Reading

Created
Sat, 11/03/2023 - 05:47
Starmer welcomed Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP back into party this week – but well-known racist comments toward British-Chinese journalist were not Coyle’s only transgression There was widespread outrage among Labour members this week after the the Starmer-led party’s decision to readmit him as a Labour MP, just a few days after Coyle was suspended […]
Created
Sat, 11/03/2023 - 05:30
Murdoch has made a market and he’s selling to it. That’s all there is. I have always been skeptical of the economic deterministic view that you can reduce all human motivation to money. People are complicated and are motivated by many things, including ego, fear, love, status, etc. Economic motives are certainly part of the equation but I’ve never bought the idea that you can always explain everything if you just “follow the money.” Businesses, however, can usually be put in the “money is everything” category and many make the argument that that’s how it should be, fiduciary duty and all that. There are certain wealthy actors who are motivated by both ideology and money. These are people who use their power and their businesses to advance personal causes while also chasing a profit. The right-wingers among them (the majority of the bunch) have the felicitous advantage of their ideology working to their economic imperative so no doubt some of their alleged ideals are simply in service of that goal. Over the years it’s been assumed that Rupert Murdoch has been one of those businessmen.
Created
Sat, 11/03/2023 - 05:18

We have an exciting opportunity with a vacancy for our new Celestial Toyroom (CT) Editor. This is initially a 12 month voluntary role working with the DWAS executive team on CT between July 2023 and June 2024.

The job includes the following:

read more

Created
Sat, 11/03/2023 - 04:58
We are in a desperate race to avoid locking in a pathway to human extinction. This requires brutal honesty on the threats we face. Climate change, not China, Russia or the US, is the greatest threat the world faces; it will only be overcome with unprecedented global co-operation. Negotiating with the laws of physics is Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 11/03/2023 - 04:57
It seems that poor old Albanese has been sold a very greedy—though only virtual—pup. Think of the comparison with another Labor PM, Ben Chifley. Albanese doesn’t come out of it very well. In 1948, at a time when energy was a major issue, Chifley launched the expensive Snowy Hydro Scheme to provide the country with Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 11/03/2023 - 04:55
Over many months now, when talking to relatives, friends, acquaintances and strangers about the current, parlous state of geo-politics and how the world is moving ever closer to world war, and a possible, uncontrolled nuclear conflagration, the retort I often receive develops something along the following lines: “Yes, we know the U.S. is a war-like Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 11/03/2023 - 04:54
In Asian media this week: War talk means uphill battle to mend ties with China. Plus: US avoids a truthful narrative; South Korea to pay for Japan’s wartime abuse; rich countries, energy giants throttle poor nations; new terms – active non-alignment and coalition of unwilling; ‘sorry’ now the easy word. The Nine newspapers’ avowedly independent Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 11/03/2023 - 04:53
A poor ranking for gender equality on International Women’s Day; the computer code that has the Reserve Bank on a loop of rising inflation and rising interest rates; and why we should tax the family home. Read on for the Weekly Roundup of links to articles, reports, podcasts and other media on current political and Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 11/03/2023 - 04:51
Exclusive new Declassified Australia report details Australia’s official neglect of detained WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, revealed in Federal Government files obtained under FOI legislation. The following is a transcript of a speech delivered at the Belmarsh Tribunal, Sydney, 4 Marsh. Read the full declassified Australia report here and watch the recording of the Belmarsh Tribunal here. Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 11/03/2023 - 04:50
Australian media are awash with reporting on the war-with-China propaganda series by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that I’ve been writing about for the last few days. Which is really quite extraordinary, because it’s not an actual news story. It really isn’t. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age just asked five warmongering Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 11/03/2023 - 04:40

Joel is driving along a deserted highway. Ellie is in the passenger seat drinking a Diet Snapple.

JOEL: We stay on this road and we’ll reach our destination by nightfall.

ELLIE: All right, cool, cool. But we’re going to stop at rest stops along the way, right?

JOEL: No, too dangerous.

ELLIE: Okay, it’s just that I might need to pee at some point.

JOEL: We just stopped to pee.

ELLIE: Yeah, well, that was fifteen minutes ago. And I’m gonna need to pee again in another fifteen minutes. Sorry, but liquids just run through me at my age.

JOEL: Then stop drinking so many Diet Snapples. Where did you even find those?

Created
Sat, 11/03/2023 - 04:00
Oy vey. This is just brutal I’ll be live-tweeting this morning’s portion of the House “weaponization” hearing featuring testimony from Matt Taibbi Rep. Plaskett begins by asking Jim Jordan if he plans to use information during today's hearing that Democrats have not had a chance to review. Jordan indicates that yes, he plans to do that. Plaskett refers to Taibbi and Shellenberger as "two of Elon Musk's public scribes" who "release cherry-picked, out of context emails and screenshots designed to promote his chosen narrative, Elon Musk's chosen narrative, that is now being parroted by the Republicans." Plaskett to Jim Jordan: "Americans can see through this. Musk is helping you out politically, and you're going out of your way to promote and protect him and to praise him." She then adds, "there are many legitimate questions about where Musk got the financing to buy Twitter." Wow. Plaskett is not messing around at all and Republicans are getting mad about it. LOL — Jim Jordan claims that Matt Taibbi is Democrat so he's not actually there to help Republicans !!!