Rebellion

A Municipal Marriage

The Mayor of Mitchieville is finally making an honest woman of TLDG. I know, I know, there are those rumours that the Mayor used to BE a woman and as such this blasphemous union should be cursed for all time. Well I can tell you that even though those rumours persist and they just simply won’t go away. And the fact that The Mayor is a very very big fan of musical theatre and soccer, I wish them all the best.

Really, unless TLDG comes to her senses and backs out of this assault on the decency and sensibilities of all right-thinking people decides that she can do better the Mayor and her should just stay as friends, then I wish them all the best and hope that despite the ever-present rumours of her being a beard, they can live a happy funfilled and fulfilling life together. That is until the villagers come with flaming torches in the night.

I hope you, like I wish them all the happiness and love they deserve. And I hope they don’t realise what a double edged plea this is.

June 10th, 2008 Posted by rebellion | Uncategorized | 2 comments

Holiday Reprise

So it turns out that the change of Blog presentation was actually a holiday from hell. You know, to one of those odd countries that think that walkways are a fantastic way of disposing of human waste, and you have your in-laws with you, and they are the type that want to take in the true flavour of the country in question, and you aren’t too sure if your holiday insurance will pay for the medevac from the third world shithole that you are stuck in with flaming and explosive vomiting and diarrhea. You know, the kind of holiday I am talking about.

So we decided to go for a more subtle approach. Think of it as less Cuban, more Tuscanny. Less duelling banjos, more latin jazz. Much less UN, more well, there doesn’t appear to be a suitable metaphor for the practicality of the change. Just, more practical and easier on the eye.

So without further ado, as I feel we have sufficiently covered the required ado quota, I give you the brand new Blog presentation. I think you will like its features, why not take it for a spin and give me some feedback.

June 9th, 2008 Posted by rebellion | Uncategorized | 3 comments

Change is as Good as a Holiday

So what do you reckon about the new theme? Better Worse, the same? Doesn’t really matter what you think, but I like to give you all a ultimately falacious but warm feeling of pointless inclusion and empowerment.

June 6th, 2008 Posted by rebellion | Uncategorized | no comments

Dennis Jensen Just Restored my slight faith in the Liberal Party

Read this before it becomes illegal to hold such thoughts.

Dr DENNIS JENSEN, Member of Parliament for Seat of Tangney:

But let us take the time to examine some of the pseudoscience on which this whole anthropogenic
global warming belief is based. Let us also examine how these disciples act and how they are reported. First, I
find some of the commentary coming from some of the anthropogenic global warming zealots extremely perplexing.
We hear that the rate of increase of global temperature is faster than the science predicted. But what is actually
happening?

I have three graphs: one from the third IPCC assessment report and two from the fourth assessment report. All
of the projections show an increase from the year 2000, even if the graph for carbon dioxide is held constant at
year 2000 levels. I repeat: all the projections show an increase over the last decade. But what do actual measurements
show? I have many charts showing the global temperature as measured by four groups, including the Hadley
centre, whose data is officially used by the IPCC. This data shows that the temperature has flatlined over the
last 10 years. Observation does not fit theory and yet the theory is deemed correct.

A classic example of rejecting facts which do not fit the theory is the temperature graph over the last 1,000
years and the use of tree ring and tree density data as a proxy for temperature. There is a well-known problem
when comparing tree ring and density data with temperature data over the last 140 years. Between 1860 and 1960,
the data agreed reasonably well. After 1960, there is a divergence. The tree ring and density data indicate that
temperatures have decreased, where measurements have actually indicated an increase. If you look at the IPCC
graphs, the tree proxy data ends abruptly at—you guessed it—1960.

Keith Briffa, a lead author of the IPCC, in the chapter relating to tree proxy data had this to say of the divergence
problem:
In the absence of a substantiated explanation for the decline, we make the assumption that it is likely to be a response to some

kind of recent anthropogenic forcing. On the basis of this assumption, the pre-twentieth century part of the reconstructions can

be considered to be free from similar events and thus accurately represent past temperature variability.
In other words, we do not know how the hell to explain the post-1960 data, so we will just blame humans and accept
that all the earlier data is correct because that fits neatly with our paradigm. This is what a friend of mine refers
to as ‘situating the appreciation rather than appreciating the situation’. You make the facts fit the theory when
you should make the theory fit the facts.

If global temperature is not heating as predicted, maybe this elusive heat is going into the oceans. Not so. Three
thousand oceanic robots that dive up to 1,000 metres have been measuring ocean temperatures since 2003 and
show, if anything, a slight decrease and certainly not an increase. So where has the heat gone? IPCC coordinating
lead author Kevin Trenberth has stated:
… none of the climate states in the models correspond even remotely to the current observed climate. In particular, the state of

the oceans, sea ice, and soil moisture has no relationship to the observed state at any recent time in any of the IPCC models.

According to Kevin Trenberth, the lost heat is probably going back out to space. He says the earth has a number of
natural thermostats, including clouds, which can trap heat, turn up the temperature or reflect sunlight and help
cool the planet. So why is none of this reflected in the modelling? It is situating the appreciation again.

This whole issue of anthropogenic global warming has all the classic hallmarks of religion. There are the high
priests—the Gores, the Flannerys et cetera of the world, who talk the talk but are utterly hypocritical when it
comes to walking their talk. There is the concept of original sin, being industry and carbon dioxide, and the whole
issue of penance or paying the price for your actions. This is the way we have to pay for the use of industry which
is emitting carbon dioxide. The high priests, however, can get away with their profligate lifestyle by buying indulgences,

also known as carbon credits, and so continue to sin. Hence, we have Flannery jetting here, there and everywhere
and Gore, similarly, with just one of his residences—one of three, I might add—consuming 20 times as
much energy as the average American household. That is how concerned he is about global warming in reality.
The media indulge the high priests, castigating the many heretics who dare to differ. Yet they let the high priests
off, not scrutinising their statements as the media should. Take Flannery’s suggestion, for example, of putting sulphur
into the atmosphere, using terribly polluting aircraft to disperse it. What a delicious irony! For those who
know a bit of chemistry, what happens when you mix sulphur, water and oxygen? You get sulphuric acid, also
known as acid rain. I guess that is the price that we need to pay for our sin. But why has the media not lampooned
Flannery, who is supposed to be a global warming expert scientist of the highest order, for such a ridiculous proposal?
It is political correctness of the highest and most unconscionable order.

So what we have is a more and more desperate anthropogenic global warming theory supporters club who,
when the data indicates that the planet has not been heating for the last 10 years and the oceans have not heated
for at least the last five, tell us that global warming is happening even more quickly than the theory predicts. After
all, the models must be right, just like the bookies must always be right with predictions on match or racing results.
The problem is that this religion based around the false god of a controllable and naturally benign climate is
going to hurt every man, woman and child in Australia as a result of significantly higher fuel and energy prices
and consequent increases in the cost of living, particularly food, so groceries and fuel and so on are going to go up
significantly—estimates say approximately 10c to 30c per litre for petrol alone. This government is clearly quite
happy with that, and that is a tragedy for many Australians.

It does disturb me that such a rational argument is almost never heard outside in the mainstream press. Especially considering the fact that Jensen, with a Doctorate in Engineering, has a far better grasp of the science behind so-called anthropogenic global warming, but that this story wasn’t front page news in every newspaper in the country. Much the same way that every single idiotic announcement that the Goracle may pronounce is.

Stolen from Bolta.

June 4th, 2008 Posted by rebellion | Uncategorized | no comments

Can We Please Get past the Fact that Soccer is Gay

Really, this has stopped being funny. Thanks to all of you for popping in to abuse me and explain why Soccer isn’t quite as gay as I make out. I don’t plan on changing my mind any time soon, but thanks for stopping by.

Especially Flirt my serial abuser. Welcome anytime and as soon as you finish that English as third language course you are doing, the rest of us may know what the hell you are on about.

And of course Tony, the voice of sanity in an insane world

# tony says:

lol, this shit is hilarious. honestly i have not the slightest clue why you all are arguing about how gay soccer is. Everyone has their own opinion; rebellion’s in this case is that soccer is gay ._. deal with it and move on. really tho, this shit is still funny.
Posted May 28, 2008 @ 12:39 am - Edit

And my bud Jose,

Jose Luis Escabar says:

excuse me rebellion what is that suposed to mean
u callin me gay or sumthing?
Posted May 25, 2008 @ 2:59 pm - Edit

And me old mate Sean, who for some unknown reason seems to think I am a Yank. Not really sure why, considering I can actually speak English and have a reading age above 6.

sean says:

That’s just typical of you yanks to say that, football as it is really called not soccer aint for gays, say that to micah richards, sol campbell and didier drogba who are all footballers and see if your left standing after they deck you for it.
Posted May 21, 2008 @ 9:28 pm - Edit

But despite all of this, despite many iterations of the fact that I not only don’t have any problem with gay people, nor soccer players, nor even gay people who play soccer, the insults have begun to get a bit pathetic.

# edita says:

if you all think soccer is gay than why did you search it so
sorry to burst your buble but that makes you gay
Posted June 4, 2008 @ 4:15 pm - Edit

I mean, really, do you actually want me to start attacking your obvious lack of understanding Edita? I would but it would be the equivalent of a battle of the minds with a particularly stupid cocker spaniel. And I really think thee are laws against assaulting the mentally retarded.

I have decided that I will no longer respond as we all really need to get a life. This was fun for a while, but I think we need to get back to something a tad more important.

So thanks all for popping by, you are welcome anytime. Lets show a touch of understanding of the subject before we comment, perhaps, then it will be interesting for all.

June 4th, 2008 Posted by rebellion | Uncategorized | 5 comments

So Good I had to Steal It.

In other words, an oldie but a goodie.

Stolen from The Bar Slaves who now have a new site

June 3rd, 2008 Posted by rebellion | Uncategorized | 4 comments

Magilla Retires

The Magilla Gorilla has finally realised the inevitable and retired. The fact that he should have done so before the Australian Selectors were stupid enough to determine that the Australian team needed a specialist spinner, just proves that an extremely mediocre talent, coupled with a perception of necessity, can transform into a lucrative career. And I say good luck to him. If I were ballsy enough to rock on up with a leg spinning action that can be read from the MCG, when you are playing at the Gabba, and told all and sundry that I was a world champion bowler, I would be laughed off the field. Just goes to show what good marketing can do.

I shouldn’t be so hard on him, really I blame the selectors. The fact that he was able to con his way to the pinnacle of Australian Cricket just gives every kiddy pulling on the pads and box the additional incentive to keep playing. All those little rascals in the Mudgeeraba under 12 Fourths can say to themselves, well I could play him for a ton now and he is supposedly the best bowler of spin in the country, maybe I’ll get a call up very soon.

Tell your story walking McGill. Sooner we get a real spinner in again, the better.

June 2nd, 2008 Posted by rebellion | Uncategorized | no comments

The Drumbeats have already Started

The Kevinator can already hear the drumbeats of dissatisfaction reverberating through the bush. How much longer can he hold on before the Orange Roughy makes her move. I’ve always pictured him as a one termer at best, now I will be surprised if he can make i through to the next budget. Only time will tell. I definately can’t see him taking the ALP to the next election as Leader. Though a lot will depend on his ability to play the various factions off against each other, he has no real power base of his own to fall back on. If the opinion polls start dropping, which they invariably will, expect to hear further rumblings from the backbenches for a change. Exciting stuff really and to my way of thinking, it couldn’t happen quickly enough.

In saying this, the Government is in the enviable position of not having a decent opposition to exploit its many many weaknesses. Consequently, even when they begin to disintegrate, as they undoubtedly will, there won’t be anybody for the general punters to compare and contrast them to favourably or unfavourably.

Unless the Opposition gets its act together in the next six months, they will not be able to capitalise on the inherent weaknesses and instability of the ALP. This means that the Government may get back in purely on the strength of their weaknesses. The old adage that Governments lose elections, rather than Oppositions winning them, has never been truer.

May 29th, 2008 Posted by rebellion | Uncategorized | one comment

So What’s Been Happening?

I have been away for a few days with Mrs Rebellion and the kiddlytinks down in Sunny Coolangatta. So how have you all been? Good?

I see the few mindless souls who actually like soccer have been visiting. Never mind, one of these days you will wake up from your alcoholic stupor and realise that you have been living a lie. Much like followers of baseball.

I have been remiss in not mentioning the cricket. The Australian team is visiting the West Indes at the moment. I must admit that I didn’t really expect much. The Windes have been less than half the team they were previously and won’t be challenging anybody soon for the World Cup. But they surprised me, and I am sure a few of their more fervent detractors.

Sure Australia won the first test, quite comfortably in fact, by 95 runs. But the fact remains that the Windes put up much more of a fight than anybody really expected.

To me, this is a very good sign. Cricket becomes a little boring if the outcome is pre-determined before the first ball is bowled. For too many years, the Australian team steamrolled their way through Test matches in little over three days. Those with fourth and fifth day tickets rarely if ever got their money’s worth.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the fact that Australia has a great team and is still World Champions in a sport that actually matters. I enjoyed watching the Aussies bamboozle the Poms and Sub-continent sooks but the cricket purist in me wanted to see a real match.

Test matches are supposed to be hard. They are supposed to be decided in the last session of the fifth day after the momentum has changed repeatedly over the preceeding four. They are supposed to shine the light on the strengths and deficiencies of the players in each team. And most importantly, they are supposed to be the closest thing to trench warfare in the sporting world.

Who doesn’t admire seeing a nuggety wicketkeeper come in with his team in trouble and battle through to a respectable score. Show me the man who isn’t impressed by a bowler coming back after a horror spell to take a five-for. The spectacular catches that are held and put to ground. The true tests of character and concentration are the hallmarks of a great sporting fixture.

I am glad that we have them back and now I look forward to the remaining two tests. Especially with a teething baby. Now I have something to watch during those late night wanders.

May 27th, 2008 Posted by rebellion | Uncategorized | 8 comments

Reasons to be Cheerful

The ersatz Federal Government presented its first budget on Tuesday night and I sat through the broadcast feeling more and more angry. Frankly, there was very little to be upset about. Most of the releases were relatively reasonable. It wasn’t back to the bad old Labor days but still something was gnawing at me that I couldn’t fathom.

Then it hit me. Its ok to hate the rich people again.

And now we even have a category of richness above which it is socially and politically acceptable to spew hatred upon.

$150,000 is now the acceptable limit of vitriol.

Now I personally do not earn that figure. Though I plan to one day in the not too far distant future. I would be letting myself and my family down if I didn’t at least aspire to improve our financial position.

But as I sat and seethed, I suddenly realised that this was a typical old fashioned Labor Government with typical old fashioned Labor ideals and prejudices. I also realised that the conservatives have their traditional supporters back. Anybody that earns over $150K or wants to, now knows that the ALP hates them and wants them to die slowly and painfully.

Well the last bit was for me to make me feel better. They don’t necessarily want them to die, otherwise who is going to pay for their bloody stupid ideas?

No, what they want is for the “rich” to start feeling guilty again. We have just gone through 13 years when it was ok to get more. When it was not only encouraged, but supported for you to want to better yourself, your family’s income, your standard of living and take chances. Knowing full well that you would be entitled to exactly the same support as a single mother of fifteen illegitemate bastards, if it all went pear shaped.

Now the government wants us all back in sackcloth with gravel through our hair for daring to want to improve our standard of living. This means it is entirely ok for me to start hating them with a vengeance again. This means that I can feel morally superior to the ALP again, not merely because it is true, but because it is right.

I went to bed feeling so much better.

May 16th, 2008 Posted by rebellion | Uncategorized | 2 comments