Open Thread – Weekend 22 July 2023


Man and Woman Contemplating the Moon, Casper Friedrich, 1824

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Bar Beach Swimmer
July 24, 2023 8:52 pm

Chris Kenny has been strong both on global warming and the government’s overreaction to Covid and for a reasonable length of time. How then can he be so naïve or just plain dumb about the In-voice. It’s like he’s got two brains: one that works reasonably well in most cases and one that lacks any firing capacity at all.

Just now he’s saying that the No Campaign are being divisive because they’re pointing to what they see as risks if the referendum passes. Thus, for example, the WA cultural heritage laws and the push to change or expunge Australia Day. He’s arguing that since those controversies are already in the present – and without the voice – what could possibly be a problem with the voice?

You’d think he could see that, with the former, legislative changes now enacted in the west, which are already damaging property rights – the bedrock of a free and fair society – are undermining economic development in that state and would do so across the entire country if the nation votes Yes. The voice would hyperventilate such claims.

While the perennial push to jettison our national day, would be the first change the country enacts, to be followed by the renaming of every state capital and major site, if Australians voted Yes. In that case, the government would not be able to withstand the push. Why? Because with the imprimatur of the vote of the people, the new body could easily and deliberately bung up parliamentary processes until the government yields.

The problem with people like Kenny is that, if this anti-democratic abomination gets up, they’ll never acknowledge the damage. Kenny’s the Tim Flannery of the voice debate.

Bazinga
Bazinga
July 24, 2023 8:52 pm

Listening to The Cure and it occurs to me a fitting name for a tribute band would be Snake Oil

Perplexed of Brisbane
Perplexed of Brisbane
July 24, 2023 9:02 pm

Rosie
Jul 24, 2023 7:42 PM
Shouldn’t be allowed to dig at all?
Inherently ridiculous.
What priceless precious irreplaceable Aboriginal artefacts are there going to be found?
Apparently most sites are ‘surface scatters’ of ‘chipped stone, and sometimes animal bone, shell, , charcoal, hearth stones, clay balls and ochre’.

So basically garbage dumps and not very interesting ones. Although there could be some Pascoian bulldozers and excavators buried in the indigenous waste recycling centres.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
July 24, 2023 9:03 pm

Because with the imprimatur of the vote of the people, the new body could easily and deliberately bung up parliamentary processes until the government yields.

I’m just seeing the voice, enshrined in the Constitution, as an instrument designed to render the country ungovernable, if the unwashed masses have the temerity to elect a Coalition Government.

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
July 24, 2023 9:05 pm

Live at the moment…

—-

Freedom Media WA:

Senator Pauline Hanson – Live from Perth, WA

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
July 24, 2023 9:06 pm

I’m rather interested in how “significance” has grown like topsy in the last decade.
From readily identifiable cave used/ decorated all the way through to the new definition.
Anything at all once we have a look.
And a couple of months back I mentioned the stalking horse of underwater sites.
Elbow signed the treaty and in a stunning development some stone chips were found just offshore up near Karratha.
For those who don’t know, where a lot of WAs oil/ gas flows through.

Muddy
Muddy
July 24, 2023 9:07 pm

Genuine question: Having just watched a youtube vid on Zulu shields, is there any evidence that our indigenous brethren used shields made of either timber or animal hides?

Rosie
Rosie
July 24, 2023 9:09 pm

The other things of interest presumably are those of spiritual significance and quite frankly if they are then they should already be known to local aboriginal groups, no need for any survey.

Cassie of Sydney
July 24, 2023 9:11 pm

“The problem with people like Kenny is that, if this anti-democratic abomination gets up, they’ll never acknowledge the damage.”

No, they won’t. You only have to look at the fall out from SSM, remember all those Liberals and Libertarians who supported and parroted the “love is love” bullshit? We are living in the maelstrom of that disastrous decision, which was an attack and destruction of one the pillars of Western society, perhaps the pillar, and now what do we have? Trannie perverts running amok, drag queens grooming children, sex books for eight year olds, pedophiles on the march coz….coz….coz….don’t you know, they’re “minor attracted”…..and on and on it goes.

They’ll never admit that they’re wrong.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
July 24, 2023 9:17 pm

is there any evidence that our indigenous brethren used shields made of either timber or animal hides?

I’ve read accounts of how they used wooden shields.

Boambee John
Boambee John
July 24, 2023 9:19 pm

Muddy

I have a memory of wooden shields. IIRC, one supposedly shot at by Cook’s men has been touted around by activists.

Boambee John
Boambee John
July 24, 2023 9:20 pm

ulu

Snap.

cohenite
July 24, 2023 9:20 pm

Alan kohler is a steaming piece of shit.

Man Made climate change is a lie for the ages. It’s taken decades but now it is the Zeitgeist and many mush brained things like kohler have no intellectual capacity to resist it.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
July 24, 2023 9:22 pm

Rosie
Exactly.
There are a bunch of sacred caves out from Mullewa which the locals have “ bricked up” with stone to protect them ( as well as telling the young chaps pain will visit them if they go there and make a mess)
100% happy for those to be protected.
Midden heaps, not so much.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
July 24, 2023 9:22 pm

Great minds, Boambee John.

Bar Beach Swimmer
July 24, 2023 9:22 pm

cohenite, re your famous put-down quotes. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford could not stand each other. At every opportunity, Davis made ascerbic comments about Crawford. He’s a couple:

“She has slept with every male star at MGM except Lassie.”

“The best time I ever had with Joan Crawford was when I pushed her down the stairs in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?”

“She’s the original good time that was had by all.”*

*Though I can’t find a direct reference to Joan Crawford for that last one, Davis did say it about a startlet in 1933, which would have fitted their careers.

Bar Beach Swimmer
July 24, 2023 9:25 pm

remember all those Liberals and Libertarians who supported and parroted the “love is love” bullshit?

Rita supported it and not so long ago admitted on Outsiders that she’d made a mistake. The problem with that, however, the default of that position is really: all care, no responsibility.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
July 24, 2023 9:31 pm

cohenite, re your famous put-down quotes.

Who was the film star who looked at the newly wed couple, and said “Ive been to bed with them both, and they’re both hopeless in bed?”

Nelson_Kidd-Players
July 24, 2023 9:34 pm

Relax…C.L.’s lost Julia Gillard video has a spiritual replacement!

https://twitter.com/PaulineHansonOz/status/1683351019001122817

Bar Beach Swimmer
July 24, 2023 9:36 pm

I’m wondering whether Musk is moving to change Twitter’s name to the X Files.

Nelson_Kidd-Players
July 24, 2023 9:36 pm
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
July 24, 2023 9:39 pm

Labor MP Darren West heckled at WAFarmers Katanning public meeting over Heritage Laws
Claire SadlerThe West Australian
Mon, 24 July 2023 6:06PM
Comments

MP Darren West was heckled after he conceded the State Government “botched” the messaging of the heritage laws.

WA Labor agricultural MP Darren West conceded the State Government “botched” the messaging of the heritage laws at a public meeting, where he was heckled by farmers.

Mr West was speaking at a WAFarmers public meeting in Katanning on Monday, where he was advocating for the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Law when hecklers kept interrupting him.

A hoard of farmers left as Mr West began to give his spiel with some even giving him the middle finger.

In response, Mr West said everyone would have a chance to have their say.

“The Liberals and the Nationals would not have voted for this bill if it was as bad as some people have made it out,” he told the 500-strong crowd filled with mostly sheep producers.

However, he conceded the messaging of the heritage laws wasn’t rolled out well.

“We’ve botched the messaging. We haven’t messaged this well and we acknowledge that,” he said.

“We’re working on that and that’s part of the education first approach.

“We’ve committed to another 12 months of an education-first policy because we know it’s confusing when legislation changes and we know there’s concern in the community.”

WAFarmers hosted the July 24 meeting, which focussed primarily on Federal Labor’s impending live sheep export ban and the shambolic roll-out of WA’s new Aboriginal cultural heritage laws.

Bar Beach Swimmer
July 24, 2023 9:40 pm

“This artificial concept that half a metre is damaging but less than half a metre is not, is inherently ridiculous,” Mr McIntyre told The West Australian.

Welcome to covid rules.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
July 24, 2023 9:48 pm

I’m just seeing the voice, enshrined in the Constitution, as an instrument designed to render the country ungovernable, if the unwashed masses have the temerity to elect a Coalition Government.

You’re seeing Albanese’ screechy enthusiasm for the Voice, his elevation into the Labor Pantheon – the leader who delivered a Labor preference built into the Constitution.

Muddy
Muddy
July 24, 2023 9:49 pm

Cheers. ‘Twas just curious.

Rosie
Rosie
July 24, 2023 9:49 pm
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
July 24, 2023 9:53 pm

You’re seeing Albanese’ screechy enthusiasm for the Voice, his elevation into the Labor Pantheon

Albo with Ben Chifely, John Curtin, Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating?

Razey
Razey
July 24, 2023 9:56 pm

breaking news

Moves well for a bogan ranga.

JC
JC
July 24, 2023 9:56 pm

Kenny’s the Tim Flannery of the voice debate.

Steady on, there’s only one Flannery.

Fair Shake
Fair Shake
July 24, 2023 9:58 pm

Rosie, a trigger warning next time please.

Colonel Crispin Berka
Colonel Crispin Berka
July 24, 2023 9:59 pm

New twist on an old philosophical question.
If two gays get wedded in the forest and no conservative is around to harass them then is SSM really an attack on marriage?

Any attempt to redefine the question, import foreign elements that aren’t mentioned in the question, or make post hoc ergo propter hoc arguments, is dodging the question.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
July 24, 2023 10:03 pm

New twist on an old philosophical question.
If two gays get wedded in the forest and no conservative is around to harass them then is SSM really an attack on marriage?

My brain hurts…

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
July 24, 2023 10:03 pm

Ah, how sweet it is.
A Googlery-free evening.
Mummy will be happy to be getting some attention, no doubt.

Bar Beach Swimmer
July 24, 2023 10:06 pm

If two gays get wedded in the forest and no conservative is around to harass them then is SSM really an attack on marriage?

Yes, they’re not staying in the forest.

eric hinton
eric hinton
July 24, 2023 10:07 pm

Apologies Nelson, you’ve been pipped for uptick top ranking.

Bar Beach Swimmer
July 24, 2023 10:08 pm

Steady on, there’s only one Flannery.

Ok, he’s Flannery’s mini-me,

MatrixTransform
July 24, 2023 10:11 pm
Jorge
Jorge
July 24, 2023 10:19 pm

Speaking of the Voice, a Farnsie bio on 7 has just run its course.
Wheatley a Covid casualty at 74. Sad. Two knockabouts who found success.

Listening to Farnsie belt out ‘You’re the Voice’ again leaves you wondering WTF is all that about. Completely vacuous, could be applied to anything.

Recorded in the garage of a brick veneer on Manningham Road, somehow seen as the equivalent of the Bowery, skid row, dark night of the soul, but looked pleasant enough.

Mrs Farnsie nowhere to be seen or heard. Strange, as everyone else given a chance to say their bit. Perhaps success changed a few things. Hope not. His recent health battles not covered at all.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
July 24, 2023 10:28 pm

John Farnham is the male equivalent of Kylie Minogue.

A Stock, Aitken and Waterman manufactured conveyor belt of pap.

He’s like a delivery van. Service it regularly and it will go on forever, and when it eventually doesn’t it is subject to frequent and unjustified acclaim.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
July 24, 2023 10:31 pm
Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
July 24, 2023 10:47 pm

Farnsy isn’t left-handed by any chance, is he?

MatrixTransform
July 24, 2023 10:49 pm
Old School Conservative
Old School Conservative
July 24, 2023 10:49 pm

His recent health battles not covered at all.

I saw the movie some time ago so my recollection may be faulty, but didn’t his son say when interviews how ironic it was for the Voice singer to have a cancer that destroyed his voice?

Jorge
Jorge
July 24, 2023 11:12 pm

Kylie makes her moulah from the fags and child molesters.

I couldn’t see Farnsie flying the rainbow flag.

Though Barnsie expressed a very strong admiration.

H B Bear
H B Bear
July 24, 2023 11:15 pm

An alleged burglar has been left with a deep cut on his head after he was struck with a machete by a co-offender during a bungled home invasion in Wanneroo.

Tell me you’re out break and entering with Africans without telling me.

shatterzzz
July 24, 2023 11:17 pm

Following the World Swimming Championships and trying to come to terms with the times these folk swim .. Ariane Titmus last night broke the womens world record for 400mts with a swim of 3mins 55secs ….
Here’s me swimming 3 times a week and it takes me 15 minutes to get 400mts ..
Slight age difference 22 to 75 but she’s dun her 8 laps in the time it takes me to do 2 ..
so she’s into her 2nd lap before I’ve managed a dozen strokes .. LOL!

H B Bear
H B Bear
July 24, 2023 11:23 pm

The lap times for the 1500m and the km times for the marathon are the same. Basically as fast as you could ever do just one – at any age. Likewise the TDF, 55kph on a bicycle. Just flying.

calli
calli
July 24, 2023 11:27 pm

Red Screen of Death on the BBC. Even the UK is in fierce orange.

I get estimates for Sicily at 47C are extreme, but seriously? London 21C.

Digger
Digger
July 24, 2023 11:29 pm

Muddy
Jul 24, 2023 11:23 AM
Digger
Jul 23, 2023 8:33 PM

I have finally done it and self published my book…

I apologise if I’ve scrolled too fast and missed it, but was any more information presented about this achievement? Dependent upon the subject matter, one or two Cats may be interested in purchasing a copy, or perhaps recommending it to others.

Sorry Muddy, I have been busier than hell.

On the topic of subject matter here is a look at the foreword written by retired Chief of Navy, VADM Russ Crane.

I think the title: ‘Bubbles, Booze, Bombs and Bastards, A Clearance Divers Story’ largely captures what we did as Clearance Divers in the RAN and who we did it with and that in turn spilled over to a large degree into my post navy career.

I have self published the book and only the printing was outsourced. I had it printed in Hobart because China already has enough bullets and doesn’t need any more of our money. I had it reviewed by a few notable entities before printing including the Cats own Top Ender.

I am selling the books direct from my place and can be contacted on Messenger under Larry John Digney if anyone is interested in receiving more info. I have only marketed it through FB and have sold most of this print run to fellow divers, EOD Techs, SEALS and civilian work colleagues here, in the US and UK.

Foreword

I am both delighted and privileged to be invited to provide a foreword to Larry’s work titled ‘Bubbles, Booze, Bombs and Bastards’. Given the intriguing title, my curiosity motivated me to quickly set time aside to read and digest his work. I was not disappointed.

This story starts with a quintessential young Australian lad living in northern Tasmania and then chronicles his journey, from humble beginnings, through his remarkable service as a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Clearance Diver (CD), in one of the harshest and most unforgiving environments on offer in the RAN for employment.

Larry records his perceptions of the challenges and opportunities presented by the CD Branch interwoven with his professional insights and personal experience. Many who have served alongside Larry or during his time might recall some of the challenges the CD Branch experienced during this time.

Larry records, in some detail, his exciting and tremendously successful RAN career as a Clearance Diver, in both peace and war, domestically and overseas, culminating in his promotion to Warrant Officer CD, the most senior and sought after rank as a senior sailor in the Clearance Diving Branch.

Following his retirement from full time employment with the RAN, Larry goes on to recount his many experiences during civil employment in areas somewhat associated with this employment as a CD.

The story is enthralling, forthright and tells of a journey, warts and all, that many young Australian men growing up in his timeframe may clearly relate to. It tells the story of the men and more recently, women, who routinely, during peace and war who volunteer to put themselves in harms way.

Larry tells of many professional challenges and some lighthearted experiences, essential in performing one of the toughest jobs in one of the harshest environments on the planet, all of which shaped his personal development. It is a story of trials, tribulations, success, some failures, but most importantly it is a story of determination, grit, and perseverance! It is a success story, of a young Australian boy who learnt from many early experiences and developed into a national asset.

Larry Digney (or Digger as he is known to his mates) is one of the RAN’s more colorful characters who, like many of his generation of junior sailors, experienced a few somewhat turbulent years in the early part of his career in the RAN. Digger however, with a little external but predominately internal personal motivation, managed to turn his early challenges into learning experiences and developed, in his more senior years, into one of the most respected and sought-after senior sailors in the CD Branch and RAN.

His retirement from the permanent RAN and transition into civil employment was a loss for the RAN and CD Community generally but his expertise in the areas of safety, compressed air breathing and diving continued to serve the RAN and the broader Australian community extremely well during his civil career. This is testimony to the skills and experience Clearance Divers are able to bring to bear in their, usually seamless, transition from military to civil careers.

Digger’s inability to simply accept the status quo and push harder in all that he does underpins the outstanding results he has achieved in all that he has undertaken in his career both service and civilian. The story starts with challenging beginnings and leads to great success through hard work, personal sacrifice, determination and a never give up approach to challenge.

It is a fascinating and informative read, which I applaud!

RH Crane
Vice Admiral AO, CSM, RAN (retired)

calli
calli
July 24, 2023 11:30 pm

Bluey sounds cute in French.

Now installed in CDG airport hotel after taxis, planes, buses and trains, plus a lot of Shank’s pony.

A drink might be nice, but the bar opens at six. Why? Because they can.

DrBeauGan
DrBeauGan
July 24, 2023 11:34 pm

I get estimates for Sicily at 47C are extreme, but seriously? London 21C.

I have a neighbour who is fresh in Oz from Ireland. When it was 30° here he declared that it was hot. I explained, 0° is freezing, 10° is cold, 20° is cool, 25° is ideal, 30° is warm, 40° is hot.
47° is bloody hot. But I’ve never experienced that.

Rosie
Rosie
July 24, 2023 11:38 pm

I think someone’s getting overhead with 47 for Sicily.
42 is bad enough.

14 day forecast for Sicily

Rosie
Rosie
July 24, 2023 11:40 pm
calli
calli
July 25, 2023 12:08 am

It hit low to mid 40s in western Sydney in 2004.

Watching BBC right now, reporting on the fires on Cos and Rhodes. Huge whingeing because tourists are “not being supported” at the airport. Whine, whine, whinge, whinge. People have lost their homes but tourists have no one to hold their hands.

The BBC now has a thing called “Verified News” (them) to supposedly “counter misinformation”. We know how that works guys. We see you.

calli
calli
July 25, 2023 12:13 am

Thanks, Dover.

I tried to refresh a couple of times and realised you were doing a bit of tweaking to the site. Even had our familiar “fallen Mercury” for a short time there!

Top Ender
Top Ender
July 25, 2023 4:06 am

Digger’s book is an excellent read.

I’m quoting from it in my own book Cyclone Tracy and the Armed Forces – out late next year for the 50th anniversary – as he was part of the dive team deployed to Darwin after the cyclone.

Apart from that, his career was fascinating and varied. Well worth your time Cats.

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