After years of drought, the inevietable has happened and firestorms have ripped through parts of southern Australia.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/a...ires/index.html

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I was reading about this earlier and saw the death toll was rising. I can't imagine how frightening it is for those who live there

I hope everyone stays safe.

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(last paragraph of the article)

I recalled seeing some headlines about flooding in QLD.
Obviously the solution is to turn the whole continent around so the north can dry out & let the floods put out the wildfires down south.

I'm thinking that the south aussies would regard crocs in their backyards to be a minor inconvenience compared to being burned up

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Plug me into somethin'

If the theory does not conform to the facts, then the facts must be discarded.

No good deed ever goes unpunished

Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level, & beat you with experience.

Well the cracks in my backyard are so big that I'm in danger of the Earth swallowing me whole while I'm hanging out my washing. I guess crocs couldn't be too much more bother.

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You'd think the way oil gets piped and shipped all over the world that it'd make sense to be able to pipe water from areas with abundant supplies to dry areas. Can't believe the costs would be prohibitive given the billions that get wasted by governments.

Latest report is that 108 confirmed dead, over 700 homes lost, and both these figures are likely to rise unfortunately

Regarding floods....a a 5yr old boy appears to have possibly have been taken by a croc

Just tragic, for both fire and flood victims

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That would be too sensible.

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That is very sad. We'll be praying for relief for both the fires and the flooding.

well from a Victorian and one who has lost two family friends in this grave tragedy.. another was heard of but we are still unsure of her whereabouts AND i just discovered that two more families we know of who also live there are regarded as missing. My father went to work to find about 4 to 6 of his work collegues also missing and no word of them.. I have to say we are here with heavy hearts and with feeling helpless and hearts going out to all the people who have lost their homes.

We still have 31 fires burning... new towns now being targetted.. AND kilmore is back in flames.. and also new town of Glenworth! My other friend has lots two of her friend in this burning blaze of fury... only to say that it's looking like some fuck wits have lit this!

If i'm not on for a while.. or down i apologise our hearts are heavy at the moment.. and frsutrated.. my bestfriends husband is missing and she has a baby with her, we arent sure where she is exactly so it's a little difficult with no lines no phones... etc..

it's truly like a war zone.. i will do my best to keep you all informed... i am on facebook also with regular updates so if anyone wants to add me pm me and will exchange details.. for now we are like lost souls... my poor mother who is overseas is shattered in hearing the news but there is nothing we can do to change this situation...

will try to get back to you with updates as much as we know. I have friends in Whitlesea area also who we exchange information that we learn so some more inside info that not all the news is covering!

And then to have the north part of the country flooding.... this world has gone nutty.

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Sorry to hear of your losses, Bebi. The enormity of it all has me numb, even though at this stage I personally don't know of anyone affected by the fires.

Thanks for the report. All the best for you and your family.

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Last night in chat the arson aspect of these natural tragedies was a topic that lead to the topic of capitol punishment. Needless to state my thoughts for people that by design and with intent, commit acts that will indiscriminately take the lives of somebody's family. These terrorists don't even have a sick cause other than pure evil.

May this pestilence soon pass for my downunder friends, and keep an eye on your fellow man.

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"It was the worst of times, it was the worst of times."

I thought Bebi was in New Zilland. At this moment she probably wishes she was.

We could have been among the fires if we'd decided to do the Victorian winefields before Coffs Harbour.

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Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating

Want to thank Bebi for her report and to offer our sympathies for her losses. Take care of yourself, Bebi, and God bless.

130 going on 200, the news is saying.

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Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating