Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

Here's where it can get interesting for Hicks. Picked up in Afghanistan in 2001 by the Northern Alliance, what' s the most that he could possibly have done?  Shot at an enemy soldier.  If that's not a crime, then David has been jailed both in Guantanamo and South Australia for something that isn't regarded as criminal.  Given that "material support" is a crime introduced retrospectively by the U.S., should Hicks' innocence be as retrospective as the charge?

They bring on an idiot suffering from the delusion that he is funny, who is supposed to impart some information as he goes along,  and people scrunch down in their seats, cringing and wondering why the hell they are there, how much more of this they can take, and thinking ' I might just go home.'   Mercifully the torture ends, suddenly time is of the essence and the final hectic adjustments happen as the panel is let in, one at a time to some applause ― the odd boo ― and 3, 2, 1 second and the show is underway.   

 The issue of house demolitions is back in the spotlight now after two separate incidents in July in which Palestinians, both of whom were residents of Jerusalem, rampaged through the city in bulldozers, killing three Israelis and injuring many more. Although the two Palestinians were shot dead at the scene, Israeli officials, including Ehud Barak, the defence minister, are calling for their homes to be destroyed, making their families homeless, to deter others from following in their path.

The rich countries of the world have again shown that they are willing to sacrifice lives in the poorer countries for political gains at home. Our television screens will be filled with millions of starving people and big business will reap the rewards. We have shown our lack of concern and will continue to wonder why these countries fail and spawn terrorists. Globalisation is under threat due to lack of commitment. The world economy will suffer because of the lack of political courage.

With Bush's former lapdog Alexander Downer now trying to make it in the UN  without the aid of his trainers, there aren't too many former Liberal stars left to confuse the spotlight operators.  Basically there's Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull.   Tony's been busy crooning praise of Peter, his golden tones hinting of a chorus of support from the all-important NSW right wing.    Turnbull's dash for the Prime Minstership could be pushed to the backburner again, while our favourite Liberal "bovver boy" tightens his grasp on the keys to the Party door and cements his status as the power behind the throne.

July stats

Yet another story today about how genetically engineered algae can produce much more crude oil per acre than biofuels. But how do the numbers stack up?

He's a product of a Jesuit school, he's been involved in Aboriginal legal aid and as a convenor of an Amnesty lawyers' group. As if that's not enough of a pointer, don't forget his involvement this month in striking down the World Youth Day regulations designed to prevent pilgrims being "annoyed". Compared with the cactus-like, dry-as-dust figures of recent elevation, this fellow is a positive orchid. (Richard Ackland)

Ministers and senior military officers are today challenged over discrepancies in evidence they gave to a parliamentary committee on the use of torture techniques by British troops in Iraq. (Robert Townsend)

In the future the immigration system will be characterised by strong border security, firm deterrence of unauthorised arrivals, effective and robust immigration processes and respect for the rule of law and the humanity of those seeking migration outcomes. (Senator Chris Evans)

Margo and I have been talking since the Byron Writer's festival last year about getting students involved in Webdiary - in writing,commenting and site building/maintenance. But thiscan only happen if the Webdiary community is willing to embrace it.

As the drivers voiced their cry for help in Adelaide, and most capital cities, do you know what the employer of six of them did for daring to strike?  Sacked them! There's an old-fashioned ways of supporting strikers... pass the hat around.  Show that you understand.   Get your supplies in and don't go to the shops that are driving these people, and their families, into poverty.

Without prior official permission, the following activities are prohibited: any kind of publicity, advertising, displays or collection of money; distributing sales promotion samples or merchandise with commercial logos; TV reporting or using professional recording equipment.

The death of Nightline and Sunday is a strange story, a saga of the deterioration of a once mighty media empire with current events appearing to be a late and inevitable consequence…

I hope the dimwits in the National Party and the Liberal Party up there sent their sitting Senators off for health checks before they voted to amalgamate because, by convention, the Governor of Queensland is obliged to follow the advice of his Ministers.

Remember, the brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough.(Randy Pausch)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez met on July 22 in Moscow with his Russian counterparts President Dimitri Medvédev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The encounter was arranged to formalize a military and defense alliance between the two countries.

If the mainstream science is wrong, we need to reduce GHG emissions even more than is currently planned. Simple really. Now let's get on with it.

The only way to win the “war on terror” is to be less willing ourselves to use terror to win a political victory. The war on terror will be won when all terrorists – including those financed by democratic governments – are brought to justice in the International Criminal Court.

If modern technology had been used to promote the ideas of liberty, free markets, sound money and trade, it would have ushered in a new golden age – a globalism we could accept. Instead, the wealth and freedom we now enjoy are shrinking and rest upon a fragile philosophic infrastructure. (Ron Paul)

In this month's update: political donations and disclosures in Victoria, guidelines for federal government advertising, protecting whistleblowers in the Australian Government public sector, and the possible formation of a new national indigenous representative body.

"If the discovery order is upheld, my legal team will be able to apply for access to the adverse security assessment and other documents. This could mean that I finally find out what I am alleged to have said or done to warrant my detention and forced removal from Australia in September 2005. "-  Scott Parkin UPDATE: Scott won.

For the young at heart, and for those who can remember.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald's handy illustration on road closures for today, the Papal flotilla will sail across the Opera House forecourt, and then the motorcade will drive down the centre of the bay into Circular Quay. Should be worth watching them try ...

Why should any religion hold copyright on the intertwining aspects of human nature? Why should abilities that are disciplined and learned through the focus on a deity be disregarded (or worse) if they aren't developed or practiced as part of a "sanctioned" doctrine? There's lots of things people do that are regarded as inexplicable, and yet in our temples we're required to take a "leap of faith."

So, by all means go out and be annoying but don’t be inconvenient or obstructive or threaten anyone. The decision is, in my opinion, apellable but we’ll probably never get to that because of the time constraints. Nevertheless, would you put it past this NSW Government to pass a new Regulation tonight?

Soppy rhyme inside.  It needs a picture, if anyone's got one.
Happy Birthday Fiona!
(oh yes, and Malcolm too!)
Please sign!

From here I can see St Mary’s and there are tents all over Hyde Park – looks a little like the Peasants Crusade. Now you might think I don’t know much about the Crusades but they are in the habit of reading Runciman out loud in this household.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is, as I write, undergoing its annual tearing out of the hair and rending asunder of its opulent board room curtaining. Yes, you guessed it: the Australian Fair Pay Commission has ruled on the latest National Wage case.