
The Pont de Arts and the Institut de France, August Renoir, 1867
The Pont de Arts and the Institut de France, August Renoir, 1867
Iain McGilchrist and the battle over the left-brain, right-brain theory
The author was an English reader at a Brit Uni, then a philosopher, became a psychiatrist, and engaged in neuroscience research on cerebral lateralization. His breadth of knowledge is breathtaking. I’ve finished reading this book, one chapter alone had 500 references. His latest tome, The Matter of Things, is 1200 pages long with 180 pages of footnotes.
He fearlessly uses cerebral lateralization to develop a synthesis across Western history, philosophy, religion, science, and the dangerous direction of the West. He is a dualist, positing consciousness is not physically instantiated. He laments the decline of modern Christianity and argues the modern Church capitulation to the Western trend is a disaster. He is not a Christian.
You’ll have to be a little barking mad to read The Master and the Emissary and completely bonkas to read The Matter of Things. McGilchrist’s ideas have drawn a huge audience, ranging from theologians to philosophers, physicists, and neuroscientists. If you want to join them be prepared to put in a lot of work because McGilchrist demands a lot from his readers. Too much for me. I read this too quickly but I have so much else to read so that is the end of the matter for me.
For those interested in thinking about the development of Western culture, philosophy, and science from the extraordinary perspective of cerebral lateralization his works are a treasure trove of data and insights.
I can’t speak to the veracity of his arguments but I enjoyed his analysis of modern science and the modern habit of dismissing anything that lacks utilitarian value.
Thanks John…. our firstborn has just taken a huge interest in perception, relativism, and the interplay between culturally prompted memes and what might be termed instinct. It’s getting beyond me pretty quickly, and i know the hazards of evolutionary psychology, so i’m searching for some sort of intro for the young reader- any recommendations?
Wally Dalisays:
December 10, 2022 at 12:45 am
Thanks John…. our firstborn has just taken a huge interest in perception, relativism, and the interplay between culturally prompted memes and what might be termed instinct. It’s getting beyond me pretty quickly, and i know the hazards of evolutionary psychology, so i’m searching for some sort of intro for the young reader- any recommendations?
I’m rather contemptuous of Evol Psych because I don’t think human behavior is that reducible. I’ve only read one critique of it: Paleofantasy:What Evolution Really Tell Us about Sex, Diet, and How We Live, Marlene Zuk. My notes on that are very brief though but it might serve as a good intro.
He could start with some books by Robert Sapolsky. His Stanford Lectures are on youtube. Sapolsky writes for laypeople and is very accessible without dumbing it down. He is also a gifted lecturer. “Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers” will be a good start for him.
Also this recent book of his has been widely praised.
Behave: The bestselling exploration of why humans behave as they do Kindle Edition
Pinker’s recent “Rationality” is more intense and is more about reasoning than behavior but if he is going to start learning about human behavior it will help avoid some of the pitfalls. “‘If you’ve ever considered taking drugs to make yourself smarter, read Rationality instead. It’s cheaper, more entertaining, and more effective’ Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind”
Haidt is worth a look too.
One of the dumbest mistakes in modern education is not doing what Pinker does with that text.
Get a load of this. He’s a serial luggage thief.
Cross-dressing Biden official Sam Brinton is accused AGAIN of stealing ANOTHER suitcase, this time from an airport near Las Vegas, Nevada.
An arrest warrant was issued for felony grand larceny with a value between $1,200 and $5,000. twitter.com/MiaCathell/sta…
Just a unreal. He’s in the Hiden administration.
Interesting.
In states that send out applications for mail-in voting, liberal groups wait for these taxpayer-funded mailings and pounce. They target “their” voters with texts, calls and ads, pushing them to get the applications in. They do the same in states where voters must actively request ballots. Then they do it all over again once the ballots arrive, in many states “harvesting” by going door to door to encourage their voters to fill out ballots and returning them on their behalf.
They’ve also figured out how to pair early voting with savvy campaign tactics. Think it was an accident Pennsylvania Senate candidate John Fetterman, recovering from a stroke, delayed his debate with Mehmet Oz until Oct. 25? He put in a shockingly bad performance, but by debate night nearly half of absentee ballots had already been returned. Nearly a quarter of all ballots cast were via mail, and Mr. Fetterman won 78% of them.
Democrats and aligned groups pour real resources into this effort; GOP groups continue to throw their budgets at broadcast airtime. Not that they necessarily have a ton of folks waiting to be early-recruited. As recently as last week, Mr. Trump was insisting on Truth Social that we “CAN NEVER HAVE FAIR AND FREE ELECTIONS WITH MAIL-IN BALLOTS—NEVER, NEVER, NEVER.” Mr. Trump’s home state of Florida proves the opposite. The Florida GOP in recent years doubled down on voter registration and alternate voting. Republicans crushed Democrats in early voting and barely trailed in mail votes. That was all part of the Florida GOP’s stunning victories at every level of government.
In a perfect world, every state would go back to Election Day voting—it’s cleaner and a civic duty. But early and absentee voting aren’t going away. The GOP can moan about it, continue to freak their voters out about election integrity, fritter away weeks of vote gathering—and lose. Or they can get in the game.
WSJ
Manchin and King could also go independent. The senate battle isn’t really over.
Schumer may not end up as the leader in the senate.
Jay Valentine guest post at Gateway Pundit reveals the depth of the rot in the USA voting system. While others say it’s the ballot harvesting and faking, Jay zeroes in on what he deems the bigger issue – voter rolls.
He explains how the left/demrats have worked on this aspect for a long time and made it work for them. It’s industrial scale fraud.
Linky
Taking purebloodish just a little too far?
New Zealand baby has surgery
Knuckle Draggersays:
December 10, 2022 at 2:20 am
Did I miss anything?
Anyone come back from the death that was promised them by volume-up monologue fetishists?
Only two.
Firstly there was myself.
Then fucking Anger steals my thunder with a Rexurexion of his own.
Attention seeker!
Henceforth to be known as Rex Markle.
Of course, The Great Predictinator has crunched the cogs off the Road Rager 17 speed Cashbox getting it into reverse.
Smoke stack for north east link near three private schools.
68 metres high and as best I can tell it’s near Marcellin College and playing fields belonging to Trinity and Carey.
Not clear how big a hazard considering how close they all are to the Eastern freeway already.
Not a headline at the ABC
Ashley Hall headed for a well earned break.
ABC reports TaliDan has exceeded his 2018 election win by one seat.
-55 seats in 2018 with 42.86% of the primary vote.
– 56 seats in 2022 with 37% of the primary vote.
In 2018 the LNP scored 82% of Labor’s first preference tally – 92% in 2022 and yet did worse.
The VEC doesn’t know anyone named Gerry Mander.
ABC reports TaliDan has exceeded his 2018 election win by one seat.
-55 seats in 2018 with 42.86% of the primary vote.
– 56 seats in 2022 with 37% of the primary vote.
So Ed isn’t 100% wrong?
Ed Case
says:
November 13, 2022 at 12:23 pm
?All Labor is left with are scare campaigns, and Matty has neutralised Abortion as an issue, so Andrews is fucked.?I’m calling Lib/Nat at 55 seats, Labor 25, the rest Green.
Close, Ed, but Monty remains the King of wrongology. You’ll have to be content with being the Queen.
Chin up, I’m sure you’ll get it wronger next time.
I thought they’d leave The Return until New Year. Wrong, as usual.
Someone who does get it right this time is Ramirez. Perhaps even the royal-crazed Americans are sick of the whiners.
And Leak has those two halfwits down pat. Just shows talent, like wicked humour, can be in the genes. A good case for the Nature vs. Nurture crew.
Only two.
Firstly there was myself.
Then fucking Anger steals my thunder with a Rexurexion of his own.
Attention seeker!
Henceforth to be known as Rex Markle.
Of course, The Great Predictinator has crunched the cogs off the Road Rager 17 speed Cashbox getting it into reverse.
Actually
I’m trans-trans and I identify as Dick Pusey.
The “Extraordinary times” declaration from Emperor Albotine is a sort of political coal shooting gallery, where the addicts can inject their coal safely without any of the usual annoyance from greenhouse emissions zealots.
Leak the best today, Ramirez 2nd place.
Honourable mention to Varvel just `cuz the lighting is well drawn on GOP’s face.
Britney Grinder exchanged for Russian Merchant of Death Arms Dealer by “gun control” Democrats
Salty Cracker
She is what I believe is known as a bull dyke.
I used to have a couple of customers in that category.
picture of Griner as a little girl
m0ntysays:
December 9, 2022 at 9:57 pm
Even if Twitter shadowbanned the right more than the left… they are entitled to. They don’t have to be fair. They are a private company and they don’t have to be balanced.
Good to see that you support Musk’s crackdown on leftist lies and the ugly child sex exploitation that were allowed to thrive under the previous management.
m0ntysays:
December 9, 2022 at 11:05 pm
they have to be something the filth of the left can’t be: honest.
They don’t even have to be that. Musk is not being honest, for instance, but he is entitled to free speech.
m0nty=fa back pedaling at the speed of light.
PS, examples please of Musk’s alleged dishonesty.
This is the future if we permit it. The Watts Up With That article that went viral (which actually references Jo Nova) is linked in the piece. Now they’re crying because people are taking notice of what they’re planning to arbitrarily impose on them.
Remember the children who didn’t receive timely treatment or even died because one side of the street was Queensland and the other NSW? This is that on steroids. The machines might as well already be in charge, or perhaps they’ve found a way to extract any hint of humanity from people and turn them into heartless drones. We had a preview of it right here over the past couple of years. This is what is intended for us all on a permanent basis.
JCsays:
December 10, 2022 at 2:36 am
Get a load of this. He’s a serial luggage thief.
Cross-dressing Biden official Sam Brinton is accused AGAIN of stealing ANOTHER suitcase, this time from an airport near Las Vegas, Nevada.
An arrest warrant was issued for felony grand larceny with a value between $1,200 and $5,000. twitter.com/MiaCathell/sta…
Just a unreal. He’s in the Hiden administration.
If he were a Republican, the MSM and DemonRat (BIRM) screeches for his/her/its resignation and immediate imprisonment would be audible at Alpha Centauri.
Donald J Trump
Trump thanks Elon Musk for powerfully showing the normies how the 2020 election was rigged and calls this a big moment in history.
The world is beginning to see the truth.
“ELON: The Twitter releases are a revelation in that they show, in a very powerful fashion, the FBI and “Justice” illegally colluding, proving conclusively, in one more very powerful way, that the 2020 Presidential Election was Rigged & Stolen. What everyone is REALLY waiting to see, however, is the Twitter information and thought process leading up to the time of the so-called “Election,” and ultimately the “Deplatforming” of the President of the United States. Big moment in history. Thank you!”
rosie says:
December 10, 2022 at 8:23 am
Dot I seriously doubt a couple that interfered with pre op preparations for urgent life saving surgery would have settled for the novavaxed.
I agree too but unvaxxed blood too is available.
Look. Even our fascist state government recognised medical exemptions. The mRNA vaccines are still being evaluated. It is simply prudent to avoid it. I recently found a BMJ paper on vaccine (mRNA + AZ) side effects published this year.
The science juice wasn’t worth the squeeze.
They are laughing at us – with good reason.
Stunning Video from Russian TV Says It All About Joe Biden’s Disastrous Trade for Brittney Griner
There hasn’t been much discussion here in Australia on the introduction of ESG and its influence on directing where money flows and what this means for consumers. (ESG stands for Environmental, Social, Governance and is used as an investment strategy to “encourage” organizations to “act responsibly.” ESG works by analyzing organizations across three criteria — their environmental footprint, their stance on social issues, and internal corporate governance.) From my point of view ESG rates companies on what I would call Green Woke Criteria (GWC) rather than financial return or risk. I’m sure on the ESG criteria Sam Bankman Fried’s now defunct FBX would have rated very highly. A website has been launched in the USA by Republican’s and others to educate and explain the threat that ESG poses https://ourmoneyourvalues.com/. Perhaps we need to do a lot more here to educate people?
The story Dreher links to from the Blood Report is horrific.
That is not Ronald Reagan’s America.
America has become another run of the mill Evil Empire.
Reported by Tucker Carlson. Military (!) and cops bully mother on FaceBook to delete post questioning teaching pansexuality to children aged 12 and under.
rosie says:
December 10, 2022 at 8:48 am
According to Dr Dr Ana the unvaxxed are already contaminated due to shedding.
There is no escape for the pure of blood.
Except if you need boosters every three or two months, your body probably deletes the mRNA stuff etc.
People could act rationally if the government didn’t lie to them and gaslight them and made psychopaths like Albert Bourla accountable.
I’ve always thought that once a candidate announces they are running for federal office they have to quit any other gummint jobs but just received a “Chrissie greetings” blurb from Fairfield Council which lists DAI LE as still being a sitting alderman for Parks/Cabravale ward ………
Nup. My lesbian neighbour who ran for the Greens this year is a council employee, all they required was her to take unpaid leave while she campaigned.
custardsays:
December 10, 2022 at 8:41 am
We now learn John Podesta’s niece was on Twitter Trust and Safety council.Elon sacked her overnight.
Not sacked, resigned apparently.
https://twitter.com/JordanSchachtel/status/1601313832735240192?s=20&t=CnboprL9XJQYXXlsmC-jkA
Lesley Podesta worked at the University of Western Sydney-Young and Resilient Research Centre.
A council member of Twitter Trust and Safety which did practically nothing about, you know…
See last page of resignation letter.
Small world, hey?
custardsays:
December 10, 2022 at 8:41 am
We now learn John Podesta’s niece was on Twitter Trust and Safety council.
Elon sacked her overnight.
The “old” Twatter seems to have been a collection of leftard maaaaates!
Apparently another of the recent sackees had worked for both the CIA and FBI.
Definitely a Spook, eh, Richard Cranium?
rosie says:
December 10, 2022 at 8:56 am
It reminds me a little of Muslims in Indonesia? demanding blood replacement from a chocolate manufacturer after finding out there was a small amount of pig fat in their product.
So basically you’re gaslighting me now even after I posted the 2022 BMJ article on mRNA vaccine injuries.
Great. Now I’m a superstitious chemistry denier by association.
Thanks Rosie.
I thought it was female until I heard it speak, then I wasn’t sure.
Yep. Some women are actually a bit male-looking. Still women though and often hetero. Same as some men are a bit effete and girly but still men and not gay. No need for sexual stereotypes, which is what the gender-benders get off on, imitating sexual stereotypes in dress and behaviour. The xx and xy is much more subtle than such simple things.
What I love is the ad currently running on Sky (After Dark) for Brass Monkey fridges.
It leaves you in no sort of doubt that the Karen and other ‘ladies’ in the camping scenario (lol) are heads of bearded blokes stuck onto female bodies. The real bloke mate of the real bloke doing the introductions to ‘the girls’ is gob-smacked and then goes along with it. It is such a blatant ridicule of gender-bending while offering a seeming approval of it that soon some freak is going to demand the ad be withdrawn.
I’ve always thought that once a candidate announces they are running for federal office they have to quit any other gummint jobs
Local council salaries are not paid by “the Crown”, state and federal are.
There is a wrinkle with state(not sure about feds). There is a special form of resignation, “resignation to stand for federal parliament”, which preserves your right of return. IE if I am a permanent teacher, I resign to “stand for federal parliament”, my salary is discontinued, but any entitlements are not paid out, and my position is held for me. If I am successful, I resign properly, if I am unsuccessful, as soon as the seat is declared, I slip back into my position, as if I never resigned.
Again for the superstitious among “you lot”.
Wow.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9167431/
Journal List
Virol J v.19; 2022 PMC9167431
Logo of virolj
Virol J. 2022; 19: 100.
Published online 2022 Jun 5. doi: 10.1186/s12985-022-01831-0
PMCID: PMC9167431
PMID: 35659687
Adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines and measures to prevent them
Kenji Yamamoto corresponding author
Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer
Associated Data
Data Availability Statement
Go to:
Abstract
Recently, The Lancet published a study on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and the waning of immunity with time. The study showed that immune function among vaccinated individuals 8 months after the administration of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine was lower than that among the unvaccinated individuals. According to European Medicines Agency recommendations, frequent COVID-19 booster shots could adversely affect the immune response and may not be feasible. The decrease in immunity can be caused by several factors such as N1-methylpseudouridine, the spike protein, lipid nanoparticles, antibody-dependent enhancement, and the original antigenic stimulus. These clinical alterations may explain the association reported between COVID-19 vaccination and shingles. As a safety measure, further booster vaccinations should be discontinued. In addition, the date of vaccination should be recorded in the medical record of patients. Several practical measures to prevent a decrease in immunity have been reported. These include limiting the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including acetaminophen to maintain deep body temperature, appropriate use of antibiotics, smoking cessation, stress control, and limiting the use of lipid emulsions, including propofol, which may cause perioperative immunosuppression. In conclusion, COVID-19 vaccination is a major risk factor for infections in critically ill patients
Nature v nurture. 90% of my family is nature upon years of observation. The crossover in traits is quite amazing. Fortunately the bad traits have so far been eliminated though I do see in myself, 1 or 2 things I don’t like. The nurture part for me came from my Italian Aunt. I learnt observation of the human condition from her. She never complained about whatever was thrown at her in life, just got on with it. My sisters kids are combinations of our and her in-laws family.
As if to prove my point about ESG, in today’s Oz a “Company chaired by ex-treasurer mired in mine furore”.
A company chaired by ALP federal president Wayne Swan has been accused of misleading the government and the ASX over a Queensland sand mine project. Paywalled at Oz.
From the company’s website straight up we get reference to ESG.
“Diatreme’s Robyn Bartlett, Group Leader Community and Social Performance, presents to the Noosa Mining Investor Conference on the company’s expanding FNQ silica sand projects and its ESG performance, including engagement with Traditional Owners.”
Rather prescient if I may say so myself.
You’re not talking about that opinion letter masquerading as a research paper you linked a few days ago?
No. You’re wrong and desperately hand waving, suck it up Princess.
It is a very well referenced letter, not opinion and may be considered a short literature review.
It is a summary of current research and all serious scientific journals run these, so crap like the Wakefield paper can get called out in a timely fashion.
The only reason why it would be invalid is if most to all of the double blind peer reviewed research they cite is fraudulent.
The mRNA codes for a virus protein, which means whenever it actuates the cell will start telling the immune system that it is “infected”. Then the killer T-cells will kill the cell. So it is self limiting. Same goes with incorporation into DNA via reverse transcriptase if that happens to occur – either it becomes junk DNA that isn’t expressed or it starts making virus coat protein and the immune system kills the cell off.
If you get infected with Covid that would aid the cleaning up of the mRNA, since replication of the virus itself would establish more of an immune response against the coat protein than just a bit of shed mRNA might.
So I don’t think the mRNA itself is much of a problem, rather than as the vaccine it goes into the bloodstream in one big slug, and thus can potentially cause significant inflammation of blood vessel linings and heart cells in particular. (It also sometime causes autoimmune reactions, but so does the virus itself.)
mRNA for cancer treatment should be pretty good, particularly if it can be injected into the cancer, or applied to the skin. And if you are dying of cancer it seems a reasonable bet to take it injected too. The adverse events with Covid vaccine can be pretty bad but they’re still only about 1 in 10, and probably about 1 in 200 for really serious side effects, so for advanced cancer those are good odds.
People could act rationally if the government didn’t lie to them and gaslight them and made psychopaths like Albert Bourla accountable.
Yes, it all contributes to the level of suspension of disbelief cultism that some objectors – but not all – display about the mRNA (and AZ DNA) vaxxes (ok, point taken that they aren’t vaxxes in any traditional sense, I get that, and I also get that they were poorly tested and cause problems – in me and my family, as I’ve noted here, and far more than is acceptable for any mass program vs the risks.)
Deciding not to get this vaxx is a valid choice and I support the good people here who make that considered choice as well as those who for whatever reason decide to get jabbed. I am not much into naturopathy, though not averse to a few vitamins taken in hope, but if others are into a herbal belief system, that sometimes may be backed by proper evidence and sometimes not, that too is their choice. However, I don’t support the level of cultism and often spurious claims of utter doom that occur about this vaxx (or anti-vaxxism in general), exemplified by Struth and Figures on this blog.
Dover I’m wondering if you can set up a separate thread on the vax debate
Mem, it won’t work. Sinc tried this on the old Cat re abortion, and one or another topic but it always finds itself back on the OT. I think the only thing that works is if there is some new disclosure a new post can host the discussion for a time.
Antagonistic pleiotropy is prominent in immunology which is why it often gives with one hand and takes with the other. It will take hundreds of generations if not more for these now useless genetic variants to wash out of the population.
Hey, the question I posted a couple of days ago about whether wombats are good eating was serious.
I have mentioned earlier that I had bought a great, but very neglected small farm. I have managed to clear a couple of areas. Turned one of the old berry beds into a chook yard.
I have cleared a second berry bed in preparation for a future veg garden. Problem is, I have a resident wombat. Her burrow has a tunnel about 10 metres long. It opens out in my future veg garden. If I collapse or fill in the burrow, she just digs it out again overnight. A pity our Roadworks aren’t that industrious.
I will have to evict her. No point trapping, then moving her, they are used to travelling long distances. Also, the bloody thing is huge!
Shooting is the best option. It just seems a shame to waste so much meat. I quite like game meat. Am looking forward to a lot of rabbit pie as soon as my son turns up with his guns. I still have to get my licence. Am planning on buying a compound bow shortly to use in the meantime. This is why I wanted to know if anyone here has any experience eating wombat. Before anyone starts giving me stick about “poor things, they have rights too you know”, they are in plague proportions here and all the local farmers shoot them on sight. One too many horses, beef cattle with broken legs.
Thanks in advance.
Ivans mock Brandon’s Choice.
He has only one…no, two…no, three problems!
Agree, Mem. A separate vaxx fred.
Let ’em bash it out there. I don’t come here for vaxx arguments although I do read the links.
Thanks Dot, for the link above to a very interesting abstract of an article – acetominophen off the agenda now if you need to boost immunity. Ties in with clinical arguments about reducing temperatures being unhelpful in some cases – although too high a temp for too long has its own immediate damages.
It also sometime causes autoimmune reactions, but so does the virus itself.
Traditional vaccines are also associated with inducing autoimmunity. Also, look at my recent link re the Black Death protection by genetic variants. It is often a trade off with immunology. For example, I was sick for one day with COVID while people around are still sick 7 days later. I don’t why there is that difference but as I said to them it isn’t necessarily a good thing I beat off the virus easily because it might point to an innate immune response that is somewhat overactive, increasing the risk not only of autoimmunity but also CVD and dementia. At a stretch even cancer because cells that play a first line defense against bugs, neutrophils, can also protect some tumours from being attacked by NK and T cells. That is another example of antagonistic pleiotropy.
From the Oz. I’ve posted the whole article.
Crucial questions arising from Higgins’ civil claim
Brittany Higgins’ civil claim for close to $3m against the commonwealth will likely be paid without ever reaching a courtroom. But taxpayers deserve answers.
By Janet Albrechtsen
From Inquirer
December 10, 2022
8 minute readBrittany Higgins’ civil claim for close to $3m against the commonwealth deserves close scrutiny. The Weekend Australian understands that this claim, set down for mediation next Tuesday, will likely be settled by the Department of Finance and paid for by taxpayers. In other words, it may never reach a courtroom.
Taxpayers are entitled to assurances from the public servants involved that the department is looking after taxpayers’ interests on at least two fronts. One goes to the processes that will be used to test claims before payments with public money are made. If claims are not tested, taxpayers are entitled to wonder whether integrity standards within the department are open to question.
The second issue goes to politics. The Department of Finance will know that Finance Minister Katy Gallagher was central in pursuing the Brittany Higgins saga against the former Morrison government when she was in opposition. What has the department done to deal with political conflicts, both real and perceived, before it begins mediation on December 13?
Before looking at the process and the politics in this matter in more detail, it is worth reiterating that there is nothing simple, or settled, about the Higgins saga. The criminal court case to test her allegation of rape against fellow staffer Bruce Lehrmann came to an abrupt end after misconduct by a jury member, before the jury could deliver a verdict. Before the mistrial, Higgins’ version of events was contested, and contradicted, in court. Higgins’ claims about her treatment by Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash, for whom she worked, were also contested and contradicted in court. The Director of Public Prosecutions has chosen not to pursue Lehrmann.
On behalf of taxpayers, who are invariably left with the bill, may I ask some questions of the department – and the Albanese government – to satisfy ourselves that robust processes are in place before potentially millions of dollars are paid as part of a settlement.
1??Given the size of the claim, why isn’t the department taking the Higgins claim to court? Higgins this week stated that she stands ready to “to defend the truth” in any defamation case brought by Lehrmann. One might assume she is willing to do the same in her civil claim.
2??Before agreeing to settlement with, and payment to, Higgins, has the bureaucrat leading the mediation sought formal legal advice on Higgins’ prospects of success in a court? If so, what did it say? If not, why not?
3??If not in a courtroom, how will the department test the truth of Higgins’ claims? To the extent that her claims in the civil matter coincide with claims in the aborted criminal trial, will the department review evidence from the trial that contradicts Higgins’ claims? Will the department test the veracity of the critical claim that ministers were aware of the sexual assault allegation and that they did not provide her with adequate support? Given Higgins has listed Reynolds and Cash as respondents, alongside the commonwealth, will the department demand that Reynolds and Cash be part of the mediation negotiations next week to provide their version of events. Will the department request statements given by other witnesses to the AFP that challenge Higgins’ claims that she was not adequately supported and that she was harassed and bullied? Will the department review contemporaneous notes written by Reynolds’ acting chief of staff Fiona Brown that likewise contradict Higgins’ claims?
4?Is the department considering the media’s role or whether Higgins or others bore any responsibility for the position that Higgins describes in her Statement of Particulars, including that she has a significantly reduced ability to work in the future and suffers from continuing mental health issues? It is public knowledge that Higgins chose to go to the media before she went to police. She chose not to avail herself of the legal protections for a complainant in a sexual assault matter, including giving evidence in a remote witness room and entering the court privately where cameras are not permitted. Higgins voluntarily became the public face of a #MeToo campaign, joining the Women’s March and seeking publicity; she was used to promote the careers and profiles of many journalists and political actors who have supported her, and exploited her to prosecute the former Morrison government for its alleged problem with women. Will the department pursue cross claims against any others who may have contributed to the position Higgins finds herself in?
The Australian’s Legal Affairs Contributor Chris Merritt says the abandonment of the Bruce Lehrmann trial… means the case will not be resolved but “slugged out in the civil courts”, as both Mr Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins propose to relitigate.
5??If the department does not test the veracity of Higgins’ claims before agreeing to a settlement and payment to Higgins, how can the department, on behalf of the commonwealth, be meeting its obligations to act as a “model litigant” under the Legal Services Directions? Obligations in Appendix C, headed Criteria For Settlement, include this direction: “Settlement on the basis of legal principle and practice requires the existence of at least a meaningful prospect of liability being established. In particular, settlement is not to be effected merely because of the cost of defending what is clearly a spurious claim.” Can the department assure us that it will follow the additional criteria set down in those guidelines that apply to settlements over $100,000?
6??If the department is not planning to test the veracity of claims against it and former ministers before potentially settling this matter next week, including with a multimillion-dollar payout, how can taxpayers know that taxpayer money is being paid for valid claims?
7??Is the department considering the potential for copycat claims given the precedent it will set if it does not test the veracity of Higgins’ claim and the politics that are at the centre of this saga? This column asked similar questions in relation the $650,000 payout to Rachelle Miller. Questions arising from this Higgins matter point to a possible pattern of payouts by the department without the veracity of claims being tested. What other similar payments have been made that we do not know about?
Turning to the politics of this saga, here are further questions for the department, and for the Albanese government:
1??How is the department dealing with political conflicts that surround the Higgins civil claim? The Australian reported last week that the AFP expressed concern there was “political interference” in the criminal matter. It is on the record that Higgins’ boyfriend, David Sharaz, outlined the strategy behind the timing of her expose of alleged rape. During the trial, as the media reported, in an extract of a six-hour recording in 2021 involving staff at Channel 10’s The Project, Sharaz is heard saying they wanted the allegation to be exposed at the start of the parliamentary sitting week and that he had a “friend” on the Labor side – now known to be Gallagher – who would “probe and continue it going”. “So sitting week, story comes out, they have to answer questions in question time, it’s a mess for them,” he said. The Australian has been told that the draft Statement of Particulars from Higgins listed Morrison as a respondent, along with the commonwealth, Reynolds and Cash, despite the Particulars listing no substantive claims about the former PM. His name was subsequently removed as a respondent.
The department will be cognisant of the fact that the Albanese government has a powerful political motive to ensure Higgins receives a large payout. The higher Higgins’ settlement, the worse the former Morrison government looks. A cheeky observer might suggest that Gallagher might wish that Higgins receive an extra million or so to heighten the damage to the former Liberal government.
2??In light of the political conflicts, will the department insist that Gallagher recuse herself from any involvement in this claim?
3?? Who in the Albanese government can sign off on any settlement with Higgins without the suggestion of political interference by a government that in opposition used the Higgins allegation for its political purposes?
4??In light of this, isn’t the only way to protect taxpayers and avoid the appearance of wrongdoing in public office for the commonwealth to take this claim to a final verdict after a fully contested hearing run on its behalf by an independent law firm?
Nobody would dispute a complainant’s right to compensation if they are injured or mistreated at work, subject to any appropriate reduction to reflect the complainant’s contribution to the injury. However, it is equally obvious that the public has a right to be confident that compensation is awarded, and is seen to be awarded, only in proper cases and after proper due diligence. Payments, particularly big payments, in cases that are complex, contested and/or politically sensitive deserve thorough scrutiny. The potential for big payments to create incentives for future bad behaviour by others or to reward dubious political strategies is obvious. At worst, there is significant potential for corruption.
Could this be the first big job for the new National Anti-Corruption Commission?
Meme; I don’t have to imagine it, I see it on this blog daily!
The Australian Paleo diet – which native animals should we eat?
Contains useful info on wombat as a fat source, and some findings re pre-contact aborignal consumption. Recipes not included but you could try stick on fire till done. 🙂
When I read they traded the merchant of death for Brittney Griner – I was like – great they sent Dr. Fauci to Russia.
Monty:
Nup. My lesbian neighbour who ran for the Greens this year is a council employee, all they required was her to take unpaid leave while she campaigned.
Funny, isn’t it.
Just can’t help himself.
“Identity” of the person has to be brought up.
What does the fact she is a lesbian have to do with the point of discussion? Or a green for that matter.
Could very well have been describing himself.
So I don’t think the mRNA itself is much of a problem, rather than as the vaccine it goes into the bloodstream in one big slug, and thus can potentially cause significant inflammation of blood vessel linings and heart cells in particular. (It also sometime causes autoimmune reactions, but so does the virus itself.)
BoN, I guess the biggest problem in this regard is that governments and medical bureaucracies do not allow access to effective data regarding delayed adverse reactions. Even initial reactions after vaccination were poorly recorded by VAERS and other national organisations. Data of reactions that are so proximate to the events, plus data coming in from data collection on excess national mortality rates, funeral directors, insurance companies etc…… all indicate unresolved problems relating to the mRNA vaccines.
I have just watched a video of an outraged Japanese Professor of medicine protesting about the continuation of the use of the vaccines. And, of course, there are experienced pharmacologists in this country (Dr. Altman, Prof Clancy et al) who have always had serious reservations about the efficacy of the vaccines. But, of course, I hope you are right and that the mRNA designed to eliminate the pathogen does not itself cause long term adverse effects.
Incidentally, there has been a study recently published which suggests that “shedding” may be a risk to the unvaccinated. That would truly be a rotten outcome for those who resisted the clarion call to be vaccinated with a poorly tested product.
Shall we talk about the buggered power grid getting some more buggery OR the price of petrol?
The WTI crude oil price has fallen quite a bit, now USD71.58/bbl. That’s down $20 in a month and $50 down from the peak in June.
It’ll be interesting to see if this knocks the top off inflation, since the climbing oil and gas prices initially caused it.
BoN, I guess the biggest problem in this regard is that governments and medical bureaucracies do not allow access to effective data regarding delayed adverse reactions. Even initial reactions after vaccination were poorly recorded by VAERS and other national organisations. Data of reactions that are so proximate to the events, plus data coming in from data collection on excess national mortality rates, funeral directors, insurance companies etc…… all indicate unresolved problems relating to the mRNA vaccines.
All definitely issues of concern. The issue of ‘shedding’ and harming the non-vaxxed seems far less likely and tending towards the cultist unless some good data is available to support it? There was some mention of it above, but no research link, or did I miss it?
protesting about the continuation of the use of the vaccines
Indeed. Why are these useless dangerous chemical cocktails still being flogged by utter wankers across the planet when it is now so bloody obvious that they don’t have any beneficial aspect whatsoever?
Criminal stupidity that can only be cured by a big dose of HOP Time™.
War Room interview
Ed Dowd Reveals The COVID Jab’s Dangers Revealed Through Healthcare Data
Steve Bannon mentions that Senator Johnson three hour roundtable has had four or five hundred thousand views.
Pogriasays:
December 10, 2022 at 9:40 am
Hey, the question I posted a couple of days ago about whether wombats are good eating was serious.
I have mentioned earlier that I had bought a great, but very neglected small farm. I have managed to clear a couple of areas. Turned one of the old berry beds into a chook yard.
I have cleared a second berry bed in preparation for a future veg garden. Problem is, I have a resident wombat. Her burrow has a tunnel about 10 metres long. It opens out in my future veg garden. If I collapse or fill in the burrow, she just digs it out again overnight. A pity our Roadworks aren’t that industrious.I will have to evict her. No point trapping, then moving her, they are used to travelling long distances. Also, the bloody thing is huge!
Shooting is the best option. It just seems a shame to waste so much meat. I quite like game meat. Am looking forward to a lot of rabbit pie as soon as my son turns up with his guns. I still have to get my licence. Am planning on buying a compound bow shortly to use in the meantime. This is why I wanted to know if anyone here has any experience eating wombat. Before anyone starts giving me stick about “poor things, they have rights too you know”, they are in plague proportions here and all the local farmers shoot them on sight. One too many horses, beef cattle with broken legs.Thanks in advance.
If you’re talking about shooting them just remember they’re a protected species in NSW and Victoria and you’ll need a permit.
However, having read a old hunting book I recall they’re a very tough meat, you’ll want something that penetrates well and try for the side so that the bullet enters the chest at the point behind the foreleg, slightly above and immediately behind the elbow joint.
Brittany Higgins’ civil claim for close to $3m against the commonwealth deserves close scrutiny. The Weekend Australian understands that this claim, set down for mediation next Tuesday, will likely be settled by the Department of Finance and paid for by taxpayers. In other words, it may never reach a courtroom.
Misdirection “whaddabout the taxpayers” screed by J. Albrechtsen.
Reality:
Any payout is Taxed, so a great hunk of the dosh isn’t leaving Treasury.
Labor is complicit, if only because Reynolds and Cash did such a great job of destroying the Coalition Government, Albanese and his handlers reckon they should be left in place to destroy any future Coalition Government.
That won’t happen if there’s a Trial and both the hags are crossexamined
on their lies.
Self and Not Self. MacFarlane Burnet’s first book from 1969, which I read back then, states the perennial issue well in its very title, John H. Every individual has a different experience presented to their immune system at differing stages of their development (depending on where and when they lived at each stage) and a different genetic heritage available for mounting an immune response as well. We are not the same as each other, as you note with your own experience of Covid and the possible flow-on extrapolations from that.
Hence individuated tailored medicine is the way of the future.
Or we can just leave well enough alone. 🙂
The WTI crude oil price has fallen quite a bit, now USD71.58/bbl. That’s down $20 in a month and $50 down from the peak in June.
It’ll be interesting to see if this knocks the top off inflation, since the climbing oil and gas prices initially caused it.
Since there doesn’t seem much investing in oil production this must put pressure on the oil price to increase in the long run. Interesting times we live in.
Given Higgins has listed Reynolds and Cash as respondents, alongside the commonwealth, will the department demand that Reynolds and Cash be part of the mediation negotiations next week to provide their version of events.
Albrechtsen is alleged to be a lawyer, so she’s flat out lying here.
Mediation isn’t adversarial, and Reynolds has already apologised and paid Higgins $20 grand for calling her a “lying cow”.
Lizzie, thanks for the link.
Bluey, Rule .303. Also, the three S’s. Shoot, shovel and Shut up.
Frank, the local Earthmoving guy owes me a favour. Might get him to fun over it a few times to tenderise it a bit. 😉
To everyone else, thanks guys. If you are ever down this way, you can be assured of a warm, wombat stew welcome.
Re: the inflation and fuel cost, Elbow could always cancel fuel excise.
News today is Albo is going to throw dosh at us instead.
“Millions of Australian households will soon be the beneficiary of a $1.5 billion plan by the Albanese Government to ease skyrocketing energy bills.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the plan after Friday’s National Cabinet, which met virtually to discuss Australia’s worsening cost of living crisis.
The Commonwealth will provide up to $1.5 billion of support to households and businesses which will be paid through state governments by directly reducing people’s bills.”
Tax us more Daddy so that you can give us some of the money back! It’s madness.
You are babbling on (now) about Twatter’s right to censor any speech that they want to, but do you have any thoughts on the now exposed reality that (old) Twatter staff were lying all the time about what they were up to? Was this also acceptable to you?
Careful, you may get a ‘you lot’ screed in response.
A tough looking group of bikers were riding when they saw a girl about to jump off a bridge so they stopped. The leader, a big burly man, gets off his bike and says “What are you doing?” “I’m going to commit suicide” she says. While he did not want to appear insensitive, he didn’t want to miss an opportunity he asked “Well, before you jump, why don’t you give me a kiss?” So, she does and it was a long, deep lingering kiss. After she’s finished, the biker says “Wow! That was the best kiss I have ever had. That’s a real talent you are wasting. You could be famous. Why are you committing suicide?” “My parents don’t like me dressing up like a girl…”
—
A woman was found guilty in traffic court and when asked for her occupation she said she was a schoolteacher. The judge rose from the bench. “Madam, I have waited years for a schoolteacher to appear before this court”. He smiled with delight. “Now sit down at that table and write ‘I will not run a red light’ five hundred times”.
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bearesays:
December 10, 2022 at 10:24 am
Self and Not Self. MacFarlane Burnet’s first book from 1969, which I read back then, states the perennial issue well in its very title, John H. Every individual has a different experience presented to their immune system at differing stages of their development (depending on where and when they lived at each stage) and a different genetic heritage available for mounting an immune response as well. We are not the same as each other, as you note with your own experience of Covid and the possible flow-on extrapolations from that.Hence individuated tailored medicine is the way of the future.
Or we can just leave well enough alone
That’s the old model Lizzie. Thecurrent model is Polly Matzinger’s Danger Theory. Very gifted woman, carpenter, jazz musician and a Playboy bunny before she went into research.
I’m not so much into models though because immunology is a not a system it is a cobbled together set of strategies of limited efficacy. When it comes to protecting us against bugs evolution fails. Infection has always been a major killer and in the elderly still is.
but do you have any thoughts on the now exposed reality that (old) Twatter staff were lying all the time about what they were up to? Was this also acceptable to you?
I can see a few problems with this, assuming it’s directed at mOron.
Firstly,mOron never ever has an original thought. EVER. All his utterances here are sent to him from his leftard HQ, updated daily.
mOron’s instruction from Deviant Central re: Twitter are ” but but they were only doing their job” or “Yawn, everyone knows Twitter censorship was a thing , so what’s new?”. That’s to cover their pants pissing panic now some truth is actually coming out. Elon=evil.
Lastly, anything at all is acceptable to mOron emanating from the p3do creep freak show at Deviant Central (aka The Left) if it furthers The Cause.
“Janet Albretchsen has got the bit between her teeth on this whole sorry saga.
She’s my favourite OZ columnist by a far stretch.”
Agree. I think Albrechtsen knows that the whole Higgins’ concoction was a political hit job from day one. Remember it was Albrechtsen and another Oz journo who last year blew the whistle on the Porter hit job, the Oz published a piece by Albrechsten which revealed the ravings, ramblings and ridiculous repressed memories of the Porter accuser, who was a nut job. My feeling is that she more than likely carried a torch for Porter and, as she descended into maniacal madness, she watched Porter’s career rise and this led her to fantasise about various things. And believe you me, the whole thing was a fantasy, a fantasy latched onto by an unscrupulous cabal of media and politicians to bring down the Morrison government.
And it worked because the Morrison government was so inept at handling the nonsense.
China doesn’t know about our secret weapon.
We fought the war and lost abjectly! Tough birdies. I was amused by this story last week.
‘The emus are loose!’: Police hunt six rogue birds roaming streets after farm escape (1 Dec)
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, quite a chilly place for an emu. It sounds like a lot of fun was had by everyone, even the emus, which were recaptured unharmed.
Good to see that you support Musk’s crackdown on leftist lies and the ugly child sex exploitation that were allowed to thrive under the previous management.
I believe Musk has already said it was not a free speech (as in First Amendment right) issue, but a private company colluding with a political party to influence electoral outcomes.
There is also, separately, an issue with Twitter having misled advertisers and profiting from the deception.
A company chaired by ALP federal president Goose Swansteen has been accused of misleading the government and the ASX over a Queensland sand mine project
Nice to see the Liars muscling in on the Lieboral’s territory. This is pure Dr John Hewson stuff. If a Wayne Goosesteen director’s appointment notice doesn’t get you on the phone to your broker I’m not sure what would.
I’m sure sensible heads in the military will have something to say also.
Um…
A military run by whiners (Surber, 9 Dec)
Pretty solidly captured by the Left, certainly at senior level. They’ll do exactly what they are told by the druids, since they are druids as well.
but a private company colluding with a political party to influence electoral outcomes.
The Govt and specifically the WH was directing and administering the censorship of their opponents and critics via a global mass media outlet. A clear violation of the 1st Amendment.
Wray will be on it shortly, have no fear.
I believe Musk has already said it was not a free speech (as in First Amendment right) issue, but a private company colluding with a political party to influence electoral outcomes.
One small example, it would also serve as a metric for justifying the type of decisions that come out of HR departments. From a culture war perspective Twitter would have been invaluable to one side by presenting a doctored view of the world.
Cassie of Sydney at 10:48 – Porter was at law school when I was knocking around there in the late 80s. He carved a swathe (to use a term) through the ladies, including a friend of mine currently married to the Managing Partner of the WA office of a high profile national firm. I think he is on his 3rd wife. I expected he enjoyed his time in Canberra.
Makkasays:
December 10, 2022 at 10:27 am
The thing is at least the people advocating nuclear power understand this subsidised rubbish doesn’t work. The sa premier is actually a breath of fresh air.
I’m sure I saw his comments this week where he was adamantly against nuke power because it’s “horrendously expensive”.
A couple of “bruvvas” paid him a visit?
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare says:
December 10, 2022 at 9:55 amThe Australian Paleo diet – which native animals should we eat?
Contains useful info on wombat as a fat source, and some findings re pre-contact aborignal consumption. Recipes not included but you could try stick on fire till done. ?
Obviously you have never eaten at a native BBQ. Cooking method is throw on fire, leave until most fur is burnt off then serve. Definitely blue rare!
Black Ballsays:
December 10, 2022 at 10:34 am
You are babbling on (now) about Twatter’s right to censor any speech that they want to, but do you have any thoughts on the now exposed reality that (old) Twatter staff were lying all the time about what they were up to? Was this also acceptable to you?
Careful, you may get a ‘you lot’ screed in response.
I could always give him a “you and your ilk?” in response?
Cassie of Sydney says: December 10, 2022 at 10:48 am
Albrechtsen knows that the whole Higgins’ concoction was a political hit job from day one.
And believe you me, the whole thing was a fantasy
On a site of mostly well-adjusted adults with a purpose in life, it is possible for some of us to not have contact with fantasizing young females.
Anyone who went to a high school with females would do well to not lose recollection of the capacity within girls to fantasize, often with catastrophic consequences for others, consequences of which the fantasist is either oblivious, or callously aware & unflinching about.
The fantasy, once there is significant investment in it, often becomes pathological & they cannot back off from it without severe personal consequences & they reach a point where it becomes fact, something that actually did happen. They believe the fantasy.
I came across this story about a Tasmanian surveyor born in the 1920’s and his life’s journey. I found it extremely interesting and a good read. Others may find the same. https://nre.tas.gov.au/Documents/Tony%20Peacocks%20story%20-%20in%20his%20own%20words.pdf
Bon the defence personnel I know in Canberra above Lieutenant are rabid lefties especially the ones in Bates and Cosgroves office. This is not an accident. The junior ranks are all conservative.
stack the military, stack the judiciary and the police forces, disarm the citizens and then you can rig the elections with no consequence
Peter Dutton doesn’t get any credit here, yet:
1. He was an Abbott loyalist, even though Abbott was leading them over a cliff that woulda included Dutton’s
marginal Seat
2. Led the rebellion against Turnbull that brought Mal down
3. Concluded a deal with the yanks as Defence Minister to buy Nuke Subs
4. Forced Albanese to honor his promise tom reduce Power Bills by $280/year
“Porter was at law school when I was knocking around there in the late 80s. He carved a swathe (to use a term) through the ladies, including a friend of mine currently married to the Managing Partner of the WA office of a high profile national firm. I think he is on his 3rd wife. I expected he enjoyed his time in Canberra.”
I also know people who know Porter. He’s a good looking man, Hale boy, good Perth family, he cut and still cuts quite a splash. I never really liked him though, his arrogance etc. But so what if he’s arrogant, no man deserved what happened to him. However, he should have spoken up for Pell after the HC verdict but he didn’t, he remained quiet and he rushed to release the RC findings. And then look what happened to him, he was targeted and destroyed by the same evil progressive cabal who went after Pell and are now destroying another man, Bruce Lehmann.
Just for the record, and because I would shout it everywhere if I could…
Cardinal George Pell was always innocent.
Christian Porter was always innocent.
Bruce Lehmann is innocent.
Pogria
I can relate to your wombat problems. They are in plague proportions here in the Monaro. I have largely given up trying to keep them out of the house paddock.
I have not tried eating wombat, but everything I have heard suggests that they are not exactly a culinary delight. I have tried possum and it was okay, but I was fairly pished at the time so my judgement might have been somewhat impaired.
I tried skinning a wombat once, but the hide was so tough that even with a very sharp knife it was not worth the trouble, to me at least.
Anyone who went to a high school with females would do well to not lose recollection of the capacity within girls to fantasize, often with catastrophic consequences for others, consequences of which the fantasist is either oblivious, or callously aware & unflinching about.
The whole world is turning into a Year 8 girls’ school class. At least the West is, that’s pretty clear.
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