http://crookedtimber.org/2004/02/26/fahrenheit-451/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Fri, 25 May 2012 16:45:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://crookedtimber.org/2004/02/26/fahrenheit-451/comment-page-1/#comment-19326 Chris Borthwick Mon, 01 Mar 2004 04:55:34 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=1139#comment-19326 The War Memorial story seems unlikely, in that it posits an Australian willingness to defy great and powerful friends. When my father retired from the Department of Foreign Affairs he was occasionally called back to do declassifiaction tasks, and one of the things he found was that the Americans generally objected to the Australians releasing under FOI any information involving America even when it would have been accessible under American FOI - indeed, even when the Americans had already released it in America. The problem was not the information; the problem was who was to be master. And the Department invariably buckled under. Admittedly, the Americns do have more clout in Canberra than the British, but even so. Though it has to be said that the thought of James Bond doing his ocker librarian shtick does appeal strangely. The War Memorial story seems unlikely, in that it posits an Australian willingness to defy great and powerful friends. When my father retired from the Department of Foreign Affairs he was occasionally called back to do declassifiaction tasks, and one of the things he found was that the Americans generally objected to the Australians releasing under FOI any information involving America even when it would have been accessible under American FOI - indeed, even when the Americans had already released it in America. The problem was not the information; the problem was who was to be master. And the Department invariably buckled under. Admittedly, the Americns do have more clout in Canberra than the British, but even so. Though it has to be said that the thought of James Bond doing his ocker librarian shtick does appeal strangely.

]]> http://crookedtimber.org/2004/02/26/fahrenheit-451/comment-page-1/#comment-19325 Henry Fri, 27 Feb 2004 16:45:52 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=1139#comment-19325 Yep - Mike is my uncle. Obviously, we have our political differences, but get on extremely well. He's a good man over a pint. Kay MacNeill sounds familiar, but I'm not sure precisely who she is; it's a big clan, and I'm not as familiar with the family tree as I might be. Ah, the ancient Irish ritual of 'placing you.' Yep – Mike is my uncle. Obviously, we have our political differences, but get on extremely well. He’s a good man over a pint. Kay MacNeill sounds familiar, but I’m not sure precisely who she is; it’s a big clan, and I’m not as familiar with the family tree as I might be. Ah, the ancient Irish ritual of ‘placing you.’

]]> http://crookedtimber.org/2004/02/26/fahrenheit-451/comment-page-1/#comment-19324 james Fri, 27 Feb 2004 12:12:28 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/wp/?p=1139#comment-19324 To continue with some exclusive intra-Irish chat, that must make you related to Michael McDowel, the Minister for Justice. Also, you might know Kay MacNeill, related to your great-grandfather by marriage? To continue with some exclusive intra-Irish chat, that must make you related to Michael McDowel, the Minister for Justice. Also, you might know Kay MacNeill, related to your great-grandfather by marriage?

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