I love how a random photo turns into a multi-paragraph, dueling-source expose that culminates in speculation about her possible sleep disorders. Quality journalism, ladies and gentlemen. It's a beautiful thing.

She looks 8,000 years old, what do you expect?

I gotta say it....Why does Australia have anything to do with NATO?

There is nothing Northern nor Atlantic about the country.

I'm seriously considering painted on eyelids after doing a GIS. These things look pretty realistic.

Shaggy_C: painted on eyelids

Shaggy_C: I'm seriously considering painted on eyelids after doing a GIS. These things look pretty realistic.

Or creepy.

crab66: Shaggy_C: painted on eyelids

Dammit. Near simulpost

Because it certainly wasn't a boring-ass speech given by a boring-ass speaker.

Nope, THAT wouldn't cause even the staunchest of politicos to fall asleep.

Who among us has not nodded off during a boring meeting?

Why not show a picture of an empty seat and ask, "Where the fark is this person?"

The Malingerer: I gotta say it....Why does Australia have anything to do with NATO?

There is nothing Northern nor Atlantic about the country.


"Ms Bailey said it was an extraordinary privilege to address the conference given Australia was not a NATO member and she wished a photo had been taken of that."

Given the empty seats around her, it was pretty obviously taken during a break. Who the fark cares?

She must have been yet another person completely fed up with what Obama had to say. Well, at least she stuck around. Looks like most people left.

nicksteel: The Malingerer: I gotta say it....Why does Australia have anything to do with NATO?

There is nothing Northern nor Atlantic about the country.


"Ms Bailey said it was an extraordinary privilege to address the conference given Australia was not a NATO member and she wished a photo had been taken of that."

NATO considers Australia to be a "global contact country," since it participates in NATO engagements and under NATO command (one of the largest international contingents in Afghanistan is Australian).

Japan, Australia, New Zealand are some of these global contact countries, there are also middle eastern nations in the Istanbul Cooperative Agreement, Israel and African nations in the Mediterranean Dialouge, and Partnership for Peace Countries that extend pretty far into eastern europe and Eurasia.

While NATO retains a core identity of being a North Atlantic Regional Alliance, global security concerns have prompted the alliance to form working relationships with other parts of the globe. It is not a globally-membered alliance, just a globally focused one.


/Thesis is on the Role of NATO in a globalized world
//200 words left til minimum requirements met!!!

The Malingerer: I gotta say it....Why does Australia have anything to do with NATO?

There is nothing Northern nor Atlantic about the country.


This. Australia has been landlocked since 1918.

macadamnut: This. Australia has been landlocked since 1918.

It's not even technically a real country, much like Canada. They still have to salute the queen of germany or something.

'She had an extended blink'
Did you know that Hitler came from Australia and he bombed Pearl Harbor with his Fokkers? It's true, I saw it on Discovery Channel, he used Messerschmitts.

Benjamin Franklin often slept while attending the continental congress. History seems to have absolved him, so...

I would sooner wake a hibernating bear than the beast in that photo.

/apparently NATO concurs

Oh, great. Fran made it onto Fark.

I'm in Fran's electorate, and no I didn't vote for her in the last election. Coincidentally, twice in high school I won a community-based award complete with medallion and signed certificate from Fran (it was the McEwen Award). It was awarded to students who were recognized as contributing to the local community in some way. For me it was being a representative in local forums on indigenous reconciliation and republic referendum, planning centenary of federation celebrations and also with planning Australia Day celebrations.

I still have no farking clue how I won the "Christian Leadership" award in my final year of high school, despite being the only "out" gay fella there, and not even being Christian. Go figure :P