This will hurt me...

To combat the depressed atmosphere around this blog today, I though that I would share with you five things gleaned from the latest issue of the Australian Bureau of Statistics excellent little monthly for the statistically inclined, the Tasmanian Statistical News: In 2006, 36% of Tasmanians over the age of 18 had done some kind of volunteering in the previous 12 months. In 2005, Tasmania had the lowest level of household crime in Australia, with 4.5% of the population reporting being victims of actual or attempted break ins or motor vehicle theft. In 2006-07, first home buyers in Tasmania borrowed an average of $164,400, the lowest average compared to other states or territories. In 2004-05, Tasmania had the lowest proportion of people with diabetes (2.8%), and between 2004-2006, the lowest rate of death from stroke (45 per 100,000 population). In 2006, Tasmania also had a lower infant mortality rate (3.9 per 1,000 live births) than the national average (4.7 per 1,000 live births). ...

Created by OnePlusYou Around 0.6% of the pages on your website contain cussing. This is 93% LESS than other websites who took this test. Anyone who knows me can testify that I am a clean living, well spoken and immaculately presented young (ish) man. I have excellent manners, a warm and welcoming disposition, and I shall not bother you by waxing lyrical about my boundless humility and grace. Nevertheless, I will be honest with you; even I am surprised by the low level of foul language on this blog. I have obviously been a good boy and keep a family friendly show here!

Just a brief post first up today. I was pleased to read in the New York Times about the latest sport that the NY State Education board have launched its latest league sport. Yes, New York is now the first public school system in the United States to offer competitive cricket as an option for students! The initial idea to offer cricket as an option anticipated finding enough interest to field four teams, but eventually so many students sign up (over 600) that he was able to form fourteen squads, with several new teams expected to join next year. It's great to hear that so many people are keen to have a go at the sport, and who knows, in maybe twenty or thirty years Australia might have a realistic threat to their crown! As always, it's always a decent read when Americans are talking aboout cricket.