Benefits and disadvantages of home study 100 Words

The tools of study / Image: Rachel Morris

Many Australian students are choosing home study to complete degrees.

Home study provider, Cengage Education has helped more than seven hundred thousand students.

Cengage claims one of the reasons it stands out in education is due to flexibility.

University student, Rebecca Deal said studying online has several benefits for her.

“The flexibility is fantastic I have been able to travel overseas a few times and study simultaneously,” Ms Deal said.

While at home study provides flexible study hours there are some drawbacks.
University Student, Stacey Hearn said the main disadvantage for her has been becoming lost in the system.

“Sometimes accessing assistance can become difficult,” Ms Hearn said.

Deepwater Horizon Oil spill to impact environment 100 Words

Gulf of Mexico / Image: Ocean World

The BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig continues to spill oil in the Gulf of Mexico, the spill began on April 20 after an oil well blow out.

On May 14 BP stated they are working closely with scientists and engineers from across the whole oil industry.

“BP is focused on doing everything in our power to stop the flow of oil,” The statement said.

As the clean up continues the environmental impacts are becoming obvious.

Director of Scientific Programs at NOOA, Steven Murawsky said  Marine mammals and sea turtles, as well as the species upon which they depend, have been affected by this event.

Football unsafe for gay players to come out.

Outspoken AFL player Jason Akermanis yesterday told gay footballers to stay in the closet in his weekly Herald Sun column.

Mr Akermanis said he believes the world of AFL football is not ready for gay footballers to come out of the closet.

“Locker room nudity is an everyday part of our lives and unlike any other work place,” Mr Akermanis said.

“I believe it would cause discomfort in that environment should someone declare himself gay,” he said.

While Mr Akermanis feels gay footballs should stay in the closet because of discomfort issues he wishes any players who do wish to come out good luck.

The comments by Mr Akermanis come just days after the ‘Speaking about silence – homophobia in the sports world’ campaign, part of the International Day Against Homophobia.

In a Press Release on May 17  The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) stated that it recognised the importance of tackling homophobia in sport.

ASC Sports Performance and Development Assistant Director, Nadine Cohen said that a recent national survey of same-sex attracted young people identified that the second-most threatening environment for abuse was within sport.

‘To address these concerns, the ASC are trialling a twelve month anti-homophobia project to reduce the experience and impact of homophobia in a national sporting code,” Ms Cohen said.

Centrelink advising customers to be wary of hoax calls.

Centrelink Call Center / Image: Centrelink

Centrelink and Medicare are warning customers to be wary of hoax calls from people pretending to be from the either of the agencies offering cash and holiday prizes.

Human Services Portfolio General Manager Hank Jongen said Medicare Australia has recently received reports of suspicious phone calls from a man claiming to work for Medicare Australia.

“He’s phoned several women that we’re aware of, offering cash and holiday prizes as rewards for participating in a survey,” Mr Jongen said.

“He’s then proceeded to ask these women intimate and inappropriate questions,” he said.

Mr Jongen also said there have been reports of callers who have posed as Centrelink staff members trying to obtain personal details from customers.

“If you’re unsure of whether it really is Medicare or Centrelink calling you, simply hang up and call us on your regular contact number to verify, Mr Jongen said.

“If you suspect a possible identity fraud phone scam has occurred, I encourage you to report any details like the phone number, time, date, gender and accent to the Australian Government’s designated fraud tip-off line on 13 15 24,” he said.

One year anniversary of Jay Bennett’s death.

Jay Bennett / Image: The Times

Today marks the one year anniversary of the death of  American guitarist Jay Bennett who died of an overdose in his sleep.

It has been one year since Jay Bennett died of an overdose of the prescription painkiller Fentanyl and he is missed by his fans.

In a statement on myspace one month before his death Bennett told fans he was looking forward to a hip replacement operation after suffering years of pain caused through stage diving and other onstage activities.

“I’ve been close to bedridden since I last “saw” y’all, I finally decided it was time I “face the music,” and find out what was causing the severe pain and immobility in my right leg,” Mr Bennett said.

“A decade plus of multiple nightly stage jumps and various other rock and roll theatrics had finally taken a toll,” he said.

Today the Jay  Bennett foundation was launched by Jay’s brother, Jeff Bennet and Jay’s mother Jan to support music and education.

Travelers asked to delay travel to Thailand.

Unrest in Bangkok / Image: Washington Post

Travelers are being urged to delay travel to Thailand due to unrest in the countries Capital.

The Travel Advisory for Thailand is advising travellers to cancel travel to Bangkok, Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla.

The site is also recommending travel to all other areas of Thailand be reconsidered.

Australians are being advised there are no reports of civil disturbances affecting the operations of Suvarnabhumi International Airport but areas outside the airport remain unsafe.

Australians already in Thailand should monitor local media for information about curfews, they are also being urged to comply with the curfews and follow the advice of local authorities.

In areas outside the International Airport there is ongoing civil unrest and sporadic violence, weapons and explosives continue to be found in many locations in which the shirt rally took place.

Australians are warned to exercise a high degree of caution when approaching military checkpoints and should avoid accessing any prominent buildings associated with the Thai Government and military.

Queensland sees an increase in emergency admissions.

Robina Hospital / Image: Gold Coast Health

Queensland hospitals are now treating more patients due to an increase in emergency department admissions.

The latest data from the Queensland Government confirms a rise in patients at public hospitals around the State.

The March 2010 Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance report shows that an extra 11,581 Queenslanders attended emergency departments in the first three months of 2010.

The report confirms emergency admissions are up more than 22 per cent in the past four years, more than double the State’s population growth in the same period.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Health, Paul Lucas said Queensland’s ageing population, coupled with the rise in chronic disease, meant more and more Queenslanders had more complex health needs.

“The statistics don’t lie, by 2050 the population of Australia between the age of 65 and 84 will double and the population over 85 will quadruple,” Mr Lucas said.

“That means we have a significant challenge ahead,” he said.

The Prince Charles Hospital’s (TPCH) emergency department opened in July 2007 and has continued to receive increased numbers of patients since.

TPCH Executive Director Jon Roberts says emergency department staff are coping well with the increase in attendances.

“The median waiting time for a patient from arrival to admission was just four hours and 58 minutes, 12 minutes more than during the March quarter,” Mr Roberts said.

Figures released in the Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report show that in the past three months emergency department attendances increased by 1,766 on the same time last year.

Flash mob wows at the Surfers Paradise Fringe Festival

Gold Coast locals came together to perform on Saturday as part of Surfers Paradise Fringe Festival in a dance group organised by The Common People Dance Project.

The group was made up of local residents with limited or no dance experience who were trained to perform a flash mob dance.

Rehearsals began three weeks before the event, running three nights a week leading up to the performance on Saturday.

The dancers performed twice during the day at two different locations in Cavill Mall drawing a crowd of interested onlookers.

The group included all age ranges including four children under ten.

Thirteen year old Deon said he joined the group to have fun and was a little nervous about performing in front of a crowd.

“I was scared at first because my friend and I only went to one rehearsal but it was awesome,” Deon said.

“I haven’t had that much fun in ages;” he said.

Twelve year old Georgie agreed saying she had never done anything like it before and couldn’t wait until next weeks performance.

“We aren’t sure if it’s on next week but I hope it is,” Georgie said.

“I’m going to get some of my other friends to join in too,” she said.

Deepwater Horizon Oil spill to impact environment

Gulf of Mexico / Image: Ocean World

The BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig continues to spill oil in the Gulf of Mexico, the spill began on April 20 after an oil well blow out.

In a statement released on May 14 BP stated they are working closely with scientists and engineers from across the whole oil industry.

“BP is focused on doing everything in our power to stop the flow of oil, remove it from the surface, and protect the shoreline,” The statement said.

As the clean up continues the environmental impacts are becoming obvious.

Director of Scientific Programs at NOOA, Steven Murawsky said  there are five species of endangered and threatened sea turtles that inhabit the Gulf of Mexico and live in shallow coastal areas.

“Aerial surveys have observed both marine mammals and sea turtles swimming in and near oiled waters,” Mr Murawsky said.

“Marine mammals and sea turtles, as well as the species upon which they depend, have been affected by this event ever since it began and are continuing to be exposed to dispersants and oil,” he said.

The longer the oil spill is able to leak into the Gulf of Mexico the greater the long term environmental effects.

Acting Director of US Fish and Wildlife Service, Rowan Gould said this spill is significant and in all likelihood, it will affect fish and wildlife resources in the Gulf and maybe across the North American continent for years, if not decades.

“The first impacts to wildlife are now becoming apparent. So far, we’ve recovered a relatively small number of visibly oiled birds from this spill and we’re awaiting some tests to confirm the origins of the spill in many other cases,” Mr Gould said.

“What concerns us most is what we can’t see, the birds and the marine mammals that spend most of their lives offshore and the probably chronic and long-term effects of the spill on the marine coastal environment,” he said.

Man flees Burleigh Heads crash

Man flees four car pileup at Burliegh Heads / Image: Kate Czerny

Police are searching for a driver who ran from the scene of a car crash in Burleigh Heads on Sunday night.

The man was seen running from his car near the corner of Cotton Street and the Gold Coast Highway after causing a four car pileup.

The driver heading north along the highway crossed into southbound traffic at approximately 5.45pm colliding with three other cars.

Three people were taken to hospital, an elderly woman trapped in her car for over an hour was taken to hospital with suspected fractures to both legs and was in a serious condition.

Burleigh Heads local Jennifer Sanderson said the accident site looked horrific.

“The traffic was backed up and it was horrible driving past the crash,” Ms Sanderson said.

“There was debris across the road and some of the cars were so smashed I don’t know how the people survived,” she said.

Two other people were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding the accident to come forward. If you do have information please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.