Open Thread – Tues 4 Oct 2022


Near the Water, Gustave Moreau, 1896

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Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
October 6, 2022 4:27 pm

Interesting diversion squirrels used by Higgins’ legal team.
I just heard an ABC report that didn’t mention the debunking of her dress story.
A dress with such trauma attached that she popped it on soon after.
The awful Liberals narrative has zero to do with proving she was roped on the night.

Cassie of Sydney
October 6, 2022 4:28 pm

Well, it just gets more interesting….

“Higgins, Sharaz specified time for interview drop

The court has heard a snippet of audio from the January 27 meeting between Ms Higgins, The Project’s producer, Lisa Wilkinson and her boyfriend David Sharaz.

In the audio Mr Sharaz is heard saying that the couple want the story to drop on February 15 because it was the start of a sitting week.

“It’s a sitting week when we want the story to come out,” he can be heard telling Wilkinson and her producer. “Sitting week the story comes out, questions, it’s a mess for them.

“That’s why Britt’s picked that timeline.”

Ms Higgins told her and her boyfriend’s views do not always align on political matters but that she agreed with his views about the timing of the story.

She said she still had “a lot of love” for her party, but Mr Sharaz had strong feelings about what had happened to her.

“As a professional in a field (media and politics) you would naturally drop a story at the start of a sitting week, so that’s fair,” she said.

Lysander
Lysander
October 6, 2022 4:29 pm

If no condemnation is forthcoming, it tells us a lot about their motivations!

Or you are scrollable…

Ed Case
Ed Case
October 6, 2022 4:31 pm

Or simply say, “No more for me, Brucey”.
If you are adamant about it and he still buys you one, tip it out. Not too many blokes will happily watch $10 go down the drain.
It’s called self-control for a reason.

Wise words of advice from Aunty Sancho.
Anymore ho0mespun wisdom, Aunty dear?

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
October 6, 2022 4:32 pm

How do you “symbolically” wash a dress?
Not my department but it looks the type of dress that goes to the dry cleaners not the trough.

John H.
John H.
October 6, 2022 4:32 pm

DeepMind AI invents faster algorithms to solve tough maths puzzles

Not just for mathematics. There are often reports of using machine learning(I don’t like the term AI) in cell biology, drug discovery, and treatment possibilities.

JC
JC
October 6, 2022 4:33 pm

H B Bear says:

Traffic fines ceased being about road safety some time ago. Particularly in Victoriastan.

Bear, this is obscene. I’m thinking of lawyering up and fighting this as it’s just incomprehensible how 51k in a 40k zone equals 3 points and 370 bucks. It’s just evil. 51k is too slow to even register.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2022 4:34 pm

JCsays:

October 6, 2022 at 3:59 pm

How someone get fined $370 plus a loss of 3 points for doing 51k in a 40k zone? This place is just unreal.

How about those same $ and points for no numberplate light on a 6′ x 4′ trailer.
In daylight.
Apparently it is a “serious road safety matter”.
….
Cue Kenn Worth Road Ranger in 3 …. 2 …. 1 …. telling us how he nearly ran a dickhead Victorian down who was not displaying a numberplate light.

John H.
John H.
October 6, 2022 4:35 pm

Farmer Gezsays:
October 6, 2022 at 4:32 pm
How do you “symbolically” wash a dress?
Not my department but it looks the type of dress that goes to the dry cleaners not the trough.

She missed her chance to hit another virtue signaling button. She should have said she washed the dress in the presence of a smoking ceremony and welcome to country.

JC
JC
October 6, 2022 4:37 pm

I’m sure someone mentioned Musk is finally buying Twitter. I’m not sure if Trump will go back as he now has his own Twitter-like system and is invested in it. It would be hilarious if Twitter/Musk suggested the two merge and Trump ends up owning a share in the private company. Leftwingers would go nuts.

Makka
Makka
October 6, 2022 4:38 pm

it’s just incomprehensible how 51k in a 40k zone equals 3 points and 370 bucks.

40km- School zone? Or work zone? Was it during a double demerit period?

Something must have been going on there when you got pinched.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
October 6, 2022 4:39 pm

That ridiculous referendum allows Putin to use nuclear weapons if UKR does step into those regions Russians claims as its own.

It doesn’t “allow” the Poot to do anything he can’t already do.

It might be necessary cover to have his launch orders actually carried out by his commanders; it might be a fig leaf for his regime supporters in the event that a ‘demonstration’ shot ended up in the UN rather than Armageddon.

But it’s no political or legal hurdle removed. Arguably the reverse.

johanna
johanna
October 6, 2022 4:44 pm

Fair dinkum, after seeing that footage of Brittany staggering into Parliament House that night, surely it is all over.

She had to go through the security barrier twice – which she admits she doesn’t remember, and then couldn’t even put her shoes back on. Fissed as a part.

Now, far be it from me to chide her for that, lest I chide myself many times over.

But, it is a mystery to me how the prosecution imagines that they have a case. No forensics, and someone who (if my experience is any guide) has no memory or knowledge whatsoever of what happened.

As for the story about the dress – what a gift to the defence!

JC
JC
October 6, 2022 4:45 pm

No Makka , it was a weekend and the place must he 40 k. 18th Sept in Albert Park where the roads are as wide as Pacific Ocean.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
October 6, 2022 4:48 pm

“Brittany Higgins has admitted she was ‘clearly wrong’ when she said she stashed the dress she was wearing on the night she was allegedly raped away for six months…

Clearly wrong”.
I believe there’s another popular legal term for making up elaborate embellishments with the intent to mislead a jury.

Purgatory?

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2022 4:49 pm

Dam this rain. And yes, you should have Mr. Flannery as it is flannering down a LOT here in Soggy Sydney……………..Always better to build Dams in a Drought. FFS.

harrys on the boat
October 6, 2022 4:52 pm

Someone has probably pointed this out, so apologies.

Trump sues CNN, many pundits have said this will drag out for a couple of years. If he runs for 2024, and CNN have a $400m liability hanging over them, basically that takes Trump off their network? Any negative comment will be seen as contempt, so they can’t touch him?

Is that the play, other than rubbing CNN’s nose in their own shit?

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2022 4:52 pm

Paddy Englishman and Paddy Irishman were taking a late flight from Dublin to New York in a three-engine plane.

Half way into the flight there was a shudder. The pilot announced over the speaker “I’m terribly sorry ladies and gentlemen but due to loss of power in our right-hand engine, our arrival in New York will be delayed by half an hour. We apologise for any inconvenience”.

The two lads tutted and swore a bit.

About another hour in, there was an even bigger shudder followed by a jolt. Once again the pilot made an announcement “We are so sorry ladies and gentlemen to inform you that we have now also lost power to our left-hand engine. Due to this our arrival time will be delayed by a further hour”.

The two lads look at each other aghast “For foocks sake!” says Paddy Irishman “If that last engine goes we’ll be up here all night!!”

Black Ball
Black Ball
October 6, 2022 4:52 pm

Someone a couple of days ago brought up the subject of the poor condition of our roads.
I see on social media a pothole near Katamatite has claimed 15 cars. Only a matter of time until someone is killed.
And the state of the Murray Valley highway is nothing short of a disgrace

calli
calli
October 6, 2022 4:53 pm

Dover, a suggestion.

If you’re going to direct duellers over to the dedicated thread, it would ve a good idea to have it “floating” in the side-bar, like Sinc did with the SSM and abortion debates.

Otherwise the sluggers won’t be able to slug.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2022 4:53 pm

Man does not control his own fate. The women in his life do that for him.

– Groucho Marx

rosie
rosie
October 6, 2022 4:54 pm

A lot of new 7 am to 9 pm? 40 km zones where there are shopping strips on roads like Canterbury through Camberwell etc.
Absolute traps.
I put my cruise control on because I’m not paying another penny if I can help it, I got done for 53 in a 40 km school zone during lockdown when schools were closed. Request for a review denied because I was out of time, because I only received second notice.
It’s a Danscam to fill his empty coffers.

Rabz
October 6, 2022 4:57 pm

Ms Higgins on Thursday had earlier told the rape trial … that she put the white cocktail dress in a plastic bag under her bed for six months, ‘untouched and uncleaned’, following the alleged sex attack …
But in the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra on Thursday, Ms Higgins was shown a photograph of her wearing the same dress two months after the alleged attack.
The picture was taken at birthday celebrations for her defence minister boss Linda Reynolds in Perth in May 2019.
Under cross examination from Lehrmann’s lawyer Steven Whybrow, Ms Higgins denied lying – but admitted she had made a mistake.

“Bosnian Sniper” level bullshit …

Ed Case
Ed Case
October 6, 2022 4:58 pm

From the Duelling thread:
Psychopathy Checklist
continued ...
1. Considerable superficial charm and average or above average intelligence.

2. Absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking.

3. Absence of anxiety or other “neurotic” symptoms. Considerable poise, calmness and verbal facility.

14. No history of genuine suicide attempts.

Dot s

ays:
These are all good things.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
October 6, 2022 5:00 pm

Cross examination appears to be turning Britnee into a train wreck.

The court has heard that at the time Ms Higgins claims she was in the toilet at work having a panic attack for three hours, she was actually at a valedictory lunch for Steven Ciobo with her ex-boyfriend Ben Dillaway.

And that the reason CoS Fiona Brown had emailed her that afternoon asking if she was OK was because she had been out of the office for a number of hours attending a long lunch.

She had also collected Uber Eats that afternoon.

“I remember going to Steve Ciobo’s valedictory … I got those events mixed up,” she said.

Asked when the panic attack had happened, Ms Higgins could not recall.

“There were so many traumatising events,” she said.

“It might have been after the first or second meeting (with Ms Brown).

“I can absolutely see that I got that afternoon wrong.”

I’m starting to see the J/Pell ‘evidence made truthful by admitting it’s wrong’ strategy at work.

bespoke
bespoke
October 6, 2022 5:01 pm

25 when children present in SA school zones.
Crazy

Top Ender
Top Ender
October 6, 2022 5:02 pm

Got a parking fine the other day. It says the car was parked at 1029pm.

NSW has a system where you can go and have a look at your car. It shows ours parked in daylight, so can’t be half past 10 at night.

Wonder how many other people have been nabbed the same way by a parkie making the same mistake – and not noticed it.

harrys on the boat
October 6, 2022 5:03 pm

“Bosnian Sniper” level bullshit …

If the fat beta soft cock Bruce sticks to his story, I did nothing, left her asleep, etc., he’s home and hosed.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2022 5:03 pm

A Sunday school teacher is concerned that his students might be a little confused about Jesus, so he asks his class “Where is Jesus today?” Steven raises his hand and says “He’s in Heaven”. Mary answers “He’s in my heart”. Little Johnny waves his hand furiously and blurts out “He’s in our bathroom!” The surprised teacher asks Little Johnny how he knows this. “Well” Little Johnny says “every morning, my father gets up, bangs on the bathroom door and yells ‘Jesus Christ, are you still in there?!’”

Black Ball
Black Ball
October 6, 2022 5:04 pm

And something else. A post just now suggests there is a tornado warning throughout north west Victoriastan. Gez, you heard anything up there?

m0nty
m0nty
October 6, 2022 5:07 pm

A year into WW1, the German leadership gathered together for a meeting, and were told that the war was unwinnable. They then proceeded for four more years despite having that knowledge, because they knew if they lost they would be strung up from lampposts.

I suspect Putin is in the same spot, as Russia just can’t compete with the US militarily these days.

Dropping a nuke would be worse, though… Russia would cease to be an independent country. Forget simple regime change, the world would do to it what it did to Iraq: roar in in great number and attempt to reform the entire society. It might not work, but forget Russia ever becoming an empire again.

Such an existential dilemma is entirely of Putin’s doing, of course, and it makes him dangerous because he’s not stupid. Misguided and poorly briefed, maybe. Or perhaps he overrides his lackey’s valid concerns with visions of the Tsar in his eyes.

johanna
johanna
October 6, 2022 5:07 pm

It’ll all be good, said Mrs Headband. Just leave it to me.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2022 5:09 pm

JCsays:

October 6, 2022 at 4:37 pm

I’m sure someone mentioned Musk is finally buying Twitter

The market believes it is happening.
Price back to takeover offer level.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2022 5:10 pm

A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband. Suddenly, her husband burst into the kitchen. “Careful” he said “CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! Oh my gosh! You’re cooking too many at once. TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter. Oh my gosh! WHERE are we going to get MORE BUTTER? They’re going to STICK! Careful. CAREFUL! I said be CAREFUL! You NEVER listen to me when you’re cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you CRAZY? Have you LOST your mind? Don’t forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the! Salt. USE THE SALT! THE SALT!” The wife stared at him. “What in the world is wrong with you? You think I don’t know how to fry a couple of eggs?” The husband calmly replied “I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I’m driving”.

JC
JC
October 6, 2022 5:11 pm

Doc F

The problem is that it’s a ACT jury, I think, right? 🙂 If it is, that’s like a DC jury.

Rockdoctor
Rockdoctor
October 6, 2022 5:11 pm

Flew Alliance Airlines today on a scheduled flight. Not bad. When VA starts going down the gurgler again they should be allowed to step into the breach.

Cassie of Sydney
October 6, 2022 5:14 pm

Ummm………this was and is a political hit job.

Higgins recorded Cash, distributing ‘to as many people’

Ms Higgins has admitted to covertly recording a conversation with Minister Michaelia Cash in February 2021 and then distributing it “to as many people as possible”.

Ms Higgins resigned from Ms Cash’s office on January 29.

A few days later, Minister Cash called Ms Higgins and offered her alternatives to resigning.
“And you recorded her on that call without her knowledge?,” Mr Whybrow asked.

“That’s correct,” Ms Higgins confirmed.

The court heard that within 15 minutes of that call finishing, Ms Higgins sent that recording to Emma Webster who, at the time, worked for the first people’s assembly in Victoria and now works in PR.

Ms Higgins said she shared the covertly recorded conversation with a cabinet minister for “safekeeping”.

“I tried to send (the recordings) to as many people as possible … so they existed.”

Isn’t recording someone without that person’s knowledge/agreement illegal?

This is a train wreck.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2022 5:14 pm

I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.

– Groucho Marx

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2022 5:15 pm

Lawyers like their witnesses to speak no more than once.
At trial, on the stand, if at all.
They hate sworn statements and committals because, counting the time in the box at trial, that is three separate accounts of the same event. This affords ample opportunity to pick holes in the three (possibly different) versions.
They particularly hate endless media interviews, Twatter pronouncements, Insta photos and shopping centre appearances where the shifting sands of “her truth” are exposed for a keen legal eye to feast upon.

duncanm
duncanm
October 6, 2022 5:16 pm

H B Bearsays:
October 6, 2022 at 4:14 pm
How someone get fined $370 plus a loss of 3 points for doing 51k in a 40k zone?

Traffic fines ceased being about road safety some time ago. Particularly in Victoriastan.

no better in NSW – currently under double-demerits due to school hols, so that +11km/h will bag you 6 points and $288

Cassie of Sydney
October 6, 2022 5:17 pm

She did it more than once…

“Higgins recorded conversations and sent them to Maiden

The court has heard that the day before her six-hour interview with The Project Ms Higgins took a day off work.

Ms Higgins admitted in court to recording a conversation with Daniel Try, the former chief of staff in Michaela Cash’s office, without his consent.

The next day she sent it to Samantha Maiden for “corroboration”.

“It was for my legal protection,” she said.

“Just to corroborate … I didn’t know if she believed me 100 per cent.

“I needed a chief of staff to corroborate.”

Ms Higgins said that during her meeting with Mr Try she tried to find out about another alleged rape of a young woman by a Liberal Party member which a Canberra Times journalist knew about.

“I was trying to find out who the Canberra Times journalist was who got the story,” she said.

“That was the premise of what I was coming to him for because I wanted to know more details because I was done.

“I was emotionally done.”

Ms Higgins then sent the recording of her conversation with Mr Try to Ms Maiden “as background”.

rickw
rickw
October 6, 2022 5:18 pm

We’re in the usual cycle:

1. 36 days ago the CCP tested a fire foam pump, sounded terrible was probably doing over 100dB, rattled fillings.
2. CCP supplier says it’s the pump coupling.
3. Rick says CCP pump supplier is bullshitting you, it’s something more serious you need to start working the different possibilities.
4. CCP again ignores Rick and sits back and waits for coupling.
5. CCP installs new pump coupling yesterday and does test run. Still as noisy as hell.
6. CCP pump supplier: If you replaced coupling and it’s still noisy, pump fucked, ship back to us to fix! (Not that surprising given that it sat in a plywood box for 2 years outdoors about 50m from the sea.)

I should start laying down some serious bets with these guys, would make a killing!

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 6, 2022 5:21 pm

But Ukraine has troops now in ALL of those regions (except Crimea which was annexed years ago). Why hasn’t Putin launched a nuke already??

Interesting question. There’re several types of nukes of course. The main problem in tactical use is they aren’t actually that great for that duty – not against dug in infantry. You might punch a hole a mile or so across but the density of the frontlines isn’t big in this war. Each battalion is covering something like 5 to 10 km of frontage, so a hole 1 mile wide is only taking out two companies or even less. Not much for the political cost.

It’d be different if there were a tank army ready to exploit, but I don’t see any ready for that.

Then there’re the other political aspects. First and foremost are Putin’s general officers, who aren’t especially happy right now. He’s replaced quite a few. That means there’s a ready cohort to oppose such moves, assuming they can draw upon loyal troops. They might if it comes to a nuclear strike order.

Secondly on the political front the angst on the street is pretty big. More guys have fled Russia than were called up in this partial mobilization. Uzbekistan is currently handing out tens of thousands of residencies, and Kazakhstan has had a flood over their border. Plus all the other borders. So if this thing gets nuclear the street-level unhappiness is going to get a helluva lot worse, and it already seems pretty bad now.

On the other side of the equation Putin seems to be a dying old guy with nothing much to lose – since his kids mainly appear to be in Switzerland. And his life’s work has been to re-establish Russia in her power. He’s said that, as has Shoigu. But whether he has enough political gravitas to get a nuclear order carried out is a big uncertainty.

There does seem to be prep work in advance of this. Widely reported this week have been the nuclear train and the sailing of the Belgorod, which can deploy the tsunami drones. Belgorod presumably is about deterring the Americans. Furthermore Russian TV has carried some softening up treatment of nuke use, which seemed to be aimed at acclimatizing ordinary Russians to use of those weapons. Whether this translates to actual use is another thing. But Putin has had a lifetime of psyching opponents. His background in the KGB is very good for that sort of stuff, even if it proved (as it appears) to’ve been less useful for conventional war planning.

I’ll finish this comment with a quote:

Because that’s the problem with plutonium, Craven. It’s limited in its application. It’s not user-friendly, but as a vehicle for regaining one’s self-respect, it’s got a lot going for it. – Darius Jedburgh, Edge of Darkness (1985)

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
October 6, 2022 5:22 pm

The problem is that it’s a ACT jury, I think, right? ? If it is, that’s like a DC jury.

Indeed.
I have no doubt the jury will be able to recognise Ms Higgins’ honest attempt to be truthful. Particularly after the next 26 days of picking over the alleged political cover-up by Liberal Ministers and apparatchiks.

Rockdoctor
Rockdoctor
October 6, 2022 5:22 pm

Cassie, from memory with recording conversations and may be dated but all states yes. You have to inform the caller but some states allow at the end of the conversation while most states insist you have to be upfront…

Happy to be corrected by someone more current.

Black Ball
Black Ball
October 6, 2022 5:23 pm

Six hour gab fest on Teh Project? Be enough to addle anyone.

flyingduk
flyingduk
October 6, 2022 5:24 pm

How about those same $ and points for no numberplate light on a 6? x 4? trailer.
In daylight.

Yep, my long forgotten ‘unregistered trailer’ from SA, 20+ years ago was read to the magistrate at my Canberra protest bail hearing as ‘drive unregistered, drive uninsured vehicle’ …

Chris
Chris
October 6, 2022 5:31 pm

A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband.

Pics or it didn’t happen.

flyingduk
flyingduk
October 6, 2022 5:32 pm

Then there’re the other political aspects. First and foremost are Putin’s general officers, who aren’t especially happy right now. He’s replaced quite a few.

Looking over our top tier Generals (Morrison, Campbell etc) I rather think we might do the same!

Lysander
Lysander
October 6, 2022 5:33 pm

Kamala’s secret duty had a car crash.

So secret, it was never reported!

johanna
johanna
October 6, 2022 5:34 pm

Ah yes, ‘double demerits’ – a shameless revenue grab cloacked in concern for public safety. If you exceed the speed limit anywhere, for any reason, during school holidays you are a Bad Person, because it’s school holidays.

BTW, the proprietress of this esteemed establishment informs me that she has had cancellations from people travelling by road from Sydney to Canberra because they are worried about floods.

Not that floods have ever cut that road, nor will they, but that’s what happens when a subset of morons follow the MSM. As someone pointed out about the coverage of the events in Florida, da meeja focuses on the spectacular events without any context.

That said, it’s soggy around here, and looking at the weather maps, more sogginess is on the way. I’m looking forward to when the Australian summer blasts in. Suddenly, it will be 30C (not 14C like today) and the sogginess will evaporate in a couple of days.

Dorothea is an Australian Treasure.

DaFisk
DaFisk
October 6, 2022 5:34 pm

The main problem in tactical use is they aren’t actually that great for that duty – not against dug in infantry.

And also, the world (and Russians too) will be much less afraid of Putin and his nukes after one is launched than before. If he wants to ensure his regime collapses in a week, he should go right ahead and nuke someplace in Ukraine.

Lysander
Lysander
October 6, 2022 5:34 pm

That’s not an allegorical car crash either… apparently Kamala wasn’t hurt.

/damn.

rickw
rickw
October 6, 2022 5:35 pm

I see on social media a pothole near Katamatite has claimed 15 cars. Only a matter of time until someone is killed.
And the state of the Murray Valley highway is nothing short of a disgrace

My favourite was the ever increasing lump on the Hume Highway just after the Seymour exit inbound.

Soft material in the wheel tracks was causing a hump to rise up in the middle of the left hand lane. The mound was starting to reach small car axel height, so VicRoads painted it white. Fuck knows what that was meant to do for anyone, would hate to be seeing that for the first time at night.

After almost 12 months of this and the hump reaching a height where it was being shaved down by hapless vehicle owners at 110km/hr. They eventually fucking fixed it.

My rule for the Hume is to drive in the right hand lane wherever possible, it’s least likely to wreck your vehicle.

Lysander
Lysander
October 6, 2022 5:36 pm

Someone jokingly told me that 40kmph in a school zone “is a perfect speed for a pedo”

flyingduk
flyingduk
October 6, 2022 5:36 pm

Cassie, from memory with recording conversations and may be dated but all states yes. You have to inform the caller but some states allow at the end of the conversation while most states insist you have to be upfront…

I auto record ALL calls these days. I don’t care about the legalities – I will consider that IF and when the recordings become useful.

I have previously told a politician (at the end of the call) that I had recorded it – they went apeshit, but had nothing to say when I invited them to make a complaint about it, thus publicising the content.

My recording of the AFP Officers initial statements at my arrest in Canberra is going to form the cornerstone of my defence. Admittedly, in that case, I told them up front and they agreed. I WILL NOT say anything to a police officer now without a camera rolling.

H B Bear
H B Bear
October 6, 2022 5:36 pm

Or simply say, “No more for me, Brucey”.

If I was planning to do the wild thing with Bruce I’d be necking anything I could get my hands on.

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
October 6, 2022 5:38 pm

Tornadoes?
The warning was for this afternoon and only a slim chance.
It’s drizzling here and with a light northerly breeze. I’d have thought a clear sky and heat would kick off big storms. There’s a line of heavy showers coming but it’s quick moving and doesn’t look exciting on the radar.
I’ll tie Toto down just in case.

rickw
rickw
October 6, 2022 5:38 pm

Looking over our top tier Generals (Morrison, Campbell etc) I rather think we might do the same!

There seems to a distinct difference between wartime and peacetime generals.

Peacetime generals can’t survive a war.

Wartime generals can’t get promoted in peacetime.

H B Bear
H B Bear
October 6, 2022 5:39 pm

How do you “symbolically” wash a dress?

Presumably on social media after arranging it with Mrs Pirate Pete and the (ex)boyfriend.

Lysander
Lysander
October 6, 2022 5:40 pm

Duck
you in trouble with the Feds???

Been posting in support of DJT obviously… 😛

flyingduk
flyingduk
October 6, 2022 5:42 pm

Ah yes, ‘double demerits’ – a shameless revenue grab cloacked in concern for public safety. If you exceed the speed limit anywhere, for any reason, during school holidays you are a Bad Person, because it’s school holidays

And also TOTALLY unfounded. I published 2 papers some years back at which I actually looked at the ‘crashes are more likely at christmas’ claim (and other holiday periods) – the result ? You are actually slightly LESS likely to die in a crash at Easter or Christmas than on any other random day of the year.

Correcting the Holiday roadtoll myth: Christmas and Easter Holiday periods are actually safer than other times of the year. Emerg Med Australas: 18(3):310-11, 2006

Are even stronger Christmas road safety blitzes necessary? 20 years of fatality data still says no. Emergency Medicine Australasia 2016; 28: 2, 245

flyingduk
flyingduk
October 6, 2022 5:43 pm

‘cloacked’

Snigger!

flyingduk
flyingduk
October 6, 2022 5:45 pm

There seems to a distinct difference between wartime and peacetime generals.
Peacetime generals can’t survive a war. Wartime generals can’t get promoted in peacetime.

It was ever thus, and is why the West generally loses the first year of any major war – it takes that long to root out all the peace generals.

John H.
John H.
October 6, 2022 5:46 pm

Bruce of Newcastlesays:
October 6, 2022 at 5:21 pm
But Ukraine has troops now in ALL of those regions (except Crimea which was annexed years ago). Why hasn’t Putin launched a nuke already??

Bruce it isn’t the efficacy of the weapon it is the message it carries. Use it once to demonstrate willingness to use it again and again(The Nagasaki message). In that scenario Ukraine would be forced to surrender because Western allies would stop providing weapons and demand Ukraine reach a settlement. Despite many complaining about how weak and effete the West has become it’s not shying away from the fight but nukes might change their minds.

H B Bear
H B Bear
October 6, 2022 5:46 pm

Higgins recorded conversations and sent them to Maiden

Trials have a habit of not going how you plan them.

johanna
johanna
October 6, 2022 5:49 pm

It was a typo, duk, but a fortituous one. 🙂

flyingduk
flyingduk
October 6, 2022 5:51 pm

Duck ..you in trouble with the Feds???

Indeed, and on multiple levels. I told my kids (no duff) in 2014 that I would be an ‘enemy of the state within their lifetimes’ and here we are:

1) Have had SA Attorney General Josh Teague send the police to visit me at home and tell me ‘thing might happen which I did not want’ if I kept criticising the SA Govt Covid response – I uploaded said interaction to the internet, with over 100k views now

2) Got arrested on trumped up ‘traffic’ charges at Canberra COVID protests then offered bail only on condition I stopped protesting – I refused and did a week in solitary. That case goes to trial next month.

3) Am being investigated by AHPRA for the crimes of ‘antisemetism’ (compared the treatment of the unvaxxed to the jews. ‘spreading misinformation against the best medical advice’ by promoting Ivermectin, and promoting ‘antivaccine information’ on ‘social media’ (that will be hard to prove, I dont use ANY social media!!

H B Bear
H B Bear
October 6, 2022 5:51 pm

flyingduk at 5:42 – given the person kms travelled I wouldn’t be surprised. Once a year church goer and country driver.

Ed Case
Ed Case
October 6, 2022 5:56 pm

Higgins recorded conversations …

Good idea.

… and sent them to Maiden

Not good idea.

harrys on the boat
October 6, 2022 5:59 pm

Trials have a habit of not going how you plan them.

The bigger picture is we already know this crop of politicians are the largest conga line of fuckwits ever assembled. But this fat fucking slag highlights that their staffers and advisers are even fucking worse.

m0nty
m0nty
October 6, 2022 6:00 pm

Bruce it isn’t the efficacy of the weapon it is the message it carries. Use it once to demonstrate willingness to use it again and again(The Nagasaki message). In that scenario Ukraine would be forced to surrender because Western allies would stop providing weapons and demand Ukraine reach a settlement. Despite many complaining about how weak and effete the West has become it’s not shying away from the fight but nukes might change their minds.

That is not how it would go down, John H.

The Trump era has been one long escalation after another by bad faith bullies trying to bluster their way past their own failings, but a nuke is not something the world can ignore.

John H.
John H.
October 6, 2022 6:00 pm

flyingduksays:
October 6, 2022 at 5:45 pm
There seems to a distinct difference between wartime and peacetime generals.
Peacetime generals can’t survive a war. Wartime generals can’t get promoted in peacetime.

It was ever thus, and is why the West generally loses the first year of any major war – it takes that long to root out all the peace generals.

At the start of WW2 Marshall dismissed many generals etc. They were old and tired, too hidebound by the past, and he wanted fresh blood and go getters, not old codgers. In peacetime many were promoted through retirement not ability.

https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/gen-george-c-marshall-eliminates-dead-wood/

Entropy
Entropy
October 6, 2022 6:02 pm

Duk, this blog is a type of social media.

johanna
johanna
October 6, 2022 6:05 pm

Should the head of the Queensland Police be a tough, resilient type of person? Or, should he/she be a princess who is still annoyed about things that happened decades ago?

Here’s the answer:

Queensland’s police commissioner has given teary evidence about being “pinched on the arse” by a senior officer at a watch house early in her career, as well as being “attacked by a sexual predator” colleague.
Key points:

Commissioner Carroll said she felt protected by colleagues after a senior officer pinched her on the bottom
A female officer said she knew of “five women who had been raped on the job”
The commissioner says she finds racist remarks made by officers “absolutely horrific”

This story contains strong language.

Commissioner Katarina Carroll said she made multiple complaints about incidents of sexual harassment in the 1980s and 1990s.

“The first time it was about a senior officer telling me I didn’t deserve to be in the job. That I was taking the job off a male colleague and I was going to fail,” she said.

“So I went to the senior officer in that area. He dealt with that. I was fine with that.”

Commissioner Carroll said at “another time in that same station” she was assaulted by a colleague.

“I was pretty well attacked by a sexual predator on my first day of training in that area,” she said.

“He took me to the forest and started taking my seatbelt off and I started running back towards the station.

“My station protected me.”

Commissioner Carroll said in the late 1980s or early 90s she was also assaulted by another officer.

“I had another senior officer who kept pinching me on the arse in the watch house,” she told the inquiry.

“The men in that station protected me, I reported it once, [it] got dealt with, I didn’t report it the other two times because I felt safe in the environment I was in.”

Oh, FFS. I don’t suppose any of the men ever experienced any less than supportive events.

Is that all she’s got?

Ed Case
Ed Case
October 6, 2022 6:07 pm

George C Marshall was probably a traitor to America, so those Generals he sacked were likely the good ones and those he kept were the duds.
And that’s how it panned out.

Crossie
Crossie
October 6, 2022 6:12 pm

Brittny Higgins seems to have turned against Lisa Wilkinson and Samantha Maiden. I take it the book deal is off.

DaFisk
DaFisk
October 6, 2022 6:17 pm

In that scenario Ukraine would be forced to surrender because Western allies would stop providing weapons and demand Ukraine reach a settlement.

There is zero reason to believe the US (let alone any of its allies) is going to cut off Ukraine after Russia breaks the nuclear taboo. Once that genie is out, the US (and even adversaries like China) has a choice – take out Putin, or accept massive and destabilising nuclear proliferation throughout the world.

DaFisk
DaFisk
October 6, 2022 6:19 pm

Also – how is Putin going to stop the radiation from blowing into NATO territory? There is no way out for NATO other than to end Putin’s regime in that scenario. Putin is well aware of that, naturally, which is why he periodically raises the nuke trial balloon to see what happens in Western public opinion, before backing off again.

Gabor
Gabor
October 6, 2022 6:22 pm

the fiskarator,

So why does Putin need to threaten nuclear strikes

This questioning everyone about Putin’s intentions re. nuclear, getting rather tedious, almost Struth’ level of obnoxious.

Someone, way back said he was an intelligent man.
Maybe an expert in one field that I’m not aware of, but it’s not displayed on this topic, M0nty is far more researched and diverse in comparison.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
October 6, 2022 6:22 pm

I was a witness to a shonky workers compensation claim. Never got called as both sides agreed there were no holes to pull apart. The case fell apart when the claimant tried to bribe someone who wasn’t even there into lying.

calli
calli
October 6, 2022 6:23 pm

she ‘very symbolically washed the dress’.

So it wasn’t a “wash” wash?

– apologies to Whoopie

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
October 6, 2022 6:24 pm

Gabor stop it. You’re giving munty a woody.

calli
calli
October 6, 2022 6:24 pm

Symbolically doing the laundry sounds like a great time saver.

Bit stinky though.

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
October 6, 2022 6:26 pm

Higgins and her dense friends seem to be unable to differentiate the seriousness of accusing a man of rope and a political hit job.
There’s simply not enough of a legal consequence for making shit up.

Tom
Tom
October 6, 2022 6:26 pm

Brittny Higgins seems to have turned against Lisa Wilkinson and Samantha Maiden.

Higgins sounds to me like just another Greens-voting radical, who saw her employment with the Stupid Fucking Liberals as an excellent opportunity to torpedo the enemy.

Since she conceived of this court case as a gotcha, I would be astonished if it doesn’t collapse — even with a credulous ACT judge and jury.

Winston Smith
October 6, 2022 6:28 pm

Big Nambas:

By General Christian Blanchon

They are there, by your side, they seem normal, but they are superheroes.
Even if I were fully vaccinated, I would admire the unvaccinated for withstanding the greatest pressures I have ever seen, including from spouses, parents, children, friends, colleagues and doctors.
People who were capable of such character, courage and critical thinking undoubtedly embody the best of humanity.

That’s a bit -just a bit – OTT. I refused the vaccines because “Fuck you, Sunshine.”
Beware of old farts with a very low tolerance of bullshit.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
October 6, 2022 6:29 pm

Britnee will have spent the advance on book sales. She will have to pay it back unless she was being paid to write it. Which one was it?

Zipster
October 6, 2022 6:30 pm

@Zipster – how about you? Condemn Putin for a nuclear first strike or no?

You are talking about the start of WW3. condemning it is like crying over spilt milk. Best to run to the hills because I doubt china would miss the opportunity.

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity
Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity
October 6, 2022 6:30 pm

There seems to be quite some inconsistencies in Brittany’s story.
“I didn’t wear the dress coz it triggered bad memories & kept it untouched under my bed for 6 months” will likely be the one most remembered.

“I ran to the dunny & spent all afternoon in there having the most awful panic attack” is a beauty, and “clearly wrong” (again), as on the afternoon she was actually partying on at a looong boozy lunch knees up for Steve Ciobo.

Boambee John
Boambee John
October 6, 2022 6:32 pm

m0nty-fa

A year into WW1, the German leadership gathered together for a meeting, and were told that the war was unwinnable. They then proceeded for four more years despite having that knowledge, because they knew if they lost they would be strung up from lampposts.

Two ponts.

WW I went for four years and three months (August 1914 to November 1918), not five years.

How many of Germany’s war leaders were eventually strung up from lamp posts?

bespoke
bespoke
October 6, 2022 6:33 pm

Beware of old farts with a very low tolerance of bullshit

Chuckle!

calli
calli
October 6, 2022 6:35 pm

On the road to Skye today.

There was a glorious blue sky over Scapa Flow yesterday. Crossed the Churchill barriers and learned their history. A green buoy marks the final resting place of the Royal Oak, the only ship in the harbour when the U boat crept in. It was filled with very young sailors – trainees, as young as 16.

The bell is in St Magnus, Kirkwall, along with the honour roll. A page is turned every Monday.

The Neolithic sites were worth a look. We enjoyed viewing Scara Brae to the drifting sound of bagpipes – the laird of the big house on the hill was getting married.

johanna
johanna
October 6, 2022 6:35 pm

Poor old Brits are still entrapped in the tentacles of The Borg:

5:16

BRUSSELS (AP) – Leaders from more than 40 countries meeting in the Czech capital Thursday are set to launch a “European Political Community” aimed at boosting security and prosperity across the continent. But critics claim the new forum is an attempt to put the brakes on European Union enlargement.

The Prague meeting is the brainchild of French President Emmanuel Macron and is backed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. It´s taking place with Russia´s war on Ukraine in its eighth month and as pressure builds to allow Ukraine to join the 27-nation EU.

“The war in Ukraine and the legitimate aspiration of its people, just like that of Moldova and Georgia, to join the European Union, encourages us to rethink our geography and the organization of our continent,” Macron said in May in a speech outlining his idea.

The point is, there is Liz hobnobbing with people who want to create a new European outfit. Her previous as being anti-Brexit is showing.

It’s not as if there isn’t work to be done at home. On recent polls, her lot would be destroyed.

johanna
johanna
October 6, 2022 6:41 pm

Tom says:
October 6, 2022 at 6:26 pm

Brittny Higgins seems to have turned against Lisa Wilkinson and Samantha Maiden.

Higgins sounds to me like just another Greens-voting radical, who saw her employment with the Stupid Fucking Liberals as an excellent opportunity to torpedo the enemy.

Ridiculous. You and St Ruth need to get a room.

Airheads like her are everywhere in Ministerial offices. No conspiracy required.

Crossie
Crossie
October 6, 2022 6:43 pm

Let me see if I got this right. Some AFL coaches are being accused of advising their players to pay for their girlfriends’ abortions which is horrendous and the coaches must be shunned.

Then there is an AFL club CEO who is against abortions and thinks they are an abomination which is also horrendous and he must be shunned.

What am I missing?

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2022 6:44 pm

Asked when the panic attack had happened, Ms Higgins could not recall.

About three minutes into the cross examination is my guess.

Bar Beach Swimmer
October 6, 2022 6:46 pm

“When the pride round comes up in the AFLW in a couple of weeks, how could he have honestly stood there and encouraged the sentiment around pride round?”

DB:
Koch says the quiet part out loud, the ‘pride’ round is an ideological test.

I remember when the only thing that mattered to any football club, coach, player, the board and member/supporter base was whether the team won and whether it would qualify to play in the GF.

A few weeks ago – before the finals – Tim Blair, a former ‘pies supporter, reported that at the beginning of the year he decided to give up watching footy altogether because it had “gone woke.” He said that he hadn’t missed it at all.

If nothing else, the Andrew Thorburn affair has shown how far football has moved away from what is its only reason for being – the nurture and support of the game of Australian Rules for the fans – and become a vacuous, self-promoting, 1/2 moral police, 1/2 power-hungry censor of anything that corporate Australia doesn’t like.

Perhaps, like Tim Blair, it’s time to walk away.

Boambee John
Boambee John
October 6, 2022 6:46 pm

flyingduksays:
October 6, 2022 at 5:45 pm
There seems to a distinct difference between wartime and peacetime generals.
Peacetime generals can’t survive a war. Wartime generals can’t get promoted in peacetime.

It was ever thus, and is why the West generally loses the first year of any major war – it takes that long to root out all the peace generals.

There is a bit in the memoirs of Britain’s wartime CIGS, FM Alanbrooke, in which he describes looking through the Army List in a desperate, and largely unsuccessful, attempt to find competent generals to command divisions and corps.

He became CIGS in December 1941, more than two years into the war. Not sure what specific period he was referring to, maybe the whole period from early 1942 to 1945?

Lee
Lee
October 6, 2022 6:48 pm

A year into WW1, the German leadership gathered together for a meeting, and were told that the war was unwinnable. They then proceeded for four more years despite having that knowledge, because they knew if they lost they would be strung up from lampposts.

Sources, please.
Sounds like urban myth to me.

Boambee John
Boambee John
October 6, 2022 6:49 pm

m0ntysays:
October 6, 2022 at 6:00 pm
Bruce it isn’t the efficacy of the weapon it is the message it carries. Use it once to demonstrate willingness to use it again and again(The Nagasaki message). In that scenario Ukraine would be forced to surrender because Western allies would stop providing weapons and demand Ukraine reach a settlement. Despite many complaining about how weak and effete the West has become it’s not shying away from the fight but nukes might change their minds.

That is not how it would go down, John H.

The Trump era has been one long escalation after another by bad faith bullies trying to bluster their way past their own failings, but a nuke is not something the world can ignore.

The Chickenhawk m0nty-fa is prepared to have others fight WW III for Ukraine.

2dogs
2dogs
October 6, 2022 6:50 pm

given the decrepitude of the Russian military and its equipment

Huh? Russia has actually kept its nuclear arsenal up to date. For example, Sarmat entered service just this year.

It is the US that has allowed its nuclear arsenal to become “decrepit”.

Boambee John
Boambee John
October 6, 2022 6:51 pm

John H

At the start of WW2 Marshall dismissed many generals etc. They were old and tired, too hidebound by the past, and he wanted fresh blood and go getters, not old codgers. In peacetime many were promoted through retirement not ability.

Marshall was elevated above some 400 officers higher than him on the seniority list. Many probably resigned in protest?

H B Bear
H B Bear
October 6, 2022 6:51 pm

I expect Mrs Pirate Pete and the CBS Australia lawyers would he hoping the whole thing collapses. It would have been helpful to sit on everything for 30 years and allow the dramatis personae time to die or disappear.

Crossie
Crossie
October 6, 2022 6:52 pm

Airheads like her are everywhere in Ministerial offices. No conspiracy required.

Johanna, there it is, the whole nub of the problem. What are these airheads doing in government? It seems the governments of both parties are guilty and have descended into this teenage out of angst.

I would propose that nobody under the age of 50 is allowed to be a staffer just so there are some responsible people there.

H B Bear
H B Bear
October 6, 2022 6:53 pm

Suddenly Biden and his handlers are “the Trump era”.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2022 6:54 pm

On ridiculous car taxation via 40 kmh “speeding” fines, I now drive with Waze turned on all the time.
Gives me a lot of shit I don’t need, but has never failed to “Bing-Bong!” me when there is a revenue camera ahead.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2022 6:56 pm

Tornado count here … [0].

Boambee John
Boambee John
October 6, 2022 6:57 pm

Ed Casesays:
October 6, 2022 at 6:07 pm
George C Marshall was probably a traitor to America, so those Generals he sacked were likely the good ones and those he kept were the duds.
And that’s how it panned out.

Richard Cranium

The gluten is affecting your brain (such as it is).

calli
calli
October 6, 2022 6:57 pm

Crossing the top of Scotland just now – we have left the coast behind and entering a land of hills and heather and rugged outcrops. Little tarns glimmer in the folds as the sun peeps out from rain- clogged clouds.

A great green peak to the left, back-lit with blue and crowned with a rainbow.

Beautiful country.

Tom
Tom
October 6, 2022 6:57 pm

I expect Mrs Pirate Pete and the CBS Australia lawyers would he hoping the whole thing collapses.

Humphrey, the Ten Network is a CBS tax dodge. Of course CBS wants the case to collapse — anything to prevent another $1-10 million in legal expenses. Much better to have budgeted accountancy expenses.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 6, 2022 6:58 pm

Had a lot of Cafe fun today. A couple days ago the newest noisy miner chick, who is full-on alpha, started to accept food from my hand. That was great, but today he went beyond all expectations and jumped onto arm. That’s a first for noisy miners, they normally don’t like my icky hairy arms. Eww.

Young noisy did this several times today, with such alacrity I tried a short time ago for a photo. Came out pretty well. Only got the one. First time in ten years of trying.

H B Bear
H B Bear
October 6, 2022 6:58 pm

Both the Liars and the Liborals allow the kiddies to run around Parliament after some undergraduate political bullshit. The best of them are then preselected for some safe seat. Liars are expected to do a stint stacking branches or union elections – and not get caught.

Bar Beach Swimmer
October 6, 2022 7:01 pm

Did anyone see that bunch of western woman – minor(?) celebs, I think, – cutting their hair today in solidarity with the women of Iran?

There was one Iraqi-born Swedish(?) female politician who seems to have got the ball rolling by cutting quite a bit of her hair off during a speech.

All the others were a bunch of also-rans – compelled to do something significant but concerned about how they’d look on the next cover of some dumb mag. Hence, they took the smallest amount from the least consequential area – it was a really historic moment /sarc.

calli
calli
October 6, 2022 7:02 pm

Something pleasant for highland walking.

2dogs
2dogs
October 6, 2022 7:06 pm

The Left’s approach.

Completely oblivious to the precedent being set.

Ed Case
Ed Case
October 6, 2022 7:16 pm

Of course CBS wants the case to collapse — anything to prevent another $1-10 million in legal expenses.

Not making a lotta sense there.
Whattabout Rolfey?
Wasn’t the NT Police hierarchy quaking with fear over some civil suit he was gonna bring on?

wivenhoe
wivenhoe
October 6, 2022 7:19 pm

What am I missing?
Perhaps , shall we say, rose coloured glasses.

Indolent
Indolent
October 6, 2022 7:19 pm

BREAKING: EXPOSED: $105 million Liberal partnership with WEF laid bare

Conservative MP and two-time leadership contender Leslyn Lewis uncovered the admission in an Order Paper question signed by Transportation Minister Omar Alghabra.

In the response, Transport Canada admitted the WEF is one of several partners for the federal government’s Known Traveler Digital Identity (KTDI) Project, which will cost $105.3 million over five years.

“It’s no longer a conspiracy theory – it’s a contractual fact,” Lewis wrote on Twitter.

They won’t be satisfied until we are all identified like the cattle they take us for.

johanna
johanna
October 6, 2022 7:20 pm

Bruce, the cockies are wheeling and shrieking and the maggies are carolling for the first time in days.

It has stopped raining.

Not for long though.

Cassie of Sydney
October 6, 2022 7:21 pm

“Higgins sounds to me like just another Greens-voting radical, who saw her employment with the Stupid Fucking Liberals as an excellent opportunity to torpedo the enemy.

Since she conceived of this court case as a gotcha, I would be astonished if it doesn’t collapse — even with a credulous ACT judge and jury.”

I’m not making any excuses for Higgins, however I think she’s allowed herself to be used, beginning with her current partner Sharaz plus various MSM scum, like Wilkinson and Maiden (Maiden’s was also involved in the Porter lynching). Mind you Higgins is 27…she isn’t 18. If I recall correctly, Sharaz once worked as an advisor to one or two Greens and Labor politicians however I’m happy to be corrected on that. I think it’s becoming very clear that he’s the scheming Svengali behind the scenes who pushed her to reveal this “story” to Mrs Pirate.

Conspiracy or no conspiracy, one thing I’m sure of, and that is that Wilkinson and Maiden saw Higgins’ story as a near perfect cudgel to use against the inept Morrison government. Neither women give a rat’s arse about Higgins, and if Higgins thinks that these two grotesque females will be there for her in a year or two, she’ got another thing coming, and the sad thing is that Higgins in a few years will probably find herself cast adrift, not just by Wilkinson and Maiden, but also by her current partner.

m0nty
m0nty
October 6, 2022 7:21 pm

Also – how is Putin going to stop the radiation from blowing into NATO territory?

The wind in Ukraine generally does not blow from the east. Depending on the season it can be from the north, south or east, but only very rarely does it not blow towards Russian territories.

m0nty
m0nty
October 6, 2022 7:21 pm

north, south or west, I should have typed.

Roger
Roger
October 6, 2022 7:27 pm

Daniel Andrews “doesn’t want to debate” Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli, who said Andrews’s comments on the Thorburn matter were divisive and dangerous, but he then proceeds to tell the archbishop what Catholicism is – “social justice” with no transcendent dimension at all and no moral teaching other than “inclusivity”.

I don’t know if Andrews attends Mass, he probably does as his children, as he never fails to point out, attend Catholic schools, but if he were to do so and was refused communion I can imagine how he’d carry on.

Rafiki
Rafiki
October 6, 2022 7:27 pm

Whether there is proof that Higgins was raped is a matter for the jury after assessing the evidence, at the end of the trial. And there is evidence that she was raped, almost entirely comprised of her statements in court and in out of court statements. This is why her credibility and reliability as a witness of truth is so critical. Bases for powerful attacks are clearly evident, but will the jury reject them and believe her? The Crown will point to her various explanations, however improbable they are.

The jury may however approach the matter on the basis that the ‘victim’ of the allegation of rape must be believed. (The very description of the complainant as a victim supports this theory.) This theory is now widely propagated. It was the repeated starting point of PM Morrison’s widely reported comment on the matter. He did add, as an afterthought, that there would need to be a trial. That qualification is rarely added to the mantra “believe the victim”. Pell might have been convicted in this way, and Lehrmann might too. The jury might already have made a decision to convict.

In his opening, Crown prosecutor Drumgold told the jury that it was them to believe Lehrmann’s story. This is fundamentally wrong. It reverses the burden of proof and ignores the beyond reasonable doubt test. The defence need only convince the jury that on all the evidence it was reasonably possible that Higgins was not raped.

H B Bear
H B Bear
October 6, 2022 7:31 pm

Still only Day 3. Long way to go yet, apparently. Don’t throw out your betting slips.

Ed Case
Ed Case
October 6, 2022 7:33 pm

I, for one, look forward to the, er, Accused giving his Evidence.
As I’m sure all fair minded people do too.

m0nty
m0nty
October 6, 2022 7:33 pm

Sources, please.
Sounds like urban myth to me.

I linked this story last week, here’s the relevant passage (my bolding):

According to Goemans, democrats tended to respond to the information delivered by the war and act accordingly; at the very worst, if they lost the war but their country still existed, they would get turned out of office and go on a book tour. Dictators, because they had total control of their domestic audience, could also end wars when they needed to. After the first Gulf War, Saddam Hussein was such a leader; he simply killed anyone who criticized him. The trouble, Goemans found, lay with the leaders who were neither democrats nor dictators: because they were repressive, they often met with bad ends, but because they were not repressive enough, they had to think about public opinion and whether it was turning on them. These leaders, Goemans found, would be tempted to “gamble for resurrection,” to continue prosecuting the war, often at greater and greater intensity, because anything short of victory could mean their own exile or death. He reminded me that on November 17, 1914—four months after the First World War began—Kaiser Wilhelm II met with his war cabinet and concluded that the war was unwinnable. “Still, they fought on for another four years,” Goemans said. “And the reason was that they knew that if they lost they would be overthrown, there would be a revolution.” And they were right. Leaders like these were very dangerous. According to Goemans, they were the reason that the First World War, and many others, had dragged on much longer than they should have.

Indolent
Indolent
October 6, 2022 7:38 pm
Lee
Lee
October 6, 2022 7:38 pm

Daniel Andrews “doesn’t want to debate” Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli, who said Andrews’s comments on the Thorburn matter were divisive and dangerous, but he then proceeds to tell the archbishop what Catholicism is – “social justice” with no transcendent dimension at all and no moral teaching other than “inclusivity”.

Dictator Dan’s narcissism, smugness, and hypocrisy know no bounds.

Winston Smith
October 6, 2022 7:39 pm

Boambee John:

Not a Putinist (I think it would be good if both sides could lose), but anyone who launches a nuclear strike over the issues being contested in Ukraine must be condemned.

Damn straight.

Roger
Roger
October 6, 2022 7:40 pm

Ed Casesays:
October 6, 2022 at 6:07 pm
George C Marshall was probably a traitor to America, so those Generals he sacked were likely the good ones and those he kept were the duds.
And that’s how it panned out.

LOL.

I have a friend in the US whose doctoral thesis was on Marshall’s selection process.

Indolent
Indolent
October 6, 2022 7:41 pm

Perfectly prepared to believe this. And not just re kids, either. “A needle in every arm”.

Shocking Email: Feds Purposefully Made Kids Miserable During Covid Pandemic to Coerce Them Into Getting Vaxxed

Roger
Roger
October 6, 2022 7:41 pm

Dictator Dan’s narcissism, smugness, and hypocrisy know no bounds.

Yes…he demonstrates that on most days.

Boambee John
Boambee John
October 6, 2022 7:42 pm

Tomsays:
October 6, 2022 at 6:26 pm
Brittny Higgins seems to have turned against Lisa Wilkinson and Samantha Maiden.

Higgins sounds to me like just another Greens-voting radical, who saw her employment with the Stupid Fucking Liberals as an excellent opportunity to torpedo the enemy.

So, not that different to most of the Coalition Party Room?

And how many other “advisors” and staffers are the same slimy entryists?

Indolent
Indolent
October 6, 2022 7:43 pm
Indolent
Indolent
October 6, 2022 7:44 pm

Politico. Because free speech is misinformation.

Three reasons Washington is freaking out about Elon Musk right now

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 6, 2022 7:48 pm

I have a friend in the US whose doctoral thesis was on Marshall’s selection process.

Maybe Vlad should offer his generals a barrel of vodka.

Bluey
Bluey
October 6, 2022 7:50 pm

Indolentsays:
October 6, 2022 at 7:43 pm
Will Australia?

DI LEO: WILL AMERICA HEED THE ENERGY WARNING FROM ABROAD?

Judging by the people I work with, plenty of ordinary people are well aware. The morons in government on the other hand….

Shy Ted
Shy Ted
October 6, 2022 7:51 pm

I was, and still am, appalled that the Brinny trial would run over several weeks. How could the lawyers let it even happen? Excellent updates, you lot. You speeding criminals need to use Bruce’ legal team.
And

A 13-year old boy and seven other teenagers have been committed for trial over the alleged stabbing murder of Declan Cutler, 16.

If you do a search and another search and then another and then just one more you find the words “African gang” on about page 17.

m0nty
m0nty
October 6, 2022 7:53 pm

Message from Archbishop Peter Comensoli:

Let me be crystal clear.

Unborn children, the most vulnerable among us because they have no voice of their own, have only ourselves to make the plea for their just protection.

Let me be equally clear, faithful and fruitful marital covenants, which men and women freely enter into, also deserve our committed support and encouragement.

I hold these beliefs, and always have, and so do many others, because they speak to the good of our humanity.

To hold these beliefs does not mean I am excused from pursuing the good of people who hold differing beliefs, or who struggle to live by such beliefs. Everybody matters, and the good of everybody matters. Unborn children and expectant mothers both matter. My efforts to ensure this are the measure of my commitment to the common good of all.

What is this common good? It is the pursuit of the good of everyone, while also pursuing the good of each individually. It is where justice and mercy meet, so that all may live and flourish.

There has been little evidence of the common good being pursued by the leadership of the Essendon Football Club over the last couple of days. It has been a polarising and divisive time, that has abandoned any genuine respect for honouring diversity.

Helpful diversity draws people together. Harmful diversity pushes people apart.

The Premier was right in saying that the Essendon affair is much bigger than the forced resignation of the Club’s new CEO because of the beliefs he holds. And indeed, as he rightly noted, our language about other people matters.

However, the Premier’s own words about his beliefs and how they play out for the sake of others, have tended toward the harmful, because they have sought to uphold the good of one by undermining the good of another.

Referring to Andrew Thorburn’s church and the Bombers’ decision to sack its new CEO, the Premier used words like “intolerant”, “bigotry”, “absolutely appalling”, and “no sympathy”. Such language pitches some members of the community against others and contributes to an unhelpful spirit of division. It leaves ordinary people of faith questioning if they can publicly hold their committed beliefs, or even to be able to exercise leadership and service in the community.

The Premier stated, “Aren’t we all God’s children?” The answer is yes, absolutely and irreducibly, every person is a child of God. But for a leader of Government to distinguish between particular “children of God” stirs up a spirit of divisiveness between people instead of one of inclusion. In this election year there is an onus of responsibility for all political leaders to appeal to their better judgment.

We cannot claim to be inclusive if we stir up polarisation between sectors of the community, because in our Nation and, I hope, our State, every person, and every community, matters.

If the Essendon situation, and some broader reactions to it, is a litmus test of the place and value of people of faith in Victorian society, then we are in big trouble.

Eyrie
Eyrie
October 6, 2022 7:54 pm

I would propose that nobody under the age of 50 is allowed to be a staffer just so there are some responsible people there.

Staffers over 50 would easily see how stupid and incompetent the people they work for, are.
And laugh at them.

Miltonf
Miltonf
October 6, 2022 7:54 pm

I thought your comment about the legacy meja being kept going by the political class was interesting Dover. Makes a lot of sense. Two clapped out, decaying and corrupt groups propping each other up.

Eyrie
Eyrie
October 6, 2022 7:56 pm

General George C. Marshall was likely a traitor to America?
Please explain.

Roger
Roger
October 6, 2022 7:56 pm

I have a friend in the US whose doctoral thesis was on Marshall’s selection process.

I won’t bother him with “Ed Case’s” inanities.

rosie
rosie
October 6, 2022 7:57 pm

The correlation between sending your children to a Catholic school and mass attendance is very low, otherwise every Sunday mass in every parish would be bursting at the seams.
When my children were at primary school I don’t recall many other regular attendees, even though there was a Sunday mass with a ‘children’s liturgy’.

Miltonf
Miltonf
October 6, 2022 7:57 pm

Sancho I like Wayz too. It’s a lot of fun. Was started at Technicon in Israel I believe but now owned by Google. Still can’t figure out what the cat means!!

Boambee John
Boambee John
October 6, 2022 7:59 pm

He reminded me that on November 17, 1914—four months after the First World War began—Kaiser Wilhelm II met with his war cabinet and concluded that the war was unwinnable. “Still, they fought on for another four years,” Goemans said. “And the reason was that they knew that if they lost they would be overthrown, there would be a revolution.”

m0nty-fa

This differs from what you wrote earlier in two key respects.

The meeting took place four months, not a year, after the war started, and there is no mention of hanging from lampposts.

Your usual standard of accuracy on display? Or were you just trying to put a gloss on the story?

Eyrie
Eyrie
October 6, 2022 8:02 pm

Winston, the French General may have been a little OTT but stand up straight, mate and feel a little proud for resisting the psyop. At least we, don’t, deep down, feel bad for caving.

2dogs
2dogs
October 6, 2022 8:05 pm

Three reasons Washington is freaking out about Elon Musk right now

If I was Musk, I would be introducing a fee on the “Report Tweet” function.

He’d make back from the censorati all the money he lost on the fake accounts.

Ed Case
Ed Case
October 6, 2022 8:07 pm

The Church’s website claims to be reaching out to conservative youth, but the Anglican Church isn’t mentioned.
Thorburn is hardly youthful, so are the Anglicans trying to pull a fast one non the unsuspecting but hopelessly naive conservative youth.?
It wouldnae be t’ first time.

By the way, weren’t the Anglicans last heard of trying to sneakily sell 200 Tasmanian churches for a song?

bespoke
bespoke
October 6, 2022 8:08 pm

At least we, don’t, deep down, feel bad for caving

Why should they?

Roger
Roger
October 6, 2022 8:08 pm

Thorburn, who the media, etc. are painting as an extremist is an Anglican? Just wow, they are after everyone.

Evangelical Anglicans, dover.

Specifically, an international ministry founded by an Australian with campuses here and in the US.

One step removed from the Taliban as far as most “mainstream” liberal high church Anglicans are concerned, although it was encouraging to see Archsbishop Freier defending them today.

Indolent
Indolent
October 6, 2022 8:09 pm

It couldn’t have been more comprehensive than here. You couldn’t turn on the TV without being bombarded by propaganda. David Jones is still putting social distancing nonsense through its loudspeaker system on rapid rotation.

Judicial Watch Uncovers Biden Administration Propaganda Plan to Push COVID Vaccine

Ed Case
Ed Case
October 6, 2022 8:09 pm

I have a friend in the US whose doctoral thesis was on Marshall’s selection process.

Like, wow, dude.
This could be duelling thread material?

Roger
Roger
October 6, 2022 8:10 pm

The correlation between sending your children to a Catholic school and mass attendance is very low, otherwise every Sunday mass in every parish would be bursting at the seams.

Yes, but I was thinking that he would find himself at Mass at least a couple of times a year as a result.

Winston Smith
October 6, 2022 8:11 pm

John H:

DeepMind AI invents faster algorithms to solve tough maths puzzles

Not just for mathematics. There are often reports of using machine learning(I don’t like the term AI) in cell biology, drug discovery, and treatment possibilities.

I did a lot of distributed stuff for SETI@HOME when it first came out, but dropped it when Berkley was setting up a broadcast to announce to the universe we were here.
Using the precautionary principle as my guide, I immediately said “Bugger off, sport.” and stopped doing it.
Then I think the aliens got pissed off at them and destroyed their Arecibo Receiver … 🙂

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
October 6, 2022 8:12 pm

ttps://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/perth-14-year-old-linked-to-violent-ashfield-robbery-of-pregnant-mother-arrested-over-another-alleged-attack-c-8464580

The effects of colonialism and inter-generational trauma will be blamed..

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
October 6, 2022 8:12 pm

A nasty little storm cell heading for Swan Hill. I’d get the cars under cover.

Roger
Roger
October 6, 2022 8:13 pm

Like, wow, dude.
This could be duelling thread material?

In your dreams.

H B Bear
H B Bear
October 6, 2022 8:14 pm

I won’t bother him with “Ed Case’s” inanities.

Best to deny even hearing of him. Must almost be time for a sock change.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
October 6, 2022 8:16 pm

He reminded me that on November 17, 1914—four months after the First World War began—Kaiser Wilhelm II met with his war cabinet and concluded that the war was unwinnable

I’ve read most of the serious histories about Wobbly Wobbly One, and that’s the first time I’d heard that one. I’d be obliged for a reference, thank you.

Winston Smith
October 6, 2022 8:17 pm

Johanna:

But, it is a mystery to me how the prosecution imagines that they have a case. No forensics, and someone who (if my experience is any guide) has no memory or knowledge whatsoever of what happened.

It’s not about the law – it’s about the fact the Liberals have laid down like a beaten dog and been repeatedly kicked in the guts.
It’s political, and Labor are all about the politics.
And when the dust settles, all the public remembers is the Libs being kicked.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
October 6, 2022 8:18 pm

It wouldnae be t’ first time.

Scottish Ed, ladies and gentlemen.

Postscript:

Like, wow, dude.

American Ed, ladies and gentlemen.

bespoke
bespoke
October 6, 2022 8:19 pm

Actually Eyrie a more important question is.

What good will come from picking that scab?
Apart from self gratification.

cohenite
October 6, 2022 8:21 pm

Credlin interviewed Tucker tonight, which is good; but in commenting on the dearth of political leaders now in the US she compared Trump to biden and remarked that surely the US could do better than these 2. Unbelievable, I classify her as a rules conservative, which is most of them and why most of them are as fucked in the head about Trump as the left. Trump understands that there are not rules when dealing with the left and an exchange of ideas within a democratic framework is fruitless. The left are winning and will continue to win as long as leading conservative women like credlin and bolt continue to play by the fucking rules.

Watters did an analysis of the mid terms and concluded that because Dr Oz and Herschel Walker are losers the GOP will not get a majority in the senate. That’s assuming there’s any election at all. Biden’s administration has just bought $250 million worth of radiation medicine. I reckon they want a nuclear war which will enable them to stay in power. Its beyond doubt that the US did the Nord Stream bombing. What are they going to do next to provoke putie.

H B Bear
H B Bear
October 6, 2022 8:21 pm

International sock of mystery.

Cassie of Sydney
October 6, 2022 8:22 pm

“Zulu Kilo Two Alphasays:
October 6, 2022 at 8:16 pm
He reminded me that on November 17, 1914—four months after the First World War began—Kaiser Wilhelm II met with his war cabinet and concluded that the war was unwinnable

I’ve read most of the serious histories about Wobbly Wobbly One, and that’s the first time I’d heard that one. I’d be obliged for a reference, thank you.”

Agree.

Old Lefty
Old Lefty
October 6, 2022 8:22 pm

Reporting on alleged s3x crimes by a Labor staffer?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-06/nt-kent-rowe-victim-impact-statement/101508306

The censorship system run by the politburo in the ABC worker soviet must have failed. Next thing they’ll be reporting on scandals among the Greens!

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
October 6, 2022 8:23 pm

Mr Panzer at 4.34:

Cue Kenn Worth Road Ranger in 3 …. 2 …. 1 …. telling us how he nearly ran a dickhead Victorian down who was not displaying a numberplate light.

Just throwing his copy of the Consty – suitably smeared with Liquid Paper and highlighter marks at the offending driver – would do the trick.

For the record, Mr Stand and Fight And If Necessary Fall was a no-show at the duelling thread.

Rafiki
Rafiki
October 6, 2022 8:24 pm

Ed Case – it’s people who reason as you do that could result in a guilty verdict. Just recently you posted 4 kinds of allegations made about Zach Rolfe’s conduct and in a comment implied that he was guilty as charged. You may have read my response to that comment.

It is worth noting too that when Eddie Betts was informed of the allegations of the former Hawthorn indigenous players, his response was simply “It’s a matter of who you believe, and I believe the players” (or pretty close to those words). No need for an inquiry on this view.

This point has been made, but worth adding to. It’s just possible that the Hawthorn attacks and the Essendon FC’s behaviour that might lead to revulsion against this ‘believe the victim’ mantra. But I wouldn’t count on it. a male with a daughter 10 – 40 years old has to consider whether it’s worthwhile.

m0nty
m0nty
October 6, 2022 8:26 pm

I’ve read most of the serious histories about Wobbly Wobbly One, and that’s the first time I’d heard that one. I’d be obliged for a reference, thank you.

Presumably that story is retold in War and Punishment by the historian quoted in that article, Hein Goemans of the University of Rochester, NY.

flyingduk
flyingduk
October 6, 2022 8:26 pm

At least we, don’t, deep down, feel bad for caving

Why should they?

Because their compliance sentenced us all to more than 2 years of this shite. It would have ended within a few days if everyone said no.

Crossie
Crossie
October 6, 2022 8:28 pm

and the sad thing is that Higgins in a few years will probably find herself cast adrift, not just by Wilkinson and Maiden, but also by her current partner.

Cassie, I think the relationships with Wilkinson and Maiden are over, Brittney said in court today that the media are just interested in Logies and Walkleys. As for the boyfriend, I don’t know.

Eyrie
Eyrie
October 6, 2022 8:28 pm

Oh, yes, we’ll just forget about the obscene coercion and discrimination will we, bespoke?
Caved, did you and hate yourself deep down inside?
Never forgive, never forget. You gave up your bodily autonomy to the State. What else will the State require in the future and how will you justify resisting it?

rosie
rosie
October 6, 2022 8:29 pm

True Roger, if they have all of school masses with parents, which I recall being something my son’s school did, he had the gall to present himself at Bert’s funeral so who knows?

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
October 6, 2022 8:30 pm

Absolutely in-context highlights from Brih-nee today:

I got those events mixed up
the panic attack had happened
could not recall
There were so many traumatising events
It might have been after the first or second meeting
I can absolutely see that I got that afternoon wrong.

I know this happened both with Pell and the other Vicco case of the young tradie who knocked off an uptown girl, and who was then charged (and acquitted) because said uptown girl’s mates couldn’t believe she’d go home with working class trash – but FMD, there are obvious holes here able to accommodate a Kenworth.

These case are supposed to be brought to trial using the standard of whether a properly instructed jury could return a finding of guilt, not whether Treasury can pay for it.

Captain Obvious moment. It should never, ever have gotten this far.

Bar Beach Swimmer
October 6, 2022 8:32 pm

It seems that Simon Birmingham was unhappy with what Tina McQueen, a Lib vice president, said at CPAC over the weekend. On a panel about rebuilding the party, McQueen said that those “moderates” who were turfed out by their electorates in May – was something she said had been working for for years. To that, Birmingham thinks that she should consider her position as a VP of the Libs.

How amazing is that! Out of South Australia – which historically has been one of the most “top heavy” in moderates – and the place where one of his confreres – Christopher Pyne – when in parliament, identified for GetUp which of that state’s Libs were the conservatives to go after.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
October 6, 2022 8:33 pm

Two of the siblings of one of the local Noongar clans were having a full and frank exchange of views, on the street, outside the local bank, about who was entitled to, and who wasn’t entitled, to withdraw money from “Poppy’s” bank account. The grasp of the language the ladies displayed would have made a naval stoker blush…

Ed Case
Ed Case
October 6, 2022 8:34 pm

You may have read my response to that comment.

Hi rafiki
No, I missed it.
Would you mind reposting it on the Duelling Thread?

Crossie
Crossie
October 6, 2022 8:34 pm

I don’t know if Andrews attends Mass, he probably does as his children, as he never fails to point out, attend Catholic schools, but if he were to do so and was refused communion I can imagine how he’d carry on.

Roger, I think the standards have slipped quite a bit regarding Catholic schools. I know some parents whose children attend yet they don’t bother to go to church.

Even when my kids were school age and attended Catholic schools it was required that we contribute to a school building fund just in case we don’t attend church every Sunday to give money there. It was still money well spent.

That Daniel Andrews’ kids attend Catholic schools is an admission that they are superior to his government schools.

bespoke
bespoke
October 6, 2022 8:35 pm

Because their compliance sentenced us all to more than 2 years of this shite. It would have ended within a few days if everyone said no.

That is pure fantasy and would relys on everybody being fed the same information.

H B Bear
H B Bear
October 6, 2022 8:35 pm

Can’t imagine too many questions for the DPP coming from the ACT town council. It’s not that sort of place.

Ed Case
Ed Case
October 6, 2022 8:37 pm

To that, Birmingham thinks that she should consider her position as a VP of the Libs.

Quite tactful.
The Labor Party woulda slutShamed someone who publicly admitted to that for a coupla weeks, then expelled her.

Eyrie
Eyrie
October 6, 2022 8:38 pm

Because their compliance sentenced us all to more than 2 years of this shite. It would have ended within a few days if everyone said no.

Precisely, duk. Dumb fucks didn’t do any research at all and the gullible fools believed what the government and their lackeys were spouting. Why FFS? Default should be – Governments always lie, what are they selling?
I know families that have been seriously stressed by this. Grandparents barred from seeing grandchildren because the grandparents refused to take the clotshot, husbands and wives distanced because they each had differing views, parents now estranged from an adult daughter because they didn’t take the clotshot and she did.
I won’t be shedding any tears when the clotshotted start dying. This universe is pitiless and stupidity is a capital crime.

H B Bear
H B Bear
October 6, 2022 8:39 pm

Fancy slut shaming Simon Birmingham. Bad Groogs.

Crossie
Crossie
October 6, 2022 8:41 pm

Indolent says:
October 6, 2022 at 7:43 pm
Will Australia?

DI LEO: WILL AMERICA HEED THE ENERGY WARNING FROM ABROAD?

We will see how the European winter pans out and what the people and their governments there do to each other. I’m just hoping that then our politicians learn the right lessons.

Eyrie
Eyrie
October 6, 2022 8:42 pm

I’m just hoping that then our politicians learn the right lessons
LOL! Do you think they are capable of learning anything? They will double down.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
October 6, 2022 8:42 pm

the other Vicco case of the young tradie who knocked off an uptown girl, and who was then charged (and acquitted) because said uptown girl’s mates couldn’t believe she’d go home with working class trash – but FMD, there are obvious holes here able to accommodate a Kenworth.

Didn’t he incur a $400,000 legal bill?

Crossie
Crossie
October 6, 2022 8:43 pm

Eyrie says:
October 6, 2022 at 7:54 pm
I would propose that nobody under the age of 50 is allowed to be a staffer just so there are some responsible people there.

Staffers over 50 would easily see how stupid and incompetent the people they work for, are.
And laugh at them.

Yes, there is that. I think the rot started with KRudd who only engaged twenty somethings. He must have taken Obama’s advice who insisted that he be the smarted man in any room.

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  1. Candice and David Warner never forget. Australia won’t forget about you pair of dunderheads, either.

  2. Candice asked co-host Richard Freedman: “What would you like Latrell Mitchell to do. What is going to make you happy?…

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