Open Thread – Tues 29 Aug 2023


The Destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum. John Martin, 1822

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Black Ball
Black Ball
September 1, 2023 7:52 pm

Professor Bunyip on the Walkleys. A fine reminder of his talents

Siltstone
Siltstone
September 1, 2023 7:54 pm

BB
I am searching for a reason to think the demise of the Walkley awards might be a bad thing. Without success. Own goal? A bunch of lefties without a bauble paid for with OPM.

Indolent
Indolent
September 1, 2023 7:55 pm

Why has this significant element of the 6th Jan story fizzled?

\
Because it’s always a question of who, not what. If they do something horrendous there’s a total media blackout and it simply disappears from view. If someone tries to stand up to them then the media descends on them like a swarm of locusts, together with the entire “justice” system.

Roger
Roger
September 1, 2023 7:57 pm

Further to the QANTAS shenanigans…

I’ve been privately informed today of two more wage theft cases in the works.

Both involving low paid workers.

Has the ethics of Australian business ever been at such a low ebb?

No wonder there’s so much virtue signaling going on.

calli
calli
September 1, 2023 7:58 pm

Ahahaha! Thanks BB! All those names, some…very familiar indeed. I was always too shy to comment at the billabong.

Razey
Razey
September 1, 2023 8:01 pm

Mate lives in Corio, Geelong. Being stung $12,500 in land tax for the second property

Your mates place must be worth $2mill

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 1, 2023 8:01 pm

I am searching for a reason to think the demise of the Walkley awards might be a bad thing.

Walkleys and Pulitzers are lefties giving each other prizes. So if lefties are boycotting their own awards it is gloriously incestuous own goal stuff.

P
P
September 1, 2023 8:02 pm

Thanks BB! All those names, some…very familiar indeed.

Indeed.

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
September 1, 2023 8:03 pm
Roger
Roger
September 1, 2023 8:04 pm

I am searching for a reason to think the demise of the Walkley awards might be a bad thing.

99.999% of Australians have never heard of the Walkleys.

Lee
Lee
September 1, 2023 8:06 pm

Being “squeaky clean” didn’t help Abbott, everyday from his election in 2013 the MSM went after him, smearing, mocking, denigrating and ridiculing him. No, the problem is that the MSM are partisan and they don’t even try to hide their bias anymore, be it here, the UK or the USA.

I agree.

Some people lecture that centre-right politicians have to be absolutely squeaky clean, because …. while saying nothing about the most corrupt and incompetent president in U.S. history currently residing in the White House.

miltonf
miltonf
September 1, 2023 8:07 pm

Insufferable tossers.

yes they are genuinely horrible people- would anyone want to invite Laura Tingle or Laurie Oakes to their home for a meal? Which one was the drunk driver?

Rockdoctor
Rockdoctor
September 1, 2023 8:08 pm

Not supporting the red roo, had plenty of crap experiences during COVID.

Dunno if QATAS had bowed to unions like Colesworths did to the SDA then maybe their problems would have been so great. See below for Woolie’s latest profit venture yet the ACC does squat:

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/woolworths-stores-ditching-plastic-fruit-and-vegetable-bags/news-story/0c122be8dedad152040701db01982d86

This country has a problem with crony capitalists.

miltonf
miltonf
September 1, 2023 8:08 pm

Some people lecture that centre-right politicians have to be absolutely squeaky clean

yes but you don’t have a corrupt, partisan meja to cover for you.

Colonel Crispin Berka
Colonel Crispin Berka
September 1, 2023 8:15 pm

Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed to reporters in Europe that she is suffering from “health issues,” fueling speculation about her political future.

Interviews for UN job taking longer than expected.

Siltstone
Siltstone
September 1, 2023 8:17 pm

Past Walkley award winners must hand back the awards, publicly apologize for their errant attitudes, attend truth telling sessions in a re-education centre, and make reparations. And never buy petrol again, from anyone.

calli
calli
September 1, 2023 8:19 pm

In other news…I have to smile at the footy coverage tonight. Rabbitohs vs Roosters.

The Roosters are game…a huge KFC bucket is emblazoned on the grass.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…

miltonf
miltonf
September 1, 2023 8:20 pm

The meja sure did a good job of keeping Hawke’s butler a secret but surly the lieborals would have known anyway.

Roger
Roger
September 1, 2023 8:20 pm

Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed to reporters in Europe that she is suffering from “health issues,”

As reported earlier today, the union movement in QLD is refusing to endorse her for 2024.

Muddy
Muddy
September 1, 2023 8:23 pm

The elite don’t want the riff-raff to DO what they do.
They are not trying to set an example.
If everyone acted like the elite, the riff-raff might be mistaken for the latter! (Talk about devaluing social status. Imagine someone thinking you were a riff-lite?).

No, the elite want the riff-raff to do what they SAY.
They are prescribing the behaviour they expect of SUBORDINATES.
Hypocrisy is irrelevant.
Hypocrisy applies ONLY to a utopian ‘flat hierarchy.’
People need to know their place, and be regularly reminded of their place.

Black Ball
Black Ball
September 1, 2023 8:26 pm

What struck me was that none seemed to know that the Walkleys were initiated by the Ampol founder.
Which sort of flies in the face of what they are about, on the Walkley Awards website:

The Walkley Awards exist to recognise “creative and courageous acts of journalism that seek out the truth and give new insight to an issue”. They reward excellence, independence, innovation and originality in storytelling and distinctive reporting. This can be through research and investigations, well-crafted and innovative presentations, news-breaking single stories and engaging, entertaining and/or informative reporting.

Stifle your laughter.

P
P
September 1, 2023 8:32 pm

Twitter Updates Privacy Policy Notifying Users Their Content Will Be Used to Train and Develop Enhanced AI
September 1, 2023 | Sundance

The internet in China is not the same as the internet in Europe, which is not the same as the internet in Australia, which is not the same as the internet in North America, which is not the same -at all- as the internet that now exists within Russia. Even in some continents, the internet traffic flows are controlled at different levels within each nation. The “world wide web” is a format, but when you get down to the national level, things change.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 1, 2023 8:36 pm

The Roosters are game…a huge KFC bucket is emblazoned on the grass.

Fried chicken, yum!

Stewed rabbit isn’t bad either.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 1, 2023 8:38 pm

I’m in my local bottleshop, stocking up on good quality single malt – Abelour, to be precise.

I get an earful from a tattooed swampy about how I can be spending so much money on drink, while she’s struggling to bring up her kids as a single mum. All I could think of was “Not bad for someone who never had a new pair of shoes, until the military gave me a pair at 19.”

It’s the third time in seven years – why should I have to put up with this nonsense?

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 1, 2023 8:43 pm

What was the swampy buying? Fruity Lexia?

johanna
johanna
September 1, 2023 8:48 pm

Hot? In Canberra?

The December average Canberra max is 26 degrees. 29 in January, 28 in February.

What heat?

Exactly. What heat, indeed.

Dunno where those numbers come from, but January is the hottest month in Canberra, just as July is the coldest.

35C days are not uncommon, and it hits 38-40C in a hot summer. During the bushfires a few years ago, it was non stop hot westerlies for weeks.

It’s dry heat (thankfully) but rest assured, it gets very toasty indeed in this part of the world. Having lived here off and on since the 1970s, I know of what I speak.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 1, 2023 8:50 pm

What was the swampy buying? Fruity Lexia?

The bloke she was with was buying a carton of bourbon and cola. I didn’t catch the price.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
September 1, 2023 8:52 pm

I have to tell you BB I’m going to the Wankley’s either. Sorry to disappoint, I’m too ashamed to be seen with all those inexorable writers of sactimonious woke garbage.

Bluey
Bluey
September 1, 2023 8:58 pm

Razey
Sep 1, 2023 8:01 PM
Mate lives in Corio, Geelong. Being stung $12,500 in land tax for the second property

Your mates place must be worth $2mill

The first place he bought he reckons the council values at $750K now, so I can believe it. Huge blocks in a “prime” area, so long as you ignore the drug dealers, bikeies, etc. etc. that come with Corio.

Jorge
Jorge
September 1, 2023 9:00 pm

Wonder if there is more to the Matt Bach resignation in Vic.

Getting sued with the rest of the leadership might be a factor.

Or is it like Costello faced with Rudd, better things to do with your life than spend it in Opposition. You know, like actually fight.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
September 1, 2023 9:02 pm

Calli wins todays internet stakes with Stan Le Tan. Just as well I was not on my PC otherwise Malt all over the keyboard.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 1, 2023 9:06 pm

Calli wins todays internet stakes with Stan Le Tan. Just as well I was not on my PC otherwise Malt all over the keyboard.

There was a long piece on the ABC about how Stan was the only Aboriginal in his class at school, and how he was the only student who had his lunchbox inspected to see he had a proper meal, and how he was the only child in the class who had his hair inspected for lice….

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
September 1, 2023 9:09 pm

Outer western suburbs of Sydney in 1955 and 1956 were road tar melting times.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
September 1, 2023 9:10 pm

There were also floods. Normal stuff.

Siltstone
Siltstone
September 1, 2023 9:13 pm

So Anastasia the Chook, is “plucked”. Few will miss the broiler. Of course, one must be careful about what one wishes for. Cheer up, things could be worse. So I cheered up and sure enough things got worse.

Wally Dali
Wally Dali
September 1, 2023 9:13 pm

Zulu, you’ve got to find a better bottle-o. A store which is aloof- or indifferent- enough to tolerate one customer sniping at another does not deserve your custom.

Muddy
Muddy
September 1, 2023 9:14 pm

For hardcore military history nerds.
I think someone recently(ish) mentioned the book “The English Cartridge” by Brett Gibbons. I’ve just stumbled on his youboob site: Paper Cartridges.

While his presentation style is not overly engaging for this type of media, the information he provides is fascinating.

Rosie
Rosie
September 1, 2023 9:16 pm

I’m agreeing with Sancho regarding the hotness of Tokyo.
Someone recommended a drink called Pocari Sweat so we’re drinking that.
We went to a asakasi? where there is a temple and a group of tourist trap shops, lots of young people including anglos wearing traditional Japanese costumes.
On the train there my sister struck up conversation with a dad taking his little boy to school after she shifted over to let them sit together.
He was a lower house federal
mp with the LDP? a Labor type party, he had something to do with foreign affairs, mentioned krudd.
We looked him up after he got off the train. Was fair dinkum. So there you go, some politicians don’t just do public transport to pose for photos.
After that back to the park we’d walked around the night before, turns out the hedge was actually a sea of giant water lilies, now mostly gone to seed.
A breeze, a spot in the shade and it was very pleasant.

Roger
Roger
September 1, 2023 9:17 pm

Outer western suburbs of Sydney in 1955 and 1956 were road tar melting times.

There were also floods. Normal stuff.

Poor, ignorant souls… you didn’t realise the Walkleys were killing you.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 1, 2023 9:25 pm

calli

Sep 1, 2023 7:14 PM

If you visit Senso-ji shrine, duck over to Kappabashi Kitchenware Town.

Buy a plate of ultra realistic plastic sushi. You know you want to.

Seriously though, it’s full of interesting ceramics, knives and other cool stuff. Mrs. Panzer might like the place.

Went there this arvo.
Let’s say it’s a pretty eclectic shopping strip.
A bunch of shops selling demonstration plastic plates of sushi, sushimi, hamburgers, noodles, whatever.
Some selling really basic restaurant supplies … chopsticks, basic cutlery and glassware, table reserved signs, the lot.
Then some really high end glassware, ceramics and, of course, knives.
One shop had a tuna knife on display, which had a blade about 750 mm long.
I didn’t think I would have a need for it.

Wally Dali
Wally Dali
September 1, 2023 9:34 pm

Well, you have to buy a tuna to match, Sancho-san.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 1, 2023 9:37 pm

A store which is aloof- or indifferent- enough to tolerate one customer sniping at another does not deserve your custom.

I think I will be – if I choose to spend good money on quality Scotch, I don’t need the opinions of the great unwashed.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 1, 2023 9:43 pm

Rosie

Sep 1, 2023 9:16 PM

I’m agreeing with Sancho regarding the hotness of Tokyo.
Someone recommended a drink called Pocari Sweat so we’re drinking that.

I got a bottle of that from a vending machine. It contains more that H2O and CO2. Not sure what.

We went to a asakasi? where there is a temple and a group of tourist trap shops, lots of young people including anglos wearing traditional Japanese costumes

Asakusa?
That is where we are.
Yes, the temple is worth a visit, but the surrounding shops, not so much.
Westerners doing dress up is a bit try-hard.
But that is not far from Kitchen Street.
The gardens in Ueno had the lake completely covered in monster water lillies, but probably not the only one.
There are a lot of gardens.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 1, 2023 9:45 pm

Wally Dali

Sep 1, 2023 9:34 PM

Well, you have to buy a tuna to match, Sancho-san.

I struggle to peel an apple.
Not sure you’d want to leave me in a room with $20,000 worth of tuna and a samurai sword.

feelthebern
feelthebern
September 1, 2023 10:07 pm

Bunnies were 1st just before the half way point of the season.
Now miss finals.
Roosters were 14th six weeks ago, fight back to make the finals (as long as the Panthers don’t throw the game tomorrow).
What a season.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 1, 2023 10:09 pm

“Slianti ” to all you mob. A couple of large Abelours, and my bed is calling!

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 1, 2023 11:01 pm

.Testink.

H B Bear
H B Bear
September 1, 2023 11:20 pm

Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed to reporters in Europe that she is suffering from “health issues,”

Forget duck hunting, it’s Chook season.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
September 1, 2023 11:24 pm

Goodness, BB. A piece of Bunyipitude circa 2011. Takes me back to earlier days there, and on this august blogue too, in its earlier iteration.

What goes round comes around, as they say, as the ether of the internet, still playing in small corners of the cyber universe, comes down at a keystroke to sabotage time.

billie
billie
September 1, 2023 11:47 pm

Inspirational woman?

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

pete of perth
pete of perth
September 1, 2023 11:59 pm

Today, white water rafting pass the place where the Bridge over the river Kwai was built/ filmed. Set long gong but down stream a Hydroelectric Power Station huming away. Enjoyed it. No nanny state paperwork. At the end was supposed to get a lift back to base on a flatbed truck, myself in the back with the rafts. Missus in the cabin. However truck wouldn’t start so three of us jumped in a tuk tuk to get back. A bit hairy on the narrow steep roads sharing with trucks a bicycles. We should go Sri Lanken on our morons in parliament.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
September 2, 2023 12:07 am

Today I received a sudden invitation to lunch for twelve. Get over here pronto, she said. Making up the final number most likely. Delighted to come, I say, with a gracious acceptance. Glad it’s come as you are, I enthuse, because I went as I was, not dressed for the occasion at all as I was quite a way from home in very basic rags. Seriously underdressed for a group of the wives of property developers and wealthy builders.

I negotiated the perilous descent to a cliffside property hovering above a notable beach, built for the views, with a blustery day keeping us inside. At one time the topic of newsworthy events turned to the now famous mushroom hostess and her lethal lunch, a brave conversation indeed given our fancy fare, eliciting hoots of laughter. Most opined this lady guilty but I stood up for the innocent until proven otherwise position. Our hostess, with her beef and mushroom lasagne, valiantly chimed in her support for reasonable doubt, citing the ways in which dealing with mushrooms could be difficult, and stating that she had put her faith in Fratelli Fresh.

I did wonder to myself whether it may not have been too early to mention mushrooms. Rather as a stand-up comic we saw in New York in 2002 opined that maybe he shouldn’t have told that joke about 9/11 yet.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
September 2, 2023 12:25 am

Pocari Sweat. Straight from the vending machines. Memories of Japan.

Our kids took one look at the name and refused to drink it.

Rosie
Rosie
September 2, 2023 7:31 am

Yes that was the garden Sancho.
We are staying in Akasaka.
Going to train to lakes today and get the view of Mt Fuji.
No point in looking at kitchen stuff, I’ll want to buy something and then will have to lug it with me.
Did have a walk through Don Quijote out of the heat. Will buy lame tax free there on way home.

shatterzzz
September 2, 2023 7:32 am

Luigi channelling his “inner” Bob .. LOL!
https://ibb.co/h7CJg1Q

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  1. This is the WSJ but not paywalled. Also not what you’d expect.Decline and Fall of America? Not Yet Trump appears…

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