It’s December

joe6pack Uncategorized

It’s December which is my favorite time of year.images-6

Be prepared for some sudden changes and different looks

left-vs-right

Everyone needs to have a deep breath and relax after this not so very great year.

218263-take-a-deep-breath

 

So buckle up and get ready for The PUBS Christmas Month.

Starting with.

571 thoughts on “It’s December”

    • Leigh will be doing the NBN tomorrow night.

      I wonder who the victim will be.

  4. “Greens say they didn’t know Green Army was on chopping block when they made $100 million Landcare deal. ”
    You have to wonder…with all their years being dudded by the LNP..ALL the dumb-arsed “follow the leader” down a blind alley with the LNP..You just have to wonder…so dumb…

    • The word “green” does have one meaning, among others: inexperienced at a particular task or in a line of business.

  7. I have no idea what religious beliefs Malcolm Roberts holds. I would like to ask him whether he has any empirical evidence about any deity.

  8. Kaffeeklatscher,

    Profligate with OUR money, penny-pinching with their own.

    Remember the story about Janette lolling about at Kirribilli House reading trashy romances, which she would then sell back to the secondhand bookshop in (?)Palm Beach before getting her next batch?

  11. Kaffeeklatscher,

    It was a news item sometime in 2006/7, and I’m sure I saved a copy, but can’t find it just now.

    Where is The Lioness when she’s needed?????

  13. Ah 2006-7 . No wonder i do not remember it . I was in Darwin at the time and a) The rest of Australia really does feel like a foreign land up there and b) I was having one of the best times of my life, despite working 12 hr days 5-6 days a week.

  14. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/newspoll-fix-economy-say-voters-as-pm-support-falls-to-lowest-level/news-story/12f2659c283aff92940fff5525b8f04d

    Newspoll: fix economy say voters as PM support falls to lowest level
    The Australian 10:30PM December 5, 2016
    Phillip Hudson Bureau Chief Canberra

    Voters are looking to the federal government to concentrate on jobs, economic growth and the budget as Malcolm Turnbull ends the year with his support as Prime Minister falling to its lowest level since he seized power.

    The latest Newspoll, taken exclusively for The Australian, reveals the Coalition heads to Christmas with its two-party preferred vote improving from 47 to 48 per cent but still trailing Labor, which has chalked up its sixth successive lead, on 52 per cent.

    Mr Turnbull’s standing has fallen again with his rating as better prime minister dropping two points to 41 per cent, the lowest level since he toppled Tony Abbott as leader 15 months ago. It has tumbled 18 points over the course of this year.

    Mr Turnbull’s margin over Bill Shorten, who currently is favoured by 32 per cent as the preferred prime minister, has plunged from a 39-point lead in January to just nine points.

    Newspoll shows the Prime Minister’s election slogan of “jobs and growth” has been overwhelmingly ranked by voters, including Labor supporters, as the most important issue for Mr Turnbull to address next year.

    Some 36 per cent of voters nominated jobs and economic growth as the top priority, including 41 per cent of Coalition supporters, 34 per cent of Labor voters and 24 per cent of Greens. Dealing with the budget deficit was ranked the most important by 16 per cent of voters, although its importance varied across the parties, with 23 per cent of Coalition supporters nominating it as the priority but only 12 per cent of Labor voters and 8 per cent of Greens ­supporters.

    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/newspoll
    Interactive Newspoll charts

  15. Bleeping Queensland government!

    Adani coal mine project: Queensland Government approves rail line and camp as protesters rally in Melbourne
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-05/adani-coal-mine-final-approval-rail-line-construction-camp/8091782

    Have any of the frackwits n government up there bothered to ask how many tourism jobs will be lost because of the consequences of this decision and what the financial cost to the state will be if this abomination ever happens?

    • Meanwhile in Victoria, as well as protesting about Adani, we are closing the brown coal fired Hazelwood power station, yet Quinceland bribes a crook to dig brown coal and help themselves to all the water they want out of the water table.

      Not a dicky bird about the fact that India is reducing its need for imported coal, it wants to stop coal imports by 2020

      Usually takes 10 years to build a mine, mines are not built if the costs can’t be recouped in 10 years

      Leone there is no comparison between 70,000 tourism jobs and 1,400 Korean construction workers, dontcha know

      someone said Turnbull has updated his pecuniary interests today and the timing indicates he could have invested in this coal mine

    • Last update on Turnbull’s register of interests was 28 November.

      His register is a nightmare – he uses stock exchange code for all his investments and he makes frequent changes. It’s very hard to work out where his investments are.
      The ink is in here –
      http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Members/Register#sz

      This might be a connection worth a bit of investigation.
      “Adani, a global conglomerate with connections to Singapore and the Cayman Islands, wants to begin work next year.”
      http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/turnbull-government-eyes-1-billion-adani-loan-backed-by-new-infrastructure-fund-20161204-gt3joz.html

    • Awww, is that your new baby girl, to little to have chewed the chookie beyond recognition?

      girl because pink blankie

  17. Good morning Dawn Patrollers.

    Sydney is streaking ahead of most of the rest of Australia.
    http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/gap-between-sydney-and-the-rest-of-nsw-widens-after-citys-fastest-growth-in-15-years-20161205-gt464m.html
    Bernardi with a call to arms to his fellow Luddites.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/one-of-the-dumbest-things-ive-ever-heard-coalition-conservatives-furious-over-climate-review-20161205-gt4avc.html
    Peter Hartcher is worried about Trump’s Taiwan folly.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/why-australia-must-steer-clear-of-donald-trumps-taiwan-folly-20161205-gt4115.html
    Now Trump picks Ben Carson, who proved himself to be useless and quite strange in the Republican debates, to run Housing and Urban Development. Trump is assembling quite an Administration is he not?
    http://www.smh.com.au/world/donald-trump-chooses-ben-carson-to-lead-us-housing-urban-policy-20161205-gt4m1g.html
    Things are hotting up inside the ABC.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/if-they-dont-like-it-they-should-leave-tensions-escalate-between-abc-management-and-staff-20161205-gt47na.html
    Is iodine deficiency a contributor to poor learning of Aussie children?
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/a-simple-solution-to-lift-the-performance-of-australian-school-children-20161205-gt43ci.html
    Clancy Yeates tells us that banks should “lean” on the housing bubble.
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/why-central-banks-should-lean-on-housing-bubbles-20161204-gt3x2d.html
    Susie O’Brien implores the Victorian parliament to make sure the terminally ill are not denied a dignified death. Google.
    /news/opinion/susie-obrien-old-hs/state-government-must-make-sure-terminally-ill-are-not-denied-a-dignified-death/news-story/bcb57a06371c3d10daf10ef777586f16
    Al Gore sees a big fight on climate change coming up with Trump.
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/05/al-gore-climate-change-threat-leaves-no-time-to-despair-over-trump-victory
    Victims of CBA’s financial planning continue to emerge.
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/cbas-financial-planning-compensation-bill-rises-as-new-victims-emerge-20161205-gt45lj.html

  18. Section 2 . . .

    An increase in inventories played a big part in the last GDP figure. Could this be deferring a contraction measurement? Google.
    /news/economy/wholesale-restocking-may-have-kept-the-economy-afloat-last-quarter-20161205-gt4ecz
    The Nats are all getting a bit shitty and snaky over the Adler shotgun outcome.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/dec/05/adler-shotgun-restrictions-come-from-the-smashed-avocado-curtain-say-nationals
    Congestion on the Tullamarine freeway if becoming untenable.
    http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbourne-aiport-begs-for-rail-link-warns-tullamarine-freeway-faces-gridlock-20161205-gt4hnr.html
    This reinforces what I said the other day about the LandCare/Green Army funding and Morrison’s pea and thimble trick.
    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/06/experts-warn-against-axing-green-army-without-restoring-landcare-funding
    Michelle Grattan on Abbott’s “dismay” at the abolition of his Green Army.
    https://theconversation.com/abbott-dismayed-by-report-of-end-of-his-green-army-69887
    2016 – the year in which Turnbull nearly lost government.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/parliament-2016-the-year-in-which-turnbull-nearly-lost-government,9806
    Labor accuses Barnaby of taking advice from a celebrity gardener rather than veterinary experts.
    http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/barnaby-joyce-listened-to-a-celebrity-gardener-over-veterinary-industry-experts-labor-20161205-gt44ik.html
    Australia’s departing Digital Chief unleashes a broadside in which he makes some telling points.
    http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/departing-public-service-digital-chief-paul-shetler-says-level-of-contracting-in-aps-is-eye-watering-20161205-gt46y7.html
    Michael West says that now ASIC is on the job with PHON’s Culleton.
    http://www.michaelwest.com.au/corporate-watchdog-now-on-the-sniff-for-rodney-culleton-too/
    How public hospital patients are being stung to watch free to air TV.
    http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2016/12/05/tv-services-public-hospitals/
    Equality is what the gay community wants. That’s all.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/what-the-gay-movement-really-wants-not-to-change-society-but-to-take-an-equal-place-in-it-20161205-gt41lk.html

  19. Section 3 . . .

    This will be a meeting of minds! Google.
    /national-affairs/foreign-affairs/one-nation-senator-malcolm-roberts-to-meet-trump-advisers/news-story/14d23224511c303f7ec08a74c7240991
    Michael West on the insanity of the $1b Adani loan proposal.
    http://www.michaelwest.com.au/the-charge-of-the-lignite-brigade/
    How Italy has become Europe’s “sick man” of this century.
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/blog/2016/dec/05/italy-euro-economy-competitiveness
    Pat Conroy writes that we can’t bank our future on Turnbull’s climate change magic pudding.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/05/we-cant-bank-our-future-on-malcolm-turnbulls-climate-change-magic-pudding

  20. Section 4 . . . Cartoon Corner

    MUST WATCH! – Hugh Parkinson’s Christmas Barflies video.

    Nicholson nails the gullible Greens.

    David Rowe has drawn a good cover for the Walkley magazine.

    Cathy Wilcox and DIY democracy.

    Ron Tandberg and the preservation of decorum in the House.

    David Pope has Turnbull taking to the air in his ScoMo chopper.

    Alan Moir has created a Christmas board game for Turnbull.

    Mark Knight on John Key’s retirement.
    http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/1a03942e39f5655a3bd742378620116f?width=1024
    Jon Kudelka on Green Army black ops.
    http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/8ac629caa1c27cbfe89513e77db1b46f

  21. “Senator Roberts said One Nation was “the only party” that can build stable international ­relationships with parts of the Trump administration.”

    Oh Good Lord!

    • A cuppla beers with the local barflies..a bit of “if’n you axed me” advice from Ron th’ Barman..and he’ll be back all fired up next season!

    • He’ll be trying to work out if he’s going to be chucked by the HC.

      If he thinks he will be he’ll pull the plug and blame Hanson, if not, then he’ll resign from PHON and stay as an independent.

  26. For the ‘perplexed’ among us an article from The Scientific American.

    Post-Truth: A Guide for the Perplexed

    Science’s quest for knowledge about reality presupposes the importance of truth, both as an end in itself and as a means of resolving problems. How could truth become passé?

    For philosophers like me, post-truth also goes against the grain. But in the wake of the US presidential election and the seemingly endless campaigns preceding it, author Ralph Keyes’s 2004 declaration that we have arrived in a post-truth era seems distressingly plausible.
    Post-truth refers to blatant lies being routine across society, and it means that politicians can lie without condemnation………………………. ‘Don’t bother me with facts’ is no longer a punchline. It has become a political stance. …………Public tolerance of inaccurate and undefended allegations, non sequiturs in response to hard questions and outright denials of facts is shockingly high. Repetition of talking points passes for political discussion, and serious interest in issues and options is treated as the idiosyncrasy of wonks. ……………………………………………

    https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/post-truth-a-guide-for-the-perplexed/

  30. It looks like I have the soap-box to myself, so let’s do a bit of ranting.

    Some THINGS I do NOT like
    Neo-conservatism
    Racism
    Sexism
    Fascism

    Some PEOPLE (living or dead) I do not like
    M Turnbull
    T Abbott
    B Joyce
    P Dutton
    D Trump
    G Bush #2
    R Reagan
    M Thatcher
    J Howard
    A Hitler
    J Stalin

    Some THINGS I DO like
    Socialism
    Climate Change Action
    Gender Equality
    Free Access to Education (Primary,Secondary and Tertiary)
    Medicine sans Frontiers

    Some PEOPLE (living or dead) I do like
    J Gillard
    B Chifley
    J Curtin
    FDR
    Eleanor Roosevelt
    A Lincoln
    K Hepburn
    A Hepburn
    M Monroe
    R Redford
    J Garland
    C James
    L Cohen
    Joe6Pack

    None of the four lists are complete.

    • Some pubites grabbed the soap box while I was typing (I am old and a very slow typist with fatish fingers.

    • One of my favourite actors of all time must be William Holden. I would add him to your list.

      The ones I dislike most, who can be added to your list, would be most journalists and most LNP and ON members.

      I’d also go for rehabilitation, no guns, fewer jails. A fair policy for migrants. Close Manus and Nauru.

  33. There goes the ABC

    Michelle Guthrie has hired Jim Rudder, a veteran consultant to Rupert Murdoch’s global pay-TV company, Sky, to help restructure the ABC.

    A former product executive at Foxtel in Sydney, Rudder has spent most of his career working for Sky. The Australian journalist has consulted for Sky operations in the UK, Germany, Italy, the US and Australia. He also spent a year as news director for Channel Nine in 2003.

    Along with the “business transformation expert” Debra Frances, Rudder was brought in on a short-term contract in November “to assist the Executive in delivering our 2020 strategic objectives”, Guthrie told her executive team in an email.

    The ABC’s managing director said the consultants would advise her on “infrastructure, our processes and our people” and a “strategic approach to lifting performance and transforming work cultures”.

    https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/dec/06/michelle-guthrie-murdoch-consultant-restructure-abc-jim-rudder

  34. Don’t you just love it when the nutters start falling part.

    Hanson is trying to find reasons to push Culleton out while Culleton is looking for excuses to either quit the senate or abandon ON.

    ‘We can’t work with him’: Pauline Hanson unloads on One Nation colleague Rod Culleton
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/we-cant-work-with-him-pauline-hanson-unloads-on-one-nation-colleague-rod-culleton-20161206-gt4rx6.html

    Hanson is also cross with Hinch because he didn’t do what she told him to do. It appears she thinks she is boss of the Senate crossbench.

    This outburst is hilarious, she doesn’t realise she is describing herself perfectly.
    “He loves the limelight, he loves the publicity,” she said. “I think the whole lot has gone to his head.”

    And in other ON news – silly old Dick Smith wants to ‘advise’ ON.
    Dick Smith to help Hanson’s One Nation
    http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/12/06/dick-smith-help-hansons-one-nation

    Hanson probably won’t be interested because Dick won’t be offering money.

  35. brianmcisme

    Love your lists and agree with all so far.

    tlbd

    More like the water almost at boiling point. Unfortunately, there are far too many people unaware of what has been happening, so when the “restructure” takes place, it will be too late.

  37. Happening now -the Palasczuck/Adani presser.

    A lot of lies are being told, especially about jobs.

    Mr Adani, who likes to be called ‘J J’ has just trotted out the ‘we are helping poor people in India’ lie.
    Anastacia should have read these before she leapt into bed with Adani.

    $1bn for the Adani coalmine? Ordinary Australians understand economics better than Turnbull
    If the proposed Adani mine is not viable without public subsidies then the government are backing the wrong horse
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/06/1bn-for-the-adani-coal-mine-ordinary-australians-understand-economics-better-than-turnbull

    Opposition to public funding for Adani rail link outweighs support, poll finds
    Poll commissioned by the Australia Institute finds 41% oppose funding the link between the coalmine and port in north Queensland while 26% support it
    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/06/opposition-to-public-funding-for-adani-rail-link-outweighs-support-poll-finds?CMP=share_btn_tw

    Too many Australian politicians are selling our cows for magic beans.

  40. Click to access Essential-Report_161206.pdf

    https://www.crikey.com.au/2016/12/06/essential-violence-and-abuse-on-the-rise-brandis-the-worst-minister/

    http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/12/05/china-really-isnt-joking-about-taiwan/ a good background piece on just how touchy the general population is about the topic, not just the govt

    http://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-duterte-police-specialrep-idUSKBN13U1VF

    https://mumbrella.com.au/outsiders-name-outsiders-ratings-413920

  43. On te SMH website there is a most peculiar article by a guy called Marc A. Thiessen, The heading to the article, “Donald Trump’s Taiwan call wasn’t a blunder. It was brilliant”, sort of tells where it is going. I read it, thinking it may be satirical but, no,it was dead (I choose that word deliberately in the context) serious. Trump is fair dinkum in annoying China and, according to Thiessen, there will be much more of it.
    I didn’t know who this man was so I did a bit of research. t turns out that Marc was a speech writer both for Bush the Younger and that nasty guy, Donald Rumsfeld. Now that those two jobs are no longer goers, Marc has taken up a position as a Fellow of the American Enterprise Institute. So I guess his article on Trump’s brilliant initiative in Foreign Policy is as full of reasoned, logical thought as that Institute’s stance on Climate Change.
    Of course, in the tradition of Rumsfeld, a USA-China war would bring about a good trade in weapons except that after the first few hours of a nuclear war there ain’t much call any more.for big, costly weapons.

  48. Adagio Dancers of the Mallee.

    The Mallee tree holds rock solid,
    Like a pair of adagio dancers,
    Feet fixed on stage, last step’d,
    Posed, poised and arms svelte-twist’d to the applause:
    Of the rasping cry of cockatoos in delight,
    Sillouhettes against the striking light..
    Silvered limbs naked sheen,
    The dancers twirl under evergreen
    Rustle of sequin’d leaves.
    A glimpse of heaven in between.
    The adagio dancer can never seem,
    As slender-limbed , as argent-sheened,
    As the Mallee trees I have seen.

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