Tuesday, 6 January, 2009
Quadrant Online

Michael Connor

Left win literary award - again

by Michael Connor

January 6, 2009

Richard Flanagan’s wild, environmentalist diatribe called “Out of Control” won the $15,000 John Curtin Prize for Journalism in the 2008 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards.

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At the Movies with Blecker and Nun

by Michael Connor

January 4, 2009

For years and years and years Blecker and Nun have bored their way through weakly [sic] TV programs of film criticism.

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Obama in Hobart

by Michael Connor

January 2, 2009

Great News! On New Year’s day Global Warming was cured and the President Elect was sighted in Hobart.

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Titanic Inc. buys Gitmo franchise

by Michael Connor

January 2, 2009

With emotion, though speaking falteringly in English, Kevin Rudd, the CEO of Titanic Inc, announced that the company has successfully purchased the franchise for Gitmo detonators in the Australasian region.

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The "cursed generation"

by Michael Connor

December 29, 2008

According to reviewer Bernard Chapin author Roger L. Simon had second thoughts about the havoc his cursed generation bought upon the American people.

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Tracey does Xmas

by Michael Connor

December 28, 2008

Caught up with Tracey after Christmas. Even though she is taking a well deserved break from researching her PhD in performing arts she was looking a bit frazzled. It can’t be easy being a checkout chick with a conservationist conscience giving out all those plastic bags and I know that Rudd's performance on the environment has been getting her a bit depressed lately.

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Love among the ruins

by Michael Connor

December 27, 2008

Christmas is over. A splendid new year, well interesting anyway, stretches before us. But spare a thought for the unfortunate Left.

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The ASIO tapes - Kevin Rudd

by Michael Connor

December 24, 2008

Kevin Rudd is the CEO of Titanic Inc. This confidential Report points to the source for his internationally acclaimed linguistic excellence and gives examples of his uncanny ability to descend to the level of his audience.

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Tsunami warning

by Michael Connor

December 24, 2008

Thomas Sowell: The rise in unemployment after the stock market crash of 1929 was a blip on the screen compared to the soaring unemployment rates reached later, after a series of government interventions.

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Buy that degree - NOW

by Michael Connor

December 23, 2008

One internet company writes the essays while students occupy themselves “focusing on more important things.” Sounds like a recession-proof business.

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The worst poet in America

by Michael Connor

December 23, 2008

The President-Elect has chosen Elizabeth Alexander to read her poetry on Inauguration Day, 2009. Read and tremble.

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Obama does plagiarism

by Michael Connor

December 22, 2008

I saw Simon the other day. He’s the novelist who lives in the granny flat at the back of Tracey’s. He’s mad with Obama and is thinking of suing him for plagiarism.

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Bill of Rites Rules

by Michael Connor

December 22, 2008

Frank Brennan, Managing Director of Bill of Rights Pty Ltd, launched the company’s first promotional blimp from the Australian's head office in Murdochville. As it soared into the air Father Brennan gave a sermon on the mound.

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Beckie graduates

by Michael Connor

December 21, 2008

Beckie has graduated from the local university. Her education there was an experience many of her generation have shared.

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Yes, Arts Minister

by Michael Connor

December 21, 2008

If you thought political correctness was dying – think again. It's Peter Garrett's new hat in a career that could be the TV hit of 2009.

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Peter Garrett - the soft warrior

by Michael Connor

December 20, 2008

Titanic Inc Arts Minister Peter Garrett: I have no hesitation in standing here, as a former practicing artist, and say the arts are inherently valuable; they are a public good.

WARNING: This is not a satire.

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Baz does Gatsby - Zelda unbottles bender

by Michael Connor

December 20, 2008

Baz Luhrmann has acquired the rights to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Zelda was unavailable for comment.

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Crims rule! - not OK

by Michael Connor

December 19, 2008

Christine Nixon is police commissioner of the Underbelly state. She is leaving her job. The state’s police force is not in the best condition.

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Harmony Week goes Left

by Michael Connor

December 19, 2008

Angela Davis was in Australia to present the Chancellors’ Oration at Murdoch University and give some public lectures: “to speak about the ways racism infiltrates our institutions without us realising.” The Left applauded.

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Have you signed Tim's Big List?

by Michael Connor

December 19, 2008

Have you signed Tim’s Big List?

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Home Brand Literature

by Michael Connor

December 18, 2008

No one sells Oz lit quite like the Left.

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Titanic Inc. welcomes People Smugglers Inc.

by Michael Connor

December 18, 2008

This week Titanic Inc. welcomed People Smugglers Inc. into the Australian market and Australian waters. “Competition is good,” said Captain Rudd.

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Australia - "the prosaic facts of history"

by Michael Connor

December 17, 2008

Ross Douthat at the National Review (December 15) has reviewed Baz Luhrmann’s movie of last week – Australia: The overall effect is Little Black Sambo by way of Dances with Wolves: The condescension is intended to be favorable, but it’s condescension all the same.

Professor Marcia Langton thinks differently.

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The best books of 2008

by Michael Connor

December 16, 2008

Christmas is the time for looking back at the past year’s crop of books and choosing those which really stood out. Here is my personal selection of seven outstanding conservative non-fiction books published in  Australia in 2008.

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Titanic Inc. writes suicide note

by Michael Connor

December 16, 2008

Terry McCrann: Rudd becomes the first prime minister to specifically set out to make Australia and Australians poorer. Significantly and permanently.

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Give Australia a Little Black Christmas

by Michael Connor

December 15, 2008

Education minister Julia Gillard could improve Australian education by forgetting about free Google machines and handing the kids copies of Mark Lopez’s The Little Black Schoolbook. While waiting for her to do so you might consider putting it on your own Christmas giving list.

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Bill Muehlenberg

by Michael Connor

December 15, 2008

Bill Muehlenberg blogs on Quadrant Online. Bill Muehlenberg wrote a brilliant book.

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Steyn Aid - Mark Steyn sings for World Peace

by Michael Connor

December 15, 2008

THE Mark Steyn has recorded a musical single for Christmas – A Marshmallow World. True.

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Bernard Black - a profile

by Michael Connor

December 14, 2008

You know Bernard Black. Everyone knows Bernard. The writer you think of whenever the words “Australia’s Leading Indigenous Writer and a Living National Treasure” pop into your mind.

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The Australian Conservative

by Michael Connor

December 14, 2008

The Australian Conservative goes places you don’t want to go and brings back treasures of Left stupidity, malice and lunacy. More importantly, it highlights the increasingly good comment to be found on Australia's dissident websites.

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Two thoughts about Australia

by Michael Connor

December 14, 2008

Or two Australias?

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Bad movie, great review

by Michael Connor

December 13, 2008

Peter Suderman: Good blockbusters always show audiences something new, and here, you can't fault it: It's the first movie to feature a hive of enviro-socialist alien nano-goo as its villain.

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Bill of Rights Pty. Ltd. appoints director

by Michael Connor

December 13, 2008

This week (while the opposition was holding their weekly Christmas party) Bill of Rights Pty. Ltd. announced the appointment of well known cultural entrepreneur Frank Brennan as Managing Director.

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Titanic Inc. buys iceberg - crowd cheers

by Michael Connor

December 12, 2008

What a future for our country. Jobless, sitting at home amongst empty boxes and broken toys waiting for another Rudd cheque which may never arrive.

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Killer Chic

by Michael Connor

December 12, 2008

The faces of killers Che and Mao sell jewellery, beer, food, tee-shirts and movies. A new online film, Killer Chic, removes the makeup.

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I had a nightmare

by Michael Connor

December 11, 2008

Wouldn’t it be awful if Barack Obama ...

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The ASIO tapes - Terry Dix

by Michael Connor

December 11, 2008

Terry Dix is the host of a television current affairs program. He is the brother of the noted Fairfax journalist Dorothy Dix. Although it is said that Dix is an Anchor-For-Life this is not true – it just feels like it.

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Quadrant exits closet and bakes cake

by Michael Connor

December 11, 2008

Quadrant - a magazine that lost its raison d’etre after the Cold War, and is a refuge for fruitcakes and closet racists.

[Note to Editor - Perhaps we should contact Louise Malaprop at SMUP and suggest a Quadrant Fruitcake and Biscuit Cookbook?]

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The ASIO tapes - Louise Malaprop

by Michael Connor

December 10, 2008

Louise Malaprop is Director-For-Life of the South Melbourne University Press (SMUP). Mrs Malaprop is the wife of renowned actor and esteemed purveyor of charcuterie to the gentry Max Malaprop.

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Wadeye is us

by Michael Connor

December 9, 2008

Over its lifetime Quadrant has published important essays which have had an impact on Australia’s public life. In the December issue Patrick McCauley’s essay, “Wadeye: Failed State as Cultural Triumph”, is such a work.

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Shock news - Left tells truth

by Michael Connor

December 9, 2008

During the year there was a bloody prize-fight between Left and Left over the ghastly remains of Wilfred Burchett. Robert Manne said he smelt bad, others on the Left said he was perfumed like a red saint.

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Titanic Inc. appoints Arts advisory panel

by Michael Connor

December 9, 2008

The Prime Minister’s 2020 Creative Australia was a weekend party which produced confusion, quite a lot of hot air, and a huge hangover.

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Titanic Inc. gives cash to steerage class

by Michael Connor

December 9, 2008

Latest news from White Star head office in Canberra.

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Money, money, money - Christmas '08

by Michael Connor

December 7, 2008

The auction was very interesting. There were a lot of first home buyers. It was held by a well known local firm and they began with a Welcome to Country ritual. Tracey said they get Arts funding to do it. At some auctions they even perform smoking ceremonies.

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Why don't they get it?

by Michael Connor

December 5, 2008

Left blogs attract Left readers. Conservative blogs attract Right and Left. The comments pages on the blogs of Andrew Bolt, Janet Albrechtsen, Tim Blair and Piers Akerman etc are lively places. Phillip Adams’ blog is a cemetery with dull contributions from the typing dead.

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Silly season begins early - in Canberra

by Michael Connor

December 5, 2008

 “AUSTRALIAN universities are not controlled by left-wing academics hell bent on brainwashing students, a Senate inquiry has found.” News.com.au

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I don't think like that anymore

by Michael Connor

December 5, 2008

Before, every time news of something awful broke, I used to say “Now, they’ll understand. Now they’ll get it.” They never did and I felt awful.

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Whiteness Studies Uber Alles

by Michael Connor

December 4, 2008

Last week the Mumbai killers were asking who among their victims were British or American. This week Monash University is hosting the Australian Critical Race and Whiteness Studies Association’s  “Re-Orienting Whiteness Conference”. Connect the dots for yourself between foolish western academics with killing ideas and terrorists killing for ideas.

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Actor bites audience - Is there a vet in the house?

by Michael Connor

December 4, 2008

It’s true, Left theatre even bores Left actors.

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The academic publishing game

by Michael Connor

December 3, 2008

Earlier this year Henry Reynolds launched a new book of old history by Dr Ian McFarlane called Beyond Awakening, The Aboriginal Tribes of North West Tasmania: A History.

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The reason we don't see Don Burke on TV

by Michael Connor

December 2, 2008

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So this is cultural studies

by Michael Connor

December 2, 2008

The beach remains the rallying ground of Anglo-Australia, the preserve of decent, wholesome white bodies, policed in a variety of ways against any contaminating whiff of “dirty wog” – and, by implication, even dirtier black – bodies.” Suvendrini Perera

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Australiaphobia - the movie not by Baz Luhrmann

by Michael Connor

December 1, 2008

It starts with a revolving globe showing the Imperial Japanese Army heading for Australia with duty free stopovers in Hong Kong, Bali and Singapore and then it cuts to the tastefully naked lady aristocrat dancing under the Botox gusher she has just discovered in the desert.

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On Spring Theatre

by Michael Connor

November 1, 2008

Free in Melbourne on a spring afternoon I went walking. Last time in Melbourne was mid-winter and the place was dirty and dull. It had recovered. In the capital of black I noticed an ecotourism travel company called Extragreen Holidays. Their advertising sign had the company name emblazoned across a very big jumbo jet.

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On David Williamson

by Michael Connor

September 2, 2008

Behind me the ladies ate Maltesers, in a satirical manner, while talking of crumbling bones and ABC reruns of As Time Goes By.

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The Follies Bizarre: Australia's political theatre

by Michael Connor

September 1, 2008

The hero of a Stephen Sewell play, and clearly his creator’s alter ego, says: “People change.

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