It comes in waves...

I've been watching Waveaid on Channel [V] and I feel such pride toward my fellow Australians.

I even have time for the Labor MP for Kingsford Smith. He and Midnight Oil rocked the SCG.

Someone in the crowd held up a sign saying,

"Garrett for PM"

...perhaps in a decade.

Vicarious stupidity.

Our Prime Minister is at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland proving to the entire world just how stupid he is with statements such as this.

"Can I just say, I mean, the negative mindset of the last five minutes is ridiculous - of course America has made mistakes."

"I think some of the criticism of the Americans by some the Europeans is unfair and irrational and I have said so."

Meanwhile in America, Gore Vidal has responded to Bush's second inauguration speech - found over at WhatROOLYhappened.com.

Gore Vidal responds to this excerpt from Bush's speech,

"America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal, instead, is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way. The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it. America's influence is not unlimited; but fortunately for the oppressed, America's influence is considerable, and we will use it confidently in freedom's cause."

Vidal's comments,

"Well, I hardly know where to end, much less begin. There's not a word of truth in anything that he said. Our founding fathers did not set us on a course to liberate all the world from tyranny. Jefferson just said, all men are created equal, and should be, etc, but it was not the task of the United States to go abroad to slay dragons, as John Quincy Adams so wisely put it; because if the United States does go abroad to slay dragons in the name of freedom, liberty, and so on, she could become dictatress of the world, but in the process she would lose her soul. That is what we - the lesson we should be learning now, instead of this declaration of war against the entire globe. He doesn't define what tyranny is. I'd say what we have now in the United States is working up a nice tyrannical persona for itself and for us. As we lose liberties he's, I guess, handing them out to other countries which have not asked for them, particularly; and what he says - The reaction in Europe - and I know we mustn't mention them because they're immoral and they have all those different kinds of cheese - but, simultaneously, they're much better educated than we are, and they're richer. Get that out there: The Europeans per capita are richer than the Americans, per capita. And by the time this administration is finished, there won't be any money left of any kind, starting with poor social security, which will be privatized, so that is the last gold rush for (as they say) men with an eye for opportunity."

"Events are made so horrible people like Saddam and so on are demonized, and we all have to immediately begin by saying how awful he is for 25 minutes before we can get down to the fact that he was no threat to the United States, no threat at all. He was not involved with al Qaeda. He was not involved with 9/11. He was not. He was not. You can say it a million times, but there you have a president with the help of the most corrupt media in my lifetime buoying his words across the land and telling lies about the - We're 45 minutes away from being blown up by the weapons of mass destruction that this master of evil has in his hands. - To which the answer is: Why? Why would he do that? There must be some motivation. You see, they are now beyond motivation, and that is insanity. So, an insane government is not one that you can look to with any confidence."

John HoWARd follows Bush and his administration without applying facts, truth, logic, analysis, common sense or humanity.

Supersizing the Compassion combo...

Today Kim stated a vision for the party. He says:

"We believe you can have a modern dynamic economy with compassion."

Here's my list Kim:

1. compassion for Iraqi civilians - Troops out.
2. compassion for scared pregnant women (young and old) when they seek termination services - expand access to Abortion services and the morning after pill.
3. compassion for the environment - Sign Kyoto.
4. compassion for Asylum seekers - welcome all with no need for TPV's
5. compassion for refugees - expand immigration.
6. compassion for freedom of speech - A Bill of Rights.
7. compassion for dissenting voices - repeal the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Legislation Amendment (Terrorism) Bill [No. 2] 2002 ("the ASIO bill") and promote tolerance.
8. compassion for Medicare - embrace, fund and respect free public healthcare for all
9. as much compassion as a wealthy society such as Australia can provide to all it's citizens - reinvigorate Public Housing, raise the dollars for pensions such as DSP, SPP and PPP.

Playdate at the Beazley house goes awry

Simon was overheard chastising his playmates...

"Anthony, if you can't play nicely with Jenny, I'm going to have to tell Papa Kim who will send you to the time-out room"

Papa Kim was overheard telling Simon that nobody likes a bossy boots...

When last seen, Kim was conferencing with the Paediatric psychologist, GI Joe and Bob the Builder.

The Bomber is back

Kim it is.

We can look forward to continued bipartisan support for the Iraq Invasion and no hesitation to support the Iran Invasion.

Things to take to a team-building exercise: Sensible shoes, NO concept of history, & um, unity. Please place nametags on all items in case of loss.

Shadow Attorney General Nicola Roxon has called on her Caucus colleagues to get behind party unity.

I'm proposing a team-building exercise. It could be organised for the morning of the big leadership vote.

Some icebreakers.
Some abseiling.
A murder.

Kim Beazley, currently the only candidate for leader of the Labor party had this to say as potential leader/direction maker/mentor/role model...

"As far as I'm concerned that's other people's business not mine. I have absolutely no expectations on any of my colleagues. It's their democratic right to stand if they choose and their democratic right not to."

Kim, if you have no expectations on any of your colleagues, you will not be disappointed.
They will deliver nothing...

Roe v. Wade 32 years ago...

Maureen Turner of the Hartford Advocate describes the most glaring evidence of Bush's intentions:

"In 2003, he signed the so-called partial-birth abortion act, the first piece of legislation since the Roe decision that makes an abortion procedure illegal. He's also pumped hundreds of millions into questionable abstinence-only sex education programs, while choking support for more comprehensive family-planning programs; nominated aggressively anti-choice candidates to federal courts and government positions; killed funding for international health programs that focus on reproductive issues; and supported other measures that limit reproductive freedom."

More on the status of the partial-birth abortion act.

Still Our Rights.
Still Our bodies.
Still Our Choice.

Kims and needles...

I do not want a K
I do not want an I
I do not want an M

I did not like him in the tank, I did not like him when boats sank.
I did not like him on the ship, I do not like him being it.
I do not like him anywhere, he's last year's model and I
just
don't
care.

Great news Warren, but it's still one person one vote...

Warren Snowdon, federal Member for Lingiari, NT (old-school, social justice, great legs, even more impressive moustache, left-leaning Labor) is backing Julia Gillard.

This is great news however, we are looking for more than the people of voting age of the Northern Territory with a total population of 199,900 to change Government.

It is a fine beginning and from little things, big things grow...
with acknowledgement to Paul Kelly, Kev Carmody and Archie Roach


Image from here

"Gather round people let me tell you a story, an eight year long story of power and pride.
British Lord Vestey and Vincent Lingiarri, were opposite men on opposite sides.
Vestey was fat with money and muscle.
Beef was his business, broad was his door.
Vincent was lean and spoke very little, he had no bank balance, hard dirt was his floor.
From little things big things grow.
Gurindji were working for nothing but rations, where once they had gathered the wealth of the land.
Daily the pressure got tighter and tighter, Gurindju decided they must make a stand. They picked up their swags and started off walking, at Wattie Creek they sat themselves down.
Now it don't sound like much but it sure got tongues talking, back at the homestead and then in the town.
From little things big things grow.
Vestey man said I'll double your wages, seven quid a week you'll have in your hand. Vincent said uhuh we're not talking about wages, we're sitting right here till we get back our land.
Vestey man roared and Vestey man thundered, you don't stand the chance of a cinder in snow.
Vince said if we fall others are rising.
From little things big things grow.
Then Vincent Lingiarri boarded an aeroplane, landed in Sydney, big city of lights, and daily he went round softly speaking his story, to all kinds of men from all walks of life, and Vincent sat down with big politicians, this affair they told him is a matter of state, let us sort it out, your people are hungry, Vincent said no thanks, we know how to wait.
From little things big things grow.
Then Vincent Lingiarri returned in an aeroplane, back to his country once more to sit down, and he told his people let the stars keep on turning, we have friends in the south, in the cities and towns.
Eight years went by, eight long years of waiting, 'til one day a tall stranger appeared in the land, and he came with lawyers and he came with great ceremony, and through Vincent's fingers poured a handful of sand.
From little things big things grow.
That was the story of Vincent Lingairri, but this is the story of something much more, how power and privilege can not move a people, who know where they stand and stand in the law.
From little things big things grow."

Go Gillard grrlll

Give me a J
Give me a U
Give me an L
Give me an I
Give me an A

I hope she gets up.
I hope her health is robust.
I hope I am wrong in my fear that Australia is not ready to be led by a woman.

I know she is capable and courageous.


Art by Renee McGinnis

My shout for a Crown as the General leaves the building...

General Peter Cosgrove will not be renewing his contract in July 2005.



I have much respect for the man inside the Uniform.
I will miss his wisdom, judgment and compassion.
Not least of all for statements such as this,

"We should not rush off on jingoistic sentiments or warped ideas of mateship and the ANZAC spirit. Those ideas are true. But they are outcomes. They are not motives. So our decisions as a nation to go to war must be the most serious we ever take. Only when the decision is irrevocable and accepted, let then the people perform to the ANZAC spirit which is uniquely Australian and compounds our effect wherever we appear. But let's not ever use that as the reason to put on khaki."

...and who will post into the position?
Air force blue should be the next leading colour...
Probably Air Chief Marshal Houston.

Latham to become a lighthouse keeper.

Lighthouse keepers don't need doorbells as there is very little foot traffic. It is the perfect job for a person who wants to get away from it all.



My hope for PM in 2007, has resigned from parliament.

He is looking as sick as his beloved Labor party is!

He just wasn't what I hoped he could be.
Even as I listen to the audio I'm thinking "internal attribution; suck it up"
I'm instantly ashamed of my lack of concern for him as a human being.

I guess that's how it is.
I demand that my Leaders lead.

1. No crying.
   
2. No weakness.
   
3. No sycophancy.

I admire Mark as an individual, a husband, a father and a son.
He is putting his health and family before his career.
He can however, not fill the expectation I have for Leader of my country.

I've just realised what that means.
It means that I expect utter devotion and single-mindedness to one role.
I dislike personalities like that.
They make such lousy people...

What I expect creates what I dislike.

I have to go now, I need to cook some comfort food for me and the lighthouse keeper.

John HoWARd, the Doctor can see you now.

Our Prime Minister has a serious frontstage backstage dichotomous personality going on...

Army reservist should have paid attention in History class.

In 1945, in Nuremberg the trials began.

1. Hans Frank
   
2. Alfred Jodl
   
3. Wilhelm Keitel
   
4. Arthur Seyss-Inquart
   
5. Constantin von Neurath
   
6. Joachim von Ribbentrop

All these men were found guilty of Count Three: War Crimes.
These were the more traditional violations of the law of war including treatment of prisoners of war.

"I was just following orders"

was not a defense allowed then and it is not a defense allowed now.

US Army reservist Charles Graner Jr., convicted of mistreating Iraqis at Abu Ghraib prison, said he had been ordered to abuse detainees as he took the stand for the first time today. He described himself as a by-the-book prison guard corrupted by superiors who ordered him to physically mistreat and sexually humiliate detainees.

He said he initially resisted pressure to mistreat prisoners, but his Army superiors made it clear to him that he was expected to obey the commands of the military and civilian intelligence agents who ran his part of Abu Ghraib.

Graner said a lieutenant in his unit told him:

“If (military intelligence) asks you to do this, it needs to be done. They’re in charge, follow their orders.”

Poor Mark. Leadership demands human if not superhuman effort.

I have no loyalty to Mark Latham and it seems I'm not alone.
I'm not even that enamoured of the Labor party since Paul Keating went off to do other things.

I am however, committed to the end of the HoWARd, Downer, Ruddock, Vanstone, Anderson et al regime.

So, Federal Labor, get some style advice for Kevin Rudd and put him up as leader.

John HoWARd needed new glasses, bright ties and a brow wax before he became acceptable.

I'd like to see a woman in the job. I'd like to see more women in charge!
We're certainly capable of being superhuman.

The US leads in the area of women in powerful positions. The US may be ready for a Hilary-shaped President in 2008.
With the way that Australia slavishly follows the US; we could have a Julia-shaped leader of the opposition by 2013.

Please just make the decision and get on with being in opposition with a LEADER!

Look mum there's Osama...he's mastered the high kick

This story out of the US postulates that prisoners of war are like cheerleaders.

I don't know why I didn't see this before.
These men do resemble the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. Ok their wax jobs are a bit rough and if that one is Debbie, she looks done.

This Iraqi cheerleading team is obviously working on their pyramid in readiness for the 2005 Superbowl. Isn't it nice for the American soldiers to be their coaches and physiotherapists.

Clear as an autumn day in Geneva, these are the Baghdad raiders cheerleaders.

Oh and look, they're naked,
"bootygate"...

Mind Spirit alignment for the fearful leader to appease the fearful voter

Dear Mark,
Having consulted with the Aromatherapist and Kineisiologist, these are the plants that will furnish the essential oils to restore your health.




Fill that spa in Terrigal with warm water.
Place 5 droplets of each into the tepid mass.
Disrobe.
Gently lower yourself into this puddle of pungency and relax.

Soak, with eyes closed, for 15 minutes.
Repeat this ritual daily until you feel your wellness returning.
This is usually achieved within 8-10 days.

Pack up your bags.
Load the Commodore and return to Canberra.

Get back into your role as Labor leader and impress us.

We desperately need a viable alternative to HoWARd.

Mark, you're it!

Fucking get well and make plans to kick his lying rodent arse!

Oops we missed

The war in Iraq is not a natural disaster.

The numbers of dead are not all in the space of a few moments.

These and many other Iraqi dead are, however, as innocent as the dead from within families peacefully living their lives in Thailand last year.

This story out of northern Iraq highlights yet again why this war, that Australia is still a willing part of, is (and always was) wrong.

An official from a joint US-Iraqi security centre for Salahuddin province said the air strike targeted a suspected insurgent hideout in al-Aitha, a village on the border between Salahuddin and Nineveh provinces.

"The house was not the intended target for the air strike. The intended target was another location nearby."

-The US army has stated. It added that it:

"deeply regrets the loss of possibly innocent lives and that an investigation was under way."

All's well, the Chopper's getting attacked.

An Indian helicopter dropping food and water over the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been attacked by tribesmen using bows and arrows.
There were fears that the endangered tribal groups had been wiped out when massive waves struck their islands.

Authorities say,

"the attack is a sign that they have survived."

Thank you...

..I'd like to thank my partner, the girl-child, Rantzalot (Sir), my father, my mother, my step-mother, my sister and brothers, my grand-mother, Mrs. Woods from grade 4 (who helped flash up my English), my
oops, wrong scrap of paper
..to all and any who nominated me and my opinions for an award.

...and the winner is my bloggalactic hero BARISTA!

Paper money thanks, me back's buggered...

For some time, I was based in and around Darwin, Northern Territory.
While there, I purchased and lived on five acres of 'virgin' bush in what was known as Kakadu Stage 3. If anyone knows the area, it was Sunter Road, Humpty Doo.

This was a most beautiful, quiet and remote wilderness.

Nobody paid their rates to the Litchfield Shire Council, because the locals had the idea that you have to provide something to charge a fee!
I can recall one typical local, usually at the Humpty Doo Hotel saying,

"You don't even grade the bloody road (note singular), I'm not paying any bloody rates"

These are uncomplicated, hardworking, honest, good people and Allan Brooks is one such character.
Of his wheelbarrow odyssey, Allan was quoted as saying,

"If I fill it to the top with coins, I'd be flat-out trying to push it to be quite honest, so obviously notes would be better,"

The best and the worst in human behaviour... does that mean that things are getting back to normal?

Celebrating some of the best human behaviour would have to be this story,

"The Australian branch of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) has become possibly the first aid agency in the world to ask donors to stop pledging money to its tsunami appeal."

"MSF had decided it would be breaching its ethical code to collect money it could not use for its designated purpose."

And some of the worst is this predatory and exploitative behaviour from paedophiles, sociopaths and others.


Juxtaposition by M Fenichel

All my heroes have flaws

I am so amazed at the resilience of the earthquake and tsunami survivors that I can only make sense of this in one way....................... Survival.

Shame = $310 million

"President Bush announced today a ninefold increase in emergency aid to stricken areas of Asia, bringing the federal government's commitment to $350 million, and he said the United States would probably add more resources as the scope of what he called an "epic disaster" became clearer."

"Mr. Bush's action is the second time this week that the United States committed more funds to the effort, and it came after mounting criticism that the president, who has stayed on his 1,600-acre ranch all week and spoken publicly about the disaster once, had reacted too slowly."

He may be the worst US President ever, but George W. Bush does understand national shame.

I don't care which emotion informed this, an extra $310 million is a good start!