gandhi by the LTTE had made these outfits the recipients of widespread disgust and hatred.
In fact the RSS was utilizing the lions (Singh means lion) of the Sikh Khalistan Commando Force and the tigers of the LTTE as mere hit men to eliminate Indira Gandhi and Rajive Gandhi who were poised as real hurdles in Vajpayee’s path to power. But the lions and the tigers lost all their claws and teeth with the assassinations of Indira Gandhi and Rajive Gandhi. Both these organizations have lost their identities as independent outfits, and for the time being, they stay as mere refugees in the RSS camp. The RSS is forced to sustain and retain the lions and tigers in their camp since it needs them to be utilized as hit men in the future also.
Submitted by Steve Lee on Sun, 2008-07-13 20:25.
Entertainment
Orlando, Florida is known for the many family oriented vacation theme parks operated by Walt Disney and Universal Studios. There is also the ocean life themed parks Aquatica and SeaWorld, presented by the company that operates Busch Gardens.
With the construction of the new Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center Orlando will have an arts showplace surpassing those available in Los Angeles.
The University of Central Florida is the one of the major sponsors of the Orlando Shakespeare Theater that is presenting it's 2008-09 season scheduled by Artistic Director Jim Helsinger:
Submitted by Peter Petterson on Sun, 2008-07-13 01:29.
History
There have been two unsolved murders in New Zealand during the last fifty years or so that have both interested and intrigued me. The first was the 1962 parcel bombing of barrister, James Patrick Ward, in Dunedin which I have posted about previously, and that of poor old Ernie Abbott the cleaner who was 'in the wrong place at the wrong time' when the bomb went off in the Wellington Trades Hall on March 27 1984.
1984 was of course the end of Robert David Muldoon, better or infamously known, depending on your political point of view, as Rob Muldoon - New Zealand prime minister and would be despot, who unwisely called an early election after a bout on the booze. That was his greatest achievement; subsequently he and his government were trounced in a landside by David Lange and his new government. That was another story!
Submitted by Peter Petterson on Sun, 2008-07-13 01:08.
History
The unsolved Dunedin parcel bomb murder - February 1962...
"UNSOLVED CRIMES IN NEW ZEALAND"
There have been two unsolved crimes in New Zealand in the last 50 years that have interested and intrigued me. The 'Wellington Trades Hall bombing' in the 1980's, and the 'Parcel Bomb murder' of Dunedin barrister James Patrick Ward in 1962 (below). Mr Ward's office was, rather ironicly, in the Security Building in the CBD area of Dunedin. Police were mystified about markings on a peace of wood used to make the box that contained the bomb. By memory, I recall newspaper reports suggesting they could have been part of a black stencil marking on the piece of wood. But what was it? It could provide the answer towards discovering his killer.
Submitted by Peter Petterson on Fri, 2008-07-11 03:41.
Humor
Humour the spice of life...
First published at Qassia:
1/ Sunday Edition:
The irate customer calling the local newspaper office loudly demanded to know where the 'Sunday edition' was?
"Excuse me ma'am." the receptionist interrupted,"today is Saturday. The Sunday paper is not delivered until Sunday."
The was a long pause on the other end of the phone, followed by a ray of recognition. "So thats why nobody was in church today."
2/Freezer control:
While working as a sales rep for a large ice cream company, Tom was standing on a stepladder in a supermarket putting up advertising signs, when he overbalanced and fell into an open freezer.
Submitted by Steve Lee on Fri, 2008-07-11 00:37.
Automotive
Price Pain, in 2009 for those Americans who have a chance to purchase the Electric Car that is going to be available in the U.S.
Driving around Orlando is interesting as the city has many small lakes that the roads wind around from Universal Studios to the ocean themed Aquatica. Busch Gardens and SeaWorld have entertainments that are based on nature and wildlife if you are desiring a break from Hollywood movie and cartoon character themes.
A new subcompact Electric Car is going on sale in the United States in 2009. It is called the Think City and will be able to travel 112 miles on a full charge, at up to 62 miles miles-per-hour; enough for the average Americans trip to work and back home again.
Submitted by Steve Lee on Sun, 2008-07-06 18:42.
Entertainment
Orlando, Florida is home to Universal Studios The Simpson's Ride as well as Gatorland and Seaworld, entertainments with animals as the central characters.
Orlando also has petite ballet dancers as well as dolphins leaping into the air as the Orlando Ballet Company stages various productions during the season.
In the past we have written about Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, who we felt were treated unfairly by the broadcast, print and Internet media. It is more challenging to write about the ballet whose creators and artists rarely make the the news and never appear on Entertainment Tonight.
Submitted by Steve Lee on Sun, 2008-07-06 18:12.
Culture
Orlando, Florida is the home of Walt Disney World, Seaworld and the Simpson's Ride. The downtown entertainment area is centered on the Cheyennee Saloon and Opera House! Orlando has a classical opera organization, the Orlando Opera Company, and it is due to the efforts of the staff and volunteers at the local arts community that the lights go up on the higher arts.
United Arts of Central Florida is the fundraising organization- with 136 corporations, 26 foundations and eight local governments that coordinates the campaign that keeps the The Orlando Ballet, The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orlando Opera Company under the bright lights.
Submitted by Steve Lee on Sun, 2008-07-06 00:58.
Culture
The Orlando Philharmonic Ballet will be performing at the new Dr. P. Phillips Performing Arts Center, the construction of which has begun in downtown Orlando, Florida.
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra received a grant of $280,000 from United Arts of Central Florida in 2007, which made up 6 percent of it's $4.5 million budget.
The Orlando Ballet has as it's Artistic Director, retired dancer Bruce Marks whose contract ends in 2009, the company hopes to extend his creative direction.
We are going to be adding to this article as the season goes on.
A new electric car is going to be available for purchase in the United States in 2009, Click:
Submitted by Steve Lee on Sun, 2008-07-06 00:58.
Culture
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing at the new Dr. P. Phillips Performing Arts Center, the construction of which has begun in owntown Orlando, Florida.
The orlando Philharmonic Orchestra received a grant of $278,300 from United Arts of Central Florida in 2007, which made up 9 percent of it's budget.
The Philharmonic Orchestra is the keystone of the performing arts community and has a $3 million operating budget.
We are going to be adding to this article as the season goes on.
A new electric car is going to be availble for purchase in the United States in 2009, Click:
Submitted by Steve Lee on Sun, 2008-07-06 00:09.
Culture
The Orlando Opera company will be staging it's performances at the new Dr. P. Philips Performing Arts Center that is under construction in downtown Orlando.
The Orlando opera Company received $352,307 in grant money from United Arts of Central Florida in 2007, eleven percent of it's $3 million dollar budget.
At the present performance site, "The Bob Carr," balcony season tickets were $45, next season the lowest price seats will be $105. How this will affect sales is yet to be seen; we will be adding to this article as ticket sales continue.
An interesting item about opera performers; they won't sing two nights in a row, so a crew will have to break-down and re-erect the complex sets repeatedly.
Submitted by Peter Petterson on Sat, 2008-07-05 23:54.
Opinion
Hey, I don't want to hear or read any comments about your lovely northern summer.
It is freezing the testicles off brass monkeys in New Zealand at present.
A polar blast has hit the country from way down in the antarctic; falling snow and treacherous ice in the south to hail, sleat and freezing rain in the north.
The big international rugby test match played last night between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South African Springbocks, (the reigning Rugby World Cup champions) was played in the wet and freezing cold at Wellington's Westpac Stadium and was won by the All Blacks,18-9. Well it is a winter sport, I guess!
Submitted by Steve Lee on Sat, 2008-07-05 00:12.
Culture
ADVICE FROM A PRO
"As a Broadway veteran, Los Angeles producer, Broadway conductor, musical director and now one who steers artistic, educational settings, your cover story was a thought-provoking start-up conversation piece for me! Was I the only reader to raise eyebrows many times over staggering costs in the millions to build such a grand facility? Stunning I'm sure.
And as I read on, over Opera productions suffering and classical music series climbing uphill, I thought, "Why isn't there a company holding the sure-fire hit Broadway series to this future venue?" They'll find, to quote Andrew Lloyd Webber, "The money would keep rolling' in."
Submitted by Steve Lee on Fri, 2008-07-04 00:36.
Politics and Government
Florida has attractions other than the big theme resorts. Trade Winds cool Flager and St. Augustine beaches and Gatorland has eighteen foot long real life monsters to give the kids bad dreams until they are college aged. Daytona Beach has the Superspeedway Experience of NASCAR racing.
John McCain and Barack Obama are now trading presidential campaign jabs as the rhetoric is heating up early in the political season. Keeping in mind that our country has been "at campaign" eighteen months now! and it appears that Americans are not getting bored with the broadcast, print and Internet media's incessant presentation of campaign "news."
Submitted by DanaPrince on Thu, 2008-07-03 14:14.
Writing
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Submitted by Steve Lee on Sun, 2008-06-29 19:01.
Automotive
Orlando, Florida has been a tourist destination favorite of American families because of the many theme parks, resorts and hotels grouped around Universal Studios and Walt Disney World attractions. There has been discussion among the various governmental bodies about installing "Red Light Cameras" at intersections with a rising rate of accidents due to red light running.
We wrote "accidents" because these are inadvertent red light violations, or so we used to think. Now, it appears that some drivers willfully run red traffic lights. As evidence, we have discovered that Cobra's latest models, the Cobra XRS 995 and XRS R9G, have added a GPS function to their "Radar Detectors." The traffic ticket avoidance devices constantly check the car's position against a database of verified red light camera-equipped intersections.
Submitted by Peter Petterson on Thu, 2008-06-26 01:37.
Celebrity Buzz
Here is a story from New Zealand with some real human interest:
From the papers to the big screen - Duncan Evenson and his shopping trolley are on the path to stardom.
Media worldwide are clamouring for a piece of the 19-year-old mechanic and his motorised cage, among them an American producer who wants him to appear in a feature film.
It's been a hectic 48 hours since Evenson first hit the Manawatu Standard front page with his home-built machine on Monday.
He has been interviewed on radio and television and was today set to do a photo shoot with an Australian news agency.
Submitted by Steve Lee on Thu, 2008-06-26 00:10.
Politics and Government
Orlando, Florida has many hotels that are independent of the gigantic resorts if you would like to drive your family car to Orlando rather than fly and rent a car during your family vacation. The big resorts have buses they operate that pick up visitors at the airport and take them straight to the resorts. This is very efficient for the hotels but the vacationers don't get to see any of the other attractions that central Florida has to offer.
Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain has been proposing eliminating the Federal Government's ban on "off-shore oil drilling", which has created quite an uproar in the coastal areas of Florida. The various local governments are worried that the oil rigs will spoil the "ocean view" for the many foreign tourists who visit Florida to enjoy the beaches.
Submitted by Sir Smittius of... on Mon, 2008-06-23 18:37.
Humor
Point/Counterpoint
POINT
I’m sorry, and I’m turning my life over to Jesus
By Michael Vick
First off lemme start by saying, you know, that I’m not a very good writer, but I’ll try, you know, just to write from the heart and hopefully I can say what I want to say. First off, I know dog fighting is wrong and stuff. It’s just, you know, one of those things, you know, that I got into, you know, when I was younger, you know, because I didn’t know, you know, how serious and illegal it was. I want to say, you know, that I take full responsibility for everything involved, you know, except for the actual killing, the actual gambling, and my actual hands-on involvement, because, you know, if I admitted that stuff, you know, I’d be, you know, banned from the NFL and stuff, you know. Second, I want to tell the kids that, you know, I know I’m a role model, you know, and that I’m sorry for making mistakes and, you know, being immature and stuff. It was wrong, you know, and I hope that the kids, you know, learn from my mistakes and stuff, you know. Through all of this though, one good thing has happened, you know. I found our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, and I am now, you know, turning my life over to him, you know, so that he can help me be a better Michael Vick as a person, and not, you know, as a starting quarterback in the NFL worth millions and stuff, though that would be nice too, you know. But Jesus and I, you know, we’re going to be tight from now on, you know, and I’m letting our saviour call the shots from now on. I put my life in the Lord’s hands and ask him for salvation. Amen. Thank you, Jesus.
Submitted by Peter Petterson on Mon, 2008-06-23 03:51.
Home and Family
Birthdays, birthdays...
When you get to my age birthdays come a little too quickly. One closer to the last, perhaps?
I used to go out and celebrate, then later it was a family occasion to be shared with my wife and children.
Now its usually my favourite dish and the anticipated visit from some of my grandchildren, though one of our grandchildren has lived with us for many years, himself.
Even birthdays celebrations for the grandchildren have had to be re-organised as they have continued to increase - eleven with another well on the way.
The Green Blog
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