Reference :- Sometimes local government affairs have global implications .

Reference:-  The Lord Mayor of Brisbane, young Adrian Schrinner,  has cancelled funding for the Queensland Music Awards . 

These days we are running that keto diet thing here at The Sky Reply .  What with all the sausages and bacon we are frying , breakfast takes a lot longer than it did when we used to chow down on Weet-Bix and milk piled with sugar .  That gives us more time to watch the news on the tele , especially while washing up the greasy utensils . 

Anyway , Ken junior was surprised to see that Brisbane's Mayor , young Adrian Schrinner , had cancelled funding for the Queensland Music Awards because he considered that a young musician called Kellie Green , who won the Jazz Award , was antisemitic . 

Ken junior , who quite liked her song , was puzzled . 

" What makes her antisemitic ? " , Ken junior said . 

" According to the Mayor , it was her vile hate speech " , I said . 

" Is singing a song about not killing people in Palestine vile hate speech ? " , Ken junior said . 

" It is now . ", I said . 

" Well that is hardly fair .  What about international law ?  " , Ken junior said . 

" All that United Nations stuff , and  International Law , and all the Geneva Convention malarkey has been phased out now . " , I said . 

" What replaced it ? " , Ken junior said . 

" We now have a thing called " The Rules Based Order " , I said . 

" Who makes the rules ?'  Ken junior said . 

" Mostly the USA , via Israel of course , and the UK " , I said . 

" What about all the other countries ? " , Ken junior said . 

" They don't get a look in  , it keeps things simple . " , I said 

" Well if this Kellie lady has been banned for hate speech , why punish all the other musicians by defunding the awards ? Isn't that group punishment ? " . Ken junior said . 

" Group punishment is acceptable  these days too , just look at Gaza . " , I said . 

" But by defunding all the musicians , any Jewish musicians in Queensland will also suffer . "  , I said . 

" Yeah . Well that comes under a provision called the Hannibal Directive .  In order to crush antisemitism it is sometimes necessary to crush a few of your own people at the same time . " , I said . 

" What ? " , Ken junior said . 

" Some of those who died during the terrible assault on October 7 in Israel were killed by their own army . Investigations to determine the numbers are still in progress . That's your Hannibal Directive . It's why the hostages in Gaza get bombed and killed by their own army sometimes  .  " , I said . 

Anyway , Ken junior was having trouble processing all this . I decided to change the subject a bit . 

"  Kellie's song was called " The River to the Sea " , I said . 

"  That will be the Jordan . ", Ken junior  said . 

"  Never heard of it . " , I said .

  My favourite song about a river is called " Old Man River " .  That song  is close to one hundred years old .  I saw a black man sing it in a musical called "Showboat " back when we had a drive-in theatre on the edge of town .  It is a sad song , all about oppressed racially segregated folk with no rights and nothing to live for . Thankfully those days are long passed .    I think it starts like this 

                            " Old man river , that old man river ,

                               He must know something , but don't say nothing , 

                              He just keeps rolling  , 

                              He keeps on rolling along . " 

 Time to scrub the frying pan .

Your comrade , 

Ken

 

 

 

 

Reference:- The Secretary of Defense of the USA , young Peter Hegseth has been in the news a lot recently .

Reference :-   Mr Hegseth is facing a great deal of bad press .... is it justified ? 

Dear Pete , 

                        Holy cow ! The media sure has you on the back foot these days .  Here at The Sky Reply we understand that the minions of the Fourth Estate are a merciless crew . The first sniff of an erythrocyte  has them coming for you with the blood lust of a squadron of F/A 18 fighter jets targeting a village in Yemen . 

But stay calm . We offer here , gratis of course , a few strategies you may employ to cover your backside . We have kept this communication confidential , since we do not want to warn the media . Those vermin . 

( Although we did let the owner of the Kooralya pub read it , by mistake , after a few drinks , but he has promised to keep his lips zipped . ) 

Anyway , before you sink into the depths of depression and hit the bottle , or get yet another tattoo ,  look on the bright side . All this bickering about breaches of security has stopped anybody from talking about the fact that the mission was illegal , and constitutes a war crime .  That could well have saved you from facing charges by one of those international criminal courts run by the United Nations .  You should view that with great relief , believe me . Poor old George Bush junior may as well burn his passport , when you consider the number of countries that have him on their wanted list . 

I reckon if you , and those accused of this so called worst security breach in the history of the world,  just stick to the excuse that it was an unfortunate glitch with a digital device , the outrage will soon subside .  Everybody has at one time or another been frustrated by a recalcitrant digital device . You wouldn't believe what appeared  on Ken junior's laptop when I tried to look up how to replace a blown head gasket in the ute . 

As far as being castigated for the unprecedented habit of taking your wife to high level security meetings goes , you should be quick to call out the hypocrisy of your critics .  One day they accuse you of being sexist and suggest you have been guilty of sexual misdemeanors , and the next they say they don't like you hanging out with the missus at work . They can't have it both ways , can they ?  Clearly you are a family man , which is why you took the trouble to find a job in the bureaucracy  for your brother , which could not have been easy , with all the cutbacks and thousands of job losses the civil service has suffered recently . 

Lastly , the media seems unhappy with the discovery of your latest tattoo . Personally I don't run with being inked up as a form of self expression , but you live in a free country , do you not ?   Since some political statements , spoken aloud,  can land you in the slammer or see you deported to face indefinite detention in a slave prison , it behooves one to express one's ideology more discreetly via a tattoo. Even if it is only the inoffensive statement that you consider yourself a warrior in the battle against Islam . 

Ken junior reckons you would most likely get away with declaring yourself to be such a crusader in the USA , whereas folk in your country are frequently  arrested by masked anti- terrorist police for opposing genocide in Palestine and  often disappear forever to become prisoners in a sweat shop on one of the warmer continents .  He also asked why is it that you  have a Department of Defense , when it should be called the Department of Illegal Extermination ?   I told him the acronym for that would be DIE , which would be a bad look . That's the trouble with inexperienced kids , they don't think things through , do they Pete ?

Nonetheless,  why take a chance and open your gob too much . ?   When in the company of diplomats , statesmen , and other cowards , you can always have your shirt sleeves discreetly rolled down to hide the statements you have bravely roneod upon your epidermis .  (Although , be aware that when , on a bender , you swig champagne from a bottle,  your sleeve may slide and reveal a tattoo or two . )

Remember , if anybody tells you that only idiots get tattoos , you can put the loser in their place with the simple observation 

" Tattoos are not self -mutilation if somebody else does them for you.  " 

Your comrade , 

Ken . 

PS  If the International Criminal Court comes knocking , I wouldn't run a similar line and say 

" It's not a war crime if somebody else does it for you . "  

That might not wash .

The blood from your hands .

Reference:- Reference:- Practical and fair-minded Sky News presenter Ms Sharri Markson tells us we need our own Elon Musk .

 Reference : -  It has been proposed that opposition Senator Jacinta Price could fill the roll of Mr Elon Musk should Mr Dutton win the forthcoming Australian federal election . 

Dear Sharri , 

                        This proposed Department of Government Efficiency   , or DOGE as they call it stateside , is sorely needed here in Oz . Especially if Mr Dutton becomes the new Prime Minister  .  Our government  has a regrettable tendency to run deficit budgets . and a DOGE is what we need to reverse that trend .  The federal budget has run a  deficit pretty much every year for two decades   (the only exceptions being two years under Labor rule , but let's not confuse the narrative...ahem .  ) , and something must be done . 

Ken junior is a keen follower of the economic news , and he has a few questions which you might like to address during one of your excellent analyses of current affairs .  

1.   Is it a good idea to emulate Mr Musk's approach and style ?  Mr Musk has lost 121 billion US dollars of his own nest egg since the beginning of the year. Does this mean he can't manage money as well as he claims ?  

2  Mr Musk has also caused all manner of civil strife and triggered costly legal action  against his government by sacking tens of thousands of important civil servants who have now been reinstated .  Was that wise? 

3. Would the skipper of our DOGE favour the use of the Nazi salute , like Mr Musk ?  We run a more temperate culture here in Oz , and it might not be well received . 

4.  Like Mr Musk , would Ms Price be offered billions of quid in government contracts ?  That might not pass the pub test here in Oz . 

5. President Trump has filed for bankruptcy six times .  Perhaps his financial judgement in setting up a DOGE  is questionable ?  

6.  Would a DOGE eventually oversee the privatisation of many government departments ?  Private enterprise has an appalling history of inefficiency .

Ken junior has an eccentric view of private enterprise . He tells me that although government departments are riddled with inefficiency and plagued by waste , compared with private enterprise they are models of productivity .  I told Ken junior that nobody believes governments are more efficient than private enterprise .

" Nobody believes that governments are more efficient than private enterprise . " , I said .  

" Let me run a post to explain why they are wrong . " , Ken junior said . 

" It's a deal , but keep it brief , I don't want five pages of Marxist hogwash . " , I said . 

Anyway , if he doesn't get distracted when his girlfriend visits this week , and forget all about it , we may soon see a post called  " The myth of private enterprise efficiency " .   

Your comrade , Ken

       

Reference :- Further to our last post , something is being done here in Australia about the supposed rise in " hate speech " .

Reference :-   The Australian authorities are enacting new laws to punish " hate speech " .

New laws to punish hate speech are being enacted here down under .  A chap might find himself facing a mandatory 2 years in the lockup , or 22,000 quid fine for badmouthing the wrong person .  Strangely , the definition of hate speech is hazy at best .  Recently a chap waving a huge Israeli flag was filmed on a footpath shouting " Kill all the Palestinians  . " and calling Palestinians  " Arab shits " .  He has not been arrested , so clearly this is not defined as hate speech here in Oz . 

However , students peacefully protesting against genocide while carrying  Palestinian flags apparently fit the definition of hate speech  perfectly .   Ken junior wanted to know how hate speech is defined , and who it is that takes responsibility for establishing a definition .   I told him that hate speech has to be defined on a case by case basis .

 "  Is calling certain Jews  " repulsive and revolting human beings " hate speech ? " , Ken junior said . 

"  Well that is obviously an unequivocal example . " , I said . 

" Those words were spoken by Mark Leibler . " , Ken junior said . 

" Never heard of him . " , I said . 

" He's the head of the Zionist lobby in Australia . "  , Ken junior said . 

" Is he ? " , I said . 

" He was describing Jews who oppose genocide ,  so should he be arrested for hate speech ? " , Ken junior said . 

" Obviously it isn't hate speech for the head of the Zionist lobby to say he hates certain Jews " , I said  . 

" What if a 30 year old with a PhD in Applied Ethics says she opposes the political ideology of certain Jews ...Zionists for example ? , Ken junior said .  

" Now there is your clear case of deplorable hate speech . Two years in the slammer is too light a sentence for something like that " , I said .  

Ken junior had nothing more to say , he had gleaned enough insight for one day . 

Anyway , it is interesting that the Dural caravan bomb hoax , funded by overseas " actors " ,  caused  this strong reaction by our lawmakers .    The Federal Police have been rather tight lipped about who these overseas " actors " might be .  If they are looking for suspects , I reckon they should think like that Sherlock Holmes chap, and ask themselves " Who overseas stands to gain from draconian hate speech laws ? " 

Personally I have no idea , but somebody must . 

Your comrade , Ken

 

 

Reference:- Apparently we hear a lot of " hate speech " these days .

Reference :- What is hate speech ?

Ken junior often asks me questions when he could easily find the answer on the interweb . 

He did it again today , when he asked me whether I was able to define  " hate speech " . 

" Are you able to define " hate speech ? "  , Ken junior said . 

" Look it up on the interweb . " , I said .

" I did , but  it doesn't say much . I think the definition needs updating . " Ken junior said . 

After perusing the somewhat perfunctory definition available " online " , as they say , I can only agree with Ken junior's assessment . 

Language is always changing , and the trusty Oxford Dictionary does require regular updates . Not just to ensure that new words are added to our lexicon , but to broaden the definition of existing words and terminology . 

Formerly , " hate speech " referred to speech that denigrated a person or a group on the basis of colour  , religion ,  race , social class , occupation , ideology etc ..... sometimes with violent intent . 

The term seems much broader  these days .  And the question is , are we allowed to express dislike or disapproval , or condemn anyone or anything these days without being accused of promulgating "hate speech " ? 

Obviously in a free society one should be allowed to dislike whatever offends one  . Sometimes ,  when lured into hyperbole , we may emphasize our dislike by using the word " hate " , and a certain degree of leeway should be granted on such occasions .   

We are all entitled to dislike cats .   And one may say " I hate cats ." when a cat has just urinated on one's favourite Val Doonican L.P . cover .   That does not mean that one would willingly kill or torture a cat . Even if one then went on to say " I could kill that damn mongrel urinating cat . " , that does not mean that one would carry out the threat .   Such is the complex character of human discourse . 

Anyway ,  please consider taking the time to answer the following survey , it is not lengthy . 

To complete the survey , place a tick beside each statement you consider to be unambiguously  " hate speech " . 

I don't like the smell of cats . 

I don't like  cats . 

I don't like  Mozart's music . 

I don't like Mozart . 

I don't like  the way the boss makes me get up early for work . 

I don't like work . 

I don't like  the boss . 

I don't like America's foreign policies . 

I don't like  America . 

I don't like President Trump . 

I don't like the waging of war in Gaza. 

I don't like  Hamas . 

I  don't like Palestinians . 

I don't like Muslims . 

I don't like  Christians . 

I don't like Catholics .

I don't like  the United Nations . 

I don't like  the IDF . 

I don't like  Zionists . 

I don't like Netanyahu . 

I don't like Jews .

And lastly ...

I don't like stupid surveys .  

Now , do the survey again , but this time substitute the word " hate " for " don't like " .  Something that may happen in a lively impromptu conversation . 

Gabbo makes some  interesting points . He reckons one should be free to dislike anybody or anything .  And be free to admit that dislike .  And also , to be generously accommodated for occasional hyperbole .  But one should not be free to stir hatred or violence on the basis of one's personal feelings . Most of all , since many or perhaps most of our dislikes are irrational , one should never attempt to justify one's dislikes using lies . 

Gabbo's points seem valid to me .  

PS .   Gabbo also says that overworked nurses may , on occasion , shoot their mouths off when confronted by an annoying provocateur . Don't ask me why he said that .  Has a nurse said something silly on the interweb lately ?

 

 

 

 

 

Reference:- Three empty buses mysteriously exploded near Tel Aviv .

Reference :-  There is nothing like mysterious explosions to get us talking at The Sky Reply . 

  We seem to be enjoying the arrival of an early Autumn here in Kooralya .   Ken junior reckoned it was perfect weather to cook porridge for breakfast , much to the disappointment of Dog , who prefers the smell of bacon frying which means he can cadge a few rinds . 

Anyway , the news was playing on the wireless , and we heard about those 3 empty buses that mysteriously exploded near Tel Aviv .    

" Lucky nobody was hurt.  ", I said . 

" They say Hamas did it . " , Monte said . 

"  Why would they do that right now? It will only stir more anger against them . " , Gabbo said . 

"  Maybe Mr Netanyahu's side did it ?  You know, that Mossad agency might have done it . Or maybe some of those aggressive Zionist settlers in the West Bank who don't want the war to end  ? " , Ken junior said . 

"  It would give Mr Netanyahu a perfect excuse to break the ceasefire . " , Monte said . 

" He doesn't need an excuse , he has already broken it hundreds of times , killed dozens  and wounded hundreds ....then again an excuse does soften world opinion somewhat . " , Gabbo said . 

 " Maybe that Israeli Finance Minister , Beelzebub Smotrich , did it ?  He has been jailed in the past for acts of terrorism . " , Ken junior said . 

" His name is Bezalel , you idiot . " , I said 

" Whatever . " , Ken junior said . 

 There were a few moments of silence .

 " Bring on the Empty Buses ! " ,  Gabbo  suddenly shouted . And laughed . 

" What ? " , I said . 

"  I am referencing David Niven's book about Hollywood  which he titled  ' Bring on the Empty Horses' . " Gabbo said . 

 " That's just silly . Everybody calm down and eat their porridge before it goes cold . " , I said 

"  I reckon Mr Netanyahu is directing his show using more smoke and mirrors than the most outlandish Hollywood fantasies from David Niven's era .  Haha ....... Bring on the Empty Buses ! " ,  Gabbo said . 

 Sometimes I wonder what on earth Gabbo is banging on about . 

Your comrade ,  Ken 

 

 

 

 

Reference :- Sometimes one hears a clever remark , but not often .

 Reference :-   Clever remarks are becoming uncommon , for some reason. 

What with all the political correctness , and the cancelling and the doxing ( whatever that is ) and the de-platforming  that goes on these days , folk are becoming less willing to risk making a clever remark .

Anyway , I decided to tell  Ken junior and the lads about a clever remark I heard in the pub last eve .....  just to remind them that the art of conversation is not quite dead yet . 

" Hey,  I heard a clever remark in the pub last eve . " , I said .  

The lads were playing poker again , which  they have been doing every night since the tele fritzed out days ago .  By fritzed out I mean that Monte reckoned the speakers  needed adjusting , so he pulled the back off the set to see if he could fix it , and it hasn't worked since .  

Ken junior looked up from his hand of cards . 

" Let's hear it then ." Ken junior said . 

Monte and Gabbo , seriously contemplating their cards , nodded in agreement . 

   So I told the guys that last night there was a young Israeli chap at the pub who is touring Australia by himself ... possibly to avoid being drafted into the IDF .  Trevor , the barman , mentioned something about Palestine , and the Israeli chap immediately took umbrage , and tried to set Trevor straight .

" Palestine doesn't exist . It is just a made up country . " is what the Israeli said .

"  That isn't a very clever remark . " , Gabbo said . 

"  Hang on . Hang on . I know that , it is Trevor's reply that I think was clever . " , I said . 

Ken junior chucked out two cards and drew two more from the deck . 

" So tell us what Trevor's reply was . " , Ken junior said . 

" Trevor's reply was  ' Can you name me a country that isn't made up ? ' " , I said . 

The lads all laughed loudly .....  then Ken junior revealed  his hand . 

" Full house . Aces over Jacks !  " , Ken junior said . 

Chuckling , Ken junior raked in his winnings , fifty match sticks at least by the look of the pile . 

The cards were quickly gathered and it was Gabbo's turn to deal .

 Thinking about it , maybe I won't get a new tele quite yet   . 

Your comrade , Ken .