drive in Saturday (*)

Courtesy of reader John, a piece that explains why I go fair dinkum amok when a certain whining, grating voice pops out of the TV or radio. The next step I suppose is some anger management classes, or yoga, or something, to curb this wild unnecessary (well, counterproductive) behaviour. Either that, or start drinking a lot more. Yes, Plan B it is, that will be much more fun.

And here's an example of the sort of thing that really gets me riled and is at the same time a real insight into how democracy gets perverted when any one party (as in participant, not political party) in a situation has too much power. Mr Parkin may well be a dangerous lunatic who wants to overthrow society, but we'll never find out this way. Not to mention the inequity of charging someone with unspecified allegations and then whacking him more than the cost of a 5 star hotel for his incarceration. The same principles apply with large companies and the like: the less accountability, the more propensity to push it as far as you can. Lord Acton, again as ever (and didn't he have a nice line in irrefutable sayings, btw. Where is his like today)?

It's the clear light of day that mitigates against extreme behaviour by any party. The case against Mr Parkin would be stronger, and the likelihood of public support for the government's response much more certain, if we knew what the details were. As it stands, in the absence of facts and evidence, the automatic conclusion to be drawn is that there is no case except ideological opposition. David Hicks, another case in point. And as for the many letters and blog comments I have seen that suggest the Hicks should just be summarily shot: think about the features of democracy in Australia that we should actually be fighting to retain, not throw away.

Not a good way to be starting a Saturday so we might pull up stumps - actually, there's a bit of precipitation here in the leafy western suburbs so I doubt that play would in fact have commenced, if we were actually playing cricket - and go and do some Saturday things. Dinner tonight with some friends down - well, actually up - from the high country. Had a few bevvies with them last night: it's amazing (no it's not) how quickly the conversation can turn a bit ribald. Anyone out there know about cold spoons (scroll down), for example?

(*) 'cos I gotta sell the Pug today. I just gotta.