Butt shots. Really?

News.com is reporting a growing trend in America. Women are actually paying thousands for injections to 'make thir butt look like celebrities Kim K, Beyonce and Jlo.'

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/us-mum-spends-15k-on-injections-to-get-bootylicious-backside/story-fn9076o9-1226395624468

Clem Grehan LNP story- Written by Merryn McDonnell (myself)

Fight for South Brisbane Escalates

Liberal National Party (NLP) candidate for South Brisbane, Clem Grehan has labelled the new Labour (ALP) candidate for South Brisbane, Ms Jackie Trad, “a labour party hack.” Mr Grehan says the ALP’s Ms Trad was “part of a dictatorship for two years” regarding the infrequency of the ALP’s overall state meetings. “To me, when you cancel meetings like that you’re a dictator.” Mr Grehan expressed further distain when speaking about Labour’s previous premier, Anna Bligh. “(She’s) a hypocrite” who treated Queenslanders with “contempt, utter contempt.”

Mr Grehan will enter a bi-election for the seat this Saturday (28^th April 2012). Ms Bligh held the South Brisbane seat in the recent state election. However, she resigned the day after the polling.  Mr Grehan says he was “exhausted but not discouraged” when a bi-election was announced on Sunday, 25^th March (2012). “I knew it was going to be close. But we (the LNP) knew we were going to win overall.” ABC news reported that Mr Grehan lost the South Brisbane seat by only 132 votes. “Our guys (the LNP) didn’t think we’d go anywhere near that.”

However recent polls indicate Ms Trad has a 57.9 per cent lead on a two-party preferred basis. Professor Clive Bean from Queensland University of Technology says the polls are not a definitive guide. However, "the swing to the LNP has pretty much gone about as far as it can go, so any movement is likely to be back towards the ALP."

Mr Grehan maintains that he is the best candidate for the job, “I can listen to the people better than they (the ALP) can. I’m listening with both ears. Not a right side LNP brain or a left side ALP brain. I’m listening with both ears.”  

Ian Frazer profile- Written by Merryn McDonnell (myself)

A Hero of Millions

You might recognize Professor Ian Frazer as a previous Australian of the year. Perhaps you know him as one of the two creators of the first pre-cancer vaccine. You may have heard rumored reports about his next scientific venture - a vaccine for skin cancer. But few Australians Know more than this about Professor Frazer.

Prof Frazer is best known for his work on the Gardisil vaccine that was released in 2006. With his late colleague, Dr Jian Zhou, Prof Frazer led the team that developed the world’s first human papilloma virus (HPV) preventing vaccine. Gardasil has effectively saved millions of women, by providing almost 100 per cent protection from the infection of HPV. Prof Frazer says he feels “humbled” to be a part of the vaccine’s creation process. “It’s also very satisfying because we’ve seen it through to become a product. A product that is useful to many.”

Generating awareness for Gardasil in third world countries is a great challenge for the Prof and his team. However “mentoring my junior colleagues” is also a main concern for the Prof.

Prof Frazer made the move to Brisbane to teach at the University of Queensland in 1985. Since then his accomplishments have grown to include President of Cancer Council (Australia), Advisor to the World Health Organisation and Director of the Biotechnology Company, Coridon.

Reports regarding his quest for a skin cancer vaccine, however, are not completely accurate. “Vaccines that will help control some sorts of skin cancer are in trials at present” Prof Frazer says. Although this is promising news, Prof Frazer says “10 years” is the approximate time until a vaccine may be available.  

Gay Marriage rally in Brisbane - Written by Merryn McDonnell (myself)

Equal Love to Protest in Brisbane Streets.

A rally for equal marriage rights will be held at Brisbane’s Queens Park on Saturday, 12^th May 2012. The rally will be held by the Equal Love organization for their National day of action. Equal Love will be campaigning in all major Australian cities. Brisbane Organiser, Ms Jess Payne, says the event is for the broader community, “it’s an event for all who support equal rights.”

Public figures including ABC’s Andrew Denton and the cast of the Hungry Beast have pledged their support of the Equal Love campaign. Ms Payne says the majority of young people are also supporters of marriage equality, but the challenge for the campaign is “turning all passive support into active opposition.”

The Equal Love group created the National Day of Action “to publicly pressure the government,” Ms Payne says. The group is urging the government to remove the ban on gay marriage by amending the Marriage Act.

The Equal Love group is still confident that the campaign will be effective despite the protests of anti-gay marriage Christian groups lead by Mr Peter Madden. Mr Madden, a Democratic Party candidate, led a protest truck throughout parts of New South Wales and Queensland in March. “The protest truck was decorated with anti-ALP and anti-homosexual advertising,” says Ms Katherine Feeney of the BrisbaneTimes.com.

The Saturday, 12 May Equal Love event will not only include a march around the CBD with chanting, but “a range of speakers including religious figures and activists,” Ms Payne says.

Rally for Gay marriage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcDUb5kGfuI&feature=endscreen

An assignment for Reporting 1112. Brisbane Protested for Gay Marriage rights on May 12 2012.

Photography

This was for Visual Communication 1999.

Photography portfolio.

I chose to look at trees because they have so much love and meaning for me personally- and I tried to capture that in my photographs.

I didn't know what I was looking for, but I knew I should start looking. A metaphor for life maybe.

It was important to evoke emotion with light and viewpoint amongst other visual tools.

I really enjoyed it.

I think I want to pursue a career in photojournalism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeA_iglbQOE

GLEE!

MY FAVOURITE SHOW ON TV!!!!!

HERE ARE THE BEST PERFORMANCES!!

How Will I know
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkhT_W0CR6w

Rachel singing All coming back to me now. Sigh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik683CThV5o

We found love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7LITtVn0Rw

Some Mariah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqJSYjRERE8