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Fires in South-Eastern Australia

You can see it on their faces (and you can read it on their 'blogs). People in Victoria are trying to live today as normally as possible today, but there is air of simply being stunned by the weekend events. The temperature rose to between 46 and 49 degrees C, the hottest day on record. And after a lengthy period of dry weather, fires have set south-eastern Australia ablaze. At last count over one hundred people have died, and more have fatalities are expected. Whilst the worst seems over (thankfully there was a sudden 20 degree drop in temperature on Sunday, a change of wind direction and even some rain - God knows what it would have been like if Saturday's weather continued on Sunday), some blazes remain out of control. Some of the fires appear to have been deliberately lit; words fail me.
For international (or local) people wanting to donate via electronic means, that's "Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund" at National Australia Bank, 345 George St, Sydney. BSB 082001 Account 860046797. SWIFT CODE: NATAAU3302S (from
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I'm not so sure. One man and his wife and daughter hid out in a concrete bunker she pressured him to build. That seems like good planning to me. maybe people were expecting "slow" fires. Who knows?
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We were discussing at work whether such concrete bunkers would be effective. In most cases, I imagine they would be. But then when you look at pictures of molten steel off cars from the heat, you realise in some circumstances it could end up being like an oven....
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It is, of course, certainly an option as water is obviously cooler. But if the fire remains consistent in the area, the description you give would be like a pot of water on a stove..
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The fact that arson is suspected makes me sick to my stomach.
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You can certainly imagine how it was connected to the choleric personality.
I hope you didn't have friends or loved ones in the area, hell I'd be worried sick!
The scale of the fires are so great that it's hard not too... I have friends nearby but not in towns that have been destroyed. I am worried... but what can you do?
The fact that arson is suspected makes me sick to my stomach.
Sociopathic pyromania is .. very dangerous in a place like Australia..
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And Oh dear gawd, you guys have had record breaking temperatures where you are! something like 120 degrees? *pained* I hope the police catch those sorry excuses for human beings.
on a lighter side? how are your rat kids doing? I sort of miss those little blurbs you have in some of your posts. *still working on getting a couple of cuddly critters she could call her own!*
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*nods* Nobody in the towns that have been directly affected, thankfully. Friends of friends have not been so lucky. :(
how are your rat kids doing? I sort of miss those little blurbs you have in some of your posts
Trouble, Mischief and Calamity have grown up quickly, but are still young enough to exhaust a human servant just by watching them. T is the super-sociable one, C is very timid, whereas "the 'chief" is really phlegmatic.
I must post a couple of photos, they really are an adorable trio..
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and with captions?
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the creators were probably on crack *makes a face*
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I've also heard that some of the fires which had already been put out were then deliberately re-lit later. That just defies belief.
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Whilst I sympathise with the public outrage as these activities, I'm not sure what good a jail term would do to the perpetrators. Then again... I feel the same way about jail terms for anything.
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I just can't imagine what these folks have been through.
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It's mind boggling. Apparently an "orange glow" can be seen from the south island from all the smoke. :(
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as one government expert stated on the news tonight the fire models wernt set up for temperatures of more than 44 degrees as thats the most we've had.
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What global warming does predict however is a march of tropical rains further south from the top-end of Qld (such as what has happened in Qld with the floods) and dessert like conditions (what has happened in Vic).
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global warming may lead to more extremes of temperatures tho i think.
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Mike Rann's comments that arsonists are 'terrorists' really isn't hyperbole..
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http://www.theage.com.au/national/islam-group-urges-forest-fire-jihad-20080906-4b53.html?page=-1
interesting that no virtually no mention of the possibility has been aired on tv or the papers - perhaps deliberately following a directive from the federal government
posibly to avoid retaliation and or encouraging them.
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If it is under investigation it wouldn't be reported yet; quite possibly for the very reason you have suggested..
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