Yes, if you want to move from the old curmudgeonly skeptic and bah-humbug to celestial critical-thinking wisdom that isn’t afraid to peek under the robes - you better check out the first round of the blog circle Skeptics of Carlos, with a fantastic range of Australian bloggers who deserve your support.

In the meantime, we will continue to show the moves that you only wish you had…

So, apparently I have a mission.

Find these women, compatriots in my town:

Hugely effective mini-raid carried out by all-female Anonymous members in Perth, Western Australia, 2nd May 2008. About one minute in, watch as they get “handled” by a Scientologist, and a very Aussie member of the public gives the Scio a smackdown!!

And hug them, on behalf of “E” in the Northern Hemisphere. Ladies, wherever you are, my hat is tipped to you.

Interesting tip off by brilliant (and busy!) feathered-friend Brain Duck: a humble blog…

Journal of a 10 year old boy as he progresses through the DORE skills program in Australia.

I’ve copied down the details of the start of the journey, which as you can see will conclude on the 20th of May. Not that long to go…

Honestly, this is rather heart-wrenching stuff - although certainly not dissimilar to the experience of many parents:

The programme consultant visited today and went through what felt like one hundred questions. He reported that R came in at 98 percent, a likely and highly eligible candidate for the programme. I was reduced to tears at one point, when he commented on our parenting…

We *have* the medication here. We just prefer he didn’t take it. So does his teacher. We *have* the medical diagnoses from practitioners. We just prefer not to label him. We *have* done the run around - school profesionals, doctors, peadiatricians, specialists. We *have* a normal, quirky, slightly-left-of-the-middle 10 year old, and we are about to embark on our Dore journey. Wish us luck.

Oh yes. Yes. Especially when they say that “On the program, it is anticipated R will see dramatic changes in ADHD symptoms, concentration issues, academical performance, social interaction and gross motor performance.”

Where is the basis for this anticipation really? I wonder. I really do, after all I’ve read and want to read.

Honestly, this is probably just an excuse for me to boast that I was one of the first to get a few of these pairs. But darn it, you should join in!

Richard Saunders, co-host of the TANK Vodcast has been industriously making origami earrings! This has been a talent he’s had up his sleeve [/gratuitous magician joke] for quite some time and he now features a new range of pigasus earrings and items from the upcoming Origiami DVD.

The Ebay site for Richard’s earrings is here: note that he ships worldwide. The latest appears to be a two-set of cranes! Shiny!

Hand-made origami earrings, 2 Set of Cranes, by origami expert and author of 15 origami books, Richard Saunders. You also get a 3rd set of earrings for FREE!

I’m certain that you can find out more about the range by contacting him, either via Ebay or on the Mystery Investigators site. The real-gold paper pigasuses were so brilliant, I’ve ended up with half a dozen to send to friends. Piggy on in!