Comments on: Saturday Salon (Labour day edition)

By: Lefty E

Lefty E — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:09:14 +0000

Timor newslflash, if anyone’s interested: there are reports ASDT has just left the Xanana-led coalition, which puts them in minority situation. The government will now likely collapse. We’re looking at fresh elections.

ASDT are said to be joining up with Fretilin, citing ‘high levels of corruption and nepotism’.

bear in mind early ET reports can be suspect, but I believe Ramos-Horta has been unhappy with XGs polarising impact, and will seek fresh elections now.

FWIW, Fretilin plus ASDT-PSD would equal 32 seats, one short of a majority. My guess is though that PSD hasnt left, so the number will be more like 27. Fresh elections ahoy!

By: Brett

Brett — Mon, 05 May 2008 04:51:58 +0000

Thanks for that link, Ambigulous. It’s easy to snicker, but tea would have been only one item among many under consideration — the journo has evidently extracted that little bit for maximum humour value. And when you’re considering the morale of the (remaining) population, limitations on the number of cuppas each person is allowed each week was actually no small thing. Just by way of comparison, I think the WWII tea ration was 3oz per person per week, and here they’re talking about less than 1oz. Though, having said that, I don’t drink tea so I’ve no idea how far that would go …

By: Paul Burns

Paul Burns — Mon, 05 May 2008 03:12:07 +0000

What about coffee? Now that would have been serious.

By: Ambigulous

Ambigulous — Mon, 05 May 2008 02:51:47 +0000

Look, as long as the Folk in Charge Know What They’re Doing, eh?

A little glimpse into the mindset of Whitehall mandarins (or junior boffins) faced with nuclear attack in the 1950s

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23646415-12377,00.html

Good to know they were on the ball, eh?

By: joe2

joe2 — Sun, 04 May 2008 03:41:36 +0000

“I don’t think kissing should necessarily be defined as sexual activity in advance.”

So true Klaus K.
Though many Canadian teenagers may well be spared from those sloppy, wet and unwelcome smooches of aged aunts and uncles that make those tortured teenage years so totally unbearable.

By: BilB

BilB — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:38:06 +0000

For anyone holding out hope of an affordable 4Kw solar powered air conditioner:

https://matteranenergy.us/

View the excellent animation.

By: sublimecowgirl

sublimecowgirl — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:21:40 +0000

GOt 7 out of 10 for the homophone test. Nobody will be surprised.

By: Paul Burns

Paul Burns — Sun, 04 May 2008 01:55:15 +0000

Got 13 in that font test.

By: daiskmeliadorn [was chappie]

daiskmeliadorn [was chappie] — Sun, 04 May 2008 01:42:47 +0000

just flipped through the sun-herald and thought of you, lp. apparently missy higgins is playing on an all-lesbian cruise in the US.

By: Klaus K

Klaus K — Sun, 04 May 2008 01:11:24 +0000

I don’t think kissing should necessarily be defined as sexual activity in advance. I guess it depends upon the detail of the legislation, but it could involve some quite dubious applications if too broad.

I wonder if this change is emerging in the wake of teacher sex scandals? Apparently that has been a big deal in Canada lately, although my sources aren’t authoritative. There have been retrospective prosecutions, including one case where a woman who no longer identified as same-sex attracted pressed charges against a female teacher with whom she had had a relationship in the ’70s. An ethically and legally complex situation, I would imagine.

By: BilB

BilB — Sat, 03 May 2008 22:58:03 +0000

Thanks Anthony, It doesn’t happen often.

By: Frank Calabrese

Frank Calabrese — Sat, 03 May 2008 15:28:40 +0000

Perth International Airport is currently in lockdown mode due to a suspicious package.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/03/2234598.htm

Listening in on the scanner to the airport comms, it could be described as chaotic
John R,

Except for Steve Gordon, 6PR is a nursing home for crackpot Libs - Maumill is dirty on the ALP because they’ve disowned Burkie. And the Sunday Crimes whinging about being raided - He who casts the first stone

By: anthony

anthony — Sat, 03 May 2008 15:18:19 +0000

“I was in my nearby McDonalds the other day”

My sincerest sympathies

By: Brett

Brett — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:52:34 +0000

20/34 … which is 3 below the average. Oh well.

By: tigtog

tigtog — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:38:09 +0000

Snap. Same score for me, too.

*Casts suspicious eyes at alleged Hall of Fame scores*

OK, where’s Ampersand Duck when you need her?

By: luckyPhil

luckyPhil — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:38:06 +0000

From yesterdays Crikey comments section:
John Mair writes: Re. “That Troy Buswell is an awful snedger” (yesterday, item 10). Richard Farmer wrote: “Apparently in County Cork the practice of sniffing bicycle seats after women riders alighted was prevalent enough for the word snedger to be coined…” I think you’ll find the most common term for this uncommon perversion is pooning. Either way, it seems it gets Brendon Nelson’s support.

By: Pavlov's Cat

Pavlov's Cat — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:10:02 +0000

Zarquon, that’s one serious test. I got 18/34 too.

By: steve

steve — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:11:50 +0000

The funniest read to come out of the West in a long time. Looks like the Libs are in big trouble over there after tonight’s dramatic events.

http://origin-www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=71089

By: Helen

Helen — Sat, 03 May 2008 09:10:10 +0000

We all need bidets!

H/T to Laura of 11D.

By: Zarquon

Zarquon — Sat, 03 May 2008 08:47:59 +0000

Here’s a quiz that’s harder. I got 18/34 with a lot of guessing. (via Making Light)