Stilgherrian – Page 483

15 October 2007

“Officially” is the new “literally”

“Labor, the party of the working class, has officially become the party of choice for intellectuals,” claimed The Australian last Thursday. Sorry, which “official” said this?

No, it wasn’t a Labor party official announcing a change in their funding source. Nor some mythical official spokesperson for “intellectuals” — could there ever be such a central organisation? No, the “official” is just the journalist who wrote the story, or his sub-editor.

In one way this is like that common mis-use of the word “literally”. As in: “Kevin Rudd was literally torn apart in Parliament this afternoon.” But there’s also some lovely propaganda at work — either because the journo thought it’d make it more dramatic, or because (heaven forbid!) The Australian is continuing its pro-Coalition stance.

Continue reading ““Officially” is the new “literally””

15 October 2007

The Gimli Glider

Wanna read about some amazing flying? I stumbled across the story of the Gimli Glider yesterday — a Boeing 767 which ran out of fuel at 41,000 feet and was successfully landed by Captain Robert (Bob) Pearson and First Officer Maurice Quintal. Beautiful work, lads.

14 October 200714 October 2007

Gentlemen, start your engines!

Ah, I love the smell of an election in the morning! Camera crews waiting outside Yarralumla sneak one last ciggie. Candidates of all persuasions reach for The Good Suit and ponder which tie they should wear. Journalists place last-minute bets on The Date and wonder just how many grams of speed they should lay in to last the distance. Media outlets everywhere reach for their plans and everybody says goodbye to their loved ones for a few weeks.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is on Sunday, live from his Adelaide Hills palace, dutifully repeating The Message. “To change the government is to change the country.” “Trade unionists.” Repeat ad nauseam.

We’ll hear Lord Downer repeating his scary mantra many, many times as the Coalition fights to the death.

“I think they need a miracle, really,” says The Sphere of Influence. “Unless Kevin Rudd falls over in the campaign, the Liberals will find it very difficult… Unless they get their [economic] message to the forefront of the campaign they’ll have no chance.”

So they’re the battle lines, at least so far. Labor will reinforce their message that it’s time for a change. The Coalition will reinforce their message that only they can maintain the economic boom. And everyone else will be scrambling for Senate spots.

And now we’re just waiting for The Announcement…

[Update 1215: The election date is Saturday 24 November. JWH is currently doing a media conference, which will doubtless be analysed to death over the next 24 hours. Have fun, kiddies!]

14 October 200714 October 2007

The Madness of King John

With news last night that John Howard has returned to Canberra — yes, it looks like the actual election campaign will finally get under way! — I reckon I’ll be writing a bunch about politics for the next few weeks. Nothing wrong with that: we are deciding who’ll lead the nation! Before I write today’s essay, though, I simply must post this cartoon. Thanks to Alextremist for the pointer, and The Australian for the original.

14 October 2007

A Tale of Two Cults

They must put something in the water at places like Google and Apple.

I mean, isolating everyone at a “campus” even to the point where they only eat with each other is one of the classic cult-creation techniques. And both have a personality cult thing going with Steve Jobs and Larry Page and Sergey Brin

But check this Google software engineer gushing over the chance to do menial work in the kitchen:

How often do you get to cook fine cuisine for 800 people — especially while learning from some of the finest chefs in the business? Our Google chefs offer a limited number of culinary internships, and I was lucky enough to win one. So one fine Thursday morning I got to spend 4 hours in the Google kitchens working with, and learning from, our amazing culinary engineers.

Like so many software people, Dave MacLachlan seems amazed that other professionals actually have systems too, and know what they’re doing.

Continue reading “A Tale of Two Cults”

13 October 200714 October 2007

A disposable John Howard

The other day I wrote about ordinary people making political advertising. Here’s another example.

Two weeks ago I met Stan, who’s created a giant portrait of John Howard constructed from beer bottle tops — because, he says, Howard has treated people as just as disposable.

He’s exhibited the portrait at various community events and made a video about it. And now he plans to tour the marginal electorates to make his point.

“I am not a member of any activist or political party. Until the extent of lies and deaths, I considered myself a very average Australian,” he says.

As I say, Australia’s first real Internet election campaign will be very interesting indeed…