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The Ruddstoration continues with the latest Newspoll 51-49 to the Coalition (compared with 57-43 last week) from primary votes of 35% for Labor (up six), 43% for the Coalition (down five) and 11% for the Greens (up two). Rudd now leads as preferred PM49 (+16 compared to Gillard) Abbott 35 (-10), and personal ratings Rudd: both approval and disapproval at 36% with Abbott approval 35% disapproval to 56%. A comparison between the two Newspolls of June 22-23 and June 28-29 is extraordinary, indicating both how important a media savvy leadership is in contemporary times and how unstable the electorate is, with actual policy providing but a modicum of import - although on that note, the Business Spectator makes a few points on the nonsense hyperbole that the opposition came out with concerning carbon pricing. The remarkable turnaruond has the Pollbludger and Possum having scratching their polling trend models to account for the change in circumstances.
The most disconcerting part of the revival however has been some absolutely abhorent comments by the Foreign Minister Bob Carr suggesting that so-called economic migrants (especially Iranians) are arriving in substantial numbers seeking political asylum - because apparently being middle-class is a protection against persecution. Actual research on the matter indicates this is not so. Perhaps the Foreigbn Minister would like to meet my friend Leon, an Iranian refugee, who suffers PTSD and has been unable to settle properly because of this. His entire family was executed by the Iranian government for their political views and religious apostasy. Middle-class? Yes they were. Persecuted? To the highest possible extent..
In more personal news finally received results for my first Graduate Certificate course, Facilitating Lifelong Learning; a High Distinction (82%). Eagerly awaiting the course materials for Tertiary and Adult Education Policy, and of course, the material for my Public Revenue unit for the Postgraduate Diploma in Economic Policy. Later this month will be travelling to Sydney where I will be presenting at the 4D Conference, organised by Diversity Australia. Whilst in Sydney, hoping to have a meeting of the Isocracy Network there as well. Just finishing off the final touches of RPG Review 20 with themes relating to 'Monsters and Aliens' (note the correct use of the word 'theme' there). Using my editorial perogative to make some observations concerning the behaviour of a certain online gaming story. In the meantime, my review of Heaven and Hell (1st edition) has been published on RPG.net.
Last night was the LUV July meeting, which excellent presentations by Alec Clews on Raspberry Pi and Russell Coker on using Xen for Server Transfers. Very saddened to hear that Evi Nemeth, author of many excellent UNIX and Linux Systems Administrator's Guides is apparently lost at sea with others between New Zealand and Australia.
The most disconcerting part of the revival however has been some absolutely abhorent comments by the Foreign Minister Bob Carr suggesting that so-called economic migrants (especially Iranians) are arriving in substantial numbers seeking political asylum - because apparently being middle-class is a protection against persecution. Actual research on the matter indicates this is not so. Perhaps the Foreigbn Minister would like to meet my friend Leon, an Iranian refugee, who suffers PTSD and has been unable to settle properly because of this. His entire family was executed by the Iranian government for their political views and religious apostasy. Middle-class? Yes they were. Persecuted? To the highest possible extent..
In more personal news finally received results for my first Graduate Certificate course, Facilitating Lifelong Learning; a High Distinction (82%). Eagerly awaiting the course materials for Tertiary and Adult Education Policy, and of course, the material for my Public Revenue unit for the Postgraduate Diploma in Economic Policy. Later this month will be travelling to Sydney where I will be presenting at the 4D Conference, organised by Diversity Australia. Whilst in Sydney, hoping to have a meeting of the Isocracy Network there as well. Just finishing off the final touches of RPG Review 20 with themes relating to 'Monsters and Aliens' (note the correct use of the word 'theme' there). Using my editorial perogative to make some observations concerning the behaviour of a certain online gaming story. In the meantime, my review of Heaven and Hell (1st edition) has been published on RPG.net.
Last night was the LUV July meeting, which excellent presentations by Alec Clews on Raspberry Pi and Russell Coker on using Xen for Server Transfers. Very saddened to hear that Evi Nemeth, author of many excellent UNIX and Linux Systems Administrator's Guides is apparently lost at sea with others between New Zealand and Australia.