Keep our oceans alive

Posted in green on 22 May 2008 at 05:06. Discussion closed.

Tasmanian tiger clones one step closer

Posted in science on 20 May 2008 at 10:43. Discussion closed.

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University of Melbourne scientists have successfully extracted genes from the long-extinct Thylacine (a.k.a. Tasmanian tiger) and implanted them in a mouse embryo.

Professor Archer is hopeful the thylacine can be brought back in his lifetime.

“I’m personally convinced this is going to happen. We are working on a number of projects like this. I’ve got another group working on another extinct Australian animal and we think this is highly probable,” he said.

The last tasmanian tiger died in the Hobart Zoo in 1936.

I totally want a pet Thylacine.

Image: ABC/University of Melbourne

Budget Paper No 2

Posted in queer on 14 May 2008 at 02:36. 3 comments.

Here’s what it costs to remove discrimination against same-sex couples - straight from the federal budget:

Removal of differential treatment of same‑sex couples and their children — law reform

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The Government will prospectively remove differential treatment of same‑sex couples and their children from Commonwealth laws (except where they rely on the Family Law Act 1975 definitions and presumptions) in the areas of Australian Government (defined benefit) superannuation schemes, social security, veterans’ entitlements, workplace relations, workers’ compensation, taxation, health (including Medicare, pharmaceutical benefits and hearing services) and immigration and citizenship. The measure is expected to result in net savings of $66.0 million over four years.

The majority of the expenditure in 2008‑09 will be to implement changes to Centrelink’s payment systems.

Legislative changes are expected to take effect on 1 July 2009 with the exception of Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Safety Nets (1 January 2009) and Fringe Benefits Tax (1 April 2009). Amendments to the Australian Government (defined benefit) superannuation schemes will commence on a date to be set by proclamation, with amendments related to superannuation and taxation of death benefit payments having effect from 1 July 2008.

This measure delivers on the Government’s election commitment.

The budget papers don’t give a lot of detail about the government’s plans, but they do give us some dates to work to: most of the changes will take effect on 1 July next year, except for the FBT and Medicare/PBS safety net changes, which will take effect from 1 January, and some superannuation changes which will be in force from 1 July this year.

Rather than costing the government $300-$400 million (as had been predicted), “The measure is expected to result in net savings of $66.0 million over four years.” So it really wasn’t so hard after all, was it?

links for 2008-05-13

Posted in linkage on 13 May 2008 at 23:31. Discussion closed.

Condom Song

Posted in virus on 9 May 2008 at 08:27. Discussion closed.

Posting has been slow recently (I’m busy, dammit!) so here’s a bit of viral video for your amusement

Store Wars

Posted in consumption, green, interweb on 1 May 2008 at 09:28. One comment.

This is why we <heart> the interwebs:


Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Australia
This work by Paul Kidd is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Australia.