SPIEGEL: What was the effect of US President Barack Obama not having done anything after poison gas was deployed in Syria; after the red line had clearly been crossed twice? Is America's unwillingness, or inability, to intervene a dangerous portent?

New figures show the number of road deaths in Australia has dropped by almost a quarter during the past decade.

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The Abbott government has ruled out using the term "occupied" when describing Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem, prompting suggestions about a shift in Australia's foreign policy.

Penny for your thoughts, Tony Blair…?
It’s ok, I’m only joking – I don’t care
For any of them – and I know you
Charge a fortune -
You can keep ‘em to yourself mein
Whorey Herr.

Whilst recently watching our ‘dear leader’, Prime Minister Tony Abbott, flicking his tongue in & out like one of those scary marine iguanas that inhabit the Galapagos Islands, it suddenly occurred to me that his many strange behaviours might be redolent of something far more serious – like brain damage.

from the New Yorker …..

Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi has criticised Cabinet minister Malcolm Turnbull's response to conservative columnist Andrew Bolt as "unwise", "inappropriate" and "too strident".