=== Todays Toon ===
MEDINET MADNESSThe ALP offers medical diagnosis from afar. Dealing with real live human beings face to face is icky to them. Sweeping generalizations about people are all they are good for. The Leftist motto: "I love humanity. It's just people I can't stand"
There is no doubt anymore good reader, these ALP fraudsters and spivs are running scared from Tony Abbott, and the proof has to be in the announcement of rubbish policy like this. - ZEG
=== Bible Quote ===
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”- Philippians 1:21=== Headlines ===
GM Looks to Put Brakes on Government Ownership
General Motors files first batch of paperwork required by regulators to sell stock to the public, a step that brings the embattled automaker one step closer to its goal of of shedding government ownership.Is Wi-Fi Causing Kids to Be Sick?
Scientists have told the public for years that Wi-Fi is safe, but some Canadian parents are blaming their children's illnesses on the wireless Internet routers installed in their schools
Blago Retrial Carries Massive Taxpayer Cost
After millions were spent on Blago's political corruption trial, millions more are expected to be spent on a retrial — with Illinois taxpayers on the hook for the bill
Pelosi Calls for Probe of Mosque Foes
Speaker suggests a coordinated political effort is behind the opposition to a proposed mosque near Ground Zero
Breaking News
Joe Hockey defends Coalition costingsOPPOSITION defends Coalition's policy costings from what they call a barrage of "hysterical allegations" from Labor.
Boy, girl face murder charges in shootings
A 13-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl face murder charges after allegedly carrying out a double shooting in Texas.
Babies' remains found in 1930s newspapers
THE remains of one of two mummified infants found in a basement may have been those of a miscarried baby.
AMP first half profit up 17pc to $425m
AMP raises first-half profit by 17 per cent, cautious about the global economic outlook and is expecting ongoing market volatility.
Snake bites man twice while shopping
A FLORIDA man was bitten twice by a rattlesnake as he shopped in a home improvement store.
Disney 'banned worker's head scarf'
A MUSLIM woman says her Disneyland restaurant bosses sent her homeafter she refused to remove her head scarf in front of customers.
Slapping mum says daughter kicked her first
THE mum who slapped her 13-month old kid on a flight says the child had kicked her and she was trying to teach her that kicking was wrong.
Gang can't find man, bash his mate instead
FOUR men looking for a man have instead bashed his housemate with what is believed to be a metal bar.
Shotgun-wielding Bananaman whips it out
A MAN in a banana costume is accused of exposing himself and brandishing a shotgun while riding around with a bunch of mates.
228m eggs recalled after salmonella fears
AN egg producer is recalling 228 million eggs after being linked to an outbreak of salmonella poisoning.
NSW/ACT
The span that united our cityEXACTLY 80 years ago today, the two arches on our iconic Harbour Bridge were first joined.
Walkway collapse hero 'very modest'
TIM Latif was recognised for their brave actions in helping 16 fellow students when a walkway collapsed at their Stanmore school.
Fall caught scary Zeus off-guard
AS a security dog, Zeus the doberman is meant to be scary - but he's also a bit clumsy. He managed to fall down a 3-metre hole.
Police find drugs hidden in coffee
TWO men faced court after police allegedly found $46 million worth of pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in ice, disguised as coffee.
Keli Lane was 'free to go'
THE midwife who found Keli Lane's hospital room empty said Lane had been officially discharged.
I think I killed him, witness heard
A WITNESS told how he received a call that would place him in the centre of the brawl that killed Hells Angel associate Anthony Zervas.
Another school gaffe for Firth
VERITY Firth's embarrassing apology to parents for an official's derogatory comments about their school's award-winning garden.
We could be paying for a fast drive
FRUSTRATED drivers will soon access "HOT" lanes, guaranteeing them a non-stop journey.
Labor Mp's secret love child
THIS is the child Cessnock MP Kerry Hickey thought he could keep secret ... but then the mother's boyfriend walked in and caught him.
Man 'had gun outside Sydney cafe'
A MAN charged after found sitting outside a cafe in Sydney with a .25 calibre semi-automatic pistol.
Queensland
Health fails on bullying, says nurseA NURSE says a decision to compensate her for psychological injury is an indictment on Queensland Health's failure to properly address bullying.
36-hour blitz starts at markets
TONY Abbott's minders say the Opposition Leader will campaign non-stop for more than 36 hours in a bid to win over undecided voters.
We face hot August day and night
HOT air from Australia's red centre is expected to drive up Brisbane's temperature today to a summery maximum of 28 degrees.
Gang can't find man, bash his mate
FOUR men looking for a man have instead bashed his housemate with what is believed to be a metal bar.
Warnings ignored on rogue cop
ROGUE Whitsundays cop Benjamin Price assaulted his third victim despite having already been reported to senior officers by colleagues who witnessed an earlier attack.
Coast theatre plan finds audience
A DEEP-pocket offshore financier has shown interest in funding a $190 million world-class live theatre venue on the Gold Coast.
Still popping when others are toast
SIXTY-three years and half a world away from where it was made, a vintage toaster is still delivering reliable service at breakfast every morning.
Shark victim's close call on Coast
THE mother of shark victim Nicholas Edwards says he had a close call with a shark on the Gold Coast a few years ago and she had urged him never to surf again.
Tomato prices to soar
TOMATO prices are tipped to triple with the $50m agricultural sabotage of the nation's winter food bowl in Bowen.
Southside loses local GPs
TWO medical centres south of Brisbane have been suddenly shut down leaving hundreds of patients without a local GP.
Victoria
Power outage disrupts rail lineCOMMUTERS are being warned about disruptions to the Belgrave train line due to a loss of overhead power.
Man charged over indecent assaults
UPDATE 7.45am: A MAN has been charged over allegedly indecently assaulting two women in as many nights.
Man charged over 'scissor stabbing'
UPDATE 6.30am: A MAN has been charged after allegedly stabbing a friend in the neck in Camberwell last night.
Winds set to batter Melbourne
UPDATE 8.40am: MELBOURNE should brace itself for severe winds following storms that battered the northwest of the state last night.
Ex racers face uncertain future
THEY are either heroes or hacks, but it is anyone's bet where a retired racehorse will wind up when its race career ends.
Pensioner's $70,000 credit trap
A PENSIONER'S family has blasted banks for approving "crazy" credit after he was granted a $70,000 spending limit.
Springvale Rd as bad as ever
SPRINGVALE Rd is becoming a nightmare again - and toll road bosses at EastLink are crowing.
Home sick, of being bullied
PARENTS of a six-year-old boy may take legal action to remove an alleged bully who has been tormenting their son in class.
Commuter punched fellow passenger
POLICE are hunting an impatient bus passenger who punched another commuter at a stop in Melbourne’s north.
Wind, rain, snow whip state
FORECASTERS have warned Victorians to brace for damaging winds as the latest wild weather brings more rain and snow to the state.
Northern Territory
Fish bully gets a taste for bloodA WOMAN has told how she swam for her life when she was being mauled by a giant fish in a Darwin lagoon.
Woman strips at cafe in fight over man
A WOMAN caused uproar in a busy restaurant yesterday after brawling with a love-rival, then stripping off in front of shocked children.
South Australia
What's not lovable?LOVABLE ambassador Jennifer Hawkins didn't venture out in her underwear yesterday to launch the lingerie brand's summer collection at Bondi Beach.
School bus hits stobie pole
AN EMPTY school bus has crashed at Gepps Cross bringing down powerlines and causing traffic delays.
Wild weather warning as storms advance
DESTRUCTIVE winds, rain and thunderstorms are rolling across the state and the wild weather is expected to hit Adelaide in the middle of the night.
Wake-up call to cut SIDS toll
UP to 10 babies a year are dying at home in SA in ways health authorities are unable to explain.
UniSA staff go on strike over new pay offer
A 24-hour strike over pay and working conditions by union staff members caused minimal disruption to UniSA students yesterday.
McGuinness 'has nothing to fear'
A FORMER Hells Angel who rang Georgina McGuinness about an alleged affair between Tony McGuinness and his wife says the footballer has nothing to fear.
Can you love your pet too much?
PET owners are vaccinating their dogs and cats too often, wasting money and possibly risking the health of their animal.
Two hurt in Woodside collision
TWO people are injured after a head-on crash in the Adelaide Hills.
It really will be a record voter turnout
MUSIC fans will create a spin on the election this weekend at the state's biggest record fair.
Police ultimatum to gang violence
THE chief of the anti-crime gangs taskforce has warned the instigators of Adelaide's recent bloody gang violence that police are watching their every move.
Western Australia
Boat intercepted in Australian watersANOTHER boat carrying suspected asylum seekers has been intercepted in Australian waters.
Mickelberg defends theft charge
MAN wrongly jailed for the Perth Mint swindle says incomplete evidence presented in theft case against him could lead to a miscarriage of justice.
Police appeal for information on boat fire
PEEL water police are searching for the thieves who stoel a boat from Furnissdale, which was located burnt out in South Yunderup.
Photo of politician's house posted on web
LIBERAL member for seat of Swan asks police to investigate a threat against him after a photo of his house was posted on the internet.
Naked massage business fined $6000
A COURT has slapped the operator of a Perth massage business with the maximum penalty for engaging in misleading advertising.
Lawyer to fight 'hoon' charge
SENIOR Perth criminal lawyer Jeremy Noble will fight a drink driving and reckless driving charge, which saw his BMW impounded under anti-hoon laws.
Man fined $1200 for PM egg attack
A NORTH Beach man who threw an egg at Prime Minister Julia Gillard last month has avoided jail but been fined $1200 for assault.
'I will die doing what I love' - surfer
GRACETOWN shark victim Nicholas Edwards had an earlier close call with a shark on the Gold Coast, but said if he died in the surf it would be "doing something I love.''
Behaviour laws 'medieval justice'
The WA Law Society of WA says legislation to introduce Prohibited Behaviour Orders marks a return to medieval justice.
Boat intercepted with 50 onboard
ANOTHER boat carrying suspected asylum seekers has been intercepted in Australian waters.
Tasmania
Woman denies bigamy chargeA TASMANIAN woman accused of bigamy allegedly got drunk and admitted her crime
=== Journalists Corner ===
Controversy at Ground Zero!Dick Morris weighs in on the political fireworks surrounding the Lower Manhattan mosque. Plus, born in the USA! But, are all births created equal? Ann Coulter and the fine print behind the so-called "anchor baby" boom.
===
Reaching for the GOP?
Obama: "Don't give in to fear, let's reach for hope." But, with high unemployment and a falling economy ... is America reaching for the REPUBLICAN party? Neil gets answers.
===
Part 3 of Greta's Tour of Alaska
In this final part of the special series, Sarah Palin shows Greta the wilderness of Alaska! Could the state hold the key to America's energy woes? Greta gets answers from the former governor.
===
On Fox News Insider
Mosque Being Used By GOP as Political Tool?Pelosi: Should Look Into How Mosque Issue Is Being "Ginned" Up
Meet Fox News' Newest Member of the Team: Leland Vittert
U.S. Supports UN Investigation into Crimes Against Humanity in Burma
EU and Canada Must Join the U.S. at the Upcoming UN Meetings in September
Dear David Daniel,
A major victory for human rights in Burma! After months of rigorous campaigning by USCB and Free Burma activists around the country, the Obama administration finally agreed to support the establishment of a UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma. This is a huge step forward and made headlines around the world. See the articles in the Washington Post and Foreign Policy.
We did it together and thank you very much for making the voices of the people of Burma heard by the White House.
However, we must continue to urge policy makers to transform their words to action. Big events are coming up at the UN. The 15th Session of UN Human Rights Council and the 65th Session of the UN General Assembly are only a month away. At these meetings, the United States must rally other countries to create UN Resolutions calling on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to set up a Commission of Inquiry with no further delay.
To make this happen, we need the support of Canada and the EU. So far, only three members of the EU: United Kingdom, Czech Republic and Slovakia, have expressed their support for the Commission. We need other members to end their silence. We know that the Canadian government is considering supporting the Commission.
A Commission of Inquiry in Burma won't happen without the support of the international community. With only a month away from UN meetings, we need you to contact the EU and Canadian Embassies/Delegations in DC and New York, by telephone, fax and email, urging these diplomats to publicly support the establishment of the UN Commission of Inquiry in Burma. Please see contact information and brief script below.
With one victory in the bag for Burma, let's work together to make another victory.
Aung Din, Jennifer, Mike and Nadi
Instructions:
1) Dial one of the numbers below and ask to speak to the corresponding ambassador.
Hi, May I speak to Ambassador XXX, I would like to ask them to support a Commission of Inquiry into Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes in Burma.
Ambassador's Contacts
(1) H.E. Mr. Gary Doer, Ambassador of Canada to the United States of America
Tel.: (202) 682-1740
Office of the Ambassador, Fax: 202-682-7678
(2) H.E. Ambassador John McNee, Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations
E-mail:canada@un.int or prmny@international.gc.ca
Telephone: (1) 212-848-1100
Fax: (1) 212-848-1195, -1192, -1128
(3) H. E. Mr. Pedro Serrano, Ambassador, Acting Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations Tel. (212) 371 3804
Fax (212) 758 2718
Email: delegation-new-york@ec.europa.eu
Ms. Helen Beckman, Secretary to Head of Delegation, helen.beckman@ec.europa.eu
(4) H.E. Ambassador João Vale de Almeida, European Union Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to the United States
Telephone: (202) 862-9500; Fax: (202) 429-1766
2) It is likely that they will ask you to leave a message.
Hi Ambassador XXXX. As you may know, today the United States pledged its support for a UN-led Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity in Burma. This is a much needed step as the military regime in Burma has been brutally suppressing ethnic minorities and human rights defenders for more than four decades. Recently, the level of violence has been on the rise. Since 1996, the regime has burned down over 3,500 villages, and instances of rape and forced labor by the military are well documented. That is why I urge your country to join the United States, the United Kingdom, the Czeck Republic, Slovakia and Australia in calling for this important measure towards accountability and justice in Burma.
3) You may want to leave your number in case they would like to call you back.
If you have any further questions about why you should support a Commission of Inquiry in Burma, feel free to call me at XXXXX
4) Thank them for taking the message!
5) Email mikejen@uscampaignforburma.org to let us know how the call went.
=== Comments ===
You're a Bigot If You Think Proposed Mosque Near Ground Zero Is InappropriateBY BILL O'REILLY
HERE'S THE QUESTION: How does the far left survive in this country? That crew is so hateful, so harmful to the nation, it is amazing they have any platform at all.
If you oppose gay marriage, you're a homophobe. If you want a secure Southern border, you are anti-Hispanic. And now, if you think building a mosque two blocks away from Ground Zero is inappropriate, you are intolerant, an anti-Muslim bigot.
On Monday, NBC News led the way in branding opponents of the mosque as bad people:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL PRESS, LIBERAL PUNDIT: This is all about religion, and the opponents, there's only one reason, only one reason to oppose this mosque, and that is to paint Islam as an evil religion.
ANITA DUNN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Some people in the Republican Party and others are, you know, labeling all Muslims in this country to effect as terrorists.
NORAH O'DONNELL, NBC NEWS: Somebody's got to say that, you know, we're not going to act like the people who stole freedom from Americans, the people who attacked America and killed 3,000 people. We've got to let this end in terms of fighting over religion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
So according to Ms. O'Donnell, a NBC news correspondent, not an analyst, if you object to the mosque, saying it's inappropriate, then you're acting like the Al Qaeda killers.
Can you believe this incredible nonsense coming out of NBC News? Can you believe it?
THE NEW YORK TIMES ON TUESDAY FRAMED THE ISSUE THIS WAY: "President Obama showed his understanding of the Constitution, and his respect for the American people, last week when he defended the right of a Muslim community group to build a mosque."
Hey, New York Times, what about respecting the feelings of those who lost people on 9/11? What about that?
Do you see what's happening here? The far left will never debate the merits of the issue. They simply attack and begin branding their opponents as racist, bigots and un-American.
LET'S GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT: There are thousands of Americans who lost loved ones on 9/11. Many of these people feel a Muslim display so near the attack zone is hurtful because fanatical Muslims killed their family and friends. So where is the tolerance toward the 9/11 families? Where is the understanding and respect for their feelings?
President Obama well understands the emotions that are in play, which is why he will not comment on the so-called wisdom of building a mosque so close to Ground Zero. But the far left doesn't care about the wisdom of the project because they are promoting the fiction that America is mean to Muslims. Anything that makes U.S. policy seem oppressive is embraced by these loons.
Every poll says the majority of Americans believe this proposed mosque is simply not a good idea. Nobody I know wants to violate religious freedom. Nobody wants to persecute Muslims. Nobody wants to cause trouble. What we do want is a sane country.
Again, I don't know how the far left continues to survive in the USA.
===
Memo to Obama -- Pivot or Prepare for One Term
By John Tantillo
It doesn’t matter how many swims in the Gulf President Obama takes unless he starts listening to the people and stops listening to his ideology -- his brand will only get weaker.
I believe that the president has become a niche president whose focus is to a more upscale, highly education target market. Unless he pivots to include all Americans, he is doomed to become a one-term president.
I’m talking specifically about his position on the Ground Zero mosque.
Of course, a president must stand for the highest ideals of our country. And religious toleration is one of our finest ideals (if only the rest of world did it as well as we do at honoring it).
But the Ground Zero mosque uproar isn’t about religious toleration, it’s about defending what’s sacred in America and it’s about being realistic when it comes to important symbolism.
Fact is, it’s about defending our country plain and simple – and that’s supposed to be a president’s top priority.
Folks, I said it all last week, but let me boil it down. The initiative to put up this particular mosque is not only tone deaf but an aggressive act by a very questionable group. Besides being in the poorest of tastes, there is no way that a victory by the mosque builders won’t be seen as some kind of victory for the jihadists who perpetrated the 2001 attack.
Instead of listening to his people and their attempts to express what they are rightly feeling, President Obama has decided to over-ride them by blindly applying ideals that don’t really apply to the situation. This is offensive and condescending to the American people because it assumes that their outrage is racist and anti-Muslim when it is, in fact, legitimate.
Bottom line, even if the president clarifies his initial position, my guess is that the brand damage has been done. People will remember that his first public reaction was to dismiss theirs.
And, remember, things are always easier when you keep marketing and branding in mind.
John Tantillo is a marketing and branding expert and president of the Marketing Department of America who markets his own services as The Marketing Doctor. He is a frequent contributor to the Fox Forum and the author of a new book "People Buy Brands, Not Companies."
===
WAR ON WORKERS
Tim Blair
These people obviously require the caring assistance of WorkChoices:
A revolt is brewing in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet over alleged “arrogant and bullying tactics” adopted by management during pay negotiations with staff …Observe as a bullied Prime Ministerial staffer is menaced by hostile management:
A source familiar with the negotiations described senior management’s approach as effectively a “declaration of war” on mid-level and junior staff.
The source said they had written to Julia Gillard’s chief of staff Amanda Lampe nine days ago, calling for her to intervene in the dispute, but to no avail.
===
OUT OF DODGE
Tim Blair
A message from Mr Dodgeball, whose team recently upheld Australian ball-dodging honour in Las Vegas:
G’day Tim,A welcome-home celebration may be needed for Burt and his men.
Burt Sigsworth from the Australian Dodgeball team here.
Mate, thank you for the editorial today and in the past. We have been appreciative of the support that Australia’s self-selected national squad has received from the Telegraph over the last couple of months …
As you know Australia did in fact pull off a couple of wins and was actually surprisingly competitive against all of the teams we played. I suppose it is that fighting Aussie spirit. I also finished 20th in the last man standing competition, beating out 280 professional and seasoned dodgeballers.
For the record we did win the best dressed award but there was no trophy.
===
MAXED OUT
Tim Blair
Tim Colebatch reports:
At national level, the bookies have Labor as overwhelming favourite to win Saturday’s election. But at seat-by-seat level, their odds are pointing to a hung Parliament.One of the most endangered seats is that held by Maxine McKew:
On the odds posted late yesterday by online bookmakers Centrebet and Sportsbet, punters are expecting the government to lose a net 13 seats that are notionally Labor …
Internal polling by both major parties shows Maxine McKew in trouble in her northern Sydney seat of Bennelong …
A loss would be a startling turnaround for Ms McKew, a former ABC TV presenter who was the Labor Party hero of the 2007 election when she ousted former prime minister John Howard, who had held Bennelong since 1974.No odds are available on McKew, should she lose, being as graceful in defeat as was Howard. More on numbers and such from Peter Brent:
Winning the vote but losing the election is a fate usually reserved for federal oppositions. If it does happen to one of the leaders this time it is likely to be Tony Abbott.According to leftists, the popular vote determines victory. Onwards to Canberra!
===
DINGO SLAPPED MY BABY: CLAIM
Tim Blair
Entertainer Ernie Dingo faces charges following an alleged incident at a Western Australian school.
(Comments are closed on this post.)
===
HUNT FOR TREACHER
Tim Blair
Democrat Nancy Pelosi wants to know who might be funding opposition to the Ground Zero mosque:
“There is no question there is a concerted effort to make this a political issue by some. And I join those who have called for looking into how is this opposition to the mosque being funded,” she said.Sounds like she’s coming after rising conservative youngster and massively-funded mosque critic Jim Treacher. Meanwhile, mosque supporters seek adult assistance:
Distressed by President Obama’s waffling on the issue, they’re calling on former President George W. Bush to announce his support for the project, because in this case Bush understands better than Obama the connection between the war on terror and the larger question of America’s relationship with Islam. It’s an extraordinary change of position for commentators who long argued that Bush had done grievous harm to America’s image in the Muslim world and that Obama represented a fresh start for the United States.In other hopeychangey developments:
Utilities across the country are building dozens of old-style coal plants that will cement the industry’s standing as the largest industrial source of climate-changing gases for years to come.This is despite $3.4 billion being wasted by Obama on “clean coal” fantasy plans. Change!
An Associated Press examination of U.S. Department of Energy records and information provided by utilities and trade groups shows that more than 30 traditional coal plants have been built since 2008 or are under construction.
===
COMMENCE THE BLOODLETTING
Tim Blair
World gone topsy-turvy! Dean Mighell is upset about brutal ugliness:
A senior union leader has predicted a post-election wave of Labor “bloodletting” in a furious backlash over the issue that has overshadowed its campaign: the dumping of Kevin Rudd.A narrow win for Labor could be bloodier than defeat.
Electrical Trades Union Victorian state secretary, Dean Mighell, said those involved in the axing of the former prime minister would be “targeted” after Saturday’s vote.
Mr Mighell, a regular critic of the Labor government, said the ‘’brutal’’ and ‘’ugly’’ disposal of Mr Rudd had turned off some voters.
===
Turning back a boat has saved Gillard, after all
Andrew Bolt
Julia Gillard says the Liberals’ promise to turn back the boats would never work:
The reality as I have described it about what happens at sea, the risks to Defence personnel, the fact that boats are sunk, that is the problem and that is why I’ve criticised Tony Abbott’s slogan. :Oddly enough, that very fear of being turned back stopped a ship carrying 490 Sri Lankan boat people from destroying Julia Gillard’s campaign. It’s now landed in Canada instead:
Reports from the ship say there was an outbreak of tuberculosis… The ship, the MV Sun Sea, was not originally destined for Canada… No, they were en route to Australia, but changed course when their captain decided Australia’s navy would intercept the ship and turn it away. Canada, internationally known as a soft touch with generous welfare and free health care, was the obvious alternative.So will a grateful Gillard admit that the threat to turn back boats actually works, after all?
(Thanks to reader Stephen.)
===
GetUp! hides Labor’s broken promises
Andrew Bolt
Months ago GetUp! promised to update its list of Labor promises broken. Must have been hard work, because just when we’re asked to judge Labor’s performance before casting our vote, this Labor front still begs for more time:
This site list of promises made by Kevin Rudd during the 07 election campaign.What’s more, the list of Labor’s promises has been taken down, so you can’t check them for yourself.
But right now our team is working at updating the content.
We’ll have the content back online asap.
(Thanks to readers Julian and FOEHN.)
===
A talent for self-praise
Andrew Bolt
When a new Australia Council study asks artists what’s holding them back, one obvious explanation falis to occur to them:Turning to the negative influences: what factors are most likely to inhibit the development of a career as a professional artist? Evidence from earlier surveys of artists, both in Australia and in other countries, suggests two major factors – financial problems and time constraints.(Thanks to reader Brian.)
===
Another 31 people say Gillard doesn’t scare them
Andrew Bolt
More people betting - correctly - that they won’t be sent to Julia Gillard’s promised East Timor detention centre this side of 2020:
Another aslyum seeker boat has arrived in Australian waters, the second in the past two days.
The Navy intercepted the boat north of Christmas Island last night.
The boat’s 31 passengers and three crew will be taken to the island for processing.
It is the seventh boat to reach Australian waters during the election campaign.
===
Angry at Labor
Andrew Bolt
Hours before the blackout on political advertising, the Liberals produce perhaps their best ad of the campaign.
(Thanks to readers Sandi and Matt.)
===
US banks on coal, not Gillard’s dreams
Andrew Bolt
Even Barack Obama’s America is banking on coal-fired power - and giving up on the mirage of clean-coal technology that the Gillard Government still promotes:
Utilities across the USA are building dozens of old-style coal plants that will cement the industry’s standing as the largest industrial source of climate-changing gases for years to come. An Associated Press examination of U.S. Department of Energy records and information provided by utilities and trade groups shows that more than 30 traditional coal plants have been built since 2008 or are under construction…Meanwhile Julia Gillard keeps promising the moon with taxpayers’ money - proposing laws that can only lead to blackouts or massive bills:
The expansion, the industry’s largest in two decades, represents an acknowledgment that highly touted “clean coal” technology is still a long ways from becoming a reality and underscores a renewed confidence among utilities that proposals to regulate carbon emissions will fail…
Hoping for a technological solution, the Obama administration devoted $3.4 billion in stimulus spending to foster “clean-coal” plants that can capture and store greenhouse gases. Yet new investments in traditional coal plants total at least 10 times that amount — more than $35 billion.
Utilities say they are clinging to coal because its abundance makes it cheaper than natural gas or nuclear power and more reliable than intermittent power sources such as wind and solar.
JULIA Gillard will ban new coal-fired power stations that use “dirty” technology and require that any power station built can be retro-fitted with developing clean coal technology.
The Prime Minister has also committed $1 billion over 10 years to create an “efficient and strongly regulated” national renewable energy market.
===
Here’s comes the fast wireless that Gillard claims will never work
Andrew Bolt
The Gillard Government insists there’s no option to its plan to bet $43 billion on delivering fibre optic to every house:
The Coalition’s “grab bag of policies” on broadband was too heavily reliant on wireless technologies that cannot deliver the speeds and capacity needed for future healthcare, education and business applications, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says.No sooner is this asserted, then we hear of another tecnological breakthrough that promises cheaper, handier and almost as fast wireless - delivered not by government but the private sector:
Satellite companies have been the also-rans of Internet providers… Their services can be painfully slow and cost twice as much as high-speed broadband.And another announcement of wireless speeds to match those of Gillard’s $43 billion fibre optic network - without having to be tethered to a cable on the wall:
But two companies, WildBlue and HughesNet, are now in a race to change all that. Both plan to launch satellites in the next couple of years that will dwarf their predecessors in space.
WildBlue’s alone will have 10 times the capacity of its three current satellites combined. Such behemoths, the companies say, will enable them, at prices similar to what they now charge, to provide Internet service at speeds many times faster than they now offer — as fast, in some cases, as fiber connections. Further, the companies argue, satellites can provide service more easily and cheaply per subscriber than their earthbound cable and phone company competitors… As to satellite’s potential in rural regions, “clearly, there’s an unserved market,” Mr. Slekys said.
WiMAX 2 finalizing soon with 100Mbps speeds(Thanks to readers Betapug and Srekwah.)
Intel’s upcoming WiMAX 2 standard should be much faster than the existing standard in practice, the WiMAX Forum’s marketing lead Declan Byrne said this weekend. Existing WiMAX often tops at just 3-6Mbps according to estimates from Clear and Sprint, but the new 802.16m version should provide average speeds over 100Mbps, Byrne told Computerworld.
===
Study denies what the warmist Age eagerly assumed
Andrew Bolt
The Age’s Paddy Manning - egged on by the warmist CSIRO - insists that of course global warming had something to do with Black Saturday:
You don’t have to be Lord Stern to see how the costs of climate change are already compounding and spiralling, out of control.But a new peer-reviewed paper in Weather, Climate and Society actually checks the evidence, and can find no link between global warming and our losses on that terrible day:
Some costs are relatively benign… Other costs are terrible, such as the conservative $4.4 billion figure put on last year’s Black Saturday fires by the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission…
In September 2009 the commission took expert evidence from CSIRO principal research scientist Kevin Hennessy… Except perhaps in the darkest sceptic circles, it is uncontentious that climate change was a contributing factor to the dangerous weather experienced that day - although Hennessy pointed out that a forensic ‘’detection and attribution’’ study, as was carried out after the European heatwave of 2003, would need to be done to determine the degree of that contribution.
The Commission’s final report notes it “took limited evidence on the subject of climate change because it was persuaded by Mr Hennessy’s conclusions [which] are consistent with the opinions of the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, Australia’s leading climate science agencies.”
This study re-evaluates the history of building damage and loss of life due to bushfire (wildfire) in Australia since 1925 in light of the 2009 Black Saturday fires in Victoria in which 173 people lost their lives and 2,298 homes were destroyed along with many other structures. Historical records are normalised in order to estimate building damage and fatalities had events occurred under the societal conditions of 2008/09. There are relationships between normalised building damage and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole phenomena, but there is no discernable evidence that the normalised data is being influenced by climate change due to the emission of greenhouse gases.And alternative theory for the losses of that day? The study suggests the obvious:
Land use planning policies in bushfire-prone parts of this country that allow such development increase the risk that bushfires pose to the public and the built environment.(Thanks to reader Lee Zeal.)
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What Gillard surplus?
Andrew Bolt
Julia Gillard’s boasts:
She guaranteed that the budget would return to surplus in 2012-13 as forecast. ‘’Failure is not an option here and we won’t fail.’’Terry McCrann says it won’t happen:
Except the Gillard surplus figure is built on two lies. The resources tax and the National Broadband Network.===
The budget numbers don’t fully bring in the spending on the NBN. Abbott is going to ditch the NBN and cut the spending. Simple arithmetic means this will produce a bigger surplus than the Labor alternative.
But Gillard’s ‘clever’ resources tax and its revenues are a fiscal mirage. Because neither the Greens nor the (Abbott) opposition would vote for it, if she wins.
The Greens want to make it worse; Abbott opposes it in any form. So Gillard’s first, tiny, surplus is a mirage. We are headed for five deficits in a row. And what’s the betting that she’d end up making it a full set of six over the two Rudd-Gillard terms.
How the greenshirts bashed Gay
Andrew Bolt
Miranda Devine describes how the lovely new greens destroyed a business, a planned pulp mill and the reputation of John Gay, since dumped as chairman of the Tasmanian timber company Gunns:
But the international green movement and the Australian Wilderness Society fought a relentless campaign to bring the company to its knees and destroy Gay.(Thanks to reader Sisyphus.)
They let loose violent feral protesters who chained themselves to trees and sabotaged logging equipment; protesters with placards picketed the ANZ Bank, which had undertaken to finance Gay’s proposal for a pulp mill in the Tamar Valley, but pulled out at the last minute.
And they had environmentalists in suits successfully traduce Gay to cowardly institutional investors who earlier this year dumped Gunn’s shares, halving the value of the company in a week.
Greenies in suits also went to Japan, destroying Gunn’s markets for its woodchips, threatening - in an oh-so-reasonable way - companies which used pulp sourced from Tasmania’s forests to make paper.
Afraid their brands would be trashed, Gunns’ Japanese customers dropped Tasmania like a hot potato.
Then there was the personal vilification. Gay describes it as ‘’torture’’ for his wife, Erica, and adult son and daughter, with his home under assault two or three nights a week for years - from smoke bombs under the house, stink bombs at the front door, dead possums in the yard, people rattling the gates late at night and screaming abuse from the street.
His wife was spat at in the supermarket and the Tasmanian media sat on the fence as a good man’s reputation was destroyed.
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More even, but Abbott perhaps wins again
Andrew Bolt
A more even result in the town hall meeting in Brisbane tonight. Tony Abbott got a few more nasty, even arrogantly abusive, questions from the audience including at least one from a Labor plant, reading out almost word for word Labor’s attack line of today. Another gleefully recounted the sneering dismissal of Abbott made by the permanently embittered John Hewson, who should be hounded out of any Liberal gathering. Nevertheless, Abbott again kept his equanimity, other than to denounce as “lies” Labor’s advertising. But in summing up at the end, he cracked a little, noting that some in the room clearly didn’t like him but he would fight until the election. He made none of his campaigning points, finishing lamely. But until then he was good, and effective.
Julia Gillard didn’t repear the mistake she made at Rooty Hill, and this time addressed the crowd from the floor. She even worked the room heavily before going on stage. She tried to moderate that lecturing tone, and holding the mic cut down on those exaggerated hand movements. No gaffes, just as there were none from Abbott. But while she’s better at spinning than Abbott, she’s more transparent in dodging questions - and she had some to dodge, not least a question twice asked and not answered about when she last spoke to Kevin Rudd. Some five questions where thrown at her about her knifing of Rudd, including a zinger about how she, as one of the “gang of four” running the country with Rudd, could sack him for going off the rails, then praise him as a man of “great achievements”, and still dodge responsibilty for disasters she must have been party to.
So evens, or a narrow win to Abbott. But even a draw helps him. Odd, how Gillard struggles more with voters than with reporters.
UPDATE
A STRAW poll of the 200 undecided voters attending tonight’s forum gave the contest 83 to Julia Gillard over Tony Abbott’s 75 votes.UPDATE 2
Reader Rosemary:
I was suprised at the sheer number of young women, and the high proportion of teachers and students who were chosen to ask questions. Yes, I agree, the majority of the questions were very hostile…UPDATE 3
There was one woman who started pulling some really odd faces during Tony Abbott’s response - not a good look and very disrespectful to him. I noted that one lady who asked a question of Tony Abbott and who said she was a small business owner, wore a white t-shirt with the slogan ‘Make Poverty History’ on the back. Independant and swinging I don’t think so - more likely an activist
Notice that not a single person asked Gillard about global warming? The “greatest moral and economic challenge of our times” has become ho hum.
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