The Null Device

Age journalist Warwick McFadyen has written a glossary of Australian culture:

BILL OF RIGHTS: unnecessary for the citizenry who, because they enjoy unrivalled sunshine, surf and sport, are deemed already to have the good life.

LEFT-WING: that side of the playing field on which the bones of utopians lie scattered. Rapidly becoming archaic in meaning, although it is still used as a term of disgust in certain quarters, without having to be qualified.

PROMISE: once a measure of integrity, a promise is now divided politically into core and non-core, presumably to mask the contempt for the people expressed in bare-faced lies.

RECONCILIATION: the shining star in the night sky that everyone can see but few realise has already died, even though its light still travels to us.

WORLD STAGE: the podium on which we might perform one day, when we're a little bigger.

¶ australia culture cynicism gallows humour humour politics sarcasm 0

The ultra-cynical Western expatriates at Moscow's The eXile have published their list of the 50 funniest moments of 2003; it's one for those who like their gallows humour black. (via VM)

¶ 2003 cynicism exile gallows humour humour nihilism 0