Open Thread – Weekend 5 Nov 2022


Erminia and the Shepherds, Eugene Delacroix, 1859


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calli
calli
November 7, 2022 8:06 am

The VW scam and all the different points of view expressed here make an interesting study.

What happens when Ideology (whether Green, Commercial, Political) meets the Truth? Do you excuse a lie because it serves “our side”? Do we think “clever you” because we are unaffected?

calli
calli
November 7, 2022 8:08 am

NO. The Shareholders paid for it.

They paid for the meagre $2k payout as a result of the lawsuit. My bank account paid the rest.

feelthebern
feelthebern
November 7, 2022 8:08 am

I wonder how the media will react to Zuck.
A bit differently than the way they reacted to Musk.

Meta Is Preparing to Notify Employees of Large-Scale Layoffs This Week

Facebook parent Meta is planning to begin large-scale layoffs this week, according to people familiar with the matter, in what could be among the largest round in a recent spate of tech job cuts after the industry’s rapid growth during the pandemic.
The layoffs are expected to affect many thousands of employees and an announcement is planned to come as soon as Wednesday, according to the people.

flyingduk
flyingduk
November 7, 2022 8:10 am

The plan seems dumb on its face, Dot. Media paywalls work because quality professional content is scarce. Social media paywalls… well the users can just go somewhere else.

‘Quality professional content’ is pretty much non existent – you can find infinitely more factually correct material on COVID and economics in the amateur, alternative media – and here.

calli
calli
November 7, 2022 8:11 am

Mind you, some countries were able to screw a whole lot more out of VW. I believe the average payout in the US was around USD10k.

Aussies were very small beer in the scheme of things.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 8:13 am

I don’t think VW lied.

How often do politicians get held to the same standard?

Who has the receipts for the faked show of affection to Gladys Berejiklian? Who is dumb enough to believe people sent a Premier flowers spontaneously and in yuuuge volumes?

Yeah right, she was like Princess Diana and I’m Errol Flynn!

LOL!

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 8:15 am

If you owned a VW, you were not entitled to 2k – 10k.

If Alex Jones either lied or said something stupid about your kid dying, you are not owed 100 mn USD.

m0nty
November 7, 2022 8:16 am

If he wanted, he could deconstruct all of Twitter’s buildings brick by brick and have them towed into the Pacific before being dumped into the Marianas Trench. Because it belongs to him.

What point are you making here, KD? You are not constructing a great case for capitalism.

Sure, this could be Brewster’s Millions without the happy ending. Then what? If Twitter goes down, Tesla and Space X probably go down with it. Do you want that? Would you applaud?

Boambee John
Boambee John
November 7, 2022 8:16 am

Anchor Whatsays:
November 7, 2022 at 6:56 am
As Leak illustrates, the big push at COP This Lot (Egypt Edition) is for “wealthy nations” to chip in bigly to give money to the poor third world nations which have been “devastated by climate change”.
The Big Lie, brought to you by Their ABC, among others.

What proportion of its budget is Their ABC offering to give up?

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 8:17 am

The dog knows a mongrel when it sees one.

Phrasing.

JC
JC
November 7, 2022 8:18 am

Meta reporting 1000s of layoffs

WSJ

custard
custard
November 7, 2022 8:19 am

New Cue post dropped overnight

https://qposts.online/

JC
JC
November 7, 2022 8:20 am

What point are you making here, KD? You are not constructing a great case for capitalism.

He is actually. He’s saying it’s Musk’s property so suck it up.

It’s a fine point, which of course you missed.

custard
custard
November 7, 2022 8:20 am

Trump on stage in Miami

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 8:20 am

Yep.

SpaceX will fail because Musk won’t shill for the DHS and UN and spy on Americans like the fired douchebags did.

custard
custard
November 7, 2022 8:27 am

What groups are financing Ukraine?
Why are they financing Ukraine?
Why was Hunter in Ukraine?
What did ‘Pop’ threaten to withold from Ukraine?
A billion dollars?
Who benefits?
What did ‘Pop’ receive in return?
Why is Hunter not in jail?
Think.
Blackmail?
Bribes?
Extortion?
Threats?
How do you control a ‘leader’?
How do you control a country?
Are you ready to take back control?
Your vote matters.
You have all the tools you need.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
November 7, 2022 8:27 am

Are Lithium-Ion Batteries Safe in the Home?

Fires may be very rare, but Chief Fire Marshall Daniel Flynn says this is almost the 200th fire caused by a lithium-ion battery from a micromobility device just this year in New York City.

“This particular apartment, we believe the occupant was repairing bikes in the building, and the fire was right behind the front door,” he said. “We recovered at least five bikes from this apartment.”

Fire officials emphasized the rising cause of fires from e-bikes and encouraged residents not to charge them overnight or to use batteries damaged in any way.

“These fires, they come without warning, and when they do go on fire, they’re so intense that any combustibles in the area will catch fire,” said Flynn. “So we’ve seen secondary fires.”

The more devices that are powered by this battery system, the more fires there are going to be. We better figure out a way to either make these batteries a lot safer or develop the technology that will allow us to extinguish the fires they set.

Boambee John
Boambee John
November 7, 2022 8:29 am

m0nty-fa has been ejaculating all over the thread about Patel “singing like a canary” to a grand jury. Has he (for once) got the money shot, or is he yet again firing blanks?

flyingduk
flyingduk
November 7, 2022 8:29 am

Every single day my company has to adhere to regulations, whether sensible or stupid. Apparently VW decided not to, and I paid for it.

What VW did was find a very clever workaround to let them pass a *stupid* government regulation without harming the real world performance of their product – they ‘taught’ the car’s computer(s) to recognise when it was being tested, and to perform to pass the test, then to work differently in the real world.

What then happened is their wise overlords said ‘nope, all must obey’ and made an example of them.

It was a microcosm of the whole green scam – you must meet the rules because we say so, we dont care if it harms your product/service/customers. And, if you are smart enough get around them, we will punish you anyway – its the vibe you see.

Cassie of Sydney
November 7, 2022 8:30 am

The Getty family made their billions from oil. Nowadays the family throws money at a green philanthropic fund called the “Climate Emergency Fund”.

This same “Climate Emergency Fund” is financing Just Stop Oil, the UK climate activist group.

calli
calli
November 7, 2022 8:31 am

If you owned a VW, you were not entitled to 2k – 10k.

No. I was owed the truth about what I was buying.

m0nty
November 7, 2022 8:33 am

If Twitter fails it won’t have anything to do with the compliance teams. It will be that Musk pissed off too many advertisers and users by sucking up to wingnut idiots, and his paywall doesn’t make up the shortfall.

Digg went from awesome to dead in three months. These things can happen.

MatrixTransform
November 7, 2022 8:35 am

If Twitter goes down, Tesla and Space X probably go down with it. Do you want that? Would you applaud?

geez, mUnty sounds smarter than Elon

why post that bomb-shell here?

… you should drop Elon an email to let him know

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
November 7, 2022 8:36 am

If Twitter goes down, Tesla and Space X probably go down with it. Do you want that? Would you applaud?

It’s not about what I want. None of those things are mine.

If I had someone else’s TV in my house and they came and took it back, I can’t complain about it because I did not own that TV.

You suffer from the classic socialist posture of ‘what’s yours is mine, and I should be able to use your stuff any time I want and in the manner I desire, and still be able to question the manner in which you provide it, otherwise so unfair and wrong’.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 8:37 am

Fair call Calli.

Yet, are emissions standards honest at all?

I nearly always get better fuel efficiency than the “official” figures.

flyingduk
flyingduk
November 7, 2022 8:38 am

The more devices that are powered by this battery system, the more fires there are going to be. We better figure out a way to either make these batteries a lot safer or develop the technology that will allow us to extinguish the fires they set.

After researching EV battery fires (to deliver a training module to the CFS), I was shocked how violently these things go off when they do. They dont just produce a nice low flame, they literally go ‘blow torch’ in a second or so. I verified this by deliberately puncturing an old mobile phone battery. Nothing happened for a minute, then it turned into a flare. I can see why people get burned when phones or electric bikes do this – there simply isnt time to get the phone out of your pocket or hop off the bike.

My conclusion : if you have an EV or a home lithium battery, it should be remote from the main dwelling or anything you value. If a home system, I would house the battery in a dedicated bare shed or micro shipping container, and run at least a 10m cable to the house. I would NOT have it on the back wall of the house.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 8:42 am

If Twitter fails it won’t have anything to do with the compliance teams. It will be that Musk pissed off too many advertisers and users by sucking up to wingnut idiots, and his paywall doesn’t make up the shortfall.

State the revenue he’s “lost” and the last few years of Twitter profitability versus a low to high set of estimates of revenue for paid accounts.

YouTube premium is far better and better for content creators…even for the so-called wing nuts* who won’t vote for a invalid lump like Fetterwoman.

*Someone left of 1990s era Clintonites.

incoherent rambler
incoherent rambler
November 7, 2022 8:46 am

I was owed the truth about what I was buying.

Do we believe:
– Dan’s election ads?
– Any car advert?
– Snake oil salesmen?
– GW freaks?
– The CO2 crazies?
– munty?

calli
calli
November 7, 2022 8:46 am

Thank you Dot. You may not agree with my argument, but at least you see the point from which I am arguing.

On emissions standards – there has to be a cut-off point beyond which it gets ridiculous. I don’t want filthy, belching crapmobiles polluting the air I breathe – who does? Most of the problem is with particulates and CO, not debbildebbil CO2.

And not all “regulations” are a bad thing. Just from a builder’s perspective – shoring up trenches is a fine example, as is safe scaffolding and fencing. Anyone who departs from the rules deserves a fine, and a hefty one at that.

Jorge
Jorge
November 7, 2022 8:48 am

This has to be a joke:

BREAKING:
@elonmusk
says journalists with “they/them” pronouns in bio will pay a $16 monthly fee instead of the standard $8 for verification because “they” identify as multiple people

flyingduk
flyingduk
November 7, 2022 8:49 am

If Twitter fails it won’t have anything to do with the compliance teams. It will be that Musk pissed off too many advertisers and users by sucking up to wingnut idiots, and his paywall doesn’t make up the shortfall.

My prediction: Musk will turn Twitter into a much more useful platform by increasing the range of opinions discussed on it, AND by incorporating DOGECOIN as a payments platform, ala Weibo and Wechat in China.

He will then monetise it by mining user data, like facebook, google etc. Advertisers will be only a sidestream.

Old Lefty
Old Lefty
November 7, 2022 8:50 am

Nasty Christianses, nasty conservativeses, hisses the GayBC:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-07/religious-right-roadmap-infiltrate-liberal-party/101611840

The fact that it’s just before a Victorian election is, of course, a complete coincidence.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
November 7, 2022 8:51 am

My conclusion : if you have an EV or a home lithium battery, it should be remote from the main dwelling or anything you value.

Increasingly seeing that e-scooters and e-bikes are incompatible with tower blocks. There was a particularly nasty one over the weekend.

‘Scariest rescue I’ve ever seen’: Two critical and 36 others injured after blaze on 20th floor of NYC high-rise apartment block caused by e-scooter battery – as fire crews perform ‘last resort’ rope rescue to save woman clinging from building (6 Nov, via Lucianne)

The problem is that e-scooters and e-bikes are exactly the mode of transport the greens want for people in dog boxes. Well I suppose we get used to crispy fried dogs then.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
November 7, 2022 8:53 am

people in dog boxes

No no.

Napalm-clad freedom barracks

h/t the great John Constantine.

flyingduk
flyingduk
November 7, 2022 8:53 am

In the Oz

The Reserve Bank has blamed a range of factors as well as unprecedented fiscal and monetary policy stimulus during the Covid-19 pandemic for recent inflation ‘forecast errors’.

Translation, we had no idea that increasing the money supply at the same time as reducing production would cause price rises.

Mother Lode
Mother Lode
November 7, 2022 8:54 am

The majority of poor third world nations have been “devastated” by dodgy klepto governments rather than by climate change

It would be worth looking at these poor piteous nations to see how much has just been given to them before and to see what difference it has made.

Compare that to, say, South Korea which also used to be third world. How did they do it?

calli
calli
November 7, 2022 8:57 am

the great John Constantine.

Oh how we miss his early morning diatribes…Comrades.

JC
JC
November 7, 2022 9:03 am

Okay Fatboy, Musk then fires more of the fuckers. It’s not as though they don’t deserve it. 🙂

Eyrie
Eyrie
November 7, 2022 9:04 am

How many people actually get the fuel economy that is on the sticker on a new car? Usually 15 -20% optimistic on the sticker.
VW didn’t cheat. It is quite common in IC engine computer systems to tune the car to get better economy when under constant moderate load. This is done automatically in the program. Chrysler Australia did it in 1979 with the ELB (Extra Lean Burn) Valiant. When the primitive hybrid computer detected constant load it gradually leaned the mixture. If you needed more power the mixture instantly was made richer and then when under constant load it gradually leaned.
VW diesels PASSED THE TEST which is all they were required to do. Some US academics tested a VW under something closer to real world conditions and surprise, surprise the emissions were higher and made a big deal about it. No doubt they got more funding. Whoopee.
The CEO of VW was a gutless pussy. Instead of standing up and saying “of course, real world emissions are worse than the test – we design to pass the test and if real world conditions approximate the test you’ll get similar results to the test”, he wimped out and let his shareholders and his customers get screwed by the bureaucrats. *That* is what the customers should be angry about. The emissions standards are already ridiculous and have been for quite some time.

JC
JC
November 7, 2022 9:08 am

Here’s my theory.

The working from home caper has materially lowered productivity and folks are paid for their marginal productivity. This means more layoffs.

—————

I wonder if the wonder boys at Atlassian are going to continue with their claimed hiring binge and encouraging people to work from home? Lol
If these two dickheads don’t announce massive layoffs in the next few days, the stock will drop 50% in a day.

Top Ender
Top Ender
November 7, 2022 9:11 am

Herald-Sun running an article about why low-cost “religious schools” are seeing a huge increase in enrolments in Danistan. One principal says:

“A lot of families are looking for schools with family values,” he said.

“A lot are new migrants as this is a multicultural community. Many parents are looking for a private education which is more affordable. We mostly have Christian families but other faiths such as Hindu families as well.”

Islamic Council president Adel Salman said the growth in Islamic schools had been “dramatic”.

“Most are Muslims, but not all are Muslims, looking for a good education at a lower cost,” he said.

“We have a lot of well-to-do families, it’s not just about cost but values and the ethos of the schools.”

In other words the state system is offering them something they don’t like and want. What could that be?

lotocoti
lotocoti
November 7, 2022 9:14 am

SNL manages to do funny.

Old School Conservative
Old School Conservative
November 7, 2022 9:15 am

In other words, they censored and re-wrote local news.

YouTube continues to put disclaimers on anti-global warming videos. Those vids that do make it to air are linked by YouTube to the Wikipedia page which explains the marxist narrative of global warming.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 9:22 am

Eyrie

When my old Focus was new, the stated combined economy was 7.0 ltr/100 km.

Pretty sure I could get it down to 5.0 or LESS ltr/100 km on highway driving.

Yes I know. Ball busting levels of German inspired efficiency from Heinrich.

Old School Conservative
Old School Conservative
November 7, 2022 9:25 am

by incorporating DOGECOIN as a payments platform…….

…….Elon gets many a wry smile out of Australians who know what dodgy means.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 9:26 am

5.6 on highway and 9.3 in the city.

4.5 – 5.0 in the highway was possible when everything was tight and it was running like a top. But not even exceptional, really.

The key is a constant load as possible.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
November 7, 2022 9:31 am

BREAKING:
@elonmusk
says journalists with “they/them” pronouns in bio will pay a $16 monthly fee instead of the standard $8 for verification because “they” identify as multiple people

Now that is funny.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 9:32 am

Here on leave in Canberra again supporting fam.

Why are so many of these NPCs STILL wearing $:&@ing masks!?

They’re 97% triple or quad vaccinated against COVID!!!

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 9:35 am

If these two dickheads don’t announce massive layoffs in the next few days, the stock will drop 50% in a day.

Please burn some holiday or fun money shorting it for LOLs.

LOLs for the LOL god! Praise KEK!

Old School Conservative
Old School Conservative
November 7, 2022 9:37 am

The Reserve Bank has blamed a range of factors as well as unprecedented fiscal and monetary policy stimulus during the Covid-19 pandemic for recent inflation ‘forecast errors’.

um…..isn’t the Reserve Bank nominally in charge of at least one of those factors?
Idiots.

Zipster
November 7, 2022 9:37 am

Desperate Democrats put Meghan Markle as top choice for 2024 White House run against Trump (6 Nov)

bwhahahahahahahhahah…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 9:38 am

TEAM (NASDAQ)
(Atlassian)

Enterprise value/EBITDA -70.59

Haha

Kill it with fire.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
November 7, 2022 9:39 am

Eyriesays:

November 7, 2022 at 9:04 am

How many people actually get the fuel economy that is on the sticker on a new car?

Me.
My new sporty Beemer beats the number by 0.1-0.2 litres per 100 km on a long trip. I set the cruise on 103 and roll along.
And my Kraut Gaia Destroyer did too. In fact, it got better mileage as it got older.
Traded it for $10k with more than 200,000 on the clock, and got a cheque for $3k+ to compensate for Gaia rape.

duncanm
duncanm
November 7, 2022 9:40 am

The Reserve Bank has blamed a range of factors as well as unprecedented fiscal and monetary policy stimulus during the Covid-19 pandemic for recent inflation ‘forecast errors’.

so what they’re saying is that their models are so shit they can’t predict outcomes from monetary policy inputs.

Sounds like they get together once a month for G&T’s and mutual masturbation around a ouija board.

duncanm
duncanm
November 7, 2022 9:41 am

How many people actually get the fuel economy that is on the sticker on a new car?

how many people actually buy a new car?

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 9:42 am

That’s harsh, the RBA was once considered the more elite of APS econ gigs along with the PC.

Maybe they hired too many low quality diversity schlubs.

m0nty
November 7, 2022 9:43 am

You suffer from the classic socialist posture of ‘what’s yours is mine, and I should be able to use your stuff any time I want and in the manner I desire, and still be able to question the manner in which you provide it, otherwise so unfair and wrong’.

Nucky, you’re going a bit too hard here. Part of freedom of speech is the ability to criticise. I am merely exercising that right. Of course Musk is not going to listen to me, but I can have an opinion and express it.

“Shut up you’re not a billionaire, only billionaires have valid opinions” is a pretty dumb take by you.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 9:44 am

Atlassian roughly loses $3.50 per share?

It’s over for the slackercels.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 9:46 am

Sources, I tells yas!

Old School Conservative
Old School Conservative
November 7, 2022 9:49 am

JC says:
November 7, 2022 at 9:08 am
The working from home caper has materially lowered productivity and folks are paid for their marginal productivity.

Interestingly, Nivea Australia has recently announced all employees will go to a 4-day week (down from 5) and retain their usual salary.
Productivity is required to remain at 5-day outcomes.
I guess a lot of unnecessary meetings and coffee breaks will disappear.

Cassie of Sydney
November 7, 2022 9:51 am

Part of freedom of speech is the ability to criticise. I am merely exercising that right. Of course Musk is not going to listen to me, but I can have an opinion and express it.”

A right you lot would happily deny others.

You’re a hypocrite.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
November 7, 2022 9:52 am

Sources!
And reportedly “reaching out to dozens of fired employees”.
Dozens!
Out of 3,000.
My betting is Musk didn’t get them all, and a couple on the inside are trying to re-build their empires.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 9:54 am

Yes monty is just criticising.

But don’t criticise his criticism.

Dialogue is violence, I tells yas!

Bourne1879
Bourne1879
November 7, 2022 9:55 am

More winning. From Daily Mail.

“Facebook is planning to begin large-scale layoffs this week that will affect thousands of employees with an announcement planned as early as Wednesday”

Wally Dalí
Wally Dalí
November 7, 2022 9:57 am

Miles to the Gallon is the only manly way to talk about economy. In fact, it’s even bicurious to talk about. fuel economy, rool blokes look you in the eye and talk Performance.
Litres per 100k is all part of the snow job commie gobbledy gook, you’ll find it on the same hover menu as mg of Na per daily serving and effective range per charge if you don’t use the air con or encounter a slope.

Old School Conservative
Old School Conservative
November 7, 2022 9:58 am

Cassie of Sydney says:
You’re a hypocrite

Stop being nice to M0nty. He doesn’t deserve it.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 9:59 am

I guess a lot of unnecessary meetings and coffee breaks will disappear.

…and everyone clapped.

Seriously though, everyone will be better off.

Mater
November 7, 2022 9:59 am

Funny little fact about the VW scandal:

In the test mode, the cars are fully compliant with all federal emissions levels. But when driving normally, the computer switches to a separate mode—significantly changing the fuel pressure, injection timing, exhaust-gas recirculation, and, in models with AdBlue, the amount of urea fluid sprayed into the exhaust. While this mode likely delivers higher mileage and power, it also permits heavier nitrogen-oxide emissions (NOx)

Gets better mileage, but is supposedly less environmentally friendly. Go figure.
Seems as contradictory as most of the other environmental guff.

Leon L.
Leon L.
November 7, 2022 9:59 am

Flightline wins the 39th Breeders Cup at Keenelands.

Great horse, but now being retired to stud.

Boambee John
Boambee John
November 7, 2022 10:03 am

m0nty-fa

Nucky, you’re going a bit too hard here. Part of freedom of speech is the ability to criticise. I am merely exercising that right.

Yet the “old” Twatter routinely denied that freedom to those with whom they disagreed, with nary a squeak from you and the rest of the fascist left. You, and they, like all of your ilk, only got up on your hind trotters when it looked as if those whose silencing you supported with might now be heard.

The usual leftard hypocrisy: “Freedom of speech for us, but not for you lot”.

m0nty
November 7, 2022 10:06 am

A right you lot would happily deny others.

Tell me Cranky, do you support the recent corporate cancellation of Kanye West and Kyrie Irving for expressing anti-Semitic views?

Black Ball
Black Ball
November 7, 2022 10:07 am

Not sure how this will turn out. He was part of the problem. The Hun:

Former Labor powerbroker Adem Somyurek has joined the Democratic Labour Party and will seek to be re-elected to the state’s upper house.
In a shock move less than two weeks after announcing his retirement from politics, Mr Somyurek has joined the party now being led by his former political foe Bernie Finn.
Mr Somyurek, speaking exclusively to the Herald Sun, said holding Daniel Andrews to account would be a key priority.
“I changed my mind after I resigned from parliament because of the extraordinary feedback from the electorate pleading for me to stay on and continue to hold (Premier Dan) Andrews to account,” he said.
“After this feedback, I realised that my state needed me. Victorians are worried about their future. I am the only person who can hold him to account.
“Andrews has no internal opposition inside the ALP because by hook or by crook he has quashed any dissent or exiled anyone with the strength to demand collective decision-making, transparency and accountability.
“I know Andrews intimately. I have competed with him and sometimes worked with him for over twenty-five years in the ALP’s toxic factional system, as a parliamentarian and as a minister.
“We went into parliament together in 2002. “I know how Andrews thinks. I know how Andrews runs his government, cabinet, and party room.
“I know his party because until a couple of years ago I governed it.
“I am the only person that can deal with him. Andrews does not govern with a velvet glove. He rules with an iron fist and only respects an iron fist coming down on him.
“While many people are intimidated by Andrews, I have his measure and will hold him to account.”
Mr Somyurek will run as the candidate for the Northern Metropolitan region and said he will sit in the “sensible centre of Victorian politics” with a focus on representing working families.
If elected to the upper house Mr Somyurek could cause chaos during the next parliamentary term, particularly with pollsters flagging the real possibility of a minority government.
The move could see the former ALP powerbroker turned into a political kingmaker.
In November he caused mayhem after breaking his self imposed parliamentary exile to block the government’s pandemic management legislation.
It forced the Bill to be delayed and a raft of changes to the proposed legislation before it was ultimately passed.
“As an ALP right-wing faction powerbroker, my job in the ALP was to constrain the excesses of Socialist Left extremists to ensure that the ALP was firmly anchored in the centre so that the party could implement sensible policies that deliver for working families in the suburbs while exercising financial responsibility,” he said.
“The Socialist Left-controlled ALP is no longer a real working-class party. It is merely a vehicle for a private school-educated inner-city elitist cabal, contemptuous of the working class, to exploit the working class to enhance their own political careers.
“The ALP is now more interested in spending endless hours pontificating over defining gender than they are driven by bread-and-butter issues.
“These are issues that matter to working families, such as jobs, our health system, our education system, community safety, cost of living and housing.
“The working families in the suburbs will now have a real choice about which type of Labour party they want to represent them: a moderate Labour party interested in their bread-and-butter issues or an ideological, extremist Socialist Left ALP wasting time and resources fighting cultural wars and playing identity politics.”
During a 20-year parliamentary career Mr Somyurek has never been far from controversy.
He first hit the headlines in 2003 when he threw his support behind Australia’s involvement in the war against Iraq, and called on all Victorian Muslims to support the attack on Saddam Hussein.
His views went beyond those of then party leader, Premier Steve Bracks, who said he would only support UN-sanctioned involvement.
In 2009 then premier John Brumby was forced to publicly chastise Somyurek after he was given a one-month suspended jail sentence and $300 fine for driving his taxpayer-funded car while disqualified.
It saw Mr Brumby force Somyurek to stand down as head of the Electoral Matters Committee.
Somyurek had lost his licence for accumulating too many demerit points for a range of driving offences when he was caught driving while on the phone.
In 2014 Somyurek was back in the news for a schoolboy parliamentary prank in which he shone a laser pointer at the face of his new leader Mr Finn, then a Liberal MP, during upper house question time.
He was twice sacked as a government minister, first in 2015 when his then chief of staff Dimity Paul made complaints about a “pattern of abusive and inappropriate ­behaviour”.
He was the minister for Local Government and Small Business when he was sacked by the Premier, for the second time, and given a life ban from the ALP in June 2020.
It followed accusations of branch stacking and illegal criminal activity.
A subsequent joint investigation between the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission and the Victorian Ombudsman concluded Andrews government ministers and their staffers blatantly abused their access to taxpayer money by preoccupying themselves with securing factional power and finding jobs for mates.
Mr Somyurek has accused Mr Andrews of branch stacking and being instrumental in Labor’s infamous Red Shirts election rort.
The rort saw almost $388,000 in taxpayers’ money spent on part-paying electorate staff to campaign for the 2014 election.

cohenite
November 7, 2022 10:11 am

duncanmsays:
November 7, 2022 at 4:50 am
Thanks Tom.

Rowe is a turd of an individual.

Yep; and who apart from dickless and crotchless ticks the bastard.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
November 7, 2022 10:12 am

Gets better mileage, but is supposedly less environmentally friendly. Go figure.
Seems as contradictory as most of the other environmental guff.

My impression the test was a sort of car version of the Kobayashi Maru.
Totally stupid scenario, which VW responded to pragmatically.
Unfortunately the alphabet agencies and the greens never get called to account.

H B Bear
H B Bear
November 7, 2022 10:15 am

so the Democrats understand that their voters are airheads who will vote for a celebrity, rather than competence.

Don’t ask about the Perth Lord Mayor. Although rather than competence the encumbent was an entitled Emperor Barney stooge whose protection ran out with the decline of the Emperor and was last seen heading into the CCC (wonder how that is going?).

Mother Lode
Mother Lode
November 7, 2022 10:20 am

Meghan Markle is the top choice among Democrats for a 2024 White House run

In the wake of Trump’s triumph I recall them tossing all manner of names about for who would challenge Orange Man Bad in the next election, including such creatures as Oprah.

It seemed to me that this was just a coping mechanism. They were staring Trump’s success in the face and the sluices of their various sphincters were opened up and making a mess. They needed a little fantasy to steady themselves, to put things into a perspective that gave them hope. It was not a long term plan.

Markle would be the same. They can imagine her humiliating villains in their imaginations this week, until someone else is chosen next week. It helps them limp along from one day’s kale pumpkin soy latte to the next.

Markle would be an absolute disaster – even for the Dimocrats. Look at her dealings with Netflix. She just lacks the resolve to follow through on what she promises after the fanfare that accompanied making the promise dies down.

She has Obama’s ego, but that is about it.

Roger
Roger
November 7, 2022 10:22 am

Not sure how this will turn out. He was part of the problem.

Otoh, having a “dusgruntled former employee” in the upper house who knows where the ALP bodies are buried could be quite disruptive to Andrews’s leadership.

Winston Smith
November 7, 2022 10:22 am

CL/Leon L:

CL: the RINO’s have moved in to support DeSantis (Bush & Ryan et al)

No swamp draining if DeSantis is the candidate in 2024.
Uniparty continues on.

Astute. A very good call.
I dips me lid.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 10:23 am

monty

Tell me what Kyrie Irving actually did wrong. He said “I can’t be antisemitic”. Now would had a Nazi or KKK guy say that? Hell no.

The whole thing seems stupid as it revolves around “Black Israelites”.

Yes some of the biblical Jews did settle in Africa, if you take the bible as a historical source.

Not every African American, is a descendant of those folks. Very few I suspect as West Africa is a long way from Ethiopia.

Eric Andre had the best take.

L RON HUBBARD WAS A BLACK MAN! (Truth!)

HIS REAL NAME WAS L RON HOYABEMBE! (Right on!)

WHO DO WE WANT?! (Xenu!)

AND WHEN DO WE WANT HIM? (In one billion years!)

Black Israelites, NOI etc back to Africa muppets are a scourge on African American communities.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
November 7, 2022 10:23 am

Fierce critique of Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu nominated for prestigious PM’s Literature Award

EXCLUSIVE
Caroline Overington
Literary Editor
11:00PM November 6, 2022
81 Comments

One of this year’s most controversial books, a fierce critique of Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu, has been shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award. Farmers or Hunter-Gatherers? The Dark Emu Debate (MUP) by Peter Sutton and Keryn Walshe received the nod for “scholarly accomplishment” in the Australian History category.

The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards are given in six categories, with 30 books on the various shortlists.

Sutton and Walshe argue in their book that Aboriginal Australians were hunter-gatherers, and proudly so. Pascoe’s book, by contrast, made the case that First Nations people engaged in agricultural practices, much like ­European farmers.

The Sutton and Walshe book received praise in The Australian’s book pages in May, with academic and critic Victoria Grieve-Williams, a Warraimaay woman from the mid-north coast of NSW whose ancestors were hunter-gatherers, describing it as a “muscular takedown” of Dark Emu.

Pascoe himself is a previous winner of a Prime Minister’s Literature Award, winning the Young Adult Fiction prize in 2013 for Fog a Dox.

Roger
Roger
November 7, 2022 10:23 am

Markle would be an absolute disaster – even for the Dimocrats.

I’m struggling to see a downside in that.

Winston Smith
November 7, 2022 10:26 am

Bruce O’Newk:

Elon is charging $8 a month for a blue tick. This is not what is known as a paywall.

He’s setting them up for the next demarkation line – $1024/month but only if you are Secret Squirrel Cleared.

Figures
Figures
November 7, 2022 10:28 am

It’s good to know that Monty supports deplatforming everybody who hates Israel.

That would be the entire Left.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
November 7, 2022 10:34 am

He’s setting them up for the next demarkation line – $1024/month but only if you are Secret Squirrel Cleared.

That’s still less than the fifteen grand they were sucking off the gullible.

Twitter User Makes Stunning Allegation That Has Elon Musk Sit up and Take Notice (6 Nov)

Chairman @WSBChairman · Nov 6
Replying to @elonmusk and @BillyM2k

Twitter employees were selling verification for upwards of $15,000. For certain accounts, mine included, they would refuse to verify you through the standard application and then privately offer to verify you for $$ behind the scenes.

Investigation needed.

Elon Musk@elonmusk
Replying to @WSBChairman and @BillyM2k

Yup

6:32 AM · Nov 6, 2022

Top Ender
Top Ender
November 7, 2022 10:35 am

Sri Lankan cricketer is wondering whether he will be on remand for a year…detail emerge of the case:

Gunathilaka met his alleged victim on Tinder on October 29 and the pair communicated for several days before they met up for the first time on November 2.

NSW Police Sex Crimes Squad boss Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said the woman did not recognise Gunathilaka as a cricketer, but was simply “matched” with him through the dating app.

“On November 2, they met for prearranged drinks, had something to eat and went back to the young lady’s home,” Det Supt Doherty said.

It is there at that police allege Gunathilaka sexually assaulted the woman four times between 11.30pm and 1.30am.

“Police allege that the male assaulted the female a number of times whilst performing sexual acts on her.”

Det Supt Doherty said the woman had taken precautions by communicating with the man for several days before meeting up with him and by choosing a public place to meet him.

“It was just unfortunate. It has nothing to do with meeting on a dating app,” Det Supt Doherty said.

The woman went to Bondi police station at 3pm on Saturday and filed a complaint. Ten hours later, Gunathilaka was arrested.

and

“He was hoping it would get to court today (Sunday), so he‘s disappointed that didn’t happen, but he is holding up OK,” his lawyer Ananda Amaranath told The Daily Telegraph.

“He is quite concerned about what will happen if he can’t get back to Sri Lanka … these are serious charges and it could take a year or more for this to be finalised, so he is very worried about that too.”

Daily Tele

Figures
Figures
November 7, 2022 10:36 am

The reality is that no leftist will *ever* reciprocate on free speech when they are the hegemony. It’s amazing that we believed they would when they weren’t the hegemony and were fighting against “McCarthyism”.

It’s not in the nature of a leftist to reciprocate. It’s like trying to sign a non-aggression contract with a bear. Neither the bear nor the leftist has the ability to think through a chain of cause and effect that will enable them to realise the mutual benefits of contracts – with leftists, no matter what, the virtue signalling part of the brain always prevents it. The only “humane” method of dealing with wild animals and therefore leftists is complete paternalism.

Indolent
Indolent
November 7, 2022 10:36 am
Winston Smith
November 7, 2022 10:36 am

Flungduk:
Its not a fair question – after my last stint in the ‘ghan, I picked up a custom, stretched , 200 Series double cab ute. I will be keeping that till I die.
You’d better have piccies of that.

Indolent
Indolent
November 7, 2022 10:41 am

Yes, when people stop believing his lies its “misinformation”.

Fauci seethes over ‘terrible’ booster uptake, blames ‘lies and misinformation’

Indolent
Indolent
November 7, 2022 10:44 am

90 Seconds. Pretty much covers everything that is happening today.

Pat Condell
@patcondell
This is Alex Jones in 2002. Imagine if this stuff actually happened.

Indolent
Indolent
November 7, 2022 10:46 am
Indolent
Indolent
November 7, 2022 10:47 am
Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
November 7, 2022 10:50 am

Gets better mileage, but is supposedly less environmentally friendly. Go figure.
Seems as contradictory as most of the other environmental guff.

I never really understood what the fix was, so I kept my Gaia Raper out of the hands of the accredited dealers for servicing, so they couldn’t instal the “upgrade”. Eventually, when I was going to sell it, I got the “fix” done. No perceptible difference.
Calli … in retrospect, selling it at the height of the “scandal” was probably a mistake. I think all that stuff dissipated, if it ever was a thing. The dealers would have taken advantage of it to suppress trade-in prices.
Honestly, I don’t know anyone who would be looking to buy a VW diesel who would baulk at the “creative testing results”.

Roger
Roger
November 7, 2022 10:52 am

“Police allege that the male assaulted the female a number of times whilst performing sexual acts on her.”

Can’t be long before someone seriously suggests that dating app profiles include which sexual perversions a young and naive (or drunk and stupid) woman will or won’t entertain.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
November 7, 2022 10:53 am

Obama-Biden Forced to Rope Off and Pull the Curtain on Half of Arena Due to Lame Turnout

Better than this Dem got.

Florida Dem. Sen. Candidate Holds Drag Queen Event… No One Shows Up (6 Nov)

Maybe drag queens aren’t as popular as Democrats think.

Winston Smith
November 7, 2022 10:58 am

Razey:

How much of Holodomor is influencing Ukrainian thinking.

A lot, I would imagine.
Imagine if Indonesia overran Australia and starved 5 million Australians – deliberately.
We’d be damn cranky for a long time.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
November 7, 2022 10:59 am

“On November 2, they met for prearranged drinks, had something to eat and went back to the young lady’s home,” Det Supt Doherty said.

It is there at that police allege Gunathilaka sexually assaulted the woman four times between 11.30pm and 1.30am.

And …

The woman went to Bondi police station at 3pm on Saturday and filed a complaint.

Why the use of “November 2” and “Saturday” to describe the timeline?
Because November 2 is Wednesday.
It is clearer reporting to say, “The alleged offences took place late Wednesday-early Thursday morning, and the complainant went to Police on Saturday afternoon”.
A delay of over 60 hours.

Zipster
November 7, 2022 11:00 am
m0nty
November 7, 2022 11:00 am

Tell me what Kyrie Irving actually did wrong.

He linked on Twitter to an anti-Semitic film.

When asked about it, he refused to distance himself from it.

But when asked during a news event on Thursday whether he held any anti-Semitic beliefs, Irving refused to expressly condemn the film and its message. Instead, he told told reporters: “I respect all walks of life. I embrace all walks of life. That’s where I sit.”

When pressed to provide a direct answer, Irving simply replied that he could not “be anti-Semitic if I know where I come from”.

Hours later, the club issued a strongly worded statement, banning Irving and saying they were “dismayed” that the player “refused to unequivocally say he has no anti-Semitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film”.

“Such failure to disavow anti-Semitism when given a clear opportunity to do so is deeply disturbing, is against the values of our organisation, and constitutes conduct detrimental to the team,” the statement added. “Accordingly, we are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.”

That’s a fairly simple statement from the Nets there.

Zipster
November 7, 2022 11:02 am

Viva reporting that 10K euthanized in Canada in 2021.

is their any doubt the eugenicists are in power

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 11:04 am

When pressed to provide a direct answer, Irving simply replied that he could not “be anti-Semitic if I know where I come from”.

He disavowed.

Are Black Israelites anti semitic?

I hope he isn’t one of those muppets.

As for the film, no one here has seen it. You are just repeating a narrative. You don’t know why it is anti Semitic without Googling it.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
November 7, 2022 11:05 am

Top Endersays:

November 7, 2022 at 10:35 am

Sri Lankan cricketer is wondering whether he will be on remand for a year…

Perhaps his bail application should mention that he will reside peacefully in Biloela until the case is heard.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
November 7, 2022 11:09 am

Monty is projecting again.
The Left is a cesspool of antisemitism.
Not acceptable. Romans 15:7-9.

Winston Smith
November 7, 2022 11:10 am

JC:

No wonder there are filthy disgusting sheets at the motel. He’s completely stupid.

Can’t you think of something new? You’ve like a bloody kid who repeats every punch line in a joke and laughs themselves silly at just how witty they are.

Cassie of Sydney
November 7, 2022 11:11 am

Isn’t it touching to see the resident fat fascist fuckwit suddenly concerned with Jew hatred? The thing is with the fat fascist fuckwit, he’s not consistent, some Jew hatred is okay when he thinks they might have “legitimate grievances”, other Jew hatred is not okay.

As a Jew, here’s my take, all Jew hatred is NOT okay.

Zipster
November 7, 2022 11:11 am

He linked on Twitter to an anti-Semitic film.

thoughtcrime.

you might want to watch your back mutley, you’re exactly the type the eugenicists are happy to purge

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 11:12 am

“I can hook up with whoever I want without any consequences, but if something goes wrong or I feel uncomfortable, or I am too drunk to remember or I am too agreeable to say no or he’s no good in bed, well…then there ARE consequences!”

Good bye, society. It was a blast whilst it lasted.

Boambee John
Boambee John
November 7, 2022 11:12 am

m0nty-fa

Let him make his case in public. If the case is weak, he will be discredited.

Banning him simply attracts idiots to his side, and keeps them out of sight.

Will fascist leftards ever again have confidence in the cleansing effect of public humiliation, or are they now permanently stuck in “ban him/her/xer” mode? The left once supported free speech and had confidence in the common sense of the vast majority. When did that change? (Rhetorical question.)

m0nty
November 7, 2022 11:13 am

Yeah Dot, I am not sure you’re going to get anywhere with the line of “that film that Jews all say is anti-Semitic actually makes some good points”. Good luck with that.

Plasmamortar
Plasmamortar
November 7, 2022 11:14 am

Involving the military in the swing states to ensure election is not tampered with…

Looks like the democrats are on track to ‘win’ again…

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 11:15 am

He linked on Twitter to an anti-Semitic film.

monty on that twisted logic, you should be cancelled on your Palestine comments.

As so should the ALP left, any ex Soviet pols, UK and US left.

The entire BDS movement should all individually be homeless, amirite?

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 11:16 am

Yeah Dot, I am not sure you’re going to get anywhere with the line of “that film that Jews all say is anti-Semitic actually makes some good points”. Good luck with that.

I did not say that, you have not watched the film or cannot explain why it is anti semitic.

Yet, you can spout Hamas talking points.

Oh come on
Oh come on
November 7, 2022 11:17 am

On how that old bugaboo, the “Religious Right”, infiltrated the Liberal Party and for some reason did absolutely nothing one would expect the “Religious Right” to do.

Considering the LP record in government, they look much more Fabian than Falwell.

m0nty
November 7, 2022 11:17 am

I have no sympathy with the Voltairean argument as regards Nazis and related anti-Semitic scum. No, they don’t deserve to be heard. We fought a World War over this. They lost. Giving them enough space to get a foothold in public discourse was how they started in the first place. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want another World War.

m0nty
November 7, 2022 11:19 am

monty on that twisted logic, you should be cancelled on your Palestine comments.

That is false equivalence, Dot. Is that the quality of argument you use as a lawyer? Perhaps time for you to choose a third profession.

Oh come on
Oh come on
November 7, 2022 11:19 am

Are Black Israelites anti semitic?

They are if you’re a white Israelite.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 11:20 am

I have no sympathy with the Voltairean argument

You’re against free speech.

No, they don’t deserve to be heard. We fought a World War over this. They lost. Giving them enough space to get a foothold in public discourse was how they started in the first place. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want another World War.

No, they need to lose over and over again in public debates.

The Nazis were put in gaol and still took over.

Oh come on
Oh come on
November 7, 2022 11:21 am

I see. So it was free speech that caused the rise of Hitler and WWII. That’s quite a take from the rakemeister.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 11:21 am

That is false equivalence, Dot. Is that the quality of argument you use as a lawyer? Perhaps time for you to choose a third profession.

It is correct monty. Accept your loss and move on.

rosie
rosie
November 7, 2022 11:24 am

Visiting celebrities should avoid hook up sites and sling for their pleasures the old fashioned way.
Much cheaper in the long run.

m0nty
November 7, 2022 11:24 am

Speaking of censorship:

Elon Musk @elonmusk
Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying “parody” will be permanently suspended
9:53 AM · Nov 7, 2022

This is in direct response to a raft of blue ticks changing their display name to Elon Musk.

Oh come on
Oh come on
November 7, 2022 11:26 am

Hitler also systematically killed homosexuals, the disabled and some ethnic groups such as the Romany. I suppose we better make sure any discussion about sexual orientation, disability or ethnicity that could be perceived as being offensive is also banned, lest it causes the rise of a Hitler-like individual and WWIII.

m0nty
November 7, 2022 11:26 am

So it was free speech that caused the rise of Hitler and WWII.

LOL no.

rosie
rosie
November 7, 2022 11:26 am

Weren’t black Israelites involved in the Nick Sandmann matter?
They seem to be rather unpleasant people.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
November 7, 2022 11:27 am

Fascist Monty condemns fascists.
This projection stuff is hot today.

rosie
rosie
November 7, 2022 11:27 am

“This is in direct response to a raft of blue ticks changing their display name to Elon Musk.”
Monty now applauding identify theft.

Cassie of Sydney
November 7, 2022 11:28 am

I’ll just remind people that the resident fat fascist fuckwit last year had no problem with convoys of Muslim scum driving their cars through Jewish suburbs of North London calling for Jewish women and girls to be raped.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 11:29 am

Monty – “free speech is speech I find acceptable”.

If we should ban Nazis, should we ban communists (?) – after all they invaded Poland with Hitler and our own unionised, communist dock workers sabotaged our allies well into 1941 as the USSR was allied with Germany.

Oh come on
Oh come on
November 7, 2022 11:29 am

LOL no.

Laugh it up all you want but that’s essentially what you said. Feel free to clarify your characteristically ridiculous position if you wish.

Cassie of Sydney
November 7, 2022 11:29 am

Weren’t black Israelites involved in the Nick Sandmann matter?
They seem to be rather unpleasant people.

Yep…they’ve also murdered a few real Jews in New Jersey and New York.

H B Bear
H B Bear
November 7, 2022 11:29 am

Is that the quality of argument you use as a lawyer? Perhaps time for you to choose a third profession.

mUnty giving career advice again? Shame you never made a any profession.

Boambee John
Boambee John
November 7, 2022 11:33 am

m0nty-fa

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want another World War.

Yet so many on the fascist left are currently gagging for a nuclear war with Russia.

I note also that for a long time the left criticised anything that might drive extremism underground. They claimed to prefer their opponents out in the open and visible. Now you, I’m particular, support driving extremism underground. Do you lack confidence in leftard abilities to argue a case?

Winston Smith
November 7, 2022 11:33 am

rickw:

Simply hilarious watching munter critique one of the most successful men of our time.

But then again, they’re both inventors, entrepreneurs and explorers. Didn’t munty invent skywhale?

No, he was just the model.

Oh come on
Oh come on
November 7, 2022 11:35 am

Elon Musk @elonmusk
Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying “parody” will be permanently suspended
9:53 AM · Nov 7, 2022

This is in direct response to a raft of blue ticks changing their display name to Elon Musk.

Fair enough. Isn’t that the entire point of being verified – so other users will be able to identify and ignore the impersonators? If the verifieds that have benefited so much from this begin fundamentally undermining its utility by impersonating others, it seems eminently reasonable that they at least forfeit their verified status.

Zipster
November 7, 2022 11:39 am

Putin Have You Panicked? You Can Survive a Nuclear Exchange
Politicians have turned the unthinkable into a real threat for which you should prepare.

Roger
Roger
November 7, 2022 11:43 am

ABC:

‘COP27 kicks off with an agreement to discuss compensation for poor nations with global warming damage’

Frankly, given the “unprecedented” droughts and floods we’ve experienced recently , and the parlous financial state bequethed us by the Liberal Party, I think we should be making our case in Egypt.

Winston Smith
November 7, 2022 11:43 am

rickw:

The CCP did good yesterday.
They snapped a bolt off in one of the main motor hazardous area rated junction boxes.
Instead of doing crazy shit like trying to fix it with drills, hammers and angle grinders. They came and got me.

I hope you’re keeping evidence – as in accident/incident reports, photos etc. Because you know as sure as shit they’ll be blaming you, with multiple witnesses, lab reports, and whatever to announce to the world the ‘stupid white man’ caused all the delays and damage otherwise the project would have come in on time and well under cost.

incoherent rambler
incoherent rambler
November 7, 2022 11:43 am

This is getting ridiculous. There is a new definition of what is acceptable.

If I agree it is ok, otherwise you will be executed.

Got it?

Johnny Rotten
November 7, 2022 11:45 am

Zipstersays:
November 7, 2022 at 11:39 am
Putin Have You Panicked? You Can Survive a Nuclear Exchange
Politicians have turned the unthinkable into a real threat for which you should prepare.

Apparently, you just need a tin foil hat, plenty of iodine and of course a prayer book. Just pick your preferred Religion…………………………

m0nty
November 7, 2022 11:46 am

“This is in direct response to a raft of blue ticks changing their display name to Elon Musk.”
Monty now applauding identify theft.

Hahahaha! Oh rosie.

Musk has had a tantrum because people are making fun of him on his own Web site. I really don’t get why people love him so much. It’s like stanning Blofeld. “He’s such a strong man with a great taste in fashion, plus that hairless cat projects authority, swoon!”

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
November 7, 2022 11:48 am

We said goodbye to the sublime view over the whitest beach sand in the world (I believe that claim) and its turquoise water as seen from The White House Hotel’s pane windows in our suite where Spanish Moss drifted from two gracious old trees to frame the outlook. Drove around then to New Orleans, circling it on the Eye-Ten (Interstate 10), as they say, and arriving at my cousin’s house which they have extended since 2020 on our last stay. Their place is now far too big for them, it always was actually, but the guesthouse part where we are has been quite well used since Hurricane Ida tore though and put one house in five out of action in their town of Bourg on the Bayou near Houma.

They’d organised a lunch on Saturday for us with all my cousins and their wives. Our host cousin cooked a gumbo, and people brought other Louisiana Cajun foodstuffs and cakes. One of the cousins runs a catering business for festivities and showed us photos of his enormous jumbalaya and gumbo pots, with a gas ring under. He also owns an Electric Mustang, but has discovered it is no good for long trips. Pins his faith in battery improvements, and we just nodded politely. Where we are staying my cousin calls himself a Conservative Southern Democrat, mostof the cousins seem rather that way, but one other cousin calls himself a Trump follower (there is familial discomfort over this, which we didn’t add to). They still speak about putting the pot on the ‘fire’, memories of the one-pot days of cookery, days of poverty down by the Bayou in my Aunt’s little house. They are going to show me the Certificate the Queen sent her, arriving two weeks before her hundredth birthday, the night before my aunt died. Elizabeth R was not long to follow.

The five cousins still living (two are now deceased) are all doing well in life, big cars and big houses and well known in town. They all went to church this morning as usual and this afternoon took us to the local Sherrif’s police-training rifle range, sign in with ID, where Hairy had a go with my cousin’s armoury, an AK47, then with a large hunting rifle, and on the pistol range he shot with my cousin’s famed pistol called ‘the Judge’, which can also shoot shotgun cartridges. I will rub some linament into Hairy’s sore shoulder tonight for he got a bit of kickback from the big rifle, after which he declined the even larger gun on offer.

Later, with a neighbour, my cousin put Hairy into full forest-hunting camoflage trousers and zip up jacket (a sort of green net-suit flapping with bits of sewn on material imitating a tree), slung the “30-0 Six” rifle over his shoulder, sat him on a four wheel motor bike contraption and said GO! He looked like the Green Man on Wheels. We’ll make a Cajun man of him yet, said my cousin to his neighbour. Earlier, we’d visited my Aunt’s grave and family memorial set amidst all the French names, for the term Cajun is a creole term derived from Arcadia (Ah-ca-jun then drop the A), the place in Canada from where Cajun French-speaking ancestors fled in the C18th. At the family memorial, they insisted Hairy should be in the photograph there with me. Marriage-in means you’re family! No question.

My ears are still ringing with gunshot sounds in spite of wearing some ear-plugs.

Roger
Roger
November 7, 2022 11:48 am

From ‘Putin Have You Panicked? You Can Survive a Nuclear Exchange’:

The likelihood of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons—relatively small-yield battlefield weapons rather than large warheads on intercontinental missiles—seems to grow as the invading country’s armed forces suffer setbacks in Ukraine.

Those aren’t setbacks…they’re merely tactical feints.

m0nty
November 7, 2022 11:51 am

the Jewish community largely believes that BDS is effectively anti-semitic

This is a reach, db. Sure, right-wing politicians in Israel say that for partisan purposes, but that doesn’t make it canon.

Opposing oppression is not anti-Semitic.

rosie
rosie
November 7, 2022 11:53 am

Elon seems to have made it clear making fun is fine as long as it’s clear it’s a parody.

Cassie of Sydney
November 7, 2022 11:56 am

This is a reach, db. Sure, right-wing politicians in Israel say that for partisan purposes, but that doesn’t make it canon.

Nope…almost all Jews believe the BDS to be cover for Jew hatred, including those on the left.

Opposing oppression is not anti-Semitic.”

As for this sentence. Thank you. You’ve just completely outed yourself. Quite frankly, you’re a mendacious venal disgrace.

m0nty
November 7, 2022 11:59 am

You’re welcome Cranky, I am glad you’ve got someone to be cranky at.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
November 7, 2022 12:00 pm

Sounds like Hairy was getting a bit of a test – can these Aussies match Louisianans?
A traditional family ritual, found likewise when visiting diaspora Bruces (not their real name).

Cassie of Sydney
November 7, 2022 12:03 pm

The fat fascist fuckwit believes in “from the river to the sea”…..a call to genocide.

m0nty
November 7, 2022 12:04 pm

Musk threatening bans for blue-tick parody display names is a consequence of the new paywall, as he has nixed the verification process. Funny how removal of free speech controls on social media leads to further free speech controls, because humans inevitably misbehave and there have to remain some standards.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 12:04 pm

Why are black Israelites murdering European (?) Jews in NYC???

Johnny Rotten
November 7, 2022 12:06 pm

LOL. CROWN and the words responsible gambling. All those words should never go togetehr.

And this has been going on for 12 years……………..lol. The Old Regulator is not the same as the New Regulator.

Won’t get fooled again…………….Errrrrrrrrrrrr NO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHhrZgojY1Q

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
November 7, 2022 12:08 pm

As for the “dozens” of employees Twitter is allegedly inviting back.
I have no doubt some individuals who were fired Friday will end up back there.
But the point is, Musk has completely dismantled the structures which enabled the left wing gatekeepers.
Example 1 – The ditching of the entire Asia-Pacific censorship group mentioned upthread, who no doubt the likes of Bandana-Man had on speed dial. A quick text to get a Bolt or Blair or Panahi article buried just doesn’t work any more.
Example 2 – The UN compliance team in San Francisco. Two weeks ago they would have been busy shadow-banning people, not for anything they even said on Twitter, but for having ever questioned UN omnipotence anywhere.
That won’t happen now.
Because they are Goneski.

Dot
Dot
November 7, 2022 12:11 pm

Musk threatening bans for blue-tick parody display names is a consequence of the new paywall, as he has nixed the verification process.

The old process was $15k under the table to a corrupt staff member.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
November 7, 2022 12:12 pm

Among Labor/Green advisors, I think the phrase, “OMG! OMFG!! We have to doooo something! [Insert cause here] is trending on Twitter” might have been deleted from the lexicon.

mem
mem
November 7, 2022 12:15 pm

Someone mentioned Lithium batteries upthread and a survey underway. I followed the thread through and it seemed more related to “are you aware of the dangers of leaving your charger on your mobile phone but this report on EV bikes and fires in NY is relevant: “FDNY Chief Fire Marshal Daniel Flynn said it was close to the “200th fire this year caused by lithium-ion batteries from micro-mobility devices.” Read here https://www.breitbart.com/local/2022/11/06/officials-nyc-apartment-fire-caused-by-lithium-ion-battery-leaves-38-injured/

Winston Smith
November 7, 2022 12:15 pm

Calli:

Why aren’t we in the frame?
Devastating bushfires and floods were caused by “climate change”. The ABC told me so.

The sooner the UN and all its minions are thrown into one of those bushfires and incinerated down to their constituent atoms, the better off the world will be.
How come we don’t have the opportunity to exit from this, the most corrupt organisation to ever stride the planet, when we have the Voice Referendum?

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
November 7, 2022 12:16 pm

Just thinking about the ex-SBS girlie who was one of the Twitter Asia-Pac “content curation” team given the arse.
In how many public debates (SSM, Israel Folau, climate change, you name it) did they have their thumb on the scales, suppressing anything counter to the left narrative?

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
November 7, 2022 12:17 pm

Bad Samaritan.

Should you save a dying stranger if you know they eat MEAT? Oxford philosopher controversially argues that it can be ethical to let them die because of the suffering they cause to animals (and he’s not even a vegan!) (4 Nov, via Instapundit)

Letting meat eaters drown is ethical because of the suffering they cause to animals, an Oxford University academic has controversially argued.

Dr Michael Plant, a philosopher focusing on happiness, who eats meat himself, claims that, according to some moral philosophies, it can be justifiable to let people like himself die.

Plant eats meat?

Kneel
Kneel
November 7, 2022 12:21 pm

“Totally stupid scenario, which VW responded to pragmatically.”

As I’ve said before, were I VW’s fearless leader, I would have taken govco to court over the fines and recalls – “It passes the test as published – not my fault if the test doesn’t reflect what you want, you wrote the test, not me.”

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
November 7, 2022 12:24 pm

As I’ve said before, were I VW’s fearless leader, I would have taken govco to court over the fines and recalls – “It passes the test as published – not my fault if the test doesn’t reflect what you want, you wrote the test, not me.”

Yeah, legally and technically they were in the right.
But politically they were fucked.
I don’t even think they would have had much luck in the courts either, actually.
The “spirit and intent” of the regulations.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
November 7, 2022 12:25 pm

Also, on the Twitter “content curation” team, I wonder how much effort they put into tracking the source of “Sleeping Giants” re-tweets?

feelthebern
feelthebern
November 7, 2022 12:27 pm

Biden’s fuel tweet has had the twitter “further context” tag added.
I like the idea of politicians from across the spectrum getting fact-checked to oblivion.

Top Ender
Top Ender
November 7, 2022 12:28 pm

Why would anyone live in The Alice these days?

Police have spent a night tracking a swag of stolen vehicles in Alice Springs, which officers say had youths hanging out the back of the ute trays while other minors were at the wheel.

The six stolen vehicles were also seen driving on footpaths and doing burnouts on the council lawns, while one crashed into a tree.

Southern Watch Commander Allan Milner said the series of events started when the Drug and Alcohol Services Australia (DASA) building was unlawfully entered about 11pm Sunday.

“It looks like a group had smashed their way in there and stole a security box full of office and vehicle keys,” Commander Millner said.

“One of the five vehicles, a Toyota Hilux, was then used to ram through the property’s fairly solid electronic gate to allow the other vehicles to follow.

“As soon as they got out and about they started picking up mates.

“A stolen Holden Barina then linked up with the convoy.

“They’ve gone on joy rides basically all night, driving dangerously, speeding through the CBD and suburbs.”

“They were also driving on footpaths and doing burnouts on the council lawns.”

The vehicles were being tracked from a distance by police.

“We could only maintain surveillance because there were kids in the rear trays,” Commander Millner said.

“We don’t pursue youth drivers as we don’t want to cause any alarm – there’s nothing worse than a crash.”

Commander Millner said the six vehicles, including one with a trailer attached, were all eventually found dumped in various locations.

One of the vehicles was found after it crashed into a tree.

“They were extremely lucky to walk away from that crash, the airbags had been deployed,” Commander Millner said.

“If they were not wearing a seatbelt it may have resulted in a serious injury.”

The last vehicle was recovered by police at 5.50am on Monday

As well as the Toyota Hilux and Holden Barina, a second Hilux, two Mitsubishi Outlanders and a Suzuki Baleno were among the fleet.

Police said the Central Desert Regional Council building was also unlawfully entered overnight.

Commander Millner said a security alarm was activated at 10.43pm after five to six people smashed through a front door.

“By the time a security guard got there and got inside, the group had gone,” Commander Millner said.

It comes after a similarly dramatic scene in which dogs, tyre spikes and a drone were used to arrest an alleged car thief in the Red Centre on Saturday night.

feelthebern
feelthebern
November 7, 2022 12:30 pm

Albo should resurrect Rudd’s community cabinet & take it Alice Springs.

Zipster
November 7, 2022 12:31 pm

Should you save a dying stranger if you know they eat MEAT? Oxford philosopher controversially argues that it can be ethical to let them die because of the suffering they cause to animals (and he’s not even a vegan!)

we really are in a moral void

flyingduk
flyingduk
November 7, 2022 12:33 pm

Anyone who departs from the rules deserves a fine, and a hefty one at that

Especially them grandma killing antivaxxers

feelthebern
feelthebern
November 7, 2022 12:34 pm

Tom Brady wins.
Take that stupid bitch ex wife.

Winston Smith
November 7, 2022 12:36 pm

Calli:

Every single day my company has to adhere to regulations, whether sensible or stupid. Apparently VW decided not to, and I paid for it.

Flyingduk:

What VW did was find a very clever workaround to let them pass a *stupid* government regulation without harming the real world performance of their product – they ‘taught’ the car’s computer(s) to recognise when it was being tested, and to perform to pass the test, then to work differently in the real world.

Calli, I think Flungduk has it right in terms of the regulatory environment. A Regulation isn’t of itself worthwhile just because it is backed by the weight of the law. Otherwise the demand we should all get vaccinated is worthy of adherence on those very same grounds.
The real issue here is that Regulation needs to have a cancel function built into it – which is something most don’t have.
People have the right to refuse vaccination, and that was cancelled by government and bodies acting at governmental insistence. A Corporation also has that right as VW did.
The end result here is that government and its bodies are out of control and cannot be stopped by legal means because they control the laws.
Apart from using the guillotine on all the bureaucrats, I have no peaceful answer to the problem.

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

Anyone able to find the outrage from 1997 (or was that too early for tech-savvy lefties?) when Steve Jobs sacked more than Four Thousand staff from Apple, coz the show was losing money?

Even my dog is able to work out that Jobs sacked more people than has Musk.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
November 7, 2022 12:36 pm

Tom Brady wins.
Take that stupid bitch ex wife.

Here you go Bern.
From the WIP.

rickw
rickw
November 7, 2022 12:38 pm

A while since munty has been in full “dances with rakes” mode.

That dumb fuck’s genuinely impervious to commonsense and decency.

Zipster
November 7, 2022 12:39 pm

US jets in ‘show of force’ to Iran – WaPo
The incident followed intelligence reports alleging that Tehran was planning to attack Saudi Arabia, the paper reports

H B Bear
H B Bear
November 7, 2022 12:44 pm

A while since munty has been in full “dances with rakes” mode.

The Magic Negro out on the campaign trail must have got the old juices flowing. The good ol’ days.

incoherent rambler
incoherent rambler
November 7, 2022 12:45 pm

would someone let monty know that there is a spare place in the guillotine queue for 4:30.
we should be able to squeeze him in.

Zipster
November 7, 2022 12:48 pm

“We don’t pursue youth drivers as we don’t want to cause any alarm – there’s nothing worse than a crash.”

how about enforcing the law!

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
November 7, 2022 12:49 pm

The House always wins.

Melbourne’s Crown Casino slapped with $120m fine for ‘failing to prevent harm’ (Sky mainpage headline)

Soon if you want to have a bet in this country you’ll need a doctor’s prescription.

P
P
November 7, 2022 12:50 pm

Scott Morrison warned against further cabinet disclosures in letter from attorney general
The Guardian – Daniel Hurst – Mon 7 Nov 2022 12.01 AEDT

Mark Dreyfus tables letter to Senate that raises concerns over ‘apparent extensive disclosure of cabinet information’ in book by News Corp journalists

feelthebern
feelthebern
November 7, 2022 12:54 pm

Mark Dreyfus tables letter to Senate that raises concerns over ‘apparent extensive disclosure of cabinet information’ in book by News Corp journalists

Did he send one to Turnbull & Rudd?

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
November 7, 2022 12:59 pm

feelthebernsays:
November 7, 2022 at 12:27 pm
Biden’s fuel tweet has had the twitter “further context” tag added.
I like the idea of politicians from across the spectrum getting fact-checked to oblivion.

Excluding overt threats of violence or direct incitement to perform violent acts, that is as far as “curation” of content should go.

“There are alternate views which you may wish to consider, (here, here and here). Fill your boots. Or not.”

….
Curation. A word I hate. The elite have to ‘curate’ what you see because you aren’t smart enough or discerning enough.

Mater
November 7, 2022 1:04 pm

I have no sympathy with the Voltairean argument as regards Nazis and related anti-Semitic scum. No, they don’t deserve to be heard. We fought a World War over this. They lost. Giving them enough space to get a foothold in public discourse was how they started in the first place. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want another World War.

And yet the Marxists, whose victims are in excess of 100 million, and against whom we’ve been to war, are still allowed to have a national conference in Melbourne University.

https://newcatallaxy.blog/2022/01/07/maters-mischief-6-this-raises-some-interesting-questions/

feelthebern
feelthebern
November 7, 2022 1:05 pm

What are the assaults this Sri Lankan chap is alleged to have committed.
I’ve there were four.
Then I read he refused to wear a condom which would be one of the incidents wouldn’t it?
Did he punch her or something?

Mother Lode
Mother Lode
November 7, 2022 1:06 pm

BDS, totally reasonable.

A crowd, reported to be around 100-strong, besieged a Max Brenner chocolate shop at Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Square on Lonsdale Street last Friday night, shouting “From
the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” while frightened shoppers kept their distance.

I wonder how many of cacophonous throng only ever first heard of Palestinians or would have paid them the least attention except in connection with Israel. I suspect they know almost nothing about Palestinians which is not really about Israel.

Johnny Rotten
November 7, 2022 1:06 pm

Winston Smithsays:
November 7, 2022 at 11:10 am
JC:

No wonder there are filthy disgusting sheets at the motel. He’s completely stupid.

Can’t you think of something new? You’ve like a bloody kid who repeats every punch line in a joke and laughs themselves silly at just how witty they are.

Well said, and Jerky Crunt (JC) should be banned. He would not know a joke unless Mrs Stencho Pantyhose told him that it was a joke. BTW, JC is a joke. A sad joke,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Kneel
Kneel
November 7, 2022 1:06 pm

“No, they don’t deserve to be heard. “

The answer to bad speech is good speech.
If you ban them, they will go to their underground echo chamber and be worse.
Better to let them speak, then demolish their arguments and have them laughed off stage.

As Jefferson said “Free speech is hard. Free speech is standing up for the right of a man to be heard. A man who is advocating at the top of his voice that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.” The right to free speech only matters when it is about something you oppose – and then it is vital.

Similar thing for 18C – I can’t be offensive? Screw that! We don’t need less offense, we need more! So much that when someone complains they are offended by it, people shrug and say “Get over yourself”.
What of my right to traditional Australian culture – where anyone, no matter their social position, no matter their financial position (“the king or the night soil carter, the millionaire or the one the dole”), can pick on some aspect of an individual or group and poke gentle fun at it. And the target of that gentle fun is not only allowed, but both expected and encouraged, to do something similar right back. Then both can laugh both at each other and at themselves – something we all richly deserve to be forced to confront.

feelthebern
feelthebern
November 7, 2022 1:06 pm

I’ve read there were four.

Johnny Rotten
November 7, 2022 1:09 pm

My wife said I needed to be more in touch with my feminine side, so I crashed the car, burnt the dinner and ignored her all day for no reason.

Johnny Rotten
November 7, 2022 1:11 pm

Always speak the truth, think before you speak, and write it down afterwards.

– Lewis Carroll

  1. Quid pro quo. Sometimes it is better not to take up a friendly offer of assistance. Russia has accepted 10,000…

  2. Headline over at MSN news .. Hadbollocks launches100s of rockets at Israel .. https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-lebanon-hezbollah-iran-news-11-24-2024-c91698370339e689edb6423abb3ed392

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