Grieving Victoria takes stock as toll hits 108

Across Victoria people are looking to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, as the state attempts to come to terms with the deadliest bushfire disaster in Australian history.
At least 108 people have died in the horrific blazes, which continue to rage throughout the state.
Grieving Victoria takes stock as toll hits 108

At a glance: where bushfires are burning

There are 12 bushfires burning out of control across Victoria and 26 blazes in total. Here is a summary of the major fires of concern.

The biggest fire covers 210,000 hectares and is north of Melbourne. This is the fire responsible for most of the death and destruction; more than 500 homes have been destroyed in the Kinglake area alone.

In total, more than 700 homes have been confirmed destroyed.
At a glance: where bushfires are burning

Bushfire disaster: 'We all grieve with you'

Victoria is reeling from a weekend of ferocious bushfires which have claimed at least 65 lives and razed more than 600 homes across the state.
Bushfire disaster: 'We all grieve with you'

Mapping the Victorian fires

By now, you're undoubtedly aware of the terrible bushfire tragedy that is unfolding in Victoria.

We've today pulled together a Flash Map, containing the latest up-to-date information about fire locations and their status from the Country Fire Authority (CFA). The Flash Map is updated in real-time from the CFA website via an RSS feed. We hope that it's of some use to people who may be affected, to emergency services personnel, and that it takes some load off other websites which are being inundated. The map certainly makes the scale of this disaster immediately apparent.
Mapping the Victorian fires

Bushfire devastates Marysville - Video

The town of Marysville in Victoria has lost all but a few buildings to bushfires. Just look at the carnage.
Bushfire devastates Marysville

"Possibly one building left standing" in Marysville

The Country Fire Authority says there is "possibly one building left standing" in Marysville, as relentless bushfires engulfed the town north of Melbourne.

Greg Esnouf, the CFA's deputy chief fire officer, told ABC Local Radio that Marysville had been all but destroyed by the blazes.

"We're starting to get some reports in now that are very saddening," he told ABC Local 774 in Melbourne.

"This latest report says Marysville possibly one building left standing - that's just shocking.

"Anyone who knows Marysville, it's a beautiful town and that's really sad. "It's very disturbing for the township itself."
'Absolute devastation': Victoria gutted by deadly bushfires

Mark the End of the Day and Finish on Time

One of the things that I struggle with most when I’m working from home is wrapping up and finishing for the day. Quite often, I’ll mean to finish at, say, 6:30 pm, but then another email drops into the old inbox, or I’ll move onto “just one more” task, and before I know it it’s late into the night and I haven’t even started thinking about dinner.
Mark the End of the Day and Finish on Time

25 confirmed dead in Victorian fires

Twenty-five people are confirmed dead in Victoria's bushfires and the toll is expected to rise as into the 40s today as firefighters continue to battle the devastating blazes which have ripped through the state's country areas.
25 confirmed dead in Victorian fires

Bushfire Emergency - ABC News

It is feared more than 40 people have died as ferocious bushfires sweep across much of country Victoria and New South Wales.
Bushfire Emergency - ABC News

Dozens of homes lost in 'impossible' blaze conditions

Temperatures were expected to drop by 15 degrees Celsius across Victoria from 6:00pm (AEDT), but there will be little relief with high winds expected to change direction and force fires onto new fronts.
Dozens of homes lost in 'impossible' blaze conditions

Melbourne - 46.4C - Highest Ever

Today is a day of Extreme Fire Danger for the whole state. Stay tuned to ABC Local Radio for updates and advice on bushfires in your area and dealing with heat stress. See the Fire Danger map for Saturday February 7, 2009.
ABC Melbourne

Blackstump Australia Issue 5 - February 8, 2009

This weeks latest new family friendly sites from The Black Stump.
Blackstump Australia Issue 5 - February 8, 2009

Top 10 Web 2.0 Tools for Young Learners

Gail Lovely is adamant about the nature and potential of Web-based learning tools. "Web 2.0 is about trust," she said at a recent talk. "It's about sharing and collaborating." And, she insisted, it's about putting the power to learn and create in the hands of the students.
Top 10 Web 2.0 Tools for Young Learners

Eat a heart-healthy diet

Even if you don’t have to lose weight, what you eat can affect your heart-disease risk. One recent study found that people who consumed a rigorously heart-healthy diet—low in saturated fat and rich in fruits and vegetables—for one month lowered their “bad” LDL cholesterol nearly as much on average as those who took a statin drug. And other research shows that this approach can stop or even reverse the progression of coronary disease.
Eat a heart-healthy diet

Computer Repair Utility Kit

The first version of Technibbles Computer Repair Utility Kit was so popular, we’ve created a second version. For those of you who don’t know, the Computer Repair Utility Kit is a combination of computer repair tools in one easy to use pack. The Computer Repair Utility Kit allows you to run all of the repair tools from your portable drive (eg. USB Flash Drive, External Hard Drive, IPod etc.) and comes with an easy to use, right-click menu. A must in any computer technicians kit.
Computer Repair Utility Kit

Color Study Looks at Effects of Red and Blue

Trying to improve your performance at work or write that novel? Maybe it’s time to consider the color of your walls or your computer screen. If a new study is any guide, the color red can make people’s work more accurate, and blue can make people more creative.
Color Study Looks at Effects of Red and Blue

The Economic Cost of Internet Censorship in Australia

Much has been written about the social cost of the proposed Australian Internet censorship regime, but far too little on the economic cost. As the Rudd Government attempts to pass a $42 billion AUD stimulus package in an attempt to stave of recession, it continues to back a plan that has negative economic consequences for Australian businesses.
The Economic Cost of Internet Censorship in Australia

Deferred Sender

Deferred Sender is a free service that allows you to schedule emails from any email application or website to be sent in the future. Send reminders, notifications and more!
Deferred Sender

Behavior Gap: The Psychology of Investing

At Behavior Gap, Carl Richards is on a mission to help investors overcome the self-destructive behaviors that prevent them from prospering. Over the past week, while preparing for an upcoming presentation to a conference of financial planners, I’ve had the chance to e-mail and speak with Carl about his site and his goals. “Any way we can encourage people to think about money is good,” he told me. He wants people to become aware of how their behavior affects their financial position.
Behavior Gap: The Psychology of Investing

Use Butter to Keep Cheese Soft and Unspoiled

The TipNut blog occasionally digs up advice from really old cookbooks, and tips like this result: Spreading a thin layer of butter on a block of opened cheese keeps it soft, and prevents molding.
Use Butter to Keep Cheese Soft and Unspoiled