I have posted the above picture of Evangaline Lilly (Lost) just because I wanted to. I think she is gorgeous looking woman with vixen qualities.

Why try to fix something that isn’t broken…

Usually politicians tread very carefully so they don’t offend voters. Here in Australia you’ve got to love our politicians for calling it the way they see it. Believe me when I say it is about bloody time Australian politicians fell in line with my way of thinking.

In my blog the other day I wrote about a situation in the UK and stated that if newly arrived immigrants (from any country) didn’t like their new way of life, they should go back where they came from. Why try to change something that doesn’t need changing, or fix something that isn’t broken!

The Federal Treasurer of Australia (and hopeful of one day becoming Australia’s Prime Minister), Peter Costello, in a hard-hitting speech last evening to the Sydney Institute, lashed out at "mushy misguided multiculturalism," warning that Australian values are "not optional", that migrants who do not share them should be stripped of their citizenship and put on a plane out of the country.

In his strongest comments on this issue yet, Coshy went on to say migrants should be forced to honour their pledge of allegiance to Australia and anyone refusing to acknowledge the “rule of law, stabs at the heart of the Australian compact.”

"Those who are outside this compact threaten the rights and liberties of others. They should be refused citizenship if they apply for it. Where they have it they should be stripped of it if they are dual citizens and have some other country that recognises them as citizens."

Singling out the Muslim community, Coshy said the citizenship pledge should be "a big flashing warning sign" to those wanting to live under sharia law.

Throwing a little more kindling on the fire Coshy went on to say, "Before entering a mosque visitors are asked to take off their shoes. This is a sign of respect. If you have a strong objection to walking in your socks (then) don't enter the mosque." He went on to say, "Before becoming an Australian you will be asked to subscribe to certain values. If you have strong objection to those values don't come to Australia."

Pete added his personal feelings that people will not respect citizenship that explains itself on the basis of "mushy multiculturalism".

Pete is only following his fearless leader, Prime Minister “Wheatbag” Johnny’s claim earlier in the week that a fragment of the Islamic community is "utterly antagonistic to our kind of society". Last week Liberal backbencher Danna Vale said that Australia could become a Muslim nation within 50 years because "we are aborting ourselves almost out of existence. We are more likely to engender respect by emphasising the expectation and the obligations that the great privilege of citizenship brings."

After attending an Australia Day Citizenship ceremony at Stonnington Town Hall, in his electorate of Higgins, Coshy said after listening to a fellow MP who stated, “becoming an Australian did not mean giving up one's culture or language or religion, and it certainly did not mean giving up the love of their country of birth. Coshy also noted, "The longer he went on about how important it was not to give up anything to become an Australian, the more it seemed to me that, in his view, becoming an Australian didn't seem to mean very much at all, other than getting a new passport." I still cannot believe I now have the two most important politicians in Australia supporting my point of view.

My interpretation of this speech is, if you don’t like where you are then f…off.


Up for crucifixion…

Silly Silvio seems to have forgotten the last man who called himself the Messiah was hung from a cross.

At a dinner party for his supporters, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Belusconi has stated, quite unequivocally and unreservedly, "I am the Jesus Christ of politics! I am a patient victim. I put up with everyone. I sacrifice myself for everyone!"

It is comments like these that would prompt immediate reaction and open scorn of his political opponents, even raise eyebrows of his coalition partners. On Friday, Silly Silvio compared himself to Napoleon, saying only the French emperor had done more for his country. Next week’s comparison is Ghandi, followed by Kermit the Frog.

Romano Prodi, Silly Silvio’s main contender at the next election, had better get a move on and get someone he can compare himself to if he hopes to defeat Berlusconi in the April 9-10 general elections.


Of course you realise, size really does matter...

Although mobile phones are getting smaller and smaller and more technologically advanced with lots more added gizmos, I want you to imagine sitting for three hours watching King Kong on a very small screen with 5th rate sound.

Why telecommunication providers think everyone wants movies, film clips, television broadcasts, delivered to our miniscule (in comparison) hand held sets, when you can have surround sound blasting out of your home entertainment system, watching a big-screen television, sitting back, relaxing, enjoying your favourite brew, is beyond my reasoning.

Even though our portable phones are equipped with cameras, photographic results are usually sub-standard and when enlarged look washed out and grainy. (Great if you are taking a picture of an ugly person.)

To many users a mobile phone is just that, a mobile technologically advanced way of communicating, either through speech or text. Manufacturers have included other available electronically transfer function’s on most phones, but here in Australia, using these added functions can be very expensive.

In the Land of Oz, the mobile public is quickly taking over fixed line subscriptions to home and business. Of course ADSL is also making its mark on fixed line rentals as there is no need to have more than one line for computers and telephones.

With over 50% of Americans using mobile phones as their main form of communication Australia is lagging behind at a little over 24% but looking to gain on the U.S. figures in the next ten years.

Australian telecommunication providers need to stop being so greed and make using mobile phones more afforable.

Thinking back twenty years, how did we exist without owning a mobile phone?


And the Morales to this story is...

Michael Morales, convicted rapist-murderer, was a little more than pleased when his scheduled execution at San Quentin Prison was postponed at the last hour. He was sitting in his cell with his attorney David Senior when news of the postponement came through, capping a dramatic legal battle against the use of the drugs used in executions.

Prison officials couldn’t fine a doctor or anaesthesiologist that would take a hand in killing a perfectly healthy human being. The doctors felt the procedures that were determined by the court, was forcing them into the role of executioner, in direct violation of their medical ethics.
This dramatic event means Morales execution will, more than likely, be put off until early May while a federal court in San Jose conducts a formal evidentiary hearing on the constitutionality of the state's execution procedures. Although the U.S. Supreme Court has never found any method of execution unconstitutional, a few experts have stated the controversy will probably prompt a re-examination of how executions are conducted not only in California but also across America.

A spokesman for the Warden of San Quentin Penitentiary said he was not certain of how being involved in an execution presents itself to an individual who would potentially be putting their license in jeopardy.

I think the Warden should possibly look for another, smarter, spokesperson.


More port George W?

George W certainly wants nothing to do with Arabs running major ports in his country. His is even willing to go against his own party’s vote and veto anything that comes across his executive desk that would allow a state-owned (United Arab Emirates) Arab company from operating and managing ports in New York; Newark, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Miami, Florida; and New Orleans, Louisiana; the six largest seaport in the United States.

George W caused a furore by being blunt, stating there would be severe national security concerns if Arabs were allowed to run port facilities, no matter what (Arab) country it was from. (The business in question is Dubai Ports World, a business owned by the United Arab Emirates.)

The president was noncommittal when asked if he would agree to let administration officials brief Congress on the proposed agreement, also saying the Arab company's record was "clear for everybody to see."

In his Texan drawl George W told reporters, “Lawmakers ought to listen to what I have to say about this, they ought to look at the facts and understand the consequences of what they're going to do. But if they pass a law, I'll deal with it, with a veto."

Now here is a leader with an open mind!


Naughty bits for all too see…

US District Court Judge Howard Matz judge said that based on evidence submitted at a preliminary injunction hearing, Google could not be held responsible when viewers click on the images and are directed to third-party sites that contain full-size nude images, allegedly stolen from website Perfect 10's, but the image search service run by Google does infringe on the copyrights of the adult entertainment company by displaying small versions of its images in search results.

On 17 February Judge Matz ordered both sides in the case to draft a narrow preliminary injunction that would respect Perfect 10's copyrights but not curtail Google's broader right to catalogue and display images found on the internet.

A trial in the case has not been scheduled. Google said it would appeal any injunction ordered by the court.


Don’t put in on the net if you don’t want it to be seen…

You would think if anyone should know better, Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, would.

According to the Microsoft, Windows much anticipated new operating system Microsoft Vista, information was prematurely posted on one of their websites. Information disclosed a plan to release eight different editions of the new operating system on a company help page that was under development. Microsoft has since taken down the website and declined to confirm or deny the information, saying it will offer more details about the MicrosoftVista launch, targeted for sometime in the second half of 2006.

A five-year intermission between the upcoming Microsoft Vista launch and the current Windows XP marks the longest-ever break between upgrades for Microsoft's flagship product and the company's largest cash cow.

According to the brief website posting Microsoft plans to offer six primary editions of Microsoft Vista and an additional two variations for Europe that do not include Microsoft Windows Media Player. This helps Microsoft to comply with the European Union's past anti-trust rulings.

Included in those listed offerings was Microsoft Windows Starter 2007, a stripped-down version for emerging markets to offer an alternative for pirated software. There was also a basic and premium edition for the home as well as versions for both businesses and large corporations, according to the reports.

The website also listed a high-end product named Windows Vista Ultimate that targets gamers and heavy multimedia users, reports said.

Microsoft itself has not made any official statements about the different versions of Windows Vista it plans to offer.


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