Goongerah Environment Centre

Wombat Action Group + Victorian Forest Alliance

Humanists Victoria

Extinction Rebellion Victoria

Friends of the Earth Melbourne

A landmark Covid-19 vaccine injury class action lawsuit has been filed against the Australian government and the medicines regulator. The nation-wide suit, which reportedly has 500 members including three named applicants, seeks redress for those allegedly left injured or bereaved by the Covid-19 vaccines. One of the applicants who suffered a severe heart condition after getting the Pfizer jab is even claiming there was 'cover-up' during the vaccine rollout which hid the potential risks. The federal government, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the Department of Health - in addition to a number of senior public servants - are all named as parties to the class action, which was filed in the New South Wales Federal Court. The named parties are accused of negligence in their approval and monitoring of Covid-19 vaccines, breach of statutory duty and misfeasance in public office. Instructing solicitor Natalie Strijland, of Brisbane law firm NR Barbi, said the action would argue the TGA caused considerable harm and damage by failing to regulate the COVID-19 vaccinations properly. The class action names three applicants, one of whom is 41-year old father-of-two Gareth O'Gradie. Mr O'Gradie, a teacher from Melbourne, was left with a 20-centimetre scar down his chest after developing severe pericarditis inflammation of the lining around the heart following his first Pfizer vaccination in July 2021. In February 2022 doctors performed open heart surgery to remove his the pericardial sac lining his heart.

Note: For more along these lines, see concise summaries of deeply revealing news articles on coronavirus vaccines from reliable major media sources.

Gippsland Environment Group + Friends of Bats and Habitat Gippsland + Friends of the Earth Melbourne + Victorian Forest Alliance

Train experiences can vary widely. On the bottom end of the scale, theres riding a tightly-packed PTV train while trying to dodge stray crumbs as the guy beside you munches on a sandwich.

On the top end, theres the Puffing Billys first-class dining package.

The Puffing Billy First Class Dining Experience

• The luxurious experience will run on Fridays and Saturdays from July 14
• The three-hour ride will take guests to the end of the line and back
• In the first-class carriages, guests will be served drinks, charcuterie, cheeses and high tea

Keep up with the latest in local news and entertainment here.

This winter, visitors will have the chance to experience everything the Puffing Billy has to offer with a glamorous, three-hour dining experience, cruising from Belgrave to Lakeside and then back again. On Fridays and Saturdays starting on July 14, the tables will be set in the trains decadent first-class carriages for the exclusive rides.

On the ride out, guests are invited to take in the views while sipping on glasses of crisp Yarra Valley wine and snacking on a grazing platter featuring cured meats, pickles, vintage cheddar and brie, and all of the accompaniments.

Tea will be served on the way back to the station, with fresh scones, locally made jam and chantilly or coconut cream. There will also be vegan and gluten-free options available.

Located in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, the historic steam train is a favourite for tourists and locals alike. Built over a century ago, it chugs through the rugged countryside, giving visitors a glimpse of what things would have been like back in the day.

The first-class carriages will have you feeling like royalty, with plush velvet chairs, lush drapery and a glossy wooden interior.

Tickets to the Puffing Billy First Class Dining Experience, starting July 14, are on sale now.

To pick up yours, head here.

The post All aboard, the Puffing Billy is hosting a luxurious dining experience this winter appeared first on Forte Magazine.

Of all the transformations weve witnessed over the past few years, the Portarlington Grand Hotel is hands down one of our favourites.

Built in 1888, the Portarlington Grand Hotel has been sitting pretty on the main street of Portarlington, boasting incredible views of the popular and scenic harbour area. While it had certainly been a while between cocktails at the 132-year-old gem, new operators Franco Biasuzzo and Mark Henderson have transformed the venue over the past two years, bringing the grand lady back to life through an extensive $10M renovation.

Check out the best wineries, distilleries, breweries and hot spots to visit on the Bellarine here. 

 

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Within the last month, Kate Ceberano has brought us together for celebrations of humanity. 

She raised money singing her hits with the Channel Seven team for the Good Friday Appeal contributing to the record-breaking $23,061,320 donation to The Royal Childrens Hospital cause.

Days prior she highlighted the life and voice of fellow jazz juggernaut and friend, the late Rene Geyer, during her public memorial service, closing out a star-studded event of performances from Paul Kelly, Marcia Hines, Russell Morris, Daryl Braithwaite, Ross Wilson and Deborah Conway. 

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Its what Kate Ceberano does a constant presence that unites the nation through the power of music and her big effervescent smile.

The loss of friends in the industry and retrospective career reflections have been prominent over the last two years. In addition to the shock departure of Geyer, Ceberano and the nation said goodbye to Australian music and acting darling, Olivia Newton-John.

I lost a lot of friends during Covid and I continue to lose them, Ceberano candidly explains. 

These are women that shaped who I am. You know, Marcia Hines who is still with us, Chrissy Amphlett, Rene and Olivia Newton-John; these were the women of my era. Each of them were so profoundly different from each other which was beautiful. 

The fact that at the time the way of the artists was built entirely on a place of independence and originality, there was no sense that anyone would ever dream of trying to be anyone else. You just wanted to be you. It was the screaming kind of revolution of you.

And these women went out there and crusaded for the rights of all women to be themselves, be their own voices, and control their own minds and independent thoughts. They were a revolution, and long may they reign.  

These life celebrations and career reflections run parallel to her own story, circulating the industry at the same time and being a strong, empowering female front. It comes at a time when Ceberano was deep diving into her own career catalogue to form her 30th album. 

The ruby-anniversary album,...

NYE on the Hill is officially back for 2023/2024 with the beloved festival announcing its dates for the forthcoming edition.

Off the back of a huge event last year, featuring the likes of Hockey Dad, Northeast Party House, Tess Birch, Birdz, Ruby Fields and heaps more, the beloved festival will return from 30 December 2023 to the 1 January 2024, once again welcoming a bunch of bands and performers into its space, as well as late night DJs, a deck disco, comedians, art installations, morning yoga, curated food trucks and licensed bars.

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

 

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From the notes I'm receiving this doesn't have unanimous support - here's a good example: As a member of Crim Bar Assoc I cant believe Hallowes believes he can speak/show support on my behalf in regards to political matters. The Victorian Criminal Bar Association supports the proposal to amend the...

To power Australia without fossil fuels will mean using batteries to store
power from solar and wind. We often think this means home batteries or
large grid-scale installations. Theres another size too: community-scale
or neighbourhood batteries, which are growing rapidly in Australia due to
support from state governments like Victoria and Western Australia and,
more recently, from the federal government.

They seem to solve a lot of
problems we know people are concerned about such as enabling more
rooftop solar and helping to speed up a transition to renewables. But the
popularity of these batteries shouldnt be the only factor in decisions
about where they are rolled out. Sometimes and in some parts of the
grid they make sense. At other times, they may not be the best
solution.

 Renew Economy 17th May 2023

If youre reading this issue on a lazy Sunday, Deuces second release, Wild Type, is one for you.

Expanding on the cinematic stylings showcased on their self-titled album in 2021, Wild Type continues to propel Curtis Wakeling (The Ocean Party) and Kayleigh Heydons hazy dream-pop vision with effortless comfortability.

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Ebbing and flowing between arpeggiated synths, melancholic guitar licks and dreamy indie-pop melodies, Deuces follow-up release can only be likened to the sensibility of a leaf in the wind. It just has that free-flowing quality to it.

Whether its providing shimmery guitar licks alongside murky Ethel Caine-inspired vocals (Fall Apart), or merging twangy alt-country guitars with dark-folk ominosity (That Hill), Wild Type is an album that delivers each song with an equal level of coziness. At times, feeling so casual in its approach that you often forget that youre listening to an album.

Rabbit Hole sees Wakeling adopt a dreary dreamlike quality to his vocals, channelling subtle elements of early The Velvet Underground. Control leans more into the pop side of dream-pop by delivering more upbeat rhythms and catchy hooks in its chorus, while the aptly named Breathe delicately balances dulled vocal harmonies alongside glimmering guitar licks and the bassy horn arrangements.

If Wild Type shows us anything, its that music doesnt need to be brash to warrant attention.

Its multifaceted but not complex, making it the perfect easy-listening album for your Sunday afternoon. Boil the kettle, rug up on the couch and immerse yourself in the world of Deuce, you wont be disappointed.

The post Wild Type: Melbournes Deuce fuse intimate and personal dream pop and upbeat indie rock on new album appeared first on Forte Magazine.

Forte readers, please meet Hanaya Fusion Caf.

Tucked away between Pako and Shannon Ave, this little gem is one youre going to want to keep coming back to. Hanaya is an Asian fusion caf, open for breakfast and lunch every day and offering dinner on Thursdays to Sundays. 

Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.

The breakfast and lunch menu are complete with Aussie favourites for breakfast, like a Hash Brown Brekkie roll, a Double Bacon and Egg wrap or roll, and a big selection of toasties, with fillings ranging from tomato, cheese and ham to spam, bacon, egg and even pineapple. Hanaya even features a vegetarian wrap with a Japanese twist and a Chicken Karaage wrap.

For dinner, there is more of a Japanese-style menu. Were talking pork or vegetarian Gyoza (with handmade ponzu sauce), homemade Japanese curry, roti taco sandwiches, Takoyaki (Octopus balls) or a Sando with a Hawaiian twist. Theres also edamame, Renkon chips, veggie spring rolls and Panko crumbed oyster, plus salad bowls and miso soup. 

 

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After announcing his biggest-ever hometown at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Dom Dolla has managed the huge feat of selling out two consecutive shows at the Bowl in a matter of minutes. Initially just announcing Saturday 16th December, a second show for Friday 15th December went on sale after the presale sold out in minutes on Wednesday.

Joining the ranks of artists such as Daft Punk, Tame Impala, Florence and the Machine, Arctic Monkeys, Flume and RFS DU SOL, Dom Dolla has now solidified his place among them by selling out not just one, but two shows at the prestigious Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

Dom Dolla Melbourne Hometown Shows

Friday 15 December 2023 Sidney Myer Music Bowl SOLD OUT

Saturday 16 December 2023 Sidney Myer Music Bowl SOLD OUT

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Im comin home: Dom Dolla announces largest ever hometown headline show at Sidney Myer Music Bowl

Dom Dolla is experiencing a meteoric rise in the music industry. His signature style of house music has connected with global audiences, making him one of the most exciting names in electronic music. Hes played at Coachella, sold-out Red Rocks Colorado, sold out headline tours across North America, Europe, and the UK, as well as headlining Beyond The Valley, performing the countdown and bringing out Nelly Furtado on stage.

His most recent single Rhyme Dust, a collaboration with MK, was one of the most anticipated tracks leading into 2023. The song took the internet by storm, going viral prior to its release after he included it in his Selected Sessions stream from a rooftop in Belgrade. The original sound received over 80 million streams prior to its drop, resulting in an outpouring of fans demanding for it to be released.

Since its release, Rhyme Dust has clocked up over 30 million global streams, featured as BBC Radio Ones Hottest Record In The World, been most played song on triple j, was #1 on the Aria Club Chart, went top 10 U...

Multi-platinum award-winning artist and Taxiride frontman Jason Singh is getting set to bring the music of some of the greatest dearly departed artists to regional Australia in his international hit show Heavens Greatest Hits.

With sold-out shows both at home and abroad, on land and at sea and performances on some of the biggest stages including the Sydney Opera House, Jason Singh cant wait to take his show to regional areas across the country. Locally hell take to The Capital Theatre in Bendigo on Friday 3 November 2023.

Jason Singh Heavens Greatest Hits Regional Tour

Friday 15 September Northern Festival Centre Port Pirie, SA

Saturday 16 September Hopgood Theatre Noarlunga Centre, SA

Friday 22 September Pavilion Performing Arts Centre Sutherland, NSW

Saturday 23 September Manning Entertainment Centre Taree, NSW

Friday 29 September The Palms at Crown Melbourne, VIC*

Friday 6 October Wrest Point Showroom Hobart, TAS

Saturday 7 October Launceston Country Club Launceston, TAS

Friday 13 October Glasshouse Theatre Port Macquarie, NSW

Saturday 14 October Saraton Theatre Grafton, NSW

Friday 27 October The J Theatre Noosa, QLD

Saturday 28 October Ipswich Civic Centre Ipswich, QLD

Friday 3 November The Capital Theatre Bendigo VIC

Saturday 4 November Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Wonthaggi, VIC

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

In addition to the twelve regional shows Jason is also bringing his show back to the Palms at Crown on Friday 29 September as part of the AFL Finals Celebration.

Performing my Heavens Greatest Hits show gives me such an incredible buzz and I couldnt be prouder of the show. Ive been completely blown away by the response and cant wait to do it all over again and again, Singh says.

I am so excited to be able to take the show on the road and share it with people in regional areas across Australia. Get Set for a Road Trip! Jason Singh.

This world class show takes the audience on an unforgettable journey, from the raw and emotional news stories from the day these artists passed away to the exceptional detail in which each note is played. Heavens Greatest Hits is a dancing in the aisles celebration of the songs that have provided a timeless soundtrack to our lives.

Joined on stage by his incredible...

<p>Off the back of a wild few years for Yours and Owls, with floods, revolving stages and Autumn dates, the New South Wales festival has today announced a bold move forward with a brand new home in 2023. This year, the festival will welcome patrons within the grounds and surrounds of the University of Wollongong on the new date of October 14 & 15th, 2023.

Under a freshly inked, three-year partnership with the University of Wollongong, the Yours and Owls team will take over the University of Wollongong campus for their two-day music festival, UOWs grounds, ovals and laneways coming alive to the sounds and sights of some of the worlds best artists and of course a plethora of local talent.</p> <p class="p1"><b><i>Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews </i></b><a href= "https://fortemag.com.au/music/"><span class= "s1"><b><i>here</i></b></span></a><b><i>.</i></b></p> <blockquote class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <p> </p> <div style="display: flex;"> <div style= "background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex;"> <div style= "background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style= "background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style= "display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style= "color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 14px;"> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style= "background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> ...</div> </div> </div> </div> </blockquote>

Multi-ARIA award-winning Ghanaian-Australian artist, Kofi Owusu-Ansah aka Genesis Owusu has returned with news of his highly anticipated sophomore album, STRUGGLER due for release on August 18 via OURNESS / AWAL. Alongside the news, he has announced a global world tour including Australian headline dates in December.

On December 1, Owusu will take to the Ice Cream Factory in Perth, before heading to Melbournes Festival Hall on December 8. The following night, Owusu will perform at the UC Refectory in Canberra, followed by a final set of performances at the Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane on December 14, Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on December 15, and the closing performance December 16 at Adelaides Hindley Street Music Hall.

Genesis Owusu Australian Tour

Friday, 1 December 2023 Ice Cream Factory, Perth WA
Friday, 8 December 2023 Festival Hall, Melbourne VIC
Saturday, 9 December 2023 UC Refectory, Canberra ACT
Thursday, 14 December 2023 Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane QLD
Friday,Fri 15 December 2023 Hordern Pavilion, Sydney NSW
Saturday, 16 December 2023 Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide SA

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Joining Owusu for each show (excluding Perth) will be very special guests, EARTHGANG. Hailing from Atlanta, the acclaimed hip hop duo have been taking the world by storm over the past 12 months; earning GRAMMY nominations of Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Album for their work on Dreamville and J.Coles Revenge Of The Dreamers III, and most recently performing their electrifying live show at Coachella. Coupled with Owusu, the shows are set to be an unmissable, high-energy end to whats been an already incredible year for both artists.

After launching onto the global map with his critically acclaimed debut album, Smiling with No Teeth, Owusu next steps forth with STRUGGLER; an imminent exploration of the chaos and absurdity of life, and our ability to endure. Where Smiling with No Teeth uncovered the battle against depression and racism, STRUGGLER is about how to get through its struggle. The album takes inspiration from a close friend hitting the brink and coming through the other side, in conjunction with prompted questions of life and beauty that Owusu found himself contemplating during readings of Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot and Franz Kafkas Metamorphosis. Recorded between the US and Australia, the albums producers traverse musical genres; from Jason Evigan (RUFUS DU SOL, SZA), to Mikey Freedom Hart (Jon Batistes 2021 GRAMMY of the Ye...

Dictator Daniel Andrews has hosted a child grooming event inside Parliament House!!! A groomer event...

The winners of the 2023 Australian Hotels Association, Victoria (AHA Vic) State Awards for Excellence the pinnacle event of the Victorian hospitality industry were announced at Crown Palladium once again this week, with a bunch of favourites taking out the top honours.

Held annually, the awards recognise hotels and pubs in Victoria both metropolitan and regional that demonstrate excellence across 40 distinct categories, from excellence in service, best chef and best family dining, to the best outdoor experience, best innovative retail space and even best gaming venue. Theres even the best parma category, arguably the most coveted title of the lot.

Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.

The AHA (Vic) State Awards for Excellence is a celebration of the accomplishments of Victorias pubs and hotels, where we come together to recognise outstanding hospitality service and delivery, stated Paddy OSullivan, CEO of AHA (Vic).

We also express gratitude to the dedicated pub and hotel staff for their invaluable contributions to ensure the success of our industry.

Honouring and celebrating the industrys strengths and successes, the Torquay Hotel was one of the local feel-good stories of the night taking out gold in the Best Live Entertainment Category, beating out the likes of the Corner Hotel in Richmond, the Croxton Bandroom in Thornbury and The Westernport in San Remo.

Sister venue The Grovedale Hotel was also a beacon of success, taking home the Ian Larkin Overall Hotel on the Year for regional, Best Sports Bar in regional, best Pubtab for regional, and best gaming venue in regional Victoria. Talk about cleaning up!!

With both venues owned by the Taylor Group, its the Torquay Hotels recognition that warms our soul. A cornerstone of Torquay and our region, the last few years have seen an inconceivable regeneration and transformation of the venue which has solidified itself as a cultural gem as much as an iconic musical one.

With general manager Joel Taylor and local musician Luke Hindson at the helm, the Torquay Hotel has experienced an incredible reawakening, with their aim to bring live, local music and atmosphere back to the heart of the surf coast. Since the first summer series back in 2018 with San Cisco, Ziggy Alberts and Phil Jamieson, the hotels flourishing music culture is attracting world-class acts not just in summer, but all year round, and fostering homegrown talent until they themselves are world-class acts. And no matter your musical persuasion, theres something for everyone.

...

If youre feeling brave enough to take on one of Geelongs most well-known venues, then head to The Sphinx Hotel the North Geelong food and entertainment bar now catering to confident karaoke connoisseurs.

With an exterior that you cant miss, both indoor and outdoor dining, a rotating roster of live entertainment and comedians, a sports bar and a menu primed with old favourites and classics, the Sphinx is now adding karaoke to the mix.

Stay up to date with whats happening in and around the region here.

Launching on Friday, 19 May, the newest karaoke night will take over the venues Cazbar Dance club from 8:30pm.

Hosted by Siren Entertainment, there will be a huge selection of songs to choose from, where you can impress your date or torture everyone with your rendition of Wonderwall.

If you need a little liquid courage, the bar will be flowing all night long.

Cue David Bowie, well see you there.

Head here for more info. 

The post Get your gang together, The Sphinx is bringing back its karaoke nights in Geelong appeared first on Forte Magazine.

A celebration of innovation, music, art, light and technology, Adelaides winter music and arts event, Illuminate Adelaide, will see the city come alive with lights, live music, visual art, discussion, installation and much more for its third year.

From June 28 to July 30, Illuminate Adelaide will transform laneways, venues and spaces across the city with free and ticketed immersive experiences, world premieres and Adelaide-exclusive events.

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

With a program bolder and more dynamic than ever before, Illuminate Adelaide will host Krakows cult-favourite experimental electronic music event Unsound Festival, hailed as one of the greatest festivals in the world.

 

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Prepare your taste buds for a delicious journey as Pit Stop Lorne, renowned for its mouthwatering dishes and top-notch service, expands its culinary empire with the opening of an American Beach Diner, Pit Stop Bros, in Apollo Bay.

Taking over a shop front at 137 Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay, food enthusiasts and beachgoers alike can now relish the flavours of classic American cuisine without travelling far from the stunning shores of Apollo Bay.

Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.

Bathed in pastels, timber and neon, the Pit Stop Bros American Beach Diner, an extension of Pit Stop Lornes successful brand, promises a gastronomic adventure like no other. Step inside and find yourself transported to a vibrant beachside eatery, with lively music, friendly staff, and a menu bursting with irresistible options.

Sink your teeth into juicy, flame-grilled burgers crafted from the finest ingredients, paired with crispy fries that will leave you wanting more. Bringing across some of Lornes favourite items, expect to find the cheeseburger, mac and cheese burger, and the American muscle double stack, alongside perfectly crinkle-cut fries, blooming onions, and BBQ ribs.

Indulge in thick, creamy milkshakes that come in a variety of flavours, from classic vanilla and chocolate to innovative combinations that will tantalize your taste buds.

But the American Beach Diner experience doesnt end there. Prepare for a dose of nostalgia with an assortment of pinball machines, adding an extra layer of entertainment to your dining experience. Challenge your friends to a friendly game or test your own skills while waiting for your delicious meal to arrive. Theres even a jukebox, taking you back to the golden era alongside retro memorabilia and charming beach decor.

Whether youre a local seeking a new culinary gem or a visitor searching for a taste of Americana, the American Beach Diner at Pit Stop Bros in Apollo Bay is the place to be. With its delectable menu, lively atmosphere, and retro finishing touches, its bound to become a go-to destination for food and fun.

Gather your loved ones, pack your appetite, and make a pit stop at this exciting new addition to Apollo Bays culinary scene.

Pit Stop Bros Apollo Bay is open seven days from 11am-9pm.

Hea...

With a focus on locally made goods, allowing markers to engage with local audiences, the beloved Mayd Festival is returning to central Geelong across two days this month with a lineup of makers and creatives, live musicians, roving performers and interactive workshops.

Providing an exciting opportunity to discover unique wares while supporting passionate makers, creatives, emerging and professional artists and art and design students, the bustling makers market will host 25 stallholders at Little Malop Street between Moorabool Street and Banks Place and the Centrepoint Arcade.

Stay up to date with whats happening within the regions art scene here. 

The makers festival will run from 5:00pm to 8:30pm on Friday 26 May and 10:00am to 3:00pm Saturday 27 May 2023 while shoppers will be entertained by 20 performers over the two days.

 

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More than six years since he last performed on Australian soil, and over eleven years since performing solo in Australia, globally acclaimed singer/songwriter and seven-time Grammy Award nominee Ryan Adams has announced his long-awaited return down under, following the release of four new studio albums in 2022 and three covers albums in the last two years: Bruce Springsteens Nebraska, Bob Dylans Blood on the Tracks and Oasis Morning Glory.

Having previously wowed audiences around the country on his previous stint in Australia as part of his Prisoner World Tour, Ryan Adams will once again descend upon massive venues in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne in January 2024.

Ryan Adams Australian Tour

Wednesday 17 January Astor Perth
Friday 19 January AEC Adelaide
Saturday 20 January ICC Sydney
Monday 22 January Eatons Hill Brisbane
Wednesday 24 January Forum Melbourne

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Alone on the stage, the upcoming Australian shows which feature Ryan, his guitars and a piano in an acoustic tour-de-force will take audiences through his awe-inspiring catalogue, highlighting and showcasing Ryan Adams life-long dedication to songwriting.

Bewitching vocals and captivating guitar playing, combined with a new setlist at each show, ensure that the performances (which can average 30 songs per concert) will be truly unique and unmissable occasions to all of those who appreciate the craft and performance of Ryan Adams unique soulfulness.

First introduced to music at a young age, in the front seat of his Grandmothers Plymouth Fury, Ryan Adams has spent almost three decades dedicating his life to creating and performing music.

Praised as one of rocks most talented songwriters by critics around the world, hes amassed 22 studio albums accumulating in millions of sales, written and released two acclaimed books, produced records for esteemed musicians including Willie Nelson, Jesse Malin, Jenny Lewis and has collaborated with some of musics most influential artists such as Weezer, Fall Out Boy, America and many more. Throughout the course of his multifaceted career, Adams has been applauded by countless music icons including Noel Gallagher, Taylor Swift and the legend Elton John.

Adams profound contributions to music have taken many different forms throughout his career; from his songwriting, to his producing, to fronting the rock/alternative country band Whiskeytown, and forming, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals,...

Titled Everybodys Trying To Find Their Way Home, the groundbreaking new podcast from Jen Cloher celebrates the exceptional journeys of Mori and First Nations songwriters dedicated to writing and performing in their ancestral languages.

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Spanning six episodes, Jen embarks on a profound exploration of Australia and Aotearoa (NZ), delving into locations that hold profound significance for each artist on their transformative path of language reawakening. With a deep respect and curiosity, Jens podcast sheds light on the inspiring stories behind these musicians profound connection to their cultural heritage.

 

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From the ABC's Victorian State Political Reporter. Of course.

Since the first season of Big Brother debuted on our screens in 2001, the genre has become an integral part of Australian television culture, captivating audiences across our sunburnt country. The cultural impact of reality TV on Australia is undeniable, and the statistics reveal just how significant the effect is.

While critics have long debated the merits of reality TV, there is no denying its immense popularity. Australians love talking about their favourite reality TV shows on social media, and every new season and the show is eagerly awaited (FBoy Island Australia, anyone?).

Keep up with the latest Melbourne film and television news here.

The numbers speak for themselves: reality TV shows dominate television in Australia. According to ExpressVPNs analysis of social media and search trends, Survivor, Married at First Sight (MAFS), and The Block are the most talked-about reality TV shows, with Survivor alone hitting a whopping 108,075 share of voice mentions across social media platforms.

While the top four shows, Married at First Sight, The Block, Masterchef, and LEGO Masters, dominated the charts with the highest viewership numbers during their most recent season finales, Ninja Warrior and Love Island were the most searched shows in Northern Territory and Western Australia, respectively.

So, what do these statistics say about our viewing habits? Beyond numbers, the appeal of these shows lies in the drama, the competition, and the emotional connections that viewers feel with the participants.

One possible explanation for reality TVs enduring popularity is its comfort and familiarity. Many of these shows follow a similar formula: a group of contestants live together, compete in challenges, and form alliances, all under the watchful eye of cameras. This formula allows viewers to become invested in the contestants and their storylines, fostering a sense of community and shared experience.

Additionally, audiences can tune in week after week to follow their favourite contestants and feel a sense of continuity and routine, providing a sense of community in our hectic modern lives.

At the same time, reality TV also provides a sense of escapism. For many of us, reality TV is an opportunity to switch off from the stresses of everyday life and indulge in guilty pleasures. Shows like Married at First Sight and Love Island offer a glimpse into a world of glamour and luxury, while shows like...

Link READ MORE AT XYZ Australians have been shocked by footage on social media of...

After an impressive 28 years ringing in the New Year with some of the worlds biggest acts, the beloved Falls Festival team have announced they wont be going ahead with a run of festivals this year, switching on their OOOs and taking this New Years season off to rest, recover and recalibrate.

Coming out of two years of postponed events during Covid lockdowns, Falls made a spectacular return in 2022/23 with an all-star lineup that included Arctic Monkeys, Lil Nas X, Peggy Gou, Jamie xx, Chvrches, Spacey Jane, Amyl and the Sniffers, Genesis Owusu, PinkPantheress and crowd faves, The Wiggles, gracing stages in Byron, Fremantle and for the very first time Melbourne City.

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Review + Gallery: In a brand new city location, Falls Festival was a triumphant three-day celebration of the music we love 

Secret Sounds Co-CEO and Falls producer Jessica Ducrou said The past few years has seen unprecedented change in the live music space, both front of house and behind the scenes. While Falls reboot in 2022/23 was full of amazing moments and we were thrilled to reconnect with our Falls Fam, our team needs a break, so this year well take time off to enjoy the holiday period and allow some space to re-imagine how Falls will look in the future.

We send huge love and appreciation to all our patrons for their ongoing support and for the great vibes they brought to the 2022/23 events. You really are the heart and soul of Falls and we look forward to updating you with our plans when the time is right.

We also want to send our love and thanks to our extended Falls team including staff, contractors, volunteers, sponsors, partners, suppliers, stakeholders and key agencies that we work with each year, for their enduring passion, dedication and support said Ducrou.

Known for its incredible line-ups, massive stage productions, and a solid festival atmosphere, after 27 years in beautiful Lorne, festival organi...

ERoEI, or rather lack of it, is what will determine our future. So when a video explaining it really well comes along I like to watch. Id never heard of Leigh Goering before. Initially he certainly sounds like an intelligent person with a great grasp of the subject of ERoEI and its history and the history of the deployment of modern energy systems like fossil fuels and renewables. I even learned quite a lot from this video. But then, he inexplicably starts waxing lyrical about nuclear power as if it wasnt subject to all the limits of the other energy sources he obviously thinks have no future

Over the past few years I have come across a lot of this nuclear fantasy. Its where Simon Michaux shines methinks, no vested interest in any BS!

Leigh Goehring believes nuclear power has astonishingly high ERoEI while he correctly pulls non renewable renewable energy harvesting technologies down to realistic levels. A quick search on work by Charlie Hall who invented the idea of ERoEI reveals nuclear power has an actual ERoEI of 5~15. This is what always happens when you include everything and dont cherry pick stuff to make your favourite saviour look good.

Digging a bit further, I found that the literature is very divided on the EROI of nuclear, listing it at anywhere from 1:1 (i.e., uneconomical at any price) to 90:1 (i.e., the most bountiful energy source in history). Limits to growth will be nuclears last nail in the coffin. Were already in a surplus energy crisis and theres nowhere near enough left to save complex civilisation. I think its ironic this video is titled shortage of everything, except, obviously, nuclear power

Ever walked into a room and immediately felt energised, calm, or drained? What if the design of the building was making you feel that way? A Pint of Science can tell you why.

Next week, University of South Australia (UniSA) postdoctoral researcher Dr Isabella Bower will address this important gap in knowledge, explaining to local Adelaide pub patrons how aspects of built environment design (like the size or colour of a room) affect us.

Dr Bower is one of three UniSA researchers stepping out of the laboratory and into the Wheatsheaf Hotel in Thebarton as part of Pint of Science Australia from May 2224.

Pint of Science

The Pint of Science Australia festival is returning for its ninth year, bringing together scientists and researchers from all over the country to share their latest discoveries in a casual and relaxed setting local pubs!

Pint of Science is an international festival held in more than 400 cities worldwide. This year, the Pint of Science Australia festival will take place in 30 pubs across 15 cities, including Adelaide, Bendigo, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Geelong, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Toowoomba, and Townsville with and online option available as well.

Attendees will be able to enjoy a pint of their favourite beverage while listening to fascinating talks from science communicators and experts in their respective fields including fantastic phalluses, battling bees and the future of AI among other curious topics.

This international festival will showcase the latest breakthroughs and innovations in areas such as health, technology, and the environment.

An interactive environment

Over three evenings, attendees can learn from experts in various fields, ask questions in an interactive environment and gain a better understanding of the role science plays in our everyday lives.

Pint of Science Australia Co-CEO Maria Roitman said the group is excited to bring insights from all corners of Australian research to share with the public in a fun and engaging way, making science accessible for everyone.

Pint of Science Australia Co-CEO Jin-Oh Choi said: We encourage everyone to attend, even if science is not your thing. Its a great opportunity to learn something new and meet other inquisitive minds.

Tickets for the Pint of Science Australia 2023 festival are on sale for $8.

For more information about the festival, including participating pubs and speakers, please visit the Pint of Science Australia website.

The post Bringing the latest research to your local appeared first on The Echo.

From one of Barry's closest lifetime friends.

Contributed from Victoria

Some 30,000 people across Australia will have a direct interest in a class action to win compensation for contamination of their homes by Australian Defence Force. It is alleged that toxic chemical spraying was used at a range of military bases, and this has affected large areas around them. The result has been the spread of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). These accumulate in the bodies of plants and animals and are known to damage reproductive, developmental, and other biological systems. Shine lawyers have taken on the case.

A previous hearing in February found the case proven. But the plaintiffs saw the compensation offered as insufficient to cover the losses and refused to sign a settlement. It has now gone back to court.

Participants in the class action say their homes were covered with a fine dust, plants dont grow properly, and they and their families have been hit with major health problems. Even the health of their pets has been affected. Some studies have found a link to liver damage, and kidney and testicular cancer.

PFAS were widely used in firefighting foams at military bases until the early 2000s. Residents within the contaminated areas have been trapped in toxic homes for many years, and it is only now that the whole truth has emerging.

The case appeared in the court last Monday and is expected to last about 6 weeks. Landowners in Wagga Wagga (NSW), Richmond (NSW), Wreck Bay (NSW), Wodonga (VIC), Darwin (NT), Townsville (QLD), Edinburgh (SA) and Bullsbrook (WA) are being represented.

According to Craig Allsop, head of class actions at Shine Lawyers,...

The total number of new dwellings approved for construction decreased by 0.1 per cent in March, in seasonally adjusted terms, following a 3.9 per cent rise in February, according to data released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Daniel Rossi, ABS head of construction statistics, said The result was driven by a 2.8 per cent fall in approvals for private sector houses, following an 11.3 per cent February rise. Private sector house approvals remain 15.0 per cent lower than March 2022, Mr Rossi said.

Private sector dwellings excluding house approvals increased 5.6 per cent in March, following a 9.7 per cent decrease in February.

This is the sixth consecutive month where the trend result has fallen for total dwellings approved,  Mr Rossi said.

Across Australia total dwelling approvals decreased in Tasmania (-42.1 per cent), South Australia (-19.1 per cent), and Queensland (-6.7 per cent). Western Australia (+27.2 per cent), New South Wales (+3.1 per cent), and Victoria (+1.7 per cent) rose in March.

Approvals for private sector houses fell in most states: New South Wales (-4.0 per cent), Queensland (-3.9 per cent), Victoria (-3.8 per cent), and South Australia (-0.1 per cent). Western Australia was the only state with a March increase (+8.7 per cent).

The value of total building approvals fell 5.9 per cent, following a 19.5 per cent rise in February. The value of total residential building approvals fell 6.5 per cent, comprised of a 6.4 per cent decrease in new residential building and a 7.4 per cent fall in alterations and additions.

The value of non-residential building approved decreased 5.1 per cent, following a 41.0 per cent rise in February.

The post Total Dwellings Approved Fell Slightly In March, Says ABS appeared first on New Matilda.

Calm down, hes not dead yet. At his age, though, hes probably contemplating his future successor. Bodie Hodge, his son-in-law, is a blithering goober, and the other people at the top of his organization are women, so naturally theyre out of the running. Andrew Snelling, Terry Mortenson, Danny Faulkner? Negative charisma. Tim Chaffey? Hes tall, thats about it. Nathaniel Jeanson? An insufferable twit.

Apparently, Ken has been recruiting back in the homeland of Australia, and he has landed a real winner: Martyne Iles. Hes perfect. Hes young. Hes loud. Hes a confirmed hater: he doesnt want anything to do with the gays or the transes, he despises the idea of climate change, he hates commies. Hes a cerfiable culture warror, and his ideology lines up nicely with Ken Hams.

And now hes been hired as Chief Ministry Officer for Answers in Genesis.

Also interesting: he was formerly the Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby, but he was kicked out. The apparent cause was that the ACL, under his leadership, was flopping badly. Australians kept passing those danged liberal laws anyway. He was ineffective and obnoxious.

The ACL grew rapidly under Iles its membership tripled, Iles said but its size wasnt the boards problem. It was struggling for political impact. In a few short years, it recorded losses on virtually every single key issue: same-sex marriage was legalised in 2017, just months before Iles took the post; almost every state in the country has loosened laws on abortion and voluntary assisted dying; and major steps against faced with the potential for a multi-term Labor government that saw the group as at best irrelevant, the Australian Christian Lobby needed a major strategic reset.

So now he has left Australia to a country that if more favorable ideologically. Hes just like Ken Ham!

They have one other thing in common: theyre both abominably stupid. Heres Iles evidence for god.

For more than 75 years, Palestinians have organized for a liberated future. Today, as resistance against Israeli apartheid intensifies, unity and revolutionary optimism has become the main infrastructure of struggle.

It is nearing the 75th commemoration of the beginning of the Nakba, and Palestinians have mourned at least 150 martyrs since the beginning of 2023. Currently, 4,900 Palestinians are detained in Zionist jails, including 160 children. But for Palestinians on the ground and those of us in exile, the revolutionary optimism remains, underlying a long, arduous, steadfast struggle for liberation.

Since the Unity Intifada of 2021, we have witnessed a clear, systematic rise in popular armed resistance in Palestine. With it comes a necessary reckoning with the current phase of the Palestinian struggle for liberation from Zionist settler-colonialism. Unity among Palestinians has characterized the Unity Intifada, as the name suggests. Palestinians are unified against the Zionist project, in spite of the deliberate, systematic fragmentation imposed upon them.

The notion of unity, especially regarding armed struggle, prisoner revolt, and labor revolt, is what consistently rings the loudest. It rings loudest despite a colonial separation wall, military checkpoints, and indiscriminate detainments by the Zionist state and the comprador Palestinian Authority (PA). It rings despite a genocidal blockade on Gaza, and the imposition of arbitrary colonial categoriesIDs, passports, permits, and laissez-passers.

After the martyrdom of 18-year-old resistance leader Ibrahim Al-Nabulsi in August 2022, the Lions Den made its first appearance in public. Heeding Ibrahim Al-Nabulsis call to action, a grassroots, youth-led, revolutionary armed faction sprouted from the occupied West Bank cities of Nablus and Jenin. We long recognize these cities as two nuclei of Palestinian resistance. The conditions of 75 years of brutal settler-colonialism birthed Ibrahim Al-Nabulsi,...

READ MORE AT XYZ A Stop Immigration Rally will be held tomorrow on the steps...

Introduction by DM

I made The Jammed a low-budget movie in 2006/7. It is available for viewing on Vimeo for a week. This is what Luke Buckmaster from INFILM wrote,

The Jammed is a fast, thudding, ultra-timely expose, a bucket of icy cold water thrown on the groggy, ambivalent face of public conscience 

George Palathingal. Sydney Morning Herald.

Revelatory & powerfulsuperbly delivered

David Stratton. At The Movies

 The best Australian film of the year so far

 SHORT SYNOPSIS

When a Chinese mother arrives in Melbourne to find her missing daughter, she enlists the help of Ashley Hudson. Hooked on caffeine and bored with her job and loveless life, Ashley reluctantly agrees to help search and is soon drawn into the dark underworld of this cultured city as she tries to rescue three girls from a trafficking syndicate. Inspired by court transcripts and actual events, THE JAMMED is a social thriller about trafficking and the sex slave trade in Melbourne. As the story unravels the sinister workings of illegal prostitution and governmental deportation is filled with twists and surprises.

...

Equality is not negotiable here in Victoria, and the rights of trans Victorians are not negotiable here in Victoria. As Minister for Women, I proudly stand up for all women that includes trans women. pic.twitter.com/ZhHFkKoA2R Natalie Hutchins (@NatHutchins) May 11, 2023

When youre bursting at the seams with stuff and need extra storage space, you have two popular options: self-storage or shipping container hire. But between these two handy storage solutions, which one of these shipping container services is better?

Self-Storage is a service companies provide that lease storage space to individuals or businesses. It can be in the formation of a room, locker, container, or outdoor space.

Shipping Container Hire involves renting a shipping container delivered to your desired location. These containers are typically made of steel and come in various sizes ranging from 8ft to 40ft.

The Pros and Cons of Self-Storage

Pros

1. Self-storage eliminates the headache of complicated rental procedures and the burden of transporting your own container.
2. Some self-storage facilities offer temperature and humidity control to safeguard your belongings from extreme weather conditions.
3. Security measures such as CCTV cameras and security staff provide extra peace of mind.

Cons

1. Some storage facilities may have limited access hours, which can be inconvenient if you need to access your items outside those hours.
2. Finding the ideal storage space for your belongings can be tricky when units come in predetermined sizes.
3. The cost of self-storage can add up over time, especially if you require a larger space.

The Pros and Cons of Shipping Container Hire

Pros

1. Shipping containers can be delivered right to your doorstep, making storing your belongings easy and efficient.
2. Some Shipping Container companies even offer Serviced Storage, meaning they will pack the Shipping Container for you.
3. They are mobile, so you can opt to have the container stored at your premises or a Storage Facility.
4. You can choose from a variety of sizes depending on your needs and budget.
5. Renting a shipping container can be...

A legal matter of state or national importance in relation to a so called government mandated jab, has an originating motion not within a court but a tribunal, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to be exact, how pathetic.

To make matters worse, since state tribunals are not courts they cannot exercise judicial powers.

See link: https://constitutionwatch.com.au/state-tribunals-are-not-courts-and-cannot-exercise-judicial-powers/

Also, a tribunal cannot exercise power in a hearing and determining a complaint under a state Act.

See: https://constitutionwatch.com.au/no-jurisdiction-for-tribunal-to-exercise-judicial-power-in-hearing-and-determining-a-complaint-under-the-state-act/

A hearing was held within VCAT with regards to a woman obtaining a life saving heart operation which was denied by the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne for her not succumbing to obtain an injection...

The Korean government agencies funding and insuring the Barossa gas project face significant and mounting risks on two fronts native title and climate-related risks. says an April IEEFA report.The Barossa Gas project is located in Sea Country associated with the Tiwi Island in the Northern Territory. This Gas field has extremely high levels of CO2. A protest was held organised by the Beyond

I cannot express how chuffed I am this podcast has come up Nate is obviously too busy with all he does to get involved with mere Mike Stasse on a personal basis, but I do know he reads at least some of the stuff I post on social media because hes left the odd comment on my FB wall. Then a week or three ago, he mentioned metabolic syndrome in one of his franklies I could not help thinking, did he pick this up from me? Because to be honest Im literally the only one banging on about the importance of this epidemic on FB, as it ties in with all the other emergencies were facing.

Over the past seven or eight months, Ive learned a huge amount regarding nutrition. Ive watched hundreds of videos and read tons of articles on the low carb high fat diet, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome but had never come across Robert Lustig. Having said that, Im really starting to think that this whole issue is finally coming out of the woodwork, as it should. Because I think its a definite driver of collapse as health systems everywhere are crushed. More and more people are joining the dots, at last.

Enjoy.

Listings drop

So much for the fixed rate cliff leading to forced sales - stock listings dropped sharply across the board in April.

New listings were down -20 per cent, while total listings fell -9 per cent. 

Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane all saw significant declines in total listings. 

Over the past year there have been increases in Canberra, and Hobart, which is finally normalising after genuine boomtime conditions.

Overall, stock levels remain much tighter than normal, with 227,000 listings nationally.

Father Bob Maguire was an advocate for the poor, the homeless and those who were marginalised by society. He was also a fierce advocate for refugee rights.  Many will have seen him at the Park Hotel/Prison last year at age 87, when he entered the cage in solidarity with the men held in the Park. []

The post Surf Coast Voice to Parliament Referendum Forum appeared first on SCEG.

The stroll takes in 12 sites along a 6.8km stretch around Elwood, telling an oral history through songs celebrating a wonderfully broad range of local topics from weavers to water rats; music halls to middens; sourdough to spotties; migration and many more to delight and enlighten listeners of all ages.

Recently, I hopefully shocked my eco modernist buddies This time its Darrell Brickers turn.

Out of the blue, this video of someone Id never heard of before came up on my feed. It sure looked interesting, and by the time I was half way through, I thought, this guy is on the money, hes even on Simons page! But I was wrong.. How anyone smart enough to show the best explanation of climate change and its repercussion on the food supply Ive ever seen could not know about peak oil is really amazing

Adam Simon is an associate professor of mineral resources with the University of Michigans Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. When you google him with oil or peak oil as search terms, you get nothing. Bizarre

Hes also wrong about American mining safety. https://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/13/us/u-s-mine-disasters-fast-facts/index.html

And as I suspected, hes also wrong about renewable energy being cheaper. Everywhere I have looked, the deeper the penetration of renewable energy, the costlier electricity is, and Texas is no exception.

This should but wont put the idiocy of the Hydrogen economy concept to bed. Paul Martin really knows his stuff when it comes to the smallest atom in the Universe. However, I was gobsmacked when he started waxing lyrical about electrifying everything! He really needs to talk to Simon Michaux..

As a result of the local greenies making an appearance on our local Huon FM radio station, the southernmost station in the nation, and talking the usual nonsense youd expect from energy blind greenies, I offered to set the record straight and they accepted. And theyre igoing to have me back.

On Tuesday 7 March the RAC activists who had been fined in 2020 for our car cavalcade outside the Mantra Hotel, to show support for Medevac refugees detained there, went to Heidelberg Court for a contest mention. We held a brief protest out the front. The magistrate listened to our lawyer summarise our case: that we []

The Untapped project is a marvellous initiative which gives readers access to long lost books in both print and digital form.
More than 150 titles are available to borrow from libraries and to purchase. Partners in the project include the Australian Society of Authors, National State and Territory Libraries, the Australian Library and Information Association and Ligature Press.

Amongst those 150 titles are the 7 Writers Anthology, Canberra Tales, first published by Penguin in 1988.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8155483/meet-the-seven-writers-whose-stories-gave-canberra-a-human-face/

This article, published in the Canberra Times today, April 15, tells the story of how 7 Writers came into existence, and how we continued meeting as a writers group for over 15 years.

My novel, One for the Master, published by Wakefield Press in 1997 and short-listed for the 1998 Miles Franklin Award, has also been re-published as part of the Untapped Project .

Its wonderful to be able to hold this long out of print novel in my hands again. Thanks to all those involved in the project, in particular Airlie Lawson and publisher Matt Rubinstein.

Tuesday 21st March  The Kelvin Club, 14-30 Melbourne Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000  map 5:30pm Join us in-person we present findings from our latest research note Pandemic rental dynamics: an (un)natural experiment in excess supply by Jesse Hermans and Tim Helm. Youd never get ethics permission for an experiment like this. Take a city of 5 []

Another great video from my friend Paul Mobbs

Here is a new concept for you, Limbic Capitalism. I was drawn to this because of Nate Hagens idea that we do what we do because of our addictions to dopamine. This video doesnt equate addictive limbic capitalism or abundance specifically to the availability of fossil fuels, but it is definitely interesting Especially to all you social media addicts! Enjoy.

Theres a lot of talk over the internet about the current excess deaths numbers. Theres no doubt its happening, the data is clear. Pundits like to blame the covid vaccines. Maybe those vaccines have killed people, but what I find interesting is that those people are dying of EXACTLY what people suffering from Metabolic Syndrome die from.. It cannot be a coincidence.

Tim Noakes reckons that 80% of Americans are insulin resistant, and Id be prepared to bet Australian and British people wouldnt be far behind. Insulin resistance must surely be growing exponentially, just like everything else in the world is. Global health systems are getting overwhelmed by this and will likely be part of the looming collapse. Im more certain than ever that a population crash is imminent. This is a couple of years old and pre excess deaths data, but I think he pretty much would agree with me today.

To top it all, the powers that be are wanting to make it all worse by reducing meat consumption. I have no doubt that agriculture is a serious contributor to climate change. You cant drive all that diesel powered machinery, manufacture all the agro chemicals and fertilisers, process all that resulting food and distribute it globally with more fossil fuels in ships, planes and trucks without belching more CO2 into our already overburdened atmosphere. But then to blame cows is utterly bizarre. Because theyre carbon neutral and could be carbon sinks if managed properly.

A short one for you today. No punches pulled, forceful truth destroys bullshit

For anyone interested, you can watch the whole series of seven short 25 minute episodes on SBS TV on demand. Its very well done with English subtitles. Pulls no punches and stressful to watch.

Watch The Collapse streaming now on SBS On Demand.

https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/the-collapse

An excellent video by my friend Paul Mobbs which explains the correlation between food (and cereals, food products incompatible with longevity for humans) and fossil fuels growth.

The announcement that the more than 19,000 refugees on temporary and safe haven visas (TPVs and SHEVs) will finally be able to get permanent residency is welcome but long overdue.

 Gerry Jackson
13February 2023

How was the Liberal Party reduced to its present sorry state? In a sense the Liberal Party at both state and federal levels really consists of two specific groups. There is the establishment that treats the membership with disdain and then there is the partys shrinking base. The job of the base is pay-up and shut up. It is there to man polling booths, hand out leaflets and wave placards, nothing more, other than pay party dues. To the establishment the idea that any member of the base could have something of value to say is considered risible. Victoria is a perfect test case for this scornful attitude. Party bluebloods like Michael Kroger and David Kemp set out to make it impossible for informed members of the base to make themselves heard. Kroger ensured that members of the base would not be allowed to use the Liberal Speakers Group as a means of communicating ideas and informed opinion to their fellow Liberals. It is because of these characters that Menzies forgotten people have returned.

The establishment elite decided that in future only influential people (sic) would be invited to speak at the LSG. Those little nobodies, of which the base consists, would only be permitted to listen to their superiors and then be thankful for the privilege. For those who think I exaggerate, allow me to remind you that in December 2007 the imperious David Kemp he was then the partys state president tried to gag ordinary party members. Having insulted the base, he then had the unmitigated gall to announce that Julian Sheezel who was then State Director of the Victorian Liberal Party had done an exceptional job during the federal campaign despite the fact that Iron Man Julie, as we called him, was another Kroger pick and a complete failure¹.

The mighty Kroger, as his very good mate Andrew Bolt called him, couldnt pick a winner in a one-horse race. Being a loser didnt stop Kroger from banning the formation of new branches because he feared they would pose a danger to what is laughably called his leadership. So rather than expand the party structure he worked to truncate it, even as the party was bleeding members.

The utter incompetence and selfish behaviour of the establishment created a barrier to anyone with genuine leadership ability from ever emerging from the base to challenge an establishment hack. The base craves a genuine leader, not some merchant banker, not any stock market paper-pusher, and certainly not someone picked by a bunch of Toorak bluebloods. But this crew believe, as does Cameron Thompson, a former member Howards Coalition Government, that [l]eadership comes from above. On the contrary, leadership arises from the most unlikely pl...

The amount of crap available on the internet these days seems to be growing exponentially. And unless you are equipped with the best quality BS filter, its not hard to be taken in by it. Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes gospel truth.

Take my recent health/diet epiphany. When I wrote about it, I stated that going keto had fixed my prostate problems. And I was amazed, because frankly, how could this even happen in two days? It turns out that it didnt. Its a long story I wont bore you with, but what the keto diet repaired wasnt my prostate, it was my kidneys. So why did I think it was my prostate? Because for years, medicos had been leading me up the garden path. Yes I have an enlarged prostate, yes its probably impeding urine flow, but its only mild and had nothing to do with my nocturnal visits to the loo.

In July last year, I had my annual blood test and the doctor said that my kidney and liver functions were not great, but it was nothing to worry about just yet, keep an eye on things. Meanwhile, I was getting UTIs far more regularly than any bloke should have (women are far more prone to such problems), even puzzling the doctors. Its not supposed to be my job to work out what is wrong with me, its theirs, but so ignorant are doctors regarding chronic inflammation and the damage carbs do that none of this even crossed their minds.

Dr YouTube to the rescue. It turns out that among the bewildering list of things carbs can do to you, kidney disease and fatty liver disease are prominent. Having had another bout of urine looking like strong tea after eating a single apricot (I am not making this up) it was back to the doctor. By the time I got an appointment (remember that our health system has started collapsing) my urine looked normal again and I had another blood test, which revealed, drum roll, that two months into the keto diet those kidney and liver functions had gone back to normal. Even then, the doctor started talking about antibiotics and seeing a specialist. Im not doing any such thing I told her, Ill look after myself thank you very much.

Ive since learned that more and more doctors are challenging the standard nutritional diet guidelines. The result though is that the establishment is attacking them left right and centre. We cant expose all their lies, now can we?

Heres the latest, a UK cardiologist fighting the same fight our local Tassie orthopaedic surgeon Dr Gary Fettke was exonerated for two or three years ago. His name is Dr Aseem Malhotra.

The truth is slowly but surely coming out. I had never heard of Mark Mills before and his sudden appearance on YouTube came as some surprise. My old sparring partner from Eclipse recently attacked and ridiculed me and Simon Michaux, yet heres someone who apparently doesnt even know Simon (he never mentions him) using IEA data, and comes up with exactly the same conclusions.... As usual, zero mention of limits to growth, but hey, nobodys perfect!

Gerry Jackson
6 February 2023

The manner of the decline and virtual destruction of the Victorian state Liberal Party helps explain  the role so-called moderates and cynical opportunists played in bringing down the Scott Morrison government thereby advancing the Australian Greens anti-growth policies.

In 2002 election year the Victorian Liberal Party, always ready to shoot itself in both feet, replaced as leader of the party the disastrous Denis Naphine with the catastrophic Robert Doyle. The result was a humiliating and unprecedent electoral route. Determined to take the Liberal Party further down the road to political oblivion the moderate Mr Doyle haughtily  declared in 2003 that Victoria needed to implement sustainability policies because the free market is  a menace to the environment.

This is an echo of the greens deceitful canard that the market is wasteful, that it pollutes the environment, that it is rapidly depleting the planets natural resources and that it ignores the needs of future generations. Another so-called green critique is the assertion that entrepreneurs are short-sighted, greedy and seek only quick profits at the expense of the community. In addition, the market lacks the foresight, knowledge and the resources that only green policies can command. In short, Doyle came across as an Adam Bandt¹ min-me. So why was Michael Kroger one of his very keen supporters?

As mayor of Melbourne Doyle stated, in his typical bombastic fashion, that urban sprawl should cease because it threatens farm land. However, the same self-righteous Doyle, who calls himself a moderate, has no objection to the same land being smothered in solar panels or deeply scarred by monstrous wind turbines. What gives here? Why did he consider urban development that houses ordinary working Australian families bad for agriculture but not destructive solar farms? For those of you too young to remember urban sprawl used to be called urban development.

Proving that they are incapable of learning from their mistakes the party appointed the effete Ted Baillieu as party leader. He managed to scrape out a win in 2010 but resigned after two years to be replaced by the craven milksop Denis Naphine who allowed fanatical anti-greens to bully him into banning fracking. No wonder this weathervane moderate (that word again) lost the election to the execrable and thuggish Dan Andrews whose corrupt administration has misruled Victoria for eight years and will continue to do so for at least another four years. (Andrews is the same corrupt political left-wing goon that had Cardinal Pell jailed on false criminal charges.)  Naphine was quickly replaced by Michael OBrien, another...

The PTUA is alarmed about cuts in the frequency of trains on Melbournes busiest rail lines, only days after the completion of works which were supposed to improve services. Having endured the closure of the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines for almost a month to allow the installation of new rail equipment, passengers have had their Continue reading Dandenong line frequency cuts cause turmoil