Two days to the Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing,China...

Our New Zealand athletes wait in positive anticipation. For a small country we do well on the international stage; we have a definate chance of winning and placing in a number of events. Three to four gold medals are a distinct possibility, with a number of silver or bronze also excellent prospects.

A big throw from our Valerie and some fast rowing from Mahe would consolidate their world championship form. If a number of others also compete at their WC form we can expect a successful Olympics. See you all on the rostrum; the Kiwi flag will be flying!

http://peter-petterson.blogspot.com Read some more stories!

Crackdown on Falun Gong and other dissidents...

With the Beijing Olympics less than one month away, Chinese authorities have reportedly escalated their campaign against adherents of the Falun Gong spiritual discipline, conducting door-to-door arrests and imprisoning thousands in reeducation-through-labor camps and detention centers.

The Falun Dafa Information Center reported Monday that more than 200 Falun Gong adherents have been arrested in Beijing alone in the last seven months.

They say most of these Falun Gong practitioners are now being held in detention centers, while 30 have already been sentenced without trial to reeducation-through-labor camps for up to 2.5 years.

"The fact that these people are being sentenced to such long terms shows that these arrests are not about ensuring a 'harmonious Olympics' as Party officials may try to claim," says FDIC executive director Erping Zhang.

"Although Falun Gong adherents pose no threat whatsoever to the games, the Olympics are being taken as an excuse to put them behind bars for years."

http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-7-9/73175.html

http://bloggerparty.com/blog/huttriver10

Kiwipulse, a blogging friend from another site, wrote about MUNNY - a mini project to keep you or your kids busy and out of mischief. You can use your own creativity and make your own.

What on earth is a MUNNY you may ask? Well you can't spend this munny. But seriously it is actually an action figure made out of vinyl and has moveable joints. Indeed, mine are stiffening up.

It is apparently an invention of an American designer from a toy company called Kidrobot http://kidrobot.com Munny Section.

http://www.kiwipulse.com/category/arts/ Read further

Can cars really run on water? Thats a very good question.

There are many internet based claims that cars can actually run on water, with hydrogen gas being extracted to run the engine. But most claims are discounted as mere scams. But are they really?

Is there actually a little more to it? The multinational global oil companies are not going to support these claims, are they? Their whole economic future is all tied up with the future of oil based products such as petroleum/gasoline.

Is there a little more to these claims than skeptics and critics consider? Yes,no?

Let's read this latest story from New Zealand down in the pacific and judge for yourself whether there may be some credence attached to such claims.

http://kiwiriverman.blogspot.com/2008/07/hydrogen-gas-from-water-scam-or-fact.html

I really know nothing about this impending policy. I throw it open for your discussion:

"The Real ID Act and How to Take Action Against It & Say No!"

This video ( link below)discusses the The Real ID and what it will mean for every American Citizen in our nation. Most Americans have always wondered why nazi germany was so tyrannical during World War II. Well there's no need to wait. Because effective MAY 11TH 2008 all states must adopt the Real ID program that will force citizens with drivers licenses to be put into national databases with all of their information. This step is closer to the World ID Card program for One World Government in the New World Order globalization plan to track & trace it's population. Without your National ID card you will not be able to travel. Get on transportation services and more restrictions. ... SAY NO TO THE REAL ID & NATIONAL ID CARD! ... It's your responsibility as citizens t
YouTube Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33yX5b2mg_E 'View the video'

http://worldofcae.blogspot.com 'Visit the Green Blog some time/

Has modern life killed the semicolon?

By Paul Collins

Edgar Allan Poe, not a fan of semicolons.

When the Times of London reported in 1837 on two University of Paris law profs dueling with swords, the dispute wasn't over the fine points of the Napoleonic Code. It was over the point-virgule: the semicolon. "The one who contended that the passage in question ought to be concluded by a semicolon was wounded in the arm," noted the Times. "His adversary maintained that it should be a colon."

French passions over the semicolon are running high once again. An April Fool's hoax this year by the online publication Rue89 claimed that the Nicolas Sarkozy government planned to demand "at least three semicolons per page in official administrative documents." Parliamentarian Benoist Apparu was in on the joke...

Read further:

http://www.slate.com/id/2194087/&gti=38001

THE GREEN BLOG: http://worldofcae.blogspot.com

Spammers shuld be given their marching orders...

Spammers should be deleted forthwith and sent on their way.

I don't know if spammers are a problem on this site, but they are the bane of Blogevolve.com members. Spammers are overloading that smaller site and preventing genuine bloggers from getting onto the front page with their latest posts.

What do you say customers? Get rid of the spammers!

http://huttriver.qassia.com YOUR QASSIA LINK

Which are safer, the old or the new light bulbs? The NZ Government wants to ban the old ones, but it has just been reported that the new ECO bulbs contain mercury and should be handled carefully if broken - don't vacuum up the pieces - use cellotape to collect the pieces and put them in a bag and dispose of them in a garbage container.

I have just been down to the supermarket and bought more of the old bulbs and disposed of the new ECO bulbs. Safety comes before electricity savings!

http://peter-petterson.blogspot.com Down By the HuttRiver

THE MOST EXPENSIVE BLACK JUMBO WATERMELON IN THE WORLD...

TOKYO THIS WEEK - A black jumbo watermelon auctioned in northern Japan fetched a record $6,100 Friday, making it the most expensive watermelon ever sold in the country — and possibly the world.

The 17-pound premium "Densuke" watermelon, grown only on the northern island of Hokkaido, was purchased by a marine products dealer who said he wanted to support local agriculture, according to Kyodo News agency.

In a country where melons are a luxury item commonly given as gifts, the watermelon's hefty price tag follows another jaw-dropping auction last month, where a pair of "Yubari" cantaloupe melons sold for a record $23,500.

http://kiwiriverman.blogspot.com

http://bloggerparty.com/blog/huttriver10

New Zealand PM Helen Clark apologises to Vietnam veterans...

The New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, has issued an apology on behalf of the Crown to New Zealand's Vietnam War veterans for the despicable treatment metered out to the them when returning home, and the years of ignoring claims of ill health and death caused by exposure to Agent Orange and other chemical sprays used in Vietnam - an apology for the history of pain and suffering by their members of their families too. Effects being felt by their children, and now some of their grandchildren.

The NZ Government has accepted responsibilities to those who have become ill and to those who have died through the effects of these chemicals. Compensation is to be paid.

Down by the HuttRiver

http://peter-petterson.blogspot.com