the donkeys voted

Never over-estimate the intelligence of the Australian electorate.

proven redneck formula

One of the best from the Chaser... Libra-L

misterabbitt talking about the kettle

I just heard Tony Abbott on the telly accuse the *Labor Party* of running a fear campaign during this election!

The man who wants us to believe that we are about to be overrun by a tidal wave of boat people, even as we drown in a sea of government debt as a result of our sinking economy! While he stands up for 'realection' and promises to cancel everything and return us all to the dark ages.

I hope I get to see this lying little ferret buried at the polls on the weekend.

... and in the meantime, I'll content myself with watching him squirm as he tries to avoid Kerry O'Brien's questions on the 7:30 report. What a sleazy, untrustworthy dog. I don't know how O'Brien can stand to listen to his lies and waffle... I feel like grabbing his throat thru' the tv screen! :-P

graffiti union

I'm a relatively late convert to the merits of graffiti.

That's largely because it's taken me a long time to learn to differentiate between graffiti ART and graffiti VANDALISM (aka tagging) (and possibly that's partly because the vandals often manage to tag the art as well).

Now that I've learned to chill out about the existence of graffiti *in appropriate locations*, I find myself looking out for it and enjoying a good graffiti display as much as I would any art gallery exhibition.

I was especially pleased to find the terrific display in Union Lane in the city last weekend. Dunno when it got there, but there's a some excellent works on the walls of the lane now, and it's well worth checking out (in the daytime - it doesn't look like a place to be in after dark!)

from Glee

Another current favourite YouTube clip, the kids from Glee performing an old favourite, To Sir with Love. I remember loving the movie (and the theme song, by Lulu) when I first saw it, whilst I was in High School... some time last century...

silence of the fish

On Saturday last, having noticed a small promo in MX the day before, I dropped by the Ian Potter Centre at Fed Square to take a look at a new exhibition by Australian artist John Davis.

It was one of the best trips I've had to the Potter. There was no major exhibition running there (with this year's Winter Masterpieces happening at the NGV St Kilda Rd and ACMI), so it was really very q.u.i.e.t.! No crowds, no competing to see the exhibits, no jostling for space or trying to see past the human statues who feel the need to try to dominate the space in front of every display; just the freedom to wander at leisure and take in the sights.

I really enjoyed the Davis exhibition, especially his wonderful fish (which would look lovely on my bathroom wall, if they'd thought to sell some facsimiles in the shop downstairs), and the adjoining installations by Mari Funaki. I then took a little more time to wander around and re-visit some old favourites, including Bracks and some new acquisitions by Sid Nolan. I have to make time to go there more often. It's a truly great place to visit, and we're so lucky to have free access to the wonderful exhibits there.

winter at the beach

aaarrgghh... they've won! I've turned this blog into a political rant; not what I ever intended to spend my time writing about. Time for a change of pace.

Although I've lived near St Kilda for the past several years, I've never had much love for the beach. I've wandered down now and then during summer, only to have the masses of tourists, day-trippers, backpackers, sunlovers, cyclists and skaters remind me of how uncomfortable the beach is when *everyone* goes there; not to mention the further discomfort caused by sunburn, salt air and flies.

Last Sunday, in the middle of a sunny but damn cold winter's day, I dropped by Fitzroy St for lunch, and then went for a stroll in the weak winter sun down to Catani Gardens. The St Kilda pier and recently-rebuilt pavilion caught my eye as I turned to head home, and I decided to take a stroll along the pier and take in the view before I left.

Although the wind was, to say the least, brisk! along the pier, it was a delightful stroll, with relatively few other foolhardy souls braving the cold, and the views at the end of the pier, of the bay, of the city skyline behind the boats at the marina, and of the pavilion itself, made it well worthwhile.

I still doubt I'll go back to the beach come summer, but I'll certainly take advantage of the next sunny winter's day for another stroll.

lunatics trying to take over the asylum

And thanks to the Chaser team for pointing this out (it was SO obvious, really!)

time warp

Funny stuff from the ALP:

back to the future

Would anyone really be surprised that Tony Abbott isn't 'across' broadband? After all, they didn't have that in 1950! He can protest that he's not a 'tech' head, but he can't deny he's another type of 'head' :-P