Rapaciousness, corruption, crime…
Recently divorced from my idealism, ex public servant facing the absurdity but still willing to serve; on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung & Bunurong Boon Wurrung country ‘The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men’ Plato (allegedly)🇦🇺🇪🇺🇬🇷✊🏽⚖️
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Rapaciousness, corruption, crime…
If you need to moderate your optimism bias and read a great article “survival is a collective act”
Εδώ σε λίγο θα μας αντικαταστήσουν οι ΑΙ δικηγόροι… άσε που η ιδιωτικοποίηση πανεπιστημίων εδώ έχει φέρει πολλά και διάφορα προβλήματα διαφθοράς, σκάνδαλα κακοδιοίκησης και ανάρμοστης συμπεριφοράς, ένα παράδειγμα: www.icac.sa.gov.au/__data/asset...
The Australian government has vowed to strengthen the rules covering agreements between state, territory and local governments and universities with overseas authorities to block proposals of high risk to national security www.afr.com/politics/fed...
I mean they can’t very well investigate themselves now can they…
Norway's government has a new tourism ad out, and it's refreshingly honest By @thejuicemedia.bsky.social!!!!
Κυβέρνηση μαφιόζων
😳
Aus legal academic Dr Paul Burgess has written an interesting book called ‘AI and the Rule of Law’ whole admin law AI decision maker area throws up many issues, machines already make many admin decisions, haven’t checked recent case law, now on my to research list…still agree with drongos assessment
Another piece of big and welcome news. My @themonthly story about the true history of George Pell is back up.
remembering all the journalists in Australia who kept insisting we should having polite cups of tea with racists and hearing them out www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
I have to confess that all the American insanity over their Crackers causes me momentary sensory dissonance every time I scroll past it because our cracker barrel is a good cheddar and I don’t want it being confused in my neural pathways with anything American… I too want it all to stop
PM Albanese reminds the “tiny” groups of ppl marching against immigration yesterday that migrants bring a “great deal of benefit” to Australia. “This is an interview between someone called Karvelas & someone called Albanese. Not Smith & Jones.”🔥 #Abc
Admire and respect this real Nobel Peace Laureate and what she has been doing and saying
Based on news, they just need to enforce all the laws of the land equally in an unfucking biased way thereby holding violent hate criminals regardless of their hate brand accountable, deterring other likeminded racist fascists to stick to marching in silent tiny protests hopefully in their basements
Al Jazeera report on the Global Sumud Flotilla which left Barcelona yesterday to break Israels siege of Gaza. Over 50 ships from 44 countries are taking part.
Iran-backed Houthis on Sunday raided offices of the United Nations’ food, health and children’s agencies in Yemen’s capital, detaining 11 U.N. employees, officials said. https://to.pbs.org/46mEInF
The use of corporate weasel speak about risks is something ‘moderate risk’ of climate impact, ok, let’s ‘unpack’ what that means you rapacious soul eater of the earth
Devolution everywhere now also available via short performative videos online to amplify hate and stupidity across our dying planet… yeah I think I need to ease off on this brand of scrolling combined with a double ristretto
(29/8) Huge convoy of Gojek rideshare riders guarding the funeral procession of Affan Kurniawan, a Gojek rider killed after the Mobile Brigade Cops slammed his motorbike with their armored tactical vehicle and rode over him during a protest. They rode to Karet Bivak cemetery, Central Jakarta. 1/3
And a ‘tourism and tech hub’ to be built upon homes and olive groves of ash, and the bones of Palestinian men, women and children… it’s an ancient evil that’s been unleashed here or maybe it’s always been there inside us like a dormant possession
Nothing is more powerful and louder than love. It was one of the great honours of my life to host more than 300 refugees from Gaza today with the ASRC and PARA. We will not be divided, we will not let our hearts be dimmed by fear.
I know right, I’d have no points or fingers 😂
"The 38-page prospectus seen by The Washington Post envisions at least a temporary relocation of all of Gaza’s more than 2 million population, either through what it calls “voluntary” departures ... or into restricted, secured zones inside the enclave during reconstruction." Illegal. Insane.
Prabowo Subianto says some parliament policies to be revoked as he also promises stern action against rioters, looters.
💀 save us, Jebus
I’m going to confess I had this split second of stupid bias, he’s not Japanese how does this work… but I so love this story (and sushi), the joy and mastery of skill
Απο μακριά με ξένα μάτια, ο Τσίπρας/Κασσελάκης έχουν την ικανότητα να προσφέρουν προοδευτικές λύσεις, συμφωνώ με την EFSYN: «Το θέμα… δεν είναι η επιστροφή Τσίπρα…αλλά… αν έχει κάτι να συνεισφέρει στις ανάγκες διακυβέρνησης της χώρας σε προοδευτική κατεύθυνση. Μαγικές ικανότητες δεν έχει κανένας…»
That way also lies fascism (eventually)
Indonesian finance minister’s home looted as unrest spreads on.ft.com/4lX7yRc
Interesting how everyone had a go at China having overseas police stations and here's the FBI walking straight into Aotearoa to set up an office. #nzpol
Got a few more updates for the list. This includes Mark Neugebauer and Jacob Van Raalte in Adelaide, Gary Hardgrave in Brisbane, and our first politician in Melbourne, Jordan Dittloff. Seems to be the 'whos who' of Australia's Right-wing. #auspol #saparli #springst #qldpol
Thanks for this list, my fierce Spartan mum has taken it personally that a Greek Australian is listed, I jokingly mentioned the junta of her youth and she said ‘I know smart ass daughter, I hated those fn fascists as well’ and this response fellow blueskiers is the origin story to most of my posts 😂
Cartels the new WMDs, the only type of contest Trump loves more than ogling Miss Venezuela contestants, screwing another corrupt regime via American oil company proxies to advance his own country’s corruption. Regime change a bonus to entrenching future theft of Venezuelan people’s sovereign wealth
Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin on Sunday to attend a summit hosted by counterpart Xi Jinping with around 20 other world leaders.
Dominican artists and activists are telling the stories of women and mothers who've died from high-risk pregnancies, and pushing for changes to the country's total abortion ban.
The atrocities of Gaza and Sudan are unfortunately linked. Early on in the current Sudanese civil war the Biden administration rejected putting pressure on the UAE to curtail support for the RSF—due to concerns it would jeopardize the Abraham Accords with Israel. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/30/o...
This is all I’ve got in response to any number of local and world events today on this our day of rest
Critical article by Senator @davidpocock.bsky.social in @thesaturdaypaper.com.au highlighting complete lack of scrutiny & accountability of nefarious lobbyists, let free to roam Parliament. Way over time to regulate & limit their access, which so undermines democracy. But LibLab so complicit in this
Life’s getting a bit more crap here if you are a person from an ethnic minority 🧵
Quite apt to add this to my viewing list on a day when many (let’s see how many) racists will be marching our streets exercising their democratic rights without fear while wearing the false flag of fear of those invading migrants… I think I’ll have lamb biryani tonight
Tried really hard to be open minded about this investment banker’s analysis, agree with some of his (obvious) observations re our housing market but this analysis of Trump as some economic Svengali remaking markets divorced from any explicit reference to his corruption and crony capitalism, yeah nah
True, still needs to be said, especially in light of some very mixed messaging and rights eroding policies from all our uninspiring leaders, her language was at least direct
Devil’s always in the detail, can’t argue with broad priority areas but they’re meaningless, detailed tax reform ideas from experts/reports abound, not sure what most working Australians & pensioners understand/make of all this, cynical about real structural reform, at least there’s discussion?
This war, with all its humanitarian tragedies, may also mark the beginning of the erosion of the American imperial project. Washington’s moral authority is collapsing, public anger is intensifying, and international rivals are growing stronger. Gaza is a global symbol o ...
This is a pretty amazing story. Imagine all political and trade relations between two enormous powers with ideologically aligned leaders falling apart permanently over the pettiest of side-eyes in a single phone call www.nytimes.com/2025/08/30/u...
Good speech from Allan on tomorrow’s March for Australia in Melbourne www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
Adding this to the family message group under ‘read something interesting recently’ as I have some MAGA lite uncles, cousins and nephews all the way down under who I regularly terrify with facts, figures, history, science and woke feminism given I’m a childless career spinster communist ANTIFA agent
😂
It’s just so… look my first reaction was to laugh then swear then all I could think of looking at that koala… the power of Christ compels you because that there bear has been possessed by a head twisting baby Hitler
When I’m spiralling and experiencing general feelings of professional inadequacy and failure, I remember that these people are in charge of the world. Tragically their incompetence is killing people, lest we think Australia is immune just think of the LNP thankfully lost in the political wilderness
"People feel a sense of collective injustice." Indonesian journalist Juan Robin explains the driving force behind the country’s anti-government protests, adding that they are likely to continue until the people's demands are met.
😂 Pro social community avoidance of chores, love it
Bluesky gardeners/botanists, based on my limited social media experience this seems like an acceptable use of the medium (quite apart from the funny & cathartic interactions as we scream into the void), received this potted flower gift today, no plant marker/info, can someone help me ID it?
🎯
If you're disgusted by Trumps attempts to establish foreign gulags and forced deportations, you should be disgusted at this too. Australia has been pioneering these assaults on human rights and decency for decades. We are the model for the authoritarian far right.
😂 Bon Jovi, I was 13 and went with older cousins, I lost a shoe
I’ve been mystified about the amount of bluesky commentary on Keanu lately and I only very recently realised it’s not Keanu Reeves and some woman called Rachel…
Thought I’d scan the Age Good Weekend and just read the phrase luxury ‘anti ageing wellness centres’ and yeah, nah… time for some tea and perhaps a biscuit of some sort should my pantry yield such a treat, this is no luxury pantry I’m running on my diet of less abundance
What fresh dystopian lunacy is this now right here in our country, please make it stop
Bud, we had the same moment!
Our independent bud posts surely crossed in the bluesky, beautiful (and great minds…senses? Souls? …)
View from my home office window (creatively captured so I don’t expose my neighbours large open windows!) One of my favourite budding fruit trees starting to blossom even as the last gales of winter blow here in beautiful Melbourne where I feel very privileged to live. Can’t wait for the plums
So many follow up questions, some already here in this young thread but I guess I’ll prioritise the big one for me ‘but is she a foreign agent?’ You know truth being a defence and all to defamation but also given crazy eyes is part of this particular русский regime
Have you tried AI? No thanks, I’m watching my mind, you know what they say a minute on the Chat, a lifetime loss of noggin (tap head for emphasis). My new response to be delivered with sweet sweet sarcasm to all the tech boys (and they are all the boys enamoured by it) in my large familia of chaos
Might be the line of the day even though it’s early, PC “wants market forces to fix market failure” FFS indeed #auspol #climate
There are UN options available right now. #GazaGenocide #GazaHolocaust johnmenadue.com/post/2025/08...
Waiting for gale force winds and sleet here in Melbourne to subside so I can go outside and avoid all news…
Seriously, world leaders what are you doing? I know this post is meaningless, like many I’m just primal posting into the abyss
Great interview with Maria Ressa, on the swing towards authoritarianism and Australia’s role in Asia and ‘shoring up democracy’: “It's also a challenge for Australians, because you're in our part of the world, you can lead. Australia seems to have, like, a 'will we or will we not' [approach]."
Not sure if I’ve just been sucked in to the spring of all jokes… I’m looking for a bottle of Melbourne tap water circa 1983? The new tap is still too young for me, needs some more filtering
#BREAKING: Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra dismissed as Prime Minister Thai Const. Court finds her guilty of ethics and integrity violations in leaked call with Cambodian ex-PM Hun Sen. Thailand's 31st and 2nd female PM - incl the whole cabinet - is removed from office.
I hope so too!
Recently moved house and somehow I lost one of my favourite fountain pens, my white and rose gold Montegrappa Fortuna fountain pen, I’m still in mourning, enjoy the flow of ink across paper (may it occasionally be artisanal and florentine in origin, just another obsession)
😂
Indeed, I still own some they sit like dusty historical artefacts in the forgotten part of my closet…
Pride cometh before the fall and all that but presently I want all leaders to find some pride and bloody say no to American kakistokleptocronalism
I wish this trend was superficial like a fashion fad and that it was already over
Burn it down Americans, burn it down and start again
I might have mitochondrial inflammation just strolling by the news today, from God Forbid the et tu, couch fucker? To hummus punching akubra hat wearing nutjobs to our collective moral failures, so here’s a review saying Franga my birthplace is the place to be www.theage.com.au/goodfood/mel...
Et tu, couch fucker?
"I was terrified. At dawn, we went out to see – the whole neighbourhood was levelled. Not a single house was standing. That was our home, the harvest of a lifetime. People here have no income to rebuild,” War crimes being committed by Israel against Syrian civilians.
Goodnight comrade
It’s been a couple of days, these evil MFs now encompassing a broad church of banal and diabolical evil
Usman Khawaja says Australians are fed up so it’s time to do more than just speak up about Israel’s genocide on Palestinians inc. their use of “starvation as a weapon” “People are literally dying because of a man-made famine”💥 #Abc
Everyone trying to get into heaven…
There was a brief period in which Blair was publicly shamed & treated as persona non grata after the Iraq War. That lasted abt 2mins. Then all was forgotten bc the lads decided they needed him & Campbell back on morning news settees to peddle whatever the latest evil & reactionary wheeze was
Ed Davey taking a strong moral stance that he won’t banquet with Trump - the man who is able to end the starvation & massacres of Gazans - when he visits in September. Trump receiving honours is honouring a genocide. We cannot let it go by without protest #r4today
The relief that we weren’t from lawless California or the murder capital DC was palpable
Humanitarian aid is much more than parcels of dried food. Conditions for life require a panoply of supplies and services that can’t simply be packaged into boxes
They’re everywhere our Australian Nazis are doing country wide protests (masked marches?) this weekend because the recent protests across the sunburnt land by hundreds of thousands of Australians calling for a genocide to end have scared the poor petals, sharia law is apparently already here
This doesn’t seem ominous at all following recent pronouncements by NATOs favourite duplicitous autocrat to bring back the great Turkey…touch of Ottoman Empire strikes back but maybe they’ll help with Ukraine right?
Essential read
This is fire-walled, dare I ask what vibe coding is… do I duck duck go vibe coding? My organic computer says noo…
Script writers the globe over are probably like kids in a toy store when they get overwhelmed by the choices for that next dark spy thriller… Labubu or Voltron (do they still make these… anyway you get my drift)
Australia Institute polling has found that 54.2% of Australians want a more independent foreign policy. “The Australian Government has a chance to re-imagine our relationship with the United States, with the clear support of the Australian people.” - Emma Shortis @emmashortis.bsky.social #auspol
Farcical and our inept defence minister is allowing himself to be part of the American spectacle with some frankly pathetic help from our unserious media
Because everything is insane everywhere, subway rioter continues to capture my cheesy humour, subway has to be thinking of a subversive marketing campaign, I mean be the foot of resistance, the 6 inched fist of vegetarian freedom, the voice of the meatball Marseillaise… can you hear the sauces sing