the second thing I noticed

or rather was told on my return, was of the latest rort that is, if not enraging, then causing more resentment, was the "seminar" or "workshop" in Madang for thirty of the University's high fliers. I have not worked out who the high fliers are but at K3500 per head, they were put up at the luxurious Madang Resort for a week to "workshop" themselves about something or other. "This is the very same University", they tell me, "that did not have money to pay the residential caterer last year thus causing the University to postpone the academic year for two weeks, this is the same University that has not passed on its tax remittances for five years, this is the same University that does not have enough money to pay its telephone bill. But it can find K105000 for a luxury week for high fliers!" Yesterday's SMH reported on the Solomon Island's talking tough about the way Australian Aid is tied to certain projects and it editorialised about the state of dread in Dafur. I am not sure if I am bemused or bewildered about the juxtaposition of the stories about the high fliers and the Solomons and Dafur but I am sure the empty teeted women and their forlornly sucking baby in Dafur would be bewildered.