You can do it here they say … Destroy the Joint.
I tried …
If you click on the image you’ll see I couldn’t get through to them. Maybe it only works for Liberal sexism.
and pray that there's intelligent life somewhere out in space
You can do it here they say … Destroy the Joint.
I tried …
If you click on the image you’ll see I couldn’t get through to them. Maybe it only works for Liberal sexism.
Corruption in office stinks.
The ombudsman, George Brouwer, has found that Liberal MP Geoff Shaw inappropriately used his parliamentary vehicle for commercial purposes. An excerpt from his report …
Misuse of parliamentary resources
Parliamentary vehicle
44. At interview, Mr Shaw gave evidence that he knew his parliamentary
vehicle could not be used for commercial use. However, my investigation
identified that Mr Shaw used his parliamentary vehicle for a commercial
trip to Sale and that he used his parliamentary fuel card to purchase fuel
for a private vehicle on one occasion, in contravention of the Members of
Parliament Motor Vehicle Plan (the plan).
45. Mr Shaw’s parliamentary vehicle was also used by Southern Cross
Hardware for commercial use, including interstate trips. My investigation
established, on the balance of probabilities, that Mr Shaw had knowledge
his employees were using his vehicle in this way.
Mr. Baillieu has a problem. He has a one seat majority and a by-election in Frankston may not go his way. Does he do a Julia and prop up someone guilty of misusing the opportunities that come with office or does he stick to principle and let him go?
Trust the electorate, Ted, you’ve done nothing to offend them. Indeed you’ve done nothing … it worked for Bracks.
The Brazil travel series has been a great success for the blog … traffic has increased dramatically. Thank you to every one that has visited, do come again it ain’t finished yet.
But now seems a good time to say a few thank yous.
A wildlife trip to foreign parts is a complex undertaking. If you were to organise it yourself you’d have to research the places, the animals, the accommodation, connecting travel and more. And you still wouldn’t be as up to speed as the local talent.
Australia is home, here I do my own leg work. Overseas I go to Zegrahm Expeditions, they have taken me to both ends of the earth and many places in between. They deliver a superb product.
The trip to Brazil was led by Mark Brazil, yeah, really. He is English, lives in Japan and leads trips to some magnificent wild destinations. I first met him on a trip to Iceland. He has a PhD in avian ecology. He is very generous with his knowledge but just as importantly he will look after you while you are his guest.
The local talent was Frederico Tavares cofounder of Brasil Aventuras. Brazilians are an open warmhearted people but Fredge stands out as even more warmhearted than the rest. This man knows his wildlife, shares his knowledge and will shepherd you through airports where English may not be spoken and procedures may be a little different. These two guys have been working together for a few years now and have ironed out most of the wrinkles but they are not resting on their laurels. After our trip was over they were off to research more sites of interest, check out the accommodation and look for ways to make a trip to Brazil even better.
Thanks guys, many thanks.
What has come over the Fairfax Press … ?
Paul Shehan in the Sydney Morning Herald …
After sending out two attack dogs, Gutter and Sewer, to do the dirty work, after hiding behind two political zombies, Insufferable and Unspeakable, to stay in power, after using the Minister for Innuendo and the Compromise-General to play the gender card, the mask has finally dropped away to reveal the driver of the politics of hate in Australia.
The mask fell at exactly 2.42pm in the House of Representatives. Looking on were the member for Gutter, Anthony Albanese, the member for Sewer, Wayne Swan, the Minister for Innuendo, Tanya Plibersek, and the Compromise-General, Nicola Roxon, and the independents who will do anything to avoid facing their electorates, Mr Insufferable, Robert Oakeshott, and his fellow regional zombie, Mr Unspeakable, Tony Windsor.
Someone had to set Gutter and Sewer loose. Someone directed Innuendo and Compromise to play the gender card. Someone paid the bill for Insufferable and Unspeakable. Someone’s authority still rests on the vote of Craig Thomson. And someone had to approve making Peter Slipper the Speaker despite his being manifestly disrespected by either side of the house, a low point of political opportunism.
At 2.42 pm on Tuesday that someone rose to speak. The mask fell away. Julia Gillard came out snarling. The Parliament had before it a great issue, the dignity of the house itself, which had been traduced by the scandal that had attached itself to Slipper.
Instead of directly addressing the issue of a discredited speakership which had become engulfed in an expensive and degrading legal action that did no credit to anyone involved, least of all the Attorney-General, the Prime Minister wasted no timing in using misdirection and personal abuse.
She even invoked the name of dead father: “My father did not die of shame!” she thundered across the dispatch box.
No one in the Parliament ever said he did. Tony Abbott had said exactly the opposite when he spoke of her father.
Why tip a bucket of bilgewater into a fierce wind? Why invoke the accusation of misogyny, hatred of women, against an Opposition Leader whose chief of staff, Peta Credlin, is famously one of the most formidable woman in politics, whose mostly female staff is devoted to their boss and who has raised three daughters?
But then why did she mislead the Australian people before the last election on the carbon tax? Why did she leave her law firm under a cloud? Why did she shaft her own leader? Why did she depose a prime minister who had a mandate from the people? Why has she methodically deployed the politics of personal abuse?
The video of Julia lambasting Tony Abbott in the House yesterday has, it seems, gone viral. Feminists everywhere are thrilled, it is featured by the Guardian no less, has been widely praised and is set to knock off GangNam Style in the popularity stakes.
Outside our shores, and outside its context, it can take on a life of its own. Feisty woman yells abuse at man in suit. Advanced abuse, multi-syllables. Colour and movement, flaming hair, etc.
Enjoy.
But remember, this virago is our Prime Minister, this tirade is in defence of a man who has shown himself to be devoid of respect for women by his language and behaviour but who is useful to the government. The abuse is aimed at the leader of the opposition who she says hasn’t done enough to distance himself from comments made not by him, not by a member of the parliamentary Liberal party, comments that Mr. Abbott has said he disagrees with, comments in stark contrast to his own words of condolence said so recently in the House. It is utter hypocracy, and it failed, Mr. Slipper had sufficient decency to resign.
It is not so long ago that this woman said “Game on.” It’s a game she’s losing badly …
… and what a sore loser she is
At breakfast time!
The call came, “There’s an anteater at the bar”.
The breakfast room cleared in a flash and we all headed down the path, past a couple of lagoons, ignoring the Caimans and Capybaras, a Sunbittern and Rufesent Tiger Herons.
And there it was, outside the bar, meandering across a grassy patch towards the road, majestic and weird …
Mark Baker in today’s Age …
THE disgraced former boyfriend of Prime Minister Julia Gillard took a leading role in the purchase with stolen union funds of a Fitzroy unit bought in the name of a union crony, new documents reveal.
The documents also confirm that Ms Gillard intensely managed legal work on the 1993 transaction – without advising her senior partners at law firm Slater & Gordon of the involvement of boyfriend Bruce Wilson.
It even mentions the words “slush fund” and Mr. Baker follows up with this … Sold to the union man … on the questions that should have been asked and weren’t at the Canberra news conference which Julia hoped had put the matter to bed.
There is, of course nothing new about this news, although the Age has studiously avoided the story. Bear in mind that two reporters – Glenn Milne and Michael Smith – last year lost their jobs for trying to covert this. It’s worth following the links simply to read how a quality journalist eventually polishes a story that the blogosphere has worked up for him over many months.
It really can’t be an accident and is the timing not a bit sus, overshadowed by Mr. Slipper’s departure?
Has the Age decided to play a part in saving Labor from its disastrous leadership or are there really new documents that the Age knows are going to make them look foolish for continuing to ignore the story?
Shame, really …
Julia made an impassioned attack on the AbbottAbbottAbbott for his misogyny in her passionate defence of the nice Mr. Slipper. The government stood firm at her back, the filthy AbbottAbbottAbbott must go, the nice Mr. Slipper must return. The usual independents agreed.
You’ve got to feel sorry for the lovely Julia, attacked for nothing more than being a woman.
And admire the way she came out swinging … the defiant victim of sexism taking back the night … and the nice Mr. Slipper.
Oh, Mr. Slipper has resigned.
I guess that’s what happens when you flex your mussel … instead of your brain.
After two nights on the Pixaim river we headed to the very lovely Araras Lodge, an absolute jewel in the Pantanal.
There are several lagoons adjacent to the lodge and a boardwalk that takes you through some fine forest to a tower. From the top of the tower you have a view of the surrounding plains as well as the nearby forest canopy. The wildlife abounds.
There is also a bar just a short and pleasant walk from the lodge. A good place to haunt during the hottest part of the day … if you can drag yourself away from the pool.
The forest yielded Olivaceous, Great Rufous, Straight-billed and Planalto Woodcreepers, Cream-coloured Woodpecker, Blue-crowned Motmot, White-wedged Piculet and many more. Plus Capuchins, Marmosets and Azara’s Agouti. Around the lodge it was necessary to keep the birds off your plate!
Some of the stars (click on the photos for a better view) …
Chestnut eared Aracari.
Hyacinth Macaw.
And next … to the bar at breakfast time. The best excuse ever!