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Markets and Music a winning combination in Tuggeranong

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The Tuggeranong Indoor Community Market is always looking for new ways to make the markets a more enjoyable experience for everyone.

We are very pleased to welcome on board Annette Raison who is a professional singer and will be performing live at the markets Sunday November 30.

Annette has a passion for sixties and seventies music and we are certain you will be humming along to the well known songs as you browse the variety of stalls offering quality goods.

Annette is a very experienced performer and we invite you to come along enjoy the happy atmosphere that this talented singer helps to create.

She is only in Canberra for a limited time so we urge you to come and enjoy this free concert while you have the chance.

Tuggeranong Indoor Community Market

  • Sunday November 30
  • 10am – 2pm
  • Tuggeranong Community Centre (next to McDonalds)

 

Centrelink goes with the Mo

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Centrelink ''Mo-Captain'' Warwick Ellis with his Mo-team

Centrelink employees all over Canberra have relinquished their razors this month, joining a nationwide fundraising effort for Movember 2008.

Almost 50 local Centrelink staff have joined thousands of ‘MoBros’, ‘MoSistas’ and ‘MoTeams’ across the country this Movember, growing a moustache to raise awareness of men’s health issues.

The main objective of the Movember campaign is to improve the state of men’s health, primarily by raising the community’s awareness of health issues affecting men, specifically prostate cancer and depression.

Centrelink’s Movember Captain, Warwick Ellis from the National Support Office in Tuggeranong said it’s a great opportunity to raise funds for an excellent cause.

“All the money raised will go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and beyondblue, the national depression initiative, so they can reach their aims of improving the state of men’s health,” Warwick said.

“Last year Centrelink was one of the top 30 fundraisers in Australia, raising over $14,000. This year we’re aiming even higher, with almost eighty MoBros and MoSistas registered.

“Centrelink always tries to get involved in events that embody community spirit, and this is just another example of the generous spirit of Centrelink staff in the ACT.”

Movember spokesperson, Luke Slattery, co-founding director and original Mo Bro said he was pleased with Centrelink’s continued dedication to the initiative.

“It is great to see MoBros and Sistas at Centrelink are getting behind Movember again this year,” Luke said.

“Centrelink’s support in 2007 meant they were part of a phenomenal effort which saw 96,000 Australians raise over $15 million for our charity partners, The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and beyondblue: the national depression initiative.”

 

Leadership skills for Australia

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stephen kendal

There is ample research fully backed by commonsense knowledge fully supporting that there is a continuing need for the development of practical leadership skills, both  within business organisations and indeed in public affairs throughout Australia, because these make possible a way forward for the institutions, business organisations and individuals throughout the community. 
Businesses and public service organisations were probably the first to take time to research the skills needed to enable leaders to resolve important issues for the private sector and for government.  The focus of this work has been to support and rejuvenate skills at the senior management and VIP levels, because of the need for effective and imaginative work at executive level. It was also hoped these would trickle down to the work face at middle management and lower levels for a good overall result.  It remains to be seen whether the strategy had the effects intended. 
While support has been available for leaders in public and private organisations, it has not been sufficient to development of the knowledge and insight needed for middle managers.
Indeed middle managers have been off the target for the majority of leadership approaches, despite the clear need to service aspects of leadership especially relevant for this group, eg mentoring to foster the personal growth skills needed to make the best of situations, and to find ways forward otherwise not possible because of the glass ceiling that the majority face within business organisations. 
This often means middle management have to be satisfied with a very poor handshake from their organisation, despite any of the talents and recognition by the Australian Public Service rarely extended to funds for part-time university or TAFE diploma courses or short professional courses, which could assist a move forward.  

MIDDLE MANAGERS HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT
A raw deal of this nature means that this development as leaders becomes stultified becomes stultified.  Frustration can enter the picture and, as is well known, considerable turnover results.  In turn his often means a succession problem results, so senior management functions (for example) cannot be handed  to suitably competent and identified candidates.  This is well known to be the case for  women candidates for Secretary positions in the Australian Public Service even though women managers are presently form about 60% of APS employees. 
 Organisations — both private or public-need to allow significantly increased resources to the development of mid-level staff — either to enable successful promotion, or to enable a move to an alternate field (thus retraining), or to enable need fulfilment through the creation for higher paid staff (as distinct from line positions). 
Given the consequential frustration of middle and lower levels of management and the resultant turnover that must result it appears that Government in Australia cares very little about helping resolve the mobility and relocation issues for less successful staff of either the public or private sector. For example, why not a public authority to support relocation of staff to where they may most be needed, such as one of the nation’s major rural regions, or indeed off-shore to support the growing network of Australian- based government and private organisations.  The current approach only encourages a mentality, which is not Australian, of every man for himself, or, worse still survival of the fittest. 
Despite the obvious need for recognition and identification of top leaders, the search processes and market for such VIPs is unnecessarily shrouded in secrecy and red tape, and backroom melodramas.  Negotiations – usually not known to others – seem relied on to fix salary (especially benefit packages).  There appears to be strong reliance on Wall Street – type principles of emphasising excessive masculine traits such as survival of the fittest, and sports- like courage codes rather than formal ethics or contract compliance evaluation (often without evidence – based material to determine success). 
 

 

PUBLIC LEADERSHIP
It is well known that public affairs here in Australia (as indeed overseas) have continuous issues of identifying leaders and policy ideas. However the policy ideas advocates through experience and often training have proven often to be the best available when presenting the options to for the community through the electoral process, for example.  

The leadership skills needed for public affairs are those therefore that become focused on community, community ideas development, public affairs debates and broadcasts for open discussion (especially of executive proposals) and, importantly, of federal and international relations.  If the open nature of the public arena were to suffer greatly or not operate as expected, the system of public leadership development and the electoral choice process relied on for corrections to be made to misdirected ideas and wrong decisions would suffer greatly.  Australians should of  be insistent the best standards are observed otherwise freedom of discussion would suffer greatly. 
 

 

AUSTRALIA’S SITUATION
Australia’s place in the world – especially since the 80’s and also more recent resources boom – means there are very strong interrelationships with the wealth, policies and challenges of the rest of the world.  People now come to live and visit from all over the world, to better understand us. 
The nature of skills development in the international area appears to be of a high standard. The few who have made it to the top of an executive tree either in the private sector or in politics, have got there after a very long period of hard knocks and determined self – reliance. 
 Australians are now well-respected and original contributors in the areas of international business (especially resources and agriculture) and politics (international peace such as Vietnam and the Middle East).  We have our own national track record and are helping others develop pathways to achieve and recognise success in these areas and have therefore the potential to offer our own understanding of leadership development.  Our academics and consultants are well equipped to offer great assistance both to developing nations such as Indonesia, and now to sophisticated nations such as South Africa, who need more strategic skills that would give further impetus to those countries’ fast growing economies, particularly in the areas of science, engineering and project management, which could guide and fast-track development of such economies. 
 

THE LESSONS
Our community has not learnt some lessons.  Important project and development work supported by Australia has aided a nation such as Indonesia, with infrastructure such as bridges. Similar work is needed today, especially in Africa (including South Africa)
Projects of this nature have highlighted need for high expertise in management and policy to be passed on to aid beneficiaries. 
Issues concerning management and leadership skills have become prominent in Australia  (in some States or Territories) because shortages of credentialed and experienced leaders from local government can mean lack of successful succession planning to higher levels of management and public affairs leadership. Ideally the market for leaders in all areas of government and business would be sufficient to allow mobility agency-to-agency and business to business nation wide, and recognise very little formal distinction between public and private business. If only there were an ideal world to make all this come true.
 

SKILLS GAPS
However political and business change has successes but it does have its costs.  Great leadership, for example concerning a controversy (something brand new but untried by many)’ can lead to a business or community leader loosing position unless his (her) success is rewarded because the majority of those in business or the community do not accept what is rolled out for them by a proposer.
 Consequently from the proposers, perspective there is no closure, or sale confirmed of what was offered.  It is a fact of life that the leadership skills identified in business and public affairs do not also tell us of the need for closure and effective sales skills, because these are competencies known to those who have learned from experience (especially in market driven situations) rather than literature.
In conclusion it appears that the leadership development needs of the work force are unduly oriented toward top management, rather than toward resolving the frustration and turnover issues of middle and lower levels of management.  It seems quite true that there is too much reliance on the market to rely on relocation of middle managers and lower levels of management to different organisations and locations across Australia.  The major area of skills deficiency in Australia is the international skills now needed for business organisations important for the national economy and indeed public affairs.
The models of leadership accepted so often do not include the street-smart market driven skills of closure and selling without which management and public affairs strategies are ineffective.  These skills because they are experience based do not appear sufficiently recognised by academics and consultants who are often relied on to assist with identifying, selecting and evaluating leaders.  Accordingly we all need to go forward by recognising this and accordingly changing what we think of leadership to include the skills of selling and closure. 

 

Shaolin Martial Arts feature of upcoming Beijing Tour

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Wind of Shaolin fuses contemporary dance with martial arts with stunning effect

From the moment the ancient Chinese bell resounds around the theatre until the last performer has left the stage, the Zhengzhou Song and Dance Theatre from Beijing transports its audience back in time to an Eastern world that Westerners can only begin to imagine.

A fusion of martial arts, contemporary dance, Chinese folk songs and audio/visual effects, Wind of Shaolin is a visual feast.

The romantic story of a Shaolin monk who ‘performs life and death struggle between justice and evil’ could be described as an Eastern take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

The spirit of Shaolin Kungfu pulsates throughout this dramatic piece set in the Hunan Province in China and woven around the traditions of the famous Shaolin Monks.

A delicate pas de deux transforms quickly into a high energy army of kungfu masters performing incredible martial arts and acrobatic feats.

There’s something for everyone in Wind of Shaolin. It is the first show of its kind to come out of China, blending modern dance with ancient martial practices.

The 86 Chinese performers are passionate about telling a story of their culture to the world through song, dance and martial arts. Many of them lived and trained at the Shaolin Temple in preparation for their performance.

Canberra Theatre 28, 29, 30 January 2009. Tickets $55-$89.90. Suitable for children. Tickets available now from Canberra Theatre (02) 6275 2700 or www.canberratheatrecentre.org.au.

 

Pride and Prejudice back by popular demand

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LtoR: Alissa Pearson, Cara Irvine, Lainie Hart with Lexi Sekuless front in Pride and Prejudice opening at the Q Theatre on 22 November

After the outstanding response to Free Rain Theatre Company’s season of Pride and Prejudice at the Courtyard Studio earlier this year, a return season is about to commence at Queanbeyan’s Q Theatre.

With a mostly all-new cast and a new playing space, the show will delight audiences—particularly Jane Austin fans.

Pride and Prejudice casts a quietly critical eye at class, manners and the dependence of 19th century women on contracting a ‘good’ marriage in order to function in society.

Liz Bradley plays a delightfully gauche Mrs. Bennet who is desperately determined to secure good matches for her daughters, while trying to keep control of her ‘nerves’.
 

CAT Award Winner Lexi Sekuless and seasoned actor David Pearson sizzle as the independent-thinking Miss Elizabeth Bennet and prideful Mr Darcy. They are supported by an all-star cast: Brian Daly, Ben Westcoot, Jodi McAlister, Lainie Hart, Alissa Pearson, Shanna Provost, Phillip Marian, Euan Bowen, Scott Cummings, Cara Irvine and Barbara Sekuless.

“I have been privileged to work with an intuitive and vibrant cast who have brought life to this archetypical piece of work. Jane Austen is a keen observer of human behaviour. She shows that while men and women often think too highly of themselves, deceive or flatter others and act stupidly, they are also capable of love, kindness and moral growth. Her heroes and heroines are deeply human”, says Director Anne Somes.

Audiences will delight at this faster-paced, very funny yet poignant interpretation of a classic classic.

Sessions at the Q Theatre at 8pm on 26,27, 28 & 29 November. 2pm on 22 & 29 November. 5pm on 23 & 30 November. Tickets $22 for all matinees and $30/$24 conc. for evening performances. Bookings essential on (02) 6298 0290.

 

 

New book about the AIDEX '91 peace protests now available in Canberra.

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Book Cover

ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE: THE AIDEX ’91 STORY
By Iain McIntyre
144 pages- HOMEBREW PRESS

In November 1991 over 1000 protesters blockaded the National Exhibition Centre in Canberra for 12 days with the aim of shutting down the Australia International Defence Exhibition. AIDEX ’91 saw the most police violence and highest number of arrests in the Australian Capital Territory since the Vietnam era. Although the exhibition was eventually able to go ahead the blockade caused enough disruption to ensure that no one would dare hold another arms fair on this scale in Australia again. The success of the protest came at a cost however with hundreds of demonstrators injured and their actions attacked in the mainstream media.

Alongside a detailed account of the protest itself Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: The AIDEX ’91 Story traces the background of the blockade amidst the growth of opposition to the Australian arms industry during the 1980s. Using the words of the protesters themselves the book also explores the lessons of AIDEX ’91, the effect of the protest on a generation of Australian activists and the way in which similar strategies were used to stop the 2008 Asia Pacific Defence Exhibition from occurring. The book features many photos from both the AIDEX ’89 and ’91 protests.

Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life is available in Canberra from Smith’s Alternative Bookshop or on-line from http://foe.org.au/shop and www.3cr.org.au/shop
 

A village can make a difference

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Steve Howarth, Tim Davis and Nathan Lee just three of the Mo Jasper team helping to raise awareness of men''s health issues during Movember.

Wee Jasper is a tiny village. Whilst only an hour from Canberra it really can feel remote at times. The Australian Bureau of Statistics puts the population at 80 but no-one has ever really been able to confirm it.

When someone is ill, or worse, in a place like Wee Jasper the impact is felt throughout the tight-knit community.

This year the whole village decided to do something to raise awareness of men’s health issues, particularly prostate cancer and depression. Issues that have directly affected the community in recent times.

As part of the Movember initiative, team Mo Jasper was born, with Captain Janet Bell at the helm. Thirty-five members have already registered. There are a lot of Mo Bros, and one or two Mo Sisters, in Wee Jasper.

"Men’s health is a big issue around here," said Janet, who is also the proprietor of The Stables Tavern in Wee Jasper, "We’ve lost a few in recent times. They can be a tight-mouthed bunch these blokes so if growing a mo can raise some money and get men talking about important health issues then it’s worth it."

Wee Jasper put out the call and the Mo Bros answered. Everyone from station hands, shearers, local business people, council workers, graziers, visitors and campers who frequent the beautiful valley are taking part.

It’s not just locals supporting team Mo Jasper. Wee Jasper is the sort of place that sticks in your heart once you have spent some time there. Donations are coming in from all over Australia and members are signing up from the Riverina, Southern Highlands, Sydney, the Illawarra and the A.C.T.

As the captain of the Mo Jasper team, Janet can’t believe the response.

"We have had donations from people from all over New South Wales, some have even signed up and are growing moustaches for the cause. It’s a great feeling to know that people support Movember and our community. Some people have been visiting here for thirty or more years. It’s like one big, extended family." Janet said.

Team Mo Jasper plans on celebrating the end of a hairy month on 28 November at The Stables Tavern with a classic Motown party. Moleskins, boots and Akubras will be swapped for flares, platforms shoes and ‘fros.

No doubt there will be a staggering variety of mos on display and it’s a terrific opportunity for those who can’t grow a mo to take part and donate to a very worthy cause.

Movember raises money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and beyondblue: the national depression initiative.

For further information on Movember and the Movember Foundation go to www.movember.com.au. You can donate to the Mo Jasper team on the site also or contact Janet Bell on 02 62279619.

 

 

Bill of Writes gets it right

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Review by Shanna Provost

The true test of a play is its successful exposition in front of an audience. As part of its Made in Canberra season, the Street Theatre provided six members of the ACT Region Playwrights with the opportunity to give their works ‘legs’ to test for viability and durability.

The importance of a synergistic collaboration between writer, director and actor to cocreate a piece that exudes life and colour was quite evident, with a varying audience response to each piece presented under the ‘Bill of Writes’ banner.

Weaving their stories around the central theme of human (and in one case, animal) rights certainly tested the playwrights’ mettle and showed the many variations there can be upon a single theme.

Directors Max Barker, Terry Johnson and PJ Williams worked up tight pieces for writers Bill Fleming, Eris Jane, Jim Jones and Noel Milson. Katie Pollock and Joan McGillivray double dipped as writer/director of their own works.

The shorter, sharper pieces confirmed the adage that ‘less is more’, enjoying a positive audience response, while the longer piece that closed the evening lost its audience midway with its convolutions—clear evidence indeed of the value in writers releasing their work to the collaborative process.

Standout writing from Bill Fleming at the top of the evening, whose cynical take on Public Service processes in Christmas Hijinks was well acted to highlight Fleming’s sharp wit (which perhaps even cut a little too close to the Public Sector bone).

Eris Jane’s engaging Lifting Lucy was enhanced by its strong cast and Jane’s memorable quips such as “L:I’m the one who’s dying! C:That’s just a timing thing”.

It is only through programs such as the Made in Canberra Season at The Street Theatre that emerging local playwrights get the opportunity to hone their craft, so the last hurrah must go to The Street for supporting the evidently quite capable local playwrighting industry.

ACT Region Playwrights meet at the ACT Writers Centre at 7.450pm on the first Thursday of each month. Contact [email protected].

Absent minded teens- exposed and burnt reveals new Cancer Council research

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Absent-minded teens – exposed and burnt reveals new Cancer Council research
Main reason for getting sunburnt – “I forgot to protect myself”

Teens continue to put themselves at unnecessary risk of skin cancer by spending excessive time in the sun and forgetting to protect themselves, according to new Cancer Council research.

Findings from the Cancer Council’s National Sun Protection Survey show teens spend an average of two hours (1hr 51mins) in the sun during peak UV, with almost a third who get sunburnt saying they “forgot” to protect themselves.

Announcing the results to launch National Skin Cancer Action Week (16-22 Nov) – www.cancer.org.au/skincancerweek, Cancer Council Australia CEO, Professor Ian Olver, said that while the research showed adults were behaving more responsibly and burning less, teens weren’t absorbing the SunSmart message as effectively.

“One in four teens is still getting sunburnt on a typical summer weekend, compared with just 14% of adults,” Professor Olver said*. “Adults are clearly getting the message, but we need to more effectively target younger people.

“More than 430,000 Australians get skin cancer and 1600 Australians die from it each year, yet most skin cancer is preventable simply by being SunSmart.”

Chair of Cancer Council Australia’s National Skin Cancer Committee, Craig Sinclair, said fewer teens were deliberately seeking a tan, but were still spending too long in the sun without adequate protection. “Fewer adults are outdoors during peak UV (down from 73% in 2003-04 to 67%), but teens are out in large numbers (82%),” Mr Sinclair said. “Only 4% wear a wide-brimmed hat, compared to 24% of adults.

"Among teens who saw media reports about Vitamin D, 17% said the reports made them think they needed to go out in the sun more without protection, in order to get enough Vitamin D*".

Australasian College of Dermatologists Honorary Secretary, Dr Stephen Shumack, said skin cancer in young people was more common than thought. “We regularly see the effects of sun damage in young people, with patients in their 20s requiring disfiguring treatments at times."

The recent survey also indicated an improvement in the number of Canberra adults liking to get a tan down from 38% in 2003 to 31%. Whilst it also reported the number of Canberra adults who attempted a sun tan fall from16% in 2003 to 9%- a significant improvement. However roughly 29,000 (or 13%) Canberra adults are still getting sunburned over a typical summer weekend

The Cancer Council ACT has free resources to assist Canberra high schools and colleges toward educating teens about the real dangers associated with too much sun. To obtain resources or for more information on skin cancer prevention and awareness contact the Cancer Council ACT on 6257 9999 or www.actcancer.org

Cancer Council ACT contact: David Wild. 6257 9999.

Licence to fill-the indulgences of 007 cuisine

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Serving it up Bond style

Shaken, not stirred.
Not: steamed vegies with skinny latte. The tag line for fictional British agent James Bond’s Martini preference is a corny cocktail party ice-breaker.What most people may not know about Bond is that the man loves his food just as he loves his women. In the book Diamonds Are Forever, Bond tells love interest Tiffany Case that his idea of a girl is one who can make sauce bearnaise as well as love.
But what exactly does a man – who could die while saving the world – eat? And could the mere civilian indulge as Bond does and live to Die Another Day?

James Bond is a character created by Ian Fleming in 1953 and since then has lived adventures in 12 books, 2 short story collections and 23 films. The cool and collected killer saves the world and suaves his way through casinos with as much ease as he freefalls from tall buildings — about as close to a real-life superhero anyone can aspire to be.

Indeed, it’s far easier for mere mortals to order eggs Benedict, rather than break into a Soviet embassy or convert a lesbian to heterosexuality. That’s why Fleming wanted the reader to taste Bond’s life – if not through his blood and sweat – then through what he ate:

My contribution to the art of thriller-writing has been to attempt the total stimulation of the reader all the way through, even to his taste buds.

In one of many descriptions on dining, Fleming indulges the reader with the richness of Bond’s breakfast routine:
Sitting down to The Times, he breakfasts on two large cups of very strong coffee, from De Bry in New Oxford Street, brewed in an American Chemex and an egg served in a dark blue egg cup with a gold ring round the top, boiled for three and a third minutes. There is also wholewheat toast, Jersey butter and a choice of Tiptree ‘Little Scarlet’ strawberry jam, Cooper’s Vintage Oxford marmalade and Norwegian Heather Honey from Fortnum and Mason, served on blue Minton china. Breakfast is prepared by May, his Scottish housekeeper, whose friend supplies the speckled brown eggs from French Marans hens. [From, The James Bond Dossier website www.tjbd.co.uk]

As you can read, there’s more than just a little name-dropping, but Fleming didn’t receive any endorsements – this was before product placement took a grip on cinema with its lingering shots of Omega watches and BMW badges.

Why did Fleming make food and drink such a focus in his writing as much as the description of battle scars and the freak show of dastardly villains? Come on, if Bond ordered Caesar salad, hold-the-bacon-mayonnaise-and-croutons, would any woman want to jump into bed with his no-carb abs?  A man’s man is a meat fiend, a connoisseur of the dangerous and rare. Willing to risk the ire of caviar protectionists worldwide, he tosses beluga-covered blini into his mouth with about as much guilt shown after tucking his Walther PPK back in its holster.

What do you think Bond’s favourite meal would be?Something grand, like smoked confit of venison with raspberry jus and truffle oil rosti, or would he be more into British ‘bangers ‘n’ mash? He’ a bit in the middle – simple, good-quality ingredients prepared with care, ‘just so’. There’s even a James Bond recipe by Fleming for the humble Scrambled eggs.

Throughout his travels around the world, Bond tastes the local cuisine as much as he samples the local women. When he’s with CIA counterpart Felix Leiter in the US, he eats Little Neck Clams and Fried Chicken Maryland.In France it’s cold langoustine; in Italy, tagliatelle verde. Universal to anywhere, anytime, is the staple of oysters, beluga caviar, eggs (Benedict, en concotte, scrambled) and any array of grilled meat accompanied by potatoes.

Overall, Bond eats rather well; a good balance of protein and carbs.  He also eats fruit, such as fresh figs, strawberries and pineapple. His aversion to cream-based sauces is from snobbery rather than health; he believes it masks the taste of poor quality meat. This is no man to eat donuts on a stakeout.
But the downfall in his lifestyle is alcohol, cigarettes and coffee. And not just because of the drugs laced in it as in Dr. No.
Drinking
By the time of Thunderball, (9th book) Bond’s daily intake of spirits is around half a bottle.  And that doesn’t even count other drinks such as champagne of any mentioned brands: Dom Perignon, Bollinger, Taittinger, and Veuve Cliquot.
Fleming describes the role of drinking in 007’s life:

Drink relaxed Bond. His only rule was not to get drunk, but perhaps for 20 years he had hardly gone to bed cold sober. His other rules were not to drink at midday or after dinner, and never to drink liqueurs.

The ‘Atomic Martinis’ebsite calculated that Bond has had 431 drinks, with more than the standard Martini as his poison cocktail of choice; such as the Vesper, the Old-Fashioned, the Negroni and the Americano.
No wonder he had developed his own hangover cure of a ‘prairie oyste’ [egg yolk, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, vinegar and tomato sauce].

To stay awake for long stakeouts, Bond would drink coffee, usually some name-dropped straight black Jamaican blend. Despite being on her Maj’s secret service, tea was described by Fleming through Bond as the ‘flat, soft, time-wasting opium of the masses.’
Smoking

In the film version of You Only Live Twice, Bond uses a Q-branch secret weapon explosive cigarette to cause distraction long enough for him to sabotage the rocket launch. This wasn’t the only danger of cigarettes; Bond would smoke 60 a day of custom-made special Balkan and Turkish mixture with three gold bands on the filter.

If we civilians were to live the same lifestyle – except without skiing Swiss slopes and swimming with shark – surely our livers would be pickled, and our lungs spluttering in an overdose of smoke. The rich butter-based seafood dishes would result in fat-clogged arteries, though the favourite ingredient of eggs may counteract this.
However, having a licence to kill means you live each day as your last. Sure, his liver and heart are likely to have a short countdown like an impending nuclear explosion at Fort Knox, but Bond needs the energy to fight off assassins, seduce ladies, and chase bad guys.He’s fiction. In real life he’d be a pudgy, spluttering alcoholic with poor blood circulation.

But as Bond said in You Only Live Twice:
 I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them; I shall use my time…

So one night as James Bond won’t hurt.
Just don’t cook it yourself, as the man himself recommends: [website: The Commander’s Club]

Show no knowledge of how food is actually prepared. You have never cooked a meal in your life. What you eat is provided either by the Scottish treasure who keep house for you or by a girl or by a restaurant. In your world, a meal appears, is devoured and vanishes.

James Bond Menu

The Vesper
Stonecrabs and melted butter
James Bond Scrambled Eggs
Green figs

/////The Vesper///////
This cocktail was devised by Bond in honour of Vesper Lynd, the double agent love interest in Casino Royale. Bond states that he named the drink ‘The Vesper’, because once he tasted it, it was all he wanted to drink.

‘A dry martini," [Bond] said. ‘One. In a deep champagne goblet.’
‘Oui, monsieur.’
‘Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?’
‘Certainly, monsieur.’ The barman seemed pleased with the idea.
-Ian Fleming, Casino Royale

NOTES:
 * Kina Lillet is no longer available. Use Lillet Blonde instead or Dry Vermouth with a dash of bitters.
* For the more hardcore authentic drink, use 100 proof Vodka—as per 1953 standards.
* Use a champagne goblet – not a martini glass.


/////Stone Crabs/////
Bond ate stone crabs while dining with gluttonous businessman Mr Du Pont in Goldfinger:
The meat of the stonecrabs was the tenderest, sweetest shellfish he had ever tasted. It was perfectly set off by the dry toast and the slightly burned taste of the melted butter. The champagne seemed to have the faintest scent of strawberries. It was ice-cold. After each helping of crab, the champagne cleaned the palate for the next. They ate steadily and with absorption and hardly exchanged a word until the dish was cleared.

Steamed Stone Crab Claws with Melted Butter [From Saveur.com]
SERVES 4
Stone crab claws – the only part of the shellfish that’s eaten – are usually served chilled, but they’re still quite tasty when steamed and eaten with a little melted butter, like lobster.
1/2 stick (4 tbsp.) butter
32 large stone crab claws, chilled
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1. Put uncracked claws into a steamer basket and set over steamer pot of boiling water over high heat. Cover and steam until heated through, about 5 minutes.
2. In the meantime, melt butter in a small pan, being careful not to brown it. Remove from heat. Transfer to small serving bowl.
3. Remove claws from steamer, crack shells, and serve with melted butter and lemon wedges.
This recipe was first published in Saveur in Issue #57


//////Green Figs with Yoghurt//////
When visiting Turkey, Bond knew which foods were as tantalising as the exotic belly dancers.He eats figs at ally Darko Kerim Bey’s Station T, in From Russia With Love:
‘The yoghourt, in a blue china bowl, was deep yellow and with the consistency of thick cream. The green figs, ready peeled, were bursting with ripeness, and the Turkish coffee was jet black and with the burned taste that showed it had been freshly ground.’

Green Figs Stewed in Honey with Vanilla, Lemon Zest and Thyme [From http://www.spicelines.com]
To serve two
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon water
1 6-inch vanilla bean (I prefer Mexican)
2 or 3 strips of lemon zest
1 sprig of lemon thyme (or any other thyme)
8 ounces fresh Calimyrna or other green-skinned figs

Method:
1. Rinse the figs and pinch off the stems. Cut them in half and set aside.
2. Split the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and cut each half into 2 or 3 pieces.
3. In a small saucepan, combine the honey, water, vanilla bean and lemon zest over the lowest flame. Stir to dissolve the honey and turn off the heat. Add the figs, gently toss them in the honey mixture, and let them macerate, covered, for an hour.
4. After an hour, add the lemon thyme. Turn the heat to very low and gently simmer the figs for 30 to 40 minutes, turning them carefully so that they don’t fall apart but are just cooked through. Remove the pan from the heat and let them cool to room temperature.
5. You can eat the figs now if you like, but they are even better if you leave them overnight to soak up the syrupy vanilla and lemon-infused juices they have exuded. To serve, divide the figs between two bowls and spoon their pale pink syrup over them. Serve with Greek yoghurt, of course, and coffee. Very black.
 


///James Bond Scrambled Eggs//////
Described in Fleming’s Thrilling Cities

. . . The Edwardian Room at The Plaza, a corner table. They didn’t know him there, but he knew he could get what he wanted to eat – not like Chambord or Pavillon with their irritating Wine and Foodsmanship and, in the case of the latter, the miasma of a hundred different women’s scents to confound your palate. He would have one more dry martini at the table, then smoked salmon and the particular scrambled eggs he had once (Felix Leiter knew the head-waiter) instructed them how to make:

For four individualists:
12 fresh eggs
Salt and pepper
5-6 oz. of fresh butter.

Break the eggs into a bowl. Beat thoroughly with a fork and season well. In a small copper (or heavy bottomed saucepan) melt four oz. of the butter. When melted, pour in the eggs and cook over a very low heat, whisking continuously with a small egg whisk.
While the eggs are slightly more moist than you would wish for eating, remove the pan from heat, add rest of butter and continue whisking for half a minute, adding the while finely chopped chives or fines herbes. Serve on hot buttered toast in individual copper dishes (for appearance only) with pink champagne (Taittinger) and low music.
 

 

Money as Debt and who controls us

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Money as Debt, is a video link and is well worth watching (45 minutes) to understand the invisible powers that control our society and explains the "why" behind the sudden global drop in interest rates.

Contrary to what the banks and government seem to be doing, which is make it easier for those with existing loans to cope, it is a creative way to get more new loans, which in turn builds more personal and national debt.

It also explains the recent onslaught of credit card pre-approvals in our mailboxes since the recession issue has graced our general media, when common sense would have us tightening our belts.

Our money / credit system has been in play for over 300 years but the true value of what is produced and created becomes irrelevant compared to the ease with which banks can profit from every single loan written.

Assess it for yourself on http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9050474362583451279 and be as gobsmacked as I was at the quotes of past Bank of England chairmen, early US presidents and a recent Rockefella.

Please show your children, friends, local Council and Members of Parliament for we are all quite niave about money’s history and value system; then you’ll know why they don’t teach this in school.

Luxury high-rise lifestyle at Q1

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Q1 in Surfers Paradise is currently the world''s tallest residential tower.

Luxury high-rise lifestyle at Q1

By RAMA GAIND

There’s nothing ordinary about Australia’s Gold Coast … it’s vibrant, impressive and it’s where high-rise living is being redefined.
The Gold Coast – has joined Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – in showcasing residential towers which have dwarfed surrounding buildings to produce ‘vertical villages’ that are in high demand.
Currently the world’s tallest residential tower, Q1 in Surfers Paradise, is 80 storeys high and 327 metres above ground level. Inspecting this residential village lifestyle was an eye-opening experience for me recently.
Surrounded by a bustling retail and shopping precinct, the Q1 Resort and Spa has 528 luxury one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments featuring chic and modern designs. Spaciousness is the key to their layout.
The high rise also has a two-storey glass-enclosed lobby and Australia’s only beachside observation deck on Levels 77 and 78.
While the price tag of these apartments are six figures and above, the 250-degree views (especially from the higher levels) of the ocean, beach and city are simply stunning. If you want to go further up the scale, then Australia’s most elevated penthouse address offers 360 degree views over golden beaches, waterways, city towers, mountains and the blue Pacific Ocean!
Q1 has many distinguishing features including the fact that the elevators are the fastest in Australia, travelling at 9.0 meters per second (1772 ft/min) and Q1 boasts the highest swimming pool in Australia (15m x 6m), located in the penthouse on level 74, 217 metres above ground level.
These inner city developments, where space is at a premium, is also following a popular lifestyle trend interstate.
Vying for the tallest residential building title, at 92 storeys, will soon be the Eureka Tower in Melbourne which is 300 metres above ground level.
In Sydney, there is World Tower in the southern CBD, a 79-storey, 234-metre development. Another is the 59-level Lumiere @ Regent Place (which includes a building of serviced apartments) that’s due for completion in 2008.
Brisbane’s new ‘iconic’ building is the mega high-rise called Vision which will have 79 storeys and stretch up to 287 metres high and is set for completion in 2010.
Defined as being a major status symbol for owner-occupiers and investors alike, Q1 apartments not only offer killer views, but tight security and close proximity to every desirable facility. As well, health, recreational and conference facilities inside the complex will ensure that residents enjoy every conceivable comfort.
This type of high-rise standard offers luxury living at its finest – and for some of us – that’s the lifestyle of which dreams are made!

 

 

 

Sampling diverse offerings on the Gold Coast

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Looking down from the high rise Novotel into downtown Broadbeach.

Sample the diverse offerings on the Gold Coast

BY RAMA GAIND

With over 500,000 residents, the Gold Coast is one of the fastest growing communities in Australia – and it’s easy to see why.
Its strong, deep-rooted economy is equipped to support a booming tourist industry.
When it comes to enjoying yourself here, your imagination will be the only limit. Here is a place not only of diversity, but contrast where entertainment meets relaxation and nature happily agrees with sophistication.
With more than 70km of pristine beaches and waterways surrounding a city teaming with culture, fashion, food and fun, the Gold Coast is just minutes from lush rolling hills of hinterland mountains capped with tranquil rainforests and bushland of world heritage stature. There’s a diverse choice of natural and man-made wonders from spectacular cliffs, gorges and waterfalls into the 100,000 hectares of national parks and reserves
In contrast, the Gold Coast’s manmade attractions and experiences will get the blood
racing with excitement. For the young or simply the young at heart the Gold Coast
hosts Australia’s largest theme parks where you can swim with dolphins, stroll with a
Bengal tiger and defy the laws of gravity on the longest, the highest and the most
exciting thrill rides in the country.
If being active is not on your agenda, then be pampered with a massage: just the therapy you need to unwind and relax.
That’s exactly what I did. Alison Shaw from Ripple Massage worked wonders on my stressed, tired frame … afterwards I felt like a new woman!
Ripple is a mobile massage business that comes to you on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Tamborine regions of Queensland.
Like a drop splashing in the water, a great massage or beautiful body spirit products send a lovely ripple through your day.
A wide range of styles, together with the little extras, do turn a good massage into a sensational one.
There are a variety of Ripple body spirit massages: bliss, scent, thrive, Shiatsu, sole, hot stone, Russian, cupping and the Ten for Ten where you get a seated chair massage in your workplace. Now, that’s a great idea.
Alison Shaw can be contacted at [email protected] or phone 0438 567 906.
Gold Coast Tourism is adept at what it does and has taken the best of international culinary styles and served them up in an easily accessible smorgasbord of dining options. Walk down any main street to find Indian, Thai, Italian, French and Japanese or Australia’s world-famous distinctive cuisine which fuses European influences and Asian infusions capitalising on a rich bounty of raw produce.
Then by night, romantics can watch the sun set on the beach over cocktails before
catching a spectacular stage show and thrills and dancing at Jupiters Casino.
Having recently renewed my acquaintance with the Gold Coast, imagine my surprise when I realised that the Gold Coast was ‘very active, very natural, very exciting, very indulgent’.
You, too, should check out www.VeryGC.com for some creative holiday ideas.

 

Nathan cycles for local children's charity

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Image (left to right): Paul Bywood (the Department of Health and Ageing), Nathan Edwardson (Centrelink) and Kate Lord (ABC Fitness)

Centrelink’s Nathan Edwardson undertook a bike ride with a difference on Thursday (30 October), to raise money for children’s cancer research through the Olivia Lambert Appeal.

Nathan rode for 7 hours and 21 minutes on a stationary bike at Centrelink’s National Office to raise money for children with cancer.

“I started the ‘Standard Hours Ride’ because I thought it was something a lot of Canberrans could relate to, as 7 hours and 21 minutes is a standard work day in the public service,” Nathan said.

Nathan cycled to raise money for the Olivia Lambert Appeal, a Canberra-based group that raises money for research into treatments for Neuroblastoma, an aggressive cancer that only targets children. The Appeal has been inspired by the journey of Olivia, a local child with Neuroblastoma undergoing treatment at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.

“Very little is known about Neuroblastoma, and the Olivia Lambert Appeal supports research undertaken by the Sydney Children’s Hospital that aims to rectify this and find better treatment options,” Nathan said.

“The Standard Hours Ride was my way of contributing to help children with cancer, because I’m passionate about supporting causes like this. Each year I donate the proceeds to a different local appeal and I’ve found my colleagues are always happy to dig deep for a good cause.”

Nathan was joined by Paul Bywood from the Department of Health and Ageing and Kate Lord from ABC Fitness, and was cheered on by more than 2,000 Centrelink staff in the building where the ride took place.

“Part of the culture of working at Centrelink involves getting behind good causes like the Standard Hours Ride,” Nathan said.

“I invited all staff in the building to donate money and guess how many kilometres I would cycle in the time – after a couple of hours on the bike, I needed all the extra support and motivation I could get!”

 

Media contact: Siobhan Dillon, Centrelink Media, Ph: (02) 6155 2776 or 0411 670 958