Animal welfare groups have been vigorously campaigning to have jumps racing banned after 10 horses died during races and compulsory trials in Victoria in 2010 and there have been further calls this year to ban them after three horses fell and one was put down during hurdles races in Warrnambool earlier this week. They were banned years ago in this state (NSW) as too cruel but I guess the Victorian government gets money from the gambling on the races and doesn't want to lose a source of income, ignoring the risks to the riders and their horses.

As for lj's owners, I admire their support for the dissident bloggers. It takes rare courage to face up to Putin and his cronies - you just have to look at the number of people his group of thugs has persecuted and the number of investigative journalists they have killed or beaten up over the last few years to silence the few voices of dissent left. I guess after the success of the 'facebook' revolts in Egypt and Tunisia and Libya his intention to continue running Russia with an iron fist indefinitely might appear to be less of a sure thing and he is cracking down hard on any dissenting opinions whenever they crop up. He has cyber-thugs as well as the real life bruisers he lets off the leash to terrorise people wanting to express their point of view or critique his government's activities and policies.