Why do Russian Singles Seek Man From Abroad?

We all know that Russian women are very beautiful, cultured and loyal. Then, why do they seek men from other countries to marry? This is a very common question that comes in the mind of a person seeking Russian wife. Man's mind is a suspicious mind he might think there is something wrong in them that's why they are marrying abroad. However, this is not the truth, basically just a myth.There are many cross country marriages taking place so is the case with Russia. It's not that Russian singles don't want to marry Russian men. In fact, many a time these Russian females find their match in Russian men living in other countries. The main reason you will see why Russian ads are posted over net is that they are mere Russian matrimonial ads like posted by any other country women. It's the western men who are keen to marry these Russian singles because of their beauty and nature.To tell you the truth there are various reasons for the Russian singles to look for a husband in the foreign country. To mention some:1. First and foremost reason is that there are fewer men in Russia compared to number of women in the country. Hence, it becomes a compulsion for the Russian singles to look for men from other countries or they have to live a life of solitude. They have another option: to become second wife to a Russian man and that they don't want because they are very possessive about Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin) their husband. Who likes to share a husband?2. Russian society is very male dominated and there are few women who want to escape from this type of society. For this they opt to go out of the country and marry where they will get equal rights and freedom of thoughts.3. Western men are very open-minded; they give their wives a liberty of thought wherein they can put up their own point of view. In Russia, a man is treated to be the head of the family and their decision is of out-most importance. However, there may be chances that these men are notorious and so Russian women is left with handling drunk, lazy and unemployed husbands. This makes the Russian woman taking up responsibility of family as well as earning. There are few men who don't even have much sympathy with their children. They think that growing up a child is only female's job.4. There are a lot of career options available in western countries. So marrying a foreign man gives few Russian singles the liberty to have a career along with the family.5. Russian singles basically look for men who will be able to take their responsibility. A Russian woman will always prefer to sit at home and groom their kids.6. Western men are very romantic at heart and so are Russian women. This makes them quite a romantic couple. Russian women like men who will love them and give them due importance and this, they find in western men.

Read More

CEOs got a big raise; how about you?

Related topics: stocks, Viacom, Oracle, Whole Foods Market, Michael BrushCEOs got a whopping 24% pay hike last year as corporate profits soared with the recession's end, more than making up for two years of declining pay.The average worker? Not so much. Those lucky enough to still have jobs saw their pay inch up a meager 3.3%, which might have been enough to cover the rising prices of gas and food.That difference in raises for CEOs and working stiffs is the latest turn in a trend that's been nagging CEO pay critics for years. That's the ever-widening gap between those at the top and their underlings, which is creating a superelite in the U.S. -- and not helping investors or the economy.Giving investors a say on payConsider these gaps between some of the highest-paid CEOs of 2010 and workers in their industries:At Viacom (VIA.B, news), CEO Philippe Dauman got an impressive $84.5 million last year, or 1,990 times what the typical Viacom worker got. This assumes his workers make the $42,500 a year, on average, reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as the typical pay for employees in arts, design, entertainment, sports and media.Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle (ORCL, news), got similarly regal pay of $70 million last year. That was 750 times the $93,470 earned in 2010, on average, by computer software engineers, according to the BLS. Ellison, unlike a lot of CEOs, actually took a pay cut last year, but he still pulled down $1.35 million per week -- a sum it would take the typical computer software engineer more than 14 years to earn.John Hammergren, the CEO of drug company McKesson (MCK, news), was paid $54.4 million last year. That works out to $210,000 a day, assuming a normal workweek. That's almost three times the $74,590 that a medical scientist earns in a full year, according to the Rosetta Stone BLS. Hammergren's 2010 pay was 732 times the average pay for those workers.Michael Brush Overall, CEOs at SP 500 companies were paid $11.4 million on average last year, up from $9.2 million the year before, according to the AFL-CIO. In contrast, average workers saw their annual pay go up to $33,121, from $32,049 in 2009, according to the Institute for Policy Studies, a think tank. So the pay gap of CEOs over workers shot up 20% last year, to 344 times an average worker's pay from 287 times.Back in the 1980s, this pay gap was just 40.The problem with all this? It's bad for business and bad for shareholders, a lot of business experts say.Pay gap details are dueTo be fair to the CEOs I've listed, you can find many just-as-stark comparisons between CEO and average-worker paychecks at the AFL-CIO executive pay watch website. And those I named might pay their workers more than the average rate. But they aren't saying. The companies mentioned in this article declined to offer specific numbers for their workers instead of the industry average.

Read More

Current and planned demonstration projects

In his article analyzing the practice change process, William L. Miller, M.D., M.A., with the Lehigh Valley Health Network, finds that a practice's capacity for organizational learning and development, or adaptive reserve, is critical to managing the unrelenting, continual change required to implement the PCMH. Notably, none of the self-directed practices with limited adaptive reserve at baseline did well in implementing the NDP model components. This important finding suggests that strengthening adaptive reserve will serve practices well over the next decade as they continue transformation to a PCMH and adapt to rapidly changing demands of the health care environment.Importantly, the authors point out that the NDP practices were not a representative sample of U.S. practices. They were highly motivated early adopters who are continuing to work to implement positive changes, even after two years. For most practices, the pace and magnitude of change experienced by the project participants would not be easily replicated. Jaén cautions that any interpretation of NDP findings must bear in mind what the change strategy did not include – interventions to alter the delivery system beyond individual practices. None of the practices saw a change in their payment structure or enhanced reimbursement. "Without fundamental transformation of the health care landscape that promotes coordination, close ties to community resources, payment reform, and other support for the PCMH, practices going it alone will face a daunting uphill climb," he writes. "There must be simultaneous changes in an integrated model in what has been referred to as an optimal healing landscape," concludes Crabtree. "The NDP findings must be interpreted in the context of what is being learned from other ongoing PCMH pilot projects that involve more radical reforms Discount Rosetta Stone to the larger delivery system – reforms that place greater value on the essential role of primary care."The research team also calls for the continuing evolution of the PCMH model, which they contend overemphasizes technology at the expense of the four core principles of primary care. Current and planned demonstration projects, they assert, must retain a balance of fundamental features of the PCMH that melds the core principles of primary care, relationship-centered care, reimbursement reform, and the chronic care model, as well as the emerging information technology that supports these elements.Furthermore, they point out the need for individual physicians to change their professional identity and the ways in which they deliver primary care. Training programs, they assert, need to adapt to include more collaborative team-based educational models with nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nursing staff and other health care professionals. And, medical school education needs to attend to the basics of leadership, teamwork, operations management and organizational behavior so future physicians are equipped to help the practices they join make transformational changes. In her article, Elizabeth E. Stewart, Ph.D., project evaluator and now a senior scientist with the AAFP National Research Network, relates an interesting epilogue to the intensive two-year project. At the Project's final learning session where all the participants met face-to-face for the first time, an "NDP veterans" group organically emerged, expressing a desire to stay loosely connected. Coining themselves the Touchstone Group, these physicians and practice managers committed to keep in contact so they could reflect, support and learn from each other moving forward. Many also committed to reaching a broader audience by participating in public speaking and writing about their experiences.

Read More

Play school Delhi

A good Play school offers a number of benefits to your child and aids in his development. Following are some benefits of a play school delhi:These schools give the right kind of things and toys to the children for playing. These toys are specially given tot hem to them so that they learn the right patterns of behavior and show care for others for example they are made to learn to feed the dolls so that they can learn to feed themselves very soon. Babies are not born with many skills, they are taught these skills at play schools.Children become more familiar with the environment outside the comfort zone of their homes. They learn how to be all by themselves away from home and recognize their own belongings, bags, lunch boxes or water bottles.Play schools also help in reducing the separation anxiety in children. These play schools prepare them for their entry into the formal schooling system. A sudden experience of a new concept to a child may be traumatic for him. So, to avoid that trauma, play/preparatory schools play an important role.In addition, children learn many new ways of behavior and building bonds with other children. They know the meaning of sharing and cooperating, some of the skills that humans are not naturally born with.Children are not the ones who benefit from a good play school Delhi, parents of the children too can learn many different ideas and tips for a better development of their children and nurturing them into smart, confident and intelligent kids. The following sources will be checked dependent on the level of disclosure needed. Police National Computer (PNC) Department of Health (DH) Department for Education and Skills (DfES) Local police forces After a Basic, Standard or Enhanced Disclosure is requested by a person taking up a position in a school through a Registered Body usually Rosetta Stone Language the prospective Employer e.g a Local Education Authority,and by the individual themselves for Basic Disclosure.Thus a Basic Disclosure is not really effective for Education.A Standard Disclosure is used for the following main categories of work:? those involving regular contact with children and vulnerable adults; ? those checked in the interests of national security; ? those involved in the administration of law; ? those applying for firearms; explosives and gaming licences; ? professional groups in health, pharmacy and law; ? senior managers in banking and financial services.The Enhanced Disclosure is used for :? those who apply for work that regularly involves caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children or vulnerable adults; ? applicants for various gaming and lottery licences; ? those seeking judicial appointment;? applicants for registration for child minding, day care and to act as foster parents or carers Since the role of a teacher.or indeed a school caretaker involves the unsupervised access to children this is the type of disclosure which is appropriate. . The Ministry of Education, the DES, the DfEE and now the DfES have all in their turn maintained a List of proscribed teachers, in various forms, over the years.This List, called List 99, lists teachers unsuitable to work with children when banned for misdemeanours including sexual offences. It is the one of the items against which CRB checks for higher level Disclosures.It is the decision of the Headteacher who should have access to the pupils on the school site and this was highlighted in 2003 when the CRB was set up and was running well behind with checks. In these circumstances Headteachers and LEAs had to make decisions to grant access as disclosures were not physically available.However, recently the situation seems much improved and the ability of the CRB to check across the board from a range of sources seems to be a useful tool in enhancing the security of children at school.

Read More

3 Things to Know About HUD Homes

The Teacher Next Door Program (TND)also known as the Good Neighbor Next Door Program (GNND) is a HUD homes special program open to not only teachers, but also police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMT).? To get started and for qualifying purposes there are three things you need to know about HUD houses and the HUD Good Neighbor Next Door Program (GNND) 50% off discount: Each participant is defined as follows: A teacher is defined as an individual who is employed full time by a public or private school or educational agency. Holds a current State-level certification, as a classroom teacher or educational administrator (Principal, Assistant Principal, etc) in grades K through 12.? And in good standing with the employer. Substitute teachers who are employed full-time (every day) on an on-going, full-time, contract (standard teaching contracts are generally for 180 school days a year, or more) with a school system. These are employees who simply work in a different school every day or for short periods in the same school. Teachers have to buy property in the same school system where they teach – or in the case of a private school, within the radius where the school draws the students. A Law Enforcement Officer, for purposes of this program, is defined as an individual who is employed full-time by a Federal, State, county, or municipal government and is sworn to uphold, and make arrests for violations of, Federal, State, County, or municipal law and is in good standing with the department. Firefighters and EMTs must be employed full-time as a firefighter or emergency medical technician by a fire department or emergency medical services responder unit of the federal government, a state, unit of general local government, or an Indian tribal government serving the area where the home is located. All participants will have to agree execute a second mortgage and note that will be for the amount of 50% of the purchase price. In other words, if a home is purchased with a list price Rosetta Stone of $100,000, there will be a second mortgage on the house that has NO monthly payment but will be recorded as a lien against the property for three years.The occupancy restriction for program participants who purchase HUD homes is that they must occupy the property as their primary residence for three years beginning on the date of the closing documents. During the entire three year term, participants may not own any other residential real property. If someone currently owns real property, it must be sold before closing on a GNND property. Participants may be required to recertify each year to verify occupancy and compliance. Once the three year residency period has passed, the second mortgage (lien against the property) is released. If for some reason you must move or sell the home before the end of the required three year period, you must repay 90% of the second mortgage during the first year, 60% during the second year, 30% during the third year and at the end of the three year period the mortgage is forgiven. The second mortgage is not calculated in the monthly payment.? The second mortgage is a silent second and requires no repayment with full program compliance. The first mortgage on the property which will have a monthly payment will typically include more than just the other 50% of the list price. Closing costs, commissions renovations can be financed in with the purchase amount. For example, a property with a $100,000 list price has a $50,000 silent second mortgage and a $50,000 first mortgage with monthly payments due.? If the purchaser does not have closing costs needed in cash, this amount may be added to the first mortgage.? HUD does not pay any of a GNND participants closing costs since the home is being sold at a 50% discount. All closing costs will be calculated based on the list price, not the discounted mortgage amount. HUD homes allows sales commission of up to five percent so a five percent commission paid on the purchase of a HUD home in this example would be 5% of $100,000 or $5,000.? Closing costs such as lender fees, transfer charges, and settlement expenses might equal $8,000.? The property may need $20,000 in renovations since it's being sold as-is.? HUD houses are always sold as-is. The first mortgage on the referenced property would be a total of $83,000 ($50,000 discounted price plus $5,000 commission plus $20,000 rehab). And the monthly payment would be calculated with the approximate loan amount of $83,000. That would make the realized discount on the property listed at $100,000 an 83% discount, but it's important to note that the discount is taken from the as-is value of the home.? After improvements have been completed, the home's value would increase as well.?

Read More

Green Valley Homes Offer Many Benefits

Living in Green Valley, Arizona offers quite a few benefits, and it is little wonder that the area is so popular with retirees. The majority of the properties in the community are adult oriented and cater to those who are retired. This means that those who move to the area will be with their peers, and they will not have to worry about young and loud neighbors. Although some families do live in the area, retired people live in most of the Green Valley homes. While the age specific communities are one of the boons of living in the area, it is only the beginning.?Another reason that so many are flocking to this quickly growing community is the weather. With warm temperatures throughout the year, many who once lived in colder climates are making the move. They no longer want to deal with the problems that long winters often bring, and it makes far more sense to be in a climate that provides them with fun outdoor opportunities throughout the year.?Most of the people Rosetta Stone that live in Green Valley homes are also pleased that the city of Tucson is so close. It takes only a few minutes to reach the city by car, and you will find many different things to see and do in Tucson. It's nice to be so close to the city and all of the shopping and dining options it offers and still be a part of a smaller and close-knit community such as Green Valley.?Many Green Valley homes are available currently, and you will be able to find them at different price points and in different sizes. The properties have different features, and some may be more suitable to your needs than the others are. Hiring a real estate agent is going to be the best and simplest way to find the home that will match your needs and your budget. The agents will be able to give you more information about the neighborhood as well.?With all of the different options that you have when it comes to things to enjoy and the types of homes available in the area, it shouldn't be difficult to find a property that's perfect. Your real estate agent will be able to make your dream come true quickly, and will be able to show you all of the best homes in the area. Consider all of the great things that Green Valley homes can offer!

Read More

At St. Nicholas School, Spanish part of curriculum

MINERSVILLE -- Students at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School are learning how to speak Spanish using a special computer program that enhances traditional language lessons. The teaching of Spanish begins in kindergarten, according to Principal Thomas C. Dando, but beginning in the second grade, students are introduced to , a software program that teaches 30 languages in an interactive way through audio and visual means. Languages available include two versions of Spanish (Latin America and Spain), Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Greek, Persian, Hebrew, Latin, Polish, Swahili and Welsh. "When I first came here, I thought about what are some of the things we could do to make us special," said Dando. "Spanish came to mind. When you buy things nowadays, a lot of items have English and Spanish." Spanish was taught at the school when Dando arrived by instructor Joan Stout to students in grades five through eight. However, Dando believed it was time to expand the curriculum. "So we started teaching Spanish in kindergarten. Our kids learn Spanish every other day for a half-hour," Dando said. "For students in the second grade and up, we purchased a program called . The State Department, the military and others use it. It's an individualized computer program to help people learn a language." Dando said Stout uses theas an additional tool in developing language skills. Rosetta Stone Japanese "Mrs. Stout does other things away from the computer, such as memorizing words and fun things for the kids, but each child works at their own pace. She also (has) additional learning time four days a week after school to work on ." The move to teach Spanish early has already shown remarkable results. "The third- and fourth-graders have surpassed the seventh- and eighth-graders in what they've accomplished," said Dando. "By the time these kids get to the ninth grade in high school, we believe they're going to be well prepared for Spanish." The program starts with simple words and builds from there. The word is pronounced by the computer and four pictures are shown. One photo is the correct answer. Choose the wrong answer and the program will tell you of the incorrect choice. As the student progresses through the levels, words introduced earlier are joined to create phrases. The student can go back at any time to review and is allowed to move to a test and a higher level after answering everything correctly. "The mistakes that you make will bring the student back to those same questions," said Stout. Dando said the kindergarten students are enthusiastic when introduced to the Spanish curriculum. "They get a real inkling about what the language is all about and they get very excited about Spanish," he said. Stout said the use ofis in its third year at the school. "It's a good tool. There is also a teaching portion on the program. I can also make the tests what I want them to be," she said. Only half of each class learns at a time ondue to the limited amount of computers. Stout said she plans to use the recently installed Smart Board interactive whiteboards to teach an entire class at a time on occasion.

Read More

Learn Languages on the Go-Launches Seven Interactive iPhone Applications

Editor's Note: There is a photo accompanying this press release. , Europe's largest online language-learning community with over 900,000 users, has launched iPhone applications for learning Spanish , French , German , Italian , Portuguese , Russian and English . Members can synchronise their progress with their online profile, enabling them to switch seamlessly between learning on the iPhone and the website. Available for free download from the iTunes App Store, the new language applications can be used on Apple's iPhone (including the new iOS4), iPod Touch and iPad. They cover beginner to advanced-intermediate learning levels (A1, A2, B1, B2) according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.The free version of each app includes full access to 20 learning units. The complete, paid-for content offers vocabulary units (with more than 3,000 words and phrases), grammar units, 150 dialogues and hundreds of interactive exercises. This can be activated by paying just 3.99 USD per learning level. The applications, which can be used even without an internet connection, are based on 's award-winning online language courses and offer Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin America) fully audiovisual content including pictures and sounds. They also store users' mistakes in the interactive tests, enabling them to focus on their weaknesses and progress much faster with their learning. "Nowadays, language students don't want to be tied to the fixed timetables and locations of language schools and centres; they want the freedom to learn whenever and wherever they wish, whether you're on the metro or waiting at a bus stop!" says Bernhard Niesner, co-founder of . About - is Europe's largest online community for learning languages, with more than 900,000 members from all over the world. Members have free access to audiovisual online courses for learning Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and English. Every day, more than 5,000 users join the website. - In addition, users can further improve their language skills by connecting with native speakers within the community via an integrated video-chat application and peer-to-peer text corrections. On a daily basis, more than 15,000 posts are corrected by the community. Every member is therefore not only a 'student' of a foreign language, but also a 'tutor' of their own mother tongue. - is a start-up founded in Madrid in January 2008 by Bernhard Niesner and Adrian Hilti, and was a UNESCO partner project during the International Year of Languages in 2008. It has received several prestigious awards, such as: -- a Silver Lion at the International Marketing Festival, Cannes-- the European Commission European Language Label-- the CeBIT Innovation Award.- The website's name comes from the Cameroonian language of Busuu, which is spoken by only eight people according to an ethnological study carried out in the 1980s.

Read More

Home schooling Abcs Rapidshare

All about the country, dad and mom are pulling their kids from college due to the liberal agenda, worldly curriculum, small academic requirements, overcrowded classrooms, lack of individualized focus, troubles within the playground, damaging peer-pressure, and so on.The following lessons will develop upon that expertise, but will not overwhelm you because you are going to have had a week to digest the previous week's lesson and place it into practice.Grab A Copy Click hereAnd private college isn't always the most effective solution possibly. With skyrocketing tuition fees, a lot more over-crowding and also the influx of expelled college students from the public school technique, mothers and fathers are recognizing that personal college does not normally remedy the troubles created by public college shortcomings. This leaves homeschooling as the best, and maybe only, acceptable remedy for numerous families.Removing your children Rosetta Stone in the public college system is the uncomplicated part. Making and maintaining a wholesome, well-rounded, academically superior and God honoring understanding environment at residence requires some intentional organizing and execution. It doesn't occur automatically.Grab A Copy Click hereIn fact, most homeschooling mother and father would concur that it generally takes two complete years to really feel as though they've finally entered their stride and therefore are fostering the house studying environment that they're striving for. But what about these initial two a long time? We want them to be remarkable, ideal? Wouldn't it be nice if this studying curve might be shortened??Join our Homeschooling ABCs class and get 26 weeks of step-by-step instruction - all of the basics of homeschooling from A to Z - delivered straight for your email box!That is precisely what this Homeschooling ABCs class is about - step-by-step data delivered to you as soon as a week by way of e mail which will contain bite-sized chunks of wisdom and advice also as action actions for that week. The following lessons will develop upon that expertise, but will not overwhelm you because you are going to have had a week to digest the previous week's lesson and place it into practice.

Read More

Home School Basketball Free Tips - Read This Shocking Report !

If you are curious about free home school basketball tips, then you will surely consider the data which will be revealed below to be surprising if not downright shocking. What if you were to learn that a basketball player at any level has the opportunity to make an impressive improvement to their game in a very short period of time, without even breaking a sweat, or even leaving home! I'm sure you're thinking that this is impossible, well, hold on - it is not just a vague possibility, it has already assisted countless young athletes from all over the us to improve their game skills by at least 30% in just a matter of few weeks. There is one thing you must understand - being the basketball player of each and every coach's dream is about your game intelligence, how fast you 'read' the game and sense court and the ability to determine the opposing team's strategy for the game.My basic assumption is that you are interested about free home school basketball tips Rosetta Stone , and you probably have other basketball ambitions, but it is important for you to understand that you could very well realize your hidden skills and talents in the game of basketball - to have increased ability to quickly sum up the game and instantly know what your next move should be - whether a pass or a shoot, for example. Top coaches and trainers from impressive teams all over the united states have reported astounding results from this simple program which trains basketball players - individuals and even whole teams - to advance to a professional level in a matter of a few weeks. Although you might simply be interested in getting information about free home school basketball tips, i want you to be familiar with this specialized new method that gets your game off the ground and to a professional level and get you on the road to your future in basketball, whether you're hoping to be a better team player, a varsity stand-out, or perhaps free college tuition and a professional career after that! Don't believe it? Why not see how it works?

Read More

It can be done with proper and careful planning

Getting involved in a home schooling plan is not complicated as you might have guessed. You need not have to pass through a series of activities to help troubled children. In addition, home schooling is an extremely essential method of the development of a child's upbringing. Take care of a few steps to provide the best for shaping up a child's career and life. It can be done with proper and careful planning and a clear understanding of today's needs and requirements of a child. With a little alertness, you can create a growing home school curriculum very easily.Manyhome schooling curriculum involve parents as a major part of the whole study process. It requires the help of a parent or any elder at home to assist the child go through Rosetta Stone Korean the learning of chapters and help them with getting its adequate meaning and concepts. Often parents feel it a bit challenging to prepare learning strategies for their child to give him or her model of absolute growth. Home schooling skills helps you to understand the difficulties of students and helps you formulates effective solutions for this. Thus, by creating a daily schedule of learning on the weekly and monthly basis for future learning goals is always the first step.Home Schooling Must be Entertaining One of the success formulas for this whole process would be making it really entertaining and enjoyable so that a child would not get bored. A parent in assistance with a tutor can chalk out plans for integrating activities such as artwork, stories and hands-on training with a touch of different subjects in it. For example, if you like to provide knowledge of science, as a parent you need to discuss its usage practically. You can take you child to a nearby science museum and enjoy your time with the child.

Read More

They're virtually famous

Second Life has become second nature for three enterprisingAustralian artists, writes Clare Morgan. Imagine an art gallery where you can not only touch the works ondisplay, you can walk over them, sit on them, even fly throughthem. Such actions would doubtless send security staff intoapoplexy, but in Second Life, the world is your oyster. Today three Australian artists unveil their exhibitionBabelswarm in the 3D virtual world of Second Life, aninteractive sculpture based on the mythical Tower of Babel. Forthose who like the old-fashioned gallery experience, there is a"real" show at Lismore Regional Gallery. Christopher Dodds, a visual artist, Adam Nash, a musician and 3Dreal-time artist, and Justin Clemens, a writer, all from Melbourne,were last year awarded a $20,000 artist-in-residence grant from theAustralia Council to create a work for the online social networkingworld - believed to be the largest grant of its type. Advertisement: Story continues below Their real-time 3D work Babelswarm combines swarm theory- the outcomes of collective behaviour - and the story ofhumanity's effort to build a tower to the heavens, only to have itdestroyed as punishment for such arrogance, along with man'sunified language. Residents of Second Life, represented by theircomputer-generated avatars, can speak or type messages into theinstallation; voice-recognition software converts their words intoletters that fall from the sky to create a tower. Lismore Galleryvisitors can take part by speaking into a microphone and watchingtheir contribution to the installation on a wall-sized screen. There is also an essay by Clemens, which will be available inprinted form (only 100 copies) or online. Dodds has been a resident of Second Life for two years, and setup Info Island so that he and Nash could experiment with graphicsculptures Rosetta Stone . Dodds's spiky-haired avatar, Mashup Islander, was approachedlast year by an avatar from the Australia Council who wasresearching Australian artists working in Second Life. "Inside Second Life the user can walk up to these sculptures andinteract with them - get inside them, move around them," Doddssays. "This is the inherent beauty of virtual art - it's possibleto create objects and experiences that aren't possible in the realworld." Nash says another attraction is how work evolves as visitors make their contributions. "We'll be watching it to see what emergesand how it grows," he says of Babelswarm. "There isn't any point when it's finished 133; Part of the enjoyment of working in this medium is the constant joy and surprise of seeing how these things behave when you let them loose in this environment." Nash, a performer and composer, began his virtual career with the group The Men Who Knew Too Much. "We began working shows about 1997 that involved performances invirtual environments," he says. "In those days it was a little lesssophisticated than now. Virtual reality was the buzzword, andpeople talked about living in a 3D fantasy universe." He is full of praise for the Lis more Gallery and its director,Steven Alderton: "It was one of the first to be really interestedin what we were doing and really understood it. It's not common tomeet somebody with a good understanding of the potential." Dodds and Nash are embarking on a new venture, the Australian Centre of Virtual Art, with the aim of curating virtual art. Dodds says: "It will start with an extensive website, interviews with artists and academics before we set up a gallery in Second Life where people can display their art. It will be all the things you would experience in the real world, but the criteria is that itis innovative. We're looking at making art that is not possible inthe real world, taking the medium and pushing it as far as theycan." All the world's a stage for avatars Since it was founded in 2003 by the San Francisco technologycompany Linden Lab, Second Life has exposed performers to aworldwide audience. Musicians, including Duran Duran and Suzanne Vega, haveper formed "in-world", and last year Australia's Internet Industry Association bought an island to showcase independent artists.

Read More

Turf talk defined a bygone lexicon

The prince who would be king ... Jockey Roy Higgins, standing, speaks with Bart Cummings, known then as the Black Prince but today as the Cups King. 'THERE'S no doubt that Australia fields a very poor political team, that our orating drongos pose a more serious threat to democracy than the falling dominos of Asia,'' The Sydney Morning Herald editorial in 1975.The buzzword, drongo, is an example of how racing once influenced the Aussie parlance. ''The argot of the track has penetrated into general language of the nation to a considerable degree,'' opined Bill Hornadge in The Australian Slanguage. Advertisement: Story continues below Depression and war developed character best seen on the turf, a mingling of the hopeful in pursuit of the unbeatable, from all walks of life. The chant of colourful bookmakers boomed like sideshow spielers into a hub of punters and urgers, tippers and pickpockets with High Court judges, legal eagles, squatters and bankers in the mix. By comparison, most Saturdays today are more like Maralinga with humour to match. Sure the bookmakers' clerks, once seasoned denizens of the ring, have been replaced in the main by female computer operators, easier on the eye, but hardly useful to crack a joke or tell you who's taken the ''knock'' (failed to meet their obligations). The dialect that evolved, stimulated by race broadcasters such as Ken Howard, was puzzling to followers of the Oxford. Words and phrases had a meaning centred around the horses and the punt. ''Go for the doctor'' (whip) ''Off like a bride's nightie'' (a quick starter) ''travelling via the cape'' (running wide) ''pulling the persuader'' (whip) and ''haemorrhage of the kick'' (only a blood transfusion by cash to the pocket would assist) spouted out of the radio every Saturday afternoon when Howard had a bigger audience than Alan Rosetta Stone Jones. ''You can bet London to a brick on'', about a result was popularised by Howard when confident about the result of a photo-finish. Mind you, London was lost on a couple of occasions. ''More fruit for the sideboard,'' chanted Andy Kerr, the ''Coogee Bunyip'', the Howard of bookmaking in the 1920s and '30s, renowned for being flash in every way, particularly dialogue. ''If any method has been invented for keeping a fool and his money together, I've never heard of it,'' he pontificated until offering 100-1 about a horse, Pedestrian, at the ponies to a red-bearded bushie who claimed him for four pounds on it. The bushie collected in gold sovereigns and later returned with a bag of lemons and the fruit for the sideboard line. ''I've had to pawn the sideboard to pay you,'' Kerr replied. But the fruit axiom remained. The written word, too, had resonance. ''He's home and hosed'' (can't be beaten) ''he ran in the straight like mercury on a marble slab'' ''had salt rubbed into his wound when the Lewis cuddy Valour curled the mo in the Bond Handicap'' ''one of the chief cat whippers in Melbourne today must be Scobie Breasley'' (who wouldn't hurt a cat). The term ''punters'', now regarded as consumers, possibly originated from ''pointer'' from ferro at the gaming tables. Punters have always had a love-hate relationship with jockeys or hoops being acclaimed as ''knights of pigskin''. ''Hoops'' may have come from when they roll along the ground after a fall. Jockeys were given colourful titles: Cotton Fingers (George Moore), The Professor (Roy Higgins), Jerky Jim (Jim Johnstone), The Enforcer (Mick Dittman) and The Pumper (Jim Cassidy), while Rae Johnstone was Togo in Australia and Le Crocodile in France.

Read More

The verandah ironwork is hand forged

The interior sports an elaborate painted frieze, fine cedar joinery and original fittings.One wing contains a craft shop, Auld Lang Syne, which sells decorative artwork, local crafts and collectables, (02) 6367 3056. Belubula StAcross Belu bula St is Carcoar Antiques and Bridge Tea Room which sells antiques and collectables, souvenirs and gifts. It is open every day but Tuesday from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., (02) 6367 3145. Next door to the courthouse, in Belubula St, is the post office, a twostorey brick building dating from 1879 with unusual ironwork to the upper floor (the singlestorey structure at the front is a later addition). Enterprise Stores Opposite the post office, and adjacent the Royal Hotel, is a typical 19thcentury general store which is the main tourist information centre for the town, (02) 6367 3085. They can furnish you with a pamphlet outlining a walking tour which takes in the town's historic buildings. In case you arrive when they are not open there is a map of the town and its sights posted up by the general store. Alternatively you can enquire at the post office (02 6367 3077) or the antique shop. Firearms Museum and Two Hotels Next to the post office is the former CBC Bank, a Classical Revival building designed by G.A. Mansfield and built in 1877 of rendered brick with a detailed facade and cedar joinery. It now houses the Firearms Technology Museum which is open by appointment, (02) 6367 3154. Adjacent is the former Bakers Hotel (1879). One end of the singlestorey terrace next door still bears a sign indicating its former life as the Commercial Hotel (1863). Parts of the original shingled roof can still be seen. Old Commercial Bank Next is a private residence called 'Daylesford'. It was originally built as a home. In the 1860s it was rented to the Commercial Bank. In 1863, the famous bushranger Johnny Gilbert, accompanied by John O'Meally, held up the bank. This robbery has the dubious distinction of being Australia's first daylight bank robbery. Unfortunately for Gilbert and O'Meally a brave teller grabbed a gun and fired a Rosetta Stone shot into the bank ceiling. The shot was heard around the town and the robbers fled emptyhanded. Over the road is the former City Bank (1886), a threestorey redbrick building. St Paul's and Rectory Further along Belubula St, on the same side of the road, is the former Anglican rectory, designed by noted architect Edmund Blacket and built in 1849. It is a twostorey Gothic brick building with stone window trims and ornate timber bargeboards. Gabled dormer windows indicate the presence of attic rooms, built for the parson to conduct a private school, to supplement his income. Up the hill is St Paul's Anglican Church, a small Gothic Revival structure, also designed by Blacket. It was built of brick and sandstone with a slate roof between 1845 and 1848, making it the secondoldest church west of the Blue Mountains. The unusual crossing tower and steeple date from 1874. The interior is essentially in original condition, including the brick sanctuary floor, the sandstone font and the family pew of original European settlers, the Icelys (Thomas Icely paid for the church). A little further up the road is a singlestorey brick building that was originally the New Criterion Inn. Its position indicates that this was the original access road into Carcoar. It is possible to see the cellar trapdoor in the pavement out the front of the building. Catholic Church The next crossroad is Coombing St. On the corner is the Church of the Immaculate Conception built in 1870.

Read More

Terrific scientific

Last December, the man who created snail porridge and headed themolecular gastronomy revolution declared it "dead". Actually, Heston Blumenthal, the British chef whose Fat Duckrestaurant led the way in bringing science back into the kitchen,wasn't hoping to bury the culinary movement, just the term. After all, why read the last rites over the most exciting,cuttingedge concepts to hit our restaurant plates since nouvellecuisine? What's more, the biggest names in the internationalrestaurant business, constantly voted the top in the world, owetheir reputations in part to this scientific approach tocooking. Advertisement: Story continues below We're talking about Ferran Adria from El Bulli in Spain (No. 1on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list compiled by Britain'sRestaurant Magazine), Thomas Keller from The FrenchLaundry in the US (No. 3) and Pierre Gagnaire from Pierre Gagnairein France (No. 4). Blumenthal's Fat Duck restaurant, by the way, isNo. 2. Sydney's Tetsuya Wakuda from Tetsuya's (No. 5) admires theirtechnical achievements, particularly those of his friend, Adria."He understands tradition," Wakuda says, "and he also asks, 'whyare we doing it this way?' He wants to understand the science ofit." This futuristic food is about science and technology. The firstis learning the chemistry of food and flavour so that newcombinations and interpretations can be created. The second isbringing industrial and laboratory tools into the kitchen so thatnew forms of pleasure can be brought to the table. Wakuda has been known to toss together unusual ingredients orreassemble a dish in a surprising way but he doesn't considerhimself a gastroscientist like Adria. "I'm always inspired [by him] but it's not for me," he says.Still, he keeps a close eye on this techno 21stcentury cuisine,sometimes mocked as cooking for Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin) eggheads, as do other highly ranked Sydney chefs. Mark Best at Marque, Peter Gilmore at Quay, Sean Connolly at Astral, Brent Savage at Bentley Restaurant Bar, Daniel Puskasat Oscillate Wildly and Christine Manfield at Universal havesampled the trendsetting techniques of molecular gastronomy. Best uses a thermal circulator to heat water to a precise, lowtemperature and cook food sous vide (in a plastic bag). Connolly has an antigriddle that can freeze sauces and purees so they havea crust on the outside and are creamy inside. Savage usesspherification, a calcium bath that creates a membrane that holds aliquid and explodes when broken. However, like Blumenthal, they are wary of the words. "Molecular makes it sound complicated," Blumenthal told The Observer Food Monthly. "And gastronomy makes it sound elitist." Certainly, but Blumenthal earned his third Michelin rosette while putting white chocolate with caviar on his menu and not longago was on BBC television beating up icecream in a bowl of liquidnitrogen (a trick seen at kids' parties run by the CSIRO). Most innovations begin as complicated ideas that only a fewpeople cotton on to. Then the trickledown effect kicks in. Bestbelieves this modern culinary movement has opened up "an endless world of possibilities". He is less worried about the terminologyand more concerned about the philosophy being bastardised. "Used with restraint, it's a wonderful thing," Best says. "It's not just about putting together unusual combinations ofingredients. To use a different heat source is revolutionary. [Thescience] allows you to do things with texture and temperature offood that was impossible."

Read More

I suppose terrorists rarely do

Seeking to excuse what is inexcusable and indefensible shows a callous lack of insight. Instead of being truly contrite they have the audacity to hide behind the coward's excuse of "intention". The flawed judgment that conceived, filmed, edited and aired the segment is compounded by a clear and unvarnished intention to offend. What choice offerings next, boys the intellectually disabled? Some things should just be left alone because they are not the stuff of comedy skits. Mary Lou Carter Drummoyne Gee, I didn't see that bit. I stopped viewing when I saw the preceding item on the Fritzl family tragedy. Viewers who made it through to the "make a wish" satire obviously have a higher tolerance. Philip Smart North Balgowlah The Chaser's sketch on children in hospital is an indication of what happens when people run out of ideas (and tact), but seemingly have an excess of hubris. Garry Manley Newtown The "make a realistic wish foundation" skit was definitely an "Oh, no!" moment. However, I suggest all the horrified complainants make a large donation to the Make a Wish Foundation and thank The Chaser for the publicity. Judith O'Brien Seven Hills War of words follows doctor's murder Michael McIntosh (Letters, June 4) thinks the murder of George Tiller was not terrorism because the gunman would not have considered it such. I suppose terrorists rarely do. Terrorism's defining feature is that it seeks to intimidate a group. Killing a doctor in his church shows that nowhere in the US is safe for doctors who support abortion. Yes, let's be clear: the murder of Dr Tiller was an act of terrorism. Ken Finlayson East Corrimal Actually, Judith Ridge (Letters, June 4), prolife commentators have not blamed the victim. Hundreds of US prolife groups have condemned the shooting. National Right to Life has extended its sympathies to Dr Tiller's family, and has condemned unequivocally acts of violence whatever their motivation. Henk Verhoeven Beacon Hill Surely the issue is not whether Scott Roeder is a terrorist but that he is a dangerous religious Rosetta Stone Language fundamentalist. Such individuals or groups should not be confused with the larger pacifist prolife Christian movement, which opposes the use of violence to further the same political end. Ross Pulbrook Wyong Turnbull's lack of credibility This is ridiculous. Malcolm Turnbull points to increased rural exports and argues that without them we would be in recession ("Nation bucks global trend", June 4). With this logic the Opposition can claim Australia would be in recession at any given time if not for the mineral exports, or the housing boom, or the car sales This pointscoring attempt is not credible. Carsten Burmeister Cremorne Can we now talk about a positive contraction of the economy? Jim Ayling Kirrawee Holden backs into reality How gullible does Mark Reuss think we are ("Jobs and factories safe, says Holden", June 3)? With the demise of the Pontiac, Holden has lost about 30 per cent of its production. This translates into excess capacity, the two worst words in the manufacturing language. Excess capacity equates to jobs and overhead costs, and if they are not reduced or eliminated they must be absorbed by existing production. This, of course, drives up the cost of those vehicles, reducing profit unless prices can be increased not a viable option in today's marketplace. The handout from the Australian taxpayer is for the development of a small, fuelefficient vehicle not to cover Holden's excess capacity costs.

Read More

Guide to Tumut Valley: tribal footsteps

Down in the valley ... mountain brumbies. Photo: Ben Stubbs Ben Stubbs joins a guided walk that follows the path of the original inhabitants and reveals a bounty of bush tucker. Stories are told of the tribes of the Wiradjuri, Ngunnawal and Walgalu people who would come down from the hills each year and push through the valleys to the spot where the Tumut and Goobarragandra rivers meet. In their hundreds they would continue on to the Bogong moth feasts on Mount Jagungal, following the natural highway of the Tumut River. Along the way they would fashion axes and spears to help them hunt and survive. As the clouds overhead threaten rain, Shane Herrington and Talea Bulger sift through the dirt, picking out the chipped stone artefacts, showing me proof that their people passed through this corridor thousands of years ago. Advertisement: Story continues below Herrington and Bulger are Aboriginal discovery officers working for the National Parks and Wildlife Service and they are guiding me through the history of their traditional country: the Tumut Valley. As we stand in the bush beyond the northern reaches of the Kosciuszko National Park, Herrington introduces me to the bushtucker loop in his native language: "Welcome to my grandfather's country, my country, Wiradjuri country." We are wandering through the red dust looking for bush food and even though the Tumut Valley is full of fruit trees and waterways, the scrub out here looks thirsty; it crackles and breaks as we brush past overhanging limbs and wade through kangaroo grass. Herrington finds the first item on his shopping list: a dog bush, otherwise known as karri. He breaks off a clump of the leaves from a tree hidden in the undergrowth and smells it. It's a pungent herb that is thrown in curries for flavour and it is also used as a vaporiser. When clumps of the dog bush are put into a small fire the leaves suck in the oxygen and allow the flames to catch onto the kindling. We continue past a wall of bush, which on any other day I would stumble through without Canada Goose giving a second glance. Herrington knows this area is ripe for exploring; he grew up nearby, in the former Aboriginal mission of Brungle. Cradling an axe and his medical kit, he points out a kunzea plant, used around campfires as a reptile repellent. Next to it he pulls at the white flowers of a teatree, which is used to repel insects. Herrington and Bulger are constantly on the lookout for slithering "gutis", or snakes. I'm shown a clump of bush mistletoe, or "snotty gobbles" as they're affectionately known. These sweet little fruits look like beansized lychees and grow as a parasite on trees. Mistletoe birds eat them, their droppings fall on branches and start growing, using the tree as life support. On the lookout for some tucker a little more substantial, we search for a currajong tree. We scan the bush and eventually identify a small sapling in the dirt under the shade of a scribbly gum. Herrington takes the first shift and starts digging towards the currajong tree's roots with a sharpened stick. The earth smells sweet as we burrow further down towards its tail. More than a metre down Herrington finally reaches the end of the currajong tree. Rather than a collection of frayed tree roots we find a white oblong tuber still attached to the base. It looks like a radish; its white flesh, however, tastes just like a cucumber when we brush off the dirt and take a bite. Foraging for bush food seems relatively straightforward but when I go to grab a handful of kangaroo apples, Herrington and Bulger pull me up.

Read More

Formula one cars and their environs are purpose built

My daughter does indeed learn at her "early learning centre" (or kindy, as we like to call it). She plays with puzzles, dolls, books, crayons, musical instruments and other children. Somewhere in there are colours, numbers and letters, not to mention qualified, caring, professional staff. I am not guiltridden, I am certainly not a superwoman I am a realist. My child learns more than the standard schoolpreparation material. She learns to share, to cooperate, to have good manners, to read other people's emotions and empathise with them, and that other adults care for her. And she has lots of fun. Josephine Carroll Revesby First Hicks, now Hu If Malcolm Turnbull were prime minister, would he be calling the Chinese President to demand the release of Stern Hu ("Rudd rejects call to intervene", smh.au, July 10)? If so, it proves again his judgment is questionable. Maureen Jones North Rocks More than five years for the Coalition government to call for the release of David Hicks, held in Guantanamo Bay without trial. Less than five days for the Coalition Opposition to call for the Government to demand the release of Stern Hu. What a difference a spell on the opposition benches makes to one's view of justice. Mike Clear Cudmirrah Formula for safety The reason 600kilogram formula one drivers survive crashes at more than 200 km/h (Letters, July 10) is that they do not have to deal with 20tonne juggernauts hurtling towards them on the wrong side of the road, colliding headlong into a tree (rather than a deformable safety barrier) or being sliced in two by a train. Formula one cars and their environs are purpose built; the real world is not. Colin Jeffrey Malua Bay Bottle brouhaha Am I the only one struggling to understand the hysteria over bottled water (Letters, July 10)? The logic seems to be that it is wrong and wasteful because Rosetta Stone English nothing is added to it. Add half a kilogram or so of sugar and artificial flavours, and presto, it is a legitimate product. I rarely buy or drink either, but I get nervous when people want to dictate to others what is wasteful. Matt Pralija Neutral Bay Alarm over KKK Your article ("We have infiltrated party: KKK", July 10) was depressing on a number of fronts. First, that white supremacists should still be around, let alone infiltrate an Australian party. Second, that there should be an association with Christianity, when such an ideology is the antithesis of Christian values. Third, the suggestion that to oppose high immigration is to be "far right". My friends who oppose high population growth from high immigration cover most of the political spectrum, but with a tendency to be centre or left. We need low immigration not based on race. It is numbers that count. The 2008 figure of 253,400 for net immigration should be deemed too high by anyone. Jenny Goldie Michelago Terminology of terror Daniel Lewis (Letters, July 10) may be concerned that we cannot say Islam and terrorism in the same breath, but that pales into insignificance when we consider the selfcensorship and fear that surrounds the use of the word in the same sentence as Israel or the United States. Most Western journalists would not dare to suggest that the recent decapitation of Palestinian children by Israeli artillery in Gaza was anything but justified selfdefence, while most of the world saw it for what it was: terrorism in its most reprehensible form. In such a hypocritical political environment, where terrorists seem to be defined exclusively according to their Islamic identity, there is a good argument to decouple the word terrorism from any religious association. Alexander Lane Thornleigh Daniel Lewis seeks to link all terrorist deeds to Islam. Jake Lynch identifies acts of piracy and contraventions of the Geneva Convention perpetrated by Israel ("Politicide or politic: Gillard and the Gaza muzzle", July 10).

Read More

Review: 'Social Network' epic and intimate at once

Checking into Facebook sporadically while writing my review of "The Social Network," I notice my hairstylist commenting on how freakishly hot it's been in Los Angeles, an old friend announcing she's flying back to Dallas from a business trip in New Jersey and a sports colleague posting a photo of himself while on assignment in Wales covering the Ryder Cup. My dog trainer has seven new friends. A classmate from my college newspaper is celebrating a birthday. They're all the usual mundane updates and observations that have become second nature in an age when we must share the meaningless immediately all part of who we are and how we live and work. But the origin tale of Facebook itself is filled with high drama, betrayal and rage just one of the many fascinating contradictions that make "The Social Network" so smart, meaty and compulsively watchable. Advertisement: Story continues below Director David Fincher and writer Aaron Sorkin have gotten together to create an epic tale about how we're able to tell the world about the tiniest details of our lives; they depict potentially dry, unwieldy topics computer coding and competing lawsuits and they do it in an intimate way. These are two guys who aren't exactly checking their smart phones constantly for new friend requests, but "The Social Network" represents the best of what they do: Fincher's mastery of fluid, visual storytelling, Sorkin's knack for crisp, biting dialogue. It's sharp, funny and tense, has great energy and pulsates with the thrill of discovery. Why we think people are itching to discover so much about us is another conversation for another time. But at age 19, Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg figured out that we'd want to do just that, and he determined it while screwing around on his computer one night in 2003, drunkenly miffed after his girlfriend dumped him. At least, that's how the story goes; Facebook itself calls the movie fiction. Still, here we are now, 500 million users strong worldwide and here Zuckerberg is, billions of dollars richer. Zuckerberg himself is the biggest Rosetta Stone Outlet contradiction of all: a socially inept guy who came up with a revolutionary way for others to connect, a hugely inventive genius who's also depicted as being small, petty and backstabbing. He's coy about his own life and likes but he's become obscenely wealthy by urging others to divulge theirs. In starring as Zuckerberg, Jesse Eisenberg rises beautifully to the challenge of portraying an unlikable protagonist and making us feel engaged by him or even want to see him succeed, depending on your perspective. And perspective is everything, as you'll find in "The Social Network." Eisenberg hones the awkward intelligence that's become his trademark in films like "The Squid and the Whale" and "Adventureland," but there's an edge to it now, a bitterness that makes him the most dangerous nerd ever. Based on Ben Mezrich's book "The Accidental Billionaires," "The Social Network" couldn't be more timely, with Trent Reznor's synthheavy score contributing to the contemporary, techie vibe. But it's a classic tale of ambition, greed, ego and selfdestruction. It looks like a Fincher film with its dark, smoky warmth, similar to "Fight Club," "Panic Room" and "Zodiac." And yet it's his least showoffy film from a technical standpoint (although how he digitally depicts a set of twins is seamless). "The Social Network" moves with great verve but it's all about the dialogue. And that's where Sorkin comes in his 162page script packed neatly into a twohour film with patter so brisk, especially off the top, it'll make you feel as if you're watching a 1940s screwball comedy. Fincher cuts back and forth between the creation of what we now know to be the juggernaut of Facebook and the depositions in two lawsuits against Zuckerberg. One is from a group of Harvard classmates, twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (Armie Hammer and Josh Pence) and Divya Narendra (Max Minghella), who say Zuckerberg agreed to help them establish their own oncampus social network, then stole his idea and formed his own. The other is from his former business partner and only close friend back then, Facebook cofounder Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), who says he was cheated out of millions after providing the earliest financial backing. Each is certain of his telling of the events; "The Social Network" lets us watch them all play out and gives us enough credit to decide for ourselves.

Read More

Most parents in NSW send their children to scripture

The truth is it would be hard to identify any aspect of indigenous culture, belief or labours that gave rise to the society Australians enjoy today. Almost every observable aspect of Australian life - whether language, sport, technology, medicine, law, economics or liberal democracy - can be traced to our inheritance from Britain, and the labours of early settlers and those who subsequently projected the spirit of western enlightenment. Recognition should focus on those whose thoughts and labours delivered the fruits we enjoy, such as property rights and the law Williams teaches. His insistence that Australia should specifically and solely acknowledge indigenous Australians, implying only negative or morally dubious intentions of our society's pioneers, is hypocritical and denies basic, observable facts. David Caldwell San Francisco Night at the Oprah It seems the spirit of Ian Macdonald, Minister for Bread and Circuses, is alive and well. The NSW government is about to donate more than $1 million of our money to one of the richest people on the planet to shoot a TV show here (''Government gets Oprah fever'', smh.au, September 14). With arts companies struggling to meet the rent and scrounge enough money to put on shows, this strikes me as a demonstration of the contempt with which the arts are held in NSW and Australia. But when our leaders prefer to be shown riding bicycles or at the football rather than in a theatre, concert hall, art gallery or opera house, it doesn't surprise me. The cultural cringe is still with us. Esteban Insausti Newington Walk the plank NSW Maritime's Rosetta Stone Latin America Spanish website says staff ''are committed to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity and this should be evident in every interaction with internal and external stakeholders''. The retention of Tonette Kelly on the payroll appears to run contrary to NSW Maritime's code of conduct and ethics (''Corrupt lawyer still on Maritime payroll'', September 14). NSW taxpayers are forced to sit and watch as their hard-earned taxes are funnelled into Ms Kelly's recreation fund - it's time to set her adrift. John de Bres Rose Bay Ethical dilemma The introduction of an ethics program does much more than give children who do not attend scripture a productive alternative (Letters, September 13). Most parents in NSW send their children to scripture. Each would be forced to choose if their child missed out on scripture or ethics. Which system discriminates on the basis of religion? The present one, which respects the religious choices of parents, including those choosing ''no religion''? Or the proposed system that makes ethics available only to those choosing ''no religion''? Barry O'Farrell does not need to wait for the review of the course to understand that this program would mean religious discrimination in our schools. Deborah Kellahan Castle Cove Policies by the dozen I am not a member of, or beholden to, any political party, least of all the state Liberals, but I am heartily sick of the cry, this time from Mark Pearce (Letters, September 14), that they are a ''policy-free zone''. It took me 10 seconds to download the party's 49-page policy document. When I typed in ''policies'' on the state Labor website, the download page offered me a Maxine McKew Wine Order form. Graham Anderson Bundanoon Maybe Tamara I really, truly, honestly, haven't heard of Tamara Jaber (Stay in Touch, September 14). Am I missing anything?

Read More