THE FLOOD EFFECTS PT. 2: PLAGUE OF SNAKES, CROCS, MICE AND EVERYTHING NOT NICE.

As if having your homes submerged isn't enough problem already, the poor residents of affected areas of the flood have been battling more than just water & damages, but also undesirable creatures. Floods in Queensland have also unleashed a 'plague' of pests & dangerous animals like mice, frogs and snakes and worse-crocodiles which have wandered into places & waterways near residential homes and even town areas.

When these animals get out of their normal habitat and get washed into unfamiliar zones, they tend to seek hiding places, which may be in a closet, under a bed, or other spots that could lead to disaster when the unknowing homeowner returns and encounters the frightened animal victim that may then lash out. Spiders do something similar, and Australia certainly has no shortage of poisonous arachnids.

Rockhampton Mayor Brad Carter has warned that the flood waters also contained crocodiles.

"There is the risk that we have a number of crocodiles that live in the Fitzroy River," he said. "We do not think they are a risk to public safety if people keep out of the waters but if people do enter the waters, their safety cannot be guaranteed."

The New York Times reports that dozens of snakes have taken over the backyard beer garden of the Fitzroy Hotel Pub in Rockhampton. Owner Tony Higgins said, “I reckon the snakes are using it as a lap pool to get ready for the next stage of their journey."

Yup, you wouldn’t know what’s in the water, you really wouldn’t know. It’s a bad place to be.

THE FLOOD OF 'BIBLICAL' PROPORTIONS

Some call this the worst flood in Queensland since 1974- a disaster of biblical proportions. Lots of homes, shops, offices, schools awash and inundated in flood water in many districts of Queensland. Just 2 days ago, Brisbane got hit as well. Here's the clip of just how bad things can get. Man against nature, this is truly one of the best reminders of the fragility of humanity in modern Australia. My heart goes out to those who lost their homes, loved ones, pets, and belongings. In Toowoomba, a district not too far away from here, many people never took flood insurance because they thought they were living in high areas, non-susceptible to flood disasters. So, they were literally caught by surprise and left with virtually nothing. The clip of the cars floating down the river is in Toowomba.

Sad sight .. but then hey, somebody took the opportunity to have some wet 'n' wild fun at the end of the clip!!?? There's the oz spirit for you... ride the waves and the water, dude... coz tomorrow is another day...

1ST Female PM For Australia.

Someday, it was bound to happen..and it did.

Although I don't see it happening yet for America or Malaysia, primarily in any kind of chauvinistic societies, but I was surprised that happened in Australia today, in the wee hours of the morning. Okay, probably power shift rumblings were already happening invisible to the public eye, but today, I think most were taken by surprise that Julia Gillard decided to step up after Kevin Rudd lost his majority votes for the Labour party, Australia's ruling party in parliament.

Kevin Rudd has given up the leadership of the Labor Party before completing his first term, conceding defeat to Julia Gillard before the spill was even put to a vote, resulting in the installation of Australia's first female Prime Minister. Ms Gillard will be sworn in at lunchtime by Governor-General Quentin Bryce, and will hold a press conference shortly, with details expected to emerge on the mining tax and possible ETS commitments.

There is also speculation an election could be held sooner rather than later due to the leadership change. Yesterday's dramatic crisis within the Labor Party resulted in the positions of party leader and deputy leader being declared vacant at this morning's caucus meeting. According to Labor Party returning officer, Michael Forshaw, Mr Rudd gave a gracious speech to the party room, in which he declared he would not be standing for the position of leader. This left Ms Gillard elected to the position of Labor Leader and consequently Prime Minister unopposed. Wayne Swan was then elected to Ms Gillard's former position of deputy leader, also unopposed. Ms Gillard arrived at this morning's minute at 8.59am accompanied by both Treasurer and now Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan, and a security detail. Upon departing the meeting Ms Gillard said: "I feel very honoured and I'll be making a statement shortly."

Mr Rudd's popularity had been in freefall in recent months and Labor powerbrokers yesterday acted on the dire polling, confronting Mr Rudd urging him to make way for Ms Gillard. Mr Rudd fought the move by putting the leadership to a vote at today's caucus meeting. However, after a night of working the phones, Mr Rudd failed dismally to garner even a respectable amount of support and this morning decided not to put his name forward for re-election as party leader. He is expected to remain on the back bench until the election, when he will most likely leave politics.

How sad.... u know, I did think he started his career in a very good way and built good bridges both locally (with the aborigines) and internationally (China). Mr Rudd listed the apology to the stolen generation, keeping the country out of the global financial crisis and the education revolution as some of the achievements he was most proud of. "I was elected by the Australian people as Prime Minister to bring back a fair go for all Australians, and I have given my absolute best to do that — I have given my absolute all," he said. "I hope I've been able to demonstrate to you that this has been a very busy two and a half years." A pity it had to end in this fashion. Australian politics is hard to crack.. it will be interesting to see what unfolds in the next few months with this new shift in power...

TSUNAMI: THE RIPPLE MISSED THIS SHORE..PHEW!

Australia has all but escaped the wrath of a Pacific Ocean tsunami triggered by a devastating 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the coast of central Chile. The earthquake struck off the coast of central Chile about 5.30pm (AEDT) on Saturday, killing hundreds and sending shockwaves throughout the Pacific.

Beaches today on Sunday were closed and emergency services were on patrol as the brunt of the tsunami waves travelled in a northwest direction, narrowly missing Australia's east coast. But tsunami waves were recorded along the NSW, Queensland and Tasmanian coasts, with Norfolk Island recording a 50cm surge in sea levels. The Gold Coast saw a 20cm increase in sea levels. In Tasmania, Southport and Darlington experienced a 17cm increase.

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (JATWC) issued a tsunami alert, declaring a "potential tsunami threat" for Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. Dangerous waves and foreshore flooding listed in the warnings did not eventuate but the JATWC was focused on strong ocean currents affecting people in boats or in the water. "In all likelihood (the tsunami warning) will be cancelled later today or tonight." The JATWC rep, Mr Hainsworth said shockwaves from an underwater 8.8-magnitude earthquake could be devastating. "We in Australia have been very, very lucky indeed," Mr Hainsworth said. "The focus of the energy from the earthquake was definitely to the northwest from South America. "So we were much on the periphery of the seismic seawave events." But JATWC kept its tsunami warning in place for Sunday, because the quick changes in sea levels around Australia's east coast could cause severe currents.

So tomorrow, the surf dudes can hit the waves again... or is it too early to venture in????

DEAL OF THE CENTURY

Few people know much about Clive Palmer the man. But after the weekend deal of a century the Gold Coaster is truly standing in the international spotlight.

Mr Palmer and Premier Anna Bligh announced a $69billion deal to export coal to China, which the Broadbeach Waters resident says will create thousands of jobs in Queensland and likely restore the state's AAA credit rating. His company Resourcehouse will supply 30 million tonnes a year to China for 20 years.

The coal will be mined from the Galilee Basin region near Alpha, west of Emerald. A private 495km rail line will be built and new jetties and ports erected at Abbott Point, near Bowen. The royalties from the sales are expected to tip more than $700 million into the State Government's coffers each year from 2014, while creating 7500 direct jobs and 50,000 to 60,000 indirect jobs across the state. Mr Palmer, a life member of the state opposition Liberal National Party and a former state director of the National Party, said the Export-Import Bank of China had financed a $6 billion loan but emphasised the project was 100 per cent Australian-owned. The man who turns 56 next month wakes up millions of dollars richer every day. He studied journalism at university but opted for Gold Coast property investment as a career instead. Mr Palmer's biggest break came in the mid-1980s when he took over the assets of two US mining companies in the Pilbara region.

They were exiting Australia and Mr Palmer was just about to become one of the richest men in the land, riding on the commodities boom, an understanding of how to do business with China and a relentless work ethic. Exactly how much he is worth, no one is sure. It has been estimated that his fortune lies between $1.5billion and $6.5 billion, but that was before Saturday's $60 billion deal.

His fortune has been built with two key men beside him Clive Mensink and Geoff Smith directors of Mineralogy and Gold Coast United and more among the dozens that Mr Palmer controls.

The China deal through Resourcehouse features former Opposition leader Alexander Downer as a director along with Domenic Martino, Mr Mensink, Baohua Bai and Zhengrong Chi, of Beijing, Peter Lynch, of NSW, American John Elmore and former Briton Derek Payne. - excerpt from goldcoast.com.au (dated 8 Feb, 2010)

KING PONG

A DEAD whale dubbed 'King Pong' has been left to rot on an island beach north of the Gold Coast. Moreton Island locals say the stench from the decomposing behemoth is unbearable. It washed ashore on Saturday near White Rock, about 15km from the island's southern tip on Ocean Beach. On Sunday, the whale became a tourist attraction, with children clambering over it. National Parks and Wildlife officers cut a tennis ball sized chunk from the creature to analyse and hopefully determine a cause of death. Local painter Jeff Land drove past the whale yesterday and said it had taken 10 minutes before the 'unbelievable' stench of rotting whale disappeared from his vehicle.

MICHAEL JACKSON & FARRAH FAWCETT- The Passing of 2 eras

It's sad and quite a shock to find out Michael Jackson died at 50 today. On Thu, USA time, but Friday, Australian time. Saw it on breaking news CNN this morning. MJ was the 80's pop icon and I grew up listening to his music too, not exactly a fan, but just so totally exposed to it. Even Jordie, born 20 years later, knew about him. That's the staying power of MJ.

Strangely, on the very same day (USA time morning) too, BUT with less public attention given, was the death of Farrah Fawcett, one of 'Charlie's Angels' in the 70's. She had been wrestling with anal cancer for a long time and died at 62. But I admired her courage to fight it, and praying till the last bit, determined for healing- yet she was also willing to share her cancer journey with others by allowing her experiences to be shown on TV - in the hope perhaps of inspiring those on the same journey.

So there you have it, the passing of 2 Hollywood celebrities - one expected, one rather unexpected. One very public about her life, the other so private. And Death, when he comes to collect, he takes in batches. Remember Mother Theresa, Princess Diana and Versace and John Denver - all about the same time....

I couldn't help mourning the passing of 2 eras and these two, not just them but also the memories they carried during those times and not that I knew them personally, but it was just like saying goodbye to those years that they had been part of, and now we are moving on to the next era. I do pay tribute to them for the things they have done, in spite of their character flaws, they had given back much for society. So, God bless them.

DREAMWORLD CHOPPER COMES CRASHING DOWN

In Dreamworld, your world can come crashing down on you, literally, if engine failure turns a fun ride into a wild ride in a chopper. On Wednesday, a Dreamworld helicopter crashed with 4 passengers ( 2 Malaysians and 2 Taiwanese) and a Japanese pilot, Mr Mitsumi Sato.

THE Australian Transport Safety Bureau yesterday launched an investigation into the copter crash as two of the victims continued to recover in hospital. Meanwhile, the boss of the pilot who is widely being hailed a hero for his efforts ensuring nobody was killed or seriously injured in the dramatic incident, said his 'humble' employee was 'only doing his job'. Experienced pilot Mutsumi Sato was widely praised for his role in averting a major disaster when the Bell Jet Ranger 206 helicopter he was flying lost power on its way back to the theme park from a joyflight. Mr Sato and his four passengers -- two male and two female tourists from Taiwan and Malaysia -- sustained only minor injuries as the helicopter crash-landed on its side in a vacant section of carpark. No one else was injured.

AUSSIE SWINE FLU CASES DOUBLE

~ NOT GOOD... AAP reports: May 27, 2009 04:59am+ The national total of swine flu cases has topped 50, with the number doubling in just one day. 25 new cases of the potentially deadly virus were confirmed yesterday - 10 each in Victoria and NSW plus 5 more in Queensland. The six most recent in NSW include a passenger who arrived on Qantas flight QF12 from Los Angeles to Sydney on Sunday, and another five people off the P&O cruise ship Pacific Dawn. It berthed in Sydney on Monday and offloaded nearly 2000 passengers. At least 172 of those off the Pacific Dawn indicated when the vessel arrived that they either had flu-like symptoms or had been in contact with someone who did.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said a "follow-up" yesterday of passengers from QF12 identified one additional passenger with human swine influenza. "There are also five more confirmed cases of human swine influenza in people who disembarked from the Pacific Dawn cruise ship yesterday (Monday)," she said. They have been placed in isolation." She said further test results were expected this morning.

Schools have sent out circulars that if one person ever gets detected in school for pig flu, the whole school gets closed for a week! so, we hope that doesn't ever happen here....