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In urban myth, red hair is linked with freckles and pale skin, with determination and a fiery temper. Red-heads are teased with nick-names like ‘carrot top’ and ‘blue’. The vogue nick-name is ‘ranga’. This could be influenced by ‘South Park’, but it could also be derived from ‘orangutang’, an animal with a fiery coat.
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Last Saturday, Australia had a federal election. The two major parties are tied on 71 seats, needing 76 to obtain a majority and form a government with the ‘confidence’ of the House. One seat has still not been determined. Seven seats have been won by independent candidates who belong to neither of the major parties. Our politicians are currently all out the back of the weather-shed having a fisticuff to see who wins the trough to stick their snout into!
The ranga is our care-taker Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. She has committed a few blues during her term and is luring the independents with carrots.
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A member of the Theme Thursday community. A post in response to this visual prompt.
30 comments:
nice shot and nice moment..
Exciting to see if she will keep her newish job. And a fine portrait of the Prime Minister.
Nice recap of your elections - they just can't be simple anymore, can they? These are fine photos, Julie. (Good take on the theme, too... after struggling with it for some time, I now doubt I'll manage to post for it.)
So fantastic photos and interesting blog :) I'm so glad found it :)
I hope that she is able to get things done! I hope the best for Australia!
I would like politics much more if there as many colors as you refer to. ours are just elephants and donkeys, how dumb is that?
Interesting -I just read an article about your election posted by a wannabe independent here, and using it to illustrate the power of independence. BTW - He's bald.
Julie, I believe 'ranga' is actually an Australian invention and it most certainly was derived from orangutans. It was Chris Lilley in his comedy series 'Summer Heights High' in 2007 that popularised it in Australian culture but I was familiar with that term before the show screened.
What a timely post but very much in line with prompt. I laughed out loud at the final paragraph ... and you even fitted in nail biting at the end of the post ... you've made me day ... great post.
I'd forgotten you had taken those photographs of Julia. I'm getting bored with all the toing and froing already, part of me wishes they'd just call it quits and go back to the polls, though the backflips and (supposed) complete changes of personality are fascinating. A kinder, gentler Parliament - pull the other one!
PS the "Care available" sign above Julia's poster is an inadvertently prescient touch.
It will take some time...
No point in calling it quits until the count is complete in my opinion.
Then who pays for the next campaign? The parties have no money left. Do we just set the next Saturday as polling day. No campaign, no new speeches. Don't think that is a viable option either in under 6 months.
I am confident that an agreenent wlll be reached that will last for 3 years.
An interesting Theme Thursday.
Thanks for the great pictures too.
PG
gotta love politics...not sure i would like who came out from behind the woodshed but if they are like our politicians they could all use a good whoopin...nice tt!
Gawd, pollie-ticks and more elections!
Love the shots :)
Got a couple or three redheads in my family and everything they say about them is TRUE. Nice take on the theme.
Great Julia photo- I think ranga is an insulting term, prefer bluey or bloodnut. Our last election was between a wingnut and a bloodnut.
And now a bunch of peanuts are calling the shots!
Poor Ranga. . yes intesting timesa aren't they. Hung parliaments, rangas and budgie smugglers. Ah well . . they'll sort it out soon enough. You're not wrong about the three independents with the balance though. Bob Catter for goodness sakes! *shudder* Did you take the shot of Julia? Very nice.
Ranga?! I love it.
I believe South Park may have made "Ginger" a popular reference here in the US. My sister, a red haired, freckled faced beauty talks about making ginger babies someday. My grandmother used to hate her red hair because she was called "carrot top" and taunted with things like, "I'd rather be dead than have red on my head." But those of us that didn't get her fiery hair and attitude wish we had.
Happy Theme Thursday!
PS I've been exploring all your blogs and your photos inspire me. What you capture on film is so amazing! Thank you for sharing them.
Yes, I took the shots of JG at USYD last year.
Thanks Julie about the history of the mlc site, great link!
Thank you for sharing
This fabulous work with us
See
You
soon
Very interesting info, and kinda fun, as well. Never heard the term "ranga" before!
Clever take on the "equal" theme. Happy TT.
Once again I am enlightened> Thank you
Nice way to use the theme :) I enjoyed the pictures as well.
Sadly, I know extremely little about Australian politics, so I can't comment much there. However, I've always wanted to be a red head, but mother nature wanted me to have ordinary brown hair instead. Not even the tiniest freckle have I got.
Some radio DJ here suggested a Hug a Ginga day. Not every one liked it. Some dirty old men would love it.
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