What's what?

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Shatner'sBassoon started the topic in Friday, 6 Nov 2015 at 7:48pm

AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING KALEIDOSCOPIC JOIN-THE-DOTS/ADULT COLOURING BOOK EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT IN NARCISSISTIC/ONANISTIC BIG PICTURE PARASITIC FORUM BLEEDING.

LIKE POLITICAL LIFE, PARTICIPATION IS WELCOME, ENCOURAGED EVEN, BUT NOT NECESSARY.

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Blowin Wednesday, 3 May 2017 at 6:39am
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chook Wednesday, 3 May 2017 at 11:17am

glad i could oblige there mcbain...yeah, not a lot of wool talk on here.
we never moved into fat lambs when things went bad, just stuck with the stud, head in the sand and selling land to stay afloat. it broke my heart to lose land, never to sit again on those hills, watching the wedge tails. my sisters thought the land was haunted and cursed. but i accepted any curse as the price to be with the spirits of the land.

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talkingturkey Wednesday, 3 May 2017 at 11:36am

Jeez, that's quite poetic Chook. Really. Release your inner Les Murray/John Kinsella etc...

Anyways, after last week's holiday, here's one we should be jumping all over...especially you über-patriots out there that get all choked up by anything Australian.

https://jacobinmag.com/2016/05/may-day-rosa-luxemburg-haymarket

World leaders! Oi Oi Oi

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chook Friday, 5 May 2017 at 12:02pm

thanks tt.
my inner les murray doesn't needs any more release -- i'm just full of overwrought sentimentality. what makes murray so good, well any writer i guess, is that they can write for extensive lengths, capturing something without ending up with overwrought sentimentality. i barely managed one line.

i went to look at the painting of les murray at the univerity of NSW yesterday only to find that it had been removed. the bastards.

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Blowin Sunday, 7 May 2017 at 6:37am

Boycott Redbull - send the bastards a message .

http://www.smh.com.au/world/red-bull-heir-vorayuth-yoovidhya-jets-out-of...

Not that you're likely to drink the shit anyway.

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Blowin Monday, 8 May 2017 at 8:44am

What is it about the letter " U" in the word " Cronulla " that Seppos can't get their heads around ?

Where in fucks name they get " Cronolla " from ?

I'm looking at you too Matt Warsaw......which is an unfortunate blemish on an otherwise exemplary role as a surf media legend.

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AndyM Monday, 8 May 2017 at 8:55am

If you want a laugh, ask them to say "maori"!

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zenagain Monday, 8 May 2017 at 8:57am

Yeah, and while you're at it, when did 'herhs' become pronounced with a silent 'h'?

and when did entrée become the main course?

FFS.

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AndyM Monday, 8 May 2017 at 9:10am

The entree/main course thing is a classic.

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chook Monday, 8 May 2017 at 11:51am

"entree" as the main course is how the term used in north america (US and canda, but not mexico, yes mexico is north america). it is a very old usage of the word (the french settled in canada in the 16th century). the french in france changed their usage of the word over time.

entree never meant first course in in it's old usage. it was a middle course, in the (medieval?) days when formal dinning had many, many courses --more than the seven (i think) of today's french formal dining.

so it's just a cultural difference. words don't mean anything in themselves, but only in usage within a population and culture of language users. there are a host of weird, very old words that survive in north america from early settlement by the english, french and dutch that we in australia don't use. and vice versa -- try using "amongst" in the States and people fall over laughing and mock they prithee sir for thou very ancient usage.

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AndyM Monday, 8 May 2017 at 12:11pm

Nice one Chook!

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chook Monday, 8 May 2017 at 12:16pm

full disclosure...i've had long and bitter arguments in america about how stupid the use of the term is...then i started dating a food writer for the NYT....i'm just repeating what she said when she thoroughly schooled me.

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zenagain Monday, 8 May 2017 at 10:53pm

I read somewhere that it started in the 60's or 70's maybe as a result of something published by Julia Child, but more likely as just another point of difference to Europe. In addition to not adopting the metric system, putting their dates in chronological order, even the placement of the knife and fork at 8:20 compared to 4:20 to signal the end of the course is unique to them only etc.

Nobody can convincingly say why they do this, even the literal meaning means 'entrance', so the meaning of the word is more than obvious.

I'm not sure what parts of Canada use entree as main course but I've had this discussion before with Canadian friends from both coasts, they say main course not entree. Even Québécois use the internationally accepted entree, plat principal (main course) and dessert.

But, like you chook, trying to argue with them is fruitless.

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AndyM Monday, 8 May 2017 at 4:21pm

I agree Zen, to me the U.S. does things like that just to make a point; they do it because as the dominant culture, they can.

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talkingturkey Monday, 8 May 2017 at 4:43pm

You wanna take it up a notch? Have a 'discussion' with a Septic denizen about Sept 11 vs 9-11 over a Bintang or twenty...

And in 'freedom fries' related news, a quote:

"A bad result in France, but not the worst result. Likely outcome will be immiseration, but without the extra helping of racism on top. Yay."

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AndyM Monday, 8 May 2017 at 5:16pm

Well the date discussion (don't go there) would just be plain inflammatory (don't go there again), Turkey.
Even though they're wrong.

And I had to bust out the dictionary but yes, immiseration will almost certainly be the result of continued neoliberal policies as directed by France's new "centrist" President.

Marxist theory comrade...

Speaking of Macron, the following article has some valid points, apart from the supposition that the global elite are leftist.

https://tipolitics.com/macron-is-no-centrist-3cdb1dafc765

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chook Monday, 8 May 2017 at 5:15pm

the julia child angle has a convincing ring to it , zen. it's not like restaurant culture in america is continuous, dating back to the 1500s in northenr canada.

anyway, it's just another sign of US cultural imperialism (and i don't mean that in some undergraduate judgemental way) in our language.

my gf is from north america and the whole knife and fork usage creates some tensions. not just placement to signal finshed or still eating, but she cuts her food up, then swaps the fork to her other hand and eats. i thought she was a bumpkin. but it seems quite acceeptable in the US.

i'm off to japan in a few week, so i'll be engaging in a host of food etiquette faux pas of my own. never leave the chopsticks sticking into a bowl of rice and and never pass food from one set of chostisks to another set (all somethng to do with funerals and death?). that's about all i've know so far (learned from a GF who lived for 10 years in japan). where would I be without the ladies...

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AndyM Monday, 8 May 2017 at 5:18pm

"I thought she was a bumpkin"

Hahaha!

Bless...

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zenagain Monday, 8 May 2017 at 5:25pm

And don't use your chopsticks to point at anything or scratch your back.

Talk with your mouth full of food spilling out, chew noisily and smack your lips and slurp your noodles and soup as loudly as possible.

Perfectly acceptable:)

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talkingturkey Monday, 8 May 2017 at 5:42pm

Hold the presses! Look out Pauline & the One Notion-ers, there's a new sheriff in town!

http://junkee.com/mark-latham-joined-liberal-democrats-australian-politi...

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Blowin Friday, 12 May 2017 at 5:57am

Have we turned a corner ?

http://www.smh.com.au/world/uk-election-jeremy-corbyns-leaked-labour-man...

Will the concept of a society get a fresh foothold in this age of ultra individualistic capitalism that has been pressed upon us ?

Whose side is the New York Times on ?

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loungelizard Friday, 12 May 2017 at 2:52pm

great news for all you visionaries , the workers paradise exists! venezuala!! get your arses there now boys, theres surf too! i know hugo is dead :( but maduro is just as great, and sean penn thinks hes ok too! always room for shotgun-toting flunkies to suppress the recalcitrants, andym etc born for the role.. ole!

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stunet Friday, 12 May 2017 at 3:56pm

Are they the only two choices: Venezuela or America?

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loungelizard Friday, 12 May 2017 at 4:27pm

its a non-binary world these days... choose your spot on the spectrum!

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AndyM Friday, 12 May 2017 at 11:49pm

Loungelizard, unlike the U.S. I'm all for Bolivarian self-determination in Central and South America.

You can only imagine how much better off many of those countries, including Venezuela, would be without U.S. interference.

It must have really pissed of the U.S. when their coup against Chavez in 2002 failed!
No wonder the anti-Venezuela propaganda has been in full-swing ever since.

By the way, if you know what's going on in Venezuela you're doing well; if you can tell me whether Maduro is moving towards a dictatorship or the opposition is conspiring with the US to destabilise the country, or whatever, you're doing better than most of the world's press.

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stunet Saturday, 13 May 2017 at 8:40am

Moving towards a dictatorship? Think that ship has well and truly sailed, Andy, and Chavez was at the helm. The socialist dream faded long, long ago.

You see the recent episode of Foreign Corespondent, featuring friend of Swellnet Sheepy Davis behind the camera?

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Blowin Saturday, 13 May 2017 at 8:47am

Is Friend of Swellnet an official title ?

Is it bestowed or self declared ?

Is there hazing of new Friends ?

I met Craig at a black ops secret surfing location yesterday. We shook hands but I didn't pick up on any discrete signals for the Friends of Swellnet secret handshake.

So it's either not a " thing " or else I'm not a party to it.

Looks like another sleepless night of recriminating self loathing ahead as I wonder what went wrong.

Was it because I mentioned Madonna's cooch ?

Or was it the 1000 other obnoxious things I've written ?

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stunet Saturday, 13 May 2017 at 10:30am

As you can see from the above video, Sheepy has connections in Venezuela, which is where Swellnet is looking to expand some of our lesser-known operations. Consider it a mutual back scratching exercise.

But that's not too say you too can't become a "friend". Got any intel on the DPRK?

We'll exchange top line data for a three month subscription, T-shirt, and you get to become a friend of Swellnet!

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AndyM Saturday, 13 May 2017 at 1:56pm

But why Stu? Is it as simple as the idea that Chavez and Maduro are thieves and socialism facilitates this?

Or is possible that, like Cuba, external pressures force the development of an authoritarian government?

What effect did the privatizations mandated by the International Monetary Fund in the 1990s have on Venezuela?

How have coup attempts and constant foreign economic pressure affected politics?

At around 8.10, the Venezuelan historian being interviewed criticises the government for reducing oil production but surely this is only in response to artificially deflated oil prices which are a part of the campaign by the U.S. and the Saudis to not just weaken the Venezuelan economy, but also to temper the influence of Russia and Iran.

To be honest, it seems like the vast majority of that Foreign Correspondent video concentrates on the fact that Venezuela is currently a basket case - shot after shot of queues, rubbish, scavenging and gangs.

It was probably beyond the scope of the story, but I'm still looking for credible reasons why this has all come about.

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Craig Monday, 15 May 2017 at 3:57pm

Ha, did you stick around over the weekend, it got a lot better especially yesterday morning with everyone busy with Mothers Day commitments. Also had a great solo surf out of town Saturday late morning. God's country.

Great meeting you, brief as it was. Beers at the bowlo next time will get you the acclaimed "Friends of Swellnet" title.

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Blowin Monday, 15 May 2017 at 5:29pm

Yeah , I had a little play on Saturday but usually give the crew some space on their days off. Small but fun.

Beautiful region . Always a pleasure to visit. As long as you dodge the holidays you're pretty stoked for someone to surf with away from the obvious spots.

And there are some world class waves around, that's for sure . I used to write the area off a bit till i realised that I was just plain ignorant of what goes down.

The longer that it's below the radar the better ! Thankfully most crew write it off, as I used to and it's not worth the drive for " fickle " sandbanks.

It would be unreal to go for a surf and / or a beer next time you're around as I'll probably be here for another couple of months.

We'll have to work on that secret handshake.

PS - your solo surf , was it North or south of where I met you ?

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Craig Monday, 15 May 2017 at 5:37pm

Ah awesome, yes will hit you up when next around. I was south :)

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Blowin Monday, 15 May 2017 at 5:55pm

Sounds good mate.

Got to love those solo surfs.....but there are some very large fish getting around !

I've shared lonely sessions with some big names in surfing around there. You'd be amazed who turns up at some of the quiet sandbanks.

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talkingturkey Monday, 15 May 2017 at 6:46pm

Meanwhile in Blighty...

http://newsthump.com/2017/05/10/most-foxes-wont-vote-labour-because-jere...

"A poll taken of foxes across the country has revealed that barely 30% will vote Labour in the upcoming election, despite Theresa May’s plans to have them systematically torn apart by packs of dogs."

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Blowin Tuesday, 16 May 2017 at 6:47am

Snap.

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GuySmiley Tuesday, 16 May 2017 at 2:35pm

This spam Stu/Ben? flashed up when I posted a comment

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Blowin Tuesday, 16 May 2017 at 3:34pm

I've been getting that as well.

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GuySmiley Tuesday, 16 May 2017 at 4:34pm

Earth to the Swellnet Emporium

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thermalben Tuesday, 16 May 2017 at 4:42pm

GuySmiley - that's not spam, it's the Swellnet Pro sign up page. Were you logged in?

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GuySmiley Tuesday, 16 May 2017 at 5:49pm

Logged in Ben.

Do existing pro members get an entry in the comp or is it just for new members?

Cheers

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talkingturkey Wednesday, 17 May 2017 at 6:34pm

election game on!

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groundswell Thursday, 18 May 2017 at 6:01pm

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happyasS Thursday, 18 May 2017 at 8:52pm

so australian people continue to send their children to private schools on the basis of giving their kids the "best opportunity", all the while supporting funding the catholic church and its horrible record of looking after childrens interests. the f'n irony. i blame govt funding but primarily the parents that should take a look at their own morals.

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talkingturkey Friday, 19 May 2017 at 12:09pm
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talkingturkey Friday, 19 May 2017 at 5:33pm

the new "turkeys voting for Xmas/Thanksgiving"

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Blowin Friday, 26 May 2017 at 7:46am

Has Western society hit Peak Retard ?

I'd say yes....http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/premier-daniel-andrews-apologises-to-c...

Made to land in SA or NSW rather than Victoria over 160 years ago.....the horror.

As of the current date, it is harder to become a legal permanent citizen of China than virtually anywhere in the world.

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chook Friday, 26 May 2017 at 9:03am

blowy, keep fighting those culture wars. they are just so, so important. they are so vital to maintaining our western lifestyle and values. an apology like that is just going make life so much worse for all of us...and our children and our children's children.

the right....whining like little bitches over something somebody said, while begging to give billions to corrupt, tax dodging foreign mining companies and letting them drain the great artesian basin without any oversight.

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Blowin Friday, 26 May 2017 at 9:36am

I don't care if it's the left or the right. I just see it as another incremental concession to the imposition of Chinese power on Australia.

You may not believed that the two are linked in any way .

Or that there is even a reason to oppose any gradual ceeding to Chinese interests in Australia.....but your children and your children's children will.

Look how inclusive Chinese society is to foreign cultures as a guideline .

PS - You realise it is the Chinese that are draining the artesian basin as well don't you ?

Maybe they'll apologise in 160 years. Not.

Culture wars are as poignant as corporate tax rip offs.

Ask the first Australians if culture is relevant to modern political conversations or to communal happiness.

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Gaz1799 Friday, 26 May 2017 at 10:04am

The Chinese government would never apologise to the Australian government for anything. Zip. They simply wouldn't acknowledge fault so I'm dead against this moron lowering our standing by dragging up a mistake from 2 centuries past and making it current.

It's not like the Chinese haven't made it back ten-fold by buying our raw materials & farms for peanuts and treating our currency and economy like a ping-pong ball anyway.

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tonybarber Friday, 26 May 2017 at 10:18am

Andrews apology is just so naive, not relevant for today and trivial. But it is alarming since it shows the influence of a foreign group in the running of this country. Dastyari' exposure confirms just how powerful this is. Now Andrews apology highlights this further. Absolutely a concern.