Because Australia

[DougRichards]

 

Video shows airborne luxury car plough into eastern Sydney cemetery

 

7News Sydney /

41 minutes ago

A delicate operation's been conducted to remove the wreckage of a luxury car that smashed through a cemetery in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

 

Police allege the driver, Peter Sheridan, was heavily intoxicated when his vehicle launched over the Randwick Cemetery sandstone wall early Tuesday morning.

 

Footage taken at the scene shows the brake lights go on at the last second but for the driver - his brush with death was clear.

 

The high-performance Mercedes came to rest some 10 metres inside the cemetery, desecrating around a dozen headstones dating back to the 1920s.

 

The car hit the wall with such force that blocks of sandstone flew almost 40 metres across the cemetery.

 

The 48-year-old, who suffered injuries to his face and abdomen, was left trapped in the vehicle for a short time before he was assisted by local residents.

 

[...]

 

https://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/38850366/luxury-car-filmed-ploughing-into-sydneys-randwick-cemetery/

 

 

You beat me to it: this happened very near to where I live.

 

The driver is in real trouble though, possibly Australia's worst accident ever: so far the police have locate over a thousand dead at the crash site.

[BansheeOne]

[Mike Steele]

 

 

Video shows airborne luxury car plough into eastern Sydney cemetery

 

7News Sydney /

41 minutes ago

A delicate operation's been conducted to remove the wreckage of a luxury car that smashed through a cemetery in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

 

Police allege the driver, Peter Sheridan, was heavily intoxicated when his vehicle launched over the Randwick Cemetery sandstone wall early Tuesday morning.

 

Footage taken at the scene shows the brake lights go on at the last second but for the driver - his brush with death was clear.

 

The high-performance Mercedes came to rest some 10 metres inside the cemetery, desecrating around a dozen headstones dating back to the 1920s.

 

The car hit the wall with such force that blocks of sandstone flew almost 40 metres across the cemetery.

 

The 48-year-old, who suffered injuries to his face and abdomen, was left trapped in the vehicle for a short time before he was assisted by local residents.

 

[...]

 

https://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/38850366/luxury-car-filmed-ploughing-into-sydneys-randwick-cemetery/

 

 

You beat me to it: this happened very near to where I live.

 

The driver is in real trouble though, possibly Australia's worst accident ever: so far the police have locate over a thousand dead at the crash site.

 

 

At least he didn't have a gun.....

Edited February 6, 2018 by Mike Steele

[DougRichards]

Meanwhile our deputy prime minister shows that he not only has no moral compass but cannot keep it in his pants.

 

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/marriage/inside-barnaby-joyces-fractured-family-life/news-story/b68774fe186339711e3a64ef101b4ae1

 

Given that many, if not the majority of wives turn off the tap after about five years of marriage (see 'bean jar principle) I can 'almost' understand, but that does not mean that you should get the 'help' pregnant.

 

And that is me writing, a man married for 30 years next Monday (much longer than the prison sentence for murder), with less sex in the marriage than I would have got if I had been in prison over the same time.

[Stuart Galbraith]

Well look on the bright side, at least at least it wasnt with a 6 foot 2 man called Bubba with 'Mum' and 'I make Dead people' tattoo's.

 

Oh gawd, not another subversion. What is it about the Free world that annoys the piss out of people?

 

http://www.afr.com/news/policy/foreign-affairs/china-accuses-australia-of-cold-war-mentality-as-publishing-row-looms-20180206-h0uyzc

China's Foreign Ministry has reiterated calls for Australia to abandon what it calls a "cold-war mentality" as a fresh row looms over renewed efforts to publish a book on Chinese Communist Party influence in Australian politics and academia.

The book by professor Clive Hamilton, which was controversially pulled by publisher Allen & Unwin last year, is now expected to hit the shelves by March after the author reportedly found a new publisher. Fairfax Media also reported this week that there was also a move to have the book published under parliamentary privilege.

Asked about whether he was concerned Mr Hamilton's book would hurt Australia-China relations, a Foreign Ministry spokesman this week reiterated earlier calls for Australia to abandon what he called an "ideological bias".

"Recently we have made our position clear on the irresponsible remarks in relation to China by certain people in Australia time and again," the spokesman said at a regular press briefing in Beijing late on Tuesday.

"We hope the Australian side will abandon the cold-war mentality and ideological bias, stop making irresponsible remarks and work with China to promote the sound and steady development of China-Australia relations on the bassis of mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit."

[DougRichards]

 

Well look on the bright side, at least at least it wasnt with a 6 foot 2 man called Bubba with 'Mum' and 'I make Dead people' tattoo's.

 

 

 

I am 190cm and 118 kilos. Now not as impressive as I once was but 25 years ago Bubba would not have had too many options.

[Stuart Galbraith]

Maybe Australian Bubbas like the hard to get types.

[Stuart Galbraith]

Im betraying my ignorance, but I didnt even know Australia had even had a water problem. I guess its resolved now?

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/feb/07/day-zero-what-cape-town-can-learn-from-australia-millennium-drought-water-crisis

[toysoldier]

Australia is mostly seasonal desert. If the Niño decides to mess with them, they have nasty droughts.

[urbanoid]

[JasonJ]

Well look on the bright side, at least at least it wasnt with a 6 foot 2 man called Bubba with 'Mum' and 'I make Dead people' tattoo's.

 

Oh gawd, not another subversion. What is it about the Free world that annoys the piss out of people?

 

http://www.afr.com/news/policy/foreign-affairs/china-accuses-australia-of-cold-war-mentality-as-publishing-row-looms-20180206-h0uyzc

China's Foreign Ministry has reiterated calls for Australia to abandon what it calls a "cold-war mentality" as a fresh row looms over renewed efforts to publish a book on Chinese Communist Party influence in Australian politics and academia.

The book by professor Clive Hamilton, which was controversially pulled by publisher Allen & Unwin last year, is now expected to hit the shelves by March after the author reportedly found a new publisher. Fairfax Media also reported this week that there was also a move to have the book published under parliamentary privilege.

Asked about whether he was concerned Mr Hamilton's book would hurt Australia-China relations, a Foreign Ministry spokesman this week reiterated earlier calls for Australia to abandon what he called an "ideological bias".

"Recently we have made our position clear on the irresponsible remarks in relation to China by certain people in Australia time and again," the spokesman said at a regular press briefing in Beijing late on Tuesday.

 

"We hope the Australian side will abandon the cold-war mentality and ideological bias, stop making irresponsible remarks and work with China to promote the sound and steady development of China-Australia relations on the bassis of mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit."

 

I think that belongs in the because China thread, but its just me.

[KV7]

'Pig steals beer, gets drunk and starts fight with a cow'

https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/pig-steals-beer-gets-drunk-and-starts-fight-cow/2015755/

[DougRichards]

'Pig steals beer, gets drunk and starts fight with a cow'

https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/pig-steals-beer-gets-drunk-and-starts-fight-cow/2015755/

 

I am not convinced that the pig was not in reality a backpacker from a certain european island....

 

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/fears-grow-for-missing-irish-tourist-craig-lambe/news-story/0f6f5a5efbd036ec663afb8e373e83f4

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10815318/Irishman-missing-for-five-days-in-Australia-found-in-stairwell.html

[JasonJ]

[DougRichards]

 

That is what happens when you suppress drop bears. The emus take over.

 

[Ivanhoe]

I know Australian men get lonely, but geez;

 

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/04/animals-disease-health-koalas-australia/

 

Chlamydia, a type of sexually transmitted disease also found in humans, has hit wild koalas hard, with some wild populations seeing a 100 percent infection rate.

[toysoldier]

I know Australian men get lonely, but geez;

 

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/04/animals-disease-health-koalas-australia/

 

 

Chlamydia, a type of sexually transmitted disease also found in humans, has hit wild koalas hard, with some wild populations seeing a 100 percent infection rate.

So that's what "chunder" mean, schtooping Koalas?

[DougRichards]

Not the first time that koalas have approached humans for assistance:

 

Firefighter helps distressed koala

Daniel McGookin, Macarthur Chronicle Wollondilly

April 19, 2018 5:31pm

Subscriber only

AN ICONIC image has emerged from the ashes, with a selfless act by a volunteer Macarthur area firefighter capturing the hearts of the community.

Mt Hunter Rural Fire Brigade volunteer firefighter Matthew Nutter, 31, was on duty at the Holsworthy bushfires when a distressed koala emerged from the bush last Monday.

Mr Nutter said the koala appeared out of nowhere.

“It just came straight out of the bush and just walked straight towards me,” he said.

“He just sat there and looked at me and I thought it looks like he needs a drink, so I gave him some water. It was almost looking at me like a dog.

Mt Hunter Rural Fire Brigade’s Matthew Nutter with the distressed koala. Picture: Amy Burgin

“I first poured some water on the ground and the koala wasn’t interested, and then I slowly trickled it on its nose and it licked it all.”

Fellow Mt Hunter RFS volunteer firefighter Amy Burgin photographed the delightful encounter, with the image shared widely via social media.

Mr Nutter, a volunteer firefighter since the age of 15, said it was a unique firefighting experience.

“Normally the wildlife is gone before us fire crews are there,” he said.

The koala was monitored by defence officials before being cared for by WIRES.

 

The distressed koala. Picture: Amy Burgin

The photo has been shared more than 300 times on social media and Mr Nutter said reaction to the image had caught him by surprise.

“I have been getting messages from everywhere,” he said. “I realised it was kind of a big deal when my phone didn’t stop vibrating.”

[Stuart Galbraith]

What an awesome advert.

 

[DougRichards]

What an awesome advert.

 

Yes, nice advert, but from a company that has not paid tax in years, that has an Irish CEO who has steered corporate support (without asking shareholders) of same sex marriage, who has ordered staff to use 'inclusive language' - ie, no more calling people males and females (no more 'sir' or 'madam'), and a company that has threatened to withdraw sponsorship (they can afford sponsorship but use tax laws to avoid paying tax) from the Australian Rugby Union because a Christian player (with a Jewish first name) expressed bible based beliefs about homosexuality.

 

See below: but what is interesting is that QANTAS (quaint-arse) has established strong relationships with Emirates Airlines - from a country over flowing with tolerance: so it is okay to rip into a Rugby player because that is what he is, but not to come into conflict with a commercial partner.

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-19/israel-folau-analysis-will-he-walk-away-from-australian-rugby/9676800

 

Quote

 

Could the Wallabies line up for their opening World Cup match next year unable to call on arguably their most destructive weapon?

The unrelentingly tense fallout from Israel Folau's publicly broadcast views on homosexuality — that gay people were destined to a life in hell unless they repented for their "sins" — suggests it remains a genuine possibility.

 

Rugby Australia's (RA) response has so far appeared to be one of a governing body trying to give the impression of having acted without taking any genuine action, as if hoping the mildest of rebukes to their star player might be enough to see the incident blow over.

 

The public outcry, Folau's unapologetic stance and, most recently, condemnation and support being voiced by current players make that unlikely.

The story is a live one. Nearer its beginning than its still-to-be determined end.

 

Rather than being brought into line, Folau has further entrenched his position and effectively challenged his bosses to accept his actions or lose his services.

His clarity of thought, whatever your view on those thoughts are, is jarringly at odds with Rugby Australia's (RA) lack of decisiveness.

With Folau's RA contract up for renewal, and the NRL making unsubtle overtures, there is little doubt over who holds the upper hand in a potentially explosive dispute that neither party wants to characterise as such.

 

But make no mistake, it is a dispute that demands a resolution.

 

Losing Folau would be an impediment to a successful World Cup challenge and, further, a damaging blow to the reputation of a sport that is in a near-perpetual state of fighting to arrest the slide in its public profile.

 

Despite his assertion he would walk away from his contract immediately if he was, "hurting Rugby Australia, its sponsors and the Australian rugby community to such a degree that things couldn't be worked through", neither, you imagine, does Folau wish to leave the sport.

 

He admits he has previously turned down big-money offers, both locally and overseas.

 

And yet the gulf between Folau's insistence on his right to express his religious views and RA's public commitment to inclusiveness and responsibility to a community it claims to actively support as an organisation, remains huge.

 

How — or if — that chasm is breached will decide the episode's outcome.

 

Chief executive Raelene Castle carries the greatest responsibility for achieving that. She still has much work to do.

 

After Folau was called in to Rugby HQ to discuss an Instagram post in which he stated, in response to a follower's question, that God's plan for homosexuals was, "HELL … Unless they repent of their sins and turn to God", Castle attempted to draw a quick line under things.

 

Those attempts have proved to be summarily unsuccessful.

 

Most recently, RA "accepted Israel's position," Castle said, after the player penned an article on the Players' Voice website in which he defended his right to voice his Christian beliefs, regardless of any offence they might cause.

 

"In his article," Castle responded in a subsequent press release: "Israel clearly articulated his religious beliefs and why his faith is important to him and has provided context behind his social media comment.

 

"In his own words, Israel said he did not intend to upset people intentionally or bring hurt to the game."

 

Folau's column was measured and articulate. But without contrition for his Instagram message. And contradicted Castle's insistence the player felt in any way censured after their initial meeting.

 

There was certainly nothing concrete in either party's words to suggest Folau will be in any way inhibited in acting similarly in the future.

 

And so the problem will fester. Until its next flare-up. The possibility of Folau repeating his views in public appears great. Especially in light of public responses from his peers.

 

All Black and Hurricanes half-back TJ Perenara added his voice to fellow Kiwi Brad Weber in strong condemnation of Folau's position this week: the latter saying the thought of lining up against Folau "disgusts" him; the former insisting there was "no justification for such harmful comments".

 

Support has come from colleagues, too, including Brumbies front-rower and fellow Christian Allan Alaalotoa who defended his "right to express his opinion".

 

It must be a relief to the game's administrators that Folau is currently sidelined with an injury.

 

But again, that only postpones his next appearance in public, and keeps the story simmering, waiting for his return and the reaction to it.

 

Were Folau to reassert his position in a public forum, either on his return to playing or from a keyboard or smartphone prior to that, Rugby Australia would be forced to act more decisively.

What their options would be remain uncertain. The conflict between freedom of religious expression and that expression causing offence would have ramifications employment lawyers would likely need to be called in to settle.

 

Public opinion may force RA to act with greater resolve even if it were to risk losing one of their prized assets. A moral stand needed even if the victory proves a Pyrrhic one.

If Folau is true to his word — and there is no reason to doubt that he is — it may only take a minor sanction against him to walk away.

 

A sporting body without overly deep pockets may also feel the pressure from sponsors wishing to disassociate themselves from any prolonged period of negativity in the sport if the boil isn't lanced swiftly.

 

On Thursday a memo from RA was circulated around all its players reminding them of their obligations under the Professional Players Code of Conduct, and the need to share any personal views in a respectful way, to adhere to the "universal values of rugby".

 

Folau's views on homosexuality, and specifically the manner in which he has expressed them, appear to fly in the face of those values and responsibilities.

 

While being at pains to convince the public he has no feelings of malice towards any group, that he is merely being true to his faith, and that he is considered a good man by teammates and colleagues, his words and actions are at direct odds with sentiments of inclusion repeatedly expressed by his employers.

 

Unless Folau's next religious undertaking is an unlikely vow of silence, something has to give.

[DougRichards]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-28/worlds-oldest-spider-dies-aged-43-in-western-australia/9707422

 

World's oldest known spider...... G W-B would not be impressed.

 

 

Australia has a notorious reputation as home to some of the world's deadliest creatures and until recently also harboured the oldest known living spider in the world.

The trapdoor matriarch, named Number 16, died at the ripe old age of 43 during a long-term population study in Western Australia's Central Wheatbelt and far outlived her previous rival, a 28-year-old Mexican tarantula.

Edited April 28, 2018 by DougRichards

[Ivanhoe]

https://apnews.com/2fa7092a4e9f4397a2b1423187324df7/Fruit's-pungent-smell-mistaken-for-gas-leak,-prompts-panic

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The pungent smell of the rotten durian fruit at an Australian university library has been mistaken for a gas leak, prompting an evacuation of the building.

 

Specialist crews wearing masks searched the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology university campus library on Saturday, but all they found was rotting durian in a cupboard.

 

Anything that looks that creepy should not be eaten or cultivated.

[toysoldier]

Fire tornadoes? What is wrong with you Australia?

Must you hate man so much, oh Island-Continent?

[Ssnake]

Must you hate man so much, oh Island-Continent?

 

Yes. Yes, indeed.

[Stuart Galbraith]