Yes, but likely he'll be voted back in... :( Why? Why I ask!

Why don't we just have no govt...? :D

Hmm, interesting. It looks like nobody in this forum voted for Howard (I know I didn't)!

As someone who went through uni in the 70's at no cost, the increasing fees horrify me. I know I wouldn't have been able to afford it even with the scholarship I had as well, if fees had been as they are now. A lot of talent will go to waste and what employment are people supposed to find these days if they can't afford an education?

As for volunteer work, well one of the choirs I sing with does a lot of entertaining at nursing homes and retirement villages. Indeed, I'll be singing at one tonight. Much more fun than sitting at home watching "reality" TV which I really can't abide. Some nursing homes are a bit depressing but the folks at tonight's are mostly with it. Its amazing to see a spark of memory stir in someone with dementia whan they hear a song they remember. We don't mind if they join in!

that sounds so cool chook. I wish I could sing.

Shewolf - I saw a poll on teh news this morning and Howard is winning by heaps. I don't want him to win!!!!!!!

Hey, Euphoria and everybody else, don't let anybody tell you you can't sing. Most everybody can sing or can be trained to sing in tune. Find an unauditioned community choir and go for it.

Our dollars gone up too! Well from last year :)
We have to save tons of power though.. or else well be suffering powercuts(our hydrodams are low)... "target 10%"s this big campagain.. the target is too save 10%, but most places her have been lucky to save 5%... Looks like well be having power cuts...

Hopefully its just in Auckland though, like last time.. But i doubt it.. It'll probably be us south islanders that have to pay for Aucklands faults again... Like their motorways, and public transport problems...
Danny

In the latest Dolly magazine it says something like "New Zealand band big brovaz...."
I almost had a heart attack! Because i thought that they'd know what they were talking about.. But thankfully they didnt.. and Big brovaz arent from NZ..
Phew i can breathe again
Danny

Re: Howard, I think too many people adopt the philosophy of "better the devil you know". More's the pity... *sigh*I know so many people who say "I don't like him, but who else is there to vote for?" *cry*

hey! we should go for PM!

The Veggie party!!
(it even had a cool name!
:vebo:
Veggie party
:vebo:

"I saw a poll on teh news this morning and Howard is winning by heaps"

have i missed an election????????

No Natalie, it's just a poll. They ask ppl who they'd vote for. And he was on like 70% yesterday.

Chook, I used to play the piano and sax and when I took my exams I scored 100% on my vocal, so I've got the tune, but I still suck. I'm one of those people who refuses to get up on karoke even when I'm really drunk :)

oooh, I loooove karaoke... :D

I always nominate all my friends and make them sing and then pinch their drink tokens they get too :D Hehehehe I know I'm evil.

Karoaoke . . .
(stats to shake)
I'm not a very good at the whole acting-in-front-of-people thing.

See that's the thing I'm a big performer. I studied drama for like 5 years and was forever making speeches in front of big crowds... I just can't sing. I think it's cuz ppl laugh at ppl who can't sing, so i'm kinda scared I'll get laughed at :(

Shake your thang Alpaca :vebo:

Ooh, the shaking thing - been there , done that. I'm happy singing in a group :D
However, a friend talked me into being a bit braver and over the last few months I have worked my way down from a quintet to a duo. My whole body shakes, I can hardly hold the music. Its like banging your head on a wall; it feels good when you stop! Will I progress to singing solo - dunno - maybe.
Did the duet thing on Tuesday, glad its over.

I have to admit, I only karaoke when I'm drunk!

I almost hate being Australian now. At least, I'm ashamed of my country (as in its government and so many fellow Aussies keeping them in power)...... detention centres for refugees being run for profit by a US company?
Shame, Johnny, shame.

"detention centres for refugees being run for profit by a US company?"

Eh? Did I miss something on the news? (I don't watch the news, so...)

What do we think about the latest terror warnings? I think I'm not happy I'll be in LA on July 3rd... it would be worse if it was the 4th of course!

It was on 4 Corners.

Australasian Correctional Management (a wholly owned subsidiary of US company Wackenhut Corrections) was given the contract by the Department of Immigration in 1997 to run places like Woomera.

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2003/transcripts/s858341.htm

im ashamed too Kurmudgeon...

"It's not a holiday camp, nor should it be seen as one."

No, it's a concentration camp... I couldn't read it all Kurm, but thanks for the link...

Originally posted by Kurmudgeon
I almost hate being Australian now. At least, I'm ashamed of my country (as in its government and so many fellow Aussies keeping them in power)...... detention centres for refugees being run for profit by a US company?
Shame, Johnny, shame.

I"m with you there :mad:

whoa, that is full on... i feel sick..

i couldn't agree more, this makes me sad to live here...

but hopeful that somehow we can make a difference...

The day after that 4 corners program aired, I sent this email to Phillip Ruddock:

Last night's Four Corners program about Woomera was just another nail in the coffin for this government's mandatory detention of asylum seekers policy. What is more evil than treating people in such a barbarous way simply to gain popularity and votes from the most xenophobic element in Australian society? How can a government pander to prejudices within the community, that anyone with any education can see are born of ignorance and fear, just to keep themselves in power? Have you no principles? Do you actually believe in anything beyond your own selfish concerns?

I can't help but wonder how this government reconciles their support of the war in Iraq with their mandatory detention of asylum seekers. On the one hand, you were willing to send Australians to fight and die for the sake of Iraqi people (at least, that was how you justified it). But on the other hand, you have locked up Iraqis who wanted nothing more than to escape Saddam Hussein's brutal regime and begin a safe, secure life in our country. You goaded them and trapped them in a red-tape limbo until they sewed their lips together and slashed themselves with razors. I can't say you're worse than Hussein's regime, who gassed the Kurds and killed hundreds of thousands of people, but you essentially punished the ones who escaped simply for nothing more than having the gall to want a better life.

And you did the same to Afghans. You've done the same to Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, and people who have fled all the worst regional conflicts, poverty, and oppression in this world.

What are votes worth to you? More than your belief in the inherent value of your fellow human beings? Or don't you share this belief with me?