How to explain?
How to start.
Approximate translation: “In case it goes down, this is what it looks like”
Category: Globalpol
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott Pushing For Tougher International Action On Russia Over Ukraine
By Andrew Bolt ~
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott
The Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was the first leader to directly link the downing of MH17 to Russian aggression in Ukraine:
In an apparent swipe at Russia, Mr Abbott also told parliament: ”The bullying of small countries by big ones, the trampling of justice and decency in the pursuit of national aggrandisement, and reckless indifference to human life should have no place in our world.”
Barack Obama followed suit – demanding Europe be tougher on Russia (tougher, that is, that the US has been):
“This certainly will be a wake-up call for Europe and the world that there are consequences to an escalating conflict in eastern Ukraine; that it is not going to be localized, it is not going to be contained,” Obama told reporters.
The Dutch now harden up their stance against Russia – a little:
U.K…
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Global conflict – be there or be ‘square?’
I came across this Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal cartoon just now.
And I thought of the ‘Security Dilemma’ in International Relations. States will seek to ‘escalate’ in order to defend themselves; crudely simplified to this punnet square:
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PIK responds to Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher’s Open Letter
I was trawling the internet today and came across the following article:
AN OPEN LETTER: TO THE PARENTS OF THE VICTIMS MURDERED BY ELLIOT RODGER
on 27 May, 2014 at 06:05
By Joe “The Plumber” Wurzelbacher
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Merry Shop-mas: What Christmas does for the Australian Economy
I heard on the radio just today (December 23rd) that Aussie shoppers will spend $1.5million a minute for the next 2 days until Christmas.
I’ve worked 5 Christmases in retail.
It’s character building that’s for sure.
“What does Christmas mean for our Economy, PIK?”
Asked Sammy, 23.
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My thoughts on Obama’s speech at Mandela’s Memorial
Barack Obama’s speech at Nelson Mandela’s Memorial service:
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/FULL-TEXT-Obama-honours-Nelson-Mandela-20131210
….watching it, I got the sense that it was more than just one for the ages. I liked it.
It had all the oratory hallmarks of Obama gold — tactical and extended pausing, eye contact, vocal crescendo peppered with the odd hand gestures. I had forgotten how piercing his eyes were, he seemed almost emotional at times — drawing long breaths as if to contain emotion at one or two points. He seemed quite moved.
These are my highlights and lowlights from his speech:
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Nelson Mandela: The Sinner who kept trying
” I am not a saint; only if you think of a saint as a sinner who kept trying..”
There is no argument of the significance of Nelson Mandela’s life. The celebration of the existence of this single man on a worldwide scale is unbelievable and beautiful.
Politicians are remembered in very different ways.
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Russian to new Conclusions – tAtU and Pussy Riot
I was listening to my iPod last night and I came across an artist from the 1990s or very early 2000s.
t. A. T. u
Remember they were all shocking because they were ‘lesbian’ and all public about it in their film clip?
To refresh your memory: http://youtu.be/8mGBaXPlri8
They must have been exceptional and controversial, Russian artists don’t often appear in ‘Western’ charts.
Why were they special?
Because they were, or at least pretending to be, lesbians in Russia.
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Piggy Banks to Power Plays [Part One]: Globalisation and its impact
******Firstly, however, A UPDATE ON MY PREVIOUS ENTRY: “The American Government Shutdown Explained!”*******
The Democrats, [Obama and his Government] have the majority in the Senate, not House of Representatives. The Republicans have the majority in the lower house [the HoR] – but the Democrats have the majority of seats over the total seats in both houses: 332 [to the Republicans 206]. US politics is a very different kettle of fish to Australia. Legislation doesn’t usually originate from the Upper House in a Westminster system [Aus, UK, Canada], but in the case of the US Presidential system, it can. But because the Americans are Bicameral [two houses of Parliament] it needs the approval of the other house, despite where it starts, so Obama is dealing with a hostile [Opposition majority] House of Reps.
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The American Government Shutdown explained!
Concisely, more people should be worried about this Government shutdown. There could be some serious ripple effects!
What’s happened? The budget, or ‘supply’ has been blocked.
Basically, the Americans have the same Bicameral (two Houses of Parliament, Congress and the Senate) system we do, and Legislation has to pass both houses. The budget is a piece of legislation just like any other, most political parties, particularly in Australia, will vote supply through without much fuss, because it’s money for the country to run on.
tangible.blog 
