Central Australia rail in the fifties. 
Very striking obsessional images from above by Gielen, take in urbanization in America, and raise questions about the sustainability of our ways. 
 They are on PBS Newshour on SBS which when caught from time to time will show presenters Gwen and Judy and another woman. So much talent.
 Otherwise, I can't comment on John Kerry's abilities but there is a little bit of Sesame street muppet about him to distract our listening. Like our Prime Minister. And that somewhat original press secretary will be stepping down.

VIVID in Sydney is delightful show.  Images probably done to death, I can't say, I don't check the media.

If you drive instead of taking the A train these dramatic chimneys are a landmark near Newtown, probably on an old brick kiln.
Where are the vast numbers who will depend on pensions in an aging population and so stress out the budget?  Growing illness and obesity in plague proportions do not lead to a long life. Only the lucky will reach the jackpot at 70 years. Are there any children who can't boast asthma and allergies or emotional or learning disturbances? How will they be later on?
Has the Tony Budget poured money into healthy living? No way. Even made direct cut backs, I heard, and indirectly is a source of stress.

Disease prevention and more and more prevention, promotion of healthy lifestyle, exercise and diet are much more important than 'picking up the pieces' at hugh cost in hospitals and the vast illness industry including medical research - a proposed beneficiary in the budget not only that but taking from more essential services.
Research needs support although there is no need to reinvent the wheel and could leave much of the work to Harvard or wherever. 
The everyday prevention of stress and provision of mental health services, good community and housing, equity and a good standard of living are what count in a really useful budget and the proposed budget does not help at all.   

Ocean swell and water temperatures have been ideal.  Warm days of May have broken the records. Is it global warming?  Hello deniers and the antiscientific

Also on the other corner of Newcomen and Hunter we can see a make over has begun.  Whatever do they have in mind?  Hope they notice some worth already in place. This may have been a clothing department store named The Huslers or similar. Although Breckinbridges was another contender.

Wrapping paper from the distant past when The House of Margo, for a 'superior' type of dress, was on the corner of Newcomen and Hunter, Newcastle. A ubiquitous and popular coffee shop currently occupies the corner.
A tale about textiles and haute couture when a more rigorous style of dress was de rigueur and what Jackie Kennedy did, as well as Irish heritage, is related in a light fictional account named The Pink Suit. A novel of hope, heartbreak and the American Dream written by N M Kelby.  Happens to be set in same era as The house of Margo. Virago Press 2014.

For hours, a lone little black and white Willie Wagtail danced nonstop in front of this windscreen, diving towards the glass and singing loudly.
  Other moves were to plunged down behind the stone guard  and flip up and around above the edge. Melodious but this was a hard days work.
Rhipidura leucophrys fantail flycatcher, distribution all over except Tasmania.

Is it World Cup fever?  International Uni students and Police soccer game.

Plein air camera work probably for Sky service.

Scone, upper Hunter, race meeting outdoor style or in a furlong of marquees for the patrons while close by the horse celebs were discussing their pre-race nerves.

Race day at the horse capital, Scone.
Punters enjoyed the sunniest, calmest, that is breeze-free, days in the history of the universe regardless of winning or losing on the sport of kings.

Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we.........
Must the Prime Minister and Co be like unthinking bogans?  They typifiy the run of the mill groups - unthinking, money first, pedestrian, exploiters of the free-market, dole bashers, insulated by defence and tight borders, totally immune to environmental, sustainability and climate change sensibilities.
 We need better leadership.
   Rip offs will increase by forcing a rise in Good and Services tax.

Predictable rant. ROADS ROADS ROADS ROADS ROADS TOADS.... ROADS TO NOWHERES. Is that all ?
ALIENS did the budget.  UNAUSTRALIAN.... LUDDITES.  Anti-public transport. Anti-global warming. Anti-science.
Education neglected.  Social insecurity cut-backs made saviour of the economy.  Medicare trashed.  Essential health services starved to fund burgeoning medical research, sucked in by worried researchers - that end in itself - as pointed out status is high on the agenda. Aliens just don't get it.

Nobbys Beach halt.  Travellers and their vans are taking a break.
 Would it spoil some vast eternal plan if the city offered a regular place for tourists and their vehicles to pause a while.  Adjust to the reality of those who come here stretching their Aussie dollars as far as possible by free camping or other ''outrageous'' ways.
  Financially, we must stack up, these tourists may have come via Asia where they have probably driven a hard bargain and exploited the low costs only to arrive on our very expensive shores although our exchange rate must put a smile on their faces.
Whatever way you look at it, today is a financial kind of day.  Bad news in store tonite.

From the road near the nation's capital. A lake bed that is usually waterless! Sucked dry?
We hear, the budget, tomorrow, will mean new taxes.  The old promise of no new taxes has manipulated voters.  A more savvy politician would have avoided making that type of promise.  I assume this politician has a high IQ and would have avoided such a mistake.  Manipulation must be the real reason for the broken promise.
Mr Joseph Hockey, treasurer, and his sidekick, were caught with cigars and smoking like a chimney recently.  One commentator said they can do as they like, this is no nanny state. Another said how it was not a good look and one rarely caught.  Another wondered what the cancer Council would say. Then, that cigars are elitist and what about the level playing field? (All on ABC TV). And, to be sure, they were in a no smoking zone most likely.  To his credit, Hockey has shed a lot of weight.  But are those guys human?

Participation.... winning....don't let it go to your head!  Singer, Jessica Mauboy is a good sport and has true enthusiasm for entertainment. She seems natural, good natured, non-dependent or needy and free of hysie fits. Verily an anti-superstar. Hope she can guard her artistic and natural abilities and be a role model. 

Recently, the annual catch of the day was mullet near the fish markets on the Port.
One down in Eurovision on SBS.
Azerbaijan approached magical heights, trad instruments plus song in native tongue.  Liszt like piano was part of a noteworthy item from Hungary.
Portuguese, Latvian and Icelandic acts were in the real spirit of Eurovision. An offering with Celtic like pipes, ice skater and non-English (I think) had something going for it as did the treadmill duet or the see saw act.
English language, seriousness and drama of all the rest were so so. The song about mother takes the cake. The dramatic build ups are over exhausted. Actions and dance over explicit, exaggerated, each contestant forced to outdo the other in histrionics.  So often, nuanced performance is unknown. That's the spell of Eurovision and all the rest.

Eurovision (Copenhagen 2014) shares the action with the Aussies but are we any match for that wacky show?  See all on SBS TV this weekend.
Eurovision contrasts with Fargo, also on SBS, although both are a curiosity and give us insights into the west in all its glory.

 My knowledge about the donkey was nil until I visited the Tocal Field day although most of the encounter was hijacked by misbehaviour because its friend had just left to take part in a donkey show.

Now, residential areas always spread somewhere.  Now's the time to plan a balance between settlements and open spaces. It is an urgent matter in the Hunter valley and all over. Promised funds should be used to plan our Hunter communities. Without any dim reaction towards ''progress''.
Vast sprawling suburbs covering every hill and dale are less workable and permanently blot the unique landscapes that we love.
Patches of high density with pleasant surrounds are called for together with overall rationalisation of developments. And fragmentation of land use is undesirable where each locality dabbles with selling off lands around its edges.
We must do better than ten acre blocks and offer smaller alternatives to the general population to enjoy and even take the pressure off the tendency to gravitate to a overblown mega city to our south.
Newcastle CBD will do for the present time.  Instead, focus on the overall picture.

Sheepish subjects.  Kelpie sheep dogs demonstrated their skills.
The old art of spinning. Woolen knitwear is looking pretty good during this cold snap.
Where were the legendary moleskin trousers, tweedy jacket and slightly wide brimmed hats? None were seen at Tocal Field Day. Is nothing sacred? Jeans.....
Yesterdays racing piglets - insensitive? Spare a thought for the ravage of the pig population by disease in other places.

 This little pig went to race. Piglett racing at Tocal Ag College Field days over the weekend. Friday was a tremendous day

The triumph of restoration. Triumph Stag.

Lotus Elite
After creating a somber atmosphere with clouds of doom emerging from the poor federal capital, clothed in autumn hues, our leaders justify a very tight budget.  It is all a set-up.
How is it that trillions in superannuation funds are amassed even after supporting an army of fund managers who reap untold amounts of fees and commissions, how is it that a government, with its power and reach simply cannot manage to gather a similar amount to support the less well off in the community and into their old age?  

A pause during the race allowed the dredge to sail.  Its work in non-stop. The port has just gone to the highest bidder and Newcastle will received some share of the funds for 'revitalisation'!  Read change to the inner city rail line.  How ever could that be the ultimate priority?
And out with any local identity, old and daggy as it is, and in with a city of universal uniformity which could be redeemed by an inventive plan of certain flair.  Vintage 2014 in regular safe mode high rise will be plonked beside Hunter Street. We equate any big building with progress.