Centrelink Fraud!

There have often be ads stating that huge fines and a criminal record would be used if you ever didn't report your details to Centrelink (a welfare service). One lady didn't take these ads seriously, and has now been made to serve seven years in jail. She was receiving benefits for four fictitious dead husbands, and nine imaginary sets of twins!

All in all she stole over $700,000 over twelve years. At the time of her arrest she was making $4732 a fortnight, equivilant to someone on a $180,000 a year salary.

Hopefully her sentence will deter anyone else from wasting money which could be used on more important things, like the Queensland health crisis (which she should have been aware considering she was a Brisbane Nurse). The greed she displays was amazing, because she had an application for a tenth pair of twins in the process of being accepted!

Categories: Events, Australia

The Wiggles are taking over Australia!!!

The Wiggles are a childrens band who are making extraordinary amounts of money and have succeeded in becoming a household name. In fact, they recently became Australia's greatest export, and won the award for Australia's Exporter of the Year. They earn over $40 Million a year! It is a sad day for Australia's exporting market, when brightly coloured skivvies are becoming more expensive than the entire primary industrys.

I remember when childrens entertainment was simple: a mud puddle or a bit of bubble wrap were the greatest things to look forward to. As stated in the show Black Books, all you needed when you were young was "a breeze block and a bit of an old bone." Now, colourful clothing, new CDs, and all the other accessories are needed to be happy.

While they are bringing money into Australia, they are displaying Australian youth as mindless beings, simply following the movements and dancing inconsistently. I feel that children of today have much better qualities than this.

I would much have preffered if the Wiggles had remained as the Coachroachs. At least then they would've remained in Pubs, and not releasing their devilish messages on the future of this country.

Categories: Humour, Events

Brazilian Mayor outlaws death

A small town in Brazil has changed their law to help with the over-crowded cementary... they have made it illegal to die!

To try and enforce this law, the mayor has stated that the remaining family members will be fined or imprissoned if someone they are close to dies 'before their time.'

I immediatly thought, "Why don't they simply increase the size of their cementary?" This is simply not possible, as all the remaining space is a 'permanent preservation' area. They cannot go out, but maybe they can go up! A multistory cementary, probably the only on the planet. That would be a talking point!

Thanks to CNN for this story, it really made my day.

I only wish they introduced that law here, I wonder what would happen...

Categories: Humour, Events

Australian Myths - The Drop Bear

Over the years, the secretive yet vicious bear known to all as the Drop Bear has become rarer and rarer. One of the major problems to this is that many outsiders, in particular foreign zoos, do not believe that such a creature would exist.

This is outragous behaviour!

The Drop Bear is a native Australian animal, and yet people are ignoring it... they are leaving it to its fate. Let me educate you, and maybe we can save this lovable creature.

The Drop Bear is a close relation to a Koala (It is not called a Koala Bear!!!), but has several physical differences. While they both live high in trees, the Drop Bear is a carnavour. They have sharp teeth, long claws, and are about twice the size of a large Koala. There have been occasions when a large Drop Bear has killed and eaten a human, but they largely survive on Cattle, Sheep, and the occasional Kangaroo.

Let us save the Drop Bear. Tell all your friends about this creature, and maybe we can spread the word of its desperate fate.

Categories: Humour, Misc

New Design

Over the past few days I have been experimenting with a new look for The S-Bend. Based on advice by many people (mainly Performancing and Problogger), I have tried to incorporate many different qualities that make a design more attractive.

By creating borders, the different compartments are seperated, and the addition of 'white' space has made the site less cluttered (I hope). There are still a few defects, but they can be fixed in time.

I have been trying to get away from the basic template look, which so many other blogs have, and have created something that is unique. Let's just see how it turns out in the end...

I would like to thank a good friend of mine who created the header and the background for the new look.

Categories: Misc

Sydney Racist Attacks

Many of you will know of my hatred for racism, but I never thought that it was this widespread, especially so close to my own home.

For those who don't know, a beach in Cronulla was the location of a vicious mob who cried slogans against people of Middle-Eastern appearence, and several beatings did occur. Apparently the crowd was drunk, and nearly 5,000 'Australians' were chearing the fights on. It is said that this was in retalliation for violence involving two surf life savers, and gang-like behaviour.

A 'full scale riot' occured.

If such violence only needs alcohol to rear its head, than these feelings must be very deep. As they say, "A drunk man says what a sober man thinks."

In retalliation to these attacks, Middle-Easterners damaged hundreds of cars, and a man was stabbed. Over 50 men went around with baseball bats smashing car windows.

Then a Mosque was surrounded by more 'Aussies,' but thankfully Police stepped in before more violence could ensue.

I would never have imagined such a thing would occur and continue to, in a place as multi-cultural and accepting as Australia. Because of the actions of few (Terrorists), a steriotype has been placed on others (All people of Middle-Eastern appearence), and they are facing the wrath of those who beleive they are right. In the actions of last Sunday and the following days, the characteristics of an Aussie were not shown.

Thankfully, one of the men beaten in the violence, stated that one Australian crouched over him and protected him from a lot of the blows. At least one Aussie can do the right thing!
The Australian way of life has been damaged by people seeking to protect it. Just because people look different, doesn't mean they are not Australians, officially, socially, or in the characteristics they display.

I am sickened, and appalled at what occured, and we must all strive to make sure it never happens again.

Categories: Events, Rants

Catfish Plague

********* Caution: This post is based on one weeks fishing and has no scientific evidence what-so-ever. Do not take this as anything official or meaningful *********

It seems that the abundence of the Catfish population has increased significantly over the past few years. In a very specific survey, one extremely good fisherman, was asked out of the total number of fish you have caught in the past week, how many were Catfish?

The answer was staggering!

"That would have to be nearly 95%" he replied, "and all of those were less than 30cm long."
The other local fish populations are being overwhelmed by these curious looking fish, even more so than the infamous European Carp.

Something has to be done; something drastic, and harsh.

On behalf of all fisherman who caught 19/20 catfish on their holidays, I ask you to tell me how to fish properly!

Categories: Rants, Life