Frustrated with the refusal of John Howard to cut and run into retirement? Try doing the following to relieve some of the election frustration:

1. Create a "new folder" on your computer.
2. Name it "John Howard".
3. Send it to the trash.
4. Empty the trash.
5. Your computer will ask "Do you really want to get rid of 'John Howard'?"
6. Answer calmly "Yes" and press the mouse button.
7. Repeat as required.

(Source: Crikey's subscriber newsletter.)

JWH gave the opening address at the 19th World Energy Congress in Sydney last week. A bit like having Count Dracula talking to a Plasma Preservation Convention. While I haven't been able to find a complete transcript of his speech, Agence-France Presse did run a story on it.

The Prime Minister's Prizes for Science were handed out last Tuesday week. But the Prime Minister wasn't there to present them. He was at the Dally M Awards, presenting the NRL's player of the year award to Newcastle's Danny Buderus.

JWH needed the assistance of Holmesville's Own Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins (seen here in another engagement) in presenting the award.

Last Sunday, the press-conference-mistakenly-called-a-debate between Howard and Mark Latham. One debate is not enough, and it's absurd that it should happen four weeks before the election. Latham won the "worm" verdict, which led Howard to say that "it's just as well the worm doesn't vote". Pity the people who voted on the worm do, eh John? Here's the transcript of the "debate".

Christopher Shiel's Back Pages does a wrap of the debate with links to other comments. I didn't watch the debate and have only just read the transcript. But at least, unlike Peter Costello and his kids, I didn't watch "Australian Idol".

Twenty-two days to go. Imagine if the Coalition lost by one seat and Howard lost Bennelong.

Stop laughing...