Early morning and warm clothing was unnecessary. But come to think of it, snow was predicted for Barrington tops.

Today's surf.

Peoples.  Tuesday 9 August 2011 is Census night. Everyone is counted making the census much more than just an estimate.  A small population makes it possible to literally record anonymous statistics about everyone.   

Historical archives are valued and people have the option of giving permission to additionally have their names and some other personal things put on a data base for posterity.

One option is to use the eCensus via the internet. As it is, an attempt is made to provide everyone with a nine page census form to fill in, one way or another, and to personally collect them afterwards.  

Census data is used to plan infastructure - among other things.  A good deal of planning went into the Emergency facilities at the newish hospital - or did it - because it is into its third or fourth makeover, seen fenced off  At least there is flexibility! 

Newspapers have no need for phone tapping. Instead, just do other news and letters to the editor. The Sydney Morning Herald gave us cat mythology in letters relating to names for cats and their failure to acknowledge them and Ian Walters wrote on July 11:

...T.S. Eliot ...points out that the naming of cats is a difficult matter...a cat must have a name for everyday...then a name that is particular, peculiar and dignified and thirdly, a name that no human research can elicit, but one only the cat knows... (after)...a succession of cats I can state categorically... that a cat which is provided with luxury... abundant gourmet food, and attentive staff will frequently come when its name is called, or at the very least open one eye and even raise an inquisitive eyebrow.

In strange juxtaposition is the Sumataran Tiger, endangered in a big way, according to the footage that streams from Indonesia showing the relentless clearing of the rainforests. What the hand dare sieze the fire? The human fat cats have deaf ears. Totally deaf.

Tiger, tiger burning bright

In the forests of the night

What immortal hand or eye

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand dare sieze the fire?.............Blake................................image of Tiger from Sun Herald

Whimiscal Grimethorpe Colliery Band musicians at lunch during the Brassed Off! Tour 2011 with a concert tonight in Newcastle City Hall. From South Yorkshire, the band formed about hundred years ago. This time they are fuelled by Maccas. How will tonight's concert turn out!

No struggles about pit closures exist in the Hunter valley, far from it.  A struggle such as that featured the band in the film Brassed Off with fine music and a much younger Ewan McGregor.  

From fame to game, kangaroo steaks about to be fried for dinner.  There is merit in farming kangaroos because they suit our fragile environment better than livestock that have relatively sharp hooves.... or that's what 'they' say sometimes. Besides 'roo meat is low in fat etc and my first sample proved to be tender and sweet tasting although it is marinated in a collection of substances.  The bright red flesh is rather off putting to those with vegetarian leanings.

The label states the following -

 

Kangaroo meat get the thumbs up on a wide variety of nutrition fronts. It's a terrific source of high quality protein, low in total fat (with less than 2% fat), low in saturated fat and it's a particularly rich source of iron.

Megaliths and news of Stonehenge has arisen and theories were put to the test on SBS TV recently.  Images of Stonehenge make a  screen saver  as well.

Gallery 40, linked, in Kyneton Victoria has photographic offerings of Stonhenge at present.

Carnac in Brittany, in the above photo, boasts of thousands of megaliths in an extensive layout, dating from preCeltic times. Climbing and meddling with the menhirs was really a bit disrespectful.