You know you're growing old when the musical stars you heard on your parents radiogram growing up die off. Robert Goulet, dead at 73.

Judging by the DT's article in support of the deceased vitriol vendor Stan Zemanek, radio in Sydney isn't at all about entertainment or information. It's about personalities and egos. Not being a commercial radio fan or listener, I think it's all rather sad that personal hatreds can be aired openly on commercial radio, with relevant management adopting nothing more than a 'tsk, tsk' attitude to their so-called 'stars' using air time to abuse and insult each other, let alone anyone else in the real world.

It's why I much prefer the ABC. More informative, less personal and a whole lot more rational.

More than unfortunate, Family First candidate for the seat of Leichardt - Ben Jacobsen - has clearly and sharply defined his own position on matters of sexual preference. The man is obviously a homophobe and not backward in coming forward about his fears either.

This is cheap political points scoring of the most despicable kind. We need to remember that Family First is a party which rides on the back of christian fundamentalism, dressed up as a socially conservative party standing up for the 'battler'. Clearly, bigotry is one of it's vanguard policies. If anything, Mr Jacobsen has done his opponent a huge favour by declaring his narrow-minded bias for all to scorn. As for the Liberal candidate, Ms Charlie McKillop, she certainly seems to have a battle before her, regardless of her connections with retiring member, Warren Entsch, as his media adviser. The Nationals candidate, Ian Crossland doesn't think much of her either.

Leichardt will be one to watch, for a variety of reasons, not all political.

Jodhi Meares - the former Mrs Jimmy Packer - reckons she wouldn't succeed in the high demand world of fashion today. I can't imagine why not. After all, she definitely isn't a 'waif' and has the physical maturity to make any outfit look good. The perfect female body, in fact. Soft, pleasantly arranged and all the bumps & curves in the right places.

The world of women's professional tennis is worse off today following the resignation of Martina Hingis under a drug cloud.

All the plaudits are coming out now, after the man has gone. Perhaps the personification of a truism in that only the good die young, Peter Andren will be sorely missed within the system we glorifyingly call 'representative democracy'. In this world of party politics, only the independant candidate can ever be accurately described as representative.

Rest easy, Peter Andren. You'll have other opportunities in other lives, I'm sure.

...is absolutely and completely unlike the others. Click on the thumbnail & see if you can guess what it is. Here's a tip..... it's a blog nomination for Best Australian or New Zealand Blog, which isn't a 'real' blog. Instead it's more akin to the power pole outside your house. You know....the one that all the strays come to piss on in a bid to out-piss the pisser before it. See if you can pick the pungency of the pre-arranged punditically-oriented poll.

Insiders this AM.

I remain bemused at just why V8 Supercar Australia takes the entire circus half way around the globe to race on a circuit, in a place, where no-one comes to watch.

Senate voting preferences are now available for scrutiny by those of us smart enough to vote below the line, rather than take the lazy way out, above the line. To find out what your state's preferential deals between candidates and political parties are, simply click here and start trawling. There are some really weird and wonderful preference distributions in play for November 24, for the Senate at least.

For the House of Reps, preference distribution doesn't appear to be out yet, but for the seat I'll be voting in, it looks a sure bet that Laming will get back on the 'donkey vote' alone. Unfortunately. Still, live in hope...

Melbourne Cup day tomorrow, and as usual, the entire country goes ga-ga over a horse race which only a select few get to attend and many more use as an excuse to drink to excess and act like a buffoon

"I will resign as a minister in the Howard government if there are any substantial changes or any of the changes that Julia Gillard has just flagged,"

and if you believe that one, or worse, take it at face value, then I have a bridge you'd be interested in buying for a song. You could drive one of these through that statement. Just assess the 'outs' in Hockey's statement. He'll resign as a minister in the Howard government. Well that one only has any sting if Johnny doesn't lose his seat and the coalition get back in. Even then, just how long will the 70% of cabinet who wanted Johnny gone, which includes Hockey, stand around waiting for Johnny to willingly resign before they give him the shove? Even if Fat Joe did resign, he'd be back when Costello formed his cabinet.

Then there's the 'substantial changes' rider. Define what makes up 'substantial changes', Joe?

*pfffftt!* Talk about non-core promises......

Unpaid leave, eh? Fifty-two weeks of it, but only if you're one of more than 100 fellow employees working for the same employer. Is your job guaranteed, if you decide to take advantage of this wonderful offer? How does someone not being paid manage to feed themselves and make ever-rising mortgage payments?

What an absolute populist crock!

I never cease to be amazed at the trust and faith your average home buying punter puts in their chosen lender or mortgage broker.

Let's take a gander at just what Glenn Stevens had to say on behalf of the Reserve Bank of Australia board yesterday.
over the fold...

If you listened to Radio National Breakfast this morning, you'd have heard Peter Costello calling Kevin Rudd a liar.

I just can't resist linking to this story. The science is thrilling and very encouraging, but the name is what get's me.

Make it so, Bertrand!

Australia is only a Land of Opportunity in John Howard's rhetoric. The man has enormous gall to make his claim the day after the Reserve Bank of Australia clearly states that rising interest rates haven't ended and won't yet for quite some time.

Here's a damn good chuckle to start off the day. I've worked in collections and understand the angst which often arises between the debtor and the creditor, however, I've never stooped to this kind of assault.

As my Dad used to say all the time....takes all kinds to make a world.

It's just a pity we can't afford to pay for our increased wealth.

The Oz's political editor, Denis Shanahan, has mounted his trusty steed, pulled out his colt and ridden pell mell into the fray on the side of conservatism with this nasty piece of misdirection.

This is just too witty to not repeat here. In fact, anywhere for that matter.

A German general said of the British army during the First World War, "I have never seen so many lions led by so many lambs".

What was Caroline Overington to do? Would silence be as damning as her joking denial of Media Watch claims of political interference? Somehow, I don't think so. I wonder if Caroline will send her emails to me upon request, as she has so openly offered in her mea culpa? I'd ask her directly, but sadly, her email address isn't included in her column. Perhaps a reader here might be able to help me?

Sadly, it seems obstructionism and personal assault have seen to the end of Monica Attard's time in front of the cameras at Media Watch. Sadly, because it's common knowledge that Attard couldn't take the heat. No great loss, but for those of us who avidly watch the watcher, we're now faced with assessing a new presenter to see if Media Watch can regain the teeth it once had.

Here's an interesting article. Seasoned airline & military pilots collectively stating that too little has been done by relevant agencies to clarify the question of UFO sightings.

Barnaby Joyce has voiced the realities behind the current coalition campaign for re-election.

Paul Kelly's column in today's Oz is insightful and reasonably accurate.

This little exchange doesn't exactly strike me as thorough investigative journalism. More like gutter-sniping. Given the Media Watch revelations on Carol Overington's journalistic behaviour, I'm hardly surprised at the woman's affrontary. It's clear that Overington has a decided conservative bent to her political allegiances and isn't afraid to exercise them. Given that this latest example of political physical jerks is blatantly aggressive towards the Labor candidate for Wentworth, I'd suggest that Overington ought to be watching her steps. Rupert might just look closer at the way she works on behalf his paper and do some exorcising of his own.

Wooden, often stilted and at least once, fumbled. Labor's election campaign launch I'm referring to. I watched every bit of it on the box last night and while I have to say I'm sick to death of election 2007, I was pleased to see just a little passion in Rudd's delivery of what was clearly a speech crafted for and aimed at the converted. The constant applause following every, single sentence irritated me, and Rudd's fixation on the two tele-prompters was equally as distracting as the applause.

Only in the final ten minutes did I detect the vision behind the rhetoric and the passion which drives the vision. It's there and it's real, which is more than can be said for Howard's mob. It's fairly plain that he only wants back in because he doesn't know anything else. He's fixated, driven, obsessed by the power and glory of the position, not the responsibility. That much was made plain from the profligate spending spree which came from the coalition launch on Monday.

If there's one thing Rudd needs to be careful of, it's becoming Whitlamesque. He started his delivery in very much a Whitlam-like demeanour, even to the tenor of his voice. Labor has set itself a mighty task, not unlike that which Whitlam set it in 1972. Lets hope that Rudd doesn't fall into the Whitlam trap of trying too much, too soon. At least it's unlikely that Labor will face a hostile Senate, even if not a compliant one.

The vibe is clearly in now. Just over one week to go, and anything can still happen because we're dealing with the craftiest politician this country has ever seen in John Howard. But the feeling is good, both in the polls and now from the MSM. Even the Oz was upbeat today, if one dismisses Caroline Overington's sour grapes piece, and why wouldn't one? How that woman keeps her job is beyond me. She must have her legs open for more than Chris Mitchell, is all I can summise.

Poor Dennis Shanahan. He's quite literally torn between a grudging admiration for Kevin Rudd and Labor, and supporting his conservative heart's desire in the coalition.

An interesting assessment of Kevin Rudd and his origins, from a political sense, by Chris Griffith in today's Oz.

Andrew Bartlett, Australian politics' only 'real' blogger, has chalked up 1,000 posts since starting out as a Senatorial blogger in 2004. he's up for re-election this time around and still has enough in his tank to want to represent Queensland for another six years.

If there are two speakers in the Senate who I appreciate listening to more than any other, it's the two Andrews. Bartlett and Murray. Unfortunately, Andrew Murray is retiring this time around and upper house debates will have much less meaning with his exit. That leaves Andrew Bartlett to 'keep the bastards honest'. Whatever your politics, I'd strongly urge all voters to consider the real purpose of a house of review and re-elect Andrew Bartlett for another term. I've met the man, spoken with him on issues of import to we voters, and find him to be not only honourable, but genuinely concerned about the veracity of the political process in this country.

I'm not one to campaign for this party or that party, but when it comes to individual politicians with integrity, you simply can't go past Andrew. Above or below the line, make sure you give him #1 in the Senate.

Have a listen to the audio attached to this article from NASA about the radio emmisions from Saturn. If it isn't the sound effect soundtrack from the 1956 Fred M. Wilcox Sci-Fi thriller 'Forbidden Planet' then I'm not sitting here typing this.

The penultimate round for season 2007.

Sunday raceday and the deciding two races for round thirteen.

I met my local ALP candidate, Jason Young, on Saturday morning.

This is bizarre. In fact, it goes way beyond bizarre to the extra-ordinarily unbelievable in my view.

Spotted in today's online version of the Daily Telegraph. Aren't polls supposed to offer alternative options? Well, I guess this one does. If you're a politically conservative practitioner, that is.
SHEESH!!!

It's clear that Wentworth, and it's possible loss to Labor in Saturday's election, is of high importance to the Coalition.

I'm just a little speechless at this revelation, but what can a man say about a woman who is clearly proud of what she has?

Has Australia lost it's moral compass, as postulated by Paul Keating?

Bill Shatner is a little miffed.

I can't resist this one. The following graphic is from the Oz's online poll at 7:00pm. Probably completely unrepresentative, but the numbers are just too good not to wonder at.

Noal Pearson has once again left his knitting to come out in what appears to be a half-arsed critique of a potential Rudd-Labor government simply because Labor chooses not to pursue a referendum to amend the constitutional preamble so that it says something about aboriginal reconciliation.

Frankly, while I as a white man probably can't appreciate what importance a few words nicely phrased might have to a black man, surely that's the entire point. The preamble to the constitution is merely that. A few words, nicely phrased. Don't actions speak louder than words? Shouldn't the potential Rudd-Labor government be given an opportunity to show just what reconciliation means to it, in the grander scheme, rather than simply arrange a popular vote to replace a few words? That is, of course, if Labor wins tomorrow.

I've said it before. Noel Pearson ought to stick to his knitting. It seems that he's done so much bleating in times past, and well founded in many cases, that he's now stuck in a well worn groove.

I called it quits last night at around 10:30pm. Counting in Bowman had paused and with a 9.17% swing, it looked reasonable to assume that Jason Young had beaten his Liberal opponent, Andrew Laming. Looking again just now, that lead has narrowed to just 293 votes with one polling station yet to be counted. My 2007 will be complete if Jason Young can see to the end of the corrupt Laming. If he can't, the message will still be an emphatic slap in the face for Laming. Time will tell.

Another column from former PM, Paul Keating in today's SMH.

A quick run around the blogosphere today reveals that Labor nay-sayers in the sphere are especially quiet. Tim Blair hasn't updated today as I write this and many other 'righties' haven't bothered either. Resident right-wing nutter, Andrew Landeryou has a swag of blather in his usual shotgun style, which I note is somewhat prophetically adored by now deceased Kevin 'Big Kev' McQuay and a flip-flopping George Brandis.

Mind you, I haven't checked in on every single RWDB declared blog that exists, but those who are linked to from Clubtroppo, for example, are usually representative. On this occasion, by their decided lack of comment on the changes of play in Oz Politick, that is.

As one of my career mentors often stated, 'Winners are grinners and losers can please themselves' Never a truer word uttered.

It's pretty clear that Tim Nicholls, State Liberal member for Clayfield, wants the big chair all to himself.

Kelly says Turnbull while Pearson says Abbott.

I know I shouldn't bother, but in this present day of political ideologies dying rapid and electorally decreed deaths, I continue to be amazed at those who persist in dwelling on that shrinking dichotomic island where attitudes to opinion differences are defined in terms of 'left' or 'right'. Tim Blair is a rusted on example of this unwillingness to accept realities of the modern world, and given past performances in the 'sphere, I'm not all that surprised.

I've asked this question before and still can't seem to get a clear answer. Just what is a 'leftist', and conversely, what makes a 'rightist' more politically correct? Are 'leftists' genuinely leader-fixated as Blair determines? If so, does that make 'rightists' by direct inference, more open to the directionless anarchy of the leaderless rabble?

Just questions, you understand, but important ones especially now that we're seeing the rise of a government more centrist than socialist-left and hopefully the rebuilding of an opposition more centrist than its hard-right past. Never the twain shall meet, of course, but surely the days of 'left-v-right' are long past, and serve only as a refuge for those who prefer to live there.

The seat of Bowman remains on a knife edge. At the time of writing the swing has changed again from 9.06% to 8.88% in favour of the Labor candidate on a TPP basis. A difference of 27 votes with 83.35% counted. I so very much want to see Laming ousted.

UPDATE: It's 15:15 hours and the count is now up to 85.25% complete. Young holds 50.01% and Laming 49.99% TPP. C'mon Jason!!

UPDATE-29/11: 87.5% counted and still the battle ebbs and flows. Young - 50.04% and Laming 49.96% TPP. I wish the AEC would hurry this one along. I can't take much more tension.

UPDATE-30/11: 89.45% counted. Young leads Laming by 116 votes. Apparently the time allowance for postals and absentees is 10 days!!!! Can I hang on that long?

Hey! hey!.....My! My! The shattered federal Liberal Party decided to opt for the non-millionaire, less brash Dr. Brendan Nelson as new party leader. I only have one question. Why?

Brendan Nelson, the man who fluffed his lines when he admitted that Australia is in Iraq for the oil. Brendan Nelson, the man who's bum leaves more of an impression on Parliamentary seats than he's managed to leave on the Parliament proper in the 11 years he's been in politics. The man who brought Universities voluntary student unionism and loss of facilities funding which the institutions are struggling to pay for themselves. The man who presided over Australia's current skills crisis because he failed to foresee and provision for trade and further education training places.

Other than the rare appearance at the despatch box, during which he usually managed to trip over his own tongue, what has this man achieved that's positive and forthright? Oh, alright, that's two questions, but the principal query remains. Why in the name of all that's sane would a broken political entity elect a non-performer as a leader? There can be only one answer. A majority of current Liberal Party Parliamentary members simply can't hack Malcolm Turnbull. They'd prefer the soft option. I predict we'll see the real metal of Turnbull in 12 to 18 months when the vacant space which is Brendan Nelson is challenged for the lead role in the conservative panto.

And then, there's Tony Abbott..........

Any one who believes the usually partisan Main Stream Media coming out last Friday in support of Rudd Labor was anything but disingenuous populism, probably believes John Howard was the greatest PM of all time and that Brendan Nelson is really looking forward to the tribulations of Leader of the Opposition.

Darryl Mason of The Orstrahyun has an interesting read today, which focuses on the power of the media, or rather, the man behind the media. After I read his piece, I had to wonder at whether Piers Akerman bucks the line at the DT, or if he's simply been allowed to play devil's advocate because his rants make good colour. If editors really do take their publishing orders from Rupert, it must be selectively, as he's admitted he does in the UK.

Still....it's revealing stuff, eh?