News of the Day

"A Catholic brother who molested two boys in their beds at a boarding school in Victoria more than 40 years ago has been jailed. Peter Paul Van Ruth was 22 years old and in his first teaching job when he indecently assaulted the boys at Salesian College in Sunbury in 1969. On Tuesday, 42 years later, Van Ruth was jailed for 28 months in the Victorian County Court."

Anguish has a long memory, sport.

"The new leader of the French far right, Marine Le Pen, has sent shockwaves through France after a poll suggested she could win an unprecedented first round victory in presidential elections. Just two weeks before the regional elections known as the cantonales - the last real electoral test before next year's presidential round - the lawyer daughter of National Front leader Jean Marie Le Pen has eclipsed President Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Party leader Martine Aubry, with 23 per cent of the vote."

Just what Europe needs... a neo fascist France.

I'm not too worried, because somehow I don't think it will happen.

''Simply, I've come as a friend to reinforce your best instincts. To say, 'Be bold. Stay optimistic. Yours remains what it has always been, a nation which is exceptional in every way - above all, in your unfailing ability to confound predictions of decline'.''

- Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard to US Chamber of Commerce.

France bans the Burqa, Iran bans the mullet.

I'm tempted to say banning the mullet might prove Iran's cultural advancement over France... but that would be having a joke and this is kind of serious....

"In an attempt to rid the country of "decadent Western cuts", Iran's culture ministry has produced a catalogue of haircuts that meet government approval. The list of banned styles includes ponytails, mullets and elaborate spikes."

Good thing I'm bald and don't need to worry about this when in Iran. Good thing my wife's culture runs to kimonos instead of burqas and there isn't legislation about what she can and can't wear.

Are we even now, children....Or do we have to ban something else?
Can I wear a ski mask in Paris?

I heard local radio host Lindy Burns relate an anecdote about how she started up a casual conversation with an Australian Muslim lady wearing a burqa. Burns said it was a nice colour. The lady commented that when she wears her purple one, people seem more afraid of her.

Is this what we have come to... where a colour will decide whether a bit of cultural attire evokes fear?

If a woman freely wants to wear a burqa I'm fine with that. If she wants to dress as a Klingon, I'm fine with that too.
How about we all just don't care what other people wear?

Thursday night song - "I'm Not Twenty"

Alizée !

Alizée Jacotey, born in Corsica not THAT long after me (well a bit...), came into the music business after winning a talent show in 1999. Her name is a feminine form of the word alizé, which I understand to be the name of trade winds in the French Caribbean.

I have very eclectic (read 'forgiving') tastes in music, but I like her look, and this is a happy care-free song with some cute vocals.