Iraq: PM slams Australian hostage as 'foolhardy'

This is amazing! Read this article in the SMH on Little Johnnie's criticism of an Australian hostage just released in Iraq.

The sanctimonius hypocrisy of Downer & Little Johnnie knows no bounds.

"I think people have to understand that when they take unnecessary risks, they're not only putting their own lives at stake but they're also putting at stake the lives of many other people and it is just not acceptable," Mr Howard told reporters.

"I would be failing in my duty to the rest of the Australians who are in Iraq if I didn't say in the bluntest possible sense, it is not fair on others to behave in a careless and foolhardy fashion."

OK, let's review this:

1) Howard took Australia to war based on a lie (WMD) & a one sided sycophantic relationship with the US.

2) Howard continues to support Bush & an over aggressive US Army in Iraq - a country where Australia has no direct political or economic strategic influence or direct interest.

3) Howard & Bush continue to deny reality that Iraq is a mess caused by an overreaching, ignorant, distracted US administration.

4) Howard makes public statements based on rhetoric and ignorance and has increased the vulnerability of Australians to terrorist acts both at home & abroad.

5) So Howard helped contribute & support the mess in Falujah and now he is accusing a humitarian aid worker there of taking 'unecessary risks'?

6) I guess Little Johnnie just wants Australians to blindly support anything the US do: wherever, whenever, however.

What a git. When will Little Johnnie go? Please make it soon.

New Order

I am sitting at my desk in my windowless office in Singapore Land Tower, listening to New Order's Substance on my iPod.

My eyes are stinging because I've been looking at computer screens to intensely & to long. I had an apple an hour ago. Now I'm waiting to have a late lunch at the Fullarton with some old friends I haven't seen for something like 7 years.

Temptation then Blue Monday, 'I thought I was mistaken ... Tell me now how should I feel? ...'

I received 24 Hour Party People on DVD for Christmas from my brother. This is a funny and energetic history of the Manchester scene during the late seventies and early eighties. The DVD has extensive extras including interviews and commentaries with Peter Hook, Peter Saville & Steve Coogan.

Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge reminds me so much of middle aged men in England circa the late seventies in the Church I used to go to when growing up.

I was born in Manchester but I don't really know Manchester apart from football (Man U), TV (Steve Coogan & Coronation Street) & Music (New Order, Happy Mondays, Oasis etc). We left there when I was less than a year old. I've only been there again about three times in my whole life.

One day I'll go there and rent a room for a week and walk the streets and eat the food and imagine my life if I'd stayed and imagine bumping into my birth parents/brother/sister/aunt/uncle/nephew/niece/etc.