Jack Again.

Back on to Thomas again, because it's just such a great topic.

Jack's interim control order prevents him from contacting Bin Laden.

Of course, y'know, the rest of us can just give him a buzz whenever we please....

"G'day Osama, where are ya?" I'm sure would go down an absolute treat.

It's either Pakistan or the White House, depending on your leanings.

Also, the list of do-not-call's apparently includes some dead people.

Which is VERY understandable. The last thing this little man needs is to speak to the departed, through some sort of ouija board/séance combo and find out A) the quantity/quality of virgins upstairs, and B) whether heaven is licensed.

We don't want this.

The last three AgePolls:

Do you support the use of control orders against accused terrorist Jack Thomas?
Yes - 27%
No - 73%
Total Votes: 3195

Telstra sale : Do you support the Government's plan to sell a third of its stake in Telstra?
Yes - 28%
No - 72%
Total Votes: 1544 Poll date: 27/08/06

$10bn for the army : Do you support the government spending $10bn expanding the army?
Yes - 33%
No - 67%
Total Votes: 1283 Poll date: 24/08/06

More people support the sale of Telstra and expand the army than support the latest control orders on Jack. (Although there is a spike in the Total Votes counted.. but that could be either way, it's within the standard deviation, and it's not the highest on other contentious issues.)

iiNet

BAD NEWS:
Now I've been all round this great big ISP world, and I've seen all kinds of providers.

iiNet has been good. A pioneer of flipping the bird at the evils of Telstra, and splashing out on a multitude of high-speed DSLAMS.

I was there for the VIX free peering traffic, which spawned the VIX DC hub.

And then the VIX eDonkey server.

Then the VIX DC vs VIX eDonkey wars.

Then the VIX torrent tracker.

Then the VIX DC vs VIX torrent wars. Those DC fanboys are sure rusted on.

Then the Swiftel raid where everyone shat themselves 'cause the "we are just sharing Linux ISO's amongst one another" b.s. just didn't cut it for the men in blue.

But iiNet was good, even if you were paying a bit extra, which you almost always weren't, because you knew some of that money was being used to help implement the next generation of ADSL hardware.

And good ADSL hardware too, CISCO, not that bodgy bankrupted-company brand Telstra was charging an arm and a leg for.

But recently the plans got worse, and the list of exchanges they would upgrade dropped dramatically. Currently, those on iiNet DSLAMs get kick-arse plans, those on Telstra hardware get boned.

I'm on Telstra hardware, and most of the 'burbs around me (quite a few smaller ones too) aren't.

So, fuck you iiNet. You cunts. I understand why it had to be done, but you probably went a bit too far with these plans, and you dropped 'grandfathered' mid-contract 1500's to 512, and it's lame and I'm pissed off.

Now I gotta go to freakin' Optus. OPTUS FFS. Sing-hang-the-drug-mule-tel!

GOOD NEWS:
I've been wanting a new kettle for a while. Now my current one doesn't want to switch off when the waters boiled, and I can totally justify buying a new one. One that you can actually scrub clean. Hurrah! Simple things! Simple things!

Quiche

I'm so freakin' busy with study-related garbage I haven't had time to blog. Heck, I've even been taking time off work. So I'll cut straight to it:

Telstra sale is hilarious - pity the fools who spend a cent on that soon-to-be-bankrupt mess.

LPG conversion is also hilarious - I do believe I predicted somewhere that the government would throw big dollars to business before the next election. Totally avoids the oil dependence issue.

I have no idea what the snakes and aircraft nonsense is about, but I'll hazard a guess it's some new marketing gimmick people got suckered into.

Liquids on planes is a complete wank, still not afraid, stop telling me to be.

Geriatric guy on YouTube is cool.

Leave Jack alone - watch him all you want but don't be dicks about it by restraining him. Many of us are still more alarmed at over-zealous knee-jerk governments that make arrests and detain innocents (that'd be refugee's) for political point-scoring. They are still people, and not sub-human.

Gunns failed a third attempt to sue the 20, I doubt they even tried, sick cunts just wanna draw it out.

With a just war, you'd have no trouble filling the ADF. Faffing about, and waving the army wherever your overlords would want you to is not brown-nosing, it's perverse.

That's about it.

Jack

Jihad Jack, noted evil terrorist, is free to roam the streets.

Why?

'Cause the fuckers violated his rights, voiding the evidence, and now he's free. Good work to all involved on that one.

There are two ways this could have been avoided:

1) Have interviewed him with access to a lawyer, no duress, etc. etc.
2) Remove fundamental human rights and the accepted process of justice.

I wonder which one of these will be selected by our overlords.

Good work Jack, maybe stick to expressing your angst with punk music, eh?

TV

I sometimes wonder if television stations even care who's watching anymore.

Channel 10 tonight (from 6):
The Simpsons
Neighbours (made for UK audience, cash cow for network)
Futurama
The Simpsons
The Wedge (there to comply with compulsory Aussie-content percentage)
Futurama
Futurama
Rove Live (there to comply with compulsory Aussie-content percentage)

From the standard:
The Australian Content Standard requires all commercial free-to-air television licensees to broadcast an annual minimum transmission quota of 55 per cent Australian programming between 6 am and midnight. In addition there are specific minimum annual sub-quotas for Australian (adult) drama, documentary and children’s programs.

The high respect Channel 10 has for local content is shown by exceeding the 55% requirement - with a whopping 58.3% (they could have squeezed 12 more minutes in there!)

Although, in reality - there are so many badly-dubbed US ads the quota is not really met.

Now, to get off my moral high-horse - w000t - lot's o' Futurama on CH10!!!1

AusPols Comic

Humans or votes, it's a toughie.

Steve Fielding unsure if refugees classify as 'families'.


"I'm still not sure" claimed Mr Fielding with a furrowed brow. "It's a complex issue. Families are closely related human beings, I know that much. And I still stand as a representative of anything that is beneficial to families. But whether asylum seekers qualify as human beings is the bit I'm unsure of."

Senator Fielding met with West Papuans this week, where he reportedly cut them to see if they bled. "I hurt them, and they did cry, but it did take quite a lot pain - the Papuans didn't seem to mind, they said it was still 'better than being killed' or something. But I have sent samples of DNA to be checked against normal people (Australians). The lab report claims there is a 'negligible' difference, so I'm still in brow-furrowing mode."

"If they do turn out to be human beings, then it begs the question: If processing them off-shore decreases the likelyhood they'll get accepted, and they return to be killed, or their trauma is such that they commit suicide - are these lives more or less important that any public perception that Family First is soft on border protection. Lives or votes - it's a difficult decision."

Dear Market-Forces

This would have probably sat in my Draft collection, if Nick Minchin had not said in Question Time "I'd like to let market forces deal with the price of oil, I know the Greens never do." So I'm publishing it now.

Dear Market-Forces,

I am writing this letter of concern in regards to your lack of action on some serious matters. We have, in the past, expressed concern as to our energy requirements being too heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Our concerns were dismissed largely on the basis that you, Market-Forces, would solve the issue in collaboration with Emerging-Technology.

It is my understanding that Emerging-Technology is hindered by the laws of physics, practicality, and reality - and as such, cannot pull a rabbit out of it's hat, as it were. It can, therefore, be excused from any expectation on what it may or may not achieve.

However, this does not extend to you, Market-Forces. The belief that you solve all matters is waning. Petrolleum reliance is high, and so is the price. This is your cue to resolve the problem, and I expect a prompt resolution. People are suffering, it is effecting the price of everything, there are claims that the days of cheaper prices are over, it is the greatest concern of our dear Leader. If, as the case seems to be, you are impotent, or even an imaginary construct of economic rationalism, please neglect to reply. Otherwise, explain your inaction.

Yours sincerely,
Larry Bonewend.

Proof - FINALLY!

Oh dear, The Greens held out their flags at the protest called to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. Then some jolly green lefties decided to burn an Israeli flag. Note the green triangles messages - this is the final proof we need that the left wingers are not only anti-Semitic, but that they 'heart' terrorists.

Mandy Bendstone

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GREEN GODDESS, CAN AMANDA VANSTONE STOP SAYING "WE ARE LITERALLY BENDING OVER BACKWARDS"!!!!!

That's possibly the third time I've heard her say that, and it's A) not a pleasant image, and B) pick another adverb you freak - some of us have retained the ability to use our minds and CAN form mental images (although I'm well aware of your disrespect for us, and would take this turn of phrase as a personal attack on us and our functional brains.)

Green Gods

I'm a bit concerned, in a kerfuffle, about this Census doodad.

Specifically, the religion section.

Now I could fudge it with Jedi, or lie and claim to be a Pastafarian, from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, but that's not true - there is a biblical text, but no actual church or religious following.

From reading Herald Sun opinion columnist Andrew Bolt, he does assert that those who care about the environment, or social justice, peace, etc - are followers of the alledgedly well-established 'green religion'.

Therein lies the dilemma - can I put that down? If it's a real religion, am I going to some polluted hell if I don't pay a tithe? Who do I pay it to? Why am I freakin' sleeping in on Sundays? Which day IS the sabbath anyways? Where's the freaking church? Do we call it a church? Who is the deity? Is it the Earth? Gaia? How do I join officially? Is there a form? Should I only eat fish on Fridays, or should they be farmed humanely and sustainably, and therefore acceptable on any day ending in a 'y'? Do I pray? Do we get clerics? Meditate or masturbate? I was just sitting around figuring shit out for myself, am I supposed to be being told what the think? By whom? Are the pews comfy? Do I have to fast, because I haven't been doing that. Gregorian or Julian? Can I drink? What's the green religious position on pre-marital sex? Should I floss? And most importantly: WHAT THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO PUT ON THE CENSUS? If I put 'green' as religion - and take Andrew Bolt's words in good faith, am I breaking the law? Could Andrew be lying to us? Surely not.

Something funny

Exchange I had today:

CO-WORKER: "...the peace group is having a muslim speak at there next meeting."

ME: "Moderate or regular? *laughs*"

CO-WORKER: "You're going to put that on your blog arent you?"

ME: "I... can I borrow your pen?"

CO-WORKER: "You know, just 'cause you think it's funny doesn't make it funny."

Loans

Banks have decided a 50-year loan - which would last from the time the borrower leaves school until they retire - is not extending far enough for debt-hungry Australians.

A Commonwealth Bank spokesman today revealed their new plan to take 10 years off mortgage repayments by offering your first born child to the lender. "We can get good returns on infants, there is a substantial market for them - once the initial natural reluctance is overcome. It's just bring financial planning into family planning."

"But we cater for those who cannot, or do not wish to, put up their offspring. We will offer a cash advance for the post-mortem cultivation of a borrower's corpse, or even their various organs. There is a requirement to maintain adequate health - smoking or heavy drinking may violate the terms of the loan, and will require immediate foreclosure on the loan holders 'human assets'."

Owning a home is still highly important to Australians, regardless of fiscal ability claims one financial planner. "The joy of knowing, that one day - being able to sit back and say 'yes - this house is all ours, we own it' - is something your great great grandchildren will experience once the generations have paid off the home you've purchase today, is wonderful."

The Simmons family agrees, "we have found it a little tough, resorting to stealing number plates to fill the car, syphoning from parked vehicles, and, when we get really desperate, taking public transport or riding. We've also had to cut back on a few luxuries - electricity, food, that sort of thing. But at least we don't live with our parents anymore! And with the bush-tucker book we got at a garage sale, it's amazing how much sustenance you can find just lying around in parks. There's quite a lot of protein in magpies. For my birthday, I got a fresh, ripe banana - Bill had saved his pennies all year to afford it, oh gosh I felt like royalty!"

"We have started car pooling, which is great for socializing. We just jump in the combi, and it's off to work, you save so much on petrol. But you do have to get in early to get a good seat - with 23 people, otherwise it's onto the trailer, or worse - the roof-rack, and I find that's a little hard on my back, being pregnant and all."