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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · 5h

Perplexity recognises it as a metaphor with a number of different meanings. The one I associated Lidia’s comment with is:

“Conflict and Protest: It is often used to express intense anger or a call for radical action, signaling dramatic upheaval, rebellion, or destruction of the status quo.”

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · 6d

And finally Trump is threatening the Insurrection Act. It was only ever a matter of time. Any guesses on how long before he actually invokes it?

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · 9d

So Israel continues to bomb Gaza despite Trump’s statement telling them to stop. Is he going to be disappointed in Netanyahu like he is with Putin?

If he seriously wants Israel to stop bombing Gaza, stop providing them them with the wherewithal to do it.

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · 9d

If they start blocking reasonable comments like this, then I’ll treat them like X and exit here too.

Margaret Morgan 🇳🇱🇦🇺🇪🇺 @margaretmorgan.bsky.social · 9d

So now #BlueSky gives a content warning for an image that simply says, "I stand with Palestine".

How long till it results in a ban?

Image of the Palestinian flag, with the words "I stand with Palestine" and above it, "! Content warning".

Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · 15d

I’m not enamoured of Albanese, but I don’t quite see him being duplicitous. I think he was really bitten by the Voice referendum and is going out of his way to avoid anything too contentious. I don’t like that. I’d prefer a more courageous approach, but at least he’s being clear about no referendum

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · 15d

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Any referendum about a republic now or the foreseeable future would fail. In times of uncertainty people vote for the status quo.

Further, having seen how easily a President with independent constitutional power can be autocratic there’s probably less support.

Albanese rules out holding Australian republic referendum while he is prime minister

PM previously advocated for republic but has gradually backed away from pushing for constitutional change

www.theguardian.com

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · 18d

I think he’s wrong. I don’t think we’re going there anytime soon. While I agree that it could happen here, our biggest safeguard is not having an elected president with constitutional powers. This alone makes it harder for one person to take control. Not impossible but a lot harder than the USA.

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · 18d

Ah interesting now his take makes sense.

Could it happen here, yeah. I don’t think that we’re immune. Some of Scommo’s actions suggested ways that level of control could be established. But, his suggestion that we’re next is rubbish. There’s a few other countries already well down the path.

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · 29d

I expect better reporting, headlines and analysis from the Guardian than this article represents. The Guardian should remove this article and provide a new more detailed and accurate reporting of the situation. 6/6 /end

Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · 29d

Reducing interchange fees means that the banks lose income. This is what they are objecting to. They claim that their higher interchange fees enable them to provide rewards and interest free periods. It’s arguable how true that really is and this is what the Guardian should be investigating. 5/6

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · 29d

…thus surcharging began. The current proposal reverses this and would prevent businesses from adding a surcharge. Of course business will increase prices to cover for these costs. A return to the pre 2003 status. 4/6

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · 29d

Removing surcharges impacts businesses as they wear the burden of the merchant fees. Interchange fees impacts the banks directly.

Until 2003, the merchants forbid business from passing on fees to customers. In 2003, the RBA changed the rules allowing businesses to pass on fees…3/6

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · 29d

Surcharges are what businesses pass on to customers based on the fees they pay the banks. Interchange fees are what the banks pay each other and the merchants for each transaction. The RBA proposal is to remove surcharges and reduce interchange fees. 2/6

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · 29d

I think this article is misleading. It’s conflating the banks lobbying against reducing the interchange rate with removing surcharges. These are two distinct aspects of the proposal and the article doesn’t make this clear.

The banks are supporting removing the surcharges 1/6

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · Sep 11

Howard (& Costello as treasurer) wasted all those billions in windfall minerals profits buying votes rather than investing in the future. No sovereign wealth fund.

Also enabled the mining lobby to become the super powerful group they are today.

Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · Sep 10

Guardian reports “Marles announces $1.7bn purchase of Ghost Shark drone subs.”

That money we’re paying the USA for subs that we’ll almost certainly never see could buy a lot of gear like this. @albomp.bsky.social #auspol. Just saying.

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Dr Monique Ryan @mon4kooyong.bsky.social · Sep 5

Another day, another EPA failing to regulate mining and gas companies at the expense of our environment and health.

On Monday it was methane, Santos and the NT EPA - today, its lead, mining companies and the NSW EPA.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Environment watchdog buried report on lead in children’s blood to placate mining companies, emails show

Documents tabled in NSW parliament show state agency took four years to publish report and told miners it would be put online ‘quietly’ but EPA says it was released to community earlier

www.theguardian.com

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · Sep 4

According to the Guardian: “John Howard and Alexander Downer ‘appalled’ by Labor recognising Palestine”.

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Made my day.

Australia politics live: John Howard and Alexander Downer ‘appalled’ by Labor recognising Palestine; NZYQ bill passes

Follow live

www.theguardian.com

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Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · Sep 3

Hey @albomp.bsky.social, if I request security info using #FOI, it’s exempt from release under the current law. If an anonymous person requests security info using FOI, it’s exempt from release under the current law. You’re gaslighting to extinguish transparency! #StickWithTruth #auspol

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · Sep 2

Can’t let the people know what we’re doing, they might learn who we really work for and understand that it’s not them. So much for greater transparency eh @albomp.bsky.social @auspol.info

Nate Cochrane @natecochrane.bsky.social · Sep 2

Albanese came to power with a promise of delivering greater #transparency.

He’s done everything in his power since to make matters more opaque.

#auspol

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Labor plans to make it harder to access government information

A new proposal would introduce a fee for Freedom of Information requests and tighten the rules around the release of documents related to government deliberations.

www.abc.net.au

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · Aug 18

Some one give him a copy of The Life of Brian:

REG: Right. You’re in. Listen. The only people we hate more than the Romans are the xxxing Judean People’s Front.
P.F.J.: Yeah.
FRANCIS: And the Judean Popular People’s Front.
REG: Oh, yeah. And the Popular Front of Judea.
P.F.J.: Splitters!

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Crikey @crikey.com.au · Aug 18

Relying on Donald Trump comes with a massive uncertainty. But it's cornerstone of Australian defence policy — and that's terrible risk management, writes Bernard Keane.

What if Australia were Ukraine? Trump and Putin prove our strategy to trust the US is a roll of the dice

www.crikey.com.au

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Allan’s Night Sky @allansnightsky.bsky.social · Aug 18

Anyone can end a war by simply surrendering to the aggressor.

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Catalina Fernandes @catalinafernandes.bsky.social · Aug 7

Italian MPs wear the colours of Palestine's flag in Parliament.

"Today, we don't hold up the flag because you'd try to take it from us. Instead, we wear it on our skin."

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Reposted by Allan’s Night Sky

Amy Remeikis @amyremeikis.bsky.social · Aug 6

It is beyond time mutual obligations was completely scrapped.
www.ombudsman.gov.au/__data/asset...

www.ombudsman.gov.au

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