Who cares ...?
Hitler walks into the meeting room and turns to his trusted staff...
"
I want you to organise the execution of 10,000 Jews and 10,000 hedgehogs."
Everyone looks around the table and after a long silence, Goering pipes up, "
Mein Fuhrer, why do you want to kill 10,000 hedgehogs?"
Hitler smiles and turns to the rest of the table, "
You see, no one cares about the Jews."
I am indebted, once again, to
b3ta for today's inspiration.
Monday will be one of Indonesia's most historic days,
ever. The first direct election of the President of one of the world's most populous countries will take place. This is viewed in some quarters, well
in Iraq anyway, as a good thing. Here, one wonders if anyone but the politicians are bothered.
Although so-called
public opinion polls predict an
SBY win by a landslide, the
Mega forces are consolidating their hold on the legislative bodies. Here in Jakarta, despite having the majority of elected councillors, the PKS (Prosperous Justice Faction) candidate for the crucial
Speaker post lost to Councillor Ade Surapriatna of the Golkar Party who, "
two days prior to the election, ... had promised that he would increase the councillors' monthly salaries and upgrade facilities for them, including apartments."
After the 'secret' vote, the shipping magnate said, "
I don't want to hear councillors taking more criticism (from the public) than the executive branch of the administration. It is our duty to monitor the performance of the executive, not to be monitored by the public."
Not the public?? Is he talking about the same public who exercised their newly won democratic right to choose their representatives?
'Er indoors says, "It's not fair."
Jakartass says it's a blatant rip-off.
So sue us.
If it would do any good, I'd launch into a rant at this point. But what would that achieve?
So I'll rave instead.
In their latest package of goodies, my ever-reliable regular mail order dispenser of aural delights,
Gema Records, included XTC's
Apple Venus Volume 2 (aka
Wasp Star).
How many bands do you sing along to? On first listening? These songs are impossibly catchy. Goddam, I do love this band and this album is one of their finest. I needed the healthy boost of a feelgood factor after that too long a period of under-employment.
I'm not alone in my raving.
Cibula says,
he rocks back and forth, idiot grin on his weatherbeaten visage.
John Metzger can't live without it. "Wasp Star
finds the band returning to more familiar ground and adding yet another fine album to their outstanding catalog."
(Nearly)
all here say:
Great songwriting, great performances, nothing experimental, nothing groundbreaking, not their best, just great toe-tapping, head-bobbing XTC songs, every one.
Since my return from Singgers, Jakartass Towers have reverberated to XTC's complete
oeuvre.
Now back to reality.
The following public service announcement is not issued by the
Jakarta City Council.
"
We're developing a host of innovative projects to make ... THE place to work, live and play.
For more information about our ground breaking approach to city management and how you can get involved visit (this site)".
It's quite a large download, but at least it shows that somewhere there are some local politicians who care.
And that some politicians have really weird imaginations.
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