A talkback caller to the ABC's Radio National station who discussed class systems in Australia, and described himself as "Barnaby in New South Wales", has turned out to be Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce.

The purpose of art is complex... Some people think it's to put pretty pictures on walls... or to glorify Stalin or the Duke of Wellington in oil...  Being an artist is a job using representative skills and value judgement of interpretation. Many skills are often needed to be good. Some of the value judgements may be right or wrong, deliberate or accidental. But a lot of art is designed to challenge long established perceived ideas, including the self-worth of itself.

Significant communication problems within domestic spy agency ASIO led to an alleged Egyptian terrorist being cleared for community detention, a report has found.

(Published in full, the poem I wrote for that Petition last week)

As World War Two came to an end, those who'd lost Loved One and Friend

Petitioned Woodville Council that they set aside land

A place In Living Memory, the love for their Dead for all to see

The Institute of Public Affairs, which is closely linked to the Liberal party, has voiced its opposition to the entire concept of a national curriculum, saying the process was vulnerable to politicisation.

Communications minister Malcolm Turnbull says there is a strong argument to change cross-media ownership rules due to the rise of the internet.

The Government is considering changes to the laws, which currently prevent common ownership of radio, television stations and newspapers in the same market.

Italy's culture minister has expressed outrage over an advertisement by a US weapons firm showing Michelangelo's David holding a rifle.

It'd be interesting to know how many of the hundreds of millions of people watching the Academy Awards on Monday switched off or hit mute, like I did, when McConaughey invoked the world's most popular imaginary friend during his acceptance speech for the Best Actor gong.

What'd be sobering, however, is how many more - at least in the US - said "Amen, brother" and crossed themselves during the broadcast.

from Crikey …..

In the global Stock Market Olympic awards last week, the race to beat their pre-GFC stock market highs was won by  Denmark – the home of Lego, King Canute, Soren Kierkegaard, Hans Christian Andersen, Hamlet, Jørn Utzon, Helena Christensen, Danish pastries, and a long line of Vikings called Erik.

(With apologies to Malvina Reynolds)

Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes in our leafy parks

Little boxes, little boxes, little boxes all the same

Theres a Liberal one, and a Labor one

from the 730 report …..

JOE HOCKEY: Well, Labor have no Plan B. Labor have no Plan B. We have laid down...

SARAH FERGUSON: Do you have a Plan B?