December 2007
1 post
Moving To Wordpress...
Tumblr has served me well, but it’s time to blog proper like. Will be moving to wordpress shortly at: http://switchbacks.wordpress.com
November 2007
21 posts
Americas Secret War - George Friedman
My Dad gave me this one to read a while ago. It’s circa 2004 so alot has come to light recently that would challenge many assumptions made in this book, but I do think many points it makes are valid. It studies both Iraq and Afghanistan in relation to the war on terror, reaction to 9/11 and the Bush administration’s final solution for the Middle East. The chapters on Afghanistan I...
Check out the size of my surplus baby.
Much is made in political mileage of the budget surplus. As a percentage of GDP where do you think Australia ranks in the size of the surplus? Bear in mind we are in the middle of a mining boom, like several other nations such as Norway and Canada… 35th. Right under Algeria. Much lower than Khazakstan, New Zealand, Spain, Canada, Iran, & Thailand.
Why im voting Green
I hope people think about their vote carefully before they dish it out on Saturday, and I am quite looking forward to seeing the results of this federal election. I will be voting Green in the senate and Green in the House of Reps. For the reasons I will spell out below. Firstly, my explanation for not voting Liberal. There are many many reasons you might not wish to vote for the Liberals...
Oh the Ironing!
NiZai: LOL Alexander Downer just keeps blowing up Irony meters around the country....
NiZai: "Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer has accused the Greens of using the rescue of 16 Indonesians in the Timor Sea for political purposes."
NiZai: Yeah... like the liberals have never done that sort of thing *cough* children overboard *cough*
“I didn’t come here to attack computers.”
– Prime Minister John Howard. ORLY?
“I see it like you’re in a perfectly good marriage that’s been going...”
– Nationals Senator, Barnaby Joyce. These idiots still don’t understand why people dont want to vote for them. I fail to see how this last 11 years has been ‘perfectly good’.
PM a Slave to Ideology - Keating →
Mining Boom Could Bust Us →
Cooking with Nizai - Lunchtime Edition - Chorizo &...
Ok this one turned out better than I expected. In fact, if I had some more scallops I would do it again right now. Its very flavoursome and the chilli doesn’t overpower things. I had some left over scallops from last weekends BBQ so I thought id BIG UP them in a salad. I got this idea from an ‘ourderve (sic) recipe that Alison did last week. But this time I did it in a pan where the...
Cooking With Nizai - Linguine with Pesto and...
Not sure where the pesto comes from in this dish, but Alison and myself loved this one. Its a different sort of way to do prawns that doesn’t involve throwing garlic and chilli at them! Oh and don’t skimp on the linguine. Pay extra and get good stuff. In the interests of full disclosure, you can find this one in Nick Nairn’s - New Scottish Cookery. 25g pine nuts 350g of prawns...
Thin Ice Hockey
Meltdown as half AWAs fail test So half of AWA’s have been sent back to employers by the workplace authority because they fail the basic checks that ensure workers are not losing entitlements for adequate compensation in other areas of the agreement. This means that probably before the “fairness test” was tacked onto the legislation approximately half of the AWA’s being...
The Anti-Jobs Party. Where can I sign up?
“The only policies the Labor Party has about jobs in this campaign are ones that will destroy jobs. They have a policy to bring back the unfair dismissal laws, they have policies on climate change, which are job-destroying, they have policies in relation to skills that will diminish the value of the Australian Technical Colleges by removing them,” Mr Howard said. “Labor is the...
Wha?
From The Australian’s Op Ed by Sid Marris… It is the paradox of inflation-targeting system that rates general go up because things are going well and down when they are going badly. Many voters understand this. Until today its the first ive ever heard of rate rises being a good thing. Is this typical Government Gazette reporting from the Australian? Reinforcing the party line for the...
Howard & Costello Lying
From The Age… Mr Howard again said interest rates would always be lower under the Coalition than under a Labor government. “I say that unashamedly, directly and unconditionally,” he said. “I’m looking forward. If Labor wins this election interest rates will be higher than if the coalition wins. “They have been in the past and they will be in the future....
How to Talk to Liberal Voters
*sigh* Disheartening somewhat to listen to what some people I spoke to today about politics. Person 1: Religious middle income family man. “I reckon the polling theyre doing at the moment is wrong, it cant be right technique or sample numbers. People apparently just want change for changes sake.” Person 2: CEO worth over 200k p.a. “Remember which party it was that gave us 17%...
Murdoch Press
Labor has been under fire for its tactic of copying Coalition policies, particularly on tax, pensioner bonuses and climate change. Im sorry? Copying Climate Change policy? WHAT?!?! The two parties positions are only very similar TODAY because Howard copied the ALP 6 months ago and backflipped on Climate Change.
October 2007
37 posts
Howards Old Thinking
John claimed on Lateline last night that Solar and renewables cannot generate base load power. Apparently he hasn’t heard of the Snowy Hydro. Hmm. He repeatedly claimed that it was the view of both him and a “number of scientists” that solar and other technologies cannot provide the level of base load power required to run our cities. Its not about providing base load power you...
Cooking With Nizai - Thai Chicken With Cashew Nuts
This recipe is straight outta my Thai cook book, and its brilliant. Just damn tasty, not too spicy. You will need… 1-2 Red/Green Chillies (i used green, much slower burn) 500gm of chicken, sliced thinly so it cooks fast 1 Tablespoon of Fish Sauce 2 Tablespoons of Oyster Sauce 3 Tablespoons of Chicken Stock 1/2 Teaspoon of Sugar 4 Tablespoons of Olive Oil Couple of handfulls of Cashews...
“What matters is precisely what happens in the future,”
– John Howard, reminding us that when it comes to interest rates, its what happens in the future that matters. Not the past. OMG T3H K3AT1NG 1992 17% RATES!!!!!
Family First
Nothing I hate more in the Australian political landscape than The Family First party. A party that denies to the wider Australian public that it is a Christian political party, while turning up to churches on Sundays to encourage people to vote for them. Hmmm. Anyway, the jesus-scented god fearing senator Nick Fielding said today on ABC TV:“It is absolutely outrageous to think that Kevin...
“Don’t experiment with your vote.”
– Thanks for that. Liberal member for Swan, whoever you are. I seriously hope one of your goons doesnt try to hand me a Liberal how to vote card. They’ll get a stern talking to until they cry.
Cooking with Nizai - Spinach Pesto
By far the handiest device you can arm yourself in the kitchen with is a Mortar and Pestle. Its a food processor for people who aren’t lazy. It’s also great for beating people over the head with if they break into your house. Anyway, I put together this little recipe as a way to get rid of excess spinach at the end of the week. I love my spinach but I usually end up with a fair bit...
$90
I guess its not hard for oil to hit $90 when the dollar itself is worth much less than it was only a month ago. Interesting times ahead, I am surprised that it hasnt been raised in the election campaign. But I guess the level of our dollar is insulating the effect of the higher oil price. Certainly pump prices havent moved a whole heap despite a significant raise in the per barrell price. How much...
“CNN ESPN ABC TNT but mostly B.S. Where oxymoronic language like “virtually...”
– The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
More Silence...
Almost a week into the campaign and im still yet to hear from my local Liberal candidate. What does he stand for? Who knows. Most marginal seat in Australia people, and the Libs don’t seem to care?
Tax Policy
How is this tax policy from the Libs any different from their previous few years tweaking of tax policy? Typically as wages rise you shift tax brackets accordingly. I don’t see a whole lot in it thats supposedly a drastic reconstruction of the tax system. I agree raising the tax free threshold is an excellent idea however. Im sure people will forget this by the time they go to the polls,...
Slicing Mustard
Since the election campaign was announced I have been trying to get a sense of the tone each candidate for Prime Minister is using. I watched Howards election announcement, the 60 minutes interviews and Rudd this morning on Sunrise. My general impression so far is that Howard is very very keen on dishing out criticism for his opposition, while proclaiming to have magnificent plans for the future....
“to ensure a rising tide of prosperity lifts all boats, with every child getting...”
– John Howard’s Strong Prosperous & Secure brochure. Who would have thought he would have the courage to mention ‘children’ and ‘boats’ in the same sentence again.
Reconcile This!
“I also want to commit myself very genuinely to the cause of true reconciliation with the Aboriginal people of Australia by the centenary of federation,” - John Howard, Victory speech 1998 election. 9 years later and he’s finally gotten around to it, 3 days before he calls the election? You have to be kidding me. Heres the options (thanks to a commenter at Blogocracy)… First,...
“I blame god. Its right there on our money. ‘In God We Trust’. We...”
– John Hodgeman The Daily Show
Liberal Member Quits - To Stand As Independent
Quin Resigns From Liberals Bra-fucking-vo Ben Quin. You have impressed me immensely and if I lived in Lyons I would vote for you over any ALP or Liberal candidate. Its about time someone had the balls to stand up to Gunn’s and the forest industry.
“Hahah weeds you have fallen into my trap, you have taken the fertiliser bait and...”
– Nizai, weeding his yard on a saturday morning. Go Grass!
Being SPAMMED counts as being contacted by a... →
Yes, the government thinks we are just that stupid!
Now I WANT to do Ice!
Last night I spent the evening on the couch with Alison watching telly. Checked out the new Bionic Woman show, was a bit ‘meh’. Then followed it up with Alison’s favourite Heroes. What struck me while watching this is the sheer quantity of government advertising. Every single ad break there were TWO government ads, usually both about drug prevention. After 2 hours of primetime...
Flying High Baby!
Hobzai: "We have to get this woman to a hospital." "A hospital! What is it, doctor?" "Well, it's a big building with lots of patients, but that's not important right now."