our idiot prime minister

Today was Australia Day. I've previously written about our national day.

Anyway, the Australian of the Year is usually announced the day before. At a reception at the prime minister's official residence (The Lodge) held yesterday for the state and territory finalists, our idiot prime minister asked one of them "When did you come to Australia?" and then "What part of the world were you born?".

The person he asked the stupid questions to, was Professor Terence Tao, who was awarded the Fields Medal (the "Nobel Prize of Mathematics") last year.

Our idiot prime minister obviously did not read his briefing which would have informed him that Professor Tao was born in Adelaide, in South Australia.

What a gaffe. How embarrassing.


Professor Terence Tao

As Professor Tao is Asian, the idiot prime minister presumed that he was born outside of Australia.

If Professor Tao was white, the idiot prime minister would not have asked such a stupid question.

It isn't the first time. Not that long ago, the idiot prime minister asked a woman, who had Middle eastern complexion, and who wore a head scarf the same question. She told him that she was born in Sydney.

Obviously, our idiot prime minister still hasn't learnt and this just demonstrates his mentality and attitude. It borders on being racist.


No caption needed

*Don't forget to check out Shamus for The Ongoing Barks of a Well Read Dog (who is continuing Cammie's legacy)

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After all the excitement of last night, today was very quiet. My human stayed home with me all day instead of going out for some of those Australia Day activities which are too crowded, especially on a hot day.

Burns' Night and a Burns' supper

Today was Burns' Night in honour Robert Burns' birthday (25 January 1759, died 21 July 1796).

Robert Burns is regarded as the national poet of Scotland.

A Burns' supper is traditionally held in Scotland and elsewhere in the world by Scots and those who appreciate Burns' poetry.

A Burns' supper comprises haggis, tatties (mashed potato) and neeps (mashed turnip), lubricated with plenty of single malt Scotch whiskey.

As the haggis is cut open, the following is said:
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o' a grace
As lang's my arm.
(which is a poem by Robert Burns)

*Don't forget to check out Shamus for The Ongoing Barks of a Well Read Dog (who is continuing Cammie's legacy)

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We had a Burns' supper at my place tonight. Emily and Neil came over, then Bobby, and then the back neighbours Sofie's humans Martin and Lil.

I think I had a turn lying or sitting on everybody's lap.

Thankfully, my human had the sense not to serve up any haggis to me. Ew!

happy birthday Milton Keynes

Today is Milton Keynes' birthday.

Milton Keynes is not a person but a large town 75km (45 miles) north-west of London.

It was designated as a new town on 23 January 1967 and developed to ease population congestion in London.

Still, Milton Keynes was not named after a person, but from a village originally known as "Middleton", which later shortened to "Milton". After the Norman invasion, the Cahaines family held the manor from 1166 to the late 13th century as well as others in the country (Ashton Keynes, Somerford Keynes, and Horsted Keynes). During this time the village became known as Middleton de Keynes eventually shortening to Milton Keynes.

See
- Wikipedia entry on Milton Keynes
- Milton Keynes Council


The Concrete Cows of Milton Keynes are famous

There was even a song called 'Come to Milton Keynes' by The Style Council.

My human told me that he's visited Milton Keynes a number of times. Not as exciting as London though.

*Don't forget to check out Shamus for The Ongoing Barks of a Well Read Dog (who is continuing Cammie's legacy)

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Today was still warm. Emily came over tonight and it isn't even Wednesday. Woohoo! She came over with beer and for a beef vindaloo dinner. Of course I didn't eat any. It would upset my delicate stomach. I laid on her lap, but it was too hot to stay there for too long.

Friday 13th... October, also Borat's birthday

Today was Friday the thirteenth. Woo! Scarey.

Today was also the 35th birthday of Sacha Baron Cohen, a British comedian who has upset the government of Kazakhstan by his alter ego Borat Sagdiyev ('born' 30 July 1979), a 'Kazakh journalist' with his new film Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

I wonder if the Kazakh government has sent him a birthday card and if so, what it said. What a scarey thought!


Borat in Paris.

*For more kitty thoughts, check out Camilla and think well wishes for her.

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Today was another warm day (but not as warm as yesterday) so my human kept the blinds down to keep out the heat. Indications are that the summer coming up will be a long, hot and dry one.

My human was a little late home from work today so when he came through the door, I meowed and meowed at him to express my displeasure.

It's also Friday night, and we have no visitors so I'm just going to nap.