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Making sense of 2017 (Hint: alcohol is a must)

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  • Boadicea says:

    Imprisonment of these youths is not the solution – it will just make hardened criminals out of them.
    However, leaving them in their current environment, giving them front page publicity and silly bail conditions isn’t going to fix the problem either. There is no point in expecting their family to sort them out.
    They would possibly benefit from being taken to an outback station – to a healthy caring environment doing station work and getting done counselling.
    There are not many willing to take on this task, but there are kids out there whose lives have been turned around by empathetic treatment.

    • Henry Blofeld says:

      I think some need the likes of Drill Sergeant Hartman to liven them up Boadiciea, softly softly wont work with many . Cheers
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j3_iPskjxk

    • JackSprat says:

      Have to disagree with you Boa.
      There are many people who have gone through the same traumas and not resorted to this petty and more than petty violence.
      There have been reports in the press months ago that they were openly taunting police because they knew they were virtually untouchable. In these activities they were ably and abetted by the idiocy of the judiciary and legal people who know how to present their “past” in the best (or worst if you like) light to get them off..
      Had they been stomped on earlier in the piece would not have come to this.
      There is an old saying “ye shall reap what you sow” and the poor sods on the receiving end of their crimes are paying the penalty without compensation while the lot who produced this situation are justifying their actions because they are not on the receiving end of their stupidity.

    • The Bow-Legged Swantoon says:

      Nope. Floggings. Lots and lots of floggings. And then some more floggings.

      I believe they have a box full of Percy Grainger’s whips somewhere. Time to bring them out of retirement.

      • BASSMAN says:

        Hit the gangs where it hurts..deport them AND their parents.-I know they may be Aussie Citizens but Dutts could easily find a way around that. He has done much worse. When they see innocent parents being sent back, the word will soon get around. Gang violence will stop tomorrow, believe me Bald. I know it does not sound fair but only a few will have to be ousted and they will all get the message as other parents suddenly see the urgent need to start acting like parents and controlling their kidz. Its cruel I know but it will work.

        • Boadicea says:

          Not sure if your comment is serious or ironic, Bassy. Sad thing is that one of these violent youths has siblings who are doing very well. In fact the kid in question was a captain of various sports teams at his school – and then he went off the rails and got involved in the world of methamphetamine – it’s all downhill from there and gang leaders prey on these victims.
          There comes a time when parents just give up and the kid is on the streets.
          Possible bullying at school? – and meth addiction. Disaster.

        • Carl on the Coast says:

          “Deport them” ?? “Aussie Citizens”?? If that’s the way you operate Bassy, there must be a lot of crap under your carpet mate.

      • Milton says:

        Oh yessy floggings , me first me first!

        These young boys and men are black. Impose the law upon them and the Trigg’s and Soutwasamaname’s of the world will show you their version of Kafkaland. And heaven help you if they are Muslim. Of course back in the old country, for some of our immigrants, summary justice is meted out. Their biggest supporters, or apologists, are labor types like Shorten and Plibersek and that clownin Victoria who are financed and selected by the Unions who also have form and fun with the muscly form of coercion.
        Still, it’s all well and good to eat in African restaurants as long as they are a long drive from home, or in the yuppy areas and your black neighbours are in the better income class.
        God there’s some vapid sanctimony pontificated on here at times!

  • Boadicea says:

    So Albanese reckons Dutts is playing political games! Hmmmm, Albo, I think it’s you who are about to make a game of this very serious issue of street gangs in Melbourne.
    Dutton has called it for what it is. About time someone did.
    Something needs to be done. They have been treated lightly by the courts which seems to be spurring them on. to more brazen behaviour.

    • smoke says:

      yeah goodo …its the feds immigration stance thats creating this cohort…and albanese is in the thick of it

    • Penny says:

      Boa, one minute you make a sensible comment about the so-called “gang situation” in Melbourne, then the next minute you’re showing total partisan views praising Dutton for calling it for what it is. Where do you really stand Boa? Going with your shallow opinions as usual or are you putting forward a view that you think might be the popular one on this blog? Open your eyes Boa and show some compassion for people who have arrived in this country with less privilege than you did…..I feel like an idiot that I thought that your previous post about the sad background of these people was sincere…you are a fraud.

      • Boadicea says:

        Oh how predictable from you, Penny.
        Go for it – it’s amusing
        You know absolutely nothing of my circumstances, past or present.
        I know who I am. You don’t. So try not to be quite so arrogant and ignorant.
        Have a lovely day.

        • Penny says:

          Boa, you have told me of your circumstances and that’s why you surprise me constantly of your absolute lack of compassion….

          • Boadicea says:

            Penny. There is one noticeable member from the left on this blog who does not feel the need to hurl insults at those with a differing opinion – namely Bella.
            She makes her point with dignity. And for that reason one sits up and takes notice of a sincere person who believes in her causes and does not take personal potshots at those she doesn’t know – and she gains respect for that
            It seems to be beyond your ability to cope with someone with an open mind. Yes, one who uses both eyes. I can empathise with some aspects of this particular issue but I can also see the need for some plain speaking which may not go down well with some. Christ, I lived with apartheid. I saw the injustices. I left Africa because of them.
            You interpret that as “saying what the blog wants to hear”. Rubbish.
            I do not pertain to one or other side of politics. I think some of the conservative politics have some merit and likewise on the other sides. I am not obsessed. I will say what I think on an issue.
            You have made it quite that you dislike me. That’s fine. Doesn’t worry me. After all I do not know you.
            It might surprise you to know that I think you try to ingratiate yourself on the blog at times, but I don’t spring into personal comments to you.
            But do not make personal comments about my “privileged” background. Nothing could be further from the truth actually. and ignorant comments like that don’ t always go down too well. Some are able to rise above their circumstances, Penny.
            I have the greatest admiration for those that do.
            Likewise I would admire these kids if they came good. In the end, they have a choice.

      • Jean Baptiste says:

        No, you’re not an idiot at all, far from it.
        Sometimes you have to ask yourself, “would I buy a used car from this person?”
        And stick to the decision, used car salespersons are always working on new angles.
        Give ’em heaps.

      • JackSprat says:

        Penny, how about some compassion for the collateral damage – ie those people who are on the receiving end of the gangs’ stupidity.

        • Penny says:

          JS….I agree, but have you thought about the gangs from the past? Italian, Greek, Lebanese, Vietnamese? We have lived with gang terror since we were colonized JS, not right,but we have to realize it’s not new….not sure anyone has the answer, but it’s not helpful to blame just one ethnic group.

          • Carl on the Coast says:

            Seems like a typical “look over there” comment if ever there was one. Or perhaps a clapsing and a twisting of one’s hands as a sign of “great” distress when one is unable to suggest a change to the “compassionate” MO. Or both?

          • JackSprat says:

            When a particular very identifiable ethic group is perpetrating the crimes it is pretty hard not to Penny.

        • JackSprat says:

          JTI
          “Which gang is that?”
          A group of more than 1 person is a gang but realistically probably a few more.
          Those imbued with academic criminal terminology use the term gang for people like bikers where there is a hierarchy and leadership. Perhaps they are living in the past.
          Social media can organize a “gang” very quickly as does happen around my area from time to time. When it becomes unruly, the police arrive, a few arrests are made and they quickly disperse. They are not pelted with rocks.
          “Gangs?” it is what the kids think that matters.
          These are not victimless crimes – for every idiot left off lightly there is one or more people disillusioned with the ”justice” system and, because they are very identifiable, the particular ethnic group and the immigration system.
          Throw them in gaol and lose the key – I do not think that is a good solution but there has to be a better way than rapping them on the wrist and sending them on their way.

          • Jack The Insider says:

            Your ability to talk passionately about something you know so little about says a great deal about you.

          • JackSprat says:

            Nice put down mate!
            You have no idea about my knowledge of the subject .
            It has taken a fairly intensive press campaign to get the Victorians to admit they have a problem.
            And your answer to the victims is?

            • Jack The Insider says:

              For God’s sake, man don’t feign some measure of empathy for victims. This is nothing more than a political position similar to the others that you vomit up.

          • John O'Hagan says:

            “A group of more than 1 person is a gang but realistically probably a few more.”

            This is the reasoning Victorian police, most notably in Flemington and Sunshine, were applying a few years back. Problem was, they only applied it to black people, and were rightly taken to task, mainly because racial profiling is utterly ineffective. It didn’t seem to occur to them that maybe those five people, all the same colour and standing together on a street corner, just knew each other socially. And wouldn’t even have been noticed if they were all white.

            If three or four guys who know each other do a burglary together, are they described as a “gang”? It seems to me the answer depends on their colour, especially in the lowbrow press. For the word “gang” to have any non-racist meaning, it has to refer to some kind of organised group.

          • Razor says:

            Profiling is extremely effective. As for racial profiling it becomes difficult not to fall into that if a particular race are showing up as committing the crimes you are trying to stop. It becomes extremely difficult for the officers involved but very easy for lawyers to sit back and criticise.

          • Razor says:

            It comes down to who is committing the majority of the crime JOH. Statistically, in certain areas of the states, it’s blacks and Hispanic’s. What would you have the police do?

            Do you even know about intelligence based policing?

          • Razor says:

            Their ‘complex statistical tool known as the threshold test’ is far from complex or a useful statistical tool. How did they extrapolate the officers reasons for search, in other words what was acting on their minds at the time of search from that rubbish? That is a very very poor study. Naturally it will be used by some to attempt to further curb police powers at the expense of victims.

    • BASSMAN says:

      The scariest gang I can think of is Dutton’s.

    • Trivalve says:

      The restaurant comment was risible Boa. Albo is perfectly correct. Yes there’s a problem. Let’s not exaggerate the scale.

      • Jack The Insider says:

        As Jon Kudelka mused on Twitter yesterday, a thermo-nuclear war would not keep Melburnians away from dining out.

      • Boadicea says:

        I haven’t referred to the restaurant comment Triv. I am saying that Dutton is right when he says there is a problem with African (or Australian residents of African origin if you like) street gangs. Time to put aside political correctness or turn a blind eye because there is a racial issue. And. before you pounce, the diverse panel discussion I heard on RN this morning concurred with that.
        Reference to dinner in the quiet country town of Mansfield, far far away from the thick of this violence, is irrelevant. . Good for the judge. Nice place for a holiday home. Hope he remembers he’s in Melbourne if sitting in on these cases.
        He may have felt a little different if he had been dining at a beachfront restaurant in St Kilda recently or playing evening tennis at his club in Essendon.
        It’s not an easy situation – but it clearly needs some firm action.

        • Jean Baptiste says:

          “Mansfield, far away from the thick of the violence.”
          Jesus Christ on a scooter Boadicea, it’s not a million Mau Maus running amok all over the metropolitan area. Get over yourself. You’re too obvious, it’s counterproductive to your cause.

          • Boadicea says:

            I’m saying what I think. JB. As you do!
            Actually the Mau Mau were not running around in the millions. They were small bands of machete -armed guerillas who attached white farmers in Kenya and hacked them to death.
            I’m not on a cause – I’m voicing an opinion.
            Chill, kumbaya and all that.

          • Jean Baptiste says:

            You’re out of register, not tuned in to the station correctly, A sign of someone with an agenda blindsiding themselves.
            For a start, voicing an opinion is not mutually exclusive with flogging a cause.
            Your gratuitous observation about Mau Mau hacking people to death with machetes is enough to make a thoughtful person suspicious of the divide between your public persona and privately held views.
            Before a knee jerk response, the statement was “they are not a million Mau Mau”, the fact that historical Mau Mau did not number in millions is irrelevant, I was lampooning he absurdity of the way you are washing the bag out of this.

  • Henry Blofeld says:

    Mr Insider, given the high youth unemployment and underemployment just wonder if re-introducing National Service would put many of the young on the right track. I know many would be against it but it sure would give a grounding to many aimless youth of today imho. Topic came up this morning at our coffee gabfest. I am for it.

  • Milton says:

    Are you going to the SCG, Jack?

    • Jack The Insider says:

      Nah. But I will be having a beer with Thommo tomorrow night. Yes, that Thommo.

      • Penny says:

        The Thommo…..wow I’m impressed. I have heard great stories about him. I saw a speech he made where he talked about his parents and got emotional. Moved me to tears I tell you….

        • Jack The Insider says:

          I am very much looking forward to it. I had a beer with Denis Keith Lillee about ten years ago so it is only right I catch up with his partner in crime.

          • Penny says:

            Denis K Lillee turned up in the hotel where I was working in Darwin JTI a long time ago in Speedo’s. Not a good look, but it beat Barrie Humphries turning up in his green bathrobe….btw DKL was a great hit in Farwin because of his absolute cheeriness and good blokedness…

            • Jack The Insider says:

              Hard to tell from the pic but we were at a private property in the middle of nowhere with a roaring fire and a very fine shed replete with a bar and various accommodations. Thommo spoke to about 20 people, told jokes and took questions. He was a bit refreshed from being at the cricket all day but he was very funny. The next one of these cricket in the bush days will feature Thommo, DK and Sir Viv. Many selfies to come.

          • BASSMAN says:

            When I met DK I was amazed how short he was.I expected him to be well over 6ft plus. I took my son to sign his book. He was very bleary-eyed and said he had been on the juice until 3am by made himself available at 10am for the kidz!

          • Trivalve says:

            Counterpoint to that Bassy, I met Tony Greig back when he was still playing and found myself talking to his belt. Only realised last week what a streak Stuart Broad (boooo) is as well.

      • jack says:

        keep an eye out for the short one and watch the sandshoes

      • Dismayed says:

        Not keen on thommo;s assessment of Maxwell. Great bloke maybe but off the mark about Maxwell.

    • Jean Baptiste says:

      Yeah but the coal industry isn’t anywhere near as virtuous as prostitution. My mates daughter works at a coal mine but she tells her parents she works at a knocking shop.

      • JackSprat says:

        Daughter works for a tobacco company
        One of my quips is “Next one an arms dealer?”

      • Milton says:

        Maybe she just told you she works at a coal mine, and ya keep on knockin but ya can’t come in!

        • Jean Baptiste says:

          Nobody admits to working at a coal mine you goose. I followed her work to find out where the knocking shop is. It doesn’t exist of course, I should have known better.

          • Milton says:

            get out some more mate (without following girls in the hope of finding brothels – well dodgy).

          • Jean Baptiste says:

            Following a girl, not “girls” and one specific brothel. You would too!
            I’m beginning to understand why religious types lose the thread and start to believe the fantasy.
            It’s joke Milton. Go back the beginning.

      • Boadicea says:

        Have you read the book “don’t tell mum I’m working on an oil ring, she thinks I’m a piano player in a whorehouse”
        Bloody funny, amazing adventures but there is also another more serious side to the guy. Enjoyed both his books.

        • Bella says:

          As did I Boadicea, plenty of laugh out loud experiences. I’m not aware of his serious side but I remember his hilarious reaction when he spent a little time with his father after years of not seeing him at all & came to the shocking realisation that they were very much alike.
          Carter mused he would probably leave this world the same way he came into it; bald & fat with a mild boob fixation. (or something like that). haha 😄
          Funny

  • wraith says:

    @ LoTOD
    I have heard of the problem Lou. Its called stobie suicide. Its when they just cant take it anymore and jump out into traffic. Very sad. That’s why we in SA have a program run to stop stobie suicide, you have to show you care, paint your stobie. Give it some love dammit!
    https://tinyurl.com/y9xss9dg

    cheers.

    • Bella says:

      What a unique & beautiful way to transform concrete light poles! 💚
      SA is clearly taking huge leaps forward with their innovative & smart renewable projects wraith. I love that your Premier Jay has stood strong, proudly unhindered by the withering splutterings of the federal coal puppets still dancing their gormless backsides off for continuing ‘conditional’ donations from their loyal mining moguls.
      Seems the Vic government is stepping-up now as well so it leads me to I wonder if Qld will keep their promised election commitment to veto ANY NAIF loan to Adani (we worry about poverty-striken Indian kids without power but you must pay us a B$+ to get us solvent cos nobody else globally is truly that stupid). Joyce, Canavan & GinaR are up to their necks in this process so Annastasia must do as she promised to the majority of Queenslanders & end all the fence-sitting she’s so good at.

    • Lou oTOD says:

      Painted assassins Wraith, too close to the roadway. Why not put them the other side of the curbside paths?

    • Boadicea says:

      Great pics Wraith! I like them!

  • Boadicea says:

    My posts seem to be disappearing into the ether. Humble apologies if multiple suddenly appear Jack. Feel free to delete excess

  • Huger Unson says:

    Mine:
    1. Buy more books, less newsprint.
    2. Invest in eyebrow salons.
    3. Study 習近平思想.

    • Trivalve says:

      Xi-had

    • Dwight says:

      1. Study Pусский.

    • jack says:

      Relax, it will probably come out in a little red book before too long.

    • jack says:

      which one os the de-caf?

      it’s the one closest to you

    • Jean Baptiste says:

      I stuffed up already, but 2019 is going to be my year, I can just feel it in my bones.

      • JackSprat says:

        Forget this obsession with years.
        Take it week by week. If that does not work try day by day.
        When you are up to it to your eyeballs there are also shorter periods.
        I can relate. Over xmas long term friends and their “fur baby”(spoilt rotten dog) were here. And so was 2 year old grand child.
        Tried humping her and got pushed away by me.
        Late in the day, I walked into the room and said dog had child forced against the sofa with benevolent dog mother trying to separate them. The apple of my eye looked terrified.
        I grabbed the brainless pooch by the collar, gave it a bit of a flick and left.
        It is a whippet and they do not weigh very much.
        It flew about a meter across the room(half way according to dog mother)
        Dog father picked if up in his arms and walked around with it.
        dog mother “He is a very sensitive dog”
        dog father disappeared upstairs with dog and left eary in the morning. At home they sleep with it.
        Family recokons I should apologise.
        My answer “No way” and have banned the mutt whenever the grandkids are around.

        • Penny says:

          Absolutely JS…

        • Jean Baptiste says:

          The dog version of “The Slap.” Has possibilities for a telemovie.

          • JackSprat says:

            They, “fur babies”, are proliferating JB -there would be plenty of stuff for a 3 hour movie and some of it would be quite funny – at least to those who think a dog should know its place.

        • Bella says:

          Good decisions re the dog’s behaviour JS
          Targeting a small child, even in a curious way, may not end well.
          My son has two enormous dogs who’re gentle giants but he’s smart about their interractions with kids. If a dog isn’t raised with little children you just never know & kids only have one perfect little face. 🤗

          • JackSprat says:

            I spent 3 hrs in the wee hours of Boxing Day at emergency once Bella.
            Daughter decided to give our really gentle dog a hug. Dog was fast asleep and spun around catching daughter in the upper lip.
            She was lucky – the Sth African doctor there knew a bit about plastic surgery, stood his ground with the staff to get hold of very fine needles and sutures, put in about 6 stitches and she ended up with the faintest of scars.
            Daughter was in her 30’s at the time.
            It can all happen so quickly.

  • Trabvitch says:

    There is an article today in the Oz on Greens senator PWW pushing for tap water instead of bottled water at meetings out of Parliament – see the link below.

    https://tinyurl.com/yc3m57e8

    Despite what a lot of the posters say (generally blinkered anti-green) in the comments section he has a good idea, and that is hard for me to say because of my general dislike of the Greens, and what they usually come up with.

    Australia is generally blessed by quality tap water (with some notable exceptions), and I really wonder why people will buy expensive bottled water when out rather than take a bottle;e of their own much cheaper tap water. There is also the rubbish issue to consider – how many of the bottles end up being recycled, and how many end up as trash?

    I can understand buying bottled water where the water supply is suspect, but, that is not an issue in most of Australia.

    On the issue of waste, over the past few years I have done a lot of flying again, and I am astounded at the amount of waste that is generated on aircraft through the packaged meals. I am not a “greeny” by any means, but, there needs to be some solution which I haven’t thought of as yet.

    • Trivalve says:

      Absolutely Trab. Bottled water is a triumph of marketing in Australia and patent stupidity on the part of the customers. . Perhaps they could take a lead from a mate of a mate who set up his own bottled water brand but filled the bottles straight from the tap. Was going nicely until he was rumbled.

    • Penny says:

      Trabvitch, it’s an absolute thing of mine, I love tap water in Australia and even here in Malaysia we have filtered water in our home. I can’t stand the taste if bottled water

    • JackSprat says:

      Lot of bubblers starting to appear around the Northern Beaches of Sydney.

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