I hesitate to say this but the Prime Minister is living in sin. I don't give a damn. Nor do most Australians. But that sort of thing bothers religious leaders. So much that Labor's Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill will renew their authority to bar anyone in Julia Gillard's shoes from any job in any of their schools, hospitals and charities, even those they run with public money.

Australia at the UN: an obstacle to World Peace …

Tony Abbott probably knows where his first dollar came from. His preoccupation with how much money is coming through the door is legend in Canberra amongst his colleagues.

from Crikey ….

Rundle: taking offence at Roxon's human rights laws

We are all mad...

The resulting personal freedom index and overall freedom index looks about right in that most countries fall into the spectrum of freedom that would be generally expected. The top three jurisdictions in the freedom index are New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong, in that order.

from Crikey ….

on the fringes with Monckton and the anti-Islam creationist pastor ….

In the face of widespread evidence of illegal foreclosure practices, federal regulators in 2011 told the big banks to investigate themselves.

In the last week, the American public has been reminded of the Central Intelligence Agency’s contradictory attitude toward secrecy.

Download this sticker and print it on adhesive paper... I recommend A4 sheets of white PPS paper.

Enlarge to about 28 centimetres wide and print 3 up. Cut up. Place it on as many (legal) places as you can...

You'll be doing the planet (and yourself) a service.

Hugo stripped the politics out of the 1832 uprising to tell a religious story. Then the musical adaptation stripped most of the religion away.

There's not much left, except a vague exhortation to violently, pointlessly die on behalf of the poor. The students are engaged in a vanity revolution. This is insurrection as a lifestyle choice.