Iraq is not a good place to be. It seems on balance now to be a religious ethnic divide meets Mad Max.
But this one death for some reason resonated with me. Above and beyond the hundreds that die each day from direct violence, or the knock on deaths from an infrastructure that is collapsing around the people's ears.
This guy stuck it to everyone - without fear or favour. In an unfunny place he found things to laugh at. Then a bunch of cunts who did not like the concept of someone pointing out through satire what fucking morons they all were chased him down and shot him to death.
RIP Walid Hassan.
BTW - looking for a litmus test of how badly a counter insurgency is going? When they start assassinating comedians.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Thanks a lot ex-Yellow Wiggle
Great, wonderful, thanks.
Already I feel like a failure due to my average life with an average job doing average things - while morbidly obese -and with the realisation my existence amounts to a hill'o'shit in the grand scheme of things.
But now I discover the now former Yellow Wiggle - or as I like to call him the 'Freaky, Unsettling Wiggle' - is the same age as me.
I know I shouldn't fixate on the achievements of others. Life is after all completely subjective. And as a fat anglo in a western country I already have it better than 92% of the rest of the world in regards to access to the full gamut of the hierarchy of needs.
However that being said he achieved so very, very much, all while coated in the garb of a primary colour, and his wiggle hands pulled in so, so, so much of the cash, cash, cash. Plus he got to make people happy - even if they're small people who will deny, much like Peter did when asked if he knew Christ and realized as the cock crowed three times he had forsaken his master, they ever liked said Wiggles. Kind of like we all did with Sesame Street until we reached the middle years of high school and we sorta liked the muppet bits again (especially for those of us who partook of the arvo-wag bong - not that I did).
So I wish him well as he deals with his adult onset orthostatic intolerance, which I note whose wiki has already updated the fact that Greg "Yellow" Page has the condition, likely dealing with it by piling all his money into a huge mound then seeing how long he can stay on top before his sense of balance causes him to fall off.
But, is it my imagination, or does his replacement Sam Moran look a bit like Pauly Shore?
Already I feel like a failure due to my average life with an average job doing average things - while morbidly obese -and with the realisation my existence amounts to a hill'o'shit in the grand scheme of things.
But now I discover the now former Yellow Wiggle - or as I like to call him the 'Freaky, Unsettling Wiggle' - is the same age as me.
I know I shouldn't fixate on the achievements of others. Life is after all completely subjective. And as a fat anglo in a western country I already have it better than 92% of the rest of the world in regards to access to the full gamut of the hierarchy of needs.
However that being said he achieved so very, very much, all while coated in the garb of a primary colour, and his wiggle hands pulled in so, so, so much of the cash, cash, cash. Plus he got to make people happy - even if they're small people who will deny, much like Peter did when asked if he knew Christ and realized as the cock crowed three times he had forsaken his master, they ever liked said Wiggles. Kind of like we all did with Sesame Street until we reached the middle years of high school and we sorta liked the muppet bits again (especially for those of us who partook of the arvo-wag bong - not that I did).
So I wish him well as he deals with his adult onset orthostatic intolerance, which I note whose wiki has already updated the fact that Greg "Yellow" Page has the condition, likely dealing with it by piling all his money into a huge mound then seeing how long he can stay on top before his sense of balance causes him to fall off.
But, is it my imagination, or does his replacement Sam Moran look a bit like Pauly Shore?
Mongo Emperor let down by flaw in nameplate at Evil Gathering
Emperor God King of Mongo, Ming the Merciless, was badly zinged due to an inaccurate nameplate at a recent Conference for Galactic Evil, which led to the balding, goatee clad dictator’s being unmercifully teased by other attending interstellar warlords.
‘Baw, haw, haw,’ had thundered Karnak the slaver, who has enslaved over a billion sophonts from across the galaxy selling them as forced labour on hundreds of worlds. ‘Tell me Ming, is that facial fuzz you sport indicative of your own womanly thatch?’
Left: Ming, pilloried for error-laced nameplate
Ming, with the nameplate facing out from him, was unaware of the seed of Karnak’s jest and simply took the comment as being representative of a failing mental state of the brutal slaver, a condition Ming inferred by waggling one elegantly gloved (made form the skin of a she-leopard from Barin’s forest realm) finger round and round next to his ear.
But as the conference got underway Ming again received numerous ribbing attempts from all manner of evil and twisted mega-villain, such as the Robot Cyborg Android Doctor Metalflesh, and Phut-Kak-Kak, alien-hybrid lizard fiend of the planet Neblos four, both of which implied that Ming was in possession of womanly genitalia.
‘Your penis does not compute,’ had intoned Metalflesh in his lifeless Stephen Hawking-esq voice upon reading the nameplate, earning a hearty clang of a back slap from Phut-Kak-Kak, who himself proceeded to ask Ming where in fact the pig had bitten him.
Ming had been wounded in a melee with Boaragas, last surviving barbarous boarman of the pig-planet Swiine who, when brought before Ming to die in combat in the Mongo ruler’s arena broke free from his bonds and sought to kill the God Emperor. Thinking this referred to that incident Ming proceeded to roll up his expansive wizard sleeve to show the healing flesh and recount the events of that day causing yet another roar of laughter to break across the conference room.
‘I don’t have to take this shit,’ yelled Ming, who swept from the room, knocking the offending nameplate from the table with his over-robe.
In anticipation of Ming’s return appearance at next year’s conference, the remaining scum and villainy then unanimously approved a motion to have made, then wear, T-Shirts commemorating the delightful mistake.
Left: Doctor Metalflesh road tests hilarious Ming teasing T-Shirt
‘Baw, haw, haw,’ had thundered Karnak the slaver, who has enslaved over a billion sophonts from across the galaxy selling them as forced labour on hundreds of worlds. ‘Tell me Ming, is that facial fuzz you sport indicative of your own womanly thatch?’
Left: Ming, pilloried for error-laced nameplateMing, with the nameplate facing out from him, was unaware of the seed of Karnak’s jest and simply took the comment as being representative of a failing mental state of the brutal slaver, a condition Ming inferred by waggling one elegantly gloved (made form the skin of a she-leopard from Barin’s forest realm) finger round and round next to his ear.
But as the conference got underway Ming again received numerous ribbing attempts from all manner of evil and twisted mega-villain, such as the Robot Cyborg Android Doctor Metalflesh, and Phut-Kak-Kak, alien-hybrid lizard fiend of the planet Neblos four, both of which implied that Ming was in possession of womanly genitalia.
‘Your penis does not compute,’ had intoned Metalflesh in his lifeless Stephen Hawking-esq voice upon reading the nameplate, earning a hearty clang of a back slap from Phut-Kak-Kak, who himself proceeded to ask Ming where in fact the pig had bitten him.
Ming had been wounded in a melee with Boaragas, last surviving barbarous boarman of the pig-planet Swiine who, when brought before Ming to die in combat in the Mongo ruler’s arena broke free from his bonds and sought to kill the God Emperor. Thinking this referred to that incident Ming proceeded to roll up his expansive wizard sleeve to show the healing flesh and recount the events of that day causing yet another roar of laughter to break across the conference room.
‘I don’t have to take this shit,’ yelled Ming, who swept from the room, knocking the offending nameplate from the table with his over-robe.
In anticipation of Ming’s return appearance at next year’s conference, the remaining scum and villainy then unanimously approved a motion to have made, then wear, T-Shirts commemorating the delightful mistake.
Left: Doctor Metalflesh road tests hilarious Ming teasing T-Shirt
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
What’s the deal with abandoned stick mags in vacant rooms or houses?
Twice now, twice in my life have I ended up moving into a house or hostel and found a jizz crinkled jazz mag colocated with storage space, either on top of a unit or within.
Just what is going on with the quality control mechanisms where people checking the room/s after the previous occupant has left for things like the fucking mini bar being used, or the same number of table lamps/light bulbs being there as were there before, or a general lack of damage, but somehow a clag-meets-paper bundle'o'fun passed their eyes by?
And why is it the quality of the porn of the leave behind salt lacquered jazz mag is always of the low rent 58lbs to the dollar euro-truck stop variety where the word Brazilian is apparently a foreign term not used in those parts and the ‘spot the vulva’ is of a similar difficulty level to a Where’s Wally book?
You feel just so dirty handling it that you look around for a sharps container or one of those funky women’s only blue bins to shove it into. Basically anywhere where a sanitary engineer is confident they won’t have to handle hazardous wastes.
It’s very upsetting.
Plus, for the really stubbornly stuck together pages, you have to kind of insert a ruler between them and very, very carefully slide it along to ensure separation where you don’t rip the glossy fun bits off the models and get left looking at essentially a white paper tear.
Nothing uplifting about that. Unless you’re into sexy paper tears I guess. Kind of like a Rorschach ink blot test without the ink.
‘It’s a nude albino running through a snow storm!’
Really, what p0rn makers should be doing is crafting their sexy tomes out of the same washable plastics that books designed for chewing for the under ones have.
Think about it p0rn merchants.
Just what is going on with the quality control mechanisms where people checking the room/s after the previous occupant has left for things like the fucking mini bar being used, or the same number of table lamps/light bulbs being there as were there before, or a general lack of damage, but somehow a clag-meets-paper bundle'o'fun passed their eyes by?
And why is it the quality of the porn of the leave behind salt lacquered jazz mag is always of the low rent 58lbs to the dollar euro-truck stop variety where the word Brazilian is apparently a foreign term not used in those parts and the ‘spot the vulva’ is of a similar difficulty level to a Where’s Wally book?
You feel just so dirty handling it that you look around for a sharps container or one of those funky women’s only blue bins to shove it into. Basically anywhere where a sanitary engineer is confident they won’t have to handle hazardous wastes.
It’s very upsetting.
Plus, for the really stubbornly stuck together pages, you have to kind of insert a ruler between them and very, very carefully slide it along to ensure separation where you don’t rip the glossy fun bits off the models and get left looking at essentially a white paper tear.
Nothing uplifting about that. Unless you’re into sexy paper tears I guess. Kind of like a Rorschach ink blot test without the ink.
‘It’s a nude albino running through a snow storm!’
Really, what p0rn makers should be doing is crafting their sexy tomes out of the same washable plastics that books designed for chewing for the under ones have.
Think about it p0rn merchants.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Green Left Weekly Sold by Polite Man in a Suit
Canberra, Civic; A Green Left Weekly today was sold by a polite, well dressed man who sported no metal in his face, stomach or bell end, and whose hair was clean and above reproach.
'I couldn't believe it,' said passer-by Amy Sadderly. 'I happened to browse at his stall and he asked, quietly, whether I might wish to purchase 'their little periodical which features news items we believe of import that does not receive attention in the media as much as it possibly could.' Frankly I was so shocked I bought three.'
The man attracted further custom to his booth by a series of polite coughs and the occasional, quietly yet firmly voiced 'Green Left Weekly for our leftist perception of today's society which may conflict with your own, but it would be most splendid if you took some time to peruse our paper in case you find something you might find of possible interest.'
The besuited man then packed up his stall and made sure all his rubbish was collected, gave five dollars to the reedy voiced heroin laced artist who warbled opposite him, then made his way to the bus stop where he tutted disdainfully at the recent headlines regarding the Cole inquiry.
'I couldn't believe it,' said passer-by Amy Sadderly. 'I happened to browse at his stall and he asked, quietly, whether I might wish to purchase 'their little periodical which features news items we believe of import that does not receive attention in the media as much as it possibly could.' Frankly I was so shocked I bought three.'
The man attracted further custom to his booth by a series of polite coughs and the occasional, quietly yet firmly voiced 'Green Left Weekly for our leftist perception of today's society which may conflict with your own, but it would be most splendid if you took some time to peruse our paper in case you find something you might find of possible interest.'
The besuited man then packed up his stall and made sure all his rubbish was collected, gave five dollars to the reedy voiced heroin laced artist who warbled opposite him, then made his way to the bus stop where he tutted disdainfully at the recent headlines regarding the Cole inquiry.
Howard to purchase Gorbachyov Head-stain
John Howard, Prime Minister for Australia for the last ten or more years, has announced his intention today to purchase the head-stain that graces the last premier, and first and last President, of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachyov.
‘Er oh um er Mikhail is one of the shining figures of 20th century history, much the same I and George [W Bush] are. Er um oh um George’s dad George was the Vice President and later the President of the United States during the collapse of the Soviet Union, and he often remarked that he found that the stain he sat across the table from was a beacon of hope and reform, much the same way I am such a beacon for dragging industrial relations into the 19th century.’
Mr Howard remarked that he hoped the stain would lend him the same air of credibility and trust that Gorbachyov had and that the Australian people would come to see him how he saw himself, super awesome good.
‘It’s about time the public caught up with my own self perception,’ said the Prime Minister. ‘That I am great. Truly great. I have seen off two, count them two Labor opposition leaders, one of them whose back for a third helping the er great um er greedy guts. I’ve changed the political landscape so greed rules over the heart, and that people now barely blink at the idea of others being locked up without charge for long periods of time. Seriously – that’s awesome. I hug myself to sleep every night just thinking how awesome it is that all I have to do is whisper ‘interest rates’ and the concept of human decency goes right out the window. The times suit me, and that’s all down to one person – me.’
After blasting fifty three times with a dog whistle after filming himself replicating the infamous Bob Dylan alley way clip, the PM, a professed admirer of Dylan in instrumental mode only, where he discarded various signs with phrases like ‘Muslims go home’, ‘Burka Bad’, and ‘Jihad Jack is coming to take you away ha ha, hee hee, ha ha’ for an upcoming series of political ads, said the premier and he shared many interests which could only help the stain adhere to his own shiny soon to be statesman scalp.
Left: Artist's impression of the former Soviet Premier's relocated head-stain.
‘He er likes Socialism with a human face, and I like grounding my boot in the face of socialistic principles. Er um Doc Martens are good for that. He once starred in Pizza Hut commercials because his bankrupted country could not afford to properly house his archives, I once ate a pizza. Uncanny.’
Mr Howard said he expected to take delivery of the excised naevus flammeus shortly and would celebrate the arrival with wine and cheese at the lodge.
‘Red wine obviously,’ chortled the soon to be visually enhanced Prime Minister. ‘So it matches my lovely new head.’
The Prime Minister concluded by saying he hoped that Premier Gorbachyov had been rubbing the lotion on its skin, and once it had been affixed he would entertain guests with a special dance.
‘I’m not er um saying I’d er sway around with my er um penis tucked between my legs or anything, but er I would consider an delighted y-fronts and socks + suspenders duck waddle across the carpet.’
‘Er oh um er Mikhail is one of the shining figures of 20th century history, much the same I and George [W Bush] are. Er um oh um George’s dad George was the Vice President and later the President of the United States during the collapse of the Soviet Union, and he often remarked that he found that the stain he sat across the table from was a beacon of hope and reform, much the same way I am such a beacon for dragging industrial relations into the 19th century.’
Mr Howard remarked that he hoped the stain would lend him the same air of credibility and trust that Gorbachyov had and that the Australian people would come to see him how he saw himself, super awesome good.
‘It’s about time the public caught up with my own self perception,’ said the Prime Minister. ‘That I am great. Truly great. I have seen off two, count them two Labor opposition leaders, one of them whose back for a third helping the er great um er greedy guts. I’ve changed the political landscape so greed rules over the heart, and that people now barely blink at the idea of others being locked up without charge for long periods of time. Seriously – that’s awesome. I hug myself to sleep every night just thinking how awesome it is that all I have to do is whisper ‘interest rates’ and the concept of human decency goes right out the window. The times suit me, and that’s all down to one person – me.’
After blasting fifty three times with a dog whistle after filming himself replicating the infamous Bob Dylan alley way clip, the PM, a professed admirer of Dylan in instrumental mode only, where he discarded various signs with phrases like ‘Muslims go home’, ‘Burka Bad’, and ‘Jihad Jack is coming to take you away ha ha, hee hee, ha ha’ for an upcoming series of political ads, said the premier and he shared many interests which could only help the stain adhere to his own shiny soon to be statesman scalp.
Left: Artist's impression of the former Soviet Premier's relocated head-stain.‘He er likes Socialism with a human face, and I like grounding my boot in the face of socialistic principles. Er um Doc Martens are good for that. He once starred in Pizza Hut commercials because his bankrupted country could not afford to properly house his archives, I once ate a pizza. Uncanny.’
Mr Howard said he expected to take delivery of the excised naevus flammeus shortly and would celebrate the arrival with wine and cheese at the lodge.
‘Red wine obviously,’ chortled the soon to be visually enhanced Prime Minister. ‘So it matches my lovely new head.’
The Prime Minister concluded by saying he hoped that Premier Gorbachyov had been rubbing the lotion on its skin, and once it had been affixed he would entertain guests with a special dance.
‘I’m not er um saying I’d er sway around with my er um penis tucked between my legs or anything, but er I would consider an delighted y-fronts and socks + suspenders duck waddle across the carpet.’
The Watchmen
I am a comic nerd from way back though now all I really get is Knights of the Dinner Table and the occasional Viz.
But a friend told me about the Watchmen and whilst pleasantly half cut after the Xmas party at the office I happened to end up in Impact comics. They were selling the complete series in a single graphic novel from about $40.
Wow.
Talk about a textured tome. I believe Time listed it as one of the best 100 novels of the 20th century, the only graphic novel to make it on the list. It is seriously fucking good. One of the best comic novels I have ever laid eyes on.
So if you're a comics nerd, or even if you're not and you just like the juxtaposition of art and text, then it's an excellent read/scan.
Who watches the Watchmen? You should, that's who.
But a friend told me about the Watchmen and whilst pleasantly half cut after the Xmas party at the office I happened to end up in Impact comics. They were selling the complete series in a single graphic novel from about $40.
Wow.
Talk about a textured tome. I believe Time listed it as one of the best 100 novels of the 20th century, the only graphic novel to make it on the list. It is seriously fucking good. One of the best comic novels I have ever laid eyes on.
So if you're a comics nerd, or even if you're not and you just like the juxtaposition of art and text, then it's an excellent read/scan.
Who watches the Watchmen? You should, that's who.
One Foot in the Grave
(...spoiler for last series...)
Just finished watching the full One Foot in the Grave on DVD. Man, it puts the black into black comedy. Or despair into despair. It really is the sad clown of the sitcom world. Great writing, excellent acting, and over-all just a paradox comedy of laughs and pain.
If you're going to obsessively watch a TV series all the way through you can't go past it for excellence. That being said, the sadness and the futility that life can bring - and that death is at the end of it - shines through and can be a tad depressing. Still - well worth it. But if you're feeling low, I'd probably steer away from the last episode.
Just finished watching the full One Foot in the Grave on DVD. Man, it puts the black into black comedy. Or despair into despair. It really is the sad clown of the sitcom world. Great writing, excellent acting, and over-all just a paradox comedy of laughs and pain.
If you're going to obsessively watch a TV series all the way through you can't go past it for excellence. That being said, the sadness and the futility that life can bring - and that death is at the end of it - shines through and can be a tad depressing. Still - well worth it. But if you're feeling low, I'd probably steer away from the last episode.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Naomi Robson steps down!
See the story here
Mmmmmmm. Finally some good news for battlers.
But what will the miracle fatty fatty fat fat pill, bra makers, and bad neighbours do now?
Mmmmmmm. Finally some good news for battlers.
But what will the miracle fatty fatty fat fat pill, bra makers, and bad neighbours do now?
Bloody Ear Wax
Yes, I am bored. Bored enough to talk about this.
For some reason I get a huge wax build up in my left ear. And it ranges from solid grit through to liquidy waxy badness that curls down the ear pronger like the red on a barber's pole.
Well if you're interested - here's the wiki.
I once actually had to get it syringed. Later I saw the kidney dish the wax was floating in. It looked like the greasy spots you get when you stick a roasting pan to soak in the washing up.
It was foul.
Anyway - I was off work sick with IBS today. It was horrible. The heat and the gut pain meant no sleep for me and as such I've been dosing on and off all day in between failed attempts at toilet business. It seemed there was little movement at my station and the word had passed fuck all anywhere.
Damn blasted bowels.
I vaguelly hoped one day someone would say 'excuse me HM, it turns out you weren't a fat bastard afterall. It seems you had a 35kg benign tumor growing. We cut it out of you and while you may currently look like your stomach has a joker grin it will heal up nicely and you will be able to do all the stuff you couldn't do before. Riding, swimming, dancing, jogging etc.'
Wait a second ... that sounds like the words from a tampon box!
What else? Ah yes, the AWB findings came in. Bloody typical. Thanks to a dodgy frame of reference "just the AWB - nothing else" naturally the government got off scott free. Except in one sense of course. The shining light on the fact they created a culture where public servants knew to simply sign something off instead of give it the attention it deserved. Well, what do you expect when the top three layers of the public service are now individual contracts and performance linked so if you give your minister bad news then adios matey at your next review?
That's "accountability" for you. I suppose the flip side was the 30 years in the top job mandarins that used to subtley undermine ministers of governments they didn't like (witness the Whitlam years) but as a public servant I think they flipped it too far the other way.
By the way - check out the sheer unmitigated gall from Mr Vodaphone claiming that because his ministers "didn't know" they deserve an apology for their rank incompetance. Un-fucking-believable.
Anyway - off to bed in my stinking hot house after draining my left ear once more.
Once more! Once more into the breech dear friends. Or close the wall up with our Cerumen dead.
For some reason I get a huge wax build up in my left ear. And it ranges from solid grit through to liquidy waxy badness that curls down the ear pronger like the red on a barber's pole.
Well if you're interested - here's the wiki.
I once actually had to get it syringed. Later I saw the kidney dish the wax was floating in. It looked like the greasy spots you get when you stick a roasting pan to soak in the washing up.
It was foul.
Anyway - I was off work sick with IBS today. It was horrible. The heat and the gut pain meant no sleep for me and as such I've been dosing on and off all day in between failed attempts at toilet business. It seemed there was little movement at my station and the word had passed fuck all anywhere.
Damn blasted bowels.
I vaguelly hoped one day someone would say 'excuse me HM, it turns out you weren't a fat bastard afterall. It seems you had a 35kg benign tumor growing. We cut it out of you and while you may currently look like your stomach has a joker grin it will heal up nicely and you will be able to do all the stuff you couldn't do before. Riding, swimming, dancing, jogging etc.'
Wait a second ... that sounds like the words from a tampon box!
What else? Ah yes, the AWB findings came in. Bloody typical. Thanks to a dodgy frame of reference "just the AWB - nothing else" naturally the government got off scott free. Except in one sense of course. The shining light on the fact they created a culture where public servants knew to simply sign something off instead of give it the attention it deserved. Well, what do you expect when the top three layers of the public service are now individual contracts and performance linked so if you give your minister bad news then adios matey at your next review?
That's "accountability" for you. I suppose the flip side was the 30 years in the top job mandarins that used to subtley undermine ministers of governments they didn't like (witness the Whitlam years) but as a public servant I think they flipped it too far the other way.
By the way - check out the sheer unmitigated gall from Mr Vodaphone claiming that because his ministers "didn't know" they deserve an apology for their rank incompetance. Un-fucking-believable.
Anyway - off to bed in my stinking hot house after draining my left ear once more.
Once more! Once more into the breech dear friends. Or close the wall up with our Cerumen dead.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Anti Women’s Day Ribbon Campaign Falters
November 24, 2006
Melbourne; The Australian Misogynists Association, ‘You burnt me fuckin’ tea bitch’, today expressed disappointment of the lack of take up of black ribbons on offer as a counter to the White Ribbon Day of 25 November which is the United Nationals International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
‘What about when she don’t take me dick in her mouth?’ complained Erwin Ghent, a short skinny man with a food stained brown velvet jumper. ‘Surely I is allowed to give her a couple of taps eh?’
Ghent, who has not had a relationship in the last ten years said that it was time women knew their place, not bedecking themselves in white ribbons as if they didn’t fucking deserve it.
‘Where am I going?’ thundered Dirk Hadrog from beyond his bandana mouth mask, a barrel chested man with a thick Santa Clause like beard stretching over his ample stomach. ‘None of your fuckin’ business ya mol.’
The Association’s Black Ribbons, Black to represent the Shiner the Bitch got for talkin’ back, remained largely untaken up by passing commuters where the ‘You burnt me fuckin’ tea bitch’ campaign had set up their stall on the steps at Melbourne central station. However it did attract some criticism from passing female office workers.
‘What the fuck?’ said Esmeralda Phillips, a 23 year old communication professional. ‘Are they serious? I mean look how they presented themselves. The skinny bloke look like he got shat out by the fat bloke. They’re both poorly dressed and their bandanas covering their faces are graced with traces of snot and spitting tobacco. Furthermore their manifesto stapled to their crude over-pass style bedsheet banner has numerous typos such as ‘Wimmen’ and missing the all important C in the word ‘Fuck’. Which is ironic given they are clearly a pair of fuckwads.’
Hadrog and Ghent copped considerable abuse from passing workers – ranging from pointed avoidance of proffered ribbons to outright telling the duo that they were ‘cretins’, ‘gits’, or ‘a twin set of classic examples of the distilled essence of the worst aspects of Australian ockerism.’
Hadrog and Ghent said they were inspired to offer ribbons by their membership of the Blackshirts anti women movement, whose hatred of the concept of ‘your seed, your breed, you pay’ that is part of modern progressive cultures has led blackshirts to stand outside the houses of member’s ex partners with abusive posters and make threatening announcements via megaphones.
‘Dem blackshirts know about them bitches,’ said Hadrog, winking and tapping his nose. ‘They know the three holes is just there to make babies and not wear shoes and cook me fuckin’ tea without fuckin’ burnin’ it.’
Hadrog and Ghent then high fived each other but quickly took flight the moment the local chapter of ‘Dykes on bikes’ arrived on the scene to have words in regards to the Association’s viewpoints and offer a countervailing argument involving the insertion of 100 white ribbons in somewhere unpleasant.
-- AAP
Melbourne; The Australian Misogynists Association, ‘You burnt me fuckin’ tea bitch’, today expressed disappointment of the lack of take up of black ribbons on offer as a counter to the White Ribbon Day of 25 November which is the United Nationals International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
‘What about when she don’t take me dick in her mouth?’ complained Erwin Ghent, a short skinny man with a food stained brown velvet jumper. ‘Surely I is allowed to give her a couple of taps eh?’
Ghent, who has not had a relationship in the last ten years said that it was time women knew their place, not bedecking themselves in white ribbons as if they didn’t fucking deserve it.
‘Where am I going?’ thundered Dirk Hadrog from beyond his bandana mouth mask, a barrel chested man with a thick Santa Clause like beard stretching over his ample stomach. ‘None of your fuckin’ business ya mol.’
The Association’s Black Ribbons, Black to represent the Shiner the Bitch got for talkin’ back, remained largely untaken up by passing commuters where the ‘You burnt me fuckin’ tea bitch’ campaign had set up their stall on the steps at Melbourne central station. However it did attract some criticism from passing female office workers.
‘What the fuck?’ said Esmeralda Phillips, a 23 year old communication professional. ‘Are they serious? I mean look how they presented themselves. The skinny bloke look like he got shat out by the fat bloke. They’re both poorly dressed and their bandanas covering their faces are graced with traces of snot and spitting tobacco. Furthermore their manifesto stapled to their crude over-pass style bedsheet banner has numerous typos such as ‘Wimmen’ and missing the all important C in the word ‘Fuck’. Which is ironic given they are clearly a pair of fuckwads.’
Hadrog and Ghent copped considerable abuse from passing workers – ranging from pointed avoidance of proffered ribbons to outright telling the duo that they were ‘cretins’, ‘gits’, or ‘a twin set of classic examples of the distilled essence of the worst aspects of Australian ockerism.’
Hadrog and Ghent said they were inspired to offer ribbons by their membership of the Blackshirts anti women movement, whose hatred of the concept of ‘your seed, your breed, you pay’ that is part of modern progressive cultures has led blackshirts to stand outside the houses of member’s ex partners with abusive posters and make threatening announcements via megaphones.
‘Dem blackshirts know about them bitches,’ said Hadrog, winking and tapping his nose. ‘They know the three holes is just there to make babies and not wear shoes and cook me fuckin’ tea without fuckin’ burnin’ it.’
Hadrog and Ghent then high fived each other but quickly took flight the moment the local chapter of ‘Dykes on bikes’ arrived on the scene to have words in regards to the Association’s viewpoints and offer a countervailing argument involving the insertion of 100 white ribbons in somewhere unpleasant.
-- AAP
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Bogwatch
Are you a Walkaway or an Ensureaflush?
To me Ensureaflush is the only moral stance to take when it comes to twosies. To leave behind your leavings bobbing away like the chocolate bar in the pool in Caddyshack is a mental crime to inflict upon someone when they enter a loo after you.
Obviously, Ensureaflush means you not only must ensure it has flushed but that, if it has not, then you must wait for the chance to flush once more!
Yes, I agree. To wait as the tank slowly fills hissing and bubbling away until eventually the pitch of the water's rising peaks and hushes to silence is most annoying, especially if you risk the 'nearly full but not quite' re-flush that simply rocks your toilet gift from side to side in the manner of a hormonally charged East German au pair and fails to cause it to Dive!Dive!Dive!
But no, like sacrificing some of your freedom by accepting your place in a queue, you must, must, must ensure that you have flushed.
Lest you too encounter ... The Horror ... The Horror...
Just as an aside. If you leave stainies from a slopper, and there is brush cleaning equipment there, do you brush? I do.
Even if I gag as badly as one might at the sight of an ant covered piece of the Colonel's chicken left rotting just next to an overfull council park bin.
Ensureaflush. Because Australia needs you to give the all clear.
To me Ensureaflush is the only moral stance to take when it comes to twosies. To leave behind your leavings bobbing away like the chocolate bar in the pool in Caddyshack is a mental crime to inflict upon someone when they enter a loo after you.
Obviously, Ensureaflush means you not only must ensure it has flushed but that, if it has not, then you must wait for the chance to flush once more!
Yes, I agree. To wait as the tank slowly fills hissing and bubbling away until eventually the pitch of the water's rising peaks and hushes to silence is most annoying, especially if you risk the 'nearly full but not quite' re-flush that simply rocks your toilet gift from side to side in the manner of a hormonally charged East German au pair and fails to cause it to Dive!Dive!Dive!
But no, like sacrificing some of your freedom by accepting your place in a queue, you must, must, must ensure that you have flushed.
Lest you too encounter ... The Horror ... The Horror...Just as an aside. If you leave stainies from a slopper, and there is brush cleaning equipment there, do you brush? I do.
Even if I gag as badly as one might at the sight of an ant covered piece of the Colonel's chicken left rotting just next to an overfull council park bin.
Ensureaflush. Because Australia needs you to give the all clear.
Dear God Why Do I Do This To Myself?
Whilst cruising into work just past Sparrows this morning I decided to once more have a crack at eating a work cafe Bacon/Egg/Cheese Muffin.
They are without a doubt horrid. For some reason I thought getting one fresh, near 7.30 am, would make it better.
I was wrong. I don't know what it is exactly that they do, but it reminds me of the Autotea vending machine in Hitchhikers of the Galaxy that can make a cup of something almost but not quite entirely unlike tea.
Furthermore the grease paper they use to secure it sticks without fail to the muffin like fucking glue. You have to peel it off carefully lest it pull off half the fucking cheese comes off or it leaves scrapes of paper behind for your mouth to encounter after you take a bite.
Besides, given what happened last year, I really should stay the fuck away from them all together.
I love my food and I take risks with it - eating stuff I know could have me doubled up in pain five minutes later. It's a real struggle not to. But tonight I resisted getting drive thru (theWife was getting some after going lunchless in a 12 hour work day). Of course it helped having a cafe steak sandwich at lunch to make that decision easy. That and I was suffering milk bloats from shotgunning half a Caramel Latte milky drink from the servo and was so nauseous I had my head near the open window like a curiously hesitant dog.
Do you ever suffer the KFCreturns? I know I do. You eat it, feel horrid, the grease performing osmosis on your skin, and vow 'never again!'. Yet about three plus months later the lure of batter meets something that is almost but not quite entirely unlike chicken settles once more, and like a pipe smoking meglomanic General MacArthur returning to wade through the surf of the Phillipenes I am once more descending down, down, down into the depths of the cavernous Colonel.
Bastard food.
They are without a doubt horrid. For some reason I thought getting one fresh, near 7.30 am, would make it better.
I was wrong. I don't know what it is exactly that they do, but it reminds me of the Autotea vending machine in Hitchhikers of the Galaxy that can make a cup of something almost but not quite entirely unlike tea.
Furthermore the grease paper they use to secure it sticks without fail to the muffin like fucking glue. You have to peel it off carefully lest it pull off half the fucking cheese comes off or it leaves scrapes of paper behind for your mouth to encounter after you take a bite.
Besides, given what happened last year, I really should stay the fuck away from them all together.
I love my food and I take risks with it - eating stuff I know could have me doubled up in pain five minutes later. It's a real struggle not to. But tonight I resisted getting drive thru (theWife was getting some after going lunchless in a 12 hour work day). Of course it helped having a cafe steak sandwich at lunch to make that decision easy. That and I was suffering milk bloats from shotgunning half a Caramel Latte milky drink from the servo and was so nauseous I had my head near the open window like a curiously hesitant dog.
Do you ever suffer the KFCreturns? I know I do. You eat it, feel horrid, the grease performing osmosis on your skin, and vow 'never again!'. Yet about three plus months later the lure of batter meets something that is almost but not quite entirely unlike chicken settles once more, and like a pipe smoking meglomanic General MacArthur returning to wade through the surf of the Phillipenes I am once more descending down, down, down into the depths of the cavernous Colonel.
Bastard food.
SMH - maintaining the neutrality
The SMH and Fairfax in general, despite the howls of the right in this country, are balanced periodicals. Classic anti SMH statements can be found in sneering referals to it as 'the Aboriginal Morning Herald' back when Mabo was happening, and more recently partisan opinionist Piers Akerman as 'the Syrian Morning Herald' for their unbiased portrayal of the recent Israeli-Hezbollah conflict.
Miranda Devine has been shunted to the News Review on the weekends. Which is good because I don't like reading her stuff. Know thy enemy is all very well but she writes such bigoted 'Look at me Andrew [Bolt], Looks at me! I'm a big girl on a swing' crap that I get tempted to email her from work and break the 'thou shall not communicate with the media unless authorised' rule and get in trouble. Least this way it will be the weekend and I can do so.
Anyway, to replace her, and to maintain the balance, SMH have seemingly hired ‘Bill of Rights – no thanks’ James Allan, a QLD Law Professor who seems to think that giving judges the ability to determine the impact of laws on people before them against a bedrock of protection dangerously undermines the ability of a fear inducing government of right wingers to erode our civil rights.
Lousy Beatniks … with their music.
This was today’s effort – located here Sigh. Another right winger on the SMH. Well, like I said. Fairfax believes in balance of it’s opinion makers – and I guess they need a counter to Richard Ackland and his wacky insane views of laws are there to protect people not hurt them.
Allan today noted this; All those key issues simply get brushed under the carpet. Being for Kyoto gets turned into a branding exercise; it gets taken as a sign of moral virtue. Meanwhile, few people notice that many of those most vocal in demanding that the US and Australia sign up to Kyoto change their own (often affluent) lifestyles not one whit. They continue to jet around the world, own multiple houses, drive two four-wheel-drives and more.
It was such a breath taking piece of poo laced mummery that I started shouting very loudly and had to break out my ‘these are my views and not that of the agency I work for’ sign and wave it above my workstation like a parley seeking soldier in a mud filled trench.
No evidence of course – none needed – this is opinion baby. But it was such an antithesis to every one I know concerned with environmental issues that it just angered up the old blood. But surely he's right. As far as I know prominent environmentalists – like Gore – do nothing but drive around in four wheel drives at 115 miles per hour getting one mile per gallon sucking down Quarter Pounder cheeseburgers from McDonalds in the old-fashioned non-biodegradable Styrofoam containers and when they’re done sucking down those grease-ball burgers they’re gonna wipe their mouth with the American flag. And then they’re gonna toss the Styrofoam containers right out the side and there ain't a Goddamn thing anybody can do about it. (with thanks to Dennis Leary)
By the way Allan given your seeming shrieks of delight at the concept of the green minded living energy profligate lives you’d be pleased to know that many of them – like Gore – are participants in personal carbon trading ventures where they seek to balance their needs to communicate their views of ‘please can we stop killing the earth’ against their personal extra contribution to the problem by doing so (such as flying on a jet) - even if from a pure risk management strategy to emit a fraction more carbon as part of a means to attempt to massively curtail excess carbon production is a dangerously logical move.
Here’s some more righty goodness from Mr Canada/Kiwi/Now-Australia serial country hopper.
Lots of so-called civil libertarians insist on dealing in moral abstractions. It is their stock-in-trade. But any criminal justice system worth its salt requires tough lines to be drawn that are in no way self-evident ones and over which smart, reasonable, well-meaning people will inevitably disagree.
For instance, how many guilty people are worth letting go free to prevent wrongfully convicting an innocent person? (Anyone who thinks that any system could ever operate that never convicted an innocent person, by mistake, is incredibly naive or hasn't considered what it would mean to demand 100 per cent certainty of guilt.)
Similarly, ought those same levels of protection apply - to prefer having 100 guilty go free over one innocent being convicted - outside the straightforwardly criminal realm, in the realm of terrorist activities, or when fighting a war (explicit or implicit), or when administratively confining people to their homes at night?
These are not easy questions. But neither are they answered by the ritual incantation of civil libertarian sloganeering. Nor is it remotely plausible to imply, in apocalyptic undertones, that any changes at all to the existing criminal procedures in other contexts will inevitably leave us all in a Stalinesque hell where none of us have any rights or civil liberties.
Only those who bask in moral abstractions could find such frequently mouthed claims remotely plausible.
Yep because civil libertarians spend all their time thinking about crime and punishment in terms of moral abstractions and think things like ‘being charged with a crime is mandatory to detention’, having ‘control orders placed on one’s movement without being tried for a crime’, and ‘evidence under torture is not admissible in court’ is just esoteric Geoffrey Robertson style hypotheticals where a blinking out of his depth politician has just said that yes there is a circumstance where he’d mount a struggling goat (saving it from drowning) and damn the hides of the people watching from the shore with their camera phones out.
Apparently civil libertarians are not grounded in reality and spend their time coming up with complex equations to determine how many guilty people need to be free in order to prevent miscarriage of justice? It’s true, they do. It’s right up there with the ‘Angels on a pin’ argument. I believe it’s 12. 12 guilty people can go free as long as it means an innocent can walk.
Any loss of freedoms is a dagger to the heart of the secular morally progressive west. Like the end of slavery or indentured servitude. Like the end of torture. Like the ability to vote if you’re a woman or an indigenous Australian. Like the ability to claim refugee if you fear persecution on the soil of another country these are freedoms worth fighting for and worth dying for.
And I’ll be fucked if same Canuck Kiwi globe trotter starts bleating on about my fucking freedoms being traded away as part of a massively distorted scare campaign designed to bolster the ruling parties of the day, is both legitimate and correct. It’s not. It’s wrong. It's always wrong because to reduce freedoms can create a climate where greater freedoms are reduced. If not two weeks detention without charge where the media cannot disclose this has occured, why not 28 days like in the UK? Indeed why not 90 days which is what the Blair government pushed for? Why stop at 90? Why not at 'Her Majesty's Pleasure'?
Why not indeed. Finally, I just do appreciate the boot into the ACT in his side splittingly hilarious ‘this is who I am but in the third person’ on the website for his uni. Go look here.
He is delighted to have moved to a country without a bill of rights (the ACT one being too insignificant really to count).
James, I’d be delighted if you fucked off back to New Zealand or Canada and go and wank on about horrible nasty unpleasant bills of civil rights and bastard judges thwarting the goose stepping desires of right wing political parties trading not on hope for the future but Fear Uncertainty and Doubt over there. I’m sure with your simply magnificent wit you’d be able to strip such hideous legislation away from protecting the people and deny a yard stick by which the courts could measure our freedoms should a future government come in that’s even more prone to put on the puffy directing pants in the future.
Indeed James, should you ever come a cropper with the law, and you’re able to access the ACT’s bill of rights or its better balanced Anti-Terror legislation, I’d appreciate if you didn’t. Really, we wrote a law in where anyone that’s mean to us does not get the protection they deserve. For example not to be strip searched by a cop in the aftermath of a terror attack without due cause.
And if that happens I just hope they don't use the whole fucking fist.
But he's from Canada! According to the delightful Police Academy movies (that are shot in Toronto) then a sizeable number of Canucks may be into that sort of thing.
Okay I hope it happens only if you want it to. And if it doesn't happen that they don't instead dong you over the head with a baton against a phone book or something. Then while beating you up force you to sign your confession. Which is accepted by the court - because torture - well it don't count as a no no, no more.
Miranda Devine has been shunted to the News Review on the weekends. Which is good because I don't like reading her stuff. Know thy enemy is all very well but she writes such bigoted 'Look at me Andrew [Bolt], Looks at me! I'm a big girl on a swing' crap that I get tempted to email her from work and break the 'thou shall not communicate with the media unless authorised' rule and get in trouble. Least this way it will be the weekend and I can do so.
Anyway, to replace her, and to maintain the balance, SMH have seemingly hired ‘Bill of Rights – no thanks’ James Allan, a QLD Law Professor who seems to think that giving judges the ability to determine the impact of laws on people before them against a bedrock of protection dangerously undermines the ability of a fear inducing government of right wingers to erode our civil rights.
Lousy Beatniks … with their music.
This was today’s effort – located here Sigh. Another right winger on the SMH. Well, like I said. Fairfax believes in balance of it’s opinion makers – and I guess they need a counter to Richard Ackland and his wacky insane views of laws are there to protect people not hurt them.
Allan today noted this; All those key issues simply get brushed under the carpet. Being for Kyoto gets turned into a branding exercise; it gets taken as a sign of moral virtue. Meanwhile, few people notice that many of those most vocal in demanding that the US and Australia sign up to Kyoto change their own (often affluent) lifestyles not one whit. They continue to jet around the world, own multiple houses, drive two four-wheel-drives and more.
It was such a breath taking piece of poo laced mummery that I started shouting very loudly and had to break out my ‘these are my views and not that of the agency I work for’ sign and wave it above my workstation like a parley seeking soldier in a mud filled trench.
No evidence of course – none needed – this is opinion baby. But it was such an antithesis to every one I know concerned with environmental issues that it just angered up the old blood. But surely he's right. As far as I know prominent environmentalists – like Gore – do nothing but drive around in four wheel drives at 115 miles per hour getting one mile per gallon sucking down Quarter Pounder cheeseburgers from McDonalds in the old-fashioned non-biodegradable Styrofoam containers and when they’re done sucking down those grease-ball burgers they’re gonna wipe their mouth with the American flag. And then they’re gonna toss the Styrofoam containers right out the side and there ain't a Goddamn thing anybody can do about it. (with thanks to Dennis Leary)
By the way Allan given your seeming shrieks of delight at the concept of the green minded living energy profligate lives you’d be pleased to know that many of them – like Gore – are participants in personal carbon trading ventures where they seek to balance their needs to communicate their views of ‘please can we stop killing the earth’ against their personal extra contribution to the problem by doing so (such as flying on a jet) - even if from a pure risk management strategy to emit a fraction more carbon as part of a means to attempt to massively curtail excess carbon production is a dangerously logical move.
Here’s some more righty goodness from Mr Canada/Kiwi/Now-Australia serial country hopper.
Lots of so-called civil libertarians insist on dealing in moral abstractions. It is their stock-in-trade. But any criminal justice system worth its salt requires tough lines to be drawn that are in no way self-evident ones and over which smart, reasonable, well-meaning people will inevitably disagree.
For instance, how many guilty people are worth letting go free to prevent wrongfully convicting an innocent person? (Anyone who thinks that any system could ever operate that never convicted an innocent person, by mistake, is incredibly naive or hasn't considered what it would mean to demand 100 per cent certainty of guilt.)
Similarly, ought those same levels of protection apply - to prefer having 100 guilty go free over one innocent being convicted - outside the straightforwardly criminal realm, in the realm of terrorist activities, or when fighting a war (explicit or implicit), or when administratively confining people to their homes at night?
These are not easy questions. But neither are they answered by the ritual incantation of civil libertarian sloganeering. Nor is it remotely plausible to imply, in apocalyptic undertones, that any changes at all to the existing criminal procedures in other contexts will inevitably leave us all in a Stalinesque hell where none of us have any rights or civil liberties.
Only those who bask in moral abstractions could find such frequently mouthed claims remotely plausible.
Yep because civil libertarians spend all their time thinking about crime and punishment in terms of moral abstractions and think things like ‘being charged with a crime is mandatory to detention’, having ‘control orders placed on one’s movement without being tried for a crime’, and ‘evidence under torture is not admissible in court’ is just esoteric Geoffrey Robertson style hypotheticals where a blinking out of his depth politician has just said that yes there is a circumstance where he’d mount a struggling goat (saving it from drowning) and damn the hides of the people watching from the shore with their camera phones out.
Apparently civil libertarians are not grounded in reality and spend their time coming up with complex equations to determine how many guilty people need to be free in order to prevent miscarriage of justice? It’s true, they do. It’s right up there with the ‘Angels on a pin’ argument. I believe it’s 12. 12 guilty people can go free as long as it means an innocent can walk.
Any loss of freedoms is a dagger to the heart of the secular morally progressive west. Like the end of slavery or indentured servitude. Like the end of torture. Like the ability to vote if you’re a woman or an indigenous Australian. Like the ability to claim refugee if you fear persecution on the soil of another country these are freedoms worth fighting for and worth dying for.
And I’ll be fucked if same Canuck Kiwi globe trotter starts bleating on about my fucking freedoms being traded away as part of a massively distorted scare campaign designed to bolster the ruling parties of the day, is both legitimate and correct. It’s not. It’s wrong. It's always wrong because to reduce freedoms can create a climate where greater freedoms are reduced. If not two weeks detention without charge where the media cannot disclose this has occured, why not 28 days like in the UK? Indeed why not 90 days which is what the Blair government pushed for? Why stop at 90? Why not at 'Her Majesty's Pleasure'?
Why not indeed. Finally, I just do appreciate the boot into the ACT in his side splittingly hilarious ‘this is who I am but in the third person’ on the website for his uni. Go look here.
He is delighted to have moved to a country without a bill of rights (the ACT one being too insignificant really to count).
James, I’d be delighted if you fucked off back to New Zealand or Canada and go and wank on about horrible nasty unpleasant bills of civil rights and bastard judges thwarting the goose stepping desires of right wing political parties trading not on hope for the future but Fear Uncertainty and Doubt over there. I’m sure with your simply magnificent wit you’d be able to strip such hideous legislation away from protecting the people and deny a yard stick by which the courts could measure our freedoms should a future government come in that’s even more prone to put on the puffy directing pants in the future.
Indeed James, should you ever come a cropper with the law, and you’re able to access the ACT’s bill of rights or its better balanced Anti-Terror legislation, I’d appreciate if you didn’t. Really, we wrote a law in where anyone that’s mean to us does not get the protection they deserve. For example not to be strip searched by a cop in the aftermath of a terror attack without due cause.
And if that happens I just hope they don't use the whole fucking fist.But he's from Canada! According to the delightful Police Academy movies (that are shot in Toronto) then a sizeable number of Canucks may be into that sort of thing.
Okay I hope it happens only if you want it to. And if it doesn't happen that they don't instead dong you over the head with a baton against a phone book or something. Then while beating you up force you to sign your confession. Which is accepted by the court - because torture - well it don't count as a no no, no more.
Know your right wing think tanks
In the spirit of the Colbert Report ‘Know your Congressional Districts’, HM is proud to present this special column (report? Highlight? Ah – spotlight). Shining a big bright light on the sometimes shadowy sometimes not world of intellectual ‘No Homers’ clubs that right wingers gather in safe from the teeming hordes of reality based leftists crawling around academia.
We’ve done ‘The Sydney Institute’, who while not shadowy are now on some sort of mission of balance despite the fact everyone in the know knows that are as bout as balanced as I am when I play solo seesaw in the local playground.
I think we should go with a yank tank. Let’s say – the Frontiers of Freedom. Indeed, in the manner in which socialist countries where people lack democratic freedoms tend to have the word ‘People’ in their title, so too do right wing think tanks like to have words like Frontiers and Freedom. And in this one – well it’s a twofer. So already off to a great start.
Oh – I just hope it has a flag prominently displayed on it’s website – or a flag morphed into a majestic animal like a bull moose, beaver, or eagle. Because you know just how great a think tank is by the size of their flag placement (esp if morphed into a mighty animal). Indeed a good flag/animal placement reminds me of Pauline Hanson draping herself in our flag when she was the self declared ‘mother of Australia’ – before of course she spent time in jail (later acquitted) for using a Tennis club constitution as the basis for the One Nation organisation mechanics then later rehabilitated by a broken voiced appearance on Uncle Colourful Jumper’s Dancing with the Stars (C listers only).
Who are the Frontier’s of Freedom? Well they were started by Malcolm Wallop, a former three term Republican Senator from Wyoming – who is a big believer in small government. Like many Republicans are. And that of course free markets are the bees knees and that government should keep their proboscis’ out.
But what do they stand for? Let’s find out. You can find their 10 point plan here.
We Believe...
1. The most basic moral obligation of the federal government is to defend America, which requires military and economic preparation and strength. The only proper use of the military is to protect America's homeland, citizens, borders, and vital interests.
2. Property rights and economic freedom are the fertile soil in which all other rights grow and thrive. The environment is best protected and preserved where free markets thrive, capitalism is robust, and property rights are respected.
3. The Constitution's enumerated and limited powers, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, and guarantee of basic rights are the foundation of America's freedom.
4. "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" and each of the other rights guaranteed in the Constitution are necessary to the foundation of freedom - including the right to bear arms and to not be deprived of property without just compensation.
5. The courts have a constitutional duty to faithfully and strictly interpret the law and the Constitution and may not invent or create new law.
6. Justice is the equal treatment of all individuals regardless of ethnicity or religion. Fabricating group rights undermines individual freedom and civil rights.
7. Taxes may be legitimately imposed only to the extent necessary to pay for the essential and constitutionally permitted activities of government. To tax more than this is a form of tyranny and extortion.
8. Government mandates and regulations too often exceed constitutional authority, waste resources, erode freedom, diminish property rights, and produce harmful unintended consequences.
9. To remove sound science from public policy is legislative and regulatory malpractice. To employ junk science in public policy is unethical and irresponsible.
10. Basic standards of morality and civic virtue are essential to maintaining America's economic strength, military might, and freedom. Parents and families, not government, are responsible to rear and educate their children.
Lot’s of nice uses of the word freedom huh? Well done. They seem very stalwart chaps. I like the look of number 9. Damn scientists and their crazy realities. If only they could counter science with some sort of special right wing science? Here’s hoping (crosses fingers).
Sounds expensive running a think tank. There’s dinners to pay for, and functions, and director’s fees, and researchers and all sorts of yummy goodness. Damn it – where can they get some money?
Frontiers of Freedom receives money of tobacco and oil companies, including Philip Morris Cos, ExxonMobil and RJ Reynolds Tobacco. According to the New York Times: "Frontiers of Freedom, which has about a $700,000 annual budget, received $230,000 from Exxon in 2002, up from $40,000 in 2001, according to Exxon documents”.
George Landrith, President of FoF told the New York Times: “They've determined that we are effective at what we do”, He said Exxon essentially took the attitude, “We like to make it possible to do more of that”.
FoF has also received some $388,450 in 13 grants from the following five conservative foundations:
This is according to Sourcewatch. Of course it’s important whenever you post sources from the net that you identify potential biases. You know in case you’d like to be able to assess credibility against an ideological platform. Like for example those ‘planned parenthood’ organisations that tell tearful young women who are considering an abortion that they are baby murders and that sometimes aborted babies cry as they die in the bucket after a partial birth abortion.
Sourcewatch are part of the Centre for Media and Democracy - their mandate being the strengthening of participatory democracy by investigating and exposing public relations spin and propaganda, and by promoting media literacy and citizen journalism, media "of, by and for the people."
Sounds pretty lefty huh? Well lefty perhaps, but grounded in reality in the sense that they are merely providing sourced information on these PR spin groups who like to huddle and hide under the skein of science hoping that if they muddy the waters enough – like with second hand smoke or even smoking full stuff – that governments won’t do anything to thwart the interests of their bottom line.
Won’t anyone please think of the share holders?!
Anyway, back to Frontiers of Freedom. Such a grand name. It’s the sort of name that demands someone be wearing a coonskin cap and stabbing Mexicans with a Bowie Knife. Take that potential illegal immigrants – you were thinking about it (jab, jab), don’t say you weren’t.
What is FF’s view on the environment? Surely a brave think tank like this must stand up for the freedom of people to enjoy their lives surrounded by unextinct animals, colourful coral reefs – not to mention enjoy things like food whose amounts has not been lessened by extreme weather events like floods or drought? Of course they would. Let’s find out.
Their policy centre for Free Market Environmentalism and Conservation is dedicated to promoting clean air, water, and soil by championing property rights and free market solutions and combating the misinformation of extreme environmentalists with sound science, thoughtful research, cost benefit analysis, and sensible market solutions.
This apparently links to number 2 with a bullet of their manifesto and they also note that Government mandates and regulations too often exceed constitutional authority, waste resources, erode freedom, diminish property rights, and produce harmful unintended consequences.
They are right. A classic example of naughty government eroding freedoms is the Patriot Act and things like Gitmo and secret prisons and other wonderful stuff like that. But it should be noted that's freedoms of non-Americans. Not Unamericans. That's just anyone who doesn't believe what they do.
Thank God the brave people at FF are protecting the frontiers of my freedom. Why big business and corporations should take the reins from silly governments trying to do things like set up carbon trading and free market their way out any environmental issues we face. Oh – and if we are facing environmental issues lets make sure the science is 127% confirmed before we do anything at all lest it endangers property rights and free trade.
Sound Science and Thoughtful Research sounds wonderful. And most balanced.
Quick – a flag went by.
(stands to attention – salutes – waits until it is out of sight)
Phew, that was a close one. I could have had my patriotism challenged there for a second.
FF also offer up the freedom poll. Which is a poll listing the top four things, you the person who values freedom, is concerned about. What are today’s choices?
I see. Glad to see pinko-lesso-femonazi-climate-change isn’t listed. Damn junk scientists and their logic!
Phew! Terrorism is number one. I am SO not surprised. Given the serious curtailing of basic freedoms in the West in the past few years both in the US and in say Australia, these Freedom loving Frontiers of Freedom types are battling big government every single day. Go freedom fellahs go!
How else are they protecting our freedoms?
“Since our founding, Frontiers has grown from a start-up organization with big ideas to a preeminent think tank that is making a real and tangible difference advancing common sense ideas for government. One of our greatest sources of pride has been our position on the front lines in the battle to make a national missile defense system a reality. Our efforts earned us a seat across the table, literally, from President Bush on the day he announced our withdrawal from the ABM Treaty. In addition, we have both provided and received briefings from Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and his Deputy Paul Wolfowitz. We are proud to be considered an asset to the national security community during these times of serious global insecurity.”
FF talk tough
Thank God (again) that lousy lesbian factory of an ABM treaty was scrapped allowing the United States to develop anti missile technology that would possibly potentially prevent anyone from attacking them with 20 or less ICBMs which in no way would encourage countries with 20 ICBMs – like China – to massively upscale their interest in making more ICBMs (especially MIRV ICBMS which are very hard to defeat with a missile defence shield) or indeed Russia to continue with previous mothballed projects like Anti Ballistic Missile Defence defeating re-entry warheads that could change their descent characteristics whilst hiding amongst decoys and still be able to destroy their target quite easily despite the roughly 100 billion US the US will spend over the next decade or so to protect the US (and us) – or indeed encourage other would be members of the nuke club to either likewise proliferate or choose non ICBM delivery systems like a container ship or truck or a low flying cruise missile launched from 20 kays off shore.
It’s people like Frontiers of Freedom who are at the Frontiers of Freedom. Presumably stopping immigrants and other scum from wanting a taste of our freedoms.
Frontiers of Freedom, thank you for participating in today’s ‘Know your right wing think-tank’. You have proved that even though right wing think-tanks tend to be place holders for when the Republican administration has been run out of town and that tobacco and oil company revenues can support you in the life which you deserve all the while you defending special interests and promote extremely minor dissenting views against commonly agreed upon theories or scientific consensus in order to protect share holders, your love of Freedom will always, always be enduring.
God bless you and God bless the United States of America (and associated English Speaking Judeo Christian Countries).
Oh - for some interesting views on think tanks see Uncle Bruce's site here.
We’ve done ‘The Sydney Institute’, who while not shadowy are now on some sort of mission of balance despite the fact everyone in the know knows that are as bout as balanced as I am when I play solo seesaw in the local playground.
I think we should go with a yank tank. Let’s say – the Frontiers of Freedom. Indeed, in the manner in which socialist countries where people lack democratic freedoms tend to have the word ‘People’ in their title, so too do right wing think tanks like to have words like Frontiers and Freedom. And in this one – well it’s a twofer. So already off to a great start.
Oh – I just hope it has a flag prominently displayed on it’s website – or a flag morphed into a majestic animal like a bull moose, beaver, or eagle. Because you know just how great a think tank is by the size of their flag placement (esp if morphed into a mighty animal). Indeed a good flag/animal placement reminds me of Pauline Hanson draping herself in our flag when she was the self declared ‘mother of Australia’ – before of course she spent time in jail (later acquitted) for using a Tennis club constitution as the basis for the One Nation organisation mechanics then later rehabilitated by a broken voiced appearance on Uncle Colourful Jumper’s Dancing with the Stars (C listers only). 
Who are the Frontier’s of Freedom? Well they were started by Malcolm Wallop, a former three term Republican Senator from Wyoming – who is a big believer in small government. Like many Republicans are. And that of course free markets are the bees knees and that government should keep their proboscis’ out.But what do they stand for? Let’s find out. You can find their 10 point plan here.
We Believe...
1. The most basic moral obligation of the federal government is to defend America, which requires military and economic preparation and strength. The only proper use of the military is to protect America's homeland, citizens, borders, and vital interests.
2. Property rights and economic freedom are the fertile soil in which all other rights grow and thrive. The environment is best protected and preserved where free markets thrive, capitalism is robust, and property rights are respected.
3. The Constitution's enumerated and limited powers, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, and guarantee of basic rights are the foundation of America's freedom.
4. "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" and each of the other rights guaranteed in the Constitution are necessary to the foundation of freedom - including the right to bear arms and to not be deprived of property without just compensation.
5. The courts have a constitutional duty to faithfully and strictly interpret the law and the Constitution and may not invent or create new law.
6. Justice is the equal treatment of all individuals regardless of ethnicity or religion. Fabricating group rights undermines individual freedom and civil rights.
7. Taxes may be legitimately imposed only to the extent necessary to pay for the essential and constitutionally permitted activities of government. To tax more than this is a form of tyranny and extortion.
8. Government mandates and regulations too often exceed constitutional authority, waste resources, erode freedom, diminish property rights, and produce harmful unintended consequences.
9. To remove sound science from public policy is legislative and regulatory malpractice. To employ junk science in public policy is unethical and irresponsible.
10. Basic standards of morality and civic virtue are essential to maintaining America's economic strength, military might, and freedom. Parents and families, not government, are responsible to rear and educate their children.
Lot’s of nice uses of the word freedom huh? Well done. They seem very stalwart chaps. I like the look of number 9. Damn scientists and their crazy realities. If only they could counter science with some sort of special right wing science? Here’s hoping (crosses fingers).
Sounds expensive running a think tank. There’s dinners to pay for, and functions, and director’s fees, and researchers and all sorts of yummy goodness. Damn it – where can they get some money?
Frontiers of Freedom receives money of tobacco and oil companies, including Philip Morris Cos, ExxonMobil and RJ Reynolds Tobacco. According to the New York Times: "Frontiers of Freedom, which has about a $700,000 annual budget, received $230,000 from Exxon in 2002, up from $40,000 in 2001, according to Exxon documents”.
George Landrith, President of FoF told the New York Times: “They've determined that we are effective at what we do”, He said Exxon essentially took the attitude, “We like to make it possible to do more of that”.
FoF has also received some $388,450 in 13 grants from the following five conservative foundations:
This is according to Sourcewatch. Of course it’s important whenever you post sources from the net that you identify potential biases. You know in case you’d like to be able to assess credibility against an ideological platform. Like for example those ‘planned parenthood’ organisations that tell tearful young women who are considering an abortion that they are baby murders and that sometimes aborted babies cry as they die in the bucket after a partial birth abortion.
Sourcewatch are part of the Centre for Media and Democracy - their mandate being the strengthening of participatory democracy by investigating and exposing public relations spin and propaganda, and by promoting media literacy and citizen journalism, media "of, by and for the people."
Sounds pretty lefty huh? Well lefty perhaps, but grounded in reality in the sense that they are merely providing sourced information on these PR spin groups who like to huddle and hide under the skein of science hoping that if they muddy the waters enough – like with second hand smoke or even smoking full stuff – that governments won’t do anything to thwart the interests of their bottom line.
Won’t anyone please think of the share holders?!Anyway, back to Frontiers of Freedom. Such a grand name. It’s the sort of name that demands someone be wearing a coonskin cap and stabbing Mexicans with a Bowie Knife. Take that potential illegal immigrants – you were thinking about it (jab, jab), don’t say you weren’t.
What is FF’s view on the environment? Surely a brave think tank like this must stand up for the freedom of people to enjoy their lives surrounded by unextinct animals, colourful coral reefs – not to mention enjoy things like food whose amounts has not been lessened by extreme weather events like floods or drought? Of course they would. Let’s find out.
Their policy centre for Free Market Environmentalism and Conservation is dedicated to promoting clean air, water, and soil by championing property rights and free market solutions and combating the misinformation of extreme environmentalists with sound science, thoughtful research, cost benefit analysis, and sensible market solutions.
This apparently links to number 2 with a bullet of their manifesto and they also note that Government mandates and regulations too often exceed constitutional authority, waste resources, erode freedom, diminish property rights, and produce harmful unintended consequences.
They are right. A classic example of naughty government eroding freedoms is the Patriot Act and things like Gitmo and secret prisons and other wonderful stuff like that. But it should be noted that's freedoms of non-Americans. Not Unamericans. That's just anyone who doesn't believe what they do.
Thank God the brave people at FF are protecting the frontiers of my freedom. Why big business and corporations should take the reins from silly governments trying to do things like set up carbon trading and free market their way out any environmental issues we face. Oh – and if we are facing environmental issues lets make sure the science is 127% confirmed before we do anything at all lest it endangers property rights and free trade.
Sound Science and Thoughtful Research sounds wonderful. And most balanced.
Quick – a flag went by.
(stands to attention – salutes – waits until it is out of sight)
Phew, that was a close one. I could have had my patriotism challenged there for a second.
FF also offer up the freedom poll. Which is a poll listing the top four things, you the person who values freedom, is concerned about. What are today’s choices?
I see. Glad to see pinko-lesso-femonazi-climate-change isn’t listed. Damn junk scientists and their logic!
Phew! Terrorism is number one. I am SO not surprised. Given the serious curtailing of basic freedoms in the West in the past few years both in the US and in say Australia, these Freedom loving Frontiers of Freedom types are battling big government every single day. Go freedom fellahs go!
How else are they protecting our freedoms?
“Since our founding, Frontiers has grown from a start-up organization with big ideas to a preeminent think tank that is making a real and tangible difference advancing common sense ideas for government. One of our greatest sources of pride has been our position on the front lines in the battle to make a national missile defense system a reality. Our efforts earned us a seat across the table, literally, from President Bush on the day he announced our withdrawal from the ABM Treaty. In addition, we have both provided and received briefings from Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and his Deputy Paul Wolfowitz. We are proud to be considered an asset to the national security community during these times of serious global insecurity.”
FF talk tough
Thank God (again) that lousy lesbian factory of an ABM treaty was scrapped allowing the United States to develop anti missile technology that would possibly potentially prevent anyone from attacking them with 20 or less ICBMs which in no way would encourage countries with 20 ICBMs – like China – to massively upscale their interest in making more ICBMs (especially MIRV ICBMS which are very hard to defeat with a missile defence shield) or indeed Russia to continue with previous mothballed projects like Anti Ballistic Missile Defence defeating re-entry warheads that could change their descent characteristics whilst hiding amongst decoys and still be able to destroy their target quite easily despite the roughly 100 billion US the US will spend over the next decade or so to protect the US (and us) – or indeed encourage other would be members of the nuke club to either likewise proliferate or choose non ICBM delivery systems like a container ship or truck or a low flying cruise missile launched from 20 kays off shore.
It’s people like Frontiers of Freedom who are at the Frontiers of Freedom. Presumably stopping immigrants and other scum from wanting a taste of our freedoms.
Frontiers of Freedom, thank you for participating in today’s ‘Know your right wing think-tank’. You have proved that even though right wing think-tanks tend to be place holders for when the Republican administration has been run out of town and that tobacco and oil company revenues can support you in the life which you deserve all the while you defending special interests and promote extremely minor dissenting views against commonly agreed upon theories or scientific consensus in order to protect share holders, your love of Freedom will always, always be enduring.
God bless you and God bless the United States of America (and associated English Speaking Judeo Christian Countries).
Oh - for some interesting views on think tanks see Uncle Bruce's site here.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Toadys and sycophants take note - this is how you do it
Prince George: Why, sir, you are the hardy stock that is the core of Britain's greatness. You have the physique of a demigod. Purple of cheek, and plump of fetlock, the shapely ankle and the well-filled trouser that tells of a human body in perfect working order.
Blackadder: He's dead, sir.
Prince George: Dead?
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Awesome line (paraphrased)
"It’s the old, old story. I remembered to apply the sunscreen but completely forgot to baste my groin with crab repellent."
From One Foot in the Grave
Foundation - take four
Are there books in your life that you have tried to read time and time again but faltered around the same spot each time you got back on the horse?
I have. One is Greg Evan's Quarrantine. Which is an excellent book - it's just that the probability bit in the middle gets to me and I put it down. I've had three cracks at it.
The other is the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov. Three cracks likewise.
So that's it. Make or break time. I'm going to read it all the way through this time!
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
(Fades as HM marches into the darkening horizon)
(Note - where I got these lyrics - there's the music auto playing too! Freaked me out in my tiny dark study in my very dark and hot house it did - see here)
I have. One is Greg Evan's Quarrantine. Which is an excellent book - it's just that the probability bit in the middle gets to me and I put it down. I've had three cracks at it.
The other is the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov. Three cracks likewise.
So that's it. Make or break time. I'm going to read it all the way through this time!
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
(Fades as HM marches into the darkening horizon)
(Note - where I got these lyrics - there's the music auto playing too! Freaked me out in my tiny dark study in my very dark and hot house it did - see here)
Hendo just don’t get it – or does he?
Stalwart conservative Gerard Henderson, who for some reason sticks with the dangerously lefty Fairfax press (it’s not – right wingers thing it is since the centre is to their left), today once more stuck the boot into the left.
His complaint? That the left apparently dominates the Intellectual life of Oz. This despite for example his beloved Howard and his righty cronies deliberately stacking the ABC board with their beloved conservative megathinkers.
How does Hendo come up with this idea?
Let’s see.
As the 2006 Lowy Institute poll showed, 42 per cent of Australians regard the [US] alliance as "very important" to security. Twenty-eight per cent regard it as "fairly important", with 22 per cent believing it is "somewhat important".
This leaves just under 10 per cent maintaining that the alliance is "not at all important" - about the vote of the Greens. The evidence suggests opposition to the alliance is significantly higher among academics, artists, commentators and professionals than it is within the general population. Yet it will be from this group the [Australian-American] centre will recruit its staff.
Really? That’s it. That’s his evidence that the left controls the intellectual life of this country. That because the Greens get about 10% of the vote, and about 10% of people are against the alliance, that they auto match up. And that the staff of the impending centre will naturally be taken from professional ranks just swarming with nasty socialists and communists and greens etc etc.
He then bags out Hugh White for his initial role in the Australian Strategic Policy Institute because he once served as an advisor to Hawke in the 80s and criticises some government policies because he sees himself as an independent. Yes Gerard, White was an advisor about 20 years ago and he was recruited not from political ALP ranks but from the Office of National Assessments where he was a senior fucking analyst. He was recruited not because he was a brother as you imply but because unlike yourself he was an objective strategic analyst recruited for his ability to fucking analyse strategy.
Of course he shouldn't let facts get in the way of his wacky anti left theories.
According to Hendo an independent strategic think tank set up by the government to give impartial strategic advice isn’t allowed to be critical of government policy even if the government policy impedes our strategic safety. For example getting involved in wars of the middle east, or importing uranium - such as to India - possibly leading to a regional arms race.
Today, under new leadership, the institute remains an occasional critic of the Government. On September 1, for example, The Age newspaper led with a warning that "an Australian decision to refine uranium for export could trigger a regional nuclear arms race". Its source was a "government-funded think tank" - the institute,, which had published a paper to this effect by a staffer, Dr Andrew Davies.
Jesus Christ, what kind of a partisan hack is this?!
Let's find out at the ASPI website
Andrew is a theoretical physicist by training, and published research papers in the area of high-energy particle physics while at the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University.
Hendo clearly does not understand the concept of independence. He seems to think that just because an organisation that receives government funding (the ABC, ASPI) that is set up to be independent shouldn’t actually criticise said government – even though it is independent. It’s the sort of woolly thinking that is home to other extremist governments like the kind of 'big on May Day parades features missiles and lots of fruit salad be medalled generals waving from elaborate balconies' types.
Then he chucks this in.
For historical reasons, there are fewer conservative intellectuals - on a per capita basis - in Australia than in the US or Britain. What's more, many leading conservatives have left-wing or mainstream pro-Labor social democrat backgrounds. There are very few cradle-to-grave conservatives here and it is not clear to what extent this is changing among the younger generation.
No figures provided at all for this assertion. No evidence. Just typical Hendo out of his arsehole righty rhetoric along the lines of ‘it is true because I have said it is.’
Why Hendo? Why are there no cradle to grave conservatives? Maybe here’s why. We don’t have a class stratification like the UK has where the toffs end up in elite schools and universities and have a nobility as part of their political system. And here in Oz we don’t have evangelical Christians warping the message of Christ into some sort of bizarre crusade against Adam and Steve saying ‘I do’. Least, not yet.
Australia is a modern, secular, progressive state. And gee whiz it could just be that many of its professional classes appear to lean left.
If that's the case I doubt it’s not because of some conspiracy about the left dominating universities. I bet it’s because professional people tend to be able to think. Tend to be interested in what is happening in their society. And tend to look at conservative ideologues fostering a campaign of dog whistling wedge attacks on vulnerable members of the community as a bad thing.
But hey Howard is doing his best. His backing of Hillsong and his enforcing the message that it’s about what’s in your wallet or McMansion that what’s in your heart is having an effect. Those growing up now are growing up potentially more mean spirited and materially focussed than previous generations. Classic conservative fodder. Remember the South Park Conservatives theory?
Finally I also love the fact that Hendo is described as the Executive Director of the Sydney Institute, which doesn’t have to explain what it’s mission statement is. I think it should. I think it should say this.
‘Gerard Henderson is executive director of the Sydney Institute, a right wing think tank that is latched to the underbelly of the Liberal Party in the manner of a sucker fish on the stomach of a shark’.
For Hendo’s ‘lefty lament’ see here.
BTW I had a quick squiz at the site. Hendo seems to be attempting to present the Institute as some sort of non partisan think tank with the removal of key words about its conservative role - and with prominent pics of ALP members in its masthead.
Alas he is undone by google - with the following tag appearing under the URL if you search for it via there.
"A conservative think tank dedicated to the principle of policy debate. It conducts more than 50 lectures, seminars and panel discussions each year."
Nice one Hendo. Way to try and Gobbels your site as appearing to be, dare I say, "Fair and Balanced"?
His complaint? That the left apparently dominates the Intellectual life of Oz. This despite for example his beloved Howard and his righty cronies deliberately stacking the ABC board with their beloved conservative megathinkers.
How does Hendo come up with this idea?
Let’s see.
As the 2006 Lowy Institute poll showed, 42 per cent of Australians regard the [US] alliance as "very important" to security. Twenty-eight per cent regard it as "fairly important", with 22 per cent believing it is "somewhat important".
This leaves just under 10 per cent maintaining that the alliance is "not at all important" - about the vote of the Greens. The evidence suggests opposition to the alliance is significantly higher among academics, artists, commentators and professionals than it is within the general population. Yet it will be from this group the [Australian-American] centre will recruit its staff.
Really? That’s it. That’s his evidence that the left controls the intellectual life of this country. That because the Greens get about 10% of the vote, and about 10% of people are against the alliance, that they auto match up. And that the staff of the impending centre will naturally be taken from professional ranks just swarming with nasty socialists and communists and greens etc etc.
He then bags out Hugh White for his initial role in the Australian Strategic Policy Institute because he once served as an advisor to Hawke in the 80s and criticises some government policies because he sees himself as an independent. Yes Gerard, White was an advisor about 20 years ago and he was recruited not from political ALP ranks but from the Office of National Assessments where he was a senior fucking analyst. He was recruited not because he was a brother as you imply but because unlike yourself he was an objective strategic analyst recruited for his ability to fucking analyse strategy.
Of course he shouldn't let facts get in the way of his wacky anti left theories.
According to Hendo an independent strategic think tank set up by the government to give impartial strategic advice isn’t allowed to be critical of government policy even if the government policy impedes our strategic safety. For example getting involved in wars of the middle east, or importing uranium - such as to India - possibly leading to a regional arms race.
Today, under new leadership, the institute remains an occasional critic of the Government. On September 1, for example, The Age newspaper led with a warning that "an Australian decision to refine uranium for export could trigger a regional nuclear arms race". Its source was a "government-funded think tank" - the institute,, which had published a paper to this effect by a staffer, Dr Andrew Davies.
Jesus Christ, what kind of a partisan hack is this?!
Let's find out at the ASPI website
Andrew is a theoretical physicist by training, and published research papers in the area of high-energy particle physics while at the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University.
Andrew [Davies] joined the Analytic Studies Group in the Department of Defence in 1994. He worked on a range of scientific studies in support of Defence decision making, including submarine detection for the RAN, Army firepower options and RAAF stand-off weapons effectiveness. He led the Capability Analysis Branch within Defence Headquarters for a time, before moving into the world of signals intelligence and information security with the Defence Signals Directorate, where he held a number of positions.
Andrew joined the Australian Strategic Policy Institute as director of the Operations and Capability Program in 2006.
Holy fuck what a communist! Quick, call ASIO. If they're fast they may be able to apply the three second rule in case his red germs have coated the rest of the likely pink staff! In fact, better put the lot of them under control orders just to be sure.Hendo clearly does not understand the concept of independence. He seems to think that just because an organisation that receives government funding (the ABC, ASPI) that is set up to be independent shouldn’t actually criticise said government – even though it is independent. It’s the sort of woolly thinking that is home to other extremist governments like the kind of 'big on May Day parades features missiles and lots of fruit salad be medalled generals waving from elaborate balconies' types.
Then he chucks this in.
For historical reasons, there are fewer conservative intellectuals - on a per capita basis - in Australia than in the US or Britain. What's more, many leading conservatives have left-wing or mainstream pro-Labor social democrat backgrounds. There are very few cradle-to-grave conservatives here and it is not clear to what extent this is changing among the younger generation.
No figures provided at all for this assertion. No evidence. Just typical Hendo out of his arsehole righty rhetoric along the lines of ‘it is true because I have said it is.’
Why Hendo? Why are there no cradle to grave conservatives? Maybe here’s why. We don’t have a class stratification like the UK has where the toffs end up in elite schools and universities and have a nobility as part of their political system. And here in Oz we don’t have evangelical Christians warping the message of Christ into some sort of bizarre crusade against Adam and Steve saying ‘I do’. Least, not yet.
Australia is a modern, secular, progressive state. And gee whiz it could just be that many of its professional classes appear to lean left.
If that's the case I doubt it’s not because of some conspiracy about the left dominating universities. I bet it’s because professional people tend to be able to think. Tend to be interested in what is happening in their society. And tend to look at conservative ideologues fostering a campaign of dog whistling wedge attacks on vulnerable members of the community as a bad thing.
But hey Howard is doing his best. His backing of Hillsong and his enforcing the message that it’s about what’s in your wallet or McMansion that what’s in your heart is having an effect. Those growing up now are growing up potentially more mean spirited and materially focussed than previous generations. Classic conservative fodder. Remember the South Park Conservatives theory?
Finally I also love the fact that Hendo is described as the Executive Director of the Sydney Institute, which doesn’t have to explain what it’s mission statement is. I think it should. I think it should say this.
‘Gerard Henderson is executive director of the Sydney Institute, a right wing think tank that is latched to the underbelly of the Liberal Party in the manner of a sucker fish on the stomach of a shark’.
For Hendo’s ‘lefty lament’ see here.
BTW I had a quick squiz at the site. Hendo seems to be attempting to present the Institute as some sort of non partisan think tank with the removal of key words about its conservative role - and with prominent pics of ALP members in its masthead.
Alas he is undone by google - with the following tag appearing under the URL if you search for it via there.
"A conservative think tank dedicated to the principle of policy debate. It conducts more than 50 lectures, seminars and panel discussions each year."
Nice one Hendo. Way to try and Gobbels your site as appearing to be, dare I say, "Fair and Balanced"?
Monday, November 20, 2006
Hello f_ckwit - and I just love his 10% for Tsunami victims - dude that was SO 2005
Greetings
I am Mr. Charles Brown, a Canadian attorney based in
Manchester, United Kingdom and the personal attorney to Late Mr. Mark
Michelle, a French National. Late Mr. Mark Michelle until his untimely
death was a private oil consultant/contractor with the Shell Petroleum
Development Company In Saudi Arabia, hereinafter shall be referred to
as my client.
On 21st April 2000, my client and his wife with their
three children were involved in a ghastly auto crash; all occupants of
the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then, I have made
several
enquiries with his country’s' embassies to locate any of my
clients extended relatives. After several unsuccessful attempts, I
decided to personally contact you with this business partnership
proposal.
The deceased had a deposit valued presently at Eighteen
Million United states dollars and the company has issued me a notice to
provide his next of kin or beneficiary. Having been unsuccessful in
locating any of my late client relatives for over two (2) years now. I
am now seeking your consent to present you as the next of
kin/beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account
can be paid to you.
I have worked out modalities for achieving my
aim of appointing a next of kin as well as transferring the money
abroad for us to share in the ratio of 50% for me and 35% for you, and
we shall collectively donate 10% to the Tsunami relief course while 5%
will be set aside for any incurable expenses both local and
international.
The money transfer paperwork itself will include a
certificate of origin so that the receiving bank does not ask
questions. Also the paperwork will include proper certificate that the
fund being transferred is from non-criminal sources. In short this will
be a proper and legal money transfer with no risk involved. The
transaction is guaranteed to succeed without any problem. All I need is
your trust and confidence. Provide me with these information:
1. Your
contact phone and fax numbers.
2. Location address
As soon as I hear
from you, I shall provide you with further clarification that you may
need to know.
Faithfully yours,
Mr. Charles Brown
Charles Brown [lawoffice02files@virgilio.it]
I am Mr. Charles Brown, a Canadian attorney based in
Manchester, United Kingdom and the personal attorney to Late Mr. Mark
Michelle, a French National. Late Mr. Mark Michelle until his untimely
death was a private oil consultant/contractor with the Shell Petroleum
Development Company In Saudi Arabia, hereinafter shall be referred to
as my client.
On 21st April 2000, my client and his wife with their
three children were involved in a ghastly auto crash; all occupants of
the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then, I have made
several
enquiries with his country’s' embassies to locate any of my
clients extended relatives. After several unsuccessful attempts, I
decided to personally contact you with this business partnership
proposal.
The deceased had a deposit valued presently at Eighteen
Million United states dollars and the company has issued me a notice to
provide his next of kin or beneficiary. Having been unsuccessful in
locating any of my late client relatives for over two (2) years now. I
am now seeking your consent to present you as the next of
kin/beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account
can be paid to you.
I have worked out modalities for achieving my
aim of appointing a next of kin as well as transferring the money
abroad for us to share in the ratio of 50% for me and 35% for you, and
we shall collectively donate 10% to the Tsunami relief course while 5%
will be set aside for any incurable expenses both local and
international.
The money transfer paperwork itself will include a
certificate of origin so that the receiving bank does not ask
questions. Also the paperwork will include proper certificate that the
fund being transferred is from non-criminal sources. In short this will
be a proper and legal money transfer with no risk involved. The
transaction is guaranteed to succeed without any problem. All I need is
your trust and confidence. Provide me with these information:
1. Your
contact phone and fax numbers.
2. Location address
As soon as I hear
from you, I shall provide you with further clarification that you may
need to know.
Faithfully yours,
Mr. Charles Brown
Charles Brown [lawoffice02files@virgilio.it]
PM while lauding veterans makes an interesting comment
Howard, whilst out wearing what appears to be a barber's smock in the annual APEC 'national costume' parade, made an interesting comment today which I heard driving into work.
Now this is paraphrased since it was on the radio - though I will try and find if a transcript exists.
As background these comments were made in advance of an impending visit in another country to a memorial where we shot a bunch of that country's people, Long Tan (and let's not underplay the import to veterans - we held our heads high in that country in regards to our conduct and specifically for the battle - as far as conventional combat went the Oz scored an impressive victory against the odds - even if the motivation for being there in the first place could be considered in error).
Of Vietnam Howard said that 'Australians who supported or opposed the war both treated returning soldiers pretty shabbily (and we did - he's right). As a result Australia collectively owes its apologies to these men (and some women) for the abuse and pain and suffering they received when they came home.'
Again - he's completely right. Which is why anti-war movements have learned their lesson and not attacked troops when they return from overseas service for the simple fact they had to go where they were ordered to go. Remember - the military is a sword. It can be used for fell purpose and for good purpose - witness the stability roles the ADF has performed admirably in the past few years, in addition to saving thousands of lives in the aftermath of natural disaster such as in Indonesia and Pakistan.
But - such sentiments - of expressing the belief that Australians owe an apology for the mistreatment of a particular segment of our population (whether for altruistic purposes or out of ignorance), that being veterans in this case, stands in remarkable contrast to his refusal to apologise or express the opinion that what happened to Aboriginal Australians since White Settlement was a black stain on our nation's history.
We have 50,000 Vietnam vets, or thereabouts. Some of whom are grappling with injury, poverty, post traumatic stress and even genetic abnormalities in their children. All veterans deserve to be supported if not lauded for doing a shitty job when asked to do so and risk their lives - however mistaken the intent - in defending others. We owe them an apology and whatever assistance they require to help them with the difficulties they face. Goes without saying.
Yet Aboriginal Australians have a life expectancy of 20 years less than whites, are many times more likely to end up in jail or with lifestyle caused diseases like type 2 diabetes, and lack access to services and educational norms we in the larger centres expect and enjoy. And there's no apology for the shit they went through from the federal government - and precious little support beyond beating the law and order drum and demanding police where health and educational professionals should be instead.
And there's about ten times as many of them than Vietnam veterans.
Makes you think. But then at the end of the day politically it makes sense. Supporting veterans is a plus, is visible, and the wider community has a better understanding of the need to provide for them. Supporting aboriginals is a waste, a crime, a tax payer leech, since typically in media stories they are only reported for the loss of their humanity and waste of resources invested rather than the need to help them, long term, over generations, so their lives become richer, fulfilled, and better akin to the norms most of us enjoy. Or at the very least given every opportunity to do so should they wish to.
God bless the 18 men who died at Long Tan. And God bless the hundreds and thousands of Aboriginal Australians that too will live shortened lives under this current government.
Now this is paraphrased since it was on the radio - though I will try and find if a transcript exists.
As background these comments were made in advance of an impending visit in another country to a memorial where we shot a bunch of that country's people, Long Tan (and let's not underplay the import to veterans - we held our heads high in that country in regards to our conduct and specifically for the battle - as far as conventional combat went the Oz scored an impressive victory against the odds - even if the motivation for being there in the first place could be considered in error).
Of Vietnam Howard said that 'Australians who supported or opposed the war both treated returning soldiers pretty shabbily (and we did - he's right). As a result Australia collectively owes its apologies to these men (and some women) for the abuse and pain and suffering they received when they came home.'
Again - he's completely right. Which is why anti-war movements have learned their lesson and not attacked troops when they return from overseas service for the simple fact they had to go where they were ordered to go. Remember - the military is a sword. It can be used for fell purpose and for good purpose - witness the stability roles the ADF has performed admirably in the past few years, in addition to saving thousands of lives in the aftermath of natural disaster such as in Indonesia and Pakistan.
But - such sentiments - of expressing the belief that Australians owe an apology for the mistreatment of a particular segment of our population (whether for altruistic purposes or out of ignorance), that being veterans in this case, stands in remarkable contrast to his refusal to apologise or express the opinion that what happened to Aboriginal Australians since White Settlement was a black stain on our nation's history.
We have 50,000 Vietnam vets, or thereabouts. Some of whom are grappling with injury, poverty, post traumatic stress and even genetic abnormalities in their children. All veterans deserve to be supported if not lauded for doing a shitty job when asked to do so and risk their lives - however mistaken the intent - in defending others. We owe them an apology and whatever assistance they require to help them with the difficulties they face. Goes without saying.
Yet Aboriginal Australians have a life expectancy of 20 years less than whites, are many times more likely to end up in jail or with lifestyle caused diseases like type 2 diabetes, and lack access to services and educational norms we in the larger centres expect and enjoy. And there's no apology for the shit they went through from the federal government - and precious little support beyond beating the law and order drum and demanding police where health and educational professionals should be instead.
And there's about ten times as many of them than Vietnam veterans.
Makes you think. But then at the end of the day politically it makes sense. Supporting veterans is a plus, is visible, and the wider community has a better understanding of the need to provide for them. Supporting aboriginals is a waste, a crime, a tax payer leech, since typically in media stories they are only reported for the loss of their humanity and waste of resources invested rather than the need to help them, long term, over generations, so their lives become richer, fulfilled, and better akin to the norms most of us enjoy. Or at the very least given every opportunity to do so should they wish to.
God bless the 18 men who died at Long Tan. And God bless the hundreds and thousands of Aboriginal Australians that too will live shortened lives under this current government.
Playing with Mice
TheWife is away in Sydney for work. So I am all alone here in Canberra. As a married person I look forward to occasional absences - as she does with me I am sure. Because you can do things that ordinarily requires negotiation otherwise. For example listening to your music loudly. Watching a movie only you would like (Conair for example). Or eating what you want without having to clear it first.
Last night I went too far. I had a steak dinner - nice piece of steak, peas, potatoes. Delish. So delish I had it again - almost to the same size. Why? Because I could.
Then I had dessert. A mini blackberry apple pie & cream & ice cream. Yum. So good in fact - I had it again.
That's right. I ate two main meals and two desserts.
I lay on the bed about 11 pm, my stomach distended like a fly blown child in a charity advertisement - only of course mine was full not the result of malnutrition that was imperilling my organs like said starving children.
(Donate to Save the Children - they rawk).
So much pain. Slept terribly. Went to work no breakfast, and had an apple for lunch. Feeling better now - just - and am going to have another crack at a Mikey only dinner. Same again as last night - only half as much.
IBS - a cure for being greedy, because if you go overboard with your consumption then literally it's a pain in the arse.
Last night I went too far. I had a steak dinner - nice piece of steak, peas, potatoes. Delish. So delish I had it again - almost to the same size. Why? Because I could.
Then I had dessert. A mini blackberry apple pie & cream & ice cream. Yum. So good in fact - I had it again.
That's right. I ate two main meals and two desserts.
I lay on the bed about 11 pm, my stomach distended like a fly blown child in a charity advertisement - only of course mine was full not the result of malnutrition that was imperilling my organs like said starving children.
(Donate to Save the Children - they rawk).
So much pain. Slept terribly. Went to work no breakfast, and had an apple for lunch. Feeling better now - just - and am going to have another crack at a Mikey only dinner. Same again as last night - only half as much.
IBS - a cure for being greedy, because if you go overboard with your consumption then literally it's a pain in the arse.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
B*gger
I was reading the Australian Magazine, the colour supplement to the Weekend Australian. They had an article on survivalists.
Not the Montana Militia kind with Aryan mindsets we know and love from movies and literature. But rather the genuinely concerned normal Australians who are looking at a world running out of resources and taking steps to be able to adjust their way of life if society as we know it takes a massive hit. For example a sharp increase in Oil leading to economic depression across the globe because the supply of oil has peaked (aka the peak oil theory).
Sensible things like having a water tank installed, energy efficient transport (like a rugged bike or motorbike), learning to grow vegies, actually growing vegies, putting in fruit trees, choosing jobs that are likely to continue even in a depression such as teaching. Even to the extent of learning esoteric survival skills like plant identification and rope making should the need arise.
The people interviewed did not seem like crack pots. They were not concerned with purity this or aliens that. They instead see a world that's heading at speed for a brick wall and they're opening the car door in anticipation of a shoulder roll into the gutter.
I'm reading this just having finished the awesome novel Underground, about an Australia in 2011 that is under the emergency dictatorship of the successor to John Howard. Sure it's fiction. But it's fiction a little close to the bone. Here's a review from the Age.
In fact here's the site for the book - here.
I am not a Chicken Little. I tend to wait for facts to roll in, or at the least pretty rock solid theories, before I get worried. But I remember on the night of September 11 (was it 12 for us?) thinking how much the world was going to change for the worse.
It's getting worse. I can feel it. Environmentally and resource wise things are not looking good. And while I am a public servant, and my employment in theory is sound, cost cuttings happen and I could find myself unemployed and unable to cope in a collapsing world pretty quick smart.
Eeep.
I think I might have to think about learning how to grow vegies. I sometimes joke about how I'd be meat on the hoof for badland mutants if the world went to shit. But could that actually happen? Maybe not so much the mutants, but when you think about it that adage that society is only three meals from collapse does spring to mind...
Not the Montana Militia kind with Aryan mindsets we know and love from movies and literature. But rather the genuinely concerned normal Australians who are looking at a world running out of resources and taking steps to be able to adjust their way of life if society as we know it takes a massive hit. For example a sharp increase in Oil leading to economic depression across the globe because the supply of oil has peaked (aka the peak oil theory).
Sensible things like having a water tank installed, energy efficient transport (like a rugged bike or motorbike), learning to grow vegies, actually growing vegies, putting in fruit trees, choosing jobs that are likely to continue even in a depression such as teaching. Even to the extent of learning esoteric survival skills like plant identification and rope making should the need arise.
The people interviewed did not seem like crack pots. They were not concerned with purity this or aliens that. They instead see a world that's heading at speed for a brick wall and they're opening the car door in anticipation of a shoulder roll into the gutter.
I'm reading this just having finished the awesome novel Underground, about an Australia in 2011 that is under the emergency dictatorship of the successor to John Howard. Sure it's fiction. But it's fiction a little close to the bone. Here's a review from the Age.
In fact here's the site for the book - here.
I am not a Chicken Little. I tend to wait for facts to roll in, or at the least pretty rock solid theories, before I get worried. But I remember on the night of September 11 (was it 12 for us?) thinking how much the world was going to change for the worse.
It's getting worse. I can feel it. Environmentally and resource wise things are not looking good. And while I am a public servant, and my employment in theory is sound, cost cuttings happen and I could find myself unemployed and unable to cope in a collapsing world pretty quick smart.
Eeep.
I think I might have to think about learning how to grow vegies. I sometimes joke about how I'd be meat on the hoof for badland mutants if the world went to shit. But could that actually happen? Maybe not so much the mutants, but when you think about it that adage that society is only three meals from collapse does spring to mind...
Chart Throb by Ben Elton - a review by HM
I love Ben Elton books. I love everything he's done. In fact I have a tattered old page from a Rolling Stong magazine with his photo in a crap $2 shop pine frame with ticket stubs from the one time I saw him live somewhere in this room.
Chart Throb is no exception to the goodness he produces.
Elton likes to look at popular culture. Since he's part of it I guess. He's done a book on Big Brother, one on the power of the web, and now one on Idol. Sure - it's not Idol as such but it may as well be. About a comp called Chart Throb of a similiar vein to Idol as we know it.
It's a dramedy. Lots of funny bits, lots of laugh out moments, but most of all it peels back the vinyl that is Idol and shows it for the completely engineered evil show it is.
TheWife loves Idol. Loves it. But she knows its fiction. And like my brother said it's Australia's leading karaoke contest. Except of course it's rigged to present a limited array of possible outcomes.
If the people in Idol are as evil, manipulative, and foul as the ones in Chart Throb I feel bad for them.
As ever - an excellent book. Well worth it if you love Elton and his stuff.
Basically it follows one season of Chart Throb, how they vet the contestants, the tricks, the edits, the storylines they craft, and the joy the producers take in destroying the lives of others.
If you hate reality TV, you'll love this book. If you love reality TV, you should read this book.
Chart Throb is no exception to the goodness he produces.
Elton likes to look at popular culture. Since he's part of it I guess. He's done a book on Big Brother, one on the power of the web, and now one on Idol. Sure - it's not Idol as such but it may as well be. About a comp called Chart Throb of a similiar vein to Idol as we know it.
It's a dramedy. Lots of funny bits, lots of laugh out moments, but most of all it peels back the vinyl that is Idol and shows it for the completely engineered evil show it is.
TheWife loves Idol. Loves it. But she knows its fiction. And like my brother said it's Australia's leading karaoke contest. Except of course it's rigged to present a limited array of possible outcomes.
If the people in Idol are as evil, manipulative, and foul as the ones in Chart Throb I feel bad for them.
As ever - an excellent book. Well worth it if you love Elton and his stuff.
Basically it follows one season of Chart Throb, how they vet the contestants, the tricks, the edits, the storylines they craft, and the joy the producers take in destroying the lives of others.
If you hate reality TV, you'll love this book. If you love reality TV, you should read this book.
Did a mechanic try a shonk on me?
Our car being old and feeble has old and feeble things happen to it. Especially when XXX,000 of kays occurs. Naturally shit breaks on it.
The other week the engine temp soared. I filled the over flow tank (by mistake) instead of the radiator and it did it again. Sufficiently concerned we arranged for Lube Mobile to swing past and have a look - despite the fact I was trapped at ANU helping someone move out of college.
Two hours later he turned up and had a look. It cost $170.
The end result was this. 'Your water pump has gone, and your timing belt will need to be taken off to get it - since you're near 300k kays better get that replaced. You can probably make it to our workshop in Mitchell but you will have to have it in over the weekend. It will cost you around $1100. Oh - your head gasket may be on the way out too, the total cost of repairs being in excess of the worth of your vehicle so I will check that (it wasn't).'
Me? I said I would finish transporting said friend to his new place then arrange a tow if I needed to, to our actual mechanics in Belconnen instead. Mr Lube Mobile shook his head and clucked disappointment. He also wrote ‘I advised client to get towed from ANU’ on my ‘what’s wrong’ snapshot, which was frankly utter bollocks since he was all set for me to follow him.
With the radiator properly full of water I risked the drive, having paid the $170 and bidding farewell to Mr Mobile. I made it easily to drop the stuff off. Then, I thought (after a conference with TheWife) I’d risk driving it home. Needle didn’t move at all past half way on the temp gauge.
Nor has it moved since.
Nor has it had water in it since.
Yes – TheWife did fill up the radiator two months ago and it went dry now (since refilled) – so the chances are there is a slight leak in the water pump. But Lube Mobile didn’t say that was a possibility. No – it was all chicken little ‘follow me lest your head gasket implodes’.
Mechanics. Geez they shit me. And the funny thing is the last one that ripped us off worked for … Lube Mobile.
Suggestion. Find a mechanic that you trust. Maybe a friend knows one as a friend and they won’t rip you off. We’ve apparently got that now (the ones in Belco) and if I hadn’t had been paranoid about driving the car from ANU I would have headed there.
So, did a mechanic try a shonk on me? I'd say so.
Grrr. Still mad.
The other week the engine temp soared. I filled the over flow tank (by mistake) instead of the radiator and it did it again. Sufficiently concerned we arranged for Lube Mobile to swing past and have a look - despite the fact I was trapped at ANU helping someone move out of college.
Two hours later he turned up and had a look. It cost $170.
The end result was this. 'Your water pump has gone, and your timing belt will need to be taken off to get it - since you're near 300k kays better get that replaced. You can probably make it to our workshop in Mitchell but you will have to have it in over the weekend. It will cost you around $1100. Oh - your head gasket may be on the way out too, the total cost of repairs being in excess of the worth of your vehicle so I will check that (it wasn't).'
Me? I said I would finish transporting said friend to his new place then arrange a tow if I needed to, to our actual mechanics in Belconnen instead. Mr Lube Mobile shook his head and clucked disappointment. He also wrote ‘I advised client to get towed from ANU’ on my ‘what’s wrong’ snapshot, which was frankly utter bollocks since he was all set for me to follow him.
With the radiator properly full of water I risked the drive, having paid the $170 and bidding farewell to Mr Mobile. I made it easily to drop the stuff off. Then, I thought (after a conference with TheWife) I’d risk driving it home. Needle didn’t move at all past half way on the temp gauge.
Nor has it moved since.
Nor has it had water in it since.
Yes – TheWife did fill up the radiator two months ago and it went dry now (since refilled) – so the chances are there is a slight leak in the water pump. But Lube Mobile didn’t say that was a possibility. No – it was all chicken little ‘follow me lest your head gasket implodes’.
Mechanics. Geez they shit me. And the funny thing is the last one that ripped us off worked for … Lube Mobile.
Suggestion. Find a mechanic that you trust. Maybe a friend knows one as a friend and they won’t rip you off. We’ve apparently got that now (the ones in Belco) and if I hadn’t had been paranoid about driving the car from ANU I would have headed there.
So, did a mechanic try a shonk on me? I'd say so.
Grrr. Still mad.
Go Carnie Woman
Whilst at a neighbourhood fete I was lining up with a friend's kid to have a go on a whizzy chair ride. Ahead of us were a gaggle of year 6 girls who, as disturbing luck would have it, were around my height.
Some of their mates snuck in to join them at the head of the queue.
I was annoyed and wanted to say something, because I fucking cannot stand queue jumping especially by little grognards replete with braces, dabs of make up, and a litany of 'ohmygawd' bubbling out like a peck of prattling parrots.
I didn't have to.
Tattooed 'my hard life is etched on my hard axe like face' carnie woman took one look at them and said 'oi, you lot were never there, sling your hook to the back of the line.'
Go you good thing.
Of course the girls shrilly protested their innocence, the ones that were there claiming (rightly) they had been there first but ignoring the fact they had encouraged their hideous little Bratz like mates to join them in a queue buster. Eventually I think three of the ring ins left and the carnie woman still let the letthemins onto the ride in their original line up order but still it gave me hope for the world that a professional amusement provider can assess a line and weed out the queue jumping shonks.
My long standing fear and/or concerns about carnies have now been lessened. Thanks Carnie lady.
Some of their mates snuck in to join them at the head of the queue.
I was annoyed and wanted to say something, because I fucking cannot stand queue jumping especially by little grognards replete with braces, dabs of make up, and a litany of 'ohmygawd' bubbling out like a peck of prattling parrots.
I didn't have to.
Tattooed 'my hard life is etched on my hard axe like face' carnie woman took one look at them and said 'oi, you lot were never there, sling your hook to the back of the line.'
Go you good thing.
Of course the girls shrilly protested their innocence, the ones that were there claiming (rightly) they had been there first but ignoring the fact they had encouraged their hideous little Bratz like mates to join them in a queue buster. Eventually I think three of the ring ins left and the carnie woman still let the letthemins onto the ride in their original line up order but still it gave me hope for the world that a professional amusement provider can assess a line and weed out the queue jumping shonks.
My long standing fear and/or concerns about carnies have now been lessened. Thanks Carnie lady.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Yahşimusiz
Saw Borat tonight.
I cannot believe what he got away with, or what he did. Sacha Cohen is one of those comedic actors willing to put his balls on the line for his work. Almost literally.
It's comedic gold. But ... be warned. There are some cringe worthy bits in it. I kept saying over and over 'I cannot believe he said/did that.'
If you like your comedy strong, like bench pressing woman, then this film - you like.
What's the deal with the over lit feminine products aisle in Coles?
Actually I think Woolies does too. You walk in there and the bright light stabs into your eyes and you can barely make out the products on the whiter than white shelves. So bright in fact that my transition lenses kicked in.
Maybe it's because light is cleansing, pure, ethereal or something? All it did was give me a headache.
It looked like something out of close encounters of the third kind. I half expected over the PA for the staff to announce the person I was passing was taken up by aliens in 1927 from a steam yacht or something.
Maybe it's because light is cleansing, pure, ethereal or something? All it did was give me a headache.
It looked like something out of close encounters of the third kind. I half expected over the PA for the staff to announce the person I was passing was taken up by aliens in 1927 from a steam yacht or something.
Children of Men
Finally got around to seeing it.
Fuck me. Now that's a movie. You know the sort of movie that has you on the edge because it seems so chaotically real? The action sequences were devoid of the usual gleaming muscled Nietzschean superman killing everything in sight. Instead every bullet winging into brick, stone, tar, and the ground felt real. Felt incoming. At me. I got the same freaked out buzz that I got from Saving Private Ryan.
It was set in the UK in 2027, devoid of children, a locked fortress against a decaying world. Soldiers, police, ubiquitious slogans of watching for the enemy. A world without children turning itself on who was left. See the wiki here.
It starts with the death of the youngest person in the world, Baby Diego, and Argentinian just 18 years old. Killed after he told a 'fan' to fuck off.
And I know this undercuts the atmos of the movie - an intensely searing emotional film where death seems meaningless and meaningful both at the same time - but my mental picture of Baby Diego was ...
... you guessed it!
Fuck me. Now that's a movie. You know the sort of movie that has you on the edge because it seems so chaotically real? The action sequences were devoid of the usual gleaming muscled Nietzschean superman killing everything in sight. Instead every bullet winging into brick, stone, tar, and the ground felt real. Felt incoming. At me. I got the same freaked out buzz that I got from Saving Private Ryan.
It was set in the UK in 2027, devoid of children, a locked fortress against a decaying world. Soldiers, police, ubiquitious slogans of watching for the enemy. A world without children turning itself on who was left. See the wiki here.
It starts with the death of the youngest person in the world, Baby Diego, and Argentinian just 18 years old. Killed after he told a 'fan' to fuck off.
And I know this undercuts the atmos of the movie - an intensely searing emotional film where death seems meaningless and meaningful both at the same time - but my mental picture of Baby Diego was ...
... you guessed it!
Friday, November 17, 2006
Where HM explains to fellow bloggers how to create an internet link
It's very easy just to paste in a URL into a comment field or a blog and not actually HTML it. But it's also annoying for us quick click types to laboriously paste it into our internet explorer. So to you bloggers out there who have not grasped it yet here's how you do it.
Ready? Let's begin.
This is how you do it.
Ready? Let's begin.
This is how you do it.
Peer Review
Peer review is an important part of empirical research methodology. It enables someone to posit a theory in a journal or other publication, which like minded and similarly qualified people can access and study and be able to then test suppositions contained within said theories.
Least that's my understanding.
Peer review is especially critical in the physical sciences for obvious reasons. Sure talented amateurs can attempt to post theories etc to said peer reviewed publications but generally speaking unless they meet a base line qualifications they face an uphill battle. Especially if their science is shonky.
When a supposition or theory has political ramifications, for example sociological theories, public health, environmental, etc, then it's even more critically important that theories or suppositions are presented in peer reviewed documents to divorce those making said claims from any perception of bias or ideology or even in some cases to ensure they have appropriate training or skill in the area concerned. After-all why would any one waste time on assessing a theory or supposition if it came from a moron. However - there are notable exceptions. Einstein for example was a patent clerk when some of his big theories were released (though he had at the same time obtained a doctorate for his knowledge of physics around when this occurred).
However let's not lose sight of the fact that was over a 100 years ago.
Now. Suppose an amateur weighed in to the politically charged debate of climate change, said amateur having no formal qualifications in the field in question. They have a contentious theory, or are attacking established theories, and thus are seeking an audience. Would it be fair to assume that this contentious argument would be best served in a peer reviewed publication like a journal? You’d think so.
If instead it was submitted not to a peer reviewed publication but instead a news periodical that was likewise politically tinged and by its very nature was a known backer of contentious counter theories about a politically charged physical scientific theory would not you assume therefore that this contentious theory was automatically suspect?
I think so.
Yes, playing the man and not the ball is a common counter argument tactic by many in a debate. It’s especially useful when you can’t attack what they are saying on logic. However, this is not a debate. This is science. And if someone is presenting a theory without qualifications or formal training in a physical science field and present it in a periodical that is both not peer reviewed and is politically aligned with elements to whom current scientific theories prove commercially difficult then raising both those points is valid.
By and large it’s safe to assume that minimal qualifications are required when someone is acting in a professional capacity, or attempting to debate professionals is always preferred. For example for the most part you would trust a doctor over a layman when it comes to your health (Mikey’s recent experiences aside), the same way you trust an engineer over a layman when it comes to public works, the same way you trust a teacher over a layman when it comes to knowledge of how to instruct.
When someone lacks those qualifications and further more elects to test their armchair theories not against professionals or academics, but in the public arena via a publication that is political and lacks objectivity it is not only acceptable to challenge what they are saying on that basis, it is right to do so.
Especially considering that a random selection of points raised in a theory were picked apart and shown to be rather pathetic. Basic errors where peers by and large agree they are errors. Let alone pointing out that sources promoted as unbiased were anything but.
But what the fuck would they know? They’re only experts in their field with between them thousands of degrees and PhDs.
Anyway make up your own mind. For the 'leave him alone! Stop picking on the fact he has no qualifications and that he chose to run his theory in a biased organ and attack the facts (even though they did)' see Iain's blog here. For the original debunking of Mr Puzzle and his wacky attacks on basically the common consensus amongst climatologists see here.
By the way. I decided not to respond at Iain's site because, well, what's the fucking point?
Least that's my understanding.
Peer review is especially critical in the physical sciences for obvious reasons. Sure talented amateurs can attempt to post theories etc to said peer reviewed publications but generally speaking unless they meet a base line qualifications they face an uphill battle. Especially if their science is shonky.
When a supposition or theory has political ramifications, for example sociological theories, public health, environmental, etc, then it's even more critically important that theories or suppositions are presented in peer reviewed documents to divorce those making said claims from any perception of bias or ideology or even in some cases to ensure they have appropriate training or skill in the area concerned. After-all why would any one waste time on assessing a theory or supposition if it came from a moron. However - there are notable exceptions. Einstein for example was a patent clerk when some of his big theories were released (though he had at the same time obtained a doctorate for his knowledge of physics around when this occurred).
However let's not lose sight of the fact that was over a 100 years ago.
Now. Suppose an amateur weighed in to the politically charged debate of climate change, said amateur having no formal qualifications in the field in question. They have a contentious theory, or are attacking established theories, and thus are seeking an audience. Would it be fair to assume that this contentious argument would be best served in a peer reviewed publication like a journal? You’d think so.
If instead it was submitted not to a peer reviewed publication but instead a news periodical that was likewise politically tinged and by its very nature was a known backer of contentious counter theories about a politically charged physical scientific theory would not you assume therefore that this contentious theory was automatically suspect?
I think so.
Yes, playing the man and not the ball is a common counter argument tactic by many in a debate. It’s especially useful when you can’t attack what they are saying on logic. However, this is not a debate. This is science. And if someone is presenting a theory without qualifications or formal training in a physical science field and present it in a periodical that is both not peer reviewed and is politically aligned with elements to whom current scientific theories prove commercially difficult then raising both those points is valid.
By and large it’s safe to assume that minimal qualifications are required when someone is acting in a professional capacity, or attempting to debate professionals is always preferred. For example for the most part you would trust a doctor over a layman when it comes to your health (Mikey’s recent experiences aside), the same way you trust an engineer over a layman when it comes to public works, the same way you trust a teacher over a layman when it comes to knowledge of how to instruct.
When someone lacks those qualifications and further more elects to test their armchair theories not against professionals or academics, but in the public arena via a publication that is political and lacks objectivity it is not only acceptable to challenge what they are saying on that basis, it is right to do so.
Especially considering that a random selection of points raised in a theory were picked apart and shown to be rather pathetic. Basic errors where peers by and large agree they are errors. Let alone pointing out that sources promoted as unbiased were anything but.
But what the fuck would they know? They’re only experts in their field with between them thousands of degrees and PhDs.
Anyway make up your own mind. For the 'leave him alone! Stop picking on the fact he has no qualifications and that he chose to run his theory in a biased organ and attack the facts (even though they did)' see Iain's blog here. For the original debunking of Mr Puzzle and his wacky attacks on basically the common consensus amongst climatologists see here.
By the way. I decided not to respond at Iain's site because, well, what's the fucking point?
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Turd Blossom now just a Turd
Karl Rove, Deputy Chief of Staff and reputed guardian of President George Bush’s brain, and lovingly named after a flower that grazes the leavings of mighty Texan steers on the prairie has had a name change following the poor showing of the Republicans in the recent mid term elections.
‘Karl was known as Turd Blossom because he could turn shit into something that produced beauty,’ said an unnamed staffer. ‘Or because he flung shit around – for example inferring a judge in an opposing race was a pederast – but still managed to have his candidate smelling like a flower.’
Left: Blossom, Turd Blossom. Licenced to blow chunks.
Unfortunately for Rove his and other strategists plan of fostering a sense of dread and fear in the citizens and encouraging people with unnaturally small brains to lurch out of their misogynistic bigot mobiles and shamble towards the booths in the manner of zombie plague carriers to vote against ‘terrorists’ (AKA Democrats) and gays declaring their love and being legally recognised backfired.
‘The media love Rove,’ said the staffer. ‘Because they have to be able to resile the fact someone as moronic as Bush can be president – still – and that people vote for him. Therefore there has to be a genius at work, someone who can ensure that in a system of voluntary voting only special interests get their niche demographic out to vote. Trouble for Rove was the bulk of the non niche people – for example those that believe the earth may be a tad older than 6000 years – thought different.’
President Bush, unable to escape reality, expressed disappointment in the result especially since no one had the balls to tell him until they came in that they were in for a paddling so great it made his initiation in the to Skull and Bones look like a light corrective tap applied with loving care to a screaming four year old.
‘Fact is Karl uses fear to drive people to the polls. Fear of gays, fear of terrorists, fear of liberals, fear of socialists, fear, fear, fear. There’s no ‘morning in America’ like what Reagan went for. Just death in America. Well, fact is that the remainder of Bush’s term is essentially the political equivalent of being put in a nursing home, since he will have to deal with others that will make large chunks of his decisions for him.’
President Bush was last seen taking Karl for a ‘drive’ down a lonely forest road, the Deputy Chief of Staff with his head out the window, tongue lolling as he enjoyed spending some alone time with his master…
-----
For an awesome analysis on the Media and Rove's loss see here.
‘Karl was known as Turd Blossom because he could turn shit into something that produced beauty,’ said an unnamed staffer. ‘Or because he flung shit around – for example inferring a judge in an opposing race was a pederast – but still managed to have his candidate smelling like a flower.’
Left: Blossom, Turd Blossom. Licenced to blow chunks.Unfortunately for Rove his and other strategists plan of fostering a sense of dread and fear in the citizens and encouraging people with unnaturally small brains to lurch out of their misogynistic bigot mobiles and shamble towards the booths in the manner of zombie plague carriers to vote against ‘terrorists’ (AKA Democrats) and gays declaring their love and being legally recognised backfired.
‘The media love Rove,’ said the staffer. ‘Because they have to be able to resile the fact someone as moronic as Bush can be president – still – and that people vote for him. Therefore there has to be a genius at work, someone who can ensure that in a system of voluntary voting only special interests get their niche demographic out to vote. Trouble for Rove was the bulk of the non niche people – for example those that believe the earth may be a tad older than 6000 years – thought different.’
President Bush, unable to escape reality, expressed disappointment in the result especially since no one had the balls to tell him until they came in that they were in for a paddling so great it made his initiation in the to Skull and Bones look like a light corrective tap applied with loving care to a screaming four year old.
‘Fact is Karl uses fear to drive people to the polls. Fear of gays, fear of terrorists, fear of liberals, fear of socialists, fear, fear, fear. There’s no ‘morning in America’ like what Reagan went for. Just death in America. Well, fact is that the remainder of Bush’s term is essentially the political equivalent of being put in a nursing home, since he will have to deal with others that will make large chunks of his decisions for him.’
President Bush was last seen taking Karl for a ‘drive’ down a lonely forest road, the Deputy Chief of Staff with his head out the window, tongue lolling as he enjoyed spending some alone time with his master…
-----
For an awesome analysis on the Media and Rove's loss see here.
Oh dear for the fans of Mr Puzzle
Mr Puzzle, an aristocrat nee climatologist with as many tertiary quals in the field as Andrew Bolt has in - well anything - recently appeared in the Sunday Tele in the UK debunking Climate Change as nothing more than a lefty myth.
I was waiting for the eventual debunking of the would be debunker and sure enough it came out. Courtesy of Gam at his and Sarah's blog. See here.
Nothing like shoddy back yard science from ideologically laced amateurs to put a smile on your dial.
But as one blogger recently pointed out, Puzzle and Toy making are important building blocks in the skill chest of any would be climate scientist. After all did not a model maker craft a medium sized plane out of a crashed larger plane in Flight of the Phoenix? Of course he did. Therefore the puzzle maker's lack of qualifications are not an issue. Of course A) the model maker in flight had the neccesary skill sets and ballistics knowledge to craft a plane from a larger plane and B) it was a fictional movie not actually based on a true story.
Worst. Analogy. Ever.
I was waiting for the eventual debunking of the would be debunker and sure enough it came out. Courtesy of Gam at his and Sarah's blog. See here.
Nothing like shoddy back yard science from ideologically laced amateurs to put a smile on your dial.
But as one blogger recently pointed out, Puzzle and Toy making are important building blocks in the skill chest of any would be climate scientist. After all did not a model maker craft a medium sized plane out of a crashed larger plane in Flight of the Phoenix? Of course he did. Therefore the puzzle maker's lack of qualifications are not an issue. Of course A) the model maker in flight had the neccesary skill sets and ballistics knowledge to craft a plane from a larger plane and B) it was a fictional movie not actually based on a true story.
Worst. Analogy. Ever.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
And another thing
Today whilst visiting another building I noticed an unattended bag sitting on a table in a public area. It was unattended for a while so I did the right thing which is report it to security - which you just have to do nowdays in the modern public service.
The guard turned up to have a look a few moments later.
He looked at the bag.
He opened the bag.
He rumaged through the bag.
He took the bag away.
Now, correct me if I am wrong, traditionally not the best method of dealing with an unattended item of luggage. Normally you ask people in the area if it's theirs. Failing that you get on the PA and ask the building, having cleared people from being near the bag. Failing a response there you call the appropriate skilled types to come and look at it.
You don't pretty much do any of the things the security guard did. Yes, I am aware of the irony of picking on a public servant but as a public servant who sees things being done wrongly it gets my goat.
Sure 999999 times out of 1000000 its not going to be an issue with what he did. But it was a crowded room and if it was something then a lot of people could have been hurt.
Stupid guard.
The guard turned up to have a look a few moments later.
He looked at the bag.
He opened the bag.
He rumaged through the bag.
He took the bag away.
Now, correct me if I am wrong, traditionally not the best method of dealing with an unattended item of luggage. Normally you ask people in the area if it's theirs. Failing that you get on the PA and ask the building, having cleared people from being near the bag. Failing a response there you call the appropriate skilled types to come and look at it.
You don't pretty much do any of the things the security guard did. Yes, I am aware of the irony of picking on a public servant but as a public servant who sees things being done wrongly it gets my goat.
Sure 999999 times out of 1000000 its not going to be an issue with what he did. But it was a crowded room and if it was something then a lot of people could have been hurt.
Stupid guard.
Me stoopid. Me no check address. Me sit in corner and think about rocks
Yesterday I had to resend some documentation that went missing to a company. We need it signed and sent back ASAP. Today it still hadn't had arrived. So I told my coworkers of my project team that it had not arrived yet and I was getting worried.What was the response of the team leader?
'Are you sure you sent it to the right address?'
Yes, because when I resend documentation I make sure I send it to the wrong fucking address. Because I am that stupid that I can't think to make sure the address is correct when I have to send it again. Because you see I exhibit poor judgement and am not fit to be the level I am, or even one higher, let alone one lower than my current grade. I am just that dumb.
Here's something else I don't do. When I am involved in a work project that is ongoing two months beyond when it should have finished I don't take my phone off the hook so people trying to get a hold of me have to resort to sending a fax. A fax of all things.
Unbelievable.
Am I still bitter about missing out on that job? Yes. Yes I am.
You know what I am sick of? People slagging off the public service
Look I am a public servant. My job is of course to serve the public. Where I work it's a niche public, but public nonetheless.
But I have friends in other departments that serve the greater public, such as in Human Services.
It's a tough gig. I could never do it. The amount of hostility and abuse some cop for doing their god-damned job day in day out from stupid pricks and fuckwits that think threatening them with TT, the ACA, to shoot them in the lobby of their building, or to kill their kids and their ex is a fair enough tactic is really quite unbelievable.
Incredibly there are those out there that think some of them, like those in the Child Support Agency, are nothing but a cabal of man hating lezzers trying to stick it to anyone with a penis. People like Albie Schultz for one who I battled over CSA issues in the past. The irony being that that some fuckwit in his office added my email address to a 'lets get the CSA' mailing list and I get emails about how they're sticking it to said lezzers. Which I happily pass on to my CSA pals.
"ANTI MALE BIAS" some shriek. News flash - 90% of those owing money are male. Is that the CSA's fault? No. Therefore 90% of the complaints tend to be from males. Anti male bias? Not at the CSA - that's their fucking customer base.
(cue open mouthed Troy McClure gasp of astonishment)
In a recent case the court ruled against some dude who had found out that two of the three kids he had were not his. He sued his ex for mental damages and lost. But he did have the court previously order return of the Child Support monies he had made for those children. Money the wife has not yet paid.
Wah the CSA is all too ready to put the boot on deadbeat dads, wah! Why haven't they recovered the money he paid through the system from her? Wah! Anti male bias! Wah!
Guess what? The CSA can't recover that money. There's no legislation that lets them do so. Essentially it's a court ordered debt recovery and has to go via whatever mechanisms exist for that. The CSA can't touch her.
Perhaps people might look up the legislation or read the website or basically research an issue before opening their gum flapper and letting it wobble up and down next time on that one.
Sure - I don't like some members of the public. On occasion I've had to deal with some incredibly stupid people and it has irked me. But I take pride in my job as indeed do many public servants. And people at Centrelink and the CSA should be fucking lauded for the abuse and the crap and the moany wankery that spills from the lips of fuckwits - such as those whining that they have to pay for their kid and if the bitch left them then she shouldn't get a penny - and the CSA still being able to collect 92% of debts - the best collection rate in the western world.
Maybe it's one of those mile in another person's shoes thing?
Anyway. It's very easy to crap on public servants. Very easy. But without us society does not work. And we of course can't defend ourselves since we have to rely on ministers, many of whom know that Human Service related issues cause cranky emails from their constituents and so tend not defend them. Though that being said Joe Hockey - relevant minister - has been vocal in his support and he is to be commended for it.
And to anyone that thinks Oz is over regulated and strangles the free market here's a classic example of why we work as a country.
A friend of mine went to the US for work. While he was there he got the flu. He had to see a doctor. It cost him $150 US for the doctor visit and another $150 for the medications. $400 in Oz dollars for a visit that would have cost him $25 for the doctor (typical fee Vs bulkbill gap) - and probably $25 for the meds in total over here. An eight fold increase.
Yep - that's the free market for you. Think about that next time you're at the doctor whiny 'I hate public servants and regulation and socialistic medicine' dickwads.
Oh another classic public service tale. A friend of mine works in a public service department that administers payments to people. The public have to sign and fax and submit documents every now and then to maintain payments. He got a fax where only the second page came out (they had faxed it the wrong way around - pages 1 and 3 are the ones needed) - without the relevant identifying info for that person. A person who would not get paid if he did not process their form. Instead of binning it with a shrug he worked out where the fax came from, found out a number, contacted the place where it was sent from, who gave him the number of the person who sent the fax. He called her to explain she had to resubmit the form.
He expected a thanks. Instead he got an earful of abuse for being an arsehole and how dare he make her go back and refax it.
Unbelievable. That's being a public servant for you. Being hated by the public even when you do them a solid.
So the next time someone goes on an anti public service rant they should have a proper look at the situation before casting aspersions on an entire department or agency and write us off as incompetents or evil or some sort of lesbian factory where we spend all day sticking pins into little voodoo men-dolls.
But I have friends in other departments that serve the greater public, such as in Human Services.
It's a tough gig. I could never do it. The amount of hostility and abuse some cop for doing their god-damned job day in day out from stupid pricks and fuckwits that think threatening them with TT, the ACA, to shoot them in the lobby of their building, or to kill their kids and their ex is a fair enough tactic is really quite unbelievable.
Incredibly there are those out there that think some of them, like those in the Child Support Agency, are nothing but a cabal of man hating lezzers trying to stick it to anyone with a penis. People like Albie Schultz for one who I battled over CSA issues in the past. The irony being that that some fuckwit in his office added my email address to a 'lets get the CSA' mailing list and I get emails about how they're sticking it to said lezzers. Which I happily pass on to my CSA pals.
"ANTI MALE BIAS" some shriek. News flash - 90% of those owing money are male. Is that the CSA's fault? No. Therefore 90% of the complaints tend to be from males. Anti male bias? Not at the CSA - that's their fucking customer base.
(cue open mouthed Troy McClure gasp of astonishment)
In a recent case the court ruled against some dude who had found out that two of the three kids he had were not his. He sued his ex for mental damages and lost. But he did have the court previously order return of the Child Support monies he had made for those children. Money the wife has not yet paid.
Wah the CSA is all too ready to put the boot on deadbeat dads, wah! Why haven't they recovered the money he paid through the system from her? Wah! Anti male bias! Wah!
Guess what? The CSA can't recover that money. There's no legislation that lets them do so. Essentially it's a court ordered debt recovery and has to go via whatever mechanisms exist for that. The CSA can't touch her.
Perhaps people might look up the legislation or read the website or basically research an issue before opening their gum flapper and letting it wobble up and down next time on that one.
Sure - I don't like some members of the public. On occasion I've had to deal with some incredibly stupid people and it has irked me. But I take pride in my job as indeed do many public servants. And people at Centrelink and the CSA should be fucking lauded for the abuse and the crap and the moany wankery that spills from the lips of fuckwits - such as those whining that they have to pay for their kid and if the bitch left them then she shouldn't get a penny - and the CSA still being able to collect 92% of debts - the best collection rate in the western world.
Maybe it's one of those mile in another person's shoes thing?
Anyway. It's very easy to crap on public servants. Very easy. But without us society does not work. And we of course can't defend ourselves since we have to rely on ministers, many of whom know that Human Service related issues cause cranky emails from their constituents and so tend not defend them. Though that being said Joe Hockey - relevant minister - has been vocal in his support and he is to be commended for it.
And to anyone that thinks Oz is over regulated and strangles the free market here's a classic example of why we work as a country.
A friend of mine went to the US for work. While he was there he got the flu. He had to see a doctor. It cost him $150 US for the doctor visit and another $150 for the medications. $400 in Oz dollars for a visit that would have cost him $25 for the doctor (typical fee Vs bulkbill gap) - and probably $25 for the meds in total over here. An eight fold increase.
Yep - that's the free market for you. Think about that next time you're at the doctor whiny 'I hate public servants and regulation and socialistic medicine' dickwads.
Oh another classic public service tale. A friend of mine works in a public service department that administers payments to people. The public have to sign and fax and submit documents every now and then to maintain payments. He got a fax where only the second page came out (they had faxed it the wrong way around - pages 1 and 3 are the ones needed) - without the relevant identifying info for that person. A person who would not get paid if he did not process their form. Instead of binning it with a shrug he worked out where the fax came from, found out a number, contacted the place where it was sent from, who gave him the number of the person who sent the fax. He called her to explain she had to resubmit the form.
He expected a thanks. Instead he got an earful of abuse for being an arsehole and how dare he make her go back and refax it.
Unbelievable. That's being a public servant for you. Being hated by the public even when you do them a solid.
So the next time someone goes on an anti public service rant they should have a proper look at the situation before casting aspersions on an entire department or agency and write us off as incompetents or evil or some sort of lesbian factory where we spend all day sticking pins into little voodoo men-dolls.
Nup - turns out I just suck
I got a response to my complaint RE my shitty referee's report that I wasn't asked about at interview. Turns out my interview actually happened before they talked to her. So I got that arse around backward. Essentially the thrust of their response was this.
'We thought you sucked flannel before we talked to her. All that happened when we did confirmed just how suckful you are sucky.'
So I was the big man and wrote a thank you to the panel head to say 'hope I didn't cause you too much hassle with my raising a concern - thanks for the time taken to respond and I thought the process was good.' Surprisingly he responded with a no worries. Interesting because it was the first fucking time he'd responded to an email of mine out of the 20+ I sent to various people trying to find out what happened.
But one door closes, another opens. A dude I did uni with popped past my work station to say howdy - he having moved to my floor. He's about six years younger than me, already outranks me, and is on his way up the ladder quick smart. I mentioned how I failed (again) to get into the area I tried for and he very kindly said he'd keep an eye out for me - and that he may even be on a panel in the future. I got on well with him at uni and we shared some uni info so maybe that's an in to his area. Similiar to where I wanted to go - more policy stuff - but definately an interesting place to work.
So I'm crossing fingers.
In summary - still pissed off. Hating myself and the system all at the same time, along with my ex boss whose still a mol for pissing all over my chances anyway (even if it was a coup de gras instead of the initial wounding). But well there's always next year. Who knows, I may be up for it. Especially now I can say I have a Masters instead of pending.
'We thought you sucked flannel before we talked to her. All that happened when we did confirmed just how suckful you are sucky.'
So I was the big man and wrote a thank you to the panel head to say 'hope I didn't cause you too much hassle with my raising a concern - thanks for the time taken to respond and I thought the process was good.' Surprisingly he responded with a no worries. Interesting because it was the first fucking time he'd responded to an email of mine out of the 20+ I sent to various people trying to find out what happened.
But one door closes, another opens. A dude I did uni with popped past my work station to say howdy - he having moved to my floor. He's about six years younger than me, already outranks me, and is on his way up the ladder quick smart. I mentioned how I failed (again) to get into the area I tried for and he very kindly said he'd keep an eye out for me - and that he may even be on a panel in the future. I got on well with him at uni and we shared some uni info so maybe that's an in to his area. Similiar to where I wanted to go - more policy stuff - but definately an interesting place to work.
So I'm crossing fingers.
In summary - still pissed off. Hating myself and the system all at the same time, along with my ex boss whose still a mol for pissing all over my chances anyway (even if it was a coup de gras instead of the initial wounding). But well there's always next year. Who knows, I may be up for it. Especially now I can say I have a Masters instead of pending.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Mumwatch - fin; She's out!
Apparently mum got out of hospital this morning. She's gone to a respite place in a larger town about an hour away. So it will be a pain for Dad to visit her there but bearable every few days or so.
That's most excellent. We're scheduled to have a few days at the coast just before Xmas, with mum staying in a disabled capable cabin. It will be the first time we've been together since thewife and I got married.
Cross fingers her memory is a bit better.
That's most excellent. We're scheduled to have a few days at the coast just before Xmas, with mum staying in a disabled capable cabin. It will be the first time we've been together since thewife and I got married.
Cross fingers her memory is a bit better.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Saturday, November 11, 2006
This is so sad
Celebrities are ordinary people who other ordinary people find extraordinary. They eat, they sleep, they dream, they fuck, they die, they are born.
To hear of anyone losing their wife so early into their planned life together, be it celeb or normal, is always sad. Especially to a long drawn out illness. And just because they are a celeb doesn't make it easier. Indeed, it's probably harder because you have to share your grief with the world instead of privately like all us drones from sector seven g.
So to Rove McManus, and all the friends and family of his late wife Belinda Emmett, I wish you all the best with your grief and hope that in time you can remember all the special things she did that made you smile and laugh and love with gladness for her having been in your lives, than in the sadness of her passing.
I feel for you mate. I am terrified about losing those close to me. Good luck, and you come back to your job of making others happy and smile and forget about their pain and their aches when you're good and ready and not before.
Peace out man.
RIP Belinda Emmett, 1974-2006
To hear of anyone losing their wife so early into their planned life together, be it celeb or normal, is always sad. Especially to a long drawn out illness. And just because they are a celeb doesn't make it easier. Indeed, it's probably harder because you have to share your grief with the world instead of privately like all us drones from sector seven g.
So to Rove McManus, and all the friends and family of his late wife Belinda Emmett, I wish you all the best with your grief and hope that in time you can remember all the special things she did that made you smile and laugh and love with gladness for her having been in your lives, than in the sadness of her passing.
I feel for you mate. I am terrified about losing those close to me. Good luck, and you come back to your job of making others happy and smile and forget about their pain and their aches when you're good and ready and not before.
Peace out man.
RIP Belinda Emmett, 1974-2006
Onion Spotlight (again)
The Onion. Probably the most piss funny site in the world.
http://www.theonion.com/content/
Last night at work I realised that all the Onion President Bush radio address's can be found on a separate site.
http://www.weeklyradioaddress.com/
If you can listen to sound on your PC, and I discovered at work that this had not been blocked last night, it is gut clenchingly funny. The beauty is that this above site looks like the official one. So send it to friends!
http://www.theonion.com/content/
Last night at work I realised that all the Onion President Bush radio address's can be found on a separate site.
http://www.weeklyradioaddress.com/
If you can listen to sound on your PC, and I discovered at work that this had not been blocked last night, it is gut clenchingly funny. The beauty is that this above site looks like the official one. So send it to friends!
Friday, November 10, 2006
Mumwatch - she's still there
Got a call from my dad. Mum's still in hospital near 10 days since I got back here to Canberra. They finally got the result of the MRI.
The result?
Nothing. They found nothing. If she'd had a stroke it must have been a teeny tiny one.
So where does that leave it? No infection that they could find. No brain damage they can see on catscans and MRIs.
Well dad said as much. "I suppose it could have been the drug withdrawal after-all".
So turns out this little tubby diet coke drinking investigative reporter who dares question the infalible doctors ... may have been right.
Not gloating. Just nice to know my instincts may have been on the money.
Mum gets out soon. Least she has a tellie in there now. Her short term memory is better but still not great. I wonder if the drug withdrawal caused that? Who knows - since it's a chemical thing not a blood vessel thing and wouldn't show up on scans.
I'm not saying I feel vindicated. But it does seem that my theory of 'she went off her meds and you took her off them as well fuckwits' may have been correct. And it makes me feel better - if only because this is something that she can recover fully from. Assuming of course no permanent damage resulted from the abrupt cessation of a high daily dose of a drug known to cause hallucinations and delirium in patients on 1/5th the fucking amount.
The result?
Nothing. They found nothing. If she'd had a stroke it must have been a teeny tiny one.
So where does that leave it? No infection that they could find. No brain damage they can see on catscans and MRIs.
Well dad said as much. "I suppose it could have been the drug withdrawal after-all".
So turns out this little tubby diet coke drinking investigative reporter who dares question the infalible doctors ... may have been right.
Not gloating. Just nice to know my instincts may have been on the money.
Mum gets out soon. Least she has a tellie in there now. Her short term memory is better but still not great. I wonder if the drug withdrawal caused that? Who knows - since it's a chemical thing not a blood vessel thing and wouldn't show up on scans.
I'm not saying I feel vindicated. But it does seem that my theory of 'she went off her meds and you took her off them as well fuckwits' may have been correct. And it makes me feel better - if only because this is something that she can recover fully from. Assuming of course no permanent damage resulted from the abrupt cessation of a high daily dose of a drug known to cause hallucinations and delirium in patients on 1/5th the fucking amount.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
I for one will miss "Rummy"
I will. I will miss being able to boo and hiss in the manner of a silent film audience when the moustache and top hat clad villain lurches into view, twidling the end of a mo as he ties a screaming woman to the railway tracks, when Rummy graces the screen. Seriously, he was most entertaining. Sure he proved the US could over run a country whenever it felt like it. He also proved that unless they commit the lion's share of US military to garrison it then bad things will happen and their ability to govern it will be dust in the wind - thus embolding countries like Iran to attempt things like starting up a nuke weapons program knowing an over stretched US can't do fuck all to stop them.
Ah - it's all good. I especially love how apparently we're "too dumb" to understand the complexities of a war like in Iraq. You know because it takes only a friggin' genius to be able to invade a country, destroy all the power structures within it along with all the governance systems (replacing it with Republican interns - I shit you not - see Gam's blog), not garrison it properly, then stay clinging on out of spite not out of actual use as the country descends into ethnic war.
The Beeb had some nice Rummy quotes from over the years - found here
My favourite is of course this one, which underlies just how complicated strategic planning is.
Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know.
Rummy, you can add this to the list of things you now know. You had me at 'known knowns'
Ah - it's all good. I especially love how apparently we're "too dumb" to understand the complexities of a war like in Iraq. You know because it takes only a friggin' genius to be able to invade a country, destroy all the power structures within it along with all the governance systems (replacing it with Republican interns - I shit you not - see Gam's blog), not garrison it properly, then stay clinging on out of spite not out of actual use as the country descends into ethnic war.The Beeb had some nice Rummy quotes from over the years - found here
My favourite is of course this one, which underlies just how complicated strategic planning is.
Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know.
Rummy, you can add this to the list of things you now know. You had me at 'known knowns'
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Howard and his Amazing Technicolour Interest Rates Dreamcoat
Rates went up today, the fourth time since the 2004 election, the election where the Libs promised to 'keep interest rates low' even though of course they couldn't deliver on it since it's the Reserve Bank that determines it [though the government creates conditions in the economy of course that is the driver for whether they lower or increase them - such as skill shortages because they didn't look after education and skills training in their time in government].Naturally Howard fell back on this lovely argument that he's been using now for over 10 years.
The Prime Minister has been quick to go on the attack. "Housing interest rates now after the most recent increase this morning will still be lower than they were at any time in the 13 years of the Hawke and Keating government, when infamously housing interest rates hit 17%," he has said.
(Above according to Crikey, 8 November 2006)
Howard is right when he said the above. Here's something that's also right.
As Federal Treasurer, John Howard presided over a period of very high interest rates, peaking at 22% on 8 April 1982 (see: RBA: Bulletin Statistical Tables). After the 1983 defeat of the Fraser Government, Howard was attacked by the incoming Hawke government for supposedly lying to Parliament about the size of the budget deficit left by the outgoing Fraser government.
(from Howard's wiki).
So I'm curious when it comes to dredging up the past. Is it only allowed when it's in reference to the previous government? I think not. Howard's lame excuse is "I stand by my current record". Yes, a record where low interest rates were delivered like a fucking gift basket courtesy of economic reforms made in the 80's early 90's - which resulted in a temporary high interest rate surge but left the country lean and mean for 16+ years of economic growth.
But Howard loves to rewrite history. For example how we weren't mean to Aboriginies - and even if we were I'm not saying sorry cause that was other people not me - but I am happy to wear the flag like a fucking cape when ANZAC day rolls around which was other people not me.
I also love the fact that as a percentage of income, we in Oz are now paying the highest portion ever of salary to maintain a mortgage - because his decisions led to tripling of house values (alright for those with houses pre triple; bad for people like me post triple).
Can't hide from that can ya Vodaphone?
Hang 'em high, real high, so I is can see them all twitchy like
From slate - here which references information from a New Republic article - here which in turn references Tucker Carlson's profile of George W. Bush in the premiere issue of Talk magazine.
Phew - that was quite the audit trail. Anyway, the snippet. And yes I am aware this is a dated reference but still it points to the public Christian that is anything but.
In the week before [Karla Faye Tucker's] execution, Bush says, Bianca Jagger and a number of other protesters came to Austin to demand clemency for Tucker. "Did you meet with any of them?" I ask.
Bush whips around and stares at me. "No, I didn't meet with any of them," he snaps, as though I've just asked the dumbest, most offensive question ever posed. "I didn't meet with Larry King either when he came down for it. I watched his interview with [Tucker], though. He asked her real difficult questions, like 'What would you say to Governor Bush?' "
"What was her answer?" I wonder.
"Please," Bush whimpers, his lips pursed in mock desperation, "don't kill me."
What kind of a sick fuck makes fun of a woman he's about to sign the death order for? George Bush junior that's who.
Man I hope the Dems take the senate. People this foul shouldn't be allowed to be the fucking dog comptroller let alone President of the United States. I hope the Dems make his last two years in office as misery as they strip away layer after deceptive layer of the patriotism he cloaked himself in as he ruined the environment, created misery, and managed to corrupt and befoul the international reputation of his country.
The man is a maggot.
BREAKING NEWS: Arnold "Blowie" Flii today denounced HM's likening of George Bush to a Maggot. "On behalf of all maggots, pupae, larvae, and other immature insectoid forms we utterly reject the comparison made to us of that man. We wouldn't even lay eggs in his shit on the off chance one of our brothers was contaminated by the filth that man puts off when they wriggled forth." HM therefore retracted his likening of maggots to Bush and apologised to the insect community.
Oh - the Slate article noted this later in the piece;
'The ugliness of a sitting governor mocking a prisoner's plea to spare her life horrified Carlson, especially after he looked up the transcript of Karla Faye Tucker's appearance on Larry King Live and discovered that nowhere did it show the prisoner asking Bush to stay the execution.'
Bush even made it the fuck up that she even said that - just so he could do his bit. Later he apparently claimed he'd been 'misread' by Carlson. Bullshit. The smirky 'I is goanna kill a lady, yee ha' mother fucker.
John Howard counts him as one of his 'good friends.' Nice. Do you think they like to talk tracksuits? I do.
"Uh ... whose er um er your sponsor George? Mine's Vodaphone."
"Well John, I gots two sponsors on mah tracksuit. And I love both of them dearly. Smith, and Wesson. Yee Ha!"
(Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang)
etc.
Phew - that was quite the audit trail. Anyway, the snippet. And yes I am aware this is a dated reference but still it points to the public Christian that is anything but.
In the week before [Karla Faye Tucker's] execution, Bush says, Bianca Jagger and a number of other protesters came to Austin to demand clemency for Tucker. "Did you meet with any of them?" I ask.
Bush whips around and stares at me. "No, I didn't meet with any of them," he snaps, as though I've just asked the dumbest, most offensive question ever posed. "I didn't meet with Larry King either when he came down for it. I watched his interview with [Tucker], though. He asked her real difficult questions, like 'What would you say to Governor Bush?' "
"What was her answer?" I wonder.
"Please," Bush whimpers, his lips pursed in mock desperation, "don't kill me."
What kind of a sick fuck makes fun of a woman he's about to sign the death order for? George Bush junior that's who.
Man I hope the Dems take the senate. People this foul shouldn't be allowed to be the fucking dog comptroller let alone President of the United States. I hope the Dems make his last two years in office as misery as they strip away layer after deceptive layer of the patriotism he cloaked himself in as he ruined the environment, created misery, and managed to corrupt and befoul the international reputation of his country.
The man is a maggot.
BREAKING NEWS: Arnold "Blowie" Flii today denounced HM's likening of George Bush to a Maggot. "On behalf of all maggots, pupae, larvae, and other immature insectoid forms we utterly reject the comparison made to us of that man. We wouldn't even lay eggs in his shit on the off chance one of our brothers was contaminated by the filth that man puts off when they wriggled forth." HM therefore retracted his likening of maggots to Bush and apologised to the insect community.
Oh - the Slate article noted this later in the piece;
'The ugliness of a sitting governor mocking a prisoner's plea to spare her life horrified Carlson, especially after he looked up the transcript of Karla Faye Tucker's appearance on Larry King Live and discovered that nowhere did it show the prisoner asking Bush to stay the execution.'
Bush even made it the fuck up that she even said that - just so he could do his bit. Later he apparently claimed he'd been 'misread' by Carlson. Bullshit. The smirky 'I is goanna kill a lady, yee ha' mother fucker.
John Howard counts him as one of his 'good friends.' Nice. Do you think they like to talk tracksuits? I do.
"Uh ... whose er um er your sponsor George? Mine's Vodaphone.""Well John, I gots two sponsors on mah tracksuit. And I love both of them dearly. Smith, and Wesson. Yee Ha!"
(Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang)
etc.
Come on you little b!tch
Democrats take the House.
The senate is still out, but with five to go, all they need is three of them.
(Crosses fingers and toes).
You know what I'm looking forward to if they do get the Senate? Committees of inquiry that rake the Bush administration over the coals for their grotesque failures in all areas of governance, legality, and down right evil behaviour.
Hey Cheney, get used to saying this. "I plead the fifth".
More news here - here courtesy of the CNN site watching the Senate race. Dammit - it looks like the GOP are going to scrape in control.
Not sure how the committees process works if the lower house is opposition. Anyone know? Mort?
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
If I were the US Dems I would have run this on TV ads during the election
So George Bush is glad Saddam is going to hang is he?
Saddam is a monster no doubt. But he was a monster given succor by previous Republican administrations, such as during the Iran-Iraq war where Saddam used WMD on Iranians, then later, his own people.
And let's not forget who was the prime mover and shaker back in that administration. The same man who got us into this mess we have now.
Thank you Mr Rumsfeld. Your decades of incompetent service have served the US well.
Saddam is a monster no doubt. But he was a monster given succor by previous Republican administrations, such as during the Iran-Iraq war where Saddam used WMD on Iranians, then later, his own people.
And let's not forget who was the prime mover and shaker back in that administration. The same man who got us into this mess we have now.
Thank you Mr Rumsfeld. Your decades of incompetent service have served the US well.
Ouch - HM discovers he was knifed in the back
Today the post interview selection report for the dream job I failed to get finally, after much seeking on my part, arrived on my desk, two months after having been told by letter I didn't get the position.
I had a read. Turns out I did quite well in the full day mental exercises, though my team work skills were a tad rusty, did okay in the interview (not great, but not horrible), and my former tutor gave me an excellent reference.
So where did HM really fall down? Turns out it was my old supervisor. For some reason she felt the need to mention a time I showed 'poor judgement' despite never ever having told me that was the case (largely because I hadn't at all), that I required intervention and mentoring on occasion, that I wasn't fit to be the level I was, and certainly not to be one level higher (the job I went for, as irony would have it, was one grade less than my current position...). Oh and that I wasn't to great at my core functions and that she had to check all my output. She did - as a result of procedures because she was signing off what was produced as it was then disseminated to a wider readership - not because I was incompetent. But it came off as the incompetence issue naturally enough.
In short she fucked me over and helped add to my own shaky interview to ruin my chances of a job. For the scores she gave me lowered me way down below everyone else and the panel kept referring to this so called 'poor judgement' incident I had shown. Which frankly is bizarre because all I did was include a paragraph of text referring to a negative incident in the media and in the covering email said 'I put this in just in case the boss wanted to address it; if not delete it'. Yep - real poor judgement giving people options. How dare I? I am clearly pond scum.
And yet at the time she gave the report via phone she said 'I was honest and addressed the areas where I could, but I couldn't address all of them [since I had not performed some of the selected roles the criteria wanted]' - there was smiles. Smiles as she drove the fucking knife in.
Normally what happens with things like this is the panel says 'you had a concern raised, let's talk about it' which I would have happily done even though said supervisor is a fucking moron and knows next to nothing about how reports of this nature are constructed. But no, they didn't. Didn't ask me about it at all and instead the words 'the incident' and 'poor judgement' are laced through the post match report without any chance of a right of reply.
I have to say I'm pretty sad. Part of me suspects she caned me because she knew if I left it would be annoying to replace me (especially since I am doing the job of a peron two ranks higher than me and no bastard would apply given the low grade I am). Part of me also suspects she didn't like my lefty views (given her staunch 'I am a fundamentalist Christian who loves the Liberal party' stance). I'd say also my battles with Buckwheat, her friend and someone she bought with her when she came over, probably didn't help me either. Buckwheat who recently won her job without interview, with her application quite probably 'touched up' by the supervisor who ... was the head of the selection panel.
So basically pretty dark on this event. I suspect even with a glowing reference I still would have likely not made it - given my not so great interview. But it's a lot harder to climb a high wall when there is a blade tent pointing out your fucking chest from a person you trusted to give an unbiased honest assessment - as opposed to the pig swill she gave them. Plus I'm sure her 'opinions' would have coloured what the panel thought of my abilities in the interview component.
Thanks alot ex supervisor. Let me go on record as saying how much I am glad I am no longer any where near her and her fucked up management ability and absolute minimal knowledge of what I even fucking did on a day to day basis.
I had a read. Turns out I did quite well in the full day mental exercises, though my team work skills were a tad rusty, did okay in the interview (not great, but not horrible), and my former tutor gave me an excellent reference.
So where did HM really fall down? Turns out it was my old supervisor. For some reason she felt the need to mention a time I showed 'poor judgement' despite never ever having told me that was the case (largely because I hadn't at all), that I required intervention and mentoring on occasion, that I wasn't fit to be the level I was, and certainly not to be one level higher (the job I went for, as irony would have it, was one grade less than my current position...). Oh and that I wasn't to great at my core functions and that she had to check all my output. She did - as a result of procedures because she was signing off what was produced as it was then disseminated to a wider readership - not because I was incompetent. But it came off as the incompetence issue naturally enough.
In short she fucked me over and helped add to my own shaky interview to ruin my chances of a job. For the scores she gave me lowered me way down below everyone else and the panel kept referring to this so called 'poor judgement' incident I had shown. Which frankly is bizarre because all I did was include a paragraph of text referring to a negative incident in the media and in the covering email said 'I put this in just in case the boss wanted to address it; if not delete it'. Yep - real poor judgement giving people options. How dare I? I am clearly pond scum.
And yet at the time she gave the report via phone she said 'I was honest and addressed the areas where I could, but I couldn't address all of them [since I had not performed some of the selected roles the criteria wanted]' - there was smiles. Smiles as she drove the fucking knife in.
Normally what happens with things like this is the panel says 'you had a concern raised, let's talk about it' which I would have happily done even though said supervisor is a fucking moron and knows next to nothing about how reports of this nature are constructed. But no, they didn't. Didn't ask me about it at all and instead the words 'the incident' and 'poor judgement' are laced through the post match report without any chance of a right of reply.
I have to say I'm pretty sad. Part of me suspects she caned me because she knew if I left it would be annoying to replace me (especially since I am doing the job of a peron two ranks higher than me and no bastard would apply given the low grade I am). Part of me also suspects she didn't like my lefty views (given her staunch 'I am a fundamentalist Christian who loves the Liberal party' stance). I'd say also my battles with Buckwheat, her friend and someone she bought with her when she came over, probably didn't help me either. Buckwheat who recently won her job without interview, with her application quite probably 'touched up' by the supervisor who ... was the head of the selection panel.
So basically pretty dark on this event. I suspect even with a glowing reference I still would have likely not made it - given my not so great interview. But it's a lot harder to climb a high wall when there is a blade tent pointing out your fucking chest from a person you trusted to give an unbiased honest assessment - as opposed to the pig swill she gave them. Plus I'm sure her 'opinions' would have coloured what the panel thought of my abilities in the interview component.
Thanks alot ex supervisor. Let me go on record as saying how much I am glad I am no longer any where near her and her fucked up management ability and absolute minimal knowledge of what I even fucking did on a day to day basis.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Don't hang Saddam
Yep - it's a turn the other cheek moment for HM.
If anyone was the poster child of 'string 'em up high' it's Saddam Hussein. What he did to his own people, and what his clan did, was monstrous. He is truly evil and of course truly deluded. He genuinely sees himself as a hero of Arabia despite being largely responsible for the deaths of more Muslims courtesy of the US backed Iraq-Iran war than any modern man before him.
But killing him won't bring anyone back. It brings false comfort to a region soaked in death. And it martyrs him, allows his image to be rehabilitated in the eyes of some, Sunni insurgents for the most part, and become a rallying cry for a part of the world that really needs to calm the fuck down. Even if the US did the geopolitical equivalent of pour metho on an ant's nest and drop a lit match on it.
And most of all killing the evil poison that is Saddam, evil poison that used to be the US's bitch in the region let's not forget, allows people who didn't murder or kill to likewise be murdered by the state in an ever escalating cycle of legally enforced death. Like those who get raped and are charged with adultery if they complain in some backward countries, or even countries where there are 100+ crimes on the books that bring the death penalty (like Taiwan).
Murder is wrong, even judicial murder. Death begats death, more so in this case in any other given freaks are going to start lighting candles under his portait and clean their AK47s while whispering 'I am the angel of death, the time of purification is at hand'.
What should have happened is Hussein should have been handed over to the International Court, the same one the Bush administration refuses to have anything to do with, and tried there. And when his very long, very very fair trial was over, those wronged would have had the chance to say their piece and Hussein would have been revealed, like Slobby was, to be the deluded self important freak he is. He would have lived out his days in a three star motel that's true, but he would have faded away and die in 30 years time an old and broken man, not proudly stand on the scaffold and proclaim himself a martyr - which is exactly what he will do even though he martyred more of Mohammed's followers than the Israeli's or anyone else ever did.
He's a horrible man from a region where horrible men are readily able to come to power, thanks in part to the post colonial hiccups of departed western masters.
But let him live. Let him age and wail and gibber and froth and realise that his time on top meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.
And no, I am not going to debate the death penalty here. I've done that in previous blogs. If you're really frothing at the bit with a 'kill them all and let God sort it out' rant boiling in your chest, go find it and comment there. Or better yet, try your luck at the guestbook at the Amnesty website.
If anyone was the poster child of 'string 'em up high' it's Saddam Hussein. What he did to his own people, and what his clan did, was monstrous. He is truly evil and of course truly deluded. He genuinely sees himself as a hero of Arabia despite being largely responsible for the deaths of more Muslims courtesy of the US backed Iraq-Iran war than any modern man before him.
But killing him won't bring anyone back. It brings false comfort to a region soaked in death. And it martyrs him, allows his image to be rehabilitated in the eyes of some, Sunni insurgents for the most part, and become a rallying cry for a part of the world that really needs to calm the fuck down. Even if the US did the geopolitical equivalent of pour metho on an ant's nest and drop a lit match on it.
And most of all killing the evil poison that is Saddam, evil poison that used to be the US's bitch in the region let's not forget, allows people who didn't murder or kill to likewise be murdered by the state in an ever escalating cycle of legally enforced death. Like those who get raped and are charged with adultery if they complain in some backward countries, or even countries where there are 100+ crimes on the books that bring the death penalty (like Taiwan).
Murder is wrong, even judicial murder. Death begats death, more so in this case in any other given freaks are going to start lighting candles under his portait and clean their AK47s while whispering 'I am the angel of death, the time of purification is at hand'.
What should have happened is Hussein should have been handed over to the International Court, the same one the Bush administration refuses to have anything to do with, and tried there. And when his very long, very very fair trial was over, those wronged would have had the chance to say their piece and Hussein would have been revealed, like Slobby was, to be the deluded self important freak he is. He would have lived out his days in a three star motel that's true, but he would have faded away and die in 30 years time an old and broken man, not proudly stand on the scaffold and proclaim himself a martyr - which is exactly what he will do even though he martyred more of Mohammed's followers than the Israeli's or anyone else ever did.
He's a horrible man from a region where horrible men are readily able to come to power, thanks in part to the post colonial hiccups of departed western masters.
But let him live. Let him age and wail and gibber and froth and realise that his time on top meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.
And no, I am not going to debate the death penalty here. I've done that in previous blogs. If you're really frothing at the bit with a 'kill them all and let God sort it out' rant boiling in your chest, go find it and comment there. Or better yet, try your luck at the guestbook at the Amnesty website.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Beazley on Kyoto and the reasons why it's good to sign - especially if you're aiming to meet the target anyway
I was fortunate enough to see him give this live on 16 Feb 2005. People may think he is some kind of Tweedle-dee to Howard as Tweedle-dum but he is not. They are different, markedly different, even if a lot of the time what you hear is similiar because they are pitching to the same swinging voter aspirationals that cluster around either the Kitchen table (according to Kimbo) or the Rumpus Room or informal Dining of their McMansion (Howard).
Taken from here
Taken from here
Mr BEAZLEY (Brand—Leader of the Opposition) (3.00 p.m.)—I thank the House. Today, across the world, parliaments and people are observing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: the Kyoto protocol. It is a day of great historical significance. The threat of global warming is one of the greatest challenges that the world community now faces. It is complex, demanding and urgent. Just as also are the other great challenges of our time: global terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the crisis of extreme poverty that afflicts one billion people.
At the outset of this debate, in the context of what the Prime Minister had to say, I want to say this: it is in Australia's interests to sign and ratify this protocol. Not a single economic benefit flows from the failure to do so. As the government itself has said, it will meet the Kyoto targets which it negotiated in 1997, so the government cannot argue that the Kyoto targets detract from this country's economic potential. The second thing is this, and it is more vital: if you are a ratifier and a participant in this treaty, you sit at the table that determines the next phase from 2012 onwards; if you do not, you are liable to all sorts of economic action by those countries who are participants in it—and we could potentially have a very great deal to lose were those circumstances to arise. Another thing is that incorporated within this regime is a carbon trading arrangement which, as a major exporter of energy, we have substantial opportunities to participate in, yet we have been taken out of that. The Sydney Futures Exchange anticipated commonsense from this government and set up a capacity to trade in those carbon futures, but this government has let this element of the capitalist system monumentally down.
No nation can solve these global warming problems alone. They require an immense effort of technology, diplomacy and leadership for our world to tackle them effectively. I am no master of scientific knowledge on climate change—unlike the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources—but, like many in the Australian community, my sense of concern has deepened over several years as the scientific evidence has mounted. The picture is bleak; the evidence is compelling. I do not need to dwell on that—we are reading about it every day in our newspapers. I think, too, that we understand the consequences will be severe. The frequency of droughts and floods will increase. Water resources will become more scarce. Vast tracts of agricultural land will become arid. Many plant and animal species will face extinction. Australia will face a hotter and drier climate. The severe bushfires that have menaced us in recent years will intensify. Water shortages will become more frequent. Some of Australia's most spectacular natural heritage, like the Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu's wetlands and the alpine regions of south-eastern Australia, will be severely damaged. Already, many of our folk can see these trends. It is an issue that is raised with me constantly as I go out and address groups and meet people in the community. The government are defying the commonsense and the observations already of the Australian people who put them where they are. Despite this threat, when the Kyoto protocol comes into effect today with the names of 140 countries on that list, we are not there.
Making sense of this government's position on Kyoto, as I said, is not easy. When the Kyoto protocol was negotiated in December 1997, the Prime Minister described the Kyoto outcome as an `absolutely stunning diplomatic success', saying that it would:
... make a massive contribution to the world environmental effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions but also to protect Australian jobs ... a win for the environment and a win for Australian jobs.
The Prime Minister, as we all know, is given to hyperbole when it comes to describing his achievements, but I have rarely heard him wax so eloquent in his own praise and I have never heard him before, having waxed so eloquent, spurn the product of his announcement. His position is now different. He says that Australia just cannot afford it, that it would cost us too much, that it is not in our best interests. Meanwhile, his minister for the environment has another message: that Kyoto, with its one per cent reduction in emissions, does not go far enough. As he said on 23 October 2004:
... until the protocol reduced emissions by 60 per cent, Australia would not accept it. “That would be accepting the argument that you sign on to something that is half-hearted and not likely to deliver a good result.
In other words, the Prime Minister, if he is honest—according to his environment minister—would be standing up here saying, `I'll not sign this until there is a 60 per cent reduction.' I tell you what: there would be a few comments from Australian industry then! His industry minister is not even sure that there is any problem with global warming. He is quoted in the Sydney Morning Heraldtoday saying:
Whether or not those emissions are causing climate change, I don't know. If you go back across history, millions of years, carbon dioxide levels go up and down, and global warming comes and goes. I mean, the Earth is a lot warmer than it was when the glaciers formed.
But the government's position gets still more confused. The Prime Minister also says that though we oppose Kyoto and will not ratify it, yet we will reach our Kyoto targets anyhow—but, no, we still will not sign it. This is the absurdity, the internal contradiction, the sheer loopiness of this government's position on global warming. On the one hand, the government is indignant that Australia cannot bear the cost of signing the Kyoto protocol but, on the other hand, it tells us Australia is on track and will reach its Kyoto targets.
It seems the government is saying that Australia will bear the costs but not enjoy the significant economic benefits of ratification. If we ratify Kyoto, we get access to the global carbon market and trading mechanisms built into the protocol. We gain the opportunity of building new emissions trading relationships with both developing and advanced economies. We reduce the cost of achieving the targets to less than half the cost while we remain outside, according to expert modelling prepared for the Kyoto Protocol Ratification Advisory Committee. We generate export income from overseas companies who wish to establish carbon sinks in Australia. Such investments could generate $1 billion of annual export income, according to the Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy.
We could also help to foster new businesses in the booming global market for low-carbon energy-efficient technologies—businesses that can create jobs for Australia and give us a stronger foothold in global markets for environmental goods and services already estimated to be worth $US515 billion in 2005. Business spurns this government on this issue. Instead, because of the government's position, we are being excluded from these benefits and face the risk of being black-listed for trading opportunities by Kyoto signatories.
This government has had much to say which is critical of Kyoto. We on this side appreciate that Kyoto is far from perfect: it does not go far enough to stop global warming, it does not yet impose binding commitments on all the developing countries whose use of carbon fuels is growing, it does not achieve significant cuts in carbon emissions and it does not set targets beyond 2012. But we have to be realistic. Regardless of its shortcomings, Kyoto is the only show in town. While it is not perfect, there is no viable alternative. While it is not perfect, it gives us a foundation on which to set targets for emissions beyond 2012 and bring in the developing economies. You will not be able to address the fact that the Chinese and Indians are excluded from the current arrangements if you are not there to argue that they should be included after 2012—and we will not be.
It is naive in the extreme for this government to suggest that we can throw out 15 years of international work on this agreement and think we will get a deal that addresses these weaknesses. It is simply not credible; it is not how international diplomacy works. Time, patience and persistence are required. The Kyoto protocol is the central instrument that will build commitment to the climate change agenda in the next few years whilst also incubating market based solutions such as climate change technologies and emissions trading systems. If this government is serious about addressing the urgent global problem of climate change then it simply cannot reject the Kyoto protocol—because there is no realistic alternative to this agreement. That is why we are left scratching our heads at the bizarre approach this Prime Minister has taken in ignoring the gravity of the scientific evidence and ignoring the international consensus on this issue.
There is an image of the Prime Minister that has stuck in my mind this week. It comes from his comments in an interview with Monica Attard which was broadcast last weekend. In it the Prime Minister made the point that he is `the sort of person who retains complete touch with reality' and is even `at work on the lawns at Kirribilli every weekend'. To test his assertion, Ms Attard asked the Prime Minister to name the movie he saw when he last went to the flicks. He enthusiastically shot back that the movie he had last seen at the flicks was Four Weddings and a Funeral—a movie which, I seem to remember, was released a decade ago. As I thought about why the Prime Minister would identify with that movie, the image of its final scene came to mind—the famous romantic scene in which Hugh Grant, as Charles, is finally brought together with his true love, Andie McDowell, as Carrie. Carrie shows up on Charles's doorstep, amidst the thunder, lightning and torrential downpour. As the two embrace and are getting completely soaked in the downpour, and as the lightning flashes and the thunder roars, Hugh suggests that maybe they should get out of the rain. As Carrie gazes into Charles's eyes, she mutters those memorable words which bring to mind the Prime Minister: `Is it still raining? I hadn't noticed.'
In case the Prime Minister had not noticed, 140 nations have signed the Kyoto protocol—ratified it—but Australia is left outside. We are left on the outside with a Prime Minister whose backward looking vision is of an Australia which bears the black mark of being the nation that belches out more greenhouse gases per head of population than any other but will not sign up to Kyoto, even though they gave us comfort, and is left out of the enormous opportunities available to countries that have ratified Kyoto—the economic opportunities created by carbon trading and the growth of tomorrow's industries based around low-carbon, efficient and renewable energy technologies.
Why has the government done this when the evidence is so overwhelming? One answer comes to mind, based on patterns of past behaviour. There is one thing that might yet change the Prime Minister's mind. What has changed between 1997, when the Prime Minister was gushing his enthusiasm for Kyoto, and today, when he derides it? It is not the science; it is more convincing now than it was then. It is not the level of world support; it is more overwhelming now. It is not the urgency; it has become more pressing. It is not the emergence of an alternative plan; Kyoto is the only game in town. The only thing that happened is the US changed its position during that period. That is the one thing that has changed since 1997—just one thing. Beyond all doubt, and despite the Prime Minister's blustering words, if the US changed its position back again, supporting Kyoto, the ink would not be dry on the US signature before the Prime Minister would have ratified the protocol. That is the only change. It is an extraordinary position to get into, because I honestly do not feel that the United States would think anything of it if the Prime Minister ratified this agreement. It has not worried them that Blair has signed. It has not worried them that other allies and friends of the United States have signed it. Those countries regard it as their own business; they are not there to be influenced or bullied by the United States.
It does the US alliance no good, and it does no good to the reputation of people in this country who are seriously worried about the impacts of global change and the loss of business opportunities that flow from this to have it believed in the community that the only thing that caused the Prime Minister to change his mind was not the economic argument—because we know that he rejected that and signed up to the targets anyway—but the relationship with the US. And it is a criterion in the relationship about which the US makes no demands at all. You will not go further in undermining the alliance and the good regard of young Australians, who are seriously seized with this, than if you let them think for one minute that your position has somehow or other been a product of trying to align yourself with the United States on this position. This is a moment in time which Australia cannot afford to miss. This is a moment in time when Australian workers cannot afford to see a government exclude them from the employment opportunities. This is a moment in time when Australian business demands a government response, but the government will not make it. (Time expired)
More Fraser Goodness
Poor old Malcolm Fraser. Imagine being one of the only surviving Liberal party PMs of the last 40 years and having your own party now despise you - to the extent that the Young Liberals (who are anything but liberal) try and have your life membership cancelled.
This is because Fraser stupidly stands up for principles like 'equal treatment under the law' and 'human rights', both principles under attack by Mr 'two caterpillers tongue wrestling on a Vodaphone logo' himself one "... Honest..." John Howard.
Well as noted by Mike Carlton of the SMH Fraser is at it again, pointing out how the party he once led dances the tune of the bigot in an effort to win votes and stay in office.
You can follow the link to Fraser's words from Cartlon's article since I can't get the law foundation link to work at the moment but it may work later. Here's the bit Carlton quoted from Fraser to tide you over.
"What we do not know we often fear. What we do not understand we fear. People from a different religion we often fear. And what we fear becomes a threat. The politics of these issues has bitten too deeply into the Australian psyche and it will take many years to remove it.
"This reminds me of the bitterness, even hatred, between Catholics and Protestants generated very significantly by Prime Minister Billy Hughes during the First World War. His action over the conscription debates in attacking the Catholic Church, and the Irish and Archbishop Daniel Mannix in particular, was irresponsible and scarred Australia for over 50 years. The bitterness against Catholics was extreme and in some quarters has still not entirely died.
"Those in charge of our affairs today seem not to understand this experience. There are already suggestions that this next election will be a Muslim election, as a while ago it was the Tampa election. It would create a terrible and unnecessary divide between Islam and the rest of the community. There is a responsibility on those in authority not to repeat the mistakes made by Prime Minister Billy Hughes.
"But the omens point in another direction. Because if we look at statements already made over a period, the groundwork has been laid for an increase in fear and concern for the followers of Islam."
Ahh - here we are - the link to the law foundation is working. Fraser's speech can be found here
This is because Fraser stupidly stands up for principles like 'equal treatment under the law' and 'human rights', both principles under attack by Mr 'two caterpillers tongue wrestling on a Vodaphone logo' himself one "... Honest..." John Howard.
Well as noted by Mike Carlton of the SMH Fraser is at it again, pointing out how the party he once led dances the tune of the bigot in an effort to win votes and stay in office.
You can follow the link to Fraser's words from Cartlon's article since I can't get the law foundation link to work at the moment but it may work later. Here's the bit Carlton quoted from Fraser to tide you over.
"What we do not know we often fear. What we do not understand we fear. People from a different religion we often fear. And what we fear becomes a threat. The politics of these issues has bitten too deeply into the Australian psyche and it will take many years to remove it.
"This reminds me of the bitterness, even hatred, between Catholics and Protestants generated very significantly by Prime Minister Billy Hughes during the First World War. His action over the conscription debates in attacking the Catholic Church, and the Irish and Archbishop Daniel Mannix in particular, was irresponsible and scarred Australia for over 50 years. The bitterness against Catholics was extreme and in some quarters has still not entirely died.
"Those in charge of our affairs today seem not to understand this experience. There are already suggestions that this next election will be a Muslim election, as a while ago it was the Tampa election. It would create a terrible and unnecessary divide between Islam and the rest of the community. There is a responsibility on those in authority not to repeat the mistakes made by Prime Minister Billy Hughes.
"But the omens point in another direction. Because if we look at statements already made over a period, the groundwork has been laid for an increase in fear and concern for the followers of Islam."
Ahh - here we are - the link to the law foundation is working. Fraser's speech can be found here
Doing my bit
Yes I am partisan. I am partisan due to my belief that certain parties care more for the many than the few and while they may do something I disagree with on occasion I think I am better off being part of the process to help fix it than sitting whinging about how the process is fucked and not.
Which is why I am a proud paid up member of the ALP here in Oz, and naturally enough support the Democrats in the US.
So to that end check out the following interesting links on what the Republican candidates are up to in the States.
–AZ-Sen: Jon Kyl
–AZ-01: Rick Renzi
–AZ-05: J.D. Hayworth
–CA-04: John Doolittle
–CA-11: Richard Pombo
–CA-50: Brian Bilbray
–CO-04: Marilyn Musgrave
–CO-05: Doug Lamborn
–CO-07: Rick O’Donnell
–CT-04: Christopher Shays
–FL-13: Vernon Buchanan
–FL-16: Joe Negron
–FL-22: Clay Shaw
–ID-01: Bill Sali
–IL-06: Peter Roskam
–IL-10: Mark Kirk
–IL-14: Dennis Hastert
–IN-02: Chris Chocola
–IN-08: John Hostettler
–IA-01: Mike Whalen
–KS-02: Jim Ryun
–KY-03: Anne Northup
–KY-04: Geoff Davis
–MD-Sen: Michael Steele
–MN-01: Gil Gutknecht
–MN-06: Michele Bachmann
–MO-Sen: Jim Talent
–MT-Sen: Conrad Burns
–NV-03: Jon Porter
–NH-02: Charlie Bass
–NJ-07: Mike Ferguson
–NM-01: Heather Wilson
–NY-03: Peter King
–NY-20: John Sweeney
–NY-26: Tom Reynolds
–NY-29: Randy Kuhl
–NC-08: Robin Hayes
–NC-11: Charles Taylor
–OH-01: Steve Chabot
–OH-02: Jean Schmidt
–OH-15: Deborah Pryce
–OH-18: Joy Padgett
–PA-04: Melissa Hart
–PA-07: Curt Weldon
–PA-08: Mike Fitzpatrick
–PA-10: Don Sherwood
–RI-Sen: Lincoln Chafee
–TN-Sen: Bob Corker
–VA-Sen: George Allen
–VA-10: Frank Wolf
–WA-Sen: Mike McGavick
–WA-08: Dave Reichert
Which is why I am a proud paid up member of the ALP here in Oz, and naturally enough support the Democrats in the US.
So to that end check out the following interesting links on what the Republican candidates are up to in the States.
–AZ-Sen: Jon Kyl
–AZ-01: Rick Renzi
–AZ-05: J.D. Hayworth
–CA-04: John Doolittle
–CA-11: Richard Pombo
–CA-50: Brian Bilbray
–CO-04: Marilyn Musgrave
–CO-05: Doug Lamborn
–CO-07: Rick O’Donnell
–CT-04: Christopher Shays
–FL-13: Vernon Buchanan
–FL-16: Joe Negron
–FL-22: Clay Shaw
–ID-01: Bill Sali
–IL-06: Peter Roskam
–IL-10: Mark Kirk
–IL-14: Dennis Hastert
–IN-02: Chris Chocola
–IN-08: John Hostettler
–IA-01: Mike Whalen
–KS-02: Jim Ryun
–KY-03: Anne Northup
–KY-04: Geoff Davis
–MD-Sen: Michael Steele
–MN-01: Gil Gutknecht
–MN-06: Michele Bachmann
–MO-Sen: Jim Talent
–MT-Sen: Conrad Burns
–NV-03: Jon Porter
–NH-02: Charlie Bass
–NJ-07: Mike Ferguson
–NM-01: Heather Wilson
–NY-03: Peter King
–NY-20: John Sweeney
–NY-26: Tom Reynolds
–NY-29: Randy Kuhl
–NC-08: Robin Hayes
–NC-11: Charles Taylor
–OH-01: Steve Chabot
–OH-02: Jean Schmidt
–OH-15: Deborah Pryce
–OH-18: Joy Padgett
–PA-04: Melissa Hart
–PA-07: Curt Weldon
–PA-08: Mike Fitzpatrick
–PA-10: Don Sherwood
–RI-Sen: Lincoln Chafee
–TN-Sen: Bob Corker
–VA-Sen: George Allen
–VA-10: Frank Wolf
–WA-Sen: Mike McGavick
–WA-08: Dave Reichert
Good one Clevo
Caswell Drive connects via two lanes to Belconnen Way near the Calvary Hospital in Belconnen. It has traffic lights. Most cars that queue up who plan to subsequently turn right onto Haydon Drive select naturally enough the right hand lane, since they only have a couple of hundred metres to get into the right hand lane of Belconnen Way to make that turn.However, as Canberra would have it, there's always one fuckwit that sits in the left, burns rubber to get up speed, then arcs into the right hand lane to cut off traffic. Why? Because they couldn't be arsed waiting in line like everyone else.
I fucking hate queue jumpers. Be it movies, expos, toilets etc. Wait your fucking turn like everybody else. Society is about giving up a certain amount of freedom (ie to barge in line) to protect other freedoms (not to have a fuckwit barge in line). People that queue jump think they are better than other people and deserve special treatment. I don't know why this is? Perhaps they've spent the last 10 years listening to eyebrow man telling them that Greed is Good or something.
Anyway, today was Clevo's turn. Clevo, kindly letting us know his identity via his personalised licence plates, roared up the left lane, cut across the middle lane, then into the right lane indicating only once he'd completed his manuever. Kind of a fuck you to everyone else to say 'I'm here, get used to it.' Perhaps the equivalent of a walking queue cut in turning around to wave at the losers behind him.
Clevo. He's a short arse in a blue ute with the word 'CLEVO' emblazoned on his licence plate. Keep an eye out for him and his crazy selfish driving antics. Lest he take your car out in the process of a 'It's all about ME' driving task.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Ultimate Burn
Courtesy of Mort who sent me the link.
Taken from here
Special comment by Keith Olbermann, MSNBC Journalist
Taken from here
Special comment by Keith Olbermann, MSNBC Journalist
On the 22nd of May, 1856, as the deteriorating American political system veered towards the edge of the cliff, Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina, shuffled into the Senate of this nation, his leg stiff from an old dueling injury, supported by a cane. And he looked for the familiar figure of the prominent Senator from Massachusetts, Charles Sumner.
Brooks found Sumner at his desk, mailing out copies of a speech he had delivered three days earlier — a speech against slavery.
The Congressman matter-of-factly raised his walking stick in mid-air, and smashed its metal point, across the Senator's head.
Congressman Brooks hit his victim repeatedly. Senator Sumner somehow got to his feet and tried to flee. Brooks chased him, and delivered untold blows to Sumner's head. Even though Sumner lay unconscious and bleeding, on the Senate floor, Brooks finally stopped beating him, only because his cane finally broke.
Others will cite John Brown's attack on the arsenal at Harper's Ferry as the exact point after which the Civil War became inevitable.
In point of fact, it might have been the moment — not when Brooks broke his cane over the prostrate body of Senator Sumner - but when voters in Brooks's district started sending him new canes.
Tonight, we almost wonder to whom President Bush will send the next new cane.
There is tonight no political division in this country that he and his party will not exploit, nor have not exploited; no anxiety that he and his party will not inflame.
There is no line this President has not crossed — nor will not cross — to keep one political party, in power.
He has spread any and every fear among us, in a desperate effort to avoid that which he most fears — some check, some balance against what has become not an imperial, but a unilateral presidency.
And now it is evident that it no longer matters to him, whether that effort to avoid the judgment of the people, is subtle and nuanced — or laughably transparent.
Senator John Kerry called him out Monday.
He did it two years too late.
He had been too cordial — just as Vice President Gore had been too cordial in 2000 — just as millions of us, have been too cordial ever since.
Senator Kerry, as you well know, spoke at a college in Southern California. With bitter humor, he told the students that he had been in Texas the day before, that President Bush used to live in that state, but that now he lives in the state of denial.
He said the trip had reminded him about the value of education — that quote "if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you can get stuck in Iraq."
The Senator, in essence, called Mr. Bush stupid.
The context was unmistakable: Texas;the state of denial;stuck in Iraq. No interpretation required.
And Mr. Bush and his minions responded, by appearing to be too stupid to realize that they had been called stupid.
They demanded Kerry apologize — to the troops in Iraq.
And so he now has.
That phrase "appearing to be too stupid" is used deliberately, Mr. Bush.
Because there are only three possibilities here:
One, sir, is that you are far more stupid than the worst of your critics have suggested; that you could not follow the construction of a simple sentence; that you could not recognize your own life story when it was deftly summarized; that you could not perceive it was the sad ledger of your presidency that was being recounted.
This, of course, compliments you, Mr. Bush, because even those who do not "make the most of it," who do not "study hard," who do not "do their homework," and who do not "make an effort to be smart" might still just be stupid — but honest.
No; the first option, sir, is, at best, improbable. You are not honest.
The second option is that you and those who work for you deliberately twisted what Senator Kerry said to fit your political template. That you decided to take advantage of it, to once again pretend that the attacks, solely about your own incompetence, were in fact attacks on the troops — or even on the nation itself.
The third possibility is, obviously, the nightmare scenario; that the first two options are in some way conflated.
That it is both politically convenient for you, and personally satisfying to you, to confuse yourself with the country for which, sir, you work.
A brief reminder, Mr. Bush: You are not the United States of America.
You are merely a politician whose entire legacy will have been a willingness to make anything political — to have, in this case, refused to acknowledge that the insult wasn't about the troops, and that the insult was not even truly about you either — that the insult, in fact, is you.
So now John Kerry has apologized to the troops; apologized for the Republicans' deliberate distortions.
Thus the President will now begin the apologies he owes our troops, right?
This President must apologize to the troops — for having suggested, six weeks ago, that the chaos in Iraq, the death and the carnage, the slaughtered Iraqi civilians and the dead American service personnel, will, to history, quote "look like just a comma."
This President must apologize to the troops — because the intelligence he claims led us into Iraq proved to be undeniably and irredeemably wrong.
This President must apologize to the troops — for having laughed about the failure of that intelligence, at a banquet, while our troops were in harm's way.
This President must apologize to the troops — because the streets of Iraq were not strewn with flowers and its residents did not greet them as liberators.
This President must apologize to the troops — because his administration ran out of "plan" after barely two months.
This President must apologize to the troops — for getting 2,815 of them killed.
This President must apologize to the troops — for getting this country into a war without a clue.
And Mr. Bush owes us an apology… for this destructive and omnivorous presidency.
—
We will not receive them, of course.
This President never apologizes.
Not to the troops.
Not to the people.
Nor will those henchmen who have echoed him.
In calling him a "stuffed suit," Senator Kerry was wrong about the Press Secretary.
Mr. Snow's words and conduct — falsely earnest and earnestly false — suggest he is not "stuffed" - he is inflated.
And in leaving him out of the equation, Senator Kerry gave an unwarranted pass to his old friend Senator McCain, who should be ashamed of himself tonight.
He rolled over and pretended Kerry had said what he obviously had not.
Only, the symbolic stick he broke over Kerry's head came in a context, even more disturbing: Mr. McCain demanded the apology, while electioneering for a Republican congressional candidate in Illinois.
He was speaking of how often he had been to Walter Reed Hospital to see the wounded Iraq veterans, of how, quote "many of the have lost limbs." He said all this while demanding that the voters of Illinois reject a candidate who is not only a wounded Iraq veteran, but who lost two limbs there: Tammy Duckworth.
Support some of the wounded veterans. But bad-mouth the Democratic one.
And exploit all the veterans, and all the still-serving personnel, in a cheap and tawdry political trick, to try to bury the truth: that John Kerry said the President had been stupid.
And to continue this slander as late as this morning — as biased, or gullible, or lazy newscasters, nodded in sleep-walking assent.
Senator McCain became a front man in a collective lie to break sticks over the heads of Democrats — one of them his friend; another his fellow veteran, leg-less, for whom he should weep and applaud, or at minimum about whom, he should stay quiet.
That was beneath the Senator from Arizona.
And it was all because of an imaginary insult to the troops that his party cynically manufactured — out of a desperation, and a futility, as deep as that of Congressman Brooks, when he went hunting for Senator Sumner.
This, is our beloved country now, as you have re-defined it, Mr. Bush.
Get a tortured Vietnam veteran to attack a decorated Vietnam veteran, in defense of military personnel, whom that decorated veteran did not insult.
Or, get your henchmen to take advantage of the evil lingering dregs of the fear of miscegenation in Tennessee, in your party's advertisements against Harold Ford.
Or, get the satellites who orbit around you, like Rush Limbaugh, to exploit the illness — and the bi-partisanship — of Michael J. Fox — yes, get someone to make fun of the cripple.
Oh, and sir, don't forget to drag your own wife into it.
"It's always easy," she said of Mr. Fox's commercials — and she used this phrase twice — "to manipulate people's feelings."
Where on earth might the First Lady have gotten that idea, Mr. President?
From your endless manipulation of people's feelings about terrorism?
"How ever they put it," you said Monday of the Democrats, on the subject of Iraq , "their approach comes down to this: the terrorists win and America loses."
No manipulation of feelings there.
No manipulation of the charlatans of your administration into the only truth-tellers.
No shocked outrage at the Kerry insult that wasn't; no subtle smile as the First Lady silently sticks the knife in Michael J. Fox's back; no attempt on the campaign trail to bury the reality that you have already assured that the terrorists are winning.
Winning in Iraq, sir.
Winning in America, sir.
There, we have chaos: joint U.S./Iraqi checkpoints at Sadr City, the base of the radical Shiite militias — and the Americans have been ordered out by the Prime Minister of Iraq… and our Secretary of Defense doesn't even know about it!
And here — we have deliberate, systematic, institutionalized lying and smearing and terrorizing — a code of deceit, that somehow permits a President to say, quote, "If you listen carefully for a Democrat plan for success, they don't have one."
Permits him to say this while his plan in Iraq has amounted to a twisted version of the advice once offered to Lyndon Johnson about his Iraq, called Vietnam.
Instead of "declare victory — and get out"… we now have "declare victory — and stay, indefinitely."
And also here, we have institutionalized the terrorizing of the opposition. True domestic terror:
– Critics of your administration in the media receive letters filled with fake anthrax.
– Braying newspapers applaud, or laugh, or reveal details the FBI wished kept quiet, and thus impede or ruin the investigation.
– A series of reactionary columnists encourages treason charges against a newspaper that published "national security information" — that was openly available on the internet.
– One radio critic receives a letter, threatening the revelation of as much personal information about her as can be obtained — and expressing the hope that someone will then shoot her with an AK-47 machine gun.
– And finally, a critic of an incumbent Republican Senator, a critic armed with nothing but words, is attacked by the Senator's supporters, and thrown to the floor, in full view of television cameras, as if someone really did want to re-enact the intent and the rage of the day Preston Brooks found Senator Charles Sumner.
Of course, Mr. President, you did none of these things.
You instructed no one to mail the fake anthrax. Nor undermine the FBI's case. Nor call for the execution of the editors of the New York Times. Nor threaten to assassinate Stephanie Miller. Nor beat up a man yelling at Senator Allen. Nor have the first lady knife Michael J. Fox. Nor tell John McCain to lie about John Kerry.
No, you did not.
And the genius of the thing, is the same, as in King Henry's rhetorical question about Archbishop Thomas Becket: "Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?"
All you have to do, sir… is hand out enough new canes.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
I'm Orf Back to Canberra
Well it was an odd week. Full of emotional spills and little thrills. I got to see my mother in full Il Duce balcony ranting in the grip of delirium, have a tearful fight with my Dad over her treatment, and try frantically to fill the silence with Dad with interesting facts and trivia (most of which was boring and lame).
But I leave now with at least some of the air cleared about my fears, Dad got to vent, and I got to see my Mum come down from full psychosis back to a relatively normal pitch - apart from the odd black out on her short term memory.
It was very hard, esp given TheWife was back home dealing with her own very stressful job and I couldn't help, and she had to help me over the tinny speaker of our tiny phone. All in all though it was worth coming up. If only to have a store of awesome mum memories to help deal with her eventual decline over the coming months.
Now back on a plane. Hooray ... I do love to fly (not).
But I leave now with at least some of the air cleared about my fears, Dad got to vent, and I got to see my Mum come down from full psychosis back to a relatively normal pitch - apart from the odd black out on her short term memory.
It was very hard, esp given TheWife was back home dealing with her own very stressful job and I couldn't help, and she had to help me over the tinny speaker of our tiny phone. All in all though it was worth coming up. If only to have a store of awesome mum memories to help deal with her eventual decline over the coming months.
Now back on a plane. Hooray ... I do love to fly (not).
Bizarro World
The Pitcairn rapists lost their appeal and will now be imprisoned on ... Pitcairn island - in a special purpose built prison which will cost around 1.2 million dollars a year to run. According to the report the prisoners will total six, and this represents 1/10th of its population. An island just five square kilometres big.
To me, this does not seem a good use of resources. I know these are independent people living independent lives (but under the protection of the British crown). But 1.2 million a year for six people on an island of 60?! Wouldn't it be cheaper to close down the colony all together - which would assist in retarding the cultural unpleasantness that these people suffered - and shipping them to a larger country or something? Hell if the brits gave them each a free house in the UK and put the 6 men in the normal system it will still pay for itself within a few years.
1.2 million a year !? That's just nuts.
To me, this does not seem a good use of resources. I know these are independent people living independent lives (but under the protection of the British crown). But 1.2 million a year for six people on an island of 60?! Wouldn't it be cheaper to close down the colony all together - which would assist in retarding the cultural unpleasantness that these people suffered - and shipping them to a larger country or something? Hell if the brits gave them each a free house in the UK and put the 6 men in the normal system it will still pay for itself within a few years.
1.2 million a year !? That's just nuts.
TheWife's Halloween Encounter
We don't celebrate Halloween in Oz. I wish we did. It looks fun. But now and then, every couple of years, some kid tries it on in spite of this cultural abberation. TheWife had hers last night from a girl in a Vampire costume.Just had a funny encounter. A young girl came trick or treating at the door. I ended up giving her a selection of nuts and dried apricots. She said she had heaps of prunes at home. Anyhoo, when I went to answer the door I couldn't find my keys. I told her I was just looking for my keys and she said they were in the door. On her side. Whacky!
I can just imagine TheWife the next day trying to find her keys, giving up, using my set (since I am not there), opening the door, leaving without looking back, with her keys still in the lock all day long. Now add that to the fact the house diagonally across the road apparently deals drugs...
So on behalf of me, thanks mysterious vampire girl!
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