In Japan there a loads of banks and every convenience store has ATMs but when you're a foreigner needing to get cash from an ATM you're pretty well limited to Citibank, 7-Eleven and Japan Post. That doesn't sound as dire as it seems. There's a few Citibank locations with ATMs in Tokyo but 7-Eleven is just about everywhere. They have a bank called, funnily enough, 7-Bank and every store has a 7-Bank ATM that accepts just about every foreign card you can imagine. The usual anyway, VISA, Maestro, Cirrus etc. ATMs at other convenience stores don't seem to use any of major international banking networks. The post offices usually have ATMs that accept foreign cards too. I kept forgetting about the post office, but I did get cash there once or twice. For some reason I kept mucking up how to get cash from Citibank ATMs. It usually took me 2 or 3 goes to get the combination of transaction type, card (credit or savings) and account (credit or savings) correct. I think most ATMs had a 50000 yen ($500) limit per transaction. I was able to get cash advances on my credit card and withdraw cash from my savings account with my bank transaction card.
The ATMs defaulted to English when you put in your card or you're able to select English with a button on the screen.
Watch out for those foreign transaction fees charged by your bank though. Westpac charged me about $25 every time I withdrew $500. $10 foreign ATM fee and a $15 foreign currency conversion fee. It is out and out gouging. Paying for things with a credit card avoided the ATM transaction fee but there was no avoiding the foreign currency conversion fee. I reckon Westpac made close to $500 from me with their fee rort on this trip.
I took Georgia with me to the Citibank ATM in Ginza. There was was a security guard on duty who looked ready for business. He was an older guy but he was shaped like the Hulk. Not tall though. He was glaring at us like we were going to take the ATM with us. He had his arms out like he was going to go for the draw with his imaginary weapon. He looked intimidating. But as we were leaving he winked at Georgia and gave a little wave. It was kind of cute. Don't worry Citibank, your ATMs are in good hands.
Showing posts with label Random Stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Random Stuff. Show all posts
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Saturday, 24 September 2011
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
8 and half months
Georgia is 8 and half months old this is her first time on the grass in the park. She's almost crawling, but not quite.
Georgie loves the swing too...
Georgie loves the swing too...
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Best wishes Japan - Saikō no Nippon wa kibō
A few weeks ago I mentioned that this time last year we were in Japan. Three weeks ago no one knew Japan would be facing a disaster of historic proportions (hey psychics how did you miss this?*).
We couldn't be sadder for the Japanese people. We've travelled all over the world but our holiday to Japan was my favourite, or equal favourite, so far. The Japanese were superb. They have a generosity of spirit and hospitality we'd never encountered before. Time and again we met people that were friendly and helpful that seemed to belie the Japanese reputation for reserve and formality.
I've been shocked by the images coming out of Japan. It is truly heartbreaking.
There couldn't be a better prepared people to deal with such a catastrophe though. Hopefully Japanese stoicism in the face of this crisis will see them through. They must be being pushed to the limit though with an earthquake, tsunami, nuclear meltdown and now possibly the eruption of the volcano Mt Shinoedake on Kyushu. All they need now is Gojira to rear his ugly head above Tokyo Bay to complete a horrifying week.
Our thoughts are with our Japanese friends and we send them our best wishes but sometimes a more tangible gift is more appropriate: Australian Red Cross Japan Disaster Appeal.
Japan in happier times. Michelle in front of Matsumoto Castle, Matsumoto. 9th March 2010.
*Seriously psychics. You missed the 5th biggest recorded earthquake in history, one of the deadliest tsunamis in history and multiple nuclear reactor meltdowns. All on one weekend.
We couldn't be sadder for the Japanese people. We've travelled all over the world but our holiday to Japan was my favourite, or equal favourite, so far. The Japanese were superb. They have a generosity of spirit and hospitality we'd never encountered before. Time and again we met people that were friendly and helpful that seemed to belie the Japanese reputation for reserve and formality.
I've been shocked by the images coming out of Japan. It is truly heartbreaking.
There couldn't be a better prepared people to deal with such a catastrophe though. Hopefully Japanese stoicism in the face of this crisis will see them through. They must be being pushed to the limit though with an earthquake, tsunami, nuclear meltdown and now possibly the eruption of the volcano Mt Shinoedake on Kyushu. All they need now is Gojira to rear his ugly head above Tokyo Bay to complete a horrifying week.
Our thoughts are with our Japanese friends and we send them our best wishes but sometimes a more tangible gift is more appropriate: Australian Red Cross Japan Disaster Appeal.
Japan in happier times. Michelle in front of Matsumoto Castle, Matsumoto. 9th March 2010.
*Seriously psychics. You missed the 5th biggest recorded earthquake in history, one of the deadliest tsunamis in history and multiple nuclear reactor meltdowns. All on one weekend.
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Late night webcam
If you were able to hack my webcam late at night when Michelle and Georgia are sleeping you might just see just what the boys get up to...
Yes I am wearing shorts.
Yes I am wearing shorts.
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Chapter 5 Section 116 of the Commonwealth Of Australia Constitution Act
116. The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.
It is based on the US version but in effect a little weaker. Almost gutless when push comes to shove.
So why are Christians always angry?
It is based on the US version but in effect a little weaker. Almost gutless when push comes to shove.
So why are Christians always angry?
Saturday, 12 February 2011
Quickies
Here a couple of things that have got my goat recently.
States urged to impose total ban on mobile phone use in cars.
The nanny state gone mad. Yes using a mobile phone or texting in a car is dangerous. Have you ever been behind someone yakking on a mobile while driving? They look like they're driving pissed. By all means ban hand held devices, but hands free? The study suggests that even hands free devices are distracting and could cause accidents. Maybe, but this is taking the nanny state too far. The law would be almost unenforceable anyway. What will they ban next? Passengers? Do you know how distracting passengers can be?
'Appalling' law lets schools expel gay students.
This absolutely appalling law is a relic of the Wran years when homosexuality was still illegal. Holy shit have these people ever heard of basic human rights? The law allows private schools to expel gay students not because they're disruptive or are "flaunting their homosexuality" or harassment. But just because they are gay. What the fuck? It's like outlawing lefthandness or brown eyes. Fucktards.
Christians put faith poll on the agenda.
The Australian Christian Lobby have organised an event where Christian leaders will question Kristina Keneally (Premier) and Barry O'Farrell (Opposition leader) on a range of "social" issues. The ACL did this during the Federal election with the two Federal leaders too. Hello, Church State Separation anybody? Why the leaders pander to this out-of-touch and un-representative to the majority of people in the state I don't know? Maybe I do. Votes. The ACL, and Catholics for that matter, agenda is probably the newly approved Ethics Classes in public schools. For some reason the various religions have been allowed to come into public schools and teach scripture classes once a week. While the classes were technically not compulsory, ask Nowra and Ulladulla High Schools about that though, students who had permission from their parents were not allowed to do anything constructive. No school work or homework was allowed so as not to disadvantage the poor kiddies in the scripture classes. Recently though ethics classes were trialled as alternative to scripture classes. In the trials apparently more than half the kids chose to do the ethics classes instead of scripture. This outraged the Anglicans and the Catholics. I don't know why they have their own fucking schools after all. Now the government is rolling out ethics classes across the board. Ethics are cool. I wish I had them. Last week the Opposition Liberal Party dropped its objection to ethics classes and their promise to remove them from schools. This has again outraged the Christians. It appears to me that the Liberals have seen how the wind is blowing and how popular the ethics classes actually are with voters.
The scripture classes have no place in public schools. Ethics classes are appropriate for public schools, or any school for that matter. If the Christians want to teach scripture they can go and start there own schools. Oh. Hang on. They have their own schools. Hundreds of them. Well piss off out of the state system then. We nominally have a separation of church and state in this country.
DNA and dollars are killing capital punishment.
You'd think this abhorrent practice would be outlawed just because it is barbaric but if DNA evidence and the cost of executions is doing the job, well that will do I suppose. The execution rate in the US has halved since 1999 which was the peak year for judicial homicide in the USA.
States urged to impose total ban on mobile phone use in cars.
The nanny state gone mad. Yes using a mobile phone or texting in a car is dangerous. Have you ever been behind someone yakking on a mobile while driving? They look like they're driving pissed. By all means ban hand held devices, but hands free? The study suggests that even hands free devices are distracting and could cause accidents. Maybe, but this is taking the nanny state too far. The law would be almost unenforceable anyway. What will they ban next? Passengers? Do you know how distracting passengers can be?
'Appalling' law lets schools expel gay students.
This absolutely appalling law is a relic of the Wran years when homosexuality was still illegal. Holy shit have these people ever heard of basic human rights? The law allows private schools to expel gay students not because they're disruptive or are "flaunting their homosexuality" or harassment. But just because they are gay. What the fuck? It's like outlawing lefthandness or brown eyes. Fucktards.
Christians put faith poll on the agenda.
The Australian Christian Lobby have organised an event where Christian leaders will question Kristina Keneally (Premier) and Barry O'Farrell (Opposition leader) on a range of "social" issues. The ACL did this during the Federal election with the two Federal leaders too. Hello, Church State Separation anybody? Why the leaders pander to this out-of-touch and un-representative to the majority of people in the state I don't know? Maybe I do. Votes. The ACL, and Catholics for that matter, agenda is probably the newly approved Ethics Classes in public schools. For some reason the various religions have been allowed to come into public schools and teach scripture classes once a week. While the classes were technically not compulsory, ask Nowra and Ulladulla High Schools about that though, students who had permission from their parents were not allowed to do anything constructive. No school work or homework was allowed so as not to disadvantage the poor kiddies in the scripture classes. Recently though ethics classes were trialled as alternative to scripture classes. In the trials apparently more than half the kids chose to do the ethics classes instead of scripture. This outraged the Anglicans and the Catholics. I don't know why they have their own fucking schools after all. Now the government is rolling out ethics classes across the board. Ethics are cool. I wish I had them. Last week the Opposition Liberal Party dropped its objection to ethics classes and their promise to remove them from schools. This has again outraged the Christians. It appears to me that the Liberals have seen how the wind is blowing and how popular the ethics classes actually are with voters.
The scripture classes have no place in public schools. Ethics classes are appropriate for public schools, or any school for that matter. If the Christians want to teach scripture they can go and start there own schools. Oh. Hang on. They have their own schools. Hundreds of them. Well piss off out of the state system then. We nominally have a separation of church and state in this country.
DNA and dollars are killing capital punishment.
You'd think this abhorrent practice would be outlawed just because it is barbaric but if DNA evidence and the cost of executions is doing the job, well that will do I suppose. The execution rate in the US has halved since 1999 which was the peak year for judicial homicide in the USA.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
You really can't afford 50 bucks?
The recent Queensland floods brought out the best in Australians and, unfortunately, the worst. Many Aussies spent time, money and sweat to help out the victims of the floods. Many of us donated to the Premier's Relief Fund. This disaster will cost billions. It may be the most expensive natural disaster in Australian history by orders of magnitude.
Of course the Federal Government has to foot the bill for much of the repair bill. Just how are they going to pay for it? Billions of dollars don't just magically appear out of consolidated revenue. They will have to cut some expenditure but there is a limit to the cuts any government can make. A quick dirty way of raising a couple of billion bucks is a one off levy. This is what the Gillard government has chosen to do.
The levy is only going to be levied on those who make more than 50 grand a year and they're only going to be hit with a 0.5 percent surcharge on top of their usual Medicare levy. For the lucky few earning more than 100 grand a year the levy is 1 percent. Yes lucky few. Only 1 percent of Australians earn more than 100K per year. If you earn less than 50k what are you complaining about? You won't have to pay anything.
I was a little shocked by the furore this has caused. What a bunch of whingers those affected by the levy are. At the bottom end of the scale it is 48 cents per week. Yes 48 cents. If you earn 100K it is $4.81 per week. This is only for one year. Are you telling me Mr or Ms $55,000 a year you can't afford $52 in one year to help reconstruct Queensland? Or $250 if you earn $100,000. Oh the hardship. Whingers.
Before any of you 1 percenters get up on your high horses, in a good year, and I've had a couple, I've earned enough to be slugged a fair whack with this levy too you know. And what about the personal donation I made to the appeal you say? Well good on you then. Do you want a medal? I contributed too. It was tax deductible after all. Every bit helps. So we're making a compulsory contribution now. Get over it. We've been paying 1 percent extra for Medicare for years because of our incomes. Don't you consider yourself lucky enough to earn enough to be slugged with extra taxes? Shit, I do.
So you're not convinced how the government will use or misuse your money? The money per week that amounts to less than one of those lattes you have every day. Well governments use and misuse your money every day. Again, deal with it. Why doesn't the government cut more of those other programs that you don't believe in anyway? Well, they are cutting stuff. It may not be one of your pet projects but it is someone's. You can't please everybody. Deal with it.
Some people might even say why should I fork over my hard earned when these people are living in a flood zone and are under insured? Why should I bail out people who haven't prepared for themselves? They've chosen to live in a risky environment after all? Well, because it is the right thing to do. We call it social responsibility. Sometimes we just have to help out those who have to deal with something so extreme. These sort of disasters don't happen very often. Hell, speaking of flood zones, we're talking an area the size of Germany and France combined. Practically all of Queensland is at risk. It means you couldn't rebuild anywhere if you wanted to avoid risky areas. Even Toowoomba, which was hit by the inland Tsunami, is 700 metres above sea level. Silly buggers building homes in such and obvious flood zone. How dare they ask for help?
Now the mad monk, Tony Abbott, and the Liberal Party have asked for donations to help fight the flood levy. Oh the irony. I think, and this is entirely supposition, that Abbott is only so vehemently against the levy because, one, he didn't think of it first, and two, because if the government says the sky is blue he would say it was green. Nice work Tony.
I'm happy just to do my bit. Shit, I might even get more tax back this year than I'll be paying in the levy anyway.
Rant over.
PS
Update 4-Feb-2011
I'm not the only one that thinks this way. Thank you John Birmingham.
Of course the Federal Government has to foot the bill for much of the repair bill. Just how are they going to pay for it? Billions of dollars don't just magically appear out of consolidated revenue. They will have to cut some expenditure but there is a limit to the cuts any government can make. A quick dirty way of raising a couple of billion bucks is a one off levy. This is what the Gillard government has chosen to do.
The levy is only going to be levied on those who make more than 50 grand a year and they're only going to be hit with a 0.5 percent surcharge on top of their usual Medicare levy. For the lucky few earning more than 100 grand a year the levy is 1 percent. Yes lucky few. Only 1 percent of Australians earn more than 100K per year. If you earn less than 50k what are you complaining about? You won't have to pay anything.
I was a little shocked by the furore this has caused. What a bunch of whingers those affected by the levy are. At the bottom end of the scale it is 48 cents per week. Yes 48 cents. If you earn 100K it is $4.81 per week. This is only for one year. Are you telling me Mr or Ms $55,000 a year you can't afford $52 in one year to help reconstruct Queensland? Or $250 if you earn $100,000. Oh the hardship. Whingers.
Before any of you 1 percenters get up on your high horses, in a good year, and I've had a couple, I've earned enough to be slugged a fair whack with this levy too you know. And what about the personal donation I made to the appeal you say? Well good on you then. Do you want a medal? I contributed too. It was tax deductible after all. Every bit helps. So we're making a compulsory contribution now. Get over it. We've been paying 1 percent extra for Medicare for years because of our incomes. Don't you consider yourself lucky enough to earn enough to be slugged with extra taxes? Shit, I do.
So you're not convinced how the government will use or misuse your money? The money per week that amounts to less than one of those lattes you have every day. Well governments use and misuse your money every day. Again, deal with it. Why doesn't the government cut more of those other programs that you don't believe in anyway? Well, they are cutting stuff. It may not be one of your pet projects but it is someone's. You can't please everybody. Deal with it.
Some people might even say why should I fork over my hard earned when these people are living in a flood zone and are under insured? Why should I bail out people who haven't prepared for themselves? They've chosen to live in a risky environment after all? Well, because it is the right thing to do. We call it social responsibility. Sometimes we just have to help out those who have to deal with something so extreme. These sort of disasters don't happen very often. Hell, speaking of flood zones, we're talking an area the size of Germany and France combined. Practically all of Queensland is at risk. It means you couldn't rebuild anywhere if you wanted to avoid risky areas. Even Toowoomba, which was hit by the inland Tsunami, is 700 metres above sea level. Silly buggers building homes in such and obvious flood zone. How dare they ask for help?
Now the mad monk, Tony Abbott, and the Liberal Party have asked for donations to help fight the flood levy. Oh the irony. I think, and this is entirely supposition, that Abbott is only so vehemently against the levy because, one, he didn't think of it first, and two, because if the government says the sky is blue he would say it was green. Nice work Tony.
I'm happy just to do my bit. Shit, I might even get more tax back this year than I'll be paying in the levy anyway.
Rant over.
PS
Update 4-Feb-2011
I'm not the only one that thinks this way. Thank you John Birmingham.
Friday, 28 January 2011
Things you see in Redfern
Another Leigh Sales fan I see. I saw this posted on a wall in Redfern before Christmas. I don't know how long it had been there.
Click to embiggen.
Click to embiggen.
Friday, 21 January 2011
Friday night in Redfern
On a quiet warm night in Redfern nothing much happens. It has been years since we saw a riot here. And by here I mean in the suburb. Not here in our quiet little street hundreds of metres away from where all the exciting stuff happens. Michelle did watch a little to-do once from the very window the photos below were taken from when some coppers, with guns drawn, pulled over a car load of alleged crims and ordered them from the car. When the cops announced that the "crims" were under arrest one of the arrestees replied "No shit sherlock".
Anyway that was in the daylight hours some time ago. Tonight's festivities were limited to a couple of cops pulling over a vehicle with a single occupant.
Click the photos to encopinate.
The female cop keeps an eye on the car's driver while the male cop calls in the details.
The cops must've called for backup because another police car arrives with another couple of cops.
All four cops start checking the vehicle. But wait. There is a line in the classic 80s zombie film "Return Of The Living Dead", "Send more cops".
Now we have 7 or 8 cops interrogating the driver or thoroughly searching the car.
Of course a pat down is order.
You sit right down there son while we give your car the once over.
Mustn't forget the boot.
'Allo 'allo what have we here? A plastic bag of suspicious looking material. Funny, the suspicious package glows like the Mcguffin in Pulp Fiction.
Suspicious baggie of goods obviously not that suspicious on further inspection. It is your lucky day son. On your way.
And we are back to a quiet suburban street where really not much happens. Indeed, not much happened here this evening.
Anyway that was in the daylight hours some time ago. Tonight's festivities were limited to a couple of cops pulling over a vehicle with a single occupant.
Click the photos to encopinate.
The female cop keeps an eye on the car's driver while the male cop calls in the details.
The cops must've called for backup because another police car arrives with another couple of cops.
All four cops start checking the vehicle. But wait. There is a line in the classic 80s zombie film "Return Of The Living Dead", "Send more cops".
Now we have 7 or 8 cops interrogating the driver or thoroughly searching the car.
Of course a pat down is order.
You sit right down there son while we give your car the once over.
Mustn't forget the boot.
'Allo 'allo what have we here? A plastic bag of suspicious looking material. Funny, the suspicious package glows like the Mcguffin in Pulp Fiction.
Suspicious baggie of goods obviously not that suspicious on further inspection. It is your lucky day son. On your way.
And we are back to a quiet suburban street where really not much happens. Indeed, not much happened here this evening.
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Two weeks in... a life time to go.
My how time flies. Or does it? The last two weeks have been a blur of nappy changes, feeding and nursing. Babies are vitality vampires. They suck up every little part of your life you have. Had! I looked out the window this morning and I saw something flutter by. It was the last vestige of our previous life. Life BG (before Georgia). But do you know what? Who cares. I wouldn't change our new life for the world. So long internet, reading, TV, movies, eating out and just plain old chill time. I'm going to miss you. Seriously though it isn't that bad. Consider this small blog post for example. I still had time to tap this out. Albeit because mummy was in the shower and didn't catch me goofing off on the intertoobs.
I get some respite. I can go out to shop. For food or baby stuff we didn't realise we needed until Georgia came along. Exciting stuff. At least I have work to look forward to. Um... until yesterday that is. My contract is up at the end of this week and won't be extended. Oh no, I no longer have a job to go to. I will have to stay home with Michelle and Georgia and bond with my baby daughter for longer than I expected.
Michelle has the short end of the stick. She is the one breast feeding after all. Breast feeding takes a long time. Sometimes 45 minute to an hour at a time then two hours later she has to do it all again. I'm getting a little bit of sleep at night but Michelle has to get up 2 or 3 times after midnight to feed Georgia. Sometimes Georgia has trouble attaching and screams like a raptor in frustration. Luckily for us she isn't a cry baby but when she does cry it's like the scream of a banshee with a blood curdling howl that I'm sure has opened the gates of hell just a little bit. If the demon spawn get through and the apocalypse happens don't say I didn't warn you but it was probably our little angel that woke them up.
As I said two weeks ago. Little Georgia is the best thing that has ever happened to us. Two weeks down and life time to look forward to. Just don't grow up too fast my little angel.
Two weeks and one day today.
More pictures here.
I get some respite. I can go out to shop. For food or baby stuff we didn't realise we needed until Georgia came along. Exciting stuff. At least I have work to look forward to. Um... until yesterday that is. My contract is up at the end of this week and won't be extended. Oh no, I no longer have a job to go to. I will have to stay home with Michelle and Georgia and bond with my baby daughter for longer than I expected.
Michelle has the short end of the stick. She is the one breast feeding after all. Breast feeding takes a long time. Sometimes 45 minute to an hour at a time then two hours later she has to do it all again. I'm getting a little bit of sleep at night but Michelle has to get up 2 or 3 times after midnight to feed Georgia. Sometimes Georgia has trouble attaching and screams like a raptor in frustration. Luckily for us she isn't a cry baby but when she does cry it's like the scream of a banshee with a blood curdling howl that I'm sure has opened the gates of hell just a little bit. If the demon spawn get through and the apocalypse happens don't say I didn't warn you but it was probably our little angel that woke them up.
As I said two weeks ago. Little Georgia is the best thing that has ever happened to us. Two weeks down and life time to look forward to. Just don't grow up too fast my little angel.
Two weeks and one day today.
More pictures here.
Monday, 20 December 2010
10 things I've done you probably haven't
John Scalzi has a list of thing he has done that we probably haven't over on his blog. He invited his readers to participate in the comments of his blog. I couldn't resist.
Note for the smarties: You may have done one or some but I've doubt you've done them all.
1. Had a group of people sing "Happy Birthday" to me outside of Mawson's Hut, Commonwealth Bay, ANTARCTICA.
2. A baby gorilla grabbed my leg as he ambled past in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. He looked up at me and tentatively reached out to touch the hairless ape.
3. Swam with Humpback whales, Tonga.
4. Swam with whale sharks off Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.
5. Ate a guinea pig in Peru.
6. Took a beating on more than one occasion (stitches involved) when I was a night club doorman.
7. Drove half way around Australia (14000km) in 23 days.
8. Was DJ in an inner city night club for a number of years.
9. Was a contestant on a TV game show, Sale Of The Century.
10. Broke up a fight on the street and disarmed the guy who pulled a knife (easy, he wasn't interested in sticking me with it but I probably shouldn't do that again).
Note for the smarties: You may have done one or some but I've doubt you've done them all.
1. Had a group of people sing "Happy Birthday" to me outside of Mawson's Hut, Commonwealth Bay, ANTARCTICA.
2. A baby gorilla grabbed my leg as he ambled past in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. He looked up at me and tentatively reached out to touch the hairless ape.
3. Swam with Humpback whales, Tonga.
4. Swam with whale sharks off Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.
5. Ate a guinea pig in Peru.
6. Took a beating on more than one occasion (stitches involved) when I was a night club doorman.
7. Drove half way around Australia (14000km) in 23 days.
8. Was DJ in an inner city night club for a number of years.
9. Was a contestant on a TV game show, Sale Of The Century.
10. Broke up a fight on the street and disarmed the guy who pulled a knife (easy, he wasn't interested in sticking me with it but I probably shouldn't do that again).
Friday, 3 December 2010
Shooting the messenger - Wikileaks and Julian Assange
All the kerfuffle about the release of diplomatic cables boils down to one thing. Shoot the messenger. Wikileaks doesn't make shit up. They just publish the sort of stuff that once upon a time may have been published by the New York Times or the Washington Post. If the leaks had been initially been published in the newspapers the leaks and the source of the leaks would have been the news. Now the corporations than run the newspapers are the same lobbyists that "run" government so it isn't part of their business plan to publish inflammatory leaks. The call is to shut down Wikileaks and call for Julian Assange to be executed. Shoot the messenger.
Democracy requires a certain amount transparency to work. Otherwise what have you got to hide? Governments are not private individuals. They're beholding to the people. Not the other way round. Governments forget that and start to think that it isn't the secret that is the point it is the keeping of that secret. Lets face it. What has been the major revelations so far? Country A thinks country B is corrupt. Or a certain Prime Minister, let's call him Mr Brown, is considered by some to be feckless and vain. No shit Sherlock. All we're seeing is what we already knew. The emperor is naked.
As I said the point is keeping the secrets. Openness leads to accountability. If we the people are kept in the dark to whom are our governments accountable? They can and do get away with any old shit. They don't like being caught out in a lie. Most of the releases might embarrass the authors in the short term but in the long term we'll all forget and it will be Business As Usual. Responsibility and accountability are what the politicians and beauracracy fear the most. Well that and keeping us from finding out where the money comes from. Keep the bastards honest. That used to be the slogan for the Australian Democrats. Maybe Wikileaks is the true successor to that motto.
It is far from certain that Julian Assange and Wikilieaks have done anything illegal. But this is where the shoot-the-messenger part comes in. Some politicians and media are calling for the ex-judicial murder of Assange. WTF? Assange and Wikileaks may be doing more for open government and democracy than, well, just about anybody in decades. And for that some are calling for Assange to tried for treason or shot. It is typical of these reactionaries. Government does something illegal. Whistleblower blows whistle on illegality. Whistleblower is charged and silenced. Government goes back to BAU.
Assange and Wikileaks aren't traitors. They're heroes.
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Beautifying a worksite
Kudos to the Sydney City Council for sponsoring some artists to spruce up the Alfred Park redevelopment work site and turn the usual boring fences into something quite appealing.
Of course over the fence there is still the usual construction site.
Of course over the fence there is still the usual construction site.
Malcolm Douglas
The original crocodile man, Malcolm Douglas, sadly died today. Malcolm was only 69 and apparently was killed in a motor vehicle accident near his property in Broome, Western Australia. Details here.
I've been watching his wildlife documentaries for as long as I can remember. Long before Steve Irwin appeared on the scene Malcolm was bagging and tagging crocs and bringing outback Oz to us at home through his docos.
We visited Malcolm's Croc Park in 2002 on our Big Drive around Australia. We even managed to catch Malcolm loading his boat and 4 wheel drive in preparation for probably another documentary. I'll try and dig out the video I shot of Malcolm and the croc park and upload it to Youtube.
Malcolm's documentaries were always informative and entertaining and he will be sorely missed.
I've been watching his wildlife documentaries for as long as I can remember. Long before Steve Irwin appeared on the scene Malcolm was bagging and tagging crocs and bringing outback Oz to us at home through his docos.
We visited Malcolm's Croc Park in 2002 on our Big Drive around Australia. We even managed to catch Malcolm loading his boat and 4 wheel drive in preparation for probably another documentary. I'll try and dig out the video I shot of Malcolm and the croc park and upload it to Youtube.
Malcolm's documentaries were always informative and entertaining and he will be sorely missed.
Monday, 23 August 2010
Saturday, 21 August 2010
When I was a kid the nuns told me they were coming to shoot us...
Silly nuns. I'm glad they're still around (not the nuns). There's a kind of quaintness to the commies these days. Unless you're North Korean... or Chinese.
I'm serious about the nuns though. I was about 8 years old. Our teacher, a nun, was telling us about the nasty communists. The Vietnam war was still raging. I think we'd just pulled out but the Yanks were still there. The good sister told our class that when the communists came we, and the nuns and all our families, would be the first put up against the wall and shot. I think I decided even then that I'd rather be red than dead. Fucking bitch.
Friday, 20 August 2010
Douche or turd sandwich?
We have to vote in the Federal Election tomorrow. Increasingly it appears we will be voting for a choice between a giant douche or a turd sandwich. South Park had an episode once where the the boys had to vote for a school mascot and the choices were so bland they endorsed joke candidates - a giant douche and a turd sandwich. That episode isn't so funny now that our nation appears to be faced with just that choice.
There is almost nothing to distinguish the main parties on a policy basis. They really do seem to be racing each other to the bottom. They're both running on "major" issues that only appeal to the lowest common denominator. Bullshit issues like "Stopping The Boats". For fracks sake. It is a non-issue. It is completely made up. It only appeals to the fears of racist rednecks* in marginal seats. Before they stop the boats maybe that should look at where the real illegal immigrants are coming in and stop the planes.
So when it comes to voting for a House of Reps candidate tomorrow to see who will form government it probably doesn't matter who you vote for. I have a slight preference for one party over the other but when push comes to shove a it doesn't matter whether it is a Liberal government or a Labor government that gets elected. They both have policies that scare the shit out me.
One place where we might make a difference is voting for the senate. Don't trust these arseholes and vote above the line. God knows where they direct their preferences sometimes. How the hell do you think a major fuckwit like Senator Steve Fielding from Family First got in last time? Dodgy preference deals allowed him to sneak in with just 1.7 percent of the primary vote. It is a pain to fill in the numbers below the line but at least you can direct your preferences to who you want to vote for and not where some faceless party apparatchik has directed the preferences. And maybe we can wave goodbye to Senator Steve.
Me? In the senate I will be voting for the Secular Party of Australia and the Australian Sex Party. Both parties have real policies for a modern Australia based on the values of ethical humanism... and sex. Sex is nice.
And they're not afraid of the fucking boats.
*Okay, maybe they're not all racist rednecks. But both the major parties are cynically playing on the unfounded fears of ignorant (I don't mean stupid) Australians on this totally bogus issue. So is the internet filter. Don't get me started on this bullshit plan to censor the net by cynically exploiting fears of child exploitation and the technical ignorance of the average Australian.
There is almost nothing to distinguish the main parties on a policy basis. They really do seem to be racing each other to the bottom. They're both running on "major" issues that only appeal to the lowest common denominator. Bullshit issues like "Stopping The Boats". For fracks sake. It is a non-issue. It is completely made up. It only appeals to the fears of racist rednecks* in marginal seats. Before they stop the boats maybe that should look at where the real illegal immigrants are coming in and stop the planes.
So when it comes to voting for a House of Reps candidate tomorrow to see who will form government it probably doesn't matter who you vote for. I have a slight preference for one party over the other but when push comes to shove a it doesn't matter whether it is a Liberal government or a Labor government that gets elected. They both have policies that scare the shit out me.
One place where we might make a difference is voting for the senate. Don't trust these arseholes and vote above the line. God knows where they direct their preferences sometimes. How the hell do you think a major fuckwit like Senator Steve Fielding from Family First got in last time? Dodgy preference deals allowed him to sneak in with just 1.7 percent of the primary vote. It is a pain to fill in the numbers below the line but at least you can direct your preferences to who you want to vote for and not where some faceless party apparatchik has directed the preferences. And maybe we can wave goodbye to Senator Steve.
Me? In the senate I will be voting for the Secular Party of Australia and the Australian Sex Party. Both parties have real policies for a modern Australia based on the values of ethical humanism... and sex. Sex is nice.
And they're not afraid of the fucking boats.
*Okay, maybe they're not all racist rednecks. But both the major parties are cynically playing on the unfounded fears of ignorant (I don't mean stupid) Australians on this totally bogus issue. So is the internet filter. Don't get me started on this bullshit plan to censor the net by cynically exploiting fears of child exploitation and the technical ignorance of the average Australian.
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
The Amazing Race Oz
Michelle and I have been fans of the reality travel TV show The Amazing Race (TAR) since it was first broadcast in 2001. It has been on for 16 fabulous seasons. I even met the host Phil once at a book signing in Sydney (see picture). Then in 2006 The Amazing Race Asia came along. It isn't too bad either. We've always wanted to apply to go on the race but unfortunately both versions had strict residency rules for applicants. For the US version of TAR you had to be a Yank and for the Asian version of TAR you had to be a resident of one of the countries the AXN network broadcasts to (eg. Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand etc). Not Australia.Finally though the Seven Network here in Oz has announced TAR Oz. You might think we'd be thrilled. Finally we get the chance to apply to run TAR and possibly win the million bucks - not that we'd do it for the money. I said we were fans. We could even be the Australian versions of Rob and Amber. Applications close on September 6. Easy. Phil is even rumoured to be the host. Cool. We only have to be available for 5 weeks between September and December 2010.
Shit.
I'm pretty sure that 7 to 9 month pregnant applicants will be rejected. We've been waiting for a chance to do this for almost 10 years. Damn you Channel Seven. Why didn't you do this 2 years ago?
You know, Michelle doesn't really have to be my partner on the Race... Anyone interested?*
*Only kidding. Do you think I'd really abandon my pregnant princess while I gallivanted around the world in the hopes of winning a million bucks? Damn, it's like my own personal Detour - a Detour is a choice between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons...
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