Happy cradling arms with moving feet.

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So the election is rumoured to be after the rugby world cup. Our PM, John Howard is a massive sports freak, and the cynical would say he gets a last photo opportunity and free seats for our beloved Wallabies before he is voted out. Secondly, APEC is being held here so he wouldn't want to miss that and he also has two visitors, in the Japanese PM and Canadian PM in the next couple months.

Parliament has been rather spirited, if you like that sort of thing. The Labour party drew first blood when they tried to expose the long standing rift between John Howard and his right hand man, Treasurer, Peter Costello, in sitting period, where they are trying to sell the notion there is so much infighting amongst the "Libs" they don't have time to run the country. It was interesting to note, the Sunday Telegraph, posting the headline, in which Kevin Rudd, leader of the opposition, was caught in a strip club while attending a conference in New York two years ago. Accusations were that the Liberals were behind the public smear. In a slight twist of fate, it appears that Rudd's lead in the polls has grown since this was exposed. The slogan, Kevin in oh seven and its party have a monstrous lead according to the official poll but like the last two elections, I am sure they are wary that Howard will once again pull the rabbit out of the hat and streak to victory. It should be a good race.

India, the village of Sariya, anti terrorist classes for the ladies in an effort to train women to fight should they be attacked. It makes for an interesting photo which you can see above. ( look at the smiles ) Local defence groups which were set up in Kashmir, and Jammu, under the VDC or Village Defence Committee programs were given direction by the army. The article could end here, we would be slightly amused by the picture and move back into our happy little lives. However, who supplied the guns? Why does the army train civilians? The AK-47 is the most widely used weapon used on the globe. It is one of the weapons of choice for terrorists. It is easy to fire and readily available to over one third of the world's population. Does the Indian government condone a violent and potentially fatal training for these weapons? In theory is this not an appalling practice?

Not really. It is actually necessary. For over 15 years the Kashmir and Jammu regions, sitting in the world's second most populous country, has had lawless and terrorist activity in a disputed region between Pakistan and India. I know the connotation of terrorism seems to be stolen and replaced by images of Iraq, but in fact has been a blot on civilization since the early ages. In pre 2001 days, India, then and now has been ravaged by bands of outlaws. At the front of the firing line are the women. They are terrorized, intimidated, raped, beaten and subjected to many abuses. The Village Defence Committee was borne out of tragedy. June 26, 2004, terrorists killed 12 women, including 5 children, further galvanizing these defence communities. Women banded together, acquiring weapons, organizing, and forming a motley crew of resistance, with some effect. I am not telling the entire story because I don't know it. I would bet, if prompted gently with a big stick, that Pakistan lists a number of terrible acts committed by their enemy, India. However, I applaud the courage and strength of these women who will fight back, often I am sure while giving their own life, in trying to save those who are being victimized by an uncaring and violent enemy. Now when you glance at the above picture, do the smiles look like happy masks, which in fact disguise the pain they have witnessed? Despite the smile it is a shame.

Zee tres expensive

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It is about time...

Art. It is only worth as much as someone will pay for it. The top picture, is the highest priced painting to ever be sold at a staggering $135 million. It was looted by the Nazi's in WWII and was painted by Gustav Klimt in 1907. It was purchased in 2006 by R.S. Lauder, the cosmetics king.

Sitting at number 2

Garcon a la Pipe- Pablo Picasso 104.1 million

3. Dora Maar with Cat- Pablo Picasso 95.2 million

4. Portrait of Dr. Gachet- Vincent van Gogh 82.5 million. This one was interesting because the Japanese businessman who had paid over 80 mil for it in 1996 wanted to be cremated with it when he died. He loved it immensely. Somehow it was saved.

5. Bal Au Moulin de la Galette- Pierre-Auguste Renoir. 78 million. I like this one.

6. Massacre of the Innocents- Peter Paul Rubens 76.7 million. ( pictured above ) It was painted in 1611.

7. Portrait de l'Artiste sans Barbe- Vincent van Gogh. 71.5 million. A selt portrait without the beard.

8. Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier- Paul Cezanne 60.5 million.

9. Femme aux Bras Croises- Pablo Picasso a paltry 55 million.

10. Irises- Vincent van Gogh

Also pictured below is the painting titled No. 5, by Jackson Pollock. It is rumoured to be on the verge of selling for a whopping $140 million which would place it firmly in first place. If you ever get the chance to visit Canberra, I urge you to check out Pollock's Blue Poles which is exhibited in the National Gallery of Australia.

Cydonia Mensae- THE FACE ON MARS!

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July 1976 was the month in which the Viking 1 spacecraft delivered a shocking photo back to mission control. Whilst searching for a better landing place for its sister ship, Viking 2, it came across the sight. It was a large reproduction of a human face, in the spirit of our pyramids, but this structure covered 2 square miles. In comparing this structure to our pyramids you will quickly realize that any life forms that created such a vast structure would have to be more advanced than we are here, because of the sheer size of the phenomenon. They would have to be well organized and more advanced than we are because we have no knowledge of their appearance, which would suggest they have travelled here, or observed us in some way. Almost immediately, experts at NASA claimed there was little evidence to suggest any life was prevalent on the red planet. This did little to quell the anxiety felt by those who believed the possibility existed that another species, quite possibly not human, existed, and they were more advanced than we.

In the 1800's thousands of convicts were sent to Australia. The voyage lasted several months, where danger nurtured disease making the trip potentially perilous for all. Temperatures were noticeably warmer, as compared to England, making those who were used to cooler climates feel that Australia was an undesirable place to live. Colonizing Mars would also be a dangerous undertaking. It takes approximately 7 months to travel there. Temperatures range between minus 140 C in the winter and reaching highs of 20 C in summer. There is a polar ice cap at the north pole, which suggests water. Under the first couple of meters of rock, which covers the mysterious planet, scientists estimate there is an ample supply, which if these geniuses are correct could sustain humans. The landscape is named after highly regarded astronauts. Gusev crater, Apollo 1 hills, Columbia hills and Endurance crater are the names of a few.

It may not be too long before a concrete proposal for colonization is realized. It would be heightened by a discovery of a resource or a new element. If this did take place, would the news be kept secret or would it be heralded across the globe as a reason to continue exploration of this planet? If given the opportunity, would you travel to Mars, and be the first human to be exposed to the Martian landscape, without the benefit of a space suit? Would you consider living away from Earth? If we continue to populate we may have to colonize another planet. Do you agree with the notion?