Tim Blair

That same desire for distance, or separateness, is evident in Lakemba, if The Islamic Bookstore is any guide: dozens of titles rail against Christianity (Crucifixion – or Cruci-FICTION?), Jews (now available on discount: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion) and Darwinism.

The protocols? You aren't joking, are you?

Still, at least Osama's not as cheap as Iraqi cleric Sheik Abdul-Sattar al-Bahadli, who, according to a lead news item broadcast by the Ten Network, offered 250,000 Iraqi dinars to any local who captured a female coalition soldier for use as a "sex slave". Ten neglected to provide any exchange rate information; turns out the Sheik's offer works out at only $242.

What did you use for the exchange rate?

I called a banker friend for the exchange rate -- and after he converted Dinar to US$ to Australian$ we discovered that Yahoo has an online service.

Joking about the Protocols? I wish. They had a stack of ‘em.

Veils at home, bikinis on the weekend. Is this Hakeem character a closet infidel?

...this Sunday at Parramatta Park in western Sydney the NSW Labor Council presents "Under the Gums", a festival of Hansonite ranting against the Free Trade Agreement. "In the future, our children will be viewing much more American television," the Labor Council warns.

I had a similar experience this Monday. I was at the Newcastle club to play some chess, was a little early, and slipped upstairs because the Greens were having a little meeting that night and I do so enjoy being a spy at these events. After the standard PC introduction - "I'd like to acknowledge the original aboriginal owners of this land, and personally apologise for all the wrongs they've suffered" - (if she's personally apologising, does this mean she's personally committed all the supposed crimes against the aborigines? I thought) - and a welcome to everybody on "this ecologically wonderful evening" - (it was raining) - they launched into the main item on the agenda, stopping the FTA.
Amongst the other problems they had with it, they seemed to be worried that "our ability to regulate new mediums such as Pay TV and Internet" and "our ability to provide jobs for Australians in this medium" will be "severely limited." Which is a pretty ludicrous statement, if you think about it - how the hell are you going to regulate the 'internet' to make it provide more Australian content, short of what nations like China are doing - restricting any site that they disagree with?
I had to leave then, but it was fun while it lasted.

... the Greens were having a little meeting that night and I do so enjoy being a spy at these events. After the standard PC introduction - "I'd like to acknowledge the original aboriginal owners of this land, and personally apologise for all the wrongs they've suffered"

Is that standard as in grace before meals, national anthem before football, gin and tonic before dinner?

How do they justify remaining in Australia if they keep apologising for the wrongs they're propagating by staying there?

It's standard here in Newcastle, Lefty Locus of Australia, ilibcc! What gets me is that the woman doing the introduction had to make it a 'personal' apology.
The Newcastle City Council usually work an apology into their proceedings whenever they meet - I think its compulsory for them.
Newcastle is 200 years old this year, but officially we're not having a 'celebration', we're having a 'commemoration' (because of the 'wrongs suffered by the Aboriginal people').
'Apologies' are also standard for many of the Newcastle Uni. people - students and academics.

BTW, perhaps our 200 year anniversary shouldn't be called a 'celebration' or 'commemoration' - I personally favour the term 'masturbation'.

This PC genuflecting to Aborigines is even penetrating the Howard Government. I attended a medical conference in Adelaide three years ago which was opened by Trish Worth MP,a Government Minister. Before addressing us, she acknowledged the local Aboriginal tribes and apologised for entering their sacred land. We all looked around, hoping out of interest to see an Aboriginal doctor amongst the delegates. There wasn't one. I looked out the window, expecting a horde of aggressive warriors, brandishing nullas and spears and challenging our right to be in North Terrace. No such luck.

It all seemed a bit precious.