And some people have leadership....

................thrust upon them

It's over.The leadership spill has been and went and by two thirds roughly, the PM survived despite the gloomy predictions of some. Whether he will be the Phoenix rising from the ashes remains to be seen.
Reports of his pending demise have , in retrospect, been greatly exaggerated.  However, there it is. Such excitement.

Liberal Leadership Spill Monday

Is Tony Plucked?

Monday, Monday, can't trust that day
Monday, Monday, it just turns out that way
Oh, Monday, Monday, won't go away
Monday, Monday, it's here to stay

Oh Monday, Monday
Oh Monday, Monday

(The mammas and the pappas)

Mad Men

At least, in the early 60's, they weren't into drugs...

           Not really...

An Ohio man who sold fake urine and other products meant to help people pass workplace drug tests has pleaded guilty before a federal judge in Pennsylvania.

David Neal, 61 of Middletown, Ohio, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to defraud the United States and introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce. He faces up to six years in prison when he returns to Pittsburgh for sentencing May 13.

Associated Press Feb 3 2015

http://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/ohio-man-pleads-guilty-selling-fake-urine-drug-28686090

Doing Europe

Flexibility?

The new Greek government# has been on a soothing tour of Europe , trying to allay fears of a "grexit" from the Euro zone. It seems to have worked to some extent , however , in view of past events , there's a certain amount of caution in the air.
Conditions in Greece for its population are not improving out of sight and when the austerity measures were first introduced it was on the Euro zone's assumption that conditions  would be almost back to normal within two years. It is now three years and as of August 2014 the country's unemployment rate was 26%. Contrary to popular belief Greece has actually achieved a budget surplus.
There are a number of proposals on the table including restructuring of the loans or other measures but for the moment it seems that the European Central Bank's flexibility is the unanswered issue while the future of the currency is still a bit wobbly.

Peter Greste: Australian journalist on his way home