Both the upper and lower house of parliament were suspended today and replaced with statements of sympathy and thoughts of Victorian victims of the fires. Julia Gillard (deputy leader) was on the verge of tears as she delivered hers today. Malcolm Turnbull (leader of the Opposition) said that the response of the government will be "Whatever it takes". Kevin07 was in Victoria assuring residents that the government will do all it can to assist them.

There're stories of people going to assist others in saving their homes, only to have theirs destroyed. The death toll is up to 130 with 200 expected by the end of the week.

The Red Cross put out an appeal yesterday for all donations of money above $5 and as of 9:30pm tonight, $10.4 million had been raised. They're also inundated with donations of food, clothing and daily needs goods. There will be ongoing appeals throughout the One Day Match against New Zealand, and the Australian cricket team is donating their match payments to the appeal.

It really just goes to show you how amazing Australian people can be.

donate to
the victorian
bushfire appeal

I donated $50 this afternoon on the Red Cross' website, and I can assure you that it's quick, painless and a worthwhile thing to do.

For information on how you can help, go to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal on the Red Cross' Website. You can donate via phone on 1800 811 700, or on their secure online donations form here (international donations are accepted and they're all tax deductible).

The Department of Human Services is coordinating donations of billeting/housing and accommodation. Call the Department on 03 9096 0000 or 1300 650 172 within Victoria if you can help.

Here's the coding I made if you wish to put it in your own journals:
<a href="http://www.redcross.org.au/vic/services_emergencyservices_victorian-bushfires-appeal-2009.htm"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/Rotae/redCross_logo.gif"> <ul><ul><font face="Georgia" style="font-size: 30px; line-height: 25px; letter-spacing: -1px;">donate to the victorian <font color="#FF0000">bushfire appeal</font></a></font></ul></ul>

<33333333333 *hugs*

Peace,
Rotae

At Least 14 Dead in Victoria Bushfires.

Australians, I know it was a scorcher everywhere today - please sound off that you're okay *HUGS*

People complaining about the cold? Yeah. I think we'd like to swap now.

Peace,
Rotae

I haven't done a proper update in AAAAAAGES.

So, first off, I just have to say: the British so totally pwn terrorists. Srsly. I was talking to my mum about it today, about how the people who helped out are just so freaking brave. She reminded me that this was what they were like during WWII; they were absolutely so brave, and so adamant that they would win, because they couldn't not. SO A HUGE HUG TO ALL MY BRITISH FRIENDS. ILU & THINK YOU'RE ALL KINDS OF AWESOME. Don't let the bastards get you down. *salutes*

I have HEAPS (well a couple of pieces) of ART!:



If you want full artists comments, head on over to my deviantART page :D
1. Mohinder Suresh from Heroes. Yes. I know. Non-HP fan art. I'm scared, too. But he's just... so... effing... pretty... XDDDD
2. Nymphadora and Remus Simpson? I take a style for a test run every so often and I'm currently doing The Simpsons. I did this for my prompt "work and play" over at metamorfic_moon. Though my ficion prompt is KICKING MY ARSE... SRSLY...
3. Belated birthday present for my friends AmberPalette & buttfacemakani (DUDE. CHECK YOUR NOTES ON dA) That's us. All HP fan artists, all obsessed with the Malfoys, all Geminis and all good friends :D
4. A very quick comic I did after I drew number 3. I wanted to put Draco in there with us (coz he's a Gemini too), but I didn't think that Heather would like it LMFAO. Yeah. >.> Draco's all like "OMG HI" in the first part, LOL. And I AM NOT GROPING HIM IN THE FINAL PANEL. >.> LOL. SRSLY. THAT WOULD BE WRONG.

"Okay, but you have to stay here and file my fish". Yes. I've been watching Men Behaving Badly. LOL.

Guess who got an "O" on their WOMBATs? OH YES. THAT WOULD BE ME. XDDDDD I guess my ramblings paid off!! :D

( Click for Proof, LOL )

Ohhh... I have a theory (it could be bunnies, LOL, Buffy ftw), AHEM, about Petunia Dursley that I haven't seen anywhere before which I shall post in the next couple of days. :D

So... what else? I bought a new camera! Woo! Go me :D IT IS... wait for it... PIMPIN PINK. FO SHIZZLE. And my cousin came down and we went a bit silly with it. (I'm only dressed up b/c I was going to CJ's fancy dress party. >.> AHEM. LOL. I didn't have the Hufflepuff cardi then, but I did have A cardi. LOVE TEH CARDIES. XDDD


I AM SO EBIL BWAHAHAHAHA!! PH33R MY DRUG EYES!! XDDDD

I THINK I'm going to go to the George Street Dymocks when I go to Sydney for the HPDH release. Apparently some guys from HPFZ will be there, so that'd be awesome. :D MY HUFFLEPUFF CARDIGAN ARRIVED FROM WIZARD KNITS. ZOMG. SO. FREAKING. COOL. It fits PERFECTLY. I'm wearing it EVERYWHERE. LMFAO. And I ordered Draco's wand from e-Bay, LOL. ^^; IT'S SO PRETTY. I hope it gets here before the OotP movie. I have two substitutes, but it's ACTUALLY DRACO'S WAND. XDDD I bought a ring from Salamanca Market yesterday and it is SO FREAKING BLINGIN HUFFLEPUFF AWESOME (you know blingin is so canon). I AM SO READY FOR THIS SHIT. AND. The cinema here is showing it on... THE 11th OF JULY. OH YES. I GETS TO SEE IT EARLIER THAN OTHER PEOPLE. LMFAO XDDD But I am NOT HAPPY with the movie already. I know stuff that happens, or more importantly, stuff that DOESN'T happen and I am saddened. :( BASTARD YATES.

( Click for picture of BLINGIN HUFFLEPUFF RING )

Oooooh... I went on an impromptu trip up Mt. Wellington!! And I met these two really cool families and we had snow fights. And then we stood by a fire and steam came off us. And there was a POSSUM. AND WE FED IT SNAKES. OH YES. AWESOME. As we were driving down the mountain in our three cars, I was strongly reminded of World of Warcraft. LOL. Like we were in a party or something :D Me = nerd.


So... yeah. Better count some more sorting_elite Hufflepuff votes before bed.

I am still not mentioning a certain LIMS contest, although at the very least I'll be is 8th out of 79 original participants. 0.o Wow. And I got voted out of the second round of the H_E LIMS. LMFAO. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?! XDDD

HOPE YOU'RE ALL WELL!! Kudos if you read all that :D *tackles Teh Friendzies* :D

Peace,
Rotae

FIVE ARE REFORMING!!!

Oh yes, boys and girls. That's right. The following is taken from World of Five - The Official Site:

One of the decade’s most successful pop bands FIVE today announced that they were reforming after a break of Five years.

At a press conference held today at the Bar Academy Islington in London, the four former members announced they would reform and record a new album. The band line-up now mirrors that of when they split five years ago.

Ritchie, Abz, J and Scott split exactly five years ago today, live on MTV Select. They were at the top of the charts, and riding high in America and around the world at the time, but work pressures drove them to a break. Today they announce that they are reforming and working with some of the top writers in the business. Guy Chambers of Robbie Williams fame and Anders Bagge, whose recent collaborations include Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson and Madonna’s latest 'Confessions' album. They have also written a track with hip French underground DJs, Trak Invaders.

The band also used unique texting service Flirtomatic.com to announce the news to their fans as they broke it to the media. Over 50,000 fans of the band, who had all been sending the boys flirting messages causing them to rise to the top of the Flirtomatic.com charts, received a text with the announcement of the reformation of the band at 11.30am today.

Five were formed in 1997 and went on to sell a staggering 20 million records worldwide. An amazing achievement and one that very few pop acts have surpassed. From 1997 to 2001, the band had 11 UK Top Ten singles and 4 Top Ten albums, including 3 number one singles and a number one album. In total they sold 7 million albums in the UK alone. Internationally, this success was repeated. They even managed to crack the elusive US market with 2 million album sales in the States. Their success in the recording field was equally matched with their live performances. On their sold-out 2000 ‘Invincible’ tour, they played live to 2 million people. In 2001, they played to just under half a million people at a sold-out show in Brazil. The band also announced today that they plan to tour next year, once the new record is released.

TOUR. OMG. FUCK YEAH!!!!!! *dies*

UPDATE: NEW FIVE PICTURES!! GO HERE!!!

*DIES OVER RITCHIE* (for those who don't know... l-r: Abz, Scott, Ritchie, J

In other news... PART IV OF COMIC. GO HERE

Peace,
Rotae