Machiavellian Australian Politics

Life can be so unpredictable.

So one minute you’re the Prime Minister of Australia...

Most respected man in the country (ok maybe not respected by all)

A stable job
Great title

Steady income
And then BOOM! You have literally been overthrown overnight and replaced with a younger, thinner, less masculine, more orange Prime Minister. Scandalous! Who would've thought watching Australian politics would be more entertaining then Melrose Place.

Politics is a dirty dirty game. And no i dont mean Berlusconi, Clinton or David Campbell dirty. I mean backstabbing, opportunistic Machiavellian dirty.

But i guess politics is also a game with no definitive rules. I remember having to do readings on Italian writer Machiavelli. In The Prince, Machiavelli said:

'Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.' And that’s exactly what happened with Labor...except this time it was done by a female.

I am a woman, hear me roar. Sure, I’m excited about the first female Prime Minister of Australia. I’m proud because its revolutionary and a reflection of the times. I just wish that Kevin Rudd wasn't ousted the way he was. Even Abott said It was an ugly process and that the Prime Minister of a country should not be treated this way.

This is abit of a pattern in the Labor party though. Keating overthrew Hawke except it was done in a much more respectable process. In Gillard's speech, she thanks the Australian people and says she is honoured to be chosen as a leader. I didn't vote for you Gillard...did any of you?

Will i vote for Labor this time? No. I'd rather watch Melrose Place.

Will i vote for Abott? No his budgie smugglers scare me.

But you know what, voting Greens is all of a sudden becoming more and more appealing.

In The Prince Machiavelli also said:

'The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.' (and women in this case) So...if they didn't think Rudd was capable, what does that say about the Labor party?

Life is so unpredictable. If someone told you on Wednesday, we would have a female PM by tomorrow morning - would you have believed it?

Football Sanity

It would be sinful if i didn't write this blog about the World Cup.

No i'm not really a sports fanatic but even i get extremely passionate about the World Cup - hot flushes and all.

Even if you didn't know a lot about football, who could deny following the World Cup 2010...

Gosh the annoying vuvuzela - where fans are literally blowing their own trumpet and disturbing the players. I want one...

A masive field full of athletic dramatic men - love when they roll around the grass because they hurt their little finger. So hot.

But on a serious note, no sport in the world brings us closer then the football. Did you know its watched by over 2 billion people? wow! (Eventhough its probably got to do more with the abs and less with the football)

Australia has had a short but interesting run this year. Game 1 against Germany was cringe worthy.Enough said.And in Game 2 I felt incredibly guilty that i had so much hatred toward a third world team who probably deserved to win more then any other. Not even Jesus or Joshua Kennedy rather, could save us in the second round.

And what about the bloody Italians. They might make a good pasta but they seem to be ripping us off time and time again. Last World Cup they literally stole our right to win and this year the dodgy referee gave Kewell a red card for something that was out of his control. Where was he supposed to move his hand you retard? the ball was moving at a million miles per hour!

Ahhh love the World Cup. Have you ever watched the World Cup when you're alone in a room? Its really the only time its ok to scream at your tv like a crazy person. In normal everyday life its considered mental and the first signs of insanity. But when it comes to the World Cup, its football sanity.

But over and above the sea of disappointment as people drive home discouraged, i have realised nothing makes us feel more patriotic, then the World Cup.

As we were driving home in the darkness disheartened after watching the shocking game, we saw swarms of green and gold flags on cars, people with green and gold jerseys on and ofcourse billboards of businesses taking advantage of world cup marketing, the sense of unity was electrifying.

One of my friends said something quite powerful...sure you didn't win Socceroos, but you gave us something better then a win. A sense of unity.

Could not have said it better myself.

Hamish and Andy's Caravan of Courage - They came, they spoke, they conquered

An antique snake, blind dates, lycra, foot rot, lochness monsters and lephroncaans. You might think i'm talking about something R rated. But no, i'm referring to the most family friendly show nationally - the Hamish and Andy show.

These two big fish from our little pond are currently testing the deeper waters of the UK. They've set their sights much higher than just their own backyard as they drive around the United Kingdom in their Caravan of Courage.

Sure its probably not the most traditional English method of courage - theirs involves plastic swords, shields and helmets. And instead of storming a Castle, they try to joke their way in and then their too scared to stay the night. But they must be doing something right. The Hamish & Andy show is now the highest rating program in Australia. It is on 35 stations Australia wide, with the main ones being Melbourne’s Fox FM and Sydney’s 2Day FM.

The most adored pair in Australian media have given new meaning to radio. They display all the values and morals of what every true blue Australian should be like and yes their humour and wit makes every woman's heart melt.
Aside from all their giggly hilarious larrikin jokes, the 28 year old pair have shown they're very marketing and media savvy. Gone are the days of radio just having Announcers, these two have proved that they are Content Makers and not just Announcers. Andy has come a long way from the days where he used to panel for Kyle and Jackie O or when they volunteered for night shows for free.

They are the most recognised and loved couple in Australia. They've been able to utilise their incredibly entertaining personalities, not just on radio but over all forms of media. With regular appearances on Rove, Good News week, 7pm Project, over 700,000 fans on Facebook, Twitter and two very beautiful and renown Australian girlfriends, this pair has just proved that they're a brand in their own right. They have created their own segment in the market. And for this venture, they’ve got just two days left to the end of their journey. There is a much awaited tv program dedicated entirely just to the trip, a Digital radio station called Caravan Radio, podcasts and regular photos of them on the website.

Be it savvy marketing or just a love for their funny, blokey, down to earth genuine nature, Hamish and Andy are currently the hottest duo in Australia. And what makes them even more admirable and lovable, is that they dont need to show any skin to get ratings.

This pair continues to give new meaning to radio. Having had the privilege of meeting them, i was quite surprised to see that they are just as funny and genuine as they are on radio. Perhaps that’s the secret to their success.

Thank you Hame and Ando - you continue to give us new meaning to radio and radio will continue to breed more content providers rather than just one man bands.

They came, they spoke, they conquered.

Life Of A Student 101

Yesterday the sunny weather fooled me into wearing open toe shoes. One of my classmates complimented my shoes and I was horrified. My toenails were chipped and there was nailpolish everywhere! For the rest of the day I was walking around like some sort of weirdo with my bag covering my shoes. It was at this point I realised that I have finally embraced being a student.

Going back to being a student this year was not the easiest of moves. I feel like I’ve gone back in time 10 years…. but now much wiser with thinner eyebrows and different coloured hair.

The world of assignments and classrooms was so strange to me. I was used to the world of full time work - always in heels, always at the gym and almost always a purse full of money.

Gosh life is so different now. Despite all these changes I think its the best thing I’ve ever done. I’ve also managed to con my lecturers into actually thinking I’m a good student. Everytime I go to school, I make sure to make an appearance in their staffroom…just so I look studious. Hey at the end of the day they’ll be the ones who will write me an amazing reference for a job when I finish!

And yes I’m not going to lie, I’m almost always broke. But instead of being stressed out about it like I was initially, I realised that its totally ok because everyone else at school is broke aswell. I feel sorry for my poor friends. They deserve to graduate with me at the end of the year aswell because they have to listen to me constantly talking about my assignments and my course.

But aside from all the noticeable differences, being a student has also changed my frame of mind. I guess studying at a bit of an older age gives you the opportunity to throw yourself entirely into something that you are actually interested in.

Growing up every single one of my reports said the same thing “Mariam has a lot of potential, but she talks too much in class” or “Mariam is very talented, but she is always distracting other people in class”. Wow, I’ve finally found a course and an industry where I am allowed to speak in class and will hopefully one day get paid just to speak! Amazing.

So far I have got HD’s in ‘Complaining about Assignments Module 101’…except that module doesn’t actually exist yet. My feet are thankful for all the flat shoes. My wallet feels light. My nails are being deprived and my hair is almost always pulled back. But holidays are just around the corner and so are my assignments…and pay day!