Ruddock rains on the Mardi Gras parade: With a written rebuke to ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has signalled
he’ll fight for the sanctity of marriage – by fighting Stanhope’s civil
union proposal. In his “I really hate to interfere but…” letter,
Ruddock writes:

As you are aware, the Australian Government generally considers that
issues concerning same sex relationships are matters for the States and
Territories. However, the Government will strongly oppose any action
which would reduce the status of marriage to that of other
relationships, or which would create confusion over the distinction
between marriage and same sex relationships…
…
The Government’s concerns with the Bill as it is presently drafted
extend beyond the use of Commonwealth marriage celebrants to all those
provisions which equate civil unions with marriage. To the extent that
the Government deems provisions in the Bill to have this effect, it
will consider a legislative response to defend the institution of
marriage.

Them’s fighting words.

Berlusconi watch:
With the Italian general election just over a week away, Silvio
Berlusconi has been hitting the campaign trail, with entertaining
results. The plastic surgery-loving PM admitted yesterday that his
assertion that Chinese communists boiled babies might have been in poor taste, but now this footage of him pretending to hump a meter maid has popped up.

Recipe of the Day: And for all those of you planning a same sex wedding, you’ll need a couture cake for your special day and some appropriate decorations to go on top. Mazel tov!