Appallingly, the attacks on the great Julian Assange continue. Has any hero been treated more savagely than this great freedom (of information) fighter?

Take these derisive claims about his methods of evading AmeriKKKan assassins in a book put out by The Guardian. (Actually this report is doubly disturbing considering its source. Up to now that newspaper has had a well deserved reputation for speaking truth to power. But maybe it's been infiltrated by the CIA? I think it's highly likely...
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Fellow travellers, as international socialists we can all agree that patriotism is an ugly emotion. And it brings out other malignant sentiments, for example the flagrant, insensitive and deeply racist waving of Australian flags (still, revoltingly, including the Union Jack) by drunken revelers at various Australia Day events and gatherings.

Not surprisingly this brutal nationalism often dredges up the vile prejudice of speciesism as well. Take this regular Australia Day horse racing event tha...
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While I think that the choices for Australian of the Year and Young Australian of the Year are at least tolerable, I do have some reservations, fellow travellers.

My first one is general in nature, and is simply about the whole concept of the award. This idea that we celebrate one individual, as opposed to a collective, smacks more than a little of conservatism. It's also undeniably nationalistic. I mean, if we do have to laud an individual couldn't we nominate someone who does the whole Eart...
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Fellow travellers, as one who regularly forces himself to read right-wing blogs to learn as much as possible about the change-fearing, febrile mindset of our collective enemy, I thought I'd seen it all. But no, today I read something that was even more appalling and bizzare than even the worst rantings of Tim Blair (on whose blog I found it, BTW).

It's a truly psychotic diatribe against our Bob Brown by an attitudinally unreconstructed Queenslander called Robyn Wuth. Some of the lines are so ...
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Why am I not surprised at the appalling Andrew Bolt's bellicose reaction to sharia advocate Ibrahim Siddiq-Conlon's mildly provocative statements regarding his desire to have the law changed in Australia.

The bilious blowhard accuses him of being 'troubled" and "angry", then goes on to say: "The guy clearly is someone with an ego that’s outsized in comparison to his real worth, and is getting off on the attention."

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! (And I don't mean that in a racis...
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Well, well, well. Isn't the blogosphere interesting?

As an indirect consequence of this blog's mention in Rupert's mean little rag, rumours have started to circulate that I am a satirical construction created by the loathsome conservative blowhard Matt Hayden. Sadly, these claims have come from the left. I can't deny it, that hurts.

I am not a satire. I am as real as anyone walking the planet (and certainly more authentic than most!).

Those pushing the claim cite the inclusion of the words "come...
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It's hardly surprising that amid the destruction caused by the floods in Brisbane, some people are taking matters into their own hands and relieving unattended shops of some necessities.

Predictably, moral absolutists condemn this behaviour, calling these people "low-lifes". But thankfully there is some sensible and compassionate commentary in the blogosphere such as this offered by fellow traveller Jeremy Sear.

I guess what sticks in people’s craw is the sense that looting is kicking someo...
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Fellow travellers, as we all know, language creates reality. And words can hurt and oppress, too. Even the most seemingly innocuous turns of phrase can be the cause of the most intense distress.

The word "moonbat", for example is becoming more and more offensive. It is getting to the point when it really is intolerable. Soon, I may even join with some of my fellow progressive bloggers to initiate a global class action against those on the more reactionary fringes of the blogosphere. We will ei...
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Fellow travellers, I have been informed that one of my blog posts has been mentioned in The Australian's Cut and Paste section. For those of you who don't know, it's a sad little corner of that wretched rag that was accurately dubbed a "daily compendium of schadenfreude and spleen" by Robert Manne.

From my experience in the blogosphere and elsewhere I know what those who read (and write) papers like The Australian think of people who care deeply about humanity, the planet and the future - and ...
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Fellow travellers, a lot of people are saying that this story about Ted Williams, "the homeless man with the golden voice", is wonderfully uplifting; the first big feel good story of 2011.

But it doesn't make me feel good at all, just quite annoyed - and even a little depressed. You see, this upbeat approach relies upon many cultural assumptions that a compassionate and progressive person such as myself finds deeply suspect.

Firstly there is this idea that someone who is homeless is necessaril...
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One thing I always find particularly annoying about right-wingers and conservatives is how oblivious they are to the presence of Gaia. Completely lacking in compassion and sensitivity, they are utterly incapable of feeling Her presence, even though She is all around, above, below and even through them!

Full of fear and hatred, they mock and deride anyone who worships Her. Take this vicious diatribe from the always offensive Tim Blair. In it, he mocks our beloved fellow traveller Tim Flannery f...
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Fellow travellers, it must be remembered that Andrew Bolt, Tim Blair, Piers Akerman and Miranda Devine aren't the only reactionary, conservative columnists in the Australian media. Don't forget Paul Sheehan as well. The fact that he is still employed by our fellow travellers at Fairfax is one of life's enduring mysteries. I mean, they did manage to get rid of the (not very) Devine Miss Miranda, who's now peddling her hatred at that revolting News Ltd tabloid that simply doesn't bear mentionin...
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