Norway
What to make of this? I don't doubt the murder of Oslo describes himself as "Christian", but I doubt he says he's "right-wing", more likely "conservative", and here we have the possibility of definitions. When this angry, hate-filled person says he's Christian, he means he's not a Muslim. Perhaps not a Jew or a Hindu, but I doubt he's ever taken his thinking as far as that. He has defined himself as the opposite of the Other of the day, and we all know who that is. In another time, before or yet to come, that could have been different. But he's no Christian, that's certain.

As far as being "conservative", well, that's come to mean something other than what it once was. Instead of trying to preserve something good, to slow reckless progress, conservatism, as we've seen in the U.S., perhaps especially lately, really means trying to roll back the clock to a idealised fantasy age: the 'fifties, the 'forties, the nineteenth century in more than some cases. This bastard is no different from the tea party crazies or the English Defense League or the National Front or whomever else you'd care to name. They want a different age, but have no understanding of what was truely at work in that age and why it cannot be.

I mourn Norway's losses, both the people and the sense that such madness was not part of their culture. It's in us all, unfortunately. Please let us find our way to a better relationship among ourselves sooner than it seems we have in us.

Gas
Australia's got a carbon tax, until 2015 - according to the plan - when we get a emissions trading scheme. I'm not opposed to either, but have my doubts about the overall efficacy of the plan on actually reducing emissions, although still willing to support positive efforts and evaluate whatever outcome is achieved, howsoever little that will be in my lifetime, especially with the Chinese, the Indians, and the U.S. unwilling or unable to act. For that matter, aren't India and China still among the developing nations, i.e., lumped in with Africa et al., and therefore those that will be on the outer with developed nations acting, not acting, and requiring their participation.

I guess it's one of the advantages of the Australian government's setup, that we can put through this kind of legislation, without having to have a "mandate", and without having to deal with a just-say-no opposition capable of siphoning off members of the party in power. Party-line voting can be trouble, too, but here's Australia taking action when the big players can't get it together to have it on the agenda even.

Sure, we have the usual suspects proclaiming doom, but, quietly, in other areas, you've got businesses and people looking for a way to make it work, and to make a profit, too. Will it cost jobs? Maybe, but it'll probably create some, too. Will it kill off entire industries? Please.