Freedom From Choice

One of the tragedies of a federal system is that you have a lot of politicians. If it's not bad enough having to put up with the bickering federal parliament, we also have to plumb great depths of despair at the state level.

And things are bad in this state.  On the one hand if it wasn't bad enough to have endured one of the most ineffective and corrupt state governments in NSW history, we now have the unsightly race between ex-ministers scrambling to distance themselves from Eddie Obeid and shouting loudly how little they had to do with him.  It's remarkable - he apparently accumulated all that money and an Order of Australia without anybody knowing him. 

You would think any change could only be for the better but unfortunately, the crooked only seems to have been replaced by the cretinous. 

Govt::  Need some infrastructure?
Public: A second airport would be good.
Govt:   Um no, but how about a floating helipad in the harbour instead? Or, perhaps a second casino, you  know, with a view of the one we already have?  Or how about we start mining for gas under your home?

Thankfully, the public uproar resulted in two of these braindead proposals getting dropped (sadly building of the casino goes ahead regardless) but why should it take a public outcry for the correct decision to be arrived at.  None of these schemes would have been on anyone's list of things that needed doing, so where do these very bad ideas come from?

Given their huge mandate, you'd think the new government could tackle some of the big issues in the state but the only difference between this government and the previous one would appear to be whose nest is getting feathered. 

Government of the people, by the people...but for whom?

Preaching to the Converted

Why is it that when I am watching a DVD/Blu-Ray, I have to sit through a lengthy advertisement telling me why I should I buy the DVD.  I've done that - that's how I'm now watching this stupid advertisement. 

It annoys me so much that I might start exploring other options.  That piracy one they mention looks interesting...

Such An Ice Man

I found it intriguing the other day to hear Kevin Rudd suggest that speculation on his leadership aspirations be cryogenically frozen. 

It was quite clever really.  While appearing to imply that he had no such aspirations, the statement glossed over the fact that cryogenically freezing things doesn't actually end them.  Methinks he will be thawing out sooner rather than later given the government's current woes.

     

Hartley-Poole

I discovered today that not only does Hartlepool have players named Hartley and Poole, but that they also both scored the other day.  Brilliant!

This, in the words of that pigeon and sparrow-feeding chap, "gives me a sense of enormous well-being."

There should be more news like this.

Grimm Marketing

I see they're showing not just Hansel and Gretel at the cinema but Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters.  Clearly the original title wasn't dramatic enough.  What next? Little Miss Muppet: Dragon Slayer?

And coming soon, we have Jack the Giant Killer which sounds so much more exciting than Jack and the plain old Bean Stalk.  Now I have since found that there is actually an old variation of the tale called Jack the Giant Killer, but you can't tell me that they did not simply pick the most exciting sounding name.  The trouble is, it kind of gives the ending away.

No Longer Smarter Than My Phone

I recently bought my 3rd phone - and I don't mean for current use - I mean ever.  And, before you ask, despite what appearances might suggest, the new one is actually the second one I've purchased this century.

First thoughts can only be that these things are getting bigger - much bigger.  First they got smaller and we were very impressed but now they keep getting larger.  What ever happened to miniaturisation?  What would James Bond make of it if Q was to hand him the latest king-sized gadget for subtle espionage use?  And no mini-gun, mini-magnet or mini-condom for Maxwell Smart in his elbow patch?  Which also means no great line in reply, "I'm curious.  What use do we have for a mini-magnet?"

I've been busy searching for apps and downloading them.  I don't have time to use them; I just download them.   Subsequently, I'm now really looking forward to the next time I have to wait in a doctor's surgery or a hairdresser's, just so I can do something other than flick through women's magazines or the Reader's Digest.

As a device, it apparently can do everything.  Other than phone calls, that is.  Well not quite, but it was surprisingly difficult to answer my first phone call - no amount of button pressing worked at all.  Now I know.  You're not supposed to just press the button.  Who'd have thought?  Buttons are a whole lot smarter than being just for pressing   Welcome to the 21st Century.

Death of An Inventor

I heard this morning that Andre Cassagnes had died last night, age 86.  "Andre who?", you might ask, as did I when I first heard his name.  He was the inventor of the Etch A Sketch, that almost magical drawing toy that allowed you to create a new blank canvas with a simple swipe.  We loved that toy as kids and with over 100 million sold, we were not alone.  It's an invention that still brings a smile to my face. 

I think his obituary should be written on one, or perhaps his tombstone could feature one so that people could add their own temporary epitaphs.