Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

For those with the spare cash, tickets to k.d.lang's Oz tour next April are selling fast.

Is anyone here booked for the session with Paul Ham (author of Vietnam: the Australian War) and Peter Couchman at Reader's Feast in Melbourne tomorrow (Wed) evening?

Tears here too. A tour de force, as they (possibly) say in France. Captures the ambiguity of our longing for a Kevin victory - hope someone makes sure he watches it. Not to mention KD's sublime rendition of the song. Thanks PF!

And Alga: you're dead right about economic growth. Few grasp that particular truth.

Margo: Ambiguity indeed, Kerry.

Fiona: "For the benefit of this poor moderator, Alga, could you please explain to me in words of one syllable what you mean by "the veracity of his ideologies"?”

Rudd follows two ideologies, god and the current approach to economic growth. Both being ideologies which have very little, if any truth to support them. Economic growth is a death knell for equality, society, peace and the planet, having nothing to support its purported outcomes. God has nothing but myth to support it, its negative outcomes for equality, society, peace, and the planet are historically documented. 

Thanks PF. 

Well done PF, could I ask what software you used?

It would be so good if Kevin from Heaven was for real, but is he just a reflection of the veracity of his ideologies? I do hope he is more Taoist than christian - at least a Taoist looks for balance, even if they tend to not see it within themselves. We shall see, but I think I'll put labor 2nd last after the libs, give the Greens my first vote and independents next. That way I am dramatically cutting the odds of the lib/lab getting my preferences.

Fiona: For the benefit of this poor moderator, Alga, could you please explain to me in words of one syllable what you mean by "the veracity of his ideologies"?

PF Journey, you have moved me to tears. Please let this be 1972, not 1969.

Well we voted today at the Senior Cits' club, being away from our new seat of Parkes next Saturday. Thought I'd give one of the two independants a go. Maybe he can make it rain. And then I spent the next ten minutes on the Senate paper, all 79 boxes dutifully marked. God knows who most of them are.

So it is all over for us.

Loved it.  Even if Kevin fall over heaps he is still a more likeable character than the incumbent and his nominated successor. Sure he'll make mistakes but don't we all.  What has cruelled Howard is his arrogance.  He thinks he knows best on everything and anyone who dares to think differently, is a traitor, pathetic, etc etc.  How many different terms have we heard over the past 11 years aimed at people who question him? 

If I see him touching one more poor child during this campaign.... we need some intervention!!

As I was checking Crikey, an ad for Rudd suddenly flashed up (happened to anyone else?) so I had a look but I really don't like being intruded on in my own computer - I have enough trouble with the emails offering to enlarge my penis which I'm glad to say has had sufficient indications of support that the ads are otiose.   That aside, as the video was downloading, because we have such an old telphone exchange, it was taking an age and Kevin got caught saying that he wanted to ensure that we are the "best educated count" then the feed stopped.   Of course you have to pronounce it properly to get the full humour.   When the feed resumed I got "ry".

Richard:  Being on dial-up on one of Adelaides oldest exchanges, I had the same problem.

I've just read your piece on Taoism and contradiction.

I think there is a difference between polarities and contradictions.

A somewhat false but useful distinction I think can be made between perceived and actual contradictions.  We see in terms of figure and ground but these are not contradictories - even though elements of the ground are sometimes presented as contradictory to the figure.

Likewise the clash of contradictories can lead to an innovation that unites them (which I think is what Hegel was on about - though I find him impossible to read: just way too abstract for me, so perhaps I shouldn't say.) 

I'm a Taoist influenced Christian rather than the reverse because I think Christianity accommodates more readily a sense of individuality and agency.  My first love is psychotherapy so I am very influenced by this process.

Thanks for raising these deeper issues.  And if it was you who did the video I hope you do many more, it is superb. 

A magnificent piece of work.  Do you know who did it?

Hallelujah that they didn't use Leonard Cohen's voice - as great as he is lyrically his voice is decidedly average (IMHO).

I can't see Kevin Rudd living up to the hopes placed in him.  The only hope is for the Greens getting control of the senate I think.

This video shows a much better way to engage in political debate I think.  What do others think about it? 

Well done, PF.

Splendid images, and k.d. lang's is the finest rendition of this song I've heard.

PF I enjoyed reading your piece on 'contradictions'. I share many of your views and beliefs.

Knowing that Kevin Rudd has tempered his Christianity with some  sensible non-theological Buddhist philosophy gives me great reassurance.

It will help to ensure that he won't become a mirror of the grasping, manipulative ugliness that is John Howard and his heir apparent.

PF Journey: I have just listened to this, it had me in tears. I didn't realise how emotional I had become. We are putting all our hopes into Kevin Rudd. Let's hope he lives up to it. Well done and roll on Saturday.

Love the music. 

Cheers, John