Top ‘o de ..

Oh never mind.

I lost my Leatherman mini to Perth airport security. They wouldn’t be short of Christmas gifts at the end of the year. Truth be told it was just a glorified letter opener.

We were waiting at Perth airport for our flight to Bali (Jetstar). The inevitable happened, the flight was cancelled and we were ushered (no, “herded” is a better word) back to the check-in area via back doors and passageways. “Pick up your belongings and move — NOW!”

People, including us, all on mobile phones booking new flights.

Back upstairs, through security and … everyone with duty-free booze from the cancelled flight had it confiscated. Not allowed. Verboten. No pleading or threatening helped.

I had, fortunately, run (literally) back to the duty-free upstairs and left mine there, so it was waiting for me. Jetstar gave us all a voucher to compensate us … $25 … specifically excluded from being used to buy alcohol.

The comments which initiated this didn’t come from an oncologist, or even a GP, either.

Yet you omit to mention the credentials of the originator.
Does that count as reframing? or merely Drumgolding?

A week or two ago JC asked, rightly, if it really did sway people’s votes in last year’s federal election.

Of course it did.
The accompanying whispering campaign on Twatter and elsewhere was the left’s equivalent of “red shoe pizza in tunnels”.
A bunch of righteous blue-rinse matrons in Liberal seats unleashed their inner Gloria Steinem and voted Teal on the back of it.
They will resume their Martha Stewart persona at the next election.

I prefer my lawyers to be James, Hamish or Charles.
Perhaps even a Felicity (at a pinch).
I think Bear would agree, it is most unwise to engage a Shane or a Darren on weighty legal matters.
Maybe assisting on the conveyancing of the beach house, or lodging planning for the pool house, but nothing more.

Tom
Aug 3, 2023 2:11 PM
Pokes head out if dark online tunnel: “Is this thing on?”

Tip for dealing with Telstra tech support about computers: avoid it at all costs. Your most valuable document is the vendor’s receipt: if you need a nerd to get you going, go back to the mob who sold you your computer: at least they’re trying to make sales and create happy customers.

Tom, I also found that out the hard way last year. After all my attempts failed I packed up the new laptop and the new printer and drove back to Harvey Norman. Their geek was wonderful, connected everything and got it working. He also gave me detailed instructions what to do when I got home. Finally he said if all else fails connect the two devices with “this” cable. It’s been good ever since.

Wodney

That hurtful comment was directed to me, you angry pillock.

Go take your viagra as the ladyboy is waiting for some attention.

Who is “Wodney”?

I prefer my lawyers to be James, Hamish or Charles.

Frothingham and Marmaduke get a lot of respect too.

Latest – Reynolds suing Higgins. Good. Slog it out in court.

Vivek is a good man. Now we wait and watch the establishment go after him. Purchase a ticket and jump on board. Enjoy the ride.

All the c-bombs will expose themselves.

Vivek DEFENDS Trump, TORCHES ‘Third-World Indictment’

What a treasure trove of information there is available for free in the August Online Edition of Quadrant, the on about The Voice.

I agree, Ozzie. In fact, Quadrant has been at the forefront from the beginning of the debate about the Voice. Indeed, contributors such as Keith Windshuttle have been correcting the lack of historical accuracy from the likes of Henry Reynolds and others for years.

That should have been “Lizzie”!!!

And for Jerk Off Cretin and other cronies, some more Armstrong –

WEF Study–‘My Carbon’: An approach for inclusive and sustainable cities

‘My Carbon’: An approach for inclusive and sustainable cities was released in September 2022, and you were part of the test group. The WEF-funded “research” states cities account for 75% of all carbon emissions. As countless governments abandoned their morality to the Great Reset, cities are on track to reduce emissions by nearly half in the coming years. They even want to limit our personal carbon allowance, assisted by digital IDs and credit scores. Most notable in this paper is that COVID was merely a ploy to test how well the masses would comply.

They found three major developments:

COVID-19 was the test of social responsibility – A huge number of unimaginable restrictions for public health were adopted by billions of citizens across the world. There were numerous examples globally of maintaining social distancing, wearing masks, mass vaccinations and acceptance of contact-tracing applications for public health, which demonstrated the core of individual social responsibility.
Fourth Industrial Revolution technology breakthroughs – Advances in emerging technologies like AI, blockchain and digitization can enable tracking personal carbon emissions, raise awareness and also provide individual advisories on lower carbon and ethical choices for consumption of product and services. The World Economic Forum’s Scale 360 initiative demonstrates the use of fourth industrial revolution technologies across the whole life cycle of products and services.
There have been major advances in smart home technologies, transport choices with carbon implications, the roll-out of smart meters in providing individual choices to reduce their energy-related emissions, the development of new personalized apps to account for personal emissions, and better personal choices for food and consumption-related emissions. AI can also help strengthen circular economy business models like product as a service models, demand predictions, and smart asset management by combining real time and historical data from products and users.

There is a significant number of programs and applications enabling citizens to contribute towards carbon emissions by providing them in-depth awareness on the choices of personal carbon for food, transport, home energy and lifestyle choices.

These energy efficiency apps give suggestions and statistics regarding greenhouse emissions and offer ways to reduce your personal footprint. Keeping track of energy consumption in the home and motivating people to make lifestyle changes and to contribute your share towards the betterment of the environment.

Raised awareness and ownership for nature and environment – In the last few years, there is an increased awareness and public concern on climate change and specially among youth. The UNDP’s “Peoples’ Climate Vote” reflects that over 64% of people believe climate change is a global emergency. A new Pew Research Center survey in 17 advanced economies found widespread concern about the personal impact of global climate change: 80% of citizens say they are willing to change how they live and work to combat the effects of climate change. Young adults, who have been at the forefront of some of the most prominent climate change protests in recent years, are more concerned than their older counterparts about the personal impact of a warming planet in many public surveys.

The first point mentions that they implemented “a huge number of unimaginable restrictions for public health” and billions of citizens across the world blindly followed their guidance. There could have been a mass outcry or revolution, but the people stayed inside and followed instructions obediently.

The second point shows that a portion of the population is now on-board with the green agenda. People have downloaded apps to track their personal energy consumption, and going back to point one, feel a sense of personal responsibility. We saw numerous countries adopt digital IDs during COVID that restricted the movement of the people.

The third step notes that there is a raised awareness, and additional personal responsibility, for the state of the environment. At the time of the publication, a Pew Research Center poll of 17 advanced economies found that 80% of citizens wanted to change how they live and work to fight the effects of weather patterns. As Nicole Schwab stated in her leaked 2020 interview, the youth are at the forefront of this movement, creating climate change protests throughout the world.

So this all breaks down into changing global economic behavior, cognitive awareness, and social norms. We see with the ESG scores that companies are punished for refusing to comply with the green agenda. The study states there are “incentives to reduce demand and improve efficiency,” but all we have seen are punishments. High gas costs, a loss of energy independence, banning gas and coal-powered items. Cognitive awareness is simply a way of saying brainwashing. They want the masses to believe that everything they do creates a carbon footprint that will certainly ruin the entire planet and cause a mass extinction. “They” fly on private jets throughout the week to discuss how the peasants can become a net-zero-carbon society.

Societal norms, the third noted trend, have allowed the Build Back Better crowd to determine what are considered acceptable levels of emissions. The masses want to obey, so those in power are slowly changing what is normal. Coal or wood-fired ovens? Selfish and harmful to society. Personal vehicles? You’re basically a climate war criminal!

None of the policies they wish to implement are normal. Resistance is NOT FUTILE. I, for one, will never be locked down again. I will not comply to climate lockdowns. I will not abandon my ability to move freely in society. I will not allow myself to be brainwashed to accept personal responsibility for naturally occurring cyclical weather patterns. They may have taken advantage of us during COVID, but hopefully, more people are waking up and seeing the truth – rules for thee, not for me.”

https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/international-news/great-reset/wef-study-my-carbon-an-approach-for-inclusive-and-sustainable-cities/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=RSS

I have an issue with Smirnoff’s comment about Drambuie leaning on the junior to lie. I’m certain he did, and I have no doubts about it. He is, however, giving this so-called junior lawyer a free ride.

She’s a friggin qualified Australian lawyer, for God’s sake, and so understands the ethics and so on. She might have chosen different paths to avoid assisting Drambuie with the deception, and she now gets out on the cheap since she was a junior. As in, WTF?

For lying, she should be caned as hard as Drambuie. Life is difficult, and being a lawyer, whether junior or senior, may be difficult at times.

“Tip for dealing with Telstra tech support about computers: avoid it at all costs.”

Fixed.
They are no better at the commercial level either – I have the misfortune to have to deal with them, fortunately at infrequent intervals.
I refuse to use Telstra for my own personal stuff – iinet for NBN (who have the best support bar none), and Optus for mobile (haven’t had to use tech support for that yet).

Salvatore, Iron Publican
Aug 3, 2023 3:01 PM
Who is “Wodney”?

Jerk Off Cretin’s Nemesis.

chrisl
Aug 3, 2023 3:56 PM
The Andrews government has cancelled train line upgrades / new stations / electrification in Melbourne’s outer west . The solemn promise was made in 2018. The area is filled/ filling with recent arrivals who can’t wait to get a 300m2 piece of Basaltic clay and put a 250m2 house on it .
The following statement was released

Andrews Spin department (60 strong) five stars
Newly arrived : The concrete and the clay. Beneath my feet begins to crumble

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

LOL.

Information denial used to validate report on commandos
Jack GramenzAAP
Thu, 3 August 2023 1:23PM

An ABC journalist says he reported a platoon of Australian commandos was under investigation for its conduct in Afghanistan because his interpretation of a freedom of information request’s rejection made it more probable than not.

ABC Investigations journalist Josh Robertson told the Federal Court on Thursday the request for documents, rejected to avoid prejudicing a potential investigation, effectively confirmed an investigation was underway.

Robertson said he considered other possibilities aside from a criminal investigation.

“It seemed overwhelmingly more probable that my interpretation was correct,” he said.

Ex-commando Heston Russell is suing the national broadcaster over two articles in October 2020 and November 2021 claiming commandos from the November platoon he led executed an unarmed prisoner in Afghanistan in mid-2012 because there was no room on a helicopter.

As platoon leader, Mr Russell was identified. He denies the allegations and is suing for damages saying his feelings were hurt and his reputation ruined.

The ABC has argued public interest after the Federal Court ruled the articles contained defamatory statements and threw out a truth defence.

Robertson’s name appears alone on the November 2021 article, based on a draft by Mark Willacy and excerpting large portions from his earlier report in October 2020.

Robertson said it was not unusual for him to take the story when the freedom of information (FOI) response came while Willacy was off, and their boss Jo Puccini “flagged that she’d like the story done today”.

Puccini had been contacted by investigators seeking a “highlight reel” of Australian commandos in Afghanistan, and Willacy said investigators were asking him questions too, Robertson said, bolstering his belief.

Willacy suggested Robertson contact Mr Russell, which he also discussed with Puccini.

“Heston Russell had made very clear, very publicly and repeatedly that he was speaking up for his platoon,” Robertson said.

“more probable than not.” For chuck’s steak….

GreyRanga Aug 3, 2023 3:44 PM
Mould doesn’t grow in winter. Here in the Shoalhaven when the humidity is high it sure does.

Results may vary for geographic locations with rain, damp, proximity to the ocean, humidity, where winter is sufficiently cold for any damp to form, or other factors conducive to the forming of mould. 🙂

Lots of young people in the Job get set up. It happens all the time.

1. Old Geezer to young Apprentice. Nip down the shop and get a tin of stripped paint.

2 Old Geezer to young Apprentice. Nip down to the shop and get a left handed screwdriver.

3. Young Apprentice to Old Geezer. Fark off I’ve had ‘enuf of this shite. LOL.

How on earth someone who was unable to read a contour map could become a Captain in the Army is a mystery.

Please.
Respect the Gold Braid.

Johnny Rotten Aug 3, 2023 4:32 PM
Lots of young people in the Job get set up. It happens all the time.

Early days on the job in Canada the boss asked me to hand him a screwdriver from the toolbox.
“Blade or Philipshead?” was the natural response.
“Robertson” came the answer.

I thought I was being set up & conducted myself accordingly – boss was not best pleased. It transpired that Canada has a third system of screw notches.

Johnny Rotten
Aug 3, 2023 4:32 PM

Lots of young people in the Job get set up. It happens all the time.

As a young apprentice I had to spend time in the store – opportunity to learn and give the storeman a break.

One guy had me searching high and low for a “long weight”.

How they laughed!

How on earth someone who was unable to read a contour map could become a Captain in the Army is a mystery.

Agreed.
Though more alarming is that a hothouse petunia such as that crybaby Wilkie became a Lieutenant-Colonel in the army, commanding not a briefcase & desk, but a rifle battalion.

Captains who can’t read maps at least have access to Sergeants & Corporals who can find their way.

Though more alarming is that a hothouse petunia such as that crybaby Wilkie became a Lieutenant-Colonel in the army, commanding not a briefcase & desk, but a rifle battalion.

None of the old hands in that battalion remember him with any respect or affection.

Blacklisted Chinese Military Manufacturer Acquired U.S. Stealth Technology, CFIUS Approval Through Relationship With Hunter and Joe Biden

JC at 3:35 PM – law is complicated. Getting an LLB still means you know next to nothing. Youre probably more dangerous than the man in the street. As a junior lawyer telling your KC boss how to suck eggs would be a career limiting decision.

Channel 9:

…the leaker of the Sofronoff Inquiry Report is believed to be Walter Sofronoff KC himself as the former judge was allegedly concerned that the ACT Govt was suppressing his report’s findings

Re the junior lawyer thing. The fact that a more senior lawyer was asked to do the same thing and refused invites an adverse inference.

You suspect Humpy and Sir Arnold wouldn’t regard Sofronoff as sound.

” my wretched Miele clothes dryer. Just had a technician in to have a go at a problem. There’s a major design flaw in the thing”
SNAP!

I griped about this a few threads ago. Miele are not tops, despite their OTT price tag.

Solid, made in Germany Bosch is the new kid on the block.

I couldn’t get on the blog for three hours and when I finally I find it stripped back to basics. I suppose something is better than nothing.

ABC journalist wrote ‘sloppy’ report on Heston Russell, court hears
By ellie dudley
Legal Affairs Correspondent
@EllieDudley_
5:58PM August 3, 2023

A senior ABC journalist has rejected a suggestion his reporting was “sloppy” and he “cobbled together” a denial for an article that falsely suggested former commando Heston Russell was involved in the unjust killing of an Afghan prisoner.

The Federal Court on Thursday witnessed a fiery exchange between Josh Robertson and Mr Russell’s barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC, who suggested the ABC Investigations reporter failed to conduct due diligence when seeking a response him.

Mr Russell is suing the ABC, Robertson and fellow journalist Mark Willacy over two articles that, he says, through the use of links and his photograph implied he was complicit in the execution of a prisoner captured during a joint drug enforcement operation ­between Australia and the US.
Read Next

Ms Chrysanthou accused Robertson of failing to seek out a proper denial from Mr Russell when writing an article in Nov­ember 2021, which the court heard was a follow-up to an earlier story penned by Willacy in October 2020.

Robertson’s story evolved from a denial of a Freedom of Information application to Defence, which said there was an active investigation into the conduct of Mr Russell’s November platoon in Afghanistan in mid-2012.

When Robertson called Mr Russell prior to publication of his article, the latter said he was willing to conduct a “live, unedited” interview, as well as answer basic questions about the alleged investigation. At this time, Mr Russell had already spoken to other media outlets denying the allegations detailed in Willacy’s original article.

The court heard Robertson instead “cobbled together” a denial from Mr Russell rather than asking him directly in the call.

“(Mr Russell’s) complaint is you are sloppy, Mr Robertson,” Ms Chrysanthou said.

“His complaint is you got it wrong. His complaint is you didn’t bother to ask him and instead in a very underhanded, sneaky way, tried to cobble together a denial. Instead of just asking him when you rang him on the phone. Do you understand some of the lists of his complaints now?”

Robertson responded: “I understood the list of his complaints previously, Ms Chrysanthou, and I don’t agree with them.”

Ms Chrysanthou continued. “His complaint is that you have together with Mr Willacy and Ms (Jo) Puccini (head of ABC Investigations) and the ABC concocted a story that is not news, that is not in the public interest to defame him and his position.”

Robertson responded: “I think it’s a very self-serving interpretation and wrong.”

Robertson was listed as the sole author of the November 2021 article, despite Willacy having received the FOI response and drafted the first version of the copy.

Bear at 8:01.
Quite so.
Although I probably need a bit of clarification around “more junior”.
If aged 30, and maybe running minor prosecutions or assisting … well should of known better.
If aged 22, and first year out, kind of forgivable.
If the kid is half smart they will have already realised they screwed up.

Incidentally I wouldn’t say giving copies to the media under embargo ‘leaking’.
The public have a right to know, right?

I stand with JC. Coffee shop waitresses are allowed small mistakes, as they’re not expected to know any better.

Lawyers are supposed to know better. They’ve done years of study, culminating in being admitted to the bar & obtaining a Certificate to Practise – allowing them to hang a shingle & charge real money for their … [drumroll] … advice.

For that advice to mean anything, it must be mistake-free.

The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/03/shane-drumgold-did-not-see-sofronoff-inquiry-findings-before-media-leak
‘Australian Federal Police Association is also calling for immediate release of report, saying there is no point in ‘hiding or sugarcoating’ findings’

Damn good fun. I want to dance with all the Cat ladies.

Bee Gees – Night Fever (Moreno J Remix)

Hope Downs trial: Family emails reveal John Rinehart’s ‘happily ever after’ wish

Tim Clarke
The West Australian
Thu, 3 August 2023 5:08PM

More private emails sent within the House of Hancock have been revealed in court — with the son of Gina Rinehart at one point wishing the clan could “live happily ever after”.

The trial pitting two of Australia’s richest people — Mrs Rinehart and billionaire mining heiress Angela Bennett — has continued this week, with the vast resources and royalties buried within the Hope Downs iron ore project at stake.

Mrs Bennett’s Wright Prospecting company is claiming they are owed royalties from Hope Downs because of an agreement struck between company founder Peter Wright and mining pioneer Lang Hancock.

But also laying claim are Mrs Rinehart’s children — John and Bianca — and another company, DFD Rhodes.

Lawyers for the latter have spent the week opening their case which asserts that they are entitled to 1.25 per cent of the royalties from Hope Downs, which would add up to hundreds of millions of dollars.

And during those openings, they have opened the previously private inboxes of Mrs Rinehart and her children, exposing the sometimes bitter family infighting.

On Thursday, more letters and emails, sent between 2005 and 2007 to and from Mrs Rinehart and her children, were read out.

In one, John claims that his allegations against his mother are “simple”.

In fact, they are said to involve the complex movement of shares and assets between various companies and trusts by Mrs Rinehart — which are said to have deprived her children of a significant slice of the Hancock fortune.

In another correspondence read to the court — following Mrs Rinehart’s bitter court battle with her late father’s third wife Rose Porteous — John claimed some of the credit.

“I hope you will remember the effort I put in also, especially in turning the tide and the media, against the Porteous camp.”

By 2004, Mr Hancock had emailed his three sisters advising them he was working on the legal case to have their mother removed as trustee and reclaim the “assets my grandfather (Lang Hancock) wanted to leave his grandchildren”.

He later told his youngest sister Ginia Rinehart, who was a teenager at the time, that their mother had “stolen 33 per cent of the family company from us children”.

“She has breached her fiduciary duties to the detriment of the beneficiaries and enriched herself.

“Further she has removed tenements, including Hope Downs, from companies the children control.”

And in 2005 Mr Hancock threatened to go to Mrs Bennett — one of his pioneer grandfather’s former business partner Peter Wright’s children — to help with his litigation funding.

But in late 2006 — during an apparent outbreak of peace between mother and son — he writes to her proposing a way forward between them, which would include him doing some training and taking a salary.

“Everyone then lives happily ever after and I work hard helping to drive the company to reach its goals,” lawyer Simon Taylor recited.

That entente cordiale did not last, with the children having spent the last ten years battling their mother over what they claim is fraud.

And DFD Rhodes concluded their opening remarks by saying the slew of emails showed that for years John and Bianca were happy with the proposed joint Hope Downs venture between Hancock and Rio Tinto.

Emails revealed earlier in the week show John was keen not to hamper the proposed joint venture.

“‘I’ve taken steps to ensure the Rio deal is not jeopardised, I’ve consented to the Supreme Court proceedings being held in secret in Canberra to ensure there is no publicity that might jeopardise the banks or Rio in their dealings with Hope Downs’,” he wrote.

That email eventually found its way to his mother via his sister Bianca.

“I’ll have to wait for idiot John to reply to her before I can see if she sent anything else, I’ll keep checking,” she added.

Now Bianca and John are co-claimants — asserting they should be given some ownership of Hope Downs.

Barristers for Hancock Prospecting will next week make their opening remarks, laying out their case against all the claims made — by Wright, DFD Rhodes, and the children.

The trial is scheduled to run until November this year.

Reading an account of the Battle of the River Plate, 13th December 1939.

Shells from the German pocket battleship Graf Spee knocked out B turret of HMS Exeter, killing or wounding the whole crew of fifteen men. Royal Marine Wilfred Russell had his left arm blown off, and his right arm badly broken in two places.

Despite his horrific wounds, Russell dragged the wounded survivors of “B’ turret to safety below decks. Spotting a midshipman on the shrapnel and splinter strewn deck, he asked “I wonder if you could tourniquet my arm, sir.. Don’t worry about the other one – it’s gone!”

They bred them TOUGH in the Royal Marines!

Check all of ACT DPP Shane Drumgold cases, urge legal experts

EXCLUSIVE
By janet albrechtsen
Columnist
@jkalbrechtsen
and stephen rice
NSW Editor
@riceyontheroad
8:43PM August 3, 2023

The ACT government is under pressure to conduct an inquiry into previous criminal cases prosecuted by Director of Public ­Prosecutions Shane Drumgold, following damning findings by the Sofronoff Inquiry that he knowingly lied to the Supreme Court and engaged in serious malpractice and grossly unethical conduct.

Several senior barristers and retired judges said it was incumbent upon the government to scrutinise Mr Drumgold’s past prosecutions in light of the ­findings by inquiry chair Walter Sofronoff KC that the DPP had lost objectivity during the ­prosecution of Bruce Lehrmann for the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins and “did not act with fairness and detachment as was ­required by his role”.

Former NSW Supreme Court judge Anthony Whealy KC said a review of past cases involving Mr Drumgold was necessary and that the case was a stark reminder that prosecutors had to be balanced and impartial.
Read Next

“They have to uphold the standards of prosecutorial action on the one hand, and not discard them to get a win at all costs, which is what’s gone wrong here,” Mr Whealy said.

Mr Sofronoff’s findings were revealed by The Australian on Wednesday night but the ACT government has refused to release the 600-page report, which it was handed on Monday, until early next week.

The government had earlier said it would not release the report until the end of August but backflipped on Thursday following publication of the findings in The Australian.

Cash and Steve, Eric and Rowdy. ( :

Cash 2.0 Great Dane on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills 37

Proud Celtic/Saxon/Norman Man
42 minutes ago
(Edited)
The oceans surrounding Australia are traditional Indigenous oceans. Will the subs need a heritage assessment before submerging?