Australia Day
10:32 Jan 26th, 2012 | 0 notes
It is a date on the calendar almost designed to stir up controversy. On the 26th of January each year we celebrate who we are as a nation, remembering that this day in 1788 marks the moment when the British first landed on the shores of Botany Bay, changing forever the history of our arid continent. 224 years later, we are a country of 23 million people, from every island, continent and land on earth. Together we have created the most prosperous society in the world. Our poor are climbing out of poverty faster than their global counterparts, our middle class is the highest paid on earth. Our government and our businesses have created an environment where any one can succeed, regardless of where they come from or how rich their parents were. We live longer, are better educated and are healthier than nearly all other peoples across the globe. Our pragmatism has stood us in good stead in this world of economic uncertainties, forged by a consensus to do what is right by our citizens, not by what is most politically expedient.
But this national day is not just to celebrate our success. The benign and innocent choice of January 26th may be the most significant decision we have made to remind us of what we have left to do. Our history has scars, one’s we freely acknowledge, and rather than ignore them, or write them off, we must use their memory to make this great nation a better place for everyone. While there are those in our society who do not share in our prosperity, comfort and security, let us use those scars as a clarion call to do what is necessary so that they one day will.
As the sun sets, every man, woman, and child should remember why we all chose to live in the Great Souther Land. We have forged a country based on personal freedom, one of equal opportunity, where every man can speak his mind, and every woman, hers. We lend a helping hand to those in need, we dig deep into our national psyche for strength during hard times. We espouse values cherished by all and striven for by all other. We prize our diversity, and recognize that our cohesion cements with each passing day. At the center of it all lies a social compact, an intrinsic acknowledgement of the worth of others, of our equality and united vision, encapsulated in a single word that sums up the spirit of a nation: ‘mate’.
We are unique. Our first people arrived 60,000 years ago. Our newest are joining us today. We have made mistakes, we have triumphed. We are one, we are many. Today, our differences are thrown aside and we stand united with pride and proclaim, ‘We are Australian’.
Happy Australia Day.
Health insurance is funny. Here are some of the humorous coverage exclusions on my Bupa plan (emphasis mine):
‘We will not cover any loss or damage as a result of, or caused by:
- loss of enjoyment
- any form of consequential loss
- war or warlike activities, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, civil war, revolution, insurrection or act of a military power
- anything nuclear or radioactive’
(Source: bupa.com.au)
"Nowadays, a candidate must believe not just some but all of the following things: that abortion should be illegal in all cases; that gay marriage must be banned even in states that want it; that the 12m illegal immigrants, even those who have lived in America for decades, must all be sent home; that the 46m people who lack health insurance have only themselves to blame; that global warming is a conspiracy; that any form of gun control is unconstitutional; that any form of tax increase must be vetoed, even if the increase is only the cancelling of an expensive and market-distorting perk; that Israel can do no wrong and the “so-called Palestinians”, to use Mr Gingrich’s term, can do no right; that the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Education and others whose names you do not have to remember should be abolished."
- The Economist—on the Republican primary | The Economist, December 31, 20126:20 Jan 22nd, 2012 | 0 notes(Source: economist.com)
"
SOME teamwork is fine and offers a fun, stimulating, useful way to exchange ideas, manage information and build trust.
But it’s one thing to associate with a group in which each member works autonomously on his piece of the puzzle; it’s another to be corralled into endless meetings or conference calls conducted in offices that afford no respite from the noise and gaze of co-workers.
"- Susan Cain—on the need to collaborate for the sake of collaboration | New York Time, January 13, 201210:25 Jan 16th, 2012 | 1 note(Source: The New York Times)
Fantastic spoof of British period dramas that all tend to be exactly the same. I’m looking at you, Downton Abbey, and Upstairs Downstairs.
![monthofmay:
Exhibit 1: gay hipster deer, probably from Glebe.
… Or just @JamesWilson
So many triangles!
[note: if viewing from the tumblr dashboard, you have to click on it to see it in its full glory.]
via: sofasandquills](http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luc1ihv05J1r31zu2o1_500.gif)
Exhibit 1: gay hipster deer, probably from Glebe.
… Or just @JamesWilson
So many triangles!
[note: if viewing from the tumblr dashboard, you have to click on it to see it in its full glory.]
via: sofasandquills
Just close your eyes / The sun is going down / You’ll be alright / No one can hurt you now / Come morning light / You and I’ll be safe and sound
7:55 Jan 8th, 2012 | 11 notes
I feel like any sort of federal welfare payment, like the Family Tax Benefit (A and B), should come with the disclaimer,
‘You may only be eligible if you:
- Have two photogenic young children, or
- Live in a swing electorate in Western Sydney, or
- Live in Queensland.’
Because my single parent family on a teacher’s salary isn’t eligible for anything, while this charming family (in Western Sydney) earning a combined $142,000 a year is complaining that their hand-outs aren’t being inflation-linked for the next 4 years.
BOO HOO YOU GUYS.
Gosh.
