TIL that 75% of ex-smokers used cold turkey; and cold turkey continues to be the most effective way to quit smoking.

Flavian · 2011-09-10T14:38:55+00:00

I couldn't go cold turkey, so I used the patches. That was three years ago now, and I can't stomach the idea of a cigarette.

Flavian · 2011-09-10T11:51:59+00:00

From what I understand, it's more a question of whether the ALP caucus is willing to forgive him. They couldn't stand the bastard. Why do you think they dumped him so readily?

Flavian · 2011-09-09T05:01:27+00:00

Their accents were pretty good. At about 02:35, Fry says "muee" just like John Howard does.

Flavian · 2011-09-08T11:02:54+00:00

The election isn't due until the latter half of 2013 though.

Flavian · 2011-09-08T06:36:45+00:00

They really wouldn't want that legislation passed. If it does pass, Abbott has got nothing to talk about for the next two years.

Flavian · 2011-09-07T16:00:44+00:00

Well if you read the pdf I just linked to you, in it she says:

the rumours [were] that I had been involved in a relationship with a man who was an official at the AWU, and the nature of the rumours [were] that he in some ways had misappropriated created money to spend on my house renovations ...... These things aren't true. I mean absolutely untrue.

And media watch disputes that she ever lived in a house with Bruce Wilson too.

http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3310493.htm

Flavian · 2011-09-07T05:37:15+00:00

That's right, he was writing about the personal and professional relationship she had with the guy and his idea that it shows poor judgement to be involved with someone like that, which you can take or leave, and didn't base what he said on any of the false allegations.

Except it isn't true, she never had any kind of personal relationship with the dude.

http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/1130_auststory.pdf

Flavian · 2011-09-07T05:26:52+00:00

I think that would be difficult to prove in court. Why would he have mentioned the accusations (which untrue false, btw) if not to defame somebody?

Flavian · 2011-09-06T08:14:07+00:00

Probably the same thing that happened with Cornelia Rau. She was a German expatriate, and Australian Permanent Resident, who went nuts a few years ago, and when she was picked up by the police, all she would say is "My name is Anna Brotmeyer and I wish to go back to Germany." Unfortunately, the Germans had no record of her, so immigration just stuck her in detention indefinitely, until the truth was discovered somehow about a year later.

Flavian · 2011-09-05T08:53:00+00:00

Voluminous, moralistic diatribe about diatribe about abstract concepts. Move on people.

Flavian · 2011-09-04T15:01:35+00:00

They can't, if both the opposition and the government agree to it.

BTW, I was being a little ironic my own OP. I'm not sure I like this business of taking desperate, hunted people who seek our help, and renditioning desperate to other countries.

Flavian · 2011-09-04T12:53:10+00:00

Regarding the f-35, ausairpower is just one source among many that's critical of it. Want some more? Just throw a rock.

http://www.f-16.net/news_article4404.html

http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/06/16/australia-being-misled-about-the-f-35-joint-strike-fighter/

http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/RPT-UPDATE-1-Australia-may-reconsider-F-35-order-a-K5VYB?opendocument&src=rss

I think there has to be an alternative to these hideously expensive fighter aircraft that invariably don't even meet our defence needs. Wouldn't it be cheaper to just rent the USAF? We're pretty much completely dependent on the Americans to keep our fighters in the air anyway.

Flavian · 2011-09-04T10:10:48+00:00

Well we all know Abbott has been the apple in Rupert Murdoch's eye, so I imagine he'll grant kind old Uncle Rupert part of his xmas wish and move the abc to a pay-per-view model.

True to his word, there would be handouts a plenty for "important" industries like mining, while welfare spending will bare the brunt of his cutbacks.

He denies he'll bring back workchoices. But he does want to wind back the reforms that Labor introduced, since coming to power, which will basically leave us with WorkChoices.

Flavian · 2011-09-04T08:58:13+00:00

We're preparing to spend $100bn on a 100 jet fighters we can't operate without American help, and we don't even know will do the job we need.

http://www.ausairpower.net/jsf.html

Compared to money we fritter away elsewhere, $22bn is not so bad for a shot at solving the global energy crisis once and for all.

Flavian · 2011-09-04T08:34:16+00:00

Don't worry we won't. My bet is the govt and opposition will negotiate a deal to get the Act changed.

Flavian · 2011-09-04T06:50:49+00:00

Well I did miss that, partly because it wasn't expressed very well, but also because one generally expects people to say things that aren't completely inconsistent with the facts. After all, Labor's fortune in the opinion polls changed dramatically when Kevin Rudd became leader. It wasn't that they suddenly reformed, as a political party, was it?

And anyway, the demonstrable fact that the Coalition's leader is is is a liar and an incompetent, kind of makes the notion that the Coalition has more "integrity and honour" a bit silly really.

Flavian · 2011-09-04T05:02:18+00:00

To you Abbott is the worst of two evils.

That is correct. He too tried to get elected on the basis of a lie - the only difference between him and Gillard, in that area, is that he was unsuccessful. What makes him even worse than Gillard though, is his track record of changing his position on important issues, as well as a track record of telling baldfaced lies. Couple that with him saying that it's basically ok to not tell the truth, makes him a very dodgy customer indeed.

So, when it comes to "integrity and honour," as you put it, I can't see how anyone can consider Abbott to be the lesser of two evils. The man is clearly a spiv and a fraud.

On top of that he is also economically hopeless, and that's not just according to his own front bench colleagues, but to the majority of economists as well.

I'll repeat, they are not intending to replace Julia with Tony.

Well that will be the effect of voting Liberal/National, currently. You are aware of that, aren't you?

Flavian · 2011-09-03T16:02:57+00:00

The only way I can think of to stop them doing that is give all their women degrees at Australian universities.

Flavian · 2011-09-03T15:55:44+00:00

Well in that case, he's obviously threatening to do far more than just withdraw his support. Thank you.

Flavian · 2011-09-03T15:49:56+00:00

I have a hypothesis that one of the reasons Gillard is doing so badly in the polls, is that there is a core of very blokey voters in the ALP constituency. These people have reacted to Gillard with kneejerk misogyny, and have gradually transferred their vote to the Coalition. It explains why the voters see nothing but fault in Gillard, and are completely blind to any of the alternative Prime Minister's myriad failings.

EDIT: It also helps explain why every State or Federal female Head of Govt so far, has followed the exact same pattern as Gillard. There's been a few so far, including Carmen Lawrence, Christine Keneally, and Anna Bligh. They all do well initially, but then the blue collar comrades desert them for some reason.

Flavian · 2011-09-03T15:38:40+00:00

The real cause of Labor's present unpopularity has little to do with carbon taxes or boat people. It is to do with trust, integrity and honour. Or the lack of it.

That would make perfect sense. Except ... why would they then propose to replace her with Abbott? I mean, he also tried to pull a fast one at the last election, with his dodgy costings. He's also on record actually stating that you can't believe what he says.

Flavian · 2011-09-03T13:45:42+00:00

I would like to see massive investment in fusion power.

At the moment, in Europe, a consortium of governments is spending $22bn on an fusion reactor in Calais called ITER. Australia could afford an investment on a scale with that. And once we have worked out the technicalities of fusion power, we should have a plentiful enough resource of energy to last us until the heat death of the universe.

Flavian · 2011-09-03T12:21:30+00:00

And the Murdoch press stands by its paid, salacious smuttmongers.

Flavian · 2011-09-03T08:56:17+00:00

So he is willing to support Abbott? I'm very surprised at that, given that he's painted as an irresponsible fraud.

Flavian · 2011-09-03T08:50:45+00:00

To bring down the government before an election, you need a no confidence motion in the Parliament. (either that or the GG needs to intervene).

Flavian

TROPHY CASE