alius locus, alius mihi

It's the little things

nobody@vox.com(NDC) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:22:30 +1000

Like the one-off wins one has in life.

Remember the other day I identified my "take no prisoners" personality trait as perhaps needing a little buffing up? Well, it exercised itself today in a dangerous manner.

My boss and I we're vigorously 'debating' the rights and wrongs of a particular approach to credit analysis on a particular deal. I disagreed with his position and he disagreed with mine, but the crowning glory was his statement that "well, you can argue with me all you like, but I'm right". Red rag to a bull. My response?

"Yes, well, you're always right, Philip" Fuck! Too late, it was out. Once those words form and pass your lips, there's no going back. As I said, I don't regard that part of my personality as a liability. It's there and not much I can do about it. I've carried it 50 years now, and dammit.....why should I tolerate arrogant idiots? Why should anyone?

His response? "In that case, I'll take the file back and you should consider your future here" Oh yes....I should point out that I don't come off probation until 10 March.

So......I did consider my future. Had a smoke while doing so and decided that if he doesn't want my help in his business, then he should come right out and say so. I decided to ask that precise question. I came back into the office to be greeted with, "Look, can we start again?" and a hand offered in, if not friendship, at least the spirit of conciliation. I took his hand and said, "Surely" We're now back on an even relationship. I seriously doubt his pedantic 'always right' attitudes will change because he's my age, my experience level and doubtless of a similar makeup from a personality perspective. I know I'm a much more relaxed individual, but then, I'm not in business for myself either. I just roll up, do my thing and piss off home. I like it that way. I also like......nay, require...... a little respect as a 35 year finance professional. I have opinions and I expect to be allowed to express them without retribution. I'm a professional or at least try hard to be. If we can all operate on the same basis, I'm sure things will work out.

Yes, it IS the little things in life that make it all worthwhile. The little victories, even if it does take a minor infarction to get there.

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Vox Hunt: Simple Pleasures

nobody@vox.com(NDC) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:39:53 +1000

Show us a simple pleasure you've enjoyed recently.

I could, but she doesn't really appreciate me posting nude photos. Sorry 'bout that

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QotD: Since I HAD to Pick Something...

nobody@vox.com(NDC) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:38:40 +1000

What aspect of your personality could use a little work?

Yes, as the title says........if I absolutely HAD to choose something, it would be my inate inability to suffer idiots. I don't regard that part of my personality as a deficiency, but it has created hurdles for me in the past. I'm not one to take a back seat when confronted by obtuse, ignorant, arrogant, selfish people. I particularly can not tolerate control freaks. Such people, to me anyway, clearly have deep-seated inadequacy issues if they can't delegate to others or admit that other people can take responsibility for their own actions.

My boss is one of the latter. It's currently taking me all my efforts to treat his anal-retentive, pedantic manner as amusing, but I'm losing the battle. We're the same age, have the same experience level but different views on lending, credit analysis and people management. In addition, it's his business I'm working in, but just how long does one have to suffer being double-checked on tasks one has been doing all of one's professional working life??!!

Fucking idiot! Yes, I suppose if I could fine tune my idiot filter, I might not go home at night so stressed.

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Cars Only Please.......We're British

nobody@vox.com(NDC) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:43:11 +1000

Is it any wonder the scuttle-butt surrounding the sexuality of the average British male focusses on their desires for material things other than a good bonk?!

This story just about says it all! Clearly, these guys who prefer a flashy car over a down-and-dirty, grab-those-legs-and-spread-'em, jolly good rollicking fuck either haven't ever had one - a jolly good fuck, that is - or haven't realised that the thing between their legs can do more than pee. Let's be frank. You can drive a car anytime. Really good sex comes along as often as Christmas. Maybe.

Frankly, I blame Top Gear. Too many cars, too few bums & boobs.

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Personalisation

nobody@vox.com(NDC) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:15:32 +1000

Readers might wonder at the changes to the blog headline graphic. I'd simple like to state that I'm in the throes of creating a set of personalised mood depictions. I'll leave it at that.

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Jennifer Lopez gives birth to twins

nobody@vox.com(NDC) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 15:32:02 +1000

Well, there's another body gone west. Okay, she had a big arse, but to someone like me who appreciates the breadth of child-bearing hips, I never thought she was unattractive. However, being the father of paternal twins I can jst imagine what her tummy will look like now, and into the future. It'll be interesting to see if J-lo makes it back into the celebrity pages.

What's that? Me? Misogynistic? Yeh, I guess so. It's who I am.

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G(ee whizz!) It does exist!

nobody@vox.com(NDC) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 07:51:28 +1000

Ultrasound proves existence of G spot

http://www.newscientist.com/article/m...

"For the first time it is possible to determine by a simple, rapid and inexpensive method if a woman has a G spot or not,"

No, not just gratuitous pornographic meanderings from yours truly. This is a serious article. Reading through, it's clear that Italian research has proven the existence of the long fabled 'G' or Grafenberg Spot within the female anatomy. That supposedly mythical part of the anterior wall of the vagina which reputedly gives those who have it a rocket ride into sexual orbit.

Actually, I've known of the existence of the G spot for a long time. Almost ten years. You see, Rabble has one. It's easy to find and does present quite prominently if one knows just where to seek it. I won't go into details right now, but would urge all men, and those women who don't know if they have this magic area of nerve endings, to read the article, the comments below it, and indulge in some exploration of their own.

I speak from experience when I say that while most of us would realise that it's not the size of what you have, but what you do with it that counts, you - as in males - only become convinced of the fact once you've had sex with a woman who has this highly erogenous part of her body.

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Ultrasound nails location of the elusive G spot - being-human - 20 February 2008 - New Scientist

nobody@vox.com(NDC) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 07:50:06 +1000

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Disorderly House

nobody@vox.com(NDC) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:06:45 +1000

Friday sittings of the House of Representatives aren't likely to be productive in the least, but they should prove to be entertaining.

Listening today, I was quite shocked at the behaviour of the opposition, which was anything but orderly or respectful of the Speaker. If anything, they were deliberately disruptive and adversarial. Between 9:15am and 9:30am it all happened.

Mr Ciobo, 9:15:42 AM, moved—That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Moncrieff from moving—That “at 12 p.m. each and every Friday that this House sits, the Speaker shall interrupt the business before the House and call on questions without notice for a period of one hour and thirty minutes”.

Closure of Member

Dr Kelly, 9:16:11 AM, moved—That the Member be no longer heard.

Question—put.

A division having been called for, in accordance with standing order 133 the division was deferred until the commencement of the next sitting.

Point of order, Mr Hockey, 9:17:11 AM, Point of order, Mr Hockey, 9:18:11 AM

Mr Hartsuyker, 9:18:52 AM, (seconder) addressing the House—

Point of order, Mr Baldwin, 9:19:08 AM

Closure of Member

Dr Kelly, 9:19:33 AM, moved—That the Member be no longer heard.

Question—put.

A division having been called for, in accordance with standing order 133 the division was deferred until the commencement of the next sitting.

Point of order, Mr Hockey, 9:19:48 AM

Speaker’s ruling

The Speaker ruled that the question before the Chair had to be deferred until the next sitting in accordance with standing order 133.

Dissent from ruling moved

Mr Hockey, 9:20:06 AM moved dissent from ruling

Closure of Member

Mr Albanese, 9:21:21 AM, moved—That the Member be no longer heard.

Question—put.

A division having been called for, in accordance with standing order 133 the division was deferred until the commencement of the next sitting.

Point of order, Mr Truss, 9:21:52 AM

Ms J. Bishop, 9:22:22 AM, (seconder) addressing the House—

Closure of Member

Mr Albanese, 9:22:34 AM, moved—That the Member be no longer heard.

Question—put.

A division having been called for, in accordance with standing order 133 the division was deferred until the commencement of the next sitting.

Question—That the Speaker’s ruling be dissented from—put.

A division having been called for, in accordance with standing order 133 the division was deferred until the commencement of the next sitting.

Mr Ciobo, seeking to speak on motion to suspend standing orders, 9:24:53 AM—

Member ordered to withdraw

Speaker ordered Mr Ciobo to withdraw for 1 hour for defying the Chair, 9:25:36 AM

Mr Ciobo refusing to withdraw from the Chamber, the Speaker ordered the Serjeant-at-Arms to direct the Member to leave the Chamber, 9:26:32 AM, Point of order, Mr Hockey, 9:26:36 AM, Point of order, Mr Abbott, 9:26:59 AM

Member ordered to withdraw

Speaker ordered Mr Abbott to withdraw for 1 hour for reflecting on the Chair, 9:27:22 AM

The chamber door must have been worked off its hinges with all the opposition members on their way out. The shouting, cat-calls and general noisy hub-bub was tremendous and I have to say, quite akin to a Parliamentary form of civil disobedience. Then, at 12:40pm, it was on again:

Mr Hartsuyker, 12:40:45 PM

Member ordered to withdraw

The Deputy Speaker ordered Mr Hartsuyker to withdraw for 1 hour for defying the Chair, 12:44:05 PM, Point of order, Mr Albanese, 12:44:27 PM, Point of order, Mr Abbott, 12:45:01 PM, the Deputy Speaker ordered Mr Randall to remove a placard he was holding up from the House, 12:46:35 PM, Point of order, Mr Hockey, 12:46:45 PM, Point of order, Mr Albanese, 12:47:12 PM, Point of order, Mr Hockey, 12:47:35 PM, Point of order, Mr Albanese, 12:47:59 PM, Point of order, Mr Hockey, 12:48:19 PM, Mr Hartsuyker, 12:48:48 PM

Member named

The Deputy Speaker, 12:50:11 PM, named the Member for Cowper (Mr Hartsuyker) for defying the Chair.

Mr Albanese, 12:50:24 PM, moved—That the Member for Cowper be suspended from the service of the House.

Question—put.

A division having been called for, in accordance with standing order 133 the division was deferred until the commencement of the next sitting.

Point of order, Mr Abbott, 12:51:07 PM

Member ordered to withdraw

The Deputy Speaker ordered Mrs Gash to withdraw for 1 hour for reflecting on the Chair, 12:51:13 PM

Point of order, Mr Albanese, 12:51:56 PM, Point of order, Mr Abbott, 12:52:58 PM, Point of order, Mr Bevis, 12:53:45 PM, Point of order, Mr Hockey, 12:54:50 PM

Suspension of sitting

At 12.56 p.m., the Deputy Speaker left the Chair.

Resumption of sitting

At 2 p.m., the Speaker resumed the Chair.

The Speaker made a statement in relation to the days proceedings and conduct of Members of the House.

The time allotted for the debate having expired—

Question—That grievances be noted—put and passed, 2:01:10 PM.

Deferred quorum

In accordance with standing order 55(c) the Speaker counted the House, at the desire of Mr Lindsay, and declared a quorum was present. (see item No. 5, page3), 2:01:43 PM

Quorum declared present, 2:01:50 PM

Clearly, the opposition isn't at all comfortable with the government doing what government's do, which is run proceedings as it sees fit. I do believe, however, that Standing Order 133 is rather futile and need not be utilised if Friday sittings are to be the norm. It does beg the question though. Should the government alter the proceedings of Friday sittings, thereby giving in to a mob who, when in government themselves, ran anything BUT a democratic Parliament? I think not. So what is the answer? I'd suggest the moving of motions be allowed, whereby the Speaker can validly rule against those who care to make a mockery of the Westminister system. It's not necessary for the Prime Minister to be in the house if Question Time isn't being held, and while Fridays haven't usually been a sitting day, clearly not having QT is no loss. I also like the way Harry Jenkins handled today's fracas, which was as much a direct challenge to his authority as it was a tilt at the government.

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Waste Not, Want Some

nobody@vox.com(NDC) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:01:50 +1000

Flipped and Flopped, then Scrapped

As is my wont, I take in Question Time daily. Today I heard Julia Gillard opining the enormous waste created by the Howard government in it's desperation to promote WorkChoices. Thousands of mousemats, pens, fridge magnets and the like are due to be trashed with the impending repeal of those divisive laws. I thought, "there has to be a better option..."

I decided to write to the Member for Lalor.

Hello Julia,

Listening to Question Time today I note you mentioned a plethora of Howard government ‘Workchoices’ propaganda (mousepads, pens, fridge magnets, etc) which I presume Labor will be trashing. As a taxpayer, and ardent Labor voter, I’d rather you didn’t simply trash the goods, but rather, make them available to the public as a reminder of what we might have been subjected to, and what we might still be subjected to at some point in the future, should conservatism ever take hold of our society and culture again.

A ‘Workchoices’ pen in a top pocket might make for an interesting discussion piece at a luncheon or dinner, wouldn’t you say? Like 11 November, 1975, I believe we should remember, maintain the rage, so to speak. History always repeats. If we can delay it’s repetition, by keeping history honest, then I think it’s a good job well done.

What do you think?

I'll keep the 'sphere appraised of developments.

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