The Journal
Current Affairs
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Dalai Lama Ban Delays Conference
If it is true that maintaining good trading relationships with China is more important to South Aftica than an open commitment to human rights, and that this was the reason the Dalai Lama’s visa was refused, then…
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TB, HIV, the Recession and the Pope
There are clear, long-recognised links betwen HIV infection and infection with other opportunistic infections such as TB. It is these secondary infections which normally kill HIV/AIDS patients. It is interesting, however, that monitoring of TB deaths…
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The Governor of the Bank of England Agrees With Me
You cannot spend your way out of debt. If debt is the problem, to the extent that neither lenders nor borrowers are confident, then manipulating the economy to increase debt, hoping thereby to encourage spending and so…
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Half a Ton of TNT and 500 Sheep
Egyptian police have seized half a ton of TNT and 500 sheep being smuggled into Gaza. One of my WoW characters is an engineer. I can make exploding sheep. They are fun, but not very useful,…
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Abbas: No Mideast Peace Without Jerusalem as Palestinian Capital
And that demonstrates clearly just what the problem is. The Palestinians make demands. ‘Just give us this and there will be peace.’ And everyone says that would be lovely, if only the Jews would agree. And Israel…
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Poor Things
Countess Marie Douglas-David wants her pre-nuptial agreement torn up and her divorce payout doubled to $100 million plus $130,000 a month. Her expenses are more than she thought. Meanwhile, his expenses are higher than hers, but include…
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Darkness in Austrian Culture
Stephanie Marsh suggests there is a darker side to Austrian culture. The Fritzl case is proof. Well of course there is. There is a darker side to every culture. Australian generosity and mateship can descend into…
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How Could They Not Tell?
A Samoan woman coming to New Zealand on a seasonal work visa had a baby on the plane over. She left the baby in a rubbish bin before coming through immigration. Questions are being asked (understandably)…
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Ads Not So Bad
When I first read about the Baz Luhrmann tourism ads for Australia, I shared Andrew Bolt’s concern that they were both unattractive – ie, not likely to attract visitors to Australia, and that they sent the wrong message…
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Good Luck Young Golfer
Eighteen year old New Zealand golfer Danny Lee could become the first amateur winner of an Australian PGA event for ten years. I’m not much of a sports fan really, but I’ll be keeping an eye on…
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I’m Happy for You 2
That is, I’m happy for Harry Nicolaides that he is out of prison in Thailand and back in Australia with his family. But I can’t see what he has to be angry about. He certainly knew the…
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I’m Happy for You
That is, I’m happy someone found peace through the ministry of ‘maverick cleric’ Peter Kennedy. It’s nice to feel empowered. Whatever that means. But if you are a Catholic Christian who is serious about your faith,…
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Mourning for Bushfire Victims
An earlier headline said that services around the nation were expected to bring comfort to those who had lost homes or loved ones in fires in Victoria two weeks ago. Expected by whom the headline did…
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Another Rau Row
Cornelia Rau was briefly detained in a detention centre for illegal immigrants by Australian offcials four years ago. She did not appear to speak English, said she did not have Australian citizenship, had no identification, and…
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Tragic for the Parish
But if you can’t or won’t teach the Catholic Faith, you have no business being a Catholic priest. If you want a do-it-yourself faith, and a do-it-yourself Jesus, why not be an Anglican?