Quote

"The United States is extremely lucky that no honest, charismatic figure has arisen... ...Every charismatic figure is such an obvious crook that he destroys himself, like McCarthy or Nixon, or the evangelist preachers, If somebody comes along who is charismatic and honest, this country is in real trouble because of the frustration, disillusionment, the justified anger, and the absence of any coherent response. What are people supposed to think if someone says 'I have got an answer, we have an enemy'? There [Weimar Republic] it was the Jews. Here it will be the illegal immigrants and the blacks. We will be told that white males are a persecuted minority. We will be told we have to defend ourselves and the honour of the nation. Military forces will be exalted. People will be beaten up."

• Noam Chomsky. 2003.

F.U. (also Skynet News)

Disney / robots http://nerdist.com/disney-wants-to-add-soft-body-humanoid-robots-to-its-theme-parks/

RIP (aka Things Coming to an End ... aka The End Times)

Mauryeen Kenny http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-01/accused-wife-killer-remains-in-custody-after-alleged-dv-incident/8485870 - that's number 17 for the Year 2017 in the People's Utopia of 'Straya

Road Deaths Database https://bitre.gov.au/statistics/safety/fatal_road_crash_database.aspx

42 years http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_Saigon

Jean Stein https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Stein

NEWS

The Copyright Agency steals $15M from starving artists http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/copyright-agency-diverts-funds-meant-for-authors-to-15m-fighting-fund-20170420-gvol0w.html https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20170426/02091437240/australias-copyright-agency-keeps-11-million-meant-authors-uses-it-to-fight-introduction-fair-use.shtml

But non-starving artists looked after? https://www.businessinsider.com.au/kick-ass-torrents-sites-blocked-in-australia-after-request-from-music-giants-2017-5

UK Fusion (not white jazz) https://futurism.com/a-world-first-fusion-reactor-just-created-its-first-plasma/

Weather and Climate

Google https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/06/technology/google-says-it-will-run-entirely-on-renewable-energy-in-2017.html?_r=0

The Nation's Capital

Barnaby and Gina

Pauline and the Plane http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/one-nation-under-fresh-scrutiny-over-possible-electoral-breaches-20170429-gvvdsl.html

AFP: Warrants are for Losers https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/2017/04/australian-federal-police-unapologetic-accessing-journalists-metadata-without-warrant/ https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/apr/29/public-metadata-six-cases-of-alleged-police-misconduct-investigated

Rise of the "Good" Debt https://www.itnews.com.au/news/turnbull-calls-nbn-a-good-debt-for-taxpayers-459747

The Rabbott Files

He doesn't like quotas; 40% women is 'anti man'. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/01/tony-abbott-calls-anti-men-gender-quota-idea-politically-correct-rubbish ... there is just so much in this one article...

And this... http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/john-lyons/tony-abbotts-letter-about-police-tapping-set-to-star-in-legal-case/news-story/9899375da059190354f2eeb22e0fcedc

Turnbull worse than Abbott, according to Palaszczuk http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-30/malcolm-turnbull-worse-than-tony-abbot-qld-premier-palaszczuk/8484050

Rumtown Gazette

Westie Airport http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-39728713

Bankers

Westpac says "No" https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/28/big-four-banks-all-refuse-to-fund-adani-coalmine-after-westpac-rules-out-loan

and Wankers

Investment in tackling family violence https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/02/victorias-budget-tackles-family-violence

Seppo Land

100 days of... mostly golf https://twitter.com/AlexanderTrow/status/858011096543879169

Gorka

SPORT

Being old is a sport, right Dr Gob? Also, 146? Nah, really ... https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/02/oldest-human-dies-in-indonesia-aged-146

#BeingOldIsASport