Open Thread – Tue 26 July 2022


The Burning of the Houses of Parliament, William Turner, 1835

2,156 responses to “Open Thread – Tue 26 July 2022”

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  1. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare Avatar
    Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare

    Took Attapuss to the vet today for his yearly shot against feline enteritis etc, and a worming tablet given via a neat little gadget that saves the usual bloodbath. His teeth are starting to get tartar, she notes, and lectures me that gingivitis will set in unless he has dental attention which will require a full anaesthetic and a day in hospital. Cost of this will be $800 she cooly announces with a few clicks on her computer. This, plus today’s shot and ‘health check’ cost $165 (I seem to recall last year it was around $130 – that’s ‘inflation’ at work I guess). I hear an anxious ‘mummy’ being given expensive news about her Cavoodle as we wait for Hairy to pick us up. Where I was growing up, our animals lived and died by home treatments. Perhaps I could have a go at Attapuss’s teeth, I suggest to Hairy on the way home. He suggests that is simply a recipe for adding further medical bills to the household with me ending up at the doc’s myself and on antibiotics for cat scratch fever.

    You have ’em, you love ’em, you pay up; that’s how it works, he says. Guess so.

  2. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare Avatar
    Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare

    I was given some pink gin for my birthday. Hoeing into it now.

    Very nice it is too. Surprising actually, as I am something of a gin purist.

  3. dover0beach Avatar

    World Of History
    @TalatBanday
    · 10h
    Coal miners coming up in a coal mine elevator after a day of work in Belgium 1920’s.

    Unions hey?

  4. mem Avatar
    mem

    Winston Smith of ///logical.raccoons.signpostsays:
    July 29, 2022 at 8:42 pm
    Some thoughts on the AEMO crisis:
    The WA grid is separate from the Eastern grid.
    Would an incoming W.A. Government think of telling the rest of Australia to piss off and install multiple 1 – 5 GW Nukes, and not treating them as cash cows for governments milking the excess?
    How much industry would move from East to West?

    I rather like the idea of WA installing nuclear to power up its grid. And indeed it might attract significant business if energy costs were cheaper and more reliable.

  5. Timothy Neilson Avatar
    Timothy Neilson

    Re leaving the old and infirm to die: not uncommon in many societies. As I recall in American Indian nomadic tribes the very old went out into the wilderness to perish.

    Recorded among the Bakhtiari in central Asia in the 1970’s in “The Ascent of Man” by Jacob Bronowski.

    judge not lest ye be judged in relation to letting people die when not all can survive. It’s the other aspect of Z2KA’s narrative that’s repellent, and a difference between civilisation and barbarism.

  6. 132andBush Avatar
    132andBush

    Question for the technically knowledgeable, can a coal fired generator be converted to gas?

    I don’t know but lets assume they can.
    I’m guessing with the current demand/supply situation we’d run out of gas in very short order.

    The sooner the bloody better.

  7. Zulu Kilo Two Alpha Avatar
    Zulu Kilo Two Alpha

    It’s the other aspect of Z2KA’s narrative that’s repellent, and a difference between civilisation and barbarism.

    It’s the attempts by present day activists to paint pre settlement Australia as some sort of Garden of Eden that make ma laugh.

    “Aborigines have a rich tradition of sharing. Everyone would sit around the campfire, making sure that all got a fair share of any game being cooked..”

    “Bullstyte.” snarled one relative. “I’ve seen them. The men got first pick, the dogs got next, the women got what scraps were left over.”

  8. Zyconoclast Avatar
    Zyconoclast

    Beach volleyball is worth watching. Fit lasses in bikinis.

    Until Tifanny Abreu starts playing…

  9. Old School Conservative Avatar
    Old School Conservative

    Some NRL players have courage and commonsense:

    Manly captain warns NRL about FORCING players to accept inclusion
    Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry-Evans has warned the NRL and other clubs not to force players to back specific causes such as inclusion and diversity.
    (Daily Mail)

  10. Zyconoclast Avatar
    Zyconoclast

    It’ll be the same failure trigger though – they don’t realise people currently cheer them because they’re good at sport, not because of their ideology.

    Stop cheering them
    Sportzball must die.

  11. Dr Faustus Avatar
    Dr Faustus

    Question for the technically knowledgeable, can a coal fired generator be converted to gas?

    Broadly, yes.
    Many coal fired units already use gas for cold starts and co-fire gas/coal to give better control of output.

  12. Zyconoclast Avatar
    Zyconoclast

    Wally, let’s agree on Eugenie Bouchard and we call it quits. She has twin sister as well.

    This girl is a Italian hottie/tennis

    https://www.instagram.com/camila_giorgi_official/

  13. Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Border Closure Avatar
    Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Border Closure

    Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare says: July 29, 2022 at 9:15 pm

    I was given some pink gin for my birthday. Hoeing into it now.
    Very nice it is too. Surprising actually, as I am something of a gin purist.

    You’ve not had pink gin, or not this particular pink gin?

    Pink gin now outsells regular gin at my place by three to one. (This is a recent development, a few years ago pink gin was something I couldn’t even give away to people)
    That is bottle sales.

    In the bar I carry about Sixty different gins. (Not counting basic kero like Gilbeys/Gordons/Bombay Sapphire, & the like)
    There’s just about every type of gin there one can imagine. Whatever your preferred style, I’ll likely have it .

    Finding quality & exotic gins isn’t too hard – frustrating me is the impossibility of stocking quality tonic water. There is no supply chain here for anything but basic Schweppes etc.

  14. Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Border Closure Avatar
    Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Border Closure

    Vicki says: July 29, 2022 at 7:45 pm

    … similar practices recorded from many sources. In droughts babies also left to die. …

    Or eaten so they could be born again in a good season.

  15. Zyconoclast Avatar
    Zyconoclast

    Schweppes do a nice upmarket tonic

    https://schweppes.com.au/products/bright-tonic/

  16. Knuckle Dragger Avatar
    Knuckle Dragger

    Sportzball must die.

    Agreed.

    Obviously, ‘sportzball’ means soccer.

  17. Knuckle Dragger Avatar
    Knuckle Dragger

    News from Sydney (the Tele):

    One of the AFL’s brightest young stars has been targeted in a nude photo scandal.

    Dozens of images of Sydney Swans young gun Chad Warner began circulating online on Friday, depicting him naked and performing sex acts.

    In a statement, a Sydney Swans spokesman said the club was “aware of the images circulating without Chad’s consent”.

    Warners. Every. Single. Time.

  18. Sancho Panzer Avatar
    Sancho Panzer

    Dozens of images of Sydney Swans young gun Chad Warner began circulating online on Friday, depicting him naked and performing sex acts.

    Rainbow acts?

  19. Sancho Panzer Avatar
    Sancho Panzer

    Maybe this is not the week for AFL Approved journos to trot out that well-worn myth that the Sydney Swans has a “no dickheads policy”.

  20. OldOzzie Avatar
    OldOzzie

    Winston Smith of ///logical.raccoons.signpostsays:
    July 29, 2022 at 6:49 pm
    Old Ozzie:

    Test Winston The Tree of Knowledge Barcaldine

    That’s.Wrong.Tree!

    Shows up as sloth.locker.recall – like the square next door dainty.cheeky.socialite

    Only that.wrong.tree shows up as River Gipping near Bamford Road Claydon

  21. Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Border Closure Avatar
    Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Border Closure

    Zyconoclast says: July 29, 2022 at 10:24 pm

    Schweppes do a nice upmarket tonic
    https://schweppes.com.au/products/bright-tonic/

    Agreed Zyco.
    That one is a beauty, as is the Elderflower Tonic in the same range.

    Alas no supply chain carries it to my area.

  22. Zyconoclast Avatar
    Zyconoclast

    Rainbow acts?

    That would be cheered as stunning and brave.

    Did someone mention labradors?

  23. dover0beach Avatar

    I haven’t seen this mentioned here yet but did we just get shafted by US/UK re nuclear subs and now we are renegotiating with the French?

  24. Zulu Kilo Two Alpha Avatar
    Zulu Kilo Two Alpha

    Or eaten so they could be born again in a good season.

    For shame, Sal, do you want to give Lydia Thorpe and Marcia Langton heart failure?

  25. Zulu Kilo Two Alpha Avatar
    Zulu Kilo Two Alpha

    Anthony Albanese’s Indigenous voice: simple yes or no
    Paige Taylor
    Indigenous Affairs Correspondent, WA Bureau Chief
    @paigeataylor
    6 minutes ago July 29, 2022
    No Comments

    Anthony Albanese will put a ­“simple” yes-or-no question to a referendum to create an Indigenous voice in the Constitution to make recommendations on Aboriginal issues to parliament but with ­politicians retaining the power to define its functions.

    At the Garma Festival on Saturday, the Prime Minister will for the first time outline how the Constitution should be changed to ­accommodate a voice – a key part of the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart – amid a debate over whether the final design of the body should be unveiled before a referendum.

    Mr Albanese will also suggest the wording of a referendum question to be put to the public, calling the draft proposal the “next step in the discussion about constitutional change”.

    “We should consider asking our fellow Australians something as simple as: Do you support an alteration to the Constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice?” Mr Albanese will say.

    “A straightforward proposition. A simple principle.

    “A question from the heart. We can use this question – and the provisions – as the basis for further consultation.

  26. Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Border Closure Avatar
    Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Border Closure

    For shame, Sal, do you want to give Lydia Thorpe and Marcia Langton heart failure?

    You can imagine how much I care about their feelings & what influence that pair have on my objective attachment to Aboriginal culture.

  27. Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Border Closure Avatar
    Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Border Closure

    Anthony Albanese’s Indigenous voice: simple yes or no

    No.

    11
  28. Zyconoclast Avatar
    Zyconoclast

    One of France’s most senior defence figures is warning Australia that acquiring nuclear submarines will be “much more difficult” than the now scrapped plan to build a new fleet of conventionally powered boats.

    Vice Admiral Nicolas Vaujour has travelled to Sydney for talks with Australian Defence Force Chief General Angus Campbell and other military leaders at the high-powered Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) Conference.

    The visiting French military chief said although the matter had now been settled with an $835 million compensation deal, he was “surprised” at Australia’s decision and warned the new AUKUS venture would be very challenging

    As owners of nuclear-powered submarines, Vice Admiral Vaujour said France knew “very well” the workforce and logistical challenges involved in maintaining the complex technology

    “There is a lot of advantage to [having] a nuclear submarine, you can stay a long time at sea, but it means you have to have big industry, supply chains and so on inside your country to be able to operate that”.

  29. Farmer Gez Avatar
    Farmer Gez

    Dozens of images of Sydney Swans young gun Chad Warner began circulating online on Friday, depicting him naked and performing sex acts.

    The Swans.
    Are they stunning and brave sex acts?

  30. Knuckle Dragger Avatar
    Knuckle Dragger

    The visiting French military chief said although the matter had now been settled with an $835 million compensation deal, he was “surprised” at Australia’s decision and warned the new AUKUS venture would be very challenging

    The French do some things very well. Breeding admirals is not one of them.

    I’d have been more impressed if he’d preceded his remarks with ‘Listen carefully. I shall say zis only once.’

  31. Zulu Kilo Two Alpha Avatar
    Zulu Kilo Two Alpha

    Anthony Albanese’s Indigenous voice: simple yes or no

    No.

    Albanese will then be able to paint Australians as racist swine, totally undeserving of his great leadership….

  32. Zyconoclast Avatar
    Zyconoclast

    haven’t seen this mentioned here yet but did we just get shafted by US/UK re nuclear subs and now we are renegotiating with the French?

    French navy warns AUKUS nuclear submarine plan will be ‘much more difficult’ for Australia

    The visiting French military chief said although the matter had now been settled with an $835 million compensation deal, he was “surprised” at Australia’s decision and warned the new AUKUS venture would be very challenging

  33. Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Border Closure Avatar
    Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Border Closure

    Albanese will then be able to paint Australians as racist swine, totally undeserving of his great leadership….

    Albanese would be correct.

  34. Farmer Gez Avatar
    Farmer Gez

    It could be anyone or anything.
    We don’t know Chad’s pronouns.

  35. Knuckle Dragger Avatar
    Knuckle Dragger

    Chad’s dad played for Nhill, apparently.

    The Polaroids are said to be still in circulation.

  36. dover0beach Avatar

    French navy warns AUKUS nuclear submarine plan will be ‘much more difficult’ for Australia

    Yes, but I’ve seen it also reported that the US is decades behind on its own replacement program so this is likely to leave us up the proverbial creek.

  37. Bruce in WA Avatar
    Bruce in WA

    Where I worked in Kalgoorlie in the 80s overlooked a cleared area/park near a treatment plant where the locals liked to gather.

    I recall watching a “ritual fight” between two women there. They were stripped to the waist and plastered with red mud. Their hair was coated in semi-dried mud, inches thick.

    They each had a heavy null-nulla and took turns in belting the other in the head. One would lower her head and take the blow; then shake her head and take her swing at her opponent. It continued until one fell to her knees and couldn’t continue. Head streaming blood, the “victor” was led off. The vanquished was left to her own devices.

  38. Bruce in WA Avatar
    Bruce in WA

    Looking after a friend’s BMW and just had the rims rid of their “Kerb rash”.

    Best quote was $250 a wheel. That’s a grand, and only that “cheap” because the wheels didn’t need any welding touch-ups.

  39. Winston Smith of ///logical.raccoons.signpost Avatar

    Doc Faustus:

    Indonesia has issued a forceful warning about the dangers of sharing nuclear propulsion technology ahead of a high-profile United Nations meeting that is expected to scrutinise Australia’s plans to develop nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS pact.

    How about either:
    .1 The UN minds its own damn business;
    .2 We leave the UN.

    The commitment by China, Indonesia’s No.1 trading partner, to deepen trade relations and fully back Indonesia’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year is an economic and political win for Jokowi, as the Indonesian president is widely known.

    China wants the Irian Jaya minerals:
    .1 China pisses off;
    .2 Indonesia pisses off.

  40. Bruce in WA Avatar
    Bruce in WA

    Madame Lash (Mrs BiWA) and I were on a cruise a couple of weeks ago. She had one bad night with coughing and headache. Tested positive next morning. I was negative. Ship separated us into different cabins for remainder of cruise. I stayed negative (5 tests in 6 days). Both of us were isolated.

    After 7 days she was still +ve, so while I could fly home, she had to spend another two days in an isolation motel. She came home Tuesday night, and only today tested -ve.

    She’s feeling great. But I have a problem.

    What’s this “bonking” she keeps talking about?? 😀

  41. Timothy Neilson Avatar
    Timothy Neilson

    Anthony Albanese will put a ­“simple” yes-or-no question to a referendum to create an Indigenous voice in the Constitution to make recommendations on Aboriginal issues to parliament but with ­politicians retaining the power to define its functions.

    That would be pure Kabuki theatre.
    If the supposed Constitutional amendment simply said Parliament could determine what the “Voice” was and could do, that would be no different to the myriad indigenous rent-seeker gravy trains that already exist.
    Though perhaps that wouldn’t be a bad outcome, apart from the utter waste of yet more taxpayer money.

  42. Dr Faustus Avatar
    Dr Faustus

    China wants the Irian Jaya minerals:
    .1 China pisses off;
    .2 Indonesia pisses off.

    A given.

    I think the main message is that China is arranging for Australia to be surrounded by ‘unfriendlies’.

  43. Winston Smith of ///logical.raccoons.signpost Avatar

    Boambee John:

    Question for the technically knowledgeable, can a coal fired generator be converted to gas?

    My understanding is that once the water has bee brought to the boil, under high pressure, it doesn’t matter how it boils just as long as it does.
    So if you wanted a cheap upgrade, pull down the old coal fired part and build a new HELE boiler, add the appropriate extra turbines and Bobs your Auntie. All the other infrastructure is still there, just add more transformers and switch gear.
    But I’m no Engineer, so there may be a reason – not enough tribute to Gaia?

  44. Winston Smith Avatar

    Zyconoclast:

    This girl is a Italian hottie/tennis
    https://www.instagram.com/camila_giorgi_official/

    Needs 5 kilos more.
    🙂

  45. Winston Smith Avatar

    Lizzie:
    Give this mob a try – they do home delivery – recently did a bit of a spend up on stock from them.
    Excellent drop.

  46. Winston Smith Avatar

    Zyco:

    As owners of nuclear-powered submarines, Vice Admiral Vaujour said France knew “very well” the workforce and logistical challenges involved in maintaining the complex technology

    Vice Admiral Vaujour can go and shit in his silly hat.
    We’ll lease a dozen Ohio Class off the US and outfit them with torpedos and other good explodey stuff.

  47. Winston Smith Avatar

    And while we’re telling Foreign Powers to mind their own business, I shall be writing to the PM demanding we rename one of our plane carrying thingyies as the “HMAS Hello Kitty”, fitting it out as a mobile disco and karaoke platform with its own laser and fireworks show.
    Add a couple of Blackhawks dangling 100 meter disco lights, and cruising the entire lot up and down the Taiwan Strait in a Freedom of Navigation Exercise.
    …and dress all the sailors in frocks and feather boas rendering honours with bare bottoms.

  48. Gabor Avatar
    Gabor

    Winston Smith says:
    July 30, 2022 at 5:19 am

    There is only one gin worth drinking and that is, BOLS.

    Surprisingly good value, if you are not a snob who thinks price = value.

  49. Winston Smith Avatar

    Republican Party Threatens President Trump – If He Announces He’s Running in 2024 GOP Will Stop Paying Legal Fees

    The GOP leadership doesn’t want the truth behind the 2020 Election to be revealed. Neither do the Democrats. America and President Trump are the victims. Now top US politicians all want to prevent President Trump from ever running again.

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/07/gop-threatens-president-trump-announces-running-2024-gop-will-stop-paying-legal-fees/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=dailypm&utm_content=2022-07-29

  50. Winston Smith Avatar

    A Chinese Communist Party propagandist on Friday said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s plane may be shot down if she makes a stop in Taiwan.

    Do it, China, do it! You know you want to!
    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/07/china-threatens-shoot-pelosis-plane-makes-stop-taiwan/?ff_source=Email&ff_medium=the-gateway-pundit&ff_campaign=dailypm&ff_content=2022-07-29

  51. Sancho Panzer Avatar
    Sancho Panzer

    Winston Smithsays:

    July 30, 2022 at 6:31 am

    German City of Hanover Shuts Off Hot Water

    A questioning mind asks “Does Hanover have mains hot water throughout the city?” and, if so, how do they do that?
    Well, not quite. Second last paragraph:-.

    In a bid to save energy, Germany’s northern city of Hanover has decided hot water will no longer be available for hand washing in public buildings, or in showers at swimming pools, sports halls and gyms.

    Not apartment buildings.
    Rationing, to be sure, but not as dramatic as the headline suggests.

  52. Perplexed of Brisbane Avatar
    Perplexed of Brisbane

    Winston Smithsays:
    July 30, 2022 at 5:30 am
    Zyco:

    As owners of nuclear-powered submarines, Vice Admiral Vaujour said France knew “very well” the workforce and logistical challenges involved in maintaining the complex technology

    Vice Admiral Vaujour can go and shit in his silly hat.
    We’ll lease a dozen Ohio Class off the US and outfit them with torpedos and other good explodey stuff.

    I like the way you think but we are getting Virginia class boats. The Ohio’s are the retiring ballistic missile subs. A few new Columbia class missile boats with Virginias for cover would be great.

    Non-proliferation has been a failure. Look at the nations who have nukes now. The Indos are having whinge about AUKUS but I think they can trust us more than China.

    The frogs can go jump. If we are genuinely serious about a nuclear capability, then we can do it and do it well. Just need to keep the union scum away from it as they’ll sabotage it at every turn a la WW2.

  53. Top Ender Avatar
    Top Ender

    Get over on the new thread, you foolish fellows!

  54. Bruce Avatar
    Bruce

    Winston; it is worse than you think:

    ” propaganda arm of the Democratic party.”

    The grim reality is that the LSM is the mangy tail wagging the rabid mongrel of the body politic.

    GLOBALLY.

  55. Rockdoctor Avatar
    Rockdoctor

    Lifes good. At Centenary Hotel for lunch. One of those blue collar pubs hidden in in back streets of Pimlico.

    Old and dated, food basic but doing roaring trade, especially with families. Great atmosphere.

    Reintroduced a couple of weeks back when I was dining with someone up from Mackay. Mrs said we have to come back & here we are. Enjoy your Sunday Cat’s…

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