Australian News

The Australian news, for Aussie people...Ozzie News

[ozzienews]

I miss my family...and their pets...

https://www.ozzienews.com/life/the-old-git/i-miss-my-family-and-their-pets/

If like me, you find the devotion and love your pet gives you a big is part of your life. After three weeks of home isolation, I find myself missing the pets of my children and grandchildren.

When I used to call on them, I was met at the door with pleasure with lots of barking and purring – they recognised me and showed their love for me.

I miss my families pets

The longer the isolation goes on (who knows for how long), the pets will gradually forget me.

I miss them all…even the snake and dragon. You may think they are cold and unfeeling but they know me when I pick them up and cuddle them.

Possibly a part of the Virus that is not considered is this separation by the elderly from their family pets.

Remember your furry friend is just a telephone call away.

by

TOG

[ozzienews]

The Plague Doctors mask - scary...but why?

http://www.ozzienews.com/news/the-plague-doctors-mask-scary-but-why/

The plague epidemic influenced the world three times. During the plague epidemics, where millions of people died, doctors wore a beaked outfit. So why were the doctors wearing this strange outfit?

Nowadays, when we are struggling with the COVID-19 virus pandemic, old disease outbreaks are necessarily coming to the agenda. Plague among the disease outbreaks is also on the agenda. The plague caused millions of people to die during three major epidemics.

During the plague epidemic, where millions of people died, doctors struggled to save people’s lives. Doctors working to treat people throughout the plague epidemic wore a suit with a mask with a bird-like beak in. These clothes, which were worn in the 17th century, were thought to protect doctors against the weather they thought the disease had spread. The truth, however, was very different.

The Doctors Plague Mask – who’d want a GP visit if they were wearing this?

The development of the costume that doctors wear during the plague epidemic is attributed to Charles de Lorme. Meets the medical needs of many royal members in Europe, according to de Lorme’s recipe, the costume that had to protect against the plague was supposed to be: a jacket covered with scented wax, trousers tied to boots, a compressed shirt, hat and gloves made of goat leather.

The part of the dress developed by Charles de Lorme, which was worn as a mask, looked interesting. The doctors wore a mask with a beak-shaped 15 cm length with two holes filled with perfumes around the nostrils.

During and before the plague epidemic in the 17th century, people thought that plague would be transmitted through an imbalance in a person’s body fluids or through toxic air. The clothing worn by doctors during the plague epidemic was also designed to protect doctors from toxic air for this purpose.

The mask used by the doctors contained a paste made of more than 55 items. Charles de Lorme, who developed the mask, applied to this design, considering that the mask with this paste will clear the air received by doctors.

The methods of spreading the plague were obviously incorrect when designing the costume of Charles de Lorme. In years later studies, it was understood that plague was transmitted from animals to humans by liquid or tissue contact through flea bites, sneezing or coughing.

The interesting costume developed by Charles de Lorme should not have provided protection to doctors during plague outbreaks…but it sure would be a great character for a horror movie.

by

Professor P.T. Brown

[ozzienews]

Science will find a way

http://www.ozzienews.com/life/the-old-git/24001/

How do we assess the present situation of a pandemic disease?

We need to look back and see what the results were of the past. If you look at the plague – it ravaged the world and almost half the population died…could this happen again?

Our greatest weapon are the scientific advantages of today compared with science and medication from yesteryear. We have ventilators, testing kits and the best hospitals to treat patients. The plague lasted more than three years  but there was no chance of a vaccine and it continued until the isolation of the population permitted the disease to weaken.

Today our medical scientists have found cures for many deadly diseases such as smallpox and polio…but we sure need a vaccine to destroy the new virus – with our modern methods, I am sure we will succeed.

Science and medicine will find a cure

Continue to follow the instructions: hygiene, isolate, staying home, keeping a sensible distance from each other, staying away from large crowds, wear a face mask etc. – I know that you all know this, but it doesn’t hurt to reiterate.

Travel and huge populations are giving the advantage to all viruses in the present time, but our abilities to find and cure are far more likely to prove the effectiveness of our technology and survive the crisis.

Be safe and stay well.

by

TOG

[ozzienews]

Spanish senoritas are the best at flirting

http://www.ozzienews.com/quickies/spanish-senoritas-are-the-best-at-flirting/

Spanish senoritas are the worlds best when it comes to flirting.

They are twice as more likely to make a move than a girl from the USA.

But this survey means nothing because they used 240 countries but it doesn’t look like they included Australia. Please don’t tell me that we wouldn’t have come in the top twenty…the world knows how competitive we are, that’s probably why we weren’t asked.

• Explanation to the Flirtation table that’s below: “Score” means the number of contacts per month initiated by the average woman in that country. So, Spain’s score of 1.33 means that the average Spanish woman initiates 1.33 contacts with a man per month.

WORLD FLIRTATION LEAGUE

RANK COUNTRY SCORE* 1 Spain 1.33 2 Poland 1.31 3 Dominican Republic 1.25 4.= Italy 1.13 4.= Argentina 1.13 6 Brazil 1.12 7 Chile 1.09 8 Portugal 1.04 9 Canada 0.96 10 Venezuela 0.94 11 Netherlands 0.86 12 Germany 0.81 13 Colombia 0.80 14 United Kingdom 0.78 15 Czech Republic 0.76 16 Mexico 0.72 17 France 0.69 18 Belgium 0.68 19 United States 0.63 20 Ecuador 0.62

[ozzienews]

Tip of the Week

http://www.ozzienews.com/news/tip-of-the-week/

After a long time out…your favourite…(only) tipster is back.

It has been a while since I last gave my ‘once-a-week’ top tip to Ozzie News.

Empty stadiums but racing continues

My tip for this week is: Modear – it is Race 4, tomorrow (Saturday) at Flemington.

I feel glad to be welcomed back.

The only place that racing is still being celebrated is here in the promised land.

The best of luck to you all.

by

Claude Dupris

[ozzienews]

Women in their forties are getting more sexually adventurous

http://www.ozzienews.com/news/women-in-their-forties-are-getting-more-sexually-adventurous/

Do you know what women desire? A recent survey went out and asked 1,400 women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s about their deepest dating and sex secrets.

Ask a group of ladies what they look for in a man, and buzzwords fly. Confidence. Independence. Humor. Kindness. Looks. It’s as if we women are all seeking the exact same guy.

But here’s the rub…these priorities depend on where we are in our lives.

“What a woman looks for in a partner changes as she ages,” says Helen Fisher, Ph.D., a professor of anthropology at Rutgers University and a relationship expert, whose most recent book is Why Him? Why Her?

So if you want a decent shot at success, you have to recognize what she values at this stage of her life, and know what to expect if you plan to stay with her. A woman who once prioritized, say, grinding to Lil’ Wayne on the dance floor will eventually start to prefer intimate conversation accompanied by a glass of Barolo and a plate of homemade Bolognese.

These changes extend into the bedroom, too. Very few women become set in their sexual ways. Quite the opposite…a  survey of nearly 1,400 women found that sexual tastes shift with the passing years. To be specific (and the women we asked were very specific), two-thirds of the women in their 30s and almost half of the women in their 40s revealed that their sexual palates had evolved in the past decade. And change can be good.

For example, a woman who once avoided being on top because she worried about how her double D’s looked might eventually become sexually confident, knowing exactly what she wants, how she wants it, and how to guide you there. Sex becomes more of an adventure with age, it appears.

But that doesn’t mean you have to wait. Whether the woman you’re dating or living with is in her 20s, 30s, or 40s, here’s your guide to hitting her hot spots.

by Susan Floyd

[ozzienews]

Australia Counting On Smith and Warner Return

http://www.ozzienews.com/news/australia-counting-on-smith-and-warner-return/

Source: @CurentAffairs via Twitter

Australia put England to the sword with relative ease in the 2017/18 Ashes series, inflicting a 4-0 defeat on Joe Root’s men on home soil. However, the two teams have trended in opposite directions since the Baggy Greens won back the urn.

The suspensions of Steve Smith and David Warner have left Australia exposed without their two top batsmen. As a result, their form in all three formats of the sport has taken a nosedive, although they were vulnerable in the 50-over game before the duo’s exodus.

Smith and Warner’s absence in the Test arena has left a huge void. It confirmed their defeat to South Africa, albeit that the Proteas had already established a 2-1 lead in the series. Pakistan secured a comfortable win in the United Arab Emirates, while India have already proven to have the upper hand in the batting department against Tim Paine’s side.

The two players should be restored to the team by the Ashes, completing their suspensions in early 2019 along with Cameron Bancroft. Smith has been the leading batsman in the world for the past two years, although Virat Kohli has made a strong claim to the position in 2018, dominating in the middle in all three formats of the game. With Smith restored to the line-up, Australia will be ready to face off against England, being backed as underdogs in the cricket betting odds at 11/8 to win the series. The 29-year-old was the difference between the teams down under, scoring 687 runs and producing match-winning performances in Brisbane and Perth. He has batted well in England in the past, although his form has been inconsistent when the ball has moved, preferring the flatter tracks of Lord’s and The Oval.

Source: @cricbuzz via Twitter

Smith has been the superstar that Australia have built their success around, therefore it has not been surprising that they’ve struggled to score runs without his presence in the middle order. Players of his quality are not waiting in line, next to appear in the order.

Warner’s return is less certain, given the manner of his exit and his behaviour before the ball-tampering scandal. Even though the Baggy Greens have had no one to step forward to stake a claim for a permanent place at the top of the order, it remains to be seen whether a recall will be in the offing for the veteran left-hander.

In their golden era, Australia had batsmen aplenty that were ready to step into the breach in case of injury, so much so that Mike Hussey and Chris Rogers were forced to wait until their thirties for a chance in the team. Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns are among the names that have come and gone, while Bancroft’s suspension will likely leave him out of the fold when he returns to action.

Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris are the current men in possession of the openers’ slots. Unless both players are able to thrive against India and beyond, the Baggy Greens will have to turn back to Warner. Although he is a quality player, his volatile nature remains a concern for a nation that is keen to have cricket in the headlines for the right reasons, rather than the negatives ones experienced over the last year.

[ozzienews]

5 Alastair Cook Replacements England Could Turn to Before 2019 Ashes Series

http://www.ozzienews.com/news/5-alastair-cook-replacements-england-could-turn-to-before-2019-ashes-series/

“Alastair Cook” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by theglobalpanorama

England’s Test cricket side needs a new opener after long-serving leading runscorer Alastair Cook called time on his international career.

The announcement from Cook came before the final summer Test against India – a dead rubber as Trevor Bayliss’ boys had already taken an unassailable 3-1 series lead – and 11 months before the Ashes are up for grabs.

Replacing someone of Cook’s stature, experience and composure at the crease, having scored well over 12,000 Test runs, is no mean feat for England. Captain Joe Root and head coach Bayliss have two away series over the winter – first in Sri Lanka in November and then the West Indies in the New Year – to trial new opening partnerships.

Cook’s international retirement has only strengthened Australia’s status as betting favourites for the 2019 Ashes series. They are now odds-on in the outright cricket betting available at bet365 to keep the urn with England eased out to 13/8 and a draw over the five Tests a 5/1 chance.

How will the ECB selectors go about replacing Cook? Here are five players they could turn to now in a bid to fill his considerable batting boots…

Jonny Bairstow

Yorkshire’s Bairstow opens in white ball cricket, so why not give him a go in that spot in the Test team? While fellow wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler remains in the red ball XI, there’s more than enough firepower in the middle order to make this worth a try.

Moeen Ali

Another shuffling the pack option is to give all-rounder Ali another go at being first at the crease. He certainly delivered with his spin bowling against India in the fourth Test recently, yet flattered to deceive when last tried higher up the batting order against their bitter rivals and neighbours Pakistan. A more experienced Ali may not struggle so much now he’s regained his place, however.

Mark Stoneman

Surrey’s Stoneman is arguably the most consistent of those openers in and around the England setup with five scores of between 50 and 60 in Tests. He looks a solid, if unspectacular, choice to take over from Cook, but that might be the whole point if remaining relatively effective in this form of cricket.

Rory Burns

Sticking with Surrey, their uncapped captain Burns is closing in on 1000 County Championship runs in Division One for this season. If picking players on form is any indication, and the presence of teammate Ollie Pope in the squad for the fifth Test against India suggests that this is the case, then Burns surely has to have a shout of an international call-up sooner or later.

Keaton Jennings

South Africa-born Lancashire opener Jennings partnered Cook as England wrapped up that series win against India and already has a Test century under his belt. The only trouble is that was on his debut in 2016 and he’s only made one score above 50 since. Jennings will nonetheless be in the running to remain first at the crease despite poor scores in this most recent series.

[ozzienews]

England Searching for Anderson and Broad Succession Plan

http://www.ozzienews.com/news/england-searching-for-anderson-and-broad-succession-plan/

Source: SkyCricket via Twitter

England have been blessed to boast James Anderson and Stuart Broad in their bowling line-up for ten years. Anderson has etched his place in history by breaking Sir Ian Botham’s record for most Test wickets by an Englishman. The 35-year-old will certainly surpass Glenn McGrath’s mark of 563 strikes to become the most potent seam bowler in the history of the longest format of the game. Broad has been an excellent foil for the Lancastrian with the new ball, moving past Botham and the 400-wicket mark in the Three Lions’ series against New Zealand.

Joe Root has come to rely on the duo for their experience, but also their skill. Anderson was at the peak of his powers last summer in England’s series win over South Africa and the West Indies. He remained potent in the Ashes, although he was powerless to stop England crumbling to a 4-0 defeat. Broad struggled for rhythm last season, putting pressure on his partner at the other end. However, he found his form against New Zealand, although it was still not enough to stop the Three Lions losing the series to Kane Williamson’s side. Anderson is approaching the twilight of his career, while Broad is also in his thirties. As a result, England have concerns with the Ashes ahead in 2019 over the future of their bowling attack.

The Three Lions’ bowlers outside of Anderson and Broad failed to rise to the occasion over the winter. Although both of England’s senior men should still be available for the Ashes, Root’s men are still underdogs for the contest against Australia next year in the latest cricket betting odds, stressing the need for answers over the course of the summer. Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Toby Roland-Jones, Steven Finn, Tom Curran and Craig Overton will be vying to fill the spots, even though none of them has done a great deal to alleviate long-term fears over the future of the attack.

Source: EnglandCricket via Twitter

Woakes has been impressive in home conditions in Test matches and with the white ball across the world. However, the Warwickshire man has struggled overseas with the red ball, failing to threaten in India, South Africa and Australia. Unless he can take his game to the next level, England cannot take him on tours. Wood has endured fitness problems, which has reduced his speed. He has not been overly effective in his limited action in Test matches, averaging 41.82 with 28 wickets to his name in 11 matches. Roland-Jones appeared to be on course to be the third seamer in the attack for the Ashes after an impressive start to his career before he suffered a back injury. Although at the age of 30, the Middlesex man does not provide the long-term answer England are searching for.

Curran and Overton are the great hopes and will be looking to overcome tough starts to their respective careers at the highest level. Both were blooded during the Ashes and endured a difficult time with the ball in their hands, although they did show fight in the lower order with the bat. However, the Three Lions need them to find their form to ease the pressure on Anderson and Broad, as well as bringing the prospect of a safe future for the team.

[ozzienews]

State of Origin 2018 – The lowdown

http://www.ozzienews.com/news/state-of-origin-2018-the-lowdown/

Though this is a rivalry like no other, parity is an element entirely absent from the State of Origin these days. With Queensland approaching the 2018 series on the back of eleven wins in the last twelve, all the smart money is on another triumph for the Maroons. However, with Queensland getting just one 3-0 whitewash in that time (in 2010), New South Wales – victorious as recently as 2014 – can never be underestimated.

Queensland win Game 2 in 2010 en-route to a 3-0 whitewash.

This year heralds one significant change for NSW, with Brad Fittler replacing Laurie Daley, leading to an upsurge in punters utilising 100% matched bonuses for State of Origin games through Oddschecker. Some are of the opinion that Daley kept his post for too long, to the detriment of those under his management.

Others merely believe that his squad could not match Queensland, but regardless of where an NSW fan stands on Fittler’s appointment, there is the ever-growing belief that his experience of man-management is more relevant than that of his predecessor, when the character of the dressing room is accounted for.

Though history is firmly on the side of a Queensland team again coached by Kevin Walters for this series, there is no doubt that the absence of talismanic duo Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk can only hinder the Maroons. Last year, a 22-6 victory for Queensland over NSW proved to be the decisive factor, with Valentine Holmes scoring three tries.

Though it was a performance that merely served to underline Queensland’s psychological monopoly over the series, it was a win preceded by much in the way of evidence favouring NSW. The Blues were rampant in Brisbane for Game One of last year’s series, strolling to a 28-4 win, before losing narrowly (18-16) with a late Thurston conversion settling matters.

  On the evidence of last year, everything is to play for – and more, where NSW is concerned. The new Fittler regime has proved to be an uncompromising one, with a reported ban on mobile phone communication just one of several ways Fittler is attempting to focus the minds of his squad, so that their bodies may follow.

The Blues’ base of operations is, once more, the coastal area of Coogee. It has proven to be highly productive in the past, and with a good range of terrains on which to train, Fittler clearly knows and respects the traditions of NSW.

Current odds concerning the upcoming State of Origin series indicate that NSW are favoured despite history being against them, but there is little to choose between the sides.

[ozzienews]

Lion's Cam Rayner Backed by his Peers to Make the Biggest Splash in 2018

http://www.ozzienews.com/sport/lions-cam-rayner-backed-by-his-peers-to-make-the-biggest-splash-in-2018/

Source: AFL Feeds via Facebook

Cameron Rayner has been selected by his fellow AFL draftees to be the player most likely to impress in his first season playing in the premiership. Earlier this month, more than 100 of the country’s most talented youngsters headed down to Melbourne to attend the AFL Players’ Association Induction camp, where they had the chance to vote for their fellow colleagues.

According to the AFLPA, 21 percent of the draftees believe that the Lions’ number-one draft pick will be awarded the best first-year player honours, with North Melbourne’s Luke Davis-Uniacke tipped as the second-favourite on 14 percent, followed by Carlton’s Paddy Dow with six. Currently, Rayner is the fourth-favourite at $11.00 to take out the rising star award according to the latest AFL odds, and the Brisbane faithful will be excited about what he can bring to the table this season.

Source: TAC Cup via Facebook

The player voted the most likely to surprise the competition went to Tim Kelly who was picked at number 24 by the Geelong Cats, with West Coast’s Liam Ryan closely behind him on seven percent.

The youngsters also had the chance to vote on which existing stars they most admired, and Luke Hodge took the number one spot with nine percent, Nat Fyfe on seven and Joel Selwood with six.

During the two days at the camp, the players were addressed by several speakers including the AFLPA president Matthew Pavlich, Kane Lambert from the Richmond Tigers, as well as retired veterans Drew Petrie, Leigh Montagna and Andrew Swallow.

Rayner said that the camp had been extremely beneficial and opened his eyes up to how much support there is within the game. He realised that the key to having a long and successful career was to do something off the field as well as giving it your all on the pitch.

Brett Johnson, the AFLPA’s general manager of player development, said that the camp was designed to provide the draftees with an opportunity to understand the type of support that is available to them. They want to show the players that there are many different programmes on offer to enhance their AFL careers both on and off the field. There is a strong focus on encouraging them to pursue a career outside of footy, and be prepared for what they might look to do after their football years are behind them.

Source: John Blackman via Facebook

Even better news for the Lions is the fact that Rayner has signed with the club for another two seasons already, meaning he will be at the club until at least the end of 2021. The player said that he feels the organisation is moving in the right direction and he has been surprised with the amount of young talent already playing at the Gabba.

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has been extremely pleased with Cameron’s development over the past few months and the desire he has to learn from his more experienced teammates. Fagan tips Rayner to have a highly successful career in the AFL due to his competitive nature and willingness to work hard. After the Lions struggled for much of last year, it would be fantastic for the club if the youngster can help to turn things around and bring them back into the top eight in the next couple of seasons.

[ozzienews]

On this day...in 1895

http://www.ozzienews.com/historic/on-this-day-in-1895/

On this day in 1895, the world’s first commercial movie screening takes place at the Grand Cafe in Paris.

The film was made by Louis and Auguste Lumiere, two French brothers who developed a camera-projector called the Cinematographe. The Lumiere brothers unveiled their invention to the public in March 1895 with a brief film showing workers leaving the Lumiere factory. On December 28, the entrepreneurial siblings screened a series of short scenes from everyday French life and charged admission for the first time.

Movie technology has its roots in the early 1830s, when Joseph Plateau of Belgium and Simon Stampfer of Austria simultaneously developed a device called the phenakistoscope, which incorporated a spinning disc with slots through which a series of drawings could be viewed, creating the effect of a single moving image. The phenakistoscope, considered the precursor of modern motion pictures, was followed by decades of advances and in 1890, Thomas Edison and his assistant William Dickson developed the first motion-picture camera, called the Kinetograph.

The next year, 1891, Edison invented the Kinetoscope, a machine with a peephole viewer that allowed one person to watch a strip of film as it moved past a light.

In 1894, Antoine Lumiere, the father of Auguste (1862-1954) and Louis (1864-1948), saw a demonstration of Edison’s Kinetoscope. The elder Lumiere was impressed, but reportedly told his sons, who ran a successful photographic plate factory in Lyon, France, that they could come up with something better. Louis Lumiere’s Cinematographe, which was patented in 1895, was a combination movie camera and projector that could display moving images on a screen for an audience. The Cinematographe was also smaller, lighter and used less film than Edison’s technology.

The Lumieres opened theaters (known as cinemas) in 1896 to show their work and sent crews of cameramen around the world to screen films and shoot new material. In America, the film industry quickly took off. In 1896, Vitascope Hall, believed to be the first theater in the U.S. devoted to showing movies, opened in New Orleans. In 1909, The New York Times published its first film review (of D.W. Griffith’s “Pippa Passes”), in 1911 the first Hollywood film studio opened and in 1914, Charlie Chaplin made his big-screen debut.

In addition to the Cinematographe, the Lumieres also developed the first practical color photography process, the Autochrome plate, which debuted in 1907.

[ozzienews]

Postecoglou Names 25 Man Socceroos Squad to Face Honduras in World Cup Playoff

http://www.ozzienews.com/sport/postecoglou-names-25-man-socceroos-squad-to-face-honduras-in-world-cup-playoff/

Source: Ange Postecoglou via Facebook

The final 25-man squad that will hold the fate of Australia’s World Cup dreams has been named by Ange Postecoglou at a feisty press conference in Sydney. The media were eager for the coach to answer questions about his future, but he refused to talk about himself, pushing for the focus to be on the team.

Mile Jedinak was one of three inclusions for November’s World Cup playoff, and the returning skipper will be a welcome addition to an Australian midfield that struggled at times throughout their qualifying campaign. His recent 30 minutes on the pitch for English club Aston Villa against Birmingham City was enough to book himself a ticket to Central America, the last away match on the road to Russia.

Ange was continually asked whether or not Jedinak would continue to captain the team if they do make it past Honduras, but the coach kept switching the topic back to the players and the gigantic task at hand.

The Villa midfielder is joined by Jimmy Jeggo, who plays in the Austrian Bundesliga for Sturm Graz, and Alex Gersbach, who plies his trade in Norway for Rosenborg BK. The original 23-man squad has been extended due to the absence of Matthew Leckie and Mark Milligan, who are both suspended for the first leg, but will re-join the team in Sydney for the home tie.

Source: Mile Jedinak via Facebook.

The coach has the choice to cut his 25-man squad by two members after the away game, or bring all of the players to Sydney and make a last-minute decision based on availability. Australia will only be permitted to name a bench of 12 players for the second leg.

Honduras will go into the first match as favourites, but it’s obvious Australia poses a massive threat to the North American side with bookies rating them a solid chance for an upset. According to Champion Bets, the odds for Australia have shortened quite considerably already, and many bettors are looking to free bet offers which you can see online at one of the many tipping websites to maximise the value of their stakes.

There has also been quite a lot of talk about the hostile environment expected to be awaiting the squad on their arrival. Postecoglou addressed the issue with the media, stating that he wasn’t too concerned about the potentially intimidating welcome they would receive. He feels that playing away in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Japan during qualification has made the side confident in dealing with these types of situations. There’s no doubt the away leg is going to be difficult for the Aussies, though, and Honduras supporters will try and make the away team feel as uncomfortable as possible.

Honduras know how vital it is to seal a victory on home soil, and won’t want to leave their chances to the second game. If the Socceroos can snatch a victory or even an away goal, they will surely rate their chances of progressing when they face them in front of a packed house in Sydney.

[ozzienews]

Ablett's homecoming finally becomes a reality

http://www.ozzienews.com/sport/afl/abletts-homecoming-finally-becomes-a-reality/

Source: AFL Banter via Facebook.

It has been one of the most talked about deals in recent times and it is now finally official – next season Gary Ablett will be running out for the Geelong Cats once again. The dynamic midfielder is heading back to where it all began before signing a multi-million dollar deal that took the player north to join the Gold Coast Suns back in 2011.

After the normal season ended earlier this year, the eight-time All Australian made it quite clear to the Suns’ upper management that he wished to make the move back home to Victoria so  could spend more time with his family. He even threatened to retire if the two clubs couldn’t work out an agreement, even though he still had one year remaining on his contract with Gold Coast.

Luckily for all parties involved though, an agreement was reached and the deal was finalised on deadline day of the AFL trade period with just ten minutes to spare. Although it was exactly what the dual Brownlow Medalist was hoping for, it came at a horrible time for the family, after they received news that Gary’s sister Natasha had tragically passed away just days earlier.

The veteran midfielder said that it had been an emotional roller coaster of a week, but knowing that he will be returning home had brought him and his family a little joy in what has been a difficult and painful time. The two-time premiership winner said he was excited about running back out for the Cats and into the stadium where it all began back in 2002.

Source: Joel Selwood’s Soldiers via Facebook.

Geelong supporters will be eager to see what the new lineup will look like now, with Ablett getting the chance to start alongside Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood, in what will arguably be the most dangerous midfield in the competition. Ablett is the kind of player that can help push the side forward and will be an instrumental part of the team’s attacking style footy.

The cats have been just outside the premiership window of late, with consecutive preliminary final losses. With this new addition to the squad, they are already looking like a team that can really make a push for the premiership, and according to bet365, the latest AFL odds have them at 11.00 to become minor premiers, just behind last season’s Grand Final winners, Richmond, who are 7.50.

He may be turning 34 in May, but there’s no denying the amount of quality that the midfielder still has in him. At the end of last season he received the Club Champion of the Year Award for the Suns, as well as finishing fourth in 2017 for average Player Ratings points per game.

As compensation for Ablett’s signature, Geelong had to give Gold Coast the No.19 draft pick. In return the Cats received the No.24 pick, as well as the clubs swapping some of their future selections. Manager Stephen Wells admitted that they had given up quite a bit to bring the 33-year old home, but was extremely happy with the result and excited to see Gary back in a Geelong jersey.

[ozzienews]

The wonderful world of sex

http://www.ozzienews.com/life/susan-floyd/the-wonderful-world-of-sex/

Here are some sexy things scientists discovered last year.

1. Why beer goggles work: Faces that are symmetrical are thought to be the most attractive and alcohol interferes with our ability to detect lopsidedness.

2. Wear red if you want to pull a girl: Research shows women find men wearing red to be more sexually desirable. Red signals rank in virtually all cultures.

3. Go out when you’re ovulating if you want to pull a guy: A T-shirt smelling experiment proved women emit their most sexually intoxicating odour during this time.

4. Frogs sing during sex: The rhythmic click calls of the females are such a turn-on to male frogs, they move back and forth in time whenever they hear it.

5. Fish were the first creatures to have sex: Fossils of extinct fish found in Western Australia suggest sexual intercourse began as early as 410 million years ago.

by Susan Floyd

[ozzienews]

Women in their forties are getting more sexually adventurous

http://www.ozzienews.com/life/susan-floyd/women-in-their-forties-are-getting-more-sexually-adventurous/

Do you know what women desire? A recent survey went out and asked 1,400 women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s about their deepest dating and sex secrets.

Ask a group of ladies what they look for in a man, and buzzwords fly. Confidence. Independence. Humor. Kindness. Looks. It’s as if we women are all seeking the exact same guy.

But here’s the rub…these priorities depend on where we are in our lives.

“What a woman looks for in a partner changes as she ages,” says Helen Fisher, Ph.D., a professor of anthropology at Rutgers University and a relationship expert, whose most recent book is Why Him? Why Her?

So if you want a decent shot at success, you have to recognize what she values at this stage of her life, and know what to expect if you plan to stay with her. A woman who once prioritized, say, grinding to Lil’ Wayne on the dance floor will eventually start to prefer intimate conversation accompanied by a glass of Barolo and a plate of homemade Bolognese.

These changes extend into the bedroom, too. Very few women become set in their sexual ways. Quite the opposite…a  survey of nearly 1,400 women found that sexual tastes shift with the passing years. To be specific (and the women we asked were very specific), two-thirds of the women in their 30s and almost half of the women in their 40s revealed that their sexual palates had evolved in the past decade. And change can be good.

For example, a woman who once avoided being on top because she worried about how her double D’s looked might eventually become sexually confident, knowing exactly what she wants, how she wants it, and how to guide you there. Sex becomes more of an adventure with age, it appears.

But that doesn’t mean you have to wait. Whether the woman you’re dating or living with is in her 20s, 30s, or 40s, here’s your guide to hitting her hot spots.

by Susan Floyd

[ozzienews]

Is anybody there?

http://www.ozzienews.com/life/is-anybody-there/

Where is the voice crying out in the wilderness?

The four horsemen of the Apocalypse are here already.  Wars and conflicts are creating havoc as greed and power are the order of the days. Famine and hunger due to corruption and  wars are leading to millions of dead in Africa, as countries that used to feed a continent now fight over land and politics.  All around the world the weak, and children are starving as poverty is ignored and only money and power are paramount.

America and Russia reach out across the world not with doves but bombs. The United Nations are insignificant and religion sounds a quiet call for help.

Terrorists use fear and threats to gain oil to feed their need to buy weapons. Arms suppliers provide guns and tanks and missiles. Money and greed and power generate the dreadful state of the world we live in today. Europe with its stockpiles of food and drink, would rather destroy food than save the hungry of Africa, until it is almost too late.

We can change? – we must change…or our today will have no tomorrows.

The four horsemen have not pulled out their swords…YET…

Heed the warnings – this century is a time of changes , make sure those changes are for good and not evil.

The millions of refugees running from their homes is a sign.

The next people to start running could be YOU.

by Jeff Millins