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RainCalendar.com – The Free Rain and Weather Database For Farmers, Students, Schools and Weather Watchers

Here is a Rain and Weather Calendar I have just made for Farmers, Students, Schools and Weather Watchers.

It is totally free!

Please share with your friends!

Rain And Weather Calendar Screenshot

Rain And Weather Calendar Screenshot

I decided to design the Rain and Weather Calendar, because I feel it would be of excellent use to mainly Australian Farmers who rely on the Weather for their crops, such as Wheat, Barley, Lupins, Corn and all other seed crops, so they can hopefully have a successful year from their crops, thanks to good and reliable rains and sunshine.

With the way Climate Change is affecting the Earth, I think it is imperative to track rainfall statistics, so you can compare this years rains, to next years and the many more years to come.

I carried out some research on the internet, for other rain and weather calendars, which are similar to mine, and I just cannot find any, apart from the normal paper calendars that you hang up on your wall and never use.

I also feel that this calendar would be perfect for kids, students, teachers and schools for an education tool. Kids just love the weather, and this spreadsheet would be perfect for a year long science project for students aged anywhere from 10 years of age, up to 17 years of age.

The Rain and Weather Calendar has taken many hours to design, but no matter how many hours and days it took to get to the stage where I am happy with it.

Thats why this calendar is free, so it can help farmers, educate kids and students about the weather.

So please feel free to download the calendar, if you do use it, please let as many of your friends know about it as possible.

Please feel free to pass this link on to all your friends, whom you feel could make some use of this weather calendar 

If you are a school teacher, and feel you could use this for your kids science projects next year, please let me know that you plan on using it, as I would love to know that it will be used for kids to learn about the weather!

Thanks Everyone

Billy

No Sympathy for Matthew Johns

I have no sympathy for Cronulla Rugby League footballer Matthew Johns for him being sacked from his positions in the Australian Rugby League and his Channel 9 Media Role role on the Footy Show after it coming to light about his “gangbang” with a New Zealand woman “Clare” whilst he and his rugby team mates were on tour in New Zealnd.

No matter whether or not it was consensual sex or rape, a person in his role should know that the chances of it being leaked to the media in the future as it finally has, should know better.

The only people I feel sorry for is obviously the victim, but also his wife and his family, can you imagine how his wife must of felt being on A Current Affair as his voiced his shameful apology to millions of people across Australia.


At the moment John’s is stating that he fears for his safety, well of course he would, at the moment Matthew Johns would be one of the most hated people in Australia, and no-one will ever forget what the past antics hae has put upon himself.

I don’t think his relationship with his wife will last too long, unless she is truly a strong woman.

Apparenly the victim showed off about the incident, well maybe she did, but whatever happened, it is news across Australia now, and poor Matthew Johns has lost his job, his reputation and alot more.

I wonder where Matthew Johns will be in a year from now? Waterboy for the Cronulla Sharks maybe?

Or will he have a breakdown and do something stupid?

Let’s wait and see.

Matthew Johns Confession Interview 1

Matthew Johns Confession Interview 2

Matthew Johns Confession Interview 3

Western Ring Tailed Possums in Dumbleyung


Yesterday I was on my way out of Dumbleyung to do some metal detecting for lost coins and jewellery, and only 500 metres from the townsite I came across and dead Western Ring Tailed Possum on the road, it had sadly been killed by a car or a truck.

Western Ring Tailed Possum - Roadkill - Found in Dumbleyung

Rare Western Ring Tailed Possum - Roadkill - Found in Dumbleyung

I have lived in Dumbleyung for 38 years and not once have I ever seen a possum in the town, so even though it was dead, it is still a great sign to have these rare and endangered species on our doorstep.

I may go through a walk in the bush, near where I found it, to see if I can see any Ring Tailed Possum Nests around, I hope so, that would be great, probably a good idea to go at night time also, with the torch … more of a chance to see one in the trees at night, as they are a nocturnal species (Night Active)

Ringtail Possum Nest

Ringtail Possum Nest

Western ringtails are rare possums that face the threat of extinction due to a loss of habitat to human urbanization. This species is located in the peppermint woodlands in the southwest areas of Western Australia. The rapid decline of this species can be accounted for by the primary predator of the western ringtail possum-the fox. There are few efforts being made to preserve the natural habitat of the western ringtail possum. There is limited information on this species.

The western ringtail possum likes to nest in the hollows of old peppermint trees. Nests are lined with leaves for a cushion. Western ringtail possums are nocturnal animals. Families can be seen together while foraging for food and at nesting sites.

Western ringtails have thick grey hair with some intermingled brown fur throughout; the brown is more prominent closer to the underbelly. The underbelly is white as is the bottom half of the tail. A ring of black fur is present around the eyes. The average tail pf a western ringtail possum measures about the same as the head and body. Both parts measure about 350mm. Ringtail possums weigh 900g on average.

Leaves, flowers, and fruit are eaten in addition to various other types of plant material. Food is found in shrubbery near the nest.

Mating occurs fall through spring and females only produce one young in that time. Little else is known about the breeding habits of western ringtail possums. Source: Australian Fauna

I rang up the Department of Environment and Conversation in Katanning today to report the find and they were really nice and appreciated my phonecall and emailed me a Threatened Fauna Species Report Form, which I will fill out tomorrow and send it back to them with the required details they need.

Western Ringtail Possum

Western Ringtail Possum

They also informed me that if people ever come across dead endangered animals on the road, or in the bush etc that a good thing to do, is the bag and freeze the animal and ring up the Western Australian Museum to see if they would like the animal, for research purposes.

More info on Western Australian Possums

Below is a Threatened Species Report Form, for you to fill out in case you come across any endangered only roadkill.

DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT                                File #_____________________

FAUNA REPORT FORM

Threatened or Priority o         Feral o        Other o    Database # _________________

species_____________ no. seen:_____

distinguishing features observed:_____ _____________

_____________

certainty of identification:                        o Very certain                        o Moderately certain                        o Not sure

collector/observer:_____________ phone no:_____________ survey date:_____________ Time:________

shire:_____________ calm district:

site location:

_____________

map ref:                        Map Datum:                         AGD84 o                        WSG84 o                        GDA94 o

(Complete one line only)                        DCLM map name:                        FD Grid Reference         

or                        Latitude oo° oo’ oo” S                                Longitude ooo° oo’ oo” E

or     MGA Zone:  49 o 50 o 51 o           Easting oooooo      Northing ooooooo

land status:

o State Forest                        o Nature Reserve                        o National Park                        o Conservation Park                        o Private Property

o Unallocated Crown Land                        o Road Verge MRD/Shire                        o Pastoral Lease                        o Other                        o Unknown

observation/collection method:

o Daylight sighting                        o Night sighting                        o Heard                        o Caught or trapped                        o Shot                        o Poisoned

o Road kill                        o Dead                        o Droppings                        o Feathers                         o Bones                         o Diggings

o Other_________________________________________________________________________________________

observation:

What was the animal doing?    

age and sex:

No. of Adults:                         ________Male                        ________Female                        ________Sex unknown

No. of Juveniles:                        ________Male                        ________Female                        ________Sex unknown

breeding:

o Pregnant  o Lactating     o Mating        o Male in breeding colours        o Eggs/young in nest            o Other

landform type:

o Flat                        o Gully                        o Lake                        o Cliff                        o Rocky outcrop                        o Other________________

o Slope                        o Swamp                        o River                        o Ridge                        o Sand dune

vegetation type:

o Forest                        o Grassland                        Significant species                        1___________________________________     

o Woodland                        o Sedgeland                              2___________________________________

o Mallee                        o Rock communities                              3___________________________________

o Tall Shrubland                        o Wetland                                 4___________________________________

o Heathland                        o Other_________________                        _____________                        5___________________________________

fire history:

o Not known                        Year burnt                        Month (approx)

o Next prescribed burn:                        Year                        Month              

current land use:

o Nature Conservation                        o Agriculture                        o Pastoralism                        o Mining                        o Forestry/Multiple purpose                        o Recreation                        o Other

_____________

Specimen:                        o Collected as voucher                        Catalogue number:____________________________________

                        o Retained by collector                        o WA Museum                        o Other                        o Not retained

attached:                        o Map                        o Mud map                        o Photo                        o Notes

action, taken/required:___________

_____________

other comments: __

_____________

copy sent to:                        o Regional Office                        o District Office                        o Head Office

Signed:_____________ Date:_________

 

Ban Jumps Racing in Australia?

Should Jumps Racing be banned in Australia?

Three Jumps horses have died in Australia in the past week and it looks likely that the Jumps Racing in Australia may soon come to an end after a 177 year history of it in Australia.

Since records were kept there have been over 300 deaths of Australian Jockeys in race falls since 1844 and no doubt many thousands of race and jump horses since that time.

Personally I think that Jumps Racing in Australia should be banned, but where does it stop, should the Olympic spout of Equestrian Horse Jumping be banned also? I am sure many thousands of horses have also died in that sport also.

The RSPCA is tomorrow launching an Australian wide media advertising blitz in regards to Jumps Racing Bans in Australia, so no doubt those advertisements will pull at the heartstrings of many Australians, both rural and city wide.

Tonight I saw a very interesting epidose on the ABC 7.30 Report tonight about the controversy that the possible ban on jumps racing is causing to both people who are protesting against the sport, and also to the people who are in the racing industry.

Read the full Jumps Racing Ban Transcript and you can also watch the video of the actual race which killed one of three horses that day. I must warn  you the video is graphic and off a horse dying after breaking its neck … very sad.

The person who filmed that race is Llewellyn Fowler, a young school girl who was filming a Anti Race Jump Documentary for one of her school projects and just by chance numerous races that day obviously resulted in the deaths of three horses and the injury of numerous jockeys.

There is also one trainer David Londregan is threatening to cut off his horses heads if a permanent ban is introduced, what will that achieve? Nothing.

As I have said above, I believe that Jumps Racing should be banned in Australia, not only will it save many horses, but no doubt the lives of jockeys in the future. It’s just not worth the risk anymore to carry out these races, simply for the sake of making money, human entertainment and the lives of both jockey and horse.

Australian Web Hosting – Why Hostgator is the best

I have been with HostGator.com now for around 5 years and no doubt they would have to be one of the best website hosts in the world.

I seen have so many Australian Webmasters get ripped off when it comes to finding a decent website host or a good place to register a .com or a .com.au domain name.

Why pay $15AUD a month for a 100mb hosted website at Westnet when you can go to hostgator and pay $7AUD a month with Hostgator with unlimited space?

Don’t get me wrong, westnet is a great company, but I would never host a website with them.

 

I just did a google search for Australian Web Hosts and this is the prices I found for their Small Hosting Accounts that these Australian Website Hosting Companies offer as follows:

Web City $6.95 per month based on a 12 month sign up contract – their downfall: 50 GB Traffic/Bandwidth (per mth)  

MD Hosting $2.42 Per Month with 250 MB of Webspace and 1GB of Traffic / Bandwidth

Web Hosts Australia $12.00 Per Month with 1000MB Storage and 2000MB Bandwidth 

Aus Web $16.50 per month with 1000MB Storage and 5000MB in Bandwidth 

Redrook $11.00 per month with 10mb disk space and unmetered Bandwidth

Hostgator.com offers the hatchling plan of $6.95 USD per month with is roughly $9.15 AUD, but compared to the above plans, none of these Australian Website Hosts can offer what HostGator.com offers in terms of value for money.

I know its good to support Australian Companies, but in these days of recession and economic gloom and doom, webmasters need to save their money, and put those savings towards site upgrades, design fixes and much more, even if it means that money goes overseas.

Host Gator is based in the United States, it is one of the worlds best and well known Website Hosting Companies.

I highly recommend you try out HostGator.com you won’t look back.

If you would like Domain Name Advice, I urge you to read my article on Australian Domain Name Registration

Here is a list of the sites I host with Hostgator.com

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