- Congratulations PJ and team!! A beautiful garden. Connecting to nature is what it's all about. - Fairy The Green One
- Yes, and you are about as far from being a "rocket surgeon" as anyone who has ever graced this site. - Wendy Harmer
- Relax Harry, I normally leave my contributions to online debate to a single entry or two but the response to my very brief comment led me into this discussion. You're right to say I had some connection with the writing, hence my joining in. But the connection was based on my not liking it. That's fair enough, people write pieces for sites like this in the full knowledge that they will be critiqued and that not everyone will like what they have said. If authors don't like it, they shouldn't put their writing out there. You may have noticed that I was not alone in criticising the article and so far no one has actually rebutted any of the points I have made - just complained about the way I have made them. If you disagree with the substance then go ahead and say where. I remember well being 16, but I'm not sure that it has much to do with what I wrote. Whatever poor behaviour I exhibited then - and there surely was some - my mum didn't write open letters about it to the paper or whatever media were available then. You've engaged me online without actually suggesting where I was wrong, but have you had a word with your mum re. what she publicly implied about the behaviour exhibited by you and your siblings? I gotta admit being part of this thread has been pretty enjoyable but it's probably for the best that I normally wouldn't have time to follow something like this over a couple of days - one could get sucked int pretty easily I guess. - Sly Place
- The freckled duck is not rare. Its listed as 'Least concern' on the UICN red list. Just because CADS say its rare, doesnt mean they are telling the truth. Of course CADS had armed protestors willing to attend shooting locations. Laurie Levy openly admits that his supporters were prepared to break the law to achieve their goal. So heres an alternative hypothesis. CADS descended on the (officially) unattended, unmonitored Box Flats, and chose to make martyrs of several hundred birds to further their cause. It doesnt take a rocket surgeon to understand that that is just as plausible a situation as a rogue hunter. - leigh
- so lovely, I am glad she got him back safely! aww :) - sami
- So in 2015 a ranking of 70 and above will be mandatory for entry to University in NSW. So even if school standards are lifted for all by a massive increase in funding only the top 30% of year 12 graduates will be eligible for a University qualification? Or to put it another way approx 70% of year 12 graduates will not qualify to be considered for a university education. Now that's exclusive. I understand why University funding has been cut. Why focus so heavily on increasing the funding at school level only? - Michelle
- Not Caz either. I believe she's sworn off the mummy blogs. She's been keeping to herself a bit lately, more's the pity. Maybe she can't stomach anymore of you're bile? - Grow up jack
- Mrs Woog, In answer to your question regarding rules and teenagers. I have two 19 yr olds (who don't live at home) and a 17 (almost 18 yr old) who does. I have thrown pretty much every rule I thought I would have out the window. The ones that apply to our home this week are: no sex in my home, although that mainly applies to me apparently, although I'm pretty sure he's not getting any either, only smoke whilst sitting on the window sill, act sober - I don't want to know, definitely no drugs, and not to call Babe XXX because it's not covered on his phone plan! Until they were 15-16 I was feeling pretty damn smug about my awesome parenting skills, however life has a habit of throwing up on your expectations. In my defense, I can say, hand on heart, that they are kind, creative, respectful and feral beings who love me. Each kid is different but just keep a picture of them at their cutest on hand at all times, ages 4 and 5 for me, and take lots of deep breaths. Rules you ask? hahahahahahahaha - Susan
- Never expected to express admiration for a coalition pollie but Barry seems to be standing up for his beliefs. Uncommon in most politicians but to hold his ground against Federal colleagues is even more unusual. Hope he maintains his stance. - Madge
- Whether he is right or wrong, at least O'Farrell is making his own decision regardless of Tony Abbott's direction. At last, someone who doesn't slavishly follow the party line but thinks for himself! If the LNP don't see anything in education needing repair, then they need their eyes testing, seriously. And what is more important for the nation's future than the education our young are receiving today? - Jenny
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