Talkback blogging
Open thread for: Ranting, whingeing, bitching & generally cracking the shits
Don’t blame me, it was Rox’s idea. I haven’t had an open thread post for a while and, as I’m a pedant who likes all comments to remain on topic, there might be some other issues that YOU would like to bring up.
So just go for it – choose any topic.
I’ll start off with this little gem from the Herald Sun: Conditions like Victoria experienced on Black Saturday will be classified Code Red (Catastrophic) – the highest level of danger rating – urging people in bushfire-prone areas to leave the night before, or early in the morning, of a major blaze.
Comment: FFS, how is this going to work? Half the State is “bushfire-prone”, including this area. Where are we supposed to go? Having said that, I agree that people living on the outer forested-fringes of Melbourne should definitely not be there on days like February 7th, and should have been told to just go to the beach for that day. Different logistics up this way though.
Over to you.
Wally says: I'm taking y'all to VCAT, Woolies. Go on, git! Git out of 'my town'.
Contact: alpineopinion@gmail.com
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I just hope that by the end of the day, the Tander pearly smile is missing from the podium @ Bathurst. Hope he’s seen crying in his beer with Skaif, reminiscing about what couldabeen.
What’s Bathurst?
It’s an endless drive around a track that some blokes inexplicably have on TV all day whiile their wives hope that the tedium will be relieved by a crash (non-fatal of course), drunks fall out of trees and I believe there’s a bit of hooning around in the carpark.
It’s not as interesting as a good one-dayer.
I went to Bathurst one year for a conference and distinguished myself on the first evening at a barbeque by asking whether this was the outback. Well, it was the nearest I’d ever come.
It sounds just like the Deni Ute Muster. Are they having a ‘Blue Singlet’ competition too? What about a Wet T-Shirt competition? And this is on TV?
I bet Dave is watching Bathurst today — he might even be there.
Ray this gives me the chance to ask you Rox and other labor lovers some pertinent questions.
1. Do you really believe in Global Warming? If you do prove it.
2. Is Al Gore a good bloke? Or just a lying snake oil salesman getting rich on the stupidity and paranoia of those “true believers” like you, who will vote Labor regardless of the effects of a high taxing job costing ETS scheme, that will achieve nothing.
1. I believe in global warming – it gets hotter in summer.
2. He’s a good bloke cos he’s a Democrat (i.e. not a war-mongering Republican), was Bill Clinton’s Vice President for 8 years, actually beat George W Bush in the 2000 election but got shafted by a Florida Judge’s decision (who just happened to be George W’s brother). That’s enough to make me like him. Don’t know about the rest and I don’t care. It’s not like he’s invading innocent countries and killing 1,000,000 innocent citizens like “W” did.
All true, Raymond, but Obama is carrying on the great tradition in Afghanistan. I mean, what have the people of that country (let alone Iraq) ever done to Obama personally?
What a joke that Nobel peace prize has become too.
I might enter the Nobel Peace Prize comp next year – the prize money is $1.5 million.
Don’t know about the rest and I don’t care. That’s borderline cowardice Ray. Then attack Bush when not asked. Your all the same you “good bloke cos he’s a democrat” lefties, don’t answer the question that expose you for what you are, just launch an irrelevant attack on those who ask.
Did you say you’re looking for a campaign manager! Go ya halves, peace brother!
I believe in climate change, which is not the same thing. I’m not sure about the causes, but I believe that what we do certainly has a detrimental effect on the planet, especially the pollution we cause, destruction of habitats, etc.
I think Al Gore is well-intentioned and ethical. Whether or not you agree with him, I don’t think he’s out for personal gain.
As for attacking Bush, it should be done at every opportunity. God forbid Jeb ever decides to try for higher office.
Oo-er, there HAS been a crash at Bathurst.
Stuart, I was merely putting your 2nd question into a wider context. I answered the first one straight out – yes, I think I believe in GW, but those debates bore me shitless and it’s an issue that I am happy to leave up to the world leaders to decide what we should do about it regardless if they’re left or right. Personally, I believe in acting in a environmentally responsible way. That’s all I can do about it and I have no desire to debate the issue. As for Gore, if he’s ripping people off, well, welcome to the real world Stuart. Are you as equally concerned about our CEOs like Geoff Dixon (no relation) of Qantas ripping off $11 mill for 5 months work? No? Didn’t think so.
JR, I reckon we could mock up a good entry with me settling the blog wars or something like that. (Look how I just placated Stuart)
Ooooooh, Rox, you’re watching?
Oo-err, isn’t that what Bathurst is about, watching cars crash?
Hi Rox thought I’d flush you out.
Ignorance is bliss for some people so I’ll set you straight. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS GLOBAL WARMING, the planet is no hotter than it was 8 years ago despite emissions going through the roof. Even the BBC are now becoming doubtful.
As for you Ray your just getting older you feel the heat of summer more now for that reason. The Stats don’t back you up.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS GLOBAL WARMING … please don’t shout Stuart. And please don’t turn this into an AGW debate, because I have seen so many of those on the Internet and they are never-ending shit fights. You and I don’t really know the facts and what you’re possibly doing is politicising the issue, which is why it has got so bogged down. Go to http://www.iainhall.wordpress.com if you want to debate AGW – he loves it and he will agree with you (and yes, you’ll get plenty of others disagreeing). Do it there not here please.
“Ooooooh, Rox, you’re watching?”
Hell no. I’m on here.
Stu, I refer you to what I actually said. I said climate change, not GW, and as Ray said, there’s no need to shout. I don’t intend to have a furious political or scientific debate on here (well, perhaps political if I’m interested, which is unlikely).
The older I get, the more I realise that “debate” on most subjects is useless. Everyone gets cross and nobody ever changes their mind.
Everyone gets cross and nobody ever changes their mind. … Particularly on the climate change issue. There’s no doubt we are seeing climate change. To what extent it’s man-made I’m not sure but, as I said earlier, I’m happy to let people with more knowledge, information & expertise than I have to make those decisions for us. The problem is, it’s been politicised and *some* people are adopting one side or the other depending on their political leanings. As much as it may surprise Stuart, I don’t blindly support everything that KRudd says & does. To start with, he uses Twitter and I don’t.
You placated (censored) me at 10.42, not at 10.28.
Hope your not trying to get rid of me Ray, we’re getting on so well.
BTW were those “stolen Generations” really saved from the abuse that is still happening today in aboriginal communities. Did you agree with Rudds grovelling apology? Did you have a tear in your eye? again for something that just isn’t true.
Placate = calmed down. Censorship? WTF? I’m not trying to get rid of you Stuart, I’m just trying to get you to lighten up.
Yes I agree with the apology. But as for asking “… were those “stolen Generations” really saved from the abuse that is still happening today in aboriginal communities, you may have a point but are you suggesting the answer to today’s problems is to, once again, remove the kids from their families and put them into servitude in white society? I don’t think that’s the solution. Neither did John Howard, btw.
Ah, John Howard now there’s a leader. What about the rabble now that was once the Libs. Yeah, whenever the next election is they are going to lose, I like Barnaby Joyce as the next leader who do you see.
Barnaby’s a Nat, Stuart, so he can’t be the leader – he’s in a minor party. And no, I don’t see him as having leadership qualities. I seriously believe the next Liberal PM is not even an MP yet. They’ve got no one to get them back.
I like any of the Libs, all will implode, all are self serving. They are a rabble for a reason.
You talk about snake oil salesman. And Howard wasn’t? The scare campaign against alleged terrorists, Big Brother revisted. Dob in a neighbour and doubt everyone. Claiming anybody who didn’t believe in what he said, to be “un Australian”, that takes pure class. What a leader.
Stuart on your criteria, Hitler was a leader too as was Stalin, Mugabe, Amin, the list goes on. All of them with vision. The world is a better place for all of them.
Howard became PM by default. He only beat Keating because Keating was wrongly seen as arrogant and to blame for the early 90s recession. The funny thing was that when Keating was voted out in 96 the recession was already over and interest rates had dropped back to their lowest levels in 10 years. The boom we had for the next 10 years was largely due to what Keating did. Howard benefited from it and stayed in power for over a decade. We’d be a much better society today if Keating had got another term or two in my opinion.
I agree Raymond and now that makes me a raving left loonie too. However, Keating never struck me as being your typical Bolshie. Howard was truly the poisoned dwarf, he polarised Australia and I was ashamed to be an Australian under his regime. Thank Christ we got rid of that shower of shit.
How’s that Ray for a rant and cracking the shits?
Out of interest Raymond, back to your original comment up the top there, have they designated the safe haven for our burghers to retreat to in the event of one of these cataclysmic fires? Entertainment Centre / Footy ground?
I’ve always been a bit concerned about the escape routes out of town here in relation to a serious fire through the pines on the Back Punkah Rd or across the Great Alpine Highway and indeed out the other end towards Freeburgh.
What Baldrick said. Howard made me realise there is such a thing as national pride. I didn’t know, till I lost it under his regime.
Keating’s turn of phrase is sadly missed. Nobody quotable in Parlaiment now.
Labor did have some wits, Fred Daly comes to mind
Baldrick, the short answer is “NO”, the council should have designated evacuation points by now, but read this press release from the Mayor – there’s nothing about that, he’s only putting an emphasis back on the land owners :
http://www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/page/page.asp?page_Id=1370
Also, the Shire put an ad in this week’s Bright Observer saying the CFA would be holding “Fire Ready” meetings for Alpine Shire residents. The dates are:
Harrietville: Today 11 October
Dederang: Tomorrow 12 October
Tawonga: 1 November
Bright : 1 December.
Um, why is there no meeting in Bright until 1 December? Why the big gaps between meetings? Why are 3 tiny towns having early meetings and the biggest one is having one when it might be too late?
I’d suggest the answer is the CFA and Council haven’t worked out what to do yet. Doesn’t make you feel very safe.
Ah it now becomes apparent “Keating Groupies” all of you. Baldrick Howard never polarised Australia he just doesn’t appeal to the lowest common denominator. Also he never tried to re-write history like Keating did.
Keep your head in the sand Baldrick, believe in the green religion, and when anyone who disagrees with you speaks out ridicule them with your sarcasm, the “highest form of wit” in your world.
Stuart, Howard was all about appealling to “the lowest common denominator”. Why do you think he pushed the racist and fear buttons?
Anyway, here is the Keating insult archive. It’s a good read:
http://www.webcity.com.au/keating/
Stuart, can you come up with some memorable John Howard quotes? I’ve got one: “I’ll step down when my party wants me to”. Funny how the public realised he needed to go before his party did.
“How’s that Ray for a rant and cracking the shits?”
You can do better than that, Baldrick. Come on, you must have something that’s really irritating you (apart from Stuart). You can let it all out here.
The only thing worse than watching Bathurst on TV is hearing it on radio. Not exactly riveting listening. Sound effects are good though.
Yeah Ray reminds of the Hawke, Keating leadership thing. Remember the lies then.
Actually Ray it was people who are easily fooled that hated Howard, the smart ones including KRudds wife Terese took advantage of his policies and profited.
I’m not talking about “lies”, Stuart. Both sides of politics tell lies, especially to each other. It’s p-o-l-i-t-i-c-s which = lies & deceit, remember?
However, Keating (unlike Costello) actually had the balls to ’seize the day’ and take the leadership from Hawke. That’s what real leaders do, they ’seize the day’, they take power. That’s politics. Your comparison between Hawke/Keating & Howard/Costello is lame and poorly made. Men v Boys.
Btw, people who are easily fooled … hated Howard : That doesn’t make any sense.
Simpletons hate Howard, understand that Ray?
We could rabbit on all day about politics however it’s not the conservative side that took offence at the Hey Hey Skit, it was the politically correct madness known as the left who did all the complaining.
“Simpletons hate Howard, understand that Ray?” : Stuart, that statement speaks for itself and discredits itself. Its sheer absurdity requires no response whatsover.
” … it’s not the conservative side that took offence at the Hey Hey Skit, it was the politically correct madness known as the left who did all the complaining.” : And that statement does not even warrant a reply. It’s beneath one.
And that statement does not even warrant a reply. It’s beneath one. It’s the bloody truth man, that’s all that matters Ray.
I think Bathurst is boring I miss my footy already.
Stuart, your statements were truly absurd, laughable and, well, bordering on comtempt, if not beneath contempt. They are nothing more than sweeping generalisations that no one would take seriously .. even you. They do not warrant debating.
However, I’ll assume you made them out of anger or frustration and I’ll move on. Yes, Bathurst is like watching paint dry – it’s of no interest to me. But having a compulsory 6 months break from footy just makes it all the more sweeter when it arrives again.
Well Ray at least I managed to “placate” Baldrick.
Spring is in the air and Cup day is around the corner, do you run a sweep?
No you didn’t, been out in the garden planting communist vegies
and no, not turnips
Red peppers?
I’m about to go out and mow the nazi lawns.
Hmm, a Cup Day sweep. I like it. How much each Stuart? What do you think Baldrick, would you go $5 or $10 a ticket ?
snow peas, zucchinis and tomatoes for starters
They are funny names for horses.
Last horse i put money on was Fine Cotton. Learnt my lesson that time.
Think there’s better odds of getting swooped by that magpie out the back of your place. Feisty bugger that one.
I call him ‘Neon Leon’ (as in Leon Davis of ‘the scum’).
Perhaps $20 a ticket, 24 starters =$480 1st…$280…$140…$60 for 3rd
You could make great fanfare of the draw, and create interest.
During the Spring Carnival I might even tip one or two on this blog. I could be a hero or end up with egg on my face, but I’m prepared to have a go.
Flatters Davis, your magpie doesn’t miss targets.
It’s up to the others, Stuart. I’m okay with $20 but if the others aren’t we’d have to make it less. There’s also the collection & distribution issue – how would that be handled?
Well Ray people would pay you over the phone (Eftpos or Credit Card) and you could send a cheque in the mail. I see what you mean though the logistics could do your head in, people will say put me in then go missing. As organizer they turn you into a bailiff when collecting their pledge. Better still let me tip you a winner, or join the one at your local.
I could do it by eftpos transaction but ONLY with credit cards and the commenters here might be reluctant to divulge personal details like that. Anyway, let’s see what others say. I’ll put a post up in the next week or so floating the idea for expressions of interest.
Ray don’t strangers give their credit card details when they book to stay? I would have thought those closer to you would be more trusting.
Thanks for the days blogging it was a good idea by Rox. I just can’t understand the pro labor-green idealology that seems to possess some of you guys, and the apparent disdain for the conservative side. How ever if it’s all I’ve got to worry about I havn’t got many problems.
Customers have to do that, Stuart, but a lot of people who are just commenting on the Internet prefer to retain their anonymity. I only know the identity of about 10 people who comment here.
Although if I can get “Wal” to enter the sweep he’d have to reveal himself !
As for the politics, I think it’s you who comes across as too hard-line conservative, whereas the others you perceive as ‘left’ or ‘green’ are probably more open-minded than you give them credit for. Your political views seem to be welded on. No big deal though – we can just agree to disagree on those sticking points. Cheers.
We won $80 on race 8 at Hawkesbury today.
The trouble with politics is that people come across as judging others only by their politics, whereas there’s a lot more to people than that. I know some very nice and decent Lib voters, many of them in my family.
You better go in the AO Melb Cup sweep then, Rox.
Bring it on.
Okay, I’ll announce details through the week. How much per horse in your opinion?
Ray just as aside Daniel Chick has been busted for steroids, apparently quite a few, wonder was he being a mule for his old team-mates.
Depends on the number of subscribers. Stuart’s idea sounds pretty OK. I went in several sweeps a few years ago, plus had a couple of tips. I had a bit on just about every horse by lunchtime, then I decided to put a sentimental bet on the Diva for her third Cup. She was the only horse that did anything.
The Cup is tha dya after I go back to work. I’d like the distraction of a sweep here, and no problem giving you my details Ray.
Thanks Rox. Was it Makybe Diva? She’d be about 11 years old now.
Yes Stuart, that news broke yesterday. I haven’t commented on it but I agree that it suggests he might have been supplying performance enhancing steroids to other AFL players. I think it raises questions over both West Coast’s 2006 flag and Hawthorn’s in 2008 (Chick was originally from Hawthorn and would still have connections). This could be (or should be) a huge case, but knowing the AFL they’ll try to have any details suppressed. I hope the cops really look into it.
Oh, and if Hawthorn are stripped of the 08 premiership what happens then?
I think they’d have to have a replay … between Geelong & St Kilda, as Hawthorn beat St Kilda in the 08 preliminary.
They could play it in the 2010 pre-season.
Ray while cruising around recently I came across your mate “Broken Left Leg” it was on a Andrew Bolt hate site. ‘Boltwatch”. Broken left Brain is doing his best to stir trouble in Cronulla with his urgings, (he calls them predictions). His blog is a murky place Ray but as I was about to exit I noticed something, much to my horror, it was a link to this very site. Did you know this Ray. Clubwah gets a mention too, as a lefty hater.
Stuart, the obvious reponse here is: And your point is? But there are links to my site from a wide range of bloggers and vice versa. I make no judgements on who decides to link to whom, I only judge people on how they behave here and BLL is welcomed.
Ray can’t you just admit you’re a lefty and be done with it.
Did you watch Insiders? Rudd has problems with Border protection, the experts reckon he’s more like Howard, than Howard was.
Iain Hall links to me too (and vice versa) and he’s a hard-line right winger. I also have reciprocal links with Vijay from Bangalore (a businessman in India), Dave from Albury (a motor bike riding computer geek), Greg Naylor (a conservative senior citizen with terminal cancer), LuLi (a uni student who is not political) and Kieran Bennett (a young Greenie who is political), so if you judge people by the company they keep what conclusions can you draw from all that? … Well, that I have varying and wide-ranging views.
Yes, Rudd is doing an about face on boat people. I think he’s got some intelligence reports that suggest the number of arrivals is about to go through the roof and that’s why he’s decided to take a tougher stance. That’s how I read it anyway.
I’ll put this topic back at the top of the blog for today.