From corona clusters to clusterfucks: Queensland sinks under bumbling bureaucracy and the politics of mistaken opportunity, as Anna Palaszczuk stumbles through a thorny thicket of political opportunism. And leaves Townsville hanging out dry … and cry. We count the ways.
A court ruling has given Mayor Jenny Hill a temporary reprieve from the embarrassment or worse of the details of the Adani airstrip deal becoming public. A court has sent the ruling back to the Right to Information commissioner for further deliberation, but explicitly did NOT rule that the details cannot be released.
Restaurants behaving badly … has a major Strand restaurant given a brazen finger to corona virus social distancing rules … not once, but twice? The ‘Pie tells what he knows.
Another little bit of the Townsville we used know is no more … a popular figure in CBD business calls it quits.
And EXCLUSIVELY REVEALED: how all avoid having a baby, even if you’re pregnant – without medical intervention … the amazing revelation by one of the world’s leading experts on … well, on everything. A tongue-tied Tangerine Terrorist aka Donald Trump during the week did what we thought could no longer do … surprise us with a truly original piece of verbal idiocy. But he certainly did.
But first …
Behind Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Border Wars – May The Farce Be With You
Ah, Queensland, beautiful one day, buggered the next.
What is it with politicians going mildly deranged as they near the end of their terms? It seems to be an Australian speciality in all forms of government, from the dimming of His Radiance Tony Mooney in his final 18 months, to Beattie then Newman on the state scene, to the self-evident federal likes of Rudd, Joyce, Abbott and Turnbull.
And now, Anna Palaszczuk, desperately trying to make electoral hay out of the waning corona sun with her prolonged border closure, offering the demonstrably laughable jingoism of ‘acting in the interests of all Queenslander’s. Which is PRECISELY what she is NOT doing, and such obvious bollocks is starting to make her realise she has painted herself into a very tricky corner. Then add the lunacy of the nonsense about a tourist bubble between some states of whose COVID numbers she approves. Bentley is bemused.
And all the while, places like Townsville, covid-free and safe to re-open for local business, is forced to dance to the inflexible tune of the south-east corner.
No longer can the Premier hide behind her windblown tangle of a Chief Health Officer, a doctor turned loopy amateur sociologist Jeanette Young.
This is all descending into a deeply damaging and wrong-headed bid for electoral gain. One of the best summaries of the situation came during the week from James McPherson in The Spectator last Tuesday. The ‘Pie has purloined Mr McPherson’s words because he couldn’t express it any better himself.
The decision to close the Queensland border to protect citizens from the spread of coronavirus, like many other decisions the state’s Chief Health Officer has made, is just for show. It has nothing to do with protecting Queenslanders and I can tell you this because I travelled across the border Friday and was shocked at how easy it was. But more of that in a moment.
The border was closed at the end of March and yesterday Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that it might not reopen until September.
“It’s not my decision, it’s based on the best health advice,” she told the ABC.
That “best health advice” is from Chief Health Officer Dr Jannette Young, the bureaucrat who cancelled the RAAF’s traditional ANZAC Day flypast because it was not safe, only to later admit: “There is no health risk for someone getting in a plane, of course there isn’t.”
So what was the problem?
“The health risk,” she told journalists, “is if one person does that, then someone else will say ‘well maybe there’s no health risk if I go on a drive through, if I do this’.”
So the flyover was banned as a symbolic move.
Other examples of “best health advice” from Dr Jannette Young include closing Queensland schools, not because they are a high-risk environment for spreading the virus, but because, as the Brisbane Times reported her saying, “closing them down would help people understand the gravity of the situation”.
“If you go out to the community and say, ‘this is so bad, we can’t even have schools, all schools have got to be closed’, you are really getting to people,” Dr Young said. “So sometimes it’s more than just the science and the health, it’s about the messaging.”
And so it is with the much-trumped Queensland border closure. It is a symbolic move that treats the public like mugs since, in practical terms, it neither prevents people from entering the state, nor protects those already there.
I travelled from Sydney to Brisbane at the weekend and didn’t apply for a border pass until I was driving through Tweed Heads, just minutes from the Sunshine State.
As I drove, my 15-year-old son grabbed my laptop and googled “Queensland entry pass”. He quickly found the appropriate website and filled out an online form as we came up to the police checkpoint. It took him less than two minutes.
Within seconds of him submitting the online form, I received an email with an attached Queensland border pass. It took less time than a sneeze.
We did not stop the car at the border. We simply held up the laptop, with the pass open on the screen, as a kind officer waved us straight across. The World Health Organisation showed more interest in Chinese lab experiments than Queensland police showed in us.
It was only later, when I perused the Queensland government website, that I realised I was supposed to fill out a border pass application for every occupant of the vehicle. Presumably, that makes the rest of my family illegal immigrants.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about ease of entry or the kindly policeman’s manner. Would that more officers of the law were as nice.
I, like most of the public, just have a gnawing feeling that many of the restrictions we are being subjected to have no basis in health and are in fact completely unnecessary.
But worse, they are insulting.
When you ban the flying of planes because it might encourage people to drive cars; when you sabotage our children’s education so as to “send a message”; when you close the border and then issue border passes faster than I can say “achoo”, don’t call it “best health advice” because we just don’t believe you anymore. Be honest. It’s bureaucrats creating bureaucracy to cover their own behinds at the expense of ours.
Like The ‘Pie said, he couldn’t put it better himself.
And a letter writer to a southern newspaper was more to the point.
Jumping The Gun?
It is said patience is a virtue seldom found in the young … or apparently, in some Townsville restaurants. Well, one at least, it seems.
The Watermark FILE PHOTO ONLY
Several people have contacted The Magpie, asking if the ten customer limit had been lifted, because all reported that the Watermark Restaurant was serving well beyond that number …one said 20, another 38 … at lunch on Friday.
Now let The Magpie be clear, he did not witness this himself, but two of the informants are known to trustworthy. The ‘Pie is not in a position to make phone calls to check these as he once would have, and there may have been some arrangement in this muddled issue about inside and outside dining, which the Watermark is uniquely set up for.
But one informant was unhappy enough to report such a blatant breach, which apart from a fine, could prompt authorities to keep restrictions in place longer for ALL restaurants and cafes. Our informant reported as follows:
- At first, I only counted 20 seated people…there were additional standing…but I wanted to be fair in the current shitty climate.
- It was 12.40pm
- I called liquor licensing and reported, because I was really annoyed. They said they would investigate when possible.
- I called TCC to check if they issuing fines……told nope…that’s still QLD health.
- Called QLD health…..waste of time ….go online….or call police link.
- Called police link……got recording…options…online..or call crime stoppers….for fuck sake…
- Called Crime Stoppers….reported it…they said they would pass on to local boys in blue…
- Sent email to you.
So based on the comment on your page….appears no-one turned up quickly to deal with the breach. The above is why good people simply ignore and give up and keep walking….
While The ‘Pie is of the previously expressed opinion that regulations like this open up the field for nit-pickers (‘you has 11 people when the postman walked in’) and the ‘get square’ mob with a grievance, openly flouting the law for all to see is not just criminal, it is dumb. And grossly unfair to those who abide by the rules, whether or not those rules be dopey overkill or not. If the Watermark had 38 people in their restaurant at Friday lunch, they either had some sort of dispensation (unlikely) or basically decided to give the finger to the authorities. And consequently, other restaurants.
If we all follow the current restrictions in the belief that they protect us from illness or worse, then the behaviour of the Watermark management – as an alleged re-offender, it’s been suggested they have already been fined $5000 for an earlier breach but this may not be correct – is deeply irresponsible.
Unless of course it was a wake an for aboriginal elder. Then that would’ve been approved by Dr Young on cultural grounds, which apparently immunises people against corona virus.
Trump Will Cough In His Rompers When He Sees This …
… and our own Peter Newey is no doubt working on how to connect this theory to a proposed equestrian resort at Bluewater.
But unlike Tinfoil Pete’s spittle-flecked rants, this is one conspiracy theory that is cogently argued and its authors suitably qualify their investigations to this point.
But will the rest of the media do their usual imitation of a puppy wetting itself and bury, or just ignore, this salient fact, prominently featured high up in the New Daily story: that it is from ‘a preliminary paper yet to undergo peer review’?
But hey, as they say, never fuck up a story with facts.
Delaying The Inevitable?
The Adani appeal against a Right To Information order to release details of the now infamous Adani airstrip deal with the Townsville and Rockhampton councils has been ‘allowed’ … but the details of the ruling will have Jenny Hill in danger of doing a mischief in her granny pants.
Because Justice McGill, sitting in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), has made a highly technical ruling, and has sent the order back for the Office of the Information Commissioner for further evaluation. If the Information Commissioner re-issues the order with after taking into account some inconsistencies ‘in law’, it is likely to withstand a second Adani/TCC challenge.
Justice McGill DID NOT throw out the order itself. This was a highly technical judgement, with no comment made on specific contents of the secret deal, and the court’s order could be interpreted as a simple direction to just cross some legal ‘t’s and dot the ‘legal ‘i’s … the ‘i’ in this case could stand for incriminating, either criminally or ethically.
Our council continues to spent ratepayers money to cover the mayor’s arse – otherwise why would the council be nominally a ‘respondent’ (opponent) to Adani’s appeal while actually supporting the quashing of the release order.
The desperate measures by Adani and our mayor just increase the stench.
FFS THIS IS A GOOD NEWS STORY, ISN’T IT?
Can anyone explain why ‘thu medja’ has almost uniformly implied or said straight out that the $60billion dollar reassessment of the Jobkeeper budget is a “government mistake”, a ’huge error’ and a ‘blunder’?
Those same headlines are over stories that explain that the error was businesses claiming the $1500 subsidy for their staff making an apparently universal error in answering one question … misunderstanding (or we hope that is the case) where asked how many employees would require the benefit, more than a thousand businesses instead put down 1500, believing they were being asked the amount funding required for each staff member.
Even if the error could be sheeted home to an unclear question (although apparently not), both government and businesses are in completely uncharted territory in a rushed situation. A bit of slack all round would be a considered response. So, did any of our ‘wise after the event’ media initially look at the application form to see what was of offer? You bet they did, but none of these smartarses noted or red flagged possible ambiguity in the questions until boffins from the ATP spotted the problem.
This mass error would not have been immediately detectable by Treasury or the ATO, until enough claims had come in to be collated, but they got on to it pretty damn quick for government bureaucracy, we are told no incorrect payments were made, no claw-backs are necessary, and no one, recipients or more importantly, taxpayers, have been disadvantaged. And $60billion – that is $60 BILLION! – has effectively been saved from the original generously estimated $130billion for the scheme.
So the government showed it wasn’t going in for penny-pinching half measures and niggardly red tape roadblocks in meeting this unique challenge (The ‘Pie will admit that he was dumbfounded but nevertheless delighted that a conservative government would go down this commendable path), and then had the good fortune to be able to recalibrate with a massive saving of half the Jobkeeper budget.
But no, now the world and his wife are writing opinion pieces somehow making the treasurer and the PM villains for not NOW using the extra dosh to extend the time frame of their current job support. And frankly, Anthony Albanese (or “AnAl’ if Scott Morrison is ScoMo) is looking like a dog aggressively searching for any old bone, to blunt all the head pats and ‘whose a good boy, then’ being directed to the government. Scattergun criticism is bad look by a small minded, and traditionally financially incompetent Opposition (looking at you, the aptly named Tony Burke).
This all seems to be a desperate media search for new villains in the now tedious COVID coverage which all surveys suggest we are all well and truly over … that is the myriad side stories of heartbreak over not getting nails buffed, front bums brazilianed, the plight of gum chewing hair crimpers, how the shower tiling industry has been devastated, dog walkers are in financial ruin, or, if you’re an ABC viewer or listener, sufferers from rare diseases enjoyed by less than 100 people nationwide are being bastardised by bureaucracy, and how three out of ten women will go into premature menopause because of the lock down affecting their daily work/shopping rhythms.
Oh, well, not to worry, we’ll be back to climate change panic soon enough, one supposes.
Well I’ll Be Blowed
A front page pretending to be ingenuous graced the Astonisher this week, offering several permutations of interpretations. So The ‘Pie decided to have a bit of fun in these grim times and posted this comment.
| The Magpie 3,924 approved |
Submitted on 2020/05/21 at 10:02 am | In reply to Strand Ghost.Are they allowed to supply hard liquor for a stiff drink?What a missed headline though.
COME ONE, COME ALL! |
Needless to say, a few readers joined The Magpie in some harmless ‘Carry On’ type japery …
… BUT there’s always one, isn’t there?
A humourless twit named David Ball … he apparently is a used furniture salesman … decided such levity was beyond the pale, and betrayed certain Magpie failings of character by posting the deeply offensive matter. Mr Ball decided a few judicious verbal thwacks at the old bird were in order, which led to this interesting exchange.
David Ball
Once again your misogynist ways and crass schoolboy humour let you down Magpie. This is a young lady having a go in a harsh business climate and a Council trying to help the ailing local Dining scene. They deserve better than the likes of this.
Reply
Townsville Magpie
Mr Ball? … How very singular. … It would seem you need a stiff one of hard liquor. But it also seems your brain went away with your other one … you miss the entire point that this small headline, juxtaposed over the main one ‘frothing’, is no accident or overlooked mishap, it was certainly deliberate, so where is your prim, thin-lipped outrage against the grubbiness of the Townsville Bulletin. And besides, you expose yourself as an analytical eunuch, since this publicity and ensuing comments will give the young lady ten times the exposure to folks with a sense of humour (99% of readers) and on-going mentions than she would otherwise not have received. That great Robin Williams line in Good Morning Vietnam, aimed at his humourless dipstick boss, seems to apply to you, you humorless snowflake: ‘Y’know, you’re in more dire need of a blow job than any white man in history.’
The Magpie apologises if Mr Ball is indigenous.
But here’s another unfortunate headline for you, mate.
Another Little Bit Of Familiar Townsville Is No Longer.
The Magpie received this message for his readers this week from Elaine ‘Mouse’ Fountaine.
Hi after 18yrs in the barbershop – A Barber On Flinders – it’s time to hang up the scissors and retire to enjoy quality time at home.
It has been a great journey a lot of laughs jokes and great conversations each day, never knowing who would walk thru your door or what the day would bring.
To my regular customers including clients from interstate and overseas, military and civilian, I would like to say thank you all for your support. Stay safe, enjoy life
Elaine
The ‘Pie sends his love to our beloved Mouse, but he can count his blessings … Elaine’s retirement comes at a time when The Magpie is rapidly running out of a reason for her services.
Great timing, gal, you and Steve enjoy your retirement.
Gosh, Why Hadn’t We Thought Of That
The Tangerine Terrorist was at his rhetorical best during the week, with his simple and obvious plan to bring down the corona virus infections which has now claimed 100,000 American lives.
This from from the Washington Post, not known for fake news.
Early this week, Anthony S. Fauci and other leading members of President Trump’s coronavirus task force pressed the importance of a vastly expanded national testing regime.
(But two days after this testimony before a senate committee), President Trump offered a very different view of testing, repeatedly suggesting that it’s “overrated” and that doing too much testing can needlessly drive up the infection numbers.
“When you test, you have a case,” Trump said. “When you test, you find something is wrong with people. If we didn’t do any testing, we would have very few cases.”
So it would seem our stable genius also figures that if you didn’t have pregnancy tests, there wouldn’t be any babies, and if there weren’t any breath testing, there wouldn’t be any drunk drivers.
Yup, he’s sure got a big ‘you know what’. But what is there left to do but laugh.
It Would Seem Not All Went To Plan In Lock Down
Especially among the elderly.
……….
There were a few other things we didn’t get to this time around, but we’ll have them in comments in the next few days, poke your head in there for a laugh or info you won’t get elsewhere, and have your say. And while The ‘Pie knows things have been a bit tight, a helping hand with some of those pesky blog bills (they weren’t locked down like everything else) would be greatly appreciated. The donate button is below.
Totally agree about the $60 billion error, it is good news, the government should either keep it and not waste it on more handouts, or put it towards something of substance and long term, like bringing forward the 2022/23 tax cuts.
Whatever they do with it, it will be the government’s decision, not those of belligerent pompous commentators with often competing agendas (more welfare/tax cuts). No offence to you, Cankers, just reinforcing the Magpie’s message in the blog.
Not normally my area of interest, but the two themes that seem to be lost in this is that some 3 million people not getting help. It’s hard to believe that they are all fine, and more likely fallen between the cracks or just given up.
The other one is that government really does have the financial capacity to extend suppprt to those sectors of the economy which have been ignored so far.
Wish they had made similar mistakes with the Stadium and Water Pipeline.
Wondering if any of your TCC staff that comment here can confirm which department is 2 million over budget? The source of my question comes from a contractor who did work 3rd party through council. He said that staff from water/waste get contracted out now at over $150/hr. On top of regular work. Does TCC now go private? And where does the money for this contract work go after the tradie is only paid the $40 and hour for his TCC wage? As for over budget the person thinks its the same department. So if they are over budget is it because there budget was slashed and they realized they cant service the jobs for that amount or has money gone elsewhere from the department at start of last financial year ( stadium??) How can a service department of a council be that far over in a 12mth period? Of its water/waste arnt they a revenue rasier in TCC? I will be forwarding these questions to sue blome as well because i believe that my nth ward councillor wont answer. Dibs for you first magpie.
Watermark hotel partly owned by Graham Richardson labor power broker. Wonder how they got away with having more people inside without being shutdown or had anyone investergate ?
Although his most famous saying is ‘whatever it takes’, it is still a big stretch to hold Graham Richardson responsible for any breach of regulations by the Watermark. Investors like Richo leave the day to day running to resident partners/managers, and he might not even know about the matter, since he is presumably in NSW and the carrier pidgeons from up north have hit cold headwinds. And is ‘investergate’ what they did with Watergate?
You would expect with failing business / property confidence the “ bright stars , Townsville business communities heaviest hitters “ or the BAG ( Business advisory group ) will share the ideas for Townsvilles pathway to recovery . Items for discussion surely would be what % of cbd companies office staff will return and how we get our 3 local State members to actually lobby and support their local businesses and constituents . As you mentioned TRRA , their own personal agenda scoop of the week was poor workmanship supposedly by T.C.C. on a road and a conspiracy outside a Councillors residence . Mr Magoo esq the road is actual private and the Councillor doesnt live on conspiracy st . Nrl kicks off Thursday night with Broncos vs Paramatta and Friday night Cowboys home game at Qld Country Bank stadium vs Titans . As Qlders will the Titans stay overnight ? Commentators / camera / sound Qlders ? .
The Trumpet certainly has an unusual understanding of the rationale and logic behind for testing for coronavirus. This is his response to
Katie Miller, Press Secretary for VP Mike Pense, testing positive to the Rona:
TRUMP: “Katie, she tested very good for a long period of time, and then all of the sudden she tested positive … this is why the whole concept of tests aren’t necessarily great … today, I guess, for some reason, she tested positive.”
President Trumpet, that’s exactly how communicable diseases work — you don’t have them until you do! The point of testing is allowing people to know when they have a disease so they can take the necessary measures to not spread it. That’s especially important for viruses like the coronavirus that can be spread by asymptomatic carriers.
By the Tangerine Turd’s rationale, Katie shouldn’t have been tested, and then she could have given it to Mother’s boy, who could have then given it him. Fekin’ ejit.
If she wasn’t tested, the positive tally would not go up. It wouldn’t add to the negative tally either. So she doesn’t have it positively or even negatively according to the latest non-testing. And if she dies it won’t be from too much testing. https://youtu.be/6gJdf7LyGpg
Thank you for that battery of facts, Linda.
Somebody should tell Mr Ball that these establishments have a very good business etiquette, where the customer always comes first.
Oh, you grubby schoolboy, you.
Let us keep an eye on Mr Tangerines hairline as one common side effect of hydroxychloroquine is hair loss.
It is not just the Watermark that is openly flouting the Crovid-19 regulations. Juliettes Coffee Cafe is not controlling the regulations either with more than 10 people inside the cafe.
Although not within the control of Juliettes Cafe, the police regularly drive past and take no action what-so-ever on the number of people sitting on the low brick wall on the footpath or standing in groups adjacent to the wall. Seems to me that the police are turning a blind eye to these issues on the Strand.
Lord help us if we get community spread from these instances and asymptomatic carriers in Townsville. Probably will happen when the borders are eventually opened and the southern from NSW and Victoria head north.
The Watermark must of got the message! drove past at lunchtime time today only about 8/10 people that I could see in there and about another 6 waiting in line to get in, good to see that they are following the rules as all our business’s depend on these people doing the right thing , as i certainly don’t want to start all over again if covid 19 comes back because of stupidity.
Outrage in the USA: As the American death toll about to hit 100,000, Donald Trump hits the golf course.
It has prompted the most powerful, most biting newspaper front page anywhere, ever.
And his faithful will say it’s fake news from the fake new media… until their own grandma is put in a box.
NQ,
The MAGA mob will accept that grandma died of the flu. People do all the time, don’t they? And Cv19 is a Democrat, Bill Gates, 5G construct that could not exist in the Greatest country on Earth and if it could it would be Obama’s fault!
don’t worry about his followers, Trump is at that game himself. He is on record during the week saying that many Americans were so unhealthy to start with … particularly blacks and immigrants …. that they had pre-existing aggravating conditions that made them succumb to corona virus. In other words, his latest excuse is to blame the dead.
Is there no one, no one at all in the Trump administration that can see that this ‘King has no clothes’. Naked of any value.
What protections are there for the US Government, it’s citizens, and the rest of the western, liberal democratic world (remember, they have the bomb) when the entire executive arm of the US Government, (the Trump administration) is completely delusional.
Struth! Having made Dr. Strangelove I would love to see what Stanley Kubrick could come up with ‘Trump the Movie.’
An open question about DT
What handicap does he play off?
If it’s the same as his IQ, he be on the PGA Tour.
There was no graphic on the front page of the New York Times. It was all type face. The names and portions of obituaries of nearly 1000 people who have died from COVID-19.
Certainly, the image was imposed on the web, but the paper devoting the front page with nothing but a list of the corona victims – and it was a partial list only, not enough room for the full sad roll call … remains a jolting and powerful front page. Clear and fair message, embellished or not..
As usual, The New York Times is not quite forthcoming with its liberal audience.
At least 2 of 5 of the US coronavirus deaths were in New York and New Jersey thanks to the fact that their Democrat governors tossed sick patients in nursing homes.
And at last another 2 of 5 deaths were in nursing homes across the United States.
There fixed it for you.
So three out every fives deaths WEREN’T in an old folks home.
Got a signal out here and checking in; interesting matters you raise this week Mr Magpie. Cattle growers in the NT and North West Qld are concerned about the closed borders – too much red tape to get anything to market at present. Open the borders, issue goes away.
Very, very chilly out here on the western fence line, looks like you are copping it in Townsville too. Keep the posts and banter going – look forward to reading it when I have a siggy! Desperado.
PS ALL, who are these 3 stooges that bloggers often refer to? Are they actual people or ???
Ahem, allow The ‘Pie:
Coralee Jane O’Rourke, member for Brisbane in Mundingburra, more accurately known here as O’Rort
Aaron David Harper, member for Brisbane in Thuringowa, known as Harpic ‘cos he’s clean round the bend.
Scott James Stewart, member for Brisbane in Townsville, known as Captain Cupcake but the rank varies. He is the biggest disappointment of the three, because he is by far the best educated with clear managerial and communication skills, so he is aware of his own treachery in putting the Labor party ahead of a crime-riddled, recovery-neglected constituency. Shows being smart doesn’t necessarily go with honesty or guts.
Oh my goodness Mr Magpie, I had no idea! Gee, if I, or anyone out here behaved like that we would be run off the place.
Thank you again.
Come and watch just that come October.
Well said Pie.
So what’s new, we’ve been paying politicians since forever.
Hummm….. Not enough background info but…..
There are some in the sex industry who meet the sexual needs of the disabled. A sensitive and difficult subject. Let us see the full story, from both sides, before we make further comment or judgement.
Let’s not … FFS, it was joke.
Perhaps I was in the wrong frame of mind.
As someone who despises the MSM newspapers with all of its fake stories, biased opinions and pages of advertisements, the NY Times should win an award for that cover. Absolutely brilliant. Probably one of the most creative and smart newspaper covers that I have seen for many many years. I have no doubt, that The Magpie would have even cracked a half mongrel over that cover. Yes?
The depiction of Trump wasn’t actually in the paper, that had been added into a feed The ‘Pie regularly gets. But devoting an entire front page of one the world’s great newspapers to simply print the names under a the devastatingly sad heading ‘They were not simple names on a list. They were us’ is as fine an exercise of journalism we will see. There are more ways than just one of telling a story.
Magpie
this link shows the corona deaths per million
the first 8 countries are all European
Trump is NOT the biggest idiot leader
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104709/coronavirus-deaths-worldwide-per-million-inhabitants/
Oh, sorry, that’s all right then. The ‘Pie will now get onto the case of Her Excellency Sophie Wilmès, PM of Belgium.
What a oversight, silly old ‘Pie.
Oh, that’s all right then. The ‘Pie will immediately get on to the case of Her Excellency Sophie Wilmès, PM of Belgium, the careless hussy. And grovelling apologies to that nice Mr Trump.
Queensland Local Government Association mouthpiece Greg Hallam ( same bloke who thought CCC investigation into Pissale Ipswich Council was a witch-hunt ) is upset because the CCC is sending surveys to local Queensland Council staff . The surveys ( including T.C.C.) by the CCC was to understand the attitudes / barriers and motivators of Council staff reporting corruption . QLGA member Councils stood down or investigated include Logan , Fraser and Gold Coast , Moreton , Palm Island + ( previous Mayor and LGAQ board member ) resulting in a few Mayors going to jail . Qld Local Council Minister committed to an investigation into LGAQ local buy program that actually locked local suppliers out of Council contracts due to so many complaints .
Here’s a little Magpie memory on the subject from January 2019.
https://www.townsvillemagpie.com.au/the-local-government-godzilla-should-the-ccc-be-taking-a-closer-look-at-the-money-grubbing-activities-of-the-lgaq/
Mike, It’s a bit late for one TCC procurement officer. He retired last year.
He did? Can’t have been a very long tenure, because a star recruit in the Impaler’s decimation of local jobs was a woman, who worked as TCC procurement officer … from her home in Melbourne. As reported by The Magpie in May 2018 … still makes interesting reading. Scroll down to heading : Speaking Of Names.
https://www.townsvillemagpie.com.au/rupert-in-retreat-its-looking-more-and-more-like-the-townsville-bulletin-has-been-flogged-off/
Well Pie before you get too hung up on the woman, the current procurement officer was employed by the Impaler, went out on his own, failed, and came back.
‘hung up’? Just reporting facts about Ms Tiong, particularly working out of Melbourne.
Yes Pie. Facts. Ms Tiong left a long time ago. There are and were others worse than her.
There’s a wonderful ‘whataboutism’ change of subject. The ‘Pie was discussing Ms Tiong, and the corrupt cronyism within the TCC, not the broad area of procurement. BTW, care to tell us what metric you use to reach the conclusion that there are and were worse than others?
And as far as time frames go, ‘a long time ago’ is a very flexible catch-all phrase, but nevertheless, as is part of The ‘Pie’s self-appointed and high-falutin’ job is to remind you and everyone else that those who forget history are bound to repeat it, something apparently lost on Townsville voters … motorised scooters indeed!!
Interesting word ‘procure’. Three meanings, you choose whichever you feel is the most appropriate.
procure[ proh-kyoor, pruh- ]SHOW IPA
SEE SYNONYMS FOR procure ON THESAURUS.COM
verb (used with object), pro·cured, pro·cur·ing.
to obtain or get by care, effort, or the use of special means:
to procure evidence.
to bring about, especially by unscrupulous and indirect means:
to procure secret documents.
to obtain (a person) for the purpose of prostitution.
verb (used without object), pro·cured, pro·cur·ing.
to act as a procurer or pimp.
I would never say forget history. Just that while you have focused on Ms Tiong, others worth outing have been missed. A red herring per se.
You are being a touch dense there, Diver, got a case of bends of the brain? The ‘Pie was replying to a comment that did in fact – albeit very vaguely – allude to others you felt needed to be outed (without any proof supplied, one may add). It is far from a red herring – in fact, precisely the opposite – when one expands the narrative in a reasonable way.
Off to the decompression chamber now, sport.
No Pie, This bloke was down the management chain buying vehicles & eqipment.
From a news article today;
“ The CCC is surveying council employees, including at Townsville City Council, to understand the barriers to reporting corruption.But the CEO of the Local Government Association Greg Hallam called the timing of the survey “unprecedented” and questioned the CCC’s priorities”.
Have the CCC sniffed out a lead? Maybe they should speak to TCC former staff too. As for Hallam, what a sook. The Purple Doona wearer should’ve been ‘looked at’ long ago……
Yes, that’s been duly noted with great interest. Hallam, ever the apologist for secretive local government (‘Ipswich a witchhunt’) probably soiled his Calvin Klein XXXL’s when he got wind of this. It is highly suspicious when the head of the LGAQ suggests that a survey paper is somehow going to interfere with the C-19 restrictions. Or perhaps, in LBJ’s famous summation of Gerald Ford ‘He can’t chew gum and fart at the same time.’
Perhaps the next CCC investigation or ‘fact finding mission’ should be into the LGAQ itself? Doesn’t a fish rot from the head?
It’s on its way, slowly but surely … and Hallam’s panicked and illogical protestations only heighten the aroma.
Where do we go and ask at the CCC about your comment here?? Is it selective staff or everyone? Havnt heard of anyone being asked questions. I would like to talk with them as do others i know. Who do we ask for? Regards
Can we please stop calling him Hallam and use his correct name please?
He spent a lifetime earning the name “Bargearse” and we should honour him with it.
The resemblance both in his looks and his attitude is incredible.
Noticed the Townsville Bulletin’s treatment of the CCC council staff survey is to pass it off as “bad timing”.
Don’t worry that the CCC is so concerned about council corruption it is asking council staff for tip-offs.
Can anyone name even just one Townsville council staffer who is working on the covid-19 front line?
Obviously Mr Hallam’s media release/spin has been published, word for word.
Bit harsh there mate, regardless of what is going on behind the scenes, I am sure the workers that are involved in water supply, wastewater treatment, waste management and other areas such as animal management etc. would argue they are very much at the front line of COVID-19 – or are only medical professionals due some credit?
Or one could argue that these people are simply doing there job, that they are remunerated appropriately, so why do they need any thanks at all.
In that case, why would we thank anyone? Brave new world.
The phrase ‘thank you’, like many others such as ‘bastard’, ‘madam’, ‘sir’ and nowadays, to the lament of many older folks,’fuck’ – as in ‘thanks a fucking lot’ – depends entirely on context, but thanking someone that comes over as unnecessary praise is one example of misuse if they are just doing what they’re paid to do.
Christ. Now even the REMF’s want a fucking medal.
Nice to know The ‘Pie has a military readership.
FWIW and I know it makes people angry in these parts.. I used the transfer station out on Herveys range road a few days. It was bloody brilliant, the council has started trying to recycle some of the waste flowing into the place.
By separating low hanging fruit like metal and cardboard out of your junk we are reusing materials instead of digging more holes and cutting down more trees.
It might take 25 years or so to change the mindset of 75 percent of the dumpers but it’s better than nothing. I was able to recycle all of the cardboard I was dumping instead of it ending up in landfill. A little bit of effort by the public is going to go a long way.
And not only that, but this, too, is worth noting. No point in ignoring positive developments by the council. A good ‘long view’ project.
https://www.i-q.net.au/sub-civil/green-technology-a-feather-in-the-cap-for-council
A Nth Qld tourist travel bubble? Interesting to hear the ‘best medical advice’ on this. I am now thinking ANZAC Day aeroplanes and school closures. Further, if this could happen on 12th June, in light of no Cv19 case in the area, it can happen tomorrow, with the current management practices.
I look forward to when we can ditch ‘social distancing’ and reinstate the ‘social life’.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-25/coronavirus-queensland-restrictions-ease-northern-bubble/12260182
Ditch social distancing Kelso? Who you want to cosy up to??
As one with a well-defined personal space, I quite enjoy distancing myself from the great unwashed with their body odour, halitosis and flatulence.
And how IS Mrs Berry?
Well cleansed.
So the mayor reckons e scooters could be a good tourist drawcard, if this is the best she can do Townsville is well and truly rooted.
The idea is just simply foaming lunacy.
There are enough dogs walking on the strand already.
The Brisbane experiment was a failure.
I’ll say, plus half of them don’t pick up after their pooches…(tish, boom)
So Scotty from marketing has temporarily shelved his proposed union busting legislation. Scotty goes on to tell us that the current system is ‘not fit for purpose’. What an evangelical goose. He forever to mention our system of unemployment benefits and taxation is also ‘not fit for purpose’, it is ‘shitfull purpose’ and has been strangling the economy. I wonder if our Chief Purple Doona wearer Madam Hill agrees with Scotty’s comments? Madam Hill likes the freedom to sack and hire as she pleases, without any opposition or pesky governance getting in the way!
So Townsville is to get 22 new Sheriff’s after yesterday’s swearing in ceremony. It’s a start, but the numbers still aren’t right. Crime is still escalating and the little (and not so little) snots have the community by the balls. They may not be able to read, they may not be able to calculate, and for many they aren’t able to shake off that venereal disease and crab lice, but they sure as hell know how to flout the law and get around receiving punishment for their crimes……..On a lighter note, I noticed on today’s live feed from the Council anal chamber that Mayor Hill chose a light green/blue doona to wear! I thought today was (and I am serious) wear purple day! Truly Mayor, an opportunity missed.
What . No White Board …
Pie, was there a reason you took my post down about Ms Cash at the press club?
Yup, but you ain’t alone, Finger Lickin’. Starting to cut down comments based solely on appearance, male or female, which is irrelevant if not in the context of speaking to a particular issue … on a case by case basis, could be OK if it’s included in a valid comment about a current issue, but the manner in which yours, and a goodly number of others, were posted simply amounted to abuse for the sake of abuse. Accurate observation has to serve a point, otherwise, Facebook awaits you. But Jenny’s pink/purple doona will generally pass. And Clive Palmer can be Lardarse forever after what’s he’s dome to this town.
Well, why did you put it up in the first place you sanctimonious c..t (coot). Press the wrong button again???
Self-explanatory. Also, wrong bird.
sanctimonious | ˌsaNG(k)təˈmōnēəs |
adjective derogatory
making a show of being morally superior to other people
coot | ko͞ot |
noun
1 (plural same) an aquatic bird of the rail family, with blackish plumage, lobed feet, and a bill that extends back on to the forehead as a horny shield.
Genus Fulica, family Rallidae: several species, in particular the widespread F. atra, which has a white bill and frontal shield.
2 informal a foolish or eccentric person, typically an old man.
A month late and a dollar short … the Astonisher updates it’s news cycle motto.
Question: Shocked who?
You mean you at the Astonisher were shocked that The Magpie was on the money … SEVEN WEEKS AGO? On twitter and in the Magpie’s Nest blog?
At least we won’t have to wait too long to find out what the settlement payout is, annual report should disclose it if we don’t hear before. I also think if he has resigned today and gone today then something smells.
Don’t think anything is amiss, more than your average legalised rort … as The ‘Pie most immodestly points bout, this was rock solid info seven weeks ago. The real interest now is what has been going on behind the skirting boards as southern cheese nibblers were interviewed, as they almost certainly have been, formally or informally, no matter what the usual guff about ‘the hunt is on’ etc.
What’s that old song lyric? “Jump you fekker jump, jump into this blanket and you will be alright”.
He hasn’t been the same since the Impaler flew her broom back into the region and the CCC started sniffing. Looking like a dead man walking.
Good riddance, hopefully he takes the rump of the Darwin push with him.
You have the advantage on The ‘Pie musically … never heard those lyrics (and don’t really want to) but although The ‘Pie has questioned Chiodo’s background and certain regrettable shall – we say misjudgements – in his local government past in Victoria, he does not seem to have been a disaster in Townsville, and several business acquaintances speak very well of him in their dealings with council – but to be uncharitable The ‘Pie guesses anyone succeeding The Impaler was always have a starting advantage.
Is that a song line from a Derek and Clive skit mid 70s? Peter Cook and Dudley Moore at their finest. I doubt if it would pass the PC test nowadays.
No such test around here, just earnest musical inquiry, so the Barely Civil Engineer has supplied the details.
Prins from Nous is next in line.
Any word on Eber Burton’s appointment as acting CEO? Will he start to clean up the place or continue hiding issues from the public?
According to the Bulletin, that is Butron, otherwise the big question would be : any relation?
Agree with the Magpie – Chiodo hasn’t been the worst CEO employed by TCC. He was handed a lemon. Hopefully onwards and upwards, but unlikely while Queen Hill sits atop of her Townsville throne. Bring on the dancing girls – the CCC.
Pie, probably not for publication, but you might get a giggle out of this song by Dudley Moore (Derek and Clive): https://youtu.be/_ZEEgIti8sM
which gave rise to the the previous lyric
If we ever needed proof that the Townsville Bulletin protects its advertisers, here it is:
On Monday morning I sent the following comment to Txt The Editor.
“Cowboys fans who are expecting to watch their team’s games live on Channel 9 are in for a shock. Just 6 of the remaining 18 games will be telecast by Ch 9 (free to air) and the first one will not be until Round 8 on 3 July (the weekend Peter V’landys plans to have some fans back in the stadiums). One could be excused for thinking the NRL is trying to force fans to buy a Foxtel or Kayo subscription. Disgusted 4810″
A mate has had 2 txts published since Monday but no sign of mine.
Was it too boring, or was the editor protecting Foxtel and Kayo, who both are owned by Uncle Rupert, and advertise heavily in the Townsville Bulletin?
At last!!! A good news story that makes Townsville seem like an interesting, fun place. It’s no biggy but what a welcome change to the usual grim reality splashed across the country about our city. Well, actually it is a biggy, and a big laugh.
You can read about it in the Townsville Bulletin tomorrow (maybe) or read it today in The New Daily.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/good-news/2020/05/26/coronavirus-lockdown-giant-kookaburra/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morning%20News%20-%2020200527
Sad news Nesters, our mate, and The Magpie’s long time personal friend Tom Krause, known here as the commenter Gonzo, has passed away in Sydney after what The Magpie understands was a protracted illness (which he never spoke of).
Tom was a funny, whip-smart journo who held senior positions at The Australian and later at Channel Nine’s award winning Sunday program. H and The Magpie were founding members of the Sydney Swans supporters club.
Vale, mate.
Malcolm
Good long interview this morning on ABC RN with Laurie Oakes re Tom – Laurie was almost choking up – will be on ABC website I assume
Magpie, I’m sorry that you’ve lost a good mate. No doubt you’ve had some time to think back, remember the funny times, the hard ones and the bloody ‘fuck, let’s go to the pub, I need a drink’ ones ! Take care old feathered friend !
Thanks. In fact, the whole Aussie journalistic community mourns him, not well known to the public but practically a legend in the industry. It’s personal for me, but many more loved the bloke as a colleague and a mentor.
Twitter puts fact check link on Trump’s tweets. Priceless!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-27/donald-trump-accuses-twitter-of-interfering-in-us-2020-election/12290140
And the great orange ejit has a dummy spit and threatens to shut down social media platforms.
Hope he tries, that really would be the end of him … pronto.
So Mark Cuppicino says ‘it doesn’t matter where you live, it’s where you work that counts’. Cool. That means we don’t need a local Mayor or any local Councillors, we can just hire some from Brisbane, or maybe Rottnest Island, or perhaps Caboolture? They can be stay at home jobs too, saves going to the office and you get to have a great sleepin!!!
Hey, don’t be a whiney pants, that’s a policy that works a treat for several senior executives on the Council, on example being Juliana Tiong, who worked as the council’s procurement officer … while living in Melbourne.
Mate, News Corp to axe hundreds of jobs according to SMH
Thanks, just posted.
Uh oh!
Key paragraph in the paywalled story:
“News Corp is planning to centralise parts of its editorial and commercial functions, cut print production and restructure its regional newspaper business. The company consolidated its advertising teams over the last 12 months and recently announced plans to launch its own newswire service after it decided to pull out as a shareholder of Australian Associated Press.”
The ‘Pie’s bet: staff cuts and just three maybe four print issues a week, with emphasis on 24/7 on line content.
Seems that Linda Ashton’s dog Sparky feels much the same way as many of her followers on Facebook.
Coincidence … as a kid, I had a dog called Sparky. He was originally called Rover but we renamed him after he lifted his leg on an electrified fence.
Sad thing is that without local newspapers around the country, who will keep the bastards honest?
I have long thought that radio, or an online version of it is still a great way to reach an audience, I always like it when in Sydney so many businesses have talkback style radio playing. Years ago In Townsville we even had some good radio shows with interviews and local content but they all disappeared, even Paula Tapiolis show was pulled.
Still some great stuff online, especially for Trump buffs:
https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v42/n11/eliot-weinberger/the-american-virus
Surely you jest Gull.
The Townsville Bulletin keeping the bastards honest? I’d love to see that!
The local rag has become a cover-up and spin merchant for the chosen few in this city.
They care more about their advertisers than the public.
And you know the saddest thing about your totally accurate comment, FF … News Ltd and it’s poodle Townsville Bulletin would totally agree with you … things have become so warped with News Ltd that they see nothing wrong with this priority, and that their authority in this game has been handed over to the vested interests of advertisers. Which inevitably leads to selective reporting in the increasingly discredited news columns. Good reporting is being tarred with the same brush in the public’s mind. Anyway, now they are paying the price, hastening by laziness and greed the inevitable demise of print … and they will be in a totally different world of competition when they come against digital competitors.
The details of the shrinking media in Australia
https://www.newscorpaustralia.com/news-corp-australia-announces-portfolio-changes/
Sadly, advertising dollars and political or financial bias is what is driving the MSM these days. The online articles regionally are basically a cut and paste from mainstream outlets anyway. Hardly any decent local content exists anymore. There is more information contained in blogs such as this than what you will get from the local newspaper. People will argue about the vetting of information process on blogs and accuracy of information, but hell – the BS, lies and fluffed up biased crap printed on paper by companies owned by billionaire fuckwits has hit an all time low. I would love to see what the state of Townsville would be like today if we had enjoyed a few years of good, honest unbiased media reporting? I believe the media has bowed down to the big corporates and look at what we have ended up with – an out of touch mob of politicians seemingly untouchable and free to do or act however they fucking like, immune to scrutiny or accountability.
Indeed, history will not treat the Murdoch epoch kindly, globally and especially locally in places like Townsville, Cairns and Geelong, and in Tasmania. This insidious creeping corporate sickness has created division, disaster and ethical chaos that has gone a long way to destroying the values, lifestyle, and generous interests we hold so dear. News Ltd is based on short sighted rampant materialism, and has taken it beyond reasonable and responsible lengths. And consider this: it is almost certain that Murdoch’s political directives and direction are solely aimed at what he thinks potential advertisers will want to hear, so remember, you don’t get many frequent and repeat advertising dollars from unions, Labor, the work force per se or those myriad selfless organisations that stitch, melt and weld our society together. If those parts of of our society had advertising dollars to shower on the Sydney Holt Street counting house of Rupert’s empire, his tune would immediately bend with whatever political wind he sniffed to advantage … no matter what the ethical and moral cost.
Mr Magpie, although it’s very likely that history will not treat the Murdoch epoch kindly, the fact is that ‘history’ is a bit history these days. The sorts of lengthy articles of the kind that might interrogate and analyse the “Murdoch epoch” just don’t make it into mainstream media although it is true that books are still popular sources. Investigative reporting and analysis seems to be dying on the vine because there’s so few outlets to actually publish it.
It’s out there, and your perception is caused by the babblanche of crap … there are quite a number of very reliable ‘long read’ publication (The Saturday Paper is one), and almost all of them have had a piece of … and about … the Evil Empire of Murdoch. And we see chickens coming home to roost in spades, quality going up SMH/Age, Oz doing OK, while the crap papers are falling off. Good to see, shame about the jobs.
They haven’t done many favours for Fatty Palmer, despite the millions he has funneled their way for various electoral campaigns and more recently the “I’ve bought hydroxychloroquine for everyone” full page ads.
Am I losing it or what? First paragraph states that four pontoons are to be replaced but media release names three pontoons. Does anyone know if there is two pontoons are one of these locations to make up to your pontoons or what is the go.
https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/about-council/news-and-publications/media-releases/2020/may/contract-awarded-to-replace-ross-river-pontoons
The article includes replacing the pontoon at Framara Park. While I have not seen a sign I assume Framara Park is the park on Framara Drive, vicinity of Kulgun Crescent.
If so, it did not have a pontoon. It did have a short wooden jetty of sorts but not a floating pontoon as per Apex and Rossiter Parks.
Fair comment Frequent Flyer. I probably meant it in a more general sense. Perhaps hundreds of regional communities are being affected. And I confess also to having a vague memory of the good old days when papers were staffed sufficiently to be able to cover issues, big and small. There was even competition once upon a time before Murdoch the Marauder acquired everything. Showing my age perhaps, the decline began in the 80s. And yes, the great advertising dollar ruled the roost but now the chickens have come home, if I haven’t mangled my metaphors too much. I was lucky (haha), I was shoved out the door of NewsCorpse a few years ago at the age of 62 (fortunately I have found alternative employment). My sympathies also to the few staff left, who must be weeping as much as anybody about the slow death of a once great institution. Again, I say that in a general sense. And they will cop the criticism from the public of putting out an inferior product through no fault of their own.
The Astonisher is to remain in print and digital. No mention of how many days per week. This is good news. I can still use it to light the bbq and line the bird cage.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-28/news-corp-cuts-is-your-local-paper-affected/12295320
Believe it or not, the Astonisher still makes a ‘ship-load’ from real estate adverts. They’re not going to stop that.
Perhaps Fatboy Palmer can become one of the new pontoons?
This story has been on SMH website all day.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/news-corp-shuts-some-print-editions-hundreds-of-jobs-to-go-20200528-p54x63.html
Strangely I couldn’t find it on Townsville Bulletin digital edition this evening.
Maybe the standard News Ltd hypocrisy and callousness fooled you … it’s there under this headline, written by some corporate flack in Sydney.
here’s the full story, which, funnily enough, is not ‘subscriber only’.
https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/regional/future-is-digital-news-announces-major-changes/news-story/1b8b415eea536b07f0d02f3d8d2a5238
Hypocrisy, you ask? Well, consider, if this were a rival company, say Fairfax, now Nine, and the story written by an experienced journalist, the main news point and headline would be screaming about the job losses (over 300) across Australia, and probably include an editorial kick in the nuts to add a little of the regular News pomposity. But no, just the corporate hand-out, quoted word for word, but very ambiguously. And it would appear you are exactly wrong, Rolf – this above story has been on the digital site all day, but not one single word in today’s the print edition.
This again demonstrates that hypocrisy, apparently pretending that these changes that involve loss of jobs and less people informing the community as is their charter, aren’t vitally important to Townsville in terms of news.
But not really surprising that the Bulletin was spared, sitting as it does a stone’s throw away from a $60million print hall and swisho top-dollar German presses.The Bulletin needs an actual physical conveyance in which to insert various lucrative weekend advertising extras, which could not be distributed if there was no physical paper to use as a raft.
Guy Rundle makes a similar argument in Crikey News today:
“Journalism, by taking a somewhat demarketised view of itself, has obscured the conditions of its production and started to judge its winnowing in terms of the myth it has told about itself: that it is something people desperately want but are now being actively denied.
The hard truth is that a lot of the journalism that people like us — writers and readers of this publication — regard as crucial was never profitable on its own terms, and piggybacked on the supply limits created by the dominance of physical printing.
Everyone who wrote for the old Fairfax weekend groaners — papers a half-foot thick, stacked like cordwood in the newsagents — had the same experience of seeing punters buying one and dumping everything but the car classifieds in the bin outside.
The exposés of corruption in the administration of the department of administrative services, frontline reports from Madeupistan, searching reviews of a new biography of Frank Forde — all binned!
Yes, there were readers. Yes, people tuned into key columnists and commentators in huge numbers. And yes, stories made things happen — but we really don’t know how many readers “highbrow” news had.
The business was so profitable no one needed to check, and different types of news were less thought of as separable, for the simple reason that it all came bound up in a single physical object.”
Great analytical writer, Rundle, who occasionally steps over a line by wearing his heart on his left sleeve.
So a home ground game for the Cowboys benefits who?
This week and next week only available on pay tv.
I would have thought Phil, 3 blind mice, Jen, Astonisher could have said something?
Seems like Rupert has all bases covered.
NAW, the alternative is nothing at all. The beneficiaries are the TV advertisers and the teams – players, coaches, staff and some airline. Take what you get and be thankful, it’s only a footy game.
Hey there NOT, only a game to you maybe, but a passion for some followers of the sport. Don’t belittle people who have different interests to you, try accepting that and see how you might feel. I bet they will feel better when not having shots fired at them by others (that’s you in this case)!
On the face of it, fair call, Professor Lupin, but think you might have missed that ECQ was more having a tongue in cheek shot at the fat cats behind the scenes. And The Magpie will have a bit to say about some appalling behaviour by the Cowboys football management on this very subject in this weekend’s Nest, published tonight.
Just turned back into my human-self Mr Magpie, yes, I see your point and NOT’s as well now!
Reading some earlier posts I found a saying that I am going to use myself from time to time – “babblanche of crap”. It’s a beauty !