A most briefe and pleasaunte treatise teachyng how to dresse, sowe and set a garden**
Chillies and why you should try growing them. Variety is the spice of life and these spicy plants have variety in spades. You will never run out of variations in size, color, and shape or heat level. There is at least one out there perfect for you.
Before moving on to some ‘why you shoulds’ let’s look at some ‘why you won’ts’.
A most briefe and pleasaunte treatise teachyng how to dresse, sowe and set a garden*
If there are any interested in giving it a go after reading this I have put together a variety pack of seeds. Heat from zero to world’s hottest. Colours, red, white, chocolate, yellow, peach. Shapes, pea shaped, 30 cm ‘ribbons’, ‘normal’. Large plant, small 30-60cm plants. Included in each bundle will be growing instructions. Or more accurately what I have found to work in WA. Drop a note to ‘management’ or leave a message on the blog and we will get them out to you.
Chillies and why you should try growing them. Variety is the spice of life and these spicy plants have variety in spades. You will never run out of variations in size, color, and shape or heat level. There is at least one out there perfect for you.
Before moving on to some ‘why you shoulds’ let’s look at some ‘why you won’ts’.
A small or no garden at all? There are plants that happily grow indoors in 150-200mm pots, just provide some sunshine. But even then I grew a specimen of the then world’s hottest chillie which never received direct sunlight. Apart from leaves displaying ‘gigantism’ it was fine. The beauty of the chillie plant is that you do not have to have a big garden to grow sufficient quantities. One or two plants can supply you for months. A super hot one will keep you supplied with fresh and dried chillie spice all year.
2) A Hot & Spicy Food Wimp? Definitely not an excuse. There are varieties as mild as a capsicum. There is also no need to actually eat them. Many look great just as an ornamental. The pods can be any number of colors and shapes and look good against the green foliage, lasting for weeks or months. There are some who sport purple leaves for added colour.
3) Lack a green thumb? You are in luck. While there are some chillies that need a bit of tlc there are others that are relatively tough. Ones such as the Tepin/Chiltepin, the State Chillie of Texas. They grow in semi arid areas. I have found chillies to be relatively pest and disease free. Although where you live might have voracious insects and plant lurgies we do not have in the Wild Wild West The big secret is maintaining water supply and an occasional feed.
The chilli growing bug bit me over 20 years ago, prompted by a simple desire. Since then it has provided many joys and the occasional disappointment. But always there is next season, renewed hope, new varieties and this time doing it right’.
A small or no garden at all? There are plants that happily grow indoors in 150-200mm pots, just provide some sunshine. But even then I grew a specimen of the then world’s hottest chillie which never received direct sunlight. Apart from leaves displaying ‘gigantism’ it was fine. The beauty of the chillie plant is that you do not have to have a big garden to grow sufficient quantities. One or two plants can supply you for months. A super hot one will keep you supplied with fresh and dried chillie spice all year.
2) A Hot & Spicy Food Wimp? Definitely not an excuse. There are varieties as mild as a capsicum. There is also no need to actually eat them. Many look great just as an ornamental. The pods can be any number of colors and shapes and look good against the green foliage, lasting for weeks or months. There are some who sport purple leaves for added colour.
3) Lack a green thumb? You are in luck. While there are some chillies that need a bit of tlc there are others that are relatively tough. Ones such as the Tepin/Chiltepin, the State Chillie of Texas. They grow in semi arid areas. I have found chillies to be relatively pest and disease free. Although where you live might have voracious insects and plant lurgies we do not have in the Wild Wild West The big secret is maintaining water supply and an occasional feed.
The chilli growing bug bit me over 20 years ago, prompted by a simple desire. Since then it has provided many joys and the occasional disappointment. But always there is next season, renewed hope, new varieties and this time doing it right’.
One of the great adventures the growing of chillies takes you on is a trip from the garden to the world’s kitchens. Across the globe there are a myriad of cuisines that call for particular chillies prepared in a particular way. Be it the incredibly useful smokey Merkin powder of the Mapuche people using Cacho de Cabre chillies or Prik Kaeng Kiao Wan (a green curry) from Thailand using Green Bird Eye chillies to Hungarian Sajtos Toltott Paprika using Hungarian Wax chillies. The heat scale of the dishes ranging from mild to wild……………………well. nuclear J . I may have been growing chillies for a long time but I still prefer not to mix pain and pleasure. The foolproof formula is – it’s twice as hot, use half as much !
The ‘heat’ from chillies comes from several related chemicals called Capsaicins. To show you the difference a few atoms make, capsaicin is a vanilloid, a ‘cuzzy bro’ of vanilla. Heat is measured on the Scoville Heat Units scale. Word of the day ‘Organoleptic’. Organoleptic testing was how the heat level of chillies was originally measured. It often still is. It sounds ‘high tech’ but it really is ‘suck it and see’. The Scoville rating measures how many times a measure of chillie can be diluted using sugar water and ‘heat’ still be detected by a panel of tasters .To give you an idea of how hot is hot and how NOT HOT a Jalapeno actually is…..
| Chilli | Scovile Heat Units (SHU) |
| Jalapeno | 2,500-8,000 |
| Thai Birds Eye | 50,000-100,000 |
| Habanero | 100,000-350,000 |
| Pepper Spray | 2,000,000+ |
| Carolina Reaper (world’s hottest) | 1,650,000-2,200,00 |
The ‘burn’ from capsaicins has a couple of interesting aspects, it stimulates the same pain pathway as an actual burn. Unlike other hot spices such as pepper, the body becomes increasingly tolerant to the effects of capsaicins. Like drug addicts, chillieheads need larger and larger doses to get the endorphin rush.
In addition to the culinary world there is, if you wish to enter it, a large community of ‘chillieheads’ out there. People who will help you out with advice, hints, seeds or recipes. No one is going to get rich out of the hobby so none of the crap which goes along with anything that involves big bucks or hope for big bucks. A number of Australian cities have chillie festivals. Drop in to one when they, eventually, run again.
Lastly, there is the simple pleasure of growing something. Watching something go from seed to setting fruit is just a few months. The plants look good, taste good and are the fruits of your own labour. The chillies themselves can often be a great conversation starter or common point of interest with others. There is always someone in your circle who likes a bit of HOT …
… and you can provide it. They will appreciate something different to the limited variety sold in shops. Especially if it is a very hot one as they are rarely available. Although I did see a local Coled selling the world’s hottest chillie in late 2019, Carolina Reaper, $5.50 for 10 grams , OMG $550 a kg !!!. So even if they are too hot for you there will be someone that will greatly appreciate some fresh ones.
Kitchen Korner. Last season I tried making a Lactofermented Chillie sauce. The chillie version of the sour dough bread craze. Lacto sauces became ‘trendy’, chock full of buzz words like “probiotic’ so they ‘gotta be good’ eh? The ubiquitous Tabasco sauce uses the method. If you have been to Asian eating places you likely came across Sriracha chillie sauce, another lactofermented sauce. Once you know the basics it is very easy and non labour intensive.
Lactofermentation
Apart from the sauces mentioned you will already be familiar with foods produced using this method, kimchi and sauerkraut. The process involves putting fruit/spices/vegetables in a brine strong enough to kill off the ‘bad’ bacteria but not the lactobacillus that naturally live on the fruit and vege.The same bugs that spoil milk. As they digest the sugars they produce lactic acid which lowers the pH and so preserves the vegetable. Apart from general cleanliness THE one thing to remember is to end up with about 2.5% salt.
Equipment.
Fermentation Jar.
Although there are jars designed specifically for this, an Agee jar or similar is quite OK to use. Whatever jar you choose make up enough of the ingredients to fill with 5 or so cm from the top. During fermentation the jar needs to be sealed from the air. If you have a container with an air lock, fantastic. If not then 1/2 to 3/4 fill a resealable plastic bag with water. Place it on top of the brine and sauce ingredients so as to exclude contact with air and keep the ingredients below the surface.
Ingredients
A basic recipe. Adjust quantities to suit your jar.
1) Rock/Sea Salt. NOT iodised salt
2) Boiled and cooled water. Roughly enough to fill your glass container
3) 350g Green Jalapeno. Type of chillie and quantity to suit your taste
4) 225g chopped celery, stalk and leaves
5) 1 chopped green bell pepper or one that matches colour of chillies
6) 2 cloves garlic minced. (optional)
7) 1 medium onion sliced
8) 1 tsp coriander seeds
Weigh ingredients 3 to 8. Then weigh out 2.5% of their weight in rock salt/sea salt. Put salt to one side. (easy peasy calc., just divide weight by 40)
Place vegetables and spices into jar. Pack down a little. Pour in water until water is a cm or two above the sauce ingredients.
Pour the water back out of the jar and measure its weight. Divide weight by 40 and add that quantity of rock/sea salt to the water. Also add the salt you weighed out for sauce ingredients 3 to 8. Dissolve the salt and then pour back into the jar of ingredients. Seal the jar with the zip lock bag of water. Ensure all the ingredients are a cm or two below the surface of the brine.
Fermentation should begin in 1-4 days. During fermentation a white ‘powder’ may form on the surface. This is Kahm yeast. Not dangerous but supposedly gives a bitter taste. Just carefully skim it off the top. Easy to do as it is extremely hydrophobic.
Leave to ferment for 2-4 weeks. You can process it then or wait a little longer to let the flavours develop. I left a mash of pure Carolina Reaper for 6 months. The original Tabasco was left 2-3 years.
Processing. After fermentation strain out sauce ingredients and retain the liquid. Place the veggie/spice mix in a blender. Turn on the blender and slowly add the retained fluid until the sauce is of the consistency you want. A good option is to add ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar before adding the liquid. Adding ½ tablespoon citric acid will also help preserve it or the juice of a lemon instead
Once the sauce has been ‘blitzed’ you can either work it through a sieve to remove pulp or use as is. The extra work of getting it through the sive means your sauce should not separate on sitting. I never bother. Just keep it in the fridge and shake before use.
At the start of this I mentioned my chillie adventure started 20+ years ago from a simple desire. What was that desire? Revenge! While watching cricket and enjoying a few cleansing ales with a Scottish mate – he kept munching on some homemade pickled chillies he’d made. Eventually he offered me one, assuring me they were nae hot. Following his example and taking his word I tore into one. 10 seconds later “I’m melting’. I did not realise back then that you become tolerant to effects of capsaicin ‘with practice’, he had lots of ‘practice’. A month later I read an article about a new world record chillie in the US and a plan was born. Not legally exportable at the time and e-commerce in the early days I set about getting seeds and growing some. 18 months after ‘the incident’ a very very cold dish of ‘revenge’ was served. Ah the sweet sight of a gruff Glaswegian from The Gorbals trying to make out he was not in agony despite the gasping, red face, tears and sweat dripping off him. He did very well though considering how much of the pod he ate. So here’s to you Alex me old mate, now in the great Highlands in the Sky. Thank you for the road you sent me down,
*Nebru 7 Pod .Kaffeeklatscher is the very proud ‘parent’ of this variety. An accidental cross I grew that turned out to be ‘most excellent’ and now sold in places as far away as Texas and Croatia. It has earned for me exactly $0.00 but inner ‘chuffedness ‘= Priceless.
**Thomas Hill . Published 1588.
FREE STUFF FOR PUB PATRONS
If there are any interested in giving it a go after reading this I have put together a variety pack of seeds. Heat from zero to world’s hottest. Colours, red, white, chocolate, yellow, peach. Shapes, pea shaped, 30 cm ‘ribbons’, ‘normal’. Large plant, small 30-60cm plants. Included in each bundle will be growing instructions. Or more accurately what I have found to work in WA. Send an email to poroti2ATbigpond.com if you would like one and I will post one to your avatar.
THE PUB 
I’ve noticed a couple of things that stand out to me regarding Question Time over the past 2 days.
The new Speaker seems to need hearing aids or to have any existing ones turned up a bit.
It’s obvious that Morrison has been hit with many more questions than usual. He seems to be toning down his volume and being less forceful with his presentation.
I think he has become a bit concerned that his voice might not hold out till Thursday’s QT.
The Treasurer is a possibility if he continues to hit higher decibel levels when answering an Opposition question.
friendlyjordies –
Julian Hill –
Rachel Maddow –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I4Z9FqBHVU
Chris Hayes –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXEv3RWDBas
Brian Tyler Cohen –
I expect an army of white-coated men with strait-jackets is about to enter the House.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/nov/24/australia-politics-live-coalition-backbench-morrison-joyce-barnaby-liberal-labor-politics-corona-victoria-sydney-andrews-perrottet-porter-alp-lnp-canberra?filterKeyEvents=false
https://youtu.be/3fiWpuj2zEA
Someone has been eating magic mushrooms.
Razz (and I), went to doctors to have a check on ‘ulcer’ on her foot. She mentioned that her right leg has died, she’s lost a lot strength in her arm, is generally getting very uncoordinated over the last week. In transferring she has miscalculated four times. First time I got the ambulance as it was 2am. Second time was at 7am that same morning, so I rang my son. The third time we managed to get her on her recliner chair, and the fourth time was an almost woops but I was able to get to her in time.
Any way, the doctor said maybe it’s time to have a dose of IV prednisone. Doctor wrote letter with all relevant meds and latest x-rays, neuro correspondence. Up to ED we trot, to have the first infusion.
Two and half hours before we were seen and examined. Another hour later, person popped their head in to say it could be another hour or so, they have to contact the neuro. You have to be kidding. At 4.30pm they would have a much better chance of contacting Santa Clause. Razz has had MS for over 35 years, she knows what her body needs. We both know (as does our Doctor) what was needed, how much, and the way it is done.
We both looked at each other, said thanks but no thanks after four and a half hours. And left. I haven’t felt this angry for a long time.
Been there, done that, got the teeshirt etc.
The thing that annoyed me most was when we went to anywhere, shops, hairdressers or even physio and doc’s, they would always ask me questions about what my wife (at the time) needed or wanted. So I just said why don’t you ask her, usually in an annoyed fashion b/c it happened almost all the time.
Anyway virtual hugs to you and Razz and hang in there, you know whats best. 👩🦽👍👌
2gravel, that’s not good at all, As well as the anger there’d have to be straight-out exhaustion from all the waiting around and uncertainty. Your doctor may not be too impressed – they obviously made sure everything was done thoroughly.
I hope someone in ED can make sure you and the neuro are in the same place at the same time so Razz can get the treatment she needs.without any more stuff-ups.
Helen
I don’t blame you for being angry, not one bit. Been through similar stuffing around years ago. It is not fun being left sitting around for hours while whoever you are supposed to see faffs around or has gone home.
As you say, Razz knows what her body needs. How dare they leave her sitting there!
Many virtual hugs to you both.
How disappointing!
Been there, and felt the rising anger that has to be damped down or risk getting blackballed!
I hope all goes well and Razz gets the medical care she needs when and where she needs it.. Razz, as you said, knows her body best.
Sending you wishes for the best and gentle virtual hugs.
Stephen Colbert –
Jimmy Kimmel –
What’s next for Scovid: Riverdance?
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/24/scott-morrison-did-a-jig-following-approval-of-16bn-gas-project-labelled-a-disaster-by-green-groups
Red hot momma Katharine
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/24/coalition-mps-may-not-be-plotting-to-topple-scott-morrison-but-succession-jockeying-is-absolutely-under-way
He has made it in the UK!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10232717/Scott-Morrison-screams-Labor-launching-personal-attacks.html#v-4783964611939512740
Hawaii, bushfires, Cobargo …
A well-chosen Australian of the Year
F.M –
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/24/do-the-far-rightesque-rallies-around-australia-mean-the-left-has-utterly-failed
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Niki Savva begins this critique with, “A few weeks ago one federal MP, a veteran of countless leadership wars, surveyed the wreckage surrounding the Prime Minister then concluded that if it wasn’t for the pandemic, Scott Morrison would no longer be in the job.”
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/prayers-plots-and-paranoia-as-pm-fights-to-rescue-credibility-20211124-p59bkp.html
Coalition MPs may not be plotting to topple Scott Morrison, but succession jockeying is absolutely under way, writes Katherine Murphy
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/24/coalition-mps-may-not-be-plotting-to-topple-scott-morrison-but-succession-jockeying-is-absolutely-under-way
Scott Morrison is in trouble. For someone who doesn’t hold a hose, he’s surrounded by grassfires in one of the most febrile environments in decades, writes Dennis Shanahan.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/keep-calm-and-carry-on-its-scott-morrisons-only-way/news-story/f7e10be916d1366fd40f6f3e54972474
Michelle Grattan sums things up with, “For a leader with something of a fetish about having things under control, Scott Morrison is in a painful place. Just now, it seems, very little is controllable. He’s beset from the right and the left of his party, which was quiescent for so long. The Senate is in gridlock, as far as contested government legislation is concerned. And all that is apart from the assault on his own character and credibility, which Labor prosecutes daily.”
https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-scott-morrison-warns-disorderly-troops-against-putting-a-smile-on-labors-face-172423
According to David Crowe, a political storm over religious freedom has set up a test for Prime Minister Scott Morrison over schools that sack gay teachers or expel gay students, with Liberal MPs calling for faster action to fix the problem alongside laws to be put to Parliament today.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/fix-it-now-liberal-mps-urge-morrison-to-protect-gay-students-teachers-20211124-p59bqj.html
Simon Benson and Geoff Chambers say that a growing rump of conservative Liberal MPs has urged Scott Morrison to avoid further “watering down” of the government’s religious discrimination bill and not buckle under pressure from moderate colleagues.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/no-retreat-on-religious-discrimination-bill-mps-tell-scott-morrison/news-story/7956d84cd8650a4ec18483a8d3035159
Crowe says Morrison’s unholy mess on religious freedom should have been settled already.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-pm-s-unholy-mess-on-religious-freedom-should-have-been-settled-already-20211124-p59bv3.html
Elenie Poulus argues that the new religious discrimination bill will cause damage to Australian society that will be difficult to heal.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7523991/new-religious-discrimination-bill-will-cause-damage-to-australian-society/?cs=14258
Labor’s leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, has said the party’s “principal position” on the religious discrimination bill is that it should not reduce protections for other Australians.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/24/labor-says-religious-discrimination-bill-should-not-come-at-a-cost-to-other-australians
Law professor, George Williams, argues that there are better ways to protect religious freedom.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/there-are-better-ways-to-protect-religious-freedom/news-story/262c6052b8d7a6dee5d6576b4eca21aa
Sarah Martin and Paul Karp report that Michaelia Cash has left open the possibility of making further changes to the proposed religious discrimination act, as she defends the controversial statement of belief clause facing widespread criticism, including from moderate Liberals.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/25/coalition-will-consider-changes-to-religious-discrimination-bill-after-senate-inquiry-michaelia-cash-says
Tom McIlroy writes that political positioning over Scott Morrison’s long-awaited religious freedom laws risks leaving corporate bosses at the altar, with new exemptions from anti-discrimination rules paving the way for statements at work and on social media that may cause offence.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/the-big-problem-for-business-in-the-religious-freedom-bill-20211124-p59bq4
Royce Millar reports that the Andrews government has vowed to fight attempts by the federal government to override state anti-discrimination laws, paving the way for a possible High Court stoush over religious rights.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/morrison-s-religious-discrimination-bill-could-face-high-court-showdown-as-victoria-digs-in-20211124-p59bpk.html
According to Sarah Martin, Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer is prepared to cross the floor to support a federal integrity commission bill being proposed by independent MP Helen Haines, as she hits out at government “inertia” over the legislation.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/25/liberal-mp-attacks-morrison-government-for-failing-to-act-on-integrity-commission-pledge
Chris Barratt reports that France has pointedly omitted Australia in laying out its Indo-Pacific strategy as its fury simmers over the ripping up of a $90 billion submarine deal and President Emmanuel Macron’s claim that Prime Minister Scott Morrison lied to him.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/france-snubs-australia-as-it-outlines-indo-pacific-vision-20211124-p59bp6.html
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has urged all MPs to be transparent in response to scrutiny of their travel in the wake of Nationals MP George Christensen’s two-year bid to block the release of a police letter about his frequent visits to the Philippines.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/george-christensen-urged-to-be-transparent-as-he-attempts-to-block-afp-letter-20211124-p59bq8.html
Almost two-thirds of NSW voters support voluntary assisted dying and 11 per cent are opposed as a bill to legalise euthanasia is expected to pass the state’s lower house today, writes Alexandra Smith.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/broad-support-for-assisted-dying-ahead-of-vote-on-controversial-bill-20211124-p59btz.html
And Smith refers to a new poll that shows Berejiklian’s halo has not slipped.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/berejiklian-s-halo-has-not-slipped-survey-shows-20211124-p59bop.html
Australia is on the cusp of a remarkable public health achievement, yet the national mood has turned sour. Gareth Parker tries to fathom why some are so angry. He wonders if governments will reach a point where they conclude that they cannot help those who refuse to help themselves
https://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/with-australia-on-the-cusp-of-conquering-the-pandemic-why-are-some-so-angry-20211123-p59bja.html
The extraordinary take-up of the vaccines by ordinary Australians puts into striking context the anti-vax politicking on the populist right, says the editorial in the AFR.
https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/mad-anti-vax-populism-no-mainstream-outbreak-20211123-p59bga
Face-to-face appointments for the unvaccinated could be banned at some SA clinics as practices report workers being left in tears by patients upset about masks and Covid rules.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/aldingas-rowley-road-clinic-warns-aggressive-patients-will-be-banned-after-covid-attacks/news-story/5c5b2a5703088716593b7ebbb37c92e6
Australia has record job vacancies, but don’t expect it to lead to higher wages, explains economics professor, Jeff Borland.
https://theconversation.com/australia-has-record-job-vacancies-but-dont-expect-it-to-lead-to-higher-wages-172146
Household power bills are set to fall over the next three years as state government commitments to cut greenhouse gases drive an influx of cheaper renewable power into the electricity grid, writes Mike Foley who tells us the Australian Bureau of Statistics has found that the amount of electricity generated by renewables in financial year 2020 had grown by 15 per cent on the previous 12 months.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/renewable-energy-to-drive-down-household-power-bills-over-next-three-years-20211124-p59bnv.html
A federal government-backed plan to turn Tasmania into a power hub supplying the big cities in the southeast of the mainland would be a costly dud, according to a Victoria University-linked energy researcher, reports Bloomberg’s James Thornhill.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/tesla-batteries-seen-undercutting-australia-s-7-1b-marinus-link-project-20211124-p59btc.html
Ignore the spin, Australia already has two carbon taxes, explains Alan Kohler who says that the government is not really focused on reducing emissions, only on appearing to be focused on reducing emissions, while paying coal-fired stations to stay open and stopping farmers planting too many trees.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2021/11/25/carbon-taxes-australia-kohler/
Australia’s net zero plan is a techno-optimist thought-bubble: it has an inappropriate objective, no clear priorities, and no realistic costing, argues Ian Dunlop.
https://johnmenadue.com/australias-bare-minimum-emissions-plan-rates-zero-all-round/
The SMH editorial says the role of Police Commissioner in NSW is almost as much about politics as law enforcement and that could be the biggest challenge for Karen Webb, who yesterday became the first woman to be appointed to the job. It believes one of her biggest job is to rebuild links with the community.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-police-boss-must-rebuild-links-with-community-20211124-p59btl.html
News Corp columnists have continued to beat the bushes for the Coalition at fundraising events, the latest batch of political donations shows. That may be no surprise. The question is whether they have been joined by the grey eminence of The Australian, Paul Kelly. Stephanie Tran digs around the disclosures.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/revealed-rupert-murdochs-crack-team-of-liberal-party-fundraisers/
Non-government NSW MPs were excluded from funding announcements worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in their electorates under a regional grants program that saw 83.5 per cent of funding awarded to Coalition seats. Lucy Cormack tells us that documents produced under parliamentary order have revealed that even where non-Coalition seats were awarded grants, government MPs were tasked with announcing them, without consulting local members.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/cross-party-alliance-against-fly-in-fly-out-grants-scheme-in-regional-nsw-20211124-p59bs7.html
The wrecking ball Trump took to the global trading system is still swinging, with implications for Australian trade and even the survival of the WTO, explains professor of international politics, Gary Sampson.
https://johnmenadue.com/us-china-tit-for-tat-tariff-stoush-fosters-a-protection-racket/
Low interest rates and the housing stimulus keep Australia’s construction strong. Greg Jericho looks at what lies in store.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2021/nov/25/low-interest-rates-and-the-housing-stimulus-keep-australias-construction-strong-but-what-lies-in-store
Peter Dutton will receive $35,000 in damages after he won a defamation case against refugee advocate Shane Bazzi, who referred to the politician as a “rape apologist” on social media.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/peter-dutton-wins-defamation-case-against-refugee-advocate-shane-bazzi-20211124-p59bn6.html
Luke Henriques-Gomes tells us that government data shows tens of thousands of people experiencing homelessness, living with disabilities or who are Indigenous are being disproportionately affected by welfare payment suspensions under the mutual obligation regime.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/25/most-vulnerable-are-worst-affected-by-welfare-payment-suspensions-government-data-reveals
The Conversation outlines five big ideas on how Australia can tackle climate change while restoring nature, culture and communities.
https://theconversation.com/5-big-ideas-how-australia-can-tackle-climate-change-while-restoring-nature-culture-and-communities-172156
Australian favourites Myer, Just Jeans, Peter Alexander have been named and shamed in a new list of “naughty or nice” brands for failing to spill the beans on where and how their clothes are made, reports Matthew Elmas.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2021/11/25/supply-chain-retail/
Fergus Hunter writes that an alleged far-right extremist in Tamworth has been charged with advocating terrorism and violence against racial minorities and political leaders.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/alleged-right-wing-extremist-charged-with-urging-violence-against-politicians-racial-groups-20211124-p59bsh.html
Kaye Lee examines James McGrath’s crusade against the ABC.
https://theaimn.com/james-mcgraths-crusade-against-the-abc/
As we head into another summer, we must acknowledge that our volunteers are still dealing with the impacts of previous fire seasons, explains John Bale who refers to an extensive university study.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/volunteer-firefighters-are-struggling-we-must-reach-in-to-help-them-20211122-p59axx.html
AstraZeneca maker suggests it’s the secret to avoiding Europe’s fourth wave.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/astrazeneca-maker-suggests-it-s-the-secret-to-avoiding-europe-s-fourth-wave-20211124-p59bm0.html
Why consumers are fighting tech for the ‘right to repair’. Apple is right up there!
https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/made-to-be-unfixable-why-consumers-are-fighting-tech-for-the-right-to-repair-20211124-p59bnw.html
Kate McClymont reports that the parents, husband and brother of missing fraudster and former “Arsehole of the Week” nominee, Melissa Caddick, have been given formal notice that her assets, which include cars, jewellery and two properties, are to be sold subject to court approval.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/melissa-caddick-s-family-issued-notices-foreshadowing-sale-of-cars-jewellery-and-properties-20211124-p59buw.html
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
Andrew Dyson
Cathy Wilcox
David Rowe
Matt Golding
Fiona Katauskas
Warren Brown
Peter Broelman
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
Dionne Gain
John Shakespeare
Leak
From the US
Scovid is trying to rewrite history again. The wonderful reply sounds like something he would have written given his warped view of Australian history.
My five times (I think) grandparents arrived with the First Fleet (a sailor on the Sirius) or soon after on the notorious Lady Juliana. “Religious liberty” would have been the last thing on their minds. They didn’t care about religion, they were too busy making new lives.
I’m laughing because my family has just discovered that we have a great, great, great uncle transported in the 1830s! To Van Dieman’s Land, what’s more, so he must have been a “very naughty boy”! I’m told he ended up with two wives and in NSW (not sure which was the worst sentence …)
Joshy thinks Bridget is a very naughty girl
Ducky,
Just occasionally I wish that the powers-that-be were struck down with the ailments/difficulties/DISABILITIES that they indirectly deride.
Also just occasionally, I fantasise about dancing on their graves when their pleas for help have been denied by their OWN gummint.
The day in a nutshell
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/nov/25/australia-politics-live-update-scott-morrison-religious-discrimination-legislation-vaccine-mandate-gay-students-teachers-covid-coronavirus-anthony-albanese-labor#comments
I’ve been busy today so this is all I got –
Seth Meyers –
Stephen Colbert –
Scovid doesn’t want one
Thanks for the support everyone. An update for any one interested, otherwise just scroll. Had to go into the home nursing department today for dressing of ulcers. One of the staff saw us in ED yesterday, so they were all expecting to be doing IV stuff today. Explained what happened. They rang doctor, said someone will get back to us. Home nurse rang to say doctor wanted Razz back to ED today. I rang doctors clinic, explained Razz was just to exhausted. Clinic rang back, ring ambulance to take Razz in. Ambulance arrived. Razz in a deep sleep. Took one look, asked me what was going on, I explained. They rang ED to see how busy they were. Flat out, all beds taken and none in hospital itself. Got me to wake Razz up to assess. They rang head doctor at ED after taking photo’s and filled them in, yadda yadda yadda. Everyone agreed to Razz staying home, I have to ring ED in the morning to see if things have calmed down, and go from there.
It turns out that we have an outbreak of covid, and every one is flat out. Unlike larger places there is not a lot of excess staff that can be called on when so many are in isolation.
I have to say the ambos were just brilliant. So caring and careful. Have been left with a list of numbers and what to say to whom for tomorrow morning.
Looking up. Good!
Thanks for the update. Ambos are wonderful.
Sorry, forgot to mention, the Ambos gave Razz a strong oral anti inflammatory, which seems to have knocked her for six, so I’m off to bed to catch a few zzzzzzzzz.
Gravel,
I’m so sorry for Razz, you, and Hunter. And my apologies being absent from my post and not knowing your and Razz’s and Hunter’s personal emergency.
I hope you all get some sleep tonight, and appropriate assistance tomorrow.
My love to all of you.
Sounds like a heck of a day for all concerned. I hope you and Razz have chance to recharge batteries after a long day.
Excellent response to Scovid’s blather and lies –
Data for the above from this.
https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/publications/research-insights/ttpn/vaccination-report
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Michelle Grattan nicely sums up all of Morrison’s chickens coming home to roost within the Coalition.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-26/scott-morrison-bridget-archer-religious-discrimination-integrity/100651968
In this evaluation David Crowe writes, “This can be an angry Parliament. Albanese can taste victory and Morrison is desperate to avoid defeat. Their mutual derision radiates from the House of Representatives with a heat that television cannot capture.”
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/leaders-trade-insults-as-real-reform-is-put-on-the-backburner-20211125-p59c05.html
“The government is running out of lives but it’s not terminal – yet”, declares Phil Coorey.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/government-is-running-out-of-lives-but-it-s-not-terminal-yet-20211124-p59bvj
The NSW Assisted Dying Bill has passed the lower house. But it is by no means there yet!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/assisted-dying-bill-passes-first-lower-house-vote-in-nsw-parliament-20211125-p59ca5.html
David Crowe tells us that Scott Morrison has escalated a political fight over trust in politics by slamming calls for a stronger federal integrity commission and launching a fierce defence of former NSW Liberal premier Gladys Berejiklian over what he called a “shameful” public inquiry into corruption. Crowe points to several former judges who condemned Morrison’s remarks.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-defends-gladys-berejiklian-rejects-calls-for-stronger-corruption-commission-20211125-p59c6v.html
And Phil Coorey writes that in an outburst that guarantees corruption becomes an election issue, the Prime Minister lashed out after Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer crossed the floor to try to force the government to act on its promise to establish a commission.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/morrison-draws-line-on-federal-icac-attacking-nsw-s-kangaroo-court-20211124-p59bvk
Scott Morrison roared like a caged beast and lunged for a human shield in the form of Gladys Berejiklian, says Katherine Murphy. She says his histrionics only serve to hang a lantern over the inherent conflict of interest associated with parliamentarians deciding the limits of the watchdogs that scrutinise them.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/25/scott-morrison-roared-like-a-caged-beast-and-lunged-for-a-human-shield-in-the-form-of-gladys-berejiklian
Paul Karp and Christopher Knaus report that in a major defeat for the Morrison government, crossbenchers joined Labor and the Greens to disallow rules charities say were designed to silence them
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/25/senate-scuttles-coalition-crackdown-on-charity-advocacy-work
Stephanie Richards writes about Morrison’s five biggest political headaches from a bruising week.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2021/11/25/morrisons-political-headaches/
The small talk about Albanese and small targets is wrong, opines Bob McMullan.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-small-talk-about-albanese-is-wrong/
Andrew Charlton argues that the border reopening represents a chance to reset our immigration program.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/border-reopening-a-chance-to-reset-immigration-program-20211125-p59c07.html
Michael Pascoe explains how the federal government is still missing on investment. He says we have “the same old same old that demonstrably hasn’t worked – trickle-down talk of lower taxes, smoke-and-mirrors advertising around no real increase in federal infrastructure investment, subsidies for fossil fuel projects.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2021/11/26/michael-pascoe-federal-government-investment/
One by one, Rachel Clun outlines where Clive Palmer was wrong with his COVID vaccine claims.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/where-clive-palmer-was-wrong-with-his-covid-vaccine-claims-20211125-p59bzp.html
Lisa Visentin reports that Scott Morrison has rebuffed pleas from moderate Liberals to prioritise protections for gay students at faith-based schools alongside the religious freedom bill, as senior Labor frontbencher Penny Wong called for the government to honour both promises at the same time. Morrison confirmed there would be at least a year-long wait after the passage of the religious bill before the government would legislate to protect gay students, re-committing to an expert review into the issue that will take until early 2023.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/no-protection-for-gay-students-at-religious-schools-at-least-until-2023-20211125-p59caa.html
Anna Brown, CEO of Equality Australia and Arthur Moses SC, a former president of the Law Council present the case for saying the religious bill winds back hard-fought protections provided by the states. They say all Australians deserve a fair go not just those with the loudest voice.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/religious-bill-winds-back-hard-fought-protections-provided-by-states-20211124-p59bmb.html
And this loud voice, Peter Comensoll, Archbishop of Melbourne, says the religious Discrimination Bill will protect people of faith.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/religious-discrimination-bill-will-protect-people-of-faith-20211124-p59btg.html
Jennifer Hewett writes that Morrison is finding that religion and politics DO mix.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/morrison-finds-that-religion-and-politics-do-mix-20211125-p59c3u
Steph Lentz explains how her “sin” of being gay got her fired from a Christian school this year. She rails at the hypocrisy of the school.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/my-sin-of-being-gay-got-me-legally-fired-20211125-p59c06.html
Visentin summarises Morrison’s introduction of the Religious Discrimination Bill. (I listened to it, and it sounded like a sermon.)
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/sensible-and-balanced-scott-morrison-makes-the-case-for-religious-freedom-bill-20211125-p59c0p.html
The SMH editorial warns that freedom of religion is important, of course, but Australia already has a tolerant society, and the bill will create more problems than it solves. It describes the bill as the latest front in the culture wars.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/religious-freedom-bill-is-a-last-stand-in-the-culture-wars-20211125-p59cam.html
By opposing Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Bill, Catholic bishops demonstrate the tension in their church’s teaching on discrimination, argues Michael Leahy.
https://johnmenadue.com/bishops-opposition-to-equal-opportunity-laws-exposes-their-own-teaching/
What are a few outright lies between friends, international leaders and the entire nation when you’re the Prime Minister? Michelle Pini looks at Scott Morrison’s top ten porkies.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/morrisons-top-10-bare-faced-lies,15787
Support for a stronger 2030 emissions target fell to 49 per cent among voters nationwide in a survey conducted last week, down from 57 per cent one month ago and 52 per cent the previous month, reports David Crowe.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/voter-support-for-more-ambitious-2030-emissions-cuts-eases-20211125-p59cai.html
Rex Patrick could be on the hook for $150,000 or more in legal bills over a Federal Court stoush with the Australian Information Commissioner. Ronald Mizen tells us that Senator Patrick is suing the Commissioner for alleged unreasonable delays in dealing with freedom of information (FOI) reviews, citing some matters being unresolved more than 1000 days after referral.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/senator-on-the-hook-for-150-000-in-government-legal-fees-20211125-p59bzu
Melissa Cunningham writes that prominent paediatricians have warned that rules banning unvaccinated 12 to 15 year-olds from public venues or social gatherings risks further harming their mental health.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/kids-have-suffered-enough-experts-question-rules-excluding-unvaccinated-teens-20211125-p59bz6.html
Rachel Eddie reports that negotiations on Victoria’s new pandemic bill will gather pace after a high-level meeting between the government and crossbench MPs yesterday and a passionate plea from health unions to resolve the debate.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/crossbench-to-run-a-ruler-over-labor-s-pandemic-bill-proposal-20211125-p59c3t.html
Miki Perkins tells us about Zoe Daniel’s tilt as an independent at Tim Wilson’s seat.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/if-not-us-then-who-former-abc-journalist-zoe-daniel-announces-tilt-at-blue-ribbon-seat-20211125-p59c5y.html
The Morrison government ignored the mandated independent appointment process to choose its own candidate who brings an aggressive pro-Israel agenda to the SBS board, writes Geroge Browning.
A doctor who recently completed training has anonymously written that distressed doctors don’t bend, so they break. This is a very disturbing exposition.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/distressed-doctors-don-t-bend-so-they-break-20211125-p59c5v.html
According to Andrew Tillett, Australian engineers and designers are seeking legal advice to fight the Defence Department over its failure to pay out a retention bonus worth at least $40,000 despite promising to cover all entitlements after shutting down the French submarine program.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/australian-workers-left-shortchanged-after-submarine-axing-20211125-p59c1a
Declan Brennan says that the Morrison Government mistakes ABC for a department it can control.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/morrison-government-mistakes-abc-for-a-department-it-can-control,15785
There is a discriminatory, classist struggle in this nation, in which the unemployed, the underemployed and the homeless can be decimated because they are too poor to pay fines. And is particularly so in WA, explains Gerry Georgatos.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/dont-punish-the-poor-fines-must-be-based-on-income,15784
Bloomberg warns that traders betting on the RBA raising interest rates soon might get burned.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/traders-betting-the-rba-will-soon-raise-rates-may-get-burned-20211125-p59bz1.html
“Arseholes of the Week” nomination goes to Victoria’s anti-lockdown campaigners who are spreading misinformation that people, including children, in indigenous communities in the Northern Territory are being forcibly detained by the defence force and coerced into receiving the COVID-19 vaccines.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/anti-lockdown-activists-spreading-dangerous-lies-about-covid-response-in-indigenous-communities-20211125-p59c4z.html
Aboriginal elders, health organisations and frontline workers in the Northern Territory’s Covid outbreak have lashed out at false information about public health measures on social media, with the NT chief minister blaming the misinformation on “tinfoil hat wearing tossers, sitting in their parents’ basements in Florida”.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/25/tinfoil-hat-wearing-tossers-nt-chief-minister-and-aboriginal-elders-hit-back-at-covid-false-information
And “Idiot of the Week” nomination goes to Lara Trump, the Fox News contributor and wife of Eric Trump, who bizarrely claimed that the rising cost of the Thanksgiving turkey is part of a liberal plot to “chip away” at American traditions.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/nov/25/lara-trump-turkeys-liberal-plot-thanksgiving
Cartoon Corner
David Pope is in startling form!
Andrew Dyson
Cathy Wilcox
Matt Golding
David Rowe
Jim Pavlidis
Alan Moir
Mark Knight
Simon Letch
Peter Broelman
Mark David
Glen Le Lievre
Leak
From the US
Those wonderful Ambos gave Razz an oral anti-inflammatory last night. She slept like a log all night, and so did I. Just waiting for the ambulance to come and take her away. Hopefully will pick her up sometime this afternoon.
Good news.
“Steph Lentz explains how her “sin” of being gay got her fired from a Christian school this year. She rails at the hypocrisy of the school.”
Very good article.
This is exactly what this bill is intended to do – give so-called “Christian” schools and other institutions the right to sack staff.
Everyone is making a big deal about what Catholic bishops say, but they do not reflect the views of most Catholics. How many Catholics do you know who use only church-approved birth control or are fiercely opposed to assisted dying? Very few.
It is the rabid “Christians” – Scovid’s money-grubbing lot – who want to ban everything they don’t like and want to sack teachers who are in some way unsuitable to be around their precious kids. Remember Scovid saying this?
https://www.smh.com.au/education/skin-curling-why-scott-morrison-sends-his-daughters-to-private-school-20180903-p501gl.html
“His” school? Who does he think he is?
The prime mover behind this bill was Lyall Shelton, former leader of the Australian Christian Lobby, wanna-be politician and – wait for it – son of a Pentecostal pastor. It was a reaction to the successful passage of marriage equality laws. Shelton was leader of the “No” campaign and saw this as a personal insult. He convinced Turnbull to commission the Ruddock Religious Freedom Review, which was not delivered until Scovid was PM.
https://theconversation.com/in-long-awaited-response-to-ruddock-review-the-government-pushes-hard-on-religious-freedom-108750
The Ruddock panel decided Australia does not need to appoint a religious freedom commissioner. Scovid disagreed and announced his intention to establish such a position in the Australian Human Rights Commission.
So we now have the totally unwanted Religious Discrimination Bill.
Shelton is still determined to attack and punish members of the LGBTIQ community and Scovid is right there with him. The Christianist preoccupation with sex is blatantly obvious.
Lyall Shelton’s views are too rabid for even Fred Nile!
https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/fred-nile-dumps-lyle-shelton-due-to-irreconcilable-differences/205673
Obeying her master’s orders, Scovid’s hand-picked human rights commissioner gets to work.
http://campaigns.schwartzmedia.com.au/t/ViewEmail/i/230FCE87F20121B42540EF23F30FEDED/4D17C93CCA42794B1A21C02EB51F5606
Update, Razz is on the way to hospital. I now have to sit at wait……wait …. wait, will catch up on all the news now, then wait.
Dutton is a gold-plated dangerous war-mongering idiot
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/nov/26/australia-news-live-update-flood-warnings-as-more-heavy-rain-hits-nsw-australian-police-and-defence-personnel-fly-to-solomon-islands-religious-freedom-gay-students-teachers-scott-morrison-covid-south-africa-variant
Dutton telling porkies again and like Scovid, claiming credit for the work of a previous government.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/nov/26/australia-news-live-update-flood-warnings-as-more-heavy-rain-hits-nsw-australian-police-and-defence-personnel-fly-to-solomon-islands-religious-freedom-gay-students-teachers-scott-morrison-covid-south-africa-variant
The Howard government ordered those three ships, just before voters threw them out of office. The Rudd government was stuck with paying the huge bills involved in their pre-fab construction.
From the start there were problems. The first ship – HMAS Hobart -was found during the early stages of building to have a warped central keel block so the other pre-fab keel blocks did not fit. That was just the start of the problems. It was not commissioned until August 2018, the third was only ready for use last August.
The less said about the “Flying Lemons” – the F-35s – the better. Another catastrophe from the Howard government. It looks like we have really bought absolute crap.
F-35 program’s future uncertain owing to design flaws, parts shortages and cost blowouts
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-08/f35-program-design-flaws-part-shortages-costs-opinions-divided/100431664
This rotten farce of a government is using their tried and (previously) true tactic of whipping up hatred, fear and loathing.
This time it’s China getting the hate. Refugees and asylum seekers get a lot of sympathy these days so they need a new target. Why not try to provoke China into a war?
Such a war would be over in half an hour at most, and Australia would be destroyed. Dutton knows this, Scovid knows this, yet they persist with what they hope will be an election-winning strategy.
Howard is pulling Scovid’s strings as his mentor and Dutton is chest-beating and making stupid threats for what he hopes will be his own gain.
Scovid has nothing else to offer not a thing. He loves to blather on about “protecting Australians” but his record is dismal.
He failed to protect Australians from Covid by lying about when his government ordered vaccines and by bleating on and on about his desire to obtain herd immunity by letting the virus rip through Australia. He forced ther premiers to take the actions he should have taken because he did not want to be responsible for the inevitable problems. He ignored the constitutional responsibilities of a federal government by refusing to act on aged care and quarantine. And still the media told us how wonderful he was!
He failed to protect us from bushfires by first ignoring the pleas of the emergency chiefs who repeatedly warned about the looming disaster, then by refusing to prepare, then by buggering off to Hawaii while the entire country was on fire and finally, by not paying fire victims one cent of the mythical $2 billion he promised. There are still people, families, living in tents, caravans and sheds.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/after-the-fires-the-kams-moved-into-a-tent-then-a-caravan-now-they-can-finally-rebuild-20211027-p593ob.html
He has still not bothered to order more fire-fighting aircraft, something that has been recommended many times.
Thank goodness the east coast is expecting a wet summer.
And yet this do-nothing oaf has the gall to head into an election by spewing hate of our biggest trading partner! Go figure that out. Dutton is only too happy to say whatever he is told to say because he hopes to become leader after Scovid – we hope – loses the election.
https://chaser.com.au/general-news/cleanskin-politicians-with-nothing-to-hide-block-federal-corruption-watchdog/
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/nov/26/australia-news-live-update-flood-warnings-as-more-heavy-rain-hits-nsw-australian-police-and-defence-personnel-fly-to-solomon-islands-religious-freedom-gay-students-teachers-scott-morrison-covid-south-africa-variant
Thinking of going overseas?
Don’t!
South Africa to be put on England’s travel red list over new Covid variant
Variant causing concern because of ‘extremely high’ number of mutations feared present across South Africa
.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/25/scientists-call-for-travel-code-red-over-covid-variant-found-in-southern-africa
And China responds
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/nov/26/australia-news-live-update-flood-warnings-as-more-heavy-rain-hits-nsw-australian-police-and-defence-personnel-fly-to-solomon-islands-religious-freedom-gay-students-teachers-scott-morrison-covid-south-africa-variant
I’ve been searching for my usual vids to post, can’t find anything then a lightbulb flickers in my brain (don’t even think it alright!) it’s thanksgiving so everyones at home except the desperate. Anyhow there is this:-
friendlyjordies –
F.M
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/26/are-you-a-psychopath-for-not-liking-fairy-bread-the-guardians-only-furry-agony-aunt-is-back
This is from a couple of days back so I don’t characterise Anderson Cooper as desparate –