new direction.

repository.

beazley.

on IR, terror laws, civil rights, government accountability ...

hijabs in australian schools.

Young anti immigrant redneck cultural terrorist Liberal bright spark, "Stick it to 'em" Sophie Panopoulos doesn't miss a chance to throw the boot in. She has put forward the highly original idea of a ban on the wearing of headscarves to school by Muslim girls. She obviously has her eyes on the immigration portfolio some time in the future.

The argument to justify this stance is wonderful -- hijabs should be banned because wearing them is "more an act of rebellion than anything" according to Sophie, who has obviously spoken to many Islamic schoolgirls on this topic. I am sure that is what it is all about -- young girls like to be subjected to unwanted scrutiny, just so they can feel bad.

However, I think that Sophie has met her match. Brendon Nelson says that he defends the right to wear 'religious dress' school. That is fine, even though I would have thought that this is a matter for the states and has nothing to do with good old Brendon (but maybe his state sponsored education did not cover the concept of federalism -- he seems to be trying to stick his fingers in everywhere these days). But nevertheless, I am happy admit that Brendon and I do agree on this.

Sophie must be seen to be un-Ostrayan, if she is to disagree with that embodiment of Australian nationalism spirit, Nelson (and his donkey). Brendon might just have to call for her deportation (or just some deportment?). I would be happy if she was to just fuck off. (And maybe read the bit in the Constitution about how the Commonwealth shall not prohibit the free exercise of any religion)

hallelujah.

Three out of five Tests have been played, with the Ashes tied one all.

As Leonard Cohen said*;

“It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift ”

I will se what happens in the Fourth test, tonight at Headingly.


*Thanks, ANPD.

all you need to know about modelling.

In a meeting this morning, a very successful Economics Professor* said to me;

“I've tried [econometric time series analysis] a few times but I've never been able to estimate anything useful.”

He is a very bright fellow, and is straight up about things. He has also declared that the parameter values that he is using in a particular model literally “are no more than guesses”.

* He does have a name, but I have a job.

this is what the labor party does, remember?

We have two Senators — one from the governing Coalition — willing to block the impending assault on the rights of the worker.

We also have a High Court challenge by the unions to the government’s propaganda campaign.

And what is ‘Bomber’ Beazley, our fabulous ‘Leader’ of the Opposition, going on about?

Terrorism. And security. And how Howard has left the country in an unprepared state.

Get a grip. (Somehow) You are the Leader of the Labor Party.

And people wonder why the ALP is stuck in opposition, and haemorrhaging members…