Why are dreams and stories about dreams so important to the Australian Aborigines?

Dreams are important, because they believe that true reality, is in fact in the dream world, not the world we inhabit. They speak of a primordial time in the history of the entire universe as the "dream time," when everything was created. The dream world, is in fact, the spirit world, and ultimately all living creatures return to the world of dreams. The aborigines believe, the dream world is what confers upon human beings, their various gifts, or curses, and to know how to cross over into it, one can ask from it favors, and manipulate it in some form or other.

To the aborigines, good dreams are seen as a blessing upon an individual, while bad dreams of course are a bad omen. Bad dreams are a bad omen, because it means the person's own inner spiritual poison, prevents them from experiencing the true nature of the dream world. See, if a person is spiritually pure, every time they dream, they can see paradise. You wake up more well rested than with normal sleep, and you can even learn, acquire knowledge if you wish. If a person is spiritually impure, then nightmares will be frequent, and often horrifying. While Islam holds such dreams come from the Shaitan (the devil), Hebrew lore, from demons, the Aborigines hold, its all you; YOU, are the cause of your own nightmares, not the devil, or groups of devils, it is the the evil within you. Buddhists, on this point at least, would agree with Australian Aborigines; Buddhism sees nigthmares as a) memories from past lives or b) very bad Karma, manifesting itself as negative images within the mind. The Aborigines see bad dreams as a very bad sign, it means that your soul is full of corruption. Buddhists call it Karma, the aborigines see it, as spiritual poison, the result of a person disconnecting themselves from the spirit world. Their whole spiritual belief system, revolves around it.

TURF Black Caviar retired after 25-unbeaten race career

BLACK Caviar, one of the most popular and successful horses in Australian racing history, has been retired after an unbeaten 25-race career.

Trainer Peter Moody made the announcement, along with the horse's connections, today.

"We thought long and hard about racing on but believe she has done everything we asked of her and felt it was the right time to call time on her wonderful career,'' Moody said.

Black Caviar's racing career started at Flemington on April 18, 2009. It ends with $7,953,936 in the bank.

She has twice been crowned Australian Horse of the Year, bows out at the top of the world rankings and has 15 Group I wins.

The champion mare's unbeaten record was unequalled in more than 100 years.

Moody said Black Caviar would be taken to Caulfield on Saturday to give the Australian public a chance to farewell her.

“She's in such great shape but that's always been the way we wanted her to bow out," Moody said.

"We just thought the time was right. The owners and myself have had a long chat for the past couple of days.

"Collectively we decided the mare's in great shape, we thought long and hard about racing at the international season."

The six-year-old was ridden by Luke Nolen in all except three starts, including her most recent win, the T.J. Smith Stakes last Saturday in Sydney.

"We decided 25 was a great number and she did us all proud on Saturday," Moody said.

"She has done everything she has been asked to do.''

Black Caviar captured the imagination of the sporting public, and attracted sell-out crowds at racetracks across the country.

"I know we've won 25 from 25 ... but I like to think we've done a great job promoting our sport," Moody said.

"She brought interest to our sport that hasn't been there for decades.

"Black Caviars don't come along every day.''

Moody said Black Caviar's 2013 campaign, which also netted wins in the Lightning Stakes and William Reid Stakes, had been a bonus after her Royal Ascot win last year took a heavy toll on the mare.

"We got three more runs than we thought we were ever going to have,'' he said. "We thought she would be retired post-Ascot.

"But we've been fortunate to bring her home here and I think the owners are to be congratulated on allowing me to race her on and give the Australian public three more opportunities to see her.''

Black Caviar will now begin a lucrative breeding career, with her foals potentially worth millions of dollars.

Senior part-owner Neil Werrett said no thought has been given to which stallion she will visit this spring.

"We've got a bit of time, but we'll start working it out tomorrow,'' he said.

"We hope that in three years, Peter Moody will be training a progeny of Black Caviar,'' said 

"We've got a bit of time, but we'll start working it out tomorrow,'' he said.

"We hope that in three years, Peter Moody will be training a progeny of Black Caviar,'' said Werrett, his voice breaking at times during the retirement announcement.

Last week, her half-brother sold at auction for $5 million, $2m above estimates.

: Is Your Morning Coffee Making You Fat?

The gourmet coffee drinks entered the market in the mid-1990's and have steadily been increasing in popularity since. Our tastebuds have been tempted with an array of lattes, cappucino, espresso, mochas and caramelattes. 

So how is the gourmet coffee affecting our weight? 

These coffees are generally prepared with milk, hydrogenated oils, fats, added sugars and syrups in addition to the coffee, making them much higher in kilojoules and calories than you might expect. 

A recent study analyzed the gourmet coffee consumption of 165 women attending Simmons College in Boston MA. The researchers found that the gourmet coffee drinkers had a 206 calorie increase in a typical day and a 32 gram higher sugar intake than the non-gourmet coffee drinkers. This kind of calorie increase can lead to a gradual weight gain over time average about 10 kg per year. In addition to this, the extra sugar consumption can lead to blood sugar surges that can cause the body to store more calories as fat. 

Coffee and sugar consumption, in this way, can together stimulate your appetite leading to even more calories or kilojoules consumed during a typical day. 

So wondering how many calories and sugar grams are in your favourite coffee drink? Here they are below: 

Medium brewed coffee 10 calories 0 grams sugar 
Medium Latte 260 calories 19 grams sugar 
Medium Mocha 400 calories 33 grams sugar 
Medium Hot Chocolate 350 calories 40 grams sugar 
Medium Carmel Macchiato 310 calories 34 grams sugar 

So there you have it. Gourmet coffees are great tasting, however they are almost equivalent to eating a dessert. If you are trying to lose weight its best to keep gourmet coffees to a once in a while treat rather than an every day habit. 

Still need that caffeine fix? Try eating an apple instead! 

Replacing your morning gourmet coffee with an apple could actually be better in waking your up in the morning. Apples have fructose which is a type of simple sugar and its delivered slowly in the body. This type of sugar doesn't give you a jolt like caffeine and don't experience the let down either. 

All Australian's Love AUSTRALIA DAY

About Our National Day

On Australia Day we come together as a nation to celebrate
what’s great about Australia and being Australian. It’s the day to
reflect on what we have achieved and what we can be proud of in
our great nation. It’s the day for us to re-commit to making
Australia an even better place for the future.

Australia Day, 26 January, is the anniversary of the arrival of the
First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Great Britain, and the raising of
the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its commander Captain Arthur
Phillip, in 1788 .

Though 26th January marks this specific event, today Australia Day
celebrations reflect contemporary Australia: our diverse society
and landscape, our remarkable achievements and our bright future.
It also is an opportunity to reflect on our nation’s history,
and to consider how we can make Australia an even better place
in future.

On Australia Day, over half of the nation’s population of 21 million
attend either an organised community event, or get together
with family and friends with the intention of celebrating our national
day. Many more spend the public holiday relaxing with
family and friends.

Yet Australia Day is much more than barbeques and fireworks. It
is more than another public holiday. It is more than the pride and
excitement of new citizens who call themselves Australian for the
first time on 26 January after being conferred citizenship.

At its core, Australia Day is a day driven by communities, and the
celebrations held in each town, suburb or city – unified by the
celebration of what’s great about Australia and being Australian –
are the foundation of its ongoing success.

Australia Day Ceremonies
There are a number of ceremonial aspects to many Australia Day
events which have become both a tradition and a symbol of our
national day. If you’re organising an Australia Day event these
ceremonies can add meaning to your day. Australia Day ceremonies
can include:

Citizenship Ceremonies
Australian citizenship is more than just a ceremony and forms an
important part of Australia Day celebrations. It symbolises our
unity as a nation. It represents commitment to Australia and its
people, the values we share and our common future. It also symbolises
the sense of belonging to the country where we have
been born or where we have decided to make our home. Australian
citizenship is a shared identity, a common bond which
unites all Australians while respecting our diversity.

Affirmation Ceremonies
Affirmation ceremonies allow Australian-born citizens to affirm
their loyalty to Australia and its people—engendering a feeling
of belonging to their community and building pride in their citizenship.
These ceremonies have no status in law and no legal
effect. Participation is voluntary.

The Australian Flag and flag flying
On Australia Day, people all over the country will fly the Australian
National Flag, as well as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Flags.

Australian National Anthem
The Australian National Anthem, proclaimed in 1984, identifies
Australia at home and overseas. It unites the nation and is a public
expression of joy and pride in being Australian.

The two authorised verses of the Australian National Anthem, as
proclaimed in 1984, are:

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts;
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We’ll toil with hearts and hands,
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands,
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share,
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia fair.