Australian Law Reform Commission deserves a medal

You've got to admire the guts shown by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC).

With the Rudd Government still dragging its heels on implementing the very moderate reforms to sedition laws recommended by the commission two years ago and within a week of the Iemma Government giving NSW Police carte blanche to bug our phones and read our emails without first getting a warrant; the ALRC presents its report "For Your Information: Australian Privacy Law and Practice".

I'll be blowed if I know why it hopes that pollies will be bothered to even read the executive summary, public servants be moved to do anything but buttress their 'right' to supadupa unsafe data bases or business curtail that endless quest for more and more information it can crunch into digital form and on sell - but I appreciate the incurable optimism displayed.

I almost feel like yelling G'arn The Weis!

Here is the Executive Summary if you feel like a read.

Here and here are press articles.

Obama cult reaches new highs and lows, with nasty language on the side

There appears to be a new way of greeting Barack Obama on the move in America according to USNews.

The Loyalty Inc creative agency has come up with this hands above the head salute:

Image from Washington Whispers column.

Obama's campaign website also continues its links to help the faithful fight the smears he alleges are being spread about him and the finger is pointed at Republican ad man Floyd Brown.

Now Floyd has a somewhat dubious history with campaign advertising, but just in case you thought that Obama supporters were pure souls on the side of angels Expose Obama has rather naughtily created links to some of the more colourful language used in reply.

Here are three examples *Warning: language is graphic*

Date: Jun 20 2008 09:04:15 PM
From: anonymous

Date: Jun 21 2008 03:45:14 AM
From: anonymous

Date: Jun 20 2008 10:03:45 PM
From: anonymous

Northern Rivers Tourism launches new website

Northern Rivers Tourism has revamped its website to showcase Australia's rivers of life.

Stretching from the mighty Clarence River up to Tweed Heads on the Queensland border and out to the foothills of the Great Divide, the Northern Rivers region of NSW is an intriguing blend of old- school and new-age. It’s where the world’s largest expanse of subtropical rainforest meets mountains forged from ancient volcanoes, overlooking more than 300 kilometres of spectacular coastline.
In this one compact region, you’ll discover the endless stretch of Pacific Coast beaches that gave rise to the Australian surfing legend; lush rolling countryside dotted with quaint and quirky townships; rugged cattle country; mystical rainforests; and deep river gorges disappearing up into the mountains..
Counter-culturalists, environmentalists, farmers, artists, academics, entertainers, entrepreneurs and more co-exist in a unique collection of communities. If nothing else, they have this in common; an appreciation that this region offers an unrivalled quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

Sure that we locals can vouch for the truth of this. Why don't you come and see for yourself?

U.S. officials now standup comedians

Sometimes I wonder how unnamed government officials feel playing straight men to those clowns in the Bush Administration.

This turned up in the Google online news yesterday.

"WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia's use of overwhelming military force against Georgia, including strategic bombers and ballistic missiles, is disproportionate to any threat from the former Soviet state and could escalate tensions in the volatile region, a senior U.S. official said Saturday."

Oh please Dubbya, this is exactly what yaw'll did in Iraq, with a little help from Howard and Blair.
Do you seriously think the Russians are going to listen to such a morally bankrupt mob as yourselves?
They must be roaring into their vodka and slapping their knees since that little gem came down the wires.

After all, the West's behaviour since 9/11 virtually gave them permission to act like a Vandal horde.