A rather disturbing event occurred this evening that I would like to share with you all and get feedback on.
I was at Woden bus interchange at 6:20pm (9/4/13) and witnessed 3 Westfield security personnel chasing a young girl (approx. 15/16yrs old) through the interchange (the girl was walking fast but not running as such). Curious [...]

Simon Corbell launched the Centenary Heritage Festival today.
“Canberra is an important part of the festival but this year the Capital Region will also feature heavily in the program of events to mark Goulburn’s 150th Birthday and Queanbeyan’s 175th birthday as well as the contribution that other towns like Yass, Bungendore and Braidwood make to the [...]

It seems to me that if the Government requires me to shell out an inconvenient amount for parking – like $9 – then they should:
– provide machines that work,
– provide machines that accept notes,
– provide machines that give change, and
– if part of the instructions are in bold, italic and [...]

The Age has a lengthy and intriguing analysis of US diplomatic cables from the 1970′s made searchable by the Wikileaks team.
If you watched Canberra Confidential there are whole new worlds of dodginess on display here.

Mindfulness is a proven technique that goes back thousands of years and is now being widely used to manage chronic pain. Psychologist Randolph Sparks, who gave a very engaging and insightful talk on “Managing Chronic Pain” last year, will talk about how mindfulness can work for you.
WHEN: Monday 15 April, 12.30-1.30 PM
WHERE: Room 9, 2nd [...]

Privi Marketting are looking for more chuggers!
Privi Marketing is Australia’s face to face fundraising agency of choice – for clients, associates, fundraisers, managers and the wider community.
Face to face fundraising? I wondered what they actually called it.
A chugger is a charity mugger for those nop hip with the lingo.
Rioter Notdingers sent us in this [...]

Safe Shelter are looking for volunteers:
The Safe Shelter for homeless men project aims to open inner Canberra church halls one night each week and is looking for volunteers to be trained to work in the project.
A pilot program will start operating on Wednesday nights at St Columba’s Uniting Church in Braddon from early May until [...]

[ 13 April, 2013 to 14 April, 2013. ] Those uppity folk down in Tharwa are reminding us they’re turning 151 this weekend to Canberra’s measly 100.

Anyway check the link out, there’s a lot to do down there.

buggsubique has posted last night’s show at the War Memorial to YouTube for our enjoyment and edification:
The Royal Military College Band played the 1812 Overture, 105mm towed howitzers fired, and the display concluded with fireworks. It rained the whole time.
If you’re new to the piece listen to the strains of Russian and French music contending [...]

So where’s the place to be for two up this year?
It’s been a while since I’ve been.
Last time I went to The Irish Club and it was quite good, but I’m interested in suggestions!

After listing Canberra’s top 100 most “liked” things, Canberra Centenary have just produced a handy resource for companies and events that nobody likes.
You can now print out a poster provided by the centenary and claim you/your business/your band/your cat/your drug habit is the 101st favourite thing in Canberra, with all the authority of the centenary [...]

While wandering into a lunch at The Ginseng at the Hellenic Club in Woden, my colleagues and I saw the remnants of what was clearly a very significant chess event in the Olympus Room.
After checking the boards and notes it seems Canberra again hosted one of Australia’s most significant weekend chess events – [...]

This Saturday at Belconnen Skatepark there is a demonstration of skateboarders from the SbA Pro Am Circuit.
Demo is featuring: Reece Warren, Bjorn Johnston, Ryan Wilson and Marty Girotto. Come down at 1pm to watch them shred! Happy Youth Week!

I’m hoping some old-hand, bonafide Canberrans can answer this one for me.
I’m from northern NSW, and I lost all confidence in pronouncing local names after being (vehemently) told that Namadgi is pronounced na-MAD-jy rather than NAM-a-jai, as it would be up north.
So what about Gingera? I climbed it on the weekend, and it was beautiful. [...]

[ 5 April, 2013; 6:15 pm; ]

This just in and worth a look:

The much anticipated RSPCA ACT Trivia Night is happening again and this year we are aiming to make it bigger and better than ever before! In line with the Canberra Centenary our theme is birthdays and celebration.

Gather your friends, dress up in your best party outfit and put those [...]

It’s time for another bicycle thread.
This article on phys.org should provoke some discussion.
Canberra gets a mention.
Indeed at some locations in Australia (the image on the left was taken in Canberra) and internationally, all road users are permitted to turn left on a red signal at some intersections.

Over on The Roar they’re asking why Canberra’s rugby league players so often turn out to be, well they call them bad boys.
Thoughts readers?

I’ve just been googling and decided I needed to consult the hive.
I would like to book my 8yo in for 2 days of horse riding during the 2nd week of school holidays. Can’t really afford 4 and have care for the other days.
But it looks like the main equestrian places I can find online require [...]

Simon Corbell has announced he’s got pots of proceeds of crime cash sitting around waiting for your good ideas on how to spend it to reduce crime:
Applications are now open for not-for-profit organisations and ACT Government agencies to receive a grant of up to $10,000 for crime prevention projects, Attorney-General, Simon Corbell, announced today.
“This is [...]

Dr Tom Calma AO has launched the new look Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre (AILC) – a milestone for the organisation that has trained more than 1,000 Indigenous leaders throughout Australia. A new DVD, celebrating the work of the AILC, has also been released.
Dr Calma, Australian of the Year Finalist and AILC Chairman commented, “We’re working [...]

After taking the Portrait Gallery from a twinkle in Jeanette Howard’s eye to a key National Institution there were high hopes Andrew Sayers could turn around the National Museum of Australia.
Sadly he’s announced his resignation effective 1 July 2013:
“I have worked at cultural institutions in Canberra since 1985 and retain a great affection for the [...]

TAMS has been surreptitiously tracking and recording the movements of residents in Canberra’s South through the interception of the private Bluetooth emissions of their mobile phones and car hands-free systems.

The Supreme Court has the orders of Justice Sidis on the matter of CONCERNED CITIZENS OF CANBERRA INC v CHIEF PLANNING EXECUTIVE (PLANNING AND LAND AUTHORITY).
For those coming in late this is today with the tiny group of bigots trying to run the Gungahlin Mosque out of town.
The key part of this order is this:
[...]

Mayor Rattenbury is letting us know we can have our say about planned upgrades to the Chapman Shops.
“I’m pleased to announce the preliminary sketch plans for the upgrade of Chapman shops have now been developed following input from the Chapman community, traders, lessees and government stakeholders,” said Mr Rattenbury.
“A drop-in consultation session will be held [...]

Katy Gallagher opened the new Diversity ACT Hub today, a new support centre for the LGBTIQ community.
“These new premises in Kambah will promote and advance the social rights and reduce discrimination against LGBTI persons,” the Chief Minister said.
The facility will provide a service hub, a support network and a community resource that will support the [...]

Joy Burch has sent forth information on the designs for a $14.5 million facility at Canberra College for pregnant teenagers and young parents:
ACT Minister for Education and Training, Ms Joy Burch MLA, today welcomed the designs for the new $14.5 million CCCares facility at Canberra College in Phillip.
The designs signal an important milestone towards fulfilling [...]

The ACT Government and the National Capital Authority have made a new website. Soon they will make a new Canberra City. Hopefully it looks nicer than the website.
Katy Gallagher had this to say about the plan:
We’re about to start work on a City plan. That plan will help us decide the overall direction of [...]

Canberra at Street Level is an exhibition of BMA Magazine’s 21 year history at the Gorman House Canberra Contemporary Art Space.
I was lured along by the promise of free grog, which there was in such abundance that I can make no complaint.
For anyone who was going out in Canberra in the 90′s it’s a fun [...]

Celebrating Canberra’s 100th, and their own 45th birthday, UC has installed a forest of cardboard cutout people onto their concourse. I grabbed some photos during the launch of the exhibition today.
Dozens of figures have been created by members of the University community, including children from its early childhood centre (who will attend the launch), [...]

Climate Change Canberra are throwing a Solar BBQ to celebrate 19,000 Canberran homes using solar panels, and to answer questions for anyone still on the fence about making the move to solar power.
The press released doesn’t state whether the barbecue itself will be solar powered, but I hope so because that would be awesome.
Sunday April [...]

This Sunday 24 March, the Canberra Hillclimb Circuit at Fairbairn Park hosts the 2013 HeartKids Hillclimb.
The event is being run in memory of Daniel Cummin’s younger brother William, who died at the age of 12 from complications of a heart defect that he battled with from birth. To celebrate what would of been William’s 21st [...]

Actew Water have the adorable news that a baby platypus has been found exploring the new cotter dam wall:
A young male platypus had managed to scramble his way on to the dam wall, getting up close with the 80 metre high concrete construction. Little more than a puggle, the miniature monotreme had managed to scramble [...]