Noisy Sophia Jane

Watching the most recent episode of Cranford on ABC the other night, I was struck by the reactions of the Cranford ladies when they travelled on a steam train for the first time, concerned that their eyes might pop out with the excessive speed.
A similar sort of episode is described in an account in the Sydney Gazette for 18th June 1831. The Gazette's correspondent travelled on what purported to be the first excursion trip by a steamer in Australia, when the Sophia Jane ventured from Sydney to Middle Harbour. In a breathless piece of reporting he waxed lyrical over the marvellous journey. The steamer had no sooner left the wharf at Sydney, it seemed, than it was racing over the quiet waters of Middle Harbour: “Her velocity was astounding.”

I couldn’t help picturing the reactions of the handful of settlers living at Middle Harbour at that time, for whom the loudest noise would have been the ringing of an axe on a tree or the whinny of a horse. Suddenly, tearing over the water, laden with a hundred or more toffs quaffing champagne, with her engines going full pelt, the Sophia Jane breaks the silence, the harbinger of things to come.

Rand Paul on Fox News Hannity show 8-3-2010

Rand Paul on Fox News Hannity discussing term-limits, balanced budgets, reading the bills, and limited government.

Brisbane kids follow in big footsteps

Former Brisbane Bullets star Andre Moore has made the promotion of healthy living his mission in life.

After hanging up his size 17 pro sneakers, Andre now runs the Big Feat Basketball Mentoring Program as part of Australia’s Pathways to Prevention Project - an early intervention, crime prevention program providing holistic support to children and families in Brisbane’s western suburbs.

The most recent ‘Big Feat’ program involved 180 Grade 5 and 6 students from Carole Park, Durack and Inala state schools. Grade 6 students from Richlands East State School will experience the same “skills, thrills and fun” when Andre’s next sessions begin on August 9.

The 10-week mentoring program uses basketball to promote positive and healthy messages to pre-adolescent children, with Andre teaching kids to discover their strengths, improve their communication skills, become better team players and set goals.

The former professional basketballer, affectionately known as ‘The A-Train’ in his Brisbane Bullets days, has been leading by example for much of his life. The oldest of four children who grew up in a tough part of Chicago, Andre was a father figure to his younger siblings.

“Now I have seven children, so messages I pass on to these kids I pass on to my own,” he said. “By running this program I’m giving back to the community that has supported me.”

Cherie Lamb, Pathways to Prevention Manager, said Andre made a big impact on the lives of local children: "They were in awe of Andre's height and basketball skills.

“Andre provided the students with insight into the importance of making healthy choices in relation to nutrition and exercise, while still keeping their attention by mixing in basketball drills,” she added.

“The children’s evaluation forms showed that ‘Big Feat’ program was a life-changing experience.”

Durack State School principal, Beth Petersen, said teachers and parents were delighted with the program's success: “Our students have responded very positively to Andre and Mission Australia's lessons."

The Trouble With Unconstitutional Wars

 Congressman Paul's Texas Straight Talk

“Our foreign policy was in the spotlight last week, which is exactly where it should be.  Almost two years ago many voters elected someone they thought would lead us to a more peaceful, rational co-existence with other countries.  However, while attention has been focused on the administration’s disastrous economic policies, its equally disastrous foreign policies have exacerbated our problems overseas.  Especially in times of economic crisis, we cannot afford to ignore costly foreign policy mistakes.  That’s why it is important that U.S. foreign policy receive some much needed attention in the media, as it did last week with the leaked documents scandal…”

Click here to read the full article:  http://www.house.gov/htbin/blog_inc?BLOG,tx14_paul,blog,999,All,Item%20not%20found,ID=100802_3727,TEMPLATE=postingdetail.shtml

Alternate link:  http://www.house.gov/paul/index.shtml

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The dark powers that be, the ones who gave us the president usurper, the fraud and foreigner Obama/Soetoro/Obama, hate the Constitution and love the blood money of war.

Ron Paul: Congress Could End Obamas Wars

Ron Paul's Texas Straight Talk 8/2/10: End Obama's Wars!

by Ron Paul
08/02/2010 - http://www.RonPaul.com
Our foreign policy was in the spotlight last week, which is exactly where it should be. Almost two years ago, many voters elected someone they thought would lead us to a more peaceful, rational coexistence with other countries. However, while attention has been focused on the administration's disastrous economic policies, its equally disastrous foreign policies have exacerbated our problems overseas.

Especially in times of economic crises we cannot afford to ignore costly foreign policy mistakes. That's why it's important that U.S. foreign policy receive some much-needed attention in the media, as it did last week with the leaked documents scandal. Many are saying that the Wikileaks documents tell us nothing new. In some ways that is true. Most Americans knew that we have been fighting losing battles; these documents show just how bad it really is. The revelation that Pakistani intelligence is assisting the people we are bombing in Afghanistan shows the quality of friends we are making with our foreign policy.

This kind of thing supports points that Rep. Dennis Kucinich and I tried to make on the House floor last week with a privileged resolution that would have directed the administration to remove troops from Pakistan pursuant to the War Powers Resolution. We are not at war with Pakistan. Congress has made no declaration of war. Actually, we made no declaration of war on Afghanistan or Iraq either, but that is another matter. Yet we have troops in Pakistan engaging in hostile activities, conducting drone attacks and killing people. We sometimes manage to kill someone who has been identified as an enemy, yet we also kill about ten civilians for every one of those. Pakistani civilians are angered by this, yet their leadership is mollified by our billions in bribe money. We just passed an appropriations bill that will send another $7.5 billion to Pakistan. One wonders how much of this money will end up helping the Taliban.

This whole operation is clearly counterproductive, inappropriate, immoral, and every American who values the rule of law should be outraged. Yet these activities are being done so quietly that most Americans as well as most members of the House don't even know about them.

We should follow constitutional protocol when going to war. It's there for a reason. If we are legitimately attacked it is the job of the Congress to declare war. We then fight the war, win it and come home. War should be efficient, decisive and rare. However, when Congress shirks its duty and just gives the administration whatever it wants with no real oversight or meaningful debate, wars are never-ending, wasteful and political.

Our so-called wars have been become a perpetual drain on our economy and liberty. The founders knew that heads of state are far too eager to engage in those very conflicts. That is why they entrusted the power to go to war with the deliberative body closest to the people: the Congress. Decisions to go to war need to be supported by the people. Wars should not be covert or casual. We absolutely should not be paying off leaders of a country while killing their civilians, without expecting to create a lot of new problems. This is not what America is supposed to be about.

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Ron Paul is America's leading voice for limited, constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies.

Media Release: Survey reveals stark difference in outlook between homeless and non-homeless youth

Homeless young Australians are significantly more concerned about body image, alcohol and bullying than their contemporaries in stable accommodation according to national community service organisation Mission Australia.

The results, compiled from data from Mission Australia’s 2009 National Survey of Young Australians, also found that young homeless people were far less concerned about drugs and personal safety – leading issues of concern for the majority of young people.

To download a copy of the latest report please click here

When asked to rank their concerns about 15 issues, body image was ranked most frequently in the top three by 37.5 per cent of young homeless respondents. In comparison, 25.0 per cent of young people living in stable accommodation ranked body image as a major issue.

The second highest issue of concern to young homeless people was alcohol – with 37.3 per cent of respondents indicating it was a major issue – compared to 22.4 per cent for those in secure housing.

Bullying/emotional abuse was ranked as a major concern by close to one-in-three homeless young people compared to one-in-four of those in stable accommodation.

The main worry for young people in secure housing was drugs with 26.9 per cent compared to only 17.4 per cent for homeless young people.

Similarly, personal safety was viewed as a pressing concern by close to one-in-four non-homeless young people with only one-in-ten homeless youth considering it as such.

Mission Australia’s spokesperson, Anne Hampshire, said the results exposed the differences between young people influenced by their access to secure accommodation.

“We tend to think of young people as an homogenous group but they’re incredibly diverse. And when a young person has experienced homelessness it can have a dramatic impact on their concerns, the things they value and the people or places they turn to for help, particularly compared to those not in that situation,” said Ms Hampshire.

Other differences between homeless and non-homeless respondents identified in the survey include:

• Young homeless people ranked feeling needed and valued (39.1 per cent) as of higher importance compared to non-homeless youth (25.8 per cent). Conversely, young homeless people placed a far greater emphasis on being independent (55.9 per cent) compared to their contemporaries (32.3 per cent).
• While both groups of young people valued family relationships (homeless 66.9% / non-homeless 76.1 per cent) young people in stable housing placed a greater emphasis on friendships (other than family) at 61.4 per cent compared to only 42.6 per cent among homeless youth.
• Homeless youth place a far greater importance on non-family members as a source of advice than those in secure accommodation. Close to one-in-two homeless young people go to community agencies for primary support compared to one-in-ten non-homeless youth. 

Similarly around one-in-two homeless young people use the Internet as a major source of help compared to one-in-five in stable housing. In addition, 30% of homeless young people don’t have access to enough information when they have a personal problem.

The national survey, conducted annually by Mission Australia, tested the views of close to 48,000 young people between the ages of 11-24 (97.9 per cent aged 11-19). Among those who took part, 386 were homeless or in insecure housing; 225 were in out-of-home/foster care; and 460 were living in a juvenile justice centre or prison.

As to why such stark differences existed between homeless and non-homeless young people on issues such as body image, alcohol and drugs, Ms Hampshire said a number of reasons could be responsible.

“Young homeless people are no different to other young adolescents – how they look, their appearance and presentation is important to them. However, their concerns are likely to be magnified if they don’t have access to the resources to buy new clothes or are possibly reliant on donated goods. It’s hard to look after your appearance if you’re couch-surfing and don’t have a safe and secure place to stay.

“Poor body image is also tied up poor self-esteem and an overall lack of well-being. The high concern about alcohol among young homeless respondents – particularly when compared to those in secure housing – could relate to their experience of alcohol misuse in their family or their own usage of alcohol as research has shown there’s an increased likelihood of homeless young people having high levels of alcohol consumption.”

“A lower level of concern about drugs among this group – when it is the chief issue for young people in stable accommodation – might suggest a greater familiarity with drugs and if that’s the case it requires us to put more efforts into drug education and health campaigns for this particular group,” said Ms Hampshire.

According to Ms Hampshire the results also reveal the importance of personal connections in keeping a young person out of homelessness or helping them back on their feet.

“Developing and sustaining connections with family and friends is a key foundation for a young person’s wellbeing. We also know that family conflict is the most common reason for homeless young people leaving home.

“Personal connections are a cornerstone in helping a young homeless person back on their feet – that’s why programs which intervene early to help young homeless people re-build these sorts of relationships are so important,” said Ms Hampshire.

National Homeless Persons’ Week (2-8 August) is also the time for Mission Australia’s Winter Sleepout.

Winter Sleepout encourages Australians to show their support for homeless people by spending a night away from their beds and raising funds for Mission Australia’s homeless services.

Simply get together with your family, friends, colleagues, social teams, schools and clubs and ‘sleepout’ and seek sponsorship for your efforts.

For more information visit www.wintersleepout.com.au

Media contact: Patrick Flynn (02) 9641 5031 or 0407 411 256

Ron Paul On Fair Sentencing Act Jul 28 2010