Gang-gang. LEGO can be a Scream

We use the now-overused word ''amazing'' sparingly but some LEGOphiles have built some amazing things, including lots of LEGO versions of the troubled Edvard Munch's painting The Scream. The literally haunting work is said to be neck-and-neck with the Mona Lisa as the most famous, most readily recognised image known to mankind.

This Scream is by Nathan Sawaya, a LEGO artist-virtuoso based in New York and in Los Angeles, and internationally famous for his The Art Of The Brick exhibitions. This column's people got in touch with Sawaya's people and they, bless them, have given permission for us to use a picture of Sawaya's fantastical Scream.

*You will scream if you miss the hugely popular Brick Expo on August 23 and 24 (its proceeds going to a worthy medical cause), details of which are at www.brickexpo.com.au.

Has Federal Parliament ever been more adversarial and malignant? How many of us have recoiled in horror when, searching the airwaves for something edifying and worthwhile, we stumble by mistake upon radio or TV broadcasts of Parliament?

But perhaps it was ever thus. Researcher Steve Flora is going through the papers of the Canberra-crucial King O'Malley. O'Malley was minister for home affairs when our mystical city was begun, so no wonder a super little limited edition bust of him (pictured here and proudly possessed by this columnist) was issued in 2013, our centenary year.

In February 1948 Flora finds the grand old man in Melbourne writing, fuming about the awfulness of parliamentary broadcasts from Canberra. Begun only in July 1946, they had already lost all novelty for O'Malley. He had left Parliament in 1917 and 31 years later seemed to think Parliament was much dumbed-down. Flora says of this 1948 diatribe that ''it almost sounds as if he's been listening to the Senate sitting of last week''.

O'Malley wrote: ''I endeavoured to listen to Sessions of Parliament over the air, in the initial stages, but have refrained for many a long day, owing to the drivel and low invective used by many members, apart from their unpleasant speaking voices over Wireless.

''When it is taken into consideration that Doctors, Solicitors, Engineers, Architects and many other professional men are not permitted to practice without essential qualifications, it gives one pause to consider the calibre of our political representatives.

''It is a moot point as to how many of the latter could hold down a job on a one-third basis of the salary now received by them.

''It occurs to me, that no one should be allowed to stand for a seat unless capable of passing some standard examination, proving possession of more than ordinary grey matter, at any future election. How many present members would survive a test?

''Some years ago a guest speaker, a clergyman, was received with thunderous applause at a political gathering, when he gave it as his considered opinion that members should be elected for a 10 years’ term. Upon amplifying his remarks that seven of these 10 years should be occupied on probation for educational purposes, without salary, and the remaining three years on salary, there were shrieks of silence.''

Let sleeping dogs lie, especially when they're sleeping because they're still anaesthetised after their de-sexing operations.

These slumbering mongrels, snoring musically, tongues lolling, perhaps dreaming of an opportunity to go romping through the tulips at Floriade, are in the recovery room at remote Utopia station in the Northern Territory. Once a year the the Canberra Mob of veterinarians and veterinary nurses spends time at Utopia and Hart's Ridge to bring care to the teeming neighbourhood dogs of the local indigenous folk.

Of all good causes, dog lovers will struggle to imagine a better one than this. You can help fund the next Canberra Mob Indigenous Dog Health Program expedition by donations but especially by going to the third annual Art Auction Fund-raiser on the night of August 2.

It will be at the National Arboretum from 7pm to 11pm and more than 30 outstanding works of art have been donated by the artists of Utopia and Hart's Ridge.

For $80 you get access to the art auction, drinks and canapes, and especially a warm, inner, animal-loving glow so hot (there's something extra special about giving love to unfashionable dogs) it may leave scorch marks on your corsets.

Today is almost the last day to RSVP. Phone Kippax Vet Hospital on 02 6255 1242.