Casting a short shadow

Christopher Hitchens is dead

2011-12-16T20:44:00.000+10:30

Christopher Hitchens is dead He was 62 and died perhaps a little sooner than expected after a public and seemingly stout defiance of oesophegal cancer. He will be missed, though his ideas and his trenchant prose will live on in his writings, many of the best of which have been collected in "Arguably", a book I dip into often.

Twin Towers 10 years on

2011-09-11T20:38:00.003+09:30

Lest we forget.

Local ritual

2011-08-28T21:31:00.002+09:30

Annual hard rubbish collection tomorrow in my neighbourhood, which means today (1) putting unwanted items on street outside house (2) waiting for the roaming recyclers/ scavengers/ gleaners/ totters to remove whatever they think they might be able to use. Stage (3) is tomorrow, or the day after, when the council (or their contractors) will remove what is left (IMO about half of what was

Remembrance Day

2010-11-12T10:34:00.005+10:30

Have been overseas, hence no posts for some time.Yesterday was Remembrance Day, aka 11 November, Armistice Day and (in the USA) Veterans' Day.Here are two pics showing that while the day is still widely observed the manner of its observation changes.I bought my poppy from the Chelsea pensioner who kindly allowed me to take her photo at Sloane Square tube station on 1 November.The other photo

Former PM demoted to Foreign Minister, former Finance Minister lands good job

2010-09-11T21:35:00.008+09:30

Photo taken today in a local car park. A reminder of how things change. Without necessarily remaining quite the same.Today Prime Minister Gillard announced her new ministry , which includes Mr Rudd as Foreign Minister. I find it odd that the Kevin07 who led Labor to victory and then, in the opinion of the party's backroom people, had to be deposed because he ineptly took his party to the

Resolution?

2010-09-08T21:31:00.003+09:30

The Independents have spoken (Mr Oakeshott at great length) and we now have a Labor minority government with Julia Gillard confirmed as Prime Minister (and Mr Abbott, despite his disappointment, graciously acknowledging this).Expert opinion is divided as to whether the government will last a full three year term. Mr Windsor has stated that a major reason for his decision to support the ALP was

Pakistan floods: how Australians can help

2010-08-27T18:28:00.001+09:30

Today ABC radio is conducting an appeal for relief of the Pakistan floods devastation. The lead agency/beneficiary is UNICEF but the ABC website has links to several other charities.Speaking of the ABC, Sally Sara and her support team have been doing an excellent job bringing the magnitude of the disaster to Australian viewers. In doing so they have justified the ABC's extensive network of

Hung Parliament

2010-08-22T22:02:00.003+09:30

A late night last night watching the election results come in and the media pundits attempting to draw conclusions and make predictions about the outcome.My prediction about the result was wrong, though not too wide of the mark. Neither the ALP nor the Coalition look like getting the 76 lower house seats required to form a government in their own right. It's generally assumed that both Adam Bandt

Election Eve

2010-08-20T18:42:00.003+09:30

Since I last posted I've not changed my mind about the result, which, taking my lead from the many published polls and proliferation of expert and other (set the boundaries if you wish) opinion, is that the Government will be returned, probably narrowly.That said the coalition has held fairly firm and Mr Abbott has come across as a better leader and more plausible PM than I expected. If the

Election 2010

2010-07-19T21:13:00.003+09:30

I'm not trying to be the last Australian blogger to comment on the election which Prime Minister Gillard has called for 21 August (or "August 21" as she called it, North American fashion, on Saturday). I'll follow the campaign with interest though expect that most of my comments (and I'm not proposing to make many) will be in short form ie Twitter (@Pathfinder79).For now I'll just say (and I'm

Double ineptitude: BankSA and CGU Insurance's negligence shafts longstanding customer

2010-07-04T23:07:00.006+09:30

For the last few weeks I have suffered at the hands of BankSA and CGU insurance. Here is an edited summary of my claim against them.1. I am a longstanding customer of Bank SA.2. I have been a CGU Insurance Customer for several years and currently hold Home & Contents and Motor Vehicle Insurance policies. I have previously held travel insurance and other motor vehicle policies.3. Bank SA and CGU

Backroom machinations lead to change of PM

2010-06-24T23:15:00.005+09:30

As The New York Times put it succinctlyParty officials decided to replace Prime Minister Kevin Rudd with his deputy, Julia Gillard, who becomes the nation’s first female prime minister.This came as a surprise. The Rudd government has clearly been in trouble with public opinion lately but I'd have thought (and hoped) that he and his inner circle would have been put on notice to improve. What

Honours recipients support republic

2010-06-14T22:11:00.002+09:30

Today is a public holiday in South Australia, ostensibly for the Queen's birthday.As far as I can tell nobody who's entitled to the day off has refused the offer because of their republican principles. I expect that people (an increasing number) who rely on casual work may have opted to spend a day or part thereof at the coalface (or waiting on the bistro table) to help make ends meet. Nor, to

Victoria to get ICAC as Premier backflips: will SA follow suit?

2010-06-04T08:59:00.007+09:30

I've been on a brief visit to Melbourne. Yesterday morning I was pleasantly surprised to see the story about Premier Brumby's "backflip" on the front page of The AgeJust six months out from the state poll, the Premier has dumped his staunch opposition to a commission and will install an anti-corruption system with sweeping powers to investigate police, members of parliament, public servants

Dennis Hopper dies aged 74

2010-05-30T21:13:00.005+09:30

Vale Dennis, man of many talents, not all of which he used wisely, though in movies like Easy Rider and Apocalypse Now he showed his class.Earlier this year I saw the excellent exhibition about his life and work at ACMI in Melbourne. Until then I hadn't realised what a good photographer he was or that his acting career reached back to the time of James Dean.Update 1 JuneOf all the

Labor likely to be able to govern in own right after SA election

2010-03-21T21:56:00.004+10:30

The ABC reportsSouth Australian Premier Mike Rann is in a strong position to deliver the Labor Party a third term in government despite a voter backlash. Mr Rann and Liberal leader Isobel Redmond both said the result was too close to call on the night. But Mr Rann is the frontrunner with the ABC's election computer predicting Labor is set to hold 25 seats in the 47-seat House of Assembly.

Election eve

2010-03-19T17:44:00.007+10:30

I've followed the ups and downs of the state election campaign probably more closely than most voters, though nowhere near as closely as those who post regularly and sometimes argumentatively on blogs and websites such as The Poll Bludger. I have tweeted a few times @Pathfinder79, usually with links to articles and, space permitting, sometimes a comment. The consensus among the experts (both

Can I just try that again, it's a little bit jumbled?

2010-03-06T20:12:00.007+10:30

On Friday South Australian ABC TV Stateline viewers were short changed by a sudden (and unexplained) truncation of a debate between Treasurer Foley and Shadow Treasurer Griffiths.What went to air (including presenter Ian Henschke's apparent lack of awareness of what had happened) can be viewed here. .Despite the ABC's ineptitude, what it did screen was interesting for a number of

Committee and people choose different Words of the Year

2010-02-07T21:46:00.003+10:30

Macquarie Dictionary's Word of the Year 2009 (chosen by a Committee) is shovel-ready, It means, according to the report on the website " adjective: (of a building or infrastructure project) capable of being initiated immediately as soon as funding is assured." I can't see why tweet didn't win: in fact it (at least the verb) did win the People's Choice Award . (The Committee did at least give

Court rules in favour of David over Goliath re copyright

2010-02-04T19:00:00.007+10:30

"Film industry loses iiNet download case" reports ABC News.The case against iiNet was filed in the Federal Court by a number of applicants including Village Roadshow, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, Disney and the Seven Network.The legal action followed a five-month investigation by the Australian Federation Against Copyright

A-G backs down ... but not out

2010-02-03T20:35:00.009+10:30

Attorney General Atkinson has backed down but won't resign report the ABC and Adelaide NowFor me and probably many South Australians the question now is how can we have confidence in Mr Atkinson as chief law officer of the state when he appears to be thumbing his nose at the basic principles of Westminster democracy and even Premier Rann. That he could falsely claim that that one of his online

Attorney-General's hamfisted attempt to censor internet make SA look foolish

2010-02-02T22:23:00.004+10:30

At the behest of Attorney-General Mr Michael Atkinson the South Australian Parliament has amended s116 of the Electoral Act to require that all comments made on the internet during state elections are accompanied by the maker's name and address(not post office box). Even though both major (and perhaps most minor parties) supported the move it has many of the trademarks of Mr Atkinson's

Haiti

2010-01-14T18:13:00.003+10:30

Another natural disaster in a place which is already burdened with much more than its share of troubles.What can one say or do? Express sympathy, donate money and hope that the scale of the suffering and loss is less than the initial media reports, which talk of more than 100,000 deaths, suggest. I wish I could do more.

"Private matter" all above board?

2010-01-03T18:30:00.006+10:30

From The Sunday Mail/Adelaide NowFormer Liberal Premier Dean Brown has been paid more than $800,000 for advice to the State Government on how to tackle the state's crippling drought. The figure is more than double the amount that Deputy Premier and Treasurer Kevin Foley publicly stated last year. The Sunday Mail has learned Mr Brown has received more than $800,000 over the past three years

Wreck of Centaur found by same team that found HMAS Sydney

2009-12-22T12:02:00.006+10:30

The wreck of the AHS (Australian Hospital Ship) Centaur has been found by the same team, led by David Mearns, that located the wrecks of HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran In today's Australian Andrew Fraser discusses the find and dusts off some interesting questions eg why did the Japanese submarine attack a well lit up hospital ship? Unlike the HMAS Sydney situation where several conspiracy

Catastrophe averted....

2009-11-20T11:48:00.007+10:30

Thank goodness yesterday, which the authorities here deemed to be, at least for some of the state, a day of "catastrophic" fire danger, passed without fatalities caused by fires. (There were alas several road deaths)There has been some confusion about the additional fire damage rating of catastrophic which has been superimposed on the existing ones (supplanting extreme) . Though there's a Cape

Heat...and more heat

2009-11-13T14:30:00.002+10:30

Friday 13th. Black Friday. Yet another 35C+ day. It's now (2.40pm CDST) 38.1deg. The sequence is easily a record for this time of year, when there may be the occasional hot day or two but not this preview of January - February. And I I thought that a few days with temperatures nudging 20C when I was in the UK was uncharacteristically warm!When will it end? Forecast is for 39 tomorrow and 40

Not quite like de Botton.....

2009-11-11T16:05:00.005+10:30

Just back from overseas, visiting family in London with a side trip with them to Istanbul. All very enjoyable notwithstanding the customary hazards of modern international air travel, notably airport chaos/ inefficiency and the brusqueness of (most) UK border protection officials. Earlier this year Alain de Botton spent a week in the employ of the British Airports Authority as a writer in

Unfashionable virtues?

2009-10-04T21:24:00.006+10:30

ABC RN's Life Matters recently ran a poll about which unfashionable virtues "should make a comeback".Results:Humility (23%)Magnanimity (21%)Perseverance(18%)Modesty (15%)Prudence (11%)Stoicism (9%)Meekness (4%).I voted for stoicism.The results were discussed on air and can be downloaded (at least for the time being) from the program website by clicking on the link above.

Beauty's double meaning

2009-09-26T17:40:00.005+09:30

The front page of today's Advertiser (prominently) and the Adelaide Now website ( less prominently) print this photo taken by a reader at Gawler earlier this week on a sunny day. It shows a red-bellied black snake approaching a

Catalina

2009-09-24T21:09:00.004+09:30

When I heard on the radio that a Catalina was going to fly over Adelaide I ventured on to my roof with camera. This was the best photo I could take with the 42-150 mm zoom on my Olympus E410 DSLR at its max focal length. My photoshopping skills are deficient so I've not been game enough to tinker with the raw material, but if you're interested you can enlarge it by clicking on the image,

After warm winter, early taste of summer

2009-09-11T11:48:00.007+09:30

Today's estimated max temp is 29deg C, 10 deg above the September average.The BOM records that it's already reached 27 at 10.27 though it's fallen to about 25 at noon. Climatologist Blair Trewin in The Punch reflects on the warm August many Australians have just experienced:August 2009 was Australia’s warmest on record. Temperatures averaged over the country were 2.47C above the long-term

Seventy years on

2009-09-03T22:15:00.005+09:30

Today is the 70th anniversary of Australia's entry into the conflict which is now known as World War 2. At the time Prime Minister Menzies explained the reasons in a broadcast.Here's what he said. I've emphasised the key words:Fellow Australians, It is my melancholy duty to inform you officially that in consequence of a persistence by Germany in her invasion of Poland, Great

Spring

2009-09-01T19:32:00.006+09:30

Today is the first day of spring. With very little assistance from me (I didn't prune the bush during winter) this rose bloomed right on time for the official opening of the season.Not everything is rosy in our national garden, though, as today's Australian reports Australia has just experienced its warmest winter on record. While the claim won't be official until data for August 31 is

HMAS Sydney report handed down

2009-08-13T10:04:00.003+09:30

The Final Report into the loss of HMAS Sydney II has been handed down and is available online.The Report consists of two volumes of evidence and conclusions and a third entitled "Frauds, Comspiracies and Speculations". The website also includes links to transcripts of evidence, some animated recreations of the Sydney- Kormoran action, and appendix and ships' plans. I've not yet read it

Watch another space

2009-07-08T09:24:00.004+09:30

Today the 2009 Ashes series begins and most of my blogging energies will for the next few weeks be devoted unashamedly to Nudges and Deflections. Will try to post here occasionally but no promises (or apologies for the focus on cricket).PS Wednesday 0945:As soon as I've posted the above I came across Paul Colgan's 10 reasons to love the Poms in The Punch.His 10 1. The English language2. English

Another battle lost?

2009-06-29T22:28:00.002+09:30

"Its time. Sorry, it's time to save the apostrophe" argues Tracy Spicer in The PunchIt’s tiny but powerful. Its incorrect insertion could mean the difference between life and death.And it’s fighting for its very existence. I’m referring to the apostrophe; specifically, the possessive apostrophe. Even its proper name – saxon genitive – sounds more like a sexually transmitted disease than the

"Breath" wins Miles Franklin Prize

2009-06-20T17:12:00.006+09:30

Tim Winton's novel Breath has won the Miles Franklin award I've read it, as I've done many of Winton's other books, and enjoyed it, as I enjoyed them, despite sometimes taking a while to enter into the worlds he creates. I'm neither a dancer, a surfer nor a paramedic, but do have adult children. I find the last words of the novel resonate with me. Speaking of his adult daughters, the narrator

Foxtel CEO calls for free to air TV extension in Australia

2009-06-16T16:39:00.001+09:30

Jane Schulze in today's Australian reportsPay-TV group Foxtel has joined the growing chorus of media companies seeking a comprehensive review of Australia's media and telecommunications regulation ahead of the $43 billion national broadband network rollout. Speaking to the National Press Club in Canberra yesterday, Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams also said the federal government should

Snake in Melbourne CBD in June

2009-06-13T21:11:00.005+09:30

"Snake in the city. Reptile on the loose after attack" screamed the front page of mx, Melbourne's free commuter paper. Other outlets including the ABC and The Age reported the story less feverishly.The victim, said The Age " was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, where a swab test confirmed he had been bitten by a brown snake, one of the deadliest snakes in the world and the leading cause of

D Day 65 years on

2009-06-07T23:11:00.002+09:30

Another anniversary : 6 June is the 65th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied landings in Normandy .The occasion has been commemorated with a ceremony attended by several world leaders and some of the diminishing number of surviving veterans.

Another 4 Sept anniversary

2009-06-05T20:04:00.004+09:30

Philip Adams' interview of Martin Krygier on ABC RN's Late Night Live last week reminded us that 4 June is another significant anniversary. It is 20 years since the victory of Solidarity in the first round of an election which saw democracy restored to Poland.

20 years on, how much has changed?

2009-06-04T09:21:00.005+09:30

Today is the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square "incident". Naturally the media, the non-Chinese media that is, has commented on the occasion. This morning Stephen McDonell reported live from the Square for ABC Radio's AM. For a video showing how the Chinese authorities muzzled the international media check out this Al Jazeera report.I visited Tiananmen Square in late 1997. Apart from

Police reaction to Indian student protests damages Australia's reputation

2009-06-02T21:18:00.004+09:30

Video of the - to put it mildly - vigorous police response to the protest by Indian international students in Melbourne against race motivated assaults has gone around the world.Unfortunately the official response from authorities here has been deficient. Last night on ABC TV's Lateline Simon Overland came across more like PC Plod than the Victoria Police Chief Commissioner: SIMON OVERLAND,

Big news day, but not for people with three university degrees

2009-06-01T13:04:00.011+09:30

Today (give or take an hour or two) one or two new (or one new and one recycled) media outlets came on stream here. The Punch , not to be confused with its Nigerian namesake , is a News Corp website. Its editor David Penberthy says: The Punch is a new opinion website aimed at every Australian with a love of ideas, discussion and debate.It’s not a fancy, la-di-dah

If it happens you read it here first...

2009-05-31T22:24:00.004+09:30

From the June Adelaide Review

Private acquisition, but what about the public ?

2009-05-29T17:34:00.012+09:30

The front page of today's Advertiser and the Adelaide Now website report a recent significant property transfer on the Fleurieu Peninsula: The Fleurieu Peninsula's "magnificent and undervalued" land has prompted media owner Kerry Stokes to buy a spectacular 660ha coastal property.The Mt Scrub property has 2km of breathtaking coastal views at Waitpinga, adding to the 9km of coastline already

Innocent abroad?

2009-05-24T22:15:00.004+09:30

The ABC reports Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the Government worked hard to help secure the release of Victorian woman Annice Smoel, who spent time in a Thai prison after being accused of stealing a bar mat.At the same time, Victorian Premier John Brumby has accused Thai authorities of overreacting in the case. Ms Smoel, 36, was greeted with hugs and cheers by her four daughters and other

Alben who? Is this really history ?

2009-05-19T15:30:00.005+09:30

Today's Australian reports:World War I ended when the Treaty of Versace was signed. True or false?Have faith, most high school students -- at least those about to hit television screens as contestants in a new history quiz show -- do not attribute the 1919 Treaty of Versailles to an Italian fashionista.The quiz show Histrionics will be launched on Sydney community television this week, and high

Gruen Transfer censored by ABC management

2009-05-14T15:57:00.008+09:30

ABC TV's program about advertising The Gruen Transfer is one of my favourites. I've also bought the season 1 DVD . One regular segment, The Pitch , sets two advertising people against each other to devise ads to sell the unsellable, eg going to war with New Zealand ('100% there for the taking"), reviving the Australian Democrats and promoting child labour. For some examples see here .Last

Rannzibar

2009-05-04T22:50:00.005+09:30

Today South Australia followed followed Zanzibar's lead and banned most types of plastic shopping bags .There's been a lot of media comment about the change, much of it reiterating the Rann government line that this is a worthwhile (and worthy) exercise . A more sceptical and to my mind more accurate assessment was provided a week or so ago by Christian Kerr in The Spectator Australia. There

The longest day ... 3 years on

2009-05-01T18:10:00.002+09:30

It's three years today since the longest day of my life: 37.5 hours travelling from Adelaide to New York.

Ministerial irresponsibility?

2009-04-29T16:06:00.002+09:30

It first broke more than a week ago, but the story of former Minister for Road Safety yet still Minister for Correctional Services, Youth and Volunteers Tom Koutsantonis' progressive disclosure of his driving record still has legs, as the part-ex Minister continues to shoot himself in the foot and the media eg the ABC , The Advertiser/Adelaide Now and today's Australian (print ed p7) to report.

ReAdelaide

2009-04-20T09:48:00.002+09:30

In today's Age Anson Cameron predicts that loss, mainly from upstream drawing off, of Murray - Darling water wil leave Adelaide low and dry. His recommendation:The only thing we can do is proclaim terra nullius over South Australia and evacuate the people of Adelaide to the north coast. Add her name to those of Mesopotamia, Pi-Ramesses, Atlantis, Pompeii, Troy, Carthage and Babylon and let her

Overseas contingency operations

2009-04-06T17:08:00.004+09:30

The Australian's Cut and Paste section has an interesting take on the US government's redefining of what has hitherto been called "the global war on terror" or "terrorism". The new term is "overseas contingency operations"A couple of pastes:New York Post on March 25: THE Obama administration has ordered an end to use of the phrase "Global War on Terror," a label adopted by the Bush

Criticism of tender continues

2009-04-06T15:57:00.006+09:30

The discussion (mostly critical) continues.ABC TV's Insiders showed some clips of Minister for Employment Participation O'Connor (a title which is looking more Orwellian by the day) stumbling over some answers to questions about the tender outcomes. Elsewhere on the ABC website Greens Senator Rachel Siewert has a succinct and IMO incisive analysis of the situation. Worth reading it all, but

2,500 jobs lost in network revamp

2009-04-03T10:33:00.006+10:30

The results of the Job Services Australia tender have been announced. They should be available online here though at the moment the official website is down just as, The Australian reports, it was yesterday at a crucial time:Hundreds of employment service providers across Australia have lost their government contracts under a $4 billion overhaul of the Job Network, forcing up to 2500 staff

The fourth month begins

2009-04-01T22:16:00.003+10:30

The Guardian has a piece acknowledging the significance of the first day of this month.No quotes, just click on the link.

GG under scrutiny again

2009-04-01T22:10:00.003+10:30

In The Australian Malcolm Colless reports that some eyebrows have been raised by the Governor-General's recent activities . Kevin Rudd may feel comfortable with an interventionist governor-general but this view is by no means unanimous within his ministry. In fact a number of ministers are known to be not just concerned but angered by Governor-General Quentin Bryce's involvement in the

Australia to become "bleeding edge" in employment services delivery?

2009-03-30T17:26:00.008+10:30

In today's Australian Nicola Berkovic and Dennis Shanahan report that other voices, notably Tony Abbott, have weighed into the debate about the next round of Job Network tendersThe Coalition has urged the Rudd Government to consider suspending its $2 billion Job Network tender, warning that thousands of people would miss out on retraining and assistance in finding work as the dole queues

Shambolic security

2009-03-26T22:37:00.005+10:30

The Australian asks more questions about the deficiencies in airport security revealed by events at Sydney Airport: Why were police notified of the deadly bikie brawl only after receiving a 000 call from a member of the public? Given the density of closed-circuit television cameras scattered throughout the airport terminal - supposedly one of Australia's most secure - why did the first police

"Probity and confidentality agreements" hide government approval of Brit carpetbaggers entering employment services industry

2009-03-25T21:59:00.010+10:30

"Local job agencies lose out as Brits court Canberra" is is a headline in today's Australian:Several of the nation's best-performing job agencies are about to be stripped of their government contracts as two new British players enter the market.....Job Futures, a significant consortium with 100 sites nationwide, has been told by the Department of Employment & Workplace Relations that it has lost

More deficiencies in airport security exposed

2009-03-23T16:09:00.003+10:30

Yesterday's attack at Sydney Airport has, apart from alarming many people , predictably produced a rapid response announcement of a review into procedures:The NSW Police Gang Squad has been more than doubled and the Australian Federal Police have launched a review after a man was bludgeoned to death in front of horrified passengers in a gang attack at Sydney Airport yesterday.Four men will

More controversy about euthanasia

2009-03-17T22:08:00.004+10:30

The Weekend Australian ran a story by Julie Anne Davies variously headlined "Death drug delivered by mail" (print edition p1) / "Suicide drug of choice in mail" (online) .Australians are illegally buying the euthanasia movement's lethal drug of choice on the internet from Mexico and receiving it by post without being detected by Customs authorities.The person running the Mexican mail order

On (or off) your bike

2009-03-16T21:20:00.012+10:30

Two variations on a cycling theme #1 Bike parking provisionThe photo on the left shows a cycle stand in Rundle St East. A very worthy idea, but why is it necessary to take up a car parking space when the pavements are wide enough to permit bike stands to be placed parallel to the kerb, as they are on the other side of the street? Unfortunately this situation has been replicated at several other

Victorians lose $2.6bn on poker machines

2009-03-10T10:42:00.005+10:30

Interesting piece by Stephen Mayne in Crikey about gambling in Victoria. He links to stories in The Age ( "Victorians lose $2.6 bn on poker machines") and The Herald Sun ("Victoria's most popular suburbs for poker machines"). The latter has a link to a table of Victorian gaming expenditure data for 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 .Mayne pays special attention to the Woolworths involvement

Opposition leader crosses line?

2009-03-09T21:44:00.007+10:30

"PM's cheap money shot" Malcolm Turnbull's article in The Weekend Australian has attracted a lot of comment criticism, especially for its references to Therese Rein, the PM's wife: .In 1998, the Howard government closed the Commonwealth Employment Service and outsourced its functions to the private sector, and one of the private firms that benefited conspicuously from this deregulation was the

Upsize, downsize

2009-03-08T23:08:00.003+10:30

Adelaide Now/ Sunday Mail has a story about Cathy Jayne Pearce, a former property developer who has fallen from the high ground she and her high profile husband once occupied.As she has fallen so it appears that her weight has

Single rooms too expensive for aged care

2009-03-07T21:05:00.002+10:30

Adele Horin writes in today's Age:An aged-care survey by accountancy firm Grant Thornton showed modern high-care facilities with single bedrooms reported the worst financial results in 2008, with a return on investment of about 1 per cent. The operating profit on a bed in single-room facilities was about half that of older facilities with shared rooms. A report by accountancy firm Stewart

Sky seeks piece of pie

2009-03-06T23:23:00.003+10:30

From today's Australian Tensions have ignited between the ABC and Sky News, with ABC managing director Mark Scott suggesting pay-TV's push to operate Australia's international television network could harm diplomatic relations. Mr Scott's comments follow remarks by Sky News chief executive Angelos Frangopoulos at a broadcasting conference yesterday, when he said Sky would re-tender to

Death with dignity

2009-03-05T20:29:00.004+10:30

The ABC has recently broadcast a couple of interesting programs about dying with dignity.Last week's Counterpoint on RN featured a discussion about the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, which permits physicians to write a prescription for qualified terminally ill patients. The transcript, which IMO is worth reading, is available here .Tonight I watched (for the first time) ABC2's repeat of its

Sport now war with shooting

2009-03-04T23:02:00.007+10:30

The attack by as yet unapprehended assailants on the Test match officials and the Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore is a tragedy for all those killed or injured. It also reiterates the problems facing Pakistan, international cricket and international sport.Years ago George Orwell wroteSerious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard

Why isn't AJE broadcast on Australian TV?

2009-02-24T07:50:00.001+10:30

"Gaza war coverage raises Al Jazeera hope" is the headline in today's Australian over a story about Al Jazeera English (AJE)'s attempts to gain access to Australian television screens.Just as the 1991 Gulf War gave cable news channel CNN a boost, the war in Gaza has given Al Jazeera English a chance to break into the American and Australian markets. Al Jazeera English (AJE) managing

Big ship, small minds

2009-02-16T22:34:00.004+10:30

Today the large P&O cruise ship Arcadia called at Port Adelaide.I went there to meet some English friends, one of whom is 87 years old, who were visiting Adelaide for the first time. Arrangements, or lack thereof, for disembarking passengers left much to be desired. A wire fence security cordon extending well beyond the passenger terminal (and my comprehension) added to the third world

Recent ABC highlights

2009-02-15T23:49:00.006+10:30

As well as continuing its comprehensive coverage of the Victorian bushfires and their aftermath the ABC has broadcast some very interesting programs lately.The first Four Corners of the year "The Perfect Storm" was a succinct survey of the global financial crisis financial with particular reference to Far North Queensland. The program can, at least for the time being, be viewed online while the

Heat and fire

2009-02-08T18:07:00.002+10:30

Bushfires have caused huge loss of life and property damage in Victoria.As I post it appears that at least 65 people have died and 600 homes been destroyed . This figure may well be exceeded. After almost a fortnight of extreme heat in Adelaide spanning late January and early February without any major fires I'd assumed that the worst was over. This may have been true for South Australia, but

More older Australians opt to remain in their homes

2009-01-31T20:27:00.004+10:30

Siobhain Ryan in The Australian reports an emerging trend in aged care:Elderly Australians are breaking down the retirement village walls, with aged care operators lodging twice the interest in providing care in the community than in nursing homes.Official figures obtained by The Australian show the federal Government has received 10 times the number of applications to provide care in people's

Cool heads on the Hudson

2009-01-17T17:19:00.004+10:30

US Airways flight 1549 crash landed in the Hudson River without loss of life, for which we should all be very thankful.I've been in that very location, most recently last November when I, as many other visitors have done, took a Circle Line cruise around Manhattan Island from the 42nd Street Pier. Despite what many media reports claim I don't think that the result was a miracle, but rather a

Benaud spins for bookies

2008-12-28T10:44:00.004+10:30

Natasha Robinson in The Weekend Australian reports concerns which have been expressed about an online "betting agency" (aka bookmaker) using TV commentators, including Richie Benaud, to drum up business by quoting odds at different stages during the day.World Vision head Tim Costello and South Australian senator Nick Xenophon said yesterday they were shocked to see Betfair's strong presence on

Ministerial accountability?

2008-12-24T20:51:00.002+10:30

Today Michael Owen in The Advertiser/Adelaide Now reports on some discrepancies between a state government minister's statements and official records:Families Minister Jennifer Rankine, under fire for using a consultant to help with her new portfolio, had 19 full-time personal staff to assist her, a government document shows This is despite official 2008-09 Budget papers for Ministerial Office

Former Muslim chastised by media

2008-12-22T21:11:00.006+10:30

David Hicks is no longer subject to a control order. To mark the occasion The Australian has seen fit , in today's lead editorial "Hicks can count himself fortunate", to make some comments about his situation.As a sign of his goodwill and to fulfil his duty, Mr Hicks should tell the full story of his recruitment and training to Australian Federal Police in his exit interview. In the interests of

A-SPAN

2008-12-09T19:08:00.005+10:30

A-SPAN is the acronym for Australian Subscription Public Affairs Network which was, as reported in today's Australian, launched by the Prime Minister yesterday.A-SPAN, or Australian Subscription Public Affairs Network, will begin broadcasting on January 20 next year with live coverage of the inauguration of US president-elect Barack Obama. Operators say it will become part of the subscription TV

Mumbai madness

2008-11-28T23:21:00.003+10:30

I've spent a lot of time following the media coverage of the appalling events in Mumbai, which I visited in 2005. Not only am I familiar with the location of most of the sites attacked I've had first hand experience of some of them. Like millions of Indians I've used the CST (formerly VT) railway station and, like many other tourists, I've eaten at Leopold's Cafe in Colaba, where apparently the

Directors increase fees by up to 40% despite loss

2008-11-24T19:59:00.009+10:30

Today I went to the AGM of the RAA (Royal Automobile Association of South Australia). A major item on the agenda was a proposal to increase the remuneration available to the Directors by 40%, from a total of $250,000 to $350,000. This despite a loss of $2,000,000 in the last financial year (due mostly to poorly performing investments).The explanatory note issued with the AGM papers (and

No more control orders for David Hicks

2008-11-21T16:30:00.003+10:30

Following an online video request from David Hicks posted on the Get Up Australia website, the Australian Federal Police will not seek an extension of the control order on David Hicks. This is a welcome and overdue move. News.com.au reportsFormer attorney-general Philip Ruddock - the man many hold responsible for Mr Hicks' long incarceration at Guantanamo Bay - said he had no problem with the

RTW08

2008-11-20T22:34:00.007+10:30

I have been silent for some time as I have been travelling in the UK and USA. Here are some photos I took.RTW= Round the World

Change in the air for Radio National?

2008-10-15T15:29:00.003+10:30

Today Paul Collins on Crikey reports about changes proposed for ABC Radio National. Extract:Several specialist programs are being taken off-air including the Religion Report, the Media Report and Radio Eye. The Reports are flagship programs that deal with issues central to current culture. Apparently they are being replaced by a movie show and something about the future. Specialist broadcasters

Crime in the neighborhood

2008-10-06T23:28:00.004+10:30

Today was a public holiday here. Unfortunately its tranquility was disturbed by a stabbing near where I live and whose aftermath I witnessed.Here is The Advertiser/ Adelaide Now report and accompanying photograph.

Spot the differences

2008-09-28T13:00:00.002+09:30

Two versions of the same story from The Advertiser 27 September 2008 print edition.1. Page 20Stopped at lightsHandbag snatchedA brazen thief snatched a women's handbag from a car while the driver was inside the vehicle and stopped at traffic lights at Mile End early yesterday.The thief, one of about five men in a car which pulled alongside, opened the victim's car door to steal the handbag while

Watching from the sidelines

2008-09-25T22:47:00.004+09:30

As the global financial crisis unravels or unfolds or whatever it is difficult for people like me, an interested though relatively uninformed bystander, to make a lot of sense of events. Perhaps even those who are presumed to know what is happening don't know all that much themselves. After all they've been the ones running the system which is now wobbling."Crisis" is often used loosely but the

Don Bradman centenary

2008-08-27T17:25:00.002+09:30

Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sir Donald Bradman , IMO the greatest cricketer ever.I doubt whether many cricket followers would disagree with me, even though the Don did not play the shorter versions of the game. There are tributes and assessments aplenty in the media, including from the Federal Parliament via Cricket Australia and, as you'd expect, a wide coverage on Cricinfo,

Back from leave...more transport problems

2008-08-19T16:21:00.005+09:30

Adelaide Now/The Advertiser reports that a train was delayed for almost an hour because the driver missed a stop, while a tram (presumably one of the recently acquired ones) was delayed due to a malfunctioning door:A Transadelaide train was stopped in the middle of a busy peakhour service because the driver missed a stop and the rules say he had to be relieved. According to an explanation

Restrictive work practices in health

2008-06-19T23:40:00.004+09:30

Mike Steketee in today's Australian analyses succinctly one of the major weaknesses of our health system:In the days before labour market deregulation, unions would go on strike over a shearer being asked to pick up a fleece or a plumber asked to disconnect a piece of wiring. These days it is the Australian Medical Association that defends with religious fervour the exclusive right of doctors

Public transport makeover promised for Adelaide

2008-06-06T16:33:00.003+09:30

In his budget South Australia's Treasurer Kevin Foley has promised a radical overhaul of Adelaide's rail/ tram/ light rail transport system .The Advertiser/ Adelaide Now reports:The state's ailing public transport system has received a $2 billion injection described as the "single biggest commitment to public transport in the state's history" by Treasurer Kevin Foley. The centrepiece of the

Number 157

2008-05-28T20:59:00.003+09:30

Alan Bond is no 157 on the BRW Rich List:Former billionaire Alan Bond is back in the money, placing 157th on a list of richest Australians with a relatively small but still respectable estimated wealth of $265 million. Bond, who hit rock bottom in 1992, earns his spot on the 2008 BRW Rich 200 list mainly through interests such as holdings in Madagascar Oil and Lesotho Diamond Corporation.The

Accuracy of ABC radio current affairs programs confirmed

2008-05-26T23:08:00.004+09:30

From today's Agesupport,p perhaps even vindication, for the ABC's claims to be an accurate source of information:The ABC's flagship radio current affairs programs — often the source of tension and controversy in the Howard years — have won overwhelming endorsement from a landmark report by an external expert. An audit of AM, PM and The World Today found they were almost 96% accurate. ABC

Disasters

2008-05-13T17:39:00.002+09:30

Life goes on here with, now that the mainstream media news focus has moved back to local matters, apparently little concern about the devastating effects of cyclone Nargis in Myanmar/ Burma. While the more recent earthquake in China is still attracting some attention (some very graphic video footage of scenes in Sichuan may have helped) the effects and consequences of both are almost imposssible

More allegations of corruption and intimidation

2008-05-08T19:42:00.003+09:30

"Standover" is the page one headline on Miles Kemp's report in today's Advertiser ADELAIDE'S crime gangs are using personal information leaked from the public service to harass people involved in court trials and their families.Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Tony Harrison said it had been difficult to prosecute gang members because victims, witnesses or their family members had been the

Another term for the doublespeak lexicon?

2008-05-05T23:23:00.004+09:30

On yesterday's ABC TV Insiders Treasurer Wayne Swan gave a very broad definition of "working families":BARRIE CASSIDY: You make constant references to working families, that they have to be protected, but what are couples without kids supposed to think, what about singles, pensioners, the unemployed? You never say you're setting out to protect them? WAYNE SWAN: We certainly do. We not only

Ever felt like this?

2008-05-01T23:06:00.003+09:30

Great piece by Garrison Keillor on Salon.com about the perils of passing through modern airport security (with some asides on other matters). While he's perhaps best known for his folksy style Keillor often writes with a pithy acerbity which adds bite to his trenchant comments. Example: [W]hen I went through airport security in Minneapolis on Monday, it was an object lesson in something -- a