Israel would like top ban ‘Catastrophe Day’

Depending on which side of the fence you live in downtown Jerusalem, May 15th is either Independence Day, or Catastrophe Day.

To me, this says it all. One groups day of celebration is another’s day of mourning.

To the Israelites, it is clear cut. No one should be drawing doubt to the legitimacy of Israel by mourning on its day of independence. This train of thought has lead to a movement to ban any recognition of ‘Catastrophe Day’ in Israel. (I would imagine by what is left of the Arab community – why you would want to live in a country that hates you is beyond me)

But what would Israel do if modern-day Germany banned recognition of ‘Holocaust Remembrance Day’ (fell on April 21 this year). Now Israel has not been accused of systematically murdering Palestinians, but the point is there are always two sides to the story.

One voice should not be muzzled just because a particular group don’t like it. Remember – the intent of the Holocaust was to muzzle Jewish influence on German society. You are only showing ignorance to your own history by peddling this nonsense.

Renewables will not solve the problem if they are not viable

Renewable energy needs to be able to compete with traditional energy to solve climate change properly. No subsidies, no figure fudging.

Our children will not be well served by inventing, and subsequently rely on an industry that requires subsidies to survive.

Don’t forget – economics might be about this foreign concept called money, but money is just an IOU for someone’s time or possessions. If renewable energy can’t get on it’s feet, then our productivity, and hence our quality of life will suffer.

Is our quality of life what we are trying to improve by fixing climate change?

Renewable energy needs to commercialise itself. Not in ‘green movement’, or a ‘university ‘ style of commercialisation, but a real, blue chip business level of implementation.

Get on it guys, because if climate change is as pressing as you say it is, you have heaps of work in not much time.

Don’t be hypocritical about North Korea and nukes

North Korea may be a ‘rogue’ state. We may not understand their insular culture and views of the outside world.. And they appear to be outwardly hostile towards, well, pretty much the entire capitalist world.

But what exactly is the rationale for denying North Korea nukes?

Because we don’t like them? What about Russia?

Because their country is full of terrorists that might use them against America? What about Pakistan?

Because press conferences run by their ‘Dear Leader’ is probably a pale imitation of ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’? Okay, The North is alone here. But if a lunatic leader means no nukes, then America should’ve given them up between 2001-2008.

Because they don’t believe in democracy, or capitalism. Like China.

Does the US believe they might be hostile towards it’s neighbours? Like Israel.

Are you going to wrest the nukes from these states? Or even hand control over to the UN?

Not likely.

Live by the sword, die by the sword. Have the cojones to either tell it like it is, or shut up.

Prime Minister Rudd’s missing billions

Since Wayne swan delivered the Australian federal budget last Tuesday, there has been one word glaringly missing from the Rudd’s vocabulary: billion.

How much did Rudd say the 2009-2010 deficit was: 58.

58 what Mr. Rudd? Thousand? Million? Trillion?

What about Australia’s projected debt level? 300.

Is that dollars?

When you hide something, most people assume the worst. 58 billion isn’t that bad, considering the circumstances. But when you say 58, my mind wanders towards billion.

How’s your approval rating now Kevin? 58%, or is it 0.58%? Quit the spin – we not that stupid (well, mostly).

NEWSLINE: Obama appoints new Supreme Court Justice

This morning, President Obama has appointed Lawrence Fudglestien to the Supreme Court bench replacing Hon. Ottatuch, who has elected to retire from the bench.

‘Lawrence is a man of fine character, a pillar of the DC community.’ President Obama was quoted, ‘His appointment to the Bench took into consideration such attributes as his integrity, fair thinking, fair dealings and his overwhelming support for a practical method of analysis of the lay, day to day applications of serious issues brought to the Supreme Court.’

Fudglestien was unavailable for comment this morning, but sources close to the new Supreme Court Justice say that he was taken by surprise by the nomination.

While largely unknown outside of Washington DC, Fudglestien has close ties with both sides of politics Some have voiced opposition, including Senator Ewan Evrymuffa (R. Nevada), ‘Sure he’s a nice guy, has some interesting things to say, but he runs a hot-dog stand just outside of Capitol Hill. Is he really qualified?’

Not all disagree with the appointnent. Igor Rant, lining up for a hot-dog at Lawrence’s old stand couldn’t be more supportive, ‘Obama wants practical, day to day type judgements. What better way to be practical than having never been inside a courtroom before?’ Not to be left out, Joseph King jokingly interjected ‘except for that indecent exposure charge – putting his old fella in a hot dog bun, hilarious. But seriously, we’re all glad he’s not here anymore, he makes a really cr.p hot-dog anyway.’

Will President Obama’s risk in a hot-dog vendor cum Supreme Court Justice pay off? Can practical, day-to-day judgements have an effect on America?

Only time, and mustard will tell.

‘Indian’ Premier League

Noun: A cricket tournament played in South Africa, with players from Australia, Pakistan, England, India and Sri Lanka.

The only reason it is the ‘Indian’ Premier League is to remind you where the money goes.

Sport has been nothing but an advertising (and hence money) generator for years, but the IPL has sey new lows.

The fight against freedom

Leilani Neumann,  has been convicted of homicide in Wisconsin for letting her daughter die from diabetes. With her daughter unable to walk or talk for days, she chose to pray rather than seek medical treatment. The community is outraged. The world is shocked.

Then again, I thought America was the ‘land of the free’?

Freedom is the right to choose ones own destiny. Good, bad or ugly, we write our own stories of our lives. We choose our politicians (well, supposedly). We choose if we study, what we study. We choose whether we are an employee, or an employer. It is our freedom to choose that defines democracy, not just in the United States, but all free states all over the world.

Freedom is a double edged sword. I can eat a salad, or I can eat smoke a cigarette. This is a concept that many communities have long struggled with. The masses seem to believe that our democratic systems should force everyone to conform with the majority vote. Admittedly, our political system does work like this. Majority rules, and everyone else has to suck it. That is the price of governance, only one party can govern.

There is no reason that all parts of our society must work like this. Teetotallers, do-gooders and moralisers have been inescapable in Australia over the past year or two. Whether it is regulating against smoking, the food we eat, drugs, gardens, religion, alcohol or even what type of cars people should drive, there are voices out there calling for everyone to do what they say, or else, in the name of community opinion.

It is the freedom to choose which drives innovation. It drives justice. It drives productivity. People look over the fence at other peoples choices, and they decide for themselves if they are better off. Those that ignore it succumb to natural selection.

Back to Leilani, I’m not going to defend any lunatic that murders their own children due to their medieval beliefs. Although, it warms this penguin’s heart that even in this era of everyday medical miracles that Charles Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species’ still manages to hold true. If you would rather pray than seek medical treatment, then natural selection will eventually take its course. It doesn’t matter how good doctors have become.

You can’t save people from themselves.

The four ‘Whys’ of Torture…

Why torture terror suspects?

Because America is a target of terrorism.

Why does America suffer from terrorism?

The reason America suffers from terrorism is that the world hates America.

Why does the world hate America?

We all hate you because you torture your suspects. Also, you act like you rule the world.

Why does America torture its suspects?

Go back to the top and start again….

Cheney, pull your D*ck out of you George Bush. There’s a good reason the Republicans were romped last year. The self-fulfulling threat of terrorism is leading the world astray.

Earth to California

As an Antarctican living in Australia, I’m not going to pretend to know anything about American politics, or even its moribund economy. But I don’t believe you need to understand either of these topics to see the ‘The Governator’ is in a T1000 sized pickle with the California state finances.

The crux of the issue is this:
- The government has consistently spent more than in collects in revenue;
- Voters demand a high level of public services.
- The same voters are unwilling to make up this shortfall by either an increase in taxation or a decrease in services.

Given that the debt collectors will soon be knocking on the Governor’s Mansion, why are the Californian people unwilling to help solve it?

It’s simple. From the point of view of the voters, they are getting a decrease in services, and paying more for it.

It is human nature to be incremental by nature. By incremental, I mean we are focused on changes, rather than the current state of things. We don’t think about how much we have in the bank, just what we are getting paid each month. The overall price of a TV is less important than how much you saved because it was on sale. How much bigger is your house than your neighbour’s?

Wake up California: You need more taxation and less services because you have lived beyond your means for too long.

PS: When I say we, I mean you. Penguins don t suffer from this myopia.

Chuck Norris Fact of the Week

Once Chuck pops, he can stop.