As December draws to a close, a short list of quotes

Some rapes can be of minor effect on the victim.
Queensland Attorney-General Kerry Shine loses his gloss in a radio interview he now supposedly regrets.

I was shocked to read this article and find that none of the quotations bear any resemblance to what I sent in writing to the reporter. I have asked the news agency to remove the article from its website because it grossly misrepresents my written responses to the reporter as shown below.
Nihad Awad who optimistically expected better after doing an interview with Trend News Agency on modern Islam.

Judas betrayed his friend, Benedict Arnold his country, and now a brightly lit billboard on I-91 in Springfield accuses State Representative Angelo Puppolo of betraying the sanctity of marriage.
Lisa Tanner, CBS3 Springfield, with an unfortunate turn of phrase concerning the U.S. senator who came out in support of gay marriage.

NCV is in my opinion a slimy piece of dirty gutter risk taking "journalism at its worst".
A not so anonymous reader from Sydney.

If you think anyone is seriously going to consider setting up shop here with a mandatory internet filter and 12Mbit/s residential connections, you need to get out more. I've had friends leave Australia and take their business with them because our speeds are too slow to be remotely competitive. The mere fact that the filter is even on your agenda is spooking the people who aren't rolling on the floor laughing.
Posted by Alex12 on a Rudd Government consultation blog.

"In my view, the magistrate was correct in determining that, in respect of both the commonwealth and the NSW offences, the word 'person' included fictional or imaginary characters ...," the judge said.
And I suspect the Judge might have just inadvertantly granted human rights to cartoon characters.
Neil in Neil Gaiman's Journal on Monday 8 December 2008 on hearing that an Australian court dived fully-robed into a bowl of Fruit Loops.

Stephen Conroy appears to be completely immune to reality - the worse the situation gets, the rosier the picture he paints. Tomorrow he's probably going to come out with a statement that the filter will be powered by unicorns and reduce greenhouse gasses.
Stuart Anderson commenting via No Internet Censorship for Australia website on the Rudd Government plan to censor the Internet.

Have a bit of fun and vote in the 2008 Creamy Baileys Nobel Peace Prize for Science poll

The Poor Man Institute is having a bit of fun with a poll at the expense of climate change sceptics.

Here are the candidates for the 2008 Creamy Baileys Nobel Peace Prize for Science:

1. Chad Myers, "Global warming is a cover-up for ACID OCEANS!!"
2. Camille Paglia, "A new blog will bring scientific rigor to the global warming debate"
3. Charlie Daniels, "Global warming is a yankee conspiracy!"
4. Gregg Easterbrook, "Global warming is a cover-up for KILLER ASTEROIDS … GOVERNMENT-FUNDED HADRON DEATH ORGIES … LIGHTSPEED ALIEN NUCLEAR ATTACKS!!!"
5. James Inhofe, "The IPCC agrees: Al Gore is fat"

And here are the votes as at early evening of 28 December:

Chad Myers, "Global warming is a cover-up for ACID OCEANS!!" 8% (68 votes)

Camille Paglia, "A new blog will bring scientific rigor to the global warming debate" 14% (126 votes)

Charlie Daniels, "Global warming is a yankee conspiracy!" 11% (93 votes)

Gregg Easterbrook, "Global warming is a cover-up for KILLER ASTEROIDS ... GOVERNMENT-FUNDED HADRON DEATH ORGIES ... LIGHTSPEED ALIEN NUCLEAR ATTACKS!!!" 45% (389 votes)

James Inhofe, "The IPCC agrees: Al Gore is fat" 23% (197 votes)

Total Votes: 873

You can cast your vote here.

The weird world of Bernard Salt

FORGET about the global financial crisis and focus on what really interests Australians over summer: contemplation of the perfect seachange.

So said Bernard Salt in The Australian last Saturday.

I have generously decided that Mr. Salt was stuck for an opening sentence in the opinion piece Wanted: new universe by the beach, because such a broad statement begs dissent.

As does his tactless assessment of what comprises the perfect sea change:

The perfect seachange town should also not be jam-packed with old people waiting to die (how depressing). Equally, such a town should not be filled with screaming kids (how annoying).

Ouch! With the Australian population now skewing towards larger blocs of older age groups and children being a prized asset in any healthy community, this is an incredibly insensitive opinion.

Thankfully, only Byron Bay on the NSW North Coast was mentioned in passing by Salt in his heavy-footed piece, but the companion article by Stuart Rintoul on upcoming property hotspots did list Ballina, Iluka and Woolgoolga.

I suggest that anyone seriously considering settling in the Northern Rivers region, should think again if they believe that the elderly or the young are disadvantages in a neighbourhood.
Perhaps they might like to explore RP Data and search its website for the most atypical coastal village which can be found elsewhere.

A little quiet reflection between those festive days

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata.

Ooops! Kev's running late with more than his Chrissie present buying.........

At the official Prime Minister of Australia website something strange is going on.

I can find press releases for December 2008 at its media centre for the days leading up to Christmas:
24 Dec

Appointment of Departmental Secretaries - Media Release

22 Dec

Holden to build all-new small car in Australia - Media Release

21 Dec

Government launches 12 year plan to reduce homelessness in Australia Mission Australia Centre Surrey Hills, Sydney - Media Release

20 Dec

Australia provides support for Afghanistan Elections - Media Release

19 Dec

National Peacekeeping Memorial Design Unveiled - Media Release

18 Dec

Prime Minister addresses Australian troops serving in Afghanistan Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan - Speech

But where is Rudder's 2008 christmas message to the peasants citizens?

All I can find is his message for 2007.

I suppose that as most of his message is the usual generic pap, and he also visited our troops in Afghnaistan in December 2007, his staff decided that they couldn't be bothered to update the sentiments with a newer entry.