V8 Driver Ashley Cooper Dies

February 25, 2008 - 3:45PM

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) confirmed V8 Supercar driver Ashley Cooper passed away in Royal Adelaide hospital today.

Cooper, 27, of Ulladulla in NSW, died following a crash in last Saturday's Fujitsu development series race at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

An experienced motor racing competitor, Cooper was critically injured when his vehicle impacted with a safety barrier at the exit of a corner at speeds of more than 200kph.
A spokeswoman from Royal Adelaide Hospital said Mr Cooper had diedabout 1pm surrounded by family members.

Cooper was quickly attended to trackside by the event's senior medical personnel and subsequently transported to the Royal Adelaide Hospital by ambulance.

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Bindi doll launch

IT'S something very few mothers ever have to do - attend a toy fair to launch a doll modelled on their daughter.

But as Terri Irwin proudly held a Bindi doll in each hand yesterday, she insisted her nine-year-old daughter was just a "normal little girl"."She is still a nine-year-old human being. She is a real girl, she is not nine going on 35, she is intellectually very developed but she is still a kid who loves to play with dolls," Mrs Irwin, who has weathered controversy over her daughter's increasingly public life, said

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Soldier's Angels

Soldiers Angels has been supporting our nation's military men and women since 2003. Our mission is to provide aid and comfort to the military and its families, provide immediate response to hard situations, and make sure no soldier feels unloved.We start with letters, care pacakges, and comfort items to our deployed. We also help their families here at home as requested.

Adopt a soldier

Ramos-Horta to stay in induced coma

East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta is "not out of the woods yet" following the attempt to assassinate him and will remain in an induced coma until at least Thursday, doctors say.
The Nobel Peace prize winner is in a serious but stable condition following Monday's assassination attempt in Dili, during which he was shot two or three times.

Surgeons operated on Dr Ramos-Horta for up to three hours overnight to remove bullet fragments and repair his wounds. He faces further surgery.

"His condition remains extremely serious but by the same token, stable," Royal Darwin Hospital general manager Len Notaras told ABC radio.

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Dragon Fruit

I had my first taste of dragon fruit (also known as pitahaya, and huǒ lóng guǒ) today and I must say I was surprised at how nice it was. I can't say that I have noticed them at the local markets before this year, but I will be looking out for them next week when I am there!

The fruit comes in three types, all with leathery, slightly leafy skin:

Hylocereus undatus, white flesh with pink skin
Hylocereus polyrhizus, red flesh with pink skin
Selenicereus megalanthus, white flesh with yellow skin

The fruit can weigh from 150-600 grams and the flesh, which is eaten raw, is mildly sweet and low in calories. Eating the fruit is sometimes likened to that of the kiwifruit due to a prevalence of sesame seed-sized black crunchy seeds found in the flesh of both fruits which make for a similar texture upon consumption. The skin is not eaten. The fruit may be converted into juice or wine; the flowers can be eaten or steeped as tea. Although the tiny pitaya seeds are eaten with the flesh, the seeds are indigestible. It is generally recommended that dragon fruit be eaten chilled, for improved flavor.

Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitaya

Tree Toad Tongue Twister

A tree-toad loved a she-toad
Who lived up in a tree.
He was a two-toed tree-toad,
But a three-toed toad was she.

The two-toed tree-toad tried to win
The three-toed she-toad's heart,
For the two-toed tree-toad loved the ground
That the three-toed tree-toad trod.

But the two-toed tree-toad tried in vain;
He couldn't please her whim.
From her tree-toad bower,
With her three-toad power,
The she-toad vetoed him.