Archive for the 'Current Affairs' Category
Kerry O’Brien pranked
Elizabeth December 6th, 2007
This is the main reason I am sorry to have missed the tv coverage on Election Day this year. I wonder if that person still has a job?
I especially love the reference to Rudd’s ear wax video, below. And that Rudd has maintained his sense of humour about what is some seriously embarrassing footage.
But let’s face it, in less than a fortnight as Prime Minister he has committed to saying “sorry” to Aboriginal Australians for past atrocities, and promised to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
If it’s ear wax that is fuelling him, then let the man eat!
Kevin07
Elizabeth November 28th, 2007
HOWARD’S gone, Maxine triumphed and McLeod’s Daughters has been axed. Life just doesn’t get sweeter than this. Unless of course, George Bush chokes on his own foot.
But how about Julia Gillard? Hands up who wants to be president of the Julia Gillard fan club? I can’t look at that woman without wanting to burst into tears and give her a hug. Everyone’s making a big deal about her being the first female deputy PM. I think it’s far more significant that she’s in such a powerful position despite the fact she has red hair, because everyone knows that people with red hair don’t have souls. On Saturday night I was hoping Julia would say: “This is a victory for redheads, ‘rangas and carrot tops everywhere.”
…
On Sunday morning I woke and felt like a woman in love. I felt buzzy and post-coital. Do you reckon Kev got lucky? It was a full moon that night. I bet there are going to be a swag of election babies born in August — all with the middle name Kevin. I’m beside myself that I’ll be living in an Australia with a prime minister called Kev. If only we had a deputy called Narelle.
…
Saturday night felt like 10 new year’s eves. I feel as if I’ve started dating another man after being in an abusive relationship for 11 years. But who is this other man? It’s as if we’ve had an intoxicating kiss in the kitchen but still haven’t made it to the bedroom. Who knows what he’s like between the sheets. Is he really conservative or is he into kinky stuff and toys? Will he be sweet and shower me with kisses or will he be unreachable and aloof but behind closed doors like it rough. Who cares? Ding-dong the witch is dead, the fat lady has sung and it was time after all. But time for what?
via The Age
It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged on politics, and there’s just too much backstory to give to my international readers to do it justice tonight. All I’ll say is that I was pleasantly surprised by Australia for giving us a new PM, and for choosing “the devil we don’t know”. It sent a clear message to Howard that we are not prepared to sacrifice human rights, social justice and our environment for a stable economy. The times are changing, and he’s not part of the plan.
The rest of the article above is well worth reading at the source. My election weekend was a strange one, considering that I had to vote a day early and fly to Brisbane and back in 36 hours, and to miss all the TV coverage was really disappointing. This is the year that I really wanted to be in front of the TV, relishing every fallen Liberal seat and soaking in the new era before us. Instead, I quietly checked the ABC news website from my phone during Dad’s birthday dinner, and kept the news to myself.
I know that there are a lot of people who are unhappy with this result, including some of my friends and family. All I can hope is that Rudd earns the trust that we have placed in him, and that he legitimately changes their minds about Australia’s future. Five days into his leadership the terrorists aren’t at war with the unionists, and interest rates have not risen.
We’re going to be okay. We should be excited and proud of ourselves for demanding more. Now to hold Rudd accountable to all his promises, and to start repairing the damage caused by Howard’s divisive and bigoted policies.
For the first time in years I feel really positive about Australia’s place on the international political stage.
Pigs’ heads staked at Islamic site
Elizabeth November 28th, 2007
The heads of two pigs have been found on stakes at the site of a proposed Islamic school in Sydney’s south-west.
About 6am today, police were called to the site, on Cawdor Road, Camden, where they found the animal remains and a number of other items, a police spokesman said.
The pig heads had been “elevated off the ground” using stakes, he said.
The spokesman would not say what the other items left at the site were.
He said he was not aware of any messages being left behind.
The Quranic Society’s plan to build a primary and high school for 600 students at the Camden site has sparked a strong backlash from residents.
This month about 1000 people attended a meeting to protest against the building of the school.
via SMH
I really hope the international community doesn’t think all Australians feel this way. I am disgusted and embarrassed that this happens in my country.
I remember when people threw rocks at a school bus on its way to an Islamic school in Brisbane immediately after Sept 11. It was full of tiny, crying children. It still amazes me that something like that could happen in my own city.
Honestly, what is wrong with people?
Is it November 24 yet?
Elizabeth October 16th, 2007
I know it’s been a while, but I thought this might be a good way to resume blogging. Slightly NSFW, so I made it a thumbnail.
Sadly, I don’t know who to credit. Leave me a comment if you know the source.
And in related news, yesterday Tim saw a 70-year-old man on the tram wearing a t-shirt with Howard’s massive face on the front. The text said “JOHN HUNT IS A COWARD”.
If there is ever an ok time to use the c-word, that’s probably it.
More APEC
Elizabeth September 8th, 2007
I was trying to find a video of Bush thanking our “Austrian troops” for their role in Iraq, but I haven’t had much luck yet.
Instead I found this segment by The Chaser’s War on Everything, and every single bit of it is gold. Too bad they’re probably going to jail for their most recent stunt…
Austria hosts OPEC?
Elizabeth September 7th, 2007
US President George W. Bush today thanked “Austrian” Prime Minister John Howard, in front of a summit of business leaders, for being a kind OPEC host.
OPEC is the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Mr Bush, who flew halfway around the world to be in Australia, not Austria, for the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit of world leaders, took to the stage at the Sydney Opera House.
He thanked Mr Howard for his introduction and for being such a “kind host” for the OPEC summit.
“I mean APEC summit,” he said.
“I’ve been invited to the OPEC summit next year. The APEC summit.”
The faux pas brought laughter from his audience.
As if that was not enough though, Mr Bush also botched the host country’s name, referring to Mr Howard’s visit to Iraq in 2006 as a thank you to “the Austrian troops there”.
Mr Bush also stumbled over his pronunciation of Jemaah Islamiah, the regional terror network, but had no trouble with its abbreviation - JI.
Upon finishing his speech, Mr Bush took the wrong way off-stage and, looking slightly perplexed, had to be redirected by Mr Howard to a centre-stage exit.
But not before a veteran White House correspondent seized the opportunity to ask Mr Bush whether there had been any new message in his speech. Apparently misunderstanding the question, he bristled and asked, “Haven’t you been listening to my past speeches?” before turning away.
White House aides later said Mr Bush had been joking and would not, in fact, attend an OPEC summit.
Mr Bush is no stranger to the occasional faux pas, and often jokes about his habit of mangling the English language.
One of his highest-profile gaffes came in May when, at a welcoming ceremony for the Queen, he nearly placed her in the 18th century.
Then there was the famous incident at the G8 summit in St Petersburg in 2006 when Mr Bush, unaware he was on camera, greeted British Prime Minister Tony Blair with the words “Yo Blair”.
Mr Bush’s sometimes muddled syntax and mispronunciation of words like nuclear (”nukular”) have long been fodder for late-night TV comedians. But aides say his folksy style has helped endear him to Middle America.
When you’re done laughing, remind yourself that this is one of the world’s most powerful leaders.
Lunar Eclipse tomorrow night
Elizabeth August 27th, 2007
AS A sky show, it has kept Australian star-gazers waiting for seven years.
A spectacular total lunar eclipse will be visible across the country tomorrow at full moon, when the sun, Earth and moon are in perfect alignment.
The Earth casts a shadow across the moon and blocks out the sunlight, causing the moon to become dark, almost disappearing.
Although it is a total eclipse, the moon will not completely black out. Some sunlight will reach it, bent by the Earth’s atmosphere.
If the atmosphere is dusty, the moon could appear blood-red, as the dust particles filter out some of the green, blue and violet rays in sunlight. Melbourne Planetarium astronomer Tanya Hill said the eclipse was “a lovely thing” to watch. “It’s like a big bite being take out of the moon,” she said.
The partial phase of the eclipse begins just before 7pm. During this time, the Earth’s shadow is curved, one of the ancients’ first clues the planet was spherical. The total lunar eclipse will be from 7.52pm to 9.22pm.
After this, the moon will slowly emerge from Earth’s shadow.
Read the rest at The Age.
If I can find a dark (and safe) enough place to hang out tomorrow, I might try taking some photos. Either way, it’s worth looking up.
Dwarf’s penis gets stuck to vacuum cleaner
Elizabeth August 22nd, 2007
A dwarf performer at the Edinburgh fringe festival had to be rushed to hospital after his penis got stuck to a vacuum cleaner during an act that went horribly awry.
Daniel Blackner, or Captain Dan the Demon Dwarf, was due to perform at the Circus of Horrors at the festival known for its oddball, offbeat performances.
The main part of his act was for him to appear on stage with a vacuum cleaner attached to his member with a special apparatus.
The attachment broke before the performance and Blackner tried to fix it using extra-strong glue, but unfortunately let it dry for only 20 seconds instead of the 20 minutes required.
He then joined it directly to his organ. The end result? A solid attachment, laughter, mortification and … hospitalisation.
“It was the most embarrassing moment of my life when I got wheeled into a packed A&E with a vacuum attached to me,” Blackner said.
“I just wished the ground could swallow me up. Luckily, they saw me quickly so the embarrassment was short-lived.”
- via SMH
Well, that sucks.
Sadly, there’s no picture - but the mental image is probably better anyway. C’mon, he’s fine now… so it’s funny!
Kevin & The Strip Club - who the hell cares?
Elizabeth August 22nd, 2007
In case you hadn’t already heard, Kevin Rudd once visited a gentleman’s club in NYC. He was not Opposition Leader. He was not on duty. He didn’t necessarily go there to see strippers either, as Scores is a huge complex that offers all kinds of general entertainment and nightlife that doesn’t include strippers.
Rudd himself can’t remember doing anything inappropriate, other than being too drunk to remember exactly what went on that night. He claims it was his second (and last) drunken experience. But if you’re still not convinced that this story is irrelevant to your valuable vote, consider this quote from Col Allan:
“Yes, it was at a gentleman’s club and he (Mr Rudd) behaved like a perfect gentleman.”
So why is this being hammered by the media? Who really cares about one night in Kevin Rudd’s private life, four years ago? It’s nothing but a simple smear campaign, designed to shift our attention away from the issues that really matter. Issues that will otherwise cost Howard the upcoming election. I find this tactic far more dirty and offensive than anything Rudd has been accused of.
Let’s get some perspective here. In fact, hear it from the most sensible commentator so far, Greens leader Senator Bob Brown, because it highlights the need for this “news” to be buried by widespread indifference, and our collective energy directed where it counts:
“Four years ago Kevin Rudd got drunk and took himself into a strip club.
Four years ago John Howard, sober, took Australia into the Iraq war.
I think the electorate can judge which one did the more harm.”
Thank God somebody is speaking some sense.
Look, if you’re going to vote for Howard, at least do so with conviction. Know what your vote represents. To me, it’s a vote for locking up asylum seekers - including children - for years on end. It’s deliberately confusing the masses into thinking that Iraq and 9/11 are in any way related, and that illegal immigrants are guilty of terrorism unless they can prove otherwise - especially if they’re not anglo-saxon. It’s ruining a young Indian doctor’s life by deporting him illegally, and dishonestly painting him as a terrorist in order to do so.
It’s denying farmers along the Murray Darling of all irrigation, and in the same week using pressure hoses to clean the paths in front of Parliament House. It’s the complete mismanagement of our water supply over a span of a decade, causing widespread and crippling debt for much of our farmers, and ridiculous rises in the cost of living for the rest of us. It’s the attitude towards climate change in general, and taking responsibility for our share of the problem.
It’s stripping the average worker’s basic rights with the introduction of Work Choices (or at least, making them fight for them in court), and running patronising advertising campaigns to polish the proverbial turd.
It’s the offensive manner in which the alcohol/abuse issue in the Northern Territory has been addressed by the Federal government, causing many to fear a second “stolen generation” and flee. The disgraceful life expectancy and rate of preventable blindness amongst our indigenous population.
It’s Children Overboard. David Hicks. The housing crisis. Rates. Lies, and smear campaigns.
There are reasons to vote conservatively, even for Howard himself. I know what they are. I don’t care about them - not enough to forget the issues I mentioned above. But if you do vote for Howard, at least know why you’re doing it and what problems belong to that package. Vote in an informed way, and not by default.
If you allow trivia about Kevin Rudd to sway your vote in any way, you don’t deserve to have it. And that remains true no matter who you support on election day.
