Odd spots

Snippets (Beazley, Gillespie, Xiali, Thaksin, Les Murray) from the Weekend Australian:

Kim Beazley has reaffirmed the ALP's stance on uranium mining but has agreed to dump the 'hit list' policy on private schools. The uranium decision is foolish but the revised education policy makes sense if Labor seeks to govern federally. My kids go to private schools and I know that many parents who do so are not rich - they just put high priority on education. They will never vote Labor with a 'hit lists' policy since they see the huge amounts they pay in fees (and the meagre government contributions) as underpinning public school financing.

KB launched a strong attack on the skilled migration program. Will the left attack him for his Blainey-esque attacks on foreign migrants as creators of an anti-migrant 'backlash' in Australia? Presumably the usual hypocrisy will prevail.

It is good to hear that Jacqueline Gillespie has been reunited with her daughter, Shahirah, (Sharia?), after she was kidnapped and taken to Malaysia by her father.

I was amazed to read that a Chinese sedan car (the Xiali) can be sold in Australia for as little as $5978. What sort of future do US and Australian car industries have? Presumably car travel in the future will be primarily driven in the future by fuel prices and government charges.

The specific details of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's claimed corruption in Thailand are spelt out. Thaksin has said he will resign as PM. Thailand was my home for 10 years I still keep an interest in Thai politics. Thaksin and his family companies have a case to answer. I am suprised to hear of Mr. Chamlong's return who was mayor of Bangkok while I lived there - a celibate, vegetarian and very strict Buddhist who brings an unusual anti-materialist moral twist to the incomprehensible (to outsiders) world of Thai politics. Information on the role of His Majesty King Bhumibol in events leading up to the resignation of Mr Thaksin would interest me.

There are two articles on Les Murray with some great quotes. His new book of poetry, The Biplane Houses , has just been released and I'll try to grab a copy today. Murray is a weird composite of conservatism and irreverence.

Sometimes the weekend press has little of interest but today I grabbed the paper at 7-00am and was still getting into it at midday when I had brunch. It should last the weekend.