El Duderino

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Thursday, June 21, 2007

12:43AM - What I meant by that

The thing that really bugged me about Julia Gillard was that silliness where she was claiming that the government commissioning economic modelling about the impact of more of the workforce moving onto AWAs indicated some kind of mad conspiracy. That's just ridiculous. I have no idea what the government's plans are. I don't trust them, but I don't know what they are. What I do know is that now any time the ALP commissions some independent economic modelling -- say, to examine the worst-case scenario of a particular government policy -- the Libs can turn back to them and say it's all some kind of conspiracy.

Rule number 1: Don't let them have anything against you.

Current mood: blah

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Wednesday, June 20, 2007

12:52AM - Gillard should quit

Maybe not as deputy leader of the ALP, but certainly as spokesperson on industrial relations. She's clearly not got her head around the issue, fails to understand the ALP's contributions to the area, and has said and done some very silly things as a result. Believe it or not, this is the issue upon which the ALP just might win government, the issue that has made it a relevant political force again -- and Gillard has dropped the ball too many times. It's blunting the ALP's attack on the soft, vulnerable underbelly of the government. Industrial relations needs to be handled by someone who really "gets" it. Otherwise the voters will stick with the government because, while they don't have a very good industrial relations policy, at least they seem to understand what their policy is.

Current mood: aggravated

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Tuesday, June 12, 2007

6:15PM - Outed!

So there I was, keeping a low profile on Live Journal and not actually even telling most people I had a spot here. Really, I only got a spot here because a friend said I ought to and another friend said I could only read her more interesting posts if I was on her Friends list and of course you can't be a real friend unless you're a Friend. So I signed up.

Wasn't planning to do much with it, maybe occasionally post some thoughts on the political situation here. Then all hell broke loose, and my life kind of went a funny shape at the end of 2005. So I haven't posted anything since then.

Until now. Today, a friend of mine did some freelance work for the magazine I run (good work too) and told the world about it on her blog. In the course of which she revealed that "coopstock ... happens to be the editor of Australian Macworld". Great.

Now, I don't know how many people will follow the link from there to here, but it'll be a little bit embarrassing if they do and all they find is some random stuff from two years ago. So here's this, to explain why.

Maybe I should start posting again more regularly.

Ah, that's what I need ... more writing to do.

Current mood: amused

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Tuesday, November 8, 2005

1:35PM - Just thinking

This story reminded me of an old saying that seems suddenly salient:

Don't think.
If you think, don't speak.
If you speak, don't write.
If you write, don't sign.
If you sign, don't be surprised.

Current mood: worried

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Monday, November 7, 2005

5:59PM - Can't say you weren't warned

The Fink: We have to make an absolutely urgent update to the Crimes Act! Recall the Parliament! Spare no expense!

Kimba the White Elephant: Why?

The Fink: Because we have received specific information about a specific threat that we can't arrest anybody for, because the Crimes Act is out of date!

Kimba the White Elephant: Ooh, nasty. OK, what change do you need to make?

The Fink: We have to change the word "the" to "a"!

Kimba the White Elephant: Why?

The Fink: So that we can arrest people for "a" crime rather than having to specify "the" crime!

Kimba the White Elephant: Why?

The Fink: Because we want to be able to arrest people for a crime that hasn't been committed yet, and that we don't know very much about, like where or when it's going to take place!

Kimba the White Elephant: So, let me get this straight -- you have specific information about a specific crime ...

The Fink: A specific threat!

Kimba the White Elephant: ... OK, a specific threat, and you have to change the Crimes Act because it's too specific?

The Fink: Yes! And we must hurry!

Kimba the White Elephant: Why?

The Fink: Because the threat is imminent!

Kimba the White Elephant: So you know when it's going to happen?

The Fink: No! So it might be any moment!

Kimba the White Elephant: Uh, OK, I guess. Since you're being so specific ...

And these are the people running our country.

Current mood: frustrated

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