With the U.S. Presidential Election just days away, the entire world seems fixated on who will lead America into the tough times ahead. Will it be McCain or Obama? More Americans seem to belooking at this election more seriously than any in recent history, and rightly so. America, and the world, find themselves in economic, and political situations not seen for decades, and only the most dilligent and intellengent of leaders should be in power to guide us through these tough times.

Most American’s have their decisions made, and are prepared to support the candidate they find themselves most in tune with. While that’s all well and good, and they are ultimately the ones who will decide the fate of the country, one might wonder how the rest of the world feels about the upcoming election, even though they cannot vote.

I’ve come across a site that allows anyone, anywhere in the world, to cast their vote for the next American president. Each vote is tracked (through their IP address) to see which country you are voting from. As for the results, is it really that suprising?

What if the world could vote?

 

AUSTRALIANS look for important qualities when choosing their most trusted people: medical practitioners and scientists have them and so do musicians who relate to kids.The Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Poll ranks burns specialist and 2005 Australian of the Year, Dr Fiona Wood, as the most trusted Australian for the third year in a row. The creator of the cervical cancer vaccine, Scots-born Professor Ian Frazer, is the second most trusted Australian and children’s band The Wiggles come in third on the list. At the other end of the list, self-confessed terrorism supporter David Hicks and Islamic cleric Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali are the least trusted Australians.

Reader’s Digest editor-in-chief Tom Moore said the top ranking people were trustworthy because they have values Australian people respect. “They are well-known, familiar and respected, consistent, reliable and honest and they all have a generosity of spirit,” Mr Moore said.

She said Australians trust people who had been high achievers, were involved in their communities and had a warm approach. Dr Huntley said The Wiggles fitted into that category.

“Many parents’ afternoons have been saved by The Wiggles,” she said.

So who are the Wiggles? Well, if you’re an Australian with children, you’re sure to know. If you’re soon to visit or live in Australia, you’ll find out very quickly. You can turn around in a grocery store without running into a Wiggles DVD or something branded with The Wiggles name.

The Wiggles is a children’s musical group formed in Sydney, Australia, in 1991. It was founded by Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Greg Page, and Jeff Fatt. The group has achieved worldwide success with its children’s albums, videos, television series and concert appearances. The Wiggles combine music and child development research in their videos, television programmes, and live shows. Field and Fatt were members of the Australian pub rock band The Cockroaches in the 1980s, and Cook was a member of several bands before meeting Field and Page at Macquarie University, where they were studying to become pre-school teachers. A school project led to the recording of their first album and tour in 1991. Their touring company expanded to include other characters (Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, and Wags the Dog) and a troupe of dancers.

…and so now you know, there is life after Barney the Dinosaur.

I came across the most intriguing article (Ok, it was a boring work day, I admit it) awhile back about an area of the NSW coast that’s actually being put aside as a “surfing reserve”, somewhere that developers won’t be able to overwork or build up like they’re doing everywhere else. So what else does it allow for? Not much really, it seems as if it’s more of a title than anything else, but it’s a start in the right direction. Surfing is a sport that carries such a low impact on the environment. No need for a big grassy field, no sidewalks or roads, no long chairlift cut up a mountain…it’s a sport that takes advantage of what mother nature has given us. Oh, and did I mention it’s good to get out and exercise?

“Both the lands and waters of Lennox are recognised worldwide as a breeding ground for surfing legends and folklore,” Mr Kelly said.

“We want to make sure those waters are protected for surfers for the future.”

He said surfing spots such as Lennox were as valuable to Australians as Uluru, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) or the Opera House.

This action isn’t completely about surfing, it’s about preserving the natural, pristine beaches that Australia is lucky enough to have, and it’s good that we’re starting now. In Southern California, surfers are fighting to protect some of the most historic surfing spots around, keeping highway bypasses and huge developments from ruining the beautiful vistas and spoiling the natural habitats that are quickly being bulldozed over. Is it too late there? Perhaps not, as a recent vote to save Trestles, a popular and historic spot passed. I’ve had the privelidge to visit this amazing beach, and a highway bypass would have just decimated the area. I’m glad to see the outpouring of emotion over this small area of land.

So why a reserve? I think it’s Australia’s way of preempting the overdevelopment of the beautiful beaches we take for granted here. Sure, this particular beach is off the beaten path, and overdevelopment may be decades away, but it’s never to early to start thinking about the future. After all, who wants a highway bypass running through their favourite beach?