Well, that was easy. The pond is always thinking of ways to avoid petulant Peta on a Thursday, and then she came up with "why Dutton is right to fly one flag for unity".
Look, there she was at the top of the extreme far right of the lizard Oz digital edition, top of the reptile world ma ...
Put it another way:
“‘Don’t you see that the whole aim of Reptilespeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it.’”
Or if you will, bellyfeel, blackwhite, duckspeak, and strength and unity and joy through division.
The pond has a cartoon for that, thanks to the immortal Rowe:
The rest of the offerings provided slim pickings.
Jack the Insider joined the holy war jihad with blather about shades of Kristallnacht in Melbourne, apparently completely unaware of what actually happened in Germany:
Rioters destroyed 267 synagogues throughout Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland. Over 7,000 Jewish businesses were damaged or destroyed, and 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and incarcerated in concentration camps. (wiki)
The pond knows that Jack is seen as the more acceptable face of the lizard Oz and appears occasionally on Talking Pictures, but he's really as contemptible and as pitiful as the rest of them.
The temptation was to seek distractions and to turn to Crikey to continue the Succession talk ...
Michael Bradley looked forward to excellent endless seasons in What’s next in the Murdoch succession saga? Rupert is thinking several chess moves ahead, 'It is good to see Nevada maintaining some semblance of its historical attractiveness for those who love money and don’t like to talk about it.' (paywall)
First, Gorman is not a judge. He’s a commissioner, whose job was to hear the evidence and come up with findings that support a recommendation. That goes to a district court judge, who can accept or reject it, although I’m guessing that overturning such stark factual findings would be quite a stretch.
After that, appeals, up to the top level of the Nevada judicial system, which I assume is a court convened at Caesars Palace in Vegas.
Personally, I prefer the Montana version of justice, if that other dynastic spectacular Yellowstone is any guide, where court rulings are interposed liberally with men in cowboy hats being shot dead on the toilet or taken across the border to Wyoming and unceremoniously de-cliffed.
I know, this is real life not TV, and the Murdochs are not into that kind of thing. As Lachlan texted Elisabeth that morning in late 2023 just before the big pow-wow when his cunning plan was to be executed, “Today is about Dad’s wishes and confirming all our support for him and for his wishes. It shouldn’t be difficult or controversial. Love you, Lachlan.”
Bless.
Next season is going to rate its goddamn head off.
So it was back to the hunt for reptile alternatives, but the endless reptile jihad, holy war if you will, also occupied the rest of the reptile coverage ...
That was the how and the why of the pond ending up with Geoff chambering an EXCLUSIVE, not so much because the pond wanted to, but because it was there..
Chris Bowen’s reliance on coal slammed by Coalition as ‘dishonest’, Chris Bowen has backed new state powers mandating the extension of retiring coal-and-gas-fired power plants, sparking Coalition warnings Labor is being ‘dishonest’ about longer-term reliance on thermal generation.
It was splendid stuff, as Orwellian as all get out.
You'd think an ongoing love of coal and gas would see the reptiles and the opposition heap praise on the government, but there was another jihad at work, the determination to expose Satan in all her guises, including Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the Albanese government is backing ‘prudent measures … to help manage a complex transition’. Picture: Martin Ollman/NewsWire
The EXCLUSIVE fired away:
Ahead of Peter Dutton releasing his long-awaited nuclear costings, The Australian can reveal federal, state and territory energy ministers ticked off on “initial rules” for an Orderly Exit Management Framework, giving states powers to delay closure of coal and gas plants in order to keep the lights on.
Ah, the long-awaited nuclear costings, the pond has a cartoon for that, thanks to Wilcox ...
As for the rest, where's Lloydie of the Amazon when he's desperately needed?
A communique released following an Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council meeting in Adelaide last Friday said: “For jurisdictions that opt in, the OEMF will provide an important additional capability to better manage the retirement of thermal generation.”
Amid concerns over blackouts and energy reliability, the NSW and Victorian Labor governments have already intervened to push out closure dates for the Eraring, Yallourn and Loy Yang coal power stations.
Under the OEMF, if coal or gas-fired generator closure dates are brought forward and are deemed to have a negative impact on energy supply, governments can enter voluntary negotiations and strike agreements with generators to keep them open longer.
As a last resort, ministers can “mandate the temporary extension of the closing date of a retiring coal or gas-fired generator to ensure reliable supply and keep the lights on. Once the shortfall is filled, the power station is closed permanently”.
Debate over the future of coal and gas in the grid comes amid expectations the Opposition Leader will release his nuclear energy costings on Friday. The Coalition expenditure review committee was expected to rubberstamp the plan on Thursday.
Mr Bowen, who has attacked Mr Dutton for failing to release the costings, on Wednesday said that “unlike the Liberal Party, which oversaw a disorderly transition, we believe in having prudent measures in place to help manage a complex transition”.
“Angus Taylor heard about the closure of Eraring on the radio and the rapid closure of Hazelwood caused economic havoc in Gippsland. We believe in a more orderly, better managed approach,” the Climate Change and Energy Minister told The Australian.
Mr Bowen, who previously said he doesn’t want to see coal close a day sooner or later than it needs to, also conceded the government has a “lot more to do” in lifting renewable energy in the grid from 42 per cent to Labor’s target of 82 per cent by 2030.
As the Coalition ramps up attacks over Anthony Albanese’s broken promise to cut power bills by $275, Mr Dutton told The Australian the government’s energy policy is “wrecking our economy”.
“Electricity costs are the highest in the world and now we are likely to have blackouts. Higher food, groceries, and cost-of-living costs are due to Labor’s disastrous energy policy,” Mr Dutton said.
South Australian Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis last month said the new OEMF rules minimised the risks of reliability or system security shortfalls if coal-and-gas-fired generation was prematurely removed.
“Existing mechanisms in the National Electricity Law and Rules, such as market pricing and settings, including the Market Price Cap and the Retailer Reliability Obligation, may not be sufficient to address all potential risks associated with the early closure of a thermal generator,” he said.
“As a result, there is a need for a mechanism to ensure the potential early exit of thermal generation does not adversely impact on reliability and system security needs.”
The Coalition has questioned Australian Energy Market Operator targets released last year predicting 90 per cent of the current 21GW of coal capacity will be retired by 2034-35, and that all coal will be gone by 2038.
Opposition climate change and energy spokesman Ted O’Brien said OEMF “exposes Labor’s dishonesty and tricky ‘extend and pretend’ strategy”.
“Labor claims to be closing coal early, but in truth they are extending their reliance on coal for years to come. They are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of Australians.”
Good on ya Ted, it's way past time to nuke the country to save the planet, but why the delay in delivering that SMR for the pond's backyard? It's been on order for what feels like yonks ...
That one's for the certified coeliac in the family ...
Astute observers of the reptiles will have noted that Dame Groan was also out and about this day, with Childcare changes: blatant vote-buying, ignoring the evidence, The bigger ticket item the PM is contemplating is a flat-fee model for all users. It would be crazy, but that probably won’t stop him.
The Groaning began in a dire way with a baby in play, Anthony Albanese holds baby Maise, 3 months, after delivering a speech at the Morningside Panthers AFL club in Brisbane. Picture: NewsWire/Glenn Campbell
That was the last of the visual relief that the reptiles offered for the Groaning ...
Anthony Albanese has flagged his intention to make childcare the centrepiece of his campaign for re-election.
During Labor’s first term in office, additional resources have been committed to subsidising childcare fees and subsidies have become available to more parents. The government is also directly funding higher pay for childcare workers.
This year, $14.5bn will be paid out in childcare subsidies, making it among the top 20 government programs by expense. Families with combined incomes of up to $530,000 per year are eligible for childcare fee relief, albeit on a sliding scale. In addition, the government has committed $3.5bn over two years to cover the higher wages of childcare workers awarded by the Fair Work Commission.
Now most sensible people would think enough is enough, but when a prime minister is in the hunt for votes, spending more taxpayer money looks like an easy option. Albanese clearly thinks that he is on to a winner, albeit with a quite narrow group of voters, offering guaranteed subsidised childcare for three days per week with parents no longer required to meet an activity test. The cost of the change is estimated at $430m over five years.
There have been vocal support groups campaigning for the abolition of the activity test for a long time, notwithstanding the lack of any strong evidence.
Why would children from disadvantaged backgrounds be excluded just because their parents don’t meet the activity test? Think of the benefits for children of attending childcare. These are the arguments.
The pond has just the cartoon for that, thanks to the infallible Pope ...
Then it was on with the rest of the Groaning, relatively short as Groanings go ...
The majority of those taking up subsidised childcare places easily meet the activity test. The incentive for parents to meet the activity test is a positive force, leading to better labour force and financial outcomes for the parents in the longer term.
Given limits on the supply of childcare places, will it make any sense for employed parents to be denied childcare spots for their children only for them to be taken by children whose parents are not working? This is a net loss for the economy.
As for the benefits for children, it partly depends on the age of the children. Preschool seems to have a beneficial impact for most children. For those aged 0 to 2, the impact of long day care on children is very unclear. High-quality Canadian studies point to net negative effects, including higher rates of anxiety, hyperactivity and anti-social behaviour, effects that last well beyond the childcare years.
The Prime Minister has also announced that 160 new centres will be funded in currently under-served areas. The plan is to spend $1bn either in partnership with not-for-profit providers or as direct government ownership. We have seen these types of plans falter in the past – recall Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard were going to build lots of childcare centres in school grounds.
The much bigger ticket item that Albanese is now contemplating is whether to introduce a low daily flat-fee model for all childcare users – his version of universal childcare. In terms of the evidence and the costs, he would be crazy to do so, but that probably won’t stop him.
At a minimum, it will cost at least an additional $8bn per year in childcare subsidies – it is currently estimated that $15bn will be spent next financial year – and will overwhelmingly benefit those in the highest income quartile.
It would have a negligible impact on workforce participation. It was not a recommended option by the Productivity Commission.
It would also be a logistical nightmare because of the additional demand for childcare places in the context of slow supply responses, particularly in certain areas, as well as shortages of qualified staff.
The government would effectively have to underwrite the least efficient centres to achieve the higher number of places. This could end up a very costly process.
The Canadian experience with this approach has been telling, with numerous problems encountered and fiscal costs blowing out. Ironically, many children from disadvantaged backgrounds continue to miss out altogether.
The reality is that Albanese is always keen to subsidise a unionised sector using taxpayer money while potentially gathering in votes for Labor at the election. It’s not as if the federal budget position is well placed to accommodate even more billions of dollars of outlays, given forecasts of years of deficits into the future. But at this point, he doesn’t seem to care, either about the fiscal implications or the evidence.
But surely there's joy in class divisions?
And many reptile campaigns to be waged on behalf of those from disadvantaged backgrounds, provided they all march together under the one flag ...ah the memories of unity ...
At some point the pond will explain how the girls of Tamworth Primary learned to act like men ...
Okay, okay, the Falkenmire clan was always a bunch of tossers, and it's a slow day provided you don't happen to be caught up in the Gaza genocide, the illegal bombing of Syria on suspicion, or Vlad the sociopath's war on Ukraine.
As criminal Benji took to the dock, this was the summary handily provided by Haaretz:
- GAZA: Humanitarian aid to northern Gaza has largely been blocked for the past 66 days, the UN said, adding that this has left between 65,000 and 75,000 Palestinians without access to food, water, electricity or health care.
- Israeli strikes in northern and central Gaza killed at least 33 Palestinians, most of them in Beit Lahiya, medics told Reuters, adding that one strike in the northern Gaza city killed at least 22 people, including women and children. At least seven Palestinians were killed and several others wounded in a strike on a house in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, medics told Reuters.
- The IDF called on residents in central Gaza to evacuate to "the humanitarian zone" following rocket fire at Israel from the area.
- The IDF and Shin Bet said that Faami Salami, the commander of Hamas' elite Nukhba force, was killed in Gaza.
- The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza said that at least 44,805 Palestinians have been killed and 106,257 wounded since the start of the war.
So it goes ...
And how are things looking in the US?
Well if you read the Beast on the matter of Mad Mel, increasingly insane ...Mel Gibson Threatens ‘to Kill Someone’ While Fearmongering at Mar-a-Lago. (paywall)
There's going to be years and years of this, unless you happen to get shunted off as Ambassador to Greece so your one-time boyfriend can play with his new squeeze ...
The pond has a handy cartoon suited to this carnival cavalcade of minor characters ...
The story went on ...
They're not just eating the cats and the dogs, they're drinking the blood ...
And there was a fine bonus in the last few lines ...
But the biggest name on hand, after Trump, was the pope-denying Gibson.
He called the Biden administration “four years of thinly veiled Marxism” and the incoming Trump administration as “a four year grace period,” adding “we’ll see how much this administration can claw back from the Philistines.”
That mention of Mad Mel's pope-denying ways linked to I vostri messaggi sulla vicenda Viganò / Un distintivo d’onore essere scomunicati dalla falsa chiesa by Mel Gibson
I’m sure you expected nothing else from Jorge Bergoglio.
I know that you know he has no authority whatsoever – so I’m not sure how this will effect you going forward- I hope you will continue to say mass & receive the sacraments yourself – it really is a badge of honor to be shunned by the false, post conciliar church.
You have my sympathies that you suffer publicly this grave injustice. To me & many others you are a most courageous Hero.
As always, you have hit the nail on the head regarding the illegitimacy of Francis. You express the core problems with the institution that has eclipsed the true church & I applaud your courage in expressing that, but more than that in maintaining fidelity to the true church!
You are a modern day Athanasius! I have all respect for the way you defend Christ & his church. I agree with you 100% that the post conciliar church of Vatican II is a counterfeit church. This is why I built a Catholic Church that only worships traditionally. You are welcome to come & say mass there anytime.
Of course being called a schismatic & being excommunicated by Jorge Bergoglio is like a badge of honor when you consider he is a total apostate & expels you from a false institution.
Remember that true schism requires innovation, something you have not done but something that Bergoglio does with every breath
He, therefore, is the schismatic! However he already ipso facto excommunicated himself by his many public heresies (canon 188 in the 1917 code).
As you already know he has no power to excommunicate you because he is not even a Catholic.
So rejoice! I am with you & I hope Bergoglio excommunicates me from his false church also.
Bergoglio & his cohorts have the clothes & the buildings, but you have the faith.
God bless & keep you. If you need anything just ask I will try my best to help.
With admiration & undying respect.
Barking mad, the lot of them, but with Mad Mel a fine leader of the pack in the current American wasteland ...
On the upside, that gave the pond an excuse to end with a US-themed cartoon ...
Jack the Insider and Kristallnacht: ...in Melbourne, apparently completely unaware of what actually happened in Germany. But that's always the way with reptiles: completely unaware of what actually happened.
ReplyDelete"At some point the pond will explain how the girls of Tamworth Primary learned to act like men ..."
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to that DP. I didn't understand how girls were supposed to read all the good ideas in boys books and still want to be girls but my foolish idealistic dad told me to be an honorary boy and go for it, that didn't work so well. Constant put downs and rejection from real boys and men.
It's a thorny issue male female relationships and how they could/should be, but I came across this on Substack this morning and thought it relevant to the problem.
The word toxic is toxic.
So this dude, Tom Gentry says:
"Imagine if, rather than using an antagonizing and ambiguous term like “toxic masculinity,” the American Psychological Association went with “emotional immaturity.”
https://substack.com/@tgentry/note/c-80027869?r=3adf2s
There would have been no need for this endless, nauseating debate over whether or not it is real.
It would be silly to ask someone if they believe in emotional immaturity. Make no mistake, that’s what we’re talking about.
At the heart of toxic masculinity is emotional immaturity.
🚨***I am not denying the existence of toxic masculinity. ***🚨
Our Dame, of the Cult, instructs us from her usual postulates that governments should do nothing that costs money, so they should not have to squeeze revenue from their citizens, thus minimising those pesky ‘unintended consequences’ which such as the Dame can readily hint at from any kind of government expenditure, or any tax, levy or excise that provides funds for peace, order, and good government. Quite how governments might sustain themselves, no doubt, is one of those things for which ‘we will have more to say at another time’.
ReplyDeleteNeither has government any role in developing the abilities of future citizens, because the future that the current cohort of infants will need to survive in will be created by untrammelled capitalism, rather than by interfering governments. What is much more significant at this present time is that almost any such program aimed at developing abilities of future citizens may be taken up by undeserving citizens, and that could be the worst of ‘unintended consequences’.
Beyond those postulates, our Dame need not offer much to the demographic group that actually reads the print of the Flagship. Only a tiny proportion would still be actively bearing children. Those with offspring in teenage years will have outlaid significant funds of their own to bestow privilege on those offspring by purchasing places in the ‘right’ schools, and the value of that is diminished if undeserving oiks are assisted to develop their innate talents, and offer competition in the market for high salaried jobs.
Oh, the Dame does invoke research to support her nay-saying. OK, she tells us it is from Canada, but does not trouble any reader with a reference (well, if they have not been postgrads in economics, they may not understand the economic jargon, so are at risk of reaching different conclusions to the Dame).
So, it is all a bit ho-hum this day. Meanwhile, our Dame will have to reshape the postulates a wee bit for when she has to come out with fulsome praise for the Coalition’s nuclear land power policy - to be funded by government, from funds raised by - hmm, not sure - is there anything, ANYTHING? - left, still owned by government, but could be flogged off for serious money? How come most of the roads in this country are still toll-free? Hmm - Have they got a transport policy yet? What’s Bridget McKenzie’s ‘phone number?
"Only a tiny proportion would still be actively bearing children". Oh, I wish, Chad, I wish. If we could halve the human population in a generation, climate change would be if not exactly solved, then at least postponed for quite some time.
DeleteBut what I'm thinking about is that all that government largesse, much (some ?) aimed at advancing the lives of its citizens, is actually quite a recent practice as such things go: thousands of years (from the Greek and Roman times onwards) to get where we are today and very little government funding went into any of it. So how did we make so very many 'advances' then ?
As to paying for all those roads, wasn't that supposed to be via fuel excise and taxes ? Which will all disappear when we get to significant take-up of EVs. And yes, I know that you know that, and probably all the Pondians do too, but what percentage of citizens in general know it ?