Slowly coming back to life...

Brisbane's annoying roads, part 57 - Oxley Rd. All that one lane to two lanes, all that traffic weaving and dragging each other off at the lights. Grrr....

If only those who complain about the loud laughter nearby admit they want to be as happy.

In a blinding roar the water fell to earth. Yes, it rained in Brisbane town last evening. Water gushed down gutters and traffic decided that as it was storming, now was the perfect time to go stir crazy. And everythign from Taragindi thru Graceville blacked out again, which seems to happen every time the ground gets a little damp. It was eerie driving though on the way home; approaching darkened traffic lights, where the whole rules of travailing intersections suddenly requires new rules.

New Farm Park = sculptures along the riverbank. Not sure for how much longer, maybe a week or so. Concrete forms, army jeep, headless bust, curious forms.

Would be great for a dusk (or dawn) exploration. Half-light, unexpected forms. Imagination.

So Costello is calling Howard a lier. And Howard is calling Costello a lier and arrogant.

So nothing we didn't already know.

But it does highlight how much people seem to trust one or the other DESPITE the fact that they are politicians and their use of language in the media over the years is designed to confuse the meaning of their statements. Like Howard's core and non-core promices, which is a sidestep, a get-out-clause.

And yet, no one as asking the major questions, like if neither man is saying the other is to be believed, surely this means their credibility on important issues, such as, for instance, AWB, may be in question.

But no, it's one cult of personality versus another that is at stake at the moment, not a review of Government credibility as a whole.

Of course the government's creditbility has constantly been called into question recently, on AWB, on their Senate majority and workplace relations over the last few months. These issues haven't been affecting property prices, or people's mortgages and so on, so people can ignore it. Especially for the "aspirant" people, those of who, Howard has been repeating a mantra of wealth, wealth, wealth, the economy is great and we are all richer. Those people who put themselves into debt trying to buy over-priced properties. It seems previously that a lot of people simply don't care that Howard or Costello may have been at best ambigious with their language, or at worst lied.

No. What has sparked off this debate is thie latest leadership twist, which has people talking and Sunrise and Today sitting on the PMs front doorstep first thing this morning. Celebrity and the cult of personality has started this debate, not a question of transparent, truthful governance.

And there lies the problem. While the Liberals air their dirty laundry, their sheets are obscuring the logical debate of whether, if they don't trust each other, and each says, should the Australian people trust either. Should we revisit previous promises and statements both men have given since being elected and see if they stand up to scrutiny?

Yes. But will people? Which is a pity, because the next time Howard says that all Australians says this or that, I would like someone to ask how he knows. And who has he asked. And if people who disagree with him are un-Australian.

Instead of ignoring what politicians say because it doesn't affect our mortgage, or we are too cynical to bother, maybe we shoud ask the politicians to be accountable to their statements. All statement.

Front End Loader - "They're Trying To Kill Me"
Who the hell has he pissed off? Hustled guitars and stern defiance, the hunted turn provocateur, but maybe how all this started - he's got a hell of a mouth on him. And if it isn't paranoia, maybe its big noting. Look at me - indestructible. Like the band themselves...

It shows how much I've been out of the loop in world events, but Montenegro has voted for independence, splitting off from their union with Serbia. Montenegro will become one of the smaller countries in Europe, with only 700,000 people. The referendum looks fair, Serbia seems like they are not going to stand in the way. No bombs, no wars. Plenty of social repercussions of course, due to the Serbian population in Montenegro, and not everyone is happy, but at least it seems that talking has won through.

Triple J is featuring the debut album by Gotye. I heard his early EPs a few years ago and was verily impressed by what he achieved for a bedroom producer.

Expect him to be the next uber-cred producer ala j.walker/maching translations, and l.steele/sleepy jackson...

Though from the sound of it, wally de backer/gotye is way too Indie for that...

Triple J has just told me that it was Grant McLennan's funeral today. Last Sunday seems like an age ago.

I've had the Bellavista Terrace on a lot this week. It's an amazing compilation. I like Friends of Rachel Worth as well. But with Grant gone, one of the finest bands Australia has ever produced has gone with him. I wished I had caught them live...