Tim Minchin's Christmas Song

The bit that was cut out of the Jonathan Ross Christmas Special! Comments from Tim Minchin's Blog

VIDEO: outback Australia time lapse - Australian Geographic

VIDEO: outback Australia time lapse - Australian Geographic

Dunk Island Tourism Award 2011?

I read today that the luxury resort of Dunk Island has won an award for the best Australian resort for 2011 or something along those lines which I find quite amazing as it has been lying in ruins for the best part of this year thanks to the efforts of the  most powerful cyclone  ever recorded in Queensland, Cyclone Yasi. Obviously nobody had told them. The first part of this video shows the massive damage caused by Cyclone Yasi to the Dunk Island Resort in early February this year.

 Update: An explanation posted in the Cairns Post comments (Dec 21). "As World Travel Awards, our goal is to highlight and reward excellence in travel and tourism. For many years, Dunk Island has served as a beacon of these ideals, with its laid-back luxury amid a paradise setting, reflected by its core business of repeat guests.We were therefore deeply saddened last February when news emerged that the resort had been destroyed by Cyclone Yasi.Our awards programme operates on a “first past the post system”, and Dunk Island’s support from both its guests and the travel trade led to it gaining sufficient votes to win its category, even though it closed several months before the voting deadline.We therefore felt it only right that Dunk Island should still receive the award. We also maintain implicit confidence in the island’s future and its ability to bounce back from adversity in the long term. We also acknowledge that tourism remains the economic lifeblood of the region. Its star qualities will guarantee the on-going recovery. Posted by: World Travel Awards of London 3:23am today".

Cairns Flecker Botanic Gardens

Flecker Botanic Gardens Cairns

We are fortunate to have one of the most spectacular Botanic Gardens in Australia with a very interesting historical past as well.  (Read More)

It's going viral so why not?

Besides, I love my iPad apps!

A clip from Brisbane (a remote suburb of Cairns) band Hey Geronimo.

Apparently the clip cost less than $500 to make.

Hey Geronimo's clip for their song Why Don't We Do Something? has notched up nearly 700,000 views on YouTube in two weeks.
.

Why Does Cairns Get all the Good Things?

Cairns has been very lucky today to have common sense prevailing (but only just) in the decision to go ahead with one of this city's biggest community projects - the Cairns Entertainment Precinct. The competition from other Queensland regions for funding from both state and federal governments has been pretty fierce judging by this article from local blog "The Rock News".

"CAIRNS has a population of about 160,000 – less than half that of the Coast – yet its council has just managed to score $57 million from the State Government to fund a massive performing arts centre. After two decades shooting for the same goal, the Sunshine Coast Council is still working on a study on how to complete such a project...." Read More

The Last Entry from Denis in Africa

The year has quickly raced by for Denis Walls, currently residing in Rwanda and soon to return to the humid climes of Far North Queensland. Here is a link to the final instalment to his blog covering his 12 month adventure.
http://deniswalls.blogspot.com/2011/12/rwandan-wrap-up.html

Denis in Africa: Exploring Ethiopia

Denis in Africa: Exploring Ethiopia: Arriving in Addis Ababa the feel is completely unlike the East African countries of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. In Ethiopia the mix ...More

Music from FNQ Band Kamerunga

Video featuring highlights of Far North Queensland band Kamerunga's performance at the 2011 Rainforest World Music Festival held in Borneo earlier this year and a mix of what might be on their next release.

war in profile - hiroshima - nagasaki a-bomb exhibition

Time is running out to see this very sobering exhibition. It is a must for Cairns locals to see before it ends. Interestingly, and it does cross your mind if you know the history, the Tanks, the venue the display is housed in, once played a key role in World War Two as a Naval fuel oil storage complex.
More information HERE

Hiroshima Peace Site

Music of Far North Queensland - Roz Pappalardo and The Wayward Gentlemen

Visit their website here.

Denis in Africa: From Nyamata to Ngoma

Denis in Africa: From Nyamata to Ngoma: You may remember my article from earlier this year about the new, dirt Road to Burundi in the valley opposite our place in Kibungo. Well the...

When Space Attacks!

With the fear mongers hyping up the risk of close encounters with asteroids passing closer than the Moon's orbit, here is some more trivia that should make your day.

Source:LiveScience

Orangutan Awareness Week November

Orangutan awareness week takes place every November highlighting the challenges faced by orangutans and their diminishing rainforest homes.

More information here:

http://www.orangutans.com.au/Orangutans-Survival-Information/Orangutan-Awareness-Week.aspx

Are We There Yet?

Filmed in Sunny Far North Queensland!

The Divided Brain - Iain McGilchrist

In this new RSAnimate, renowned psychiatrist and writer Iain McGilchrist explains how our 'divided brain' has profoundly altered human behaviour, culture and society. Taken from a lecture given by Iain McGilchrist. To view the full lecture, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbUHxC4wiWk

ICARUS Proves Neutrinos More Than 10 Times Faster Than Light

In the Science Wars, who is winning? From Science 2.0:
ICARUS Proves Neutrinos More Than 10 Times Faster Than Light

Denis in Africa: Into the Valley of Death

Denis in Africa: Into the Valley of Death: South of Kigali and west of Kibungo is a flatter, marshy region with rivers and lakes known as the Bugesera. Until recent times the area was...

Brief Answers to Cosmic Questions

Brian Schmidt, an astrophysicist from the Australian National University has just been named a joint Nobel science prize winner in a field of science that can really do your head in, particularly if you are a kind of person that likes to ask questions like.... How did the Universe start? Where is it going and what will happen in the future? All your concerns about the meaning of life and the universe as it is currently understood can be found HERE

Life in Cairns 1964

The Australian National Film and Sound Archives recently released this snapshot of Cairns in the 1960's. Locals will easily pick out the free license to make stuff up by the film maker which makes it even more entertaining. But one thing is for sure, life in the Far North has certainly changed since 1964.

Trail-Blazing Bear Inspired the Dead

An article from local Cairns Journalist Tony Hillier:
Trail-Blazing Bear Inspired the Dead

More Music: Rodrigo Y Gabriela

From a tweet via Ross Noble: Keston Cobblers Club

Music from Ross Noble's Sit Down Bike Tour of UK by Keston Cobblers Club. A beautiful video called "For,Words"

Our music is foot-tapping, harmony-filled, modern music with a traditional twist. WE WILL HEEL YOUR SOLES! >>>Keston Cobblers Club

Green light for Cairns Entertainment Precinct

From local blog Cairns matters.: Cairns Entertainment Precinct vote.....the long version...:

"No prizes for guessing where I was all afternoon. Believe me w hen I say it was ALL afternoon. The Council vote on the Cairns Entertainment Precinct...." (more)

Time Lapse View of Earth from the ISS

Cairns Buskers Festival 2011

The Cairns Buskers Festival was first conceived in 2006 as a concept to liven up the streets of Cairns and designed to put world class buskers on our streets as well as creating a means to promote the talented local performers up here in the Far North.

This festival is fast becoming the largest street theatre and comedy festival in Queensland, and in the top 3 in Australia.

There are over 50 shows ranging from kids entertainment, performance and arts workshops, street shows, 3D chalk art, the opening night comedy show and thelate night Buskers Burlesque starting today and continuing through to Monday 19 September.

More information and Buskers Festival 2011 program

Cairns Festival Parade 2011

For everyone who missed it (including myself).

Cairns Festival 2011 special thanks to MOD Digital Films on Vimeo.

Australian Blues : The Backsliders

Check out their new album and catalogue releases

Tony Gets a Pair

From First Dog on the Moon

Rolling Stone's Worst Song of the 90's

Obviously the snobs at Rolling Stone have no sense of humour nor can they recognise a p***take. Mattel obviously couldn't either as they took the band to court over the song. In my humble opinion there were far worse songs that came out of that forgettable decade!

More about Aqua

Rolling Stone's Worst Songs of the Nineties
10. 4 Non Blondes, 'What's Up?'
9. Right Said Fred, 'I'm Too Sexy'
8. Baha Men, 'Who Let The Dogs Out?'
7. Celine Dion, 'My Heart Will Go On'
6. Hanson, 'MMMBop'
5. Chumbawamba, 'Tubthumping'
4. Vanilla Ice, 'Ice Ice Baby'
3. Billy Ray Cyrus, 'Achy Breaky Heart'
2. Los Del Rio, 'Macarena'
1. Aqua, 'Barbie Girl'

Early Morning Cairns Esplanade

The Cairns waterfront around 8:30 this morning. Only a handful of people around, which is surprising considering this is the height of the tourist season. Maybe everyone slept in. Looks like fantastic weather shaping up for the weekend.

Denis in Africa: Into Uganda - Part 3

Denis in Africa: Into Uganda - Part 3: We were in Uganda during a period of social unrest. Museveni has been in power since early 1986 and won a fourth term in government in Febru...(more)

The Cairns Entertainment Precinct

Are the naysayers still working hard on destroying the future of arguably the most innovative development Cairns has seen for many years?

Comments from local blog "Cairns Matters".

Cairns matters.: To entertain or not to entertain? The Entertainment Precinct

" Here we go again. Just when it seemed we were past the 'will we, won't we' phase, it appears that we are headed back to the grey area regard..." more...

Denis in Africa : Into Uganda part two

Read Denis's Blog Here

Chuulangun, Cape York Peninsula

Travelling around Cape York Peninsula.......

Chuulangun Airstrip

More from Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation

The Banded Cockroach, unlike most Cape York native cockroaches, prefers to scavenge during the day.

The Bush Hibiscus in abundance during the wet season.

The pristine upper tributaries of the Wenlock River draining westward from the Great Dividing Range mixing with the tannin colouring from the lowland wet season swamps.

The Wenlock Basin Wild River Declaration

Denis in Africa: Into Uganda

Denis's adventures continue as he again crosses the border and this time heads into once war ravaged Uganda....

Denis in Africa: Into Uganda

Flynn Needs your Support

Local Cairns resident Flynn is 8 years old and due to his extremely premature birth and the significant brain injury sustained from it, Flynn now faces many long term challenges. He is the eldest brother of Patrick, aged 5 and Tess, aged 1. It is hoped to raise enough money to proceed with Stem Cell Therapy sometime later this year, and also to assist with the ongoing costs of Speech Therapy, Physio and Occupational Therapy that Flynn still desperately needs. You can learn more by reading Flynn’s Story below.

http://www.developingfoundation.org.au/family/flynn

UPDATE Watch Flynn's Walk

Flynn's Walk from MOD Digital Films on Vimeo.

Fear & greed: The real energy challenge

CARTER'S SOLAR PANELS: Half of the 32 solar panels that once heated water for the Carter White House still grace the roof of the Unity College cafeteria in Maine.Image: Courtesy of Mark Tardif

Fear & greed: The real energy challenge

Lady Gaga

Lake Tinaroo Dam

I had the privilege of staying up at Lake Tinaroo for the past week, waking up to beautiful chilly mornings (a luxury in the tropics) and spectacular views such as these. *sigh*

Now back to reality....

Photoshoplooting

Bieber-queue

More at
photoshoplooter

Can Economic Growth last forever?

Uploaded by postcarboninstitute on Aug 2, 2011
**PLEASE SHARE** Economists insist that recovery is at hand, yet unemployment remains high, real estate values continue to sink, and governments stagger under record deficits. Richard Heinberg proposes a startling diagnosis: humanity has reached a fundamental turning point in its economic history. The expansionary trajectory of industrial civilization is colliding with non-negotiable natural limits.

The Cairns Festival 2011

Free concert Fogarty Park 3/09/2011

Part of The Cairns Festival 2011


More about The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra
http://www.thepublicopinion.net/

What's Happening

2011 Cairns Festival Overview from Cairns Festival on Vimeo.

The Ship Song Project

The Ship Song Project - Sydney Opera House reinterprets Nick Cave's iconic song. Performed by Neil Finn, Kev Carmody and The Australian Ballet, Sarah Blasko, John Bell, Angus and Julia Stone, Paul Kelly and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Opera Australia, Martha Wainwright, Katie Noonan and The Sydney Symphony, The Temper Trap, Daniel Johns and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

For comparison, here's the real deal:

Russell Brand Tribute to Amy Winehouse

http://www.russellbrand.tv/2011/07/for-amy/

The Cairns Entertainment Precinct

From The Rock News..."cairns entertainment precinct ‘facts, figures and answers".

Visit http://www.cairns-entertainment-precinct.com.au/

Denis in Africa: Milk, manure and manners

Another post from Denis in Africa: Milk, manure and manners:

Did you know that an East African Ankole long-horned cow produces five litres of milk a day whereas a Friesian produces 25? So, think about that next time you're adding it to your moo-sli......READ MORE

Amazing footage of taipan mating dance

This incredible footage of the mating ritual of two taipans, one of the world's most deadliest venomous snakes is featured in Willie Gordon's Gurrbi Tours Blog

How Turnbull saved the planet

How Turnbull saved the planet (Fiction: from Business Spectator)

Cooktown

Found this great little video from Zoexena featuring some of the amazing sights of Cooktown.

This year's Cooktown Discovery Weekend was also featured on Channel Seven's Queensland Weekender

Probably the best explanation of the Carbon Tax you will find: From Grog's Gamut

From Grog's Gamut: The Carbon Price: The Tim Tams are safe; not sure about hyperbole

What Kind Of World Do You Want - NASA Video

What would the world be like without Rupert?

From the current dirty Scandals of News of the World in the UK to the slow dismantling and destruction of our own historic Cairns Post Newspaper in Far North Queensland, what would the world have been like without the Murdoch Deathstar?

Adele

From the Top Comments on You Tube: "Speaks like a chav, sings like an angel. Diamond in the hood."

The Cairns To Karumba Bike Ride 2011

The 780 km Cairns to Karumba Bike Ride 2011 has regular updates on its Facebook Page with stacks of pictures of each day's travel!

Denis in Africa: Apes Galore

Denis In Africa:

Part One
http://deniswalls.blogspot.com/2011/06/apes-galore.html

Part Two

http://deniswalls.blogspot.com/2011/06/kwita-izina.html

Cairns Ukulele Festival

Dates: 1, 2 and 3 July 2011.

http://cairnsukulelefestival.net/

http://www.youtube.com/cairnsukefest

The Cairns Ukulele Festival will be held 1, 2 and 3 July 2011.

1 July: performances on Great Adventures Green Island and in Cairns CBD
2 July: performances and world record attempt at the Cairns Courthouse Hotel
3 July: performances at the Tanks Arts Centre

Confirmed acts 3 July:

Daniel Ho (Hawaii)
Sweet Hollywaiians (Japan)
Iwao (Japan)
Shigeto Takahashi (Japan)
Brittni Paiva (Hawaii)
Victoria Vox (USA)
Jumpingflea (USA)
AJ Leonard's Tropical Lounge (Melbourne)
Renee Searles (Byron Bay)

Colour an image with your eyes

The Cairns To Karumba Bike Ride

An even more unique bikeride which is supporting isolated students and families in the Cape is coming up on June 26.
Nominations are now open for competitors as well as any interested volunteers who wish to help out in this 780km trek. Check out last year's gallery.

The Arctic Light

This is much better in HD but it may take a while to download. (You can turn it off)
This video was made recently by TSO Photography

The Arctic Light from TSO Photography on Vimeo.

Challenge Cairns Triathlon Highlights

Today's Running Leg


The Bike Leg


The Swimming

Do you feel safe flying with this company?

Hungry Beast outlines how QANTAS outsources its NZ flights, creating a reduction in wages - 40% less in fact - not that it creates any reduction in the airfare. Nice to know you are entrusting your life to someone worth every penny they don't earn when you fly QANTAS to the shaky isles.

A Tribute to The Shuttle Endeavour

Cairns Adventure Film Festival 2011

CAFF 2011 EVENT TEASER from CAFF Australia on Vimeo.

Denis in Africa: A Question of Faith

Denis in Africa: A Question of Faith: "When I got into work on Monday morning I was approached by my best Rwandan office friend, Guido, and asked what I had done at the weekend. H..."

Are You Ready for the Rapture??

More from FNQhome.com

See also After The Rapture (the big non event)

Footage of Undara Lava Tubes Underwater

East Trinity Wetlands on Catalyst this week on ABC 1 Thursday 8:00 p.m EST

The segment on East Trinity, Cairns is going to air this week (Catalyst ABC1, 8pm Thursday 19 May).

Find out more information about the East Trinity Wetlands from the ABC Catalyst Site

Denis Walls, (currently in Rwanda) explaining the history of trying to protect East Trinity.

Tweeting the Raid that killed Bin Laden

This from Global Voices

The Cairns Blues Festival 2011

The latest from the Cairns Blues Festival Website

Denis in Africa: Zanzibar

Denis in Africa: Zanzibar: "'Geographers in Afric maps, With savage pictures filled their gaps, And o'er unhabitable downs, Placed elephants for want of towns' (Jona..."

Yorkeys Knob Beach Cairns

This year we managed to trick the weather gods with Easter falling late and combining with ANZAC Day to make an extra long weekend (apparently this won't happen again until around 2030). As a result we have had fine sunny weather - a nice change - with strong south easterly breezes which were exploited by the local kite sailors at Yorkeys Knob Beach just north of Cairns .

The sign says it all really as to why I would prefer to watch and not participate.