solar power for 3K homes went online
in Hunter Valley a couple of weeks back!
1st solar power farm in Australia

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Local radio comedians were wondering about
Florida's electric chair that
saw some "blue flame action" the last time it was trotted out.
You should never set it above 3 -- everyone knows that.
It seems as a result Old Sparky has been up on blocks and rennovated.
They observed it would be given the ultimate test
shortly, with 4 convicted felons due to fry in a period of 8 days.
They wondered why Florida didn't upgrade to the electric couch +
coffee table, and they could get rid of all 4 in a manner
consistent with contemporary American culture.

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1997/8
driest year in 50 years in E Aus states.

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Russiasn acting PM Sergei Kiriyenko is a young former oil company exec

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Aus poverty level is $450  per wk (i.e. related to recent report
showing 1/3 of Aussies living below the level).

Minimum US wages for FT employees $SU4.50 per hr == $US180 per wk.

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last y there were 11K armed assaults and 7K armed robberies
in american schools
NBC Today 26 mar 1998

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22 mar 1998
Melbourne.
hottest Mar day since 1881
temp hit 38.1

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... and hillbillies prefer to be called "sons of the soil";
but that ain't gunna happen either.

the chain that put the lard in southern sheriffs...

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a fire burning on outskirts of Sydney caused the city
to be wreathed in smoke
at least 5 persons collapsed and were taken
to hospital as a result of the combination of
heat and haze.
elsewhere, fires were burning N of Mel and in Tasmania.

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wayne gilbert took over Mercury
services were cut
staff sacked
prices increased
mgt sallaries increased
and observers say the company under Glibert's leadership appeared
more interestde in aquiring another power company
in order to boost its share price than providing a secure power supply.
internal company documents indicated they knew there was
a notable risk to the power cables around 2 years ago
but no action was taken

after the 4th cabled failed
the company forcast there would be problems with
supply for 2 wks
it's now 2 months and less than 1/3 of requirements are
available to at least the CBD

Ch 7's "Witness"
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Price of gas in US (NBC)
80-90 US cents a gallon
this translates into < 23.5 US cents a L
=>  around 33.5 Aussie cents per L

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