Sensitive Reporting

Ah, sensitive journalism at it's best from the Herald Sun

The headline may as well haev been:

FERAL SLUTS AT THE RACES

And pictures, there are pictures as well.

god save us!

Ben Cousins: Missing Persons, A New Definition

Apparently if the Herald Sun don't know where you are at any one moment in time that makes you a missing person.

Oh, and you're probably on a LA drug bender as well.

Impeccable journalistic standards methinks.

Hope none of his family were reading the papers this morning!

count the puns

including the headline, i made ten

oh, and now i've this fantasy:

Bob Hawke

The world is a funny place

My last ride on dirt in Berkeley. A quick two hour jaunt on the mountain bike. The last bit of dirt on that ride - a steep dropoff with tree roots and a little ledge drop near the football stadium.

I pinch flat off the ledge.

I grinned the whole way home. Someone has a sense of humour.

Ja'mie and Feminism

Sociologist Jennifer Sinclair in todays Age:

'The problem of Ja'mie is not because the wealthier classes and private schools have somehow been shielded from or stubbornly resisted feminist ideals and principles. On the contrary, many private girls schools, in particular, have taken up feminist principles with gusto. Girls are encouraged and trained to be independent, assertive leaders and have instilled in them a conviction that they are able to do and be whatever they want. Ja'mie certainly demonstrates this aspect of feminism — the "I can do whatever I want" aspect — albeit in a mutant form, which makes one wonder if Ja'mie isn't feminism's Frankenstein.

Feminism has challenged the idea that women should be quiet, docile and nice.

On that score, Ja'mie could be feminism's poster girl. The gung-ho "you go girl" kind of feminism that swells the chests of principals of private girls schools when their students outgun the boys at whatever endeavour is on the go is just what the feminist doctor ordered.

The idea that girls should ever take a moment to consider other people in their quest to be and do whatever they want is simply not on the radar...

For the likes of Ja'mie, however, it's a no-brainer. Along with sugar and spice, a soul seems to have been deleted from the new, improved girl formula.'

I think this article poses an interesting question for Feminists, namely:

How has feminism transformed from a movement that aimed to tear down the strictures of an oppressive patriarchal system, to one that supports women who aspire towards the same oppressive roles in the same oppressive system?

glorious KRudd

Delayed Happiness: 'Another Victim'

Poor Crazy John Ilhan:

'Brendan Fleiter, managing director of Mr Ilhan's Crazy John's company, said his 42-year-old workaholic mate had been looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Patricia, and children – Yasmin, 10, Hannah, eight, Jaida, six, and Aidan, aged just eight months.'

He won't be the last bloke that wanted to spend more time with his family, but never quite made it.

Poor bugger

Debate Backwash

You have to laugh, Andrew Bolt and Tony Abbott both think that the worm was a left wing conspiracy, foisted upon an unsuspecting nation by the evil left wing geniuses at Channel Nine.

Andrew Bolt did muse re Nine: 'How honest is this Left-lurching station, and how trustworthy its most famous face?'

Channel Nine- left lurching, that is a conspiracy indeed.

Especially considering, and in Bolt's own words:

'Of the 48,000 callers, 52 per cent gave the debate to Howard, despite all the worm's work. Viewers of the worm-coverage on Sky News also gave first prize to Howard.'

So the oldies who watch Channel Nine, and the retrograde right wing hacks who watch sky news and profess to enjoy it gave the debate to Howard- No great surprise.

But the 90 swinging voters chosen by Nine gave the vote to Rudd 65/29- It must be a conspiracy!

And then Abbott's conspiracy theory:

"To me, it is pretty clear that that was an audience that had already made up its mind who it was in favour of, and I wonder how that audience was selected."

From my perspective the worm was interesting. It showed who undecided voters may be interested in listening too.

It didn't show who they thought was right or wrong, but it did indicate their preferences.

There was no left wing conspiracy from the very right wing Channel Nine. For a change there was a spirit of independence that has been sadly lacking for the past eleven years.

As Margo Kingston said the other night on Late Night Live, today's Canberra newspack are in many senses 'embedded'. They have cosy agreements with Politicians that guarantee them access to political news makers.

It was courageous of Nine to finally buck the trend.

ARRRGH!

Oh dear!

I love elections

Peter learns supply and demand.

Labour's childcare rebates could push up prices by fuelling demand for a scarce good. But doesn't the first homebuyer's grant do the same? Mummy, I'm confused.

George Monbiot on Libertarianism

This today in relation to the Libertarian chairman of English bank Northern Rock:

'Wherever modern humans, living outside the narrow social mores of the clan, are allowed to pursue their genetic interests without constraint, they will hurt other people. They will grab other people's resources, they will dump their waste in other people's habitats, they will cheat, lie, steal and kill. And if they have power and weapons, no one will be able to stop them except those with more power and better weapons. Our genetic inheritance makes us smart enough to see that when the old society breaks down, we should appease those who are more powerful than ourselves and exploit those who are less powerful. The survival strategies that once ensured cooperation among equals now ensure subservience to those who have broken the social contract.

The democratic challenge, which becomes ever more complex as the scale of human interactions increases, is to mimic the governance system of the small hominid troop. We need a state that rewards us for cooperating and punishes us for cheating and stealing. At the same time, we must ensure that the state is also treated like a member of the hominid clan and punished when it acts against the common good. Human welfare, just as it was a million years ago, is guaranteed only by mutual scrutiny and regulation.

I doubt that Ridley would be able to sustain his beliefs in a place where the state has broken down. Unless taxpayers' money and public services are available to repair the destruction it causes, libertarianism destroys people's savings, wrecks their lives and trashes their environment. It is the belief system of the free-rider, who is perpetually subsidised by responsible citizens. As biologists we both know what this means. Self-serving as governments might be, the true social parasites are those who demand their dissolution.'

Smack Bang Biff Pow

Take that, Sol!

David Murray's tenure at the Future Fund may just be a positive dawn in Australian fund management. What is normally a cosy club, rubber stamping pay packets, could be broken up. Murray is looking at voting the Fund's shares against Telstra's pay proposal for top level managers. Go you good thing. If this takes root we might see some sensible curbs on top flight pay and a change toward a more pro-active attitude amongst fund managers. This could only be positive for Australian shareholders and the citizenry at large.

The Great Debate Post #3

It was a show, a circus and nothing more. They were two TV personalities fighting for the limelight.

And Rudd won.

It didn't have as much to do with anything he actually said the whole night, as it was about how he said it. (with the exception of a few buzz words: Costello, Health, Education, Climate Change etc)

Ray Martin was never the preferred ACA presenter because he was smarter then Mike Munro, it was because he was better presented.

And Rudd was far better presented then Howard.

It just happens to be a coincidence that he will also be a far better PM then Howard.

The Great Election Debate

Initially I was a bit concerned that 90 minutes would be a bit of a borefest, but it wasn't.

The screening of the worm was captivating, and bravo Channel Nine for doing so in opposition to the Liberal Party's insistence on its absence.

Rudd won the debate hands down, the PM appeared for the most part petulant, cranky, and listless.

He stood on a funny angle, and looked shifty and agitated for the entire broadcast, whilst on the balance Rudd appeared firm and balanced.

Rudd was able to link together all the policies he has been announcing over the past year, and his closing speach had great impact in highlighting his vision for Australia's future.

Howard on the other hand was forced onto the defensive. His two policy announcements were ineffectual, and the questions he posed Rudd were neither incisive, nor particular well conceived.

The worm was not about who was right or wrong on any particular issue, it was about perception- and at the end of the day Rudd appeared the natural leader, while Mr Howard came out looking like Mr Magoo.

The thing I most enjoyed about the debate was how Kevin Rudd seems to have grasped the productivity agenda of Paul Keating. He is comfortable talking about how capcity building and boosting education spending are important for Australia's future economic development.

The most important thing was that Rudd didn't put a foot wrong, and gave the appearance of being the notional leader of the nation at the very least.

Mr Howard has a lot of work to do to regain the front runners position.

"Himself Bob Hawke"

Just watching The Australian's feed of the debate. Tell it like it is Kevin... finally someone steps up to the Libs and brings up John Howard's appalling record as treasurer and Labour's golden period of economic reform in the 80's.


Brilliant interjection when moderator David Speers told the audience to be quiet:

"Are you reprimanding the treasurer?" -K Rudd


KEVIN 07!

Different Paths: Training Alternatives.

All heart, no brains

All Science, no guts

I think I'm moving from Red to Blue.

Women prefer...

Male ballet dancers who drive utes according to the Townsville Bulletin.

Nice picture!

Harden the f**k up Australia!

Hearts and Minds...

Labor candidate for the federal seat of Mallee John Zigouras described his Wimmera electorate as:

`redneck country surrounded by neo-Nazis'

Don't be afraid to tell it like it is dude!

Blog freely!

From www.xkcd.com...

hello, britain?

this guardian article swings and misses, but those making comments seem to have struck the issue.

the brits no longer make good music. it's all north america.

a quick search through my iTunes reveal that i've bought three UK albums this year, (art brut, radiohead and electrelane). i also bought the editors second album but i've listened to that all of one and a half times.

ten years ago three-quarts of what i'd probably be buying would be british: blur, pulp, belle and sebastian, suede, massive attack, radiohead, &c. &c. now, it's all so bland: bloc party (i just heard their 'sparkle you with my wit' song on rrr this morning, DO IT, don't tell me you will), arctic monkeys, killers, hard fi... yawn.

is this part of a general cultural malaise? is london's material comfort curbing their artistic ways? (w. apologies to the thrills) maybe it's the fact that their sports teams win occasionally?

i'm not sure, as i know zilch about these things, but it's idea i'm willing to throw out for the sake of digital discussion and the potential for an inflated ego when i can say 'you read it here/there/at bici first'.

A bad day's fishing

... Is better than a good day at the office.

Poor Robbie didn't have a good day at the office in Paris-Tours this year.

GODVERDOMME!

ENROLL TO VOTE RIGHT NOW!

You can enroll to vote until the 17th, Wednesday night at 8pm if you have never voted before. To update address details, it's the 23rd, Tuesday at 8pm. This is a very important election. Please make your voice heard. Whoever you favour politically.


Full details from the AEC:

http://www.aec.gov.au/About_AEC/Media_releases/10_14a.htm


Interesting tidbit:

"The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) unfortunately provided incorrect advice to the Prime Minister that Monday 22 October 2007 was the date for close of rolls, for a writ issued on Wednesday 17 October.

In further checks today the AEC has identified a public holiday (Show Day) on Flinders Island (Tasmania). As this is a full day official public holiday it necessitates that the close of rolls deadline be moved a day to 8pm Tuesday 23 October 2007. "

Finally!

John Howard has finally called the election. I wasn't surprised that he went for the long 6 week campaign.

He will be hoping that Rudd and Labor make as many mistakes, and get as worn out as possible on the campaign trail.

But I think the polls tell the tale for the Coalition government. They have done everything possible to appease older voters, and in the process completely lost the younger generation.

Today in The Age the Taverner Poll revealed that 72% of people surveyed aged 18 to 29 will vote against John Howard.

Some of the reasons I would speculate are behind the decrease in popularity (from 60% against in 2004) amongst young people:

Workchoices
Housing affordability
Slowness in adopting a coherent approach to global warming
Education spending
Xenophobic tendencies
Lack of interest in indigenous issues
Lack of young people involved in the Liberal Party

Clearly the government saw this trend in youth opinion a long way off with it's ramshackled attempt to lock first time voters out of the rolls through abridging the cut off times for enrollment once the election was called.

But with that sort of dissatisfaction, preventing tens of thousands of first time voters from voting won't make much of a difference- they will still get whacked by the youth vote anyway.

The Age article also states:

'In 2004, 59 per cent of over 55s voted for the Coalition compared with 41 per cent for Labor. The gap has been narrowed dramatically to 51 per cent support for the Coalition, compared with 49 per cent for Labor.'

So the Coalition has held the oldies, just, but at the expense of just about every other category.

i'm still pissed

but this is cool!

Jens Lekman: I'm sitting in my apartment now, but it's almost empty. I'm just going here for the few days that I'm home, and I'll be cleaning it out probably just before the U.S. tour. And then I'll be homeless, and I'm looking forward to that. No electricity bills.

Yeah, and then Australia. Melbourne, that's where I'm moving.

his gig last year at the NSC was one of my favs of the year. we'll get some more, hopefully he'll make it to the capital as well.

btw, this is from the NSC gig:

i'm so pissed i could spit

he's scrambling around his hat for a rabbit, but he found
this stunt

like you care. it's only relevant because nothing else will boost your polls. it's f-cking disgusting.

"The challenge I have faced around indigenous identity politics is in part an artefact of who I am and the time in which I grew up"

what a cop out. you've sent in the military and some hand picked bureaucrats to 'solve' sexual abuse in indigenous communities. so JH, are you

A)
are you going to admit that this is an example of how NOT to do policy. [if yes, what do you also plan on doing about water in the murray darling basin?]

OR

B)
are you going to go upending property rights and disturbing communities throughout the rest of the country?

what a jerk. i need a shower.

How not to ride a pursuit...

However fast this guy is, he could be substantially faster.

1. Rise in back. He could be plenty lower. Homeboy is like a windsock.

2. Aero helmet fin is not flush with back. Not cool dude.

3. Gloves. Watch. Why?

George Pell

Some times he's almost likeable:

'Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Cardinal Pell said he was pleased the Federal Government had added a fairness test to its workplace laws to protect low-paid workers.

However he said excessive executive salaries had added to his concern about the gap between the rich and poor.

"That concern is exacerbated when you have highly paid executives not just getting three, or four, or five million a year, but some of them even getting tens of millions a year," he said.

"I think it is a bit grotesque."

and in the Australian, he throws his weight behind the ALP education policy:

In an interview with The Australian, Cardinal Pell conceded his endorsement was a shift from his position at the last election, during which he attacked the schools policy put forward by then Labor leader Mark Latham.

"I think the policy at that stage was calculated to divide the non-government sector and to divide the rich against the poor and possibly the Catholics against the non-Catholics," he said. "That would have been most unfortunate. I'm happy to endorse the new policy."

He seems to be a bit confused though. On the one hand he is concerned about the growing gap between rich and poor, but on the other he is opposed to increasing Commonwealth funding for struggling public schools where the majority of the poor are educated at the expense of elite fee paying private instiutions.

What's more he doesn't have a problem with money flowing from the Commonwealth, that's all Australians rich and poor, to fund elite high fee selective educational institutions.

As per usual Pell is merely paying lip service to the growing gap between rich and poor Australians, while at the same time advocating the maintenence of the existing social order that has served the Church so well.

BE MORE SOCIAL JUSTICE!

Richard Pratt says yes!

Everything turns full circle. White collar crime goes back to primary school logic. If senior management told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it?

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22547797-601,00.html

holding on for tomorrow

la, la, lalala lalalala lalala

hmmm...

Senator Abetz: "It is time to accept the science and end the politics of division."

just tell your mate Andrews

I luv Competitions

Larson emailed me this today from Crikey:

'Email us (boss@crikey.com.au with "My top 5" in the subject line) with your Top 5 albums, detailing what you'd pay for them today and why. We'll pick the Top 5 responses and dole out cash based on what we think they're each worth (either that or $25 iTunes vouchers).'

So it would be rude for me to not enter, my list:

1. The Smiths, The Smiths: $5000, $1 for every time I've listened to it.
2. Billy Bragg, Brewing Up with Billy Bragg- $200 not that I'm a thatcherite yuppy scumbag that would pay $200 for an LP or anything.
3. The Cure, Disintegration- $150. Which is how much it costs to see them perform live in Australia- what a DISGRACE!
4. Ride, Nowhere- $50, Shoegaze 4eva! Just enough to cover the ecstasy and maracas that should accompany listening to the album.
5. Boys Next Door, Door Door: Nothing- Because I never give money to junkies begging in the street, they'll just use it to buy drugs.

If anyone else entered the competition don't hesitate to drop it in the comments.

BTW

Bicipolitics has breached the 300 Post mark!!!

HUzZA!

Milne

vs.

Keating

and the Australian's censorship of Keating's final paragraph:
"And besides, they know what a sensitive cultured person Milne is by his infamous, intolerant lunge at Stephen Mayne during last year's journalism awards. Hardly an inspiration for the arts."