In the face of over-whelming party disenchantment with NSW Labor government's stated intention to sell off publically owned electricity generation assets, one wonders at the probable fall-out for Morris Iemma, Michael Costa, et al, should they push on, as they claim they will.

Interesting revelation from Andrew Bolt at the end of this morning's Insiders program on the ABC. The all too common reiteration that global warming/climate change is a non-event was there, but thrown into his irrational approach to realities everyone else accepts was a claim that the 'stolen generations' have never existed. Rudd's apology to these indigenous Australians earlier this year, which apparently helped to raise our PM into the ranks of the world's top 100 most influential persons - thanks to Cate Blanchett, according to the Dolt - comes about as a direct result of an apology for events which never happened, to a generation of indigenous Australians which have never existed.

I'd be interested to know just how many indigenous Australians were watching, and what their reactions might be to hearing that the PM is riding to fame & glory on the back of an issue which even John Howard accepted, but Andrew Bolt thinks is a complete fabrication.

As an advertising medium, it seems that V8 Supercar team transporters are setting new benchmarks. This massive machine, which transports Stone Brother's Racing's two car team, enough spares to build a third, meeting room and data analysis facilities around Australia has just undergone what may be the world's largest vehicle wrap. The picture is stunning. Read all about the project here.

I've no doubt made mention in this tome of the hobby I have which is both fulfilling and fiscally satisfying. I brew my own beer. Lager actually, but that's a technical discussion for another time.

Anyone who believes that supermarket chains are in the petrol game for any other reason than to boost bottom line profits, must also believe that politicians never tell lies and Santa Claus is real.

I think it's fairly plain that conservatism in Australia is going to continue to wheel out Little Johnny Howard every time the party bank balance looks a little sad. Given his current drawing power, Johnny is likely to be a very busy lad.

I'll be succinct. Dennis does a very good job in his piece of pointing out that in foreign affairs, as in life, it's impossible to be all things to all people. He even says as much more than once.

A 24 year old woman decides to express herself by appearing tastefully nude in an adult woman's magazine. Then her employer finds out, and she's sacked!

Mark Skaife is apparently feeling the pressure of being a less than successful performer in the V8 Supercar circus.

While I'm on the subject of motorsport, I thought I'd better advertise the pre and post round netcasts done by Neil Crompton, Brad Jones and selected guest drivers and sports luminaries, called PanelBeaters.

Qualifying and Race 1

After watching PanelBeaters last night and viewing qualifying today, it's pretty easy to understand why drivers like Barbagallo.

Races 2 and 3

Apart from Mark Skaife living down to my expectations on the opening lap of race 2, ending his weekend against a concrete wall, the two races today were pretty much staid, tactical affairs.

The very first thought which popped to mind as I heard this story on the way home was, "Was her head-hunting purposely planned?"

Here's something of a philosophical question. Perhaps it's scientific?

If not concerned for the performance of his party on Budget day, why call a ‘doorstop’ knowing full well that as the former Treasurer over more than a decade, journalists would flock like seagulls to a discarded chip wrapper?

A man ahead of his time, is how those right-wing ideologues far from these shores undoubtedly think of Timmy Blair. It seems that Timmy may well have taken faint praise too much to heart. Evidence his 'blog' entry dated Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 9.50pm

Beaks operating under the British judicial court system have adopted new dress.

As for looking 'star-trekkish', the comparison is so far distant from any Star Trek uniform, Starfleet or otherwise, a warp 9 starship would be needed to bridge the gap. Looks smart, I must admit, but just a tad too much like a long smoking jacket or dressing gown.

Just about every politically aware Oz blogger has expressed their impressions of LAST NIGHTS budget delivery, so I thought I may as well do likewise.

It was another Nelson who said "Desperate affairs require desperate measures". Tonight in the House of Representatives, Brendan Nelson realised the former and employed the latter

GASP!!  Such extravagant waste of a renewable resource!

We may all have to wait until 1 July before we're able to know which way the health insurance system will turn. Away from private health cover and onto the public system, or will more than 400,000 Australians currently holding private health cover decide to stick with it?

On Friday, Californian time, that US state's Supreme Court ruled that denying the societal precept of marriage to same-sex partnerships is tantamount to being unconstitutional under US law.

Here’s an issue of some considerable concern.

That ubiquitous piece of Americana, Coca-Cola, isn't made on sugar! It's actually changed over the years. These days, Coke is made on high fructose corn syrup. Corn syrup has it's own problems in regard to the so-called western obesity epidemic, increased incidence of some diabetic complaints, etc, but I didn't know that once a year, the recipe reverts

This piece comes from a blog I stumbled across, so how accurate it is, is up for debate, however it does give one food for thought. Does Coka-Cola, Pepsi and other known brand names of popular fizzy drinks taste different when made on sugar, than on corn syrup? Can we really taste the difference? I'm curious to find out now.

Every day in the media, we’re treated to gems coming from the ACCC inquiries into grocery prices and petrol retailing.

Every day, there’s another revelation from Woolworths or Coles on one subject or the other. Coles admits to ripping us off on fuel pricing. Woolworths now admits to boosting it’s profit margins on it’s Australian businesses in order to keep it’s New Zealand operations afloat. All at our - the Australian shopper's - expense. Marvellous stuff, but what is the ACCC going to do about these bare-faced admissions? Can it do anything? Absolutely nothing, I’d suggest. Meanwhile, if you’re shopping at Woollies, you’re helping to support a New Zealand business operation which is losing money, effectively.

As for some forty percent or more of the grocery marketplace in this country being held by “Aldi, independent grocers, milk bars, petrol stations and specialty stores”, I’d suggest Mr Luscombe needs to be given an average shopper’s weekly list & sent out into the real world to get the ‘best buys’. He won’t be getting them at the local servo, any independent or Aldi either. Competition is healthy in Australian grocery marketplace. It’s the Woolworths/Coles cabal against the rest. The simple fact that no single entity can adequately compete with the grocery camarilla, is immaterial. If both of the giants say competition is alive & kicking, then it must be so. Graham Samuel clearly believes the stories he’s being told.

As I write this (type?) the annual thug-fest masquerading as sport is underway in Sydney. Yes, it's the rugby league State of Origami....oops, sorry.....Origin.

I happened to hear the recorded proceedings of the US Senate's grilling of Big Oil on AM this morning.

This morning's Insiders program was interesting on a number of levels.

As readers will know, I am all in favour of euthanasia, assisted suicide, call it what you will. The right of adults, cognisant of their fate healthwise, to choose not to artificially prolong their lives when they perceive the quality of that life no longer exists.

Nothing terribly important of social conscience or political polemic from me today. Something of a slightly more ethereal nature, albeit material at the same time.

I've steered clear of the Bill Henson/pedophilia hysteria to date, simply because I'm not, or wasn't until last night, well enough acquainted with the man's work or artistic focus.

Just a brief note about the US shuttle program. It's continuing. In fact it continues again at 11:00am tomorrow morning. Shuttle Discovery leaves pad 39a for a two week sojourn at the International Space Station, delivering the Japanese Kiko laboratory as the next portion of the low-Earth orbit reno going on over our heads. The Kibo lab is the largest single component of the ISS to be lifted into orbit to date.

If you're interested enough to consider watching what I reckon is an awesome display of power and high technology, not to mention an exceptional sum of US taxpayer dollars being turned into vapour, then tune your interwebs to NASA TV. I'm having a look right now, in fact. Dawn is just lightening the sky over Florida as I type.

Fuelling in about six hours, the crew clamber aboard a few hours later. Then the fuse is lit and the sky-rocket takes off. It's quite a sight.

FUCKUP: Sorry, I miscalculated the timezone difference. She actually went up at 7:00am AEST, and I was asleep. Bugger and Damn!