I’ve a ticket to ride. Well sort of.
Today I went down to the Passport Office and put in an application for my very first Passport.
Yep, I’ve never left the country but if I’m ever going to I’m going to need something for them to stamp!
Tonight I’ll be down at the Espy checking out DJ Spooky.
He’s a facinating guy and it’s always worth listening to what he has to say.
Check this out for example.
If you’re in Melbourne and interested in hearing me speak please come to this:
Lobbyocracy: The Hypocrisy of Democracy
With the Federal Government threatening to raise the limit on disclosed donations from $1,500 to $10,000 there as never been a greater need to expose the corruption of political donations.The Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice are using their second forum of the year to launch their campaign: www.lobbyocracy.org.
In this forum we will hear how influence is bough at the expense of our democracy through an unaccountable system of political donations. The impacts of these activities are massive, and yet largely undiscussed. They have lead to massive increases in election spending, the further alienating smaller parties, fewer voices in our media, inappropriate development, a continuing reliance on the coal industry and much more.
Find out about the secret back room deals, how money is siphoned through front groups and the impact this has on our democracy. Come and hear why Lobbyocracy is the Hypocrisy of Democracy.
You can download a flyer here.
When: 7pm Tuesday 21st March 2006
Where: Evatt Room @ Trades Hall (cnr Lygon St and Victoria St Carlton)
Cost: $5 (Free for ACDJ members)Speakers:
Joo-Cheong Tham
Joo-Cheong Tham is a lecturer with the Law Faculty, University of Melbourne, having previously taught at the law schools of La Trobe University and Victoria University. He has published articles on money politics in a range of academic journals and newspapers. He has also appeared as an expert witness before parliamentary inquiries into political donations and, together with Dr Sally Young, Melbourne University, is currently completed a major report into the funding of Australian political parties. Joo-Cheong is a committee member of Liberty Victoria and a member of the Academic Advisory Group of Democracy Watch.Hammy Goonan
Hammy is the founder of the Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from LaTrobe University and has recently completed his Masters in Public Advocacy and Action at Victoria University, specialising in globalisation, the global justice movement and environmental issues. He is also a part of the Melbourne Social Forum organising committee. Hammy will be discussing the position of the Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice on Lobbying.
Via CCH:
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation has filed a suit in the US Federal District Court in California this week, alleging that Walt Disney illegally used its trademark name and skull logo in producing the upcoming comedy, Wild Hogs.
The Hells Angels are objecting to characters in the movie wearing trademark logos and being identified as part of the biker group.
According to the suit, the movie has repeatedly been promoted as being about a “group of middle-aged wannabe bikers look(ing) for adventure out on the open road, where they soon encounter a chapter of the Hells Angels”.
A Disney spokesman dismissed the claim as being “without merit”.
Chuck Norris died ten years ago, but the Grim Reaper can’t get up the courage to tell him.
Chuck Norris is currently in a legal battle with the makers of Bubble Tape. Norris claims “6 Feet of Fun” is actually the trademark for his penis.
Whenever someone is constipated, doctors send them to Chuck Norris so he can scare the shit out of them.
Switzerland isn’t really neutral. They just haven’t figured out what side Chuck Norris is on yet.
For those of you in Melbourne, I’ll be on Radio 3CR tonight at around 5:30 talking about the Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice’s Lobbyocracy Campaign.
I’m afraid I can’t see any streaming on their site so you’ll probably miss it if you’re not in Melbourne.
For reasons I’m not allowed to mention yet, but am dieing to talk about (and will as soon as I get the green light) I’ve been thinking a lot about motivation and love.
I’m an activist as you will all know. I’m completely consumed by my activism, if not in my actions then in my thoughts. I find it very hard not to politicise everything.
The power of my love for some people in this world gives me the power of the undeniable truth that humans are ultimately good people. People are worth fighting for.
I’m blessed at the moment that this motivation is coming from love. The flip side of this same coin is this.
I do look forward to sharing the news that I’m not allowed to share at this point (you’ll understand when I do).
I think this blog is still supposed to be about motorbikes a little bit, and this particular bad boy does deserve a mention.
Seemingly trumping the Y2K‘s Rolls Royce Allison 250 series gas turbine engine which churns out a mighty decent 320 HP @52,000 rpm, capable of clocking over 230 Mph, is the Acabion.
The Acabion is meant to be able to do 0 to 450 kph (around 280 Mph) in around 19 seconds.
I think it would be reasonable to suggest that I’d like a ride.
It was 2 years ago today that Goonanism was born.
Please join in with me:
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Goonanism
Happy birthday to you
It started off as a blog to track the development of my thesis, now it’s a full blown website with its own hosting and all.
I’ve finished my masters and launched the Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice.
‘Tis a wonderful thing and, 510 posts later, a time for reflection on the fate of this blog. Rest assured it’s not going anywhere. It will become a travel blog sooner rather than later I hope (I’m thinking late June).
So thanks for popping by over the years. Please stay for cheese and wine (Dinny Goonan Family Estate of course).
