I saw her visit to TDS and she did not come across as very bright. I'm glad to know that she seems better than she came off during that interview.

I was kind of surprised at the lack of depth she displayed.

Well, she took some, you know, short-cuts. Who needs depth?

Has billytea seen this?

Hee. I have! The little penguins at Cincinnati Zoo are quite awesome. 

I'm not single-issue, but as a broad category, I vote more on social issues than economic. I have strong opinions on economic issues, but they tend to fall between our two parties, and there's less disagreement between them anyway. In principle. I'm often happy to vote on competence here. But there is a significant difference between them on social issues, and I certainly won't be voting Liberal while that remains the case. 

I could vote Green, especially since with preferential voting, a third-party vote won't be wasted; and my social positions are closest to them. But economically we're quite far apart, and I don't have much reason as yet to trust their competence in government.

Sadly, right now that's true of both major parties too right now. I don't recall the last time Australia was as ill-served by its politicians. 

The testiness has started. But I am maintaining zen goddamnit, even of it means walks in the dark. The very dark.

Undara was magical. Lava tubes cool. Chillagoe now which is very pretty and I'm the middle of nowhere. Cockatoos everywhere. My dad and nephews are acting about the same age.

I'm gonna probably knock off a bottle of wine tonight and my nic ban went to hell. ZEN.

My conservative family members are alternating between posting "drug testing for welfare recipients!" and "Whoever's president, Jesus is King!" stuff on Facebook. Eh, they're not being overtly racist (although if you asked them to describe their mental image of a welfare recipient, I doubt that person would look like them) or calling for armed rebellion, so I'm gonna just scroll on by.

FUCKING OOOOMMMMM...

Let's see, I quelled an epic tantrum in a 5 year old and then refused to let a 71 year old act like the same, I didn't lose my temper, I did not raise my voice, and I was a sane, calm human being. Hell, I didn't get so much upset as annoyed and incredulous. And gobsmacked, even as I know better.

I may not say a single thing but cordial filler to my father for the next week but I am actually ok. It's all about perspective and I'm good. God I love family holidays.

I want a gold star goddamnit.

I think the anti-sex education thing is the one I scratch my head at most. Because clearly, if no one ever teaches kids about sex, they'll never be curious enough to experiment with it on their own, right?

Not if they were taught no sex before marriage in the church like they should have been. I mean, that is the answer I would expect these people I know to give.

GOLD STAR FOR SARA!

I'm informing my mother in the morning that she's funding my alcohol budget for the rest of the trip. BECAUSE I'M BEING THAT AWESOME .

Why, I haven't even gone to yell at my father who seems to be eating the way through all of our breakfast food for tomorrow. Because if the manlocust succeeds, why, there's a pub across the street that does breakfast and I'm gonna let that fall there.

Yes, I'm laughing at this point. What else is there? And why are you online so early

Why, I haven't even gone to yell at my father who seems to be eating the way through all of our breakfast food for tomorrow. Because if the manlocust succeeds, why, there's a pub across the street that does breakfast and I'm gonna let that fall there.

Check it out, your dad's kosher. (Half-kosher.)