Australia, like most Western nations, has become increasingly culturally diverse and I find it particularly confusing that, at a time when we are bringing in hundreds of thousands of migrants from other countries, we are actively promoting the handover of Australia to Aboriginals.
Yes, that is correct. Despite it being the one year anniversary of the defeat of the Voice, our state governments and councils are just doing it anyway. How did that work out?
Our new arrivals must find it hard to understand: are they welcome here, or will they, in decades to come, be seen as invaders like us.... ?
It took me back to a time, a few years ago, that Redhead, my Mum, had a conversation with an Indian man when she called an online service provider to update her credit card details.
Read more: Let's get Back to Normal. Please. This Holier than Thou Stuff is doing my Head in
In the dusty heart of the Outback, where the sun scorches the earth and the kangaroos outnumber the people, there's a new craze sweeping through the land. It's not the latest Aussie slang or a new way to cook a snag on the barbie – it's the art of cat herding. That's right, people, move over cattle rustling and sheep shearing; it's time for the feline frolic of the century.
Now, you might be wondering how on earth herding cats can be a viable occupation, let alone a source of national pride. Well, let me tell you, it's all about turning the seemingly impossible into the distinctly Australian. It's about teaching our young, unemployed folks the fine art of cat herding and giving them a sense of purpose that's as Aussie as a meat pie at the footy.
And then there is the first and only man in the world who actually learned how to herd cats and then teach them how to herd cattle. The legendary outback man known as Whiskers O ' Cat. And even he can't always manage it if AI image generator has anything to do with it. So buckle up and enjoy a weekend bit of a giggle.
Read more: Cat Herding in Australia and The Legend of Whiskers O' Cat and the Cats Who Loved Him
Can you believe it? Another weekend has rolled around. I was speaking with Redhead this morning and we got to talking about Niggles. No, not the current Premier of Queensland known as Giggles because of the supercilious grin he constantly has. Not the WW II flying Ace Biggles James Bigglesworth, wartime air ace and peacetime Sergeant in the Special Air Police, known to his friends and some of his enemies as 'Biggles'. Not the Wiggles either.
No, not them I am talking about Niggles.
So, what exactly is a niggle? Picture a tiny stone in your shoe. It’s not big enough to really hurt, but it’s definitely annoying. Now imagine the stone is made of worry, or doubt, or maybe a creeping feeling of irritation. That’s what a niggle is.....a minor but persistent source of discomfort. It doesn’t exactly ruin your day, but it sure does like to hang around and poke you in the ribs now and then.
And we talked about who would we swap places with? Is there anyone who does not have a niggle or two these days? And, in truth, are our niggles that bad anyway?
Read more: Niggles, Giggles Wiggles and Biggles - Putting Things into Perspective
As the 2025 expiration date for Gaza's lucrative offshore gas rights approaches, the future of the Gaza Marine field hangs in the balance.
With billions of cubic metres of natural gas at stake, regional powers are vying for control over the untapped resource.
Yet, political instability, the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, and escalating tensions with Hezbollah and Iran cast a long shadow over the field's potential. What will the expiration lead to? Will the gas remain locked beneath layers of conflict and bureaucracy?
As the deadline nears, the stakes have never been higher.
So it is rabbit hole time again. One that leads to Gas, Gaza and Golden Opportunities. And it all started with the Oslo Agreements.
Read more: Countdown to Conflict: Gaza’s Gas Reserves Face Uncertain Future as 2025 Deadline Looms
The Jarrow March, also known as the Jarrow Crusade, is one of the most significant protest movements in British history. It took place in October 1936, during a time of deep economic depression in the United Kingdom.
The march symbolised the desperation of working-class communities and their demand for government intervention. The 200 men who participated in this long, grueling trek from Jarrow to London sought to highlight the plight of the unemployed and the collapse of their town's industry.
Jarrow, a small town in northeastern England, had long been reliant on the shipbuilding industry. However, by the 1930s, this once-thriving sector was in a steep decline.
On the evening of October 12, 2002, the peaceful tourist destination of Bali, Indonesia, was thrust into chaos as one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Southeast Asia unfolded.
A series of bombings rocked the popular resort area of Kuta, leaving a path of destruction and horror in its wake. The attack killed 202 people, including tourists from over 20 countries, with the largest contingent being from Australia.
The event not only devastated families but also sent shockwaves across the globe, marking a critical point in the fight against terrorism.
Much like the devastating attack on America only a year previously, the Western world got a warning shot over the bow. So what did we all do? Hell, we invited them in to join us!
It is hard to imagine how our governments could be so foolish as to see the emergence of global Islamic terrorism and then decide that the best way of protecting us is to import the very people who tried to destroy us. It was almost as if they wanted more of the same..... like a woman who gets battered and then invites her abuser to bring his mates to come and live with her.......
Much of Australia’s early slang comes from the convict culture of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Australia was established as a penal colony, with convicts from Britain, Ireland, and other parts of Europe bringing their own slang terms with them.
The working-class origins of many early settlers meant that language was often informal, and humour and making the best of a bad lot became central to the Australian identity.
Convicts and settlers alike used slang to defy authority and express camaraderie. Words like "larrikin" reflect a rebellious, cheeky attitude that became part of our national character.
Slang became a way to survive and thrive in tough, often harsh conditions, helping people bond and deal with adversity. And boy, it must have been tough back then.
So I hope you enjoy the first part of a series on slang around the world. And where better to start than here in Aussie?
Daylight Saving – the dumbest idea since the invention of dehydrated water.
What an idiotic and stupid concept: Turn the clocks forward one hour and your miraculously save daylight? Well, no, you don’t. It is still daylight for exactly the same amount of time and it is still dark for precisely the same amount of time as it would have been before you changed the clock.
So what are we actually “ saving “?
Daylight saving is like Jetlag on steroids. It messes up our natural body clocks and is as confusing to our bodies as an appointment with a gender therapist who votes democRAT….
Back in 2002, an anonymous person sent an email from a disposable email address to a website. The email was headed The Secret Covenant.
It has, for over 20 years, been seen as a promise. But I believe it was a warning.
If "The Secret Covenant" were interpreted as a warning rather than a promise, the meaning would shift significantly, and its tone would transform from sinister collusion to a cautionary tale. This interpretation would frame the document as a call for vigilance against the potential dangers of power, corruption, and manipulation in society.
It could serve as a critique of existing systems, urging people to be aware of the ways through which they might be controlled or misled. Instead of portraying a secret group plotting in the shadows, the document might be trying to highlight how societal manipulation already exists.
The "Covenant" would not be a manifesto of intent, but rather a metaphorical or symbolic description of the current state of the world. It could be warning us about how easily people can be misled, manipulated, or exploited by those in power through media, education, and economic systems. The warning could be against becoming passive consumers of information, blindly trusting authorities, or succumbing to propaganda. In this view, the "Covenant" is urging individuals to develop critical thinking skills, stay informed, and be cautious of any single narrative that seeks to dominate public opinion.
Over the last few weeks I have noticed that people are losing their sense of humor. So I decided to write something to remind people that if you can't laugh, you may as well fook off and be done with it.
That is the problem with moslems. They never developed a sense of humor. Like the priests of old who were so full of hell and damnation that they forgot to look at the power of the good and the benefits of a belly laugh.
I mean, how could I ever post the joke about the two moslem mothers looking down at their kids and lamenting " Kids! They blow up so fast these days. "
It's like my old Gran used to say, if all you've got is lemons, eat the fookin things because they could be all you get today.
Lemonade? Fook. We would dream of lemonade only we were too weak to squeeze the juice and Father McGee would have whipped us stupid for daring to say such filthy things as " squeezing the juice. "
He was like that.
In military history, there are countless tales of bravery, valour, and unwavering dedication from soldiers who fought on the front lines.
But what about those fearless felines who have prowled the battlefield, armed with their whiskers and lethal claws? These purrsistent warriors have played some truly remarkable roles throughout history, and it's high time we give them the recognition they deserve.
Sometimes I think that we underestimate the role that cats, dogs and other animal and feathered friends play in our lives and in our world.
So sit and enjoy a journey into the history of cats and how they have evolved into being lazy, domineering, pampered pets from their early incarnations as demi gods and deities. But when you think about it, nothing much has changed really....... they are still demi gods and worshipped deities...... But things were not always as they are.
They did actually earn their keep.
Read more: Fearless Felines and Combat Cats - a History of Whiskered Warriors
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