---

The insider insider travelling stories have captured the public's imagination and the carrtoonists covering ‘Yes Minister’ have been drawn into the unfolding drama. The transcripts are pinpoint accurate in their dissection of the best of all oossible political worlds. The task of responding to and resolving parliamentary inquiries should be outsourced. That way, the vendor will be paid only when the job is completed, according to the agreed requirements and timelines. This will also allow the government to get rid of those useless backbenchers, thus saving the country a heap of money. So Lisa Pryor and Gerard Ryle are the most talked about duo at the Parliamentary cafeteria and the grassy areas of the Botanic Garden. It is all about the competency of certain parliamentary committee managers and the ‘Yes Minister’ principle. The meeting in Brussels did not start well for the two state politicians who had travelled half way around the world to find out about genetically modified food. NSW Parliament can waste money on inquiries with the best of them Brian and Tony's excellent European adventure

Eye on Tax & Law Lords: Pushing an Issue Under the Carpet
If only more of our senior public servants and department heads were so frank and fearless as Harry Evans... Most of us are often unaware about stories such as the one told by Avelyn Gogos so it seems like an absurd fiction ...

When Avelyn Gogos gave evidence at an inquiry into disability services, it was in the hope she might get her autistic son, Dean, into a group home. She didn't know what people inside the political system know - that calling a parliamentary inquiry is often a way of pushing an issue under the carpet and keeping backbenchers busy

At many levels, the processes of political processes are found to be sluggish and lacking impartiality. They are found also to be frequently incompetent.
• Still waiting for peace of mind [World Travel [ ; Some parliamentary managers, Marco Polos, have been overseas twice or more during 2003-2004 period. The inquiry system in NSW is flawed, but it's a nice little earner for politicians MPs travel the world, inquiries go nowhere ; More than a year after NSW MLCs Tony Kelly and Brian Pezzutti returned from a European trip, they presented to Parliament hundreds of pages of transcripts of meetings entitled European and United Kingdom perspectives on agriculture, genetically modified food and rural development ; Perhaps you could repeat that?; Final report ; Marco Polos; A few ideas for the parliamentary suggestion box ; Unlucky timing - Tony Catanzariti ]]
• · British Prime Minister Tony Blair sees himself, not dissimlarly to NSW Premier Bob Carr, as an environmentally caring leader. The facts, of course, bring no such confidence, but our media prefers to play along with their delusional games Blair's (lack of) power; I’m too jaded and cynical to feel more than a brief pulse of anger at the news that Philip Cooney, the White House arachnid who dishonestly doctored US government reports on global warming, has followed his heart and joined Exxon Mobil. No, not even a whiff of corruption there…Monsieur Martin Pike has left Northcote Knob in suspended animation and taken to foreign policy via Barista
• · · The gang's all here ... last night, Senator Harradine, 70, the last Cold War warrior, unionist and father of 13, stood in the chamber that was his mainland citadel to bid farewell to national politics. Father of Senate says cheers for 30 years ; Phone-tap leak from chief's office: Brogden ; The demise of the Australian Democrats demonstrates what happens to politicians who decide the electorate owes them a living The Democrat party is all over
• · · · Jason Method and James W. Prado Roberts of the Asbury Park Press raised questions in the airplane death seven years ago of a pilot who was about to buy Marlboro Airport Accident or Sabotage? ; Jailed former HIH director Rodney Adler has not breached his corporate ban by getting reports on investments and business interests while in prison, Australia's business regulato Adler's jail mail cleared by watchdog
• · · · · There needs to be a balance of power - someone to make sure the company is running well and someone to make sure the board is checking up on what he's done Dual roles ; Damian Lataan asks, "What's happened to us?" That's the thing, isn't it? Something HAS happened to us. We are not the nation we were five years ago. My observation is that we have allowed ourselves to become lazy and frightened. Whatever happened to the healthy Aussie skepticism? Whatever happened to famous Aussie antipathy for authority? Democracy, the God that Failed
• · · · · · City projects face value checks ; Carr unveils Sydney shake-up plan ; Campaign for Sydneyrella

---

Geoff Berry of Queenscliff thought that ‘the purpose of Senate inquiries was to get the problem off the front pages - oops!’

Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance. Robert Kennedy and Public Confidence in Democracy
Ach, Sorry, members and clerks only

Eye on Politics & Law Lords: Elective Monarchy: 'King John' under fire
The Australian Parliament has deteriorated into a form of elective monarchy where the Prime Minister "rules all he surveys", says the most senior public servant in the Senate, Harry Evans [and Linda V.]

In remarkably frank reaction to Herald revelations that parliamentary inquiries are being ignored by the Government, Mr Evans, the Clerk of the Senate, says it is time the public insists on better representation. Writing in the Herald today, he argues: "We no longer have parliamentary government in any meaningful sense of the term." On radio yesterday, Mr Evans likened John Howard to a king and said people needed to be more sophisticated about what they expected from their elected representatives. "There is in Australia an enormous concentration of power in the Prime Minister," he told 2UE. "People don't realise this, that we really have a sort of elective monarchy where, you know, you elect the monarch and … [he] rules all he surveys."

It is not just Senate inquiries that are spurned by the Government - it has ignored 27 of its own committee inquiries. Many public inquiries have been replicated in the federal and state arenas over the past decade. And the two levels of government often duplicate something else, too: inaction once the inquiries are completed.
The NSW and federal parliaments carried out inquiries into the issues of salinity, genetically modified foods and the dangers of railway crossings.
• Senate boss blasts PM's monarchy [Parliament should be a place of debate, not a rubber stamp for the prime minister A day spent in the public gallery would shock the founding fathers; Thatcher in trousers Backbenchers complicate a tricky stretch ]
• · Revealed: Thornley Planned Privately Owned Faction a Year Ago - "Thornley First" ; Lay off the cheap grog at NSW State Parly! In defence of cheap grog at State Parly; The Parliamentary Reds
• · · The "ayes", not to mention "musts" and "mays", have put paid to public participation in development issues New planning code: trust us, we're the experts ; The Left Bank's well of ideas runs dry
• · · · The hero of the day is now a product being ripened by a platoon of PR agents, managers, stylists and personal trainers. There's a buck to be made with this boy Doug's grateful, but armed forces must make way for market forces ; In December 2004, Australian MP Andrew Refshauge was backed into a corner. In the light of the poor academic performance of indigenous students, he could no longer insist that the ‘one size fits all’ approach to school curricula is the best model Parent Power
• · · · · Laurie Taylor championed the 1960s sexual revolution; now at last he can be uproariously honest about it Freaked out ; On a satirical act that would fit perfectly in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 or George Orwell's 1984 Killed in Iran, banned here
• · · · · · Barack Obama makes the best case for liberal politics in recent memory Barack Star ; Start with the prevailing disposition of power, trim your principles to fit, and you end up with an organization stood on its head The United Nations system: 60

---

Is the situation better at the state levels? Most of the parliamentary committees have been politisized to a larger extend than ever before. It is a political trend not even the most powerful forces in democracy can stop it ... How a burgeoning political machine evolved
Millions of taxpayers' dollars have been wasted on more than 70 parliamentary inquiries whose recommendations have been ignored and left to collect dust. A Herald investigation has found that the Federal Government has not replied on time to a single public inquiry out of the 62 it has ordered in the House of Representatives since December 1998. It has given no reply at all to almost half of them. Democracy denied
Australia's darkest chapters: the brutal mistreatment of about 500,000 children in orphanages and children's homes We were given hope, and we got nothing

Eye on Tax Heavens: From the Bottom-of-the-Harbour to Out to Sea Tax
To some with a sense of history, this week's events hark back to the 1980s, to the days of the notorious "bottom of the harbour" tax schemes, and to the 1990s when mass-marketed agribusiness and film schemes were all the rage

The bottom-of-the-harbour tax schemes were a murky affair, deliberately designed to avoid company tax by stripping a company of its assets before tax was payable, or using another company as the entity which became liable for tax but ensuring it never had sufficient assets to pay money owed. These were closed down by legislation.

• Dodgy schemes are destined to fail with our intolerant taxman [The national law firm Deacons is preparing to attack the Tax Office in the Federal Court this morning over its raids relating to alleged tax haven promoter Philip Egglishaw Legal firm to sue over tax raids ; The blitz on tax havens and money laundering is already bigger than the bottom of the harbour investigations that shook the Fraser government Tax raids eclipse '80s blitz: minister ]
• · He has been detained twice, firebombed once and defied the orders of the Soviet secret police and corrupt African warlords. But his tireless and sometimes dangerous activities are part of a mission he regards as sacred: to uphold the memory of his people and of the time when they were forgotten by the world. As a Jewish American whose family fled the Nazis and dispersed across the world, this vow is his birthright. Star of David ; Freed Australian hostage Douglas Wood has arrived in Melbourne in high spirits, saying it was "bloody good" to be home He's back: Wood arrives in Australia
• · · Remarks by Greenspan reflect concern that disparities in wealth may destabilize the economy Rich-poor gap gaining attention ; While pretending to help his children with their homework, Rodney Adler was secretly passing on instructions relating to his business ventures Today's lesson: the harder cell
• · · · Eugene Volokh (Law, UCLA) opines on evolutionary biology and religion, and Pharyngula correctly notes that most of the discussion is a tissue of confusions and mistakes. On Not Understanding Science ; Eighty Years After Scopes, a Professor Reflects on Unabated Opposition to Evolutionists Ruse on evolution
• · · · · Providing homes with electricity and heat from the sun is getting more buzz than it has in decades It's Getting Cheaper to Tap the Sun ; Good old Sir Bob, branded eBay as an electronic pimp and condemned the auctions as against the spirit of the event Geldof smartmobs eBay ; As the scale of Labor's victory became clear yesterday, the Chief Minister, Clare Martin, told reporters she had been given a mandate to push policies that included jailing habitual drunks who refused rehabilitation This is Labor's Territory, in a landslide
• · · · · · A secretary named Jenny Amner accidentally spilled ketchup on a Richard Phillips, a senior associate at the law firm Baker & McKenzie Executive vs secretary in case of spilled ketchup ; Blogging Iran, by Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Nation Democracy and Human Rights Front in Iran ; A former prisoner, Neil Heuston, claims his case for compensation, based on the proven corruption of the police officers who had him convicted, is being obstructed on technicalities Man fights for payout after 10 years in prison

---

Money may make the world go around but recognition is also a valuable workplace currency. Good leaders create opportunities to provide rewards, recognition and thanks to staff members. In the words of the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics -- there are two things people want more than sex and money - recognition and praise.
In many ways, I consider myself to be one of the luckiest man on earth as my former mentors Patricia Azarias and Dr Russell Cope (1982-2000 AD) were the most generous encouragers. As the one thing great managers know is what is unique about each person and to capitalise on it.
The leading US management academic, Professor Dave Ulrich says results do not just come in the form of short term financial impact, but even more as a longer-term intangible benefit where investors gain confidence in the firm as a result of the quality of leadership and, as a result, generate a higher market value

How to overcome the corporate conspiracy that keeps you chained to your job. BY: SUSAN CRAMM
If you want your life to be more than a series of meetings, e-mails and business trips, you are not alone. My objective in nearly every coaching relationship is to help my client find a balance between work responsibilities and personal life. Former GE grand pooh-bah Jack Welch has said in recent articles and interviews that he believes great managers don't have work-life-balance issues because they have the necessary "systems" in place. This is a ridiculous comment, even for those with a stay-at-home spouse and legions of personal assistants. The only managers who don't have work-life-balance issues are those who have already given up their lives to the company.Have
Susan Cramm is founder and president of Valuedance, an executive coaching firm in San Clemente, Calif. E-mail feedback to susan@valuedance.com Your Work or Your Life [For more reader questions and answers from Susan Cramm, visitThe Executive Coach Column]

Opportunity Knocks 17 June -18 June 2005 AD: The Sydney Morning Herald Careers and Employment Expo
The opportunities that await motivated and career minded individuals are outstanding. Australian and global businesses are increasingly looking to build relationships with Australia's top talent.

The Sydney Morning Herald Careers and Employment Expo provides these organisations a platform to reach the talent they seek today and in the future - You

• 17-18 June [As people try to figure out how to navigate today's tough work realities, career and motivation gurus have a receptive audience. So they look for easy-to-swallow maxims to preach - and in so doing, have let loose numerous myths about how to carve career success Ten myths of career success debunked ; Work Makes You Free? ]

---

Wayne Swan discusses his new book, Postcode: The Splintering of a Nation - Rich and poor drifting apart Swan book launches debate on the poor : The richest 10 per cent of Australians enjoy almost half the country's total household wealth

Eye on Politics & Law Lords: Former ABC staffer Stephen Feneley writes at Crikey
Moonlighting as Crikey's media correspondent, Christian Kerr has brought attention to one of the least talked about drawbacks of Aunty dumbing down – the dumber it gets the more it costs.

At the same time as ABC Radio boss Sue Howard is paying big bucks for intellectually light talent on the local network, Radio National is facing a major crisis because of a one million dollar shortfall. Sue Howard controls the budgets for both radio networks.
Here's my suggestion: a salary cap of $150,000 a year for all on-air personalities across all ABC networks (yes, that means a more than 50% cut in pay for you, Kerry). Also, no-one at the ABC should be earning more than the prime minister, which would see Russell Balding taking a dive in pay of more than $100,000. The money saved from those two initiatives would more than solve Radio National's funding crisis and there might even be enough money left over for a much needed boost to the quality of research on the local radio network. This is something the ABC board could insist on. If those suffering a pay cut don't like it, they can leave, which probably would result in the ABC sounding more like the ABC should sound. How likely is it this would ever happen?

• There's probably a better chance of Andrew Bolt being offered a gig on 774 ; David Bowman pays tribute to Allan Ashbolt, who died last week The lion of the ABC [Bizarrely, Australia is giving a generous welcome to Pakistani dictator Pervez Musharraf. This despite a chilling tale from Nicholas Kristof, reporting that Musharraf has just ordered the detention of a gang rape victim who works to raise awareness of violence against women. Full text of the Kristof article over the fold Calling a Dictator a Dictator ; An anti-pokies group has signed up 200 problem gamblers to help challenge the legality of gaming machines in a class-action cas Duty of Care: Class case to battle pokies ]
• · WAYNE Swan is one of the hard men of Labor politics, but writing a book about the distinctly unfashionable subjects of poverty and disadvantage in Australia suggests there is more to him than that Down-home politics ; In recent years governments across the world have retreated from the task of nation-building and creating social justic Hands-off policies betray families; The operation and culture of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs has been condemned Rau report damns department culture ; Detention didn’t deter, argues William Maley Government’s policy has been built on a myth ; Political meddling in the sentencing of criminals is creating all manner of muddle and unfairness Crushed in a pincer of politics and sentiment
• · · Thick vs. Think Tanks John Roskam, new IPA boss ; Deakin University law academic James McConvill criticises the lack of intellectual life at university Delusions of intellectual grandeur ; Tax haven promoter a smooth operator
• · · · Policymakers must do their homework Going With the Flow ; Generation where less is so much more Water prices to rise
• · · · · I have a disclosure. I know Doug Wood. At least I have met Doug a few times many years ago. That on its own put me somewhat closer to his kidnapping than if it had been someone else When evil happens to good people ; The report includes stories of widespread abuse and bullying, rapes, racism, drug use and flawed and inadequate prosecutions and investigations into cases Defence Force justice system under fire ; The military justice system has failed the personnel it is meant to protect and must be fundamentally overhauled, a bipartisan parliamentary committee has found Lid lifted on rank injustice
• · · · · · Tim Blair takes umbrage at a claim by Michael Gawenda that most Americans are creationists Tim Blair - pointy-headed liberal ?; James Surowiecki on how companies prepare for a crisis In Case Of Emergency

---

You've got to find what you love, and that is as true for work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work, and the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking, and don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it, and like any great relationship it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking. Don't settle. Steve Jobs

Eye on Taxes and Invisible Economy State upper houses and parliamentary democracy
Strong upper houses are a distinctive and important part of Australia’s constitutional heritage.

While the Senate is the most visible and celebrated example, state upper houses (the legislative councils) are now also vital components of Australian democracy. Bruce Stone audits the state upper houses and finds electoral reform is the key to improved performance in legislative review and executive scrutiny, and that some houses are simply too small to be effective.

• Democratic Audit of Australia [After a long period of neglect, infrastructure is back in the headlines The State of Priorities: On Queensland’s Infrastructure Mess; Living Parliamentary Digest ]
• · Greg B. Smith of the New York Daily News used state data to show that “in the state Department of Transportation alone, lobbyists schmoozed the agency on nearly $1.3 billion in contracts in the past two years … The back-room billions ; Huge scam in WorkCover certificates ; The funeral industry has deteriorated to such an extent that the dead are being buried in cardboard coffins Funerals bury mourners' savings ; Charges recommended against top cops
• · · Two months after he was released from federal prison after serving time for political corruption charges in 1998, the former Essex County Executive set up a charitable foundation. Loophole lets ex-con fund his retirement ; New tax haven clues point to firms' wealthy clients ; The fallout from the cooling of the housing market is still unclear Beware the bang if the property bubble bursts
• · · · Lenny Roth surveys the main legal restrictions on children and forms of discrimination against children Children’s rights in NSW ; More complex child-support formula on the table Many fathers to pay less child support
• · · · · From saving to empowering to including: changing understandings of poverty at the Brotherhood of St Laurence ; Wood rescued in military operation I am delighted to inform the house that the Australian hostage in Iraq Mr Douglas Wood is safe from his captors
• · · · · · Newly leaked documents reveal the extent of the British cabinet's concern over America's disrespect for international law Downing Street II ; It's official: blessed is the troublesome peacemaker The peace prize professor who came in from the cold

---

The federal Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley, has expressed alarm at the size of Australia's national debt Nation at 'edge of debt cliff', warns Beazley

Up to 100 people are likely to be quizzed by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) as part of a major investigation into a $300 million offshore tax evasion scheme 'Wealthy and prominent' face tax evasion quiz

Eye on Tax Schemes: Live 8, The British Initiative and Victory Over Want
Bob Geldof's campaign for Africa is magnificent and unique. His persistence over a full generation is a measure of his dedication to a great humanitarian cause.

The proposals of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, his Treasurer Gordon Brown and their Government also deserve support, both in themselves and in the impact that we hope they will have on the policies of the governments of other highly-developed economies including the United States.
Our aim - the aim of all of us - should be to make these efforts as successful and productive as we possibly can. However, although some of the more prominent proposals, such as cancellation of debt, can be applauded, they will do little, if anything, to reduce poverty or stimulate self-sustaining growth in the recipient countries.

• The case for helping the Africans to meet these challenges is unassailable
• · Citigroup to pay $2 bln in Enron lawsuit ; Richard Grant examines a specific challenge for each of the regulators, and the regulatory strategies they employ to monitor Australia’s corporate sector Australia’s corporate regulators – the ACCC, ASIC and APRA
• · · Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846 while John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946 Czech Amerikan History Lessons ; Report: FBI Had At Least Five Chances To Stop 9/11 Terrorists ; War: The Lethal Custom by Gwynne Dyer Reviewed by Antony Loewenstein: Call to arms could signal calamity
• · · · Who should pay for the children? Shaking up child support ; Charlotte and her three young children scrape by on welfare. The only child support she’s had from her estranged husband is a princely, one-off, $5 Costing the Children
• · · · · Two Chinese men, one a diplomat, and the other a policeman, have requested asylum in Australia, and a third Chinese man, a refugee, confirmed their claims that China persecutes its citizens and spies on them Interview: Kevin Rudd ; Defector Chen Yonglin's story is too intriguing to ignore Dragon's claws; Some of the actions taken by the Federal Government in the case of defecting Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin could be seen as illegal Labor raises legal questions in Chen case ; Australians rally in support of Chinese defectors
• · · · · · None of Sydney's problems are without solutions. And none are unique to this city. Countless cities have found the solutions when they have had the right combination of leadership, will and money... Like the creeping sands of the Gobi Desert, the drought is closing in on Australia's major cities. Like the Gobi desert ; Australia's most important central business district will run out of office space as soon as 2015, but the City of Sydney has a plan to delay the crisis - allowing bigger office blocks. We've reached the city limits ; Save water, drink beer - and make mine a plastic

---

Forget the logo, the brand and the label, savvy companies want you to love their human side. The future of corporate blogs, however, is difficult to predict. Trevor Cook says that at some point companies will "get used to the idea that a bit of untidiness is attractive to people". These little bloggers went to market also via Cook Most Advertisers Interested in Blogs and Feeds

This is how the Internet was supposed to help music: last year, J. P. Connolly, a science teacher in Brooklyn, heard a song by one of his students, a rail-thin 15-year-old named Oliver Ignatius, who is the lead singer for a band called the Hysterics. Mr. Connolly, who had bonded with his student over independent music, loved Mr. Ignatius's song and posted it on Music for Robots, an influential blog he helps run and the rest is Hysterics Little-Known Bands Get Lift Through Word-of-Blog It seems there are moves afoot to give even more oxygen to Cold River soon ;-) Blogs give little known writers going under the pseudonym of Imrich a bigger reach

The Long Taxing Tail Among Blogs Meet the Masters: Around the World in 80 Blogs
The latest smart marketing tool, film directors' 'making-of' weblogs stoke fans' zeal by drawing them into what feels like an inner circle.

Consternation spread quickly across the Internet movie fan universe. In April, Peter Jackson, director of the big-budget remake of "King Kong," broadcast his plans to expand the ape epic (due in theaters this December) into a trilogy of films. But his "exclusive announcement" wasn't delivered through the usual channels — the obligatory press release or television interview. News came via his video production diary on the fan website kongisking.net

Using his weekly weblog, Jackson presented digital mock-ups and demonstrated motion capture technology to be used in the sequel, intercut with an interview with its star, Naomi Watts
• Another Blog is Possible The new kids on the blog [Besides LSblogs that I have just mentioned the other directory that generated some traffic was Blogarama Blog directories are they worth it ; You know blogging’s arrived when people start: 1) making movies about blogging; 2) fighting viciously over making “blogumentaries;” 3) conducting Stalinist-style blood purges of their fellow bloggers for purported ideological non-conformity; and 4) claiming that the liberal blogosphere has now surpassed cable TV news ]
• · Rarely can it be said that a blogger has defined a entrepreneurial sportsmanship, but never is that more true than in the case Mark Cuban who has well thought out and informative posts on every sporting subject under the sun NBA Refs and the playoffs ; For a while there, the Internet and the World Wide Web showed great promise. They whispered sweet nothings in our ears, promising to be the voice of the marginalized, the new democracy, the great equalizer. But it wasn’t to be, for the Internet has a new master. No, it’s not Google. No, it’s not Microsoft. And no, it’s not even good ole’ Uncle Sam. Is the Internet History's Greatest Hoax? ; Most of the time I don't buy into conspiracy theories. I no longer believe, for instance, that anyone shot JFK from the grassy knoll. Deep down I don't really think that Harold Wilson was the victim of an MI5 coup either. And I certainly don't believe the only reason why Gerry Adams isn't part of a power-sharing government in Belfast today is because the Special Branch will stop at nothing to prevent it Is Rupert Murdoch the man who saved Europe?
• · · The reality-TV graveyard is haunted by the ghosts of Donald Trump's "The Apprentice." Richard Branson’s "Rebel Billionaire" and Mark Cuban’s "The Benefactor" Tops on the tube: Mini-Mes ; In addition to serving as the most powerful vice president in history, Dick Cheney also finds time to be the King of Irony
• · · · Don't go toward fake blogs. Don't launch character blogs. Use a blog for what it's for, transparency Corporations turn to blogs as a way to talk directly to consumers ; Robert Manning Blogging Is Not Fundamental ; UPS guy says that blogs are overhyped, but he's on top on Google ; Shipping
• · · · · Naked blogger attracts thousands ; Sarong Party Girl ; A Singaporean blogger is now taking it off on her blog
• · · · · · How can readers determine that their newspaper has a watchdog culture? How could they identify or measure it? What should they expect from a watchdog paper? Watchdog Culture ; Bark and Bite Analogy: How to Create Watchful Culture Blogger Bites Dog at Bankstown ;-)

---

If someone tells you he always tells the truth, you know you have a liar on your hands -Groucho Marx once said

Jonathan Chait, Los Angeles Times: Whenever you broach such inconvenient facts, conservatives invariably have three pat replies. One is to accuse you of envying the rich and/or wanting to kill them. Another is to suggest you want to turn the United States into a clone of some god-awful country. (The Soviet Union once served this purpose nicely. Since the fall of communism, though, conservatives have had to search about for other boogeymen, usually settling on some decidedly less-frightening Western European democracy.) The third is to insist that it's good for everybody when the country gets less equal Envy The Rich? No. Tax Them? Oh Yeah ; Larry Kudlow, RealClearPolitics Rich People Are Government’s Best Friend

Whatever is alive is at peril. Whatever is alive must compete for food and a mate while protecting itself against predators. Mendacity proves helpful in all three endeavors. But when lying occurs within the tribe, it weakens communal bonds and threatens the tribe’s survival. It is an oxymoron, however, if the next people revolution, bloody or not, where to succeed the community must ensure be honest about its weaknesses whatever the price Why We Lie and Deception at Work

Eye on Taxes and Work: Taking Control of the States: the ultimate barbecue stopper
Bob Hawke was going to abolish the states – but never got around to it – will the Howard Government seize the opportunity when they take control of the Senate on July 1?

Friday's COAG meeting in Canberra was portrayed as a great, cooperative love-in. But in reality, it was a major missed opportunity. If the idea was to only talk about things in which cooperation between the states and Canberra was possible, it was telling that our political leaders ran out of things to discuss after just two hours.

Bob Carr is a closet webdiaryist (sic) who keeps a daily record of the events in the state's top job.
• Reflections on Australian Federalism [MPs, pay rises and public housing Who's Australia's lowest paid political leader? ; A series of arson attacks has sparked fears that Sydney's beleaguered tow truck industry is in the grip of a new, violent turf war Racketeer operators: Tow trucks in flames as war hots up ; The Left's assistant secretary Luke Foley launched the attack on the Right, with accusations that the Government's ministerial staff had been "dragooned" into joining the party's Bondi branch Peace is brief for ALP factions ]
• · U.S.-Iraq policy and the murder of a whistle-blowing contractor The Unquiet American; Amateur engineers are asking what they can do for the Pentagon Dave Warren had devised a lightweight vehicle armor ; Behind every liberal rich-person basher lurks a rich-person gawker. Or at least most of the time Wealth Porn
• · · As dust settles after the explosive referenda at the heart of the European Union, interested parties from all sides are peering nervously into the crater, trying to figure out what remains of the European "project." What America Can Do for Europe; How ludicrous that the prime minister of Luxembourg should insist, like some east European communist leader of old, that black is white and everything can therefore continue just as before Decadent Europe
• · · · It is obvious that something is very wrong with the old labels, with the categories of "left" and "right," and with the ways in which we customarily apply these categories to American political life Confessions of a Right-Wing Liberal ; Evangelicalism was once a tiny reform movement, one that was amazingly successful The Rise of the Evangelicals ; Good news from Iraq: skylights installed in Fallujah schools!
• · · · · A look at what today's demonstrators have to learn from the past G8 protest: how far should you go? Another World is Possible: Making A 'Mother World' Possible ; Yes, offshore banking is an outrage. No, it's not a metaphor for capitalism. If America needs a new enemy, the Cayman Islands might be a refreshing choice Out to Sea ;
• · · · · · James K. Galbraith on John Kenneth Galbraith; Jurgen Brauer and Nicholas Anglewicz: Taking all spending into account, the federal government spends 68 cents of every dollar on defense Two-Thirds On Defense ; Politicizing 9/11 at memorial site shows disrespect Mocking a memory: American Airlines flight 77

---

Andre Glucksmann describes how the French no is the manifestation of a movement that cuts to the heart of Europe The victory of Euro-nihilism

Eye on Death & Taxes: Big end of town caught in tax raids
Raids on 85 homes and offices in four states have netted the big end of town and crushed a $300 million tax fraud scheme. Wealthy, high-profile Australians have been raided in their homes, and files and computer records seized from their tax advisers, in an unprecedented combined operation by the Australian Crime Commission, the Tax Office and the Australian Federal Police

The Crime Commission said in some cases deductions were claimed for payments for fictitious expenses and services, while in others, income derived overseas was not accounted for in Australia. The Tax Office said the income was secretly returned to Australia disguised as a loan, an inheritance, a gift, or through credit and debit cards

• The decision to make an unannounced visit … was taken by a senior officer Fat cat tax raids ['High rollers' linked with tax scam Google: Raids in four states target tax fraud ; Michigan restaurants raided as part of tax and immigration probe Police raid Great Wall, 16 other Chinese businesses; Regina Hackett and Michelle Nicolosi of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer found that millions of dollars in purchases by Washington art collectors have gone untaxed, and that an agent’s effort to collect that revenue was squelched by upper management at the state Department of Revenue, then suspended late last year Untaxed Art ]
• · The medical marijuana ruling is legally and morally flawed. Judicial federalism gets really interesting: What were those Justices smoking? ; Tom DeLay's former employees have brought the House majority leader power rivaling that of Boss Tweed Meet The DeLays
• · · John Brenkman on how EU leaders must inspire their citizens with their vision of a democratic Europe Europe does not inspire even its own creators ;The Cuban regime's apparatus of self-legitimization rests on the notion that political freedom has to be sacrificed for the sake of national sovereignty and social justice Is Cuba a fair country? ; A look at Official Portraits, a Unique collection of world leaders
• · · · Bert Dalmer of the Des Moines Register analyzed a list of Iowa’s “critical assets” in need of defending, finding that it “includes casinos, family farms and landing pads, but few if any skyscrapers, courthouses or banking centers.” List of 'assets' has some surprises ; Even now, after the demonstrators shouting and the finance ministers whizzing around in their limousines, after all the fussing about Iraq war architect Paul Wolfowitz taking over last week, who really knows what the World Bank does? World Bank's Loan Rangers
• · · · · Osama's Road to Riches and Terror Golden Chain: The Bin Laden family ; Deep inside the historical relationship between Islam and China, India and Southeast Asia. An account every student of politics and religion shoul read sooner rather than later Asia and Islam — A Historical Perspective
• · · · · · James R. Carroll of the Louisville Courier-Journal examined congressional travel records for Kentucky and Southern Indiana to show that “in a little more than nine years, the cost of privately paid trips for lawmakers in the area and their aides totaled nearly $1.5 million.” Private money pays for lawmakers' trips ; Debate about a new plan for Sydney has opened a hornet's nest: Locally and globally, vision is the key Here's the future ... if we dare

---

Channel Nine has set up a private finance scheme to raise $15.5 million to fund production of future series of McLeod's Daughters. The project guarantees investors a 106 per cent return after seven years, on an initial minimum investment of $100,000. This is the first time this type of scheme, which is regularly used in the film industry, has been tried in the financing of a television drama series in Australia. It is aimed at the rich. The rich can fund McLeod's Daughters

Eye on Politics & Law Lords: High rollers linked with tax scam
A $300 million offshore tax evasion scheme involving rich individuals across four states has been exposed in a multi-agency investigation

Federal Justice and Customs Minister Chris Ellison today congratulated the Australian Crime Commission (ACC), the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Federal Police for uncovering what he said was a major, organised effort to defraud the Commonwealth of tax revenue.
During the past two days of Operation Wickenby, which began in October last year with 285 personnel, the ACC raided 48 properties in NSW, WA, Queensland and Victoria, while the ATO took action to access documents in a further 37 locations.

It sends a very clear message that all people in Australia are subject to paying tax
• Blues Over White Collar Schemes [Democrats to deliver tax cuts ; Jacki Weaver plays a former chorus girl addicted to the one-armed bandits in Ruby's Last Dollar Blow up the pokies: Down on her luck she's down to her last lucky coin ]
• · The tyranny of the majority is even more pronounced when the minority in question repudiates not just the majority's opinion, but the social contract as such. The failure of the democrats to adequately resolve this predicament is considered a significant flaw in democracy." Does Democracy have Weaknesses? ; Business Review Weekly, 09/06/2005, by Jonathan Kuan (Letter): In presenting your report about GOD'S MILLIONAIRES (Cover Story, May 26) you draw attention to the complex relationship that exists between death and taxes, capitalism and religion. One reaction, prompted by the heading that Pentecostal churches are inheriting the earth tax-free, is simply to suggest that these churches should lose their tax-free status. If the mega-churches are indeed real commercial enterprises, then tax them like the mining companies and the multinationals Call to end conflict of faith and money; The new look business.gov.au is open for business
• · · Anne Lampe: After each of the myriad rule and regulation changes involving super over the years you'd be forgiven for thinking it can't get more complex or contradictory, but it does. Until recently, super fund members could not gain access to their benefits between 55 and 65 years of age unless they permanently left the workforce Super stream: Take your time choosing a super fund ; Super: read between the lines
• · · · Henry Kissinger, Int'l Herald Tribune Relations Between China and the U.S. ; Jim Hoagland, Washington Post Whose Asian Century? India vs. China ; Juking about Killing Dick The Assassination of Richard Nixon
• · · · · The lawyer representing a former Chinese security bureau official who has been granted refugee status in Australia has outlined abuses he says his client saw perpetrated by members of China's secret service Lawyer says Australia hosts Chinese spy network; Third Chinese man backs countrymen's claims ; Abbott, Costello back asylum for Chen ; Failure to act on Chen 'extraordinary' The discomfort zone
• · · · · · Bob Carr has confessed to fantasising about being mayor of New York City, the world's most buzzing high-density metropolis. In reality, he is more like the California highway commissioner ... Environmental road too rocky for Carr ; Carr's winning role as son of Bradfield ; Neville Wran used the 1986 ALP state conference to stun the party with his decision to resign as premier. As this weekend's conference draws near, Bob Carr, the state's longest serving premier since Federation, has been at pains to hose down speculation that he might do the same ... It would be my last if I am assassinated on the way out of the Town Hall. If I am assassinated on my way in, then the last conference I addressed was my last Carrying on

---

Spending to bullet-proof prosperity - Beattie's billions to fund rush north Attack proves best defence in GST fight

Eye on Death and Taxes: A Bucket of Money: The world's most dangerous federation
It was a budget so good the Queensland treasurer called it "unbelievable"

There was the $5 billion in tax cuts, another $5.35 billion earmarked for health and $8 billion for new roads, dams, power stations, public housing and education and training. Not only that, there was $2.7 billion left over at the end of 2004-05 - a record surplus - to be followed by a projected $934 million next financial year.
This was the budget, said the Queensland Treasurer, Terry Mackenroth, that would set the foundation for the Sunshine State's future - but he rejected suggestions that it was NSW taxpayers providing the mortar through the controversial carve-up of GST revenue.

• Surplus renews GST row [All major suburban areas need quality transport links soon after the residents arrive All aboard for a more effective train system; Cracks uncovered in the pylons beneath the rail line and expressway at Circular Quay Pylons show up new cracks in rail safety record ]
• · A second Chinese defector has backed claims China has spies operating in Australia Chen's spy claim backed by second defector ; New evidence shows a Chinese diplomat appealed in writing for political asylum last month, directly contradicting federal government claims it received no such application Letter shows Chen asked for asylum ; Khaleed Shnayf Daoed was found guilty today of helping to organise the SIEV X disaster, in which 353 people died and only 45 survived when the boat capsized near Indonesia in October 2001 Man faces 20 years for people smuggling disaster
• · · The west believes it is building a safer world but it is creating a gangsters' paradise. Mob rule ; The world today is no Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by a just and angry God. The world today is of our own making. It is a world where man has sinned against man, people against people - both as perpetrators and as silent onlookers The bitter harvest of our seeding ; Fortune has failed to smile on Phillip Smiles ever since the former state Liberal MP tried to claim his children's nannies as a tax deduction more than a decade ago Nannies grin as Smiles sent to the naughty corner
• · · · The Osama bin Laden cigarette lighter is adorned with his raised, chrome portrait, an embossed ''9.11'' The globalisation of absurdity ; Greek ‘thumos’ is close to Sanskrit ‘dhum’ (smoke) which came from ‘dhu’ (to shake violently). Sanskrit formed ‘dhum’ (smoke) and ‘dhul’ (dust) from the root ‘dhu’. Arabic soul (ruh) is quite close to wind (rih). In Persian, soul is ‘dam’ which is another way of saying Sanskrit ‘dhum’ (smoke) Fukuyama’s ‘last man’: Osama bin Laden is the ‘first man’, looking for recognition
• · · · · Politicians might hear, but does popular culture have the power to actually make them listen? Iron Tears: America's Battle for Freedom, Britain's Quagmire: 1775-1783 Keep your eyes wide. The chance won’t come again ; We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good Not all liberals are evil ; Young democracy guerrillas join forces: From Belgrade to Baku, activists gather to swap notes on how to topple dictators. From Belgrade to Baku
• · · · · · How numbers can suggest fishy business Freakonomics:What Numbers Reveal ; Forget the Founding Fathers ; Pity the author of a book on World War II scheduled for release this year Looking back on the worst conflict in human history ;
For the first time anyone can remember, the Left and the Right will sit down together at a cross- factional dinner at this weekend's ALP state conference Faction friction shows they're still the life - and death - of the party

---

The answer almost certainly isn't "tax cuts." The Rich Get Richer--But Why?

Eye on Death and Taxes: NSW crime statistics
Civil libertarians have rejected assertions from NSW Premier Bob Carr that longer jail sentences are behind a drop in the state's crime rate.

Crime has fallen across the board over the past few years according to figures released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. And Mr Carr says NSW's record prison population - which stands at more than 9000 - was the reason behind the crime reduction. Reports today said courts were now issuing custodial sentences, where previously they were more likely to issue community service orders. But the move has increased costs, with community service orders costing only $10 a day to administer compared with $173 to keep an offender in prison. Mr Carr said tougher jail sentences had reduced crime and made the community feel safer.

• 'Economics, not jail' behind crime rate drop [PDF version link to Prisons swell as tougher sentences bite ; We've had our differences, John, but you are still our last best hope for saving the nation. We need your help to bring the truth about our nation's attack on Iraq to the attention of the American people. Mr. Kerry: You Could Still Be the Leader We Need ]
• · Federal Transport Minister John Anderson is on "another planet" if he thinks one person can solve Australia's airport security issues Scully to Anderson: you're on another planet ; Your passion for democracy is inspiring and your enthusiasm contagious ... It was Paine who argued that America would afford "an asylum for mankind," provide a model to the world, and support the global advance of republican democracy. In these pages is tonic for flagging spirits facing great odds - because it was Thomas Paine who insisted that "it is too soon to write the history of the Revolution." And Writing the History of the Revolution is Now Up to You. That's what truly is at stake (Source: This is the prepared text of the speech Bill Moyers gave at Take Back America: The Conference for America's Future , sponsored by the Institute for America's Future, in Washington on Friday, June 3, 2005)
• · · Lyndsey Layton and Jo Becker of the Washington Post obtained and reviewed documents and data on the performance of the DC-area subway system Metro Off the Rails ; The logic of these cases would have to extend to computer fingerprint and DNA matching, not to mention face-recognition software Judges toss out DUIs because breathalyzers' source code is secret
• · · · There will be no bands to greet them, no parades and no presidential platitudes honoring their sacrifices 'USS Liberty' Survivors Can Never Forget; There has never been an administration, I don't believe in our history, more intent upon consolidating and abusing power to further their own agenda Hillary Unplugged
• · · · · Tax concessions for commuters would ease the gridlock in Sydney more effectively than a congestion charge like the one that had slashed car dependency in Londo Give rail and bus users a break, says NSW ; Free Gasoline Perk; The big-spending, tax-cutting budget appears to have paid a popularity dividend for the Howard Government Tax cuts carry Howard to greater heights
• · · · · · When historians look back over the last 25 years, one of the great crimes they will identify is the Third World debt crisis. Sell the Gold, Free the Poor ; Truth: A private virtue or a public reality? A moral or a logical category? A set of non-negotiable facts, or a consensus about the way the world is? What’s its opposite – falsity, fiction, omission, ignorance? Does it set us free, or bind us together? Writing "Truth" on the Sidewalk: Who Do We Think We Are?

---

Make big plans, for little plans have no magic to stir men's blood and in themselves may never be realised.
-Daniel H. Burnham Lord Sydney knew all about the magic of dreaming in biblical proportions

Lofty aspirations turned into reality will serve city well The world of mirrors and the world of humans are not separated

Eye on Politics & Law Lords: It's History That's Bringing Giants like Lord Townshend Together Is Someone Reading History Over Your Shoulder?
Move from austere Czechoslovakia to this blood-thirsty city of Sydney and it's hard to escape the conclusion that the idea of English history is and always has been exciting. My heart should sing as history is more alive after you give blood, as I did today for the 13th time in Sydney; Indeed, at the Chiefly Tower/Square history is more present when you discuss with your former chairman, Andrew Tink, the future of his manuscript which aim to resurrect historical characters like Lord Sydney aka Lord Townshend...

Adam Smith, the founder of classical economics, was certain that humankind's knack for monetary exchange belonged to humankind alone. Townshend became a very significant political figure during the 1780s, playing a key role in the emergence of the United States and the beginnings of Australia and Canada. In recognition of his pivotal role in helping formalise the peace treaty with America following the Revolution, Townshend was made Baron Sydney in 1783. The name Sydney derives from Normandy and in Old English meant 'dweller of the wide well-watered land' - not a bad description of the city today.

Repeating Benjamin Franklin's famous quote at the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately ...
• King George and Lord Townshend decided that the best way to get money was to tax the citizens ... Tea Taxes [At the SWF, Tony Kevin showed how little opinion Tony had about Paul Kelly who ironically writes about Living among giants ; Why Did the French and Dutch Vote No? ]
• · Victor Comras, Washington Post Following Terrorists' Money ; Andrew Bartlett Taxing Times Coming Up in the Senate
• · · A look at the decade-long money laundering investigation of Raul Salinas Unsettling accounts ; Welcome to life after the housing boom
• · · · The greatest pleasure of running a country (although no politician will admit it) is getting to tax people Here's a Tax We Can All Agree On ; Yossi Beilin Let's just dump that road map
• · · · · Isabel Hilton, The Guardian Chinese Must Tell the Truth About Tiananmen ; Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his partner, Platon Lebedev The Soviet Spirit Lives On ; The problem for the government is that if this were back in the old Cold War days, and a person had fled from the communist embassy, we would have welcomed the person with open arms as we did with the Petrov scandal 40 years ago. But now, of course, China is a major trading ally for Australia and we don't want to do anything that's going to be offending China in terms of its trade policies Chinese diplomat wants to defect ; Australia left me out to dry, says defector
• · · · · · Steve Forbes, Forbes Why the Tax Code Beast Must Be Killed ; A Supreme Court decision on Tuesday overturned the 2002 criminal conviction of former Enron accounting firm Arthur Andersen Accounting for an Injustice

---

Any tax cut is good is a convenient mentality for the political right. It plays well in the electorate and keeps the political agenda free from pressures for greater spending. But evidence is amassing against the low tax model, and from some surprising quarters … A Little Bit of Alabama: On Australia’s Low Tax Consensus ; Mr Carmody should think a bit wider ("Tax man warns of waits for cuts under Beazley strategy," Herald, June 3). He only has to issue new tax schedules for the nine months beginning in September, giving a slightly increased cut for that period - that is, those on the lowest rate would get an $8 per week cut for 39 weeks instead of the proposed $6 per week for 52 weeks. I seem to recall the ATO doing something similar in the past. Albert Renshaw Gladesville Small change adds up ; Tax-cut-blocking strategy Van Gogh option falls on deaf ears

Eye on Politics & Law Lords: The Sydney we deserve
Doing just enough to cope with Sydney's growth is not working. On the surface, many Sydneysiders think the city's reputation for self-obsession is justified, while its 10 million annual visitors can be forgiven for assuming all is well if they stick to the Opera House, where all usually is well.

But talk to the experts, read the flood of letters and emails on the subject and it is clear swift and decisive action is needed to guide the city through the next two decades without destroying the city fiercely guarded by its residents. It seems Sydney increasingly relies on its good looks and wit to get by, hoping the charm of the destination will outweigh the trauma of getting there. But keeping up appearances is becoming difficult, because much is not working and much more isn't working well.
Sydney needs a transformation, a generational change. It needs a transport system capable of moving people quickly, safely and reliably; it needs to collect at least as much water as it sensibly uses; it needs to curb its obsessions with polluting cars and energy-hungry appliances; and it needs to provide homes that are pleasant to live in, easy to get to, and possible to pay for.

• Crisis? What crisis? says Sartor
• · Three cheers for Bob Carr ... Finally, the chance to make use of that yellowcake; Quentin Dempster interviews Bob Carr- 3 June 2005 AD Stateline Coming soon Federalism, Industrial Demicracy & The Decade of Decay - Sydney Politica Spin; A commitment to openness would affirm democratic values and principles, write Rebecca LaForgia and Bryan Mercurio Promoting democracy through free trade agreements
• · · The Qantas security manager sacked for his association with fugitive Michael Hurley may have had access to leaked confidential information about passenger alert lists Ex-manager accused of list leaks ; Researchers have made significant progress in recent years in their efforts to understand, and deal with, one of society’s most puzzling illnesses Cannabis and cities linked to schizophrenia; Madeleine Byrne listens to the stories of those who worked at the immigration detention centres and finds the divide was as often between colleagues as it was between detainees and guards Tales from the desert camps ; In a talk in the History Department at the University of Melbourne, Klaus Neumann argued that a historical perspective throws vital light on current debates about mandatory detention The Cornelia Rau case: a historical perspective
• · · · The death of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen set off an inevitable debate about his legacy. Jennifer Menzies examines his cabinet records and finds much that is very personal Bjelke-Petersen’s Private Cabinet ; ASIO doesn’t need all the emergency powers it was given two years ago, write George Williams and Ben Saul Will the PM welcome a compromise this time around?; Sally Neighbour reveals a massacre on foreign soil – and how an Australian company became implicated Massacre on foreign soil
• · · · · The Howard Government is moving to weaken the Senate committee system - one of its deepest sources of embarrassment and the Parliament's most effective means of scrutiny Howard moves to curb Senate watchdog ; Tiananmen Square Anniversary (The bitter-sweet sixteenth): Sydney-based Chinese diplomat seeks asylum ; Peter Cosgrove has a final mission as head of the Defence Force Operation protect, as SAS comes under fire

---

Eye on Politics & Law Lords: A New Paradigm: The Indigent Rich
Richard Werner has written a distinguished book on world economic policies, with special reference to Japan (where he was living until recently).

You will recall that, more than thirty years ago, I tried to have our government adopt more enlightened economic policies. I published The Indigent Rich in 1971 and other books later. To no avail, of course. Successive governments became enmeshed ever more deeply in policies that have led to what I have described in my message to Werner.
Our present government has done no better - and indeed thinks the Australian economy is in splendid shape and that the prospects are bright, while it may in fact, along with others, be on the edge of an economic, political and strategic abyss.

• James Cumes in conversation with Richard Werner
• · "This is no time to pick fights with people over differences of opinion, instead it is a time to reflect upon the responsibility we hold as citizens of this country. These men and women gave their lives ; Were they missing, or just not found? Defence officials and the Labor senators questioning them at a Senate estimates hearing yesterday could not agree on how to describe the $28 million worth of equipment unaccounted for by a full stocktake of one of the department's biggest warehouses Your jet's not missing - I just can't find it, sir
• · · With that old crook Sir Joh barely cold in the grave, his successor Peter Beattie is already channelling his spirit. Last week restrictions to Freedom of Information legislation – only introduced in Queensland 13 years ago – were rammed through the state's single house parliament by Beattie's arrogant government Peter Banana vs. Orwell ; Australia has racked up its worst trade deficit on record, on a par with countries in eastern Europe - or more than $21,000 for every man, woman and child From bananas to Bulgaria: trade debt soars Any tax cut is good is a convenient mentality for the political right. It plays well in the electorate and keeps the political agenda free from pressures for greater spending. But evidence is amassing against the low tax model, and from some surprising quarters A little bit of Alabama: on Australia’s low tax consensus
• · · · The space needed to build a vital underground rail line through Sydney's CBD is poorly protected, obstructed by buildings and may end up costing the Government a premium. Railway lifeline dead on arrival ; Time is overdue for a long-term solution to the city's transport needs Can we afford not to build an effective public transport system? ; Richard Grant examines the recommendations of, and response to, the Uhrig Review The Uhrig Review and the future of statutory authorities
• · · · · Dylan Welch: Young people are struggling to find jobs in academia - and that could spell trouble for the nation University blues ; 'Politicians around the world can take all sorts of initial steps and abuses of power that resemble the sort of thing Hitler did in the early days. That ought to be pointed out!' The words 'Hitler' or 'Nazi' are so radiocative that it's rare that a reasonable debate can follow
• · · · · · First they came to get the dry liberals and I said nothing as I was one of the wet liberals. Then ... Rebel Libs leap from 5 to 9: Howard gets more talks ; Joo-Cheong Tham argues that recent government proposals to increase the threshold for disclosing the identity of political donors, and to raise the ceiling for tax-deductibility, would advantage wealthy political donors and further increase their political access vis à vis the less well off, reducing political equality. Political donation changes favour the rich and increase the risk of corruption ; United Kingdom election 2005

---

Lori Rosenwasser is executive director of brand engagement at Landor Associates and leads its global brand engagement practice. Brand engagement can be a powerful tool for transforming an organization and unlocking business growth. Symbols and stories help make a brand memorable and keep it fresh A Call to Action: Miracle of Growth

Taxing Technological Miracles of Our Times: Antipodean Media Dragons
Four journalists who brought news of the assassination of President John F Kennedy into US living rooms in 1963 have found a new level of fame by using the internet to market their book about the experience Grassy knoll meets the blog

The "blogosphere" is exploding, with millions of blogs screaming for attention. Next asked some of Australia's most influential bloggers what it takes to stand out from the loudmouthed crowd.
Hugh J. Martin with Rob O'Neill: By some counts, there are more than 50 million media dragons on the web, with tens of thousands added daily I am blogger, hear me roar

Funnelling opinion with a bit of bite US consultancy Issues Dynamics last month launched a blogger relations practice while international PR firm Edelman released a blog strategy white paper titled Trust media: How real people are finally being heard, which was distributed to its Australian practices. PR whistles a different tune
• Meet Joe Blogs: Media Dragons [Oiling The Wheels Of Fake News ; Wow, I never thought I’d find myself writing about a leather thong, made for your cellphone. Yet here I am. A thong. For your cell ]
• · He has denounced shoddy journalism, defended whipped-cream-covered strippers on television, discussed the pope on MSNBC, called in to Howard Stern, exchanged erudite letters with the editor of the New York Times, and championed the idea that any citizen can be "a Wolf Blitzer in sheep's clothing Jeff Jarvis, On the Inside Blogging Out ; Blogger profiled
• · · Blogdigger Local helps you find blog and news content from the geographic location of your choice Blogdigger Local FAQ ; Online Ads at $12.3 Billion This Year, And That's the Conservative Vote ; Joi Ito has announced the launch the Technorati Japan beta site Technorati.jp beta launched
• · · · The Washington post discovers right-wing postmodernism ; Death by a Thousand Blogs ; New Adsense Test Units Spotted
• · · · · People were calling us, emailing us...saying ‘fight, fight, fight -- get in there Web Fuels Collective Sparring Over Bolton, but to What End? ; MSN Spaces now hosts over 10 million blogs, and that the adoption rate has blown past internal Microsoft expectations. Official: MSN Spaces breaks 10 million blogs; ABC on journalism v blogging
• · · · · · Scoble vs the average blogger ; Joe Vecchio, who's not afraid to expose his own worries about the modern, low-rent world we live in. Where are all the male bloggers?