Dear Poirot,

Houllebecq must be added to the list
simply for being unique.

Dear Houllebecq,

You asked for a name -

After listening to her on "Q and A," last night -

Julia Gillard. And apart from her
- Jesus Christ.

"A hero to me would be someone who did something amazing, and fled the media and never accepted any bribe, and put up with their name being slandered in retaliation, and resisted any temptation to correct the record at all.

Anyone got an example?"

Yes...

But my apologies because I don't know her name, Houellebecq. You've usualy only referred to her as "my partner", although once as "my girlfriend" back on 11 April 2011.

I've just thought of another name:

Nelson Mandela.

Halo, halo...?

Did I understand correctly Poirot - you're expecting another ethereal light shafting tonight or only excessive wind?

with Poirot, excessive wind is always an issue. Juliar is a fitting and well recognised ephithet, as it accurately describes her political style and trustworthiness. Poirot has displayed more than enough childishness in her posts to lecture anyone.

My heroes are amongst those that changed the understanding of the world including Newton, Einstein, Gauss, Keynes and Friedman, amongst others. Inspirational persons include Mandela, Jobs, and Armstrong.

http://weather.unisys.com/upper_air/ua_shem_500p.gif

There you go Poirot, that is what nearly blew you away.
That's Antartica with Australia on the bottom left.