It seems that the election yesterday has resulted in close to a dead heat between the major parties – a hung parliament. This can be seen as a major problem in that it can stop legislation going through, or, as I like to think, a huge opportunity for good sense. And this is why: When [...]
This has to go down as one of the most amazing elections in Australian history. In it neither of the alternative Prime Ministers have said anything remotely bold – until today. Julia Gillard said that she would stop following the script and be herself. Does that mean that she might say something exciting or memorable? [...]
In Australia we are in the early stages of a federal election. The interesting thing about this election is that it was preceded first by a “palace coup” in which the deputy Prime Minister essentially ousted the existing and elected PM. This took place, it appears, as the result of the party apparatchiks determining that [...]
The following is a quote from an essay written in the 1500’s by Etienne de Boetie. The perspective from now is not dissimilar when you think about it, is it? We are lulled into quietude by entertainments provided on all fronts, and when we are given back some small amount of what is [...]
If you use Facebook you would know that there is a meme that is traveling around it to swap your photo for a photo of a “doppelganger” – someone famous that you look like. It's pretty cool. Suddenly you see pictures of movie stars next to your friend's name and you realize how much they [...]
I have been amazed at the outpouring of emotion about the decision by the court last week in favour of Larrikin Music in its plagiarism suit against EMI Music. This is in relation to whether “Downunder”, the iconic Aussie song from Men At Work, infringed “Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree“, the iconic song [...]
A few months ago I blogged about the cost of entertainment and how even a weekend surf at the beach was likely to cost car parking fees, barbeque facilities use fees and of course, GST on the ice, petrol, esky contents, (surf) board wax and zinc cream. In other words it’s hard for the [...]
Yep, the other day, my partner brought home a newspaper from Franklins.I asked her, of course, “Why did you buy that?”“I didn’t” she replied, “They offered it to me free because I spent more than five dollars and I only got it so we could line the pet cages.”So there you have it. SMH has [...]
Copenhagen has begun and a lot of hot air is being spouted – all in a good cause, admittedly. The climategate wagons keep going driven by who knows what – the fact that some scientists don't tell the unvarnished truth? Of course it is true that of all the cops, judges, policitians, executives, real estate [...]
You have to be sorry for the people in the music industry. (Actually I am not sorry for them at all – they have had enough limos and lunches for one life time, so might be time to do an honest day's work!). Have a look at this story in Wired about the new round [...]