I am not at Uni anymore. Not really. I graduated. Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Yay election results! I love democracy when it shows such results. Sometimes, the world works.  Not that Kevin Rudd is the ideal PM either. But I welcome IR reforms and hope education is in good hands for a change, and leave the rest to hope generally.

Meanwhile, I have a list as long as my arm (literally) of errands to run. Actually, most of them don't involve running. Funny how we use expressions when they're not strictly correct, just because people know what we mean by them.

I have to go wash my hair ... I have had it cut, rather short, for me. A little like Una in the picture, but not so well-groomed, and actually a bit shorter. And of course black. But curly too. I decided to get it cut short now rather than later, so I could see what it's like and grow it out before I start work next year. But i think I'll keep it :)

Tags: politics

I just saw Stardust and I am all SQUEE and nothing else. It was magnificent! I usually have criticisms of movies, especially when they're adapted from my favourite books. But I have practically nothing to complain about here. *faints*

More later. I have to do some more Neil Gaiman worship now.

Tags: movies, stardust
Current Mood: satisfied

It's always like this: you write bugger-all for weeks and then all of a sudden there are fifteen things you want to blog about. And then your desklamp collapses.

I mean ter say, Kevin Rudd WENT TO A STRIP CLUB!! I mean, OMG, he visited a strip club like almost every other Australian male I know! Woah, stop press, cancel the election! How DARE this man aspire to lead the country. All politicians should have no sexual or even pseudo-sexual experiences in order to lead our country well. I mean, look how well John Howard's done.

But really. What the f*** does it matter if he got blind drunk and went to a strip club? (pretty stupid, actually, cos he couldn't see much.) Does it affect his ability to be a good politician? In fact, doesn't it give him much more of an insight into the average Australian mind, or at least the average young male Australian mind? Shouldn't our pollies have some life experience as well?

And, to top it off, Brendan Nelson reveals he did the same thing, in Adelaide, when he was 20. Gosh. I didn't need to know that. It doesn't change my view of him one way or another. I still think he's (various things I can't write here) who screwed our student unions over.

Tags: politics

I was so thrilled that they had to drop the charges against Dr Haneef. Some of my faith in the legal system has been restored. Still too many questions of a worrying nature left unanswered, though.

Meanwhile, watch as everyone runs for cover, leaving Kevin Andrews out in the open.

Tags: politics
Current Mood: justified

So I've been asking around, in case there's some link or some piece of information I have missed in the media. My network of intelligent people who pay attention to this sort of stuff is reasonably good (including, of course, yourselves). I am forced to conclude, especially after today's Law Report, that there simply is NO other reason for Dr Haneef's detention than that he gave a sim card to his cousin a year ago. There isn't some subtle link connecting him to the Glasgow attacks, there isn't even an allegation that he knew his cousin would commit these acts, there's no logic to the idea that the expired sim card was used in the attacks. He's being held purely on the basis of lending the sim card, and his visa was cancelled purely on the basis that he has known a suspected terrorist.

My mind has huge trouble accepting the logic of this. I'm a pretty logical and commonsensical person and this plays havoc with my notions of legal and societal order. There's a massive gap in the reasoning of the entire case: namely, what is the connection between Haneef's actions and the attacks in Glasgow, and did Haneef intend it to happen or know about any of it? See, he hasn't actually been charged with anything that I consider to be terrorist or criminal activity. He's only been charged with giving a sim card to his cousin who later allegedly committed terrorist acts.

Is anyone else having trouble with this? If so, because I can't believe I'm the only one, how long will it take to have the government and the AFP see sense?

Tags: politics
Current Mood: thoroughly confused

Okay, so I read it. It was good, tied up many missing ends and some bits were thrilling. My 'but' is that some of the plot complication is unnecessarily convoluted, and some parts are, I find, unrealistic.

But you read it first.

I may do a more thorough review later on when there's less fear of spoilers.

Or, I might not. Others will have the patience and fortitude to write better reviews than I can!

Tags: harry potter

The ANU Law Revue is coming up from the 8th to the 11th of August, here at the Street Theatre. I am part of the cast again, god only knows why, and am stereotypically playing the black, straight, female and dead roles. Or some combination of the above. But it’s all fun, we have new peeps in the cast, and there’s loads of songs this time around, so if you’re in the ‘Berra please come along! The theme is All’s Fair in Love and Law: The ANU War Revue.

I also saw The Order of the Phoenix, which I won’t comment much upon here for fear of spoilers and also because this book/movie is not my favourite. I did like the fight scenes and the humour in the movie, but I felt the serious parts were too rushed for proper contemplation. The casting is as usual brilliant, especially Umbridge, with my reservations noted about Remus Lupin’s casting and Emma Watson’s eyebrows.

Anyway, I am more eagerly awaiting Deathly Hallows, although the rebellious part of me wants to refuse to rush out and buy it on Saturday simply because the rest of the world is doing it. The hype is not proportionate to the quality of the books. But this rebellion will probably not last and I will probably have read it by Sunday. I have been resolutely avoiding the spoilers and leaked copies on the net (although reading some of the more amusing predictions). This will become harder to avoid after Saturday and I would rather read it and get it all out the way, thus returning to study and my final semester of Uni. Yay!

Tags: harry potter, law

I’m ashamed that we’re now treating the giving of a sim-card to a relative one year ago as proof of terrorist activity.

That can’t be right. You would think that there would have to be knowledge of the terrorist activity committed by the relative, plus intent that the sim-card be used for the terrorist activity, before you can charge someone with such an offence. The sim-card expired in August 2006, a long time before the present attacks. In what possible way is this assisting terrorism? I have never heard of a more absurd charge and I simply cannot understand how Dr Haneef's actions, as we have been given to understand them from the federal government, could possibly have contributed to the failed attacks in Glasgow this year, abhorrent though they were.

On top of this, we have to exercise as much disproportionate ministerial power as possible to prove to ourselves just exactly who’s in charge here. F***ing hell, people! When there’s no recourse to justice for suspected criminals because we’re all so afraid for our own hides, why bother with law at all? Just let the Minister exercise total control over everyone in Australia and lock us all up, thus making sure that no one can ever commit a crime. Sure, we won’t have lives or work or anything else we consider we should have, but national security will be paramount, which is obviously what matters most above everything else.

</end rant>

Tags: politics
Current Mood: angry

The dogs of New South Wales - and their humans - have decided to protest against the banning of dogs from parks, beaches and near food outlets.  They allege that this 'canine discrimination' is anti-social, unnecessary and makes it impossible to keep a pet.

As reported in the SMH online, the dogs and their owners have taken a leaf out of Gandhi and MLK's book. They are carrying out peaceful infringements of the law by entering the forbidden areas and risking fines for their beliefs.

And hey, it may be working.  It's got me interested, anyway. I like the idea of hundreds of attentive dogs lining up along the parks and beaches. And maybe they'll get a look-in at the Supreme Court when the contested fines are taken that far.


'Your Honour, I now call Rover as my next witness.'

'Wruff.'

... [questioning and cross-examination ensues, in which Rover remains calm and eager to help.]

'Your Honour, no further questions.'

'Thank you. Ms Rao, I would just like to commend your client's polite and respectful demeanour that is in contrast to much of the behaviour that I normally see in this Court.'

Wruff!

Tags: frivolous ?