Grubsheet is in Indochina this week, marvelling at the breathtaking transformation of the city the locals still refer to as Saigon, 36 years after their communist masters insisted on changing its name to Ho Chi Minh City in honour of the wispy-bearded architect of their revolution. The French colonisers who Uncle Ho deposed before his lieutenants … [Read more...] about #8 POSTCARD SAIGON: DESIGNER COMMUNISM BY HCM
#7 UNCONSCIONABLE DECEPTION AND EMISSIONS OF HOT AIR
So Australia is to have a carbon tax from July 1st 2012, despite assurances from Prime Minister Julia Gillard before the last election that such a tax would not be imposed. The Australian electorate is used to our politicians behaving with craven self interest. But there can be few more cynical instances of a Prime Minister resorting to such a … [Read more...] about #7 UNCONSCIONABLE DECEPTION AND EMISSIONS OF HOT AIR
#6 WE ARE ALL KIWIS IN THIS TRAGEDY
There's something especially cruel about the New Zealand earthquake, which has flattened much of central Christchurch and looks increasingly certain to be the worst in the country's history. To have been struck a mortal blow not once but twice in the space of six months must make the stricken residents of the city named for its churches feel more … [Read more...] about #6 WE ARE ALL KIWIS IN THIS TRAGEDY
#5 THE MADNESS BLOCKING THE PUGILIST’S KNOCKOUT PUNCH
Someone we know who taught Tony Abbott at Sydney's Saint Ignatius College has a wonderful story that tells us much about the man who thinks he was robbed of the chance to lead Australia at the last election and certainly intends to do so after the next. The year was 1975 and Tony Abbott was in Year 12, a confident all-rounder and the cherished … [Read more...] about #5 THE MADNESS BLOCKING THE PUGILIST’S KNOCKOUT PUNCH
#4 POSTCARD BUENOS AIRES: TANGO HEAVEN, LLAMA HELL
Grubsheet has always regarded llamas and their alpaca cousins as gentle creatures to be shorn occasionally for their silky wool and otherwise patted and pampered. So it's somewhat disconcerting at first to find some unfortunate llama turned into wafer thin slivers on the plate in front of us, drizzled with oil and vinegar. Yes, folks, it's llama … [Read more...] about #4 POSTCARD BUENOS AIRES: TANGO HEAVEN, LLAMA HELL
#3 CONTORTIONS OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS IN CLIMATE CHANGE
Grubsheet no longer gets invited to most Sydney dinner parties because we're always getting into fights with other people's guests about climate change. Insults are hurled, woman cry and their male escorts lunge for our throats. And all because we have the temerity to point out some of the glaring inconsistencies in the arguments of the true … [Read more...] about #3 CONTORTIONS OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS IN CLIMATE CHANGE