Imaginif

Welcome to the August 1, 2007 edition of the Carnival of Australia.

G’Day. Thanks for stoppin’ in for smoko and a yarn, ey.
Pull up a stump and sit around the campfire while the billy boils and have a gander at all these little beauties willya.
(note from ed - this is Aussie slanguage. I do not really talk like this)

In the true spirit of Aussie mateship, I always begin my hosting turn at the Carnival of Australia with a post from the previous fortnight’s host: Colin Campbell, an Aussie Scot who likes to hang out at Adelaide Green Porridge Cafe. Everybody in the world must have watched as the Haneef Sim card debarkel made Aussies look very reactive and silly. Colin raises the questions of 1) how secure rights to stay in Australia are, and, 2) are expected civil liberties forgotten, with his post Finally - Dr Haneef Released. Colin comments in his thick Scottish accent with a twist of Aussie sarcasm: You can just imagine that the Australian Tourism Commercial, “Where the Bloody Hell Are You?” will go down well in India right now!

 And so we’re away with the seventh edition of the Carnival of Australia: like seventh heaven, this is where the true god Aussie bloggers hang out. We have many new Aussie bloggers this fortnight. Welcome and thank you to each and every one of you. Your posts and participation beautifully illustrate our diversity, ability and willingness to smear a good swipe of Vegemite across the blogosphere. Published fortnightly, on shared blog sites (hint, hint, who wants a turn), please be sure to continue to submit and contribute to this little bonfire to make a bush fire that just cannot be ignored as it rips across the thick scrub of voluptuous American Carnival players. We Aussies will not be ignored.

Australian Animals

mish presents Australian wildlife dangerous or not posted at Adventurous Aussies, saying, “Good article about our dangerous wildlife”. Not all Aussie wildlife is dangerous. If you’re reading this, then like Mish, you’ve never been bitten by a King Brown, a shark in our fantastic surf or boxed by a Kangaroo. Leave our Aussie animals alone and they’ll leave you alone too.

Susan Borgas presents Does my bum look big posted at SnapShots, saying, “I just love the native fauna that lives in my garden and how they interact with humans and add humour to our daily life.” Susan’s resident Dragon Lizard certainly does not have a big bum but he better lay off the moths or he may have to strike a pose that says, “I’m flat out like a lizard drinking.”

Business

Charles H. Green presents Trusted Professions posted at Trust Matters, saying, “In an Australian survey of trusted professions done annually since 1970, politicians barely outrank journalists. Pretty scary, if you ask me.” We may just need to nurse some of our central Australian professions back onto the trusted list. But the politicians? Nah, perhaps they have created their own true niche on the list! Where’s blogging on the list I wonder? Do we count as quasi journalists so therefore aren’t trusted either? Check out Meg’s post below for more on this point.

Conan Stevens presents BANGKOK ADRENALINE MOVIE TRAILER - Extreme Action posted at Conan Stevens Online, saying, “The movie I wrote the script for is now in final editing, here is the trailer.” Another Aussie about to take movie world to new extremes. Go Aussie, Go!

Bryce warns us all about Those interest-free deals on his blog over at A strangled duck upside down in a nerdy river. The pit falls that those who can lest afford it often fall into, need filling in as quickly as possible. Byrce offers some practical ideas, of which I have printed and given to daughter 21 year old. And, did you know (from my personal experience, not from Bryce’s blog) that debts can be sold to other creditors - half way through paying them off? 

Culture

Ruby presents What is a Holiday? posted at Advice and Rants. She asks a serious question of us all. Reflecting upon my own holiday habits, I realised that because I love my job so much and I live in a drop dead gorgeous part of Australia (Cairns), every day is a holiday for me. When I am actually on “holidays” I still work; lap top on my knee as I watch the kids swim or the sun sets set. Go figure!!! Perhaps it’s just a symptom of living down under and being able to enjoy our lifestyle!

jen presents Safari suit comeback features in more media, and one of us is interviewed posted at safari suit. See if you can spot Gus in the bright pink Safari Suit. What’s so good about the Safari Suit you ask? Quote from the safari suit blog: ‘They’re a picture of sartorial elegance’. LOL…you have got to read this! I LOVE Aussie humour and cultural dress.

Suzie Cheel presents Wintersun Passion | The Abundance Highway posted at The Abundance Highway, saying, “This post illustrates so much of what I love about where I live and about The Abundance Highway: A day of passion, color, fun, gratitude and a wonderful sense of freedom.” For those who don’t know, Wintersun is Australia’s largest Rockabilly and RocknRoll Festival. Australia’s right into rocks, just look at our icon stuck right in the middle of Australia, and  Billy Tea on the campfire is an Aussie as it comes, so why not create a Rockabilly culture. I love it!

And how about a bit of Black Australian culture and history. My quirky Koori mate, Kirky over at Kirky’s Arts and Chit Chat, lifts the lid on the blackness of Australian history and Indigenous culture at Melbourne University. In Chaos in the History Department at Melbourne Uni, Kirky shares the whitish history of the Black Australian subject in the said History Department. Thanks Kirky.

Do Australian writers get enough coverage? As an Aussie author myself, I would be saying “no” from both a subjective and objective view. So, step up National Simultaneous Story time 2007 with their commitment to promoting Australian authors, publishers and little Aussie readers. In The Magic Hat by Mem Fox. Simultaneous Child Protection Magic, I encourage you all to join us in Imaginif’s Safety Talk forum for a simultaneous read of Mem’s The Magic Hat. 

Current Affairs

jen presents Oxymoronic WorkChoices posted at Semantically driven. Like the oxymoron, Army Intelligence (I can say that because I grew up in Australian Territory Army camps overseas - my Dad was an Australian Army Officer), our new Workchoices legislation appears to leave few choices for families, particularly single parent families. Jen says she’ll be watching federal election results with great interest to see if the Labour party is able to live up to their promises of improving things for families. Me too Jen, me too. 

Gavin R. Putland presents Labor’s blind spot on housing posted at Putland Uncensored.

Family

Jumping in Puddles (how Aussie is that! Alan Marshal would be proud of this blogger), a white Australian woman who survived horrific abuse at the hands of her nice, white middle class parents, reflects on overcompensating as a parent. In how parenting can get so confusing  over at Life’s Spacings, Jumping in Puddles discusses her pleasure at knowing her children are safe and well cared for juxtaposed with her learning about appropriateness and how sometimes being hungry is normal, just half an hour before tea time. A beautiful post, I would encourage us Aussies to consider that our harsh land sometimes produces even harsher people. Please do not be an Aussie of Jumping’s parents caliber. I am breaking into song: Care for kids, won’t you try to be there for kids.

Kathie Thomas presents Today in Lysterfield posted at thomases.org, saying, “Thought a bit of Aussie countryside and mountain biking might be of interest?” The photos tell me that life in the Victorian countryside is COLD at the moment! Mountain Bike riding seems to be an Aussie outdoor activity enjoyed across every state. Is it any wonder: our land is so rich and diverse that mountain bike riding must surely allow the rider to fully experience the sights, sounds and smells of Australia.

And again in a different blog, Kathie Thomas presents There’s No Work Like Home posted at Worth More Than Rubies, saying, “An article in Melbourne’s The Age recently was perfect for comment at my newest blog about mother’s working at home.” There is a real theme emerging in this Seventh Heaven edition of the Carnival of Australia. Bloggers do work from home - some of us as an extension of our home businesses and others as an extension of their day. I love working from home and I love blogging. What do others think?

Micellaneous Mum presents The day has arrived! posted at Miscellanous Adventures of an Aussie Mum, saying, “Taking blogging live events to a new extreme - a funny one, with a Harry Potter flavour ;)”. Live blogging appeals to me, particularly if I could dress up as my heroine, Hermione Granger. Thanks Miscellaneous Mum, even though I can see myself doing something very similar in the hunt for the coveted Potter book, I did feel a twinge of embarrassment for you too. Goodness me, if Aussies can dress up as Dame Edna and make squillions, what’s wrong with a little mother dress up magic.

In Keep on Dreaming over at Psych Matters, Char, a foster carer, psychologist and online tutor shares with us, her way of “Rebuilding the Aussie Dream”: Fostering. Having been a foster carer for many years past, I value the opportunity to include Char’s post and welcome Char’s contribution to keeping kids safe.

Speaking of Foster Care, Sunshine Girl on a Rainy Day, in When Siblings are Separated in Foster Care (posted at Imaginif), informs us of a sibling placement program operating in Western Sydney. Thanks for sharing your own most personal experience too Sunshine. I am sorry that you had the father than you did and that separation from your sibling has been so painful. I am, however, glad that you have found another family and that you have chosen to assist foster carers and kids in care in both the USA and Australia.

Mad Goat Lady in Fitted Sheets and Togas just cracked me up and had me in sheets of laughter! Have you ever tried to fold a fitted sheet and produced a neat package that fits nicely on the linen cupboard shelf? If you have, and you’ve succeeded, then you need to get a life! For a jolly good head butter of a time, read Mad Goat Lady. Martha Stewart: eat your heart out. Our Aussie women are far more entertaining AND honest about sheet folding!

Health

Albert Foong presents Expanding your Comfort Zone like a Champion: Fear and Anxiety Cures posted at Urban Monk. His post nicely suggests how to whip fear and anxiety into place and encourages the development of emotional intelligence. Urban Monk, can you send your Emotional Mastery series to the pollies please? I think they may have some lessons to learn around the different forms of intelligence!

Leigh, over at All for Women puts out the call for a true blue genie, one that keeps the Tim Tam packet full - of money for genetic based research. In Jeans for Genes Day, Leigh calls us to, “Just wear your jeans to work or school and make a donation, or buy merchandise to help raise funds to allow scientist to continue with their wonderful work.” Right on Leigh, but, I’m going to be like Susan’s dragon and ask my ever tolerant husband, “Does my bum look big in  these?”

Technology

Des Walsh presents First Life, Anyone? posted at Thinking Home Business, saying, “Some observations about Second Life - the beach in First Life is more enjoyable.” Des, give me the true blue sand, air, scenery and bronzed Aussie (with sun screen and hat on of course) any time. Computer generated beaches indeed. No thanks, I’m with you and your fantastic graphic design in the sand.

Meg presents Why Australian Bloggers are “Under-represented” posted at Dipping into the Blogpond. A very interesting post on why Aussie bloggers may not be widely seen across the blogoshpere. Meg takes the concept of “Buy Australian” to a new cyber level with her suggestions of where to index your Aussie blogs at and how to support fellow Aussie bloggers. There’s not a pinch of Tall Poppy syndrome coming across in Meg’s blog that genuinely encourages her Aussie Bloggie mates. And here’s a tip from this Meg: submit to, and occasionally host, the Carnival of Australia. Leave comments on fellow Carnival revellers blogs saying you made your way there via the carnival of Australia. See how many times you can place the word Australia in a single post without sounding obsessive compulsive. Link back to each Carnival of Australia as it is published as a way to market to other Aussie bloggers.

That concludes this Seventh Heaven edition of the Carnival of Australia. Thanks for jumping on the ride with us and I hope you buy your tickets for the next show.

Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of Australia using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page. Next edition is over at my mate Leigh’s blog, All for Women. Aussie blokes, don’t let the name fool you, you can submit your posts too. 

Till the 15th of August, hooroo.

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