Brilliant speech by ex Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Particularly from ~7min 20s. She is a huge loss and history will treat her much more kindly ( Read more... )

I wanted to buy some official campaign things from the Obama store, but they don't ship internationally :( Neither do democraticstuff.com.

I feel kind of silly for being so excited and proud ( Read more... )

Emergency drill at work today. On a horrible wet and windy day ( Read more... )

From SMH:

Australia's pandering to the United States takes many forms, including large-scale military misadventures, submissive "cultural" surrender, and protecting to the last dime the sanctity of American global profits ( Read more... )

Good article on the current flag arguments.

his great achievement transformed into a piece of social graffiti, a toy, a trend, a product, marketed like a Steve Irwin lunchbox, but so much more than that. A symbol. Yes, but of what? It would be simpler to divine the meaning of Steve Irwin. The flag furrows the brow. Love of nation, or rejection of ( Read more... )

Note: don't ask questions during US holidays...

Reasking: recommendation for what Vienna Teng cd to buy first (I have Warm Strangers mp3ified ( Read more... )

Thank you to everyone who helped explain the mid-term elections and term lengths to me. I have knowledge! Still weirded out by the two year Congress terms. While the initial reasons for it do sound perfectly reasonable, it seems like a bit of a waste of money, time and effort now ( Read more... )

I'm not sure if they ever fully explained the midterms on tWW.

Now, I understand that all the House of Reps and about a third of the Senate were up for election? How long are the terms? What happens in 2008? Does the House of Reps go up for election again? Another part of the Senate?

And, sangerin, have you heard about the NSW chapter of Democrats ( Read more... )

First we lose Natasha Stott Despoja.

And now one of the shining lights of journalism:

SHE has been described as dangerous, but only the powerful needed to fear her. Now they can relax: Maxine McKew, TV's most agile, smart and charming interrogator, is leaving broadcasting, probably for good.