Open Thread – Mon 13 May 2024


The Lady of Shalott, John Atkinson Grimshaw, 1878

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Indolent
Indolent
May 15, 2024 8:52 am
Last edited 8 months ago by Indolent
Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
May 15, 2024 8:53 am

comment image

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 15, 2024 8:58 am

‘NO Climate Crisis’ Says Coalition of 1,600 Actual Scientists

How daaare they say that?! Lock ’em up!!

‘They’re dangerous!’ Expert calls for man-made climate deniers to be treated as criminals (14 May)

Man-made climate change denial should be a criminal offence with Britons being misled at a time when extreme weather is getting worse, an expert has said. Jim Dale, founder and senior meteorological consultant at British Weather Services, regularly spars on TV and radio with politicians and presenters who question climate science.

Now the weather expert has said their time is “soon to be up”, calling on the Government to ban man-made climate denial across the mainstream media.

Shut up he explained, while polishing the buttons on his Stasi uniform.

Indolent
Indolent
May 15, 2024 8:58 am

Long form discussion with famous footballer Aaron Rodgers who refused to take the vax.

@TuckerCarlson

Aaron Rodgers

Tom
Tom
May 15, 2024 9:40 am
Reply to  Indolent

This piece — an editorial in the New York Post — is recommended reading

Journalists used to be cynics who wouldn’t take bullshit from anyone — especially politicians.

But the dominant tribe at much of theWest’s media, including the New York Times, are not only zombies and slaves to political ideology, but are completely devoid of self-awareness and the ability to think rationally.

The NY Times is now nothing but a useful media idiot for the Democratic Party and its political blindness has crippled its authority as a source of information.

The Times has not been an actual newspaper this century.

Makka
Makka
May 15, 2024 9:02 am

@nicksortor

Nothing to see here. Just Secretary of State Antony Blinken partying at a bar in Ukraine after delivering them another $80 BILLION.

These people hate us.

https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1790474963826221097

Rabz
May 15, 2024 9:08 am

Subsidising multi-nationals to build useless renewables and then using taxes to subsidise consumers to cope with the “cheapest” electrickery

The wallahs on Sky last night made an interesting observation – if we cop an El Nino summer in 2024-25, labore are toast, literally. The electrickery grid will finally collapse, we’ll be gifted with frequent blackouts, smugmobiles won’t be able to be charged and electrickery bills will continue to skyrocket regardless.

As for the fudget, I had to run a rule over certain segments of it last night, hence being off the air. Needless to say:

More taxes
Mores spending
More waste
More boondoggles and pork
More “accounting” trickery*
More debt
More inflation
More staggering stupidity

They should all be gifted a starring role in the long overdue administration of HOP Time™, toot sweet.

*Hence the second miraculous (and entirely imaginary) “surplus”.

Last edited 8 months ago by Rabz
GreyRanga
GreyRanga
May 15, 2024 10:02 am
Reply to  Rabz

Forget it Jake err Rabz, its Labor.

Roger
Roger
May 15, 2024 9:18 am

New King Charles portrait decoded by art expert who reveals hidden meanings (14 May)

I’m no expert but here’s my take:

Red paint was on special at the time.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
May 15, 2024 10:03 am
Reply to  Roger

The artist thinks he’s Monet.

Indolent
Indolent
May 15, 2024 12:07 pm
Reply to  Roger

Horrible! Just like him.

Helen
Helen
May 16, 2024 9:20 am
Reply to  Roger

It is the kindly King with the last butterfly on earth landing on his shoulder begging him to save the heating world – and the butterfly, too.

Louis Litt
Louis Litt
May 17, 2024 8:02 am
Reply to  Roger

That swirling unrest – I opened a tub of golden north boisenbeery berry ice cream – the swirling vortex immediately invoked the image of chuckles portrait.

Rabz
May 15, 2024 9:25 am

Paul “is wrong, again” Kelly dons the kneepads*:

New rules and a vision loaded with danger

Dim Chambers is the intellectual force that defines this government and he’s doing it his way. The risk is this budget is the wrong response for these economic times.

Dim Chambers is a drooling jug eared buck toothed cretin whose knowledge of economics could be transcribed on a postage stamp in red textor, i.e. “0”.

*Borrowed from the Oz’s Mavis Bramston.

Alamak!
May 15, 2024 1:46 pm
Reply to  Rabz

a.k.a “Wallet Wizard” Chalmers.

Roger
Roger
May 15, 2024 9:32 am

God is omnipresent, as he/she must be, so you can pray anywhere you like as the muslims are showing by spreading their praying mat 5 times a day at any convenient place…

Unfortunately for them Allah is not omnipresent.

And God’s pronouns do not include “she”.

Last edited 8 months ago by Roger
Miltonf
Miltonf
May 15, 2024 9:33 am

What new taxes are the Canbra filth seeking to impose Rabz?

Rabz
May 15, 2024 9:57 am
Reply to  Miltonf

Their impact is everywhere, Milt. The most obvious are the superannuation tax changes and the bastardisation of the income tax cuts and bracket creep will continue to be prevalent. In addition the ATO will increasingly harass income tax payers through the “Personal Income Tax Compliance Program”.

With inflation increasing, you’ll be paying more in government taxes and charges (e.g. more GST and petrol excise) and utilities bills will continue to increase at an exorbitant rate, especially electrickery and gas.

These irredeemable imbeciles aren’t running the highest taxing “government” in this country’s history for no good reason.

Miltonf
Miltonf
May 15, 2024 10:48 am
Reply to  Rabz

Noted thanks Rabz. They and pubic serpent pals have nothing. A broken system.

Makka
Makka
May 15, 2024 9:34 am

The most recent national accounts from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed that GDP per capita fell by 1.0% in 2023 following four consecutive quarters of decline:

The household sector has driven the recession, with Australia’s real per capita household final consumption declining by 2.5% in 2023:

This sharp decline in real per capita household consumption followed a world-record 6% decline in real per capita household disposable income in 2023:

The latest economic data suggests that Australia’s economy has fallen deeper into recession, at least in a per capita sense.

https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2024/05/australias-economy-tumbles-deeper-into-recession/

Roger
Roger
May 15, 2024 9:42 am
Reply to  Makka

This sharp decline in real per capita household consumption followed a world-record 6% decline in real per capita household disposable income in 2023

I think we’ve just hit 7% this month.

Makka
Makka
May 15, 2024 9:50 am
Reply to  Roger

Little wonder with mortgages gobbling up a big chunk of household income.

Chalmers knows this of course so cash splash at households, which will only make inflation stickier and int rates on hold longer. We are in a steady downward grind.

Louis Litt
Louis Litt
May 17, 2024 8:07 am
Reply to  Makka

So why are we not seeing it?
is it because the govt spend on ndis and defence?

Miltonf
Miltonf
May 15, 2024 9:46 am

The political class is seeking to impoverish the demos.

Zippster
Zippster
May 15, 2024 9:48 am

mRNA shot pseudouridines and cancer – Dr. Raszek publication review (#143)
Dr. Raszek goes over a review he participated in, dedicated to the topic of how potentially the use of synthetic uridines in the mRNA vaccines could be promoting cancer growth. We focus on suppression of the innate immune system, frameshifting, and IgG4 antibody production.

What we cover:
*Reasons why was mRNA gene therapy selected as the primary choice of vaccination
*Reasons why synthetic compounds (pseudouridines) were used in mRNA instead of natural ones
*Explanation of how our immune system recognizes foreign patterns to induce interferon protective response
*How interferon leads to anti-cancer responses
Molecular background in turbo cancers
Role of different macrophages immune cells in either fighting or promoting cancers
How frameshifting can help cancers evade immunity
How IgG4 development due to synthetic uridines can also help cancers evade immunity

Last edited 8 months ago by Zippster
Roger
Roger
May 15, 2024 10:02 am

Dutton on ABC RN AM this morning was fairly good, particularly in linking cost of living pressures to immigration and Labor’s economic incompetence generally.

Much better than the hitherto invisible shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor, who made no impression in a pre-budget interview on Monday.

Whatever you think of him – and in my case I’m still rating him negatively because of his flip-flopping on the government’s misinformation bill- Dutton appears to be carrying the opposition almost entirely by himself, with the exceptions being Jacinta Price on indigenous affairs and Birmingham on Gaza.

Yes, I know it’s the LNP, and I don’t give them my first preference either, but given this is the worst government since Whitlam’s, they should be doing better.

Rufus T Firefly
Rufus T Firefly
May 15, 2024 11:56 am
Reply to  Roger

Ref the worst Govt remark, were you overseas during the period 2020-2023?

Without the “Minister for Everything”, providing the funding to Andrews, Palushrek and all the other authoritarian draff in charge of the states, they could not have trampled our civil rights, continually, for three years.

Now, I know Anthony “the vaccines are not being administered quickly enough” Albanese would love to have the opportunity to sink the slipper into our faces again, however, he has not yet had the opportunity.
(Mainly because the screech was punted).

The fine, moralistic, “christian”, upstanding LNP, on the other hand, have undeniable form in this matter.
Just explain to me, how electing the party that has NO objection to couples, on $500K per annum getting “child welfare”, given their form, would be a good idea.
Remember, the LNP also gave us Josh Frankenstein, who thought it was a great idea to pay the unemployed, to not even seek a job, then, like all f%ckwit treasurers, launched another round of Quantitative Easing.
What is the number one way to INCREASE inflation? QE of course.
Sheer genius Josh and of course, as usual, this unbelievably irresponsible act was greeted with rounds of applause by all and sundry.

There is not a cigarette paper, between the red communist globalist f%cks and the blue ones.

How does that saying go, about “doing the same thing and expecting a different result” go?

Roger
Roger
May 15, 2024 10:14 am

NINETEEN EU countries demand the right to introduce Rwanda-style deportation schemes amid signs the UK’s new law is already having a deterrent effect

The Czech and Italian PMs are leading a 19-strong group asking Brussels to let them transfer migration procedures outside the bloc’s territory. 

Daily Mail

cohenite
May 15, 2024 10:18 am

Vivek evens to be Trump’s VP:

Vivek Speaks Outside Sham Trump Trial (youtube.com)

Crossie
Crossie
May 15, 2024 10:48 am
Reply to  cohenite

I still think JD Vance would be the best VP.

cohenite
May 15, 2024 10:52 am
Reply to  Crossie

Well, when you look at the potential VPs for Trump, they are the cream of US politics. Alternatively everyone on the demented perverts side are scum of the lowest order.

Helen
Helen
May 16, 2024 10:31 am
Reply to  cohenite

Harriet Hageman impresses me.

Tom
Tom
May 15, 2024 10:28 am

Until now, the AFL has kept its wokeness mostly in the board room.

But this week, for the first time, it has started a direct assault on footy fans, via woke and confusing gobbledigook in the weekly fixture.

For example, the Fremantle Dockers become a word I’ve never heard before, Walyalup, the Adelaide Crows are now Kuwarna, Port Adelaide Power are now Yartapuulti and West Coast Eagles are Waalitj Marawar.

Like a bunch of passive aggressive activists, the league chips away at fans’ support for the game, then wonders why there are sudden eruptions of anger against the woke nonsense being rammed down their throats.

More here.

Crossie
Crossie
May 15, 2024 10:50 am
Reply to  Tom

They will find out how true is the saying “Go woke, go broke” and I hope it happens soon.

Walker
Walker
May 15, 2024 11:13 am
Reply to  Tom

This isn’t new, it started a few years ago with one or two clubs changing names for indigenous round and now more are following suit.

Rabz
May 15, 2024 10:42 am

The political class is seeking to impoverish the demos.

An agenda they don’t even bother to hide anymore and haven’t for years – although labore and the greenfilth are obviously a lot more unrepentant about it. Meanwhile the gliberals still pretend they’re not on board, despite purveying year zero, mass immigration of insoluble third world numbskulls and insanity like WHO pandemic treaties, internet censorship, CBDCs and banning cash.

People need to stop voting for them, en masse.

Crossie
Crossie
May 15, 2024 10:53 am
Reply to  Rabz

The minor parties are not our friends either, they are all pushing their own pure causes thus splintering the huge disaffected voting bloc. I wish there was somebody who could unite them all and present an alternative as powerful as the greens present to Labor.

Roger
Roger
May 15, 2024 10:46 am

Nigel Farage finally wakes up to the danger of Islamification:

Nigel Farage has raised concerns about significant local Muslim and Marxist electoral wins in the United Kingdom.

After hearing newly elected representatives shouting ‘Free Palestine!’ ‘Allahu Akbar!’ and threatening ‘to come after anyone who stands with Zionism’, Farage said, ‘This is the diversity agenda.’

‘There were about 40 council seats won by people standing on a Gaza agenda. Some stood for the Green Party, some stood for George Galloway, some stood as Independents.’

This,’ Farage added, ‘all took place in areas that are Muslim majority wards. If that’s not a sectarian vote, I don’t know what is.’

The Spectator

Better late than never, Nigel.

Meanwhile, ‘The Muslim Vote’ in the UK has issued Labour leader Keir Starter 18 demands relating to foreign policy (BDS), anti-terror legislation and social welfare for Muslims. Farage said, ‘If Keir Starmer gave in to those 18 demands, they’d come back with 18 more.’

Last edited 8 months ago by Roger
Rabz
May 15, 2024 10:46 am

Rwanda-style deportation schemes

Which do not exist. Not a single illegal immigrant who has arrived in the UK has been deported to Rwanda. Reminiscent of the lying slapper’s “Malaysian Solution”, which was neither Malaysian nor a solution, given it also never existed.

Roger
Roger
May 15, 2024 10:49 am
Reply to  Rabz

Fair go, it only passed a week or so ago!

😀

Rabz
May 15, 2024 10:55 am
Reply to  Roger

Rog, the torries have been trying to implement the “Rwanda style deportation scheme” for years. I thought the ECJ* had knocked it on the head?

*Which the UK is still subject to, despite the wonders of brexit.

Top Ender
Top Ender
May 15, 2024 10:47 am

Postcard from Mauritius in the Indian Ocean
 
Well, we made it to Mauritius but our bags didn’t. They got delayed in Bombay so our night in a hotel before meeting with the ship, which sailed in the next morning, was a little – well, basic… The bags turned up the next day
 
Mauritius is big and green – about 2,000 square kilometres. The main island is about 110 kilometres long, north to south, and some 50 wide. We hired a taxi for four hours – 80 euros – and the driver took us to the rainy and foggy high ground – tea country, a Hindu temple and sacred lake, and a series of beaches and scenic points. There was a Hindu wedding happening at one of the shrines. The vegetation and birdlife is very similar to Darwin.
 
Our second day there was hot and humid. Most of the place runs on tourism, but the sugarcane industry is very important in the production of rum, jams etc There are 1.2 million Mauritians with the official language being English, but seeing as the place was conquered by the Portuguese, French, and English before independence in 1968, there is a “Creole” spoken as well. It was once home of the dodo, now extinct due to being flightless and about the same size and taste as a chicken…
 
Mauritians are drawn mostly from African and Indian descent. Our taxi driver said the country was “very peaceful” and indeed it is with stable government and personal safety. It is the only African country with a high-income economy.
 
Reunion Island, to the south west, is more interesting geographically, featuring a 3,000m mountain, an active volcano, and several caldera – collapsed volcanoes. About 800,000 people and if I remember my maritime history, was once called Bonaparte Island before the British captured it, and then handed back to the French – it’s still a French colony.
 
Mauritius’s capital is Port Louis, ringed by sharp and jagged mountains, which makes the setting  quite picturesque. The “Street of Umbrellas” looked to be an attempt to bring in tourists for a snapshot at the expense of suspending a lot of coloured umbrellas above the pavements. The harbour itself was big and busy, with lots of modern cranes and silos. Some old historic buildings in the waterfront area – lots had viewing lookouts on top. 
 
We are now bound for Capetown on board Coral Princess, with myself presenting talks every day, starting with the Battle of the Falklands War, and including topics related to the area, such as one on Breaker Morant, and another on the famous film Zulu – is it myth or reality? Eleven talks in 20 days will keep me busy enough…

Diogenes
Diogenes
May 15, 2024 10:54 am
Reply to  Top Ender

TopEnder,
Can you publish your schedule of cruises. Mrs D & I are planning on doing a cruise later this year, and if it corresponds with one of yours that would be excellent.

Top Ender
Top Ender
May 15, 2024 2:43 pm
Reply to  Diogenes

Two in Europe mid-year
One in Japan in September
Two in NZ in January/Feb 25
Two in northern Europe mid-25

Possibly more. Can give you dates if these suit D…

cohenite
May 15, 2024 10:57 am
Reply to  Top Ender

And to top it off the place has some reasonable surf.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 11:29 am
Reply to  Top Ender

Be interested in your perspective on Breaker Morant – the Saffies take a different view…

Crossie
Crossie
May 15, 2024 12:57 pm
Reply to  Top Ender

Really wish I was on that cruise.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
May 15, 2024 5:55 pm
Reply to  Top Ender

Sadly TE we will miss out on Mauritius, but will head up from Capetown in December into the Indian oceanic scene to other usual ports of call, and then move on up into the Arabian Sea till we reach Dubai, then we’ll fly on to London for Christmas. We’re all booked now on a Regent cruise. Wish you were going to be there as guest lecturer, would love to hear your take on the Zulu and Breaker Morant movies. Hope other Cats can meet your schedule.

mareeS
mareeS
May 15, 2024 6:39 pm
Reply to  Top Ender

Wasn’t Matthew Flinders detained on Reunion?

Anders
Anders
May 15, 2024 10:54 am

Until now, the AFL has kept its wokeness mostly in the board room.

But this week, for the first time, it has started a direct assault on footy fans, via woke and confusing gobbledigook in the weekly fixture.

They started this a couple of years ago now – since the 2022 Indigenous round Melbourne has been calling itself Narrm and Fremantle and Port Adelaide renamed themselves last year.

The venue info for the Gather Round here in SA had prominently the name of the Aboriginal tribe each of the venues was located on. Gotta keep reminding the plebs they’re on stolen land.

Lysander
Lysander
May 15, 2024 11:01 am

Dr Jim:

“Our motivation here is understanding that people are doing it tough and that we need to provide substantial cost-of-living relief in a responsible way.

In recognition of the upcoming gayFL round, translated:

Him need big strong one. Proper important one. Big mob people need free one.

Lysander
Lysander
May 15, 2024 11:06 am

I myself may be sceptical of new medications on the market, such as Ozempic but TheirABC have been doing a lot of hit pieces on Ozempic of late (despite the fact that it has actually passed FDA processes and has full approval for use).

Why?

Particularly when they showed 0 scepticism for the jibby jabs…

Roger
Roger
May 15, 2024 11:39 am
Reply to  Lysander

I’ve seen a couple of ABC reports about an Ozempic copy being made by compounding pharmacists and being sold online.

I guess this is in response to the use of the drug for weight loss rather than as diabetic therapy, which has led to shortages, as Dio says.

Crossie
Crossie
May 15, 2024 1:01 pm
Reply to  Roger

It was fine as a weight loss medication as long as only the elites had access to it but now that any bogan can buy it they need to tarnish it or ban it upon which it will be relabelled and again only sold to the elites.

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
May 15, 2024 11:08 am

Tom
 May 15, 2024 10:28 am

Until now, the AFL has kept its wokeness mostly in the board room.

I dont give a f*ck about the AFL anymore. I only watch local footy now.

Roger
Roger
May 15, 2024 11:10 am

“Our motivation here is understanding that people are doing it tough and that we need to provide substantial cost-of-living relief in a responsible way.”

OK…

Unwind your industrial relations “reforms”, which have added to the input costs of businesses which have to be passed on to the consumer.

&

Reduce immigration to skilled tradespeople who can immediately step into housing construction.

Just these two responsible measures would have an impact on cost of living before the end of the calendar year.

Diogenes
Diogenes
May 15, 2024 11:13 am

TheirABC have been doing a lot of hit pieces on Ozempic of late (despite the fact that it has actually passed FDA processes and has full approval for use).

As a drug to help diabetes. The off label use is causing a shortage for people who actually need it. I have had to come off it because I can’t get consistent supply and each time I restart the side effects (nausea and gastro) get worse and last longer .

Crossie
Crossie
May 15, 2024 1:05 pm
Reply to  Diogenes

It was OK as long as it was prescribed only to Hollywood residents but shortages were inevitable when it became pubic knowledge. Why not just produce enough for everyone? I thought the pharma companies were in the business of making money.

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
May 15, 2024 11:22 am

Lysander
 May 15, 2024 11:06 am

I myself may be sceptical of new medications on the market, such as Ozempic but TheirABC have been doing a lot of hit pieces on Ozempic of late (despite the fact that it has actually passed FDA processes and has full approval for use).
Why?
Particularly when they showed 0 scepticism for the jibby jabs…

It took me about two weeks to nail the C-19 scam. I give most credit to Amazing Polly. She exposed all the players, quick smart.

mizaris
mizaris
May 15, 2024 7:25 pm
Reply to  Steve trickler

I looked at who was promoting it. Same mob as promoting the climate scam. That was enough for me. Unvaxxed, and unrepentant. A neg pure blood.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 11:26 am

Farmers walk out on Watt speech over sheep ban
Joseph Carbone
Members and leaders of agricultural peak bodies, including the National Farmers’ Federation, Wednesday morning walked out on a speech from Agriculture Minister Murray Watt, in protest of the federal government announcing a four-year plan to ban live sheep exports.
During the minister’s address at the Agricultural Industry Budget Breakfast a group including representatives from the NFF, Sheep Producers Australia, Cattle Australia and peak body members from Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales left the event.
NFF president David Jochinke said: “We turned our back to the minister just like he turned his back on farmers.
“The walkout represents what this government did to agriculture when it pursued this ideological agenda, disregarding the real-world implications this ban will have on farmers, communities, our trading relationships and animal welfare outcomes.
“It appears this government listens to activists over agricultural experts and farmers. Perhaps if we start behaving like activists it might listen to us.”

Murray Watt should count himself lucky. I remember the reception a group of angry farmers gave Goof Whitlam in Forrest Place..

Roger
Roger
May 15, 2024 11:29 am

“It appears this government listens to activists over agricultural experts and farmers. Perhaps if we start behaving like activists it might listen to us.”

BINGO!

Crossie
Crossie
May 15, 2024 1:06 pm
Reply to  Roger

Perhaps a truckload of cattle manure needs to be accidentally emptied on the access road to the Parliament House.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
May 15, 2024 11:36 am

And if the “Ruinables” (Wind and Solar) are now providing the cheapest form of electricity, why then the need for these Electricity Rebates?

A local Eatery/Coffee shop Owner near me tells me that his electricity bill has gone up over $1,000 a month in the past year. Last night’s Feral Budget will give him/them a $325 rebate for 12 months from 1/7/2024.

That in simple Economics is going backwards.

Blackout Bonehead Bowen, Please Explain……………..If you can with logic prease (a Chinese please).

Sounds like “Electrickery” to me.

shatterzzz
May 15, 2024 11:40 am

“treaty” signing in Danistan …
I suppose they needed to wear the “Fred Flintstone” gear so we could tell the 251s from the whites .. FFS!
?

Clothes
Pogria
Pogria
May 15, 2024 12:00 pm
Reply to  shatterzzz

Where’s the darkie?

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 12:28 pm
Reply to  shatterzzz

Nongaars would say “their mothers bin eatem white bread.”

Ummm – do the States have the right to sign valid treaties with their own citizens.

shatterzzz
May 15, 2024 11:41 am

Another Lethbridge .. LOL!

Migrants
Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 15, 2024 11:48 am

Heh, King Charles’s portrait is going viral.

‘He’s bathing in blood’: Unveiling of King Charles’s first official portrait since coronation met with unpleasant response from royal fans and experts (Sky News, 15 May)

An array of responses have followed the monarch unveiling his first portrait since his coronation, a wildly unexpected, large pink painting by artist Jonathan Yeo that many fans are less than impressed by.  …

“I’m sorry but his portrait looks like he’s in hell,” one comment reads.

“Without sounding rude, this is the worst royal portrait I’ve ever seen,” another person commented.

Many were quick to draw a more sinister conclusion.

“It looks like he’s bathing in blood.”

“Does it reference the colonial bloodshed produced by British imperialism?” one person asked. …

Speaking to royal expert Michael Cole, GB News host Martin Daubney also slammed the painting,

“It’s very red to be uncharitable. It looks a bit like Extinction Rebellion might have already got to it,” Daubney joked. …

Cole added that the portrait was “maybe a little bit sinister.”’

LOL, ya reckon?

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 12:27 pm
Reply to  dover0beach

It was announced in Western Australia on Saturday, from memory.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
May 15, 2024 11:59 am

Now the weather expert has said their time is “soon to be up”, calling on the Government to ban man-made climate denial across the mainstream media.

With the UK being on the Security Council at the UN, then they surely know and abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948 –

Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. 

Over to you UK PM and also Commissar Tennis Elbow here.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 15, 2024 12:08 pm

Your phone hates you.

Managing screen time by making phones slightly more annoying to use (TechXplore, 14 May)

The best way to help smartphone users manage their screen time may be to make phones progressively more annoying to use, according to new University of Michigan research.

The study, published in Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, shows that interfering with swiping and tapping functions is around 16% more effective at reducing screen time and the number of times an app is opened than forcibly locking users out of their phones. …

The researchers believe that forcing more mindfulness into otherwise mindless gesturing is the key to making smartphones less addictive.

How dare you want a phone that is nice and works well! On the other hand forcing more mindfulness on phone zombies seems a futile task, they’d have to have an actual mind for that.

Roger
Roger
May 15, 2024 1:16 pm
Reply to  dover0beach

Good luck with that!

The various state Liberal executives are presently controlled by the progressives and they guard their pre-selection privileges carefully.

The only thing that will force them to change course is a massive public display of discontent, as happened after the Voice referendum, when the QLD LNPs withdrew support for a treaty with indigenous folk. Somewhat academic, though, as they’d already voted with the Labor to pass the enabling legislation and now we’re stuck with it.

Until there’s a paradigm shift in the party in response to public anger at Labor that’s where they’ll stay.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 15, 2024 12:26 pm

Eaters eaten.

Mislabeled shark meat rampant in Australian markets, study finds (Phys.org, 15 May)

Researchers at Macquarie University have found a significant portion of shark meat sold in Australian fish markets and takeaway shops is mislabeled, including several samples from threatened species. …

The results of the study were alarming. Around 70% of the samples were mislabeled, either because the species did not match the label or the label did not comply with the Australian Fish Names Standard (AFNS).

It’s just terrible that unidentifiable battered fish pieces purchased with limp chips in a dodgy fish and chip shop in Western Sydney might not comply with the Australian Fish Names Standard! How dare they!

(The fact that an Australian Fish Names Standard exists, and is enforced incompetently, says everything you need to know about the capture of the bureaucracy by complete maniacs.)

Pogria
Pogria
May 15, 2024 2:11 pm

I would rather see the sharks eaten completely, rather than the Chinese way. Slice away the fins and chuck the rest of the body back into the sea.
effin’ waste!

Miltonf
Miltonf
May 15, 2024 12:28 pm

I view Advance as a means to liasse with the smarter elements in the LNP and push it in the right direction

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
May 15, 2024 12:30 pm

Well well well (the Hun):

Politicians have been banned from wearing a scarf that symbolises support for Palestine in Victoria’s parliament.

Prior to the ruling, Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri had for months been wearing the keffiyeh while inside the chamber.

But on Wednesday, lower house speaker Maree Edwards and upper house president Shaun Leane deemed the scarf to be ‘political’, meaning it now falls under parliament’s ban on wearing political statements in the chamber.

The keffiyeh has long been viewed as a symbol of Palestinian nationalism, and is regularly worn by protesters during weekly rallies in the CBD.

Dare I say it – green shoots…

Now waiting with bated breath to see what the Wongster has to say.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 12:36 pm

Cops sue Shane Drumgold for $1.5 million over ‘disgraceful’ claims

  • EXCLUSIVE

By stephen rice

  • NSW Editor
  • 11:46AM May 15, 2024

Five Australian Federal Police ­officers are suing the ACT government for almost $1.5 million over allegations by former chief prosecutor Shane Drumgold that they “acted disgracefully” in seeking to pressure him not to prosecute the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins.
Lawyers for the five officers have sued both the government and Mr Drumgold personally over his allegations against them, which included that they had ­sought to mislead him as to the strength of the case against Bruce Lehrmann and bullied Ms Higgins.
They also say Mr Drumgold wrongly accused them of “consistently and inappropriately” interfering with his conduct of the prosecution, extending over one and half years.
The allegations were made in a letter Mr Drumgold sent to ACT police chief Neil Gaughan on ­November 1, 2022, expressing concern over “some quite clear ­investigator interference in the criminal justice process”.
The letter sparked the Sofronoff inquiry into police and prosecution conduct in the Lehrmann case, which largely exonerated police and found that Mr Drumgold’s assertions were baseless.
Each of the five applicants – Detective Inspector Marcus Boorman, Commander Michael Chew, Detective Superintendent Scott Moller, Detective Senior Constable Trent Madders and Senior Constable Emma Frizzell – was identified by name in the letter.

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
May 15, 2024 12:37 pm

NFF walked out on Murray Watt over live sheep ban.
I’d like to walk out on the NFF, a useless bunch of aspiring to safe seats with the Nats.

bons
bons
May 15, 2024 12:58 pm
Reply to  Farmer Gez

Absolutely. The NFF are the rural equivalent of the BCA. Akubra wearing elitists.

Hanson’s lot are a better bet than the Malcolm Fraser squatters club.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 15, 2024 12:56 pm
Reply to  dover0beach

I don’t think that works, since corporations went woke pretty early with ESG and DIE (oops DEI). Previous phases too, from ubiquitous HR fads and departments – which then were mined for female chief executives, since the ladies tended not to do line management roles.

They are walking back from that rubbish because it is catastrophic to their businesses. Woke, on the other hand, is deeply entrenched in green progressive cultural Marxism, so isn’t going away.

That brings us to your observation, which is Leftist economic concerns aren’t aligned with corporate power now, at least not as much. Wall St looked into the abyss and walked backwards very carefully.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 15, 2024 1:29 pm
Reply to  dover0beach

I’ve been working in corporations for a long time. The HR department was starting to show signs of becoming feral in the early nineties. My CEO in the mid 2000s was a vegetarian believer in climate fairies, and my division boss went into carbon farming.

That was well before the current explosion of woke.

One of the aspects of this is that the executive class now have disconnected from the original entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs sent their kids to Ivy League universities, where indoctrination was already very strong. Those kids are now the current senior executive stratum. Think Murdochs as an obvious example. They all have learned to believe the same otherworldly rubbish, and they just love hobnobbing with each other at Davos and Bilderberg. So it is an elitist echo chamber, that talks the same, thinks the same and marries each other.

The good thing is that in the last few years there are signs of the consensus breaking down. The woes the car industry are in is perhaps one of the early signs, since you cannot make an EV-only mass market business model work, especially if you are paying ridiculous electricity prices. Even Tesla is in the wars at the moment. The electricity system itself is another domino that’s dropping, led recently by the AI fad – since electricity has to be affordable and always-on. That has led to a renaissance in politically incorrect nuclear power plans. All this is very new, in the last few years. The walkback of DEI and ESG is really quite rapid also.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 15, 2024 1:55 pm
Reply to  dover0beach

Woke infected corporations well before it went pandemic in the green-left. They invented it. Then anyone in business had to do the vibe to succeed.

Perhaps it was that academia bought the vibe in the sixties counterculture stuff, Gramsci-wise. They then trained the eighties and nineties executive MBA class.

I was amused in the very early 2000s that if a woman showed any sign of talent she was just about bodily levitated into the corporate stratosphere. It was funny to watch.

If you’d’ve worked in corporations Dover you’d know just how fond management and HR are of MBA-style fads. ESG and DIE are the peak examples of the process, since they plug right into the virtue-seeking socket of senior executives. I can’t remember all the silly training sessions and corporate getaways which we were forced to endure, it’s all mushed together in my mind. In some ways I think corporations are even worse that the public sector for such stuff.

Last edited 8 months ago by Bruce of Newcastle
Alamak!
May 15, 2024 1:39 pm
Reply to  dover0beach

Indeed. Its a diversion tactic allowing capital to do as capital wants while pretending to pander to the feelz of the “stakeholders”. Sadly a lot of people think Woke is real and a generation of (non)leaders owe their jobs to ESG and being the right type of persons.

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
May 15, 2024 12:48 pm

“Woke stuff” is just a branch of the Destroy Capitalism tree.

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
May 15, 2024 12:50 pm

Gutfeld: that brain worm was lucky it picked RFK jr. instead of Biden or it would have starved.
In other news: Q. Joe, who is your best friend? A. Depends …

BobtheBoozer
BobtheBoozer
May 15, 2024 5:33 pm
Reply to  Bungonia Bee

The funny thing is that Ivermectin would have killed it off.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 12:58 pm

State Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis blasts Murray Watt over live sheep export ban in scathing letterJake DietschThe West Australian
Wed, 15 May 2024 9:11AM

WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis has conceded she is at a ‘frustrating’ loggerheads with the Albanese Government over its decision to phase out live sheep export. Credit: Danella Bevis/The West Australian

The relationship between State Labor Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis and her Federal counterpart Murray Watt appears in tatters, with Ms Jarvis telling the Queensland senator his decisions over live exports have not been “in the interest of WA” and “it is difficult to see how we can work collaboratively”.
Senator Watt — who serves as Agriculture Minister under Anthony Albanese — announced on Saturday that live sheep exports by sea would be phased out by May 2028.
WA is the only state that exports live sheep by sea, with the decision expected to cost 400 jobs locally.
Ms Jarvis — who has long opposed ending the trade — revealed in parliament Tuesday night her blistering letter sent that day in response to the Federal Government’s decision.

The Cook Government minister highlighted an ongoing drought in WA and the State’s recent efforts to support farmers.
“I believe your announcement has added to the negative sentiment of the WA sheep industry at the worst possible time,” Ms Jarvis wrote.
“Given your decision and subsequent package is not in the interest of WA, it is difficult to see how we can work collaboratively.”
The letter lashed him over a $107m package which Ms Jarvis deemed would not “meet the current and future needs” of the sheep industry.
Ms Jarvis said the package only included $64.6m for sheep producers, the supply chain and regional communities.
“It would appear around 40 per cent of this support package will go towards funding ‘business as usual’ activities such as Austrade and resource staffing to implement the phaseout,” she wrote.
She said modelling shows the end of sheep exports by sea would cost $615m over five years to the WA industry and supply chain
Ms Jarvis called on the government to subsidise freight of sheep to the east coast, to help open up that market for WA farmers who are losing the live export trade.
“Many farms are overstocked as markets tighten and your immediate support for a freight subsidy to enable the movement of sheep to east coast markets would be welcomed,” she wrote.

All is not well in the Labor Party bouncy castle.

Lysander
Lysander
May 15, 2024 1:04 pm

DB,
I think the Wokery is a distraction for all sides of politics; progressive and conservatives.

I have many friends who still believe in Labor Labor Labor and they can’t stand the trannie lobby and tbh, the represent about 0.001% of the population. Same as the LGBTXYZ mob and various others…

To me, it’s all a distraction from much bigger things going on; yes, economic matters in particular and that we’re on the road to serfdom based on every single Western countries’ net debt (to name one serious matter).

Crossie
Crossie
May 15, 2024 1:18 pm
Reply to  Lysander

But if every country is in the same financial situation couldn’t they all just reset and carry on? It would only be a problem if some countries were in a perilous economic state.

Crossie
Crossie
May 15, 2024 1:12 pm

dover0beach

 May 15, 2024 12:16 pm

Not voting LNP alone will not change anything. You have to also organize a faction within the LNP to pitch and support candidates the base and others would vote for. More broadly, a bigger problem is the lack of elite support for a common sense politics. Thus, you need to actually get some buy-in from some of the institutions.

Dover, not possible as things stand. LNP has been captured by Labor/Greens lite and it will take decades to dislodge them as they have rigged the system to discourage any new members. They will coast on the old LNP’s conservative reputation until they collapse into two minor parties.

Mother Lode
Mother Lode
May 15, 2024 1:18 pm

Has anyone considered that the Kings portrait being drenched in red might be a subtle nod to his wish to have been a tampon?

Crossie
Crossie
May 15, 2024 1:22 pm
Reply to  Mother Lode

Ha!

Jock
Jock
May 15, 2024 1:29 pm
Reply to  Mother Lode

The tampon thing was weird but I recall a ditty from my youth when we were a bit less woke:

I wish I was a diamond ring upon my girlfriends hand
Cause every time she wiped her bun, Id see the promised land.

Barking Toad
Barking Toad
May 15, 2024 2:31 pm
Reply to  Mother Lode

Lovely darts Mother – and Jock!

BobtheBoozer
BobtheBoozer
May 15, 2024 5:52 pm
Reply to  Mother Lode

I thought it an interesting painting – I’ve no idea what the painter was saying, but technically it’s caught my eye.
At least there was no dog in it signifying loyalty and fealty. That was a relief.

Crossie
Crossie
May 15, 2024 1:22 pm

Bruce of Newcastle

 May 15, 2024 12:26 pm

Eaters eaten.

Mislabeled shark meat rampant in Australian markets, study finds (Phys.org, 15 May)

I don’t have a problem with eating shark meat. Wasn’t it called hake long ago as a euphemism?

Boambee John
Boambee John
May 15, 2024 2:55 pm
Reply to  Crossie

I thought it was flake.

KevinM
KevinM
May 15, 2024 1:43 pm

Roger

And God’s pronouns do not include “she”.

On this I am in agreement, I only tried to be all inclusive.

Even on this forum, what would be a reaction of the female members if I declared, that I cannot imagine God to be a female?

calli
calli
May 15, 2024 4:41 pm
Reply to  KevinM

I can’t either. Being able to read helps. 🙂

Roger
Roger
May 15, 2024 6:25 pm
Reply to  KevinM

On this I am in agreement, I only tried to be all inclusive.

I hope I’ve disabused you of that mistake.

😀

Woolamai
Woolamai
May 15, 2024 1:47 pm

I don’t have a problem with eating shark meat. Wasn’t it called hake long ago as a euphemism?

I think you mean ‘flake’ Crossie

Last edited 8 months ago by Woolamai
Crossie
Crossie
May 15, 2024 2:14 pm
Reply to  Woolamai

Oops, yes.

Helen
Helen
May 16, 2024 11:05 am
Reply to  Woolamai

I thought Flake was a South Australian thing, like Fritz.

Cassie of Sydney
May 15, 2024 1:50 pm

Not voting LNP alone will not change anything. You have to also organize a faction within the LNP to pitch and support candidates the base and others would vote for. More broadly, a bigger problem is the lack of elite support for a common sense politics. Thus, you need to actually get some buy-in from some of the institutions.

I agree, but can I also say that if right of centre parties had adopted the Greens approach over the last decade they might have had more success. I think that the smaller parties, Lib Dems, PHON, UAP and the ill-fated Australian Conservatives may have been more successful if they had followed the Greens strategy and targeted local government first, then state, then federal.

Political impact is slow, it happens incrementally.

As for organising factions within the LNP….well yes…but the problem here is that in NSW the state branches are always overruled by HQ, and NSW Liberal HQ is controlled by scum such as Kean, Photius, and so on.

Back in 2019 those same wankers at Liberal HQ dumped the late Senator Jim Molan to a lower and unwinnable position. Molan was able to rally ordinary Liberal members to canvass for him. Molan, whilst not perfect, was from the right and what infuriates me is that after his death, the scum at Liberal HQ here in NSW filled his senate position, a position he fought hard for, with a useless tepid leftist Liberal by the name of Maria Kovacic.

Helen
Helen
May 16, 2024 11:08 am

Same as in the NT, once elected, the branches are seen us useful fund raising idiots and Head Office runs the show.

rosie
rosie
May 15, 2024 1:53 pm

My Canberra suburb.
Couldn’t help but notice a corner property that despite being near new has an accumulation of junk, a broken couch etc, apparently there are also junked vehicles, stolen vehicles removed from time to time etc.
Noticed only because of screaming child, not the first time I’d walked past and heard/seen one on the balcony.

Turns out it’s an indigenous household, better for the children than way out in western NSW I guess.
There is also a problem with unlocked cars having contents pilfered in this sleepy hollow, apparently not unrelated.
Most of the residents of the many townhouses are Indians for whom two car garages are insufficient, many students sharing so lots of cars on the street which is not what the planners intended.
They may not have the same reluctance to confront as earlier colonialists.
We will no doubt eventually see.
Canberra only behind Sydney for expensive housing, new high density suburbs springing up but it’s never enough, is it?

Boambee John
Boambee John
May 15, 2024 2:58 pm
Reply to  rosie

Never will be while the immigration Ponzi continues.

Alamak!
May 15, 2024 1:54 pm

Re Budget

  • Can’t reduce inflation by spending moar money
  • Can’t achieve prosperity by taxation
  • Can’t pick winners without messing up the markets
  • Can’t hand out subsidies without causing unintended consequences

Labor and its leaders appear to have less knowledge of the economy than anyone driving them to and from their meetings in their soon-to-be electric chariots of conspicuous climate consumption.

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
May 15, 2024 1:55 pm

Respect to shooter and pilot. Skills!

FVR375:

Highlights video of lone boar engagements during conservation based aerial culling operations in Northern Australia. Viewer discretion advised as a number of feral pigs are humanely destroyed ( killed) via aerial shooting during this video

Lone boar highlights. Aerial shooting with FVR375

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lopu8nV6gm4

Pogria
Pogria
May 15, 2024 2:26 pm
Reply to  Steve trickler

Damn!, that’s some fine shooting.
I am awe struck with the skill of these shooters.
I would love to do that. A holiday that combine heaps of Kablammo! whilst doing good for the land and livestock.

Cassie of Sydney
May 15, 2024 1:58 pm

Dover, not possible as things stand. LNP has been captured by Labor/Greens lite and it will take decades to dislodge them as they have rigged the system to discourage any new members. 

Any of us can join the Liberals (or Nationals). In fact they want us to join, they like the dosh. The problem is, as I’ve just written above, what’s the point? The NSW Liberal HQ simply ignore the wishes/choices of local branches. They want members, but they don’t care about us.

Last edited 8 months ago by Cassie of Sydney
Crossie
Crossie
May 15, 2024 2:18 pm

Yes, I mangled my explanation.

mareeS
mareeS
May 15, 2024 7:05 pm

Hence why I allowed my membership to lapse a few years ago, Cassie.

feelthebern
feelthebern
May 15, 2024 2:06 pm

Dover, the latest Ukraine video has dropped.

feelthebern
feelthebern
May 15, 2024 2:10 pm

I just can’t get my head around how pathetic people can be to blames Jews for their own failures.

My mother is an anti-semite.
She doesn’t mention anything in front of me these days.
It’s quite disgusting.

hzhousewife
hzhousewife
May 15, 2024 2:34 pm
Reply to  feelthebern

Can you fathom how she got that way? I don’t know anyone my age group ( 70’s, Oz born) who is an anti-Semite.

feelthebern
feelthebern
May 15, 2024 2:59 pm
Reply to  hzhousewife

Who knows.
She doesn’t believe that 6million Jews could have been murdered during the Holocaust.
Nor does she believe 20million plus Russians died during WWII.
She’s 79, born here.

JC
JC
May 15, 2024 2:11 pm

Well, if you can’t insinuate yourselves into the LNP in an organized manner, you need to establish a parallel ‘common sense’ party that can attract those “No” voters, as well as those from other parties and do this more effectively than the LNP.

I don’t know why, but in Anglo countries, the two-party system seems to have become ossified, with the exception of a few tiny parties. In Europe, you may see completely new parties emerging to the top, and sometimes in one election cycle. Also, old parties like the Christian Democrats in various places have no longer exist.

Vicki
Vicki
May 15, 2024 2:11 pm

Well, if you can’t insinuate yourselves into the LNP in an organized manner, you need to establish a parallel ‘common sense’ party that can attract those “No” voters, as well as those from other parties and do this more effectively than the LNP.

And we know where this ends up – UAP/One Nation – great with good and well meaning people. But they will not cut it on the larger scene. I suppose once we said that about the Greens and the Teals. But I just cant see Mr/Mrs Average Aussie voting in enough numbers for conservative small parties to form a governing coalition.

feelthebern
feelthebern
May 15, 2024 2:12 pm

Has anyone considered that the Kings portrait being drenched in red might be a subtle nod to his wish to have been a tampon?

The best take on the portrait is greying it up & making it look like Han Solo in the carbonite.

feelthebern
feelthebern
May 15, 2024 2:15 pm

@Ned_Donovan
Deliveroo rider on a penny farthing might be one of the most west London things I’ve ever seen

https://x.com/Ned_Donovan/status/1790460912102412359

Many many lols.
?

JC
JC
May 15, 2024 2:18 pm

Bungonia Bee

May 15, 2024 12:48 pm

“Woke stuff” is just a branch of the Destroy Capitalism tree.

Wokeness really began in the 90s, experienced a name change, and gradually became more extreme. I don’t know if it was here, but I saw the beginnings in the US, where it was referred to as political correctness. Wokeness is an outgrowth of that.

Vicki
Vicki
May 15, 2024 2:18 pm

Last night husband and I heard Jewish barrister  Natasha Hausdorff speak at the Sydney Institute on the use of “lawfare” against Israel. She was superb.

feelthebern
feelthebern
May 15, 2024 2:19 pm

Stanford’s Hoover Institution have released a bunch of economics videos.

https://www.youtube.com/@HooverInstitution/videos

Of the bunch, this one is the most informative.

Milton Friedman and the Second Wave of the Great Inflation, 1976-1980 | Hoover Institution
?

Vicki
Vicki
May 15, 2024 2:26 pm

Re: the live sheep/cattle market.

I still do not believe that abattoirs catering for halal requirements could not be set up to cater for the ME market. Yes – it would have to be packaged meat. But I refuse to believe that ME would maintain opposition indefinitely.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 2:42 pm
Reply to  Vicki

My understanding, and I’m happy to be corrected, is that abattoirs, catering for halal requirements have been operating in Australia for many years, but the good old (fiercely militant) Meatlworkers Union pushed the cost of slaughter to over twice what it was overseas.

Vicki
Vicki
May 15, 2024 2:56 pm

Yes Zulu – I thought the same. But not surprised to hear of the role of the Meatworkers Union.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 3:12 pm
Reply to  Vicki

Pulling up, at a country meatworks, with a truckload of “Fat lambs, in the peak of condition” only to find the place “closed, due to industrial action” was not unknown.

Barking Toad
Barking Toad
May 15, 2024 2:40 pm

Blackout Bowen on his hind trotters ranting insanely in question time.

He really is insane.

Cassie of Sydney
May 15, 2024 2:43 pm

The left have been willing to play the long game, hence the long slow march through the institutions. Perhaps we should adopt their approach? If small parties want to penetrate the halls and walls of power, they need to begin with local government.

My point is that miracles in politics just don’t happen, you have to be laborious, dogged, tenacious, persistent and unfaltering. The left have always understood this. Like Islam, they are dogged, they are laborious, they wait in the shadows, slowly but surely accumulating power. They have bided their time, and now we suffer the consequences.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 2:44 pm

PM grilled over $5000 per head dinnerSarah Ison
Kooyong Independent Monique Ryan has slammed Anthony Albanese for attending a $5000 per head dinner after the budget was handed down last night, grilling the Prime Minister on whether “any fossil fuel industry lobbyists were in attendance”.
Mr Albanese said that in the 10 elections he had run as the candidate for the NSW seat of Grayndler he had “spent less money on those 10 campaigns than the member for Kooyong did in her one”.

More trouble in the bouncy castle.

H B Bear
H B Bear
May 15, 2024 2:44 pm

The Brittany Blob rolls on. ACT taxpayers in the firing line so it’s not all bad. Could this be Australia’s most expensive Friday night legover in history?

feelthebern
feelthebern
May 15, 2024 2:55 pm

Could this be Australia’s most expensive Friday night legover in history?

If the rumours are true, Cairns & Grassby cost a few pennies but their pay offs were via treasury, not the courts.

Not Uh oh
Not Uh oh
May 15, 2024 2:59 pm

Just watched Jerry Seinfeld’s speech at Duke University, over on Gateway Pundit. Superb.

Salvatore - Iron Publican
May 15, 2024 3:11 pm

I still do not believe that abattoirs catering for halal requirements could not be set up to cater for the ME market. Yes – it would have to be packaged meat. But I refuse to believe that ME would maintain opposition indefinitely.

Operators cannot find enough workers for the abattoirs we already have. An indication of how difficult it is to find slaughtermen: Meatworker jobs are advertised in backpacker job forums.

Cost of slaughter in Australia is (roughly) three time, or more, the cost of slaughter in destination countries.

A majority of livestock exported live from Australia are not going direct to slaughter, they are raised & fattened in feedlots or farms in destination countries.

Many/most destination countries have a stated policy preference for domestic employment in jobs feedlotting, livestock handling, and slaughtering, rather than sending foreign exchange to Australia to create Australian jobs.

Many/most destination countries do not have coldchain supply infrastructure. They instead slaughter on the spot, adjacent to a ‘wet’ (or ‘hot’) meat market. Instead of our system of storing mean, their meat is killed & sold daily.

End consumers often lack a reliable method of storing/freezing, instead purchasing ‘wet’ (or ‘hot’) meat a couple of hours before they intend to cook it.

Destination countries are not subservient to Australia, they are the customer. They have a specific requirement, which if Australia refuses to supply, they will obtain elsewhere.

Australia will miss out.

Live sheep export from WestOz is a textbook example of entrepreneurial drive finding a market for something that had no value: Old ewes. Australians will not eat them, they have no value. The middle east wanted them, was prepared to pay for them, created a market that did not exist for Australia.

H B Bear
H B Bear
May 15, 2024 3:24 pm

Many/most destination countries do not have coldchain supply infrastructure. They instead slaughter on the spot, adjacent to a ‘wet’ (or ‘hot’) meat market. Instead of our system of storing mean, their meat is killed & sold daily

Didn’t we send Groogs up through Indonesia to investigate this?

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 3:24 pm

That’s quite a good summary, Sal.

johnjjj
johnjjj
May 15, 2024 4:03 pm

Now if we could do that with camels. They love the meat over there.

DrBeauGan
DrBeauGan
May 15, 2024 3:24 pm

Never seen it in the flesh so to speak, but I have my doubts about a religion that needs an elaborate, fancy, ostentation building to worship its God.

I have. Only the outside, but I’ve seen depressing pix of the inside.

I can understand people wanting a cathedral to express their awe and wonder in their faith. Cathedrals at Lincoln, Durham and Ely do this, among many others. They are beautiful and give expression to a noble conception of the religion. I’m entirely happy with this even though I don’t share all the beliefs. Worshipping something fine and admirable that doesn’t exist is far better than worshipping the state which does.

John H.
John H.
May 15, 2024 3:28 pm

Vicki

 May 15, 2024 2:11 pm

Well, if you can’t insinuate yourselves into the LNP in an organized manner, you need to establish a parallel ‘common sense’ party that can attract those “No” voters, as well as those from other parties and do this more effectively than the LNP.

And we know where this ends up – UAP/One Nation – great with good and well meaning people. But they will not cut it on the larger scene. I suppose once we said that about the Greens and the Teals. But I just cant see Mr/Mrs Average Aussie voting in enough numbers for conservative small parties to form a governing coalition.

There are enough people here to do something about it. What’s stopping everyone?

H B Bear
H B Bear
May 15, 2024 3:30 pm
Reply to  John H.

I went to a Lieboral branch meeting in the 80s. I’ve done my bit.

Alamak!
May 15, 2024 3:29 pm

I still do not believe that abattoirs catering for halal requirements could not be set up to cater for the ME market. Yes – it would have to be packaged meat. But I refuse to believe that ME would maintain opposition indefinitely.

Halal processing at abattoirs was being done in NZ decades ago. Not a replacement for live animal exports but demonstrates what is possible if activists are not able to interfere with markets between willing participants. Sadly, these days someones right not be be offended trumps everybody else’s wishes.

johnjjj
johnjjj
May 15, 2024 4:06 pm
Reply to  Alamak!

It is the creeping feminisation of society, matey.
Sheep and lambs are cute. The big eyes. The women couldn’t care less if it was rats. “Ugggg the tail….”

Last edited 8 months ago by johnjjj
Alamak!
May 15, 2024 5:07 pm
Reply to  johnjjj

Thats part of it. There is a general desire among the good folks of the upper castes not to see how the sausages are made on which they dine.

Farming, Mining and other physical pursuits are just too tiresome to have to comprehend let alone be thankful for.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 3:36 pm

Slade Brockman: Labor shamefully sold out the WA sheep industrySlade Brockman The West Australian
Wed, 15 May 2024 2:00AM

Comments

For years, I have said that the Labor Government’s decision to ban live exports is not rooted in genuine concern for animal welfare. It is driven by crass politics in the inner-city electorates of Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra. This decision, which undermines and destroys a crucial part of the Western Australian farming industry, has been driven by the tactics of animal activist groups.
It is a business model of these activist groups, who exert political influence by claiming a large number of adherents, often achieved through simplistic, if not dubious, sign-ups online. These inflated membership lists (click and you’re a member) are built on the back of this disgusting business model — which gain followers and raise funds by distributing distressing pictures of animals suffering. Alarmingly, there is ample evidence on the record now to suggest these groups are willing to pay for those pictures to be manufactured.
In fact, the very incident that the Labor’s Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has cited as a key reason for the ban — the Awassi Express incident — has been revealed through media investigations as being driven by the cash payment of well over $100,000 to a deckhand from a developing nation.
These disgraceful methods and morally bankrupt business model are then used for the Labor Government’s political ends.

The depth of the policy bankruptcy of Labor’s ban is now revealed in full.
On Saturday, with merely a few hours’ notice to farmers, Mr Watt abruptly announced the ban, to universal criticism from the farming industry across Australia.
Predictably, the animal activists applauded it. The Animal Justice Party, the political wing of the activists, revealed the political leverage it held over Labor.

“We are proud that the AJP could deliver the knock-out blow by demanding the end of live sheep export as a requirement for our preferences at the Dunkley by-election in March. Ongoing conversations behind-the-scenes between AJP and Labor leadership has helped to finetune Government policy.”
Labor shamefully sold out the WA sheep industry for a by-election preference deal in the Melbourne city seat of Dunkley. This is a very concerning trend of bare-faced policy manipulation for electoral gains.
What other preference deals predated this one?
We can assume there were such deals because all the actual evidence clearly supports the continuation of the live export trade in sheep.
When asked for the science and the evidence supporting the ban, the minister has nothing to offer except a vague Labor party policy document.
So who suffers the consequences of this crass politics?
The hard-working sheep producers of WA. The families that rely on this industry, from truckies to feedlot workers, to shearers, and vets. The communities in sheep farming areas will suffer the most. Farming communities already under pressure will undoubtedly feel this decision as a body blow.
All for the sake of a few thousand votes in Dunkley, and other urban seats in Sydney and Melbourne and Canberra. Utterly disgraceful.

This betrayal is actually completely unjustified and unnecessary.
Australia’s live export industry operates at the highest animal welfare standards in the world and has constantly improved over time. In fact, Australia not only implements stringent welfare standards and systems, but also exports these best practices globally, requiring our markets and trading partners to meet our high standards.
The industry is growing — as Mr Watt’s own departmental figures reveal — making a total lie of his claim it is a dying industry.
WA’s geography and climatic conditions mean that the live export trade is a fundamental and integral part of the sheep industry as a whole. As we have seen this year, as spring becomes summer, livestock numbers on farm must be reduced because of the risk of feed shortages. The live export trade was both a price floor, but also a safety value, for stock in such seasons.
There is only one way to stop this betrayal of WA sheep producers. One way that allows farmers and the entire supply chain to continue operating at world’s best standards: dump Labor at the next election.
Labor’s strategic focus on inner-city east is a glaring disregard for WA and our regional communities. It is time for WA to send a resounding message that our farmers and regional interests cannot and will not be side lined for Labor’s political expediency.
Slade Brockman is a Liberal Senator for WA.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 3:47 pm

the Awassi Express incident — has been revealed through media investigations as being driven by the cash payment of well over $100,000 to a deckhand from a developing nation.

I was told, on another website, that that was “nothing more then the dreams of National Senators.” Should I demand an apology?

Rabz
May 15, 2024 3:42 pm

Live sheep export from West Oz is a textbook example of entrepreneurial drive finding a market for something that had no value

Therefore labore and the greenfilth had to inhumanely end it, while sanctimoniously screeching, “this beautiful creature must die”.

bons
bons
May 15, 2024 3:46 pm

Ryan and Lambie are sisters separated at birth.

Zippster
Zippster
May 15, 2024 3:47 pm
The rise of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Victor Davis Hanson

John Anderson

Roger
Roger
May 15, 2024 6:30 pm
Reply to  dover0beach

Not necessarily, dover.

From your tradition, Trappist monastic churches were quite plain.

feelthebern
feelthebern
May 15, 2024 3:56 pm

Last day of evidence in the Al Muderis defamation case (unless something arises from submissions).

Sue C (acting for Al Muderis) is formidable.
Amongst other aspects raised, she’s crafted a narrative that one journo (Ms Grieve) with held information from the rest of the 60 mins & fairfax team regarding the story & stories.
Or Ms Grieve said she had documentation but in fact did not.
But no one bothered to check.

Zippster
Zippster
May 15, 2024 3:59 pm
feelthebern
feelthebern
May 15, 2024 4:03 pm

I know you can have solicitors on retainer in Australia.
Can you have a barrister on retainer?
If so, if I was a billionaire, I would keep Sue C on a permanent retainer so she could never act against me or my interests.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 4:05 pm

Diggers’ fury as commanders duck responsibility for war crimes, report warns

  • EXCLUSIVE

By ben packham

  • Foreign Affairs and Defence Correspondent
  • 2:28PM May 15, 2024
  • Comments

The refusal of the nation’s military leaders to accept responsibility for war crimes in Afghanistan has generated “anger and bitter resentment” among serving personnel and veterans that will take years to overcome, an independent report has warned.
The Afghanistan Inquiry Implementation Oversight Panel’s final report is due to be tabled in the Senate after Defence Minister Richard Marles quietly authorised its release six months after he received the document.
The report, obtained by The Australian, says the panel does not accept the Brereton inquiry’s finding that senior commanders should not be held accountable for the murders of 39 Afghans by up to 25 special forces soldiers.
It says there has been “an unmet need for Defence senior leadership to communicate to the serving and ex-serving ranks of the ADF that they collectively accept organisational responsibility and accountability for part of what went wrong in Afghanistan”.
“There is ongoing anger and bitter resentment amongst present and former members of the special forces, many of whom served with distinction in Afghanistan, that their senior officers have not publicly accepted some responsibility for policies or decisions that contributed to the misconduct, such as the overuse of special forces,” the panel warns.

The report says the resentment among special forces soldiers was “expressed forcefully and repeatedly to the panel by Defence members of all ranks” during visits to SAS and 2nd Commando Regiment headquarters.

The anger in the Defence and veterans’ community over the issue will “likely to last for a long time”, the panel warns.
The panel led by former Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Dr Vivienne Thom says commanders need to accept accountability to “prevent or mitigate any recurrence” of such crimes.
The report compares the failure of Defence’s senior leaders to accept accountability for war crimes with the actions of company CEOs who face dismissal and even criminal charges after major corporate collapses.
“In the private sector, major corporate failures result in both an organisational and individual responsibility,” the report says.
“Personal knowledge or direct involvement of the senior officers in the causes or behaviour that led to the corporate failure are not required.”
The report comes as Mr Marles sits on recommendations by outgoing Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell on the stripping of honours and awards for commanders for war crimes that occurred on their watch.

It says “substantial progress” has been made in addressing special forces cultural issues highlighted by Justice Paul Brereton in his report for the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force.
“While there are still occasions when individuals exhibit behaviours indicative of unhealthy exceptionalism, today the responses from the leadership appear to be rapid, clear and appropriate,” the report says.
But it warns there are still some signs of the “toxic competitiveness” between the SAS and 2nd Commando Regiments that Justice Brereton identified as a contributing factor, with “significant and forceful comments” by some soldiers on their rival regiments in interviews by the panel.
The Albanese government is yet to implement a Brereton inquiry recommendation to compensate the families of Afghans unlawfully killed by Australian Defence Force troops.
But the panel says it accepts the government faces difficulties in identifying, locating and paying those affected since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.

KevinM
KevinM
May 15, 2024 4:05 pm

feelthebern
May 15, 2024 2:59 pm

Reply to  hzhousewife

Who knows.

She doesn’t believe that 6million Jews could have been murdered during the Holocaust.

Nor does she believe 20million plus Russians died during WWII.

I am not disputing the numbers.

You are probably too young to come across the original numbers quoted.
It started with 60 thou in the fifties, then increased to 600 K later and then to the 6 mill now.
People forget or never knew.
Had it happen via more accurate research or other means?

It is to an individual’s personal opinion and that opinion is going to be hard to shift.

The saddest thing is, that whatever those numbers were, we are at the stage where the whole fact of the holocaust is being put in the forgettory at best or to deny it ever existed.

feelthebern
feelthebern
May 15, 2024 4:16 pm
Reply to  KevinM

The Germans kept meticulous records.
The more the records were discovered & reviewed, the numbers added up.
Keep in mind, unlike the Russian numbers of soldiers where the USSR was not a reliable source, the German numbers were.
Then you check with things like title deeds and census numbers.
Those Jews didn’t disappear.
They were murdered on an industrial scale.

feelthebern
feelthebern
May 15, 2024 4:17 pm
Reply to  KevinM

And train movements.
They weren’t sending empty trains to the camps.

eric hinton
eric hinton
May 15, 2024 4:08 pm

Halal processing at abattoirs was being done in NZ decades ago.

Ditto Katanning. Scroll down a bit for the story.

Boambee John
Boambee John
May 15, 2024 4:08 pm

On reversing the unfavourable policies of the Uni Party, Greens have set the precedent for local government to set many policies (twin cities, land zoning, building codes) that can be used to reverse at least some of the damage.

To quote from that esteemed populist, Mao tse-tung (Wade-Giles transliteration), “A journey of ten thousand li starts with the first step”. Take that step.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
May 15, 2024 4:08 pm

H B Bear
 May 15, 2024 2:44 pm

The Brittany Blob rolls on. 

I think the correct expression to commence all such posts is:-
“The Brittany Blob rolls on, consuming all in it’s path”.

Last edited 8 months ago by Sancho Panzer
H B Bear
H B Bear
May 15, 2024 4:47 pm
Reply to  Sancho Panzer

Like this morning’s baguette.

mizaris
mizaris
May 15, 2024 6:51 pm
Reply to  Sancho Panzer

its

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
May 15, 2024 4:09 pm

I think you mean ‘flake’ Crossie

Cadbury’s Flake was very nice. Chocolate. Yummmmmmmmm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIdtVthtAVo

The Bungonia Bee
The Bungonia Bee
May 15, 2024 4:16 pm

Media declares both Nina and Nino bad! One is blamed for “terrible heat” while the other causes flooding rain.

Salvatore - Iron Publican
May 15, 2024 4:17 pm

Halal processing at abattoirs was being done in NZ decades ago.

As one of the few (likely very few) Catallaxians who have operated a Halal meat retail enterprise, I am able to state that Halal slaughter is, or has been, carried out at many more Abattoirs in Australia, for a lot more decades, than laymen may readily believe.

Halal kill is not complex, mysterious or difficult as many seem to believe.

Last edited 8 months ago by Salvatore – Iron Publican
Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 15, 2024 5:26 pm

Yeah but it’s much cheaper to get out the kitchen knife in the suburbs of Mogadishu.

Which is the issue. Plus it’s probably cultural to keep it in the family.

Oz local halal slaughter for export isn’t going to be something the MENA man in the street will bother with. Too expensive, and no trust of the kafirs doing it.

mizaris
mizaris
May 15, 2024 6:50 pm

Katanning in WA’s wheatbelt does halal killing and half the town’s population is Christmas Island muz.

hzhousewife
hzhousewife
May 15, 2024 4:18 pm

Last night instead of the budget, we watched, on SBS on demand, the story of Marcel Marceau, it was called Resistance. Very good. I had no idea about his life story.

Top Ender
Top Ender
May 15, 2024 4:26 pm
Reply to  hzhousewife

Saw it recently…we agree, very good.

KevinM
KevinM
May 15, 2024 4:21 pm

dover0beach
May 15, 2024 3:50 pm

but I have my doubts about a religion that needs an elaborate, fancy, ostentatious building to worship its God.

I will never make peace with this sentiment. It’s behind the general casualisation/ uglification of our culture.

Being dull, I don’t quite follow.
Do you mean that to worship God you need a grand building?

My query was about the need of such a building to do that and whom it was supposed to benefit?

Human pride and hubris or was it a requirement of God?

We have been building magnificent structures dedicated to deities since time immemorial, I have no problem with it, just asking why?

Did we then such wast surplus resources to do it without an apparent, urgent reason?

Diogenes
Diogenes
May 15, 2024 4:24 pm

This popped up on Facebook feed. Came from polital cartoons of Australia page.

Cartoonist is David Pope

1000000565
Pogria
Pogria
May 15, 2024 6:04 pm
Reply to  Diogenes

That’s a surprise.
Pope is a bucket for Labour’s water.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
May 15, 2024 4:24 pm

hzhousewife
 May 15, 2024 4:18 pm

Last night instead of the budget, we watched, on SBS on demand, the story of Marcel Marceau, it was called Resistance. Very good. I had no idea about his life story.

He doesn’t talk about it much.

rosie
rosie
May 15, 2024 4:57 pm
Reply to  Sancho Panzer

LOL. I must watch it too.

The Bungonia Bee
The Bungonia Bee
May 15, 2024 4:30 pm

Allegra da big Spender has now become a fixture on daytime sky news. Kieran Gilbert had some financial whiz on today, and Lo and Behold he said “I was just talking to Allegra Spender, and she said. …”

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
May 15, 2024 4:32 pm

I really liked the Sagrada Familia, inside and out. Being designed by Gaudi, a famous Catalan architect with many designs around Barcelona. I don’t like Gothic architecture at all so not enthralled by many cathedrals. I went at midday when the light is best for the glasswork. I thought the acoustics brilliant with so many people there yet the sound though not loud of Ave Maria pervaded every corner. Well worth the visit even if we had to queue to get in.

mizaris
mizaris
May 15, 2024 6:47 pm
Reply to  GreyRanga

Loved it too. It “felt” Godly.

Salvatore - Iron Publican
May 15, 2024 4:34 pm

Pauline wore some sort of soccer scarf into the Senate today. She removed it when told it did not comply with Senate standing orders.

Pauline-Hanson-Jewish-scarf-in-parliament
GreyRanga
GreyRanga
May 15, 2024 4:35 pm

I thought it rather good too hzhousewife. I much prefer Sophie Marceau to Marcel of course.

Lysander
Lysander
May 15, 2024 4:38 pm

I’ve been out to the two export depots in Perth (down Rockingham way) and I was actually quite amazed at how efficient they are and how well the sheep are looked after with vets on site or nearby at all times, plenty of feed and plenty of space.

I’ve also seen some videos of these going out and onboard ships and the Four Corners “story” that set this all off was wrong on so many levels that it couldn’t have been an accident…

Lysander
Lysander
May 15, 2024 4:39 pm
Reply to  Lysander

Correction: The only two export depots in WA.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 5:07 pm
Reply to  Lysander

The “Four Corners” Story, about the cattle in Indonesia, that the minority Senate report declared was based on brought and paid for footage?

Pogria
Pogria
May 15, 2024 6:09 pm

Zulu,
“bought” and paid for.
You have to watch out for the spelling tag team. 😀

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 15, 2024 4:39 pm

Media declares both Nina and Nino bad! One is blamed for “terrible heat” while the other causes flooding rain.

And if we all eat bugs, wear sustainable hemp loin cloths and only take cold showers they can be stopped! We’re saved!

Washington Post: Have Cold Showers to Prevent Climate Change (14 May)

You first, lefties.

JC
JC
May 15, 2024 4:40 pm

I’d be asking where the millions went if it wasn’t into a defensive line in the north. Apparently, the contractors made coin without building anything.

Well they probably couldn’t build anything until the moolah was approved by congress. Stop blaming the contractors and blame the government. It’s the government, or the state, that finally places the order. There’s not such thing as a military industrial complex but there is a state military complex. All corruption starts at the state.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
May 15, 2024 4:50 pm

Last night instead of the budget, we watched, on SBS on demand, the story of Marcel Marceau, it was called Resistance. 

Well at least if he got caught by the Gestapo you know he wouldn’t talk…

calli
calli
May 15, 2024 4:54 pm

If the earth is boiling, it definitely isn’t in Porto. Nor has it been in northern Spain. Just two weeks away from summer and it’s still cold as.

What I can’t get over is the countryside. I may as well be driving through NSW, the landscape so completely dominated by eucs. One vast chain of hillside looked burned out, perhaps remnants of the wildfires of a couple of years ago.

Plant bombs, get explosions.

mizaris
mizaris
May 15, 2024 6:44 pm
Reply to  calli

Tasmanian blue gums…all over some parts of Europe like a weed. Grazie Senor Duce.

Last edited 8 months ago by mizaris
Salvatore - Iron Publican
May 15, 2024 4:55 pm

Well at least if he got caught by the Gestapo you know he wouldn’t talk…

IIRC his father was, no idea if he talked, however did not survive the subsequent sanitorium holiday camp in eastern Prussia.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
May 15, 2024 4:55 pm

Anyone want to ask the turbomongs of Caberaaaah how we hit ” net zero” while we import a few million more people.

Australia’s population in mid-2023 was 26.4 million people. This is an extraordinary 38% increase from the population in 2000 of 19.2 million.

And yet somehow, despite importing so many drs, nurses and engineers we are still short of them…

JC
JC
May 15, 2024 4:56 pm

Here’s the ETF (ITA) for the military industrial complex. ETF = Exchange traded fund and in made up of defense stocks.

In Feb 2022, when the invasion began ITA was trading at US$108 a share. It’s gone up and now trading at US$134.66 a share. Sure, it’s gone up at an annualized rate of 11.66%.

The S&P for the same period went up from 4202 to 5272 today,. The rise for the S&P is around 12.73 annualized over the 2 years.

They’re basically tracking the index and there’s no boom.

Makka
Makka
May 15, 2024 4:58 pm

Thanks Dim;

Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ “expansionary” third budget works against the Reserve Bank’s push to curb high inflation and risks interest rates needing to stay higher for longer, leading economists say.

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/enormously-expansionary-budget-backs-rates-higher-for-longer-20240515-p5jdq4

BobtheBoozer
BobtheBoozer
May 15, 2024 7:19 pm
Reply to  dover0beach

I would assume the troops manning the lines would be improving them all the time. Trenches/bunkers are typically made from local resources, I can’t imagine there being a shortage of forestry wood and concrete – even if the concrete takes a while to set, it doesn’t take 100 years.
Soldiers are pretty damn inventive when it come to protecting themselves.

feelthebern
feelthebern
May 15, 2024 5:35 pm
Reply to  dover0beach

Speaking of dragon teeth, the new House of the Dragon trailer dropped.
Looking pretty bloody good.

rosie
rosie
May 15, 2024 5:02 pm

“I have my doubts about a religion that needs an elaborate, fancy, ostentatious building to worship its God.”
Then no problems with Catholic churches then.
Not elaborate or fancy or ostentatious.
Just intended to give a glimpse of heaven.
A few modern ones fall sadly short of that mark though.

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
May 15, 2024 5:03 pm

Idahobit day at a local high school.
The senior boys were told to express themselves.
That resulted in dressing up like a hooker or full evening wear with pearls.
A couple of the boys wore T shirts that were expressive. One had the lettering “I’m not gay but twenty dollars is twenty dollars”
Another had big arrows pointing up to the chin and down to the crotch with the caption “I’m a two seater”
Well done teenage boys, appropriate deference shown.

Pogria
Pogria
May 15, 2024 6:14 pm
Reply to  Farmer Gez

bwahahahah, BRILLIANT!

BobtheBoozer
BobtheBoozer
May 15, 2024 7:22 pm
Reply to  Farmer Gez

So my T shirt “Faggots are Going To Hell”, wouldn’t be acceptable?

Big_Nambas
Big_Nambas
May 15, 2024 5:27 pm

Can someone please explain how a $300 energy subsidy to every household can be anti inflationary? The bill is still the same but the taxpayer pays $300 towards it.
Can’t wait for the explanation. Thanks in advance.

feelthebern
feelthebern
May 15, 2024 5:30 pm
Reply to  Big_Nambas

Wrong speak.
Please report to the e-safety commissioner.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 15, 2024 5:48 pm
Reply to  Big_Nambas

At least he’s now tacitly acknowledged that Bowen’s stupid energy policy is making electricity more expensive not less.

Muddy
Muddy
May 15, 2024 5:29 pm

Absentmindedly going through my online bookmarks, I’ve started reading an old Center for Security Policy article on the alleged 6 Jan ‘insurrection.’ They link to a variety of both still photos and film footage. In one link (on Flickr) there is an individual in tactical gear (among the crowd – there were a number of such individuals or small groups, with or without coloured tape on their helmets; green and orange from what I can see) at the left edge of the frame.

What intrigues me is that on his helmet, he has what appears to be a U.S. flag decal or patch on both the left and right sides. On the right side, the flag is back-to-front, with the stars being at the top right instead of the top left. The decal or patch on the left side of his helmet is correct. Unless the whole footage has been horizontally reversed, why would you place a flag patch or decal on your helmet in this manner, and just on one side?

This appears an awfully trivial observation, but these ‘tacticals’ as the author labels them, were considered to have played a significant role in the agitation and provocation of an otherwise largely peaceful crowd. (Earlier in this footage, the helmeted man is standing beside and communicating with another similarly helmeted and darkly clothed person (whose helmet did NOT feature the flag patches/decals).

Eyrie
Eyrie
May 15, 2024 5:56 pm
JC
JC
May 15, 2024 5:56 pm

Okay, contractors means a few things, Dover. It also refers to folks like General Dynamics etc. Be more specific as we’re not all war nerds.

BTW, I love the need to shift even part of the blame away from industry/ contractors. Heavens.

Who pays the vig is the boss and it’s the state. Stop going all leftie and blaming firms because that doesn’t make any sense. It’s the state military industrial complex and no one else.
If you’re pointing fingers you know who to blame now.

But seriously, if there actually was a boom in defense spending it ought to show in the stock prices of these firms. Tracking the index is fine, but it’s no show stopper.

Last edited 8 months ago by JC
Barking Toad
Barking Toad
May 15, 2024 6:01 pm

Pauline wore some sort of soccer scarf into the Senate today. She removed it when told it did not comply with Senate standing orders.

Onya Pauline – stick it up the hamas supporters with their princey terrorist scarves.

Pogria
Pogria
May 15, 2024 6:18 pm
Reply to  Barking Toad

You meant “poncey”, right. 😀

JC
JC
May 15, 2024 6:03 pm

Big_Nambas

May 15, 2024 5:27 pm

Can someone please explain how a $300 energy subsidy to every household can be anti inflationary? The bill is still the same but the taxpayer pays $300 towards it.

Can’t wait for the explanation. Thanks in advance.


It’s not in the least anti-inflationary. It’s a gimmick to try and keep the CPI down artificially and to also impress the punters that they really care. It’s actually really depressing, because it means they aren’t projecting energy prices to fall at all even though they maintain renewballistics will lower energy costs. It’s the Liars party you’re dealing with.

BobtheBoozer
BobtheBoozer
May 15, 2024 7:39 pm
Reply to  JC

It’s a meaningless crumb thrown to the peasants during a dinner party held by the hoi polloi paid for by the peasants themselves, while the pigs/men/pigs think of how clever they are by fooling the peasants again.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 15, 2024 6:04 pm

22m ago

Labor senator accuses Israel of ‘genocide’
Rhiannon Down
Labor senator Fatima Payman has broken ranks with Anthony Albanese on Israel, accusing the Jewish state of carrying out a “genocide” on the Gaza Strip in a defiant address during which she repeated the slogan “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
Senator Payman criticised the nation’s leaders for engaging in “performative gestures” while defending Israel’s right to “oppress” Palestinians, while it was “gaslighting the global community about the rights of self defence”.
The remarks contradicted statements made by the Prime Minister last week that the pro-Palestine protest chant “calls for ­opposition to a two-state solution”.
Senator Payman made the remarks during a small press conference which appears to only have been attended by a handful of outlets including SBS.
“My conscience has been uneasy for far too long and I must call this out for what it is,” she told SBS.
“This is a genocide and we need to stop pretending otherwise. The lack of clarity, the moral confusion, the indecisiveness is eating at the heart of this nation.”
Mr Albanese attempted to draw the line over the controversial phrase after it became a popular fixture at pro-Palestine protests at university campuses.
“It is a slogan that calls for ­opposition to a two-state solution,” Mr Albanese said last week.
“My position is very clear and the government’s position is clear and it has been a bipartisan position for a long period of time.”

Didn’t that sort of conduct get you booted from the Labor Party?

JC
JC
May 15, 2024 6:14 pm

Actually, the more you think about it, the $300 rebate doesn’t really help at all in terms of keeping the CPI down. It’s just an attempt to buy the punters.

It’s not a subsidy to the producers, but rather a subsidy the consumers. That has no impact on the CPI. So the producers could raise prices, or keep energy prices elevated, but the hope is that it will keep them them in the good books with the punters.

I’ve seen that argument that it is to help the CPI, but it doesn’t when you think about it. It’s actually a signal they may be expecting further hikes but the punters won’t care as much.

Barking Toad