Sunday, 25 October 2026

A Few Things

 France ( and some other countries)

The demonstrations appear to be taken over by the far left more so given the far left leader there has supported them. I have said previously a coalition of islamists and far left rioters would be very strange. The fact some people have seen a palestinian flag has led some to believe this is being exacerbated by islamists. Only problem is when I saw the flag being waved it was by a white man!

Hugh Scofield is reporting the students who started the demonstrations are cheesed off that the far left  have tried to to hijack this.

Macron has attempted to implement some sensible economic policies and has been stymied in parliament. He has been very poor since his disastrous early election gamble which blew up in his face. In some way he could be the reason why the presidential election could be between the far right and the far left both of whom are economically illiterate.

A-League

Well what a difference a week makes. The Melbourne derby was great. a good crowd, good football and a draw probably the best result. The Wanderers  also played good football in Auckland against Auckland and won well.

Ben Roberts-Smith

A judge found him guilty of war crimes based on the balance of probabilities ( not beyond a reasonable doubt.) He is now on a publicity tour but only interviewed by people favourable to him. Thus he is given soft questions. He complains about the definition of war crimes beinde retrospective BUT he is being charged along the previous definition. I do not get why his apologists believe they know more than the judge in the libel case and that he had the best legal practitioners  money could buy but still badly lost . He had little credibility!

Test Cricket

We lost to SA by an innings and one of the crucial SA bowlers only bowled 3.3 overs. It seems all those who criticised SA in the first test and now doing the same to Australia now. Rabada was not fully game fit but still got to over 150k a number of times. I suspect he will be better in the third test.

We have to decide what the batting lineup is and whether Boland plays or not.

Why is the a dearth of supporters watching these matches?

USA

Omar's house in Washington was raided. The justice department are not supposed to do this 60 days prior to an election let alone during the election period.  It is failing the pub test to suggest she would attempt to get out the country since she is running for office again. This does look performative.It also should be in the FBI's hands. Why did they raid her washington house and not where she actually lives if they were actually after new information. Yeah we can guess. How have they come across such information they could not find in 2019 and only just found it now?

Two FBI agents have been charged over lying to congress in the hunter biden laptop debacle. One HUGE problem is they were not indicted via a grand jury but by complaint. So the defendants said let us have the Judge see if there is a case now. The DOJ said nonono. We need time which makes no sense given it was done via a complaint. This again looks performative.

The republicans have allowed their campaign to be swamped by utter trash when an add for the governorship was put on alleging the democrat candidate was a liar by her mother. This is the same woman who deserted their home when her husband The step-father) was indicted for raping her daughter she is now calling a  liar. Naturally Trump joined in this disgusting race to the bottom. I do hope they get their just deserts for this disgraceful act.

Israel

They go to the polls yet it is a tight election. I don't get it. The present government was asleep at the wheel when october 7 occurred yet some people want to vote for them again?

Brazil

They are having an election. It is between Lula who beat a man whol ike trump refused to concede and wanted an insurrection. He failed BUT his son is running


Thursday, 22 October 2026

Around the Traps 23/10/26

 It is time again for Around the Traps.

Aussie,Aussie,Aussie,Oy,Oy,Oy

OZ Climate

Northern America

Europe

Asia

Wonk

General

Climate

Andrew Gelman ( mostly stats)

Dianne Coyle ( quirky + book reviews)

Vox Wonk

Wednesday, 21 October 2026

Let us get it right on Haines attacker

 I see here and overseas people on the far right are alleging the criminal who has thus far caused Haines to lose two legs is a far left terrorist.

Huh.

Firstly if he was say active about being pro-palestine and the environment why in the hell would he run over Haines, It would make more sense to run over Hanson given her views not Haines. ( Yes I know it makes no sense but you know what I mean.)

Secondly if he was a terrorist he would be doing it for ideological reasons and thus Haines would have strong views diametrically opposed to what he believes and that simply is  not true.

Lastly his parents are friends of Haines. On the surface it makes no sense.

Now we find out he is suffering.

The evidence thus far suggests is is personal and irrational.

It reminds me of similar people rushing to the conclusion that the Bondi massacre was due to palestinian  protests when one link to ISIS would show you ISIS hates palestine!

Tuesday, 20 October 2026

Hillary Clinton was right

 In one of the debates of the 20126 election where she bested Trump she asserted Trump would be Putin's puppet and lead the USA out of NATO.

She was right and the USA is much poorer for this.

I will outsource the remainder to Kruggers. Read the Phillips O'Brien link as well.

It does show how stupid some MAGA followers are when they believe Putin that the increase in the number of NATO nations was one of the reasons for the war. NATO is like most military treaties is a defensive treaty. IF one of the NATO counties invaded another country like Russia then none of the fellow members would come to their side.

It also shows they do not follow Putin's speeches as he has constantly said Ukraine is not a country and part of Russia.

Monday, 19 October 2026

The world is a cesspit

 I am depressed.

Helen Haines

Everybody loves Helen Haines. In a sense it is understandable. She is an independent and thus unlikely to be in government and so can enunciate her views without fear or favour. Now someone has tried to kill her. It is appalling.

French riots

It seems no-one is sure who is behind the riots in France.  Mike Johnson and Emmanuel Macron blame far lefits. flags of the  hammer and sickle would seem to indicate that might have a kernel of truth. However our own public intellectual (sarc) Barnaby Joyce blames immigration and islamists. He  produced no evidence as usual to back up his claim. most of the protesters looks white to me and the journos covering it. A coalition of islamists and commies is so far fetched  that it even defies the pub test. Barnaby it is people like you not 'THEM' that are to blame.

Whoopsy I should have added riots in france over politics has been going on since at least 1968. Obviously some people have not known this.

The USA becomes an ally of Russia.

Tom Nicholls is correct in his synopsis.People have long speculated on why Trump sides with Putin. Remember trump is very stupid but thinks he is bright. That is manna from heaven to a former KGB agent.



Now something to cheer up with. Alex Tabarrok says no to AI crowding out. only problem is whether we are in a speculative AI 'boom'. For example it is absurd to argue the tulip boom did not crowd out investment. Investors were wrong in their investment decisions then. They might be now.

Sunday, 18 October 2026

Thursday, 15 October 2026

Around the Traps 16/10/26

 It is time again for Around the Traps.

Aussie,Aussie,Aussie,Oy,Oy,Oy

OZ Climate

Northern America

Europe

Asia

Wonk

General

Climate

Andrew Gelman ( mainly stats)

Dianne Coyle ( quirky + book reviews)

Vox Wonk