Poll Surge for Abbott as Rudd goes batty

Encouraging news for Tony Abbott and his supporters: A Sun Herald Taverner poll has voter support for the coalition and Labor at 50% each.

I rarely comment on polls because they are a bit like Jon Stanhope: subjective, generally not very reliable, and can't always be taken seriously. Don't tell this to that harbinger of conservative annihilation, Andrew Catsaras, however, whom I am betting will come out with a piece very soon on how this latest poll is somehow disastrous for the coalition. (Andrew Bolt likes quoting Catsaras, so you will probably read about it there before I can be bothered.)

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Tsunami warning for NSW and Southern Qld. Stay home. Read a book.

An 8.8 earthquake occurred off the coast of Chile last night. Subsequent sea level observations confirm that a tsunami has been generated.

Although the tsunami is not likely to result in land inundation, those coast-dwellers who are thinking 'oh goody, a tsunami. Let's watch', do so at your own risk, and the Bureau of Meteorology urge people to stay away from affected areas.

The tsunami is likely to arrive within the next half an hour (AEDT).

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Teach that piano a lesson

If you've had a crook week, I defy you not to feel a bit brighter after listening to this amazing guy

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Rudd on the nose

Murmerings are that Rudd will not lead the Labor Party to the Federal election, and that his deputy is already sharpening her proboscis so she can stab him in the back prior to what would be a humiliatingly short stay in The Lodge.

I have never liked the idea of Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister. I didn't think it would work; it hasn't worked; and we as a country will be the poorer for decades as a result of this forgettable experiment.

If the idea of Kevin Rudd as PM gives me the shivers, the prospect of Jerrrlia Gillard lording it over the despatch boxes would be enough to send me to my local cop shop to turn myself in.

The best hope the Liberals have of winning the election is with Kevin Rudd to stay right where he is.

Julia Gillard would be no worse a prime minister than Rudd (that would be a big ask), but probably best not to provide the electorate with the chance to find out.

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Federal election soon

In need of a good purge? Then have a listen to this

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Barnaby Joyce, the Boris Johnson of Australia? Hmmm...

Writing in the excellent Spectator, Matthew Parris observes:

May I have a word with you about Barnaby Joyce? As a former parliamentary sketchwriter may I tell you that celebrated political buffoons are almost never buffoons? Senator Joyce’s powers of communication — combining an apparently rough way with words with a canny ear for the phrase that pierces media walls — are touched by poetic genius.
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The adorable posh buffoon from Islington (Boris Johnson - Ed) and the irresistible hick from Tamworth (St George, actually - Ed) are two sides of the same calculating coin. There is something sleek about these men, however dishevelled their utterances. Don’t say I didn’t tell you.

UPDATE

To illustrate Matthew Parris' point, ready Barnaby's latest article in The Australian.

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Abbott thinks TV licence fee cut is a bit wiffy

Tony Abbott has weighed in to the Rudd government's decision to offer a $250 million windfall to commercial television companies over the next two years, labelling it a bribe.

"It looks pretty dodgy to me," the Opposition Leader told Adelaide radio yesterday. "It looks like at this stage, unless the government can justify much better than it has so far . . . an election year bribe," he said. "Maybe there is more to this, which the government hasn't told us about, but . . . it looks like they're buying favourable coverage."

I agree that's what it looks like; but whether that’s what it is is virtually impossible to tell. The commercial networks usually give favourable coverage to the federal Labor Party. Sure, channel nine sticks it to the NSW government fairly often, but this is more than justified, one would have thought.

When you are in a senior position in government or opposition and start suggesting that TV networks are open to bribes...hell, that's like farting in a lift and carrying a dead cat under your arm at the same time. I don't know where Tony is going with this one, but I think he should avoid making odours in confined spaces.

Apropos of Abbott's comments, Laurie Oakes appeared on channel 9 tonight looking as dead as ever, muffling on about how Kerry Packer couldn’t tell him what to say, and, as such, what hope does Kevin Rudd have, blah, blah, blah. Yeah, whatever, Lauire. Listen, if Packer had really wanted you to push a certain line, he would have got his way, let me tell you. Either that or he would have sacked you.

And memo to Peter Overton: editorial comments at the end of a cross with one of your station’s political reporters adds absolutely nothing to the story and just makes you look like a sycophant. Once the reporter has finished speaking and throws back to the studio, say thanks and get on with the next item. If you think the last cross needs completing with a glib one-liner, then the fault is with the reporting concerned, and the viewers will form their own opinion.

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Teacher replaced by computer. The instruction is probably better

This is an occurrance I wish I had experienced when I was in school.

Teaching me maths was tantamount to child abuse.

I would love to have been taught by a computer - a sentiment shared, I'm sure, by most of my former maths teachers.

Maths was not my best subject. It was too logical for me. In maths, there can only ever be one correct answer. I deduced I was too multi-faceted for the subject!

Once, when confronted my my year 11 maths teacher to show how I worked out answer to a question, I replied 'it's the answer'. He said 'where's your working out'? 'There isn't any. I can't tell you how I got the answer, but there it is.' 'But that's not logical!'

Needless to say, I required a level of teaching different to most of my classmates.

Sadly, very few of my teachers had the knack.

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Where to get a drink in Melbourne

I haven't been to Melbourne in about three years, but am heading down in a few weeks for a bit of R&R. I will be staying at Southbank and would like to check out a few bars/restaurants in the area - of which I am unfamiliar.

Please offer your suggestions for places that have good Gemütlichkeit in the comments. Ta.

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Let's hope Nodar is honoured in some way

Have been watching a bit of the luge on the telly.

Athletes are competing under the pall of the absolute tragedy of the poor Georgian bloke Nodar Kumaritashvili 's death on the luge track during a practice run.

I'm not that into luge. I'm more of a curling man myself. But whatever your sport, competitors should be able to do so knowing that there is a good likelihood they will live to tell the tale.

Changes have been made at the luge track in Whistler.

Hopefully future luge tracks will get the challenge/speed aspect right.

In the meantime, my condolences to the Georgian's family and friends and fellow competitors.

I hope Nodar is given some sort of posthumous medal or award. It would be a nice gesture by the IOC.

His name will live on in the hearts of those who strive to live an exceptional life.

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UPDATE
here.

Who would be the who's who of a new news?

Andrew Bolt has been stirring the pot of late (and doing a bloody good job considering the number of replies he's been getting) apropos the creation of a Fox News-style, i.e. conservative-leaning TV station in Australia.

In his latest blog, Andrew calls for suggestions for on air talent, implying that finding same would have its share of problems.

Many who have replied have offered worthwhile suggestions such as Alan Jones, Janet Albrechtson, Tim Blair, Piers Akerman, Caroline Overington, Michael Smith, Gerard Henderson, and, of course, Bolt himself.

I left a comment, too, but suggested that an eye be cast over those not necessarily in the radio or TV spotlight. That's right - the humble blogger. Those who attempt to set the world right for love, not money. There are many well-informed, succinct and humourous bloggers who would, I'm sure, be eminently suitable ;)

Feel free to offer your suggestions either here or on Andrew's blog.

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Murrumbateman wine a real high flyer

There’s a nice bottle of 2005 Shiraz Viognier that’s popular among first class air travellers. Fine and supple, its smooth taste bursts with intense flavours.

It was handmade by Tim Kirk at his Murrumbateman vineyard, Clonakilla Wines, and served to high-flying Qantas customers, who expect nothing but the best.

On Tuesday it was declared the best red wine served in first class among 34 international airlines at the 2009 Business Traveller ‘Cellars in the Sky Awards’.

What a great accolade, and made personal because I know the winemaker and have been lucky enough to drink the wine.

As far as I’m concerned, there is red wine, and there is Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier. It would be my desert island drop. It is the most highly-perfumed, luscious wine - it almost defies description. You must drink it at least once in your life. It is truly a religious experience.

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Your story in six words. Impossible?

Once asked to write a full story in six words, legend has it that novelist Ernest Hemingway responded: "For Sale: baby shoes, never worn."

In this spirit, Smith Magazine invited writers "famous and obscure" to distill their own life stories into exactly six words. It All Changed in an Instant is the fourth collection of very, very brief life stories from Smith. The tiny memoirs are sometimes sad, often funny — and always concise.

I suppose you should think of the exercise as writitng the title of your own memoir.

Here's mine: My Life - A colour Yet Invented.

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Engage brain b4 txtng for a 'good cause'

Interview with 'Bright Star' producer, Jan Chapman

I have still not seen Bright Star, and I fear it will be on a shiny circular thing before I can find the time to get to a cinema. Damn and blast.

Alan Jones, however, has seen it, and loved it.

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Abbott releases climate change policy

A coalition government would create a $1 billion fund that would be used to purchase initiatives aimed at reducing Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has announced.

More detail on the policy here.

Us voting mugs should not forget that Tony Abbott labelled climate change science as "absolute crap", and neither should he.

Although the Coalition policy leaves the massive taxing, hand-in-the-back-pocket policy of Labor, for dead, Abbott is still trying to appease an ever-decreasing minority (those of the "carbon is pollution" brigade.) Forget about it, Tony. Their game is up. They know it, and so do you.

When will governments around the world realise that implementing climate change measures will cost billions, if not trillions of dollars, and will ultimately do more lasting damage than the "crisis" they purport to avert?

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