Month: July 2022

  • WolfmanOz at the Movies #28

    liberté, égalité, fraternité Before I begin on my weekly post, I thought I’d let everyone know my YouTube channel was deleted a couple of days ago care of retrospective copyright strikes against a couple of Laurel & Hardy shorts that were uploaded approximately 11 months ago ! I was initially devastated, as 11 months of…

  • Tractorpower! Dutch farmers on the streets

    Farmers, facing a genuine existential threat, push back. And the public is on side while the government shows its ugly face. On Twitter #Netherlands, massive protests are underway. Farmers have been told to shut farms to reduce nitrogen emissions and they’ve taken to the streets. (It’s not clear if this is purely about fertilizer runoff, or climate…

  • What is ‘reproductive rights’?

    What is this thing called ‘reproductive rights’? Sure, if you’re a liberal everything you want but can’t have for whatever reason is a violation of your rights. However, setting aside the other human being involved, I can’t think of an analogue to this oft-repeated claim, which is that denying someone the right to destroy the…

  • Open Thread – Tues 5 July 2022

  • Power Crisis in South Africa

    The electricity system in South Africa is in a tragic state with little hope of rescue in the short term. This is a heart-breaking report from Jo Nova. National rolling blackouts have been occurring for days in South Africa and are forecast to continue for another week at least. One engineer warns they are just a…

  • Mater’s Musing #50: Happy NAIDOC Week

    This was photographed in the front window of one of Australia’s largest variety store chains. It’s getting increasingly difficult to use the week to “celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples” when this sort of agitation seems to be the main thrust of it.

  • Rabz’ Radio Show July 2022: Motown and Soul

    Two of my favourite musical styles. Motown of course, being named after the “Motor City” Detroit, which has experienced its share of hard times in the recent past. Founded by Berry Gordy in 1958, the label was better known as Tamla Motown outside of the States. Motown’s most notable achievement was almost 80 top ten…

  • Meme of the Day #50

  • Open Thread – Weekend 2 July 2022

  • An Independent Review

    Yesterday, the new federal health minister, Mark Butler, announced a government inquiry with Jane Halton in charge into the Australian Government covid-19 vaccine contracts, pricing and existing supplies of vaccines. This inquiry, he advised, will be a forward looking review: a “where to from here” examination of what will be needed in the next 12-18…