Turnbull to cross floor on climate

FORMER Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull plans to defy his party and cross the floor of Parliament over climate change next week.

I have no objections to Turnbull crossing the floor ... provided he hands his resignation as MP to Tony Abbott on his way, and keeps walking.

***

Tony Abbott does not need to defend his comments in AWW

Federal Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, when asked in an interview with the Australian Women's Weekly, what advice he would give his three daughters on sex before marriage, he responded: "I would say to my daughters, if they were to ask me this question … it is the greatest gift you can give someone, the ultimate gift of giving and don’t give it to someone lightly."

TONY Abbott’s advice to young women about not giving away their virginity lightly would confirm, frothed deputy prime minister, and childless Julia Gillard "the worst fears of Australian women" about him.
"Australian women don’t want to be told what to do by Tony Abbott. Australian women want to make their own choices, and they don’t want to be lectured to by Mr Abbott."

Gillard has somehow managed to extrapolate from Abbott’s response, that he was giving a sermon to all of womenkind on the repercussions of pre-marital sex, when in fact he was doing no such thing, and was actually giving a very reasonable and well-considered answer referring to, as most intelligent people would be able to tell, his own three daughters.

By saying that Abbott’s remarks “confirm the worst fears of Australian women” illustrates to me that Gillard is a gormless opportunist, whose ideologies and rampant perfidiousness pose a far greater threat to society than Tony Abbott ever would.

***

Lord Monckton Interview with Alan Jones

Is here. My apologies for not posting it earlier.

Australia Day musings

On this Australia Day, here are my thoughts on a few topical items. Australia is a great place, but we do need to fix a few things, consider our national position on others, and simply ‘get over’ the rest.

1. Australia Day. The date of this national holiday has always been contentious, but changing it will not help matters (see point 2.) Australia Day should be a reason to celebrate; but indigenous Australians consider January 26 ‘Invasion Day’, and I see no reason why they would think otherwise should any of the other 364 date alternatives be chosen. Many Aboriginals believe (and many academics teach) that white fella came here, took over “their” land, and buggered their lifestyle irrevocably ever since. Reconciliation? Sure. I hear peace in the Middle East is also imminent.

2. April 25 (Anzac Day) as an alternative date to celebrate Australia Day. We should not even think about doing this, for if it happened it would be a cataclysmically bad decision. Australia Day should be a day of celebration. Anzac Day should be solemn, not a day for celebrating. War should never be celebrated.

3. Advance Australia Fair. This dirge masquerading as our national ‘anthem’ is an embarrassing and tuneless ode of trite if not abstruse sentiment, and every known score of it should be incinerated. A national and international competition should be launched to find a suitable new tribute to Australia and Australians. Yes, I said international. The competition should be open to everyone. Frankly, I couldn’t care less if the winner has never set foot on Australian soil. Who knows what could happen if we opened the competition as widely as possible. After all, who designed Sydney Opera House? An Australian? Don’t think so. Advance Australia Fair makes me feel as Australian as a Norwegian living in Canada.

4. The Australian Flag. It doesn’t do much for me, but I am not of the ‘new flag’ party. Suggestions of changing the flag just upset diggers who fought under it; not that I care much for this use of emotional blackmail and the pull it seems to have, nevertheless I think the flag should stay – for the foreseeable future anyway – because just about every design I have seen for an alternative looks like it was designed by a fifth grader on a red cordial high.

5. The ‘other’ Australian flag. The red, yellow and black one, I am referring to. This symbol of Aboriginality is Australia’s own Berlin wall. It might just be a piece of coloured material, but as long as it is flown and given significance by government and civic leaders, will remain symbolic of the impenetrable divisions that exist between Caucasian and indigenous Australians.

6. The monarchy. Strange as it may seem for someone who holds strong political convictions, but as far as whether Australia should become a republic, or remain a constitutional monarchy, I am an unabashed fence-sitter. The monarchy has served us very well, although I fear things will deteriorate when The Queen either abdicates (unlikely), or dies (more likely). Until such time as Republicans can tell us what sort of republic model they envisage for Australia, the status quo suits me just fine.

Please celebrate Australia Day peacefully and safely. Be grateful that you are fortunate that you live in this terrific land. If you are an expat, remember your roots, for if you lose sight of them, you lose sight of your ultimate destination.

***

The Australian goes stupid

Someone has dropped something in the watercoolers at The Oz.

I went to get the papers this morning and I nearly swore in front of a little old lady when I saw that Kevin Rudd had been named The Australian's Australian of the Year - a sure fire way of not getting me to buy your paper, guys. Well done.

Nevertheless, I read some of the article online. I am not going to sully this blog by linking to it. However, to give you an idea of the unfathomable crap that will greet you should you be so inclined, here is the final paragraph:

Despite several unconvincing efforts to sell himself as the average "fair shake of the sauce bottle" bloke, most now appear to see Mr Rudd for what he is: an earnest policy wonk. He is respected rather than loved. But the country owes a deep debt to him for showing courage in the face of fire during the GFC and for displaying astute leadership when Australia needed it most.

Unmitigated heifer dust.

Anyone who says The Australian is the most right wing of the nation's newspapers might well need to reassess that belief. More accurate, I think, to say that the national broadsheet is the most 'centre' of the nation's papers. Today's front page story just gives you an idea of how off the scale to the left all the others are.

It's times like this I really wish Australians had the choice of being able to purchase a newspaper that is aligned ideologically and poiltically with one's beliefs - as in the UK for example.

I would happily start my own, but for want of a little capital.

Thank God for blogs.

***

Godfrey Bloom gives it to Gore

As a member of the European Parliament, you have to get your point across in about ninety seconds. Choice of words is therefore critical. No better example than this speech by UKIP member, Godfrey Bloom.

as parliament resumes in Canberra, wouldn't it be nice to be able to post a video of an Aussie politician doing likewise. Tony? Barnaby? Any takers...?

***

Time for new blood in Canberra's electorates

Annette Ellis, Federal Labor Member for Canberra has announced that she is resigning.

Her announcement almost coincides with similar news from her neighbouring Federal Member, Bob McMullan, although both claim it is nothing more than coincidence.

Neither loss will be that greatly felt, although I have a bit more time (a bit, I said) for Ms Ellis than Boring Bob.

John Howard one famously remarked that 'Canberrans live like Double Bay but vote like Cessnock.'

In this election year, I think it's about time folks in the nation's capital lived like Double Bay, and voted accordingly.

***

Boilover: Republican wins Ted Kennedy's old Seante seat

This stunning outcome will have massive repercussions across America; for if Republicans can win in the bluest state in the nation, who knows what is possible in 2012? Things just got interesting!

Read more
here
here
and here

***

Liberals returning to the fold

In this election year Kevn Rudd is going to have to rely on something other than spin to explain to people how he promised the world before the last election, but has delivered nothing. People are waking up.

Kevin Rudd's personal support has taken a tumble as he confronts an election year with early signs that Tony Abbott is recapturing the traditional Liberal base.

What VFT?

It’s not often I am intrigued by anything in the Canberra Times, however, I make an exception for something that caught my eye on the front page of today’s edition.

The story goes that the Defence department is sharpening its bayonets at the proposed alignment of the Majura Parkway – a four-lane dual carriageway that would connect the Monaro Highway in the south with the Federal Highway in the north. A much-needed piece of transport infrastructure.

The proposed alignment of Majura Parkway would encroach on Defence land near Duntroon, causing the loss of about 3ha of a sports oval on Morsehead Drive.

But what is intriguing is the graphic accompanying the story, which I reproduce below

As you can see, sticking out like a sore thumb is a box with the words ‘proposed VFT route’.

This is the first time I have seen such a proposed route, and I was looking forward to reading about how the VFT would fit in with the proposed road corridor.

You see, when a photo or graphic accompanies a newspaper article, you expect to read about all elements of the image in the story. Yet there was nothing, not one word about a train - VFT or otherwise - in the article.

Such an omission is sloppy editing. Another graphic, minus the proposed VFT route, should have been included, or else, as I mention, tell the reader about all elements to it.

The ultimate water of life

I went to the funeral of a relative this week. She was a generous, gregarious and very well-loved lady who lived life to the absolute fullest.

At the family home, a sumptuous spread was laid out. Not having visited the bar, someone reconnaissanced it for me, and brought me back a scotch (thank you very much!). I sipped. My gaze fell straight ahead. I sipped again. Absolutely captivating – sweet and fragrant, complex yet gentle. Another sip, and I could swear that, amid the noise of those assembled, I could hear angels singing in the distance - and it would not have surprised me if my great aunt, a big fan of the 'water of life' herself, was leading the chorus.

The whiskey? Johnnie Walker Blue Label – an exquisite toast to an extraordinary life.

***

Lord Monckton Australian Tour - official itinerary

Lord Monckton has released his official (provisional) itinerary for his Australian tour.

The first entry is very interesting:

Monday 25 January 2010
0700-0900: Radio interview with Alan Jones, 2GB Radio

A full two hours with Alan Jones? That would, I think, be unprecedented - and almost worth taking the day off for.

Read the rest of the itinerary here.

***

What's 'expanding' at 2CC?

Canberra talk radio station 2CC is teasing listeners with news of a big announcement on Monday morning at 7.45 as to how the station is “expanding” in 2010.

Theories abound. Interesting choice of words, that: ‘expanding’.

I have come up with four possibilities as to what might be happening at Marvellous Mitchell. In no way do I have any inside knowledge as to what is going on. I would like to make that very clear. The below is just a little bit of fun - although if some of it were true, that would be nice, too.

It could be that…

a) The station is going to announce the signing of a well-known presenter for a permanent weekday slot. (Clive, perhaps? Would be lovely if they did, but I don’t think he’d give up his beloved Asquith to North Sydney walks that easily; and I doubt Abe would follow CAR to CBR. Andrew Bolt? Hmmm, perhaps not.)
b) A new (local) presenter will be hosting the 9-noon program, which will be networked to other regional stations like 2GN, 2ST and 2EC (but which presenter? Mike Frame? Jessica Good?)
c) 2CC will be switching to FM (a la 2WS in Sydney last century).
d) The regular crowd of presenters at 2CC are getting on a bit, and the stairs at the radio station can play hell with hips and knees, so, they could all be moving out of the Hoskins Street rabbit warren into flash new single-story digs (or a double-decker one with a lift, at least.) This could be what the “expanding in 2010” is all about.

With ‘a’ being the most fanciful (the Clive and Andrew part, alas), followed by ‘c’, if I were to have a little wager, I would choose option ‘d’. Now, I might well be a couple of bunkers short of a golf course with those prognostications - and I probably am, but, even so, it wouldn’t surprise me if elements of more than one of the above scenarios came to pass in 2010.

I will be tuning in at 7.45 on Monday as I drive to work to hear what the dickens is going on. Fingers crossed I don’t crash into something from the shock of the announcement, whatever it may be.

UPDATE

That's the last time I'll get sucked in by radio station PR.

The "big" (c'mon!) announcement was leaked, consciously or otherwise, on another regional radio station's website over the weekend.

Turns out that 2CC are taking the Ray Hadley morning show weekdays from 9am - 11am, and highlights from the Alan Jones program from 11am - Noon.

All a bit of a yawn really.

I'll let you get back to sorting your socks.

***

The press finally picks up the Monckton Aussie tour story

... four days after you read about it on this blog.

The Australian, reports.

***

Northern Hemisphere snow photos

(big sigh)
http://www.news.com.au/pictures/gallery-e6frflv9-1225817312663

Lord Monckton Australian Tour Dates ...

... courtesy of Samuel's Blog, are thus:

Wednesday 27.1.10 - 5.30pm - Sydney - Grand Ballroom, The Sheraton on The Park, Elizabeth Street, Sydney
Thursday 28.1.10 - 12.30pm - Newcastle - Banquette Hall, Newcastle City Hall, King Street Newcastle.
Friday 29.1.10 - 12.30 Lunch - Brisbane - Grand ballroom, Hilton Hotel, Queen Street, Brisbane
Saturday 30.1.10 - 2pm - Noosa - The J at Noosa Junction
Monday 1.2.10 - 12.30pm - Melbourne TBA
Tuesday 2.2.10 - 2pm - Melbourne - Grand Ballroom, Sofitel Hotel
Wednesday 3.2.10 Canberra
Thursday 4.2.10 - 2pm - Adelaide - Venue TBA
Monday 8.2.10 - 2pm - Perth - Venue TBA

I shall be trés annoyed if I cannot attend one of Monckton's lectures, but it's not looking good. I will have to call in a favour or two, I feel.

All of the above is dependent on Lord Monckton extricating himself from the snow in Scotland. (Global warming, anyone?)

They're calling it the worst British winter in 30 years. I may be a lonely (and somewhat strange) voice in expressing these sentiments, but there is nothing this little blogger would like to see more than a thick blanket of snow outside his window. To those of you who currently witness such a sight, you are all lucky, lucky bastards.

***

Obama statue erected in Jakarta. Facebookers not happy, Barry

What do worshippers of global warming and followers of Barack Hussein Obama have in common? They both support nonentities.

A statue of President Barack Obama as a boy has been erected in a Jakarta park.

Thousands on Facebook have joined a group calling for the statue’s removal. Said Heru Nugroho, the group's creator:

"Everybody knows that Obama is a world leader, but he is not our national hero who deserves to be awarded a statue."

Quite.

Why should young Indonesians - or anyone else for that matter - aspire to become someone whose very thin CV and demonstrably meagre actions are obscured by his oratorial rhetoric?

In fact, listening to Obama is like finding the world's grandest pipe organ, only to hear 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' being played on it by an eight-year-old who pulls out all the wrong stops.

***

Lord Monckton is coming to Australia

This is excellent news. I had heard wind of it several weeks ago, but am delighted it is now confirmed.

Please pass this message on, and watch Lord Monckton's blog (or this one) for dates.

***

Now, let me say this, kiddies...

Kevin Rudd has written a children’s book.

I need to choose my words here.

I have not read Jasper and Abby and the Great Australia Day Kerfuffle, but maybe, just maybe our Prime Minister has finally authored something that 99% of the voting population can understand.

***

Let's enjoy ourselves and have a guilt-free 2010 (won't be easy)

I certainly hope 2010 will not become the year of the ‘nanny state’ – not that it could become any more so than it already is (and not just here in Australia, either.) Over in the motherland, apparently the bureaucracy is just as good at infantile molly-coddling as it is here.

It seems that wherever we are, we are told that every step we take, and every pleasure one can think of, even in the most moderate quantity, will, in all probability, cause us untold harm – and probably global warming as well, given half a chance.

This unnecessary intrusion into our lives has surely gone far enough.

This terrific article by Leah McLaren appears in the latest edition of The Spectator. The author encourages us to drink and be merry. Hear! Hear! to that.

Let us be convivial, and in doing so, support our clubs and public houses – one of the last bastions of camaraderie and companionship, and where many a universal problem has been solved over a couple of lagers and some salted nuts. Long may the tradition continue.

Cheers.

***

Sign crime a boozy doozy

As a holder of a Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate, I know a bit about liquor signage.

I love this excuse offered by a licensee in Victoria as to why he didn’t have the signs on display:

Another licensee told inspectors that mandatory liquor licensing signs were not being displayed as they "clashed with decor".

LOL. I know how the dude feels. Those signs – and there must be nearly ten of them – are very garish. I think they should come in more earthy colours – even pastels, perhaps? While they're at it, how about designing the signs in the shape of particular beverage bottles like Jagermeister and Johnnie Walker. The possibilities are endless.

If the liquor licensing board would like more ideas, I'm happy to help - just send me an email.

***

2010 is the last year of the 201st decade

We're not there yet, folks...

Do remember that Anno Domini commenced on the year AD 1 (there was no year 0). Therefore all subsequent decades commence on the year that ends with a 1.

***

Fordham apologies for guest no-show (which station am I filling in on again?)

My first giggle for 2010 came courtesy of a story in the Daily Telegraph this morning.

...stand-in 2GB host Ben Fordham was forced into an embarrassing on-air apology yesterday after station management canned his planned special guest minutes before he was due to go to air.

That special guest was former 2UE host John Laws.

Laws agreed to his (Fordham’s) request on Wednesday night. He did so out of friendship to his father John, who manages Laws, and because "I'm a stickler for friendship".

Friendship is great, and so is loyalty, but they can bite you on the arse when misplaced. It wouldn't surprise me if Lawsie keeps his friendship confined to Fordham senior from here on.

Ben, why don’t you get Kevin Rudd on the phone and nail him with some tough questions? It would probably make for more entertaining radio than listening to old Golden Tonsils anyway, and you'd get kudos from station management and your listeners for doing so.

***

Here's to twenty-ten

Happy New Year, one and all.

My first new year’s resolution is to call each year of this decade ‘twenty’ – whatever, not ‘two thousand and ….’. and to remove anyone from my Christmas card list or Blogroll who disagrees with me!

Ok, let's get really contentious now.

I broke with tradition and watched the 12pm fireworks last night (actually, this morning) on ch 9, and I thought it was all a bit ho-hum. Sure it was pretty, but I was watching it thinking to myself that if I were a tourist who had travelled half way around the world to see the New Years Eve fireworks in Sydney, I would be a bit disappointed. I was watching the whole thing on a 126cm high-definition plasma, so I can't complain about the picture (yes, I know it's not the same as being there). I’m curious as to whether there will be similar reactions today.

And wasn't there a lot of hoo hah about that thing on the side of the harbour bridge. I still can’t figure out what it was supposed to represent. It just looked weird. Perhaps its purpose would have become clearer if I’d had a few more drinks last night. Note to self: 'get tanked for NYE this year and compare pyrotechnic experiences'!

That’s three whinges out of the way for twenty-ten, and it’s not even 6am. Not bad, eh!

***