Open Thread – Mon 22 Jan 2024


The Angel Standing in the Sun, William Turner, 1846

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Dot
Dot
January 23, 2024 8:06 am

Speaking of conspiracy theories, the prevailing one is that the Chiefs will make it to the super bowl because the NFL wants Taylor Swift to be there (her current BF plays for the Chiefs).

She probably wants them not to so she has a song about it.

Two billion dollar corporations with fanatical fans battling it out, legendary stuff.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
January 23, 2024 8:07 am

Sandgropers start posting here after dinner, about 8:30 DST

It’s always midnight in the ‘Booka.

calli
calli
January 23, 2024 8:09 am

I understand the police have finally moved them on and the ship will be able to dock.

The junior scribbler writes that they have been sprayed with an “unidentified liquid”, as if to imply something other than pepper spray. Water cannon would be my choice. Cleanliness is next to godliness.

flyingduk
flyingduk
January 23, 2024 8:09 am

In ‘Zero Hedge’ today, re Novak Djokovic and the sudden death of journalist Mike Dickson who collapsed and “died suddenly” at the age of 59 while covering the Australian Open after attacking Novak previously for being unvaxxed:

One could argue that the mandates and vaccines were more a loyalty test than an effort to save lives: Those who complied were considered devout collectivists or at least people who could be controllable, and those who refused to comply immediately stood out as a potential threat. This is how a world-class tennis player from Serbia, Novak Djokovic, was treated when it was revealed that he was not vaccinated when he entered the Australian Open in early 2022…… his example of defiance of the jab was considered unacceptable by Australian authorities.

FACTCHECK – TRUE

John H.
John H.
January 23, 2024 8:11 am

feelthebern
Jan 23, 2024 7:43 AM
FTB have you looked into the potential benefits of lithium? There is some surprisingly promising research on the benefits of low dose lithium.

Not really John.
It’s going to be a while before lithium research can be trusted.
Doctors were too keen to prescribe it during the 90’s.

Are you referring to bipolar treatment(lithium carbonate)? Huge kidney damage risk at ~1800mg per day for the therapeutic effect. Many studies showing benefits for dementia at much lower doses. I read a few last night. Good for the brain, one study found that at 150-600mg, well below the toxicity threshold, it proved superior to leading Alz drugs. A meta-analysis also had good results. Lithium orotate seems to have different effects than lithium carbonate. The longevity benefit surprised me; especially as that occurred in other species . Its main benefit appears to be through inhibition of GSK 3.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
January 23, 2024 8:11 am

Drug addict
Prisoner
Engineer’s apprentice
Plant operator
Heavy vehicle driver

Raconteur and bon vivant

I am reminded of Verbal Kint in The Usual Suspects:

‘When I was in a barber shop quartet in Skokie, Illinois’

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 8:12 am

I think there were far more ‘pile ons’ on Sinc’s Cat.

Yes. I think these have diminished somewhat. Although the ‘war room’ still lives and seems to be enjoyed by JC and others.

Sinc did put the QC into moderation at one time, when her drunken doxxing and other things became extreme. Putting Bolton into moderation is no solution though, because he’s not rational enough to take the message and I suspect is incapble of moderating his commentary, as it is pure stream of consciousness with no redeeming features.

To me Bolton sounds like a lonely old bloke with some brain damage who is shifting around the blogs mistaking conspiracies for arguments, and without any concept of evidence and rebuttal. This is not the place for him, if only he could see that.

Pogria
Pogria
January 23, 2024 8:12 am

Farmer Gez
Jan 23, 2024 8:04 AM
Kenny Everett.
Bolt-on reminds me of Cupid Stunt.

Gez,
definitely not a Cunning Stunt. 😀

calli
calli
January 23, 2024 8:15 am

Harold Skimpole

Modern version. Dickens had to keep it clean for the publishers.

Dot
Dot
January 23, 2024 8:15 am

I normally don’t like punching down but if these are what real swingers look like, then I want my virginity back.

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/24062262.eastleigh-ex-swingers-speak-scary-websites/

Dot
Dot
January 23, 2024 8:17 am

I thought Bath, etc, UK basically worked because the water was low dose lithium?

Imagine if they knew about MAOI inhibitors, Ayahusca and Elk meat.

Whoa.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 8:19 am

Rosie, again, thanks for you links to X and other places re the war on Hamas.

I never fail to be impressed by the professionalism and humanity of the IDF, as shown in that long piece on the hero dog whom Israeli high tech brought back to a living life. As that piece shows, Israelis are having some very dark days since Oct 7/23 and these gracious people are doing their best to keep their civilised values to the fore in the support of their very worthy cause. You can’t help but admire them very much.

calli
calli
January 23, 2024 8:23 am

Dot

Bob and Cheryl.

I know. It’s too early in the morning, but what the heck.

Dot
Dot
January 23, 2024 8:25 am

It’s never too late for the classics.

Pogria
Pogria
January 23, 2024 8:27 am

Calli,
re your stating that a Water Cannon is needed, the Italians didn’t muck about when the filth were protesting a Jewish Stall at the Jewelry Fair in Vicenza.
It is worth watching twice.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 8:27 am

oopa. your links, not you.

I am sorry that my keyboard sometimes doesn’t take up a last letter as my fingers fly over it. It’s so easy to miss this during a brief proof read.

(lol, predictive text suggested ‘during the holidays’, what a weird blog it would be if we all allowed predictive text to have its own way for a day. Would make us all look like Bolton.)

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 8:30 am

lol. Oops not oopa.
Don’t know how that happened either.

Pogria
Pogria
January 23, 2024 8:32 am

Calli,
dammit! you beat me to it!
😀

John H.
John H.
January 23, 2024 8:33 am

Dot
Jan 23, 2024 8:17 AM
I thought Bath, etc, UK basically worked because the water was low dose lithium?

Imagine if they knew about MAOI inhibitors, Ayahusca and Elk meat.

Whoa.

There are many studies showing benefits from higher than usual lithium concentrations in the water supply. Reduced suicide and depression rates. What surprised me last night was the improved mortality findings from a huge observational study in Japan. That has also been documented in other species. MAO inhibitors are long out of fashion which is a shame because MAOs when degrading dopamine can create toxic quinones. IIRC MAO inhibitors fell out of fashion mainly because the serotonin nonsense started and they had these new drugs to push.

Dot
Dot
January 23, 2024 8:34 am

In ‘Zero Hedge’ today, re Novak Djokovic and the sudden death of journalist Mike Dickson who collapsed and “died suddenly” at the age of 59 while covering the Australian Open after attacking Novak previously for being unvaxxed:

How many boosters was he up to?

Here’s a tribute song, from Mr Djokovic.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 8:35 am

It is worth watching twice.

Or in the different versions. They aren’t agin having a bash at them either, these Pallie thugs dressed for combat as they are.

If only our constabulary were so determined to stop fascist Pallies in our streets.

Instead, they ‘monitor’ the situation.

calli
calli
January 23, 2024 8:36 am

Good stuff, Pogs.

They needed a tub. I liked the pinpoint concentration of fire over the placard shield wall.

The Italians had a gutfull of the shyte 80 years ago. It all but destroyed their country. Time to wake up again.

Tom
Tom
January 23, 2024 8:36 am

I think there were far more ‘pile ons’ on Sinc’s Cat.

Not to mention the legendary midnight stoushes.

Thankfully, JC still contributes to the Cat Mk.II.

calli
calli
January 23, 2024 8:38 am

I have been reflecting on our “monitoring” versus a more pro-active approach. It may be that culturally, we haven’t had the same upheavals as elsewhere and believe a softy-softly tactic will work.

Those in a position to decide are mistaken. It needs to be nipped in the bud or we get another, bigger Cronulla.

Rosie
Rosie
January 23, 2024 8:38 am
Rosie
Rosie
January 23, 2024 8:44 am

Dan Devries, a New York resident said he attended the protest because he wants to see a free Gaza, but that he wouldn’t vote for either Biden or possible Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. “I see this war as part of the U.S.’s drive to offset its economic decline by engaging in continual war,” said Devries.

No thoughts about who started this particular conflict or the rights of peaceful Israelis who, incidentally, were on the same political page as Mr Devries to not be murdered in their beds?

some of the nutty things propallies say

Rosie
Rosie
January 23, 2024 8:45 am

Hopefully excessively warm weather in Sydney will dampen pallimuppet’s marching enthusiasm.

Black Ball
Black Ball
January 23, 2024 8:46 am

Marles, Wong Chap and Chesty Blonde on the television slapping sanctions a Russian bloke who is apparently behind the Medibank hack.
Chesty Blonde sez “if we put our minds to it, we will find out who you are.” Well I dunno about you, I feel assured.
Just has a whole lot of ‘squirrels look over there’ feel about the conference to distract from the confab Albo convened this week.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
January 23, 2024 8:47 am

Cassie of Sydney

Jan 23, 2024 7:36 AM

By the way, some of the abuse, biffs and beefs on Sinc’s Cat were legendary. Who could forget the biff that went on for days, resulting in the site being shut down by Sinc for three whole days.

Remind me.
Who was involved in that one?
Was it Thought Leader?
And who else?

Rosie
Rosie
January 23, 2024 8:47 am

Elon Musk visited Auschwitz along with Ben Shapiro yesterday.

Rosie
Rosie
January 23, 2024 8:48 am

Hyperdrive Egg, it was.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
January 23, 2024 8:50 am

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare

Jan 23, 2024 8:12 AM

I think there were far more ‘pile ons’ on Sinc’s Cat.

Yes. I think these have diminished somewhat. 

Put the stone down and move away from the glass house, Lizzie.

Black Ball
Black Ball
January 23, 2024 8:50 am

Alexander Irmakov apparently. Only spelling the name phonetically from what Wong Chap said. So they know the bloke. Guessing he is shitting his pants in Russia knowing these 3 Amigos are after him.

Rosie
Rosie
January 23, 2024 8:52 am
Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
January 23, 2024 8:53 am

Page 3 of this thread was brought to you by Bolton Spam … every can packed with wholesome all natural pork rectums.

Rosie
Rosie
January 23, 2024 8:57 am
Indolent
Indolent
January 23, 2024 8:57 am

This is about an independent British film released in 2014.

One by One: The New World Order population reduction plan

Indolent
Indolent
January 23, 2024 8:59 am
Indolent
Indolent
January 23, 2024 9:00 am
Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
January 23, 2024 9:02 am

Ah, yes, egg_ster and Thought Leader.
I think there were invitations to take it out to the car-park.
Sad.

Rosie
Rosie
January 23, 2024 9:03 am

So difficult for the Gestapo in Nice, they couldn’t pick the Jews from the locals simply by looking at them.
a survivor story

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 9:07 am

Put the stone down and move away from the glass house, Lizzie.

Sweeti pie, I was happily continuing on minding my own business contributing here about autistic people left to rot in public housing, not my own son, but those who surround him, and POW, in comes the QC with another example of her endless long-standing bitterness and bile accusing me of lord knows whatever. When one’s window is smashed one tends to pick up a stone and retaliate rather than accept it and encourage more. That’s human nature.

I have NEVER cast the first stone. Not even at you, dear boy.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
January 23, 2024 9:08 am

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare

Jan 23, 2024 8:27 AM

oopa. your links, not you.

I am sorry that my keyboard sometimes doesn’t take up a last letter as my fingers fly over it. 

Your knot blaiming the keybored are your?

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 9:13 am

Supreme Court Allows Biden Admin To Remove Texas Border Wire

It would only take one of the five, who would currently vote to free President Trump from State lawfare when the matters are Federal, to be ‘persuaded’ to make the likely vote 5 to 4 against Trump rather than 5 to 4 in favour of him (by some past photographs etc held by the FBI for just such a time?).

I wouldn’t like to be in an American city if this happens.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
January 23, 2024 9:14 am

Lizzie, you are confusing John 8:7 … “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” and the adage “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”.
The latter makes no reference to being first to throw a stone, merely that it is ill-advised to throw any stones at all if glass is the predominant construction material of your abode.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 9:15 am

Your knot blaiming the keybored are your?

Of coarse not. It were me pinky’s fault, yer onner.

Wally Dalí
Wally Dalí
January 23, 2024 9:16 am

That story of Mikey the Israeli bomb dog is amazing. Shot and shrapnel wounds on animals are nearly impossible to clean up, because the particles carry so much dirt and fur into the body with them… Iwas worrying about the uae of resources in a war situation, but then, Israel is fine, and Gaza has Medecins Sans Frontieres and Red Cross-Red Crescent all over it, yeah?
Another observation- contra just about every other western country, the Israeli women are all slim, long-haired, maybe a few tattoo blowouts, but otherwise notably gorgeous. If you want a population that will survive the fall, stay fit, look after yourself, you’ll have plenty of babies, and you’ll find men will sign up for service, even in the shadow of their 40’s.

Damon
Damon
January 23, 2024 9:19 am

“I am sorry that my keyboard sometimes doesn’t take up a last letter as my fingers fly over it.”

You’ve got two options. Admit you’re a lousy typist, or do a better job of proofreading.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 9:22 am

Lizzie, you are confusing John 8:7 … “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” and the adage “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”.

LOL, Dopey. You think I don’t know my bible from my proverbs?

I deliberately spoke not of glass houses, but of the integrity of me windows.
Bust one of me windows and watch out fer yer own.

My house is built of brick, not glass.

But as the Good Book says, and I listen, I don’t deliberately thoughtlessly attack.
Some. Here. Do.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 9:22 am

What a backflip: The Biggest political party in the EU now wants to drop the ban on petrol and diesel cars

Car crash

By Jo Nova

The voter backlash begins

How much more would the car lovers and petrol-heads of Europe take? In draconian style, last February, the EU declared all petrol and diesel cars would be banned from 2035. It was their star policy for the Net Zero push. Car makers would have to cut their emissions by a shocking 55% by 2030 and an unthinkable 100% by 2035. It was to be the end of an era.

The idea was so big and embedded in the EU that only one month ago an insurance insider warned that his company was already devising elaborate plans for a world where everyone had an EV and the insurance giants and the government got access to all your data. Police would be issuing your speeding tickets while-you-drove, and insurance companies would be granting drivers a discount if they allowed them to sell all their data to the highest bidder. Indeed, the word was that insurance companies wouldn’t even insure petrol cars. Obviously only the rich were going to be able to afford a petrol car or an EV “with privacy”.

But now, the largest party in the EU is drafting a policy to ditch the same ban they voted in a year ago. The European People’s Party (EPP) is theoretically a “centre right” party, despite acting like the radical left, but that means they stand to lose their voter-base in a blink as the reality of the bans sinks in, which it has.

Europe’s conservative bloc calls for dropping ban on car engines, tripling border guards

BRUSSELS — Europe’s biggest conservative force, the European People’s Party, wants to massively bulk up the EU’s external guard force and drop plans to phase out the combustion engine across the bloc by 2035, according to a draft of the party’s manifesto obtained by POLITICO. With its heavy emphasis on migration control and call to “preserve our Christian values,” the manifesto reflects the growing strength of right-wing parties across the bloc.

calli
calli
January 23, 2024 9:22 am

If we’re going to reminisce about stoushes, the funniest one for me was the “diddums” to the death, circa 2014. Gab in one corner, Grigs in the other. Seemed to go for hours.

Good times.

Roger
Roger
January 23, 2024 9:25 am

It needs to be nipped in the bud or we get another, bigger Cronulla.

After which the authorities will crack down on the tolerant, pushed to breaking point, rather than the intolerant who are the cause and our freedoms – such as they are – will be constrained.

Mark my words.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 9:25 am

Ventusky tracking Cyclone

Circles Mackay, Wife speaking to Sisters in Mackay re battening down

Zafiro
Zafiro
January 23, 2024 9:28 am

Bob and Cheryl. That’s a blast from the past. Maybe some Michelle and Ferret next.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 9:28 am

You’ve got two options. Admit you’re a lousy typist, or do a better job of proofreading.

Option 3.

Don’t aim for perfection.

Option 4.

Don’t give a damn and never apologise.
Leave all you downtickers to puzzle things out by yourselves.
It’s not that hard.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 9:32 am

‘Hatred’: Warren Mundine blasts corporate bodies including Cricket Australia and Woolworths over Australia Day snub

One of Australia’s most prominent Indigenous leaders has ripped into the corporate bodies which have decided not to acknowledge Australia Day this Friday as the debate around January 26 rages on.

Lauren Evans – Digital Reporter

Indigenous activist Warren Mundine has ripped into corporate bodies over their Australia Day snub.

Cricket Australia is the latest in a string of organisations which have opted to not make formal reference to Australia Day, with the sporting body set to ditch the term at the upcoming Gabba Test.

Supermarket giants like Woolworths and Aldi have also decided to remove Australian-themed merch from its shelves this year – with both moves having copped major criticism.

Speaking to Sky News Australia’s Sharri Markson on Monday night, Mr Mundine labelled these bodies as “haters of Australians, and haters of Australia”.

“There’s one thing I will not tolerate, and that is the bigotry and the hatred of organisations like Cricket Australia, like Woolworths and all these corporations who look at Australian people as knuckle draggers, as bigots and dreadful stuff,” he said.

“How do I know this? They all supported the Yes campaign, and they got flogged by the Australian people and we’re going to flog them again, because we’re getting sick and tired of these people who hate Australia.”

Mr Mundine argued that Australia should be celebrated for its multicultural and diverse values, and said he was “sick and tired of this annual attack” on the nation.

“We have the most multicultural, most multifaith, most incredible country in the world, in fact we have more multis than you can poke a stick at, and people have come to this country, and we’re so proud of the migrants who have come here,” he said.

“Cricket Australia have just spat in their face, if Cricket Australia and all the other bodies have just said ‘look, we’re like the inner city elites, and we’re more knowledgeable and more superior than the rest of Australia’.

“More than 67 per cent of Australians want it to remain on the January 26…but I’m just sick and tired of this annual attack on the values of this country.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns on Monday condemned the decision not to acknowledge Australia Day at the Test, and said he hoped Cricket Australia revisited its decision.

“Australia Day is the 26th January, it’s an opportunity for us to come together and celebrate the fact that we live in the greatest country on earth,” Mr Minns said.

“I think they (Cricket Australia) should revisit it, I hope they do.

“I know I’ll be celebrating Australia day and millions of other people after a tough couple of years, I’ll take the opportunity to spend time with family and friends as well.”

It was revealed on Monday the term “Australia Day” would not be used during the second Test between Australia and the West Indies in Brisbane.

Cricket Australia controversially opted to schedule the Gabba Test over the Australia Day public holiday this year, with the second day of the match to coincide with January 26.

The sporting body then decided to go a step further in scrapping the use of the term in a bid to acknowledge the day has different meanings to different people.

Cricket Australia will conduct a traditional Welcome to Country ceremony on day one of the Gabba Test, but the use of “Australia Day” will be avoided by the ground announcer.

Earlier, Woolworths said declining product demand and ongoing debate around the significance of January 26 were some of the reasons to ditch Australia Day paraphernalia.

“Woolworths and Big W celebrate the best of Australia every day, and we’re proud to support the farmers, producers, and suppliers who work with us,” a spokesperson said.

The move has been condemned by many political leaders who say the decision is unfair to those Australians wanting to celebrate their country.

calli
calli
January 23, 2024 9:32 am

Ask, and ye shall receive.

I give you…Michelle and Ferret, Skinhead etiquette.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 9:36 am

Wally, I was wiping away a few tears at the end of the bomb dog saga.

A beautiful story to come out of a war-torn land.

Tom
Tom
January 23, 2024 9:37 am

OldOzzie, your cyclone link at 9.25am is a vortex from hell, sucking all who click on it into an online black hole. I had to shut it down to escape it.

The cyclone graphic is very good but.

Roger
Roger
January 23, 2024 9:39 am

“Woolworths and Big W celebrate the best of Australia every day…”

Except Australia Day.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 9:41 am

Tom
Jan 23, 2024 9:37 AM

OldOzzie, your cyclone link at 9.25am is a vortex from hell, sucking all who click on it into an online black hole. I had to shut it down to escape it.

The cyclone graphic is very good but.

Tom,

what’s “but”?

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
January 23, 2024 9:42 am

There’s one thing I will not tolerate, and that is the bigotry and the hatred of organisations like Cricket Australia, like Woolworths and all these corporations who look at Australian people as knuckle draggers, as bigots and dreadful stuff

Yeah. Curse you Woolworths!

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 9:43 am

Fast Forward. Thanks Calli.

I could weep for the Australia that we have lost.

The send ups, the good natured humour, the piccaresque without offense.

The people who we once were. Able to rissole outselves and remain kind.

Black Ball
Black Ball
January 23, 2024 9:43 am

Albo’s distraction squirrel.
Note how he’s waiting to delve deeper only on Thursday at the National Press Club.

Zafiro
Zafiro
January 23, 2024 9:45 am

Cheers Calli. Awesome comedy that crew back in the day.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 9:49 am

Great to see local businesses going well

Wife is taking Year 7 starter for pre-school haircut – Julita Into Hair Salon who took over Tony Di Luca’s Barber premisies at Seaforth when he passed away (had been going to Tony to have my hair cut for over 40 years) is fully booked out till end of next week

Wife will now go to Stocklands Balgowlah and join wait for School Hair Cut

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 9:51 am

“How do I know this? They all supported the Yes campaign, and they got flogged by the Australian people and we’re going to flog them again, because we’re getting sick and tired of these people who hate Australia.”

I know Warren Mundine is in favour of a date change, but we should never do that.

It would be giving in to the ‘invasion’ thesis. Australia was never invaded. To change the date would be to give in to a lie. Don’t do that.

The British Enlightenment arrived on these shores on 26th January, 1788, with its notions of human equality, the rule of law, and with the bonus of speaking English. It set the parameters for the settlement and development of great country that we have become, which belongs to all who live here, no matter how long they have been here.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 9:53 am

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Jan 23, 2024 9:43 AM

Fast Forward. Thanks Calli.

I could weep for the Australia that we have lost.

The send ups, the good natured humour, the piccaresque without offense.

The people who we once were. Able to rissole outselves and remain kind.

Lizzie,

As Michael Smith News says even

Australia Day lamb ad has lost it.

JC
JC
January 23, 2024 9:55 am

Remind me.
Who was involved in that one?
Was it Thought Leader?
And who else?

And now calls for civility, like the acid bath “expert”, Crazy Karen Gacey. FMD.

Tom
Tom
January 23, 2024 9:59 am

what’s “but”?

OldOzzie, putting “but” at the end of sentences is a speech affectation popular in Queensland that means “yeah-nah”.

Bespoke
Bespoke
January 23, 2024 10:03 am

After which the authorities will crack down on the tolerant, pushed to breaking point, rather than the intolerant who are the cause and our freedoms – such as they are – will be constrained.

Mark my words.

This has been the MO of the so called educated elite for so long. To what end?

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 10:03 am

US aviation regulator calls for checks on older Boeing 737 jets

FAA recommends inspections of aircraft with same kind of door plug as Alaska Airlines plane involved in blowout

The US aviation regulator has recommended that airlines check an older version of Boeing’s 737 jet that has the same kind of door plug as that which blew out on an Alaska Airlines aircraft earlier this month.

The Federal Aviation Administration said late on Sunday that as an “added layer of safety”, it was recommending operators of Boeing 737-900ER aircraft “visually inspect mid-exit door plugs to ensure the door is properly secured”. 

The 737-900ER is an earlier version of the 737 Max 9 aircraft that is at the centre of an investigation following the accident on January 5.

The FAA said that following additional maintenance inspections by some 737-900ER operators of the door plugs on their aircraft after the Alaska accident, they had “noted findings with bolts”. 

It recommended that operators perform “key portions” of the maintenance inspection procedure related to the four locations where a “bolt/nut/pin installation is used to secure the door to the airframe, as soon as possible”.

The agency grounded 171 of Boeing’s 737 Max 9 aircraft while investigations continue into what went wrong, but the incident has already raised questions over Boeing’s quality controls and those of supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, which built the fuselage.

It has also refocused scrutiny of the 737 Max, Boeing’s most popular plane, whose smaller model, the Max 8, was involved in two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. 

Boeing has been scrambling to contain the fallout from the Alaska incident. It has brought in a retired Navy admiral, Kirkland H Donald, to review its quality management systems. Important customers, including Ryanair and aircraft lessor AerCap, have in recent weeks warned that the company needs to focus on safety and quality control. 

According to Boeing data, more than 500 of the 737-900ER models have been delivered to airlines globally. Leading operators include United Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines. The three US carriers fly the majority of the 380 aircraft understood to have the door plug affected by the recommendation.

United said it started “proactive inspections” of its Boeing 737-900ER jets last week and expected to complete them “in the next few days” without disruption to travellers. The Chicago-based carrier has 136 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft in its fleet.

Alaska said it began inspections of its 737-900ER aircraft “several days ago”. It had “no findings to date” and did not expect disruption to its operations.

Delta said it also “elected to take proactive measures to inspect our 737-900ER fleet” and it did not expect “any operational impact”.

“We remain in close communication with the Boeing team,” the Atlanta-based airline added.

The door plugs replace mid-cabin emergency exit doors and are installed depending on the configuration used by the respective airline operator. They are common features and have been used on both Boeing and Airbus aircraft for decades.  

Most of the Boeing 737-900ERs subject to the latest FAA directive were delivered between five and 17 years ago and would have undergone detailed maintenance inspections since then, according to industry analysts.  

Boeing said: “We fully support the FAA and our customers in this action.”

Bourne1879
Bourne1879
January 23, 2024 10:04 am

Last night Sharri Markson had a good story on teachers pro Palestinian activities and it involved wife of NSW Minister Jihad Dib. A few of us commented on it during the show.

However just looked in the Oz and can’t see any article by her. There is an online article by Noah Yim that mentions it but does not cover all aspects.

Perhaps they only got the audio too late on Monday for her to cover it on show and also give it a detailed article.

Roger
Roger
January 23, 2024 10:05 am

I know Warren Mundine is in favour of a date change, but we should never do that.

Change the date and the usual suspects will simply protest the new one.

It’s the notion of Australia they hate, not the date.

P
P
January 23, 2024 10:07 am

WHO is really developing guidelines for transgender health?
By Monica Doumit – January 23, 2024

One of the subtle tricks used for parliamentary inquiries on contentious issues is to hold public consultations over December and January, while Christians are otherwise occupied and everyone is on holidays.

More often than not, there is a religious freedom bill or report or something similar to digest over the Christmas break.

This year the inquiries in Australia are not directly about religious freedom issues, but certainly affect them.

Makka
Makka
January 23, 2024 10:09 am

This has been the MO of the so called educated elite for so long. To what end?

To create chaos and violence leading to inevitable crack down by the state. A strategy for increased state oppression and control.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 10:09 am

Tom
Jan 23, 2024 9:59 AM

what’s “but”?

OldOzzie, putting “but” at the end of sentences is a speech affectation popular in Queensland that means “yeah-nah”.

Tom,

Aahh, I live and learn – like putting “Up” at the end of all Western Australian Place Names

Eyrie
Eyrie
January 23, 2024 10:10 am

Obviously only the rich were going to be able to afford a petrol car or an EV “with privacy”.

Once again, the means of propulsion of the car is independent of the electronic wizardry/connectivity/self drivingness of a car. All the spy stuff could be implemented today in any new car and sometimes is.

Pogria
Pogria
January 23, 2024 10:10 am

Calli and Lizzie,
re the Vicenza Water Bombing, the original clip I watched was over five minutes long. It showed the Biff from the beginning. There was a tiny, helmeted female copper who was out the front like Boudicca. She went screaming in with Baton raised, determined to crack heads.
I tried to find that clip earlier, but can’t remember what blog had linked to it. The filth were shooting flares at the coppers also. That really set off the mini Boudicca.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 10:14 am

Bourne1879
Jan 23, 2024 10:04 AM

Last night Sharri Markson had a good story on teachers pro Palestinian activities and it involved wife of NSW Minister Jihad Dib. A few of us commented on it during the show.

Wife of NSW Cabinet Minister Jihad Dib disciplined by Education Department over pro-Palestine protest at public school where she teaches

Explosive audio reveals how a NSW Cabinet Minister’s wife has been critical in planning pro-Palestinian protests at public schools despite being disciplined by the Department of Education for activism at the school where she teaches.

Sharri Markson – Sky News host

A NSW Cabinet minister’s wife has been disciplined by the department of education for pro-Palestinian activism at the public school where she teaches.

Despite this disciplinary action, Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib’s wife, Erin, was part of a small group of teachers on Friday plotting a protest outside the offices of Chris Minns, Anthony Albanese or Jason Clare.

Erin Dib, a teacher at Burwood Girls High, also offered to help produce a booklet to distribute at schools which accuses Israel of genocide and explains how to get around the Education Department code of conduct.

During the zoom meeting, Sky News Australia can reveal Ms Dib said she would ask her husband if he would become involved in the group’s activism and speak at protests.

Sky News has obtained an exclusive audio recording of the Teachers for Palestine group meeting on Friday, which was attended by about 15 people.

Ms Dib was disciplined by the Department of Education for her pro-Palestinian activism on school grounds.

“I did get disciplined by my director for what I did at school,” she said on the recording obtained by Sky News.

“My principal got a directive from the director that I had to be spoken to, other teachers had to be interviewed and I was spoken to about three times within that week, my principal is very supportive, but I was spoken to three times, and then everything was shut down within the school.

“Nothing in writing, but my principal had to put every interview that she had with me and everything that was done in writing and showed me that, and it was sent back and then she was told very clearly about what she had to say to staff and what she wrote was then changed and she had to put something different back to staff.”

The Department of Education told Sky News a Burwood Girls High School teacher was counselled last year about communications on the conflict in the Middle East.

They said the principal had apologised, and the school offered wellbeing support to staff and students.

The audio recording of the Teachers for Palestine strategy meeting on Friday included a discussion about whether to hold a protest outside the office of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns or Federal Education Minister Jason Clare.

The group settled on Mr Clare.

During this discussion, Ms Dib reminded the group that her husband was a minister in the Minns Government.

“Can I just be totally transparent and just let everybody know who doesn’t already that my husband is also Jihad Dib, who is the state member for Bankstown, I just want to put that out there so everybody knows, just to be totally transparent,” she said.

But Ms Dib didn’t object to the political rally.

The teachers on the zoom meeting admitted they were taking ideas from the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States.

“So Palestine solidarity day, t-shirts, badges, kaffirs, culminating in a short rally at Jason Clare’s office. Do we need to talk about wearing t-shirts for Palestine … into schools?” One teacher said.

“You do get some principals raising code of conduct type issues. The original idea of t-shirts came from the Black Lives Matter in the United States where hundreds of teachers wore BLM t-shirts into schools there and teachers in Victoria did it for refugees.”

The teachers also discussed future plans to bring the Middle East conflict into the classroom, including during maths and English classes.

The Teachers for Palestine group is ignoring the Education Department code of conduct that stipulates politics should not interfere in schools.

“Irrespective of what happens at the international court of justice so I do think we want to look to make Palestine visible in our schools,” one teacher on the call said.

“I think our rulers are trying to coverup the genocide which is happening in full public view, and to do that they use tactics, they try to accuse us of anti-Semitism, they use Islamophobia around Hamas…We want to make it visible.”

The NSW Education code of conduct states that while employees have a right to participate in political and community activities in a private capacity, “it is important to retain public confidence in public education and ensure the department remains apolitical and professional”.

“As a department employee, you must… not participate in private political activities while on duty or on work premises,” the code says.

A NSW Department of Education spokesperson said: “Teachers are expected to be politically neutral during class, on school grounds or anytime they identify themselves as a NSW public school teacher”.??

“We provide clear guidance around this for all our employees in our Code of Conduct.”?

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 10:15 am

I am actually a very fast touch typist, 80wpm at my best. Inevitably, there are some mistakes, but they are generally few in typists who are this skilled.

What is happening to me is interesting and I think to do with aging. My fingers are not losing any of their capacity to strike, but the relationships between fingering and hitting the correct keys are not as sound. Even worse is something that is also seen with reading – humans develop a capacity to ‘fill in’ when dealing with common ‘sight’ words – as you get to know when you teach a child to read and as has been shown by the Cambridge experiments with removing vowels within words, yet finding they maintain good comprehension via ‘sight’ fill ins and contextualisation. Typing is like sight reading, an automatic response, and sometimes as one ages, I find my typing will produce a word that is close to but not the one that I thought I was typing. So ‘few’ can become ‘fear’ and ‘far’ can become ‘few’. I suspect some keystroke analysing program could work out which sorts of substitutions are the most common. Strange thing, the human mind.

Proof-reading of course is the answer. But it is tedious and boring. That never changes. 🙂

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 10:17 am

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese set to propose overhaul of stage three tax cuts in ‘broken election promise’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to overhaul stage three tax cuts in a major “broken election promise”.

From the Comments

– it’s got to that point… how do you know if Albo is lying? His lips move…

– This says something about the integrity of the Government and more-so about Albo. What little credibility they had has now surely gone. Still waiting for my $275 relief for power bills.

– Grossly incompetent. Liars too. Same old ALP.

– What do the Teals think of this as it will be their supporters who will get less out of these changes.
This must be a dilemma for them because they support the division of the country by Labor but now Labor is upsetting their supporters

Tom
Tom
January 23, 2024 10:17 am

Bourne1879 at 10.04am, I’m guessing the daily editorial deadline for the Paywallian is prior to 8pm, which means Sharri Markson’s excellent scoop on the wife of a NSW cabinet minister participating in pro-Palestinian activism within the state school system wasn’t even considered for publication.

PS: Sky News knows Markson’s 8pm hour rates poorly, but evidently agreed to her request to abandon her 5pm slot for family reasons, sabotaging its strategy of having Markson being the only evening show that breaks news.

Pogria
Pogria
January 23, 2024 10:18 am

I love Ace, here is another of his hilarious news takes.

Fani Willis Seeks to Quash Subpoena in Divorce Matter;
She Argues to Judge, “Before I Met Mr. Darris ‘Sweetdick’ Honeycum, My Sad Cooter Was Dry as Gold-Bond Foot Powder and Had Gone from a Snizz to a Snooze to a Snuzz”
—Disinformation Expert Ace

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 10:20 am

“We provide clear guidance around this for all our employees in our Code of Conduct.”

Yet the Depaartment of Education refused to take receipt of Markson’s recording.

They simply don’t want to know. Heads deeply in the sands of Palestine.

calli
calli
January 23, 2024 10:21 am

My principal got a directive from the director that I had to be spoken to, other teachers had to be interviewed and I was spoken to about three times within that week, my principal is very supportive, but I was spoken to three times, and then everything was shut down within the school.

I thought it was three strikes and you’re out.

She’d be a better fit for a madrassa, but that isn’t the strategy. She wants to infect children in the wider community with her hate and lies.

Pity any Jewish child at Burwood High. As Cassie said, they’d have to get out for their own safety. The options, though, are limited. I imagine Moriah would take on hardship cases.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 10:25 am

What do the Teals think of this as it will be their supporters who will get less out of these changes.

Most of them won’t care, as they’re doing so well anyway.

What they really want to do is change the temperature of the planet.
The are the Perfecti, deurbanising and greening.
Nothing else is going to compete with this deeply religious aim.

calli
calli
January 23, 2024 10:26 am

The Teachers for Palestine group is ignoring the Education Department code of conduct that stipulates politics should not interfere in schools.

Then the Teachers for Palestine are in clear breach of their work contract.

Punt them.

Zafiro
Zafiro
January 23, 2024 10:26 am

Pauline Hanson, her offsider Malcolm Roberts, and Jacinta Price in Alice Springs are the only people I would cast a vote for. The rest are evil doers.

That Chris Bowen idiot. I would drop a nuclear bomb on his electorate (SW Sydney?).
Take your politics and what not seriously folks.

calli
calli
January 23, 2024 10:27 am

And with a one-way ticket to Gaza as a goodbye gift in lieu of a gold watch.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 10:29 am

36 comments to What a backflip: The Biggest political party in the EU now wants to drop the ban on petrol and diesel cars

– If they had followed through on their madness, they would have taken away a teenager’s fun of fixing up their used cars for their own transportation which is a valuable skill to develop and to do something worthwhile positive in their lives.

There is NO fun in trying to fix an extremely expensive EV used or not but hey maybe remove the dead battery to convert the EV failure back into a successful ICE again that would be a great future for teen boys to get a new group of failed EV’s to rehabilitate them back into usefulness.

What’s black and crispy, and lies under an old EV?

The young fella who was trying to fix it up.

Roger
Roger
January 23, 2024 10:31 am

This has been the MO of the so called educated elite for so long. To what end?

If by elites you mean politicians and the security apparatus of the state, I don’t think they have an end in view* (pace the conspiracy theorists among us) and that is a large part of the problem.

They have become merely reactionary, not in the sense of political science, but quite literally – instead of leading they spend their time reacting to troublesome elements in the public space, like a batsman always on the back foot and therefore incapable of taking charge of the situation.

When a crisis arises, they will inevitably choose the path of least resistance as they see it, which is to suppress the rights of the largely tolerant majority in the name of maintaining public order. All the while, it is an intolerant minority that has actually been subverting that order.

* Because they believe in nothing.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 10:32 am

Re – https://joannenova.com.au/2024/01/what-a-backflip-the-biggest-political-party-in-the-eu-now-wants-to-drop-the-ban-on-petrol-and-diesel-cars/

Toyota are NOT Stupid

INSIDE THE FACTORY THAT ONLY BUILDS WHITE TOYOTAS

Welcome to Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings (TGS), the world’s most remarkable car dealership

Chris
Chris
January 23, 2024 10:32 am

Morning gall! Waiting for the plane home while catching up on morning Cat scratchings.
Good company makes a great day!

Roger
Roger
January 23, 2024 10:37 am

All the while, it is an intolerant minority that has actually been subverting that order.

By taking advantage of our tolerance.

We have imams here saying things in public – calling for jihad, for instance – that in their countries of origin, where they know how dangerous such speech is among a certain cohort, would likely see them in prison.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 10:39 am

Sinc did put the QC into moderation at one time, when her drunken doxxing and other things became extreme.

Big LOL. 5 for but 21 against.

Some here don’t like being reminded that the Queanbeyan Cow has a LOT of past form in being obnoxious. Oh noes. Anything I have said has always been in retaliation, and as I reiterate, NEVER would I make the first attack. In fact, I am always pleased to see a better side of her emerging, but then, whoops, thar she blows again.

Or is it that you are downticking my views on Bolton? Somehow, I don’t think it is that.

You have become ritualists. If it’s me, it’s got to be wrong. That’s stupid.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 10:39 am

The Wall Street Journal

Elon Musk Visits Auschwitz Death Camp Ahead of Antisemitism Symposium

KRAKOW, POLAND—Elon Musk visited the former Nazi death camp Auschwitz on Monday, laying a wreath at the Death Wall memorial where guards executed thousands of Jewish prisoners during World War II.

“It was incredibly moving and deeply sad and tragic that humans can do this to other humans,” Musk said after the visit. “I’m still absorbing the experience. It’s going to take a few days to settle in.”

Musk is in Poland to attend a symposium against the rise of antisemitism organized by the European Jewish Association this week. The Tesla chief executive and billionaire entrepreneur became embroiled in a debate about antisemitism last year after he agreed with an antisemitic conspiracy theory in a post on his social-media platform X.

“The visit was very important” because of Musk’s high profile, EJA chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin, told The Wall Street Journal. Margolin accompanied Musk on the private tour of the camp.

“Auschwitz-Birkenau represents how dangerous hatred and ignorance is, and anyone who has influence should ensure that the entire world is committed to combat antisemitism and any form of racism and hatred,” Margolin said after the visit with Musk to the camp.

Margolin said he accompanied Musk through the camp in a small group without a large media presence, paying respect to the more than one million people, most of them Jewish, who were slaughtered there, and visiting the execution wall, the gas chambers and crematorium.

Musk placed flowers in remembrance of the victims, Margolin said.

After the visit, Musk joined conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who has supported Musk against allegations of antisemitism, for a Q&A. Before the session, the organizers showed a film featuring a fictional X feed set during World War II that documents the Holocaust, to illustrate how social media can make the world aware of atrocities as they happen.

“If there’d been social media it would have been impossible to hide” what was happening, Musk said.

“Relentless pursuit of the truth is the goal of X, to say what we want to say—even if it’s controversial, unless it breaks the law.”

The billionaire’s appearance follows a similar trip by Musk to Israel late last year where he toured a kibbutz attacked by Hamas with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Authorities in the U.S. and Europe have recorded a spike in antisemitic acts since Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 and taking more than 200 captive. The Israeli campaign in Gaza that followed has claimed more than 24,000 Palestinian casualties, most of them women and children, according to authorities in the Gaza Strip. The figure doesn’t distinguish between civilians and Hamas militants.

European Jews have come under sometimes violent attacks since the Hamas attack. The U.K. saw hundreds of antisemitic incidents, according to the Community Security Trust, a Jewish group, and in October, German police arrested a former Islamic State fighter on suspicion of planning to drive a truck into a pro-Israel rally, prosecutors said.

Musk’s trip to Auschwitz comes after the entrepreneur shared an antisemitic comment in November on X—a decision that faced criticism at the time and which he later said was foolish.

“Essentially, I handed a loaded gun to those who hate me, and arguably, to those who are antisemitic,” Musk said in late November. He added: “I’m quite sorry. That was not my intention.”

Shortly after his tweet, Media Matters for America said that it found ads placed near pro-Nazi content on X, and several large brands, including Apple, pulled their spending on the platform.

X has since sued the left-leaning group, claiming it manipulated the platform for inorganic results with the intent of harming its reputation. X has said it is making progress reducing the reach of antisemitic speech on the platform. Media Matters has said it stands by its reporting and has called the lawsuit frivolous.

The blow up in November followed months of simmering concerns about X after Musk took control of the platform in late 2022.

He made several changes to the company’s operations that some advertisers worried would make the platform more vulnerable to hate speech. Musk has said significant changes were needed to cut spending to avoid bankruptcy. He has also framed some of the changes as combating what he has called an overly liberal mindset that was squelching free speech on the platform.

At the symposium on Monday, Musk was presented with a piece of sculpture created out of the remnants of a Hamas rocket allegedly fired at an Israeli school. The words Never Again were welded to the body of the rocket.

On Tuesday, the symposium’s delegates are expected to visit the memorial at Auschwitz and lay a wreath at the Death Wall.

H B Bear
H B Bear
January 23, 2024 10:47 am

Waiting for the plane home while catching up on morning Cat scratchings.

Few extra lumps in the litter box overnight. Having been prepared to give Bolton the benefit of the doubt, I may need to reconsider. Makes you nostalgic for the old night shift.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 10:48 am

‘Everyone will get a tax cut’: PM hints at stage three backdown

Tom McIlroy Political correspondent

Anthony Albanese says the government will take up new ways to provide cost-of-living assistance to working Australians and give everyone a tax cut, with changes to the stage three package likely as soon as this week.

Amid growing speculation Tuesday’s cabinet meeting will pull the trigger on tweaks to the already legislated cuts, the prime minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles on Tuesday stressed “middle Australia” would receive more assistance, hinting workers in the lowest tax brackets would be included in the changes.

“I support tax cuts and everyone will be getting a tax cut,” Mr Albanese told Sydney radio KISS FM.

“What we need to do across the board, what we’re doing is looking at how we can help low- and middle-income earners.

“We’re looking at ways in which we can provide assistance to them. We did that last year with a range of measures.

“People are benefiting from cheaper medicines, childcare, the energy price relief plan, but we’re looking at other ways as well. Are there other ways that we can provide support for people?”

On Monday, Mr Albanese said Labor wanted to find ways to put extra dollars in people’s pockets. Labor MPs will attend a snap caucus meeting in Canberra on Wednesday as the government seeks a political reset for the start of the year.

Position ‘hasn’t changed’
Despite the government’s repeated insistence there were no plans to change the Coalition’s legislated tax package, due to take effect on July 1, there are strong expectations some of the $20 billion in cuts could be wound back for higher income earners.

Speaking in Canberra on Tuesday morning, Mr Marles said Labor’s position on the tax cuts “hasn’t changed”.

But he said the government was “utterly concerned about easing the cost-of-living pressures on middle Australia”.

“In every decision we continue to take, that will remain our focus.”

On current plans, people earning $200,000 a year or more are due to receive a $9000-a-year tax cut, as the top income threshold is lifted for the first time since mid-2008.

Not lifting the top $180,000 income threshold to $200,000 would save the government a relatively modest $3.4 billion a year, according to longtime budget watcher Chris Richardson.

“We are completely focused, we understand the importance of tax cuts and we’ve said that all along,” Mr Marles said. “We are completely focused on easing the cost-of-living pressures on middle Australia. We’ve been doing that since the moment that we have been elected.”

He said the inflationary environment around the globe had persisted and it was hurting households.

“So we will be entirely focused in all the decisions that we take.”

Key Senate crossbencher David Pocock said changes to stage three were necessary to provide fairness.

“Bracket creep is a real issue that the government does need to address, but the stage three tax cuts in their current form are poorly designed, and I think it’s the wrong policy for the current economic environment,” he told ABC radio.

The Liberal Party has already begun rallying supporters over a possible broken promise by Mr Albanese, asking for donations on Tuesday morning over what federal director Andrew Hirst called “a clear breach of faith with the Australian people”.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 10:50 am

‘It’s not over’: Joe Aston turns to writing a book on Qantas

Sam Buckingham-Jones – Media and marketing reporter

Joe Aston, the former editor of The Australian Financial Review’s Rear Window column, has begun writing a book expanding on his year-long reporting on Qantas that ultimately led to the early retirements of chief executive Alan Joyce and chairman Richard Goyder.

Set to be published in the second half of 2024 by Simon & Schuster, The Chairman’s Lounge will include new reporting, interviews and details that build on the work he did before stepping down from Rear Window in October last year after 12 years.

“Simon & Schuster and I were talking before I left the Financial Review. My initial reaction was ‘no way’. Writing about the exact same thing I had just written about for the past year? But after I was overseas for six weeks, I saw it needed to be told thoroughly and properly. Especially because it’s not over,” Aston said. He has spent the past few weeks writing.

“Qantas is pretending to have changed. Vanessa Hudson says it’s changed, yet they’re fighting the baggage handlers for their compensation even though they were illegally sacked more than three years ago,” he added.

“She’s fighting the ACCC on ghost flights. They say they’ve changed, but they’re conducting themselves exactly as they were. I’m writing this so that this is not so easily forgotten. So it’s all in one place.”

RELATED QUOTES
QANQantas
$5.275

-1.03%

1 year
1 day
Jan 23
Jul 23
Jan 24
4.550
5.850
7.150
Updated: Jan 23, 2024 – 10.48am. Data is 20 mins delayed.
View QAN related articles
Aston’s relentless coverage of Qantas in the Financial Review‘s back-page column put immense pressure on Mr Joyce, who left in September last year, two months ahead of his planned retirement. He passed the reins to Ms Hudson, formerly Qantas’ chief financial officer.

A month later, Mr Goyder said he would leave the company alongside two of the airline’s directors.

In a statement on Monday afternoon, Ben Ball, Simon & Schuster’s publishing director, compared Aston to US author Michael Lewis, who wrote The Big Short and Moneyball.

“Joe’s incredible ability to not only break a story but to write about it evocatively made his column essential reading for anyone after the truth about how power, money and influence flow in this country,” Mr Ball said.

“The Chairman’s Lounge will do the same over the long form, telling the bigger story of how one company – and a few key individuals – bought the nation’s loyalty and then cashed in on it.

“Joe’s prose is as rare as his access and insight: razor-sharp, funny and fearless, slicing to expose. Like Michael Lewis, he has an eye for the telling detail and the mind for the big picture, which he’s finally able to show us.

“With fresh interviews and revelations, The Chairman’s Lounge is the definitive, compelling story of greed, power and hubris brought low – of how Qantas was brought to ground and who did it.”

Bespoke
Bespoke
January 23, 2024 10:52 am

Roger, I don’t believe it’s a mindset entirely driven by the top end. I see it at all levels.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 10:55 am

Oops failed on proof read there RELATED QUOTES
QANQantas
– missed deleting

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 10:56 am
P
P
January 23, 2024 11:02 am

THE ULMA FAMILY AND LIVING THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN IN WARTIME
by Filip Mazurczak
1 . 22 . 24

In 1944, in Markowa, Poland, a German firing squad executed Józef and Wiktoria Ulma, their six children and unborn child, and the two Jewish families they had been sheltering. Beatified as martyrs by the Catholic Church in September last year, the Ulmas are relevant exemplars of how to maintain one’s humanity and decency amidst the demoralization of war, which, in 2024, continues to rage in the Holy Land, Ukraine, and Nagorno-Karabakh.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 11:03 am

“Diverse But Incompetent”: Comedian Rob Schneider Pens Open Letter Calling Out ‘Drag Queen’ CEO Of United Airlines

This is Scott Kirby, the CEO of
@united

. He’s a drag queen and has been incorporating drag into
@united.

This video should tell you everything you need to know.

One person not waiting around for answers from the airline is actor and (former) United 1K frequent flyer Rob Schneider, who took to X last week to send a message to Kirby that he would no longer be flying United.

“Dear Scott Kirby CEO @UnitedAirlines and Drag Queen practitioner, I regret to inform you that I will no longer allow my family to fly on your airline as you have clearly placed ‘diversity’ of pilot hiring above safety of passengers and crew,” Schneider wrote.

He continued: “As evidenced by the near aviation catastrophe of UA Boeing 777 flight 1722 from Maui to San Francisco Dec 18th 2023, where your diverse but incompetent flight crew didn’t know which flaps were causing its near disastrous dissent, coming within 750 feet of killing every one aboard your United Airline.”

Schneider also claimed that many United employees supported his criticism:

“I cannot tell you how many @UnitedAirlines employees have personally thanked me for my valid criticism of your careless and life threatening leadership. I look forward to your swift dismissal by UA’s board of directors before your inane actions cause the deaths of hundreds of men, women and children.

After your inevitable firing you can get back to your true passion, your Drag Queen performances.”

H B Bear
H B Bear
January 23, 2024 11:03 am

Poor old Albo. The stage 3 tax cuts are the sort of cuckoo’s egg the Liars leave behind, not receive. Well played Lieborals.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
January 23, 2024 11:05 am

Roger

Jan 23, 2024 10:05 AM

I know Warren Mundine is in favour of a date change, but we should never do that.

Change the date and the usual suspects will simply protest the new one.

It’s the notion of Australia they hate, not the date.

I don’t agree totally.
Yes, they hate Straya, but I think “change the date” then becomes an opportunity to “reinvent the concept and not repeat the mistakes of the past”.
So the new date will become a blak armband festival of Aboriginal grievance.

Roger
Roger
January 23, 2024 11:06 am

Roger, I don’t believe it’s a mindset entirely driven by the top end. I see it at all levels.

In which case it’s a crisis of confidence in our culture.

I don’t think it’s ubiquitous, but perhaps around 40% in the general population.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 11:06 am

Cassie, you were wrong when you said the pile-ons were fewer here.

Not on me they aren’t. The downtickers go to town regularly on me. It’s a system that allows them far more opportunties than if they had to object in writing.

I will talk with Hairy about it and see what he thinks.

We’re pretty busy organising our next trip.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
January 23, 2024 11:07 am

Hypocrisy of the day award goes to Mr Wong.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirms Australia has joined the US and UK in new sanctions targeting Hamas’ finances and key officials supporting militant group (Sky News, 23 Jan)

One week after effectively giving them $21.5 million…

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
January 23, 2024 11:09 am

21m ago
Thorpe blasts findings of youth in detention report
James Dowling
James Dowling

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has condemned the findings of the Queensland government’s report on treatment of youth in detention from early 2023.

“Our children, like all children, require love, connection, family and community. Not police, prisons and torture,” Senator Thorpe said on X.

“The Albanese government must commit to strong independent oversight of all places of detention, and accountability for those who fail to meet human rights standards.

“Our communities have been sounding the alarm for years – now the government needs to act.”

How about teaching youth to stay out of the tronk in the first place?

H B Bear
H B Bear
January 23, 2024 11:10 am

Particularly when the stage 3 tax cuts formed part of the farrago of lies that were part of the election campaign.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 11:10 am

So the new date will become a blak armband festival of Aboriginal grievance.

Which is precisely what I was arguing.

Invasion, grievance, voice, treaty, truth-telling … utter division.
And nothing to see to celebrate.

Keep it at January 26th and resist, resist, resist.

Roger
Roger
January 23, 2024 11:12 am

Yes, they hate Straya, but I think “change the date” then becomes an opportunity to “reinvent the concept and not repeat the mistakes of the past”.

Either way, changing the date is an act of cowardice.

I used to think the date didn’t really matter, but it does now because it’s about affirming the establishment of the Australian iteration of British culture, which is itself an iteration of W. European culture which ultimately derives from Jerusalem & Athens.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 11:14 am

Ok – another useful site & Chrome extension

Trial Run – https://www.printfriendly.com/p/g/g2Zs35

What 93-year-old indoor rowing champ Richard Morgan tells us about exercise and ageing
afr.com/life-and-luxury/health-and-wellness/he-started-exercising-at-73-but-at-93-he-s-as-fit-as-a-40-year-old-20240122-p5ez18

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 11:16 am

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Jan 23, 2024 11:10 AM

So the new date will become a blak armband festival of Aboriginal grievance.

Which is precisely what I was arguing.

Invasion, grievance, voice, treaty, truth-telling … utter division.
And nothing to see to celebrate.

Keep it at January 26th and resist, resist, resist.

or

Deny, Deny, Deny!

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 11:17 am

See wot i mean?

First one up in less than two minutes. Another pile-on starts.

At least Sancho says it in writing, i.e. ‘glass houses’.

I am not much of a stone thrower around here and don’t deserve that.
I have a right though to defend myself.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
January 23, 2024 11:18 am

So the new date will become a blak armband festival of Aboriginal grievance

Potential dates:

The date Adam Goodes performed his spearchucker dance at the crowd
The date Dark Emu was published
The date Lidia Thorpe got turfed out of the strip club
The date the Hindmarsh Island ‘secret women’s business’ court case finalised
The date the Voice came crashing down
The date in 4000BC when the Alice Springs International Airport opened

Makka
Makka
January 23, 2024 11:21 am

So the new date will become a blak armband festival of Aboriginal grievance.

Any so called culture that betas up it’s women and horribly abuses it’s children isn’t worth any respect, let alone mourning.

Makka
Makka
January 23, 2024 11:22 am

.. beats..

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
January 23, 2024 11:22 am

God complex.

It is time to draw down carbon dioxide but shut down moves to play God with the climate (Phys.org, 22 Jan)
by Tim Flannery, The Conversation

For these reasons, the Albanese government should focus its drawdown efforts on forest protection and regrowth. This could be a theme of the UN climate conference Australia is bidding to co-host with Pacific nations in 2026. Our temperate forests contain more carbon per hectare than almost anywhere on Earth. Stopping old-growth logging would be a magnificent contribution to arresting climate change.

The government should also back research and development on seaweed and silicate rocks so that the country’s huge resources can be responsibly deployed in future.

Seaweed will save us! And rocks. Thanks, Tim. I’m amazed you’re still hanging around like fossilized wombat dung.

Bespoke
Bespoke
January 23, 2024 11:22 am

Sigh!

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
January 23, 2024 11:24 am

Alex Soros is a Nut Job – Implies Assassinating Trump

“Anyone who does not know had better open their eyes. Alex Soros is FAR WORSE than his father – FAR WORSE than you can ever imagine. He lacks the school of hard knocks and is spoiled with money that has made him think he is Superman and above the law. This image of $47 and a bullet hole implying to assassinate the 47th President, Trump, is his answer to his and his father’s attempt to rule the world.

They are not satisfied tearing down borders, pushing for authoritarian insanity, funding the prosecutions against Trump, funding the case in Colorado to remove Trump from the ballot all in the name of democracy? They ignore culture, religion, and even family, force their view upon the world, and assume only what they know is best. Both he and his father think their Open Society promotes a better world when he himself makes veiled threats to assassinate Donald Trump.

Bidenomics is a complete failure, and George knows that as a hedge fund manager. He shorted the pound because of fiscal mismanagement. Yet George and Alex still advocate destroying the very foundation of the United States to further their one-world government headed by the United Nations.

Anyone other than a Democrat who would have the audacity to post something like this would be IMMEDIATELY arrested with no questions asked.

We are about to witness the fall of the United States, and I have warned that historically, those on the LEFT are ALWAYS the most violent throughout history. This demonstrates clearly $47 for the 47th President Trump and a bullet hole. Do that with Biden and $48 and watch how fast you will be arrested – NOT Soros. He has political immunity.

Assassination will be their only option because he probably just found out that putting Trump in prison will NOT stop him, for he can still run for President from a jail cell just as did Eugene Debs. This is most likely behind this post, as assassination is the only option. I would not want to live on the same street as Alex Soros. He has just painted a massive target on his head if anything happens, and we will indeed see civil unrest that will exceed the 1960s, making that look like a dress rehearsal.

There is absolutely no way either side will accept the 2024 election result, assuming Soros does not inspire the assassination of Donald Trump in the meantime. And the rumor is Soros is bankrolling Nikki Haley.”

https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/international-news/politics/alex-soros-is-a-nut-job-implies-assassinating-trump/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=RSS

comment image

https://www.timesnownews.com/world/alex-soros-george-soros-son-tweets-bullet-hole-no-47-sparking-trump-assassination-theories-article-107062697

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 11:24 am

Trial 2 – https://www.printfriendly.com/p/g/H8jGcp

Why being scared of maths can be good for kids

afr.com/work-and-careers/education/why-being-scared-of-maths-can-be-good-for-kids-20240122-p5ez44

Cassie of Sydney
January 23, 2024 11:27 am

Last week I watched the Netflix series on the Yorkshire Ripper. I was a teenager back in the late 70s and I remember reading about it at the time I vaguely remember when Sutcliffe was finally captured. It was terrible, the murders began in 1975 and continued for another six years. It was a shocking time, gruesome crimes, women walked the streets in fear. And whilst the Ripper’s primary target were prostitutes, he attacked numerous other women. Sutcliffe was not selective, he hated women.

Anyway, back in 1979 or 1980, when the murders were continuing unabated and the Yorkshire Plod were becoming increasingly frustrated at their inability to catch the person, the Yorkshire Plod issued a decree urging women to stay at home, that they should not be out in the dark after a certain time because the police were unable to guarantee their safety. Well, did this create a storm and feminists and women’s rights activists united in condemnation and outrage, stating that such decrees simply empower the murderer, they impinge on women’s rights because women should be able to walk in safety after dark, and that the police, instead of issuing directives that impinge women’s movements, should be catching the killer.

After watching this Netflix programme, something rankled in my throat and then I knew why. Because the NSWaffen Plod, on the night of 9 October 2023, did the same thing as the Yorkshire Police. On Monday night 9 October the NSWaffen Plod issued an edict, telling Jews to stay home, to steer clear of the Sydney CBD, because they, the NSW Police, could not and would not guarantee our safety.

To be fair, I have some sympathy for the plight of the Yorkshire Plod back in the 1970s and early 1980s, most were decent, stodgy men who were outwitted by a clever serial killer, and then distracted by false leads such as a goon who aped Jack the Ripper by sending letters and making telephone calls.

I have no such sympathy for the NSWaffen Police. They know what they’re doing, they’re are deliberately choosing to monitor, to stand back, to capitulate. Easier to tell Jews to stay at home rather than to arrest and charge Jew hating Muslim and leftist scum.

Dot
Dot
January 23, 2024 11:29 am

Young indigenous are getting hoodwinked with this “ancient alien stuff” about them having advanced ag. and engineering.

Nothing stops a young Aboriginal man or woman from going to uni now and getting a double degree in pure maths and electrical engineering.

Other than their communities having a crabs-in-the-bucket attitude.

Pogria
Pogria
January 23, 2024 11:32 am
OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 11:34 am

Convert Anything to PDF

Make web pages printer-friendly and convert just about any file to/from PDF, and then edit or sign your document right here.

https://www.printfriendly.com/

Ok works for AFR so rather than full listing of paywalled articles can just do link

Does not work on WSJ or FT

Trial 3 – https://www.printfriendly.com/p/g/2gVD4m

The new breed of tech-savvy energy traders making billions with computer predictions

afr.com/companies/energy/you-switched-the-lights-on-traders-made-billions-20240118-p5eya4

Boambee John
Boambee John
January 23, 2024 11:35 am

Lizzie

The British Enlightenment arrived on these shores on 26th January, 1788, with its notions of human equality, the rule of law, and with the bonus of speaking English. It set the parameters for the settlement and development of great country that we have become, which belongs to all who live here, no matter how long they have been here.

To quote (from memory, probably not completely accurately) one of the left’s (probably now former) favourite historians, Charles Manning Hope Clark, “Towards the end of the 18thCentury, civilisation came to Australia …”

IIRC, words to that effect were the first line in Volume 1 of Clark’s History of Australia.

Roger
Roger
January 23, 2024 11:35 am

BOM’s map tracking the tropical low in the Coral Sea has Airlie Beach located on Hamilton Island.

And I note they’re now naming cyclones before they’ve even formed.

Rosie
Rosie
January 23, 2024 11:37 am

Jihad Dib was an enthusiastic supporter of the non Assad side in the Syrian civil war, he probably knew very well they were garden variety jihadis intend on creating a new improved islamic state.
Why would anyone think Erin is not just as enthusiastic about the annihilation of Israel and the imposition of a new islamic world order under the veil of claimed genocide in Gaza.
Incidentally over 400 aid trucks entered Gaza yesterday, the tent city looks orderly and both Nutella and cigarettes are available for sale, even if not as cheap as pre war.
The volume of war porn has dropped considerably, if you aren’t hanging around rocket launch sites or engaging in fire fights with the IDF your chances of being killed or injured are much lower.
Money doesn’t seem to be a problem, not sure if Gaza is going cashless any time soon.

someone should tell the dibs

Roger
Roger
January 23, 2024 11:40 am

Petstock not recognising Australia Day.

Staff reportedly told not to dress up or display flag.

Rosie
Rosie
January 23, 2024 11:41 am

I’m departing for cooler climes this evening, despite this being around my 19th trip to Europe I still get nervous.
At least flying at night my recurring nightmare of sleeping in and forgetting to go won’t materialise.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
January 23, 2024 11:42 am

Son is manager of a couple of businesses. Customer attacked female staff member. He sorted it out. Owners complained he spent money on councillor, staff happy. He has increased turnover and profitability significantly. Owners other enterprises not going to well so are squeezing him to improve. He walked, all the staff have left. Talk about killing the goose, these guys are right up there with government thinking they can run things. The owners have quite good income from their own employment and the other ventures are just things to dabble in without actually being involved. I’ve seen it in the past where someone makes good money easily then thinks, how hard can it be to do stuff we know nothing about. They either lost everything or struggled for a long time. Son was offered a job with a major supplier last year. He gave them a ring if offer still open. He started straight away.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
January 23, 2024 11:44 am

Bruce of Newcastle
Jan 23, 2024 11:22 AM
God complex.

So, Mr Flatulence the predictor of droughts and sea level rises. Still living at current sea level on the edge of the Hawkesbury are we? Funny peculiar that with the emphasis on liar

And what about all those trees being demolished in QLD along the hinterland ridge tops to make way for Wind Turbine Towers. How about saving those trees (and animals). And what about the 10,000 km of Transmission lines to be built throughout Australia? How many trees will need to be chopped down?

Please get together with Blackout Bowen and reply to the Australian Public as soon as you have stopped pulling your weeny appendages.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 11:45 am

Incidentally over 400 aid trucks entered Gaza yesterday, the tent city looks orderly and both Nutella and cigarettes are available for sale, even if not as cheap as pre war.
The volume of war porn has dropped considerably, if you aren’t hanging around rocket launch sites or engaging in fire fights with the IDF your chances of being killed or injured are much lower.

So this is what ‘genocide’ looks like?

The IDF have fallen over backwards and at considerable loss of Israeli life in order to protect Palestinian citizens from the results of their terrorist political choices.

The Pallies aren’t actually reaping that which they sowed.

calli
calli
January 23, 2024 11:48 am

Money doesn’t seem to be a problem, not sure if Gaza is going cashless any time soon.

I wonder how far $20million goes? That’s a lot of Nutella!

Bon Voyage, Rosie! Here’s hoping you get the full holiday this time.

My next trip is in a month. Queen Elizabeth to the South Seas. Gonna wash that grief right out of my hair! Or at least get a bit of respite.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 11:48 am

Have a good trip Rosie, and keep in touch here.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
January 23, 2024 11:49 am

Rosie
Jan 23, 2024 11:37 AM

There will never be an Islamic World Order. The Indians and Chinese would never allow it.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 11:50 am

Petstock not recognising Australia Day.

Who are Petstock, so I can make a point of avoiding them.

Same as Petbarn here?

calli
calli
January 23, 2024 11:52 am

Petstock not recognising Australia Day.

Bother. I just spent a heap of money at the local one when derg sitting. Never again. There’s an alternative.

calli
calli
January 23, 2024 11:55 am

How to screw your franchisees. People pay good money for these businesses, often going into hock and mortgaging their homes.

What utter grubs.

Bespoke
Bespoke
January 23, 2024 11:58 am

But just as fast, fissures formed. The cudgel of DEI – that is, “diversity, equity, and inclusion” policies that had been used against Jewish students – was the subject of feverish debate. Sure, the policies were bad for Jews, but weren’t we all good liberals after all? Shouldn’t that take precedence here? People earnestly wondered whether other minority groups would be mad at them if they fought to end DEI instead of simply fighting to get Jews included in the special identity groups recognized by the absurd system.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 12:05 pm

Eff off, Bespoke.

You pollute the blog with your foetid breath when you ‘sigh’, as if you were the arbiter of all things here.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
January 23, 2024 12:07 pm

Bespoke

Jan 23, 2024 11:22 AM

Sigh!

Don’t you fkn “Sigh!” me, champ!

Makka
Makka
January 23, 2024 12:11 pm

From Bespoke’s link;

For many liberal Jews, it was hard to ignore that it wasn’t the boogeyman white supremacists that they had been warned about their entire lives. No, it was their professors, their co-workers at the nonprofit, friends of their college-aged kids calling for an end to Israel and celebrating the murder of Jews.

Last I checked, some 70% of US Jews voted for the left. Believing that was their political home. Stats on this will be interesting in the next election.

The leftist support (globally) for the barbaric Hamas and therefore the elimination of Israel ought to be the giant clue bat smashing them with confirmation that their leftist home is filled with filthy treacherous scum they should have nothing to do with. Let’s see.

Bespoke
Bespoke
January 23, 2024 12:14 pm

Don’t you fkn “Sigh!” me, champ!

LOL!

feelthebern
feelthebern
January 23, 2024 12:15 pm

Pretty sure Petstock bought back any franchises over the past couple of years.
Pre Woollies buying the controlling stake.

I wonder if Woollies would be so high and mighty re Australia Day if they still owned Dan Murphies.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
January 23, 2024 12:15 pm

Young indigenous are getting hoodwinked with this “ancient alien stuff” about them having advanced ag. and engineering

No.

The indig were (and are) an integral part of Tartaria.

Top Ender
Top Ender
January 23, 2024 12:16 pm

Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley left speechless after grilling from radio host

The boss of Cricket Australia has been left speechless over a grilling by a radio host over the sporting body’s decision to ban the words “Australia Day” during Friday’s Test cricket match.

The organisation came under fire this week after it was announced there would be no references made to the national holiday during the Gabba Test match between Australia and the West Indies on Friday in Brisbane.

It triggered an emotional response from cricket stars, fans and politicians alike, including NSW Premier Chris Minns, who described it as a “strange” decision.

Speaking on 2GB radio station on Tuesday, Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley fronted questions from radio host Ben Fordham about the backlash.

Fordham repeatedly grilled the cricket boss before saying “it’s like saying you want people to celebrate Christmas but they can’t mention Santa Claus”.

An uncomfortable moment of silence followed, with only the sound of Hockley’s laboured breathing audible over the airwaves.

“Are you there Nick?” Fordham asked.

“I think I’ve explained our position,” Hockley said.

The chief executive said the organisation was not “boycotting” the national holiday but wanted to be “mindful” that the day meant different things to people.

“We are not in any way boycotting Australia Day, we’re just mindful in our communications that it means different things to different people,” he said.

“We appreciate that many Australians celebrate Australia Day and absolutely love watching the cricket on that day.”

Hockley went on to clarify that without attracting public attention, the organisation had quietly phased out references to the national holiday in its communications over the last five years.

Fordham opened the interview with a “gotcha” question aimed at Hockley, saying: “First of all, what day is it on Friday?”

“Friday is the 26th of January, the Australia Day public holiday weekend,” Hockley said.

“So why is it so hard to say that as Cricket Australia?” Fordham interjected, speaking over Hockley.

The cricket boss said the organisation consulted extensively with their Indigenous advisory board, as well as Indigenous players both male and female, before coming to the decision to remove “Australia Day” from its communications.

“It is a difficult day for them,” he said.

“What we’ve done over the (recent years) is really to be respectful to everyone and make sure everyone feels absolutely welcome.”

When asked for a “yes or no” answer as to whether punters will hear the words “Australia Day” over the loudspeaker on Friday, Mr Hockley said “I don’t believe so”.

Indigenous cricket stars Ash Gardner and Scott Boland have both criticised the decision to play on January 26, describing it as a national day of mourning.

Oz

Rosie
Rosie
January 23, 2024 12:16 pm

There will never be an Islamic World Order. The Indians and Chinese would never allow it.

They’ve been trying for 1400 years, don’t expect them to stop now.
And yes, India knows all about it.
‘Never again’.

Boambee John
Boambee John
January 23, 2024 12:17 pm

Calli

My next trip is in a month. Queen Elizabeth to the South Seas. Gonna wash that grief right out of my hair! Or at least get a bit of respite.

I’m sure that you know that South Pacific was set in the then New Hebrides, now Vanuatu. Happy washing!

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 12:18 pm

I’d be intrested to know whether others in the older age ranges are also noticing the phenomena that I outlined above re typing and typos and unmeant words creeping in.

The numerous downtickers obviously don’t think it is a matter worth examining, because after all, it’s just me saying something so it must of course fit the narrative that I am entirely self-serving (not true), but it is certainly something that I have noticed in my own writing and that of others here. I have noticed here occasionally someone will go duh, and say seniors moment, or something similar.

Baba
Baba
January 23, 2024 12:20 pm

Rosie
Jan 23, 2024 11:37 AM
Jihad Dib was an enthusiastic supporter of the non Assad side in the Syrian civil war,

Is being on the US side something shameful?

feelthebern
feelthebern
January 23, 2024 12:20 pm

Hopefully the Young family (minority shareholders) are ready for a smaller div from Petstock next half.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 12:21 pm

I’m sure that you know that South Pacific was set in the then New Hebrides, now Vanuatu. Happy washing!

Yes, that’s the book.

The movie was set in the Tahitian landscape. You will probably visit or travel by the island peak which they used for Bali’hai. It is mysterious and remarkable.

I love that movie.

Makka
Makka
January 23, 2024 12:23 pm

Indigenous cricket stars Ash Gardner and Scott Boland have both criticised the decision to play on January 26, describing it as a national day of mourning.

So don’t play, make yourself unavailable. Gutless whingers.

bons
bons
January 23, 2024 12:26 pm

I just dropped the three little kelpie horrors at the airport. I hung around to ensure that the airline morons did not leave them out on the red hot tarmac as happened with one of our dogs a few years ago. She had to go on a drip. It took fourteen months to force the Leprechaun to pay up and then they attempted to pay with credits.

I would have loved to have kept the little thugs but they aren’t suitable for home and we can’t have dogs or horses up on the property because the scrub is too dense and there are too many snakes.

feelthebern
feelthebern
January 23, 2024 12:28 pm

I’m getting ready for the virtue signalling this year on LinkedIn re working on Australia Day.
Last year a rarely used WhatsApp group lit up after someone shared a LinkedIn screen shot showing someone saying they were looking forward to working on the 26th.
That very same someone who had been disciplined by our former employer for calling someone a jiggaboo in the office.
Quality banter ensued before he left the group.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 12:29 pm

I wonder if Woollies would be so high and mighty re Australia Day if they still owned Dan Murphies.

I’m so glad they don’t. I’ve managed to persuade Hairy to go to Coles in Edgecliff for our food shopping rather the Woollies at Double Bay, but he’d never ever give up Dan Murphy’s. It’s difficult for him that Dan’s is so conveniently right next to Woollies in D Bay and he has to repark in a worse carkpark a km down the road if he goes to Coles.
You have to suffer sometimes for your beliefs, I tell him. Look at what I cop on the Cat, I don’t actually say, because I know what his response would be. 🙂

Alamak!
Alamak!
January 23, 2024 12:31 pm

Putting XXXX into moderation is no solution though, because s/he’s not rational enough to take the message and I suspect is incapable (sp) of moderating his/her commentary, as it is pure stream of consciousness with no redeeming features.

Substitute any Cat account that fits into the above quote. Rambling, obtuse comments sometimes containing offensive text are not confined solely to the Bolton bot.

Makka
Makka
January 23, 2024 12:32 pm

I left WA several years ago now but I was always happy to see the way the Sandgropers went hard at Australia Day. Real celebrations all across the state and particularly in/around Perth that I saw.

Hopefully any change is for even bigger celebrations.

Bespoke
Bespoke
January 23, 2024 12:33 pm
Cassie of Sydney
January 23, 2024 12:33 pm

Oh look, Baba Boy the Holocaust denier appears here to vomit up his spew.

Boambee John
Boambee John
January 23, 2024 12:34 pm

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Jan 23, 2024 12:21 PM
I’m sure that you know that South Pacific was set in the then New Hebrides, now Vanuatu. Happy washing!

Yes, that’s the book.

The movie was set in the Tahitian landscape. You will probably visit or travel by the island peak which they used for Bali’hai. It is mysterious and remarkable.

Poetic licence, those Catalinas could never have flown into the South Pacific area of operations, which was essentially the Solomon Islands, Bougainville and New Britain.

Bloody Mary in the movie was Polynesian in appearance, in the book she was Tonkinese, having moved from Vietnam to the Anglo-French colonial administration of the New Hebrides.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
January 23, 2024 12:34 pm

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

– Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Buccaneer
Buccaneer
January 23, 2024 12:34 pm

In 2017, Boland’s family discovered that his grandfather, John Edward, was Aboriginal, from the Gulidjan tribe in the Colac area of Victoria.[51][52] After discovering this, Boland sought to embrace his indigenous heritage, playing in indigenous representative teams, and seeking to further educate himself on indigenous traditions.

Gardner’s indigenous roots come through her mother, who is from the Muruwari people – a tribe from rural New South Wales.

The all-rounder herself grew up in a suburb of Sydney and had what she describes as a “normal Aussie upbringing”.

“With my mum’s upbringing, she was quite disconnected to her family having been brought up in a foster care home,” Gardner said. “She is still learning about our culture and our family.”

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 12:35 pm

noticing the phenomena that I outlined above

With me it is getting noticably worse. Almost worryingly so.

Not stress related either, because it happens when I write elsewhere too.

calli
calli
January 23, 2024 12:37 pm

Visiting Port Vila and Luganville. Hoping to get a car to take us across to the Presbyterian mission which now occupies the land where my mother was born. I have a photo of her on the island with the plantation across the channel.

Also hoping to visit Million Dollar Point and the wreck of the Coolidge. They were sitting having morning tea when the thing hit the mine. It’s a great story. Just about everyone was rescued.

bons
bons
January 23, 2024 12:39 pm

On the way home from the airport I dropped in to the local shops. I felt ABC level smug marching past Woolworths with my nose in the air.

The Reject Shop was festooned with Australia Day stuff. Clever marketing, good on them. I assume all their junk is Chinese, but if it permits a poke in the eye to the elites, they are forgiven.

Mak Siccar
Mak Siccar
January 23, 2024 12:39 pm

In The Speccie.

Taking ‘conserve’ out of conservative
There is much to jettison in the Anglosphere

James Allan
20 January 2024

In the developed Anglosphere countries over the past couple of centuries, there has been a general understanding of what it means to be a conservative voter. In rough and ready terms, with plenty of arguments and differences at the periphery, conservatives wanted to keep in place the main tenets of the core institutions, practices, conventions, and principles that had worked up till then. They were for conserving. Not everything, always and forever. Not in aspic jelly with no changes or innovations ever allowed but rather with a prima facie weighting towards the status quo and with the burden on those proposing change and restructuring to make a clear case why the novel was preferable to what was already in place. Gradual reform over idealistic revolutionary aspirationalism. Clearly, as I said, there was plenty of room for intra-conservative fights and disagreements. But the general proclivity for the established and ‘what already was in place and seemed to work moderately well’ was plain.

Spelled out in those terms it is pretty obvious that the desire to conserve what happens to exist is contingent. It depends on where you happen to be and when. No sane person would want to be described as a ‘conservative’ in today’s North Korea, and only religious zealots in today’s Iran. Put bluntly, there is an element of luck as to whether it makes sense to be a Tory or conservative. It is time and place contingent, along with depending on the sort of instincts, preferences, and political taste buds the individual brings to the table.

I am a big fan of the Scottish sceptical philosopher David Hume, one of the all-time greats. In fact, I did my philosophy doctorate on his moral and legal thinking. But Samuel Johnson, London high Tory, wit, and author of the first real English dictionary, was rather scornful of Hume. His renowned biographer James Boswell reported Johnson as saying of Hume ‘that he’s just a Tory by chance; if anything he’s a Hobbesian’. I’ve always thought that Johnsonian description of Hume rather excellent. It’s just that Johnson meant it as a stinging criticism whereas I think it shows the genius of Hume.

In a way, it is just chance whether it is sensible for anyone to be a Tory or favour conservative political positions. And that brings us to the present day in countries such as the US, Canada, Britain, and Australia. Because what should those described as ‘conservatives’ want to conserve right now? You might think ‘the presumption of innocence’ would be a no-brainer. But vote for the Libs in 2019 and you got a prime minister, Scott Morrison, who wouldn’t grasp or adhere to this principle if it walked up and hit him in the head. Just ask Bruce Lehrmann. Or Christine Holgate. Or a fair few of his own cabinet ministers. And let’s be clear that today’s Australian legal fraternity hardly makes one confident it cares much, if at all, about this formerly core precept in the criminal justice system.

Or take the notions of free speech and an impartial and questioning media. No one with a functioning brain could have come through the pandemic years with any confidence our present institutions and establishment class uphold either of these. The same goes for upholding our core civil liberties. I don’t mean rushing off to bring picayune standards against the government when those seeking to come to this country illegally are involved. Our judges can be counted on to do that. I mean that over the two and half years of the pandemic, we saw the ‘greatest inroads on our civil liberties in two hundred years’ (the words of former UK Supreme Court Justice Jonathan Sumption, and they’re correct), and yet not a single country in the Anglosphere saw judges do anything. And I mean countries with potent bills of rights included. The judges pushed back against government Covid brutality not one whit. The legal establishment was all in on the fear-mongering and enforcement of what a moment’s thought would have told you were nonsensical rules dreamt up by puffed-up bureaucrats. (Did you see Mr Fauci in the US last week concede that the six-foot separation rule was just made up out of thin air and had no scientific basis?) Put it this way, those of us known as ‘conservatives’ have very little reason to want to conserve the ABC, do we? And given its profligacy, making up out of thin air the ‘National Cabinet’, and willingness to facilitate state premiers’ thuggery, tell me what there is to want to conserve about today’s Liberal party? (I avoided mentioning the state Liberal iteration in Victoria because, well, it is so pathetic it doesn’t really feel fair picking on people who take sides against those who simply believe that those with XX chromosomes will always be different than those with XY chromosomes, and that public policies will sometimes have to reflect that core fact about the external, causal world however much it might hurt some people’s feelings.)

I could keep going for some time. Treasury and the RBA seem to be completely in thrall to Keynesianism. They just whitter on about GDP and never mention Australia’s pretty ordinary to awful recent record as regards GDP per person. A side effect is that our political class is addicted to big immigration to keep GDP looking okay even as it makes individuals poorer, traffic far worse, and house prices more astronomical. (And yes we should all feel sorry for today’s younger generation because it is way, way harder to buy a house today than when we were all younger – look at average wage to average house price – and no amount of shunning a daily flat white will fix that.) Put bluntly again, I don’t see much reason to conserve the economic thinking that prevails at present. Heck, the entire political caste, with only a few exceptions here and there, seem to be out of sync with the average voter. The Voice referendum sure showed that while exposing the faultlines in the Liberal party. Then there’s the universities, (not what they were I can assure you all), the corporate boardrooms, the list goes on.

So what do we voters formerly known as ‘conservatives’ do when much of what was worth conserving has been jettisoned? Tough question. But I think I’ve gone a long way in explaining the appeal of Mr Trump, the so-called populist parties in Europe, and the current Tory leader in Canada, Mr. Poilievre, who is up 10-15 points in the polls. He’s promised all sorts of ‘radical’ policies such as halving the CBC’s budget. And we ‘conservatives’ love it.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 12:43 pm

‘It’s pretty ridiculous back home’: Why Irish people are fleeing to Australia

The number of Irish people moving to Australia more than doubled in 2023, causing headaches at home. But those who move aren’t looking back.

Jack Evans

Tens of thousands of Irish people were approved to live and work in Australia in 2023 sparking concern at home – but those who made the move aren’t looking back.

More than 21,000 Irish citizens were granted working holiday visas in Australia in the 12 months leading up to July 2023, making the highest recorded number in more than 16 years.

The mass exodus, understood to be mostly skilled youths, has some Irish leaders worried that the nation of little over five million people is haemorrhaging its younger generations at an alarming rate.

Responding to the recent working holiday data, the Higher Education, Innovation and Science spokeswoman for the nation’s republican, left-wing nationalist Sinn Féin party, Mairéad Farrell, lamented the situation in the Dáil Éireann (the lower house).

“There’s clearly something that’s a mess,” she told leaders last week.

“We keep hearing that the economy is doing well, but very clearly, something’s going wrong for young people here.

“They feel that there is no alternative (but) to go to Australia.”

Between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, the Australian Department of Home Affairs granted 21,525 working holiday visas to Irish citizens, more than double the previous year’s allocation of 10,491.

Between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020, 8,878 working holiday visas were granted to Irish citizens, while 11,077 visas were granted between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019.

Ireland was only exceeded by the United Kingdom (38,177 granted, up 17.0 per cent), and France (26,896 granted, up 12.0 per cent).

The Land of Plenty rings true

Brisbane-based Irish scaffolder Joe Kelly, 27, has been in Australia for 15 months and said moving down under “changed my life”.

“It was hard to establish myself in Ireland,” he told news.com.au.

“It’s pretty ridiculous back home, to be honest; I know everyone talks about the cost of living over here, but most things are nearly double over there.

“I went home for Christmas this year, and I actually did most of my Christmas shopping here because it was cheaper to do it here and bring it home with me.”

Why do Ireland’s youth crave Australia?

Irish youth-orientated online news publication Joe recently asked youth in Dublin if and why Australia was so appealing.

The response only added weight to Ms Farrell’s concerns.

Respondents shared concerns such as it being “impossible” to find housing and jobs.

Others detested the “miserable” Irish weather.

“There’s more jobs, and the pay is better (in Australia),” one young woman said.

“ … and the weather of course, because it’s absolutely freezing here. There’s good looking people in Australia too, which never hurts.”

A young man said Australia appeals to young Irish people in transitional phases of their lives.

“I guess if you’re in Ireland, and you’re not really doing anything with your career, you’re living at home, or your rent is pretty high; Inflation is high; there are lots of reasons to move abroad.

“If you’re not doing anything here, you might as well do that abroad.”

Another young woman declared: “Cost of living here is crazy”, in an answer that would parallel the concerns of many young Australians.

“It’s so hard to buy a house (in Dublin), and paying for a room is a lot of money as well,” she said.

“You could be getting a box of a room somewhere or even share a room with other people.

“I guess it’s just like a better lifestyle there, and you’re probably going to be happier if you can afford something here.”

Is the grass really greener down under?

Eyrie
Eyrie
January 23, 2024 12:47 pm

Mike Dickson
Smug fool who FAFO.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
January 23, 2024 12:47 pm

I’m sure that you know that South Pacific was set in the then New Hebrides, now Vanuatu. Happy washing!

For whatever reason, I was once offered citizenship of the new State of Vanuatu. No income tax, and 15% G.S.T. on all items…

Roger
Roger
January 23, 2024 12:47 pm

He’s promised all sorts of ‘radical’ policies such as halving the CBC’s budget. And we ‘conservatives’ love it.

When the Establishment is left-liberal, conservatism is radical.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
January 23, 2024 12:47 pm

Rosie
Jan 23, 2024 12:16 PM

They’ve been trying for 1400 years, don’t expect them to stop now.
And yes, India knows all about it.
‘Never again’.

You left out the Chinese and I will add in the Russians (Orthodox) and the Christian World.

Islam has no chance at all right now.

Eyrie
Eyrie
January 23, 2024 12:48 pm

How many here have super funds which hold Woolies shares?

I couldn’t care less if they stock Australia Day landfill or not but the idiots running Woolies need to STFU about politics.

Alamak!
Alamak!
January 23, 2024 12:50 pm

Tens of thousands of Irish people were approved to live and work in Australia in 2023 sparking concern at home – but those who made the move aren’t looking back

Nice to hear about migrants who are happy to be here. And just in time for Australia Day.

🙂

Salvatore, Iron Publican
January 23, 2024 12:50 pm

Cassie of Sydney Jan 23, 2024 7:36 AM
By the way, some of the abuse, biffs and beefs on Sinc’s Cat were legendary. Who could forget the biff that went on for days, resulting in the site being shut down by Sinc for three whole days.

I cannot forget that, as I never knew about it to begin with.
There’s been a few mentions from time to time, which are quite cryptic if you’ve no idea what what is being discussed.

Never saw any lead up, never noticed or knew of any closure. Never knew what the occasional ‘noise’ was about some sort of great kerfuffle or somesuch.
The above comment is the first clear & informative comment I’ve seen. Until this moment I had no idea.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
January 23, 2024 12:51 pm

Indigenous cricket stars Ash Gardner and Scott Boland have both criticised the decision to play on January 26, describing it as a national day of mourning.

If they don’t support Australia Day they’d clearly be uncomfortable in the Australian Cricket Team then. Bye guys.

Makka
Makka
January 23, 2024 12:52 pm

“There’s clearly something that’s a mess,” she told leaders last week.

Gosh.

Could it be the dumping of tens of thousands of black and ME illegal migrants into the midst of local communities, the closing of schools to house the shitholers? Could it be the Garda thumping the sh*t out of elderly protesters, who don’t want to see their homes invaded, women and girls raped, people mugged and intimidated at mid day on Irish streets?

Could it be that?

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
January 23, 2024 12:53 pm

Ireland was only exceeded by the United Kingdom (38,177 granted, up 17.0 per cent), and France (26,896 granted, up 12.0 per cent).

Please don’t tell Junior Cretin or the Cronies. My goodness, not more of them from the UK? LOL.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 12:53 pm

Supreme Court Rules 5-4 That State Authorities Cannot Protect American Citizens from Illegal Border Entry

January 22, 2024 – Sundance

In a 5-4 ruling today [pdf Available Here], Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined with the radical leftists on the court, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, to say that Texas is not permitted to protect itself from illegal border crossers.

None of the justices provided any explanation for their vote.

The court majority sided with the Biden administration policy of removing razor wire to permit illegal alien entry without impediment. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas voted with Texas, in favor of national border integrity.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court on Monday allowed Border Patrol agents to cut razor wire that Texas installed on the U.S.-Mexico border, while a lawsuit over the wire continues.

The justices, by a 5-4 vote, granted an emergency appeal from the Biden administration, which has been in an escalating standoff at the border with Texas and had objected to an appellate ruling in favor of the state.

The concertina wire along roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) of the Rio Grande near the border city of Eagle Pass is part of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s broader fight with the administration over immigration enforcement. (read more)

The irony and hypocrisy of the Supreme Court having a security perimeter for their own security yet dismissing the establishment of a security perimeter for the citizens of the country is not lost on me.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 12:54 pm

Naval Special Warfare Operators Lost Near Yemeni Coast Identified – Search Status Changed to Deceased

January 22, 2024 – Sundance

The two Navy SEALS lost during operations near the coast of Yemen have not been found. Centcom announces their status changed to deceased.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 12:56 pm

https://www.printfriendly.com/p/g/TnBFmT

Britain has become a lawless country where good people have to live in fear

telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/22/britain-has-become-a-lawless-country/

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
January 23, 2024 12:59 pm

Makka
Jan 23, 2024 12:52 PM

Try liberal Sweden as well.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 12:59 pm

There’s the complete lack of common sense in the system.

The tragedy of Bronson Battersby – a toddler known to social services who starved to death in his home over Christmas after his father suffered a fatal heart attack – may well turn out to be a lesson in the perils of social workers sticking with “process” rather than following their gut.

Meanwhile, the notion that judges should have scope to dole out minimum sentences to cold-blooded murderers, rather than condemning them to die behind bars, runs completely counter to justice as most of the public would understand it.

So, too, the idea that the country should refrain from policing its borders lest this breach an outdated Cold War-era international refugee law.

Finally, we have become too reluctant to confront uncomfortable facts. Sven’s killers were black males.

When are we going to have a frank discussion about the fact that, while they only account for 13 per cent of the capital’s population, black Londoners account for 61 per cent of knife murder perpetrators and 45 per cent of knife murder victims?

One sees the same political correctness in the debate over illegal Channel crossers and negligent parents who allow their vulnerable children to be put in harm’s way.

Justice requires a society to have a strong sense of responsibility as well as rights.

Unfortunately, it may take an even more serious crime wave for our politicians to realise all this.

In the meantime, we can only brace ourselves, and bolt our doors at night.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 1:01 pm

incapble (sp)

Incapble is the correct spelling.

Roger
Roger
January 23, 2024 1:02 pm

When the Establishment is left-liberal, conservatism is radical.

Without falling into the etymological fallacy, the Latin origin of radical means the root of a plant.

In woodland management, coppicing is the act of cutting a tree back to the stump or root, from which new growth emerges.

Conservatives can view themselves as advocating cultural coppicing, the vigorous cutting back of left-liberalism so that healthy new growth may come forth from the roots of Western culture.

P
P
January 23, 2024 1:02 pm

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Jan 23, 2024 12:21 PM

The movie was set in the Tahitian landscape. You will probably visit or travel by the island peak which they used for Bali’hai. It is mysterious and remarkable.

I love that movie.

Mayfair Theatre
75 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

The Mayfair Theatre probably holds the record for the longest continuous run of any feature film, certainly in Sydney. That being “South Pacific” which opened on Boxing Day 1958 and closed at Easter of 1962, giving it a duration of three years and almost four months.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
January 23, 2024 1:04 pm

OldOzzie
Jan 23, 2024 12:53 PM

And Texas can easily leave the USA as it was a Country in its own right before it joined the Union. This is going to be very interesting to say the least.

Makka
Makka
January 23, 2024 1:05 pm

Makka
Jan 23, 2024 12:52 PM

Try liberal Sweden as well.

Swept into the forgetery by the liberal MSM.

Nationalist right of centre parties have a lot of cleaning up to do once in power. All the poliscum who have allowed/enabled the EU invasion from Africa and the ME should be up in treason charges that carry the ultimate penalty.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
January 23, 2024 1:05 pm

The BBC sees itself as the voice of righteousness – that is why it can never cure itself of bias

The Corporation’s funding model is hopelessly out of date. But politicians hoping to be elected are unwilling to challenge the licence fee

JANET DALEY

So the BBC will go on – and on – in its blithe contempt for vast swathes of the country and its insistence that its own voice is, not just correct, but morally necessary.

This is in spite of the fact that it is alienating today’s audiences with its patronising insistence on leading public opinion rather than trying to reflect it.

Its funding model should now be seen as hopelessly out of line with modern democracy: the licence fee is not a permit to watch the BBC, it is a licence to own a television.

This is rather like communist Romania where you needed a licence to own a typewriter.

It should be obviously anomalous as should the social condescension and snobbery of the BBC philosophy. But nobody in power – or who hopes to be in power – is going to say that.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
January 23, 2024 1:06 pm

Substitute any Cat account that fits into the above quote. Rambling, obtuse comments sometimes containing offensive text are not confined solely to the Bolton bot.

I disagree. Most commenters here make sense, even though one may disagree with them, and they are mostly fairly literate. Sheer stream of consciousness stuff is rare and mostly from Bolton types.

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