The Dump is:
For posting comments that don’t get up at the Drum, and for having a pleasant, mirthful or enlightening off-topic discussion.
It’s not for personal abuse of other commenters.
Please do that somewhere else if you must.
Play nicely or piss off.
However, why doesn’t a poster add a link for us to read and comment on here, much quicker. Maybe we can do a bit more bagging here, not that I speak for the moderators, yet.
NB: Being tiresome and boring, racist, sexist or just plain creepy is not playing nicely.
———-
The Pig’s Arms exists because a dozen or so years ago our other favourite playpen – the ABC’s Unleashed blogsphere started to go off. Like a sack of prawn heads in the sun. Something had to be done.
Moderation was taking forever. Comments seemed to be rejected randomly – outrageous ones appeared and reasoned ones were pinged. When they released the Drum / Unleashed ….. things actually got worse !
So many pieces from professional writers appear with no obvious merit. And the moderation has become, to put it frankly, appalling.
As a former contributor and a commenter, I was deeply disappointed at the plummeting quality from our pre-eminent media empire. And I resented so many challenging or dare I say, witty or funny posts in which we’ve invested seconds of our precious time – getting the chop.
So here, for all our benefit – is an open slather blog. Copy and paste your best rejected comments here for posterity. Does not matter whether you’re posting on the Guardian, First Dog on the Moon or wherever else.
And sprinkle pointers to the Pig’s Arms amongst your comments. Let’s try to rescue some of the old faithful.
Cheers,
Emm.
Window Dresser's Arms, Pig & Whistle 
An American tourist asks an Irishman: “Why do Scuba divers always fall backwards off their boats?” To which the Irishman replies: “If they fell forwards, they’d still be in the bloody boat.”
🙂
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This is a clever answer.
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“I was so horrified when I read about the effects of smoking that I gave up reading” . This is from a legendary wit whose name I have forgotten.
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“If a black cat crosses your path, it signifies that the animal is going somewhere.”
– Groucho Marx
🙂
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https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2007/09/kero-s24.html
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A good piece hph. A reminder how art and the artist don’t always coexist easily.
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Thanks Gerard.
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hph, whilst checking that I also read the critique of the latest Coen brothers movie,very interesting. Margaret and David liked it too.
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Helvi, I will watch it when it is released on dvd. These are a few Cohen films I liked : Fargo, No Country For Old Man, Bad Santa. If the movie is based on a novel I try to get the book first, and watch it on the screen later.:)
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Remember Brandis sacking Barrie Cassidy from his appointment to the Council of the Museum of Australian Democracy (it’s unpaid) because it was a rushed political appointment made by Labor……
Well I have just found out who Brandis appointed to the Council instead – three obviously non political appointments – 1. Heather Henderson, aged 85, daughter of Sir Robert Menzies, 2. Sir David Smith, aged 80, who read the sacking of Gough, and 3. David Kemp, aged 75, former Liberal Minister.
The Liberals are of course not stacking history with Liberal old farts – of course not because they are clearly qualified with a well rounded view of Australian Democracy (they’ll get rid of the bits they don’t like just like they did with the Australian Museum displays). I’m still looking for those adults !!!
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On Cassidy’s Tea Party article on the Drum – I really got them going with a comment of mine. Trouble is that most of the response/discussion occurred or was posted long after I knocked off work for the day.
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You certainly did Vivienne, there were some silly posts there to boot. Curious party probably the silliest. I posted four comments there and only one got up. I was out for the day imbibing at the Watsons Bay Hotel.
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You lucky bugger. We used to go there when Doyles seafood joint operated adjacent. Sitting out on the law with a beer then off to the best oysters and seafood platter and then another dozen oysters for dessert.
I’ve been well occupied with transcribing work. I have one tape left and then I’m free to do whatever – first job will be those windows.
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It still does, Doyles have the restaurant, the pub and the fish and chippery on the wharf. First ferry there last ferry (or so we thought) back and a quick roadie at The Ship in before catching the bus home. The pubs changed though better arrange compared to last visit. The bar is in the beer garden with the foodery inside. Nice fish and chips even if a bit pricey.
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The fish and chip joint was as I recall an addition but it was on the sort of beach, right on the water. Just a fast food (but better than usual) stop for families and kids. Is the original shack next to the pub still there – it had an inside and an outside – nothing glamorous – just wonderful seafood, prawns and crabs and stuff. Then there was the restaurant at Rose Bay which was on a small wharf. Last time I went there it was a disaster. Full of bloody American tourists who left by the bus load. Got in to find they had eaten all the Mud Crabs. Boy was I mad. I made do with blue swimmers but I was lusting after the whole muddy.
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It is and has been there for 126 years. The fish and chippery is at the head of the wharf with chairs outside. Half the price of the pub and probably a 1/4 of the restaurant. My grandfather, a fisherman used to sell directly to Doyles before he went to the market. Muddies were $180 a pop at the pub yesterday.
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$180 a pop ! That sounds a bit over the top. Of course they do come some way from up north. The ones I had were at the Rose Bay joint and were fabulous. I’ll stick with Blue Swimmers. My local fish monger has at last obtained and been cooking fresh crays – $80 a kilo and top quality. I’ve indulged in two this month (one for my birthday and the other just because they’re there). I think I’ll just have to live with good memories of muddies. Lovely story about your grandfather.
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To Algy – one error I forgot to have a got at on the Drum on that article was that nutter calling the SMH a broadsheet. It stopped printing in broadsheet form some time ago – forget now, early this year I think. And is as ‘conservative’ electorates are 100% that way! I mean, the sweeping statements are so annoying to me. Especially the constant reference to Q & A having pretty much a totally lefty panel and stacked audience.
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It stopped being much of a newspaper too not long ago too. Still its better than The toilet paper and the Liberal party daily gazette.
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Do go to the Global Mail and read Mike Seccombe’s very neat and comprehensive piece on the Abbott government’s performance to date http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/boofhead-politics/778/
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CB Test for atomou.
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And one more test.
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This wasn’t notified!
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It came up in Bac.
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Tony Abbott says ‘gentle smack’ can be good for children!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-12/abbott-says-gentle-smack-can-be-good-for-children/5151798
This insensitive, granite-hearted moron we have as our leader, does not know that the road to the vicious beatings begins with a “gentle smack!” The more this shit opens his mouth the more one gets the strong impression he should be locked up in isolation for the rest of his life.
This is typical of the Jesuit upbringing. Beating is the tool of Heaven! Sickening, shameful bastard!
He is our leader and Mandela was locked up for a third of his life!
Obviously the wall he punched at Uni, was a gentle smack!
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Not to mention the person he touched up which led to a charge of sexual assault against him.
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It was only a gentle touch up. Settle down folk.
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I said it before. I’ll say it again : Labor lost the plot a long time ago..
Why did they employ this rubbish on 457-visa ?
Isn’t there a person in Australia who could have been employed for this job?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-11/leaked-emails-reveal-aggressive-style-of-john-mcternan/5149158
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Buggered if I know but it was clear to me that this bloke was not doing a very good job and in fact was responsible for some totally unnecessary stuff ups.
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The American Dream – and anecdotal evidence
http://www.skepticink.com/believingbullshit/2012/09/25/the-american-dream-and-anecdotal-evidence/
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from the article…
[Post script: I also met a US academic earlier this year with whom I discussed this. Again, he was incredulous re the suggestion that the US did not lead the field in terms of social mobility. Even smart, college professors believe the Dream].
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An excellent cookbook has just been published, replete with (250 of them) stunning recipes of the Greek cuisine, to which I have contributed an Introduction and for which I did the proof reading.
The author is Ivy Liacopoulou and the book is called “More Than A Greek Salad.”
It was uploaded on Amazon only a few hours ago.
I think it’s one of the most informative, inspirational cook books ever written. Full of information about the calories and the nutrients of each ingredient and full of the context that surrounds each dish. A worthwhile purchase, indeed!
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I’ve already got a Greek cookbook written by Greek women. But I’ll keep an eye out for it as it sounds like a great gift for daughters. So, no spelling or grammatical errors – good.
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I’ve read every word of every ingredient and of every recipe and I was exceedingly impressed, Vivie and I have about a dozen of Greek cook books. Plus about a hundred or so of others!
Check it out here, Vivie.
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MJLC, at the drum, makes me laugh every time ..
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He’s cool, a clever witty writer…
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I like the way his mind ticks, Helvi.
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Yes, and I’ll check you out at that page.
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At Ben Pobjie’s article:
carbon-based lifeform 10 Dec 2013 11:15am ..Says:
“Yes, there should be more buttons:
*Who Cares?
*Why Bother?
*You’ve Got to be Joking!
*Not more of this crap?
*Who let you out of the asylum?
These and many more should be part of a roll-down menu so that people can give a real opinion of a post.”
…
My addition to that wasn’t posted:
“
..and,
*Did you stop taking your medicine?
*You’re shitting me, right?
“
Now, what ‘s wrong with that?
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Before Pobjie article even popped up, I replied to someone : When we can have so much fun on P Reith’s blog who needs Pobjie. My post did not get up, but all of a sudden Pobjie was there… 🙂 I must have willed him there….
Another one that did not get up: ‘ Maybe Peter is not happy taking orders from Peta.’
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I had my Say in Peter Job’s page. ..spot me.. 🙂
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Searching for yours – how was this reply to my one liner: ‘harry:
10 Dec 2013 12:16:20pm
Almost all private schools are not selective, as usual Stuffed Olive shows that fetid leftist mind, happily ignoring reality to push the ideology of hate that pervades leftist thinking.’
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I couldn’t pick it. But my prediction that there would be a barrage of teacher bashing came true.
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I used a different pseudo, Vivienne:)
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Kevin Donnelly gives me the creeps. He is another one whom I imagine in a Nazi uniform.
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I figured that out – couldn’t pick it out. Had a suspicion about one or two. Can’t you reveal the name?
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I still think Shorten’s not up to it.
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If anyone has a spare few minutes I recommend having a gander at Christopher Pyne’s website http://www.pyneonline.com.au/ and dig into it. His bio includes about 1000 refs under ‘community and other activities’ and lists himself as a volunteer for the Clean up Australia Day (never thought to add that to my CV !) Also there are videos of his performances in Parliament QT in case you missed them. His four children look normal and there is no mention of their having a disability and of course I realise all disabilities are not visible. In their case it might be having Chris Pyne for a dad !
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He is “the idiot son of the Adelaide establishment” MARK II
MARK I is Alexander Downer.
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Correct about the disabilities, suspect that may have been made up. Nothing about poodles I notice. Did you notice there was a poll on the side about who’d be the next Labor leader.
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His twins have dyslexia, don’t know how profound that is many people do. Einstein had it, Two of my bosses had it, one was completely verbal unable to read. Didn’t stop him from obtaining a Doctorate and lecturing at University. My current head has it, smart bloke but some of his emails need deciphering. Heck my sister has it, managed a Masters and the younger does as well and works hard to overcome it.
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Dyslexia means basically ‘can’t read’ – I think became a tag for slow learners which is not a disability which can’t be overcome as your evidence points out. It was Jules who said Pyne had disabled children. I thought Pyne’s CV (for that it was it is) was wonderfully padded out with trivia. He can’t cook.
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I’m inclined to agree there and most with it refuse to let it define them. There is importance in picking it up early though so that it can be helped. In this case Pyne did do that but of course took his kids out of the public system and put them into the Catholic system where they could “deal with it”. We as if the Public doesn’t! He of course was educated at a Catholic snoot school. Snootyness and where you went to school apparently matters in Adelaide.
His CV was waffle but then aren’t most CV’s
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Depends on how honest you are Algy.
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I see too many embellished CV unfortunately. I find with the face to face and the CV’s most the time they don’t correlate. Checking references can be illuminating too.
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Then there is the bumpf people write to meet the KPIs. Tragically the criteria they must meet requires a lot of gymnastics.
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Yes they’re a joy aren’t they. BS on top of BS. We have to do them 3 times a year as well as writing the yearly. They are then reviewed by others who have no idea what you do then question your “stretch targets” or your “extra stretch targets”. Then there’s your “success profiles” which is basically your job description.
Junior tells me about what he’s had to write for his job given he’s only worked full time for three months. Same garbage.
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I always see Bishop as Darth Vader. It must be that helmet of hair or the death stare.
Christmas puddings on the way yet? What about the mince pies with a dash of hot rum?
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But Darth Vader had such great character. One daughter is in charge of the pud. Chrissy tucker arrangements this year are a collective – 5 of the 9 are bringing the food together at one in-laws’ home. Everything is planned.
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I’m thirsty ..
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gulp gulp gulp …
burp !
…Ohhhh That bottle of Scott went down smooth tonight
🙂
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While you’re at it get rid of that bottle of Pyne. Make sure you flush toilet!
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I’ll drink to that !
🙂
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I am with HPH,
Let them blunder on and they might think something very clever is happening and go even deeper into the quick- sand. The way things are now, they’ll be lucky to survive much after the carbon tax is dealt with in a serious way. A double dissolution, bang…labour gets back in.
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Unfortunately I have to ask can we rely on the Greens on the price on carbon. I’d like to think so and I’d love to see them go for the double dissolution but I don’t think they will.
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Well, then there is always the ashes. 😉
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Are you suggesting I watch cricket? Someone is going to get burnt.
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🙂
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It’s a fine game
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To hph – on Independent Australia – cut and paste this para which says what I think about Shorten/Labor in parliament at the mo : ‘So far, Bill Shorten is doing a good job of channelling Barack Obama — but without the inspiring rhetoric. He doesn’t seem to get it that the Conservatives hate everything he stands for, and do not respect an opponent who is “fair and reasonable”. In parliament, he seems to want to be the nice guy, the teacher, patiently pointing out the errors in his pupils’ homework, more in sorrow than in anger. Tanya Plibersek seems to be missing in action when it comes to the litany of foreign affairs fiascos we have witnessed in recent weeks.’
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Viv, I would have like someone tougher (rougher) than Shorten, the Labor politicians are all too nice, Albanese would have acted differently…
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I wanted Albo – the members did too. Caucus = funny lot. Shorten has less experience and I think it shows. One portfolio is okay but the whole thing – leadership. His moves re Julia pissed me off him totally. Not happy really. You and me both !
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Yes Helvi & Vivienne, Albanese would have used a tougher approach, but let’s give Shorten a bit of time to grow into his new position as the leader of the opposition. I don’t care who leads the opposition as long as everybody realises that now is the time for unity and team up behind him to play the game without any internal quibbles. I am not taking sides here. Bill is there and this is the end of story. Bill does not have a leadership-style yet as Keating or MarkL or Rudd did before they became leaders. But in the near future he will form his own. I noticed from his performance at the QandA program, that his debating style is calm, clear and, of course, logical. When answering questions, he is not evasive. In fact he even expends the incoming question to give a proper and logical answer back. So, all he needs to do, for the time being, is just sit there.
“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
😉
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With Bishop as Speaker there is little to hope for – see new rules made up each day. Ministers can share answering a question – unreal.
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Bishop would probably throw Albo out for not speaking with a better accent.
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Bishop! .. She was born 100 years too late. She can play the role of an assistant nurse next to Boris Karloff -the diabolical mad scientist- in a Frankenstein movie …Without makeup.
and the other Bishop is the best candidate to play Frankenstein. 🙂
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You’re too kind hph. Not fit to play a role or any minor role in any film past or present. Well, I wouldn’t pay to see it !
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that’s funny, hph 🙂
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Viv, I would not see any movie with Bishop bitches in it for free…not even if you paid me.
One is a tough old-fashioned matron, and other one an even tougher bird trying to flirt with Marty…..oh dear, the Indonesians are so polite.
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Yes, Helvi. I’ve always thought of Julie Bishop as a flirter. Awful to say it when I think of all the terrible terrible things they said about Julia Gillard. However, it has been so obvious – it’s not just the look and the smile, there is a body language. Not that I think for a minute she is flirting in the really real sense. A bit ooky.
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Jules likes her a lot.
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Jules seems to like Pyne, too, and thinks he’s a great Education Minister because he has disabled children!
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Pyne’s eldest have dyslexia. Jules just wanted to amplify the “disability” to make a point. As for an Education minister Pyne’s out of his depth. Whilst it won’t affect my kids. The actions of the twit will affect my future grandchildren.
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My choice would have been Albo yet we ended up with Shorten. He’s doing OK which wouldn’t be hard with the Billy McMahon style government we have now. I sense that the electorate thinks they’ve made a mistake here and if Abbott keeps going the way that he is then there will be a blood bath come the next election. The first one term government in 109 years if they go full term,
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I hope so, Algernon.
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I hate Leigh Sales, could not be one bit nice to Shorten, who was very good tonight on 7.30. Yet she was softly softly with monster Morrison…
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Didn’t see it tonight The Elders birthday. Saw the Morrison interview last night though. He looked and sounded the complete fool, a vile creature, Leigh just helped him look even more so.
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Reading ABC headline re Hockey’s comment re debt ceiling and Greens and Labor. I have a reply to that – adulterer.
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The Drum didn’t put up my comment which included that word. They published no end of disgusting descriptions of Julia Gillard. As they say, go figure.
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In the News: “Cory Bernardi leads Coalition charge against The ABC”
I knew something was missing in the coalition’s gig !
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Another one of their a-holes. Do they actually have any decent humans in their govt. Ghastly grubs. At least I helped despatch Mirabella.
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It’s a vile creature at the best of times. Has its own youtube channel where it spews forth some pretty solid fascist commentary.
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alge, and then we have Brandis…what a collection of nasties…
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hph, what a revolting bloke, and he too is Catholic…he used to write articles for the original Unleashed, he was always horrible….
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They are all colourful revolting scum. When the pot begins to boil, it does not take the scum long to rise to the surface. 🙂
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So many revolting members of the Libs – hard to believe that people in those electorates vote them in ! He’d be certifiable in times gone by.
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Another even bigger story ,this time involving Downer and the ripping off of East Timor. The case is going to be put to The Hague.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-04/asio-arrests-key-witness-in-east-timor-spying-scandal/5132954
The Government is clearly in panic mode.
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“spying conducted by the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) in Dili, which it claims was ordered by then foreign minister Alexander Downer.”
“Downer had become an adviser to Woodside Petroleum in his years after politics.”
Money Money Money…
“Downer says the allegations are old and he will not comment on matters regarding national security”
National Security!!! Hahahahaaa…
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…and this scum is sucking the public’s tits after retiring from politics.
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using The State apparatus to further his own private agenda.
How clever is that?
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Of course none of this had a scintilla of a teensy weensy bee-sting of anything to do with National bloody Security. I do hope they get him on the news and we can hear lots of well, um, look, look, um, look …………….
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This is BIG. If the spy story and bugging in E.Timor are true it will be the end of this government, surely!
I remember at the time it odd that the gas&oil fields were outside the E.Timor maritime zone.
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This means the Liberal Party spin doctors will be all busy in coming days.
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I remember that too Gerard. We did Timor over well and good. I wasn’t sure if they were still trying to get justice on this matter. Wonderful timing as it turns out. Karma for the Libs and that blithering idiot Downer (too mean to take the consul people and reporters as he flew around Indonesia and then we had them dead or legless (Cynthia B).
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The passport of the person going to Holland to give evidence in The Hague was cancelled by Asio. Brandis is keeping quiet about this as well. It is all starting to look cloak and dagger. Why bother cancelling a passport if the present government isn’t hiding anything.
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All in great detail on the tele last night with the lawyer bloke talking from the Hague. This one is a doozy. Unfortunatley, Shorten is totally hopeless at the mo (unless he is just waiting for them to do more stuff ups unaided). I missed Q Time as our absentee neighbour called in for a chat and then I had to go to the tip.
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No, no Vivienne, Shorten is doing fine … I would sit back, stretch my feet on the desk and watch these circus clowns outperform each other.. the show is getting bigger and better each passing day.
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That was my second scenario hph. I still like to see some fire in the belly. I’ll watch tomorrow and see how he goes. It is wonderful here at the moment because it is RAINING at last.
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That’s lovely…I like rain in every season. More so in the Summer 🙂
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They are predicting snow above 1200 metres. A white Christmas?
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This story is on the ABC website. I mention is because Carly went to our local high school and I saw the discomfort of her condition for many years. She also competed in the same primary school athletic comps which I attended for years with my daughters. ‘Disability activist and blogger Carly Findlay combats pity, sensationalism with her own story’.
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Anyone watch and listen to Cathy McGowan’s Maiden Speech. Gallery packed with some of the orange T shirt team – it was great.
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I like Mondays…
🙂
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So do I…especially when the trolls come out on The DRUM. 😉
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How do you do a winky smiley face Gerard. 🙂
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press ; followed by )
I Hope!
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That steak was THE best I have ever eaten. 😉
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