EAT AT JOE'S

Winter Wonderland Postcard.

2008-04-09T18:37:00.001+10:00

Bumbles Listening Tour

2008-04-05T13:57:00.002+11:00

New Years Groove History.

2008-01-01T13:23:00.000+11:00

And thanks to lou.

Merry xlmas

2007-12-20T14:17:00.000+11:00

That Missing Picture.

2007-12-14T10:59:00.000+11:00

For reasons only known to the SMH they removed the above picture from the original article.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/howard-out-for-final-count/2007/12/12/1197135558237.html

New Prime Minister Sworn In.

2007-12-03T18:10:00.000+11:00

New Opposition Leader Chosen.

2007-11-29T20:11:00.000+11:00

Vile Politics.

2007-11-22T20:19:00.000+11:00

Click to enlarge.
Story.

Favourite Movies Edition.

2007-11-10T19:53:00.000+11:00

How the Picture can Lie.

2007-11-02T11:25:00.000+11:00

Everything just looks so calm and cosy in the picture. Yet it is likely to be a defining image for the electoral campaign. The captured video/audio gives the game away. This is the recalcitrant, naughty boy and the strong women on the move. Note the aggressive standover tactics and stink of scarcely concealed misogyny. Now that Nicola walks past him on the road upwards he can hardly conceal his anger. He is really pissed off because he has missed his opportunity to get out before the crash.

Who is this Election For?

2007-10-24T11:07:00.000+10:00

Some 10% of the voting public you would have to say. The rest of us do not matter.

I would prefer to see much less on the 'tax cuts front' (except those earning under $2o,ooo a year who should pay no income tax) and most available money directed to the struggling service sector and decent infrastructure. Let alone, the work that needs to be done to face up to drought and climate change.

Australia has serious problems to deal with but we are reliant on these 'swingers'. Can you imagine being in a room with these people? The party focus groups must be excruciating. A real window into the psyche of moi, moi , moi.

Would you prefer a tax cut or see your granny on a hospital trolley for 2 days waiting for a bed. "I will take the tax cut because she has health care or probably doesn't want to live much longer anyway". Pass the Pretzels, please.

The system is really broken. We are living in a 'clotocracy'. All policy is filtered through the prism of some of the most dumb and venal. All of them working, at our ultimate expense, for the two major parties, tracking, the only ones that matter.

EAT AT JOE'S declares a fatwa against advertising executives, selling away our democracy, as if it were soap powder.

So No Worms Allowed in this Club ?

2007-10-22T16:38:00.001+10:00

"With a name like National Press Club, you'd think it would be out there defending the free press and the rights of the media. Instead, it rolled over supinely when John Howard said you've got to ban the worm. That was the problem last night. The Press Club was started by journalists but it's become a haven for PR people, log-rollers (and) real estate agents. It's forgotten what it's supposed to stand for. They should be condemned."

Nice work/words from Laurie Oakes!

Congratulations, as well, to Glenn Milne, vice-president of NPC, who looks to be the only commentator to have given Howard a victory in The Great Debate. And was he the bloke that pulled the plug on worm power?

Political Droppings

2007-10-19T14:02:00.000+10:00

I have been reliably informed, since cleaning the sand out of the sedan, after the recent fishing trip, that an election has been called for Australia. Indeed, the country has been thrown into caretaker mode. It got me to thinking how great it would be if we lived in a democracy and rabbits.

Some members of The Chaser Team joined our glorious leader on his morning walk. Boy, was he grumpy. He has never shown any sign of a sense of humour but reckons that they are "a lot funnier when they pick on someone who is alive". Since Howard is technically still alive, men dressed up as rabbits, chasing him, and wondering when he is going to "pull a rabbit out of the hat", is actually very funny because he is such a natural straightman. Video and story.

Funnier still is Chasers' "top blokes after death" that stirred up a bi partisan squirm. Neither of our prospective leaders could cop it. It has to be some of the most edgy, clever, satire you will see.

Blog Back.

2007-10-12T12:05:00.000+10:00

Back again with a tip for the election date and a potpourri of thoughts concerning politics and society. First up, I noticed this report in The Age a while back. Chip Goodyear couldn't resist a little crack at the great unwashed as he headed back Stateside with a big bag of loot after years at the top of the now BHP Billiton tree. Apparently, Australians just don't realise how bloody good they have it.

"I read the papers complaining about health care this, or something else, but the facts are that it's a very high quality of life in Australia and the vast majority of people around the world could only dream of the opportunities that they have here," he said.

One thing I am quite certain about is that he has very little to complain about... "when he leaves the country after nine years — five of them as BHP's chief executive — he will be carting home a shareholding worth close to $60 million. His share rewards are in addition to his annual base salary and cash awards, which in the 2007 financial year were $2.03 million and $1.72 million respectively".

Thanks Chip, the peasants are grateful for all you haven't given us. Next time I sit in emergency, waiting 8 hours for a bed, I will try not to moan so much.

Here we are still in perpetual election mode. Obviously the running of government is a pretty slack job. The wheels just keep turning, though our P.M. and Ministers are on the road all the time, and have been for over a year. And fools keep making a case for them being underpaid. The money being spent every day on election propaganda, dressed up as community service announcments, is scandalous. Bushfire Bill a blog commentator has put his finger on the great "heist".

"Howard is not failing to call the election because there is so much more pork to hand out to his cronies. This includes the “information” ad campaign. It doesn’t matter if it fails. The moolah will have been paid out - at full freight - just in time for the discounts to the party to arrive, come the campaign. The cronies are minting money and it’s all coming from our taxes… pissed up against the wall.

He still needs a parliamentary session to lock in some legislation (nuclear waste disposal, anybody?) that will bind a future Labor government or force it to pay millions, if not billions in reparations to the cronies. forget nuclear power. That’s a trojan horse. The aim is to get the ancilliary industries up and running. The rest is diversion (which many are falling for by arguing about the siting of power plants).

The aim is not to win the election. That might be a bonus, but it’s not of paramount importance. The aim is to shovel out as much money as possible into the hands of urgers, sycophants, business cronies, advertising gurus and suchlike. It will all be repaid whether or not the Libs win… after the election… and in private, in the form of jobs for the boys, consultancies, positions on various boards, discounts to the party on election campaign ads, donations to the party and backdoor deposits to Swiss bank accounts.

The aim isn’t to grease the palms after the election. They’re already being greased, and plenty. What we are seeing is one of the biggest heists in Australian history, right in front of our noses."

Sums things up you would have to say.

A diversion next to the speech made by John Buchanan at politics in the pub which apparently made everything he has said or done since totally without value. I would have liked to have heard more.

Now for the election date prediction stolen from Damien Kingsbury who really seemed very confident about it. December 3rd with a visit to Yaralumla in the next few days to save a return of parliament, next week. And a special thanks to Bilegrip Admin for their kind words and always compelling blog.

Blog Gone Fishin'

2007-09-25T21:27:00.000+10:00

Bishop on Drugs.

2007-09-14T10:41:00.000+10:00

Bronwyn Bishop chairwomen of The Federal Parliamentary Committee on Family and Human Services has let the cat out of the bag on future drug policy. The Tough on Drugs theme will move to new heights of madness if The Liberal Party is returned. They wish to redirect the entire drug strategy away from harm minimisation to harm prevention, as does the failed American model, for purely dogmatic reasons.

"The inquiry into the impact of illicit drug use on families" suggests the abandonment of needle exchange programs. As Dr Alex Wodak, director of St Vincent's Hospital's Alcohol and Drug Service in Sydney, so rightly says the report's contents were "frightening". He said the report's advocacy for drugs to be considered a moral issue ignored evidence from the US. About one person in 100,000 contracted HIV in Australia each year, compared to almost 15 in the United States, where a zero tolerance stance meant needle exchange programs could not receive federal funding. Let's not forget, also, the other STD'S that needle exchange has helped protect the population from.

It also recommends that the Federal Government establish adoption as the "default" care option for children aged up to five where child protection orders involve illicit drug use by parents. Any illicit drug use by parents would trigger the new Centrelink income management provisions under which payments to parents can be withheld and only spent on food and essentials.

The report blames "drug industry elites", who it said had hindered the zero-tolerance approach advocated by the Federal Government. These "elites" advocated treatment approaches that aimed to reduce harm, "but do not have the aim of enabling users to become drug-free". They are, of course, the people who work in the field, day after day, that Bronny and co Know far better than.

Coupled with that, the committee has proposed a new wave of television advertising that is even more graphic than the current campaigns.It wants words like "harm" to be replaced by "damage", "destruction" and "danger". Yeh, let's give another grant to advertising executives and media companies for more pointless propaganda at the publics expense.

Tony Trimingham's son died 10 years ago from a heroin overdose. He the CEO of the Family Drug Support organisation and is appalled. "I could have actually cried this morning when I read the recommendations and some of the report," he said. So also, might the rest of us, if these morons ever get to implement any more of their, head in the sand, nonsense.

Picture by Tim Sanders.

Mainstream Akubra Man.

2007-08-29T06:16:00.000+10:00

Commander in chief Howard triumphantly touched down in Hermannsberg, conveniently close to Alice Springs airport , to make it "very clear" to the community that the Government had a simple aim.

"And that is whilst respecting the special place of indigenous people in the history and the life of this country, their future can only be as part of the mainstream of the Australian community," he said.

"Unless they can get a share of the bounty of this great and prosperous country, their future will be bleak." In other words, if you want some of the funds we have been making from ripping up the ground, our ancestors stole from, you better drop your old ways and do what we say.

He then goes on to spell things out more clearly. "I want to assure you that we haven't come here to take anybody's land or to push anybody around." Directly translated from the Howardish ... "I have come to take your land and push you around".

Adele Horin, from "The Sydney Morning Herald", is about the only journalist to put one aspect of the Howard governments intervention in the N.T. under the spotlight. The end of the CDEP scheme. She identifies in this article how aboriginal employment has been cut by 8000 to fit in with generalised control freakery. As she points out, "It will turn many workers into unemployment statistics, rob communities of vital services, create havoc and potentially deal the death blow to 50 Aboriginal organisations". All aboriginals, regardless of perceived good/bad behaviour, are to have half their payments held, in Howards' new paternalistic world. Adele Horin continues...

"the real reason for the abolition of the scheme is that it is the only way the Government can get control of the money paid to such workers. Ironically, it must convert workers to welfare recipients and replace their wage with an unemployment benefit before it can legally quarantine their money to ensure it is spent on children not alcohol.

Regardless of whether the programs are effective, or the workers are model parents, the Government is moving against them. Will this sledgehammer approach deliver children better lives? We can hope. If it doesn't, the losses will be incalculable".

It is worth popping over to mattjjin-nehen to read a bit about this and the real squanderers of money claimed to be spent for indigenous needs. Also some very ugly propaganda that the government is pedaling in the top end.

Photo by Wayne Taylor.

UPDATE: See this Crikey report for advanced cruelty.

Were On the Road to Nowhere.

2007-08-27T16:08:00.000+10:00

Click on the piccie for a larger view.

Naturally, when Gummo Trotsky at L.P. called for an "Apec Dress Up Challenge", the resident artist swung into action. It might not be real oz gear but they are talking heads.

We were thrilled today to find that violent protesters are to blame for the disruption that has not yet happened at the conference that is, so far, yet to happen. Good to get in early in the blame game, I guess.

Family Snapshots.

2007-08-25T11:33:00.000+10:00

John Howard is often referred to as a clever politician. People go further and call him "tricky". Given this report, "devious" comes to mind.

Some interesting links on Exclusive Brethren and fundys below...
peebs
unBelief
EB

Wink, wink and say no more.

2007-08-19T18:12:00.000+10:00

Postscript: Mud will stick. After all the discussion, about this storm in a teacup, organised by Poison Dewarf, the real details came through. Trouble is, the media cycle relys on the next 'big thing'. Which means that there is never a chance to catch up with the truth of the matter. Funny, that!

The Higher Plane

2007-08-16T11:49:00.000+10:00

Says Simon Bowes from the British Airports Authority, operators of Heathrow, that the protest is "naïve" and further...

"If you look on, at what they're talking about this week, it's a version of sustainable living which involves no one going on holiday, veganism (phonetic), compost toilets and the end of capitalism, and I just don't see that that's a vote winner over in the UK, or in the rest of the world."

This bloke is the complete diplomat. The sought you need if you want to ark up WW3. It gets better. The powers that be most stupid are planning to invoke terrorism laws to quell this domestic protest. Yep, their idea is to deem it a terrorist activity. There are lots of interesting links/ pictures to this story, so I have no plan to give any more details.

Just saying, though, that what is happening there is likely to happen here. People have real concerns about climate change and aeroplanes are big polluters. They quite reasonably believe that world leaders are dragging their feet and want to let them know, predominantly, in a peaceful manner. When they are seen as terrorists for exercising their democratic rights it becomes clear who the legislation was really really drafted for. Not Bin Laden and co but to control the population.

"before the cock crows you will deny me three times"

2007-08-14T21:34:00.000+10:00

How wimpy,sooky and spooky is this?

Peter Costello is likely to deny 3 times on his Leo-style, 50th birthday, that he ever had the ticker to take on his boss.
See hear for appropriate biblical references.

Shanghireing for Baghdad.

2007-08-09T11:02:00.000+10:00

While Workchoices is proving a large pebble in the liberal party jackboot, locally, a little reported international story has taken my interest. It is to do with the movement of workers to places of acute shortage to fill employee needs. In this case a contractor with a need to build a very important structure. A new U.S. Embassy in downtown Baghdad. First Kuwaiti have been accused of fulfilling their needs in the modern day equivalent of shanghaiing. Go to You Tube to see the testimony of Rory Mayberry to a US Congress Committee on July 26th of this year. A couple of reports here. The first The Manilla Times and a more recent, official Filipino response.

The Dog is Wearing a Bra.

2007-07-27T12:42:00.000+10:00

That youtube debate by American Presidential hopefuls was a cracker wasn't it? New media has reached new levels of excitement thanks to the input of traditionally conservative forces. There was one predictable party pooper though.

The brilliant cartoon comes from Mr Fish here.

Ps Spanish Pierre your email ain't working for returns.

2007-07-26T19:39:00.000+10:00

Haneef Up the Flagpole.

2007-07-23T11:44:00.000+10:00

Howard and co have satisfactorily tested the fear factor and law and order. The little noticed, recent Morgan poll will give them hope. It showed clearly that the spook factor is still alive, well and working. Grabbing on to the right sought of issue, at the right time, might still work to get them over the line.

Important for their chances is a compliant press. This appears to have faded, a little, presently, under the force of facts and a history catch-up. Media tarts like to be on the side that wins and know manipulation , at the correct moment, can swing an election. Editorials will be cheering on the little dictator when the time is right, with the bound and gagged Aunty flailing in all directions.... forced to present Ruppy's lead line, while Fairfax does what's best for the shareholders and prepared for the carving.

APEC is Howard country. Australia on the world stage with visiting indignitaries like his great mate, shrub. All happening in Sydney. Guaranteed a large local protest community with the added advantage of an overseas contingent. We are are looking at serious huffing and puffing opportunities.

A major crisis in the wake of this meeting, with helicopters whirling, huge numbers in jail and Labor supporting a strong stand against 'good for nothing' radicals, troublemakers and extremists. Plus a peppering of a possible Al-Queda plot against Sydney , just uncovered... no chance for investigations into why the police acted so pre-emptively to clear the streets. Yep, terrorism laws might easily provide the type of cover that Howard needs to pull in that crucial strong leader vote.

He has the perfect stage for a quick, dumbed down, election.

Update.... the follow up to the Morgan poll and Haneef pick up, via a most reputable oz journo, who has inside knowledge on everything Howard loving.
Here....

Employment Opportunities for Medical Practitioners.

2007-07-20T18:23:00.000+10:00

Australia is an advanced liberal democracy and is currently in need of highly trained professionals to help maintain worlds best practice standards of health care and ancillary support. Do you fit the criteria for a well paid position with more than satisfactory salary and bonuses?

If you have no exposure to SIM card lending, of any kind, to relatives or others, you may be considered acceptable.

Come in Spinner.

Dr Nelson, oil and other stuff.

2007-07-07T13:20:00.000+10:00

If you were a medical practitioner and read your stars a week and half ago, it might have said "your career choice will be open to world wide speculation". The hippocratic oath might look more like the hypocritical oath..
..but we all love doctor jokes. The cartoon came from here.
More about Brendan and I Blame the Jesuits.

Fish and...

2007-07-04T23:32:00.000+10:00

...chips.
ps..click on the above piccie, if you can't read the blurb. It is well worth it.

Widow Given Shit Deal !

2007-06-28T19:55:00.000+10:00

The 'little paper' lives up to it's reputation, by publishing this report on page 11 , June 28th, 07 .

By way of a 'not really' apology.... it is all in the 3rd person. Considering that the paper had run reports of a surburban lawyers' death on, the front page, with suggestions of underworld connections.

You will need to click on the 'cut out' to make it readable.

The Australian Press Council, yesterday, made a ruling against, "The Paper of the Year 2005-6."

See adjudication 1361 and you would have to say that self regulation of the media is not working.

Howard's National Emergency.

2007-06-26T09:58:00.000+10:00

John Howard's National Emergency call , on the plight of aboriginal communities is most concerning. I involved myself in a little bit of discussion at Anonymous Lefty and later at Lavatus Prodeo on the subject. Personally, I have little doubt that our PM has shamelessly run, with a report commissioned by the Northern Territory Government, for a purely political purpose.
I do not believe his motives are pure, but more about latching onto a motherhood issue, to wedge Labor , as we move closer to an election. Who would not be appalled by paedophile activity in any community, regardless of race, colour or religion? Howard has had well over ten years to improve the situation for indigenous people. He has systematically destroyed whatever leadership mechanisms they had, and actually withdrawn funds for basic services and infrastructure, over that time.
It is a big ask to believe that he has finally seen the error of his ways, as even now, he merely talks of symptoms, that need to be eradicated rather than the basic causes of problems. He found his ammunition and has declared another war.... now that a war on drugs , war on terrorism, war on asylum seekers lack quite the emotional bite.

As I responded to a Megami' request, in my comments, at L.P. “Can someone please elaborate on the Army claim in this?” Megami, when you declare Teh “National Emergency”, you need soldiers. Hell, you just “need them”. This is the new “War on Black Paedophile Rings”. Navy would be involved but some uncertainty as to the depth of Todd River. Brough, busy checking. Howard has his target audience in mind and knows how to bullshit them.
Other comments I made at L.P......
I am quite concerned about intentions. Given that the plans seem to have the potential to make the situation worse for all, NT, aboriginals. All families are to be treated, the same, whether they are involved in what is considered 'bad behaviour' or not. There are no rewards, but punishment in the form of suspended welfare payments and various other increased living expenses. No funding for improved education or health. Just the threat of medical examinations for all youngsters regardless of their parents wishes.
To top it off, they lose control over who may enter their lands. Can you imagine how pastoralists and miners would like their rights of control prohibited? The intention I believe is less about allowing “transparency” but more about providing a good excuse to open up areas for tourism and mining development for white carpetbaggers.

UPDATE Mutitjulu community leaders: please listen to us
I just caught up with this plea from Mutitjulu leaders Dorothea and Bob Randall , that Crikey published. This is the first community to be seized under Howard's National Emergency, probably, because it is closest to suitable accommodation for politicians, embedded journalists and bureacrats, before the army sets up 'on site', digs.

libs lurch further to the right

2007-06-19T21:05:00.000+10:00

Liberal preselection, for the blue ribbon federal Sydney seat of Mitchell, has been completed , with the election of Alex Hawke. He is a 30 year old, Anglican with strong Hillsong affiliations, defeating David Elliot, a hotels industry lobbyist , securing 81 of 107 votes.

“This process of labelling people just because they’re Christian and because they’re socially conservative as extreme is something that I regard as unfair and particularly nasty,” he said in response to earlier comments made by Anthony Albanese, who branded him as an "extremist".

Hawke is a former staffer for the most prominent Christian right-wing NSW Liberal MP, David Clarke, and has previously worked for federal right-wingers Ross Cameron and Helen Coonan. They had worked together to build a conservative religious network within the party and end the small 'l', long held control.

In his maiden speech in 2003, his mentor, Clarke, promised to “uphold and advocate the conservative, mainstream and Christian-based truths and values that I believe our nation is based upon … with missionary zeal”. As Chloe Hooper, in a 2005 issue of Monthly, wrote and then continued... "this has included hot-housing young religious conservatives. The NSW Young Liberals were long considered the jewel in the moderate Liberal crown but, as one young New South Welshman tells me, Clarke “kind of got people together to take over”. With Clarke’s support, recruiting from organisations such as the secretive catholic Opus Dei movement, the NSW Young Liberals now have the largest membership base of all the states."

Mr Brogden, former leader of the NSW liberal leader, claimed his downfall was partly related to the behind the scenes work of conservative forces, particularly Hawke. He was regarded as too socially liberal, on issues such as republicanism, abortion, heroin injecting rooms and homosexuality.

Hawkes' precocious rise to power may well consign the Liberal Party to many years in the wilderness or, Australia, permanently, to the style of the religous right , that the libs are becoming infamous for. A sought of merger between church and state that will gladden the hearts of George Pell, et al.

Intelligent Design Proof 11

2007-06-12T18:51:00.000+10:00

Just in case there is still a little smear of doubt , amongst the few sinners left, put this on your toast and eat it. Chuck Missler is very convincing on the subject. Hit peanut butter and praise the lord.

Intelligent Design Proof.

2007-06-11T18:00:00.000+10:00

Today we present conclusive proof of intelligent design at EAT AT JOES.

With the help of a clever little Kiwi evangelist , now residing stateside, the aim is to stick it to atheists and agnostics who need to allow themselves the opportunity of catching up with a few of the facts about their creation. The lesson requires following this prompt to the utube link and then accepting the simple and obvious logic of the preachers doin' the teachin'. Praise the Lord.

Spot on, St Paul.

2007-06-08T21:48:00.000+10:00

PAUL KEATING: "Basically keep unions, look, any Labor Party that turns its back on a collective group of people is no Labor Party at all.

But that doesn't mean to say they have to become apologists for lolling about.

I mean you take the instance, the liquor allied entertainment restaurants, entertainment industry in this country since the '80s.

It's been massive.

Unionisation hasn't happened.

There's some of it there, basically hasn't happened.

Why?

Incompetence."

From here .......

Could have Fooled Me.

2007-06-06T18:25:00.000+10:00

Before

And After.........................

Tony, we hardly knew ya.

That Zorba the Crook look is perfect. "Oh look , not suspicious at all, another tubby bastard with a bad wig".

Right is Right.

2007-06-05T10:53:00.000+10:00

I know this is already a popular piccie around the blogs, but I could not resist it, either. For a start, it makes me laugh. Apart from the obvious joke about the slogan ....you couldn't disagree that Howard and co are right wing and plan to take it further. Ha ha. Look at that facial expression. No sign of arrogance there. Guess who just swallowed the latest Galaxy Poll?
Let's start with last Fridays Roy Morgan Poll.
"A recent telephone Morgan Poll finds that 57% of Australian electors think Australia is “heading in the right direction”, while 32% think Australia is “heading in the wrong direction” (11% can’t say).
Eighty-four per cent of those who intend to vote for the Coalition Government at the upcoming election think Australia is heading the right direction, compared to just 43% of ALP supporters. Forty-six per cent of ALP supporters think Australia is heading in the wrong direction compared to just 7% of Coalition supporters."
How's that for coincidence? Rodent appears behind a slogan based largely on a poll question.

The Galaxy poll result is the most encouraging sign that the Liberals have had for ages. It's a big jump in popularity and helped rouse the troops at the weekend Liberal Party National Council. If you wish to see the way the questions are framed, for this poll, see here. I'ts worth remembering who commissioned this work. There is no independent motive. In fact it reeks of a tool to help swing things back in the right direction.

The great photo is by Peter Morris. For other blogs with this picture or on this topic see.....Bilegrip, Anonymous Lefty and Broken Left Leg.

Cluster Bombs for Australian Defense Forces.

2007-05-31T20:40:00.000+10:00

The ADF has clearly a mind of its own. It should not worry that both sides of parliament are opposed to cluster bombs.

Mind you, this is a brilliant new device, that if dropped here or anywhere, will be able to discriminate between the the good blokes and the bad blokes.

We are looking at New Clean Cluster Bombs.

We are going to have them, whether we like it or not.

The Missing Employment Figures Scam Post.

2007-05-29T11:54:00.000+10:00

I thought i would republish a post, made recently, that fell into the blogger black hole. It is edited.

An interesting by-product of The Victorian Auditor Generals (State Investment in Major Events) report into the 'real value', to the state, of the Grand Prix, is an incidental challenge by the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR), headed by Dr Peter Brain.
In particular, he drops a big bucket on the employment figures that the Federal and State governments gloat about. The following are the best bits from Attachment B2 , buried well into this report.

"The core problem for those wishing to use the actual unemployment rate as an indicator of full employment is that the actual unemployment rate cannot be used for this purpose. As any competent economist would know, the official unemployment rate is corrupted and under-estimates the actual unemployment rate, as NIEIR has highlighted over and over again. The reasons are straight forward.

The first is the tactic adopted by the then government in the face of the 1991 recession to shift as many people as possible from the unemployment rolls to other forms of working age social security support, namely disability pensions, training allowances, etc. This tactic has been maintained though with reducing vigour to this day.

The second strategy to reduce the measured unemployment rate is to encourage working age social security beneficiaries to seek a few hours of work a week. This has been the tactic favoured by the current administration. This reduces the unemployment rate because to be counted as employed in the labour force statistics a person has only to have worked for one hour or more a week, in some cases as unpaid employment.

The actual unemployment rate, therefore, cannot be used as an indicator of full employment because under the current circumstances the actual unemployment rate could indicate zero unemployment, while the actual effective unemployment rate was 100 per cent, simply because everybody was working one hour. Under the current circumstances, the only way of obtaining a correct estimate of the actual unemployment rate is to use social security working age beneficiary data and construct an unemployment series from these sources".

Wouldn't it be terrific to be living in Broadmeadows, on the dole, looking for work, when Costello comes on the tv, congratulating himself on the latest fab, employment figures? These are some of the closer to real current unemployment rate numbers, based on social security figures rather than from phone polls run by ABS . They have been grabbed from the provided contrary NIEIR report table, for some Melbourne suburbs.

Port Phillip (C) – West 8.9
Stonnington (C) – Prahran 6.5
Yarra (C) – North 13.5
Yarra (C) – Richmond 11.3
Brimbank (C) – Keilor 13.8
Brimbank (C) - Sunshine 21.7
Hobsons Bay (C) - Altona 13.3
Hobsons Bay (C) - Williamstown 10.5
Maribyrnong (C) 17.6
Moonee Valley (C) - Essendon 10.5
Moonee Valley (C) - West 9.6
Melton (S) – East 8.0
Melton (S) Bal 10.7
Wyndham (C) – North 9.6
Wyndham (C) - South 9.8
Wyndham (C) – West 10.4
Moreland (C) - Brunswick 12.5
Moreland (C) - Coburg 13.5
Moreland (C) – North 16.5
Banyule (C) - Heidelberg 10.2
Banyule (C) – North 7.7
Darebin (C) - Northcote 11.8
Darebin (C) – Preston 17.3
Hume (C) - Broadmeadows 18.4
Hume (C) - Craigieburn 13.1

Mother Therese Revisited.

2007-05-27T17:38:00.000+10:00

On the 22nd of March, this year, I wrote about this now topical subject. My opinion hasn't changed. Though, this time, with a picture of the parent chosen patron saint of this strong women.

I hope she will soon be running, more than The Lodge.

"Conflict of interest is the subject on many a mind as Santo Santoro most likely moves to a small room in an outer leafy suburb of Brisbane to continue his obvious skill as a day/night share trader. Business involvements of the spouse of a possible future P.M. are worthy of consideration as well.

Therese Rein who, according to a most unreliable sensationalist weekly,..." is the shrewd entrepreneur who has weathered fraud investigations into her $175m business and made a fortune on the back of the Howard government's employment policies, and also found time to raise three children".

No prob with a god fearing women making money from government contracts. What if there is a bit of opinion about, that the Howard governments privatised employment policy stinks? That it might be appropriate for the opposition ,in developing new policy, to redirect a lot more of the funds towards the people that the system was set up to help.

You do not have to look too far in most communities to see that the job getting business is pretty lucrative, if you know how to swing things correctly. Part of the work is standing over poor Newstart sods and demanding that they struggle harder for job opportunities, that for many, only exist on paper. There are some fine fleets of new cars that carry employment providers who have no qualms about doing the dirty work of a government hellbent on demonising the powerless.

Kevin Rudd has talked about placing his family interests into a blind trust. The countries interest might involve the dismantling of a large trough that he and his wife should not be seen to be dipping into, even from a distance", said Joe2.

Osama Bird Laden Bombs Bush.

2007-05-25T10:15:00.000+10:00

Reports are coming in that a sparrow has breached Whitehouse security by unloading on the President during a rose garden press conference.

A video of this shock attack is provided on this link but you will need to watch an ad first.

Howard Rules by Decree.

2007-05-23T12:10:00.000+10:00

Andrew Bartlett on his blog points out that the current, very expensive, actual Workchoices Campaign is not yet based on legislation. It has neither been properly formed, or passed by parliament. Remember that the Murray Darling national water plan was similarly, cobbled together, beyond normal process; not even considered by treasury, or cabinet.

John Howard looks like a leader moving towards the corruption of absolute power that he, correctly castigates Robert Mugabe. Please look in the mirror, sir. Why worry about the middle man, when you can rule by decree? The bucks you are spending, in this wild, vote buying spree, are at the citizens' expense.

Not Governing for All Australians.

2007-05-22T09:41:00.000+10:00

Click on the following image to enlarge this table.
Sourced from here and for the story see.

Weekend Goodies and Funnys.

2007-05-19T12:52:00.000+10:00

This cartoonist is an artist , with extraordinary drawing skills and a penchant for cutting through the crap. Jump into the net and see more here. Do not miss the Pope or farewells to Jerry Falwell, that may be considered "funny but harsh" by the compassionate Arthur Vandelay but to me incredibly insightful, as well. Incidentally, the great 5 public opinions has a link to Christopher Hitchens' Falwell obit that should not be missed.

And for a great video laff, with a slight bite of Apple and big hit of ," i had no responsibilty for that", go to this ........

..........and a thankyou to veni vidi blogi for that tip.

WorkTurds New ™

2007-05-17T17:54:00.000+10:00

WorkTurds New is to be the campaign name that, ‘The Hock’, is currently polishing up.

Fully approved by every employer lobby group. Guaranteed to scare the shit out of socialist underpants. With none of that exploitation aroma that surrounded a previous, unnamed product.

See....

Leaving this Plain.

2007-05-16T20:10:00.000+10:00

All the indications are that Pete the Spiv, will jump early , rather than endure the pain of time in opposition. A golden parachute will be provided, after he has left the plane , for sure , from Saint Alchemist Mal…… who knows better, how to turn bullshit into gold, than The Abbot knows how to turn religion into fuel.

“Comfortable and relaxed, he urged his hosts to call him “Pete”. Pressed to ponder a hypothetical in which he was on a plane about to crash, and told he could offer a sole spare parachute to either Mr Rudd or Labor’s deputy leader Julia Gillard, he was asked to choose.
“So it is me, Julia and Kevin,” he clarified slowly.“You know what I would do? I would jump out!”

See this...

Pete the Spiv.

2007-05-15T17:10:00.000+10:00

Pete believes that bribery will work. A couple of months and the punters will get a few extra bucks and the dumb bastards will take the bait. His arrogance and disrespect for the electorate is palpable.

"You generally find it takes, well even a month or two, and then by 30th of June the pensioners receive a bonus and they say: 'Gee I wonder where that came from'. Tax cuts come into effect in July and people say: Well that's nice, a little bit more money to help with the bills".

cartoon...Don Lindsay.

Who has the biggest Poll?

2007-05-14T17:09:00.000+10:00

My alternative take on the latest Galaxy poll is thus……

Rudd is actually getting more ‘bounce’ from his ‘delayed honeymoon end’, than expected, despite being ‘tired’.

Howard, while ‘working harder’, after each bad poll result, ‘is looking fitter, cleverer and more Prime Ministerial’, but ‘may well lose his seat’, if he doesn’t sit down soon.

Got that?

Aunty Kidnapped !

2007-05-12T19:17:00.000+10:00

I still can’t believe the degree of editorialising, even ABC radio/tv news, is ingaging in.
Today, was the perfect example. All day, radio ran a story, every hour, about the mining industry concern on awa’s and Rudds discussions.

All framed under the not said, but obvious opinion, that a cave in, is imminent. It was likely, given his misunderstanding of the need for “flexibilty”. And yes, a later report, Rod Cameron had ‘come out’, suggesting time for a Rudd, policy change.

This is pravda style aggenda setting . Nothing to do with fearlessly, reporting, the news.
Possibly so unproud of their manipulation, they do not even mention this ‘big newstory’ on their website, so far.

See ya Tony....

2007-05-10T22:56:00.000+10:00

The first part of the guilty, 'tag team' , is to leave the political scene.

Let's celebrate!

Two to go....

Mr Pork Barrel.

2007-05-09T11:44:00.000+10:00

Guessed pretty well, didn't I? Sadly, no cute little piggy tail.
This is a Spooner work, of course.

Get ready for pigs to fly.......

We know they are shadey, shifty and lie....
With a noses like that, they will hoover the trough of any little scrap.

Best grab, any bit you can, and THEN vote these 'bracket creeps' out.

Budget Night Rant.

2007-05-08T18:02:00.000+10:00

Right now, cartoonists around Australia are drawing ‘pork barrels’ with Cossie, sitting on one, with a tiny little tale. It is to their drawings I will be looking too, for balance. It will not be the conga line of suckholes, that pretend to be the ‘balanced’, press gallery.

If Labor were to win the Federal election, which is still unlikely, given the extreme advantages of incumbency and ‘the win at all costs’ mentality of those born to rule…… a fine chance, will be available, to twig the relationship between the Fed boss, who holds all the cash and options, and his almost employees, the premiers.

Presently, the states have all the important roles to fill, but are hampered, by the flash, fully paid up Prime Miser , who will squander around 15 billion to provide fine driving experiences for those lucky enough to be RAAF pilots; while many old codgers sit at home, in pain, and are unable to get their teeth fixed.

Employers Unions to Suck Up.

2007-05-02T11:32:00.000+10:00

So it looks like the The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry or other employer unions are planning advertisements to help out John Howard on the workchoices front. Still, some employers are successfully plugging for the Labor party, if you follow the stories that Surfdom and Bilegrip drew attention too after the Priceline decision, mentioned in a previous post.

The latter is dynamite in an election year and just reinforces well founded perceptions that the ordinary joe in the street has been shafted by new industrial relations deforms. The best form of advertising...costs nothing and has that ring of truth about it.

Julia Gillard pokes her head up and warns business unions that it might not be to their advantage to run a campaign and woe is she. She was just doing them a favour. It is they and Ruppys yes men that are on the nose and the public can smell it a mile away.

A fair days pay for a fair days work has been transformed into "take it or leave it, shit head". It must be said that the government probably imagined the fuller implications of their policy would not come into effect until after the election. When they could bed it down properly. Such is the greed/stupidity of certain bosses that they could not even hold out that long and let Johny off the hook.

Joe Hockey has been left holding a can full of rodents poo and not sure where to empty it. The last thing you would want is the leaking of information that the ordinary punter is being screwed bigtime. Fade to employers unions-predominantly big business- who are really really upset that bad Kevin is going to make things intolerable for small business. Balless bastards can't even come out and say who they really represent.

Paul Keating is left to nail Hendy and Dunlop because the media can only jump around in shock and awe that the business community have universally damned Labors planned mild, IR, changes. Fair suck of the sauce bottle, I say.

May Day.

2007-05-01T13:04:00.000+10:00

My mothers birthday and lots of other meaning, as well.

Employers' Pandora's Box.

2007-04-26T17:14:00.000+10:00

It may seem a mystery to many in Australia why Victoria is polling so heavily for Labor at this early stage in the electoral cycle. No surprise to me. Jeff Kennett was the first to introduce draconian workplace laws, on a very large scale; not only did they strand the so called "unskilled", to fight for a few, very poorly paid casual hours , at the 'extra salt mine with that?', it also forced them to plead for a 'top up' from Centrelink, as well. With all that that entails. Victorians really hate Workchoices because it is the natural continuation of this system gone federal. Some watched as old friends, neighbours and relatives slipped down the economic gurgler. It is starting to get much closer to the middle class home. The 100k, a year, position might be cut back by 25% this year and maybe the same again in another year, given the recent decision of The Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

Andrew Cruickshank, 42, was made redundant by the Priceline retail chain in November along with 31 other employees. His salary package totalled $101,000, made up of $75,000 salary, superannuation payments and a car. The job was subsequently readvertised, offering a salary package of up to $75,000. AIRC ruled that the grounds for sacking workers under Work Choices using "operational reasons" were much broader than the grounds that existed under the previous federal industrial legislation."

It just opens a Pandora's box," said Gary Pinchen industrial advocate for Cruickshank "Provided employers have got some economic need - and what firm hasn't? - to reduce costs or increase profits in a changing economic environment they can now terminate people and replace them for a marginal economic saving. "

The Best Video/Song Yet.

2007-04-22T21:19:00.000+10:00

Robert Altman, who produced Nashville, would surely be appreciative of this work, if he were alive. I will not need to argue the point.

Classy, delicate and sensitive you must check this work out...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cAChVVVZaM

Thanks to Alex.

More Peak than Iceberg.

2007-04-22T18:18:00.000+10:00

"Kurt Vonnegut died yesterday. So it goes".

2007-04-12T19:11:00.000+10:00

Because I like fulfilling somebodies prophesies and I am a great fan of the mans' work. Thought this a reasonable tribute but maybe it was hidden in a bottom draw for this kind of sad moment. I really don't expect death would be any great surprise to the old anti-warhorse. And surprisingly not death by Drano ® .

P. Adams interview with Kurt is available here for listening only.

Encourage violence or brutality!

2007-04-10T19:57:00.000+10:00

Yes folks it's perfectly acceptable. Alan Jones is to be left alone because everything he does is A , O.K. The media has, so far, barely taken notice of the fact that he has been caught, yet again. Even by themselves.

See ACMA media report here and Fairfax background.

The full report can be seen in this spot.

Ken Henry, when ya gonna win?

2007-04-07T17:53:00.000+10:00

I like the idea that the head of treasury is well qualified for the job. Not just that he is academically all over his subject of 'economics' but comes from a background where 'scarcity' meant more than the lack of a plasma television.

Alan Ramsey does a very fine profile of the number two Australian bureacrat, Ken Henry, who has somehow managed to maintain his position, when inferior political appointees are rising like dicks in a whorehouse.

Thankyou to Meagan for alerting many to the read.

Maundy Thursday under Workchoices.

2007-04-05T18:23:00.000+10:00

Maundy Thursday under Workchoices.

Bonus .................William Blake, regressing, Special.

If you wish to go further see .........

Gunns at Head.

2007-04-03T13:41:00.000+10:00

A new touchstone in business efficiency seems to have been achieved in Tasmania with the major logger , Gunns , moving into the business of drafting government legislation. This is a plan that will undoubtedly be applauded by all right minded individuals and think tanks. It has been far too clear, in recent times, that the interests of the voting public are standing in the way of the profit making ambitions of major companies.

Premier Lennons' new benchmark will undoubtedly spread through to all ministries and other states. Companies need merely frame appropriate legislation and fast track it through parliament. None of those fussy, old , hold ups about environmental issues, conflict of interest and health concerns. Or annoying politicians who get in the way of progress. They have fine legal teams that just get stymied by nit picking, long-haired, smelly, dole bludgers. Who gives a stuff about bloody trees, anyway, when they can be cleared and turned into sensible , right thinking newspapers?
And if they don't like it, Gunns have other lawyers to keep them engaged for the rest of their bloody lives. How could those bastards say bad things and eat into shareholder dividends, anyway? Damn it, sense is starting to prevail in this ungrateful hole of a 'country'. Soon to be called Corporation.

Hicks Fix.

2007-04-02T10:27:00.000+10:00

It did not take too long before American media cottoned on to the deal set up by Howard and Cheney to have David Hicks negated as an Australian election issue. Susan J. Crawford a civilian trial overseer will be the name talked about as the 'fixer' for old pals prepared to cut an arse saving deal.

Her direct overiding influence was a little bit much for even a seasoned war horse, Chief Prosecutor Morris Davis, who said that he wanted to thank Howard's government "for everything it had done to bring closure to the case".

"The British are cunning" says Fish.

2007-04-01T21:19:00.000+10:00

Mr Fish has come up with yet another goody. If you click on the picture you can read the words.

For more great work see.....

Female Orgasm Special.

2007-03-29T10:55:00.000+10:00

Norman Swan, the cheery bloke on the right, of ABC's Health Report, interviewed Beverly Whipple on a subject of extreme human importance.

We are talking about pleasure here. And if you had any doubts about the reasons for orgasm it's worth reading her obvious, but sadly widely unconsidered, words.........

"The reason you have this is because it feels good and it's pleasurable. And I think that we have to start talking about pleasure so much more. And I don't know in your country, in Australia, if pleasure is valued, but here it's not in the United States. If you look at it, there are over 100 words for pain in the English language, and we can talk about pain. But there are only about 20 words for pleasure in the English language, and here in the United States, we can't talk about pleasure, we can't get funding for looking at what is pleasurable. But we can for pain. So I think it's very revealing about our country in terms of the value placed on pleasure, which is very little."

Beverly is a great communicator and is at the forefront of present sexual research. If the female ejaculation or g-spot is of no interest to you do not venture into the now available transcript or listen to this great report. I listened to and read ,very carefully, every word. So much pain around and if that was the only reason we ended up on this planet, as many powerful life haters would have you think, I would have cut my throat long ago. Go forward and be enthralled here.

And it does not go without saying that we are still very lucky to have Radio National......for brain stimulation.

Peace Breaks Out.

2007-03-27T09:18:00.000+10:00

This is not a doctored photograph. In the same picture see two men, at the same table, who have been mortal enemies, you would expect, from the moment they first set eyes on each other.
Mind you, while they met, reports were that they both avoided eye contact.

I had to post it because I never thought I would see such a thing in my lifetime. Maybe there is hope for peace in the middle east. Na, forget it. For the full report on amazing progress in Northern Ireland go to this link.

Mother Therese.

2007-03-22T19:11:00.000+11:00

Conflict of interest is the subject on many a mind as Santo Santoro most likely moves to a small room in an outer leafy suburb of Brisbane to continue his obvious skill as a day/night share trader. Business involvements of the spouse of a possible future P.M. are worthy of consideration as well.

Well disciplined P.M.

2007-03-20T20:17:00.000+11:00

I am angry… very,very angry indeed*. Did you see it when my fists fleyed around? I took it out on the footpath/nikes' when i did my regular early morning walk in the park, because I am very disciplined. I am a role model for all children.

Incredible Lookalikes.

2007-03-19T22:07:00.000+11:00

One gone and another on the way?

Back in Business.

2007-03-18T17:48:00.000+11:00

After a little break away with computer problems the shop is open again. With the help of an ancient foot powered machine, it is true, I have maintained a limited presence around the blogosphere.

All has changed now, because I am back with new vigour and a very satisfactory fully reconditioned turbo charged unit. Ready to take on the haters of democracy, justice and everything. Yes folks, EAT AT JOE'S having suffered an almost critical breakdown, is ready to accompany novices and hacks through this critical election year.

Barry Jones Manning Clark lecture has to be recommended to anyone who missed it.

Tin Tin's revenge.

2007-03-08T11:39:00.000+11:00

“Burke and Grill as a can of worms, was probably better left in the pantry"... quote from unknown hack political commentator.

Ross Lightfoot may be in for a few probs too. I heard Barry Cassidy on radio today suggesting that he also might be forced to resign. His share dealings, not being quite as benign as he claims. Goodbye to the Senate majority if he is forced to independent status. Thought it funny that Matt Price now seems to want the whole thing to go away…..pretty sure he reflects the opinion of many liberal backbenchers.

Computer Broken, no Jokin.

2007-03-05T21:36:00.000+11:00

Sadly, we are out of commission for a while.

Unable to give a link due to tech probs, but sad to see "Bilegrip" (scum at the top) take an understandable break. One of the best on the net IOHO and HOPE they will return soon.
Hold on, try this.....
http://www.bilegrip.com/

Masters of War rhetoric.

2007-03-02T11:18:00.000+11:00

What do you do when a report comes out suggesting that your drug policy is failing the people it is supposed to be there to serve? Deny the evidence of course.

"Now is not the time to be wavering in the war on drugs by embracing harm minimisation over a tough-on-drugs approach."

Despite the fact that members of your own party have seen the need for change you battle on like some shell shocked veteran who cannot see the woods for the trees. It's not working Christopher Pine . Just like the war on terrorism the war on drugs is an abject failure.

People are avoiding seeking help for addictive behaviour due to a fear of criminal sanctions. All you can come up with, from your protected liberal cocoon, is war like rhetoric similar to 'we'll fight them on the beaches' Brendan Nelson.

Nuked !

2007-02-28T09:05:00.000+11:00

Now hasn't our dear leader an open mind about filling our future energy needs? The ship of state has been running on too much polluting coal and he has just realised that it's fucking up the climate. Let's think about the possibilities. The nuclear option just happens to have flashing lights around it or maybe it's the radiation we can see.

" Gosh, is that you Ron ringing up with your regular Saturday morning racing tips? Gday mate, how r ya ? Race3 no4 , Race 7 no5... both nobbled... terrific.
Got that, so you ,Champs and Hughy are backing nuclear. Wow what a great idea and such a coincidence. Next week I've got a plan to go for an independent and open commission to back that too".

Take that!

2007-02-27T18:33:00.000+11:00

" As for the rest of your splutter, it seems to bear out my suspicion that libertarianism is the characteristic prejudice of very clever but not very wise young men without spouses or children who have yet to resolve their existential angst about the fact that they were born from women’s wombs, that they were helplessly dependent on their mothers’ breasts and subject to their mothers’ guidance during their earliest years, that they will one day age and die (and have to have their bums wiped for them in nursing homes in the final stages of their existence), and that they and their fellow rationally self-interested utility maximisers in their beloved market economy are still just animals in an ecosystem and when it dies back they will die back with it".

From larvatus prodeo comments.

Fakeing it.

2007-02-26T18:47:00.000+11:00

One of the greatest frauds perpetrated on the public are the employment figures. If you are to believe Peter Costello 'all is well' in Oz .....the economy is going "gangbusters". Disguised is the fact that those with one hour of employment, per fortnight, are still regarded as employed.

An important figure was released today. This is the the 'underemployment' rate. Shamefully only released once a year, it tells the real tale of the disregarded. A link is provided to a not too lengthy ABC transcript on this matter. It's good to remember these real life people, next time someone tells you that John Howard will be difficult to remove when the economy is booming for all.

See World Today.

Who can it be Now?

2007-02-24T12:42:00.000+11:00

"Because free societies are open and tolerant, because we respect every life and mourn every loss, the terrorists have concluded we are decadent in spirit, weak in character and conquerable". * says Dick Cheney.

"Defeat in Iraq for the United States of America will present my children with a vastly different, less secure world than they face today and under no circumstances should we allow ourselves, if you like, to lose morale muscular and to step back from this" said Defense Minister Nelson recently on Lateline.

These two quotes are interesting because of the similarities....... stand strong and muscular in the face of the enemy, lest you show yourself to be somehow weak and morally inferior. Nelson seems to be just parroting this wacky neo-con/fundy thinking that he has learnt on his trips to 'new homeland'.

Cartoon is by the great Mr Fish.

Year of the Pig............

2007-02-18T20:36:00.000+11:00

Cracks are appearing in the Government of Australia.

Has Peter Costello's time finally come?

Mr Morale Muscular.

2007-02-17T19:01:00.000+11:00

Its not just Obama and the democrats who are giving solace to the enemy. Its everybody who wants to bring the forces home.

Brendan Nelson says "those people, whether they be in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia or in any other part of the world, people who are arguing that we withdraw from Iraq, to abandon the Iraqi people, to ignore the requests of the democratically elected Iraqi Government - those who argue that we should do that before the Iraqi security forces are in a position to essentially look after their own security, we will by definition hand victory to those al Qaeda and other terrorist networks who see it as important. Do not forget, Tony, that Osama bin Laden himself, late in 2004, described Iraq as World War III."

There you were, thinking that 1) the Iraq war was a mistake to begin with, as are all wars. 2) It should never happened because the reasons for wageing it were proved to be palpably wrong. There never were any weapons of mass destruction and we should stop and admit it was all a bloody mistake. Or, 3) You supported it at the beginning, but feel like there has already been enough death and it is going nowhere.

Whatever your position, and of course there are many others, if you think it's time to pull up shop and bring the boys and girls home you are an established terrorist supporter. Not only that though,"you will endanger not only Iraqis, the Middle East but also the rest of the thinking world".

And if that's not bad enough , you particularly nasty piece of work, Brendan Nelsons' three children will "face challenges that they will never overcome" and live in a " less secure world than they face today". Hold on, there's more.... we, ourselves, may lose "morale muscular".

So, shut the fuck up or you may just get a visit for breaching Sedition Laws. I just don't want to lose my "morale muscular", whatever it means, because of youse.

Oooopsies

2007-02-15T19:05:00.000+11:00

" Look, in the end this isn't a matter for Australia. We don't have a vote in the American presidential election, we just have to deal with whoever wins the election. And whatever John Howard or I, or anybody else may think privately, we'd never say anything publicly about the elections of a foreign country. "

Alexander Downer in interview with the ABC - 2004

...........and thanks to Idlaviv.

Excuses for 'The Gaffe'.....1) and 2)

2007-02-15T13:42:00.000+11:00

"If I was running al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008, and pray, as many times as possible, for a victory not only for Obama, but also for the Democrats" Source.

1) Just as latte slurping, chardonnay sipping, totalitarian socialists were writing off our leader, he has developed new powers. As we all know, Osama Bin Laden is the head of a famous terrorist organisation. His goose is cooked. John Howard is involved in picking his enemy mind; even down to prayer rituals and specifics about his attitudes to American election results. That 'Obama' rymes with 'Osama'.

With this same skill, he will surely be able to glean what Kim Jong 11 and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are up to, as well. Stuff like..... Ahmadinejad has backed Kevin Rudd to become Australian P.M. through Sportsbet. Kim Jong 11 has all of Midnight Oils' albums, the hots for Julia Gillard and is planning to send her a Valentine's Day card, having circled Feb 14 next year. His favourite dish ,when planning evil , is Kimchi.

2) So, if that one doesn't work for you, try .......... "Howards really made a cleverly disguised slur on al-Qaeda by suggesting that they might be stupid enough to have someone like him as leader". Dastardly terrorists beware, John Howard is at the wheel of the Australian ship of state.

Are these two Characters Morphing?

2007-02-14T17:28:00.000+11:00

It is our considered opinion that they are.

There may be more evidence at a later date.

She is a qualified scuba diver.

2007-02-13T14:36:00.000+11:00

Never let it be said that EAT AT JOE'S balks at an alleged salacious story, of the mile high variety, involving a movie star and our soon to be sold air carrier, that was reported with enormous style. It is, after all, the day before Valentine's Day. See Telegraph for the story.

Dumb Card, Dumb Arguments

2007-02-08T16:02:00.000+11:00

Senator Ian Campbell now has the job of spruiking the so called Smart Card, now that mr nice guy, Joe Hockey has handed over the baton. We all know that it is good for us and there is this huge horde of welfare cheats who need to get their come uppence and that it has space for us to put our favourite songs on and we don't have to get one if we don't want one and .........Yesterdays visit to Auntys A.M. proved an interesting one, if you were listening.

GILLIAN BRADFORD: So, how many more safeguards have you put into this bill since the head of your own Consumer and Privacy Taskforce, Allan Fels, put his criticism that there's no reason to put on this card things like your title, or your date of birth. He saw that as too much information stored on this card.Have you gotten rid of both those things?

IAN CAMPBELL: Well, I met with Professor Fels for some hours on Friday and went through his report. I think that Professor Fels made 27 recommendations. I've accepted, in whole or in part, 25 of them. And two of them are to make the date of birth, for example, a matter of choice for Australians. I want to make this...

GILLIAN BRADFORD: He didn't even want it there as a matter of choice. He said people should not be required. It should not go on the card. Once the information's there it can never be taken out of the system.

IAN CAMPBELL: Well, some people just want to have their date of birth there for their own reasons. And what I want is for Australians to, in fact, not only own this card - it'll be one of, potentially the only card in their wallet they, they actually own, it's theirs - they will be able to choose whether or not they have the date of birth. There's a lot of Australians...

GILLIAN BRADFORD: What about the title?

IAN CAMPBELL: ...a lot of, lot of people listening to this program who want a date of birth on a card so they can prove their age. And I'm not going to say no, you can't.

Contrast this with the rest of his days work where he reassures all that this baby will never become an identity card and there will be super stiff penalties for anyone who asks for it.
"The smartcard will be brought in by 2010 under a bill, introduced to Parliament today, which Senator Campbell says provides for a five-year jail penalty for anyone demanding the use of the new card for identification purposes" as quoted from Fairfax.

So have you got that? If some freedom loving teenager wishes to use it to prove to the bouncer that she is over eighteen, that's cool. Watch out bouncer, if you ask for it, because you may well be spending time in the slammer. And don't you in any way imagine that this young women is using it as an identity card because she's not.

Bizarre, Really.

2007-02-07T16:12:00.000+11:00

John Bellinger, the legal adviser to the US Secretary of State, admitted Guantanamo Bay had become "a lightning rod for criticism that threatens our record on human rights" and it was important to try to counter this. It is how he is going about it that is very weird.

Mr Bellinger said he did not believe it was a violation of Mr Hicks's human rights to be held in Guantanamo Bay for five years without charge, and the Australian was "more than just an adventurer".

And if that leap wasn't enough to bend the mind of anyone still thinking straight after a possible psyops operation I refer you to the slurred words of Sir Henry Casingbroke who mentioned the same Fairfax report when he commented at Larvatus prodeo.........

"Shurely shome mishtake? John Bellinger, the legal adviser to the US Secretary of State, according to today’s SMH, defended Hicks’s trial process as fair and denied Hicks was being charged under a retrospective law. But then he is also quoted saying - in mitigation of US action re Hicks - that there were tribunals using offences that were “obviously put down on paper much later than the conduct actually that was in question”. Is this man a habitual drunk? Or is it just a shortcoming in processing a logical train of thought? This is a legal adviser to the US Secretary of State?! Perhaps I am missing a legal subtlety here. I invite the legal geniuses at Catallaxy to please explain this one."

A Fair Go goes Overboard

2007-02-01T18:10:00.000+11:00

Refugee Muhammad Faisal, in the red, has been granted a permanent protection visa after almost six years of detention on the island of Nauru.*

He was originally found by the immigration department to have genuine fears of persecution if he returned to Iraq. An ASIO ruling overrode those concerns, deeming him a security risk.

Unfortunately for him and his lawyers the nature of his adverse security assessment was not something he was allowed to see . Added to that were difficulties associated with the distance and status of Nauru where he was permanently held in custody. This explains the many years of his open ended incarceration and partly associated mental illness.

His connection with Scott Parkin is an interesting one. In December 2005, lawyers acting for Parkin lodged a Federal Court challenge seeking to quash his own adverse security assessment and Faisals. Parkin's lawyers were also acting for another Iraqi refugees, Mohammed Sagar who has also been held in immigration detention after receiving an adverse security assessments from ASIO.

Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews says due process in Muhammad Faisal's case has been followed. When due process excludes the individuals right to know why he or she has been subjected to punitive treatment, including indefinite detention, it is very hard to see how. An unaccountable secret service is a feature of governments that Australia claims to be strongly opposed to . Certainly not part of any truly democratic tradition and something to be protected from.

Of Flags and T-shirts.........

2007-01-22T13:42:00.000+11:00

Andrew Robb may well be feeling the effects of wedgie burn as he gallantly unfurled the flag for the govenments next election bid. Faced with the decision by the organisers of The Big Day Out to limit the carrying of the Australian flag because "in recent times, there has been an increased incidence of flags brandished aggressively and this has led to increased tension. Our only intention in discouraging this activity at the Big Day Out is to ensure that our patrons are not subjected to this aggressive behaviour"* and his belief that the ban should be halted or the event cancelled , he was forced to inadvertently defend the right of an expatriate Australians' wish to wear a t-shirt carrying the pictured message.

On todays Jon Faine show he was caught with no room to wriggle as Allen Jasson had just drawn attention to his bid to return to England with garb, considered so offensive by Qantas and Virgin security, that they had previously refused to let him on board their aeroplanes. The right to wear or carry the flag can hardly be restricted but so also the individuals wish to carry whatever message they like on their t-shirt. God damn it, if you are in the slightest bit logical you just can't have it both ways. Unless of course you are John Howard.

A Pox on Air Conditioners.

2007-01-20T11:02:00.000+11:00

This is the comment I left on the esteemed John Quiggin blog concerning one of my great summer dreads.

"Air Conditioners……Another great curse of our time. Not only are they the great spoiler of the suburban quiet they are risking the fair distribution of electicity to us all.No probs with their use for the old and infirm but cannot see for the life of me why these big guzzlers are given greater priority than my right to have a few lights and a critical fridge running.I was without power for 4 hours recently and I am not so stupid to believe it was the bushfires but the overwhelming demand of these unnecessary status symbols.

I would love to see air conditioner become both quieter and with enough complimentary and compulsory solar panels to cover their use. So the rest of us, who still know how to open a window, do not have to pay for more coal burning generators or peak load, rip offs."

I have added a picture of a house designed by architect Beni Burnett in Darwin from 1939. A little more can be found out about him here. Makes you wonder how much we have learned about designing for the weather conditions we live with, doesn't it?

Johnny Want a Cracker?

2007-01-10T16:26:00.000+11:00

The Australian Prime Parrot has had a primer from George W. about what to say on release of the brave new plan, cooked up over several weeks, to save the day in Iraq.

Things that make you go hmmm..

2007-01-10T07:27:00.000+11:00

Two matters over the the last few days have brought me to, yet again, wonder about the so called 'upcoming talent' in the Liberal Government. Sen Ian Campbell , Federal Environment Minister/birdy saver, made a guest visit to Auntys A.M. to be quoted thus .........

"There are huge benefits to WA and the Australian economy from mining uranium, the world is hungry for it. The Princeton University have developed a study that shows that nuclear power will contribute or can contribute around about a billion tonnes of greenhouse gas abatement per year towards the seven billion tonnes of greenhouse gas abatement we need to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions and save the planet. And so it is really quite obscene for a government to be sitting on a resource that can make a substantial contribution to that climate change challenge".

Oh just fine and dandy Sir, but wasn't it the policy of the government that global warming was not necessarily happening and if it was, it would be very questionable that greenhouse gas emissions had anything to do with it. You know, it's all just Al Gores' personal opinion.

Upcoming talent and ministerial sidekick Greg Hunt has also used the silly season to jump up and enlighten A.M.s listeners. It has sunk in to him - and boy what a surprise - that if you provide important and most necessary employment opportunities for people, their health and society improves. Wow, this guy is a fast learner.

"We weren't expecting a social impact, but what we're finding is, where people are doing meaningful work in remote Indigenous communities, there's been a decrease in domestic violence, a decrease in drug and alcohol and other substance abuse and an increase in social cohesion".

Job creation for work that needs to be done and not 'work for the dole' is about giving back an individuals dignity.

That Holiday in Glorious Sidney!

2007-01-02T07:02:00.000+11:00

Your spelling can cost you a lot of money if you are not careful as told by The Register. When English is not your native language it is a little bit more understandable that you might mistake Sidney, U.S.A. with Sydney, Australia. The views of Montana like this statue of one Governor Nutter in Central Park are impressive but nothing quite manages to match the scenic Bondi beach or Sydney harbour bridge.

Twenty one year old German tourist Tobi Gutt made the slight mistake of placing an 'i' instead of a 'y' on the form when booking his online holiday. Assuming, quite reasonably, that his trip to Australia was via America he only began to realize he had taken a wrong turn when things slowed down a lot with his boarding of a local commuter plane.

Whoops and thanks to family and friends who bailed him out by sending the cash he needed to get on a service that was a lot closer to his holidaying needs.

2007-01-01T00:11:00.000+11:00

Unpublished Nicholson.

2006-12-31T23:19:00.000+11:00

and thanks for the memories.........
and another memory of Donald Rumsfeld, with the tyrant ,
16 months after the crime in Dujail for which Saddam was hung..........

New Years Resolution.

2006-12-29T11:51:00.000+11:00

The guy has completely lost it.

The President says the American troops safety is always on his mind and that their welfare is a top priority. That is most reassuring.

"The troops, as we head into 2007, people always ask me about a new year's resolution, my resolution is that they'll be safe." His quote from here.

No George, that is not a resolution. It may be a 'wish' or a 'hope' but not a resolution. If you were to resolve not to say something dumb in '07 that would be a resolution but sadly an impossibility. A resolution could be made to bring the troops home before next Christmas. You could even work on simple sentence construction in the New Year, instead of making matters worse in Iraq.

Woof Woof and merry merry.........

2006-12-24T05:26:00.000+11:00

Slipped through in the Silly Season.

2006-12-22T10:08:00.000+11:00

It's official.............'bribes' are a 'tax deduction'.
Here's how it works.

1) Create a law."There should be no tax deduction for a bribe -thats my view ,and thats what we put into the law", Mr Costello said.

2) Set up an inquiry, like The Cole Report into AWB, that deems a bribe is actually a kickback.

3)Rely on Tax Department.
In a statement to the Stock Exchange yesterday, AWB said the Tax Office "accepts that for the reasons set out in the Cole inquiry report, payments made by AWB under the ... oil-for-food program do not constitute bribes to foreign public officials for the purposes of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997".

4)Pretend matters are out of your hands. (Sorry Pete, Mr Cole or the tax department are not the lawmakers, that's the role of the parliament.)
"Now I'm sorry, if a court finds or a royal commissioner finds something, whatever my personal view, that's the law." says Mr Costello.

"Take that Bob Brown", says Eric.

2006-12-20T07:05:00.000+11:00

The Federal Forestry Minister, Tasmanian Senator Eric Abetz, says it's "ironic" that the Wielangta forests that have been the focus of 33 day legal case have been burnt by recent fires.

This follows a decision by The Federal Court in Tasmania which "formed the view that the relevant operations will be, and have been ,carried out otherwise than in accordance with the RFA."

The operations being those by Foresty Tasmania that even flouted the very limited safeguards in the present laws and declared open season on old growth forests.

Eric is saying that the court's findings - that Tasmania's Regional Forest Agreement is valid - is a win for the Government. That's true. It was part of Justice Marshalls' decision. The law is the law.

Senator Abetz says an appeal to the decision is being considered, but he can't see how it would affect other Australian logging regions. Why would you appeal a decision that has caught out a group that has broken the law that you created? Unless you didn't give a damn about the environment , enjoyed the fact that Wielangta had been damaged and were more interested in the Forestry industry above everything else. Maybe we are looking at schadenfreude rather than irony.

Shark Attack at Winkie Pop!

2006-12-19T07:51:00.000+11:00

For more, do not miss going here, wait a bit and here.

Update: That pathetic Premier Bracks has ruled out reprisal raids on all sharks in Victoria. The Shadow Minister for Sharks and Shockjocks has yet to respond to such an obvious lack of concern for the swimming public.

Mr Fish says it All.

2006-12-18T07:40:00.000+11:00

For Catch of the Day see.

Greens New Upper House Power.

2006-12-14T06:51:00.000+11:00

Labor 19 seats
Libs 15 seats
Nats 2 seats
Greens 3 seats
DLP 1 seat

Final and complete results for Victorian 2006 election. An excellent result for Greens despite typical misleading bi-partisan attacks. Labor loses control of Upper House. Victoria may yet get an end to logging in water catchment areas.

And just in case you were wondering, the lone DLP member looks like this. Will Labor call upon him to pass legislation and incur the wrath of the older party faithful who see the DLP as "sectarian snakes"?

Steve Bracks deserves a pat on the back for introducing these real reforms to the Legislative Council that have finally come to fruition. Maybe there is a little bit of refineing to do around the edges but Victoria now has a far more democratic house. "The biggest changes in its 150 years history" is a fair boast and introduced by politicians knowing it would reduce their power. A minor miracle, you would have to say.