Earthquake

Fiona Uncategorized

This morning, at approx 9:15am, the floor in my study went wild, as did the possums who live in my roof.
I galloped outside to meet OH, who had exited his workshop, and agreed, yes, it’s an earthquake.

It was somewhat concerning across lots of SE Australia, even as far north as Newcastle, the last recipient of a much nastier episode.

More importantly, in my opinion, is that it’s about time Australians grow up and understand that we aren’t immune from catastrophe.

Catastrophes take all sorts of shapes. Weather? Yep! Seismic events? Yep! Meteor impact? Yep! Climate change and the world heating beyond where we can live it it? Yep!

One of these catastrophes is avoidable: get rid of all the politicians and plutocrats who don’t give a flying fiddle about climate change.

758 thoughts on “Earthquake”

  7. A little point I’ve noticed about Friendlyjordies’ political commentary is that he’s homing in on physical attributes of those he’s targeting.

    Like, in his video today attacking Mick Fuller. He made the observation that his mouth is so small it’s like he’s the grown up version of Pete from Round the Twist in the time he had his mouth cursed so that it shrunk.

    And I remember in a podcast that he said that Paul Keating used to do that. Such as one time when he was on campaign and talked to a farmer near Cairns, and the farmer said of Malcolm Fraser that “His eyes are so close together, if I had a dog like that I’d shoot it.” So in one debate in parliament, Fraser was riding high after some speech, then Keating stood up and repeated that insult and it completely ruined Fraser’s day.

    I’m hoping that Jordies can refine this strategy somewhat. Give the Coalition arseholes what they deserve.

  10. Good morning Dawn Patrollers

    Morrison could have done the deal of the century on climate, but opted for tribalism, says George Megalogenis in another good read.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-could-have-done-the-deal-of-the-century-on-climate-but-opted-for-tribalism-20211022-p592ac.html
    In an excoriation of Morrison and his tactics, Peter Hartcher writes that, leaping tall stories in a single bound, this is a government with plenty of front but less substance.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/leaps-tall-stories-in-a-single-bound-a-government-with-plenty-of-front-less-substance-20211022-p592ae.html
    Paul Bongiorno writes about Morrison’s amazing disappearing government.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2021/10/23/morrisons-amazing-disappearing-government/163490760012734
    The federal government remains its own Hermit Kingdom, where pledges bear no resemblance to reality and the truth is what they say it is, writes Laura Tingle who says the cities may be opening but Australia’s politics are closing down.
    https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/the-cities-may-be-opening-but-australia-s-politics-are-closing-down-20211021-p59202
    Things are a bit ragged for Morrison, and it’s not only because of the Coalition’s climate bullfight, says Katherine Murphy.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/23/things-are-a-bit-ragged-for-morrison-and-not-only-because-of-the-coalitions-climate-bullfight
    For all the noise surrounding Scott Morrison’s supposed shift on climate targets, his changes are actually insignificant. But there is a straightforward, three-point path to cut Australia’s emissions by 2030 – if only there were the political will, says Mike Seccombe.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/10/23/the-three-point-plan-morrison-needs-halve-2030-emissions/163490760012732
    The jailing of an ex-NSW Labor minister and the Berejiklian ICAC inquiry show why we need a federal corruption watchdog with teeth, opines Anne Davies.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/23/the-jailing-of-an-ex-nsw-labor-minister-and-the-berejiklian-icac-inquiry-show-why-we-need-a-federal-corruption-watchdog-with-teeth
    Barnaby Joyce is politically stronger when he’s on the attack. Now, he has found himself needing to deliver to Scott Morrison for Glasgow, writes Michelle Grattan.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/natural-contrarian-to-facilitator-in-chief-but-barnaby-joyce-is-stronger-on-the-attack-20211022-p5927f.html
    The AFR’s Michael Pelly and Finbar O’Mallon look at ICAC’s week and they say question time looms for Gladys Berejiklian.
    https://www.afr.com/politics/question-time-looms-for-gladys-berejiklian-20211022-p59274
    Michael McGowan writes that, with slow, patient questioning, ICAC has started to set out its case against Berejiklian.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/23/with-slow-patient-questioning-icac-starts-to-set-out-its-case-against-berejiklian
    Dominic Perrottet’s five-man “Catholic Cabinet” rushed through a deal to deliver control of Sydney’s cemeteries, ergo $5bn in capital, to the Catholic Church, in defiance of independent expert advice, reports Callum Foote who says this dwarfs Gladys’s “gun club frolic”.
    https://www.michaelwest.com.au/perrottets-catholic-cemeteries-bid-dwarfs-gladys-gun-club-scandal/
    Nationals ministers may quit the federal cabinet if the Prime Minister doesn’t agree to their requests in the policy that would sign Australia up to reach net zero emissions by 2050, write Katina Curtis and Mike Foley.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/this-thing-called-democracy-majority-in-nationals-party-room-will-make-net-zero-call-20211022-p5929s.html
    The future is on display – ambitious assurances about a global clean energy revolution in collision with entrenched and alarmed domestic politics. As the Glasgow conference looms, forget any notion that Australia is unique as the Coalition parties struggle to finalise their new stance, writes Paul Kelly.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/climate-of-dissent-has-divided-the-world-ahead-of-glasgow-climate-summit/news-story/fe78af86df979cb436a2026739081ea8
    Mike Foley writes about Nationals voters having long memories and not wanting to be duded again.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/getting-burnt-the-nationals-worry-about-voters-with-long-memories-20211021-p5921o.html
    Zoe Daniel says there are three approaches to climate change, and Australia is choosing the wrong one.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2021/10/22/zoe-daniel-climate-change/
    Karen Middleton tells us that, as Christian Porter is protected in the house of representatives, details have emerged of Alex Hawke’s attempt to wedge Labor on immigration.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/10/23/coalition-attempts-wedge-labor-immigration/163490760012725
    John Kehoe tells us that the NSW Liberal government has proposed curtailing tax breaks for capital gains to reduce investor speculation and curb housing prices, splitting with the Morrison government and embracing a position federal Labor unsuccessfully prosecuted at the last two elections.
    https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/nsw-targets-capital-gains-as-property-tax-fight-erupts-20211022-p592a3
    Ross Gittins sums up his Scott Morrison budget report card with, “could do a hell of a lot better”.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/scott-morrison-s-budget-report-card-could-do-a-hell-of-a-lot-better-20211021-p59251.html
    Crucial testimony to Senate committees, plus parliamentary answers to questions, have gone substantially unreported but tell us one terrible truth – Australia is going to be completely unprepared militarily for any maritime security challenge in the next two decades, without any upgraded submarine capability and more completely reliant on the US than ever before, complains Greg Sheridan.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/sinking-feeling-as-submarine-shambles-dives-to-a-new-low/news-story/20c56d8c919c64ad7af31c6e4e2a538e
    Hugh White’s book on Australian defence amounts to an advocacy of nuclear weapons. Some aspects of his arguments are reckless and reveal a sense of denial, argues Richard Tanter.
    https://johnmenadue.com/a-flawed-argument-for-australian-nuclear-deterrence/
    Michael Pascoe is pleased that the RBA has returned to principles on BNPL fee gouging.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2021/10/22/michael-pascoe-rba-returns-to-principles-on-bnpl-fee-gouge/
    Tom Milroy writes about Melbourne’s joy and trepidation on the road to Christmas.
    https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/joy-and-trepidation-on-the-road-to-christmas-20211020-p591nn
    As the nation reached its first major vaccination milestone of 70 per cent of the 16-plus population double-dosed on Wednesday, attention is now turning to those who will be most at risk of infection, illness and hospitalisation in the next six months, explains Adam Morton.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/10/23/opening-covid-19-cases-could-still-reach-750000/163490760012724
    Like most things the Morrison Government implements, recent sweeping changes to Medicare rebates affect our most vulnerable citizens and have been rushed through under cover of night, with scarcely a murmur from the Government or its media cheer squad, writes Michelle Pini.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/medicare-cuts-prove-the-coalition-is-bad-for-our-health,15657
    Homebuyers will need to earn more than $200,000 a year to buy a mid-range house in more than 270 Sydney suburbs if tougher borrowing limits are introduced, explain Jennifer Duje and Elizabeth Redman.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/homebuyers-to-need-200-000-a-year-in-many-suburbs-if-debt-limits-come-in-20211020-p591ji.html
    John Hewson wonders what the prime minister has against universities.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2021/10/23/what-does-the-prime-minister-have-against-universities/163490760012737
    Peter van Onselen writes about the time he just missed being sexually abused as a thirteen year old.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/child-sexual-abuse-and-the-harm-itcauses/news-story/ce79944f7a66a60357871ef8a1aed68b
    State border restrictions have been an important tool used by state and territory governments to protect their citizens from COVID-19 but unfortunately, the ABC has reported on these restrictions in a politically biased manner, argues Hayden O’Connor.
    https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/abc-showing-liberal-bias-in-lockdown-coverage,15661
    As the spotlight turns on the failure of authorities to seize the $30 million the Obeids secured from a corrupt coal tender, Kate McClymont reveals that some of those ill-gotten gains were used to expand the family’s vast property interests, now worth millions and spanning the globe.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/anger-over-obeids-keeping-ill-gotten-gains-that-helped-build-property-empire-worth-millions-20211022-p592fy.html
    Doctors have warned the hundreds of thousands of people who brought forward their second AstraZeneca dose during Sydney’s Delta outbreak not to delay their booster shot. (Fortunately Mrs BK and I waited the full twelve weeks.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/people-who-fast-tracked-astrazeneca-warned-not-to-skip-booster-20211022-p5928x.html
    Tristin Ewins posits that rejecting the cashless welfare card would be a good start for Labor, but further cultural change is necessary.
    https://theaimn.com/rejecting-the-cashless-welfare-card-a-good-start-for-labor-but-further-cultural-change-necessary/
    It’s our ABC, but the national broadcaster remains at the whims of the government of the day, which headed by Scott Morrison is a long way from the friendly camp, writes Quentin Dempster.
    https://johnmenadue.com/expect-to-hear-from-ita-buttrose-as-abc-faces-uncertain-funding-future/
    Lisa Visentin and Katina Curtis report that historians have criticised federal Education Minister Alan Tudge for “playing politics with Australian children”, warning that his push to make the national curriculum more positive about the nation would not give students a full account of the past.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/playing-politics-with-australian-children-historians-take-tudge-to-task-on-curriculum-20211022-p592aj.html
    Yesterday I the US the House voted to hold Steve Bannon, a long time ally and aide to former president Donald Trump, in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the committee investigating the violent January 6 Capitol insurrection.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-ally-steve-bannon-held-in-contempt-by-house-for-defying-subpoena-20211022-p59278.html
    The US supreme court allowed a Texas law that bans the vast majority of abortions to temporarily remain in effect, but will hear arguments on 1 November. The law, known as Senate Bill 8, bans the procedure after roughly six weeks gestation or before most women know they are pregnant.
    https://www.theguardian.com/law/2021/oct/22/supreme-court-texas-abortion-ban-arguments
    Finally, Facebook can say it’s not the most toxic social network, says Marina Hyde.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/22/facebook-social-network-donald-trump-mark-zuckerberg
    Here’s today’s nomination for “Arsehole of the Week”.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/former-christian-college-teacher-pleads-guilty-to-child-sex-offences-20211022-p59283.html

    Cartoon Corner

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    Leak

    The Guardian gives us a collection of the best cartoons of the year.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/gallery/2021/oct/23/synchronised-spinning-and-the-invisible-pm-australias-best-political-cartoons-of-2021

    From the US










  11. John Hewson wonders what the prime minister has against universities.

    Well for a start those university bastards teach young people the world was not created 6,000 years ago.

  13. “Doctors have warned the hundreds of thousands of people who brought forward their second AstraZeneca dose during Sydney’s Delta outbreak not to delay their booster shot. (Fortunately Mrs BK and I waited the full twelve weeks.”

    Told youse taking the advice to have your second shot earlier was dodgy. I waited the full 12 weeks, getting my 2nd dose just before Delta hit.

    If the manufacturers of a vaccine tell you it needs two doses a certain interval apart then their advice is based on solid research. It should not be over-ruled by CMOs pushing an agenda to “open up” Australia far too soon.

    What happens to boosters now Scovid has decided AZ will no longer be manufactured in Australia by “early next year”? Are those needing AZ boosters next year to be fobbed off with something else which may not have the same efficacy?

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-14/opposition-aid-groups-urge-government-extend-csl-astra-zeneca/100539494

  14. Exactly, Kon.

  15. Singapore’s experience after jumping out from under the doona.

    Covid 19 coronavirus: Singapore extends restrictions amid deadly outbreak

    ……….After pursuing a Covid-zero strategy, the virus was virtually eliminated and the nation emerged from lockdown with an incredibly low death toll.

    It is also one of the most vaccinated countries on Earth, with the Ministry of Health confirming 84 per cent of the population was fully vaccinated this week.

    For most of the pandemic, Singapore, like Australia, was committed to a zero transmission model – but in June this year, that all changed, when the government announced a drastic pivot to instead “live with Covid”………….A total of 18 people died from Covid in Singapore on Wednesday, a grim new record for the tiny nation of just 5.6 million.

    That same day, 3862 new cases were recorded, followed by 2937 on Thursday.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/covid-19-coronavirus-singapore-extends-restrictions-amid-deadly-outbreak/3AY6HR5DOF6N7M4TXIH6LWPWN4/

  16. Not sure if this has been posted, but a good post on The Shot.

    https://theshot.net.au/general-news/263-days-later/

    Today is the last day of Victoria’s sixth lockdown, the worst one since the worst one, 78 days and no longer counting. More significantly, it is potentially the last day of lockdown in Melbourne, period.

    From this distance, none of us can properly comprehend the depth of the wounds gouged into Victorian minds, bodies, and souls over 263 days of hard lockdown, a relentless assault of nothing. Countless lives have been saved by our isolation, by the severed connections and missed moments, by the endless days that evaporate into mist and leave nothing behind.

    But it has been hard. It has been a lot.

  17. Curioz

    Mix and match , all good. Hot off the press……..
    .
    21 October 2021
    Mix-and-match COVID vaccines ace the effectiveness test

    ………………….One took took place in Sweden, where the health authorities severely curtailed the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine, which relies on a weakened chimpanzee cold virus. As a result, more than 100,000 people in Sweden received a dose of AstraZeneca, followed by an mRNA-based jab — either the vaccine from Moderna in Cambridge, Massachusetts, or the one developed by pharmaceutical company Pfizer, based in New York City, and biotechnology firm BioNTech in Mainz, Germany.
    https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02853-4

    • I was thinking the same thing.

  22. Rachel Maddow was very scathing on Alec Baldwin shooting the cinematographer
    1. he pointed a gun at some one
    2. real gun rather than gun modified to not accept live ammo
    3. there was an industrial dispute studio workers were stood down and replaced by non-union workers,
    4. armourer was new on set
    5. the dead woman had been the union spokesperson
    6. there had been gun discharge issues with same gun previously on set

    ==> I think some one likes shooting guns and lost their temper

  24. Good morning Dawn Patrollers. And now I’m off set the sprinkler going over at the oval for the first time this spring/summer.

    James Massola tells us that leaked text messages reveal Nationals MP were fuming after details of their list of demands for agreeing to a net zero emissions target were canvassed publicly, before they had seen it, with one accusing the Prime Minister’s office of leaking it. Could be popcorn time coming up.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/nationals-mps-group-chat-explodes-over-climate-pmo-leak-claims-20211022-p592e8.html
    Cristina Talacko says that the Nationals must account for the cost of climate inaction, too.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7481549/the-nationals-must-account-for-the-cost-of-climate-inaction-too/?cs=14264
    Nick O’Malley looks at COP26 and wonders how Australia’s soft shoe shuffle might be received.
    https://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/cop26-how-will-the-oz-soft-shoe-climate-shuffle-be-received-20211021-p5922s.html
    Jacqui Maley begins this well-aimed spit with, “Don’t call it a blind trust. Call it a trick, an attempted sleight of hand, a work-around by someone who knows the rules well enough to skirt them adeptly.”
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/a-blind-trust-certainly-the-government-is-keeping-voters-blind-as-to-porter-s-secret-donors-20211022-p592du.html
    In a very thoughtful contribution, Jon Faine tells us what he will miss from Melbourne’s lockdown.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/what-i-will-miss-from-melbourne-s-lockdown-20211022-p592ca.html
    “We know where Perrottet stands – but is he pragmatic enough to be popular?”, asks Paul Daley.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/23/we-know-where-perrottet-stands-but-is-he-pragmatic-enough-to-be-popular
    Victorian hospitality workers could be set for better wages, but customers may have to pay more for food and drink as businesses fight over a small pool of experienced bar and restaurant staff during Melbourne’s re-opening.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/scramble-for-hospitality-workers-may-mean-better-wages-and-higher-prices-20211022-p592df.html
    The Government is contemplating a substantial increase in immigration, boosting the Pacific Australian Labour Mobility Scheme and introducing the new Agriculture Visa, so it’s worth reflecting on where things are at with Australia’s biggest ever labour trafficking scam, writes Abul Rizvi.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/update-of-australias-biggest-ever-labour-trafficking-scam,15663
    People who come before the courts for cocaine possession are far more likely to escape conviction than ice or heroin offenders, a phenomenon some lawyers and police attribute partly to an unfair disparity in how the drugs – and their users – are perceived, writes Fergus Hunter.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/meth-junkies-aren-t-turning-up-with-a-qc-why-cocaine-users-often-escape-conviction-20211016-p590in.html
    As Australia surpasses a first dose rate of more than 86%, doctors and pharmacists say discussions they are having with patients still yet to receive their first vaccine dose are becoming more challenging.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/a-woman-offered-a-bribe-to-fake-her-vaccination-then-the-unexpected-happened-20211022-p592dt.html
    The federal government will announce the companies it wants to kickstart mRNA vaccine manufacturing in Australia in coming weeks, with a final decision imminent. James Massola reports that the decision will open the door to the development and manufacturing of the high-tech mRNA vaccines in Australia, including COVID-19 jabs, and position Australia as a leader in the ground-breaking technology.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/mrna-vaccine-decision-imminent-as-new-covid-ads-launch-20211022-p592e7.html
    Australian Christian Lobby boss Martyn Iles has boasted the Morrison government will include a controversial “Israel Folau clause” in its looming religious discrimination laws, in audio that has since been scrubbed from the internet.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/christian-lobby-boasts-religious-freedom-laws-will-include-folau-clause-20211022-p592ea.html
    The ABC’s vibe may be more left than right, but ‘cancelling’ it is not the answer, argues Jacob Gersh.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-abc-s-vibe-may-be-more-left-than-right-but-cancelling-it-is-not-the-answer-20211021-p5921v.html

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    From the US




  25. The Chaser –
    At NOB, our bank has a massive role in lending money to fossil fuel projects, while still making it look like we give a shit about climate change.

    • So why is NAB lending money to the 50% Chinese-owned Port of Newcastle?

      Why involve a loan from an Australian bank when China has plenty of funds?

      Why can’t the very shady Australian (?) half-owner The Infrastructure Fund finance whatever is needed? After all, financing infrastructure is their business.

      This is an attempt by NAB to explain.
      PORT OF NEWCASTLE DEAL – KEY FACTS
      https://news.nab.com.au/port-of-newcastle-deal-key-facts/

      Don’t you just love the part on preventing human slavery?

      The Federal Act [which act?] is a modern slavery risk management disclosure obligation. It isn’t prescriptive about how to manage and measure that risk (it asks you to explain what you do).
      There are provisions in the sustainability-linked loan that incentivise specific modern slavery risk management practices and allow us to measure Port of Newcastle’s performance for modern slavery risk.
      Specifically, Port of Newcastle will screen all suppliers and engage with the medium and high risk suppliers to work through any identified modern slavery issues

      Pretty ludicrous considering the current (hopefully not for long) federal government is encouraging slavery through its horrid policies, especially on social security, with a special mention of the so-called “JobSeeker”.

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