ABC Victoria  |  Story Index  |  Online notes - updated 16/3/06

Online notes - updated 16/3/06

Thursday, 16 March  2006 

A quick listing of some of the new features and notable sites available on ABC Online.

It's all about to happen in Melbourne but no matter where you are you'll find all the latest Commonwealth Games news online. The ABC's Commonwealth Games website also offers profiles of selected competitors; the inside information from The Sports Desk blog; Gerry Collins' daily Games wrap up; games to play online and the opportunity for everyone to share their Games moments - no matter where they are in the world!

ABC Video On Demand is your new-look gateway to a host of programs online. Whether you want to catch up on The Chaser team's War On Everything, get the latest news bulletin, rock to Rage or watch 4 Corners again, all the latest features are right here. All the video is organised into subject categories to help you find what you're after. Browse through News and Current Affairs, Entertainment, Science, Arts, Kids, Education, TV and Online documentary. All you need is a computer with a broadband connection to the Internet, Flash 8, Real Player 10 or Windows Media 9.

On Monday 20 March at 8.30pm (AEDT), the ninth Four Corners Broadband Edition, The Ice Age, is scheduled for synchronous online broadcast with ABC TV. Journalist Matthew Carney follows a group of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) users over a three-week period. This confronting report looks at the extent of the methamphetamine problem (also known as 'meth' or 'chalk') and the consequences of the addiction of approximately 73,000 Australians. The 4 Corners Broadband Editions provide the opportunity to delve further into the television program with extra content and interactive features including additional interviews, chronologies, links and glossaries.

The advent of World Water Day on 22 March is a timely reminder that abc.net.au is home to an excellent resource that hosts features and educational content pertaining to our most precious natural resource.

6 March, 2006
Some stories from ABC Health:
Brain injury may cause CFS
One in five risks depression after crises
GPs endangered by violent patients
UK research says it's better to spontaneously quit smoking

Stories from ABC Science:
Seahorse stallions get broody
As summer draws to a close, a quiet reversal of gender roles is in full
swing in the kelp beds, rocky reefs and seagrass meadows of Australia's
coastal waters. Pregnant male seahorses are giving birth to their final
brood of the season.

Dr K talks duct tape
Most people believe that duct tape was invented for air-conditioning ducts -
but it wasn't, and in fact, for some time, was not allowed to be used for
that purpose

'Pompeii of the East' found in Indonesia
Scientists are unearthing the 'Pompeii of the East', an Indonesian village
buried nearly two centuries ago by the largest volcanic eruption in recorded
history.

2 March, 2006
ABC New Media and Digital Services are preparing to celebrate the 1st birthday of free to air, digital channel ABC2 on 7 March and as part of that celebration we're launching an extended version of Australia Wide. From 6 March the regional news and national weather bulletin will be followed by magazine-style segments focussing on different aspects of regional and rural Australia including:

Monday: Video Lives - Five Australians provide very personal insights into their lives, their communities and the events that happen around them throughout the year.

Tuesday: Gen Next - Stories about and for younger Australians, especially those living beyond city limits.

Wednesday: Earth Works - Australians working in and with the natural world.

Thursday: Arts About - Creative Australians in regional and rural areas.

Friday: Outta Here - Sport and play ahead of the weekend!

Australia Wide will also be available as video on demand.

A great new site covering all aspects of the water debate in Australia. Built to coincide with the 4th Australian Water Summit, the site contains extensive coverage of the Summit. Beyond the Summit will provide an ever-expanding resource on water issues including news, feature articles, information and multimedia contributions from ABC staff around the country. Public contributions and discussion will also shape the site which, it is anticipated, will become an important resouce for communities grappling with threats to our most precious natural resource.

TV Online has new companion sites for some ABC TV favourites including:
The Cook and the Chef, featuring recipes, ingredients and a range of cooking related information.

Spicks and Specks, with a "Bottom 100 Songs" contest. Join the lively discussion on the Spicks and Specks message boards.

The Chaser's War on Everything features video highlights and skits from the Chaser's popular new program.

We all think we know what a heart attack looks like - we've seen it on TV. But one-third of all heart attacks do not fit the typical pattern. Women, in particular, are less likely to have chest pain and are more likely to suffer delays in diagnosis and treatment. Check out this Health special.

23 Feburary, 2006
ABC Radio in South East South Australia has put a virtual walking tour of historical Penola. You can download the tour to your mp3 player, grab a map from the town's Information Centre and set off for a guided tour.

On Monday 20 February, Australian Institute of Sport women's cycling coach Warren McDonald, talked for the first time about the crash which killed one of his team members and injured five others in south eastern Germany, last July. The Broadband Edition of One Perfect Day will feature extended interviews from Warren McDonald, as well as his wife who travelled with the team and one of the injured cyclists. Plus an extra interview with a psychologist from the Australian Institute of Sport that did not appear in the final TV program. Also included will be a video 'Producer's Notes' section and AIS documentation that outlines how the accident has changed safety for sporting teams travelling overseas.

Keep up to date with all the events at the 2006 Winter Olympics at our site incorporating news, results, the program, features, a gallery and history.

If you feel the urge to escape for a little while, take A Walk in the Park with Hobart-based ramblers Jane Stapleton and Roger Penny as they journey to exquisite places across the continent. Originally a feature radio series run over two Australian summers, A Walk in the Park is a record of the sights, sounds and stories of ten national treasures.

Every now and then, a new "wonder cure" for cancer comes along, and quickly becomes incredibly popular. One current fad is shark cartilage. If only it were that easy, says Dr Karl.

A conundrum: three friends buy a $25 pizza. They each contribute $10, but something weird happens along the way - a dollar goes missing! How can this be?

10 February, 2006
Some stories from ABC Science Online - baby frilled-neck lizards are hatching, you're already drinking recycled water, one in 16 Australians is a hypochondriac.

And two from health - studies show that people in committed, non-secretive relationships are happier that those who aren't, and a new Health library page with articles specifically for older Australians.

7 February, 2006
Test your cyber-sporting prowess at Sport Online's games page with the catching, paddling, shooting and kicking games!

Daydream for a moment at Scribbly Gum, looking over some splendid summer photos from ABC audiences.

The website for Norman Swan's Health Report program on ABC Radio National has a new look and a new URL. Remember to update your bookmark if you're a frequent visitor.

From harvesting the rains in drought-stricken Rajasthan to combating the dense dust storms of China's Inner Mongolia; from the battle to reclaim a dead valley in California to the use of fire to reshape and revegetate Australia's Red Centre, Parched Lands takes you on an extraordinary journey into the heart of the world's dry lands and their people.

The latest in the series of Four Corners Broadband Specials presents an extended edition of the City Limits program, first broadcast in October 2004. Through video and interactive content, explore in greater depth the issues concerning Australia's continuing urban water crisis.

If you missed triple j's broadcast of the Hottest 100 or just want to hear it again, visit the triple j Hottest 100 site, where you'll also find lots of Hottest 100 extras.

15 December, 2005
Experiencing the gift dilemma? Hop in to The Backyard and you'll find lots of music reviews to help you pick a great gift!

Philosophers and former politicians will soon join an elite group of scientists whose job it is to work out how to respond to signals from extra-terrestrial intelligence.

Got a great idea for a movie? If you want to get your idea to screen you'll need to be creative. Rebecca Martin reports on tactics used by up and coming filmmakers.

Vote at the triple j website for your 10 favourite albums of the year and Richard will count them down on the final 2005 show on December 18, 6pm. Or read what triple j staff nominated as their top 10 albums of the year. And Megan Spencer nominates her favourite films of the year. Tell us what you think.

Grab the popcorn, take the phone off the hook and settle down with ABC2 to celebrate the movies. From 4pm onwards you'll see: Music Behind the Scenes (Episodes 1-3, Love, Suspense, Heroics); My Favourite Film; Sam Peckinpah: Man of Iron; and, Short & Curly 1-hour Special. Or celebrate Christmas Day and New Years Eve on ABC2 with music from some of the 20th Century's most influential artists including Nat King Cole, George Gershwin, Cat Stevens, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Bjork, Jeff Lang, R.E.M., Queen, Prince and Curtis Mayfield. Check out the ABC2 program guide online.

8 December, 2005
Late Night Legends brings the very best matches, games and contests from sports including cricket, international Rugby Union, Australian Open tennis, Rugby League, motor racing, Australian Rules Football and golf. Every night on free to air, digital ABC2 (weekdays 10.45pm, weekends 11pm) Lex Marinos introduces the evening's game with historical and contemporary context. Find out what's on when at the Late Night Legends website.

Find out more about the new ABC TV show, Bromwell High, its characters and the series, at the Bromwell High website now.

Perhaps you've already visited the Dust Echoes website and viewed some of the stunning animations. If you'd like to see them on a bigger screen or can't access them online, tune in to ABC2 on 10 December at 8pm for the half hour special.

It's the party season, so let's toast the humble aspirin, curer of hangovers and preventer of heart disease. But with a reputation for causing bruising and bleeding, when do the benefits outweigh the risks?

Writer, director and animator Sarah Watt has had a particularly busy time of late, collecting IF and AFI Awards for her film "Look Both Ways". Sarah Watt also features in an ABC Online documentary A Year On The Wing, following the extraordinary migration of the Eastern Curlew from Siberia to the southern most tip of New Zealand.

Liberate Athens from a curse; rediscover your lost identity a la Kafka; restore colour to Greyland; save Havoc Town from the Venom Company; stop renegade Egyptian mummies - do it all at Game On, where five new games will challenge and inspire gamers of all ages.

Does someone you know sing in a choir? ABC Classic FM Choir of the Year is set to become the country's largest amateur choral competition and it's time to register your choir for entry now. Auditions for youth and adult choirs start in every capital city from March 2006 with State Finals to follow in August. The competition culminates with a National Final in Sydney in September when one choir will win the title ABC Classic FM Choir of the Year and a share of the $25 000 prize pool.

Are first-borns really natural leaders, and younger kids rebellious creative types? With 5 sisters, 6 brothers and a healthy dose of self-interest, the lab's ninth-born Bernie Hobbs takes a look at the science of siblings.

4 November, 2005
Pacific Stories is an extraordinary meeting of cultures and contemporary history. It's the first cross-media collaboration between ABC New Media and Digital Services and Film Australia. The ABC2 series of films - on air every Thursday from 17 November at 7pm and 9.15pm - journeys through the islands of the Pacific telling stories of the amazing transformation of the region. Online you can see trailers from each film and learn more about the people and issues, through interactive galleries, maps, and exclusive video and audio updates from the filmmakers and film subjects.

Dust On My Shoes has now completed its ten episode publishing cycle and all content can now be viewed. This includes all ten beautifully illustrated and narrated chapters taken from Peter Pinney's book, as well as the compelling video diaries of the parallel journey undertaken by Matt Newton and Anna Young this year. There is also a musical journey and stories of rough travel sent in by the public. If you haven't spent any time with this project, it's a wonderful and best-practice piece of multimedia and works as well in its perpetual state as it did during its live phase.

Cultures of Journalism was a 13-part series broadcast last year on Radio National, and it's worth revisiting. Co-produced with Open Learning Australia and Griffith University, Cultures of Journalism is an exploration of what makes journalism tick; a journey through ethics, economics, society, history, culture and politics. From the newsroom to the battlefield, take a closer look at the theories and practices of journalism, and the cultures that sustain them.

Journey to a veritable winter wonderland, via Lake Grace in Western Australia's wheat belt - one for extreme weather fans (but not so good for the farmers).

2 November, 2005

We have two new science stories for you to read. First there's Which sort of cheat are you?, examining the motives behind all sorts of cheating. Then there's the story of the vampire spider, a small jumping spider that doesn't want to hurt you - it just wants your blood, second-hand.

17 October, 2005

Dust Echoes brings to life five Indigenous stories that date from the 'time of dust'. The five stories from the Beswick (NT) and Warmun (WA) communities have been interpreted by contemporary animators, musicians, artists, writers and actors to produce a site infused with youthful creativity and spirit. There are games, goodies and teaching materials to accompany these extraordinary stories. Well worth a number of visits!

Radio Australia has joined with AMES (Adult Multicultural Education Services) to create a series of English lessons "Elementary English for Tourism and Hospitality" which have been launched for download as podcasts. Audio files of the lessons are available from the RA Chinese program website together with transcripts.

Download an MP3 file of John Doyle's speech for this year's Andrew Olle Media Lecture or check out the transcript.

Dust On My Shoes has now completed its ten episode publishing cycle and all content can now be viewed online. This includes all ten beautifully illustrated and narrated chapters taken from Pinney's book, as well as the compelling video diaries of the parallel journey undertaken by Matt Newton and Anna Young this year. There is also a musical journey and stories of rough travel sent in by the public. If you haven't spent any time with this project, it's a wonderful piece of multimedia and works as well in its perpetual state as it did during its live phase.

Cracking the science of undies: since Tarzan first whacked a cloth around his loins and Jane first realised she might like some extra support while swinging through the trees, people have been searching for a better way to package their most precious possessions.

Sunday Arts is a fresh new weekly one-hour, all-Australian arts television program hosted by Michael Veitch and Virginia Trioli. Sunday Arts offers new ways of seeing and experiencing art and culture; searching out exciting contemporary work and presenting fresh perspectives on the traditional to engage artists and arts audiences alike. Visit the site to see who's featured each week.

6 October, 2005

Streaming Super Series
Don't miss a minute of the Super Series action as ABC Online presents an audio stream of full match coverage from the one-day games in Melbourne and the Test in Sydney. Jim Maxwell, Glenn Mitchell and Fazeer Mohammed will provide the call with additional expert commentary from Kerry O'Keeffe, Geoff Lawson and Peter Roebuck. Visit abc.net.au/cricket and click on the link, or go direct to abc.net.au/streaming/cricket/cricket.ram (Real Media) or abc.net.au/streaming/cricket/cricket.asx (Windows Media).

One Day Super Series: Australia v Rest of the World
Wednesday 5 October from 2pm (AEST)
Friday 7 October from 2pm (AEST)
Sunday 9 October from 2pm (AEST)
Super Series Test Match: Australia v Rest of the World
Friday 14 - Wednesday 19 October from 10am (AEST)

Oil Price Surge Analysis
World oil prices have more than doubled since the beginning of 2004 and the consequences are being felt around the world. Radio Australia Online spoke to Vandana Hari, a Singapore-based Asian oil and gas analyst for energy market information provider, Platts, about what's causing the oil price surge.

Sugar Shocker (link leads to a PDF file)
The Surfing Scientist shows graphically how much sugar there is in soft drinks. A simple demo that every teacher in Australia can do for their students - and you can try it at home too!

Gig pix
Heading to a live music gig? Take your camera & submit your best photos to triple j & Noise. The winner will receive tickets to the Big Day Out, have their image published in the jmag, and also get an exclusive skill-up session with one of the judges - Tony Mott & Matt Booy.

22 September, 2005

The Chaser's back with weekly news alerts at 7.55pm on ABC2 and at abc.net.au/chaser. Tune in for a chuckle and send the link on to anyone you know who would enjoy the satirical wit of The Chaser. Ten weekly episodes of Chaser News Alert will be produced and broadcast every Thursday at 7.55pm on free to air, digital ABC2, 24 hours 7 days a week at abc.net.au/chaser or via mobile download.

Vote for your favourite "Video Lives" clip, opera moment or film, online. Voting for the Video Lives Peoples' Choice Award is open now and we'd like to know which of our five finalists you like the best. Judges Robert Connolly, Margaret Pomeranz and Myf Warhurst will reveal their pick, together with the winner of the Viewers' Choice Awards, during the Video Lives Special, broadcast exclusively on ABC2 on 18 October. Go to the Video Lives website to check it out.

Classic FM and Opera Australia are asking you to nominate the one opera moment you can't live without. The results will be used to compile The Classic 100 Opera CD, the definitive guide to Australia's favourite 100 opera moments. Visit the Classic 100 site to vote.

Vote for your favourite film in the My Favourite Film poll. The results will be announced in an epic end of year celebration with a 90-minute nationwide television special, My Favourite Film, to air on ABC TV later this year.

As part of our Innovations Series, Rebecca Martin looks at the chain of innovations that have fundamentally shaped the way we communicate. In the first part of our four-part series she takes us from the spoken word to print: Chains of Communication.

Sounds Like Techno is an award-winning, online documentary tracing the history of techno music from its early roots in Detroit, to Australian exponents and future music.

Find it hard to drink the oft-quoted 'eight glasses of water a day' of water? Relax. You probably don't need that much after all.

Remember Professor Julius Sumner Miller? Ever wondered how "Why Is It So?" entered the vernacular? ABC Science presents episodes from the Professor's iconic show so you can watch them on demand.

Still kicking yourself over missing 'that' episode of Enough Rope? Well perhaps you needn't fret. We've just added a new batch of clips to the Enough Rope video player, including Renee Geyer, Three Priests, Peter Brock, Clive James, Anthony La Paglia, Peter Cundall and Dave Grohl. You can also watch on-demand excerpts from a selection of the best Enough Rope interviews from earlier episodes of the show.

9 September, 2005

Scribblygum September feature - Ocean Currents
Come spring, a number of tropical marine creatures including fish, algae, rock lobster, tuna, and turtles, hitch a ride on Australia's two major south-flowing currents. We can thank the currents for the chance to see these amazing creatures down south and swim in warm waters from spring to autumn.

Banana fruit and tree
The banana is so popular in Uganda that the locals eat about 250 kilograms each per year. It's not quite as popular elsewhere, but kids around the world like it because it's tasty, and because it's so easy to peel and devour. And they believe two things about bananas that are wrong. First, that the yellow banana is not a fruit (because it has no seeds), and second, that it comes from a tree (the banana tree).

The Secret Life of Spaghetti
Physicists have settled one of science's more perplexing enigmas by explaining why uncooked spaghetti breaks into more than two pieces when you bend it.

Hands glow in the dark
Human hands glow, but fingernails release the most light, according to a recent study that finds all parts of the hand emit photons.

2 September, 2005

Who's afraid of nuclear power (4 Corners)
'Who's Afraid of Nuclear Power' is one of the 4 Corners broadband specials. With only one nuclear reactor in Australia, used for research and not power, is it time for Australia to overcome its aversion to nuclear power?

The Power and the Passion (ABC Science)
Talking of things nuclear, ABC Science looks at the nuclear power debate. Does nuclear power help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or does the hype transfer attention from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power?

25 August, 2005

Boo Hooray (ABC Broadband)
Boo Hooray is a selection of video art from Australian artists, curated by Janne Ryan. You will need the Flash 7 plug-in (available as a free download) and a Broadband connection (256k and above). Clips from Boo Hooray also feature on ABC2.

Tech Talk (Science Online)
So you'd love to look at Boo Hooray but can't download your Flash plug-in? Tech Talk is the place for you. Tech Talk is a forum for everyone with an interest in (or a problem with) digital technology. This is the place to ask your curly computer questions or let us know of some groovy new trick you've discovered.

The Great Australian Story Competition (Australian Story)
To celebrate 10 years on air, we're inviting university students from across Australia to produce a five-minute video in the style of Australian Story. The winner of the Great Australian Story Challenge will get a three-month internship with the Australian Story team, and finalists' entries will be compiled into a special program to go to air in May 2006, when Australian Story will officially turn 10. More details of the competition and all the relevant entry forms can be found at the site.

triple j has launched 2 new podcasts.
You can now get Roy and HG's 'This Sporting Life' delivered to your computer every week, and the full-length, half-hour Hack delivered every weekday. Listen to Roy & HG and Hack at a time that suits you, or load it on to your portable mp3 player!

The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill (ABC Kids)
Bottle Top Bill and friends are taking the under-6's by storm on ABC TV! Similarly our new Bottle Top Bill website is drawing a large audience. See what all the fuss is about and while you're there find out more about the characters, play a game, grab a screen saver or learn the Bottle Top Bill song!

18 August, 2005

Articulate (News Online)
Articulate is ABC News Online's daily take on arts news and events in Australia and throughout the world. Our team comment on all things creative from film to sculpture and usually manage to find few of the stranger happenings involving artists and their work.

The Shallow End (News Online)
The Shallow End is ABC News Online's way of casting a critical eye over entertainment news from Australia and the world. Updated regularly throughout the day, our team is always on the look out for things that make you go 'hmmm...' Whether it's that piece of celebrity gossip, fuss about a film or that new hip artist on the scene, you'll find it right here

Aceh - a Radio Australia Focus and Timeline
There is cautious optimism in Indonesia's Aceh province following the signing of an historic peace agreement between rebel leaders and the Indonesian government. Both sides hope the deal with mark the end of 30 years of fighting. But the difficult issues of disarming and disbanding separatist rebels and standing down Indonesia's massive military presence in the province remain. Visit Radio Australia's timeline and feature story for further information.

Video Online: Catalyst - Antarctica
Come on a journey to Antarctica in search of a forest of fossils. Join reporting palaeontologist Paul Willis on an unforgettable adventure as he sails through some of the world's most dangerous seas to confront the cold, harsh reality of the Antarctic climate.

10 Years of ABC Online
ABC Online (abc.net.au) celebrated its tenth birthday on Sunday 14 August, and we've launched a special 10th birthday website to mark the occasion. It's a great place to retrace the short, but very full, history of ABC Online. Download a free screen saver, visit the Gallery, contribute your memories of ABC Online to the guest book or follow the path at abc.net.au/10years/explore.htm to find out more about the diverse content available online.

Last Updated: 16/03/2006 2:03:00 PM AEDT

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