think i'm going to like this....

I was given a laptop by a very good friend yesterday - she was upgrading so I was a lucky beneficiary - it's grouse... although not having had (or used) one before, getting used to the keyboard is my major 'obstacle' but it isn't as hard as I thought it would be... just gotta find a comfortable way of typing with the keyboard on a different angle to my desktop pc... but I'll get the hang of it soon... and I'm going to ohhh, sooo enjoy being able to just sit around anywhere and do my blogging!!! - a heartfelt thanks Irene - it means I can be with me old girl Allie no matter where she is!!!!!

been doing a lot of downloading of 'stuff' I use (OpenOffice, Paint.Net, (do like this Open Source software!!!) Irfanview, SpyBot etc.) - deleting stuff I don't use - loading software - far out it takes a lot of time!!!! but doesn't time fly??!!!

Anyway, as it's International Women's Day today I just had to acknowledge sisters all over the world...

unfortunately, violence against women is still high on the agenda with the global United Nations theme being Women and men united to end violence against women and girls... Unifem Australia have also 'adopted' this theme... and if you can afford $185 for a ticket (it is a benefit after all), you might like to check out the International Women's Development Agency international women's day celebration on 22 March (it sounds grouse!!!!)... click the graphic for details...

timely reminders....

It's sad that there's yet another 'ribbon' day coming up - WHITE RIBBON DAY - November 25th (Tuesday) - International Day for the Elimination of VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN...

"White Ribbon Day - History

White Ribbon Day was created by a handful of Canadian men in 1991 on the second anniversary of one man's massacre of fourteen women in Montreal. They began the White Ribbon Campaign to urge men to speak out against violence against women...." to read more go to the White Ribbon Foundation of Australia.

shameful isn't it that violence is still so brutally perpetrated against women in all countries under all political and religious systems...

and coming up to that major commercial time of year the Age had a very timely article on it's front page...

"Backyard puppy factories just waiting for the next bitch on heat

Carmel Egan
November 23, 2008

Belinda Russo, an animal management officer at Lort Smith Animal Hospital, holds three puppies she says were dumped by backyard breeders.

SHE is a dog with no name who lives in a bric-a-brac jumble by her master's back door. Her owner appears surprised when asked her name and seems to pluck "Suzy" from the air. A small, grey-and-white crossbreed with matted hair, she doesn't respond to Suzy. She snarls and squabbles with her litter of hungry pups over a bowl of dog pellets..." read more here.

I wrote about this cruelty 12 months ago now - nothing ever changes - my babe Allie was a brood bitch in a puppy factory and almost died at the age of 4 - you can read her story by clicking her picture and read more about puppy factories here..

and so many people think of animals as the perfect xmas gift without thinking beyond the gift giving time... let's not forget - COMPANION ANIMALS ARE FOR LIFE, NOT JUST FOR XMAS!!!!

and on that note - it's just a quick post today - it's only a short weekend for me as I'm working tomorrow (normally my day off!!! - but I do get a day off in lieu) - I'm going to an all day seminar (so at least I'm not dealing with the public!!) at the museum called Collections and the Web with a big emphasis on Web 2.0 stuff... I'm really looking forward to it - but now I'm going to check the yummy Greek style baked vegies in tomato sauce I've got bubbling away in the oven and smelling wonderful... so it's ciao for now.