marklawrence
@marklawrence.bsky.social
Be brave. Be nice.
Single dad. Cat dad. Plant dad. Bad Asian. Anti racist. Some interests: food, cooking, cats, ceramics, tea, plants, social and climate justice, anti-racism, the beautiful in everyday life. Join your union.
Melbourne, Australia
Single dad. Cat dad. Plant dad. Bad Asian. Anti racist. Some interests: food, cooking, cats, ceramics, tea, plants, social and climate justice, anti-racism, the beautiful in everyday life. Join your union.
Melbourne, Australia
Reposted by marklawrence
I totally agree with the Jewish Council here.
I will continually speak out against the Netanyahu Govt’s killing of 20,000 innocent children in Gaza.
That appalling action has caused so much anti-semitism around the world.
I will continually speak out against the Netanyahu Govt’s killing of 20,000 innocent children in Gaza.
That appalling action has caused so much anti-semitism around the world.
December 19, 2025 at 6:07 AM
I totally agree with the Jewish Council here.
I will continually speak out against the Netanyahu Govt’s killing of 20,000 innocent children in Gaza.
That appalling action has caused so much anti-semitism around the world.
I will continually speak out against the Netanyahu Govt’s killing of 20,000 innocent children in Gaza.
That appalling action has caused so much anti-semitism around the world.
Reposted by marklawrence
To placate the base, Trump occasionally belts out a rant on Truth Social, sometimes peppered with racism to make people feel he's fighting for the white working class. Or he renames the Kennedy Center. But the material conditions for most voters remain unchanged. Pure symbolism.
December 19, 2025 at 9:46 PM
To placate the base, Trump occasionally belts out a rant on Truth Social, sometimes peppered with racism to make people feel he's fighting for the white working class. Or he renames the Kennedy Center. But the material conditions for most voters remain unchanged. Pure symbolism.
Reposted by marklawrence
Almost a year into this presidency, Trump voters have gotten nothing except the Big Beautiful Bill, which was usual Republican politics of giving tax cuts to the rich and slashing social spending for the poor. Housing remains unaffordable, cost of living is rising, and manufacturing jobs fell.
December 19, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Almost a year into this presidency, Trump voters have gotten nothing except the Big Beautiful Bill, which was usual Republican politics of giving tax cuts to the rich and slashing social spending for the poor. Housing remains unaffordable, cost of living is rising, and manufacturing jobs fell.
Reposted by marklawrence
Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner Sivaraman said more could have been done to address antisemitism if the government adopted the Australian Human Rights Commission’s national anti-racism framework – for which he had been advocating for over a year.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Social media companies allow antisemitic hate to flow ‘unchecked’, Australia’s race discrimination commissioner says
Giridharan Sivaraman warns of a surge of racially motivated violence in wake of Bondi shooting, saying ‘it’s going to get worse before it gets better’
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner Sivaraman said more could have been done to address antisemitism if the government adopted the Australian Human Rights Commission’s national anti-racism framework – for which he had been advocating for over a year.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by marklawrence
As a Jew, I find it bizarre that people are forcing a 'Palestine' narrative onto the Bondi Beach shooting. The shooter openly claimed inspiration from ISIS; an organization that actually despises Palestinian nationalism in favor of their own global caliphate.
Yeah, making it illegal to protest a genocide is going to help 🙄
NSW to effectively ban protests for up to three months as premier links Gaza rallies to Bondi terror attack
Chris Minns says state ‘can’t risk another mass demonstration on that scale in NSW [because] the implications can be seen, in my view, on Sunday’
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:52 PM
As a Jew, I find it bizarre that people are forcing a 'Palestine' narrative onto the Bondi Beach shooting. The shooter openly claimed inspiration from ISIS; an organization that actually despises Palestinian nationalism in favor of their own global caliphate.
Reposted by marklawrence
Hanson is calling for tougher hate speech laws, while she is currently in court trying to appeal against her loss in a hate speech legal case. A fact not mentioned by a single outlet covering this story.
Hanson at the Bondi memorial calling for students to be "rounded up" and cuts to immigration. The crowd muttering in agreement, and giving her a huge round of applause once she finishes.
Everything is about to get so much worse in Australia
Everything is about to get so much worse in Australia
December 16, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Hanson is calling for tougher hate speech laws, while she is currently in court trying to appeal against her loss in a hate speech legal case. A fact not mentioned by a single outlet covering this story.
Reposted by marklawrence
This is a great essay: "The real history of Italian food is turbulent: a saga of hunger, improvisation, migration, industrialisation and sheer survival instinct." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The myth of traditional Italian cuisine has seduced the world. The truth is very different | Alberto Grandi
The comforting tourist-brochure idea of what Italian food looks like obscures a story shaped by hunger, migration and innovation, says Alberto Grandi, author and professor of food history
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:20 AM
This is a great essay: "The real history of Italian food is turbulent: a saga of hunger, improvisation, migration, industrialisation and sheer survival instinct." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by marklawrence
John Oliver really was not kidding about the overwhelming rebellious power of just saying “Fuck you, make me.”
we can kill them all if we just work together and ✨believe💫
December 15, 2025 at 8:49 PM
John Oliver really was not kidding about the overwhelming rebellious power of just saying “Fuck you, make me.”
Reposted by marklawrence
Bloke did one decent thing in 40 years in public life and comes off the recliner to say it doesn't matter. (He got complete support from all bits of the ALP on guns BTW.) www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
Howard slams Albanese’s leadership, calls changes to gun laws a ‘diversion’
Former prime minister John Howard has declared the government’s push to reform gun laws following the Bondi terror attack a distraction from fighting antisemitism.
www.smh.com.au
December 16, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Bloke did one decent thing in 40 years in public life and comes off the recliner to say it doesn't matter. (He got complete support from all bits of the ALP on guns BTW.) www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
Melbourne I’m truly enjoying your beautiful jacarandas now flowering in suburban streets everywhere.
💜💜💜
💜💜💜
December 16, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Melbourne I’m truly enjoying your beautiful jacarandas now flowering in suburban streets everywhere.
💜💜💜
💜💜💜
Dooming-out is not a plan.
New podcast!
All is not lost: the harsh future we’re tumbling towards is still a future full of choices. Dooming-out is not a plan.
alexsteffen.substack.com/p/does-clima...
All is not lost: the harsh future we’re tumbling towards is still a future full of choices. Dooming-out is not a plan.
alexsteffen.substack.com/p/does-clima...
Does Climate Chaos Mean You Should Just Give Up and Wait for Collapse?
Don't fall for fake powerlessness. Your future is still full of choices.
alexsteffen.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Dooming-out is not a plan.
Reposted by marklawrence
A reminder for when you're out in the cold doing your Christmas shopping, Starbucks is an anti-worker union-busting company. Get your coffee or hot chocolate elsewhere.
BREAKING: Police have been called on striking Starbucks baristas who were peacefully protesting, both in PA and NV.
It seems Starbucks would rather see their own workers arrested rather than listen to their concerns in good-faith.
Shame on Starbucks!
It seems Starbucks would rather see their own workers arrested rather than listen to their concerns in good-faith.
Shame on Starbucks!
December 15, 2025 at 7:45 PM
A reminder for when you're out in the cold doing your Christmas shopping, Starbucks is an anti-worker union-busting company. Get your coffee or hot chocolate elsewhere.
Reposted by marklawrence
I get why but seeing Americans pre-emptively praising Australia's reaction to the Bondi terror attacks badly underestimates how much politically-driven misdiagnosis will push the response into something that doesn't actually help prevent terror attacks and gun violence
Sussan Ley, touting the Antisemitism Envoy’s report, demanding that it be immediately implemented.
The plan has been emphatically rejected by the Australian Human Rights Institute,
Amnesty Internatjonal and a coalition of 9 Jewish groups.
The plan has been emphatically rejected by the Australian Human Rights Institute,
Amnesty Internatjonal and a coalition of 9 Jewish groups.
December 15, 2025 at 9:07 AM
I get why but seeing Americans pre-emptively praising Australia's reaction to the Bondi terror attacks badly underestimates how much politically-driven misdiagnosis will push the response into something that doesn't actually help prevent terror attacks and gun violence
Reposted by marklawrence
Australia's opposition leader is already blaming the mass murder in Bondi on university campus anti-genocide protests.
Blaming exactly the wrong causes for political reasons will lay the groundwork for even more gun violence slipping through, in Australia.
Blaming exactly the wrong causes for political reasons will lay the groundwork for even more gun violence slipping through, in Australia.
Sussan Ley accuses Albanese of failing to keep Jewish Australians safe
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has allowed antisemitism to "fester" and failed to keep Jewish Australians safe in the wake of yesterday's "evil" terror attack on the...
www.abc.net.au
December 15, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Australia's opposition leader is already blaming the mass murder in Bondi on university campus anti-genocide protests.
Blaming exactly the wrong causes for political reasons will lay the groundwork for even more gun violence slipping through, in Australia.
Blaming exactly the wrong causes for political reasons will lay the groundwork for even more gun violence slipping through, in Australia.
Reposted by marklawrence
Reposted by marklawrence
Here’s a poem called ‘An Invention of Collective Nouns’.
December 13, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Here’s a poem called ‘An Invention of Collective Nouns’.
Reposted by marklawrence
How many times does this gen-ai slop have to prove its utter shitness before people just stop trying to force it?
Last month Amazon rolled out ai-gen video recaps of a few of its most popular original series. They’ve now disabled the feature after viewers pointed out the recaps were getting key plot points wrong.
Amazon Prime Video pulls AI-powered recaps after Fallout flub
Fallout from Fallout.
www.theverge.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:15 AM
How many times does this gen-ai slop have to prove its utter shitness before people just stop trying to force it?
Reposted by marklawrence
"Clearly the reason young people feel hopeless is all the Ticky-toks" - Prime Minister Albanese chaser.com.au/national/bac...
December 9, 2025 at 8:51 AM
"Clearly the reason young people feel hopeless is all the Ticky-toks" - Prime Minister Albanese chaser.com.au/national/bac...
Reposted by marklawrence
Palantir sells AI tools that help law enforcement agencies like ICE analyze massive amounts of personal data.
It's a big reason why it is quickly becoming the most dangerous corporation in America.https://youtu.be/x_VwyhErd88?si=4Ptdx0tQBOBOUin1
It's a big reason why it is quickly becoming the most dangerous corporation in America.https://youtu.be/x_VwyhErd88?si=4Ptdx0tQBOBOUin1
The Most Dangerous Corporation in America?
Robert Reich
youtu.be
December 7, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Palantir sells AI tools that help law enforcement agencies like ICE analyze massive amounts of personal data.
It's a big reason why it is quickly becoming the most dangerous corporation in America.https://youtu.be/x_VwyhErd88?si=4Ptdx0tQBOBOUin1
It's a big reason why it is quickly becoming the most dangerous corporation in America.https://youtu.be/x_VwyhErd88?si=4Ptdx0tQBOBOUin1
Reposted by marklawrence
Police Chief Brian O’Hara has delivered a blunt message to his department: If an officer witnesses ICE agents using illegal force and fails to step in, they will be fired. 👏 👏 👏
Minneapolis police chief warns officers: Stop unlawful force by ICE or lose your job
Chief Brian O’Hara says he’ll fire city police officers if they don’t intervene when immigration agents use unlawful force.
www.ms.now
December 6, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Police Chief Brian O’Hara has delivered a blunt message to his department: If an officer witnesses ICE agents using illegal force and fails to step in, they will be fired. 👏 👏 👏
Reposted by marklawrence
Especially prevalent on the roads here in Melbourne
And the stats are proving it
And the stats are proving it
Can't remember if it was this bad before COVID but I'm seeing an alarming spreading of what I'll call Airport Behavior to other public places. Obliviousness to other people's existence, ineptitude at navigating the environment. "Is this your first time at the grocery store" type stuff
December 7, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Especially prevalent on the roads here in Melbourne
And the stats are proving it
And the stats are proving it
Reposted by marklawrence
Most NDIS participants will lose external avenue to appeal funding amounts under new system, Senate estimates told
Most NDIS participants will lose external avenue to appeal funding amounts under new system, Senate estimates told
Administrative review tribunal no longer authorised to alter a person’s plan or reinstate funding, agency confirmed
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Participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme will in most cases no longer be able to appeal their total amount of funding support to any external review body, executives have confirmed, after revelations about automation to be introduced to the organisation.
The minister for disability and the NDIS, Jenny McAllister, and National Disability Insurance Agency bosses were peppered with questions at Senate estimates on Thursday about changes to the way NDIS support plans will be generated under a new planning model coming into effect from mid-2026. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Most NDIS participants will lose external avenue to appeal funding amounts under new system, Senate estimates told
Reposted by marklawrence
The open letter Garner signed, alongside winners of Bookers, Pulitzers, Nobel prizes, not least the hundreds of the other writers, scholars and researchers that feed the cultural fire of this city, can be seen in full here: saveslv.com
Save the State Library of Victoria
An open letter
saveslv.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:45 PM
The open letter Garner signed, alongside winners of Bookers, Pulitzers, Nobel prizes, not least the hundreds of the other writers, scholars and researchers that feed the cultural fire of this city, can be seen in full here: saveslv.com
Reposted by marklawrence
"Now they’re hacking away at the actual librarians? Shame on them. They bring disgrace on the name of our city.”
Helen Garner says State Library of Victoria turned into ‘party central’, with planned job cuts to ‘bring disgrace’ on Melbourne
Acclaimed author ‘sick’ about 171-year-old institution’s proposed restructure as hundreds of writers sign open letter in protest
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:41 PM
"Now they’re hacking away at the actual librarians? Shame on them. They bring disgrace on the name of our city.”