That's the gauge by which Premier Anna Bligh today decided to not consider Daylight Saving for Queensland this year, or any year. Today's decision by Anna Bligh not to consult the people on the issue of Daylight Saving reads like the fix it is.

Phillip Adams replies to Media Watch in today's Australian.

Vladimir Putin and John Howard seem to have much in common. It seems that neither want's to relinquish power. Best we keep a sharp eye out for any covert regulatory changes to electoral terms.

There's a very interesting post on Troppo by Nicholas Gruen which is attracting some equally interesting commentary. It's a boring subject. Money, and the administration of it by supposed predatory lenders.

As I've always believed, the American people, that society - while definitely a strange one - are not at the heart of perceived anti-Americanism in Australia.

It's a funny headline. Fun-loving man, 50, seeks country. What the article doesn't say, or concentrate on, is the man's ambition, avarice and envy for the Big Chair which tends to over-ride any 'fun-loving' aspect of any politician.

Still, I'm sure there will be the easily swayed and gullible in the community who'll read the well-intentioned motherhood statements from Costello. The intended concern and heartfelt desires to do things better than have been done in the past. What the easily swayed and gullible won't take into account that this is a man who, for the past twelve years, has been second-in-charge of what we're continually told is the best government this country has ever had. If that's really the case, why then do we need to do better than what we've done in the past? Why is water an issue now, after 12 years? Why is education still a bugbear after 12 years? Why is infrastructure investment still sadly lacking after 12 years? Why do we still need a safety net for Medicare when universality was it's original intent? Why do we need to have draconian legislation in place, restricting wages and stripping employment conditions while businesses and employers make greater and greater profits?

Don't be conned, kiddies. This man only wants to sit in the big chair. It's all he's wanted for 12 years and now that he's so very, very close in his mind, he'll say anything to ensure that the scare campaigns Labor are mounting are minimised. After all, he'll be getting the job easy, if Howard does pull the pin as he's promised. He doesn't want to have to work any harder at keeping it than he really has to. A little faux modesty and good guy bonhomie can't possibly go stray, can it?

Those of you who read this blog, even semi-regularly, will realise that I live for the event being held this weekend.

A really interesting article today in the SMH about V8 Supercar pilot, Paul Radisich.

Well, you can guess where I've been all day. The beer's cold, the action is good and I'm just champing at the bit waiting for tomorrow.

A trifecta and one a long time in the delivery. What a race!

In a brief and oblique reminder of that Clint Eastwood movie series featuring Clyde the Orangutan, it seems John Howard is adhering to the admonishment Clyde was given in the movie "Any Which Way You Can"... "no pissin', spittin', fartin' or pickin' yer ass".
John Howard seriously needs to consider the latter and start picking his date. Referring back to the Oz Politics Election timetable originally posted in July, if Howard allows the Parliament to resume on 15 October we're left with two likely dates upon which writs could be issued. 29 October and 5 November, both after the House rises from the Spring sessions. The House is meant to sit again 26 November to 6 December, however that is likely to be smack dab in the middle of the campaign period. Will we see the House sit again this year? Will the house resume next week? Come on, Prime Minister! The entire process is now a farce. Start pickin' yer date!

Dennis Shanahan, in today's Oz, tries hard to counter the position adopted by Labor against the Government's apparent support for capital punishment where the Bali bombers are concerned.

I've just finished reading through the Oz article about the death of Trooper David Pearce in Afghanistan. Without any doubt, a life-rending occasion for his family, and so very far from home.

Last month, I wrote on the issue of Piers Akerman attempting to raise the sunken hulk of Queensland's so-called 'Heiner Affair' in order that Kevin Rudd might be somehow implicated.

With revelations today from the legal representative for the rape victim at the heart of the case, regarding Akerman's, and others, shovel work in support of a conspiracy involving Rudd, it seems that Portly Piers has scurried rapidly backwards on his overall involvement.

"I was seeking to know the state of mind of the young person and Mr Harris was totally sympathetic with my inquiries,"

Take a look around the media and you'll find all manner of seemingly stupid statements by our elected representatives.

Just 150 hours will encompass all aspects of John Howard's history lessons according to his blueprint for a national history curriculum.

Every other OzBlogger seems to have done it, so I will too. HUZZAH!

Why is John Howard's marginal taxation announcement being touted by the media as a 'King Hit'?

Dennis Shanahan seems to think he's found a bright spot in the government's dark future.

Peter Hartcher hits the fiscal nail right on the head...

The reality is that the Prime Minister is seeking to bluster his way through a six-week election campaign with an inflationary growth plan. He is hoping fervently that the Reserve Bank will not raise rates in the middle of his campaign. And that it will mop up the inflationary consequences later, once he has been safely re-elected. Fortunately for the national interest, the central bank is now independent.

Clearly, when you're desperate to hold onto power by whatever means necessary, you'll throw out baby, bathwater, bath and tap set used to fill it. Damn the torpedos! Go for growth!

Finally, amid all the hoo-hah of the federal election campaign, an issue close to the heart of all red-blooded, heterosexual males, and doubtless a huge majority of females has received attention. Boobs, and their restraint, management and general well-being.

Okay, that's it! I'm now officially over the federal election campaign.

If you didn't see The Chaser last night , you missed a real hoot.

Too much arguing, not enough debating. That's the title of the Oz editors piece in today's edition.

On the continuing subject of editorials, how's this effort from Herald Sun Editor-in Chief, Bruce Guthrie.

Apparently, you can't Google images and hope to derive an accurate answer. The above logo belongs to the People's Action Party of Singapore. Took me less than five minutes to Google the proof of what it represented.

As I put fingers to keyboard, we've seen races one and two of this weekend's three race round.

Why can't we have a real leader? Make it so!

Carnage. That's the word to best describe race three. Race three came down to who could salvage what points from the round, and just where would they wind up at round end. There was bad luck, which I'd attribute to Tander and Whincup; inconsistency yet again from the stewards with the WOW/WPS car circulating with rear bodywork clearly waving in the wind, lack of proper planning with both Jason Richards AND Greg Murphy pitting at the same time, Murphy having to transit the pitlane without stopping, only to have to pit again later for real.

Tander was released milliseconds too early from his compulsory pit stop, colliding marginally with Jason Richards in the lane. Instant drive-through penalty for illegal release. Whincup locked a front right on the entry to turn eight, winding up mid field as a result, but just after Tander had been awarded his penalty. Still a chance and coming back fast, he fell victim to rushing blood and a narrow, crowded racetrack.

Remarkable was the non-event the weekend turned out to be for Rick Kelly, brother Todd, Mark Skaife and after a terrific qualifying, Ford Performance Racing's Mark Winterbottom. Here's the final standings for race three.
... points from Round 11... ...and points standings following this round.

Here's a thought for the round. I couldn't help but wonder just how much the trophies from this weekend's round would fetch on E-Bay. What do you reckon, reader?

I watched the ABC last night so didn't see the Worm and all the fracas it seems to have caused.

What's more telling about this article are the comments which follow it. Eleven years of inaction are weighing heavily on this government

Mail today consisted of a white envelope with a yellow face and blue writing on it stating "Important Election Information"

So, according to today's Oz Editorial it's all fine, dandy and above board for the Howardian cabal to secretly negotiation with the Americans for the David Hicks plea bargain, clearly on the basis that Hicks was silenced and made invisible in the run-up to the federal election.

Just who is being hypocritical?

Clearly not. It seems that a movie about a wanna-be pop star, acted by a wanna-be (in my view anyway!) pop star and a whole collection of other non-actors has been voted 'Greatest Movie Soundtrack!

Bizarre? And then some! The flick only had two professional actors in the entire cast, and is critiqued as the worst acted film of all time. Equally bizarre, but revealing at the same time, is the vote for second spot going to The Beatles' 1964 movie effort, 'A Hard days Night'. Just goes to prove that sixties music will always have what it takes, despite gaudy costumes, synthesizers, funny hair & make-up holding sway with the arty-farty set.

Yes, we see these quiz things every second day of the week, however I found this one to be a tad different in some respects. So, for all you males out there, have a crack and see if you're 'manly' enough.

I scored 23 out of 25. I've never owned a firearm in my life, but how hard can it be to clean a bolt action rifle, and I'm not a boaty type, so the likelihood of my ever having to rescue anyone from a capsized yacht is pretty damn slim.

See how you go.

An interesting half-hour this morning on Radio Nation was The Media Report, by Anthony Funnell.

A really well written and pertinent analysis from Peter McMahon on Online Opinion.
Have a read.

Paul Keating never ceases to amuse, nor does he cease to drive home the fact that his government, and that of the Hawke government before him, placed Australia where it is today.

It's amazing just how much pulling power a V8 has.

When I read the first few words of this article something deep-seated in my quirky sense of humour immediately brought this to the fore-front of my imagination.

Now, if I see news articles about the Great Circling Poets of Arium, or hear tales of 'an enormous mutant star goat' threatening to devour the Earth, I'll really get concerned.

Mirko Bargaric wrote a pointed piece yesterday, for Online Opinion, to do with Kevin Rudd seemingly selling out on his principles.

Just a short note on an observation made during today's 'Insiders'. Piers Akerman, hardly the most veracious of political commentators and definitely not a shining light in the realms of 'citizen journalism', or blogging had what I regard as the absolute gall to disdain bloggers from certain ideological camps for their presentations which may have appeared anti-conservative. One need only cop a read of Akerman's blog on a semi-frequent basis to become well aware of his own ideological bias, and his less than professional means of displaying it.

Frankly, while I don't think his slandering of the blogging fraternity in general casts any derogatory shadow across anyone but himself, it is the height of hypocrisy to dismiss one sector of the comment-sphere simply because of it's collective viewpoint. Let's not forget, reader, that it was Akerman who robbed the grave of the Heiner Inquiry in a desperate attempt to cast some, indeed any form of doubt on Kevin Rudd.

"I want to talk about our plans for a better and stronger Australia, our plan to make the tax system more competitive, our plan to build technical education, our plan to share the benefits of prosperity with self-funded retirees and pensioners," - Peter Costello

When I first viewed this story I would have been classified as Left-Brain oriented. However, averting the gaze and clearing the mind enables me to change the direction of spin, virtually at will. It's an interesting concept, but I fail to see just what the real point is.

Oh, just by the by.....if the image is viewed in a graphic animation package, the spin is definitely anti-clockwise. I think.

When my first marriage ended nine years ago, it got ugly almost from day one.

Am I obsessed with Piers Akerman? I'll tell you, reader, what I am obsessed with and that is the blatantly ignorant and partisan approach to this election campaign from certain elements on the commentariat right. Akerman is simply the largest target, in more than one way.

Can any politician, whether in the heat of an election campaign or not, be safely classified as "pure of heart" on any issue?

Given Tony Abbott's historical record, he appears to keep his heart in the deep freeze, only re-inserting it when political expediency requires.