Open Thread – Thurs 20 June 2024


A Night in Paris, Konstantin Korovin, 1930

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Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
June 21, 2024 1:14 pm

Rabz at 12:58.
Years ago I found myself with a new electrickery supplier. I had been busy at work and didn’t notice that I hadn’t been billed for months, until my “delinquent payments” came to their notice.
(I suspect an enterprising sales agent simply entered my meter number on the change form, and gave a dud billing address to cover his tracks and collect commish for a few months).
When I spoke to both providers and told them to unwind it all, they told me there was nothing they could do, as I had signed the transfer. When I asked to see a copy of the form they changed their tune, and I was back with the old supplier toot sweet. I don’t think anyone wanted an investigation into sign up practices.
As for “opt out”, it often exists but they very cunningly displace the “Opt Out” icon and the underlying link such that there is minimal overlap and, unless you click on the bottom left or top right of the icon, it won’t take.
Technically compliant and, if they get caught, they can claim it was just a Web developer’s error.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
June 21, 2024 1:16 pm

Boambee John
 June 21, 2024 1:10 pm

Can’t be bothered going back to read all the nested comments, has mUntyfa yet posted his detailed rebuttal of the comments on nuclear power generation by the ex-ANSTO man? (See link by Rosie at 2158 yesterday.)

No.
But he has got a cartoon of a three-eyed fish.

eric hinton
eric hinton
June 21, 2024 1:24 pm

Can’t be bothered going back to read all the nested comments,

Gentlemen do not post nested comments.

Zippster
Zippster
June 21, 2024 1:39 pm

airhead
Star Wars Actress Responds to Haters

the cringe never stops

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
June 21, 2024 1:45 pm

A pal worked on Campbell’s anti bikie task force. They reported to Crisafulli who was known to be hard arse, demanding and gungho.

What has happened to him?

Nothing.
I met him once in the early Frecklington years when he was Shadow Minister for the Great Barrier Reef. He is a standard issue Queensland politician: there for the canapés and free seats at the footy, with a flexible eye for greater opportunities.

As for being hard arse on bikies; that was a cringeworthy initiative of Jarrod Bleije’s, which (plus Bleije’s declaring war on the Qld Supreme Court) probably contributed mightily to the general WTF reaction to the Newman Government.

Easy to stamp your foot and cosplay hard man when you’ve an entire Lauranorder Government behind you.

Rosie
Rosie
June 21, 2024 2:02 pm

“Sarah Michelle has had something of a screen siren slump.”
I think Sarah Michelle has opted out of the acting business, she had two children and other business interests.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
June 21, 2024 2:03 pm

BoN the Liars do excellent polling. I’d not be surprised if the results are skewed for public release and the real numbers for internal consumption and that is reflected in the childish outburst yesterday. They are spooked and don’t know how to counter it.

Wally Dalí
Wally Dalí
June 21, 2024 2:08 pm

Vicki, earlier-
report on the explosion of food distribution in Oz to the hungry. It is extraordinary. It is run by a charity & distributes fruit & veg ( & I guess other staples) to families & individuals. It is under such pressure that the girl reporter started to cry!
My point is – the damn government should be questioned about this & why they persist in bringing hundreds of thousands of immigrants into the country when we clearly can’t feed many of our own.

I don’t think you’re quite on the money there Vicki- I think it’s more like, Howard’s Infinity Immigrants program has created a large urban demographic who are takers, and they line up (or dial up) for freebies OAM-bait charities like OzHarvest, RecipeTin Eats -and whoever that bloke in Victoria was who created a free food van out of the goodness of his heart and because his middle-eastern comunity are saints, banked a Charity Of The Year award and turned on his heel to demand subsidy as an essential service.
The founders- rootless corporate types like Nagi Mahehashi and Ronnie Kahn- get the gongs and lecture us on how brutal capitalism is. The ruthless corporations like Coles and Woolies create Red Kite and First Bite etc to bank a bit of goodwill and shift some non-perishables. They all buy trucks and warehouses and fit out kitchens and embroider hi-viz shirts and employ people and file tax returns as a not-for-profit. And sell cookbooks. And lecture us on how brutal capitalism is.
The traditional feeders of the needy, who also change lives and don’t rely on sustaining disconnected bludgers for their business model- Christian church groups- gets shouldered out of the sector, not only by the shiny new providers, but by their previously locally-based supermarket branch managers (who they used to have relations with for cheap perishables) who need them to be Welcome To Country and LGBTQI enablers.

This might seem like a rant- I haven’t had much to do with my Anglican kitchen since I stopped growing spuds and broccoli a few years ago, recently found out my 14-y-o can’t wash plates anymore because a Safe For Church certificate can only be filled by the 15+- but it’s real, church kitchens do a lot more than fill bellies, and they do it for the people in the margins, not for the hashtags and Qantas lounge perks. A quiet tradition which was saving lives is being quietly bulldozed by Big Athiesm.

Wally Dali
Wally Dali
June 21, 2024 2:31 pm

Well, Big Athiesm might be a bit of a stretch.
The Forces of Vanity, though, definitely.

billie
billie
June 21, 2024 2:37 pm

Charities, Not-for-profits and Institutes have become big business in Australia

Many charities in particular are just an extension of the government, by grants and subsidies.

Charity of churches used to be the mainstay of the poor and downtrodden.

Charity as a business pays for great houses and fancy cars .. and a bit for actual charitibal works, but mainly to enrich the owners.

If you look too closely at a charity, it usually results in dissappointment.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
June 21, 2024 2:38 pm

Vicki at 11:43.
Mmmyes.
Never, ever admit to owning anything which could have the remotest Firsht Nayshuns significance.
We have an artifact in our family which was, in fact, a gift from the local elder to my great-grandfather who looked after the small band of Aboriginals who frequented the Country Estate.
It is well known about in family circles and has been passed down to a member of our family.
A rustadon Indigenous activist cousin tries to sniff it out from time-to-time (would like to “take it to the museum for authentication”).
To her eternal frustration she is invariably met with a stonewall of “Nah. Don’t remember that. Must have got lost.”

Ceres
Ceres
June 21, 2024 2:42 pm

Pensioner/ Health Care cards etc should be de rigeur before free food/stuff is given to people. Well meaning organisations which are non judgemental, is detrimental, causing genuine people in need, to miss out because of shameless free loaders.
Questionable too to see some “needy” on the telly covered in expensive tatts and smoking ciggies. Priorities?

Last edited 3 months ago by Ceres
Speedbox
June 21, 2024 2:45 pm

Off to Russia late next month. Received my visa yesterday. I will be sure to post assorted reports.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
June 21, 2024 2:50 pm

From the Oz:-

PM tells ABC host to lighten up over nuclear memes

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has told ABC host Michael Rowland to “lighten up” over memes shared by several Labor MPs mocking nuclear power with three-eyed cartoons.

Rowland asked the Prime Minister during a TV interview this morning if the actions of the MPs were juvenile.

Great campaign grab.
Overlay shots of families looking at their power bill in disbelief, with the “lighten up” voice over from Luigi.

And what is his considered response?

“For goodness’ sake. We’re not going to take lectures from a mob who said that an Advisory Committee for Indigenous Australians on matters that affected them would lead to everyone losing their house and their private property,” Mr Albanese said.

Nothing to do with power generation.
But still fighting the Torrie battle from last October, long after we have bayoneted the wounded and vacated the battlefield.
Whipping up the 40% who supported da Voice with a call to action. The same 40 pussent who oppose noocular power, no doubt.
Wait on though.
40 pussent.
That’s not a majority, is it?

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
June 21, 2024 3:02 pm

Charities, Not-for-profits and Institutes have become big business in Australia

Oxfam today wants to tax Aussie companies including Colesworths at 90%.

They seem not to understand the catastrophe that would be for poor people.

New report claims Woolworths, NAB and others ‘cashed in’ while Aussies struggled through COVID-19, international conflict (Sky News, 20 Jun)

While those recommendations were generally well received, the new report, published by Oxfam Australia, argues the government should go further still, slamming some of Australia’s largest companies for their conduct at a time when households were “pushed to the brink” by soaring cost of living pressures. …

According to the report, tax loopholes played a significant role in enabling super profits, with a lack of meaningful competition in some sectors also a factor.

In response, Oxfam called for the government to impose a steep 90 per cent tax on all companies found to have benefitted from “crisis profits”, arguing it would also have a significant impact on addressing other areas of socioeconomic concern.

Go back to the Marxist-Leninist hole you came from, Oxfam activist peoples, and leave us in peace. Better still commit seppuku and spare us the CO2 your worthless selves would otherwise breathe out over the rest of your wretched, pointless lives. Do the right thing for the planet!

Rosie
Rosie
June 21, 2024 3:02 pm

Walli
Said almost the same about who the addition takers of food charity might be this morning.
Obviously big corporate needs to be obvious in their charitable endeavours to fend off claims of being big gougers.
Once upon a time big grocery used to regularly discount bread fruit, veg etc that was close to its use by date, you might see some packaged stuff discounted but the rest presumably goes off to big charity.

cohenite
June 21, 2024 3:04 pm

Greg Kelly on why Merchan will send Trump to jail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBux10xgQDE

The West is fuked. Learn how to speak chunk and ruskie.

feelthebern
feelthebern
June 21, 2024 3:04 pm

Trump appears on the All-In pod.

In conversation with President Trump

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

For those who aren’t familiar, Sacks is west coast GOP type, Chamath is a former DNC donor, Friedberg is DNC aligned and JCal swallows every DNC line in whole.

50mins long.
Trump promises Green cards for all foreign graduates & re-iterates no national abortion ban (even though JCal says that’s big news, it’s not).
Also promises there will be no US troops in Ukraine regardless of what other NATO members do.

Anyone who watches this will see that Trump is a lot slower, less sharp in 2024 than he was during the 2016-2020 years.

Rosie
Rosie
June 21, 2024 3:10 pm

There are definitely people living payday to payday who might need the occasional helping hand so I wouldn’t limit charity to card carriers.
One of my kids mentioned family where army dad was outfield and pay didn’t go through.
Stay at home mum with young children and no food in the house.
It happens.

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
June 21, 2024 3:10 pm

Sky News: Backlash against Dutton’s nuclear plan!
Wait a minute. Backlash from whom?
Simon Holmes a’ Court!!!!

Rosie
Rosie
June 21, 2024 3:15 pm
Rosie
Rosie
June 21, 2024 3:21 pm

Sinclair might be enjoying the shivers going down renewable spines.
https://x.com/SincDavidson/status/1803965483911385186?t=Bo0VDbI_tTQukEwGWzyWjw&s=19

Rosie
Rosie
June 21, 2024 3:23 pm
Barking Toad
Barking Toad
June 21, 2024 3:25 pm

Had cause to present 3 times in a fortnight at A&E at Calvary (now named North Canberra Hospital by the socialists) for treatment to a bladder bleed resulting from radiation treatment for prostate cancer 2 years ago.

On the perspex shields separating the triage nurses and the admission clerk from the great unwashed they have stickers. Abo flag, TSI flag and the rainbow poof flag. No Australian Flag in sight.

Gives me the shytes big time!

Pogria
Pogria
June 21, 2024 3:26 pm
Makka
Makka
June 21, 2024 3:28 pm

Off to Russia late next month. Received my visa yesterday. I will be sure to post assorted reports.

Where in Russia Speedy?

Indolent
Indolent
June 21, 2024 3:35 pm
H B Bear
H B Bear
June 21, 2024 3:36 pm

School 40 year reunion tonight. The guy with the best stories won’t be there – murdered by actual neo Nazis (not Grampian ones) in the 80s. The guy who moved to Sydney as the drummer in a punk metal band and spent much of the 90s banging a big titted Home and Away actress possibly a no show either. Neither made the school magazine, unsurprisingly.

Vicki
Vicki
June 21, 2024 3:36 pm

It had to happen…..one of the nuclear facilities proposed by Dutton is in our area, and it has aroused the ire (on our Facebook site) of every Lefty for 100km….or at least the vocal ones. I have dipped a toe into the stormy waters by suggesting that, since it is an issue that significantly affects all of us, we should not take the usual partisan positions. And I appealed to balanced, critical thinking on the issue.

There has been an eerie silence. Critical thinking being (of late) such an unknown concept.

Last edited 3 months ago by Vicki
Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
June 21, 2024 3:40 pm

we should not take the usual partisan positions
The left always will. No more Mr. Nice Guy or Gal, Cat, whatever.
The media will use every trick in the book including very well selected vox pops if not fake ones.

Vicki
Vicki
June 21, 2024 4:02 pm

An interesting article on the effects of the decline of religion in the West.

Religious Decline Mirrors the Rise and Fall of Civilisations Throughout History 
THE MODERN ENQUIRER
JUN 20

A decline in religion is a commonly cited phenomenon by historians when discussing periods of decadence. Throughout history, the strength or weakness of an empire has often been reflected in the strength or weakness of its religious institutions. 

When empires were strong, they typically provided support and protection to religious institutions, which in turn helped maintain social order and provide a sense of stability for the people.

However, as empires began to falter and corruption seeped into the fabric of their societies, the influence and authority of religious institutions often waned. This erosion of religious power frequently mirrored the broader societal decline, marked by increasing materialism, hedonism, and a loss of collective moral direction.
 
Examining historical examples such as the Roman Empire, the Arab Empire, and the impact of Christianity on Western political institutions reveals the intricate relationship between religious vitality and societal strength. 
This article explores how the rise and fall of religious fervour have shaped the destinies of civilisations and the lessons we can draw from these historical patterns.

The Roman Empire was deeply influenced by its religious beliefs. The Romans believed that their gods had granted them power and authority over the world, and this belief helped to legitimise the empire’s rule over the conquered peoples of Europe and the Mediterranean. As the empire grew stronger, so did the power of its religious institutions, which played a crucial role in maintaining social order and political stability.However, during the decline of the Roman Empire in the 4th and 5th centuries AD, many people turned away from traditional Roman religious beliefs and practices in search of new spiritual ideas and practices. 

This period saw the rise of Christianity, which provided a new set of beliefs and practices that appealed to those disillusioned with the old order. The decline in traditional religious adherence was accompanied by increased hedonism and materialism, reflecting the broader societal decay.

During the Golden Age of Islam, from the 8th to the 13th century, religion was a driving force behind the empire’s expansion and success. The Islamic faith provided a unifying force for the diverse peoples within the empire’s borders, and the Muslim armies were often inspired by their religious beliefs to fight for their faith. However, the decline of the Arab Empire was accompanied by a decline in the power and influence of Islam as well. During the early period of Islamic conquests, the religion played a central role in creating a vast empire and unifying diverse peoples under a single faith. As the empire grew and became more corrupt, the ideals of Islam were often neglected, and the religion was used more as a tool to legitimise the rule of the ruling class.

Christianity has had a profound impact on Western civilisation, shaping its culture, values, and institutions. One of the most significant contributions of Christianity has been in the development of Western political institutions. 
The concept of the rule of law is deeply rooted in Christian teachings and has played a significant role in shaping Western political institutions. The idea that all individuals and institutions are subject to the same laws, without exception, derives from the Christian belief that God is the ultimate lawgiver, and that rulers are accountable to Him for their actions. 
This concept helped to establish the foundation of modern democracies, with their emphasis on the protection of individual rights and the importance of justice and equality under the law.

The influence of Christianity on the rule of law can be seen throughout history. For example, the Magna Carta, which established the principle that no one, including the king, is above the law, was heavily influenced by Christian thought. The document, which was signed in 1215 by King John of England, was in part a response to the Church’s demands for greater protection of individual rights and liberties.Christianity has also been instrumental in promoting the protection of individual rights and freedoms. The Christian belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every human being provided the foundation for the modern concept of human rights. 
This belief has also led to the development of democratic ideals and institutions, such as representative government and the separation of powers.

Education and science owe a significant debt to Christianity, as the religion has played a vital role in their development. Many of the earliest universities in Europe were founded by the Church, and Christian scholars played a significant role in the development of science and technology. 
The Catholic Church also played a significant role in the development of science during the Middle Ages. Many of the greatest thinkers of the time, including Thomas Aquinas, were also scientists who made significant contributions to the field. The Church sponsored research and experimentation in a variety of fields, including astronomy, medicine, and chemistry. The Catholic Church was responsible for the establishment of the first hospitals and medical schools in Europe, and many of the most influential scientific texts of the time were written by Church scholars.

Similarly, the Islamic Golden Age saw the establishment of medical schools that made important advances in medical knowledge and practice. The most famous medical school was the School of Jundishapur in present-day Iran, which existed during the Sassanian Empire and continued to thrive under Islamic rule. Medical education in the Islamic world emphasised empirical observation, clinical experience, and the translation of Greek, Persian, and Indian medical texts.Islamic scholars made significant contributions to various fields of science, including medicine, astronomy, mathematics, and optics. Scholars such as Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Al-Razi (Rhazes), and Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen) authored influential medical texts and made groundbreaking discoveries that influenced later European scholarship during the Renaissance.

Decadence refers to a period of moral decline or excessive self-indulgence, often leading to the erosion of social norms and institutions. This phenomenon has been observed in various historical contexts and often coincides with the weakening of religious and moral values within a society. 
When traditional moral and religious values are neglected, society can lose its sense of purpose and direction, leading to an increase in hedonism and self-indulgence.

One of the most striking examples of decadence can be seen in the late Roman Empire. During this period, there was a marked decline in traditional Roman values such as duty, honour, and self-sacrifice. Instead, the ruling elite engaged in lavish displays of wealth and indulged in extravagant lifestyles, while the common people suffered from poverty and neglect. 
This moral decline was accompanied by political instability and corruption, as well as a weakening of the empire’s military and economic power. The loss of traditional Roman values and the rise of decadence contributed to the eventual collapse of the empire, as it became increasingly unable to defend itself against external threats or maintain internal cohesion.

The Renaissance and Reformation were periods of great cultural and intellectual flourishing, but they also saw a decline in religious and moral values. The Renaissance, which began in the 14th century, was characterised by a renewed interest in classical learning and the arts, but it was also a time of great social upheaval and moral laxity. 
The Church, which had long been the moral and spiritual authority in Europe, faced increasing criticism and corruption. The sale of indulgences, in which people could pay for the forgiveness of sins, was just one example of the moral decay within the Church. 

The Reformation, which began in the 16th century, was in part a response to this corruption and a call for a return to true Christian values. However, the religious wars that followed the Reformation further eroded traditional moral values and contributed to a period of great social and political instability.
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, was another period of great social and moral upheaval. The revolutionaries sought to overthrow the old order and create a new society based on the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. However, in their quest for change, they also sought to eradicate traditional religious and moral values. The revolutionaries sought to establish a secular society free from the influence of the Church, leading to the persecution of religious institutions and the establishment of a new state-sponsored religion. This period of moral decline and social upheaval eventually gave way to the rise of Napoleon and the establishment of a new authoritarian regime.

In contemporary society, the decline of traditional religious and moral values can be seen in various aspects of modern life. The rise of consumerism and materialism, the decline of the family unit, and the increasing acceptance of behaviours that were once considered immoral are all signs of this moral decline. The weakening of religious and moral values contributed to the erosion of social norms and institutions, leading to increased social instability and a sense of purposelessness.

The relationship between religious decline and societal change has been a topic of scholarly debate, often highlighting how shifts in religious adherence can influence broader cultural and moral landscapes. When societies experience a decline in traditional religious practices and moral values, it frequently coincides with periods of societal turmoil and moral decay.
One notable example is the decline of religious practices in ancient Rome during its later years. As the Roman Empire expanded and became increasingly diverse, traditional Roman religious beliefs began to lose their prominence. This shift was accompanied by a growing sense of moral laxity and a focus on materialism and hedonism among the Roman elite. The decline in adherence to traditional religious values corresponded with social unrest and instability, contributing to the eventual fall of the Western Roman Empire.

Similarly, during the European Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries, there was a widespread questioning of religious authority and a movement towards secularism and rationalism. The emphasis on reason and scientific inquiry led to a decline in the influence of organised religion in European societies. This period also saw the emergence of new social and political ideologies that challenged traditional religious teachings, often resulting in societal divisions and conflicts.

In more recent times, the 20th century witnessed significant declines in religious observance in many Western societies, particularly in Europe and North America. This shift was accompanied by cultural movements advocating for individual freedoms and secular values, often critiquing religious institutions for perceived intolerance or outdated moral frameworks.

These societal changes contributed to debates over the role of religion in public life and its influence on moral decision-making.However, historical patterns also reveal that periods of moral and societal decay can prompt religious revivals and renewals. For instance, during the Great Awakening in 18th-century America, there was a widespread religious revival characterised by fervent preaching and a renewed emphasis on personal piety and moral rectitude. This religious awakening played a significant role in shaping American culture and identity, emphasising the importance of religious values in fostering social cohesion and moral responsibility.

Moreover, in contemporary contexts, there are examples of religious revivals emerging in response to perceived moral crises or societal challenges. In parts of Africa and Latin America, for instance, there has been a resurgence of religious adherence and spiritual fervour amidst economic instability and political uncertainty. Religious movements often provide communities with a sense of solidarity, moral guidance, and collective purpose during times of crisis.

The cyclical nature of religious decline and revival underscores the enduring significance of religious and moral values in maintaining societal stability and cohesion. While periods of religious decline can coincide with moral decay and social fragmentation, religious revivals have historically served as catalysts for moral renewal and societal regeneration. These cycles reflect the complex interplay between religious beliefs, cultural dynamics, and societal evolution, highlighting the ongoing relevance of religious traditions in shaping collective values and moral frameworks.

JC
JC
June 21, 2024 4:03 pm

Guzman y Gomez have 200 stores, so if I crudely allocate invested capital equally to each one, that is an investment of $15 million per store.

There’s a place near me. It looks absolutely filthy. It looks like windows haven’t been cleaned since they opened, and the inside is disgusting-looking. There’s a band of Doordash dudes, watching their phones and on their scooters waiting for the next order, hanging by the side of the road.

Funny, because it has the look of the place going broke.

The stock is a short.

JC
JC
June 21, 2024 4:18 pm

32 times? !!!

I recall years ago reading about the background behind the founder. He was an investment banker in the US with one of the big firms. It could very well have been Morgan Stanley and came back with this brimming idea. I wonder how much a fck off-loaded in the IPO. If the store I know of is any guide, this thing won’t be around in the next couple of years.

It also opened in a petrol station at a busy intersection, near me. It should have done okay as there’s a large public hospital nearby. No longer there.

It may be worth thinking about a short if there’s any stock available on loan. I’ll check mid next week as it has time to settle.

Last edited 3 months ago by JC
JC
JC
June 21, 2024 4:23 pm

How retarded would you have to be to buy an Australian restaurant stock trading at 32 times earnings when the expectation is that something like 15% of the restaurant/hospitality trade will be closing down over the next 12 months.

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
June 21, 2024 4:26 pm

Richo thinks Labor should do “reasonably well” campaigning against Nuclear Power.
That’s how effective decades of agitprop against nuclear might be. It won’t stop.
We should go back to coal.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
June 21, 2024 4:26 pm

Rosie
 June 21, 2024 3:21 pm

Sinclair might be enjoying the shivers going down renewable spines.

https://x.com/SincDavidson/status/1803965483911385186?t=Bo0VDbI_tTQukEwGWzyWjw&s=19

I think that favourite concern trolling phrase of the Gaia cult – “stranded assets” – was thrown back at them by somebody here yesterday.

Vicki
Vicki
June 21, 2024 4:32 pm

The Australian Spectator has some excellent articles in the current issue. Judith Sloan has a particularly good article on Dutton’s spunky move in support of nuclear energy.

Speedbox
June 21, 2024 4:41 pm

Makka
June 21, 2024 3:28 pm
Where in Russia Speedy?

I’ll be in Moscow for about a week, then off to Syktyvkar for a week and then finally to Kislovodsk for about two weeks. Lots of opportunity to canvas local opinions, check the stores for stock levels and generally get the ‘lay of the land’.

Leaving late(ish) July.

Pogria
Pogria
June 21, 2024 4:41 pm

The Streisand Effect in real time. 😀

comment image

Chris
Chris
June 21, 2024 4:50 pm

Over at the Paywallian:

3D tech and a Ford Falcon: how we brought a witness’ memory to life

Our visual, graphics and reporting team reconstructed a witness account of the night Bronwyn Winfield disappeared using computer generated images, video animation and an actual 1987 Ford sedan – an identical model to the Winfield family car.

By MATTHEW CONDON

I fear we are heading for Recovered Memory Syndrome implanted false memory all over again.
Anyone remember Richard Webster’s outstanding work on this years ago?

feelthebern
feelthebern
June 21, 2024 5:03 pm

Zambrero is far better than GYG as far as chain Mexican goes imho.

Indolent
Indolent
June 21, 2024 5:32 pm

@robinmonotti

JOHN CLAUSER, 2022 PHYSICS NOBEL PRIZE WINNER:

“I can very confidently assert, there is NO climate emergency.”

“As much as it may upset many people, my message is the planet is NOT in peril. … atmospheric CO2 and methane have negligible effect on the climate.

The policies government have been implementing are total unnecessary and should be eliminated.

So far, [we] have totally misidentified what is the dominant process in controlling the climate, and all of the various models are based on incomplete and incorrect physics.

The dominant process, is “the cloud-sunlight-reflexivity thermostat mechanism.

Clouds are all bright white, and they reflected 90% of the sunlight back into space making them the most crucial yet most overlooked aspect of the climate system.

Two-thirds of the Earth are ocean. The Pacific Ocean alone is half the Earth. The average cloud cover for the Earth is 67%; about 50% over land and 75% over oceans.

I claim that the above conspicuous properties of clouds are the missing part of the puzzle.

I can very confidently assert, there is no climate emergency.”

Indolent
Indolent
June 21, 2024 5:37 pm

@robinmonotti

WHY WOULD THEY PROVOKE WW3?

“Billionaires Try to Shrink World’s Population, Report Says

“The New York meeting of billionaires Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, David Rockefeller, Eli Broad, George Soros, Ted Turner, Oprah, Michael Bloomberg and others was described by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as an informal gathering aimed at encouraging philanthropy. Just a few billionaires getting together for drinks and dinner and a friendly chat about how to promote charitable giving.

There was no agenda, we were told. And no plan for a follow-up meeting.

“Taking their cue from Gates they agreed that overpopulation was a priority,” the article said, adding that “this could result in a challenge to some Third World politicians who believe contraception and female education weaken traditional values.”

Such a stand wouldn’t be surprising. Mssrs. Gates, Buffett and Turner have been quietly worrying about Malthusian population problems for years. Mr. Gates in February outlined a plan to try to cap the world’s population at 8.3 billion people, rather than the projected 9.3 billion at which the population is expected to peak.

But some right-leaning blogs have started attacking the billionaires as forming a kind of secret sterilization society or giant ATM to fund abortions. It fed into time-honored fears of the rich using their wealth to reshape mankind in its preferred image. Some are raising the specter of eugenics.”

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
June 21, 2024 5:44 pm

feelthebern
 June 21, 2024 5:03 pm

Zambrero is far better than GYG as far as chain Mexican goes imho.

It’s not a particularly difficult or complex cuisine.
Easy to set up, but also easy to replicate.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
June 21, 2024 5:52 pm

Interesting the way they approach restaurant chain launches in the USA.
Years ago I had a connection with Knoxville, Tennessee.
It was considered a very typical middle American town, so anyone pitching for funding would set up a full scale restaurant there and run it for a period (I think there were a couple of other “trial towns”). If the live trial worked, you could take it to the bank to get funding to open a huge chain.
Of course, the Yanks love a chain.
Australians not so much.
It’s like beer. Aussies love being connoisseurs of craft beer. As soon as a craft brand is sold to Big Brewing, it’s over.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
June 21, 2024 5:54 pm

JC a major alcohol supplier is planning for 30% less sales in the next financial year. This from someone in the know. Apparently the sales of plonk will not change much nor the high end but the middle priced. People drink less but higher priced stuff.

Zippster
Zippster
June 21, 2024 5:57 pm
mem
mem
June 21, 2024 6:01 pm

So the Albanese government signed an agreement last night that includes promoting nuclear energy. Skewered is the word.httpsw://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2024/06/more-albanese-government-commitment-to-nuclear-power-generation.html

DrBeauGan
DrBeauGan
June 21, 2024 6:04 pm

There has been an eerie silence. Critical thinking being (of late) such an unknown concept.

Inviting people to indulge in such an unnatural activity as thinking will get you labelled as a pervert.

Rosie
Rosie
June 21, 2024 6:13 pm

There is a Guzman y Gomez on glenferrie Rd opposite a Fonda and a couple of doors down from a Taco Bell.
None are much different from a maccas, no chefs required.
It’s okay as dumbed down Mexican food.
Glenferrie road is just food place after food place.
Very different to when I was a kid.

H B Bear
H B Bear
June 21, 2024 6:30 pm

Food is like a coral reef – there are plenty of niches out there. We went to one of those TGI Fridays places in the UK in the mid 90s, basically one step above fast food but the Poms loved them. I think they cratered here in Oz. Likewise Starbucks and various other chains. I think the last WA Sizzler closed only this year.

Miltonf
Miltonf
June 21, 2024 6:32 pm

Guzman y Gomez is disgusting and all their stuff has the same disgusting taste. Something to do with the food technology behind it I imagine.

Wally Dalí
Wally Dalí
June 21, 2024 6:36 pm

Any AgCats near Bendigo feel like having a critical look at this beauty for me?

Last edited 3 months ago by Wally Dalí
132andBush
132andBush
June 21, 2024 6:36 pm

Sancho Panzer
June 21, 2024 2:38 pm

Vicki at 11:43.

Mmmyes.

Never, ever admit to owning anything which could have the remotest Firsht Nayshuns significance.

Indeed.

The indigenous seed drill I found years ago will never be seen.
It’s perhaps the only one in existence.

H B Bear
H B Bear
June 21, 2024 6:45 pm

There is a place for Mexican restaurants that do tequila shots out of old shotgun shells and no matter what you order it is all the same. The novelty wears off some time before your mid 20s.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
June 21, 2024 6:50 pm

Stupid People Breed Stupider People news (the Tele):

The police officer son of former NSW premier Kristina Keneally has failed in a bid to overturn his conviction after he was found guilty of fabricating a statement that landed an innocent man behind bars.

Daniel Keneally on Friday fronted Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court where a judge dismissed his appeal after he was last year found guilty of falsifying an official report about a February 2021 phone call with a man, Luke Moore, complaining about illegal strip searches.

I have heard it said in certain circles, and found after researching episodes of a NSW cop show starring the bloke from Packed to the Rafters, that if one is to charge someone, and compile a brief of evidence to present to a court that presents such evidence that indicates beyond reasonable doubt (the apparent criminal burden of proof, on the prosecution) that the baddie is in fact a baddie, then there is some evidence to that effect.

But not in this case:

During an appeal hearing on Thursday, the court was played the 12-minute phone call between Mr Moore, the founder of isuepolice.com, and Keneally, who was at the time on duty at Newtown Police Station.

The court was previously told Keneally, in a formal statement, claimed Mr Moore had made threats about wanting a Goulburn detective “dead” and had said he was “as good as gone”.

So far so good:

However, in the phone call played to the court on Thursday, Mr Moore made no such threats.

Ah.

Mr Moore was imprisoned on remand for three weeks before a recording of the call resulted in the charges being dropped.

Keneally was charged with one count of fabricating evidence with intent to mislead a judicial tribunal.

He pleaded not guilty

Presumably because Don’t You Know Who Mummy Is.

before he was convicted by a magistrate following a local court hearing last year. He appealed, however, Judge John Pickering on Friday dismissed his appeal.

This dickhead got a community corrections order and a $2K fine.

The jacks have tremendous power in determining the liberty of others. How this numpty got to the point where he thought that this blatant falsehood would go undetected escapes me.

The sentence is wholly inadequate.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
June 21, 2024 6:54 pm

There is a place for Mexican restaurants that do tequila shots out of old shotgun shells and no matter what you order it is all the same. The novelty wears off some time before your mid 20s

What?

How dare you, sir!

bons
bons
June 21, 2024 6:54 pm

Certainly the most creative Pauline ever.

They have a future should they choose to pursue their genius.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
June 21, 2024 6:56 pm

The indigenous seed drill I found years ago will never be seen.

It’s perhaps the only one in existence

There’s an indigenous rail gun/Direct Energy Weapon in my spare room, which I found on the beach last weekend.

Also keeping shtum.

Cassie of Sydney
June 21, 2024 6:57 pm

I know William Shackel is only 18 years old but I think he should run in the QLD election later this year, and then he could topple that sop, fop and all round flake David Crisafooli and become premier of QLD.

I reckon he’d win.

Come to think of it, he should run federally, he’s 18 years old and he talks more sense and is more articulate than almost everyone else in Australian politics.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
June 21, 2024 6:58 pm

Serial rapist Wayne Wilmot involved in the abduction of murdered Sydney bank teller Janine Balding is back behind bars just two weeks after his release

  • Ms Balding raped and killed in 1988 
  • Wilmot allegedly breached conditions of court orders

Daily Mail. Had he gone for the eight o’clock walk to the hangman in 1988……

Salvatore - Iron Publican
June 21, 2024 6:58 pm

The sentence is wholly inadequate.

Quite so. Several months in the Big House would be appropriate.

Cassie of Sydney
June 21, 2024 7:01 pm

do tequila shots

The worst hangover I’ve ever had was after a night of tequila. It took me days to get over.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
June 21, 2024 7:01 pm

Mr Moore was imprisoned on remand for three weeks.

Well there should have been the starting point for any punishment. Imagine the courts going ‘Its ok, he was only enslaved for 3 weeks”?

I hope the chap is or has got a big fat payment from Plod for his trouble.
?

Rosie
Rosie
June 21, 2024 7:02 pm

I’ll bear it in mind Billie.

Cassie of Sydney
June 21, 2024 7:07 pm

“Billionaires Try to Shrink World’s Population, Report Says

Methinks Oprah should concentrate on trying to shrink her girth.

Rosie
Rosie
June 21, 2024 7:14 pm

Why are people talking about a WSJ article published in 2009 where those billionaires were concerned about population growth in the third world, not that it’s any of their business. https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-WHB-1322

mem
mem
June 21, 2024 7:20 pm

At 7pm AEST across the whole NEM (5 states) there is only 5% wind and no solar (zero, zilch, naught) tonight. Even if we had more turbines it would make no difference. The only reason we have the lights and heaters on is because we have coal, some gas and hydro from Tassie. But Tassie is short of water, so they are conserving hydro and now using extra gas. But there is a shortage of gas. And SA is using heaps of ga because they destroyed their coal. So the prices for gas are rising by the minute. Consumers are being diddled by an incompetent government which has attached itself to a net zero, climate change agenda which is clearly not feasible. The sooner this renewables fantasy is blown apart the better.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
June 21, 2024 7:24 pm

Israeli ‘extremist’ tells Australian audience Gaza should have been reduced to ashesBy Chip Le GrandJune 21, 2024 — 11.30am

Listen to this article
9 min
A former Israeli parliamentarian who once held a position in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government told an online gathering of Australian Jews this week that Israel should have abandoned adherence to international law and reduced Gaza to ashes.
In a series of incendiary claims, Moshe Feiglin, the leader of Israel’s far-right Zehut party, said there was no such thing as Palestinians, Palestinian statehood was the biggest lie of the 20th century and that Gaza should be resettled by Jewish Israelis and Arab families encouraged to leave.

Former Knesset member Moshe Feiglin addressed Australian Jewish community members from his West Bank home.
“What Israel should have done to Gaza, on the 8th of October, was exactly what the British people did in Hamburg and Dresden, and exactly what the American people did in every Japanese city they could reach,” he told a Zoom meeting hosted by the Australian Jewish Association (AJA).
“They burnt them to ashes. No ridiculous humanitarian aid. The burnt those cities.
“If we had done that, we would have won the war in a few days and many of the hostages would be free today.”
The association’s invitation for Feiglin to speak, at a time when the war has bitterly divided Australian communities and unleashed antisemitic attacks on Jewish people, businesses and politicians, was condemned by Palestinian and Jewish community organisations.

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler denounced Feiglin’s views and the association’s decision to host him.
“He is an extremist, who does not reflect the mainstream views of Israelis, nor of Australian Jews,” Leibler said. “No mainstream Jewish community organisation would provide him with a platform.

“It is outrageous and unacceptable to hold any Israeli or Jewish Australian responsible for the hate promoted by Moshe Feiglin because we have as much sway over this unelected extremist as we do over any other far-right extremist in Australia.”
The Australian Jewish Association is a non-representative public affairs organisation with a punchy social media presence and political views to the right of more established Jewish community organisations.
Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni said the association was “promoting fascist ideologies” and said Feiglin had no place in civil discourse.

I don’t have any problem with this bloke, does anyone else?

MatrixTransform
June 21, 2024 7:28 pm

¿why is everybody so down on Guzman y Gomez?

their breakfast burrito is grouse
and the spicy chicken nachos are a winner

compared to Maccas where after a burp and a fart its gone, GyG is haute ciusine

the burgers are better at hungry jacks? … yeah, and so are the toilets but still Maccas rules

you gotta wonder why

as if quality or good value made sense in the fast food world

go long sausage rolls

Cassie of Sydney
June 21, 2024 7:31 pm

I don’t have any problem with this bloke, does anyone else?

No, and nor do a lot of other Jews.

As for Jeremy Leibler, he should shut the f*ck up. Jeremy is NOT King of Australian Jews. He doesn’t speak for all of us. Oh and Jeremy’s late uncle, Isi Leibler, was a supporter of the AJA

Last edited 3 months ago by Cassie of Sydney
DrBeauGan
DrBeauGan
June 21, 2024 7:35 pm

I don’t have any problem with this bloke, does anyone else?

He’s entitled to express his opinions. The opposition to him didn’t produce any arguments to show he was wrong, they just called him names (extremist) and expressed disapproval.

Cassie of Sydney
June 21, 2024 7:39 pm

Serial rapist Wayne Wilmot involved in the abduction of murdered Sydney bank teller Janine Balding is back behind bars just two weeks after his release

In any just society, this cockroach (and that’s an insult to cockroaches) would have been executed

DrBeauGan
DrBeauGan
June 21, 2024 7:43 pm

When will people see that abusing the opposition and calling them names(extremist, fascist) isn’t an argument?

mareeS
mareeS
June 21, 2024 7:44 pm

Chris Kenny on Albo today:

“We see the authority of office shed from his bearing like fur from a sick cat.”

Diamond words, hard, cutting and clear.

Wally Dalí
Wally Dalí
June 21, 2024 8:00 pm

Mutt of the weekend…
great staghound “lion eyes’, deepset for the fray!

Gabor
Gabor
June 21, 2024 8:06 pm

MatrixTransform

 June 21, 2024 7:18 pm

Cilantro – to some people the taste is indistinguishable from soap.

Cilantro or coriander, you could literally choke me to death with the stuff, even the smell of it makes me gag.

When we use it I have to leave the place, but a lot of people like it so we use it.

Zatara
Zatara
June 21, 2024 8:28 pm

Sen. Kennedy Explains Why Men Shouldn’t Play Women’s Sports in a Way Even Dems Can Understand

Science. Reality. Truth.

All things that progressives believe can be agenda dependent.

Last edited 3 months ago by Zatara
Gabor
Gabor
June 21, 2024 8:56 pm

Sorry to say, that was to be expected, I can’t understand why Israel took sides with the Azeries in the latest conflict.

Actions have consequences, good and bad.

Screenshot-2024-06-21-205153
Muddy
Muddy
June 21, 2024 9:12 pm

The overall goal is for the state to have the monopoly on violence.

Not a novel statement of course, but worth repeating. (If the state does not fear the populace, the populace will fear the state).

From a Lady Liberty YouTube interview with an American bloke from Black Guns Matter. (She’s not a great interviewer, but good on her for standing up for her beliefs).

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
June 21, 2024 9:30 pm

Anyway, “Sliante” to all you mob. Payday for self funded retirees is coming up, and it’s going to be a snorter. Some drinkable single malt, a few classic books for the library shelves, an overseas holiday, and some long lunches in the Swan Valley.

The poor? What care I for the poor?

custard
custard
June 21, 2024 9:35 pm

How good is it that the central bank monetary system is being destroyed likely to be replaced by a decentralised monetary system with the vehicle of #BTC

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
June 21, 2024 9:42 pm
KevinM
KevinM
June 21, 2024 9:54 pm

Sorry for the levity but I found this article very riveting.

Screenshot-2024-06-21-215210
cohenite
June 21, 2024 10:19 pm

Israeli ‘extremist’ tells Australian audience Gaza should have been reduced to ashesBy Chip Le GrandJune 21, 2024 — 11.30am

Yep, nuke the pallis, iranians and lebs for good measure.

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
June 21, 2024 10:27 pm

Classics

—-

Candi Staton-Young Hearts Run Free(1976)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXsosNMI0j4

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
June 21, 2024 10:40 pm

Rosie @ 3:10 pm

There are definitely people living payday to payday who might need the occasional helping hand so I wouldn’t limit charity to card carriers.

Correct.
Unfortunately, they are not the target clients of Big Charity. In fact they are actively discouraged.

Zippster
Zippster
June 21, 2024 10:43 pm

DOWNTOWN Los Angeles COLLAPSED

A severe business exodus from downtown Los Angeles is accelerating day by day , Historically, downtown held a dense concentration of banks,department stores, restaurants and movie palaces that drew residents and visitors of all socioeconomic classes, but after 2020 the area began to experience an economic and social decline to the point of complete collapse, downtown is unrecognizable from what it used to be before 2020.

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
June 21, 2024 10:44 pm
Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
June 21, 2024 11:01 pm

Guzman y Gomez.

10 years ago the food was slightly better than the average lunchtime fast food offering. Facsimile Mexican, but a bit of effort made and not horrible.

Now, food technology and budget driven tasteless slop. A million miles from the sharp fresh flavours you might expect from Mexican cooking.

Will it take significant and growing market share from Maccas, Klukkers, and Jakkas? Arguably more likely to die on the factor cost margin, constrained by the inflexibility of the signature Mexican menu.

Rosie
Rosie
June 21, 2024 11:11 pm

I’ve had Mexican from mom and pop Mexican restaurants in odd places in the south and mid west America. Nothing you get here compares.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
June 21, 2024 11:13 pm

KD earlier on the offspring of KKK …

During an appeal hearing on Thursday, the court was played the 12-minute phone call between Mr Moore, the founder of isuepolice.com, and Keneally, who was at the time on duty at Newtown Police Station.

Quite apart from the deviousness and abuse of power, there is the rank stupidity, possibly coupled with a dose of “Mummy Immunity”.
I doubt if Plod records every phone conversation between it’s members and the public.
But one thing is for sure.
If I am talking to a bloke who runs an organisation called isuepolice.com I would be 100% certain he would be recording the conversation at his end.

MatrixTransform
June 21, 2024 11:21 pm

Will it take significant and growing market share from Maccas, Klukkers, and Jakkas?

Dr F

where we live, GyG have taken a site diagonally opposite a Maccas / KFC corner on a fairly substantial intersection

demolition of the old car-wash is complete and construction is underway

when my missus saw the GyG coming soon sign on the site, she didn’t stop talking about it for an hour

I literally have to drive a different route so as not to pass it because if she sees the sign again … my ears will bleed for another hour

the missus will buy GyG over Maccas every time

in fact the missus will drive 10km to the nearest GyG just because she’s hungry (though it is also beside DFO)

Last edited 3 months ago by MatrixTransform
Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
June 21, 2024 11:30 pm

Rosie
 June 21, 2024 11:11 pm

I’ve had Mexican from mom and pop Mexican restaurants in odd places in the south and mid west America. Nothing you get here compares

Quite so.
I remember going to one in Los Angeles way back last century.
This was a “quick Friday lunch”.
After one of the girls from the office announced her engagement and the Mariachi band cut loose, it was apparent no-one was going back to the office. Maybe the atmosphere contributed, but I thought the food was magnificent. Fresh, “jalapeno spicy” (hot but slightly sweet) and plenty of it at a reasonable price.
By comparison, Guzman y Gomez might be classified as homogeneous slop.

Last edited 3 months ago by Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
June 21, 2024 11:47 pm

Anyway, the point wasn’t whether Guzman y Gomez food was slop (it truly is), but whether it was overvalued upon it’s listing on the ASX.
It is, without doubt, the most overcooked stock since Poseidon Nickel hit $280 per share in 1970.

MatrixTransform
June 21, 2024 11:53 pm

By comparison, Guzman y Gomez might be classified as homogeneous slop

correct
It’s just junk food

I’ll happily stop at Maccas, Jakkas or the Dirty Bird (KFC) because I don’t care when it’s 13:30 and I need a nose-bag

but what it isn’t is a zinger burger + diet pepsi
and it isn’t a quarter pounder meal deal either

inside the store GyG is not a pain in the arse line of scowling derros all pecking a touch-screen like so many chickens pecking for a pellet

every single time Ive been to a GyG the joint’s full of normal people.
theyre even staffed by normal people

there’s no derros

GyG have outplayed the usual scumbags at their own game

and i hope they make an absolute motza

Last edited 3 months ago by MatrixTransform
MatrixTransform
June 22, 2024 12:06 am

Anyway, the point wasn’t whether Guzman y Gomez food was slop (it truly is), but whether it was overvalued upon it’s listing on the ASX.

yeah well, its a fast food chain that has enjoyed rapid growth and easy market uptake

catering to the discerning slop-eater appears to be a winning strategy

mind you, it wasn’t a very high bar

KevinM
KevinM
June 22, 2024 1:05 am

Not for me, I’m afraid, looks too claustrophobic
————————————————————-

Calcata (locally Cargata) is a comune and town in the Province of Viterbo in the Italian region Lazio, located 47 kilometres (29 mi) north of Rome by car, overlooking the valley of Treja river.

Calcata borders the following municipalities: Faleria, Magliano Romano, Mazzano Romano, Rignano Flaminio.

In the 1930s, the hill town’s fortified historic centre was condemned by the government for fear that the volcanic cliffs the ancient community was built upon would collapse.

Local residents moved to nearby Calcata Nuova. In the 1960s, the emptied historical centre began to be repopulated by artists and hippies who squatted in its medieval stone and masonry structures.

Many of the squatters eventually purchased their homes, the government reversed its condemnation order, and the residents of what had become an artistic community began restoring the ancient town.
This trend has continued. The town has a thriving artistic community which was described in The New York Times in 2007 as what “may be the grooviest village in Italy, home to a wacky community of about 100 artists, bohemians, aging hippies and New Age types.”

The love of artists for this place, together with the interest of the inhabitants of nearby Rome, who come here to relax on weekends, has made this village one of the most enchanting and culturally vibrant in central Italy.

The historical centre now includes restaurants, cafes, and art galleries.

448050445_122164128782083848_5474253354467617649_n
BobtheBoozer
BobtheBoozer
June 22, 2024 8:07 am

MT:

Catering to the discerning slop-eater appears to be a winning strategy.

Unfortunately, the rest of them have gone via the mass lowest common denominator, which is where the market seems to be, and when the market tighten, the accountants will push the kitchen in that direction.
It all depends who is dominant in the organisation – the cooks or the accountants.
Boeing is the industry example of what happens when the accountants dominate the company, not the engineers.

calli
calli
June 24, 2024 1:00 am

Greetings from the Bay of Naples.

This morning, we were greeted with the “breath” of Vesuvius. That’s some fearful halitosis!

Toddled around Pompeii for a few hours. Can’t help comparing the viewing to 2001 when there was basically no one here. I’m glad the Beloved got to see it, crowds and all.

In 2001, our little group of schoolgirls settled themselves in the bleachers of the amphitheater, our Italian guide stood on the sweet spot and we were treated to Nessun Dorma! And a very good rendition it was!

The Beloved’s blushes were spared…we visited neither the brothel nor the house with the priapus fresco. I’m afraid the girls were quite keen to view both.

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