The Forum - Latest General Discussions Threads

Gay adoption

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 08:02:46 +1000

I note that yesterday the 2nd of September the NSW lower house passed legislation allowing for Gay couples to adopt. I find this decision to be fundam...

Cross Dressing - The latest �Get out of Gaol Free� card.

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 06:20:59 +1000

In yet another puzzling decision, handed down in a Melbourne court, a young �P� plater has avoided being sent to gaol for killing a teenager as the ju...

Humorous Experiences

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 05:47:12 +1000

As a possible distraction from the rough and tumble of politics.... Would anyone like to share some humorous experience from the past year ? I'm sur...

The Katterlist

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 22:26:18 +1000

Independent MP for Kennedy, Bob Katter, has released his wish-list, which he has presented to Gillard and Abbott: � 10% of all mining royalties to go...

Mother copped for leaving child home alone

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 21:55:52 +1000

A SINGLE working mother who left her nine-year-old daughter home alone for a day was charged and had to appear in court. http://www.townsvillebulletin...

Brown�s Greens have blown it!

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 20:39:38 +1000

Today, the Greens and Labor have sealed a deal. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/01/2999219.htm The concessions secured by the Greens inclu...

Crocodile tears

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 15:23:39 +1000

Tony Abbott was Minister for Health in 2005 when 1,790 people died at work for the year and 39,510 people were fully incapacitated on his watch. I did...

Flying her true colours

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 12:44:03 +1000

Well it didn't take long for the real/real/real little Julie to show up. Gone are all the promises made in an attempt to con the electorate into voti...

I think we can put these stereotypes to bed now

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 10:39:10 +1000

Into the leadup of the election, I have been hearing the usual countless parrot-lines about the various politicians, and of Australian Democracy in ge...

Tainted by Association

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 06:38:45 +1000

I saw this item this morning http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/public-called-on-to-prevent-child-abuse/story-e6frfku0-1225912592784 Mow,I'm not go...

Jessica Rudd

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:24:09 +1000

Jessica Rudd was excellent on Q & A last night. She seemed to be the only one not full of their own self importance. The others were atrocious. For so...

The year 2030

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:05:06 +1000

Just try to imagine where we will be in twenty years from now. At 50, I hope to still be alive and well at 70, but I seriously doubt our economy will...

It's the System

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:02:47 +1000

Chomsky is a critic of US imperialism and blames the US for many of the ills of the world. Chomsky like Marx misses the essence. In setting up the cla...

Artificial Intelligence - our future?

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:08:46 +1000

Recently the ABC featured a number of programs on Robots and Artificial Intelligence. Humans are developing technologies at a rapid rate. For example,...

The Coalition to pass Labor on 2 party preferred.

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:45:49 +1000

The postal votes have shown a strong bias towards the coalition. A few days ago Labor was ahead by 160 000 votes on the 2pp count and using this as a ...

How the USGS has misled the world on peak oil.

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:04:41 +1000

Hi all, Professor Barry Brook of Adelaide university asked me to write a piece for his blog. This may be one of the clearest articles I�ve ever writt...

Alcohol & gambling: more harm than good?

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:48:02 +1000

I would be interested in people�s responses to the following statements and questions: If Australians willingly gave up alcohol (and other drugs) and...

a well hung parliament

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:55:00 +1000

I spent election day handing out how to vote cards. What struck me about the experience the general disillusionment among voters with politicians in g...

New Election,Disaster for Coalition?

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:30:52 +1000

The Mark Latham factor could have been a positive for the Coalition.In some Labor electorates the informal vote was 17%.While Graham Young argues that...

australian death penalty

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:07:54 +1000

For Australia to NOT have the death penalty as an option is absurd. The death penalty has nothing to do with crime deterrent or revenge but is simply...

I don't get this boat issue ... or do I?

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:54:11 +1000

The 'boat people' thing has been perplexing me for years, until this morning. Now it just annoys me. This issue could be fixed in an afternoon and ev...

Independent 3rd party costings.

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:43:20 +1000

Given that neither party trusts the other's costing, and with due regard to the partisan nature of treasury's past actions under Wayne Swan, I would s...

Fathers stereotyped by Child Support Agency

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:32:14 +1000

Some time ago a thread discussing the discriminatory treatment of fathers by the CSA was derailed by a couple of the usual suspects demanding "pr...

Abbott Gillard be fair dinkum

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:00:48 +1000

I still trust the independents. Think both of our party's may get their support. But get your heads together think about our country. Do a deal, get b...

Questions never asked - why?

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:29:18 +1000

What a shallow election discussion from Labor! What stupid four slogans from the Liberals! Honest - even being a member of the ALP - I love the resu...

Why is the ALP media in denial about the Rudd effect on the election

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:20:40 +1000

My vote for the Rudd gov was negated by Power brokers.. ALP Never again. Abbot Good God NO Greens for senate control YES...

20 year old

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:45:01 +1000

I was under the assumption that the consiitution states (section 34 i)that a member must be 21 years or older? Am I wrong...

What is, a Global Citizen?

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:11:15 +1000

I've been discussing with Baygon the issue of Multiculturalism, and in the course of that discussion, he/she suggests that we are all now part of a gl...

Just how independent are the independents?.

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:20:08 +1000

The first thing that the ex National Party so called Independents have said is that they will negotiate their position collectively. Bob Catter an ex...

Chicken run 4 or Chooks will be chooks

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:28:05 +1000

Someone has left the chooks' feed shed ajar slightly! Yet another Cockerel (WA Nat) has dispensed with the party Goose and now thinks he can crow and ...

Recriminations and finger pointing begin in Labor.

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:17:19 +1000

Even with the edict from on high to present a unified front and an image of stability, already the knives are out. On the chopping block are the neck...

Thoughts on a Hung Parliament

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:22:29 +1000

Political parties are private organizations specifically intended to capture the public law-making power. Parliament originated in about 1450, but o...

Oh dear, oh dear ( Australia) what have you done now ?

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 10:27:47 +1000

Last night I channel switched and based on what I saw This election has/will deliver the worst possible outcome. I watched, except from SBS, was an un...

A real Father & Australian

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 08:25:36 +1000

Ken Talbot who tragically died in a plane crash recently. Now there was a father. Let's just hope for his childrens' sake the hangers-on don't get an ...

Election out come

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:24:20 +1000

Well its over , or has it just begun? Abbott won in my view he is the only one who can govern. But we all won too. I spent the day on a booth that is ...

Not A Banana Republic.

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:14:24 +1000

We escaped Paul Keating's banana republic, although he did try hard to make us one. Some will tell you that we were lucky to escape becoming a slave ...

OLO and the Reinhard Mohn Prize: Viewers' votes needed TODAY!

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 12:12:49 +1000

GrahamY has emailed me (and I should imagine, others), in my capacity as a member of the What the people want polling panel which is conducted by OLO,...

Just got my electricity bill

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:56:56 +1000

Sadly I reside in NSW and an hour ago I opened my electricity bill for the winter period. It is the highest I have seen in my life, $1437, same period...

Homes to pay heavy price for internet from NBN

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:20:55 +1000

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/homes-to-pay-heavy-price-for-internet-from-nbn/story-fn59niix-1225907517167. Projections for the tak...

consider this when you cast your vote

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:40:43 +1000

Now few would argue that the present coalition is much weaker than when they held office back in the early 2000's. Also, Krudds government had an his...

Organ Donation

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:17:25 +1000

Stealing this from an ABC radio talk today two points of interest. Some, far too many, who ask that their organs be donated are not having the wish ca...

Ideology/theology and Government, god help us.

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:57:52 +1000

We will require intervention from the great unknown should Tony Abbott and his cronies win the forthcoming election. John Howard not being acceptab...

Will this be a win for the Libs but a loss for Democracy.?

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:30:04 +1000

Contrary to the opinions of some on OLO I have little of no interest in which party wins this election as both are dysfunctional. They both play man...

Should We Pie-Face Our Politicians?

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:53:58 +1000

A 22 year-old woman, Ahlam M. Mohsen, is being arraigned in court today for allegedly staging a pie attack on US senator Carl Levin (I say allegedly f...

Behind the Greeen Curtain

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:25:37 +1000

Is the 'Environmental' movement really about 'conserving nature' ? Does the Rockefella Foundation 'donate' large tracts of land to the federal govern...

bring back kev! informal vote this saturday!

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:30:27 +1000

where I live and therefore vote is a safe seat for my local member so I feel my vote will not sway things one way or another. I voted for Kev in 2007 ...

Australia and the Burqa.

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:14:45 +1000

With the rash of European countries rushing to ban burqas the comments in July from the conservative government in England were refreshing and reassur...

West Papua

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:06:22 +1000

There is a possibility of a new public discussion, should people with forum experience help make the SMH/Age article a well rounded discussion? http:...

The Free Trade Ideology is Misplaced

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 17:31:50 +1000

The idea of free trade is based on David Ricardo's 'Theory of comparative advantage'. The basic idea is that: even if one party has an absolute advant...

Why The Fuss?

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 09:35:06 +1000

I was at ANZ Stadium the other night watching a rugby match (a colleague has access to a corporate suite ),when a few hundred poor buggers scaled the ...

Stopping the Credit Card Rot.

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 08:48:33 +1000

Australians now have one of the highest credit card debts on the planet.Total debt for every person is $56,000 compared to the USA of $44,000.For the ...

Moving forward may well mean moving backwards

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 06:06:14 +1000

�Moving forward� has become somewhat of a famous saying in recent times, however, have we really thought about what the future holds if we continue do...

Ben Cousins Documentary - Legality re: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:35:49 +1000

Does Channel 7 expect to get away with paying Ben Cousins $600,000 to talk about taking drugs? Please. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN3aPIqOUOE...

Finnally, an admition by police about mobile speed cameras

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 06:45:44 +1000

Part of the deal offered by Anna Bligh, to the qld police, was to have moblie speed cameras manned by civilians, rather than trained poice officers. ...

The QLD police pay debacle

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 06:39:38 +1000

The debarcle with the qld police pay dispute shows a major flaw in our wage system, and that is, unskilled workers wages are simply to high. Now I ac...

Julia Gillard's economic policy sinks further as Australia's Unemployment Rate Climbs

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:59:08 +1000

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-12/australia-employers-added-workers-for-fifth-month-adding-to-rate-pressure.html http://www.rttnews.com/Conten...

Super Service, Super Bug

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:30:03 +1000

Just heard on the news about this new MDM1 Superbug apparently originating from India. This infection is spread to other countries mainly via medical ...

What IS the

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:35:20 +1000

Many of us believe that there has been a "dumbing-down" of our society, and whether purpose driven or mere consequence of an ever-growing te...

Public schools slugged double the price for BER projects

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 07:43:47 +1000

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/public-schools-slugged-double-the-price-for-ber-projects/story-fn59niix-1225903680753 Here we go aga...

What happened to sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me?

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:26:57 +1000

Some old duffer sends a Queensland MP an email and the office girl is so upset that he is charged with criminal behaviour that could see him jailed fo...

Economic Calculation in the Socialist Commonwealth

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:37:44 +1000

Before 1920, the debate over socialism was how best to approach it. No-one doubted that it could be done. The question was how to implement it. Econ...

What does

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:30:08 +1000

Writing in the August 2010 edition of Scientific American, the internationally renowned physicist, Lawrence Krauss, recounts the following incident: ...

Election ICT Policy Forum online at 1pm, 10 August 2010

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 20:00:22 +1000

The Australian Computer Society has organised an 2010 Federal Election Forum at the National Press Club in Canberra, from 1 to 2pm AEST, 10 August 201...

Why use Latham?

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 16:10:09 +1000

Mark Latham a man who smashed the ALP and press cameras has been employed to? Well what was his job? Was it to make headlines or hopefully to damage t...

At last, a FDA approved treatment for hypotrichosis

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 13:46:45 +1000

At last the US Federal Drug Administration has approved a treatment for hypotrichosis. You can read about it here: http://www.latisse.com/ Write to ...

Future Population Sustainability

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 10:53:20 +1000

With the Election drawing closer, and Population Sustainability, Migration and the "boat people" becoming an important voter factor for both...

Our global island and its wannabe dictators

Sun, 8 Aug 2010 21:45:13 +1000

Imagine an island with seven people on it producing a total of seven goods, with no contact with the outside world. The economy consists of all the ...

The 1st victim of war is truth

Sun, 8 Aug 2010 20:36:13 +1000

The same could be said about elections. Here is some truths that have been missing. 1. The (Labour) government didn't waste money on the stimulous. It...

What is a Guided Democracy?

Sun, 8 Aug 2010 06:28:16 +1000

Opposition leader, Tony Abbott, was overheard suggesting that we could use a more "guided democracy" during a conversation with Nauru's pres...

Your favourite essays?

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 15:22:18 +1000

In these decadent days of sound-grabs and puerile thought (thought is only as good as the prose that conveys it), is there any time left for prosaic d...

The world will change on 8-28

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 14:41:10 +1000

What's 8-28? It's the American dating system, meaning 28th of August. On that day, which happens to also be the anniversary of Martin Luther King's &...

Abbot and Liberals kowtow to gun fanatics

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 12:29:09 +1000

Tony Abbott, the Liberal Party, and Gun Fanatics Gun Control Australia The Liberal Party�s website has come up with one of the most horrific and dan...

Education of the new generation with scientific knowledge about God

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 01:29:03 +1000

Peace and Love to you all! One can include into all educational programs such concepts as spirituality, ethics, meaning of human life, ecopsychology, ...

Islamic Jihad - Violent unacceptable but non-violent OK?

Fri, 6 Aug 2010 12:55:15 +1000

Two former Islamists in the UK have produced a controversial report which essentially states that many Islamic organisations which denounce terrorism ...

GOVERNMENT primary schools in Victoria yesterday learned the extent of their BER rip-off.

Fri, 6 Aug 2010 11:03:57 +1000

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/states-schools-blowout-exposed/story-fn59niix-1225901860057 Victoria confirms the sorry BER tale Bu...

Mining Companies (and Suppliers) Refusal to Train Australian Citizens for Available Work

Fri, 6 Aug 2010 10:12:33 +1000

Many Australians, (of all ages), would love the chance of long-term employment within the mining sector, however the major parties continue to advocat...

Will the plain packaging of cigarettes deter smokers.

Fri, 6 Aug 2010 06:45:26 +1000

I for one, doubt it! We already buy bread, milk, flour and eggs in plain wrap and think nothing of it so long as the product tastes 'ok' and does the...

Ex CIA Warn of Israeli Attack on Iran.

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 20:33:13 +1000

Philip Giraldi and Ray McGovern are ex-CIA agents who now want Obama to pre-empt Israel's attack on Iran and end a very possible nuclear war.http://my...

Shot gun Marriage? Kevin and Julia.

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 08:19:10 +1000

Given Kevin's renowned capacity to hold a grudge, and initial refusal to have anything to do with Julia's campaign, it was not expected that he would ...

Moderation panel

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 08:05:26 +1000

For quite some time I've been wondering whether a moderation panel might be a better alternative to me being the sole moderator of what is or isn't ac...

Now I've heard it all.

Wed, 4 Aug 2010 09:15:42 +1000

This morning, on our ABC I actually heard our esteemed treasure Swan actually suggest that "things like" spending 43 billion dollars on a na...

The next great white elephant. $43bn NBN

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 12:56:26 +1000

Having spent many years designing and building electrical and automation systems, I have installed more than a few networks of various protocols. For...

The real Julia Gillard

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 08:11:13 +1000

I watched an interview with Julia Gillard on the Today Show this morning where Julia was talking about how she is going to let the real Julia show thr...

Blatant nepotism and corruption in NSW Labor.

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 08:03:22 +1000

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/keneally-rivals-shut-out-of-car-project-20100801-111ez.html My god, they are not even subtle about it. Both state and fede...

IR restrictions, can you not see what it's doing.

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 06:45:21 +1000

Retail is bleeding, hospitallity as well, we even have builders, plumbers etc crying poor, meanwhile we have those who wish to work and those who wish...

THE EPA, Saving the environment or ignorant saboteurs ?

Sun, 1 Aug 2010 14:36:39 +1000

What are OLOers opinions on this outfit ?...

Stop the poll and surprise the parties

Sun, 1 Aug 2010 12:15:16 +1000

The topic title "Stop the poll and surprise the parties" was the headline for Gretel Killeen's article that appeared on page 15 of today's S...

Ecological sustainability and economic calculation

Sun, 1 Aug 2010 02:19:58 +1000

The great concern of the environmental movement is that our current standard of living and levels of consumption are not ecologically sustainable. E...

THE GREAT MONEY DECEPTION

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:27:11 +1000

Would you let your neighbour steal from you,then loan this money back to you at interest and be greatful for being shafted? This is what the fraction...

OLO down for maintenance this afternoon between 4:00 and 6:00

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:21:07 +1000

Sorry, meant to post this earlier today. OLO will be down for a couple of hours this afternoon. Hopefully most of you won't notice because you'll be w...

Indirect climate change policy would be much more effective

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:45:04 +1000

I suggest that climate change policy should basically be a spinoff of policies directed in a couple of other all-important areas. It shouldn�t be some...

Environmental Policy and Economic Calculation

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:04:17 +1000

Many otherwise sensible people unwittingly believe it is better for the environment for us to waste more rather than less natural resources. For exa...

Sleeping your way to the top

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:26:28 +1000

Some say its no one else's business but I have no doubt that private philosophy determines public policy. Those that claim that ones private life is n...

Pakistan, the Taliban, and Wikileaks

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:23:03 +1000

With Wikileaks releasing 90 - odd - thousand 'top secret' documents illegally handed to them by an American serviceman - who is now locked up - there ...

Scrutineering after the polls

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:57:08 +1000

Have you been the one who waits after the voting to see the votes counted? Standing together all party's are represented or mostly, and under strict r...

The way I see it...

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:14:06 +1000

I find it curious, that a tax affecting Coles and Woolies will simply be passed on to consumers, but a tax on mining will not be... A carbon price (ta...

Abbott stealing taxpayers money?

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:53:00 +1000

Tony Abbot has been accused of using taxpayers money to promote his book "Battle Lines". http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2965933.h...

The Senate

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:22:04 +1000

We have had much talk about the senate, but between the following The coalition Labor and the Greens Who will have the majority control of the senate ...

The Climate Debate is Ridiculous

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:00:04 +1000

This topic is raising its ugly head while we contemplate the direction of either one of our up-and-coming elected Glorious Leader's from either the Mi...

A fix for the oil Leaks

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:26:46 +1000

Folks...I'm curious about this... with regard to the Gulf Oil Leak... I'm wondering if there is existing technology such as the following: (if not..co...

Our Representatives, What do we expect

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:05:08 +1000

Well as i have been out and about , I have found what I believe to be expected from a political representative is very far from what we get. We get ar...

Mining tax - Could this be a better solution

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:57:26 +1000

The key area for concern over the miners, from the people, seems to be one of the fact that the minerals belong to the people, so they feel they deser...

Politics, I'm over it.

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:33:16 +1000

Is it just me ?, or are there other political junkies like myself, whom have lost interest in electioneering this time. It's a non-election between 2...

I had a dream

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:41:12 +1000

Dear fellow forum dwellers. Yesterday was another of those 'mind body spirit' things where I manned a Christian stand. Invariably at such events, we...

tax free wages for the privileged in society: churchmen

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:13:47 +1000

How's this for a worry, $31 billion that could be assisting Medicare, university funding, rebuilding our aged school infrastructure, laying railway li...

The Worm and the Great Debate: Jesus vs The Vatican

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:06:09 +1000

JESUS VS THE VATICAN: On Child Abuse and Women Priests I would like to propose a thought experiment: Just suppose there was a TV debate tonight betw...

Your local member

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 08:57:11 +1000

If your local member of federal parliament is only concerned with matters within his/her electorate, s/he should surely be a better local member than ...

Free Trade and the Pollution Deception.

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:33:28 +1000

Shipping accounts for 90% of the world movement of goods.The world's 90,000 ships produce 260 times more sulphur dioxide than do the world's 760 milli...

Selfish

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:17:07 +1000

Its well known that by nuture human beings are selfsh.This type of nature has made the world left behind most especially in the developing countries.I...

How important are your local candidates?

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:26:38 +1000

A couple of days ago, Julia Gillard was in Townsville as part of her election campaign, accompanied by the Labor candidate for Herbert, Tony Mooney. ...

A rise for the sake of a rise. But can we really affor it.

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:06:24 +1000

Recent comments to a current thread have prompted me to start this one. We have seen a recent pay rise of $26 per week for low paid workers, which by...

Women in the Christian church

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:44:52 +1000

Well, women are copping it from all sides within the major Christian churches of the West. The Anglicans are split on ordination of women, as seen he...

Is the Qld Police Service Administration Act 1990 Constitutionally Invalid?

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:26:45 +1000

The Queensland Police Service has shown that it has absolutely no interest in complying with the "Rule of Law" (insofar as it has refused to...

The Kiss that Konfused the Electorate....

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 06:26:45 +1000

I wonder how many of us saw that 'kiss' and hug between "Phony Tony" and Julia? Damn..... how can you get all fired up and 'hate' dat oppos...

Litter on Twitter from Switzerland for Julia

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:27:12 +1000

On Twitter I 'follow' swissinfo_en. Yesterday swissinfo_en posted this tweet: "Polanski visits Montreux Jazz Festival http://bit.ly/bamVUO "...

Brilliant Entertaining and Perceptive. by Joel Madden

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:34:46 +1000

This political satire is both brilliant and entertaining."Pure Poppycock" Joel Madden http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpYIKF1wuyE&feature=pla...

The Julia and Hilary show? Or is it President Palin?

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:58:34 +1000

Obama is in deep trouble with the US electorate. I think this piece in today's Guardian summarises his situation nicely: http://www.guardian.co.uk/wo...

Wyatt Roy

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 09:07:32 +1000

Wyatt is the LNP candidate for Longman, just north of Brisbane. He is 20 years old. I question some of his political principles, as listed on his web...

When you cast your vote, please remember...

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 07:09:01 +1000

When you go to cast your vote, please remember some very important facts. Labor, in less than three years has almost sent this country broke! Also re...

Voting Should Be Voluntary

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 21:19:18 +1000

Australia is one of the few democartic western nations that still has compulsory voting and fines citizens who choose not to vote. There are many arg...

Where have all the laptops gone? Long time passing.

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 07:36:33 +1000

THE Auditor-General is probing the Gillard government's $2.4 billion school computers program. This comes on the heels of multiple inquiries into Bui...

Christopher Pyne ........Liberal's weak link.

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:59:45 +1000

I've just watched a debate between Christopher Pyne and Tony Bourke on Late Line. Oh my, oh my! Christopher Pyne, the manager of Opposition Business...

The Fred Hampton killing and the Weather Underground. (USA) 1969

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:01:42 +1000

A most interesting ethical challenge is found in the story of the death of one Fred Hamilton... a charismatic and very effective black community organ...

Marxism - Leninism

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:06:49 +1000

So I started reading about Atheism purely for the selfish point of storing boxes of ammo to fire whenever the need arises, but it quickly turned into ...

If you want loyalty, buy a dog.

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:58:56 +1000

http://www.smh.com.au/national/deal-or-no-deal-the-pms-lips-are-sealed-20100715-10crk.html The face that Labor is putting on the Julia Gillard ascens...

P C its impact

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:34:59 +1000

In another thread I said some subjects are taboo. While I was able to continue the subject it soon became twisted. My genuine concerns about some grav...

Timely Comedy for Julia

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:23:26 +1000

Anyone remember that annoiying song by The Herd called The King is Dead that came out after Kevin Rudd came to power? Here's an awesome parody of it ...

What is the most fun, around home?

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:20 +1000

You've told me about the things you love, but what about the things you love to do, in your home area. We are on 20 acres, about 25 Km from anywhere....

Lousy reputation = lousy country?

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:50:25 +1000

Simon Anholt is a British government advisor specialising in the field of �nation branding�. He is a member of the British government�s Public Diploma...

Pride In Our National Identity ...

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:25:19 +1000

The idea for this thread has come out of an article thread on how our country is perceived on the global stage. Another poster asked me why should we ...

Speed kills, unless it�s a driving test

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:36:27 +1000

I pinched this title from the editorial in the Courier Mail of 14 July. The editor put it so well that I�ll just quote him directly: << Every ...

He Came To Sydney

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:27:36 +1000

My great great grandfather, that is. Until eight years ago, I didn't know the name of my forebears. (I mentioned once on another thread that I am adop...

Do you have something you really love?

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:40:02 +1000

I did love the yacht I lived on, & sailed over much of the Pacific for 19 years. I love my 23 year old stallion, we've had since he was a 7 month ol...

help out a school kid? easy 1-2 minute questionnaire

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:28:24 +1000

I'm a year 12 student politics. I need to obtain data for an important investigative report. It would be very helpful to me if you could spare a minut...

Other fora

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:57:42 +1000

Hello good people of OLO. I was just wondering how many of you contribute to other fora or discussion sites, and which sites these might be. Or do m...

OH NO! This is a horrible disaster.

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:08:08 +1000

I just found out that Ringo turned 70 last week. S-E-V-E-N-T-Y years old. OH MY GOD!...

Can we really afford 'clean energy'?

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 07:27:48 +1000

There is much debate about 'fosil fuels' and 'alternative energy', but, has enough thought been given to the real cost of 'cleaner energy'. Take fosi...

Imagine how well off we could be if not for the watsed billions of our money.

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:47:49 +1000

Just try to imagine how great life for us would be if not for the billions we waste on trying to deal with 'avaoidable problems' we face almost on a d...

Email newsletter problems

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:18:51 +1000

I've had a couple of complaints that readers haven't been receiving their email newsletters. Wondered how widespread this issue was. I was missing my ...

Taking back our country

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 18:20:54 +1000

Dr Robert Bowman was an USA Airforce Lieutenant Commander of 101 combat missions for his country.He has a PHD in Aeronautics and Nuclear Engineering.D...

Our sloppy rule of law

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 08:35:35 +1000

I put this up on another thread, but no one responded (:>( With so many lawyers in our federal government, and in state governments, I find it baf...

religion in schools: discussion based on viewing vimeo videos

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 12:03:00 +1000

Dr. Timothy Wright and Jane Caro are interviewed by a Christian group on their views on 'religion in schools'. Two vimeo's here: http://vimeo.com/cha...

The Taming of the Shrew

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 11:03:40 +1000

http://www.wordinfo.info/words/images/shrew-elephant.gif Julia Gillard has fallen in the trap of spin over substance. When treasury starts putting in...

The meaning of progressive

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 08:10:36 +1000

CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE. "PROGESSIVE" This is probably the single most important term we need to understand today regarding the political directi...

Time for ANOTHER Royal Commission in QLD

Wed, 7 Jul 2010 18:30:56 +1000

The Police Service is there to Protect & Serve the Citizens of Queensland, by enforcing the law without fear or favor. It does not exist merely to ens...

The 'sustainable' East Timor solution

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 14:05:04 +1000

Well well, we now have our first 'sustainable' boat-people policy, off to East Timor. Now, of course, this is not Nauru, or Christmas Island, so it c...

The First ETS domino is New Zealand

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 10:53:30 +1000

Not much fanfare but July 1st saw the introduction in New Zealand, of their ETS. Media reports now available at nzclimatescience.com. Could this be t...

The Greens party. - Dumping ground for the Labor left?

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 10:02:23 +1000

An interesting situation is developing, with the success of the liberals in highlighting the failures of Labor's left wing policies, the new PM Julia ...

PM Gillard endorses OLO approach to debate but does it work?

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 09:37:01 +1000

Julia Gillard has said some things about political debate that I think are worth highlighting. There are many things I would disagree with her about, ...

Why bother having a deputy PM

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 08:37:18 +1000

When you look at the support that the now 'PM' gave the former 'PM', right up until the time he fell from grace, one has to wonder why we bother havin...

Australian Head of State

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 12:15:39 +1000

An Australian Head of State! So many words have been written. Following are some of my thoughts on a method of electing a head of state. �The peop...

What is an election?

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 06:29:41 +1000

What out comes do you expect, who do you think will win why. No party surely can give any of us every thing we want. Maybe the winner has the job of p...

Does Time Exist?

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 01:15:02 +1000

Einstein said: "People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persisten...

New Liberal Leader . . . . . bye bye Tony Abbott.

Sat, 3 Jul 2010 15:27:07 +1000

Mr Abbott is now a lone wolf. The big miners and Labor are now as one, signed sealed and delivered. Mr Abbott has made a commitment to rescind the ...

CoconutGate...PC gone mad

Sat, 3 Jul 2010 15:07:03 +1000

You have to see this!...... Britain 'racial hatred' laws are quite novel to say the least, and don't even try to investigate their 'Public Order' law...

Does capitalism drive population growth?

Sat, 3 Jul 2010 14:00:30 +1000

For me it is only logical that the answer to this question is resoundingly in the affirmative. Surprisingly however, after a superficial scan, there s...

Holons

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 10:27:08 +1000

Squeers mentioned on another thread that the hardest thing to do was to think outside of cultural norms. We homeschool which has given me a slight tas...

Gillard - Mining tax capitulation?

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 06:33:51 +1000

While the full details of the deal are to be revealed this morning, it is clear that Gillard has caved in to just about every demand of the big 3 mine...

What is the dollar value of a university degree?

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 09:38:07 +1000

Perhaps not as much as you think. See: http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/jun2010/bs20100618_385280.htm You might just be better off putti...

Gillard - Snout in the trough already?

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:43:02 +1000

It only took a week for JG to mis use the air force jet for personal and party purposes. If this is how she starts, it looks very much like Kevin 747...

Why have lower courts?

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:21:09 +1000

I have just been listening to some commentator suggesting that the Patel case will go to the appeal court, & then to the high court. He went so far to...

Green Energy Fallacy

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:58:32 +1000

As the Greens anticipate holding the balance of power in the Senate after the next election, the specter of an ETS will no doubt be up for discussion....

Gillard speaks the Truth: a welcome change in politics today

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:41:04 +1000

Julia Gillard has stated her position on religion, very clearly, and very reasonably. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/gillard-radio-bli...

Accountabillity of consultance

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:17:12 +1000

It is with interest that I see the 'Clem 7' tunnel in Brisbane drops it's toll yet again. It was suggested, no doubt by consultants, that it would ca...

Prof. Katzenstein theory

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:08:45 +1000

I just realized I celebrated 5 years on the great OLO project. I thought I will come back with an interesting topic by Dr Katzenstein : why the clash...

Free Our Schools

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 01:15:59 +1000

Free Our Schools Almost all children now believe they go to school to pass exams. The idea that they may be there for an education is irrelevant. Stat...

Prof David Ray Griffin On Afghanistan

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 19:36:12 +1000

Putting aside all the conspiracy theories about 911,Prof David Ray Griffin asks some very pertinent questions about our invasion of Afghanistan.http:/...

The return of Macarthyism... soon.

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 11:02:37 +1000

Most of us oldies will remember the name and era of "Macarthysim". You know.. Reds under the Beds etc. Joseph Macarthy is being rehabilita...

Overseas Students ?

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:15:32 +1000

Below is a story in the Aus that caught my eye, but may have been missed by many because of the party politics being played out in Canberra. http://w...

Next Candidates for political execution.

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:36:14 +1000

Since there is a new broom in Labor, there is the chance to rid themselves of other high profile incompetents. My first candidate for the rope is Ste...

let the people choose a PM

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 06:53:37 +1000

This whole Julia V Krud thing has that old Hawlk V Keating smell about it. Why not do the honnorable thing madam PM and call an election. If you win...

Refuges

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 04:50:19 +1000

Boat people? Australia? no I am thinking of the worlds problems with people looking for a better life. Should we fail in Afghanistan, we surely will, ...

Under Taxing or Over Spending?

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:43:32 +1000

or.. plain political opportunism and greeeeed.. "Democracy gone horribly wrong" This is connected to the American political context, but th...

Kevin Rudd - The biggest loser!

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 05:59:35 +1000

Now that a leadership spill looks inevitable in the Labor Caucus the question is which of the failed policies will she dump first: - The BER rort - T...

To the left we go, to the left we go, hey ho the dairy-oh

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:47:30 +1000

Right, the News Media seems to have a bizarre idea of what makes the 'actual' left-wing of the Labor Party. The left-wing of the Labor Party is the o...

Humanitarian crisis

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:22:24 +1000

Here are ten population groups listed in ALPHABETICAL order: (1) African-Americans (2) Australian Aborigines (3) Australians (Average for whole cou...

Halt the Sixth Extinction

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:57:44 +1000

All species are related to other species in some way. If a species becomes extinct it will impact on other species. There are various iconic species s...

Four questions Turks ask Thomas Friedman

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:35:54 +1000

Thomas Friedman is a NY Times journalist. Here are four questions Turks asked him: One: Do you think we are seeing the death of the West and the rise...

TONY ABBOTT..please...no Emissions TRADING scheme!

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 08:05:20 +1000

This morning I heard on the news that Tony Abbott is talking to the Greens about an "Emissions TRADING Scheme". I've already laid the groun...

Questions on Aboriginal matters

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 08:02:35 +1000

After having already given an opinion in this forum, I would like to leave a few questions about Aboriginal matters this time as I am not an Australia...

Free Trade and Labelling laws

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:15:53 +1000

http://www.truefood.org.au/newsandevents/?news=98 �US biotech companies are currently lobbying the Australian Government not to label GE products, as...

weather forecasting

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:08:45 +1000

I've been a beach bum in Noosa for three weeks. The weather has been a mixture of lovely sunny days, foul wet and windy days and everything in between...

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity....again.

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:50:47 +1000

There seems to be a degree of misinformation in the public arena which believes that "human rights" law is to be applied equally to all. Th...

Men's sheds and other initiatives

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:13:24 +1000

Some material I found on Men's Sheds and comments by Cornflower got me thinking that it might be useful to have some discussion about positive stuff b...

Who's Your Favourite Detective?

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:53:02 +1000

I thought I'd introduce a light note among the threads. The subject of fictitious detectives arose on another thread and it got me thinking that it mi...

Killing Swine in Macbeth - are we losing Shakespeare?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:38:44 +1000

In Act I, Scene 3 of Macbeth, the witches meet to plot and cause mischief. The first witch asks the second "where hast thou been, sister?", ...

House insulation fires - Why no action?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:17:04 +1000

From the Sydney Morning Herald today: "Insulation installed under the federal government's controversial scheme has been linked to 18 recent hom...

Ok those who think Corporations are sensitive and responsible...

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:12:35 +1000

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10317817.stm Highlights US Oil $210 Billion profit in 3 years $35 Billion in exploration and wait for i...

What is fundamentalisms?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:43:27 +1000

What is fundamentalism? This is my take: Fundamentalists know all there is to know, being generous and forgiving to those who follow their teachings,...

A Lesson in Racism

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 09:20:14 +1000

Andrew Johns comments within the NSW Origin camp are a HUGE lesson for everyone on the whole. I really don't think Johns is a racist, I just really th...

The Positive Contributions of Australian Christians

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:01:53 +1000

Given the relentless attacks on The Church by secular media I believe there is a need to address the misconceptions which result. I offer as my first...

Do We Own Threads?

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 07:17:17 +1000

Not sure how many posts I have or just how long I have been here. Like life its self I have changed along the way. Spelling is a bit better, wonder wh...

The death of the interests of the customer?

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:45:08 +1000

I live in an outer suburb which is serviced by a Telstra only exchange. If I lived *two blocks* further over I would have a choice. In essence, I can...

Turkey and Brazil foil US Aggression Against Iran.

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 09:57:08 +1000

http://www.mycatbirdseat.com/2010/06/obamas-letter-to-lula-exposes-us-dishonesty-with-iran/ Turkey and Brazil have offered to take 1200 kg of enriched...

The World Cup

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:28:06 +1000

The World Cup starts tonight our time, in South Africa. I'm not exactly a sports fan, but I love the World Cup. It ranks above the Olympics, certain ...

Positive Contributions of Australian Muslims.

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:39:23 +1000

I thought that it might be interesting to discuss the positive contributions of Australian Muslims to possibly dispel the misconceptions held by som...

What constitutes a

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:39:19 +1000

The pundits are struggling to come up with a concise one liner in order to describe "what" exactly will constitute a "victory" in ...

IPCC put to forensic test

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 22:22:18 +1000

Just came across this fascinating paper http://www.probeinternational.org/UPennCross.pdf. Takes a forensic look at the IPCC claims and finds them ove...

Spain:

Wed, 9 Jun 2010 08:07:56 +1000

In a news story today, it was revealed Spain is enacting austerity measures which include 5% pay cuts for government sectore employees. Oh...oh..how ...

Policies on indigenous languages and cultures

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 21:58:41 +1000

Although I am not an Australian, I would like to start a discussion on this topic. Including indigenous/regional languages and cultures into education...

Release Bernard Madoff - NOW!

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 16:23:50 +1000

For a piece on Madoff in prison see: http://nymag.com/news/crimelaw/66468/ Madoff stole $70 BILLION. For many people it was a personal tragedy. Live...

Treason or truth?

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 09:25:27 +1000

One is inclined to wonder What is going on here.... Where is the treason ? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/8725899.stm Surely it is i...

What to do with Aboriginal Communities?

Sun, 6 Jun 2010 11:47:52 +1000

I know we have seen all sorts of activists, and all the rest on here discussing this. But I have to see ONE of them suggest that the primary problem (...

I have no problem with a 'super tax' BUT!

Sun, 6 Jun 2010 07:04:21 +1000

The mining industry is like any business where you have the �operator� (the miners) and the owners (shareholders) and they both �co-exist� with the co...

Kurdistan: Why do we stand back and allow the slaughter to continue?

Sat, 5 Jun 2010 17:57:57 +1000

As we look at Turkey's Ultra-Islamic President wading into World Affairs on behalf of Iran and other fanatics, the question has to be asked... How muc...

Green votes and Major Parties.

Sat, 5 Jun 2010 14:29:50 +1000

Disillusionment with the major parties is epidemic. This is translating into more support for the Greens. Pehaps we should examine some of their pol...

Could the BP Gulf of Mexico Disater Happen Here?

Fri, 4 Jun 2010 15:10:05 +1000

With the current BP crisis in the Gulf of Mexico becoming more catastrophic day by day, shouldn�t we, as Australians, be asking what safety precaution...

Israel's choices.

Thu, 3 Jun 2010 15:37:17 +1000

After this weeks debacle in the Mediterranean what can Israel do when the next boat arrives? More of the same? What happens when the numbers of boats ...

Let's get real here

Wed, 2 Jun 2010 10:44:37 +1000

Now we have crime in virtual reality . http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10207486.stm Is this what the world is coming to? Spending Zillions for ...

Time to look at Australia's capabilities in the 21st Century .

Wed, 2 Jun 2010 10:22:38 +1000

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10181725.stm Strewth that's quick 1,759,000,000,000 calculations per second Check out how long 1 seconds worth ...

OK - What should a Nation's Military do to Blockade Runners?

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 20:36:48 +1000

Ok, let's look carefully at what the current News story, the "Peace Flotilla" would be without the involvement of the State of Israel... Let...

Meyer's two rules of online discussion

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 13:39:14 +1000

All of us are familiar with Godwin's rule. One formulation is as follows: "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison...

Daylight Saving, yes or no.

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 10:26:12 +1000

This is one of those few questions where it is easy to see both sides of the coin. A few years ago as a Brisbane 9 to 5 worker, with kids who rode sh...

Our Casino Economies

Mon, 31 May 2010 00:09:23 +1000

See http://tarpley.net/ View the short video "Casino Economy of Globalisation" Webster Tarpley raises some really crucial issues confronting...

Human Settlement and the need for Collectivization.

Sun, 30 May 2010 08:05:08 +1000

Recognizing that international co-operation, based on the principles of the United Nations Charter. has to be developed and strengthened in order to p...

NSW ALP

Sun, 30 May 2010 07:57:08 +1000

So very long ago an official of my union and I in separate cars stuck in traffic heard on the radio. It had happened the ALP had won government on its...

BRUTALITY of the US in IRAQ.. war crimes

Sat, 29 May 2010 13:26:18 +1000

Dear OLO.. I have long supported the War in Iraq....but perhaps it's time to re-consider? This video of a Soldiers account of war crimes really shoc...

Labor breaks another promise when it is convenient.

Sat, 29 May 2010 12:49:18 +1000

http://www.smh.com.au/national/rudd-uturn-provokes-lib-sideswipe-20100528-wld9.html?autostart=1 "Upon winning the election, Mr Rudd honoured his...

Should Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) be barred from Australia?

Fri, 28 May 2010 11:59:27 +1000

This according to Wikipedia: QUOTE On February 21, 1989, Yusuf Islam [formerly Cat Stevens] addressed students at Kingston University in London abou...

Boatpeople - A one- sided issue?

Fri, 28 May 2010 11:01:54 +1000

With Tony Abbott`s latest proclamation re "turning around the boats!": I hear many loud indignant voices condemning Tony Abbott`s policies, ...

Law Enforcement for FGM

Fri, 28 May 2010 09:45:05 +1000

Proxy raised the issue of FGM a while back on OLO, but now it seems our doctors are to discuss performing a ritual 'nick' leagally in the hope of redu...

Time to close down the CSA

Fri, 28 May 2010 02:56:02 +1000

OK straight away now you all know I am a father... It would be poor form to air one's dirty linen too much on the issue, but without said dirty linen...

What Hypocrisy -The Mining Industry vs The Feds

Thu, 27 May 2010 17:18:05 +1000

I seem to be somewhat confused with the ongoing political controversy between Government and the Mining Industry. Mr Rudd and the "economists&q...

My People.. Aboriginal People

Thu, 27 May 2010 10:03:28 +1000

Didn't the White Australians ever think of the future of my people? We were destoyed quickly.. They knew what they were doing to my people But the con...

Why bother with plans?

Wed, 26 May 2010 20:44:09 +1000

Remember Terry what's his name, deputy premier, & Anna's head kicker. Remember the big hoo-ha, before he retired. The definitive plan for South East ...

Religious Education As a Part of Literary Culture

Wed, 26 May 2010 19:23:20 +1000

Richard Dawkins in his book, "The God Delusion," tell us that, "The King James Bible of 1611 - the Authorised Version - includes passag...

Would they tell us? religion debate

Wed, 26 May 2010 18:42:14 +1000

I have no intentions of hurting any one, or denying them the right to believe. I believe in humanity but no God. Can we talk about this? If government...

Securency and the RBA

Wed, 26 May 2010 08:34:14 +1000

This week's ABC 4Corners report 'Dirty Money' revealed allegations of bribery of foreign officials through global agents who were paid higher than nor...

My sustainable climate bill.

Tue, 25 May 2010 08:54:49 +1000

The Greens have come out with a 132 page document called THE SAFE CLIMATE BILL. http://greensmps.org.au/webfm_send/265 http://greens.org.au/node/512...

Frankenstein In Gay Sex Romp

Tue, 25 May 2010 00:04:13 +1000

The other day I was "forced" to watch a commercial television news broadcast. I decided to go with it as I fantasised that the lead story wo...

Flu

Mon, 24 May 2010 14:31:29 +1000

Just wondering how many have received the flu jab this year? Every person I know who has had it seems to have copped a dose of the flu....

CLAUSE 61 and the GAY RIGHTS DEBATE.

Mon, 24 May 2010 07:57:47 +1000

We have one debate going on about Akermanis statement. In view of the vicious and unfounded attacks on him subsequently, it might be of value to exam...

Finally......... new life from non living matter is created by mankind.

Sat, 22 May 2010 16:49:41 +1000

Well, it's happened. A team of 20 scientists has created life from non living matter. It took 10 years and 40 million dollars. The single celled orga...

Homosexuality and public life

Sat, 22 May 2010 09:08:53 +1000

Recently Jason Akermanis put forward the view that homosexual footballers should not "out" themselves while playing the game. His reasoning ...

Invitation to Teat?

Fri, 21 May 2010 22:53:34 +1000

Why is it that many women display a goodly portion of their breasts in public but men are forced to sneak peaks at them for fear of being caught looki...

RACE WAR! How to handle news

Fri, 21 May 2010 17:02:52 +1000

RACE WAR TIME BOMB screams the front page of the Herald Sun newspaper of 19 May. It is a story about Asian gang warfare in Melbourne. Quoting a leaked...

Conspiracy Theories

Fri, 21 May 2010 15:35:13 +1000

From �The Enigmas of History� �There are several reasons for our fascination with the world of conspiracies. For one thing we live in an �information ...

Daves Gone Missing So Should Labor

Fri, 21 May 2010 05:53:32 +1000

Is this the last straw for the voters of New South Wales, Transport Minister David Cambell caught out using a taxpayer funded car to visit Kens of Ken...

Maurice Strong -Green Savior of mankind.

Thu, 20 May 2010 21:07:35 +1000

Let me introduce the new "Messiah"... of the planet that is.. One Maurice Strong. For a while I thought it was StevenLMeyer..but Mr Strong ...

UK election...when trends are bucked.

Thu, 20 May 2010 06:14:34 +1000

The UK election outcome contained some interesting aspects. Let's look at 2 seats and see if we can work it out? The trend for Labour has been down....

High cost of death

Wed, 19 May 2010 17:27:17 +1000

I wounder why we have paupers graves? For hundreds of years the poor have been buried in graves that are outside the norm. Funerals can go from a few ...

What does the future hold for our grandchildren?

Wed, 19 May 2010 16:54:34 +1000

I've been watching the news, reading the papers - and frankly I'm sick of all the politics. I can't help but wonder - what sort of country this will...

Workplace drug and alcohol testing

Mon, 17 May 2010 17:12:43 +1000

I read a proposed drug and alcohol policy today which raised concerns and questions. Before I go further let me clarify that I'm an unusually light dr...

Mohammed, Muhammad, Mohammad, Muhammed

Mon, 17 May 2010 08:24:05 +1000

The name Mohammed is now the most popular new-born boy's name in Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Oslo, London, Westminster, Yorkshire, etc. http://ww...

So You Think You're A Pollie?

Sun, 16 May 2010 13:37:09 +1000

Dear Graham, great to see the exposure for OLO with your survey results published in The Weekend Australian. This prompted me to make this suggestion....

Is proposed Mosque at Ground Zero provocative or conciliatory?

Sat, 15 May 2010 22:39:48 +1000

A 13 storey mosque is proposed to be built within two blocks of the twin towers site. The developer of the site claims that his project is an attempt ...

Men are better than women at what?

Sat, 15 May 2010 18:25:41 +1000

We hear time and again that women are better then men at certain things. They "encourage more co-operation" They "strive to find resolu...

Jessica's last battle.

Sat, 15 May 2010 12:21:38 +1000

I have just spent a few minutes watching Jessica bash her way up wind, back south to the Sydney heads, having allowed herself to be carried past Sydne...

Will Democracy ultimately fall to Judicial Tyranny?

Fri, 14 May 2010 11:51:09 +1000

Obama is set to appoint yet another judicial activist to the US Supreme Court. Kagan, whose only qualification appears to be that she is a radical who...

The Burqini Will Solve Our Woes.

Thu, 13 May 2010 17:40:35 +1000

John Passant has an article on his site that argues the banning of the Bikini since some want to ban the Burqa.John argues that the bikini is a symbol...

Do you Agree that better oral health education is needed.

Thu, 13 May 2010 15:12:18 +1000

Rudd fails on prevention Health reform reports like �A healthier future for all Australians� (item 86) recommend that Government should finance impro...

Has Spain got the right Approach ?

Thu, 13 May 2010 07:43:35 +1000

I just heard on the news that Spain is cutting back Public service pays & public funded Super contribution. Australia, as we all know has an insanely ...

Tax the 'eggs' - Not the chickens

Wed, 12 May 2010 06:25:04 +1000

I think the idea of the proposed �super tax� on non-renewable recourses is a great idea, however, I also feel the government is going the wrong way ab...

Have the banks dodged a bullet?

Wed, 12 May 2010 06:18:22 +1000

With the recent announcement of a mining �super tax�, the banks must be feeling pretty nervous considering they also mak 'super profits. Unlike the m...

Virgin price gouging

Tue, 11 May 2010 03:29:12 +1000

Interesting to read about the reality TV show on virgins auctioning off their virginity. The female stands to gain $20,000 plus a share of the proceed...

Woolworths and Coles duopoly

Mon, 10 May 2010 16:16:02 +1000

SUPERMARKET chains Woolworths and Coles appear to have increased their dominance of the grocery sector in the first three months of 2010, poaching mar...

More nurses in General Practice

Mon, 10 May 2010 14:37:17 +1000

At present about 60% of GP's have a practice nurse already. A cash bonus from the Federal Government is the "carrot" to encourage the other...

Is spelling still important

Sun, 9 May 2010 22:27:42 +1000

The cuireir mial on sutarday ran and ad siyang our garde there stedutns are tirrelbe splllers. But why is this such a huge problem? After all, if yo...

Downshifting - Sea Change or Tree Change

Sun, 9 May 2010 19:40:26 +1000

Many people are now talking about living simpler less consumer driven lives. Often around those discussions the subject of moving out of the cities in...

Kevin Rudd a considered opinion

Sun, 9 May 2010 19:33:56 +1000

It has been said I am welded on to Rudd, just maybe that is not true. In a forum now gone, called I think Australian politics I referred to him as Kru...

Female Genital Cutting: A nick in time?

Sun, 9 May 2010 18:27:51 +1000

The American Academy of Pediatrics: "Recommends that its members actively seek to dissuade families from carrying out harmful forms of FGC."...

Insulation Bungle, Labor and the Unions

Sun, 9 May 2010 12:06:04 +1000

Now we have seen that labor did know about the extreme dangers of the insulation bungle, one has to ask what were the unions doing. Were they still bo...

Why do workers get paid by the hour

Sat, 8 May 2010 18:31:18 +1000

It has always amazed me why we, as employers, have to pay employess by the hour, yet, almost everything we sell or make is sold either by weight or pe...

What's Your Favourite Poem --- And, Why?

Sat, 8 May 2010 16:45:14 +1000

I thought I'd try something a bit different from the normal run of topics this time... "What's Your Favourite Poem - And, Why?" I'll go fi...

What Do We Talk About Next?

Sat, 8 May 2010 16:00:17 +1000

Any one else think we are in a slump? Thread about unemployed vs pensioners seems the last straw. Mining tax thread has legs a few others going well b...

A modest proposal for electoral reform - who do you hate the most?

Sat, 8 May 2010 13:30:27 +1000

The British election results have got more thinking about electoral reform. Here is the difficulty. A loathing for, say, the ALP does not always tra...

Insane Economics

Sat, 8 May 2010 08:41:54 +1000

It was just over 12 mths ago that the stimulus packages began.Labor was pannicked by it's advisors and the RBA into borrowing $ billions from China.Ra...

Pensioners versus the unemployed...

Fri, 7 May 2010 19:48:42 +1000

I saw on telly today, where they were comparing pensions in different countries. They said what the rate is in Australia, and I thought thats nearly d...

whither democracy

Fri, 7 May 2010 17:38:42 +1000

One can only wonder what example established democracies are setting to the developing world with regard to democracy. We are very quick to accuse fle...

Miners and big money spin

Fri, 7 May 2010 17:01:26 +1000

Multinational Mining Giants threatening to leave Australia for greener pastures because of taxes on their super-profits, is the worst sort of misleadi...

forum for grandmother

Wed, 5 May 2010 18:16:02 +1000

Hi, I would like to chat to grandmothers of toddlers! also if there are any grandmothers who need a friend, all my friends have husbands so I spend a ...

Australian Super-profit tax to boost Canada's competitive advantage

Wed, 5 May 2010 16:39:47 +1000

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/super-profit-tax-to-boost-canadas-competitive-advantage-says-jim-flaherty/story-e6frg9df-122586...

mining boom or bust?

Tue, 4 May 2010 17:10:52 +1000

The response by the mining industry to the Rudd tax has been predictable, as has been the Liberal Party's response. We are reminded that the mining in...

Kevin Rudd...worst ever

Tue, 4 May 2010 09:10:50 +1000

The Rudd government inherited a $90 billion comfort zone via a $20 billion Federal budget surplus and the $60 billion Future Fund. In a single parliam...

Nanny State Limits Access to Codeine

Mon, 3 May 2010 12:44:13 +1000

Back in June last year, the National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee decided to change the rules relating to analgesic medications containing cod...

Home straight for jessica

Mon, 3 May 2010 09:42:26 +1000

This morning Jessica posted a comment on her blog that she had rounded the bottom of Tassie and was heading NORTH. This is such a relief and she now ...

Nurse Practitioners - Access to PBS and MBS

Mon, 3 May 2010 08:08:15 +1000

On the 16th March 2010, the Senate passed legislation to provide nurse practitioners and midwives access to the Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) and to P...

Compulsory Super- Why does it always fall on the employers

Mon, 3 May 2010 07:45:11 +1000

Once again we see there is to be a lift in the rate of super contributions by employers. We started with 3%, then 6%, now 9% and now they want us to ...

UN elects Iran to its Commission on the Status of Women

Sat, 1 May 2010 18:00:21 +1000

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women is "dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women". Does the four y...

Does Israel Control the USA?

Sat, 1 May 2010 16:41:33 +1000

USA / Israel relations have been in turmoil recently.see http://www.voltairenet.org/article164852.html Joe Biden the vice Preseident of USA was visiti...

Net filtering ditched as Conroy returns freshly whipped from the US.

Sat, 1 May 2010 07:59:56 +1000

http://www.zeropaid.com/news/88940/aussie-govt-postpones-net-filter/ Yet another ill thought out Labor policy is quietly ditched prior to the electio...

Multicultural Diversity Statement threatens free speech

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 22:18:33 +1000

The MDS doesn�t go far enough say multiculturalists. I say the MDS goes too far. http://www.immi.gov.au/about/stakeholder-engagement/_pdf/people-of-a...

Politicians' false statements

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:25:25 +1000

False advertising, false statements, false promises, these are against the law for businesses ... why not for politicians? Why should they have a righ...

Supermarket supersize me

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 06:38:10 +1000

Not long ago Mcdonalds was taken to task over its use of "supersize" options. Where the customer can pay a small amount above the listed pri...

Inflation and the Rudd Government

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:31:34 +1000

Todays Herald Sun headline achieves a new low in journalistic integrity by proclaiming the Rudd Govt is responsible for inflation and is a classic cas...

What Rabbits.

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:15:55 +1000

Has anyone noticed the media, all trailing along after our ABC. Ruddy wanted the carbon tax, [we call it a carbon trading scheme] off the agenda, & t...

Are our kids being exploited by football clubs

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:00:50 +1000

There are several large football clubs in the Brisbane area and they all have one thing in common, they have hundreds of kids playing football each we...

Health reform: Different funding, No change on the ground.

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 09:31:45 +1000

David Penington, a senior fellow at Melbourne's Grattan Institute who initially backed the deal Kevin Rudd struck with the states, said yesterday he w...

I think he's got it.

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:55:10 +1000

By jove, he really might have it. The fact, that is, that AGW, & any hope of a super tax, in the name of carbon reduction is dead. Our Ruddy now want...

Aged Care is Only Getting Worse For Workers...

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:43:09 +1000

When will Residential Aged Care Facilities learn that the very thing that is earning them money is the very thing suffering! RNs, EENs and care staff ...

Time for a new National Firearms Agreement

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:14:30 +1000

It is fourteen years since the Port Arthur massacre. It is past time for evidence-based gun controls. The 1996 National Agreement on Firearms was bas...

analogy between 9/11 and Hill 60

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:20:01 +1000

Beneath Hill 60 is the story of the diggers who tunneled under enemy lines to place explosives. About 10,000 Germans died in the resulting explosive o...

Salary cap scandal

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 11:26:37 +1000

From today�s editorial in the Courier Mail: <

Google it to admit to being a tool of the state

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:48:57 +1000

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8633642.stm Google has just released the requests from countries for take-downs and user details. My stance on &...

The Goldman Sachs fraud as explained by Jon Stewart

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:12:19 +1000

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/20/jon-stewart-takes-on-gold_n_544102.html I can thing of nothing that explains it all better...

Nowhere left to hide.

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 06:29:46 +1000

The recent anouncment by Tony Abbot may well have some 'dole bludgers' trembling in thier boots. You see many 'mining towns', until now, have often b...

Human Rights Charter rejected

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:12:19 +1000

The Federal government has rejected a Human Rights Charter. This is good news for those who were concerned about it's potential for the introduction o...

Monogamy - Is it natural?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:03:05 +1000

In today's society we have single-parent families. We have cohabitation, we have "serial" marriages, with people marrying, divorcing, remar...

Prison Security

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:10:45 +1000

Watching the Carl Williams saga on TV makes me wonder what's wrong with affording an inmate the same level of security that the inmate afforded to his...

National Service

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:05:39 +1000

The dilemma of an increasingly incompetent work force, homeless people, ignorant policy makers, ignorant authorities, useless or rather pointless bure...

The Cold Comfort of Local Climate Stats

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:22:32 +1000

Whatever news a person may read and digest from the IPCC in the end it is what happens around them that often has more sway on their feelings about th...

So, what happens if it keeps burning?

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:45:03 +1000

A bloke I know did a 'what if' blog discussion at the Brisbane Times about what happens if the 'winaprizeifyoucanpronounceit' volcano in Iceland keeps...

Can Iran be deterred?

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:40:20 +1000

Israel can't let it happen. Full stop. America will never be under rocket threat from Iran because Israel JUST CAN'T let them have that initial capabi...

Polls and boat arrivals

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:38:26 +1000

So the polls show a Labor victory but a gain for rabbott, on that subject. I have to ask, why. My e mail system is full of raw hatred toward these fol...

Request for review

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:17:29 +1000

Dear members, I submit herewith a booklet titled �Philosophy of life and other essays� containing reflections on various issues pertaining to life in...

Barack Obama 42% ,Ron Paul 41%. Rassmussan Poll

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:41:52 +1000

This result is totally amazing.see http://www.ronpaul.com/ Rassmussen polls are considered to be very reliable and yet we have a republican of high in...

Organ Donation

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:44:17 +1000

Every year I do a bit about organ donation. Hello twenty ten!. Since my post last year WA has opened up the discussion regarding my long held belief...

Is Rudd a bad boss and worse hypocrite.

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:26:48 +1000

Rudd has done away with unfair work conditions for everyone but his own staff. http://www.smh.com.au/national/pms-office-turnover-rudd-says-his-staff...