Ask me anything

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The Australian 27 October 2004

The Australian Public Intellectual Network have released their list of the  top 40 Australian Public Intellectuals, and yet again I have bewilderingly been overlooked. I was probably number 41, so if I was Glyn Davis, I’d be watching my back.

I’m putting the final touches on an exhibition of gag cartoons at the Sidespace (very likely opening tomorrow if I can get everything sorted) and dug this cartoon out of the depths of a deceased laptop’s hard drive. So there, I’ve mentioned the exhibition, so I’d better get on with it.

Stupid top 40 Australian Public Intellectuals. It’s because I don’t wear skivvies you know.

NSFW (if you work at a bank)

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The Australian 29 October 2010

The great economist Joe Hockey once said “give me a lever long enough and strong enough, and I’ll stick it so far up the banks that the experience ceases to be pleasurable for them”. Now we all know that this is rank populism, not because we wouldn’t all love to see a Bank CEO Kebab, but because we all know that if Joe ever does become treasurer, he’ll fall back on Wayne’s plan of being Very Cross when the banks do whatever they bloody well like, because, well, they can.

The Australian 4 November 2010

Accessorise your PM

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The Australian, 27 October 2010

While the Iraqi journo who pinged his size tens at George W doesn’t quite stack up against that guy who blocked the tanks in Tiananmen Square, I think we can all agree his protest had a certain something. The only thing the hippy who flipped his Dunlop Volleys past the keeper for four byes during Q&A had going for him was an appropriate choice of footwear. Lucky he wasn’t protesting against Paul Keating, genuine imported Italian baby harp seal leather wingtips  don’t come cheap.

A Lazarus never rises twice

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Sunday Telegraph, 24 October 2010

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, especially when applied to Prime Ministers, though for some, “fonder” refers to a transition from seething hatred to a slightly diminished level of seething hatred. John Howard has sensibly let a few years and a couple of other Prime Ministers telling lies and stuffing things up make us feel a bit wistful for the good old days when at least you didn’t have any false hopes left to be dashed.

Sadly, John couldn’t leave well enough alone and he’s ripping the scab off this week, releasing the slightly disturbingly titled autobiography “Lazarus Rising”. The only good name for an ex-PM’s autobiography is “It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time” and it should contain an unconditional apology for pretty much everything, leaving Kevin extremely well-placed to get it right when his comes out (possibly serialised with subtitles in The Monthly).

I strongly recommend you avoid reading Lazarus Rising and just let him stride off purposefully into the sunset, let’s face it, you really aren’t going to change your mind about the bloke either way. However, if you can’t help yourself, consider purchasing the definitive John Howard biography as an antidote, a bargain at $10 a throw.