This will hurt me...

Some time ago I posted the shocking story of the natural world in all of its brutality. It should not take a Mensa-level EQ to recognise both the severity of the initial act and the trauma that inevitably, tragically echoes throughout the lives of all parties. Shockingly , there were people on this very blog who felt the incident a simple lark , a joke , and maybe even that one party was asking for it . Unfortunately this seems the way of modern life. The moral certainties provided by institutionalised religion, the rigid hierarchies inherent under a notion of the divine right of kings and feudal serfdom, the 'traditional' family and stark gender roles have all withered away leaving a hodge-podge of post-modern, post-materialist 'values' where anything goes but everybody reserves the right to be offended and offend in equal quantities. Thankfully, the Hobart City Council are a more enlightened bunch, and they've erected these statues to recognise the horror the o...

Aarat's enigmatic artiste and Tom Petty fan asked a reasonable question in the comments that I felt deserved an answer. She said, "what fainting goats?" To which I reply, "these fainting goats." [The group at 0:51 are my favourite.]

Without a shadow of a doubt, Hugo Chávez is the rudest head of state currently going around. Over the years, we have seen and heard many examples of his discourteous behaviour: ex-wives ; ex-lovers ; Spanish royals ; US Ambassadors ; the General Assembly of the United Nations ; the US President (a lot); Mexicans ; along with pretty much everyone else! So there should be no surprise that he's at it yet again ! I do like the logic though: Angela Merkel is German politician. She identifies (broadly) as ' of the right '. Some German right wingers supported Fascism in the 1930s and 1940s. Hitler was a Fascist. Ergo , Merkel = "..." With those powers of reasoning, Chavez should be heading up the UTas branch of Socialist Alliance !

I was very disturbed by the tale from Antarctica that came across my desk this morning. The headline from the BBC says it all really: 'Sex pest' seal attacks penguin This seal refused to comment on the Antarctic incident All that I can say is that I sincerely hope that counselling has been offered to all parties, and that this obviously sick and confused seal is brought to justice.

I've been insulted many, many times. I've been called all the names under the sun. And I will be blunt with you all, I've called people a few nasty things myself (yes, it's true, please don't look so shocked ). But do you know what? I can honestly say that I have never, ever stooped to the depths of inhumanity, perversion and downright rudeness of the parrot in todays ad. Seriously, the fainthearted should not click on the picture and read it in all its horror, it will turn your hair grey.