I found this today via Paul & Carls site.
"The sad reality is that Australian schools, especially those controlled by government, have suffered a range of educational fads that have led to a politically correct and dumbed-down education system.
In relation to teaching civics and citizenship, for example, a 1998 federally funded survey showed that 60 per cent of parents expressed "concern that teachers are either not well-enough trained or professional enough to teach this program [civics] without bias".
The flaws in Australia's outcomes-based approach to curriculum are manifold. As a result of adopting such fads as whole language, where students are taught to "look and guess" and to work out the meaning of words from their context, generations of students, especially boys, are placed at risk.
As a result of fuzzy maths, where primary students are allowed to use calculators and where basic algorithms such as long division are no longer taught, many students are unable to do mental arithmetic or to recite their times tables. The very skills most needed if students are to master higher order thinking.
Teaching history has also suffered. As a result of the culture wars, not only is the focus on teaching politically correct values and beliefs, especially in areas such as multiculturalism, the environment, feminism and the class war, but many students leave school with a fragmented and superficial knowledge of the past.
Paul put it like this....
"but whi do I nede to lern 2 spell wen I no al abowt the dreemtime and the inherent evil in the dominant paradime?"
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Hows this for stupid!!
I stumbled across this pile of tripe today.
"PROTEST TACTICS FOR ANZAC DAY
The Left, the Anti-war movement, socialists and all progressive minded individuals should use ANZAC day as a next step toward stopping the spread of right-wing propaganda and kill this retch of public holiday once and for all!
ANZAC day must be considered in the same spirit as INVASION day. It is a stain on our society. It is a sinister, destructive and irrelevant excuse for weak minded individuals to rally around their imperialist flag, remember how they have committed MURDER for queen and country and protected a corrupt and decrepit capitalist regime to enable more workers to be exploited, killed and abused.
In order to FIGHT and SHUT DOWN the cultural nuisance that is ANZAC Day, we must develop a range of protest tactics which MUST be used to disrupt ANZAC day to the fullest extent possible!
FLAG BURNING:
Burn the Australian flag, the British flag and the US flag. Burn them anywhere in public. They are a symbol of the capitalist, pro-war, anti-worker corruption. Wherever you see an Australian flag, tear it down and set it alight.
DURING THE PARADE:
Throw PLENTY of marbles, golf balls, beeds, ball-bearings and batteries onto the streets during their “parade”. Make the bastards fall down! Stop their war machine and their “defence” of the indefensible!
etc, etc..."
Call in there & let them know what SANE people think of this crap.
I noticed that the gutless pieces of shit didn't bother turning up as planned. Worried that the old men might belt the shit out of you huh?
"PROTEST TACTICS FOR ANZAC DAY
The Left, the Anti-war movement, socialists and all progressive minded individuals should use ANZAC day as a next step toward stopping the spread of right-wing propaganda and kill this retch of public holiday once and for all!
ANZAC day must be considered in the same spirit as INVASION day. It is a stain on our society. It is a sinister, destructive and irrelevant excuse for weak minded individuals to rally around their imperialist flag, remember how they have committed MURDER for queen and country and protected a corrupt and decrepit capitalist regime to enable more workers to be exploited, killed and abused.
In order to FIGHT and SHUT DOWN the cultural nuisance that is ANZAC Day, we must develop a range of protest tactics which MUST be used to disrupt ANZAC day to the fullest extent possible!
FLAG BURNING:
Burn the Australian flag, the British flag and the US flag. Burn them anywhere in public. They are a symbol of the capitalist, pro-war, anti-worker corruption. Wherever you see an Australian flag, tear it down and set it alight.
DURING THE PARADE:
Throw PLENTY of marbles, golf balls, beeds, ball-bearings and batteries onto the streets during their “parade”. Make the bastards fall down! Stop their war machine and their “defence” of the indefensible!
etc, etc..."
Call in there & let them know what SANE people think of this crap.
I noticed that the gutless pieces of shit didn't bother turning up as planned. Worried that the old men might belt the shit out of you huh?
Thursday, April 22, 2004
So good I've posted the lot
This one from Piers Ackerman in todays Daily Telegraph was so good that I have reporoduced it in full here.
"Do we really want a work in progress
April 22, 2004
Before Mark Latham tries his hand at running the country he should follow Charlie Bell's example and flip a few burgers.
CHARLIE Bell, the new global head of McDonald's, and Mark Latham, the new federal Opposition Leader, were born in Sydney just four months apart.
The different directions they have taken since birth are telling.
Charlie Bell started working part-time at 15 at the Kingsford McDonald's and was the youngest store manager in Australia by age 19.
Mark Latham worked as a part-time glassie in a pub as he was helped through an economics degree at Sydney University by a group of his father's friends, a number of whom remain quite bitter about what they believe was his penchant for political betrayal.
By the time he was 26, Latham was embedded in local government as Liverpool City councillor.
Mr Bell, who did not attend university, was a vice president of McDonald's by the time he was 27 and on the board by 29.
By then he had worked for the company's European development arm in Germany and with joint-venture partners in Sweden, Norway, Holland and Belgium. He was McDonald's Australia managing director by the time he was 33.
By the time Mr Latham was 33 he was in Federal Parliament.
His experience consisted of working for a number of current and former Labor politicians. He had left Liverpool City Council, where he had been a councillor for seven years and mayor for three.
According to evidence given to Professor Maurice Daly's commission of inquiry into the ill-fated Oasis development by the former CEO of Liverpool Council, Brian Carr, one of the most experienced local government managers in NSW, "Latham's council borrowed heavily and used whatever cash reserves council had" to build a number of projects which needed to be resourced from the current account which caused the working capital to spiral downwards to a 15.4m DEFICIT" (the emphasis is Mr Carr's).
When he was 38, Mr Bell was appointed president of McDonald's Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa group. He was president of McDonald's Europe when he was 40 and appointed to the board and named president and CEO when he was 42.
Mr Latham speedily exited the looming Liverpool disaster and was parachuted into Werriwa, his mentor Gough Whitlam's former seat, just before his 33rd birthday.
He became Leader of the federal Opposition on December 2 last year when he was 42.
He has since declared that almost everything he said and wrote during the nearly 10 years he had already spent in Parliament cannot (my emphasis) be taken as a reflection of his views.
McDonald's corporate office could find no evidence yesterday that Mr Bell had refused to stand by anything he had said in the nearly 28 years since he has been working for the organisation.
No one could be found who would say he achieved his position through anything other than hard work, nor is there any evidence to suggest that he has ever talked about the rungs of opportunity.
He may have received a good grounding at Marist Brothers in Randwick but he doesn't dwell on his school years. He has been too busy.
As well as the responsible senior positions he has held with McDonald's, he has also been a member of Business Council of Australia, a member of the advisory board of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and chair of the Small Business Deregulation Task Force, as well as serving as a trustee of the Sydney Theatre Company and as a director of the Pact Theatre in Sydney.
There is nothing in the biographical data posted on Mr Latham's website to indicate that he has any interests outside politics.
From Monday, Mr Bell will head a global company with more than 30,000 restaurants in 118 countries.
After this year's election, Mr Latham hopes to head our country.
Mr Bell is credited with turning McDonald's around (with his predecessor Jim Cantalupo, who died suddenly on Monday).
Together they changed the company's marketing strategy, focussed on older consumers, improved customer service and introduced new menus which included salads.
Mr Latham cannot be credited with anything prior to his appointment as Opposition Leader as he his rethinking all his (sometimes contradictory) positions.
Mr Bell's corporate vision can be seen in the "I'm Lovin' It" slogan, the company's first global campaign.
Mr Latham's vision for Australia is being cobbled together from a series of old speeches written for other politicians.
Charlie Bell has worked to join an illustrious list of Australians heading significant global organisations.
People like Geoff Bible, who ran Phillip Morris, David Newby, at the Mars family company, Doug Daft, who has been at Coca Cola, Jac Nasser at Ford, and Rupert Murdoch, who runs News Corporation which controls The Daily Telegraph.
Charlie Bell has real runs on the board. Mark Latham has no runs on the board.
McDonald's has a lot riding on Mr Bell but it knows what to expect.
He was nominated by his predecessor as "absolutely qualified" to step into the top job.
Mr Latham scrabbled for his position, winning by one vote.
Mr Bell is a former hamburger flipper made good. Mr Latham heads a party which says hamburger flippers aren't in real jobs.
I think the nation, and particularly young Australians, could do with more Charlie Bells as role models and fewer Mark Lathams."
"Do we really want a work in progress
April 22, 2004
Before Mark Latham tries his hand at running the country he should follow Charlie Bell's example and flip a few burgers.
CHARLIE Bell, the new global head of McDonald's, and Mark Latham, the new federal Opposition Leader, were born in Sydney just four months apart.
The different directions they have taken since birth are telling.
Charlie Bell started working part-time at 15 at the Kingsford McDonald's and was the youngest store manager in Australia by age 19.
Mark Latham worked as a part-time glassie in a pub as he was helped through an economics degree at Sydney University by a group of his father's friends, a number of whom remain quite bitter about what they believe was his penchant for political betrayal.
By the time he was 26, Latham was embedded in local government as Liverpool City councillor.
Mr Bell, who did not attend university, was a vice president of McDonald's by the time he was 27 and on the board by 29.
By then he had worked for the company's European development arm in Germany and with joint-venture partners in Sweden, Norway, Holland and Belgium. He was McDonald's Australia managing director by the time he was 33.
By the time Mr Latham was 33 he was in Federal Parliament.
His experience consisted of working for a number of current and former Labor politicians. He had left Liverpool City Council, where he had been a councillor for seven years and mayor for three.
According to evidence given to Professor Maurice Daly's commission of inquiry into the ill-fated Oasis development by the former CEO of Liverpool Council, Brian Carr, one of the most experienced local government managers in NSW, "Latham's council borrowed heavily and used whatever cash reserves council had" to build a number of projects which needed to be resourced from the current account which caused the working capital to spiral downwards to a 15.4m DEFICIT" (the emphasis is Mr Carr's).
When he was 38, Mr Bell was appointed president of McDonald's Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa group. He was president of McDonald's Europe when he was 40 and appointed to the board and named president and CEO when he was 42.
Mr Latham speedily exited the looming Liverpool disaster and was parachuted into Werriwa, his mentor Gough Whitlam's former seat, just before his 33rd birthday.
He became Leader of the federal Opposition on December 2 last year when he was 42.
He has since declared that almost everything he said and wrote during the nearly 10 years he had already spent in Parliament cannot (my emphasis) be taken as a reflection of his views.
McDonald's corporate office could find no evidence yesterday that Mr Bell had refused to stand by anything he had said in the nearly 28 years since he has been working for the organisation.
No one could be found who would say he achieved his position through anything other than hard work, nor is there any evidence to suggest that he has ever talked about the rungs of opportunity.
He may have received a good grounding at Marist Brothers in Randwick but he doesn't dwell on his school years. He has been too busy.
As well as the responsible senior positions he has held with McDonald's, he has also been a member of Business Council of Australia, a member of the advisory board of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and chair of the Small Business Deregulation Task Force, as well as serving as a trustee of the Sydney Theatre Company and as a director of the Pact Theatre in Sydney.
There is nothing in the biographical data posted on Mr Latham's website to indicate that he has any interests outside politics.
From Monday, Mr Bell will head a global company with more than 30,000 restaurants in 118 countries.
After this year's election, Mr Latham hopes to head our country.
Mr Bell is credited with turning McDonald's around (with his predecessor Jim Cantalupo, who died suddenly on Monday).
Together they changed the company's marketing strategy, focussed on older consumers, improved customer service and introduced new menus which included salads.
Mr Latham cannot be credited with anything prior to his appointment as Opposition Leader as he his rethinking all his (sometimes contradictory) positions.
Mr Bell's corporate vision can be seen in the "I'm Lovin' It" slogan, the company's first global campaign.
Mr Latham's vision for Australia is being cobbled together from a series of old speeches written for other politicians.
Charlie Bell has worked to join an illustrious list of Australians heading significant global organisations.
People like Geoff Bible, who ran Phillip Morris, David Newby, at the Mars family company, Doug Daft, who has been at Coca Cola, Jac Nasser at Ford, and Rupert Murdoch, who runs News Corporation which controls The Daily Telegraph.
Charlie Bell has real runs on the board. Mark Latham has no runs on the board.
McDonald's has a lot riding on Mr Bell but it knows what to expect.
He was nominated by his predecessor as "absolutely qualified" to step into the top job.
Mr Latham scrabbled for his position, winning by one vote.
Mr Bell is a former hamburger flipper made good. Mr Latham heads a party which says hamburger flippers aren't in real jobs.
I think the nation, and particularly young Australians, could do with more Charlie Bells as role models and fewer Mark Lathams."
Friday, April 16, 2004
The Joy Of Knitting
Here is something from a new blog I found today that sums up the situation beautifully.
"Anti Americanism
About a year ago I happened to talk with an acquaintance of mine, a teacher of Belles Lettres, and she expressed her distaste for American culture. She said it lacked depth. I replied that I had read several works by Americans and that I didn't find them superficial. At which she insisted, and I asked her if she had ever actually read anything written by an American, to which she replied "Not really". "Not really what? Almost, but not quite, or never?" I went on, feeling terribly nasty indeed, and stated quoting some well known authors. Henry David Thoreau? Herman Melville? Edgar Allan Poe? Henry James? Edith Wharton? "Not really, no." Not even oft quoted poets? Walt Whitman? Emily Dickinson? "Ehm, no."
Then she she said solemnly, "I don't need to know American culture to understand that it's worthless."
This, in a nutshell, is the essence of European anti-americanism. A mixture of ignorance, arrogance, and prejudice. I always thought that to judge a culture you need to know it, at least a bit. But no, why waste time when superciliousness can do your work for you?
I quote this episode because it illustrates a feeling quite common over here. Americans are superficial. They lack depth. They lack complexity. And so, no matter what they do, they're always wrong. Better sit gracefully on a fence than actually do something, it's so vulgar."
I don't love or hate America any more than anyone else but this Anti-American bullshit attitude that is so common now really shits me. Next time some dickhead starts sprouting their crap, do what this person did and take them to task. Ask them to justify their stance without using cliche's. I do this regularly and it is surprising how few people have any reasoning that is based on fact or research. They tend to just regurgitate the same old leftist crap without any of their own thought at all.
It seems to be that anti-Americanism has become a fashion accessory.
"Anti Americanism
About a year ago I happened to talk with an acquaintance of mine, a teacher of Belles Lettres, and she expressed her distaste for American culture. She said it lacked depth. I replied that I had read several works by Americans and that I didn't find them superficial. At which she insisted, and I asked her if she had ever actually read anything written by an American, to which she replied "Not really". "Not really what? Almost, but not quite, or never?" I went on, feeling terribly nasty indeed, and stated quoting some well known authors. Henry David Thoreau? Herman Melville? Edgar Allan Poe? Henry James? Edith Wharton? "Not really, no." Not even oft quoted poets? Walt Whitman? Emily Dickinson? "Ehm, no."
Then she she said solemnly, "I don't need to know American culture to understand that it's worthless."
This, in a nutshell, is the essence of European anti-americanism. A mixture of ignorance, arrogance, and prejudice. I always thought that to judge a culture you need to know it, at least a bit. But no, why waste time when superciliousness can do your work for you?
I quote this episode because it illustrates a feeling quite common over here. Americans are superficial. They lack depth. They lack complexity. And so, no matter what they do, they're always wrong. Better sit gracefully on a fence than actually do something, it's so vulgar."
I don't love or hate America any more than anyone else but this Anti-American bullshit attitude that is so common now really shits me. Next time some dickhead starts sprouting their crap, do what this person did and take them to task. Ask them to justify their stance without using cliche's. I do this regularly and it is surprising how few people have any reasoning that is based on fact or research. They tend to just regurgitate the same old leftist crap without any of their own thought at all.
It seems to be that anti-Americanism has become a fashion accessory.
Sounds Like Bullshit To Me
I read this in today's Silly Moaning Herald
"An Australian aid worker taken hostage in the Iraqi flashpoint town of Fallujah said her capture was terrifying, and she claimed she had been placed in great danger because of "inflammatory" comments by Prime Minister John Howard.
Donna Mulhearn, from Maitland in NSW, was captured by local Mujahadeen fighters as she and three other foreign aid workers tried to leave the embattled town on Wednesday afternoon. They had been distributing humanitarian aid to civilians....
But she claimed "inflammatory" comments by Mr Howard, which were given wide airplay on Iraqi and Arab television in the preceding days, had placed her in danger.
"I realised quickly that my prime minister, John Howard, had placed me in great danger by making inflammatory comments about the war just a few days ago," she said....
Ms Mulhearn said she felt very lucky and grateful, saying the leader of her captors had a "kind face"."
Talk about a load of shit! I would be willing to bet my left one that this "kidnapping" never actually took place and this is just another attempt by this ALP candidate to promote her communist cause.
I loved the remark about the "kind face". You have a kind face too Ms Mulhearn. The kind of face I'd love to slap.
Idiot.
"An Australian aid worker taken hostage in the Iraqi flashpoint town of Fallujah said her capture was terrifying, and she claimed she had been placed in great danger because of "inflammatory" comments by Prime Minister John Howard.
Donna Mulhearn, from Maitland in NSW, was captured by local Mujahadeen fighters as she and three other foreign aid workers tried to leave the embattled town on Wednesday afternoon. They had been distributing humanitarian aid to civilians....
But she claimed "inflammatory" comments by Mr Howard, which were given wide airplay on Iraqi and Arab television in the preceding days, had placed her in danger.
"I realised quickly that my prime minister, John Howard, had placed me in great danger by making inflammatory comments about the war just a few days ago," she said....
Ms Mulhearn said she felt very lucky and grateful, saying the leader of her captors had a "kind face"."
Talk about a load of shit! I would be willing to bet my left one that this "kidnapping" never actually took place and this is just another attempt by this ALP candidate to promote her communist cause.
I loved the remark about the "kind face". You have a kind face too Ms Mulhearn. The kind of face I'd love to slap.
Idiot.
Thursday, April 15, 2004
The Similarities of Vietnam and Iraq
"Some politicians (especially ones with brobdingnagian heads) have been comparing the war in Iraq to the war in Vietnam, and, since politicians are smart, this must be taken seriously. Here are some of the similarities I have identified:
* Both Vietnam and Iraq have an 'i' in them.
* Both are foreign countries.
* Both wars were opposed by stupid, smelly hippies.
* Both wars were supported and then opposed by John Kerry.
Those are some striking similarities. So, if the war is like Vietnam, what did we learn from Vietnam? Well, what we learned from Vietnam is that, if you lose a war like Vietnam, forever after people will question future wars by saying they are like Vietnam. Think about how things would be different if we decisively won Vietnam; then, someone not liking a war would say, "We're going to get bogged down in this war like... well... no other war in American history." And no one would listen to that person.
Moral: Win your g'damn wars."
Found at IMAO
* Both Vietnam and Iraq have an 'i' in them.
* Both are foreign countries.
* Both wars were opposed by stupid, smelly hippies.
* Both wars were supported and then opposed by John Kerry.
Those are some striking similarities. So, if the war is like Vietnam, what did we learn from Vietnam? Well, what we learned from Vietnam is that, if you lose a war like Vietnam, forever after people will question future wars by saying they are like Vietnam. Think about how things would be different if we decisively won Vietnam; then, someone not liking a war would say, "We're going to get bogged down in this war like... well... no other war in American history." And no one would listen to that person.
Moral: Win your g'damn wars."
Found at IMAO
Never a truer word said...
This from the Knacker Lacker...
"Youth of Australia, Labor's policy is bling-bling" said Mr Latham, "Bling-bling for everyone"...
"Bling-bling is the best policy I've had so-far"
Ya don't need a long neck to be a goose!!!
"Youth of Australia, Labor's policy is bling-bling" said Mr Latham, "Bling-bling for everyone"...
"Bling-bling is the best policy I've had so-far"
Ya don't need a long neck to be a goose!!!
Break Up Iraq Now
This is an interesting viewpoint.
"New York Post- July 10, 2003 -- PRESIDENT Bush consistently has done the right thing by ignoring the nay- sayers before, during and after Operation Iraqi Freedom. Yet he's in danger of making the same mistake his father did at the end of Desert Storm - doing only half the job.
Just as the failure to press on to Baghdad in 1991 left Iraq and the entire region with cancerous problems, today's failure to recognize the artificial, unjust nature of the Iraqi state promises enduring discontent.
Will American troops need to return to Iraq a third time, in another decade?
Speaking of Iraq as a single, integrated country is a form of lying. Its borders were drawn by grasping European diplomats almost a century ago, with no regard for the wishes - or rivalries - of the local populations.
Today, the Iraq we're trying to herd back together consists of three distinct nations caged under a single, bloodstained flag. Our problems are with only one of those nations, the Sunni Arab minority west and north of Baghdad."
Read the rest here.
"New York Post- July 10, 2003 -- PRESIDENT Bush consistently has done the right thing by ignoring the nay- sayers before, during and after Operation Iraqi Freedom. Yet he's in danger of making the same mistake his father did at the end of Desert Storm - doing only half the job.
Just as the failure to press on to Baghdad in 1991 left Iraq and the entire region with cancerous problems, today's failure to recognize the artificial, unjust nature of the Iraqi state promises enduring discontent.
Will American troops need to return to Iraq a third time, in another decade?
Speaking of Iraq as a single, integrated country is a form of lying. Its borders were drawn by grasping European diplomats almost a century ago, with no regard for the wishes - or rivalries - of the local populations.
Today, the Iraq we're trying to herd back together consists of three distinct nations caged under a single, bloodstained flag. Our problems are with only one of those nations, the Sunni Arab minority west and north of Baghdad."
Read the rest here.
Well Put!
This from The Bulletin
"Recent events in New Vietnam (formerly known as Iraq) have thrilled those whom for whatever perverse reasons wish to see liberation fail. We're currently at a strange warp in history where the blood-guzzling, bomb-launching, baby-eating pro-war Right craves peace, while the cuddly, thoughtful, useless Left seizes delightedly on tales of mutilation and mayhem to boost their case that the invasion should never have taken place. Reminder to the cuddly: there was no peace in Iraq before the invasion. There was tyranny. As The Guardian's David Aaronovitch wrote last week, after listing various failings of the West in dealing with Iraq: "Of all the things we have done, the invasion may be bloody appalling, but it is the least bloody appalling thing of all. And the only thing that has offered hope." Meanwhile, the extreme Left's only hope is for more deaths. "
"Recent events in New Vietnam (formerly known as Iraq) have thrilled those whom for whatever perverse reasons wish to see liberation fail. We're currently at a strange warp in history where the blood-guzzling, bomb-launching, baby-eating pro-war Right craves peace, while the cuddly, thoughtful, useless Left seizes delightedly on tales of mutilation and mayhem to boost their case that the invasion should never have taken place. Reminder to the cuddly: there was no peace in Iraq before the invasion. There was tyranny. As The Guardian's David Aaronovitch wrote last week, after listing various failings of the West in dealing with Iraq: "Of all the things we have done, the invasion may be bloody appalling, but it is the least bloody appalling thing of all. And the only thing that has offered hope." Meanwhile, the extreme Left's only hope is for more deaths. "
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Cricket Explained
I love this.............
"The Rules of Cricket as Explained to a foreign visitor
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in, goes out, and when he's out, he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out.
Sometimes you get men still in and not out. When both sides have been in and out including the not-outs, that's the end of the game."
From the UberSportingPundit
"The Rules of Cricket as Explained to a foreign visitor
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in, goes out, and when he's out, he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out.
Sometimes you get men still in and not out. When both sides have been in and out including the not-outs, that's the end of the game."
From the UberSportingPundit
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
The rot has begun
This from An Aussie View about poor Mr Lathams falling fortunes.
"I tell you, if this bloke was a stock on the sharemarket a month ago, I'd say his price to earnings ratio was ridiculously high... and it still is. Sooner or later, people will realise that Maddog is a bigger idiot than Whitlam. And to give Whitlam the benefit of the doubt, his idiocy was bred in the hippie era of the sixties and seventies. The problem for such radical socialists today, is there aren't as many born losers ready to support them as there were back then (anyone who thinks the Greens and Democrats are legitimate parties just left-of-centre the exceptions)."
"I tell you, if this bloke was a stock on the sharemarket a month ago, I'd say his price to earnings ratio was ridiculously high... and it still is. Sooner or later, people will realise that Maddog is a bigger idiot than Whitlam. And to give Whitlam the benefit of the doubt, his idiocy was bred in the hippie era of the sixties and seventies. The problem for such radical socialists today, is there aren't as many born losers ready to support them as there were back then (anyone who thinks the Greens and Democrats are legitimate parties just left-of-centre the exceptions)."
The Real Australia
I got this via email. I don't know who the original author is, but if someone knows, I'll happily add the credit.
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks he's a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The shivering grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
The Modern Australian Version:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and storing supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks he's a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.
The shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others less fortunate like him are cold and starving.
The ABC and Channel 9 show up to provide live coverage of the shivering grasshopper, with cuts to a video of the ant in his comfortable warm home with a table filled with food.
Australians are stunned that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so while others have plenty.
The Democrats, the Greens and the Coalition Against Poverty demonstrate in front of the ant's house.
The ABC, interrupting an Aboriginal cultural festival special from North Queensland with breaking news, broadcasts them singing "We Shall Overcome."
Bob Brown rants in an interview with Jana Wendt that the ant has gotten rich off the backs of grasshoppers, and calls for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his "fair share."
In response to polls, the Liberal Government drafts the Economic Equity and Grasshopper Anti-Discrimination Act, retroactive to the beginning of the summer. And the ALP quickly passes it through the Senate.
The ant's taxes are reassessed and he is also fined for failing to hire grasshoppers as helpers.
Without enough money to pay both the fine and his newly imposed retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.
The ant moves to Asia, and starts a successful agribiz company.
The TV stations later show the now fat grasshopper finishing up the last of the ant's food though Spring is still months away.
While the government owned house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he hadn't maintained it.
Inadequate government funding is blamed, Kim Beasley is then appointed to head a commission of enquiry that will cost $10,000,000. plus Round the World Trips to get an overview of similar situations in other countries!
The grasshopper is soon dead of a drug overdose, the Sydney Morning Herald blames it on the obvious failure of government to address the root causes of despair arising from social inequity.
The abandoned house is taken over by a gang of immigrant spiders, (highly praised by the government for enriching Australia's multicultural diversity), who promptly terrorize the community.
Who says we don't live in a democracy?
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks he's a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The shivering grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
The Modern Australian Version:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and storing supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks he's a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.
The shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others less fortunate like him are cold and starving.
The ABC and Channel 9 show up to provide live coverage of the shivering grasshopper, with cuts to a video of the ant in his comfortable warm home with a table filled with food.
Australians are stunned that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so while others have plenty.
The Democrats, the Greens and the Coalition Against Poverty demonstrate in front of the ant's house.
The ABC, interrupting an Aboriginal cultural festival special from North Queensland with breaking news, broadcasts them singing "We Shall Overcome."
Bob Brown rants in an interview with Jana Wendt that the ant has gotten rich off the backs of grasshoppers, and calls for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his "fair share."
In response to polls, the Liberal Government drafts the Economic Equity and Grasshopper Anti-Discrimination Act, retroactive to the beginning of the summer. And the ALP quickly passes it through the Senate.
The ant's taxes are reassessed and he is also fined for failing to hire grasshoppers as helpers.
Without enough money to pay both the fine and his newly imposed retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.
The ant moves to Asia, and starts a successful agribiz company.
The TV stations later show the now fat grasshopper finishing up the last of the ant's food though Spring is still months away.
While the government owned house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he hadn't maintained it.
Inadequate government funding is blamed, Kim Beasley is then appointed to head a commission of enquiry that will cost $10,000,000. plus Round the World Trips to get an overview of similar situations in other countries!
The grasshopper is soon dead of a drug overdose, the Sydney Morning Herald blames it on the obvious failure of government to address the root causes of despair arising from social inequity.
The abandoned house is taken over by a gang of immigrant spiders, (highly praised by the government for enriching Australia's multicultural diversity), who promptly terrorize the community.
Who says we don't live in a democracy?
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Go the mighty Eels!!
Two in a row. WhooooHoooo!!!!!!!
It still wasn't pretty but I'll take them any way I can get 'em.
Well done boys, keep improving.
It still wasn't pretty but I'll take them any way I can get 'em.
Well done boys, keep improving.
Sunday, March 21, 2004
Well, maybe one!!
The MIGHTY Parramatta Eels won a hard fought victory over the Broncos today. It was a better performance than last week but was still a mistake-athon.
Guys, a little advice if I may.
* Stop dropping the ball.
* Stop missing tackles.
* Stop giving away silly penalties.
Please!!!!!!!!!!
I still luv youse all. Well done.
Guys, a little advice if I may.
* Stop dropping the ball.
* Stop missing tackles.
* Stop giving away silly penalties.
Please!!!!!!!!!!
I still luv youse all. Well done.
No posts this week
Hi folks.
There will be no rants this week as I am taking the family for a well earned holiday. See ya when we get back next week.
Luv & kisses, Gibbo.
There will be no rants this week as I am taking the family for a well earned holiday. See ya when we get back next week.
Luv & kisses, Gibbo.
Friday, March 12, 2004
I have no hair!
I had the wonderful experience of having my head shaved today as part of the Worlds Greatest Shave. One of my work colleagues organised a fantastic turn out with a great deal of money being raised. The highlight was when we managed to raise $1000 so one of our academics would shave off his 15 year old beard. A very gracious act indeed.
I will do my best to get some pictures up here asap.
I will do my best to get some pictures up here asap.
Friday, March 05, 2004
I've always suspected this.
From the folks at Bizarre Science we get...
"The meaning of 100%
A strictly mathematical viewpoint.
.... it goes like this:
What Makes 100% ?
What does it mean to give MORE than 100% ?
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100% ?
We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%.
How about achieving 103% ?
What makes up 100% in life?
Well, here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these
questions:
If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Then: H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K is
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
and K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E is
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But, A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E is
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
And,
B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T is
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%
AND, look how far ass-kissing will take you.
A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G is
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%
So, one can then conclude with mathematical certainty that
...while Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, ....and Attitude will get you there, ....Bullshit and Ass-kissing will put you over the top."
"The meaning of 100%
A strictly mathematical viewpoint.
.... it goes like this:
What Makes 100% ?
What does it mean to give MORE than 100% ?
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100% ?
We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%.
How about achieving 103% ?
What makes up 100% in life?
Well, here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these
questions:
If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Then: H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K is
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
and K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E is
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But, A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E is
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
And,
B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T is
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%
AND, look how far ass-kissing will take you.
A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G is
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%
So, one can then conclude with mathematical certainty that
...while Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, ....and Attitude will get you there, ....Bullshit and Ass-kissing will put you over the top."
The REAL reason behind the Redfern Riots
I got this the other day from my mate Big Al, the King of Vanuatu.
"TJ was going to be SOUTHS great leap forward and the Block reacted more to the previous days loss to St George. And a rumour that Skull and Craig Young were on the attack. The real victim was the Bike with out brakes that had over the years carried surviving trialists down Surrey Hills and on to Rugby League History with unfortunately - Manly."
This explains a lot Al. Thanks.
"TJ was going to be SOUTHS great leap forward and the Block reacted more to the previous days loss to St George. And a rumour that Skull and Craig Young were on the attack. The real victim was the Bike with out brakes that had over the years carried surviving trialists down Surrey Hills and on to Rugby League History with unfortunately - Manly."
This explains a lot Al. Thanks.
Thursday, March 04, 2004
Macarthur Health Services part 4456956
Ken Parish over at Troppo Armadillo has a great piece on this ongoing saga.
You can find it here.
Tell 'em Gibbo sent you.
You can find it here.
Tell 'em Gibbo sent you.
Dr Mike Approaches Uppercut Status
After my rant the other day regarding Dr Mike Freelanders' comments in this weeks "Gastric Reporter", I was soundly taken to task by my wife. She said I was being unfair to a really nice man who was probably being misquoted by evil newspaper people. There was simply no way that this wonderful man would really seek to further politicise this issue by re-directing his anger to the state opposition. After a "robust" discussion I was willing to admit that I had probably over reacted. We have had cause to use Dr Mikes services a few times over the years and have found him to be an absolute angel. A genuine caring man, no question. I toddled off to dinner feeling somewhat chastened by my apparent hot-headedness. When we returned, this weeks Macarthur Chronical was in the driveway. It had various articles regarding the Macarthur "health crisis" which I will comment on shortly but in the letters to the editor I found this (reproduced in full).
"Don't forget Libs' record
I am writing to you because I am concerned about the editorial which fails to understand what problems the politicisation of our health system has caused.
I am really proud of our pediatric unit, the resources we have accrued over the years and the care given. Nevertheless we have been subjected to ill-informed and inappropriate criticism and have not been able to respond.
There have been dramatic improvements in services accross-theboard over the last few years in Macarthur health, even before this recent publicity.
Of course informed criticism is welcome, but much of the criticism has been ill-informed, personal and destructive.
The comments of the so-called whistleblowers have been accepted at face value without any objectivity. John Brogden has peoples distress for political gain. You should remember that the Liberal Partys' record in providing services to south western Sydney, including health services, transport services and Department of Community Services, is less than exemplary.
Mike Freelander
Pediatrician, Camden and Campbelltown."
AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that I've had a quick vomit, let me address your letter Dr Mike.
The thing that really shits me about all of this is your absolute silence on any of these very important issues up until now when your only criticism is of the opposition for calling for an enquiry. Thats the kicker isn't it Mike. Someone has dared to question YOUR judgement regarding the death of a young baby and now you've got the shits and its' all John Brogdens fault.
A quick timeline.
Bob Carr runs our areas' health system into the ground over successive years and you say nothing.
Bob Carr opens a birthing unit that by your own admission is not needed, funded properly or resourced properly. Nothing more than a pre-election stunt and you say nothing.
Two bogus whistleblowers spew their acidic crap on the world and you say nothing, for months!
John Brogden calls for an inquiry and off we go. John's a bastard and its all his fault.
Give me a break.
As I said in my earlier rant, this whole issue could have been stopped in its' tracks months ago if you or your colleagues had simply spoken up when it all began.
Dr Mike, if you want to be a doctor then be a doctor. If you want to be a politician then have the balls to put your name forward for election. Until then, keep your political opinions to yourself. You have no idea the damage that you are causing yourself and your good colleagues by doing exactly what you accuse John Brodgen of. Politicising this issue.
Finally we have an opposition that may hold the Carr government to account for its' mismanagement and all you can do is bitch.
Shutup mate! You are not helping.
"Don't forget Libs' record
I am writing to you because I am concerned about the editorial which fails to understand what problems the politicisation of our health system has caused.
I am really proud of our pediatric unit, the resources we have accrued over the years and the care given. Nevertheless we have been subjected to ill-informed and inappropriate criticism and have not been able to respond.
There have been dramatic improvements in services accross-theboard over the last few years in Macarthur health, even before this recent publicity.
Of course informed criticism is welcome, but much of the criticism has been ill-informed, personal and destructive.
The comments of the so-called whistleblowers have been accepted at face value without any objectivity. John Brogden has peoples distress for political gain. You should remember that the Liberal Partys' record in providing services to south western Sydney, including health services, transport services and Department of Community Services, is less than exemplary.
Mike Freelander
Pediatrician, Camden and Campbelltown."
AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that I've had a quick vomit, let me address your letter Dr Mike.
The thing that really shits me about all of this is your absolute silence on any of these very important issues up until now when your only criticism is of the opposition for calling for an enquiry. Thats the kicker isn't it Mike. Someone has dared to question YOUR judgement regarding the death of a young baby and now you've got the shits and its' all John Brogdens fault.
A quick timeline.
Bob Carr runs our areas' health system into the ground over successive years and you say nothing.
Bob Carr opens a birthing unit that by your own admission is not needed, funded properly or resourced properly. Nothing more than a pre-election stunt and you say nothing.
Two bogus whistleblowers spew their acidic crap on the world and you say nothing, for months!
John Brogden calls for an inquiry and off we go. John's a bastard and its all his fault.
Give me a break.
As I said in my earlier rant, this whole issue could have been stopped in its' tracks months ago if you or your colleagues had simply spoken up when it all began.
Dr Mike, if you want to be a doctor then be a doctor. If you want to be a politician then have the balls to put your name forward for election. Until then, keep your political opinions to yourself. You have no idea the damage that you are causing yourself and your good colleagues by doing exactly what you accuse John Brodgen of. Politicising this issue.
Finally we have an opposition that may hold the Carr government to account for its' mismanagement and all you can do is bitch.
Shutup mate! You are not helping.
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