Play Nice Random Chat Thread: Episode III

[Del191229]

If something like Libra comes out and succeeds...well...god help us all. Especially when it will roll out straight away with 10's of 1000's of point of sale terminals ready to go. The aim of crypto is decentralisation not that centralised garbage coin.

If that happens it is just the penultimate stage of the final takeover of the state by the forces of capital. To a large extent they've taken control of the political system. If they replace the government as issuers of currency for day to day, then the final, and inevitable, step is privately owned armed forces that can take on and defeat the state. Once that happens - global Somalia looms.

Old mate KGB siloviki Putin has a point when he says liberalism is obsolete, largely because liberalism got drunk on its own success and forgot the market only works when it is regulated ... as Adam Smith pointed out.

If and when Libra is used to create debt, as it will, grim times.

 

[Del191229]

P.S. Pocahontas (aka Matoaka aka Rebecca Rolfe) is/was a real Native American person of considerable historical note.

As I recall, she was pretty influential in the religious weirdos in New England that would go onto create the United States not starving to death and becoming historical footnotes.

 

[Val Keating]

" Hey boss, What ? This cladding we're putting up on this building isn't flammable is it ? Gee Joe, l dunno. Maybe we should find out before we use it "


" Hey George, What ? I don't think we are renumerating our employee's properly. English mate. We aren't paying the slaves the right moula. I'm getting rich and famous, we'll worry about it another time. How about after l'm more rich and famous " !

How hard is it to get right ?

Mate there’s stuff going on out in the open in construction that everyone knows about but no one talks about, officially anyway. The big companies that do high volume fit outs, like all the high rise appartments have two work forces.

They have blokes that they hire themselves that are legitimate tradesmen. All are ticketed etc and paid eba rates.

Then there’s the guys brought in from overseas, usually China. What happens is they hire a bloke, think of him as a manager, who’ll bring over a crew of young blokes. This is where it gets sus. All given the same tickets, red card etc and are paid eba into their bank to make it all seem legit, and to get around the union (who are most likely on the take anyway). Once the blokes pays are deposited into their bank accounts they withdraw the money and give a nice big slice back to that manager I mentioned earlier. Who knows maybe that manager then gives a bit back to the original company paying the bill.

Some companies will have multiple crews like this. You can always spot the manager because he never has any tools, sometimes he’ll carry a stick (no shit), yelling at his crew to work harder.

Gets even wilder. I’ve heard of dodgy real estate agents putting up groups of 5 or 6 of these guys in an apartments throughout the city owned by foreign investors in between renters/buyers saying they haven’t been able to get renter/buyer for a month or 2, all the while charging these blokes X amount per head, per week and pocketing the cash (well probably kicking something back to the managers). Then before the owners start to ask questions they’ll move them to the next place.

Unless you’re doing that stuff, you can’t compete with the big boys paying everyone EBA rates.

Don’t know how I feel about sharing that to be honest. Like I said, everyone knows it goes on but turn a blind eye.

 

[The acurate one]

We need an off line forum, somewhere over the rainbow if you like. So much needs to be discussed, maybe you could only access it if you had x years of service? Of course I'm ****ed because I've been on less than a year.

PM's aint the answer fwiw.


Yep I've thrown another cat amongst the penguins.

 

[Del191229]

Mate there’s stuff going on out in the open in construction that everyone knows about but no one talks about, officially anyway. The big companies that do high volume fit outs, like all the high rise appartments have two work forces.

They have blokes that they hire themselves that are legitimate tradesmen. All are ticketed etc and paid eba rates.

Then there’s the guys brought in from overseas, usually China. What happens is they hire a bloke, think of him as a manager, who’ll bring over a crew of young blokes. This is where it gets sus. All given the same tickets, red card etc and are paid eba into their bank to make it all seem legit, and to get around the union (who are most likely on the take anyway). Once the blokes pays are deposited into their bank accounts they withdraw the money and give a nice big slice back to that manager I mentioned earlier. Who knows maybe that manager then gives a bit back to the original company paying the bill.

Some companies will have multiple crews like this. You can always spot the manager because he never has any tools, sometimes he’ll carry a stick (no s**t), yelling at his crew to work harder.

Gets even wilder. I’ve heard of dodgy real estate agents putting up groups of 5 or 6 of these guys in an apartments throughout the city owned by foreign investors in between renters/buyers saying they haven’t been able to get renter/buyer for a month or 2, all the while charging these blokes X amount per head, per week and pocketing the cash (well probably kicking something back to the managers). Then before the owners start to ask questions they’ll move them to the next place.

Unless you’re doing that stuff, you can’t compete with the big boys paying everyone EBA rates.

Don’t know how I feel about sharing that to be honest. Like I said, everyone knows it goes on but turn a blind eye.

Same with the cladding. EVERYONE knew for years it was unsafe and dodgy - but who was going to voluntarily make themselves more expensive during that boom?

 

[Val Keating]

We need an off line forum, somewhere over the rainbow if you like. So much needs to be discussed, maybe you could only access it if you had x years of service? Of course I'm f’ed because I've been on less than a year.

PM's aint the answer fwiw.


Yep I've thrown another cat amongst the penguins.

What’s app type set up?

 

[Val Keating]

Same with the cladding. EVERYONE knew for years it was unsafe and dodgy - but who was going to voluntarily make themselves more expensive during that boom?

It’s not just the cladding. It’s the glass, it’s the dodgy silicone for the glass, it’s the fire rated plaster board that isn’t up to standard. It’s the membrane of wet areas. It’s everything. Won’t be much our generation builds that will be around in 100 years.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

As per my previous post, she absolutely ****ed up.

Added to the fact that Native American ancestry/heritage/tribal citizenship is a complicated beast.

Impossible to untangle and summarise in a few words, but in the interests of some overarching clarity.....

Cherokee Nation executive director of communications Julie Hubbard said that Warren understands "that being a Cherokee Nation tribal citizen is rooted in centuries of culture and laws not through DNA tests".

Senator Warren - "Tribal citizenship is very different from ancestry. Tribes, and only tribes, determine tribal citizenship, and I respect that difference."

Fair enough too, as I imagine people have taken advantage of claiming indigenous heritage.

I know that Australian universities have changed a heap of policies in recent years to ensure that people claiming indigenous heritage have long standing ties to the community.

 

[Themanbun]

We now have private companies sponsoring EU presidencies from countries. Loopy rightists will still declare that 'Marxists' are running the show even as we conduct McElections.

 

[Snake_Baker]

We now have private companies sponsoring EU presidency bids from countries. Loopy rightists will still declare that 'Marxists' are running the show even as we conduct McElections.

It keeps them all distracted.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

We now have private companies sponsoring EU presidencies from countries. Loopy rightists will still declare that 'Marxists' are running the show even as we conduct McElections.

Corporate sponsoring of politicians isn’t a new concept.

As for ‘loopy rightists’:
They usually don’t use as extreme term as marxists; the term I hear floating around from some is globalists. I am still not entirely clear what these people mean by globalists, but it is usually applied to your social Democrat types who supposedly desire the breakdown of borders and nation states, something like uber-globalism. Macron is often called one.

 

[Themanbun]

Corporate sponsoring of politicians isn’t a new concept.

As for ‘loopy rightists’:
They usually don’t use as extreme term as marxists; the term I hear floating around from some is globalists. I am still not entirely clear what these people mean by globalists, but it is usually applied to your social Democrat types who supposedly desire the breakdown of borders and nation states, something like uber-globalism. Macron is often called one.

I'm well versed in the terminology of rightists, and yes, many of them are convinced that all of the 'globalist' elements they decry are a form of Marxist conspiracy.

 

[blackshadow]

every now and then I try to find stuff about my grandfather (didn’t grow up with my dad so only found out later). He was WO2 in the AATTV. Found this book last night and can’t wait to read it. He served in the unit in 67/68 & 70&71. Was awarded the the Cross of Gallantry with silver star and a Bronze Star with a V for valour.

Bloke did 386 days in Korea in 53/54. Must have seen some s**t.

Ruined him though. Took his life in 90. I don’t think I ever met him.

Apparently the unit was the most decorated Australian unit of the Vietnam war. According to my dad he never excepted his medals.

The Men Who Persevered: The AATTV - the most highly decorated Australian unit of the Viet Name war - PDF Free Download

Bh1009M-PressProofs.QX519/7/052:03 PMPage iBookhouseTHEMEN WHO The men who perseveredPERSEVERED Bh1009M-...

epdf.pub

It's pretty interesting stuff. I've looked up my grandfather's military record from WW1.

I don't remember him even though I did see him when I was very young. The war wrecked him too. He struggled with alcohol and other things in latter life.

He was awarded the Military Medal for this action - sounded pretty bad arse. I think Mum has his medals somewhere along with a letter from the King commending him for his bravery.

 

[blackshadow]

I haven’t been able to find out much about his time in Korea for obvious reasons.

Yeah what the Koreans went through was disgraceful. Criminal

Have you been able to find anything about his Korean service record in the war memorial archives online?

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

It's pretty interesting stuff. I've looked up my grandfather's military record from WW1.

I don't remember him even though I did see him when I was very young. The war wrecked him too. He struggled with alcohol and other things in latter life.

He was awarded the Military Medal for this action - sounded pretty bad arse. I think Mum has his medals somewhere along with a letter from the King commending him for his bravery.

Thanks for sharing.

Just sharing my own family heritage:
My mother's family fought in the Australian Expeditionary Forces in the First World War, whilst my father's family fought for the German side. The only medals I can currently cite, that my family members gained, were the Iron Cross First Class and the Wound Badge from the German side during the First World War.

Unfortunately, a lot of the war records of how my ancestor won both medals were lost with the destruction of the Prussian military archives during the Second World War. My ancestor was later shot as part of the 20th of July plot against Hitler.

 

[Del191229]

Corporate sponsoring of politicians isn’t a new concept.

As for ‘loopy rightists’:
They usually don’t use as extreme term as marxists; the term I hear floating around from some is globalists. I am still not entirely clear what these people mean by globalists, but it is usually applied to your social Democrat types who supposedly desire the breakdown of borders and nation states, something like uber-globalism. Macron is often called one.

Globalisation is an ultra right wing economic theory - the destruction of borders they already imposed was on the flow of capital.

People moving across borders is largely a stupid concept as the vast majority of nation states don't reflect actual real life "nations" in people's heads - the Pushtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan a good example.

 

[Snake_Baker]

Globalisation is an ultra right wing economic theory - the destruction of borders they already imposed was on the flow of capital.

People moving across borders is largely a stupid concept as the vast majority of nation states don't reflect actual real life "nations" in people's heads - the Pushtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan a good example.

Yes, but it was aided by the gullibility/deviousness of Fabian politics.

It was Whitlam who signed Australia to the Lima Declaration in 1975, that in one fell swoop, resigned Australia's manufacturing industry to the dust bin of history.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Yes, but it was aided by the gullibility/deviousness of Fabian politics.

It was Whitlam who signed Australia to the Lima Declaration in 1975, that in one fell swoop, resigned Australia's manufacturing industry to the dust bin of history.

Not to mention the virtual extinction of our merchant marine, thanks to Fraser.

 

[kangaspurs]

Globalisation is an ultra right wing economic theory - the destruction of borders they already imposed was on the flow of capital.

People moving across borders is largely a stupid concept as the vast majority of nation states don't reflect actual real life "nations" in people's heads - the Pushtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan a good example.

Careful. I've seen the argument that nation states are a Western concept that was imposed on the rest of the world by colonialists described as relativist post-modern garbage.

But yeah, blame for much of 20th and 21st Century problems in the Middle East can be almost directly attributed to Sykes-Picot. Similarly artificial borders in Africa can be blamed for instability there, as well as placing minority ethnic and religious groups in positions of power of these creations, where they could subjugate the other groups with whom they'd had centuries long conflict.

I remember as a naive first year undergrad in an introductory Middle East IR unit being shown the difference between the natural, irregular borders of, say, Europe and the clean straight lines that demarcated much of the Middle East and Africa and being absolutely fascinated, and staggered, by it.

 

[Del191229]

Yes, but it was aided by the gullibility/deviousness of Fabian politics.

It was Whitlam who signed Australia to the Lima Declaration in 1975, that in one fell swoop, resigned Australia's manufacturing industry to the dust bin of history.

Keating and Hawkey did the rest and you could argue we've benefited hugely as result "overall" - but of course there's been enormous losers who have paid the price ... financially, socially, in their health ... for this, and in Australia, like in Britain and the US, it was the white working class.

Its why people falling for the bullshit that it was women, or brown immigrants etc who caused this is just wrong.

The dimunition of the white working classes in the Anglosphere was directly done by existing white financial and political elite in order to enrich themselves further and cement their control.

 

[Del191229]

Careful. I've seen the argument that nation states are a Western concept that was imposed on the rest of the world by colonialists described as relativist post-modern garbage.

But yeah, blame for much of 20th and 21st Century problems in the Middle East can be almost directly attributed to Sykes-Picot. Similarly artificial borders in Africa can be blamed for instability there, as well as placing minority ethnic and religious groups in positions of power of these creations, where they could subjugate the other groups with whom they'd had centuries long conflict.

I remember as a naive first year undergrad in an introductory Middle East IR unit being shown the difference between the natural, irregular borders of, say, Europe and the clean straight lines that demarcated much of the Middle East and Africa and being absolutely fascinated, and staggered, by it.

Nation-states emerged from the 30 Years War at the Treaty of Westphalia as a response to the kind of conditions where private mercenary armies could overwhelm the state.

And YES to Sykes-Picot - Daesh released a video literally about how smashing it was one of their key goals.

Video: Islamic state media branch releases 'The end of Sykes-Picot'

English-language footage was released on June 29 by a media account associated with the Islamic State (IS), formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ISIS), calling for further destruction of the border between Iraq and Syria. This footage, entitled The End of Sykes-Picot, and...

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Careful. I've seen the argument that nation states are a Western concept that was imposed on the rest of the world by colonialists described as relativist post-modern garbage.

But yeah, blame for much of 20th and 21st Century problems in the Middle East can be almost directly attributed to Sykes-Picot. Similarly artificial borders in Africa can be blamed for instability there, as well as placing minority ethnic and religious groups in positions of power of these creations, where they could subjugate the other groups with whom they'd had centuries long conflict.

I remember as a naive first year undergrad in an introductory Middle East IR unit being shown the difference between the natural, irregular borders of, say, Europe and the clean straight lines that demarcated much of the Middle East and Africa and being absolutely fascinated, and staggered, by it.

Just on the African borders thing.

It wasn't just the borders, the colonial powers introduced a deliberate policy of limiting infrastructure investments to primarily cater for corporate interests, leaving vast rural areas with underdeveloped national infrastructure. The education systems were also a cause of concern, as the colonial powers generally left most of the education system under the control of missionary groups, who focused more on 'morality' related stuff, rather than developing the technical and administrative skills required for a balanced national workforce. In addition, secondary education under colonial authorities was very limited and even had a corporate blend to it, if you know what I mean.

If you don't have an intellectually affluent population and proper national infrastructure, your country isn't probably going to do that well, regardless of borders and tribal divisions.

 

[kangaspurs]

Just on the African borders thing.

It wasn't just the borders, the colonial powers introduced a deliberate policy of limiting infrastructure investments to primarily cater for corporate interests, leaving vast rural areas with underdeveloped national infrastructure. The education systems were also a cause of concern, as the colonial powers generally left most of the education system under the control of missionary groups, who focused more on 'morality' related stuff, rather than developing the technical and administrative skills required for a balanced national workforce. In addition, secondary education under colonial authorities was very limited and even had a corporate blend to it, if you know what I mean.

If you don't have an intellectually affluent population and proper national infrastructure, your country isn't probably going to do that well, regardless of borders and tribal divisions.

And in some areas of post-colonial Africa, wasn't that the promise made when the West would intervene (there's a particular country I read about, but I can;'t quite remember which one); that they would support a power who was more accommodating to their own interests, and in return they would give that power resources that was supposed to be used to improve infrastructure to win over the populace to their cause, but it would often get diverted into other areas?

Shit. I'm not sure if this was a widespread practice, or maybe this was only in one country, but I do remembr reading about it. I just can't quite remember where it was. Maybe Nigeria? I'm not 100% sure.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

And in some areas of post-colonial Africa, wasn't that the promise made when the West would intervene (there's a particular country I read about, but I can;'t quite remember which one); that they would support a power who was more accommodating to their own interests, and in return they would give that power resources that was supposed to be used to improve infrastructure to win over the populace to their cause, but it would often get diverted into other areas?

s**t. I'm not sure if this was a widespread practice, or maybe this was only in one country, but I do remembr reading about it. I just can't quite remember where it was. Maybe Nigeria? I'm not 100% sure.

Reading that, it sounds like you maybe describing the Congo Crisis, which is a very complicated affair, involving former colonial powers, the UN, the USA and a variety of corporate interests over a number of years.

 

[Del191229]

And in some areas of post-colonial Africa, wasn't that the promise made when the West would intervene (there's a particular country I read about, but I can;'t quite remember which one); that they would support a power who was more accommodating to their own interests, and in return they would give that power resources that was supposed to be used to improve infrastructure to win over the populace to their cause, but it would often get diverted into other areas?

s**t. I'm not sure if this was a widespread practice, or maybe this was only in one country, but I do remembr reading about it. I just can't quite remember where it was. Maybe Nigeria? I'm not 100% sure.

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