Life's Little Mysteries

French winemakers are disappointed that President Nicolas Sarkozy is teetotal and fear his clean-living image gives the wrong impression of France.

2007-06-21T22:34:00.000+10:00

French winemakers are disappointed that President Nicolas Sarkozy is teetotal and fear his clean-living image gives the wrong impression of France."Everytime you see him on TV he's jogging. He doesn't like eating, he doesn't like drinking, he doesn't represent the culture of France," said Serge Dombierer, who works for the Chateau de Mauvanne vineyard in Provence in southern France."President

Sarkozy for a TVA Sociale Trial

2007-06-21T13:47:00.000+10:00

From leblogfinance.comNicolas Sarkozy has persisted and signed on a la TVA sociale, even if the policy has cost him the blue wave he could have used to surf over the criticisms of the Socialist party and other opposition.? The TVA sociale would be trialled, Sarkozy confirmed on Wednesday. During a visit to a textile factory in Tourcoing, Prime Minister François Fillon affirmed the day before he

PRG and Greens attempt to form a group in the Assembly

2007-06-21T00:23:00.000+10:00

From Challenges.frThe president of the Radical Left Party (PRG), Jean-Michel Baylet, has confirmed that the radicals of the left and the greens will try to constitute a group a the National Assembly. The senator, who was accompanying new PRG members of parliament, made clear that his friends would ask that the number of members needed to create a group at the Assembly should be wound back from 20

The return of Airbus

2007-06-19T16:32:00.000+10:00

From rfi.frThe European plane maker resurfaces at the opening of the Bourget Air Show. With 339 orders signed in a single day (Monday), Airbus must have broken some kind of record. The less than shiny performance from Boeing makes this day particularly appreciated by company directorsIt's a marathon day for Louis Gallois, Airbus President, and the commercial managers of the firm. As soon as the

Legislative elections: A first warning for Nicholas Sarkozy

2007-06-19T14:37:00.000+10:00

From NouvelObs.comNicholas Sarkozy has a majority at his disposal to implement his reforms, but will have to take into account the warning given by electors at Sunday's second round of legislative elections. With 345 members including 313 for the UMP, the resident of the Elysée Palace has won a tinted victory, obscured by the symbolic defeat of Alain Juppé.The head of state took his first

Four Seats for the MoDem

2007-06-19T00:13:00.000+10:00

From Europe 1.frThe Movement for Democracy (MoDem) has achieved the election of four members of parliament. Starting with its founder: François Bayrou re-elected in his electoral stronghold of the Béarn with 61,21% of votes. It is not yet known if Jean-Christophe Lagarde will sit alongside them. By not allowing the "blue wave" to burst forth as predicted by polls, the people of France have

Hollande: The contest for succession has not begun

2007-06-18T23:37:00.000+10:00

From lefigaro.frThe day following the second round of legislative elections, one question splits the Socialist Party: when must François Hollande leave his post?The succession race is not "open". Whereas Ségolène Royal has announced her intention to constest the position of First Secretary, François Hollande has dotted the i's on Monday calling on the various candidates "to respect the rhythms

Royal: Difficulties with Hollande before campaign

2007-06-18T22:29:00.000+10:00

from TF1.LCI.fr"For some time now a number of imputations and rumours have been circulating regarding myself and François Hollande, I think it is time to clarify these matters" declared Ségolène Royal in an interview with France Info broadcast Monday. "I wanted to say very simply that we have decided not to be together anymore. Like all couples, we have experienced difficulties. I had chosen to

Supporting Sarko

2007-01-29T09:12:00.000+11:00

I will be supporting Nicolas Sarkozy as a candidate for the French Presidential Election.

I have seen the future...

2007-01-03T10:53:00.000+11:00

...of how smokers are dealing with completely smokefree pubs, and it ain't pretty. Especially on New Years' Eve, as I walked past a whole bunch of pubs on the way home, there they were, outside, drawing on their darts.Legislation of a very simmilar kind is on its way in Victoria, as an extension of the laws that previously made smoking illegal where food was served. Ireland has also gone the

Facebook addition

2007-01-03T10:49:00.000+11:00

Have now attempted to link the RSS feed from this blog into my Facebook profile, so each of these posts should show up as notes, with Facebook checking every few hours. There will certainly be some hotlinks that will not work on the Facebook site, but please try to view the original post.

Newsnight 22/12/06

2006-12-22T11:34:00.000+11:00

A cracker show tonight showcasing two main stories. The first involving the resignation of a Minister of the Scottish Executive; the second the approval by City of Edinburgh councillors of what I believe is the embryonic stages of a white elephant.Let's turn our attention to Malcolm Chisolm. Until this afternoon the Executive's Communities minister, and previously to this a Health Minister,

Blair spikes Serious Fraud Squad investigation

2006-12-16T05:20:00.001+11:00

I was listening to Tones on the radio during PMQ the other day, and it was only then I realised that the impersonators, such as the one that regularly appears on Radio 1 Breakfast With Chris Moyles (I believe it is Jon Culshaw).His spin has the momentum of a runaway freight train. Unfortunately, the freight train has derailed in the last thirty six hours.Tony has scuppered an investigation into

The last of Diana, I think not

2006-12-14T21:06:00.000+11:00

Today, Lord Stevens releases his report of Operation Paget, detailing what he believes happened to Princess Diana the night she died. The tabloid newspapers (especially since I've been back in Scotland) have had ten years in which to put endless versions of conspiracy theories. Unfortunately when a celebrity's death is too convenient, in Diana's case the Al-Fayed connection, there is the urge to

The new Jack The Ripper?

2006-12-13T17:13:00.000+11:00

Quite alarming stuff out of Ipswich, where the bodies of prostitures being found dead. The Suffolk police are suggesting they are related to previous murders, and a serial killer is taking out people, much like. It is the only story on the front pages of the papers this morning. Comparaisons are of course being made to Jack The Ripper, who preyed on prostitutes. Five victims in ten days.It's

Same Old Labour

2006-12-04T16:30:00.000+11:00

Brian Loughnane, Federal Director of the Liberal party has wasted no time in getting stuck into Kevin Rudd, he might have even dusted off the L plates from the Latham years, and got them ready to stick on an inexperienced leader.Sameoldlabor.com

2006-11-24T22:09:00.000+11:00

It seems that blogging/commentating is only a summer (winter for you nothern hemispherers) activity. I only checked this because I was asked for an addition for a facebook website, so if you wanted to leave anything here, I'll get back to you. Welcome to the conservative blogosphere. Ted Baillieu to win at least seven seats, 10 expected, anymore a bonus. Although I must not the enthusiasm of my

One for the slow files....

2006-06-08T00:55:00.000+10:00

Jessica Simpson asks Pamela Anderson: "How did you guys run so slowly in the show's opening scene? You know, where you're running down the beach?" "It was shot in slow motion."Oh dear.

Animator Vs Animation

2006-06-08T00:07:00.000+10:00

Very funny flash animation. Via Chris Berg

Your compulsory fees at work, but not for much longer

2006-06-07T15:39:00.000+10:00

THE granting of Federal Government approval for the Melbourne University's so-called "Growing Esteem" strategic plan (The Age, 6/6) represents the death knell for the public university in Australia, and a decisive step away from the principle that everyone, regardless of financial or other circumstances should be able to access affordable, quality education as a right.The "Melbourne Model" is

The Latham Diaries continue

2006-06-06T23:54:00.000+10:00

Today Mark Latham appeared in Campbelltown local court, charged with stealing and smashing a News Ltd photographer’s camera in a fit of anger, just under a year after his departure from public life. After initially missing a court date, he fronted and plead guilty to a charge of malicious damage. Charges of stealing and assault were dropped, his barrister duly handing over a cheque for $6763.70.

2006-04-30T15:22:00.000+10:00

I'm of a serious mind to take down those pictures of Nik, because my traffic is going through the roof with freaks looking up all kinds of things to do with her.

A Vanity Search?

2006-04-28T17:23:00.000+10:00

Found this little darling in the stats.VISITOR ANALYSISReferring Linkhttp://www.google.com.au/search?q=joshuaKey Words. Joshua FrydenbergHost Name:bagheera.australia.db.comIP Address:203.0.62.7Country:AustraliaRegion:New South WalesCity:SydneyISP:Db Bain Group ServicesVisit Length:1 min 30 secsOn further analysis of the IP, it has certainly come from the Sydney offices of Deutsche. A collegue

Little Nick's not so grown up

2006-04-26T17:14:00.000+10:00

So while I was cleaning up some of the deadlinks due to the Herald Sun taking some articles offline, I though Nikki!Firstly, be aware that the advertising slogan for the magazine in which she is posing describes itself as "Sex, Sport and Stupidity". Of higher educational quality than the three Rs. In other articles:*Martin Bryant wasn't the only killer*World's Fattest Sportsmen*Big Brother babes*

Funny Stuff: Much Ado About Sumthin

2006-04-26T16:48:00.000+10:00

Was procrastinating while looking to write a Microeconomics assignment, and came across Steph's, and it's the kinda blog that makes you want to trawl the archives; so I did. It's seriously down to earth, and the humour (though aggressive and a little abrasive) is very much refreshing. Can recommend.

The Battle for Kooyong: "It Begins"

2006-04-21T16:10:00.000+10:00

The Main Event: Joshua Frydenberg Versus Petro GeorgiouFor the undisputed "Kooyong" belt, and a guaranteed seat on the Green Leather of Australian Parliament House.In the blue corner...Weighing in at 34 years, the challenger, educated at Bialik and Mount Scopus Colleges, Monash University, where he graduated in law, and Oxford University, where he gained a master’s degree in international

2006-04-17T01:12:00.000+10:00

Anti VSU Protests Fall Flat

2006-04-13T10:46:00.000+10:00

Ahh, finally the fight for the hearts and minds of students is coming to a close. I'm interrupting my mid-sem study to post this. I was heartned to see Liberal Students in Melbourne getting the trot hordes excited.On Channel 7's 6:30 news, Peter Mitchell told us that police had to keep the two groups apart. The Green/Socialist/Labor numbers (250) were met by 20 odd Liberal Students who told them

2006-03-23T21:48:00.000+11:00

Somebody at Shell has been wasting company time looking at my page. But I don't mind, I've got a sneaking suspicion I saw him in Mentone today.

I ate the duck

2006-03-16T17:52:00.000+11:00

"With a bit of luckA duckWill come into your lifeWhen you are at the peakOf your great powers,And your achievement towersLike a smoking chimney stack,There'll be a quackAnd right there at your feetA little duck will stand;She will take you by the handAnd lead youLike a child with no defenceShe will lead youInto wisdom, joy and innocenceThe little duckI wish you luck" I didn't write it, Michael

M2006 Kicks Off

2006-03-16T00:32:00.000+11:00

Fire from the skyscape, fish on the water and various accoutrements inside the MCG greeted athletes from 71 nations, and viewers across the country and world. Yours truly was not "united by the moment". I sat to watch it with others, and we all agreed there were some pretty crass notes. The first was the new Nikki Webster (could we call him Nicholas?) who skated around town, and ended up being

Torvill and Dean Mania

2006-03-06T09:43:00.000+11:00

For all of those searching for a performance of Bolero, and there are many of you. Just click here

HRH Prince Charles' Diary: Now Public

2006-02-25T07:13:00.000+11:00

Over the past 72 hours, a real storm has broken over what the heir apparent to the British throne thinks. This is a reassuring, because as an avid republican, I suspected that there wansn't much in the way of grey matter between those big ears of his. The revelations spawn from a seperate suit brought by one of his courtiers.Charles didn't want the extracts revealed; his barristers argued that he

Matador

2006-02-22T08:44:00.000+11:00

Tonight went to a special preview of Matador, a film starring and produced by ex Bond Pierce Brosnan. There's a film from the last Bond film (Die Another Day) where he escapes from a ship in Hong Kong and walks into a hotel lobby topless and bearded. It's what I thought of as I watched the opening scenes.It's really playing a role to break the BondJulian Noble (Brosnan) is an assasin who slowly

Odds for TAS and SA Elections

2006-02-21T13:32:00.000+11:00

Centrebet has framed odds for the upcoming, and hasn't provided an option for backing the Liberals in either case. The margin of victory by Labour is the only event available. For posterity, here they are:TASLabour wins 12 or less seats: $1.14Labour wina 13 or more seats: $5.00(There are 25 seats, 13 needed for majority government)It would really be bad news for the state if The Greens held

General Motors dissected by Rees-Mogg

2006-02-21T11:14:00.000+11:00

I look forward to articles by (Lord) William Rees-Mogg, a former editor of The Times and now a regular contributor to the opinion pags of the same paper.Today featured an article on the rise and demise of General Motors, a giant of American industry who has really struggled to come to terms with global competition, especially from the Asian sector. I'm familliar with most of the history of GM,

Simon Crean: Game Over

2006-02-20T10:23:00.000+11:00

Simon Crean has been doorknocking ALP residents in the seat of Hotham, asking for their support in fighting off Martin Pakula, a union official who wants to challenge for preselection. I called the results about a year ago, when speculation of a deal between the factions on these preselections was being negotiated. It's easy to say it when there's no proof on this blog. I told people what I

Ode To The Celebrity Politician

2006-02-19T01:29:00.000+11:00

Celebrity politicians have always been a strange breed. The fact that their eccentric (or otherwise) behavior may reflect poorly on perception by the electorate, is the matter of most c concern.Arnie "I'll be back" Schwarzenegger is a case in point.His campaign minders spent most of the time managing the barrage of damaging accusations of anti-feminism, part-taking in orgies and various other

Flag Burning Kits

2006-02-18T22:23:00.000+11:00

Via Tim Blair and Week by WeekTwo days, two stories of the nutty left in Australia. Resistance propose to aspiring socialist the emergency flag burning kit. Comprised of an Australian Flag, lighter, fire lighting Cube and the kind of pamphlets you see clogging campus bins in the lead up to any National Day of Action. In case of emergency, or a spontaneous protest against anything, crack out the

KP's Funeral, and the arrests outside

2006-02-18T09:34:00.000+11:00

Why take a cheap shot at a man who's already been dead and buried. To make a point no doubt, and the rabid left have a nasty habit of these stunts. Members of the Kerry Packer Dis-Memorial Collective, interfered with the arrival of guests. The usual bunch of suspects including the Socialist Alternative (SA) and The Refugee Action Collective made up the numbers.The NSW convenor of SA told

Four Pillars

2006-02-18T05:54:00.000+11:00

From the Smage:HAS the "four pillars" policy outlived its usefulness?According to a former Australian bank executive now working overseas, the bank protection policy is no longer appropriate and has resulted in shoddy customer service and high fees and charges.I did some research on the four pillars in Finance: I reproduce my work here for your enjoyment.AbstractThe policy disallowing mergers

XX Winter Olympic Games-Torino

2006-02-18T02:40:00.000+11:00

Of late I've been accumulating a fair bit of couch time and enjoying some of what I've seen when it comes to the Olympics in Turin. As an Australian, the greatest highlight was Steven Bradbury's gold medal at Salt Lake City in 2002. It embodied the qualities of the underdog.Against Apolo "Oh No!" was involved in a fall, and took the rest of the pack with him. I didn't rate Alisa Camplin's Gold in

Springtime for Hitler, and Tel Aviv

2006-02-17T12:12:00.000+11:00

Great article in the Times today, explaining that the Mel Brooks movie/play/movie is playing to packed houses in Tel-Aviv. For those not familiar, the title should assist, but it involves two men who try to make money from a flop theatre production. They being both Jewish, what better way of driving the punters away then putting an over the top production with Adolph as protagonist.Lines such as:

Leunig and Bali Nine

2006-02-15T10:03:00.000+11:00

So, The Age’s resident cartoonist, one Michael Leunig, has been framed. He never submitted the cartoons to the competition. For once, I totally agree with what he is saying. He never did personally, but the cartoons were of such a scandalous nature the Iranians took it on board. The first entrant in an international competition to compete with the publication of the Danish Cartoons. Unfortunately

Dunfermline & West Fife By-election

2006-02-14T06:24:00.000+11:00

A by-election to return a member to serve for the electorate of Dunfermline & West Fife was held last Thursday, in order to fill a vacancy brought about by the death of the sitting member Rachel Squire (Lab). She held the seat safely gaining a 11,500 vote majority. A week is a long time in politics, and each of the major parties primarily had their own issues of leadership to deal with. For

Freedom of Speech?

2006-02-13T17:49:00.000+11:00

I read this morning that an Iranian newspaper is organising a competition for controversial cartoons. I was thinking that they’re undoubtedly going to be anti-Danish. I was wrong; the Hamshahri is looking for the best dozen pictures depicting the Holocaust, no doubt in retaliation for the Danish 12. This eye for an eye business really worries me. I don’t think that anyone will even consider

Begin 06

2006-02-13T15:52:00.000+11:00

It's now very late at night, early in the morning in Edinburgh.I'm sitting in the front room, and I've had a chance to mull over exactly what has happened to me since the last time I was a fully fledged blogger. Exactly isn't an accurate way of describing it.A lot has happened, and the latter months of 2003 and the early months of 2004 were hell. I found the true nature of people, including yours

2006-02-13T15:27:00.000+11:00

Retest

2005-01-02T05:23:00.000+11:00

All is quiet on New Year's DayA world in white gets underway.I want to be with you, be with you night and day.Nothing changes on New Year's Day.On New Year's Day.I... will be with you again.I... will be with you againUnder a blood-red skyA crowd has gathered in black and whiteArms entwined, the chosen fewThe newspaper says, saysSay it's true, it's true...And we can break throughThough torn in

2004-11-29T12:11:00.000+11:00

Start spreading the news, I’m leaving todayI want to be a part of it - New York, New YorkThese vagabond shoes, are longing to strayRight through the very heart of it - New York, New YorkI wanna wake up in a city, that doesn’t sleepAnd find I’m king of the hill - top of the heapThese little town blues, are melting awayI’ll make a brand new start of it - in old New YorkIf I can make it there, I’ll