Canberragirl1234 has uploaded to YouTube more evidence that Canberra is under attack from beyond the stars.
The evidence keeps piling up, remember this?
And this?
Oh what fun!
Picture Sideshow, Mysterious Light Orb Worms Over Canberra, ACT, 2012
I Have tons of photos, the originals can be requested at canberragirl1234@gmail.com

Mayor Rattenbury has the happy news that The Green Shed (formerly Tiny’s) has handed over $10,000 to The Yellow Van:
Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane Rattenbury, will tomorrow present a cheque for $10,000 to The Yellow Van on behalf of The Green Shed (formerly known as Tiny’s Green Shed).
The $10,000 was raised by The [...]

Support Pegasus at the inaugural gala dinner.

Chief Minister Gallagher has launched a new program today:
Chief Minister Katy Gallagher together with The Governor General, the Honourable Quentin Bryce AC CVO today formally opened the Intentional Community, a new public housing development designed to better support the needs of people with disability in our community.
The Intentional Community in Phillip is a unique development [...]

Liberal Senator Gary Humphries is eulogising the remarkable Lorna Hazel Craig who passed away on Sunday:
Miss Craig was first appointed to the personal staff of Prime Minister J A Lyons in 1937 and then after his death she remained on the personal staff of his successors, R G Menzies, A W Fadden, J Curtin, J [...]

We’ve just returned from the very fulfilling and slightly exhausting Million Paws Walk for 2013.
The Kelpie of Few Accomplishments was resplendent in his bandana and plodded dutifully along for the entire inner lake loop.
As a fundraiser for the local RSPCA it was a great event.
Getting there at 9.30 it was already busy with dozens of [...]

I wasn’t going to rise to the bait of Joe Hildebrand’s latest effort to troll Canberra.
When your complaint about a city comes to it having a winter season (as do New York, London, Paris and Tokyo) and laws about smoking in pubs the complainant is the one coming across as a yokel in the big [...]

Barcham has sent in this picture of an increasingly colourful Garema Place thanks to Diversity ACT.
Got an image of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email it in to images@the-riotact.com .

Chief Minister Gallagher has announced the winners from the Master Builders charity house auction:
Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has presented more than $580,000 to five local charities from the proceeds of the sale of the Franklin Charity House.
Franklin Charity House has been a joint project between the ACT Government’s Land Development Agency (LDA), the Master [...]

We bow to none in our love of lego here at RiotACT.
But we were very impressed by an email in from Hamish overnight:
From: Hamish
Subject: canberra made lego stop-motion video
Hi guys. My brother has made a Lego Stop-Motion copy of the opening scene from the Casion Royale bond movie. The scene video was posted on YouTube [...]

Simon Corbell has announced he’s tweaking the heritage protection rules:
Appeal provisions will no longer apply against a decision by the Council not to provisionally register a place or object. Property owners will still be able to appeal a decision to register their place.
The amendments maintain the independence of the Heritage Council, while also providing [...]

Member for Brindabella Zed Seselja has moved a motion that will hopefully help the parking situation in Erindale around the Group Centre.
He also has gifted me with the funniest press release I’ve read this week.
Here’s an excerpt:
ZED FIGHTS FOR EASIER PARKING AT ERINDALE
Member for Brindabella Zed Seselja moved a motion in the ACT Legislative Assembly [...]

The category winners for the ACT Volunteer of the Year awards have been announced, and you can check them out right here.
Well done to all involved, in particular to Volunteer of the Year Peter Russell.
ACT Volunteer of the Year 2013
Peter Russell nominated by the YMCA of Canberra
ACT Volunteer Team of the Year 2013
Lanyon Youth and [...]

A recent spate of mail theft in my area energised the good samaritan inside me  to make a report to ACT Policing. Normally I wouldn’t be bothered however seeing how personal some of the mail was it angered me.
Whilst out walking the dog a couple of weeks ago I noticed a fair amount of mail torn open and discarded behind [...]

The War Memorial is giving notice that the old pines in the commemorative area are going to have to go:
The Memorial wishes to advise that it has become necessary to remove the pines trees located in the Commemorative Area. Advice received from a tree surgeon has recommended the removal of the pine trees, as they [...]

Simon Corbell has announced Draft Variation 311 to totally rejig Dickson and send the skyline soaring:
“Variation 311 puts Territory Plan controls in place to start rolling out the initiatives of the Dickson master plan, which include up to six stories in areas and improved pedestrian connections – particularly through to Challis St,” Mr Corbell said.
Other [...]

TAMS are very upset that for some kids the closest they can come to living life to the full is spraying YOLO on the heritage hut at the Bendora Arboretum.
Rangers at Namadgi National Park are asking members of the public to report acts of vandalism, after the heritage-listed Bendora Arboretum Hut was graffitied with spray [...]

Anglicare’s Rae Burgess Centre helps dozens of people a year, from the homeless to those facing domestic abuse, or poverty.
Sadly the centre has hit some rough times of its own and only had enough funding to keep operating until August, reports ABC News.
The numbers haven’t been decreasing, the numbers continue to increase each year,” he [...]

On Sunday the 19th of May puppy lovers are invited to walk their dogs to help out the RSPCA with their ongoing work.
Speaking of their work, they’re doing quite well at it.
Check out these numbers.
Since last year’s Million Paws Walk RSPCA ACT has worked with 1,397 adult dogs and 317 puppies (1,714 in total). Domestic [...]

This just in which will be of interest to some of you:
Become part of a team of trained Volunteer Interpreters who help visitors at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Namadgi National Park to better understand and appreciate the natural world.
Volunteer Interpreters provide information and interpretation to visitors at the Visitor Centres at Namadgi and Tidbinbilla as [...]

Canberra Rocketry like making things that go up. Preferably things that go up, really quickly. They also like to film these things.
This is their latest effort.
Know of any other fun groups in Canberra that do stuff like this?
Let us know in the comments.

Another round of Indigenous leaders has graduated from Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre (AILC)

The theme of this years International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is 30 years in solidarity
Join us at the National Gallery of Australia on Sunday May 19 from 6pm – 7pm for an evening for a night of music and remembrance.
The evening will be hosted by the ABC’s Genevieve Jacobs, and will include heartfelt contributions from community [...]

[ 17 May, 2013; 4:00 pm; ]

TAMS are letting us know there’s a twilight stroll through Gubur Dhaura coming up:

Immerse yourself in Canberra’s Ngunnawal culture and enjoy an autumn sunset with a twilight stroll through Gubur Dhaura in Franklin on Friday 17 May at 4pm.

“Gubur Dhaura means ‘red ochre’ in Ngunnawal language, and this is a great opportunity to hear how [...]

The Australian has grim news of just how the Gillard Government is going to plug the gap of its runaway spending.
With the bodies of EL1s and 2s it seems:
Finance Minister Penny Wong said the public service would be asked to find $580 million in savings to help fund the NDIS and Gonski.
The savings, over four [...]

The Centenary Team have let it be known that Skywhale might be slipping the surly bonds of earth tomorrow morning.
Or it might not depending on the weather which isn’t looking good.
Check the Centenary website from 5am for confirmation.
[Photo by Deref]

We’ve had some photos in from this morning’s flight of the Skywhale over Canberra.
Hannah sent in the above with this:
The Skywhale launch this morning was really great. People were whooping and clapping as it took off, and Robyn Archer got us to “hip hip horray” it.
And Deref sent in a bunch:

Here’s the full slideshow:

Got some [...]

With perfect weather conditions predicted, Centenary of Canberra commission The Skywhale will make her first Canberra flight tomorrow morning, lifting off from outside the National Gallery of Australia.
The Skywhale is a 34m long, 23m high hot-air balloon sculpture designed by renowned artist and former Canberran Patricia Piccinini. It is at least twice as big as [...]

Rioter arescarti42 spotter this wonderful little ad on AirBnB.com.au. This couple have a nice room in Harrison available for a “good looking female” who “would have an adventurous and very curious mind”.
if you’ll excuse me I feel very dirty after reading this and might need a shower.
On the plus side they are offering them access [...]

TAMS have announced some much needed changes to the operations of MyWay after an external review pointed out that things could probably be done a bit better.
Changes include more places to pay for the cards and making it simpler for concession travelers to pay correct fares.
Apparently this will also be cheaper for the government, so [...]

The Australia Sri Lanka Buddhist Association of Canberra cordially invites us all to 30 Jenke Cct, Kambah:
This year Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara in Canberra will celebrate the Vesak on Saturday, 11 May 2013 from 5.30pm onwards.
You are cordially invited to enjoy:
- Illumintated Vesak Pandol
- Colorful Lanterns
- Traditional Vesak Celebrations
- Traditional Dance
- Drama and Devotional Songs
This [...]

Heather and Arthur Shakespeare have a square named after them. Opened today by Andrew Barr the square is meant to honor the commitment the Shakespeare family have made to the Canberra community.
The Square, located in City West, was renewed as part of the Government’s City Improvement Program, with the backing and support of Canberra CBD [...]