Beauty

Beauty is always somthing which attracts me. My friend Cat recently wrote about it, and last night I watched the interview with Paul Keating. I was fascinated that he is a person who is ultimately motivated by beauty. His story of buying a watch which cost him three months of wages because it was in his words was almost perfect. His listening to classical music I almost got the sense that his found in the sounds a conduit to something Spiritual.

I am attracted to the same sort of things, ultimately I attribute this to God. Yet when I listen to Paul Keating I get the sense that he feels things the same as me, but much more than myself. That he is willing to pay three months wages for a thing of beauty. I bet he also has a costly sound system to hear every tone of beautiful melody which he hears.

I suppose there is a cost t beauty. To implement what you think is the best.

 

Vote for Tim

Image via Wikipedia

Friend of my Tim Hein is moving into politics, he is standing for the Adelaide council. Here's what he stands for::

1. A Fresh Perspective - Integrity & Action
2. A Thriving Community - Where YOU belong!
3. Growth Opportunities
4. Safe, Clean & Sustainable City
5. First-Rate Facilities & Services

I think he's do a great job. He's pretty passionate about politics. He is the only friend I could remember who had a picture of Paul Keating on his bed room wall. Gee I wanted one after I seen it.

Keating at his colorful best

It was like the Keating of the 90's when yesterday he gave his current assesment of the opposition.

From the Sydney Morning Herald::

Mr Keating described Mr Abbott as the "poor man's John Howard" who was regarded by many of his Liberal colleagues as their "resident nutter" when he arrived in federal parliament in 1994.
"It was bad enough having the real John Howard... at least Howard was a militant, aggressive conservative driving in reverse through the rear-vision mirror."
Mr Abbott was an "intellectual nobody and no policy ambition".
On the other hand his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull had an articulated, intelligent, moderate, thought-out conservative position.
"You wouldn't trust this mob (the coalition) with a jam jar full of five cent bits."
He described the opposition's finance spokesman Barnaby Joyce as a "junior Joh Bjelke-Petersen" who ran around making foolish economic pronouncements.

At this stage, Keatings assessment is but a colorful opinion of mine. Except I would add Wilson Tucky is still clucking away in the stalls.

This week in Politics

You can feel the rumblings of an election coming upon us. Strangely even before the election is called a debate is been arranged with Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd. 
As I mentioned previously. I think the governments stratagy will be to do Abbott 'slowly', a reference to Keating and opposition lead by John Hewson. As time goes on the slips will add up, and as the election looms political scrutiny will increase. Abbott will loose his shine.
This was a week in example when Costello former treasurer had a poke at Abbots proposed extended maternity payments. When Abbott speaks about Rudd's 'Big new tax', Rudd will be able point out Abbott's proposed 'Big new tax' with extended maternity payments.

Lastly, our politicians at work.

Liberal Peter Slipper having a quite nap during proceedings. I wish I could do this at my work, I often feel like it.

Gambling

It is with interest that I've been reading the relationship between Mr Brumby and Mr Paker of late. One the state premier and the other a casino magnate.

Today, suprise, suprise I spotted this quote in The Herald Sun today by Mr Brumby

"John Brumby says more tables at Crown Casino will not impact on problem gambling, before the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation even looks into the social and economic impact of more tables.

The Government has been forced to seek more advice on the impacts of its deal with Crown Casino that will give the gambling giant 150 more tables."

One of my heros, Tim Costello had to say this about the deal a few months back, in The Herald Sun

... the government had "blown a chance'' to make Crown pay for the damage it does to gambling addicts.

"Any other major monopoly that is acknowledged to be doing social damage at the level Crown is would not be treated in this way,'' Mr Costello said.

"The state government exists to act in the interests of the community and instead it does a secret cozy deal that is not transparent.''

He welcomed any move to block the deal in parliament.

"Let them go back and do a deal with Crown that is in the public interest and in the interests of problem gamblers.''

I liked what Paul Keating had to say on QLD politics about the racing industry, "It smells like a dead kangaroo in the middle of the road"