Absolutely scathing piece by Peter Hartcher on Alexander Downer in today's Sydney Morning Herald, here are a couple of highlights -
...Downer can be petty and puerile. He plays a mean-spirited, personal, scratchy game of partisan politics. He can be breathtakingly immature.
He was always ready to be flippant and frivolous. He was something of an Inspector Clouseau of foreign ministers: pompous, slightly ridiculous, self-important, hard to take seriously, though ultimately getting through most of his assignments with some bare seat-of-the-pants competence.
...
Rudd came to win the respect and confidence of the voting public in the years he was facing off against Downer. The foreign minister was unable to derail or discredit Rudd. Instead, he was the perfect foil.
It was while Rudd was prosecuting the attack on the AWB scandal, the Iraq war, the "Pacific solution" and the failure to sign the Kyoto Protocol that he demonstrated his competence and soundness. It was this performance that persuaded the voting public, and then the Labor caucus, that Rudd was leadership material. In this sense, Downer helped create the leader who destroyed the Howard government [emphasis added].
Worth reading in full. Doing some research last year on the Australian/East Timor oil and gas negotiations I was struck by how inept, cavalier and prattish Downer came across in his public statements on what was happening, frequently using the idea that "the East Timorese owe us for their independence" in order to justify taking earnings away from one of the poorest nations in the world (and who happens to be strategically important to Australian interests in the longer term). I can't imagine he'll ever be welcome in Dili - not that it's his sort of destination anyway. Good riddance to him.
Well, I've had another shocking week with just 2 out of 6 correct from last weekend and, look, honestly, it's feeling like a form slump. I've been a bit crook and had a few other things going on lately so I'm just putting it down to having my attention drawn elsewhere. Here's hoping that this blip in what has largely otherwise been a good season of tipping doesn't have too big an impact on the tally at the end of round 22.
To this weekend's two games to finalise Round 14:
Adelaide v Geelong: Geelong welcome back some big names and should have a win here. Interesting article by Jake Niall yesterday about how the weird draw for this season has been of some help to the Cats -
The most celebrated oddity of this weird new schedule is that Geelong does not play its putative challenger Hawthorn until round 17. No less significant is the fact that the Cats don't play the Western Bulldogs, who have supplanted Hawthorn in second spot, until round 16.
Far from being handicapped after their premiership, the Cats have been handed what has turned out to be a very friendly schedule. They will end up playing two clubs in the current bottom four — Port Adelaide and Fremantle — twice each before they play their nearest ladder competitors in rounds 16 and 17.
Sydney v Collingwood: There won't be a shortage of Magpies fans at the Telstra Stadium for a game that should be considered winnable by the Collingwood team. I'm hesitant to pick Sydney due to Goodes not playing (even though they welcome back Everitt) and their recent record against the Magpies, but still, they should get a win here I think. Put a tenner on the Magpies if you're a gambler perhaps.
From the always dedicated baddogwhiskas over on Flickr.
The streets in Enmore are now a touch scarier.
GRAFFITI_ENMORE_0608_20
Let's start with some choice quotes from last week's tips shall we?
...there's an element of basic foolhardiness in tipping the Dockers but it worked last week so I'll be giving it another go.
...I think [the Kangaroos are] unable to mount a convincing case that they can beat the Hawks tomorrow.
...No Johnstone, no Sherman for Brisbane tomorrow night. Get your money on Adelaide while you can.
[Re: Port v Richmond] ...This is the sort of game that Richmond are likely to win but I'm sticking with the home team this time. Tigers would be worth a punt if you're a gambler though.
Having said that, despite my worst week of tips this season with three out of eight I'm still leading one comp and in equal third in another. Weird. It's a split round for the next couple of weeks with six games this weekend and the remaining two the following, so no doubt all the clubs will appreciate a little bit of time off. Let's have a look at what's on:
Hawthorn v West Coast: North Melbourne ably demonstrated some of the Hawk's defensive weaknesses in their win last weekend, but you just can't see the Eagles repeating the trick. And this news about Michael Voss being approached by the Eagles is a bit weird too, noting that his column today in The Age considers the side.
Richmond v Carlton: Very good win by the Tigers last weekend against a pretty useless Port side so they'll have a bit of confidence coming into this game against the Blues. Chris Judd took a bit of a knock in the loss against Essendon and I don't think he'll play. Bookies are picking the Tigers and I think I'll get on board. Not least because Richmond also have the most singable club song as well. "We come from Ti-ger-land.."
Kangaroos v St Kilda: North Melbourne would naturally prefer to hang onto their top eight spot against a Saints team just two points below them in ninth spot. Danger game for the Roos with Dal Santo, Milne and Koschitzke also returning for St Kilda, but their style of play is too negative to be able to beat North Melbourne at the unfamiliar surrounds of Carrara Stadium.
Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide: Port, recognising that the season's gone (and I believe that the Port Adelaide CEO John James resigned this morning too), has started blooding new players, and they may as well make it an AFL initiation to remember against the hard-tackling Bulldogs. I heard that the Collingwood v Bulldogs game last Sunday evening was a ripper and the Sons of the West shoudn't have any problems here.
Melbourne v Brisbane: Interesting talk in Canberra at the moment about how the Demons are keen to play here a few more times basically because the government subsidies make it more profitable than playing in Melbourne. Of course while they're here it's all about "developing the code" etc etc etc, but they wouldn't want to underestimate this market. Anyway, this match is a bit of a no-brainer, isn't it? Lions by lots.
Fremantle v Essendon: Probably the hardest match of the round to pick. Freo have dropped Jeff Farmer for disciplinary reasons while the Bombers have lost the promising Jason Winderlich to injury for the rest of the season. Essendon will be feeling good about themselves after beating up Carlton last week but their recent record at Subiaco's pretty poor. Another half-hearted Dockers tip from me for this week.
So that's it until a brief preview of the Adelaide v Geelong and Sydney v Collingwood matches next weekend, enjoy your footy.
Here's Henry.. have a new gallery site on the way, looking good..
Although almost every day at Six Apart is Take Your Dog to Work Day, Friday was extra special because it was the official Take Your Dog to Work Day! Plus, as lovers of blogs and animals, we think it's great that active blogger and Human Society's President and CEO, Wayne Pacelle, thinks having dogs around the office is a good reminder of "who we're working for."
We realize some people have it ruff and aren't lucky enough to be able to bring their dog to work, but hopefully these pictures taken at Six Apart last Friday will get your tails wagging... And let me tell you, it's harder than it looks to get all the doggies and their fetching owners in one picture.
For those of us in the northern hemisphere, today is the summer solstice. For ancient civilizations, this day was akin to our modern day New Year's Eve and was viewed as a time to reflect and renew. So why not kick off your summer celebration with a new theme?
See all of our themes in the Design Area.
Or choose from one of these brand-new themes. (Available under "New.")
Looks like a few people were looking for upsets last week as I managed shoot back to the outright top in both comps. I caught parts of the Western Bulldogs v Brisbane game on radio and yeah, I'm glad I didnae watch it on the tv. Then Sunday I caught most of the Collingwood v Carlton game with that wonderful last quarter by Judd and co. stomping the Blues into the top eight.
Interesting times. Let's have a look at round 13:
St Kilda v Fremantle: Well, the season's pretty much written off for both of these sides but they don't look the tanking type. News for the Saints is the dropping of Nick Dal Santo and Stephen Milne for tonight's game with a few youngsters coming in too. No changes to the Freo side that convincingly beat North Melbourne last Saturday arvo. Freo doesn't have that great a record at the Dome, but if they're going to win one tonight is probably one of their better opportunities. Maybe their confidence is improving too. Again, there's an element of basic foolhardiness in tipping the Dockers but it worked last week so I'll be giving it another go.
Hawthorn v Kangaroos: Some thought Franklin was lucky to get off with a reprimand for his bump in the Adelaide game but it didn't look that bad to me. No Chance Bateman for them against the Roos which will be a blow, but North Melbourne have enough injury concerns of their own too. I think they're unable to mount a convincing case that they can beat the Hawks tomorrow.
Port Adelaide v Richmond: Hmm, the "chokers" tag would have to be weighing a least a little on the minds of the folk down at Port Adelaide this week, as ably noted by David a few days ago. This is the sort of game that Richmond are likely to win but I'm sticking with the home team this time. Tigers would be worth a punt if you're a gambler though.
Brisbane v Adelaide: So a couple of weeks ago I wrote -
The next two weeks sees the Lions play the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide which will provide a much better indication of their September chances (assuming there are no significant injury concerns by then).
Brisbane are likely to be without Bradshaw, Roe and Leunberger, though Rischitelli and Copeland return along with debutante Tom Collier. The loss of Bradshaw in particular hurts them. Fact is they got well and truly thumped by the Bulldogs last week, with the key message from the side appearing to be about the "learning experience" gained from the loss (standard sort of stuff really).
This week's match against 5th placed Adelaide will be another hard test, and to be honest I don't think they're up to it. Bookies are against me and it's probably the roughie of the week, but I'll be tipping the Crows to win (while inwardly hoping the Lions prevail).
[Update Friday evening]: No Johnstone, no Sherman for Brisbane tomorrow night. Get your money on Adelaide while you can.
West Coast v Geelong: The Eagles almost beat the Cats earlier in the season but since then the fortunes of the two sides have gone in opposite directions. Barring disaster it'll be another win for Geelong.
Melbourne v Sydney: This one's in Canberra but to be frank I've got better things to do than to see what should be a pretty crap game, especially if you're a Demons supporter. And in a flash of brilliance, the match is being shown live into Canberra on free to air tv which should just do wonders for the attendance figures. Which will then no doubt contribute to even fewer games coming here. Despite the cold it's a good venue to watch the footy at, that I'll happily attest to. Sydney to win this match by miles.
Carlton v Essendon: This should be a good game, one worth watching. Carlton are really starting to come together as a team and Judd continues to demonstrate the ability to nearly single-handedly bend a game to his will like great players can (as per his second half against Collingwood last weekend). The Bombers thumped them earlier in the year but I think they'll have the better of them this time.
Collingwood v Western Bulldogs: Here come the Collywobbles. The Magpies look to be without three key players in Cloke, Davis and Fraser while there are no such problems for the Bulldogs. The "Sons of the West" should have a good game here and win by around seven or eight goals. Easy.
Tipping a number of away teams here which is always a bit of a worry, but it should be right. Enjoy your footy this weekend.
Choco's chokers. I am cleverly diverting attention from Brisbane's capitulation at the hands of a superb Bulldogs last night by pointing you towards a rather good article exploring just why Port Adelaide is like it is. Is it all Mark William's fault?
A couple of months ago, we told you about Blog It powered by TypePad, the first cross-platform blogging application for Facebook the enables you to post to your Vox blog - and ALL your blogs - with a single click.
Within a week, Blog It had nearly 4,000 active users posting tweets and creating blog posts, as well as updating their status messages with the title and link to the published post. Today, Blog It's Facebook application has nearly 10,000 users. But here's the thing: You're not always sitting in front of the computer when the inspiration to blog strikes. And at Six Apart, it is our goal to provide you the tools you need need to blog where you want, and when you want.
Which is why this week we introduced Blog It for iPhone, a free web application just like the one we introduced for Facebook - only now - on your iPhone. Built specifically for iPhone's Safari browser, Blog It for iPhone enables you to post blog entries or status updates from wherever you are to more than a dozen different online services. And just like the original Facebook version, you can choose to share your posts with the people you know across various social networks.
To start blogging with Blog It for iPhone, go to http://blogit.typepad.com with your iPhone's Safari browser and install the Blog It icon onto your mobile desktop. Then, all you have to do is click the Blog It icon and start creating posts!
Whether you're riding the bus to work, cheering on your team courtside, or enjoying a picnic by the lake, now it's easier than ever to Blog It.
