Omens and Portents

soothsay.jpg

‘The Soothsayer’, Giovanni Batista Piazetta (1683-1754)

Or, The Tiny Hendo

Hendo doesn’t seem to have taken a break for the Christmas season, turning his talents rather in an increasingly mystical direction.

In other media news, I’ve already complained about the tired trope of PC grinches eating Christmas. For the record, I had a really nice Christmas with my family and close friends, though the weather was horribly humid as predicted. But I thought I would take the chance to briefly allude to that other news staple of the weeks before Xmas, Howard’s passing Hawkie’s record as second longest-serving PM. The only negative assessment I’ve been able to find of Howard’s reign was in The Age. So in the spirit of Troppo bipartisanship, here’s a link to Martin Ball’s take on Howard’s longevity.

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Rex
Rex
2025 years ago

It is indeed a Tiny Hendo, or a Hendo Diminuendo.

Hendo the harbinger, harks back to harried Howard haters and harridins of hype-ocracy, and by himplication proclaims Himself holier-than-thou.

Geoff Honnor
Geoff Honnor
2025 years ago

Christ. Could we not have a momentary break from Hendo-bashing and Howard-hating?

yellowvinyl
2025 years ago

Geoff, I think Mark’s made the point previously that he doesn’t hate Howard. Scott links to Paul Kelly’s positive assessment of Howard, Mark links to Ball’s negative one. don’t see where the problem is myself…

as to Gerry, surely at this time of year more than ever, tradition is important :)

Geoff Honnor
Geoff Honnor
2025 years ago

At this time of year, I think the probable deaths of upwards of 50,000 people in an horrific natural disaster might rank higher than what Gerald Henderson – or even someone other than Gerald Henderson – might be writing about John Howard.

I’ve spent the day tracking down people and places I love and I guess I saw this post as being pretty deeply beside the point.

Geoff Honnor
Geoff Honnor
2025 years ago

I mean Gerard Henderson (sigh)

yellowvinyl
2025 years ago

fair enough, Geoff, in one way. obviously everyone’s moved and saddened by the natural disasters and it sounds like you’ve had a hard day so I feel for you. I guess, though, Mark and Scott already had blogged on that and other things happen in the world that are worth talking about. I don’t think there was any intent to diminish the weight and sadness of concurrent events, though.

Nabakov
Nabakov
2025 years ago

Well Geoff, if you don’t like what yer reading here now, post something yerself…please.

Geoff Honnor
Geoff Honnor
2025 years ago

Yes Nabs. That would be the most constructive way to proceed. My apologies Mark. There’s actually nothing more tiresome than people whining about content when they’re advantageously positioned to do something about it. It’s no excuse, but yesterday was a long day.

Mark Bahnisch
Mark Bahnisch
2025 years ago

No probs, Geoff. I think Scott is right – the scale of the tragedy is such that words are difficult to come by. I hope that you had some reassuring news about the people you care about.