Auspol January: I think that young Abbott would make a really good minister

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Debate & Discussion > Auspol January: I think that young Abbott would make a really good minister

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fiery_valkyrie: Mar 26, 2003; I'm proud of you, Bender. Sure, you lost. You lost bad. But the important thing is I beat up someone who hurt my feelings in high school.

Goodpart posted:

Please cleanse your palate after the Stan Grant speech with this utter refuse from noted piece of poo poo and Herald Sun columnist (trans: noted piece of poo poo) Rita Panahi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34wplH4Sb-k

Well when you sell it like that.....

# ? Jan 26, 2016 13:00

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# ? May 23, 2024 12:48

froglet: Nov 12, 2009; You see, the best way to Stop the Boats is a massive swarm of autonomous armed dogs. Strafing a few boats will stop the rest and save many lives in the long term.

You can't make an Omelet without breaking a few eggs. Vote Greens.

Jumpingmanjim posted:

Courtney Barnett is Melbourne as gently caress.

My partner had never actually listened to the lyrics of Depreston until today, he could hardly believe something so depressing managed to get into the Hottest 100.

For reference to those who haven't heard it:

"The Age posted:

A Melbourne singer-songwriter's bitter-sweet pop song about Australia's real estate bubble has hit home for many young, disheartened house hunters.

While songwriters for previous generations sang about reconciliation, war and freedom, Barnett says a song about the financial impossibility of buying a house was not so different.

Few people have the skill of expressing it so well, but Courtney Barnett's new song Depreston (a play on the northern Melbourne suburb Preston) encapsulates the frustrations of a generation who just want somewhere comfortable to live without taking on a million-dollar loan in a fragile economy.

Depreston is about accepting that you can't afford to buy within 10, 15 or even 20 kilometres of where you work, and that you can probably only afford a house needing urgent and expensive renovations.
Advertisement

Barnett - who grew up in Sydney and Hobart before settling in Melbourne - wrote the song while helping a friend look for a house.

"You say we should look out further, I guess it wouldn't hurt us. We don't have to be around all these coffee shops," she sings.

It may well become the anthem of those born after 1975 who didn't start working full time until the the late 1990s, about the same time housing affordability in capital cities starting slipping.

"I would never be in a position where I could buy a house, I don't think. I have never been in that sort of position financially at all," Barnett told Fairfax Media on Wednesday.

While songwriters for previous generations sang about reconciliation, war and freedom, Barnett says a song about the financial impossibility of buying a house was not so different.

"Feeling safe in the world relies on having somewhere to live," she explains.

The lyrics have resonated with audiences all over the world, she adds, particularly in London, which also has a suburb called Preston.

Australian home buyers are now forced to go further and further out, past the end of the train and tram lines and away from friends, family and services. This affordability ring-fencing means a quarter of Australians spend more time commuting to work than playing with their kids, according to a book released by the Grattan Institute this week.

In 1994 Australian households were spending 24 per cent of their income on home loan repayments, even when banks were charging 9 per cent interest, according to founder of Residex, John Edwards.

They are now spending 44 per cent of their income servicing home loans, with interest rates at record lows. With a family on a median income now able to afford a $350,000 home at best, Mr Edwards suggested Barnett look more than 25 kilometres out of town for that dream home.

"Craigieburn represents the distance you would have to go out of Melbourne to find a property which had the same affordability today as existed [in Preston] 20 years ago," Mr Edwards said.

But Barnett's song, which appears on a new album coming out in late March, is not just about the dollar cost of buying a house. Many houses up for sale are now at the end of their structural life and in terrible condition.

Depreston ends with a phrase that Barnett says gets thrown around by real estate agents who don't care about destroying a house full of sentimentality and memories: "If you've got a spare half a million you could knock it down and start rebuilding."

# ? Jan 26, 2016 14:12

I would blow Dane Cook: Dec 26, 2008

froglet posted:

My partner had never actually listened to the lyrics of Depreston until today, he could hardly believe something so depressing managed to get into the Hottest 100.

For reference to those who haven't heard it:

She played it on Ellen haha.

# ? Jan 26, 2016 14:35

Magog: Jan 9, 2010

I know I don't usually have a big contribution to make in the thread, but at least IRL, I managed to bring the Auspol perspective to my dinner guests on ~~Australia~~Invasion Day. It may not have been a particularly challenging audience, we shared our dismay at Trump and how one of their aunts is apparently head of some anti-gay marriage group much to their horror.

We discussed why nuclear is not the devil but it's not for Australia either at this time, as the Environmental Earth Science major endorsed nuclear as a stop-gap for renewables. Why ALP and LNP may both suck but that doesn't mean one can't be worse. Why despite the roadblocks from opposition, the NBN (which was still worth the increased estimated costs under the ALP) and renewables were severely disrupted by the LNP actually coming to power. How the TPP won't let us be and a brief recollection of the troubles it brings, one other was fairly up to speed. How refugees aren't a huge burden on us economically to process on-shore, nor as raised, a large long-term burden to the nation. How Australia was never going to experience the same number of refugees as Europe right now. How we were too young to experience Work Choices but how it was such a bum deal in so many ways and even one who has a fairly specialised position had at least experienced similar things under an enterprise agreement. An introduction to the history of the debate on becoming a Republic and what may come of the current stirrings for such. Socialism has brought us good benefits, isn't scary. How we can't go cutting off ice addicts from healthcare. How harm minimisation strategies can be a benefit for us, in both an empathetic and personal way for general society. How we need a higher top tax bracket. I guess there was more but that's what I got... :hellyeah:

# ? Jan 26, 2016 15:17

You Am I: May 20, 2001; Me @ your poasting

Goodpart posted:

Please cleanse your palate after the Stan Grant speech with this utter refuse from noted piece of poo poo and Herald Sun columnist (trans: noted piece of poo poo) Rita Panahi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34wplH4Sb-k

Wow, what a way to switch off the audience to your argument with that opening statement.

# ? Jan 26, 2016 22:42

Laserface: Dec 24, 2004

Cleretic posted:

It blew my mind that the Great Australian Bight is actually called that officially, it's not just a pet name.

How old are you?

# ? Jan 26, 2016 22:43

Recoome: Nov 9, 2013; Matter of fact, I'm salty now.

Laserface posted:

How old are you?

shut the gently caress up nerd

# ? Jan 26, 2016 22:46

SadisTech: Jun 26, 2013; Clem.

http://boingboing.net/2016/01/26/1907-telegram-send-arsenic.html

quote:

In 1907, Charles Morgan of Broome Station sent this telegram to Henry Prinsep, the Chief Protector of Aborigines for Western Australia, in Perth: "Send cask arsenic exterminate aborigines letter will follow."

# ? Jan 26, 2016 23:09

Recoome: Nov 9, 2013; Matter of fact, I'm salty now.

"Yes but you see we can't judge the actions of the past because we'd be applying out own skewed modern values, which weren't present at the time. It was acceptable at the time, who are we to judge?"

# ? Jan 26, 2016 23:11

Synthbuttrange: May 6, 2007

The Cost Of Gun Control: This Australian Man Has No Way To Kill Everyone At The Restaurant He Got Fired From

# ? Jan 27, 2016 00:00

fiery_valkyrie: Mar 26, 2003; I'm proud of you, Bender. Sure, you lost. You lost bad. But the important thing is I beat up someone who hurt my feelings in high school.

Ahahahaha

quote:

Eric Abetz: Coalition MPs will not be bound by plebiscite on marriage equality

The prominent conservative senator Eric Abetz says every Coalition MP will be free to decide how to cast their parliamentary vote on same-sex marriage, contradicting the prime minister and, according to the marriage equality lobby, rendering the promised $160m national plebiscite pointless.

Malcolm Turnbull supports marriage equality and originally argued against Tony Abbott�s �circuit-breaker� policy of a plebiscite after the next federal election, but then promised conservative Liberal colleagues and the Nationals he would keep the policy when he sought the Liberal leadership.

In October Turnbull told parliament his government would abide by the decision made by the Australian people and anyone arguing otherwise was �not living in the real world�.

�When the Australian people make their decision, that decision will stick,� he said. �It will be decisive. It will be respected by this government and by this parliament and this nation.

�But let me tell you this. If you imagine that any government, this government or any government, would spend over $150m consulting every Australian on an issue of this kind and then ignore their decision, then they really are not living in the real world.�

But Abetz, a former minister in Abbott�s government, has argued the people�s decision in a plebiscite would not necessarily be decisive.

�I would need to determine whether [the plebiscite] really is an accurate reflection [of the national view], whether it is all above board or whether the question is stacked, whether all sides received public funding,� he told Guardian Australia.

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/27/eric-abetz-coalition-mps-will-not-be-bound-by-plebiscite-on-marriage-equality

# ? Jan 27, 2016 00:08

Starshark: Dec 22, 2005; Doctor Rope

fiery_valkyrie posted:

Ahahahaha

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/27/eric-abetz-coalition-mps-will-not-be-bound-by-plebiscite-on-marriage-equality

He's got a fair point. If the voters aren't educated enough on both sides of the debate, they may come to the wrong decision. For example, on the one hand granting LGBT's the right to marry is simply giving them equality under the law, while on the other hand we must not dismiss the fact that gay sex is icky.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 00:12

Cleretic: Feb 3, 2010; Ignore my posts!
I'm aggressively wrong about everything!

Laserface posted:

How old are you?

I'm twenty-three, I just don't care about geography. I think I filed it away as 'cutesy name I was taught for something in primary school', and then saw it again in passing later, probably in high school, and went 'wait, that can't be right'.

This one's my bad, I admit. It's not like Gallipoli and Eureka where it's genuinely glossed over, I just didn't care enough to check.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 00:16

Graic Gabtar: Dec 19, 2014; squat my posts

Recoome posted:

"Yes but you see we can't judge the actions of the past because we'd be applying out own skewed modern values, which weren't present at the time. It was acceptable at the time, who are we to judge?"

Serious question:

As we can't dig this person up and throw them in jail what do you want people to say?

# ? Jan 27, 2016 00:17

Cartoon: Jun 20, 2008; poop

Remember when I thought Australia had gone so poo poo that emigrating to Denmark was a good idea? :smith:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-27/danish-parliament-adopts-controversial-reforms-on-asylum-seekers/7116164

quote:

Asylum seekers arriving in Denmark will have cash and valuables worth more than $2,000 taken from them at the border under controversial new laws adopted by the country's parliament overnight. The reforms, aimed at dissuading refugees and migrants from seeking asylum, also include provisions to delay family reunifications by up to three years, and have been likened by some to the Nazi-era policy of taking gold and other valuables from Jews. The government insists the change is needed to stem the flow of asylum seekers, even though Denmark and Sweden recently tightened their borders, a move that prompted Germany and Austria to turn back new arrivals heading for Scandinavia.

Key points

Denmark approves new asylum seeker reforms
The reforms include confiscating valuables
The move has attracted widespread criticism
Denmark answers that it has no alternative

Australia doesn't have a problem with indigenous rights:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-27/wagga-wagga-27citizen-of-the-year27-aiming-to-use-2016-to-inc/7116418

quote:

Wagga Wagga 'citizen of the year' wants discussion on Indigenous disadvantage and mental health Posted 27 minutes ago

Former rugby league and boxing star, Joe Williams is the 2016 Citizen of the Year in the New South Wales Riverina city of Wagga Wagga. He said he proudly accepted the award, but would like to see the date of Australia Day changed as he sees it as 'Invasion Day'. As much awareness and education that I can get out there, not only to my people but everyone, it's only more beneficial for everyone involved.

Mr Williams has told the ABC he and his family refuse to stand for the national anthem because the song does not represent his people and they believe they are not on a level playing field with other Australians.

"The opening line is 'Australians all let us rejoice for we are young and free'," he said. "Well we're not free, and we die 10 years younger than everyone else. I've been led to believe, whether it's true or not, that Advance Australia Fair actually comes across as Advance Australia Fair as in 'fair skinned'. Mr Williams said he would like Australia to adopt a new flag and new national anthem.

Meanwhile, the suicide prevention advocate said funding cuts at state and national level are only going to lead to more negative social outcomes in Australia. without making any specification, Mr Williams said millions of dollars had been cut from programs that support Indigenous people. "We lose far too many lives," he said. "Being an Aboriginal man, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have the highest suicide rates on the planet; we're six and seven times more likely to die by suicide than a non-Aboriginal person. "As much awareness and education that I can get out there, not only to my people but everyone, it's only more beneficial for everyone involved."

Speaking out

Mr Williams said there was change happening, with progress in many areas, but he believed part of the solution would be about speaking out, citing broadcaster Stan Grant's recent speech on racism in Australia. "We've got a long way to go, not only as a community but as a nation, and the people who don't recognise that are either blind or not looking," he said. "I guess last night was me opening a conversation. Stan Grant's speech was about opening a conversation, but let's look at implementing programs to benefit everyone, to educate everyone, and most importantly to move our community forward."

Mr Williams hoped to make a difference in the next year changing attitudes about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. He said Indigenous people carry a lot of scars, but they were not all old scars. "Our stories are passed down from generation to generation purely by voice, but let's not forget we live these stories," Mr Williams said. "When we're talking about the racism and Stolen Generations and inequality and so forth around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, these are things that we actually live from day to day."

Also let's not forget that the experience of Indigenous Australians somewhat mirrors that of the lowest socio-economic classes in general. As the gap between rich and poor accelerates the indigenous population are on the leading edge of the impacts especially when the policies that entrench disadvantage are implemented by the same ideology that sees reducing services as a reasonable response to budgetary issues.

Music industry full of misogynist arseholes! Why was this stupid bimbo surprised?

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/amber-coffman-says-industry-ostracising-women-speak-out/7112810?section=music

quote:

Over 24 hours last week, a female musician took down a powerful music industry publicist, accusing him of sexual assault. In less than a week major clients such as D'Angelo and Tyler, the Creator abandoned the man's PR firm, which then announced it was closing its doors. But the story did not end there. In an interview with Hack, the woman who first made the allegations, Amber Coffman, says music industry figures are ostracising women speaking out against sexual assault and harassment. "I know there's a whole gang of men in the music industry who have totally turned their backs on a lot of these women," she says. "Total shutdown, total blackout. Not a single word. No responses to emails."

She says others are too scared to speak out.

He only rubbed your arse. Stop being so loving precious and accept it as a compliment. WIth that attitude precious few guys are going to want to rub your arse now.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 00:23

open24hours: Jan 7, 2001

The plebiscite is a disgrace whichever way it goes. Maybe we should have a plebiscite on reintroducing slavery too?

# ? Jan 27, 2016 00:26

Starshark: Dec 22, 2005; Doctor Rope

quote:

Mr Williams has told the ABC he and his family refuse to stand for the national anthem because the song does not represent his people and they believe they are not on a level playing field with other Australians.

If you don't fackin' love this country go back to... Oh...

# ? Jan 27, 2016 00:26

iajanus: Aug 17, 2004; NUMBER 1 QUEENSLAND SUPPORTER
MAROONS 2023 STATE OF ORIGIN CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE

quote:

Sometimes you come across ideas that are pure genius. The mobile phone, the microwave oven, genome sequencing and the internet are all examples of this.

And sometimes you come across ideas that are pure stupidity.

An example of that latter is the decision by surfwear chain City Beach to sell beer bongs in their stores in time for Australia Day.

Is the beer bong consistent with the surf chain's brand aspiration of playing a part in the lives of our youth?

Actually, Australia Day, Christmas Day, or any day in between, it would still be a stupid idea.

For those of you who don't know what a beer bong is, it is a funnel attached to a length of plastic tube. Beer is poured into the funnel which is held at full stretch above the head of the drinker, who sucks the beer through the tube at the other end. Gravity, and the differential pressure between the top of the funnel and the end of the tube, force-feeds the beer down the tube.

What you can't do when drinking from a beer bong is stop the flow, so you effectively turbocharge your consumption of beer. To be honest, I cannot think of any circumstance in which this is a good idea.
Moreover, the use of a beer bong requires the assistance of at least one other person, so the potential for peer pressure to indulge in irresponsible drinking games is high.

A quick internet search reveals scores of videos which demonstrate this point and more. In some cases the beer bong looks more like a tool for victimisation than a party trick, but when alcohol is involved, the line between the two can be very thin.

For a surfwear shop to sell these items surpasses comprehension.

It suggests the company thinks the irresponsible and excessive consumption of alcohol is the perfect complement to a day at the beach. It isn't.

Royal Lifesaving Australia's 2014 report showed that of the 266 victims of drowning in 2013-14, 81 per cent were male. Contrary to popular perception, all but 30 victims were aged over 14 years of age.

In other words, most of the people who drowned were adult or adolescent males. Worse still, the report identified excessive alcohol consumption as a significant factor in many drownings.

So the question for the management of City Beach is whether they have given the slightest scintilla of thought to the possibility that selling beer bongs in a surfwear store could contribute to people drowning.

When they've finished answering that, they might also want to ask themselves why they should sell an item that a pub or liquor store would be prohibited from selling under laws governing the responsible consumption of alcohol.

Finally, they might give some thought to whether selling beer bongs is consistent with their brand aspiration of "playing a part in the day to day life of Australia's youth culture and lifestyle".

There are very few opportunities for companies to make a genuine difference to the community. For City Beach, this is one such chance.

Let's hope they seize the opportunity, and remove these items from their stores right away.

Won't somebody please think of the children! :australia:

# ? Jan 27, 2016 00:41

Synthbuttrange: May 6, 2007

iajanus posted:

Won't somebody please think of the children!

It's got to be a nanny state when its populated by overgrown children.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 00:44

open24hours: Jan 7, 2001

I heard that Bunnings sell tubes and funnels too, if you know the codeword.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 00:47

You Am I: May 20, 2001; Me @ your poasting

open24hours posted:

I heard that Bunnings sell tubes and funnels too, if you know the codeword.

Stoner's Warehouse
They'll make your bong grouse

# ? Jan 27, 2016 01:19

Ler: Mar 23, 2005; I believe...

I can't tell if this is a joke or not, apparently it's from the Herald Sun so probably the latter.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 03:10

Nibbles!: Jun 26, 2008; TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP

make australia great again as well please

"Political correctness" is staying healthy. I'll give her the benefit of doubt and assume someone else chose the headline.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 03:23

Chafe: Dec 17, 2009

I've read the whole article as my work gets every newspaper it can for whatever reason.

Her conclusion is literally "who cares if your teeth are falling out due to tooth decay and you have to go to the doctors to get that sunspot checked out, you at least had fun doing it when you were young and it's a shame that the safety nazis are stopping kids from experiencing these truly Australian things".

It's so...stupid I don't even know how to explain how dumb it is.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 03:24

Nibbles!: Jun 26, 2008; TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP

make australia great again as well please

"Hey Elise Elliot. Don't hold your face on that stove top, that's politically incorrect"

"Ooh I'll show you"

# ? Jan 27, 2016 03:26

tithin: Nov 14, 2003; [Grandmaster Tactician]

Ler posted:

I can't tell if this is a joke or not, apparently it's from the Herald Sun so probably the latter.

Safety stasi

# ? Jan 27, 2016 03:26

birdstrike: Oct 30, 2008; i;m gay

what if there was a way to play in the sunshine... safely?

# ? Jan 27, 2016 03:28

Amoeba102: Jan 22, 2010

The Australian way is suffering.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 03:31

Amethyst: Mar 28, 2004; I CANNOT HELP BUT MAKE THE DCSS THREAD A FETID SWAMP OF UNFUN POSTING
plz notice me trunk-senpai

It's just some hack filling column inches to distract their grumpy boomer readership for 2 minutes.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 03:37

Amethyst: Mar 28, 2004; I CANNOT HELP BUT MAKE THE DCSS THREAD A FETID SWAMP OF UNFUN POSTING
plz notice me trunk-senpai

I imagine it was written two hours before deadline while nursing a coke binge hangover.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 03:38

SadisTech: Jun 26, 2013; Clem.

"Diabetes, tooth decay and childhood obesity weren't even on our radar."

Which explains why so many Australians are now diabetic, toothless and fat

# ? Jan 27, 2016 03:51

hooman: Oct 11, 2007; This guy seems legit.; Fun Shoe

Childhood isn't really special without a crippling dose of polio, why won't the vaccination hitlers just let kids be kids and die at the age of 4 like in my day.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 04:35

I would blow Dane Cook: Dec 26, 2008

tithin posted:

Safety stasi

Mods namechange please

# ? Jan 27, 2016 04:44

Recoome: Nov 9, 2013; Matter of fact, I'm salty now.

Mods please change my name to "Kulcha king"

e: please don't

# ? Jan 27, 2016 04:57

Bifauxnen: Aug 12, 2010; Curses! Foiled again!

Graic Gabtar posted:

Serious question:

As we can't dig this person up and throw them in jail what do you want people to say?

I don't really get the question, unless you thought the earlier post about "judging" was talking about like a court case for some reason? :confused:

Unfortunately we cant do poo poo to assholes in the past. But when people in the present want to avoid judging those past actions, or just gloss over them and try to ignore that they ever happened, or justify and make excuses for them, that does not make for an optimistic outlook on how quickly we can continue to improve things I'm the modern day.

So I would want them to say: "Yes this poo poo happened. No I'm not going to try and pretend it didn't happen or that it wasn't really as horrible as it sounds. And I'm not going to promote the further persistence of misinformation by being stubborn and defensive about it. By acknowledging the wrongs done in the past and being willing to condemn them, I will also show my willingness to acknowledge and condemn modern wrongs (which are hopefully of a much less severe degree, but often have the exact same ideological motivations behind them)."

Or something to that effect, in fewer words.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 05:18

HookShot: Dec 26, 2005

Uhh I don't know if she's ever had a second degree sunburn, that poo poo loving hurts like hell, even when you're a kid.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 05:49

You Am I: May 20, 2001; Me @ your poasting

HookShot posted:

Uhh I don't know if she's ever had a second degree sunburn, that poo poo loving hurts like hell, even when you're a kid.

I had second degree burns to my lower legs and feet.

It was a very painful three weeks. And now I have the added bonus of nerve damage as well!

# ? Jan 27, 2016 05:54

HookShot: Dec 26, 2005

I didn't have nerve damage but I still had the tan line 18 months later.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 06:02

sick of Applebees: Nov 7, 2008

You Am I posted:

I had second degree burns to my lower legs and feet.

It was a very painful three weeks. And now I have the added bonus of nerve damage as well!

Well, I hope you thanked your parents for letting you live life free and unfettered from PCness!

# ? Jan 27, 2016 06:05

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# ? May 23, 2024 12:48

xPanda: Feb 6, 2003; Was that me or the door?

It's not like Australia has a skin cancer problem or anything.

IIRC, we've been so successful at keeping people out of the sun that the country developed a bit of a Vitamin-D deficiency problem.

# ? Jan 27, 2016 06:05

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Debate & Discussion > Auspol January: I think that young Abbott would make a really good minister

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