More Posts Down and Other News

Hello Argentina, Switzerland, Romania and Curacao...and yes Curacao I had to look you up on my World map...I had a 'ball park' idea of where you are, but I had you as part of the West Indies, not in your actual correct position just off the North coast of Venezuela...apologies...

I'd also apologise for whatever it is that I have apparently done wrong re the latest posts that have been 'removed' from my blog...(but they've been removed without you being notified?-Ed)...nice guess...and a quick check of the blog index shows that the other posts already removed have still not been 'processed'...my bad for not checking that for at least a week...could have been taken down any time in the last 7-10 days...

The two latest removed are from Friday 5th July 2013 re NF McDonnell and from Wednesday 5th June 2013 re the ABC's Stuart Stansfield. I will review those posts and then re-post as I have done with the other 7 posts removed.

But I digress, and further apols for pushing the DeBelle post to the day after tomorrow, but there has been a swathe of local issues that must be attended.

Riddoch Art Gallery: Were on the ABC Radio this morning (a Ms Stevenson?-name-sorry) claiming that a financial crisis was threatening their operational viability...(que?-Ed)...they want more money...(oh...don't they already get about $60,000 per annum from Council?-Ed)...I believe that's correct, and they also get funding from Country Arts SA...(oh....and did they pay for anything in the massive rate payer funded renovation that they had done as part of the 'Main Corner Project'?-Ed)...don't know, but I don't believe so...

And the excuse is...the electricity costs of the new facility...(you're not serious?-Ed)...well that was the only specific cost that was repeatedly mentioned, along with freight costs for transporting exhibitions...and Ms Stevenson(?) lost me with her explanation of a $9,000 surplus and how the Gallery is already spending next years funding now...I genuinely have no idea how that works...I think she was saying that there was a surplus prior to the 'new facilities', but that has become a deficit....again, I don't know.

Apparently the Gallery has been on the scrounge with various Councils and local politicians.

The interview may be available on the ABC's Website under 'Rewind' 31/07/13 (usually a day or two after airing). I'll review and post soon.

What is the Riddoch doing with all this money?...and why isn't Council applying the same 'not financially viable' litmus paper that they constantly trot out with issues like public transport and an all-year pool?...which segues nicely into...

New Pool Furnace: Council has bought and installed (to heat the pool) a 'new biomass' furnace that burns sawdust and/or other forestry 'by-products'...and want to claim that its emissions and/or carbon neutral because 'they grow more trees', etc...I disagree, but for balance I have attached below the letter from Mr Brian Page in The Border Watch Friday 12th July 2013.

I question Mr Page's statement about "high capacity electrical power grid and asset" because 'poor infrastructure' issues have been cited by Wind Turbine developers as part reason for withdrawing local Turbine projects, and SA Power Networks has also identified this as an issue.

If biomass burning is to be considered in any way 'green', that can only be done in comparison with other 'fuel burning' technologies, eg, coal or gas, and not with geo-thermal, the primary base load solution that gets virtually no funding...

This furnace will not see the pool open any longer, and will still cost a small fortune to run...given that the pool is only open during summer, why not invest in 'zero' emmision solar heating?...

As it has been put to me, Council has previously sourced it's 'biomass' material from a certain mill...(oo, oo, pick me, pick me-Ed)...yes, Ed...(NF McDonnell Mill, sir-Ed)...correct young Ed...the mill belonging to the former Mt Gambier Mayor's family...

This may be the past, but I don't know who will be the provider for the 'new' furnace...(oo, oo, pick me, pick me-Ed)...yes thank you, and I know what you're going to say...and you're also going to suggest that this 'relationship' between Council and provider motivated the choice to purchase the new 'biomass furnace' so as to perpetuate this income for said provider ...(indeed-Ed)...well suggested and I concur...

Which brings us neatly full circle back to the 'removed' posts that saw me bump the DeBelle post, and as the Universe would have it, end up back there anyway...

School Child Abuse Case: News that two people have recently been involved/charged with offences in the South East...but only one is about a teacher and a student, because the other is a headmaster accused/charged with rape external of the school...(oh, well that's ok then-Ed)...indeed...

And how does this relate to the DeBelle Inquiry?...well Education Minister Jennifer Rankine and new Chief Education Officer...(Tony-TH)...Tony...(nnnHarrison-TH)...Tony Harrison...have both been furiously deferring to and/or referencing the DeBelle Inquiry, namely, 'we've notified everyone corrrectly and written to parents, etc, as per the recommendations of the DeBelle Inquiry' (pararphrase but damn near a quote).

And in co-incidence, it is revealed that Federal Labor Minister Mark Butler was contacted by a parent re the 'Western Suburbs School' and the Education Departments handling of the case...(and let me guess, Mr Butler can't remember the email he sent to Grace Portolesi and/or Premier Weatherill-Ed)...damn you're good...was contacted four(?) months prior to the public exposure via the media...

And this brought statements from former Education Minister Portolesi that the DeBelle Inquiry completely exonerates Premier Weatherill and verifies that she was misled by her department, etc...and quite right too...after all, that's exactly what the DeBelle Inquiry was established to achieve...1)  to excuse the crooks responsible, and 2) provide the circuit breaker and anchor point that all can now defer and/or refer...and not one word of it genuine...

I will revisit the DeBelle Inquiry ASAP, but first a personal vendetta to be pursued in the greater public interest...Premier Weatherill's business partner and WorkCover 'Magistrate' Mr Stephen Lietschke...

Tomorrow: TFTIM Lawyer Stephen Lietschke

Spoiler/teaser - he was teacher Glyn Dorling's lawyer in the Teachers Registration Board/Crown Solicitor Office hearing of March 2003-November 2004 (previous posts).

Just another charming example of the institutionalised pro-paedophile corruption that defines Adelaide.

I am Nick Fletcher and I'm working myself into a quiet lather, nay, foaming fury, over just what a scumbag this person is...read it here on my blog, tomorrow...cheers...oh, and thankyou for your messages of support, albeit off blog, it is greatly appreciated...laters...

Housekeeping Bits and Pieces

Hello again world, and welcome to the blog...answer me this...am I a "keyboard coward"?...or am I one of those people accessing and utilising 'Social Media' in a responsible and relatively respectful way?...I'll explain, and then I'm more than happy to be judged by you the reader.

But first, two more things I'm wrong about...(oh surely not-Ed)...thank you...in previous posts I made the following observations;
  1)  There are only two genders, albeit with numerous 'transitional stages'...but Pakistan has proved me wrong by recently officially recognising a third gender, Hirat (?spelling-sorry) that willl be acknowledged on official documents, etc...I have tried to check this story that was on the BBC World Service some weeks ago, but my 'Websearchings' keep coming up with a town in Pakistan called 'Herat'...maybe you can find it...

It is for me quite ironic that the country that spawned the ultra conservative Taliban movement, amongst others, should be so 'enlightened' as to legally acknowledge a third gender...

Furthermore, there are various 'transitional genders' and similar groups widely accepted in other societies and cultures, eg, some Pacific Islander communities, but I believe that Pakistan is the first country to legally acknowledge a Third Gender. 

  2) I recently referred to some Aboriginal languages as being 'dead', but only yesterday afternoon there was a long interview on ABC Local Radio about this issue, which mentioned not one but four Lutheran Missionaries and used the term 'sleeping' rather than 'dead'...I was unaware of this terminology and had not heard it before...'sleeping'... 

I apologise if my error caused any offence, it was certainly not intended...which segues nicely into offence and abuse of a deliberate nature, and...

Keyboard Cowards: In an interview on Channel 7 Today Tonight, Federal Senator Nick Xenophon repeatedly used this term to describe those whom bully, threaten, vilify, abuse, and otherwise harass via social media, particularly using Facebook and Twitter, and invariably anonymously...(do you think he's talking about you?-Ed)...not specifically...but I have sent him a couple of terse emails recently...

(Anything abusive, threatening, etc?...anonymously?-Ed)...no, no...specific, pointed, and terse, but just emails to him and obviously he knows who from because my details are on them...(fair enough...and his response?-Ed)...yeah, well, he hasn't...(what?...not at all?-Ed)...yeah, not at all...(and I'm guessing those emails were about the St Martins Lutheran School Child Abuse Cover-up-Ed)...yep...(and not even a response?...at all?-Ed)...nope...(oh-Ed)...indeed, oh...

My name is Nick Fletcher and I am immediately obvious and never anonymous and I put my name to my every scathing accusation, every cynical theorisation, every sanctimonious Socialismism...(Theorisation?Socialismism?...really?...are those actually words?-Ed)...orrr yeah...acts and/or statements of Theory or Socialism.......probably..........no, no, they're not real words...(mmm-Ed)...

Mr Xenophon (actually right now on the radio news on this very issue) was specifically referring to the case of a woman receiving multiple anonymous threats, I believe about 50/hour on Twitter, from apparently untraceable sources, eg, disposable phones, etc...and the apparent unaccountability of Facebook and Twitter which are based in the USofA.

The woman (?name-sorry) was involved in the recent campaign to have women printed on the United Kingdom's note currency, and this has sparked an horrendous and possibly coordinated 'anti-female backlash' of death threats, including specific details of rape, torture, etc.

I fully concur with what it is I believe that Mr Xenophon was saying, in that, whilst 'Censorship' is a very convoluted and problematic debate, accountability is much more straight forward, and that those providing the service being misused for what is a criminal offence, namely uttering threats, must be more accountable than they currently are, and that they must improve 'reportage' and 'actioning' services to address these issues in the same time frame as the offences occur.

I completely reject the argument that this would make Car Manufacturers libel for any crime committed with a car, or other similar situation, eg, a cutlery retailer being charged for a stabbing committed with a knife they sold; a hardware store owner charged over bolt cutters used for burglary; etc...

Direct 'Telecommunications Legislation' ensures that only the targetted are netted, and the broader issue of bullying is addressed...these issues are very difficult even impossible to police/modify without the cooperation of the provider, and even then there will still be those whom seek and find ways around any restrictions.

However, short, sharp, harsh legal accountability is the best and most appropriate 'Censorship' there is... 

I have no problem with appropriate Defamation legislation and/or action...it is when it is used as a tool for silencing dissent, that's when I reject it.

Having been on the receiving end of so many 'Defamation Threats', eg, from the Crown Solicitor Office (previous posts), and also inappropriate reportage and anonymous abuse, I feel that I do have a right to pick and choose when I support 'Defamation' and when I don't...that is not hypocrisy.

Seat of Barker: Nationals Candidate Miles Hannemann received a bit of friendly advice via a letter from a Mr Neil Howard (in The Border Watch about reconsidering his (Miles') association with former MP Rory McEwen...(and I can guarantee you it's not the first time that Mr Hannemann has received that advice-Ed)...nice...

It's worth noting Mr Howards point that; "...Mr McEwen was, amongst other things, Minister for Forests in the Rann Labor Government (May 13, 2003 to March 2, 2009) when the Treasurer Kevin Foley announced the government's intention (December 9, 2008) to sell "up to" three rotations of wood products harvested from softwood plantations managed by ForestrySA." 

(Go on then-Ed)...ta'...Bastard...and 'amongst other things' includes of course the very specific role that Rory has played in helping the Lutherans cover-up the abuse at St Martins Lutheran School...I apologise, bastard just doesn't begin to cover it...

Coal Seam Gas: I fully support the ABC, TV and Radio, but the interview on ABC Local Radio yesterday about 'Fracing', Coal Seam and/or Shale Gas Exploration (in the South East of South Australia) was another long 'infommercial' on behalf of industry...I'm not just lashing out, I consider this to be an ongoing and critical problem with the dissemination of unbalanced information via the Public Braodcaster.

There's being an excessively antagonistic 'shock-jock', and there's asking scripted questions for prepared responses...and the ABC needs to find the middle ground...the interviewer's attitude and responses can very much dictate the tone of the responses...quiet acceptance infers agreement where animated questioning infers critique...but I digress...

Much more concerning though was the casually dismissive attitude of the interviewee (?name-sorry, I think it was AGL or Origin?) in openly describing 'flushing bore holes with antiseptic', and not damaging aquifers, and completely glossing over the extensive chemical use, etc...

Perhaps I am being too harsh, but I felt that the interviewer allowed most of this to go unchallenged, even when asking the relevant questions...if that makes sense...(sort of-Ed)...

The damage that 'Fracing' does to the environment by using these largely untested chemicals in multiple combinations, in a legal context where companies are mostly unaccountable and landholders powerless, all of these things are well documented, and make opposition to 'Fracing' a commmunity issue and, dare I say it, responsibility.

NO FRACING IN THE SOUTH EAST...ever...

Tomorrow: DeBelle Ends - Sans Whimper, Let Alone A Bang

The DeBelle Inquiry seems to have fallen 'out' of the news cycle, and that's just the way Jay and de' Boyz would have it...(you mean Premier Jay Weatherill and Labour I presume-Ed)...yo, homie...(what?-Ed)...just taking right down to earth with the youths...fully sick...(oh dear god-Ed)...

Also some more of the 'Recommendations' from the DeBelle Report...read just how fractious and/or non-existent current legislation is, as highlighted by the things that apparently need addressing...

I'm still Nick Fletcher and this is my blog...laters... 

By George, He Ain't No King Of Mine

Good morning world, welcome to Mt Gambier, South Australia, Australia, Southern Hemisphere, Third Rock from the Sun, in the unfashionable part of the Milky Way...and pray that there's intelligent life somewhere out in space because there's bugger-all down here on earth...(is there any other quote you want to steal from Monty Python, 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe', or anyone else?-Ed)...

Well actually, yes...'we shall fight them on the beaches'...(I suppose that's your asylum Seeker/Refugee policy-Ed)...well yes, but hey, stop spoiling my punchlines...and actually I was also referring to Gallipoli, El Alamein, Singapore, and Afghanistan....(you're gonna' have to explain that one-Ed)...with displeasure... 

As possibly mentioned in a previous post re ANZAC Day, Winston "We'll fight them on the beaches" Churchill, British Prime Minister during the Second World War, was also the 'lead' architect of the Dardenelles campaign during the First World War...and this included Gallipoli where Australian, New Zealand, and other 'Commonwealth' countries' soldiers were sent to die so as to distract the Turkish army whilst British troops landed elsewhere...and didn't that work out a treat.

And now we are encouraged as a nation to 'Commemorate' these atrocious losses sustained and caused as we invaded another country..."Dulce et Decorum Est, Pro Patria Mori"...was it Rupert Brookes?...(geez, I don't know-Ed)...check your WWI poets, but I'm fairly sure it was Rupert, "Dulce et Decorum Est"...

"It is Good and Glorious to Die for King and Country", or so the story goes.

Many hold Winston Churchill up to be a 'saviour' of the British Empire, but it must be acknowledged that his involvement in the Colonial aspirations of the British were exactly the mentality and behaviours that set the foundations for the Second World War, and any number of modern conflicts.

Parts of the Middle East and North Africa have been repeatedly ploughed through by various 'Empires', over millenia, before Germany, Italy, and Britain tore it all up in the 1940s...European Empires brawling over global interests in 'Occupied' countries, often whilst running the line that they are saving the locals from the bad guys...but who are the bad guys?...and who will save us from the saviours?...

And the same strategies and attitudes prevailed in the North African theatre, namely, Colonial troops, and that's my Grandpa, were used to distract enemy forces, so that 'British' troops could achieve proposed outcomes with minimal losses...(please explain-Ed)...sure...at El Alamein, Australian foot soldiers were used as bait to draw German tank units out of a strong defensive line and allow 'British' forces to attack elsewhere with greatly reduced resistance...(oh-Ed)...yes, oh...

Australians were sent directly from other battles, without respite, and ordered literally under the tracks of Panzer units as part of a 'Master Plan'...mind you, the Aussies had already spent plenty of time literally under Panzers at Tobruk and elsewhere, where forward spotters in narrow trenches would call in artillery, etc, on German units, and would be then literally ducking for cover as the German tanks rolled across those same trenches...brave doesn't begin to describe it...

The British have been flogging around Afghanistan for centuries without any definable success, and the current conflict that we call the War in Afghanistan is internally viewed as the latest attempt to occupy the country by a foreign power...and again Australian troops are involved...and why?...why the shrek are Australians dying and/or killing in a foreign country on the other side of the globe?...(rhetorical question?-Ed)...rhetorical question...

These same Colonial loyalties and manipulations continue to dominate the decision processes of our politicians...it's absolutely pathetic...and yes I'm looking at you former Prime Minister John Howard...our involvement in Afghanistan is about fulfilling allegiance requirements and broadening the 'moral base' of the invasion/intervention.

(The Moral base?...please explain-Ed)...sure...the more countries involved the better, because it allows statements about the 'Global' agreement that action must be taken, blah, blah, blah...

Granted, those allegiances are currently as much with the USofA as with Britain, but the conditions and motivations are the same...and these modern parameters of allegiance have seen Australians in Korea, Vietnam, etc, as we support our 'Allies'...

And again, in Vietnam for example, what we call 'The Vietnam War' is referred to as 'The American War', and followed on from 'The French War' and various other conflicts involving European occupiers...the culture of self defence (that we often describe as 'resistance') is deeply ingrained in countries like Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc, and not least of all because of what we as 'Westerners' have done.  

It is this exact structure of allegiances that, coupled with the 'Empire building mentality', dragged countries into World War One...again, check your history books...(although it is also said that the winners write history, so fact is sometimes viewed through a lens of ideology and/or to be politically expedient-Ed)...indeed...

For example, much is made of what a monster Adolf Hitler was (albeit true), but very little is said of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin because he was our ally, and we won, and so we tend not to mention the 10s of millions of people Stalin murdered, many of them his own citizens...   

And allegations that these Colonial attitudes and behaviours are repeatedly re-surfacing in conflicts in Libya, Tunisia, Iraq, Egypt, etc, are completely understandable.

But these are discussions/debates well away from the point of this post..(which is...?-Ed)...which is...that when the Japanese surged across Asia in 1940/41, they completely outflanked and outmanouvered British forces in Singapore, and the British surrendered en masse.

But they didn't just surrender Singapore, they officially 'wrote-off' Australia...(wrote-off?-Ed)...yes, wrote-off, abandoned, betrayed, call it what you will...the British conceded that Australia was a lost cause and cut us loose...and it was the Americans, requiring a base in the South Pacific, whom came to our aid.

This does not detract from the fact that Australian troops in New Guinea were the first to defeat Japanese forces in WWII.

And this 'abandonement' didn't stop the British using Australian troops repeatedly as cannon fodder to pursue/defend their Imperial agenda...

And what of the Aboriginal soldiers who were considered good enough to die for a King who didn't legally recognise them as actual human beings in the Country we stole from them...(geez, it just gets better and better-Ed)....indeed...

I am at least half British...a bit of Scot, a bit Irish, a bit English, etc...and my ancestors have repeatedly gone the hard yards in these conflicts on foreign shores...and so I have no reservations in both taking responsibility and de-crying the truth...

So don't tell me that this latest manifestation of the above attitude that is called baby prince George is my King to rule over me...no offence little fella, but you ain't no King of mine...not now, not ever...  

And even as we speak, Queen Elizabeth is leaning on the English parliament to legislate permanently the 'Continuance of the Monarchy' along lines of birth...Chuck, Eddy, and George...as opposed to the current multi-nation forum style arrangement for choosing the Monarch...I was surprised to learn that this 'voting' set-up even existed, but there you go...Lizzy'll fix it...fix it for good.

Tomorrow: That Housekeeping I Promised

Council gets a serve, along with Forestry, Fishery, and the hilarious tomfoolery of the DeBelle Inquiry...and probably just enough time left over for covering the latest slaughter in Syria, Egypt, and the Western Caucuses (Europe)...(oh, yay, yes hopefully there's enough time for that-Ed)...

I am Nick Fletcher and for all my whinging, I'd still rather be writing this here my blog here in Australia than any other country on earth...no offence world, but this is my home and I love it...

Two Things I'm Wrong About

Hello Malaysia, France, Italy, and Canada...apologies for late blog, but in a nice segue from yesterday's 'Candidate' post, I proudly present "Me blaming the Interweb for Not Making Itself Available"...and of course I need the Interweb to post...I have to be on the blog to draft or use my other computer and print and scan, etc...very messy...

I'm not about to ramble on about the distinct possibility of having my computer hacked...(no, just going to mention it as though it were a fact-Ed)...I did say 'possibility'...it's always a 'possibility'...(fair enough-Ed)...

I am referring to the comments by candidate Mr Keough about the need for reasonable 'connectivity' to the aforementioned Interweb via the NBN (National Broadband Network) so that we can all go whizzy whizzy all over the world in the blink of mouse/touch pad/screen pencil/whatevs...(get on with it-Ed)...sorry...

Mr Keough is stating the bleedin' obvious in the way that someone from outside the electorate might, that is, without a genuine understanding of what the reality is on the ground.

I have previously posted about the 5-7 year waiting time for Mt Gambier to be connected to the NBN, and the issues that I regularly have with being unable to access the Web, eg, when 'blogging' in the early morning, you can tell as the Eastern states wake up and go online because you slowly get pushed literally off the edge of the web... 

As the bandwidth gets taken up more and more, there is literally less and less available at the periphery, and so welcome to Mt Gambier...where the periphery becomes the irrelevent...(I thought this was going to be about you being wrong?-Ed)...yeah, yeah, I'm gettin' there...

As much as I metaphorically yell abuse at people via this here blog, I make no apology to those whom are offended, and if I have said previously that I try not to offend, and that I apologise, whatevs, then I retract, withdraw, and denounce said apologies in the following specific context...namely...

I genuinely believe, indeed I know, that there are plenty of people whom avail themselves of my blog and take no offence what-so-ever because they know it's not about them...the offence is taken most where the blow lands hard and rings true...

And because I metaphorically punch for the throat not the groin, and am prepared to hang myself out to dry in the process...(stop...mixing...metaphors...it's sooo annoying-Ed)...shoosh...people tend to allow me the 'unprofessionalism' of swearing, name calling, etc...and of course, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down...so much unpleasant truth demands a little comedic relief...(but why so little?-Ed)...hilarious...aaaaanyhoos...

Why I'm Wrong: There has been a couple of posts where I may have mentioned that I have certain 'Issues' with the Lutheran Church...and the Catholic Church...(and the Anglicans-Ed)...yeah, yeah, and I retract none of it...however...

A 'recent' conversation with an Aboriginal person whom identifies as a Catholic, offered me many opportunities to realise/remember that positive truths can exist alongside faults, and that you can still be very wrong even without malice.

In short, my response to this person put me in touch with my own bias and anger toward Catholicism in general, and their (the person I was talking to) own intelligence and disposition allowed me to apologise personally and learn so much in such a short time.

They were completely re-assuring in their surprise when I apologised for being so biased and upset, and that's because I was perfectly polite to them, but I didn't hear a word they said for the swearing in my head...well, not quite literally, but you know what I mean...

In short, it was put to me that there are examples of where the 'Catholic Missions' have done good work...and that's about all I can really say...it is just not my place to repeat things told in confidence...and it is not just the once that I have heard this 'recently'... 

In this and other 'recent' conversations centred around NAIDOC Week and other similar events, several people have put to me examples of the good work that has been done with Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples by various religious organisations, eg, the Catholic missions...

Because of the personal nature of the information and that it may therefore tend to identify those involved, I choose to leave it at that very vague level...similarly I use the phrase 'recently' to mean a time frame of some several months so as not to identify people.

This is not a deceit or manipulation of you the reader, but a mechanism to allow me to distance others from accountability and potential official retribution for what they have told me privately and/or in good faith.

I try to check my facts and take absolute responsibility for anything on my blog...I am Nick Fletcher, and this is Blogageddon...(Blogageddon-Ed)...Blogageddon...and if I thought someone was lying to me about stuff so as to have me come a cropper I wouldn't put it up anyway...(don't look at me-Ed)...and if and when I'm wrong I apologise genuinely...it really is that simple...

So it is that I acknowledge what I have known for some time but failed to see in my anger...again recently I heard reference to the Lutheran Mission (I think on the Eyre Peninsula) and the missionary involved who recorded the local Indigenous Aboriginal language in the late 1800s or early1900s (?sorry) meaning that it is now being re-learned after nearly 'dying' and being lost forever.

This is being celebrated as a positive in that community, so my opinion of the Lutherans is irrelevent.

I have also heard reference to another language that is being 're-spoken' with a Scottish accent because the woman reading it was Scottish...and this from an Aboriginal person, so I'm taking them at their word...

However, it remains a reality that many Aboriginal people suffered terribly because of institutions like 'Missions', and again, it's just not for me to say...these truths are undeniable.

And it remains my general personal position that it is simply not my place to tell Aboriginal people about their individual and collective experiences...what I need to do is listen and learn...and so much to learn...
   
On a tangent: I have heard and read accounts of local Aboriginal 'Cave art' being protected because there has been so much rubbish thrown down the caves or sinkholes, that people are unable to easily get in, and this has stopped vandalism and/or other degradation.

In conclusion, I do not withdraw anything I have said about my experience of the Lutherans, but there are other spheres of experience that it was wrong of me to not identify...  

Tomorrow: Some Housekeeping 

More bits and pieces from DeBelle Ends, Fishy Facts, and Turbine Tales...oh, and the offensive 'Parking Inspector' bollocks that Council is currently engaging in...(did some one say 'Reserved Parking right near your Workplace?-Ed)...no, but I was about to...

Have a wild guess at just how pissed off people are with Council for the above hypocrisy of reserved parking for Council provided cars, whilst hammering private citizens with massive multiple fines...(go on then-Ed)...pricks...(better?-Ed)...absolutely...

Apols for late blog...I am Nick Fletcher and I spent half the weekend in a swamp planting trees and talking to Eastern Grey kangaroos and Superb Blue Fairy Wrens...(bloody hippy-Ed)...thank you...and then I came home and did these posts...on this here my blog...cheers...

New Candidates for Barker

Hello Ukraine, South Korea, Romania, and Brazil...here in Australia we're having a lovely Federal election...apparently...some time...sooner or later...eventually...probably...hopefully...no, no, go' bless, go' bless...we're definitely having an election...I think...but first, some quick house keeping...

I seem to spend a lot of line time apologising for my language in previous posts...(language?...what language deary?-Ed)...um, well, you know...'pricks' as in 'penises personified'...(so not 'thorn supplied puncture wounds' then-Ed)...no, 'pricks' as in persons whom demonstrate the characteristics of said penises...also encompassed by such euphemisms as 'tools', 'bell ends', and 'knobs'...(hehehe, bell ends...as in DeBelle Ends...hehehe-Ed)...yes, that's the one.

I believe that I may have also mentioned 'scumbags', that is, of course, people being bags of scum...(yes, I figured that one out thanks-Ed)...and a couple of other descriptive nouns and/or adjectives...just a couple...

There are only so many ways to apologise for that which I clearly choose to do before said apology becomes hollow, but I do wish to acknowledge the feedback I'm getting about 'politening'...(there's that word again-Ed)...politening up my blog and being more professional...fair enough...I'm not not listening, I'm genuinely doing the best I can...sometimes you can only say things a certain way...

However, in my own defence, passion is not always beautiful, and compared to the parallel commentary running in my head, the occasional 'prick' or 'scumbags' is polite to the point of saccharine...what I really want to say is that these sad, sick, corrupt f...(ok, ok, you've made your point...quite emphatically-Ed)

Readers of this blog...(and possibly a few others-Ed)...fair enough...people in general will be aware that way back in February 2013, former Labour Prime Minister Julia Gillard unilaterally declared the Federal election for 14 September 2013...and wasn't everybody thrilled...

Just quickly, the Seat of Barker covers a huge and diverse area, running from the Barossa Valley in South Australia's Lower Mid North through the Riverland/Murray Rive area, and on through to the Victorian/New South Wales state borders, finishing up in (including) the entire South East of SA...like I said, huge...and covering vastly different population demographics and environments...

It ranges from heavily industrialised agriculture in monoculture production, eg, forestry, vineyards, orchards, cropping, dairy, etc, through to the heavy industry of mining, milling that timber, producing wine, etc, and many small industrial businesses related to machinery, transport, etc...apologies to those not mentioned, for example, fisheries are important in the 'Southern zone' of Barker but perhaps not so in the Barossa Valley.

Many of these industries/businesses rely on irrigation from the Murray River, and some on the tourism that the river attracts...tourism is of course a major 'industry' in and of itself in all areas...

Barker goes from Murray Mallee and virtual desert through to swamps and sand hills by the coast, with populations from your archetypal small country town to the suburban existence in centres like Mt Gambier, Millicent, etc...not everyone who lives in 'the Country' is chewing on a wheat stalk and herding livestock...
   
Barker is arguably one of if not the most diverse seats in Australia.

We share one main problem...the Adelaide-centric nature of politics in South Australia that cripples public services in regional SA, eg, health, public transport, water supply and quality, education and training, etc.

The Liberal Party had already dumped their sitting member Patrick Secker for former Mt Gambier City Councillor Tony Pasin, so he was already their 'candidate', and the Nationals chose then lost James De Barro and replaced him with Myles Hannemann, and the Labour party haven't officially declared anyone...well apart from Grant District Mayor Richard Sage who is apparently running calling himself 'An Independent' but is clearly a career Labour stooge...please see previous post on this subject...

In the last fortnight or so two new candidates have thrown their hats into the ring and have had brief bios in The Border Watch newspaper. Rather than just re-hash those articles, because that's pretty much all I know about them, I have attached copies below.

First was Ms Kristin Lambert representing the Family First party, and I recently heard part of an interview with Ms Lambert on ABC Radio (I was on the phone). In between the party political catch phrases there was much 'umming' and 'ahhing' from Ms Lambert which tended to undermine her credibility, but I am very aware of how confronting it can be to conduct these sort of interviews.

In that context I choose to 'cut her some slack' because she may well be a very committed candidate merely compromised by her clearly apparent limited media experience...wait 'til they stick a camera in your face and start asking questions Ms Lambert...unless you're a ragingly egomanic narcissist like Kevin Rudd. it is very confronting...good luck...  

Ms Lambert (Family First) makes many valid points in the attached article, and won't get any argument from me about the need for balanced funding across all services across SA...not just everything for Adelaide...

I struggle to support any 'Religious based party', as Family First is, but time and again they are the ones addressing regional issues in state parliament where Liberal and Labour just don't seem interested.

The other new candidate is endorsed Greens rep Mr Mark Keough. Again, I know nothing of Mr Keough and can only go by this brief article, attached.

Without knowing more about these two, it is difficult to address the issue that both reside outside of the electorate...either could spend, as I do, half their day locked onto ABC Radio and TV, The Country Hour, Landline, etc, and are very much aware of the issues in the areas they propose to represent.

Living in and/or whizzing around the electorate pretending you suddenly give a damn does not indicate a better candidate, but I would personally like to see the electorate represented from 'within'. 

In my experience, these smaller parties have run 'external' candidates at several recent elections with an apparent view to gain exposure rather than actually be competitive...whatevs...where ever their candidates come from and for whatever reason, at least they have candidates...and yes I'm looking at you Labour...

Again I apologise that I can not be more illuminating and/or scathing of these new candidates, but once you've read these articles, you'll know as much about them as I do...

And these two articles demonstrate and quantify what I have repeatedly stated about the importance of local media like the ABC and The Border Watch and why I am so harsh on them about any bias or misrepresentation...they are important and with that comes responsibility...what really pisses me off though, is when they appear to refuse to engage with issues because it's me saying it...

It's not about me, and I know that, so why can't they sort themselves out?...(sorry, you asking me?-Ed)...no, that was purely rhetorical...it is as much about what I have to say as it is about who's saying it...

Tomorrow: Several Things I'm Wrong About

(oh surely not-Ed)...yes, thank you, I'll do the sarcastic abuse 'round here...

I'd rather be giving it a 'red hot go' and getting things wrong, than just toeing the line and not rocking the boat...and I do genuinely want to get my facts right which allows me to embrace and own my mistakes...

And it means that when I do really need to really apologise, eg, to Barney McCusker re the covered pool business, I can do it genuinely and succinctly and get on with the issues.

I am Nick Fletcher and this is my very accurate blog...cheers all, and laters...

Why I Hate The Main Corner

Hello Denmark, France, NZ again, and the Phillipines...welcome to the blog, and today we are going to look through the massive 'earthquake proof' windows that you can't actually see through because of all the crap in the way...(and we're off-Ed)...

As per previous posts, I know I tend to end up trawling through the same issues of Corruption and Child Abuse, but as these things remain largely unresolved and are critical to the 'health' of society, they become self-promoting and unavoidable...and so it is with the Main Corner Project...

Amongst other things, can't see in, can't see out, despite the ludicrously expensive massive glass walls...entire walls of glass and you can't see through them because they're covered in wire and/or plants...shocking design and a total waste of money...and the ludicrously expensive 'Light Show Projectors' projecting images onto the inside (of the windows) that cannot be seen from the outside...stupid, indulgent, waste of money...(I'm sensing some displeasure-Ed)...indeed...

But first, my own personal conspiracy theory based purely on observation of the TV footage...have you ever seen anyone look less 'pregnant/post-birth' than Kate Middleton?...not an ounce of fat on her, not a blemish, not one pimple, no bags under the eyes, none of the usual physical indicators of being more than a week overdue followed by a 12 hour labour.

And my Conspiracy Theory...ahem...that Kate was never pregnant for whatever reason, and a surrogate was used for the pregnancy...ahem...my theory...(oh,yeah, and it's a beauty...folks, just don't make eye contact and back away quietly...no sudden movements...we don't want to startle him...-Ed)...thank you, it is just a 'theory...or is it?...

Nah, it is just a theory, but I wanted one all my own to go with the 'Who's the real father of Clown Prince Harry?'...(don't you mean 'Crown Prince'?-Ed)...I know what I mean...and the related theory about the death of Princess Dianna that she was killed deliberately...(well, that means murdered or executed or assassinated-Ed)...indeed, deliberately killed by the orders of the 'Royal family' and/or associated vested interests because she was allegedly about to marry Dodi Al Fahed (spelling?-sorry) and/or was pregnant with his child, etc.

Compared to these 'theories' mine looks tame and even plausible...(I take your point-Ed)...I haven't made it yet...(yes, but you're going to point out the difference between a 'Conspiracy Theory' such as this/these, and the facts of issues like the St Martins Lutheran School Child Abuse Cover-up, and the Main Corner Project disaster-Ed)...spot on...am I really that predictable?...(no...just that when it comes to The Crunch, I have a gift for strategy-Ed)...orrr, not The Crunch again...

The facts of the Main Corner Project are exactly that, facts, and just because I identified the Rail Lands Retail Agenda as one of if not the prime motivator for it's construction, that does not make the RLRA a 'Conspiracy Theory'...Mt Gambier City Council on behalf of vested interests has done everything it can to force/allow a Shopping Centre onto the Rail Lands site...I have proved that beyond question in previous posts.

Please review previous posts re the RLRA, with the various Council commissioned, Architect drafted Retail Development Plans; the multiple 'Public Consultations'; the Re-zoning of the site in 2009 to 'Retail/Commercial';  the construction and placement of the new Library and Main Corner; the Bus Shelter Issue; the damage done to the Heritage Listed King's Theatre; the extraordinary cost, including the gross indulgence of unnecessary items, eg, the $650,000 Volcano Movie; the missing money; the money ($344,000) that dual CEO Greg Muller 'stole' in late 2011; etc, etc.

These are facts beyond question...but the crowning glory...(come on, surely there's a royal birthing joke in that...crowning...yeah?-Ed)...yes, I think you just did it...(oh, sorry-Ed)...that's fine, so long as someone does it...the crowning glory with the Main Corner is that the last two 'Tenders' for operating this ratepayer constructed, ratepayer funded monstrosity, were the Mayor Steve Perryman and Councillor Des Mutton's son...and of course Sorrentos (Lachlan Mutton) have been 'given' monopoly control of the entire facility, including the Old Town Hall/Institute area.

It is alleged and/or I have been informed that Lachlan originally payed no rent, at all, but now pays a 'token fee', or 'Peppercorn Lease' of less than $1,000 per annum...this was also unceremoniously yelled at me at several of the recent Budget Consultation Meetings.

And of course there is the huge financial damage being done to local businesses by Council operating a Function facility in direct competition with established private providers...including Council employing two or three people to literally go around town poaching weddings and other functions off private providers...

And remember that every wage cost of Council, and every expense at the Main Corner, eg, security...all of it is ratepayer funded...you/we are paying for Council to employ people to poach business off you/us, and a Councillor's son directly profits from it...Tony Harrison, if you would...(my pleasure...This is an outrage!-TH)...

And the massive Council debt accrued...and the unsustainable, unrecoverable $600,000+pa running cost.

Personally, I think The Main Corner is an appalling design that bears no relevance to the site, situation, aspect, etc, and just about the ugliest piece of crap...(no don't hold back, say what you really think-Ed)...I've ever seen in my life...(what, no mirrors at your house?-Ed)...ow, bazinga...no, wait, hang on...

The damaged, disjointed state that the external walls of the Kings Theatre have been left in is not 'cutting-edge' or 'groovy' or 'retaining the history'...it is ugly and cheap and an absolute cop-out that makes it look half-finished...and the massive holes where the beams have been crudely rammed into the side of the Theatre...how amateurish and ugly...and what about the Heritage Listing?...how have, or should I say who has, allowed this damage?...

It is directly, repeatedly alleged to me that the 'Heritage Process' is also mired in the 'approval for mates, bugger all for everybody else' nepotism and corruption that defines governance in South Australia, let alone Mt Gambier...and the evidence is smashed large in the walls of the Kings Theatre...oh, and there was also a small section of Heritage Listed building simply removed because it was sort of in the way...bad luck about that...

And don't get me started on the exposed pipes/ducts, etc...again, this is not trendy or 'industrial chique' or anything other than cheap crap, which in the case of the air-conditioning doesn't actually work properly...the perforated steel stairs are apparently deadly for people wearing stiletto heels, as one apparently does when one attend one's soirees.

Did I mention the huge windows that you can't see in or out of?...(yes-Ed)...and the complete lack of views to the Mount or the immediately adjacent Cave Gardens?...(yes-Ed)...and the drainpipe down the middle of the one window you can see out?...(yes-Ed)...the smashed glass in the floor...(yes-Ed)...and the ugly blank walls with rubbish bin yard facing directly onto Bay Rd?...(not sure on that one, but I agree it's atrocious design-Ed)...

Once you get past the over-all 'unfinished' impression, aspects of the finishing become obvious, but I don't blame the actual contractors/builders who were at the Crap face...(nice-Ed)...doing the actual work, because it is alleged to me that they were not given adequate time to do their various bits, so as to reduce costs for the developer...

But I hate it, really hate it, because every time I drive or walk past it or most particularly on the occasions when I have had to actually go in there to attend the ratepayer funded events that Council direct to that facility, it is an ugly, pointless reminder of the sort of selfishness, malfeasance, and corruption of our public officials that allows for the St Martins Child Abuse Cover-up...

Because all of these people are prepared to condone and support the Cover-up so that they can go about their grubby corruptness with dodgy land rezonings for their scumbag mates and corrupt building projects mired in personal gain...(go you good thing-Ed)...and that means you Steve Perryman, you Tony Pasin, you Greg Muller, Mark McShane, Peter Gandolfi, Richard Sage, Don Pegler, Rory McEwen, et al.

It reminds me that all of these people, and they are just some of the sum of scum, are wholly aware of and therefore responsible for the Cover-up of the gross abuse of 7 year old children...you all know and you all allow it, you all condone it, you all support it, you all guarantee that it will continue to happen...

And you said I couldn't directly link the Main Corner disaster with Institutionalised Paedophilia...(I never said that-Ed)...ah, but you were thinking it...(yeah, fair enough-Ed)...

And I identify this reality because it is true, and also because it highlights how controlled and effective I have been in my dealings with these pricks...(I'll let you have that one-Ed)...cheers...because at the front of my mind every time is the knowledge of what they have chosen to support...the abuse of my child and dozens of others...and by doing so therefore guarantee that such abuse will continue and proliferate.

May you all rot in hell for what you have done...and may your children and grandchildren be spared from the paedophile fall-out of your selfishness and corruption...

I may be a vain, arrogant, broken old fool, but sooner be that than be any of you...

Tomorrow: Don't Know Yet

But I've got a horrible feeling that we're headed back into the DeBelle Inquiry and the latest offensiveness to be excreted by Attorney General John Rau re pointless primping of the very periphery of Child Protection legislation...idiot...(angry enough?-Ed)...just posting it as I see it...(fair enough-Ed)...

Or maybe a nice post about local wildlife, etc, that will inevitably morph into a highly emotional and politicised debate about koala deaths in Blue Gum Plantations at harvest time, bird deaths in Wind Turbine Industrial Estates, etc...

Until tomorrow...I am Nick Fletcher and this is my blog...laters alligators and cheers big ears...




   

TFTIM: Labor MLC Russell Wortley

Howdy to my top four 'availees' of The Mount Gambier Independent, namely Australia, the USofA, Russia, and Germany...and to our cousins across 'The Dutch' in New Zealand...(The Ditch; the sea between Australia and NZ, said with the Kiwi accent-Ed)...it still amazes me that people all across the world are reading my blog...cheers to all...

As per yesterdays post, Labor MLC Russell Wortley...(MLC-Member of the Legislative Council, the Upper House of South Australian parliament-Ed)...aren't you just full of info this morning...(just trying to help-Ed)...indeed...Mr Wortley is not only a member of the farcical, pointless Wind Farm (Turbine) Select Committee (previous post), he was the main man for Labour in arguing against the Statutory Authorities Review Committee Inquiry into the Teachers Registration Board (previous posts).

When I happened upon Russell 'Is My Hair OK' Wortley in Mt Gambier in August 2011 (TFTIM him), I asked him why he had repeatedly lied in the parliamentary debate of 29 October 2008 re the SARC Inquiry, and I subsequently wrote to him (copy attached) asking that he explain his excuse that he was 'just reading from a prepared statement supplied by the Minister'. (paraphrase)

I received a 'The Minister will get back to you' acknowledgement letter, but nothing since...my bad for not following up, but one gets jaded of writing to people who either don't answer or just lie, for example Premier Jay Weatherill...and sometimes I just forget because there's just so much else going on...

Mr Wortley opens (29/10/08) by quoting MLC John Darley re 'a school in Mt Gambier', and then states; "I would like to go into the school issue down at Mt Gambier...", followed by more than a page  of lies, which I have attached below. 

And some of those lies...
1)  the issue "...arose in response to a letter dated 5 September 2004...(to parliament and parents from Child Protection activists)...It lists a a range of serious and potentially defamatory allegations against the Teachers Registration Board and other organisations and individuals."

Response: This 'issue' started in June 2002 when teacher Glyn Dorling was 'removed' from St Martins Lutheran School, and the TRB became involved in March 2003 because of our complaints. The letter 05/09/2004 was one small part of an already lengthy process...this is Labor trying to discredit us by linking the St Martins issue to Activists who were then on trial for Criminal Defamation re Child Abuse, all neatly rounded out with the familiar old threats about "defamatory allegations".

2)  "The issues referred to in the letter were subject to an extensive investigation over two years by
      a number of agencies, including SA Police (SAPol), the Police Complaints Authority, Child 
      Protection Services, Flinders Medical Centre, the Department of Family, Community, and 
      Youth Services, the Teachers Registration Board and others."

Response: This is a deliberate misrepresentation of the truncated, bit piece, stop/start, pseudo investigations to try and excuse/hide the abject failure of the 'Investigation Process'.

SAPol: flatly refused to take statements from parents, did not even interview Dorling, closed their 'investigation' in 2002 after a month and didn't tell parents, and then went through the same farcical process in their 're-investigation' of late 2005/06...Glyn Dorling has never been formally interviewed by police.

The Police Complaints Authority is police investigating police and their own 'internal' conduct, not the criminality of Glyn Dorling...

Child Protection Services are from Flinders Medical Centre, the FCPS, and were involved only because we parents organised it, and then they only did bit piece interviews, that weren't recorded properly, with only a few children...in the TRB/Crown Solicitor hearing they stated that Dorling had instigated the contacts that he was charged with but the TRB/CSO dismissed their evidence.

The Dept of Family, Community, and Youth denied any responsibility and flatly refused to get involved. To say they were part of any 'investigation' is an outright lie...and one that former MP Rory McEwen was fond of using.

3)  This leads onto the page below that outlines the broader technicalities of the creation and structure of the TRB/CSO hearing, which Mr Wortley still misrepresents, stating;
          "A prolonged and comprehensive investigation was undertaken by the registrar (of the
           TRB), the Crown Solicitor's office, and the government investigation unit. Formal 
           statements were taken from a number of parties, including parents... (FCPS)...teachers
           and others...(and) called seven witnesses." 

Response: Parents forced the issue with the TRB, who then did partial interviews with some parents in May/June 2003 before the 'case' just stopped for a full year, the hearing actually beginning June 1 2004.

Those "seven witnesses" are myself, three other parents, the two FCPS reps, and a Lutheran teacher who was Dorling's friend and a defence witness, used to attack the kids...lie, deny, and attack the victims...and Dorling's lawyer was Stephen Lietschke, Premier Weatherill's business partner.

The TRB/CSO told us outright that St Martins/the Lutherans refused them access to teachers or other witnesses from the school, and repeatedly used this excuse to explain why Principal John Alexander wasn't even called to explain why he 'removed' Dorling.

The TRB/CSO also alleged that SAPol "refused" to appear...don't know...they're all soulless liars as far as I'm concerned.

4)  "Not all persons interviewed...were called as witnesses."...that's two more parents, no-one else.

5)  "...the principal reported the matter to the appropriate authorities within a reasonable time frame."
John Alexander repeatedly asked/told parents to not go to police, and only Mandatory Notified after learning that parents had.

6)  "...some members (of SA Assoc of State School Orgs) believe that the alleged events in Mount Gambier in 2002 should be the basis for the review."...and finally,

7)  "...numerous investigations...showed the (TRB) to have acted appropriately."...there had been no investigation into the TRB at that stage...

Again, please review the Hansard for 29 October 2008 pages 472-479 if you want to read the whole thing.

Point being, for someone who had had no involvement in the issue, Mr Wortley seemed very informed if completely wrong on many points...and not by accident...he was talking it up to be as appropriate and thorough as possible...and his excuse for these deceits and lies?...that he was reading a supplied, prepared statement.

I know I'm basically venting about his involvement, a simmering resentment brought to the boil by the Wind Turbine Select Committee, but here is further example of 1) the length and breadth of the Cover-up of the abuse of children at St Martins Lutheran School, and 2) how casually and repeatedly Labour Ministers have lied on the floor of parliament re Child Abuse...they have nothing but contempt...and so I render unto Caesar...I render unto them the same...nothing but contempt...

Tomorrow: Why I Hate the Main Corner Project

Further issues of nepotism and corruption and the devastating effect Council is having on local businesses by operating a Function Venue in direct competition...and using ratepayers money to do it...

Again, it seems the same old ground, and it is, but it must be resolved for the sake of Mt Gambier's future...or what's left of it...or is the damage done already too much to recover?

I am Nick Fletcher and I've had more optimistic days...but haven't we all...blog on mofos...

TFTIM: Liberal MLC David Ridgway

Hello world, and welcome Morocco, a newcomer to this here blog of mine, welcome to an old favourite, namely Task Force TIM (TFTIM-The First Time I Met).

Apologies for late post, but I have had to review and restructure my original idea which was to just to go out, do what I needed to do, come home, scan and post...(what a cop-out-Ed)...thank you...to just post the parliamentary debate that led to the Statutory Authorities Review Committee Inquiry into the Teachers Registration Board, which I may have mentioned in previous posts.

However, once I dug my copy out of my carefully organised pile of documents, I realised that it runs for 8 pages, and there are other documents I would like to add, so...(here we go-Ed)...thank you...the full transcript, should you wish to indulge, is available on the South Australian Parliament website under Hansard (the parliamentary record), dated Wednesday 29 October 2008, pages 472-479 inclusive.

(I note that the Child Protection group mentioned in the Hansard 29/10/2008 was effectively 'shut down' in 2005 by the Defamation case that I have mentioned in previous posts)  

I do understand if people and politicians...(nice, but you do remember that you're a self-declared politician?-Ed)...hadn't forgotten, no, and I stand by that statement...if people struggle to accept the veracity of some (if not all) of what I say/write, but most of what I say is just re-iteration and/or reportage of actual documents, transcripts, etc....(fair enough-Ed)... 

This post then became about holding Labor MLC Russell Wortley to account for the lies he told on the floor of parliament, and his failure to explain why...and an apology to parents involved wouldn't go astray...(well now you're just being silly-Ed)...before finally morphing into TFTIM: LMLC DR. 

Please find attached a photocopy (apologies for quality) of the original parliamentary debate and motion as introduced by MLC John Darley on September 24th 2008. Please note that Mr Darley mistakenly identifies September 2006 as being when Mr Xenophon first introduced the motion, but it was actually September 2007.

But he also identifies "...wider systemic issues..." that need a 'solution'...sound familiar?

As stated, this was on behalf of MLC Nick Xenophon, who as per previous post, came to Mt Gambier to meet parents in 2006, a full year before he introduced the motion on 26 September 2007...(so by the time the Inquiry actually started in October 2008, it was already over two years since Mr Xenophon came to Mt Gambier?-Ed)...yep...(oh-Ed)...yes, oh... 

Like I said, it was literally the last thing he did before leaving state parliament to go Federal...(oh I don't think you can call him feral-Ed)...I said 'Federal', into Federal politics at the 2007 Federal election...(ahh...but why did it take another full year for John Darley to pick it up?-Ed)...you'd have to ask him...

Anyway, the original statement by Mr Xenophon should also be available on Hansard for 26/09/2007, and it also contains reference to 'a school in Mt Gambier'.

This is the critical point that I wish to make here...'the school in Mt Gambier' is repeatedly mentioned throughout the various parliamentary debates...and that school is St Martins Lutheran School.

On 24/09/2013, in supporting the motion, Liberal MLC David Ridgway states that;
          "...the Hon. John Darley's motion...follows on from Nick Xenophon's range of questions
            in relation to activities that occurred at a school in Mount Gambier..."

Mr Ridgway then states;
          "...with the opposition also having done a considerable amount of research, we see that
            this is an appropriate inquiry..."

I refer to my post TFTIM: Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi about the long meeting all about 'the school in Mt Gambier' that I and another parent had with Messrs Gandolfi and Ridgway immediately prior to the March 2006 state election.

And that meeting is also the aforementioned TFTIM Liberal MLC David Ridgway, and why I referred to him in yesterday's post as being an "asshole"...(yes, somewhat indelicate-Ed)...wait...when he says that the Liberals have "...done a considerable amount of research..." that includes him receiving direct and specific information from parents in early 2006, information that he/The Liberals had not acted on by September 2008.

Please also find attached Mr Darley's letter to me dated 17 September 2008 outlining what he intended to do, and the actual 'Terms of Reference' as 'Adopted 17 November 2008'.

The SARC Inquiry concluded July 2011, 32 months after it started, and nearly 5 years after Mr Xenophon came to Mt Gambier. 

On the 29/10/2008 transcript, Labor MLC Russell Wortley spends pages lying about 'the school in Mt Gambier', and so I will split this into two parts, and so;

Tomorrow: Labor MLC Russell Wortley

Just more lies, more ignoring, more ignorance...and I'm still waiting for your promised explanation Rusty.

I also note (as possibly mentioned in previous posts) that I briefly met Mr Ridgway in 2004 when the Liberal party held their function/meeting in Mt Gambier, but March 2006 was the first time I met him 'directly'.  

I am Nick Fletcher and this is The Mount Gambier Independent...still just a blog and yet so much more to boot...this is my reality...this is an outrage...laters...

Wind Turbine Select Committee SleepOver: A Three Ring Circus

Hello Phillipines, Canada, the USofA and Italy...and to all of those nations, particularly in Europe, that are getting buried under Wind Turbines and paying the subsequent price, eg, massive increases in electricity prices.

But first, a big shout out to the umpires in the Ashes Cricket Series for not letting me down. Once an avid cricket watcher, I now find the experience unpleasant because I just don't trust any of it...whilst 'channel surfing' the news I caught the LBW decision where an Australian batsman was hit on the stomach by a full toss that was missing the stumps, but was given out anyway.

Then there was some nonsense about not reviewing, and the batsman walked off...an absolutely ludicrous umpiring decision that the batting team should not have had to deal with...and then another decision where a 'Not Out' ruling was appealed by England, and despite no evidence (the commentator's words) the batsman was given out.

I refer to the notorious Ashes Series (2005?-don't know, don't care) where New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden (?spelling) personally umpired England to a series victory...in one Test, bowler Brett Lee had the same batsman out LBW again and again, but Billy boy just flatly refused to pay it...it got so bad, the Australians basically stopped appealing...(he also gave several Australian batsman out caught when they hadn't hit the ball-Ed)...indeed...

And while we're in England, congratulations to the German Royal family for reproducing...yay...and yes they are German, check your history books...the Hapsburg, something, somethings whom changed their name to 'Windsor' in the early 1900s...but I digress...

Please refer to my previous posts re Turbines, particularly the issues of legislation that remove any opportunity for citizens to legally oppose Turbine development, including legislated removal of access to the Courts.

I'll say it again because some people struggle with my observation that this legislative bastardry is Fascism, but that's exactly what it is...(yes, look up 'Fascism' in any dictionary, and it will describe exactly what the Turbine legislation does - removes the opportunity for opposition-Ed)

On Thursday 18th July 2013, Liberal MLC David Ridgway did a long interview on ABC Local Radio Late Afternoon progam re his involvement in the parliamentary 'Wind Farm Select Committee', and the absolutely pointless stunt of him, Labor MLC Russell Wortley, and Greens MLC Mark Parnell spending one night sleeping in an abandoned house near Turbines at Waterloo, South Australia.

They are not farms...they are massive Industrial Estates...'Farms' is a term used to pretty it up for 'inner-city greenies'...of which I used to be one...  

This is the second time that Mark Parnell has pulled this 'one night stunt', and again he used this ludicrously inadequate 'research' to ridicule those whom suffer from and/or believe in health issues related to Turbine noise... "I'm still alive"...you idiot...(hey, hey, come on, raise the tone a bit, remember?-Ed)...forget that...Mark Parnell is an absolute clown who is more than prepared to misrepresent, ridicule, and lie when it comes to Turbines...he has no credibility on the issue.

Now he is calling for Council's to receive 'rates' for Turbine developments...this is an undisguised step to bribe Council's into approving Turbines...and I'm not interested in vacuous arguments about the 'Independence' of Council Development Assessment Panels...DAPs are made up of Councillors and people chosen by Council...

As I've stated before, Mark Parnell, himself a lawyer, had the legislation carefully explained to him and most specifically the removal of access to the Courts, and yet he went into the media shortly thereafter stating that citizens could appeal via the Courts...that is an outright lie, he knew it was a lie, and yet he was prepared to present it as the truth...no morality and no credibility.

In the ABC interview Mr Ridgway said all the right things about one night isn't enough, people have different health responses, etc, but didn't mention the legislation, transmission losses, etc...he effectively argued the middle ground without acknowledging the massive negatives...dare I say it...(go on-Ed)...he is merely playing 'good cop, bad cop' to balance out Mr Parnell's rabid subjectivity...

The real shock was when I rang to offer the observation that the Select Committee is a waste of time because the legislation is already in place and cannot be challenged, and the producer offered to put me to air...even after I identified as a potential candidate at the Federal election on an 'Anti-Turbine Ticket'...not a problem, she said, until the writs are issued nobody is technically a candidate...what an intelligent and astute young woman...

On air, I quickly churned out my position re the Committee and legislation, fully expecting to get the standard 45second grab that I have become accustomed to when and if I can get on air...(which is not very often-Ed)...exactly...but when I was done, the announcer asked me a question...and then another...and another...

I must have been on air for several minutes (maybe 5)...from 'losses due to transmission' that are multiplied by exporting/importing to/from the Eastern states...compensation for non-host land-holders...through to the process of Appeal re the Allendale Acciona project that then led to the Development Plan Amendments October 2011, etc...

The announcer was very receptive, asked me if I thought there was any hope for 'balance', thanked me for my input, and said 'keep us informed'...compare this to the Mt Gambier ABC whom are clearly on board with the 'lock Nick Fletcher out of the media' Agenda and rarely if ever put me to air on the Turbine or any other issue...(you're not being a tad paranoid?...an Agenda?-Ed)... no, other people are stating to me that when they do hear me on air, the announcers are not engaging with me at all...I get 30-45 seconds, no discussion, and then off...

Last time I spoke to The Border Watch Editor Jason Wallace (some 5/6 weeks ago) he stated that TBW would not be printing anything on my behalf as a Federal candidate, because I've said not nice things about TBW on this here blog...(seriously?-Ed)...seriously...but I digress...

Because Turbine output is so spasmodic and unreliable, there is a massive and costly 'Back-up Generation Industry' developing in England (and elsewhere) utilising huge diesel generators, and this 'Back-up' is massively subsidised, even while those generators are just sitting there, and this will cause a massive spike in electricity costs...

These are the fundamental realities that cannot be ignored when it comes to Turbines...hugely fluctuating output, completely unrelated to demand, that requires 100% immediately accessible 'back-up' generation capacity...and in Australia that means coal fired generation.

Again, please refer to my previous posts re Turbines and...(hang on, what about the 'Three Ring Circus' thing?...what does that mean?-Ed)...well that's an old Rodney Rude joke modified to my purposes...namely, Mark Parnell has been involved with this parliamentary Three Ring Circus...him and two other arseholes...(ow, bazinga...but name calling again?...is this appropriate?-Ed)...absolutely...

Mark Parnell is a liar clearly not interested in informed, accurate debate...I'll say it again...no credibility... 

Labor MLC Russell Wortley was the clown who lied through his teeth during the parliamentary debate re setting up the Statutory Authorities Review Committee Inquiry into the Teachers Registration Board, and has failed to answer my letter requesting a written explanation of his personal excuse to me that he was 'just reading a statement provided by the Minister'...and Liberal MLC David Ridgway had the intricacies of the St Martins Lutheran School Child Abuse Cover-up personally explained to him prior to the 2006 state election, and then did absolutely nothing...has still done nothing...

And of course there's the bipartisan corruption of the SARC Report no.54 re the TRB (previous posts)...(yes, I take your point...actually, in that context, arseholes seems somewhat inadequate-Ed)...indeed...and hence...

Tomorrow: The Parliamentary Debate re The SARC Inquiry

A lengthy but enlightening post that highlights the deceits mentioned previously, and has David Ridgway acknowledging that 'we have been looking at this situation for quite some time'...(go on then, you know you want to-Ed)...arseholes...   

I am Nick Fletcher and I am The Genuine Independent and this is my blog...cheers...

NF McDonnell Mill: The 500m Con

Hello Poland, Russia, Romania, and United Kingdom...please do not infer from my blog that everyone in Mt Gambier, South Australia is a two-headed cousin humping hillbilly or a crook...it is the same as the gay/gender issues I've covered in previous posts, in that, by and large, the population are just people trying to live their lives in an uncaring, indifferent Universe.

Yes Mt Gambier is...(was-Ed)...a 'Mill Town', but that is...(was-Ed)...just the reality of a century of Forestry development in the area of the state most suited...there is also agriculture/dairy, fishing, transport and associated industry, tourism, etc...

However, the reality of decisions mired in personal gain has had a devastating effect on the city, and it is the elected representatives who are doing all the damage, and in the wake of this Institutionalised Corruption Mt Gambier is left floundering...not waving, drowning...

And because these are the issues that must be addressed if we are to drag this mess out of the fire...(are we drowning or in the fire?-Ed)...shoosh...that is what I deal with in my blog.

For example; what's the point of tinkering with 'Child Protection' Mandatory Notification laws when the over-riding attitude is one of denial, cover-up, and perpetuation...you can report until you're blue in the face if nobody you're reporting to is going to act...and those seeking to hide abuse are hardly threatened into compliance with bit piece legislation and minimal fines.

And this is why our politicians personal sexual predilections are an issue of great concern, particularly when that behaviour includes paedophilia, eg, engaging the services of teenage male prostitutes in the Adelaide Parklands.

How can we trust that our politicians and senior public servants are genuinely acting in the best interests of children, when there is a pro-paedophile culture driving their decision making, eg, the current state of the Education Department. 

But I digress; good ol' NF McDonnell Mill...here's an example of the Weatherill state government using your taxpayer dollars to prop up their mate, not least of all in an attempt to make everyone else look bad. Please refer previous post about 'The Judas Goat of South East Forestry'.

It is not a coincidence that Mr McDonnell was on the Forestry Roundtable and it's successor The Forestry Advisory Board (or whatever it's called) and then also gets a massive $4million+ handout from the state government.

Now Mt Gambier City Council is seeking to establish a 500m 'Buffer Zone' around the NF McDonnell Mill on Suttontown Rd that will affect development and land prices, etc, within that 500m...this will include the TAFE site on Wireless Rd West and several local houses.

I didn't do a Submission on this intended Buffer Zone because 1) I didn't understand what the motivations and/or issues are, and 2) I was somewhat distracted by the paedophile issues pouring out of the Education Dept and elsewhere (previous posts), and 3) I just couldn't be bothered doing yet another pointless submission to people (Council) who don't care and don't listen.

Again, my blog is my submission, and plenty of people are listening to (reading) it...cheers...

And as is often the way with such things, it took a throw-away comment in an unrelated conversation to suddenly light up the situation for me...as I say, it was like a striking up a flare in a dark room...but then in discussion with others, they related to me that which I thought I had just discovered, namely...

For decades NF McDonnell Mill has been trying to get someone, be it Council or the state government or both, to pay for them to be re-located to a more appropriate site, but have not been successful...until now.

I refer readers to the posts re the Rail Lands Retail Agenda (RLTA) and the clearly definable collusion between Mt Gambier City Council, the Grant District Council, and Labor Planning Minister Paul Holloway, that saw Bunnings and housing go on a Councillor's land specifically rezoned at Millicent Rd, the massive Woolworths/Big W on the original site on Penola Rd, etc.

These same patterns of collusion are immediately obvious with this $4million+ grant and the proposed implementation of the Buffer Zone...playing both ends against the middle...and that is where we find ourselves dear reader, right in the middle getting squeezed from all sides.

Now that NF McDonnell have received that grant for a proposed expansion, they can and will argue that those complaining about their (the mill's) impact on local development, etc, that the 500m Buffer Zone will produce, must therefore pay for them to be relocated...that is...

'We have plans and funding to expand at our current site, and that is what we intend to do.'...but with the proposed introduction of the Buffer Zone, that expansion becomes quite problematic if not impossible...(I don't understand-Ed)...

Alright...Council introduces the Buffer Zone that affects nearby properties, eg TAFE, and this naturally generates concerns about and opposition to the Current mill site and proposed expansion...(with you so far-Ed)...then, having created the problem, Council and/or the state government can step in and pretend to resolve it by paying to move the NF McDonnell Mill out of town somewhere.

All involved are deliberately seeking to generate a public demand for the Mill to be moved, which they can then say that they are responding to...along with rigorous self-congratulation for how much they 'listen to the people'...and then use your/our money to pay for what we have supposedly demanded.

Deliberately create the conflict that justifies what it is you seek to do in the first place...(ah, now I get it...give them the grant to do the expansion immediately prior to introducing the Buffer Zone, and then the Mill can argue 'we're not moving' and Council and/or the state government move in and say 'we're doing you citizens all a favour by paying for the Mill to be moved...it is what you asked for/demanded -Ed)...  
  
Precisely, well done Ed...(but I do have one question-Ed)...sure, fire away...(what makes you so sure that your summation of this situation is so accurate?-Ed)...good question; as with all of these issues I just summon my Inner Bastard and...(hello-Ib)...not now Ed...(um, that's not me-Ed)...it's not?...(no-Ed)...(hello, did somebody call?-Ib)...who are you?...(me?...I'm your Inner Bastard-Ib)...oh Jesus Christ...(yo-JC)...seriously?...hang on, is that you Ed?...(yeah sorry, couldn't help myself-Ed)...hilarious I'm sure.

(Ah, I'm still here-Ib)...yes thank you for your input, but if we could all please move on...(sure-Ib)...(absolutely-Ed)...(yo-JC)...Ed, stop that...(sorry, sorry-Ed)...

The point is, that this is my opinion of what is happening based on my experience of how these things are manipulated by those involved, eg, the manipulation of the Bunnings/Penola Rd issue re the RLRA, the Old Hospital and Rail Lands excuses for justifying the latest Council Budget, etc.

I'm saying don't believe me just because the words are on the page in front of you, but please do use my observations as a template for dissecting this for yourself...I am confident that what I am saying is very much on or about the mark, but there may well be something in your own personal experience that impacts on this situation.

Again, I'm more than happy to have people come on the blog and disagree with me in a responsible and sensible manner...I don't want or need to be right, I want to be accurate...and if you engage with me appropriately I will be absolutely respectful about your input...it's only anonymous dribble like "And thank God for that" that I will lambast and ridicule (previous posts)...(I think that "AtGft" lambasts and ridicules itself quite frankly-Ed)...yes, well put sir... 

Tomorrow: Wind Turbine Select Committee - Pointless and Corrupted

Nothing with Green's Party MLC Mark Parnel involved can be trusted to be objective and accurate...he has demonstrated a capacity to lie...(ooo, that's a big call-Ed)...let me finish, and he is massively biased in favour of Wind Turbines...and yes it would be a big call, indeed it would be quite defamatory, if it weren't true...

Mr Parnel had it explained to him very thoroughly about the removal of citizen's Appeal rights, indeed any access to the Courts (as set down in the Interim Development Plan Amendment of October 2011 and subsequent 'revised' DPA legislation 2012), yet within weeks he went into the media and stated that Appeal rights still exist.

That was an outright lie and he knew it...(point made-Ed)...   

This latest stunt of sleeping one night near some Turbines is typical of Mr Parnel's disingenuous approach to the subject of Turbines...anyways...

I am Nick Fletcher and I'm still apologising for yesterday's shambolic post in this here my blog...laters...

A Very Average Post

Welcome world to this here very, very average post...I don't have any excuses...but here's some anyway.

I've had visitors from Adelaide all weekend, and I've caught a cold...(probably man flu-Ed)...yes, the same way I had 'Man Cancer'...although that's not quite so funny when you consider that there are some cancers specific to gender, namely those associated with the reproductive system...and when I think about it...(that'll make a pleasant change-Ed)...if you got to choose your cancer, you could do far worse than choose what I had in 2004, non-metastasised Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma...non-metastasised means restricted to a single site; it hasn't spread to other areas, organs, etc.

How did we get onto cancer?...(I don't know...was it Man Flu?-Ed)...yes, that's it...and anyway, I'd rather talk about my cancer history than, say, how you can shoot a teenage black man dead in the street in the USofA because there's a law that says you can...(although the law doesn't specifically cite race, it does allow 'Murder in Self-Defence'-Ed)...thanks...or perhaps how if you're a high profile sports celebrity in, say, South Africa, you can gun down your girlfriend inside your own apartment and then literally walk away...

(Yes I can understand how talking about your own illness might be more palatable than trying to find sense and/or justice in either case-Ed)...again, thank you.

And thank you for the comment re Tony Harrison and The Mighty Boosh...in the referenced episode it is established that Shaman Tony has "a gift for strategy"...how very appropriate considering that Tony Harrison, former 'Child Protection Officer' with SAPol, has absolutely no experience in the Education Sector, so one hopes that he not only has "a gift for strategy", but that he also has a magic lamp, a crystal ball, and omnipresent powers of observation.

Because when it comes to the Crunch...(ohhh, you're not on about the Crunch again-Ed)...what do you know of the Crunch?...you've never even been to the Crunch...(I went once-Ed)...ohhhh, we can all go there as tourists...ooo, look, there's a bit of Crunch...

That is of course a brief montage of the whole 'Tony Harrison/Mighty Boosh' thing...I urge you to check it out...I watched that Episode (Ep Three, Season Two, Nanageddon) immediately after posting, and it never fails to deliver....absolutely hilarious...but it does beg the question, who is the bigger joke?...Shaman Tony, or Shame On Tony...

I say Shame On Tony because anyone who has been at the top of 'Child Protection' in SAPol should hang their heads in shame for what they have become...(heavy, dude-Ed)

On a much brighter note, I would like to congratulate and thank Mt Gambier City Councillor Jim Maher for providing me a copy of the attached Motion Without Notice from Council's meeting...so actually twice congrats and thanks...(twice?-Ed)...yeah, once for actually raising the issue in Council's meeting Tuesday 16th July, and then again for giving me his copy.

So with no further ado, I would also like to congratulate all of the NAIDOC Award winners as listed below...and the most excellent band Kineman Karma for coming to Mt Gambier for the third year running to help celebrate NAIDOC Week...as they would say, deadly...

As a first generation non-Aboriginal Australian, I have always believed that there are many people working in their communities and in society in general, who are doing positive things in a grossly distorted and un-equal system...'equalise' the system, and there are already those working within who are more than capable of reaping the benefits for their broader communities..

And if I may without causing offence, I believe that that same template can be applied to the vast majority of farmers, fishers, tradespeople, small business, etc...none of these people/groups need some opinionated white boy like me telling them specifically how to do what they already know so much better than I...what they need is that mythical 'Level Playing Ground'...

What they need is equality before the law, equality in Education, Health, etc...what they need is to be treated like people...to be treated like every other person in our society...to be treated with respect...the same way farmers need protection from subsidised imports; colluding, coercive conglomerates...(he means Woolworths and Coles folks-Ed)...damn straight I do...and again, to be treated with respect.

Again I apologise for this brief, disjointed post, but I feel lousy, my head is literally swimming, and I want my mummy...but she's just flown back to Adelaide...love you Mum and thanks for visiting...and oh yeah, that reminds me...$500 round trip to fly Adel/Mt G/Adel on REX Airlines...only $100 Adel/Melbourne on Tiger...you, REX Airlines, are a bloody disgrace, using your monopoly to gouge people for extortionist fares...I'll be catching the bloody bus before I fly with you...(you tell 'em big fella-Ed)...I think I just did...

And a big shout out to my child who came all the way back to The Mount to see their grandma, but has now left again to go back to University...love you and miss you...come back soon...oh, and sorry your old man is such a grumpy old git sometimes...

Tomorrow: NF McDonnell Mill - The 500m Con

Still no spoilers, but if you haven't figured it out for yourself yet, that's cool, I only realised the other day what they are up to, and Council and the Labor state government are right along for the ride.

I am Sick Fletcher and this is my blog...thank you for your patience, and laters...

200th Post Reprise

Hello Iran, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany...yes I said Iran...I'm big in Iran this week apparently...and also hello to Indonesia, and in particular the Indonesian Foreign Minister Mr Marty Natalegawa...

On behalf of all Australians who give half a damn, I apologise for the grossly intimidatory, bullying and cynically manipulative conduct of our Foreign Minister Bob 'Skeletor' Carr re the recent (and now notorious) late night interview on Channel 10 (I think) with Bob Carr quite literally 'standing over' Mr Marty Natalegawa...(why do you/we need to apologise?-Ed)...I'm getting there...

Mr Carr knows damn well, and deliberately chose to manipulate, the strong Social and general Diplomatic conventions that directed Mr Marty Natalegawa to be supportive of his host, particularly when that host, that clown, Bobo the Clown, dragged him in front of a camera.

Even I know that there is a cultural paradigm that exists in Indonesia, indeed Australia, and generally in diplomatic circles, that it is an act of basic politeness and respect to not contradict your host.

I don't think it's inappropriate to suggest that it is a fundamental courtesy to not criticise or contradict your host in their own home.... you wouldn't do it to your friends at a dinner party.

Mr Marty Natalegawa is to be congratulated for negotiating his way through that interview with the poise that he did.

Mr Bob Carr should take his thuggish tactics and sanctimonious gibberish (his pointless repeated references to the Classics, mythology etc) into the Cabinet Room and leave it there...A rabid drover's dog could be Foreign Minister in your stead, champ, and the world would think Australia no less barking mad.

Whenever I am feeling a little bit down I scroll through my 'mind tapes' to those hilarious episodes of rank BoBoisms...(BoBoisms...hehehe-Ed)... where Mr Carr's indignant and dismissive responses to perfectly reasonable questions expose him for the flat-wicket bully that he is.

He is all sickening smirk and self-satisfaction when he feels in control, but either very aggressive or just refuses to answer when he doesn't like the subject matter...for example, the hilarious incident on the ABC's Q&A programme where he did exactly that...didn't like the question; refused to answer it; and demanded interviewer/host Tony Jones move on.

But I digress: as this is the 200th post, part II, The Reprise, I choose to indulge in the witty word play that I promised in a recent post... it's my blog and I'll try if I want to...

Words can be extremely manipulative yet enlightening, deceitful yet descriptive, clarifying yet confusing.

By asking three questions I am going to describe to you something in the known universe. I will even give you the answer to each question first...that answer is 'No'...(geez, you sound like Kevin Rudd-Ed)...so, three questions.

1)  Is it black?...to which you answer of course, No...Question two...
2)  Is it white?...the answer...No...and finally,
3)  Is it a horse?...No.

So it is not black, it is not white, and it is not a horse...What is it? I'll give you to the end of this post to figure it out if you haven't already...(oo, oo, I know-Ed)...

Now if I may indulge in some more very average poetry about the English language.

     A bow in a bough
     A cow with a cough
     When truly though
     Is enough enough?

     Pigs through and through
     With their snouts in the trough
     Living high on the hog
     And the rest live rough.
     
This is just a brief illustration of the vagaries of the English language, and what I can remember off hand of a poem I wrote a long time ago that I now can't find... how many different meanings does the word 'bow' have?... to be bent; to bend forward in reverence; a weapon to shoot an arrow; a decorative knot in a ribbon; to yield; a violin bow; the arched front of a saddle (look it up in a dictionary, there's heaps of them).

There are approximately ten sound variations (pronouncings) of the 'ough' letter combination... This is a fine example of the unrelated intricacies of English that makes it so difficult to learn as a second language... how the heck do you teach someone the rules when there are generally more exceptions than examples.

That is why I am trying to put together a 'jokey' English language learning resource/book of poems and short stories that highlight these many and various disparities of my mother tongue.

And because this is the 200th post, Part II, I will leave it at that... alright, yes, you got me, I just really wanted to have a go at BoBo Carr for his regrettable and yet unforgettable performance in dragging a senior visiting diplomat away from his dinner and out in front of a camera on a cold wet night...way to go Uncle BoBo, you have made us all so very proud...who would blame the Indonesians for thinking us all a pack of arrogant tools?

And the unilateral axing of cattle exports at the drop of a hat...and now organising an 'Asylum Seeker' deal with New Guinea that clearly affects Indonesia without bothering to tell them...

How are we meant to engage with Indonesia in a relationship based on respect and co-operation, when we as a nation, well at least our illustrious leaders, behave in such an arrogant, self-important fashion.

And the answer to the quiz is......drum roll please........ a Zebra..... what is not black, not white, not a horse...it is a Zebra.

There is no real point to that other than to illustrate how manipulative language can be if you so choose.

I use this to emphasise my personal position that I take with this blog, namely I am not out to manipulate or trick anybody...I take very seriously the idea that the truth is powerful enough and needs no embellishment or manipulation.

In contrast I refer to the incident where former Premier Mike Rann was 'snouted' with a rolled up magazine at a public function by a parliamentary worker's angry husband, where the allegation was of an affair between Mikey boy and the worker...it's what you do with a dog that's got on the sofa...you remonstrate with a whack on the snout with a rolled up newspaper..."Down sir, off my wife!"

When confronted by the media with the question "Do you know the man who hit you?", Mr Rann replied "I've never met that man before in my life"... whilst this may have been true, he certainly knew who the man was and why he had 'snouted' him.

There are undoubtedly those who would consider this deliberate manipulation of language to be a clever and applaudable act... I think it is the work of a back sliding weevil who knows nothing but how to avoid actually answering the question because that is all he has done his entire life... that is his career modus operandi... he couldn't lie straight in bed...

Thank you for your patience in this here post, my latest self indulgence... back on the hobby horse  (go on make it a zebra-Ed)...nice...

Tomorrow: Wind Turbine Select Committee - Blowing Smoke Somewhere

The latest farcical three ring circus re the Waterloo Wind Turbine Industrial Estate...

Apologies for late and/or early blog...I'm not sure whether I'm a day ahead or a day behind...I'll figure it out eventually...(I won't be holding my breath-Ed)...