Well it’s been over a fortnight so it must be time again to condemn. Here’s a 34th open condemnation thread. What’s getting up your goat this year so far? Which evil political, cultural, social, musical, religious, and other phenomena need condemnation? (Or loud denunciation?)
You can condemn anything you like except the release of a new single from Bat for Lashes.
John Roskam, Tim Wilson and the IPA – always on the top of my list
I’ve not heard the new BFL, but given that I did quite like the first album I do want to find out what the new one is like.
As for condemnation, tonight I am condemning 2SER, the community radio station I do two shows on. I fully appreciate that, with us moving out of UTS tower after nearly 30 years into a new building of our very own, there were going to be problems; it’s a big operation and there were going to be teething troubles as we moved everything from one place to another. I realise now that I really should’ve expected the problems that there have indeed been. But I should’ve been able to expect that the people overseeing the move would’ve fully thought through everything and be prepared for all eventualities, and I’m now realising that clearly hasn’t been the case.
I condemn Body Corporate chairs. Or one in particular. They know which one!
I condemn conking out too early and waking up in the middle of the night, though there is a lovely breeze and sound of leaves rustling in the cool dark through the open door. That part is insufficiently condemnatory, however, so I’ll have to add school bullying.
Riding to pick up my kids from school the other day, I witnessed a horrible scene where a pack of kids from a nearby high school was chasing a young boy like lions bringing down a zebra. The ferocity of the chase was shocking. I, and later two other adults, intervened, but not before the poor lad was punched in the head at least once.
The police were called, but the crowd dispersed, so I presume no-one was about when a patrol eventually came by – the victim didn’t want any part of it and had headed off. I was in a race against a primary school bell (they finish later). When I got home, I put in a call to the high school, and they said they’d take action – I hope they do.
Part of the generally disturbing nature of this episode was not only the pack mentality of these 14-15 year-olds, but the disproportion of the attack, the fact that they felt violence was an appropriate course of action, and that they persisted with it even as adults came on the scene. Sad.
Stacked audiences on the ABC show Q&A. Last night’s Swan-Hockey match was a shameful example of the audience being stacked to the rafters with Miserable Liberals.
Also ABC blogs being swarmed by staffers or Young Liberals.
I condemn ABC news headlines that are straight out of Opposition talking points. Like the latest one, “Govt ‘in disarray’ over scrapped ETS inquiry”. Would be fair enough, I suppose, if it followed a story “Govt scraps ETS inquiry”, but it IS the Govt scraps ETS inquiry story.
Time to start complaining to ABC regularly.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/20/2496497.htm?section=justin
Movies about Pauline Hanson. WTF1? And if that isn’t bad encough – Cate Winslett to play the lead – WTFx2? (As if, as if.)
Unless it involves a detailed critical analysis on the ease with which one can manipulate fears of race and the attendant racism is stirs up, Australia does not need to explore this aspect of its cultural and political history in film.
Titled “Please Explain” it explores how “A fish-and-chip shop owner rockets onto the national stage, flashes like a comet across the political landscape and ends up dancing with the stars.”
For the love of God, please won’t someone just bury this under the hills hoist? Does it really have to happen?
i condemn all three of those ‘baby experts’ in, and the producers of ‘Bringing up Baby’ last night on auntie for projecting their own needs upon babies and subjecting the parents to extra degrees of anguish, frustration and torture in that most dificult time.
I condemn the ABC for screening the above show, but it least it prompted me to turn off the TV. I condemn myself for turning it back on to watch as much of Q&A AKA the Joe Show, as I could stomach.
I further condemn the ABC for the same reasons as Polyquats.
In fact, apart from a few good BBC comedies and the occasional drama worth watching, what exactly is ABC TV good for?
I concur with dylwah. The ten minutes I saw was quite nauseating.
A vector for Liberal Party politicians, supporters, and the promulgation of Liberal Party Talking Points.
Should be renamed the Liberal Broadcasting Company – LBC. {puke}
Bluestocking aka Casey @ 7,
I don’t think the left has anything to worry about. Steve Sewell is writing the script.
I condemn JWH rising from the grave, capillaries aflare on his cheeks, desperately trying to salvage the results of his legacy of greed, now being continuously trashed by the Labor Party.
I condemn all Liberals who either joined the ALP or thought of joining it for political advantage, none of whom can say “I was born Labor and will always be Labor.”
I condemn Malcolm Turnbull for being so ill-mannered as to be reading his own speech notes while his erstwhile Great Leader was speaking. And for not being able to hid his surprise when John W. H. publicly vowed him his support. I reckon Malcolm thought it was the kiss of death. Ratty probably did too.
I also condemn the Liberal cheer-leaders on last night’s Q&A. (There were a few Greens too, but I like them.)
I condemn Nick Minchin.
I condemn Nick Minchin.
I condemn Nick Minchin.
I condemn those members of the NSW Liberal Party who think that one of the instigators of the childish Senate Inquiry into Academic Freedom is a fit and proper person to sit in Federal Parliament.
I condemn the assorted bottom-feeders who crawled out from under their rocks in the wake of the Victorian fires. In ascending order of heinousness: sightseers, looters, fundraising scammers, and current-affairs “journalists” asking ‘How do you feel?’
ABC TV may be worthy of condemnation – don’t know, don’t watch tv anymore (except FOX News when I can, it’s like rubber-necking at an accicdent).
However, ABC Radio did an incredible job in Vic recently with bushfire alerts.
Oh and I condemn FOX News for being so far to the right it makes Pinochet look like a lefty.
I condemn the North Dakota Lower House for this piece of idiocy.
I too condemn John Howard for this:-
Does Mr Howard remember who was treasurer in the early 1980s by any chance?
Urr urr, yes I do. It was a little bloke with glasses and a bad comb-over.
I heartily condemn early elections and people who act like condescending dicks in comment threads.
I condemn the Victorian police, government and media for pushing the story that Indian tertiary students, who have been travelling in groups on public transport, should change their behaviour (specifically, talking less loudly – excuse me, have you heard the high school kids lately?! – and concealing their excessive wealth i.e. iPods and laptops.)
As many people have pointed out before me, this is analogous to the rape situation where the focus is almost always on women changing their behaviour, habits and itineraries so as not to supposedly provoke their own rape, while keeping the rapists invisible in the narrative – in these news reports there was no mention of the perpetrators of mugging and theft on Indian students, or what the police propose to do about them. My inference is, nothing. It’s up to those Indian students to STFU and “keep a low profile”, as the link to the Fairfax article so insultingly put it!
God yes Helen, that story is absolutely maddening.
I condemn CONNEX
and the f#*(%)@ weddign industry
I condemn ‘Kitchen Connection’ for the piece of shit ‘IAG’ dishwasher they were giving away for free as a “special offer” while trying to pretend it was worth $1000. Now I know why they were giving it away for free – because it’s worth absolutely nothing. Avoid Kitchen Connection!
I condemn ABC2 News Breakfast’s Virginia Trioli, Joe O’Brien and Ben Worsley for biased reporting. Virginia’s attempts this week to ambush Julia Gillard have left her [Trioli] looking shrill and inept with little understanding of Government policy [painstakingly explained by Julia though constantly shouted over.].
I condemn the tiny amount of rain we had in Melbourne this morning; for not being enough to be of use to anyone, while making the roads during peak hour slipperier than a greased squid.
So Trioli’s up to her old tricks. So good that we don’t have to endure her on the radio anymore.
I condemn Miranda Devine.
I condemn her email address…devinemiranda@hotmail.com
I condemn people who publish people’s addresses with a <mailto:/>, even if they are public knowledge.
Stay classy, joe2.
Thanks Joe2 I just sent Miranda a strongly worded email telling her what I thought of her column concerning the bushfires (I believe I used the words incendiary mindspew). I doubt that she will read it, but I feel better, and I’m glad that they called her out on that ‘hate mongering’ piece on Media watch.
I would like top condemn Joe Hockey for invoking the spirit of Ben Chifley to condemn the Labor party.
Consider yourself condemned, Hockey.
Rayedish, she’s written a second piece of incendiary spew.
Which I condemn.
Does it need to be said?
.
I condemn four boys in a car bullshit. Let’s see…
.
I’ve had the skanky dickheads in the crappy pollution spewer yell out, (viz my shoulder-bag): Nice hangbag faggot! Do they make ‘em for men! And the one who yelled out: My mate’s got a carton on his head. (And so he did: KFC Jumbo Pack???).
.
But there was last night the seductively cryptic: Go back to Treasure Island!. (WTFDTM?)
.
Still no trial, no judge – straight to execution.
Liam@28, as you say, her address is public knowledge. She completes all her charming work with that information. It was her “devine” word play, in the address, that lead me to condemn/puke.
And a good condemn it was too!
I condemn the reampant misspelling of ‘divine’ as ‘devine’. Such totally different things. And ‘Devine’ always makes me think of deveining a prawn, which is not a nice thought to suddenly have when you’re trying to read the news.
I condemn the rampant misspelling of ‘divine’ as ‘devine’. Such totally different things. And ‘Devine’ always makes me think of deveining a prawn, which is not a nice thought to suddenly have when you’re trying to read the news.
I condemn nothing. Life is precious and sweet. Except for all the conservative f***wit reactionaries that now infest the ABC, giving airspace to dangerous loonies. (That’s directed at YOU Steve Austin.)
I condemn the momentary confusion when “ABC” in a newspaper headline turns out to be about a child care company, not childish broadcasting.
Thanks Helen, as I try to avoid her work I was unaware that she can’t leave it alone. I’ll add my two cents worth as further condemnation upon her and the SMH.
I condemn Lego Mars Mission. AFAICT, the plotline is that the Earthlings have set up a base to mine “energy crystals” on Mars. When the locals turn up and object, do the Earthlings apologise and go home? No; they start collecting the Martians as well (or is it just their bodies?), for scientific research. At any rate, it all seems weirdly familiar. I am waiting for the release of new kits such as “Poisoned Martian Flour”, “Native Martian Police Force,” and “Martian Reservation”.
Then there are the astonishingly tiny and myriad pieces. Underfoot. Everywhere.
I condemn Col Allan, editor of The New York Post and Rupert Murdoch- our own iccy exports- for a allowing a very grubby, racist cartoon to be published.
I condemn all broadcasting media for foisting on us an eerily familiar, whining moan about how bad some other people and how we’ll all be rooooooned.
I condemn the desalination plant. RECYCLE NOW. Please please please
I’m just saying, joe2. I’ve got an email address that’s reasonably public knowledge, but if you published it in a thread as a mailto:, I’d be annoyed at you. It’s spambot bait.
I condemn mice, ants and abseiling spiders and the Liberals because I can.
“I’d be annoyed at you. It’s spambot bait.”
OMG you mean miranda might get annoyed with little ol’ me?
Doubt I could get that lucky…but point taken, Saul.
I condemn my current scrabble form. The Beloved just sweeps the board with me almost every game these days. Alas, my word building thingy word just doesn’t work.
I condemn Scrabble (and embrace Pictionary).
. Let’s see….: I condemn course guides, ‘no fat chicks’ stickers, the blithe juggernaut of humanity into enviro-catastrophe, and entropy. And noveauu “R&B”.
And ‘easy’ cheese.
I like my cheese to be difficult.
I do like that song. Very etherial.
I condemn all media organisations who still behave as if John Howard has somethinhg relevent to say. Hell, he’s not Paul Keating.
I condemn this song, which small boys love.
WTF is peanut butter jelly? Something you have with ice-cream?
Anyway, on the basis of that song I condemn it.
Nevertheless, I’ve met people who condemn Vegemite. But they weren’t born here.
I condemn the fact that I couldn’t buy the Bat for Lashes song featured here on iTunes. If anyone finds a place where I can obtain it, please do share.
First album’s a bit of a winner too SL.
Ugly lass though. Kinda spoils the effect.
???????????????
/sarcasm
Rayedish @ 29 (and others) the divine Ms Devine is still at it. She had another column in the Stock Journal (I read it for the pictures … and the classified ads for second hand farming equipment) which, while less inflammatory than the “Hang a greenie from every lamp post” piece, was just as ill-informed / deliberately untruthful.
Interestingly, while they didn’t publish my “stop lying, Miranda” comment, they’ve included plenty of them from people like Ironbar.
I condemn cast-iron Helen @ 54 for making me listen to 5 seconds of that vile little song.
Aside from its obvious ability to send adults screaming from the room, I can’t understand why even small boys would like it.
I too condemn that song, the Hbomb however thinks that it is the best thing since Mahnahmenahh.
I thought others should suffer too.
I condemn anyone who can’t play the piano like this or this, the cello like this or the guitar like this.
Yes I stand abased in self-loathing here too.
I condemn Radio National, for using “national” in its title, misleadingly. It’s only “national” in its broadcasting reach.
I condemn thistles. (But I now have a hoe).
I condemn Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church (of godhatesfags.com) for deciding that God hates Australia to the point of sending the bushfires.
But I do not condemn Father Kennedy of St Mary’s Church Brisbane who thinks women should preach and blesses gay couples, who has beeen sacked and reinstated for these stances, and whose congration supports him wholeheartedly. This I do not condemn.
The Yanks call Jam, Jelly. and yes it is a crappy “song”
“The Yanks call Jam, Jelly.”
Actually, we make a distinction between jam and jelly. What we call jelly is thinner and sweeter and of an even consistency, and I think sort of lower-quality (full of fructose corn syrup and crap) which is probably why kids love it. It’s kind of gelatinous and doesn’t have chunks of actual fruit in it. We use ‘jam’ for literal jams and preserves and marmalades — all thicker and denser and higher-quality. And we listen to both Jelly Roll Morton and The Jam. Neither of whom I condemn.
I had pineapple jam on a short visit to Indonesian west Timor province recently. It was delicious! I wonder why its never taken off here.
I condemn the Westboro Church for planning to protest outside the bushfire memorial. I condemn who ever gave them a visa to come into the country.
Pineapple is a polariser by nature IMHO. Pizza is a case in point.
I condemn that people I went to see when I was a yoof are starting to fall off the perch, regular like. I condemn ageing!
I don’t know if Lux got a gurnsey here earlier in the month, but if not:
RIP Lux Interior – no-one will ever wear a pair of gold lamé-spandex dacks in quite the same way again. (And I condemn myself forgetting to put Ivy on the girlguitar thread at Helen’s some time back.)
j_p_z, except for quince jelly which is heavenly. Oh God, now Fred Phelps will picket me for something!
Paul, I add my condemn to your condemn of the loonies in the Westboro Baptist Church. I hope the mourners at the memorial service give them the reception they so richly deserve, if they dare to turn up. I wonder if God and Danny Whatsisname from the ministries of fire will come to their aid during their reception?
Casey, Fr Kennedy should be bathed in rose petals and the Catholic Church should be condemned for condemning him and reinstating the loathsome bishop Williams.
And I still strongly condemn mice, ants and abseiling spiders!
Q.: Who will watch The Watchmen?
A.: Nerds, mostly. Unless it great reviews.
All I can say is, it better be good, and 300/Dawn of the Dead guy better not fuck it up, or there will be many more condemns.
Dr. Manhattan did look pretty cool in the trailer, though. Although trailers often deceive. Much like comics, and life.
I condemn people who confuse one thread for another, chicken hawaiian and pizza with pineapple.
I condemn those who condemn pineapple on Pizza. There is nothing more Australian than a Hawaiian Pizza.
300/Dawn of the Dead guy better not fuck it up, or there will be many more condemns.
.
Indeed.
I condemn greensborough growler for not realising that both lamb chops and pie floaters are considerably more Australian than Hawaiian pizza.
I condemn David Irving (no relation) for not realising that pie floaters are merely a regional Stralyan delicacy.
Forget the pineapple – banana on pizza is very aussie .With egg.
.
I condemn all people who aren’t learning another language.
.
Pineapple jam is delicious but then if you are in Kupang everything not grimy or oily seems so .
I condemn being bitten by an insect, probably a spider. Sprayed the little bastard.Hope its not that flesh-eating kind of bite. (They’re sort of coming inside now the rain has stopped.) In fact I condemn all spiders. Can’t wait for winter to put ‘em into hibernation.
(Spider equivalent of rolling eyes and sighing passive-aggressively)
For the last damn time…
WE’RE *NOT* INSECTS.
Gawd! As if!
Now if you’ll excuse us, we have some insects to eviscerate.
I condemn joe2 for thinking that a pie floater is a delicacy. It’s not, it’s merely something one eats when one is so drunk that it seems like a good idea.
jo @ 74: LUX IS DEAD??? I condemn that.
And I continue to condemn Meringua Devein, because someone has to.
I condemn pie floaters to a lifetime of incarceration in my stomach.
I condemn the cafe in Goulburn which served me an Aussie Pizza in May 1981 with a raw egg in the centre.
I also condemn all those commercial morning television dorks who stated that yesterday’s memorial service would enable us all to begin to get some “closure” of our grief over the Victorian fires.
I condemn the word “closure” in all its uses, except close the bloody door!
Frederick, would you be so awfully good as to effect the CLOSURE of that door, according to world’s best practice, accountably, contemporaneously, and with all due vigour?
I think we have all been touched by the cold that has been entering this room of our ‘umble abode. STDU.
And I cannot in all conscience single out the Goulburn pizza cafe without even more cordially condemning the Orbost cafe which in May 1986 served a pizza disguised as an open dripping sandwich which made the Goulburn joint seem like Lygon Street in comparison.
Paul, was it not excessively optimistic to get pizza in Goulburn and (even worse) Orbost? When in the country, eat country food, I say. The highlight of my many Melbourne-Adelaide car trips was the fresh hot roast lamb sandwich for lunch in Keith, but always I gave the Thai place in Horsham a wide berth.
I condemn country towns whose reach exceeds their grasp.
Dr Cat it was a case of limited options rather than optimism in the case of Orbost, and youthful naivete in the case of Goulburn.
Word, PC.
On the Melbourne-Sydney/ACT leg, a pub in Gundagai does a marvellous crumbed lamb cutlets counter meal. I figured their lurid pink sweet ‘n’ sour pork parts might not be worth the trouble.
‘On the Melbourne-Sydney/ACT leg, a pub in Gundagai”
I never miss the famous Niagara Cafe – site of Curtin’s famous late night snacks.
I condemn the LP hivemind for not being hungry enough. I swear the best meal I’ve ever eaten was a three day old, foil wrapped hamburger from a service station I had a few years ago because I was bloody starving and would probably have gnawed fetid roadkill if forced to travel any further without sustenance. Bad coffee is always bad coffee no matter how desperate you are, and I therefore condemn it.
As a general caution your words may be apt, Pavlov’s; but there’s a very fine Indian restaurant in Warragul. Run by an Indian. Just a pity it’s a bit of a detour on a Melb-Adelaide trip.
I condemn cities who think their grasp is limitless.
I condemn corner shops that only stock expensive toilet paper.
I was almost prompted to recommend the roadhouse cafe in Kilkivan for its ginormous steak and vegies, but then I remembered that I condemn the management’s attitude to refugees.
I also condemn the 36 voters in Muckadilla, Queensland, who all voted for the National PArty in the 2006 Queensland State election.
Hah! No secret ballot in Muckadilla that year, then. Not that they would care, I suppose.
I just want to condemn Sydney Airport for not keeping the lift to the observation deck working. With a pram and toddler paraphernalia in tow, we decided not to walk up the long flight of stairs so we could show the Little One the jets taking off/landing.
You’d think they be able to with the exorbitant prices they charge for parking, food etc,
At least the Little One enjoyed running up and down the arrivals area while waiting for her Gramps.
I condemn Casey @68 and Jane @75 for not knowing what they are talking about re Fr Kennedy.
An elderly relative died recently. We cancelled their AUSTAR pay TV. We received a letter from Austar. Instead of being addressed to “Mrs XXX YYY” it was adressed to “Mrs In The Esate Of XXX YYY” and began
“Dear In The Estate Of XXX
We are sorry to hear that you’ve disconnected from AUSTAR and hope you will enjoy our services again in the near future.”
I condemn AUSTAR.