This is a flourishing little pub in Copenhagen where the guy who runs it sets the rules. Godfrey Bloom, MEP, explains.
This infuriating nanny state we have now is the reason why 52 pubs a week are closing in the UK, and why Australia doesn't really have a pub culture at all.
All power to Godfrey and his new chum.
***
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Abbott vs Newspoll
It is, of course, very easy to dismiss a poll that is bad for your side of politics. However, in regards to the Newspoll in today’s Australian, it needs rebuking from the highest building in the land.
The poll shows a resurgent Labor Party - with Labor and the nation basking in the light of economic righteousness:
I cite the home insulation fiasco, which resulted in the deaths of four people (it should have resulted in the jailing of at least that many); the Building the Education Revolution rorts (and I only use the term ‘rort’ because I cannot think of a stronger word); the disaster in national health care, and the scandalous waste of taxpayer’s money on the economic stimulus – vote-buying at its most flagrant.
In essence, this Newspoll is simply not, repeat, NOT, believable.
Either something weird is happening to the raw data after it enters the computers in the pollsters' call centre and before it appears in the papers; or else most of those polled have all the intelligence and political acuity of Homer Simpson.
***
The poll shows a resurgent Labor Party - with Labor and the nation basking in the light of economic righteousness:
In the past month, Labor's credibility on economic management reached a record high of 44 per cent and the Coalition's standing on the economy crashed six points to 39 per cent - reversing the lead it grabbed over the Rudd government when Mr Abbott became Liberal leader.and in the halo of its benevolent dictator:
Mr Rudd's approval rating rose three points to 51 per cent, after dropping below 50 per cent two weeks ago for the first time since he became Labor leader, and he jumped ahead of Mr Abbott as preferred prime minister by seven percentage points. Mr Rudd's support rose from 55 per cent two weeks ago to 59 per cent, while Mr Abbott's fell three points to 27 per cent, the same level as in January.I’m sorry, but unless those polled do not own a television or radio, and never read a newspaper, it defies credulity as to how a majority of them could form anything but a negative opinion of Kevin Rudd and the Australian Labor Party.
I cite the home insulation fiasco, which resulted in the deaths of four people (it should have resulted in the jailing of at least that many); the Building the Education Revolution rorts (and I only use the term ‘rort’ because I cannot think of a stronger word); the disaster in national health care, and the scandalous waste of taxpayer’s money on the economic stimulus – vote-buying at its most flagrant.
In essence, this Newspoll is simply not, repeat, NOT, believable.
Either something weird is happening to the raw data after it enters the computers in the pollsters' call centre and before it appears in the papers; or else most of those polled have all the intelligence and political acuity of Homer Simpson.
***
Monday, March 29, 2010
Canberra Airport Open Day slideshow
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better...
Ok propellerheads, here are some more pics, and this time I put them into a slideshow - complete with appropriate muzak.
My photos aren't as sharp in this slideshow as they are in iPhoto, but this turned out alright, I think.
***
Ok propellerheads, here are some more pics, and this time I put them into a slideshow - complete with appropriate muzak.
My photos aren't as sharp in this slideshow as they are in iPhoto, but this turned out alright, I think.
***
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Abbott crosses the line
I am absolutely astonished at this...
According to Fairfax, opposition Leader Tony Abbott has crossed the finish line of the Port Macquarie Ironman competition . The race consisted of a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride, and a 42km marathon.
His critics said he didn't train enough for this race, yet his political opponents say he places too much emphasis on exercise.
Well, Abbott - in his first Ironman event - finished in 1169th place out of more than 1500 competitors.
He should tell his knockers to stick that up their lycra.
***
According to Fairfax, opposition Leader Tony Abbott has crossed the finish line of the Port Macquarie Ironman competition . The race consisted of a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride, and a 42km marathon.
His critics said he didn't train enough for this race, yet his political opponents say he places too much emphasis on exercise.
Well, Abbott - in his first Ironman event - finished in 1169th place out of more than 1500 competitors.
He should tell his knockers to stick that up their lycra.
***
Libs could contest poll result in South Australia
Last Saturday's SA election is turning out to be smellier than six-week-old cow juice.
Yeees - I think the Libs there might have good reason to ask for a few 'null and voids'.
***
Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond labelled the election the "dodgiest" she has been involved in, following Labor's ruse to have supporters impersonate Family First officials in marginal seats and give out how-to-vote cards directing preferences to Labor instead of the Liberals.
As well as the dodgy how-to-vote cards, it has emerged:
IN the Flinders Medical Centre, 96 patients missed out on voting after Electoral Commission staff were unable to take their votes on polling day.
AN undisclosed number of people in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital also were unable to vote, and officials say it is almost certain patients in other major hospitals such as the Royal Adelaide Hospital also missed out.
CROWN Law officers are investigating an anonymous claim that a family voted 159 times - including a minor who voted 31 times - in marginal electorates in order to expose flaws in the electoral system.
Yeees - I think the Libs there might have good reason to ask for a few 'null and voids'.
***
Canberra Airport Open Day - More photos
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Canberra Airport Open Day
Tomorrow, 28 March.
Should be lots of fun, and I commend the Capital Airport Group for organising the event.
My camera and I will definitely be there!
UPDATE
What a great day. Thousands of people. Lots of planes. Beautiful sunny weather. (Click on the photos for a larger image).
Enormous thanks to the Snow famiy and Capital Airport Group for their organisation of this event, and their generosity for allowing aviation enthusiasts' free parking and free entry for the day.
***
Should be lots of fun, and I commend the Capital Airport Group for organising the event.
My camera and I will definitely be there!
UPDATE
What a great day. Thousands of people. Lots of planes. Beautiful sunny weather. (Click on the photos for a larger image).
***
Don't let grammar get in the way of propaganda
At present, schools across the country are dotted with signs like the one below, reminding us of who we need to thank for one of the most scandalous rorts inflicted on the populace by an incompetent government.
Obviously those responsible for writing and approving the wording on these signs were not the benefciaries of an educational system the BER scheme purports to improve.
Millions of kids will see these signs every week. Less than one percent of them will know that 'nation-building' should by hyphenated.
Over time, previously hyphenated words have become fused together, such as weekend, bypass, and teapot. Eventually we might add 'nationbuilding' to the list (spare us).
In the meantime, let's just stick a hyphen in there, OK? Good kids.
***
Obviously those responsible for writing and approving the wording on these signs were not the benefciaries of an educational system the BER scheme purports to improve.
Millions of kids will see these signs every week. Less than one percent of them will know that 'nation-building' should by hyphenated.
Over time, previously hyphenated words have become fused together, such as weekend, bypass, and teapot. Eventually we might add 'nationbuilding' to the list (spare us).
In the meantime, let's just stick a hyphen in there, OK? Good kids.
***
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Brighten the country on March 27
'Eco-fascist triumphalism' - James Delingpole
'Vast light-wing conspiracy' - Tim Blair
James and Tim aren't alone in their disparaging of the inane and vacuous symbolism that is Earth Hour.
Andrew Bolt has had enough of it, too. (No doubt Fairfax staff will feel the same way once it's over.)
My local paper is owned by Rural Press, which is owned by Fairfax. Needless to say, it has succumbed to this Earth Hour idiocy as well, and editorialised the position of its parent company.
Its website asked for comments.
Of course, I obliged:
***
'Vast light-wing conspiracy' - Tim Blair
James and Tim aren't alone in their disparaging of the inane and vacuous symbolism that is Earth Hour.
Andrew Bolt has had enough of it, too. (No doubt Fairfax staff will feel the same way once it's over.)
My local paper is owned by Rural Press, which is owned by Fairfax. Needless to say, it has succumbed to this Earth Hour idiocy as well, and editorialised the position of its parent company.
Its website asked for comments.
Of course, I obliged:
Earth Hour. What a load of heifer dust! How switching off your lights for one hour will do anything for the future of the planet is beyond me; as is the whole notion of 'Earth Hour'. What is more worrying than the stupidity of it all, is that so many rational people are united in the cause. I find unity over something completely silly to be more threatening than any amount of actual global warming. Dis-illumination for one hour, or any length of time, is inane and meaningless symbolism. Think about it. What are you going to achieve by turning off your lights? Nothing, save for giving credence to the dills that thought up this concept, and thereby proselytising their cause. Last year the 'Earth Hour' propagandists wanted us to "VOTE EARTH". I abstained and got on with life. My own symbolic act on the evening of 27 March will be to ensure I have at least a couple of lights burning brightly. I know I won't be alone!as did one dissenter:
Sure, turning your lights off for one hour won't save the world in a heartbeart - it's not designed to - but it may just make dinosaurs like snip think about how simple the solution to fixing our planet are! If every household, business, industry and institution abstained from using power for one hour a day, our energy useage would drop by 4 per cent per anum. If the whole world abided by cutting down on their energy useage by 4 per cent a year, man made climate change wouldn't be an issue! If snip can't be bothered to have a go, I guess we're all doomed...As I said - heifer dust.
***
Monday, March 22, 2010
A list of right-thinking, freedom-loving Democrats
If only their Democrat colleagues shared their common sense...
These 34 pragmatists voted against Obama's Health care bill today. May God bless them.
UPDATE
From Matt Patterson in American Thinker
There's always November, Sarah.
***
These 34 pragmatists voted against Obama's Health care bill today. May God bless them.
UPDATE
From Matt Patterson in American Thinker
In November 2008, Americans elected a socialist as their president. In March 2010, they woke up stunned to find themselves living in a socialist country.and Mark Steyn:
Five years from now, just as in Canada and Europe two generations ago, we'll be getting used to announcements of defense cuts to prop up the unsustainable costs of big government at home. And, as the superpower retrenches, America's enemies will be quick to scent opportunity.and Sarah Palin (before the Senate passed the Obama Health care bill:
Longer wait times, fewer doctors, more bureaucracy, massive IRS expansion, explosive debt, the end of the Pax Americana, and global Armageddon. Must try to look on the bright side...
The implications of Obamacare will reach into every aspect of our lives, from the value of our paycheck, to the quality of our health care, to the opportunities that will be stripped from Americans as we’re shoved under the enormous burden of more government growth and control. We must stop this now. “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.
There's always November, Sarah.
***
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Oh, yeah - Tasmania
Sorry - nearly forgot about them, and was too buggered last night write anything up.
Ok, well, in Tasmania that have that contrivance of an electoral system called the single transferrable vote system of proportional representation, otherwise known as Hare-Clark. The ACT uses the same system of voting. I won't go into details except to say that under Hare-Clarke there are multi-seat constituencies (different parties represent the same electorate) and you must receive what they call a quota to be elected.
There are five electorates in Tasmania and there has been an across-the-board swing to the Liberals of 7.2 percent.
The ABC computer is predicting that the final outcome will be 10 Liberal, 10 Labor and 5 Greens.
As Will Hodgman, the leader of the Tasmanian Liberals, received the highest number of personal votes in the state, he seems in the best position to take the reins as the new Premier.
This is a parliament that will be 'hung' in every sense of the word, and there are going to be massive challenges in getting legislation passed down there.
There was a 12 percent swing away from the Labor party in Tasmania, and a 7.4 percent swing away from Labor in South Australia.
In South Australia, neither Mike Rann nor Isobel Redmond claimed victory last night. That surprised me, for unless there are electorates where the voting is much closer than the ABC computer avers, then I thought Rann had it in the bag. Obviously not.
There were huge swings to the Liberal Party in South Australia. The problem for the Liberals is that they occurred in very safe Labor seats which the Libs had no chance of winning. A similar thing occurred in the last state election in Victoria, if memory serves me.
Anyway, the consoling factor for the Liberals in SA is that the many once very safe Labor seats, will - come the next election - be very winnable for the Liberals.
***
Ok, well, in Tasmania that have that contrivance of an electoral system called the single transferrable vote system of proportional representation, otherwise known as Hare-Clark. The ACT uses the same system of voting. I won't go into details except to say that under Hare-Clarke there are multi-seat constituencies (different parties represent the same electorate) and you must receive what they call a quota to be elected.
There are five electorates in Tasmania and there has been an across-the-board swing to the Liberals of 7.2 percent.
The ABC computer is predicting that the final outcome will be 10 Liberal, 10 Labor and 5 Greens.
As Will Hodgman, the leader of the Tasmanian Liberals, received the highest number of personal votes in the state, he seems in the best position to take the reins as the new Premier.
This is a parliament that will be 'hung' in every sense of the word, and there are going to be massive challenges in getting legislation passed down there.
There was a 12 percent swing away from the Labor party in Tasmania, and a 7.4 percent swing away from Labor in South Australia.
In South Australia, neither Mike Rann nor Isobel Redmond claimed victory last night. That surprised me, for unless there are electorates where the voting is much closer than the ABC computer avers, then I thought Rann had it in the bag. Obviously not.
There were huge swings to the Liberal Party in South Australia. The problem for the Liberals is that they occurred in very safe Labor seats which the Libs had no chance of winning. A similar thing occurred in the last state election in Victoria, if memory serves me.
Anyway, the consoling factor for the Liberals in SA is that the many once very safe Labor seats, will - come the next election - be very winnable for the Liberals.
***
Friday, March 19, 2010
State elections this weekend
The voters of South Australia and Tasmania go to the polls tomorrow.
By any measure, if state elections are solely about state issues, then both incumbent Labor governments are in very serious trouble.
But, throw into the mix the diabolical mal-administration of the federal government, and the disproportionate arrogance and rhetorical spin of Kevin Rudd, and that should well and truly be enough to turf out the Labor goverments of South Australia and Tasmania.
My opinion of voters, however, is that they are far too forgving. Let's see if I am right come Sunday.
UPDATE
Tim Blair, in a very funny comment on his blog, describes South Australia as "an experimental free-range prison somewhere west of Horsham."
I've been to Adelaide just the once. The most interesting thing that happened to me there was when I was leaving the city after a short visit and the cab driver tried to leave me at the airport with my luggage still in his boot. I dined out on that one for months. Adelaide ... quite apt, really ... needs all the "aide" it can get.
UPDATE (8.35PM AEST)
I cannot see the Liberals gaining the 10 seats they need to take victory in SA.
UPDATE
Only in South Australia could you have electorates called Light, Bright and Wright.
UPDATE (8.58PM AEST)
My prediction is that the Labor Party has hung on in SA.
***
By any measure, if state elections are solely about state issues, then both incumbent Labor governments are in very serious trouble.
But, throw into the mix the diabolical mal-administration of the federal government, and the disproportionate arrogance and rhetorical spin of Kevin Rudd, and that should well and truly be enough to turf out the Labor goverments of South Australia and Tasmania.
My opinion of voters, however, is that they are far too forgving. Let's see if I am right come Sunday.
UPDATE
Tim Blair, in a very funny comment on his blog, describes South Australia as "an experimental free-range prison somewhere west of Horsham."
I've been to Adelaide just the once. The most interesting thing that happened to me there was when I was leaving the city after a short visit and the cab driver tried to leave me at the airport with my luggage still in his boot. I dined out on that one for months. Adelaide ... quite apt, really ... needs all the "aide" it can get.
UPDATE (8.35PM AEST)
I cannot see the Liberals gaining the 10 seats they need to take victory in SA.
UPDATE
Only in South Australia could you have electorates called Light, Bright and Wright.
UPDATE (8.58PM AEST)
My prediction is that the Labor Party has hung on in SA.
***
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Colleagues tell Obama to ditch Aussie trip
US PRESIDENT Barack Obama is under pressure from colleagues in his own party to ditch the revised trip to Australia, Indonesia and Guam because they fear it will torpedo their landmark healthcare bill.
Of course the trip should be canned. It is unnecessary, and represents pointless symbolism on the part of two men who have badly, recklessly and irrefutably let down those who voted them in.
"Be not deceived with the first appearance of things, for show is not substance."
Quite so.
***
Thursday, March 11, 2010
I have returned
Have just spent three lovely days in Melbourne.
I was due to fly from Canberra to Melbourne on TT515 on Sunday 7 March, scheduled to depart CBR at 1450. Before I left home I checked the flight departures board on Canberra Aiport's webiste for an update. The board stated 'SCHD 1450 EST 1920'. I did a double-take. Surely that can't be right, I thought. After ringing Tiger Airways' call centre, and checking with the Melbourne Airport arrivals board, I soon found out that it certianly was right.
Well, this five hour delay didn't suit me at all. If I wanted to get to Melbourne at eight-thirty on a Sunday night I would have booked an appropriate flight. So, I got on to Qantas' website and found a flight leaving CBR at 1710 and booked myself on that.
Afterwards, I attempted to change the status of my booking on Tiger's website. But the message I received back was 'flight cannot be altered as the aircraft has already departed'. Wtf? It was noon - my flight wasn't scheduled to leave for another two hours!
I finally gave up on Tiger and had my first 'no show' in fifteen years of air travel.
The Qantas flight to Melbourne departed right on time. The flight was IMC (aviation-speak meaning the flight was in cloud) for the entire trip, meaning the seatbelt sign was on the whole way, and it was too dangerous to have trolley service.
We must have had a pretty strong tailwind as the flight down to Melbounre took only 39 minutes. We really seemed to be hoofing it. The captain told us that air traffic control said there was a bit of traffic around Melbounre and that 'we may have to hold.' We didn't hold, let me tell you.
QF819 touched down on runway 27 at precisely ten past six - ten minutes ahead of schedule.
We were literally three metres from the gate when the captain came on (the captain came on several times during this short flight, so we were getting used to his calming voice), to inform us that there was a storm warning current at Melbounre Airport and that in such cases all ground crew must go indoors, and aerobridges cannot be operated.
As a result, we had to remain seated, still under the seatbelt sign illuminated regulations, meaning that if you needed to go to the loo, as one of the flight attendents said 'just press your call button and one of the crew will escort you to the toilet'. That caused a few chuckles.
The storm seemed to last forever. The airport was closed. The trolley service we missed out on in the air, took place whilst we were on the ground, waiting for the storm to pass. Qantas domestic trolley service - well, the food, anyway, is nothing - repeat, nothing, to write home about. This is where I miss Ansett with a passion - their in-flight meals were in a different league.
Finally at 7.15 we inched forward to the gate, and disembarked. Amazingly, I didn't hear anyone grumble about the delay. I'm sure this wouldn't have been the case if it had been Tiger.
Oh, and the time I ultimately got to the city? 8.30, Sunday night. I do tend to lose, sometimes.
QF819
Aircraft: Boeing 737-400
Canberra - Melbourne
Total flying time: 40 minutes
Total time on the ground in Melbounre: 65 minutes
Pilot in Command: Captain David Holden
***
I was due to fly from Canberra to Melbourne on TT515 on Sunday 7 March, scheduled to depart CBR at 1450. Before I left home I checked the flight departures board on Canberra Aiport's webiste for an update. The board stated 'SCHD 1450 EST 1920'. I did a double-take. Surely that can't be right, I thought. After ringing Tiger Airways' call centre, and checking with the Melbourne Airport arrivals board, I soon found out that it certianly was right.
Well, this five hour delay didn't suit me at all. If I wanted to get to Melbourne at eight-thirty on a Sunday night I would have booked an appropriate flight. So, I got on to Qantas' website and found a flight leaving CBR at 1710 and booked myself on that.
Afterwards, I attempted to change the status of my booking on Tiger's website. But the message I received back was 'flight cannot be altered as the aircraft has already departed'. Wtf? It was noon - my flight wasn't scheduled to leave for another two hours!
I finally gave up on Tiger and had my first 'no show' in fifteen years of air travel.
The Qantas flight to Melbourne departed right on time. The flight was IMC (aviation-speak meaning the flight was in cloud) for the entire trip, meaning the seatbelt sign was on the whole way, and it was too dangerous to have trolley service.
We must have had a pretty strong tailwind as the flight down to Melbounre took only 39 minutes. We really seemed to be hoofing it. The captain told us that air traffic control said there was a bit of traffic around Melbounre and that 'we may have to hold.' We didn't hold, let me tell you.
QF819 touched down on runway 27 at precisely ten past six - ten minutes ahead of schedule.
We were literally three metres from the gate when the captain came on (the captain came on several times during this short flight, so we were getting used to his calming voice), to inform us that there was a storm warning current at Melbounre Airport and that in such cases all ground crew must go indoors, and aerobridges cannot be operated.
As a result, we had to remain seated, still under the seatbelt sign illuminated regulations, meaning that if you needed to go to the loo, as one of the flight attendents said 'just press your call button and one of the crew will escort you to the toilet'. That caused a few chuckles.
The storm seemed to last forever. The airport was closed. The trolley service we missed out on in the air, took place whilst we were on the ground, waiting for the storm to pass. Qantas domestic trolley service - well, the food, anyway, is nothing - repeat, nothing, to write home about. This is where I miss Ansett with a passion - their in-flight meals were in a different league.
Finally at 7.15 we inched forward to the gate, and disembarked. Amazingly, I didn't hear anyone grumble about the delay. I'm sure this wouldn't have been the case if it had been Tiger.
Oh, and the time I ultimately got to the city? 8.30, Sunday night. I do tend to lose, sometimes.
QF819
Aircraft: Boeing 737-400
Canberra - Melbourne
Total flying time: 40 minutes
Total time on the ground in Melbounre: 65 minutes
Pilot in Command: Captain David Holden
***
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Interesting line-up at Singo's Melbourne station
I was quite excited to hear on A Current Affiar tonight that Steve Vizard has/is about to sign with the new John Singleton-owned AM radio station in Melbourne. Dubbed '3GB' (cute), it already boasts Andrew Bolt, Steve Price, Sam Newman and Jason Akermanis in its stable. Adding Vizard to the mix (scuse pun) will make this Mexican experiment by Singleton definitely one to keep one's ear on.
I think Steve Vizard, in spite of his past blunders, is one of the most talented Australians ever to work in any form of media in this country. I am really delighted for him that he looks like finding his feet again doing what he is brilliant at - making the audience feel good.
***
I think Steve Vizard, in spite of his past blunders, is one of the most talented Australians ever to work in any form of media in this country. I am really delighted for him that he looks like finding his feet again doing what he is brilliant at - making the audience feel good.
***
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Another birthday
He turns 79 today. He will go down as someone who almost single-handedly changed the course of history; but his accomplishments, ironically, are given more acclaim abroad than in his homeland. Amazing chap.
***
***
Monday, March 1, 2010
Happy Birthday Harry
Harry Belafonte is 83 today. Wonderful singer. In tribute, here he is NOT performing the Banana Boat Song..
Boy, did that bring back memories.
***
Boy, did that bring back memories.
***
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