Whiskey over the rocks...

I chatted, on the phone, to mate and US based author Anny Cook today.  Whenever I speak to the husky, smooth whiskey-over-the-rocks sounding Ms Cook, I see in my mind’s eye a sultry Ava Gardner who knows what’s what. We spoke about everything from conspiracies to politics, chooks to the weather, books to badgers…okay, maybe not badgers but I expect she would have an opinion on them. I like that. I like people who think outside the square and the conversation is not all about their books. Writers who talk only about writing does my head in. But, not so with the articulate Anny. Good convo mate. We’ll do it again.

Never heard of Anny Cook? Seriously? Well you should. Go immediately to www.annycook.com and buy a Cook book. 

Simple fact...

AUSTRALIA has a new Prime Minister. His name is Kevin Rudd.

Three years and three days on from the day he was knifed by the faceless men, the former PM has been returned to the Lodge following a secret ballot called by Ms Gillard.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/kevin-rudd-to-challenge-pm-julia-gillard-for-labor-leadership-tomorrow-morning/story-fni0cx12-1226670143790

Following her defeat, Ms Gillard confirmed she would not contest the safe seat of Lalor at the 2013 election and has nominated the NDIS, carbon tax and Gonski reforms as key achievements of her minority government.
She said she was "proud" to be the nation's first female prime minister and despite the attacks she says she suffered, she thinks over time it will get easier for women to hold the top job.
"It will be easier for the next woman, and the woman after that and the woman after that. And I am proud of that," she said.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-features/labor-leadership-live-kevin-rudd-returns-julia-gillard-loses-support-of-partyroom/story-fnho52jj-1226669921693

Simple fact - ruthless, ambitious people are not defined by gender. A knife can be held in the hand of anyone. Gillard did nothing to help women in politics. That she thinks she did and made this a gender debate indicates to me she had lost touch with the Aussie people and women in particular. 

Of tosspots and unicorns...

One of the local candidates in the upcoming state election came to the door and spruiked his stuff. I stood and listened because it was polite to do so and he did seem earnest in what he said. In essence he wanted me to believe in cupcakes, unicorns, sunshine and lollipops. He was articulate and charming. He listened to me at that moment but I was well aware he would not necessarily listen to me later if elected. He mentioned the party leader. I said ‘he’s a prick’. He was a tad taken aback and his response was ‘women don’t seem to like him. Possibly he comes across as arrogant.’ No ‘possibly’ about it sunshine. I explained how rudely this party leader treated my parents many moons ago when he was just out of Uni. He was a friend of my brother. My parents weren’t up to his speed and he let them know it. They had no real money, other than hard worked for savings, and they had nothing that was of use to this tosspot. So he treated them like crap. My mother did get back at him in a politely, deadly succinct way as only she could, that let that little prick know that he had messed with the wrong woman. The candidate said ‘Oh, well, men will still vote for him.’ I pointed out to him that men are very influenced by women. He looked at me like that was something he hadn’t factored in.

Politics. What goes around comes around…

Couple of thoughts...

- I read this job advert this morning. This phrase in the middle of a sentence made me smile ‘we have a no 1 in teamwork concept’. Yes. Exactly. I think that sums up nicely how workplaces are going. ‘It’s not me…it’s you…blame them…I adhere to the no one in teamwork policy.’

- I have been getting an email from a romance reader’s loop advising e-book authors over and over again what the rules are and they’re only to post excerpts or whatever once. That means one time only. Uno. Stick one finger in the air. That's how much we want to read your excerpt. Why do authors have to be reminded of this continuously? Possibly because e-book authors think everyone on the planet wants to read their story. No. No they don’t – hence the rule sweetie.

- Frankly, I don’t want a Mitt or a Newt or an Obama running the US. Get someone with a real name and let’s get serious about saving the world.

- “Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.” ~Oscar Wilde....exactly. I have experience to burn, baby.

There wouldn't be an election would there?

I emailed a complaint to my local federal member about 2 months ago and received stuff all response. Surprise factor? Negative 12.

Today I got a phone call from his office apologizing they hadn’t got back to me and how can they help and yes I was absolutely justified in my complaint and that they will look into it right now. Uh huh…of course it’s the skeptic in me that thinks because it’s the run up to the Australian federal election, and I’m in a key state of voters who could decide the fate of which party wins, that they have suddenly decided to buy my vote. I know…terrible to be so cynical...and I ain’t cheap to purchase.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Tacky knife job…

While on one hand I’m pleased we have a female Prime Minister, I find the whole knife job against the outgoing PM tacky, classless and Un-Australian. Do you have to be smart to be in politics? No. You do need rat cunning and while normally I understand what motivates people to succeed, kicking a mate in the guts is just plain wrong.

http://www.news.com.au/features/federal-election/julia-gillard-is-australias-first-female-prime-minister/story-e6frfllr-1225883620482

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Never discuss politics or religion…

An election is coming. Universal peace is declared and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry. ~T.S. Eliot

I have been watching the hoop-la and Hollywood hype of US politics. Scary stuff. You have on one hand a bunch of right wing we-will-save-you-through-God-and-guns candidates compared to a rock star who is reminiscent of JFK and Camelot. The thing is whoever gets elected in the US effects the world. To my mind it’s not looking good either way but then compare that to Aussie politics - the opposition party, the Liberals – who are anything but - got knocked out of power last year because they lost the plot and were so out of touch with everyday Aussies, are electing a new leader. I have to say who cares? Neither contender is the average Joe Blow that has had to struggle in life. They’re silver spooners. Then look at Kevin, our Labor PM – working class boy makes good. It’s the dream isn’t it? So far he has done okay – not fabulous – but okay. So do we want okay people or do we want razzle dazzle running the world? Either way, we take a huge chance.

Like a lot of people I studied poli-sci at Uni. It’s interesting why people vote as they do and how the voters can be swayed by words and promises and glitz. It’s a damn shame most of them will never come to fruition or if they do you have to pay through the nose for them with your taxes. Yep, I reckon it’s true – we elect who we deserve. We strive for more in out own life so why not globally? The whiz bang hype of US elections makes me wonder how whiz bang the world will be feeling this time next year.

Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato

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Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?