In the Event of an Emergency, You Will Be Told Where to Go
For the 3rd anniversary of the September 11 murders, NYC is advising residents to prepare and maintain a “go bag,” a ready-to-hand satchel containing a few necessities for going on the lam from some calamity other than the subways getting flooded. I’ve annotated the list.
• Copies of your important documents. Does Immigration issue duplicate passports, or should I forge my own?
• Extra set of car and house keys.
• Credit and ATM cards and small, unmarked bills. Personally, I think gold and precious stones would be more useful.
• Bottled water and granola bars. You will get hungry on the long march.
• Flashlight, portable radio, and batteries. It will be dark in the tunnels, but you can have a rave on the way if your radio gets FM. Otherwise, the flashlight will mostly be useful to any snipers wishing to pick you off in the dark.
• Medication (n.b., unexpired medication). ‘Ludes would be good.
• First aid kit. Or bandaids, anyway.
• Shoes, rain gear, and a mylar blanket. (That’s a space blanket to anyone born before 1979.)
• A regional map, presumably marked with the preselected meeting place you’re advised to pack.
• Child care or other special care items. These may or may not include your teddy. If you’re packing diapers, keep in mind that cloth is going to work better than the disposable kind during the period you’re a refugee, or else you’ll run out.
Looking at the list, I’m thinking your go bag better be a backpack, because it’s going to be heavy, especially with all the shoes, water, and gold. I shouldn’t joke too much, though, because it’s not a bad idea. When brother T. lived in SF, he kept a supply of canned goods and filled the bathtub at night in case of earthquake, which made a lot more sense than you might initially think. A refugee backpack, however, isn’t necessarily going to provide much more than comfort should anyone need to march over to Jersey.
13 September 2004
This Is What VCR's Are for
That Australian Idol beat the first PM debate in the television ratings (but why are they "rating" the debates anyway?) probably isn't much of a surprise, but it is disappointing in that a conversation I was part of over the weekend included the expressed thought that the present span of voting-age generations is more actively engaged in politics than they have been in recent memory. This is evidently an over-estimation, especially when a colleague here at the office tells me he only saw 5 minutes of the debate because his daughter wanted to watch the nascent pop stars. Our household managed to watch both, technologically adept as we are, but I have to admit that Mark and John weren't nearly as entertaining as they might have been. Hardly Celebrity Death Match, the two sparred like kittens; neither inclined or able to land a telling blow against the other. Somehow Latham came out in the polls with a significant margin of "victory," but I didn't really see it that way myself.
That Australian Idol beat the first PM debate in the television ratings (but why are they "rating" the debates anyway?) probably isn't much of a surprise, but it is disappointing in that a conversation I was part of over the weekend included the expressed thought that the present span of voting-age generations is more actively engaged in politics than they have been in recent memory. This is evidently an over-estimation, especially when a colleague here at the office tells me he only saw 5 minutes of the debate because his daughter wanted to watch the nascent pop stars. Our household managed to watch both, technologically adept as we are, but I have to admit that Mark and John weren't nearly as entertaining as they might have been. Hardly Celebrity Death Match, the two sparred like kittens; neither inclined or able to land a telling blow against the other. Somehow Latham came out in the polls with a significant margin of "victory," but I didn't really see it that way myself.
10 September 2004
Back to Bali
Jemaah Islamiyah is not done with Australia, and have attempted an attack on the Australian embassy in Jakarta. While I remain steadfast in my expectation that a terrorist attack on Australian soil remains only a possibility, rather than a probability, as some politicians would have us believe, the attack points up to me the dangers of the region and the dangers in Australia's relationships with southeast Asia. I cannot understand, however, the nature of these criminals, that they would callously harm innocent civilians. I can only hope that those responsible are caught and put away where they can do no further harm. And this time, perhaps the retrospective errors of the Bali court can be avoided.
Jemaah Islamiyah is not done with Australia, and have attempted an attack on the Australian embassy in Jakarta. While I remain steadfast in my expectation that a terrorist attack on Australian soil remains only a possibility, rather than a probability, as some politicians would have us believe, the attack points up to me the dangers of the region and the dangers in Australia's relationships with southeast Asia. I cannot understand, however, the nature of these criminals, that they would callously harm innocent civilians. I can only hope that those responsible are caught and put away where they can do no further harm. And this time, perhaps the retrospective errors of the Bali court can be avoided.
09 September 2004
Keeping Tabs
A map of Australia showing the Federal Election Districts is going to be very useful for our election party next month. (Via Southerly Buster, who also helpfully provides other election-related links.)
A map of Australia showing the Federal Election Districts is going to be very useful for our election party next month. (Via Southerly Buster, who also helpfully provides other election-related links.)
08 September 2004
Taxes and the Tides of Election Season
Political promises about taxes are never to be counted upon. Looking at Mark Latham’s proposal for low income earners, I’m a bit dismayed. Labor (and I’ve been spelling it wrong up to now, trying to spell it correctly) is proposing $8 per week in tax relief for taxpayers on $52,000 annually, but taking away the government matching funds on voluntary superannuation contributions for those same earners. He says most of the affected population don’t have $1,000 to put into their super, but that’s disingenuous. In fact, although I wouldn’t be eligible for the matching funds, M. would be, and I’d hoped to put us into a position to begin taking advantage of this scheme before long. If Labor gets in, that won’t happen, and our potential old age funds reduced. Not very Laborish, is it? On the other hand, I do agree that a $600 annual payment is not as effective as $130 weekly, so that part of the scheme is not only generous, but truly beneficial. Mark doesn’t get full marks for this: B.
Political promises about taxes are never to be counted upon. Looking at Mark Latham’s proposal for low income earners, I’m a bit dismayed. Labor (and I’ve been spelling it wrong up to now, trying to spell it correctly) is proposing $8 per week in tax relief for taxpayers on $52,000 annually, but taking away the government matching funds on voluntary superannuation contributions for those same earners. He says most of the affected population don’t have $1,000 to put into their super, but that’s disingenuous. In fact, although I wouldn’t be eligible for the matching funds, M. would be, and I’d hoped to put us into a position to begin taking advantage of this scheme before long. If Labor gets in, that won’t happen, and our potential old age funds reduced. Not very Laborish, is it? On the other hand, I do agree that a $600 annual payment is not as effective as $130 weekly, so that part of the scheme is not only generous, but truly beneficial. Mark doesn’t get full marks for this: B.
Professional Expatriatism
I’ve sometimes thought to myself: I’m an expat now, why not spread it around? I think travel; I think relocation. Why not move to England, I think sometimes. Why not, indeed? S. never told me about this development in British society, this devolution into binge-drinking hell. But I don’t speak French, Spanish, Italian, or any other language than English - a sad commentary on my education or my lack of foresight and ambition therein - so now I’m pretty much stuck with Canada, Ireland, the U.S., and here. Given the weather alone, I’ve made the right choice in my expat career (so long as they don’t bring back the six-o’clock swill).
I’ve sometimes thought to myself: I’m an expat now, why not spread it around? I think travel; I think relocation. Why not move to England, I think sometimes. Why not, indeed? S. never told me about this development in British society, this devolution into binge-drinking hell. But I don’t speak French, Spanish, Italian, or any other language than English - a sad commentary on my education or my lack of foresight and ambition therein - so now I’m pretty much stuck with Canada, Ireland, the U.S., and here. Given the weather alone, I’ve made the right choice in my expat career (so long as they don’t bring back the six-o’clock swill).
Meow
Don’t you just love Kitty Kelly? She dishes more and better dirt than anybody She did the royals; she did Sinatra. And now that she’s putting out a book on the Bush Dynasty, she’s even turning up timely dish, including the revelation that W.’s reformation has had its ups and downs over the years, more recently than he’d have had us believe, if any of us ever did. Or highs and lows, I guess that would be.
Look, I know it’s dirty pool to gossip or make unsubstantiated allegations; it’s sinking to their level. What’s that quote: If they stop telling lies about us, we’ll stop telling the truth about them? But I’m angry, and I think more of us should be angry. Remember Dean? Remember how angry he was? Not irrational, you know, just really mad at what Bush has done to this country and what the Democratic Party has failed to do to counter the damage. Last night on SBS I caught a bit of Insight, and part of the discussion was the tactic of getting a subject into the public discourse, regardless of its veracity or meaningfulness in the overall debate. This is something the Bush team does frequently, blatantly, and nobody in the mainstream bothers to call them on it. Yesterday, Cheney claimed that a vote for Kerry is a vote for the terrorists to bomb America. Before that, there were claims that Kerry’s service in Vietnam was a tissue of lies.
Don’t let them get away with it. It isn’t enough to vote in November, you need to talk to your friends, write to your newspapers, call in to talk radio, and spew. Let it out. Let’s hear about it: Bush’s substance abuse problem is a problem for America. Bush’s cowardice in the 70’s is a problem for America. Bush’s conduct in the “war on terror” is a problem for America. It’s a problem for the world.
Don’t you just love Kitty Kelly? She dishes more and better dirt than anybody She did the royals; she did Sinatra. And now that she’s putting out a book on the Bush Dynasty, she’s even turning up timely dish, including the revelation that W.’s reformation has had its ups and downs over the years, more recently than he’d have had us believe, if any of us ever did. Or highs and lows, I guess that would be.
Look, I know it’s dirty pool to gossip or make unsubstantiated allegations; it’s sinking to their level. What’s that quote: If they stop telling lies about us, we’ll stop telling the truth about them? But I’m angry, and I think more of us should be angry. Remember Dean? Remember how angry he was? Not irrational, you know, just really mad at what Bush has done to this country and what the Democratic Party has failed to do to counter the damage. Last night on SBS I caught a bit of Insight, and part of the discussion was the tactic of getting a subject into the public discourse, regardless of its veracity or meaningfulness in the overall debate. This is something the Bush team does frequently, blatantly, and nobody in the mainstream bothers to call them on it. Yesterday, Cheney claimed that a vote for Kerry is a vote for the terrorists to bomb America. Before that, there were claims that Kerry’s service in Vietnam was a tissue of lies.
Don’t let them get away with it. It isn’t enough to vote in November, you need to talk to your friends, write to your newspapers, call in to talk radio, and spew. Let it out. Let’s hear about it: Bush’s substance abuse problem is a problem for America. Bush’s cowardice in the 70’s is a problem for America. Bush’s conduct in the “war on terror” is a problem for America. It’s a problem for the world.
07 September 2004
Dreamtime, USA
Not a political post, well, not exactly, but there’s now evidence that the North American continent was first populated from Australia. However, not finding any worthwhile marsupials, they didn’t stay.
Not a political post, well, not exactly, but there’s now evidence that the North American continent was first populated from Australia. However, not finding any worthwhile marsupials, they didn’t stay.
Kyoto & Bob Carr
Bob Carr’s statistical speech on the environment is very nice, but it’s coming from a man who campaigned on an end to logging in old-growth forests, but continues to ship timber to the wood-chippers in Japan. Are there any politicians who practice what they preach?
Bob Carr’s statistical speech on the environment is very nice, but it’s coming from a man who campaigned on an end to logging in old-growth forests, but continues to ship timber to the wood-chippers in Japan. Are there any politicians who practice what they preach?
Grey
One of the big concerns moving to Australia was employment, not just because it was a new market with new business practices (business is business, after all), but also because I’m getting into age-discrimination range [thanks, Kate]. Working on the margins of IT, I get the searching questions, the off-hand remarks – sometimes – but because I also work in HR, for the most part it seems that my interviewers know better than to make a serious and overt effort to exclude me based on age. But it is a significant problem for many people here, and recent examples of the trend in Australia have appeared in the daily newspapers; articles on older-age apprenticeships, for example, or TAFE course work in hospitality and similar industries. For a country that has prided itself on the strength of its labor movement, it’s almost surprising to encounter these ideas. It’s also disheartening sometimes. Back in the States, I knew that it was going to be increasingly a problem for me. My bosses would get younger, and they’d want to bring their friends in. The technology has continued to outpace me, as has the jargon. But no matter what you call it or how you code it, I know what I’m talking about and I can make you understand it, too, so don’t let the grey hairs fool you.
One of the big concerns moving to Australia was employment, not just because it was a new market with new business practices (business is business, after all), but also because I’m getting into age-discrimination range [thanks, Kate]. Working on the margins of IT, I get the searching questions, the off-hand remarks – sometimes – but because I also work in HR, for the most part it seems that my interviewers know better than to make a serious and overt effort to exclude me based on age. But it is a significant problem for many people here, and recent examples of the trend in Australia have appeared in the daily newspapers; articles on older-age apprenticeships, for example, or TAFE course work in hospitality and similar industries. For a country that has prided itself on the strength of its labor movement, it’s almost surprising to encounter these ideas. It’s also disheartening sometimes. Back in the States, I knew that it was going to be increasingly a problem for me. My bosses would get younger, and they’d want to bring their friends in. The technology has continued to outpace me, as has the jargon. But no matter what you call it or how you code it, I know what I’m talking about and I can make you understand it, too, so don’t let the grey hairs fool you.
06 September 2004
Conventioneering
You know that claim by George II that because of his administration, senior citizens now have better pharmaceutical benefits? It's a lie. Medicare costs to seniors will rise 17.5% next year. Gotta pay for them drugs somehow, huh? He's not going to pay for them.
You know that claim by George II that because of his administration, senior citizens now have better pharmaceutical benefits? It's a lie. Medicare costs to seniors will rise 17.5% next year. Gotta pay for them drugs somehow, huh? He's not going to pay for them.
Draft-Dogding Cowards
The Navy has initiated a review of Kerry's service awards. What is Judicial Watch? Are they really bi-partisan? Tell me the Commander-in-Chief has nothing to do with this.
The Navy has initiated a review of Kerry's service awards. What is Judicial Watch? Are they really bi-partisan? Tell me the Commander-in-Chief has nothing to do with this.
How I Learned to Stop Worrying & Love Peter Sellers
Out and about this weekend, to see The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, with Geoffrey Rush, followed by dinner at the Green Gourmet, a vegan restaurant, serving both a la carte and buffet, where we had a very nice meal and got home in time to watch, God help us, Australian Idol, which was terrible (they’re all pretty much good singers, but what execrable taste), and Regency House Party’s conclusion, which was enjoyable, if especially for how surprisingly seriously everyone was taking his or her role. Poor Mr. Fox-Smith. Meanwhile, Geoffrey Rush continues to impress me as a harbringer of worthwhile cinematic experiences, because he’s always good, and the movies he’s in are either equally good or at least entertaining (if it’s Pirates of the Caribbean, anyway, or Intolerable Cruelty). He is a terrific character actor who could easily carry the lead role, but seems much more interested in doing the work, rather than where his name appears in the titles. In Peter Sellers he not only does the work and carry the lead, he also plays a number of the other characters in nice bits of cinematic business that add to the film’s exposition of a very troubled man’s life. I think he even does Kubrick better than the actor hired for the role.
Out and about this weekend, to see The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, with Geoffrey Rush, followed by dinner at the Green Gourmet, a vegan restaurant, serving both a la carte and buffet, where we had a very nice meal and got home in time to watch, God help us, Australian Idol, which was terrible (they’re all pretty much good singers, but what execrable taste), and Regency House Party’s conclusion, which was enjoyable, if especially for how surprisingly seriously everyone was taking his or her role. Poor Mr. Fox-Smith. Meanwhile, Geoffrey Rush continues to impress me as a harbringer of worthwhile cinematic experiences, because he’s always good, and the movies he’s in are either equally good or at least entertaining (if it’s Pirates of the Caribbean, anyway, or Intolerable Cruelty). He is a terrific character actor who could easily carry the lead role, but seems much more interested in doing the work, rather than where his name appears in the titles. In Peter Sellers he not only does the work and carry the lead, he also plays a number of the other characters in nice bits of cinematic business that add to the film’s exposition of a very troubled man’s life. I think he even does Kubrick better than the actor hired for the role.
03 September 2004
Sportin' Life
I signed up with the Parramatta Park Runners (scroll down) today. It's a pretty informal outfit, only pursuing one team race entry (City-to-Surf, naturally, as it's the biggest event of the year), meeting every Friday at 1 p.m. for an as-much-as-you-can workout around the park. I only managed to complete a 5K circuit (1 1/2 times around), and I swear the kookaburras were laughing at me as I came down the home stretch, but maybe it was for the guy behind me. It's going to be a long month.
I signed up with the Parramatta Park Runners (scroll down) today. It's a pretty informal outfit, only pursuing one team race entry (City-to-Surf, naturally, as it's the biggest event of the year), meeting every Friday at 1 p.m. for an as-much-as-you-can workout around the park. I only managed to complete a 5K circuit (1 1/2 times around), and I swear the kookaburras were laughing at me as I came down the home stretch, but maybe it was for the guy behind me. It's going to be a long month.
Even his speechwriters don’t know for sure
“This changed world can be a time of great opportunity for all Americans to earn a better living, support your [sic] family . . .” (does he mean “your” as in the delegates at the convention?)
“We will transform these systems so that all citizens are equipped, prepared, and thus truly free to make your [sic] own choices and pursue your [truly sic] own dreams.” (Look, he’s doing it consistently! He must mean the delegates.)
Maybe he really does need Arnold to correct his English. Then again, he can forge a pretty cagey sentence when he needs to:
“. . . women in Afghanistan are no longer shot in a sports stadium.” (They’re shot someplace else, maybe?) “. . . the people of Iraq no longer fear being executed and left in mass graves.” (They’re still getting killed, of course, just not executed, and often they even get to be buried in a grave of their own.)
George lies; people die.
“This changed world can be a time of great opportunity for all Americans to earn a better living, support your [sic] family . . .” (does he mean “your” as in the delegates at the convention?)
“We will transform these systems so that all citizens are equipped, prepared, and thus truly free to make your [sic] own choices and pursue your [truly sic] own dreams.” (Look, he’s doing it consistently! He must mean the delegates.)
Maybe he really does need Arnold to correct his English. Then again, he can forge a pretty cagey sentence when he needs to:
“. . . women in Afghanistan are no longer shot in a sports stadium.” (They’re shot someplace else, maybe?) “. . . the people of Iraq no longer fear being executed and left in mass graves.” (They’re still getting killed, of course, just not executed, and often they even get to be buried in a grave of their own.)
George lies; people die.
Bounce
It remains to be seen if George II can achieve the kind of positive numbers increase in the polls that could translate the Presidential campaign into a tight race now that the convention is over, the balloons have tumbled prettily from the rafters of Madison Square Garden, and the hundreds upon hundreds of political protestors bounced illegally into jail by Bush's toadying mayor, Bloomberg the Beholden, are being summarily bounced right back to the street. I sincerely hope every effort is being made to capitalize on the police-state mentality exhibited in NYC during the convention, as these arrests, among so many other examples too numerous to mention in the days since September 11, 2001, are typical of the kind of fear-mongering oppression Bush has imposed on the nation. Don't forget: they want you to be afraid; they want you to be divided. Bush and Cheney and Ashcroft and Rumsfield and Rice and all their cronies and lackeys want to divide the nation into those who stand with them and those they can rob. Yes, it's all about the money, the power and privilege money conveys. If you have it, they don't; so they'll take it from you. They do this best when you're too afraid to stop them. But they can be stopped, on November 2, so if you're an American, register to vote and then get out there and do it. If your an expatriate American, or just away from home, register to vote by September 15 and then do it when the ballot arrives. If you know an American, tell him or her to vote, a lot. We only get one shot at this for the next four years, and the next four years will shape the next decade.
It remains to be seen if George II can achieve the kind of positive numbers increase in the polls that could translate the Presidential campaign into a tight race now that the convention is over, the balloons have tumbled prettily from the rafters of Madison Square Garden, and the hundreds upon hundreds of political protestors bounced illegally into jail by Bush's toadying mayor, Bloomberg the Beholden, are being summarily bounced right back to the street. I sincerely hope every effort is being made to capitalize on the police-state mentality exhibited in NYC during the convention, as these arrests, among so many other examples too numerous to mention in the days since September 11, 2001, are typical of the kind of fear-mongering oppression Bush has imposed on the nation. Don't forget: they want you to be afraid; they want you to be divided. Bush and Cheney and Ashcroft and Rumsfield and Rice and all their cronies and lackeys want to divide the nation into those who stand with them and those they can rob. Yes, it's all about the money, the power and privilege money conveys. If you have it, they don't; so they'll take it from you. They do this best when you're too afraid to stop them. But they can be stopped, on November 2, so if you're an American, register to vote and then get out there and do it. If your an expatriate American, or just away from home, register to vote by September 15 and then do it when the ballot arrives. If you know an American, tell him or her to vote, a lot. We only get one shot at this for the next four years, and the next four years will shape the next decade.
02 September 2004
27 Lies
Actually, I don't think the ALP's compendium of outright lies and broken promises make 27 distinct points, but it does document at least one good reason for just about anyone to vote against Howard. A similar summary might be useful in locating one good reason to vote for Labour, but if you read their platform, I'm pretty sure you'll find something.
Actually, I don't think the ALP's compendium of outright lies and broken promises make 27 distinct points, but it does document at least one good reason for just about anyone to vote against Howard. A similar summary might be useful in locating one good reason to vote for Labour, but if you read their platform, I'm pretty sure you'll find something.
1000 Points of Hope
I don’t normally go in for hokey, but I’ll be at the American Can Do Better rally tonight in Martin Place. Around the world, timed to coincide with Bush’s appearance at the GOP Convention in NYC, protestors will gather with flashlights, candles, and so forth, to declare their preference for an end to the Bush Presidency this November. Democrats Abroad – Australia will be registering voters for absentee ballot. (Don’t forget: the deadline is 15 September.) Americans and Australians are welcome at the rally; in fact, the more the merrier, especially if the media turn up.
I don’t normally go in for hokey, but I’ll be at the American Can Do Better rally tonight in Martin Place. Around the world, timed to coincide with Bush’s appearance at the GOP Convention in NYC, protestors will gather with flashlights, candles, and so forth, to declare their preference for an end to the Bush Presidency this November. Democrats Abroad – Australia will be registering voters for absentee ballot. (Don’t forget: the deadline is 15 September.) Americans and Australians are welcome at the rally; in fact, the more the merrier, especially if the media turn up.
I Cannot Tell a Lie
I suppose there’s more than just the slanderous aspect of Dennis Hastert’s slimy accusations against George Soros on national television, there’s also the fact that he did this because Soros backs the Democrats, so that by slandering someone other than the candidate, he still manages to smear Kerry. This is worse than Bush and the Swifties (only just). (It doesn’t look like an apology’s going to be issued, not that I’d expect one without a very big, public fight, and even then it won’t be on Fox News Sunday.) Anyway, beside the fact that I don’t know where Hastert gets his money either, I only have one question: Dennis, have you stopped beating your wife?
I suppose there’s more than just the slanderous aspect of Dennis Hastert’s slimy accusations against George Soros on national television, there’s also the fact that he did this because Soros backs the Democrats, so that by slandering someone other than the candidate, he still manages to smear Kerry. This is worse than Bush and the Swifties (only just). (It doesn’t look like an apology’s going to be issued, not that I’d expect one without a very big, public fight, and even then it won’t be on Fox News Sunday.) Anyway, beside the fact that I don’t know where Hastert gets his money either, I only have one question: Dennis, have you stopped beating your wife?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
