I thought long and hard about whether to say this, because it’s going to be confronting and possibly seem opportunistic, but I’m going to say it because I want someone to tell me I’m wrong.
Within 24 hours of each other, two men were shot to death by police in part because they were carrying guns. Not wielding them or brandishing them in any way – just carrying them. And these two killings are really only notable because they were both captured on smartphone video.
Can we talk about gun control now? Please?
I’m not even going to ask for changes to US gun laws. That’s probably a lost cause by now. Can I just ask that the existing laws be applied equally?
Alton Sterling was carrying a gun when he was he was shot on the ground. It was not in his hand. It was in his pocket. He was not legally carrying because of his criminal record but the police officers had no way of knowing his record or that he was not licenced to carry a concealed firearm.
Philando Castile was licenced to carry a gun and informed police officers that he was carrying as he reached to get his ID. He did everything right.
We are told by defenders of the status quo on gun control that guns make people safer. But carrying a gun did not protect Mr Sterling and Mr Castile. Instead, it got them both killed.
We are also told that keeping and bearing arms is not just for personal protection but to protect the populace from a tyrannical government. Yet, Mr Sterling and Mr Castile were killed by officers of the government for carrying a gun.
So far, the NRA has had no comment.
This leads a reasonable person to wonder if there might be some unwritten nuance to the second amendment, and that the nuance is:
White man with a gun:
“He’s exercising his constitutional rights. What a patriot!”
Black man with a gun:
“HE’S GOT A GUN! SHOOT HIM!”
I know this may seem like an unfair characterisation. I know this may seem like an opportunistic cherry-picking of examples. That’s why I want someone to show me where I’m wrong.
I’m not asking as a “prove me wrong, then!” debating tactic. I truly want to be wrong. I have tried hard to avoid saying ‘racism’ but oops, there it is.
Please, please tell me I’m wrong!
08 July, 2016
05 July, 2016
Election coverage
You might have noticed a lack of election posts here. That's because I've been posting them all at Ausvotes2016. You can view them all HERE.
My latest post is a prediction of what might happen in a Turnbull government's second term - if they get one.
My latest post is a prediction of what might happen in a Turnbull government's second term - if they get one.
24 June, 2016
The hypocrisy of Brexit
I have to say it’s rather amusing to see Britain resentful of
being told what to do by other countries. It seems they’re nostalgic for the
days of when there was one rule for Britain and another for everyone else.
Let’s take just one, extremely selective example…
1915,
Britain: You there, Australia! Launch a doomed invasion of a country
you have no quarrel with as part of our sorting out some personal differences between
royal cousins.
Australia: Right you are, guv!
2016,
Europe: Britain, be a good chap and take some refugees fleeing
conflicts that ultimately arose from a bunch of arbitrary lines you drew on the
world over the last century, won’t you?
Britain: How dare you sir? Do you know who I am? I don’t have to be
treated like this. I said Good day!
19 June, 2016
The Best of the Best-Ofs: Paul McCartney
(revised and updated)
For someone so prolific, Paul McCartney has released very few compilations, averaging less than one per decade. Pure McCartney is only the fourth – far less than contemporaries such as Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Elton John and even John Lennon, who was only given ten years for a solo career and spent five of those in semi-retirement.
And of these four compilations, the new release is the only one to include his entire post-Beatles career. Here, I will compare it to the others from a previous post in this occasional series.
Pure McCartney - 2016
Firstly, the title is perfect. Shying away from a hits or best-of per-se, the sleeve notes and promotional material state that the album was compiled “with nothing else in mind other than having something fun to listen to.” All the hits you’d expect are here and the remainder of the 4-disc set is evidently made up of Paul’s personal favourites from what I believe the young’uns these days call “deep cuts.” Of these album tracks, many are finally getting the recognition they deserve such as Arrow Through Me and Don’t Let It Bring You Down, while others have already enjoyed a recent resurgence such as Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five and… um… Temporary Secretary.
See also,
And of these four compilations, the new release is the only one to include his entire post-Beatles career. Here, I will compare it to the others from a previous post in this occasional series.
Pure McCartney - 2016
Firstly, the title is perfect. Shying away from a hits or best-of per-se, the sleeve notes and promotional material state that the album was compiled “with nothing else in mind other than having something fun to listen to.” All the hits you’d expect are here and the remainder of the 4-disc set is evidently made up of Paul’s personal favourites from what I believe the young’uns these days call “deep cuts.” Of these album tracks, many are finally getting the recognition they deserve such as Arrow Through Me and Don’t Let It Bring You Down, while others have already enjoyed a recent resurgence such as Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five and… um… Temporary Secretary.
As you might expect, it does lean a little heavily on the most recent album New but apart from that, it covers pretty much all phases of Paul’s career equally. About time too! Only two regular albums are not represented here; Driving Rain, which is understandable given the painful phase of Paul’s life that it represented, and more oddly, Flowers in the Dirt. Perhaps this is because the latter is being given a deluxe reissue later this year.
There will be minor quibbles. For instance, I think The Song We Were Singing would have made a perfect opening track, and I don’t think anyone would have minded if Bip Bop and Press were bumped for, say, London Town and C’mon People, but did I change the face of 20th century music? No, I did not. This does contain the only CD release of Hope for the Future. It also includes the 2015 remix of Say Say Say, which features more Michael Jackson vocals than the original. It might have been nice to include some other recent non-album singles like Vanilla Sky and (I Want To) Come Home but again, these are minor quibbles.
Despite jumping several decades in places, the sequencing works well providing good flow and contrast across some very different songs. New masters of the tracks are used where available but unfortunately the tracks from Memory Almost Full (ironically, the McCartney album in most dire need of a remaster) are still “brickwalled.”
Predictably, the more reasonably priced 2-disc version preferences the radio songs more but still has an excellent overview of McCartney’s work.
For: Career-spanning, personal, only album release of Hope for the Future
Against: 4-disc version is expensive
 |
| Band on the Run from Pure McCartney |
Wings Greatest – 1978
Does exactly what it says on the cover. Wings only made one more album after Wings Greatest, the excellent but hit-free Back to the Egg so it can still be considered the definitive Wings collection. It does stretch the definition just a little by including two tracks originally credited to Paul & Linda McCartney, but no-one could possibly begrudge that. It includes five non-album singles but for reasons of space, leaves out Listen to What the Man Said. Wings Greatest was the only album until Pure McCartney to contain the full version of Junior’s Farm.
For: Succinct
Against: These days, represents a comparatively short phase of McCartney’s career.
All the Best – 1987
Originally released as a double-LP All the Best contains nine tracks that were also released on Wings Greatest and add the hits from the 80s. It includes the first album releases of C Moon, We All Stand Together and Goodnight Tonight, although the latter was not included on the single CD. Contains one new song, Once Upon a Long Ago.
The US version of All the Best had a slightly different tracklisting, and includes the live version of Coming Up, (which was the A-side of the single in the US) rather than the album version.
For: Great artwork, Only album release of Once Upon a Long Ago
Against: CD version drops three tracks.
Wingspan – 2001
Released alongside the television documentary and book of the same name, Wingspan is sensibly divided into two themed discs, Hits and History. The collection does employ a rather curious definition of Wings’ career. While it’s fair enough to include pre-Wings tracks from McCartney and Ram, it also covers part of Paul’s post-Wings careers, but suddenly stops in 1984.
On the Hits side, it’s all the usual suspects – ten tracks previously included on Wings Greatest and fourteen that had been on All the Best. The History side delves deeper and does a good job of being a true best-of, including underrated tracks like Heart of the Country, Take It Away and Rockestra Theme. It also includes an early demo of Bip Bop/Hey Diddle, which was previously unreleased and should have remained so. Where available, radio edits included which may be interesting for completists but does an injustice to a beautiful song like Waterfalls, and wasn’t Junior’s Farm already short enough? Again, Coming Up is replaced with the live version on the US version. The smarter thing to do would have been to include it on the History disc, since the live version has never been available on CD outside the US.
For: Comprehensive, separate Hits and History discs, remastered.
Against: Edited versions, weird time period.
If you had to choose one, choose...
Pure McCartney, 2-disc version. Go for the 4-disc if you want. Wingspan goes into more detail between 1970 and 1984 but Pure McCartney is just that – the first collection including live albums that doesn’t sell half his career short.
Does exactly what it says on the cover. Wings only made one more album after Wings Greatest, the excellent but hit-free Back to the Egg so it can still be considered the definitive Wings collection. It does stretch the definition just a little by including two tracks originally credited to Paul & Linda McCartney, but no-one could possibly begrudge that. It includes five non-album singles but for reasons of space, leaves out Listen to What the Man Said. Wings Greatest was the only album until Pure McCartney to contain the full version of Junior’s Farm.For: Succinct
Against: These days, represents a comparatively short phase of McCartney’s career.
 |
| Band on the Run from Wings Greatet |
Originally released as a double-LP All the Best contains nine tracks that were also released on Wings Greatest and add the hits from the 80s. It includes the first album releases of C Moon, We All Stand Together and Goodnight Tonight, although the latter was not included on the single CD. Contains one new song, Once Upon a Long Ago.The US version of All the Best had a slightly different tracklisting, and includes the live version of Coming Up, (which was the A-side of the single in the US) rather than the album version.
For: Great artwork, Only album release of Once Upon a Long Ago
Against: CD version drops three tracks.
 |
| Band on the Run from All the Best |
Wingspan – 2001
Released alongside the television documentary and book of the same name, Wingspan is sensibly divided into two themed discs, Hits and History. The collection does employ a rather curious definition of Wings’ career. While it’s fair enough to include pre-Wings tracks from McCartney and Ram, it also covers part of Paul’s post-Wings careers, but suddenly stops in 1984.On the Hits side, it’s all the usual suspects – ten tracks previously included on Wings Greatest and fourteen that had been on All the Best. The History side delves deeper and does a good job of being a true best-of, including underrated tracks like Heart of the Country, Take It Away and Rockestra Theme. It also includes an early demo of Bip Bop/Hey Diddle, which was previously unreleased and should have remained so. Where available, radio edits included which may be interesting for completists but does an injustice to a beautiful song like Waterfalls, and wasn’t Junior’s Farm already short enough? Again, Coming Up is replaced with the live version on the US version. The smarter thing to do would have been to include it on the History disc, since the live version has never been available on CD outside the US.
For: Comprehensive, separate Hits and History discs, remastered.
Against: Edited versions, weird time period.
 |
| Band on the Run from Wingspan |
If you had to choose one, choose...
Pure McCartney, 2-disc version. Go for the 4-disc if you want. Wingspan goes into more detail between 1970 and 1984 but Pure McCartney is just that – the first collection including live albums that doesn’t sell half his career short.
See also,
The Greatest - 1998
Japan-only release that is interesting for including My Brave Face and Hope of Deliverance, but bloody expensive. For collectors only.
Never Stop Doing What You Love – 2005
This collection was issued as part of a sponsorship deal with and investment company. Although never commercially released, it has been available online from certain sellers. It’s mostly a predictable collection of hits, but also includes Put It There, The World Tonight and Calico Skies.
Never Stop Doing What You Love – 2005
This collection was issued as part of a sponsorship deal with and investment company. Although never commercially released, it has been available online from certain sellers. It’s mostly a predictable collection of hits, but also includes Put It There, The World Tonight and Calico Skies.18 June, 2016
Thinking of linking
What I've been reading recently...
Australia:
Solving homelessness should be a priority for government
Political correctness gone right-wing
The art dealer offended by books: Businessman who wants to close a quaint store in his Melbourne street because of the 'visual impact' on the area
Melbourne mother angry girl can't wear pants as part of school uniform
Malcolm Turnbull will lose if he doesn't win back the Liberal base
Private training provider Careers Australia to pay back $44m to Government, consumer watchdog says
Election 2016: Sophie Mirabella suspects Liberal HQ leaking against her in fight for Indi
This Man Was Deported From Australia Despite Living And Working Here For Twenty Years
How Australia stood up to minister's 'illiterate migrants' comments
Labor NBN raids: Prime Minister deflects Labor accusations over AFP's election campaign investigation
Deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce faces the reality of climate change - some people just have to learn the hard way.
'Ungovernable'? No, Australia changes leaders because they lose their nerve
Turnbull looking for fireworks in long election campaign
Election 2016: Labor has George Christensen and Peter Dutton in its sights
'Growth and jobs': the numbers that debunk a company tax cut
Vulgar, racist Facebook rants return to haunt Midland Liberal candidate Daniel Parasiliti
Silly silly Woy Woy has week spot for king of the absurd
Australia: A town called Woy Woy
Great Barrier Reef stays on UN watch list
Great Barrier Reef doomed but our dome will save us
It's time to ask, 'Could Trump happen here?'
World's widest web? Flood-hit spiders find higher ground
David Koch quits government role on air, tells Fiona Nash to 'get a backbone'
Why is the CFA fighting the UFU?
Victorian firefighters dispute: The burning questions
Pay dispute pits Victoria's volunteer firefighters against professionals
Federal election 2016: Shock poll result for Kelly O'Dwyer. Is Higgins the 'Indi of 2016'?
View from the Street: Mathias Cormann pledges to stop the journalists
Federal election 2016: Mystery deepens over Parakeelia as Cormann ducks question
Election 2016: Barnaby Joyce tells constituent to 'piss off' during heated pub exchange
Tony Abbott's office floated sending Australian troops into Ukraine conflict, defence expert claims
New research: Abbott and Turnbull the worst economic managers since Menzies
The best economic plan: live in a marginal seat
Public servants told it's Armidale or find new jobs
Election 2016: Where do the parties stand on animal welfare?
Bill Shorten’s surprising victory in Leaders’ debate - um, surprising to whom?
The zinger that won the debate for Bill Shorten
Private vocational courses cost taxpayers seven times as much as TAFE, analysis finds
AFP release report into who leaked top secret report on Iraq War to Andrew Bolt
US:
Why Trump’s fake publicist act matters: It proves he’s exactly the weirdo and liar we all suspected he was
Trump's Team: The Bigoted, Unhinged Conspiracy Theorists Benefiting From Donald Trump's Campaign
John Oliver buys and forgives $15 million of debt
Talk grows of replacing Trump at GOP convention
Brock Turner's statement blames sexual assault on Stanford ‘party culture’
Why Conservatives Should Just Say ‘No’ to Trump - The most hilariously wrong way of accidently being right
Democrats Can’t Unite Unless Wasserman Schultz Goes!
Pugilist-poet Ali's race legacy still packs a punch
College Basketball Star Heroically Overcomes Tragic Rape He Committed
July 4th Flotilla 2016 on Bayou St. John to crown Chewbacchus leaders
Five things people should stop saying about Bernie Sanders
Our Worst Presidents Came In With A Lot Of Experience
Donald Trump Picked the Wrong News Editor to F*ck With
Brock Turner and Cory Batey, two college athletes who raped unconscious women, show how race and privilege affect sentences
Donald Trump wanted Moammar Gaddafi’s money
The Concert Across America to end gun violence
[name redacted] was taken off a terrorist watch list, but keeping him on it wouldn't have stopped him from buying guns
Seth Meyers Just Banned Donald Trump From Appearing On His Show – It’s Absolutely Amazing
Orlando shooting: thoughts and prayers from hypocrites do nothing to help
Filmmaker Ken Burns Delivers Blistering Takedown Of Donald Trump At Stanford
Orlando shooting brings hate to its natural conclusion
Pet Alliance to Shelter Victims Pets
McCain: Obama is 'directly responsible' for Orlando attack - Go home, John. It's over.
A history of America doing nothing in response to mass shootings
An Open Letter to [name redacted] from a Survivor of the Orlando Nightclub Shooting
Hillary Clinton Is About to Clean Donald Trump’s Clock
I Am An AR-15 Owner And I’ve Had Enough
Top GOP Consultant Unleashes Epic #NeverTrump Tweetstorm
Boston's Sidewalks Are Covered In Secret Poems
UK:
Bob Geldof and Nigel Farage face off in Brexit boat battle down London's River Thames
Jo Cox MP dead after shooting attack
The mood is ugly, and an MP is dead
World:
Associating elbowgate with violence against women is an insult to victims
((( How Twitter Is Teaming Up to Mess With the Nazis )))
In South Sudan, It’s Hard to Tell the Soldiers From the Criminals
Music:
Women guitar makers scratched from Gibson history
Moby: ‘There were bags of drugs, I was having sex with a stranger’
9 Things Guitarists Hate…
Ingenious: this is how you correct the audience when they're clapping on the wrong beat
Mastertapes: Paul McCartney
Former Wings guitarist and Northern Ireland music legend Henry McCullough has died
Paul McCartney Talks Summer Tour, New 'Pure McCartney' Comp
Mandatory Fun: “Weird Al” Preps Career-Spanning “Squeeze Box”
Star Wars Hologram Vinyl
Media:
Morley Safer, veteran '60 Minutes' newsman, dies at 84
Duncan Storrar: 'A line has been crossed' by media, say community leaders
Owen Jones: Journalist walks out of Sky News show after hosts 'downplay' homophobia of Orlando shooting
No holding back from networks on Rogerson but Alan Jones lies low
Culture:
Whatever happened to the Sandman?
Capaldi wants classic ‘Doctor Who’ companion back: ‘Susan’s story wasn’t finished’
Ferris Bueller’s missing soundtrack: Why we shouldn’t mourn what we never had
REVEALED: There really was a creepy fifth housemate lurking in cult British TV show The Young Ones
Tech:
Time for Twitter to grow up
How Yahoo derailed Tumblr
Photos: Nodes Behaving Badly (when FTTN placement goes wrong)
History:
China: (not) talking about a revolution
Mental Health:
6 Signs You’re Actually An Outgoing Introvert, Because Yes, Those Exist - Finally I have a definition
Late sleepers are tired of being discriminated against. And science has their back.
Science:
What Does a Dog See in a Mirror?
Language:
How The Wrong Verb Meant The Texas GOP Called Most Texans Gay
The least boring photo on my camera roll:
Australia:
Solving homelessness should be a priority for government
Political correctness gone right-wing
The art dealer offended by books: Businessman who wants to close a quaint store in his Melbourne street because of the 'visual impact' on the area
Melbourne mother angry girl can't wear pants as part of school uniform
Malcolm Turnbull will lose if he doesn't win back the Liberal base
Private training provider Careers Australia to pay back $44m to Government, consumer watchdog says
Election 2016: Sophie Mirabella suspects Liberal HQ leaking against her in fight for Indi
This Man Was Deported From Australia Despite Living And Working Here For Twenty Years
How Australia stood up to minister's 'illiterate migrants' comments
Labor NBN raids: Prime Minister deflects Labor accusations over AFP's election campaign investigation
Deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce faces the reality of climate change - some people just have to learn the hard way.
'Ungovernable'? No, Australia changes leaders because they lose their nerve
Turnbull looking for fireworks in long election campaign
Election 2016: Labor has George Christensen and Peter Dutton in its sights
'Growth and jobs': the numbers that debunk a company tax cut
Vulgar, racist Facebook rants return to haunt Midland Liberal candidate Daniel Parasiliti
Silly silly Woy Woy has week spot for king of the absurd
Australia: A town called Woy Woy
Great Barrier Reef stays on UN watch list
Great Barrier Reef doomed but our dome will save us
It's time to ask, 'Could Trump happen here?'
World's widest web? Flood-hit spiders find higher ground
David Koch quits government role on air, tells Fiona Nash to 'get a backbone'
Why is the CFA fighting the UFU?
Victorian firefighters dispute: The burning questions
Pay dispute pits Victoria's volunteer firefighters against professionals
Federal election 2016: Shock poll result for Kelly O'Dwyer. Is Higgins the 'Indi of 2016'?
View from the Street: Mathias Cormann pledges to stop the journalists
Federal election 2016: Mystery deepens over Parakeelia as Cormann ducks question
Election 2016: Barnaby Joyce tells constituent to 'piss off' during heated pub exchange
Tony Abbott's office floated sending Australian troops into Ukraine conflict, defence expert claims
New research: Abbott and Turnbull the worst economic managers since Menzies
The best economic plan: live in a marginal seat
Public servants told it's Armidale or find new jobs
Election 2016: Where do the parties stand on animal welfare?
Bill Shorten’s surprising victory in Leaders’ debate - um, surprising to whom?
The zinger that won the debate for Bill Shorten
Private vocational courses cost taxpayers seven times as much as TAFE, analysis finds
AFP release report into who leaked top secret report on Iraq War to Andrew Bolt
US:
Why Trump’s fake publicist act matters: It proves he’s exactly the weirdo and liar we all suspected he was
Trump's Team: The Bigoted, Unhinged Conspiracy Theorists Benefiting From Donald Trump's Campaign
John Oliver buys and forgives $15 million of debt
Talk grows of replacing Trump at GOP convention
Brock Turner's statement blames sexual assault on Stanford ‘party culture’
Why Conservatives Should Just Say ‘No’ to Trump - The most hilariously wrong way of accidently being right
Democrats Can’t Unite Unless Wasserman Schultz Goes!
Pugilist-poet Ali's race legacy still packs a punch
College Basketball Star Heroically Overcomes Tragic Rape He Committed
July 4th Flotilla 2016 on Bayou St. John to crown Chewbacchus leaders
Five things people should stop saying about Bernie Sanders
Our Worst Presidents Came In With A Lot Of Experience
Donald Trump Picked the Wrong News Editor to F*ck With
Brock Turner and Cory Batey, two college athletes who raped unconscious women, show how race and privilege affect sentences
Donald Trump wanted Moammar Gaddafi’s money
The Concert Across America to end gun violence
[name redacted] was taken off a terrorist watch list, but keeping him on it wouldn't have stopped him from buying guns
Seth Meyers Just Banned Donald Trump From Appearing On His Show – It’s Absolutely Amazing
Orlando shooting: thoughts and prayers from hypocrites do nothing to help
Filmmaker Ken Burns Delivers Blistering Takedown Of Donald Trump At Stanford
Orlando shooting brings hate to its natural conclusion
Pet Alliance to Shelter Victims Pets
McCain: Obama is 'directly responsible' for Orlando attack - Go home, John. It's over.
A history of America doing nothing in response to mass shootings
An Open Letter to [name redacted] from a Survivor of the Orlando Nightclub Shooting
Hillary Clinton Is About to Clean Donald Trump’s Clock
I Am An AR-15 Owner And I’ve Had Enough
Top GOP Consultant Unleashes Epic #NeverTrump Tweetstorm
Boston's Sidewalks Are Covered In Secret Poems
UK:
Bob Geldof and Nigel Farage face off in Brexit boat battle down London's River Thames
Jo Cox MP dead after shooting attack
The mood is ugly, and an MP is dead
World:
Associating elbowgate with violence against women is an insult to victims
((( How Twitter Is Teaming Up to Mess With the Nazis )))
In South Sudan, It’s Hard to Tell the Soldiers From the Criminals
Music:
Women guitar makers scratched from Gibson history
Moby: ‘There were bags of drugs, I was having sex with a stranger’
9 Things Guitarists Hate…
Ingenious: this is how you correct the audience when they're clapping on the wrong beat
Mastertapes: Paul McCartney
Former Wings guitarist and Northern Ireland music legend Henry McCullough has died
Paul McCartney Talks Summer Tour, New 'Pure McCartney' Comp
Mandatory Fun: “Weird Al” Preps Career-Spanning “Squeeze Box”
Star Wars Hologram Vinyl
Media:
Morley Safer, veteran '60 Minutes' newsman, dies at 84
Duncan Storrar: 'A line has been crossed' by media, say community leaders
Owen Jones: Journalist walks out of Sky News show after hosts 'downplay' homophobia of Orlando shooting
No holding back from networks on Rogerson but Alan Jones lies low
Culture:
Whatever happened to the Sandman?
Capaldi wants classic ‘Doctor Who’ companion back: ‘Susan’s story wasn’t finished’
Ferris Bueller’s missing soundtrack: Why we shouldn’t mourn what we never had
REVEALED: There really was a creepy fifth housemate lurking in cult British TV show The Young Ones
Tech:
Time for Twitter to grow up
How Yahoo derailed Tumblr
Photos: Nodes Behaving Badly (when FTTN placement goes wrong)
History:
China: (not) talking about a revolution
Mental Health:
6 Signs You’re Actually An Outgoing Introvert, Because Yes, Those Exist - Finally I have a definition
Late sleepers are tired of being discriminated against. And science has their back.
Science:
What Does a Dog See in a Mirror?
Language:
How The Wrong Verb Meant The Texas GOP Called Most Texans Gay
The least boring photo on my camera roll:
15 May, 2016
Thinking of linking
This week I have been mostly reading...
Australia:
Australians crave change. But this election won't deliver it
Q&A recap: Audience member delivers an early campaign reminder to all politicians
‘Jobs and growth’ and deja vu: reprising a failed American experiment
Malcolm Turnbull named in Panama Papers
How Bunnings turns the screws on customers
Dutton calls medical evacuation a 'racket.'
Vengeful micro parties go after Barnaby Joyce's scalp
Farmer was deeply depressed when he killed environmental officer, court hears
George Christensen tries to put pressure on Labor over Syrian refugee settlement
The reason why Malcolm Turnbull opted for such a long campaign is because he has to build his campaign team from scratch
Coalition corruption: They are not even embarrassed about it
Why the amount of tax Duncan Storrar pays doesn't actually matter
How negative gearing replaced the great Australian dream and distorted the economy
Preference deals are driven by pure politics
US:
Donald Trump Announces Debt Plan That Would Collapse Entire Global Economy
A Hacker Put Marco Rubio Porn Memes on Two Billboards in Alabama
Crossing the Line: How Donald Trump Behaved With Women in Private
Why does New Orleans have more murders than similar cities? Experts search for answers
'70s High School Art Project Mistakenly Valued At $50K On 'Antiques Roadshow'
World:
Reconciling with president-elect Duterte
Roger Waters on why his fellow musicians are terrified to speak out against Israel
Turkey could cut off Islamic State’s supply lines. So why doesn’t it?
Media:
Online threats are not free speech
Literary magazine Meanjin may close after losing Australia Council funding
Literary magazine Meanjin to have funding cut
The ‘Australian’ Tried To Go After Duncan From #QandA And It’s Backfiring Spectacularly
Malcolm Turnbull and the Panama Papers. It just doesn't seem fair
It’s Not About Duncan
Is everybody happy now?
Why Movie Stars Still Exist Despite Their Lack of Box Office Appeal
Facebook's news saga reminds us humans are biased by design - Preferencing credible sources is not political bias, mmmkay?
Society:
Millennials have allies in the emerging grey vote
Six Divisive Regional Slang Terms Likely To Result In An Australian Civil War
Conversations in contrast
Music:
Remo Belli, Who Developed Synthetic Drumhead and Changed Music, Dies at 88
The poignant story of Jimmie Nicol: The guy who replaced Ringo Star and lived as a Beatle for two weeks
Bowie in Melbourne, 1987
Why I Deleted Your Band's Promo Email
Science:
Global sea-level expert John Church made to walk the plank by CSIRO - The barbarians are at the gate, and they're not waving ISIS flags.
Animals:
From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Tuyu the buffalo, the future of protein is not meat
History:
A generation of artists were wiped out by Aids and we barely talk about it
Culture:
Winona Ryder's turning point
Humour and satire:
Which idiot?
Clickbait of the week:
6 Signs You’re An Outgoing Introvert, Because Yes, Those Exist - closest thing to me I've found
I got stupid on me and I need to wipe if off on you:
Cash can’t beat genetics in class - starts off by comparing Labor tax policy to Hitler (seriously!) and finishes by suggesting academic achievement is decided by genetics.
The least boring photo on my camera roll:
Australia:
Australians crave change. But this election won't deliver it
Q&A recap: Audience member delivers an early campaign reminder to all politicians
‘Jobs and growth’ and deja vu: reprising a failed American experiment
Malcolm Turnbull named in Panama Papers
How Bunnings turns the screws on customers
Dutton calls medical evacuation a 'racket.'
Vengeful micro parties go after Barnaby Joyce's scalp
Farmer was deeply depressed when he killed environmental officer, court hears
George Christensen tries to put pressure on Labor over Syrian refugee settlement
The reason why Malcolm Turnbull opted for such a long campaign is because he has to build his campaign team from scratch
Coalition corruption: They are not even embarrassed about it
Why the amount of tax Duncan Storrar pays doesn't actually matter
How negative gearing replaced the great Australian dream and distorted the economy
Preference deals are driven by pure politics
US:
Donald Trump Announces Debt Plan That Would Collapse Entire Global Economy
A Hacker Put Marco Rubio Porn Memes on Two Billboards in Alabama
Crossing the Line: How Donald Trump Behaved With Women in Private
Why does New Orleans have more murders than similar cities? Experts search for answers
'70s High School Art Project Mistakenly Valued At $50K On 'Antiques Roadshow'
World:
Reconciling with president-elect Duterte
Roger Waters on why his fellow musicians are terrified to speak out against Israel
Turkey could cut off Islamic State’s supply lines. So why doesn’t it?
Media:
Online threats are not free speech
Literary magazine Meanjin may close after losing Australia Council funding
Literary magazine Meanjin to have funding cut
The ‘Australian’ Tried To Go After Duncan From #QandA And It’s Backfiring Spectacularly
Malcolm Turnbull and the Panama Papers. It just doesn't seem fair
It’s Not About Duncan
Is everybody happy now?
Why Movie Stars Still Exist Despite Their Lack of Box Office Appeal
Facebook's news saga reminds us humans are biased by design - Preferencing credible sources is not political bias, mmmkay?
Society:
Millennials have allies in the emerging grey vote
Six Divisive Regional Slang Terms Likely To Result In An Australian Civil War
Conversations in contrast
Music:
Remo Belli, Who Developed Synthetic Drumhead and Changed Music, Dies at 88
The poignant story of Jimmie Nicol: The guy who replaced Ringo Star and lived as a Beatle for two weeks
Bowie in Melbourne, 1987
Why I Deleted Your Band's Promo Email
Science:
Global sea-level expert John Church made to walk the plank by CSIRO - The barbarians are at the gate, and they're not waving ISIS flags.
Animals:
From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Tuyu the buffalo, the future of protein is not meat
History:
A generation of artists were wiped out by Aids and we barely talk about it
Culture:
Winona Ryder's turning point
Humour and satire:
Which idiot?
Clickbait of the week:
6 Signs You’re An Outgoing Introvert, Because Yes, Those Exist - closest thing to me I've found
I got stupid on me and I need to wipe if off on you:
Cash can’t beat genetics in class - starts off by comparing Labor tax policy to Hitler (seriously!) and finishes by suggesting academic achievement is decided by genetics.
The least boring photo on my camera roll:
13 May, 2016
How to sell newspapers
In case you needed further evidence that The Hun is more a political propaganda outlet than a news organisation, today’s new low should leave you in no doubt. The News Ltd stable has launched a crusade this week against the suburban father who dared to question the government’s tax policy on live television. What made it even worse was that it was on the ABC, which News Corp considers unfair competition.
The Murdoch media has been the loudest to complain about how hard it is for them to make a dollar in the digital age. It’s a fair point, which is why it’s so odd that they would turn again someone like Duncan Storrar.
I am no businessman, and I’m not much of a demographer either, but it seems to me that a lot more people like Mr Storrar would buy and read the Herald Sun than people like Innes Willox, Kelly O’Dwyer or Rupert Murdoch. That’s simple law-of-averages stuff really. There are more Duncans out there than Ruperts.
So why denigrate your main market? Well, the wealthy know there are more poor people than rich people, so they need to convince enough of the poor that the rich are on their side and it’s the really poor who are holding them back. Sounds nonsensical? Yes it does. But why else would the most powerful media outlet in the country, which is already overtly campaigning for the sitting government, sic their editors onto a disabled father?
You know what else people who buy newspapers like? Intellectual and moral consistency. So if you’re going to dedicate the front page to being all sanctimonious about one man’s criminal record, don’t plug an interview with a notorious gangland figure, referred to by his son’s first name, on the same damn page! That just makes you look stupid.
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| That would be notorious gangland murderer Carl Williams, whose drug trafficking father George died recently. |
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