Barak Obama was elected along with the promise of Change. This entirely undefined promise worked so well because the George W. Bush Administration was corrupt, immature, inexperienced and a fatal cancer to democracy.

It's not correct to claim we cared not where we went. The Bush years had taught us well that USA foreign policy had a history of, and indeed a skill in, abusing innocent millions to ensure The American Dream lived on. We finally accepted - like accepting the sting of a slap in the face - that crime and governance polluted the USA and Australia, with the UK not far behind. It is correct however, to conclude that perhaps only the deluded, deceptive and the pathologically optimistic saw only "good" in the latest USA President to do God's work. Also, simple pragmatism suggested if we chose to run we should look ahead - not over our shoulder - and by election time one was aware Bush was to be voted out much as Howard was in Australia.

Hence the sense many are trying to make of President-Elect Barak Obama's appointment of Reverand Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the January 2009 inauguration. Warren who has a knack for improvising, has likened abortion to the holocaust and homosexuals to pedophiles. In fact, as founder and senior pastor of Saddleback church, he preaches it, along with the inferiority of governments, businesses and education he hasn't approved. Rev. Debrah W. haffner, Director, Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing - an interfaith organisation wrote on December 23rd:

Well, it could be a handy way to snooker the Evangelical gangs and sooth their anger at being dismissed not just by most thinking people, but also by many previous supporters. Dr. Sylvia Rhue wonders what the values we want to see will become, whilst others are more critical. If you want Obama to "stand up for gay Americans", you can tackle a template letter here.

It pays to remember exactly what the more obvious corruption he can indeed change for ever actually is. With Bush, Creationists with child-like views of the world were hand picked and placed in positions of power. Educational madness like the silver ring thing, virgin pledges and curing addiction and immorality with prayer, siphoned off hundreds of millions. Research proved conclusively that faith based sex education failed, with participants having more sex, using less protection, taking more risks and suffering assault at higher rates than students not fed ignorance - or rings with magical bible passages. Legal retribution of sorts for violation of the First Amendment requirement to be separate from religion was secured by the American Civil Liberties Union. Evidence and education was shelved for faith, belief, ideology and abuse of the reality based community.

Lackeys appeared in other nations, perhaps meaning well but simply misleading peers and unwittingly making fools of themselves. We began to see the first chinks in the integrity of enshrining the right to religious freedom as a human right, when it was used to ultimately ruin, redirect or indeed take lives in secure democratic nations. Pure subjectivity began to buoy rapid reinterpretation of scripture using deadly subjectivity. Plus a nice dollar could be made from repeating useless programmes. "God did it", or worse, "God commands it".

Old themes of scientifically proven deviance, long since relegated to bigotry, intolerance and divisiveness began to re-emerge. The powerful evangelical lobbyists may often be dismissed around the world as liars and charlatans. But in the USA, they controlled the moral voice of the government. One piece of unfinished ignorance is redefining homosexuality as integral to pedophilia and the end of family life as we know it.

Like so much else to be proven naught but cowardly conservative cringing, "the curable disease" of "pedophile induced" homosexuality still terrified the moral terrorists. This rolled out despite the centuries of Christian backed homosexuality, pedophilia, sex slavery and outright debauchery which ironically continued seemingly unabated in modern times. It too engendered unique and offensive apologetics.

And yes, despite ongoing abuse, the Ted Haggards, scams of magical faith healing, the hard link between church identities and serial abusers, protection for same within many church communities, wonderful excuses such as "a private matter between [insert offender] and God", a backlog of Roman Catholic legal escapes and exposure of Pentecostal scams across the globe. Despite theft of welfare and enforced archaic medieval exorcisms, promotion of lifestyles that nurture HIV transmission in Africa, blatant theft of money for legal defence and insultingly tokenistic sentences, it is secular communities and those who value tolerating human beings who are to blame for a problem only a small minority can see. Or rather, they know they see "the devils work" as we hear in the sermon at the beginning and they must "strip the coat off" just as with Sampson and Delilah in the bible.

Essentially, pedophilia and homosexuality may "coexist" as aspects of sexual identity. Indeed, one must be a homosexual to be a pedophile, as evidenced by twin studies. The operative state of potential criminal predatory behaviour is homosexuality. 1/3 of abuse cases involve an adult male and a minor male we're reminded as a type of revelation. Males who abuse female children are "merely" pedophiles. Pedophilia and heterosexuality may cancel each other out in the mind of the biblical fundamentalist and right wing conservative. Many Christians disagree strongly, but can't match the media attention.

2008 saw more juxtaposition in the morality stakes between the USA and Australia. In mid 2007 legislation was passed in NSW parliament following the Premiers backflip, permitting somatic cell nuclear transfer despite threats of eternal torment to compliant Christian MP's from Australia's Cardinal Pell. In the USA in the same month, Bush vetoed legislation allowing funding for embryonic stem cell research.

In Victoria, Australia, IVF laws were improved in December 2008 to allow same sex couples and single women to conceive, drawing comment from multiple sources. Parenting rights took a democratic leap and the religious right took a deep breath. California passed Proposition 8 which added to Article One of the constitution: Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Conservatives took opportunity to misinform and alienate further.

Religious conservatives did the thinking for you; "unsure of what to vote on prop' 8? Vote Yes" offers one Catholic "fact" page. It was a highly funded campaign and with a narrow margin of 52.5% vs 47.5% citizens had cause to be suspicious, given that California is the state most despised by conservative USA for it's homosexual decadence. Incredibly, the "debate" that homosexuality and pedophilia are related psychologically due to handpicked biomechanical similarities is regaining currency.

From Homosexuality vs Pedophilia:

On November 27th Fairfax media reported on our federal health ministers two homophobic staff who had contributed to the gallingly offensive 21 Reasons Why Gender Matters. Ironically they were referred to in her department as Health Ambassadors. A trashy piece of absurd bigotry it was defended proudly by one member and excused as a type of administrative mistake by the other who, to his credit, did insist he rejected discrimination and that people, "should be accepted the way they are born". John Howard supported the 'strategic summit' that attempted to legitimize such appalling rubbish. Health minister Nicola Roxon summed it up herself.

The intuitive thrust that masks the resurrecting pathological homophobic pseudoscience is aimed at "the family". Suddenly or intentionally being bereft of a father figure or a male role model, regardless of how one gets there, spells certain supernatural danger. Think of it as a snippet of the larger creationist rejection of "scientific materialism" and anything remotely related to Charles Darwin. The fallacious thesis is as much a call for quaint traditional - and problematic - values to be elevated to the status of essential, as much as pure bigotry. A raft of dysfunctional issues is to strike all who stray from the model of a nuclear family: referenced once by John Howard to applause at the Fatherhood Foundation's National Strategic Conference on Marriage, Family and Fatherhood in September 2007 - see video below. He managed with a straight face [bold mine];

"A properly functioning family is the best social welfare system mankind has ever devised".

So, it's for your own good when we get down to it. Forget what he did to indigenous families, immigrants, refugees, psychologically ill Australian citizens, innocent Iraqis, his own working public and indeed, poor Peter Costello. Forget the alienation and offence imposed on millions of citizens in Australia as gender bias is made up on the spot. Moral egos that justify the type of hypocrisy and suffering forced upon others are like a swipe card to areas of our nature some of us never earn the humility to fully understand. 

Despite both APA's definition of homosexuality being readily available, and facts so well known they are almost gathering dust, the type of rubbish pushed earlier this decade by Trayce Hansen, NARTH, Dougherty, the much criticised and antagonist of mainstream Christianity, Focus on the Family - who have a disturbing presence here in Australia - Christians for Truth, Catholic Education Resource Center, etc is increasing, making links to climate change seem almost wonderfully just plain old weird. The Mark Foley issue involving hand picked Christian Congressional pages apparently solicited for private rendevous helped create the media energy to re-float these intellectually repugnant themes.

In the Humble Firesnake Holeplex it is certainly hoped that evidence, tolerance and secular values of acceptance and compassion come to the fore and we gradually see the end of this 'science of homophobia'.

From The Fatherhood Foundation:

The first purpose of the National Strategic Summit on Marriage, Family and Fatherhood is to strengthen and support marriages and set a vision for the renewal of marriage in Australia that can be supported by all. The National Strategic Summit on Marriage, Family and Fatherhood is the official launching pad for the release of the 'Marriage Manifesto', a call to the nation to value and treasure the relationships that we all hold so dear. Marriage is the foundation for our families and families are the foundation for our nation.

www.gendermatters.org.au

"A properly functioning family is the best social welfare system mankind has ever devised".

John Howard - Sept. 2007

Articles mentioned are here.

Gags.
53 min, 53 sec.
23 MB.

Paul Mullett is like tinea. No mater how many exhaustive feats one tries to avoid reinfection, he can reappear with a vengeance. More so - putting odour aside - it's painfully irritating to look at and remove traces of his presence. Finally, one moist, warm and dirty environment in which he thrives is Melbourne's Herald Sun; aka The Pulp and Print Court.

Suspended from active duty, and remaining a force within the "police union" [website here] he is described fondly as the "embattled union boss" in the PPC. State Premier John Brumby is somewhat serious about his police corruption "watchdog", although experts point out only a seperate dedicated body will solve the full problem. Prior Premier Steve Bracks was a fool to yield to any of Mullett's demands - many of which arose after investigations revealed his illegal ways.

Please feel free to reacquaint yourself with Paul Mullett and his honest approach to power struggles.
Flash Audio: OPI Police Phone Taps; Ashby, Mullett, Linnell. Explicit Language
Direct Download - "save as" here.

That his involvement in corruption, bullying of members, cowardice, threatening of female officers, tipping off murder suspects and ethical breaches may secure a 25 year jail term is of no moment within Murdoch's pages. This is a paper in which police are perpetual "heroes", reporting on whom is biased milk-sop pulp fiction and who regularly run beat ups and campaigns based on fallacious claims they initially propose. It's a fertile ground for a conspiracy nutter to air his paranoia. Selfless heroes with a swan song "What About Me?". Sure guys, sure.

It is the latest most recent association with Melbourne's only real rag-paper that beggars belief. A day after we learn from two other sources Mullett faces a challenge from within his own union, the PPC excelled itself. The paper forwarded a "survey" packed with leading questions to a one third minority of members, collated the predictable results and pretended to have a "news" story. Packed with distractions like "devastating", "shock findings", "graphic results", "pressure" on Chief Commissioner Nixon, readers were bound to lose their way. We hear primarily of the 69% who dislike Christine Nixon. We had to wait on the good Commissioner herself to hear that only 69% of one third of Victoria Police were suitably "pulped" - shall we say. Put another way, she's actually admired by the bulk of her members.

The very fact the Herald Sun survey includes responses critical of Mullett's suspension when the reality is that even his closest confidants want him gone, and ask only questions about their beat up dynamic can't be ignored. More so, most of the detail is superflous. It's a Mullett vs Nixon beat up. The Police Association Magazine actually notified members of the impending survey. Disenchanted members and Nixon antagonists had pencils at the ready. Herald Sun readers can join in. Unaware of the world outside their boxes the uncritical readers had an opportunity to vote on her performance themselves. This was replaced by a "new" poll on whether these corrupt cops should have stun guns and automatic pistols.

Ironically, it's other leading piece was coverage of a rally primarily attended by Police Association members and somewhat peppered with other emergency service members. In a nutshell Police supposedly want more members, more resources, less females and no "improper association policy". The final sticking point requiring police to reveal all social contacts of a criminally dubious nature. In this episode we look at how valid these concerns are in the present climate and in the context of Mullett's real history. The final insult was the "editorial". Remember, this entire story is nurtured by this newspaper. There really is no problem other than a demonstrably right wing appraisal of it's own delusion. It included:

Police have also challenged falling crime statistics and are intent on labeling the forward progression of modern policing as "the softly, softly approach". The tiny minority who bemoan the morale-eroding "feminisation" of the force almost certainly realise they act for Mullett - not themselves. The reality is that Victoria Police has a problem. Mullett is yet to address issues raised in previous episodes here; Mullett's Mumbles, Mullett's Motives and Corruption in Victoria Police, extending back to Janurary 2007. On the issues raised by the Herald Sun farce one must note Victoria has below average numbers of female officers with only one other state having less. Policing today requires a sharp mind and access to data for economic exploitation. Police deal with people - not characters. The PPC may wish it were otherwise but our crime rate has fallen 23.5% under Nixon. To this we can add that of the 20 best performing service areas, 14 had more than a quarter of female members.

The onus is on proponents of this rot to serve up some evidence. It's doubly offensive coming a day after we hear of a national youth homelessness crisis. These individuals present with dual problems of substance/medication use/abuse and psychological disorders of almost any magnitude. Certainly they come daily into police contact. Is brute force really what we want here? Or is it the skills of a well educated and properly trained compassionate person we need to step back to see clearly?

The other annoyance is double standards. Victorian Police are certainly corrupt - charges have been laid, conversations heard. I actually think the "improper association" idea is going to be a logistical nightmare, possibly discriminatory and perhaps of limited value. I also think it's a great idea. Victoria has no Spent Convictions Policy. Our L.E.A.P. database is compromised. Our privacy is a joke in Police hands and to Police members. Today, Victorians can loose careers, homes, families and worse solely due to the brandishing of criminal "records" by insouciant police and their nosey assistants. In other words, you and I have no such "protection" in our relationship with authorities or indeed their flawed and discriminatory use of our own personal history.

That we, as a community, pay taxes for this corruption to run unchecked in the largest law enforcement body in the second largest city in a so-called "globally progressive democracy" is, objectively speaking, utterly fascinating. Just how gullible are we? Fairly so, I'd wager. 

In January 2007, in The Australian Don Stewart former Supreme Court Judge, Royal Commissioner and founding director of the NCA said the "deep seated and continuing corruption" will only be  finally managed with a Royal Commission. He claimed at the time recent findings were "the tip of the Iceberg", describing the task of cleaning up Victoria Police as "herculean". "Only a wide ranging Royal Commission will do it". The article went on to report:

"Mr Stewart is one of the most senior legal figures in Australia to warn that Victoria has failed to address police corruption. In 2005, former royal commissioner and former ASIO head Edward Woodward said corruption in the state was at its highest level ever".

"I take the opposite view," he says. "Why the Victoria Police don't want, and the Victorian Government will not have, an independent wide-ranging judicial inquiry into police corruption, such as was had in Queensland and NSW, is obvious. They know that it would reveal what they don't want revealed."

Mr Stewart says that, while head of the NCA, he met opposition from many members of Victoria Police, whom he describes as "bad as any". He says he had to terminate the secondments to the NCA of a number of state-based police because of concerns over their conduct".

In March 2007 in an interview with Damien Carrick for ABC's The Law Report, Stewart noted,

"We have to look at establishing proper agencies, research areas, but looking at them, making them transparent, auditing them all the time. You can't let the police investigate themselves, it doesn't work, never has done, never will. And there are all sorts of ways that you can endeavour to maintain integrity, and I don't want to become involved in the discussion of this in any way, but one cannot but be aware of what is happening in Western Australia at the moment. It's not just the police obviously who can become involved in corruption and corroding to use your word, of institutions. There are other people who can be, other people in powerful places. Including politicians.Not only politicians but public servants at high level. Money is a great incentive. I don't know how you get rid of greed, you can't just wave a magic wand and say 'From now on the human race shall be greed free'. It doesn't work like that. It is part of the human condition...".

Damien Carrick: The more things change, the more they stay they same.

Don Stewart: They do. And it reflects the human condition, and we can't change that. All we can do is our best to minimise it.

This Episode Firesnake looks at these fun times with audio grabs from the main players. We also award a Clear and Present Danger to Critical Thought to Paul Mullett himself. He slam dunks a more than respectful score of 8.6 / 10 for being himself. Of course, moaning about "weakening" female officers, then using a picture of a "diminutive female" disarming a shoddy copper during a rally to highlight the true evil of these people we call women, was delightful.

The real issue some say is this silly business of human rights and fear of "being sued". This "thuggery" - yes we're still on about a "diminutive" lass - demands we actually compromise our very definition of democracy such that law enforcement have unprecedented powers and limited accountability.

Where have I seen that before?

All articles touched on are here.
Music thanks to Garageband.






Gags,

51 min.
19.5 MB.

The recent release of phone tap conversations between Paul Mullett and trusted members of Victoria Police reveals ongoing and intentional efforts to undermine Ethical Standards. The OPI are running two covert operations into possible corruption. One is attempting to ascertain the extent of police involvement - if any - in the murder of corruption witness, Terry Hodson and his wife Christine.

The other, which is the subject of the recent audio taps, is tracking the leaking of information from media liaison officer Stephen Linnell to Assistant Commissioner Noel Ashby, then to the Police Association Secretary, Paul Mullett. From Mullett it's alleged the information was passed to President Brian Rix and then onto Peter Lalor, the suspect in the covert murder investigation. Other clear dynamics to arise include the fractions and disloyalty in the force and the shabbiness of those entrusted to police Victoria.

Firesnake runs through the audio, [Strong Language] looks at the implications of these leaks, the chain of events, why it is important and how it fits into the general ongoing problems with police corruption. We also consider the apathy of successive state governments and the necessity for an independent Royal Commission, as argued by so many for so long. Comments from Associate Professor Colleen Lewis, from the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Monash, reinforce the need for an independent corruption body.

We looked at these issues previously in Episodes Two and Eight, and noted Mr. Mulletts intellectual cowardice in facing responsibility along with his misogynistic bullying. From reneging on honest and open discourse in tohe publics interest, to casting those he aims to destroy as the real bullies, Mullett is a disappointment.

No doubt the tapes were material for a likely Clear and Present Danger to Critical Thought. It is thus with great joy we announce Mr. Paul Mullett as a winner in this episodes CPDCT competition, with a most promising entry score of 8.4/10 for being, well... himself. The Victorian public deserve more than institutional lying and crime. That we must then pay to defend those responsible with seemingly endless funds and legal help renders any hoped for justice a futile ambition. This is the end result of years of corrupt culture and Paul Mullett has fought to keep the truth from being discovered.

However, it goes further. Just how much the average person cares about "old school" tactics in managing major crime is uncertain. Yet, it is the deeper implications for policing in the future, the need to respond to force command - not undermine it - and to move forward away from the expensive and flawed days of old, that we must understand. Whilst the individual cases are serious this clearly spells out problems with policing in the second largest city in Australia. We need smart cops. Not "good cop/bad cop" mentalities.

Until this is properly cleaned out Victoria can expect to be fed more comic book stories from Murdoch press and pathetic cries of "What about Me?" from a bunch of ill trained and culture stricken public servants. The pointy bit for the average person is regardless of stereotypes this attitude destroys innocent lives. Not because it must be, simply because corrupt individuals will take the easiest way out. Those who resist corruption are denigrated and marginalised until pressure wins out.

Victoria deserves better.

All articles touched on are here.

Please note the tapes contain Explicit language.

Music thanks to Garageband.

Gags.
46min.
13MB

Charles Darwin: 198 today. Paul Mullett: survival of the fittest. Paul Mullett - the Police Association secretary, renowned control freak and thug, has reneged on an interview offer from Four Corners [ABC Australia]. A massive Birthday Present indeed, to celebrate the realisation of Natural Selection by Darwin. Not only do we acknowledge Firesnakekind as the most highly evolved species, but rejoice gladly in the Humble Hole, at MMM's distress.

 The reneging of an interview in itself is no big deal. However, the letters between Four Corners producer Sarah Curnow and Paul Mullett reveal much about Mr. Mullett, his tactics in negotiating, his unbending arrogance, his heavy handed insistence for special consideration, followed immediately by threats when he could not control potential outcomes. Firesnake touched on the corruption in Victoria Police, the lack of training, poor policing, discrimination, excessive punitive and offensive tactics and of course the corrupt to the core, Police Association, in Episode 3 Corruption in Victoria Police.

 As we check out today today, the correspondence language used by Mullett in attempted manipulation of outcomes, is mere play putty under The Kiln Like Heat of Firesnake's Deconstruction Glare. Or, more accurately - and modestly, we can see by reviewing the letters, Mullett has a distinct style in a.) arguing his case, and b.) seemingly apportioning blame, and casting himself as an innocent - almost "bystander" - victim.

 He is prone to preempt description of issues, to place himself in a position of apparent vulnerability. The old favourites - "witch hunt", "inquisition", "collusion", "the people who" [gotta love the omnipotent, ethereal "Them"], feature in his writings. Or this gem - "Your program will inevitably be diminished in the eyes of reasonable observers if you are only prepared to raise the allegations on an 'ambush' basis". Ambush dear reader - ambush!

 Essentially, Four Corners wish to interview Mullett over the OPI findings, the content of damning video evidence, the massive Cost Fund used by corrupt officers in lengthy legal battles [$14 million] and why is it so bloody secret, what actions are underway - if any - to clean up corruption, relations between staff and governance standards, is he a bully as alleged, what's their political agenda, who did what to Janet Mitchell, and what's goin' on over there in general.

 Firesnake, of course, would like to contrast this very favouritism - particularly legal - afforded members, with the hash reality of Victoria lacking a Spent Convictions Policy or indeed any avenue of reproach, for average offenders. As we have stressed previously, this unacceptable situation snares fine community members who have repaid any "debt", the ill and those caught in highly atypical circumstances.

 Firesnake reads through all Nine letters in the correspondece chain and highlight the manner in which Mullet attempts to 'extort', I believe one may argue, firm control over the dynamics of this highly emotive, damning and powerfully significant issue. He attacks Commissioner Nixon's awarding of [then] Association President Janet Mitchell, with a Bravery Award, for tackling his BS, as a specific swipe of antagonism aimed only at his culture. A little boy to the core it seems.

His utter disdain for even remotely accepting responsibility for accountability of any kind shines like a beacon. His constant efforts to intimidate journalist sources and demands for covert face to face, "off the record meetings" are there in black and white. He'd play, but only if he was umpire also.

 The 'source' of course is prior President of The Police Association, Janet Mitchell, [and supporting senior police] who was vilified, ostracised and bullied into neurotic stress leave by Mullett [we allege], and thus we note present president Brian Rix was a.) asked for an interview also, and b.) remained absolutely mute. Only Mullett responds. Even direct requests to Sandro Lofaro - Association contact and prior correspondent - are answered only by Mullett. We say 'allege' as we can say only that "Kit Walker"; the fictitious character who became "The Phantom" of Comic Book Fame, signed intimidating emails. Such is the maturity of these attacks - and an interesting age profile to boot. Bummer when police tactics come back to bite Police.

 Is not an unbiased interview owed the people of Victoria and Australia. Why is "the Association's view..." identical to Mullett rhetoric? Is this merely vintage MMM - Micro Mullett Mindset? We watch as Mullet wails in frustration at not getting his way, then takes the bat and ball, and goes home.

 You may judge dear reader. We raise more than mentioned above, and pick over the intuitive, biased language used, and touch on how this relies upon the readers lack of critical guard - something we all drop, in understanding the writings [a minimal communication form] of another.

 The Four Corners transcript is here. Access to all relevant articles reviewed in the body of the show Mullett's Mumbles and raised by Four Corners is here. Four Corners Home Site.

Of course we have the usual contribution from The Good Book, today - The God Delusion, with thanks to authour Richard Dawkins. We touch on some of the absurd biased allowances made in the name of religion. From war service, to hallucinogenic substances - religion gets the thumbs up, no questions asked.

We pop over to http://del.icio.us/firesnake.org/08 for Interactive News and check out ABC Science News.

All welcome.

Gags.

Music thanks to Gargeband.

Articles: http://del.icio.us/firesnake.org/08

Four Corners Transcript.

Access to All Correspondence and Brecht Report.

Corruption in Victoria Police remains despite attempts by Commissioner Christine Nixon to tackle allegations of a disturbing culture of entrenched thuggery, drug related crime, violence, database abuse - it's insecurity, witness tampering and murder [see Ceja report], substance abuse, evidence theft and tampering, Gangland links to killings, | Wiki outline | and worse, all under the protection of the omnipotent Police Association and it's secretary - renowned bully, Paul Mullett.

Commissioner Nixon was indeed correct to support the actions of The Office of Police Integrity - OPI - | Wiki | [ HTML ] and the employment of Ceja taskforce - Final report here in PDF. Yet Victorians received mixed messages. Stop the corruption Commissioner. Stand by your officers, Commissioner. Ceja officers reported concerns over handling of information, threats [2] and secret investigations due to fellow officers and finally, being bullied out of a career by Paul Mullett - who opposed every appointment post Ceja duties.

OPI itself made spectacular blunders leading to calls from the Police Association to close it down. Round one of OPI vs MMM [ Mullett Micro Mindset ] was a definite victory for corruption. Victorians swallowed this without so much as a ripple, helped along by misinformation spread by The Pulp and Print Court and Victim of Crime Advocacy groups - The victim makers. The Victorian community deserves - and pays for - better.

We touch base with the visionary ideas Christine Nixon has of more sophisticated training for officers, and the fact this may be the best fashion in which to remove such a culture. Officers simply lack the skills to access, exploit and apply the vast realms of data we have collated on today's recidivists for the past 20 years.

Most are significantly marginalised with a plethora of co-morbid health issues. Unable to solve crime via intelligent means, Police fall back on exactly the same behaviour they claim to be protecting Victorians from. And we remind ourselves that most community members convicted and sentenced have a legitimate mental illness - at vast cost to our community.

We visit the issues of security problems behind ID theft at MySpace during Interactive News and touch on the minimum security options for Windows users.

A reading from the good book - The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins - today touches on Lennons song, Imagine, and the fact U.S. Creationists have hijacked his work, replacing with no religion too, with the words, with one religion too. We shoot that one down on the spot.

Comments and feedback are most welcome here, or emails to:
firesnakepodcast@gmail.com

Music today from Garageband

Thanks,
Gags.