Thursday, 28 August 2008

Small cars here to stay

No shit Sherlock.

More surprisingly with insight like this, Ford president and chief executive Alan Mulally was paid $21 mil in 2007 when his Fortune 500 # 7 made -2,723.0 profit - that's millions $US MINUS !


No wonder he looks worried.

Tuesday, 26 August 2008

Well lived !


Sad news today.

I was privileged to attend many events hosted by Richard Holden who certainly knew how to organise a piss-up at a brewery.

My first experience drinking Sauv Blanc at lunchtime was with he and Mike V in Parnell in 1987 and then via Alan Watkins bringing in the slabs of Fosters to the industry indoor cricket at nearby Slam Indoor. I don't know how we managed to get through the net let alone win each year. Then his great Fosters Melbourne Cup do's at Ellerslie, and the Polo at Clevedon.

Fantastic guy.

Julia Gillard


Surfing utube I decided I wanted to watch Fred Dagg on politics and found this topical gem from John Clarke as John Howard the night before the last Aussie election.



Some of you will know who Julia Gillard is. If not here's the Wiki (tells you who the other sheila is also).

Meanwhile the Aussie Labour Party is more right wing than our National Party who are too scared to move on anything. Get a load of Julia's policy anouncement in todays Herald!

It will be fascinating seeing the Labour Party use the same tactics as John uses in the skit and lose the election because of the economy !

Sunday, 24 August 2008

Animal Welfare

Have you seen the AA advert where the driver swerves when the bunny hops onto the Desert Road?

I had a similar moment on the way to dinner Friday night.
L just had time to "Whoa!" as I held my line with the inevitable result the little guy/gal jinked the wrong way.
Bummer for Bunny.
"What was that?" says the newly 8 yr old, to which we were entertained by a childhood tale about a greyhound owning relative who used to pick up roadkill for his dogs on the way home from races and throw them in the trailer as a treat. "She gets it" I think to myself.
But then on the same road on the way home from soccer next day this Paris/Nikki dog runs out in front.
"Look out!".
I don't swerve or brake. The mutt trots across the centre line and looks at us.
"You wouldn't have!"
"This isn't an ad".

There is common ground on some dogs.

Tuesday, 19 August 2008

A photo finish

In the f@#$wit of the week category between ....
Mr Fingerprints - gets credit for the accuracy of the texts.
Ms Ibtisam Najim Abid (already a mum of 2 before this) - for not sneaking onto a plane and flushing the passport.
And .... - for nil victim empathy.

Tony V wins comfortably for thinking a hush (If she's a spinner, how will she know what hush means?) payout would be better value than name suppression until sentencing (worst case) and a plea bargain deal. Maybe he thought the offer was the best option for KD-P and she might realise this, but instead she's gone for the prisoners dilemma 'betrayal' option.


If this had stayed hushed TV could have been a serial abuser free to find more victims. At least this way his and her pasts will get an airing.
Wait for suppression of details to kick in until the trials end. He will end up paying far more than most abusers but closer to what most of us think appropriate.

Maybe other abusers out there will think twice. Keep smiling, summers coming.

Ferguson in awe

So were my sidekick and her sis-in-law last night. "Wow!" (they said)
Luckily he kept his shirt on.

Speaking of eye candy what about .....

Both olympic champions and world record holders with abs to die for.
My favourite story so far was Francoise Mbango Etone's repeat gold for Cameroon in the triple jump wearing the tennis skirt outfit. Coaches herself and trains with her sister.

No wonder Tony looks shocking. It's the late nights watching handball, volleyball and kick-boxing. Oops no that's neither an olympic sport nor on telly - just him visualising 2002 to 2006.
Retaliation ain't going to wash.

Saturday, 9 August 2008

"failing to use a weapon of sufficient caliber"

In New Zealand today "police said charges against Nike were possible"
In Tennessee "Charges were brought against him under the premise that he should
have saved the county and taxpayers the expense of a trial
"

One of the above is a joke.

At least using the .22 had a chance at a result.

While we're on the subject, from the only in America file, a flashlight that doubles as an FMG9 - handy huh.

Classic. Hat tip.