Pack Mentality

This is Sydney in the early morning, when I often walk, an insomniac who hates sleeping pills. There's a lot on today and I'm nervous, things I shouldn't have to cope with but do; courage and strength that I need to be granted; for the love of God and personality and the bitter twists; thank you for all that has brought me here; I really don't want to go through it, no way forward, no way back, I can only pass through. All over an interview to stand up for myself. Get a grip man.

THE STORY CONTINUES:

"He went with Stephen and the kids to the opening of the Mardi Gras art show. Martin, still the ultimate culture vulture, was there, soaking it all up. Courage in the face of AIDS. Our growing identity. Our tragedy. Death in brotherhood.

"They nodded at each other, said nothing. The brutal, devestating times hovered unspoken between them, the days when all his hopes, everything he had wanted, had centred in the other person, and had disintegrated entirely. He had always thought that if he ever saw Martin again he'd fucking kill him. But it wasn't like that. It was almost therapeutic. There were paintings about love and death and sex all around them. It was hot and hard finding a beer in a sea of champagne. They sensed each other but didn't say a word. There was too much between them to be forgiven. The sense of betrayal was too deep. For a long time he had never thought it would reach this stage, thought they would be friends if not lovers for life.

"What had passed between them, was passing between them, was trivial in this world where there were deeper themes. Grief, the human spirit, enormous courage, the saddest of deaths of men far too young to die. Friends and acquaintances had gone by the dozen, a whole stratum of Sydney life. They weren't ready to go."


THE BIGGER STORY:
The tide has turned, with bloody good reazson:

From The Age:

Climate of election scrutiny steals Howard's thunder

NOTEBOOK

IT DIDN'T didn't start well. Usually at functions such as yesterday's Melbourne Press Club lunch, the guest of honour is feted in introduction, and a national leader of 11 years' standing could reasonably expect an even more gracious preamble.

That courtesy was not extended to John Howard yesterday, for while he was flattered as "a very successful Prime Minister", he was also warned as he stood: "It would appear many voters, certainly some voters, have fallen out of love with Mr Howard, that after 11 years the flame has died."

He was reminded, as if it were necessary, "that if the current opinion polls continue through to election day, Mr Howard faces the strong prospect of defeat by Kevin Rudd, even though Labor would have to win a very large 16 seats".

Mr Howard was in Melbourne to talk about climate change, to unveil another plank in his Government's efforts against global warming. But it was an uninspired performance. Professional, yes, and without noticeable error, but the Prime Minister's speech was workmanlike and its delivery without noticeable passion.

He told his audience that only with a strong economy could Australia deliver the best environmental outcomes.

And he argued his was the government most committed to combating climate change, sensibly and dispassionately.

"No great challenge has ever yielded to fear or guilt," he said. "Nor will this one."

He was talking about climate change, but could well have been discussing the topic in the front of every mind in the room: his electoral prospects.

Predictably, the first question from the floor was not about the issue to which he had dedicated the previous 20 minutes. It was about him, his leadership, his Government's future.

"Do you think you're the problem?" the Prime Minister was asked bluntly.

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