Viva la Deva

It's not often that I find myself in agreement with Miranda Devine. This is the second time this year. Whilst this might indicate a drift to the right (with age) on my part, it more likely represents an ability by the Deva of the right to actually compose a piece that might be considered balanced. This is something quite beyond the Bolts and Ackermans of the world whose histrionic harangues somehow pass muster as "journalism".

The resignation of David Campbell is for all the wrong reasons. Had the man resigned for a studied lack of interest in his portfolio one might understand. That he is – or has been for years – homosexual is of no consequence and is, further, no basis for resigning his ministry. The pursuit by journalists – paragons of virtue to be sure – is as unedifying as their justifications are expedient. “Public interest”? For God’s sake Jim, I’m a moralist not a journalist!

Being gay, after all, is no longer a handicap in public life. Iceland last year elected an openly gay prime minister, and the Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong, is a respected senior government operative whose sexuality is never an issue.

And, it should be added, should not ever be. The Meakins and Walters of this world are so much fly-blown shit clinging to an elephant’s arse. Squeaky-clean pompous prats, they are so full of themselves they believe their own expedient rationalisations.

In the end, while it's often forgotten in our sex-saturated culture, there is more to a person than sex. Campbell's identity is not encapsulated in a two-hour session at Ken's of Kensington on Tuesday night. He is still a family man.

Well said. One can only imagine what sort of place Campbell’s now in. It can’t be a happy one and, more than likely, hasn’t been so for many years. What he will be going through at home now is both not good nor any of our business – as was what he did outside of his working hours.

Public interest my left arse cheek.

American Triangle....

Why doesn't Blogger load music files??!!

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disclaimathon

Still images from Dogma (1999)

UPDATE-FOOTNOTE: For anyone who doesn’t know this movie, it’s kind of like The Da Vinci Code meets Dude Where’s My Car.

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so there

Still image from The Informant! (2009)

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Transport Trivia Friday

Presenting milestones in Victoria’s transport landscape...

This week: 1976

July	Random breath testing of drivers is introduced in Victoria.
November	Smoking is banned on trains, trams, and government buses in Victoria.

• Source: Transport Research and Policy Analysis Bulletin, Autumn 2010

Next week: 1977 ! !

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Whittington spends your taxes on ‘amiss’ women

Well, that might have been Andrew Bolt’s headline for this... but the following may in fact be the first recorded instance of special needs targeting in the provision of health services:

In the 15th century 8 beds were added [at St Thomas’s Hospital, Southwark] at the behest of the Lord Mayor, the famous Dick Whittington. They were ... “for young women that had done amiss.”

That would be unmarried mothers; and it was even proposed to take a culturally sensitive approach in regard to those special needs cohorts:

The transgressions of these so-called “unfortunates” were to be kept secret as “it might cause hindrance to their marriage.”

Nice! What a cuddly bunch of medievalists.

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Bolt in bid for more attention, cash and continence pads

Predictably, another big mining company has threatened to hold its breath until it turns blue.

A well-known rupertblogger, who for reasons best known to himself has thrown in his lot with the mining industry (and the Liberal Party), asks in response:

How long can Kevin Rudd go before backing down on his super tax, too?

That would probably depend on how many people there are like Andrew Bolt who’ll wet their pants every time a mining company pretends it’s not going to shovel money out of the ground.

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Solemn Jumbucks of Autumn

click to enlarge  —  imarge by jarcob

Near Salesian College, Sunbury, Victoria

“The morning side of the mountain can be rather gloomy by mid-afternoon.”

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