US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton seems to think piracy is funny.
I’m not sure that the Captain of the Maersk Alabama Richard Phillips, who is currently being held hostage by Somali pirates, sees the funny side of it.
And Hillary, why are the navy a mile away? If they were a tad closer they might have been able to rescue the good Captain when he nearly escaped by jumping in the water overnight.
Samuel
April 11th, 2009 at 05:30pm
After watching yesterday’s video about Clive Robertson, I noticed these two videos about a device which replaced possibly the worst job in telecommunications history…the job of sitting in front of a microphone and announcing the time every few seconds.
This first video is about “George” the speaking clock being installed in Melbourne in 1954. The fact that the recorded time announcements were stored on three optical discs makes the whole thing look like some ancient Godzilla sized CD player.
And in 1990, news camera footage from “George” being retired and replaced by a digital system. Features an interview with the new (and current) voice of the speaking clock Richard Peach, who replaced Gordon Gow.
Samuel
April 11th, 2009 at 06:13am
From Adelaide’s Sunday Mail:
UP to 340,000 students across Australia are set to pocket a $1850 double bonus from the Federal Government because of a stimulus package loophole.
Under the hastily drawn up economic rescue package, full-time students and apprentices from age 16 will receive a $950 one-off stimulus payment – with those also holding down part-time jobs while studying double dipping for a further $900.
[..]
The flaw will blow a $300 million hole in the stimulus budget and some students have told the Sunday Mail they plan to use the unexpected windfall to head overseas.Many families will also receive multiple payments under the scheme, with the average family $3800 better off.
More than 1.36 million Australian families already have qualified for the Single Income Family Bonus and another 1.4 million have qualified for Back to School Bonus payments, with some people qualifying for both.
I assume that the only reason this has become a bigish news story today is because of the $300 million figure, because the story certainly isn’t new. I clearly recall the fact that many people will receive multiple payments being a big part of the news stories back when the stimulus package was being debated in parliament.
In fact, the story even goes on to say almost exactly that:
Senator Xenophon said he raised the issue during the Senate inquiry into the Government’s economic package.
“They said that they were aware of it, but couldn’t change the system to prevent the doubling up,” he said.
“So some people have got extra payments because of the way the system works. This is what happens when you rush something through and it’s by no means ideal.”
It’s an interesting story, but it’s a regurgitation of something we knew a long time ago. And if you think the $300 million makes it newsworthy regardless…well, seriously, what’s another $300 million when Lindsay Tanner is predicting, as reported by AAP today, a $100 billion (yes, with a B) deficit or higher over the next three years? Why it’s a mere 0.3%.
I wonder what I could do with that 0.3%?
Samuel
April 5th, 2009 at 02:53pm
Or that’s what we hope anyway. They counted to two today:
Power has been restored to the 50,000 homes and businesses in Sydney’s CBD and the eastern suburbs which fell into darkness after two major cable’s failed this morning.
Around 10.30 am (AMEDT) this morning the lights went out again in the northern part of the CBD including areas such as Surry Hills, as well as pockets of the Eastern suburbs.
Around fifty sets of traffic lights were also affected, causing problems on major roads.
[..]
Energy Australia say around fifty thousand homes were affected when two major cable’s failed.The section of the city from Town Hall to Circular Quay are affected including George and Pitt Streets.
EnergyAustralia spokeswoman Kylie Yates says that it was not the same cable which failed last Monday, throwing the city into chaos, but a second one.
According to a 2GB news bulletin this afternoon, the failure occurred while a substation was being worked on, and was caused by some issue within that substation. I can only imagine the sinking feeling which must have been felt by the people working on that substation at the time.
New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees isn’t happy, but perhaps he should nip down to his local newsagent and buy a ticket in tonight’s lottery:
“I want to get to the bottom of this – it’s not good enough,” he told reporters in Sydney.
“I was told the other day that the chances of this happening again were one in a million.
On the bright side for Mr. Rees, if he wins the lottery tonight, he can flee the ailing ship New South Wales and make room for Carmel Tebbutt, making some other punters happy:
New South Wales could soon have a female premier, if the latest betting odds are anything to go by.
NSW Deputy Premier Carmel Carmel Tebbutt has shot up the ranks, with Centrebet placing her as the $2.00 favourite to lead the Labor Party to the next election.
At the very least, he would be able to make somebody happy.
Samuel
April 4th, 2009 at 06:27pm
It only took a nine month hiatus for the 3rd episode of Season two to be released, here’s hoping that there is more to come.
For those of you who haven’t got the faintest clue what I’m going on about. Frank and Dale is an Australian animated series which I first mentioned on this blog in May last year when Season two started.
Samuel
April 4th, 2009 at 12:38pm
It looks like the phrase “me too” was banned during the 2007 election campaign, as Kevin Rudd prefers to use the phrase “your prime minister included”.
The pretentious phrase was used as Mr. Rudd tried to bumble his way out of today’s fiasco, the revelations about his amazing ability to reduce females in the Air Force to tears:
Kevin Rudd apologised to a flight attendant on a Royal Australian Air Force VIP flight earlier this year after she was subjected to an angry outburst from the prime minister over not being served the meal he wanted.
The incident occurred on a flight from Port Moresby to Australia in January and News Limited newspapers report that the 23-year-old RAAF flight attendant was reduced to tears over Mr Rudd’s anger.
But Mr Rudd downplayed the incident when he was asked about it at the conclusion of the G20 summit in the British capital on Thursday, saying he did not “observe” any tears over the matter.
Cue the Rudd-speak
“As I recall it, there was a flight, I think from Port Moresby, and I had a discussion with, I think, one of the attendants on the provision of food. It didn’t last very long and if anyone was offended by that, including the attendant concerned, of course, I apologise,” Mr Rudd said during a news conference.
“The provision of food”? That sounds like he was selecting the menu and choosing which meal would go to each person on the plane. A more sensible phrase would have been “my meal”.
Mr. Rudd went on to demonstrate that he knew his choice of words was offensive by saying that people shouldn’t worry about it:
Mr Rudd said that as he recalled, he told a member of the crew not to worry about the language he had used.
“I said to the member of staff not to worry about it,” Mr Rudd said.
Mr Rudd is well known for his extreme work ethic and rumours abound of accounts involving staff who have been on the receiving end of the prime minister’s sharp temper.
“Extreme work ethic”, didn’t Barack Obama use that excuse a few weeks ago?
Mr. Rudd has apologised for upsetting people, but I can’t find any apology for the incident itself.
“As I said before, if I upset anybody on that particular flight I’m really sorry. I apologise for it and, as I said at the time to one of the staff on the plane, that’s it.
“We’re all human, we all make mistakes, your prime minister included.”
Yes your Majest…err…Prime Ministership.
April 3rd, 2009 at 04:00pm
Or maybe he’ll just tell us “it’s in the tapes” like he has been doing for ages.
Perhaps giving us the context will incriminate him, and he will refuse to give us the context on those grounds. The Federal Grand Jury certainly seems to think the context will incriminate him.
Blagojevich Indicted on Federal Corruption Charges
FOXNews.com
Thursday, April 02, 2009Former Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was impeached and ousted, has been indicted on charges he engaged in a “wide-ranging scheme to deprive the people of Illinois of honest government.”
A federal grand jury handed down the 19-count indictment against Blagojevich, his brother, two former aides and two businessmen Thursday. It accuses Blagojevich of corruption involving billions of dollars in state pension bonds.
U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitgerald had until Tuesday to get an indictment against Blagojevich but Thursday was the last day for the grand jury to meet.
FBI agents arrested the Chicago Democrat in December on allegations that also include trying to auction off President Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat.
Illinois lawmakers impeached him and threw him out of office in January.
Blagojevich released the following statement Thursday evening:
“I’m saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment. I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name. I would ask the good people of Illinois to wait for the trial and afford me the presumption of innocence that they would give to all their friends and neighbors.”
The PR firm representing the governor, The Publicity Agency, will send out alerts and advisories as developments warrant.”Blagojevich has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and has promised to fight the charges in court and has a book contract to tell his side.
The former governor is not in Chicago; he’s with his family at Walt Disney World in Florida.
Obama’s deputy press secretary, Josh Earnest, said the White House would not comment. Blagojevich’s indictment does not allege any wrongdoing by Obama or his associates.
A spokeswoman for Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., whom Blagojevich defiantly appointed to replace Obama in the Senate, told FOX News the senator nor his staff will have no comment on the indictment.
Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., who was one of several Senate appointees Blagojevich considered, told FOX News Blagojevich’s indictment is “a sad day for the state of Illinois. It’s a sad day for politics.
“I’m still hoping that the governor is not guilty,” he added. “I think the voters and the citizens must put this behind them as quickly as they can.”
Illinois Republican Party seized on Blagojevich’s indictment to denounce Democrats.
“Today’s indictment opens another tragic chapter in the national embarrassment of Blagojevich Democrats have brought on the people of Illinois,” state Republican Chairman Andy McKenna said in a statement.
“This is another sad day in our state’s history, but Republicans are ready to bring change and reform to government and are fighting to bring a new beginning for the people of Illinois,” he said.
Samuel
April 3rd, 2009 at 02:13pm
I received a press release from the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation a short time ago, and they seem to be a tad over-excited:
The Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (AER) today welcomed the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia’s (DSICA) announcement they will place a moratorium on TV advertising of alcohol brands represented by the Spirits Council before 9pm for a period of twelve months, with its effects to be assessed.
AER Chairman Scott Wilson said the move is an encouraging step towards the more responsible alcohol marketing and advertising code called for by Senator Steven Fielding, AER and many public health organisations.
On the face of it, this sounds like a very big story. No alcohol advertising before 9pm is a big step, but the more you read, the less the story seems even remotely interesting. Two paragraphs later Mr. Wilson had this to say:
“This proactive announcement by DSICA covers a handful of alcohol brands that pay significant amounts to promote their products to sporting enthusiasts, young and old. It is important to ensure that alcohol brands across the board adopt a more responsible advertising code, and we believe all alcohol promotion, advertising and sponsorship of sport at all levels should be Government regulated.”
What Mr. Wilson means by “a handful” is “nine”. Yes, that’s right, nine alcohol companies. According to the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia website, these nine companies are:
I can think of a few companies which aren’t on that list, and are therefore not affected by the moratorium. Mr. Wilson went on to say in a side-splitting manner:
“Without this regulation in place, we risk giving other alcohol brands an opportunity to take centre stage – and the game, the players and the audience will suffer the hangover.”
Mr. Wilson is right. Other alcohol companies will take over the vacated advertising spots.
The only thing being achieved by this moratorium is a decrease in the brand-awareness of the nine listed companies, which is only likely to damage those companies in favour of the unlisted companies. It won’t reduce alcohol sales, but it might send the nine companies to the wall, which would give the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation a chance to gloat in their supposed success…after all, the companies must be selling less if they collapse, right?
Samuel
4 comments April 3rd, 2009 at 12:46pm
The Federal Government’s stimulus payments have been declared legal by the majority of the High Court bench. This means that the $900 (or less, depending on your annual income) payments will start flowing next week.
Legal academic Bryan Pape was challenging the legitimacy of the payments in the High Court, claiming the government doesn’t have the power to hand out the money as a tax bonus.
But the majority of the High Court bench has ruled that the payments are valid.
Outside the court Mr Pape said he wasn’t disappointed by the loss, instead he says he was pleased he was given the chance to mount a challenge.
I’m pleased to see the High Court reach a swift decision on this matter, as a decision either way was going to set an important precedent, and having the decision pending wasn’t helpful for anyone.
Update: The Tax Office have issued a press release, stating that stimulus payments will be made between the 6th and 16th of April:
Following the High Court’s decision, the Tax Office today said 7.4 million people who have already lodged their 2007-08 tax return will begin receiving their tax bonus payments from next week.
Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said if people have lodged their 2007-08 tax return and meet the eligibility criteria they don’t need to do anything else to receive the payment.
[..]
“Eligible people who have received their 2007-08 notice of assessment before 27 March 2009 can expect to receive their payment between next week and 16 May 2009.“Those who received their notice of assessment after 27 March 2009 can expect their tax bonus payment around four weeks after they received their notice of assessment.
“Please be patient if you don’t receive the payment immediately.
“We are working closely with Australia Post and the Reserve Bank to distribute around 7.4 million payments over the next six weeks.
[..]
It is not too late for people whose returns are still outstanding, but they must lodge by 30 June 2009 to be eligible unless they’ve already have an extension.“We have extended the availability of e-tax until 31 May 2009 for those who want to do their own return online, or people should contact their tax agent as soon as possible,” Mr D’Ascenzo said.
End Update
Samuel
April 3rd, 2009 at 11:39am
Meet Kathleen Sebelius, the Obama administration’s Health and Human Services Secretary-designate.
Kathleen is the latest in a string of Obama cabinet nominees to realise that she has a tax problem. Kathleen’s tax problems over the last three years were worth $7000. Funny how she forgot about it until she was nominated.
I’m not going to waste much time on this one, because quite frankly if I put much effort in to the stories about the Obama cabinet tax cheats, then I’m going to have to start putting the same amount of effort in to stories about the sun rising and setting each day.
Instead I’ll just take heart in the knowledge that at the beginning of January, Obama’s approval to disapproval rate in the daily Rasmussen poll was 69% to 29%, and today it is 56% to 44%.
Samuel
April 3rd, 2009 at 08:57am
I’m only back in the land of communicating with people for a few moments so that I can write this, once I’m done I’m still “off the grid” and will re-evaluate that position on Monday.
Anyway I’m breaking my silence because of the rather busy night I envisage tonight. ABC1 are screening the 25th anniversary episodes of The Bill, whilst up in Queensland they are having an election which I will need to keep an eye on. I figure that the best option here is to record and delay The Bill as necessary, and have the webstream of the ABC TV coverage on, but mute it in favour of the audio from 4BC.
A couple predictions. A Liberal National Party victory, and Pauline Hanson to receive more than 4% of the primary vote (enough to receive payments from the electoral commission), but not enough to win a seat in Parliament.
And if I can soundproof my house to avoid the awful noises of Skyfire, that will be wonderful.
Samuel
3 comments March 21st, 2009 at 01:35pm
About two weeks ago I mentioned the rather interesting coincidence of a whole stack of developers paying Adolfo Carrión Jr. around the time that he approved their development applications.
I noted, with some humour, at the time that it seemed like corruption, by writing the headline “Looks like corruption, smells like corruption and quacks like corruption”.
It looks like corruption doesn’t bother the devout followers of Barack Obama. Brad noted on his blog a couple days later (sorry that I missed it until now…I wasn’t checking links to this blog last week) that I need to take “another little pink, knicker-deknotting pill”.
A stroke of genius from Brad! I’ll try that line on the judge after I attempt to bribe a police officer who pulls me over for speeding. I’m sure his or her judginess will be most obliging.
Samuel
1 comment March 16th, 2009 at 03:09am
Why is it that kettle manufacturers can make kettles that heat the water to any number of different temperatures, but are yet to make a “single cup capacity” kettle?
I would have thought that in this age of everyone running around trying to conserve energy, the kettle manufacturers would have worked out that there are many kettles which are only ever used to boil enough water for one cup, and that it is not only more energy efficient to boil just the amount of water that you intend to use, but that a smaller kettle requires less material to build.
Update: Reader Valerio points out by email that Tefal and Powergen have produced kettles which are similar to “single cup” kettles. Hippyshopper reviewed them back in 2007 (wow, I’m nearly two years late on this!). Video of the review below.
End Update
Back to kettles that heat water to a number of different temperatures, it would appear that Breville have decided that water for coffee should be heated to 95°C. Sorry but I disagree…water for coffee should be boiled.
Samuel
March 15th, 2009 at 07:40pm
A fair and balanced judicial system, with sensible rulings and the right of appeal. This wouldn’t have been possible if Saddam was still in charge.
An Iraqi court has jailed for three years the journalist who shot to fame in the Arab world for throwing his shoes at former US president George W Bush.
Muntazer al-Zaidi, a 30-year-old television journalist, had pleaded not guilty at the hearing in the Iraq Central Criminal Court to assaulting Bush during his farewell visit to Iraq last year.
“He was sentenced to three years in jail,” defence lawyer Yahia Attabi told reporters outside the Baghdad court.
“We expected the decision because under the Iraqi criminal code he was charged with assaulting a foreign leader on an official visit,” Attabi said, adding: “We will appeal this decision.”
Zaidi, whose shoe-hurling gesture is considered a grave insult in the Arab and Muslim world, had risked up to 15 years in jail on the charge of aggression against a foreign head of state during an official visit.
The former US president, deeply unpopular in the Arab world for ordering the 2003 invasion of Iraq, had been at a globally-televised media conference with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki when Zaidi let rip with his shoes, zinging them at Bush, who managed to duck just in time.
When Judge Abdulamir Hassan al-Rubaie asked Zaidi if he was innocent, the journalist responded: “Yes, my reaction was natural, just like any Iraqi (would have done).”
Samuel
1 comment March 13th, 2009 at 03:05pm
The Deni ute muster has announced a donation of $30,000 to the Navorina nursing home.
The Victorian government is showing no signs of connecting the towns of Nathalia, Rushworth, Heathcote, Cohuna, Leitchville, Lockington and Elmore to the natural gas grid despite a 2002 promise to do so.
The Deniroc Come Back Again drought relief concert is on tomorrow at the Deniliquin boat club from midday to 10pm.
The president of the Australian Local Government Association, Councillor Geoff Lake, is calling on councils across the region to support Harmony Day on March 21.
Government job cuts and a lack of government support for the dairy industry are putting significant pressure on communities in Northern Victoria accoding to State Nationals member for Rodney, Paul Weller.
In Wednesday’s Division two Barooga Football matches, Jerilderie defeated Katunga 16.7.103 to 11.7.73 and Wahgunyah defeated Blighty 12.11.83 to 6.5.41.
Samuel
March 13th, 2009 at 09:38am
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