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Hey Mandy is there room for two on your soapbox? I would like to join you. This country had better leave Julian Asasange alone. That being said, I would not put anything past our government. What Julian has done is a good thing. I hope he keeps it up, digs way into the past, and tells the world, all, our many dirty little secrets. Yes, it is quite refreshing.
Julian Assange has arrived if he has two American politicians calling for him to be murdered - I wonder what the US law says about people threatening others with murder or is this an acceptable jihad to the US media, because it has been made by their own politicians, rather than a religious leader? Do the ratings take precedence over common decency to stop a TV program where 'guests' are inciting others to murder foreign citizens. They then combounded the incident by allowing it to be shown on YouTube. I am deafened by the silence of condemnation, of such a public statement, from our own Government on Mr Assange's safety. Will it take another load of 'leaks' to let us know how serious the CIA or NSA took the suggestion of murdering a citizen of one of their closest allies. Or do we just wait for him to have an 'accident'.
Perhaps the Australian Government should prosecute Mr. Assange for breaking Australian law - in my opinion he is alleged to have handled stolen property. (see how alleged PC I have become with age) By doing so Australia could ask the British to extradite him to Australia. Australia might get in before the Swedish request goes before the British courts. As a member of the Commonwealth (with the same head of state) we should be entitled to jump the queue. After all, it is not cricket to have an Ozzie shot by an American - on the other hand he might die of old age if he gets lost in the British bureaucratic system.
The world is a cesspool of self-righteous, media hungry politicians who have forgotten that they have been placed in their positions by the people.
Janet wrote: "Hey Mandy is there room for two on your soapbox? I would like to join you. This country had better leave Julian Asasange alone. That being said, I would not put anything past our government. What J..."Thanks for responding Janet, I really appreciate it! I don't know if Julian Assange is a saint or a sinner (probably somewhere in between) but the really important story here is Wikileaks and what sites like that could do for true freedom of speech.
Geoff wrote: "Perhaps the Australian Government should prosecute Mr. Assange for breaking Australian law - in my opinion he is alleged to have handled stolen property. (see how alleged PC I have become with age) By doing so Australia could ask the British to extradite him to Australia..."That's what I think they should do as well Geoff. Our government were quick to follow the lead of other governments in condemning Wikileaks but there seems to be a growing public outcry against their disregard for the rights of an Australian citzen. I have seen several newspaper/internet articles along the lines of "So, what does it really mean to be an Australian Citizen?".
Geoff wrote: "Julian Assange has arrived if he has two American politicians calling for him to be murdered - I wonder what the US law says about people threatening others with murder or is this an acceptable jih..."Geoff, your use of the word "cesspool"is right on target. It explains the government and the media, just perfectly. I cannot add anything to that. You are completely right.
I was utterly speechless when I saw the footage of the US politicians and talk show hosts calling for Assange to be assassinated - have we really come to this? It is however a little bit heartening to see there has actually been some positive reaction to the whole situation in Australia - if not by those cesspool politicians then at least by The Australian and others. And I am even more heartened when I see that someone like Geoffrey Robertson (who I admire for putting his money where his mouth is even though I don't always agree with him) has said he is prepared to defend Assange. Perhaps all hope is not lost after all
Bernadette,Every western newspaper is aware that the 'leaks' originate from stolen files and by 'exposing' the leaks they are as culpable as the person who stole the original files in the first place - after the fact comes to mind.
Prosecution of Assange will become test base of the rule of politics over the rule of law - by prosecuting Assange and not prosecuting every newspaper editor in the Western world will devalue our society to such an extent that few will ever trust an 'elected' government in the future. We either have the rule of law or we don't, and if we don't, heaven help us, because trust has flown out of the window.
I feel sorry for my children and grandchildren because they may not remember when laws were in place to protect the people, not the politicians.
The fact the 21 politicians have resigned from the NSW parliament in the last few weeks adds credence to my complaint against those in Government.
Mod
Geof, you say “few will ever trust an 'elected' government in the future”. Are you suggesting our society trusts any of them now? In my opinion the Westminster model has failed, a victim of corruption, dishonesty, self interests, manipulation, gags and other power abuse and conspiracy, etc., etc., etc., et al. It needs a massive overhaul to restore constituent’s confidence in forthright representative process. Of course it will never happen, due to self interests on both sides of the house, fear of exposure of past corruption, conspiracies, dishonesties, and blatant abuses by manipulative members and power bases.
One day the electorate may vote for change , by refusing to vote for the rabble. Radical protest forces change. I doubt if I’ll be around to see it happen, unfortunately.
As to the other point, as I understand, unless or until the ‘leaked information’ is proven to be stolen and not claimed, assumed, or insinuated, any recipient of same can similarly consider the ‘information’ (most of which is unimportant and ‘old hat’) was officially leaked. Wikileaks was often used for such purpose by the U.S. hierarchy. No culpability thus far really exists, save in the minds of the few idiots in Washington and their hysterical supporters and wannabes.
Nearly all of the 511 responses to the ugly Fox interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d36xEv... (listed in Mandy’s post) detest the commentary and deplore the threats directed to Assange by the commentators and the ‘outraged’ Washington twits. The respondents generally view Assange as a forthright, honest and gutsy journo, indicating just how remote those loudmouths are from realism and the public’s attitudes. Or is theirs a deceptive tactic, a cover up of another U.S. balls-up somewhere?
Mmmm, shaky rape accusations in Sweden, a Brit extradition application (not a U.S. one?), a Brit deal to send Assange, illegally and against his will to the U.S., gutless Julia rattling her sabre with guilty announcements but not offering help or seeking extradition, a probable Oswald style CIA organised ‘murder’ on Assanges arrival at JFK, an apology and the trash pollies in Washington shaking their hands on a job ‘well done’, as rumours of another massacre in the invaded country emerges. Makes a good plot for a novel!
Enough for now, cheers.
I'm thinking a movie too Justin!;)
Justin wrote: "Geof, you say “few will ever trust an 'elected' government in the future”. Are you suggesting our society trusts any of them now? In my opinion the Westminster model has failed, a victim of corrup..."
Justin,
Unfortunately we do not have a strong alternative to the Westminster system. I am not interested in a benevolent dictator or communism (where there is little incentive to work) or an absolute monarch.
The current system (UK, NZ, Canada & Oz) has all parliamentarians, armed forces, police force etc swearing allegiance to someone who doesn't have any power.
Anyone who wishes to usurp the elected Government, which has been asked to govern by the authority of the Crown, because that Party is the peoples' choice, commits treason.
I love the idea of all positions of authority swearing allegiance to a person who doesn't have any power, by doing this, power is denied to anybody who wishes to remove it from the people.
Forget the personality of the person who is the monarch, it is the denial of ultimate power to anyone else that counts.
I remember my interview for becoming an Australian citizen twenty five years ago. I asked why I had to swear allegiance to QE 2 of Australia, as being ex Royal Navy Reserve I had already sworn allegiance to the Crown. I was told that if I wished to be an Aussie - swear!
My next question was more a point of order - our current Queen in not Queen Elizabeth the second of Australia, but Queen Elizabeth the FIRST, as Australia had not be 'discovered' when QE 1 was on the British thrown. The man in front of me started to get very 'snotty' - so I swore allegiance to QE 2 of Oz. :-o) If we become a Republic how do I and many others, stand after giving our oath to QE 2 of Oz ???
BTW - the oath has since changed - not my fault - honest :-o)
I realise that breaking oaths or promises is the 'done' thing today, but for those if us who try to stick with a promise / oath as the right thing to do, will have a problem.
Geoff wrote: "Justin wrote: "Geof, you say “few will ever trust an 'elected' government in the future”. Are you suggesting our society trusts any of them now? In my opinion the Westminster model has failed, a v..."
Hi Geof
I did not suggest an alternative to the Westminster system – I wrote I consider it needs an overhaul, a rebirth, devoid of the loopholes and weaknesses evident in its 155 years of existence in Australia.
The overhaul could start by requiring all parliamentary aspirants and sitting members qualify lie detection and minimum intelligence tests administered by an ‘untouchable’ university administration.
Second, that elected representatives swear their supreme oaths of allegiance and duty to the country and constituents, not their damned political party, thus re-introducing the ‘by the people, for the people’ democratic principle. These would be two small steps to, as Chipp said, “keep the bastards honest”, and to return honour, trust and respect to parliament rarely, if ever seen since the days of Menzies and Caldwell.
Sadly, as the rot continues, and the inadequacies and manipulation of the system proliferate, its usefulness and benefit sinks, permeating the contempt it rightly deserves in the morasses seen at state and federal levels today.
Kindly,
Justin
G'day Geoff & Justin, very good comments from both, I, like many "Aussies", will never trust any politician as far as we could throw them.
Who, in NSW, is looking forward to March - (me, me, me! they shout) the current Government have had 22 members state that they will not stand at the next election.I will be glad when this tired and corrupt bunch have gone, but I am bothered that we will not have a decent opposition to 'keep the bastards' honest!
I think I'll start my own party - The Silver Haired Fox Party - :-o)
Geoff wrote: "Who, in NSW, is looking forward to March - (me, me, me! they shout) the current Government have had 22 members state that they will not stand at the next election.I will be glad when this tired an..."
I'd vote for you Geoff but I'm a Qld'er. I'm also looking forward to our next state election where I feel the incumbents might be going to get a bit of payback for the Qld Health payroll debacle (yes I'm a midwife working for QH). ;)
I want to hear what his policies are first!
Gail "cyborg" wrote: "I want to hear what his policies are first!"LOL!
Gail,If you expect policies you are too young to vote! As you mature you will realise that to expect policies is like waiting for Santa - it is only for children.
We have become so Americanised that we now vote for a personality, why let policy influence you when you have the newspapers, who know so much more than the rest of us . . . to tell us how to vote, or am I being too cynical?
Ha ha, no I am not that young. There are certain extremist parties I won't vote for. White Australia, gun related parties, any party based on religion just for starters. You are right it is more about personality. $ow on earth did George W. Bush get elected? It can't have been his scintillating personality. It must have been more to do with the number of palms he greesed or am I being cynical?
Ha ha ooops. I am using my phone. Editing isn't that great, and neither is my typing. :D
Then dosen't it fit with 99.9999% of politicians. (-:
Some of our very talented group members have participated in making a video to support the It Gets Better Project which was started in response to a number of students taking their own lives after being bullied in school. The project authors wanted to create a personal way for supporters everywhere to tell LGBT youth that, yes, it does indeed get better. You can view Kevin's great video
here.
Members of our group who are involved in the video are Carmel (and her fabulous family), Justin and Kevin. Well done guys!
Have you been following the latest attempt by big chain stores to remove the $1000 GST threshold. At the moment we aren't charged GST on goods bought overseas via the internet worth under $1000. Bernadette from Reactions to Reading blog has written an excellent opinion piece on how this affects those of us who choose to buy our books online from OS.Her suggestions to the big bookstores in Australia are priceless and spot-on! Couldn't agree more Bernadette!
It’s so much more than the 10%
"In Australia this week one of the big media/news stories has been the campaign by a collective of retailers to have the government intervene in their failing sector. Their case boils down to the fact that we Aussies are buying too much from overseas merchants via the internet and Aussie retailers are all going broke/having to cut staff. They are demanding that the government collect the 10% GST (similar to VAT or sales tax) on low-value items (i.e. under $1000) which Australian retailers have to charge on all items sold here. The retailers believe that if this happens we’ll all buy locally again.
Because this is a book blog I’m not going to rant at those retailers in the collective who sell gadgets, clothes and other consumables (though I could) but I am going to say a few words to REDgroup which owns Borders and Angus & Robertson (two of our biggest book chains) and which is one of the members of the aforementioned collective. These words are equally applicable to all the other Aussie book retailers who are upset with my shopping habits.
You aren’t failing because we can get our goods minus the 10% GST you are forced to charge for the same items when sold locally. You are failing because you have the business sense of house bricks.
You know how I know you have the business sense of house bricks? Because you think forcing me to pay an extra 10% for the books I order online will make me come back to you. The last book I ordered from Book Depository cost me $14.87. Even with an extra 10% it would still have been $20.60 cheaper than it was in the local Borders on the day I ordered it (yes I checked).
You know how else I know you have the business sense of house bricks? Because you have never tried to sell ME a book." Read more.
Mandy wrote: "Have you been following the latest attempt by big chain stores to remove the $1000 GST threshold. At the moment we aren't charged GST on goods bought overseas via the internet worth under $1000. Be..."Thanks for posting this Mandy. I think we should all send a copy of it to Borders
Been following the 10% thing..ugh. I shop online mostly because I can't buy everything I want in a store, Tassie isn't one with many shops. Then my interests are different and rarely sold in Australia AND if they do they charge WAY to much money! Actually all my hobbies/collections have been fed largely via the internet because the prices are better OR I have no chance in hell of finding it in Australia/Tas.I think the 10% thing is really rather annoying. And actually, it'll make me want to bad mouth H.N. and other such shops that think it's such a good idea. Now, if H.N. actually considering lowering their prices on their goods maybe people might shop there more. I'd rather have my items instantly but when a video game costs $100 at H.N. vs $30 online shop ..which one would you pick? Plus the online shop has FREE shipping from the UK.
Ugghh..it maddenes me but I need sleep now.
I agree absolutely with Bernadette. I'll never look at house bricks the same way again!!!
Having worked in int'l transport (& had my own company) the idea of monitoring the GST on a book bought from Book Dep for $15 is ridiculous, as the cost to recover the $1.50 for the Government is far greater than the $1.50. Big business is advocating that we, as tax payers, should help them make a profit - perhaps they would like to pay the cost of collecting the GST of $1.50.If a labour government allows big business to influence them then they will be dead as a governing party for many years to come.
What part of capitalism does Mr Harvey not understand ?? What is good for the goose etc
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot - Mr Harvey's comments have shot himself in the head - have you seen his share price in the last few days - he must have lost millions and now I think he has just realised how damaging his comments have been to his own company!
Thanks for posting my rant in here Mandy - it's always good to get these things off one's chest (and onto one's blog). The booksellers in Oz made a lot of money out of us all in the pre-amazon years. They should have saved some of their filthy lucre for the lean times - I have zero sympathy for any of 'em. And frankly I can live with the job losses too - most of the people I've encountered in local bookstores don't deserve those jobs based on the level of 'service' they provide.
@Geoff it really irritates me that it's Gerry Harvay leading this campaign - he used some pretty underhanded business practices himself to squeeze his competition out back in the day - Nothing illegal by any stretch but he was ruthless - so he does understand capitalism but he only liked it when he's running the show - not so happy when the shoe's on the other foot. Plus it's hard to feel sorry for a man whose personal wealth is $870million.
@Geoff it really irritates me that it's Gerry Harvay leading this campaign - he used some pretty underhanded business practices himself to squeeze his competition out back in the day - Nothing illegal by any stretch but he was ruthless - so he does understand capitalism but he only liked it when he's running the show - not so happy when the shoe's on the other foot. Plus it's hard to feel sorry for a man whose personal wealth is $870million.
Mod
Wow!! That is so good...did you read the follow up comments from 'Chuck' who works in Dymocks? Very interesting!
Brenda wrote: "did you read the follow up comments from 'Chuck' who works in Dymocks? Very interesting!..."I didn't realise that Chuck had answered. He actually has a great blog that I've quoted from before in the speculative fiction thread. He is the manager of Dymocks Southlands and the creator of the Necroscope website. He's really passionate about selling books and is determined to open his own bookshop in the future despite the current woes of the industry. He has written an excellent article from the point of view of a bookshop owner which you might be interested in:
Cheaper Books? Support the Australian Bookselling Industry? CHOOSE!
"I love the Australian bookselling industry. I love being a part of it, and I specifically love being a bookseller. I love recommending books that I love to customers, and having them come back to thank me for my recommendations. I love giving authors - particularly authors who I personally feel deserve a wider readership - the opportunity to promote themselves through the signings we organise. I love getting insider knowledge of the publishing industry through friends and contacts who work in that industry. I love having the opportunity to meet my own literary idols from time to time. I love the idea that, while supporting myself financially, I'm flogging a 'worthy' product that educates, informs, and brings pleasure to millions.
That said, I should also say that the Australian bookselling industry is a pretty damn scary industry to be working in at present; three year's worth of global financial woes have lead directly to the massive increase in online book-buying, and perhaps less directly to the increasing popularity of e-readers, and the subsequent expansion and upgrading of e-reader technology. Add to that the fact that Australian book sales are down overall, as consumers are being far more frugal with their disposable income than they were three years ago, and you have a climate that poses a major threat to all Australian booksellers." Read more.
His passion for books is really infectious! When I read his stuff I want to run to my nearest bookstore and buy a print book. I think Bernadette and Chuck could probably solve all the problems of the system if they got together! LOL
Chuck only commented this morning and you're both right - it's great to see a bookseller with such views and more importantly willing to engage on the topic. I shall be writing another post about the customer's role in the current debate I think. Just have to distill my thoughts a bit.
And Carmel you are lucky you have such people working in your local Dymocks and I shouldn't be so harsh to judge all book selling staff by the examples I have locally - I must admit I was thinking about the Borders people when I wrote my post because when I was looking for some specific kid's books by Australian authors recently they were of no help whatsoever - the responses I got were "dunno", "try amazon" and "look over there" (where I had just come from). GRRRRR
And Carmel you are lucky you have such people working in your local Dymocks and I shouldn't be so harsh to judge all book selling staff by the examples I have locally - I must admit I was thinking about the Borders people when I wrote my post because when I was looking for some specific kid's books by Australian authors recently they were of no help whatsoever - the responses I got were "dunno", "try amazon" and "look over there" (where I had just come from). GRRRRR
Can you believe this? I think this belongs in the 'What will they think of next?" basket. LOLCATHOLIC bishops have approved a new iPhone and iPad app that allows users to make confession with a virtual "priest" over the internet.
"Confession: A Roman Catholic App", which went on sale through Apple's iTunes website for 1.19 pounds last week, offers "a personalised examination of conscience for each user", according to its makers. It asks penitents to list sins they have committed by misdeed or omission.
Senior church officials in the US and Britain have approved the app, which they say can be used by Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
A spokesman for the Catholic bishops of England and Wales said: "The new 'confession' iPhone app is a useful tool to help people prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The church embraces new technology and this creative app will hopefully help iPhone/iPad users as they prepare to make a good confession."
First, it asks you to register your name and sex, and state whether married, single or ordained, before choosing a confession password. It has an "examination" button where you can add or remove "custom sins" such as gluttony, envy or greed. Under prayers, it lists Acts of Contrition in English and Latin, as well as traditional prayers such as the Hail Mary and Glory Be.
The "confession" button opens a screen that begins: "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." A series of sin check-boxes invites the penitent to declare whether they have offended their parents, their family or, if a child, failed to tidy their bedroom.
A further page, headlined "sins" in red, then opens with a blank page on which to make an inventory of misdemeanours. The "next" button then brings up one of the Acts of Contrition followed by, "Receive Absolution and respond, Amen".
Pressing the "finish" button brings up a spiritual quotation from a Catholic saint such as Frances de Sales or Catherine of Siena.
"Our desire is to invite Catholics to engage in their faith through digital technology," said Patrick Leinen of the developer, Little iApps.
The developers, based in Indiana, said that in working on the app they took to heart the Pope's message on World Social Communications Day last month, urging Christians to use digital media.
Benedict XVI said: "To proclaim the Gospel through the new media means not only to insert expressly religious content into different media platforms, but also to witness consistently, in one's own digital profile and in the way one communicates choices, preferences and judgments that are fully consistent with the Gospel." He invited young people "to make good use of their presence in the digital world".
Little iApps said: "Our goal with this project is to offer a digital application that is truly 'new media at the service of the Word'." The company said the app was developed with assistance from priests and had been given the church's imprimatur by Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne in Indiana.
It is thought to be the first time the church has approved a mobile phone application, although it is not entirely unfamiliar with the digital world.
In 2007 the Vatican started its own YouTube channel. Two years later it created a Facebook application that lets users send virtual postcards featuring the pontiff.
Not surprisingly a Vatican representative has stated overnight that Catholics cannot confess via iPhone.
With this app. you can work out the sins worth confessing and those that are better left concealed. :)
Mod
Hahaahahaha..I love your response Carmel XD I got a good chuckle!To be a little dirty....I played The Godfather and I'd go into a hhuuuuuuuuuuuugggeee Church and down steps (next to the confessional box) I'd go bribe the cops so they'd leave me alone XDDD I found it rather amusing for a game to do such a thing. I just wonder if it offended anyone? Because this allowed me to do what a Mafia man would do (murder, own land, sell stolen goods,drugs)..lol Felt like a sick sense of humor.
At the moment I'm fascinated by the Wikileaks story and heartened at the emergence of a new type of journalism. IMHO journalism in the past decade has become 'soft' e.g. ACA, Today Tonight, Sunday Night (channel 7) and even 60 Minutes has really lost the plot. Journalists spend more time covering who the latest celebrity is sleeping with. Reporting on conflicts is now done by 'embedded' journalists (i.e. the journalists are sponsored and transported by a party involved in the conflict). I'm excited at the thought that journalists might start taking risks to reveal really important issues and place themselves against powerful governments/corporations in order to reveal the truth to the public. There are already other sites being created that have the same goals as Wikileaks and I think this highlights a change in the way news is given to the people.
If you're following the discussion or are interested in learning more here are a couple of articles that I've enjoyed reading about Wikileaks and Julian Assange. Remember if you believe strongly in something the easiest and best place to start is writing a letter to your local member for Parliament. How to find your local member of Parliament
In today's Australian: The latest leak - Burma's nuclear plans exposed by WikiLeaks
On the ABC news website Why Wikileaks is good
In today's Australian: Julian Assange: Wild Child Of Free Speech
From a US publication: State Department tells Columbia University Students: DO NOT Discuss WikiLeaks On Facebook or Twitter
From a US publication: US State Department ironically announces World Press Freedom Day on Dec 7th
Very scary video - Fox News, Politicians and commentators calling for assassination of Julian Assange
As usual while the articles are great it's the comments (both for and against) that will have you amazed, outraged or laughing out loud. Some people are so clever!