james nunn | blog

Well today (January 26) is Australia Day, and I want to wish all my aussie mates the best from the US of A!

Two exciting pieces of news emanating from across the lake (Pacific Ocean).

First, QANTAS Airways is being sold, however the company has stated that it will remain Australian-owned, and the management structure will not be changed as a result. This is good news, as QANTAS is still one of the few airlines in the world that actually makes a profit. The change is a result of a takeover bid that was launched a couple of weeks back by a consortium, in which the Texas Pacific Group will be a part owner. It’s like my two homes are merging together.

Second, it appears that convenience – not to mention practicality – has hit wine bottles. Australia’s Hardy Wine Company is launching a new bottle called the “shuttle” that will include a single plastic wine glass as part of the bottle.

“It’s portable (and) it means you only need to buy one product to enjoy a glass of wine,” Miriam Leenders, Hardy Wine Company Global Marketing Manager, told Reuters. She said the product would be perfect for outdoor events where glass was not permitted for safety reasons.

The “Shuttle” is set for distribution in Australia in 2007.

Drinking outside – how civilized!

I found this interesting article in a “The Australian” opinion piece the other day. It discusses the efforts of a Liberal Party (read, conservative party) MP, Mr. Warren Entsch to introduce a private member’s bill that will provide legal equality to same-sex couples.

What grabbed my attention in this article was the introduction,

AMAZINGLY enough, a politically conservative, rabidly heterosexual former crocodile trapper has managed to get a grip on something most other straight Australians cannot: gay and lesbian relationships aren’t just about the bonking. (emphasis added)

Pretty cool, huh? As an FYI, bonking is sex.

The article goes on to say that Entsch recently stated on a national radio interview that the he has to “focus the gay rights debate on inequity rather than sexuality.” He has sent a letter to all Coalition MP’s (the Coalition comprises of the Liberal Party and the National Party, another conservative political party), which included a summary of the areas of federal legislation that his bill would amend to correct the inequity he is speaking out against.

Sadly, the christian fundies are at it over Entsch’s support of providing a fair and equitable Australia. According to opinion piece, “Entsch has received a number of letters and emails mentioning the Bible and faeces.” Ah, good to see christian values are alive and well down under.

http://www.biggaypicture.com/story/2006/2/20/25416/7714

Straight Students Wearing Gay T-Shirts? Fine by Me!
By Sarah Warn
Posted on Mon Feb 20, 2006 at 02:54:16 AM PST

Last week, a Melbourne, Australia high school student was asked not to wear her “Nobody Knows I'm a Lesbian” t-shirt to school on picture day. She agreed to change the shirt, but several of her fellow students were outraged on her behalf, and wore their own versions of the t-shirt to school in protest (which included “Nobody knows I am bulimic”, “Nobody knows I'm pregnant” and “Nobody knows I'm on steroids”). Stephanie told her local paper that she was surprised and pleased by the support (although she still had to take off the t-shirt).

What is pretty amazing is that it happened in Strathmore, a north-west suburb of Melbourne.

Its amazing what a little t-shirt can do

Let me start by saying that I am in absolute shock!  I have just gotten off the phone with my mother – the one in Australia.  Anyway, we are doing our normal chat, and then suddenly this:

Mum: Andrew and Gina are doing well, and I think they will sort things out.
James: That’s good.  I hope it all works out for them both (sigh) So, Howard has finally called an election, it’s about time.
Mum: Yes, I think I’m going to be voting for him this time.
James: . . . . . . . .

Now let me explain something.  My mother has ALWAYS voted for the Labor Party.  The conservatives were an evil group of rich businessmen who had no interest in looking after women like my mother, not to mention the failing health system that she is battling with my sister (or at least so she has told me in the past).  I am UTTERLY stunned.  Gone is my sleepy, time for bed, state of mind.  Now I’m sitting here (after a perfectly fun evening) wondering what the hell is going on over there in that place called “home.”

I think my mother knew I was suprised … speechlessness comes so infrequently to me, and she may have picked up on this.  What is she thinking?  She claims that he is going to be provide a “safer” Australia.  How?!?!  By making it the fifty-second state of the US? (Side note: the fifty-first is the very populated state of ignorance.)  I am just dumbfounded.  We chatted about a few other things, but my mind was just ticking away with so many questions.

Anyway, I decided I was going to review the information on the two major parties sites.  The ALP (Labor) has their platform on the web in a variety of formats – all about making sure their message is available to everyone.  So then I looked at the Liberal Party.  Hmmm… a nice picture of John Howard with Aussie military personnel.  Ah there it is… teh Liberal Party platform.  Odd… it’s in picture format and only twelve pages long.  I’m confused.  Has my mother been so absorbed by the Herald-Sun tabloid news-style, that pictures speak to her louder than words?  The LP site has no platform, well certainly not as at 1:15 AM this morning.  It’s only 33 days till the election… maybe it will be uploaded soon.

Till then, I’ll just sit here scratching my head.