Open Thread – Tues 21 March 2023


Saturn Devouring his Son, Peter Paul Rubens, 1636


Subscribe
Notify of
guest

2.3K Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Nelson_Kidd-Players
March 21, 2023 12:01 am

Autumn is coming!

Or at least the equinox. 8:24 this morning.

Nelson_Kidd-Players
March 21, 2023 12:02 am

That picture is disturbing.

Pattmclit
Pattmclit
March 21, 2023 12:06 am

Bad picture that!

Pogria
Pogria
March 21, 2023 12:24 am

Intruder Alert!

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
March 21, 2023 12:45 am

NOTES ON THE TWITTER FILES (19)

In the nineteenth installment of the Twitter Files, Matt Taibbi has posted a 45-part thread. It can be accessed via the first tweet in the thread below.

1.TWITTER FILES #19
The Great Covid-19 Lie Machine
Stanford, the Virality Project, and the Censorship of “True Stories”

In this installment the authorities confront a crisis of disbelief in the teachings of Lord Anthony Fauci. As President Muffley almost says in Dr. Strangelove, “Gentlemen, you can’t disagree here, this is the Covid war room.” Actually, you can’t disagree anywhere. Say this for the authorities. Unlike Vice President Harris, they do not confuse “exasperate” for “exacerbate.” Their mania to suppress divergence from the teachings of Lord Fauci is beyond exasperating.

This installment presents the story of the Virality Project (VP). Miranda Devine gives us a helpful Reader’s Digest version here: “The Virality project, run out of Stanford, is a dedicated censorship operation to protect Fauci and suppress all negative data on COVID-19 vaccine. The mentality is that you are too stupid to be trusted with the truth.”

Taibbi summarizes his findings in tweets 8 and 9. He tells the story in chronological form in the subsequent tweets. As Taibbi suggests, he has opened a window onto the dystopia the authorities are working up for us.

Matt Taibbi
Mar 18, 2023
@mtaibbi
8. – This story is important for two reasons. One, as Orwellian proof-of-concept, the Virality Project was a smash success. Government, academia, and an oligopoly of would-be corporate competitors organized quickly behind a secret, unified effort to control political messaging.

9.Two – , it accelerated the evolution of digital censorship, moving it from judging truth/untruth to a new, scarier model, openly focused on political narrative at the expense of fact.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
March 21, 2023 12:57 am

The Bleeding Obvious from the Comments – Just like an electric car, runs down over time and not user fixable.

The Problem With Your Dying AirPods and Other Bluetooth Earbuds

When earbuds’ tiny lithium-ion batteries die, they can’t be replaced

AirPods are a daily fixture in my life. I’ve recommended nearly every model of the wireless, portable and easy-pairing earbuds from their start. But Apple’s AAPL -0.12%decrease; red down pointing triangle market-leading earbuds, along with most other competing Bluetooth buds, have a big problem: tiny, irreplaceable batteries.

I have the first-generation AirPods Pro and, after about three years of constant calls, music and podcast playing, I can use them for less than an hour before the “womp womp” low-battery sound plays

Hundreds of millions of these wireless in-ear sets are sold every year, with AirPods and AirPods Pro being the most popular, according to analytics firm Counterpoint Research. Their lithium-ion batteries—similar to what powers smartphones and other electronics—degrade over time. Because earbuds are so small, their batteries tend to die faster, typically within a few years, and there’s no easy way to replace them.

Some day, your buds will end up in a drawer, recycle bin or, worse, landfill. AirPods are one of the many tech products we buy each year that die well before we want them to.

What about doing a repair yourself? Battery researchers I spoke to say you shouldn’t tinker with them, for safety reasons. And while there are alternative technologies that could power our devices for decades without needing to be replaced, they are a long way off and come with trade-offs that might deter companies from adopting them.

Caution: Fire Hazard

Most headphone makers don’t provide instructions on how to replace batteries in their earbuds or sell the batteries needed to perform the repair.

Apple offers AirPod battery service for all models no longer under warranty at $49 a bud, plus another $49 for the case. It’s pricey because it’s effectively a new pair, not a repair. “We will replace the user’s AirPod and send the previous one to a best-in-class recycler for responsible handling,” an Apple spokeswoman said.

And while Apple offers self-service repair for iPhones and Macs, it doesn’t provide DIY manuals or replacement parts for AirPods.

I wouldn’t attempt a battery swap myself, even if I could. The community repair website iFixit rated the original Pros a zero out of 10 on repairability because the internals are glued together and the battery is soldered down. A battery swap would effectively break the Pros.

Not all earbuds are as impenetrable as the AirPods. Gio Cerdena replaced the battery on Sony’s WF-1000XM3 himself after the buds, originally purchased in January 2020, stopped holding their charge. The model is bulkier than most, hence the relatively simple repair. Mr. Cerdena, an audio engineer based in Manila, said he watched a YouTube tutorial and sourced the replacement batteries online for $24. He said it took six minutes with a screwdriver in hand and a credit card as a prying tool.

Sony’s newer XM4 buds aren’t as repairable. A Sony representative declined to comment on DIY repairs.

Repair at your own risk. Batteries are the least safe parts of electronics. If they are punctured or short circuit, they can create a self-sustaining fire. In New York, much bigger e-bike batteries caused hundreds of dangerous fires last year.

Tightly glued parts make repair tougher, but there’s a reason behind it. The seal created by glue also prevents dust and water from damaging the battery, said Zhengyu Ju, a Ph.D. candidate researching batteries at the University of Texas at Austin.

The Limited Life of Batteries

Each time you use batteries, they decay a little bit. Researchers and technicians measure the decay rate based on charge cycles, that is, every time you use 100% of your battery. (This could be 30% one day and 70% the next.)

When a battery can only hold 80% of its original capacity, it’s considered a dud. Apple says iPhones can go about 500 charge cycles before their batteries hit that threshold. For Macs, it can be 1,000 charge cycles.

The company doesn’t share figures for its AirPods, however. Some analysts have pried the buds apart, and estimate that the type of battery used will reach 80% after about 500 charge cycles. If you’re running down your earbuds daily, that’s about a year and half’s worth of battery.

It isn’t a steady decay over time, however. Batteries age fast at first, then slowly, and then fast again toward the end of their lives, said Anna Stefanopoulou, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan. Fast charging and wireless charging can degrade batteries more quickly, she added. Apple’s Optimized Battery Charging setting can help here. When enabled, AirPods will charge more slowly until you need them, based on your charging habits.

New lithium-ion battery technology, using iron or titanate as a component, can last longer than current batteries. The trade-off is that both kinds hold less energy in the same amount of space, meaning potentially worse day-to-day battery life.

We could always forfeit the convenience and go back to wired headphones. Apparently the cool kids are doing it.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
March 21, 2023 1:13 am

Was surfing teh webs, and found a recent ‘interview’ between the Aussie Cossack chap and Mr Bosi. Got seven minutes into two hours of Bosi’s assessments of other candidates in the NSW election. Highlights of those seven minutes:

1. He said Lyle Shelton was a ‘pedo protector’ and an ‘alleged Christian. Naturally, he said he was a true Christian;
2. He said Craig Kelly was unreliable, as although he went to the anti-vax protest he wore bright red shoes whilst doing so;
3. He said all militaries from all nations were ‘fighting a subterranean enemy’; and
4. Then went really long on Q, and all things Q.

Click.

The comments were equally profound, including the usual pedos pedos pedos everywhere being hidden, that fish would be extinct within 24 years and that there were reports of chemtrails all along the eastern seaboard.

The upside was that Bosi was immaculately, and I mean immaculately attired. This was, however, spoiled somewhat by the very obvious Hair In A Can treatment.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
March 21, 2023 1:20 am

Bloody hell.

Smallish, yet cracking storm over my part of D-Town. Plenty of snap and crackle.

shatterzzz
March 21, 2023 1:36 am

Dragged myself over from the oldie .. LOL!

Gotta wonder about this shortage of modern weapons and explosives for the Ukraine! .. according to the media the ‘west’ is pouring weaponry into Ukraine at an incredible level yet now we getz reports of pre-war machine guns and a lack of explosives ……!
Sooooo, if the “west” is running short of portable, military equipment and “dynamite” type stuff how come this has never happened in the “3rd world” terrorist enclaves?
Never, ever hear ISIS, Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah .. I meanz USA has soo much excess weaponry that the Taliban was able to re-equip it’s entire military for free with some left over to sell to the “maaates”, and all the other “we-ain’t-happy-with-democracy” groups, aren’t, complaining they isn’t getting enuf supplies of the explodie stuff …..!
Seems “1st world” supply problems could do with some lessons from “3rd world” terrorist logistics experts ….. time for LGB to have a “fireside” how-does-ya-do-it wiv the Mullahs, methinx … FFS!

shatterzzz
March 21, 2023 1:41 am

Bloody hell.
Smallish, yet cracking storm over my part of D-Town. Plenty of snap and crackle.

And in Fairfield, NSW the ground is glistening with wetness for the 1st time in a coupla weeks .. tho no noise and from the depth of the puddles not one of “Hughie’s” more serious efforts

Gabor
Gabor
March 21, 2023 2:54 am

shatterzzz says:
March 21, 2023 at 1:36 am

Gotta wonder about this shortage of modern weapons and explosives for the Ukraine! .. according to the media the ‘west’ is pouring weaponry into Ukraine at an incredible level yet now we getz reports of pre-war machine guns and a lack of explosives ……!
Sooooo, if the “west” is running short of portable, military equipment and “dynamite” type stuff how come this has never happened in the “3rd world” terrorist enclaves?
Never, ever hear ISIS, Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah ..

Don’t compare a proper army firing thousands of artillery shells weekly if not more often with any terrorist group, who probably waste more bullets, shooting holes in the air than using in combat.

rosie
rosie
March 21, 2023 2:59 am

Only one more sleep till I head home to Australian shores.
Been having fun on the metro and finally ran across Canal Saint Matin during my above ground perambulations.
I’ve actually walked over the underground section dozens of times but always assumed it was a different canal that had been filled it.
It’s, well, picturesque. Pencilled in for a water tour ‘next time’.
Le Kremlin Bicêtre* lacks picturesquity but apartment wise much more bang for buck and the metro (or bus) is so convenient I’m not bothered by the idea of staying outside Central Paris again.
*Bicêtre is apparently a corruption of Winchester, a Bishop of Winchester once had a castle where the local hospital is now situated, why I don’t know but I would have liked it to still exist.
A disappointment but not as big as when I discovered the Bastille had been demolished or you could no longer cross the bridge at Avignon.

rosie
rosie
March 21, 2023 3:05 am

Thanks for the Bosi report KD.
Gotta love these I’m the one true Christian types.
I dare say Lyle doesn’t give a fig for his opinion.

rosie
rosie
March 21, 2023 3:22 am
H B Bear
H B Bear
March 21, 2023 3:25 am

Extinct fish is a worry. Particularly if you have concerns about what is in a Chiko roll.

Tom
Tom
March 21, 2023 4:02 am
Tom
Tom
March 21, 2023 4:03 am
Tom
Tom
March 21, 2023 4:05 am
Tom
Tom
March 21, 2023 4:06 am
Tom
Tom
March 21, 2023 4:07 am
Tom
Tom
March 21, 2023 4:08 am
Tom
Tom
March 21, 2023 4:10 am
Tom
Tom
March 21, 2023 4:11 am
Tom
Tom
March 21, 2023 4:12 am
Gabor
Gabor
March 21, 2023 4:33 am

Have to say, that pic is disturbing, try to scroll fast when opening the blog.

rosie
rosie
March 21, 2023 4:37 am
Miltonf
Miltonf
March 21, 2023 5:05 am

Bosi has to be a false flag

DrBeauGan
DrBeauGan
March 21, 2023 5:29 am

Thanks Tom.

rosie
rosie
March 21, 2023 5:45 am

I hope Chandler shares her views on the issue with jump to conclusions Pesutto.

win
win
March 21, 2023 5:47 am

Just checked out the nightmare above ,did Goya live in the house where he painted the murals? Please Dover have consideration for insomniacs I will have to go and get a restorative cup of coffee after that.
As for the Liberals eating their own what if this is a secretive underhand and deliberate attempt to remove all conservatives but retain the infrastructure the money and the unsuspecting voters whilst installing a Fascist party to reclaim the name Liberal for the Left. Abbott is losing the battle.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
March 21, 2023 6:00 am

Rosie, it has been enjoyable to share your travel journey with you as you explore the European heritage of Western Civilisation. Thanks too for commenting here also on political interests both here at home and abroad as you move around. Have an excellent last day away and a good and safe trip back.

rosie
rosie
March 21, 2023 6:15 am

Thank you Lizzie, I love it even with the occasional hiccup.
Next trip is Japan with family, not going to be able to wing it language wise, like I do in Romantic Europe.
I was a little worried before I left about the energy doom and gloom and though it’s clearly still an on going issue mostly because of net zero lemmings, there’s been a prioritising of lives today over climate catastrophe in the nebulous future.
Which reminds me of the greenie hippie couple I saw at Lisbon airport with their string bag of fruit and things.
They weren’t riding bicycles to wherever they were going.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
March 21, 2023 6:26 am

Yes, that picture on the Cat banner is confronting. It is part of a continuing Indo-European myth about an elemental demented god, later cast as the biblical devil, consuming their own child.
Kronos in Greek myth did exactly that. Kronos became Saturn in Roman mythology.
Roman history, probably rather invented, has the mad Emperor Caligula cutting his own child by incest out of his sister’s womb and devouring it, in an attempt to gain early the deification that all Roman Emperors could look forward to as they aged, and certainly after their deaths. The Emperor in the Julio-Claudian Empire was the deification in person of the Roman State. Constantine 1, enabler of Christianity’s spread in the fourth century, carried some of this hubris about his own relationship to the Eternal Sun deity. Only later in his life did he submit to the Christian authority of Baptism.

Devouring one’s child can stand as a metaphor now for evil forces consuming their own, but it is far too literal for me in this representation. It smacks too much of ancient ritual cannibalism and other sacrificial horrors, thankfully removed from humanity by the Christian ethos. But the myth dies hard.

Anchor What
Anchor What
March 21, 2023 6:32 am

Goya must have seen that painting.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
March 21, 2023 6:32 am

I awoke early, at 5.30 am after one of those restless nights that beset one in later life.
On such occasions I usually open up the Cat to face the day before catching a later kip.
Bit of a shock to the system to see today’s banner.
Not up to it in these early hours, seeking the comfort of normality online.
However, forewarned is now forearmed. Quick scroll down.

Anchor What
Anchor What
March 21, 2023 6:37 am

The USA is being eaten by the zombie left. The advent of mass mail-in ballots has made elections farcical.
Here is an article by Jay Valentine, a man well versed in the anatomy of fraud.
Remember Georgia? Not just the presidential election in 2020, but also the Senate run-off election was gamed in Georgia. It’s corruption of a terminal character, it’s destroying that nation.
Sensible states are now rejecting the ERIC system of voter roll review, which has been proven to assist voter fraud, not prevent it.
American Thinker

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
March 21, 2023 6:39 am

They weren’t riding bicycles to wherever they were going.

lol. Mindless hippie life – totally unperturbed by cognitive dissonance. Not on their radar.

In many places customs would also dump their disease-carrying fruit.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
March 21, 2023 6:43 am

DeSantis only won in Florida because during his period as Governor he cleaned up the electoral system.
His massive win shows what happens when that happens. It will have to happen across many States for the US system to regain any integrity. Which is why the governorships are so hard fought by the left.
Can’t have the rorts dug out by too many Republican governors. Elections might become fair.

Zipster
Zipster
March 21, 2023 6:49 am
Johnny Rotten
March 21, 2023 6:52 am

The local bar was so sure that its bartender was the strongest man around that they offered a standing $1,000 bet. The bartender would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass, and hand the lemon to a patron. Anyone who could squeeze one more drop of juice out would win the money. Many people had tried over time (weight-lifters, longshoremen, etc.) but nobody could do it.

One day this scrawny little man came into the bar, wearing thick glasses and a polyester suit, and said in a tiny squeaky voice ” I’d like to try the bet” After the laughter had died down, the bartender said “Okay” grabbed a lemon, and squeezed away. Then he handed the wrinkled remains of the rind to the little man.

But the crowd’s laughter turned to total silence as the man clenched his fist around the lemon and six drops fell into the glass.

As the crowd cheered, the bartender paid the $1,000, and asked the little man “What do you do for a living? Are you a lumberjack, a weight-lifter, or what?” The man replied “I work for the tax office”.

Johnny Rotten
March 21, 2023 6:53 am

Of puns it has been said that those who most dislike them are those who are least able to utter them.

– Edgar Allan Poe

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
March 21, 2023 6:53 am

Knuckles it sounds like you had your head 2/3 into a box of of Rice Bubbles.

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 6:55 am

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare says:
March 21, 2023 at 6:43 am
DeSantis only won in Florida because during his period as Governor he cleaned up the electoral system.
His massive win shows what happens when that happens. It will have to happen across many States for the US system to regain any integrity. Which is why the governorships are so hard fought by the left.
Can’t have the rorts dug out by too many Republican governors. Elections might become fair.

I remember the good old days when the counting and reporting of votes was completed within a few hours of the polls closing. The concession and victory speeches were completed before midnight and life went back to normal the next morning. This now only happens in Florida because DeSantis cleaned out the fraud.

I have heard comments that next Saturday’s NSW election results may not be know for days if not weeks because the vote counting, if not completed on Saturday, will not resume until Monday. Why? Can’t they employ more counters? I smell a rat.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
March 21, 2023 6:56 am

DeSantis skirting the Trump issue but laying hard into Soros-funded prosecutors who victimise the ordinary people with their neglect of crime and who politicise their role in high-profile cases against Republicans such as Trump (about whom, says DeSantis, he has no comment re hush-money for prostitutes – so putting a slow boot into Trump there; the race is on).

DeSantis is an astute politician, using his governorship to make his political points about what can be done with good governing, and eschewing entering the fray of Trump’s particular case, although he makes the general case against politicised Democrat prosecutors and their lawless effects.

He is a tough operator. I notice that at times he gets the same Trumpish uplift of his chin and that faint nod of determination which follows it.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
March 21, 2023 6:56 am

will Macron survive a no confidence motion?

Looks like he has, just.

Violence explodes on Paris streets hours after Macron narrowly survives no confidence vote (20 Mar)

The first motion from the centrists garnered 278 votes, falling just nine votes short of the 287 needed to pass, while the far-right initiative won just 94 votes.

Defeat from both votes by the opposition aimed at stopping the hugely-contested pension reforms in their tracks mean the associated bill has effectively been adopted.

It’s cute that Macron rammed the law through using the constitutional emergency provision because he didn’t have enough votes to get it passed. But then the pollies allowed it through by not voting it down in the no confidence motion. Methinks the pollies wanted the law but didn’t want to be seen voting for it.

I’ll be interesting to see what happens next. Must be a lot of anger in the banlieues.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
March 21, 2023 7:00 am

I have heard comments that next Saturday’s NSW election results may not be know for days if not weeks because the vote counting, if not completed on Saturday, will not resume until Monday. Why? Can’t they employ more counters? I smell a rat.

The more time the more crime? That’s certainly a possibility.

Especially after what happened in the US in 2020 when unaccountably (a word chosen carefully) the counting stopped in the early hours and in rolled the trolleys of ‘found’ votes, all for Biden.

Cassie of Sydney
March 21, 2023 7:00 am

“Was surfing teh webs, and found a recent ‘interview’ between the Aussie Cossack chap and Mr Bosi. “

I formed the view a while back that Bosi is a spook. I doubt very much he believes the shit, particularly the “pedo” shit, he’s spouting.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
March 21, 2023 7:07 am

My darling Hairy, nearly apoplectic last nite when Bolt and Sheridan were both laying into Trump, is still an Only Trump man. I’d like to see DeSantis get a run. Trump could remain iconic, an elder statesman unfairly victimised and only restored to his place in history after a younger man sweeps in on his legacy and cleans out the Democrat-Soros stables. I think DeSantis would be a good new broom who could ensure Trump got full recognition of his enormous legacy. Perhaps they could do a deal about that?

Cassie of Sydney
March 21, 2023 7:16 am

“DeSantis is an astute politician”

Yes, he is. He doesn’t flinch.

A thought for the day…

Florida has DeSantis, astute, combative (in a positive way), resolute. He fights culture battles and he presents a clear difference between himself and any Democrat rivals. Sometimes when I think America is gone, I’m reminded that there are bright spots such as Florida and DeSantis.

Here in Australia? I don’t have much hope. We have…..

1. The spineless Dominic Perrottet, who yesterday joined in the bandwagon to outlaw the Nazi salute. This from a man who, as a 21 year old, wore a Nazi uniform to a 21st.

2. Victoria has the Victorian Liberal Party under John Pussotto. Watching Pussutto on Credlin last night, I shook my head in disbelief that this is the best the Victorian Liberals can come up with. No wonder Dan is laughing. The Victorian Liberals may as well cease operations. They don’t even pretend anymore.

3. Moira Deeming should leave the Liberals and join either the Lib Dems or One Nation.

Perfidious Albino
Perfidious Albino
March 21, 2023 7:19 am

With the AEC now proactively enrolling addresses that may contain potential voters to receive postal ballots ahead of the voicerendum, I fear we are now heading down the same route as the US.

Attempt to post essentially the same comment yesterday declined by The Oz.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
March 21, 2023 7:20 am

Moira Deeming should leave the Liberals and join either the Lib Dems or One Nation.

Yes. Pauline Hanson, on Bolt last night, extended a very warm welcome to her to join.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
March 21, 2023 7:24 am

Pauline has learned a few political smarts over the years. She now reads her parliamentary points out which really assists in removing her peculiarities of speech construction. She has become softer in her facial features and manner of speaking, while losing nothing of the impact of her viewpoints.

Good on her. She has had a hard row to hoe and with Latham’s help (not like the other ninnies who surrounded her) she has figureheaded an impressive new Party. Not everyone’s ideal in policy and in its inchoate philosophy, but a goodly improvement on the current Big Two.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
March 21, 2023 7:30 am

proactively enrolling addresses that may contain potential voters to receive postal ballots

A worrying development, ballots floating around looking for a home. Postal votes should be restricted only to those named voters who apply for them, offering a reason for not turning up on the day.

Even now the system is compromised, as people are voting early before last minute announcements are made and in dribs and drabs where no how-to-vote handouts are being given.

Cassie of Sydney
March 21, 2023 7:44 am

I think Kellie-Jay best summed up Pussotto yesterday…

“To make claims based on a Wikipedia page when you’re supposed to be a serious politician is preposterous, what a shameful man”.

Pussotto should resign.

rosie
rosie
March 21, 2023 7:51 am

Funny how the crowd protesting tonight are young people for whom a pension age change is 30 to 40 years away.
I saw only a small 500 to 1000 group of mostly boomers, who are immediately affected marching on Saturday.
At night time it’s just an excuse, at least they aren’t tearing up Republique for a change.
The vehicle on fire looked to be a government one.
I’ll catch the bus through that area tomorrow morning (not leaving til later) and see if they what they’ve done.
Looks like one of the many rubbish piles and one government vehicle got it.
One the police in riot gear arrive…
you’ll notice in the latest tweet civilian vehicles are picking their way through, looks like it’s over.

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 7:53 am

PJW uses the Goya version of Saturn eating his children on his YouTube site.

Good choice Dover – we need to be reminded of the danger conservatives are in, not just from the obvious opposition. The need to “destroy” anyone who thinks even slightly outside the lines is strong. It’s unfortunate that Riccardo, for instance, has gone down that particular rabbit hole as there is plenty to object to on the surface.

I don’t want the Libs destroyed. I want them to come to their senses. If that means a period of rebuilding, then so be it. If all that remains after the State election are the rats in the ranks, it will no longer be a conservative party but something altogether different. The “broad church” has already narrowed down to a phoney green-left shadow which tolerates a few conservative members and is now pretty much unelectable.

It seems to me they don’t know who they are, what they want to be, and worst of all, who will want to vote for them. I’m reminded of the ball in the pinball machine, bouncing around never getting a point, dribbling straight through the voter paddles and winding up in the gutter.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
March 21, 2023 7:54 am

Hmm, since the battery is under the floor of the car I wonder if this applies to damage from potholes and the like?

Scratched EV battery? Your insurer may have to junk the whole car (20 Mar)

March 20 (Reuters) – For many electric vehicles, there is no way to repair or assess even slightly damaged battery packs after accidents, forcing insurance companies to write off cars with few miles – leading to higher premiums and undercutting gains from going electric.

And now those battery packs are piling up in scrapyards in some countries, a previously unreported and expensive gap in what was supposed to be a “circular economy.”

Battery packs can cost tens of thousands of dollars and represent up to 50% of an EV’s price tag, often making it uneconomical to replace them.

They seem quite fragile. As well as being horribly expensive. Going to be a lot of very surprised and somewhat poorer ex-EV owners methinks.

shatterzzz
March 21, 2023 7:55 am

All those protests and still he comes thru .. Macron getz his way .. pension age WILL be raised ..!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11882583/Emmanuel-Macron-survives-no-confidence-vote-just-NINE-votes-hugely-unpopular-pension-reforms.html

shatterzzz
March 21, 2023 8:00 am

Geez! .. doesn’t take much to get a glowing media eulogy these dayz .. naughty corner for anyone who doesn’t instantly recognize this “star” ….
I mean he was ‘probably, a wonderful bloke but full-on pubicity & pix … FFS!

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11882027/Star-Wars-actor-Paul-Grant-dies-aged-56.html

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 8:05 am

On Tolkien (again). It’s all a matter of taste. Some of us love vast, character filled stories, whether it’s historical fiction or fantasy or sci-fi, or the intricacies of murder mysteries and psychological thrillers.

The ultimate Big Book of Stories is the Bible, of course. If you read it cover to cover, as I have done a few times, you get a sense of a vast and complex history full of great characters with added poems, songs, genealogies, wars, intrigues, tragedies…the lot. Even bigger than Ben-Hur! 😀

Gabor
Gabor
March 21, 2023 8:09 am

Even bigger than Ben-Hur!

Now you are pushing it! LOL

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 8:12 am

I don’t want the Libs destroyed. I want them to come to their senses. If that means a period of rebuilding, then so be it. If all that remains after the State election are the rats in the ranks, it will no longer be a conservative party but something altogether different. The “broad church” has already narrowed down to a phoney green-left shadow which tolerates a few conservative members and is now pretty much unelectable.

————

And not a word from John Howard, the Liberal elder statesman who touted the “broad church” but had to excommunicate Pauline Hanson from it. The Nationals are no better with the beetrooter in charge.

Nelson_Kidd-Players
March 21, 2023 8:15 am

Lead item on the 8:00 AM radio news (Nein/Few facts):

It’s the last chance to save our environment from 1000 years of Armageddon (again)!!!!

Only interested in buying in comes with a free set of steak knives…

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
March 21, 2023 8:16 am

If you want to grow food you are a Nazi.

Trump and Le Pen backed these Dutch farmers – now they’ve sprung an election shock (CNN, 19 Mar)

“The movement was powered by ordinary farmers but has become an unlikely front in the culture wars. Donald Trump and Marine Le Pen have voiced support, while some in the far right see the movement as embodying their ideas of elites using green policies to trample on the rights of individuals.

According to Ciarán O’Connor, a Senior Analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, says the BBB have built a platform off the back of the protest movement for their party being the representative of the ‘true people.’

The BBB, he says, “have been one of the leading driving forces behind getting people out to protest but also shaping the ideologies and beliefs that power a lot of the movement; rejecting or disputing climate change or, at least, measures that would negatively impact farmers livelihoods and businesses; wider EU skepticism; burgeoning anti-immigration and anti-Islam views too.

Support from far-right

Former US President Donald Trump has promoted the protest at various points during his speeches in the past year. At a rally in Florida last July, he told crowds: “Farmers in the Netherlands of all places are courageously opposing the climate tyranny of the Dutch government.”

The Farmer-Citizen Movement has also won support from the far-right.

A report from The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism describes how what began as local protests got the attention of extremists and conspiracists, in particular seeing it as proof of the so-called “Great Reset” theory of global elites using the masses for their own benefit.”

And farmers are terrorists too. There you go. Amazing what you can learn from CNN.

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 8:16 am

The ultimate Big Book of Stories is the Bible, of course. If you read it cover to cover, as I have done a few times, you get a sense of a vast and complex history full of great characters with added poems, songs, genealogies, wars, intrigues, tragedies…the lot. Even bigger than Ben-Hur! ?

In my youth I even tried to count the number of generations from Adam to New Testament, particularly helpful were all the begats, and then I got sidetracked and never completed the project.

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 8:19 am

They’ve sleepwalked into this bizarre place where anything to the right of Gough Whitlam is a Nazi. Not a peep of pushback, they’ve accommodated demand after demand, trying to look “nice” to a hostile media.

The inflection point happened long ago – Abbott’s interview with Mark Riley. Since then, it’s been retreat all the way.

duncanm
duncanm
March 21, 2023 8:20 am

Rubens — if you’re in the (DeSantis paradise) of Florida, make sure you check out the Ringling museum in Sarasota. Largest collection of Rubens in the world, and a stunning, if somewhat historically jarring, collection of art, architecture and gardens.

duncanm
duncanm
March 21, 2023 8:22 am

OldOzziesays:
March 21, 2023 at 12:45 am
NOTES ON THE TWITTER FILES (19)

Musk doesn’t get enough credit for the work he has done here.
He put his money where is mouth is, and opened up the cesspit of US letter agencies and media for the world to see.

The best part is, he continues to shit-post on his own platform !

Cassie of Sydney
March 21, 2023 8:25 am

“callisays:
March 21, 2023 at 7:53 am”

Very good comment calli, I agree with every word you’ve written except for….

“I don’t want the Libs destroyed. I want them to come to their senses. “

The reason why I want the Liberals destroyed is because the time for them to come to their senses has passed. They are unable to fix themselves. Why? Because the party is now like a old bookcase, infested with parasitic left-wing lite green termites. The party is sick, the party is decaying, the party is rotten. It’s over.

Here’s an example, the Victorian Liberals. You’da thinka, after the disastrous state election result in November 2022, that the Vic Liberals would have sat down and ruminated on the fact that being “Labor lite” has simply not worked. But they seem unable to understand that voters will never choose a “lite version” over the “full fat version”. And the proof of their inability to learn anything? With Johnny Pussotto getting his facts from a doctored Wikipedia page, it’s clear that the Victorian Liberals have learnt nothing.

Voters will always vote for the real mccoy, not some pale, state imitation. The Liberals, state and federal, still hang on to the idea that “they are more fiscally responsible than Labor’. This might be true to some extent (not federally) but voters aren’t so worried about fiscal responsibility right now, they’re more worried about cultural issues. We’re living in the midst of a cultural revolution, every bit as sinister as what happened in China in the late 1960s. We want conservative politicians to address these issues, be it on transgenderism, religious freedom, free speech etc. And the Liberals, state and federal, have failed spectacularly on these issues. To be fair, this failure seems to infect right of centre parties across the West, they’re paralysed by spinelessness and cowardice. There are two exceptions, one is Donald Trump and the other is DeSantis. But back to Oz, we saw what happened to the likes of Zimmerman, Sharma, Allan and co. What is the point of voting for them? I can’t vote for them, I won’t vote for them. A few weeks before the last federal election, I had a run in with Sharma’s wife, who was out spruiking for her husband. Walking with three friends, we came across Mrs Sharma and some other Liberal hustlers. I was furious at Sharma joining in with is green progressive mates, Green Kean and Zimmerboy, to smear Katherine Deves. I told Mrs Sharma that I won’t be voting for her husband and I asked her, politely of course, whether she, as the mother of girls, is happy for biological males to complete against them in sport and to frequent female only changerooms and bathrooms. She said no, but then she said it’s complicated. I said no, it isn’t complicated, it’s basic biology. I will not vote for a party or candidates who refuse to speak up for common sense. and the Liberals have abandoned common sense.

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 8:26 am

while some in the far right see the movement as embodying their ideas of elites using green policies to trample on the rights of individuals.

See? They’re doing it again.

The farmers own their land. They make a living from it. They provide the population with food so others can use their time producing other things rather than just surviving.

The government wants this stopped and the land left fallow for the most specious of reasons. In a non-clown world they would be ridiculed and booted. But the slavering, rabid press holds them up as the heroes and paints the beleaguered farmer as the villain.

I presume those in the press like to eat. Perhaps a spell on bread and water would do them some good and focus their minds.

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 8:26 am

Nelson_Kidd-Players says:
March 21, 2023 at 8:15 am
Lead item on the 8:00 AM radio news (Nein/Few facts):

It’s the last chance to save our environment from 1000 years of Armageddon (again)!!!!
Only interested in buying in comes with a free set of steak knives…

Environmentalism is exhibiting all the characteristics of religion even down to its own version of the apocalypse. Solar panels and wind turbines are the churches and cathedrals of the new religion with all the class of this generation. No lovely gothic architecture, we get the brutalist atrocities littering the countryside.

In urban areas, instead of crosses that used to be displayed in homes we have solar panels on roofs. They not only show the devotion to the weather gods but that the occupants are rich enough to afford the expensive accoutrements, the more panels on the roof the wealthier the owners of the abode.

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 8:40 am

I don’t want a one party state, Cassie.

At present, we are looking at a grim future, with Labor controlling virtually every level of government in the country. Only a very stupid person would see this as a good thing. The Libs/Nats will simply become a small, fringe party like the others. Worst case scenario – instead of joining ranks they will all squabble over the crumbs.

shatterzzz
March 21, 2023 8:40 am

A disappointment but not as big as when I discovered the Bastille had been demolished or you could no longer cross the bridge at Avignon.

I felt the same when visiting Edinburgh Castle and discovering the “parade ground ampitheatre” they use for the “Tattoo” is, actually, the, sloping, outside car park with false decking and temporary spectator seating surrounds …. LOL!

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 8:41 am

I presume those in the press like to eat. Perhaps a spell on bread and water would do them some good and focus their minds.

Calli, I would not allow them bread either, it is a product of farming. They can eat only what they grow in their urban high rise rooftop gardens.

flyingduk
flyingduk
March 21, 2023 8:42 am

I have heard comments that next Saturday’s NSW election results may not be know for days if not weeks because the vote counting, if not completed on Saturday, will not resume until Monday. Why? Can’t they employ more counters? I smell a rat.

IIRC, even the UN labelled counting delays of more than a day as a sign of electoral fraud.

flyingduk
flyingduk
March 21, 2023 8:45 am

For many electric vehicles, there is no way to repair or assess even slightly damaged battery packs after accidents, forcing insurance companies to write off cars with few miles – leading to higher premiums and undercutting gains from going electric.

Might explain the 23% rise in my annual premium Shannons floated a week back – and for *zero* change in sum insured – they reduced it to 8% when I complained … but why did it go up at all for no change to sum insured and no change in my no claim status?

Cassie of Sydney
March 21, 2023 8:46 am

I don’t want a one party state, Cassie.

Nor do I. And I don’t want wall to wall Labor. But I can’t keep propping up a party that likes to spit in my face, and that is the Liberal Party in 2023. Voters have options, such as the Lib Dems and One Nation.

Black Ball
Black Ball
March 21, 2023 8:47 am

I see Molly Meldrum ‘took it out’ (HT Elaine Benes) at Rod Stewart’s concert. Couldn’t be bothered finding the toilet. Give it up Molly.

Cassie of Sydney
March 21, 2023 8:48 am

And actually, we already have a one party state. There is zero difference between Labor and Liberal.

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 8:49 am

calli says:
March 21, 2023 at 8:40 am
I don’t want a one party state, Cassie.
At present, we are looking at a grim future, with Labor controlling virtually every level of government in the country. Only a very stupid person would see this as a good thing. The Libs/Nats will simply become a small, fringe party like the others. Worst case scenario – instead of joining ranks they will all squabble over the crumbs.

Calli, we have had a one party system for a while now. It became evident during COVID lockdowns when there was no difference between state governments and their restrictions. They all acted the same and hid their “sources” of scientific information on which they based their decisions. It was unnatural the way they all agreed, particularly about keeping us in the dark. The more frequent and longer the daily media circus by premiers the less we knew.

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 8:50 am

Not much room inside the castle walls, Shatterzzz. What struck me was the way the bleachers were constructed (we arrived a week after the Tattoo and they were being removed).

To maximise the space for the performance, the seating is built on a cantilever system extending over the slopes to the sides of the paved area. If you have a look at the castle on Google earth you’ll see what I mean. It was very impressive, but then the Scots have produced some very good engineers in the past. It’s like giant Lego, all put up and removed in a few days.

And that slope! Not the most ideal stage and very slippery in the inevitable rain. Doughty, that’s what they are.

mem
mem
March 21, 2023 8:51 am

Last chance, urgent, roll up, roll up, snake oil going cheap! Here’s the ABC’s written version.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-21/ipcc-report-how-to-keep-global-warming-below-1-5-degrees/102112836

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
March 21, 2023 8:51 am

I was informed that off-shoring wind turbines in Gippsland and hooking them into the existing transmission system in the La Trobe valley, which will be heavily under-utilised as the coal stations are shut down, would destroy most of the cost benefit calculations for the very long inland transmission proposals.
Putting isolated wind farms on hills across the countryside always looked like an anathema to logistics and basic economic assumptions.
Albo declared 29,000 kms of line must be built and so be it.

Black Ball
Black Ball
March 21, 2023 8:53 am

Here you go Cassie. Shannon Deery in the Hun:

Will they ever learn?

The Victorian Liberals should have spent this week challenging the Andrews government over a range of corruption issues.

Instead, they will spend it talking about Moira Deeming and themselves.

Who knows what was going through the minds of those inside Liberal HQ when the statement announcing moves to expel Deeming was issued at 8.42pm on Sunday.

Until then there had been much discussion and media coverage of Saturday’s Let Women Speak rally that was gatecrashed by a group of neo-Nazis. Almost none of it mentioned Deeming. But this is a party that has made an art form of focusing on themselves.

The party’s attention this week should have been on prosecuting government corruption. On Wednesday, the upper house will vote to establish a select committee to probe concerns of government corruption raised by former IBAC chief Robert Redlich.

Under the proposal, witnesses would be called in a bid to prove claims of government interference over the parliament’s Integrity and Oversight Committee. Mr Redlich has explicitly accused the government of launching revenge attacks on IBAC in retaliation to a series of probes into its dealings.

The opposition needs to secure seven votes to get the motion over the line. It is confident it has the support of the four Greens MPs, meaning there are just three more votes needed. One Nation’s Ricki-Lee Tyrrell has said she will support “any inquiry into alleged corruption within our governing bodies”. That leaves just two more votes. It shouldn’t be hard.

It will be the first major test of the new look upper house that has lost government-friendly MPs in Fiona Patten and Andy Meddick.

Pesutto’s problem is that even if Deeming is booted from the parliamentary wing of the party, sources say there’s no appetite to expel her from the broader party.

Whatever you think of her views, Deeming enjoys a vast amount of grassroots support.

Booting her from the party won’t eradicate that support, or the views of those inclined to offer that support. This is a broader Liberal brand issue that Pesutto is taking on.

Having only narrowly won the party leadership by a single vote in December, he has now set a huge test of his own leadership. Just a month ago Pesutto himself was throwing his support behind Deeming.

The party knew what they were getting with Deeming, complete with ultra-conservative views on topics such as abortion and trans rights. Some Liberals dubbed her “Bernie without a penis” – a crude reference to the man she replaced in the upper house. Finn remained a thorn in the side of the Liberals for years, flitting nonchalantly between controversies.

Both former leaders Matthew Guy and Michael O’Brien had been eager on more than one occasion to boot hit from the party.

But they knew it came with grave political risk. The last thing any leader wants to do is to take a stance and then be seen to be weak when they can’t follow through.

When Finn broke party ranks to advocate for a winding back of abortion laws last May, Guy bit the bullet. After issuing Finn with an ultimatum to fall into line or leave the party, Guy ultimately backed a push to expel him from the party.

Pesutto has bitten the bullet early, keen to avoid a Bernie 2.0 situation. It’s also clear he’s keen to send a strong message he’s reforming the Liberal Party, and able to make the tough decisions to do it. You can’t do that by saying it, you need to live it.

More moderate Liberals firmly believe Pesutto had no choice but to act in a bid to appeal to mainstream Victoria who oppose Deeming’s views.

It could hurt him. It might even kill him. But Pesutto has picked the hill he’s willing to die on.

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 8:57 am

Don’t imagine I’ll be voting Lib on Saturday. I won’t.

At present we have two parties, at least on paper. My first comment today was about coming to their senses and restoring past policies and attitudes to their base voters. That may involve a collapse.

As you may have guessed, I like tales and fables. Perhaps the phoenix is the one I’m looking for here.

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 8:59 am

Sorry. Two “main” parties. I’m not dissing the minor ones.

Nelson_Kidd-Players
March 21, 2023 9:00 am

At least NSW Libs have elements of sensibility, Calli. Wanna swap for the Vic version? 🙁

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 9:05 am

More moderate Liberals firmly believe Pesutto had no choice but to act in a bid to appeal to mainstream Victoria who oppose Deeming’s views.

And…here we go again.

Does “mainstream Victoria” really oppose Deeming’s views? Do they even know who Deeming is? Has any Liberal bothered to canvass their own constituents to establish what they would like to see as policy on the whole trans issue? I bet the lazy buggers haven’t even made a single call.

So, in an effort to woo people who would never vote for them in a pink fit, they estrange those who would vote for them out of sheer laziness and cowardice. They love the opinions of scribblers more than those other scribblers – the ones who will put a “1” beside their name on the ballot.

Indolent
Indolent
March 21, 2023 9:06 am
Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
March 21, 2023 9:06 am

Albo declared 29,000 kms of line must be built and so be it.

One for you Farmer Gez:

Widgee “Say NO to the Lines” Rally: Meet the Aussie Battlers Standing Up to Big Green (WUWT, 19 Mar)

“When Net Zero obsessed Aussie Federal and State Governments announced large scale electricity grid extensions to service renewable energy installations, they forgot to talk to the land owners.

Last Friday I attended a meeting at Widgee Bushman’s Bar for people concerned about the green grid extensions. Some prominent politicians spoke at the event. Federal Senator Malcolm Roberts, and Federal Member of Parliament Colin Boyce spoke up about their concerns over the way land owners are being treated.

Talking to Nolene from Kilkivan Action Group, the biggest issue with the power line extension project to date has been a perception of very poor or incomplete communication. People are worried about the impact on their land, and there are also fears of communities being divided by sharp negotiating practices.”

Like the farmers in Holland there seems to be a centralized political effort by the green-left to rape Nat-voting country towns and farmers of Australia. Kulaks are ever the class enemy of these totalitarians.

shatterzzz
March 21, 2023 9:07 am

Might explain the 23% rise in my annual premium Shannons floated a week back – and for *zero* change in sum insured – they reduced it to 8% when I complained … but why did it go up at all for no change to sum insured and no change in my no claim status?

My funeral insurance has gone up year by year but over the past 5 the size of the increases have become very noticeable and when I asked about it .. duuuuuuuh! .. “As you get older (past 70) the chance of claiming becomes greater .. therefore the increase(s) reflects the age” ..
I 1st took it out when the kids were still at school and as a single parent on benefit wanted to ensure that if anything happened to me, at least, digging the hole & throwing me in was covered .. as time went on the kids have all made good and it ain’t necessary anymore but there is no refund and all those years of paying in ain’t worth losing so I keep it up .. told ’em to have a decent piss up wiv the outcome ..
Fun fact .. 20 years ago it started at $7 a fortnight now at 75 it’s at $ 102 a fortnight tho pre 70 it was $48 ….. at least the payout also keeps rising .. currently at $32 000 .. if I reach 80 it’s free for the final run ..

Cassie of Sydney
March 21, 2023 9:09 am

“to mainstream Victoria who oppose Deeming’s views.”

Err…..what? I doubt very much whether mainstream Victorians oppose Deeming’s views on todgers, pricks, dicks, penises, shlongs, and cocks in frocks in female only toilets and changerooms.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
March 21, 2023 9:10 am

In Land of the Free news:

NYPD and Secret Service to meet TODAY for talks on ‘major security undertaking’ before Trump’s looming arrest – as cops set up barriers around Manhattan courts

Notable that even the ‘conservative’ end of the MSM spectrum is focussed on the security risk to New Yorkers, rather than the political risk of a partisan ‘criminal’ indictment created whole out of a technical misdemeanour.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world:

Xi Jinping says China ready to ‘stand guard over world order’ on Moscow visit

Understandable.
Possibly even a good, or less worse thing under all the circumstances.

Biden’s Amurka has vacated that field and endorsed another on behalf of the West, based on pronouns.

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 9:11 am

More moderate Liberals firmly believe Pesutto had no choice but to act in a bid to appeal to mainstream Victoria who oppose Deeming’s views.

It could hurt him. It might even kill him. But Pesutto has picked the hill he’s willing to die on.

Then he should be given the honour of dying on that hill.

Eyrie
Eyrie
March 21, 2023 9:16 am

Long but good. War and history Cats may like this:
https://no-pasaran.blogspot.com/2020/05/red-army-during-ww-ii-extolled-by.html

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 9:20 am

Cassie of Sydney says:
March 21, 2023 at 9:09 am
“to mainstream Victoria who oppose Deeming’s views.”

Err…..what? I doubt very much whether mainstream Victorians oppose Deeming’s views on todgers, pricks, dicks, penises, shlongs, and cocks in frocks in female only toilets and changerooms.

These people judge by themselves, they think they are the moral and rational mainstream and nothing will change their minds. What used to be a norm in our society and civilisation is that you acknowledged other points of view, let them be expressed and then assessed those on their merits. Now judgements are made on the sort of people who wish to express a different opinion and declare them invalid simply because of who said it.

Diogenes
Diogenes
March 21, 2023 9:26 am

And actually, we already have a one party state. There is zero difference between Labor and Liberal.

While it had been obvious for a while , this goes back way more than I realised. TIKhistory’s latest, even though it is about Mosley and Fascism is most enlightening. The video thumbnail has it as the “Lib Lab con” https://youtu.be/AGaPaOPNubo

Chris
Chris
March 21, 2023 9:27 am

I don’t want the Libs destroyed.

Pretty hard to see how that is not already over.
In my opinion, its mostly caused by the degenerate media; it rewards emotional grabs, and emotional grabs hating Liberals for strawman misrepresentations about their values and beliefs is the core business of the Labor Party and most of the activist cause organisations.
Who do real Liberals hate enough to lie about their values?

Top Ender
Top Ender
March 21, 2023 9:29 am

Another reason to not visit the Alice:

Namatjira MLA Bill Yan is unable to count the amount of complaints he has received from Alice Springs residents that have been impacted by rock throwing in the past year.

Last Wednesday evening, an Alice Springs tow truck driver was struck in the eye by a rock on Larapinta Dr, with surgery unable to save his left eye.

His employer, Andrew Mowles, said rocks were thrown at tow trucks completing late-night jobs so often he kept spare side windows for his trucks in the office.

Mr Yan has lived in the area for 33 years, including a large portion working in tour buses, and said he had never seen the behaviour become as prevalent as the past six months.

“It’s been escalating, and after I put up a post up about the two truck driver I’ve got messages from other truck drivers saying they hate driving through Alice Springs, I’ve spoken to the boss of ATG Downunder and they’ve had all sorts of issues with windows smashing on buses for the last six or twelve months.

“It’s not just cars either, there’s people that live along Lyndavale Dr, their car windows are smashed in their driveways, windows of housing units are being smashed by rocks, all their solar panels on the roofs of their houses are smashed by rocks,” he said.

NT News

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 9:31 am

Media used to operate in a manner that presented facts and opinions. There were reporter, I use that word deliberately, who specified the who, what, where, when and how, with pictures. The op-ed pages the tried to interpret the why and the way forward, the more suggestions the better and people could then decide which to take on board.

Today we have journalists, and I use the word deliberately, who are not too fussed about the who, what where and when but are keen to tell you the why. To top it all off, only the “right” kind of opinion is permitted to pollute the national conversation.

bons
bons
March 21, 2023 9:34 am

Winding back baby murder is an extremist position according to Deery.
Is it the water in Victoria?

Cassie of Sydney
March 21, 2023 9:35 am

This is what that imbecile and all round moron John Pussotto has done, emboldened the left. No wonder they laugh. From the Oz…

Labor MP Peter Khalil says he hopes federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will take leadership in condemning the behaviour of Nazis similar to his Victorian counterpart.

“Now I know John Pesutto, the Victorian Liberal leader is taking a leadership position here and seeking to ban the MP that was involved in that rally. And that’s something that he’s doing,” Mr Khalil told RN Breakfast.

“I would hope that the federal Liberal leader, Peter Dutton, also shows the same level of leadership and condemns that type of behaviour and condemns the Nazis.

“Remember, you know, he’s a former defence minister, there were 40,000 Australians who died in World War II fighting fascism and fighting the Nazis … So I would hope that he comes down and condemns this unequivocally and supports his colleague in the Victorian Liberal party.”

The Liberals don’t need Labor/Greens to destroy them. They destroy themselves.

Next time Labor and Greens politicians attend a pro-Palestinian rally where there are placards with words such as “from the river to the sea” (a call for genocide), and where there are placards with the swastika superimposed on a Star of David, I will wait for the stupid effing Liberals to apply the same standards.

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 9:35 am

I suppose my view tries to look beyond the instant destruction of something I don’t like right now to what happens next. And whether what happens next will be better or worse than what is happening now.

Bismark said politics is the art of the possible. So what is possible as the principal conservative party self destructs?

I’m more attuned to Galbraith’s – Politics is not the art of the possible. It consists in choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
March 21, 2023 9:36 am

Knuckle Draggersays:

March 20, 2023 at 7:04 pm

As promsied earlier this morning – here is (ALP) Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison speaking to a sombrely-nodding media after the stabbing murder of a bottleshop attendant …

Compare and contrast the reaction after the Rolfe-Walker skirmish.
“Consequences will flow from this …”

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 9:39 am

So I would hope that he comes down and condemns this unequivocally and supports his colleague in the Victorian Liberal party.

I would hope that Peter Khalil bites his own bum and disappears up his own hopeful orifice.

Dutton will cave in to Khalil’s “hopes” though. Wouldn’t want to disappoint him.

lotocoti
lotocoti
March 21, 2023 9:40 am

Bruce of Newcastle says:
March 21, 2023 at 9:06 am

Was out that way the other day.
Plenty of Powerlink Our Gates Are Locked signs along the highway.
The large scale solar farm* came as a bit of a surprise.
A satellite solar farm on the connection road definitely would’ve caused
some community undergruntlement.
*500 hectares once completed.

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 9:40 am

The only thing that has not changed is the activist class, they were always the leisured class and are that today. They don’t have to work for their living, someone else is doing that or has done in the past so they are comfortably situated.

At first I thought activists of the past were noble and campaigned for changes that needed to happen but then the same claim is made by today’s activists. My second thought is that previous eras’ activists were the same, bored and just wanted to have something meaningful to do. Just as today, some just wanted to wreck the status quo and to stick it to the normies, they wanted to set the world on fire just to watch it burn.

Chris
Chris
March 21, 2023 9:46 am

Then he should be given the honour of dying on that hill.

Nah. Pond him in a sewage farm and leave him naked on the steps of the Joan of Arc statue.

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 9:47 am

Next time Labor and Greens politicians attend a pro-Palestinian rally where there are placards with words such as “from the river to the sea” (a call for genocide), and where there are placards with the swastika superimposed on a Star of David, I will wait for the stupid effing Liberals to apply the same standards.

Who would even alert them to such an occurrence? Certainly not the media. If they actually had cluey advisors, other that the likes of knickerless Brittney, they could have their own “observers” at such rallies looking for things to embarrass Labor and Greens.

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 9:47 am

Oh, for the good old days, Crossie.

We should be careful what we wish for.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
March 21, 2023 9:53 am

Ok – Lell I have someone to vote for in Manly in Lower House

Dr Phillip Altman – Independent For MANLY

WHY AM I STANDING FOR THE SEAT OF MANLY IN THE NSW LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ?

I am running for office because I was approached by Manly voters and asked to run. I agreed because I want to save lives. Urgently

Our current politicians are doing an abysmal job and failing us spectacularly across all aspects of society but in particular people of all ages are dying due to their ineptitude. This is an acute emergency and we must act NOW

I have a PhD with decades of experience in the scientific and drug regulatory fields, have run numerous businesses and staff dealing with government and complex issues and I understand the needs of the community and want to contribute. See more information under About. I am a husband, father and grandfather who was retired and leading a pleasant life when the COVID pandemic arose in early 2020.

Upon observing the unfolding of events and information regarding the new generation of gene-based COVID-19 “vaccines”, I became very concerned regarding the safety and efficacy of these therapeutics. I commenced researching the available pharmaceutical data. It soon became apparent to me that these so-called COVID-19 “vaccines” were causing more harm than good and the government advice regarding the safety and efficacy of these products was not supportable.

I have become very active in speaking to and advising various Federal politicians of the dangers of these “vaccines”, giving both national and international podcast and radio interviews, speaking and supporting various medical groups, working with eminent medical experts and participating in legal action to protect children from COVID vaccination. I have also been active in publishing papers and opinions regarding the COVID “vaccines” and I have an online presence.

You may find a bibliography of my work appended to this website and you will find ongoing opinion and information published on a regular basis at my Substack by going to phillipaltman.substack.com.

The government has not provided the public with good advice. In fact, all the advice on these COVID “vaccines” has now been found to be incorrect.

These “vaccines” are not safe and effective and have been associated with the highest incidence of death and serious adverse events than any other drug in the history of the pharmaceutical industry.

There is nobody in either State or Federal politics at the moment who has my level of experience and knowledge who can properly assess the safety and efficacy of these COVID “vaccines” and properly inform the public so they are aware of the dangers.

This is just the beginning…..more gene-based “vaccines” are on their way.

If I am elected for the seat of Manly, I will also be the voice of those people who have been vaccine injured, lost jobs due to vaccine mandates and who want to protect their children from unnecessary and dangerous COVID vaccinations & other genetic therapies. I will continue to advise the public on the most recent and up to date information on these COVID “vaccines” so they can be fully informed and make proper decisions on their own health choices.

Dr. Phillip Altman

BPharm(Hons), MSc, PhD

flyingduk
flyingduk
March 21, 2023 9:56 am

The large scale solar farm* came as a bit of a surprise.

Start calling it by its proper name, its an industrial site, its a Solar *Factory* not a farm.

Chris
Chris
March 21, 2023 9:58 am

And not a word from John Howard, the Liberal elder statesman who touted the “broad church” but had to excommunicate Pauline Hanson from it. The Nationals are no better with the beetrooter in charge.

And like Malcolm Fraser or Whatsisname Trumble , John Howard gets called a statesman now for leading a media-Left pogrom against normal, decent people in 1996.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
March 21, 2023 10:02 am

Good morning extremists!

Eyrie
Eyrie
March 21, 2023 10:05 am

Start calling it by its proper name, its an industrial site, its a Solar *Factory* not a farm.
The proper name is Tax Farm. They farm taxpayers.

lotocoti
lotocoti
March 21, 2023 10:08 am

I would hope that the federal Liberal leader, Peter Dutton, also shows the same level of leadership

Timorously abasing yourself in some forlorn hope to attract those undecided voters
of myth and legend isn’t leadership.
Delivering a hearty GFY to anyone who plays the mØntyesque guilt-by-proximity card, is.
Spiro Agnew.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
March 21, 2023 10:08 am

Note the Bias in the – https://elections.nsw.gov.au/2023-nsw-state-election-information-for-candidates/counting-and-results/legislative-council-voting-and-counting

Legislative Council voting

To cast a formal vote an elector may choose to vote either ‘above the line’ or ‘below the line’ on the Legislative Council ballot paper.

Voting above the line

If an elector chooses to vote above the line, they must place the number ‘1’ in the group voting square for the group of their choice.

The elector may show further preferences by placing the number ‘2’ in the group voting square next to their second choice, the number ‘3’ in the group voting square next to their third choice and so on.

In the example Legislative Council ballot paper at Figure 1, assume Groups A, B, C and E each have 15 candidates in their group. The elector has voted above the line. The numbers below the line illustrate how this ballot paper would be counted.

Above the line vote

Counted

1 for Group A ‘Labor’

Ballot paper is counted 1 to 15 in ballot paper order for the 15 candidates in Group A

2 for Group E ‘The Greens’

Ballot paper is counted 16 to 30 in ballot paper order for the 15 candidates in Group E

3 for Group B

Ballot paper is counted 31 to 45 in ballot paper order for the 15 candidates in Group B

Figure 1

Voting below the line

If an elector chooses to vote below the line, they must vote for at least 15 candidates by placing the numbers ‘1’ to ‘15’ in the squares next to the candidates in the order of their choice.

The elector may show further preferences, starting with the number ‘16’ and so on.

When voting below the line, the elector is not required to vote for all candidates in a group before voting for candidates in another group as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

Ballot papers marked above and below the line

If a ballot paper is marked both above the line and below the line, and both sections are formal, the below the line section takes precedence. If one section (above or below the line) is formal and the other informal, the formal section takes precedence.

Under no circumstances should an elector be instructed to vote both above and below the line on their ballot paper.

P
P
March 21, 2023 10:09 am

Vatican Largely Silent as China Forces Catholics to ‘Adapt to Socialist Society’
For many years, knowledgeable voices have been warning the Vatican about the dangers of Sinicization.

Excerpts:

“The CCP is following the Soviets’ 1970s and 80s-era model of repression of the churches by means of surveillance, co-option, regulation and indoctrination,” Shea told the Register. “This is intended to end Catholic and other Christian belief and teaching while maintaining their public forms in order to hide its repression and to better infiltrate the Church and its teachings.”

In basic terms, Sinicization of religion means “replacing the worship of God with the worship of the Communist Party of China and its leaders,” according to a report by the Population Research Institute on the controversial 2018 Sino-Vatican agreement on the appointment of bishops. “This is precisely what the Nazis attempted to do in the 1930s with its so-called Nazification program, namely, turn the Catholic and Protestant churches of Germany into ardent supporters of National Socialism and promoters of its ideology.”

In terms of challenging the CCP’s indoctrination, she said “outside China we used to receive cries of resistance and requests for help, but now China controls the mass media, and every mode of communication.” Even in the National People’s Congress, the state legislature of China, she said, “the voting rate in the election of Xi as the president is 100%.”

“How can the grassroots say no to the government, when high-ranking officials dare not oppose Xi?” Sister Beatrice asked.

H B Bear
H B Bear
March 21, 2023 10:11 am

It could hurt him. It might even kill him. But Pesutto has picked the hill he’s willing to die on.

Cocks in frocks. Welcome to modern politics.

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 10:18 am

Chris says:
March 21, 2023 at 9:58 am
And not a word from John Howard, the Liberal elder statesman who touted the “broad church” but had to excommunicate Pauline Hanson from it. The Nationals are no better with the beetrooter in charge.
And like Malcolm Fraser or Whatsisname Trumble , John Howard gets called a statesman now for leading a media-Left pogrom against normal, decent people in 1996.

I was being facetious. Perhaps too subtle.

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 10:19 am

Eyrie says:
March 21, 2023 at 10:05 am
Start calling it by its proper name, its an industrial site, its a Solar *Factory* not a farm.
The proper name is Tax Farm. They farm taxpayers.

Yes, the taxpayers are being milked.

Eyrie
Eyrie
March 21, 2023 10:20 am

When it comes to John Winston Howard, polite words fail me.

lotocoti
lotocoti
March 21, 2023 10:24 am

after attending a far-right protest

As tranny fans throw about TERF with gay abandon,
perhaps someone at Nein News could explain which bits of
RadFemdom’s ideology is “far right”.
The collectivism?
Annihilating the patriarchy?
Or perhaps all-PIV-is-rape?

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 10:25 am

Fortunately I have an alternative here in Port Stephens, so I don’t have to spoil my ballot.

It won’t matter – Labor is a shoo-in, regardless of the looming loss of jobs due to their rush to destroy mining and industry here.

But Medowie will get a high school. Nah, just kidding. They will get plans for a high school.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
March 21, 2023 10:29 am

Today marks 20 years since the beginning of the Iraq War. Has John Howard been arrested for sending Soldiers off to kill people on a false premise. Weapons of mass destruction? When it comes to dirty work politicians are never responsible.

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 10:30 am

We are now living in upside down world.

Women from all walks of life, from radical feminists to housewives, meet to protest infiltration of women’s facilities and sports by biological males. And they’re called “far right”.

Let that sink in. The “patriarchy” that so many fought against has won. Even if it had to pop on lippie and a dress to do so.

H B Bear
H B Bear
March 21, 2023 10:32 am

“I have a dream.
I have a dream.
Where one day a woman will not be judged by the length of her penis.”
Continues …

duncanm
duncanm
March 21, 2023 10:34 am

Someone needs to ask why, and by whom, the coppers were instructed to allow the black-clad goons to walk up onto the steps and do their thing.

Not Uh oh
Not Uh oh
March 21, 2023 10:36 am

Sky News a few minutes ago- “and of course Australia is the world’s 3rd largest exporter of carbon”. Carbon! Apparently we’re now selling the stuff.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
March 21, 2023 10:53 am

black-clad goons

In the Spike Milligan mould, perhaps. A laughable collection of waxed-up nerdy boys, who in other circumstances I would say assembled as some sort of reverse-Chaser prank. If, in the event they were actual Nazis, then the free world need not shudder.

‘Right everyone, we need to wear all black. T shirts, pants, shoes.’
‘Can we wear shorts?’

‘No you cannot wear shorts. It makes you look like schoolboys who escaped from a PE class.’
‘But it’s really hot.’

‘FFS, all right then. Shorts optional. But black shoes.’
‘Are Bata Scouts okay?’

‘Are they black?’
‘Yes.’

‘All right then. Now. Hats are compulsory, and must be black too.’
‘Where are we going to get black hats? What sort of hats?’

‘It doesn’t matter. Just as long as they’re black.’

One trip to Crazy Clark’s later:

‘Right. Hats are sorted.’
‘By any sort of hat, I didn’t mean terry towelling.’

‘Hey, I just spent $40 on 20 hats. No refunds.’

‘Oh for the love of…. Fine. Now everyone shut up and watch this YouTube clip so you know how to do the salute.’
‘If my arm gets sore can I do it left handed?’
‘No.’

‘But Tristan…’
‘NO.’

local oaf
March 21, 2023 10:56 am

The new consensus of the media has been established.

Ready for when they declare the toilets at your kids’ school to be unisex.

If your 13 year old daughter or granddaughter is terrified to go to the toilet because there are 18 year old boys hanging around in there….

Don’t even think of protesting or the media will call you far right Nazis.

Vicki
Vicki
March 21, 2023 10:56 am

Top Ender says:
March 20, 2023 at 8:28 pm
This is the introduction to my Lethality in Combat, sans footnotes:
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse.

Topender, having just finished farm chores, I have only just read your introduction to “Lethality in Combat”. It is measured and puts the reality of war in context. Thank you.

In my early life I wrote my PhD on the interface between politics and the military in the Roman Republic (concentrating on the role of the legates) and, having read such fascinating tomes as Bellum Gallicum & Bellum Civile by Julius Caesar, I became interested in the battlefield and its effect on combatants. As with many facets of modern life, we seem to be now in danger of fantasising that we can strip all aspects of life of “nasty” implications. We cannot.

I am far from a warmonger. I have a 20 year old grandson that I would gladly take a bullet for, rather than see him go to war. The current deteriorating state of global relations (particularly in our neck of the woods) distresses me every day. But it is what it is & we must do the best we can to preserve peace – but never at the cost of our liberty.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
March 21, 2023 10:56 am

World on ‘thin ice’ as UN climate report gives stark warning

Humanity still has a chance, close to the last one, to prevent the worst of climate change’s future harms, a top United Nations panel of scientists says.

But doing so requires quickly slashing carbon pollution and fossil fuel use by nearly two-thirds by 2035, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said.

The United Nations chief said it more bluntly, calling for an end to new fossil fuel exploration and rich countries quitting coal, oil and gas by 2040.

“The climate time-bomb is ticking,” Guterres said, describing the IPCC report as a “a how-to guide to defuse” it.

The IPCC ‘How-to’ guide.

In fact the main thing the IPCC report shows is the absolutely massive uncertainty in ‘the Climate Science’ – essentially the takeaway is the (somewhat unsurprising) revelation that the climate system is chaotic and unpredictable. Guterres’ How-to Guide is therefore based on a best guess that subjectively extracts risk from uncertainty – and the theory that this is enough to enliven the precautionary principle.

Looking at the ‘solutions’ in the How-to, Cats wanting to be depressed should flick through Mitigation and Adaptation Options across System section [pp 30-36].

This has certainly been authored by ChatGPT, and consists of a series of Unicorn statements and names of possible actions.
An example:

There are feasible adaptation options that support infrastructure resilience, reliable power systems and efficient water use for existing and new energy generation systems (very high confidence). Energy generation diversification (e.g., via wind, solar, small scale hydropower) and demand side management (e.g., storage and energy efficiency improvements) can increase energy reliability and reduce vulnerabilities to climate change (high confidence). Climate responsive energy markets, updated design standards on energy assets according to current and projected climate change, smart-grid technologies, robust transmission systems and improved capacity to respond to supply deficits have high feasibility in the medium to long-term, with mitigation co-benefits (very high confidence)

And all within the next 12 years. (Or 7 years, according to their ABC’s experts.)

Strangely, the IPCC collective makes no attempt to map out the economic, social, and resource implications of this clear roadmap of programmatic specificity. Implementation and consequences are for other people on the other side of the precautionary principle.

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 11:01 am

Humanity still has a chance, close to the last one

They weely, weely mean it now! Ahahahaha!

Send more money or the planet gets it!

Cassie of Sydney
March 21, 2023 11:05 am

I have a dream, that Peter Dutton will stand up and say that he won’t denounce Moira Deeming and that the women on Saturday in Melbourne, and every other city where women have joined the “Let Women Speak” protests, are rallying for a righteous cause and that these women are not bigots, are not far-right, are not white supremacists, and ARE NOT NAZIS.

I know, I know, I dream.

Johnny Rotten
March 21, 2023 11:08 am

Re: The latest IPCC work of Fiction –

This is the Final, Final, Final, Final………………………..Final Climate Change Scare Campaign. Until the next one that is……………………………..

Vicki
Vicki
March 21, 2023 11:15 am

Ok – Lell I have someone to vote for in Manly in Lower House
Dr Phillip Altman – Independent For MANLY

Yay, Old Ozzie! Phil is a personal friend, and one of the most determined, committed, and personally courageous people I know. I tried to dissuade him from standing – as contemporary Australian politics is such a dirty game – but he wants to have the opportunity to explain to people the absolute importance of immediate withdrawal of the Covid vaccines.

He has every qualification in pharmacology that you can acquire, plus 40 years in the area of drug investigations and approval, so he is worth listening to. I wish him well and urge all you Manly district voters to vote for him. Incidentally, all the FLCCC physicians such as Pierre Kory & others such as Peter McCullough have met him recently and think he is doing an outstanding job.

H B Bear
H B Bear
March 21, 2023 11:16 am

Guterres

Putting a South American in charge of anything that is not a taco stand is always a mistake.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
March 21, 2023 11:20 am

Legislative Council voting

Thanks for that Old Ozzie, you stirred me into checking out the candidates.

Lyle Shelton looks good. His energy and climate policies are better than SFF. He’s preferencing Mark Latham too! I’ve found also that while PHON doesn’t have a candidate in my electorate at least SFF does. They’ve wimped a lot of climate and energy but are still far far better than the Libs and Nats – and since NSW exhausts I think I can actually vote for a lower house candidate for the first time in several years.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
March 21, 2023 11:27 am

For those wondering why VikPol provided an escort for the Protest Nazees.

Peter Dutton urged to condemn actions of neo-Nazis at anti-trans rally

The chair of the federal parliament’s national security committee, Peter Khalil, urged Mr Dutton to follow in Mr Pescutto’s footsteps.

“I would hope that the federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton also shows the same level of leadership and condemns that type of behaviour, condemns the Nazis,” he told ABC’s RN.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said condemning the actions did not go far enough and attacked the state Liberals for not standing up for trans rights.

“That event was a nasty hateful event, long before anyone offered up the Nazi salute,” Mr Andrews told reporters.

“You might say that the (Victorian) Liberal Party are increasingly becoming a nasty, hateful little rabble.”

You might.
Wedge politics never sleeps.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
March 21, 2023 11:29 am

Humanity still has a chance, close to the last one, to prevent the worst of climate change’s future harms, a top United Nations panel of scientists says.

We should throw some more virgins into a volcano.
Starting with that top United Nations panel of scientists.

(Still nothing to say CAGW is happening, and very little to support even AGW. The latest extreme weather data is quite a lot less than um, extreme.)

Bourne1879
Bourne1879
March 21, 2023 11:30 am

Been listening to this Jordan Peterson podcast. Very interesting as goes into Dutch Farmers protests and what is behind the Govt behaviour. Tri State City which just happens to be at end of rail link from China and includes port of Rotterdam.
Plenty discussion about mass migration and WEF.
Day before podcast Dutch got assistance from German police water cannons. Crewed by Germans on Dutch land. Some called it Hun 2.
Dutch Farmers: Canaries in the Globalist Coal Mine | Michael Yon & Eva Vlaardingerbroek | EP 340

flyingduk
flyingduk
March 21, 2023 11:30 am

Today marks 20 years since the beginning of the Iraq War. Has John Howard been arrested for sending Soldiers off to kill people on a false premise. Weapons of mass destruction? When it comes to dirty work politicians are never responsible.

And, sadly, I participated – still, it was there that my eyes opened to the evil predatory thing that is government, even (apparently) cuddly ones calling themselves ‘Western Democracies’

H B Bear
H B Bear
March 21, 2023 11:34 am

You might say that the (Victorian) Liberal Party are increasingly becoming a nasty, hateful little rabble.”

Chairman Dan has raised it to an artform. Nice work though.

H B Bear
H B Bear
March 21, 2023 11:36 am

Chairman Dan occupying the high moral ground. Once VicPlod have cleared it with rubber bullets and tear gas.

Roger
Roger
March 21, 2023 11:37 am

Putting a South American in charge of anything that is not a taco stand is always a mistake.

I have a Pope Francis on the line…

PS
Argentinians, Brazilians and Chileans might take offence at being associated with tacos.
😀

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
March 21, 2023 11:41 am

having read such fascinating tomes as Bellum Gallicum & Bellum Civile by Julius Caesar

Vicki – Two very fine books. The English translations are easy to read, interesting and full of ageless military truths. The latter volume is especially interesting in that after his death one of his officers did the Carthage bit, and one of his non-coms did the Spanish bit. It’s quite rough around the edges but fascinating. Clearly they loved Mr Caesar to bits and would follow him to hell and back, if he ordered it. The power of such leadership is rarely seen – Trump appears to inspire a similar response, based on the primary polling and the attendance to his rallies. I wonder if he’ll cross the Potomac?

Bourne1879
Bourne1879
March 21, 2023 11:41 am

The Oz reporting on trial 3 of Jarrod Hayne.

If the police are bugging your phone after the alleged incident I am thinking they know they don’t have a strong case to start with.

If you are an NRL player called by their Integrity Unit note likelihood your phone might already be tapped.

Nelson_Kidd-Players
March 21, 2023 11:49 am

I’m yet to see VicLib leader John Prosciutto denounce the von Trapp family after Nazis turned up at their event, but I’m sure it’s coming.

Anchor What
Anchor What
March 21, 2023 11:50 am

For J. Rotten!
Will Moira Deeming’s pert one become the butt of many jokes?

Chris
Chris
March 21, 2023 11:51 am

Today marks 20 years since the beginning of the Iraq War. Has John Howard been arrested for sending Soldiers off to kill people on a false premise. Weapons of mass destruction? When it comes to dirty work politicians are never responsible.

Occasionally I get to gazump a virtue signaller by saying that I emailed John Howard before it started and asked him to keep Australia out of it. And, I ask the signaller, do you know anyone else that did?
Problem is that being 100% alongside the USA was our strategy for getting their treaty support when we need it, one day. If we are threatened, it’s a very naïve strategy; the USA cannot be trusted to turn up, if someone just says ‘squirrel’ in the media.

P
P
March 21, 2023 11:53 am

Pesutto has doomed the Victorian Liberal Party
Spectator Australia – Declan Mansfield – 21 March 2023 10:56 AM

Here’s a tip for the Liberal Party and the centrists in political parties around the world, whether they sit to the left or the right on the political spectrum – read Beautiful Trouble, which is a handbook for modern-day Woke activism. It’s all there. Every deceitful, immoral tactic and strategy is explained in explicit detail. I’ve argued before that woke ideology has a surface-level beatific face, which hides its unpleasant aspects subterraneously below sight. It’s similar to an iceberg. You can see what’s above the water, but the danger lies below out of sight. It’s past time that politicians understood how Woke ideology, whether it’s Critical Race Theory, postmodernism, queer theory, 21st century Marxism, or most likely, all of the above combined, hoodwinks people into agreeing to the most illiberal policy agendas and destroys public figures who have committed no crime and whose views are perfectly aligned with the mainstream. Moira Deeming is not a Nazi and the leadership of the Victorian Liberal Party are either knaves or fools.

Chris
Chris
March 21, 2023 11:56 am

Putting a South American in charge of anything that is not a taco stand is always a mistake.

BHP, Barrick, First Quantum… our biggest disasters are top management’s missteps.
My colleagues from Chile, Brazil, Colombia do damn well.
And Argentine Tango instructors create some of the best moments in life.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
March 21, 2023 11:57 am

Marx quote.

Far from opposing the so called excesses, those examples of popular vengeance against hated individuals or public buildings which have aquired hateful memories we must not only condone these examples but lend them a helping hand….

The bloke was as big an anti semite as the Austrian boxhead, just without the means to do what he wanted.
Marx was a foul degenerate.

Paul Johnson’s “ Intellectuals” is a good read so far

Top Ender
Top Ender
March 21, 2023 11:57 am

Interesting PhD topic Vicki.

One of my colleagues, much experienced in the area, commented once to me that the Romans saw warfare an honourable and noble thing. Did you find that was the case?

calli
calli
March 21, 2023 11:59 am

Moira Deeming is not a Nazi and the leadership of the Victorian Liberal Party are either knaves or fools.

Embrace the power of “and”.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
March 21, 2023 12:05 pm

I am heartened that Marx suffered from outbreaks of boils.
Including dick boils

local oaf
March 21, 2023 12:06 pm

Marx was a foul degenerate.

I remember going into a communist bookshop in Adelaide in the 70s and asking them for a copy of Marx’s book on the Jewish problem (forgotten the title).

They acted very coy and pretended they’d never even heard of it.

Tom
Tom
March 21, 2023 12:08 pm

Of all the human sludge at the bottom of the American political swamp, prosecutors like Alvin Bragg – elected with George Soros money to wreck the American justice system by setting violent criminals free — are the most pernicious.

On behalf of the Democratic Party, Bragg is trying to gin up a New York grand jury to bring charges against Donald Trump to stop him running in 2024 – just in case the party’s elaborate election-rigging system developed in swing states in the runup to 2020 isn’t enough to beat him.

A justice system used to settle political scores isn’t a justice system. Justice requires equality before the law or it’s just rebranded tyranny.

Tucker Carlson Tonight.

H B Bear
H B Bear
March 21, 2023 12:09 pm

Were there any trannies at the Reightstag fire?

Zipster
Zipster
March 21, 2023 12:10 pm

Medvedev Threatens Hague With HYPERSONIC MISSILE STRIKE
Medvedev warned about the consequences of the decision of the ICC to “arrest” Putin

H B Bear
H B Bear
March 21, 2023 12:12 pm

Best to hold your nose when dealing with anything to do with the US “justice system”.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
March 21, 2023 12:15 pm

Looks like Prosciutto* is having trouble getting his expulsion motion over the line.

* h/t N K-P.

Roger
Roger
March 21, 2023 12:20 pm

Medvedev’s Twitter feed makes China’s wolf warrior diplomats look measured.

Little man syndrome.

Zipster
Zipster
March 21, 2023 12:23 pm
Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
March 21, 2023 12:25 pm

Moira Deeming is not a Nazi and the leadership of the Victorian Liberal Party are either knaves or fools.

The leadership of the Victorian Liberal Party has a copy of the same Shite Retail Politics playbook Andrews is using. Chucking Deeming out of the balloon is fully described in Actions On: Anticipation of Incoming.

Technical Note: this does not stop them from being knaves and/or fools, or mitigate their knavishness, or foolhardiness.

rickw
rickw
March 21, 2023 12:25 pm

I don’t want a one party state

The marker that we had a one party state was 1996. Who knows how long it had effectively been in operation before that.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
March 21, 2023 12:26 pm

Learn to dig coal.

How AI ‘revolution’ is shaking up journalism (19 Mar)

Journalists had fun last year asking the shiny new AI chatbot ChatGPT to write their columns, most concluding that the bot was not good enough to take their jobs. Yet.

But many commentators believe journalism is on the cusp of a revolution where mastery of algorithms and AI tools that generate content will be a key battleground.

The technology news site CNET perhaps heralded the way forward when it quietly deployed an AI program last year to write some of its listicles. … CNET’s parent company later announced job cuts that included editorial staff—though executives denied AI was behind the layoffs.

I’m serious. Don’t bother learning to code given all those recent IT company layoffs. ChatGPT is also quite good at writing computer code too. Interestingly it turns out that AI is an energy hog.

The hidden costs of AI: Impending energy and resource strain (9 Mar)

In fact, data center power and carbon emissions associated with data centers doubled between 2017 and 2020. … And then there’s the embodied carbon footprint, which is associated with construction and manufacturing.

Do you have any closing thoughts?

Jariwala: By now, it should be clear that we have an 800-pound gorilla in the room; our computers and other devices are becoming insatiable energy beasts that we continue to feed.

The elephant in the room is an 800-pound gorilla…

Roger
Roger
March 21, 2023 12:27 pm

The leadership of the Victorian Liberal Party has a copy of the same Shite Retail Politics playbook Andrews is using.

Their problem is Pesutto is no Dan Andrews.

Vicki
Vicki
March 21, 2023 12:27 pm

Interesting PhD topic Vicki.
One of my colleagues, much experienced in the area, commented once to me that the Romans saw warfare an honourable and noble thing. Did you find that was the case?

Absolutely, Topender. The concept of gloria was very significantly connected to the conduct of warfare. Campaigns allowed leading figures from prominent noble families to attain gloria (for them and their families) and dignitas through successful campaigns – especially if this led to a “triumph.”A triumph would be celebrated, as most people may know from movies (!) etc – in a procession through Rome of one’s army – but also a captives. This would be commemorated through public inscriptions and, of course, in funerary monuments.

Interestingly, this emphasis on successful campaigns (leading to the extension of empire) led to the downfall of the traditional Republic, with the latter’s emphasis on fair and equal competition between the scions of noble families. This was pretty much the central theme of my thesis, since the legati were instrumental in allying with successful generals, such as Caesar and Pompey, creating a fatal imbalance in competition between nobles.

rickw
rickw
March 21, 2023 12:29 pm

China’s New ‘Ethnic Specific’ Bio-Weapons Target Specific Races Based on DNA

I wouldn’t have thought that a very ethnically homogeneous country would want to start playing that game.

I wonder how much genetic data they collected at the start of the COVID scare. Remember how everyone “had to get tested” dropping off test kits door to door, then it all disappeared. Data collected, job done.

Robert Sewell
March 21, 2023 12:31 pm

Anchor Wat:
The Voter Registration software in the US (ERIC) is showing horrifying levels of corruption in the data bases. Seeing as to how many people in Australia get mail in votes, it’s time we had a look as well. Perhaps it’s an explanation as to how Labor holds power in most Australian States.

Robert Sewell
March 21, 2023 12:35 pm

Crossie:

I have heard comments that next Saturday’s NSW election results may not be know for days if not weeks because the vote counting, if not completed on Saturday, will not resume until Monday. Why? Can’t they employ more counters? I smell a rat.

I doubt there’s any government body that I trust any more.
The AEC is up there with the worst, merely because of the position they have to assign/affect the allocation of political power.

Vicki
Vicki
March 21, 2023 12:36 pm

Today marks 20 years since the beginning of the Iraq War. Has John Howard been arrested for sending Soldiers off to kill people on a false premise. Weapons of mass destruction?

You know, technically, the cases belli of the WMD for the Iraq War was correct in a sense. The chemical storage facility at Muthanna in Iraq was discovered to have multiple storage vessels of chemical agents of warfare. After the war these were uncovered in great number. Many had UN tags as well!

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
March 21, 2023 12:36 pm

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, 92, engaged to Ann-Lesley Smith after six months of dating
The West Australian
Mon, 20 March 2023 8:30PM

On Monday, Mr Murdoch revealed he was engaged to his 66-year-old girlfriend Ann-Lesley Smith, who is a one-time police chaplain and widow of US country music star Chester Smith.

The news comes just six months after the couple met and less than a year since he divorced from his fourth wife, Jerry Hall.

The pair met at his vineyard Moraga in Bel Air, California, and he said he called her two weeks later.

He proposed on St Patrick’s Day in New York with an Asscher-cut diamond solitaire, which he personally selected.

The billionaire said he was confident this would be his last marriage.

Tom
Tom
March 21, 2023 12:39 pm

Looks like Prosciutto* is having trouble getting his expulsion motion over the line.

First, the SFL’s under recycled loser Matthew Guy tried to rebrand themselves by adopting all of the Labor platform and hoping that would be enough to bring in a few million votes from idiots who couldn’t tell the difference between a real conservative party and a fake conservative party.

That didn’t work last November and the SFLs under Guy were trounced.

Now the SFLs have elected as leader another fake conservative running on Labor policy who’s so stupid and contemptuous of those who want to vote for the SFLs he falls for a fake Nazi stunt at a demonstration by women protesting against the invasion of women’s change rooms by chicks with dicks.

The leftards putting together the fake Nazi stunt can’t believe how stupid are Prosciutto and his fake conservatives. What a pushover!

H B Bear
H B Bear
March 21, 2023 12:41 pm

The problem with the Victoriastani Lieboral Party is they think they can go straight from lunch at the Atheneum Club to dealing with Chairman Dan in the afternoon. They are quite distinct skill sets.

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 12:41 pm

Let that sink in. The “patriarchy” that so many fought against has won. Even if it had to pop on lippie and a dress to do so.

That is a hoot! The rad fems who are facilitating this are too stupid to realise what just happened. Wouldn’t it also be a hoot if in the end men will have to rise to save women from the insane left?

I believe we live in what used to be called interesting times, I just hope sanity prevails before it’s too late.

duncanm
duncanm
March 21, 2023 12:42 pm

So I watched a lot of the live stream of the Let Women Speak event in Melbourne.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o47VZvDgAA

When, exactly, did the black stooges do their thing? Was it staged at some time after everything had finished?

Roger
Roger
March 21, 2023 12:42 pm

Seeing as to how many people in Australia get mail in votes, it’s time we had a look as well.

The AEC warned last year about the potential misuse of postal ballots by the two main political parties.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
March 21, 2023 12:43 pm

Today marks 20 years since the beginning of the Iraq War.

Out by 12 years, 2 months and 4 days.

Howard did very well in the second iteration, since he committed the ADF to areas out of the hot zones, after sending the SAS in for the initial invasion – with serious success. Thus we stroked the ego of the Yanks plus got them to incur a debt to us per ANZUS. Yet we only suffered two guys dead, both to forklift accidents iirc. As a diplomatic effort it was nearly perfect.

As to W’s war, on hindsight the premise was wrong: you cannot ever turn a muslim country into a democracy. Not for long anyway. It was a laudible aim, but failed because of a 1400 year fascist religion that they didn’t understand.

Vicki
Vicki
March 21, 2023 12:43 pm

cases belli? Should be casus belli. Why can’t the damn computer record what you write???

Hate to think what AI will do with one’s thoughts.

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 12:45 pm

I am far from a warmonger. I have a 20 year old grandson that I would gladly take a bullet for, rather than see him go to war. The current deteriorating state of global relations (particularly in our neck of the woods) distresses me every day. But it is what it is & we must do the best we can to preserve peace – but never at the cost of our liberty.

I have three grandsons and two of them are planning to join the military, one is applying to join the Navy and another one plans to join the Air Force when he is old enough. I am afraid for them but admire their commitment and will not dissuade try to them.

Crossie
Crossie
March 21, 2023 12:47 pm

Further to my previous comment about my grandsons wishing to join the military, the thing I am most concerned about is not them going to war but being sold out by politicians when they do their job.

H B Bear
H B Bear
March 21, 2023 12:48 pm

The AEC warned last year about the potential misuse of postal ballots by the two main political parties.

We can rest easy then.

Robert Sewell
March 21, 2023 12:50 pm

Lizzie:

She has had a hard row to hoe and with Latham’s help (not like the other ninnies who surrounded her) she has figureheaded an impressive new Party. Not everyone’s ideal in policy and in its inchoate philosophy, but a goodly improvement on the current Big Two.

After several years of voting for the PHON, I finally decided to commit to party member.
Here’s hoping they live up to their promises.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
March 21, 2023 12:51 pm

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, 92, engaged to Ann-Lesley Smith after six months of dating

At least she’s female.

Media Mogul David Geffen, 80, Marries 30-Year-Old Boyfriend (19 Mar)

The 80-year-old and 30-year-old were married in a small, secret ceremony in Beverly Hills, California, according to a report by Showbiz411. Little-used social media profiles for Michaels give the appearance of a New York City-dwelling aspiring fitness model

Geffen has donated to the disgraced anti-Trump super PAC Lincoln Project

Lefties gotta lefty.

1 2 3 12
  1. I think the punters are stirring, getting ansty. Normally letting politics of either persuasion slide by as we just get…

  2. Great stuff from the past. Visuals and audio are great. —— F r. David – Words Don’t Come Easy

2.3K
0
Oh, you think that, do you? Care to put it on record?x
()
x