Ever see the film Nine Queens? It was very enjoyable Argentine movie about a couple of conmen. I’m not sure where my copy is at the moment, but anyway… (SPOILER FOLLOWS)
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Category: News and events
News and current affairs
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Innocence
Had to laugh at this AP report: Palin pre-empts state report, clears self in probe ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Trying to head off a potentially embarrassing state ethics report on GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, campaign officials released their own report Thursday that clears her of any wrongdoing. … That’s pure genius. Why did ... [More]
I don’t claim to understand a great deal about the share market, and the current turmoil it’s enduring. I’ve heard the practice of short selling explained twice on the TV or radio in the last few days, and while I think I get how it works, I can’t understand why the owners of the shares ... [More]
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Humming along
I thought the police were having issues with high petrol bills. Apparently not, as they’re going to patrol nightspots in Hummers. Maybe instead they should have gone for Police Priuses. They’d be distinctive. Did you know that a Prius actually has more legroom than a Hummer H3? Seriously, inspired by a comment from Tony H, ... [More]
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Large Hadron Collider
Have you seen the pictures of the Large Hadron Collider to be switched on today? Wow. It just looks so sci-fi, doesn’t it. I don’t think it’ll destroy the world, but it almost looks capable of it. (It wasn’t invented by Osterhagen, was it? Oh, whoops — spoilers!) PS. The kids are looking on the ... [More]
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The holy texts
When you see the Pope (or any world leader) speaking, at least you know the words are coming out of his own mouth, even if he may not have written it all himself. I do wonder though how much of a role the Pope had in sending the papal SMSs last week. Tue 15 July ... [More]
Here’s how I’d work carbon trading if I were appointed Grand Emperor of the World, based on my ten minute assessment of the situation. I’d set an emissions cap on the world, starting in say 2010, based on the total emissions output of the world as of 2009. Each country gets a share of this, ... [More]
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Too cutesy by half
If you were wondering (because I was), about the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae names that are way too cutesy to be companies managing $6 trillion in funds… turns out they are actually the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Federal National Mortgage Association respectively. There’s also: Farmer Mac (the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation) ... [More]
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Headlines
I genuinely hope Graham Polak makes a full recovery, but I can’t help noting that you can’t get much more Melbourne than this newspaper headline: Tigers in shock after AFL star hit by tram As for this one, it sounds like something from that Stan/Loretta scene from The Life Of Brian, about The Right To ... [More]
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Faine unplugged
Jon Faine, when he’s in the studio, is like an orchestra conductor. You don’t obviously see it when listening to the radio, but he waves his arms around to silently signal to his producer to keep the caller on-air, or mute them. It must be an effort to keep talking informatively, encourage the callers’ thoughts ... [More]
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Artwork controversy
I’m not really familiar with the work of Bill Henson. I’m more familiar with Jim Henson. But I do know this: Nudity is not necessarily sexuality. Context is critical. Which is why Mal Day’s comments on Lateline were so stupid: If I was to take those – take similar photos and display ’em in any ... [More]
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The lockout
Having never been a clubbing-type disco person, I don’t pretend to know enough about the CBD club 2am lockout to know if it’ll work in reducing alcohol abuse and street violence. But I do know that protesters seem to be making out that it means every night at 2am, people will be kicked out onto ... [More]