Update 10 March 2009: no one listens to rational opinions on drugs like mine. Maybe when an establishment voice like that of the Economist says exactly what I have said below about legalising drug use, western politicians may listen.
It is time for the Australian government to legalise and / or decriminalise the sale, distribution, possession and consumption of all recreational drugs. One critic challenges the Rudd government to pursue policy innovation in relation to drug use.…
Fitzroyalty is indexed in Technorati, and earlier this year I participated in their 2008 survey of bloggers about blogging – State of the blogosphere. I was one of 1079 randomly selected (or at least who bothered to complete the survey – you can read more about the methodology). Only 3% were from Australia, so that makes me one of about 30 Australian bloggers included in the survey. If you want to read further there’s a good analysis of the 2008 survey and an index of old reports.…
I love pomegranate juice, which goes extremely well with pear vodka, and I usually buy either of two excellent Turkish brands. When I could not find stock of either recently, I tried this brand from Azerbaijan. I don’t recommend it – it tastes like boiled wood. But it might help you survive radiation poisoning or a nuclear war.
…
This is a fascinating work on a laneway wall off Smith St.
…
In his blog on 16 September Yarra Socialist Party Councillor Steve Jolly announces that:
A resolution was passed unanimously last night to force all brothels in Yarra to carry signs in English, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese and Russian declaring that ‘sex slavery is illegal’. This is a small but important reform.
In the Melbourne Greens blog on 24 September, Greens Deputy Lord Mayor candidate Kathleen Maltzahn writes that:
This week, at Yarra Council, we will vote on a motion I initiated to compel every brothel in Yarra to display a sign saying sexual slavery is a serious crime, explaining what this covers, and saying where women can get help.
…
As the forthcoming City of Yarra local government elections get closer, the politics is starting to stink. The only party that seems to have policies and ideas that it shares with residents is the Socialist Party, whose blog I read regularly. Anthony Main, Socialist Party candidate for Nicholls Ward, recently posted this story (which is also a letter to the Melbourne Times):
At a secret Yarra Council meeting this month the pro-ALP Councillors attempted to push through plans to build a new library on the grounds of the Edinburgh Gardens.
…
On the night of Thursday 18 September I attended the third Melbourne gig in recent months by former Machine Gun Fellatio singer Pinky Beecroft and his band the White Russians, this time at the Roxanne Parlour in the city. Some of the songs seem to have been through arrangement bootcamp since their second gig at the Brunswick Hotel in July – they had longer rhythmic intros and less keyboard (or maybe Pinky did not feel like playing as much that night).…
Although it’s not listed in the City of Yarra press release about the 150th anniversary of the founding of Fitzroy as a municipality, the council is planning an exclusive (literally) celebration where they will use our money collected from rates to pay for themselves to get pissed. The Fitzroy public is not invited. No one knows (or is telling) who is on the invite list, and the Age is curious.
Yarra’s Socialist Party Councillor Steve Jolly (Facebook profile) is hosting a protest / alternate celebration across the road at the Napier Hotel.…
Update 21 October 2008: the Facebook page now says the market is not starting until 2009.
A new market is being planned for Fitzroy and the founders are looking for stall holders. The aim is to provide a space for local artisans, performers and musicians to sell and / or strut their stuff, raise awareness and $$$ for local community groups, and create a place for Fitzroy to hang out on a Saturday morning.…