It has come to my attention that I have been a little slack lately when it comes to posting. The reason for this is I have been starting work around 4.30am and knocking off around9.00-9.30pm and I couldn't be bothered. Only a couple more days to go, then a little more irrigating and then a couple of days off. Maybe.
In the meantime here is my definitve list off absolutely every christmas song worth listening to:
1. A Fairytale of New York - The Pogues.
2. Christmas Card From A Hooker In Philadelphia - Tom Waits.
I've been reading Darp's ongoing battle with the Patriotic Youth League (must put him on the blogroll, too. The best lefty writer by a margin). I have a few mixed feelings.
The PYL are undoubtedly a bunch of tossers. At ther moment they are a weak, ineffectual organisation, but if left to their own devices, who knows? More importantly, who cares? If Australia becomes a white supremacist state, it can only do so by the will of the people. How is this different from being a Buddhist or Islamic state?
I have a big problem with people preaching tolerance - they don't tolerate anybody who disagrees with them. Personally, I don't tolerate very much. Which is not to say that I run around abusing anybody who looks different to me or has a different opinion/religion/sexual orientation etc. I don't have to tolerate them because they don't bother me. Tolerance means putting up with something I don't like. I don't put up with things I don't like; I move away from them. The Mardi Gra Parade for instance. It has long since become something other than a protest against discriminati0n and homophobia, now it's more of a "We're gay so we're gonna get in your face" parade. I don't like it, so I don't go to it or watch it on telly. That's about as tolerant as I get. Same as most of the tolerance preachers, only I recognise myself for what I am.
I wish Darp well in his crusade, there is a lot to be said for his willingness to support his thoughts with actions, I only hope we always retain the freedom to dissent.
You may recall my recent post about a power failure. Well, it happened again. Fifteen hours of electricity, then nothing for twenty two hours. Towns as much as 400k's away were affected by the same blackout. The Ergon Energy recorded message said that they were working on the problem, they didn't know how long it would take to restore power because they didn't know what the problem actually was and if you had any information which might help them work it out, then call them on **** ****. Since SEQEB and the other government electricity generating organisations have been privatised/corporatised or whatever the fuck the label is this week, maintenance staff levels have been cut by 50 - 75%, depending on which current/ex-employee you talk to. The same thing happened in Un Zud a year ot two ago when Australian staff had to be flown in to get Auckland up and running again.
Guess what's going to happen to the phone service when the full privatisation of Telstra goes ahead? You know, the same full privatisation that in 1996 Honest John said would never happen under any government of which he is leader.
The service will stay about the same as it is for a brief period of time, then begin sliding. At first, probably there will be little discernible difference, but wait until there is a major problem.
I was putting a layby spray on the cotton yesterday, a product called Bandit mixed with another product called Stomp Extra. Stomp Extra is bright yellow. Now according to OH&S guidelines you're supposed to have roughly the same gear as a chemical warfare specialist on when you use chemicals. In reality almost no-one does unless they are using something nasty. So last night I looked like I had jaundice or hepatitis or something. The phone was ringing when I got home and I was still talking on it half-an-hour later when the power went out.
Oh-Oh... my house is on bore water. The bore is eight k's away and the water is piped into a tank on the ground. Between the tank and the taps is a pressure pump. An electric pressure pump. Then a fairly big storm came. And stayed. The stockman rang the pub, but they were in the same boat. They do have a backup generator, but it was down for repairs. They did have an idea, though. The stockman and I went into the Fire Brigade shed and had a direct-from -the-bore shower under torchlight. Then several beers and a feed under torchlight at the pub.
You know what I hate? Well, probably you know quite a few things I hate, but I've got a newy for you... Red Nose Day.
And Jeans for Genes Day.
And McHappy Day.
And every attention seeking fuckwit who goes on some sort of marathon in a completely unsuitable manner in order to raise money. I've seen (or heard of) people riding penny farthings across oz (via Tony ), people driving graders around Australia - no link for that one, just take my word for it, even people crawling between cities in nappies - again, no link. The list of people doing stupid things so that I will give money to what may well be a very worthy cause is endless.
Here's a message for you, attention seekers, if you want me to donate money to your cause, tell me what it is, who it benefits and exactly where my money will go. If I think you've presented a fair case, I'll dob in a few bucks. If you expect me to shave my melon, wear a red nose, bandanna or other degrading physical adornment; or if you degrade yourself, then you've got Buckley's.
And I want to kill all those dickheads in Koala suits, they're just wrong.
So I've got twice the number of underlings to ruthlessly torment now. The new guy is an irishman, which is usually a good thing. He seems like a nice bloke, comes from a farming background and in three hours at the pub last night, he never even tried to tell me how good he is. Pity he's only staying a few weeks.
I see that Ziggy Switkowski has quit/been sacked as CEO of Telstra . In his time, the share price of Telstra has slipped 42%, he (as in the company he was running) lost billions in a failed foreign expansion campaign and the company has lost market share. He will get a payout of at least $2,100,000. Including a payment in lieu of notice. He's not leaving until March.
Meanwhile, any union which seeks any payrise for it's members at all, in good times or bad, is going to ruin the economy. Stop believing the media, people.
