red750

BREAKING: SWAMP KING —Trump just mandated loyalty tests for federal employees to keep their jobs! In a move straight out of a banana republic, the Trump administration has just turned federal performance reviews into a loyalty oath — not to the government, not to the Constitution, but to HIM! According to a bombshell HuffPost report, tens of thousands of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employees will now be judged on whether they “clearly and demonstrably support implementation” of Donald Trump’s policies. Yes, it’s come to this. Career public servants — scientists, doctors, analysts, and inspectors general — are now being told that their jobs depend not on doing good work for the American people, but on pledging allegiance to Trump’s agenda. This is not parody. It’s policy. The new HHS directive literally lists “Faithful Support of the President’s Policies” as the most critical element of an employee’s annual review. Workers are being told they must “advance the President’s specific policy agenda” — or risk being fired. Given that Health and Human Services Secretary and DOGE have already decimated the ranks of the department, the agency can’t really afford to lose more personnel. And with so many workers idled by the government shutdown, job insecurity among federal workers is already at an all-time high. One HHS employee told HuffPost: “So basically, we swear we’re going to follow Trump’s policies, which is ridiculous.” Ridiculous — and dangerous. Federal workers are supposed to serve the law and the Constitution, not the whims of one man. But Trump has been on a mission to gut the civil service and replace it with loyalists since day one. This is the latest step in his authoritarian march to turn government agencies into personal fiefdoms. It’s also pure hypocrisy: Trump screams about the “deep state,” but what he’s really building is a “Trump state” — where facts, science, and ethics take a back seat to loyalty tests. Stanford professor Terry Moe nailed it: “They want to ensure that civil servants, who are supposed to be nonpartisan, are themselves loyalists. This flies in the face of the entire foundation of civil service.” That foundation — merit, independence, and integrity — is what separates a democracy from a dictatorship. And it’s collapsing under Trump’s boot. Employees are terrified. Morale is tanking. Even workers in the Office of Inspector General, whose job is to investigate waste and fraud, are now being told to “support the President’s policies.” Translation: don’t uncover anything that makes him look bad. Trump’s people call it “Restoring Accountability.” Let’s call it what it really is: Restoring Obedience. The bottom line is that Trump isn’t draining the swamp — he’s drowning the government in his own ego. This is how democracies die — one loyalty oath at a time. Please like and share if you agree: Federal employees serve America, not Donald Trump.

I'm having problems with my older laptop in that it says that there is no internet connection, while I can easily log on using my newer laptop. While trying to sort out things, I decided to clean up bloated directories of files dating back to 2020. I came across this photo, scanned from an old color slide taken probably 50 years ago. It shows me performing a preflight inspection on a PA-28. The kid behind me is my youngest brother. A couple of years ago, he retired from Police Victoria, with the rank of Detective Superintendent. How time flies.

https://au.yahoo.com/news/embarrassing-flaws-emerge-trump-white-142314560.html

A tornado tore through the western suburbs of Melbourne, ripping off tiles, uprooting trees and knocking out powerlines. Video on Sunrise of golfball size hail, don't recall where, possibly NSW,

Short Actors. Three of the shortest actors in films or on TV. , Warwick Davis. 3 ft 6 in (107 cm) Wicket the Ewok Star Wars film series, Professor Filius Flitwick and the goblin Griphook in Harry Potter. Herv Villachaize 3 ft 11 in (119 cm) Tattoo in Fantasy Island, Nick Nack in The Man with the Golden Gun (James Bond) Verne Troyer 2 ft 8 in (81 cm) Best known for playing Mini-Me in the Austin Powers film series.

Not bagging it, just saying what others are saying, and showing what it's like. I've lived in Adelaide, lived in Sydney (both due to work), and came back to Melbourne. Holidayed on Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Townsville and in Tassie. Won't be going anywhere else, even on holiday.

We have gas stove, hot water and ducted heating. Ducted heating was installed before we bought the house 46 years ago, but the heaing unit was replaced about 6 years ago. A new hot water service was installed about 12 years ago.. Should outlast me.

Mrs Bucket was always Bouquet.

Every school has a breaking point — and one high school in Queensland, Australia, finally hit theirs in the most spectacular way. The staff at Maroochydore High School had grown tired of endless complaints from parents. Late homework, missing assignments, unexplained absences — and somehow, it was always the teachers’ fault. So instead of sending another politely worded newsletter (that no one would read anyway), they decided to make a bold statement. They changed the school’s voicemail. And let’s just say… it wasn’t your average “please leave a message after the beep.” It all started after the school introduced a new policy: both students and parents would be held accountable for attendance and homework. Reasonable, right? But a handful of parents lost it — some even threatened to sue because their kids were failing after skipping weeks of class! So, the staff decided to respond — with humor and brutal honesty. Here’s what callers heard when they dialed in: 📞 RIIIINNNGGG... CLICK! “Hello! You’ve reached the automated answering service for your school. Please listen carefully to the following options: ➡️ Press 1 if you’d like to lie about why your child is absent. ➡️ Press 2 to make excuses for missing homework. ➡️ Press 3 to complain about how we do our jobs. ➡️ Press 4 if you’d like to yell or swear at our staff. ➡️ Press 5 if you missed every single newsletter and notice we sent home. ➡️ Press 6 if you expect us to raise your child for you. ➡️ Press 7 if you’re tempted to reach through the phone and slap someone. ➡️ Press 8 if this is your third request for a new teacher this year. ➡️ Press 9 to complain about bus schedules. ➡️ Press 0 to complain about cafeteria food. 📌 And finally — if you’ve realized this is the real world, where your child’s effort determines their success, and that it’s not the teacher’s fault — please hang up and have a wonderful day! Oh, and for service in another language? Please move to a country that speaks it. 📚 Thank you for supporting public education!” Savage. Brilliant. Honest. Now that’s how you handle unreasonable parents with style

I saw a meme today of classic bridges around the world. San Fancisco - Golden Gate Bridge. London - Tower Bridge. Sydney - Harbour Bridge. Melbourne - Montague Street Bridge - with a truck jammed under it. Another Melbourne Classic is the York St underpass under the railway line that becomes a swimming pool when it rains.

There are lots of these things. Some dress up a bushes and spring to life as pedestrians, usually girls and young women, walk past. Scares the bejeezus out of them.

A couple hours ago I went down the street, and had to put the aircon on in the car. 20 minutes ago, it was bucketing down, gutters overflowing like Niagra Falls. Now brilliant sunshine. Four seasons in one hour.

IIRC, it's pronounced Poom-i-pol.

Former Queen of Thailand Sirikit, who was the mother of the current leader of the royal family King Vajiralongkorn died on Friday (October 24). On top of her role as the mother of the current monarch, she also was the wife of Thailand's longest-reigning monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

I think you mean draught proofing. Drought means lack of rain.

Of course, the intelligent Chump spelt it incorrect;y. It's Colombia.

June Lockhart, Lassie and Lost in Space actress who was one of the last surviving stars from Hollywood's Golden Age, dies at 100. She was also known for movies like 'A Christmas Carol' and 'Meet Me in St. Louis'.

Clinton, he plans on beginning a new term (unelected) in 2028. He should live so long. Regarding the boats, watch this. Trump drug boats.mp4

News tonight reports he has directed the workd's largest aircraft carrier into the search for these boats which he claims are smugling narcotics without search or proof, and threatening attacks on drug labs in Venezuela, basically, a land attack.

Too hard> Hi baby, here I am, signed, sealed, delivered. I'm yours.

Bare faced vandalism for a crass glitzy monument to a turd.

Copy and paste. That's all there was. Expected the daughter, got the mother. Joke Joyce.