What a news day ...

You know the days leading up to the great cold are always so busy!

Qld to get tough new parenting laws
Monday Apr 14 02:31 AEST

State cabinet will consider Monday new laws that could see Queensland parents jailed for abandoning their children to go gambling, drinking or shopping.

The Queensland government announced plans for the laws last week after media reports of children being left in car parks, hotel rooms or at home by their parents.

The laws would apply to parents of children aged under 12 and allow police to charge those who have left their children unattended for an "unreasonable amount of time".

"Cabinet will be considering further legislation in relation to the responsibilities of parents in minding their children in public places," Premier Anna Bligh said.

"Parents who abandon their children in these circumstances may well find themselves facing much tougher penalties."

Under current laws, police can only issue a warning to parents who abandon their children.

The proposed new laws have attracted criticism from opposition leader Lawrence Springborg, who has described the possible jail terms as "over the top".

The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) says better support is needed for families and tougher penalties will create even more trauma for the children involved.

Sounds good - I'd applaud a test to pass before you ca have 'em in the first place more though!!

Rowling accused of B-grade movie plagiarism
Sunday Apr 13 17:00 AEST

A fierce legal battle is brewing between author JK Rowling and a disgruntled movie director who claims he created an earlier version of Harry Potter.

John Buechler directed a little-known film called Troll in 1986 which featured a young character called Harry Potter Junior, the UK's Daily Mail newspaper reports.

The 49-year-old has announced he will do a $42 million remake of the movie but Warner Bros, the studio behind the Harry Potter films, has said it will defend its right to JK Rowling's character.

Buechler will begin his search for the film's leading boy in the next few days, the Mail reports.

His partner, producer Peter Davy, was quoted as saying Buechler believes Rowling's claims the name "just came to her" are false.

"There are a lot of similarities between the theme of her books and the original Troll.

"John was shocked when she came out with Harry Potter."

Rowling has denied ever seeing the film Troll, which was made 11 years before the first Potter novel was published.

A spokesman for Warner Bros said: "If these producers intend to remake Troll they'd better tread carefully not to infringe on our rights."

This isn't the first time Rowling has been hit with claims of plagiarism.

She won a case against her in 2002 after a US-based writer claimed Rowling lifted ideas from her own book.

I just love the fact that Warner is warning the plagiarised against using his own work - which could be considered plagiarism .... wow I feel dizzy! lol

I remember Troll - it was good but forget the second film ... bleech!

Brisbane's Vampire Killer to be released
Monday Apr 14 05:36 AEST

A woman known as the Vampire Killer for her role in a brutal Brisbane murder in 1989 will be released after nearly 20 years in jail.

Tracey Wigginton, 42, and three other women stabbed Brisbane council worker Edward Baldock 27 times, with one of her co-accused saying the self-proclaimed vampire had drunk his blood because of her "need to feed".

Wigginton received a life sentence for the murder, but The Australian newspaper reports she has received approval from Queensland's parole board for a graduated release from a high security prison.

Under the resettlement leave program, Wigginton will be given a maximum of 12 hours leave every two months for six months.

A parole application was refused by the parole board.

"She is currently classified as low risk and the parole board considered a parole application," Queensland's Corrective Services said. "It rejected her application. However, Queensland Parole Board approved an application for a resettlement leave program."

Wigginton was first eligible for parole in 2002. Her impending release comes despite correctional service in Queensland last year saying Wigginton still had social and anger issues.

Wow you know I have been accused of having issues with social and anger issues ...

In response to this one all I can say is that these three news items are connected in my eyes.

Let those who know do so and those who don't guess creatively.

And those who really know me know why I will cry in three days.

Be Warned.