Humble servant of the Nation

Aung San Suu Kyi in good company with appalling Nobel prize winners

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Forget the lotteries or a long shot quadrella. The easiest way to make a million dollars and earn the respect of your peers to boot is to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

The rules are invariably flexible. A winner has to do something ‘good’ within fairly broad confines of what good is but then can do a lot of stuff that is extremely bad. Or you can do many bad things early on and then do a little bit of good and next thing you know you’re standing on the stage at the Stockholm Concert Hall, smiling for the cameras with the presentation cheque in hand.

The 26th President of the United States, Teddy Roosevelt was a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Before becoming president, the redoubtable Teddy was both Secretary of the Navy and the leader of the Rough Riders, a US volunteer cavalry outfit that saw action in the Cuban theatre of the Spanish-American War of 1898.

Teddy frequently charged ahead of his men and blasted away at anything that moved. He wrote a rather chilling piece of reportage where he spoke of his euphoria after killing his first man at the Battle of San Juan. Even his admirers, of which I am one, would acknowledge Teddy liked war a little bit too much.

Full column here.

332 Comments

  • Huger Unson says:

    Well, Jack, if the Abbott-led brouhaha (over any little thing) means more TV hosts will be wearing jackets & neckties and more hostesses will be accentuating their femininity I’ll be happy.

  • Dismayed says:

    Record low Energy demand in SA due to roof top solar. Just wait a couple more years when people really start to go with batteries. But due to NEM and AEMO insisting on having multiple Gas peaking plants online when power is drawn it is more expensive than need be. No coal, No worries. Yes,Yes,Yes.
    http://reneweconomy.com.au/rooftop-solar-provides-48-of-south-australia-power-pushing-grid-demand-to-record-low-47695/

    • Razor3 says:

      What happens when the sun don’t shine?

      • Dismayed says:

        razor have you missed the FACT that SA has 4 Gas fired plants idling constantly as per NEM and AEMO instructions. Batteries are here and getting better and cheaper by the day. The link earlier in the showed they have dropped in price by 29% in the last 12 months. With a 3.5kw solar array and 6kw batteries the average family can reduce their power bill by 65% quite easily. You got nothing. Your coalition have nothing all you and your coalition are doing is continuing to hold the Nation back. No coal No worries. No surprises.

      • Dismayed says:

        Oh I should have added when the sun don’t shine the wind blows like crazy further reducing power costs. You got nothing. No surprises.

      • BASSMAN says:

        YOU FORGOT …”and the wind don’t blow”…how much more can U lot keep up this gormless inane stupid whine. Is that the next election slogan “when the sun don’t shine and the wind don’t blow’, Can’t you come up with anything better than this like some REAL policy ?Well we have more sun and wind than most countries in the world. And keep this in mind 7 coal fired power stations have closed down since the Looters got in.

        Other matters…need a new Laptop…mine is 12 years old. What I want costs $1400 which I am short of…wife/kids… U know. Cheap way out. Second hand Ram $18 off ebay. And the BIG difference? A Solid State Hard drive…Samsung 250 gig for $133. This old thing literally flies now like the powers of P…starts in 25seconds! Took eons before!! I am no Geek but I did it all myself

        • JackSprat says:

          Bassy, we are also surrounded by water.

          It’s quite useless unless treated in some way and correctly used.

          Same goes for wind and sunlight.

      • Uncle Quentin says:

        I’ll just drop my dacks bend over and all will be amazed…

  • Dismayed says:

    The Productivity commission report into water commissioned by the coalition has told them what every other expert told them. They have wasted billions pandering to the Nationals on water. “The report found Where business cases had been done they were inadequate overly optimistic estimates of a project’s viability invalid assumptions; and inadequate sensitivity analysis . Another failing is completing the analysis only after a funding decision has been made and publicly committed to.” It also highlighted the Northern Infrastructure Slush fund allows for projects that do NOT meet the National requirements. The warnings from the report were similar to those made by the National Water Commission that Abbott killed off. Again we see this disgraceful government Pork Barrelling and wrecking infrastructure in this country. But hey what is another $4 billion dollars on top of the $5 billion slush fund the $1.5 Billion dairy slush fund the $1.5 billion sugar slush fund the list goes on. the coalition and it supporters should hang their heads in shame. The coalition cannot do infrastructure.

    • Razor says:

      Would this be just like all parties propping up Sth Australian industry? You’re hypocrisy knows no bounds. At one stage your for industrial intervention to save jobs and then next your against it. Which one is it?

      • Dismayed says:

        Your coalition shut down and entire automotive industry 60,000++ jobs and many more due to loss of economic activity because the country could not afford $250 million a year co-investment or subsidy if you like or because it was collective bargaining? Take your pick. Your coalition to date have allocated over $10 Billion dollars to ensure the Nationals and LNP keep a handful of seats in QLD. How many jobs have been created? maybe 1400 if your rail line to nowhere goes ahead. You continually screamed about NO business case for the NBN which is already a third rate mix of technologies that will be overbuilt within a decade costing this nation even more $ billions not too mention again loss of economic activity thanks to your backwards coalition. But now $4,$5,$6 billion who knows on projects without business cases or ones thrown together and inadequate ones after funding announced? You lot have blown it and refuse to acknowledge just how bad you are. If this was labor you would again be screaming for Royal Commission. Hypocrisy your name, along with neal and bob. Get a grip you got nothing.

    • Milton says:

      I’ve seen computer models Razor but I prefer the real thing (though they often get things wrong too!).

    • Dismayed says:

      razor. Are you serious? Or are you really lacking in any ability to comprehend the written word. Pause, slower than expected. Tis one report says it has cooled slightly slower than expected but still WARMING due to emissions. You are the first to accuse people of elective use of data. Yet you continue to do to put ridiculous comments like this one up. You need help.

    • Dismayed says:

      Today we see the South of the country over the last 26 years has had a reduction in rainfall by 20% this is not variability. In the Southern Wheatbelt the decline is even more dramatic at 28% since 1990. Alarmist ? NO. I am sure you guys wait until you hit something before applying the brakes.

    • Dismayed says:

      We now we know 4 automatic weather stations hardware cards malfunctioned due to cold weather. they were replaced. Frydenberg commissioned an investigation that found “no direct or indirect” impact on the bureau’s long-term climate dataset (known as ACORN-SAT). The bureau’s procedures worked and its data quality control processes were “of a high standard”. Feel free to retract your “alarmist” denialism. HAHAHA

    • Dismayed says:

      Ooops wrong one above this is the next one that continues to debunk the coalition and its supporters lies. I also see the latest data shows most of the country had a winter 2 degrees above long term average and less rain also than average. Please no ridiculous Newman article about the BOM.
      http://reneweconomy.com.au/rooftop-solar-storage-cheaper-subsidising-old-coal-33294/

      • JackSprat says:

        Dismal, I installed solar 7 years ago and can tell you how much I have generated every 10 minutes for the whole of that time.
        The average for the whole of that time is 11.4 kw/r per day – the maximum is a bit above17 and the lowest is zero.
        One can go a whole week and generate stuff all because, wait for it, it is rainy and very cloudy.
        The last 2 months have been wonderful – not a cloud in the sky and I suspect that will continue as we enter the normal 7 or so year drought.
        At some stage it is going to rain again and the output will drop right off again.
        Then you will need something else.
        It is kind of like the desalination plant in reverse – people have been saying it has been a waste of money but wait until this time next year.

  • Milton says:

    I saw the Leigh Sales/Roger Corbett (for the No ssm) interview and I wouldn’t call it ‘awkward’ as it was described in todays paper (oz).

  • Henry Blofeld says:

    Great column here imho by Mungo MacCallum, Mr Insider, as he “dissects” the Energy mess that PM Turnbull is in. Turnbull who has a fondness for the Snowy Hydro, up to Snowy Hydro 6.0 or whatever so far, has actually delivered to the long suffering people of Australia a net zero result on their Power Bills, other than a wishy washy “promise” our Power Companies will write to us by Christmas to advise us all how to cut our Bills. Come on Turnbull we didn’t come down in the last shower buddy. you are a complete dud!
    http://tinyurl.com/y9zmcgoa

    • Boadicea says:

      Another circular on how to reduce power bills? I think we are all doing that already – and the bills keep going up!
      The elderly are going to bed at sundown because they cannot afford heating, for gods sake

      • Dismayed says:

        Yvonne why are you up so late then? What load of old wives tales you tell. No surprises.

        • Boadicea says:

          I’m in another time zone you nitwit

          • Dwight says:

            First you need to explain that the Earth is round.

          • Dismayed says:

            Yvonne oh my I thought you Never abuse people. HAHAHA.

          • Boadicea says:

            Yeah good comment Dwight
            At the moment this blog seems to have become a soapbox for Dismayed.
            One lengthy sermon after the other. Does he actually work? – Or os he one of the pensioners he pours scorn on, on a regular basis.
            I don’t read them. Remember the discussionon ramming stuff down people’s throats? It has a reverse effect.

          • Boadicea says:

            I could have been less polite Dismayed. But I restrained myself. I’m in a beautiful part of the world where your miserable dirges and derogatory comments have no place or consequence.
            If you think my reply was abusive I suggest you read through a selection of yours! Makes mine look like the epitome of politeness.
            Bonjour

          • Dismayed says:

            Yvonne, I work on a rotation, have done for over 25 years. You only highlight your ignorance by not reading information. That just proves you want to walk around with no knowledge of what you comment on. No surprises.

          • Dwight says:

            I think he keeps chewing through the restraints. 🙄

      • BASSMAN says:

        I threw out my Rheem and bought a little instant heater off the net for $90bux that hooks up to our shower. I get all the hot water i want for bugger all…it is not switched on all of the time like my Rheem heating up a huge column of water I will never use in a lifetime!We had visitors last week and they all showered happily and my power bill is way way down Bald.

  • The Outsider says:

    Why does the Oz give oxygen to guys like Maurice Newman: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/smoking-gun-demands-grilling-for-bureau-of-meteorology/news-story/ee3d67fca999ec7e176765eea18f100a

    The man should be writing for Infowars.

    • Milton says:

      I find Maurice a voice of reason amidst a circus of madness, The Outsider.

    • Dismayed says:

      TO. It is with great sadness we should be witnessing the death of The Australian as a publication that offers “fair and balanced” information to the Australian people. Todays front page online is a nothing more than a right wing conservative convention. RIP The Australian. It should be called the Conservative Voice. Opinion piece after opinion piece offering nothing more than misinformation and outright false information. you only have to look at the comments section to know the publication is pandering to far right and ultra conservative very few dissenting comments get published. Very sad a publication would deliberately choose to become an ideological mouth piece.

      • JackSprat says:

        I guess they do not fit in with your own personal echo chamber Dismal.

        You should read it more – it will broaden your horizons no end.

        • Dismayed says:

          I read it every day to know what you freaks are freaking about on that day. It is the renewable outrage society on every topic. As above and below sadly it has become opinion piece after opinion piece of false and misleading information the agenda is skewing further to right every day. You are almost right about one thing for change. It is an echo chamber vacuum sealed right wing nut house. I remain Dismayed at the ignorance of so many.

      • BASSMAN says:

        I feel for the dedicated journalists who have either gone or sold their souls. Simple test I use
        to test ‘balance’. Take 5 of the top journos in a paper. Count up their columns for/against each side of politics. In many instance they run into the hundreds against Labor. I gave up the count with Kenny, Shano, Ergas, Benson etc. Couldn’t keep up with them.

    • Dismayed says:

      TO. It is with great sadness we have seen the Australian publication become the Conservative voice. The Australian no longer provides fair and balanced information or news coverage. Todays front page online is opinion piece after opinion piece of misinformation and out right false information. RIP The Australian. It is very sad the publication would deliberately choose to become an ideological mouth piece rather than an information provider. You only have to look at the comments sections on any piece, very few dissenting or even reasonable comments are published yet all manner of hate speech and right wing rubbish is allowed to prevail. Very sad.

    • Razor says:

      Agree TO but BOM have not assisted themselves in recent times.

      • Trivalve says:

        The BOM do pretty much what they’ve always done and a small group of clowns with an agenda have decided that actual science is a lefty thing. These trilobites *will* be left behind eventually.

        • The Outsider says:

          Milton – Maurice Newman a voice of reason? Really?

          Didn’t he once opine that the idea of global warming was cooked up by the UN with its true purpose being wealth redistribution: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/the-un-is-using-climate-change-as-a-tool-not-an-issue/news-story/1e6586191def1fb6d970ba052a4faf08

          Methinks the guy is nuts and it’s scary that some people actually believe what he says, if the other side of the wall is anything to go by.

          • The Outsider says:

            Another one of Maurice’s gems:

            “(Calls to respond to climate change are) about a new world order under the control of the UN. It is opposed to capitalism and freedom and has made environmental catastrophism a household topic to achieve its objective.”

          • Milton says:

            Sounds plausible to me, old mate.

          • Not Finished Yet says:

            Alright, TO, I know I said I would not say any more lest I be snipped, but you have convinced me otherwise. The UN article was just about the last time I read anything by him. I mean, really, the idea that the UN could actually do this? Most of the time it’s a bureaucratic shambles that cannot agree on anything. And hands up just which nations are prepared to compromise their sovereignty to achieve a new world order. I’m not seeing a lot of hands. What that article reminded me of was this photo.
            https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/10/10/race-mixing-is-communism/
            It’s a conflation of two completely unrelated matters. Perhaps Maurice really does look for reds under his bed each night.
            If I disagree with an article by, say, Paul Kelly or Greg Sheridan I can nevertheless follow their point of view and understand where they are coming from. But before I stopped reading Maurice Newman I would often simply shake my head in wonder.
            Perhaps there is a conspiracy going on and The Australian publishes him to destroy his credibility.

          • The Outsider says:

            Good one, NFY!

          • The Outsider says:

            Milton, as a fellow traveller who’s watched John Cooper Clarke play live, I’m disappointed.

        • Razor says:

          They got caught out on the data sets TV. Firstly by not letting those stations bottom out below minus 10 and secondly by not running with the international standard that even the IPCC uses for measurement. No lefty conspiracy from anyone on that just da ts admitted by the BOM. Both mistakes predjudicial against the case fir those who are sceptical. If it was me I would make sure all my ducks were lined up. They didn’t plain and simple.

          • Dismayed says:

            Wrong again. Check the inquiry Frydenberg had done.

          • Trivalve says:

            And they had exactly what to gain by doing that, unless it was a standard practice that some of these clown journalists don’t enquire about or try to understand. How many measurements do they deal with each day? What sort of adjustments do they have to make regularly, as all scientific organisations do. How would a couple of minus elevens change the climate modelling of the planet?

            Beat up, beat up beat up, by the ignorarmy.

    • Not Finished Yet says:

      He is the only opinion writer for The Australian who I never, ever read, TO. I shall say no more lest I be snipped.

  • Boadicea says:

    Goodness me! $300million from us to a Saudi billionaire to subsidise his network of renewable stations.
    Sorry, but that doesn’t sit well with me – and will sit even less well when my next power bill comes in.
    What the hell are we doing?

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