Jerry_Atrick

For the record, when I said if Cruisafulli (thanks, Peter) can ru n the government as good as his speech, there was a touch of sarcasm. Talk is cheap, as they say. However, I have not seen too much of Crisafulli - well, to be honest, I hadn't seen any of him during the campaign, so one was thinking maybe the benefit of the doubt. Here are a some take-aways from the election night of the LNP policy: They, like many political parties are very careful to construct their wording to allow them to weasel their way out of things. That is more of a reflection on us than them, but they were heavily implying early in the evening they will not support nuclear and at the end of the evening they were clear to say it is not on their agenda.. i.e. they are ambivalent to it. Now we have Littleproud expecting the QLD government to work with the federal government in introducing nuclear power should the coalition get into power (pardon the pun) at the next election. Their "adult crime, adult time" centrepiece policy is a somewhat populist policy. West's scam of the week shows how youth offending has come down over the last 10 years, however, that by itself does not tell the whole story. For example, is it petty crime that has dropped markedly while seriouc crime has risen, giving on overall drop in the "crime rate" but the negative impact actually increasing? There are things in the policy snippets I say that sound progressive - early intervention, better intervention and reforming during their detention, and support once released so give them a better chance ot going on the straight and narrow. But there is some question about it. Say a kid commits murder at 12 years of age, and is heltp to the same level of culpability as an adult and is sentenced for 15 years. He will receive 5 years of intervention, and reforming, and assume it is working... But, at 18, he is turfed into an adult prison.. where let's face it, he is likely to learn some seriously bad habits. Would that not potentially undo all of the good stuff that was done? Seems counterintuitive to me. But also, what does it say about what we should be doing with our adult prison population to reduce recidivism and ultimately benefit socieety? I think it is actually a good start, but needs some tweaking, but the adult crime, adult time to me is populist and was actually a fear campaign (which they accused Labor of). But, policy has to start somewhere, I suppose. The then shadow trreasurer in the ABC election night panel did give me cause for concern. But so did the Labor bloke (Cameron someoneorother, who looks like he will be the next leader going to the next election). There was too much ducking and weaving by the LNP fella on the panel; When will they realise their electorate want straight answers to the question - even if the answer in nuanced - have the nuance relating to the answer. He may have well answered most of the questions with,. "Do you know, the sky is blue during the day".. to many questions. I am not sure QLD is in that bad a state of play... compared to the rest of the country. It was claimed QLD has borne the brint of the cost of living crisis (i.e. the worst performer), but, there are structural issues for that. So, obviously, the Courier Mail and their sister publications has a lot to do with it. The other take away is the Greens probably had the worst result of the election, and I understand why - at least from a federal influence. They seem to have become the part of protest in the minds of the electorate, and while we like a bit of protest, we don't like holding things up beyind making your point. I can't speak too much of the QLD branch, but federally, I bet the rue the day they let Thorpe into the party. The young fella who's name escapes me, was seen as a bit of a rebel with a cause on the housing policy, but even he is now being seen as a rablle rouser.. and that probably describes how a lot of the electorate see them. OK, I only get snippets, but even my support (of which I would have happily voted for them in the last federal election), is waning a bit. The ABC ran a piece on their news feed that the QLD branch is blaming Labor for pursuing Green's seats. Well, that is politics and one has to find ways to negate these attacks: Sometimes it's OK to say we didn't resonate with the electorate and we have to do better. Indeed, however, (as I have said before), it is weird that the most important election in the world does not allow those materially impacted by it to participate in it (hardly call Russia or China's mandates an election of the masses, anyway). For us, or what we can impact, the next 6 months is going to be interesting.

I think that can be said of most electorates in the world.

It's an interesting phenomena. In the previous national election here, when Boris was elected, there was some late breaking news that showed his true colours. I remarked to a bloke in the office who was a clear conservative supported, educated, etc.. and his response was, "well, we all know what Boris is like, so its sort of expected as we don't mind". My response was is that the sort of person you want making decisions about your finances - someone who thinks with their d!&k. He stopped and thought for sa second or two and gace a gallic shrug and walked off. It's sort fo a confirmation bias. Boris was helped by Labour putting up Jerremy Corbyn, who is a little too extreme for most people's likings.

Thans, Peter

Well, QLD has a new government. I always watch election night which is so much easier here because it is 2:15 Saturday afternoon when it has wrapped up. It was a bit of a good one, too.. It was a cliffhanger for a lot of the night. When Miles gave his speech, it was certainly not in the bag, thought it was getting there for Crusafilli. However, on reflection, he may well have wished he hadn't quite made that speech. This was the first time I saw Crusafilli in action, and if he is as good running the state as his specchwriter is of writing speeches and he is of delivering them, then at least whatever is done will sound good. I thought while Miles was a little less than gracious, Crusafilli was very humble and gracious in victory, even wishing the best the the opposition MPs who lost their seats. I was wondering if he may even have a federal shot in him... This election ddoes not bode well for Albo. Yes - the ALP are always batting off the back foot with the media bias they are up against. However, if the QLD results have been in some way influenced by federal politics, then Mackay and I think it was Bundaberg, which were very safe Labor seats, flipped. Next 6 months are going to be very interesting.

Yes.. pre polling votes coming in and Labor are pretty well out of the race. But this is not much different to the Labor federal win.. what should have been a romp was just getting over the line. It is not clear if the LNP will get a majority, but it is looking increasingly likely. But it won't be a rout that it probably should have been

Watching the ABC, the thought is the federal performance of the Greens.. Too early to call but it is looking like the LNP are snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

Can't find the other Albo thread, so will use this instead. I now understand why Labor seem paralysed when the select a shippy leader: https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-holds-so-much-power-over-his-mps-they-re-scared-to-rein-him-in-20241023-p5kklb.html I don't begrudge the bloke for buying a nice house on the coast, even during the cost of living and property crisis (unusually, it is both hard to buy and rent at the time). I bet my bottom dollar other pollies on both sides have purchased themselves a nice pad or added to their rental portfolios. However, his handling of what should be a non-story is a litany of faux pars that just shows how a) inept as a leader he really is as he can't read the room and b) seems as genuinely out of touch as any pollie I have seen. I honestly wonder if he is on the spectrum For my money, Chalmers, or even Marles would be a better option.. Doofus is a sell out to me.. Pliberseck seems to have been weakened, and I can only guess this is a result of internal politics.

Time flies

Maybe they could take cardboard cutouts of Scomo with moneybags and place one in front of the Pentagon and one in front of Whitehall Gardens to commemorate AUKUS?

I see that the oath or affirmation is a requirement under the Australian constitution, and it is prescribed in the Schedule to the constitution. Of course, making a statement publicly for whatever political or publicity gain she is hoping for does not constitute a legal admission, and she would have to make the statement under, ironically, an oath or affirmation. If she does admit it legally, then the opposition’s call for her disqualification would be valid. There is nothing in the constitution that requires the oath or affirmation to be held throughout the course of their tenure, at least per parliament between elections. I would imagine that the allegiance would have to be honestly held at the time of making the oath. But, remember, allegiance means loyalty or commitment. That does not mean support. For example, it could be argued that her expression of "you are not my king" is a representation to the King that, in her view, Australia is over the monarchy, and in her loyalty of serving the king, she is letting him know the truth... Of course, if she was just expressing her opinion then it could also reasonably be inferred as disloyalty or non-commitment, however, what if she reasonably and honestly believed this was also the opinion of the majority if Australians? She is, admittedly in a dramatic and disrespectful manner, simply stating to the King that the subjects are restless and want change. That does not mean one is disloyal nor non-committed. And if you think I am stretching it, then what about Malcolm Turnbull (not that he is an MP anymore) or any pro-republican MP? They clearly do not want the monarchy but it is not disloyal or non-committed to the monarch or their heirs. They are simply saying they think public opinion and the, in their eyes, anachronistic head of state of an independent country has reached its expiry date, and in good faith and wishing them a pleasant future, it is time to move on. If the plan is to keep a republic in the Commonwealth as active members, then is that not showing loyalty and commitment to the monarch? Otherwise, with the exception that Thorpe is a gregarious, attention seeking loud mouth, any prop-republic MP is also disavowing their allegiance, and should they also not be forced to exit stage left (or right, as applicable)?

Yes, but most people who vote Greens, I am guessing will give their second preferences to Labor.. The problem for Labor of course, is when the Greens get enough for a seat, it takes one away form Labor. I wonder though, if more moderate Lib voters may go Green on the commitment to coal fired power?

If this is real, it is quite amazing the pilot couldn't eject https://youtu.be/EzfR9UkXt2M?si=HtxljDUFe3bXBEgc

Does it mention anything about their gender.. even fair maidens these days may give you more than you bargain for.

You're a spring chicken in these parts 😉 I remember being 47.. At the time I thought I was old.. nah... Not yet.

It is some sort of pine... Not sure what type to be honest. It is probably 50 years old, if not older.

Well, it has been slow going, but finally builder has been able to return to start staining the floor. Could have done it myself, but he is a dab hand at it.. Fumes are smelly though. It has just been applied to a portion of the floor so looks very sheen-ey. Hopefully sparky is back on Friday, so the lights will go in properly and switches will be there, too. Noe, you can see the radiators both sides of the door.. Place is (so far) toastie and warm, though is extremely mid at the moment. Had my last exam last night, so need a day's break. In London on Friday, but the weekends and now the eves are mine to get cracking. More photos to come.

New thought.. I am not one to shy away from political discourse, nor one to shy away form indigenous rights. However, I think Lydia Thorpe scored an own-goal for her heckling of the king.. OK.. she scoes a lot of own goals, but that one, I think, irked many who would see her side of the story.. maybe. And, I am none-too-happy with Michael Wests portrayal of the monarchs as the landlords of Australia. Nothing could be further from the truth (it is even arguable they are landlords of the UK anymore), and stoking ship into the fire to support republicanism turns more people away, I would suggest. Just a random couple of thoughts about how to turn people away from your cause (maybe I should read this twice!)

Protest upheld. There are only 10 digits, despite there being 12 numbers - 0 through 9 respectively. As two are duplicated "[o]n a standard analogue clockface..." (1 & 2), that leaves 8 digits that appear exactly once on a standard analogue clock face.. No grammatical construction of the English language, even the Aussie derivation of the English language could be taken to mean in isolation of other numbers that appear on the said analogue clock face. Leave to appeal to the Grammar Police bench of the Privy Council is granted.

I am not a big tomoato fan by any stretch of the imagination. Roma are up there, but my favourite is what is normally a canned tomato - San Marzano (https://www.marthastewart.com/7616623/san-marzano-tomatoes-explained), Tescos sell them fresh here, and they are quite nice. There are other smaller varieties that are sold by other supermarkets, which are acceptable. But blimey - cherry tomatoes - they are put on earth be the devil himself.

Sadly, ll that divisive, hatred talking is having an impact: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-cases-political-violence-roil-us-ahead-contentious-election-2024-10-21/

The reach of Americanism.. My niece from Aus was staying at our house.. She asked me what the difference between murder 1 and 2 was. I was a little shocked. I asked if she meant murder in the first and second degree. She said yes.. She is now back off to Australia! (well, she was going anyway, but I had to set her straight - Aus (or at least NSW) has no such distinctions.

Apparently part of the deal is to provide both NK and China with technical know how.. not sure how much that will help China

At Steavonson Falls, near Marysville, there is a plaque in memory of a couple of lads who were killed by a falling limb.. I have seen a eucalypt limb fall and it is without warnidng and fast. It has a name, suddeb brach drop.. https://www.trekandtravel.com.au/blogs/trek-travel-events-and-blog/sudden-limb-drop-the-facts?srsltid=AfmBOooQ5V94xiS0wutTm1X-V7kdF9lx-HK1kkUze1s-plF1GfL0LwdF