Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

One of my friends is walking the Kokoda trail this year to raise money for breast cancer research. I’ve seen her fundraising efforts, and that of the other women walking, and I have been really blown away. Viona Young had an idea for raising money for breast cancer research, and in her first year of trying raised so much money that only corporate sponsors raised more than she did. This is one of the few things in recent memory that I have been really impressed by. Good luck to all the women walking.

We watch the Games day and night, share athletes’ pain and pride. We want to know how good our county’s sport is. We hold high expectation for our Olympians. We do care about how much gold medals our athletes can win. But the Olympic Games are a global party. They are truly about participation and enjoying sports.

Acts of incest that produce offspring have sparked inquiry into the personality of accused perpetrators and the psychological and physical effects on victims and their offspring. In considering the extreme and extended nature of these cases I believe it is fair to speculate on the mother’s role in the incest family dynamic.

Some of the Socceroos supporters think Australia will have a comfortable journey to the World Cup finals. However in my opinion there still have some tough games on the way. When the qualifying games get underway again, any small mistakes would put the Socceroos’ ticket to the World Cup finals at risk.

After the result of a Housing Industry Association survey being announced two months ago, Bernard Salt, a demographer in Sydney, says there are some other reasons besides expensive house rental keep the trend that Generation Y live with their family going up.

Since I began watching this issue a few months ago, coverage has certainly increased, but public interest largely has not. Even if the effect on agricultural supply and pricing is ignored, if nothing more this is a case study of the needs for appropriate oversight of the planning and development process, and the rights of landowners and the state when it comes to resources.

Every Saturday the same: stressed people run through Sydney, armed with the Sydney Morning Herald‘s Domain section. It is hunting season - house hunting season! A month ago I was one of them.

Child obesity is hardly surprising nowadays. Half the food ads shown during children’s television timeslots were for “non-core” foods like chocolate and fast food, according to a new study by obesity researchers.

Summer’s on its way. And just as the weather picks up and we flock outdoors to our local beer gardens, a dark cloud looms over us. Is it smoke from our cigarettes? No. Ironically, it’s the potential lack thereof. Those who relish the idea of a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other, your days may be numbered.

When I found that the Australians are still reading China through Chairman Mao in 21st Century, I was overwhelmed by the frustration of misunderstanding at first.

As an avid film enthusiast, it gives me great interest to be up to date with the latest entertainment technologies. I am watching the take-up of Blu-ray in Australia with much anticipation, and am eager to hear other peoples view on the subject.

“I intend to reintroduce my motion to disallow Medicare funding following the report of the Senate Committee”. These words said by Liberal Senator for Tasmania, Guy Barnett, this week in the Sydney Morning Herald, were rapidly spread all over the web.

Everyone has the right to protection of some sort. Builders working in particularly hazardous situations are given danger pay – a big bonus on top of their regular pay. Similarly, cab drivers should be afforded protection if and when they want it.

Will the current crisis in the global financial markets adversely affect Australia? Will a sick passenger on a Chatswood train disrupt the Bankstown service? The answer to both these seemingly unrelated questions is something along the lines of “we don’t know for sure. Even if we did, there is probably not much we can do”. Complex networks of tracks or markets definitely have a downside.

The Pemulwuy Project has finally reached exhibition stage and it is now a waiting game for approval. According to Peter Valilis of the Aboriginal Housing Company, “the only reason the project would be knocked back is because the powers that be do not want Aboriginal people back on the Block”.

There was some relief when the Reserve Bank of Australia reduced interest rates and banks also reduced mortgage interest rates. Hopefully, the employment situation will remain stable so that the middle class can hold on to their jobs to support their mortgage payments. Meanwhile, there are signs that property prices are dropping. But this is a double-edged sword ...

Although these smoking campaigns might be successful, I really wonder if it is necessary to broadcast them on national television. The commercials are very graphical and don’t leave anything to the imagination. By broadcasting them on prime time television every viewer, whether a smoker or not, is exposed to the same horrifying images.

Youtube has given a voice to those who otherwise would not be heard by the masses... The personal nature of Youtube videos makes the delivery of the tragic messages from those tangled up in the euthanasia debate all the more confronting – and, as we’ve seen through Australia’s reaction to Ms Flowers’ video, all the more effective.

Who would think of celebrating mateship with a glass of mineral water? Who would have a dry ANZAC day? Alcohol is a central part of Australian social and cultural events which we mark as significant by drinking.

It’s easy to ignore a broken bank as just another greedy institution and that deserves their demise. Not so when you are the nations largest childcare provider to hundreds of thousands of working families. The challenge here is whether the government should intervene and nationalise a private sector entity to ensure delivery of a vital piece of social infrastructure.

Australia’s censorship laws came under tight scrutiny at an Arts Censorship Forum convened after the recent furore surrounding artist Bill Henson’s latest exhibition. Hetty Johnston, executive director of child protection agency Bravehearts, called for an arts tribunal to be set up that artists must first approach before working with children.

In this digital age, when people are getting quite comfortable with shopping, learning, socialising and even managing their bank accounts online, why is having an online picture of the front of their houses becoming so controversial? Is Google Street View really invading our privacy?

Plans are in the works for the facelift of the North Eveleigh / Redfern area. Preparations for the redevelopment began in 2005 and recently went public in April 2008. As part of the North Eveleigh Redevelopment Project, the historical section of North Eveleigh is being renovated or, in some cases, removed completely.

Remember a time when cars were only used to get you somewhere or get you laid? Well, the quaint notion that motor vehicles only be used for driving and sex is old school – territory for nostalgia buffs and Webdiarists.

”Bugger the canaries,” I thought He said. Quietly looking up from my sudoku, I raised a half-quizzical, half-disinterested eyebrow which I had developed in the days when I started smoking Sobranies and said “You what?”

The real significance of yesterday's announcement is that for the first time in its history, Fairfax has made a public declaration that profits come ahead of journalism. That its role as a major custodian of Australian quality editorial is secondary to its responsibility of maximising the financial outcome. (Eric Beecher)

As Bob Carr, Julie Bishop and Germaine Greer all proceeded to bring their prejudices to bear, backed up with stark and obvious ignorance, my interest turned to horrified fascination. Could decision makers in Australia really be so cocksure and stupid to boot?

I come from a family of warriors, and now spend my time looking after returned soldiers who have fought for their country and have often paid a big price to defend our democracy. If you enjoy your freedom spend a thought for the soldiers who have been killed or maimed to make it possible.

As the drivers voiced their cry for help in Adelaide, and most capital cities, do you know what the employer of six of them did for daring to strike?  Sacked them! There's an old-fashioned ways of supporting strikers... pass the hat around.  Show that you understand.   Get your supplies in and don't go to the shops that are driving these people, and their families, into poverty.

"If the discovery order is upheld, my legal team will be able to apply for access to the adverse security assessment and other documents. This could mean that I finally find out what I am alleged to have said or done to warrant my detention and forced removal from Australia in September 2005. "-  Scott Parkin UPDATE: Scott won.