Open Thread – Mon 22 Jan 2024


The Angel Standing in the Sun, William Turner, 1846

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Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
January 23, 2024 10:39 pm

I was accused of date rape … I was 45 and she was of the same age

Hang on. This is what you said about your ‘wife’:

she was once beautiful and got my sorry backside sorted … but now she is sick and needs help … cant even mop the floor … sometimes cant get out of bed

Time frame 25 years plus …

So – you were accused of raping dates when you were 45, and you are still married after 25 years ‘plus’.

Unless you are about 88 years old, you perhaps need to work on your maths before you post this sort of stuff.

Because otherwise, people may form the view you are plying for sympathy by inventing stories, and/or that you are a flog with a penchant for crystal BBQs.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
January 23, 2024 10:39 pm

Muslims lobby to axe ‘sinful’ university HECS-HELP debts

Exclusive
By natasha bita
Education Editor
9:22PM January 23, 2024
16 Comments

Islamic clerics are lobbying the federal government to axe the “sinful’’ indexation of university loans for Muslim students, forbidden under Sharia law.

The Australian National Imams Council has told the government’s Universities Accord review that HELP (Higher Education Loan Program) and HECS (Higher Education Contribution Scheme) debts are discouraging Muslims from studying at ­university.

The imams are pushing for a “culturally and religiously compatible” new funding model for Islamic students.

“The current HELP system, while designed to defer university fees through a loan arrangement, may conflict with the religious beliefs of Muslims,’’ the council told the Accord panel, whose final recommendations will be made public by the government in February.

“According to Islamic laws, the HELP loan is considered riba (usury) and is generally prohibited,” the council said.

“This leaves Muslim students with the difficult choice of either disregarding their religious ­prin­ciples or forgoing higher education.’’

The imams said the Koran and the prophetic traditions of ­hadiths “explicitly condemn and prohibit riba, stressing that it harms society and promises ­inequality’’.

Under Islamic law, “loans must be repaid in the exact same loan principal as acquired, even after many years and inflation’’.

“Riba is a major sin in Islam,’’ they told the panel.

Nearly three million Australian university graduates face a combined $4bn increase to their HECS and HELP debts on June 30 if inflation stays at 5 per cent over the next six months.

Under the HECS-HELP scheme, university students take out interest-free loans from the federal government to pay for their tuition fees.

The debt is paid back through the taxation system once graduates begin earning about $52,000 a year.

Graduates need to pay back $78.2bn in outstanding debt, which rises in line with inflation every year to maintain the real value of the loan.

If the annual inflation rate lands at 5 per cent in June, indexation would add roughly $1325 to the average $26,500 debt.

The Canberra Islamic Centre has also complained that the current structure of HECS-HELP loans “inadvertently creates a barrier for Muslim students who seek to abide by their religious convictions’’.

“The issue is not merely theoretical; it has practical implications that discourage, prevent and disadvantage Muslim students from going to university,’’ the Islamic Centre told the panel.

“They face the unfair choice of compromising religious beliefs or foregoing higher education opportunities.’’

The Islamic Centre wants the government to “explore alternative indexing methods’’ for student loans.

Islamic Co-operative Finance Australia – which offers “Sharia-compliant investments’’ – has told the panel that Islamic teachings forbid the charging of interest on loans.

It said the “ideal scenario’’ would be to waive indexation fees for Muslim students. “A no indexation and no interest on debt approach will clear any spiritual doubts amongst Muslim students that the HECS debt is not Sharia compliant,’’ it says.

“Under Islamic law, the imposition of an additional charge on a debt, commonly referred to as ‘riba’, is unequivocally deemed as usurious and unjust.

“Interest-bearing debts are prohibited, and no form of interest or financial gain can be charged on debt.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
January 23, 2024 10:40 pm

cant even mop the floor

Is housework beyond you?

cohenite
January 23, 2024 10:41 pm

I’m suggesting an administrator/ judge/ or jury could find the “Palestinian argu[ing] given events post-Oct 7 they feel subjectively threatened by the Star of David/ Israeli flag lapel” plausible?

You don’t rape, kill and mutilate people you feel threatened by. Anyway this was a calculated act of barbaric sexual terrorism. The leaders of hamas have admitted that. Plus they enjoyed it.

There is no equivalence between hamas or islam generally and Israel and the West.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
January 23, 2024 10:41 pm

JC

Jan 23, 2024 10:36 PM

Who put the “men” in “menopause”?

LOL

Don’t LOL me, champ!

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
January 23, 2024 10:45 pm

Grumpy Old Man
6 minutes ago
So they want our education, quality of living, health care and housing, but question on the basis of religious belief the need to be treated like all other Australians. If they don’t want interest or indexation, pay fees in full each year.

Black Ball
Black Ball
January 23, 2024 10:50 pm

Nick Hockley, fark orf back to Engerland, take Part Cummins and Usman Khawaja with you and don’t return you trio of Australia hating arseholes.
Maybe take Mark Bolton with you too.

Black Ball
Black Ball
January 23, 2024 10:51 pm

And Scott Boland and Ash Gardiner. Useless phucks.

Black Ball
Black Ball
January 23, 2024 10:55 pm

Cats and Kittehs I have had it up to the eyeballs with this failure to acknowledge Australia Day.
The day where a nation was born, a day where we can have a beer with mates and eat a BBQ lunch. Where we can introduce new Australians who want to work hard and assimilate, who adopt this country and we welcome them.
My hatred for the Left is reaching dizzying levels.

Katzenjammer
Katzenjammer
January 23, 2024 10:56 pm

If they don’t want interest or indexation, pay fees in full each year.

That’s a simple solution. Have you considered applying to become an advisor to Imans about how to live in Australia and not breach religious decrees.

cohenite
January 23, 2024 10:57 pm

More titles for the jaded:

<strong>Bedroom Beat: Con was a sex-throbbing writer who clawed his way to the top of show business by using and abusing every woman he met. A power packed novel about a man who knew there was more action behind the scenes then in front of the cameras!

Swamp Lust: their plane crashed into a swamp which became a morass of sin and evil.

The Eager Beavers: she quickly learned the fastest way to the boardroom was through the bedroom.

Man Trap: Laura was too hot to be handled: by the step-father who wanted to ruin her; by the stud who wanted to maul her; by the boy who wanted to love her.

Pogria
Pogria
January 23, 2024 10:58 pm

Aw Jacksy,
I read your Wife Beater’s Apology last week.
It was a classic.
If you hadn’t made me angry,
If you weren’t so stupid,
if you had my dinner on the table on time,
If I weren’t going through some stuff,
I wouldn’t have to belt you.
Classic! 😀

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
January 23, 2024 11:02 pm

take Part Cummins and

Usman

Khawaja with you

Just watching a replay now on Focks of Khawaja getting clipped on the chin by a short pill from a West indies paceman.

That, more than anything else should signal the end for him. It was an appalling display of playing the short, fast ball. He did absolutely everything wrong.

It wasn’t even a bouncer. It only got chest high, and Khawaja:

Swayed into it, rather than away;
Ducked into it; and
Turned his head so he wasn’t even looking at the ball when it came up under the grill and chinned him.

That was pure No.11 stuff. Glenn McGrath could have played it better. I will grant Khawaja rejuvenated himself rather well, and made quite a few runs at tail of his career. However, it is now very clear he is in the departure lounge.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
January 23, 2024 11:03 pm

I have no idea what happened with those blockquotes.

JC
JC
January 23, 2024 11:06 pm

Pigssie, I’m guessing you’re agitated now because of my response to your indirect snipe towards me and you’re now trying out another (indirect) snipe with the absurd wife-beating comment. Charming.

You once told us hubby dumped you after a major op, and it was for that reason he took off. Perhaps, we should also hear his side and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he suggested you are an insufferable , and he’s never been happier. Just a guess.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
January 23, 2024 11:07 pm

My hatred for the Left is reaching dizzying levels.

I loathe, detest and despise the Left.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
January 23, 2024 11:14 pm

Perhaps there’s something to be said for onerous traffic management and control after all (the NT News):

Aboriginal leaders protesting on Invasion Day have been slapped with an $8000 fee to hold their Darwin city protest.

Uprising of the People posted an urgent call out to the community seeking donations to pay for the Invasion Day march, after being told it would cost $8000 to host the protest at Civic Park.

The organisation, led by Kulumbirigin Danggalaba Tiwi woman Mililma May, wrote on social media channels that it was charged the hefty fee just five days out from the planned January 26 protest.

“We want to protest safely for Invasion Day. To do this we need to pay for traffic control,” an Instagram post said.

Yes you do. Apparently.

The post said the local council “refuses to pay for traffic control” and the police were not “voluntarily offering their protection to allow this protest to happen safely”.

Yep. Pay for your own sack of shit.

JC
JC
January 23, 2024 11:20 pm

Driller

Salvatore, Iron Publican
Jan 23, 2024 11:14 PM

Huh? JC is a wife beater? This will come as news to nobody.

Charming accusation from the resident bush pig.

Driller, if you’re looking for a late nighter, find someone else to play with you.

Pogria
Pogria
January 23, 2024 11:23 pm

Jacksy,
it was before the op.

LOL!

JC
JC
January 23, 2024 11:25 pm

Before or after, no biggie. I’m sure he’s a happy camper. I’m also sure he’d be really pleased with you posting comments about him without being afforded a reply to your accusation.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
January 23, 2024 11:35 pm

Uprising of the People posted an urgent call out to the community seeking donations to pay for the Invasion Day march, after being told it would cost $8000 to host the protest at Civic Par

Should raise all of two hundred dollars.

Pogria
Pogria
January 23, 2024 11:36 pm
Dot
Dot
January 23, 2024 11:38 pm

Well, either way, Bird’s fakery of being Bolton is busted once and for all tonight.

Time to warm the shortening to 360F. 12 minutes in the pressure fryer.

Katzenjammer
Katzenjammer
January 23, 2024 11:41 pm

Neither is saying Hamas and Palestine are identical. They clearly aren’t because there are Palestinians in the West Bank, and in Gaza there are Palestinians unaffiliated with Hamas.

I may have slightly incorrect stats. 82% of Palestinians in the (so called) west bank of somewhere or other approve of what Hamas did on October 7th. Approx 65% of Palestinians in Gaza approve of it. No member of Hamas has ever been anything except a self identified Palestinians. Stop playing obvious games.

JC
JC
January 23, 2024 11:42 pm
Pogria
Pogria
January 23, 2024 11:46 pm

Aw Jacksy,
it’s never enough, you showed me that.

JC
JC
January 23, 2024 11:49 pm

You’re right , 5 burgers and two litres.

Pogria
Pogria
January 23, 2024 11:55 pm

Jacksy,
the burgers had better be double patties with extra cheese, and the cola MUST be sugar free! 😀

JC
JC
January 23, 2024 11:59 pm

Breakfast of champions.

Digger
Digger
January 24, 2024 12:03 am

Aboriginal leaders protesting on Invasion Day have been slapped with an $8000 fee to hold their Darwin city protest.

Which will almost certainly be paid by a taxpayer funded federal government grant…

Crossie
Crossie
January 24, 2024 12:06 am

Black Ball
Jan 23, 2024 10:50 PM
Nick Hockley, fark orf back to Engerland, take Part Cummins and Usman Khawaja with you and don’t return you trio of Australia hating arseholes.
Maybe take Mark Bolton with you too.

BB, Mark Bolton doesn’t live in Australia, by the times of activity I would guess he lives in UK or somewhere in Europe.

Pogria
Pogria
January 24, 2024 12:06 am

No, Jacksy,
a breakfast of champions is a cigarette and a cup of coffee.
You should know that.
Wait…

Katzenjammer
Katzenjammer
January 24, 2024 12:13 am

Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza.

Hamas supposedly planned their raid for a couple of years, while Palestinian civilians relished the opportunity, followed them in, and even without weapons used shovels and mattocks lying at hand in Israeli villages to behead Israelis, and used stolen vehicles to transport hostages to be bargained by Hamas.

Considering this, and more, in what way can anyone separate Hamas from Palestinians of Gaza.

It’s well acknowledged that many ‘Palestinians’ are against the ruthlessness of Hamas, but how can anyone ouside of their communities identify the inner most thoughts of the population when so many support Hamas and work hand in hand with Hamas.

Dover, you’re wrong in insisting there’s a any sort of clear separation between Gazan Palestinians and Hamas.

Rosie
Rosie
January 24, 2024 12:49 am

The bad thing about a very very early morning flight is getting dropped off five hours beforehand.
The good thing is it’s not very full and the nice lady has put me in empty rows, which hopefully remain empty (other than moi, of course).

Robert Sewell
January 24, 2024 6:00 am

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha

Jan 23, 2024 10:45 PM
Grumpy Old Man
6 minutes ago
So they want our education, quality of living, health care and housing, but question on the basis of religious belief the need to be treated like all other Australians. If they don’t want interest or indexation, pay fees in full each year.

Islamization begins when there are sufficient Muslims in a country to agitate for their religious privileges. When politically correct, tolerant, and culturally diverse societies agree to Muslim demands for their religious privileges, some of the other components tend to creep in as well.
Here’s how it works:
As long as the Muslim population remains around or under 2% in any given country, they will for the most part be regarded as a peace-loving minority and not as a threat to other citizens.
This is the case in:
United States 0.6%+
Australia 1.9%+
Canada 1.9%
China 1.8%
Italy 1.5%
Norway 1.8% Muslim
At 2% to 5%, they begin to proselytize from other ethnic minorities and disaffected groups, often with major recruiting from the jails and among street gangs.
This is happening in:
Denmark 2%
Belgium 4%
Germany 3.7%
United Kingdom 2.7%
Spain 4%
Thailand 4.6% Muslim
From 5% on, they exercise an inordinate influence in proportion to their percentage of the population. For example, they will push for the introduction of halal (clean by Islamic standards) food, thereby securing food preparation jobs for Muslims.
They will increase pressure on supermarket chains to feature halal on their shelves —
along with threats for failure to comply.

So I don’t understand why the government is surprised at the demands for interest free loans/no increases for inflation – it fits in with what Islam does historically.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
January 24, 2024 6:15 am

I drive past the islamic centre quite often, must stop of and offer some sage advice. You lot can pay for your splodey kids to go to university, or how about 100% down, nothing to pay.

Louis Litt
Louis Litt
January 24, 2024 7:43 am

Cassie -22/01 @ 8:09am
Went to fave bread/cake shop – real baking and art cakes – mesmerised by the display I came across the eye caching cherry cake, had the words “halal” written under cherry cake.
Could some one please explain this to me.
Cassie 22/01 @ 8:36 – yep don’t send your children to state schools – when at Uni the difference was noticeable – their attitude to private education, their outlook of the world, not trying, there was none of this I want to do my best, None of this I want a challenge, and general disrespect for people values and property, eg I don’t have it I will break it.
Then when they get a high paying job guess what, I am sending my children to this high paying school.
You’ve been Litt Up

Boambee John
Boambee John
January 24, 2024 8:41 am

GreyRanga
Jan 24, 2024 6:15 AM
I drive past the islamic centre quite often, must stop of and offer some sage advice. You lot can pay for your splodey kids to go to university, or how about 100% down, nothing to pay.

Or set two rates, the current rate and the “interest free” rate, set at a suitably higher level. Each rate to be open to all.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
January 24, 2024 10:04 am

4 hours ago
Freed Israeli women hostages tell of abuse
Agency writers
Agency writers

Two freed Israeli women hostages on Tuesday gave testimony to a group of lawmakers on the abuse they experienced while being held captive by Hamas militants in Gaza.

“I was there 51 days and there wasn’t a moment that we didn’t go through abuse of any kind,” said Aviva Siegel, who was taken hostage on October 7.

Siegel, 62, told the hearing on sexual violence during the Israel-Hamas conflict that militants had turned both women and men hostages into “dolls on a string that they can do with them what they please, whenever they please”.

“I saw it with my own eyes. I didn’t just see, I felt the women as if they were my daughters,” she said.

Siegel said male hostages were suffering equally in captivity. “The men are also going through what the women are experiencing. They may not be getting pregnant but they are also dolls on a string,” she said.

Chen Goldstein-Almog, another freed hostage, said she had seen fellow female hostages miss periods during their captivity.

She said this may have been due to “the difficult conditions in captivity”, but added that she feared that “heaven forbid they get pregnant”.

The biggest fear the captives had was of being abandoned by the Israeli authorities, added Goldstein-Almog, 48.

“The feeling there is that you’re forgotten, that they’ve given up on you,” she told the meeting via video link.

Both women were freed during a seven-day humanitarian pause in late November that led to the release of 80 Israeli hostages in exchange for aid deliveries into Gaza and the freeing of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Their brief remarks add to a growing number of accounts of sexual violence emerging from Hamas’s October 7 attacks and against hostages held for months by the Palestinian militant group.

But scarcity of survivor testimonies and forensic evidence made it difficult to assess the scale of sexual violence in the attacks.

Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, carried out an unprecedented attack on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of about 1140 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

During the attack Palestinian militants also seized about 250 hostages. Israel says around 132 remain in besieged Gaza, including the bodies of at least 28 dead hostages, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli data.

Fourteen women hostages are still being held in Gaza, according to an AFP tally. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met a group of freed hostages last month, saying after the meeting that he had been told “about cases of sexual abuse and cruel rapes”.

In response to the attack, Israel has launched a relentless offensive in Gaza that has killed at least 25,490 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest toll issued Tuesday by Gaza’s health ministry.

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  1. These are the stupidest people in history. To be fair, they haven’t advocated for a new war in South East…

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